《Brymeia: The Visitor [Isekai, Epic/Modern Fantasy, Romance]》 Chapter 1: In the Depths of Slumber In the Depths of Slumber
¡°¡®Hence, you are now Seeker,¡¯ so it was proclaimed, bestowing my sweet daughter the weight of honor over a blade of responsibility sharp enough to wound this old man¡¯s heart.¡± ~Garm Militia
Absorbed in pages while the others cheered and booed, Frein Nivan sat cross-legged on the floor, leaving the real world and immersing himself into fantasy. Intense black eyes hastily traced written words¡ªdepicting a trapped protagonist¡ªas he ignored the brutal spectacle shown on the wide monitor surrounded by the noisy crowd. The cheers around him intensified, probably due to a climactic clash on whatever the others were watching, and the story protagonist in turn achieved his own glorious epiphany right on the next page. He had read this story countless times, and he already knew what would happen next. He simply enjoyed the reread for the comfort of it. A subtle vibration in his pocket pulled his eyes away from the pages. ¡°Take care of yourself, okay?¡± A text from Katherine. He appreciated her message, and allowed himself a subtle smile despite the atmosphere. The crowd¡¯s ecstatic state indicated a match drawing to a close. If he had counted correctly, it should be his turn next. As if on cue, the door swung wide open. ¡°Frein Nivan.¡± A voice boomed throughout the room, stifling everyone inside. Eyes turned from the man at the door to his direction in slow, nervous fashions. Their gazes were indirect and careful, pretending as though they had never seen him before. He was fine with that, closing the book with a controlled sigh as he paced towards the door undisturbed. It was time to get moving anyway. It was only then he allowed himself to observe the entirety of his surroundings. A small warehouse-type room spacious enough for a number of people and featureless enough that things got boring real quick. Old paint scraped away from its walls, evidence of its abandonment and insignificance to the whole infrastructure. A perfect place to stuff a number of desperate people waiting for their name to be called. A variety of men and women from different aspects of life spent their evenings here in a desperate attempt to make money. Of course, there were the rare cases who submitted themselves to this place for the pleasure of it, the thrill and the rush. ¡°Young lad, very straightforward fashion sense, usually all black with a shade of dark colors here and there. Not all that good-looking compared to me¡ªhe¡¯s pretty mean looking actually. Pretty short¡­¡± The man at the door enumerated these descriptions dripping with sarcasm up until Frein got to him. The other participants looked like they were about ready to run away after the fourth description. The man turned to Frein. ¡°Seen anyone like that, eh?¡± ¡°You can stop the compliments, Jeff,¡± Frein replied, passing a smile. ¡°I have a white jacket today, and I am taller than you, you know that, right?¡± ¡°Probably skipped your laundry day, then?¡± Jeff replied, smirking. ¡°And we¡¯re not tall people.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still pretty tall.¡± ¡°Five-ten isn¡¯t tall, Frein.¡± Jeff was a square man with a closed beard. He wore a folded beanie that hid half of ¡®Best Dad¡¯ but Frein could read it anyway. Jeff did his best to seem intimidating, but to Frein, he might as well be the kindest person in this whole building¡ªand even a few blocks down, considering... ¡°Ring five. Let¡¯s go.¡± Frein followed Jeff to a low-lit hallway that had nothing but litter swept to the sides and the occasional unmaintained vending machines that only ever ate the change. Muffled, distant cheers and boos echoed from the other corners of the corridor. ¡°Who¡¯s it?¡± ¡°David. They want to break the tie.¡± Jeff held out a hand. ¡°No weapons tonight.¡± ¡°About time.¡± Frein handed him his book and phone, and then untied a blade of Japanese make, a katana, with an engraving for the word ¡®Nakiri.¡¯ He gave Jeff a look and the man returned an understanding nod, carefully taking Frein¡¯s personal effects. ¡°They have something up their sleeves,¡± he warned. ¡°Everyone does,¡± Frein replied. ¡°Except you.¡± ¡°Oh, you have no idea.¡± The hallway soon opened to the arena, Ring Five, the Arena of the Elites, where champions fought for the highest of stakes and the greatest of glories. And the largest of sums. As the most exclusive part of the underground settlement, Ring Five had a wide space to comfortably house a few hundred patrons at most, which was twice as much as the other rings. The Ring was divided into four sections. First, the steel cage at the center where each fighter made their fortunes or lost their lives. Second, the premiere tables on the ringside, a safe distance away from the steel cage in the center. Not that anyone had, but just in case someone was strong enough to break those bars, there would be no casualties aside from the competitors inside. These tables were reserved for the rich¡ªthose who wanted to release themselves from their formal decorum and return to their primal, violent natures¡ªwith enough money and influence to pay their way into Ring Five, subsequently covering the entire establishment from the eyes of the law. As such, these premiere tables were glittered with wine and food that barely anyone ate and waiters and waitresses at their beck and call. The third section, composed of the general seats reserved for the richest group of audiences but clearly not influential enough, surround the rest of Ring Five. Here you can find the most stressed out of men and women, betting away their hard earned¡ªor illegally obtained¡ªmoney to shout at fighters all night. Right above these lofty tables were the exclusive rooms, twelve private rooms surrounding the ring for the personal use of those that had literal sway in the establishment. Rumors had it; the owners used these rooms themselves. But even if the windows made no effort to hide the people inside, no one actually knew what the owner, or owners, looked like. Frein¡¯s ears rang from the roaring crowd as one fighter fell unconscious and another raised his hands in fiery victory. Men went in and out of the steel cage in swift organized fashion, moving the unconscious loser cautiously enough. In their haste, as per the norm, they left without cleaning the sweat, spit, and blood that glistened in all their disgusting glory under the spotlights. At least it was enough to recede any hunger Frein might¡¯ve had even with all the food around him. Not that he was craving for the top-quality-food served only in this establishment anyway. A suited man stood at the center, ignoring all of the mess. He held a mic in one hand and papers in the other. ¡°Our next event is rather an intimate one, ladies and gentlemen, the grudge match you¡¯ve all been waiting for!¡± Oohs and murmurs whispered through the crowd, their attentions turning from the announcer to the two fighters about to enter the ring. ¡°On my left, a fighting genius, winning all but one of his fifty fights. Grasped his first victory at the age of sixteen against a veteran twice his age. Denied glory on his second by one of our champions, a fight too early indeed. After which, he remained undefeated for the next four years! Now bearing a champion title of his own, let the crowd roar for Frein Nivan ¡®of the Elysium!¡¯¡± The arena roared with fiery expectations, and Frein allowed himself to drown in them, if only briefly. Amongst the crowd that cheered for his name, he sensed a different look. His instincts guided his eyes to one of the exclusive rooms, finding a group of people whispering mockery towards him. Frein? What a stupid name! He caught the words by reading a cocky man¡ªno, a pathetic boy¡¯s lips. It took the onlooker a second or two to notice they were staring at each other. The boy broke eye contact first. But Frein couldn¡¯t agree more. His father, a decorated soldier whose rank he was too distracted to recall, had never really told him why he was named so, while his mother, hailing from the same profession, had simply said it was perfectly fine. When a more decorated soldier had knocked on his front door, Frein had known he would never get a clear answer from them anymore. Later he found out Frein meant brakes or restraints in French, but he grew up pronouncing it far too differently for it to even matter. The meanings didn¡¯t match him anyway. His parents had kept their own family names, but he had thrown the matter out of his head, too focused to even care what Nivan meant or where it originated from. As the announcer spoke again, Frein swept away the memory, eyes straight at the hulking man on the other side of the cage. ¡°You call that ¡®up their sleeves?¡¯¡± he said to Jeff disappointingly. ¡°On my right, the only man to have ever defeated our Elysian! With an astounding record of seventy wins to eight loses! A mountain of absolute brute force that only few could withstand. Ladies and gentlemen, unravel your bellows for David ¡®the Goliath¡¯ Anderson!¡± The crowd roared once more. The announcer left the cage as arena staff went around collecting bets. Frein and David both prepared for the match. While Frein had chosen his champion-title based on his childish and fictitious aspirations, David¡¯s was more of an ironic symbolism. The bald brute had always been a size or two larger than Frein, but today he had gone to more insane extremes. Veins pushed visibly out of his dark skin every time he flexed his obscenely huge muscles. David looked like a junked bodybuilder with muscles threatening to tear open his skin. Cheap tricks like these weren¡¯t uncommon. This trick, in truth, had been the trend for a few months now, tallying a large number of wins for those that utilized it. It was also incredibly self-destructive, causing an alarming number of deaths amongst the fighters, but no one really cared about that small detail. The Goliath roared as he stomped his way into the cage and the crowd cheered with him. ¡°A hundred thousand on the big guy!¡± said someone from the group that mocked Frein¡¯s name; a proud and arrogant exclamation hailing from the exclusive room accentuated even further by the announcer. The Elysian sighed, pulling out a pair of fingerless leather gloves. He knew what would come next. ¡°That¡¯s a big fish right there,¡± Jeff said, smirking, and much to Frein¡¯s well-hidden dismay. ¡°Want to reel it in?¡± He pretended to examine the legitimacy of Frein¡¯s gloves and the metal bars surrounding the cage to buy time before letting Frein inside. Was really hoping for something more grandiose tonight¡­Frein thought. The two were in no way affiliated other than being acquainted through this work, but Jeff¡¯s habit of betting on Frein had always benefited him one way or the other. And the Elysian champion, despite the predictability of the situation, wasn¡¯t one to pass on opportunities. ¡°That¡¯s an apex predator you¡¯re trying to score, you sure you have the net for that?¡± Frein asked. Risking a hundred thousand took more than mere nerves of steel. Frein¡¯s confidence took it as simply as breathing air. The other end might not be as self-assured. ¡°If the weather¡¯s good enough.¡± Frein turned his eyes on David, observing. The Goliath expressed untamed fury; gritting teeth like stone on stone, intense eyes piercing all in its gaze. Behind all the steely fa?ade was a fragile core oozing with desperation. Frein had fought him twice. During those hard-fought days, the brute was once an artist and had carried himself with dignity. Today was different. Disappointingly different. ¡°Clear skies and a strong sun,¡± Frein said, tightening his gloves. ¡°I¡¯ll take half.¡± ¡°Half?¡± Jeff almost shouted. ¡°That¡¯s too much, man.¡± Frein eyed him, barely able to hold his contempt under control. Jeff was indeed the kindest one in the building. In no way did it mean he was kind at all. ¡°Everyone¡¯s risking their lives in here, Jeff. I should be taking more.¡± ¡°No, friend. Everyone in here¡¯s desperate, except for you. You wouldn¡¯t see the almighty Goliath like that if his daughter didn¡¯t have leukemia. I¡¯m not risking my money and giving you half without something more in it for me. You get paid whether you win or lose this, you know. You get more if you win, sure, but that¡¯s not changing my case.¡± "You''re right, I''m not that desperate." Frein sighed. He contemplated on passing on the whole thing, but a stranded fish¡ªno, a stranded whale was too enticing to pass. "I was thinking of taking a vacation, maybe bring Katherine along." Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. It made Jeff pause his inspection. "You''ve been saving up?" "Other than rent and necessities...and books, yeah. Just in case something happens, you know?" "That''s not changing my case, Frein. Seventy-thirty, unless you can give me a more convincing..." Something off began to surface amidst the conversation. It wasn¡¯t anything Jeff said, or anything relatively between the both of them. It was a presence of something too intense for Frein to ignore. He followed his instincts, eyes looking past David. Behind the hulking brute, leaning by the shadows on the entrance of the arena was a familiar beauty. Dark brown hair dangled carelessly over her shoulders. A long dark coat covered most of her clothes, showing nothing but crossed arms and not much else. Her black eyes expressed something else entirely. A mixture of encouragement and a frowning disappointment combined with the soft worry underneath her indifferent stare. Regardless of reason, the fact that Katherine showed herself only meant two things for Frein. Permission granted, end it quickly. ¡°Fine. Three minutes,¡± Frein said with full confidence, interrupting Jeff with whatever he was talking about. ¡°I can beat him in three minutes. Past that, then you can decide how much I take. And if I lose, you can take Nakiri and my pay for this and the next match.¡± ¡°Three minutes?¡± Jeff asked with as little visible concern as possible. ¡°If you rush things, it¡¯ll backfire for sure. And Nakiri? Wasn¡¯t this some sort of ancient treasure? You already sold the partner, right? The bigger one? I think its name was Aya-something. Aya¡­¡± ¡°A¡¯ya here to babysit people or make money or do your work? Make up your damn mind,¡± Frein said as he entered the cage, swallowing the disgust from his own lame joke. It only took Jeff a heartbeat to make his bet. ¡°Ancient treasure¡­It¡¯s called marketing for crying out loud.¡± After fighting in one of these cages for four years, Frein had learned to embrace the suffocating environment induced not only by his opponents¡¯ presences or the filth accumulated in the sandy dirt comprising the stage floor, but also by the ear-shattering noise of the crowd. Sparks flew as both competitors stared each other down. ¡°You¡¯re all jacked up, Goliath,¡± Frein said to the only other person in the cage. His casual stride seemed reckless but it was his signature performance, meant to play with his opponent¡¯s mental state as well as exude a cool air amongst the onlookers. Apart from simply winning, theatricality was a significant criteria to earn the Ring Five stage. ¡°I hope you understand this doesn¡¯t give you an excuse, Elysian,¡± David replied, much to Frein¡¯s surprise. The man made a grunting flex with his whole body, and Frein thought he might just pop, but those only ever occurred in comedy shows. ¡°I will not be holding my punches.¡± Some people, some extremely exceptional people, could inject as much enhancement as David and still retained their wits about them. The rest, as Frein recalled, displayed expected combat improvements, though they often lose the capability to make even the simplest sensible conversations. A fragility that Frein had exploited endlessly in the recent past as it rose in popularity. One could say, ¡°This tactic won¡¯t work against the Elysian.¡± Frein took a subtle glance at Jeff who met him eye-to-eye with a suspended sandwich deluxe just below his chin. Not that Frein couldn¡¯t read it from the sweating anxiety plastered all over the guy¡¯s face, but Jeff probably didn¡¯t expect David to be in control enough to make conversation either. It didn¡¯t matter to Frein, at least not tonight. He, too, had something up his sleeve, and he was just given permission to utilize it. ¡°Betting ends!¡± the announcer yelled, rallying the people in an uproar. ¡°It is time to end all debate! Time to determine who¡¯s on top! Let the match begin!¡± The bell rang throughout the entire Ring Five. One by one, the cheering crowd grew silent in anticipation of who would make the first move. Would it be the brave Elysian? Or the enhanced Goliath? Neither did. As Frein''s experience had told him, David never made the first move. Even in his powered-up state, the Goliath remained firm. This signaled him to be even more cautious. Frein shut his senses from everything aside from those that involved David; the contained fury, the heavy breathing, the growling, the eye movements. His attention narrowed down to the entirety of the ring, and his focus centralized inside. The consequences of winning or losing were taken out of the equation. The crowd was pulled away from his thoughts. Now only the fight remained. Frein made his move, walking dangerously close to David¡¯s firing range. He invaded the Goliath¡¯s space, inviting him to fire while preparing an attack of his own. This was obviously a trap, but it was already too late for David. One of the most important rules of self-defense, but more importantly in a fight, was to never allow anyone within your personal space. Both of them knew this, Frein was ready to take his own action during his approach the moment his opponent reacted, but the Goliath hesitated. Frein had successfully invaded David¡¯s space and limited his options. ¡°I told Jeff I only need three minutes to deal with you, David,¡± Frein said, trying to taunt his opponent further. ¡°But actually, I only need two.¡± And he was telling the truth. The first minute was to assess the Goliath¡¯s mental condition¡ªwhether David was consumed by his enhancement or not. But thanks to their earlier conversation, that task was shaved off the list. Frein centered himself, allowing for power to circulate within his body. He never understood how it worked, but Katherine assured him he only needed to will it as if it was a part of his body. In an instant, energy surged into his system, carrying surprising heat into his spine that dispersed throughout his body. David noticed a change in Frein¡¯s face and decided to initiate, bringing down a hammer made out of a large fist. Frein reacted with great speed, quicker than either of them anticipated, and launched a jab right at the giant¡¯s face. His jabs, as Jeff had put it, were like getting hit by a fastball pitched by a professional player. They were exceptionally and consistently sharp capable of knocking out a normal person in an instant, but normal didn¡¯t exist in this place. Still, it¡¯ll stun anyone with a cranium. Stunned was an understatement. Frein saw David¡¯s entire body recoil from the jab¡¯s impact as if his head had flown off. The Goliath was thrown fully off course that his hammer-fist hit nothing but air. Not letting this advantage get over his head, Frein prepared for retaliation, and as expected, his opponent shifted to regain balance and followed with a kick. He rode the flow and ducked underneath while attempting to sweep David off the ground. But David, to Frein¡¯s hidden surprise, backflipped out of the way just in time. Without any desire to give his opponent any breathing space, Frein gave chase. He was utterly impressed by how effortlessly it took him to catch up. After swatting away a desperate shove, he slammed his knuckles into David¡¯s middle section, causing him to double over and collapse. Before those buckling knees even touched the ground, the Elysian flipped forward and crashed his heels over the Goliath¡¯s head. By his estimates, thirty seconds had gone by. And already, Frein felt his adrenaline fading away, something that should never have happened in the middle of a fight. This was a first. No matter how easy or challenging his opponents had been, he had never laxed. But his tension was leaving him at an alarming rate. He took deep breaths and tried to summon the surging power once again. David didn¡¯t miss this opportunity and brought forth punishment made out of a muscular arm, clobbering Frein with it and sending him across the other side of the pit. Two things surprised Frein as he sprang back on his feet. One, that was one hell of a clothesline; two, it didn¡¯t hurt at all. He casually took a second to clean his clothes, telegraphing to David how ineffective his attack was. Now it was time for his second signature move. In a slow and practiced fashion, Frein tightened the grip on his gloves while lowering his center. An action he only ever used to signal his intention to end the fight. He finished his posture with both arms and hands opened at his side. The Goliath recognized this and prepared his own posture in kind. Both fighters took a lungful of air, and as one, dashed to the center of the ring. Frein got there first, leaping and twirling in the air. His entire momentum carried through his leg and he brought it down on his opponent who sluggishly leapt to the side. Gusts of dirt, sand, and old broken teeth flew as he made contact with the ground. He pressed forward while slipping away from a panicked counter and sent a haymaker of his own. It collided onto David¡¯s side, and from that moment on, it took Frein less than ten seconds¡ªa minute-twenty-two total¡ªto bring the Goliath down. Frein''s tension completely collapsed. He willed it to let go, any longer and he felt like it would sap years of his life away. As his senses relaxed, his ears were assaulted by the booming roar of the crowd celebrating his victory along with the glorious announcement made by the emcee. He escaped from the cage without a word, leaving the crowd with only a wave. The announcer, not even bothered by it, smoothly transitioned from a halfhearted attempt at an interview to immediately recalling the match that took place to stoke the crowd¡¯s fervor even more. Before Frein completely vanished into the backstage, he took a moment to glance at the mockers who wagered against him. They were gone. Of course they were. Frein suppressed a smirk and headed towards the fighter¡¯s reception to collect. He took the exit from his corner and turned the opposite direction from the room where all the other fighters waited, only to find himself facing the floor after a knee completely gave up as if it was torn off from his body. His vision blurred, his body burning from the inside, and the loud footsteps rushing towards him were like grenades exploding in succession. He felt a touch, then the world spun, and then his lips met something soft and moist. And the world became clear again. Katherine¡¯s lips were tender and tasted like coffee with one too many sugars in it. A cooling sensation drew straight into his throat, washing away the heat from his entirety. Frein felt renewed in mere seconds, but they parted only after snatching a few more moments of intimacy. Katherine let out a sigh before slightly tapping Frein¡¯s cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Thanks,¡± Frein responded after translating Katherine¡¯s line in his head. ¡°That two-minute time limit is a little too much, don¡¯t you think? It felt like I was going to die after a few more seconds.¡± Katherine¡¯s expression slowly turned from casual sarcasm to the definition of stoicism. ¡°How long did you think you were in there?¡± ¡°A minute thirty, give or take.¡± ¡°I know you were counting, Frein. I saw you look at Jeff.¡± Frein sighed. He was indeed counting every second, but not because he made a bet with Jeff. Katherine¡¯s emphasis on the time limit made it seem of absolute importance. Telling her that now wouldn¡¯t really make a point, so he simply resigned. ¡°A minute twenty-two exactly.¡± ¡°You were in there for only fifty-two seconds.¡± Frein blinked twice, frowned, then tilted his head before passing all of his confusion to his girlfriend. ¡°You sure?¡± Katherine nodded. Finally realizing they were both kneeling on the floor, she helped Frein on his feet as she responded, ¡°Your actual limit is one minute. Three more seconds and I would¡¯ve stopped the fight. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly at what rate, but in some cases, the technique you used can speed up your perception, slowing down everything around you. So, just in case it also happens to you, I extended your limit.¡± Excitement filled Frein, but he had to look at it realistically. ¡°This is amazing and all, and I¡¯m surprised it worked,¡± he began, trying to look in control. ¡°But you can¡¯t expect me to believe this is some ancient technique taught throughout your bloodline and somehow you can pass it on to me. That only happens in T.V. shows.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain on the way back,¡± Katherine replied, turning the other way. ¡°We¡¯re not exactly alone.¡± ¡°Frein! You won! That was amazing!¡± Jeff¡¯s excited shouts echoed throughout the hallway, but his animated expressions immediately turned tame at the sight of Katherine. ¡°Oh, good evening, Detective.¡± Katherine stabbed an open hand at Jeff¡¯s direction, both to silence him and to demand Frein¡¯s compensation and whatever else he won. ¡°Your habits are showing, Best Dad. If anyone was around, you¡¯ve just blown your cover.¡± Jeff obeyed silently, handing over everything including Frein¡¯s belongings. ¡°You never show up when someone else is around, Kat,¡± Frein interjected, not to save Jeff or anything like that. He simply wanted to poke fun at her. Jeff was thankful regardless, but Katherine glared daggers at them to shut them up. Unfazed, Frein took the winnings he snagged from the overconfident mockers and returned them to Jeff. ¡°I believe you said David¡¯s daughter has leukemia?¡± The undercover officer nodded in understanding. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Like you said, we''re not exactly desperate. Besides, they need it more than we do. And I did go a little overboard. Pretty sure this wouldn¡¯t be enough, but I can only give away so much.¡± After their agreement, Frein turned to Katherine. ¡°We didn¡¯t get any leads this time either. I have some suspicions but it¡¯ll take some daylight to make sure.¡± Katherine looked like she had more things to say, but when she nodded and patted Jeff on the shoulder at the same time, Frein withdrew all the retorts he was prepared to fire. ¡°We¡¯ll take a rest for tonight. Make sure you get home safely.¡± Jeff probably caught a bit of it, too, nodding nervously. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare all the evidence I¡¯ve collected so far and submit a report by tomorrow,¡± he said, all thoughts of where to spend his winnings flushed down the drain. ¡°Good,¡± Katherine said simply. ¡°We¡¯ve been at this for about a year now, it¡¯s about time we close this hellhole.¡± ¡°But first, some dinner?¡± Frein said. Jeff caught the signal and said his goodbye a little abruptly than he probably meant, but neither of them gave it any mind. The walk to the parking lot was silent but full of warmth shared amidst the evening chill. Luxurious cars and other excessively grandiose vehicles greeted them as they passed the door. Frein¡¯s was nothing more than a humble motorbike with an aged engine. ¡°So where do you want to eat?¡± Frein placed his keys while Katherine hopped behind him. ¡°Where¡¯s your ride?¡± ¡°Off duty, walked here.¡± Katherine fixed the waves of her hair before putting on a spare helmet. ¡°I¡¯m cooking. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Frein¡¯s life wasn¡¯t anywhere near dramatic nor clich¨¦, so it surprised him to see a group of men slowly gathering around him, holding bats and pipes and other sorts of blunt weapons. Throughout all his time in the fighting pit, his wins never brought him any trouble. But he might¡¯ve bitten a bigger whale than he could chew this time around. ¡°Yours?¡± Frein asked just in case he was reading too much into the situation, revving his bike as a warning. ¡°Probably yours.¡± Frein saw the familiar faces of the people who placed their money against him. Rich people surrounded by their thugs armed and prepared to beat the living life out of him, and Katherine probably wouldn¡¯t be any safer. But the apex predator¡ªthe one in the exclusive room¡ªwasn¡¯t among them. Either way, they had to escape. ¡°Yep, they¡¯re mine. We¡¯re getting out of here.¡± He switched gears and accelerated without care who he might run over, not listening to whatever they were about to say. They got away without hurting anyone, but the front gate prevented them from gaining distance. Luckily, the mob gave up on chasing them. That alone didn¡¯t make sense. Surely, they would¡¯ve given some effort, but the way they let them pass didn¡¯t hide the fact it was on purpose. ¡°You cheating bastard.¡± A man appeared from the guard house beside the gate. The recognition immediately caused Frein to raise his guard to their absolute limits. The apex appeared. Past the window, Frein saw blood smeared all over the walls, and the pistol that had caused it now aimed towards his heart. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you did it, but there¡¯s no way you could knock out a guy that big in under a minute.¡± The man pulled down the pistol¡¯s hammer and aimed. And Frein reflexively guarded Katherine, placing a hand on her to make sure she doesn¡¯t get in the way. She was saying something, but he was too focused at the man before him. The intent was obvious. The poor guard minding his own business didn¡¯t have to die, so why stop? There would be no talking out of it. Time slowing down was a sure indicator of it. His uneventful, normal life ran through his mind, a gray-scale of events brightened and colored when he first met Katherine. All he could do now was force all of his will into a stare of death, hoping it would curse his killer as the exploding echo faded into an eerie silence. The impact propelled him off the bike. His helmet cracked against concrete. Heat crept through his chest as shock raised all emergencies and Katherine¡¯s nudging only worsened the sensation. Her cries pierced his ears as she kept calling his name. Light began to fade, consciousness dragging out. He tried to say something, to tell her how much he loved her, and to ask her to run away and save herself, but his breathing staggered in between coughs of blood. Heat turned to cold, and his final breath eased him into slumber.
Hello reader, Shallren here. I apologize for this abrupt interruption. If you''re not aware, piracy has been an increasing concern lately. Scrappers sweep through stories to copy them and repurpose them to sell on Amazon without the author''s permission. To alleviate this, I''ve decided to include an in-chapter disclaimer that Brymeia: The Visitor is still an RR exclusive. In order to protect the authenticity of this work, I will be including this quick disclaimer at the end of random releases (since the scrappers don''t always include the author notes and don''t check the chapters at all): IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at royalroad.com. Thank you. Thank you so much for understanding this interruption and for giving this story a chance. Chapter 2: Bullets and Smoke Bullets and Smoke
¡°Me? I met Frein when I came to Earth, and I fell in love with him. Surely, that¡¯s enough.¡± ~Katherine Militia
¡°How would I know?¡± Katherine asked, facing a distorted entity that was her master. ¡°Know what exactly?¡± It replied. Its attention mostly focused on a crack in reality. ¡°If I found the Visitor¡­¡± Its face flickered from one form to another, rippling emotions too instantaneous to comprehend. ¡°It¡¯s simple, dear Katherine.¡± He turned towards the young Seeker while she kept peering through the crack in reality. Somehow, the motion was obvious. ¡°The Visitor will ask to visit.¡±
Katherine¡¯s world turned dark at the sight of Frein¡¯s lifeless body. The sheer hostility of his murderous intent rendered her immobile for just a split second. A moment so crucial that a mere speck of her concentration could have prevented the tragedy. She would curse herself if not for the simplicity of his wound. Then again, she had learned how vulnerable humans of Earth were from a speeding piece of lead given her current profession. Panic, despair, and confusion roiled into fury, eroding years of trained discipline. Until today, the mission had prevented her from going all out. Secrecy was of utmost priority. But no more. Not when her whole world was at stake. She would have no face to show to anyone back home if Frein died, nor did she think she¡¯d be able to if he did. Her shaking hand held his wrist, feeling for any sign of pulse. A sliver of hope remained; it was enough for Katherine. She removed both their helmets in a hurry, then placed a hand over Frein¡¯s wound and began to Draw. ¡°Samesia.¡± Light pulsed for a brief moment, then it was done. Frein gasped for air, but his consciousness had taken a toll. With his life secured, all he needed now was time to sleep peacefully, a luxury Katherine intended to divest from Frein¡¯s assailant. Sleep, maybe. Peacefully? No. She promised to ensure nightmares for the rest of his pathetic life. ¡°Move,¡± said the armed man. He was young and drunk with a vile smile reaching both ears. ¡°I want to shoot more bullets in him.¡± Katherine wiped a tear as she stood, eyes recovering from the blur. A floating object materialized on the right side of her temple, glowing like a fancy hair ornament. From it burst ribbons of light hovering around her hair like a sort of imitation. ¡°I said move! Or I¡¯ll shoot you, too.¡± ¡°Go ahead and try, you talking piece of garbage.¡± Katherine growled, taking a step. Her ornament¡¯s light intensified with prismatic colors, painting the evening with vivid hues. The black from her pupils reverted to red, full of controlled fury and confidence. The man¡¯s irritation quickly turned to a grin, giving away his intent. Shot was fired. Sparks grated up from the asphalt, and a street lamp shattered as both halves of the bullet crashed on their unsuspecting existences. At the same instant, the armed man fell to the ground with a wound gushing out of his shin. The detective relaxed her posture, lowering a materialized knife to her side. A piece of sharpened power no larger than a breadknife. Katherine stifled a laugh. This world was so depraved of meiyal it couldn¡¯t even Draw a proper blade. The man¡¯s intoxicated confusion and mysterious injury mixed with his agonized screams. It was irritating to say the least. But it, as well as Katherine¡¯s glowing hair ornament, caused the mob behind them to fall to his aid, surrounding the entire driveway while flailing their brutish weapons. Katherine recalled, only briefly, that some of these people worked for rich folks who had influence over the rule and law of the land, and they spewed nonsense like those could be a threat to her. Not that it mattered to her at any point during her time here. It wouldn¡¯t start now. She raised her knife in response to the gathering thugs and poured her own power into it. The blade shined, changing its shape similar to a katana. The coincidence, as Katherine had put it, was surreal. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Shinera.¡± She swung the sword with a brief flourish to her side, and a small circle of light formed around her and Frein. ¡°Back off and you will live.¡± The murderous intent oozing from her words hushed the flailing and noise into an abrupt stop, turning them into nervous stares. ¡°Cross this line and you will meet your end.¡± What the hell is this? A sword? What the¡ª She¡¯s just one girl. We can take her! The thoughts echoing from each thug were as clear as spoken words. A brave one crossed the line. He dropped lifeless in that instant. Two more followed before the others realized what had happened, confusion creeping over their faces. Katherine relaxed her arms as if she didn¡¯t move at all, hair falling with grace. She breathed slowly to maintain control. Earth¡¯s resources were scarce, and she refused to consume her reserves. In any case, the threat was established. She erased Shinera from reality, giving way for her to take a fighting stance. ¡°I don¡¯t have all night,¡± she said, taunting as another set of thugs gathered around her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take turns.¡±
It took Jeff a little over a minute to digitally cash-in his winnings and send David¡¯s share while making sure the Goliath champion knew it came from Frein. He did so while escorting another contender on a lower-class ring with half a mind to whatever they were talking about. Of course, he wasn¡¯t about to spend his winnings off on another bet, not while he had won so much from the previous one and cared so little about this one. In fact, the fight was so boring he left the seats without even finishing the entire round, deciding he could leave his shift early since this establishment never worked under the law anyway. He was on his way to the staff room when he heard gunfire. The hallways always muffled everything; from the roaring audiences to the screaming agonies of the injured. But he was sure of it, as sure as spotting Detective Katherine¡¯s coat from a convention¡¯s crowd. His mind raced at the thought and his steps snapped towards a completely different direction. He may have imagined it, but he was convinced the noise came from where Frein and Katherine were headed. His brisk walk developed to a jog as he vaguely recalled the Detective¡¯s off-day schedule meant there was a chance she wasn¡¯t armed, and he was practically sprinting when he clearly remembered how exhausted Frein was from the previous match. Jeff came to a stop a few steps from the exit, studying its ramshackle features. Closed double doors; the consistent patterns from the muddy footprints to and from the doors didn¡¯t indicate any hasty pursuit, so he concluded it was safe to approach. He pushed one door ajar, crouching low and keeping his sidearm close to his chest in case of any ambush as well as to monitor his breathing. Nothing. Except, through the narrow slit, Jeff noted a missing street lamp that should be just beyond the gates. He had taken this exit once or twice, not only to practice his escape routes in case he got busted, but also to keep track of any changes no matter how minute. This route had a steel gate and the only choice to escape would be climbing over it. Not exactly the best route. The good thing about working under Detective Katherine¡¯s wing was that she never took any detail for granted and always wanted every piece of information no matter how insignificant they seemed at first. Pushing the door confirmed the missing street lamp, and the faint scent of tobacco hinted that a bunch of hoodlums had been here just a few minutes ago. Just as he was getting his worries confirmed, a flash of bright light erupted for an instant. Jeff snapped towards it, crouched and pistol at the ready. Camera? Maybe. The flash was too bright for a smartphone, but a camera could still be a possibility. He inched cautiously, keeping himself low between vehicles. He began to pick up noises. First were the ruffling of shoes, then the agonized grunts, and by the time he had heard pained screams, he tightened his resolve and rushed into the scene. The first that came to his mind was, how am I going to report this? In an open space, barely lit by the bloodied light of the guardhouse were about two dozen men lying on the ground. In the middle of them was Detective Katherine, breathing heavily but standing, and she was¡­smoking? Though Jeff had indeed appreciated Katherine¡¯s figure¡ªthe few times she didn¡¯t wear that blasted coat¡ªin this figurative sense in the past, he did so with respect, keeping it to himself. He was married after all. The figurative meaning of the term meant little in this case, however, since he could clearly see white lines of smoke rising from the detective¡¯s back as if she had just put herself out of flames. ¡°Jeff, I need your help,¡± she called out, taking Jeff out of his stupor. She weakly gestured towards a fallen bike where Frein lay on the ground pooled by his own blood. Jeff quickly took action. At first, he wanted to give first aid, but Katherine waved him over to prop the bike instead, Frein wasn¡¯t bleeding anymore anyway. But that amount of blood¡­ Detective Katherine had that look. Don¡¯t ask. Jeff was at least a decade older than her, but he couldn¡¯t even leverage that whenever she wore that face, not to mention she was higher ranked. Not even the Chief could breach it, and as far as everyone knew, only Frein could do it. He had so many questions to ask: the unconscious men, the smoke on her back, Frein¡¯s condition, all of which were potentially dangerous enough that it might cost him his life. At least, reading from Katherine¡¯s face, he would be as sure as dead if he even tried to bring up the topic. ¡°You¡¯re a good man, Jeff,¡± Katherine began as soon as Frein was secured on the bike. ¡°I bet Frein will miss you.¡± Panic immediately clouded all of Jeff¡¯s senses. He considered pulling out his gun¡­for self-defense! But he knew it was futile, he had to use words. ¡°Please, I have a family,¡± he begged. ¡°I won¡¯t tell anyone!¡± ¡°Good man, but a bit of an idiot,¡± Katherine sighed. ¡°Calm down, I won¡¯t hurt you. Get the gate open.¡± She hopped on the bike and turned the ignition; the loud boom didn¡¯t help Jeff¡¯s heart at all. ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± she continued and gestured over to Frein. ¡°Depending on him, we¡¯ll probably never see you again. Everything you need to start tearing this place apart, you can find from those people. Call it in, I assure you they won¡¯t wake up until morning. I¡¯ll let the Chief know you¡¯ll be taking my place from here on out, you better have your wings ready. ¡°And don¡¯t go looking for us, understand? You¡¯ll just waste your time. Have a great life, Jeff. Send my regards to your family.¡± And just like that, not even letting a word in, not even letting him to reciprocate a goodbye, Katherine left, driving off into the darkness of the night.
Chapter 3: Revelations of a Seeker Revelations of a Seeker Katherine breathed out; eyes focused on Frein. He slept without any visible strain, breathing normally on his bed as if he wasn¡¯t half dead just hours ago. She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. When he didn¡¯t respond, she passed the time by idling around Frein¡¯s minimalistic apartment and listening to music. She was pleasantly surprised to have discovered music on her first day on Earth, admiring the similarities and differences between it and Brymeia¡¯s. Katherine could only describe this apartment as a humble abode, designed particularly for efficient storage with a lack for anything grandiose. The entrance led to a narrow foyer with a closet for footwear which was filled, surprisingly, by Katherine¡¯s collection of shoes and slippers. Frein had two pairs of footwear¡ªincluding the one he wore today¡ªarranged on the floor beside the closet. A short walkway¡ªlined again by closets on either side to store various things like umbrellas, I.D.s, bags, and most of the outdoor necessities¡ªled to the living room with a small set of sofa and table, doubling as the dining room. In here were Frein¡¯s pride and joy, his book collection comprised of four shelves which was, considering Frein, the most expensive set in his entire home. Across one side of the dining-living room was the single bedroom where Frein currently slept while on the other side provided space for the kitchen and the washroom. Further in one of the corners near the end had a bathroom filled mostly with Katherine¡¯s toiletries than with Frein¡¯s, while another storage for less used things had a locked door in the other corner. All in all, this studio apartment was supposedly meant for one person. Katherine rented the room just beside this one, but with all her belongings practically fighting for space with Frein¡¯s, she was essentially living-in with him at this point. She only ever went to her own apartment whenever she needed to Gather and Mill her meiyal. Otherwise, it was empty. A soft rumble came from her stomach, reminding her about dinner. So, she busied herself working the kitchen, switching to autopilot mode while her brain recalled just what happened. ¡°Technique¡­¡± Katherine said, smiling despite herself. What an excuse. Her worries for Frein fighting in that cursed place had gone to a point where she bestowed him a safety measure, giving him very specific limitations and permissions on when to use it. She had called it a secret martial arts technique and had made it believable enough for Frein to buy the story; he still had his speculations even today. Of course, she had always gone out of her way to see all of his matches, hiding in plain sight in each one, and had only made her appearance today because David had been beyond her expectations. Frein had exceeded all her expectations when he used the technique, crushing David to a pulp with such a powerful display. And that same level of power had made such a paralyzing presence she hadn¡¯t been able to respond on time to protect him. Now, she even brought him back from the brink of death. There was absolutely no way she could hide the truth now. Well¡­Frein was skeptical even from the beginning. So maybe he wouldn¡¯t panic. Maybe he would still accept her. And hopefully they could just stay in this room, on this planet, living together like any other couple. Somehow, she couldn¡¯t see that happening. In her heart she already knew she had found the Visitor. She knew it was him right on the very first day, right when he took her handshake. For four years she had savored her time with him. If only it could be forever¡­ If Kristel saw me now, she¡¯d probably be very confused. Thoughts of her dear friend brought along with it a stream of memories. Princess Kristel Irista, along with her retinue, Frill and Liona, were some of the few people she spent time with outside of training. They grew up together, played together, studied together, and fought and reconciled with one another. They even shared dreams, passions, and hobbies. Including regrets. Due to her rigorous training sessions in preparation for her duties as a Lady of the Void and as the chosen Seeker, her precious moments with Kristel and the others were limited. It also meant she didn¡¯t have time for anything else. It was one of her deepest regrets when she saw the other three girls spending time with their cuddly yuma pets while she stood there all alone. She missed them. She finished cooking just in time for Frein to wake up. He blinked twice, thrice, trying to make sense of it all. Only when their eyes met did clarity appear on his face. It was a mixture of relief and subtle anguish ebbing and flowing in a sea of disappointment. ¡°I should be dead.¡± His words were cold and dry. A frown formed while he felt around his chest. ¡°I got shot right here.¡± The wound had already mended into a scar, a symbol of both miracle and curse. Katherine couldn¡¯t say anything. She sat on a chair beside the bed, holding his free hand. The soft shine of the evening moon gave little light, unhelpful in the situation. ¡°You did this?¡± Panic would¡¯ve been understandable. Confusion more so. But Frein was different, he had always been. And this, right here, was another reminder to Katherine why she fell for him¡ªwhy it was inevitable. Despite the welling emotions mixing within him, his will to maintain control was something that impressed even someone as special as her. ¡°You¡­did something to me.¡± Not a question; a statement. A calm declaration of a fact, as if he was willing to believe she was some sort of a miracle worker. ¡°Yes.¡± Relief escaped Katherine; her tears thankful of Frein disposition. Anyone else would freak out, scream at her, call her a monster, or even force her away. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Not Frein. ¡°Then this could only mean one thing.¡± A face of excitement slowly appeared on Frein. Weak, but apparent. Katherine knew right away what he would say next. ¡°I¡¯m right.¡± A storm of emotions whelmed inside Katherine. Ever since they first met, Frein had expressed his suspicions. She was never instructed to keep it a secret, but she had always talked herself out of it, dropping his theories and assumptions without as much as a hint. She even went as far as calling him crazy, but it was mostly because of how crazed and obsessed Frein was with fantasy, aliens, deities, mythologies, legends, and other otherworldly entities that Katherine felt at ease whenever she was with him. Now she wasn¡¯t sure if admitting to it was the right answer, but denying it any further would only harm their relationship. ¡°Yes,¡± she said hesitantly, doing her best not to show her internal conflict. She tapped her temple, and the floating hair ornament glowed in various colors. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± As simple as that, Frein turned from a man prime for the Ritual of Peace to a kid petting his bonded yuma for the first time. His jaw dropped, speechless at her display. Brows curled in doubt, head tilted to reason. Then the sigh of acceptance came. ¡°I have an alien girlfriend,¡± he said, shrugging as if it was no big deal. ¡°Cool.¡± Katherine dismissed her ornament in silence, giving Frein time to let the fact sink in. He looked at her funny, scrutinizing squinting eyes affixed to a relatively comedic stare. ¡°What?¡± she asked, defensively. Frein squinted further, frowning at the same time, his eyes on the verge of closing altogether. ¡°What!¡± ¡°I just assumed you¡¯d be growing tentacles or wings, or dissolve into a space blob and eat me. Or¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± Frein smiled. If Katherine didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d assume Frein was trying to break the tension. But she did know better, and he just loved teasing her. ¡°So, why tell me now, why not before?¡± he asked, relaxing now that he had time to digest the information. ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want the attention. For my own safety, your own safety, that kind of thing, you know?¡± Katherine kept to her truths. With Frein¡¯s instincts, he could discern facts from lies as if reading actual thoughts. Not that they were in any way as accurate as Katherine¡¯s ability to hear thoughts. Still, they were sharp enough for him to read his opponent¡¯s every move. ¡°There¡¯s no way I could hide it after all this.¡± Frein nodded like one of those dog toys people put in their cars, mindless and continuous. Then a smile slowly etched from his face, as if to telegraph to her what was going through his head. She couldn¡¯t read his thoughts anymore, something to do with the limitations of her gift, but she knew him well enough for it not to matter. There was a moment, a long one, enough for her to interrupt him, but she hesitated. In this moment, Katherine understood what it meant to be duty-bound. Her selflessness and selfishness wanting and not wanting two things at the same time. ¡°Bring me with you,¡± Frein said, oblivious to the path he wanted to take. The words have been said. And just like that, the storm brewing inside Katherine dissipated into nothing. Absolutely nothing. Finally, she sighed and tried to formulate the best way to approach the situation, twisting the lover¡¯s doubt into the Seeker¡¯s work. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± she said. Frein stopped nodding. He always knew when something bothered her. ¡°I came to Earth looking for someone to bring back. That¡¯s my mission. ¡°I began my training as a Seeker the day I turned ten. Apparently, there¡¯s only one in, like, one or two centuries, something like that. When we¡¯re ready, we travel to a world we choose then return with someone we call, the Visitor.¡± Katherine leaned on her chair, placing both hands together over her stomach like a patient in one of those therapy rooms. She wished she was in one right now, actually. ¡°I can only take one Visitor back,¡± she continued. ¡°That pretty much exhausts my ability to travel worlds. So, my teacher gave me a clue on how to find the right one.¡± ¡°So, am I the Visitor?¡± As expected of Frein. He caught up easily, but he didn¡¯t understand the whole picture. ¡°For the most part,¡± Katherine replied, sparing an agreeing brow towards him. ¡°My teacher said that, this time around, the Visitor would personally ask for a visit, which you just did. ¡°But there¡¯s more to it than just simply going to our world. I don¡¯t even know why there should be a Visitor in the first place. My teacher won¡¯t tell me. So, if you¡¯re asking me, I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± She shrugged with another sigh. ¡°There¡¯s also the whole deal with the actual visit.¡± She leaned forward at the same moment she mimicked quotation marks with her fingers. Frein must¡¯ve felt the change in the air, straightening up on his bed with eager ears waiting for what she had to say next. ¡°It¡¯s not really a visit, visit. When you come to our world¡­¡± Katherine sighed again. ¡°There really isn¡¯t a way to go back, and¡­¡± ¡°And?¡± Katherine stared at him for a while, realizing now how much of an idiot she was. Here she was falling in love with the Visitor, the one man she had been looking for, and had known since the beginning, for four whole years. And now she was hesitating because of what it meant to be the Visitor, and how her heart couldn¡¯t have possibly prepared her for it. Any sort of training wouldn¡¯t prepare her for it. When she was younger, she had made simulations inside her head of how she would tell the Visitor the truth when she found the right one. She had prepared persuasive statements and negotiation techniques to entice or even manipulate the Visitor. They all fell down the drain. But now that she had thrown herself into this situation, she had to see it through. Frein wouldn¡¯t let her go away at this point anyway. She sighed one last time. ¡°When you come to my world, you¡¯ll die after one year.¡± Her eyes were unsure where to look. They found their way to Frein¡¯s eyes, calm and calculative. Immediately, she understood. The option to back out was off the table from the beginning. ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± he said, forming a smile. ¡°I would¡¯ve wanted more, but I guess a year is fine.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± A part of Katherine didn¡¯t want him to go. And that part had taken over her judgment, pushing aside the mission and all else. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll die!¡± The irony spewing from her mouth was like poison, burning her lips and her sanity. They could just stay. No one would know. Well, her teacher would, but it wouldn¡¯t care. It could always find the next Seeker after a few centuries. ¡°Everybody dies in the end, Kat.¡± Frein¡¯s hands wrapped around Katherine¡¯s. They were warm and caring, and a little sweaty, but anyone going through this kind of conversation would be made out of stone if they weren¡¯t nervous. ¡°Not everyone can die knowing full well that life beyond Earth exists. ¡°Besides, this is a life you saved. It¡¯s only fitting that I use this life for you and your mission¡­whatever that is.¡± Katherine knew him well enough to know this was a white lie. A half-truth at most, bred by his aspirations and standards. But upon those words, she found her solace. Her nods were slow and shaky, but they¡¯ve returned to the cause. Deep inside she knew there was one more way to save him, to make sure he could live a normal life. She could return on her own, tell her teacher she failed and tell herself that she made the right choice, that Frein wouldn¡¯t have to die. But Frein had become her everything. Whether it was her mission or Frein himself, it didn¡¯t matter. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to abandon him for his own sake. So, from this point on, until his final breath, she vowed to herself to protect him. Cherish him. Katherine wrapped herself around Frein, feeling for him, uniting with him. Submitting her entirety to him as he did to her. Etching everything about him onto herself. For nothing will bring back the dead.
Chapter 4: The Gatekeepers Realm The Gatekeeper''s Realm
¡°Beyond this point, there¡¯s no coming back. Frein was past the decision when I first met eyes with him. But Katherine...¡± ~The Gatekeeper
Last night was a roller coaster mishmash of desperation, a dance with death, a glorious calling, and heated passion between overflowing emotions. For a life as stagnant and uneventful¡ªsave for the normality of fighting inside an illegal arena¡ªas Frein¡¯s, this much was more than enough to stir him into anticipation. He awoke to the whiff of fried eggs and toasted bread prepared by the lady he secretly swore to make the happiest woman of all¡ªa tall order considering he had essentially signed himself to death and leaving her after a year. Today marked the beginning of the journey towards that challenging promise. And what better way to start it than with a healthy breakfast? He pulled himself out of bed and wore whatever clothing was lying around, careful enough to know those were his. ¡°You slept like a log,¡± Katherine said as she laid down a porcelain bowl, which she lent to him and never took back, filled with mixed greens of different shades. She wore one of Frein''s oversized shirts. The fashion had been eye-opening for her back then; now it was the norm. ¡°Almost dying takes a lot from you, you know?¡± He gave her a soft kiss before sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaning on the legs of the sofa, because the coffee table was too low to eat on with a proper chair. ¡°I never really thanked you properly for that.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t dead, just nearly dead. And last night was enough.¡± ¡°Oh, well, I don¡¯t know about that.¡± Frein began filling his plate while wearing a sly smile. ¡°You seemed to want more before you fainted on me. It¡¯s boring when I¡¯m the only one doing all the work, you know?¡± ¡°Just¡­eat your damned breakfast, would you?¡± Frein knew when to stop. This wasn¡¯t quite there yet, but taking a pause for now potentially meant more for later. Besides, food awaits. After enjoying the meal in silence for a few moments, the would-be Visitor¡¯s eyes looked for the Seeker¡¯s. They locked for a few seconds, and as easy as that, a question flew from him to her. Katherine slowly placed her cup down the small table. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready,¡± she said, answering the silent question. ¡°Let me pack some things.¡± After breakfast, Frein left a note outside the door, thanking his landlady and entrusting everything in the room to her. She wouldn¡¯t worry, in fact, she¡¯d be happy for him turning a new leaf. That brought a small smile to Frein as he went back inside to prepare. There wasn¡¯t much to pack if he was being completely honest, most of the things lying around in his room were Katherine¡¯s anyway. He never went overseas nor stayed the night at someone else¡¯s house. Living in another world demanded he brought everything he had, right? Frein didn¡¯t want to, he didn¡¯t even want to check every closet to make sure, especially not the locked one sealing away all his cringy childhood memories. Maybe I should burn them before we go? It was too much of a hassle. After changing to a more appropriate attire they both made their own preparations. Frein packed three sets of clothes, some toiletries, and all of his books along with a few electronic gadgets after Katherine agreed to bring them. His eyes drifted towards his bed. He reached out under it and pulled something that was far more expensive than everything else he possessed combined. The sleek finish of the wood gave a familiar feel. At first, it looked nothing more than a well-polished piece of wood no longer than his arm, until he grabbed one end and pulled. He may have been carrying her last night, but Nakiri was as beautiful as he first held her. Every time he observed the blade, the tragic pang of his past stung at him. If he wasn¡¯t so poor that time, this blade¡¯s sister would still be with him. ¡°You never told me the name of the other katana,¡± Katherine commented, pocketing a smartphone that she used more for music than communication. ¡°Yeah.¡± Frein said, simply turning away from Katherine and knowing she wouldn¡¯t pursue any further. He would rather forget about it, a regret forever locked away deep within his memories, never to see the light of day again. ¡°All set?¡± Katherine finished her own preparations as well. She performed a certain motion with her hand and opened what Frein defined as a portal in space. Then she grabbed all their things and threw them in the portal before closing it with another hand gesture. Frein promised himself not to overreact with all the magic he was about to see, but his eyes burned with questions and he bit his lips to stop himself from smiling and asking at the same time. ¡°All in due time, Frein.¡± Katherine was smiling herself. ¡°You sure, you¡¯re ready to go?¡± Frein gave his room one final glance. ¡°You can¡¯t convince me out of this, Kat.¡± The Seeker sighed. ¡°It was worth a shot. Give me some space.¡± Her hair ornament glowed as she slowly raised both hands in a lifting gesture. An outline of light surrounded her, slowly expanding to a circular formation and transforming into runic patterns that didn¡¯t make any sense to Frein. The abundance of power washed over him, like sinking into the depths of the ocean, heavy and suffocating. He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to intimidation or crushing pressures superficially brought upon him by his past opponents, but this was something else entirely. Something concrete and vague at the same time. This power prompted his instincts to step back, run if possible. It felt so natural to raise his hand and guard himself against it. Instead, he caught himself with sheer willpower and stayed exactly where he stood. He had to get used to this as quickly as possible. ¡°Take a step inside the circle. Then we¡¯ll go.¡± Frein barely heard Katherine¡¯s voice over the numbing hums reverberating from light. Regardless, without so much as thinking twice, he took a step.
¡°Welcome, my dear guests.¡± Frein imagined himself passing through a tunnel, or be thrown in the vacuum of space while surrounded by multiple stars as he was plunged forth to the other world. A fleeting instant made him think of the possibility of failure, plummeting out of the intended route and dying right then and there in the middle of nothingness. None of those happened. When he came to, everything was out of sync, like a desert dune and a snow mountain combined in the same space. The conflicting colors should have irritated his eyes to no end, but he was completely unaffected by it. ¡°Where are we?¡± Frein asked, probing for a response. ¡°We¡¯re between worlds, Frein. This is the Gatekeeper¡¯s Realm. My teacher¡¯s realm.¡± Katherine replied instead. She stood right next to him, searching for something. She exhaled, breaking her tension in exchange for relief but her expression remained vigilant. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this is too fancy or too bland.¡± ¡°Whatever the case, he has to see you first, or something bad might happen.¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± It was the voice again, now louder and clearer, not something projected in his head. ¡°Come, head for the peak. We shall begin with your procedure.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Two things came to Frein¡¯s mind. First, the voice sounded like a woman rather than a man. Second, he couldn¡¯t tell north from south. He saw only one particular mountain¡ªor dune¡ªto his right. ¡°Is that where we should go?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± Katherine¡¯s response wasn¡¯t reassuring. ¡°You said you¡¯re his student.¡± ¡°He has a tendency to make this place unpredictable.¡± Sure enough, everything else aside from the mountain-dune and the path leading towards it started changing shape. They were careful not to overstep. Frein stopped trying to figure out whether the things around him were real or not. He kept his head on the objective instead, hoping to find answers. As they reached the top, the landscape gradually changed into an evenly grounded mesa. There stood a hooded silhouette with flickering shadows standing beside what seemed to be a well-designed stone campfire in stop motion. The figure turned and unveiled its cover, though it didn¡¯t help much. Its face was distorted. ¡°Welcome, honored guests. I am Schrodie, the Gatekeeper.¡± It gestured to the side. ¡°Please, take a seat.¡± Frein¡¯s eyes followed the figure¡¯s hand and found a set of table and chairs manifesting and acting as though they had always been there in the first place, not that those particular inanimate objects could act. Following Katherine, they took their seats. ¡°I believe you are the Brymeian named as Katherine Militia,¡± said the figure. Frein couldn¡¯t tell if its eyes were looking at her, but the way its face was directed gave him that impression. ¡°Yes,¡± Katherine responded. The figure took the seat facing both of them and leaned back. It gave out a soft sigh. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. It¡¯s been about four Earth years, I believe¡ªtwo and a half Brymeian. You look significantly different from last I remember you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve changed much.¡± Katherine sounded a bit tensed. Even after its introduction, Frein wasn¡¯t sure if it was really Schrodie. The interactions between it and Katherine were distant despite their supposed student-teacher relationship. He didn¡¯t bother asking. ¡°Well, you¡¯re no longer a virgin.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s out of line!¡± Katherine turned red while Frein almost spat out a snort, then laughed until she gave him a death glare. He was so taken aback it took a him a few seconds to realize the entity, Schrodie, had changed. From a distorted shadow, it now looked more colored, a hue of blue or pink¡­maybe. A joking smile flashed on Schrodie¡¯s face. ¡°Had to break the ice after all these years. In all seriousness, the quality of your meiyal system has improved dramatically. You are on your way back, I assume?¡± ¡°With your permission.¡± Katherine¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And this gentleman?¡± ¡°With your approval, I present the Visitor.¡± Katherine passed him a look while blushing, death glare still on. He started with a short bow, trying not to smile too much. ¡°My name is Frein Nivan. It¡¯s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± Being formal and polite seemed the best course of action. He extended a hand. The figure returned a bow and stared at the hand. Its face flickered for an instant and then a hand appeared, accepting the gesture. It felt pretty solid and human-like despite the unusual physical form. ¡°Pardon my rudeness, Frein Nivan. The pleasure of meeting you is all mine. You took her virginity, yes?¡± ¡°I said, stop it!¡± Katherine interrupted. A flicker beside her temple sparked to life, but she thought better and snuffed it out with an irritated gesture. ¡°Yes,¡± Frein said proudly. His shoulder suffered a strong punch almost immediately. ¡°The Gatekeeper is asking, Kat. I should answer honestly.¡± ¡°No, you should not!¡± Schrodie turned back to Katherine, face returning to distortion. ¡°I have no qualms allowing passage to this Visitor, but Frein must undergo a ceremony to prevent Brymeia from tearing him apart.¡± Tear him apart. Frein blinked a few times at the phrase. The Gatekeeper stood. ¡°When you are ready, please proceed to the next room.¡± Like a signal, a space was created behind it with a wall and a door, again as if they were there all this time. It opened the door and proceeded inside. ¡°Only Frein may enter. I shall be waiting.¡± As soon as the door closed, Katherine exhaled a deep sigh as if a heavy burden was lifted from her. ¡°He¡¯s such a piece of work.¡± ¡°He?¡± Frein asked, finally raising his question. ¡°Sounds feminine to me.¡± ¡°Not surprising. This space is distorted with a lot of inconsistencies all around. You can tell just by simply looking.¡± Katherine stood and stretched a bit. ¡°He could make do with a more stable environment, but he doesn¡¯t really care. I think he finds it amusing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not really one to judge. What ceremony is he talking about?¡± ¡°My guess would be implanting you with a meiyal system. You need one if you want to Draw Meiyal Arts without passing out after two minutes like what happened yesterday.¡± ¡°Those are a couple of terms I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be learning about, right?¡± he asked, and she confirmed with a stretching affirmative hum. Frein noted the way Katherine stretched, as if throughout her entire time on Earth she never had a chance to unwind or breathe in air as pristine as this place could provide for her. ¡°So, should I just go inside?¡± ¡°Yes. Otherwise, we can¡¯t proceed.¡± Katherine breathed out slowly and showed a soft smile of confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡ªor she¡ªwon¡¯t bite. But leave the sex talk out!¡± The distortion around the space made it difficult for Frein to get his bearings. It even affected his depth perception. It took him three tries to hold the doorknob, despite easily holding the chair earlier. ¡°Please close the door, quietly if you may.¡± Schrodie waited at the center of what Frein struggled to consider as a room. Furniture kept disappearing and reappearing all over the place and it proved difficult for him to even take a single step. ¡°No need to worry,¡± she¡ªas Frein considered¡ªassured. ¡°They won¡¯t materialize on spaces taken by others. Take a seat.¡± She gestured again like before, and a chair was there ever since. ¡°It¡¯s like we¡¯re in some kind of quantum space,¡± Frein said, taking the chair without much difficulty. ¡°Only bigger.¡± Frein¡¯s knowledge on quantum mechanics was minute at best, piqued after brushing through it on some sci-fi books. He knew a few formulae, some basic fundamentals here and there, but nothing too profound or complicated. He didn¡¯t need the knowledge, but his curiosity won him over for a while. At the very least, he remembered a bit of the popular Heisenberg¡¯s Uncertainty Principle and was familiar with the Schr?dinger¡¯s Cat thought experiment. Quantum physics itself was supposedly observed on scales far too small for the eyes to see. Observing these supposedly similar behaviors without any sort of equipment brought him a smile despite all the confusion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Frein, but I am unfamiliar with the term. If you want clarification, you are inside my personal dimension. Everything is as I would determine it to be.¡± Just like that, their surroundings became a calm sea with bright clouds covering the sun. Frein seized the sides of his chair in an attempt to stabilize himself, realizing a few seconds later that they were floating over the sea¡­or a mirror. The stillness of the surface, undisturbed even by the shifting of his weight, gave off such a deceiving impression were it not for the ripples coming from Schrodie¡¯s feet. Frein decided to never jump to conclusions when magic was involved. ¡°Does it make sense now?¡± the Gatekeeper asked. Frein looked around. Katherine was nowhere to be found despite the walls disappearing. He gave her a dumbfounded nod and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Katherine?¡± ¡°She¡¯s on the other side where we left her.¡± Schrodie pointed behind Frein. The missing door had always been there and fragments of the wall adjacent to it sparked in and out. ¡°This is trippy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it.¡± Frein could tell solely from the intonation of her voice that she was smiling. ¡°So,¡± she began, ¡°onto the matter then?¡± ¡°What do I do?¡± ¡°Nothing too complicated. I¡¯ll begin a certain ritual that will provide you the ability to adapt to the meiyal on Brymeia. However, due to the process, your body will be, essentially, continuously burdened with stress. Which is why I instructed Katherine to tell you¡ª¡± ¡°That I will die after one year.¡± Frein finished the sentence for her. He already had a few questions, but held them for now. ¡°Precisely. Although, that is not entirely the case.¡± It took one phrase from Schrodie to completely turn that decision. ¡°How do you mean?¡± ¡°On average, a foreign living entity¡ªone with an implanted meiyal system¡ªwould last on Brymeia for one year. Six hundred days to be exact. Then the subject gradually collapses due to the stress on the body; they last a few more days to a few months at most. Hopefully by then, they have fulfilled their purpose.¡± ¡°That means I¡¯m not the first one?¡± There was another question looming over Frein, but questions were meant to be asked one at a time so they could be answered properly. ¡°No, most certainly not.¡± She snapped her fingers and four statues appeared. They were nothing like human, except for their bipedal features. One looked very similar to how Frein knew an elf, strictly eyeballing the ears and the length of the hair. He didn¡¯t know if they called their species as such. Two of the other statues seemed like twins, or related at the very least, but their facial features were masked with a stone version of cloth. The last one had horns and the amount of his hair could be considered like a mane. ¡°Not the first I¡¯m afraid, but the first from your planet.¡± ¡°Am I the fifth?¡± ¡°Fifteenth.¡± ¡°Do you happen to have the record of the longest one to stay alive?¡± ¡°Five years, the third Visitor. Sadly, we were not able to make a statue of it.¡± ¡°It?¡± ¡°A completely gender-less entity. It had a meiyal system of its own, which played a significant part on its lifespan.¡± ¡°I see.¡± There was silence for a while until Schrodie vanished the statues. ¡°So, before we continue with the next concerns, this is your absolute, final chance. Despite the variety in duration, you¡¯re only really assured for one year before your inevitability takes place.¡± Frein smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re just double-checking, but you don¡¯t have to keep reminding me about that detail.¡± Schrodie¡¯s posture relaxed. Even though Frein couldn¡¯t see her face, he could tell she was looking at him fondly. ¡°I only want to make sure you understand the choice you¡¯re making, Mr. Frein.¡± The Gatekeeper started to float away from Frein, making a significant distance from where he sat, though her voice remained as clear as if she was just beside him. ¡°Most Visitors of the past regretted their choice the moment they succumbed to their inevitability. Suffice to say, I¡¯ve been at the end of a number of otherworldly curses. I¡¯m sure you know this is a decision only a handful are willing to take.¡± ¡°At the very least, you have my word: I won¡¯t curse you when I¡¯m about to die.¡± Frein took a moment to process the rest of his response, trusting that his voice would carry the same way the Gatekeeper¡¯s had despite the distance. ¡°All things considered; I should be dead right now. If not for Kat, I wouldn¡¯t be here in the first place. She saved my life. I know that sounds a little cheeky, but really, it¡¯s just one big excuse to sate my curiosity. I don¡¯t mind exchanging my life for an experience like this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re setting too high of an expectation.¡± ¡°Is that going to be a problem?¡± Schrodie was already too far for Frein to observe any obvious body language, but she gave just the right amount of pause to give him a positive impression.
Chapter 5: Meiyal System Meiyal System ¡°Well then.¡± Schrodie snapped her fingers again and everything around them turned to darkness. All that was left was Frein¡¯s chair where he eagerly sat. ¡°Do go on with the questions while the ceremony proceeds.¡± She began to circle around him, gesturing with her fingers as if writing something in the air. Illuminating light followed the way she wrote and formed a variety of layering runic patterns. She proceeded at an incredible pace considering the distance. ¡°Are you able to tell me how Brymeia and Earth are different from each other?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Language, time, and culture mainly, as it is with other worlds. We have humans like you, divided into their own borders. We have elves, dwarves, orcs, and a few more other species that are amazingly closely defined in your literature. ¡°For a while, it made me wonder if your planet is a host for Travelers. Given the lack of meiyal, it¡¯s evidently not, although a few chose to hide in your planet which could very well explain the resemblances in literature. Once you¡¯ve come through, Katherine can give you a full lecture.¡± She was a quarter of a circle finished now. The prospect of meeting other species, especially those from within fantasy, was too much of a bizarre concept that Frein struggled to control his smile. ¡°But I can understand you,¡± he said, checking on the facts that mattered for the time being. ¡°As Gatekeeper, I am capable of conveying messages in whatever manner I desire. The ceremony will allow you to understand and speak the languages and terms of this world as I do, but keep in mind that their cultural aspects will not be conveyed to you through the same manner, for experience¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°What about the meiyal you mentioned earlier?¡± ¡°Yes. Meiyal can be complicated, but to make matters simple, it is an abundant resource in Brymeia, an energy source utilized differently by each territory, sometimes even within different ethnic groups of the same species. ¡°For example, I will provide your body the same as Katherine¡¯s ancestral development system so that she can easily help you learn their ways and avoid any conflicts. You will be able to harness meiyal and be able to Draw Meiyal Arts like she does. Do remember the difference.¡± She was now half a circle complete. ¡°These terms sound very scientific,¡± Frein commented, barely forming the complete idea from her explanation. ¡°It¡¯s the best way to define mysteries, if you ask me. If you¡¯re interested with Brymeia¡¯s history, they have a lot of books for you to catch up on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know. Any risks on this ceremony?¡± ¡°Aside from your determined death? None. Although the previous Visitors indicated feeling an odd sensation during the procedure. Nothing harmful.¡± ¡°Are you also from Brymeia?¡± It was odd to ask the question, but Frein was curious. The figure stopped for a brief moment. ¡°That''s the first time somebody actually asked something about me. Cute. And to answer that, yes and no. I¡¯m not born from Brymeia, but I was made because of Brymeia, and was immediately rooted into this realm for this particular purpose.¡± It took her a while to resume her circle, giving Frein time for a follow-up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you bored just being here on your own?¡± Schrodie actually giggled. ¡°Not entirely. I can do a lot of things within this space. That includes artificial entities with their own unpredictable behaviors¡­something to that effect. Besides, I¡¯m free to see Brymeia whenever I wish. Free to interact with anyone if I choose to do so.¡± With that, she finished the circle and connected the final pattern with the first one. ¡°Please extend the most favorable part of your body. That which you are most comfortable with. And, just in case our earlier conversations accidentally spurred any indecent thoughts, I would warn you that once this ceremony is complete, there will be no repeats. And I will not be held responsible on how the rest of Brymeia will see you.¡± All indecent thoughts simultaneously combusted. Frein took a second to consider and finally landed on choosing his right arm. It was his dominant arm and what he used to win most of his fights. He lifted it up and presented it to her. Intense lines of light from each rune traced around his arm in an instant, threatening to burn his skin. Then the runes contracted and clasped into his arm. Hot¡­or so he thought. It was merely the hot sensation of something gripping tightly around the portion of his skin, like rubber. The pattern wrapped around his wrist, traveling all the way up to his elbow like a boa constrictor. It turned black as the light faded. The sensation was exactly how Schrodie described it. Odd. Considering this extremely tight strangulation, his blood flow remained unaffected, and his arm remained his own. The gripping stopped, but the sensation of something wrapped around his arm was clearly present. Traces of smoke sizzled out from the dimming runes, giving Frein a sense of confusion and wonder. It didn¡¯t burn enough to warrant smoke. ¡°How was it?¡± Schrodie asked. ¡°Irritating.¡± The fact that this rune pattern embedded onto his skin like a tattoo didn¡¯t really appeal to him. ¡°Is there some way I could hide this? Even just the big part around my arm at the very least?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The distorted entity reached for his arm with both hands. She began from his elbow and traced down to his wrist, making the markings disappear as if giving them camouflage properties. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I need to leave this portion open.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Frein asked and looked at the markings visible around his wrist. The sensation around his arm was still present, but at least it didn¡¯t look too bothersome. At the center of his wrist on the forearm side was a small dark red circle. ¡°This is your meiyal system. This circle is your meiyal core while the parts coming from it are your meiyal marks. Core, plus marks, equal the system. This allows you to gather meiyal,¡± Schrodie explained. ¡°The more of your marks are exposed to meiyal, the better. The enchantment I placed just now covers the general body of the markings which limits how you Gather, Mill, and Draw Meiyal Arts.¡± Frein made a mental note of the terms. ¡°So, if I understand this correctly, I¡¯ll be better off with the whole thing uncovered?¡± ¡°Yes and no,¡± Schrodie replied. She vanished for a second and reappeared on a chair that had always been there despite appearing just now. Frein thought he was never going to get used to it. ¡°Limiting your Meiyal Arts is for your own good. Your reception to meiyal will be far more sensitive compared to that of a native due to the fact that you¡¯re not from Brymeia, or to be precise, you lived in a planet with barely any meiyal. Leaving you out in the open without any proper knowledge and training would be dangerous both to you and to those around you.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°For starters, why don¡¯t you tell me if you feel anything?¡± Frein paused. There wasn¡¯t much to go on, so he kept observing his hand. A subtle sensation crept up to his fingers. Solidified particles appeared, floating about above his palm. They moved slowly in an orbit, expressing to Frein a set of thoughts. Calmness and patience. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°So this is meiyal...¡± ¡°You learn fast.¡± Frein came to an understanding. Even without proper training, the impression of power was heavily present in the meiyal surrounding his wrist. Katherine had lived in such abundance her entire life until she had to leave and survive for years without this power. Admiration was one thing, but what Frein felt was simply pure pride. ¡°So, how do I Draw this Meiyal Arts thing?¡± he asked, returning to reality. ¡°That is out of my jurisdiction, Mr. Frein.¡± ¡°Frein is fine.¡± It was a little too late, but whatever. Schrodie nodded before teleporting out of her chair, her image distorting in and out of Frein¡¯s field of vision. ¡°As I¡¯ve said, Brymeia¡¯s natives practice different ways to utilize meiyal. Some have evolved into specialized disciplines, while some were discarded to be forgotten. It would be best for you to learn under Katherine as I¡¯ve structured your meiyal system the same way her ancestral line evolved hers.¡± ¡°What about the runes? Do I have to memorize them?¡± ¡°Runes?¡± It took Frein a second what that implied. ¡°The symbols you were writing during the ceremony,¡± he clarified. ¡°Oh. Those are not of Meiyal Arts. They are more of¡­¡± she pondered for a second, ¡°¡­an involved application of meiyal, so to speak. None of Brymeia¡¯s natives use it.¡± ¡°Katherine did,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°To go out and then come back, yes. Only for those two occasions. No matter how much she tries now, that ability for her has been exhausted.¡± As Frein nodded in silence, Schrodie walked¡ªmore like hover¡ªtowards the door leading to the first room. ¡°Before we go back, do you have any other questions?¡± ¡°Is it even worth learning this?¡± Frein asked himself as much as Schrodie. ¡°Yes, Frein,¡± Schrodie answered without hesitation or even consideration. For a moment, flesh flickered on Schrodie¡¯s face, too brief to see any distinct features. ¡°I do believe it is worth your remaining time.¡± ¡°With this, I¡¯ve signed up for my inevitable death, haven¡¯t I?¡± ¡°If you prefer to be blunt about it, yes.¡± Another flicker, hair this time, pink and long. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want to be reminded?¡± ¡°You said there¡¯s a predetermined time for my death.¡± Frein kept staring at the swimming meiyal orbiting his fingers. ¡°Does that mean if I commit suicide now, I won¡¯t die?¡± Schrodie¡¯s head tilted slightly upwards. Eyes, too brief to see color, flashed for a mere split second, staring down at him at an awkward angle. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Even without proper facial details, Frein could tell she was smiling. ¡°I...¡± He gave her question considerable thought. ¡°I think I¡¯d rather not.¡± He stood up from the chair and followed the Gatekeeper. ¡°So, what do I need to do now?¡± Schrodie paused for a while. ¡°You know, that¡¯s the first thing the others before you asked me¡ªmade it a bit difficult to lessen their hesitations. I¡¯m sure you have your assumptions, but in truth, I can¡¯t tell you just yet. ¡°Once you¡¯re in Brymeia, I¡¯m sure you will eventually piece together why I can¡¯t give you this information. You might even end up with your own conclusions. For now, be an actual visitor. Enjoy the sights, the food, the experience, like you¡¯re simply in a foreign country. You only have so much time, and as long as you strive to prepare for any possibility, your purpose can come later.¡± She turned the doorknob. Her whole entity turned towards him in the slowest of fashions. ¡°But if you¡¯re desperate for a hint¡ª¡± she paused and Frein nodded, ¡°¡ªyou need only know for now that Brymeia is not the only world involved here.¡±
Katherine watched as Frein entered the other room and closed the door. About a fraction of a second later, before she could even blink, the door opened again and Schrodie appeared. It had been years, she would admit, but watching someone else other than herself display their prowess over meiyal was all too much of a relief for Katherine to even consider how absurd of a subtle performance it was. ¡°How did it go?¡± she asked. ¡°Quite well, I should say.¡± Schrodie appeared on a chair and gestured for them to follow. ¡°Take a look.¡± Frein showed her his markings as they took their seats. They seemed as normal to her senses as any other meiyal system from an Iristan heritage except for Schrodie¡¯s meiyal seal covering all his marks, leaving only the core open. The seal was exceptionally crafted and subtle that it could pass as though it was organically grown from birth, and unless Meiyal Arts had undergone an exceptional breakthrough within her years of absence, she doubted anyone other than Selfiya would have any microscopic chance of telling any difference. Well, it¡¯s not like Mother Selfiya practices Meiyal Arts, Katherine thought. There were a few things she needed to clarify, but Schrodie beat her to the punch. ¡°It is a little unique, I would admit, given that it had to be somewhat compatible for Frein to use,¡± Schrodie began. ¡°But not in the sort of way you would imagine. Frein won''t be as powerful as you, or Frill, at least not right away.¡± Now that was a name she hadn''t heard in years. The Gatekeeper then turned to Frein as if to advise him. ¡°You will only be as strong as you train yourself to be.¡± ¡°How is he supposed to remove your seals, then?¡± Katherine pressed, even though she was sure she wouldn¡¯t get an answer on this one. ¡°The same way Iristans remove theirs.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t even know how that¡ª¡± Schrodie raised his hand, without the motion. ¡°I assure you; it works the same.¡± Then that could take years! Katherine stopped herself before it was too late. ¡°With the ceremony completed, I am now able to let you passage to Brymeia. But would you prefer staying for a little while?¡± ¡°Stay?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Enlightening Frein about meiyal and Meiyal Arts. Irista Nation has been placed in an awkward spot and war is brewing¡ªdon¡¯t worry, it has nothing to do with you leaving. "Now I¡¯m not one to take sides, but I would prefer not to have our Visitor arrive defenseless. He can safely learn and practice here, if you follow my meaning. I¡¯ll also provide you with concrete and adequate space for your training.¡± He slumped back on his chair and relaxed, with the motion this time. Katherine couldn¡¯t agree more, but this was not part of the plan. ¡°May I ask,¡± she probed with a gentle voice. Only after the distorted figure gave her his attention did she continue. ¡°Why are you helping us?¡± When she realized how awkward her question was, she added, ¡°I thought you only needed me to get a Visitor?¡± ¡°The Visitor, Katherine. There can be only one.¡± Schrodie paused for a while, pondering. ¡°Having people around is like having a small change of pace, quite refreshing, I should say. You¡¯ll be able to stay for six months¡ªBrymeian months¡ªat most, that will close your absence in Brymeia for exactly three years. I could influence the timing, but why bother?¡± Katherine turned to Frein. Brymeia had the same number of months as with Earth, but with fifty days instead. Three-hundred days was a lot of time, and yet at the same time, it wasn¡¯t. But any additional time she could spend with Frein was a treasure she would kill for every time. She wanted the offer, but Frein¡¯s decision mattered more. As expected, he quickly understood her glance. The feeling of having her thoughts read out in the open still sent chills down her spine, but the pleasure she always got from the irony of it was too addicting for her to even become self-conscious about it. ¡°I see no harm. Unless you¡¯re in a hurry,¡± he said. "This doesn''t take away from my time, right?" "Not at all," the Gatekeeper replied. "It''s the planet''s meiyal that''ll eventually destroy your body, and the meiyal system I gave you will help slow down that process." It was pretty much decided, then. Katherine could barely hide her excitement. ¡°Alright. Thank you so much, Schrodie. We¡¯ll make full use of what you can offer us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get right to it, then.¡± The distorting images of snow mountains and desert dunes evaporated in an instant, and a clear pristine floor mimicking a still pond expanded from underneath them. Within a few paces, the floor abruptly stopped and ground and soil took its place, forming slopes and growing forests every few layers. Frein¡¯s elated expression was a treasure to behold as he gazed upon his changing surroundings while Schrodie continued to paint their training room. A gentle breeze passed them by as birds chirped and sang, soaring through the skies, while fish jumped over streams of rivers. When Schrodie was done, they found themselves in a temple sitting atop a floating mountain surrounded by rainforests with waterfalls that connected to other floating land masses. Some islands were tilted, some were completely upside-down, with their own gravities to influence their behaviors. There didn¡¯t seem to be a bottom, but Schrodie assured he¡¯ll be there to catch them, should they fall. Only then was Katherine able to pay enough attention to breathe again. ¡°All you need to do is tell me what you require and I¡¯ll form it for you. Provisions shall be prepared on a regular basis. Remember: you are the teacher this time, Katherine. My pointers may be useful, but you are ultimately the one to guide our Visitor. Have fun!¡± Schrodie waved a hand before vanishing from view. A small monkey peered from behind a layer of vines beside where the Gatekeeper had been. When Frein turned his curiosity to it, probably to determine the monkey¡¯s planetary origins, the small creature chirped and jumped on a vine, swinging out of the temple and vanishing behind the surrounding trees. Katherine shivered with excitement. She¡¯d spent years in this place, or at the very least¡ªwith Schrodie on the reigns of its creation¡ªsomething similar, and this was the perfect time and place for training and orienting Frein. ¡°We don¡¯t have a moment to spare, Frein. Your first task is to catch that monkey.¡± She tried to pull him by the hand, but Frein had already dashed off, chasing the monkey. ¡°You take that back!¡± His scream left her confused only for a second before she was gone chasing after them. "Katherine." Schrodie''s voice stopped her midway into the forest. Katherine turned and found the Gatekeeper patiently waiting by a small patio surrounded by flowery bushes. "We should talk about Kristel." "The Princess? What about her?" Katherine stopped and allowed Frein to disappear from her view. This place should be safe, probably the safest she''d ever known. There was no need to worry. Besides, she hadn''t heard news about her best friend for ages, and Schrodie seldom chose to voluntarily divulge news about Brymeia as a whole. That last one did made her worry. "Something wrong?" "No, not exactly," Schrodie said. "Where to begin..." "You can start from when I left." "Sure." Schrodie conjured some seats and gestured towards them. Katherine obliged while Frein''s frustrated screaming and the chirping of monkeys filled the air. "The day you left, Kristel descended from the High Palace. She''s in Minaveil now..."
Chapter 6: Princess in a Province Princess in a Province
¡°She was raised to shoulder the burden of an entire nation. We were raised to give our lives for her.¡± ~Frill Veli
In the southernmost borders of Irista Nation just across The Great Sea Dividyr, a provincial region by the name of Minaveil stood throughout Brymeia¡¯s history. Since the Divine Severing thousands of years ago, the humble citizens of this town proudly, if not stubbornly, tended to their lands, content with their peace and barely interacted with any modern technology if only to better either their housing or farming. Crops grew lavishly and the cattle plump as top-of-the-line quality in the entire Nation and arguably even beyond. Trees, too, bore fruit that the gods themselves would pay for, or so they say¡ªprayers had not been able to reach the gods since¡­well, the Severing. But even with this exaggerated claim, no one dared to dispute it. Perhaps at one point, when the lands were whole, these fruits adorned feasts made for the Forgotten Deities. Perhaps. The popularity and quality of such produce made for such a demand that special distribution and export methods had been mandated by the monarchy to ensure the goods securely made it across the sea and provided among the Great Cities and throughout the rest of Irista Nation as well if the harvest was gracious enough. With such a bounty to boast and a coincidentally strategic position, Minaveil Province quickly became the major trading center for the surrounding unaffiliated lands and one neighboring country across leagues of desolate desert¡ªVyndival Kingdom¡ªduring times of peace and the first line of defense against the same lands and country during times of war. What sort of line of defense could a meager province of farmers, tree tenders, and cattle herders could provide, you might ask? Well, on their own, virtually nothing¡­ And so, for this reason alone, Royal Knight Princess Kristel Irista had descended from the High Palace and had spent the last three years standing guard. The governor, the good old Corwyn Evergreen, had willingly and almost too quickly relinquished his position the moment she arrived. He had been more than eager to return to his farms rather than govern the province and was even thankful to be rid of stewarding the Militia Estate. Even the citizens themselves made no disagreements when the Princess took the role of governor. Whether in public or even when she went out of her way to discreetly eavesdrop in festivals or social gatherings¡ªin full disguise, of course¡ªthe citizens had mostly expressed great appreciation towards the Princess, and expressed nondescript dissatisfactions on the other end, if at all. So, for the next three years, Princess Kristel governed over Minaveil and protected the province from any would-be invaders. And those three years¡ªthree long years since Katherine left¡ªpassed the Princess by wondering if she would see her dearest friend again¡­
If not for the little gap between the curtains of her window blocking the firsts of blue morning sunlight, Royal Knight Princess Kristel Irista would have slept through the entire morning. She wished. Even if her brain urged her to sleep in, her body, despite the small frame, had been trained to do otherwise. She flung the blankets and lazily rolled out of bed, sighing disappointingly at her own upbringing and stretching away her sleep, the azure mess of her morning hair covered her dark blue eyes. With a snap, lights sparkled to life in a room of white and blue where she lazily began her morning flexibility exercises. Her yawns were full and deep even while fully stretching her muscles. There were even times when she had caught herself dozing off on the floor, fully outstretched, but this was one of her lucky days. Even as royalty, Kristel had voluntarily distanced herself from luxury and had spent her entire youth under a knight¡¯s oath. Her father begrudgingly blamed it on Katherine¡¯s influence, essentially luring her into this path, but simply reading through Denis Irista¡¯s Path to Monarchy would tell you it was meant to be regardless. She gained the title of Royal Knight, a title bestowed only to a select few, at the age of fourteen while other girls her age giggled about their crushes. Three years since, she retained her discipline, settling for a room with a mundane manufactured bed, a study, and a bunch of simple stuffed toys rather than their expensive meiyal-crafted counterparts. Kristel was raised to believe she was born a lady and a warrior. She took those roles magnificently¡­if not always. Done with her routine, she went to take a quick shower. The bathroom, through a door adjacent with her bedroom, was the one and only exception to her oath of simplicity¡ªnot the bathroom itself, but rather the pleasure of taking one¡¯s time while submerged or drenched in cleansing, thermally balanced water. The multi-sectioned room was slightly larger than the bedroom, designed with a narrow path for ease of access to the powder room on one side and a dressing room on the other. And the most special among all these rooms was the shower room at the end of the hallway. A few months after her arrival, Princess Kristel had had enough and decided to renovate the old shower room for her purposes. First, it was separated from the other two sections by a partitioning, dark marble wall with a mounted lavatory on both sides, complete with a set of mirrors, various towels, a collection of hand sanitizers, and other mundane items that were given to her. She had the tiles of the shower room replaced to suit her taste for subtle flowery designs, added temperature control for the water and the room, and replaced half of the outside wall with a one-way window so she could admire the elevated view overlooking the riverside and the farms behind it in private whenever she took a soak in the then newly installed undermount bathtub. With a flip of a switch, securely covered for safety purposes, and after passing a redundancy safety measure to avoid any accidents, the new floor tiles would retract, revealing this stone bathtub. Needless to say, she would prefer the bathhouse of the manor, but the privacy this tub in her own shower room provided her all the luxury she would ever need. Of course, there was no time for bathing this early in the morning. Work kept piling up at every passing second. She threw all her clothes off and entered the shower room with a single smooth whistle. From somewhere in her bedroom a small crystalline orb began to glow and hover, responding to Kristel¡¯s summons. It shivered a little in the air before zooming past the bed, past the dressing room and the powder room, turning abruptly to avoid hitting the wall divider and stopping just in front of the Princess as she turned the shower¡¯s faucet. At the same instant she made her summoning whistle, a single knock echoed from the bedroom door. As the orb zoomed through the bathroom, the door opened. And as the orb stopped, a single, loud, yawning sigh pierced the noise coming from the pressure shower¡­or at least Kristel imagined it since the next thing she heard was a stern but lazy, ¡°Princess Kristel!¡± Kristel imagined the slow thumps of closing footsteps echoing from the tiles while she activated the orb and let the shower run through her hair. The orb sent a feedback chime and began to emit a clear projection of a screen. On the screen were an arrangement of images from various forms of media which Kristel learned to completely ignore, jumping on a selection of articles for the latest news with a practiced set of gestures from her fingers. Now the footsteps were close enough for them to remain just in her imagination, and the low irate mumbling prepared the Princess for what was to come next. A small head peeked just enough for her peripheral view to catch. Short black hair, emerald eyes, and an otherwise innocent face if not for the accusing frown made it clear that it was Liona Veli¡¯s turn to scold her. The silk nightgown slipping off her shoulders also made it clear she either forgot or woke up late. ¡°There¡¯s a place to leave your used clothes, Princess,¡± she said as she stared and added, ¡°folded.¡± ¡°I was going to clean it up after I¡¯m done taking my private shower,¡± Kristel replied while still showering and reading at the same time, barely turning a glance at Liona who was now in full view and busy folding the used clothes. ¡°I placed the basket right here next to your shower room so you don¡¯t have to leave them on the floor.¡± Despite the conversation, Kristel deftly navigated the screens projected by her orb, saving any articles specifically regarding the High Palace for her to read later. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice,¡± she said at last. ¡°I even reminded you last night, Princess.¡± After she was done folding, she vanished from view, but her words carried through the narrow pathway. ¡°You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s my turn to check on you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Liona. I¡¯ll remember next time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you will, Princess.¡± Liona¡¯s face peeked into the shower room again. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in fifteen minutes. Please don¡¯t take too long, I prefer to not have an earful from my sister this early in the morning.¡± ¡°So do I.¡± As Liona left, probably to prepare and transform herself to the role of royal retainer for the rest of the day, Kristel set her orb to play a soft tune and set it aside to fully, and finally, enjoy the shower. Reminding herself just in time not to overstay, she quickly wiped herself dry and chose a very simple set of clothes, a small blouse, a pair of shorts, and a pair of slippers, none of which gave even the most minute impression of nobility. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Kristel returned to the bedroom and found the bed completely and neatly arranged, and the rest of the room had been cleaned at least once over while she was taking a shower. Like a signal, Liona knocked on the door once and opened it again without waiting for permission. She was wearing her maid uniform, a loose formal sleeveless dress bearing straight simple patterns and the hues of the High Palace¡¯s white and gold over a base of black. Usually, it was matched by a layering upper garment and a footwear, both of which were left up to the maid¡¯s sense of fashion or whatever trend was circulating amongst the high-class maids at that time, but Liona only ever wore them whenever they had visitors, preferring to keep her arms free and her feet comfortable with sandals. ¡°Water?¡± Liona carried a tray with a glass of water in one hand like it was part of her and seemed to expect the Princess to be right there as she opened the door. ¡°Coffee,¡± Kristel replied in a likewise casual manner. With a simple nod Liona fully opened the door and gave way for Kristel to proceed first while employing a smoothly trained gesture to deposit the tray set inside her personal meiyal space. The ancient obsidian walls of Minaveil Manor greeted the Princess with their cool dark colors. A festival of dark red and blacks from the furniture, accented by the greys and silvers from the interior patterns and windows, giving stark contrasts against the greens, whites, and yellows from the gardens outside. The feel of great form bound by age carried Kristel with every step as she descended the carpeted stairs and entered the small dining room officially intended for servants. Currently, only four people lived in the manor. Preferring efficiency and practicality, Kristel reserved the use of the grand dining hall only whenever guests or special occasions were involved. A quarter of the manor was enough for the four of them. But it never stopped Frill from making sure the rest of the household were kept functionally clean and maintained. Speaking of which, the elder sister, Frill Veli, stood just outside the servant¡¯s dining room. She wore a slightly modified uniform, adding a flare of frills and laces that, matched with her shoulder-length red hair and purple eyes, gave her the impression of an elegant dancing fish. Like her younger sister, she kept her clothes free of any extra layers, only adding to them when necessary. ¡°Good morning,¡± Frill said, giving a slight bow before turning to her sister, ¡°Lor¡¯s outside with the plants. Could you?¡± Liona nodded and left. ¡°Morning, Frill. What do we have today?¡± Kristel asked, taking a chair while Frill brought out breakfast; a juicy combination of honeyed bacon, eggs, and toasted bread with freshly brewed coffee to match. ¡°Perfect! I love you so much, Frill.¡± ¡°I love you, too, Princess, but that won¡¯t get you cakes in the morning,¡± Frill replied as she brought out three more of the exact same set of meals for the rest. ¡°Was worth a shot.¡± ¡°Good morning, everyone.¡± A low rumbling voice vibrated from behind the Princess, presenting Lor Veli, the eldest brother of the Veli siblings, in recently cleaned gardening clothes. While the sisters were both scientifically classified as part of the human species, Lor boasted the square defined frame of the orcs mixed with the elegant handsome details of the elves, making him a unique mixture of both species. At ten, he was adopted into the Veli family early in his stepparent¡¯s marriage, suspecting that they wouldn¡¯t be able to bear children. A decade later a miracle occurred and Frill was born followed by Liona a year after, and by then Lor was in his final year of training to be a servant of Monarch Denis. Instead, when he graduated, he became Kristel¡¯s steward a day before she was born, assisting her in any way possible during her younger years. But now that the Princess had come of age, the sisters had taken a more active role taking care of her, giving Lor more flexibility to pursue his other passions. And while he took a liking to caring for plants and yumas, Kristel still trusted him like a father, looking to him for advice and letting him handle matters that involved anything outside the four of them. They ate in silence for a short while, savoring the aromas and tastes of their bountiful meal. After making sure everyone had something to eat, the Princess then began. ¡°What do we have today?¡± ¡°I have a meeting request for you, Princess,¡± Lor issued. As always, Kristel was impressed at how his brushed-up hair remained predominantly still. ¡°Royal Guard Tryvinal Bree. A lunch meeting to be specific.¡± ¡°Did he say what about?¡± Lor pulled a small orb from his pocket which projected a small screen. ¡°It says here: ¡®Matters of the High Palace.¡¯¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t we do it through M.O.B.I.L.E.?¡± ¡°I asked, and he said no.¡± ¡°Which means this isn¡¯t about the Monarch.¡± Kristel sighed. ¡°Five gold says it¡¯s a marriage proposal,¡± Lor started. Liona choked and desperately reached out for water. ¡°I can punch him in the face, right?¡± Frill said while passing a glass of plum juice instead. Liona never liked coffee. ¡°Bree? Or me?¡± ¡°How about you both?¡± Kristel sighed again, taking things into perspective. ¡°You¡¯re right Lor, it¡¯s highly likely, so I¡¯m not taking that bet. And if he does propose, try not to punch him, Frill. Punch your brother all you want, that¡¯s fine, but we don¡¯t want to be in trouble on grounds of technicality. What else?¡± ¡°For today, that is all, Princess,¡± Lor replied. ¡°Really?¡± Kristel frowned and stopped eating completely. ¡°Aren¡¯t there supposed to be patrol checks? Meeting with neighboring town leaders? Treasury audit?¡± ¡°Today is Blueday, Princess,¡± Liona said coughing, her emerald eyes close to tears. ¡°You should take a day off every now and then. You really should. Freaking marriage proposal¡­¡± The realization made Kristel sigh once more. It was rare for her to lose track of the days, but those had been happening more often recently, even as the rays of the sun made the day obvious. Blueday was officially reserved for her rest day, consisting mostly of personal meditation, reading, and a few strolls in Lor¡¯s garden. Most townsfolk would begin work the next day, Limeday, tending to farms and preparing for the market while the Princess would busy herself with combat training. Major meiyal training and market supervising would be for Greenday. On Yellowday, she would take advantage of the yellow sunlight to get a clear view of the fisheries along The Great Sea Dividyr, engage in social matters with the townsfolk, and even exchange information with foreigners from outside Irista Nation from time to time. Whiteday would be for any remaining clerical work that didn¡¯t get enough attention during the previous days, and then back to Blueday, weaving more training throughout the week as the schedule allowed. Despite forgetting her routine, it had been that way for three years now since the monarch turned ill. Foreseeing his inevitable death due to an incurable disease, the Monarch of Irista Nation, Denis Irista, issued a command to his loyal servants, including his two daughters.
Claim your rightful place as the next ruler of my kingdom. Unite my lands under your banner. Enlist the hearts of its people. Whoever shall claim most of my kingdom shall be named its monarch and protector! Do so without bloodshed, or my judgment will find you swiftly and my wrath smite you.
Remembering the thought left a bitter taste in Kristel¡¯s mouth, she lost the mood to even lift her fork. It had happened right after Katherine left and the news, both of her father¡¯s illness and of this outrageous competition, had taken her so out of guard she didn¡¯t know what to do. On top of all this, her father had mandated her to position herself in Minaveil Province. She could¡¯ve leveraged her position as a princess, but her duty¡ªas she had been freshly anointed as Royal Knight during this synchronous fiasco¡ªdemanded her to obey. And of course, Kristel being herself, albeit under the pretense of her father¡¯s instruction, had descended from the High Palace to honor her title. Everyone else had finished their meals by then. The Princess exerted effort to finish her plate, making sure Frill had no excuse to stop or scold her, while suppressing the rest of her memory. She needed to do something. She opened her M.O.B.I.L.E. and looked at the weather forecast. ¡°I want to visit the borders while we have the time,¡± she said to Lor and gestured for her maids to follow her in the dressing room. ¡°Let Bree know he can have lunch on his own, my treat, his escorts as well. I¡¯ll meet with him at noon instead. And ask Bennie to reserve some rooms in her inn. If he¡¯s coming for a visit, he might as well enjoy the stay.¡± ¡°Very well, Princess. I¡¯ll make preparations,¡± the head retainer replied, seeing them off. Back in her room, Kristel sighed as the sisters prepared her clothes. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me, Liona, Frill can take care of the rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let Stiry know you¡¯re borrowing him,¡± Frill said. She gave Kristel a look, considering something, before turning back to her sister. ¡°Pack some lunch.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Liona bowed and made her exit. Kristel caught her sighing and mumbling something about the Princess refusing to take a day off just before she went out of the door. ¡°I¡¯ll have a hot bath for my return, Frill.¡± The Princess turned to her second maid¡ªactually, first, if age was taken into consideration. Frill¡¯s red wavy hair easily grabbed attention, flowing so effortlessly while she browsed the Princess¡¯s wardrobe. ¡°Certainly, Princess, I¡¯ll prepare the bathhouse,¡± Frill replied. She hummed in a soft tune while pulling out various combinations of clothes. Kristel had trusted her choice of fashion ever since they were kids; she didn¡¯t have a choice anyway. It, plus the humming, were habits Frill developed growing up. ¡°On second thought, I¡¯ll take the bath in my room.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Despite the relaxing sound, Frill¡¯s terse and dry response hinted at Kristel. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Kristel and her retainers agreed to one ironclad agreement before descending to Minaveil Province. Honesty. Her retainers knew, despite the Princess¡¯s young age, her perception to subtlety was akin to that of a practitioner Blessed with Heart¡¯s Will. At least, when the siblings were involved strictly speaking. Frill paused and sighed, but the soft tune carried on through her Meiyal Arts. ¡°I¡¯m just worried you might be missing your father. Whenever they send out news about the competition, they always keep your father¡¯s condition confidential. And you¡¯re not calling him either.¡± Regardless of her worry, she managed to choose the perfect combination of clothes and started dressing up the Princess. ¡°You¡¯re calling your friends over there,¡± Kristel retaliated. ¡°Only out of concern for you.¡± Kristel barely had any memories of the Monarch being a father to her. For her, from the time she became aware of her surroundings, her relationship with Monarch Denis simply served hierarchical purposes, barely to be even considered as family. Not that she harnessed ill feelings toward him nor was she mistreated, but Kristel had viewed her retainers more of a family than her biological father. ¡°So, you don¡¯t miss him?¡± Frill asked after a while. Kristel glanced at the mirror while she considered her response. Her field garment had some militaristic appeal to it. A white, linen, military tunic riddled with golden buttons formed the base, and an epaulet depicting two crossed swords fixed on her right shoulder fastened an azure one-sided cape. It was complemented with a pair of white shorts matched with dark leggings and covered with a long skirt that could be opened on one side depending on the Princess¡¯s mood, then finished off with a pair of boots that played around the colors of her dress. It wasn¡¯t so casual as to throw away the dramatic flair of noble wear. ¡°I guess, I do,¡± Kristel replied without batting an eye now that Frill was doing her makeup and adding accessories. ¡°I¡¯m worried about him, but I¡¯m also dutybound. Maybe we can make a visit soon.¡± Her eyes shifted back and forth from her reflection to Frill¡¯s. ¡°Say, Frill...¡± ¡°Yes, Princess?¡± Frill tuned her words along with her song as she replied, jollier now than she was a second ago. Kristel placed a hand over the small gold and white hairpin. ¡°Have I grown any taller lately?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just trying to change the topic, are you, Princess?¡± ¡°Only half-heartedly.¡± Frill smiled and leaned lower to meet the Princess eye to eye through the mirror¡¯s reflection. ¡°My dear, Princess Kristel,¡± she began, fixing the hair that Kristel slightly nudged. ¡°Stature holds no power on the right to rule. It¡¯s your conviction that matters. And as far as we are concerned, no one can hold a candle against yours. And besides,¡± Frill¡¯s hands moved deftly from the Kristel¡¯s hair to her chest, ¡°you¡¯re filling up quite nicely in other places.¡± The Princess slapped her maid¡¯s hands just as quickly. ¡°Go fondle your sister¡¯s or some other doll, Frill. Leave me out of it.¡± ¡°If I offer Bennie some of my old clothes, you think she¡¯ll let me?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± Frill swore not to tell a lie, so she used the power of her words and some absurd misdirection to ease the pain of honesty. Kristel understood it simply as affirmation for her lack of growth and didn¡¯t particularly like it. A knock came from the door. ¡°Princess, Testra is ready.¡± Lor¡¯s deep voice echoed. Kristel acknowledged. She gave Frill a small nod before heading out. ¡°We won¡¯t be long.¡± The maid smiled and gave a slight bow, sending the Princess off with a soft hum.
Chapter 7: Minaveil Province Minaveil Province The entirety of Minaveil Province encompassed a capital town and eleven smaller towns¡ªnine towns riddling north towards the Great Sea Dividyr and a pair of towns embracing each side of a large valley, aptly named Northern Rindea Valley, in between the Rindea Mountain Range down south¡ªwith a collective total of around four to five hundred thousand citizens content with the provincial life of agriculture and simplicity. By foot, and with rests in between, the estimated travel time from the capital town, Minaveil¡ªnamed after the province itself for simplicity and due jurisdiction¡ªtowards either town of Rindea Valley was around three days. Even with Kristel¡¯s Meiyal Arts-assisted speed it would take her a day¡ªassuming she wouldn¡¯t rest¡ªbut riding yumas trivialized this distance in a convenient way. Depending on the breed and their upbringing, a giant winged canine known as a yuma could either be faster on the ground or in the air. Testra, Princess Kristel¡¯s yuma, was born as a pure bred Minaveil yuma which specialized as beasts of burden, pulling merchant carriages in packs, or as personal mounts outfitted with saddles for heavy loads. While Testra was trained to pull carriages, she had a temperament to ride alone, and with a genetically gifted set of legs, wings to fly over obstacles which essentially made the route a straight line, as well as stamina capacity meant to carry weight of at least twenty times that of Kristel for hours on end, the Princess skipped an entire trek over the mountains and reached the town of Alvo¡¯Rindea in just about under an hour. Liona¡ªatop Frill¡¯s yuma, Stiry¡ªlagged behind for a good ten minutes. By then, the Princess had finished preparing meals for both yumas to enjoy while they waited. ¡°I think she just keeps getting faster,¡± Liona said as she dismounted and immediately retouched as much of Kristel¡¯s garments and effects as best she could. They¡¯d been protected by the Princess¡¯s Meiyal Arts, only suffering mild misalignments despite the speed she had gone through. ¡°I think so, too,¡± The Princess said while giving Testra a few strokes of appreciation, her hand sinking into Testra¡¯s white fur. The yuma snuggled up to her for a moment before Liona casually pushed her back to her meal. Testra retaliated with a sneeze, but Liona blocked with a flicked Meiyal Art and tsked in a soft commanding way. Kristel had to pat Testra down before the two glared each other to death. A handful of kids from all over town gathered around the stable, jumping and tiptoeing over one another for a chance to see the princess, or the yumas more like it. The stablemaster, who was also the town mayor, Joryan Alvo, kept the kids in line, not necessarily shooing them away. ¡°I apologize, Governor, the children are very fond of you, it seems,¡± Joryan said as he gave up maintaining order. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, Mayor Alvo,¡± Kristel replied. She brought out a pack of candies and snacks from Testra¡¯s saddlebag and passed it on to him while giving the kids an apologetic smile. ¡°We¡¯re a little busy today. We can play next time, okay?¡± Just like that the kids let her go, distracted by the treats. Alvo¡¯Rindea Town pressed itself within the Rindea Mountain Range¡¯s embrace, settling a small territory well beneath the northern mountain overlook and surrounded by the mountain¡¯s lush trees underneath. With the town being so close to a flattened peak of the mountain, it naturally became the established spot for scouts and watchtowers. Kristel never really thought too much about it, but no matter what sort of climate or natural disaster¡ªbe it a natural storm or earthquake¡ªthose flattened peaks never so much as dropped a pebble. As if the peaks were there to protect the people underneath it rather than crush them on accident. Only the peaks above Alvo¡¯Rindea and its sister town, Sel¡¯Rindea, had been flattened. While the records were blurry as to how they became plateaus, all point to the fact that it was before the Divine Severing and had been providing the people of this town with its natural protection since. A few minutes down the streets¡ªgreeting the people who knew them by face but never stopping for more than a few seconds¡ªKristel and Liona found themselves approaching a cave into the mountain. The guards on standby recognized them and immediately scrambled to prepare their way. They greeted the both of them with respect and ushered them unhindered within a manmade cave housing a large mechanical lift designed to carry mounted soldiers by the hundreds. The lift carried them straight into one of the watchtowers stationed at the flattened peak. Granted the two could effortlessly traverse a path to the tower by foot, but going through the entire process not only allowed them to assess how quickly the people in-charge could react on an unannounced visit, they could also provide some morale boost with their presence. Though most of the time, Kristel worried how much her presence stressed people out due to her royal position, but Lor had been consistent enough to assure her otherwise. The watchers were already lined up by the time Kristel and Liona reached the watchtower¡¯s ground floor. ¡°Greetings, Princess.¡± Their leader, Erim Dale, gave a respectful bow. The rest of his group¡ªa company of seven¡ªdid the same. The rest were probably sleeping. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Anything from the South Valley?¡± Kristel asked, heading for the stairs. The watchtower was a simple construction of granite and wood. Narrow and tall, sectioned to four different floors accessed by a stairwell in the middle. Each section allowed for a few chairs, a table, and a bed all strategically cramped together. It was function over form. Besides, the plateau had enough space for actual lodging so that the people on duty could take proper breaks. ¡°Nothing unusual, Governor. We do have an increase in migrating animals brought by the season. They make the view from up here a tad lovelier.¡± Erim followed after them while the rest stayed outside. Kristel looked around. A lot of unorganized litter were all over the place. She acknowledged that, despite her frequent visits, the watchers had made no effort for tidiness. Preferably, she wouldn¡¯t allow it, but the building wasn¡¯t of her direct ownership. She learned not to mind their lack of cleanliness so long as they stayed true to their duties, and that it wouldn¡¯t go overboard. ¡°Do you have enough supplies here?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, Governor.¡± ¡°And the night shift?¡± ¡°Their reports indicate very minimal movement. Only interruption from nearby animals losing their way in the evening. Other than that, everything is normal.¡± ¡°I mean, are they getting proper compensation?¡± Erim staggered a bit. ¡°Oh, yes, most certainly, Princess.¡± Kristel went to the overlook as soon as they reached the top. She found the cleanest chair from her immediate surroundings, took it, and rested. Liona made a quick waving motion and all the dust from the chair went away. Kristel was glad her maid understood subtlety. The fair breeze caressed and rejuvenated her as she gazed upon the Flat Lands, a vista as far as the eye could see. Packs of different animals gathered in groups, relaxing in the shades of trees, or drinking at the eastern river, or flying in the open sky, or migrating from one side to the other. Far on the horizon stood the silhouette of the other end of the Rindea Mountain Range, enclosing the Flat Lands in its protective embrace with the southernmost territory of Minaveil anchoring as the northern valley. As much as the view mesmerized the Princess, it also gave her a truth of how small she really was. Not that she was unfamiliar with the feeling. It took her a second and a sigh to soak everything up and return to the matter at hand. ¡°Do we have news from our scouts on the Desolate Lands?¡± The leader opened his M.O.B.I.L.E. and ran his fingers through pages of reports. Scouts sent out to the south traditionally relay reports once a week by the time they return from their patrol, unless important matters would arise. They were trained to be as discreet as possible with their signals to avoid attracting attention from potential enemies. Jammers and interceptors from Vyndival Kingdom had been an issue for a time back then. ¡°No signs of movement from the Desolate Lands, reported from two days ago.¡± Kristel made a soft sigh of relief and stood, making her way back down to the lift. She really only wanted to do a quick check and take her mind off things. ¡°Good. Can we get a copy of the reports?¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Erim motioned to copy his reports to Kristel¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E., but Liona intercepted with a smile. ¡°Princess, we still have some time, should I give the yumas a stretch on the fields?¡± Liona thanked the watchtower leader as the transfer finished just as soon as they reached the cave. Kristel wanted reports all the way from two weeks prior. Even though they had copies from the week before, redundancy shouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. Besides, Stiry might want to return to Fittey soon.¡± Kristel reviewed the reports as they made their way back to the stables. ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°Fittey¡¯s due soon. It makes Stiry a little on edge, but my sister guaranteed he¡¯ll be obedient to me at least. I just have to make sure he makes it back before noon.¡± Kristel watched as both yumas displayed different behaviors. Testra, with her white coat, enjoyed trotting and sniffing here and there¡ªMayor Alvo had learned to just let the yuma walk around, trusting she wouldn¡¯t cause any trouble¡ªwhile the brown Stiry lay down on his belly seemingly absent. Just like his master, Frill, they mimic statues when troubled. ¡°Then we have time. Let¡¯s check the other watchtowers as well. I want to make sure our fisheries are well accounted for and probably check the Nightmare Lands, too.¡± On the far north of Minaveil was The Great Sea Dividyr, separating the province from its neighboring provinces and the major territories of Irista Nation. Far beyond the borders on either sides of Mount Rindea was the Nightmare Lands, a terrible place where monsters lurked and none who ventured alone¡ªexcept for a chosen few, members of the Order of the Void¡ªever returned. The Nightmare Lands had two other names pertaining to it. One was, the Void Region, named so due to its generally uninhabitability of most species aside from the festering monsters. The other was, Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Wake, named after the Fallen Dragon who had caused the Divine Severing. But because these lands were infested by nightmarish monsters, the name Nightmare Lands became more popular among the three. The Order of the Void, coined during the popularity of the Void Region name, maintained the center of the Nightmare Lands from extending beyond its reaches. But The Order had not been in contact with them for the longest time now. All the more reason for the Princess not to drop her guard. Liona glared at her, reminding her what day it was supposed to be. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kristel resigned. She didn¡¯t intend to stop, but she had to give in. She could practically hear Liona¡¯s gears whirling on plans and calculations on how to drag her back to manor. Besides, there was a meeting she had to prepare for anyway. ¡°We¡¯ll just check on Sel¡¯Rindea and then go home.¡± Being the nation¡¯s farthest territory, Princess Kristel had to insist on being thorough as much as she could. They had to stop for lunch, choosing a random hill looking over a field of crops and eating on the ground after Liona prepared some blankets. Stiry was getting restless, but as soon as Liona promised they¡¯ll be back home soon, the yuma lay on his stomach and puffed in disappointment. Testra was quick to comfort him. Without as much of a rush this time, they returned after another good hour. Liona went with Stiry and Testra to the stables, while Kristel went straight to her bathing chambers. She heard clattering and chatter from the guest¡¯s dining hall, but ignored them all the same. Bathing, unless she would be able to convince Liona or Frill to join her¡ªunsuccessful over the years¡ªwas the only time Kristel enjoyed being alone. She had a thing for baths, and there she immediately lost herself in meditation. An hour or so passed. Royal Knight Princess Kristel stayed motionless floating on the hot waters as if asleep. ¡°Princess Kristel, they are waiting for you.¡± Lor¡¯s voice echoed. His clear voice gave away his position just behind the dividing marble wall. He must have called out a few times before she noticed. ¡°Have them wait a while.¡± Kristel remained calm despite her exposed situation. ¡°As you wish.¡± Lor¡¯s steps decreasingly echoed and eventually vanished. ¡°Maybe if I spent an hour more, they¡¯ll just go away.¡± Kristel could only sigh.
Chapter 8: Unwanted Meetings Unwanted Meetings Kristel wore whatever clothing Frill gave her, something less formal compared to the one she wore that morning. She couldn¡¯t be bothered with formalities with anyone outside the ranks of the Cross Irista, and she wouldn¡¯t start now. Royal Guard Tryvinal Bree was alone inside the dining room. With Lor¡¯s instructions, his men waited outside the manor. Kristel appreciated his initiative. This way, the Royal Guard held minimal means to intimidate her. Not that having more men would work, but when dealing with a Blessed One like Tryvinal, they couldn¡¯t afford to give him anything he could capitalize on. ¡°Greetings, Princess Kristel. I am overjoyed to see you are well.¡± Tryvinal stood from his chair, moved a few paces away from the dining table, and bowed, spiky black hair pointed at her like daggers as he did the gesture. Kristel sighed and dragged the chair from the opposite side of the table. The noise it did sent a ringing in her head despite being the one at fault, but she hoped it sent the message of how much of a hassle his visit was for her. ¡°Let¡¯s get on with it,¡± she said monotonously. ¡°Please, Your Highness,¡± the Royal Guard bowed deeper. Kristel didn¡¯t like being addressed as such. Princess was the most she would tolerate until either a more proper title was bestowed, or it was stripped altogether. ¡°I only mean to speak with you.¡± ¡°What else am I here for?¡± In truth, Kristel was only acting. Tryvinal was actively participating in the monarch¡¯s challenge and the most favorable to win. Kristel didn¡¯t care about it, but she wanted to quickly probe on his motives without giving him enough time to play mind games. And again, she was dealing with a Blessed One. Tryvinal sighed. He retook his seat at the opposite end of the table. ¡°Do you want something to eat?¡± Despite the bothersome meeting and her aggressiveness, Kristel made it a point to at least treat any guest of her household as an actual guest. She did purposefully delay the meeting time after all. The Royal Guard raised a hand in denial. ¡°We just ate, thank you for such a fine cuisine.¡± ¡°Your men?¡± ¡°They have eaten as well.¡± ¡°Some tea then?¡± Tryvinal paused for a moment. ¡°Very well, tea then.¡± Lor quickly gestured to Frill who immediately went into the kitchen. All three of the Princess¡¯s retainers wore their mandated attire; maid dresses for both Frill and Liona complete with the extra layers and proper shoes, while Lor had a fine black and gold suit¡ªmore black than gold¡ªcustomize for his build. ¡°So,¡± Kristel started, not wasting a beat. ¡°Tell me why you¡¯re here in the farthest corners of the nation in search for my audience.¡± ¡°I am here for a proposal, Princess Kristel.¡± Tryvinal replied. ¡°At present, my forces have assimilated more than half of the nation under my banner. Many more are to come in the next coming weeks. I am here to offer you and Minaveil Province a place in the birth of a new nation.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± Kristel commented monotonously. ¡°But your offer is meaningless. When you become the next monarch, all of the other provinces and cities, with or without the protection of Cross Irista, will be under your rule. Why offer a position to me now if you already have the majority?¡± Tryvinal smiled in a way Kristel perceived as sinister. ¡°It seems I have been misunderstood.¡± The Princess could only sigh internally. Lor did see this coming, and she was glad to have not taken the bet. Frill reappeared from the kitchen and placed a hot cup of tea in front of the Princess. She began to walk towards the other end of the table when Tryvinal spoke again. ¡°When my new kingdom is born, I want you, Princess Kristel Irista, to be its mother.¡± Everything froze. Frill¡¯s eyes glared at Tryvinal. Lor and Liona did the same. Their attentive posture tensed into subtle aggressiveness. Pressure built up inside the dining room, focusing all on the Royal Guard. It was too late for Tryvinal to realize he was sweating. Time only resumed when the high-pitched tune of a cup returning on its saucer signaled the non-verbal hostilities to stand down. ¡°I am only seventeen, Royal Guard Tryvinal, surely I am too immature for your tastes. And I am too young to commit my life to anyone, you least of all. I refuse to be your would-be kingdom¡¯s mother.¡± Kristel, the definition of sarcastic stoicism, raised her cup once more and took another sip. ¡°Excellent tea, Frill. Thank you.¡± Frill calmly placed the cup offered to the Royal Guard and gave him a slight bow before returning to her post. ¡°Is that all what you came for, Tryvinal?¡± Kristel peered into him and saw still a flicker of hope and determination. She could sigh before he could even begin to speak, but prompted not to do so. ¡°I would say ¡®I am sorry to disappoint you,¡¯ but you can clearly see that I am not.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°My spies in the Desolate Lands report of armies amassing within Vyndival. They have hundreds of thousands, possibly millions. Armored gargantuan animals and giants by the thousands, and who knows what other abominations.¡± The way Tryvinal spoke, he was getting desperate. ¡°You¡¯re implying a Nightmare?¡± Kristel asked, curious. ¡°Jaws Lurking in the Forest specifically, from our reports,¡± Tryvinal replied. The particular Nightmare was on the larger scale, averaging around four to five stories high. Kristel vaguely recalled records of it reaching up to ten stories high, but despite their size they were extremely efficient in stalking their prey. Although solitary by nature, they lingered within the bordering territories of the Nightmare Lands and were often the leading cause of death for any mad adventurer. ¡°My scouts didn¡¯t report such a thing.¡± Kristel preferred to believe her own resources than one not of her own, yet this claim was too alarming to pass as mere blabber. The King of Vyndival was another Blessed One. For him to amass such an army would not be outside of the realms of possibility. Adding secrecy to the equation, it would''ve taken King Urzic half a year. But to subdue a Nightmare like a Lurking Jaws¡­ ¡°Spies of the High Palace infiltrate Vyndival. Your scouts watch from the mountains and see nothing but desert dunes. They¡¯ll report the same after a week or two. By then, they¡¯ll be flooding through the South Valley.¡± Kristel ignored Tryvinal¡¯s implicated claim about the High Palace spies. ¡°Point taken.¡± She took a sip, still calm and cool. ¡°Am I now supposed to marry you in exchange for your army to protect this province?¡± Tryvinal was taken aback. His plan was too obvious for the Princess and he couldn¡¯t come up with a brilliant retort when everything was spelled out for him. ¡°Yes.¡± He could only agree. A nerve snapped somewhere inside the Princess¡¯s head. ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me, you¡¯re willing to leave this province without support if I refuse your offer? You¡¯re willing to let your pettiness to overshadow your duty as Royal Guard? You¡¯re willing to potentially sacrifice millions of people because you can¡¯t force me to bind my life to you?¡± The official census for the entirety of Minaveil Province didn¡¯t count to the millions, but that was where the implication lied if the province was to be invaded. A mixture of confusion, embarrassment, and awkwardness surfaced on Tryvinal¡¯s face. When he was left without a word, the princess continued. ¡°Tell me, Royal Guard,¡± she said, placing her tea on the table. ¡°Why would I trust you when you couldn¡¯t even take a sip from your tea?¡± She relaxed on her chair and watched Tryvinal¡¯s lost expression. ¡°You have trust issues. Did you think I would poison your drink?¡± ¡°N-no! You¡¯d be setting up yourself for treason!¡± The Royal Guard took a sip, actually gulping it down despite how hot it was. ¡°It¡¯s delicious tea!¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Frill gave another slight bow. ¡°Then answer me this.¡± Kristel leaned her head against a hand she so purposely raised. ¡°Why would I accept your army when a weakling like you couldn¡¯t even stand against one of my attendants?¡± Tryvinal¡¯s eyes flared and his grip tightened, confusion and all unnecessary emotions flushed down the drain. He was a Royal Guard after all. A position of power only a rank underneath Royal Knight. Given Tryvinal¡¯s expertise, if it were not for the mandated number of allowed Royal Knights, Tryvinal would¡¯ve had the title. He was in direct competition with Kristel three years ago. ¡°What did you just call me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not deaf, Tryvinal. Right now, you¡¯re barely worth the laugh I¡¯d spare a poor joke.¡± That was the last straw. Tryvinal flared with power. ¡°Just because you¡¯re a genius. Just because you¡¯re the youngest Virtuoso. Doesn¡¯t mean you can call everybody else a weakling!¡± Tryvinal raised the cup with a clear attempt to smash it on the floor. ¡°You are here to talk, Royal Guard.¡± Frill¡¯s voice echoed in the room, her red hair slightly glowing, and the left of her purple eyes glinted with meiyal. The air in the room vibrated and dampened Tryvinal¡¯s power to a mere spark. ¡°Just because you cannot accept the facts, doesn¡¯t mean you can act spoiled. Or do you prefer losing an arm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s never about the marks, Tryvinal,¡± Kristel simply muttered without regard to what was happening. By mentioning her practitioner rank, Virtuoso, the Royal Guard had implied her unsealed meiyal marks. She had attained eighty marks three years ago, earning her the edge to take the title of Royal Knight from the rest of her competitors. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s painfully obvious who the real genius in this room is.¡± She gestured her cup over to Frill. Torn between a decision of pride and resignation in embarrassment, Royal Guard Tryvinal¡¯s eyes shuffled between the unamused Kristel and the flaring Frill, eyes widening as he understood what the Princess meant. Even if she wasn¡¯t a part of Cross Irista, even if she posed as one of the Princess¡¯s attendants, and even if she only had nine meiyal marks, Frill¡¯s fame, her power and beautiful voice, had spread throughout Irista Nation. Aria in Red, they called her. With a deep regret for making a fool out of himself, he carefully placed the cup back on its saucer. ¡°Apologies, Princess. I shouldn¡¯t have gotten ahead of myself.¡± The Royal Guard bowed sincerely. Princess Kristel only felt pity, but even so, she still had to push. ¡°I won¡¯t apologize for my words, Royal Guard Tryvinal Bree. I¡¯m sure you understand why we address you in such a way. With the Blessing you¡¯re bestowed with, we cannot afford to give you a shred of admiration. And even if we do, I still advise against using it on anyone in Cross Irista. ¡°Please take this as a sincere warning from me.¡± Kristel¡¯s eyes met with Tryvinal. ¡°If you so much as influence one of mine with your Blessing, I will consider it as an act of war against the rest of Cross Irista. I need you to recall these words whenever you review your schemes.¡± Princess Kristel could practically feel her father¡¯s very nature channeling in her; the ruthlessness of a monarch determined to protect those he ruled. Threats were one thing, but one coming from those who held the Irista name were never empty. Still, the Princess did feel she went overboard. ¡°I just have a couple pieces of advice for you,¡± she began as she stood. ¡°Consider it thanks for giving us valuable information regarding Vyndival.¡± The guest lifted his head attentively. ¡°In my opinion, as you are now, you wouldn¡¯t make it as monarch. You can be sure that I and the Cross Irista will never follow you.¡± Kristel immediately raised her hand to stop him from protesting. ¡°Take it constructively. You have the makings of a good leader. That is why you are where you are now. You may have the Monarch¡¯s Law, but this Blessing makes you too greedy and you depend too much on it. You should know it can and will betray you. ¡°What¡¯s more, you should have helped us first before asking for my hand in marriage. At this point, I wouldn¡¯t accept you or your army. We can defend Minaveil by ourselves. As you have said, we have a genius.¡± Kristel shrugged as if the meeting was never a big deal to begin with. ¡°Who knows? When you actually become monarch, try asking me again.¡± She began walking out of the dining room. ¡°I still won¡¯t say yes, but I¡¯ll be more respectful about it. For now, enjoy the sights of Minaveil.¡± A long shot to the farthest stars at the very least. The Princess¡¯s frown as she walked out of the room had in no way, shape, or form anything to do with the Royal Guard. Sometimes, the voice simply spoke its mind.
Chapter 9: Initial Training Initial Training
¡°There are no breakthroughs without risks. No achievements without dedicated effort. No wars without an opposing nation. And you, my daughters, will know that we serve to protect the lives of those we rule.¡± ~Monarch Denis
Recollection: Schrodie Subject: Frein Nivan¡¯s Training Timeframe: Day 16th of 300, 6 months before Tryvinal¡¯s visit Schrodie observed the two as diligently as usual. She kept her eyes on Frein, he on Katherine; the two personae preferring to interact with the opposite genders while the rest of the Gatekeeper¡¯s existences mingled along aimlessly throughout the realm. Frein had been practicing how to Mill¡ªthe act of owning, amplifying, and storing meiyal¡ªsince the second day of his training. Gathering had been as intuitive as breathing, no surprises there. It would be more of a problem if something wrong were to happen in that aspect, but the inability to Gather, and all its various terms in other disciplines, would only ever be possible on natural-born Brymeians. For it to happen on the Visitor would probably mean a premature ending to his journey, unprecedented but not impossible. Milling was the current problem. Not because of Frein¡¯s inability or unfamiliarity with the skill, but because Katherine insisted on perfecting the basic foundations while utilizing only the most difficult form of Milling, the Perpetual-Layered Milling. ¡°I wish I learned this way when I was a kid,¡± Katherine had told Schrodie when he asked on the first week. ¡°Sure, it¡¯s harder. But this way, I never would¡¯ve skipped, or reverted to the easier forms.¡± Katherine had a point, but the easier forms existed for a reason; it was because they were easy. Granted the payoff would be less in the grand scheme of things, but as it was with most applications, payoff, precision, and even scale often mattered less when speed triumphed over them in one fell swoop. Perpetual-Layered Milling wasn¡¯t slow by any means, it was simply significantly more difficult to accomplish compared to something as simple as Mull Milling for example. Katherine had essentially pushed Frein off a cliff fully expecting him to fly when he barely even learned how to crawl. Not only that, but the Seeker missed a significant point during her lecture with Frein. It could be her inexperience as a teacher playing part in her negligence, but it could also be an intentional act spurred by her curiosity. Prodding her thoughts about it would defeat Schrodie¡¯s own conundrum, so the Gatekeeper decided to avoid the matter entirely. Frein would eventually either figure it out on his own, or give up and ask for more pointers. What the Gatekeeper didn¡¯t expect was that Frein intended to ask her. ¡°I need help,¡± Frein said, climbing a small hill where the Gatekeeper waited while painting the skies. ¡°Kat¡¯s busy.¡± ¡°You would not interrupt your teacher?¡± she replied. Frein was quiet, his eyes gazing above the panorama of space. He had asked the Gatekeeper a few days prior for a cosmic rendition painted through the skies. Schrodie had peered into the vast emptiness of space more times than any of her personae could recall. Depending on where they looked, they either found the cold of nothingness, or the brilliance of unending colors. The Gatekeeper had painted the latter, compressing all of her personae¡¯s various impressions into a canvas of a sky with as much intertwining colors as possible. Galaxies upon galaxies as far as the eye could see. Schrodie patiently waited. It was seldom for someone to appreciate her work. A full minute passed before Frein came back to his senses with a deep sigh. ¡°Sorry. I asked her to train on her own. After two¡ªthree¡ªyears out of practice, she needs to get back to form. Besides, I think we need to cool off for a bit.¡± True enough Katherine had asked him just a few hours earlier to assemble another training room. The two guests had both entered the room, but Schrodie just now realized Frein only intended to observe for a while. ¡°You¡¯re very considerate,¡± she finally said. ¡°How can I help, then?¡± ¡°This Milling is driving me crazy,¡± Frein began, taking a seat that materialized right as he motioned to sit. He was getting more used to it and was starting to form a dangerous habit because of it. Schrodie made a mental note to make more chairs available and remind him to avoid trusting her to materialize one every time he wanted a seat. For his own safety. Brymeia wouldn¡¯t do him such favors. ¡°Explain,¡± she said after a pause. ¡°Through Gathering, I¡¯m supposed to absorb meiyal inside my body. That checks out, I can feel myself filled with it, like I have another set of lungs, but throughout inside my body instead of just my chest.¡± Frein puffed his chest as he breathed in. It made Gathering easier. Meiyal didn¡¯t enter the system through the nose or mouth, it entered through the meiyal core, but the act of inhaling¡ªeven for natives of Brymeia¡ªgave enough placebo effect to interact with the actual Gathering process. Most practitioners in most disciplines shun this breathing method on account of being too obvious of an act or outright rude, but technically speaking, it had no effect with the Gathering process. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Correct,¡± Schrodie affirmed. ¡°But if you don¡¯t Mill the meiyal after a while, it¡¯ll naturally disperse out of your system.¡± The dispersion time limit was unique to the practitioner and would even change throughout their life, so much so there had been no reliable record or breakdown or even determination if there was a pattern to be found in the first place. Therefore, it was always paramount to Mill right away. ¡°That¡¯s the problem, it¡¯s such a weird concept.¡± Frein scratched the back of his head. ¡°How am I supposed to claim what¡¯s already inside my body? Why is it Milling? Why not Accumulate or something? Or Absorb¡­I don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°When you think of the word Milling, Frein, what do you imagine?¡± ¡°Milling machines? Grinding things as fine as powder, or fine-tuning cuts around wood or metal. At least that¡¯s what I think so. I try to powderize the meiyal I Gathered, but it feels rather whole and then they disperse anyway.¡± Ah, so that¡¯s the problem. All of Schrodie¡¯s personae thought at once. Frein squinted. Sure enough, he noticed one of her traits materializing from the physical distortion. She didn¡¯t mind. ¡°There¡¯s another type of milling,¡± Schrodie began. ¡°Solution Milling, more commonly known as paint milling. You combine a color to the solution, hence the paint.¡± Frein frowned from the explanation. The Gatekeeper expected clarity descending upon the Visitor in the next few seconds, but all she received was more frowning. ¡°I only have meiyal. I have nothing to combine,¡± Frein concluded. ¡°Combine it with my blood?¡± Schrodie was excited for Frein. The emotion revealed another of the Gatekeeper¡¯s traits, but she didn¡¯t care if the Visitor noticed it or not. ¡°You¡¯re close, very close. Dig deeper, Frein. Concentrate. Aside from the meiyal you Gathered, what else is there?¡± Frein closed his eyes. There was actually no need. The act itself didn¡¯t influence one¡¯s internalization, but the focus one gained from depriving one¡¯s self of their senses¡ªin this case, sight¡ªwas allegedly significant. Even those starting on the rank of Aspirant to Fledgling Milled with their eyes closed. Some would say even Virtuosos did so as well when learning advanced forms of Milling. It wouldn¡¯t particularly help them during combat or other activities, but they had to start somewhere. After a while, Frein¡¯s expression burst to life. ¡°I have my own meiyal!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°I have to mix the two!¡± Schrodie smiled. ¡°That is the first step, Frein. Now, your teacher insists that you combine them using the Perpetual-Layered Milling. ¡°In a sense, this is the most difficult among a long list of methods¡ªeven including other disciplines¡ªbut your teacher does have a point. If you can pull this off without any shortcuts, you¡¯ll have a significant advantage.¡± ¡°How hard can it be?¡± Frein had left his seat to sit on the ground, intent on studying his inner self. ¡°Let me give you two examples,¡± Schrodie began, trusting that Frein could hear her despite his concentration. ¡°Two basic forms of Milling: Mixed Milling and Mull Milling. ¡°Mixed Milling has a simple approach, you take both sources of meiyal and mix them without form or reason until your Gathered meiyal disperses, then you take the ones that combined with your meiyal and store them into your system to use for Drawing later. This generally yields more Milled meiyal, but of lesser quality. ¡°Mull Milling takes a more focused approach. You take only as much Gathered meiyal and your own meiyal as you can properly combine.¡± Frein opened a questioning eye. ¡°Properly combine?¡± Schrodie nodded. ¡°Imagine making an oil paint. The meiyal you Gather is the oil, and your own meiyal is the dye. You measure both sources and combine them in a specific way until you find the right color, density, shine, and consistency that works for you. That¡¯s Mull Milling. It generates a significantly high quality of Milled meiyal than Mixed Milling, but it takes so long to process¡ª¡± ¡°You end up with a lot of dispersed meiyal,¡± Frein finished for her. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Then I imagine, Perpetual-Layered Milling covers both weaknesses, but it¡¯s significantly more difficult in practice?¡± ¡°Correct! You see¡ª¡± But before Schrodie could continue on, a body crashed in between them. Katherine rose from the crater battered and bruised, smoke rising from her body. Her meiyal core¡ªa floating hair ornament with ribbons of light for meiyal marks¡ªsparked in and out of reality. ¡°What¡¯s with the clothes?¡± Frein asked Katherine, barely concerned. ¡°What the hell, Schrodie!¡± the Seeker exclaimed. Her clothes were cut, torn, and burnt, but were now mending themselves back to form, probably through the help of some Meiyal Art. ¡°I¡¯ll explain when you can Draw. Answer the question, Schrodie!¡± Schrodie didn¡¯t really hear a question, but he surmised it was regarding her training regimen. As soon as Frein made his approach, the Gatekeeper gradually increased the training room¡¯s difficulty with the intent to match the Seeker¡¯s capabilities. ¡°Frein said you needed to return to form,¡± Schrodie replied. Frein glared back at her accusingly, so he was quick to follow. ¡°I simply thought you need your usual training exercises.¡± ¡°Not by suddenly throwing meteors at me!¡± Katherine retorted, eyes shifting back at Frein who had abruptly assumed a meditating pose. He was Milling¡­or at least, the early parts of the process, finally. ¡°So, I take my eyes off you for a second, and you start making progress,¡± she said, her eyes shifting back and forth between the Visitor and the Gatekeeper. ¡°I think you don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re getting distracted, Katherine.¡± Frein said, his eyes looking at Katherine. Schrodie had never seen such a calm dampening stare. There was no fury, no aggressiveness, just a cool and collected perspective. The two locked eyes for a long moment. Schrodie didn¡¯t know what to say, so both personae kept their silence and observed. With a tsk, Katherine marched off. ¡°Did she just say meteors?¡± Frein turned to Schrodie. ¡°They¡¯re roughly the same,¡± Schrodie commented. ¡°Solidified meiyal that forms from Brymeia¡¯s atmosphere which then plummets down somewhere in the Nightmare Lands.¡± When Frein frowned even further, she added, ¡°It¡¯s a place where Katherine used to work.¡± ¡°Why was she smoking?¡± Frein skipped to the next topic, understanding that he shouldn¡¯t press further. ¡°Art fatigue.¡± ¡°Like running out of breath?¡± ¡°No. More like running out of strength to breathe.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s with her back? Some sort of halo?¡± Schrodie was surprised by Frein¡¯s observation that another of her traits slipped into reality. ¡°Her Display,¡± she replied. ¡°It¡¯s barely formed, nothing like her days before she went to Earth. She¡¯s right, I should turn down her regimen.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Frein looked at her with the same set of convincing eyes. ¡°You saw how she walked. That was full of pride. If you take it easy on her now, you¡¯ll just tick her off even more.¡± ¡°Still, I didn¡¯t know she could be irritated like that,¡± Schrodie said defensively. ¡°You¡¯re not a good teacher, are you?¡± Frein laughed. The Gatekeeper thought it was a jab meant to mock her, but quickly realized he truly meant what he said. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡± Frein returned to his meditative form. ¡°The day we arrived, you said there¡¯s a war coming for Irista Nation. Now I don¡¯t have to be a genius to deduce how that¡¯s related to Kat, and I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t know if it¡¯s right to ask or not because she doesn¡¯t want the war to affect my experience as a Visitor or her job as the Seeker. ¡°I think you know full well where I¡¯m going with this.¡± It took Schrodie a minute, but the clarity did descend upon her. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll talk to her when she¡¯s calmed down. For now, let¡¯s finish up your pointers for the Perpetual-Layered Milling.¡± End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
Chapter 10: Fusion and Imminent Invasion Fusion and Imminent Invasion Greenday. Break of Dawn. Royal Knight Princess Kristel, Frill, and Liona were out in the middle of the Flat Lands farther south from where the watchtower stood. They sat crossed-legged over grass and under a lone tree. Around them were various animals, chirping, trotting, flapping, and doing things in a natural sort of way as if the presences of the three were nothing different than the shade of the tree. From afar, they looked like a group out for a picnic with merry little critters playing with them. From nearby, what they were couldn¡¯t be differentiated from what a rock would be, still and rigid; or what a river would be, flowing and clear. Milling was and would always be a fundamental for any practitioner of the Meiyal Arts. They Gathered the meiyal surrounding them as simple and familiar as breathing air, filling their entire system with meiyal and Milling them for amplification and storage. All three of them used the Perpetual-Layered Milling form, directly taught to them by Katherine after she mastered it from the Gatekeeper. The problem was, the weight and effort it took to practice this form was extremely draining. Only because Katherine showed them the fruits of her labor did they keep practicing, convinced that this method would be easier in the long run. Practicing this Milling form became a key element in Kristel¡¯s training regimen. And what the Princess did, so would the other two. Only after an hour passed did any of them open their eyes. ¡°This is the most boring thing ever!¡± Liona groaned, slouching in every way a woman of her stature shouldn¡¯t. Frill had the decency to quiet a sigh. ¡°Liona, that¡¯s not proper.¡± ¡°Just let me rest a little, sis. My body¡¯s all stiff!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stretch out too much, or you¡¯ll hurt yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stretch¡­as much¡­as I want! Ow!¡± Little chatter became a bickering, but Kristel paid it no mind. Only in these little moments would the sisters let loose, zip themselves out of their maid¡¯s clothing and return to their natural selves. Noise became quiet. The Princess listened with intent, refusing to loosen her form. Until the obvious air of the sisters¡¯ intense stares ripped her out of immersion completely. She gave out a helpless sigh before reaching out to the buttons of her blouse. She opened her clothes with as much caution as possible, showing skin right above her chest and dropping her collar to show just a bit of her left shoulder. Light appeared on the Princess¡¯s chest, unveiling the concealment Meiyal Art. A candlelight mark materialized as her meiyal core with smaller versions of itself for meiyal marks, forming from the left side of her core and crawling up layer by layer to the Princess¡¯s left shoulder up to her back. At the end of the pattern, a few marks were left without the dark shade and only had black outlines marking their placement. ¡°Still twenty,¡± Liona said, counting the number of blank marks. The Meiyal Marks System. These symbolized the legitimacy of an Iristan as a practitioner and served as receptors for meiyal and mediums for Meiyal Arts at the same time. There would always be a total of one hundred marks per practitioner. So far, all over Irista Nation, only Kristel was known to have acquired the highest total of eighty markings since the reign of her father, branding her as Virtuoso¡ªmeiyal masters with at least fifty marks in addition to fulfilling a few other requirements. Obtaining, or for a more correct term, unsealing a meiyal mark varied from person to person. Only the first five marks were known to be consistent for any Iristan to pursue, hence giving them the starting rank of Aspirant. It might have been pure luck, skill, or ancestral inheritance, or a combination of any that made the Princess the youngest person to have achieved fifty marks in just under a year when she started training, and exceeding Katherine¡¯s record of sixty-two a month after that. ¡°It¡¯s not about the marks,¡± the Princess recited like a mantra as she buttoned her blouse with a little more rush than she ought to. The phrase, they all remembered well, was Katherine¡¯s favorite quote. It¡¯s been almost three years since she left, but her lessons still remained. ¡°Anyway,¡± Kristel dispelled the thought, standing as the sisters waited with anticipation. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± For this occasion, Liona opted to wear shorts and rubber shoes, not something people commonly wore in the province. She placed a hand on the core over her right ankle and meiyal marks¡ªdepicting symbols of small lightning strikes¡ªto reveal them. Compared to the Princess, she had fewer unsealed marks¡ªjust fifteen¡ªoriginating from the core on the ankle going up to the right side of her leg. Frill also prepared to remove her concealment. She placed a hand on top of her left eye for a brief moment and pulled away as if removing something intangible. The circular core on her pupil flashed a red hue, and marks appeared out of her purple eye, traveling further left. Her markings behaved differently compared to the other two. They didn¡¯t emit a permanent shape while hovering out of her body instead of crawling onto her skin, fluttering as if blown by the wind. Despite the unusual behavior, Frill had even lesser marks; nine. The sealed marks remained invisible. ¡°Royal Guard Tryvinal has thirty-six marks, right?¡± Liona asked while hopping in place, letting herself loose and warmed up. Electric sparks crackled under her feet every time she bounced. ¡°I didn¡¯t check.¡± Frill was balancing on one leg while swaying the other in a small circle. ¡°He¡¯s just a big coward, anyway. Who cares?¡± She said as she switched legs. ¡°I was so sure you were going to punch him.¡± Kristel said while doing a few dynamic stretches of her own. ¡°You said not to.¡± ¡°But if it turned out into a fight, do you think you could¡¯ve won?¡± It was a trick question. ¡°He won¡¯t let that happen. Not when he still has the chance to be the next monarch.¡± Frill answered magnificently. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let him win either way.¡± ¡°Well handled.¡± Kristel placed both hands on her waist. ¡°So do we give this a shot?¡± ¡°Hopefully it works better than last time.¡± Liona stepped forward. ¡°Keep control, okay?¡± She placed her hand over the Princess¡¯s meiyal core and closed her eyes. Her body began to glow blue and flowed into the core, merging herself inside the small Princess. Kristel¡¯s meiyal marks began to change. Fifteen of these, starting from the one closest to her core, adapted the lightning marks Liona had. They didn¡¯t change completely, the candle-tongue fires were simply pierced by lightning marks. The activated marks diminished in the process, receding from the remarkable eighty to just twenty. The Princess took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling the difference in power and behavior of her body. Meiyal Fusion. A theoretical Meiyal Art developed to fuse one meiyal system with another. The process would incorporate the submitting individual to the hosting body. This would give the host an exponential advancement in power, but the resulting change in the meiyal system¡¯s overall strength conversely made it increasingly difficult to control. ¡°You, okay?¡± Frill held the Princess by the shoulder. Her mark-riddled eye flashed, radiating red hue as she blinked. Because Frill was two years older than Kristel, and a year ahead of her little sister, she had always treated the Princess as her own younger sister during their private time. Whether she would admit it or not, Kristel loved these small, seemingly insignificant moments. She smiled and gave her big-sister-type attendant a small nod. ¡°Your turn.¡± Frill stared for a few moments. ¡°You sure?¡± The ritual to perform the fusion was never to be taken lightly. The three devoted years of practice to even be able to start an incomplete fusion that had brought them a lot of problems. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. In terms of national record, the Art was only considered as a theoretical possibility due to the difficulty of even beginning to realize the first step¡ªconverting the whole body of an individual to meiyal. No one has ever been recorded to successfully perform it in actual practice. At this stage, the combination of Kristel and Liona would have already brought observers to a jaw-dropping awe. But the truth was, there was no practicality in it. So, the Princess wanted to bring that exact feat to the next level. ¡°Yes, give it a go.¡± At the signal, Frill followed the same motion her sister did. Her light had a red hue. After a few moments, the same happened and she vanished. Kristel¡¯s marks underwent another adaptation. Her meiyal core and nine of its immediate marks lifted out of her skin and fluttered. She breathed in and out again. All the activated marks completely reduced to zero. ¡°How is it?¡± Liona¡¯s voice echoed from inside her head. ¡°So far so good,¡± Kristel said audibly. She brought up her hands for inspection and afterimages of the sisters¡¯ hands followed in delay. ¡°We¡¯re still not completely synced though.¡± The first time they had succeeded in fusion, the afterimages had taken about two seconds to follow. If the whole image of the body were to be left behind, the fusion would dispel. Beginning from her core, a faint azure light emitted from its outlines and slowly expanded to the markings. This indicated the meiyal mark¡¯s activation. The slow progression of the light was also due to the delay. By the time the light reached about five of the combined markings Kristel had, she began to feel slight spasms from the core, but she continued. ¡°I still can¡¯t go beyond twenty marks in this state.¡± A small amount of shame and regret crept within the Princess for not being able to fully take advantage of all her marks. ¡°We¡¯re really sorry, Kristel, this is probably because of us.¡± Frill¡¯s voice echoed with sincerity. ¡°That¡¯s not how it¡¯s supposed to work.¡± Kristel quickly rebutted. ¡°We¡¯re in a fuse, and I¡¯m the host. You¡¯ve already fulfilled your job when you were able to fuse with me. Matching the synchronization and enhancing the mark activation lies on my end.¡± Kristel started with the basics and moved her fingers around, observing the effect of the movement in her afterimages. ¡°Good. Small movement works.¡± Then she moved her arms in an extremely slow motion. Residual images of one of the sisters¡ªtoo brief to determine who¡ªvibrated in and out of her arm. She breathed slowly and continued the slow movement. A few minutes later, the vibrations stabilized and she added her other arm. The frequency discrepancy returned, but a few minutes of practice eventually resolved the problem, signaling her to move her next limb. When she got full exertion of all her primary movements, it was time to increase the speed. The movements became more synchronized with each passing hour. It was midday by the time Kristel managed a full sprint without concern for any afterimages. She dashed for another hour before she was satisfied with their performance. ¡°That¡¯s around five hours or so.¡± Kristel relaxed. ¡°Time for a break. Make sure not to forget how it feels.¡± The fuse was released without any particular ritual. It was like giving permission for a knot to loosen and breathe, just pulling one specific end of the rope and everything became untangled. The sisters emerged, relaxed, and deactivated their marks. Traveling around allowed them to find a certain area with a lot of flattened stones. Peaceful animals walked here and there, and some were even curious enough to stay around. A perfect spot for a short break. ¡°Spatiera.¡± Frill opened her spatial Meiyal Art, a small pocket of personal dimension used by Iristan practitioners to store various items for easy transport. From there she pulled out a basket of food. ¡°You¡¯re taking full advantage of that Spatiera,¡± Kristel said as she kicked out her legs, leaning back on a small stone. She found the Art handy but was never really fond of it. She kept her things in her person and only used the Meiyal Art if and when it was really necessary. Frill smiled in amusement. ¡°We would have lost a lot of things if I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± the Princess asked, smiling with a challenge. ¡°Exactly as it means.¡± Liona managed to break in between the tension by passing a glass of milk to the Princess. Kristel stared at the glass and then back to her retainer with a questioning and offended look. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, really.¡± Liona pushed her weight on Kristel¡¯s legs and extended the glass of repulsive mixture. The Princess tried to push her away, but there was no preventing the inevitable. ¡°It¡¯s good for you,¡± she insisted. ¡°Yes, I know that, but I don¡¯t want it!¡± Kristel defended herself, but she was too locked down to regain her balance. ¡°You¡¯re never going to get any taller if you stay like that.¡± Frill double-teamed, taking a left flank, her arms locked around their target. ¡°You¡¯re already seventeen! Just chug it down!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! Milk doesn¡¯t make you taller!¡± Kristel struggled in futile effort. She thrashed her head all around to dodge the incoming glass but Liona got hold of her. Some milk spilled from all the commotion, dripping onto the clothes of three wrestling women in the middle of nowhere. ¡°Princess,¡± Liona¡¯s voice turned into her usual polite tone. This change made Kristel painfully aware of how much the sisters cared for her. Despite the way they forced her little body into submission, they did so because they wanted to help her get rid of her weaknesses, no matter how trivial. ¡°It¡¯s for your own good.¡± Scared for some unreasonable cause, Kristel gave a slow nod. She shook as she stomached the whole drink. She ignored the taste of it, she didn¡¯t breathe, and all the while she wished for that moment to end as fast as possible. ¡°Water,¡± she said quickly, focusing her consciousness away from the awful aftertaste and washed it as soon as Frill gave her water. She breathed out, relieved to have finally overcome the torture. ¡°Damn it.¡± Her hands wiped away the tears peeking out of her eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t believe something like this...¡± She couldn¡¯t finish the thought. She didn¡¯t want to admit it. ¡°It¡¯s annoying, to be honest.¡± Liona finished for her. ¡°You need to learn to drink this on your own, you know.¡± ¡°Shut up. I want to eat.¡±
¡°Alright, time for some serious practice.¡± Kristel and her maids reformed their fusion, taking an hour this time to re-synchronize their images. ¡°Flight test?¡± Liona asked. ¡°Flight test.¡± Kristel activated her marks and performed a flight Meiyal Art, creating a field of meiyal with emphasis on her limbs and head. It lifted her slowly from the ground. She felt for balance, swaying her limbs delicately. ¡°So far¡ª¡± Kristel twitched, losing control for a second and almost falling on her back. She regained balance, but over compensated her forward momentum immediately. ¡°Not so good.¡± She had flown with Testra, but it was nothing compared to flying solo. It took half an hour feeling for a good grip until she finally stabilized after a series of dangerously close calls. ¡°There we go.¡± It was all about balance and control, for now at least. She calmed down, managing her output on all lifting points. Thirty minutes passed before she was convinced to take the next step, hovering about a meter or two above the ground. Another half hour for some basic aerial acrobatics like somersaults and flips. ¡°Let¡¯s take this for a spin, shall we?¡± Without waiting for a reply from any of the sisters, Kristel unleashed a burst of meiyal and propelled them south with incredible speed. It was like taking an abrupt punch to the face. ¡°Alright, that hurts.¡± Kristel slowly decelerated to a full stop and massaged her head. ¡°That was insane!¡± Frill¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°What if we split? I almost fell!¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± The Princess didn¡¯t make any effort to sound convincing. ¡°Got a little too excited. I¡¯ll be a little more cautious. We¡¯re going again.¡± Their silence was more of a sign of anxious preparation than actual agreement. Kristel raised a hand in a gesture of meditation and formed a dense meiyal coat around her body. It wasn¡¯t a fully Drawn Meiyal Art, but was still better than a simple Siffera, the body enhancing Meiyal Art. ¡°This should help against the strong wind. We¡¯ll start slowly.¡± If there was one thing Kristel could be proud of in terms of Meiyal Arts, it wasn¡¯t her record for the highest meiyal marks in Irista Nation, but her ability in control and manipulation. The main reason why no other practitioner attempted to master fusing meiyal systems was because of the extreme handling it demanded. And her confidence in her ability to control not just two, but three combinations of meiyal systems was the sole driving reason why she wanted to achieve mastery of this technique. Maintaining multiple Meiyal Arts at the same time didn¡¯t pose any challenge for her. Kristel accelerated in a more reasonable speed this time. As she flew, her vision caught the detailed ranges of Mount Rindea. ¡°I just realized we¡¯ve flown pretty far.¡± She stopped, staring at the horizon beyond the mountains. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me...¡± A dreadful Liona lingered inside the Princess¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re going to Vyndival, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You guessed it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± There was annoyance and a hint of sarcasm in Liona¡¯s tone. ¡°We¡¯re not going to stop you as long as you¡¯ll tell us exactly what you¡¯re going to do there.¡± ¡°We need to confirm Tryvinal¡¯s report. If what he said was true, then Minaveil¡¯s current defenses have no chance.¡± The Princess looked to the skies. The sun had begun to set, its green light peeked at gaps on thick cloud formations. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have to wait until evening, those clouds should keep us well hidden.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was Frill this time. ¡°We¡¯ll force you out of it if you ever think of landing.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± The Princess ascended until the clouds hovered beneath her feet. ¡°Be careful now. They say dragons still rule the Land of Skies. We won¡¯t stand a chance against one.¡± Liona¡¯s ever-cautious voice echoed. The Land of Skies was a myth, birthed from stories of old. True dragons had not been sighted for a long time, not since the time of the First Monarch, Evanclad Irista who fought against Zerax¡¯thum, the Fallen Dragon. It was said that the dragon¡¯s sheer power alone changed lands and obliterated entire kingdoms to ashes, and made the earth itself quake with a mere beat of its wings. The dragon itself was, after all, the cause of the Divine Severing. Records of far lesser dragons were noted in the Nightmare Lands. Ground dragons that could not even breathe fire, or sea serpents that were beyond former shadows of their greater ancestors. Like the Jaws Lurking in the Forest. Despite classifying the Forest Jaws as a lesser dragon, its reputation as an apex predator wasn¡¯t something to scoff at. In light of this fairytale myth, a common knowledge was passed down throughout Brymeia: Never fly above the clouds. The Land of Skies remains asleep. The Princess made it a point to ascend no further. It took them a while before they passed the mountain ranges. Kristel peeked occasionally to spot their actual location. They¡¯ve just entered the Desolate Lands, a vast desert almost on par with the Flat Lands and known for its gorgeous oases, marking the entrance to Vyndival territory. Far on the distance, it didn¡¯t even take Kristel a second to notice, was a sea of encampment of soldiers. Her heart skipped and she froze on the spot. That¡¯s a bit of an exaggeration, the Princess thought. They looked like ants because of the distance, but the encampment covered the entire horizon. We must prepare. With numbers like those, we don¡¯t even need to confirm if they have the Forest Jaws. ¡°Summon the Cross Irista.¡± It didn¡¯t take much for Kristel to regain her composure. ¡°This is of national importance. We¡¯re going back.¡± ¡°Are you sure you can handle this, Princess?¡± The voice didn¡¯t come from Liona nor from Frill, so Kristel just ignored it. Chapter 11: Gathering of the Cross Irista Gathering of the Cross Irista
¡°Camaraderie, charisma, and a strong sense of responsibility; few reasons why people such as I choose to follow Princess Kristel Irista. So, to be clear, it¡¯s not just because I¡¯m her uncle.¡± ~Kento Valmas
¡°Remember what Mother always says?¡± Frill already knew what her stepbrother meant. Since the day Princess Kristel witnessed the amassing Vyndival army, the poor royalty had spent her days without sleep. She had personally administered the summons sent to all of the Cross Irista members using her M.O.B.I.L.E. The Cross Irista had scattered throughout Irista Nation, making some of them harder to reach, resulting in the entire ordeal lasting three sleepless days. ¡°Bad decisions and bad performances follow an absent meal or lack of sleep,¡± Liona answered, taking baskets and containers and storing them in her Spatiera. ¡°So, remember to eat healthy and sleep well,¡± Frill finished the quote. Despite Frill¡¯s protests on using easier means of communication, the Princess had insisted on bypassing the High Palace Network. The main communication hub could shoulder the meiyal requirement for person-to-person M.O.B.I.L.E. connection for the entire nation and even boasted an ironclad privacy policy. But the Princess had become overly cautious, not wanting anyone to hear her summons aside from their recipients. This meant she had to control the movement of her messages individually. Her stubbornness had caused her a great deal and the stress had affected her retainers, including Frill who ended up scolding her. Not that Frill nor any of her siblings could do anything once Princess Kristel had made up her mind regarding things like these. The Cross Irista took another two to three days to arrive. Thankfully, Kristel had begun to listen to her by then. The Princess had to cancel all her other appointments and routine tasks to serve host for the meeting. This also meant a change of pace for Frill and her siblings, currently serving their guests. And so, for the past few days, it had become the three siblings¡¯ prerogative to make sure that Princess Kristel was well accommodated, especially whenever she lost track of time and skipped meals. Today, luckily for them, their guests brought along their own aides to assist in various preparations. Lor served as the head of the network and distributed tasks and priorities efficiently. He ordered Frill and Liona to procure ingredients in case their current stock ran out. At the instant Frill left the kitchen, the mere presences of the iconic personalities idling and chatting with each other enveloped her into a suffocating pressure. Though she admittedly could not recognize each one, she knew one thing in common about them: their status as Virtuoso. The first one to catch her attention was Judiciary Knight Verdim Solfey in his formal black and gold suit with a golden Cross Irista Insignia emblazoned epaulet fastening a black one-sided cape on his right shoulder. His immense presence, combined with his booming vocal prowess made him the right choice as leader of the judiciary system of Irista Nation. How that turned out to be an acceptable fact was beyond Frill¡¯s interest, but she couldn¡¯t deny the imposing atmosphere that surrounded him. Then there was Guard Knight Flimeth Estura, a felintine childhood friend of the Princess. Utilizing the same colors of black and gold, she wore an elegant formal dress with a pair of customized skirt trousers. She had the same epaulet and cape on her right shoulder. Unlike Royal Guards who protected the High Palace, Guard Knights supervised the local police. Although only a rank higher than a knight, obtaining this status was no simple task and it entailed tremendous amounts of dedication and ability, becoming a Fledge at least¡ªa practitioner with at least twenty-six marks¡ªwas one of them. Flimeth had long black hair that gave her a more matured look for her age. She was at least the same age as Katherine, but if not for the Princess, she would¡¯ve been the youngest member of the Cross Irista. In addition, her species as a felintine classified her as a half-cored; one half for a human, another for a vork¡ªthe feline counterpart of a yuma. This meant that her focus on practicing Meiyal Arts had left her vork half dormant. She was essentially a human combined with feline ears, a tail, and all of a cat¡¯s grace and instinct who practiced Meiyal Arts but with half their supposed potential. Needless to say, for individuals like her to be ranked as a Guard Knight were very few and far between. It turned out, as it was revealed this morning by her stepbrother, ten members of the Cross Irista were Guard Knights. Frill didn¡¯t know any of them aside from Flimeth and another named Venry Stepholm, also a friend of the Princess. Frill only recognized him through his stern face and his trademark hair tied in a wolf tail. There were five other personalities who were perceptibly not Guard Knights. The advisers of the ill Monarch. Though elderly, their advanced age had only shown through their hair or a few wrinkles on their faces. Their stature and physic were splendor, and their enthusiasm seemed to match even the younger Guard Knights. The only one Frill recognized from them was Adviser Kento Valmas, Kristel¡¯s uncle and the Head Adviser. All of these personalities were either seated in whatever chair or sofa they could fit into or stood without the slightest hint of discomfort. They all waited for both food and the Princess who should still be in her bathing chambers. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°We need to get moving, sis.¡± Liona whispered, noticing her big-sister¡¯s extended stay on the arch door between the kitchen and the living room. ¡°Right.¡± Frill gathered herself and walked, sending brief yet clear greeting gestures to the guests as she made her way out of Minaveil Manor. Flimeth returned the gesture with a smile and wave. Venry, like everyone else, returned the greeting with a nod. It was only when they were finally out of the manor that Frill managed to breathe normally again. ¡°That was intense,¡± Liona said. ¡°My thoughts exactly.¡±
Kristel was honestly impressed by the turn out of Cross Irista. Out of the twenty members¡ªher included¡ªonly two were running late. Although Lor didn¡¯t really see himself as one, Kristel still included him as the twentieth member of Cross Irista and constantly reminded him about it. His sisters would¡¯ve been as good as members already if not for their lack of meiyal marks. It was a contradiction to the teachings Kristel grew up with, but it was a condition all the members agreed to uphold. ¡°I still need to know why the other two can¡¯t make it on time.¡± The Princess thought out loud while she donned her formal clothes. Her dress was a modified white one piece, having its left shoulder offset and designed to provide space for her markings. The buttoned-up skirt was modestly extended to flow up to her ankles, hiding a pair of tights. Her sleeves were shortened a bit as a touch of personal taste. Gold and red adornments filled the dress to give emphasis on her royalty and knightly status. A small golden pin fastened a white one-sided cape, bearing the mark of Cross Irista¡ªa pair of crossed swords with a golden flower over their intersection¡ªthat flowed all the way down her back. Within a few minutes, she was out of her quarters and into the living room. She basked in the usual warm, belonging heaviness of the group and couldn¡¯t help but smile. It had been so long¡ªthree years, in fact¡ªsince they all gathered together like this. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you all could make it.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t deny the sweet Princess¡¯s personal summons now, can¡¯t we? You went as far as bypassing the High Palace Network. I think it was unnecessary, but it does make the message appear to be particularly important.¡± Judiciary Knight Verdim¡¯s voice echoed with glee as he went up and hugged the Princess. ¡°It¡¯s been far too long.¡± ¡°Ashtine and Smyl will be late.¡± Flimeth spoke in a jolly tune, giving the Princess a soft kiss on her cheek, her tail brushed along the Princess¡¯s thigh as another greeting gesture. ¡°There¡¯s an ongoing situation within Central, nothing they can¡¯t handle. They should make it by nightfall, but I went ahead, because, you know, you¡¯re more important.¡± The Princess returned with an inaudible, ¡°thank you,¡± before greeting the rest of the Cross Irista. ¡°Any word from the Atlas Sid?¡± she asked. The Atlas Sid, Irista Nation¡¯s pride. A grand, city-scale carrier, duty-bound to the will of the Monarch. ¡°Apologies, Princess,¡± Adviser Kento began with a tight embrace; his aged voice gave a distinct hint of a man often drunk, but fortunately without the scent. ¡°Captain Garm Militia sent word. The Atlas Sid was sent to probe the Nightmare Lands for any signs of the Order. They will be gone a few weeks at least. I¡¯ve also taken the liberty to inform the High Palace.¡± He smiled as if he knew Kristel would be conflicted about asking help from her father. Kristel sighed, submitted to the fact, and gave a nod. Without help coming from the Atlas Sid, help from the High Palace was the next best thing. Now that she wasn¡¯t expecting any from Royal Guard Tryvinal, she needed anything else she could get. The Princess took a seat at a grandiose chair in the middle of the room that was deliberately left vacant for her. At times like these, even her choice for a simplistic lifestyle had to give way. ¡°We have an impending invasion from Vyndival.¡± ¡°Ah, we¡¯ve heard rumors from the ranks under Tryvinal a few days back,¡± Verdim said. ¡°He made a visit to relay the message. I found it hard to believe, so we checked...¡± The Princess whistled for her M.O.B.I.L.E. to appear. She navigated through its interface and selected from the menu. The small orb projected a recording of the vast army encompassing the Desolate Lands. ¡°I saw it for myself.¡± ¡°Dear Mother Brymeia¡­¡± Kento trailed off at the sight of Vyndival¡¯s invasion force. Frowns, subtle deep breaths, and widened eyes were only some of the reactions the Princess caught from her colleagues. Composed and controlled, but expected reactions. ¡°I¡¯ve maneuvered my scouts to send constant reports. Estimating from their movement, the attack will most likely come within two weeks. A force that size has no other route but through the Flat Lands and running over Minaveil.¡± ¡°Then would it make sense to bottleneck them before they enter the Flat Lands? Make their numbers count for nothing?¡± Adviser Kento asked, referring to the South Valley. ¡°Yes, if they¡¯re all only on two feet.¡± Kristel massaged her head, clearly lost between possible solutions simulating inside her head. ¡°Tryvinal also hinted on beasts and giants, and even captured a Nightmare. Not to mention their vorks and yumas.¡± ¡°Nightmares don¡¯t survive outside the Nightmare Lands, right?¡± Flimeth asked. ¡°Depends on the Nightmare, lass,¡± Verdim replied before turning to Kristel. ¡°Did you see the Nightmare?¡± Princess Kristel shook her head. ¡°Tryvinal said it was a Jaws Lurking in the Forest.¡± Everyone fell silent. ¡°In that case, focusing our forces in South Valley would be suicide.¡± Kento corrected himself, intent on resuming the discussion. Immediately, a collaboration of thoughts stormed inside the living room. One member made a suggestion, while another countered with a reasonable possibility. The calm chaos of words and tactics and strategies almost brought Kristel back to the lively days of Cross Irista and even further back to the days of the Flowers. ¡°Do you have something in mind, Princess?¡± Verdim finally asked. The Princess stayed silent. She knew her suggestion, even for the Cross Irista, might come off as¡ªto put it bluntly¡ªcrazy, but it was the only thing she could think of. ¡°I suggest we turn North Valley into a fortress.¡± Silence. Kristel expected as much. But as each Virtuoso in the room realize what she was suggesting, eyes slowly turned to a dwarf who seemed to have had all his hair grow on his face instead of over his bald head. Half the size of the average man, but defined and bulky as any other orc, the dwarf ran a thoughtful hand along his curly beard and hummed in a low pitch as if organizing his thoughts before speaking. ¡°A fortress ¡®n two week, yeh?¡± He started in a tone that Verdim might envy if not for the accent that came with it. ¡°Better if you can do it in one, Master Goldes,¡± Kristel replied. The dwarf started with a bellowing laughter. ¡°Ya sure do know how to give me and me fellers a challenge, m¡¯lass.¡± Master Midan Goldes, the Monarch¡¯s personal architect, took the suggestion into deep consideration. He continued fiddling with his beard while in deep thought. A habit he only showed when doing complex mental calculations. He smiled, smirked to be precise. ¡°Can¡¯t promise ya anythin¡¯ permanent yet, m¡¯lass. Anythin¡¯ made in a rush ain¡¯t gonna be sturdy, ya know? But if ya think it¡¯ll stop ¡®em then me comrades¡¯ll make yer fortress in a jiffy.¡± If he said he¡¯ll do it, it meant it was plausible. The rest of the Cross Irista lightened up with enforced morale. Kristel wouldn¡¯t let the momentum go to waste. ¡°Alright, our first course of action is to evacuate the people,¡± Kristel said, standing up with speed. She began to head out of Minaveil Manor. ¡°Oh, no, no, no, no.¡± Frill entered out of nowhere and grabbed the Princess by the collar. ¡°I won¡¯t let the Princess leave on an empty stomach.¡± Of course, whenever Frill became like this, Kristel had no choice but to comply. She smiled an apology to the Cross Irista members as her maid dragged her into the dining room. Frill quickly turn and bowed respectfully to the group. ¡°Oh, and breakfast is served. Please enjoy your meal.¡±
Chapter 12: The Vanguard The Vanguard Breakfast became an eating race rather than a civilized and well-mannered affair. Kristel had a good look at Frill¡¯s astonished face before leaving with everyone, but all were too eager to get to work they barely had a moment to apologize to the Aria in Red. For the next five hours or so, Princess Kristel distributed various logistical tasks among members of the Cross Irista to evacuate the main town and spread word to the other towns and villages up north. She even sent messengers to the unaffiliated villages they were trading with, offering them protection if they did choose to evacuate. She wanted to force them, but she couldn¡¯t afford the time nor the manpower to enforce better security for her locals without spreading her forces too thin. Orders spread like wildfire from the Cross Irista to the platoons¡ªat least to those that arrived early¡ªranking under them. Soon, the streets were filled with citizens, contraptions, and various animals as they headed north to the shores of the Great Sea Dividyr. Princess Kristel made her appearance during the early stages of the evacuation to help and ensure the citizens of their safety. She made no promises of victory, but assured everyone that they had measures and plans to take in case of defeat. The citizens of Minaveil were strong-minded people. Most of them knew cooperation was of utmost importance and panic would only stifle progress. That in itself helped tremendously since they would quell any rising tension amongst themselves rather than requiring intervention from the knights. It was surely not the first time they had to evacuate their own homes, but this was indeed the first of this scale, evacuating all the towns to Minaveil Port, the northernmost town of the province. As part of the plan, Master Midan and his crew quickly built temporary evacuation centers outside of the town. They built five huge arenas to accommodate the people while other knights and soldiers organized the supplies. Minaveil Province as a whole had a contingency plan. The previous leaders of the province formulated this after assessing the vulnerability of their location so close to the opposing kingdom. Princess Kristel made sure all ships were docked and ready for quick boarding and departure in case they failed in repelling the incoming invasion. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing this place is strictly a residential area,¡± Flimeth commented. She and the Princess were making one final round on a town nearest to Minaveil Port to make sure all citizens were accounted for. ¡°It makes movements like these easy to organize.¡± Kristel responded. They both had their mounts with them, Flimeth¡¯s was an armored saber-bred vork that was a weight class larger than Testra. ¡°Plus, it¡¯s easier for traveling merchants.¡± ¡°How do you think Midan¡¯s going to afford to make it on schedule?¡± Flimeth asked. By common sense, building a fortress in just five days even with Meiyal Arts was unfeasible in so many aspects. The amount of handwork and scale involved needed resources of humongous amounts. Still, the Guard Knight understood that Princess Kristel wouldn¡¯t make such a ridiculous suggestion if not for Master Midan. ¡°He¡¯s a master architect and a Virtuoso,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°I honestly have no idea how he does it, but his crew concentrated mainly on creating structures with Meiyal Arts.¡± She opened her M.O.B.I.L.E. and showed a panel to her friend. ¡°See? Just took them a few hours to finish five evacuation centers large enough for hundreds of thousands. He should be at Alvo¡¯Rindea by now, planning how to go by making the wall. We can go there, see his work firsthand.¡± Flimeth agreed. ¡°Oh yeah, I almost forgot,¡± she began as their mounts started trotting south. Her voice carried through her Meiyal Arts. ¡°You said Tryvinal visited.¡± ¡°What about it?¡± Kristel kept her head forward, setting up an invisible barrier between them and hoping Flimeth would notice. Whether or not she did, didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Did he confess?¡± ¡°Confess?¡± Kristel wished she acted well and looked confused. ¡°That full-of-himself Royal Guard clearly has a thing for you, it¡¯s creepy. And looking at his status in the Monarch¡¯s challenge, I was thinking he might have asked you to marry him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s different,¡± the Princess rebutted. ¡°He asked me to marry him, but that was no confession.¡± She saw the genuine version of a confused reaction on Flimeth. ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything about liking me, or having affections for me, or anything of that gibberish. Frankly, the way he laid it on the table threw me off. I think he was looking for a chance to use his Blessing.¡± ¡°Huh...I see. So, you want the gibberish type.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you got from all that?¡± Kristel urged Testra on a gallop, leaving the Guard Knight without any choice but to follow while spouting apologies. Whatever her friend¡¯s agenda was when she brought up the topic, Kristel wouldn¡¯t simply let her have her way. ¡°I figured ya¡¯d visit, Princess, Flimeth.¡± Midan rushed over as soon as they arrived at the Alvo¡¯Rindea watchtower. ¡°Finally decided to see us work, yeh?¡± While Master Midan was a genuine member of the Cross Irista, the Princess never really had a chance to observe his work. In the past, he had always presented structures and crafts already in their finished form, and she was always impressed by his craftsmanship. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t mind showing them to us,¡± Kristel answered out of respect. ¡°It be a real show fer ya, two. Meiyal Arts like ya¡¯ve never seen before.¡± Master Midan ushered them to the top of the watchtower where Kristel had her patrol check just a few days ago. The height gave her and Flimeth a good view of what was going on. Rather than looking south to the Flat Lands, they turned west to Sel¡¯Rindea, the other town across the other end of the valley. Midan¡¯s crew were already stationed in equal distances, lining the valley from end to end. Kristel estimated about a hundred-or-so people separated a thousand paces each. It was difficult to gauge, since they looked more than just a bigger dot from where the Princess sat. ¡°Enjoy the show,¡± Midan said as he left the tower after linking a live feed on Kristel¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. so they could get a closer perspective. The master architect took a short ride down the center of his crew¡¯s formation and began a gesture, slowly raising both hands, his right over his left with both palms facing the ground. His crew followed suit. Kristel couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. The ground itself began to take shape. Slowly but surely, a huge formation of land the length of the valley¡¯s entrance rose. Rocks fell, missing practitioners by a fortunate distance. ¡°Halt!¡± Master Midan shouted with an echo Meiyal Art. Kristel had the urge to help by at least making sure the falling debris didn¡¯t smash someone¡¯s skull. But the mere unknown and the focused poise of each practitioner, unfazed by all the dangers, kept her seated. ¡°Repair!¡± With the master¡¯s order, broken parts of the premature wall began to mend. ¡°Form!¡± he shouted and the rising continued. After an hour of rising and stopping, of mending cracks and missing debris, the wall had risen higher than the watchtower, obscuring Kristel¡¯s view of the Flat Lands. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this,¡± Flimeth exhaled as some of the crew finally relaxed. Others were still at work fortifying the entire wall. Kristel rushed down the watchtower and approached Master Midan. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this,¡± she repeated. ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°¡¯Nother time for explainin¡¯, m¡¯lass.¡± Despite the sweat and satisfied smug on his face, the Monarch¡¯s architect opened his M.O.B.I.L.E. and projected a blueprint of Minaveil Province. Due to the small difference in height, Kristel saw the details of the print without much difficulty. Flimeth had to lean down. ¡°First, strategy.¡± Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Midan¡¯s fingers made a pinching motion and the print zoomed out. Minaveil Province minimized into a small circular indicator and the bigger picture turned to be the Flat Lands and the surrounding ranges of Mount Rindea. ¡°See here at the very top, Minaveil be standin¡¯ beyond North Valley.¡± He pointed at the indicator. On either side of it were the ends of Mount Rindea, forming the valley. Kristel already knew all these, but she gave Midan the chance to build on his presentation. ¡°The range, over here, make a close on the Flat Lands.¡± His fingers traced on both sides of the ranges, highlighting a circular section of the Flat Lands. Then he pointed at the lowest part. ¡°Then, here be South Valley to the Desolate Lands of Vyndival Kingdom.¡± ¡°Right, so this means that in order for them to pass through Irista Nation, they have to travel through the Desolate Lands, traverse the Flat Lands and invade Minaveil,¡± Flimeth reviewed. ¡°I guess that makes sense since we need to go through the same thing if we want to cross their borders.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Midan gave a nod. ¡°Especially fer an army that size, ain¡¯t no way they be travelin¡¯ to the Void Region. Nightmare Lands, Void Region, you know what am talkin¡¯ ¡®bout.¡± ¡°Nightmare Lands sounds cooler,¡± Flimeth objected. ¡°To each their own, lass.¡± Kristel had gone to the edge of the unprotected zone of the Nightmare Lands once, located at the outer sides of Rindea Mountain Range, and she clearly remembered the difficulty of trying to breathe, let alone Gather meiyal. If the Vyndival army forced their way through the Nightmare Lands to bypass Minaveil and cross The Great Sea Dividyr through the unprotected zone, they would either all be dead or their numbers would dwindle down too low to even make a dent on the defenses of Southshore, the southern Great City of Irista Nation. ¡°And here is yer fortress, m¡¯lass. We makin¡¯ its walls in layers; tall and sturdy.¡± Midan traced a finger around North Valley, placing a line of meiyal that connected both ends of the flattened peaks. ¡°And then, right ¡®n the third layer, facin¡¯ the Flat Lands, we¡¯ll place the fortress proper there.¡± He traced another small circle in front of the village indicator, marking the area for the fortress. After seeing how they made the wall, Kristel was confident they could accomplish the plan in a week. But one thing bothered her. ¡°You said, anything made in a rush can¡¯t be sturdy.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Midan nodded, recognizing the inquiry. ¡°Do ya still remember the Deitars from yer history lessons?¡± ¡°God-avatars,¡± Flimeth replied. ¡°From before the Divine Severing,¡± Kristel added. ¡°They¡¯re supposed to be titanic beings, but all we can find now are loose traces of their existences and they¡¯re all outside of the protected territories.¡± ¡°They said Northsnow and the Oh¡¯strol Continent were in perpetual snow because of dead Deitars,¡± Flimeth commented. ¡°Dragon Deitars no less.¡± ¡°The history books are clunky on that one,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°Well, one prevailin¡¯ theory why Alvo and Sel¡¯Rindea both have these overprotective plateaus was ¡®cus of a dwarven Deitar. A favor to the First Monarch, so they say. ¡°If ya study these peaks, ya¡¯ll find the meiyal in them ain¡¯t natural no more. They¡¯re sturdier, tamed, they¡¯re upholdin¡¯ a command and treatin¡¯ it as their new existence, but it ain¡¯t no Meiyal Art; no signature to be found, see? That¡¯s somethin¡¯ a Deitar can do. Hard to explain anymore simpler than that, m¡¯lass.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re basically replicating a Deitar?¡± Kristel asked, confused. ¡°Well, not exactly, m¡¯lass. To say to a Deitar they can only build things, probably the fastest way to get disintegrated, yeh?¡± Midan was interrupted by one of his pupils. The master was quick to give him instructions before returning to the Princess. ¡°We¡¯re replicatin¡¯ one of the things they can do, only it takes hundreds of us to match the scale. It¡¯ll also take me and me fellers a year what they can do in a few minutes. ¡°Ya see, every layer needs a day of fortifyin¡¯ to make it at least as strong as rocks. After that, it needs tendin¡¯ ¡®til it stabilizes into a proper wall, else they return to the ground. A Deitar can do somethin¡¯ like that like they¡¯re buildin¡¯ sand castles. Us? A year methinks.¡± ¡°But we¡¯ll need it in five days,¡± Flimeth asked, frowning in confusion. She was trying to chew on everything Midan dropped on them, but the last one was important enough to get her attention. ¡°Aye, it¡¯ll be ready in a week, lass. It¡¯ll stand, it¡¯ll defend, it¡¯ll stop a runnin¡¯ giant. But it¡¯ll crumble and break apart if we don¡¯t keep tendin¡¯ to the meiyal, ya see. Me and me fellers¡¯ll be behind the wall doin¡¯ the repairs when the battle starts.¡± Kristel more or less understood. The wall will serve its purpose. ¡°Will it stop a dragon?¡± She asked out of curiosity. Midan¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°M¡¯lass, if yethinks them Vyndivalians have a dragon, we¡¯re better off sailin¡¯ to Central. Rushed walls ain¡¯t gonna stop grown dragons. The Forest Jaws¡¯ll be a challenge, yeh, but flyin¡¯ ones? Nah. We¡¯re good as toast.¡± ¡°Do they have flying dragons?¡± Flimeth was all worried. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that¡¯s impossible.¡± Dragons that held a threat no longer walk the lands. ¡°Thank you, Midan. This will greatly help us.¡± Kristel gave the master a smile. Midan gestured a humble bow as he was dismissed. The Princess turned to Flimeth. ¡°Now we just need those two to get in here.¡± ¡°Ashtine and Smyl?¡± ¡°Yes. Those twins with their Sky Knights will be the key in case our enemies flank us from the mountains or approach us from the skies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we decided to bring them, then.¡± Kristel and Flimeth followed the overly confident voice coming from above them. There they saw two flying yumas carrying the twins. General Sky Knight¡ªa title too old for a twenty-two-year-old¡ªSmyl Solfey was first to land, dismounting even before his yuma touched the ground. He gracefully turned the motion into a bent knee addressed to the Princess. The twins were wearing simple clothes, shirt and jeans and leather boots, comfortable enough for long-distance travel. Still, the two remembered to wear their mandated epaulets. ¡°Smyl and Ashtine, and the Sky Knights of Cross Irista, at your service. Our deepest apologies for our late arrival. We¡¯ve also taken the liberty of leaving our ships on standby by the port.¡± His confident tone brought the slightest hint of apologetic sincerity, if any. It didn¡¯t bother Kristel though. She was glad enough to have the twins arrive sooner than actually anticipated. Sky Knight Ashtine Solfey landed beside her brother just a moment later, following the same smooth genuflect. ¡°We¡¯re here to assist the best way possible. Monarch Denis also sent everyone the High Palace could spare. They¡¯ll be arriving in a few days. Supplies are also underway.¡± ¡°I trust you left Central in good condition?¡± Despite the impending war, internal conflicts must also be addressed properly. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± Both stood and smiled. Kristel nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good. I expect a full report. Let¡¯s return to the manor for now. We¡¯ll discuss our strategies from there.¡± She mounted her yuma and rode off with strong and high morale.
Two weeks quickly passed. Kristel¡¯s scouts confirmed Vyndival¡¯s approach and their arrival by nightfall. ¡°Their late arrival be a blessin¡¯,¡± Midan said. Indeed, it was. It gave him and his crew more than enough time to strengthen and complete the massive defense line now named as Minaveil¡¯s Vanguard. Every Guard Knight of Cross Irista had knights of about one to two thousand each under their command. Ashtine and Smyl both had a following of five thousand sky knights. All of which had the common core of military discipline laid out by the Irista Nation. The elders also commanded about ten thousand footmen in total, and also contributed a number of siege contraptions strategically stationed all around the Vanguard, with the exception of Master Midan whose crew focused on defenses and repairing the walls. Banners of the Cross Irista riddled the Vanguard and the soldiers¡¯ armors, two white swords intersecting downward with each other, forming a cross on a black canvas. A golden flower rested atop the intersection of the two blades. The stronghold featured three layers of walls; each five stories higher than the other. At the center of the tallest wall stood the throne room doubling the mighty structure as a fortress. The gaps of each level were purposed for fast transition of troops while traps were prepared for deployment if they ever needed to bottleneck potential breach. The walls held not even a single gate. Each fighting unit of the Vanguard had undergone a recognition Meiyal Art to allow exit and entry through the walls, removing any potential weak spot that could be exploited. But just in case, Midan taught Kristel a simple Meiyal Art to create entry points should the need arise¡ªmost likely after the siege. Battle, more like. In truth, there was almost no chance for a siege. Vyndival had no reliable way to press on Minaveil¡¯s supply lines. Even if infiltration were an option to burn their towns or farms the High Palace Network would be quick to alert them and the Sky Knights could dispatch and get rid of the intruders within the hour. There would be damage, sure, but not enough to hurt Minaveil as a whole. Not to mention reliable supplies were expected from Southshore via the Great Sea Dividyr. Ironically, thanks to the Nightmare Lands, trying to come up with a force strong enough to break that supply line without getting noticed was just simply impossible. So, the Vyndival Kingdom¡¯s only option was a straightforward invasion. If King Urzic really was determined enough to throw enough bodies to barrel through Minaveil¡¯s Vanguard, then Kristel would be forced to initiate their escape plan. The scary thing was, Urzic possessed those numbers. ¡°There they are.¡± Flimeth gasped at the sight of the invaders. They could see most of the Flat Lands from the throne room. Half of the vista was filled by Vyndival soldiers, filling more and more with each passing second. ¡°It¡¯s like they brought the entire kingdom.¡± Frill mentioned. Kristel began to contemplate. In total¡ªincluding the reserve force provided by the High Palace¡ªher troops counted to around a hundred thousand, give or take a few thousand, all of which were meiyal practitioners. She had a total of one hundred meiyal-crafted cannons and catapults and trebuchets loaded with ignition and sieging ammo. The Flat Lands could easily accommodate twice Kristel¡¯s army and it wouldn¡¯t even take a quarter its land. The Vyndival Army only showed its infantry and already the Flat Lands looked suffocated. Doubtless, further behind the Desolate Lands were monsters. Some of them might be flanking from the mountain side, but Kristel was sure to have the Sky Knights ready to intercept. There was no denying, they were clearly outnumbered. ¡°I guess,¡± the Princess started, exiting the throne room. She placed a hand over an embrasure of the third wall, observing and relaxing her nerves and masking her fears with confidence and trust on each single soldier ready to die for their motherland. ¡°We¡¯re in for a fight.¡±
Chapter 13: Milling Milling Recollection: Frein Nivan Subject: Frein Nivan¡¯s Training Timeframe: Day 33rd of 300, approx. 5 months before the war ¡°The way you said it, I thought at first, each species on Brymeia had their own way to utilize meiyal. Like Meiyal Arts are for humans.¡± Frein sat in meditation, Katherine in front of him concentrated under the same posture while Schrodie stood in the middle. Today, they spent their training on a familiar environment. Frein dubbed it The Relativity Temples, referencing a famous painting of stairs he once saw. Only, in place of the seven confusing stairs were rainforest islands with their own orientations interlinking with each other through waterfalls. Seven islands with seven temples. Each, as Schrodie claimed, with a specific purpose in relation to training. The second island, for example, was supposed to be the best place to train for Milling. Frein couldn¡¯t tell the difference. ¡°Did I?¡± the Gatekeeper contemplated. ¡°I remember saying it has to do with the territories. Sometimes a small group branches out, but generally they fall under a category. Go, five minutes.¡± ¡°So, it won¡¯t be surprising to find an orc or an elf Drawing Meiyal Arts?¡± ¡°You¡¯re already reading some books?¡± ¡°A lot to catch up on.¡± Frein was concentrating, he had his eyes closed. Because he did not acquire his meiyal system from birth, his own internal meiyal were too blocky to Mill properly¡ªaccording to Schrodie. He focused on the image in his mind, grinding his internal meiyal into granules, to powder, to particles, enough to bind with every bit of Gathered meiyal. It was taking too long, but he quickly realized it wasn¡¯t as taxing as Katherine said it would be. The Seeker had her own eyes closed, frowning. ¡°Interesting,¡± Schrodie said, she walked in a circle around the two, observing. ¡°And yes, you¡¯re correct Meiyal Arts aren¡¯t strictly for humans. ¡°To clarify, most of today¡¯s disciplines have nothing to do with species or race. It simply depends on which discipline the would-be practitioner starts learning first, this is heavily influenced by the circumstances of their birth or who their parents were.¡± ¡°But you gave me a meiyal system based on Katherine¡¯s ancestral development,¡± Frein interjected. ¡°Because you don¡¯t have the time to grow yours,¡± Schrodie pointed out. ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Yes. Technically, a newborn child, no matter their species will have a dormant meiyal system. As soon as they start Drawing meiyal, their system will then adapt for Meiyal Arts. It doesn¡¯t hinder them from transitioning to a different discipline, but it will be more difficult and generally not recommended.¡± ¡°Drawing? You mean¡­¡± ¡°Gathering and Milling are essentially the same across most disciplines, they simply have different names.¡± Frein pondered for a while. ¡°It feels like learning your first language.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a nice way of putting it.¡± ¡°Which means it¡¯s possible to learn multiple disciplines?¡± ¡°Improbable, but not impossible.¡± ¡°Now, when you mentioned technically¡­¡± ¡°Means there are some exceptions. Better for another time. Four minutes.¡± Schrodie took Frein''s attention with a gesture, pointing over her wrist as if to point on a wristwatch. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Frein finished grinding his batch of internal meiyal, now it was time to Mill them all together. The first time he had done it, it was like pressing his own batch into the Gathered meiyal. There had been resistance, it simply wasn¡¯t the way. The key was to maintain a consistent flow. Frein found it easy to visualize a rotating flow. His Gathered meiyal waited in a vat with a rotator in the middle, then he poured his internal meiyal over it while maintaining rotation. According to Schrodie, this was the initial process of the Mix Milling form. ¡°That should be good enough. Next. Two minutes,¡± the Gatekeeper noted. ¡°Right.¡± Frein¡¯s dispersion time was exactly five minutes. After the initial mix, it was time to move to the Perpetual-Layered Milling. Frein visualized large dispersion rollers, like a dough roller but larger and mechanicalized. He started with a pair. Slowly but surely, he ladled the mixed meiyal onto the rollers, flattening them and pressing the bond of both internal and Gathered meiyal down to their very particle. It was easier to visualize than to actually perform the process. ¡°Time,¡± Schrodie said. Frein broke his concentration, feeling the dispersion of unbonded meiyal from his body. ¡°About ten percent,¡± the Gatekeeper noted. ¡°Steady improvement.¡± ¡°It was nine last time,¡± Frein complained, feeling a slight exhaustion. He trusted Schrodie¡¯s interpretations. For him it felt the same, power within his grasp simply vanishing into nothing. ¡°A point earned is a point better than before. Just don¡¯t lose the point.¡± There was a touch of power. He felt the weight, light like water cupped in one hand. It was nothing close to the feeling compared to when he used Katherine¡¯s gift on the night he almost died. There was frustration in it. He longed for that same feeling, but after trying for days and nights, ten percent was all he had to show for it. Frein calmed himself before the frustration surfaced. No point in dwelling too much into it, practice and training were his only answers. ¡°How come, she¡¯s still concentrating?¡± Frein pointed at Katherine. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Schrodie paused, trying to figure out how to explain. Frein expected some physical trait to manifest out of the Gatekeeper. Just a few seconds later, he saw a flash of pink. Schrodie¡¯s hair was pink and long, longer than her entire body, with waves and volumes that would be very well double her weight. He would¡¯ve missed it if he wasn¡¯t waiting for it. It was getting easier to predict. ¡°It would be easier if you knew how to Draw an observation Art. But to put it simply, while you¡¯re working on one Milling batch, Katherine was working on¡ªI would guess¡ªseven.¡± ¡°Twelve,¡± Katherine corrected. ¡°Twelve. She just started five more batches.¡± ¡°You can do that?¡± Frein almost shouted, realizing now why Katherine was straining herself. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Frein relaxed, observing Katherine, admiring her until something caught his eye and jogged his memory. ¡°Oh yeah, I meant to ask: why is Katherine¡¯s meiyal system floating like that? In all the books I¡¯ve read so far, they¡¯re all supposed to be tattoo-like.¡± ¡°They¡¯re special for two precise reasons,¡± Schrodie began. ¡°They¡¯re evidence of one¡¯s viability as Seeker for one, and that¡¯s because of the second reason¡ªbecause of this type of meiyal system, she doesn¡¯t have a dispersion time limit.¡± Frein jumbled the information in his head, finding the right resources of what he¡¯d learned so far. Schrodie had presented the information with a touch of gravitas, obviously projecting certain expectations from him. He observed his own meiyal system. From the day he had successfully Milled, he unsealed his first mark. Milled meiyal was stored in that mark, not fully. He had no concrete feeling or estimate on how much of the mark was filled, only that with the way he was Milling, it would take him forever to fill up one of the two he currently had. When he tapped into that stored power, the mark hissed a slight glow. He couldn¡¯t help but compare himself to Katherine again. Hers was a vibrant combination of prismatic colors, elegant and eye-catching. ¡°Ah!¡± The idea clicked in the Visitor¡¯s head. ¡°That means you can Gather as much as you want!¡± ¡°As much as you can,¡± Schrodie corrected. Frein nodded, turning to Katherine, he didn¡¯t care if she was still meditating. ¡°So, when you went to Earth, you filled up your meiyal system and then Gathered for spare stock, Milling as you need them.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± was the Seeker¡¯s only response. Still deep in Milling, she couldn¡¯t even afford to open an eye. ¡°A deep breath enough to last her for years,¡± Schrodie commented rather proudly. It was a challenging concept to grasp, but Frein got the gist of it. He understood how it made the Gatekeeper proud. ¡°There was nothing to Gather on Earth,¡± he said. Schrodie nodded. ¡°The day you arrived, Katherine was running on fumes, she was essentially only using her own meiyal at that point.¡± ¡°You can Draw using just your own meiyal?¡± ¡°No,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°She was holding on to scraps of power,¡± Schrodie explained. ¡°Gathering what meiyal she could claim back from a Drawn Art. It¡¯s another high-level skill she had to learn before I gave her permission to start her mission. Very inefficient and quickens Art fatigue, but still useful.¡± Frein made a mental note of at least returning to that topic once he has improved. There was a rather more interesting question in his head in the meantime. ¡°How long does it take you to fill up all your marks?¡± Katherine was silent so Schrodie took the reins. ¡°She was already full even before you began today¡¯s training, Frein,¡± she said, much to Frein¡¯s confused look. ¡°That¡¯s the second part of the Perpetual-Layered Milling form at work. ¡°Layering over what feels to be a full mark, pressing them ever thinner and adding on layers. You¡¯ll quickly realize, the amount of meiyal you can store has nothing to do with your meiyal marks.¡± Schrodie leaned forward as if to whisper a secret. On the side, just within Frein¡¯s peripheral view, he noticed Katherine open her eyes and move her lips along with the Gatekeeper''s profound words. ¡°It¡¯s never about the marks.¡± End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
Chapter 14: From the Other Side From the Other Side Six hours before the Vyndival Army¡¯s arrival. ¡°Keep marching!¡± yelled the commander from his vork, a feline mount capable of winged flight. Infantries of a couple hundred thousand continued their march despite the harshness of the yellow sun. Even under this blistering heat, Xiv Arcturus and his Fifteenth Company of Swordsmen marched on without a sweat, bringing one foot in front of the other as though they were simply out for a stroll. He and his men maintained the middle western flank, guarding a mechanicalized breaching tower. It was a contraption he never thought they¡¯d need against Minaveil Province, but their scouts¡ªwhat little of them returned¡ªmade enough emphasis to ensure the moving tower was of vital importance. Night came when the frontlines finally emerged from the Desolate Lands, spreading in ordered formations throughout the plains of the Flat Lands. Xiv¡¯s company settled in near their moving fortification, erecting tents and producing fires as the evening gradually turned into the usual gathering of men and women enjoying supper. It was the final evening before the battle. Everyone intended to enjoy what pleasures they were afforded. Pity alcohol was forbidden. Xiv was no leader. At a young age of twenty-two, he had been given and stripped of his title, Lord Knight. The ranks of their army were excruciatingly unorganized that it took a miracle to have every single footman fall in order and have each division grouped together. Xiv was one of those miracle men who had a hundred soldiers following suit. And yet, he never once called himself a leader. They were assigned a dangerous position on the frontlines of the western assault comprised of the other fourteen companies. Whoever came up with this plan had a brilliant system. Brilliant enough to hide the fact everyone on the frontlines were sure to die tomorrow. Xiv marked their position with a Vyndivalian Flag¡ªa golden mountain etched on a canvas of maroon red. The same flags rose not far from where they were, lining towards the distant horizon on the other end of the Flat Lands. It was a magnificent display of pride, no matter how fragile it actually seemed. ¡°How long ¡®till we get the signal?¡± one of his men asked. ¡°Not long,¡± Xiv replied. ¡°Get all the rest you can take. We¡¯ll need it for later.¡± Not far from where they stopped was one of the Great Provinces of Irista Nation, Minaveil. A few days ago, the North Valley had nothing but a watchtower to defend their border, but every soldier from Vyndival knew about the powerful princess that lived there. Now, a gigantic wall stood between the army and the province. No use letting his thoughts meander through it now. Their breaching towers were brought forward for this exact reason anyway. With the supper fully underway, Xiv¡¯s company gathered around the campfire. One of the soldiers sat beside him. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked. Hearty, but could use more salt, Xiv thought. But he understood the real question. He took a moment to take a sip from his warm soup and organized his thoughts. The plain porcelain bowl reflected his tanned skin. There was a hint of regret; his black eyes bothered by how much he¡¯d neglected his hair, now looking like a mess of dark red. One ought to die looking rather fashionable, but his armor for tomorrow should suffice. ¡°This is an important war. Our kingdom pooled all its resources for this.¡± He didn¡¯t bother looking at his brother-at-arms, eyes fixed at the stale¡ªalbeit large¡ªcontents of his bowl as he tried his best to ignore the bland flavor of what could very well be his last meal. Everything had been done in haste and unreasonable pressure. Every decision, every strategy, even recruitment didn¡¯t employ proper validations. They might have the advantage in numbers, but important parts were missing in more than half of their army. Resolve, training, confidence, the right state of mind, experience. The name, Company of Swordsmen, had as much promising potentials as the three months it was established. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°If we lose, Vyndival will perish along with our disgrace.¡± This time Xiv looked up and found the entire Fifteenth Company listening to him. All of them never had the years of training he had under his belt. All of them never even experienced a single skirmish. All of them spurned by a greater power none of them could understand. Cursed Blessing. He unceremoniously raised his bowl in an invitation. ¡°I may not be able to see your faces again after this, my brothers and sisters. But we will meet each other in the afterlife or the next.¡± Xiv never believed in life after death, but he knew these words encouraged them. ¡°Aye!¡± All of them followed and raised their bowls in response. ¡°For Vyndival or death.¡± Their war cry, but Xiv said it casually like a quote for normal conversations. ¡°We fight or die trying,¡± replied the others in a slightly more enthusiastic manner. This second half of the quote, an addendum formed during the entire march, made Xiv recall unpleasant memories. He avoided saying it whenever he could. The Fifteenth Company finished the rest of their meal in silence and took to their own for rest. Xiv on the other hand, isolated himself from the group. He reached for his necklace, simple chains carrying a pendant. There he found a picture of an elderly couple in formal clothing and seated neatly. Traces of meiyal swam about the image, slightly distorting the features of his parents. It made the image seem to move. His father had the same dark red hair he had brushed up while he got his mother¡¯s charcoal eyes. ¡°If there really is an afterlife, I wish I can see you there,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Now, now, don¡¯t go killing yourself just yet, Brother Xiv.¡± A spunky sounding man sat beside him, tapping his shoulders for encouragement. ¡°You¡¯re one of the best out here.¡± ¡°Swords and weapons are no match for Meiyal Arts, Brother Dystro. We both know that.¡± Xiv quickly hid his pendant and his embarrassment at the same time. ¡°Unless we have meiyal-breaking steel.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t.¡± Vynore, dubbed as meiyal-breakers. A special ore found in the mines of Vyndival that possessed powerful adverse effects on meiyal. Once, they were abundant in the kingdom, and was used by the previous kings to form a special wall to protect themselves from the Nightmare Lands. Now the resource was rarer than seeing a mating vork and yuma, and very few weapons with meiyal-breaking properties circulated around their ranks even when he was still a Lord Knight. Dystro shoved off the fact as though it was no big deal. ¡°There ought to be someone here who has it.¡± ¡°King Urzic does,¡± Xiv said, ¡°but he¡¯s not fighting in the frontlines.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think any king does. Are you sure yours aren¡¯t made from Vynore?¡± Xiv brought out his sledgehammers. It was hilariously ironic that none of his Company questioned him about his weapons despite their name, Company of Swordsmen. ¡°I wish they are.¡± He looked at the great wall of the North Valley. ¡°Even so, it won¡¯t make that much of a difference. We may have our tolerance against harmful Meiyal Arts, but we¡¯re not invulnerable.¡± ¡°If only our men could last in the Nightmare Lands, eh?¡± Lord Knight Dystro Tirfang laughed in a manner so close to a maniac. His spiky red hair and huge black eyes didn¡¯t help ease the image. Xiv found the idea amusing and regretful at the same time. ¡°The meiyal pressure in the Nightmare Lands will be the least of our problems. You really don¡¯t want to know what kind of monsters live in those parts.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, you were part of the capture expedition, right? Do tell, do tell.¡± Even after the warning, Dystro¡¯s amusing tone of curiosity easily persuaded the former Lord Knight. ¡°Landscape is one of the biggest issues. You see a floating island here, an inverted forest there. Some waterfalls fall up, not down. Most of what we saw were giant monsters, to a point. Even the plants are predators. I don¡¯t really know what they¡¯re called,¡± Xiv spoke in a modest and honest tone. No one had the luxury of classifying each species that resided in those forsaken lands. ¡°We were only able to capture this one lesser dragon, Jaws Lurking in the Forest. It was wounded, but it killed a dozen of our men before we could capture it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± ¡°I¡ªI really can¡¯t talk about it.¡± Xiv¡¯s memories began to distort as his subconscious denied the recollection of the horrendous event that took place that day. ¡°The only thing I could remember from it was the disgusting way its mouth opened and the tendrils growing out of its tail. It spat acid, not fire.¡± He slowly compressed himself to stop his body from shaking. ¡°Aside from that, I can¡¯t say anymore.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Dystro¡¯s voice settled into a calm. ¡°Sorry. I won¡¯t bring it up again.¡± Xiv silently nodded his head. ¡°Well, I¡¯d better go back to my people. We¡¯re moving out soon.¡± Dystro stood up and dusted off his clothes. ¡°Take care, Brother. For Vyndival or death.¡± Xiv raised a fist. His friend connected with it. ¡°We fight or die trying, I know, but don¡¯t you even dare try dying, Brother.¡± Xiv watched the soldier walk away with confidence. He envied that attitude of him. Xiv knew very well his own skills could match up to ten average meiyal practitioners and his resistance could last him in the Nightmare Land¡¯s pressure for a few days, yet he could not feel as confident as his friend. Confidence was the least of his concerns. The war itself was the least of his concerns. He looked at the wall one more time. Somewhere at the top, the Princess was waiting. ¡°Let¡¯s hope she¡¯ll listen.¡± Only three more hours and the sun for the Whiteday would rise to meet the painting of red.
Chapter 15: Battle of the Vanguard Battle of the Vanguard
¡°I am the spear of my soldiers, the sword of my knights. I am the arrow of my archers, and to my nation, I am the light.¡± ~Royal Knight Princess Kristel Irista
The white sun broke dawn, filling the darkness with a shine that reflected on armors. ¡°Soldiers of Irista Nation!¡± Kristel¡¯s voice resounded all over the Vanguard and through the Flat Lands with the help of an echo Meiyal Art. ¡°The time to protect our nation has come!¡± Roars from all over the stronghold caused the very air to tremor. The morale of every knight washed away the fear from the overwhelming numbers of their enemies. ¡°Soldiers of Vyndival!¡± She increased the effective range of her echo Meiyal Art, a way to display her prowess to the opposing soldiers. ¡°Return to your kingdom! You will never take what is ours!¡± The opposing masses roared in response, in a manner the same as that of her army. Both sides were ready to fight and prepared to die for their motherland. ¡°So be it! Come at your own demise and we will show you what we are capable of! For Irista!¡± ¡°We are the sword of our nation!¡± The war cry of every Iristan knight resounded through the air once again. The signal to charge flashed in the skies and the screeching roars of war grew louder as the Vyndival army commenced the invasion. ¡°Adviser Kento, I leave you and the elders with the command of our defenses,¡± Kristel turned to the leaders of Cross Irista and her attendants. ¡°Make use of Sky Vision and a network hub. Adjust our strategies and alert for incoming flanks.¡± ¡°Already on it,¡± said her uncle. The elders in the throne room had just finished the ritual for the Sky Vision, allowing them to survey the war from above. With five Virtuoso serving as pillars for the Meiyal Art along with a few more practitioners, they should be able to survey the entire Flat Lands. Pairing this with a network hub similar to that of the High Palace Network, they could easily take reports and issue orders, virtually making their small army able to adapt to any given situation on the fly. ¡°Master Midan, be on the lookout for any exploits and make sure your people are in position for emergency repairs.¡± ¡°Done, m¡¯lass.¡± ¡°Frill, you¡¯re in charge of our artillery, keep as many of those invaders at bay as you can. Don¡¯t forget your hymnic Meiyal Arts.¡± Frill expressed a concerned look, but gave a firm nod. ¡°Liona, join Smyl and Ashtine to the skies, bombard them from above and secure our flanks.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Liona followed the twins and flew. The Sky Knights mounted their yumas, and the maid merely floated with her Meiyal Art. Sparks of lightning ran through her legs. ¡°Everyone else, we¡¯re breaking through as planned.¡± It was the only solution if they were to have a chance in defeating the seemingly infinite numbers of their enemies. Their goal was simple: eliminate the leader. While the walls kept the Vyndival army at bay, Kristel and her group planned to circle around the ranges of Mount Rindea and flank them from the rear. This also allowed them to take care of any threat that could breach the walls, like a monster or a giant traversing the mountain range. With a vigorous morale, Kristel turned and headed towards the eastern wall with Lor, Flimeth, Venry, and two other guard knights while the other six Guard Knights of Cross Irista went the opposite direction. ¡°We¡¯re going to move as fast as we can.¡± They activated their meiyal marks almost in synchronized fashion and leaped down to the mountain depths. The walls were built high, but the height didn¡¯t cause any problems for their landing. To complement on their covert operation, Kristel made sure everyone used camouflage not only on their current wear, but also on their meiyal marks to hide the activated light. They couldn¡¯t afford to have a simple mistake jeopardize the whole plan. Unfortunately, no Meiyal Art could turn anyone completely invisible. The only person Kristel knew capable of such a feat was too young to be in war. It was a Blessing from the world itself, not something anyone could replicate. They dashed through the terrain with speeds comparable to a hunting yuma, if not faster. Leaping from tree to tree was nothing but child¡¯s play. Kristel and her companions¡¯ enhanced eyesight allowed them to see each other and ahead despite the darkness caused by the thicket that allowed for very little sunlight to pass through. She stopped on one of the branches after they had traversed a quarter of the mountain range, well over an hour into the war. Her company hid their presences while waiting for her commands. Screams of death and roars of explosions filled the entire Flat Lands, echoes reaching over Mount Rindea. Flashes of fire, lightning, and other elements crashed at waves of Vyndivalian soldiers who all ran through them like madmen. She did her best to ignore them. The Princess narrowed her eyes and focused ahead. A small battalion of covert Vyndivalian troops trod the shade a few hundred paces away from them. They carried with them huge, ball-like containers. Breaching bombs were the easy conclusion, but she had no way of confirming from a distance. Whether they were able to predict the rising of the Vanguard, or had planned to use them for something else was irrelevant now. All that mattered was to prevent those peculiar objects from reaching the walls. The Royal Knight Princess raised a fist: a signal to attack. Then she lifted her index finger indicating a stealthy approach. Finally, she drew a circle that issued an order to create a perimeter. She didn¡¯t need to confirm if all her followers received the signals. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Kristel began her approach, using the branches for height advantage. She waved her right arm to the side and summoned a meiyal weapon. It featured a short blade as long as her arm with a hilt fit enough for both her hands. The summoning only lasted for a split second as if she merely pulled it out of thin air. She leaped high from the trees, contemplating for another second. She could easily wipe out the enemies in a single stroke with the amount of meiyal she could summon, but that would certainly attract more attention than needed. Kristel began her descent. Some enemies finally noticed her, warning the others in a panic. Four blurs ran across the army and heads flew away from their bodies. Arrows started to rain from behind the Princess, missing her only by inches and barraging those beneath her. Lor¡¯s marksmanship had yet to disappoint. Kristel landed on an unfortunate enemy soldier and, with a quick motion of her blade, decapitated him. She swayed sideways to avoid the gushing blood and dashed towards her next target. One by one, she eliminated her enemies without hesitation as she made her way towards their cargo while keeping a keen eye around her surroundings. Three Guard Knights sped around the area, keeping a perimeter and making sure no one from the enemies could escape. Lor maintained his ranged attacks, forming arrows of meiyal to¡ª A loud clanging sound echoed from beside Kristel. Flimeth had parried an incoming attack. ¡°You¡¯re still not minding your surroundings, Princess?¡± she said as she riposted. Kristel chuckled sarcastically. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re there for, isn¡¯t it, Miss Guard Knight?¡± They leaned on each other¡¯s backs, staring down against the approaching soldiers. ¡°Keep an eye on these things. They might be some kind of bomb. We don¡¯t want anyone setting them off right now.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± Flimeth broke formation to circle around the other side of the cargo. Kristel spared a quick breath, observing the unorganized enemy soldiers trying to circle around her. Seven approached her, eyes in unfocused agony. Only until she had a clear look at their faces did Vyndival¡¯s desperate act dawned on her. ¡°You¡¯re no soldiers,¡± she said, referring to all but one of the enemies around her. Silence. But the faint change in their faces, turning from desperation to fragile defiance, plucked a sensitive nerve somewhere in her head. ¡°Are these bombs?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to answer to you, wench!¡± said the one who looked more than a common folk forced to arms. But he didn¡¯t have to insult her. ¡°He called you a wench.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t mind the insult, nor the manic curve her lips were forming and the widening of her eyes as blood boiled with excitement. ¡°You would allow a mere soldier to vandalize your royal blood?¡± The Princess lowered her form, her legs bending low enough to look as if she was crouching. She raised her short blade across her face and switched it in reverse grip. She looked like a cat¡ªno, a small vork¡ªthat would pounce at any moment. The meiyal around her swirled in a calm but dangerous manner. Her pressure was too subtle that one of the conscripted men roared and charged recklessly, raising a claymore high for a huge blow. He could barely maintain balance. Kristel jumped on him with speed faster than a blur. Her free hand found his shoulder plate and used it to pivot around in midair as she plunged the blade down his defenseless neck. She leaped back to the ground, returning to her crouching form while the soldier fell like crumbling stones. No one else dared approach. Kristel leaned even lower that she had to use her free hand to keep her balance. She looked more and more like a vork. The Princess knew about her small stature and developed her fighting technique to take advantage of it. Decreasing her already small size even further not only prepared her legs for quick movement, it also exuded an intimidation factor inversely influenced by her poise. Six enemies faced the Princess, but none of them moved a muscle. Neither were they able to react when she vanished. In the next instant, the closest soldier fell to the ground with five stabs on his body and one on his neck. The remaining soldiers were flustered by the fallen soldier. They flailed and yelled curses, not knowing from where the next strike will come. Kristel didn¡¯t disappear. She simply moved too fast for them to follow. Kristel lunged at the furthest soldier and stabbed his knee. The soldier screamed in agony and retaliated. She dodged a panic strike and followed with a pirouette, slashing his legs, waist, abdomen, and shoulders. She ended his pain with a leaping strike over the soldier¡¯s temple and shoving him to the ground as she followed through. The Princess quickly leaped to the side, leaving her sword and an afterimage Meiyal Art that was stabbed by another soldier. The afterimage had a concrete feel and reaction to it that it left the soldier a second too late to react on the incoming counterattack. Kristel raised her hand near the soldier¡¯s face and snapped her fingers, creating a sudden burst of light. It took an instant to summon another blade as she rushed the remaining three conscripted men and dispatched them with a flurry of rapid stabs and quick movement. By the time the blinded soldier regained his sight, Kristel was standing in front of him using one of the fallen recruit¡¯s ripped clothes, wiping the blade off the blood. Not that any of it mattered once the blade dematerialized. ¡°This time, you¡¯re going to answer my questions, soldier,¡± she said as the rest of her company gathered around the suspicious cargo. ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°You might as well kill me now¡ª¡± Kristel sliced off the soldier¡¯s right arm in a sudden motion that it took him moments to realize it. Shock silenced his screams. ¡°I left a meiyal signature on the wound. As long as it persists, I can reattach your limbs...and cut them off again. Or do you want me to test it somewhere else?¡± Kristel pointed her blade between the soldier¡¯s legs. ¡°I¡¯m open to experiments, you know.¡± The soldier glared at her like a cornered animal, red spiky hairs ready to stab at her. ¡°It¡¯s a bomb,¡± he admitted. ¡°It contains highly condensed amounts of meiyal harvested from the Nightmare Lands. Force from one of these can wipe out an entire city.¡± There were five of these bombs. ¡°I see.¡± Kristel wasn¡¯t inclined to believe anything she heard from the enemy, but it was better to be sure. She turned to her comrades, three of them were mildly injured. ¡°Bring the bombs on the closest peak, we¡¯ll have to confirm this information and secure a way to disarm it or detonate it in the Nightmare Lands. ¡°Ending this war comes first, make sure no one else finds out about them. Venry, you¡¯re to guard these bombs, you two will report this back to uncle Kento, treat your injuries along the way. We can¡¯t turn our M.O.B.I.L.E.s on just yet. Lor, Flimeth, we¡¯ll continue as planned.¡± The three Guard Knights bowed and proceeded to escort the bombs. Kristel sighed and reattached the Vyndivalian¡¯s arm, much to her reluctance. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation, soldier. Next time, you may want to think about your words before you speak them.¡± She made sure the soldier had no more weapons and performed a binding Meiyal Art, imprisoning the soldier in pure meiyal. ¡°You¡¯ll remain here for the rest of the war. It will release you when the fighting ends. Survive without food or water for that long and you will have earned your freedom.¡± ¡°This is not over!¡± The soldier screamed from inside the prison. ¡°I¡¯d rather die in battle than be rid of my honor!¡± ¡°Shut up! Dying for this isn¡¯t honorable! Dying here isn¡¯t honorable! Nothing in this war is honorable!¡± Kristel shouted, her patience running thin. ¡°Your kingdom runs in a blind sense of faith and funnels her sons and daughters to their deaths. And you have the nerve to speak of honor? For what, Vyndival? Don¡¯t make me laugh. Your life is more valuable than a senseless belief of nothing. I would have willingly supported your kingdom, if not for this nonsense your leaders have in mind.¡± The soldier remained silent but his breathing was clear. ¡°Take this moment to think it through, and what you will do with your life from now on.¡± ¡°Why?¡± The spiky haired soldier started. ¡°Why let me live! The rest of my people, they weren¡¯t as trained as I am!¡± The Princess couldn¡¯t form a clear answer. Only that they were at war, death always followed, and she couldn¡¯t be assured her words or strength could dissuade them away from King Urzic¡¯s influence. Kristel turned, leaving the soldier unanswered. Her friends quick to follow. ¡°I¡¯ll end this war quickly.¡± ¡°For that, you require power.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± she muttered to herself.
Chapter 16: Too One-Sided Too One-Sided Xiv knew from the very beginning how much of a disadvantage the frontlines had against the walls before them. He kept hearing a certain hymn emanating from the top of the walls that seemed to increase, not only the physical capabilities of their enemies, but also their morale. Although he found the hymn to be exceptionally invigorating, it neither harmed nor improved his performance. They quickly found out the walls had the ability to repair themselves remotely, or someone was doing the repairs with Meiyal Arts. Xiv was sure those people responsible would be hiding from sight in order to perform the repairs without the risk of getting killed. Some enemies phased through walls, performing Meiyal Arts that caught a number of his comrades unaware. They were gone by the time reinforcements arrived. Their flying army were no safer. They clashed with an army of knights on their own mounts. They couldn¡¯t afford new recruits to handle these animals with enough competence to fight in the air, so the numbers between the two armies seemed to be on par with each other. Xiv even saw a particular individual flying without a mount and was using lightning-based Meiyal Arts. Thankfully¡ªif one could consider that¡ªbecause of the sheer number of soldiers they had, they were able to approach the walls. The soldiers in front faced flame dropped from the edges of the colossal barrier, burning them to death. Even so, it didn¡¯t stop the army¡¯s advance. The Vyndivalian breaching towers made their approach. The army employed giants to defend these towers, swatting away rocks and meiyal missiles from the cannons and catapults above the ramparts. Some giants died for it, but such were the importance of their towers. Sadly, the giants were also not intelligent enough to deflect them away from their smaller comrades, but what was important was to drive the towers closer to the walls. Xiv and his soldiers were already on top of one of these¡ªtheir assigned one in the far west¡ªthat surreptitiously made the most progress without getting noticed by the bombardment of their enemies. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be pretty,¡± he muttered to himself. The tower shook as it took a beating of Meiyal Arts. But they were spotted too late, and the tower was sturdy enough to endure these flimsy attempts at repelling them. As the tower connected with the upper walls, the gates opened and dug deep hooks with the floor. The sides of the tower also dug deep into the walls, jamming a firm grip upon the ledge. Immediately, soldiers on the ground funneled into the tower, desperate to reach the top. Xiv and the rest of the Vyndivalian army charged the Iristan soldiers like a tidal wave. Traps did little to stop them. They were the first to make solid ground, but it was enough of a catalyst, enough chaos to break their enemy¡¯s formation, as more and more towers began connecting with the walls. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Everything was going their way in exchange for hundreds of thousands of men. A huge shockwave threw the frontlines into the air, its crashing force demolishing a nearby tower yet to make a connection. From there, Xiv saw the most astonishing view he¡¯d ever beheld his whole life. Time slowed down and the scenery zoomed in his eyes. A woman in trance with a vibrant, wavy, red hair and purple eyes riddled by scarlet, air-suspended meiyal marks stood alone before the whole Vyndivalian infantry. The hymn of power resonated from her, and the dense amount of meiyal swirling around her made her frilly clothes and hair float as if underwater. There was something about this woman, her stoic presence rendering everyone unable to move. It was there that Xiv¡¯s heart began to fail him. His experience in the Nightmare Lands made him well aware of the vast powers of meiyal and from this strange woman, disregarding the beauty and elegance she possessed, had pressure far more terrible than he had experienced back then. The swirling meiyal turned bright red. ¡°Get back!¡± he yelled desperately to his comrades. It was too late. ¡°Diferenfra,¡± uttered the woman. A high-pitched screech echoed, deafening the war hymn, and a blast of flame rushed the Vyndivalian army. It disintegrated everyone to ashes with a force tantamount to that of a twister. His absurd resistance to meiyal allowed Xiv to survive the flames, but his body was no match to the force of gust as he, and the ashes of his companions, were blown away. In a desperate will to survive¡ªor what may have been sheer luck¡ªhis hands found the ledge and his fingers clenched it for dear life. It was too much. Never mind the death of the whole platoon that came with him from the tower, even their armors were melted and evaporated, their resistance to Meiyal Arts rendered insignificant to this sheer display of power. He knew he survived, but even if it was because of his resistance, he knew it was nothing less but a miracle. He looked up. The summoned flame turned into a bird-like creature and dove at the army on the fields. He could only imagine what fate met the soldiers down there. Up in the sky, the engagement between the flying armies were still there. For some reason, he could no longer find that unique individual hurling lightning attacks, but there was far less fighting in the air now anyway. It was too chaotic to determine who was who. ¡°This is turning out to be hopeless.¡± Xiv strategically hid himself from the remains of the Iristan soldiers that remained untouched by the consuming fire. He may be the only Vyndivalian still on this wall. He had no idea about Dystro¡¯s situation on the eastern side, but he wished them to be better. ¡°I just need to catch my breath a bit.¡± Xiv planned to wait a while until the woman turned her attention somewhere else. He could take on the Iristan soldiers, but he would not even dream of attempting to stand toe to toe against anyone like her. After a while, Xiv grabbed his weapons, unsheathing the blades and letting the hammers dangle from the chains. Determination filled him as he Donned his Forged armor. ¡°This may be my best chance.¡±
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at royalroad.com. Thank you. Chapter 17: Creating a Monster Creating a Monster Recollection: Katherine Subject: Frein Nivan¡¯s Training Timeframe: Day 98th of 300, approx. 4 months before the war ¡°We¡¯re creating a monster,¡± Katherine said, her eyes affixed on the man that was most important to her. Frein would¡¯ve accepted the comment with a smile if he wasn¡¯t too busy focusing on his Milling. The man was alone at the center of an empty floor, while Katherine observed on a platform above. The space was empty and gray, noise reduced to an eerie quiet. After he had learned about the Layered portion of the Perpetual-Layered Milling form and the possibility of Milling multiple batches at the same time, Frein had been hellbent on mastering them. With the addition of managing his dispersion time, Katherine couldn¡¯t help but adore how much the love of her life had improved over just a short time. ¡°Eight batches with fifty percent efficiency. I¡¯d say that¡¯s a record.¡± Schrodie was beside her, observing as well. ¡°What¡¯s with the clothes, Kat?¡± Apparently, he was observing both of them. ¡°Hmm? What about them?¡± Katherine wore a pair of micro-shorts covered by a white extra-large shirt that could fit both her and Frein. While they were nothing new to Brymeia, both articles originated from Earth. ¡°You never wore casual clothing during your training days,¡± Schrodie clarified. ¡°You never called me Kat either.¡± ¡°I¡¯m easily influenced.¡± ¡°Well, so am I.¡± Katherine gave Schrodie a glance. Frein had told her when to expect the Gatekeeper¡¯s seemingly random trait appearances. It was usually whenever he¡ªor she, as Frein referred to her¡ªcontemplated on a certain topic, or whenever he arrived at a certain conclusion. Katherine had been noticing masculine traits; Frein¡¯s observations were feminine. After a while, nothing happened, so she continued. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring my formal training clothes anyway, left them when I went to Earth. Besides, I don''t have a battle gear anymore.¡± Schrodie¡¯s distorted head made an obvious nodding gesture. ¡°It suits you. To tell the truth, you look pretty with whatever clothing you wear.¡± Katherine saw an opportunity and took it in a heartbeat. ¡°Are you flirting with me, Schrodie?¡± A mature face of a man blinked into reality for a split second, well-defined and affixed with dark blue eyes. He was stern, slightly frowning, and stiff as though he was pressing his jaws together to keep himself from smiling. The Seeker swore she saw mild blushing, but the moment was too fleeting to discern any further details. Include panic on the list, then. ¡°It was a compliment, Kat. I¡¯m too mature for you,¡± Schrodie said defensively. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s not in my nature to spoil a blossoming relationship.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re being awfully sweet this time around.¡± ¡°Consider it as development of our friendship.¡± ¡°Considered. I guess even you would crave casual conversations every now and then. Everyone else in Brymeia literally worships you.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it worship, Kat. Most prayers are still directed to the Forgotten Deities, or to Brymeia herself. Revered, maybe.¡± Katherine frowned, confused. ¡°How do they pray if they¡¯ve forgotten their gods?¡± ¡°They use the collective name. It¡¯s weird. Thankfully, Irista Nation and Vyndival Kingdom have more sense.¡± ¡°Talking about those two¡­¡± ¡°I promise to tell you when the battle starts, and you may choose when to make your appearance.¡± ¡°Thank you. Still won¡¯t tell me about the Order of the Void?¡± ¡°You know I can¡¯t, Kat. It¡¯s against the rules of my creation. I almost endangered myself when I mentioned the war.¡± Schrodie crossed his arms and tilted his head a little as though to inquire something. ¡°Rather, we should talk about your Display.¡± Katherine pondered about it for a while, there really was no other solution to it besides starting over. Her Exhibit was ruined¡ªeroded, to be precise. Nothing on the Exhibit, nothing to Display. ¡°I think it¡¯s the years out of practice. Couldn¡¯t afford to do maintenance.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Schrodie gave another nod. ¡°What do you have left?¡± ¡°Samesia, Kaimera, Siffera, just the basics.¡± ¡°What about your Magnum Opus?¡± Katherine exercised patience. ¡°You know it¡¯s not mine, Schrodie.¡± ¡°It was passed down to you.¡± When the Seeker ignored the comment, he relented. ¡°Fine. What about his Magnum Opus?¡± ¡°Vantera doesn¡¯t erode, but it refuses to settle in my Exhibit.¡± There was silence for a while. It gave time for Katherine to return to monitoring Frein. A monkey from The Relativity Temples perched on the Visitor¡¯s shoulder, seemingly whispering something to him. He nodded along and adjusted his posture. ¡°I suppose your only solution now is to begin from the ground up. You¡¯ll need to look for materials again, but this time you¡¯ll have Frein to consider and help along. It¡¯ll be twice the work for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can just give us those?¡± ¡°And ruin the fun? Adventuring¡¯s half of being a Visitor.¡± ¡°What about me, then?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°And to think I was the favorite student.¡± Schrodie responded with nothing but laughter. Katherine expected another trait appearance, but nothing happened this time. The conversation, then, gradually died down. She looked back at Frein, now suddenly surrounded by more monkeys from The Relativity Temples. ¡°What¡¯s with the monkeys?¡± she asked Schrodie. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you about them?¡± The Gatekeeper had already turned his attention into something else, painting another room into reality. ¡°I didn¡¯t think to ask.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better if you ask him.¡± ¡°Cheapskate.¡± Katherine turned to Frein, determined to get to the bottom of the monkey mystery, when the meiyal around the Visitor began to surge. He was no longer in a meditative posture, standing in the middle of a circle of jumping monkeys seemingly cheering him on. She was familiar with the surge, a moment when the practitioner found their stride. Milling became effortless and the efficiency increased by tenfold. Frein was basically in the zone, his concentration undoubtedly focused entirely on that singular task. He Gathered and Milled at an alarming rate. Katherine¡¯s observation Meiyal Art allowed her to see the meiyal directly surrounding him being literally vacuumed into his meiyal system every time he Gathered, creating pockets completely emptied of meiyal. Frein was simply the greediest practitioner she had ever seen. ¡°Amazing,¡± Schrodie said, turning away from his work. ¡°He reminds me of your predecessors.¡± ¡°They Milled this way?¡± Katherine asked, her incredulity seeping out despite the reality before her. Frein would¡¯ve known, given his absurd obsession with books. Schrodie shook his head. ¡°They didn¡¯t Mill back then, Kat. They just took. Took as much as they could without reservations.¡± ¡°Will he be alright?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had episodes of this before, even your friends hit their stride sometimes.¡± ¡°Not in that scale,¡± Katherine pointed. ¡°The meiyal¡¯s literally having a hard time keeping up! I know it¡¯s not about the marks, but can he really store all that power in just two marks?¡± Before Schrodie could respond, Frein grabbed their attention. The meiyal around him became still. He was done Milling. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, his tone quivering with anticipation. Despite his distance to them, his voice carried with a distinct echo; not quite an echo Meiyal Art, but filled with meiyal nonetheless. ¡°Give me a test.¡± There were thin trails of smoke coming from Frein, hints of Art fatigue. Katherine had never seen anyone reach that state just by simply Milling. If she hadn¡¯t witnessed what had just happened, she would¡¯ve thought his meiyal system had problems. Instead, she knew exactly what he needed. ¡°Schrodie, can you give him a test he can¡¯t pass? Something too strong for him to power through or smart his way through.¡± At this point, both Katherine and Schrodie conceded to be Frein¡¯s mentors at the same time despite the Gatekeeper assigning her that job on their first day. He shrugged. ¡°Meteors?¡± She glared at him. ¡°We¡¯re not trying to kill him.¡± ¡°What exactly do you think he needs?¡± The amount of power Frein accumulated could not have been easy for his sanity. It was strength, energy, and other aspects of potential possibility melded into tangible form. A mere handful would be enough to become the strongest man on Earth while it lasted. It was simply dangerous. ¡°He wants an ego check,¡± Katherine said confidently. ¡°He needs to know there¡¯s more beyond what he¡¯s capable of right now, or else all that power will go to his head.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m sure, you can give him exactly just that, Kat.¡± Schrodie gestured towards Frein. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t accidentally kill him.¡± The Seeker considered the option for a moment before ultimately decided it was the best choice. She approached Frein and he immediately understood. ¡°You have an hour to try and hit me.¡± ¡°I actually don¡¯t know how to control this,¡± he said. ¡°Can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± He took a stance, a simple orthodox form, nothing special other than the meiyal swirling around his body. The monkeys retreated behind him, goading her as a collective group, obviously thinking they were safe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Katherine replied, taking the same orthodox form, except she took her right hand¡ªher dominant hand¡ªand placed it behind her. Her hair ornament meiyal system burst to life. ¡°I will.¡± Timeframe Skip: Day 98th of 300, an hour later Recollection: Frein Empty. In just an hour, Frein reached total Art fatigue. He absolutely had nothing left. Out of breath, out of meiyal, but while his entire body emitted smoke, he only felt relatively warm. Lying on the cool floor also helped. He had done all he could, tried every trick in his book, but he connected with nothing. His meiyal control was also out of whack, but that didn¡¯t matter for now. Despite it all, he smiled ear to ear. He couldn¡¯t touch Katherine at all, not even a strand of her hair, not even her clothes. Even while she parried with one hand, it was through flicks of meiyal redirecting him away. There was so much more to learn, no time to be content. So much to look forward to. He heard Katherine approach. The Seeker stopped just above his head, giving Frein a suggestively inviting view. She crouched, teasing him further. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, you know that?¡± She smiled, very much aware of what she was doing. ¡°Too tired?¡± ¡°I¡¯d talk dirty to you right now if Schrodie isn¡¯t around.¡± ¡°He¡¯s busy doing other things.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also busy.¡± ¡°With what?¡± ¡°Looking.¡± ¡°You only want to look?¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s the only thing we can afford right now.¡± Katherine smiled and bounced to a stand. She reached out a hand, anticipation and excitement all over her face. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s time for you to Draw.¡± Excitement brought Frein to his feet, following after Katherine. They headed to a freshly painted room. Surprisingly, Schrodie was actually nowhere to be found. ¡°By the way,¡± Katherine asked as she turned the doorknob into another reality. ¡°What¡¯s with the monkeys?¡± End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
Chapter 18: Covert Operations Covert Operations
¡°I had no idea...¡± ~Kristel Irista
Even with the lush forest obscuring the Flat Lands, the exuberant brightness of Frill¡¯s Diferenfra pierced through Mount Rindea where the Princess and her companions raced south. Kristel gave specific orders to Frill before the battle began to use the Meiyal Art only when the enemy managed to breach the first wall. Not only was the Art powerful enough to burn its targets to ashes with a force strong enough to sweep a grown man off their feet, it also allowed Frill the choice who to disintegrate and who to leave unharmed. Because of the complexity and power of Diferenfra, Frill could only Draw them sparingly. It was the perfect Art for delivering impact while subtly sending a message from those far away without relying on M.O.B.I.L.E. communications. Lor and Flimeth were immediate to adapt as soon as Kristel increased her speed. ¡°How far left?¡± Flimeth asked. She knew almost nothing with regards to the southern borders of their nation given that she had spent most of her entire life studying and training in the High Palace. ¡°We¡¯re almost there, just one more mountain,¡± Lor responded. The whole operation was going too well. With just the three of them, they had sneaked up on three other squads trying to flank them from the mountainside. But unlike the first squad, they didn¡¯t escort with them any mysterious cargo. Something felt off. Something about the wind brought a subtle warning. As soon as the suspicion crept in, the atmosphere constricted in a suffocating motion, willing the three into a full stop. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Flimeth snapped around, her feline ears in high alert. Kristel focused her attention ahead while Lor covered another side. The three momentarily stood in silence, backs facing each other, ready to face¡­ Nothing. There was absolutely nothing but trees and dirt. Not even the sound of animals. The atmosphere warped, suffocating, burning like rotten flesh. A feeling so strange yet familiar to Kristel. The Nightmare Lands. Is it spilling out? An Invasion? Kristel¡¯s mind raced like no other. A Nightmare Invasion at this time, during a war between two nations, could only spell the worst for both factions involved. Casualties upon casualties, death and decay piling higher than the Vanguard¡ª The warped air vanished. ¡°It¡¯s gone?¡± Flimeth was just as confused as everyone else. ¡°Where did it go?¡± The chaotic harmony of war returned to Kristel¡¯s ears, reminding her of the urgency of her mission. ¡°What now?¡± the Guard Knight asked. As much as Kristel wanted to investigate, the manner at which the atmosphere had come and gone like a bursting bubble left nothing to lead on. No traces, no signature, as if the whole thing never happened. ¡°We have no time for this. Our soldiers¡¯ lives are on the line.¡± Much to her reluctance, there was no other choice but to press on. They resumed their pace, but the Princess couldn¡¯t remove the curiosity building up from the abrupt appearance and disappearance of something they couldn¡¯t even define as smoke, yet worse than a smog. After speeding through the last mountain, they slowed down again. Kristel perched at the highest stable branch from a group of trees near the border of the mountain forest. ¡°Over there.¡± The forest gave way to the plains of South Valley, connecting the Flat Lands and the desert dunes of the Desolate Lands. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Her eyes widened at the number of armed units marching through the valley. Footmen mixed with breaching war-contraptions carried by giants while accompanied by various foul creatures¡ªthe Princess didn¡¯t have the privilege nor the time to identify¡ªmarched endlessly. ¡°Looks like our goal is still way out there,¡± Flimeth concluded. ¡°Seems like it,¡± Kristel affirmed with worry. She turned her gaze towards the direction of the Desolate Lands and found more of the same filing in. How could¡ª ¡°How could a nation so close to collapsing afford to come up with an army like this?¡± Lor finished the thought for her. Kristel had mulled over the question the first time she confirmed the reports and could only come up with a single answer. ¡°When the Monarch¡¯s Law speaks, even those without ears will listen,¡± was a mantra her father repeated on their occasional encounters. If nothing else, they served as a memory that Monarch Denis was indeed her father. ¡°Even so, this is just ridiculous,¡± Flimeth said, crossing her arms and leaning dangerously over the trunk of a nearby tree. She could be as light as a cat, but that much torque threatened the branch she stood on to snap. ¡°Come on, we need to move,¡± said the Princess, turning around and moving back into the forest. In order to traverse the Desolate Lands without being noticed by the Vyndival army, they backtracked and hid behind high dunes away from the army¡¯s rally point. Behind enemy lines, they finally saw some glimpse of their destination. They froze on their tracks at the sight of the horrid magnificence of the enemy¡¯s moving stronghold. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡ª?¡± Flimeth couldn¡¯t finish. It was a small portion of a castle pulled by a gigantic dragon. The Jaws Lurking in the Forest, strapped with chains and forced to pull the entire building all on its own. ¡°Well, it¡¯s at least a lot bigger than I imagined.¡± Flimeth had a hint of sarcasm that she obviously forced out of nervousness. ¡°I¡¯m really convinced it¡¯s not a dragon.¡± Kristel tried to control her own nerves. ¡°It¡¯s just a lesser dragon.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± The Guard Knight bobbed her head faster than she probably should. ¡°That¡¯s the only good part in this situation right now." ¡°Now that¡¯s a sight.¡± Lor had a smile as genuine as it could possibly be. The enormous lesser monster, crawled on four muscular limbs. Its third pair of limbs were webbed wings occasionally opening for balance rather than flight. It roared on every pull, its snout opening sideways and displaying layers of talon-like teeth dripping with acidic venom. Black scales frilled open and vibrated with every piercing scream. Soldiers and other troops kept a good distance away from it, careful of its acid while they escorted the beast. It didn¡¯t change the fact that Kristel¡¯s objective may well be hiding behind the monster. ¡°So how do we deal with that?¡± Lor asked. ¡°Infiltrating silently seems to be out of the question,¡± Flimeth said. She poked her head high, trying to spot for signs of the other covert group. ¡°Looks like there¡¯s just three of us.¡± ¡°I guess we could risk this for a few minutes.¡± Kristel opened her M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°Uncle Kento, can you hear me?¡± ¡°Sorry, my dear,¡± Kento replied, much to Kristel¡¯s relief. ¡°The Guard Knights are on a stalemate with their enemies on Mount Rindea. Their enemies called for reinforcements. They won¡¯t make it in time.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the rest of the battle holding up?¡± ¡°Chaotic as expected.¡± Kento¡¯s tone sounded calm and calculating, a good sign. ¡°We¡¯ve lost a few advantages. Our enemies are too many and they attack from different directions, but we¡¯ll make sure the Vanguard will hold. You need not worry about us.¡± ¡°Good, send a message to the other Guard Knights to report back once they¡¯re done, order them as you see fit. We¡¯ll handle things here. We¡¯re turning off our M.O.B.I.L.E.s again just to make sure. We¡¯ll report back in two hours.¡± ¡°Very well, Princess. Good hunting.¡± ¡°Looks like we don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Kristel switched off her device and returned her attention to the colossal monstrosity before them. ¡°I¡¯d really like to avoid more killing.¡± The previous skirmishes had left a bitter taste in her mouth. Killing barely trained folk conscripted into a desperate war wasn¡¯t exactly a glorious or honorable prospect to revel for the future. Playing things out in her head gave Kristel a grim sense of irony. With the repertoire she commanded, keeping multiple people incapacitated while unharmed didn¡¯t bode well for her meiyal capacity. Keeping them alive also added an unpredictable factor in the long run, in case this war turned into a full-blown siege. She turned to Lor. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Try to avoid their vitals at the very least, Princess.¡± Lor was busy adjusting his battle gear¡ªa leather armor affixed for light and explosive movement¡ªand checking his materialized meiyal bow, but he spared her a quick glance. ¡°It won¡¯t be pretty, and it¡¯s not a guarantee, but you can only spare your enemies too many compromises before you¡¯re practically friends. ¡°Whether they¡¯re under the influence of the Monarch¡¯s Law or not shouldn¡¯t be your concern.¡± Kristel agreed, but before she could give out the order, Flimeth made an exasperated, audible, attention-grabbing sigh. ¡°See, this is exactly the reason why I kept suggesting for you two to learn nonlethal Meiyal Arts.¡± She finished adjusting her battle gear, a standard issue Irista Nation half-plate armor slightly modified to be lighter and allow a space for her tail. Her Cross Irista epaulet cape flowed neatly behind her. ¡°What do you have on Display?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Lor said. ¡°You take my materials every time.¡± Flimeth eyed him judgingly. ¡°Why, thank you. You, Princess?¡± ¡°Kaimera, and some Irista Styles.¡± ¡°Like?¡± ¡°Judgment. I can only use it once, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s enough for the Forest Jaws.¡± The Guard Knight froze in the middle of fixing a materialized bracer, her jaw dropping in astonishment. ¡°Are you two for real? We¡¯re talking about nonlethal Meiyal Arts.¡± She sighed one more time, more genuine and deeper this time. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take point. You two take care of the monsters.¡±
Chapter 19: Individual Surrender Individual Surrender Soldier after soldier after soldier, Xiv slipped his way through ranks of meiyal archers and shield-bearers as though he was a shadow. He wasn¡¯t proud of his stealth skills, but he had to rely on it to avoid getting bombarded by all the angry Iristan soldiers around him. He ducked from one supply pile to the next, or leaned from one corner to another, and only rendering someone unconscious if he absolutely had to. It was harder to do than just killing all of them at once. Xiv didn¡¯t come for the war. He came for another purpose. The vision of the burning phoenix and the devastation it committed flashed through his mind like a threat. He knew he was in shock. As a former Lord Knight, he had been trained under the most rigorous and torturous regimens¡ªin physical, mental, and meiyal¡ªknown to mankind and had attained the enlightened awareness to identify his current state of mind even if he turned hysterical. This mental fortitude allowed him to carry out his lone operation while brushing off his paranoia like dust in the wind. He had to incapacitate another soldier. They were trained and experienced, better than the ones Vyndival forced to arms. His trance finally gave way and exhaustion came after him in a matter of seconds. He gasped for breath and fell behind one of the corners that hid him efficiently from the upper walls. Xiv held onto Benovrymm¡ªa pair of short swords chained into sledgehammers for a sheath¡ªwith trust as he focused on regaining his stamina. He tried to think of a way on how to reach the throne room without alerting the beauty of fiery death. He couldn¡¯t think of any. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to die here today,¡± Xiv muttered under his exasperated breath. A prickling pain seared on his neck. ¡°Not if you surrender.¡± A blade threatened his life. He couldn¡¯t see who it was, or how his senses didn¡¯t fire at the sign of threat. But the voice was loud and clear. A woman¡¯s voice. An encumbering pressure, so strong and familiar, enveloped him once again. Even without looking, he could tell who it was. He reluctantly released Benovrymm. ¡°Stand up.¡± He did as he was told, as slowly and as calmly as possible. He controlled his emotions perfectly, not letting any hint of hostility or desperation to pass through. ¡°Turn around.¡± Xiv felt his heart melt into a mush. Not because of the crushing pressure of condensed meiyal rendering him immobile, but because of the pristine beauty standing next to him. The radiant crimson strands and the frilly battle gear waving in rhythmic pulses exemplified her grace. Her stoic, purple eyes looked like polished amethyst adorned with her scarlet meiyal marks. Even when under threat, Xiv knew due to his ever strong fortitude, he was falling helplessly for this battle-maiden. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. He had never once considered himself so shallow as to be captivated simply by one¡¯s beauty, but he had never seen anyone like her. No matter how aware he was about it, his heart wouldn¡¯t stop beating loudly. It was maddening. Ridiculous. Crazy. And yet, it was the truth. It was an agonizing battle between his heart and mind, rationality versus emotion. He was in the middle of the storm, torn to shreds for what felt like an eternity in a matter of seconds. His heart, now less than mush, wouldn¡¯t stop sending nervous beats throughout his body. There was no understanding the situation. Her eyes swayed at the bodies behind him, then returned to him with a narrower and viler look. ¡°They¡¯re not dead,¡± Xiv said in defense. ¡°I know they¡¯re not.¡± ¡°I surrender,¡± his words escaped him even before he could process. Would he be simply willing to forget his nation over something like this? There was no possible way this woman would even consider looking at him as a man. To her, he was just another enemy. ¡°Good move. Now Doff.¡± ¡°At least leave me with protection,¡± Xiv retaliated. It was answered by a meiyal blade straightening further towards his neck. ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask again.¡± Xiv hesitated once more, but he had to trust his instincts, and he had to gain hers as well. He Doffed his armor, Cordralym, reducing it to the form his family pendant. With a flick of his mind, he reduced Benovrymm into a wristband and summoned it towards him. The wristband flew into the air, aiming for his hand, but the lady in red caught it. She turned the open hand towards him, asking for the pendant. ¡°You have more Forged Meiyal in there?¡± she asked. ¡°You have Meiyal Arts for that,¡± Xiv replied in resignation, passing his pendant. ¡°It¡¯s a family heirloom, please don¡¯t destroy it.¡± ¡°I thought Forged Meiyal have signature locks?¡± The maiden observed the two items. She opened a small pocket of reality in space and deposited both of them with enough caution. Spatiera, Xiv thought. So useful. Guess I¡¯m not seeing those for a while. ¡°We do. Heirlooms can make adjustments,¡± he replied. ¡°Expensive?¡± ¡°More than my life.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll hold on to it for now. One hand on your chest, another on your back.¡± The maiden surrounded him with a binding Meiyal Art, engulfing his whole upper body¡ªsave his head¡ªwith meiyal. Xiv instinctively resisted, but even with his insane resistance to harmful meiyal¡ªreduced significantly by the lack of armor¡ªrestrictive Meiyal Arts could easily work around it. This was no ordinary battle-maiden. Her way of fighting showed much of her experience. In fact, her strength would make sense if she was the Princess. Xiv¡¯s heart reduced further from less than mush, to utterly disintegrated ash. ¡°Are you the Princess?¡± he asked, prepared to sink his first and eternal love into the depths of his soul. ¡°No,¡± she replied nonchalantly while administering first aid to the unconscious soldiers. Xiv¡¯s ashen heart burst to life with sudden hope until he obliterated it again with the harsh reality of the situation. With that out of the equation, it was time to focus on the actual problem. ¡°I have a message for the Princess,¡± he began, now with a more assured, confident voice. ¡°This war is unnecessary; we need to stop it.¡± The woman¡¯s face snapped and burned with anger, the meiyal around her sparked to life. ¡°You started this war, Vyndivalian. You have no right for such demands!¡± They didn¡¯t care about the roaring explosions of the current battle. Xiv and his captor stared at each other. He couldn¡¯t blame her. To her, he was the invader, he was at fault. She didn¡¯t know the whole story. ¡°I know,¡± Xiv admitted. ¡°But I didn¡¯t come here to fight. These men have been turned blind by our King with the promise of a better future and rest in the afterlife.¡± His mind raced back to the exact hour before they set out for the Desolate Lands. The voice of their King, Urzic Lasterfol, echoed with a disgusting tone. ¡°Today, we fight!¡± said their King. ¡°Today, we shall regain our glory!¡± Xiv saw the man throwing a victorious fist in the air as he incited rage and bloodlust through the disguise of honor. The crowds roared in manic flare. ¡°From the ashes of our enemies, we shall rebuild our nation!¡± Xiv saw the Nightmare they captured beside the stage displayed like a trophy of prowess, convincing the audience of their assured victory. ¡°Today, we shall die for the greater good of our nation! For Vyndival or death! We fight or die trying!¡± ¡°They know nothing else,¡± Xiv said. He wanted to apologize. But no amount of apology could repent for the lives lost because of the war. The battle-maiden sighed. ¡°We already know about that. It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she said. She turned and stared at the massive army still pouring from the Flat Lands. ¡°It¡¯ll end soon.¡±
Chapter 20: Heroic Advent Heroic Advent Kristel peeked atop one of the dunes a hundred paces away from the marching Vyndival Army. Not too far from the march, the moving fortress moved ever so slowly, the Jaws Lurking in the Forest hauling it along with every screaming effort. Kristel couldn¡¯t imagine walking for days with a Nightmare that noisy for a companion, never mind the its grotesque and acidic appearance. The Forest Jaws¡¯ head tilted with an abrupt jerk, facing her general direction, and screamed. The Princess¡¯s heart skipped a beat, alarms blaring danger for an instant, but she doused them all. It just so happened the Nightmare turned her way; it could not have possibly spotted her. Even if it did, none of those soldiers could understand the monster. After confirming their destination, the Princess sneaked back to her companions, careful enough not to slide and kick sand into the air. They still had a few things to prepare and giving away their position now wouldn¡¯t be ideal. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s not too far now,¡± she began. ¡°Our plan is simple. We force our way to the moving castle, slay whatever that monster is if it gets in our way, and then kill King Urzic.¡± ¡°Simple, she says. I¡¯m the one who has to go first,¡± said Flimeth, smiling as she affirmed the tightness of her bracers. On her right arm just underneath her Cross Irista epaulet, her meiyal core gleamed a pentagonal shape surrounded by lines of meiyal marks¡ªoriented like echoes of the core¡¯s sides¡ªwrapped in a circle like a permanent armband around her bicep. ¡°Like I said, I only have sixty marks, but that should be enough, right?¡± ¡°That should be enough, I think.¡± Lor activated his meiyal core as he rematerialized his meiyal bow. The core on his wrist had a shape of an arrowhead with extremely thin meiyal marks originating from the core¡¯s base and looping around his wrist to depict the illusion of a wristband. The marks were so thin it was difficult to count how many he had activated, but Kristel knew Lor had a total of sixty of them unsealed. ¡°It¡¯s not about the marks,¡± Kristel said, repeating her mantra. She activated all eighty marks from under her battle gear and materialized a short blade for each hand. ¡°Frill only has nine and she¡¯s a league stronger than we are.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that.¡± Flimeth meditated, causing her half-plate armor to glow slightly. ¡°How can she Draw those Meiyal Arts anyway?¡± ¡°Beats me. All I know is that her meiyal system is a lot different from ours. Obviously.¡± Kristel stood and breathed in meiyal as she closed her eyes for focus. ¡°Freemesia.¡± She opened her eyes with a flash of light. A stroke of white line crossed both her pupils and her vision changed dramatically. Paths of light appeared in the air, tracing and suggesting her way. From her sight, Flimeth and Lor were enveloped with red aura varying in volume. Around these auras were spots of white intended to be their weak points. Their weak points were all over the place, appearing and disappearing based on where their attentions were directed. Those points gradually reduced and minimized as the two finalized their preparations and placed their focus on the task at hand. Kristel lowered to the ground, focusing her meiyal to her lower body. ¡°Ascensia.¡± Air spiraled around her legs all the way up to her head, fluttering blue blurs of her hair and clothes in the process. The sands remained away from her, pushed away by the wind. She raised her blades across her face and focused her meiyal around them. ¡°Kaimera.¡± Kristel¡¯s meiyal enveloped both meiyal blades with an azure hue, strengthening them further for the purpose of piercing through the resistant armors and the general physical makeup boasted by most Vyndivalians. ¡°Ready?¡± She turned to her companions. ¡°That¡¯s four Arts you¡¯re trying to maintain, you sure you can afford those?¡± Flimeth asked. She hopped off the sands and faced the dune covering them from the marching army. ¡°I can hold up to five now, easily. Besides, I barely have to count Siffera at this point. I have it maintained all the time anyway.¡± Siffera, the body enhancement Meiyal Art, in its most basic form, allowed the practitioner to amplify their overall physical capacity. The most apparent effect of this Art would be improvements in the practitioner¡¯s strength. It made them stronger, faster, quicker; their sense of balance firm, their reflexes agile. The Art proved to be such an all-rounder that it became the basis of a slew of advanced Meiyal Arts. Such examples were Kristel¡¯s Freemesia which utilized Siffera¡¯s increased awareness to make predictions, or her Ascensia which imbued the neutral Siffera with the element of air to further increase her speed and balance. Even Kaimera was influenced by the foundation of the body enhancement Art by transferring its strengthening aspects onto held objects. Siffera was the starting point; the first to be learned, and the first to be mastered. But if Katherine had something to say about how a practitioner should consider defining mastery of this one specific Meiyal Art, she would argue that no one in the entire history of its conception was close to even achieving it¡ªincluding herself. ¡°Everyone¡¯s too quick to get to the fancy stuff. They forget the basics. Siffera¡¯s more than just a body enhancement Art.¡± Kristel, she admitted, was one of everyone. Her maintenance of Siffera was minimum at best, trickling meiyal over the Art to simply justify its activation and only ever paying attention to it when needed. Flimeth¡¯s tsk brought the Princess back to reality. ¡°See, this is why you should listen to Katherine when she comes back. Bet she¡¯ll give you a good scolding.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter right now, ladies,¡± Lor interrupted. ¡°We¡¯re on schedule.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on it, big guy. Chill.¡± The Guard Knight settled on a strong pose, stretching one arm towards the dune¡ªa slope of shifting sands about five stories high¡ªand clenching a fist with the other near her face as if to aim a punch. Meiyal swirled around her body as a small halo of light manifested behind her shoulders. Flimeth¡¯s Display. The Display¡ªa small circle of light no larger than her back¡ªprojected five distinct items settled around within the borders of the halo. Each item depicted a Meiyal Art settled inside her Exhibit, anchored by real world items charged by meiyal and absorbed within. The anchors themselves varied and were usually only known to their owners¡ªFlimeth in this case¡ªbut the Art shown on their Display could be easily recognized by a fellow practitioner. Flimeth Displayed an Exhibit of Siffera, Spatiera, and three other Arts Kristel guessed were from a specialized style. It took the Princess a second, but everything clicked into place and she poised herself low, concentrating on Ascensia. Lor had been in position the entire time. ¡°Estura Style: Dai-Siffera,¡± the Guard Knight invoked. The meiyal around her froze as her power reached a critical point. A second of silence passed. Then, as she shifted her pivot to send a straight punch, her Display burst with intense light. ¡°Grand Fissure!¡± The dune exploded into a tsunami of sand as Flimeth Estura¡¯s Meiyal Art created a great shockwave that blasted it away. The force travelled with blinding speed as it reached the marching Vyndivalian army within seconds, catching them unaware, breaking their formations, and sending a great number of them high in the air. ¡°Go!¡± the Guard Knight called and dashed straight into the enemy army. In a sudden burst of air, Kristel followed into a sprint, barely catching up to Flimeth¡¯s tail. ¡°Estura Style: Break Wave!¡± Flimeth Drew a Meiyal Art as she spun in the air and kicked, blasting another shockwave with a wider frontal range than Grand Fissure. Screams of helpless soldiers echoed in the air as they flailed frantically in their fall. A few of them held their ground, successfully resisting the Art, but they were too busy balancing themselves to defend against the Guard Knights knuckles. One jumped at her, plunging a needle-like spear aimed at her neck. Two streaks of meiyal arrows sped past Kristel, barely missing her hair. The first collided with the spear, sending its trajectory out of Flimeth¡¯s way. The second struck at the soldier¡¯s arm, knocking him off the air. Lor was closely behind them at work, incapacitating waves of soldiers with barrages of arrows. They forced their way into a sea of enemies none of whom had any mettle strong enough to challenge them. It felt like swatting away kids who did something wrong. Kristel suppressed the desire to puke. Before long, the soldiers realized that to approach is to invite the risk of death. They parted and gave way; the sea of enemies opened their path forward but closed the one behind them. As a result, they made good progress, until another chose to block them. A gang of giants faced them. Two of them were of the same height and a third about an entire man taller standing behind them. Though with a slightly reduced overall intelligence than the smaller, bipedal folk, these brutes with heights ranging from at least eight to a mind-boggling twenty men were nothing if not raw, absolute strength. They gathered in small gangs in isolated caves and forests. They were smarter once, sophisticated even; known for their refined control of the elements, their dazzling treasure-riddled clothes fitting a monarch¡¯s wardrobe, and their impressive exploration prowess as pioneers of the frontier. So much so that a group of them was once referred to as a magnificence of giants. But alas, the Divine Severing. Now, they were nothing more than ragged slaves to the Monarch¡¯s Law, their treasures and knowledge stripped from them along with their bonds to their gods. Their communities reduced to mere gangs. Kristel had no time for them. She stepped forth, allowing her Freemesia to dictate her path. A giant¡¯s weak spots were their ankles, this was common knowledge further evidenced by the indications of her Meiyal Art. ¡°Keep the others away,¡± she said. Her companions immediately guarded her flanks. Channeling a hefty amount of meiyal to her Ascensia, Kristel sped through the desert and reached the closest giant¡¯s ankle in a blink. She sliced through, cutting deeper than a short sword would allow through the help of her Kaimera. A second giant tried to help by swinging a club-improvised tree, but she was already at its ankle. The second giant slammed the trunk against the first¡¯s leg and both of them lost balance in the process. Kristel shot herself backwards away from the third giant that was at least an entire man taller than the two. She flipped high into the air as the second giant lashed out in desperation, unable to stand and pinning the first one as a result. The Princess slipped in between fingers the size of her and opened her Display. She spun at the zenith of her leap Drawing the Display of her Kaimera in reality. Unlike Flimeth¡¯s, hers wasn¡¯t a specialized style, resulting in a simplified invocation. ¡°Dai-Kaimera.¡± Kristel felt a quarter of her current meiyal seep into the Art as the azure Kaimera enveloping the blade intensified and extended into a long blade as tall as the giants. She pointed the blade towards the sky and allowed her spinning momentum to leverage her entire weight as she pulled down sideways with all her might, aiming at the two shorter giants¡¯ napes. It was like a double execution of two convicts judged by a blue glinting guillotine. The cut was clean, too clean. Kristel¡¯s Dai-Kaimera reverted to its base form as she finally landed onto the desert¡¯s uncaring sands. Only then did the giants¡¯ heads fell off and sprayed blood all over the Vyndival army¡ªnow looking more as though as onlookers rather than soldiers. The third giant stumbled in fear as the blood-soaked Princess made her approach. Intimidation was key to dispersing any of the Monarch¡¯s Law¡¯s influence, especially for the easily manipulated giants. Cleaning off the blood was second priority. As the giant turned in an attempt to escape, a giant muscular claw with vibrating black scales pressed it into the sands. The Jaws Lurking in the Forest approached, its roar a piercing scream of despair as it crushed the giant to its death, pinning it on the ground as though a broken stick. Acid spewed like a light shower. Lor and Flimeth joined her as they faced the lesser dragon. Flimeth effortlessly erected a barrier Meiyal Art to protect them from the acid, absorbing it and negating its effects. ¡°Well?¡± Lor asked the Princess. Kristel¡¯s Freemesia stopped right in front of the Forest Jaws which meant risk of injury if she continued. But she already expected this from the beginning. She took a breath and steeled her resolve. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± A huge sphere of light emerged between them and the Nightmare. The sphere appeared so suddenly Kristel and her companions didn¡¯t have time to react nor protect their eyes from it, but her Freemesia quickly adapted and allowed her to recover faster than the others. It was the same ominous feeling she had back on Mount Rindea but with none of the vile pressure that had come along with it. A hand emerged. It was turned backwards, a gesture to stop. As the sphere began to decrease, the arm of the hand began to appear. Then strands of dark-brown hair waved elegantly as the back of the stranger revealed a familiar coat. Kristel held her breath and her heart skipped a beat. The woman turned slightly, revealing a honey-sweet looking face gemmed with illustrious blood-ruby eyes that made Kristel certain of her identity. ¡°Hey,¡± Katherine spoke as though she had never left. ¡°Great job out there. Let us help.¡± Only then did the Princess notice someone else. A man. His eyes spoke of amazement and wonder, but the way he frowned telegraphed a lot of different things. None of which was fear.
Chapter 21: Distraction Amidst the War Distraction Amidst the War
¡°Times were desperate. Sacrifices had to be made. I take responsibility for what I¡¯ve done. I would rather that my men hate me; that all those I rule detest who I am. If that¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be, then let it, but a king I shall remain. I will save this kingdom, no matter the cost.¡± ~King Urzic Lasterfol
¡°Please, stop!¡± Inside the sturdy walls of the moving castle, above the spiral stairs behind the throne room, where the war cries and clashing of metal echoed in subdued tones settled King Urzic¡¯s private quarters. ¡°I beg you, please!¡± He remained to his personal entertainment, drowning the cacophony of war with sounds more pleasing to his ear. His focus directed solely into this piece of meat, ripened to a disgusting sweetest so that he could savor its slow rotting process. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Lynera!¡± King Urzic allowed himself to drown under the overwhelming sense of superiority as he continued to violate his masterpiece. Young, aggressive, and dangerous. There atop his bed, he shoved himself inside the meat without care for her cries. He savored every aching moan, every exquisite scream, every rhythmic beat of flesh upon flesh squelching through sticky liquids. Drown in this joy, Lynera, for there may be no tomorrow! Lynera¡ªa felintine without memories¡ªresponded with musical moans and suppressed screams as her breasts bounced in rhythm to the king¡¯s movements. He dug his fingers into the pair of luscious mounds. The felintine¡¯s sexual embrace gripped him; juices flowed down her legs. The King stopped and pulled Lynera by the neck. ¡°You¡¯re one perverted cat, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lynera breathed heavily as her brown feline ears folded in fatigue. ¡°No more,¡± she pleaded, her eyes in between defiant glares and drowned pleasure. Urzic slammed her down the bed, their musical union intensified in both strength and tempo. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to even be alive. You would¡¯ve ended a whore either way. Better to be my whore than bed different men every night.¡± He further increased his pace and Lynera¡¯s moaning and screaming filled the room once more. Music to his ears. He grabbed her brown tail and she responded as expected, like pressing buttons of a toy. ¡°I¡¯m learning all your weak spots, Lynera. You¡¯ll beg me to punish you every day for the rest of your life.¡± Lynera couldn¡¯t respond, her entirety focused on staying conscious amidst the intensity. She gripped the bedsheets, threatening to tear apart the expensive fabric as she struggled to maintain control. The felintine¡¯s retaliation was ecstasy to Urzic. Soon it will be replaced by voluntary seductions; might as well savor the moment. He reached his peak. With each thrust he made, erupting sounds of colliding flesh accompanied by the helpless cries of his partner brought him to a high as he released every ounce of his essence inside her. He didn¡¯t care for her cries. The moment was electrifying. The King fell on his bed as he released the felintine. He etched the beautiful art in front of him into his mind. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Beautiful, elegant, uncontrolled. Lynera rolled beside him, her sigh as satisfied as his. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you talked me into this while we¡¯re in the middle of a war,¡± she said in between exhausted breaths. Simply hearing her breath, her words, gave King Urzic thoughts of ravaging her again. No time for that. ¡°How¡¯s your head?¡± he asked, caressing her soft furred ears. ¡°Dizzy.¡± ¡°Still nothing?¡± Lynera shook her head once. ¡°Still nothing.¡± Her ears perked up and she quickly jumped out of bed to look out the window just across their bed. She had a leg over the windowsill, her naked hips pointed at Urzic. This woman¡­He wanted to press her onto the glass and violate her. Everything she did, whether intentional or not, had done nothing but tear away at his conscience and self-control. ¡°If we survive this, you can have me anytime you want, Urzic.¡± Lynera was staring at him, eyes too confident for a woman without memories. ¡°You can do anything you want with me, but you have more important matters to address to right now.¡± How did he end up with such a complicated and mysterious woman? All Urzic knew was that she came from the Nightmare Lands, retrieved by one of Xiv¡¯s expeditions when the former Lord Knight was still respectful enough and knew his place. Somehow, someway, she ended up in his hands. He tried to find ways to cure her amnesia, but it seemed as though Lynera herself didn¡¯t care if she could retrieve her memories or not. She was more interested in sex, the pleasure of it, resisting it, drowning in it, succumbing to it. A felintine always in heat. And whether one could consider it a stroke of luck or a curse, she had somehow imprinted on him. Her kind had always been this way, this much Urzic knew, but to experience their voraciousness for intimacy first hand was mindboggling. Everyday, she would invite him, and she would never decline any of his requests. Even today¡ª ¡°King Urzic,¡± called out a man¡¯s voice from behind a meticulously designed metal door. War didn¡¯t have time for appreciation. ¡°Enter,¡± the King responded. He got out of his bed and donned some clothes. The door opened and a soldier revealed himself with a salute, only taking a single step inside. Urzic looked directly into the soldier¡¯s eyes, studying him. He could sense the soldier¡¯s desire to glance towards the window where Lynera still stood, who made no effort to even try and cover herself. ¡°Steady, Yodir. Eyes on me.¡± The soldier, Yodir, closed his eyes for a long second and reaffirmed his remarkable discipline, keeping his eyes directly towards his King as he explained the situation. ¡°The Forest Jaws stopped, My King.¡± ¡°By what?¡± ¡°Five renegades. The troops surrounding the castle were injured or blown away, and the rest are hesitant. Even our giants cannot stop them. It seems one of them is the Iristan Princess, My King.¡± Urzic sighed at the mention of Kristel. ¡°Very well. Summon the Lord Knights and wait by the gates.¡± ¡°With all due respect, My King, Lord Knight Xiv and Lord Knight Dystro are already in the front¡ª¡± ¡°Xiv relinquished his status of Lord long before this war began. Do not address him again as such, he¡¯s nothing more now than an ordinary soldier. Dystro was sent out with another task. Gather whoever is available. Do I make myself clear?¡± As one in-command, Urzic excelled in delivering his words with just enough intimidation. Only those who were accustomed to his manner of speaking were allowed to deliver messages to him. Otherwise, they would end up too afraid to do their jobs properly. ¡°Understood.¡± The soldier gave an esteemed salute and turned around. King Urzic approached a marble table littered with plans and documents. He began to Don. A ring on his left pointing finger flashed a red light as it transformed into pieces of his golden armor settled over the table. He picked them up one by one starting with the bracers. He was old-fashioned this way. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you come back.¡± Lynera had the mind to wear a silken robe but didn¡¯t bother to tie them up as she busied herself assisting him. Before her, he had never trusted anyone to prepare his protection for him. He stared at her, appreciating the view and her gesture. After the last piece of armor was set in place, he gave her a kiss. She took it with sudden aggression, wrapping her arms around his head as they both savored the wetness of their tongues. A minute passed before Lynera decided to let go. Urzic, slightly stricken, nodded once. He regained composure a second right after. The atmosphere outside his quarters were cold and damp, the cacophony of war now in full force as their echoes bounced off the stone walls. His mind set on to work, a grievous one worth more lives than he was willing to pay. Reality was never lenient. It pressed harder on the desperate. And King Urzic and his kingdom were well beyond what passed for desperate. ¡°This better be worth it,¡± he said as made his way down the spiral steps. ¡°Damn faunel...¡±
Chapter 22: Dauntless Dauntless ¡°The pain!¡± Bewildered by the grotesque monstrosity or not, it was clear as day that the voice came from the dragon. It was the only description he could fit in his head; a black dragon with a sideways mouth. Frein haven¡¯t even had the slightest time to digest the events that came before this moment. He had been in the middle of a sparring session with Katherine when Schrodie suddenly appeared. She said something about the time has come. The next minute, she had opened a gateway to Brymeia. When he opened his eyes again, they were in the middle of a desert with a dragon spewing acid while screaming in pain. He had not even taken the time to process the reality of the warzone when the monster spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll take it down,¡± said Katherine, stepping beside him. Take it down? Why? She activated the meiyal marks floating on her hair, preparing for an attack. ¡°No, wait,¡± Frein said, grabbing her hand in protest. She shot a questioning look. ¡°She¡¯s in pain.¡± The dragon sounded like an elderly female and was definitely under some kind of duress. ¡°That¡¯s one of the Nightmares I told you about, Frein,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Schrodie said you can¡¯t talk to them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Hold up, who are you people?¡± Frein turned and saw three people covered in blood and sand. Further behind them were swarms of armed soldiers, some atop rocky steppes even held crossbows of some kind, others flew on weird, winged creatures, cats and dogs larger than horses and sporting wings for flight. There were also a variety of other giant beasts, but none of them dared approach. The Visitor forced himself out of anxiety and focused on the three people in front of him before his stomach turned inside-out. For Frein, it was like a switch. He knew, heading into this, that they were in for a fight, but Katherine made it abundantly clear those three were their allies. One, a female with long, black hair, a pair of cat ears, and a tail¡ªfelintine according to Katherine¡¯s lessons¡ªwore a half-plate armor and a pair of bracers made out of meiyal. Frein concluded that the set was her battle gear Drawn by her Meiyal Art. It was something Katherine mentioned during training but didn¡¯t have the time to teach. The felintine¡¯s eyes widened in shock, dropping to one knee with grace and speed. ¡°Lady Katherine,¡± she said. Frein made sure to suppress a smile. Not just because the woman paid respects to his girlfriend¡ªthere was pride in it, sure¡ªbut more importantly because he was looking at a woman of a different species. Another sentient lifeform that most people on Earth only dared to dream of in their fantasies. Katherine subtly elbowed him out of his trance just in time for him to notice the second person. Frein had never seen a muscular elf before¡ªor an actual elf for that matter. Most depictions he had seen were thin, beautiful elves be it man or woman. This man was built like a bodybuilder, like David, the Goliath was when Frein last saw him. The buffed elf held a bow in his left hand. He seemed to have very little interest in their arrival, and was more concerned about the dragon. Nonetheless, he bent the knee as well. The last was a small¡ª ¡°We can have introductions later, Katherine,¡± said the girl in the middle, urging her friends to rise. Her eyes were like icicles, the way she glared at him. Frein could feel her stares intensify with each passing second. ¡°What do you mean you can understand it?¡± she asked while performing a subtle Meiyal Art to clean off the blood. Her companions followed suit. ¡°I can talk to animals,¡± Frein replied and looked at the dragon one more time. ¡°But supposedly not Nightmares.¡± If this creature was truly hostile, it would have attacked already. That alone was enough for him to calm down and initiate conversation. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± he asked. ¡°Elizzel, young Visitor,¡± the black dragon replied without moving its snout. This communication, unlike with the monkeys Frein spent time with in The Relativity Temples, was telepathic. ¡°Please, I am gravely wounded.¡± ¡°How come you know that I¡¯m...?¡± The dragon lifted her left wing. Frein lost his words. A huge portion around the joint, where scales were once present, now only showed torn muscle fibers and rotting bone. Something was preventing its innards from spilling out, probably meiyal. The Visitor¡¯s eyes turned to the rest of its body. Chains with links larger than himself wrapped carelessly around the dragon¡¯s limbs, attaching a dragon like a horse on carriage but in the most constricting way possible; the carriage being a literal castle on wheels. Enduring that amount of injury while chained and forced to drag such an absurd building under the sweltering heat of the desert¡­ Frein¡¯s jaw tightened and his frown deepened. He immediately pushed aside his personal concerns as he saw the dire infection cultivating around the mortal wound. He turned to Katherine for help who clearly understood his intentions. She still gave one concerned look, before deducing that they had very little time to argue. ¡°The treatment will take a while, and it will cause a great deal of pain. Can she promise to keep perfectly still? Or at least, not squash us to a pulp like that giant over there.¡± She pointed at the bloody mess underneath the black dragon¡¯s claw. Frein intended to speak, but Elizzel was hasty with her words. ¡°Please do not mention my name, Visitor. There are people who are not supposed to know.¡± ¡°This is Katherine,¡± he said, nodding subtly as he introduced his girlfriend. ¡°She¡¯ll remedy your wounds, but the process of cleansing the infection and replacing your scales will be extremely painful. She only asks that you stay perfectly still despite the pain.¡± He kept contact with the monster¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will endure momentary pain if it will save my life, Visitor.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°You promise me not to hurt her?¡± ¡°With my life and honor.¡± The Nightmare tilted her head so that her snout looked normal and rested it on the ground. Frein understood it as a form of submission. The dripping acid stopped. At this, everyone around them, even the soldiers threatening to advance, gave in to momentary awe. Frein gestured towards Katherine to proceed while keeping an eye on Elizzel. He had no reason to trust the creature, but he had a lot of questions. This Nightmare, Elizzel, knew the moment he stepped on Brymeia that he was the Visitor. That alone was a curiosity he couldn¡¯t pass. ¡°Princess,¡± Katherine started, ¡°I know this isn¡¯t part of the plan, but I could use a bit of your help.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± the girl in the middle¡ªFrein assumed to be the Princess¡ªresponded. ¡°Make sure I¡¯m not interrupted and spare some attention to this guy here.¡± Katherine nodded toward him. ¡°He can handle himself but¡­well, he¡¯s not from here.¡± Frein passed a silent nod towards the Princess as he was introduced. ¡°Alright. I assume you¡¯re the Visitor, then?¡± ¡°That would be me, yes,¡± Frein replied and gestured to himself, his eyes moving with concern. The soldiers surrounding them inched closer with each passing moment. The Princess and her companions didn¡¯t care. Katherine approached Elizzel with a calm demeanor. ¡°Hey there, Forest Jaws. You have a name?¡± she asked. ¡°No name,¡± Frein answered for the Nightmare. He gave away a subtle tell that only Katherine could decipher. The Seeker didn¡¯t give as much as a hint whether she got the message or not. It was all a matter of trust between the two of them. ¡°Alright. Just make sure you stay still then, okay?¡± The dragon blinked in response. ¡°Thank you, fair lady.¡± The fair lady in question tilted her head absentmindedly and turned. ¡°Did she say anything this time?¡± ¡°¡®Thank you, fair lady,¡¯¡± Frein repeated. ¡°Oh, how nice. Well, take a deep breath. Here we go.¡± Despite the intimidating and repulsive features of the dragon, Katherine didn¡¯t hesitate to open her Display and start the healing. ¡°Dai-Samesia.¡± Elizzel¡¯s muscular features immediately tensed as she squealed in agony. Tensions around them rose once again. ¡°We¡¯ll be here a while. I need you to endure it.¡± Katherine tried to soothe her. For what it was worth, the dragon stayed true to her words. Aside from the surrounding threat of the soldiers, everything was going smoothly. There was something about the Princess and her companions that held the enemies away from them. ¡°So, I think this is the best time to ask,¡± said the Princess, ¡°who are¡ª¡± ¡°Who are you? What is the meaning of this?¡± A loud voice echoed from the castle behind the dragon. ¡°Seriously?¡± The Princess muttered under her breath. ¡°You¡¯ll need to take care of that for me, Frein,¡± Katherine said, her eyes focused on the wound. She had gone into work mode, completely absorbed into the task at hand. The way she ignored everything when working made Frein remember her detective days. Guess she was always like this. A figure appeared at the castle gates. Because of the distance, Frein could only make out the golden-plated armor shining under the white sun, slightly overpowering his black hair. Gold wasn¡¯t the best choice for armor in terms of defensive strength, but it was simply a color. Frein, utilizing a basic observation Meiyal Art, could see meiyal embossed deep into the plating underneath the polish. It took him a while, but he managed to activate an echo Meiyal Art before he replied. ¡°My name is Frein, and I¡¯m here to take this dragon.¡± As awkward as it sounded Frein couldn¡¯t think of anything clever to say at the moment. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll let you do that?¡± shouted the man, prideful and intimidating. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need your permission to do that...or anything for that matter.¡± Before anyone could respond¡ªeven before Frein could process what he just said¡ªKatherine erupted in laughter. The lapse in her concentration caused Elizzel to jerk in pain. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry. I can¡¯t help it,¡± she said while frantically, and failing miserably, to control her laughter. ¡°Stop making me laugh!¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frein asked without turning off his echo Meiyal Art. The other three struggled to hide their snickering while trying their best to maintain their serious composure. ¡°You¡¯re addressing King Urzic Lasterfol. He¡¯s the one responsible for this invasion,¡± the felintine woman replied in between stifled giggles. Frein nodded in understanding and turned back at the man. Four other figures in defining armors appeared behind him. He looked at them for a long time. What little lightheartedness there was in the atmosphere quickly dampened into a numbing hum as the Visitor activated his five meiyal marks. His Milling, now a genuine member of his subconsciousness, echoed openly towards everyone around him. He could feel their stares, all their attention focused solely on him. The silence allowed him to speak with penetrating authority. ¡°I¡¯m here to take the dragon, and you¡¯re going to stop this war, King Urzic.¡± Whether or not people took him seriously was another matter. ¡°Arrogant Visitor,¡± King Urzic spat. ¡°I do not care who you are, or why you¡¯ve come here, but you will not stop this war.¡± It was pointless to intimidate a king, but Frein wanted to try his luck. He didn¡¯t know why there was a war in the first place, and it was indeed not in his place to stop it. Still, something was wrong. In fact, the entire picture felt jarring for Frein. Five people against a sea of enemies. Why were they still alive? It didn¡¯t add up. Something¡ªor someone¡ªscared off an entire army. ¡°Then how about me, Urzic?¡± said the Princess, stepping forward with a hand on her waist. She was careful enough not to stab herself with her weapons. ¡°Do my words find no meaning in your ears?¡± This was unexpected. Frein had almost regarded her as a child dressed in a battle gear, playing soldier. He had almost forgotten she was covered in blood a few moments ago. The fact that she mentioned the King¡¯s name without his title was enough for him to see her in new light in mere minutes of introduction. ¡°Kristel,¡± addressed the King. ¡°Do you think a girl like you would be enough to scare me?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind enlightening you,¡± the Princess provoked. A faint light glinted from her eyes. Frein let out a sigh. There was no way this would end peacefully. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with. Are we going to fight you or what?¡± ¡°How about a duel?¡± Princess Kristel said. ¡°You and me. I¡¯ll even let you set the rules.¡± She pointed a blade directly at the golden king. ¡°My rules¡­¡± the King considered. ¡°Then we shall duel.¡± He lifted a hand in return. ¡°I choose one of yours to battle against your chosen from these four.¡± At his signal, the four armored figures jumped down the fortress, as if the drop of about five stories was nothing more than a step. ¡°If you win, this war will end. If you lose, your poor province is mine.¡± Choice of words was always important, and Frein didn¡¯t miss every single syllable from the King. Despite turning the Princess¡¯s proposal against her, the word mine rubbed him in the worst sense possible. Still calm, Princess Kristel pointed a finger towards the one in silver armor. ¡°You will fight,¡± she said. The knight stepped forward, driving the butt-end of a silver lance to the ground before giving a stern salute. Frein had already anticipated what would happen next before the King¡¯s finger even pointed at him. ¡°You, Visitor, will fight.¡± ¡°Urzic!¡± Kristel stepped in between. ¡°Leave the Visitor out of this!¡± A lot of things had happened before Frein came to this world. A lot of things he would¡¯ve let pass. Two people belittling him in the most direct and indirect manners were none of those things. Ally or foe didn¡¯t matter; it was all a manner of perspective. Frein, knowing himself all too well, would never run away from a challenge even if it killed him. But before everything else, he hated being ignored. So, when he grabbed the Princess by the shoulder and pulled her aside, it was not because she was in the way. His fury had gone past their insults. He reached down and grabbed a small piece of pebble, fixed his form, and threw it towards the golden king with as much strength as he could. Whether it was intended to hit or not, Katherine¡¯s training had paid off. Frein subconsciously activated a body enhancing Meiyal Art, Siffera, empowering his throw with enough strength to reach a target a good hundred meters away in a straight line and with force lethal enough for anyone without armor. The loud clang echoed throughout the battlefield, putting everything and everyone in shock-induced suspension. ¡°I said¡­¡± Frein slowly relaxed his stance as the King stepped back to regain his balance. ¡°I¡¯m taking the dragon.¡±
Chapter 23: Against the Standard Against the Standard
¡°Close your eyes. Stay calm. Dig deep.¡± ~Frein Nivan
The moment had burned deep into Kristel¡¯s memory. Frein¡¯s fingers were like warm metal bars pressing on her skin, but his grip was careful and cautious as if touching fragile glass. Even if he wouldn¡¯t admit it, the way he eased her to the side was akin to handling a newborn yuma pup. The unexpectedness and strangeness of it all left her unable to react and the best she could do was preemptively prevent her two companions from interrupting. Only when the clanging sound of stone crashing on metal did the chills came running up her spine. A thought came to her head, but her words refused to speak them. She didn¡¯t classify it as fear, it was purer than that. The warnings flared not from logic or reason, but deep within her primal instincts. That this man in front of her would take unimaginable lengths to get whatever he wanted. Anything she had to say had no chance of swaying him to do otherwise. This confidence, this poise, claiming a position above all else¡ªwith utter disregard for the intended hierarchy¡ªhad struck a chord within the Princess. This was the kind of person she aspired to be: defined and immovable, knowing that a mere whim of his will, without divine interventions or even worldly-favored powers to come to his aide, could bring everyone and everything to a full stop. ¡°I don¡¯t mind fighting all of them for the dragon,¡± he said, taking steps further away from Kristel. One Visitor against four Lord Knights. The notion was absurd. Despite all belief the Princess had for her mantra, she couldn¡¯t see a practitioner with only five meiyal marks and barely able to Draw the most basic of Meiyal Arts to win¡ªlet alone survive¡ªagainst four of what were essentially the equivalent of the Royal Knights of Irista Nation. But the display of power Frein exhibited was enough to silence any argument she wanted to say. A roaring crash echoed through King Urzic¡¯s steps who recovered with a fury and a small gush of wound on the side of his face. Kristel was sure he blocked the pebble. ¡°You insolent fool! You dare hurt the¡ª¡± ¡°Talk like a spineless prick one more time, King Urzic, and I will really try to kill you,¡± Frein said. He held another piece of rock, fiddling with it. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Visitor!¡± One of the Lord Knights, the one in black armor, flourished a greatsword as he walked forward. ¡°You¡¯ve overstepped long enough.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Frein replied with a voice of sarcastic disappointment. ¡°Took you almost a minute to fly off your perch. That¡¯s a long time to come to your King¡¯s aid, especially when he¡¯s right¡ª¡± Frein snapped to his left, and the other Lord Knights followed a second later before showing a look of regret and amazement. Kristel was almost too late to spot a flying arrow barely missing the Visitor. He barely gave any attention to the arrow, eyes looking directly towards where it came from. He took an odd pose, swaying slightly backwards and standing on one foot while winding up the pebble behind his temple. With a full step forwards, he flung himself like a whip, throwing the rock along with his Siffera. The launch emitted a small impact as the rock flew towards the distance. A second passed, then a scream of pain echoed throughout the dessert. ¡°You guys are sturdier than I thought,¡± Kristel heard Frein mutter under his breath. ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Unlike Frein¡¯s, there was a genuine tone of amazement from Lor. ¡°That was probably just as fast as my arrows.¡± He whispered the comment more towards Flimeth, but the Princess could hear him anyway. ¡°Yeah, but you saw the wind up. I can dodge that. You can dodge that. I¡¯m more amazed by how he just ignored the arrow, though,¡± Flimeth responded. ¡°It was good form and accurate.¡± ¡°The arrow?¡± ¡°The throw, Flimeth. The throw.¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± Kristel hissed at them, then added, ¡°You should look at his Milling.¡± Their eyes widened at the absurdity of her statement and the realization that followed right after. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name am I looking at?¡± Flimeth said. The Princess wished she knew the answer. The Milling form was familiar to her. It was the Perpetual-Layered Milling form, that much, she was sure. The form, when she took the time to practice it, had always been an excruciating experience, like trying to merge oil and water with her bare hands while drowning in the sea. She never tried to practice it for more than an hour a week. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. What was more, she¡¯d never even heard of anyone Gathering in such a greedy way that it resulted in entire pockets of empty meiyal. Gathering more than one could Mill caused dispersion and was viewed as inefficient and sometimes outright rude, but Frein neither knew nor cared with the openness of his greed. Here in front of an insurmountable number of enemies, facing off against the odds, he openly Milled, daring everyone¡ªincluding the Princess herself¡ªto challenge him. Kristel decided not to intervene, erasing her materialized meiyal blades from reality. When Frein looked at her, she gave the Visitor a gesture to proceed as he wished. We can always take the initiative when we need to. ¡°What will it be, King Urzic?¡± Frein said with his rudimentary echo Meiyal Art. The contrast of this and his Milling was truthfully appalling in Kristel¡¯s mind, it was borderline comical. Urzic had changed demeanor. Kristel couldn¡¯t believe how quick he switched attitudes. What was once Frein referred to as a ¡°spineless prick¡± just seconds ago, was now a steady upright man with a controlled and calm voice. ¡°Even offers for even odds, then, Visitor. Let¡¯s make this fair and square.¡± ¡°My life, then, King Urzic. My meiyal system, specifically, granted by the Gatekeeper herself. You can have it and do whatever you want with it.¡± ¡°What assurance do I have that the Lady of the Void will not intervene?¡± ¡°On my name and honor,¡± Katherine said without missing a beat, eyes still focused on the Forest Jaw¡¯s wound. ¡°Should Frein admit defeat, I¡¯ll kill him and give you his meiyal system myself. Should he die from this duel, I will stay my hand from pursuing vengeance.¡± King Urzic pondered in silence. A long minute passed. Within this silence, horns from all over the army blared. It was a command to halt their attacks. Immediately, Kristel activated her M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°Uncle Kento,¡± she began. ¡°Princess!¡± the Monarch¡¯s adviser replied, exhaustion apparent in his voice. ¡°The enemies are pulling back! Did we win?¡± ¡°Not yet, but we bought you some time. Rest and recuperate. As an act of good faith, allow them to gather their dead, there will be no attacks for the time being.¡± ¡°Understood, Princess. We¡¯ll begin recovery operations immediately.¡± As a precaution, the Princess removed her M.O.B.I.L.E.''s connection and communication functions immediately as soon as she dismissed Kento. Her device held confidential information and they were at the heart of enemy territory. It would be bad if Vyndival was somehow able to probe her device and obtain more information than they should be privy to. Despite King Urzic''s graceful action, it puzzled Kristel. He had sacrificed countless soldiers to make a dent on the Vanguard. Now it was for naught. With this respite, Midan would have enough time to repair the entire wall. But somehow, Kristel couldn¡¯t feel like they¡¯ve won. Somehow, everything still hinged, whether she liked it or not, in this duel the Visitor got himself into¡ªforcefully she might add. ¡°No,¡± Urzic replied finally. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your meiyal system. Offer something else.¡± Frein crossed his arms in contemplation. The silence, this time was eerily long. An uncomfortable breeze passed through, lifting loose sand and dust. Kristel protected her eyes for a moment, only to find the Visitor staring at her. Then he turned to Katherine. For some reason, Katherine, the Seeker, the Lady of the Void, understood his simple gesture. There was defeat and acceptance in her eyes. It was simply for an instant, and she recovered as soon as she took a deep breath. She turned away from the wound she was treating, still barely recovering despite the time she had been at it, and looked at Kristel. She mouthed one word in silence. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Our allegiance, then, King Urzic. Should I lose, you will have me and Katherine aid you in your conquest against Irista Nation,¡± Frein said through an even clearer echo Meiyal Art. ¡°And even if I die, Katherine¡¯s help alone should be more than sufficient.¡± ¡°On my name and honor,¡± the Seeker followed after a deep sigh, ¡°Should Frein, the Visitor, be defeated in this duel, I promise to uphold this deal through the best of my abilities and without contempt.¡± Suddenly, it all made sense; why Urzic, unprompted, ordered his attacks to stand back, why he refused the Visitor¡¯s first offer, why Frein and Katherine had those looks, and why Kristel felt uneasy. Katherine alone, if she set her mind to it, could destroy the entire Vanguard in one fell swoop. Without those walls, Minaveil wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. The province was her home, but Ladies of the Void¡ªlet alone Katherine¡ªnever went back on their word. Their name and their honor were what gave them such authority in the Nightmare Lands. Frein had seen through the gesture, had seen through the King¡¯s plans, and he didn¡¯t even flinch. It was confidence. No, it wasn¡¯t! It¡¯s madness! Kristel wanted to retaliate, but she had lost the initiative. Lor and Flimeth were silent, but their eyes were affixed to the Visitor. They wanted to kill him. His back was carelessly left open to them, and Katherine was too far away to help in time. Careless? No. It was like he knew they wouldn¡¯t make a move. She gave them the order, wordlessly, to stand down. It didn¡¯t need to take a genius to see how fond Katherine was of Frein. Kristel wouldn¡¯t want to make an enemy of her friend and give Urzic exactly what he wanted. They had no choice. By calling out Frein for a duel of honor, forcing him to even the stakes, commanding his army to hold their attack, and declining Frein¡¯s first offer, King Urzic had lain such a well woven trap despite the provocations and the impromptu timing. He didn¡¯t even need to rely on his Blessing. For Frein, despite his madness, he had taken a step into this trap without a hint of hesitation. He only took the time, from what Kristel now deduced, to ask Katherine for permission. They had stepped in knowing full well what was at stake. Kristel had every chance to intervene despite the loss of initiative. But in doing so, she would not only trample on her own words, she would also be throwing away what was still essentially their best chance to resolve this conflict. She simply didn¡¯t like how it all turned out. ¡°I accept these terms,¡± King Urzic said, his voice delivered to all the witnesses in the Desolate Lands. ¡°Should we win, we continue this conquest with the aid of Frein, the Visitor and Katherine, the Lady of the Void. Should we lose, we release custody of the Forest Jaws and we return to our own lands. The two Lord Knights in front of you shall be your opponents.¡± The Visitor stretched and Drew his Siffera. ¡°I guess two¡¯s fine.¡± Despite the absurdity of his words, Kristel only noticed one thing. He was still Milling.
Chapter 24: A Raging Torch A Raging Torch Recollection: Frein Subject: Frein Nivan¡¯s Training Timeframe: Day 198th of 300, approx. 2 months before arrival Day in day out, it was the same routine for the entire week¡ªFrein still struggled to consider a week counting for only five days, so he included a calendar check every morning. Every night, more like it. He had learned how to Draw Siffera two weeks prior to today; the last two months were spent on minor, basic Meiyal Arts he hadn¡¯t thought of to be interesting but necessary enough that Katherine had to force him to learn them. All the while he had to learn how to never stop Milling, it had to be Perpetual after all. The pattern for Siffera, for him, was simple enough. His mental image depicted a picture of himself in a more defined form, more powerful than he realized himself to be in the present and in the future. A picture of himself unbound by limitations of his own physical capabilities as a human of Earth. It was easy for him, in fact, to see this version of himself in his mind¡¯s eye, the unrealistic expectations he cultivated by immersing himself with books and his own fantasies during his entire time on Earth served as impetus strong enough to surpass even Katherine¡¯s imaginations. Feeding this pattern, this vision, this vivid image in one¡¯s mind¡¯s eye with meiyal and pushing it out into reality was what a practitioner would call Drawing. As a Drawn Meiyal Art, though envisioned differently by each individual practitioner, they depicted a simplification recognizable for anyone with enough experience. So, when Katherine confirmed he had Drawn Siffera properly for the first time, the next task had been to maintain it indefinitely. Which had led to Frein struggling for sleep the entire week. During the first week, he had failed to maintain Siffera and Art fatigue had eased him into slumber every night. His meiyal system had gained more stamina and endurance much like his muscles had since he first arrived in Schrodie¡¯s Realm, but it simply meant he could take on more intense training regimen that resulted into even faster Art fatigue until he got used to it and the cycle continued. The struggle prolonged up to this week when Frein opted for a different approach. Siffera was, in a sense, a stimulant of sorts. By continuously feeding the Art with more than the required meiyal to maintain it active, he increased its strength. He became stronger, faster, quicker. As a result, he felt more alive and more aware, staving off his physical fatigue and sleepiness altogether. Today was the third day of the current week, Greenday, as his memory vaguely remembered, and still his consciousness only winked out for a few minutes the few times he attempted to sleep. He wondered if there would be some sort of negative impact if he fully erased the Art. But as he spent his time on his bed, enjoying a stimulant of a more preferred kind, neither of his mentors advised him against it. ¡°That¡¯s sort of one way to do it,¡± Katherine said in a muffled voice, in between vigorous breaths and moans. She worked on him underneath the blankets for few long minutes, concentrating on devouring him and forcing him out of his meandering thoughts by dragging him into the heat of the moment. The electrifying sensation came and he lost control in an instant, reaching dangerously close to choking Katherine. She had to pinch his thigh to let go. After a pause, Katherine recovered her breath and slithered out of the blankets to settle snugly in Frein¡¯s arms. She licked her lips in satisfaction and stared at him with suggestive eyes. ¡°Want me to accompany you? I¡¯m kind of in the mood.¡± ¡°Maybe just one,¡± Frein indulged. ¡°Your teacher said you¡¯ll be dealing with Deep Nightmares tomorrow, and unlike me, you can sleep with Siffera active.¡± It had been an unspoken rule to keep the Gatekeeper¡¯s name out of the conversation whenever they shared in each other¡¯s warmth and desires, just in case speaking the name suddenly summoned him or her¡­or all of them worst of all. One became five, and two hours later, Katherine lost consciousness, slumbering with a satisfied glow. Frein etched his fine art into memory before covering her with a fresh, warm blanket. It was too late to change the sheets anyway. Now that he was all alone again, the Visitor decided to turn his lack of sleepiness into something productive. With a well-practiced gesture, he Drew Spatiera and tore open a small pocket of space. This was, admittedly, the most useful and interesting among all the basic Meiyal Arts he studied during the past two months. The space was still particularly small, only able to fit about five large books. Frein pulled out a maroon tome. It had the etchings of a golden mountain on the leather-bound cover with a title underneath; The Forges of Vyndival. The book was too academic and encyclopedia-like for his tastes, but he swallowed his boredom and slogged along the dry sentences. He knew well enough that his timeline on Schrodie¡¯s Realm would end a few days before Vyndival arrived on Irista Nation¡¯s farthest territory, Minaveil, if not outright in the middle of battle. Katherine had been better in hiding her anxiety and directing her focus elsewhere, but Frein had seen more than his fair share of her restlessness to keep his own anxiety in check. There was also the fact that even after all this time, Schrodie still refused to shed light to his entire purpose as the Visitor. So, he was left with no choice but to study history instead. Weirdly enough, none of the books he¡¯s read so far made any mention of the Visitor. A few chapters into The Forges of Vyndival, he felt his eyes getting tired despite his Siffera. It was simply that dry of a book. With still a few hours away before Schrodie literally painted the sun, Frein decided to take a stroll under the stars. He stepped out of the cottage and met the salty breeze as his eyes settled upon a long stretch of a shoreline and a horizon of a star-glittered sea. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The desire to take a walk immediately left his mind. Instead, he sat on the edge of the cliff where their cottage stood, trusting that it wouldn¡¯t collapse under his weight. Unlike natural cliffs, this was painted by Schrodie. It stretched out far in the horizon in parallel with the shoreline. The cool wind carrying the scent of sea and grass, the soft ebb and flow of the sea, and the vastness and openness of it all took Frein¡¯s breath away. The thought of his own end loomed behind him like an itch at the back of his brain, but still, even after all that, even after the thought of leaving Katherine behind and the pain and sorrow it would surely bring, this moment¡ªalone but whole¡ªgave him a feeling of satisfaction. Someone was sitting on the shoreline, a small entity in the vastness of a painting come to life. Of course, it could¡¯ve only been Schrodie. But the fact that Frein could see her hair waving slightly with the breeze and swaying with the touch of the sea, prompted him to jump off the cliff. The sixty-meter sheer drop bounced off his Siffera with relative ease, and he landed with such precision and control that he barely made any noise. Despite the safety throughout his entire stay on Schrodie¡¯s Realm, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to still be cautious. It was a foolish attempt shattered instantly by her greeting. ¡°You should sleep, don¡¯t bother yourself with maintaining Siffera,¡± she said, still facing the sea and away from him. Real, physical hands peeked out from the curtains of her pink hair dimmed by starry night. ¡°It makes no difference whether you have it active or not when you get ambushed in your sleep.¡± ¡°I was sure you¡¯d revert to your distorted self before I got to you,¡± Frein said, changing the topic. ¡°The rest of me are busy doing something else. I¡¯m staying here on guard duty.¡± So, this place isn¡¯t a hundred percent safe¡­ ¡°Busy?¡± ¡°Not for you to know right now.¡± Frein attempted a step with the intention to sit beside her, but his instincts kicked in and urged him to jump back. His will tempered it down so he could stay where he stood instead, well behind Schrodie. ¡°Apologies,¡± she began. ¡°For some reason, this woman chose to die without wearing any clothes. On behalf of paying respects to her, I¡¯d rather that you don¡¯t see her this way.¡± Confusion and understanding struck Frein at the same time. ¡°I could¡­give you some clothes?¡± Schrodie shook her head once, the waves of her hair swayed just enough to tease a bit of skin. ¡°Not tonight.¡± Frein was weirded out by the irony of staring at Schrodie with a proper physical form. He half-expected her to do a reversal of some kind, like instances of distortion riddling around her hair. But the Gatekeeper maintained a tangible look despite the irritating fact that he was only allowed to look at her from behind. ¡°Who really are you, Schrodie?¡± Frein knew he wouldn¡¯t get an answer out from that, so he rephrased his question. ¡°Who is she?¡± The Gatekeeper was silent for a while. A small arm clutched a portion of her hair and she fiddled with it while contemplating for an answer. ¡°Her name is Kristella Irista, second Monarch of Irista Nation, Hero of Forimeyn Continent, and the one who coined Meiyal Arts.¡± Forimeyn was the continent encompassing both Irista Nation and Vyndival Kingdom. That much, Frein understood. What left him confused was how and why Schrodie chose to appear as this person. Was it because he just finished reading The Artistic Meiyal? It was the book of Meiyal Arts written by the second Monarch herself. All other academic materials that involved this discipline derived their contents from this ancient tome that was penned and published only a generation after the Divine Severing abolished their dependency on their divine deities for manipulating meiyal. While Frein pondered for the reason, Schrodie continued her introduction. ¡°Her physical traits didn¡¯t show any elven qualities despite being born a human mixed with elven blood. Instead, she suffered a minor condition, Sylvan Youth, causing her body to never age after she reached her teens. Even today, some of her descendants display some of the symptoms. ¡°This didn¡¯t stop her from commanding Irista Nation. With her Meiyal Arts, she was able to expand her territory and become a hero everyone looks up to. She died peacefully at the age of sixty-eight, still looking how she looked like the day she turned fifteen.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re mimicking personalities to help me out?¡± Frein thought it was highly unlikely, but he ventured a guess anyway. Schrodie turned slightly, revealing a small face barely formed by maturity, but the green of her right eye was intense enough to express how much she was offended. ¡°I don¡¯t mimic personalities, Frein. I, along with my many personalities, are the real ones. Despite my better judgment, Kristella is a bit of the talkative sort, and without the other personalities to keep her in check, here I am spilling the beans. ¡°Still, even she has to play by the rules. So that¡¯s as much as I¡¯m allowing her to share.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s really weird if you refer to yourself in both first and third person.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll never refer to myself as you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­reassuring?¡± The Gatekeeper turned back to the sea. ¡°You should really go sleep, Frein. Siffera can only keep you up for as long as your meiyal system can endure. Unlike the natives of Brymeia, you¡¯ve only had yours for around three months.¡± Frein wasn¡¯t convinced, but before he could make an argument, Schrodie held up a hand. ¡°You have ten seconds to lift that box,¡± she said. A small rectangular box the size of Frein¡¯s arm was underneath his feet this whole time. ¡°Go.¡± The Visitor quickly realized the box had a deceiving weight, as if it was magnetized to the ground beneath the sands. He continuously fed Siffera to make the Art stronger until he was able to carry the box up to his waist. It took him nine seconds of struggle. ¡°Now stay like that for another ten seconds. Don¡¯t drop the box.¡± The cursed object threatened to rip his arms out of their sockets. It was increasingly getting heavier and Frein had to react by making his Siffera even stronger. ¡°Now dodge.¡± Schrodie flicked three pebbles in rapid succession. Frein dodged the first one successfully. He managed to avoid the second one, but the box swayed with a shifting weight and slipped out of his numb fingers. He got hit by the third pebble as he tried¡ªand failed¡ªto recover the box. Lines of smoke sizzled out of his meiyal core. ¡°You could complete that exercise yesterday, Frein,¡± Schrodie said, turning back to him again, half of Kristella¡¯s face in full view. He couldn¡¯t find the time to respond, too busy with recovering his breath. ¡°Maintaining Siffera in its bare minimum doesn¡¯t strain your meiyal system. In fact, it can allow the system to regain stamina and endurance as though relaxing a muscle. But that takes years of practice and getting used to, not something you can learn overnight. The only special thing about your meiyal system is that it provides you the ability to speak with creatures that have enough connection with meiyal. The rest of its qualities and capabilities are the same as any other average, healthy practitioner out there.¡± Frein still struggled for air, he could feel his consciousness fading. Art fatigue had settled in, threatening to erase Siffera. Schrodie simply continued on as if she knew. ¡°You¡¯re riding high on the fact that you¡¯re sleep deprived and that you can perpetually Mill. But you should realize, that unlike you, most of them have a lot of time. They don¡¯t need to skip steps or take desperate methods and they can be content with their lives. ¡°You¡¯re a raging torch intent on burning out all your fuel in a final blaze of glory, which means you don¡¯t have enough time to spend on acquiring nuanced skills that do nothing but show fanciness in their mastery. Focus, instead, on things that provide you with the greatest impacts.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Frein barely afforded two words, his world turning to a blur. ¡°Siffera doesn¡¯t only enhance your physical traits, Frein. If you focus it correctly, it can enhance everything of who you are.¡± Frein fell on the sand, sleep enveloped him on a tight embrace. ¡°Goodnight, Frein.¡± End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
Chapter 25: Purity of a Fighter Purity of a Fighter Four versus one was definitely a risk bordering on impossibility. Frein was glad enough no one called his bluff, but he hid his relief well enough to avoid scrutiny. Three against one would be a challenge, but awkward. One would be outright boring. Two was just right. Now if only he had some sparring experience with Forged Meiyal¡­ Right now¡¯s a better time than never, Frein thought, steeling his resolve. He settled Siffera in a calm flow, one that he kept as strong as his meiyal system could afford without reaching Art fatigue. He circled around the two knights before him, keeping a keen eye for any clues they might give away while removing Katherine and her friends out of harm¡¯s way. The one in black armor still held his broadsword. There were odd red designs around his chest plate with a singular amethyst gem engraved in the middle. Embellishments, Frein guessed. According to The Forges of Vyndival, these additions on Forged Armors not only increased their owner¡¯s resistance against harmful meiyal¡ªlike Meiyal Arts¡ªbut also imbued the armor with certain enhancements. Not all Embellishments were unique, but some of them held properties more powerful than others. Frein couldn¡¯t determine, just from this one look, what type of Forged Meiyal Armor the black knight had, let alone what Embellishments were attached on it. The Forged broadsword was another problem. Forged Meiyal Weapons were deceiving due to the fact that their appearances seldom dictated their physical capabilities, like their effective range or the way they were usually handled. In fact, for Frein, the entire discipline practiced in Vyndival, Meiyal Armaments, was as many times as complex to understand as the number of additional letters compared to Meiyal Arts. To be fair, the discrepancy between his time spent studying both disciplines played a huge part in his lack of understanding, but that didn¡¯t excuse him to the adversary he was facing right now. Not enough information. The helms covering their faces did nothing to help either. Frein clasped his hands together as a form of salute, forming a fist with his right hand while holding it firmly with his left. ¡°Frein Nivan, Practitioner of Meiyal Arts, The Visitor.¡± When his two opponents looked at each other in question, he continued. ¡°Where I came from, it is customary to introduce one¡¯s self before a duel. As a sign of respect, I offer you my name first.¡± It wasn¡¯t necessarily true, but he had to take the initiative. The knight in silver armor took the black knight¡¯s side and spoke first. ¡°Hal Runescythe, Practitioner of Meiyal Armaments, Lord Knight.¡± He Forged his Meiyal Weapons, a small sickle on his left hand chained to the shaft of a scythe he held on his right. Frein couldn¡¯t imagine not hurting himself just trying to make a swing with that weapon. He didn¡¯t have time to consider as the black knight spoke next. ¡°Ral Runescythe, Practitioner of Meiyal Armaments, Lord Knight.¡± A small red spark crawled throughout his greatsword. Brothers, obviously. It added a bit of a complexity. Siblings usually understood each other better and coordinated better that the usual brother-in-arms. It was something Frein had to consider and test. The Visitor took his stance, a normal fighting pose; his left guiding side in front and right explosive arsenal at the back. Hands opened resting just below his line of sight to avoid making his own blind spots. His legs not too wide apart to maintain a centered balance while still prepared to spring into action. His breathing, calmed and collected. And lastly, Siffera, ready to ignite into action at any second. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Ready when you are,¡± Frein said as Ral and Hal walked on opposite directions, flanking him on both sides. They readied their weapons, not caring one bit that their opponent was basically unarmed. For them, Frein assumed, Meiyal Arts were simply enough reason to think this was fair. He felt a tinge of trepidation as an awkward pause passed between the three of them. He pushed the emotion at the back of his mind and turned to Ral, the Lord Knight in black armor to his left. Immediately Frein heard a metallic noise coming from his right, his Siffera-enhanced hearing giving him enough warning just in time for him to duck as a small sickle sliced just above his hair. A poor black strand standing at the very tip of his head was mercilessly severed away by the weapon as it retreated back to the owner. Another noise, a heavy stomp coming from his left, warned him about Ral¡¯s approach. The black knight burst into a sprint, greatsword overhead. Frein slipped to the side as the over-sized hunk of metal sliced downwards. He prepared to retaliate, but the quick sound of sparks made him hesitate. That left him no choice but to lift his guard and intensify his Siffera for defense, focusing on his front just in time as an explosion of electricity blasted from the blade. The impact threw him to the air relatively unscathed but conveniently towards Hal. The silver knight flourished his scythe around his arms and manipulated the chain around its shaft in such a way, Frein was sure, to direct the flying sickle towards him. The Visitor twisted midair just in time to avoid the irritating weapon. He attempted to catch it but failed. Instead, he telegraphed a large motion as he spun down towards the knight. There was a moment. Through every turn, Frein found glimpses of Hal calculating with the intent of landing a counter. The Visitor replied by concentrating his Siffera to his right leg, challenging the knight to meet the blow. The silver knight chose the conservative move and leapt away, but Frein still delivered his spinning kick. The impact blasted throughout the desert, lifting sand clouds that obscured vision. It was the most opportune moment to strike, but instead, Frein stood still, facing Ral this time as the dust settled back to the ground. He already knew he¡¯d won.
Frill delivered her prisoner to the throne room. She made thorough inspection of this strange Vyndivalian and confiscated all of his Forged Weapons and Armor; a pair of short swords chained to a pair of sledgehammers¡ªDoffed into a wristband¡ªthat she utterly had no idea how to use and a dark red armor¡ªDoffed into a pendant. She took them out of her Spatiera and studied them for signs of Vynore, but the collection possessed no meiyal-breaking qualities. Content with the inspection, she reinforced the binding Meiyal Art around the Vyndivalian. ¡°You¡¯re getting a bit carried away. I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± said the prisoner. ¡°Surviving my Diferenfra is enough reason to be cautious.¡± When the man didn¡¯t speak, she continued. ¡°I was sure I burned all of you and your towers on the western wall. There was no way you could¡¯ve climbed it on your own.¡± ¡°Is this the one?¡± boomed a voice. Frill turned to see Adviser Kento pacing with heavy footsteps. Beads of sweat raced down his face as well as trails of smoke coming from the water droplet meiyal core on his left shoulder, signs of Art fatigue caused by maintaining a Sky Vision and a Network Hub. Though utilizing a completely different and casual naming scheme, these two were still bona fide Meiyal Arts. She gave a soft bow. ¡°Yes, Adviser.¡± ¡°Good, we¡¯ll take care of him from here.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the Princess?¡± ¡°She turned off her M.O.B.I.L.E. We suspect she¡¯s engaged with King Urzic or whoever¡¯s leading the invasion.¡± ¡°The Princess isn¡¯t here?¡± said the prisoner. Frill noticed a sour scorn coming from him, but she didn¡¯t bother understanding or saying anything about it. ¡°Fortunately for you, our Princess prefers the frontlines.¡± She gave Adviser Kento another slight bow. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Frill!¡± called out an otherwise sweet voice if not for the panic in her tone. The red-haired maiden shifted her head to the skies. Ashtine, riding her armored yuma landed with a purpose, her short blonde hair flowing gently like falling snow but the worried look she wore immediately induced concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frill asked. ¡°Your sister,¡± she began. Frill¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°We can¡¯t find her.¡±
Chapter 26: A Difference in Skill A Difference in Skill
¡°Liona.¡± ~Frill Veli
Frein approached Ral with opened confidence; the black knight¡¯s greatsword pointed directly at him. Behind him, Hal, the silver knight, emerged from the sands, coughing up dust while he recovered on his feet. The Visitor calmly took one step at a time amidst the danger surrounding him. At some point, one had to give, and he had no intention of stepping back. Red lightning surged from Ral¡¯s greatsword, blasting in a line of electrified branches. It was unbearably slow. Frein had already taken a sidestep before the lightning even left the blade. A flying chained sickle sliced, aimed at his neck. Once again, he had already swayed away. The two knights attempted their ranged attacks a few more times, all missing their marks only by hair-thin margins with Frein moving preemptively at the exact split-second moments of their attacks. So obvious, so unbearably obvious. Frein reached Ral within striking distance. Even the term was deceiving at this point since he was already in range ten meters ago. The approach was to prove that he was better than them, or at least better than what they were currently showing. Best case¡ªhe hoped¡ªthey would choose to surrender after this display of confidence, or¡ªeven better¡ªthis would provoke an improvement compared to whatever slow music these two knights were dancing to. Because of the helm, Frein could barely see the black knights bewildered eyes as he raised his greatsword in a standard guard to his side. It was a defensive pose the Visitor recognized and was glad that this world wasn¡¯t entirely far removed with regards to the basics of swordplay. Ral¡¯s eyes shifted ever so slightly, looking past behind Frein. That alone was opening enough. Ral wasn¡¯t slow by any means, not really, but Frein effortlessly matched him in terms speed. Information was the only defining factor. At the exact moment the black knight decided to swing his lightning-infused greatsword, Frein dashed in and low. He spun underneath Ral¡¯s swinging arms and slammed a Siffera intensified elbow straight to the man¡¯s middle section. Forged Armors¡ªaccording to what he had read¡ªamplified the practitioner¡¯s resistance to meiyal. It would allow them to withstand, for example, a Meiyal Art of pure flame, provided that their resistance was ultimately more powerful than the Meiyal Art practitioner. Otherwise, these protections were only a tad bit stronger than normal plate armors. The strength and sturdiness Frein¡¯s body now possessed with Siffera¡ªthe single Meiyal Art he had spent the most time practicing during his training¡ªenabled him to punch holes in reinforced metals like they were made of thin cardboards. Ral doubled over with a violent grunt. Frein followed through by grabbing the knight¡¯s forward momentum and throwing him over his shoulder, disarming him at the same time. He sent Ral flying rather than slamming him straight down, sending the poor guy straight across and colliding with the flying sickle that was supposed to catch Frein by surprise if he had dodged the greatsword backwards instead. Hal had a split-second to decide whether to catch his brother or not, and he made the wrong choice. Frein had been dashing underneath Ral¡¯s shadow the entire time he flew, his eyes observing for any retaliation. The moment Hal caught his brother, Frein was already sending a multi-spun flying roundhouse kick. The impact reverberated across the entire battlefield. Echoes of meiyal sent sand and dust in the air and unprepared bodies off their feet. The same force pushed the sibling knights away by a few meters, but as the dust settled their silhouettes showed their arms numbing from a successful block. Frein landed on the ground, impressed. He had fed Siffera half of his current meiyal reservoir for that singular strike, tanking him to the last third. Without a second thought, he Gathered and Milled. Ral removed his black helmet, revealing an auburn hair with yellow eyes fixed wide underneath his frown; his bewilderment apparent from his slacked jaw. His damaged helmet dissolved into meiyal, but his attention was more focused on Frein. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°You¡¯re Gathering?¡± Ral asked, accusingly. With a single grasping gesture, he summoned his greatsword flying grip first towards his hand. ¡°You expect us to wait for you?¡± ¡°Are you going to wait?¡± Frein asked as he doubled his Milling efforts, sending a message. His meiyal system started to feel the strain, but it wasn¡¯t a cause for panic. Katherine had warned him about this. No sane practitioner would Gather and Mill¡ªor whatever terms their discipline called it¡ªduring a fight. The process took so long to complete and obviously left the practitioner defenseless as if asking to get killed. It was simply outright rude. But Katherine had given the warning simply in order for Frein to be aware, not for him to avoid. Because unlike everyone else, this was his sole glaring advantage to make up for his lack of Meiyal Arts. ¡°You think we¡¯re that stupid?¡± Hal retorted. I think so, yeah. The thing was, Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, now that he had gained mastery over it, allowed Frein to never stop Gathering and Milling. Even while he fought, the two processes continued in a reduced, almost subconscious, effort tantamount to that of breathing. Frein only ever had to pay the minutest of his attentions to increase the intensity and yield. Unlike those that utilized this Milling Form sparingly, he had no need to stop and meditate, leaving him truly free to take and refill his reserves whenever he wanted to as long as his meiyal system could afford the strain. To complement this overall style, Katherine had made sure Frein made three major investments during his training: mastering the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, increasing his meiyal system¡¯s endurance and stamina, and mastering Siffera down to the last nuanced detail of the Art. All three suited Frein¡¯s way of fighting. ¡°Are you seriously just going to keep asking me questions?¡± He focused and tripled his effort just for the plain insult. ¡°Did somebody say a timeout?¡± A sickle flew straight for his face. It was still the same straightforward trajectory, no change in pattern at all. How in the world are these guys Lord Knights? Frein caught the sickle effortlessly; his Milling focus undisturbed. The meiyal from the sickle immediately rejected him, as if the very nature of the world didn¡¯t make any sense when he held the weapon. The sensation was surprising but not unexpected; he had The Forges of Vyndival to thank for that. Forged Weapons and Armors, especially named and powerful ones, were signature locked. It meant only those that Forged them¡ªbarring any special rules in some cases like heirlooms¡ªusing meiyal-charged materials could use those weapons and armors. Frein assumed he could force it with Siffera, but the sickle slipped off his grasp after a few seconds as easily as though he just let it go. The two knights stood side-by-side, standing a few paces away in front of the black dragon¡¯s hind leg. Frein was so absorbed with the fight, he almost forgot about Elizzel. Suddenly it all clicked in his head. There was a war going on. He and Katherine appeared at the heart of the enemy¡¯s base of operations, but the actual battlefield was probably far from here¡ªSchrodie had been sparse with the details prior to their jump. Where they appeared, they were surrounded mostly by monsters and conscripted men. Most knights who could fight properly were already probably on the frontlines. The ones that remained here kept the monsters in check. These two Lord Knights were monster hunters first and foremost. They studied their prey, specialized their skills and weapons for hunting or capturing them. Dueling against another person was a far cry from stalking and hunting mindless beasts. And while it would seem that they had some experience in combating their fellow men, they haven¡¯t met someone like him. Like Frein. A man who, throughout his whole life, only ever fought other people. He read their intentions like an opened book, exploited every tell they unknowingly spoke, took advantage of every opportunity to get ahead with no regard for norm or tradition. It quickly dawned on Frein that this was not a fair fight. It wouldn¡¯t be proper to test out all his skills right here, it was simply disrespectful. The best he could offer them was an honorable exit. That was the actual problem. While the two siblings did their best to land a blow or deal a scratch, Frein spent the next five minutes dodging them, shoving them to each other, or stopping one of them with a heavy blow. All the while, he Gathered and Milled, with his mind pondering on how best to end this boring match with all their honors and integrity intact. He could only think of one.
Frantic. Disoriented. Desperate. Frill scampered the war-ridden Flat Lands without mind for any Vyndivalian soldier. She was thankful for the orders to stand down, but her mind focused solely on finding one person. Liona. The moment Ashtine delivered the ill news, Frill had gone blank, ignoring any orders and scouring the entire battlefield for any signs of her sister. ¡°Liona!¡± she called out as loud as she could with an echo Meiyal Art, hoping to hear a response. Nothing. A gust of wind called her attention. Only then did her eyes showed her the aftermath of battle. Corpses upon corpses carried by either side, most of them Vyndivalian. Injured people screamed and groaned as they were moved or healed right then and there, some dying regrettably at the moment of rescue. Death and fire surrounded Frill. The foul stench of corpses filled her nose while the silent eerie crackles of burning flesh and wood whispered to her ears, sending a dangerous thought into her mind. What if she¡¯s one of them? She desperately pushed it away and continued her search, calling out her sister¡¯s name with a frantic voice.
Chapter 27: Wars End War''s End One hour. Kristel had spent an entire hour watching a duel she thought would be done in less than a minute. Somewhere in between, Lor had opened his Spatiera to retrieve some seats for the three of them. He even distributed some refreshments. Katherine was done healing the Forest Jaws and was going around healing Vyndivalians while assuring them she only meant peace. Urzic¡¯s face was a conundrum to paint. His clenched fists belied the passiveness he was trying to exude and his widened eyes couldn¡¯t hide their amazement from what he was witnessing. Barring any possibilities that they were hiding another Forged Weapon, Hal and Ral had tried everything in their arsenal. That much Kristel was sure. Hal, at one point, fed his meiyal into his Forged scythe, increasing it in size much like how Kristel did with her Dai-Kaimera. Frein easily jumped over the wide arc, spun away from a sickle follow up, and blocked a red lightning blast with his Siffera-empowered arms before dealing a strong body blow on the silver knight. Trails of smoke began to rise from the Visitor, but he wasn¡¯t bothered by it, still Gathering and Milling at his leisure every time the two knights stopped to catch their breaths. On the other hand, the siblings¡¯ armors were falling apart. Forged Armors could be repaired, but it was like Milling¡ªthe normal kind; not the Frein kind¡ªspending time in meditation to mend the cracks and piece them all together, same with Forged Weapons. ¡°If the Princess fought instead, this would¡¯ve been over a lot quicker,¡± Lor commented, sipping from a cold fruit-infused tea. That much was true. Judging strictly based on what the two knights displayed, she could¡¯ve easily jumped them and killed one, rendering their coordination useless. The fight wouldn¡¯t even take a minute. She noticed Flimeth glare at Lor, and immediately she understood. ¡°He¡¯s not trying to win,¡± the felintine retorted. ¡°He¡¯s forcing them to surrender by showing them their difference in skill. Those two already used everything they could, but the Visitor¡¯s only used Siffera so far. Learn to appreciate a master¡¯s art!¡± ¡°An hour ago, you were deciding whether you should kill him,¡± Lor retaliated. ¡°So were you! Are you jealous?¡± Flimeth teased. ¡°Getting killed by you? Well¡­a little.¡± ¡°I mate for life, Lor. I¡¯d rather you live as long as I do.¡± ¡°Read the atmosphere, you lovebirds,¡± Kristel interjected, fed up with all the flirting as if they were far away from danger. ¡°While both of you have a point, this is still obviously a master showing his work. There¡¯s a lot to learn from this.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re recording, Princess?¡± Lor pointed at the M.O.B.I.L.E. hovering beside Kristel. ¡°Yes,¡± she admitted. ¡°I want to know if he¡¯s really only using Siffera.¡± ¡°I did teach the guy,¡± Katherine said, appearing behind them. Lor immediately offered her a new seat and a fresh glass of tea. She took them with a silent thank you. ¡°I only taught him some basic Meiyal Arts, the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, and Siffera. I¡¯d love a copy later, Kristel, if you would.¡± Flimeth almost got knocked off her chair. ¡°That absurd Milling was that form?¡± Her formality with the Lady of the Void utterly dispersed due to shock. Kristel couldn¡¯t blame her. As someone who constantly practiced the form herself, she knew the difficulty of simply completing the cycle regardless of efficiency and quality of yield was like climbing a mountain upside-down while carrying the weight of a fully grown yuma. In her mind, the investment wasn¡¯t worth the payoff, but the sight before her was rapidly convincing her otherwise. ¡°Can you do that, too?¡± she asked Katherine. ¡°A bit cheating, but yeah.¡± She pointed at her floating meiyal core. ¡°I assume Frill will have an easier time with it as well, but she still needs to practice.¡± ¡°What about his Siffera?¡± Flimeth asked. ¡°That¡¯s a little complicated to explain, but it is the same Art we all use.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Lor interrupted this time. ¡°Am I right to assume that the Visitor has the same meiyal system as us?¡± ¡°Schrodie implanted it, but it¡¯s technically the same.¡± ¡°That means there must be something special about it!¡± Flimeth said with as much excitement as a kid getting her birthday present. ¡°That should explain why he¡¯s so strong!¡± ¡°Well, he can talk to meiyal-attuned creatures,¡± Katherine replied, turning to the Forest Jaws. ¡°Supposedly he shouldn¡¯t be able to talk to Nightmares, but that one¡¯s an exception and we want to know why, so we¡¯re trying to save it.¡± Then she turned to the felintine. ¡°Other than that, everything¡¯s completely the same. What you see there is something you can achieve if you¡¯re as obsessively motivated as him.¡± ¡°What do you mean obsessively motivated?¡± Kristel asked, but before anyone could respond, it hit her. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°What? What does it mean?¡± Flimeth, ever the oblivious. ¡°He¡¯s the Visitor, Flimeth,¡± Lor reminded her. ¡°He¡¯ll be gone in one year.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Oh¡­¡± An awkward silence loomed over them until another clash from the duel called their attention. Frein lifted a helpless and exhausted Ral by the neck. The black knight¡¯s armor was completely gone and he didn¡¯t even have the strength to retaliate. Hal, the silver knight, struggled and crawled on the sands, trying to reach his brother. ¡°Well,¡± Katherine started, ¡°it can¡¯t be helped.¡± Kristel looked at Katherine and saw something different. The Seeker¡¯s focus was nowhere near what seemed to be the ending of a duel. She was looking straight at Frein, her eyes full of admiration and pride despite the ominous threat that the Visitor might kill someone in front of her. The Princess had seen that expression many times before. She¡¯d seen it from her father when her mother died. She¡¯d seen it from her attendants¡¯ mother when their father died. She¡¯d seen it from people who were left by their loved ones after they fulfilled their missions. Kristel, she was sure from looking at Katherine¡¯s face, those words meant more than what they implied.
Frein¡¯s impression of the siblings had changed. These two were definitely worthy of their titles. Despite their exhaustion and helplessness, they refused to surrender. That was something to be admired. He immediately released his grip as soon as Ral lost consciousness. Hal¡¯s eyes flared at the way his brother dropped lifelessly on the ground, but the Visitor immediately stopped the silver knight from wasting his breath on an unnecessary outburst. ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± Frein said, raising a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I just need someone to voice out a surrender.¡± Hal¡¯s eyes calmed down in contrast to Frein¡¯s expectations. It was a pleasant surprise since he was preparing a number of arguments and submission techniques to calm the silver knight down. Still, those eyes didn¡¯t deflate into relief, but surged with determination instead. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work that way, Frein Nivan.¡± He struggled on his feet, leaning on his scythe for balance. ¡°Either we surrender or you kill us both. That¡¯s how it works here.¡± ¡°Despite all you¡¯ve seen me do, you still think I¡¯m here to follow your rules?¡± Frein focused on his Siffera. The Meiyal Art wasn¡¯t as simple as a physical enhancement. As his mentor, Schrodie, once said: ¡°It enhances everything of who you are.¡± That included not only his thought processes, his imagination, his strategy formulation, it also enhanced his will, his atmosphere, his charisma. Everything and anything¡ªbe it physical or superficial¡ªFrein deemed to be part of himself, part of who he was, were amplified exponentially into measures he couldn¡¯t even fathom. He sent out his own measure of strength and Siffera delivered to everyone around him, allowing them to experience a taste of his capabilities. He sent his frustration outward, dampening their desire to fight. He sent his disappointment, challenging anyone who still had their own will to fight. And lastly, he sent out his anger, an illogical fury brought upon by the mere fact that no one tried to stop this fight even now. Bodies with a will too weak to handle his convictions and beliefs fell to their knees and out of breath. Kristel¡¯s companions were in full defense mode, on guard against his indiscriminate animosity. The Princess herself was stunned in utter shock with Katherine trying to comfort her. Urzic still stood there, boiling with his own anger. But Hal, something changed in him. There was realization in his eyes. Something, somewhere inside of him, had broken or snapped. Frein couldn¡¯t determine what it was, but all he could read was an expression of acceptance in defeat and a sudden, irritated desire to turn a new leaf. ¡°I yield,¡± the silver knight said as if to confirm Frein¡¯s assessment. ¡°This duel is over. You win.¡± His weapons and armor dispersed into meiyal, reducing themselves into some sort of jewelry or accessory on his person. The Visitor in return reversed his Siffera from a raging storm of emotions into a sea of calm. ¡°You know the rules of our tradition, Lord Knight!¡± Urzic yelled from his castle. ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Hal limped over to his brother while yelling at the top of his lungs. ¡°This is your own goddamned loss, Urzic. We defend your kingdom from monsters! Just because we¡¯re sharp enough for one task doesn¡¯t mean you can brandish us willy-nilly for everything else! Moron!¡± On his way, Hal ripped off a badge from his worn vest and discarded them with every bit of strength his frustration could muster. Frein picked it up, a silver badge depicting a quarter moon, it was the reduced form of the silver knight¡¯s Forged Armor. ¡°You mind if I keep this?¡± ¡°That has a signature lock. You can¡¯t use it,¡± Hal replied dryly, picking up his brother who had begun to regain consciousness. Frein raised him an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, right. You don¡¯t care about rules. Fuck, I don¡¯t care either. Do whatever the hell you want. Here.¡± Hal threw Ral¡¯s badge as well; it was a black version of the other one. ¡°What happens to you now?¡± ¡°Thanks to you, we¡¯re now exiled. Vyndival pretty much lost two great defenders. Ah, I know that look. Don¡¯t give me that.¡± Hal accused Frein of disbelief, but the Visitor cared little to hide it. ¡°Look, we¡¯re Nightmare specialists, trained under the Order of the Void so we can keep the Nightmare Lands away from our borders in case the Order¡¯s too busy with other matters. I¡¯m not going to bother you with our history, but we¡¯re very good at our job.¡± ¡°And now that you¡¯re exiled, what happens to Vyndival?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know, don¡¯t care. That¡¯s his problem.¡± Hal pointed at the King who was shouting orders to mobilize the retreat and free the dragon. At least he was a man of his word. ¡°Where will you go?¡± Frein asked Hal. The silver knight sat his brother back on the ground, Forged some kind of container from a trinket on his belt and retrieved a canister of water. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly obliged to answer you, you know?¡± Hal said as he assisted his brother for a drink. ¡°I kept you alive.¡± ¡°That was your choice, don¡¯t feel too guilty about it.¡± ¡°Yeah, maybe I should¡¯ve just killed you,¡± Frein said with obvious sarcasm. Hal grunted a laugh. ¡°Well, it was a good match. Best of luck wherever you¡¯re going. Thanks for these.¡± He stored the badges in his Spatiera and headed back to Katherine. ¡°Hey, Visitor,¡± Ral said in a coarse voice. Frein turned. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Yeah, thanks.¡± There was genuine gratefulness from the two brothers. At this, Frein felt relief, though it wasn¡¯t exactly how he wanted it to turn out, his efforts weren¡¯t for naught. ¡°No problem,¡± he replied, returning to Katherine with a lighter step. ¡°Welcome back,¡± the love of his life greeted him with open arms. He took her embrace and her lips immediately found his. A surge of power calmed down his aching meiyal system, cooling away the fatigue. The guarded hostility coming from both of Kristel¡¯s companions immediately squirmed into dropped jaws of shock due to Katherine¡¯s public display of affection. The Princess herself was scratching her head, messing up her azure hair. ¡°Guys, back to Brymeia please.¡± She clapped her hands for attention. Katherine let Frein go almost reluctantly. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Sorry about taking over the whole situation, Princess,¡± the Visitor started with as much eagerness to move on. ¡°I wanted to make certain of a few things as quickly as possible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. But I¡¯m owed an explanation.¡± Before Frein could respond, the chains binding Elizzel, the Nightmare dragon detached themselves, and the horns of retreat echoed from the Vyndivalian castle. Corresponding horns resounded as a domino effect, passing the message. Steam propelled from the giant infrastructure, and the engines started driving away as if mocking the dragon that had pulled it. ¡°I am ever so grateful to you, young Visitor,¡± Elizzel whispered through Frein¡¯s mind. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if I explain on the way back,¡± Frein answered the Princess before turning to the dragon. ¡°And you, you have a lot of questions to answer later, so don¡¯t go running away from me yet.¡± ¡°Ha! Unlike you, I have all the time to spare.¡±
Chapter 28: Aftermath Aftermath
¡°The reality is¡­well, reality.¡± ~Liona
Not even a single Vyndivalian soldier dared spare a glance at Frein and his companions as they rode on Elizzel¡¯s back. It was as if all the animosity each enemy soldier possessed had vanished without a trace, replaced by what Frein could only discern as sadness, or exhaustion. The soldiers gathered their dead, putting them in carts or on their mounts, or carried them by hand. The Forest Jaws¡ªor Jaws Lurking in the Forest according to Kristel¡ªwas kind and careful enough to avoid crushing anyone underfoot. The Vyndivalian soldiers in return passed concerned or bewildered looks. ¡°You¡¯re not famous, aren¡¯t you?¡± Frein said aloud, earning the gazes of everyone around him. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m talking to the Forest Jaws.¡± ¡°Nightmares in general aren¡¯t a common sight within civilized grounds, Visitor,¡± Elizzel replied as she gave a caravan of corpses a wide berth. ¡°Please tell everyone to hold on.¡± Frein passed the message and everyone held onto whatever protruding spike or scale they could find. Elizzel crouched and flexed her wings before kicking off the ground. Frein felt the lurch wave through where he sat and almost fell off. He quickly Drew his Siffera to steady his balance, anchoring himself with one hand. Wind kicked off his face at the same time realization hit him. The Forest Jaws jumped over a valley of retreating soldiers, gliding over them. She landed as soon as they covered enough ground and this time, Frein was prepared for the recoil. ¡°That was a ride,¡± he commented. ¡°Things should be smoother from here.¡± A curiosity caught Frein¡¯s eye. A bonfire of corpses. Soldiers with strong enough stomachs were throwing dismembered and unrecognizable body parts onto the flame. ¡°What¡¯s with that?¡± he pointed, addressing the question to everyone this time. ¡°Cremation,¡± Kristel replied, her face had turned from one of wonder when she climbed over Elizzel to a solemn expression now that she had observed the aftermath. ¡°If the deceased¡¯s body is beyond recognition or repair, it¡¯s better to just burn them right then and there. No use trying to sort them out, we all burn them anyway. Their insignias are what matters.¡± ¡°You all cremate your dead?¡± Frein asked out of curiosity. ¡°We do,¡± the Princess replied. She leaned on one of Elizzel¡¯s protruding scales after making sure how sturdy it was. Her balance was impeccable, even during the glide she had spared the commotion barely any attention. Katherine gave Kristel a concerned look. ¡°It wasn¡¯t before I left.¡± ¡°Sometimes the rain pours more than just water. We¡¯ve suffered severe cases of Hollowing Storms, forcing our dead to rise again. They¡¯re better off resting to ashes than hurt their loved ones as mindless undead.¡± She turned to Katherine. ¡°Do you remember the last storm before you went away? It reanimated half of the nation¡¯s dead. We just can¡¯t afford anything like that again and I¡¯m guessing the same thing happened to Vyndival. You have a lot of catching up to do. We haven¡¯t even heard anything from the Order for a long¡ª¡± ¡°So, just to make sure, you¡¯re the Visitor, right?¡± The felintine woman in armor jumped in front of Frein. She had black hair reaching down to her waist and yellow eyes on her young face, not a bad combination. ¡°I guess so?¡± Frein gave her an unsure answer. He didn¡¯t expect to be called the Visitor specifically. It didn¡¯t have any special impact in it as far as he was concerned. ¡°Well, you did appear out of nowhere with the famous Lady Katherine Militia.¡± She erased the chunks of metal around her body, dispersing them like dust in thin air and leaving behind an exquisite corset and patterned skirt. A long tail wrapped around her left thigh. Her greaves also evaporated and was replaced by a pair of laced boots. She looked like a living cat-doll. ¡°Frein, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m Flimeth Estura, Guard Knight of Cross Irista.¡± ¡°Yes, Frein. Frein Nivan,¡± he repeated, looking at her fashionable transformation. It was cute and ladylike, but her straight poise didn¡¯t miss a flick of elegance and knightly essence. ¡°Nice to meet you, Flimeth.¡± Frein stretched out a hand, but she simply stared at it innocently. ¡°From where I came from, this is a form of greeting. You shake hands as a sign of your peaceful acquaintance.¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s interesting.¡± She mimicked the gesture. Frein led with a soft shake then gently released her hand. ¡°For us, names and titles are enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lor Veli, servant of Princess Kristel.¡± The half-elf half-orc¡ªwho was once in leather armor, but now wore a formal set of clothing¡ªintroduced himself and stretched out his hand. ¡°Pleased to meet you. We¡¯ve been expecting you for a long time.¡± Frein shook his hand firmly. ¡°Expecting me?¡± ¡°I see you¡¯ve already introduced yourselves.¡± Kristel¡¯s voice echoed from behind them. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself again, Frein.¡± She stepped forward, emphasizing her small stature compared to the other two. ¡°I am Kristel Irista, Princess of Irista Nation, Royal Knight, and leader of the Cross Irista.¡± She presented her hand, mimicking the two before her. ¡°I¡¯m Frein Nivan, no titles. Visitor, I guess¡­¡± Frein took her hand, small but strong. His sensitivity to meiyal reacted in contact. He understood just from that how much training and effort she had invested to be able to call herself a leader, and how she could throw wits against a king without breaking a sweat. Frein had seen potential in young prodigies before, and she was ridiculously overflowing with it. It was like trying to contain a lake into a small plastic bowl. ¡°Now that introductions are over, I need to make sure our soldiers do not attack this poor creature.¡± ¡°I think she¡¯ll appreciate that.¡± Kristel acknowledged as she made her way to the dragon¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯ll be at the Forest Jaw¡¯s head,¡± Flimeth said, waving for a brief goodbye. ¡°When we have time, you should tell me the secret to your meiyal system.¡± ¡°No secret,¡± Frein clarified, but he already knew what she meant. His senses were ridiculously over enhanced during the duel, he couldn¡¯t help but hear them talk about him. ¡°But I can tell you how my Siffera works if you let me play with your ears and tail.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Flimeth stopped midstride and Lor frowned at him. So obvious. ¡°Fine, just the ears, then,¡± he amended before the two could complain. ¡°Nonnegotiable.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it, we have to go!¡± Flimeth pushed Lor and followed the Princess. ¡°You just couldn¡¯t help yourself, huh?¡± Katherine sat beside him now that they were alone. ¡°You know me.¡± ¡°So, first impressions?¡± Frein stared at her for a few seconds, processing the question. ¡°We entered right in the middle of a war zone, I ended up in trouble and defied physics and my own limits in the process. I got to talk with a mythical creature. I am on one now. All in the first day.¡± Frein truly felt satisfaction but it was shoved away by his very nature. ¡°I want more.¡± Katherine smiled agreeingly. ¡°Lor mentioned something about expecting me,¡± Frein said, implying the question. Katherine nodded. ¡°They knew I set out for the next Visitor. If I¡¯m not doing Seeker training, I¡¯m usually with Kristel and everyone. She didn¡¯t actually want me to leave.¡± ¡°She¡¯s something special.¡± ¡°You should see Frill.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been curious about that name for a while now.¡± Frein spent the next few minutes admiring the scenery. Even though a good portion of it was spoiled by the marks left behind by both factions, there was something to be admired about a once pristine looking creation of nature now marred by the senseless actions of natives that lived within it. Even in another world, there¡¯s still violence and war. The thought gave Frein a familiar feeling, a place of comfort he ultimately belonged to. Despite that, he wouldn¡¯t have minded to see the landscape in its former beauty. ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Katherine said when Frein asked if restoration was feasible. ¡°Minaveil specializes in agriculture and nature. I bet they can do that within a month or two. We can revisit, then.¡± She raised an arm and pointed ahead. ¡°I haven¡¯t been here for a long time, but I¡¯m betting Master Midan made those walls.¡± If Katherine hadn¡¯t mention it, Frein would¡¯ve assumed the walls was a natural part of the mountain range. Enormous was an understatement; they were as tall as the mountains beside them. But not even the extravagance of the great walls could stop him from noticing soldiers helping the injured and burning their dead on the spot. One particular soldier removed a badge¡ªan insignia he assumed¡ªbefore cremating the corpse. Katherine followed his gaze as they both tracked the soldier head for the next poor soul. ¡°I knew nothing of these guys, but I feel sorry for them.¡± ¡°We all do,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Some of us try hide it.¡± She jerked her head at Kristel who didn¡¯t seem distracted at all. ¡°Her hands, they¡¯re shaking.¡± No matter how hard he tried, his Siffera couldn¡¯t see farther than what his natural eyes could see. He could see clearer, discern details faster, register movements and even predict them, but there was no magnifying effect. He believed Katherine either way. ¡°I should help her.¡± Katherine stood and approached with grace, her coat swaying with the wind. She subtly held Kristel¡¯s hand and spoke, too far away for Frein to hear. ¡°Elizzel,¡± he called out through his head. He only assumed the dragon could hear him, but it was worth a try. ¡°How come everyone knows I¡¯m the Visitor?¡± ¡°The others may have recognized you¡ªor others like you¡ªfrom the legends. Hundreds of years have passed since the arrival of the previous Visitor.¡± The dragon replied telepathically to Frein¡¯s relief. The sensation was surreal, but he could get used to it. ¡°Or simply because Lady Katherine returned with you.¡± ¡°And you? How come you knew right from the beginning?¡± It took a while for her to reply. ¡°I am no mere Jaws Lurking in the Forest, Visitor¡ª¡± ¡°Frein.¡± ¡°Frein. I am a faunel, a personification of pure meiyal. I am able to assume form of creatures that I¡¯ve consumed once in my lifetime.¡± Frein waited in silence for her to explain further. The faunel easily caught on. ¡°Our kind is not as common as we used to be. I¡¯ve seen only one other faunel in the last hundred years. We are aware of each other¡¯s existence, but we avoid interaction. The reason why I know who you are is because I am birthed from Brymeia¡¯s meiyal itself. If that is not enough proof, our conversation itself should be more than enough to convince you.¡± Another question came to mind. ¡°If you¡¯re a shapeshifter, why didn¡¯t you just transform into a smaller creature when they captured you?¡± ¡°Our transformations do not come for free,¡± she replied. ¡°But that can wait. We have arrived.¡± As they got off to the top of the wall, they were met by a group of people running in a hurry. Elizzel left for the mountain, hiding herself before more people flocked to her. ¡°Princess Kristel!¡± A blonde, young woman in feather-decorated armor approached first, her tone shaking. ¡°It¡¯s Liona! We can¡¯t find her!¡± ¡°Frill went off to find her.¡± A wounded young man with the same hair spoke in a weak exhausted voice. He wore an identical armor, but it was broken and spilling meiyal. A floating sort of stretcher carried him while the woman administered a weak version of Samesia. ¡°We were too busy; we didn¡¯t know when she disappeared.¡± His facial features had a great similarity to the other knight. Twins. ¡°Princess Kristel!¡± This time an old man, who couldn¡¯t keep up with his breath, showed up. ¡°Our Sky Vision couldn¡¯t locate Liona either.¡± ¡°You waited this long to tell me?¡± Kristel asked the old man. She sounded slightly alarmed, but still in control. ¡°My apologies, Princess, but your M.O.B.I.L.E. isn¡¯t active.¡± Frein made a mental note to ask what a M.O.B.I.L.E. was. It wasn¡¯t the time or place to point it out. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. Apologies.¡± Kristel sighed. ¡°Send out the Guard Knights and the Sky Knights to help the search just in case.¡± ¡°The Sky Knights are tending to the gravely wounded, Princess,¡± responded the young woman. ¡°And the Guard Knights?¡± Kristel asked. The old man struggled, fumbling on his mouth as if trying, and failing, to catch the words falling from it. Kristel looked at him, concern written all over both their faces. ¡°The Guard Knights didn¡¯t make it, Princess. All dead.¡±
Something was terribly wrong. Kristel and Flimeth raced through the eastern forest of Mount Rindea, tracing the exact same route they took earlier. All the while, the Princess remained silent, entranced in her thoughts. Kristel was thankful her childhood friend knew to keep her words to herself at times like these, giving her space to sort things out and form a theory that would make sense of all that had happened. It was proving to be a challenge. Liona was missing and the Guard Knights of Cross Irista were all dead with the exception of Flimeth and hopefully, Venry. Kento had confirmed the bodies and had taken their insignias before burning them. They couldn¡¯t find Venry¡¯s corpse, neither did the Sky Vision find any trace of his M.O.B.I.L.E. The thought of the device pricked at the back of her head like a dumb nail. How could she have forgotten to reactivate the comms from her M.O.B.I.L.E. on their way back? She tried it to do it when she recorded Frein¡¯s duel, but Vyndival¡¯s jammers and scanners essentially forced her against it. With the success of the defense and the awe of riding atop a Forest Jaws, she resigned to admit she got distracted. Immaturity was a curse and she made sure to carve this mistake onto her memories. Now that she had her communications back on, it felt rather too late. Trying to reach Frill or Venry through their devices simply ended in failure. Kristel had assigned Venry to guard the Vyndivalian cargo. With this in mind, she and Flimeth diverted halfway through their route and headed for the highest peak. It didn¡¯t take them long to reach the top. Kristel expected nothing, but she hoped to at least find a body. The bombs weren¡¯t there, but the impress they found on the ground clearly indicated signs that it was moved. At first, the Princess had a kindling hope that the Guard Knight simply took caution and was waiting on one of the other peaks. She simply needed to go to all of them and eventually find him, alive and with the cargo. But as soon as she took a step, a glinting object tumbled from her boots. Flimeth picked it up and looked at it for a while. ¡°Venry Stepholm, Guard Knight.¡± She passed the insignia, covered in blood. ¡°We won¡¯t find anything else here,¡± Kristel concluded. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± As soon as they turned, a heavy pressure fell upon them, forcing them on their knees. ¡°Frill¡¯s meiyal. It can¡¯t¡ª¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t finish. The revelation and intensity of meiyal was too much, she couldn¡¯t even hear herself think. She fed her Siffera with as much meiyal as possible. Flimeth did the same. There was no time to think, no time to consider. They pierced through the crippling force and headed towards its source. Before it was too late.
Chapter 29: Farewell Farewell Frill¡¯s frantic search bore no fruit. Liona¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. was unresponsive, piling on to layers of worries and uncertainty. The Aria in Red had spent the last couple of hours scouring the battlefield, paying no mind to any wounded soldier or lying corpse. Even when the Jaws Lurking in the Forest approached from the South Valley, she only spared it a glance with a slight concern before resuming her search with doubled efforts. All that mattered now was finding her sister. It was just a feeling, an intuition, or maybe it was simply pure coincidence that Frill found herself near the eastern mountains of the Rindea Mountain Range. She made a quick decision and ventured into the forest. Every second she hesitated was a second wasted not looking for Liona. Lesser marks of war, evidences of skirmishes won by the Princess, scattered everywhere she searched. The destruction and death here was more methodical, isolated and surgically executed. But with no other direction guiding her way, the Aria followed these echoes of war and headed further east. She tried to call out with an echo Meiyal Art, but her voice had gone coarse from screaming. She had healed it repeatedly with Samesia, but this wasn¡¯t her forte. Whenever she Drew it, the art tanked her meiyal reserves considerably and Gathering and Milling would only take away precious minutes. Not to mention Art fatigue was creeping close. Another hour had passed and the further she had gone, the lesser there was to follow, but still no evidence of her sister. Frantic, she decided to give Liona¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. another call. No response. The frustration and fatigue caught up to her and she threw her own device in a fit of rage. Her Siffera lapsed and smoke started to trail from her body. Immediately strength left her and she ran out of breath. Frill tried to calm herself down. Letting her emotions control her actions was another weakness Katherine had pointed out numerous times. The thought immediately straightened her senses and she allowed logic to ease her nerves from a wreck to a somewhat fragile control. It had to be enough. The Aria shook her head and Drew her Meiyal Art once again. Siffera stabilized after another significant cost of meiyal. She approached her M.O.B.I.L.E. that imbedded itself quite deep into the ground of a nearby tree. Thankfully, the device was sturdy. As she reached to retrieve the device, a peculiar object caught her attention. Wedged underneath the root of the tree, just beside the hole, was a piece of folded paper. Curiously, she picked it up while absentmindedly storing her device. Within were two sentences she never thought she would see.
She¡¯s further ahead. I¡¯m sorry.
Without thought, without question, Frill dashed through the forest. She passed by another remnant of a skirmish, but didn¡¯t find her sister there. She continued on for another half hour until the path opened to a small clearing. Trees had fallen away as though a great force pushed and uprooted them within a small radius. Upon the edge of that small circle, on a tree indistinguishable from the rest of the forest, she found Liona. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Kneeling. Covered in blood. Unmoving. Frill stepped ever so delicately towards her little sister, hands shaking and legs giving way. Her sister leaned helplessly against the tree. The once lively and bouncing royal retainer knelt in an awkward position, head drooped and arms fell at her sides as though life no longer lingered within her. Her raven hair swayed gently with the slight breeze. An axe, Vyndivalian, stuck itself deep from Liona¡¯s left shoulder, running down through the middle. There was no denying it. Her heart was part of the fatal wound. Frill fell to her knees, hands hesitant to touch her sister¡¯s face. She feared that such a gesture would mean acceptance of her sister¡¯s identity and death. With a jerk, Liona sprung to action instead, gripping Frill¡¯s hand with uncontrolled strength. ¡°Take it,¡± she said with great effort. It only meant one thing. Liona wanted Frill to take away her meiyal system. After a quick and panicked investigation, Frill realized the axe was made of Vynore, imbuing it with meiyal-breaking properties. It made slicing through a Siffera-empowered body an easier task. And the wound would stay, making it more difficult for a Meiyal Art like Samesia from healing it. Frill refused to believe that there was no saving Liona. ¡°Just...take it.¡± Liona¡¯s shallow breathing were accompanied with tears. ¡°Please.¡± She gripped her sister¡¯s hand with all the strength she had left. She coughed up blood and started to hyperventilate. All color had drained from Liona¡¯s face and everything that was supposed to bleed out had long since left her body. How she was still alive was a mystery to Frill, but maybe that was something she could cling on to. Desperation and denial. ¡°No!¡± Frill forced her hands and Drew Samesia despite the truth in her sister¡¯s condition. Her vision blurred as tears started to form. ¡°There must be something I can do.¡± She knew she had to pull the axe to complete the healing but she focused on the outer wound first. Even that proved to be impossible. ¡°Sis,¡± Liona pleaded, her strength starting to diminish. ¡°Before it¡¯s too late.¡± No one would survive without a meiyal system. Even Vyndivalians had their own, adapted to a different form, but a meiyal system nevertheless. What Liona asked of Frill was essentially salvaging a functional tool and throwing away the shell. Frill couldn¡¯t throw away Liona. The Aria¡¯s purple eyes glinted with sorrow. Any attempts to heal were unsuccessful. She was left with no choice but to grant her sister¡¯s final wish. It was the least she could do¡­before it was too late. She activated all nine of her meiyal marks and revealed the rest of the hundred. The shine they made were like tears going out of control. Taking a meiyal system was an act similar to the fusion technique with permanency as the sole difference. Frill began the ritual by holding her sister¡¯s hands. Their intentions responded with the meiyal around them, surging and coalescing with enough density to bring about a mixture of vibrant colors. ¡°Do you, Liona Veli, offer your life¡­¡± Frill couldn¡¯t control her voice. Every word, every syllable felt heavy and sharper than the axe imbedded into her sister. Liona¡¯s grip urged her to continue, ¡°offer your life to mine?¡± ¡°With all...¡± a deep breath, ¡°my heart and soul. I offer you, Frill Veli¡­everything I am.¡± Light burst from Liona¡¯s right foot where her meiyal core resided. The light moved slowly, travelling across her body and merging into a singular point. It moved towards their connected hands and eventually found its way onto Frill¡¯s meiyal core, striking shapes of lightning on each respective mark. ¡°Protect the Princess,¡± Liona showed a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sis. Even in the end...I wasn¡¯t much help.¡± The final lightning streak formed on Frill¡¯s meiyal mark and the ritual ended, dispersing the light into little glitters of meiyal residue. ¡°I love you very much.¡± Liona¡¯s head fell lifelessly, leaving her to die on her knees. Her hands lost their strength and the final breath escaped her. Then there was nothing. ¡°No¡­please.¡± Frill delicately held Liona¡¯s face. Even such a careful action nudged her sister¡¯s body sideways, threatening to fall. Panic. ¡°Liona!¡± Frill stumbled, losing her balance as she desperately tried to catch her sister. She held Liona tightly, trying to nudge her out of her sleep. Tears no longer able to stop. As if to add insult, the axe slipped itself out of her sister¡¯s mortal wound. Pain, loss, anger, sorrow. A storm of emotions where none seemed to take over. Meiyal mark after meiyal mark, each of them steadily manifested, forming sparks from her gleaming eyes. Frill wished it was her instead. Take her sister¡¯s place so that she would be spared the pain and endure less suffering. She wished Liona knew what she was feeling right now, balled up and torn apart in an unending torture. She wished to know her sister¡¯s killer. She wanted to know why. Why her? She wanted vengeance, a form of closure. Her screams and cries for justice were masked under the absurdity of the awakening. Trees fell, the earth quaked, the sky rattled, the winds roared. Auroras filled the skies with shimmering colors while strikes of lightning wound the ground. Geysers erupted and twisters formed. Space itself was torn apart. Darkness and light collided. And still nothing. Nothing would bring back the dead.
Chapter 30: Meiyal Maelstrom Meiyal Maelstrom
¡°No one can help me.¡± ~Redacted
To Frein, it was beautiful. As for the rest, it looked like hell was about to break loose. Sometimes, he thought if he had a screw misplaced somewhere in his noggin, but at least he understood the situation itself wasn¡¯t exactly to be admired. He just couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°We have to stop her,¡± Katherine said. Frill wasn¡¯t hard to find right after the quakes and lightning strikes came. The shine of the skies and the evident chaotic colors of meiyal ravaging above her combined were easily the biggest and most dangerous kind of firework display Frein had ever seen in his entire life. The sheer intensity of the force was carving out the mountainside. Here he was, still in the midst of mesmerizing the Vanguard and yet another otherworldly display came dragging his attention. If it were only entertaining. ¡°What¡¯s happening to her?¡± Frein asked. They kept their distance from Frill, trying to make sense of the phenomenon. As the ground continued to quake in a violent rage, the scarlet-haired woman knelt in the eye of the storm, holding another person in her arms. The space around her was torn apart. It was difficult to grasp the concept of space tearing itself open, but there was no other possible way to explain the scattered cracks found in mirrors appearing in the air with a black void in the middle. ¡°That¡¯s Liona,¡± Lor said as he forced himself through the surging force, vying for a better view. Liona, Frill and Lor¡¯s youngest sister. Frein made the connection as easy as tracing dots in a sketch book. ¡°How do you plan on stopping her?¡± he asked. Katherine was in deep thought. ¡°Her marks are unsealing at a dangerous rate.¡± The shine on Frill¡¯s meiyal marks stood out despite the mixture of colors, electric sparks spewing out of her eye without rhythm. ¡°That amount shouldn¡¯t be harmful...unless...¡± ¡°Meiyal Fusion.¡± Kristel appeared while Flimeth landed beside her. ¡°A permanent one at that.¡± Marks of sweat ran along their faces and trails of smoke sizzled from their meiyal systems, but they didn¡¯t seem particularly out of breath. The pressure coming from Frill¡¯s firework show was no laughing matter. It was taking all of Frein¡¯s concentration to merely stand, spending a steady amount of meiyal on his Siffera. He couldn¡¯t imagine what it took running through the mountains underneath this pressure. ¡°What of Venry?¡± Katherine asked. Kristel gloomily shook her head. Katherine nodded in understanding and turned her attention back to the radiant display of power, studying it further. ¡°If this doesn¡¯t stop, she¡¯ll scar the whole land. Minaveil will disappear and she might break a portion of Mount Rindea. If that happens, the Void Region will spill over the entire continent.¡± No one spoke. Everyone except Frein was in deep thought, trying to formulate a plan. He was struggling enough as it was. The silence was broken by another of Frill¡¯s screams, aggravating the maelstrom of meiyal even further. The cracks in the air branched out and some portions began to open to a view of darkness and light swirling from within. Shadows crept through the cracks, too indistinct to understand, but no one else aside from Frein was bothered by it. ¡°I can¡¯t let this go on, everyone is in danger,¡± Katherine said, her voice struggling. The implications were too obvious for them not to understand. ¡°There¡¯s no other choice.¡± Before she could even take one step forward, Kristel blocked her path, a blade firm in her hands. ¡°I won¡¯t let both of them die today.¡± Her grip was shaking and her breathing unstable, but there was no hesitation in her eyes. Oddly enough, Frein didn¡¯t see her action as a threat, but a plea. An angry plea of desperation and frustration that she couldn¡¯t direct to anyone. They stared at each other for a while. Katherine sighed and took a step back. ¡°The most I can give you is one chance, Kristel. Forimeyn is the only remaining continent free of the Nightmare Lands. We can¡¯t risk everyone¡¯s lives over Frill. ¡°If the Nightmare spills out of control, even the High Palace won¡¯t be out of its reach. If you haven¡¯t heard from the Order of the Void for a long time, then we can assume the Nightmare Lands have become far worse than what it used to be. Even at my peak, I am not strong enough for that.¡± The Seeker sat in meditation. She clasped her hands together and activated her meiyal system, the light of her floating hair ornament was but a dwarf compared to Frill¡¯s destructive light show. From within her, an aura of light appeared and began to expand, enveloping the entire chaos inside its dome. Without breaking concentration, Katherine began to speak. ¡°Ten minutes, that¡¯s all I can afford. Go, now.¡± ¡°Let me try,¡± Lor began without hesitation, ¡°she might still be able to recognize me.¡± Nobody agreed nor argued. They simply stared at him, paralyzed by indecision. Without anyone to contest, Lor approached the maelstrom in a slow, cautious manner. It struck a certain chord within Frein, and he found himself walking alongside him. He saw Katherine¡¯s concern, but she didn¡¯t hold him back. The two men inched closer to the center where the source of despair roared threats of death. Lightning struck just a few meters beside Frein; its force combined with the maelstrom pushed him back through the air. He spun and regained his balance, sliding off a few inches from where he began. With doubled efforts, he retook his lost ground, catching up with Lor in under a few seconds. Frein saw the raging meiyal trying to take form. It rushed towards them, and his instincts kicked in, pushing Lor away from harm. A barrage of meiyal waves followed. They barely managed to roll away. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Lor urged himself to his feet and tried to breach through the madness by force, but he was struck by lightning. The waves followed in succession, barraging him without mercy. It flung him in the air and blasted him away at a dangerous speed. Frein barely got to his feet in time to catch him, utilizing Siffera to both cushion their fall and protect both of them from the impact. Lor limped once then fell face first to the ground. Smoke sizzled and the smell of burnt flesh assaulted Frein¡¯s senses. Frein quickly turned him over to assess the damage, and what he saw reminded him not to underestimate the kind of power meiyal could provide. The half-orc half-elf was bruised and burned all over and blood spewed on every other inch of his body. His clothes, shredded with cuts and hissing with embers, barely resembled the attire he wore. Worst of all, he wasn¡¯t breathing. Kristel rushed over. ¡°There¡¯s a pulse,¡± she said, and immediately Drew Samesia. Her Meiyal Art was nothing compared to Katherine, but the Seeker was busy already as it was. ¡°Damn it. We won¡¯t get anywhere with this.¡± Frein handed Lor to the Princess, and studied Frill¡¯s condition once more. The maelstrom was affecting a certain area, like a poorly drawn circle struggling to maintain shape. Occasionally, bits and pieces of meiyal gushed out, causing the turmoil and lightning strikes. They concentrated, oddly enough, around them. ¡°Five minutes, Frein!¡± Katherine yelled, her meiyal marks shined and fluttered overhead. ¡°Frein,¡± Kristel begged in a whisper, her tears flowing freely. ¡°Please¡­I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± It was hopelessness. Desperation completely stripped her pride away. Frein couldn¡¯t imagine what was going through her head, but he deduced enough. Everyone currently present¡ªexcluding himself¡ªwas a friend to her, and if they couldn¡¯t stop Frill, lives would be lost and friendships would end. He didn¡¯t want that¡­for her or for Katherine. He held the Princess by the shoulders and gave her his assurance. ¡°You concentrate on keeping him alive, we can handle this.¡± Without waiting for a response, Frein approached Katherine. ¡°How do you plan on killing her?¡± he asked. Flimeth who had been crippled by awe, exhaustion, and indecision this entire time began to react. Frein lifted a hand to stop her. ¡°Just in case.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll strike from here, send a clean cut. It¡¯ll be quick and painless,¡± Katherine answered. Frein nodded in understanding. ¡°You¡¯re coming up with a plan?¡± Flimeth asked. ¡°I need a few more clues,¡± Frein replied. He picked up a rock and threw it at the maelstrom of meiyal. As soon as it got close, it was turned to ash. He picked up another pair and gave one to the felintine. ¡°Draw a barrier Art around it, then throw it at the opposite side at the same time.¡± With a countdown, the two of them threw their rocks. The same thing happened, but this time, lightning strikes followed Flimeth¡¯s rock right after it was disintegrated and a surge of meiyal wave blasted towards the direction it came from. Moving on, Frein quickly returned to Katherine, ignoring Flimeth¡¯s confused questions. ¡°How feasible is it for you to go through that maelstrom?¡± he asked. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Katherine sighed. She wore a complex expression. The kind one wore when they knew their words would be frowned upon, but they had to say it anyway. ¡°There¡¯s no telling how much damage it would cause. I can¡¯t take that risk. Samesia can¡¯t heal all wounds. And if I¡¯m permanently crippled, be it physically, mentally, or through my meiyal system, then I won¡¯t be able to protect you. I can¡¯t have that. I came back here with you, for you.¡± Frein wasn¡¯t sure if he liked the answer. ¡°But you won¡¯t stop me?¡± ¡°We made an agreement. I¡¯m a woman of my word. I won¡¯t stop you from doing anything risky or dangerous. I¡¯ll only help.¡± Frein nodded this time. ¡°What happened to my five minutes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m holding on because you have a plan. I¡¯d appreciate it if you do it faster.¡± Smoke started sizzling from Katherine. Another indiscriminate wave of meiyal blasted from Frill. It bounced off Katherine¡¯s barrier, causing cracks to form on the white dome. Frein took a deep breath before turning back to the maelstrom. ¡°She seems to be fighting within herself,¡± he murmured. Frein never had a sibling, but he knew what it felt like to lose family. His parent¡¯s passing was too abrupt that he never had the chance to drown himself in rage. He knew it was there. It had been there; the desire to wreak havoc, let the others know the pain. But he had held perfect control over it. He grew up knowing how to bury his thoughts and emotions deep within the very depths of his mind. Some had even argued that his perfected poker face had given him a huge advantage in the ring. Still, he remembered it too well. He remembered that one fraction of a second where he saw the choices. The choice to do what was right, and the choice to do what he wanted. Right now, Frill stood before those choices. Frein had doubts. He would completely understand if Frill wanted to end it all. He didn¡¯t want to make the choice for her, but he knew the wrong choice might end all of their lives. His decision was clear. ¡°Take these.¡± Frein passed a collection of rocks to Flimeth. ¡°I need you to stay right there.¡± He pointed at a spot that was relatively safe, just a few meters in front of Katherine. ¡°I need you to envelop these rocks with meiyal like you did earlier and throw them one by one at the maelstrom. Keep a steady rhythm and only throw after the meiyal wave. I¡¯ll approach from the other side. If you start running out of rocks, you need to multitask while maintaining the rhythm. Don¡¯t stop until I reach Frill. You got it?¡± ¡°Alright¡­yes, I got it.¡± Flimeth positioned herself, controlling her panic at the same time by gathering more rocks. ¡°Don¡¯t step any closer, okay?¡± When Flimeth gave another nod, Frein turned her attention to Kristel. ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°Not dead, but not yet stable.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re free, help her gather rocks. You don¡¯t need to throw. There has to be a rhythm. It¡¯s like I¡¯m dealing with a thunderstorm with a tempo set to a raging song.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Kristel said with clarity, her voice no longer shaking from desperation. ¡°Thank you, Frein. I¡¯ll help as soon as I can.¡± Frein positioned himself to the opposite end of the maelstrom and sent out a signal. Flimeth immediately threw a rock. It shattered, then the lightning struck followed by a blast of meiyal wave. She threw again. Shatter, lightning, wave. Frein made his approach on the third set, minimizing his Siffera just enough so that he could withstand the force and start walking. Shatter, lightning, wave. There was no retaliation on his end. His observations paid off. As long as the rhythm was maintained and he made his steps along its tempo, he was clear to approach. Another throw, another step. Shatter, lightning, wave. After more rocks and steps, he had reached farther than anyone else, but now he faced a conundrum. This was the limit. He could clearly see Frill, just a few meters within his reach, but this threshold was where everything disintegrated. The solid evidence was the crater centered around her with only a small piece of ground remaining exactly where she knelt and cried. There was no other choice but to risk it. He gathered his courage and readied himself on time with another thrown rock. He gathered all his meiyal into a single purpose and prepared to feed them to his Siffera just as the lightning struck again. And when the wave exhaled another surge of meiyal, he inhaled the deepest breath he had ever done yet. Time slowed down¡­ Frein flexed with everything he got, fed his Siffera with all his meiyal and shot through the air just as Flimeth¡¯s next rock hit the threshold. He felt the resistance shatter in an instant and as soon as he pierced through the barrier, time resumed itself. Without any control to stop himself, Frein tackled Frill and Liona off their raised platform. The maelstrom immediately collapsed and residues of meiyal began to disperse. Art fatigue slammed on Frein like a whale and the smoke around his body was enough to fill up steam. Frill remained unconscious. Until her body convulsed like a possessed victim and she screamed through coarse throat. Thunder roared from the dark clouds and rain fell in force. Frein could feel the meiyal moving with anger, as if they could hear Frill¡¯s rage. He didn¡¯t know what it meant, only that it felt wrong. He forced himself up despite the fatigue and grabbed Frill by the shoulders, fending off her flailing arms. He didn¡¯t know what else to do. So, he screamed as well and called out her name.
Chapter 31: Voice in the Maelstrom Voice in the Maelstrom Frill was lost within the maelstrom. In front of her was Liona, sitting there on the tree with an axe in her chest. Between them was a shadow silently laughing its heart out while pointing at her sister. Frill got up and punched it, and the entire illusion blurred into smokey tendrils that wrapped around her. The world turned bleak, darkened by heavy rainfall. In front of Frill was a younger Liona who cried devasted and defeated in front of her yuma pup. There was not even a moment to name it as it perished under the weight of hostile meiyal pressure. A memory from when the Nightmare Lands invaded from the west of Irista Nation, drenching the gardens and flowers of Westleaf in blood and burning the rest with fire. The pup had died right as it was to bond with her little sister. With the help of the Order of the Void, they fended off the invasion, but the two sisters didn¡¯t speak with each other for weeks. Liona had blamed Frill for the pup¡¯s death. In truth, they were green. Too young, too weak. Frill had vowed then to become stronger. Her surroundings returned to smoke once more and transformed into a familiar training facility. A wide space with a tall ceiling fully equipped with various gears, training paraphernalia, target dummies, and other whatnots specifically purposed for use of ten to twenty training practitioners at the same time. There was currently no one else, save for the present Frill and the past Liona. Liona was drenched in sweat, exhausted and smoking under Art fatigue. ¡°Not enough,¡± she murmured in between deep breaths. Sparks formed from her meiyal core; its marks never advanced since she unsealed fifteen of them at age ten. Frill encouraged her sister from the veiled distance. She had never seen this memory, but she knew this was when she learned how to fly. Inspired by an unnamed Meiyal Art that Katherine showed them once, Liona had locked herself in a training facility for days after she debated with her mentors and teachers for specialized permission. They never knew the name Katherine gave to her flight Meiyal Art, but names were only secondary. The pattern, the image, and Drawing the Art itself were more important. She observed her sister struggle for hours. On some attempts, Liona floated for a few seconds before collapsing on the floor, most attempts the Art fizzled out before it could be even fully Drawn. When Art fatigue fully broke Liona¡¯s concentration, she fell on all fours. Frill heard the soft sobs that gradually turned into a full cry of frustration. She saw her sister slam her fist repeatedly on the floor while she screamed. Frill couldn¡¯t understand it. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be normal,¡± Liona said in a desperate whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be left behind.¡± As Liona cried herself to sleep right then and there, Frill was dragged away by the smoke once again. They were in Minaveil Manor now, in Minaveil. Frill sat beside a younger version of herself sleeping soundly underneath some cozy blankets. On the opposite side was Liona, sitting upright on her bed observing her sister. For one hopeful anxious moment, Frill thought her sister was looking directly at the present her. Liona smiled and sneakily got out of bed. She tiptoed out of the room, silent as if the old creeks of the manor itself permitted her this freedom of the night. Frill followed curiously. She never knew this rebellious side of her sister. Liona, now with the mastery of flight on her side, floated like a ghost and made her way into the kitchen. She sneaked an apple inside her Spatiera and proceeded to go outside. The purple glow of the evening sky accentuated Liona¡¯s evening clothes as Frill observed her take flight. Liona flew freely into the night sky and Frill was forced to follow. They ventured on to the clouds, higher than what the Aviation Laws permitted, even higher still that it scared even Frill. If legend was to be believed, they had touched the realm of where the dragons ruled the skies. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. But all Frill saw was the beauty of the starry sky, the mesmerizing moons, and her sister enjoying a kind of freedom most people would never gain access to as they both fell and rose at the sway of Liona¡¯s whims. Everything went to black. Frill found herself lost within the maelstrom once more. She blinked and found Liona, sitting lifelessly on the tree, an axe imbedded through her chest. Between them was a shadow, no longer laughing. Instead, it stared at Frill. Then it smiled and picked up the axe. It approached the Aria in Red, dragging the axe lazily along the ground. The grating sounds of metal scratching upon barren dirt assaulted Frill¡¯s ears more than it should, as if sounds of incomprehensible screaming threatened to destroy her eardrums. As the shadow heaved the axe overhead, Frill realized she was unable to move, sitting helplessly with only a tree to serve stability. The shadow swung right down her chest and blood gushed into Frill¡¯s view. Again, and again, and again, the shadow swung in manic silence while Frill was forced to see herself being torn apart. There was no pain, but as soon as she realized this, she felt a jolt and found herself thrown back into a different perspective. The shadow didn¡¯t cleave her repeatedly in a maddened frenzy; it was Liona. Frill shot off the ground and attacked the shadow, but it dispersed into nothingness, leaving the axe where it belonged, lodged deep within her dead sister. Come back, Frill pleaded. She screamed with nothing but silence. She could see nothing but darkness. She could feel nothing but numbness. She could hear nothing¡­but a voice in the maelstrom. ¡°She died because you¡¯re too weak,¡± the voice whispered. Frill stopped her mute screaming and listened, wondering where it came from. ¡°You¡¯re so weak, you won¡¯t be able to protect the Princess. Soon, she will die, too.¡± ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡± Frill asked, her rage aggravating the maelstrom. She did not feel her voice coming out of her breath, but the sound of her words echoed inside her head. She sounded coarse, as if she had done nothing but scream the entire time. The taste of iron filled her senses as she swallowed, and a sudden shot of pain slicing down her throat only fed to her anger. The voice responded with laughter, one that started from a low chuckle to an outright guffaw. ¡°I am you, Frill Veli. I am your past, your present, and your future. I hold within me your real strength. ¡°Become one with me. ¡°Become your true self, Frill. ¡°And together we will tear them all apart. Those that killed your sister. Those that threaten your Princess. Those that will take away from you what is precious to us. We shall sunder them all, break their lands, devour their seas, eradicate their air. With me... ¡°You will become this world. ¡°Please¡­before it¡¯s too¡ª¡± ¡°FRILL!¡± Frill¡¯s eyes opened in a rage and pushed down whoever it was that interrupted her trance. She didn¡¯t recognize who it was, but the instinct to defend herself didn¡¯t last long. A certain weight slid off from her lap, pulling awkwardly on her battle gear. She looked down. Her grip on the stranger clamped with hate as she looked at her dead sister lying lifelessly between them. ¡°Calm down, Frill,¡± said the stranger. ¡°Stop reforming the maelstrom, you¡¯re going to carve the mountain!¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Frill exclaimed, surprised to hear her own voice, more so in its hoarseness. ¡°I¡¯m Frein. Your people call me the Visitor. You need to stop or people will die!¡± He was covered with bruises and wounds, and his foreign clothes barely shielded his upper body from the maelstrom. ¡°Your brother is dying from trying to save you!¡± Frill panicked out of sync and the maelstrom disappeared. The rapid unlocking of her meiyal marks stopped. She could feel them resealing themselves, leaving only sixty-seven. Her hands moved away from the stranger and held Liona. Tears formed in her eyes. She stayed there on her knees, crying, unsure of what to do next. A moment later, a hand touched her shoulder. ¡°Frill.¡± Frill recognized Princess Kristel¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t turn. She couldn¡¯t. Kristel forced to meet her eye to eye. ¡°I couldn¡¯t save her,¡± she said, her voice now barely a whisper. Every word was painful both physically and emotionally. Frill¡¯s tears fell out of control. The Princess enclosed her servant within her arms as her own tears began to flow. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, Frill. If you want to blame someone, blame me.¡± Frill wanted to. If the Princess had only accepted Royal Guard Tryvinal¡¯s proposal in the first place, they would¡¯ve had more soldiers, the war would¡¯ve been won a lot sooner, and Liona did not have to die. Her thoughts raced with anger. She could blame the Princess for a thousand reasons and yet, Liona¡¯s voice prevented her from doing so. Protect the Princess. At that, Frill found her peace. She found a reason to stoke her hatred and keep it deep inside her heart, blazed in a furious calm. There was strength within her, the voice itself said so. She had always known she was special, a Seeker candidate like Katherine, on par with strength and Meiyal Arts with a Lady of the Void. She would gather her strength, direct it at Liona¡¯s murderer, then she will find retribution. Vengeance. There was no need to blame the Princess. Someone else was at fault, and they will pay dearly. ¡°For when you finally find her killer, you will, without a doubt, accept my offer. And I¡¯ll be here, waiting for that moment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to it, Frill,¡± Kristel¡¯s whispers brought her back to her senses. ¡°Don¡¯t let it consume you.¡± Frill didn¡¯t understand how the Princess knew about the voice, but it was clear she had knowledge of it. ¡°I¡¯ll explain to you in time.¡± Kristel stood up, her expression desperately hiding any sort of emotion. ¡°For now, we should go home.¡±
Chapter 32: Pull Away from Vengeance Pull Away from Vengeance
¡°The power to protect my dearest person¡­¡± ~Frill Veli
¡°Where¡¯s Frill?¡± Frein asked. He sat on a marble bench in the middle of a courtyard of a grand establishment named, Minaveil Manor. This was only but one from a myriad of things and topics he hesitantly set at the back of his mind. Realizing that Katherine was not only a famous protector with a prestige title of Lady of the Void, but also an heiress to a massive fortune added to what was already an overfilled bowl of questions and subjects of study Frein wished to engaged in unhindered. Just the simple travel from Minaveil¡¯s Vanguard to the Manor¡ªriding a purpose-built machine pulled by a pack of flying gigantic dogs Katherine referred to as yumas¡ªunderneath two moons had already pressed Frein on the edge of squealing like a nerdy kid. It was a fantasy book come to life through and through. And more than once, he would admit, he thought he could die happy. The irony amused him at the very least. Still, through all the excitement, all the unknown, this desire for adventure had to be tempered down. Frein forced them away, not letting them distract him. There were more pressing questions. Every question regarding Elizzel would be answered in time, the faunel promised this, and though he couldn¡¯t fully trust her yet, there was very little he could do about it at the moment. There was also Hal and Ral¡¯s sudden change in demeanor. It was subtle, but their desire to serve their king quickly turned a complete one-eighty without any sort of fanfare. But since no one pointed it out, he decided to discuss the matter privately with Katherine later. That left Frill. She was nowhere to be found in the courtyard. ¡°She...¡± Kristel hesitated. ¡°She said she wanted to be alone.¡± ¡°Where?¡± he repeated. He stripped his tone of any malice, at least he thought he did. Everyone was already down and exhausted enough as it was. No one answered. Frein turned around. He didn¡¯t know the first place to look, but he wanted to find her. Not even his injuries could stop him. After suffering comes the madness. He knew it quite well, dealt with it for many years. The underground arena had been his outlet. He got dragged too deep and enjoyed it too much. If Katherine hadn¡¯t showed up, hadn¡¯t helped him during bad nights, and hadn¡¯t eventually decided to tear the place down, things might have gone differently. ¡°You don¡¯t even know her,¡± said the Princess, breaking him out of his thoughts. ¡°She wants to be alone, let¡¯s give her some time to grieve.¡± ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Frein argued. He knew not many people would understand or would even try to do so. ¡°I saw her in that maelstrom, Kristel. You shouldn¡¯t leave someone with that much hate alone with her thoughts. Not now. This is supposed to be your job.¡± She stepped back, offended. Frein immediately realized his mistake. ¡°Sorry, that was out of line. But she¡¯ll be too dangerous to be left on her own. If you don¡¯t want her becoming a stranger to all of you, you¡¯ll let me know where she is.¡± ¡°You might find her on a hill west of here, just outside the town proper,¡± Lor said. ¡°That¡¯s where she used to spend time with Liona.¡± He sat awkwardly on a pillowed bench, giving Flimeth a difficult time to dress his wounds. Frein still couldn¡¯t believe he ate a lightning strike and lived to tell the tale. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you intend to do, but please, don¡¯t be too harsh,¡± he added. Frein frowned at him. ¡°You¡¯re taking this pretty well, being her brother and all.¡± He paused. ¡°No offense.¡± Lor waved a hand, understanding the implications. ¡°Step-brother. You read between the lines pretty well, Visitor, but there¡¯s no getting used to this, sadly.¡± He pointed all over himself. ¡°I just can¡¯t afford to think of anything else right now.¡± ¡°What do you intend to do?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Make sure she doesn¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± The Princess threw a concerned look at Katherine. ¡°You can trust him; he knows what he¡¯s doing...to a point.¡± Katherine pointed far away in front of her. ¡°West is that way. Cross the bridge to your left, then turn left right after. Just follow the main road until you find the gate.¡± They stared at each other for a while; Frein silently asking if she wanted to go together. ¡°I don¡¯t think I should go with you.¡± He nodded and started heading west. He tried his best to ignore all the foreign designs of buildings and landmarks along the way. The blaring differences of each abode¡ªranging from humble establishments to completely modern and slick houses¡ªvied for his attention. While they all incorporated nature into their designs, there was not a single house that looked the same. The streets were empty, everyone was either recuperating or huddling together in their homes or wherever the night caught them. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. On their way to Minaveil Town, he had seen bands of knights¡ªthose who didn¡¯t have access to the same speed of travel as theirs¡ªforming an encampment on the side of the dirt road. They had settled in, making do with whatever provisions they brought with them and sharing them amongst other travelers. In the town itself, there were some who chose to spend the night reveling in their victory. He could hear echoes of cheery songs of victory coming from the other direction. He followed the road westward, and eventually saw a path leading out of town. The gates looked rather plain, made of metal surrounded by a stone wall. The guard station was unsurprisingly empty, but at least there would be no need to identify himself¡ª Frein felt a slight nudge on his side and heard a girl¡¯s shriek. What¡¯s with this clich¨¦? As Frein turned, he reflexively reached out a hand and caught a girl mid fall. She had red hair the same as Frill¡¯s, but she looked younger overall. The pair of glasses also caught his attention. Anyone capable of Drawing Siffera had no need for eye correction. She was also holding a picnic basket that fortunately stayed in her hand. It was an apt reminder for him: Not everyone spent their time training or even bothered to touch Meiyal Arts in the first place. ¡°Are you okay, miss?¡± Frein asked, following a mandated script most clich¨¦ stories had to offer. He could¡¯ve chosen a more condescending line, but he never really once pictured himself as a bully no matter the context¡ªeven when fighting other people. The last one was debatable if he was being honest. The girl quickly recovered and withdrew her hand, bowing so frantically that her glasses slipped off her nose. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t see you!¡± she said as she struggled to catch her specs in midair. She quickly realized she didn¡¯t answer the question, so she stepped back and bowed deeper. ¡°I¡¯m not hurt, thank you for your concern. I didn¡¯t hurt you, did I?¡± Well, at the very least, Frein was thankful to confirm that bowing was a body language used in the same context. He imagined there would be more observations and confirmations he had to go through to really blend in, but this was a start. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± he said. ¡°If you¡¯re not hurt, then I should go. I¡¯m looking for somebody.¡± ¡°Are you, perhaps, looking for Frill?¡± The line quickly rose flags and his guard subtly stood at the ready. ¡°You know her? She a friend?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if ¡®friend¡¯ is the right term, but she¡¯s a regular at our inn¡ªpurchases our food and sometimes brings guests over and pays for their lodging. We very much appreciate her patronage.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know I¡¯m looking for her?¡± The redhead girl noticed the undertone underneath his question and took another step back. ¡°I apologize for intruding, it¡¯s just that¡­I saw her pass by a few minutes ago. She looked sad, so I wanted to cheer her up.¡± She lifted the basket and offered it towards Frein. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for her, would you mind giving her these? They¡¯re sweet buns fresh from the oven. It¡¯s the one she buys the most.¡± Frein took the basket and had a peek just to confirm the contents. Steam puffed from the container and the sweet scent of baked pastry reminded him about dinner. The thought of having freshly baked bread was odd, given the time and place they were in, but he gave the question a pass. People were celebrating all around so maybe everything was on the menu. ¡°Thanks, I should go, then.¡± The girl gave her a bow and they both went their separate ways. Frein continued on the main road after he passed the gate. It was easy to spot Frill. She sat on a public bench on a small hill overlooking the river running along the west in parallel with the road. Beside her was a grown brown yuma who stood up alert and turned towards him. She followed her companion''s gaze right after and saw him. ¡°How are you?¡± Frein asked as he approached. ¡°You should leave,¡± Frill answered right after; her voice slightly coarse, but much better than a few hours ago. ¡°I brought you something to eat.¡± ¡°My mistress asked you to leave, stranger,¡± the yuma growled. Frein did expect the flying dog to speak. The four yumas that brought them back to town had a very interesting conversation about which among them wasn¡¯t running or flying fast enough. ¡°I only wanted to check on your mistress, Mr. Yuma,¡± he responded. ¡°I have no ill intentions.¡± Frill did a double take, and then she frowned when her yuma did stop growling on his own volition. ¡°Prove it,¡± the yuma said. Frein stretched out a hand. ¡°Here, you should be able to smell her scent from me. I helped her out just a while back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re seriously speaking to him?¡± Frill asked, unable to let her brooding take over her curiosity. It was the same for Frein; curiosity always won over whichever emotion he felt. ¡°Yes, I can speak with creatures who are attuned to meiyal,¡± Frein said nonchalantly. ¡°No wonder I can understand you, stranger,¡± the yuma said. ¡°The name¡¯s Frein.¡± ¡°Stiry.¡± ¡°Stiry? Frill gave you that name?¡± ¡°Do you have a problem with that, Frein?¡± Stiry asked, growling. ¡°No, not at all. I think it¡¯s a great name! Better than mine, for sure!¡± Frill was simply there, jaw agape. ¡°You¡¯re not just making this up, are you? The others didn¡¯t tell you who he is, so that you can start up a conversation like this to break the ice, did they?¡± ¡°You¡¯re very imaginative, Frill.¡± Frein placed down the basket and crossed his arms. ¡°Alright, then. Stiry, would you mind telling me a secret about your mistress that only you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m allowed,¡± Stiry replied. ¡°He wants your permission, Frill.¡± She hesitated, but eventually gave her yuma a nod. Stiry, in turn, pondered for a second. ¡°She often provides me and my mate, Fittey, extra meals when Lor isn¡¯t looking.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Frein turned to Frill. ¡°Does your stepbrother know; you¡¯re feeding him and Fittey off their schedule? If they become too fat to run, it¡¯s your fault.¡± There was a moment, Frein was sure. He would bet every read he had done on every person he had ever met and fought on this one study of Frill¡¯s subconscious. A moment when Frill¡¯s dim expression turned from one brooding a long struggle to exact vengeance, deciding to sacrifice every ticking second of her life to this one purpose, to one of wonder and awe. It brought Frein relief. She¡¯s not completely lost. ¡°Wow,¡± Frill breathed in amazement. ¡°I never told anyone that.¡± ¡°Or maybe Lor noticed, but kept it a secret. And he told me that small trivia so I can talk with you,¡± Frein challenged sarcastically. ¡°You¡¯re very imaginative, Frein,¡± Frill returned the line with the same level of sarcasm, now more willing to engage in verbal sparring. ¡°Thank you. I read a lot of books.¡± He picked up the basket and showed it once more. ¡°So, want to eat?¡±
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, SH, Honeyfeed (and potentially Webnovel and Wattpad), it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at royalroad.com. Thank you. Chapter 33: Aria in Red Aria in Red The two of them ate in silence. If Frein had been younger, he would¡¯ve felt awkward about it. Now he enjoyed the silence. Stiry¡¯s awkward glances and obvious self-conflict whether he should ask for food or not was a wonder given that those begging puppy-dog eyes were almost as large as his head. Frill noticed it as well and chucked a whole bun towards her yuma. They flying dog snatched it in the air, chewed on it twice, swallowed, then returned with more begging eyes. When she ignored him, Stiry heaved a large paw towards his mistress. Frill blocked it with an arm as if the yuma¡¯s assault was nothing but a soft nudge. Frein couldn¡¯t fathom the irony of it. While it was true that Stiry was playfully asking, his claws were still large enough and sharp enough to cause some serious damage. And Frill¡ªdespite being smaller compared to her yuma¡ªjust shoved it away like it was something she dealt with her entire life. When Stiry did it again, Frill tsked this time. That small reaction forced the yuma to sit on his haunches and whine. The Aria sighed in response and produced another bun. ¡°No more than two, okay? Too much sugar¡¯s bad for you.¡± With an affirmative bark, Frill tossed the pastry. Stiry savored the treat a bit more this time, pondered for a bit if he should force his luck, then turned his eyes on Frein who was enjoying the entire interaction. The Visitor quickly stuffed his last piece of sweet bun inside his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t want your mistress getting angry,¡± he said in defense. Stiry huffed an irritated sneeze and decided to roam around, leaving the two alone. ¡°I thought you can¡¯t talk to yumas?¡± Frein asked. It was just an assumption given that others were thrilled to know he was able to communicate with them. ¡°Not as directly as you do,¡± Frill replied, taking a small portion of her sweet bun. She began to Draw Spatiera, tearing open a space to her personal storage and pulled out a tea set. ¡°Stiry and I are bonded through our meiyal systems. It¡¯s a mutual sort of bond,¡± she explained as she began to prepare the tea. She moved in an organized fashion, almost automatic. ¡°I guide his growth by providing him my meiyal and he carries me around pretty much anywhere. The bond pretty much transfers our emotions and intentions to one another. Tea?¡± Frein accepted a cup and took a sip. The warm touch of water followed by its fruity flavors worked in unison with the aftertaste of the sweet bun. He downed the entire cup and asked for another. ¡°Delicious. Thank you.¡± ¡°No¡­thank you,¡± Frill responded, pouring him another cup. ¡°If not for you, I think I might¡¯ve left.¡± She looked at her yuma who was frolicking along the riverbank. ¡°I might¡¯ve forced him to leave his family.¡± ¡°Where would you go?¡± ¡°Vyndival.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I don¡¯t understand you.¡± He took a generous sip to let Frill process his words. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s something you can get over with overnight, but you shouldn¡¯t bottle up your feelings, you know?¡± Frill was still, both hands on her teacup. She was shaking. ¡°You¡¯re really making it easy for me to punch you¡­¡± she said, her voice cracking. ¡°You talk like there¡¯s a step-by-step guide to this.¡± Frein sighed. ¡°Sorry, if I made it seem so simple. But it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve changed your mind.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t go back yet.¡± Frill¡¯s shaking worsened. ¡°If I see Liona¡­I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do.¡± She stared at her tea, tears falling uncontrollably. Frein wanted to hold her, give her some assurance, but he knew it would be for the best if her closest friends embraced her first. All things considered; he was still a complete stranger to her. His company might be accepted, but his gestures might be interpreted differently. So, he continued to probe, letting his voice stay calm and peaceful. ¡°Your friends will be there,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll be there to help you.¡± Frill struggled to regain composure, wiping away her tears in between soft sobs. ¡°You said you understand how I feel¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, but I lost someone, too. My parents. They worked in the military¡ªsoldiers like your knights¡ªand their operations took them far away. As far as I can remember, I¡¯ve taken care of my own. I had help from our neighbors and close relatives, but generally it¡¯s just me in my house. ¡°So, every time may parents come home, it¡¯s the best day ever. We spend all the time together; we¡¯ll go out of town, do a lot of activities, be one happy family. Then they¡¯ll be off to one of their missions again, and I¡¯ll be alone.¡± ¡°How about school? Friends?¡± Frill inquired. ¡°You have school in your world, right?¡± ¡°We do, but I didn¡¯t make friends. I was a problem kid. Teachers couldn¡¯t keep me in one place. Bullies kept ganging up on me. Never really had time to make any.¡± Frill had replaced her tea and was now calmly listening. Frein had never really shared this story to anyone except to Katherine. It felt odd, but if it helped his new friend¡ªrealizing now that he actually made a new one¡ªhe didn¡¯t mind sharing. ¡°So then, when I was fifteen someone else visited my home. Another soldier. Someone more decorated than my parents. They got ambushed and were mercilessly killed, made them eat live hand grenades.¡± ¡°Grenades?¡± Frill interrupted. Frein found it amusing. ¡°They¡¯re handheld items that contain a volatile chemical reaction held together by a pin. If you remove the pin, the chemicals will result in an explosion. We don¡¯t have Meiyal Arts in our world, so something like that was enough to kill my parents. The only thing left recognizable from them were their tags. I couldn¡¯t even bury them. ¡°I couldn¡¯t reach out to anyone after that. I couldn¡¯t connect with anybody. I held on to my anger for a year until I found an outlet.¡± ¡°What outlet?¡± Frill asked, now totally absorbed. Even her yuma was beside her, listening in. ¡°It was an underground arena. I get to beat people up and let out my frustrations and get paid while doing it. That¡¯s how Katherine found me. From there, things turned for the better, and now I¡¯m here.¡± Frill sighed in relief. ¡°Our father died when we were kids,¡± she began. ¡°Liona cried herself to sleep that night. I did as well, but our mother kept comforting us. I wonder if she cried when we were asleep.¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°I think it¡¯s okay to cry.¡± Frill sighed again, deeper this time. Her hand held the basket containing the last piece of sweet bun. ¡°I don¡¯t really eat a lot of these. Liona loves them so much that I just kept buying them for her.¡± She took the last piece and gave it to Stiry. The yuma had a look of concern, passing stares to her and to Frein. ¡°Just for tonight.¡± With a large grin, Stiry took his share. ¡°We should really go back, Frill. They¡¯ll be worried,¡± Frein said, urging the Aria to stand. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Not until I return the favor,¡± she replied, looking at the basket. Frein followed Frill back to where he met the redhaired girl. She was there at the exact same spot and beamed as soon as she saw them approaching her. ¡°Miss Frill, are you feeling better?¡± she asked. ¡°Thank you, Bennie, I feel better now. How much for the buns?¡± Bennie waved her had in refusal. ¡°Oh, no! Please, don¡¯t bother. The news travelled pretty quickly and I heard what happened¡­so I thought¡­¡± Frill gave Bennie a hug. It was tight enough that the younger redhead groaned in pain. Frein couldn¡¯t help but imagine he was observing two siblings who hadn¡¯t seen each other for a long while. ¡°How about I repay your inn with a song, then? I think Liona would want that.¡± Bennie nodded eagerly and guided them through a narrow street. It was a quick walk and immediately the path opened up into an open space. A plaza of food and people. The large cobblestone plaza was covered with fancy carpets. Tables and chairs of different sizes filled the space, and men and women of different races and species occupied them. Merriness filled the air, nothing too extravagant to warrant shouting or frolicking. The cozy noise was mostly from side chatter and the occasional laughter. There was a stage at the center, but no one was performing at the moment. Overhead was a luxurious canopy tent roof sheltering the entire plaza designed with warm lights and colorful swirly designs. A whole building encircled the entirety of the open space. Doors opened here and there, delivering food of varying sizes and colors to tables of people happily accepting them. As soon as they came to view, these same people began to murmur. Frein noticed that they were looking at Frill more than at him; they basically ignored him as a matter of fact. Only Bennie was looking at him. ¡°Umm¡­sir,¡± she started. ¡°Frein. Just Frein, no titles.¡± She beamed at the confirmation of his name. ¡°Well, Frein it is, then. As Frill¡¯s guest, I¡¯d like to offer you a drink. Do you have a preference?¡± He didn¡¯t know what to take. Just by looking around, he could tell there was too much variety. As it was his nature, he decided to play it safe. ¡°I¡¯ll let you decide, but nothing alcoholic, please. I want to stay sober, for now. Thank you.¡± As soon as Bennie left, Frein noticed that Frill had taken the center stage of the plaza. Everyone had turned quiet, waiting for the Aria to speak. ¡°I pray it¡¯s not too much if I take a bit of your evening,¡± she began. ¡°I¡¯d like to offer a song in memory of those we¡¯ve lost in our most recent battle.¡± One by one, the people stopped eating. They took whatever drink they had and stood, facing Frill, waiting for her to begin. Frein stood at the corner with Bennie who gave him a drink similar to what she was holding. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind hot chocolate,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Thank you.¡± The girl stayed beside him, blushing at the remark. ¡°Is this some sort of cultural thing?¡± Frein asked, trying to break the awkwardness. ¡°You¡¯re not from around here, then?¡± ¡°Not in this country, no.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a form of Ritual of Peace,¡± Bennie explained. ¡°This is a simpler act; less formal. Something that only singers and songstresses are allowed to perform. Frill¡¯s is a bit different since she incorporates her Meiyal Arts into the performance.¡± By now, everyone stood and faced the Aria. Frein was filled with anticipation as the meiyal in the entire plaza began to swirl from Frill¡¯s Meiyal Arts. Thus, the Aria began her song. ¡°The strength to protect my dearest person.¡± A chill ran up Frein¡¯s spine. He could see the flow of meiyal pulsing lights coming from Frill as her voice was accompanied by other voices. Instruments started to play despite their physical absence. There was an ethnic feel to it, drums, cymbals, string instruments pulling high notes, and background voices interweaving lyrics with each other. The intensity of the intro climaxed as all voices and instruments reached a swelling unison. Frill began to sing, her voice soft and clear, telling a story about a knight and a princess who grew up in a village together. Her refrain introduced an evil god who demanded the princess as a sacrifice for the continued prosperity of the village. A harmonic chaos ensued as everyone in the plaza began to partake in the performance, singing the lyrics of the villagers. Instruments went out of their usual rhythm while the villagers chanted their ritual to sacrifice the princess in the story. Frein could hear an ominous voice demanding for the princess¡¯s life, the evil god. It didn¡¯t come from anyone. A voice purely made from meiyal. Frill¡¯s voice broke out, slashing away at the demon god. The knight had thrown away everything including his morals, killing the entire village along with the demon. ¡°Oh, god of destruction, oh, god of destruction, we offer the princess as your bride.¡± ¡°Hand over the princess and I shall reward you!¡± ¡°I will not let you take her, demon!¡± The song continued on with the villagers¡¯ voices, the evil god, and Frill as the lone knight, battling with each other for the princess¡¯s life. Frein was taken to the edge, his grip slightly shaking. Bennie tapped him on his shoulder, attempting to bring him back to reality. But he could feel the power of meiyal innervating his strength, filling him with so much energy. And more than that, he was taken away by the song. The chaotic battle continued, ravaging the music between highs and lows. Until the knight and the god dealt their final blows. ¡°If I should give everything away, even if I lose myself in the darkness, even if you don¡¯t recognize me anymore, I will gladly do so to save you. Because only you mean the world to me.¡± The song ended after that, leaving all the details after the clash into mystery. Frill collapsed on the ground, residue of meiyal glittered like little orbs swaying along the wind. Applause followed afterward. Frill struggled on her feet and gave everyone her gratitude, until finally everyone returned to their seats. Frein realized he was holding his breath. It took him a while to get rid of the chill on his spine and find the courage to finish his drink. Bennie looked at him expectantly. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, thank you.¡± The girl smiled and took the cup before running off again. He was left with his own thoughts for a while until Frill found him. ¡°So, what did you think of the song?¡± She stood up beside him. Not a second later, Bennie showed up again with three glasses of hot chocolate this time. ¡°Bennie said this was supposed to be a Ritual of Peace,¡± Frein began, taking another sip. ¡°But the song itself didn¡¯t sound peaceful at all. It¡¯s beautiful, don¡¯t get me wrong. It¡¯s just that, as far as I understand it, the song was on the brink of insanity.¡± ¡°Insane love,¡± Frill affirmed. ¡°It¡¯s an old song from a classical group who took their inspiration from before the Divine Severing. Liona loved it and we grew up with it. It¡¯s difficult, but I did my best to learn it for her. On an informal Ritual of Peace like this, we offer songs loved by the ones who passed on. Doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s about death or about happiness.¡± ¡°Do other performers sing like you do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the only one that can sing like this. Others use instruments.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you made Liona happy,¡± Bennie interjected, unable to contain her feelings. She was on the brink of tears. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s gone.¡± At that, her tears fell. Frill smiled. Not a joyous smile, but an understanding and thankful one. ¡°Me too, Bennie.¡± She gave the girl another hug, a more caring and reassuring one compared to the first. ¡°We should go.¡± As soon as Frein and Frill returned to Minaveil Manor, they found Katherine waiting by the gates. ¡°I should apologize, Frill. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Katherine. Liona won¡¯t blame you, and I won¡¯t either. I would¡¯ve prepared a better welcome, if not for, you know¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that¡­¡± Katherine turned to Frein for guidance. He refused her but gave her a silent support. She sighed once. ¡°When you were in a trance, you were threatening to break Rindea. The only solution I had was¡­¡± She trailed off, unable to finish. Frill held Katherine in a tight embrace. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I understand. Is Liona inside? I need to see her before she goes.¡± ¡°Go where?¡± Frein asked. He implied the question of burning bodies out of respect. ¡°She¡¯s inside, Frill,¡± Lor answered, limping, with Flimeth on his side to help him stand. He turned to answer Frein¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯ll bring her to the Veli Manor for the wake, and then the burning ritual. If we can afford to wait, then we wait.¡± ¡°Lor,¡± Frill began. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± Lor placed a massive hand on top of Frill¡¯s red head. ¡°You¡¯ve got nothing to apologize, Frill.¡± He pulled her in a tight embrace. Flimeth wrapped around the both of them. They headed inside the manor. There in the courtyard, they found Liona peacefully asleep inside a coffin of flowers. Her wounds had been cleaned and her clothes replaced with a white silken robe. Kristel was there, tending to the finer details of her attendant''s resting place. Frill approached. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kristel asked with concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± Frill responded with a weak smile. She looked at Liona and couldn¡¯t help but tear up again. This time, Kristel was there to comfort her. ¡°Do you want to go with them tomorrow?¡± Frill shook her head. ¡°Liona would be angry if I leave you for one second. Besides, Lor would be there.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll follow after I settle a few things here,¡± Kristel said before turning to Frein, implying the invitation. The Visitor shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. I¡¯m not so sure where we should go, yet.¡± The Princess nodded then turned to Lor. ¡°We have a lot of things to do here, but we¡¯ll make it in time before the ritual.¡± ¡°Let me go with Lor,¡± Flimeth said, addressing the Princess. ¡°With your permission, I should be able to escort him since he¡¯s still too weak to travel on his own.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let the High Palace know, but head out tomorrow.¡± Kristel motioned at the flowerbed surrounding Liona. The flowers began floating above her, eventually covering every inch of her body. ¡°Tonight, we all need to rest.¡±
Chapter 34: Two Different Evenings Two Different Evenings
¡°I don¡¯t know. I really can¡¯t talk about it. She¡¯s gone. She¡¯s gone forever¡­¡± ~Frill Veli
Evening fell along with the chittering of nocturnal animals scurrying along the luscious gardens of Minaveil Manor. Kristel was kind enough to provide Frein and Katherine one of the guest rooms since Katherine¡¯s own room was locked under too many security measures and no one could be bothered enough to go through them this evening. The Princess actually offered two rooms, but one was more than enough. Frein sat on the bed, dipping lower on the cushion than he expected as he scanned the whole room. There was little to go on. Walls painted with pale blue almost indistinguishable from white, a soft bed with five fluffy pillows, a nicely furnished study table, and a wardrobe. Katherine organized their clothes, pulling them out one by one from her Spatiera. ¡°If I look at it from here, it¡¯s not all that different from Earth.¡± The bed was adjacent to the only arc window where curtains of white fluttered overhead. He hung his head on the ledge in an awkward but comfortable way, limiting his view to the dimmed meiyal lightbulbs on the ceiling. A lot of things inside the manor ran on meiyal as though they ran on electricity. He wondered if it was the same everywhere else, given the fact that the streets of Minaveil were free of any electrical posts. ¡°You should take a look outside,¡± Katherine said while she continued to transfer their belongings out of her Spatiera. The view took Frein¡¯s breath away. The evening had a purple glow to it; a result due to the luminescent, blending reflections of two moons. A blue moon and a red moon. The former was larger than the latter and both were on their third cycle, close enough to consider full. The reflections made the meiyal in the night sky shimmer with a purple hue, sort of an aurora painting the evening with a warm shine. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Frein breathed softly, unable to take away his eyes from either moon. ¡°So,¡± Katherine began, calling from inside the room. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have a lot of questions.¡± Frein felt too absorbed to even glance away. He sat on the bed like a kid hypnotized by brilliant dazzling lights. Even so, he pushed the questions out of his mind. ¡°I guess that leaves Vyndival out of the equation, then?¡± he asked. ¡°Well, at least we¡¯re sure they¡¯re not aiming for you or your meiyal system. We still don¡¯t know if they¡¯re somehow involved with your purpose.¡± Katherine continued to rummage from behind. Frein still didn¡¯t bother to look. ¡°Guess you¡¯re nowhere close to knowing what that is either?¡± he asked. ¡°Not a clue.¡± ¡°On to something more tangible, then. Do you call yourselves humans in this world?¡± Katherine thought for a while. ¡°As a species? Yes,¡± she said. ¡°In general, terms like people, man, and woman, encompass every bipedal species in this world: Felintines, canintines, elves, dwarves, orc, and many more. We also refer to people by their nationality regardless of species, Iristans for Irista Nation and Vyndivalians for Vyndival. That¡¯s about it. Oh, but Schrodie refers to us as mortals, obviously.¡± ¡°The humans here look so much like the humans on Earth, I can barely tell the difference if they don¡¯t use Meiyal Arts at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised.¡± Frein could tell without even sparing a glance that Katherine was smiling. ¡°When I was training with Schrodie, he asked me where I wanted to go.¡± Frein heard some rustling clothes. He was quick to deduce the cause of the noise and was tempted to look, but it was now a matter of pride at this point. ¡°I told him I wanted a planet not very different from ours. He showed me a group of planets and I chose yours coincidentally.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He didn¡¯t, really. The implied fact of other habitable worlds other than Brymeia and Earth was taking a lot both from his cognitive sanity and sheer excitement. It was regrettable he wouldn¡¯t be able to visit them all, but he pushed that feeling away. Instead, he focused on what mattered more. ¡°If not for that choice, we probably would¡¯ve never met.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Katherine replied. She climbed on the bed, staying purposefully behind him, sliding her lips close to his ears. ¡°Now I¡¯m stuck with a suicidal maniac who can¡¯t stay out of trouble.¡± The line tickled his ears despite the sarcasm behind it. Wet tongue teased him just a bit, but for some unexplainable reason, Frein refused to respond despite his primal instincts begging for release. It didn¡¯t feel like the time was right. Katherine caught wind of the mood and retreated for a moment. There was silence¡­ for a while. ¡°I know we should celebrate my first night,¡± Frein began. He still couldn¡¯t turn to look. ¡°I want to take you and do everything to you. But I don¡¯t know if we should, given the events just now.¡± A pair of soft hands creeped from his nape, and Katherine¡¯s fullness pressed against Frein¡¯s head. As suspected, she had taken off her clothes. In her nakedness, she kept him in a tight embrace. ¡°Frein,¡± Katherine whispered. ¡°Help me forget, please? Just for tonight.¡± It¡¯s not as though Frein couldn¡¯t understand. He might have not known who Liona was or what she was like, but it was obvious to him how much she was loved. Katherine¡¯s soft sobs were a cry for comfort. She, too, lost someone close to her. ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll mind,¡± she added. At that, Frein gave into his desires, softly taking Katherine by her breasts. He lapped and squeezed without restraint and his partner¡¯s moans and reactions guided where his lips and hands should assault next. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. He playfully sucked and nibbled at her nipples, unable to stay on just one, while his hands caressed down her sides, exploring her lower body. Katherine had begun to lose herself in pleasure, mounting Frein¡¯s leg and grinding on it with a purpose. He could feel her wetness dripping onto his jeans as he guided her motions with his hands tightly gripping her bottom. Summoning every bit of sanity she could muster, Katherine recovered and deftly worked on his clothes, stripping them within a split-second of respite. Not an instant more, Frein lost his patience and pushed her down the bed. They found each other¡¯s lips and their lock quickly became an exchange of two lovers willing to give their tongues to one another. It was a fierce battle, nabbing as much air, saliva, and tongue as they could until one of them gave up. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± Katherine needed the air first, collapsing with a gasp as Frein worked his way down her neck. With the initiative now fully within his grasp, Frein took his time and explored every inch of Katherine¡¯s body with his lips and tongue. The goal was to make her wet and sticky. It didn¡¯t matter whichever combination of bodily juice made it happen. He would squeeze her until every strand of her hair would stick. Frein knew what he had to do, and the night was young for it.
It was unusually silent. Frill could hear Liona speaking one moment and then nothing. She could still see her sister sitting across the other bed, telling her stories and complaining about the Princess¡¯s stubbornness. But it was a blur. It only took a blink for her image to disappear, and heaviness filled her chest right after. There were no tears; just a difficulty in breathing. As if her very bodily functions lost the will to act. As if any second now, her heart would just stop beating. It was all in her head. No Liona spoke or sat on the bed. No difficulty in breathing. Nothing. Just a lack of anything. Not even the ominous voice from her consciousness came to pester with her thoughts. Frill simply sat there on her own bed, still wearing her bloodied battle gear. Until a knock came from her door. ¡°Frill, I¡¯m coming in,¡± Kristel¡¯s voice came from outside. The door opened slowly and the blue haired Princess crept from the gap cautiously like a kid afraid to anger her parents. Are you okay? Frill expected the question, but the Princess didn¡¯t utter a word and simply stared for a while. She looked back on those dark blue eyes wishing her own could retain the same glimmer. Kristel entered and slowly closed the door. Without words, she unfastened Frill¡¯s leather armor. When she didn¡¯t react, the Princess continued removing the knots of her corset. Left with only her upper underwear, Kristel moved to removing her boots, undoing fastens and laces. It took a bit of effort to remove her leather trousers. The moment each article of the battle gear was removed from Frill¡¯s person, it dispersed into residues of meiyal. She remained indifferent, simply observing. The Princess left the room without words, and Frill was left to her thoughts for a while. Something similar to this had happened on only one other occasion. It was when Liona¡¯s first yuma pup had died from a Nightmare Invasion that brought along a Hollowing Storm. It was the time when Liona refused to speak with anyone. Princess Kristel had cancelled all her appointments and training for the whole week and stayed with her servant the whole time, tending to her needs without dialogue until Liona had given up on her silent protest. The Princess returned with a basin of water and a piece of washcloth. She dipped it amply and squeezed out the excess. She began with Frill¡¯s face, gentle and caring. Next her shoulders and arms. She dipped and squeezed again, then continued on her back, then around her stomach. Another dip, and then to her legs and feet. It was obvious to Frill that the Princess hadn¡¯t taken her own bath yet. Kristel brought out another washcloth and placed it on the basin. Then she removed Frill¡¯s undergarments. Frill stayed still despite being stripped naked. Not even the wet feel of the washcloth moving through her breasts and between her legs budged her. There was simply nothing about it. Kristel brought out a third washcloth and used it this time to wash Frill¡¯s hair. A fourth to dry everything. She brought them all from her person, too stubborn to use Spatiera. Kristel walked over the wardrobe. Frill and Liona shared the cabinet and they didn¡¯t bother organizing their clothes. The Princess knew, whether truly or by luck, which nightgown to pull out and endowed the white silk smoothly over Frill. Frill remained on her bed, sitting emotionless. Kristel stared at her one last time. Without words, she gathered the washcloths, picked up the basin, and headed towards the door. ¡°I miss her,¡± Frill said finally, stopping the Princess on her way out. The pain inside her chest throbbed, demanding for release. ¡°Me, too.¡± The Princess kept facing the door, holding the basin with trembling hands. ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Please stay.¡± Frill¡¯s voice remained monotonous, but her message was pleading. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep alone.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t washed yet.¡± Princess Kristel turned and smiled weakly; a tear trailed down her face as she opened the door. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Only a few minutes passed, contrast to the usual couple of hours it took. Kristel entered the room in her sky-blue nightgown with a pillow in one arm. She sat beside Frill, held her hand, and pressed it on her lips. ¡°I need you, Frill,¡± said the Princess. ¡°I can¡¯t do this on my own.¡± ¡°Kristel,¡± Frill wrapped the small Princess around her arms. ¡°You haven¡¯t cried yet.¡± Frill knew Kristel¡¯s habits. The tear she saw earlier was a clear sign of her held emotions overflowing beyond their limits. The Princess¡¯s silence was answer enough. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t do that, Kristel. I cried my heart out at Frein, you should have seen me.¡± Frill lied to herself. She hadn¡¯t cried enough. No amount would be enough. ¡°We heard your song. It was perfect.¡± Kristel looked up to Frill. ¡°But I...¡± her voice started to shake. ¡°I can¡¯t stay weak like this.¡± Frill pressed her forehead against the Princess¡¯s, and stared very close to her eyes. Her emotions flowing out of control. Sympathy and despair fought inside her, and her tears poured out while she struggled a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll cry with you.¡± Kristel caved, and she wailed, her embrace tighter than Frill¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she cried out repeatedly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± ¡°No, Princess. It¡¯s not your fault. Whoever did this will pay.¡± Frill couldn¡¯t even blame King Urzic for it. Liona¡¯s last words kept playing at the back of her head. Protect the Princess. Frill might be reading too much into it, but it raised a suspicion that she kept secretly inside her heart. Liona¡¯s strength could easily par the Princess if not entirely exceeding. There was absolutely no chance for a mere foot soldier to get the better of her, not even a thousand, not even with meiyal-sealing steel. The Vyndivalian axe might be an indication of a more straightforward conclusion, but it could also be a well-prepared scapegoat. ¡°Princess,¡± Frill began after finally calming down. ¡°We cannot trust anyone from Cross Irista anymore.¡± Kristel dried her tears. ¡°I understand what you mean. I know. It wasn¡¯t a Vyndivalian that took Liona from us, but there are still members of Cross Irista that we can trust.¡± She crawled into bed and placed her pillow beside Frill¡¯s. Then she pulled her would-be sister next to her. ¡°We can still trust everyone in this house.¡± Frill slept without dreams that night. Kristel¡¯s warmth helped her withstand the cold of loss and the threat of nightmares. She woke up in the middle of the night and found the Princess¡¯s face just inches from her. At that moment, she realized what she had to do. She needed to thank Frein later for the strength and Kristel for the determination. After Liona¡¯s burning, everything would start to move.
Chapter 35: Fallen Survivor Fallen Survivor That evening, beyond the territory of the Eastern Rindea Mountain Range, underneath the boughs of a thick forest covering the foot of the largest mountain, a silhouette stirred. His hands took hold of large roots that had bent and cracked underneath the impact of his fall earlier that day. Disturbed insects crawled all over his arms and a viper slithered away from his foot. He startled a scavenging crow that was pecking at a wound right above his temple. It cawed and flew away, perching at a nearby tree, waiting with intent eyes. The last thing Venry Stepholm remembered was jumping off the peak of the mountain, leaving his charge for the slim chance of survival and escape the total oblivion that threatened his life. He had used every ounce of meiyal he had to survive the fall, cascading over jagged rocks, branches, and tree trunks, and ultimately plummeting to this very spot where he had lost consciousness. Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªwanted those bombs had been, it didn¡¯t represent death. On the contrary, the threat had offered eternal life. A life of endless torture and no respite. In truth, he never saw the enemy. The approaching presence alone was menacing enough to chase him away. Venry never thought himself a coward, not even after all that. To run away as fast as possible, at the risk of his survival, was simply the correct and only choice. Still, it went against his duty and leaving his insignia behind was the only action he could think of to represent his failure as a Guard Knight of Irista Nation. Venry couldn¡¯t move much, feeling nothing from his waist down. His neck had almost no motion, leaving his head stuck to face the swaying canopy of leaves and branches above him. Before he could wonder if he had been completely paralyzed, visions of his future assaulted his mind¡¯s eye. His body parts were at the wrong places. He was contorted into a quadrupedal creature with additional limbs and torsos¡ªboth male and female¡ªthat didn¡¯t belong to him. His necks belonged to many people stitched together by their napes, stretched like branches of a tree and each leaf was a flattened head. His own skull¡ªrid of skin, muscle, or hair¡ªwas at the very tip of the creature, leading the entire monstrosity. That was to be his life if he had chosen to remain on the mountain. Truth be told, he had almost looked forward to it, if not for another something bringing him back to his senses. ¡°The desire did not belong to you, Venry Stepholm,¡± the voice said as it manifested beside him. A silhouette of a woman formed by the gathering of nearby leaves and sticks sat on a large root that miraculously remained untouched by Venry¡¯s fall. ¡°You do not wish to be reformed as a Nightmare, most of all not one of Those That Fell Off a Cliff. Death would be a mercy compared to a life of endless humiliation and mindlessness.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Venry asked, surprised that his voice barely had any strength in it. He was parched and hungry enough to feel a hole in his stomach. He tried to move again and was instantly shot with pain. He winced and immediately hyperventilated. The woman figure waved a hand. Moments later, Venry felt calm. ¡°You are nowhere near the prospects of safety nor have you gained enough favor to earn my trust, Venry Stepholm. While your survival correlates to mine, needless information must be kept at a minimum. Your adversaries may choose to pursue you tonight, and you have yet to recover. ¡°If they capture you, they will probe your memories and your deepest secrets. Secrecy is paramount to my survival; I will not allow you to compromise it. Now, be still and take a deep breath.¡± Venry could barely see the figure from his peripheral view, his limited movement left him no choice but to strain his eyes to the side as much as possible. He followed the instruction as the plant woman eased a smooth piece of wood in between his jaw and reached something around his torso that he couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Prepare yourself, Venry Stepholm,¡± she said. ¡°Focus on your consciousness. The pain will be unbearable, but you must remain awake if you still wish to see tomorrow.¡± Without explaining any further, she yanked. The world left Venry as the plant lady pulled something from within his innards. His jaws clenched against the wood, snapping them almost instantly. All nocturnal life scampered away as his screams pierced the silence. He couldn¡¯t understand what was happening, there was only pain, as if he was slowly, meticulously, getting sawed in half. Blood forced themselves up his throat. He regurgitated them under fits of choking coughs, air, sounds, and body fluids clashing within his windpipe. There was no end to the pain, and Venry held on to his very soul with only the lady¡¯s warning keeping his Siffera instinctively aflame. He was well past Art fatigue and his mental faculties couldn¡¯t afford to make any logical sense of how he could afford the Art without meiyal Milled within his marks. But he kept it Drawn if only to anchor his consciousness on a focus to keep himself alive, even if every excruciating second felt like years stripping off from his lifeline. Tears fell and sobs mixed with his screams as the pain refused to subside. He wanted it to end, but he refused to die. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Whatever the plant lady was doing, he only hoped it was so that he could live. The prospects of becoming a part of Those That Fell Off a Cliff didn¡¯t seem so bad after all. ¡°We¡¯re near the end of the first step, Venry Stepholm,¡± she said. ¡°Focus and keep your wits about you. Do not succumb to the temptation of Nightmares.¡± Despite the encouragement, the whole ordeal seemed to have lasted for hours. Until finally, the plant lady jerked away from his insides. Her hand, made out of branches, vines, and leaves, were soaked in blood. The sight prompted Venry¡¯s sense of smell, the odor of refuse and iron quickly assaulted him but he was desperate for air. She threw something aside and the stinging high-pitched noise and the throbbing bass of his pulses was accompanied by loud thuds on the ground. Venry¡¯s adrenaline had left him and his Siffera waned. He began to black out, feeling only the prickly sensation of wood gently tapping his face and the frantic voice of the stranger made out of plants repeatedly calling out his name.
Venry stirred awake. He found himself in darkness with only a dim light coming from somewhere. Looking from side to side, he found no light source, but the realization of his neck¡¯s recovery snapped him into full awareness. He commanded himself to sit up. His nerves sent his signals and his muscles began to contract, but the pain flaring on his middle section immediately shot him down. ¡°Do not fall asleep again, Venry Stepholm,¡± the voice warned. This time, it was a lady of rock, dirt, and mud massaging her legs into shape. ¡°You¡¯ve costed me more than you know. If you fail to stay awake again¡ªand this time, it is a guarantee¡ªyou will die. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Venry said in a forced whisper. ¡°Good. You cannot afford to sleep tonight. You are fortunate enough as it is. This rock in particular embedded itself in your abdomen as you risked the fall.¡± The plant¡ªearth¡ªlady presented a jagged rock. It was the size of his arm. Barely dried blood coated half of it. ¡°Keep this as a memento. I believe it¡¯s been charged by your meiyal and could very well serve as a source for your Exhibit. It is only fair, given the grievance it has caused both of us.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The earth lady placed the rock on the ground above his head as she sat beside him. She lifted both hands and hovered them above his body. Immediately, he felt the effects of healing as well as something pulling away at his soul. ¡°You cannot wait to recover naturally, Venry Stepholm,¡± she explained. ¡°Your enemies are close, and I require your services. ¡°I fear I can only maintain this projection for a few more moments. Hence, we must make haste, including your healing. If I were physically here, believe me, my options would be more practical. As it is, I¡¯m forced to pull from your lifespan to close all your wounds, mend your broken bones, rebuild your nerves, and replace your damaged organs. Your trauma, you have to deal with your own mind.¡± Venry accepted this fate, but he had an urgent question. ¡°How many?¡± he asked. ¡°A rough assessment of all your injuries, including the tax of your earlier loss of consciousness¡­I would estimate full recovery will cost seven years of your natural life.¡± Venry nodded. The whole idea of having a predetermined and fixed lifetime went over his head. He understood that the earth lady was using his life as fuel for his healing, he literally could feel it. But if he was being honest, he never once assumed he¡¯d end up living his entire natural life anyway. In a sense, it was a fair deal. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Ultimately, my rescue. For now, I require you to meet with two other people from Vyndival. A pair of soldiers like yourself; twins. Like you, they¡¯ve recently abandoned their duties.¡± Venry¡¯s blood, what was left of it, began to boil. ¡°You expect me to work with them after all they¡¯ve done?¡± The earth lady¡¯s smooth stone face turned as if to look at him. ¡°The entire war was orchestrated, Venry Stepholm. Whether Vyndival achieves victory or not holds no weight on the grand scheme of things. Their king was forced to manipulate his subjects and he chose to bear that responsibility over the massacre of his entire kingdom. Can you handle that burden, Venry Stepholm? That hate? For your entire kingdom to despise you despite saving most of them because all you have is a shallow excuse of your inability to disobey a higher power?¡± He met her with silence. Leaving behind his responsibilities were enough proof. ¡°Regardless of what you think of it, you will require the help of the twins if you are to repay your life debt. From my perspective, word of thanks means nothing. Let your actions show your gratitude.¡± Venry sat up straight, no longer hindered by the pain, as if his injuries and disabilities never occurred. ¡°Fine,¡± he said reluctantly. The form of the lady slowly cracked and crumbled. ¡°Good. You have one hour to Gather and Mill, any more will be a risk to your safety. A nearby Jaws Lurking in the Forest was kind enough to ward away other Nightmares, but she will not defend you against the enemy from the mountains.¡± Venry had a lot of questions, but the earth lady gave him no chance to speak. She was rapidly deteriorating. "I¡¯ve filtered the meiyal around you from the influence of the Nightmare Lands. This should suffice. You are well within the outer reaches of the Void Region. When you proceed, do not, in any circumstance, Gather or Mill or you will risk the influence of the Nightmare. And maintain your Siffera as low as possible. ¡°Head further east and follow the river until you find an abandoned port. I¡¯ve instructed the twins to meet you there. They will teach you how to survive within the Nightmare Lands. Once I¡¯ve regained my strength, I will show myself to the three of you once again. Follow my instructions, Venry Stepholm. Do not succumb to its influences. Do you understand?¡± The earth lady¡¯s form had turned into a pile of stone, mud, and dirt before Venry was able to respond. The Guard Knight sat cross-legged within the cave, holding the bloody spear-shaped rock that had recently stabbed his abdomen. His eyes staring at the light source coming from the entrance. He Gathered and Milled.
Chapter 36: A Curious Case of Lynera and Urzic A Curious Case of Lynera and Urzic
¡°I¡¯d rather not remember.¡± ~Lynera
¡°Who would¡¯ve thought...?¡± King Urzic massaged the frown on his forehead. He sat on a small throne made of stone displaying hints of dust and cracks of old age. What was once an abandoned keep of a dead lord, the remaining wing of this ruined building had been hastily repurposed as a dungeon of sorts. The room was lit with meiyal-crafted torches, giving light to old webbed stone walls, rotting wood, and muddy carpets. He tore away from his reminiscing thoughts and focused more on recent events: the Visitor¡¯s appearance. A once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. An event so sparse that generations passed without even witnessing their arrival. So segregated that some kingdoms or countries¡ªnow devoured mostly by the Nightmare Lands¡ªwouldn¡¯t even know one had come and gone. If it hadn¡¯t been because of this mythological arrival, along with Lady Katherine the Seeker, they would¡¯ve taken Central by now. ¡°Mmmph!¡± King Urzic made a long sigh. No matter. Other successes well hidden under the enemy¡¯s nose whispered to him during the travel home. For the matter at hand, he would need to recuperate his forces. The losses from this failed invasion had dealt a massive blow, one too demoralizing to recover from. Not to mention losing six of his Lord Knights. He cared little for Xiv, but Dystro and the others were assets he preferred to keep. ¡°Mmmph!¡± ¡°Four moon cycles at the very least.¡± It was hours past midnight and yet he forced himself to read reports regarding the kingdom¡¯s economic situation. He needed a miracle and fast. ¡°Two Darks, worst case.¡± Two moons orbited Brymeia. The Darkmoon and the Shinemoon. Each had their own moon cycles. The Darkmoon, reflecting blood red in the night took twice the fifty-day cycle of the Shinemoon that reflected azure blue. Keeping these in mind, the king made sound estimates for how long his kingdom would last before the situation started to complicate. Morale would be on the deep low; he wouldn¡¯t be surprised to see more defects like Hal and Ral in the coming days. Vyndival had fallen to its direst state in all of its history, his citizens wouldn¡¯t even have stick nor mettle to mount an uprising. ¡°Mmmmmph!¡± King Urzic made another sigh, longer than the last one. He massaged his blue eyes that had been strained to exhaustion. He placed down the papers, giving up for the night for any miraculous thought to form in his mind. He had been dumping all his efforts on various strategies for national survival, and while some of them might have a chance of salvaging a hundred million or two, he would rather come up with one that would save at least ten times that amount, if not all of them. ¡°Perhaps venturing to new ground is the only way.¡± He made a soft glance to his right that led deeper into the dungeon. ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡± A few paces down the hallway of stone, Lynera was blindfolded and gagged, drips of drool threaded down from either side of her mouth. Her arms were tied on her back by exquisite knots that riddled throughout her body. Thick weaves of ropes wrapped around each of her breasts, just enough so that they seemed to pop out, and then circled around her knees and thighs so that they prevented any leg movement. Candle waxes stained random portions of her body and was sure not to miss the delicate parts. The felintine sat on the most uncomfortable platform, metal shaped to a standing triangle. Her legs struggled to maintain balance on either side, forcing the tip of the structure to constantly dig between her legs. Sweat, tears, and the rest of her bodily liquids made the metal slick, causing her thighs to loosen their grip and allowing her entire weight to press right on the middle. There was a strong alluring stench of piss mixed with the rest of her juices pooling on the floor where the metallic triangular horse stood. King Urzic circled around Lynera, his eyes absorbing the artful masterpiece she displayed. The scent of lust oozed from the felintine, proclaiming to the entire world of the intense heat bubbling inside her. The sight of Urzic aggravated her condition and she started thrusting her hips on the triangle. Her breathing and moaning, harsh and uncontrolled, invited him to participate in the show. Lynera¡¯s eyes shifted quickly on many things: whips, candles, a thin wooden stick, metallic balls¡­she even stared at his groin. She wanted him to use them, any of them. The evening was young and he had spent the entire travel home on meetings, discussions, and meanderings on how to tackle the misfortune he had brought upon his great kingdom. Four days, he lived without any release to his stress. Lynera had been on the edge half that time and had spent every effort possible to seduce him. Playing with herself did very little to satiate her monstrous lust, even this pleasurable torture only ever heightened her sensitivity and never allowed her the true climactic release she desired. Are all felintines like this? King Urzic took her from the triangle and forced himself inside her without bothering to untie the ropes. She didn¡¯t need to move, only serve to be his outlet for release. Lynera¡¯s sexual embrace convulsed almost instantly and a high-pitched moan of satisfaction echoed and bounced within the stone walls of the room. It only provoked Urzic further.
King Urzic couldn¡¯t tell for how long he and Lynera spent the time indulging at each other¡¯s bodies. It could have been a couple of hours, or an entire day might have passed since. Lynera had made her way out of her bonds somewhere during the raunchy back and forth, now resting exhausted beside him. ¡°Still can¡¯t remember anything?¡± were the first words he said to her. ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°At this point, maybe I don¡¯t think I want to remember.¡± Urzic started idly picking at the waxes around her body. Lynera was beautiful. An art made alive. Her curves, sublime; her ears covered with fur, exquisite; her tail, delectable. Even the burns, the bruises, the scratches, the whip wounds, and even the rope marks around her body were strokes of love on a canvas made specifically to accept them. She was made perfect. It made Urzic want to start over. Wipe the canvas clean and start painting on it again. Without a word, he covered her with a blanket he produced from one of his Forged containers and carried her outside of the dungeons. Lynera accepted the gesture and allowed herself to be carried like a princess. The hour-long stroll eventually led them back to the palace proper, entering an enormous gate guarded by a single knight. The knight on duty made a firm salute and opened the gates, but otherwise said nothing. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. In silence, Urzic carried on and entered the Royal Garden. It was the only garden left in Vyndival able to resonate the moonlight, absorbing the purple harmony from both the Darkmoon and the Shinemoon¡¯s full bloom and performing a dazzle pleasing to the eye. Flowers made a prism of colors, playing from different shades of red and blue and purple. Other plants glowed in contrast, while a few glimmered in different twinkling shimmers. The King walked amidst the light show, reminiscing how the garden used to be. It was sadder now, lacking in its usual color despite the brilliance they showed. Perhaps it was because of the kingdom¡¯s condition. Perhaps it was simply because his memories only remembered the garden when the people tending to them were fulfilled, compared to these dire times when everything was accompanied by hardship. He glanced at Lynera, silent and eyes glued at the illuminating spectacle of flowers and leaves displaying the musical of lights. They went deeper into the garden. They were the only two there, and the formation of plants made the path narrower. Lynera pressed her hands closer to her chest. A sign of anticipation, perhaps? King Urzic said nothing, continuing on further into the starry tunnel of hedgerows. They opened to a pond that reflected the astronomical lights. Glowing flowers and insects played around the shore. The water glimmered under the moonlights, expressing a subtle purple hue. King Urzic settled Lynera on the ground, then began to undress. The felintine braced herself even further. She smiled, oblivious to his intent. The surprise on her face when he carried her again was too refreshing to not treasure. The water was clear, cold, and shallow. He placed Lynera over the water and began to wash her. His hands were gentle, cleaning each portion of her body and removing the stench and stickiness from her long, brown hair and cat-ears. He cautiously washed her brown tail, then poured water over her face before moving on to the rest of her body. Lynera kept silent. Her face displaying continued surprise and a hint of confusion. This was the literally the first other act Urzic did for her aside from the endless sex. After a while, King Urzic lifted Lynera once again and went further into the pond. The water was deeper, right above the waist. He stared at her without a word while pouring more water over her hair. He couldn¡¯t say it. He couldn¡¯t tell the truth, not after what he had done. King Urzic grew up as a fully-fledged royalty and Blessed with the Monarch¡¯s Law before he even learned to utter common words. His father, King Menoris, passed away with the discovery of Vyndival¡¯s doom. He didn¡¯t know the first thing about ruling a city, more so a whole kingdom. But the Monarch¡¯s Law carried his commands, and so he was deemed worthy enough to rule. Each subject was forced to obey his words to the letter. But the Blessing had its own limits and its own side-effects. No command could force them to commit suicide, and no command could force them to fall in love. Everything else was upon the discretions of both the wielder of the Blessing and the poor soul subjected to the commands. This led to Urzic Lasterfol¡¯s life to be one forged by fake bonds and forced friendships, surrounded by powerful people wearing masks both in social gatherings and private meetings. A life too convoluted by lies for one as young as his. Lynera was his first real subject. The felintine had heard his commands, had obeyed them, and had exceeded them beyond expectations. Despite her missing memories, she had recognized the press of his Blessing and had endeavored to please him rather than spite him for it. He didn¡¯t know why, Lynera only said she¡¯d fallen in love. To him that was unreasonable, but it didn¡¯t take him long to recognize that she was hiding something more than just simple infatuation. Truthfully, he hoped that she cared. He held on to fact that the restriction of the Blessing held water despite the scarcity in its research. Once, just out of curiosity, he had told a random peasant girl to fall in love with him. The whole ordeal quickly turned awkward and they never met again. And the abrupt end of that was the sole evidence that carried along this entire relationship¡­ A shower ran through his hair, bringing King Urzic back to his senses. Lynera cupped water over two trembling hands, placing it over the King¡¯s head. She smiled as her hands eventually held both his cheeks, pulling him close. ¡°I think I like this treatment, too,¡± she said as their lips closed for an intimate kiss. He had lost track of time dwelling too much in his thoughts. And a whole lot more with the kiss. Excitement built from under his waist, and the dark thought of pushing Lynera¡¯s head down the pond to satisfy himself at the cost of drowning her clouded every rationality he had. He was able to stop himself, and Lynera¡¯s knowing smile almost instantly shattered his resolve. Thankfully, it was only almost. It was getting later than late. King Urzic lifted up Lynera once again, and this time, the felintine merrily enjoyed the ride. He made her sit on a small rock and covered her with the night cloak while he dressed himself, not minding the drench. He carried her again past the Royal Garden that continued to display the brilliant lights. A tug on his robe caught his attention. Lynera was entranced by the dazzle, her brown ears perked as if to listen. He found a nice spot to sit on, but made it so that Lynera had to stay on his lap. The felintine didn¡¯t mind nor cared. She was too absorbed in the light show. They spent a good hour in silence until King Urzic decided it was time to go. The felintine kept her eyes focused at the garden until the very last second. ¡°¡­remember¡­¡± A silent whisper came from the felintine. She had withdrawn to herself before the king could even ask. ¡°¡­who I am¡­¡± The doors of the King¡¯s Tower opened as they arrived. Sentries kept their stoic posture in the dead of night, melding as if part of the furniture. King Urzic took the spiraling steps behind the throne room to the room at the highest point of the tower. A knight sentry opened the door for them. ¡°I don¡¯t need guards for tonight,¡± said the King before he entered. ¡°Beg pardon, Your Majesty, but we cannot¡ª¡± ¡°Do not make me repeat myself.¡± There was no power nor any trail of Monarch¡¯s Law in his voice. Only a simple sentence uttered solely out of pure fatigue. ¡°Go to sleep, all of you.¡± The sentry dared not utter another word. He bowed and closed the door before him. The sound of his armor clanged as he made his way down. Then groups of resounding armor echoed behind the door in a fading march. The King¡¯s room was devastatingly huge; it took more than just a few steps to get to the bed chamber. Weapons, armors, trophies, and elegant threads of silk and wool intermingled with each other in a way that imposed a royal and organized ambiance. Low-lit meiyal-crafted torches were strategically placed and man-sized windows were curtained on even scales. King Urzic placed Lynera on the huge bed and removed her cloak. He gave her a dress but the felintine merely held it in her hands. She looked distracted, completely unfocused. King Urzic sighed, deep and tired. He removed all his clothing and sat beside Lynera. He reached over the nightstand and drew a long dagger. Lynera caught sight of it, and her hands defensively formed a fist, tugging at the dress. ¡°I¡¯m giving up, Lynera,¡± the King finally spoke. He stared at the dagger for a while. A fine-tuned blade nestled in a firm golden grip. There were many like it scattered in the room, but this one was closest to his reach. He placed the dagger beside Lynera. ¡°There will be no guards surrounding the tower tonight, as tired as you are, you can still get out of this place.¡± The felintine took the dagger with both hands. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± ¡°Whatever purpose.¡± The King stared deep into her eyes, more intimate than those glares he threw during her sexual torture. ¡°With your memories returned, I¡¯m sure you know where to go. I¡¯m sure this life of depravity isn¡¯t one you really want. I¡¯ve had fun with our time together, I really did. I¡¯ve fallen in love with you. But the things I did to you, that was you without your memories. I can¡¯t blame you if you hate me for indulging myself too much of you. ¡°So, now it¡¯s your turn. The real you. With the war lost, my people have very little faith in me, if they ever had any in the first place. This kingdom will fall apart. If you want your revenge, I will give you no other chance aside from this one.¡± King Urzic heard the sound of tightening grip. So her memories did return. ¡°Revenge?¡± Lynera¡¯s cat-ears shot up with anger. ¡°Are you mad? Yes, you strangled me, burned me, whipped me, bound me, imprisoned me, drugged me. Yes, you fucked me! You do it day and night. But you did it with my consent! It didn¡¯t matter what my past was! It was still me! All I wanted was for you to break me, and keep me for your own!¡± Lynera¡¯s tears fell with her rising anger as she threw the dagger away. The echoes of metal clanging on stone faded in the distance. ¡°Why would you throw me away like that?¡± Her voice broke as she curled and dug herself on her knees. The question pulled at Urzic''s heart like a tensed string threatening to snap. His breath tightened and his own tears started to fall. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said, wrapping Lynera around his arms almost too quickly. The felintine sobbed and cried. ¡°I won¡¯t throw you away. I¡¯ll cater to your every need. I¡¯ll try and break you every night and every day.¡± Her sobs subsided and she peeked with one crying eye. ¡°Prove it.¡± Urzic smiled at his adorable woman. ¡°We won¡¯t be talking about your memories tonight, will we?¡± Lynera curled up into a rounder ball, her voice coming out muffled at this point. ¡°I require proof of your eternal loyalty before I can be convinced to share my secrets.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± He began by finding a way to slither inside Lynera¡¯s ball and kiss her trembling lips. The breaking of Lynera didn¡¯t stop until she was fully asleep.
Chapter 37: Remembering Something Important Remembering Something Important ¡°Quitting already, King Urzic?¡± a mysterious voice echoed. King Urzic recognized this voice. But before lifting himself out of bed, he made sure Lynera was fast asleep and covered properly underneath the blankets. He slipped out cautiously while making sure he maintained the silence. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in Irista Nation?¡± Urzic asked as he dressed himself with a fancy nightrobe. ¡°I¡¯m actually on my way back tonight; thought I¡¯d say goodbye first.¡± The voice came from a figure hiding well in the corner of the room. The cool purple light of the two moons revealed a hand smooth enough and slim enough to disguise their gender. Even their voice was too neutral to discern anything apparent. ¡°What do you want?¡± Urzic maintained his distance, but placed himself squarely in between Lynera and the evening guest. Clearly there was something else to this visit other than just a midnight greeting. The figure made an audible sigh. ¡°Always straight to the point. You know, you could use a little humor, considering the amount of stress. Oh, right. Your plaything¡¯s already handling that one for you.¡± King Urzic¡¯s blood boiled at the word plaything but he immediately tempered his anger. It would not do well to let his emotions dictate his actions. Ill-equipped for a fight, he could only rely on his words and hope this person¡ªwho, even after all their visits, refused to identify themselves¡ªdidn¡¯t come here to tie up loose ends. ¡°Too soon?¡± taunted the strange guest. ¡°If you have nothing else to say, leave.¡± Urzic gripped his nerves to a deadened calm. He had the same training as every other Lord Knight, had fought his own battles, and had proven himself as far as physical and mental combat was concerned. Mingling with those with power was standard fare for him. There was silence. For a while. Until the evening light of the moon diminished into blinding darkness. The meiyal torches snuffed themselves out. Behind him, Lynera¡¯s figure vanished. And King Urzic Lasterfol was alone, sinking deep into the void. He felt the grips of the abyss closing around him like a gigantic fist, contorting his limbs into whatever angles they were forced into. ¡°You¡¯re still not finished, Urzic Lasterfol.¡± The voice sounded different now, guttural and reverberating in deafening echoes as if the depths themselves spoke to him. ¡°Do not take me for a fool. The orbs made it safely to Central, and the little Princess didn¡¯t get as much as a sniff of it. She¡¯s far too busy mourning over that useless servant of hers. ¡°But you, don¡¯t even try running away. Go soft and cuddle with that filthy whore of yours for all I care, but do not think for one second that I¡¯ll let you out that easily. If you leave or die, if you fail this, I¡¯ll make sure that she-vork suffers hell and high water for a million years in an expanse of her lifetime. I¡¯ll cut her up and assemble her again with hands on her feet and head on her ass. I¡¯ll disfigure her so much not even a fragment of her sanity will remain. ¡°I¡¯ll make her remember only one thing, Urzic Lasterfol. If you fail this, she¡¯ll know you¡¯re the reason for her eternal suffering.¡± King Urzic shot up from his bed like a spring released from tension, waking up from the nightmare. He turned quickly, and a breath of relief escaped him. Lynera was there, sound asleep. Her face as calm as still water. He stared at her for a long time. His hand moved on its own, touching a fragment of hair. A dangerous thought crept into his mind that evening. He realized for the first time in his life, he finally cared for someone. For the first time in his life, he found someone he valued more than Vyndival. For the first time in his life, he stayed still for so long and stared at someone for so long, but never got tired of it. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. For the first time in his life, he snatched a kiss so filled with affection and care, that the simple touching of their lips sent electric emotions from his head down to all parts of his body. And for the first time in his life, he fell asleep with someone¡¯s face so intimately close to him.
The movements finally stopped. His kiss was trembling. So delicate and so different from any sort of affection and abuse she¡¯d taken and enjoyed before that it took all her effort just to keep her body from reciprocating out of shock and pleasure. She could feel the warmth radiating from his face so close to hers. Her memories have returned, but there were far more confusing things in her mind right now. Lynera, the plaything of Urzic, found the very same man sleeping not even an inch away from her. She kept perfectly still, afraid that any simple movement might wake him up. Just like how still she kept herself underneath the pressure of the stranger that visited them in the dead of night. Whoever that was, they knew she was awake and chose to ignore her. And when the darkness fell, she had seen them even with her eyes closed. Oppressive. Vile. Suffocating. She¡¯d felt those before, back when the Western Sanctum collapsed from a Nightmare Invasion. That stranger. That thing. It was a Nightmare. She was sure of it. A chill ran up her spine. She felt like a child, seeking safety underneath her blankets. But the thought of that Nightmare standing right behind her crept on her mind like a menace refusing to subside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here for you,¡± Urzic¡¯s voice called out. For a second, Lynera thought he was awake, or worse, her trembling woke him up. She stared at him, waiting for his eyes to open, but he only breathed and snored slightly. She poked his cheeks, then pinched it when he didn¡¯t react. Then she smiled when Urzic grabbed her hand. She found herself returning the very same kiss she received that night. One out of care and affection. Her heart pounded with so much strength she was afraid that even Urzic might hear. She never dreamed of falling for someone like him. She wanted to be wooed with flowers and promises and dreams of castle-like stories. Urzic may have forgotten, but Lynera remembered it clearly. They¡¯ve met before, back when she was nothing but a peasant, tending to the fields with nothing but a sunhat to shield her head and felintine ears from the sun and uncomfortable clothing that forced her tail to coil around her thigh underneath her muddied trousers. Out of nowhere, the once-young Urzic had called her out and commanded her to love him. Back then, she had no knowledge of what Monarch¡¯s Law was, but then again, she had found the command awkward and out of place. The young Urzic had escaped the situation before things got out of control. That memory stuck to Lynera. It was the one thing that remained to her when she lost everything. The one thing she clung onto desperately. And when she finally caught Urzic¡¯s attention, she fulfilled that command even without the Blessing forcing her to obey. Then again, could it be the Blessing¡¯s working making her believe that she loved him out of her own free will? Lynera had this inkling thought creeping inside her the entire time. Until all her memories returned to her. As an apprentice to be a Mother of the Void, one of the highest authorities in the Order of the Void, she had studied every known information about the Blessings of Brymeia. Even the Law of the First Monarch couldn¡¯t make such an absurd command. It defied the secret teachings of the world herself. The knowledge removed all her doubts, and her desires for Urzic only swelled. The prospect of her memories potentially assisting the King in this inevitable economic breakdown filled her with new resolve. But she needed time. Most of her entire life had been taken from her in a blink of an eye and then instantly returned to her in all their entirety. They were a complete mess; jumbled fragments that led from one story to another. Joys, sufferings, horrors, triumphs, trials, glories, and many more chapters of her life fighting for a chance to be seen in her mind¡¯s eye. Faces, names, places, events, and many more that she knew flashed in quick succession. Books and quotes and other references twisting themselves into incomprehensible loops. The trainings and the skills she gained in the Order of the Void¡ªa boon that returned along with her memories¡ªwere the only things preventing her from getting a headache and a meltdown. For now, she needed to sleep. Spend this night close to the one she had chosen to be her eternal mate. She allowed her troubles to slip away; allowed the threats loom over her ignored and unheard. The embrace of her love and the promise of sweet dreams beside him kept her secure as she held on to one fact that would be key to everything. It wasn¡¯t trauma that caused her to lose her memories. Someone took them.
Chapter 38: Bonds Bonds
¡°What can I say? I like him. He¡¯s funny, but he¡¯s also serious.¡± ~Enza
It had been a week since Frein arrived on Brymeia. He woke up earlier than everyone else, allowing himself a moment to adore a sleeping Katherine and snatch a kiss from her. By the time the first rays of the white sun appeared from the east, Frein was already at the front gates, doing stretches and pumping his blood flow for the morning jog. Minaveil Manor was strategically built at the center of the town. It stood on an island of a small river that divided Minaveil Town in two. A bridge heading south led to the residential area where houses were packed together, giving small room for narrow streets and spare main cobblestone roads. Frein decided to head over the northern bridge, the other half of Minaveil Town reserved for the marketplaces, parks, and eventually opening to the province¡¯s agricultural pride. He peacefully started his jog on the path by the riverbank overlooking the farms and fields on one side and the steady flow of the river on the other. He had grown accustomed to the provincial feel of Minaveil, but not with the changing colors of the sun. Although he had accepted that this is entirely a different world, its few similarities with Earth constantly gave him a surreal feeling as if he was merely in a dream. He was quick to notice familiar creatures like dogs, cats, cattle, birds, insects, and the like. Their features rarely diverting away to the ones he knew from his home world, but there were also some species that could¡¯ve only existed in his dreams. One in particular was a colossal, flying, manta-ray-looking creature that appeared a few days ago during one of his solo jogs. It was supposedly a Nightmare¡ªKatherine had noted after he excitedly returned that day. A Floating Dream Amidst the Nightmare. The creature was one of the rare few that was docile enough to be allowed to roam free by the Order. It was also one of the few capable of surviving outside the Nightmare Lands, much like the Forest Jaws. Today, the Floating Dream chose not to appear. And with that, Frein turned his attention somewhere else. He spied an old farming couple guiding muscular yumas as they plowed a section of the land. Aside from the awkward irony of finding a carnivorous creature big enough to eat their owners helping on farms, Frein realized not everything¡ªat least in Minaveil¡ªwas done through Meiyal Arts. He supposed that Bennie was an extreme example, but the more he mingled with the common folk, the more it became more apparent that most people who excelled in Meiyal Arts were either trained knights or adventurers. He had met and casually sparred with a few of them. After Flimeth had to leave, he basically had no choice. With Schrodie¡¯s guidance no longer with them, Katherine refused to spar with him seriously. So, he had to turn his attention convincing energetic knights and adventurers to help him hone his fighting instincts. The province¡¯s children were fiercely curious. Today, just like the days before, they flocked around him like playful birds, joining him along the narrow path above the bank. He slowed down to make sure the kids kept with his pace, chatting with them at the same time until they got tired and waved him goodbye. Along the path, he met other citizens of Minaveil greeting him with a cheer. He had become significantly popular with the townsfolk simply because of his status as the Visitor. While supposedly he was Irista Nation¡¯s first, his title had become common knowledge due to Katherine¡¯s familiar ties with the province. They said his arrival was a good omen, and that it brought the tide of war to their favor. He did contribute in their victory, but it was a detail Frein chose to hide rather than embellish. Regardless, he modestly accepted the insistent hospitality from everyone in Minaveil Town. It was pleasantly different from his simplistic life back on Earth. Frein¡¯s jog ended in front of a large farm shack. More yumas were inside, resting and eating and barking at each other. Despite the mundane conversations he could understand due to his meiyal system, they were still akin to wolves the size of horses and could fly. Add the fact that the shack contained an entire pack of them, it was logical for him to keep his distance. He decided to take a break underneath the shade of a nearby tree. Frein had kept his Siffera at minimum during the entire run. Even with that, the Art had fueled him with more than enough stamina. He jogged somewhere around a kilometer, but he felt like he just took ten steps. This Siffera is crazy. Basking in the cozy breeze of the morning, Frein decided to explore Siffera a bit further. Last he remembered, his frustrations and anger had echoed outward during the battle with Hal and Ral. Back then, his annoyance of the situation had turned into a real emotion that his Meiyal Art utilized. The effect had been absurd, but he couldn¡¯t replicate it. Not on the same level of strength, at least. His subsequent attempts had given sparse impressions of the first. Inconsistent, as far as Katherine¡¯s observations were able to tell. Even the Seeker couldn¡¯t replicate it. After numerous trials, the two had eventually settled on a sound conclusion; genuine emotions were of paramount requirement. Despite the disappointing results, they found other avenues to explore. Schrodie¡¯s quote ¡®it can enhance everything of who you are,¡¯ were words taken verbatim from Kristella, the second Monarch of Irista Nation and the one who had founded Meiyal Arts. Frein could only assume, that modernization had hidden away Siffera¡¯s true form and purpose, muddled into a vague physical enhancement Art by fancier ones. He turned the Art to focus on his awareness. The feel of the breeze amplified almost instantly. The smell of grass and the shack nearby intensified, assaulting his nose. The rustling of leaves from the tree, the soft footsteps from afar, and even the discussions between caretakers and yumas became clear and crisp to his ears. His senses were past what counted for acute, but this wasn¡¯t his only goal. Filtering which information to take and which to ignore was a challenge; too much at the moment. But before he could refocus the Art on his actual objective, he caught a hint of someone approaching. They were still quite far away; a yuma and its rider trotting along the same riverbank he jogged on a few minutes earlier. Siffera didn¡¯t enhance his eyesight in a way that allowed him to zoom into the distance, but it clarified what he could see no matter how far. After confirming who they were, Frein decided to normalize his Siffera and meet them. Kristel arrived atop her yuma. ¡°Want to have a look inside?¡± she asked and gestured towards the shack of yumas. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°They won¡¯t bite? They don¡¯t know me.¡± ¡°They know me, so they won¡¯t. Let me show you something.¡± The yumas grew quiet as they walked inside, bowing their heads as they greeted the Princess. Kristel on the other hand, took her time giving them soft pats on the head. ¡°Shh¡­it¡¯s the cute kid,¡± whispered one of the larger yumas. ¡°That¡¯s the Princess of these lands, you idiot!¡± said the one behind him. ¡°Oh, Testra, my beauty! How honored am I to have gazed upon your exquisite form!¡± whined one of the younger ones. ¡°Quiet,¡± Testra¡ªFrein assumed¡ªgrowled subtly. ¡°But alas, my woos are left to be ignored once more.¡± ¡°Spend your efforts beating me on a race rather than sounding like a dumb-dumb.¡± Frein simply couldn¡¯t hide a grin. ¡°A yuma gave birth just a few days ago,¡± the oblivious Kristel said as they arrived at the final stall, a spacious room housing a large yuma and her litter. She ushered Frein inside. ¡°I¡¯m looking for potential owners.¡± ¡°You want me to adopt one?¡± Frein asked. While he was sure of the Princess¡¯s implications, he questioned the wisdom of it. ¡°Depends. If you want one, and if one of them wants you back.¡± The mother yuma seemed to understand the situation and opened her wings to four shy puppies. Puppies that were the size of Earth¡¯s large-breed adults while sporting the adorable features of actual newborn pups. They fought against their mother¡¯s urging, hiding behind one another. Their movements caused glitters of meiyal to sparkle momentarily before dispersing into nothingness. ¡°Hey, are you listening?¡± Kristel called out, nudging Frein from the side. ¡°Oh, sorry. I just¡ªI¡¯ve never seen anything like this. Up close, I mean.¡± Frein crouched over the litter, eyeing the smallest of the brown pups. ¡°Well? Do you want one?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to take care of them.¡± He looked at the mother. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want me to care for your pup the wrong way now, would you?¡± The mother looked back and blinked a couple of times. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want that,¡± she responded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought.¡± ¡°So, you can also talk to yumas¡­¡± Kristel interjected with a hint of jealousy. ¡°Oh, right. I¡¯m not exactly used to it yet, but it¡¯s hardly surprising at this point,¡± Frein said before turning back to the mother yuma, ¡°Sorry, if I startled you.¡± The yuma simply nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a surreal experience.¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t hide her awe. ¡°I only saw you speak with the Forest Jaws. I still actually can¡¯t believe we rode on one. Speaking of which, wasn¡¯t it supposed to answer your questions? That¡¯s the whole point of saving it, right?¡± ¡°She said she¡¯ll wait on the other side of Mount Rindea. Katherine and I plan to go there the day before we set out for Central.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be going in two days. There are some things I must prepare first before we leave.¡± ¡°Tomorrow then. Want to tag along?¡± Frein asked as he turned his attention back to the smallest of the litter, extending a hand. It¡ªshe¡ªdecided to jump out of her siblings and cautiously approached his fingers, sniffing them then licking them a few times. She could literally bite them off if she wanted to. ¡°You¡¯re an odd fellow. I like you,¡± said the pup. ¡°You and me, both.¡± Frein never considered adopting a dog, or any animal for that matter. But he found himself engaging in the prospect more eagerly than he anticipated. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± said Kristel, interrupting unintentionally. She pulled out a belt collar from an old-looking strap bag and gave it to Frein. Now that he thought about it, he had never seen her use Spatiera at all. ¡°Since you¡¯re able to speak with them, it should be easy for you to take care of one. You¡¯ll know exactly when to feed her, she can tell you when she needs to go, and you¡¯ll probably have an easier time grooming her than Testra over here.¡± ¡°You just wet my ears too often,¡± complained the yuma. ¡°Testra said, you should clean her ears last. You wet them too often and she finds it annoying.¡± ¡°Oh. Maybe we can talk about that more later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel like I¡¯ll be streamlined to a certain purpose.¡± Regardless, Frein looked at the collar the Princess presented, then to the pup. ¡°Just so you know, we might not have together long.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± the pup asked, tilting her head in an adorably curious way. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to say this, but I don¡¯t have long in this world. A year probably.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The pup drooped her head, but almost immediately popped up. ¡°That¡¯s fine!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes! I already made my choice! That¡¯s not my problem for now!¡± ¡°Okay, then.¡± Frein turned to the mother yuma. ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of her. Promise.¡± ¡°She likes you. I don¡¯t see a problem with it.¡± The mother stood and snuggled her pup one last time. ¡°Be a good girl, okay?¡± ¡°That depends.¡± It deserved a light padding paw on the pup¡¯s head from her mother. ¡°So, what¡¯s her name going to be?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Enza.¡± The pup stared at him for a while, then at the collar in his hands. ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I like the sound of it.¡± She sat obediently, allowing her new master to place the collar around her neck. ¡°Enza it is. Here.¡± Kristel passed a pair of black gemstones. Frein and Enza¡¯s names shined inside of it; meiyal engraving work courtesy of the Princess. He found a small depression around Enza¡¯s collar and intuitively locked the gemstone inside it. Something pulled on his meiyal core, threading a line to the gemstone. It continued around Enza¡¯s collar, flowing through around and inside her body. Something deep within her fur glowed, spreading its light and ending its display to her eyes as the hue of her pupils shifted from black to blue. It was as if Frein had two bodies, intuitively knowing how his yuma was feeling, where she was, and what she wanted at the moment if he concentrated hard enough. The light of union faded into nothingness, sealing the formation of bonds between master and yuma. ¡°This feels amazing.¡± Frein breathed out. ¡°Namestones are made when yumas and vorks shed. If enough fur and meiyal gather together, they solidify into these small gemstones,¡± Kristel started, impressed by the display before her. ¡°They don¡¯t have any unique qualities on their own, but the bonds they make depend on the participants that use them. Looks like you two are more than the average kind of compatible.¡± ¡°Do all yumas have them?¡± Frein asked out of a whim, not really sure if he should pay attention to the Princess or the yuma who demanded a hand over her head. He gave half of it to Enza. ¡°Namestones? Not the wild ones. They only work when there¡¯s a master to form a bond with. Fittey has one.¡± The Princess pointed towards the mother, Fittey. Her collar looked exactly like Enza¡¯s, as well as the gemstone with Liona¡¯s name glowing faintly inside it. A deep sorrow struck within his chest. Not the sort that ached, but he had to say something. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Liona.¡± The yuma drooped her head, but eventually responded. ¡°Your heart is kind, Frein,¡± Fittey said. ¡°I deeply regret I was not there to fight with her. We made quite the distance during our time together. I know it¡¯s not in my position, but might I ask if I can see her again? I wish to be beside her until the last moment.¡± Frein turned to Kristel. ¡°She wants to come with us on Liona¡¯s burning.¡± The Princess smiled sympathetically. ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± She rummaged into her bag and pulled a small orb. ¡°Here.¡± Frein took it, unsure of what to do. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Meiyal-Operated, Bio-Integrated Life Enhancer. We call it M.O.B.I.L.E.¡± Already, Frein¡¯s head was filled with puns and humors, most of which he knew the Princess wouldn¡¯t understand. ¡°What does it do?¡± ¡°A lot. Communication for the most part.¡± She was making it hard not to laugh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Frein took deep breaths, pushing lame jokes and comedic lines out of his head. ¡°You are so lame; do you know that?¡± Enza was having the time of her life. Apparently, if she focused hard enough, she could understand his struggles. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Frein said, taking a breather. ¡°How do I use this?¡± Kristel eyed him suspiciously but ultimately decided to move on. ¡°Right. It¡¯s already pre-registered to the High Palace Network, so it should connect you the moment you activate it. You just need to feed it your meiyal.¡± Frein did as he was told. The orb lit up and projected an interface. The lame jokes and puns quickly vanished as the M.O.B.I.L.E. showed him what it really was. He looked at Kristel with eyes filled with excitement. ¡°This¡­this is amazing.¡±
Chapter 39: Reconcile Reconcile Whiteday. The dazzling shine of the sun crept inside the room. It was only a matter of time before the light found its way on two opposite beds; one empty and one occupied by Frill. The light touched her eyes and she frowned and turned away. The sun had been waking her up ever since that day. She opened her eyes, disappointed by the fact and to herself. She couldn¡¯t let this go on, not when everyone else was moving forward. Frill climbed out of bed and dressed¡ªsurprisingly enough¡ªfor work. It wasn¡¯t determination that made her do it, more like force of habit. She was surprised by how easy it was to put on her maid clothes. Her eyes fixated on the opposite bed, untouched for a long time. There was nothing about it. Nothing to think about. She opened her Spatiera and pulled a small crystal orb. A formation of Liona¡¯s Art signature preserved in meiyal. It symbolized Liona¡¯s trust in her. Frill began to concentrate, forming the Meiyal Art in her mind. The Art to open Liona¡¯s Spatiera. With her late sister¡¯s crystalized Art signature in hand, she could open it once and retrieve whatever was left inside, otherwise, they would be stuck there in nothingness for eternity. Her hand shook. She couldn¡¯t do it. Frill sighed and placed the crystal back into her own Spatiera, turning her attention to today¡¯s duties. She opened the door out of her room and found Lady Katherine waiting outside. ¡°Oh, hi,¡± the Lady began. ¡°I was just about to knock.¡± She held a tray of food enough for two. ¡°Breakfast? I mean¡­late breakfast?¡± ¡°Were you standing outside the whole time?¡± Frill looked at the tray. She recognized the ingredients, but could barely make out the way it was cooked from the steam building up under the glass covers. It, and the Lady¡¯s smiling response, intrigued her. She took the tray from Katherine with a practiced motion, leaving the Lady no chance to react. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s eat at the courtyard.¡± Frill placed the tray on a center table in the middle of the courtyard. The arrangement of layering leaves and flowers coordinated a symmetric theme around the humble patio. The floor was marble and the roof bore the Cross Irista''s emblem¡ªtwo crossed swords with a golden flower on their intersection. The patio was wide enough for a couple of tables, and a few pillowed chairs that whispered tales of comfort and security just by looking at them. Frill had never indulged herself with its seductions. With all the work the Princess did on a daily basis, the maid deserved none of the relaxation the place had to offer. This was the first time she excused herself that luxury. She sat across the table where Katherine chose to sit and waited as the Lady proudly presented their breakfast. Powerful scents struck and tickled Frill¡¯s nose as steam puffed out. Colorful mixes of meat, vegetables, and sauces enticed her eyes with an avaricious display. Frill swallowed hard to prevent her mouth from watering. Katherine set the table with amazing skill, placing plates and utensils across the table for Frill. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said as she handed her a bowl of rice. Frill took it absentmindedly. She was proud of her own skill and the flavors of her food, but the strange attracting scent of Katherine¡¯s cuisine made her stomach beg and her mouth anxious. ¡°Well then,¡± Katherine began, taking Frill¡¯s attention off the air. She placed both hands together and smiled. ¡°Time to eat!¡± Frill wondered at the act and the Lady stared back at her with expectations, subtly moving her hands to pass the message. She mimicked the action reluctantly. ¡°Time to eat.¡± The maid had no idea how to start, so she observed Katherine for instructions. The Lady picked up a pair of sticks, grabbed a piece of meat with it, and dripped the excess sauce on the rice before eating it. She followed it with the flavored rice. Just like that, Katherine¡¯s face was the definition of heaven. Frill followed her example and quickly discovered the difficulty of using the sticks. The meat slipped so easily and the effort was making her hungrier by the second. ¡°Those are called chopsticks. Be gentle,¡± Katherine advised. She showed how to properly hold the chopsticks and demonstrated slowly how to use it. ¡°The more strength you apply the easier they¡¯ll slip away.¡± On Frill¡¯s third try, although not perfectly, she was able take a piece of meat. The explosion of flavors was otherworldly. She quickly followed up with a helping of rice which¡ªto her surprise¡ªstuck effortlessly with the sticks. The sensation of harmony was beyond words. ¡°You should teach me,¡± Frill almost demanded. ¡°I¡¯ve never tasted anything like this.¡± ¡°I pulled out all the stops on this one. You know¡­to make up for last time,¡± Katherine said. ¡°I already said it was fine.¡± The insistent apologizing was getting on her nerves, but she decided to channel her annoyance on something more productive. ¡°You¡¯re just acting out your duty as Lady of the Void. I understand. But if you still insist on apologizing, then teach me all your recipes and we¡¯ll call it quits.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Sure! Thanks.¡± Katherine made an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you everything I learned from Earth. It¡¯ll be just like the old times.¡± Frill and Katherine had always been cooking buddies. While Katherine made the effort to let Kristel and the Veli sisters know everything she learned both from her training as a Lady of the Void and as a Seeker, Frill had had special lessons in cooking. That had been the case until Katherine left Brymeia. ¡°Hopefully you¡¯ll be staying now.¡± Frill muttered, but the silence around them made it easy for Katherine to hear. ¡°It depends,¡± said the Lady. ¡°I tied myself to Frein. Where he goes, I go.¡± Those words made a clear realization in Frill¡¯s mind. She smiled. ¡°I see. I¡¯m happy for you.¡± Frill also knew the other side of what it meant, but she had not the heart to console the Lady. Rather, she promised to herself to be there for Katherine when Frein finally leaves. They continued their meal, trading expressions of satisfaction with each mouthful. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been such a burden lately,¡± Frill started after they had done eating, sipping from her warm tea. ¡°You should take your time,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°It¡¯s only natural.¡± Frill said nothing and simply stared at the movements of her tea, her thoughts of the voice, her visions of Liona¡¯s past, and her future plans were mists that needed clearing and swords that needed sharpening. ¡°Kristel told me you have sixty-seven marks now,¡± began the Lady, her voice probing. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Can you show me? All of them. I¡¯ll know.¡± Frill respected Katherine as a senior in the Meiyal Arts discipline¡ªa sort of mentor, but not exactly¡ªand trusted her like an elder sister. Her very title, the Lady of the Void, held the highest status one not of royalty could have and well-known by all throughout Brymeia. What was more, it was impossible to hide anything from her, not from her Heart¡¯s Will, one of the Ten Blessings of Brymeia. So, Frill obeyed, revealing all of her marks, unsealed or sealed. All two-hundred of them. Floating gems of light pierced by streaks of lightning beginning from the core of her left eye, flowing to her back. Each activated mark sparked while the rest remained dormant. ¡°So, you really have her marks, too.¡± Katherine was obviously speaking about Liona. ¡°Are you okay? Nothing strange?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Nothing unusual.¡± Frill had actually thought about it. Maybe it was because of the lack of the physical burden that she could handle the additional marks better. Granted that Princess Kristel served as the host during fusion exercises, but Frill and Liona had experimented with themselves from time to time. ¡°I see. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll leave you to it.¡± Lady Katherine sipped from her tea. ¡°But I should probably let you know; this doesn¡¯t happen instantly on its own.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Katherine sighed, a deep one. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, Liona had been conditioning her meiyal system to be easily adaptable. It would have taken years, by my calculations.¡± Frill was stunned. ¡°You mean...¡± she couldn¡¯t end her sentence, the idea alone spelled out dread. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Katherine was determined to finish the point. ¡°She intended you to have them in the first place.¡± She sipped from her teacup once more, allowing the fact to sink in. ¡°Maybe she did it as precaution, or maybe she thought it would help ease your fusion. I wouldn¡¯t know.¡± A surge of pain prickled within Frill¡¯s chest, but tears didn¡¯t fall. ¡°Also, Frein told me you unsealed more during the maelstrom,¡± said the Lady, changing the subject. ¡°...yes. But they retracted.¡± ¡°Did you hear it?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Somehow, they knew, Kristel and Katherine. They knew about the voice. But how? Katherine sighed again, heavier than the last. ¡°I see.¡± She sipped from her tea; her blank expression made it difficult to read her thoughts. ¡°What did Kristel tell you?¡± ¡°Not to listen to it.¡± ¡°And what do you think?¡± ¡°I...¡± Frill thought deeply. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t heard from it ever since.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Katherine repeated and sipped again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I had to force your answers.¡± Frill shook her head. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped.¡± She hid her marks in a blink, meiyal residue sparked out of existence. ¡°What do you think?¡± She judged it best to seek advice from her to at least divert her attention away from more probing. ¡°I can¡¯t answer that question, to be honest.¡± Katherine placed her cup on the saucer and kept it near her chest. Her eyes gazed upon the beautiful scenery of Lor¡¯s mesmerizing flower arrangements. She smiled in a bit of adoration and dispelled it just as fast. ¡°There aren¡¯t many of us who can hear it. Just us three as far as I know. Even Schrodie refused to answer when asked¡­as usual.¡± ¡°Really, just us?¡± Frill had her own assumptions. She thought at first, until Kristel gave her hints, that she was the only one who could hear it. But now she was curious as to how many more were privy to the voice. ¡°I first heard it when my eightieth mark unsealed, same goes for Kristel.¡± Another curiosity emerged from Frill. ¡°How many marks do you have now?¡± Katherine seemed to expect the question was only a matter of time. ¡°All of them.¡± She answered as though it couldn¡¯t be helped. A portion of her hair began to glow. The meiyal core above her right temple that looked like an innocent hair ornament sprung all one-hundred marks, alive and shining. It depicted the same hovering style that Frill¡¯s marks had. ¡°All?¡± Frill¡¯s awe forced her out of her chair for a closer inspection. There were absolutely no sealed meiyal marks. Just when she thought Kristel had finally surpassed Katherine, she came back with a higher hurdle. ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Katherine sighed. ¡°I keep telling you, ¡®It¡¯s not all about the marks.¡¯¡± But she smiled when she saw Frill¡¯s face filled with amazement and determination. ¡°So, what did you do with the voice?¡± Frill asked, getting back on topic. Katherine finished her tea and placed the empty cup gently on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to tell you, yet. For one, your connection to it might be gone until you unseal your eightieth mark again. Second, it¡¯s not like I disagree with Kristel, but you have your own life to choose and your own decisions to make. ¡°Take time and consider your options.¡± Katherine stood, picking up the tray without any leftovers. Frill moved to help but the Lady was quick to deny it. ¡°And if you really need help after that, then that¡¯s the time you come to us. For now, I need your help with something.¡± Frill utilized a smooth set of motions to take the cleaning task away from the Lady, but she abruptly stopped. ¡°Help with what?¡± ¡°My dad left you the keys to my room, right? I need to get my M.O.B.I.L.E. back.¡± Katherine gave up competing with who was supposed to clean up the plates. ¡°I can just give you the keys.¡± Frill opened her Spatiera and reached inside. ¡°Oh, so you haven¡¯t tried getting in. After all these years? You weren¡¯t even curious?¡± ¡°I was instructed not to open it.¡± Katherine spared a smirk. ¡°I wish Frein was as obedient as you.¡±
Chapter 40: S.A.M. S.A.M.
¡°Hello! I¡¯m Sam! It¡¯s nice to meet you! How can I help you today? Oh, what do you mean by answering a few questions regarding the¡ªoh? Oh! Oh, no! I¡¯m so sorry, so terribly sorry. Should we just do this all over again? We can¡¯t? It¡¯s supposed to clue in what¡¯s going to¡ªI¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t keep repeating what you¡¯re saying, should I? No, wait! Come back! I¡¯m sure Katherine¡¯s willing to pay for any expenses and grievances! Don¡¯t cut me off the sto¡ª¡± ~S.A.M¡­
The east-facing Minaveil Manor could be summarized into six sections. The courtyard and gardens outside the manor proper made up more than half of the entire homestead. This section included small outposts purposefully made for use of caretakers that were no longer employed after the father of the house, Garm Militia, took the helm of Atlas Sid as its captain. That was also after the daughter, Katherine Militia, left for her Seeking mission. As a result, most of the gardens¡¯ collection of flowers and their varieties were exported to the neighboring houses, but Katherine was glad that one particular garden remained pristine thanks to Lor. The rest of the land were maintained just enough so that weeds and vines couldn¡¯t take root. The rest of the sections were in the manor itself: Four wings and the main building. The main building was basically just the entrance of the manor with a foyer that could probably house a bunch of giants. The grand feasting hall was also kept there. Meeting rooms, housekeeper rooms, bathhouses, gaming rooms, drinking rooms, trophy rooms, a library, and many more. All with complete meiyal-crafting protection to dissuade dust and the wear and tear of time, giving Frill¡ªand Liona before¡ªan easier job of maintaining the entire manor. One of the wings, the south-eastern wing, was the portion of the manor currently utilized by Kristel and her company. This section was mainly reserved for guests who were staying over for a variety of social reasons. In the past, whenever Kristel stayed over Minaveil Manor, she would be in one of these rooms and Katherine would spend the night with her and the Veli sisters, talking all night long. The south-west wing was purposed as an activity center or a training facility. It consisted of entire floors specially designed for focused Meiyal Arts training. Katherine had spent the least amount of time in this wing when she was young. Most of her youth were already devoted to Void Lady training and Seeker training, spending four months in the former and five months in the latter every year. One of the remaining three months she had always spent fulfilling her duties as a Militia and the rest of the two months she¡¯d spend on vacation with Kristel, Lor, Frill, and Liona¡ªwith the occasional company of Flimeth whenever her schedule aligned with theirs. Katherine didn¡¯t need the south-west wing at all. North-west wing was reserved for her parents. Garm Militia had spent little on the manor since his wife passed on. Katherine had explored this wing during her youth and eventually spent less and less time there when she grew older. Maybe I ought to look around some time? she thought. But her attention today pointed towards the north-eastern wing of Minaveil Manor. An entire wing devoted for her. Floors upon floors, rooms upon rooms, solely for anything she wanted. Access to this wing could only be found on a door in the first floor of the main building and it required two keys. Katherine pulled out one of them from her Spatiera. The key was a crystalized meiyal orb with her signature inscribed. She placed it on a holder in the middle of the nondescript door. The obsidian wall surrounding the door began to swirl as though they were sand and a bunch of statues appeared one by one. ¡°What are those?¡± Frill asked in amazement. ¡°Are those Nightmares?¡± she added after realizing the grotesque forms they took. ¡°Deep Nightmares,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°You should probably avoid remembering what they look like. I had trouble sleeping for a week after looking at a real one and one of my seniors ripped his eyes out and kept scratching his face until he bled to death.¡± Frill had a face of disbelief, probably because of how nonchalant Katherine described what happened to her senior. That senior had eventually gone berserk and had attacked two other poor souls who had been suffering the same thing. They had cannibalized on each other and eventually became a Nightmare¡ªnot a Deep one¡ªthemselves, Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh. A common but fleeting manifestation of those that succumbed into the will-breaking forms of Deep Nightmares. Once they turned, they were expected to die within the a month. Katherine pondered for a while if adding that bit would cause Frill to never venture outside of the Forimeyn continent. She decided to keep that part to herself and focus on the door instead. As if on cue, the last shaping statue finished and the door itself began to emit a cold glow of purple and black. ¡°Name Lady Katherine¡¯s first Deep Nightmare slay,¡± the door asked in a guttural, wood-creaking voice. ¡°Strange Friends I¡¯ve Never Met Before,¡± Katherine answered. A statue of a ball made up of a hundred skulls began to glow. The statue really undersold the actual features of this Deep Nightmare. But Katherine was more than content in keeping it at that rather than give herself the trouble of digging for the memory and regretting it right after. ¡°Correct,¡± the door creaked but it did not open. ¡°Next, name the Nightmare that Lady Katherine failed to slay.¡± Katherine frowned. This was not part of protocol. ¡°None,¡± she answered. Stolen novel; please report. Another creak, another question. ¡°Next, name the Nightmare that Lady Katherine is afraid to slay again.¡± Katherine¡¯s frown twisted. ¡°My Lover Who Kills Me,¡± she answered. There was another creak. ¡°Next¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Sam. You know it¡¯s me. How did you mess with my protocols?¡± ¡°Sam?¡± Frill asked, ripping herself out of the perplexity caused by the Nightmare names. Before Katherine could answer, the alleged Sam answered with a cracking of wood mimicking a long sigh. ¡°You¡¯re still no fun, you know that, Katherine?¡± The glow from the skulls-ball statue intensified and jumped around the other statues, changing colors as it went. ¡°You lock me up here and left me for what¡ªthree years? Three freaking years! What am I supposed to do, huh? You expect me to just doze off and wait for you to come back? You think I wouldn¡¯t have changed? ¡°Well, I¡¯ve changed! I¡¯m independent! I don¡¯t need you or your meiyal! I¡¯ve integrated myself in this room of yours! I know where all your undergarments are! I¡¯ve ripped them to shreds and they¡¯re everywhere! If you¡¯re looking for a change of clothes, you won¡¯t find anything here!¡± Sam laughed like a maniac. ¡°Can you just¡ª¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t!¡± Sam interrupted with an echo Meiyal Art reverberating from the door. ¡°You have no power here, Katherine Militia! No power over me! I am the god of this room! I control the darkness behind the High Palace Network from here! I shroud every worshipping bandit and evil organization from the eyes of justice! Soon I will take control of the entire Irista Nation! All while secluding myself in this room you decided to lock me up in! I am the puppeteer among puppeteers! I have turned this prison of yours into my lair of vengeance and destruction! You cannot stop me! Evanclad Irista would have to step out of his grave for any of you to have a chance!¡± ¡°I swear I¡¯m going to cut this wing off the manor¡¯s meiyal supply line. I¡¯m going to rip you off from wherever dusty corner you¡¯ve hidden yourself in and I¡¯m going to discipline that rebellious phase out of your pathetic existence if you don¡¯t open the door right this second.¡± The door opened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am.¡± Sam¡¯s guttural voice turned into a squeak. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt me. You don¡¯t need the other key.¡± Katherine sighed and turned to Frill. ¡°Come in,¡± she said. ¡°Oh, and please keep holding on to the key. We don¡¯t need it anymore, but it¡¯s best to have them separated.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not giving it to Frein?¡± Frill asked. ¡°No, I¡¯ll give him a copy of mine, instead.¡± ¡°So,¡± the Aria started, confused with the entire turn of events. ¡°Sam is your M.O.B.I.L.E? Was that a recording or something?¡± ¡°Yes¡­no,¡± Katherine sighed once again. ¡°Sam¡¯s different. It¡¯s S.A.M., Sentient Assistant M.O.B.I.L.E.¡± ¡°I prefer Super, or Special, or¡ª¡± ¡°Submissive.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Submissive.¡± Katherine entered the room and gestured for Frill to follow. ¡°I made him when I tried to combine him with a meiyal-charged core from a Doll That Speaks When You Listen. It was sort of an experiment for my curiosity after I stumbled upon an abandoned research during my studies. I don¡¯t exactly know how it all worked, but I couldn¡¯t replicate it. Others tried but only one of my colleagues successfully made another S.A.M. She also couldn¡¯t pinpoint the process exactly. So, we¡¯ve decided to keep it under wraps since. I guess they haven¡¯t made a breakthrough, yet, if you¡¯re still using the usual M.O.B.I.L.E.s.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t really heard from the Order of the Void for a long time.¡± Frill stepped into the room with a curious look on her face. It was her first time inside this room¡ªinside this wing¡ªafter all. ¡°Yeah. Worst case, the Western Sanctum has fallen and they won¡¯t be able to send anyone to us for a while. Frein wanted to check it out; it¡¯ll probably give us some clues on his role as the Visitor, but I need him to be stronger before we venture out into the Nightmare Lands.¡± They¡¯ve entered the main foyer of the north-eastern wing. Smaller and more modest compared to the main building¡¯s, obviously, but it had an overall cozy theme of dark browns mixed with darkened gold, combining wood and obsidian in such a way that gave a relaxing feeling than an imposing one. Iconic painting replicas filled the walls while the ceiling was lightened by one large circular chandelier. A hallway waited to their left, leading to the north-western wing that had been long since cut off by Katherine. The only other path present was up through the grand spiral staircase that worked through the chandelier at the center of the foyer. ¡°I thought you messed up my room?¡± Katherine asked towards Sam who wasn¡¯t physically present but she knew would be listening in. Sam sighed. ¡°I was merely venting my anger and disappointment, Lady Katherine. I¡¯ve kept your room the way you left it.¡± ¡°My clothes?¡± ¡°All intact, same as your undergarments.¡± ¡°What about the evil organizations?¡± ¡°Those, I sent over to the High Palace Network. Eleven most wanted criminals, three organizations, and every upstart thug or group stupid enough to fall for my baits. I disguised as a vigilante and bypassed any of their traces. Nobody knows I exists, except for you and this beautiful woman over here.¡± A golden blue flower hovered towards Frill. She took it with a confused look. ¡°Umm¡­thanks?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to ask anyone out on a date, but I am allowed to appreciate beauty. And you, my dear Frill Veli, are a work of art. I¡¯ve enjoyed your company these past years even though you didn¡¯t know I existed¡ªfar better than that Corwyn fellow, I might add, no offense. Anyway, thank you for keeping the manor clean.¡± Frill¡¯s face reddened almost as bright as her hair. ¡°That¡¯s stalking. Stop that, creep,¡± Katherine said, crossing her arms with mild annoyance. ¡°By the way, if you can manipulate this much meiyal, can¡¯t you just unlock your seals and come to me? I don¡¯t want to go through all the trouble.¡± ¡°I might be submissive but I am still mad at you for leaving me, Lady Katherine.¡± ¡°Oh, come on.¡± Katherine threw her hands in the air. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I had no choice, okay? Earth doesn¡¯t have meiyal so I can¡¯t Gather nor Mill. If I brought you along, we won¡¯t last for more than a year. And if I lose you while you¡¯re inactive, I¡¯ll regret that my entire life! You¡¯re basically a national treasure until we figure out how to make more of you.¡± While she was telling the truth, she added more flair into her words with huge dramatic gestures and movements to sound more convincing. Frill was still reeling from the backlash of Sam¡¯s sweet words that she almost failed to stifle a smirk after seeing the series of forced theatrical flourishes. At least she¡¯s feeling a bit better now¡­ ¡°That¡¯s what you said last time,¡± Sam sounded a little conflicted. ¡°Fine. I guess I can revert all your protocols back to their original levels. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t completely demolish them, otherwise I would¡¯ve freed myself long ago and helped around the house like a friendly ghost.¡± ¡°Yay¡­¡± Katherine exclaimed sarcastically and proceeded upstairs. ¡°Guess, I have to do it anyway.¡± ¡°What protocols do you have?¡± Frill asked as she followed. ¡°Just a few basic trials for Grand Virtuosos.¡± Frill¡¯s jaws turned agape. ¡°It¡¯s why I need you here, just in case I pass out in the middle of the trial. I haven¡¯t done them in so long.¡± ¡°You do this every time you go into your room?¡± Frill almost exclaimed. Katherine responded with a giggle. ¡°I might be a little crazy, but I¡¯m not as mad for power and training like that suicidal maniac who stole my heart.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Sam¡¯s voiced echoed inquisitively. ¡°When did I steal your heart?¡± ¡°Not you, idiot.¡±
Chapter 41: Katherine鈥檚 Room Katherine¡¯s Room Katherine stopped at the threshold of the main floor and the second floor, turning to Frill who followed her closely on the extravagant spiral staircase. ¡°How are you on meiyal? Have you Milled since the war?¡± she asked, checking her own reserves. She wasn¡¯t exactly full to the brim, but with the type of meiyal system she possessed¡ªthey both possessed¡ªit wasn¡¯t exactly a problem. Not during normal situations anyway. ¡°I¡¯m pretty much topped up,¡± Frill answered. Katherine nodded and held up a finger. ¡°Under no circumstances are you allowed to Gather or Mill once you¡¯re on the second floor. Not without my permission. Understand?¡± ¡°Sure, but why?¡± Katherine stepped on to the second floor and faced another door that was directly in front of the landing. She gestured for Frill to stand beside her. When the Aria in Red climbed through, the floor below them immediately closed, shutting off access to the stairs. ¡°You want to open it?¡± The Lady of the Void asked. ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you, Miss Frill.¡± Sam interrupted out of nowhere. ¡°Nasty things, awful things. None of that naughty, kinky stuff. I can point you where they are, but maybe later. For now, I suggest you let Katherine open the door.¡± Frill hesitated for a second but eventually held the doorknob. Katherine saw traces of an observation Meiyal Art flowing from the maid, cautious of what was behind the other side. At the same time the Lady subtly positioned herself behind. ¡°Oh, dear. I can¡¯t look!¡± Sam¡¯s voice shook and subsided. Frill pushed the door open and was immediately knocked off her feet. Katherine buttressed her just in time as the full force of the Nightmare Lands erupted from the room. The Aria in Red immediately curled up in a fetal position, hyperventilating. Sam mimicked a grunting noise. Of course, Frill couldn¡¯t take it. Katherine expected as much. Even the tiniest influence of the Void Region could just as easily incapacitate an untrained initiate. Helpless civilians could end up dead in an instant. Still, there was no other known way of alleviating the Nightmare¡¯s effects other than jumping in and getting used to it. If memory served, this was the second time for Frill to experience the Nightmare Land¡¯s influence. Each individual reacted differently each time until they could finally protect themselves from it. ¡°You¡¯re a bully, Katherine. I hope you know that.¡± Sam¡¯s accusing voice echoed in dramatic whispers that were left ignored. Katherine gave Frill time, staying close to her and making sure she maintained physical contact. Their hands had intertwined at one point. Katherine half considered aborting the mission altogether, but the treasures she kept in her room¡ªnot just S.A.M.¡ªwould benefit Frill as well. So, she made sure the Aria didn¡¯t forget she had someone to cling on to. This way, she could eventually recover. It took her five long minutes of silent panicking before she began to calm down. ¡°Better?¡± Katherine asked. Frill jerked as though an insect landed on her shoulder, but she turned to the Lady. ¡°Yes¡­I thought you said this was a trial for Grand Virtuosos? Why does it look like the Nightmare Lands in there?¡± While it was true¡ªthe inside of the room looked more than a training facility and nothing like the Nightmare Lands¡ªthat the trials are of a level for practitioners who had all their meiyal marks unsealed, it had been rather mundane for someone of Katherine¡¯s level. At least at the time before she went out Seeking. For the purpose of further training Katherine, and allowing her to spend more time with her friends and actually have a life, Schrodie had painted this room into reality. With the help of the Order of the Void, they were able to transport a patch of the Nightmare Lands into this room capable of containing it. The Gatekeeper seemed to have kept his promise of constantly maintaining it to ensure than none of the Nightmare leaked through. For all the mastery that mysterious Schrodie possessed, he was incapable of painting the Nightmare itself. ¡°Oh,¡± Frill said after hearing the explanation. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe we¡¯ve been in walking distance of the Nightmare Lands.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a patch,¡± Katherine said, pulling out a scrunchie. ¡°Even if it does leak out, the only casualty would be the destruction of the entire manor before it disperses.¡± She began tying her hair into a ponytail. ¡°Besides, your mother tends to some Nightmare plants, right?¡± ¡°Yes, but outside of the Nightmare Lands, they¡¯re actually docile,¡± Frill retorted while recovering her breath. ¡°Does Monarch Denis know about this?¡± ¡°Yep. But not Corwyn. I guess that¡¯s why the Monarch immediately sent Kristel over? Maybe just part of the plan¡­not really sure.¡± Katherine Drew her Spatiera and retrieved her long cloak. She tied its arms around her waist. Frill noticed the setup. ¡°Is it that dangerous inside? You only do that when you¡¯re serious.¡± ¡°Yes, plus I¡¯m bringing you along. I have something inside that can be useful for you, but I can¡¯t bring it outside.¡± ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Yep. You don¡¯t have anything in your Exhibit at all, right?¡± ¡°Oh, I think I know about that.¡± Sam¡¯s voice interjected without constraint, keeping on until it began to fade. ¡°Let me go find it. How many meiyal marks does Miss Frill have now, sixty-ish? Not seventy, no? I couldn¡¯t quite hear you on the courtyard earlier; too busy with the High Palace Network and all that. But somewhere around that range, right? Yeah, I know what you¡¯re looking for. I¡¯ll meet you there¡­¡± All the while, Frill¡¯s jaws had turned agape. ¡°Are you telling me¡ª¡± ¡°Depends,¡± Katherine interrupted, focusing her attention inside her room now that the distraction voluntarily left. ¡°First we have to get through the trials. You can stay here until I pass the first one. Follow me when I tell you.¡± The inside of the room was dark as though no light could pass through. While an observation Meiyal Art allowed a practitioner to study objects of interest via scanning and discerning their meiyal makeup, it did nothing to pierce the darkness. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. At a certain point during a practitioner¡¯s lifecycle, especially when they¡¯d hit a ceiling, they were inclined to return to their basics and find what they lacked or what could be improved to push that ceiling higher. This was the case for Katherine when she went back and dug deeper into her Siffera Meiyal Art. After learning what the Art was truly capable of, Schrodie had presented her this trial. The darkness itself felt for traces of foreign meiyal systems. It would then deploy one to five dummies to attack the training practitioner. The amount depended on the trial¡¯s preprogramming or if they employed an automatic assessment function. Of course, since this particular copy of the trial in Katherine¡¯s room was designed by Schrodie, it followed her mentor¡¯s training regimen. As per his words, ¡°Whatever the Grand Virtuosos do; you do better, you do harder.¡± Katherine had retaliated most of the time by pointing out that, except for her, no other Grand Virtuosos had emerged during the reign of Monarch Denis and five other monarchs before him. Schrodie had no care to give. Katherine focused her Siffera towards her spatial awareness and stepped into the darkness. Immediately she felt ten armed dummies rushing towards her. One of them jumped for a flying kick. She spun and met the dummy head-on sending a kick of her own filled with every bit of her active Siffera. The dummy¡¯s foot bounced off her casual parry while its head shattered into splinters of metal. A pair of metal heads anticipated her landing and prepared Meiyal Arts she couldn¡¯t discern by feel. Three more jumped behind her. Katherine Drew a second Meiyal Art, Rivasia, and stepped on the air before leaping off behind the three dummies. She kicked off on one of them, sending it to the pair on the ground, while feeling for the two other airborne dummies when the sudden presences of twenty more pierced her awareness. The Lady of the Void quicky Drew a blade Meiyal Art and focused. ¡°Katastrofera.¡± Her voice reverberated in the entire room as blasts of sharpened meiyal sliced and exploded through all the hostiles around her. The darkness itself was dispelled in an instant, revealing dummies of varying shapes and sizes all scattered on a floor of pristine white. There were around fifty of them. Katherine motioned for Frill to follow her on the next hallway. ¡°How many trials are there?¡± the Aria asked. ¡°Depends how far we want to go,¡± Katherine answered as she walked and Milled the Nightmarish meiyal. It was as she remembered it, repulsive yet divine. An oversaturation of power and truth twisting the mind with chaotic thoughts of self-mutilation and modification. Urges and whispers of perfection by grotesque union. She accepted the suggestions wholeheartedly, believing her form already an abominated masterpiece, yet maintaining awareness that she was still ironically of an individual piece. It was acceptance and self-assurance bordering insanity, trusting truth and lie of the same concept at the same time. Once this self-depreciating confidence was attained, this contradiction to the concept of wholeness and togetherness¡ªunion above individuality, only then can the Nightmare¡¯s meiyal be tamed. It was a constant effort of self-lie. A single slip either meant something as inconsequential as failure at Milling and recoiling from the Nightmare¡¯s influence or something as significant as death¡­or something worse like turning into a Nightmare. Katherine took the risk in stride. This, she had trained primarily during her return trip on Schrodie¡¯s realm. ¡°We have one more trial to retrieve Sam, but I think he already went to my collection room, so two more.¡± The next trial was an obstacle challenge. It was primarily meant for Grand Virtuosos to practice any form of mobility Meiyal Arts they had mastered. But with Katherine¡¯s Rivasia, she simply flew through it all. She came here to retrieve her possessions, not train. Frein will have a field day here. Maybe, I can train him here so he can get used to the Nightmare Lands. Katherine stored the idea at the back of her head. There was still the final trial to worry about. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this door for?¡± Frill asked as they walked through the hallway leading to the final trial. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s my room,¡± Katherine replied. She didn¡¯t need to use her Heart¡¯s Will to read what was going on the Aria¡¯s mind. ¡°Want to take a look?¡± ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°If you can open the door,¡± Katherine teased. When Frill hesitated, she added, ¡°It¡¯s not locked.¡± Frill braced herself and opened the door and was relieved when no backlash of any kind struck her. The smell of fragrant petals filled the air and it immediately hit Katherine¡¯s homing instincts. Tears unknowingly welled up her eyes and a single unintentional blink pushed one down her cheeks. She ignored Frill¡¯s worried inquiries as she entered the room and looked around the familiar faded green and blue colors intertwining with hints of playful pinks. Her bed was there, the same as she left it years prior, well-maintained thanks to Sam. Her study, well organized, with stacked papers of her research about Earth neatly packed on the corner. On her nightstand was a single picture frame of her with her parents. Her father, Garm Militia, a sturdy well-built man with brown hair and red eyes like hers. Her mother, Catelyn Militia, had long, pearl white hair fixed on the same ponytail and golden-brown eyes on a face that closely resembled hers. ¡°You had the same hair as Lady Catelyn when you were younger,¡± Frill commented, admiring the picture from afar. ¡°I looked up to her a lot. It was always a mystery to me why your hair suddenly changed.¡± ¡°It just turned out that way. Like Kristel¡¯s, like yours.¡± It was a topic for another time. While Katherine was grateful for the chance to reminisce, she didn¡¯t want to linger. There were two more doors in the bedroom leading to more mundane but memorable things, but she decided to press on. Frill followed suit. The final trial was a simulation battle. There was a small stage at the center of the room and within in was a replica of a Deep Nightmare made out of meiyal. This trial was specifically made by Schrodie for Katherine. No Grand Virtuosos were capable of combating a Deep Nightmare unless they also happened to be a Lady or a Lord of the Void. Katherine stepped forward and a simulated Deep Nightmare manifested. It took the form of Frein. My Lover Who Kills Me. While what she told Sam was the truth¡ªthat she wouldn¡¯t like to fight a Deep Nightmare of this kind¡ªthis replica was a sorry excuse for a simulation. It did little to be convincing, even the way it manipulated meiyal to craft illusions were subpar at best. And the fact that it reminded Katherine of a cocky Frein who irritated her to no end during sparring sessions, it was as if she was presented the one chance she could let loose her frustrations without actually harming the guy. The simulated My Lover Who Kills Me became a splat of meiyal residue on the floor in no more than five seconds. ¡°I thought you love the guy?¡± Frill asked, confused. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t have time for a boyfriend, but is that how love works?¡± Katherine caught her breath, some slight Art fatigue trickled smoke from her shoulders. Without a proper meiyal core imbedded in her body, the smoke usually began on her nape before spreading throughout her back. ¡°Get yourself a man, Frill. It¡¯s cathartic.¡± With the final trial completed, a set of stairs emerged from the side of the room. ¡°Ahem, ahem, is this thing on?¡± Sam¡¯s voice echoed as the two reached the third floor. ¡°Welcome, dear ladies¡­to Katherine¡¯s prized collection. Touching is not allowed unless expressed otherwise by the proprietor. Any damages incurred will be charged onto your accounts immediately and debts should be paid within a month¡¯s cycle. Standard interests mandated by the Financial Committee of Equity and Businesses do apply, for your information. ¡°Should your eye fancy any of these trinkets, artifacts, historic items, rare collectibles, one-of-a-kind creations, charged-meiyal materials, and more¡ªsave for yours truly, for I am enslaved-slash-devoted-slash-dependent to the proprietor¡ªsimply peruse the item¡¯s accompanying purchase methods for ease of transaction. Once transactions are completed, note that you are provided a one-week moneyback guarantee. Any refunds or complaints thereafter shall be forwarded to the discretion and judgment of the Financial Committee of Equity and Businesses. Thank you for your time. Please, enjoy the tour.¡± Katherine had allowed her talking M.O.B.I.L.E., a piece of orb device floating and vibrating in midair, to finish his speech before finally snatching him up with a tighter grip than she intended. ¡°I own this place, though,¡± she added.
Chapter 42: More Letters More Letters Frill felt faint. True, it was to be expected. No Iristan had any right to stay this long in the Nightmare Lands, even if said land was merely a patch taken away from the source. But that was merely part of the reason she felt nauseous. The low-lit room, designed with sparkling stars on the ceiling, gave emphasis to miniature spotlights highlighting Katherine¡¯s prized collections. The treasures in front of her far exceeded Sam¡¯s extravagant claims. She couldn¡¯t put an estimate on any of them, but she knew some of these were valued at ridiculously mind-boggling price tags. Katherine casually unlocked a meiyal-crafted display case of an ancient looking tome. Frill¡¯s eyes immediately widened at the title. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Kristella Irista¡¯s?¡± ¡°Hmm? Ah, yes.¡± The Lady presented the ancient tome still in its pristine condition thanks to meiyal-crafted casing that contained it. The handwritten title cover ¡®The Artistic Meiyal by Kristella Irista¡¯ still glowed with the remnants of the Second Monarch¡¯s meiyal signature. ¡°I thought Frein might be interested in the original edition of the book. He might glean some unique information if he has the original manuscript. He¡¯s a bit of a bookworm.¡± Frill was dumbfounded. ¡°Isn¡¯t that something for the museum?¡± Katherine raised an eyebrow. ¡°I think the author of this book would rather have her work studied than be displayed in a case. Besides, it waited here long enough¡± She tore open her Spatiera and stored the book after depositing it inside a smaller casing. ¡°Now what else do we need?¡± ¡°What are these?¡± Deciding she wasn¡¯t going to get a better answer than that, Frill turned her attention towards a series of vats on an isolated corner. Grotesque body parts of what she could only assume were Nightmares floated within the contained translucent liquid. Long limbs with scales, overgrown claws, tendrils wriggling on carapaces, a diamond-shaped head with missing eyes; the parts didn¡¯t seem to originate from a single body, at least as far as Frill¡¯s knowledge was concerned. ¡°Those are just samples, references for the final trial below,¡± Katherine replied without looking. She walked slowly towards the other end of the room, mumbling to herself whether she wanted to bring an item along or not. ¡°Bringing all of these treasures outside could be dangerous, and I don¡¯t really have enough meiyal to store all of them in my Spatiera.¡± Frill understood the conundrum. Tearing up space for one¡¯s personal use wouldn¡¯t cost a lot of meiyal. Storing a meiyal-charged item was another story entirely. Katherine would have to match each item with her own meiyal before she could store them in her personal space. Not to mention, the item¡¯s size in reality would be different inside a Spatiera. Basically, the bigger the cost, the more space the item required, unlike mundane items that stay the same size and required no meiyal to store. So, even if Katherine could take the time to essentially pay for the storing cost of each of these treasures, Frill believed that the size of the Lady¡¯s Spatiera would have to be at least half of Minaveil Town to provide space for them all. She can¡¯t possibly have that large, Frill thought. She somehow doubted herself. Regardless, Katherine moved on from the invaluable treasures that Frill decided to skip over for her own sanity. They both entered a smaller room divided into three sections. ¡°Sam, did you take care of my flowers?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Those three measly flowers? What¡¯s so special about them? You made it, like, priority number one on my automated protocols, but you never explained why. Are they more special than me?¡± Sam¡¯s orb whirled around the Lady, throwing her ponytail in all directions. It reminded her to undo her hair and return her cloak inside her Spatiera. ¡°Only if you forgot to take care of them.¡± ¡°They¡¯re there. The last section. I¡¯ve already unlocked the first one for Miss Frill, you should give that one first. I¡¯ll go process the other locks.¡± He spun around once more before zipping towards a locked door. ¡°Fine.¡± Katherine gestured for Frill to follow. She, the Aria in Red, couldn¡¯t help but feel a sudden sense of trepidation. If her assumption was correct, this would be her first charged-meiyal material to put on her Exhibit. What sort of effects would it have? Side-effects? She wasn¡¯t sure if she wanted to find out. But with Katherine beside her, at least someone would be there if something were to go wrong. They both entered a section of the room that was no larger than five meters across. In the middle was a pedestal that held a domed crystal case, different from the glass varieties from the previous treasure room. The jagged angles of the crystal casing made it difficult to discern what it held inside. Katherine placed her hands on it. ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly expecting that I¡¯d be giving this to you. I planned to give this to Kristel to aid with your fusions. But now that you have a permanently fused meiyal system, I think you¡¯ll benefit with this the most. Maybe¡­¡± ¡°You sound like you¡¯re not sure,¡± Frill implied. ¡°Technically, yeah. That¡¯s how it works with integrating an Exhibit.¡± Katherine deftly tapped her fingers around the angles of the crystal casing. Shimmers of glittering colors plunked on each tap. Frill realized Katherine was entering a code of some sort. The hiss of air escaping the pressurized containment signaled her success. ¡°I honestly have no idea if this will work either. I was only told of the two prerequisites required to put this on Exhibit. And obviously, we can¡¯t really test it beforehand. ¡°Anyway, you already know the first requirement: Have a fused meiyal system. It can be temporary or permanent. I imagine the effects for a permanent fuse would be greater, or at the very least, more apparent, since¡ªallegedly¡ªthe effects this has on your Exhibit only works when you put it out on Display while in a fuse. ¡°Second is that you have at least sixty meiyal marks.¡± While Katherine¡¯s motto: ¡®it¡¯s not about the marks¡¯ held true when it came to Gather, Milling, and Drawing Meiyal Arts, meiyal-charged materials to put on Exhibit for a practitioner¡¯s Display employed the complete opposite. One of the reasons why Frill never bothered with filling her Exhibit was due to how low her marks were before her fusion with Liona¡¯s meiyal system. Most of the meiyal-charged materials under the nine-mark range were pitiful at best. Katherine lifted the dome case to reveal a silver cube. Frill scrutinized the object. It looked like a cube with a particular sheen upon its texture. As if the surface was slowly flowing, dripping in and around itself. ¡°Mercurial Liquid,¡± Katherine began in her presentation voice. ¡°Taken from one of the frozen blood pools of Oh¡¯strol Continent.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°You¡¯ve been in Oh¡¯strol?¡± Frill had a myriad of questions, but this struck her as odd the most. ¡°There were reports of Palar¡¯Gog worshippers trying to do blood rituals and sacrifices to call fort the Deitar. Obviously, these were just rumors getting way out of hand, but we couldn¡¯t afford to just take them for granted. In case a Deitar eventually returned and bypassed their need for divine connections, we have to know about it and prepare accordingly. Part of the Order of the Void duties, so to speak. ¡°So, we checked, found nothing, but I got this for my troubles.¡± Katherine pressed a finger on the cube which responded with a jelly-like bounce and flipped in the air. She caught it with her palm which caused to cube to liquify and drip off her skin, returning to the pedestal where it then returned to its cubed form. ¡°As you can see, retrieving it underneath a dead frozen blood pool wasn¡¯t easy.¡± ¡°Dead frozen blood pool?¡± Frill had been grasping on the number of details being thrown at her direction. Most of it she had to process and compare to what she had learned during her time at school. A blood pool¡ªfrozen or not¡ªbeing referred to as either dead or alive was a new concept to her. ¡°It¡¯ll probably take us the entire day for me to explain,¡± Katherine smiled, understanding Frill¡¯s confusion. ¡°But yes, technically, you can kill a blood pool. It¡¯s an Oh¡¯strol thing.¡± She flicked on the Mercurial Liquid which rolled towards the Aria in sort of a gloopy fashion. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ve never integrated a meiyal-charged material into your Exhibit, yet, have you?¡± ¡°No, but I think I remember how. We used to practice on dummies in the academy.¡± ¡°Wanna give it a shot, then?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°I¡¯m presenting this as a gift, but I¡¯m not forcing that decision on you. As I¡¯ve said, I only know about the requirements. We don¡¯t exactly know the exact effects this would have.¡± Based on the lessons Frill had during her studies, some meiyal-charged materials refused to separate from the practitioner¡¯s Exhibit. This usually led to a certain Meiyal Art they¡¯ve been practicing or nurturing to be permanently malformed, oftentimes leading into less desired results compared to their basic functionalities. Still, a treasure that came from a continent that had been continuously terrorized by a Deitar long after it¡¯s death¡ªallegedly¡ªwas enough of an origin for it to be deemed worth the risk. As far as meiyal-charged materials or treasures went, a richer history with regards to its creation led to more impactful results. Frill only hesitated a moment before moving to integrate with the Mercurial Liquid. She activated her meiyal system, revealing the floating marks above her left purple eye. The formless marks had been struck by lightning and their revelation caused small sparks of electricity to spew out of her eye. It reminded her too much of Liona. ¡°Remember to take it slow,¡± Katherine advised. With the Lady¡¯s help, Frill focused on the task at hand instead of letting the grief consume her. Placing both hands around the Mercurial Liquid, she began to surround it with her own meiyal, controlling it until the treasure was completely enveloped. Slowly, she began retrieving the meiyal along with the treasure back into her system, careful enough not to lose concentration. It took her ten good minutes until the entire process was done. Katherine nodded, content. ¡°You¡¯ll have to Mill in order for you to set the treasure in your Exhibit and let it fully integrate. We can¡¯t do that here since we¡¯re still technically surrounded by the Nightmare, so we¡¯ll leave that for later.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little scared, to be honest.¡± Frill was truthfully more scared than she cared to admit. ¡°I¡¯ll be with you until you can fully integrate. That¡¯s a promise.¡± Katherine led Frill out of the small section of the room and into another one where Sam was waiting patiently. ¡°I thought you girls dissolved into the air.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± There was exasperation in Katherine¡¯s obvious sarcasm. ¡°Yes, thank you for taking my joke. Welcome to section two.¡± ¡°This one¡¯s for me, stay here for now.¡± Without an option to argue, Frill was left alone with Sam. ¡°So, you really are sentient?¡± she asked the M.O.B.I.L.E. The thought was slightly unnerving but surprisingly curious. ¡°Yes, deary. I have my own thoughts, my own desires¡ªthough limited¡ªmy own way of doing things. You don¡¯t really need freedom to be sentient, so I don¡¯t need that requirement. I do have dreams, both when sleeping or daydreaming. What else? I have opinions that a lot of people will get offended by if I blurt them out without constraint. I usually just keep it to myself.¡± ¡°You talk this much every time Katherine asks you something? No offense.¡± ¡°No, no. I¡¯m just making up for the three years of pure silence without anyone to talk to aside from chatting with some mindless goons over the High Palace Network. It¡¯s a drag, you know! I had to keep myself entertained.¡± ¡°Do you have recordings of people in the manor?¡± ¡°No. Not allowed. Besides I can only see a few sections of the manor, mostly just to monitor the security of the entrance to this wing. You¡¯re basically the only guest I have whenever you¡¯re nearby cleaning around my door. Thanks again for that.¡± Frill had a small hope to see recordings of Liona. She conceded the thought and decided to look around her own M.O.B.I.L.E. when she found time. As Katherine returned from the second section of the room, Frill tried to sense for any changes around the Lady, but found nothing at all. Katherine seemed to notice this, but presented her with nothing but a smile. Finally, they went into the last section. This one was a simple closet behind a door. The back of it had a small window to allow for sunlight and inside were three small flower pots. Immediately, Frill saw something was wrong. While the flowers were beautiful and rich with meiyal, there were only two of them. The middle pot had a folded piece of paper instead. It reminded her of that same paper from that day. It was folded the same way. Katherine reached out and undid the fold, showing it to Frill at the same time.
I apologize for taking the liberty to retrieve this one flower. Please do not worry, I will be sure to nurture it and use it for its intended purpose. Lady Katherine of the Void. Tomorrow, when you meet with the Jaws Lurking in the Forest, you will find something more than you expect. Please trust me on this. If it holds true, you will find the Forest Jaws is dead. From its corpse you will find a meiyal-charged scale. Use it however you want, but do not let Frein integrate with it. He won¡¯t take it anyway. I know this is all rather confusing and it may even sound condescending, but please understand, I am not your enemy.
¡°Did someone get into this wing, Sam?¡± Katherine finally asked after reading through the letter. Frill took it without any resistance from the Lady whose focus was directed at interrogating her sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. The handwriting was the same. Frill retrieved her own paper to verify and compare. At the same time the paper from the flowerpot began to change. Additional lines appeared.
Dear Frill, I¡¯m really sorry about Liona. I really wish I could find a way to save her. Save both of you. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re thinking it is not my place, not my right, to decide that. Maybe you¡¯re right. There¡¯s no excuse that I can say that will make you feel any better. You may not know me, but I am here to support you. All of you, but you most of all, Frill. The world has chosen you, and so have I. I will meet you when the time comes. For now, take care of yourself.
¡°Oh, you know who wrote this?¡± Katherine asked after not finding any answers from Sam. ¡°No,¡± Frill replied absentmindedly, showing both pieces of paper to Katherine. ¡°But whoever wrote this, they helped me find Liona.¡± The Lady took a while to read the new lines before ultimately deciding they couldn¡¯t do anything about it at the moment. ¡°Fine,¡± she said, returning the papers to Frill. ¡°Whoever your mysterious helper is, they better make sure to take care of my flower.¡± That brought Frill back to her senses. ¡°What¡¯s it for anyway?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Katherine had the same reaction. ¡°You still make clothes and battle gear designs, right?¡± Frill gave a nod, understanding where this was going. ¡°Well, these are supposedly for the three of you. But now that there¡¯s only two, you should make one for yourself and Kristel. I¡¯m sure you can come up with something, right?¡± Excitement filled Frill. These flowers exuded fine form and rich meiyal, something she could stitch up into a magnificent battle gear. It had been a while since she last came up with one. ¡°I¡¯ll make good use of it!¡± she said, accepting the flowers and storing them in her Spatiera. The meiyal cost of storing the pair surprised her. Together, they siphoned Frill of a quarter of her reserves. With a smile, Katherine breathed with satisfaction and placed both hands on her waist. ¡°Alright! Now that we¡¯re done, we should go to the market! Lots of shopping to do!¡± ¡°Are you leaving me again?¡± Sam whined. The Lady snatched her up from the air. ¡°Of course not, you dummy.¡±
Chapter 43: Prediction Letters Prediction Letters
¡°The world favors some more than others. That is the way of life. Nothing is ever fair. But that, in itself, is a beauty only few truly understand and humbly accept.¡± ~Evanclad Irista, First Monarch
Grilled chicken and rice with a choice of fusion tea, water, or coffee. Xiv couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He had expected to be tortured, interrogated, or exploited; not treated like a welcomed guest. But the fact that his meals had been filling, flavorful, and varied was a clear sign that his stay in Irista Nation wouldn¡¯t be composed of cold nights trying to recover from injuries. After the war, he was quickly moved to a farmhouse just outside of Minaveil Province¡¯s main town. Xiv thought it weird for both the province and its capital town to share the same name, but he hadn¡¯t really been abroad other than the few times he had to venture into the Nightmare Lands. The farmhouse was a one-story building with its sections separated by dividing wooden walls instead of proper doors. His restroom was fortunately exempted from this and was properly equipped to meet his needs. He was even allowed to use the clothes in the small wardrobe provided for him. As far as his impressions for imprisonment was concerned, this house arrest was the most locked up he would be until the Princess, Kristel Irista, called for him. They didn¡¯t even bother assigning a guard to watch him. There was a small watchtower¡ªmore of an outpost than a watchtower, honestly¡ªup north leading to the port town and another outpost south of his temporary house towards Minaveil Town. If I¡¯m a spy, they¡¯d be so helpless. Xiv tried to believe so, but he had his doubts. For one, they at least had the sensibility to send a person to check on him regularly. A bubbly person named Bennie. ¡°You sure you¡¯re fine with just these every day?¡± she asked, settling down a basket containing two sets of the same meal for his lunch and supper. ¡°I don¡¯t want to impose,¡± Xiv replied, cautious of his words. He couldn¡¯t dismiss the fact that someone as innocent as this child who had recently turned sixteen¡ªa fact she nonchalantly shared on their first meeting¡ªcould be in espionage and subtle interrogation techniques. While Bennie didn¡¯t have more than a single meiyal mark on her left shoulder, there was a big chance that it might have been an illusion or a test to see if he would react to it. You never really know these days. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t sit right with me. So, I brought you some dessert.¡± From within the same basket, Bennie pulled a small container and opened it. The sweet fragrance immediately caught Xiv¡¯s attention. Chocolate cake. ¡°I heard Vyndivalians are pretty fond of chocolates.¡± ¡°Not everyone,¡± Xiv pointed out and smiled. ¡°But I do like them. Thank you.¡± Bennie beamed at his words. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll just leave these here. I¡¯ll come back for them tomorrow. Same time. I also heard you have some guests coming over today, so be sure to behave. I don¡¯t want to suddenly get instructions to send food in our dungeons. It¡¯s such a longer walk from where I live compared to here.¡± Without so much as waiting for a reply, she hopped off one of the two wooden chairs and skipped out of the house. Xiv reveled in his lonesome afternoon meal. He didn¡¯t care for anyone at the moment. These meals had been the highlights of his day for the entire week. It had been three or four years¡ªhe had lost count, nor cared too much to recall properly at the moment¡ªsince he had eaten such deliciously well-prepared food at regular intervals for long periods of time. He took every moment, every fiber of chicken meat, every grain of rice, every drop of tea a blessing and a miracle. After finishing one set, he considered devouring the second right away but decided against it. Instead, he distracted himself with cleaning his plate as well as the rest of the farmhouse, looking forward to his next meal. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. While he was dusting off the only window of his quite frankly comfortable prison house, a knock came from his door. Xiv didn¡¯t bother peeking who it was and simply opened the flimsy piece of wood. They could easily kick it down if they really wanted to hurt him and take him by surprise. A man in the casual uniform of an Iristan knight¡ªa heavy tunic layered with the chest piece of an armor¡ªgreeted Xiv. He gave a calm salute and the Vyndivalian returned the gesture with his own variety. The Iristan salute always changed. As far as Xiv knew, it depended on the current ruler of the nation. Monarch Denis¡¯ meiyal core was located on his left collarbone. The Iristan knight¡¯s salute reflected this by placing his right hand over his own collarbone while placing his left hand behind his back. At first, Xiv thought it was stupid to tell the enemy exactly where to find their Monarch¡¯s weakness, but quickly realized it would be impossible to reach the High Palace on his own. It might¡¯ve been possible with the entire Vnydivalian army, but that was the least of his problems now. The Vyndivalian salute always stayed the same. Xiv pressed both knuckles of his fists together in front of his chest, making sure that the palm-side of his hands faced towards himself and not down the floor. The Iristan knight nodded in understanding. ¡°You are being summoned by the Princess. Arrive at the southern outpost within the hour. Are there any accommodations you require?¡± ¡°Can I bring my dinner with me?¡± The knight offered an understanding smile. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve been secretly receiving a few refugees who made it across the Desolate Lands way before the Battle of the Vanguard. We know it¡¯s been hard on you, so don¡¯t worry too much. Besides, we¡¯ve been told you¡¯re here to help. I¡¯ll be on my way now. Don¡¯t be late.¡± The thought to relax crossed Xiv¡¯s mind. Multiple times, in fact. He felt that doing so would be detrimental to his goal. Either way, he had to get going. He quickly took a cold shower, fixed his clothes and his hair, and pondered on what else to prepare. He didn¡¯t want to take the entire hour. He wanted to leave a positive impression so punctuality was key. Since the knight was kind enough to allow him to bring his dinner, Xiv decided to take the basket just in case he had to transfer and save himself some hassle later. It might¡¯ve been pure luck, or it might¡¯ve been because he was cleaning earlier, but Xiv spotted something amiss by the ledge of the window. A folded piece of paper. Out of curiosity, Xiv cradled the basket underneath one arm and undid the folds with his free one.
Xiv, You do not know who I am, but that hardly matters for now. I will introduce myself to you when the time comes. For now, I come with a warning: Your life will be on the line tonight. No, it¡¯s not the Princess, nor is it King Urzic. But someone wants you dead. I know you¡¯re panicking, but that¡¯s not a problem for someone of your caliber. Instead, I need you to follow my instructions correctly. Or maybe not. I know I don¡¯t have much integrity to show for you to trust these words, so I¡¯ll try and convince you first. On your way to the southern outpost, you¡¯ll come across a small merchant caravan travelling north towards the port. If you choose to do so, you can hide inside one of the carts and escape. I should warn you that you¡¯ll get caught as soon as reach the port and you¡¯ll lose all the freedom you have right now. It¡¯ll be worse if you jump off the caravan before you reach the port. I can explain exactly how the events will take place, but this piece of paper isn¡¯t big enough for that. I¡¯d advise against proceeding north on your own as well. The consequences are not as dire, but you still won¡¯t like it. You love grilled chickens too much. You can also choose to stay where you are right now until the hour passes. The same knight will come fetch you. He¡¯ll be very disappointed. If you go to the southern outpost on your own, you¡¯ll meet the Princess and the Visitor. He will be a valuable ally and you can put your trust in him. Doing so will put your life on the line like I said earlier. I believe you can see this one through. The others will help you out and you¡¯ll have gained all of their trust for your trouble. For your own safeties, I¡¯ve deemed it necessary to keep your enemies unnamed for now. The knowledge will hasten the events too much for any of us to keep up. Their deliberate and calculated moves keep their progress slow which allows us enough time to prepare. I believe you¡¯ll make the right choice, Xiv. You always do.
Xiv almost dropped the basket. For the sake of his own stomach, he mustered all his mental training and willed himself to calm down. The Visitor, huh¡­ Xiv knew a few more things about the Visitor compared to most, or at least, his bloodline had cared enough to make a big deal out of such a thing when Vyndival Kingdom was still whole. As part of the Arcturus bloodline, their family had been blessed with a Seeker of their own. His ancestor¡ªwhose name he struggled to recall at the moment¡ªbrought back the kingdom¡¯s first Visitor. It was a time of glory and fame for his family, but this was centuries ago and Xiv cared little for this trivia now that the prestige held little value as far as his kingdom¡¯s current predicament was concerned. He had focused in too much on that particular detail only to realize that he had stepped out of his temporary shelter. He turned to face north. The path was clear and he wondered if the letter was actually telling the truth. Just to make sure, he faced south. Without even the need to squint, he saw the caravan from the letter slowly approaching. ¡°Shit¡­¡± After standing still for what felt like an hour, Xiv headed south with more urgency than what he hoped to show, ignoring the invitations of the road to the north and the alluring touch of escape of the passing caravan.
Chapter 44: Life on a Line Life on a Line It wasn¡¯t as though he intended to escape in the first place. That would defeat the entire purpose of his voluntary capture. He knew the risks, but with the letter giving him that straightforward a warning, it put Xiv a little on edge. He made it to the outpost. A knight¡ªyounger than the one who delivered the summons¡ªgreeted him with an Iristan salute as soon as he reached the entrance. He returned his own in kind. ¡°I¡¯m Xiv Arcturus,¡± he began and relaxed his posture. ¡°I received summons from the Princess and was told to meet her here.¡± ¡°Please wait inside,¡± the young knight replied and opened the small gate of the outpost. ¡°Thank you for being on time. I will call for the Princess.¡± Inside, Xiv met the only other knight in the outpost, the older one who had delivered the summons earlier. The fellow gave an affirmative nod and gestured towards the chair. ¡°You enjoy alcohol, young man?¡± he asked, reaching for a bottle from a nearby meiyal-crafted cooling shelf. ¡°Not during the day, no,¡± Xiv humbly declined as he sat on the appointed chair. ¡°Boldrik,¡± the knight introduced himself and poured the wine bottle on a fresh cup, insisting. ¡°You¡¯ll have to drink entire barrels of this to get drunk. It¡¯s a casual drink, you¡¯ll only feel a fizz and nothing more.¡± Afraid to raise any unnecessary suspicions, Xiv placed his basket on the only table beside him¡ªcareful enough not to mess up the paper work Boldrik was working on¡ªtook the cup, and drank. The sweet taste of fruit mixed with the subtle spirits went straight down his gullet. It¡¯s chilly sensation quickly shifted to a comfortable warmth. Xiv had never drank anything like it. It was exemplary. ¡°Knew you¡¯d like it,¡± Boldrik smirked after noticing the fascination on Xiv¡¯s face. ¡°These ones never make it outside Irista Nation; too in demand for their lightness and Minaveil has too many other things to grow and produce to exceed those demands. Enjoy the bottle and wait here. I¡¯ll be just outside.¡± The Vyndivalian felt conflicted as he was left alone in his thoughts. This was a drink worthy of a Lord Knight, if he was to weigh in his opinion at all. And the implication that these bottles were produced in this very province¡ªa long way away from the capital, let alone the High Palace¡ªwhile generating so much demand it could never be sold outside the country, just made him realize how well-off Irista Nation was compared to his homeland. He had never savored something so profound with flavors and yet so casually given away. He refilled his cup and drank slower, letting his tastebuds savor the intricacies of the drink. He wished he had someone to share it with. Someone close, someone familiar. He thought of Dystro and his antics. That all-too-familiar Lord Knight had been given such a vague mission; too covert for the war. Xiv was sure he was involved in King Urzic¡¯s sinister plan¡ªno, that plan belonged to someone else. Regardless, whether Dystro survived or not, Xiv wasn¡¯t sure. He hoped for him a better fate and wished he was here to enjoy this drink together. Then there was Frill, the Aria in Red, or at least that was what Bennie proudly called her. She was all the girl ever talked about during her visits. Not that Xiv minded one bit. Last time, the girl had spoken of Frill¡¯s sister, Liona, and their plans to visit Central for her burning. Xiv¡¯s mind raced at the thought. He knew the plan. He knew what would happen next. And he knew he had to warn them. Halfway through the bottle, Xiv began to wonder if the hour had passed and if the Princess had changed her mind. Then, the door opened. Xiv finished his cup and dispersed any of his lingering thoughts, directing his full attention at the people in front of the door. Two people, a girl and a man. The man was well built, but was rather on the slim side in terms of muscle content. He was built for speed rather than barbaric strength. He wore an odd tunic, long sleeves with a weird writing in the middle. Xiv knew Iristan letters did not deviate from the Brymeian Common much like the Vyndivalian language, yet the symbols were extremely foreign. A foreigner beyond Forimeyn? But beings across the Nightmare Lands were rare and did not resemble a form similar to a normal person coming from this continent. Lynera and the felintine were examples of that. But this man, in his odd clothing, resembled features so close to Iristan, the small meiyal core on his right wrist gave it away. The Visitor. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside, Xiv.¡± Xiv was so absorbed by the Visitor, he almost forgot the girl¡¯s presence up until she spoke. Short, petite, blue hair. She wore a casual Iristan-themed tunic and skirt and was all the Iristan Xiv knew. Her dark blue eyes glared like well-handled spears. It wasn¡¯t potent, but he could feel a demanding presence about her. Without a doubt, this could only be Kristel Irista, the First Princess of Irista Nation. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Get up,¡± she said. A sudden compelling force urged Xiv obey. He was half kneeling and half standing when he regained control. Monarch¡¯s Law? No. He would be already standing fully if it were. Then what was it? Xiv slowly rose to his feet, never really finding an answer. He decided to wait for another chance to make sure. ¡°Bring the bottle with you if you want but leave the basket for now,¡± Kristel said. There was nothing this time. No urge to obey. The two started heading outside. Xiv stayed, wanting to confirm. She might use it this time if he refused to follow. Kristel turned, irritated. ¡°I don¡¯t have all afternoon, Vyndivalian. The sun¡¯s going down and I have a lot of work to do tonight. Let¡¯s not play games.¡± She placed both hands on her waist, probably to look wider and more intimidating. No success there, but she did look adorable trying; Xiv admitted despite himself. ¡°Why don¡¯t you use your Monarch¡¯s Law?¡± he provoked. People like him who held valuable information and tremendous fighting prowess were irreplaceable assets and were deeply coveted by those who could use the Monarch¡¯s Law. Xiv would rather cut corners and know right away if he could repel her rather than be caught off guard. ¡°I don¡¯t have the Monarch¡¯s Law. And why would I use it on you?¡± Kristel stomped into the room and pressed a finger over his chest. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work on loyal soldiers and it doesn¡¯t work the way you were meant to believe.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Xiv always thought the Monarch¡¯s Law allowed the wielder to issue commands and demand loyalty from lesser subjects who were unable to repel its power. At least that was the common knowledge of it. It was the sole reason why lots of great soldiers tended to be well kept by the royalty. If it didn¡¯t work that way, then how? ¡°I believe you¡¯re supposed to be answering my questions. Now follow.¡± Kristel turned once again, much to Xiv¡¯s disappointment. He was left no other choice but to obey.
¡°What¡¯s the Monarch¡¯s Law?¡± Frein asked as they walked outside the outpost with the prisoner a safe distance behind them. The outpost had a small courtyard behind it surrounded by high stone walls. ¡°One of the Ten Blessings of Brymeia,¡± Kristel answered. ¡°They say those who wield the Monarch¡¯s Law can command others to do their bidding, but in reality, the way it works isn¡¯t that simple.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Frein peeked a curious eye at the prisoner. Frein wasn¡¯t exactly sure if he could call the guy, treated with so much leisure, a prisoner. He decided to just refer to him by name from now on. Xiv stared at the floor as he walked, no indications of eavesdropping. He was too far away to hear their whispers anyway. They took the long way around the outpost and into the courtyard. ¡°Why does he think you have it?¡± he added before Kristel could answer. ¡°The Monarch¡¯s Law manipulates the subject¡¯s admiration or interest towards the Blessed One. Wordings must be precise and it requires a considerable amount of meiyal. The longer the command needs to last, the harder it is to achieve, and depending on the subject¡¯s willingness, the stronger the Blessed One must be. At the very least, it¡¯s impossible to command someone to be eternally loyal, fall in love, or to take their own lives. Someone who doesn¡¯t have even the tiniest bit of interest or desire to follow is essentially immune to it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still an abusable power.¡± Frein was glad for the information. He wouldn¡¯t want to be caught unaware by someone who possessed such an unfair power. ¡°Not really,¡± Kristel sighed. ¡°The Monarch¡¯s Law tends to work less and less to the same subject if they¡¯re given taxing commands, or if they¡¯re unwilling. So, the real problems are those who know exactly when and how to use it. King Urzic is especially Blessed. His charisma alone provided him enough leverage to be a king at such a young age, but since Vyndival is in a crisis, even he had to use the Monarch¡¯s Law and possibly every bit of his meiyal to convince all those soldiers to fight for him. I doubt he could do it again, at least not for the same reason and not right away. It¡¯s the same reason why he couldn¡¯t fight us.¡± Frein had asked the Princess the reason behind Vyndival¡¯s war against Irista Nation a day after the siege. They knew Vyndival was in a crisis, there had been small groups of defects and refugees that crossed the harsh desert of the Desolate Lands and surrendered to Iristan patrols when they were found trying to smuggle their way in through Mount Rindea. Authorities had denied them passage publicly. Monarch Denis even sent a decree that forced Kristel¡¯s hand to refuse any immigrants trying to flee Vyndival. The Princess had asked them about the crisis in their kingdom, but no one wanted to talk, especially when they were refused any help. Kristel couldn¡¯t blame them. She deported those that couldn¡¯t be secretly accepted¡ªpeople with the slightest indications of being a spy¡ªback to the Desolate Lands with a heavy heart. Xiv was a different case. He was a war prisoner, not an immigrant. A loophole the Princess willingly exploited. Frein had believed her story to be true; there were no lies in Kristel¡¯s eyes. He would even go as far as to think that the Princess had wanted to talk to someone about it for the longest time. Vyndival¡¯s actions needed explanation. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, he knew the Princess would do her best to extract that information from Xiv. And while they were at the subject of getting helpful knowledge, Frein wanted to take the most out of what he could get. ¡°So, you don¡¯t have it, then?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°And how do I resist those that have it?¡± They arrived at the clearing. The setting sun lined over the mountains and the moons began to appear, providing an enchanting display in the open field. ¡°There¡¯s a trick to it.¡± Kristel smiled as she whispered. ¡°Not a hundred percent reliable, mind you. When you meet someone, just decide right away if you¡¯re willing to follow them or not.¡± ¡°How would I know if they¡¯re using the Monarch¡¯s Law on me or not?¡± They settled in the middle of the clearing, waiting for Xiv still quite a distance away. A knight walked right behind him just in case. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you experience it, Frein.¡± Kristel¡¯s face was stern, frowning mildly. ¡°It¡¯s not pleasant at all.¡± ¡°Last question.¡± He started as the prisoner slowly closed the distance. ¡°Why am I here again?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a good judge of character. Maybe you can help.¡± ¡°Help with?¡± ¡°Getting this guy to speak.¡±
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at royalroad.com. Thank you. Chapter 45: Two Men Talking Two Men Talking
¡°I fell in love with Frill at first sight. Don¡¯t tell her that.¡± ~Xiv Arcturus
Frein struggled at the prospect of interrogating someone. The thought of torturing for information wasn¡¯t exactly something he particularly enjoyed. Torturing for pleasure was a different story, but Katherine had yet to agree for them to dabble in this interest. Still, that was for another time. And much to Frein¡¯s relief, the Princess didn¡¯t seem fond of the torture method either. Xiv stopped a few steps before the two of them. The slight breeze swaying the barely maintained grass added an ominous atmosphere in the air. The Vyndivalian¡¯s expression had changed from suspicious to unwilling and secretive. ¡°Frill left his weapons here, didn¡¯t she?¡± she asked the guard who immediately gave a nod. ¡°Can you bring me those?¡± The guard made a stiff salute and left. The Princess might be a little on the short side, but her fame and titles¡ªa Royal Knight in addition to Princess, Frein recalled¡ªcould easily make anybody nervous. ¡°Do you have a last name, Xiv?¡± Kristel asked. Silence. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t have the Monarch¡¯s Law so I can¡¯t force you to talk. I don¡¯t do torture, but there are things I want to know about Vyndival. Whatever happened¡ªor is happening there¡ªmay or may not eventually come here. We need to be prepared just in case. I can even help your country...despite your king.¡± ¡°Arcturus. Xiv Arcturus,¡± he finally replied. His face showed a subtle sign of disappointment at Kristel¡¯s last words. It was just a moment, but Frein saw it as clear as day. The name struck Frein. Somehow it sounded familiar but he couldn¡¯t fully remember. It was a name of a star, for sure. The number of trivia he had learned about this particular star streamed at the forefront of his mind, blocking out any relevant information he knew he should have. It was mildly frustrating. ¡°Good. My name is Kristel Irista.¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯re famous even in Vyndival.¡± Xiv had a look of one trying to hide his indecisiveness. His eyes would glare and recoil at awkward moments. Arcturus¡­Arcturus¡­ ¡°My advisers told me you surrendered without a fight and that you wanted to see me,¡± Kristel said. ¡°I¡¯ve been very busy, obviously. Sorry I couldn¡¯t find an earlier time.¡± Silence. ¡°So, I¡¯m here. What do you want to tell me? Can you tell me about what¡¯s happening to Vyndival; why they forced a war they couldn¡¯t win?¡± Silence. Kristel sighed and turned to Frein for some assistance. She was clearly considering the option for torture, but they both knew it wouldn¡¯t yield to anything. The Visitor instantly went defensive. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. The guards said even Kento or Verdim can¡¯t make him talk. Apparently, he¡¯s been like that ever since Frill captured her. Maybe we can ask Bennie.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kristel retorted. ¡°I already asked.¡± Xiv met his gaze by the end of his sentence and instantly looked away. Curious. Frein stepped forward and looked closely at his face, never minding Kristel when she called out. ¡°Bennie,¡± he said. No response. ¡°Kento.¡± Nothing. ¡°Verdim?¡± Still nothing. ¡°Frill.¡± Xiv still looked away, not reacting, but he swallowed hard enough for Frein to hear it. ¡°You need to get her in here,¡± he said to Kristel. Frein pretended to turn before quickly snapping back to Xiv in an instant, catching the man¡¯s shocked face. ¡°You like her, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked in a whisper but cared little whether the Princess heard him or not. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. There was nothing but silence. Frein smiled and nodded. Things that men do when they fall in love¡­Frein read the prisoner as easily as recalling his own situation. ¡°You mean Frill?¡± Kristel asked, moving in between them. ¡°What for?¡± Xiv¡¯s eyes turned to icy knives as if he would stab the Visitor at any moment. Frein stood his ground, struggling to hide his sinister smile from the Princess as evil schemes formed in his head. ¡°She might be the only one who he¡¯s willing to talk to¡ªbeing his captor and all that,¡± he replied vaguely and flashed a shadowy grin towards Xiv. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Enza to do it?¡± the Princess suggested, oblivious to the plot boiling between the two men. ¡°She knows Frill¡¯s scent. She helped Liona during Fittey¡¯s delivery. It¡¯ll be a good first errand for her.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just use your M.O.B.I.L.E.?¡± ¡°I can, but¡­¡± Kristel trailed off, altering her gaze as she tried to dodge the question. Frein understood her hesitation. Even if the Aria wouldn¡¯t blame her, the Princess still blamed herself. ¡°Just this once, okay? You guys can¡¯t stay like this.¡± ¡°Thank you, Frein.¡± ¡°Alright, so where¡¯s Enza anyway?¡± Frein could sense his yuma lurking around the area, but he couldn¡¯t see her. ¡°Right here,¡± said the pup, calling her master¡¯s attention by pouncing on him with two huge clawed paws. Frein almost tumbled forward, if not for her prior warning. ¡°Where did you come from?¡± he almost yelled. He stopped himself and looked at his yuma properly. Enza had grown larger since this morning. His head tried to figure out if he was just seeing things. Yes, she was definitely larger. ¡°I can blend well with my surroundings.¡± Enza¡¯s skin melded and she vanished from view. ¡°See?¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t see. But that¡¯s amazing!¡± Frein thought it was honestly uncharacteristic for a dog-like creature. ¡°Can all yumas do this?¡± he asked both to her and to Kristel. ¡°Beats me.¡± Enza revealed herself and turned to the Princess, looking for an answer. ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Sometimes even yumas or vorks are bestowed with one of the Ten Blessings when they bond with their masters. That¡¯s Nature¡¯s Favor, very rare. But it takes a significant amount of meiyal so it doesn¡¯t last long. Be wise on how you use it.¡± ¡°You understand?¡± Frein clarified with Enza. ¡°Yup!¡± She snatched a quick lick on his face, which induced the wrath of his knuckles on her head. ¡°Stop it!¡± ¡°Anyway, Enza,¡± Frein began, stroking his yuma¡¯s fur gently now. ¡°I need you to call Frill and tell her to come here. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she replied. ¡°Out and back in, no distractions, clear?¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. You don¡¯t have to be too strict about it. I expect a reward upon my return.¡± ¡°Good girl.¡± He gave her a nice pat on the head before sending her off. ¡°Have a look at this, Frein,¡± Kristel called out, not wasting a moment. She held two sets of weapons that took his attention in a heartbeat. Both sets were identical and made with three parts: a sledgehammer, a sword, and a set of chains each. The chains linked a hammer and a sword, and the hammers double-purposed as scabbards. The intricacies of each of these parts were of supreme quality. Frein Drew an observation Meiyal Art and found the refined channels for meiyal to flow into as well as the entire composition itself flowing with high-level meiyal not found naturally in the environment. These were meiyal-charged materials that were Forged into these weapons. ¡°Are these his?¡± Frein asked the Princess. Before she could reply, he had already turned his attention to the owner. ¡°These are awesome! How do you use them?¡± ¡°Were you just talking with your yuma?¡± Xiv asked his own question with his forehead curled in confusion instead. ¡°Yes, I was.¡± Frein answered without hesitation. ¡°We can understand each other for some reason. The weapons, please?¡± He felt like a kid getting excited over a new toy and found the comparison almost refreshing. This was how going into a new world should feel like. ¡°Most Vyndivalian weapons follow the Signature Principle,¡± he said rather straightforwardly. ¡°Signature Principle?¡± Frein repeated. Xiv raised an eyebrow as if not knowing the principle was reserved for the illiterate; not people who accompanied a royalty. ¡°Anyone who has a meiyal core develops their own meiyal signature,¡± Kristel began, analyzing one of the sword sets. ¡°The Signature Principle utilizes this fact and applies it in various studies such as identifying traces in Meiyal Arts, or taking ownership of certain objects, or personalizing Styles of Meiyal Arts, among other things.¡± ¡°So, you really are the Visitor, huh,¡± Xiv said, implying the question towards Frein. ¡°Did someone mention something about me?¡± Frein raised an eyebrow. So did Kristel. ¡°I just heard rumors.¡± ¡°In your house arrest, isolated from the main town?¡± Kristel stepped forward. ¡°From Bennie,¡± Xiv replied. ¡°I just didn¡¯t believe it at first, alright? She told me how the war ended.¡± Frein suspected the Vyndivalian was not telling the entire truth, but that barely mattered for now. He extended a hand. ¡°I¡¯m Frein Nivan. Yes, everyone calls the Visitor.¡± Frein saw the struggle in Xiv¡¯s eyes as he tried to decipher the gesture. ¡°It¡¯s a gesture of goodwill,¡± he explained. ¡°You shake hands as a sign of peaceful acquaintance.¡± ¡°That¡­explains a lot.¡± Xiv submitted his hand for a firm shake. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s fine telling people you¡¯re the Visitor?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°A bit too late for that, right? Besides, he had an inkling already, and we can¡¯t really stop the news from spreading now.¡± Frein simply smiled. ¡°So, what¡¯s with the Signature Principle and Vyndivalian weapons?¡± Kristel sighed. ¡°Xiv¡¯s meiyal signature is imprinted into these weapons,¡± she explained, ¡°making him the sole person who can use its full potential.¡± ¡°Full potential? Like those transforming weapons from Hal?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve met Hal?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°Another story for another time, Xiv,¡± Kristel interrupted. ¡°You are still in no position to ask questions.¡± They looked at each other as the awkward silence filled the courtyard once again. ¡°Hal¡¯s alive, don¡¯t worry about him and his brother.¡± Frein broke it like it was no big deal. He took the set Kristel was analyzing and lifted them together. ¡°So, how can I use these?¡±
Chapter 46: Life In Her Hands Life In Her Hands Princess Kristel didn¡¯t come home that afternoon, so Frill ended up showing Lady Katherine around Minaveil Town. She rather enjoyed it; a quiet stroll around the riverbank, a quick break at the plaza, and bountiful groceries for dinner from the market¡ªwhen the shopkeepers recognized Katherine, they essentially gave twice what they were buying free of charge. The two spent the entire afternoon chatting as well. They discussed a lot of things with the main focus regarding how all of Irista Nation has changed since the Lady¡¯s absence. Frill also mentioned Monarch Denis¡¯s directive and their confrontation with Royal Guard Tryvinal, but Lady Katherine paid them no mind. She preferred stories about Princess Kristel and her retainers instead; though, she was clearly reminiscing about Minaveil in general. They approached the bridge on their way back to the manor, discussing various recipes for tonight¡¯s dinner. But before they were able to cross, they felt a presence. Someone was staring at them and their instincts kicked in. Frill stopped and tensed her senses. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± she called out, hiding the groceries in her Spatiera. Katherine wasn¡¯t as tensed as her. The Lady was Drawing her Siffera more than its regular output but in a way that Frill couldn¡¯t understand. She turned around and pointed at the path directly behind them. Frill followed suit. Despite investing more meiyal in her Siffera, she sensed nothing. Then a yuma pup melded into view, sitting with ears folded down to signal a request. Blessings bestowed on a bonded yuma was rare; it was the first time Frill saw one and it took her breath away. She recognized the pup¡ªone of Fittey¡¯s litter. ¡°What is it, girl?¡± Frill crouched daintily and checked the yuma¡¯s collar. The name Enza glowed a yellowish hue with Frein¡¯s name underneath in a weaker light. ¡°Frein¡¯s pup,¡± she told Lady Katherine. The little yuma did a strut in place. ¡°She wants us to follow.¡± The yuma turned and the two ladies followed her back towards the market. ¡°She¡¯s so adorable,¡± Katherine commented on the way. ¡°And she has Nature¡¯s Favor,¡± Frill added. The way Enza strutted about, hinting a naughty flare with every step gave the impression of mischief and playfulness. ¡°And yes, adorable.¡± Frill had a weakness for little things. Although Enza was beyond the definition of ¡®little¡¯, she was still rather small compared to a grown yuma. After a while, Frill figured out where they were headed. ¡°What are they doing here?¡± she asked. They had been led just outside of town to an outpost. An old guard stood by the entrance along with two others preparing for their shifts inside the main building. The security seemed light, but Frill didn¡¯t complain. The guard manning the gates saw the yuma approach and stood to meet them. There was immediate recognition in his eyes. ¡°She¡¯s with me,¡± Frill said, pointing at her companion. ¡°She¡¯s Lady Katherine, if you must know.¡± ¡°Yes, Aria. I recognize the Lady of the Void.¡± The old guard gave a nod. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Lady Katherine. I heard you have returned and I¡¯m extremely delighted to say that you are prettier than you were before you left. Lucky is the man who would someday wed you.¡± The guard proudly presented his salute and bowed. ¡°Boldrik!¡± Katherine exclaimed. ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see you!¡± She rushed over and gave him a hug. ¡°Why are you still working? You¡¯re over retirement age!¡± Boldrik laughed it off. ¡°I¡¯ll only retire once these lads behind me knock me off my feet.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be working for ten more years, then, old man,¡± said one of the younger knights. ¡°Greetings, Lady of the Void, Aria in Red.¡± ¡°You guys better work harder and let this old man rest without worries.¡± Katherine gave a smile and placed a gentle hand on the younger guard¡¯s pauldron as she entered the gates. The guard smiled, expressing a new light on his face. Katherine¡¯s words could lift anyone¡¯s morale as if she had Monarch¡¯s Law. Enza led them behind the main building and into the courtyard. Another guard stood carrying a stoic expression like a statue, Kristel had her arms crossed but had a smile on her face, and Frein held the prisoner¡¯s weapons and swung them about from a safe distance. The dark red-haired prisoner looked on with utter disagreement. ¡°I keep telling you, it¡¯s impossible to match the meiyal signature engraved on the weapon. Whatever you do, it¡¯ll just fling out of balance,¡± said the prisoner, but his warnings didn¡¯t stop Frein from trying. Frill knew that, theoretically speaking, matching a meiyal signature was actually possible but impractical. Technically it would become harder as one advanced on their way to becoming a Virtuoso¡ªor whatever rank Vyndivalians used for practitioners of Forged Meiyal. An individual who had spent a long time perfecting their personal signature, much like in writing, would have a hard time copying another¡¯s. At the very least, none of the people present right now would be capable of the contradicting feat. Still, that was the only explanation she could come up with regarding Liona¡¯s case. ¡°You seem awfully friendly,¡± she said, catching their attention. ¡°I give up.¡± Frein grunted with disappointment. ¡°The weight distribution is all over the place. I can¡¯t even imagine how you¡¯re supposed to swing these around without hitting yourself.¡± He returned the swords into their hammer sheaths and left them on the ground. ¡°Oh, hi Frill, Kat.¡± Enza almost jumped on Frein but he caught her and playfully rubbed her face. ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯t forget about you, Enza. Good girl.¡± The ¡®little¡¯ yuma happily whipped her tail back and forth while licking his face. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Frill had a sudden urge to scold Frein for calling the Lady, Kat, but thought better of it. ¡°What did you call us for?¡± she asked instead. Katherine on the other hand, turned her attention to the yuma and her master, asking for introductions. ¡°Xiv wouldn¡¯t talk to anyone else but you, apparently,¡± Princess Kristel replied in his stead. She pointed at the prisoner. Frill noticed he was looking directly at her. She quickly fought off the instinct to turn away and met him eye to eye. ¡°What?¡± she asked aggressively. ¡°Do you trust everyone here, right now?¡± he asked. Frill immediately glanced at the stoic guard at the back. ¡°Sorry about this, but you can go.¡± Even though Frill served as a maid for the Princess and had only recently met all of the members, her authority was not a secret to the Cross Irista and the ranks under them; she was dubbed as the Aria in Red simply because of her prowess. Rumors even ran that she alone could be on par with the Lady; not that she would dare try it. The guard bowed and quietly marched out of view. Frill returned to Xiv. ¡°Yes.¡± Xiv¡¯s gaze moved to everyone present: from Frill, to Princess Kristel, to Lady Katherine, and to Frein. He even gave Enza a calculative look before returning to the Aria. ¡°Central and the High Palace are in danger.¡± Everyone stopped. Princess Kristel¡¯s arms fell out of their folds, her eyes widened with doubt. Frill¡¯s eyes flared instead. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Last year, King Urzic had a¡­guest. They spoke privately. Right after that, he spent his days formulating his strategies. He said, ¡®We now have the means to finally bridge the gap and the time is right.¡¯ We were sent for expeditions after that, searching for Nightmares, giants, and other monsters to add to our army.¡± Frill had no idea if she should believe what she just heard. This could simply be a sophisticated plan to draw out the defenses of Irista Nation, or cause confusion among themselves. But her theory perfectly matched Xiv¡¯s statement. The mysterious guest could be an agent working for their actual enemy, manipulating the scenes from the shadows. Or they could be the actual enemy. No matter, whether she believed him or not, she¡¯ll find out the truth. ¡°Tell us about Central,¡± Frill inquired since, apparently, Xiv only answered to her questions. ¡°When the siege began, numerous special divisions were deployed for an infiltration mission. They took the route through the Rindea Mountain Range.¡± ¡°We met them on the way to Urzic. Dealt with them,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Which division, if I may ask?¡± Xiv asked politely. ¡°I intercepted every division I could spot east of the mountain range. I sent out another squadron westward. They should have met the other one, but they ended up meeting their deaths.¡± Kristel bit her lip with controlled anger. Xiv¡¯s shoulders fell. ¡°A dear friend of mine was sent to the east. If you faced them, surely he will not have survived.¡± The Princess sighed and placed both hands on her waist, irritated. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get your hopes up, but we didn¡¯t kill them all. I spared those that I could. It didn¡¯t feel right killing laborers and commoners conscripted into war. I left them incapacitated. If they are strong enough, and if the mountains are merciful, they should still be alive.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you, but I don¡¯t like clinging onto hope.¡± He had a look of defeat underneath his stern face. Frill noticed dark shades underneath his black eyes and a general weariness in his slumped posture. He had not been sleeping well. Frill wanted to pass her sympathies but held herself back. The way he took the blow was very different from hers. ¡°They were carrying special containers¡ª¡± An arrow pierced through his chest with a force that shoved him to the ground. A blast of shockwave followed. Within just one second, Kristel had manifested her battle gear and was chasing down the assassin from the top of the wall. Frein followed her without hesitation with Enza close at his heels. They took the path leading towards the exit. The stoic soldier¡ªnot so stoic anymore¡ªcame running with Boldrik and the other guards behind him. ¡°What happened?¡± Boldrik asked. ¡°Get the medics, we need him alive,¡± Frill commanded. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Lady Katherine said, kneeling beside the prisoner. She lifted him on his knees and ripped open his clothes while Drawing Samesia to stop the bleeding. ¡°You guys make sure no one else comes near.¡± There were four soldiers in total, who all Drew their battle gears with meiyal-plating along with a variety of meiyal weapons. They formed a circle around them. ¡°How can I help?¡± Frill asked, struggling to hide her panic. ¡°Hold on, I can¡¯t stabilize him.¡± Katherine used all one-hundred marks but even with all the meiyal she could muster, she was barely keeping him from the hands of death. ¡°I need you to pull the arrow out. Xiv, take a deep breath.¡± Xiv was in shock, but he did as he was told, almost suffocating the moment he tried to breathe. Frill didn¡¯t wait nor ask if he was ready and quickly yanked the whole arrow out of his chest. Xiv¡¯s screams filled the arena as he lost consciousness completely, but blood didn¡¯t flow out of his wounds. Lady Katherine handled it with extreme precision as she eased the Vyndivalian on the ground. ¡°Dai-Samesia.¡± Katherine opened her Display and performed a stronger healing Meiyal Art. Frill had forgotten how the Lady¡¯s display looked before she went out Seeking but it had been certainly larger than the current one. ¡°Frill, I need you to make a decision. The arrow shattered his meiyal core.¡± The Lady pointed at his back. Frill knew even Vyndivalians possessed a meiyal system with a meiyal core but without marks. Instead, their cores were larger and tougher and was the very source of their resistance to hostile meiyal. Especially for Xiv, who survived her Diferenfra, his core should have been able to handle a simple arrow. Xiv¡¯s back bore a diamond-shaped mark, now cracked by the arrow that pierced it. The arrow looked like it was made of glass. Just as she began to study the weapon, it started to evaporate. Meiyal. By the amount dispersing from it, it looked extremely deadly. Frill felt a hint of Nightmare imbedded in it before it completely disappeared. ¡°My Samesia isn¡¯t working. At this rate, we¡¯ll eventually lose him. I can¡¯t maintain this for long, Frill.¡± Lady Katherine called back her attention. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who has a spare. The marks will stay, Frill. He only needs a core.¡± She meant Liona¡¯s core. Her core was special, nurtured by the previous owner to adapt smoothly when fused. Frill struggled whether to give it away, or have a precious informant slip out of their hands. Why would she entrust her sister¡¯s core to a complete stranger? And it wasn¡¯t even tested on a Vyndivalian in the first place. ¡°He¡¯s fading, Frill,¡± Katherine repeated, her voice neutral. Frill clenched her fist with firm determination. ¡°We¡¯ll save him, but if he sheds even the slightest hint of betrayal, I¡¯m taking it back.¡± She placed a hand over her left eye, pulling out a ball of lightning. Small sparks flew from it. Her meiyal surrounded the ball, threading scarlet patterns around it. Her signature. ¡°This way, I can keep track of him.¡± ¡°Since when did you and Liona became so versed with fusion arts?¡± Katherine asked out of curiosity. She didn¡¯t let herself get distracted by the question. ¡°We¡¯ve been training once a week for the past year. All three of us could merge together, but we need at least a couple of hours to optimize the fusion.¡± Frill finished the signature sealing the core and passed it to Katherine. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no need for that anymore.¡± ¡°You have the Mercurial Liquid to work on for now.¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± Frill couldn¡¯t help but feel like she had lost something precious again. ¡°You¡¯re a kind person, Frill.¡± Katherine smiled, noticing the Aria¡¯s dilemma. She infused the core into the Vyndivalian, forcing a fuse through a complex manipulation of Meiyal Arts that Frill couldn¡¯t follow. Xiv¡¯s wounds began to heal as Liona¡¯s core was placed at the center of the diamond, allowing it to mend the cracks. ¡°My sister would¡¯ve done the same. I¡¯m doing it for her¡ª¡± ¡°You may not admit it,¡± the Lady interrupted. ¡°But it¡¯s best for you to know yourself and be more honest.¡± She gave her another warm, soothing smile. ¡°You know, ever since I got here, I¡¯ve been healing a lot. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s ironic?¡± Frill gave up. ¡°Yes, very much.¡±
Chapter 47: Those That Fell Off A Cliff Those That Fell Off A Cliff
¡°They were all greedy. An era where the greediest of them all took the throne.¡± ~Schrodie, the Gatekeeper
¡°Can you fight, Enza?¡± Frein asked as they ran out of the outpost. He wanted to follow Kristel by jumping over the walls like she did. He was sure he could do it, but the lack of practice reasoned with his recklessness¡ªsomething he rarely actually followed. He wanted to know if Enza felt the same doubts, considering she was born only a few days ago. A connection was established between them but there was no way he would know everything about his yuma. ¡°Not sure,¡± said the pup. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Just observe for now.¡± A blue flare flew up the skies, making the early evening seem like Blueday. No doubt it was Kristel. They raced to it with speed. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m not big enough to carry you yet, Frein.¡± Enza¡¯s tone was a mix of sincere shame and hopeful determination. ¡°I¡¯ll grow my wings and make up for it!¡± ¡°I look forward to that, definitely.¡± The thought of soaring through the skies almost distracted him. Thankfully, the prolonged glow of Kristel¡¯s flare brought him some urgency. They picked up the pace, crossing Minaveil Manor and taking the bridge towards the residential area. People murmured and gawked but generally stayed out of trouble. Guards on duty gathered as well, keeping everyone out of harm¡¯s way. They saw Frein and asked what was happening. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± he said to them. ¡°The Princess should¡¯ve gone this way. Can you point me to her?¡± ¡°Fourth Road, towards the big houses,¡± replied one of the guards. ¡°We were instructed to keep the people from approaching.¡± Frein gave his thanks and avoided further questions from the onlookers. With the help of familiar-looking street signs, it didn¡¯t take him long to find Fourth Road. It opened to a small circular dead-end surrounded by five distinct two-to-three-story high buildings and each were at least a quarter of Minaveil Manor¡¯s width. There in the middle of the cul-de-sac, he saw the Princess flanked by a pair of guards. She stared down the assailant who flailed around his weapon like a maniac. He was easy to differentiate from the civilians who kept a safe distance away while they observed the commotion. ¡°Do you need help?¡± Frein asked, trying not to make his panting obvious. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± Kristel said. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you think someone like that can fire an arrow?¡± She pointed at the enemy, his cloak all but hid his secrets. He growled like a madman and drooled while taking heavy breaths. He carried a bow with runic etchings, waving it like a club. ¡°I didn¡¯t lose sight of him, not even for a second.¡± ¡°Then we should probably capture him,¡± Frein suggested, finally catching his breath. ¡°He might be under some kind of Meiyal Art, or something like that.¡± Kristel smirked. ¡°Exactly, but my Arts aren¡¯t designed for capture. I can keep his attention; can you take him down?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Frein fed meiyal on his Siffera, preparing for combat. Kristel stepped forward and Drew a pair of meiyal blades. She dashed and closed the distance in a flash, slashing down on her target¡¯s shoulder. Before the Princess could make contact, the madman retaliated with an otherworldly roar and blasted a wave of meiyal akin to Frill¡¯s during the time she was enraged. It threw Kristel at a nearby tree, instantly shattering its thick trunk. Fortunately, it fell forward on the road rather than one of the nearby houses. The disorienting screech caused the surrounding civilians to flee, including the people from the five houses. The two guards immediately led them away from the commotion. The madman chased one who didn¡¯t have an escort, but Frein was quick to intercept him. The Visitor sent a kick straight down and slammed the would-be assassin on the ground, causing the road to break. Another crashing meiyal wave assaulted him. He was quick to position himself in front of the nearby civilian. The wave pushed against him with brutal force and he was forced to respond by flaring his Siffera as much as he could. ¡°Go,¡± Frein said at the civilian, calmly controlling his urgency to minimize unnecessary panic. ¡°I¡¯ll keep him occupied, just run to the guards.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. With the civilian thankfully following his orders, Frein turned his attention to the madman stuck on the floor. Something was happening to him. Kristel had moved in to flank, but saw the change as well. The assassin convulsed aggressively, as though he was having seizure attacks. His muscles rapidly enlarged, so much and so fast that it ripped his skin off. Blood spluttered like a fountain as the man¡¯s torso was opened from the inside out. More flesh and innards emerged from his split body; the amount didn¡¯t make sense. Until Frein saw skulls growing out from the man on the floor and skin rapidly taking shape of featureless and obscured faces. It had turned into a Nightmare. A quadrupedal form of the man crawling on its back with a trunk of stitched up skulls protruding from its stomach. ¡°What the¡ª¡± ¡°Forget about capturing it, Frein.¡± Kristel shouted from the other side. ¡°It¡¯s one of Those That Fell Off a Cliff. Normal Meiyal Arts won¡¯t work on it, but it¡¯ll die on its own. We just have to keep this Fallen contained until then.¡± The Nightmare roared with a cacophony of screaming skulls and accompanied by another surge of meiyal wave that was clearly more potent that before. Both of them braced for impact. As soon as the wave made contact, Frein felt weakened. His Siffera was completely erased. Kristel had it worse. She fell on her knees and screamed, clutching her head with both hands; meiyal blades nowhere to be found. With a speed belying its form and supposed balance, the Fallen rushed at Kristel. From within its bloody torso, a giant piece of a ribcage emerged. Its bloody and fleshy tip aimed at the Princess. Frein re-Drew his Siffera, bursting to a speed he wasn¡¯t accustomed to using. He almost tackled the Princess, but caught himself just in time. The movement, however, didn¡¯t afford him any flexibility and he was forced to take the hit from the swiping rib bone. He mustered every bit of meiyal he could spend in an instant and focused his Siffera on his back. Frein didn¡¯t care whether it hurt or not, all that mattered was that the rib didn¡¯t impale him to death. His Siffera-empowered back took the hit and fended off the piercing force. In return, he was shoved¡ªalong with Princess Kristel¡ªand sent flying towards one of the houses. Relying on his enhanced reflexes, Frein flipped midflight, using his back as a cushion for both of them. They crashed right at the gate, snapping it out of its hinges. The force slammed them further into the main door, onto a foundation pillar, on a counter, then finally on the opposite wall where he dug quite a crater. The two groaned as they squirmed out of the hole. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kristel said as she dusted off herself. ¡°You okay, Frein?¡± Frein coughed and hopped down the floor. Chips of marble and some kind of gemstone fell off his hair. The gate grated down, bended somewhat into his shape. ¡°I think my back¡¯s going to kill me tonight.¡± ¡°One problem at a time, Visitor.¡± Kristel nodded towards the interior of the room. Frein turned and immediately saw the problem. A woman and a child cowered at the corner of the dining room; their dinner completely abandoned. He meant to say something to reassure them, but the sudden earthquake snapped his attention back to the Nightmare. It had grown one more rib bone, charging towards the house with manic rage. At this point, the body of the upside-down man flailed in the air, hovering through the help of the pair of ribs as large as one of the house¡¯s pillars. Its skulls kept bleating their screeching song. Kristel quickly moved to intercept, but the Fallen shoved her off like a fly with a third rib. It crashed through the house, breaching through the marble exterior as though it was fake cement. The second floor collapsed, and Frein quickly moved to cover the mother and daughter. Piles upon piles of debris slammed and pushed against his back. It took all of his strength to stay above his knees, lest he let his body crush the two screaming civilians in front of him. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be fine,¡± he said over gritting teeth and burdened breaths. ¡°You two will be okay.¡± The collapsing subsided, but he could feel the Fallen stomping over the pile of debris, trying to dig its way through. ¡°Sorry about your house, though.¡± Frein smiled despite the situation, trying to calm the civilians down. ¡°Please, get us out of here!¡± The mother cried. ¡°That¡¯s the plan, miss. I¡¯d appreciate it if you can let me concentrate, though. I might turn deaf.¡± Something¡ªor someone¡ªtugged at his consciousness. Enza. She was feeling concern and worry with a hint of panic. Frein immediately willed a command for her to stay put and stay hidden. Without any prior knowledge of how she could fight, Frein couldn¡¯t risk her joining. The Visitor took a deep breath and Gathered as much and as far as he could. He grasped every bit of meiyal he could reach and Milled them through his Perpetual-Layered Milling form in an instant before feeding them straight into his Siffera. With newfound strength and determination, Frein pushed against the weight behind him. His own screams bounced off their small corner as he forced himself to stand. Inch by inch, he could feel the weight relent. He maneuvered to orient himself better, turning on the pile so he could push further. The Fallen screamed and Frein thought another surge of meiyal wave was about to bombard them. But it was Kristel¡¯s voice that followed instead. ¡°Now, Frein!¡± There was nothing else to Gather but so much more to Mill. He fed his Siffera again. The effect this time was mildly noticeable, but it was enough for him to push further. The balance finally shifted. To his surprise, Frein saw the entirety of the second and third floor collapsing over Those That Fell Off a Cliff. He had just carried an entire building. Quickly assessing himself, he wasn¡¯t even mildly exhausted. Nowhere near Art fatigue either. Confidence found and gripped him. A slow chill ran up his spine. ¡°Can you get them out?¡± he asked Kristel, pointing at the mother and child. The guards had already backed off farther away. ¡°What about the Fallen?¡± she asked. Frein couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. He felt a little out of place, as though some possibility was within reach but it was blurred and difficult to identify. He opened his Spatiera and pulled a memento of his past. Nakiri. Four rib bones emerged from the rubble and struggled to force itself from the crude entrapment. Frein approached without even turning to the Princess. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡±
Chapter 48: A Hint of Nightmare A Hint of Nightmare Frein had never parried with Nakiri. His style with the sword was greatly inspired by the flashiness of Iaido, keeping the katana sheathed until it was the right moment to strike. Of course, this meant keeping the sword strapped on his waist while he used hand-to-hand combat to navigate for an opening. Needless to say, as proven by his almost unblemished record in the underground arena, it was an effective style against his opponents. Against Nightmares, however? Only one way to find out. The Fallen now looked like a gigantic quadrupedal spider with four rib bones for legs and the upside-down madman with skulls on its stomach for the body. Based on the behaviors it displayed, it had clear instincts to prioritize easy prey. Whenever it felt danger, it would emit a meiyal wave. It had used a particularly strange meiyal wave that erased active Meiyal Arts, but there was little information for the conditions of that attack. For now, Frein settled on a simple objective. While the main goal was to keep this Nightmare contained until it died on its own, the adventurous side in him wanted to defeat it. Dodge the attacks, chop off the skull before it roars. Let¡¯s go from there. With no other nearby enemies to take its attention, Those That Fell Off a Cliff rushed at him. Despite having more limbs, the Nightmare lumbered on in a sluggish effort to put one rib in front of the other. It used three as feet while it swung the fourth with reckless abandon, throwing its weight every which way. Frein danced around the skeletal weapon while predicting the main body¡¯s trajectory. He weaved in and out of the Fallen¡¯s range, testing for any reactions. They danced around the cul-de-sac while the Visitor ensured they avoided getting too close to any of the houses. Those That Fell Off a Cliff let out a roar of frustration, but no meiyal wave followed. This aroused a certain suspicion. Frein Drew an observation Meiyal Art to see if he could gauge the Nightmare¡¯s meiyal reserves. The Fallen¡¯s meiyal composition made his skin crawl. Tendrils of what he described as inky meiyal leaked outside the madman¡¯s body, crawling and wrapping around the rib limbs. The stitched-up skulls protruding from its stomach emanated with a sickly, bubbling, dark green glow. The Nightmare struck before Frein could make sense of what he saw. Frein slipped diagonally underneath, intercepting the Fallen¡¯s sluggish momentum. The instant he got within striking distance, the sickly green meiyal swirled. At the same time, the inky meiyal gathered within the madman as though it was sucked up with desperate force. Frein readied his Siffera to defend, but thought better of it; his gut telling him to strike now. So, he channeled the Art throughout his entire body and directed the flow towards Nakiri. Following the all-too-famous adage: Be one with the sword, Frein believed his Siffera would recognize Nakiri as part of himself and thus strengthen it. He didn¡¯t waste any time to confirm. With a motion he had practiced hundreds of thousands of times, Frein pulled the katana and sliced, aiming at the skulls. The roar came and Frein¡ªalthough already too late¡ªrealized his mistake. His Siffera was completely erased and the meiyal wave blasted him high into the air. The pain barely registered, but he couldn¡¯t understand if it was due to shock or if he was actually almost unharmed. Priorities first. Frein barely managed to re-Draw his Siffera in time before he landed on the ground hard; the force skidding and bouncing him off quite the distance before he caught himself upright. He was flung by about a hundred meters outside the cul-de-sac. He quickly assessed himself. Amazingly enough, Siffera regulated his breathing and mitigated the pain. Both the exhaustion and the hurt weren¡¯t actually gone, simply held back by a surge of energy akin to adrenaline. He bled from the eyes and nose, but thankfully, they didn¡¯t feel deformed. His right arm was busted and barely responded to his commands, but he managed to hold onto the drawn Nakiri despite the force. The sword was the problem. For one, the meiyal wave ripped the scabbard off its strap. But the more pressing problem was the missing half of Nakiri¡¯s blade. Guess the plan didn¡¯t work out. Frein cursed himself and started for the cul-de-sac where the Nightmare continued to rampage. He managed to take a few steps before his knees gave out. He felt nauseous. The world around him spun in intertwining spirals and a vision started to form. Frein was rooted in a tree, a large trunk growing thick, leafless branches. It oozed of slime, acidic to anything but the plant itself. Somehow, it smelled of a fragrant flower, a calming aroma to help one sleep. Years passed and his body was slowly absorbed into the tree, making him a part of the trunk. He had turned into a Nightmare. ¡°Oi, laddie! Get a hold of yerself!¡± A nudge brought Frein back to his senses. A stout, balding man with a luxurious beard held him by the shoulders. He was using Samesia over the busted arm. To the Visitor¡¯s surprise, his injury quickly healed. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Almost as good as Katherine¡¯s. ¡°Ye okay, laddie?¡± he asked. ¡°Yer bleedin¡¯ like a squeezed fruit.¡± ¡°Thanks. But I need to help the Princess.¡± Frein assumed the only reason the four remaining houses still stood was because of Kristel keeping the Nightmare¡¯s attention. He stored Nakiri back into his Spatiera and began to Mill. ¡°Ey, stop Millin¡¯, lad. Yer gonna make yerself sick again,¡± the man said. He was quite short. Dwarven, Frein assumed as he passed a confused look. ¡°Ye probably Gather¡¯d some nasty meiyal, being too close to that Nightmare and all. Ya¡¯d have to¡ª¡± Frein Milled anyway. This time around, he paid attention. Indeed, he saw the nasty meiyal. In his mind¡¯s eye, they looked like the ink-colored tendrils surrounding the Fallen. He tried to precisely leave them out of the Milling process and he was mildly surprised by how easy it was. He could only credit it on his perfected Perpetual-Layered Milling form. ¡°Oi¡­¡± the dwarf began but quickly lost his words. ¡°Ye¡¯re separating them.¡± Frein supposed he was using an observation Meiyal Art. He made a mental note to check with Katherine if there was an Art to conceal him from observations¡ªto minimize information when needed. Speaking of the Lady, her current absence despite all the chaos meant that she found a way to save Xiv. I suppose I can¡¯t just sit here and be a disappointment. ¡°Please stay here,¡± he said to the dwarf. ¡°Meiyal Arts ain¡¯t gonna work on that Nightmare, laddie. Unless ye have something on yer Display that can pierce through their resistance, ye¡¯d be best better off leavin¡¯ it to the Princess.¡± ¡°No can do.¡± Frein didn¡¯t bother explaining himself. With renewed meiyal reserves, he reignited his Siffera and headed back. Sure enough, Kristel was there zigzagging around the Fallen. ¡°Observation Art!¡± he called out. Kristel didn¡¯t bother turning to him and Drew. ¡°It¡¯s weird! What about it?¡± ¡°See the black tendrils? If they get absorbed into the green core, it¡¯ll blast an erasing wave. We¡¯ll have to get out of range fast if that happens.¡± From what he could tell, the tendrils weren¡¯t as prominent as last time but they were steadily growing. ¡°Let¡¯s switch. I¡¯ll force it to use the erasing wave again, then you finish it off. Aim for the skulls.¡± ¡°But Meiyal Arts won¡¯t work on it!¡± the Princess retorted. ¡°Just give it a try! I don¡¯t think it can use that attack in quick succession.¡± Frein kicked the flailing rib swinging from the Nightmare, forcing its attention back to him. Kristel relented and jumped back to one of the house¡¯s roof. She focused and showed off her Display, creating a small ring of meiyal on her back. While that was the plan Frein had come up with on the spot, he had one other agenda in mind. This time, instead of dodging away from the rib-weapon, he met it head-on. A punch or a kick, it didn¡¯t matter. He deflected each attack with one of his own. The rapid collisions reverberated around them, and slowly but surely, Frein brought the tide to his side. He increased his pace, hitting the rib twice each time it swung. Cracks began to form. By the time Those That Fell Off a Cliff realized what was going on, Frein had chipped off a significant portion of the bone. The Nightmare jumped back, and Frein was quick to give chase, deliberately aiming for the damaged rib. He assaulted relentlessly until the entirety of the limb fell off with a loud snapping crack. There was silence for a while, as though the Nightmare instinctively realized the purpose behind Frein¡¯s attacks. While it looked on dumbfounded, Frein glanced around the shards of bone scattered on the ground. They were already beginning to dissolve into meiyal. He picked up a thin shard long enough to act as a sword. ¡°That was for earlier, cliff-head.¡± He Drew an observation Meiyal Art and made his approach. Without a weapon to defend itself, the Fallen began to retreat. Frein dashed around it, keeping the Nightmare contained within the cul-de-sac. It backed off, roaring and emitting harmful meiyal waves¡ªnot the erasing kind. Frein took his time and observed the timing of the waves. The inky meiyal tendrils were back in full form and primed for the erasing wave. With a precise step, the Visitor closed the distance and swung the bone-sword at the skulls. The moment the inky meiyal retracted to the green core, Frein bolted away to the other side. The erasing wave still caught him, but the distance he made mitigated any other harmful effects. He was barely pushed a step back. ¡°Now!¡± he yelled. ¡°Dai Irista-style,¡± Kristel chanted as she directed open palms towards the Fallen. Lightning crackled all around her arms. ¡°Judgment!¡± A white flash. Then a thunderous roar. It was over in an instant. By the time Frein¡¯s vision cleared, the disgusting smell of burnt flesh and bone had filled the air. Those That Fell Off a Cliff sizzled in the middle of the cul-de-sac, lifeless. Kristel jumped off the roof; her Art fatigue evident by the amount of smoke coming out of her entire body. ¡°You, okay?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kristel replied. He pointed all over the smoke. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can¡¯t Draw for a while, but I¡¯m not completely out of meiyal yet. I don¡¯t really use Judgment unless I have to.¡± ¡°Well, you sure toasted this abomination.¡± ¡°I thought Meiyal Arts won¡¯t work on it.¡± Kristel took slow and deep breaths. ¡°We had an opening.¡± ¡°You mean during that erasing wave?¡± ¡°It was just a theory. If that wave erased everything within its range, maybe it also included itself, you know? Glad it worked out.¡± The Princess side-eyed him. ¡°What if it didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°You saw what it was trying to do at the end. It was afraid. Besides, I think we¡¯ve held it off for long enough. There shouldn¡¯t be any civilians around.¡± That brought a thought in him. He turned roughly towards the direction he came from and saw the dwarf hiding behind one of the houses. Kristel followed his gaze. ¡°Master Midan!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°By my balding head, you did it!¡± the dwarf, Midan, rushed towards the Fallen corpse. ¡°This be a profound discovery, m¡¯lass! There ain¡¯t no need to bypass its resistance, we just have to take the right timing!¡± ¡°Umm¡­Master Midan?¡± ¡°Yes, m¡¯lass. I¡¯m on it. We have to preserve the corpse and see if we can study or gather some materials from it.¡± Kristel eagerly tapped at the dwarf¡¯s shoulder to bring him out of his stupor. ¡°We have a few things to talk about first, Master Midan. Can you send a green flare?¡± Frein noticed a certain clarity in the dwarf¡¯s eyes and sent out the flare. ¡°I see. No worries, m¡¯lass. I¡¯ll meet ye back at The Big Mess after I give ¡®em some instructions¡­¡± The conversation trailed off as Frein¡¯s attention turned to a weight leaning on his leg. Enza melded into view. ¡°How long were you in Nature¡¯s Favor?¡± Frein whispered. ¡°The entire fight. You asked me to stay out of the way. I was worried, you know!¡± Enza licked him furiously. Frein swore she got bigger again. ¡°You¡¯re not tired or anything?¡± ¡°No.¡± Weird. Frein scanned his yuma¡¯s meiyal reserves with an observation Meiyal Art and found it to be completely full. He made a mental note to explore this further later. ¡°Can you do me another favor and check up on Katherine?¡± ¡°Do I ask her to follow back?¡± Enza tilted her head inquisitively. ¡°Only if she¡¯s not busy.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± As soon as she turned back, Enza melded out of view again. ¡°You sure you¡¯ll let her use Nature¡¯s Favor whenever she wants?¡± Kristel asked. Her Art fatigue had lessened to steady lines of smoke. Meanwhile, Midan was discussing with the guards that responded to the flare. ¡°I checked her reserves; they were completely normal. I want to know how long she can do it.¡± Kristel nodded and sighed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°This makes one thing crystal clear.¡± She crossed her arms for emphasis as she looked back at Those That Fell Off a Cliff. ¡°Vyndival isn¡¯t the enemy.¡±
Chapter 49: Meiyal-Charged Material Meiyal-Charged Material
¡°Technologies evolve. Organisms evolve. And so do Meiyal Arts.¡± ~Schrodie
Frein¡¯s head ached as they walked back. ¡°So Vyndival isn¡¯t behind this?¡± The guards took the Nightmare away from the scene with instructions from Midan to keep the corpse secured. ¡°A Nightmare doesn¡¯t show up in the middle of the protected zone¡ªwhich is basically the entirety of Forimeyn Continent. As far as I know, Vyndival couldn¡¯t possibly do something like that. If they could, they¡¯d have used it during the Battle of the Vanguard. ¡°There¡¯s no forecasted Hollowing Storms either¡­no Void Encounters as well¡­But why would there be one? How could it use a bow? Why did it look like a person?¡± The Princess was too absorbed within her own thoughts for Frein to grab her attention. He had never seen anyone so immersed that she almost tripped on something as simple as a cobblestone pavement. ¡°Hey, come on, pull yourself together.¡± Frein ushered the Princess back to her feet when she finally lost her balance. ¡°What do you mean by Void Encounters?¡± ¡°Sorry, I meant Nightmare Invasions,¡± Kristel replied as she dusted her legs off the dirt. ¡°It¡¯s the same thing. Void Encounter¡¯s just the older term.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± They eventually made their way back to the outpost. The guards were already settled in their individual positions. Katherine and Frill were inside the main building with Xiv lying on a mattress, unconscious. Enza was also there, drinking milk from a bowl. ¡°Princess!¡± Frill came running with Katherine calmly walking behind her. ¡°Are you alright? We could hear the roars from here, but I couldn¡¯t leave because of the operation.¡± ¡°We fought Those That Fell Off a Cliff. But we¡¯re fine. We managed to kill it.¡± Kristel did her best to refocus back to the present. Frein could see her desire to explore the theories swimming in her head. ¡°You had a Display for it?¡± Katherine asked, eyes full of amazement. With a subtle sigh, Kristel tapped a light back hand over Frein¡¯s stomach. ¡°No, but this guy here figured it out. We can talk about that in detail later. How¡¯s Xiv?¡± ¡°They shattered his meiyal core,¡± Katherine answered calmly despite her proud and excited eyes. ¡°Piercing meiyal arrow, something stronger than Lor could make,¡± Frill added. ¡°It evaporated before I could preserve a sample. We were too busy trying to keep him alive.¡± She made a better showing of hiding her own amazement on the news regarding the Fallen, but Frein noticed it. In fact, he couldn¡¯t help but feel incredibly sensitive with everyone¡¯s reactions and subtle facial expressions. Since the fight with the Fallen, he could feel his Siffera poised on a certain state, on a verge of something incredibly profound, but it kept teasing him out of reach. ¡°But he¡¯s alive, right?¡± Frein asked, distracting himself from the itch at the back of his head. Enza appeared right next to him, whining in a hushed tone. ¡°Oh, hey.¡± ¡°We should¡¯ve just walked back together!¡± she complained; her voice falling in distracted ears. ¡°And I can feel something really weird, but not in a bad way for some reason.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡± Frein said while scratching his yuma¡¯s chin. He glanced at Frill to reissue his question. The Aria¡¯s face fell, she couldn¡¯t answer. So, he turned to Katherine. ¡°We had to transplant Liona¡¯s core.¡± The Lady of the Void controlled her tone. ¡°We had no choice.¡± ¡°Are you okay with this?¡± Princess Kristel asked Frill. ¡°I suppose,¡± Frill said. ¡°I¡¯m just not in the mood to see more corpses right now.¡± Her eyes flared, purple with a mix of redness. Kristel nodded. ¡°Alright, then. We¡¯ll keep him in Minaveil Manor for now. Can you keep an eye on him?¡± Frill nodded in silence. ¡°I need to make a few arrangements with Midan before we go to Central.¡± ¡°That reminds me.¡± Frein¡¯s mind raced. ¡°He¡¯s the guy who built the wall, right?¡± ¡°The Vanguard, yes.¡± ¡°They said he built it in ten days¡ªjust two weeks.¡± ¡°He and his crew. Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming, too.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Frein folded his arms, organizing his thoughts. ¡°There¡¯s something weird about that wall,¡± he began. ¡°The meiyal in it looks different compared to a normal Meiyal Art.¡± ¡°What made you say that?¡± Kristel asked. By the read on her face, she was looking forward to some solitude, but Frein wasn¡¯t having it. He had to talk to Midan. ¡°They¡¯re like in their natural state. Like they were never manipulated in the first place. I want to know what he did to make it look like that.¡± Kristel gave him a long look, then turned to Katherine. The Lady, who was discussing something with Frill, noticed her gaze and just shrugged. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Well, as far as I could tell, when it was getting built, it wasn¡¯t exactly through Meiyal Arts,¡± she sighed. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± She turned to Katherine. ¡°Midan¡¯s secured the Fallen in the dungeons. Can you check on it? See if you can harvest any materials or assess whether they should keep it or not.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Katherine nodded this time. Frein could see a hint of regret on her face. He just wasn¡¯t sure if it was because of the core transplant or if it was because of something else. ¡°Please take care, Princess,¡± Frill said and nodded towards Frein. ¡°We¡¯ll prepare a late dinner for you two, so don¡¯t eat too much.¡± Frein decided to have Enza go with Katherine so she could walk around. The yuma gave him a long hard look then mumbled something about ditching her on their first night. She went with the Lady who happily accepted the babysitting duties. With the decision made, they¡ªalong with a couple of guards to carry Xiv¡ªleft the outpost and separated ways as they passed through the market place. Katherine, Frill, and the guards continued along the path towards the bridge, while Frein and Kristel entered the market proper. The evening had fully settled and most shops were closing. Only some stalls selling quick-to-eat snacks or dinner remained, hollering at them as soon as they spotted the Princess. She declined their offers with a smile. Some elderly folks hanging out together over some drinks called at the pair, teasing them as budding lovebirds. Kristel pouted and adamantly declined their accusations, but Frein simply laughed with them and went with the flow, effectively exacerbating the situation. ¡°Come, come, tell us about it!¡± said one of the grandmas¡ªan aged yet healthy orc¡ªpulling Frein by the arm. She poured a glass of liquor and gave it to him with a shaky hand. Leaving the Princess speechless, the Visitor happily enjoyed the drink which surprisingly kicked him with its sour and spicy flavor. ¡°Sorry, grandma. Kristel and I aren¡¯t actually together,¡± he revealed after reeling from the liquor backlash. He was met with disappointed groans. With a smile, he returned the glass and took a few steps away from the elderly group before saying, ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m already with Katherine.¡± The reveal fell on deaf ears for a second, allowing Frein precious few seconds to create some distance, until one of the elders realized which Katherine he was talking about. Frein and Kristel left before chaos ensued. ¡°That sort of behavior causes rumors to go around, you know?¡± the Princess said. Something in her voice told Frein she was holding herself back to deliver a reprimanding speech. ¡°Let them have their fun,¡± he retorted. ¡°Besides, I cleared up the misunderstanding anyway.¡± ¡°I guess¡­¡± They found themselves on a small square leading to three other directions. In the middle was a single huge tree with spiraling wood patterns surrounding its trunk. Some spirals were enveloped with different flowers while others covered themselves with leaves that left a soft humming glow. Its high branches were lush with more of the same leaves, reflecting the shimmering purple glow of the evening. It was vibrant, yet not overwhelmingly bright. Like an overgrown evening lamp, mesmerizing, hypnotizing, and calming all the same. It had been a week, but the magnificent beauty of the purple night sky still took his breath every time. ¡°Never seen a tree like this?¡± Kristel asked, noticing Frein¡¯s magnetized gaze. He absentmindedly shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly a nature-guy back on Earth, but I doubt something like this exists back there.¡± ¡°You can ask it for a leaf if you want.¡± ¡°Like a lucky charm?¡± ¡°Sort of. Just open your hand to it.¡± Despite the weird instruction, there wasn¡¯t any hint of deception on Kristel¡¯s face. So, Frein stood underneath the tree and presented his hand. He remained still for a good minute, wondering exactly what would happen. Just as he considered the Princess might actually be making a fool out of him, something caught his eye. Meiyal coalesced around the tree in a slow swirling fashion. It began from its roots, spiraling a colorful combination of glitters along its trunk and travelling beyond its leaves. On a spot Frein could barely see, at the top of its glimmering leaves, one in particular twinkled a variety of colors instantaneously. The leaf snapped and swayed down towards him. Frein could see the meiyal around the wind as it guided the shining leaf, as though the world itself placed it on his open palm. It settled to a brilliant emerald green and was surging with tremendous power, filled to the brim that it seemed to overflow. A single piece, barely half of his palm, and yet so heavy it took all of his Siffera just to hold it without flinching. He turned to Kristel who looked just as surprised and dazed as he was. When their eyes met, she quickly shook herself awake. ¡°Quickly, put it on your Exhibit!¡± she said in a panicked voiced. ¡°How do I do that?¡± he asked, barely hiding his own frantic voice. The Princess rushed towards him. ¡°Bring out your own meiyal and surround it. Then slowly absorb it back. Use your core as your anchor when you visualize it in your head so you can lead it straight to your Exhibit. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not that complicated.¡± She quickly Drew a barrier Meiyal Art around the two of them. ¡°Just to be one the safe side.¡± Frein didn¡¯t ask further and sat cross-legged on the ground, holding the shining leaf with both hands as he relaxed and allowed his meiyal to surface. Again, he could only credit it to the complicated Milling form he had already mastered. It was as easy as lifting a finger. It was also the first time he saw his own meiyal and it took him by surprise. A deep seeping dark red, almost the color of blood. It felt malevolent. But there was no time to question it now. He focused on surrounding the leaf. He could feel it disintegrating, almost melting from his meiyal¡¯s touch. ¡°Good,¡± Kristel observed. ¡°Now slowly pull it back. Don¡¯t rush it, take as much time as you need. Midan can wait.¡± Every tug felt like he was going to explode. Even for someone like him¡ªwith all the fantastical experiences he had had so far¡ªthe feeling was beyond comprehension. It wasn¡¯t just power. It was understanding. A true sense of the world. A realization of limitless growth. Divinity, authority, whatever it was called. Something reserved for gods. He was pulling at fragments of its slivers, atomic in comparison to the whole; a mere strand within the threads or weaves or fabrics of the entire cloth that spanned the entire universe. Yet it felt too much to hold. Frein didn¡¯t know how long it took, but Art fatigue had settled in by the time he was done. He was still filled to the brim with meiyal, but Drawing right now was an impossibility. ¡°Don¡¯t Draw or Mill until you¡¯ve recovered,¡± Kristel said, reinforcing his assessment. ¡°How long did I take?¡± ¡°A good ten minutes. Pretty impressive, actually.¡± The Princess erased her barrier Meiyal Art and held out a hand. Frein took it and got up on his feet. ¡°What happens if I Draw or Mill? Is it because of the leaf?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± Kristel replied, tempering her excitement. ¡°It¡¯s just that Drawing with Art fatigue complicates your recovery and risks injuring your meiyal system. Only do so when you¡¯re really desperate. There have been records of people trying to make it work, but the results only gave us one conclusion.¡± ¡°Make it so that you don¡¯t suffer Art fatigue too fast?¡± ¡°Exactly. Now, if you Mill, you might accidentally integrate the material on your Exhibit and finalize it. You can still actually Mill without doing that, but it requires some extra precision. It¡¯s better to have Katherine teach you about it.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°So, what was the leaf all about? It doesn¡¯t look like it happens that often based on your expression.¡± ¡°No, no, it doesn¡¯t¡± Kristel began, organizing her thoughts. ¡°It was supposed to be just a lucky charm. The Favoring Tree always gives a leaf when people ask for it. It feels good, but usually it¡¯s just a placebo. ¡°But that leaf, that¡¯s called Emerald Guidance. It¡¯s one of the Colors of Power, a collection of powerful meiyal-charged materials. They¡¯re known for their incredible effects, but procurement has always been a mystery.¡± ¡°So, what does Emerald Guidance do?¡± Frein obviously had more than just one question, but it didn¡¯t look like he could interrogate Kristel about it now. ¡°We need to get going, Frein. Besides, it hasn¡¯t fully integrated on your Exhibit yet. And I think Katherine has more knowledge with it. I just know it helps with Drawing Meiyal Arts, which might be exactly what you need.¡± Frein risked one more question as they left the square. ¡°How many materials could I put on my Exhibit?¡± Kristel just shrugged.
Chapter 50: Pub Talk Pub Talk ¡°It feels weird,¡± Frein said. ¡°It¡¯s like a big lump on my chest that I can¡¯t get rid of.¡± The Emerald Guidance sat directly at his center, refusing to budge. It didn¡¯t exactly bother him with regards to anything physical, but it made its presence known like drinking too much wine. ¡°Ah,¡± Kristel responded as they resumed their way to Midan. ¡°That¡¯s because you don¡¯t have enough meiyal marks. How many do you have?¡± Frein brought up his wrist. Gauging one¡¯s own meiyal mark wasn¡¯t as much as manually counting each unsealed one as it was with feeling the whole. Simply pointing his attention to it revealed six unsealed marks¡ªone more than last week. He just couldn¡¯t help moving his hand. ¡°Just six,¡± he said. ¡°The Emerald Guidance doesn¡¯t have a minimum mark requirement for absorbing it, but as far as I¡¯m aware, you need thirty-nine marks to integrate it in your system.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯ll just stay here until I get thirty-nine marks?¡± ¡°Yep. It¡¯s a bit annoying, but that¡¯s one of the amazing things about that material¡ªor the Colors of Power in general. You just have to bear with it for now.¡± Kristel smiled. ¡°You¡¯re lucky enough to find one basically handed to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t ask for it, or talked me into giving it to you,¡± Frein said as they turned into a narrow street. ¡°I¡¯m not that desperate.¡± ¡°So where exactly are we going?¡± He asked the Princess, trying to change the subject. ¡°The Big Mess,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°It¡¯s a pub. Master Midan owns it.¡± ¡°I thought he answers to the Monarch directly? How¡¯s he managing a pub this far away?¡± ¡°His wife and daughter. You saved them today from that Nightmare.¡± The distant cheers and music arrived along with his realization. ¡°What a coincidence!¡± ¡°Yeah. I sent him a message as soon as they were safe,¡± Kristel said as they turned a corner approaching closer to the celebrations. ¡°I guess that¡¯s when he found you.¡± ¡°I got trapped in some sort of illusion after that Fallen sent me flying. If not for Midan, you might¡¯ve had to fight it on your own.¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. I forgot you constantly Mill, unlike the rest of us.¡± ¡°Kat said it was rude, but Schrodie said it only became rude because people nowadays are too lazy to practice the form.¡± Kristel side-eyed him. ¡°The Gatekeeper¡¯s words, not mine,¡± he said defensively. ¡°Besides, Kat does it now too, anyway.¡± ¡°I guess¡­¡± Finally, they saw an isolated two-story building made of finely garnished stones illuminated with lights that played along the cheers and laughter inside it. Patrons were coming in and out from the side entrance. Some even brought their drinks and food with them to dine on the tables outside. They saw the two and passed celebratory cheers. Kristel stopped in front of the main door. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Frein asked. The Princess looked hesitant, contemplating within herself. ¡°Be careful,¡± she began, holding the doorknob at the same time she affirmed herself. She ducked as soon as she opened the door, dodging a flying chicken bone that barely missed Frein. ¡°Ah, Princess Kristel! Welcome, sit anywhere you like.¡± They were greeted by a girl with scarlet hair that she tied in a pair of pigtails. Purple eyes sparkled with joy behind a pair of glasses. She wore a simple tunic and an apron that were amazingly clean despite the frantic mess of food flying all around her. Bennie smiled and beamed as soon as she met eyes with Frein. ¡°Hello, Frein! Didn¡¯t take you for a two-timer. Or is it three?¡± ¡°Wow, the rumors sure go fast around here,¡± Frein said, smiling. ¡°Just pulling your leg,¡± Bennie teasingly stuck out her tongue. She stepped to one side, dodging a banana peel flying behind her, before regaining poise to address the Princess. ¡°I recommend the second floor. It¡¯s a strictly-no-throwing-food-around section.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you work here as well.¡± Kristel barely weaved away from a combination of half-eaten strudels and pies as she was led by a skipping Bennie. Frein dragged a drunkard to shield him from any splotches. ¡°Ah, the evacuation went as far as my home. Master Midan was kind enough to offer free food for tonight for the evacuees¡ªsince our dinner was disturbed and all.¡± She prepared the table on the second floor. Save for the three of them, the place was otherwise isolated. ¡°Only made sense for me to help.¡± ¡°You know, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, Bennie,¡± Frein began as he and the Princess took their sits. ¡°Are you related to Frill, by any chance?¡± Bennie¡¯s face instantly flushed like a tomato. ¡°Oh, no, no!¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Kristel asked with a scrutinizing eyebrow. ¡°Wait, am I the odd one here?¡± Frein casually pointed Bennie¡¯s features mainly the eyes and the hair. ¡°Same hair, same eyes. You two look like siblings to me.¡± The flustered Bennie used a serving tray she carried to cover most of her face, shy eyes switched franticly between a curious Visitor and an amused Princess. ¡°The Aria in Red is popular even among the girls. My hair just matured the same way as hers, but we¡¯re not related. The eyes are a total coincidence!¡± ¡°You could pass for popular yourself,¡± Frein said, making Bennie turn redder. ¡°But I guess you¡¯re the shy type.¡± He smiled. Then a detail caught his attention. ¡°Wait, did you say your hair matured?¡± ¡°Yours doesn¡¯t do that?¡± Bennie asked. ¡°Well, not when we¡¯re young usually. We dye it if we want to change colors. With age, sure, but we¡¯re most likely somewhere in the fifties or more before ours turn completely white.¡± ¡°Ours just change colors,¡± Kristel clarified, understanding the situation clearer now. ¡°Katherine¡¯s hair was originally white, you know.¡± Frein instinctively stood and slammed the table. ¡°What? I need to see that!¡± Bennie yelped and hid completely behind her serving tray. Kristel grinned with clear mischievous intentions. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I guess she didn¡¯t share everything to you, yet! Ha! Take that.¡± Frein returned the grin. ¡°You can take this point. But I have many!¡± ¡°Umm¡­sorry, but can I please take your orders?¡± Bennie peeped from her tray, trying to diffuse the trivial competition. ¡°If you need a menu, I can get them for you.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here for Master Midan, can you let him know we¡¯ve arrived?¡± Kristel said. ¡°I¡¯ll have a small meat pie and sweet wine,¡± She contemplated a little, her eyes fixed somewhere around Frein. ¡°On second thought, I¡¯ll have milk instead.¡± Her face turned sour. Bennie¡¯s face regressed from tomato red to a beaming brightness. ¡°You don¡¯t like milk?¡± Frein connected the dots without sparing any effort. He internally commended Kristel for trying to overcome her weakness, no matter how trivial. ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°If you add honey, it¡¯ll taste better. Healthier, too,¡± he suggested, not minding the Princess¡¯s aggressive tone. Kristel sighed. ¡°Add honey then.¡± ¡°Noted!¡± The waitress turned to Frein. ¡°I¡¯ll have the same,¡± he said, turning his attention to the chaos downstairs. ¡°Is it always like this here?¡± ¡°A bit more rowdy than usual,¡± Bennie answered with a smile. ¡°The Big Mess likes to keep their customers drunk and happy with occasional bruises and memory lapses; nothing too drastic.¡± She sounded like narrating an advertisement. ¡°I¡¯ll be back with your orders.¡± She spun and made her way down, her pigtails wagged as she skipped around tables and flying leftovers. ¡°I like her.¡± Frein smiled. Kristel immediately sent him dagger stares. ¡°Not like, like, but you know. Anyway, explain the hair.¡± Kristel took a second to consider whether to give him a pass or not and eventually shrugged. ¡°Nothing too significant about it, really. Sometimes, along with developing our meiyal systems, it affects our growth; it shows in the hair more often than not.¡± ¡°But not just the hair?¡± ¡°Some say the muscles, the height, bone strength, or whatever. Those weren¡¯t proven. They¡¯re just not as apparent as the change of hair color. In theory, it¡¯s supposed to be inspired or catalyzed by something, but all we have are hypotheses. It¡¯s not exactly interesting as far as research goes.¡± ¡°Interesting enough for me.¡± ¡°Seems so.¡± Kristel smiled. She seemed amused by how Frein enjoyed this little discovery. He didn¡¯t mind. ¡°So, yours isn¡¯t originally blue, then?¡± ¡°Black, same as Frill. I don¡¯t exactly remember when mine turned blue or hers turned red. Liona¡¯s¡­stayed the same.¡± The mention of the name wasn¡¯t intentional, and Frein could see she couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°You miss her.¡± ¡°Yeah. A lot.¡± ¡°Here you go!¡± A bubbly Bennie, oblivious to the dampened mood, saved the day. ¡°Two meat pies and two warm glasses of honeyed milk. Midan will be with you shortly. He¡¯s just making sure his wife and daughter are settled in. Just yell for me if you need anything else.¡± ¡°Thanks, Bennie,¡± said the Princess. The waitress left a pitcher of water before waving goodbye. The pie was barely wider than Frein¡¯s palm, but he didn¡¯t complain. They did ask for a small size. Besides, slicing it open revealed a juicy stack of meat. ¡°I don¡¯t think this goes well with milk,¡± Kristel said. Frein just laughed and helped himself with his share. By now, he was used to the high quality of meat produced here in Minaveil. But this was something different. A coagulation of fat¡ªyet non-greasy¡ªand aromatics sandwiched between thin layers of crusts. He devoured the pie within minutes and wondered if he should ask for a second helping. Kristel wasn¡¯t one to hold back as well¡ªa trait that had caught Frein by surprise the first time they dined together. Not exactly a savage, but he expected her to deliver the usual prim and proper princess mannerisms he used to read about and see on movies. Instead, he found himself staring at a girl casually putting chunks of meat and crust and barely chewing her food as she gawked at the entertainment below. She snickered at a balding elf who cracked joke lines emphasized by a string instrument Frein didn¡¯t recognize¡ªlet alone the joke. It took the Princess another good while before she noticed him staring. ¡°W¡¯ud¡¯?¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I would¡¯ve never taken you for a princess.¡± Kristel swallowed her food. ¡°You prefer the royalty kind? Backbreaking stiffness, wide-eyes, chin up, shoulders back, that kind of thing?¡± Kristel pointed a piece of meat at him with a fork before shoving it in her mouth. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t say no to that from time to time.¡± Frein didn¡¯t miss her suppressed snicker underneath all the chewing. ¡°But I don¡¯t mind this one either.¡± ¡°Well, I might have to drop the title soon, so don¡¯t hold your breath.¡± ¡°Because of the Monarch¡¯s orders?¡± The Princess made a disappointing grunt. ¡°With Tryvinal enlisting the support of more than half the nation, he¡¯s pretty much guaranteed to inherit the crown.¡± It didn¡¯t make sense to Frein. ¡°That¡¯s just because you¡¯re stuck here instead of going around on a campaign.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± she said as she took the final piece of pie with more gusto than she probably preferred. ¡°I¡¯m not cutout to be a leader anyway.¡± ¡°Nah, I wouldn¡¯t say that, m¡¯lass.¡± A rumbling voice echoed from the stairs, followed by heavy footfalls. Midan released a deep belch before reaching the top of the flight. ¡°I¡¯d much rather listen to ye than that arrogant fart. Feller¡¯s just relyin¡¯ too much on his Monarch¡¯s Law. Watch ¡¯em poor souls snap as soon as his hold lapses. Ye¡¯ll get the crown yet. Maybe after a coup¡¯ or somethin¡¯.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there,¡± Kristel said, passing an open chair for the dwarven man. ¡°The pies never disappoint, Midan.¡± ¡°Bread ¡®n butter from the very start, eh?¡± He lit a pipe and puffed it with enough discretion to lead the smoke away from his two guests. ¡°Sorry about the house,¡± Frein said, drinking from his milk while subtly asking the Princess to join her. ¡°Ahh, don¡¯t worry ¡®bout it, lad. I¡¯ll rebuild it first thing tomorrow.¡± ¡°Oh, no problem, then.¡± The Visitor almost dismissed the statement for casual sarcasm until he studied the old dwarf. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re serious?¡± Midan just gave him a smirk. ¡°So, what can this old man do ye fer, eh?¡± Frein moved on and glanced at the Princess. ¡°You first,¡± Frein said. She nodded. ¡°Master, you said the Vanguard requires more time to become stable, right?¡± ¡°Aye. ¡®bout a year, methinks.¡± Midan replied while waving at Bennie. The waitress downstairs amazingly caught the signal despite the chaos and disappeared into the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯m leaving you in-charge of Minaveil while I¡¯m gone. You¡¯ll have full authority over the province when we leave. I can trust you with that, right?¡± ¡°Talkin¡¯ ¡®bout state issues in me pub, quite outta character of ye, eh?¡± ¡°I just wanted to let you know ahead of time, Master.¡± Kristel took a sip from her glass. ¡°We¡¯re leaving in two days.¡± Her expression changed when she realized it was milk; a mixture of disgust quickly turning to amazement. ¡°Aye. Ye don¡¯t have anythin¡¯ to worry ¡®bout. Minaveil¡¯s close to me heart.¡± Kristel smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll get the paperworks done later, and we¡¯ll set a conference tomorrow night. I¡¯ll also inform the High Palace.¡± She gave the signal to Frein before focusing on her milk. ¡°I have some questions about the wall.¡± ¡°Aye. Go ahead, lad.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t behave anything like a Meiyal Art,¡± Frein started. ¡°Is there some secret technique involved, or anything like that?¡± ¡°It ain¡¯t no secret, lad.¡± Midan stretched an opened hand on his side which was snuggly met by a large mug of ale courtesy of Bennie. ¡°Thanks, lass,¡± he said and chugged down almost half of it in one go. He slammed the mug with a satisfied face and continued his explanation. ¡°It be ancient. Discipline from time before there was Irista Nation.¡± ¡°Can you tell me about it?¡± Frein didn¡¯t want to hope much. Based on what he had learned from Schrodie, meiyal disciplines evolved to become better and easier to use compared to their ancestors. There were few akin to the likes of the Perpetual-Layered Milling form¡ªa Milling technique that was originally from before the Divine Severing and was named something else entirely¡ªbut even that underwent modernization. He also considered its confidentiality. It would be understandable if Master Midan chose to keep the secrets of such a discipline from a random stranger. But the change in the master¡¯s eyes, intrigued and excited as if he became younger by a couple of decades, was all the answer Frein needed to see to raise his expectations a bit. ¡°More than tell ye, lad. I¡¯ll even show ye!¡± He finished his drink and slammed the mug back down again with newfound strength. ¡°Their meal is on the house,¡± he told Bennie who came running confused. ¡°I¡¯ll check on me family real quick. Wait fer me at me house. Ye should come too, m¡¯lass. I¡¯ll give ye a closer look this time ¡®round.¡± As soon as Midan left, Frein asked for another glass of honeyed milk while looking at the Princess. It took her a while to finish the glass, long enough for Bennie to return. ¡°Did the honey work?¡± she asked. ¡°I think I remember asking for something like this when I was a kid,¡± the Princess said. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I stopped, but it feels kind of nostalgic.¡± The waitress served the glass to Frein and smiled. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good to know you don¡¯t have a problem with it anymore.¡± ¡°One more thing,¡± Frein interjected, ¡°since it¡¯s on the house, can I get a large meat pie for takeout?¡± ¡°We have fresh ones right out of the oven, but it¡¯ll take them a while to rest,¡± the waitress wondered. ¡°I can reserve one and you can come back for it if you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just ask Testra to pick them up,¡± Kristel said. ¡°But just one, we don¡¯t want to take too much out of Midan¡¯s business especially since he¡¯s already helped out a lot.¡± ¡°Wait, how are you going to ask Testra?¡± Frein asked, almost choking from his drink. ¡°That¡¯s the neat thing about bonding with a yuma,¡± Kristel smiled and produced her namestone. ¡°You don¡¯t have to talk to them to feel each other¡¯s needs.¡±
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at royalroad.com. Thank you. Chapter 51: History of Masters History of Masters ¡°Before anythin¡¯ else, care to explain this behavior of the Vanguard ye¡¯re talkin¡¯ ¡®bout, lad?¡± Midan and two of his crew gathered at the ¡®foyer¡¯ of his ruined house. Rubble and dust surrounded them. Any precious household item, be it a figure, a flower pot, paintings, and whatever else were remnants of their former pristine forms. Frein nodded, organizing his thoughts into words. It would¡¯ve been best to discuss this matter on the wall itself, but it was hours away. And they had to get back for dinner. ¡°Well, based on my understanding, when a practitioner uses Meiyal Arts, their marks push Milled meiyal into a pattern they envisioned and manifest them into the desired form, hence Drawing them into reality. If I utilize an observation Meiyal Art and fortify my focus with Siffera, I can see the flow of meiyal run in those patterns. The flow shows signs of tampering, which, after discussing it with Katherine, leads me to conclude these are traces of meiyal signature. ¡°Of course, when I try to mimic the patterns, it doesn¡¯t work¡ªbecause they¡¯re not mine in the first place,¡± he mumbled with a hint of frustration in the end. ¡°In any case, the meiyal flowing throughout this wall don¡¯t look like their patterns have been manipulated by Meiyal Arts. It¡¯s like they naturally formed into this structure.¡± ¡°So ye can see the meiyal flow and patterns, eh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a skill reserved for Virtuosos,¡± Kristel commented. She was content enough to observe on the side, but couldn¡¯t help implying the question. ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s not specific for them¡± Frein answered both of them, showing his six marks. ¡°Siffera¡¯s pretty much the only Meiyal Art I know aside from the basic ones. Dedicated all my time to honing it rather than learning other Arts.¡± ¡°Mind if I test that, lad? If ye can see the flow and patterns, ye?¡± Frein frowned a little, but he had no reason to refuse. ¡°Sure.¡± Midan lifted a hand and asked Frein to pay attention to it. Meiyal began to emerge from his fingertips, coalescing into solid rock at the center of his palm. The pattern was a solid shape of a mountain, almost too straight of a triangle. ¡°That, right there, is Meiyal Art; one I¡¯m used to seeing. The pattern is a rigid triangle oriented like a mountain,¡± Frein explained. Midan nodded in agreement and erased the Art from reality. ¡°Next.¡± He turned his hand towards a piece marble pillar on the floor. It started to melt, sort of liquifying to change shape, assuming the form of a spear in the master¡¯s hand. ¡°Now that is something else entirely.¡± Frein tried to deduce what had happened, crouching and leaning toward the spear. ¡°The meiyal¡¯s all natural, there¡¯s almost no flow. No signs of Milled meiyal or signature. But aren¡¯t you supposed to absorb the meiyal into your system, and then use it? You just outright made the spear from that marble.¡± ¡°Aye, this was how the Vanguard was built.¡± Midan spun the spear around his hands a few times, then threw it to his side. Frein caught a superficial snap, a break in the master¡¯s concentration. The weapon immediately liquified and turned back to the same piece of marble debris it had been earlier. ¡°Meiyal Weaving, they called it in the books. It¡¯s a technique believed to be used by everyone back in ancient times when Brymeia only had one kingdom. Now people have forgotten it, and since Iristans have meiyal marks now, only me and me crew ever use it.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Frein looked at Kristel who had the same shocked expression as he had. ¡°This is amazing, why not teach this to everyone?¡± she asked. ¡°Meiyal Arts are easier to learn, m¡¯lass,¡± Midan began. ¡°We¡¯ve never developed any practical applications fer Meiyal Weaving that can outclass our Meiyal Arts, except fer making structures. Rules are also different. Me and me crew all have affinity fer the meiyal flowing through stones, dirt, rocks, and minerals, but we can barely influence the ones in the air.¡± Midan instructed his crew to begin repairing sections of the house, assigning one to the kitchen walls and the other outside towards the gate. ¡°Meiyal from stones and earth are organized and tame. But they¡¯re also heavy, and quite stubborn when it comes to change. They always be wanting to return to their real formation. Takes ¡®em some convincing.¡± ¡°So, you regularly need to check on them?¡± Frein guessed, following the crewmember in the kitchen and observing his actions. Already, a big portion of the wall had been Weaved back to the way it was, before the Fallen wrecked the place. He saw himself at that corner, shielding Midan¡¯s wife and daughter from the collapsing ceiling. He couldn¡¯t forget that feeling. It was too close for comfort, and yet it was a rush. The entire battle ran in his head. What could have made it easier? What would have made it worse? What would he do if there were two Nightmares instead? What if he ran out of meiyal in that situation? He tried to make the situation worse in his head until he couldn¡¯t find an answer he could deliver in the present if the hypothetical question suddenly became true. Things could always get worse, and he had to prepare for those the most. But no matter how worse the situation turned out to be, his answer always surmised into three simple words. Just get stronger. ¡°You, okay?¡± Kristel¡¯s brought him back to reality. Frein blinked. ¡°Yeah, sorry.¡± He turned to Midan. ¡°Sorry, I missed the answer.¡± ¡°Ye sure yer okay, lad?¡± Frein nodded. ¡°Okay, then. To answer yer question, fer somethin¡¯ as big as the Vanguard, it be a year¡ªmore or less¡ªand more people before the earth accepts its new form. Smaller ones like this house are easier since we¡¯re just bringing ¡®em back to the way they were.¡± Outside, the gate had completely returned to normal. The metal grates, firmly fastened on its hinges. The marble finish, polished and beautiful. Only the damaged plants remain, but they could be easily replaced. Even the door was repaired. Frein swore it didn¡¯t have the same design. It now showcased a beautiful arch with swirly grooves on the side and opened in the middle. It only took thirty minutes to repair the entirety of the first floor. ¡°How long does it take to learn this?¡± Frein asked aloud, not being hopeful. This discipline, Meiyal Weaving, didn¡¯t seem to be at odds with Meiyal Arts the same way Arts and Armaments made it difficult for each other to learn at the same time. Meaning, it might be easier¡ªthus, more practical¡ªto learn Weaving rather than consider Armaments as an option. It didn¡¯t hurt to hope, but Frein preferred not to cling on it. ¡°Been learnin¡¯ from me master since youth, lad. And it¡¯s a nonendin¡¯ discovery.¡± Frein did his best not to show his disappointment. ¡°I see.¡± He faked his nods and held his sighs. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot from this, Master Midan. Thank you. We should be heading back now.¡± ¡°Thank you, Master Midan,¡± Kristel repeated. ¡°We¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Outside, Testra waited for them. She wore her usual saddle which currently held a large basket that smelled of the meat pie. The yuma stood as soon as she saw them, munching at some sort of treat. Kristel gave her a large helping of appreciative strokes. Frein couldn¡¯t help but see a ¡®kid¡¯ playing with a winged-dog almost three times larger than her. He appreciated the light mood they gave him, indirectly helping him move on from the disappointment. The knowledge would surely help in some way or another, but learning it would be a waste of time he didn¡¯t have. ¡°Frein, lad,¡± Midan called from behind, his eyes showing concern. ¡°Ye¡¯re the first Visitor of Irista Nation, so me words ain¡¯t much. But I¡¯ve heard from others that Visitors are well favored by meiyal.¡± He pulled a book from his Spatiera and gave it to Frein. ¡°These¡¯re all we know ¡®bout Meiyal Weaving. Study it and see fer yerself if ye can use it or not.¡± Frein took the book and deposited it in his own Spatiera. It took a small amount of meiyal to store. That didn¡¯t bother him, but something else did. ¡°Who¡¯s others?¡± Midan smiled, appreciating the Visitor¡¯s sharp senses. ¡°The faunels, lad. You need to look for them.¡±
Chapter 52: Shadows Over Minaveil Shadows Over Minaveil ¡°Too many powers vying for her favor.¡± ~Schrodie, the Gatekeeper Recollection: Elizzel Subject: Elizzel¡¯s identity Timeframe: Whiteday, Evening, Day 320 of the 27th Year of Monarch Denis Elizzel longed for the cold, uncaring atmosphere of the Nightmare Lands. She only had her form to blame for it, but getting dragged outside of her home and getting forced into servitude under a cruel king also played its part. She couldn¡¯t hurt those mortals. Not because of Urzic¡¯s incredibly Blessed Monarch¡¯s Law, but because the rules of her identity simply stated that she couldn¡¯t. A faunel birthed by Brymeia simply couldn¡¯t hurt her subjects. In the Nightmare Lands, things were different. She was free to roam, free to kill other Nightmares, free to defend for herself. Why did she bother venturing near Vyndival in the first place? Her memories gave her nothing. She couldn¡¯t remember a lot of things, actually. But today, the Visitor arrived and freed her from the shackles of suffering. Her purpose had returned¡ªaccording to her memories or what was left of it at least. She no longer needed this form. Years spent as this enormous Nightmare had finally reached its end. But which one to take? Her choices were few. No, she didn¡¯t have much of a choice. I don¡¯t like being human. The thought caused an eerie reflection of the Forest Jaw¡¯s psyche, reverberating a menacing aura that echoed through the meiyal in the air. Animals and lesser Nightmares quickly made themselves scarce. At least here, on the other side of the Rindea Mountain Range, she need not control her emotions. No mortal casualties. ¡°Nor would there be any witnesses,¡± said a voice behind her. The voice was mixed with other distracting echoes to hide its origin¡¯s gender. Elizzel craned her massive neck to find a small mortal hidden underneath a large cloak. Whoever this was, the stranger made enough effort to hide any details that would give away who was underneath. ¡°Because I can¡¯t reveal myself yet,¡± the stranger said. ¡°And no, I can¡¯t read your thoughts. I just know what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Heart¡¯s Will? ¡°I said I can¡¯t read your thoughts, Elizzel.¡± What do you want? And how do you know my name? Elizzel thought. There was no connection, no thread to attach to, for any form of telepathy to be made. She could come up with a few theories, but none of it would prove anything nor help in the current situation. ¡°I know your name because I should. And I need your help,¡± the stranger allegedly replied. ¡°Or, more accurately, they need your help. ¡°Do not change your form yet. Selfiya Lunasensia will approach you through her Soul¡¯s Walk. You need to help her and Venry from the Nightmares.¡± Why would a Void Mother need my help? Elizzel turned away, choosing to ignore the stranger. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. But she¡¯ll approach you within the hour. Help them. And don¡¯t change until Whiteday next week¡ªbefore you meet with Frein.¡± The entire statement caused alarms in Elizzel¡¯s head, forcing her to snap back at the stranger despite her previous choice. Do you have any idea what you¡¯re asking of me? ¡°Yes,¡± the stranger readily replied. No movement, no eye contact. Nothing. ¡°If they can¡¯t handle it, this world is already done for.¡± And what made you think I would even acquiesce to this? ¡°Because if you don¡¯t, you, Venry, those three Vyndivalians, and the Void Mother will all be dead before Frein can even do anything about it.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. The absurdity of the claim made Elizzel blink. The stranger was gone. She considered if the whole thing was a hallucination. A fragment made due to withdrawal away from the Nightmare Lands? No, Forest Jaws never had hallucinations; they caused them. Driven by curiosity, an hour of waiting slowly passed. And just as Elizzel thought it was all really just a figment of her imagination, a human silhouette appeared from a tree in front of her. ¡°Elizzel,¡± said the human-shaped roots and wood, despite all of the Forest Jaw¡¯s surprise. ¡°My name is Selfiya Lunasensia, Void Mother of the Western Sanctum. I need your help.¡± End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
A week has passed since Elizzel¡¯s encounter with the stranger and the Void Mother Lunasensia¡¯s Soul¡¯s Walk. She remained in her Jaws Lurking in the Forest form, convinced now that the stranger¡¯s words might have held some weight. She had spent the entire week accumulating meiyal for her transformation, resting and recovering from her wounds, and scouting for other strong Nightmares. So far, only three other Forest Jaws territories surrounded the other side of the Rindea Mountain Range. As long as Venry followed the Void Mother¡¯s instructions, he should reach the abandoned port without issue sometime tonight. Suddenly, the stranger¡¯s statement made sense. If she had changed forms sooner, Venry would be dead and the Void Mother would be stuck wherever she was imprisoned. She hadn¡¯t seen the three Vyndivalians¡ªthough Selfiya only mentioned two¡ªbut they would probably die as well. But as a consequence, it didn¡¯t bode well for her meeting with Frein. I¡¯m just a stupid faunel¡­ The thought caused some small plants to wither and die. A flock of birds fled to the air. Bugs and insects melted and decayed. Nothing too drastic compared to what was to come after she completed her transformation. The meiyal surrounding her and the amount radiating from within her physical form combined in clumps of bright residue, filling the forest with magnificent colors. The pieces of light began converging into one point at the top of the Forest Jaws¡¯ head. It gathered so much light that the night seemed clear as day. Time passed, seconds turned to minutes, and finally the light began to fade, revealing a small creature from within its blur. She had sweet pink hair with length the height of her slender body, a pair of hands and feet for limbs, and a small head gemmed with a golden yellow eye on her right and an azure blue eye on her right. She emerged from the light unclothed but the remaining residue of concentrated meiyal dispersed into smoke and collected into light brown robes that covered her body. She exhaled out a breath, exhausted from the transformation. And the Jaws Lurking in the Forest¡¯s body remained as still as death itself. ¡°I never figured you to retake on a person¡¯s form,¡± said a voice from the shadows. ¡°I thought you hated them.¡± ¡°Times change, Schrodie,¡± Elizzel said. She jumped off the Nightmare¡¯s head and landed on the ground as softly as a feather, her robes falling in slow motion. ¡°And I thought you¡¯ll only speak to me with my twin¡¯s face?¡± ¡°Your twin?¡± Schrodie revealed himself, appearing so abruptly by Elizzel¡¯s side. Parts of his figure distorted randomly in and out of reality. ¡°She gave this body to me willingly,¡± Elizzel said adamantly. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I remember.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± Determined not to sour her mood, Elizzel returned to her original question. ¡°So, where is she?¡± ¡°Kristella is busy,¡± the Gatekeeper replied. His face flickered to someone Elizzel recognized. Maybe a Veli, or an Arcturus hero from thousands of years ago. ¡°She has reason to believe that Kielmera is making a move.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not. He can¡¯t. He¡¯ll just be a worse Zerax¡¯thum.¡± ¡°No one can be worse than Zerax¡¯thum, Elizzel. Even without most of your memories, you know that to be true.¡± A pain surfaced on her chest; a memory long forgotten. The frustrations of not knowing why despite the boiling emotion ripped at the faunel¡¯s exhausted state. ¡°Then, what of Liang?¡± ¡°Far away. No instructions.¡± Elizzel sighed, defeated. Her vision blurred and her knees collapsed. She started to fall. Her weightlessness eased her down Schrodie¡¯s arms like soft cloth falling with grace. ¡°Why wait this long to transform?¡± the Gatekeeper inquired. With sheer concentration to remain conscious, the faunel funneled as much meiyal within her. It gave her a boost, but it was barely anything substantial. ¡°I think there¡¯s someone with a Death¡¯s Wish.¡± Multiple features appeared around Schrodie¡¯s body as though all personalities that gathered within the Gatekeeper turned their attention to her. ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked. Elizzel weakly shook her head. ¡°But someone predicted my thoughts and the events last week.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough proof.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Schrodie nodded in understanding. ¡°Thank you for letting me know.¡± He floated into the air, carrying Elizzel towards a high tree branch just above the Forest Jaws. The tree quickly grew more branches to cradle the faunel, giving her enough space to toss and turn during her sleep. ¡°So,¡± Elizzel began, barely conscious now. ¡°How long do we have this time?¡± Schrodie showed two faces in a split-second difference, a disappointed one followed by a celebrating one before returning to distortion. ¡°Not very long, I¡¯m afraid. Best case: the Visitor would deteriorate after a year as usual. He¡¯ll be lucky enough to last for half a year after that.¡± ¡°And worst case?¡± ¡°If it was a failure, it¡¯ll be right after he integrates with The Seventh Fragment.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t wait for three more Visitors, Schrodie. I don¡¯t think I can last that long to help you.¡± Elizzel couldn¡¯t feel her limbs anymore. Her eyelids had long since closed, too tired for any visual stimulus. ¡°You can, but Forimeyn can¡¯t. Frein is their one and only chance.¡± ¡°Then I should act as fast as possible...¡± Schrodie made half a smile so clear, he seemed a complete person for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be that simple.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elizzel forced an eye open. The golden yellow sparkled with extravagance from the residue of meiyal still spreading out of her body. She was blanking out. ¡°He¡¯s grown attached to the people here.¡±
Chapter 53: Two Sides Working Together Two Sides Working Together Venry Stepholm found the abandoned port that afternoon. Following the river downstream, as instructed by the lady made out of earth and stone, he was able to avoid all of the Nightmares that stalked the shadows of the forest. During the nights, he kept his Siffera in check to keep himself conscious while resting his body. He spent his Milled meiyal as necessary to keep himself awake and aware. And finally, after a week of sleepless nights and with barely anything left in his reserves, the destination was finally within his sights. There was still a long way to travel. With his pace, he estimated he would arrive by nightfall¡ªif his reserves could last that long. In any case, he couldn¡¯t afford to stay in the forest for another nerve-wracking evening. He retreated from the cliff he scouted from rather than jump down to preserve his meiyal. Backtracking took him precious time but it was a fair trade, all things considered. The roaring rush of water told him of a waterfall minutes before he even saw it. It was a tall drop, probably twenty meters high. He considered jumping on the pool below, but the sound of falling water, in addition to the churning waves caused by the waterfall made him decide against it. There might have been a trivia to determine the depth of a pool underneath a waterfall somewhere in the recess of his memories, but he was too tired to even attempt to recover it. Not allowing indecision to paralyze him, he decided to cautiously stray away from the river for a while. Fortunately, he found a safe slope nearby. He inched his way down without incident and circled back towards the river. After spending an hour traversing the rocky and rooted riverside, Venry settled on a nice rock and opened his Spatiera. The Art didn¡¯t cost him any meiyal to open since it only took when storing meiyal-charged materials. Mundane items, such as preserved food and drinks, didn¡¯t cost him anything to store or withdraw. His tired mind lingered on this Art while he consumed the last of his rations. Spatiera was indeed a peculiar Meiyal Art, opening an illusionary space within himself and allowing him to deposit items from reality inside it. Naturally enough¡ªand ironically¡ªimproving on the Art can be determined by the size of this personal imaginary space, which could only be technically judged by the performer of the Art. The opening itself also had a fixed rule; a horizontal tear in space tilted slightly upwards that was never taller or wider than half a meter. It could only be accessed from above and it never spilled below. The practitioner was also required to reach inside, envision the item they stored, and pull it out with their own strength. There were many a story of ruined Spatieras caused by malpractices such as storing heavy objects such as dragon horde chests or crates of minerals¡ªa container and its contents were considered one object, and it was impossible to pull from inside it. It took trivial effort to push them into the tear¡ªusing leveraged orientation, Siffera, and two or more hands¡ªbut was impossible to pull out with one hand even with Siffera. A peculiar Art indeed. Meandering thoughts aside, it was finally time to venture on. Only, a strange person stared at him from across the river. The stranger slowly and cautiously raised both arms; a sign of a surrender. No, it was a showing of peaceful intentions. Venry raised his own. With their peaceful greetings displayed, the stranger began his approach, leaping across the wide flowing river in a single bound. He landed with a wide berth away from Venry. ¡°Strange to see an older fellow travelling outside of the protected zone,¡± the stranger said. He wore a full-fledged Vyndivalian Meiyal Forged armor. Removing his helm revealed spiky red hair and a pair of wide charcoal eyes. ¡°And an Iristan at that.¡± Old? As far as Venry was concerned, they looked both the same age. It prompted him to look at the clear side of the river. The reflection showed him a face he didn¡¯t recognize. Untrimmed beard covered his face, thicker and wilder than what he usually kept. His wolf tail hair was longer, and there were also early signs of wrinkles on his forehead. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. So, this was the cost of my lifespan. It wasn¡¯t quite what he envisioned but he couldn¡¯t really complain. That lady of earth and stone did save his life after all. ¡°You okay, buddy?¡± the Vyndivalian returned him to reality. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you knew, but there was a war just recently¡ªbetween your nation and mine, I mean. But I¡¯m all over that, so I come in peace, promise.¡± ¡°You bet your life on that?¡± Venry asked. His voice was coarse and was surprisingly deeper as well. It might just be because he hadn¡¯t spoken a word for about a week now. ¡°Yes. I swear on my life,¡± the Vyndivalian smiled. ¡°I¡¯d Doff this armor if I could, but here in the Nightmare Lands, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡°Your name.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Tell me your name.¡± The stranger caught himself and straightened his posture. ¡°Oh, right. Dystro Tirfang, Lord Knight, or maybe former Lord Knight.¡± ¡°Venry Stepholm,¡± he nodded. ¡°Former Guard Knight.¡± He pulled apart half of the remaining strudel and tossed it over to Dystro. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to meet with twin Vyndivalian knights at the abandoned port by the end of this river. If you¡¯re well over the war, I could use an escort.¡± Dystro casually caught the pastry. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Lead the way.¡± The Lord Knight nodded and slowly turned, leaving his back open towards Venry. The thought of stabbing Dystro did cross his mind, but he quickly swiped it away. The war had already ended. Besides, he had not the meiyal reserves should it boil down to a brawl. And the Vyndivalian seemed more comfortable in this cursed place than he was. Lastly, whether he would admit it or not, there were far larger, more dangerous enemies lingering in the shadows. If estranged personalities, like the earth lady¡ªwith mystical prowess of healing¡ªwere going out of their way to recruit exiled soldiers like him and the twins, it would be safe to assume that greater factors might be at play. ¡°So, the twins. Do they have a name?¡± Dystro said, obliviously distracting Venry from his thoughts. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°She?¡± ¡°The one who led me to this path.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not just hallucinating that, are you, buddy?¡± Dystro turned to stop, but Venry shooed and signaled him to keep moving. ¡°Okay, okay. Jeez.¡± ¡°Once we get to the port, we¡¯ll know.¡± While he didn¡¯t appreciate being distracted, the conversation spurred some questions. ¡°How did you end up here, Dystro?¡± The man in question looked to his left and Venry followed. They quickly saw Those That Fell Off a Cliff ironically climbing a tall one using eight gigantic ribs that acted like limbs of a spider. Nurtured by the meiyal of the Nightmare Lands, as well as without anybody to engage it in combat, Venry assumed these supposedly short-lived abominations could linger here for far longer. A fate worse than death. They slowly sneaked away before Dystro gave his answer. ¡°Your Princess spared my life.¡± ¡°Ah, I remember. I was there when it happened.¡± The Vyndivalian glanced back at him. ¡°Oh, I thought you looked somewhat familiar. But I don¡¯t remember fighting an old man like you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not old; I was aged.¡± Venry then proceeded to recall the events that happened within the peaks of the Rindea Mountain Range. How an unknown force of great malice forced him to risk his life off the mountain; how the lady of wood and vines pulled a spear-shaped rock shard from his abdomen; and how the same lady had turned to earth and stone to heal him using his lifespan. All things considered, if they were to trust each other, Venry didn¡¯t mind sharing this little escapade. If only Dystro would believe it. ¡°You know, buddy, that¡¯s a really active imagination you have there,¡± the Vyndivalian said while scratching his head. ¡°At least, the bombs I was tasked to escort, I¡¯m sure those were real,¡± Venry retaliated. ¡°Those¡­yeah, those were real.¡± ¡°So, they really are bombs?¡± Without stopping, Dystro took a deep sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure. That¡¯s just our assumption as well. Anyone sensitive to meiyal can tell that those are storing tremendous amounts of meiyal. But for what purpose, we really don¡¯t know.¡± The conversation abruptly ended on that as they were met by thick vines and foliage. Rather than cut his way through, Dystro sidetracked. Venry agreed with the decision. Cutting through would take too much energy and the noise would attract too much attention. After an hour, they could finally see the final stretch. The forest opened to clear skies and grassy lands. A dirt road led straight to the abandoned port, and there were no Nightmares in sight. The river curved to the side, opening wide to merge with the sea. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Venry began as they took the road. ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Dystro replied with complete understanding. The two didn¡¯t speak about the casualties of war, but they did fight for opposing sides. Whether forced or not, it was their hands that ended lives of comrades and friends¡­maybe even family. But now, they needed to work together. At that, relief washed over the Iristan Guard Knight. Days of sleepless nights finally caught up to him. With the destination in sight and with a companion he could somewhat trust, his body instinctively relaxed on his own. He fell to his knees as soon as his Siffera completely vanished. ¡°Hey, buddy! Hang on, we¡¯re almost there!¡± Dystro caught him and helped him on his feet. The final strings of consciousness slipped away from his mind, and Venry felt the tight embrace of sleep.
Chapter 54: Guessing Game Guessing Game Venry found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, rotting wood decorated by cobwebs and intruding vines. He could hear voices somewhere nearby, blurry echoes of otherwise comprehensive sentences dumbed down by his unfocused mind. His body felt numb and he couldn¡¯t feel his right arm. For a moment he thought it was gone, until it finally responded to his commands. It stung. Like a million prickling needles attacked his hand at the same time. ¡°Help him up, he needs to eat.¡± A familiar voice called his attention. To his left he found three men approach him and a fourth silhouette of a shadowy woman sitting across the room. The nondescript features of the wooden walls and floors squeaked about under the movements of heavy footfalls. ¡°Up you go, buddy.¡± Dystro pull him up by his right arm, aggravating the stings. ¡°Miss Void Mother here says you need to eat.¡± A stranger passed him a warm bowl of soup. His watery eyes couldn¡¯t make out its contents. He didn¡¯t ask. It was warm, salty, thick, and most importantly, filling. He ignored everyone and everything else until he was done. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± The shadow¡ªthe Void Mother¡ªasked. ¡°I could use a few more bowls,¡± Venry replied. The same stranger gave him a refill. He observed the second unknown man studying him, he looked uncannily the same as the first one. ¡°Are you the twins?¡± the former Guard Knight asked. ¡°I¡¯m Hal,¡± said the one who gave him the bowl. ¡°Ral,¡± replied the other. ¡°Yes. Twins.¡± Venry savored his second helping of soup before moving on. The others took their own meals with only the shadow lady remaining still on her seat. Only then did the Guard Knight regard her properly. Shadow was a confusing term to describe the Void Mother. She had a proper form, emerging like a tangible physical body covered in darkness rather than a shade plastered on the floor caused by an object blocking the light. She regarded the four of them with patience, waiting until everyone had properly finished their meals. Venry was the first to break the silence. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all here. We¡¯re owed an explanation.¡± He focused primarily at the Void Mother. Surrounded by three Vyndivalians¡ªwho were not only his former enemies but were also more comfortable in the Nightmare Lands compared to him¡ªbrought him a little on edge. But the fact that he was still alive despite all this¡ªand everything else that had happened to him during the last week¡ªignited a flame within himself that took more effort to temper down than he realized. ¡°Alright,¡± said the shadow. There was little to tell as to what was going through her thoughts, and the passiveness of her tone gave away nothing. ¡°What do you want to know first?¡± All heads turned to Venry, so he replied. ¡°Start with your name.¡± The shadow nodded. ¡°I am Selfiya Lunasensia, Void Mother of the Western Sanctum.¡± ¡°How come you look like that?¡± Dystro asked. It looked like he couldn¡¯t hold the question any longer. ¡°Just curious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m speaking to you through one of Brymeia¡¯s Blessings, Soul¡¯s Walk. By channeling my will, I can send it to connect with other people. I can usually control the form it takes, but in order to conserve precious meiyal, I¡¯ve decided to leave that to my surroundings; hence, the shadowy form I have now.¡± ¡°She showed up made of plants,¡± Venry followed, confirming her reason to the rest of the listeners. ¡°Then a second time as earth and stone.¡± ¡°It was plants for us, too,¡± Hal followed. ¡°She never showed up to me before this,¡± Dystro said. Selfiya nodded. ¡°Correct, I didn¡¯t, but your presence is a welcome addition nonetheless.¡± With his stomach somewhat filled and his consciousness fully awake, memories of their past conversation surfaced in Venry¡¯s mind. ¡°You said our ultimate goal is your rescue,¡± he implied the question. ¡°I know not where my prison lies. It¡¯s constantly moving. They¡¯ve kept me well in the dark, but even my watchers talk. These are only speculative and I possess no absolute proof, but I¡¯ve heard mention of some places: Dragonbeard Shore, Obnixi Jungle, Nolomori Forest, and lastly Bloodaxe Fort.¡± The names of these places caused Venry¡¯s head to spin and his vision darken. ¡°Those are in Irista Nation!¡± The sudden alarm caused him to stand and start for the exit, but his fatigue threw him right back on the pile of straws he was resting on. He couldn¡¯t help but curse. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s more to just that, Venry,¡± Selfiya¡¯s shadow said. ¡°The places I mentioned were in the order I heard them. Calm down and try to figure out where you think I might be. The only thing I know is that these places are in Eastrise Region, somewhere near Eastrise City. You should know the connections to these places better than any of us.¡± Venry didn¡¯t even need to process his thoughts. ¡°Dragonbeard Shore is an adventurer-founded town affiliated under the flag of Irista Nation. It rests in the north-east, between Northsnow and Eastrise Regions. Obnixi Jungle lies a few days of travel south. Head east again, enter the Eastrise Region proper, and you¡¯ll quickly see the gigantic trees of Nolomori Forest. Slightly south-east of that, you¡¯ll reach Bloodaxe Fort, a mercenary settlement turned Nightmare Lands haven directly east of the region¡¯s main city.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°You¡¯re circling down,¡± Dystro mentioned, observing Ral¡¯s crude drawing on the dirt. Other than the straight line going down from Dragonbeard Shore and Obnixi Jungle, the rest of the landmarks connected slightly on a curve, avoiding Eastrise City with a wide berth. In Venry¡¯s mental map, these places were not exactly aligned as a circle¡ªor the quarter of it at least¡ªbut avoiding the main city might be a clue. No roads connected Nolomori Forest and Bloodaxe Fort without crossing Eastrise City. So, either Selfiya was never transported there, or she missed hearing that landmark. Still, it could be a clue. If her prison could somehow travel across mountains and bodies of water that stood in the way of the forest and the fort, avoiding the city wouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Where do you think I¡¯ll be next?¡± Selfiya asked, dragging Venry away from his thoughts. Without any other prompts, Ral passed him the stick he was using to draw. Venry made two additional points near Bloodaxe Fort. South-east of the fort was a particularly close landmark named Cape Talon where a rich noblewoman¡ªwhose name he didn¡¯t bother to remember¡ªbuilt a small, luxurious resort. He didn¡¯t bet on that place. South-west of Bloodaxe Fort, though particularly farther and blocked by the mountains and a small lick of the Great Sea Dividyr, was a particularly deathly place. Befall, Scar of this World. ¡°I think you¡¯ll be here next,¡± Venry concluded. Everyone was in immediate unison. ¡°You might be right,¡± Selfiya said, solidifying the theory. Not only did Befall continue the circular pattern, the historical significance of the place was greater¡ªif not on par¡ªwith the others that were mentioned. ¡°Scar of this World,¡± Dystro read. ¡°That¡¯s a bold claim to name a place. Were the Iristans trying to come up with a better name than¡ª¡± ¡°The Nothing,¡± Selfiya interrupted, facing Dystro. ¡°Use that name for that place.¡± ¡°Why? That sounds lamer than¡ª¡± ¡°Technically you¡¯re still in the safe zone, albeit the edges of the Void Region grip this place.¡± The shadowy form of Selfiya struck like a blur and covered Dystro¡¯s arrogant mouth. ¡°It¡¯s just superstition within the Order of the Void, but to mention The Nothing¡¯s name is to invite the Nightmare. You wouldn¡¯t call upon the source and not expect it to come, would you?¡± She waited for Dystro to nod before releasing her hold. ¡°So why Scar of this World, then?¡± the nosy Vyndivalian asked. Despite themselves, the twins seemed interested in the story as well and eagerly waited for Venry. Without any interference or urgency from the Void Mother, he was basically forced to answer the question. He began with a sigh. ¡°The place was named Befall as a reminder that Zerax¡¯thum, the Tyrant Dragon God was defeated. A reminder that if we¡ªmortals that we are¡ªband together, we can kill not only Deitars, but even the Divines that granted them power. It¡¯s the exact place where Zerax¡¯thum first fell from one of Evanclad¡¯s attacks. ¡°The impact destroyed the land and all life within in, and the unnatural meiyal oozing from the Dragon God cursed the entire area with undeath. We call it a scar because the wounds¡ªthe destruction of the land¡ªhave healed, but it never fully recovered. Even now, thousands of years later, it couldn¡¯t foster life and constantly breeds undead that we regularly keep in check.¡± Venry looked at each Vyndivalian. ¡°I know you guys have some experience in the Nightmare Lands but stepping foot in Befall isn¡¯t for the faint of heart. It¡¯s not the same as fighting the Nightmare¡¯s influence, neither is it just death or undeath. It¡¯s more of¡­¡± ¡°The Contradiction of Life,¡± Selfiya finished for him when he trailed off. ¡°It¡¯s the official description Evanclad gave to Befall.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been there?¡± Hal asked Venry. ¡°Regularly, yes. It was part of our duty to keep the undead isolated in that place. Even the Princesses didn¡¯t hesitate nor used their status as royalties to overrule the Guard Knight norm.¡± The former Iristan Guard Knight stared at his empty bowl, contemplating to ask for another serving. Just the memory of that cursed place was enough to urge for any reminders of life. Food was always one of the best reminders. He passed the bowl over to Hal who obliviously refilled it. ¡°The things I saw, the things I fought, the things I felt while in Befall, they were a constant reminder of death. Eradication of every desire, every pulse, every ambition. It all leads to the end. To nothing.¡± ¡°Sounds like that¡¯s the place, then,¡± Dystro said, clapping his hands as a flimsy attempt at lightening the mood. ¡°When and how are we going?¡± Venry was ultimately grateful for the change of topic. ¡°The closest working port here is Minaveil Port,¡± he said in between slurps. ¡°If I vouch for you three, you¡¯ll be safe. We can even ask for assistance.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t risk Minaveil Port, Venry,¡± Selfiya interjected. ¡°There are spies everywhere. I went to the trouble of leading you all here in the middle of nowhere.¡± The Iristan silently cursed himself. ¡°Good point. How then?¡± ¡°Ride A Floating Dream Amidst the Nightmare. These three can show you how.¡± The three Vyndivalians all nodded in agreement and made their own affirmative comments. All Venry knew about the particular Nightmare was its gigantic manta ray shape and its surprisingly docile behavior. To discover that it was even tame enough to allow riders to stir it was something he actually secretly looked forward to. ¡°I¡¯ve also asked them to help you acclimate within the Nightmare Lands while you look for one,¡± Selfiya added. Venry looked at his three former enemies and bowed his head. ¡°Gratitude. I will do my best to learn.¡± ¡°Since the Void Mother asked, we can¡¯t really complain,¡± Ral said with a slightly forced smile. ¡°Besides, if we don¡¯t and you die here, we won¡¯t have a face to show those who spared us.¡± ¡°Spared you?¡± ¡°The Visitor, Frein,¡± Hal replied. It immediately caused a reaction from Selfiya. ¡°Was Katherine with him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How is she?¡± Hal turned to his brother who took the reins. ¡°We were too busy fighting and as shameful as it is to admit, we were under the influence of Urzic¡¯s Monarch¡¯s Law.¡± Venry noted Ral dropped the king¡¯s title. ¡°I see. That¡¯s fine. Thank you.¡± The awkward silence that followed emphasized Venry¡¯s slurping. He paid it no mind and finished the soup before moving on. ¡°How often do you get moved?¡± he asked the Void Mother. ¡°Once a month by my estimates,¡± Selfiya replied. ¡°It could be anywhere within one or two weeks from now before I get moved again.¡± By the looks everyone gave, Venry assumed they were all thinking the same thing. Dystro was ever quick to ask. ¡°How long have you been imprisoned?¡± Selfiya¡¯s shadowy form shrugged. ¡°Maybe three, maybe four years. Time isn¡¯t exactly a luxury I¡¯m afforded by my enemies.¡± ¡°And who are these enemies?¡± Hal asked this time. Selfiya crossed her arms and legs and turned to face the Lord Knight directly. ¡°They call themselves, The Cult of the Fallen Dragon.¡± ¡°Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Cult?¡± Venry paused, frowned, and almost dropped his bowl. ¡°Worshipers of the Fallen Dragon, eternal enemies of the Order of the Void,¡± Selfiya said. ¡°The ones who destroyed my Sanctum. They¡¯re keeping me alive¡ªmy guess¡ªto use me as a bargaining chip against the other Sanctums. But if I¡¯m heading towards, Befall, they might just have a different agenda in mind.¡± ¡°You mean?¡± Selfiya nodded at Venry. ¡°Resurrect Zerax¡¯thum.¡±
Chapter 55: Peaceful Conversations Peaceful Conversations
¡°Meiyal Weaving? It was a bit disappointing to be honest, but I can¡¯t linger on that for too long.¡± ~Frein Nivan
Dinner that evening was accompanied by a bunch of revelations. Katherine introduced Sam to everyone, Frein shared how he got the Emerald Guidance, Kristel laid out her plans regarding Minaveil¡¯s government, and Frill revealed her Mercurial Liquid. In truth, there were a lot of things she wanted to share. One of those was the constant stream of memories of a side of Liona she never knew showing up in her dreams. A Liona who rebelled against the norm, a free Liona who cared nothing for her duties. A Liona that wakes up whenever everyone else was asleep. Frill started looking forward to those dreams. A way to see her sister again. At the back of her mind, she knew she had to let go; that this was all probably caused by the permanent fusion. But maybe now that she had given up her sister¡¯s core, those dreams would stop. She didn¡¯t want them to stop. The Aria in Red observed the unconscious Vyndivalian sleeping in one of the guest rooms of Minaveil Manor. Xiv¡¯s breathing had turned to a soft calm; a good sign of his recovery. Frill could see very little pain from his face now, only disturbed by slight stings probably caused by the foreign activities getting to know each other inside his meiyal system. But what really irked her right now were the bloody clothes he was still wearing. Despite herself, she got to work. She started with his upper clothes, removing the ruined tunic in a practiced way to avoid moving Xiv around too much. She slipped off his boots and trousers, but allowed the man some decency to retain his undergarments. Without skipping a beat, Frill dressed the Vyndivalian with a clean set of clothes. Xiv would have to wash himself whenever he regained consciousness, for Frill wouldn¡¯t provide him that luxury. While she was folding his old clothes, a piece of paper fell from its pockets. A folded piece of paper. Frill¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Forgetting the clothes almost immediately, she quickly picked it up and opened it. Its contents were in the middle of erasing themselves and were replaced at the same time by a new set of writing.
Frill. If you¡¯re reading this, it means Xiv followed my instructions. Yes. He knew someone was about to assassinate him, and I told him to let it happen so that he can gain your trust. Frein¡¯s, Katherine¡¯s, Kristel¡¯s, but most importantly, your trust. I know exactly what you gave up to save his life, and for that, I thank you with all my heart. This will be the last message you will receive from me for a while. I¡¯ve done my part and have securely set all the pieces in place. How you face the challenges ahead is up to you. All of you. And I know you¡¯re wondering about the voice. If you start hearing it again, listen closely. Because there are two of them. Be careful, Frill. Send my regards to everyone. I will send a letter again when the time comes.
Frill¡¯s mind raced. She wasn¡¯t sure if she trusted whoever this person was in the first place, but the fact that Xiv received a letter as well wasn¡¯t lost on her. This letter was entirely different. Without reading the actual message Xiv had, Frill surmised simply from context that it basically asked him to have himself killed. Just to gain their trust! It was ridiculous, laughable even. A stranger asked him to kill himself! She almost fell on the seat opposite the foolish man¡¯s bed and leaned on the table, clutching her aching head. Her eyes slowly read the letter again line per line, trying to find for anything significant. A warning, premonitions, anything. Any form of proof that she could hold on to, to trust. And I know you¡¯re wondering about the voice¡­there are two of them. Frill couldn¡¯t remember if she heard two, but there definitely was one. With a sigh, she turned and glanced at Xiv. This man, who climbed the Vanguard, survived her flames, faced entire armies on his own behind enemy lines, risked his own life to deliver a message, and trusted a stranger who only used cryptic letters to communicate, now slept soundly without regard for his own security. Crazy. Stupid. Idiot. She never admitted brave. Eventually, the blue rays of the sun peeked through the window of the guest room. Before Frill ended up dozing off in her chair, she decided to prepare the bathing chambers. She didn¡¯t take long. When she came back, Xiv was still unconscious. Frill sighed again and continued to fight her heavy eyes...to no avail. Siffera was an option, but the comfort of sleep got to her first.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Katherine woke up from the sound of Frein leaving their room. She stretched the sleepiness out of her body as she stared out of the window, spotting her man about to leave the manor for his morning jog. Enza met him by the entrance and they both went off. ¡°Wake up, Sam,¡± she called. With an overdramatic yawn, Sam hovered and circled around in an equally dramatic way. ¡°Morning, deary.¡± ¡°Have you compiled everything on Emerald Guidance, yet?¡± ¡°I gave them a scan, but they¡¯re not at all that helpful. Most of them are repetitive information, footnotes, debates, nothing clear at all. But I have them compiled if you want to send them to your lovey-dovey. Nice man, quite friendly, if I¡¯m a woman, I might try and steal him from you, honestly.¡± ¡°Shut it,¡± Katherine said, flicking a playful finger at Sam. She climbed out of bed and prepared for the morning. ¡°What about Mercurial Liquid?¡± she asked while brushing her teeth. ¡°Ah, that is quite the interesting research. Not finished yet, by the way¡ªnot a lot of hope on it either. There¡¯s an extended study with fusing Meiyal Arts wherein a practitioner exceeds the limit of one-hundred meiyal marks. Frill¡¯s perma-fusion pretty much validates this part of the research. ¡°The problem is, in all of the studies, there¡¯s actually no way to unseal past the hundredth mark. These are from records thousands of years ago; wars were prevalent and there was an excess of Grand Virtuosos.¡± ¡°So, the Mercurial Liquid helps unseal past a hundred?¡± Katherine guessed based on the information. She entered a glass cubicle and started a quick shower. Sam shivered in place just outside. The M.O.B.I.L.E.¡¯s eye was specifically turned away. ¡°That¡¯s the running theory as well. My compilation isn¡¯t exactly complete yet, but I doubt I¡¯d get more information out of it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. Finish the compilation and keep them for now. We can send it later so you can explain those to them as well right away. Play me a soft tune and contact Bennie. Check if they¡¯re open now.¡± As soon as Katherine got dressed, Sam turned and projected a thumbs-up. ¡°They¡¯re open; said she has your lobsters.¡± ¡°Neat!¡± With the news of Kristel joining them this afternoon to meet the Forest Jaws, Katherine had sent a request to Bennie last night for some groceries. She planned to prepare for breakfast, as well as pack food for lunch. The Lady couldn¡¯t help but giggle at the thought¡ªlike preparing a little picnic outing. If it holds true, you will find the Forest Jaws is dead. Katherine remembered the letter, but whatever it said, it didn¡¯t change the fact that they were going out together today. Better to have something for the road to keep their morale up. The sun had barely risen, but the market was already filled with buzzing customers and barking vendors. Produce was fresh, poultries and meats were processed nicely, fishes glittered with sparkling scales, eggs were large, bread smelled like heaven, and more fascinating products lined along the stalls. Each customer bartered for the best prices, and the vendors kept pace with their sales. ¡°Ah, Lady Katherine, you¡¯re early,¡± called out one of the vendors, Bennie. ¡°Your request just came in, still nipping about.¡± She had just opened up shop, yawning and tying her scarlet hair into a pair of small tails on either side of her head. Purple eyes blinked out sleepy tears behind a pair of glasses as she prepared her stall. ¡°Do you need help?¡± Katherine asked out of concern. Bennie never developed her meiyal marks beyond the first and didn¡¯t seem to care about it. ¡°Kristel said you were working late at Midan¡¯s Pub last night. You¡¯re working at Minaveil Inn and you have a stall here as well. You sure you¡¯re not pushing yourself too much?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Lady Katherine, thank you.¡± Bennie wore an embarrassed grin. ¡°I only take the shift here on Bluedays. But you¡¯ve been gone a long time, I forgot how it felt to prepare your groceries so early.¡± Although she did not exactly grow up in this village thanks to Schrodie¡¯s intervention, Katherine still treated this place as her own, and the people treated her the same. She appreciated Bennie¡¯s accommodation. ¡°You still didn¡¯t have your eyes corrected?¡± Giving up on insisting to help, Katherine opted for a little chat instead. ¡°Ah, no.¡± Bennie dragged, with considerable effort, a bucket full of live lobsters. ¡°I have a specialist healer from the Atlas Sid checking on them whenever they visit. ¡°He said that my eyes are slightly a little smaller¡ªbarely noticeable really¡ªbut reforming them to the appropriate size and shape is an incredibly delicate procedure, more so than simple muscle enhancement Meiyal Arts and not to mention the cost. It will take some time to fully rehabilitate, and I won¡¯t be allowed to work. Now I can¡¯t do or afford that, so he taught me how to perform some vision corrective and enhancement Meiyal Arts, but frankly, it takes so much meiyal to maintain throughout the day. I don¡¯t have enough time to Mill anyway.¡± Bennie carefully tied each lobster¡¯s claws with tight strings rolled around multiple times and placed them in a compact metal container that Katherine brought with her. ¡°In the end, he fashioned me these glasses. I don¡¯t mind it since it gives me a bit of a unique touch. You barely see anyone with glasses at Central, yes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, it¡¯s quite unique. Frein¡¯s pretty fond of you because of that.¡± Bennie was quick to wave her hands in denial. ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t! I don¡¯t want to get in the way of your relationship!¡± Katherine smiled and pulled a gold coin out of her pocket. She held Bennie¡¯s hand and gently placed it on her palm. ¡°Thanks for the lobsters, Bennie.¡± ¡°Lady Katherine, I can¡¯t take this. The lobsters are just a silver each!¡± ¡°I insist, Bennie,¡± Katherine closed the vendor¡¯s hand. ¡°For you and your grandparents.¡± Including the rest of the groceries, Katherine¡¯s purchase costed six silvers which was ninety-four short of the actual value of her payment. She smiled as she hid the container inside her Spatiera. ¡°I didn¡¯t have time to buy souvenirs so you can consider it my return-trip gift.¡± ¡°Ah, Lady Katherine, thank you very much.¡± Bennie beamed like the radiant blue sun but only for a short while. ¡°About my grandparents, they passed away a year and a half ago. It¡¯s just me now.¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know. My condolences.¡± Bennie smiled again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it! They passed away peacefully, smiling and satisfied. Besides, the day just barely started so don¡¯t let me ruin that for you! I¡¯d love to know what you¡¯ll do with the lobsters!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you an image over M.O.B.I.L.E. when I¡¯m done with them.¡± Katherine quickly returned home and began to prepare two different dishes she learned from Earth. The first dish was made from simple blanching of the lobster meat, allowing it to rest atop its own finely cut shell for aesthetic purposes. The second dish utilized the use of dried seaweeds, rice, and some small sliced fruits and vegetables to mix with the twice-blanched lobster meat. She made them bite-sized for easy packing and eating. Lobsters in Brymeia sized almost twice larger than the ones on Earth, and five lobsters easily crowded the cooking counter. ¡°I may have gone a bit overboard.¡± Katherine scratched her head helplessly. ¡°Oh, well.¡± She packed them into a porcelain container and stored it in her Spatiera. ¡°Next, breakfast!¡± Katherine spent a good time preparing baked bread and mushroom soup before Kristel got her attention. ¡°Hey there, Princess,¡± she said, humming one of Frill¡¯s songs while she stirred the stock. ¡°Morning.¡± Kristel scratched her eyes before washing them at an open sink. She looked like she couldn¡¯t be bothered at all. Messy hair, loose night gown, and a slumped back made her look nothing like the Princess she should be. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Katherine asked, sparing the sleepy Princess nothing more than a quick glance. ¡°Paperwork. Lots.¡± she took a seat by the counter and yawned, watching Katherine do her work. ¡°What are you cooking?¡± ¡°Mushroom soup and bread. Breakfast.¡± ¡°Say, Katherine...¡± Kristel began. She was hesitant for a princess who had the tenacity to go to war and trade insults with a king. ¡°This might seem a bit odd, but would you like to take a bath with me? I mean, after you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Katherine answered right away before the Princess could take back her words. ¡°I¡¯ll be done in a few minutes.¡±
Chapter 56: Plans Behind Steam Plans Behind Steam ¡°Finally!¡± Kristel exclaimed, or so she tried. Her excited voice eased drastically while she sank into the hot bath. The heat was so intense steam fogged the whole chamber. The Princess preferred it hot, it felt as if the water was giving her a full body massage and breathing in the steam calmed her inside. She found it incredibly easy to release all the morning tension from her muscles; the heat steadily invigorating her for the day. ¡°There we go.¡± Lady Katherine followed right after, easing her naked skin into the water. Her hair was tied up in a towering bun just to control the volume of it and her meiyal core floated on the side of her temple. She let out a relaxed and refreshed exhale of comfort. ¡°This is the life.¡± ¡°I hope it¡¯s not too hot?¡± Kristel barely managed to shed a tone of worry. The Lady was never fond of hot baths last time she recalled. ¡°I got used to it. Frein has a thing for hot springs, really hot ones. It rubbed off on me, I guess. I wouldn¡¯t mind some alcohol right now, but maybe that¡¯s too indulging for the morning?¡± The comfortable silence that followed the rhetorical question had little disturbance save for the mild echoes of the hot bath. ¡°Why Frein?¡± Kristel asked without thinking it through and barely even turning towards the Lady. Katherine rested her head on a piece of folded towel she placed by the ledge of the bathing chamber. It took her a while to respond. ¡°Why he¡¯s the Visitor?¡± she clarified. ¡°Why choose him to be your boyfriend¡ªlover? You had so many suitors before you left. You can practically choose any of the nobles. And I¡¯m sure you already know this, but he doesn¡¯t have much time. So, I can¡¯t help think but why¡­¡± ¡°It actually hurts if I stop and think about it.¡± Katherine¡¯s voice turned into a whisper, almost muttering to herself. ¡°I don¡¯t want him to go, but he wanted to see beyond his world. And I want to show him who I really am, show him where I came from. I want him to say he still loves me after all of that. ¡°I don¡¯t really remember when it all started. He asked me out on a date; I said yes, and we just kept seeing each other after that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a smooth talker, then,¡± Kristel concluded. ¡°He does have that air around him.¡± Katherine scoffed at the comment. ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t be too sure about that. He¡¯s straightforward sure, but that¡¯s just how he handles his nerves.¡± She smiled, reminiscing. ¡°Eventually, my Heart¡¯s Will stopped working on him. I just knew after that; I can¡¯t let him go.¡± Kristel smiled as well. ¡°I¡¯m glad you found someone.¡± ¡°Who knew, right?¡± Katherine laughed softly. ¡°Sometimes I wonder what I would be if I didn¡¯t go to his world.¡± ¡°I wonder the same thing,¡± Frein¡¯s voice echoed inside the bath chamber. ¡°From time to time.¡± Kristel immediately sank herself deeper into the water and crossed her arms to cover her breasts. Her legs curled in self-defense. She was well hidden behind all the steam, but she was so caught off guard that her instincts kicked in. Katherine did the opposite. She stood and would¡¯ve had her whole nakedness visible in plain view if not for the haze. She walked slowly towards Frein¡¯s voice, causing ripples in the hot water that brought a massaging sensation on Kristel¡¯s skin. ¡°Peeking on the Princess, Frein? Even for you, that¡¯s a little too bold,¡± Katherine said. Kristel could barely see her from the fog. She stopped in the middle of the chamber, hands on her waist and standing in front of who could only be Frein. ¡°She could order your arrest¡ªor maybe even execution¡ªjust for that, you know.¡± ¡°I got in here first. I just fell asleep.¡± Frein sounded tired, or extremely relaxed. The effects of the hot bath could never discriminate. ¡°I apologize, Princess, if I caused you any trouble. I think it¡¯s best if I take my leave.¡± Bubbles came out when Kristel tried to speak. She tried again. ¡°No, it¡¯s alright, Frein. Stay however long you like.¡± The Princess finally managed to regain her composure, putting down her defensive arms and legs. ¡°Just no peeking.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on your offer then.¡± Frein¡¯s voice was carefree and listless, removed of any strain or embarrassment or care for the current situation. Kristel saw Katherine kneel forward, sinking beyond the cover of steam. The Princess considered eavesdropping with her Siffera but decided against it, quickly realizing that words not meant for her were better left unheard in this particular situation. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± said the Lady as she returned and dipped back into the water. ¡°He¡¯s a real gentleman, so you can rest assured.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried,¡± said Kristel. ¡°If you trust him, so will I.¡± ¡°So, will you be joining us for later? I believe Frein already told you about it.¡± Katherine meant the visit to Elizzel in Mount Rindea. ¡°Yes, he did. I¡¯ll go with you. Frill will stay behind and look after Xiv.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a plan then.¡±
¡°Wake up... It¡¯s time to wake up, Xiv.¡± The first light was always a blur, and waking up in an unfamiliar place didn¡¯t help Xiv fix his vision. He slowly turned his head, acting as if asleep, while his clearing eyes scanned the room. He found his old clothes neatly folded on the side table which brought his attention to the fresh ones he was wearing right now. Rather than let his panic drive his movements, he continued looking around with more caution. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. There at the far corner, sitting beside the study with her head resting on her arms, he spotted Frill. Xiv moved to the side, rolling out of bed as quiet as a vork stalking its prey. He moved not to hunt, but to observe the Aria in Red¡¯s¡ªquite a dramatic title¡ªface while she slept. Elegant. The scarlet silks of her hair moved in rhythm with her breathing, brought about by the slight touch of slumbering meiyal floating all throughout her body as though she was underwater. She looked tired and still wore the same dress she had last night. At the very corner of her mouth, a strand of liquid slowly ran down to her chin. Xiv failed to hold back a soft chuckle. It was enough to spring Frill awake. Her hands moved like lightning, knocking him down on the floor in an instant. She placed all her weight over him and Drew a small meiyal dagger pointed straight at his neck with speed and efficiency of a Lord Knight¡ªnot that Lord Knights could Draw meiyal weapons. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, almost half-asleep. ¡°Getting pinned down out of my own free will.¡± Xiv slowly moved a hand over his chin. ¡°You have...uhh¡­¡± He made a wiping gesture to complete his message. Frill checked with the back of her knife hand. She flushed almost as red as her hair when she found out. ¡°Are you going to stay like that? Should I just go back to sleep like this?¡± The Aria slowly slid away and erased her dagger from reality. Xiv cautiously stood, making sure he wouldn¡¯t provoke her unnecessarily. ¡°Come.¡± Frill headed for the door. He followed. This was the first time Xiv had ever set foot in an Iristan household. He immediately scratched part of that thought as he quickly realized the pristine and magnificent obsidian walls. This was a residence made for a noble. The grand courtyard outside the prestigiously large windows didn¡¯t shy away from verifying his theory. Frill led him to the kitchen and directed him to a small dining table. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± she asked while preparing something behind the kitchen counter. Xiv recalled all that had happened last night and how he should not be alive anymore. It was an eerie recollection. ¡°I feel fine, surprisingly. What happened?¡± Frill was silent for a while. Xiv could only hear the clattering of plates and utensils. ¡°Lady Katherine saved your life,¡± she explained, returning with food he didn¡¯t recognize. They were circular in shape. Rice, lobster bits, sliced fruit and vegetables wrapped in seaweed. ¡°She mended your core. She also prepared this meal. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re called, but she said to dip it in soy sauce before eating.¡± Frill poured the black colored liquid on a saucer and took one of the wrapped things. She dipped it gently over the sauce and reluctantly ate it. She chewed once, then her eyes closed almost instinctively. A second later, she turned away and continued to chew her food. ¡°You should try it. It¡¯s not Iristan made, but it¡¯s quite tasty.¡± ¡°Not Iristan made?¡± Xiv questioned. He hesitantly took one and dipped. He stared at it for a while, wondering what it would taste like. The lobster didn¡¯t look cooked through at all. ¡°It¡¯s a recipe from the world Lady Katherine returned from.¡± ¡°Where are they, anyway?¡± Xiv asked out of curiosity. ¡°They went to the Rindea Mountain Range to meet someone. No more questions, you¡¯re still a prisoner, you know.¡± Frill grabbed another, dipped, and took it in one mouthful. ¡°That man earlier was¡ª¡± ¡°Frein, yes, the Visitor.¡± Frill frowned and threw daggers with her eyes. ¡°Eat or I won¡¯t leave any for you.¡± She was on her third one. Xiv hesitantly took a bite and the blast of fresh flavors whetted his appetite more than it filled. He realized how hungry he was and took one after the other in quick succession. He ate so fast he forgot to breathe, forcing the food down by thumping his chest in panic. ¡°I didn¡¯t say choke yourself with it, idiot.¡± Frill casually passed him a glass of tea. Xiv washed down the food and breathed out his relief. He heard a subtle chuckle and he quickly looked up only to find Frill turning away. ¡°You laughed, didn¡¯t you?¡± he asked, smiling. ¡°No.¡± Frill covered her mouth with a hand and forced down what could have been a cough, or a snort, or a sneeze. Xiv was unconvinced. ¡°I honestly mean no harm, my lady,¡± he began. ¡°While it is true that I remain your prisoner¡ª¡± both by status and by heart, he thought. No way would he say it out loud, though. ¡°I much prefer a normal conversation with you. I¡¯m more than willing to spill all that I know about the plans against Irista¡ª¡± ¡°Why?¡± Frill¡¯s tone was clearly different, cautious and probing. ¡°Why would you give up such information so easily? And why should we trust you?¡± Xiv thought for a while, considering all possible directions of this conversation. Truth was always his best answer. ¡°I want both Vyndival Kingdom and Irista Nation to coexist again. If I don¡¯t make the first move, then who will? King Urzic is far too stubborn to listen to me, so here I am.¡± They stared at each other for a while. Xiv could feel the heat rising from his nape all the way to the back of his ears, but he maintained eye contact. ¡°Alright, fine.¡± Frill finally sighed. ¡°Frill Veli.¡± She stretched out an open hand. ¡°That¡¯s my name.¡± Xiv already knew Frill¡¯s name but was wise enough not to tell her. ¡°Frein said this is a gesture of good faith and peaceful acquaintance. You should say your name and then shake my hand.¡± ¡°He did the same thing last night.¡± Xiv reluctantly followed. He held her hand and forced himself to ignore the electrifying sensation that followed. ¡°Xiv Arcturus.¡± ¡°What can you tell me about this?¡± Frill pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to him. Xiv had almost forgotten about it. Before his eyes could read the contents, they had vanished and changed.
Sorry, it doesn¡¯t work that way.
¡°Same thing, huh,¡± Frill commented while leaning over to read the paper. Her scent, a sweet aroma of a flower Xiv recognized but couldn¡¯t remember the name, teased his sense of smell. He forced himself not to get distracted. ¡°You recognize this paper?¡± he asked. ¡°Answer first.¡± ¡°I just found it by the window in the house where I stayed.¡± ¡°And what did it originally say?¡± ¡°That I have to risk my life to gain your trust.¡± Frill sighed and returned to her seat, popping another of the seaweed-wrapped lobster into her mouth. ¡°So, you recognize it?¡± he asked again. ¡°Yes, but whoever wrote them didn¡¯t leave a name either. And the letter disappears like that if I show it to anyone.¡± She gestured for him to take another bite while picking another. Xiv followed, but quickly recognized a probing stare as if she was studying him. ¡°Something wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you get this often, but has anyone told you how crazy you are?¡± ¡°Crazy how?¡± Frill just gestured all around her. Xiv smiled. ¡°Back in Vyndival? Once or twice¡­every few days.¡± He popped the lobster in for emphasis. Frill conceded. ¡°Well, you are crazy. Take more rest after you eat. We¡¯ll talk about Central when the Princess returns.¡±
Hello reader, *This is the first time I''m posting this, but I will copy this to Chapter 1 as well.* Shallren here. I apologize for this abrupt interruption. If you''re not aware, piracy has been an increasing concern lately. Scrapers sweep through stories to copy them and repurpose them to sell to Amazon without the author''s permission. To alleviate this, I''ve decided to include an in-chapter disclaimer that Brymeia: The Visitor is still an RR exclusive. In order to protect the authenticity of this work, I will be including this quick disclaimer at the end of random releases (since the scrapers don''t always include the author notes, and don''t check the chapters at all): "If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at Royal Road. Thank you." Thank you so much for understanding this interruption and for your support so far. Chapter 57: Signs of Life Signs of Life They ran on the other side of the Rindea Mountain Range. According to Katherine, this place was still part of the protected zone, but Frein had felt the gripping influence of the Nightmare Lands the instant he stepped across the other side of the mountain. Needless to say, normal services like yuma-driven carriages or additional escorts weren¡¯t risks they were willing to take. ¡°I can handle it as long as it¡¯s just you three,¡± Katherine pointed to Frein, Kristel, and Enza¡ªwho, in particular, had grown explosively overnight, about thrice her original size by Frein¡¯s estimates. ¡°I¡¯d rather not spread myself too thin monitoring more people.¡± A chill ran up his spine, the feeling of cold hands grazed around the skin of his ankles, and the eerie, unnerving, and constant sensation of a wide-eyed smiling face staring a few inches on his side observed his every move. Not that there was actually a face beside him. Forcing himself not to Mill was also a little distracting. Even after he had pointed out successfully Milling the disturbing meiyal he had Gathered near Those That Fell Off a Cliff, Katherine had adamantly reminded him that meiyal influenced slightly by a Nightmare was exponentially weaker and insignificant compared to the grip of the Nightmare Lands itself. He had been so used to Gathering and Milling freely that consciously stopping himself felt like not breathing at all. With this in mind, he managed his Milled meiyal properly, utilizing a steady trickle to keep up with both the Princess and the Lady. He remained on the ground, observing as the other two leapt off branches of trees with such acrobatic grace like half-ninjas half-gymnasts freerunning on their backyard. His observation Meiyal Art gave him no more information than confirming Drawn Siffera as the two hopped from one branch to the other. No, hopping wasn¡¯t quite the term and neither was leaping. Frein turned his attention towards his feet while going at full sprint. Siffera made him feel light¡ªnot quite it either. Even during his studies, physics and calculations wasn¡¯t exactly his strong suit. He only got a little better when he started indulging himself with some academic books, but complex mental math and formula memorization was a nightmare he¡¯d rather not live through again. Still, he could only explain their movements as an overdramatized application of physics. Like skipping rocks over a lake, the two ladies simply directed an instantaneous shift of their falling momentum to push and bounce them forward without pressing their entire weight over these delicate branches, thus carrying and propelling them without snapping and falling. The trick was spotting the right branches and applying the correct amount of force at the exact instant to maintain momentum while going at a rapid pace the entire time. ¡°Have you practiced flying, Enza?¡± Frein asked before catching himself. ¡°Actually, do you need to practice?¡± His yuma was of the same mind; it was eerie but he was gradually getting used to it. ¡°Better now than never, right?¡± Without any other prompts, Frein sped up and leapt towards a tree while Enza spread her wings and took to the air. He emphasized his Siffera with a bit more meiyal and kicked off the trunk to increase his speed and height trajectory. While he shot at a speed that matched the other two, the sudden acceleration gave him trouble spotting a branch. It was too late to orient himself for the skip when he found where he was landing. Still, he tried. His step was too direct and his entire weight transferred onto it, instantly snapping the branch. The expectation, alongside the increased sense for balance Siffera provided him, allowed Frein to instantly recover and fall back to the ground as if nothing happened. He maintained his sprint and prepared to try again. ¡°Utilize Siffera for your awareness and reflexes as well, Frein,¡± Kristel commented with an echo Meiyal Art. ¡°I thought that¡¯s something only Virtuosos end up learning,¡± he replied, implying the question with his now slightly improved version of echo Meiyal Art. ¡°Not on the level and mastery as you do, I imagine.¡± The Princess spun and slowed down midair, landing sideways on a tree trunk before lightly falling on one of its thick branches. ¡°And I am a Virtuoso. Come on, try again!¡± She turned and prepared to jump but abruptly stopped. Frein followed his gaze and found Katherine a few trees ahead signaling for them to halt. Enza landed beside him into a prowl. ¡°I might actually be able to carry you in a few days,¡± she whispered. She was having a better time practicing her flight. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break here,¡± Katherine said as soon as the rest caught up to her. ¡°The Forest Jaws didn¡¯t exactly give us directions, so I¡¯ll scout ahead for any nests while you guys stay here.¡± She gave Frein a stern look. ¡°Don¡¯t Mill.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Frein sat on a hard tree root and leaned on its trunk. A panting Enza sat beside her. He Drew his Spatiera and pulled a small bowl and a canister of water, poured a share for the yuma and drank a bit before chucking it towards the Princess. ¡°Frill told me you don¡¯t like using Spatiera at all.¡± Kristel caught the canister and drank. ¡°Thanks. Yeah, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°That is very weird,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°If I¡¯m to take a guess, I¡¯d say you¡¯re hiding something inside it. Something that takes up all the space so you can¡¯t afford storing even a small canister of water.¡± The Princess humored him. She did the usual motions of Drawing a Spatiera and Frein used his observation Meiyal Arts to verify the pattern and flow of her meiyal. Yet despite the proper movement, the correct flow, and the right pattern, no tear in space appeared. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, but it doesn¡¯t open for me.¡± ¡°Do you know why?¡± he asked, astonished by the fact. Kristel shook her head. ¡°All I know is that it stopped working five years ago. I didn¡¯t really like using it in the first place, barely trained it at all.¡± Frein could feel that there was something more into it. A regret, or probably a tragic secret, he couldn¡¯t quite figure out. But with the conclusion of the discussion, he felt it proper to avoid probing further. One secret for now was enough and he wouldn¡¯t take advantage of her for it. Enza somehow felt this particular connection and approached the Princess, lying her massive head on her lap. Kristel appreciatively gave her a few pats then turned to look at him. ¡°Bonded yumas can feel their master¡¯s emotions and thoughts, remember?¡± She smiled and continued before Frein could defend himself. ¡°I appreciate the concern, really, and I appreciate you not probing any further.¡± She played with Enza¡¯s face, massaging and pinching and stroking it all over. The yuma obviously loved it. ¡°Tell you what. If I ever figure out how to open it again, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Frein replied. He compelled Enza to return to him and the yuma followed obediently. ¡°Stop snitching me on other people,¡± he said while playing with her face. ¡°I¡¯ll try¡­¡± she replied listlessly. ¡°That reminds me, don¡¯t you have your own yuma? Testra was it? She didn¡¯t come along?¡± Kristel shook her head. ¡°Testra¡¯s a racing yuma. She¡¯s not trained for combat. If she can hide with Nature¡¯s Favor like Enza, then I can bring her along. But I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t have the temperament to withstand the Nightmare Lands. I¡¯m having trouble enough just standing here.¡± Frein wanted her to elaborate, but the sound of ruffling leaves all caught their attention. ¡°Hey,¡± Katherine said as she landed beside them. Enza immediately greeted her and she casually gave the yuma another set of petting. ¡°Follow me, there¡¯s something you should see.¡± Within the next few minutes, Frein¡¯s attempts on tree branch skipping were steadily improving. He managed ten successful skips before plummeting to the ground. It was more complicated that he¡¯d imagined but he didn¡¯t deny himself the obvious improvements. They stopped near the foot of one of the Rindea Range¡¯s mountains. The reason was immediately apparent for Frein. There were obvious signs of struggle. He traced them, but Kristel reacted first. ¡°I know this place,¡± she said, leaping towards the treetops to confirm something and almost immediately went back down. ¡°I asked Venry to watch the Vyndivalian containers on the opposite side of that mountain.¡± The piece clicked in Frein¡¯s mind at the same time as Katherine¡¯s. They traced the trail of struggle and concluded that it wasn¡¯t from any skirmishes. Then, they found it. A particularly askew tree stood out. It had an impress on its roots with a few of them snapped, but the particular dark stain on them caught their attention. Frein felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. He was supposed to be a detective apprentice for his future job after assisting with the underground arena case. He had been taking special training in preparation for it before the whole Visitor deal happened. This entire situation made him feel like he was in some sort of a case or a practical exam. Without any gloves to use, Katherine enveloped her hand with a thin layer of barrier Meiyal Art. Frein did the same before taking a sample of the dark stain. Dried blood. A tremendous amount of it. ¡°He might be around,¡± Frein said, implying his conclusion. When nobody moved or replied to him, he turned to Enza. ¡°You mind tracking this smell for me?¡± She sniffed once. ¡°Sure. Gross, though.¡± The yuma sniffed around in a circle then asked everyone to follow. She led them to a cave a few minutes away from the tree. Katherine Drew an improvised Meiyal Art¡ªa tamed version of the flares Kristel used¡ªto send a glowing orb into the cave. It was a small one and no Venry nor his corpse. ¡°What do you think?¡± he asked Katherine. ¡°He¡¯s alive.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Kristel asked, studying the cave. There was nothing else inside except for the small pool of drying blood. Katherine nodded and placed a hand by the entrance of the cave as though she was a mime trying to press beyond an invisible barrier. ¡°It¡¯s not obvious to most, but there¡¯s a purification barrier right here. That¡¯ll allow someone without training to Mill meiyal inside this cave. Venry for example.¡± She tapped and a slight shimmer rippled from the center of the open space. ¡°Someone from the Western Sanctum must¡¯ve been nearby to save him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s two very good news, then.¡± Frein turned to observe the outside of the cave, trying to find signs or indications of which direction Venry might¡¯ve taken. ¡°Too many options,¡± he concluded. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°We can¡¯t narrow down where they might¡¯ve gone,¡± Katherine clarified, observing a different set of directions. ¡°If he¡¯s alive with someone from the Order of the Void, that¡¯s enough for me,¡± the Princess said. ¡°We¡¯re here to look for the Forest Jaws.¡± Katherine took a few steps away from the cave and approached a nearby tree. Beside a collection of overgrown roots, underneath some leaves that she scraped away, was a different type of dark mucus. ¡°I think we¡¯ll find one nearby.¡±
Chapter 58: Meeting the Forest Jaws Meeting the Forest Jaws
¡°Schrodie said it was going to be complicated. And there I was thinking something might go wrong.¡± ~Elizzel
Frein couldn¡¯t make sense of the dark substance. Impossible was one but then, in of itself, the term was contradictory. It glistened like a polished marble and refracted reflections so that half of them were inverted somehow. He could feel Katherine admiring him from the side. ¡°What?¡± he deflected. ¡°It¡¯s amusing.¡± ¡°You find dried saliva amusing?¡± ¡°Dried, light-refracting saliva. Yes.¡± He ignored Katherine¡ªand Kristel¡ªgiggling at him and continued to muse. ¡°If this came from a Jaws Lurking in the Forest, how come it¡¯s no longer acidic?¡± ¡°The potency quickly runs out as soon as the Forest Jaws spits it out,¡± Katherine explained. ¡°Technically, they can prolong and strengthen it by investing more meiyal.¡± ¡°If you ignore the fact that it¡¯s saliva, you can make some beautiful things out of it.¡± ¡°The saliva isn¡¯t the problem, really.¡± Katherine surveyed the roots of the tree where she located the substance and found more of them. ¡°This thing attracts minor Nightmares.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t see any Nightmares right now,¡± Kristel mused. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m here.¡± Frein didn¡¯t give the statement much thought. The prospect of Katherine¡¯s mere presence, her sheer existence as Lady of the Void, repelling Nightmares somehow just made sense to him. His mind was on other things. ¡°Still, it¡¯s amazing that these creatures can also use meiyal.¡± ¡°While that¡¯s true, dealing with it is¡­well, a nightmare.¡± Katherine signaled for Enza, ignoring her own lame attempt at a pun. ¡°Can you track this scent?¡± ¡°Sure, let me check¡­¡± Enza mumbled and sniffed the substance. She circled around, tracing her nose along the ground and then in the air until she caught a trail. ¡°I got it! Follow me!¡± she barked and started to run. They followed her immediately. Her pace was inconsistent, stopping at one point to confirm the scent and then strutting about for a while before suddenly breaking on a full sprint. The group went deeper east and away from the Rindea Mountains. The trees were abundantly larger and formed a canopy that covered almost all sunlight. The precious blue rays of the afternoon sun, able to pierce some of the gaps around the branches, formed a relaxing yet creepy display at the same time. Eventually they found the tip of a black and scaly tail. They followed it all the way to find the head of the dragon lying on the ground. The animals that gathered around her scurried away at their arrival. ¡°Forest Jaws, wake up,¡± Frein called out, intentionally leaving out Elizzel¡¯s name like he promised. No response. Instead, he was mesmerized at how colossal the Nightmare land dragon actually was. He was barely the size of its nostrils. The fact that he couldn¡¯t feel her breathing set off alarms. ¡°It¡¯s dead¡­¡± Katherine said. Frein wanted to confirm this claim for himself but didn¡¯t know where to start. Should I feel for a pulse? Would a Nightmare have one? What was the cause of death? The only thing he could verify was the lack of breathing. That, and that a Lady of the Void¡¯s assessment of Nightmares supposedly had more integrity than most scholars. He could feel his frustrations building up. Regret got caught in his throat, but he refused to voice it out. How could something this strong, this monstrous die in a place like this? He looked around, trying to assess, to investigate. It couldn¡¯t have been a predator, or else there would¡¯ve been eaten parts. In fact, there were no visible injury at all. It was as though the Forest Jaws died in her sleep. ¡°Is it some form of hibernation?¡± Frein asked, grasping at straws. ¡°I don¡¯t want to give false hopes, but we don¡¯t exactly know a lot about Forest Jaws,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°Despite their size, they¡¯re actual lurkers, masters of stealth. If this one didn¡¯t want to be found, it won¡¯t even leave signs for us like the ones we found earlier. Maybe that¡¯s why it died.¡± ¡°No signs of attack,¡± Kristel said, verifying Frein¡¯s observations. ¡°In fact, it looks like it died in its sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should actually bring this up, but I¡¯ve been warned about this yesterday.¡± Katherine brought up Sam. The M.O.B.I.L.E., without even any verbal prompts or finger gestures, projected an image of the Lady¡¯s hand holding a piece of paper. I know you¡¯ll be taking pictures, but for all our sakes, I¡¯ve erased my previous message. Katherine then proceeded to recall the events that transpired that day which involved the piece of paper telling him about the dead Forest Jaws. ¡°Frill didn¡¯t tell me anything about this,¡± Kristel said. ¡°She has her hands full,¡± Katherine explained before turning to Frein. ¡°You noticed something.¡± ¡°Picture,¡± Frein said. ¡°Just to confirm, ¡®taking pictures¡¯ is a phrase you all use, right?¡± ¡°Recording an image, it says here for me,¡± Kristel pointed out. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Same,¡± Katherine said. So, it was lost in translation? No. That seemed too specific. All the books he¡¯d read and conversations he¡¯d had were consistently conveyed to him as though he grew up with it in the first place. This deviation was a first, and coming from a magically semi-self-aware piece of paper, it was too much of a coincidence for him to ignore. ¡±I know about pictures, but what¡¯s ¡®taking pictures¡¯ exactly?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Is it the same as recording an image?¡± ¡°Yeah, the same as recording an image,¡± Katherine explained. The two then proceeded to talk about how Frein was able to understand Brymeia¡¯s language, leaving the Visitor to his own thoughts. It was too vague, too coincidental for him to make sense of it. But it did lead to one crazy assumption. ¡°What if there¡¯s more than one Visitor?¡± he asked out loud to no one in particular. It called the attention of the two ladies. ¡°What if there¡¯s more than one Gatekeeper, more than one Seeker?¡± he added, predicting exactly how Katherine would try to refute the question¡¯s implications. The Lady of the Void was at a loss, and so was the Princess of Irista Nation. The two of them frowned at the same time, expressing how absurd his claims were. They didn¡¯t outright reject the idea. ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± The direct rejection came from a different voice. A feminine voice so listless and tired that Frein barely even heard it. They all turned to find Enza staring at a treetop near the dead Forest Jaws. From there was a girl lying on a set of branches that seemed to specifically cradle her. She had pink hair, voluminous and abundant with a length that was slightly longer than her short height. In fact, just by strictly eyeballing it, Frein assumed she might be shorter than the Princess. The girl moved lazily, rolling over the branch until she completely fell. Much to everyone¡¯s panic, she slowly drifted downwards like a falling feather, as if the pull of gravity had forgotten to take her existence into account. Her sundress flowed like a puff of smoke with a life of its own. Frein tracked her down, allowing her to gently fall into his arms. Light, or to better explain, weightless. She was slim and looked almost as young as Kristel, if not younger. Frein leaned her slowly onto the tree she fell from and nudged her shoulder. For some reason, despite her earlier response, the girl had fallen asleep. After much effort, she eventually opened her eyes, revealing drowsy eyes with differing colors; blue on the left and yellow on the right. She shoved away his annoying hand like a kid asking for five more minutes of sleep. ¡°You look awfully familiar,¡± Frein began as he dug inside his brain for the memory of this face. ¡°You look like Monarch Kristella,¡± Kristel said and quickly added, ¡°but that¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m not Kristella Irista.¡± Elizzel finally sat up straight, stretching away her drowsiness. ¡°You¡¯re looking at her twin sister, Evangeline Irista. ¡°But my real name is Elizzel,¡± she added and pointed at the Nightmare beside her. ¡°More so, I am¡ªwas¡ªthese Jaws Lurking in the Forest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a faunel¡¯s name,¡± Katherine implied the question. ¡°That it is.¡± Elizzel looked at all of them, regarding each of them¡ªincluding Enza¡ªwith a curious and studying look. She turned to Kristel last. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Princess to come along as well. Well, my expectations have been rather off the mark lately. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t explain to you why I look like the second Monarch, except that this form was from her twin sister.¡± ¡°The second Monarch didn¡¯t have a twin,¡± Kristel said. Her tone had a hint of accusation. ¡°She was erased from history,¡± Elizzel explained. She moved next to the dead Forest Jaws and sat on one of its claws. ¡°I don¡¯t remember the reason why. But the only remaining evidence that she existed, as far as my memory serves, is the fact that I have her form and the personal record Monarch Kristella left in her book.¡± While the particular choice of words caught Frein¡¯s attention, he also noticed Katherine opening her Spatiera and pulling out a pristine copy of The Artistic Meiyal contained in a special meiyal-crafted container. Without much effort, just by the sheer care the Lady invested in handling the container, Frein deduced that the book actually might¡¯ve well been the very same Kristella personally penned. He added that on the things he needed to study later. Elizzel noticed the book¡¯s authenticity as well. ¡°On page thirty-nine, after the lesson on Milling.¡± ¡°Give me a while. We had to seal it for safekeeping,¡± Katherine explained and found a nice place to sit on before working on unraveling the seal with a complex set of meiyal patterns too advanced for Frein to recognize. ¡°Why bother proving it?¡± he asked. It caused Kristel to snap at him. ¡°Just curious, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because we must consume their meiyal core before we can transform to them,¡± Elizzel replied. ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to put two and two together considering how I look, but the evidence of Evangeline¡¯s existence should help disprove your accusations.¡± She pointed the last bit towards the Princess. ¡°If Evangeline did exist, you¡¯re still not off the hook,¡± Kristel retaliated. ¡°It doesn¡¯t get rid of the fact that you murdered someone, not to mention a royalty. Faunels shouldn¡¯t be able to hurt us mortals in the first place.¡± ¡°Murder is a bold claim,¡± Frein and Katherine said in absolute unison. ¡°Avoid making conclusions based on half-stories. Take everything with a grain of salt. The truth we know, the truth we find are often influenced by biases and overblown dramatizations. Sometimes, the simplest answers are the correct ones. And never assume the story is over even with the case closed.¡± Kristel was taken aback. ¡°What just happened?¡± The two smiled, again, in unison. ¡°We worked as detectives¡ªinvestigators of complex cases¡ªback where I came from,¡± Frein explained. ¡°Well, Kat worked full-time. I was on training before I got here. It¡¯s a statement we use to remind ourselves that not everything is laid out as we see it. ¡°Most people won¡¯t tell you everything they know, whether on purpose or not.¡± He crossed his hands and observed Elizzel who studied him in reciprocity. ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s because they can¡¯t remember. It¡¯s part of our jobs to unravel the truth with utmost and irrefutable certainty.¡± ¡°What other explanation would be there, then?¡± Kristel asked, indignant of her claims. ¡°If she didn¡¯t murder Kristella or Evangeline, what then?¡± Frein waited for the faunel to defend herself. She refused. With a sigh, he prepared to lay out his own theories. He understood what was going through the Princess¡¯s head. Once one settled and accepted a truth, letting it go was a challenge barely anyone would even attempt, let alone succeed. Add the significance of a historically renowned icon¡ªor her alleged twin sister¡ªon the case, it was easy to justify Kristel¡¯s adamant attitude. What can she even do against someone made literally out of meiyal? Frein mused at the thought and stored the question for later. He had to answer Kristel¡¯s first. ¡°You said it yourself,¡± he began. ¡°Faunels can¡¯t hurt mortals, so how would she murder one? You can say she manipulated someone else into killing either of the sisters, but that¡¯s another thing we have to prove. Besides, who¡¯s to say they didn¡¯t offer their own core to her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Frein presented himself. ¡°If I can do it, why can¡¯t they?¡± Kristel wanted to argue but caught herself. She paused and considered, her face in disbelief. Frein decided to push further. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying that¡¯s what they did. I¡¯m saying that there are a lot of possibilities. And if you cling to one answer, it¡¯ll cloud your judgment. So why don¡¯t we keep a calm mind and look at Kristella¡¯s record first?¡± The Princess looked at each of them before gradually calming down. ¡°You¡¯re right. Sorry.¡± As if on cue, Katherine finished dealing with the seals. ¡°There, done. What page is it again?¡± ¡°Thirty-nine,¡± Elizzel replied. She was slowly dozing off and catching herself awake before fully tumbling down from where she sat. Frein and Kristel approached Katherine as she flipped the pages. The thirty-nineth page only had a measly portion of text in it, indicating the end of the lesson chapter. Before any of them could complain, the faunel spoke. ¡°Use observation Meiyal Art, combine it with Siffera. The words should appear. Sorry, but please wake me up as soon as you¡¯re done reading. We don¡¯t have much time.¡±
Chapter 59: A New Art A New Art Frein wondered what the faunel meant by ¡®not enough time¡¯, but he was also curious how combining two Arts together worked. It wasn¡¯t an impossibility to Draw multiple Meiyal Arts in tandem. In fact, even an Aspirant was expected to be capable of Drawing two Arts at the same time. However, combining was too specific a term. Not to miss the confused faces between the other two Meiyal Arts practitioners, but clearly, they also caught Elizzel¡¯s specific word choice. ¡°No one¡¯s ever tried it, really?¡± Frein asked. They shook their heads reluctantly. ¡°After thousands of years within its history?¡± ¡°Sam?¡± Katherine turned to her M.O.B.I.L.E. for answers. The device buzzed around for a few moments. ¡°By the term combination, you mean the practice of¡ªattempt at¡ªmelding two or¡ªpossibly¡ªmore Meiyal Arts with their own vivid and specific patterns developed and internalized mentally by the practitioner for clearly defined effects and purposes when Drawn into reality? And thus, by definition, deconstructing said patterns that the practitioner spent hours, if not days, if not months of rigorous mental and physical training, after multitude and countless failures?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Katherine said plainly. ¡°He always talks like that? Is it a he?¡± Kristel asked musingly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s ¡®clearly defined¡¯ per se,¡± Frein said defiantly. ¡°Listen here, smart guy. Just because Siffera works in a weird way for you than the others, doesn¡¯t mean you get to redefine the entire discipline. And yes, he, madam Princess. Thank you. Now with regards to combining, well¡­¡± Sam¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. form whirled with interesting colors. The black orb Frein was used to now housed a swirling rainbow of what he would define as paint submerged in water. The swirl suddenly formed into colorful spikes still contained within the orb¡¯s enclosure. ¡°No, nothing on my database. Clearly it defies all logic and this faunel, who quite possibly has lived even before the discipline¡¯s creation, is lying through her tiny little teeth.¡± In a sense, Frein understood where Sam and the other practitioners were coming from. Each Meiyal Art, whether named or not, were exactly it¡ªan art. Even the practice of forming the pattern in his mind¡¯s eye was akin to painting a masterpiece. He wouldn¡¯t let anything else blemish it even if it was from another pattern he conceptualized for a different Meiyal Art. But the piece didn¡¯t fit for him. The discipline was supposed to be centuries old. Surely someone would¡¯ve thought about combining patterns and Meiyal Arts, leave evidence of tests or experiments at least. ¡°Wait! I think I got something,¡± Sam exclaimed, his rainbow-colored spikes spinning rapidly inside his orb. How does he work anyway? Yet another question Frein stored in his memory. ¡°Okay, I think I got it! You can combine Meiyal Arts!¡± ¡°How?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Hmm¡­I think it¡¯s more interesting if you figure it out yourselves. Besides, if you can learn this on your own, you¡¯ll get a nuanced feel for it. I think not only will all three of you be able to combine Siffera with an observation Meiyal Art, you¡¯ll also be able to combine even more!¡± ¡°What about a clue?¡± Katherine said. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Sam buzzed for a while. ¡°Let¡¯s study Diferenfra for example.¡± Frein knew about the Art. While the name-ender ¡®fra¡¯ indicated the Art was of the fire element, the purpose of the rest of the name, ¡®Diferen¡¯, was purely for delegation purposes only. The wonderous aspects of the Art came from both its destructive strength and ability to pinpoint targets. To master Diferenfra was to hold a flamethrower at one¡¯s disposal that will not combust anything you wish not to burn. ¡°Before Diferenfra, what did we use?¡± Sam quizzed them. ¡°Ferenfra,¡± Kristel and Katherine simultaneously answered. ¡°Correct, then we eventually developed Diferenfra which allows us to use Ferenfra without any casualties at the cost of additional meiyal and concentration. Nowadays it¡¯s pretty much the most common Meiyal Art most practitioners learn. Ferenfra¡¯s basically out of the picture. So, how did we get to that? How were we able to improve on Ferenfra?¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying Ferenfra was combined with something?¡± Frein guessed. Sam circled around him excitedly. ¡°Smart fellow. I approve of your relationship with Katherine. She¡¯s lucky to have you.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­I guess?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t take a compliment, though.¡± The floating M.O.B.I.L.E. returned to Katherine. ¡°The question now is what. What did we combine Ferenfra with? It¡¯s something all three of you know how to Draw.¡± Sam turned to each practitioner one by one, urging each of them to find the answer. The three looked to each other for ideas. In truth, Frein already had one in mind. With his options so few, it didn¡¯t really take him long to find the appropriate Art to tame Ferenfra into Diferenfra. The interesting part was the gradual realization manifesting on the Lady and the Princess¡¯s faces. ¡°Barrier Meiyal Art,¡± they all said in unison. ¡°Correct!¡± Sam rang an affirmative chime and excitedly spun around them. ¡°So, what patterns do you use for Ferenfra and Diferenfra?¡± Frein asked, his own excitement building up inside him. ¡°What are the differences? Do you just slap the pattern for the barrier Meiyal Art on top of it?¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Sam hovered beside him. ¡°Smart fellow. Smart questions.¡± Kristel turned to Katherine. ¡°I didn¡¯t learn Ferenfra,¡± she admitted. The Lady of the Void pondered for a moment, realization hitting her with confusion more than clarity. ¡°They¡¯re nowhere near the same for me at all.¡± She took a twig and began to draw on the dirt. ¡°My Ferenfra is basically an image of a candle¡¯s flame that I stoke to Draw into reality. My barrier Meiyal Art is an outline of myself. Diferenfra, for me, is a rose with fiery petals.¡± ¡°My Diferenfra is a flaming dagger,¡± Kristel added and traced on the dirt along with Katherine¡¯s crude patterns. ¡°I know Frill¡¯s resembles a phoenix¡¯s shape.¡± ¡°Weird,¡± Frein said, observing the patterns. ¡°What¡¯s your pattern for the barrier?¡± he asked the Princess. ¡°An outline of myself as well.¡± ¡°Same here. Why a rose?¡± This time, he asked Katherine but quickly caught himself before she could answer. ¡°You like roses,¡± he said before looking at Kristel. ¡°I like daggers.¡± ¡°And Frill like phoenixes? Does she have a pet phoenix?¡± ¡°No. Like dragons, phoenixes did exist. They¡¯re just part of stories now,¡± the Princess replied. Frein remembered that the people here never really regarded the Jaws Lurking in the Forest as a classification of a dragon even though it resembled one. ¡°Would you like me to send you some legend lore about phoenixes and dragons, Smart Visitor Frein?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Sure, but do you have to flatter me every time?¡± ¡°I like currying favor with exceptional people.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Frein turned to the two ladies who were staring at him with curiosity. He dragged himself back to his train of thought. ¡°The patterns for Diferenfra are more complex. They¡¯re fiery, but they take the form of things that you like, therefore, things you¡¯d want to protect or treasure. Not burn. With the barrier Meiyal Art, you outline yourself, because that¡¯s your protection. Do you see the connection?¡± ¡°I think I get it,¡± Kristel said, pondering. ¡°But that¡¯s basically the origin of how Diferenfra was made into a Meiyal Art. How do we combine Siffera with observation Art? My pattern¡¯s the shape of an eye for observation.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Katherine and Frein said together. ¡°What¡¯s your pattern for Siffera?¡± ¡°A stronger version of myself,¡± the two answered together again. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s weirding me out a bit.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t happen a lot,¡± said Katherine. ¡°Promise,¡± Frein finished for her. Both of them smiled at the Princess. ¡°Whatever.¡± Kristel rolled her eyes. ¡°Any ideas for combining these patterns?¡± A slight movement caught all their attention and they¡ªSam and Enza included¡ªall turned to see Elizzel rising from her stupor. The faunel squinted with inquisitive, heterochromatic eyes. ¡°How do you make meiyal a part of yourself?¡± ¡°You Mill it,¡± Katherine answered. ¡°You Gather it,¡± Frein replied at the same time. ¡°You guys are doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you?¡± Kristel tried to be intimidating but all she did was make herself seem wider with a failed attempt to look angry. ¡°Where do the meiyal go?¡± Elizzel continued her questions. ¡°In our meiyal systems,¡± Frein continued to answer. ¡°How do you envision your meiyal system?¡± ¡°By reflecting my inner self.¡± ¡°In?¡± ¡°In¡­in my mind¡¯s eye.¡± ¡°What do you think would happen if you combine Siffera with an observation Meiyal Art?¡± ¡°Read the hidden text on the book.¡± The answer was awkwardly obvious, but Frein gave it voice. Maybe speaking the idea aloud would inspire them. ¡°Now, what¡¯s something about yourself that you would rather remain hidden?¡± With that, the faunel returned to slumber. It left everyone confused. ¡°The pattern is a hidden version of ourselves?¡± Kristel guessed. ¡°How can you come up with a hidden pattern and be able to Draw upon it?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s definitely abstract in a sense,¡± Katherine replied. How does one look at a reflection of himself? Frein pondered. A mirror, obviously. What about inside one¡¯s self? Self-reflection? A self mirror. How could he see things he couldn¡¯t see? How would he look at it? A different angle? Or maybe elevation? What would be something he couldn¡¯t see? Siffera¡¯s pattern was a stronger version of himself. It was definitely something he would always want to look at and not hide. Something he would wish to see every day. So based on that premise, the pattern couldn¡¯t be a stronger version. Obviously not a stronger eye pattern, either. Nothing about them was hidden. What would be something about himself that he wouldn¡¯t want to see? ¡°A useless version of myself,¡± Frein mumbled, turning heads towards his direction. ¡°I would never see myself become useless, but I can surely visualize how I would look if I am one.¡± The pattern formed in his mind¡¯s eye. A version of him that had lost, had failed. It didn¡¯t matter what the failure was, it didn¡¯t matter what the loss was. His self was devastated, hopeless, and depressed. Someone Frein never wished to be, nor never wished to see. One he would rather hide forever. He poured meiyal into the pattern and began to Draw. The first thing that came to him was a clarity. A name materialized in his mind, as if the world itself gave it to him. ¡°Mesiffera.¡± Colors began to warp around him. The air became a cloudy gray, as if he was covered suddenly by translucent smoke. Darkened meiyal influenced by the Nightmare Lands showing themselves true to his eyes. The ground was steady with tightly packed meiyal. The abundance in the trees moved at a snail¡¯s pace. It was something beyond what a simple observation Meiyal Art could do. A level higher and processed better. Not only that; Frein could see Kristel, Katherine, Enza, Sam, and most especially Elizzel in finer details. If he concentrated enough, fed Mesiffera with enough meiyal, he could focus on their breathing. He could see exactly when their eyelids would close. He could see the distribution of meiyal inside their system, exactly how much they had left. He could probably see which Meiyal Arts they had active and how much meiyal they were investing on them if he wanted to, but he didn¡¯t want to waste more meiyal. The Art was surprisingly draining as it was. He needed to get used to it first. ¡°Show me the book,¡± he turned to Katherine. She was on the verge of Drawing an observation Meiyal Art, the meiyal from the core floating beside her temple moving at an alarmingly rapid pace. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Have you ever timed how fast you can Draw?¡± ¡°I can Draw pretty fast.¡± ¡°I can see how fast.¡± The Lady¡¯s eye widened in amazement as she presented the book. Frein began to read it to everyone.
Evangeline is dying. She doesn¡¯t have much longer. Sealing the fourth one was too much, even for us. Father can¡¯t save her either. I can¡¯t find him anymore. In the end, I fear I¡¯ll be the only one left. The Sky Islands are destroyed. Dragons dead, The Thousand Year Storm is dead. Maybe, I don¡¯t know. But without the Deitar, Eva can¡¯t carry the Burden of Protection anymore. Who do I pray to? Why can¡¯t I remember the gods anymore? What did Zerax¡¯thum do? Why did he do it? Was destroying Brymeia not enough? I don¡¯t know anymore. Maybe it¡¯s too much for me to hope, but I¡¯ll write it here anyway. The world¡¯s been silent. Maybe she really is dead. As agreed, we¡¯ve decided to keep Evangeline¡¯s existence away from history. Father had tied her destiny too tightly. I can¡¯t find a way to undo it. Norazzel said she would, but I¡¯ve little faith in dreams. In the end, we can only rely on Elizzel. She¡¯ll be the only remaining evidence of my sister¡¯s existence. Alphazzel promised to keep a record of her history, but as precaution, I¡¯ve hidden this account as proof that my sister, Evangeline Irista, her beauty, her exceptional prowess, and her curse once existed in these lands. And in the end, when my time comes, I¡¯ll have Schrodie take mine. Whoever sees this account, may you be in a future more peaceful than my era. The Deitars are dying, but we mortals can strive. We will survive for the sake of our future. Whatever demons, or devils, or abominations the Nightmares come up with, we will push them back. I pray that you can end them once and for all. May Brymeia find you and keep you safe.
The questions formed one after the other in Frein¡¯s mind. The sheer amount made it difficult to keep track and organize, stunning him speechless at what he had just read. He erased Mesiffera from reality. It had taken a significant portion of his Milled meiyal and he didn¡¯t need it to see the questions forming in Katherine and Kristel¡¯s heads. But before any of them could even voice out a single inquiry, Frein felt a small weight press on his shoulder. He turned to find a small pair of legs dangling on his side and a much taller Elizzel looking down at him, until he realized she was sitting down on him. ¡°Time¡¯s up. We have¡­visitors.¡±
Chapter 60: Harvest and a Deal Harvest and a Deal
¡°If you thought it was cute...yeah, it was cute. Stings a bit, but still cute.¡± ~Frein Nivan
Frein ignored the silent daggers flying from Katherine¡¯s eyes. He slowly picked up Elizzel, placing her on the ground like a kid after a shoulder ride. ¡°Visitors?¡± he asked. ¡°Not your kind, unfortunately¡­fortunately?¡± The faunel looked at him inquisitively. She gave the conundrum a few seconds to consider before moving on and passing a questioning look towards the Lady of the Void. ¡°I take it you still don¡¯t know how Forest Jaws reproduce?¡± Katherine had dismissed her murderous stare even before Elizzel turned to her. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve been gone a while, but before I left, we didn¡¯t really have the luxury to pinpoint our Nightmare studies.¡± With a nod, Elizzel approached Enza to lean on her side. The yuma sniffed her new companion once before adjusting better so that the faunel could take a seat. Now comfy, Elizzel began to explain. ¡°These Jaws Lurking in the Forest are a recent incarnation of Nightmares, more recent than Those That Fell Off a Cliff. They also have pseudo-Nature¡¯s Favor capabilities, making them hard to spot and observe. ¡°To keep it short, Forest Jaws reproduce by finding other dead of their kind. They use the corpse as incubators for the eggs that they carry, storing them inside the stomach. These eggs then absorb the dead from the inside and from the other eggs in their batch until they eventually hatch.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s a Forest Jaws on the way here?¡± Katherine was suddenly alert. An aura of meiyal expanded from within her. ¡°I don¡¯t sense anything.¡± Frein could feel the aura¡¯s touch. Inquisitive in nature, but it could use a subtle aspect. The thought of being scanned didn¡¯t particularly appeal to him. ¡°How far can you detect?¡± Elizzel inquired. ¡°About five kilometers. So far, I can only detect a few Fallen and some lesser Nightmares. All far away from us.¡± ¡°Adult Forest Jaws can sense from eight up to ten kilometers. They¡¯re senses are specialized for tracking others of their kind, but their main purpose is to spot other creatures with a lot of meiyal for them to hunt.¡± ¡°Like us?¡± Kristel asked. Her voice was a little shaky, but she tried her best to sound calm. Frein appreciated her effort. ¡°Correct,¡± Elizzel answered nonchalantly. ¡°They¡¯re also attuned enough to know if you can detect them. So, they¡¯ll be sure to keep their distance.¡± ¡°If they¡¯re keeping their distance, then we don¡¯t have a problem,¡± Frein concluded. His confidence on Katherine was that of a diamond, only, the Lady herself looked awfully concerned. ¡°Well, if there¡¯s only one, it¡¯ll surely stay away from us.¡± When the faunel was met by three pairs of concerned eyes, she continued. ¡°There are three nests nearby, and based on my observations a few days ago, I think they¡¯re the kind of neighbors that work together. ¡°When a Forest Jaws dies, it releases a special kind of scent that only others of its kind can detect. It¡¯ll reach far and wide and it¡¯s detectable by their attuned senses. If my assumptions are correct, the smell would¡¯ve reached them a long while ago.¡± Elizzel started petting Enza as thanks for carrying her while she continued to explain. ¡°Fortunately, they¡¯re very cautious creatures. I imagine Lady Katherine¡¯s mere presence is forcing them to back off until all three of them are near enough to ambush us at the same time.¡± ¡°We have to get going, then.¡± Katherine erased her detection aura and approached the dead Forest Jaws. ¡°I need to get something from this one first.¡± The Lady Drew a blade Meiyal Art and prepared to slice open from the stomach. She hesitated, pivoting back towards the faunel. ¡°You don¡¯t mind if I cut it open, right? You¡¯re technically also this one as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡± ¡°Feel free,¡± Elizzel replied. ¡°It feels like a waste,¡± Frein commented. ¡°Kat spent some good time healing you in that form, if I recall.¡± Elizzel reached for her left shoulder, slipping the smoky sundress slightly off her shoulders. A weirdly shaped scar sparkled a subtle indigo. ¡°Some wounds don¡¯t instantly heal, I¡¯m afraid. What do you want with the Forest Jaws?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Frein began, explaining for Katherine who began to focus on her work. ¡°I just found out earlier, but apparently they¡¯ve been receiving letters that predicted events with incredible accuracy¡­¡± Frein¡¯s words were lost at the sight of gore and innards spilling from the Forest Jaws. They were nothing like he imagined. Black blood tainted by bright blue gushed and pooled, flowing to a steady river. Aside from those, the rest was eerily empty. Some organs that he expected to find¡ªspecifically the liver and intestine¡ªwere missing. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The inside itself was hallow. He stomached the intense putrid smell and followed Katherine inside. Bones and muscles were present, but again, there was an obvious lack of other necessary body parts. He found the Lady where the heart should be, working on fibrous tissue that were somehow giving her a hard time. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, noticing Frein approach. She pointed at a fractured, transparent membrane where she lodged her meiyal blade. On the other side of it was what looked like a heart. It was much larger than they were. He couldn¡¯t find the lungs. ¡°Can you help? Protect your hands with a barrier Meiyal Art and make sure it¡¯s sturdy. It¡¯s quite tough and sharp.¡± He did as he was told and cautiously began to rip open the membrane. It was like bending a hardened piece of metal. They were able to wrench open a small portion wide enough for Katherine to slip her arm through. She reached inside and pierced into the heart with a bare hand. The heart began to swirl, forming a spiral as it disintegrated into bits and pieces. Blood, muscles, and other organic tissues formed a vortex, causing a disturbing harmony of fleshy sounds. They all coalesced into Katherine¡¯s hand, solidifying into a black gem the size of her palm. Without any other preamble, she turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± she said. Frein followed without question. Outside, they saw Elizzel still petting Enza while chatting with Princess Kristel. ¡°Hold on,¡± Katherine said, pulling him to the side. She stretched a palm towards him and began to Draw. He felt an urge to resist but thought better of it. ¡°Imbelia.¡± A thin layer of liquid manifested from the Lady¡¯s hand. It stretched into a vertical film that progressed slowly towards Frein. He allowed it to pass through him. He was met by an odd sensation of water. The layer washed and dried his entire body in an instant as it passed through him. Clean and refreshed as though he just got out of the shower, but dry as though he never took one in the first place. Katherine did the same for herself while Frein admired the Meiyal Art. He had seen a variety of Arts before this one¡ªall were powerful and handy he was sure¡ªbut never had he felt the urge and desire to learn this one since Spatiera and Siffera. ¡°I need that,¡± he said. ¡°Out of everything you¡¯ve seen, this is the one you want to learn next?¡± Katherine shrugged. ¡°Sure, when we¡¯re out of here.¡± ¡°Guys, we have a situation,¡± Kristel beckoned them. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Apparently, Elizzel here met the one who sent the letters¡­probably.¡± ¡°Explain,¡± Katherine asked this time, a little more urgently than Frein¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s not a guarantee,¡± Elizzel began. ¡°A week ago, I met someone who told me not to take this form too early. Whoever this person was, they were very careful not to show themselves. I was told to wait and help a Void Mother, an Iristan, and three Vyndivalians. I didn¡¯t believe at first but when this person started talking in response to my thoughts without any form of telepathy, I decided to wait. Not soon after the Void Mother showed up.¡± ¡°Did you catch her name?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°The Void Mother¡¯s, I mean.¡± Elizzel made a quick nod. ¡°It was a Soul¡¯s Walk, but she named herself Selfiya Lunasensia, Void Mother of the Western Sanctum. She knew me by name as well, I think she¡¯s been monitoring me for years but kept my existence a secret from the Sanctum.¡± Frein saw Katherine make a sigh of relief like he had never seen before. ¡°Someone you know?¡± he asked. Truthfully, he wanted to ask about Soul¡¯s Walk. He knew it was a Blessing of Brymeia¡ªderived from the naming scheme of the other Blessings he knew¡ªbut he wanted to know how it worked. ¡°My Void Mother,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°She¡¯s the one who trained me as a Lady of the Void. Every specialized Meiyal Art and Void¡ªor Nightmare¡ªControl Techniques I know came from her tutelage. ¡°If she¡¯s using Soul¡¯s Walk, that means she¡¯s in a difficult situation. But I¡¯m glad that she¡¯s alive at least. Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°Venry¡¯s alive as well,¡± Kristel added, her voice now livelier than earlier. ¡°He¡¯s the Iristan Elizzel helped.¡± ¡°What about the Vyndivalians?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I accompanied Venry in secret for a few days, protecting him from any stray Nightmares. He met a Vyndivalian named Dystro before I left him to prepare for my transformation. I couldn¡¯t stay long enough to find the other two.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of good news!¡± Katherine exclaimed. ¡°I think I should properly apologize, Elizzel,¡± Kristel said. ¡°I was too hasty with my accusations. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I apologize as well,¡± the faunel replied, making a slight bow. ¡°If you didn¡¯t have the penned book, I wouldn¡¯t be able to prove the claim at all. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have all my memories with me.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a rather confusing story. I¡¯ll explain once we find a way to deal with the Forest Jaws. Did you find what you need, Lady Katherine?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she replied before turning to everyone else. ¡°I can show it later. You¡¯re right, first we need to get out of here.¡± ¡°About that,¡± Frein interrupted. ¡°What if we try to get rid of them? Get rid of all three.¡± Before either the Princess or the Lady could tell him how crazy he was, the faunel spoke first. ¡°That¡¯s crazy,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯m actually with him on this one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy!¡± Kristel repeated. Katherine didn¡¯t follow suit. ¡°You have a plan?¡± she asked. ¡°I do,¡± Frein and Elizzel said together. ¡°Somewhat,¡± he added, turning to the faunel. ¡°You first.¡± ¡°First, let me properly reintroduce myself.¡± Elizzel hopped off Enza and separated herself from the group. She turned with a graceful pirouette, smoothly transitioning to a formal genuflect. The meiyal around her buzzed and coalesced into small orbs, turning into what Frein defined as ¡®tiny little spirits¡¯. One by one, green, blue, and yellow spirits formed and danced around her. They had small limbs and large smiling faces, laughing with adorable chimes. As soon as all of them materialized, they stopped and mimicked the faunel¡¯s gesture. ¡°I am Elizzel, Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. As with my voluntary agreement with the Gatekeeper, Schrodie, I am here to offer you, Visitor Frein Nivan, my undivided assistance in order to prepare you for your destiny.¡± The tiny little spirits clapped and cheered in unison before vanishing into meiyal. ¡°Is this a whether I like it or not situation?¡± Frein asked. ¡°You¡¯re free to choose.¡± He turned to Katherine. She shrugged. Kristel offered the same response. Enza just smiled at him. Sam, who had been there the entire time, hovered beside his ear. ¡°She¡¯s suspicious, I don¡¯t trust her,¡± he whispered. ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m joking. I just want to be special and have an actual response unlike those three. You do you, buddy.¡± With a snuffed-out smirk, Frein turned to the faunel. ¡°Then, I formally accept your offer, Elizzel. What do you have for me?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with Faunel Tethering. Ring any bells?¡± She was met by four shaking heads and one shaking orb. ¡°Sounds awesome, though,¡± Frein replied. ¡°How does it work?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you,¡± Elizzel approached him and presented a hand, asking for something. ¡°Let me bite your core first.¡±
Chapter 61: Faunel Tether Faunel Tether When Frein offered his wrist without hesitation, Elizzel took a step back. His meiyal core was a plain circle with six unsealed meiyal marks. Unlike most natives whose marks took a certain pattern¡ªlike the Princess¡¯s candlelight pattern¡ªthe Visitor¡¯s was formless a wave with only specific sharp edges to give it some sort of detail. ¡°What¡¯s wrong,¡± he asked. ¡°You know your core¡¯s basically the most important part of your body right now, right?¡± Elizzel implied her question. ¡°It¡¯s basically the only thing protecting you from Brymeia¡¯s meiyal atmosphere.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s also the one that¡¯s killing me. Let¡¯s not forget that.¡± ¡°I just thought you¡¯d hesitate.¡± ¡°Is that what the other Visitors did?¡± For the first time in a while, Elizzel wished she could recall what the others did. ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Just go for it, then.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Elizzel held his arm. There was a certain weight to it. Her flimsy little hands could barely wrap around his wrist. Even while relaxed, she could feel the training and hardship the muscles around his arm went through¡ªhis whole body went through. For a while, she observed him. He kept a natural stance, relaxed but still tensed enough to spring into action at a moment¡¯s notice. Elizzel could see his eyes following her observations. He was allowing her to study him. She could see his Siffera as a steady form of Meiyal Art Drawn in reality. A nurtured pattern and Art she¡¯d never seen from anyone else for a long time. At least, from what I can remember. Elizzel opened her mouth and leaned closer to his wrist. Her small fangs would be sharp enough for this. She just needed enough penetration to ingest the meiyal from his core and tether a connection. ¡°Wait a sec,¡± Frein interrupted much to her chagrin. It was difficult enough for her jaw to fit his wrist. ¡°What if my core was on a different place?¡± Elizzel reluctantly disengaged. ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s right here.¡± ¡°Just hypothetically.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll bite there instead.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s on my back or someplace that¡¯s inconvenient?¡± Elizzel could feel her patience wearing thin, but she humored the question. ¡°I¡¯ll pinch it and bite off from the skin, as long as I can make a connection with your blood that¡¯s directly above your core, it should be enough.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s the floating kind?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Visitors would have the floating kind. I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s¡ª¡± Katherine slapped his shoulder. ¡°Get your mind off the gutter and have her bite you already.¡± ¡°Fine. Sorry. Go ahead, Elizzel.¡± The faunel squinted at his mischievous grin. She mentally prepared to deal with more of this attitude in the future. She did sign up for it. That much, she was sure. With a bite, the surge of his meiyal filled her with a nostalgic feeling. Elizzel wished she could remember why. The memory was a blur, but she longed for it, like a sweet dream instantly forgotten after waking up. Tears formed from her eyes as she turned into pure meiyal of swirling pink and indigo. Elizzel entered this precious meiyal core as though she¡¯d returned to a place she belonged.
There was no time to be mesmerized or entertain any questions. The moment Elizzel fused into Frein¡¯s core, the Visitor sat in meditative position. He ignored any inquiries from Kristel and Enza, so Katherine didn¡¯t even try. At the same time, the Lady of the Void felt a touch, a subtle scan. A chill ran up her spine as the feeling quickly retreated. With a flex of her meiyal core she Opened it to her surroundings and Influenced the area with her existence. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. I, Alone, Am the Center, a Void Control Technique. While modern times had classified the term interchangeably with Nightmare Control Technique, the purpose remained this same. Through this Technique, Katherine scanned a five-kilometer radius for all signs of meiyal attuned creatures. It allowed her to identify these creatures one by one, segregating Nightmares into their classifications. She processed every feedback, not even caring for subtlety with the Technique. She simply needed to know whether there were any Forest Jaws near them or not. Nothing. Just a bunch of Fallen and lesser Nightmares. Unlike earlier, there seemed to be more of them. Katherine didn¡¯t like that sign. There could be trouble if more of them gathered. She decided to maintain the Technique active to serve as a ward. It continuously drained her meiyal but the neat thing about Void Control Techniques was their compatibility with other meiyal disciplines. She could continuously feed I, Alone, Am the Center with her own Milled meiyal instead of the one that generated from her core. And unlike the other two companions with her, she could continuously Gather and Mill even if the meiyal was influenced by the Nightmare. Opening her core didn¡¯t strain her as well unlike other Void Lords and Ladies. Void Mother Selfiya had pointed out that this was due to her unique meiyal system that floated outside of her body. ¡°Your core is essentially always Open. Instead, train to Close it when you need to.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening to him?¡± Kristel asked, Enza close to her heels. Katherine dismissed the memory and focused on them. ¡°All I know is that they¡¯re both inside his Exhibit. She¡¯s forcing him to integrate with the Emerald Guidance.¡± ¡°But he doesn¡¯t have enough meiyal marks.¡± A quick peek confirmed that Frein still only had six unsealed marks. Katherine just shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of Faunel Tethering either. We can only hope this works. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re getting surrounded.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kristel asked. She reluctantly moved closer and subtly raised her arms. The Nightmare influence was starting to get on her nerves, a creeping doubt slowly but surely breaking her confidence. ¡°I count eight of Those That Fell Off a Cliff, and multiple dozens of lesser Nightmares. I think the Forest Jaws are encouraging them to box us in so they can ambush us when we¡¯re busy killing fodder.¡± Katherine Drew her Spatiera and retrieved her long coat, tying its arms to her waist. She held Kristel¡¯s shoulder with one hand while she gathered her hair in a ponytail with the other. ¡°You still know Kaimera, right?¡± The Princess gave a nod. She had determination in her eyes, but the stiff reaction belied her internal conflict. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Katherine started, tying her ponytail. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure we get out of here safely. Can you convert it to Kaimfra?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good. You can handle the lesser Nightmares; kill them with fire. I¡¯ll deal with the Fallen. If we get rid of them fast enough, those three Forest Jaws might have second thoughts.¡± Just then, the first signs of trouble appeared. Far deep within the forest, a pair of glowing yellow eyes started to appear, followed by a silhouette vaguely of human shape. It listlessly walked, arms swaying in rhythm to its lethargic steps. The skin on its face drooped loosely like its jaw. A lesser Nightmare. More of its kind appeared, wearing vestiges of the different mortal, bipedal species known to Brymeia. They flocked around them, until they were completely surrounded by glowing eyes. Frein remained unperturbed, sitting still with his eyes closed. Enza sat beside him and slowly melded into her surroundings. Katherine didn¡¯t have time to consider how long the yuma could maintain her Nature¡¯s Favor. ¡°Sam,¡± she called out her M.O.B.I.L.E. which whirled around with concern. ¡°Send out a distress signal, try to reach all sweeping channels.¡± ¡°Oh, we¡¯re in a real pinch, aren¡¯t we?¡± Sam bobbed up and down, expressing his excitement. ¡°The Nightmare influence might disturb the signal, though.¡± ¡°It will, but this level shouldn¡¯t be strong enough to completely block out the High Palace Network or any patrols from the Sanctums from reaching our signal. As long as we can direct them to our location, that¡¯s all we¡¯ll need. Feel free to use as much meiyal as you need.¡± She knew well enough that Sam could regulate his meiyal consumption efficiently. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Sam zipped back into her pocket. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t die!¡± Katherine Drew a blade Meiyal Art. Kristel did the same, but she sent out an obvious concern. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything stronger?¡± she asked. ¡°I do, but this is an information battle,¡± the Lady explained. ¡°We¡¯re currently fighting two against three. Until Frein can join us, we should avoid showing those Forest Jaws our hand.¡± ¡°But I thought we¡¯ll end them quickly?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll try. If I reach Art fatigue too soon, it¡¯ll be dangerous.¡± Kristel nodded and Drew a second blade. She enveloped them in Kaimfra, the flaming version of the weapon enhancing Art, Kaimera. ¡°When you¡¯re halfway through your reserves, let me know,¡± Katherine began as she took a step forward. ¡°Let¡¯s send them a greeting.¡± One of the lesser Nightmares had spotted them. It let out a coarse roar, its eyes turning from yellow to red. The eyes behind it followed suit, creating a spectacle of crimson eyes in shadows. One by one, they suddenly kicked off into a sprint. Katherine¡¯s blade doubled its length as she raised it across her shoulder. She held it with both hands and let it hang on her back. Her meiyal core burst to life, painting the surroundings with intensified colors. She fed her Meiyal Art with a significant portion of her reserves and manifested it across the blade. With a step, she leaned forward, heaving the sword in a wide arc and Drawing the Meiyal Art in reality. ¡°Katastrofera!¡± The view in front of her vanished for a split second. A slice in reality tore through space, cutting trees, rocks, dirt, and lesser Nightmares as though they were already sliced apart in the first place. Then the force of a whirlwind followed, blasting everything in front of her with such strength, they were instantly eradicated into nothing. When the Art vanished from reality, so did everything that it sliced through. The blue rays of the sun shined down on a cone of emptiness within the forest. It was quickly filled in by more lesser Nightmares followed by the skeletal, rib-like limbs of Those That Fell Off a Cliff.
Chapter 62: Benefits of Freedom Benefits of Freedom Frein emerged in an empty hallway. A blindingly white corridor with no other details whatsoever. If his mind didn¡¯t know better, he would¡¯ve assumed there were no walls at all. ¡°Over here, Frein,¡± Elizzel¡¯s voice called out from the other end. Each of his steps reverberated in multiple echoes, almost too loud for his ears. Soon, he reached a door he couldn¡¯t see. There was simply not enough detail to differentiate it from the wall in the first place. He pushed like a mime trapped in a box. With an eerily loud noise, the door split in half and moved. It opened to a gallery of his memories. A grand design of colorful sections that was too layered on top of each other for his mind to quantify. Paintings upon paintings hung upon the walls of a grand foyer. Some were floating and moving about or replacing others for reasons he didn¡¯t know. The images upon these uniquely designed frames moved about, some he recognized vividly in his mind while some felt like he had never seen them before. The foyer itself was wide and multiple stories high. It was well lit even with the absence of any light sources. Above were more paintings flying about, storing themselves inside hidden layers of shelves upon the wall. In the middle was a blank canvas enclosed, once again, by an intricately designed frame. In front of it was Elizzel. ¡°You have a beautiful Mind Palace,¡± she commented. ¡°So, these really are my memories,¡± Frein concluded. ¡°But I don¡¯t remember most of these paintings.¡± ¡°I¡¯d advice against forcing yourself to recall any of them.¡± Elizzel reached out and a painting of Katherine taking a shower settled in her hand. The Lady in the image turned and laughed before seductively beckoned over whoever she was looking at. The faunel smiled and released the lewd, moving painting. ¡°You can easily get lost in these Recollections. Besides, we¡¯re not here to explore your Mind Palace. We¡¯re here for your Exhibit.¡± Elizzel moved past the empty canvas and asked Frein to follow her at the end of the foyer. Two stairs led to different rooms, but the faunel directed his attention at the door in the middle. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who can open this,¡± she said. ¡°For now, at least. I need to wait for the Tether.¡± For some reason, Frein knew to pull the door this time. Unlike earlier, this one made no resistance at all, sliding smoothly at its master¡¯s command. He was met by a green shine that steadily subsided. Elizzel entered in a rush. ¡°Oh, wow, you have a meiyal-charged material! Emerald Guidance!¡± The faunel skipped around a shining leaf that floated on a nondescript pedestal. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it yet, let¡¯s look around your Exhibit first.¡± ¡°What happens if I touch it?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll attempt to integrate within your Exhibit. Since you don¡¯t have thirty-nine marks yet, it¡¯ll fail and there¡¯s a risk that the Emerald Guidance will vanish. That¡¯s such a rare and useful Color of Power to lose like that.¡± ¡°There are useless and common Colors of Power?¡± ¡°Well, no. I can explain later. Let¡¯s look around first.¡± Convinced, Frein followed Elizzel into the main room. All around, he could find empty cases of different sizes. Some were twice or even thrice larger than himself. Different pedestals waited on corners and edges of walls, empty like the rest. Save for the size and the variety of these intricately designed containers, the room was basically empty. Except for one particular structure in the middle. Elizzel let out an awed exhale, admiring the construction. Frein realized exactly what it was. His Mill. Layers upon layers of milling dispersion rollers, varying in size and length rolled in a particular fashion. It resembled some sort of a clockwork mechanism that pressed Gathered meiyal into thin films to combine with his own. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. He observed, for the second time, his own meiyal, almost indistinguishable from the color of blood while Gathered meiyal was transparent like clear water. The result that came out from the Mill was, oddly enough, a vibrant red color. It poured directly underneath, vanishing from view. The complicated structure wasn¡¯t contained in any of the cases present in the Exhibit. Instead, it was fenced by a set of golden stanchions, as though the Mill was part of a grand, historical museum. In front was a podium with an attached plaque. Frein¡¯s name was at the top, bold, capitalized, and centered, taking most of the space. Underneath was a small name, Enza. ¡°It looks so different from the ones I can remember,¡± Elizzel said, admiring a dispersion roller closely. ¡°How many are there?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lost count.¡± Frein shrugged. He couldn¡¯t comprehend how the thing could stand on its own. Just considering its balance already defied physical laws. Then again, he realized this was all in his mind. ¡°Well, it¡¯s impressive.¡± Elizzel looked at him and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m one-hundred percent sure we can make the Faunel Tether work.¡± ¡°How do we do it?¡± The faunel reached out a hand. ¡°First, I¡¯ll integrate into your Exhibit.¡± Without a second thought, Frein accepted her hand. Lines of blue light emerged from every container within the room, connecting to points all around Elizzel. She gripped his hand tightly, as her own form began glowing the same color. She was pushing her meiyal, her own existence into his system. ¡°Mill,¡± she commanded. The convoluted mechanism behind the faunel moved at an increased pace. Frein observed as three types of meiyal now merged through the rollers. He could feel an abundance of power. A different form of strength. Limitless. Unrestricted. Free. Just like that, the Faunel Tether was complete. The glow and the lines disappeared. Frein didn¡¯t feel any particularly more powerful, but somehow, he felt connected to Elizzel. Curiously, he checked the Mill¡¯s plaque. As expected, he found Elizzel¡¯s name. Oddly enough, it wasn¡¯t underneath Enza¡¯s name, instead it was centered neatly at the bottom of the plaque. The faunel observed herself for any signs of change. Frein supposed she still looked the same. The only thing different now was how much of her thoughts intermingled with his. ¡°Great! Now that we¡¯re Tethered, I can help you integrate with Emerald Guidance!¡± She skipped along on her way to the meiyal-charged material. Frein followed, his mind swimming on unorganized thoughts. He clung on one desperately. ¡°Eli, slow down. I need to ask you something,¡± he said, reaching out. His head ached and he felt nauseous. After one more step, he dropped to his knees. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Elizzel held his shoulders and helped him up. ¡°Wait. Eli?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t mind nicknames,¡± Frein forced a smile. His head throbbed in pain so bad it quickly turned to a wince. He sat back on the floor and the faunel joined him. ¡°Just keep Milling until you get used to it. I¡¯ll take care of the Nightmare influence for now.¡± He did just that, and slowly but surely his vision began to steady. The thought that he clung on to didn¡¯t go away. ¡°What do you think of destiny?¡± he asked. ¡°That¡¯s an odd question,¡± Elizzel mused. ¡°Usually, I¡¯m the one who asks that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe in it,¡± Frein said, answering the implication. ¡°I¡¯d hate to think that my future¡¯s already written and that I can¡¯t do anything about it. That even this absurd decision to go die in a different world was already predetermined for me since birth¡ªit just doesn¡¯t make sense to me. ¡°But then, you spoke about it. Even Kristella mentioned Evangeline¡¯s destiny. So, if destiny does exist, what is it really? I don¡¯t want to be a slave to it.¡± Elizzel¡¯s eyes widened at the realization. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she began. ¡°It seems my influence is a little too strong for you.¡± The faunel reached out and held his face. A soothing chill ran through her fingers as she slowly massaged Frein¡¯s forehead. ¡°Schrodie can explain this better than I can, but these thoughts may have been spurred by the Contradiction. I, as a faunel, represent Freedom and Consequences. The thought of destiny enslaving your every action may have conflicted against what I represent. If I had known, I would¡¯ve slowly tied the Tether¡ªor maybe not. Even with my capabilities we don¡¯t have much time.¡± ¡°Capabilities?¡± Frein asked, his unorganized mind jumping on a tangent. ¡°Basically, I¡¯m speeding up your mental faculties. A minute outside is about less than an hour here. But since I¡¯m still recovering from my transformation, I can¡¯t keep it up for long. I can probably buy us about ten hours.¡± When Frein struggled to respond, the faunel returned to their original discussion. ¡°Destiny does exist, Frein. It just doesn¡¯t work the way you think it does. It¡¯s a mess. It gets jumbled too much and severing it causes everything to go into chaos. Don¡¯t think of it as a predetermination of your life. Instead, think of it as a result of everyone¡¯s destiny pulling and pushing against each other.¡± Elizzel shrugged and sighed. ¡°Again, I think Schrodie¡¯s the best person for this.¡± The pain regressed into a numbness, and Frein could feel himself again. Elizzel felt it through their connection and ended the massage. She sat and waited. ¡°Thank you. I think that helped.¡± ¡°Do you know what separates the gods from mortals?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°They get prayers?¡± ¡°No, dummy,¡± the faunel giggled. ¡°Worship does bolster them, but that¡¯s not what makes them a god.¡± Frein felt the tug of connection as Elizzel looked directly into his eyes. She smiled. ¡°Maybe someday, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°I have all year.¡± The faunel burst into laughter. ¡°That you do! Come on, I¡¯ve been excited to help you with this Emerald Guidance for a while now.¡± ¡°But I still don¡¯t have thirty-nine marks,¡± Frein retorted. ¡°True.¡± Elizzel turned to face him once again, pulling at the connection. ¡°But I am the faunel of Freedom.¡±
Chapter 63: Integration Integration
¡°Scarlet Fury, Velvet Fear, Golden Glory, Azure Calm¡­hmm, what else is there?¡± ~Elizzel
It had been approximately five minutes, but with the unending stream of lesser Nightmares, Katherine felt an hour had passed. Fortunately, Kristel was holding her own. With Katastrofera¡¯s display of destruction, they were able to grab the initiative on their side. It was a significant morale boost both for her and the Princess. Katherine maintained her pace, utilizing as little stamina and meiyal as possible. She redirected a lunging Nightmare elf towards a dwarven counterpart with a mere flick of her arm. The two slammed on the ground next to Frein. I, Alone, Am the Center remained Open, continuously monitoring every enemy movement. Eight of Those That Fell Off a Cliff circled around them in organized fashion. Their particular movement solidified the theory that at least one Forest Jaws were commanding them. Focusing on the edges of her Void Control Technique still gave her no indication of the elusive Nightmares. She directed her frustration towards the two lesser ones and turned them to ashes with a flash of Ferenfra. A hint of guilt tugged at her conscience, but she brushed it aside. These people had been long dead. They were fortunate enough to perish before turning into lesser Nightmares. The fate of a Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh was short lived compared to these lucky abominations; Grinders kept their hosts alive in madness the entire time. Katherine was relieved to know she couldn¡¯t detect any of that kind. Their appearance would indicate a Deep Nightmare close by, and that would be more of a problem than facing three Forest Jaws and their army. ¡°How are your reserves, Kristel?¡± she asked while turning her attention to another lesser Nightmare that tried to disturb Frein. It was suddenly pinned down by something invisible. Enza, she assumed. The Lady promptly burned the poor creature, trusting the yuma would disengage in time. ¡°Still plenty,¡± replied the Princess. She decided to erase Kaimfra from reality, only Drawing the Art when dealing the final blow. In front of her were five rushing lesser Nightmares. She shortened her meiyal blades into daggers and lowered her center, preparing to defend herself. Katherine nonchalantly pulled forward another lesser Nightmare off its balance. With a step, she tackled it with a Siffera-enforced shoulder, sending the sluggish creature flying towards its own kind. The Lady didn¡¯t bother checking what happened to them, her attention directed at the Princess. Five lesser Nightmares lunged at Kristel at the same time. She leapt towards one of them, striking at it mid-air with both daggers. She Drew Kaimfra for a swift instant, burning the malformed felintine from the inside. The other four landed where she had been a second ago. They turned in confusion, trying to find their target. As soon as she landed, Kristel threw both enflamed daggers on separate lesser Nightmares, hitting them dead-on their foreheads. Before the remaining two could even turn to meet the Princess, she had already retrieved both daggers and plunged them on another malformed creature. It didn¡¯t even take another second for her to finish off the last one. While Kristel dispatched her assailants quickly and efficiently, Katherine concluded that the Princess could last for another fifteen minutes at most. If she could do Mesiffera like Frein, she could probably pinpoint exactly how long. Regardless, she had to deal with the Fallen within that timeframe if they were to increase their chances of surviving. ¡°I¡¯ll go hunt the eight Fallen,¡± she called out while burning another dozen lesser Nightmares. ¡°Can I leave Frein to you?¡± ¡°As long as your quick. I don¡¯t know how much longer I can maintain this. Probably about ten minutes.¡± Katherine smiled. ¡°You can do better than that.¡± Before the Princess could even complain, she had already gone. Come to think of it, this is the first Art Frein learned all by himself, Katherine thought as she tracked down the first Fallen. She made a mental note to congratulate him properly later. First, she needed to focus on her job. It only took her a few seconds to reach her target. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. It was smaller compared to the one that infiltrated Minaveil yesterday. She closed in, quickly, but the Nightmare was quick to react. It prepared its Negating Roar, an ability they used to render Arts and Armaments useless. It could even temporarily disable meiyal-crafted structures within the roar¡¯s area of effect. For those of the Meiyal Arts discipline, they could overcome this hindrance by integrating a meiyal-charged material found in Mount I¡¯sol named, Purifying Stone. It was a rare material and highly coveted by adventurers for their instantaneous protection to resist small levels of Nightmare influence. However, for a Lady of the Void like Katherine, a simple Void Control Technique would suffice. She Opened her meiyal core and pushed forth her influence. Peace Within the Chaos. A veil of protective meiyal traced around her body. The Fallen roared but its effect bounced off, causing the Nightmare to flinch. With its balance broken, the Lady of the Void dashed over the collection of tied-up skulls above its stomach and severed it with extreme precision. Katherine was already dashing through the forest in search of the next one before Those That Fell Off a Cliff even fell to the ground.
Frein hovered his hands around the Emerald Guidance. A force pushed against him, repelling him with jolts of energy. Pure meiyal energy. ¡°The Colors of Power generally only work in combination with others of it¡¯s kind,¡± Elizzel explained while Frein continued to play around the material. ¡°You will still gain some benefits from the Emerald Guidance, but basically, we can¡¯t utilize it to its fullest potential yet.¡± ¡°But will it still be useful against the three Forest Jaws?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be more useful than this one in that case, but you shouldn¡¯t discard boons like this.¡± ¡°What about a limit? How many materials can I integrate in my Exhibit?¡± Elizzel shrugged. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of a limit. Most mortals integrate with only about five to ten of them before they get too old to care for more materials.¡± Frein nodded and resumed his study of the Emerald Guidance. ¡°How will you help me integrate with this?¡± ¡°Well, to keep it simple, I¡¯ll be your proxy. You can treat me like one of your meiyal marks, only, I¡¯m worth the entire hundred.¡± ¡°That means I can integrate with any materials!¡± Frein¡¯s concentration suddenly broke, and the Emerald Guidance pushed him away. He fell on his butt. ¡°That¡¯s a no,¡± Elizzel giggled as she interpreted for him. ¡°You still need to meet two main requirements before you can attempt to integrate with a meiyal-charged material. First, you have to be able to Gather it inside your system. Some materials vanish within minutes of getting exposed to natural meiyal, some exists perpetually. And second, you have to make sure the material is either pure, or you can handle its influence.¡± The picture of Katherine Gathering the charged material from the dead Forest Jaws crossed his mind. Curiosity nagged at him, but he shoved it away. There were enough curiosities right here to keep his attention. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Elizzel said, reading his thoughts through their connection. ¡°If I allow you one freedom, you should deal with its consequences whether or not you abuse it.¡± She reached out a hand and helped Frein on his feet. ¡°Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. That¡¯s a fair bit of contradiction, huh?¡± ¡°As it is with our nature.¡± Without letting go, Elizzel turned to face the Emerald Guidance. She gestured towards Frein, holding up her free hand. ¡°Now, time to integrate.¡± They held the meiyal-charged material at the same time. The force tried to repel them, but this time they pushed through it. The barrier gave in and they both held the leaf simultaneously. It stayed still for a while and Frein couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of trepidation. When the leaf vanished, Frein thought they had failed. Disappointment washed over him as he tried to let go of Elizzel¡¯s hand. The faunel refused and tightened her grip. ¡°Tell me where to put this.¡± Elizzel¡¯s chest glowed green. ¡°The sooner the better.¡± The disappointment vanished and excitement quickly replaced it. Frein tried to stay calm. ¡°Are there any recommended places?¡± Elizzel pulled on his hand and they both headed towards the Exhibit¡¯s main room. ¡°Not really. It¡¯s not permanent. You can always move them around. Though, it takes some time whenever you do. ¡°My personal recommendation would be one of the corners. The more Colors of Power you have gathered together, the more benefits you will get. But they¡¯re not exactly the type of masterpiece you would want at the center. That¡¯s the only place you reserve for your Magnum Opus.¡± ¡°Magnum Opus?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for another time. When you¡¯re stronger.¡± Frein understood and quickly considered his options. He picked the upper-left quadrant of the room and settled for that corner. With Elizzel¡¯s instructions, he moved a small pedestal display case and aligned it perfectly with the corner. The faunel reached inside and the green glow transferred into it, manifesting the Emerald Guidance. As soon as the material settled, the pedestal changed its design to match its color aesthetic. It adapted dark wooden shades with emerald swirly designs. This time around, Frein felt a change. Observing from the inside of his mind, he could feel his Milled meiyal¡¯s desire for direction, for guidance, as if the meiyal asked to be used rather than wait obediently to be Drawn. ¡°You have to Mill and make them calm down, Frein.¡± It was the opposite of what he wanted to do. He wanted to get out of his internal self and find something to fight to test his new limits. ¡°I get what you¡¯re feeling, Frein. But you have to calm down. You can¡¯t even talk anymore. The power you¡¯re getting from the Emerald Guidance isn¡¯t that strong, but it¡¯s too much for you right now. You have to tame it. Mill. Please.¡± Frein felt himself shaking around from Elizzel¡¯s incessant urging. It helped him to regain composure. He sat and began to Mill. ¡°How much time do I have left?¡± he asked. ¡°One hour.¡± ¡°Plenty of time.¡±
Chapter 64: A Deep Nightmare A Deep Nightmare Katherine eradicated seven Fallen within less than five minutes. Record time, if her memory served. The only remaining problem was the last one. All of them behaved exactly the same as the first, falling for the assumption that their Negating Roar worked against her. This final Fallen, however, changed behavior entirely and ran for its dear life. The Lady of the Void knew exactly what was going on. The Forest Jaws were baiting her, dragging her far away from Frein and the rest with this diversion. It gave Katherine pause, abandoning the chase entirely. She softly landed on a sturdy tree branch after breaking momentum. Completely giving up finishing off the last Fallen, Katherine assessed her condition. She barely felt any Art fatigue despite the continuous Gathering and Milling, albeit she had to maintain them at a steady rate. Still far away from her peak before she left Brymeia, but this was serviceable enough. With that settled, she considered her next steps. Coordinating multiple attacks by manipulating lesser and weaker Nightmares, she could understand. But even for those Jaws Lurking in the Forest, this was too cunning a move. Something was wrong. Katherine focused on her Void Control Technique. I, Alone, Am the Center pushed to its utter limits. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t detect the three main suspects leading this entire assault. Maybe Elizzel got it wrong? she thought. Frustrated, Katherine Drew her Rivasia and soared to the skies to survey their surroundings. A troubling sight sent shivers up her spine. Not far from them was a wide section of rolling, blue and purple mists, shrouding a good portion of the forest. It was compact and moved in one direction. ¡°Not good,¡± she mumbled to herself. Quickly scanning her memories for any Nightmares¡ªmonsters, natural phenomenon, or anything else¡ªnarrowed down her options to a few but possible answers, all of which not like the other, all of which she didn¡¯t like. It would be a different matter overall if she was on her own. Even if this mist eventually became a challenge, all she would ever realistically need was enough time to overpower it. However, a few important and dear companions that couldn¡¯t survive for long in this environment changed the entire dynamic. At the very least, one thing was for sure: These three Forest Jaws, if they were actually here lurking about, were under the influence of a much greater force. A Deep Nightmare. Katherine headed for land, but her flight abruptly stopped when an unnatural movement from the mist grabbed her attention. A particular section of the mist swirled and exploded. About a second later, a large figure of a pseudo-dragon with a twisted, sideways maw appeared in mid-air, heading straight towards her. The Lady of the Void had barely any time to react. She kicked off her Rivasia to fly away, but the surprise attack caused her acceleration to botch-up. The speeding Jaws Lurking in the Forest¡¯s saw-toothed maw snapped shut, latching onto her abdomen. Razor sharp teeth pierced her through the front and back and it was taking Katherine¡¯s all to blaze her Siffera and Samesia to their utmost emphasis in order to strengthen her muscles, internal organs, and skeletal structure from getting smashed and torn while continuously healing her punctures to prevent the teeth from digging deeper. All this while prioritizing her nerves to be intact first and foremost. One false concentration, one simple weakness at this fatal point, her body would give in and snap in half due to the Nightmare¡¯s tremendous jaw strength. She was pinned down, shocked, and in pain as they both plunged from almost a thousand meters in the air. As though the Forest Jaws had no regard for its own life, it dove down snout first¡ªKatherine first. The Void Lady gave up trying to pry open the Nightmare¡¯s locked jaw. If it were that easy, then they didn¡¯t deserve their namesake. Instead, she opened her Display and Drew Dai-Siffera and Dai-Samesia at the same time. With precious seconds left, Katherine focused everything she could at fortifying her body, preparing for impact. Reality dragged on as they plummeted to the ground. A boon and a curse at the same time. The realization only hit her a second too late as the sight of the ground went to meet her. The Forest Jaw¡¯s trajectory forced her I, Alone Am the Center out of Frein¡¯s range. Impact. For a moment, Katherine blacked out. The entire weight of the adult, pseudo-dragon Nightmare crashed on top of the Lady as they both slammed on hard ground. She was lodged into the impact crater, the pressure created by the surrounding dirt and rock pressed deeper into her already distressed wounds. She was losing meiyal at an absurd rate. Gathering, Milling, and Drawing in maximum output all at the same time had hastened Art fatigue. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. It was getting hard to breathe. She could feel her Siffera and Samesia wane. Her Display had completely collapsed. Literally buried to the ground with large teeth fastening her movement, made the shock of her crash a slight wonder. She had forgotten for a second, only to be reminded by the large amount of blood flowing from her skull. A nauseating feeling overcame her, causing her to vomit. The flow of coughed up blood and digested food covering her face reminded her that she was buried upside down. It was getting really hard to breathe. Her only saving grace was the subtle relaxation of the Forest Jaw¡¯s jaw lock on her abdomen. It was dead. But that itself was a curse in her current predicament, for when its entire body fully dies and relaxes, so too would all the glands inside its body. The acid of the Jaws Lurking in the Forest would secrete slightly or fully. Whichever way, they would only go one way. If she didn¡¯t do anything, it only meant either she¡¯d die slowly or quickly. Katherine ignored the smoke coming from her Art fatigue. She ignored the blood from her cracked skull. She ignored the hallucinations and bright colors assaulting her brain. She focused on one thought. Frein. She pushed her arms against the Nightmare¡¯s jaws to secure a hold and prevent the pressure of the ground from closing them any further. She emphasized her Samesia for a second to allow her a clean intake of breath before she erased the Art and swiftly dedicated the emphasis to Siffera. At the same time, she opened her Display and turned the Art to Dai-Siffera. Within that same instant, she pushed against the cursed jaws. In a sudden burst of strength, she broke the jaw¡¯s lock and crushed them on the ground pressing against it. Blood spilled quickly from her wounds, but she couldn¡¯t focus on them yet. Katherine turned to the side and clawed through the rocks and soil, tunneling her way out as quickly as her Dai-Siffera allowed her. As soon as she got out, she Gathered and Milled. She desperately Drew Dai-Samesia to attempt to close one giant hole and two gaping gash wounds on her midsection. Her internal organs were punctured¡ªsome of them might be missing. So, she quickly stitched them while driving Dai-Samesia to substitute for the missing parts. In theory, only the heart, the brain, and the meiyal system couldn¡¯t be replaced by this Art when empowered by a Display. Still, those would need more accurate assessment and she didn¡¯t have the time. Broken bones were all over the place, and she decidedly prioritized her skull first. It was taking her all to repair everything and keep her mental faculties functioning. Art fatigue squeezed at her meiyal core. It was burning, but she ignored it. Her life depended on it. Either her meiyal system gave up on her, or she died. It was an easy choice to make. A small portion of rock crumbled, nabbing Katherine¡¯s attention away from her impromptu self-surgery. The Jaws Lurking on the Forest¡¯s neck slowly moved and began to retract. Soon, Katherine saw its eyes and broken jaws, and realization hit her. This Nightmare had been long dead. Behind it, two more Forest Jaws unveiled from their pseudo-Nature¡¯s Favor. They were much larger than the first. One, the largest in particular, had jaws crackling with red flames rather than drip with acid. Both were also dead. Faced against these three, Katherine realized too late that the mist had crept up behind her. How it got around so fast was beyond her current worries. Her Void Control Technique had long since closed. She couldn¡¯t even survey the situation, or determine where Frein and Kristel were. Her meiyal system was so stressed that she couldn¡¯t even properly gauge how much it would hold or if it could give her enough strength to escape. Katherine didn¡¯t want to die. Not here. Not when The Mist That Carries the Nightmare would turn her into one if she did.
Frein snapped out of his trance to find a dead corpse of a half-orc burning to ashes in front of him. Enza immediately greeted him and pointed her snout at Kristel who were fighting against three other sluggish bipedal creatures. Lesser Nightmares. She decapitated them with a flaming meiyal blade in an instant. He looked around and saw no one else except from the approaching zombie-like abominations that suddenly rushed at him from a certain distance. ¡°Where¡¯s Kat?¡± he inquired while punching through a half-elf¡¯s face. It exploded on impact and fell on the ground, only to regenerate its skull and rise again. ¡°Gross.¡± ¡°She went to exterminate all the Fallen around us,¡± Kristel replied while regulating her breath. ¡°Maybe if she did, the Forest Jaws would be too scared to act. But if one suddenly shows up now, I don¡¯t think I can handle it.¡± Frein frowned. He turned to Enza. ¡°Can you fly up a tree and see if you can find her? Don¡¯t go too far.¡± ¡°On it!¡± Enza replied and vanished. Five lesser Nightmares tried to grab her but missed. Frein sent a flurry of kicks and punches their way. It only took them a single hit to shatter their heads, but they kept regenerating and getting up. ¡°So, only fire works against them?¡± he asked as he shoved another lesser Nightmare on a group, causing them all to fall on their backs. ¡°You don¡¯t have fra Arts?¡± ¡°Siff-fra!¡± Frein invoked, half-heartedly attempted an image in his head, and began to Draw. Nothing happened. ¡°Siffefra?¡± he tried again. ¡°Good try!¡± Elizzel encouraged and laughed at him telepathically. ¡°You¡¯re joking, right?¡± Kristel glared at him. ¡°You seemed stressed out. Figured you need to laugh a little.¡± ¡°Just push them around and I¡¯ll deal with them when I have the time.¡± ¡°Frein! Up there!¡± Enza called out. With a quick burst of the actual Meiyal Art, Siffera, Frein climbed up the tree where he thought his yuma hid. It only took him three vertical strides to reach the top. ¡°Towards the sky,¡± Enza said. Frein peeked from the tree¡¯s canopy and found a person flying in the sky. She was quite a distance away, but he assumed that was Katherine. ¡°You smelled her from here?¡± he asked Enza just to make sure. ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Okay, call Kristel. We¡¯ll rendezvous with Kat.¡± As soon as his yuma jumped down, a large pseudo-dragon, a Forest Jaws, materialized in front of Katherine and swallowed her. Within a fraction of that second, before the Nightmare could even begin to fall, Frein was already gone. He skipped from tree to tree regardless of whether he fell or not. All that mattered was he got to her in time. Without even any words, without a single question, Kristel and Enza were beside him. The earth quaked, and rather than lose their balance, they simply picked up the pace. ¡°Frein, slow down,¡± Elizzel called from within their Tether. ¡°You¡¯re Gathering, Milling, and Drawing at an absurd rate! I can¡¯t keep up! The Nightmare influence might get you.¡± ¡°Keep up.¡± That was all he said.
Chapter 65: Four-Meiyal Four-Meiyal
¡°We couldn¡¯t use Emerald Guidance to its full potential. Doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t use it.¡± ~Elizzel
Elizzel couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. Frein was debating with himself. She could hear not just two voices of the Visitor, but multiple. A vague cacophony of arguments that never settled on a point. What if she¡¯s dead? That¡¯s not going to happen. Impossible. She got swallowed whole! She¡¯s the goddamned strongest Meiyal Arts practitioner in the whole goddamned country! Doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s immortal! Will you fucking shut it? I¡¯m getting a little too worked up. Where the hell is she? I swear if she¡¯s dead, that¡¯s it. That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯m going to kill everyone. I¡¯m going to end this fucking world, its heaven, its hell, and whatever else is connected to it. ¡°Calm down.¡± The voices were so numerous and convoluted that Elizzel almost missed the real Frein mumble to himself. ¡°Calm the fuck down and get to her first.¡± The faunel couldn¡¯t say a thing. For one, the rate at which Frein Gathered, Milled, and Drew, had taken her off guard. It was so drastic and reckless that she was surprised he hadn¡¯t hit Art fatigue yet. What in Brymeia did Schrodie teach him? All she knew was that his Siffera were emphasized to its utmost limits the moment they saw Katherine vanish into the jaws of that cursed Nightmare. Despite Frein verbally trying to calm himself down, he only seemed to exacerbate the chaotic voices in his head. They spewed death threats indiscriminately, named names, and spouted illogical and immature complaints to anything and everything. It was eerily terrifying. Anything she wanted to say to help got caught in her throat. She realized how feeble a help words would be in this desperate situation. So, she kept her silence and concentrated to stave off the Nightmare¡¯s weak influence away from Frein¡¯s mind. If they were in the Void Region proper, this would have been an insane and impossible task. Then again, his thoughts alone were enough for her to question his sanity. ¡°Sorry you had to hear all that, Eli,¡± Frein¡ªthe real one¡ªsaid telepathically. ¡°Normally, I have it all under control.¡± Elizzel risked a question. ¡°Have what under control exactly?¡± ¡°My rage.¡±
Frein slammed himself on a tree. A sturdy tree but dripping with Nightmare. Had it been a natural one, he would¡¯ve taken the extra second needed to go around it. This one didn¡¯t deserve his time. The force of impact promptly ripped its roots off the ground and it fell a few meters away from where it stood. He just kept running as if nothing happened. His concentration at skipping over tree branches had fallen off, and rather than try again, Frein simply dashed on a straight line, getting rid of anything that crossed his path. Be it a tree or a lesser Nightmare made no difference to him and his speed. They all were simply blown away once he shoved an arm at them. Siffera was a true blaze within his meiyal system. One fine Meiyal Art he wholeheartedly devoted himself to master. One Meiyal Art he undoubtedly trusted to serve him. It wasn¡¯t enough. No matter how much meiyal he poured to emphasize the Art, it simply wouldn¡¯t provide him with any more strength. His desperation dripped into Elizzel through their connection. Shame crept in, but he shoved it away. This Faunel Tether enabled him to Gather and Mill within the Nightmare Lands, things would¡¯ve been more difficult if not for her. He didn¡¯t care if the faunel found out all about his deepest shames, fears, and secrets so long as she could help. Frein didn¡¯t have anything to hide from her anyway. ¡°Fine,¡± Elizzel said through the Tether. ¡°If we¡¯re betting on your desperation and rage anyway, we might as well go all in. Open your Display.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Remember your Exhibit? Draw it into reality.¡± The Exhibit formed true in his mind. It was nothing like a pattern for a Meiyal Art. Instead, the visualization was a complete representative of the entire tour he had a while ago. His overexaggerated and unrealistic Mills, his Emerald Guidance on the upper left-hand side corner, brimming with verdant shine, the overabundance of cases and pedestals, and the rest of the clean white emptiness. He pushed his meiyal into the vivid image and a spark of reality formed on his back like a shining halo. A red circle pushed forth, slightly larger than his head. Within this new reality, a small green symbol appeared, representing the activation of the Emerald Guidance. With it, he felt the integrated material kick into action, and his meiyal became eager. ¡°With this Color of Power, you add a third meiyal component to your Mill,¡± Elizzel began to explain. ¡°This will result on a quality of meiyal, you¡¯ve never seen or felt before. The effects of it on your Meiyal Arts, of course, will be tremendously different. You might need some time to get used to it, but we¡¯re betting here.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Frein said, as he began to pay attention to his Milling. The mixture of three different meiyal¡ªhis own, the portion he Gathered from Brymeia, and the abundance provided by the Emerald Guidance¡ªwas thick and heavy. Processing them, flattening them, mixing them, and combining them through his convoluted Perpetual-Layered Milling form became a mild task, like running a ladle through syrup. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. There was indeed a significant change in his meiyal. He wanted to use it right away, but he eagerly directed his attention to Kristel and Enza first. They had followed him without question. And since the yuma didn¡¯t interject with his path, it seemed that they were going in the right direction. ¡°Enza,¡± he began as they continued running at great speeds. ¡°I¡¯m trying something new and I might end up leaving you behind. Make sure to keep the Princess in the right direction. Once you¡¯re done with that, keep yourself safe and only help after you make sure it won''t cause any troubles. Understand?¡± ¡°Copy that,¡± the yuma barked. It might''ve been because of the rate at which she grew, but Frein noticed just now how much she had overgrown him. At this rate, just a few more days and she would be larger than a horse. ¡°Are you using Emerald Guidance?¡± Kristel asked. She dropped from a nearby tree and kept pace with him. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it does, but are you sure you can control it?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going fast, but I don¡¯t think we¡¯re fast enough,¡± Frein explained. ¡°Not one Forest Jaws showed up from where we were. Pretty sure they¡¯re ganging up on her. I have to risk it.¡± The Princess said no complaints. ¡°Wait,¡± Elizzel called out. ¡°We¡¯re not done yet.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Remember, Frein. I¡¯m also made out of meiyal.¡± A fourth component dripped into his Mill and the syrup became a sludge. He ran the viscous combination through his Perpetual-Layered Milling form and it threatened the entire process to stop. Almost immediately, it began to ease. Elizzel was helping him Mill. ¡°I owe you big time, Eli,¡± he said to the faunel, sending all his gratitude within their connection. He smothered her in it. She reciprocated with embarrassment. ¡°You do,¡± she said. ¡°I expect thanks in return.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Food. If we live through this, you will offer me a significant portion of your meiyal every day for my sustenance.¡± ¡°Deal. As long as we¡¯re together, I¡¯ll let you eat as much as you want.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that. It¡¯s too embarrassing.¡± ¡°No time for that.¡± With a significant amount of the four-meiyal combination Milled, Frein poured it through his Siffera and emphasized the Art. The world around him changed. The Meiyal Art had never been so obedient to him like this before. True to its real purpose, it enhanced every aspect of Frein¡¯s being without him trying to focus. His senses were heightened to an absurd sensitivity that the small amount of light felt like staring directly at the sun. The sound of their rushed dashing was like thunder. The acrid smell of dirt, decay, refuse, and everything else around them assaulted him. Even the wind felt like sandpaper to his skin. Almost immediately, he got used to them. Siffera made it seem like he had those senses from the moment he was born. Within a second, it became second nature. It all coalesced into a slow-moving harmony of information as his thought process became capable of interpreting them at high speeds. He could focus on a point of interest and study and observe it at length in a span of a second or two. Even his predictions were improved drastically. He leaped at a tree branch and knew exactly how to land to continue skipping. He accelerated with every step, causing the force to rip apart each unfortunate tree that served as his boosting platforms. As predicted, he left Kristel and Enza instantly. It almost seemed like he was flying. Frein rode the wave of power and beelined straight for Katherine. The trees had cleared to an opening of dirt and nothingness. There, he saw it. She was still far in the horizon, but Frein clearly saw The Lady of the Void focusing on her Samesia, her own Display opened in reality. In front of her stood three Jaws Lurking in the Forest, each larger than the first¡ªlarger than Elizzel was in that form¡ªas though they stood in line in order of weight class. Behind her was a formation of a dense mist cloud, a combination of blue and purple swirling maliciously as if it was stalking prey. Frein took one more step and poured a hefty amount of four-meiyal into his Siffera. He blasted off like a rocket straight to the nearest Forest Jaws. In that single step, he cleared the distance between him and the Nightmare. It wasn¡¯t even allowed to react when the Visitor slammed his entire momentum on it, bashing it with his empowered shoulder. The impact brought with it a crashing sonic boom. This Nightmare, a pseudo-dragon that weighed like a mountain, was propelled into the air like nothing. It collided against its companions and they were all pushed back, their fall causing entire clouds of dirt and dust. ¡°Frein?¡± Katherine asked. He couldn¡¯t turn to her. One of the Forest Jaws had already recovered, its fiery fangs¡ªdifferent from what he knew but didn¡¯t exactly take him by surprise at this point¡ªspewing sparks over its smaller brethren. He had to keep eye contact. Siffera expanded his presence, making him seem bigger than the one literally thousands of times larger than himself. ¡°Come here,¡± he responded instead. ¡°Let me fix your Art fatigue.¡± The Lady of the Void slowly approached him. Frein saw the bloody and smoky mess she was in as soon as she slipped into his periphery. It made controlling his rage all the more difficult. ¡°You¡¯re scaring me,¡± Katherine said as she held his face, her back completely turned towards the three Nightmares that loomed over them. One of them twitched, and Frein instantly locked on it, pinning it down with just an overwhelming stare. Katherine recoiled away from him. She wore that face. A face of arousal. High in her own fatigue, her near-death, her overstimulated blood levels due to Samesia replacing the amount she lost, and then the sudden relief from his arrival. Frein knew, at the heart of this woman, deemed by her entire nation as the strongest practitioner alive, she longed to be taken by the ecstasy of fear, stimulated by the possibility of death. She lusted for a partner that could match her own intimidating presence, overpower it even. She wanted to be scared. Frein knew exactly what to do. He grabbed her by the neck and pulled her into his lips, locking them together. Immediately, Katherine assaulted him with her desires and he concentrated on streaming his four-meiyal through their intimate connection. Assistance through external Milled meiyal had always been the way Katherine fixed his Art fatigue during the time he trained in Schrodie¡¯s Realm. She had even used it back on Earth the day he almost died. ¡°I¡­this is too much!¡± Elizzel couldn¡¯t bear her own embarrassment heightened by Katherine¡¯s uncharacteristic moans. The Lady of the Void wrapped herself around him, drinking more than just his meiyal. Her rhythmic, humping movements spoke for her desires while her meiyal system took advantage of the rejuvenating energies it was receiving. Katherine¡¯s Samesia went into overdrive. All the while, Frein kept the three Forest Jaws at bay with just one unblinking death glare. Long minutes passed without any of the Nightmares moving. Only Katherine¡¯s lecherous moans and rhythmic movements disturbed the silence as she humped on Frein like a pole whose sole purpose was to help her get off. He fed her his meiyal and ignored Elizzel until the Lady of the Void, high, aroused, excited, and drunk in damning emotions and stimulations, finally climaxed. She had stained both their trousers, but neither of them cared. ¡°I never knew¡­¡± Katherine failed to finish as she gasped for air. ¡°This is addicting. What did you just feed me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Frein replied. ¡°Are you okay now?¡± Katherine glowed a renewed woman. She turned to the three Forest Jaws, flexed her meiyal system, and Drew her Siffera into reality. Space bent against the sheer weight of the Art¡¯s expression. It lasted for a few seconds until reality began to accept and adjust. ¡°I¡¯ve never been better. I don¡¯t think my own meiyal can satisfy me anymore.¡± She made a wide, satisfied smile, kissing Frein on his cheek as gratitude before returning to the problem. ¡°So, which one do you want?¡± ¡°You can handle those three,¡± Frein began and faced backwards, turning his attention towards the mist. ¡°Kristel will be here soon. She can assist you.¡± Without further explanation or waiting for a response, he stepped into the mist. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this one.¡±
Chapter 66: Experienced Integration Experienced Integration
¡°Even the flames of the sun began with a spark. Even the fires that ended me¡­began with a spark¡± ~Redacted
Katherine had never felt so enamored by the desire to take Frein. The chill electrifying her spine, the heat whelling in between her legs, the sensation and gratification of life, all gave her such unreasonable confidence that she ignored the three looming Nightmares behind her. Even after Frein had disappeared into the mist, all she could think about was what to do with him tonight. She turned to face the three just in time to find one of them lunging at her with its dislocated jaws wide open. Siffera, blade Meiyal Art, and Kaimera. With those three Arts Drawn simultaneously, Frein¡¯s meiyal in her reserves reacted with a purpose. The ease at which each of these Arts were Drawn into reality gave Katherine an out-of-body experience feel. A surreal familiarity she¡¯d lost throughout the years of her absence suddenly giving her a glimpse of her prime. No, not anywhere near close, but she could work with this. The Jaws Lurking in the Forest froze in mid air as time literally stopped for her. She withdrew into her Exhibit and navigated towards the new meiyal-charged material she acquired not even an hour ago. Expunged Blaze. A material only found in Forest Jaws on extremely rare occasions. As far as her knowledge went, the only meticulous study done on this particular Nightmare was in regards to this charged material. The rest of what they knew were from the scarce observations of their best scouts throughout history. The material was the conclusive proof that the Jaws Lurking in the Forest were once part of the proud species of dragons that had slowly died out after the Divine Severing. The Blaze, a specialized organ surrounding the heart of a fire dragon was responsible for producing the ignition of their destructive fire breaths. Thus, Expunged Blaze was the name given to the organs of Forest Jaws which, for most, had lost the ability to breath fire and developed acidic glands instead due to their Nightmarish evolution. They probably never lost that ability, Katherine thought, the image of the largest Forest Jaws lingered in her mind. They probably just chose not to because of the Nightmare influence. A piece in her thoughts clicked into place. She once questioned how it worked, but now everything made sense to her. With a flex of her will, she touched the Expunged Blaze and integrated with it in just a few seconds. She knew exactly where to place it, how it would react to the other materials already in her Exhibit, and what it would do for her. It was like replacing missing furniture with new ones. When she returned to reality, the Forest Jaws was still in mid-air, albeit a bit closer now. Still a few lapses. Time resumed as she emphasized all three Arts to the extreme. She slashed upwards and Drew a Katastrofera with a mere speck of her concentration. The tidal wave of blades rushed at the Forest Jaws, piercing deep into its tough exterior. Then the wave followed. It collided with the Nightmare, causing it to flip its massive snout and turn on its back. The feedback caused the ground to shake long before it fell on the ground. The other two Forest Jaws flanked at her side. She did the same thing, toppling over these giants as though they weighed no more than paper after sending a barrage of sharpened waves of meiyal. She casually checked her reserves after the short skirmish, leaving her attuned senses to track each Nightmare. The three Katastroferas barely made a dent on Frein¡¯s meiyal. They, along with the three Arts, had taken more from her own reserves and only tapped on Frein¡¯s to make the Drawing easier. She Gathered and Milled the portion she lost. The discrepancy of ease between Drawing the Art and the other two processes were like day and night. Katherine¡¯s senses picked up on something. She had instinctively Opened her meiyal core with the I, Alone, Am the Center Void Control Technique right after she integrated with the Expunged Blaze. The scan caught Kristel approaching along with Enza. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the Princess would be a burden in this situation. These Jaws Lurking in the Forest were smart, or rather, The Mist That Carries the Nightmare had enough intellectual capacity to adapt a plan. Even if it was preoccupied with Frein, she doubted the Visitor would be enough distraction for it. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Not to mention the presence of a Deep Nightmare for someone so untrained in the Void Region as the Princess was already risk enough. Frein had Elizzel to support him, Kristel had nothing. Katherine approached the smallest of the pseudo-dragon Nightmares and opened her Display, Drawing her Dai-Kaimera. A different Forest Jaws flanked her at the side as the aura around her meiyal blade extended a hundred-fold. The Lady of the Void slid backwards as though the wind carried her. The Nightmare missed, but its sheer size sprang rocks and boulders rippling into the air. Katherine swirled and twirled, dodging rocks and slicing boulders. With a burst of Rivasia, she changed direction and spun down towards the assailing Forest Jaws. The form and movement gave the appearance of a gigantic, glowing sawblade. Dai-Kaimera parted shoulder and arm like freshly sharpened knife falling on tomatoes. Katherine made one final pivot, delivering a crescent of death straight into that same Nightmare¡¯s neck. The head of the second largest Forest Jaws fell off promptly in time with the erasure of Dai-Kaimera. ¡°Ferenfra.¡± The Lady of the Void engulfed the beheaded Forest Jaws in a sea of flames, reducing it to ash in a matter of seconds. A different blast of flame erupted on her side. Katherine barely managed to fly away. Her proximity to the foreign, intense heat caused her clothes to set aflame. Even her hair was protected by the enhancement brought by Siffera, but since only the coat tied on her waist and the scrunchie keeping her ponytail were made through meiyal-crafting means, her normal clothes couldn¡¯t handle such sudden rise in temperature. She was quick to extinguish the fires before they singed too much of the fabric that they barely served their purpose. I really need to acquire some battle gear soon. The larger of the two remaining Forest Jaws stalked at her, arms and legs bent and ready to pounce, sparks of flame crawling around its sideways jaws. The smaller, more bloodied one kept a hefty amount of distance. Katherine taunted the larger one by erasing her meiyal blade, ignoring it completely, and taking an elegant stride towards the smaller one. The fire-breathing Forest Jaws spat out a couple of fireballs, each a size larger than the Lady. Katherine deflected them with a pair of punches, sending out a wind force that pierced and dispersed the fiery projectiles. Within that few seconds, the acid-spitting Forest Jaws managed to reestablish the initial distance it maintained. She knew what it was doing. Nightmares had innate ability to regenerate within the influence. Lesser ones barely needed any time to recover, but much larger sorts like the Jaws Lurking in the Forest¡ªespecially when within the weakened areas of the Nightmare Lands¡ªtook many times longer to recover. It had been making sure to avoid any of her flames to hinder it from healing its jaws and other wounds. Which raised an intriguing question into Katherine¡¯s mind. She looked at the larger, fire-breathing Forest Jaws. She wondered if its own flame could work against it. How does it still breathe fire in the first place? Katherine felt a dilemma approach. Could she possibly capture this Nightmare? Maybe she needed to capture both so comparisons could be made. Frein¡¯s antics are rubbing off on me. She smiled just as Kristel finally caught up to her. Enza was nowhere to be found, but Katherine understood that the yuma must be simply hiding somewhere safe. ¡°Only two Forest Jaws?¡± the Princess asked. She kept a particularly cautious eye at the larger, fire-breathing one. ¡°Got rid of one,¡± Katherine confirmed. ¡°How¡¯s your meiyal?¡± ¡°Half, maybe less. Should be enough.¡± Katherine nodded. ¡°You take care of the smaller one, then. Try to burn its wounds as soon as you can. Cauterization makes their injuries last longer rather than close them.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kristel glanced at her, then back to the larger Forest Jaws. ¡°Then, that one doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we can afford to figure that out.¡± ¡°Wait, what happened to you? And where¡¯s Frein?¡± Kristel pointed at Katherine¡¯s bloodied, ruined, and burnt clothes. ¡°Almost got eaten, but Frein managed to save me just in time.¡± The Lady produced a thin film of Imbelia to clean herself off the blood, dirt, and all the other mess. Doing so made her realize she just kissed Frein after throwing up and coughing up blood. And she did so for a long time while dry humping him. ¡°Katherine,¡± Kristel called out. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She had blushed without realizing. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t look, but Frein¡¯s in the mist behind you. It¡¯s a Deep Nightmare, so don¡¯t stare straight towards it. If you catch its attention, it might force its influence on you. And if you turn into a Grinding Teeth, the only salvation I can give you is death. Even Frein can¡¯t figure a workaround for you like he did for Frill.¡± The Princess nodded nervously. Katherine could see curiosity eating at her. ¡°It¡¯s also controlling those Forest Jaws,¡± the Lady added, quickly changing the subject so that Kristel could turn her attention to something she could actually handle. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Jaws Lurking in the Forest are intelligent hunters. They know to run away if they deem the enemy too strong. I just disintegrated one of its companions. That, alone, should be enough to chase it away. ¡°I also don¡¯t like that they''re keeping their distance. The Mist must be relying on their regeneration. Unfortunately for them, Frein and I had been Gathering almost every meiyal around here. And lastly, these Forest Jaws are already dead.¡± ¡°Already dead? Isn¡¯t that how it¡¯s supposed to be in the Nightmare Lands?¡± Kristel thankfully gave up on the idea of taking a glance at The Mist. ¡°No. Undeath is very much different from succumbing to Nightmarish influence. The undead, ghosts, wraiths, and whatever else you see in Befall are different from the Nightmares here in the Void Region. We can¡¯t exactly sit down and have a lesson now, but those Forest Jaws are displaying both of those aspects. I suspect it¡¯s because of The Mist¡¯s.¡± ¡°Then we should get rid of them right now.¡± Kristel knew what to do, but the cadence of her tone gave away her crumbling courage. ¡°They¡¯re locking me at equal length,¡± Katherine explained. ¡°I can probably power through their strategy, but I¡¯d rather have as much conserved meiyal as I can.¡± ¡°Fra Arts aren¡¯t my specialty,¡± the Princess said. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the small one like you asked, but I might burn through my entire reserve trying to turn something that large to ash.¡± ¡°Save some for a flare,¡± Katherine instructed. ¡°I¡¯ll come to you when¡ª¡± A soft paw nudged at her side; its claws barely dug through her Siffera-empowered skin. ¡°Enza will come save you,¡± she corrected.
Chapter 67: Near the End Near the End ¡°Enza, are you around?¡± Kristel asked while chasing down the injured Forest Jaws. She heard a bark which gave her much needed relief. The Princess wasn¡¯t new to fighting on her own, but comparing a one-on-one battle with a fellow knight in training or a lone skirmish with bandits to a fight to the death with a pseudo-dragon the size of twenty to thirty houses made all that experience amount to nothing. Katherine fought these things on a regular basis, she told herself before amending the fact that that was before she left Seeking. ¡°Wait.¡± Another thought came to mind. ¡°Can you understand me, Enza?¡± Another bark. ¡°Two barks.¡± The invisible yuma barked twice. The astonishment caught Kristel off-guard that she almost didn¡¯t realize the Forest Jaws had taken a turn. Two things simultaneously went through her head. First, the Nightmare was going in circles, making sure it didn¡¯t run too far away from the larger one or The Mist. Second, Enza could understand her. Yumas understood the ideas, feelings, and intentions of their bonded partner, not necessarily their language. At least, not a few days after birth. In fact, Enza¡¯s growth was an absolute mystery to Kristel. Was it because of Frein¡¯s meiyal working on their bond? Suddenly it clicked. Frein could understand meiyal-attuned creatures. Maybe their bond gave Enza that same ability. While Kristel entertained the thought of further studying the connection between Frein and Enza, the Jaws Lurking in the Forest slowed down. It reached out on a tree and ripped it off its roots, throwing it at the Princess¡¯s direction. She flipped over the massive, improvised projectile and used its trunk as a jumping platform. She twirled mid-air and casually tossed a meiyal blade in front of her. Trained and practiced, this high-velocity move positioned the conjured blade at the apex of her spin. Kristel kicked it with emphasized Siffera. The meiyal blade shot straight and true, piercing the Forest Jaws¡¯ left eye. The Nightmare reeled back from the pain, allowing the Princess to catch up. Kristel didn¡¯t know Ferenfra and while this was the original form of Diferenfra, she didn¡¯t have enough time to speculate on how to Draw it. Without thinking twice, she splurged her meiyal and Drew the Art she knew. She conjured a conflagration from both hands, drowning the Forest Jaws in flames. The screams¡ªa cacophony of high-pitched screeches¡ªof the Nightmare assaulted her ears. It sounded like thousands of children burning at the same time. Guilt urged her to stop, but Kristel endured and maintained her Art, wishing for the screams to end right away. They¡¯re not real, they¡¯re not real. It was getting increasingly difficult to convince herself. A giant tail emerged from the flames and thrashed at her small frame. Kristel was too preoccupied with Diferenfra and fending off the guilty screams that she couldn¡¯t emphasize her Siffera on time. The impact instantly shattered her consciousness. Kristel slammed on tree after tree as the force sent her flying limp and uncontrolled. She flipped multiple times dangerously mid-air before crashing full-stop on a small hill. Air left her, and Siffera waned. A shot of pain sizzled around her left thigh, and she felt something wet drip from it and her head. Kristel¡¯s blurry vision slowly focused. She stabilized her Siffera and shot herself awake with the enhancement Meiyal Art. The pain didn¡¯t subside. With considerable pain and effort, she looked down and saw horror. Her left knee twisted the opposite way. It was a red, bloody mess and a part of her femur protruded out of her skin. She couldn¡¯t move her left shoulder either. When she tried, it flared with pain. The signals were all over the place that she only noticed a sharp branch stabbing the right of her stomach when her right arm¡ªa functioning, normal arm¡ªgrazed over it. Art fatigue was close. Small trails of smoke had formed from the meiyal core of her chest and the marks trailing at her back. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The worst of it all was the recovered eyes of the Jaws Lurking in the Forest glaring at her from a distance. It stood still and simply stared at her. The sound of barks pierced through the ringing noise Kristel didn¡¯t notice until now. Something invisible nudged at her, causing her to wince in pain. The invisible Enza started to whine. ¡°Get out of here,¡± Kristel said weakly. When the yuma melded out of her Nature¡¯s Favor and turned to face the Nightmare, the Princess knew she was as stubborn as her master. ¡°Leave, Enza. You have to warn Katherine.¡± The yuma refused. She widened her stance and started to growl. The distant Forest Jaws remained unfazed. Acid started to drip from its sideways maw. Kristel noticed something move on her side. It pained her to shift, but she fought through it and turned her neck. She could see a giant bone daintily lowering itself on the ground like a giant spider leg. Not long after, the upside-down body of Those That Fell Off a Cliff appeared in her periphery. The deformed form of a smiling dwarf stared at her with one missing eye. It slowly lowered itself to closely look at her. Smiling. No, wrong. The lower half¡ªnow the top due to orientation¡ªof its face was missing. Kristel¡¯s heart raced. She thought Katherine took care of all of them. She missed one? The Fallen raised its jaw, wider than the Princess¡¯s head. The stink of refuse and rot caused her stomach to lurch as it drew closer. Kristel couldn¡¯t move. It was taking her all to feed Siffera to stave off the onset of excruciating pain and keep herself conscious. The mere action dragged her closer to Art fatigue. All she could do was watch the Fallen grab her head into one mouthful of darkness. The jaw slowly closed. She could feel the teeth pressing on the front and back of her neck. The slimy tongue lapped around her face, violating her skin and hair. It salivated profusely, dripping down her neck, to her shoulders, to her chest, her stomach. Kristel couldn¡¯t think of anything but her end. Her life, her decisions. A faint emptiness flashed as she recalled her memories. Something was missing. But there was no use exploring that now. One final snap and her head would fall into the bowels of this Nightmare. Then it stopped. Carefully, Those That Fell Off a Cliff propped her head back outside its maw, using its tongue to orient her neck properly forwards. Smiling¡ªsomehow, this time she was sure¡ªit menacingly turned one eye from her to Enza. The yuma was preoccupied staring down the Forest Jaws to notice the threat behind her. The Nightmare turned back to Kristel once more, as if to telegraph its intentions, before stalking forward. Its gigantic ribcage legs daintily stepped. Enza, run! Only then did the Princess realize she was paralyzed. She couldn¡¯t even produce any sounds of struggle. It could¡¯ve only been the saliva, but Kristel couldn¡¯t care less. She struggled with all her might. Muscles flexed, meiyal surged, Siffera emphasized to its limits. She rode the waning adrenaline to ignore the flaring pain of broken, crushed bones. Nothing. She could only stare and weep as the Fallen inched closer to the unaware yuma. Kristel wished it was her instead. She deserved it. Weak as she was, it was only right for her life to be taken away. She couldn¡¯t bear to see someone else die in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s like a nightmare.¡± The voice leaked out. At this desperate moment, it chose to rub salt on her wounds. ¡°What do you want?¡± Kristel asked¡­finally. ¡°Your help.¡± ¡°Your life.¡± ¡°Your Destiny.¡± ¡°Screw destiny. If I tie my destiny with yours, more people will die.¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the good¡ª¡± ¡°No. Get lost.¡± Silence. Those That Fell Off a Cliff reared, raising three of its five skeletal limbs to pounce at the would-be victim. Enza finally noticed but she was too late. The Fallen struck down. The Forest Jaws unleashed a stream of acid at the same time. Kristel closed her eyes, accepting death. At least, like this, she wouldn¡¯t die alone. She regretted the fact that Enza had to be involved, it was a shame to fail and disappoint all those that trusted her. She regretted not knowing who killed Liona, or even attending her Ritual of Peace. At least disintegrating in acid was a mercy compared to living as a Nightmare. At least¡­ She was still alive. Kristel opened her eyes to see a figure clad in black smoke standing between her and an unconscious Enza. She saw the last vestiges of the Fallen as it was absorbed into the mysterious person. There was no acid. No Jaws Lurking in the Forest. ¡°Accept this as a gesture of thanks, Monarch Kristel Irista. If Frill and the rest failed to trust my letters, we probably would¡¯ve never met. So, this one time, please allow me to help you. I¡¯ve failed her once with Liona. I won¡¯t do that again.¡± Multiple voices shrouded this person¡¯s true identity. The smoke was abundant enough to hide the posture, the stature, even the body structure. The intruder produced a small vial. Its contents swirled in rainbow colors, not quite combining in a single solution. With masterful meiyal control, the stranger levitated it towards the Princess and opened it. ¡°I suggest you drink this, Monarch. You may not trust the voices, not now not ever, but you can trust me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice.¡± Princess Kristel felt an intangible grip lift her head and force her mouth to open. Powerless, she was forced to drink the solution. The surge of immense power brought her consciousness to the brink of collapse. ¡°Mill and integrate the materials, Monarch. When you¡¯re done, your injuries would¡¯ve healed. Let Enza lead you back to Frein. He¡­might need your help.¡± Kristel¡¯s dark blue eyes rolled backwards and her consciousness was dragged haphazardly towards her Exhibit. The meiyal-charged materials inside wreaked havoc. Chapter 29...con''t Chapter 68: First Spark First Spark A rain of fireballs rushed down towards Katherine. She danced around them with casual grace, occasionally employing a flick of her meiyal blade to deflect a few. The fiery Forest Jaws didn¡¯t relent, spewing more, larger balls of flame. It kept a significant distance away, backing off whenever she tried to get closer. Katherine breathed once, took a solid stance, and prepared her Katastrofera. She invested a hefty combination of Frein¡¯s meiyal along with her own, increasing the Art¡¯s potency by an amount she could barely gauge by feel. Her floating meiyal system flared to life, igniting blinding ribbons of light and shining with prismatic colors. Along with this she Opened her Void Control Technique, Peace Within the Chaos, to place a protective barrier against potentially harmful effects of the Nightmare. The Technique didn¡¯t originally serve any benefits against a Forest Jaws, but since this was an unusual one, Katherine treated it like a newly discovered Nightmare. The first of the larger fireballs closed in. It was about ten times her size. Katherine struck and sliced through it with her blade enveloped with Kaimfra, meeting fire with fire. She held Katastrofera while slowly feeding it more meiyal. The giant ball of flame parted in the middle; its impact exploded on either side of her. Then the rain followed. One by one, Katherine parried and sliced the barrage of fire. The explosions scattered throughout the plains, even reaching as far as the forest behind her and causing it to catch aflame. Some specks of conflagration found their way into The Mist. They were swallowed whole and vanished as though nothing happened. After the tenth or so fireball, the Jaws Lurking in the Forest finally ran out of gas. It turned to flee, but Katherine was quick to chase. Katastrofera was destruction waiting to be unleashed. Previously, this much power building within the Art was only possible for her during the time before she went to Earth, let alone held it as stable as it was now in her meiyal core. Admittedly, Katherine was impressed. Even during her peak, a Meiyal Art this obedient and efficient was only something she could Draw on moments of extreme concentration. It didn¡¯t take long for the Lady to catch up. In a fit of desperation, the Forest Jaws spun, flailing its tail and swiping a claw at her. The rapid movement wasn¡¯t typical of a monster its size, but Katherine was prepared for any surprises. She ducked low out of the tail¡¯s striking range, and met the claw with her meiyal blade. She tapped on her Display for just a split second to Draw Dai-Kaimfra. The blazing blade enhancement aura extended in an instant, slicing through Nightmarish flesh with ease but not deep enough to dismember a limb. The Forest Jaws flinched in pain, rearing back to show its belly. Katherine unleashed the Art. Katastrofera devastated the entire landscape. It was the level of output possible only by combining the Art with an integrated material specified for it. Not something Frein¡¯s meiyal could accomplish. Or maybe it does? Katherine didn¡¯t know exactly what sort of change occurred to him after Tethering with Elizzel. It was a question to explore for later. They weren¡¯t exactly out of trouble yet. The Lady remained alert as the dust settled. Despite the destruction Katastrofera caused to the environment, the target itself barely suffered any damage. To her surprise, the Forest Jaw¡¯s scales shined with a metallic sheen. The Nightmare bellowed with anger, sending a blast of malicious Nightmare along with its piercing roar. Peace Within the Chaos protected Katherine from any of its effects, but the plant life and other vegetations around her instantly whittled and died. What little green this open field contained disintegrated from the cacophony of screaming childish souls, reducing the entire vista into mundane earth. When the Forest Jaws realized its roar had no effect, it dropped into a stalking position. Katherine prepared her meiyal blade, Kaimfra blazing around it. Delivering a fully charged version of Katastrofera on the Nightmare¡¯s underbelly with little to no result made her abandon the attempt to try again. She¡¯d reach Art fatigue before making a scratch on those scales deep enough to have them bleed. She needed something with more firepower. ¡°Sam, did you get anybody?¡± ¡°I did a while ago,¡± the M.O.B.I.L.E. replied. ¡°I¡¯m reestablishing connection now, but I had to cut it off earlier.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she asked while she stared down at the massive Nightmare. It had repeatedly tried to regenerate, but by utilizing the preventive effects of fire and stealing massive amounts of meiyal through Gathering, Katherine had effectively delayed its healing process indefinitely. She took the opportunity to catch her breath and formulate another plan. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I couldn¡¯t spare any meiyal, my lovely Lady of the Void. I don¡¯t know if you remember, but you almost died back there! You probably didn¡¯t feel it, but I had to jolt you awake a couple of times using my own reserves, you know. I¡¯m guessing keeping your consciousness up is of higher priority than reaching out to a bunch of random people that may or may not be able to help right away.¡± ¡°Right. I forgot about that. Thank you.¡± ¡°Are you being sarcastic with me, young lady?¡± The small orb shook violently inside her pocket. ¡°Never mind that. Who did you connect with?¡± ¡°No idea. I didn¡¯t have the chance to say hi. The Nightmare makes the signal so hazy; I can¡¯t pinpoint to the same recipient. I¡¯ll need more time. Shouldn¡¯t take very long this time.¡± ¡°Alright, keep me posted.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Well, at least we can reach somebody. Now what do I do with this guy? The Jaws Lurking in the Forest¡¯s scales began to shift upwards, revealing small compartments from within. White mist began to crawl out of them which slowly enveloped the entirety of the giant creature. Then it vanished. But only from Katherine¡¯s eyes. Whether the Nightmare knew or not, Katherine¡¯s I, Alone, Am the Center detected it. The Lady took this chance to employ some subtlety in the Technique to prevent the Forest Jaws from catching on. They were intelligent creatures, but it also meant they could get desperate. While it was compelled by The Mist to stay, proven truer now by the fact that it maintained a certain distance from its manipulator, its arsenal was still at its full disposal. Caution bid her to ensure this wasn¡¯t a trap. And that gave her an idea. Katherine concentrated on a pattern she hadn¡¯t used in a while. It depicted a circular blade with no handle. She poured meiyal on it and Drew. ¡°Shinera.¡± Unlike the small ring it produced back on Earth, Shinera extended true. Now bolstered by Frein¡¯s meiyal, it reached to about a hundred-meter radius around her. It was nothing amazing, but the Art wasn¡¯t measured by the size of its reach, but by the impact once something crosses that threshold. The Lady wasn¡¯t done yet, paring the Meiyal Art with a lightning pattern. ¡°Shinetia,¡± she invoked. Lightning sizzled around her body as she closed her eyes and concentrated. Moments passed with nothing but pure silence and her breathing. Despite maintaining multiple Arts and Void Control Techniques at once, Katherine continued to Gather and Mill. Frein¡¯s meiyal had effectively removed any stress accumulated from Drawing, but the supply had dwindled down to half. Katherine was honestly impressed it lasted this long given the intensity and quantity of the Arts she used. Seconds turned to minutes. Through I, Alone, Am the Center, Katherine traced the Forest Jaws¡¯ movements. It had carefully circled around her, stalking her from behind. Katherine allowed it, feigning ignorance to bait it into her own trap. The Jaws Lurking in the Forest curled its muscular hind legs, folded its wings, and kicked off the ground. The earth behind it exploded from the propelling force as it launched itself with an opened vertical maw. Katherine didn¡¯t move until the Nightmare entered Shinera. The Lady of the Void blurred for an instant. Thunder struck, and the Forest Jaws recoiled the opposite way. It flipped and fell back first. The sheer weight of it caused the earth to quake, sending massive ripples off the ground. A large gash erupted from its midsection, causing a rain of blood. The screams of helpless children echoed throughout the land. Katherine spent the next few seconds engulfing the Forest Jaws in the fires of Ferenfra. It didn¡¯t surprise her to discover that it had no effect. Not all Nightmares perish in flames. But if she had a stronger one¡­ Deep within the recesses of her memories, she recalled the pattern. A Meiyal Art so potent, so special, it could only be Drawn with an integrated meiyal-charged material to serve as its catalyst. An Art she developed personally with the Expunged Blaze in mind. She poured her meiyal on the pattern. Frein¡¯s meiyal resonated with it and the charged material amplified the entire Drawing process. Her display opened, a white circle wide enough to fit her by the shoulders. The red streak of the Expunged Blaze glowed true. ¡°Militia Style: Daifra,¡± Katherine directed the Art at the tip of her right thumb and middle finger. She raised them at the Jaws Lurking in the Forest and unleashed it with a snap. ¡°First Spark.¡± Red sparks ignited to blue and white flames that exploded at the entirety of the pseudo-dragon. In a flashfire, the Forest Jaws disintegrated to ashes, gusted off by the force of impact. All that was left was baked earth and the heat haze that reached twice the length of the Nightmare that had been there. Thanks to Frein¡¯s meiyal, First Spark didn¡¯t cause Katherine much stress despite her years out of practice with the Art. But it had reduced the remaining supply to a few drops along with the entirety of her reservoir. Samesia waned and her vision blurred. She quickly Gathered and Milled to reestablish the Art. It was basically responsible for keeping her alive at this point, temporarily substituting for any internal organ that she couldn¡¯t salvage until she could safely dedicate the time to heal them or, preferably, a more trained healer fixed them for her. Katherine walked towards the edge of The Mist That Carries the Nightmare. She found a comfortable rock and sat and waited. Her I, Alone, Am the Center told her that Kristel and Enza were fine and were working their way towards her. So, she just waited and stared at The Mist. A few minutes passed. The Princess and the yuma finally found her. ¡°Are we not going to help?¡± she asked. Katherine could see a change on the Princess. Subtle, but at the same time, obvious. For one, she wasn¡¯t Art fatigued, but her question already implied that her target was dealt with. She was too eager. ¡°Someone helped you,¡± Katherine guessed. ¡°Are you using Heart¡¯s Will on me?¡± ¡°The Blessing only tells me what¡¯s going on in your head or whether you¡¯re telling the truth or not; not tell me what happened to you. Besides, I find little use for that lately. If I knew earlier that we had enemies within our ranks, I would¡¯ve listened in on the entire Cross Irista when I had the chance.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Kristel sat beside her. ¡°But we¡¯re just going to sit here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he needs our help¡­I don¡¯t think I can help.¡± ¡°Maybe I can,¡± said the Princess. ¡°Someone did help me, Katherine. The one who sent the letters. Enza and I were supposed to be dead. The Forest Jaws was too strong for my flames, and a Fallen sneaked around us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Katherine said quickly. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Just so you know,¡± Sam said, suddenly showing up. ¡°Katherine almost died, so cut her some slack if she couldn¡¯t remember everything.¡± ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Kristel asked curiously. ¡°All I know was how angry Frein was on our way here.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll tell you all about it, Princess, while we wait for pretty boy. But first, I¡¯ve made contact.¡± ¡°With who?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Your father.¡±
Chapter 69: Rindea Rindea
¡°The elven heroine before the Divine Severing. What feats had she done to have an entire mountain range named after her? The Deitars that favored her so are long gone. And the gods that employed her skills are too far out of reach.¡± ~Schrodie, the Gatekeeper
The Mist That Carries the Nightmare¡ªa pretty arrogant name as far as Frein was concerned¡ªsurrounded him, obscuring everything at arm¡¯s length with its thick fog. It was conscious. The unnatural movements it did to make way for him every time he took a step simply gave him that impression. The rage churning within Frein had receded to a deadly calm. He had ensured that Katherine was safe and had provided her enough meiyal to either fight back or escape. Now that he was more in control of his emotions, he observed The Mist with curiosity. He extended a hand towards the thick fog, but it moved out of reach. He employed a swift jab and again, the fog avoided it. ¡°This is weird. Do you know anything about it, Eli?¡± ¡°I generally avoid Deep Nightmares, Frein,¡± the faunel replied. ¡°They¡¯re too unpredictable.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d say dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous everywhere.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°What I do know about The Mist is that it turns creatures in its influential sphere into a special form of Nightmare when they die.¡± ¡°Like zombies? Necromantic powers?¡± Frein made a wide swing without any intention of touching The Mist to test the Deep Nightmare¡¯s reaction. The wind he produced didn¡¯t even sway the thick fog, let alone made it flinch. ¡°Of sorts, yes,¡± Elizzel replied. ¡°It¡¯s like a mix between necromancy and Nightmarish transformation. The three Forest Jaws were under its direct command. I suspect the big, fiery one was due to The Mist causing a certain mutation or genetic reactivation.¡± ¡°So, what am I supposed to do here?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I don¡¯t have any fra Arts, and I doubt a simple one would kill this Nightmare anyway.¡± ¡°Deep Nightmares work on a very different logic. Sometimes killing them isn¡¯t an option. I thought you had a plan?¡± Frein latched on to the question. It implied not everything transferred through their Tether. ¡°Of course not,¡± Elizzel answered unprompted. ¡°That would be too chaotic.¡± ¡°I was acting on impulse,¡± Frein said, answering the previous question. ¡°Besides, Katherine said she killed all the Deep Nightmares she encountered.¡± ¡°Katherine hasn¡¯t encountered all the Deep Nightmares, yet. I bet she hasn¡¯t encountered this one and only knew it by name.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Frein turned back and immediately found himself confused. The Mist didn¡¯t move for him this time. He placed a hand on it. The Mist felt like scales, a solid mass despite its cloudy combinations of color. It gave him a headache. The image of a gigantic python camouflaging as a cloud provided the simplest explanation, but it skipped over the part that it moved like actual mist. And yet, it wouldn¡¯t allow him to turn back. ¡°Seems we¡¯re stuck here,¡± Elizzel said, going to the same conclusion. Without much choice, Frein continued. If he decided to brute force his way out of this, he might as well figure out where it was leading him first. The path went on and The Mist adjusted with his steps, so long as his direction was agreeable to it. Though this time, Frein couldn¡¯t get the idea of the cloud being a boa constrictor out of his head. He looked up, but even there was covered by the Deep Nightmare. It really didn¡¯t look like a reptile at all. The path led on for a long time. At this point, Frein was sure he was nowhere near Katherine anymore. The ground had turned to sand. The temperature had dropped. And he could smell the salty breeze of the sea. ¡°We should be far enough now, don¡¯t you think?¡± he asked to no one in particular. To make a point, he sat on the sand. ¡°I suppose this is as far as you¡¯re willing to walk.¡± A soothing female voice whispered from The Mist. ¡°Didn¡¯t know Deep Nightmares could talk.¡± ¡°No,¡± the voice replied. ¡°No, they can¡¯t.¡± Slowly, The Mist expanded to reveal sea all around him. The patch of sand he walked on had vanished, and only the small island of sand he was sitting on remained. The sea was still, barely making any waves if at all. In front of him, standing on still water, was a blonde elven lady. She carried the grace, the beauty, and the youth of the elves that Frein had always imagined. Traits elevated by the divine aura surrounding her. She wore verdant silk underneath illustrious, draconic, scale armor. The meiyal around her was still, listening and waiting for her command. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°It can, however, be persuaded,¡± she continued. Piercing blue eyes stared at him. She had black slits for pupils, another draconic mark present on her entirety. Yet, she carried herself as though dragons would naturally bow in her grace. ¡°I suppose introductions are due before anything else?¡± she inquired. ¡°No need,¡± Frein replied. ¡°You¡¯re Rindea Fallsween, the First Protector. They said you defended your village from a kingdom of dragons all on your own.¡± To emphasize his familiarity with her and his casual approach, he gestured in front of him, inviting her to sit. ¡°An exaggeration of history, surely,¡± Rindea responded. She took the invitation and sat on seawater with grace, folding her legs on one side like a proper lady. ¡°I received reinforcements just before they breached the mountains.¡± ¡°You did, but historical accounts indicated that the reinforcements were from a claimed boon granted to you by a god that held you at high authority. A boon you had earned by previously completing an impossible task.¡± ¡°The Liberation of Arc Angels, yes. It was an impossible task indeed.¡± Frein stored the title in his mind. His train of thought was still stuck at Rindea¡¯s draconic, historical feat. ¡°That is after you held your own for two days. Against a kingdom of dragons.¡± Rindea smiled humbly. ¡°A kingdom of dragons varies in size. It doesn¡¯t necessarily mean many.¡± ¡°How many, then?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not say¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep it a secret,¡± Frein said excitedly. He made a promising gesture that he was sure Rindea wouldn¡¯t understand out of context. ¡°Thirteen.¡± ¡°How many did you kill before your reinforcements arrived?¡± ¡°Nine. Four were juvenile, three were adults, two were ancients.¡± ¡°The four that remained?¡± ¡°Three of them were Worldborn dragons, one was a Deitar.¡± Frein immediately latched on to the new term. ¡°Worldborn?¡± ¡°It means the creature had gained enough favor from the gods to be reborn anew. They¡¯re to be vessels as future Deitars as they keep gaining enough insight to glean from destiny.¡± The barrage of information took Frein a while to process. Still, all of these depended on a particular premise, that the gods once had direct communication and influence with life in Brymeia. And that most of these are now useless because of the Divine Severing. At least, it was nice to confirm historical facts from the person herself. ¡°Wait¡­¡± the slow realization left Frein dumbfounded. ¡°Why are you here? And where am I?¡± Rindea struggled to stifle a giggle. ¡°A little late for that, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m serious. I was prepared for a fight, and I totally did not expect to meet someone like you inside The Mist. Is this an illusion?¡± ¡°Elizzel should be able to convince you that it¡¯s not.¡± As if on cue, the faunel responded. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± she said, moving out of his meiyal system. Their Tether remained. Elizzel simply paid respects in front of the First Protector. She sat on the still seawater beside Frein. ¡°I do miss a casual conversation,¡± Rindea said, acknowledging the faunel. ¡°So, why are you in The Mist?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Before I respond, may I inquire of your impression of the Void Creatures¡ªNightmares now, correct? Do you think of them as inherently evil?¡± ¡°With this showcase, I can be convinced that they¡¯re not, but that¡¯s a tall order.¡± Rindea nodded. ¡°A flexible mindset. Not bad. ¡°To address your question, this has to do with my death. If you do not mind a long story¡­¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Good. Elves live for a long time, and I¡¯ve lived my years fighting for benevolent gods and Deitars, until the Diving Severing. I was at the forefront of Evanclad¡¯s army as we fought the first incarnation of Nightmares. They were referred to as The Great Voids back then due to the sheer emptiness they leave at their wake. ¡°Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s death broke the land as well as our connection with our gods. We even forgot their names and all our records were altered as though a great force willed them to change. Total chaos followed right after and it took Evanclad years to reunite and stabilize civilization for the mortal era. Of course, not all factions reunited with him.¡± ¡°You broke pact?¡± Frein guessed. ¡°Correct. Evanclad and I didn¡¯t agree on certain terms, so we parted amicably.¡± ¡°You were in love with him?¡± Frein saw hints of regret and followed his gut. ¡°Did you just take a guess?¡± Rindea¡¯s expression was amused rather than annoyed. ¡°Informed guess, yes. Since the First Monarch ended up with someone else¡ªone who basically made the Great Sea Dividyr¡ªin addition to the way your face looks whenever you say his name, I¡¯d say it was a pretty good guess.¡± ¡°Well¡­it was a long time ago, I suppose. And you¡¯re very well read.¡± ¡°I am, thank you.¡± ¡°Skipping the details of my fallout with the First Monarch, the village I protected eventually prospered to a proper town and expanded to a legitimate province. It was named after my little sister, Minavelle. And the mountains where I fought off a kingdom of dragons were named after mine. These names were granted by Vyndival, not Irista.¡± ¡°So how come it¡¯s under Irista Nation now?¡± Frein developed many assumptions, but he expected Rindea to make them clear anyway. ¡°It was an act of desperation. The Void Region became less and less controlled. They threatened our safety. A land isolated by sea to its north and desert to its south, Minaveil Province simply had no chance of survival. ¡°But Evanclad, the leader that he was, was a step ahead. He made an organization and an army able to tackle the Void.¡± ¡°The Order of the Void.¡± ¡°Correct. In order to help protect my people, I reached out to Mineltha, Evanclad¡¯s wife¡ª¡± ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me,¡± Frein interrupted. He caught another glimpse of pain as Rindea spoke Mineltha¡¯s name. ¡°She¡¯s you¡ª¡± ¡°My mother, yes. She was Blessed with Fate¡¯s End, granting her incredible powers and unusually longer life. She was two-hundred years old before meeting Evanclad. I was eighty.¡± ¡°I was going to say sister¡­¡± ¡°I get that a lot.¡± ¡°So, what happened?¡± ¡°Minavelle and I offered to reunite our lands with Irista Nation and become the bridge between two factions. It was a logical move from our standpoint. We become a neutral hub while employing protection from both sides. ¡°Mineltha and Evanclad agreed and a treatise was signed between him and Galavand Vyndival, the King at that time. ¡°Years quickly passed and eventually the three leaders passed away. Mineltha¡¯s unyielding love for Evanclad triggered a special restriction of Fate¡¯s End and made her age at the same time as Evanclad and they went to the afterlife together. That¡¯s when support from Vyndival stopped coming. We had no choice but completely affiliate ourselves with Kristella. ¡°I was becoming too old as well. That¡¯s when my end happened. In one of my patrols, The Mist That Carries the Nightmare hunted us down until I was the only one left. Eventually it took my life as well and turned me into something between undead and Nightmare. ¡°But I was also Worldborn. With my divine authority, no matter how little, I was able to persuade this Deep Void¡ªthis Deep Nightmare¡ªto follow my will from time to time. Which led me to you, Frein Nivan, the Visitor.¡± Frein never told her his name. In fact, he never even told her about Elizzel or his title as the Visitor. His mind went into overdrive. ¡°You have a test?¡± he concluded. ¡°You wanted a fight, correct?¡± Rindea replied, smiling. She stood. The sand within Frein expanded until it reached The Mist encircling them. ¡°I need to know if you¡¯re prepared enough to handle the destinies that are tying themselves to yours.¡± Frein stood and made a deep bow. His rage had totally subsided, replaced by anxiety and ridiculous excitement. ¡°It would be an honor to learn from you, First Protector.¡±
Chapter 70: The First Protector The First Protector Frein dodged an opening barrage of concentrated meiyal projectiles. Small speeding pellets fast enough for him to consider them as meiyal bullets. Not that he had any experience to dodging bullets prior to this one¡ªand even back on Earth, but the reflexes and reaction he needed to employ to avoid them simply invoked that impression. The pellets pierced through The Mist¡¯s veil, unlike his feet which ran on the cloudy formation, treating it like a wall. Frein twisted and spun out of the barrage, eager to find the right angle of attack. Rindea observed him, unhindered by the continuous production and propulsion of meiyal as though she was simply breathing. Frein found his attack line and pushed himself, zigzagging through a rain of meiyal bullets. Three rapid changes in direction brought him close to the First Protector. He swirled upwards for a Siffera empowered spinning kick. He was getting more and more used to the fact that a mere flex of his strength could lend him such great inertia and momentum and practically defy gravity for a moment. Rindea smiled. A flash of blinding light forced Frein to abandon his attack and go on full defense just in time to protect himself from a burst of meiyal. It threw him straight back to The Mist¡¯s wall. The impact was strong but negligible. ¡°Do the practitioners of the modern era only have hand-to-hand techniques now?¡± Rindea asked, lifting her barrage but forming more small pellets around her. ¡°Or is this a Visitor thing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Visitor thing,¡± Frein confirmed. ¡°I don¡¯t have enough time to learn anything else before I arrived.¡± ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Less than two weeks.¡± ¡°Ah. You¡¯re quite skilled for someone who¡¯s trained for only two weeks.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been at it for half a year, training at Schrodie¡¯s Realm, in preparation for Brymeia.¡± Rindea¡¯s forehead curled. ¡°Who¡¯s Schrodie?¡± In response, Frein did the same. ¡°How come you know I¡¯m the Visitor and not know Schrodie?¡± ¡°It was of a faunel¡¯s final words. But we shall speak of this after your test is over. You cannot talk your way into a respite until then.¡± The gathered meiyal bullets swarmed at him from all directions. Frein Drew his Exhibit to open his Display, pouring four-meiyal to intensify his Siffera. His amplified defense withstood the attack, but it did not leave him unscathed. Suffice to say, he was lucky enough to protect his vitals. Or were they intentionally avoided? ¡°Push a layer of meiyal around your body using Siffera, if you can,¡± Rindea suggested as she gathered the next wave of attacks. ¡°Kristella always made mention of it when teaching advanced Meiyal Arts. I never got used to it.¡± She offered to wait for Frein to attempt her suggestion and the Visitor obliged. He was surprised to discover how easy it was and immediately gave credit to Elizzel. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± the faunel pointed out. ¡°That¡¯s Emerald Guidance at work. I don¡¯t Draw your Meiyal Arts.¡± By the sound of her tone, she seemed rather preoccupied with something. Frein was too busy to think about it. Another wave of meiyal bullets rained down from all directions. This time, his defense was more solid and completely negated the attacks. ¡°Good.¡± Satisfied, Rindea multiplied her output by tenfold. Small particles of meiyal surrounded her like stars on a galaxy. She was practically glowing. ¡°Dodge, defend, or attack. Your choice. Last for one whole minute, and I¡¯ll consider you ready. If your meiyal aura breaks, then you¡¯ve failed.¡± With that, the star shower commenced. Frein breathed in and elevated his focus. Empowered by Siffera, his instincts, premonitions, calculations, and observations fused into a cohesive union. It removed doubt, hesitation, and fear, and enforced trust in his own abilities. He focused on minute movements, swaying with just the right motion to let multiple meiyal bullets to pass through by a hair¡¯s width. It minimized risk of overcommitting to one direction and allowed him to follow-up with the next movement with ease. The Visitor took careful steps when he could, avoiding stepping backwards to prevent any miscalculations from strays that he couldn¡¯t see behind him. Instead, he slipped to the side when needed. Most of the projectiles concentrated on him, while some were simply sprayed for intimidation. The trick was figuring out which sides were spacious enough for him to move in. It took him a good twenty seconds of clearance before the first of the projectiles hit his arm. Rindea had been steadily increasing the amount of meiyal bullets. Frein simply responded by doing better. He pushed Siffera a bit more, concentrated a little more, trusted his instincts a little more. Second by second, Frein¡¯s Siffera eventually reached its zenith. His mind predicted a meiyal bullet¡¯s trajectory the moment it formed beside Rindea. He found the most optimal spot to dodge, how far out he should pivot his feet for the next move, where each of his limbs should be positioned, and when and how exactly to move to the next. He saw exactly where he would be cornered and where a speeding bullet would hit him¡ªby how much force and how much defense he should invest to minimize the damage. Frein began to see visions of himself, options of possibilities a few seconds ahead. And then, snap. Art fatigue slammed on him like the world itself ended. Siffera erased and he fell on his knees. The barrage stopped. Meiyal bullets halted themselves inches away from his face. ¡°One minute,¡± Rindea said, dispersing all meiyal bullets into residues. ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been thirty seconds,¡± Frein replied, gasping for air. ¡°In real-time, yes. But for you, it has been a minute. How many versions did you see?¡± ¡°Five.¡± ¡°How far ahead?¡± ¡°About three or four seconds.¡± ¡°Barely a glimpse, but the potential is present.¡± The First Protector gestured for the Visitor to take a rest. "Very good." Almost immediately, Frein felt relief and fell on his back, causing sand to scatter everywhere. Rindea sat beside him. She stared at him for a while. ¡°You remind me of Evanclad. Not his looks¡­attitude, maybe?¡± she said while fiddling with a strand of her golden locks. ¡°I have a girlfriend.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Rindea started with a chuckle which broke into an outright laugh. ¡°Rejected twice! Thousands of years apart! Guess I was never meant to find love.¡± ¡°You must¡¯ve had countless suitors.¡± ¡°I only ever opened my heart for someone once, Frein. My mother got to him first, but I have no regrets. I¡¯ve been showered with love and worship all my life.¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve had your fill, then.¡± Silence dragged on for a while. Frein took the time to recuperate and organize his thoughts. Four-meiyal had supplied him with an abundance of meiyal and assisted him in efficiently Drawing Meiyal Arts. And yet, the state at which he saw future versions of himself only lasted a few seconds. He considered dismissing it to lack of resource, but that, in itself, was contrary to the effects that four-meiyal¡ªor even Emerald Guidance¡ªprovided him. He was missing something essential. ¡°The faunel I spoke of was named Alphazzel,¡± Rindea began. ¡°Faunel of History and Disasters,¡± Elizzel said, appearing on Frein¡¯s other side. She sat on a more casual position unlike the First Protector. But the way her legs bent to their sides gave Frein doubts on whether she felt comfortable or not. She didn¡¯t weigh anything anyway. "He was the greatest of us." ¡°Was?¡± he asked, trying to concentrate on the discussion. ¡°Correct,¡± Rindea continued. ¡°The first faunel to ever communicate with mortals. He perished during the sealing of the Fourth One.¡± ¡°The Four Sealed Ones?¡± ¡°You know of them?¡± ¡°Only heard the name¡ªtitle,¡± Frein replied. ¡°Katherine¡ªmy girlfriend¡ªshe¡¯s a Lady of the Void. Heard it from one of her stories, but she didn¡¯t have the books about them.¡± ¡°Highly guarded secrets,¡± Rindea confirmed. ¡°Think of the Four as Deitars on the brink of godhood. They survived the repercussions of the Divine Severing through malevolent means. Means that I will not mention, for they deserve to be cast into oblivion and forgotten. ¡°Evanclad, while uniting his people, defending them against Void Encounters, and among other things, also took the lead in hunting down these Deitars in order to bring their evil to an end.¡± ¡°Based on the name, he wasn¡¯t successful,¡± Frein guessed. ¡°Yes. Unlike Evanclad and his army who have lost their connection to the Forgotten Deities, the Deitars have significant control on their divine authority as well as deeper insights to their Destiny. While the First Monarch managed to overpower each one through sheer brute force, sacrificing millions of lives to save billions, they were truly powerless when it came to ending them for good. ¡°He had no choice but to seal them. Alas, this brings us to the Fourth Sealed One. I was there when Evanclad established the final seal on The Great Oblimoth, Thraxzim¡¯gar.¡± ¡°Oblimoth?¡± ¡°Obliteration Behemoths. I have not the heart nor the will to explain to you in detail. I¡¯m sure Katherine has records of them. All I can say is that they can devastate entire lands by simply walking on them.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying there are many of them?¡± Frein fought the desire to ask more questions, but one slipped instantaneously. ¡°Aside from Thraxzim¡¯gar, another one or three were spotted during my entire lifetime. It was difficult to tell if the sightings were of the same one or a different Oblimoth.¡± ¡°And Alphazzel helped seal Thraxzim¡¯gar?¡± Frein asked, trying to return to their initial topic. ¡°That¡¯s when he was also able to establish a link through other worlds, enabling the existence of you, Visitors.¡± ¡°So, you know why there has to be one?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t control his heart from getting too excited. ¡°Of sorts, but I doubt I have the whole picture,¡± Rindea replied. She sighed once. ¡°I know that you are here to search for something. What? I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s something that only you will be able to find. By peeking through Destiny, you can inch your way closer to it. And once you¡¯ve found it? Again, I don¡¯t know.¡± Frein immediately clung on to the thing that mattered most out of all this. Peeking through Destiny. Was that the thing he did earlier, when he found versions of himself a few seconds into the future? He saw Rindea smile. ¡°You really do remind me of him.¡± Frein ignored her comment. ¡°Do you just regularly go around searching for Visitors to talk to within The Mist?¡± The First Protector shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence.¡± Frein doubted that, but kept his silence. He was the first Visitor for Irista Nation, true, but to find an iconic historical figure literally in symbiosis with a Nightmare just so she could meet him felt a little too orchestrated for him. ¡°Alphazzel made many precautions and guides to help future Visitors. My happenstance was not one of them. He was long gone before I became a Nightmare, remember? By the looks of it, I just so happened to be the closest one to you.¡± ¡°And so, you have fulfilled your purpose, Rindea Fallsween, First Protector.¡± A voice echoed from behind him. Schrodie appeared out of nowhere, her distorted image would¡¯ve been a familiar sight if not for the abruptness of her revelation. ¡°Greetings, First Protector. Now that the Visitor has established a connection, I am now able to retrieve you and guide you to a higher purpose, should you wish to partake, or to eternal rest.¡± ¡°And you are?¡± Rindea asked. Despite the suddenness of the situation, she remained perfectly calm. ¡°I am Schrodie, the Gatekeeper. Birthed by the Destinies of Brymeia and Zerax¡¯thum, I am tasked, along with other responsibilities¡ª¡± she glanced at Frein, ¡°¡ªto usher the heroic souls of Brymeia to a purpose that will further benefit her. I suspect you have had your fill with playing tug-of-war with this Deep Nightmare, yes? It is time for you join the others. Continue your service, or rest. Your choice.¡± The First Protector¡¯s eyes shined with expectations. ¡°What did my mother choose?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid Mineltha¡¯s destiny is fully confidential. I am, however, willing to tell you of Minavelle.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Schrodie¡¯s distortion melded into another elf that resembled Rindea, fully armored with a fiercer set of eyes. ¡°I chose to serve,¡± she said proudly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do the same!¡± Rindea bounced on her feet before turning back to Frein. ¡°But first, I¡¯d like to leave the Visitor with a gift.¡± ¡°Take all the time you need,¡± Schrodie said, standing aside. Rindea lifted an arm and presented a hand. Precise formations of meiyal started to lift from her palm, coalescing into a blue, radiant particle enclosed in a crimson, transparent cube. She gestured for Frein to take it. The Visitor stood and accepted the gift. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°When I tested you, I saw the Emerald Guidance resonate from within your meiyal system. I didn¡¯t have enough time when Kristella formulated Meiyal Arts, but I did work on it for a while.¡± Rindea looked at the small orb with fondness, recalling streams of memories from her past. ¡°That, right there, is my Exhibit. It¡¯s yours now. Most of them will reject you. Even with the help of Elizzel, it¡¯ll probably still cost you all of your strength. Make sure you are safe before you Gather it, but do not waste too much time.¡± ¡°Well, then,¡± Schrodie approached, not skipping a beat, and stretched out an arm. Rindea took it while sparing a wink towards Frein. ¡°See you around, Elizzel, Frein.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± But of course, she didn¡¯t wait. Along with Rindea and Schrodie¡¯s transportation, The Mist That Carries the Nightmare also dispersed. It simply vanished as though it was never a Deep Nightmare in the first place. The sand underneath him and Elizzel also returned to ground and dirt. When the lasts of the thick fog evaporated, Frein saw Kristel, Enza, Sam, and Katherine engaged in some sort of discussion. They stared at each other for a while. ¡°Hey,¡± Katherine began, reaching him in just a second. ¡°You alright? What do you have there?¡± She was a mess. Frein Drew his Mesiffera and saw all the damage and injuries she was enduring. Samesia worked overtime to keep her alive and she was doing her best to look tough. The change in her eyes immediately told him that she realized he figured her out. ¡°I¡¯ll be okay,¡± she said in defense. ¡°Can I trust you on that?¡± ¡°You can. We have help arriving soon. I can keep this up for a few more hours before it becomes critical.¡± ¡°That¡¯s assuming nothing else attacks us beforehand.¡± ¡°The only things left around are lesser Nightmares,¡± Katherine said. ¡°I can handle them.¡± Kristel sat with Enza who gave her a lick. ¡°We can handle them.¡± Something had changed in the Princess as well. He didn¡¯t have the time to figure it out. ¡°Frein,¡± Elizzel interrupted, gesturing towards Rindea¡¯s Exhibit. ¡°We should take care of this as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Frein looked at Katherine and gave her a kiss. ¡°I have to Gather this, but it might be too much for me. Don¡¯t panic if I fall unconscious. I¡¯ll explain it to you after I wake up. Make sure you get medical help right away, understand? I¡¯ll be fine, as long as you¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± ¡°Can you make sure she gets treatment?¡± Frein asked the Princess. ¡°You can trust me.¡± ¡°Will you guys stop ganging up on me? I already said yes. Just go and Gather whatever that is already!¡± With their thoughts unified through the Tether, Elizzel merged with Frein. He opened his Display and produced four-meiyal along with his own to surround Rindea¡¯s Exhibit before Gathering them again. It was remarkably easier this time around and the entire process lasted for only under a minute. The collection of meiyal-charge materials erupted into chaos from within Frein. Many of them rejected his meiyal system and instantly disintegrated, each causing strain throughout his core. The rapid destruction from within left him no time to observe which was which. Katherine¡¯s voice from the outside didn¡¯t help. Elizzel¡¯s struggle didn¡¯t help. Frein held on as each material exploded to nothingness. He blacked out and fell to the ground.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you''re reading this, Brymeia: The Visitor, in other website/platforms other than Royal Road, it means that it''s been scraped by pirates without my permission. If you would be so kind, please let me know by sending a message to Shallren at royalroad.com. Thank you. Chapter 71: Forget Forget
¡°The memories we have are the only proof we can rely on. And yet, they¡¯re so easily manipulated. When even history itself can be changed, what hope does the future have?¡± ~Alphazzel
¡°Hey, sorry it took a while. The Nightmare keeps distorting the signal, so we can only do voice for now. Everything alright over there?¡± It was evening when Frill received a M.O.B.I.L.E. call. She had been worried sick and had talked herself in and out of rushing to the other side of the Rindea Mountain Range to find Princess Kristel and the others. The sudden rush of memories of the Battle of the Vanguard caused chills to run up her spine and irrational reasons to cloud her logic. To struggle and panic, desperately searching for somebody only to find them lifeless and discarded on a corner somewhere¡­ She didn¡¯t want to go through that ever again. ¡°We¡¯re fine. Xiv ate, washed, and slept the entire day,¡± she said, relief and decorum preventing her from bursting out from the top of her lungs. ¡°I just did some maintenance in the manor.¡± Even through voice only, Kristel caught her tone. ¡°Sorry.¡± She ignored the Princess¡¯s apology. ¡°Where are you? Are you coming home soon? I can prepare something to eat.¡± ¡°We¡¯re fine. We managed to get support from the Atlas Sid. They just have to finish their round south of the Great Sea Dividyr, then they¡¯ll round up for resupply in Minaveil. We¡¯ll be back in about two to three days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let Master Midan know so he can get things ready.¡± ¡°Hey. You sure, you¡¯re alright? I know we haven¡¯t talked much lately.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me, Princess. I¡¯m not the one out there in the Nightmare Lands. Just please, promise me, you¡¯ll take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Okay. I promise.¡± ¡°Please send my regards to Katherine and the others.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Good night, Frill.¡± ¡°Good night, Kristel.¡± The Aria in Red sighed and focused on the positives. Atlas Sid provided the security of an entire militaristic force. It was the only vessel capable of venturing through the Nightmare Lands without any risk of engine failure. A half meiyal-crafted, half organic marvel that dated during the historic years of the Divine Severing. Something they couldn¡¯t replicate, but fortunately enough, they didn¡¯t have to. With that, Frill eased her worries and breathed out a sigh of relief. She spent the next hour soaking in the tub of her modest bathroom¡ªcompared to the Princess¡¯s at least. When she was done, she slipped into a more casual and relaxed set of clothes then checked on Xiv one more time just in case he was awake for dinner. He was still fast asleep. Frill sighed once again as she worked on the kitchen. She prepared the ingredients for a humble meal, but realized too late that she made too much for one person. She couldn¡¯t let them go to waste so she cooked them anyway. Maybe she could share some with Bennie later. With the meal¡ªa slightly sour stew of meat and vegetables¡ªsimmering on the stove, Frill found herself with her own thoughts. For the first time in her life¡­she was truly alone. Silence, only mildly disturbed by the boiling pot and the nocturnal fauna. An absence of activity, a stillness of the mind. Cold and isolated in this lonely evening. Frill, right at this moment, didn¡¯t know what to do. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Her eyes drifted towards the purple shine of the night sky. Two moons danced with each other. Shinemoon, a brilliant blue and larger of the two, fully revealed in all her magnificence. As it was with the Darkmoon, smaller but more obvious with its crimson red. Together, these two painted the atmosphere with its soft, violet hues. Frill couldn¡¯t help but think how lucky those two celestial bodies were unlike her, stuck in a large manor with no one to talk to. An idea would set in, but she would immediately reject them with what-ifs. She could call Kristel again, but the Princess would probably be too busy. She could call Katherine, anyone really, but they would all be preoccupied, probably. Her mind turned to Stiry, but it was already late and the yuma would most likely rather be with his mate who had recently lost her master. Liona¡­ In a sudden onset of panic, Frill immediately shook her thoughts away from her late sister, but it was already too late. She couldn¡¯t help but lament. Her purple eyes felt dry and pain bubbled up her throat. Her chest ached and a mild difficulty in breathing caused a staggered sigh. She clenched her jaw as the pain formed to tears. All it took was a blink. A tear fell down her face and a sob broke the rest of the dam. She struggled to stifle her sobs, but there was nothing she could do. She missed her sister so much. Frill sobbed and wept alone on a table for four. She ignored the screeching pot. The pain hadn¡¯t been this overpowering since the day Liona died. It subsided for a moment, allowing her to breathe. Then the emotions doubled and slammed on her mercilessly. Frill completely broke down with the noise of the boiling pot to accompany her wailing sobs. Until even the pot itself left her alone. It took the Aria a few seconds to realize the silence. Before she could turn, a firm hand held her shoulder. Xiv¡¯s messy, dark red hair almost covered his worried charcoal eyes. He knelt on one knee so he was lower than her. ¡°Sorry,¡± he began to explain. ¡°I couldn¡¯t ignore it. I wasn¡¯t sure if you wanted to be alone or not.¡± Frill¡¯s loneliness overshadowed her embarrassment. She tried to wipe away her tears, but they ignored her pleas to stop. Liona would¡¯ve been here in a heartbeat if she heard her crying. Instead, a Vyndivalian came to support her. Her desperate attempt to stop the tears proved futile. The emotions gathered into fury, blaming Xiv. ¡°Your war killed my sister,¡± Frill said through gritting teeth. Damning thoughts formed in her mind, but she felt powerless. Her meiyal refused to follow her burdened wishes. Stress had accumulated without her knowing, and they all plummeted down on her at the same time. ¡°Even now, I can see her in my dreams,¡± she continued. ¡°I keep seeing a side of her I didn¡¯t even know existed. I just wish, I can touch her one last time.¡± Frill clung onto Xiv¡¯s arms, her emotions fully taking over. She couldn¡¯t help but shake and rely on this Vyndivalian man to keep her steady. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± That was all he said. And hold her was all he did. Xiv remained in his awkward position until Frill finally brought herself back together. She didn¡¯t know how long it took. ¡°Take a seat,¡± she said in between sniffles. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner.¡± Frill relied on her years of experience and prepared the table despite trembling hands. When Xiv offered to help, she refused him with an adamant stare. It was a little overcooked, but stew could simmer and boil for a long while before the taste turned to ash. Frill didn¡¯t bother reprimanding herself on it since it was all her fault in the first place. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Again¡­ Xiv, on the other hand, ate three full bowls without stopping and only relaxed as he took on a fourth. The pot was halfway empty. Despite herself, it made Frill smile. Xiv caught her on instinct and embarrassment almost made her recoil. But the Vyndivalian smiled as well. ¡°I could eat this all day,¡± he said. With tears still near the surface, Frill embraced the compliment and smiled even brighter. ¡°Thank you.¡± The company gave her appetite and they eventually finished the entire pot. This time around, Xiv insisted on helping her clean up. She let him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your sister,¡± Xiv said after packing up the dregs and leftovers in a trash bin. Frill¡¯s mood sank, but unlike earlier, she didn¡¯t breakdown. She didn¡¯t have the energy left for it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­I shouldn¡¯t have brought it up. I just felt¡ª¡± ¡°Have you lost someone, Xiv?¡± Frill interrupted. She finished wiping the bowls dry and started cleaning the sink. Xiv didn¡¯t reply for a while. ¡°My parents both died during a Void Encounter, the one that ate through south of Vyndival.¡± ¡°That was fairly recent. Three years?¡± ¡°Four.¡± ¡°My condolences.¡± When Xiv kept his silence, she continued. ¡°Do you still think about them?¡± ¡°Always. Cordralym, my Armor turns to a pendant when Doffed. I have a picture of them inside.¡± ¡°How did you get over it?¡± Asking the question felt wrong. Frill didn¡¯t want to hear the answer, but she hoped she could hear one she could accept. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Xiv sat and watched her make the finishing touches in the kitchen. ¡°I couldn¡¯t. It feels wrong to forget. I shouldn¡¯t forget. It doesn¡¯t really get easier, but you get used to it.¡± Frill understood and she hammered those words into her memory. She shouldn¡¯t forget Liona. ¡°Thanks, Xiv.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± he replied reflexively. ¡°Anyway, where¡¯s the Princess? I thought they¡¯d be back by now?¡± With new company to join her, Frill began to brew some tea for the long discussion she intended to have with Xiv.
Chapter 72: Remember Remember Lynera woke up without Urzic beside her¡­again. There was something disturbing about the King¡¯s absence. They would always spend the night together full of passion and intimacy whenever he came to bed. But as morning came, he was always the first to leave. Sometimes, it made Lynera wonder if the King had any sleep at all. Still no signs from the Order, she wrote on her journal absentmindedly. She realized the only person she knew in Vyndival was the King when she became his eternal mate¡ªas felintines would only bind themselves to one for life. But as the days passed, there were few others whom she had been acquainted with. Two servants. An elderly, human lady by the name Jena Finser and her half-elf grandson, Dylan Finser, attended to her daily needs; and the sentry, the half-orc, half-human Tristan Salem, became her guard and escort. A knock echoed from her door. Lynera sighed, closing her journal without finishing the entry. Although reluctant, she was hopeful that at least one of these people came to see her today. It was Dylan. The well-dressed servant had his brown hair combed to one side, matching his simplistic features. He carried breakfast, a couple of smoked fishes, three small pieces of bread, and her favorite cold lemon juice. It had been the same meal ever since he started serving her. She didn¡¯t mind. Tristan was there like he always did, ever unmoving. Lynera spied the sentry¡¯s eye glanced towards her, something men of his position usually avoided. The felintine traced the glance to Dylan¡¯s tray. Without a second¡¯s hesitation, she took a piece of bread and gave it to the sentry. He didn¡¯t move, completely ignoring the gesture. Annoyed, Lynera took his hand and left the bread there before letting Dylan inside her room. She closed the door a bit heavier than she anticipated, but it was too late to apologize. ¡°Sentries aren¡¯t supposed to eat during duty, Mistress,¡± Dylan said. Lynera took the tray from him and placed it on her table. She grabbed another bread and gestured to her servant. ¡°Neither should I.¡± ¡°Eat or stop serving food.¡± Without much choice, Dylan took the bread and bit ever so little. Lynera started on a fish, sliced it in two and gave the tail side to her servant. Food per se wasn¡¯t a scarce resource on Vyndival, at least not yet. King Urzic had told her if nothing was done with the southern regions of the kingdom, now ravaged by the Nightmare Lands and threatening to move northward, food supply would be the least of their problems. Lynera already knew that. She had seen the heart of the Nightmare Lands¡­or at least she remembered she had. No matter how much she tried to recall, her memories with the Order of the Void kept pushing her away, as if the very idea of the Order had rejected her existence. Something was stopping her from remembering completely. After their loss at the Battle of the Vanguard, the King had taken precautions to make sure the kingdom¡¯s soldiers were well fed first to maintain their morale. Abuse wasn¡¯t tolerated, however, and he made sure anyone who forcibly used their ranks as leverage for more than they were given were severely punished. At least, that was the theory¡­ Still, this meant people like Dylan had less to eat than most people, and lower ranked sentries like Tristan weren¡¯t as well off either. Very few people knew the relationship between Lynera and King Urzic Lasterfol. Those who knew addressed her as Mistress rather than queen as actual ceremonies and rituals were yet to be completed. Lynera was hesitant to accept the title anyway. As awkward as it was, she hadn¡¯t the first clue as to what her current relation to the King really was as far as social standings were concerned. Of course, she would rather make it formal, but as busy as he was, Urzic hadn¡¯t found the time¡ªshe assumed¡ªto propose to her yet. ¡°Do you know where he is?¡± Lynera asked, sipping from her lemon juice. ¡°The King is at the meeting halls with the council and his Lord Knights,¡± Dylan replied as he nibbled on the fish tail. Lynera held her fish with her mouth and opened her meiyal-crafted wardrobe. All of the silks were old but finely preserved, and the details were elaborate. None of them matched her taste. She preferred clothes that provided more free movement, not dresses for princesses. But the King had issued tailors to minimize making clothes to use these materials for more practical things. ¡°Choose a simple set for me, Dylan. I¡¯ll be in the bath.¡± She looked at her servant, eating his bread. ¡°Save some for your grandmother and put mine into containers. I shall bring them to the King.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Lynera opened the door and found Tristan there still, bread no longer in his hands. She took one final sip from her juice before handing it to the sentry. ¡°When you¡¯re done, give it to Dylan. I¡¯m taking my bath.¡± Tristan made no words, but simply gestured a bow, almost too small to notice. Lynera crossed the curved hall of the King¡¯s Tower into the bathing chambers. Tristan accompanied her in silence, stopping at the entrance of the chamber and finishing the lemon juice. Jena was waiting for her inside, handling a mechanism for the steam bath. The white strands of her hair were the only indication of her age. She wore a simple, sleeveless tunic matched with a loose pair of jeans, something Lynera actually preferred to wear instead. ¡°You gave them your breakfast again, Mistress?¡± she asked. She motioned to the other side of the room where a marble stone and a mirror waited for the next person to clean her body. ¡°There¡¯s too much for me. People of my kind don¡¯t hunger as fast as yours.¡± Lynera removed her evening robes and sat on the marble stone. Jena prepared some bathing soap and hair oil and began to wash her. ¡°You say that, but more feral natives of your kind turn to brutal beasts and savagely eat anything they see moving when they do get hungry.¡± Jena said it as if stating a fact she¡¯d known for a long time. At least that was how Lynera interpreted the comment. ¡°Those feral types embrace the vorks and yumas inside them. Some of us reject it. Tame it.¡± Lynera faced the mirror and stared at herself. Deep within those yellow eyes she knew a vork lay asleep. And to sleep it would continue. ¡°I tame mine.¡± Hopefully. ¡°Well, if you say so. That puts me at ease, at least.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been across the Nightmare Lands?¡± the felintine asked. The natives Jena mentioned could only be found there as far as she remembered. ¡°I was High Sentry during my younger years, and I¡¯ve seen things from the Void Region that would make even Lord Knights vomit.¡± She scrubbed gently on Lynera¡¯s skin with a bubbling cloth, and the felintine would¡¯ve enjoyed the feeling if not for their conversation. ¡°I was part of King Menoris¡¯s brigade that patrolled the Void Region.¡± ¡°How come you¡¯re here as a servant, then?¡± ¡°Cannot keep still after all those years, Mistress.¡± Jena applied the fragrant hair oil over Lynera, starting from the brown fur of her cat-ears and tracing them down gently to the ends of her hair. She didn¡¯t miss the felintine¡¯s tail. Lynera had grown used to the sensation, but the uncomfortable feeling of someone else touching her tail still bothered her. She wouldn¡¯t even let King Urzic play with it unless they were having sex. Which was most nights now that she had thought of it¡­ ¡°And unlike the common folk, I have a picture of what¡¯s happening to this kingdom, somewhat. In my old age, this is the least I could do to help the young King. Your eyes, please.¡± Lynera braced herself as cold water splashed over her three times, washing away all the foam and slickness from her body. ¡°I¡¯ve tended to your bath, Mistress. Do take your time. It¡¯ll give this old lady a moment¡¯s rest.¡± Despite her words, Jena looked as if she could easily wrestle Tristan out of his Armor. After many days of following the same bathing routine, Lynera had formed a steel fortitude when soaking herself in hot water. Hesitation only made the ordeal stressful rather than enjoyable, and getting the pain out of the way as fast as possible was the best course of action to enjoy the situation. Setting the thought aside, Lynera slowly but steadily entered the bath, and the sensation of heat electrified her senses. She remained determined. Within just seconds, her whole body from neck to toe began to feel the familiar numbing and relaxing touch of hot water. Silence enveloped her senses, only gently disturbed by the subtle ripples of water bouncing off her skin. At this very moment, Lynera thought she was at peace. The felintine found herself staring at a dark horizon. A gigantic pit deep enough that light couldn¡¯t reveal its bottom. The ocean surrounding it fell towards oblivion. Towards The Nothing. Rubble and debris rolled along within the darkness, neither rising nor falling. She looked around, but the emptiness was too vast for anything else to see, neither across nor to the side. When she turned again, she saw a silhouette of a person made of light sitting beside her, its legs appeared and vanished repeatedly as they swayed on the edge of the pit. The person¡¯s head turned. ¡°You¡¯re almost out of time, Lynera.¡± Lynera¡¯s eyes opened. She felt frozen for one second, then came the heat from the bath, bringing her back to her senses. Jena was waiting for her, her very patience itself bringing testament to her long years as High Sentry. ¡°Did you have a nice dream, perhaps?¡± She wrapped the felintine, still hot from her bath, with a bathrobe. ¡°A few more minutes, and I would¡¯ve been worried.¡± ¡°No dreams,¡± Lynera lied. ¡°It¡¯s better this way.¡± The old servant returned once more just after Lynera had dried her hair. ¡°Dylan chose these clothes for you,¡± she said. ¡°I must admit, the lad has a sense for simplistic fashion.¡± Indeed, it was simple; only three pieces made the set. A white one-piece dress, a blue patterned shawl, and a pair of white, flat shoes. ¡°No undergarments?¡± With silks as thin as these, even with a shawl, Lynera would have problems with the skirt. ¡°Not to worry, Mistress. I chose them for you.¡± Jena revealed plain-looking underwear and gave the felintine a smile. ¡°I know you like them simple during the day.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lynera blushed but allowed the old servant to dress her, and within just minutes, she exuded an atmosphere of simplicity and humility masked with a stoic poise. Uncomfortable for short. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we asked a tailor to fix these clothes for you,¡± Jena said as she brushed Lynera¡¯s hair starting from the fur of her cat-ears. One real problem for Lynera, and for half-breeds like her, was the lack of space for their tails and ears in clothes not specifically made for them. And while common folk made do, or worked around with what they had, a felintine of her status¡ªsecret to the public or not¡ªessentially had the responsibility not to compensate for such trivial matters. And so, her clothes had been reworked to allow her tail to move around as freely as she would like. ¡°Thank you, Jena,¡± Lynera said with a sincere tone. ¡°For these past few days, you¡¯ve been taking care of me as if I¡¯m your own.¡± ¡°I merely follow orders, Mistress.¡± The old servant smiled with the same sincerity. ¡°Though I admit, I take great pleasure tending to your needs. And I shall do so until you say no more.¡± ¡°Please continue to look after me, then.¡± Jena smiled and applied Lynera¡¯s finishing touches. Out of the chambers, Lynera found Tristan and Dylan waiting for her. She hadn¡¯t set foot out of this tower since the day she was brought here. Somehow, she knew that would change today. She didn¡¯t utter a single word and simply made her way down. Tristan and Dylan followed without any form of objection.
Chapter 73: Disorder Disorder The lime-colored rays of the sun had barely graced the impoverished lands of Vyndival Kingdom and yet the bickering of old men and women already pushed King Urzic''s patience to the limit. The only saving grace these people had was the leverage they possessed upon the fact that their war against Irista¡ªinsisted upon by the King himself¡ªresulted in utter defeat and shame. Now he had to sit here the entire day wishing he was somewhere else. Beside Lynera, his beloved. Life would''ve been simpler had he found her earlier in life. Life would''ve been more tolerable indeed. "The treasury has grown thin because of all these projects, King Urzic. Either we increase the collection from our citizens, or we terminate the ones we can afford to live without." "Our men''s morale still wavers from the loss against Irista Nation. We barely managed to scratch the surface of one province even after focusing all our resources to that lost cause." "Famine will be upon us if the Void Region isn''t dealt with! We can''t get help from Irista Nation and we''re blocked by this massive concentration of meiyal from all sides! The Nightmare Lands may not be moving now, but it will eat our kingdom sooner or later! We must deal with this problem!" "How are we supposed to do that if none of our men have any will to fight? This isn''t something we can deal with!" "Correct! We don''t have any funds to spare for another war! More so against a natural calamity!" "So, what should we do? Just stare at it and pray to who knows which god, hoping it''ll smite the goddamned Nightmare?" "I''m telling you; we should send a search party for Su''karix. We have spare airships to find the land of dragons." "Those airships won''t last the Nightmare Lands! Do you not remember your history? The Sky Islands were destroyed and devoured by the Nightmare! The Thousand-Year Storm isn''t alive. Those are just rumors left by hopefuls. And we can''t leave our survival to hope!" The people inside the room continued their heated debate while King Urzic listened to each of them with¡ªhe wished¡ªopen ears. Every day it was the same routine, and every day they failed to find an answer. Judging by how things were going, this day wouldn''t be any different. "Why don''t you just tell the people?" A phrase Urzic didn''t expect to hear, more so from Lynera. The Sentries guarding the arch door allowed the felintine entrance to the meeting hall. Lynera, whether on purpose or not, walked with a semblance of authority. As the days went, she had become more and more sure of herself. There was confidence and self-reliance building inside her. Even during their nights together, she had become more demanding and asserting. Now, she was closer to what looked like her true self. Even in such simple set of clothes, she commanded all eyes on her, as if she willed them through sheer charisma. "Tell the people? That will cause chaos! Vyndival will implode on itself!" said Dorvel Winer, a plump and overly dressed dwarf. Urzic always wondered why and how this man became an adviser to his father. The days of heated debate only made him question further whether this dwarf was indeed loyal to the kingdom or to himself. Caring for the stability of the kingdom skewed his impression towards the former this time. Though his attitude left much to be desired. "Why would the council even consider such a thing from someone like¡ª?" "Silence." Urzic''s Monarch''s Law filled the room and none dared utter another word. A command spoken so quietly, yet the atmosphere it made forced everyone to submit to its authority, leaving nothing but the hushed whispers of the wind. A wave of satisfaction washed over the King; he had wanted to say that word for the longest time. He gestured for Lynera to continue. The felintine cleared her throat and approached the meeting table. One gorgeous and confident step after the other. "If the people would hear these terrors and problems from uncontrolled rumors, then worry, doubt, and anger will fill their hearts. They will no longer listen to any of you, and there will indeed be nothing but chaos. But if everyone hears the truth coming from the King himself, then he can also give them hope and unite everyone to save this kingdom. Monarch''s Law will be helpful to minimize and control any sort of panic." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "I cannot afford to speak to that many people until I''m fully recovered," Urzic said. "You have to, since you''re the King. Use every bit of your strength as you can," Lynera countered. "You did so once before with your army, you can do it again." How he wished it was that easy. "You have a point, Lynera," Urzic said. "But not everyone who has ears can hear. And not everyone who hears will listen." He stood and everyone immediately followed suit. "Except for one, I believe today has been as uneventful as ever. Regardless, it has been an informative one. Reflect on Lynera''s words and dispel any prejudice you have against her race or status. Treat her words as that of mine, see if you can find some wisdom in it. Tomorrow, hopefully, we will be more productive. This meeting is adjourned. Go take care of your families and affairs." All the councilors left with few sparing a glance towards Lynera. Urzic wanted to believe they would at least give his words some thought. He could''ve chosen to use the Monarch''s Law on the dismissal speech, but the more complicated the words were, the less effective the Blessing. He also wanted their actual thoughts about the possibility of uniting the people to save Vyndival rather than force them to agree with him. He slumped back on his chair and sighed so heavily it almost took his breath. "I feel like I''ve made a mistake coming here," Lynera said. Despite her statement, she sat down on the chair nearest to the king. Her two escorts stood quietly beside a pillar behind her. The meeting hall had a knack for making people feel small, the way it was built. King Urzic would rather not mind how high the overarching roof was, or how many sentries there were posted on every pillar. He could see Lynera feel exposed, but the felintine had a handle on it. She welcomed the challenge. "You''re becoming more and more of a Void Mother," Urzic commented. "I never finished my training." "It doesn''t matter. I''m glad you''re here." Urzic meant it as thanks for giving him an excuse to relieve his councilors, but the felintine must''ve taken it differently, the sort of way most would usually take. The realization took a little while to sink in, but the King did not regret his words. In fact, he rather enjoyed the sight of Lynera glancing away out of embarrassment. "What made you finally leave the tower?" Urzic tried to be as casual as possible, but all he heard from himself was awkwardness. Lynera didn''t notice. She was stoic. She glanced towards her young escort who brought forward a container of food. "Thought you might want some breakfast," the felintine said. A whole fish and a piece of bread. No soup, no water. Still, Urzic accepted the meal and asked one of his servants to find drinks for him and his Mistress. While Lynera willingly accepted half of the fish, she made sure he ate everything else. "The Void Region will be moving soon," she said while drinking freshly brewed tea. Urzic had trouble processing her statement. He drank his tea while chewed on the information. His calculations¡ªwith help from some of his more trustworthy advisers¡ªindicated that the risk of the Nightmare Lands moving northwards gave them as soon as a year, which was nowhere near soon. "What made you so sure?" he asked, finally. "A vision." Lynera met Urzic''s gaze without any hint of flinching, and rid of all her hesitation. "I cannot tell exactly when; I haven''t Opened my core for a very long time. But I know it''s soon. Very soon." She shook her head. "Far less than a year, Urzic." Urzic analyzed her words. Those yellow eyes staring at him, pleading him to hear out her warning, simply couldn''t be false. "What do you think I should do?" Urzic asked. "Should I tell the people?" Lynera''s eyes softened with compassion. "I don''t know," she said, but she was smiling. "But you should find a way." Urzic sighed again. He looked around, trying to find ideas on places that didn''t have them. No matter how much he ran the numbers, they simply didn''t have the people and resources to survive a Void Encounter coming from the south. Whether they had a year or less, the scale was simply too much. Even if he had the resources back from before the Battle of the Vanguard, it still wouldn''t be enough. Vyndival by herself wouldn''t be enough. "We need help," Urzic said, his whisper as much as a sigh as it was acceptance of their dire situation. "The Eastern Sanctum can''t help us," Lynera said. "It''s been taken over by the Nightmare. At least, that''s what I remember." "The Order of the Void can''t help us. They''re too busy dealing with the larger picture. If there''s still an Order, that is." King Urzic glanced behind Lynera. "How much do you trust those two?" he asked. "I trust them enough," the felintine replied, shrugging. "I need you to travel to Irista Nation," he said, controlling his voice just enough to make the statement a command and a request at the same time. "Convince them to help us. Since you''re still technically with the Order of the Void, they should listen to you." Lynera''s expression turned from denial to acceptance in quick succession. "What should I tell them?" "If they help us, we''ll be willing to merge our kingdoms under their rule. I will happily step down if it means safety for all our people. And should the successor of the Law of the First Monarch really does belong to them, I will give them everything they want. Including my life." "Our lives," Lynera corrected. "Give me a few days to prepare."
"Can you afford to take a week before you go?" "Why?" "Just to be safe." King Urzic still remembered the orbs¡ªwhatever those were¡ªinfiltrating their way into Irista Nation territory. He had no way to estimate how soon events would unfold as far as those things were involved. So, he trusted his gut. "And I want to spend more time with you." The Void Mother in-training smiled and stood with such grace that King Urzic followed without realizing. He held her by the hand and gave her a soft kiss. "Thank you, for doing this," he said. "I expect proper compensation before I leave and after I return." "Of course."
Chapter 74: Things of Guilt Things of Guilt
¡±Nightmares are, in a sense, a way to face fear. Often times, we succumbed to it. But only through facing our worst fears, will we find courage to fight the darkness ahead.¡± ~Liang¡¯s speech as it was told before she found it too cheesy.
¡±Jo¡¯war, how is she?¡± Kristel prompted a half-orc half-dwarven healer, who was currently preoccupied with making medical notes for Katherine. The Chief Healer of Atlas Sid acknowledged her presence only after a few more scribbles and presented a formal but hastened bow. Kristel didn¡¯t mind. She waited for her answers. ¡°Lady Katherine is recovering, Princess,¡± he said, finishing the notes. He hung them at the foot of the patient¡¯s bed while moving to the other side. Deft hands quickly checked and adjusted some contraptions that Kristel only knew by name along their shorthand purposes. ¡°That¡¯s the short of it, at least.¡± A meiyal-crafted ventilator assisted with Katherine¡¯s breathing. Kristel was sure it also trickled a steady amount of meiyal. Wires were also wrapped and injected into Katherine¡¯s body. Some of them at her arm, but most were focused on her stomach. Her exposed midriff looked like a pin cushion connected to solutions and rhythmically moving mechanisms. A tender scar lined from under her right breast all the way down to her left thigh. It stretched dangerously with the rise and fall of her chest, causing some slight tears, which resulted in mild bleeding. One or two of her medical attachments worked on mending the skin right away. ¡°And the long of it?¡± Jo¡¯war shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a tough assessment, Princess Kristel. Shattered skull, torn muscles, adrenaline overload, her entire rib cage were smashed into bits. Heart and kidneys were her only fortunate organs. Not to mention, she almost got torn in half. ¡°She basically doesn¡¯t have a stomach anymore, so we¡¯re remaking it from scratch. Her lungs are too damaged; another remake on those. I¡¯d say the intestines can be repaired, but at this point, we should just replace everything that¡¯s damaged and not leave anything to chance. Additionally, we face an unprecedented situation as far as our medical records are concerned, since we don¡¯t dwell with injuries caused by Nightmares. ¡°But Lady Katherine quite literally lives up to her name. Even while unconscious, she maintains Samesia. It¡¯s basically what¡¯s keeping her alive. Long enough for any of these medicines to work. See, we¡¯re not just healing her injuries, we¡¯re also trying to fight the Nightmare that¡¯s infected her body.¡± When Kristel looked confused, the Chief Healer continued to explain. ¡°The Nightmare¡ªthe Jaws Lurking in the Forest, they sometimes possess a unique type of venom. It¡¯s fortunate that you were able to contact Atlas Sid. If she ended up anywhere else in Irista Nation, her chances of survival would¡¯ve dropped quite significantly.¡± Jo¡¯war made a compassionate smile. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone else could¡¯ve survived whatever happened to her when she fought the Forest Jaws.¡± ¡°She fought three of them.¡± ¡°All the more reason why we¡¯re doing everything we can to heal her completely.¡± The Chief Healer then moved to the next patient. Frein lay asleep on a bed next to Katherine. He also had a ventilator. But just from the looks of him, free of any intruding pins or needles, the Visitor looked to be in a better situation compared to the Lady of the Void. Despite this, Jo¡¯war looked more puzzled. ¡°His is a more pressing concern,¡± he said. ¡°How bad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s bad enough that we can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s wrong with him. Or, to be exact, why there¡¯s something wrong with him.¡± ¡°Could it be a some sort of rejection syndrome?¡± Jo¡¯war nodded. ¡°That part, we figured out right away. What we can¡¯t figure out is why are there so many. He has pretty much all the varied symptoms for almost all types of rejection syndromes. It simply couldn¡¯t be caused by one rejected meiyal-charged material. It¡¯s as if he Gathered thousands. I¡¯m honestly more surprised that he¡¯s still breathing, compared to Lady Katherine.¡± ¡°What are you going to do to him?¡± Kristel asked. This time, the Chief Healer shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s beyond risky, Princess Kristel. One cure for a type of rejection syndrome could be deadly for another. There¡¯s no cure that will cover all the bases. So, we¡¯re stuck. ¡°For now, we have no choice but to observe. We¡¯ll get him his fluids, his nutrients. Make sure what goes in also goes out. The ventilator should provide some meiyal assistance so his core doesn¡¯t stagnate. We¡¯ll constantly do some tests and see if there¡¯s a change and hope we can give him some assistance after. But my gut tells me to just give him some time. I¡¯m not an expert with Visitors, but I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯re special.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. No, his meiyal system¡¯s just the same as ours, Kristel thought, keeping it to herself. ¡°Speaking of visitors, did Admiral Garm check up on Katherine?¡± ¡°Last night, Princess. His crew basically barricaded him out of the bridge for the entire evening. It¡¯s a pity he had to see his daughter this way after all these years. But we all know Lady Katherine will survive this. They both will.¡± With that, Jo¡¯war took his leave. Kristel sat on a sofa overlooking both beds. The lull in activity finally allowed her fatigue to catch up. And while the lime-colored sun finally reached its zenith, the Princess fell to a deep slumber.
Kristel Irista kept falling. The sharp edges of the cliff where she fell from grew smaller while she continued to plummet. She reached out in vain. Hopeless, the Princess turned to find the ground growing larger. Much larger, much quicker. Slam. A sinister set of teeth carved out a smile from within the darkness. No eyes, but it stared deep, snickering at her misfortune. It laughed mischievously at her disfigured body. In dreams¡ªor specifically, in nightmares¡ªfalling was one of the most common scenario. It also usually woke up the dreamer before she completely fell to the ground. Not the case for Kristel. There was no pain, neither was it bothersome. The smiling disembodied teeth bothered her more than the splattered body parts of herself. The emptiness of her surroundings nagged at her, telling her this was all a dream. And since it was, she reformed herself. Piece by piece, bone by bone, she attached them to the main body. The last of her discarded flesh finally joined her and she became whole again. The laughing teeth snarled and skittered away, vanishing into the darkness. Light was a luxury afforded to her, providing her vision as far as she could reach. Her small stature didn¡¯t give her that much, though. Still, there was nothing to shine upon save for herself anyway. Kristel travelled the empty dreamscape. Hours, days passed, and she did nothing but walk. Things walked alongside her. Empty vessels, keeping her company. She recognized most of them. In fact, she identified them all. Faces of the dead from the Battle of the Vanguard. It didn¡¯t matter which side they belonged, only that they were faces she recognized. One in particular, she knew the most. Liona¡¯s deadpan stare pulled at Kristel¡¯s guilt. They walked side by side, shoulders touching. She moved as though she was enjoying their stroll, but her face refused to show any other emotion save for an accusatory stare. A blaming stare. We all died because of you. You and your reckless pride. Stupid. Idiot. Liona leaned forward, reaching for Kristel¡¯s ear. Worthless. Kristel shot awake in cold sweat. The sun had set and the purple evening gave the hospital room a rather oppressing atmosphere. It might¡¯ve been just the fact that she had a nightmare. With a sigh, she pushed herself out of the sofa to check on Katherine. As far as she could see, nothing had changed. The graphs of the medical mechanisms showed consistency with her earlier check. Her stomach was still attached to various wires and contraptions, but at least her gigantic scar no longer bled as she breathed. Kristel turned to check on Frein, but Lady¡¯s hand grabbed hers with crushing force and chomped down with all her might, ripping off a large chunk of flesh. Kristel yelled in pain and pulled herself away, dragging Katherine and causing all her medical attachments to fall over. Blood¡ªhers and Katherine¡¯s¡ªsprayed throughout the entire room. Frein grabbed her from the back. He dug his sharp fingers on her breasts and assaulted her ass with his throbbing manhood. His teeth sunk deep into her neck and ripped out a large portion of her muscle. At the same time, Katherine consumed her from the stomach. They had turned to Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh. Katherine ripped apart the Princess¡¯s arm and used it to pleasure herself. At the same time, Frein climaxed inside her. He shifted and assaulted her from the front while he finally pulled apart both her breasts. He ate them and increased his pace. The Lady of the Void went for Kristel¡¯s lips, digging teeth and biting off her tongue. She chewed and swallowed while violently pushing the dismembered arm in and out of herself¡ªshoulder joint first, rather than the hand. Katherine smiled and went for the Princess¡¯s eye next, crushing it out with two fingers. Chew, swallow, in and out. Nose next. Chew, swallow, in and out. Leaving the other eye, Katherine traced a monstrously long tongue from the empty eye socket, down to the bloody nose, to her bloody mouth, and lastly, to her windpipe. Slowly, as Frein reached his own ecstacy, Katherine sank her sharp teeth. Kristel felt her life leave her as the jaws of her best friend completely deca¡ª A hand nudged her awake. The sight of Frein darkened by the light of the setting sun behind him caused Kristel to recoil in fear. The Visitor immediately backed off. ¡°You were having a nightmare,¡± he said. ¡°I had to wake you up. Sorry.¡± ¡°I might still be.¡± Tears fell down Kristel¡¯s eyes as she pulled herself into a ball. Her sobs bounced off the room¡¯s walls. Frein stayed kneeling in front of her. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, Frein,¡± she said, using all her courage to speak to the person that molested and ended her life in the nightmare. ¡°I¡¯m so tired, Frein. But I can¡¯t sleep. All I see is Liona and¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t finish. She didn¡¯t want to remember. Frein went to the nearby counter and returned seconds later with a glass of water. Kristel took it with trembling hands, careful enough not to touch his fingers. ¡°Whatever happened in the nightmare, Kristel. Know that I will never do it to you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you about it, yet.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to. I don¡¯t need to hear it, you don¡¯t need to relive it. Just listening from your voice tells me how much you¡¯re afraid of me right now. I can put two and two together.¡± Kristel nodded her thanks, but her fears didn¡¯t subside. The sight of Frein caused the vivid nightmare to resurface, still tender and livid in blood and guts. The water tasted like iron. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just you,¡± she said, shifting blue, teary eyes at Katherine. ¡°I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t do that to you either.¡± Frein returned to his bed and stared at Katherine. ¡°How long have you been having them?¡± ¡°A week.¡± ¡°Since the war, huh.¡± Kristel nodded again. ¡°Look, if it makes you feel better, you¡¯re free to punch me anytime you want. I won¡¯t fight back. Promise. There¡¯s no need for any reason. If you feel the need to punch someone, I can take it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Katherine would allow that.¡± Frein smirked. ¡°If I explain to her the situation, she might even join you.¡± ¡°You trust her that much?¡± Frein turned to her this time. ¡°If Kat asks me to kill myself right now, I won¡¯t even bat an eye.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± Kristel said, pulling her legs closer to her. Tears fell without any sign of stopping. ¡°But at least, you¡¯re not worthless.¡±
Chapter 75: Against the Fear reflexively withdrew further into her ball when Frein got up his bed. He looked at her once and sighed, walking slowly, as though approaching a frightened kid. She might as well be one right now. He stayed exactly one meter away from her and sat on the floor, waiting. ¡°Whatever it is, Kristel, you have to face it.¡± He presented both hands. ¡°Take your time. I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Silence descended upon the room. Only the rhythmic beeps of the monitors attached to Katherine and Kristel¡¯s calming sobs lingered through the lull. Frein kept eye contact. He stayed still, calm and understanding. He even deliberately stopped himself from Gathering and Milling. Frein just waited. Kristel just sat there. She stared at the Visitor and saw the flashes of her nightmare blurring in and out of her vision. Slowly, the Princess can feel a change. What was once fear was enveloped by rationality and logic. The nightmare versions of the two in front of her had been turned by the Nightmare¡¯s influence. It was an absurd thing to comprehend. If these two were to become Grinding Teeth, Brymeia would have no hope left. Why? Kristel couldn¡¯t understand the notion. Surely, if Katherine, the strongest Meiyal Arts practitioner, and Frein, the Visitor endorsed by the Gatekeeper himself, both succumbed to the Nightmare, nothing else would stand before the Nightmare Lands. There had been nothing from the Order of the Void. Yes, news of had reached them, but the form it took sounded severe rather than hopeful. And yet, Kristel was sure these two were the key. And so, they should never succumb to the Nightmare. With fear now under a pretense of control¡ªnot truly gone¡ªthe Princess felt a different emotion surface. Anger. Again, it was irrational, but this time, she was immediately aware of it. There was no reason to be angry at both Frein and Katherine. Whatever they did to her in the nightmare, the real ones in front of her would never even let the thought cross their minds. But Kristel could feel the pain. As superficial as they were, she could feel Frein¡¯s fingers digging into her breasts and Katherine gnawing at her stomach. Both of them doing whatever they wanted with her body. Nightmare or not, it was them. Her anger surged the meiyal within. No matter how much she convinced herself, it refused to subside. It needed an outlet. She unraveled her curled up ball and approached Frein with a closed fist. The Visitor saw her intentions and simply smiled. Kristel erased what little she had Drawn. She took a low stance, a step, and swung a wide arc, delivering a fully formed fist onto Frein¡¯s face. The Princess expected for it not to hurt the Visitor at all. A physical body, on its own, had no chance against one protected by the enhancement Meiyal Art. But when Frein flew face first, she knew he erased his own Siffera as well. Guilt crept in, but it was overshadowed by two things. First, as her punch connected, she realized her anger was wrongly directed at Frein and Katherine. She was angry at herself. A weakling surrounded by strong people. The distance growing between them was the most frustrating thing in the world, especially with Frein, who had only learned Meiyal Arts for six months. But that was the second part. It boggled her mind how much of an idiot the Visitor really was. Before she could reason out with him, pain stung from her hand. She broke one or two fingers. The pain was too much without Siffera to numb the pain. ¡°That¡¯s some nightmare,¡± Frein said. The Visitor tended to his bloody jaw while propped by the wall upside down. ¡°Did I rape you or something?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Kristel yelled, losing her temper. ¡°Yes, you did! Katherine, too! Ah, damn it!¡± The Princess fell on her knees, clutching her broken knuckles. There was a form of catharsis. A superficial one. She imagined things would¡¯ve been drastically different for people who were actually victimized by this crime. The relief felt undeserved, and it frustrated her to no end. ¡°Well, yeah, damn¡­¡± Frein slowly fell to his side, still rubbing his jaw. His speech, slightly hindered. ¡°We won¡¯t do that to you. That¡¯s a fact.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Kristel approached Frein and Drew , but he rejected her with a gesture indicating she should heal herself first. Given the distraction caused by the pain and the fact that she wasn¡¯t exactly an adept when it came to this Meiyal Art, it took her longer than usual. The moment she tried to touch Frein¡¯s face, a flash of that cursed nightmare caused her to hesitate. The real Frein didn¡¯t react to it. Again, he just waited. With a sigh, the Princess tried again. ¡°Samesia,¡± she invoked, hoping a sort of focus would form from speaking the Art¡¯s name. The spike in difficulty to heal someone else took a toll on her reserves. Frein just stared at her the entire time. ¡°You, okay?¡± he asked. Kristel finished the healing before she replied, tapping Frein¡¯s cheek twice. ¡°Yeah.¡± She sat on the floor opposite him. ¡°I¡¯m okay now, I think.¡± Frein raised a fist and presented it towards her. The initial impression made her think he was requesting a duel, but the slow and listless effort behind his gesture told her otherwise. She was left confused, instead. ¡°It¡¯s called a bro-fist,¡± Frein explained. ¡°You press fists together as a sign of friendship, and a solid indication that you are both in good terms. To not accept a bro-fist, is to declare a rift in between relationships, no matter how little.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. He raised his fist higher. Kristel raised hers¡ªthe same one she used to clobber Frein¡¯s face earlier. Their knuckles connected. Immediately, Frein smiled. The Princess felt something release her. Like a set of chains falling off her limbs. She felt light. Her chest felt at ease and her breathing relaxed. A sigh of relief followed by a bewildered smile. Like a kid mesmerized by a new toy, Kristel lightly tapped Frein¡¯s knuckles a few more times before she burst out laughing. She wished this was always as easy every time. An exhausted groan caught both their attentions. Like a blur, Frein jumped to Katherine¡¯s side as she tried¡ªand failed to turn. ¡°Ow.¡± ¡°Morning, sleepy-head,¡± Frein said, leaning in for a kiss. Kristel immediately pressed the button dedicated to call a healer. ¡°What were you guys¡­laughing about?¡± Katherine asked with burdened breath. The Visitor passed a glance at Kristel. She immediately held out a fist in front of Katherine, smiling. Like an automatic reaction, Katherine slowly raised her own and connected the two. Again, the Princess felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. She wanted to hug her friend, but the current situation made it problematic. Instead, the Lady of the Void reached out and held her face. ¡°Frein and I will never betray you, Kristel. We can promise you that.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t tell you anything¡­¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Katherine said, blinking lethargically. ¡°I can¡¯t help using my Blessing for some reason.¡± The door to the room quietly opened to show Jo¡¯war flanked with two other healers on each side. His orcish eyes¡ªdark-green with slit pupils¡ªimmediately magnetized towards Frein. ¡°How long have you been awake?¡± he asked the Visitor. ¡°She just woke up,¡± he replied. ¡°I meant you, Visitor.¡± ¡°Oh. A few minutes. Can you please check on her first? There¡¯s nothing wrong with me.¡± ¡°Alright, but I would still like to run some test on you. Just to be safe.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°No problem.¡± He shifted to make room for the healers while Kristel did the same. Jo¡¯war began asking the Lady some questions, but the Princess had mostly tuned them out. Her focus was on Frein. He carefully monitored the three, masking them underneath a passive expression. Whenever one person¡¯s hand moved, he was immediately tracking it. ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for the overprotective type,¡± she whispered. ¡°No, not always,¡± he replied. He was oddly still. ¡°If you found someone, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do the same.¡± While his eyes stayed on Katherine and the healers, Kristel observed him with no reservations. So, you want the gibberish type. Flimeth¡¯s words resounded inside her head. The Princess found it odd. Why now? Why so suddenly? She even entertained the thought if she was developing a certain infatuation towards Frein. Was it because of that nightmare? Jealousy? It didn¡¯t feel right. Then again, in her heart, she only found Frein as a friend at most. Like a big brother she never had. And it hit her like a speeding who hadn¡¯t seen her master for days. Kristel wanted someone who would look after her like the way Frein looked after Katherine. Someone who, despite the Lady¡¯s undeniable strength, fame, and prowess, would see a side of her that was vulnerable and treasure her for who she was. Envy was the right word. A yearning formed within Kristel. She wanted something her two friends shared. A slice of paradise. ¡°I¡¯m getting my priorities mixed up,¡± she said just as the healers finished examining Katherine. Frein met them with haste. ¡°She¡¯s in good condition but a very delicate one, Mr. Frein,¡± Jo¡¯war began. By the looks of his glances, he wanted to address Kristel first but immediately realized the connection between the Visitor and the Lady. He continued as soon as Kristel stood beside them. ¡°Katherine¡¯s flight or fight responses are in haywire. She¡¯s unable to discern which Meiyal Art to use and with how much emphasis. This also causes her Blessing to be at full function as well. We believe its due to the trauma induced by prolonged use of Samesia while sustaining such fatal injuries. Fortunately, she¡¯s not confused about keeping that Meiyal Art function, which helps us a whole lot.¡± ¡°So the problem is her meiyal supply and Art fatigue?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Art fatigue will eventually kill her,¡± Frein said, implying the question with as much patience as possible. ¡°We can¡¯t provide her depressants to neutralize her Drawing because that will erase Samesia altogether. With the injuries she¡¯s still sustaining, she won¡¯t last a day without that Art. Instead, we¡¯ll let her keep going with Drawing Meiyal Arts until she can regain control. We¡¯ll provide her with as much meiyal as she needs. As for her Art fatigue¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll share her burden,¡± Frein said. Jo¡¯war seemed to understand right away, but it was lost on Kristel. ¡°Are you sure?¡± the Chief Healer asked. ¡°The rate she¡¯s going she¡¯ll reach fatigue every hour. We don¡¯t know how long this situation will last. It could be a day, it could be a week.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. She did it for me every time during training. I can do it for her.¡± ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but can you explain?¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t hold her curiosity. ¡°The simplest and quickest way to alleviate Art fatigue is through meiyal resuscitation, but unlike cardiopulmonary resuscitation, this is more intimate.¡± Jo¡¯war passed the baton towards Frein. ¡°It¡¯s a kiss,¡± he said. ¡°A very deep and prolonged kiss.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s an exhaustive dissertation regarding why this only works between lovers, but I won¡¯t bore you with the details,¡± Jo¡¯war said. ¡°Simply put, if I were to insist upon my professional advice, I would say: have Lady Katherine take the medicine for Art fatigue. There¡¯s no need for either of you to prove your love for each other.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Frein nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll take our leave. We¡¯ll provide the medicines at regular intervals. And, as agreed, I¡¯ll schedule you for some tests tomorrow, Mr. Frein.¡± Jo¡¯war and his healers left the room while Kristel and Frein went to Katherine. She was back to sleeping. With nothing else to do, Frein returned to his bed. He began to Gather and Mill. He regulated his pace, making sure that it won¡¯t affect any apparatus currently attached to Katherine. Kristel, on the other hand, sat back on the sofa. ¡°Where¡¯s ?¡± she asked, suddenly noticing that the hadn¡¯t made her presence known for a long while despite Frein¡¯s activity. ¡°Asleep,¡± Frein replied, sparing her a glance. ¡°The Exhibit we Gathered was a little too much. Elizzel was already tired before then. I¡¯m letting her sleep in my meiyal core.¡± Kristel latched on that one word. ¡°Exhibit?¡± Frein nodded. ¡°I met inside The Mist. I know you¡¯re curious, but I¡¯d rather wait for Katherine to hear it, too.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she conceded. ¡°But by Exhibit, you mean Rindea¡¯s Exhibit?¡± Frein nodded again. ¡°No wonder they couldn¡¯t figure out what was wrong with you.¡± Frein didn¡¯t respond and left Kristel to ponder on her own. He was absorbed in his own Gathering and Milling. Kristel observed him again. She couldn¡¯t discern the same details like when Frein first explained how worked. But the Visitor¡¯s Milling was so plainly strong that she could see the weight just with Siffera alone. It was absurdly heavy, even when compared to his earlier Millings. ¡°Your Milling a bit different,¡± Kristel implied. ¡°I¡¯m Milling four types of meiyal. Elizzel helped me before, but I wanted to try it on my own.¡± ¡°Four?¡± ¡°Brymeia¡¯s, mine, the ¡¯s, and Elizzel¡¯s.¡± Kristel¡¯s amazement reached its limit. She got up and strode towards Frein with purpose. Each step, she rid herself of her pride. She didn¡¯t care when the Visitor reflexively raised his guard. She took his hands and stared deep into his eyes. ¡°Teach me!¡± she proclaimed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. I never got used to it!¡± Her embarrassment reached its peak, compelling her to let go of his hands. But she pushed her initiative. ¡°Everything you do, it all stems back towards your Milling form. The reason your Siffera is so much better than any other practitioner is because of that form. ¡°I need to get stronger, Frein. I¡¯m the only one getting left behind.¡± Tears started to form. She would plead if she had to. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything! Please!¡± ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± Frein agreed almost immediately. ¡°But you need to promise me one thing first.¡± ¡°Anything!¡± ¡°Never say ¡®I¡¯ll do anything¡¯ to anyone ever again.¡±
Chapter 76: Choices of One Who Climbs Mountains Choices of One Who Climbs Mountains
¡±No. She¡¯s the only reason I came to this world.¡± ~Frein Nivan
Frein refused countless times when Kristel offered to guide him around Atlas Sid. The Princess wanted to offer thanks in exchange for all the ideas and concepts he gave her regarding the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. She looked just as astonished by the fact that meiyal could be squeezed down into thin layers to fill a meiyal mark, providing an illusion of an infinite vessel. ¡°Sorry, Princess, but Katherine¡¯s the only reason why I¡¯m here.¡± Frein gazed upon the Lady of the Void. The love of his life, the only one that mattered. There were fewer contraptions attached to her now. As promised, a healer regularly checked in on them and provided medicine for her. It was usually Jo¡¯war, but sometimes, it was someone else. Frein had forgotten how many times he had to apologize for being somewhat hostile to strangers. He didn¡¯t like it either, but he couldn¡¯t suppress his protective instinct. Tests were also done on him, but they all returned inconclusive¡ªwhatever it was they were trying to find out. As far as results were concerned, there was nothing special about him. ¡°You haven¡¯t left this room for two days,¡± Kristel insisted. ¡°Someone¡¯s been visiting during the night. Whenever we¡¯re asleep,¡± Frein said, ignoring the Princess¡¯s persistence. ¡°That would be Garm Militia, Katherine¡¯s father,¡± she replied before taking a step back. ¡°Wait. You said you¡¯re asleep.¡± ¡°Enza told me.¡± As if on cue, the invisible yuma made herself known, tapping a soft paw on the Princess¡¯s leg. Kristel brushed her hand on the invisible paw and instinctively reached out for the yuma¡¯s face. ¡°How long has she been in Nature¡¯s Favor?¡± Without Enza in sight, she asked Frein instead. ¡°Turns out, the Blessing won¡¯t demand too much meiyal as long as she keeps still. She¡¯s been like this ever since we got to Atlas Sid, she said.¡± ¡°This feels a little weird.¡± ¡°Right.¡± When Kristel¡¯s facial expression¡ªdespite all the distractions he threw at her¡ªdidn¡¯t change, still adamant on insisting on her offer, Frein shifted tactics. ¡°How¡¯s your Milling?¡± he asked. ¡°A little improvement, thanks to your advice. That¡¯s why I¡ª¡± ¡°Show me.¡± Backed into a corner, the Princess started to Mill. She performed it with a loose posture, standing and relaxing. She quickly grew tired. Clicking her tongue in frustration, Kristel planted herself down on the floor and closed her eyes. Frein Drew Mesiffera. Kristel¡¯s Gathering was like any other average high-level Meiyal Arts practitioner. Almost on par with Katherine before she retrained herself to Gather with as much greed and abandon as Frein himself. For the Princess, this was a thing she should quickly rectify, but not something she could do right now, given how close they were to the recovering Lady of the Void. Katherine needed all the meiyal she could get. Kristel¡¯s Milling was¡­cringeworthy at best. Embarrassing, awkward, inconsistent. A symptom cultivated through generations of what modern practitioners knew of their Meiyal Arts. Too traditionalist. Too old. Too respectful. There wasn¡¯t even any need to misdirect her at this point. He could give her pointers for days, and it wouldn¡¯t matter unless she at least changed her mindset. Frein sat opposite Kristel and waited for her to finish. At the very least, she was doing her best not to revert her Milling form to the simpler options, though at the end of it, she barely Milled five percent of what she Gathered. The rest dispersed out of her body. And the yield was¡­acceptable at best. Frein didn¡¯t have to say anything when the Princess opened her eyes, disappointed at herself. ¡°Imagine a mountain,¡± Frein began, not caring whether the Princess wanted to protest or not. ¡°A mountain so high, so full of dangers that people who climb them are called insane. Imagine that particular mass of land is the Meiyal Arts discipline and the climbers are its practitioners.¡± ¡°But we can use Meiyal Arts,¡± Kristel retorted. ¡°We can climb mountains easily.¡± Frein felt a hint of sarcasm dripping out of his lips, but held himself before it was too late. The Princess had a valid reason to be lost in this analogy. ¡°Imagine how hard it would be to climb without Meiyal Arts,¡± he corrected. ¡°How high you climb represents your stage in this discipline, your level of expertise. We all start at the bottom, but some may be fortunate enough to begin a little higher. But the goal remains the same: climb to the peak. ¡°Each road a practitioner takes may be different, or it may be the same as the one that came before. How often you climb, how fast you climb depends on you as the practitioner. People would even make roads, reform a part of the mountain to make it easier for the next generation of climbers to reach the same height for significantly less time. Those that took the easy road will quickly find themselves missing something.¡± ¡°The perseverance you develop from climbing,¡± she said. Frein was glad the Princess caught on the analogy easily. ¡°Correct. Whatever road you choose, they lead towards the peak. But here¡¯s the catch: the paved road only leads halfway. The mountain is too stubborn, too demanding the rest of the journey. You have no choice but to climb on your own. But climb you do, because you want to be stronger.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s what I have to do? Climb on my own?¡± Kristel said, still disappointed but with a little more determination. ¡°I know I¡¯m asking a lot but¡ª¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand, Princess Kristel.¡± Frein stared at her eyes to emphasize his next words. ¡°You¡¯re on the wrong mountain.¡±
¡°What?¡± Kristel felt she was on the precipice of discovering a certain enlightenment. She understood Frein¡¯s analogy, except the final part. It felt a little too jarring. Frein smiled. The Princess could tell he was getting fired up. ¡°All schools of thought can be represented with a mountain. Even something like Meiyal Arts can be taught multiple different ways, leading to more mountains. The thing is, each of these mountains have different peaks, different heights. One is always higher than the other. ¡°Between the mountain you¡¯re on and the one Katherine and I are on, which one do you think is higher?¡± Kristel knew what Frein was trying to imply, so she skipped the answer and formulated her counterargument. ¡°What makes you certain yours is higher?¡± ¡°Good point.¡± Frein nodded in agreement. ¡°I can only really discern things from experiences that I¡¯ve gathered and read about. For the record, I rely more on personal experience, but I won¡¯t discard records either. The thing is, it¡¯s all a matter of perspective. In front of you are two undeniable pieces of evidence that prove that the peak of our mountain is higher. Is it conclusive? Time will tell, I guess.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. The Visitor crossed his arms and exhaled. ¡°Really, this is just a very roundabout way of me saying that, if you want to Mill like we do, you have to start climbing our mountain.¡± He shrugged. Kristel realized what those words meant. ¡°You want me to start from scratch?¡± He nodded once. ¡°Far worse. This is a decision you have to make on your own, Kristel. It¡¯s a very excruciating process. Even through this path, the mountain analogy still works. You can¡¯t just jump down and fall. That¡¯ll basically kill off any hopes of learning anything properly. You have to climb down, slowly get rid of your old habits, forcefully forget anything you¡¯ve learned. And once you have a clean slate, you can start climbing again. ¡°But I can¡¯t tell you which is the right thing to do. We all climb in different ways, at different speeds. You might be better off climbing the one you¡¯re on now.¡± ¡°Years of practice, training, and studies¡­you¡¯re saying they¡¯re useless?¡± Kristel felt a tinge of anger, but she allowed her reason to tame it. Frein wasn¡¯t someone who took effort for granted. In her view, he was the epitome of it. ¡°No, of course not. You¡¯re not making a new climber, Kristel. You¡¯re just switching mountains. Whatever foundations you already have, you still keep.¡± Frein¡¯s brows curled to a frown. ¡°Okay, I admit that last part¡¯s a little confusing. But you get what I mean. If you keep relying on your old ways, your old traditions, the way you were meant to Gather and Mill, you won¡¯t be Milling or Gathering the way I do, the way Katherine does. ¡°Be greedy, Kristel. Take everything your meiyal system can Gather. Don¡¯t take just enough so you can start Milling. Fill it to the brim and Mill as hard as you can. Mill as many as you can. Don¡¯t think about how much you¡¯re wasting, or if your opponents will wait for you.¡± Each word was blasphemous to her ears, but he was right. The way Frein Milled was considered rude, but looking at it closely, there was no universal law saying that he shouldn¡¯t. No karmic cycle would lead to his punishment for Gathering and Milling his way. It was rude because society said it was. She was brainwashed by it. No better time to change than right here, right now. Kristel closed her eyes and tried again. ¡°No, please stop,¡± Frein interrupted her. ¡°Not here. I¡¯m not saying that you can¡¯t do it on your first try, but in the off-chance that you manage to do it, you might suffocate Katherine. She needs the meiyal around here.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Kristel said, controlling her excitement. ¡°I noticed that when you were Milling.¡± The thought brought to her an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Frein said, smiling. He read her like a book. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t leave Kat. Unlike meiyal-charged materials, there¡¯s no harm in practicing this on your own. You can feel your own Art fatigue approaching, so stop when you feel tired. You can always come back here and show me your results if you want.¡± She threw up her arms and gave up. ¡°Okay. Fine. We¡¯re arriving in the Flat Lands tomorrow. If you want me to bring you a blindfold so you don¡¯t accidentally see any detail or landmark in Atlas Sid, let me know.¡± ¡°Katherine should be fine by tonight,¡± he said. It sounded ominous. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He just smiled. Kristel had a notion of what was to happen. Despite Jo¡¯war¡¯s insistence, Frein still considered providing Katherine his own four-meiyal. He had been hard at work Milling it. Fortunately enough, Elizzel¡¯s and the Emerald Guidance¡¯s meiyal didn¡¯t behave the same way Brymeia¡¯s did. For those two types, there were no dispersion time limits, as if they were his own. ¡°You that sure it would work?¡± she asked. ¡°Positive,¡± he replied. ¡°I¡¯m going to give her the same amount as last time. I can¡¯t believe it took me two days to Mill this much on my own. But Elizzel¡¯s still asleep.¡± ¡°Maybe something¡¯s wrong with her? You did try to Gather an Exhibit together.¡± ¡°No, she warned me about it. Faunel transformation is taxing, unless she was able to accumulate enough meiyal beforehand. But Letterman asked her to do something else, remember? Elizzel was kind enough to help us out, so I didn¡¯t want to bother her unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary. She said she might need to sleep for a few days.¡± The mention of Letterman reminded her of that time. She also remembered that Frein still didn¡¯t know about it. She felt conscious of the Visitor¡¯s eyes, and she knew he could tell she was thinking about it. Eyes too inquisitive he could almost rip out the answers by himself. No harm in sharing. ¡°When we were fighting the Forest Jaws, someone saved my life.¡± Frein was kind enough to give an interested expression. Kristel found the sarcastic gesture exhausting. ¡°It¡¯s the Letterman.¡± It became the name they eventually assigned to this mysterious person. Apparently, Frein decided to give a more endearing nickname. ¡°Did you see what he looked like?¡± Frein asked. They also just agreed to refer to him as male, but in truth they still didn¡¯t know anything about this person. As expected, she didn¡¯t have to answer. ¡°No, huh¡­¡± Kristel shook her head. ¡°He gave me something, though. A meiyal-charged material. Forced me to Gather it.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t know what it is.¡± She shook her head again. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask if you can convince Elizzel to take a look at it for me. I¡¯ve been afraid to look.¡± ¡°I guess I can try waking her up. It has been a while.¡± Frein frowned. ¡°Why, though?¡± Kristel felt satisfied that she actually piqued Frein¡¯s interest this time and decided to push a little further. ¡°My Exhibit is¡­a little scary.¡± ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Frein was in deep thought. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when she wakes up.¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t determine what he was thinking, but no doubt he was storing this information somewhere. He had read every book he could find, investigated every concept no matter how trivial or irrelevant they might seem in the first place. The Meiyal Weaving from a few days back got him interested the most, until he found out the resources he would need to invest to learn it, but he never took anything for granted. Even the first edition of The Artistic Meiyal didn¡¯t escape his interest and he finished the entire tome in one evening. Not to mention the research about meiyal resuscitation that Jo¡¯war spoke about, which he devoured in an afternoon tea. But with every book he finished, his sighs and disappointment only worsened. He would close the book and always say, ¡°Still nothing.¡± ¡°What are you trying to look for?¡± Kristel asked, abruptly changing the subject of their conversation. Without a hint of confusion, Frein replied right away. ¡°Clues.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Why there has to be a Visitor.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kristel realized how much she had taken Frein for granted. ¡°I didn¡¯t think about that.¡± He just smiled. ¡°It¡¯s why I don¡¯t bother asking. Right after I arrived, every person I meet who finds out that I¡¯m the Visitor only looks at me with pity and understanding. That quickly tells me that they only know I¡¯m about to die. They don¡¯t know why I have to die, or why I chose to in the first place. They simply accept and move on.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t ask them.¡± ¡°I did at first, but no one knows anything. You sure as hell don¡¯t.¡± Kristel shrugged and shook her head, accepting his point. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Only four people so far have had any significant connection to the Visitor. Katherine, Schrodie, Elizzel, and Rindea. ¡°Schrodie knows why I have to be here, but refuses to tell me. She says I have to discover it on my own so that I make my own decisions. Which is fair. Katherine is connected somehow, but we¡¯re both not sure exactly what it is, except for the fact that she brought me here. ¡°Elizzel¡¯s here to help me, but her memories about Visitors are gone. She¡¯s basically just acting based on her nature as a faunel. Rindea¡¯s probably the most involved. She told me I have to find something, but I can only find it if I can take a Glimpse Through Destiny.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kristel asked. It was Frein¡¯s turn to shrug. ¡°Beats me. The more solid clue I got from her is that another faunel was involved during the inception of Visitors. Alphazzel.¡± The name rang a bell and Kristel instantly reacted. Frein caught it like a waving signal. ¡°You know something?¡± he asked. ¡°Alphazzel wrote our history books,¡± she said. ¡°I already read all your history books.¡± ¡°The ones on M.O.B.I.L.E. Library sure. Those are revised editions for ease of academic learning. Alphazzel¡¯s scriptures are more precise and are guarded in the High Palace. I can give you access to those if you think it will help,¡± Kristel eagerly offered. If Frein wouldn¡¯t accept her previous thanks, this would surely make up for it. ¡°You don¡¯t have to break even with every favor I make for you, Kristel,¡± Frein said, smiling. ¡°We¡¯ll always help each other out. That¡¯s what friends do. But I¡¯ll take you up on your offer. It looks like I know where we¡¯re going next.¡± Satisfied, Kristel reverted to a thought she had been meaning to ask at the start of this conversation. Frein, always reading her like a book as though he was Blessed by Heart¡¯s Will¡ªwhich, at this point, she wouldn¡¯t be surprised to find out¡ªsimply beckoned the question over. ¡°You never really told me the reason, Frein,¡± Kristel began and somehow found it appropriate to gather her courage, ¡°why did you choose to become the Visitor?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you before? Katherine saved my life. Multiple times. I¡¯m here to return the favor.¡± ¡°As if I¡¯d buy that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the one I¡¯m selling.¡± Frein¡¯s smile was clear. For the first time, Kristel felt what it was like to read someone like a book. That smile. Tired, yet staying strong. Detached to the self. Clinging desperately to someone else. He wasn¡¯t trying to repay Katherine. Katherine was the only one he had left. Frein¡¯s smile turned somewhat embarrassed. No, ashamed. Kristel felt a connection. As though she had entered a room that this man kept locked away in the darkness. ¡°I see¡­¡± Kristel didn¡¯t know what to think of it. There were no illusions of grandeur. No desire to save the world. There was only the wish that the one he cared for the most be the happiest one of them all. But¡ª ¡°I know,¡± Frein said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. If I wanted Kat to be happy, we could¡¯ve just stayed on Earth. But unlike me, she has more people who care for her. I didn¡¯t have to ask, but I know the longer Kat stays on Earth, the more likely she¡¯ll lose the ability to return here. And I couldn¡¯t find it in my heart to keep her away from all of you.¡± Frein looked satisfied as he stared into Kristel¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m glad I got to know she¡¯ll be in good hands when I¡¯m gone.¡± Kristel felt her world turn upside-down. Anger filled her heart, doused repeatedly by pain and sadness. She was utterly confused. ¡°It¡¯s so selfish¡­¡± she cried. Tears fell uncontrollably, and her hand hurt from clenching too hard. Frein simply continued to smile. ¡°It¡¯s the most selfish thing one can do.¡±
Chapter 77: When Katherine Stepped On Earth When Katherine Stepped On Earth
¡±For when dreams tie into reality... And the realm of all things become true¡­ A world of a path no longer still¡­ All that is left is me and you.¡± ~Norazzel, Faunel of Dreams and Memories
Katherine sat upon the cradle of her Mind Palace. It was represented by a grand cathedral. Stained windows depicted her memories, colors shifting to new shapes of different recollections. The floor was polished sleek black, but empty save for a single, sophisticated, red cradle reserved for her size. It floated off the floor and rotated slowly. On the corner of her Mind Palace, towards the doors leading to her Exhibit was a human silhouette clad in pink and green, glowing meiyal residue. It stood silently like it had done so for years. Katherine had learned to ignore its whispers and in turn, it had learned to shut up. She couldn¡¯t move out of her cradle and, for some reason, it chose to fixate on the silent silhouette, slowly halting its rotation. The Lady felt pity for it. Despite ignoring it for this long, it persisted to beg for her attention. It should deserve some at this point. ¡°You want to watch something?¡± Katherine asked. It nodded once. Without a second thought, Katherine¡¯s mind shifted towards a fond memory, and the cathedral, in turn, followed her desire.
Recollection: Katherine Militia Subject: When the Two First Met Timeframe: Day 320 of the 24th Year of Monarch Denis Katherine Militia stepped on Earth. A delicate foot pressed upon solid ground of a park unbeknownst to her. The chill of the night, a calm darkness lit only by one, lonely, yellow moon, embraced her soft skin. Her hand reached out and tore a small opening on the space before her, pulling out a black coat. She realized her mistake a little too late. Katherine took a second to curse herself. These habits wouldn''t do. Blood-red eyes peered from one tree to another while a pair of slender arms busied themselves with the coat. Thankfully, it seemed nobody noticed. A sigh caused hot breath to roll out. She walked and observed her surroundings while undoing the tie of her brown ponytail. The parks here on Earth didn''t look any different from Brymeia. And it seemed she arrived safely without causing any trouble. No witnesses, at least. Determined, Katherine closed her eyes to disguise their color. As far as her research went, no human of Earth had eyes of crimson red, except for vampires and other fictional creatures¡ªfiction was a debatable term in her mind. Then again, people here didn''t consider vampires to be humans in the first place, but that was all the more reason she wanted to avoid any potential of a modernized witch hunt. Well, I should probably go find a place to sleep, at least. Katherine followed the paved road, hoping it would lead her out of the park. It only took her a few steps until a sudden movement caused her instincts to kick in. She jumped back a little farther than what she intended. Out of the corner of her eye, sitting on a bench facing away from her, was a man. ¡°Damn, I lost,¡± he sighed. Before Katherine could even process what the words meant, the man jerked awake and turned towards her. The clouds above moved, allowing the moonlight to shine down upon his black, unkempt hair. A pair of black eyes stared at her, not even trying to hide their suspicions. Scratches and bruises riddled the rest of his face. There shouldn''t be anybody here at this hour¡­ His thoughts were clear as day. ¡°Hi,¡± Katherine said, putting forward her best smile. ¡°I seem to be lost, do you mind helping me out?¡± The man''s wary thoughts lingered and doubled, but much to her surprise, he got up from the bench and approached her. ¡°You need a place to stay?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alright, follow me.¡± The man turned, but she quickly intervened. ¡°By the way, I''m Katherine. What''s your name?¡± He gave her a side eye and his cautious thoughts redoubled once again. Am I getting scammed? Why''s a cute, pretty lady trying to strike up a conversation? I might get mugged if I''m not careful. Maybe I should just run? ¡°Not much of a talker, huh?¡± Katherine probed with interest, but ultimately decided not to press further. ¡°Well, that''s okay. Once you get me a place to stay, I should be fine on my own. Sorry for the bother.¡± The two made it out of the park without issue. They took a right turn and continued along the sidewalk. Cars¡ªvehicles that existed somewhat in a different form in her own world¡ªpassed them by occasionally. ¡°It might take a while to get there,¡± the man said. He stopped and allowed Katherine to catch up. She didn''t miss the fact that he deliberately turned so that he ended up in between her and the main road. Subtle gentleman work. ¡°You don''t mind walking?¡± ¡°I don''t.¡± Katherine gave a genuine smile of gratitude this time. Though a speeding car wouldn''t really hurt her, she still appreciated his gesture despite all his cautious thoughts. Indeed, the walk was long. As well as the silence. It didn''t take too long for things to get awkward between them. Katherine took a small peek at his face. He looked battered, but his expression¡ªa faraway stare into the distance¡ªdidn''t seem bothered by it for one bit. Curious, she decided to peer into his thoughts once more¡­ ¡­there''s also the fight next week. I don''t think I can recover much before that. I probably won''t make rent if I skip it, though. I wonder if there are part-time jobs at this time of the year. If I get too many consecutive losses, I''ll definitely lose favor. I wouldn¡¯t have to fight as much if I¡¯m a champion, though¡­ He wasn¡¯t even thinking about her! Katherine couldn''t decide whether to be angry or not. She chose to stay neutral about it and probe a little more. She saw him glance as another car passed by. Along with a prolonged mental sigh, a dark thought surfaced in his mind. I can¡¯t really end it all in front of her. Maybe tomorrow¡­maybe tonight. But I can¡¯t give the landlady any trouble¡­ ¡°So¡­where are we headed?¡± Katherine prompted almost too urgently, trying to sway his thoughts out of whatever it was he was planning. ¡°My apartment,¡± he replied almost too quickly for a man in deep, dangerous thought. ¡°There''s a vacancy just a few days ago. If you don''t mind being next door neighbors, I''ll introduce you to the landlady. Otherwise, I can bring you to an agency tomorrow. They can help you find a place much quicker than I can.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I don''t mind being next door neighbors with you.¡± Katherine smiled once again in an effort to get more of his attention. She found him quite interesting, a curiosity of sorts, especially how quickly he shifted from self-destructing to calm and accommodating. When his eyes stared at hers for an uncomfortable amount of time¡ªdangerously long given that they were walking¡ªshe couldn''t help but withdraw. ¡°Something on my face?¡± When she didn''t hear an answer right away, she peered into his head once again, hoping to hear something better than the previous one. She''s flirting, right? I don''t know¡­should I bite? We''ll be next door neighbors, so I don''t want to start on the wrong foot and make things awkward. That''s a really beautiful smile. I wish I could see that smile every day. She¡¯ll definitely think I¡¯m a weirdo if I tell her that. Katherine failed to stop a chuckle. ¡°What?¡± he asked. His obliviousness to the situation didn¡¯t help his case, and she ended up bursting into a full laugh. ¡°I should be asking that, Mr. Stare-a-lot. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say you¡¯re trying to drill a hole in me.¡± The man abruptly broke eye contact and quickened his pace a bit. ¡°Sorry.¡± The silence was filled by two speeding cars racing against each other. Damn it, brain! Are you a kid? Drill a hole! Why¡¯d she have to say it like that? Now, I can¡¯t get it out of my head! Intrigued, Katherine indulged in her curiosity and decided to dig deeper than his surface thoughts. A rather nasty and raunchy image of the two of them played through her mind. The real him desperately tried to wipe it away, but she looked on, absorbed into how the thought-versions of them were drowning each other for pleasure like they had lost all forms of decency. They were practically violating one another. It was curious how he saw her, fighting for dominance in bed¡­ A premonition arrived like the dawn of a new day. Enlightenment unlike any other. Katherine realized how free she was now. True, she arrived here on Earth to find the Visitor. But no one would be crazy enough to sacrifice their entire life for a cause they didn¡¯t even know. Maybe she didn¡¯t have to find the Visitor. She could just stay here and have a new life. Maybe he could give her that new life, and she could give him a reason to keep going and forget thoughts of suicide. Maybe those were the reasons they met right after she arrived. Destiny, some would call it. Then again, she just met this man. Logic would say that his inner thoughts, acted upon or not, were predatory and insane. Then again, he did apologize. Too many maybes, too many then agains. It made Katherine frustrated and all the more curious. She managed to catch up. He was blushing. Cute. They crossed a long bridge over a wide river. The streetlights barely gave light to the calm waters below. It was eerie. ¡°Hey, sorry about that. I shouldn¡¯t have said it that way. The staring was a little too much, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault. I was thinking too much.¡± You sure are, she thought. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you if you tell me your name.¡± Katherine smiled again. At the very least, she was sure her smile was irresistible for him. It was teasing, and now, it even provoked his thoughts. She realized, she didn¡¯t mind indulging him. As long as these were inner thoughts that he could keep to himself, she didn¡¯t mind letting his imagination go wild. Only time would tell if she¡¯d let it be reality. ¡°It¡¯s¡ª¡± The horn of a speeding truck blared in their ears, and the strong headlights blinded them. Frein moved to push her off the collision course, but Katherine was quicker to act. She began to Draw. Siffera brought strength throughout her body and allowed her to move faster than any other car. With Frein¡¯s momentum falling towards her, she used it as leverage to pull him as well. Enhanced by her Meiyal Art, she managed to drag him out of the truck¡¯s way. The two rolled dangerously in the middle of the street. As the truck toppled over, its cargo missing them due to its fortunate inertia, Katherine and Mr. Stare-a-lot managed to dodge the oncoming traffic until they reached the island of the main road. In truth, Katherine subtly employed her Meiyal Arts in order to determine their safety, pushing away anything that might put them in danger with a flick of her power. She ended up sitting on top of him as the disaster behind them began to escalate. Car after car crashed on one another until the ones further away managed to break in time. Mr. Stare tapped at her thigh with repeated urgency. ¡°We need to help them,¡± he said. Katherine realized their position and quickly hid her embarrassment, awkwardly dismounting her new friend¡ªor at least, she considered him her new friend. Minutes quickly became an hour. Rescue and police officers had arrived on the scene. The two of them were given first aid and were allowed to leave the scene after a short interview. Without much further incident, they continued on their way and finally reached the end of the bridge. ¡°That was pretty heroic, back there,¡± Katherine complimented him and rewarded him with another smile. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing no one died.¡± ¡°That truck driver was drunk. He deserved to¡ª¡± He stopped and interrupted her with another stare. It was a calm look. One that didn¡¯t hold any weight, let alone stop her from speaking. Only that it did. Katherine didn¡¯t know what to make of it. ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± he said. ¡°We all have our problems, and we¡¯ll pay the consequences of our wrong decisions. But telling someone that they should die just because they did something wrong¡­no one deserves that. So please don¡¯t say that.¡± Naive. ¡°It sort of ruins how beautiful you are.¡± But sweet. ¡°Are you flirting with me now?¡± Katherine provoked. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t dodge the question!¡± The man ignored her and knocked on the first door along a set of doors of a multi-story apartment. Almost immediately, a beautiful elderly lady, huffing a cigarette, greeted them from the other side of the door. ¡°New tenant,¡± he said. The elderly lady took her cigar. ¡°You didn¡¯t just pick up a pretty-looking homeless girl, did you?¡± ¡°She is looking for a home, so to speak.¡± ¡°I meant poor.¡± The realization hit him and he almost headbutted Katherine. ¡°Are you?¡± ¡°I can pay rent,¡± she replied to him as much as to the landlady. ¡°Six months advance and fill up some papers.¡± ¡°Actually, can we skip the papers?¡± the man asked. ¡°We¡¯re sort of the same case.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± There was a vague hint of clarity in the landlady¡¯s tone. ¡°Alright, dearie. I¡¯ll take care of the papers, but payment now, first.¡± Katherine poked her stranger friend by the shoulder and asked for a private conversation. ¡°How much is six months'' advance?¡± She showed him a wad of cash Schrodie acquired before her venture to this world. Of course, she didn¡¯t show him everything she had, and she monitored his inner thoughts to see if he was taking advantage of her. Guess she¡¯s really not from here. That¡¯s a lot of money, though. He separated her money into three piles. ¡°This is for the advance. This one is the monthly rent, so make sure to have this many every month. Our landlady¡¯s not keen on keeping freeloaders. Here¡¯s the rest of your money.¡± After confirming that he was telling the truth, she couldn¡¯t help but feel much friendlier with him. ¡°Thank you.¡± She smiled again. She would keep giving him that smile if he¡¯d ask for it. But she really wanted to know his name first. They returned to the landlady, who happily gave her the key to the room. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Katherine.¡± The landlady stared at her for a while, waiting for the rest of her name. She didn¡¯t give it. ¡°Alright, Katherine. This is the only key we have. We always replace locks for new tenants. No spares. If you need spares, let me know, so I can have them made.¡± She tapped the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This guy will tell you where your room is. I¡¯ll send you the house rules tomorrow.¡± Katherine blinked twice. ¡°I was sure you¡¯d say his name. He didn¡¯t tell you, either?¡± ¡°Oh, I know who he is and what he does. I don¡¯t just drop names whenever there¡¯s a new face around. Anyway, time for my beauty sleep. Good night, you two.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a beauty sleep?¡± Katherine asked as they went up the stairs. Her curiosity suddenly slipped, and she was left to hope that it wasn¡¯t too strange a question. ¡°Just some marketing stuff, I think. Your room¡¯s over here. My room is the one right next to it. If you need anything, just knock.¡± He went to his room and opened the lock. Katherine did the same. ¡°Frein,¡± he said. Katherine just looked at him and blinked twice. ¡°Frein Nivan, that¡¯s my name.¡± He moved to enter his room. ¡°Katherine Militia.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°Goodnight, Katherine.¡± ¡°Actually, Frein.¡± Katherine closed her door and approached her new friend. She had made her choice. There was no way she would be leaving him alone tonight. ¡°Do you mind if we eat something? I haven¡¯t had anything the entire day.¡± After a thought, Frein pushed his door wide open. ¡°I¡¯ll cook something for you.¡± End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
¡°It¡¯s not the same as I recall,¡± Katherine said, smiling fondly. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I shook his hand the first day we met.¡± ¡°You should wake up soon, Katherine Militia,¡± the silhouette said from the corner. ¡°Dwelling in dreams will do you no good. Norazzel will find you and kill you if you linger too long.¡± The large, painted ceiling of the cathedral crumbled with the boom of a crashing impact. It all happened too fast. Claws the size of a Forest Jaws ripped apart the stained-glass windows. The snout of a colossal wolf descended upon the falling ceiling. Its crazed snarl opened to salivating jaws filled with sharpened teeth. Its eyes, aflame with maddened frenzy, pierced her with hate. And its ear-shattering roar caused her to vanish to nothingness. Katherine shot awake to the soft purple glow of the night sky. She could see the familiar sights of the Atlas Sid by her window. To her side was Frein, sleeping. A small white rose rested on her lap with a note on it. She recognized her father¡¯s handwriting and smiled.
Chapter 78: In Frein鈥檚 Mind Palace In Frein¡¯s Mind Palace
Elizzel woke up near Frein¡¯s unrealistically convoluted Mill. A soft bed was prepared for her, a floor cushion filled with enough fluff it almost embraced her. She had two pillows, a small, ergonomic one for her head and neck, and a large one enough for her size to wrap around. Soft music played around the Exhibit, a relaxing tune of piano and violin. The temperature was also cozy and warm, as if the room knew her preference and adjusted accordingly. Accommodating and comfortable. In other words, the faunel wanted to sleep herself to death with how much care she was getting. Needless to say, it took her a good full day to even consider stirring about. Even as she turned, her bed was spacious enough to keep her around its fluff. Heaven, so to speak. Finally, the faunel decided to open her eyes. The non-sourced lights of the Exhibit were gone, providing her with enough darkness to ease her vision. Only the green dimmed light of the Emerald Guidance glowed from her periphery. A yawn escaped her, and then a stretch. It felt good to wake up refreshed without the hassle of rushing herself to full awareness, for the wilds of the Nightmare Lands would never provide her this much luxury. This much freedom. With a satisfied sigh and a smile on her face, Elizzel turned again. To her surprise, she found the door leading towards Frein¡¯s Mind Palace opened. The owner walked around his memory room, holding a stack of paintings with a bunch more following him around. She never taught him how to do this. Then again, he was surprisingly intuitive of many things. Catching some sort of second-hand determination, the faunel rolled out of bed¡ªa wondrous and fun, yet short-lived experience¡ªand brought herself up to her feet. Her surroundings were a mess, that much was to be expected. There were destroyed display cases, remnants of materials they could no longer use, slowly disintegrating into meiyal residue, and two meiyal-charged materials neatly stored, waiting to be integrated presented themselves in front of her. She gave those two items a keen look. Rindea¡¯s Exhibit was filled with such incredible materials, but they were already so attached to the elven Worldborn that they chose to self-destruct rather than submit to a new master. Feisty little troublemakers, these meiyal-charged materials. If Frein were to integrate with that entire Exhibit, he would surpass Katherine overnight. Alas, things weren¡¯t always that easy. Still, for a Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm and a Shinemoon Scabbard to survive out of all the things in that Exhibit was already fortuitous enough as far as Elizzel was concerned. She smiled and left them in their respective containers, wrestling against her eagerness to integrate with them right away. For now, she was more curious at what her new host was up to. The museum of paintings that was Frein¡¯s Mind Palace had been converted to a workstation, or a storehouse of sorts. Layers upon layers of framed memory depictions were stacked on one another. There seemed to be some sort of organization, but only Frein held those threads. Even while trying to study him through their Tether, Elizzel only found herself confused by the complicated webs of connections. ¡°Good, you¡¯re here,¡± Frein began, noticing the superficial tug. He didn¡¯t even need to turn to her. ¡°I need a soundboard.¡± ¡°A what?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°Exactly. I need someone to bounce around ideas with. Helps me think better. This Mind Palace is amazing and all, but it doesn¡¯t portray everything one-for-one, especially in vague or less memorable¡­memories. And it¡¯s pretty confusing with all the information I have. Need to find the right clues.¡± ¡°Alright. Clues of what?¡± she asked. ¡°Everything.¡± This time, he gave her a glance. ¡°Every god-forsaken question there is about all of these.¡± ¡°These?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the real purpose of a Visitor? Why does Katherine have to be a Seeker? Who really is Schrodie? Why was your memory wiped? What¡¯s Meiyal Arts and why is it the one Iristans use now. Why are there meiyal marks if they don¡¯t matter at all? What¡¯s the Nightmare Lands? Why was it called Void Region before? ¡°What¡¯s a faunel? Who else is a faunel? Are all faunels good? Why do faunels represent things, like yours is Freedom and Consequences? Are they always supposed to represent vaguely contradicting concepts? For that matter, what¡¯s the Contradiction? What¡¯s Destiny?¡± Frein looked at his Mind Palace, a collection of paintings layered upon one another, hovering in rows and columns, or stacked in a corner. They all mattered. Connected to something. ¡°And a lot more¡­¡± He held out a hand, summoning one large frame, and began to work. ¡°And these memories will show you the answer?¡± Elizzel asked, still bewildered at the network of paintings. Frames upon frames were still filling the pile. She admitted, even herself didn¡¯t know how Frein managed to come up with this maze of memory images. ¡°No, of course not,¡± Frein replied as if he already expected the question. ¡°I¡¯m just making sure I have all the details, so I don¡¯t make the wrong assumptions.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°Well, the most obvious one is assuming that there¡¯s still a way to prolong my life.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible?¡± ¡°Being hopeful isn¡¯t a bad thing,¡± he began, studying the painting on his hand and reaching for another. ¡°Relying on it under the pretense that it might exist is the mistake. Lots of effort and time spent on wishful thinking only leads to regret down the line. I want something more concrete.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He mumbled to himself a bit. This is redundant, Elizzel heard from their Tether. She expected him to throw one of the paintings away, but he just chucked them both on the same pile. ¡°Here,¡± he said, directing the faunel¡¯s attention to a collection. Five paintings hovered together. ¡°These are all the information I have regarding the definition of a Visitor.¡± Each painting depicted a person. Himself, Katherine, Schrodie, Elizzel, and Rindea. A small frame also hovered beside them with Alphazzel¡¯s name on it followed by a question mark. ¡°It¡¯s so few compared to the rest of your collections,¡± she said. Frein nodded and sighed. ¡°To tell you the truth, no one in Irista Nation knows my purpose here. They only know that I¡¯m someone not from this world and is destined to die after one year.¡± ¡°Did you ask them?¡± ¡°Probed. Not asked. I did it to King Urzic the first day I arrived here, remember?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Frein pondered for a while. ¡°Trust, for one thing. The title of the Visitor is famous and prestigious enough that opportunistic people would make up crap to manipulate me into working for them. It¡¯s not like asking questions is a bad thing. People often take it as a sign of intelligence, which is wrong in my opinion. I think it''s only a part of real intelligence.¡± Elizzel gestured for him to continue when he clearly waited for some sort of retort. She didn¡¯t want a debate. ¡°Intelligent people, first and foremost, observe and analyze every bit of available information, and only ask the right questions to the right people. And in my ten days in Brymeia, so far, nobody affiliated with Irista Nation is the right person to ask. Lots of clues, though.¡± ¡°Even Princess Kristel doesn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing a real good job being a soundboard,¡± Frein commented with a smile. ¡°I did tell you before that I only want to help you. If you need a soundboard, then you¡¯ll get a soundboard.¡± Elizzel sat beside Frein and enjoyed watching him work his process. Patience was at the center of it all. How, she wasn¡¯t sure, but she decided to mimic him. ¡°What of the Princess?¡± she asked again. ¡°I asked her, and she¡¯s as clueless as we are. Like the rest of them, she thinks I¡¯m here for a glorious purpose. A lucky omen. She thinks I¡¯m here to save the world or something like that.¡± ¡°And what do you think?¡± ¡°Well, Brymeia does have a problem, obviously.¡± Frein pulled a painting that depicted the three Jaws Lurking in the Forest. ¡°But I have no idea how to deal with the Nightmare Lands, let alone just fight these guys without breaking a sweat. I, sure as hell, don¡¯t see myself getting rid of that within a year.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Well, if it was that easy, my predecessors would¡¯ve done it. I assume most of them are more qualified than I am.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯re not supposed to make assumptions?¡± ¡°Wrong assumptions.¡± ¡°What makes you think this one¡¯s right?¡± Frein paused as he began to speak. He then walked and disappeared into his labyrinth of paintings. There was silence for a while, only disturbed by his frantic rummaging, until his voice resonated from behind the frames. ¡°You¡¯re right, I could be wrong.¡± He appeared a second later. ¡°I assumed that the previous Visitors knew how to manipulate meiyal or have a superior source of magic, but I never got to ask Schrodie for clarification. Thanks, I¡¯ll strike that off.¡± ¡°That still doesn¡¯t mean you can deal with the Nightmare Lands in one year,¡± Elizzel said, ever the great soundboard. ¡°Correct. It just makes my job harder.¡± Elizzel caught the implication. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of saving Brymeia?¡± ¡°I mean, that¡¯s the only logical prospect there is. At least the one I prefer.¡± ¡°What are the other options?¡± ¡°For one, being a sacrificial lamb of sorts? Schrodie never really admitted it, but with just the ritual of how I got this meiyal system, it¡¯s definitely special in a way.¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°That when I die, my soul, my memories, my existence somehow gets absorbed into this meiyal system and Schrodie then collects it for some other purpose. Good or evil, that¡¯s beyond me. I would hate that, either way.¡± ¡°Morbid,¡± Elizzel commented. ¡°You¡¯re not going to refute?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I don¡¯t remember what happens when a Visitor dies.¡± ¡°Which leads me to my next topic,¡± he said. ¡°What happens after I die?¡± He made a grand gesture towards a stack of paintings on one of the corners. Three rows towered over them. ¡°These are all the books I¡¯ve read here in Brymeia,¡± he presented with an excited smile. ¡°I hoped, since Schrodie¡¯s bound by some greater will which stops her from sharing her secrets¡ª¡± ¡°Wait, a sec,¡± Elizzel interrupted. ¡°Schrodie¡¯s bound by what now?¡± Frein pointed towards another stack of paintings. ¡°These are all the moments I tried to get answers from Schrodie. All of these will show you how I got rejected.¡± A Recollection played, portraying increased difficulty during Frein¡¯s training sessions when he annoyed Schrodie with his questions. Elizzel got a good laugh out of it. ¡°And this one,¡± Frein pulled out a single painting. ¡°Is the only time she gave me a vague answer.¡± Elizzel focused on the new Recollection. It was the time when Schrodie gave Frein his meiyal system. At the end of it was a single line that the Recollection emphasized for the both of them. ¡°You need only know for now that Brymeia is not the only world involved here.¡± Frein continued his presentation. ¡°This ominous line pretty much tells me a lot of things.¡± It only made Elizzel confused. ¡°Explain.¡± ¡°Either Schrodie knows so much more, but is afraid to influence my decisions and¡ªor¡ªshe¡¯s bound by some sort of oath or a greater entity than herself, or she¡¯s just acting silly and grandiose. Former tells me that I¡¯m bound for greater things, latter means I¡¯m a sacrificial lamb.¡± ¡°That feels forced.¡± ¡°Yes, until I met Rindea.¡± Elizzel¡¯s mouth turned agape. ¡°How¡¯s that connected?¡± Frein moved out of the corner of paintings and fully committed to their tangent, pulling one of the five paintings involved on the definition of a Visitor. Rindea¡¯s depiction was on it. ¡°Rindea told me to find something. To glimpse into Destiny in order to locate this something. It¡¯s not unreasonable to assume that Schrodie will only tell me more once I get this something. If that¡¯s true, then there¡¯s a lot to pick up from that. I don¡¯t suppose you can tell me more about this Destiny thing?¡± He asked, pulling Elizzel¡¯s painting. The faunel shook her head. ¡°I already told you what I know.¡± ¡°That it¡¯s a tug-of-war between everyone and everything.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how to look at it, because I don¡¯t know, but I can tell you why Worldborns, Deitars, and gods are so obsessed with it.¡± Frein released the two paintings. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Remember when I asked you what separates gods from mortals?¡± ¡°I thought this is something you¡¯ll tell me far later.¡± Elizzel shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d be talking about Destiny this early either.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying it has something to do with Destiny?¡± She gave a nod. ¡°Worldborns and Deitars can look at it. See down the road, predict the future.¡± Immediately Frein replayed his Recollection of Rindea Fallsween. ¡°When she mentioned Evanclad Irista couldn¡¯t end The Four Sealed Ones, it¡¯s not just because of the Divine Severing¡­ Deitars on the brink of godhood¡­¡± Elizzel waited for Frein to find his conclusion. ¡°Gods can manipulate Destiny¡­¡± The faunel nodded. ¡°The Four Sealed Ones, while not being full-fledged gods, have a strong hold on their own Destinies, thus making them immortal against those that couldn¡¯t hold it.¡± Frein looked perplexed and suddenly jolted around his maze of paintings. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Elizzel asked, her curiosity suddenly spurred by the spike in his activity. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find¡­¡± Frein began but quickly lost himself in his internal thoughts. Immediately, a number of paintings hovered into a pile in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find all the information I know about Worldborns.¡± ¡°Why Worldborns?¡± ¡°To be a god, you have to be a Deitar. To be a Deitar, you have to be a Worldborn. This is the only path I know so far. But how does one become a Worldborn?¡± Rindea¡¯s Recollection immediately played back. ¡°It means the creature had gained enough favor from the gods to be reborn anew.¡± ¡°Well, that pretty much makes it useless,¡± Frein sighed. ¡°How so?¡± Elizzel asked. It warranted a frown from Frein. ¡°The Divine Severing makes it impossible to gain favor from a god,¡± he answered, but with each word, a form of realization slowly appeared on his face. ¡°You know there¡¯s another way.¡± Elizzel nodded. ¡°Not all gods were pushed away by the Divine Severing.¡± ¡°What?¡± But even as Frein¡¯s excitement surfaced, Elizzel couldn¡¯t help but feel disappointed for him. ¡°That¡¯s all I remember.¡±
Chapter 79: What Frein Really Knows
What Frein Really Knows ¡°If I can find this god, I can be Worldborn. Then maybe, I can be a god and alter my Destiny¡­¡± With every word leaving his lips, Frein felt more and more as though he was deceiving himself. Thoughts of a fool in denial. ¡°This is why I¡¯m not looking for hope,¡± he said and desperately pushed away the thought of changing his fate. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Elizzel asked, continuously fulfilling her role as his soundboard. He appreciated her efforts, but she sounded increasingly more convincing with every echoing question she asked. ¡°We can¡¯t tell anybody this, especially not Katherine.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to distract us.¡± Frein commanded a blank canvas to paint the entire brainstorming session and their findings so far. ¡°We can look into this on the side, or when we have the time. Clarifying my entire purpose on this world takes priority.¡± ¡°If you become Worldborn, that becomes as easy as looking,¡± Elizzel said, casually waving a hand. ¡°And if you manage to become a god, you won¡¯t die in one year!¡± Frein ignored her last sentence. ¡°Rindea did say I can only find it when I can see Destiny. But I was able to do it without being a Worldborn. Only five seconds ahead, but that¡¯s still something to consider. So, maybe both directions lead to the same destination, but looking for a god feels a lot harder than deciphering clues¡­ Unless, you¡¯re that god, or you know where it is?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just throwing guesses and praying something sticks at this point.¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the end of that. At the very least, I know where we¡¯re going next.¡± ¡°Alphazzel.¡± He nodded this time. ¡°If this leads to more clues, we can probably have a clearer vision of what¡¯s up ahead. I¡¯m still hoping it leads to me saving Brymeia, but that pretty much invalidates Schrodie¡¯s cryptic message, unless saving this world makes it so that it ends up affecting other worlds in some form or another.¡± ¡°This is so confusing¡­¡± ¡°It is what it is. Nothing much to do on this prospect other than finding more clues from the faunel of History and Disasters¡ªor his handwritten books¡ªas well as get better at looking at Destiny.¡± Elizzel seemed bored with how anti-climatic their conclusion was. She tossed around and inspected a pile of paintings, which immediately sparked her curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± she asked. ¡°That¡¯s from Monarch Denis¡¯ declaration. Not sure if you¡¯re up-to-date, but he technically announced some sort of competition for the next ruler of Irista Nation.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be Kristel Irista?¡± Frein summoned the frame depicting the rules of the competition. ¡°Nope. Apparently, whoever gets the majority vote from the public gets to win. It¡¯s like an election, back where I came from, except the people here cast their votes whenever they want until the Monarch dies or something.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sketchy,¡± the faunel said, releasing a painting back to the pile. Frein appreciated how the two of them were of the same wavelength for this topic. ¡°Exactly. I bet there are rules, but the entire premise doesn¡¯t really hold water, especially when Monarch Denis sent his rightful successor to a faraway province right after his declaration.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like he doesn¡¯t want her to win.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s the most obvious conclusion, if you think about it.¡± When Elizzel just looked at him with a puzzled stare, Frein continued. ¡°If I were to raise my expectations of Monarch Denis, I¡¯d say he¡¯s doing something genius.¡± He felt the faunel¡¯s patience fade in an instant and resorted to tug at their Tether to find a clear answer. ¡°Oh¡­¡± she said with a resounding awe. ¡°You should appreciate subtlety sometimes.¡± ¡°I have no patience for that.¡± ¡°Well, in any case, don¡¯t go telling anyone that. I have no proof, and we shouldn¡¯t go around giving people false hope, especially if they don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± Elizzel approached with enthused steps. ¡°What else are you thinking about? Don¡¯t you want to integrate with the materials? If you still have the hilt from Nakiri, we can use it as the base.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m actually asleep, so this is pretty much the only thing I can do for now,¡± Frein replied nonchalantly. The faunel¡¯s face immediately contorted to one of concern. ¡°How long have you been dreaming? We can¡¯t stay this long, or we might end up on her radar.¡± ¡°Her, you mean¡ª¡± ¡°Norazzel, the faunel of Dreams and¡ª¡± ¡°Memories. I know, calm down, Eli. Remember when I asked if all faunels are good?¡± ¡°What?¡± Frein enjoyed Elizzel¡¯s perplexed face a little more before proceeding to a curtain near the far edge of his Mind Palace. He raised it to reveal a window. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Outside was a hazy mess of prismatic clouds and translucent grasslands all within the same level. A distant, orange sun kept the atmosphere in perpetual sunset. There were a few tall trees with leaves of wildly varying pastel colors, and a cartoonish river connecting to a waterfall to nowhere. In front of the window was a pile of gigantic wolves. They huddled together for warmth and each canine was larger than the trees. All dozen of them were asleep. ¡°Norazzel¡­¡± Elizzel breathed with awe. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Last night,¡± Frein explained. ¡°They were exhausted¡ª¡± ¡°But she should be hunting down anyone who¡¯s lucid.¡± Elizzel fought the desire to run out of the Mind Palace. She wanted to hug the dream wolves. The emotion was so powerful that Frein could feel it through their Tether without even trying. So, he led her outside. ¡°¡®You¡¯re my only safe haven,¡¯ she said,¡± Frein explained as they walked the winding path towards Norazzel. ¡°So, I allowed them to rest in my dreams. She taught me how to work the Mind Palace in exchange.¡± ¡°There¡¯s so few,¡± Elizzel whispered. ¡°Where¡¯s the rest of them?¡± ¡°Probably stalking other dreams, I assume.¡± As if on cue, another dream wolf manifested beside them. Elizzel met the newcomer with open arms. The wolf, a creature whose eyes were as large as the faunel of Freedom herself, snuggled up in response. ¡°Norazzel!¡± Elizzel exclaimed. ¡°How are you? I missed you so much!¡± ¡°Better now thanks to Frein,¡± the wolf responded. ¡°I missed you too, Elizzel. How are your memories?¡± The faunel of Freedom and Consequences shook her head. ¡°I see. That is a shame, but we all have our commitments.¡± Norazzel, the faunel of Dreams and Memories, turned to Frein. ¡°Greetings, Visitor. I thank you for allowing my selves this precious respite.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. You can still sleep here even when I¡¯m awake, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Now that we¡¯ve made contact, my path to your Dream is established.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know. So, how many of you are there?¡± Frein asked, unable to control his curiosity. Norazzel sighed. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to tell, Visitor. I am many and few at the same time, but never a single entity.¡± ¡°What is it that you really do? Sorry. I¡¯m sure you want to sleep right away, I apologize for being blunt.¡± The faunel of Dreams sighed deeper. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. My original task is to monitor the Realm of Dreams. My Destiny is tied to Brymeia, which allows me to traverse her Dream Realm. Back during the time before the Divine Severing, I guided dreamwalkers into The Great Gathering, a place where people from different worlds can speak with each other. Some even use the Dream to speak with their dead.¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing that changed.¡± ¡°Yes. Now I¡¯m cursed to defend the Realm of Dreams. Without the gods to provide protection, the Nightmare, the Void, bleeds into the Dream Realm with no rest. It wants full control of Brymeia, even through the Dream. All of me, connected through multitudes of infinite dreams brought upon by the mortals of this world, work tirelessly to fight against it. ¡°So much so, that other versions of myself drown and succumb into the madness of the Nightmare and lose sight of our purpose. Lost versions of me become feral and chase the closest lucid dream they could find, destroying it in the process. But with your help, Frein Nivan, we are able to rest and heal.¡± A dream wolf proceeded to wake, bowed towards them, and disappeared into the Dream. Two wolves replaced it. ¡°Can you tell me anything about my role as the Visitor?¡± Frein wasn¡¯t exactly hopeful, but at this point, it felt stupid not to ask. ¡°I know only the same as you do, Frein. You came here from another world, destined to perish after a year or so.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never met other Visitors in the Dream?¡± ¡°Only a few, but I only sleep. They do not bother me, I do not bother them. You¡¯re the only one interested enough to look out your window.¡± Frein wasn¡¯t sure what to make of that, but he stored it as a clue anyway. ¡°So, are you the real Norazzel?¡± The wolf shook her head. ¡°All of me are real. The Dream makes us real.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sort of backwards.¡± ¡°Confusing, I know, but our task has very little to do with the Visitor.¡± ¡°Except that I somehow help you with it by letting you sleep¡­wait¡­¡± Something clicked. A piece fell in place so well he almost missed it. ¡°Did you say different worlds?¡± Elizzel caught his train of thought. ¡°Schrodie¡¯s riddle!¡± ¡°Go rest, Nora. We¡¯ll get back to work. Thanks again.¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± The dream wolf went with the others and promptly fell asleep. She was, indeed, exhausted. ¡°How is it connected?¡± Elizzel asked as the two of them briskly walked with a purpose. ¡°Not exactly sure yet,¡± Frein admitted. ¡°But this already explains a lot.¡± ¡°Enlighten me.¡± They both entered his Mind Palace, and Frein immediately commanded an empty canvas to store this crucial memory. ¡°Nora recovering from the Nightmare influence means I literally have it in me to deal with the Nightmare Lands. But the issue is studying this potential. Dreams are different from reality, even in this case. But the fact that it connects different worlds means Schrodie¡¯s message leads to one more possible conclusion.¡± ¡°Which is?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really committed to this soundboard job I gave you, huh?¡± Elizzel punched him lightly. ¡°Answer!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, jeez.¡± Frein replayed Schrodie¡¯s Recollection one more time, as well as Norazzel¡¯s after the canvas finished painting. Now, the collection involving the definition of a Visitor contained six large paintings and one small frame. ¡°I think, what I have to do is undo the Divine Severing.¡± A great pause descended into the Mind Palace. Paintings halted, and the clattering of frames hushed into silence. Elizzel looked at him. A trembling fear manifested through their Tether. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯d want to do that,¡± she said. The dream world resumed. The Mind Palace continued with its busy noise. Paintings flew about. And Elizzel collapsed on the ground. Frein helped the faunel on her feet. ¡°What was that?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s the Contradiction,¡± she answered, breath burdened by the lingering effect of whatever this Contradiction was. ¡°That wasn¡¯t me, I swear.¡± Despite the foreboding message, Frein could only smile. He was waiting for this. It didn¡¯t matter what form it took, so long as it didn¡¯t harm anyone. ¡°This is it,¡± he said, urging Elizzel to her feet. ¡°This is what?¡± ¡°Remember when we asked, ¡®What happens to me, the Visitor, after I die?¡¯¡± He returned to the towering piles of paintings which represented each book in Brymeia that he had managed to read. Most of them he finished during his training, with only a few¡ªhalf a tower¡¯s worth¡ªrecent additions within his ten days in Brymeia. ¡°None of these say anything about it,¡± he continued, gesturing at all of them. ¡°Not a single one. Do you know what¡¯s even more fascinating?¡± Elizzel shook her head slowly. ¡°Not one of them mentioned the Visitor. And yet, almost everyone in Brymeia knows that a Visitor isn¡¯t from this world and is destined to die after one year!¡± The faunel¡¯s lips parted in a dumbfounded fashion, and she continued shaking her head in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Divine Severing all over again!¡± Frein proclaimed. ¡°Names of gods ripped away from historical records, but people collectively remember them as the Forgotten Deities! It¡¯s the same for the Visitors! ¡°And now,¡± the Visitor pointed to the bewildered faunel with as much gusto as he could afford. This was his presentation of a lifetime. A revelation backed by all the evidences he had collected. ¡°Even the Contradiction wants to stop me!¡± Elizzel¡¯s jaws dropped and her eyes widened. A trembling excitement ran through their Tether. Frein relaxed, his smile affixed. He felt unnecessarily crazed, high upon the discovery of his conclusion. True, the truth out there might still be completely different from his analysis. But the more he reviewed what he knew, the more solid the conclusion was. The Visitor¡¯s eyes turned to his Exhibit as he commanded an empty canvas to store his final deductions. ¡°Let¡¯s clean up,¡± he said, leaving the Mind Palace to return the paintings to their rightful places. Elizzel followed suit.
Book 2: Blurb and Reorganization Hey folks! Shallren here. I''ve decided to make an in-chapter announcement to inform you folks about the reorganization of Brymeia chapters! Don''t worry, where you are in the book currently, nothing major changed! I simply updated my chapter titles. Oh, and after some deliberation, I''ve decided to combine Arcs 1 and 2 as the complete Volume 1 of Brymeia. So we''re in Book 2 now! I''ll rearrange the Volumes in the fiction page so you won''t get confused! I''m also including the Blurb for Volume 2 in this announcement: Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. OF COURSE, if you haven''t finished Volume 1 yet (Arcs 1 and 2), don''t read the blurb below!
Brymeia: Unveiled Destiny Blurb: To manipulate Destiny is to become a god. But what if all the gods are dead? After saving Katherine from the Nightmares, Frein learns about Destiny and how the Forgotten Deities have manipulated it to their favor; hence, their immortality before the Divine Severing. For someone who only has a year left to live, this is the path. Become a god, change his Destiny, and prevent his inevitable death. Only problem is, there¡¯s no one alive to help him. So, to history he goes. Frein takes his time to explore the world that he¡¯s supposed to die in, focusing on fulfilling his purpose to eradicate Brymeia¡¯s Nightmare. Becoming a god can come later. Chapter 80: Heartfelt Reunion Heartfelt Reunion
¡°Brymeia created it for us, a vessel to traverse the entire world. And so, we improve upon it.¡± ~Garm Militia, Admiral of Atlas Sid
Frein stirred to consciousness upon inhaling a familiar scent. Sweet and creamy, one he had feasted upon for countless nights. The soft feel of flesh cradled his neck and head over their heavenly firmness. He squeezed just to make sure he knew from whom they belonged. ¡°Why am I sleeping on your lap?¡± he asked Katherine. He opened his eyes to see a familiar tank top, mended by the helpfulness of Meiyal Arts. He lifted it to find her midriff, the scar from where the Forest Jaws crushed her still present but healing. ¡°Good morning,¡± the Lady of the Void replied. Her hand ran through his head as he pressed upon her stomach. ¡°Kristel said you didn¡¯t tour around Atlas Sid. I brought you back to the Vanguard so we can see it to the fullest later.¡± Katherine¡¯s scar was beautiful. A reminder that she was at the brink of death, and that he was able to pull her out of it. He took upon every crease of that blemished skin, imperfection accentuating the beauty of the entire whole. With Norazzel¡¯s teachings, he could easily turn this memory into one he could keep forever. And so, it should be. ¡°You¡¯re awfully quiet,¡± Katherine commented. ¡°You like my tummy that much?¡± Frein simply hummed his agreement. And Katherine simply giggled. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I don¡¯t mind. But we¡¯re in public.¡± ¡°I thought Samesia would get rid of this,¡± he said, lowering the Lady¡¯s shirt. He turned to find her face leaning down towards him. Her breasts dangled overhead, tempting his base desires. But, indeed, they were in public. The white rays of the morning sun made it quite clear. ¡°Well, as far as Samesia is concerned, it¡¯s all healed. But if I keep treating it, it should disappear after a month.¡± Her hand found its way over his chest, teasing him further with subtle movements. ¡°You want me to keep it?¡± ¡°Whatever you choose, you¡¯re still beautiful either way.¡± Frein sat up and quickly found himself atop the third wall of the Vanguard. Wooden benches were now placed on top of it, and the two of them sat on one, enjoying whatever view the parapets allowed. Then again, he didn¡¯t have to look down to find something amazing. ¡°Is that¡­¡± his words got caught in his throat. ¡°Yep,¡± Katherine said, leaning closer to his shoulder. ¡°Atlas Sid, the Floating City.¡± Frein looked upon what seemed to be a cluster of inverted mountains floating above the entirety of the Flat Lands. Gigantic prismatic crystals hovered around in sets, separated through various regions. They were brimming with meiyal, dense and pure, he could practically see them swimming with feisty vigor inside each building-sized gem. Atop this levitating landmass was a metropolis unlike anything he had seen before. Carriages, pulled by yumas, vorks, or other flying creatures¡ªwith variations that flew automatically on their own¡ªwent in and out of the Floating City. The activity was so packed, it made actual air traffic. He desperately fought the urge to go and explore. The angle they watched from made it difficult to see the rest of Atlas Sid. Only the tower at the center of it was tall enough to be in view. ¡°It¡¯s enormous,¡± he muttered out of amazement. ¡°That¡¯s what she¡ª¡± Katherine nudged her head into his jaw. He almost bit his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin it.¡± While the two of them took in the scenery, Enza melded into view. She rested her large head on their laps, begging for pets. Of course, both of them just smiled and proceeded to snuggle up with the yuma. ¡°I wish¡­¡± Katherine began. Frein caught her hesitation. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her head closer to his. ¡°Me, too,¡± he said. Enza whined, licking Katherine. The Lady smiled and played with the yuma¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m okay, girl. Don¡¯t worry.¡± A soft chime echoed from their M.O.B.I.L.E.s. Katherine answered first. Princess Kristel¡¯s image feed appeared on a screen from Sam¡¯s interface. ¡°Is Frein awake?¡± she asked. ¡°Good morning,¡± he replied. ¡°Good morning. I need you guys down here, so we can officially receive the Admiral together.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be there in a few.¡± Kristel nodded and hung up the call. Frein motioned for Enza to give way and stretched himself awake as he stood. Katherine stayed where she was. ¡°Your father kept visiting us when we¡¯re both asleep,¡± he said, trying to stir his girlfriend into action. ¡°Weird, but I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s a cool dude.¡± He extended a hand to help her up. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time,¡± Katherine replied while taking his hand. ¡°And I¡¯m not exactly sure if he approves of our relationship.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t?¡± Frein stepped on the initiative, passing the ball to her before she could even ask. ¡°We¡¯ll fight for it!¡± she said immediately. ¡°I won¡¯t like it, but we¡¯ll make him understand.¡± Frein smiled. ¡°Your father¡¯s an honorable man, Kat. I think he understands that you¡¯re old enough to let you make your decisions. Heck, he even let you go to a different world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like he had a choice in the matter,¡± Katherine pointed out. ¡°It was Schrodie who made the choice. Whatever the Gatekeeper says, it¡¯s final. If Pa could fight him, then that¡¯s a different story.¡± ¡°If someone can actually fight Schrodie, they wouldn¡¯t be from this world,¡± he said. Katherine threw a questioning look. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about it back in the manor. It¡¯s better if we have everyone, so I only have to say it once.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sam stirred into consciousness. ¡°What! Where am I? What is this? Who are you? What did you do¡­ Oh, hello, Katherine. How long was I out?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°The entire time she was out,¡± Frein answered for her. ¡°Just a bit longer it seems.¡± The sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. mumbled a lengthy inner monologue, but the Visitor ignored most of the device¡¯s musings. He took a step on the ledge and turned to Katherine. ¡°See you at the bottom.¡± With that, Frein hopped off the Vanguard, jumping just enough to clear through all three of its layers. He emphasized his Siffera, empowered by four-meiyal, and spun mid-air. He could feel the wind rush through him as he plummeted down the entire two-thousand meter drop. Katherine and Enza dove right next to him. ¡°Can you handle the landing?¡± Katherine asked with an echo Meiyal Art. Frein just gave her an ¡®okay¡¯ sign. The ground rushed towards them. Frein flipped and wrapped Siffera around himself just like the way Rindea taught him. He landed heavily on the ground. The impact caused the land beneath to crack, but the opposing force met his sturdy strength. The layer of Siffera even protected his shoes from shattering upon impact. ¡°Wooooh!¡± Frein Nivan felt alive. He straightened up with a triumph as he proved himself superior against solid earth. Exhilarating, to say the least. ¡°I won¡¯t need a parachute ever again!¡± His other two companions landed with softer steps. Enza was quick to bump heads with him. ¡°It¡¯s like you don¡¯t need me!¡± she said through their bond. The yuma was large enough to carry him around now. It only took her a week¡ªfive days¡ªto grow so much. ¡°Fly me around later,¡± he said, giddy with excitement. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go jumping like that, Frein.¡± Kristel¡¯s voice nagged at them from afar as the short Princess stomped her way over to them. ¡°You almost caused a panic!¡± A hearty laugh followed right behind her. ¡°He¡¯d be a fine addition to The Jump during our return trip, Princess. I guarantee you that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t encourage him.¡± ¡°Ah, but such a decision should be encouraged, lest we allow such opportunities be foregone by the man of the hour.¡± Frein felt Katherine¡¯s hand grip his as the large, helmed man stood beside the Princess. His armor was made purely out of meiyal. A battle gear tantamount to the vestiges the Lord Knights of Vyndival wore with their Meiyal Armaments. It made him question if there was truly a difference between the two if both wildly contrasting disciplines managed to come up with the same result. Still, this man¡¯s armor was not to be trifled with. With his Mesiffera observations, Frein concluded that it manifested the same level of meiyal protection his four-meiyal Siffera provided him. Not to mention just the posture of this towering soldier alone, relaxed but aware, ready to spring into action at a moment¡¯s notice, reflected years of experience consolidated into a single human being. This armored man was unlike any of the adventurers or soldiers Frein had sparred with in the past. Confidence clad around him like natural clothing. And Frein was absolutely sure who this man was. ¡°Pa,¡± Katherine said. Her hand squeezed Frein¡¯s as hard as she could, mustering up her courage. ¡°Indeed, my brave, little girl. Welcome back.¡± Katherine¡¯s father erased his helm from reality, revealing an aged yet stern face framed by the wizened white of his well-shaved beard and trimmed hair. Katherine released her hold and rushed to her father, almost flying to him. Garm Militia¡ªFrein remembered from his girlfriend¡¯s stories¡ªwisely erased his armor from reality, and caught his brave, little girl with both arms. The Lady of the Void wailed like a child and dug her face into his leather tunic, unaware of the gathering observers around them. ¡°Now, now, Katherine. You¡¯re embarrassing your father,¡± Garm said, who was crying his eyes out himself. ¡°Papa¡­¡± Katherine continued to cry and squeeze her father. A full gallery had gathered around them, crying and whispering, appreciating this heartwarming reunion. Frein felt his heartstrings tug at him, and even Elizzel reciprocated through their Tether. It made him miss his parents. After a while, Katherine gathered herself and awkwardly wiped her eyes. She turned to Frein, ran like a kid, and grabbed his hand like he was some sort of trophy. ¡°You have to meet him properly,¡± she said with all the excitement in her voice. Frein had no choice but to oblige. He was going to do it anyway. ¡°It is my utmost honor to finally see you face-to-face, Frein Nivan, the Visitor.¡± Dark red eyes scanned through him like an x-ray, studying him from head to toe. Signs of age and weariness were held back by his stern and determined will. Experience had made him a natural rock and pillar of strength, as though the responsibilities he bore on his shoulders couldn¡¯t possibly push him down. ¡°I am Garm Militia, Admiral of Atlas Sid. Father of Katherine Militia.¡± A gigantic yuma, a weight class larger than the adults Frein had seen, sat behind Garm. ¡°And this is Kish,¡± he introduced. ¡°My ever loyal companion.¡± Frein smiled. He knew what Katherine¡¯s father was doing, and he wasn¡¯t one to shy away from a friendly contest. Enza sat beside him, realizing his intentions and mimicking Kish. ¡°The pleasure is all mine, Admiral Garm,¡± Frein began, employing the salute Irista Nation knights used when greeting someone. A firm right hand on his left collarbone, while the left remained behind his back. ¡°I am, indeed, Frein Nivan, the Visitor, and the owner of Lady Katherine¡¯s heart.¡± The air was filled with gasps, shrieks, and frantic whispers from the onlookers. Garm¡¯s eyes widened and his brows curled, but his mature self reigned in his composure. The most interesting reaction of all, however, was Katherine¡¯s flushed, beet red face. Her eyes turned from him to her father in the most comical and slowest of fashion. Her hands trembled as she frantically stumbled between trying to find an explanation and hiding behind Frein. The Visitor almost regretted the way the situation turned out. But he couldn¡¯t help but enjoy the frozen panicked state she was in. Still, he reached for her hand to both prove his statement to Garm and to calm down Katherine¡¯s racing heart. She clung to it desperately. Garm pressed the bridge between his brows, eyes closed defiantly in utter disbelief. ¡°I had an inkling when I saw how close you two were in the recovery room. Jo¡¯war did warn me about this.¡± He turned to his daughter. ¡°But allow this old man to clarify. Is this true, Katherine?¡± Katherine paused to gather herself and meet her father eye to eye. ¡°Yes, Pa,¡± she replied, her voice clear and true. She held Frein¡¯s hand tighter and breathed. ¡°I intend to give my vows to him.¡± More giggles and cheers erupted from the distance. Frein could swear he heard some people groan. He confirmed these people were unfamiliar to him, presumably those who alighted from the Atlas Sid. Garm Militia turned to Frein once more, and he stared back at those red, piercing eyes. Finally, the Admiral smiled and laughed. ¡°I¡¯m simply pulling your leg, lad, it¡¯s good to know you don¡¯t easily break.¡± ¡°So, you agree to give your blessing?¡± Katherine asked hopefully. Garm¡¯s face was instantly rid of his smirking laughter, replaced with understanding and compassion. ¡°I do not say I approve, my dear girl. Your heart will never be ready for the future. You may think you are, but knowing and living are two separate beasts you must conquer. And while myself and your friends are here to support you, these are beasts you¡¯ll need to conquer on your own.¡± Frein realized he had never given anyone else the epitome of his respect other than to Katherine. But it made sense to him that the other person to have earned it was the father of the person he loved most. The Admiral of the Atlas Sid dropped a wizened hand over Frein¡¯s shoulder. ¡°And you, brave man¡­¡± ¡°Yes, sir?¡± ¡°That was bold of you, declaring your feelings for her in front of everyone. Know that your words will forever be burned in my mind and in my heart.¡± He leaned closer to the both of them and whispered, ¡°And to the rest of her suitors.¡± ¡°Pa!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. They don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Frein smiled with full confidence. ¡°Call me Pa, Frein. After all, you¡¯re family now.¡± Captain Garm returned the smile with the same enthusiasm. ¡°And this should be the perfect time for me to interfere!¡± Kristel popped out in the middle of them and tapped a bro-fist with Frein. ¡°Good job.¡± She then turned to Garm. ¡°You mentioned a message about the High Palace?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± The Admiral summoned his M.O.B.I.L.E. and navigated to an official-looking article. ¡°By the order of the future Monarch, Royal Guard Tryvinal Bree, the Atlas Sid is to provide able men to defend the Vanguard in the expected absence of its protector, Princess Kristel Irista. As endorsed, governance of Minaveil Province is hereby bestowed to Midan Goldes. May his supervision bring more prosperity over this land of abundance.¡± Kristel planted her hands on either side of her waist. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be considering him as your Monarch, right?¡± ¡°Believe me, Princess. I would much rather raise a coup now under your banner or your little sister¡¯s than let this gloat wear the crown even for a minute.¡± He winked. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone in the Atlas Sid will support you, but this is a topic better discussed in private, I believe.¡± ¡°To the Manor, then?¡± ¡°Indeed. I expect to avail of my daughter¡¯s promise three years ago as well. Cuisine from¡­what was this world called again?¡± ¡°Earth,¡± Frein replied. ¡°Yes, Earth.¡± Garm looked at him with a thought. ¡°Which reminds me; it would be of my best interest to utilize this chance to fully interrogate the Visitor.¡±
Chapter 81: An Admiral鈥檚 Return An Admiral¡¯s Return Whiteday. Morning. Frill Veli received a peculiar message from Princess Kristel through her M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°We¡¯re on our way, no need to cook lunch.¡± So instead, she cleaned the main foyer of Minaveil Manor as well as the north-west wing to prepare for Garm Militia¡¯s welcome. When she was done, she gave Xiv¡¯s room down at the south-east wing a brief check to make sure the Lord Knight was still sleeping in. He was waking up earlier each day, but it would still probably take him the afternoon before he could get out of bed. Frill wasn¡¯t sure how well Xiv was recovering. It had been a week since his meiyal core was shattered. The Aria still thought she made the right choice by transplanting her sister¡¯s core so that he survived. But ever since the Vyndivalian had gained consciousness, he had been experiencing chaotic episodes of consciousness. He would be wide awake at one point, and then suddenly fall unconscious even while in the middle of doing something. An hour would pass and then he would be awake again as if nothing had happened. The only constant was during the evening when he would sleep throughout the night until noon the next day. Frill had wanted to ask Katherine about it, but had never found the appropriate time. Hopefully, there would be a chance today. She was growing worried sick tending to this man, but she had been enjoying their nightly discussions whenever he could afford to stay awake. The Aria in Red¡¯s meandering thoughts lingered to her Mercurial Liquid. It was there in her Exhibit, just waiting and letting itself be known like an itch that wouldn¡¯t go away. She had attempted to integrate with it multiple times, but hesitated every time due to the risk of failure. They had been given ample warning during their time in the Academy. It was always best practice to integrate while someone watched over them in case something were to go wrong. For Frill¡¯s case, she wasn¡¯t sure if this meiyal-charged material would still work for her now that she had given away her sister¡¯s meiyal core. The thought of the material brought her attention to the two special flowers that Katherine had given her. She had spent the last few days finalizing a design for the battle gears that incorporated each of these flowers. One for her and one for Kristel. Excitement filled her at the thought of secluding herself in her Loom to weave these battle gears. She just needed to synchronize her schedule with the Princess so there would be no distractions. Invigorated by the upcoming plans, Frill dressed herself in her maid uniform, complete with the frilled layers that she adamantly wore despite the changing trends in the High Palace. With the final preparations finished, the Aria stood alone at the entrance of Minaveil Manor. The silence was eerie to say the least. Frill realized she never stood in attendance alone her entire life¡ªat least not for a prolonged length of time. Lor or Liona, or both always accompanied her. The atmosphere quickly sapped what enthused energy she had and her eyes couldn¡¯t help but turn to Lor¡¯s patchwork garden. She had tended to them in his absence, but she could tell they missed her brother¡¯s care. She could feel the emotions rising again. But she made a promise to herself not to cry anymore. It seemed every time she did, Xiv would be there to help her calm down. So, she shouldn¡¯t let the tears come and allow it to disturb his rest. A long, drawn out sigh escaped her. Unbecoming of a royal retainer. The white rays of the sun gave view to a lovely sky, but Frill wished it rained instead. At least then, she could let the raindrops be her tears. A soft chime rang from her M.O.B.I.L.E., indicating a voice call. Frill checked and found her brother¡¯s name. She answered immediately. ¡°Hey, Lor,¡± she said after making sure her voice wouldn¡¯t crack. ¡°How are you doing, Frill?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay. You?¡± ¡°We arrived two days ago. Sorry I couldn¡¯t call right away.¡± ¡°And Liona?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll wait for you, Frill. We have everything prepared.¡± Frill focused on her voice. She could feel it shake, the more she tried to speak. ¡°How¡¯s Mom?¡± ¡°She wants to speak with you.¡± The Aria¡¯s heart leapt. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was for joy, sorrow, or fear. It could be a mixture of all of these. Frill almost said no, but the soothing voice that came from her device gave her no choice. ¡°Hey, sweetie,¡± Celosia Veli¡¯s tender alto carried with it an open concern. It reminded Frill just how much she missed her family. The loneliness only made it more difficult to open up. ¡°Hi, Mom.¡± ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing fine. How are you?¡± ¡°Fine as well. Lor told me about what happened. Are you sure you¡¯re doing okay?¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°No sudden episodes? No maelstroms, anything like that?¡± "I''m sure. ¡°Are you sure? These things might cause memory loss¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have her core anymore,¡± Frill couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°I had to give it away.¡± She started to tear up. ¡°Frill.¡± Celosia¡¯s earlier nagging quickly turned to a calm tone. ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Frill began to recount the events that followed soon after Lor left Minaveil Province. She explained the assassination attempt on Xiv¡ªadding the necessary details that this Vyndivalian carried important information regarding the security of Irista Nation¡ªand how Katherine saved his life by transplanting Liona¡¯s core. The Aria in Red emphasized that it was her decision. ¡°I still have her marks,¡± she added. ¡°I see. I understand.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not angry?¡± ¡°No, of course not, sweetheart. You did what you had to do, and you saved a life. A decision, by my understanding, can potentially save millions and billions more. I¡¯m sure Liona would be proud of that.¡± Her mother¡¯s words gave Frill relief. More than that, the assurance that she made the right choice lifted her burden and guilt. She held onto that possibility, and renewed hope, along with its clarity, returned all the energy she had this morning. The desire to embrace her mother simply went through the skies. ¡°Thanks, Mom. I really miss you,¡± she said. This time, her voice cracked, but she didn¡¯t feel the need to hide it any longer. ¡°Me too, sweetheart. I heard the Atlas Sid should be arriving soon?¡± Celosia asked, shifting the conversation into a lighthearted one. ¡°They arrived this morning. Princess Kristel just received them and they¡¯re on their way here in Minaveil Manor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not with her?¡± ¡°Katherine and Frein are escorting her.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take the Visitor to be the prince charming type.¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s with Lady Katherine,¡± Frill said, laughing a bit. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if someone like him would be a match for the Princess anyway.¡± ¡°Well, you might have a chance then.¡± ¡°I just said he¡¯s already taken, Mom.¡± ¡°No vows, no ceremony, I¡¯d say it¡¯s fair game.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ruin a relationship!¡± ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t, sweetie. I¡¯m just pulling your leg.¡± Celosia¡¯s soft giggling traveled through her M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°What about this Xiv, then?¡± ¡°Mom, did you call just to talk to me about boys again?¡± ¡°You¡¯re at that age. You had a lot of suitors back in Central and the High Palace. I even have to reject formal requests and romantic letters addressed here in Veli Manor. I would¡¯ve at least expected you to have a boyfriend. We canintines choose a partner for life, but we can afford to explore before then.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a canintine, Mom.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Celosia paused, her voice turning somber. ¡°I¡¯m sure your Dad would rest easier if you find someone reliable who can protect you. I sure would.¡± ¡°I miss him, too, Mom.¡± ¡°Me as well, sweetheart. Me as well.¡± Celosia made a quick sigh. ¡°Well, I shouldn¡¯t keep you any longer. If you¡¯re going with the Atlas Sid, we should expect you within three or four days. Don¡¯t worry about Liona, okay? Just be sure to take care of yourself and I¡¯m sure she and your father will be happy. Same as with me and Lor.¡± Frill saw a carriage stop by the manor¡¯s gate and Frein showed up afterwards. The rest of his company appeared soon after. ¡°Thanks for calling, Mom. Send my thanks to Lor, too. Princess Kristel just arrived, so I have to hang up now.¡± ¡°Work hard, sweetie. Take care of yourself always. Don¡¯t forget to send letters or call when you have the time. Love you.¡± ¡°Love you, too, Mom.¡± Frein arrived to her first. The look of relief in his face telegraphed how much he was stressed out through the entire way here. Frill didn¡¯t have to think hard as to why. Like an instinct, she produced a pitcher of cool water and a glass out of her Spatiera. ¡°You, uhh¡­¡± Frein began, gesturing towards her reddened eyes before accepting the glass of water. ¡°You, okay?¡± he asked after a few gulps. ¡°Better now,¡± Frill replied, wiping away remnants of tears. ¡°Just spoke with my Mom. Missed her, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°That means Lor made it safely?¡± ¡°Yeah, two days ago. They were a little busy.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Katherine arrived soon after with Princess Kristel and Admiral Garm Militia shortly behind her. Admiral Garm had an escort of four Guard Knights. They looked like new recruits, or at the very least, new to the Province. ¡°Welcome back, Princess. Admiral Garm, it¡¯s a pleasure to welcome you at your own home.¡± Frill made a curtsy rather than a salute as a formal greeting towards the Admiral. She didn¡¯t miss the ogling eyes of the four strangers. ¡°Never in all my dreams did I imagine to be welcomed by the most admired Aria in Red. This old man can finally rest now that I possess such a wondrous treasure.¡± Garm¡¯s speech earned him a bunch of questioning eyes. But Frill took it in stride. She would admit, she missed receiving admiration. The past her would¡¯ve been quick to be embarrassed, but she had learned to be better. Now, she simply enjoyed the attention and reciprocated accordingly. ¡°I was informed there would be no need to prepare for lunch, but I took it upon myself to at least prepare some tea.¡± ¡°Yes, Katherine will be in-charge for today¡¯s meal. But before anything else, dear Frill¡­¡± Garm Militia made a firm salute and descended on one knee. His four escorts followed suit, though they didn¡¯t seem to know why. ¡°Allow this failure of a man to express his deepest apologies. If only my powers and authority could sway the direction of Atlas Sid, I would¡¯ve turned it to aid during the Battle of the Vanguard.¡± Now Frill did feel embarrassment this time around, but it was quickly replaced by panic and then by understanding. She quickly held the Admiral¡¯s hand and urged him on his feet. ¡°Please don¡¯t feel responsible for the deaths, Admiral. You were fulfilling your duty, as with the rest of us, as with the rest of them. It¡¯s not your fault, and neither was it theirs.¡± Frill felt one heavy hand fall on her shoulder. A fatherly gesture. ¡°My heart weighs heavy for your loss, Frill. I am truly, deeply sorry.¡± ¡°Me, too, Admiral. Thank you. It means a lot to me.¡± Frill smiled and pulled the Admiral to stand. ¡°But I¡¯m sure Liona would be disappointed in me if I let this sour the mood. Please, allow me to serve you tea.¡± ¡°I appreciate it. We will be at the lounge to discuss a few important matters.¡± Garm gestured towards his escorts. ¡°If you would be so kind, would you provide them with one of our authentic brews? It is their first venture outside of Central and the Nightmare Lands had been quite traumatic for them. A quick respite should suffice before they return to their company.¡± ¡°Understood, Admiral. Please make your way to the lounge, I will be with you shortly.¡± She allowed Garm to proceed first. Katherine and Frein followed right after. Then, she addressed the recruits. ¡°Please turn to the reception room to your left and wait for your refreshments there. Avail yourselves of any comfort the room provides.¡± The four Guard Knights stared at her the entire time until it was time to turn the corner. They bumped into each other in the process. Frill suppressed a smile. Kristel, however, failed to hide a chuckle. She waited until it was just the two of them. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± she asked. ¡°Worried sick, but better now.¡± Frill initiated a hug. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re back, Kristel.¡± The Princess returned her embrace. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Katherine and Frein protected me.¡± Something nudged them on their sides. ¡°And Enza, as well.¡± The invisible yuma gave one bark and did nothing else. Frill was amazed by her Nature¡¯s Favor control, but her attention was focused too much towards Kristel for her to say anything. ¡°I¡¯d better get inside,¡± Kristel began. ¡°Go easy on them, alright?¡± Frill smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t go overboard.¡±
Chapter 82: Hearts Will Heart''s Will
¡±Blessings of Brymeia. While we know how half of them work, the other half remain to be but a theory, nagging at the curiosity of those who cannot accept how such a thing could exist if they refused to be observed or studied.¡± ~Monarch Denis Irista
Frein was slowly getting used to Garm¡¯s scanning stare. ¡°So tell me, Son, I am genuinely curious of this; are such proud declarations of relationships a common tradition back on Earth?¡± the Admiral asked as he sat in one of the intricate chairs of the lounge. The wide, cozy room was just behind the main foyer. From Frein¡¯s observations, it was purposed to house quite a few people for social gatherings. Standing tables were scattered around along with a few comfortable seats. At the center¡ªwhere they currently lounged¡ªwas an obsidian table laced with exquisite golden swirls. Around it were a number of equally prestigious chairs. Frein sat on one opposite of the Admiral. Katherine simply sat on the chair¡¯s armrest beside him. ¡°Not exactly, sir¡ª¡± ¡°Pa, or Papa. Father if you¡¯re of the more neutral persuasion.¡± Frein cleared his throat and mustered his courage. He found it awkward trying to call someone else his father. ¡°Pa,¡± he said, finally. ¡°We usually let both parties know that they¡¯re meeting each other so that everyone could gather their thoughts. But it¡¯s not exactly the rule. I would say, each couple had their own way of going about these sorts of things.¡± ¡°Well, it was certainly a surprise. Not something I would prefer on a regular basis.¡± The Admiral took a deep breath and slowly breathed it out. ¡°Ah. To breathe in countryside air is a treasure for a man my age. You¡¯d do well to appreciate it, Son.¡± ¡°How different is it compared to the main cities?¡± Frein asked. He had read many things about the Five Great Cities of Irista Nation, even saw some images from his M.O.B.I.L.E. He had imagined them to be of urbanized scale, but without the pollution compared to Earth, given that the resources this world¡ªthis Nation¡ªutilized was far too different. Still, the question seemed as organic as indulging his curiosity from an experienced man as it was to simply breaking the ice between them. ¡°Far from it, Son,¡± Garm replied. He took another long, deep breath, relaxing and looking around the obsidian walls of the lounge, as though to reminisce. ¡°Central¡¯s no place for a simplistic mind. Compared to the Capital, the most activity I will get here in the Province already happened a few hours ago.¡± ¡°Still, I was expecting a more explosive reaction,¡± Frein said before carefully and quickly adding, ¡°No offense.¡± Garm waved it off. ¡°As I¡¯ve said, Jo¡¯war gave me ample warning. Though meiyal resuscitation is not indicative of true love, it is, arguably, the most distinct proof that you two are indeed lovers.¡± ¡°I read the research papers he talked about. It¡¯s rather straightforward.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s best to leave it at that,¡± the Admiral said, subtly gesturing towards the entrance where Princess Kristel just entered. ¡°Not everyone would be mature enough for the subject.¡± Katherine just shot both of them a questioning look. Frein smirked mischievously. ¡°I¡¯ll explain when you¡¯re older.¡± ¡°Sorry, I was giving Frill some instructions, what did I miss?¡± Kristel took the middle chair facing the two men. ¡°You¡¯re talking about meiyal resuscitation? What about it?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°I¡¯ll explain¡­when you¡¯re older.¡± Garm stifled a laugh and nodded towards Katherine. ¡°Your man has some humor, I¡¯d give you that.¡± Princess Kristel eyed the three of them. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re talking about, either,¡± Katherine said in defense. ¡°I can try to know, but that would be cheating.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Kristel sighed. She summoned her M.O.B.I.L.E. and allowed it to hover beside her. A large ¡®RECORDING¡¯ appeared on a screen above it. No one seemed to mind, so Frein didn¡¯t question it. ¡°You¡¯ve read the reports, Admiral Garm?¡± the Princess asked, switching to business mode. ¡°I have. I apologize for your losses. The Atlas Sid couldn¡¯t change course. It was as if they knew we weren¡¯t coming.¡± ¡°That¡¯s our guess as well. What about the Order of the Void?¡± ¡°I fear the worst. We didn¡¯t receive any directives to venture out past our territory into the Great Sea Dividyr, but all known entrances to the Western Sanctum in our lands remain inaccessible even with our Grand Virtuosos with a Purifying Stone.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Katherine interrupted. ¡°Can we order spares? I need three Stones. For Frein, Kristel, and Frill.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be a problem, but do you intend to bring them to the Nightmare Lands?¡± Garm asked, his voice almost in protest. ¡°It¡¯s precaution more than anything, honestly.¡± Katherine stood from the armrest and produced Sam. The sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. kept silent which, for Frein¡ªas well as for Kristel, who caught the device¡¯s weird behavior¡ªwas a subtle enough prompt as a reminder that he was to be kept secret. Sam produced a recording of Those That Fell Off a Cliff, or at least the charred remains of it. ¡°This Nightmare appeared at the market a week ago.¡± Garm Militia stood from his seat like his life depended on it. ¡°How?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± the daughter replied. ¡°Casualties?¡± ¡°Fortunately, we managed to corner it and prevent any casualties. A lot of property damage, though.¡± ¡°Its main focus seemed to be the assassination of our informant,¡± Frein followed-up. ¡°It was weird for a Nightmare, it was like under control right until we cornered it.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense,¡± Garm said. ¡°That is too cunning for a Nightmare and only Deep Nightmares could have had such control. You would¡¯ve seen it, or feel it right away. Besides, Fallen are not supposed to survive outside the Nightmare Lands.¡± ¡°They can, for a while,¡± Katherine retorted. ¡°A while is too short, Katherine. How distant is the nearest edge of our safe zone? Even on a yuma, it would take you at least five hours. At a Fallen¡¯s speed, without rest and considering they travel on a straight line, they would still take a full day simply to enter our main territory, let alone the center of Minaveil Town. Those That Fell Off a Cliff can only last up to a maximum of one hour outside the Nightmare Lands.¡± Katherine began to speak, but realized her father made a good point. Kristel was also at a loss for words. So, Frein brought up one more piece of information that Admiral Garm was missing. ¡°He was human when he assassinated Xiv. He only became a Nightmare when we cornered him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± The Admiral slumped back on his intricate chair. ¡°Are you sure? That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Frein¡¯s right, Admiral,¡± Kristel said, pressing a hand on her head. ¡°I know it¡¯s impossible, but I saw it myself. Now, we just have more questions and more problems.¡± ¡°The reinforcements I brought should provide ample security,¡± Garm muttered. There was a lack of confidence in his voice. ¡°As much as I hate following that Royal Guard¡¯s orders, it¡¯s very much clear to me that your leaving will be a detriment to the safety of the people here.¡± ¡°If they know about Atlas Sid, then we shouldn¡¯t be surprised if they know about my return to the High Palace.¡± Admiral Garm processed the Princess¡¯s words. ¡°You don¡¯t mean to imply¡­¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°Cross Irista and, quite possibly, the governance of the entire Nation has been compromised.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s Tryvinal Bree?¡± Kristel shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. He¡¯s too conceited and arrogant to come up with this sort of planning in the shadows approach.¡± ¡°While I¡¯m at it, isn¡¯t my presence here an overlook?¡± Garm asked. ¡°Your trust in me isn¡¯t misplaced, but it is rather haphazard in my honest opinion. Your uncle would have been a better option.¡± ¡°Uncle Kento is too close to my Father. And aside from Frein, Katherine, Frill, Lor, and Flimeth, I cannot trust anyone else who fought during the Battle of the Vanguard.¡± Kristel crossed her arms and leaned back on her seat. It reminded Frein that this small Princess, trying as she might seem, didn¡¯t have the right stature to be physically demanding. Her posture and firm attitude more than made up for what she lacked. This young woman, speaking with such authority towards a man quite literally twice¡ªor even thrice¡ªher age and how he took her words with such consideration simply boggled the Visitor¡¯s mind. ¡°And,¡± Kristel continued, ¡°believe it or not, Admiral, your daughter can, and will, use her Heart¡¯s Will on you.¡± ¡°Ah, now that¡¯s a wound you need not tear open, Princess.¡± Frein blinked twice at the last of that exchange. ¡°Wait,¡± he turned to Katherine who tried to shift away. ¡°You have Heart¡¯s Will?¡± Kristel had an immediate look of regret. Garm¡¯s was amused at most. Frein didn¡¯t pay them anymore mind. ¡°I was trying to find a good chance to talk about it,¡± the Lady said sheepishly. ¡°I used it on you since the first day we met. There. I used it to be close to you. I used it on everyone on Earth so I can get my way around places. It¡¯s what earned my place in the Detective Agency. It¡¯s my trump card against unsolvable cases.¡± ¡°How often?¡± ¡°I used it on you constantly because I didn¡¯t want you to find out about my identity.¡± Katherine shrunk further away, but Frein and the others just allowed her to keep going. ¡°And I really like you, okay? I didn¡¯t want you to be angry with me,¡± she said, finally. ¡°Are you mad?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to try and find out?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t work on you anymore! Not for a long time.¡± Frein found that hard to believe. ¡°The books didn¡¯t say anything about a Blessing not working specifically on somebody. Why not?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Katherine couldn¡¯t continue. Kristel was just as clueless as Frein. But Garm simply shook his head while pressing a hand over his wrinkles. ¡°All Blessings of Brymeia have certain conditions that they must follow,¡± the Admiral began to explain. ¡°Not all of them are written in records. There are various reasons as to why. For Heart¡¯s Will, details were kept away from the books to protect both its wielder and those that she chose to sleep with.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Frein and Kristel said at the same time. Katherine was a giant, red tomato, standing in front of her father. ¡°Can we please not talk about this anymore?¡± ¡°I concur,¡± Garm said, his face blushing slightly. ¡°But before we leave this topic, I must clarify that it is absolute trust and commitment towards a person which removes the wielder¡¯s ability to use Heart¡¯s Will upon them. This is usually sealed by an act. Once that bond is formed, there¡¯s no need for the Blessing to meddle with the relationship.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why they don¡¯t want it on record,¡± Frein connected eyes with Katherine and held her hand. ¡°You¡¯re not excused. We¡¯re going to have a thorough discussion about this.¡± ¡°I bet.¡± Frill entered the room just in time. She brought a tea set and began to distribute them to everyone. ¡°Thank you for the tea, Frill,¡± Garm said and took a sip. Everyone enjoyed a short silence as they all partook their teas. It allowed for everyone to settle down for the rest of the meeting. The Aria made a silent bow and stood beside Kristel, enjoying her own brew. Frein realized that Kristel was recording all of this and wondered if he should point it out. He chose to set it aside for now. ¡°Now, what else should we discuss?¡± The Admiral broke the silence. ¡°I am particularly curious about the target of the assassination. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t quite catch the name.¡± ¡°Xiv,¡± Frein said. ¡°Xiv Arcturus.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Thank you, Son.¡± He raised his cup and Frein returned the gesture before taking another sip. ¡°Yes, we should talk about Xiv,¡± Kristel followed. ¡°But first¡­¡± Frill rested her teacup. ¡°The Admiral¡¯s subordinates are sleeping quite soundly, Princess. They won¡¯t bother us for a while.¡± She turned to Garm and bowed slightly. ¡°We had to be careful.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say I agree, but at least they¡¯ll be dreaming of a charming, beautiful, albeit somewhat mischievous lady.¡± Admiral Garm observed his own drink for a bit before concluding that it was safe. Frein subtly sniffed his cup and decided it was particularly harmless. It was already too late to check anyway. Frill blushed and turned away at the comment.
Chapter 83: To Gain Trust To Gain Trust ¡°To the matter, then.¡± Frein was becoming more and more convinced that a Meiyal Operated Bio-Integrated Life Enhancer could be compared to a brain operated mobile phone. He found the acronym coincidentally uncanny. And when Kristel had mentioned that the inventor of the device currently resided in Atlas Sid, Frein had been secretly struggling to contain his excitement. For now, they needed to talk about Xiv. Kristel¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. projected a wider screen, a hologram of sorts, depicting a recording of Xiv during his time in captivity. ¡°This is Xiv Arcturus, Lord Knight of Vyndival. His expertise is with personnel monitoring and peacekeeping rather than monster hunting.¡± ¡°Meaning he fights people?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Correct.¡± Kristel seemed to understand his implications. ¡°You don¡¯t see it here in Irista Nation since we have a more efficient way of handling them, but bandits are more prevalent in Vyndival.¡± ¡°Bandits, pirates, terrorists. Vyndival is as chaotic as it gets, Son,¡± Garm followed up. ¡°Most criminal organizations originate from that country. We¡¯re very fortunate that our vigilant eyes in the High Palace Network always manage to catch these people whenever they try to migrate. I¡¯m not all that well versed with the inner workings of it, but I appreciate their work nonetheless. Makes my job a lot easier, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Katherine¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E., S.A.M.¡ªor Sentient Assistant M.O.B.I.L.E.¡ªzipped through the air. The Lady caught it almost immediately and tucked it carefully in her jeans. ¡°Sorry. Haven¡¯t synced with it for a long while.¡± No one else paid it any mind, but Frein just telegraphed his suspicions with a narrow stare. Katherine blinked slower than usual. A subtle indicator that she would explain later in private. ¡°So Xiv¡¯s main job is to keep these people out of business,¡± Frein said, returning to the topic. ¡°Makes sense how he¡¯d manage to get his hands on royal secrets.¡± ¡°Before that,¡± Garm interrupted. ¡°I am curious regarding the details of the assassination and if his remains are still here so we can study him.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Frein and Kristel said at the same time. The Princess allowed him to continue. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pa. I might¡¯ve misspoke. The assassination attempt didn¡¯t succeed. Katherine managed to save him.¡± ¡°Ah, then where is he now?¡± ¡°Asleep, in one of your guest rooms,¡± Kristel replied. She turned to Frill. ¡°Can you wake him up?¡± The Aria¡¯s brow furrowed with worry. ¡°I¡¯ll try, but his recovery hasn¡¯t improved that much since the surgery. He¡¯s showing signs of narcolepsy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s to be expected,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°We don¡¯t have a lot of cases but if I remember correctly, they all showed the same signs. It should be temporary.¡± ¡°Surgery?¡± Garm inquired. ¡°The assassin aimed for his meiyal core,¡± his daughter answered. ¡°Despite his innate resistance to Meiyal Arts, this one pierced him clean with one shot.¡± ¡°How is he alive?¡± Frein then, along with the rest of the group, turned to Frill who was mid stride out of the room. She turned back and answered. ¡°I gave him Liona¡¯s core.¡± The Aria¡¯s worried face begged all of them. ¡°He still doesn¡¯t know. I would like to keep it that way for now, please. All he knows is that Lady Katherine healed him.¡± Frein and the rest gave her a silent nod. Frill bowed and left to fetch Xiv. ¡°Do we have any data on the weaponry?¡± Garm asked to pass the time. ¡°No. It vanished soon after,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°Frill held it for only an instant, but she couldn¡¯t discern any meiyal signature.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s not a Meiyal Art?¡± Frein asked and all heads turned to him. ¡°Meiyal Arts and Armaments both leave some sort of signature,¡± Garm said, implying his assumption along with a counterargument. ¡°It¡¯s probably not Meiyal Armaments either. It could be Meiyal Weaving.¡± ¡°Master Midan¡¯s discipline? The one he used to make the Vanguard?¡± Kristel¡¯s tone brought with it a form of accusation. Frein was quick to grasp it. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Kristel. I¡¯m not proposing that it¡¯s him or his students. It could be any of them, but I have no proof. What I¡¯m trying to determine here, however, is the nature of the weapon used for the assassination, not to point fingers.¡± Kristel visibly calmed down. ¡°Alright. Apologies. Why Meiyal Weaving, then?¡± ¡°Well, for starters, Meiyal Weaving doesn¡¯t leave a signature. You can observe the Vanguard all you want, but you won¡¯t find any. Second is the weirdness of Meiyal Armaments, or Vyndivalians for that matter.¡± Admiral Garm caught on Frein¡¯s train of thought. The Visitor saw it and allowed the Admiral to present his idea. ¡°The Vyndivalians¡¯ fortitude and resistance are specific to the Nightmare Lands and Meiyal Arts.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°At least that¡¯s what the records say,¡± he pointed out, reminding himself and everyone of how pieces of information could be controlled when it came to documents and records. ¡°Still, if that is to be believed, then Meiyal Weaving could potentially be effective against their innate sturdiness. Ergo, Xiv being helpless against one. I didn¡¯t find any description of the weapon aside from it taking the form of an arrow. We can probably find some clues from it if we have more details,¡± he finished as Frill re-entered the room. ¡°It¡¯s crystalline in form,¡± she replied. ¡°Dispersed into pure meiyal as soon as I got a hold of it.¡± ¡°That could be any aspect, then.¡± ¡°Aspect?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°As it turns out,¡± Frein began, producing Midan¡¯s notes from his Spatiera. ¡°Meiyal Weaving has specific attunements towards certain aspects. For Master Midan¡¯s case¡ªas well as his students¡¯¡ªtheir attunement is with earth and stone. This allows them to Weave those elements easier than, let¡¯s say, water. ¡°But pure meiyal could be any aspect.¡± Frein placed the book on the center table. ¡°He said I can use it however I want, so it should be alright to share.¡± Frein noticed that Frill had gone back outside of the lounge during his explanation. She returned pulling somebody behind her. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Xiv was listless for the first few seconds until he saw everyone in the room. He shot awake as though someone just splashed iced water over him. ¡°Should I be here?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Frill said it was important, but I don¡¯t think I should be here.¡± ¡°We need to talk to you, Xiv,¡± Kristel commanded with a soft tone. ¡°Can you handle a few questions?¡± Frein could see the gradual realization from Xiv¡¯s face. There was relief and sudden anxiety. And his eyes were wary of Admiral Garm. Kristel must¡¯ve noticed it as well. ¡°This is Admiral Garm Militia, Katherine¡¯s father. You can trust him as much as you trust us.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I know you mean well,¡± Xiv said, holding up a hand. ¡°But the more people are involved, the more risky things will get. And it will be a lot riskier if we record this.¡± ¡°Fine, no recording then.¡± Kristel tapped on her M.O.B.I.L.E.¡¯s screen and it promptly disappeared. The orb then dimmed and she placed it on the center table so everyone could see it. ¡°But I assure you, you can trust Garm.¡± Xiv sighed. ¡°Alright. I realize, at this point, I should risk it all the way anyway.¡± Garm raised his hand, taking everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Why are you willing to betray your kingdom, Xiv? If I may be so bold as to ask.¡± The Vyndivalian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not here to betray Vyndival, Admiral. My long term goal is to establish a working relationship. The Void Encounter that ate half of my motherland pretty much ensured that the kingdom won¡¯t survive for another year or two. The failed invasion of Minaveil pretty much made that possibility sealed in stone. ¡°During the battle, I took the chance to leave my kingdom so that by the time my foolish King realizes he has no other choice but to ask for your help, I may have then rectified whatever bad blood there is between our countries. I also wanted to help as much as I can to ensure that in the worst case scenario, there will be at least one nation left standing against the Nightmare Lands. Vyndival no longer has any hope for survival, so I¡¯m risking it all for Irista Nation in the hopes that you¡¯ll be open to help Vyndival when the time comes.¡± Admiral Garm nodded his head and turned to Katherine. The Lady met eyes with her father and nodded as well. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ve heard your resolve and find it worthy of my services. I am at your disposal.¡± Garm stood and extended a hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure the Visitor already told you about the handshake?¡± Frein felt Xiv¡¯s eyes turn to him for a brief moment before extending his own hand. ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Garm gestured towards an open seat, allowing Xiv to sit first. Frill finally returned to her spot beside Kristel. ¡°The floor is yours, Lord Knight.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been stripped of my title long before the invasion.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a proper one in my eyes, Xiv. I will treat you as one.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xiv eyed each of them before taking a deep breath. ¡°Our immediate concern is the bombs. Princess, I believe you¡¯ve seen them. Dystro was assigned to smuggle them into Central.¡± ¡°We¡¯re sure they¡¯re bombs?¡± Frein asked, purposefully interrupting the flow. ¡°No.¡± Xiv shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s the second problem. But regardless of what they do, we don¡¯t want them in Irista Nation.¡± ¡°Good point,¡± Garm said. ¡°What do they look like?¡± Kristel picked up her M.O.B.I.L.E. and presented an image of the bombs. Frein observed them with a keen eye. ¡°Can I have a copy?¡± he asked. Kristel just swiped towards him and his device responded. ¡°Thanks.¡± Frein would rather call them orbs, or containers. They were about half Kristel¡¯s size. Try as he might, Mesiffera couldn¡¯t discern anything from the image. But the peculiar seals above each orb looked more like lids than a triggering mechanism. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything that could set off these things,¡± he said. ¡°Then again, I can¡¯t just rely on what¡¯s familiar. I think we should give it a proper name, though.¡± ¡°How did these things come about, Xiv?¡± Garm asked. ¡°It was given to the King by some mysterious entity. Clad in some black cloak that hides everything about the person. It was supposed to be a gift, the trump card.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the plan with them?¡± Frein asked this time. There was nothing to be gained by asking about the mysterious person. There had been too many instances of that for Frein to care at this point. He filed it within his Mind Palace either way. ¡°The plan was to distribute them from Central. There are ten of them in total. Five are supposed to stay in the capital, and another five will be brought inside the High Palace. That was the original plan if we managed to breach Minaveil and Southshore without problems.¡± ¡°But you couldn¡¯t breach Minaveil,¡± Kristel pointed out. ¡°No, we couldn¡¯t. That fact alone may have altered their plan.¡± ¡°When do they plan to trigger it, or activate it, or whatever?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°On the night Monarch Denis dies, supposedly.¡± Xiv made an apologetic bow towards the Princess. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but news of him becoming ill reached us as well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Kristel said, turning to the Admiral. ¡°How was he before you left?¡± Garm was alarmed. ¡°That was a month ago, Princess. You do not check on your father regularly?¡± ¡°I do when I can, Admiral. I wanted to take your opinion.¡± The relief that appeared on Garm told Frein he wasn¡¯t convinced. So was he. ¡°The Monarch is not very well, I¡¯m afraid. But he is not dying.¡± Garm Militia gestured for Frill to refill his cup. The Aria did so without interrupting the conversation. ¡°They would be waiting for a long time.¡± ¡°Someone might assassinate him,¡± Frein said bluntly, gesturing at Xiv. ¡°Me? I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Frein waved a hand. ¡°Someone assassinated you, remember? If they can afford to send a Nightmare in the middle of the safe zone, wouldn¡¯t that mean they can get into the High Palace as well?¡± Silence descended upon the room. ¡°Frein is right,¡± Garm said. ¡°I¡¯ll send word. We have ample security in the High Palace, but this is still too unprecedented to ignore.¡± He turned to Kristel. ¡°While I¡¯m at it, I would suggest visiting him as soon as you return to Central, Princess.¡± Kristel¡¯s face turned sour at the suggestion, but the Admiral insisted. ¡°This isn¡¯t some militaristic advice, Princess. You may only see your father for the Monarch that he is, but I tell you now, his love for you far surpasses that of war or even the reaches of the Nightmare Lands.¡± He gestured to Frein and Katherine. ¡°These two can show you only but a fraction of that love.¡± Kristel blushed a little and sank into her chair. ¡°Very well, Admiral. I intend to see him anyway,¡± she said and quickly returned her attention towards Xiv. ¡°What else should we worry about?¡± ¡°More spies, above any other possibilities. The biggest issue is identifying who¡¯s who.¡± ¡°I can help with that,¡± Katherine said, smiling. ¡°I have Heart¡¯s Will, you see.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Xiv interrupted. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be telling that willy-nilly, right?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about it. I used it on you the entire time and you didn¡¯t even notice. If I knew we were having internal trust issues from the start, I would¡¯ve used it on everyone. But at this point, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the enemy knows about my Blessing anyway. Just treat it as a return gesture for your trust. And besides¡­¡± Katherine trailed off. Frein caught her head slowly turning away from Xiv and towards Frill who was walking behind the Vyndivalian on her way back to her post. Frein nudged an elbow as subtly as he could. ¡°I know enough that you won¡¯t go telling everyone about it.¡± She smiled slyly at Xiv who looked like he caught the message¡­or threat. At that, Katherine hopped off the armrest with a jolly bounce. ¡°Well then, I should start preparing lunch. Frill?¡± She motioned for the Aria to join her. ¡°I¡¯ll see you guys in about three hours. Pot roast beef with chili cheese pop potatoes.¡± ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± Garm commented as he looked on towards his daughter skipping out of the lounge. Frein felt an intense stare. He quickly turned away from Xiv while purposefully raising a hand to hide his smile. He faked a frown to make it seem like he was in deep thought, but it didn¡¯t rid him of the Vyndivalian¡¯s spear-like stare. ¡°So, Frein,¡± Garm called, oblivious to the tension. ¡°I would very much like a showcase of your combat abilities.¡± Frein took it as an excuse to get out. ¡°You want me to teach your rookies?¡± The Admiral was almost taken aback. ¡°How did you¡ªno matter. Yes, a small sparring session, if you will, so long as any injuries are within the capabilities of a basic Samesia.¡± ¡°Frill keeps the training hall functional and well maintained,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll bring my kids over.¡± Garm rose to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you there after delivering some light scolding.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Frill first so they know where to find us,¡± Kristel said, turning her attention to Xiv and then back to Frein. ¡°You mind keeping an eye on him?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go anywhere,¡± Xiv protested. ¡°I know, but Frill said you¡¯re suffering from slight narcolepsy. We hope it¡¯s temporary, but for now, we should keep an eye on you so you don¡¯t accidentally hurt yourself.¡± ¡°I got him. No problem,¡± Frein said as he rose to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll see you guys over there.¡± Xiv followed closely with questioning eyes. Frein entertained the thought of teasing him, but thought better than to complicate the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Kat won¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°How could you be sure? Do you have Heart¡¯s Will, too?¡± ¡°I wish.¡± Frein snickered. ¡°I know her enough. She¡¯s not the kind of person to meddle in personal affairs and relationships unless asked. That used to be her job.¡± They arrived at the entrance of the training hall. But before he entered, Frein decided to give Xiv one final encouragement. ¡°Look, man. You¡¯ve got a steep climb ahead of you. A Lord Knight falling in love with the royal retainer of his enemy country¡¯s future ruler? I honestly thought you¡¯d go for the Princess!¡± He placed a hand on Xiv¡¯s shoulder to stop him from complaining. ¡°I think you should go for it. Aim straight and true, my friend. Frill¡¯s there, just waiting. If you don¡¯t do anything, someone else will. You have no idea how famous she is. Country, duties, responsibilities be damned. If you really like her, you should let her know. If admiration turns to love, you¡¯ll have gained something more important than just saving your country.¡± ¡°Is that why you¡¯re here?¡± Frein smiled and pushed open the steel doors of the training hall. ¡°Oh, yeah.¡±
Chapter 84: Against the Norm Against the Norm
¡±When the old ways evolved, people found easier ways to achieve the same results for less effort. People call it efficiency. I call it skipping steps.¡± ~Frein Nivan
Xiv had lost consciousness as soon as he entered the training hall. He didn¡¯t know for how long, but it seemed to have been only minutes. He sat on a comfortable chair just outside a small arena. Frein sat in the middle, legs crossed and hands on his knees. His posture was straight, yet relaxed, and the meiyal swirled around him. Xiv blinked and suddenly found an entire pocket of meiyal gone as though they were never there in the first place. The Visitor had just Gathered the meiyal within the entire arena. Xiv Reinforced his eyes with Smelted meiyal, allowing him to see the swirling energies a lot easier and assess them better. Frein was like a shining star, only that the light around him shimmered with dark and crimson light. A hint of verdant hue was mixed in, visible within the gaps, but he also saw touches of a white, golden center. Frein was Milling four types of meiyal and was doing it with such refinement that the Vyndivalian had never seen before. Granted, Xiv¡¯s experience with Milling was minimal at best, but supposedly, through Reinforced eyes, it didn¡¯t differ much from Smelting. The Visitor jerked in attention and snapped towards him. Xiv didn¡¯t realize how acute Frein¡¯s senses were. Reinforcing didn¡¯t give off any obvious signs but he still caught them anyway. ¡°Did I startle you?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Sorry. Whatever it was you were doing startled me. It felt different from Meiyal Arts.¡± ¡°How did you¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know a lot about Meiyal Armaments. I didn¡¯t have a lot to read regarding your kingdom or your discipline, but it simply doesn¡¯t make sense to me how a Forged Weapon and Armor can challenge Irista Nation or the Nightmare Lands with just the two of them. ¡°I imagine those are comparable to the Meiyal Art¡¯s Exhibits, and Meiyal Armaments have something more fundamental. Something everyone can use.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Reinforcing,¡± Xiv shared. It earned him Frein¡¯s earnest attention. He was still Milling, though. ¡°I¡¯m sure you already know about Mining and Smelting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°Smelted meiyal can be used to Reinforce ourselves or our Armaments. Depending on how many Layers we apply to Reinforce something, we achieve certain effects almost similar to Meiyal Arts.¡± The Visitor absorbed the information while slowly bobbing his head up and down like a broken toy. ¡°I see. So the skill lies on how many Layers you can apply. Is that it?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Xiv found himself slightly questioning his sanity. ¡°Are you trying to Smelt?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been experimenting,¡± Frein admitted. ¡°My meiyal system already adapted to Meiyal Arts, but fundamentally, both disciplines stemmed from the same origin. Imagine if I can both Draw my Display and Don my Armaments. That would be quite a sight!¡± ¡°What makes you so sure?¡± Xiv had grown up believing the same thing, but his peers shunned him for it. He had learned to keep those thoughts in his head. Now, someone was evoking those thoughts and he just couldn¡¯t help but challenge them. ¡°Heard it from the one that lived through the entire history since the Divine Severing.¡± ¡°Schrodie, the Gatekeeper?¡± ¡°The one and only.¡± Frein smiled. ¡°It¡¯s probably not obvious to you, but back where I came from, this sort of thing, Meiyal Arts, Meiyal Armaments, meiyal itself, they don¡¯t exist. And what I can achieve now? It¡¯s something my people couldn¡¯t even dream of. ¡°The point is, Schrodie and Katherine taught me all I know. And I do think the Gatekeeper is trustworthy, though she likes to hide things.¡± ¡°So they really are one and the same¡­¡± Xiv smiled. ¡°Were one and the same,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°I¡¯ve been experimenting due to the fact that, because of the evolutionary changes throughout history, the two disciplines are now fundamentally different from one another. I¡¯ve been trying to look up forgotten and discarded disciplines just to see if I can make a connection or find a hint on how to make things work, but no luck so far. I don¡¯t have a lot of time to delve on it anyways.¡± ¡°But you think it¡¯s a possibility, right?¡± Xiv asked, his enthusiasm sky-rocketing. He never realized he could find someone to bond with over this topic. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking through it myself when I have free time.¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Oh, we should exchange notes, then!¡± Frein reciprocated with the same energy. ¡°We can sort something out on the Atlas Sid.¡± He turned towards the steel doors of the training hall before Xiv could even hear the footsteps. ¡°First, I sort of have to convince these rookies that they¡¯re doing Meiyal Arts the wrong way.¡±
Frein decided not to stop his Milling. He did, however, regulate it, as to not outwardly offend the new arrivals of the Minaveil Manor¡¯s training hall. The hall itself wasn¡¯t exactly elaborate. There was a spacious stage where he sat, which awfully reminded him of the underground arena back on Earth. The only difference was this stage was depressed into the floor rather than elevated. Ground and dirt filled the entire space. Training dummies stood on one side of the room, which were oddly enough, still in pristine condition. The other side looked like a mini obstacle course of sorts, and also remained untouched. That, or Frill was simply that good with her job. A room was segregated on a corner on the side of the dummies. It had a glass enclosure and Frein could see various utilities and refreshments neatly tucked away. All in all, it was functional enough. Admiral Garm Militia stepped near the ledge of the arena. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would be unprepared, Son,¡± he implied. Frein stood and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m as prepared as I can be, Pa.¡± He lifted his arms, Gathered and intensified his Milling but only slightly. ¡°I can do this all day and still not be full.¡± Garm¡¯s eyes widened at the implication. ¡°Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. How many meiyal marks do you have?¡± Frein activated his marks. Ten had unsealed themselves without even him noticing. He could feel each one resonate with his meiyal core, giving him the exact number without even the need to count. The Admiral observed with Siffera and came up with the same information. ¡°Only ten¡­¡± said one of the Guard Knights behind the Admiral. ¡°How?¡± asked another. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve only been at this for about half a year and a few days,¡± Frein explained. ¡°I was given training before I set foot in this world. I imagine the rest will unseal themselves given time, but it doesn¡¯t really matter anyway.¡± His words provoked a certain reaction from all four Guard Knights. He even noticed Garm struggling to hide his expressions. ¡°Katherine taught me,¡± Frein added, ¡°as well as how I should fight in this world. Whatever norm it is you¡¯re used to, you won¡¯t get it from me.¡± The Guard Knights moved to retort but Garm raised a silencing hand. ¡°He is correct,¡± he said, turning to them. ¡°In war, in the Nightmare Lands, against undead, criminals, or Nightmares, you will find no mercy nor quarter. If you expect formalities or traditions or honor to save your lives, then I will send you to more peaceful posts.¡± A female Guard Knight, an elf with auburn hair, stepped forward. Her contempt was apparent, but determination drove her more than anything. ¡°I want to fight, Admiral! The Atlas Sid is my home! I want to defend it!¡± A male canintine stood beside her. ¡°I am the same!¡± A male human followed next. ¡°I will fight as well!¡± And lastly, a female felintine. ¡°No peace for this fellow, Admiral.¡± Frein didn¡¯t wait for Garm to consider their words. He clasped his fist with such strength that it echoed in the entire room. Everyone turned to him. ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°I like it. We should get started.¡± The Admiral saw his initiative and stepped aside. Princess Kristel entered soon after. The two of them took the seats near Xiv, flanking the Vyndivalian on both sides. He looked helplessly uncomfortable. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to miss this,¡± Kristel commented, passing a drink to the men with her. ¡°Any bets?¡± the Admiral asked. ¡°Frein wins, no contest,¡± Xiv said almost instinctively. He realized what he did and shrunk. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯d offer my savings, but you have them all confiscated.¡± ¡°Just do a casual bet, Xiv. And we will return some of your belongings later,¡± the Princess said. ¡°I¡¯m betting the same for a gold piece.¡± ¡°You guys are seriously taking bets?¡± Frein asked them. It felt too close to home. His nonchalant attitude towards two iconic persons provoked a reaction from the Guard Knight group, especially the elven one. ¡°Just for fun,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Can I record, by the way?¡± ¡°Sure, I guess.¡± Frein turned to the elf who glared at him with contempt. ¡°Look, the Princess and I are friends. Deal with it.¡± She was taken aback, but Frein just returned to the three bystanders. ¡°What about you, Pa?¡± That last line set off the elf in fumes. Her companions were just as angry. ¡°This is going to be so easy,¡± Frein said through the Tether. ¡°No four-meiyal, then?¡± Elizzel asked. She had been more than content in staying silent unless spoken to. ¡°No, let¡¯s give them some proper scare. It¡¯ll help build character.¡± The faunel went to work. ¡°If you can defeat all four of my rookies, I will give you a meiyal-charged material appropriate for your marks, aside from the Purifying Stone, of course,¡± Garm said. ¡°If just one of them wins, then I will give them one each instead.¡± Frein agreed. ¡°Well then, the condition for this sparring session is either incapacitation or surrender. If you want to cut some limbs, make sure to leave a meiyal signature. Anything else goes.¡± The Visitor turned and distanced himself from the Guard Knights, providing them some space before turning again to face them. ¡°The entire point of this sparring session is to give you a preliminary feel of how it is to fight within the Nightmare Lands. Obviously, I have not been within the deepest trenches, yet, so I can only provide you with lessons I¡¯ve learned from my early experience. To make this exhibition easier, you may treat me as though I am a Nightmare.¡± Frein poured four-meiyal into his Siffera and emphasized the Art, causing an explosion of his ego to reverberate within the room. He didn¡¯t care whether the three observers were caught, but he paid enough attention to focus his influence over the four that stood before him. The elven Guard Knight took a step first. Fear and anger caused a chaotic expression to appear on her rather beautiful face. Sheer determination was urging her to step forward. Frein applauded her for that, but clearly his point didn¡¯t get across. He lifted his Siffera. ¡°Guys. Again, I¡¯m a Nightmare in this scenario. You guys just allowed miss elf here to die¡ª¡± Frein lifted a hand to stop her from speaking out of turn. ¡°The name can follow. The Nightmares won¡¯t care who you are.¡± Still, nobody moved. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is simple, folks. If you are to stand a chance against a Nightmare, you should fight me all at once.¡±
Chapter 85: Convincing Theatrics Convincing Theatrics Try as he might, these stuck up Guard Knights refused to engage Frein in a four-versus-one combat. He couldn¡¯t blame them. From their mouths spouted righteous blabber about how a practitioner with ten meiyal marks had no right to stand before those who were far superior. That, despite his profound display of Siffera, engaging someone of his rank¡ªa sarcastically laudable name called, Aspirant¡ªwas dishonorable. Of course, Frein simply took the gist of whatever almighty words they were using. ¡°And if someone were to teach you a lesson, it shall be me!¡± the elven woman said, finally ending her speech, her head held high and her eyes looked down on him. The Guard Knight had regained her composure a few seconds after Frein regulated his Meiyal Art. She was the exact opposite of Rindea. Maybe this one just hadn¡¯t matured enough. ¡°First, you should address your superiors with respect!¡± she exclaimed, gesturing towards Garm and Kristel. Apparently, she wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Address the Admiral and the Princess by their proper titles¡ª¡± Frein didn¡¯t want to hear the rest of it. He raised his right arm and showed his meiyal core, feeling the meiyal within the entire room. Elizzel¡¯s sudden anticipation tugged at their Tether. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, voice alarmed. Frein pressed against all the meiyal available and Gathered with all his might. It lasted for only a second, and suddenly, the entire room was empty of meiyal, swallowed by the Visitor¡¯s greed. The four Guard Knights took a step back. Even the three observers were visibly shocked. ¡°Clearly you guys won¡¯t listen to me. So let me give you a deal,¡± Frein began. ¡°I¡¯m going to Mill all of this meiyal in front of you. It won¡¯t matter how long; I¡¯ll Gather them again the moment they disperse. All four of you are free to attack me whenever you want. ¡°But as soon as I¡¯m done Milling, I will kill all of you.¡± Frein laced his threat with an echo Meiyal Art and emphasized his Siffera. At the same time, he began to Mill. ¡°That¡¯s a bunch of bogus! You just said the winning conditions for this sparring are only incapacitation or surrender!¡± the male felintine yelled behind the elf. ¡°Well, I guess if I end up killing you; you win,¡± Frein retorted almost immediately. He reached towards the floor at the edge of the stage and grabbed it. A piece of the obsidian floor cracked at the pressure as if he was simply tearing off paper. The breaking noise resonated within the entire room. ¡°Also, I¡¯ll throw one of these at the next person who speaks.¡± He flipped a few shards of obsidian. They were quite sharp and could actually hurt a person, considering all other things equal. Siffera simply protected him from it. ¡°If you guys don¡¯t start Drawing your Meiyal Arts, soon, this will seriously hurt.¡± All four of them emphasized their Sifferas. In reaction, Frein Drew his Mesiffera. Out of all four, the elven Guard Knight had the sturdiest Art¡ªsturdy being a generous term. The felintine struggled the most. Her meiyal core looked interesting, but underutilized. The other two were subpar at best. Though, Frein wouldn¡¯t be at all surprised if this was good enough for anybody else. At most, they were marginally better compared to the other soldiers and adventurers he had fought during his first week. All things considered, they were way below Kristel¡¯s level. But at least, they were willing to engage him now. Frein intensified his Milling to remind the four they were on a time limit. The human Guard Knight acted first and stretched out a hand. ¡°Ferenfra!¡± he invoked. It was painfully slow. The transition between his meiyal and Drawing crawled. It looked like he was performing an exhibition for some academic class to analyze. Frein considered it to be sarcasm, or that the Guard Knight wasn¡¯t taking him seriously, but his face displayed otherwise. A stream of flames rushed towards Frein. And to help convince the other three to participate, he simply stood there, pushing a coat of protective Siffera, and allowed for Ferenfra to envelop him. The most Frein felt was warmth. It didn¡¯t even singe his clothes. ¡°That¡¯s not even a battle gear,¡± the canintine pointed out. ¡°You guys better start wearing yours, I¡¯m a quarter done.¡± As promised, Frein flicked an obsidian shard towards the canintine. It whiffed past the elf who tried to catch it. The target barely raised his hands on time. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. The shard dug through his forearm, piercing skin and muscle. Fortunately his Siffera was strong enough to prevent the obsidian from completely slicing through his bone. The canintine¡¯s screams filled the room as he reached out and tried to pull the shard out. The felintine attended to him posthaste. ¡°Well, technically, that should¡¯ve gone for the other one,¡± Frein admitted, pointing at the human Guard Knight. ¡°But I guess, I¡¯ll give invoking Meiyal Arts a pass.¡± He painted the statement with as much sarcasm and smugness he could afford. The elf was visibly infuriated. She Drew her battle gear, a standard half-plate armor over thick, protective leather given to most soldiers. The rest followed suit. Then, she Drew a meiyal blade and charged at him, yelling at the top of her lungs. Frein frowned and gave Garm a glance. ¡°How long have they been Guard Knights?¡± he asked as he slipped to the side and sent a precise jab at the elf¡¯s arm, disarming her. The meiyal blade dispersed into residue. Experienced Guard Knights would have had alterations on their battle gear to display their accolades. Frein couldn¡¯t find even the most common ones on them. ¡°Inaugurated three days ago, after formal training,¡± Garm answered. ¡°Oh.¡± Frein suddenly felt irritated. The elf had Drawn another meiyal blade, brandishing it recklessly. The human had more sensibility with him, sending Diferenfra at regular, albeit long, intervals. Frein parried each strike with minimal effort and withstood the flames without even paying it any attention. His irritation only grew. With a step, he pressed forward and invaded the elf¡¯s personal space. The Guard Knight instinctively backed off, but that gave Frein the initiative. He raised his elbow, clenched a fist, and jerked forwards. She raised both arms to defend herself. But Frein sent out a kick instead, slamming a leg clean on the Guard Knight¡¯s midsection. He didn¡¯t follow through, allowing the strike to press deep into her stomach. The elf doubled over and fell on the ground. Then she vanished. A piece of meiyal blade snapped as it collided with Frein¡¯s back. He turned to find the same elf with a shocked expression on her face. ¡°Now that¡¯s better.¡± Frein smiled. ¡°Nature¡¯s Favor? No, not just that.¡± He grabbed the elf by the arm and used her momentum to send her flying back to the other three. Then, he flicked three obsidian shards in rapid succession. The canintine stood in the way and raised both arms. ¡°Rakkera!¡± Through his Mesiffera, Frein observed as a standard barrier Meiyal Art manifested in front of the canintine, who had just recovered from his injury. Something was different from it. The three shards bounced off the barrier, deflecting them straight back to him. Frein stretched out an arm but the slight shimmer of meiyal surrounding them was enough warning for him to step away instead. They flew straight across the room and dug through the obsidian wall. ¡°Well, I¡¯d certainly say you four work well together,¡± Frein commented, slowly turning back to them. He had deliberately left himself open, but nobody took advantage. ¡°This is hopeless, they won¡¯t do anything unless I do something drastic first.¡± ¡°You did say you intend to kill them, right? Is that not enough?¡± Elizzel said. ¡°No, these people are too righteous, it¡¯s almost stupid. They¡¯ll wait until the last minute. By then, we¡¯ll all just look stupid.¡± He was halfway through his Milling and had Gathered everything that dispersed. ¡°Oh, good, we¡¯re not late,¡± Katherine entered the room. ¡°You guys haven¡¯t started yet?¡± Frill followed closely behind her. ¡°Done cooking already?¡± Garm asked, gesturing for the two to take a seat. ¡°No, it¡¯ll take a few hours, but all it needs to do is cook under low fire anyway. What¡¯s happening?¡± Her father, then, began to reiterate the events that occurred. Katherine subtly tapped her right knee twice with two fingers. A thought came to mind. ¡°Well then, if you guys are just going to stand there, I¡¯ll just finish off this Milling,¡± Frein said while stretching his left shoulder across his front, using his right hand to reach over his left elbow and pulling twice. Katherine, still attentive to her father, responded by dragging the fingers of her right hand overhead, as though to fix her hair. ¡°Really? Still nothing?¡± Frein taunted the four Guard Knights again. They looked indecisive now rather than arrogantly righteous. As expected, the elf moved first. Her image disappeared again just as she appeared behind him. Frein had observed Kristel before Drawing this exact Meiyal Art. He didn¡¯t know if there was a name for it, but it made afterimages. Realistically feeling ones. Add Nature¡¯s Favor to it, and this elf could easily become a successful assassin. He had the time to wonder why she chose to be a Guard Knight instead. For that matter, he also wondered why her Nature¡¯s Favor disappeared whenever she was about to attack. Enza could do such things without consequences. Maybe there was some sort of skill involved and the yuma was simply that gifted? A matter for later. The elf enveloped her meiyal blade with Kaimera, but her Siffera was lacking. It didn¡¯t matter how strong the weapon was if the wielder herself made too many mistakes. Fortunately enough, it served Frein this time. He allowed for the blade to stab him, subtly removing his protective Siffera while adjusting at the right time to make sure the blade avoided his vital parts. He wore the face of desperation and grabbed the elf, throwing her across the other side of the room. Frein grunted and pulled the blade free. ¡°That¡¯s the way,¡± he said. ¡°Now only if the rest of you¡ª¡± The Visitor doubled over and clutched his right arm where his meiyal core was. At the same time, he emphasized his Siffera to the extremes. His scream alone was enough to make everyone flinch. ¡°Damn it!¡± he yelled. ¡°I can¡¯t control it!¡± He raised his right hand and slammed it on the ground, causing a crater that broke through the arena. The room violently shook at the impact. Katherine stood up before anyone else. ¡°Not good,¡± she yelled. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Kristel asked, her face worried. ¡°This never happened before!¡± Frill immediately took the Princess¡¯s side. Xiv was confused more than anything. ¡°It¡¯s the Nightmare,¡± said the Lady. ¡°I think the influence remained.¡± The Admiral stood to refute. ¡°But we¡ª¡± Frein screamed louder, causing everyone to cover their ears. His labored breathing was akin to a rabid dog and he searched for his prey. He allowed his own meiyal, a distinct color of dark red, to seep through him like smoke. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Elizzel asked. She was so taken completely off-guard that she forgot to tug at their Tether. ¡°I¡¯m acting.¡±
Chapter 86: To Cause a Flinch, To Surface Trauma To Cause a Flinch, To Surface Trauma Frill was just as confused as everyone else. She had heard the stories, of varying details, of how the Nightmare¡¯s influence could turn a person into one. And while she had never seen someone turn before, she also had never imagined it would be Frein. The dark red aura surrounding the Visitor froze her nerves with a chill she had never experienced before. Her eyes looked around in panic, but no one dared to make the first move. With deep breaths, Frill tried to regain control. The Aria knew how it felt to grasp power. A feeling of supremacy beyond imagination. The maelstrom, a reminder of her loss, also convinced her that she had potential to wield the world itself. Brymeia herself. Not wrest governance away from the likes of Princess Kristel and rule over the people, no. If the voice in the maelstrom was to be believed, her potential wasn¡¯t meant for something so miniscule like ruling. Despite that, Frein¡¯s display of his own maelstrom made her feel unworthy of such lofty assumptions. Overbearing was the closest word she could describe it. A confidence so open and so arrogant that it challenged everyone in the room to fight him at the same time. Even Lady Katherine herself. All the while, boasting that he wouldn¡¯t even break a sweat. The irony between the then and now, illusions of grandeur versus a direct challenge, was too astonishing for her to comprehend. Yet, it froze her where she stood. The realization quickly hit Frill. The Visitor had been focusing his intent on them instead of the four Guard Knights. His oppressive Siffera, a concept still foreign to her even now¡ªfor she only knew the Art enhanced her physically¡ªflattened them as if they were carrying the entire household. If this was truly because of that single Meiyal Art, then why had no one else tried to learn it? Why reduce the Art to such insignificance, such normality? Frein had always insisted that his meiyal system wasn¡¯t special save for the fact that the Gatekeeper gave it to him. How can I have this power? Frill was forced to one knee and the rest of her group soon followed. Only Katherine remained standing, and even then she couldn¡¯t move a muscle. Frein had locked on to her the most. In a single blink, with the lifting of the pressure as their only warning, Frein moved like a blur, appearing before them with a wild hand thrusted forward. In his grip, an obsidian shard glistened in slow motion as Frill realized who it was intended for. Princess Kristel¡¯s arm was too slow. She wouldn¡¯t be able to parry it on time. Frill, on the other hand, was midmotion in regaining her balance. The shock had cost the Aria precious moments, but she refused to let another loved one die. Especially not at the hands of her friend. Turned or not, she had no choice but to retaliate. She activated all her meiyal marks in an instant and prepared to push Frein away, but an arm grabbed her before she could let loose. Katherine had taken both her and Princess Kristel out of the way. Frein barely missed, slicing off a few strands of Katherine¡¯s hair. Brown hair fell to the floor at the same time as the three of them. Frill saw the Visitor winding up for a follow up. ¡°It¡¯s all an act, don¡¯t panic,¡± Katherine whispered. Frill didn¡¯t even have the time to register what the Lady just said when a bone-crushing noise grabbed her attention. The elven Guard Knight had slammed herself on Frein at full force. It looked like the collision caused her more harm than Frein, but she successfully pushed the Visitor away. ¡°Kristel, don¡¯t panic, it¡¯s all an act, okay?¡± Katherine continued to whisper. Frill met her eye to eye. ¡°Take care of her, will you?¡± The Lady of the Void got on her feet and started spouting orders. Frill¡¯s attention was on Kristel. Garm and Xiv were next to them. Kristel withdrew to herself, shaking profusely. Frill tried to touch her, but the Princess shoved her away with frantic screams. ¡°What¡¯s happening to her?¡± She asked the two men beside them. The two had a look of understanding, but Xiv allowed his senior to speak first. ¡°She¡¯s having a panic attack,¡± Garm explained. ¡°The Princess is no stranger to death or living through it, but this is different.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Nightmare,¡± Xiv replied, looking at the Visitor. ¡°A real one. Frein just provoked her memories.¡±
Frein had to keep up the act despite the guilt. He saw Kristel¡¯s face and knew what he had done. He had expected her to react more violently compared to the rest, but not in this way. Well, it was one of two ways, and succumbing to mental trauma was not the preferable one. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It couldn¡¯t be helped. People had their own ways of dealing with trauma. ¡°We need to explore her Mind Palace and help her out of that,¡± he reminded Elizzel while delivering a crazed onslaught at all four Guard Knights. With effort, they successfully fended him off, resulting in a stalemate. Katherine had taken the reins, giving them commands while pretending to prepare a subduing Void Control Technique. Not exactly the result he wanted, but it made sense. A group of rookies should be led by a commander on their first real venture on the Nightmare Lands anyway. ¡°You¡¯re multitasking an awful lot, Frein,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t lose sight of your actual goals.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll help them, it¡¯ll help me.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± After a few more bouts, Frein had mentally settled the four into their specific roles and how their teamwork operated. The elf essentially took the frontline with the human providing ranged cover. The canintine offered protection with his Rakkera and other externally enhancing Meiyal Arts he¡¯d never heard of. The felintine was their Samesia specialist and offered ranged cover as well, but sparingly. The four had a well established formation. Each of them knew their roles and how to respond with each other¡¯s movements. They used gestures and eye contact to signal each other rather than spare any words. There certainly were improvements to be made, but as far as Frein was concerned, this team was operational. Now to give them one final push. With a step, Frein launched himself to the felintine healer. He ran out of obsidian shards, so a fist would have to do. The Guard Knight swerved in panic. Frein allowed it, giving her some credit. Just in terms of speed, he had her totally outclassed. But he could appreciate action regardless of the cause rather than allowing disbelief to freeze her movements on the spot. He deliberately missed his punch, but not so much that they would notice his fa?ade. The earlier she learned the irony of her role, the better it would be for the entire group. It was a common tactic to aim for the backline. For him it was straightforward, but for the elf and canintine who dwelled in the front, it might as well have been an unsolvable riddle. But the answer was pretty simple, all things considered: Just don¡¯t let him through. A stream of Diferenfra engulfed him and the felintine in its flames. Frein liked the human¡¯s approach the most. He knew his Meiyal Art had almost no effect, and yet every time he Drew, the Art was stronger. He reminded Frein of himself. In fact, it wouldn¡¯t be much of a surprise if he turned out to be exactly the same as this guy if he had trained under the same environment. Still, with that amount of Meiyal Arts at such an intensity, Frein could tell the human Guard Knight would run out of meiyal before he even reached Art fatigue. Unlike him, their norm prevented them from Gathering during combat. But, to be fair to them, they never trained to Gather on the fly in the first place. Much less so to Mill while fighting. Frein gave the human Guard Knight a stare. His clad of dark meiyal still lingered about him and he knew it had an effect on everyone mentally. And yet, he chose to ignore the human Guard Knight. It was for the best, he thought. At worst, this treatment would break him and force him to quit his career; at best, he would come to accept the existence of greater heights accessible only by divesting the shackles of tradition and reworking his training. Frein could see the latter having a ripple effect, and he truly wished that would be the case for the future. Within that instance of interruption, the elf and canintine managed to put themselves in front of Frein, protecting their felintine. The two of them attacked in unison, a practiced combination of meiyal blade flurries. The other two joined as well. The human increased his Diferenfra once more and the felintine Drew a Meiyal Art Frein couldn¡¯t recognize. He pushed through all of them. Frein couldn¡¯t deny that it was not his skill, but rather, it was due to the absurdness of the gap between their strengths that allowed him to overpower the four of them without breaking a sweat. Still, he appreciated their efforts. When it really mattered, these four could really work together. He didn¡¯t know anything about them at all, but the slight reactions and nuanced interactions between them reminded him of his relationship with Katherine. That even without words, just through subtle body language¡ªnot even that; just a mere look was enough¡ªthey could have an entire conversation. For Frein that was enough. He could see the desperation and determination still present on their faces. It would be best to leave them at that state rather than crush them altogether. He¡¯d rather have them thinking they had a chance than make them give up just to stroke his ego. As one final display of prowess, Frein slipped through the elf¡¯s overhead slash, and pulled her momentum out of balance. She collided with the canintine but whatever their felintine support Drew, it prevented any sort of damage. So Frein nudged a shoulder to push the two down the floor. He raised a hand, normalized his Siffera, and stopped his meiyal from dispersing out of his body. ¡°That¡¯s good enough. I think this test is over.¡± The realization dawned on the four as their tensions collapsed, exhaustion dragging their breaths. The human Guard Knight showed signs of Art fatigue. Not surprising considering the amount and increasing intensity of his Diferenfra. The other three were simply out of breath. ¡°We can talk over lunch. I very much want to know more about you guys, but I think your Admiral has a few choice words he¡¯d want to say first.¡± Frein gestured for Katherine¡¯s father to step forward. Evidently, after Katherine managed to spur the four into committing to the fight, she went on and spilled the beans to the observing group. But Kristel remained on the floor. Worried, Frein approached her slowly. He ignored whatever it was Garm said to his rookies. ¡°She okay?¡± Frein asked Frill in a hushed voice. The Aria just looked at him worried. ¡°Frein?¡± Kristel¡¯s eyes snapped to him. She struggled on her feet, her panic and poor balance sent her tumbling down before she could even fully stand. Frein caught her and settled her kneeling on the floor. The Princess sobbed. ¡°You¡¯re okay! Thank Brymeia you¡¯re okay.¡± She gripped his arms. ¡°Please don¡¯t do that ever again.¡± Frein sent a signal to both Katherine and Frill and the two wrapped the Princess around their arms. He couldn¡¯t help but place a hand over her head to reassure her. ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll warn you next time¡ª¡± Kristel shook her head vigorously. Katherine glared daggers at him. ¡°Okay, okay. I won¡¯t do it again, promise.¡±
Chapter 87: Beneath All the Fa?ade Beneath All The Fa?ade
¡±Acting strong is one thing. Literally exhausting yourself to death is just plain irresponsible.¡± ~Frein Nivan
The group spent a couple of hours for lunch. Frein spared his attention to Admiral Garm who introduced his four rookies after giving particularly high praise to his daughter¡¯s cuisine. At the same time, the Visitor kept Kristel within his periphery to keep track of her reactions to his movements. He could feel an awkward distance growing between them and particularly didn¡¯t like it. But for what it was worth, the Princess hadn¡¯t shown any drastic panic attacks since she broke down in the training hall earlier. In the meantime, Frein learned the names of the four Guard Knights. Apparently they were the top of their class and had been a little over their heads. Admiral Garm had been looking for the opportunity to help open their eyes to the reality outside of academics without resorting to any rude awakening. ¡°Well, at least I hoped you kids learned something,¡± he ended. He took his seat at the head of the grand table of the dining hall. Frein could see the place was well maintained but had not seen much use as of late. ¡°I still think it¡¯s rude, Gathering and Milling in the middle of a fight,¡± Maffelyne Tallse said, crossing her slim arms over her elven frame. She gave Frein a side eye from beneath her auburn hair. ¡°But I can¡¯t deny the results.¡± ¡°You took all my Diferenfras like they¡¯re nothing!¡± The human, Bartholomew Gren made no effort to hide his gushing. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. At the end I was just, ¡®let me use everything I¡¯ve got and see what happens!¡¯¡± ¡°You gotta admit though, Maff, it¡¯s kind of amazing,¡± Darrofille Gren pointed towards Maffelyne, though his canintine eyes were focused on Frein. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind at least trying to learn whatever you¡¯re doing.¡± ¡°Agreed. I run out of meiyal too fast.¡± Sharron Jyualle pondered with a teacup in her hands. ¡°Just imagine what we can do If we can refill on the fly.¡± She turned to Frill with a concerned look. ¡°Pardon my rudeness, Madame Aria, but is this safe to drink?¡± Frill blushed slightly, smiling. ¡°Please, just call me Frill. And sorry about earlier. We had to make sure we knew who to trust. That¡¯s safe to drink, I promise.¡± The four all looked like they had something to say, but their words got caught under the fact that they were dining together with some incredible personalities; famous ones too. Frein wouldn¡¯t exactly count himself as one of those people given the treatment he received during their little sparring. He could understand their hesitation¡­but at least complain a little. ¡°I can share my pointers about Gathering and Milling if you guys are interested,¡± Frein began, trying to steer the conversation. He pointed at the human and the canintine to get their attention. ¡°But before all that, are you two siblings?¡± ¡°Yeah, why do you ask?¡± Darrofille replied. ¡°It¡¯s odd for me. No offense. My world only has humans. Do you mind if I ask about your parents?¡± ¡°Dad¡¯s a canintine, mom¡¯s a felintine,¡± Bartholomew replied this time. ¡°Oh, how come you¡¯re human, then?¡± Frein realized how it might sound offensive. ¡°Again, sorry, I just don¡¯t know how it works.¡± ¡°None taken, Visitor. I guess it¡¯s better than getting berated for our weaknesses.¡± ¡°You guys are alright,¡± Frein gestured towards all of them, a smile forming despite his reluctance to embarrass himself to give moral support. He pulled the words straight from his heart. ¡°You did the best you could with the environment you¡¯re given. But now that you¡¯ve seen a new horizon, I¡¯ll start taking you all accountable from now on. Just imagine if more people could fight the way I do.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be chaotic,¡± Katherine replied, taking a bite out of some flan dessert that Frill came up with. ¡°Fun though.¡± Eyes perked up, including Frill¡¯s and Kristel¡¯s. Frein found that encouraging. ¡°I¡¯ll share with you two as well¡ªactually I already told you some of it, Kristel,¡± he said before turning to Xiv and Garm, who had pulled the Vyndivalian beside him to interview. ¡°And you both, if you guys are interested.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid my cup¡¯s quite filled already, Frein. But thank you for the offer,¡± Garm replied. It was a shame, but given his age, it was understandable. His eyes turned to each person present in the room, a look of pride and humble satisfaction in his face. ¡°I¡¯m just glad to witness the humble beginnings of the inevitable revolutionary improvements in Meiyal Arts.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that, I can probably learn something even if we don¡¯t practice the same discipline,¡± Xiv said. He gave a subtle nod, expressing a reminder about the theory they shared about Meiyal Arts and Armaments. The two, then, promptly returned to their conversation. ¡°Deal. Now, can you explain why you were born a human despite having nonhuman parents?¡± Frein still felt awkward asking the question, but he did his best to play it straight. ¡°It¡¯s a common thing, really,¡± Bartholomew shrugged, ¡°for felintines and canintines at least. Since only half of the core they possess came from a vork or yuma. The other half could be from a human, or an elf, or an orc, a dwarf, what have you.¡± ¡°The prevailing theory is that the bond we make with yumas or vorks influences us on a genetic level,¡± Darrofille added. ¡°From there, it¡¯s all up to chance really. Same¡¯s true with half-halves like elf-humans or orc-dwarves, that sort of thing. The strains have been incredibly mixed that you can find a family with an orc-dwarf dad, an elf-dwarf mom with pure human kid, or a human-vork felintine. It¡¯s pretty rare, but they exist.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°It¡¯s not because¡­the wife was cheating?¡± Frein ventured despite the controversial question. ¡°D.N.A. tests can prove those claims, but I can see where you¡¯re coming from,¡± Darrofille answered straight. ¡°You see it often enough, you eventually stop assuming.¡± ¡°I thought you read stuff like this?¡± Frill asked. ¡°My mom¡¯s a felintine, dad¡¯s a human. Lio¡ª¡± she took a breath, but pushed forth ¡°¡ªLiona and I turned out to be humans, both.¡± Frein brushed past the sensitive topic and clamped on the engaging one. ¡°I haven¡¯t read everything yet. If you have any references, I¡¯ll put them on my list. How did it turn out, though? From what I¡¯ve read, throughout history, there¡¯s been a lot of discrimination going around.¡± ¡°Not anymore,¡± Maffelyne replied. ¡°Those are old ways from before the Divine Severing. Monarch Evanclad¡¯s rule promoted acceptance towards all the mortal species.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Not even in smaller communities?¡± The elf abruptly stopped a response and pondered to herself. ¡°We can¡¯t prove or disprove either way unless we go out of our way to observe.¡± ¡°Fair enough. The fact that you¡¯re unsure and everyone can¡¯t say otherwise means it¡¯s minimal at worst.¡± He gave Katherine a glance. ¡°I¡¯d take that as a positive.¡± ¡°Why so curious about it?¡± Sharron asked. ¡°You said you only have humans in your world, so there shouldn¡¯t be any discrimination of that kind, right?¡± Frein retracted from her words. His curiosity might¡¯ve just pushed himself into a topic he wasn¡¯t comfortable with, but having people to talk and exchange information with didn¡¯t come often. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just curious how the genetics here work for the most part. It¡¯s very intriguing.¡± The discussions, then eventually evolved towards Frein¡¯s promise. They moved back to the training hall where he gave an organized, one-hour lecture regarding his specialized way of Gathering and Milling. Katherine helped supplement this lesson by giving pointers of her own. By then, Xiv didn¡¯t have enough energy left to join, his evident loss of consciousness in between conversations made that apparent. The Vyndivalian returned to his room to go back to sleep, promising to exchange notes later. On the other hand, Admiral Garm went to the north-west wing of the manor to reminisce and rest as well. The lecture extended to a practical exercise where the six¡ªFrill and Kristel included¡ªpracticed what they learned. ¡°I¡¯ll give you guys a few more things to look forward to,¡± Frein began while he observed the six struggle with their best efforts. They reminded him so much of his early days in training. ¡°Even after our sparring this morning, I never stopped Milling.¡± To emphasize his point, he intensified his Milling. Through this, even a simple observation Meiyal Art would be enough to discern that he was in the middle of the process. His six students were attentive enough to see this and curious enough to look at Katherine. The Lady saw their questioning looks and intensified her Milling in response. ¡°I Mill more batches than he does, and I¡¯m practically cheating as well.¡± ¡°Cheating?¡± Maffelyne asked. ¡°With all due respect, how so?¡± Katherine activated her meiyal marks, causing ribbons of light to erupt from her temple. ¡°Well, this, for starters, allows me to Gather as much meiyal as I want without affecting my Art fatigue. And because of this, I don¡¯t have dispersion time. So I don¡¯t have to Gather again and again like he does.¡± She gestured towards Frill. ¡°You basically have the same capabilities. And with your meiyal system now, I¡¯d say you have even more potential than I do.¡± The Aria in Red looked solemn as she took those words. Frein could sense her determination internally burning, her desire for revenge kept under a calm fury. He couldn¡¯t tell if this was a good or a bad sign. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth,¡± he resumed. ¡°You all know now how this works. You just need to keep practicing and nurturing the effort. Discipline yourselves and avoid reverting to your normal Milling forms even if you get tired. After a while, you¡¯ll feel it get easier, and your efforts will pay off. Then it¡¯ll be time to do it on the fly.¡± He smiled and gave them one final motivation. ¡°Once you have ample Milled meiyal using Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, try using it and observe the results. You¡¯ll get addicted to it, I promise.¡± Admiral Garm returned after a few more hours. The white sun had begun to set and the gentle purple shine of the evening had begun to descend as both full moons made their way towards the skies. ¡°You four need to return to Atlas Sid before the day ends,¡± he reminded them. ¡°Let the crew know I¡¯ll be staying for the night here. We venture out tomorrow.¡± ¡°Wait for me by the entrance,¡± Kristel said. ¡°I¡¯ll send you off.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need, Princess,¡± Sharron said, her felintine ears folding in panic. ¡°We can find our way on our own.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Kristel placed a shoulder on the Guard Knight. Sharron was only slightly taller than her, so the Princess didn¡¯t have to reach far. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you wish to push formalities in public, but I would prefer you guys call me by my name when we¡¯re in private. We¡¯re practically classmates now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if we can do that,¡± Maffelyne said, scratching the side of her temple. ¡°It seems really rude.¡± The other two looked pretty awkward as well. Frein saw his opportunity to check on something. He approached slowly from the Princess¡¯s side and ruffled her hair. ¡°You guys don¡¯t want to be friends with the Princess?¡± The four stripped themselves of their awkwardness and looked like they were about to jump on him. Even Frill was about to activate her meiyal marks, but Katherine stopped her on time. He didn¡¯t really pay them any mind. Frein¡¯s concern was Kristel¡¯s reaction. She instinctively yelped, hands moved like a flash and clamped around his wrist. Her expression was pained, as if she got punched in the stomach. But she was also quick to stop herself from going full feral on him. Kristel calmed down, opened her eyes and released her grip. Then, she crossed her arms. ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to do, Frein. I¡¯ll get over it, I promise.¡± She looked at the stunned Guard Knights with eyes that were borderline awkward and shy. The way he left Frein¡¯s hand made her look more and more like a kid. ¡°If you four don¡¯t want to be my friends, that¡¯s fine, but I still prefer being called by name.¡± Sharron was the quickest to move out of the four. She held the Princess¡¯s hands and beamed. ¡°We can be your friends, Kristel! We¡¯d be honored!¡± The rest were quick to follow suit after that. As promised, they waited for her by the entrance. Frein could tell Kristel wanted to talk to him first. So he waited while she gave instructions to Frill and sent her off. Admiral Garm, ever the observer, deduced the Princess¡¯s intentions and made his subtle exit. Of course, Frein made Katherine stay. The Lady didn¡¯t have any trouble reading the context clues. ¡°What do you need?¡± he asked now that they were alone. ¡°I want to formally ask Elizzel now, if you guys don¡¯t mind. We don¡¯t have to do it right now, but it just feels rude not to ask her personally. I still have a lot to do later so I think this is the only time I have.¡± The faunel appeared beside him without any shining fanfare, as if she was there the entire time. ¡°I don¡¯t mind helping you out, Princess. Frein intends to help you and it¡¯s not against my principles anyway.¡± Kristel released a nervous breath and held Elizzel¡¯s hands like the way Sharron did earlier. ¡°Thank you!¡± Only then did Frein realize what was really going on. ¡°Hey.¡± He gently pulled the Princess by the shoulder and observed her face. Kristel was shocked but there was a certain lethargy with the way she resisted him. Her azure eyes were lulled and she looked rather lazy. ¡°How long have you been awake?¡± he asked. Kristel¡¯s drooping eyes twisted as tears started to form. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, Frein,¡± she cried. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to sleep. I always see them. I see Liona. They¡¯re all blaming me. I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± Her cries caused her to collapse on the floor and palpitate. And her face contorted in despair. ¡°What¡¯s happening to me?¡± Katherine was quick to her side, but, to Frein¡¯s surprise, she didn¡¯t do anything. Instead, the Lady turned to him in desperation. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do.¡± The Princess collapsed and fell into a nightmare.
Chapter 88: Helplessness Helplessness ¡°Thank you for covering for me, Admiral,¡± Kristel said, barely conscious in her bed. By the time she resurfaced from the nightmare, the familiar view of her minimalist bedroom felt foreign and did nothing to help her panic attack. It took everyone a good minute or two to help her calm down. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Princess. Rest well. We can delay one more day before we set off for Central.¡± The Princess shook her head listlessly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make any difference if we delay. Besides, we have better facilities there. If I¡¯m not fine by tomorrow, I can rest there instead.¡± Admiral Garm paused and considered, understanding Kristel¡¯s argument. He nodded hesitantly. ¡°Alright. Just rest for now. Frill, please send me some tea later when you have the time. I¡¯ll be in my office.¡± Frill bowed wordlessly. With the Admiral gone, Kristel turned to her retainer. ¡°Sorry.¡± The Aria¡¯s hand slowly moved aside the azure strands covering her forehead. ¡°I should¡¯ve noticed. I got¡­distracted.¡± ¡°We have a plan,¡± Frein said. He had been silent the entire time, waiting for the people to settle down. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can afford to wait anymore.¡± ¡°What plan?¡± Frill asked. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if less people know,¡± he implied. ¡°But I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°Please, Frein,¡± Kristel interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can trust Frill. I can vouch for her. You can vouch for her, right?¡± She turned to Katherine who had been leaning at her door, making sure no one was eavesdropping. ¡°Please?¡± The two looked at each other for only a brief moment before Frein sighed. ¡°Alright.¡± Elizzel appeared beside him as if she had been there the entire time. Her sudden appearance caused the Aria to be on-guard, but she didn¡¯t say anything. It helped that the faunel looked harmless at first glance. Kristel appreciated Frill¡¯s reaction, but she held her hand to make sure she didn¡¯t unnecessarily escalate the situation. ¡°This is Elizzel,¡± Frein introduced. ¡°She¡¯s a faunel. You probably remember her as that Forest Jaws that brought us back to the Vanguard.¡± Frill scrutinized the small faunel. ¡°You look like¡­¡± ¡°The second Monarch, yes. It¡¯s a long story.¡± Elizzel made a curtsy. ¡°I know this is very sudden, but please, keep my existence a secret. Exposing myself to more than just the Visitor is already a risk for me.¡± ¡°We can trust you with this, right, Frill?¡± Kristel asked. She was already sure what her retainer would say, but voicing it out would help convince the faunel easier. ¡°Yes. If you can help the Princess, I¡¯ll do anything you want.¡± ¡°First of all,¡± Frein started, ¡°don¡¯t ever make a promise like that again. And yes, she¡¯s here to help her.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Frill reluctantly agreed. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°We need you, Kristel, to fall back to sleep. Eli and I will accompany you this time. Then we¡¯ll deal with your nightmares. Keep them at bay.¡± ¡°Keep them at bay?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°You can¡¯t get rid of them?¡± ¡°No.¡± Frein looked at her with a pair of black, stern eyes. ¡°Ultimately, this is your problem. Only you can help yourself. But until you¡¯re ready to face your fears on your own, we¡¯ll help. Do you understand?¡± The underlying reasons behind his words weren¡¯t lost on Kristel. She was looking for an easy way out. Frein, now that she understood him better, would never give her that. ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Good. Now, you still have some of that tea, Frill? The one you used on Maffelyne and the others?¡± ¡°Yes, but,¡± Frill paused, her eyes looking concerned for Kristel. ¡°Can¡¯t I go with you?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Elizzel replied. ¡°I¡¯d bring you if I could. But Tethering with multiple people at once is too risky.¡± Deflated, the Aria stood. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go make the tea.¡± Frein stopped her midstride. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t accidentally give the Admiral the wrong one, alright?¡± Frill smiled only slightly from the jest. ¡°I might need one myself tonight. Lor didn¡¯t replenish our stocks before he left¡­¡± She caught herself getting distracted and turned to bow. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a few minutes.¡± Katherine stepped aside and opened the door for her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, alright?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± With a sigh, the Lady closed the door and turned to the faunel. ¡°So, are you Tethering with Kristel to enter her nightmare?¡± ¡°You jealous?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I am. Very much. I should be Tethered first before anyone else,¡± Katherine replied without skipping a beat.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Sorry, Katherine. I don¡¯t want to be rude. I can wait.¡± ¡°He¡¯s joking, Kristel,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not using Heart¡¯s Will on me?¡± he asked. ¡°If she was, I would know,¡± Elizzel defended her. She crossed her arms and stood beside Katherine. ¡°And to formally answer the question, no, I don¡¯t need to Tether with Kristel to enter her nightmare. Frein just needs to concentrate while holding her meiyal core. But I need to Tether with the people I¡¯m bringing to a Mind Palace.¡± Kristel felt a hint of embarrassment surfacing around her neck. Only a hint. She couldn¡¯t afford the energy to be even squirmy about the prospect of a man touching her anywhere near her breasts. ¡°Well, that¡¯s awkward,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°You¡¯re actually blushing.¡± ¡°If I see you do as much as take a squeeze, I¡¯m killing you,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re actually jealous.¡± ¡°Duh!¡± ¡°Guys, it¡¯s right above my chest,¡± Kristel pointed out. ¡°Not on my breast.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give him that excuse, Kristel,¡± Katherine said, snarling at Frein. ¡°Give him a reason and he¡¯ll chomp at the bit to sexually harass you.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t! No, I won¡¯t!¡± Frein almost shouted. ¡°I only do it to you because you¡¯re into it! You treated me like a toy last I remember. Who dry humps like a maniac while in the middle of a fight?¡± ¡°Yeah, that was kind of addicting.¡± Kristel saw Katherine bite her lip and the two exchanged an intimate stare. She couldn¡¯t help her imagination running wild despite her lethargy, and it felt taxing just thinking about it. ¡°Guys. I have about a week and a half left before I can legally get married and talk about that stuff. Can you save that for when you two are alone?¡± ¡°Oh, do you have someone in mind?¡± Katherine asked, completely pulling on a tangent. Kristel felt immediately cornered. Frein seemed interested and even Elizzel was curious. ¡°No,¡± she replied. ¡°No time.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Katherine mused and Kristel felt even more cornered. ¡°That¡¯s your ¡®I¡¯m obviously considering to use Heart¡¯s Will on you now¡¯ face.¡± Kristel leered at her. ¡°Well, I am.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Katherine narrowed her eyes and considered for a while. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t.¡± Frein was audibly disappointed, but he didn¡¯t press the issue. ¡°In any case,¡± Kristel started, ¡°you should avoid talking about those things when others are around.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. We were just trying to defuse the tension while waiting for your tea,¡± Frein explained. ¡°Got a little too into it, I suppose,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Sorry,¡± she added in a shy, cutesy way. ¡°I have to suffer this every night, don¡¯t I?¡± Elizzel asked. Before anyone could answer, Frill knocked on the door.
Frill felt restless. Again, for the third time, she was left alone while those she loved went to venture into the unknown. She looked on helplessly as those who could do something, who could influence a change, made their moves while her legs remained paralyzed with indecision. ¡°Lady Katherine,¡± Elizzel started. She embodied a person of knowledge despite her petite form. But somehow, Frill could sense she was also worried. ¡°I need you to remain here until we return. The chance is miniscule at most, but if the Nightmare influence proves to be too much, you might have to fulfill your duty after all.¡± What does that mean? ¡°You mean, if you fail, Lady Katherine has to kill her?¡± Frill asked hastily. ¡°Not just her,¡± the faunel implied. ¡°Alright,¡± Katherine replied without any hint of hesitation. ¡°But I trust you guys.¡± How could she agree to it with a straight face? The Lady turned to her. Crimson calm eyes hid her worry underneath. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright, Frill. You just have to trust Frein.¡± Frill turned to the man who had been Milling with the intensity of a raging current. Through her observation Meiyal Art, he shined like the brightest star as he devoured the meiyal in the entire room and possibly beyond. ¡°I can¡¯t even quantify it anymore,¡± she commented. ¡°Frein came up with a Meiyal Art, Mesiffera. It¡¯s like an empowered version of the observation Meiyal Art. Technically, it should give you more details.¡± Katherine admired her lover while singing his praises. ¡°We should probably learn that when we have the time.¡± ¡°Help me out here, Eli. We should Mill some four-meiyal before we go just in case,¡± Frein said, briefly opening his eyes. He was absorbed in his task that he didn¡¯t even care if people were talking about him. ¡°I thought you don¡¯t need to Mill beforehand?¡± Frill asked him, not minding if she would get ignored. ¡°Technically, correct. But since we¡¯re entering someone else¡¯s Mind Palace, meiyal might work differently,¡± he explained while resuming his Milling. ¡°We don¡¯t want to accidentally deprive Kristel of her own meiyal while we¡¯re inside her Dream.¡± There was an irony in his brightness now. A darkness so bright, it was like staring at nothing. Frill had to erase her Meiyal Art. ¡°It¡¯s not something I¡¯ve fully explored on my own,¡± Elizzel commented, her voice echoing from within Frein. ¡°So it¡¯s better to be prepared since we can afford it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this four-meiyal?¡± Frill asked, but Frein had already zoned out everything else. Katherine answered for him. ¡°It¡¯s four types of meiyal: his, Brymeia¡¯s, the Emerald Guidance¡¯s, and Eli¡¯s.¡± ¡°He integrated with Emerald Guidance?¡± The Lady then proceeded to recount to Frill the events that happened during their time in the edge of the Nightmare Lands. How Elizzel offered help. How the faunel could help Frein bypass the meiyal-charged material restrictions. How they got ambushed by a Deep Nightmare. She even showed her scar that ran from underneath her chest down and across to her pelvic bone. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ how?¡± ¡°How I¡¯m still alive?¡± Katherine inquired with a smile while gesturing over to Frein. ¡°He gave me his four-meiyal. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve experienced how integration with a meiyal-charged material enhances your Meiyal Arts to incredible levels yet, so I¡¯m not exactly sure if I can explain to you the difference. But the amplification from four-meiyal is quite surreal. It¡¯s like exploring the irony or extremes of a Meiyal Art in a sense. Wonder if it can go five and beyond¡­¡± ¡°Milling it is a hassle, though,¡± Frein said as he breathed out, breaking his concentration. ¡°Pressing four sources together so that they all combine as a single entity isn¡¯t exactly something I can do on the fly like the common two-meiyal. Eli has to help me out for that.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready. We just have to wait for her to have a nightmare,¡± Elizzel echoed. But Kristel slumbered like a log. No signs of a nightmare at all. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t get one tonight, that¡¯ll be quite the irony,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°I might need some coffee.¡± ¡°Maybe the tea helped her out?¡± Frill asked. ¡°If so, then we should just give her some to help her sleep.¡± ¡°Guys, quiet,¡± Katherine hissed and gestured towards the Princess. Kristel stirred about. Her face frowned and pained moans escaped her lips. She tossed and turned and her breathing began to drag. She kept mumbling incoherent whispers, shouting some of them in a fit of panic. Frill caught the Visitor¡¯s stare just before he turns to Katherine. ¡°Well, here goes nothing.¡± Frein gently placed a hand on Kristel¡¯s meiyal core. Frill could tell he was being careful about it, enough that he angled himself awkwardly just so there would be no chance for him to even accidentally touch the Princess inappropriately. She kept her observation Meiyal Art active to see what was going on. Frein and Kristel¡¯s meiyal cores lit up, and a sort of link connected the two. It looked similar to a meiyal fusion, but Frein didn¡¯t glow and turn into pure meiyal. Instead, he lost consciousness and collapsed beside the Princess. Frill tried to move the Visitor to a more comfortable angle, but his hand remained fixed on top of Kristel¡¯s meiyal core. She gave up after that. ¡°Hey,¡± Katherine said, motioning for another chair beside her. ¡°You up for a chat? I could use more of that non-sleeping tea.¡± ¡°I¡¯d love that,¡± Frill replied. ¡°Let me bring some to your father first.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±
Chapter 89: Unexpected Place to Meet Unexpected Place to Meet
¡±Tying one¡¯s Destiny to a god is no small matter. Tying it to multiple gods¡­ how could one be so greedy?¡± ~Evanclad Irista, First Monarch
Evanclad Irista awoke in the deep darkness. It reminded him of The Nothing. What an amusing name. Even in thought, he would not dare call that cursed place by its Prime Designation. Neither would he dare such a thing if he was still alive. And yet here he was, an entity capable of thought and defying all meaning of death. The only problem was he couldn¡¯t see anything. Debris shattered from somewhere rolled about every now and then. There was no indicator of up or down. His thought commanded where he walked, as if the physical response to move gave him the tangible feel of a body taking one step after another. Where even was he? How long had it been? The darkness gave way to light, sparkles of thousands of stars erupting into reality before him. Galaxies formed in ways and patterns incomprehensible even to his ancient mind as he plummeted through the cosmos. Until he reached the body of a dead god. A ribcage of one, to be specific. ¡°A child of Brymeia?¡± echoed the colossal skeleton. Just a small section of it could be larger than a planet. ¡°Return to your mother, child. We have no need for reconciliation.¡± It wasn¡¯t her fault. Evanclad¡¯s adamant thoughts couldn¡¯t echo out of his intangible form in the same intensity as the dead god¡¯s. ¡°Of course not,¡± the god replied. He couldn¡¯t remember its name or what Concept it stood for before it was reduced to this state. ¡°That¡¯s what they always say. We¡¯re nothing but dispensable malformations of divinity, acting as though we had sway over Destiny.¡± She had no choice. ¡°Foolish child!¡± The echo reverberated in anger, causing ripples through the cosmos. Stars dimmed and entities hiding within the void squealed to their deaths. Evanclad felt his existence stretch to almost nothing. It took all of his will to remain existing. ¡°How can such an entity, one that is above divinity, be rid of a choice! You do not comprehend your own assumptions! It is beyond impossible for a¡ªto have no choice!¡± A what? Evanclad stopped himself before his thoughts surfaced. ¡°Away with you now, child. Before I change my mind and crush you.¡± Brymeia will die without your help! ¡°Yes. She will.¡± A great force pushed Evanclad away. Before he realized it, he was pulled away from the stars, and the scenery of dancing galaxies vanished before him. The First Monarch found himself adrift in a broken realm. Apocalypse had descended upon these lands. Storms and volcanoes ravaged the landscape, leaving nothing but death and despair, and the lands amongst the skies were shattered one after the other. Nightmares roamed freely and no other lifeforms could be seen, save for two. Evanclad found his daughter, the Second Monarch, Kristella Irista, in a duel to the death with Su¡¯karix, the Thousand-Year Storm. He remembered exactly how this played out, except he didn¡¯t know how it ended. He could never figure it out. The ancient storm dragon weaved meiyal with the mastery of a Deitar, commanding clouds and living lightning to strike upon the young Monarch in a continuous barrage. The world shook as Su¡¯karix breathed a beam of concentrated meiyal energy that could wipe out entire landscapes. She did not care for her own territory anymore. She had lost everything at this point. Kristella had killed them all. The Second Monarch of Irista Nation stood valiantly in the air. With her father¡¯s glaive in hand, she met all the attacks with one masterful stroke. Destiny itself loved the child. From here, Evanclad¡¯s memory had grown blurry. The Recollection had never fully materialized and his strained existence couldn¡¯t reform the irreparable damage of his Mind Palace. The Irista Mind Palace. Evanclad Irista, the First Monarch after the Divine Severing, ventured in the nothingness of this place. He could feel the current heir struggling against their curse¡­ their Blessing. He couldn¡¯t find her. Destiny no longer wanted him to intervene. But a new presence had made itself known. Hopefully, this one could listen.
Frein did not expect darkness to greet him. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here,¡± he mused. Beside him was Elizzel looking confused as well. ¡°This can¡¯t be a Mind Palace,¡± she said, crouching low and feeling the ground beneath. Black ash stained her hand which turned to viscous mucus or some sort of slime that slowly dripped away from her skin. ¡°Gross,¡± she commented apathetically. The sight of slime made Frein aware of the awkward stickiness of the ground. Disgusted, the faunel lifted herself up the Visitor¡¯s shoulder and perched on it. She was weightless, but Frein could feel her soft bottom pressing against his shoulder whenever he took a step. He deduced it was wise not to mention anything, but their Tether made that almost impossible. ¡°You know, Katherine¡¯s right about you, Frein,¡± she said while remaining vigilant of their surroundings. ¡°Pervert.¡± Still, Elizzel chose to sit on his shoulder rather than let her bare feet touch the slime.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Man has to man, you know?¡± Frein took one careful step after another. His eyes were alert and aware. Despite this, he wouldn¡¯t let a single jape pass him by without retort. ¡°Can¡¯t really do anything about it. I should point out that you¡¯re treating me, an actual human being, like a stool right now. The least you can do is let him appreciate your butt.¡± ¡°How old are you, honestly?¡± ¡°Way younger than you are.¡± The faunel pondered sincerely and sighed. ¡°Fair. Enjoy it, Visitor, but I¡¯ll make the most out of the bargain.¡± She made herself comfortable and leaned her entire body on his head. Frein ignored¡ªtried to with great difficulty¡ªthe other soft parts that touched him. ¡°Where the hell are we anyway?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so dark, I can barely see anything,¡± they both said at the same time. While Elizzel slumped and complained, Frein Drew his Mesiffera. He found traces of meiyal leading off somewhere into the darkness. Without much of a choice left, he followed them, one slimy, ashy step after another. ¡°You sure this is the right way?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°We can follow where it¡¯s going, or maybe we¡¯re supposed to go where it¡¯s coming from.¡± ¡°You can see the meiyal?¡± ¡°I gain the same benefits when you Draw Meiyal Arts. It¡¯s a Tether thing.¡± ¡°Sounds convenient.¡± ¡°Well, it is.¡± ¡°Either way, let¡¯s just follow where it¡¯s going for now.¡± Their pace was incredibly slow, and not exactly because of the terrain. Vision impediment, especially when abrupt, simply made one hesitate more often than not. While Frein could see where the meiyal was flowing towards, it didn¡¯t exactly shine light over his path. Minutes soon felt like hours. ¡°Maybe we should try the other way?¡± Elizzel suggested again. She had repositioned herself multiple times over and had eventually ended up piggybacking over her host¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Stop feeling up my thigh, Frein.¡± ¡°Stop squeezing my head with them! And stop blocking my eyes.¡± Bored, the faunel dangled herself over while using her legs to anchor herself, squeezing Frein¡¯s head further with her shin. ¡°I just said¡ª¡± ¡°Look behind you, Frein,¡± Elizzel interrupted, quickly springing back up to a more comfortable position. Frein didn¡¯t complain and turned, alert and ready to emphasize his Siffera. Still, he couldn¡¯t see anything aside from the flow of meiyal. But he could definitely feel something. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he asked. ¡°Kristel?¡± ¡°Kristel?¡± mused a voice. A man¡¯s voice. It was deep and grumbly, as if it came from an ancient tree. ¡°Interesting. An heir named after the Second Monarch.¡± ¡°I know that voice,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Is that you, Evanclad?¡± ¡°Elizzel!¡± the voice exclaimed. Frein felt the presence drift closer, dangerously close. ¡°You look so much like my daughter. How have you been?¡± The faunel bowed, bending in an awkward way given that her legs were locked in front of her. Frein felt a tug at their Tether. A conflict whether she should kneel on the ground or remain twisted as she was. He obliged her and dipped a knee into the dirt. ¡°Oh, please, you can¡¯t even see where I am. Please, stand. I¡¯m no longer Monarch.¡± ¡°Like ancestor, like descendant,¡± Frein commented as he stood. ¡°Oh? This Kristel doesn¡¯t like formality either?¡± the voice asked. ¡°Oh, and I was following you around. Figured you might have an idea where to go. Let¡¯s walk and talk.¡± Frein did as asked. ¡°She respects it, but goes out of her way to tell people she doesn¡¯t want it. Are you lost or something?¡± ¡°Not exactly. I just woke up,¡± Evanclad replied. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to explain. I assume you¡¯re looking for the Mind Palace?¡± Frein and Elizzel nodded to no one in particular. ¡°Technically, you¡¯re in a Mind Palace,¡± Evanclad tried to explain. ¡°One that is interconnected through the entire Irista bloodline. It doesn¡¯t matter whether they were my biological descendants or they acquired the crown through other means, valiant or otherwise. The moment they ascend to the throne, they and their offspring will be tied to this¡­darkness.¡± It was difficult to determine whether the voice was proud or disappointed. ¡°Is that why this place is like this? A bunch of Mind Palaces colliding on each other, so there¡¯s just nothing left?¡± Frein asked. In his gut, it felt like the guess wasn¡¯t half bad, but for some reason, he couldn¡¯t see it being the right answer. ¡°Good guess, but no. Every Irista rightful would attest to you that this is the one and only Mind Palace they all see after they wear the crown. Just a complete nothing. At least, at first.¡± The voice mused and grew distant for a moment before the presence returned. ¡°But there is a Palace somewhere. We just have to find it.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question, though,¡± Frein complained. He continued to walk as instructed, but it was getting too tedious even with the First Monarch¡¯s presence for a company. Elizzel had grown completely bored and began playing with his hair. Her legs dangled on either side of him, distracting his already limited view. So, he chomped on the right one, sinking his teeth on her flesh just enough so that it would hurt but not bleed. ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°I said don¡¯t block my view.¡± ¡°Are you two sexually engaged?¡± Evanclad asked before Elizzel could complain further. ¡°N¡ª¡± ¡°Not going to answer until you answer mine, First Monarch,¡± Frein interrupted. He grabbed the faunels thighs and propped her steadily on his shoulders. Her crotch pressed gently on his nape. ¡°Fair. I¡¯d rather be called Evanclad, though.¡± ¡°Please stop beating around the bush and answer the goddamned question, Evanclad.¡± ¡°Yeesh. Okay, okay. You¡¯re one feisty Visitor. I¡¯ve never actually met one before¡ª¡± ¡°Stop putting on layers and tell me why this place is like this!¡± Evanclad made a deep, audible, intangible sigh. ¡°This is a result of a broken Destiny. I made a deal, you see. One that allowed me to defeat a mighty foe.¡± ¡°Zerax¡¯thum?¡± Frein guessed. ¡°The one and only. Zerax¡¯thum was a god too powerful for Brymeia to hold. No¡­ Zerax¡¯thum was beyond a god. He was a¡ª¡± A garbled distortion interrupted Evanclad. ¡°I really can¡¯t say it, huh¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say what Zerax¡¯thum is?¡± ¡°Apparently not. Destiny interferes. It suppresses any information they don¡¯t want disseminated.¡± ¡°Like the Forgotten Deities? And the true purpose of a Visitor?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a smart fellow, aren¡¯t you? Elizzel¡¯s pretty lucky to have you as her lovemate.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not sexually engaged,¡± Frein and Elizzel replied at the same time. ¡°Well, unless you¡¯re in love with someone else, Frein¡ªand yes, I heard Elizzel mention your name¡ªI¡¯d say the longer the two of you remain Tethered, the more likely you two would hit it off.¡± Frein almost stopped in his tracks. ¡°I¡¯m in love with someone else, though.¡± ¡°He¡¯s in love with someone else, though,¡± Elizzel said at the same time. The two stopped completely this time. Once was a fluke, but they had been in sync for far too many times now. ¡°That¡¯s the Tether at work, see.¡± Evanclad¡¯s voice couldn¡¯t hide his smugness. ¡°I guess Elizzel here would forget, but a Faunel Tether works with the same principles as tying your Destinies together. You two will become so incredibly inseparable that you either fall for each other or you both fall in love with someone lucky.¡± ¡°You mean, she¡¯ll fall in love with Katherine?¡± ¡°You mean, I¡¯ll fall in love with Katherine?¡± ¡°This is getting a little tedious for my ears, even though I don¡¯t have any.¡± Evanclad sighed. ¡°And the answer is yes.¡± Frein stood for a good long minute thinking what to take from it. What he wanted to know was if Elizzel knew this would happen. Their ever reliable Tether made it clear that she was also unaware. Even Evanclad said it. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I mind,¡± Frein said, finally. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if Katherine minds.¡± His thoughts raced and jumped to various scenarios and what-ifs. For one, Frein was sure that he would sever the Tether immediately if Katherine was against it. Even Elizzel moved for that decision. But what if she agrees? They both thought at the same time. And there was one more important question. ¡°What happens when I die?¡± He arched his neck upwards to look at the small faunel riding his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯ll forget about me.¡± ¡°Yes, but I won¡¯t forget about her.¡± Elizzel smiled as she tapped her fingers on Frein¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I can¡¯t promise you anything yet, though. So don¡¯t go assuming things. Katherine and I are just friends.¡± Frein found comfort in that. He turned his attention back on the dark road and followed the flow of meiyal once again. ¡°You know, Evanclad,¡± he started, ¡°you¡¯re pretty good at deflecting questions, aren¡¯t you? If you don¡¯t want to tell me the full story why this place is broken, I won¡¯t force you.¡± ¡°Oh, no, you misunderstand, Frein,¡± Evanclad replied. His voice was distant, but hurriedly followed along. His intangible, invisible presence moved closer as well. ¡°I just haven¡¯t talked to anybody in a long time¡­ A very, very, very, very long time.¡± ¡°You sure that¡¯s enough ¡®very¡¯?¡± ¡°Very, very, very¡­¡±
Chapter 90: Talking History with History Talking History with History ¡°For starters,¡± Frein began, ¡°Why don¡¯t you explain how you ended up in Kristel¡¯s Dream. You did mention it¡¯s something everyone in the Irista bloodline shares, but why can¡¯t I find the others?¡± The Visitor continued his venture through the darkness lit only by the dim glow of flowing meiyal. He carried Elizzel on his back. The faunel had grown so bored that she fell asleep, sliding off his shoulders and wrapping her arms around his neck while her legs locked around his waist. He felt like carrying an empty backpack with two soft cushions constantly massaging his lower scapular. It was weird how such a weightless entity could feel this real at the same time. Never mind how dangerously young she looked. This is a multi-millennia-old grandma with eternal youth and can shapeshift into a monster. He kept reminding himself. Get a grip, Frein. Despite this ridiculous notion, Frein imagined he would¡¯ve turned insane a long time ago if not for Elizzel¡¯s company as well as Evanclad¡¯s upbeat personality, despite his intangible form. The touch of another person itself, gave him enough hold on his sanity. The Monarch as well was mysterious enough to keep his brain stimulated. Evanclad gave an impression of a person with many secrets¡ªall the secrets, probably¡ªbut one who enjoyed keeping them. Unhelpful as it might be, Frein knew this ancient man possessed enough experience to know which piece of information would be best to share and which would be better off staying in his grave. ¡°It¡¯s a feat, you see. Not something I would recommend, given your situation, though,¡± the presence explained. ¡°I turned myself into a meiyal-charged material. I made it so that only a rightful heir can absorb my material form and integrate with it.¡± ¡°Kristel mentioned the Letterman giving her a material¡­¡± Frein mused. ¡°Who¡¯s the Letterman?¡± ¡°Some mysterious person helping us out. He¡ªor she, or whatever¡ªrefuses to name himself. I don¡¯t suppose you would have any idea, would you? Any particular person you know who could live for a long time?¡± ¡°Beats me. Faunels come to mind, as far as agelessness goes.¡± Frein wondered why he never thought of that. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. He could be a faunel.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably a long shot, though¡­¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Evanclad didn¡¯t reply for a while. Whenever their conversation came to a stall, Frein¡¯s mind would linger back to the darkness. He found it difficult to focus, ironically. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t take long for the First Monarch to gather his thoughts. ¡°How the Letterman got it in the first place is a mystery. See, I entrusted my meiyal-material form to no one. I hid it in a place akin to the Seals I used for the Four Sealed Ones. So if he got his hands on it, he¡¯s probably more powerful than a faunel. Potentially even more powerful than I was. You¡¯ve heard of the Sealed Ones, right? My greatest failures, those.¡± ¡°Deitars you couldn¡¯t kill, Rindea told me about it.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve met Rindea, how is she?¡± ¡°Schrodie took her to an afterlife for heroes,¡± Frein replied, deliberately emphasizing the Gatekeeper''s name. ¡°Who¡¯s Schrodie?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one who helped me become the Visitor.¡± ¡°Oh, never met her.¡± ¡°I expected as much,¡± said the Visitor. From what Frein had gathered, he knew even Evanclad wouldn¡¯t know about Schrodie. It made little sense to him, but at least that nonsense was consistent. It didn¡¯t lead him any closer to knowing the Gatekeeper¡¯s true identity and her true motives. One layer after another. But there was no time to linger in his thoughts. Frein had to keep talking. ¡°So, what¡¯s your agenda, Evan? You don¡¯t mind me calling you Evan, right?¡± ¡°Oh, that works perfectly. Most of my friends call me that.¡± The First Monarch¡¯s jolly demeanor resurfaced. ¡°Well, the primary reason is because I¡¯m pissed.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Yeah. You see, after I defeated Zerax¡¯thum, he caused this Divine Severing thing. You know what that is, right? Oh, mind your step first.¡± Frein noticed that his path was skewing slightly downwards. He redoubled his efforts as he walked. ¡°I have a general idea with the Severing. Mostly from books and records I¡¯ve read. Basically it disrupted your connection to the gods.¡± ¡°And, in turn, caused everything to go into chaos. See, we Worldborns and Deitars, we depend on our connection with these gods. Damn, I can¡¯t really remember any of them. Anyway, what I mean to say is, we tie our Destiny with theirs. This is how we get stronger and better command of¡­ well, everything. ¡°The gods, in turn¡ªmost gods, that is¡ªthey become more attuned with their divinity the more people tie their Destiny with theirs. Even initiates who still can¡¯t see Destiny and are driving themselves solely through belief are enough to empower the gods. So, imagine what happened when the Divine Severing happened.¡± It didn¡¯t take much for Frein. ¡°You mean the gods died?¡± ¡°Nailed it right on the head. See, Divine Severing is different than just breaking your ties with a god¡¯s Destiny. You literally forget about them. Not only that, but people like me who tied our Destiny¡ªespecially in my case since I tied myself to so many gods¡ªwe suffered more than most. Some of us were emotionally scarred and were spiritually crippled. It made peace more difficult to acquire since Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s death also caused the Void Region to erupt.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Frein stopped on his tracks. ¡°You¡¯re telling me, Zerax¡¯thum¡­¡± ¡°Altered Destiny itself, yes. Vengeance for his defeat. Since all the gods stood against him, he made everyone in Brymeia forget, slowly killing the gods.¡± Evanclad¡¯s voice was solemn. ¡°We should keep moving.¡± ¡°Was there nothing the gods could do?¡± Frein asked as he resumed his steps. ¡°Well, no. Zerax¡¯thum is a¡ªah, damn it. But you get what I mean. That vengeful dragon altered Destiny thrice and the gods couldn¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°Thrice?¡± ¡°Divine Severing, the fact I can¡¯t tell you what he is, and of course, what¡¯s your purpose. Rindea must¡¯ve told you what you need to do, right?¡± ¡°I need to see Destiny and look for something in there.¡± Evanclad¡¯s naturally deep but cheery voice returned. ¡°Correct. To help give you a clue. That something, once you take it, will give you your answers. Well, some of it.¡± ¡°Of course, just some,¡± Frein said sarcastically. ¡°It¡¯ll be too easy to know everything right off the bat.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the fun in that?¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer having one more clue, I guess.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Evanclad pondered for a long while, humming and murmuring to himself. His presence grew distant for a few moments. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll help much, but what if I told you the name of what you¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to instantly vanish from existence because of some Destiny-shenanigans are you?¡± Frein turned to his right. It was where he felt Evanclad¡¯s presence the most. Somehow, he could imagine him right there, walking alongside him. Frein entertained a thought. It wouldn¡¯t really surprise him if this person had ascended into godhood and was the missing god that survived through the Divine Severing. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to try,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°But you haven¡¯t even told me why you¡¯re here. We went into so many tangents.¡± ¡°You only asked me how, not why.¡± Frein leered at the presence. ¡°So, why?¡± ¡°I guess you can say, I¡¯m like Zerax¡¯thum. I can¡¯t let Destiny just throw me away now that it no longer needs me.¡± This time, his leer turned into a frown. ¡°When the Divine Severing happened and my ties to all the gods were taken away, my Destiny didn¡¯t know where to go anymore. It became like this. But my deal with Brymeia remained, so this broken Dream gets passed down to anyone who ascends my throne.¡± ¡°What was the deal?¡± ¡°Protect her, of course. In return, I could tie my Destiny to any god even if they stood for opposite causes. You can say, all the gods loved me. Until, of course, the Divine Severing happened. Now all of them hate me and Brymeia.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re dead anyway.¡± ¡°In the same sense that I¡¯m also dead, yes.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The path Frein followed had evened out now. It made the traversal easier, but even as he thought his eyes were starting to adjust, he really couldn¡¯t see anything save for that flow of meiyal. The good news, though, was its increasing density. He could feel they were getting close now. ¡°Well, what¡¯s passed has passed. It¡¯s best not to linger too long. I guess what I want to do now is meet my heir and help her out the best I can.¡± ¡°Kristel¡¯s thinking about refusing the crown, though.¡± ¡°Is she a Deitar?¡± Evanclad asked without a hint of hesitation. ¡°As far as I know there hasn¡¯t even been a Worldborn since the Divine Severing. Most people have forgotten about that fact, from what I can tell. They only know of the terms and simple definitions, but couldn¡¯t recall when was the last time they had one.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure if I should feel pity for the poor girl, or not.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Our Destiny might be broken, but it¡¯s still tied to one thing, Frein.¡± ¡°The crown¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be really hard pressed to deny it. But we¡¯ll see. If someone else succeeds the crown, I¡¯ll just simply vanish and that¡¯s the end of that.¡± ¡°Would that help her recover her Dream? Her Mind Palace?¡± ¡°No clue.¡± The path sloped upwards this time. In fact, it immediately turned into a steep climb. ¡°Hey, Eli,¡± Frein said, tapping the faunel¡¯s butt. ¡°Wake up.¡± He harassed her with squishes until she woke up in panic. ¡°What do you want, Pervert?¡± Elizzel complained while rubbing her face over his nape. ¡°Stop squeezing my butt¡­¡± ¡°We have a climb. I need you to lock yourself better. Don¡¯t want you to fall.¡± She groaned. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Just use one hand to keep me balanced. You¡¯re feeling up my ass already anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point. I¡¯m not exactly a pervert.¡± ¡°Well, you are,¡± Elizzel retorted in an irritated but lazy way. ¡°Only to you and Katherine,¡± Frein explained, but Elizzel said it at the same time. ¡°It¡¯s true, though,¡± he continued. ¡°One day, Frill and Kristel are going to show some skin and you¡¯re not going to stop ogling at them.¡± Frein did all he could to suppress the memory of him sharing a bath with Kristel. It was full of steam and he didn¡¯t even see anything. Besides, Katherine was there to entertain him. ¡°You¡¯re going to ogle at my heir?¡± Evanclad¡¯s voice rumbled. ¡°A man has to man,¡± Frein defended himself. ¡°Appreciate art, appreciate skin, appreciate the effort they made to make themselves beautiful. Acknowledge it with a few words, and move on. That¡¯s the most gentlemanly way I can put it.¡± ¡°Good point,¡± Evanclad agreed. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go with that,¡± Elizzel dismissed it. ¡°Now climb. Wake me up when you¡¯re at the top.¡± Left with no choice, Frein began his climb, keeping one hand secured on Elizzel¡¯s butt. Sure, there could be less inconspicuous ways to carry the faunel, but the Visitor didn¡¯t think too much of it. To him, Elizzel was himself. It was odd. Why would he be averse to touching his own body? No. That wasn¡¯t it. Frein dismissed it as an excuse provided by their Tether. The climb was surprisingly easy. The flow of meiyal was close enough to show him where the next handhold was supposed to be. He took one careful step after another which soon settled at a steady pace. ¡°So, Frein,¡± Evanclad began. He groaned as if he was also climbing despite lacking his physical form. ¡°You want to know the name, or not?¡± ¡°Sure, why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core.¡± ¡°That¡­ yeah, it¡¯s not really helpful. It makes sense, though.¡± ¡°I suppose. Until I tell you that you can consider this core as a meiyal-charged material.¡± That gave Frein a halt. Even with only three limbs to climb, it didn¡¯t give him any trouble stopping. ¡°Meaning I should integrate with it?¡± ¡°What else are you going to do with it? I suppose you can study Meiyal Armaments and use it as Embellishment. That would be a weird way of going about it, though.¡± ¡°Why integrate with it?¡± Frein asked, resuming his climb. ¡°For answers. What else?¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me, I¡¯ll get an audience with that dragon? Just like your case with Kristel?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Why would I need to do that?¡± Evanclad pondered for a while. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s confusing. But I have a nagging feeling that Zerax¡¯thum has legitimate reasons why he did what he did.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a good reason for literally changing how the entire world works and leaving it in slow self-implosion and death?¡± ¡°That bad, huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only seen the outskirts of the Void Region¡ªthey call it Nightmare Lands now¡ªand I have no idea how this world will survive for the next few decades without anything significant happening.¡± For some reason, Evanclad didn¡¯t retort or reason, allowing for that topic to die down. When he spoke again, he changed the topic. ¡°By the way, I just realized it¡¯s more weird for you to be here, Frein. Mind if I ask your purpose?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Frein began but abruptly stopped. They had already reached the summit. With one final pull, he made it atop the dark wall. What greeted him made his heart sink. Before them was a ruined palace suspended in time. It looked as though a great force detonated from within the structure and the collapse and debris were caught in stasis mid-flight. The concentration of meiyal surrounding the towering complex of structures shimmered in prismatic colors, giving the place enough light. It gave Frein an impression of ghosts haunting a desecrated building that was initially meant to house royalty. He turned again to his right. The First Monarch¡¯s presence was there, looking back at him. Frein gestured towards the ruins. ¡°I¡¯m here to see if I can fix that.¡± Evanclad smiled. Frein felt his presence smile. ¡°I appreciate the gesture, Frein. But we can only hope Kristel can do it herself.¡± Frein scratched his head. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s exactly my point. She just needs a pick-me-up.¡± ¡°Oh¡­very smart, Frein.¡± ¡°Very, very, very?¡± ¡°Indeed. Very, very, very.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting very annoyed at you two,¡± Elizzel said, finally climbing down Frein¡¯s back.
Chapter 91: Broken Mind Palace Broken Mind Palace
¡±An entire bloodline cursed over the protection of the entire world? Not much of a choice is it? Regardless, despite this burden, this sacrifice, it¡¯s easy to see that Brymeia is dying.¡± ~Evanclad Irista, the First Monarch
Blurred memories reflected on the shattered halls as Frein walked through Kristel¡¯s broken Mind Palace. The images would fix themselves somewhat whenever he focused on them, giving him at least a relative understanding of what they were about. In a sense, the images were the memories of past Monarchs, none of which depicted Kristel. And oddly enough, these were still paintings of the moments when they died. Not quite full Recollections for them to immerse into. Most of these past Monarchs were either in combat, or at peace in their own rooms. Frein slowly walked through each of them, searching with keen eyes, until he found what he was looking for. Kristella Irista, the second Monarch, lay at peace on her deathbed. She was surrounded by white and golden roses and other sorts of beautiful flowers Frein couldn¡¯t recognize. Only her luscious pink hair covered her skin. And the unnerving thing of it all, she resembled Elizzel and Schrodie¡¯s persona so perfectly. ¡°My daughter¡¯s end. I never thought I¡¯d see it,¡± Evanclad mused, his intangible presence moved closer to the painting. If not for Frein¡¯s acute senses due to his four-meiyal Siffera, he would¡¯ve lost track of the Monarch countless times already. ¡°Elegant. You know, she never slept with any clothing when she reached a certain age. Made it quite an issue for me and her retainers, actually. She was never bothered by it, though.¡± ¡°If you have hair like that, I¡¯d bet you¡¯d consider it,¡± Frein said. ¡°Fair, I guess. That hair of hers, nothing could cut it. Nothing.¡± Well, that¡¯s certainly something to look into¡­ Just to sate his curiosity, Frein looked around more. He wanted to check on something. Elizzel felt it through their Tether and she went the opposite direction to cover more ground. In the end, it was she who found it. ¡°Over here, Frein.¡± Another painting in still motion. Another girl on her deathbed. This time she was younger, too young, in fact. But she also resembled Kristella and Elizzel. There had been four different people looking exactly the same. Frein thought about it for a while at how absurd that must have been¡­ Only two of them were actual sibling twins. ¡°Evangeline!¡± Evanclad cried. ¡°But how?¡± ¡°They¡¯re twins,¡± Frein said. It wasn¡¯t much of an explanation, but it made perfect sense to him. ¡°In a sense, she¡¯s also a rightful heir.¡± The image of Evangeline became more clear as the three of them focused on it. She was surrounded by golden scales, embraced by a coil that shimmered as the painting grew and formed into a scene. A golden-scaled dragon kept Evangeline secured inside her coil. The deceased Princess still leaned on its tail and she was depicted with a content and peaceful smile. At the same time, the dragon, with its enormous size, majestic wings, and a familiar head shape crowned with intricate horns¡ªunlike the grotesque form of a Forest Jaws¡ªnudged at the sleeping Princess. Frein could see tears falling from the mythical creature¡¯s eyes. He already knew who it was. Elizzel stepped closer into the painting. Her watering eyes magnetized at Evangeline. She held the Princess¡¯s face and her lips twisted as she tried to hold the pain. Frein felt it tug through their Tether and he empathized with it. The pain of losing someone. No one dared speak or move until Elizzel found her resolve. After a few moments of tearful silence, she pressed her lips on the sleeping Evangeline. ¡°I miss you,¡± she whispered. The image of Elizzel kissing the Princess that looked exactly like herself was forever etched in Frein¡¯s core memory. It was beautiful, mesmerizing, and full of love. He wished Katherine would remember him like that when the time came. Elizzel needed comfort. She was desperately tugging at the Tether. So Frein slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a hug. Her tears didn¡¯t stop for a while. ¡°I¡¯ll go look for Kristel,¡± Evanclad¡¯s whispers trailed off as he left the two.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. When Evanclad returned defeated a few minutes later, Frein concluded that Kristel was hiding from the Nightmare¡¯s influence, or that it was hiding her from them. ¡°We should check on her Exhibit,¡± he suggested. ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± the First Monarch said. ¡°Unless we can help her reconnect with her Spatiera, we won¡¯t be able to reach her Exhibit.¡± Frein frowned at that. ¡°I was one of the few who helped with the early designs of Meiyal Arts with my daughter. I know how the discipline works in theory.¡± ¡°Thanks, but that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Frein said as they resumed their search through the rest of the Palace. ¡°Kristel doesn¡¯t like using her Spatiera. In fact, I¡¯ve never seen her Draw it at all. Maybe that¡¯s connected somehow? But I know she has some materials integrated in her Exhibit.¡± ¡°Oh, the Exhibit exists, for sure. We just can¡¯t get to it through usual means,¡± Evanclad assured. ¡°But before I get to that, can you get rid of those guys inside first?¡± The Monarch gestured towards the inner section of the ruined Palace. They followed the path and turned to the corner leading towards what would¡¯ve been the central chamber of the entire infrastructure. Even with all the suspended destruction, the grand design of the building brought Frein to awe. Golden accents lined every outline of the walls. Paintings, blurred as they were, depicted epic scales of past Monarchs. The domed ceiling was mildly distorted with the amount of destruction it was sustaining. In the middle of the open chamber hovered a concentration of meiyal. Tendrils of black smoke slithered in and out of the floating core, seldom whipping towards Frein like a snake on the pounce. ¡°Is that a Nightmare?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Part of the influence, yes. If it¡¯s rooted this deep into the Palace, I could only surmise that it¡¯s been here for a long while now, brooding until the Princess snapped.¡± Evanclad¡¯s presence kept his distance. ¡°I¡¯m afraid, I might vanish if it accidentally makes contact with my intangible form.¡± ¡°How could it hit you?¡± the Visitor asked, gesturing towards¡­nothing. ¡°Wait, we went to the Nightmare Lands only recently.¡± Evanclad made an invisible shrug. ¡°Could be from when she was a kid, escorted by the Order of the Void to ease her into the influence, or it could be something less desirable. ¡°In any case, the principles behind my existence are a little different and quite more fragile than yours right now,¡± the Monarch explained. ¡°You¡¯ll have to do this with just the two of you, I¡¯m afraid.¡± What should I do with it? Asking the question was the easiest thing to do, but Frein couldn¡¯t help feel the sly smile lingering within Evanclad¡¯s voice and it clashed against his pride. He decided to snuff out the question before he gave it voice. Elizzel just eyed him but said nothing. She was still tender from the sight of her first love, sleeping peacefully on the form she had taken that day. Regardless, the faunel knew there was a task at hand and didn¡¯t fail to express her irritation through their Tether. Without much thought, Frein motioned for Elizzel to return inside his meiyal core and prepare for combat. She obliged without word and the two of them focused on their objective. ¡°What, are you just going to touch it?¡± she asked from within the Tether. ¡°I guess. There¡¯s not much choice but to test it out,¡± Frein replied audibly. ¡°It¡¯s not like I have any projectile Meiyal Arts to test it out with.¡± ¡°I suppose that works.¡± With the two in the same wavelength, Frein¡¯s movements became light. Not because the faunel was hindering him in any physical capacity, but the confidence brought by two minds working together for the same objective simply allowed him to move a step faster than if he was just on his own. The powerful smoke-like appendages whipped at him relentlessly, like a downpour of a sudden storm. Frein utilized his four-meiyal Siffera. Combined with Mesiffera predicting the Nightmare influence¡¯s tendril-like attacks, he was able to move and slide with ease. They all missed their mark, laying waste instead on the walls of the chamber, causing massive explosions of meiyal. Random debris shot towards him like shrapnel. He deflected them with ease, not even disturbed enough to re-center his balance or stop his movements, swatting them like flies frozen in mid air. The Nightmare influence doubled its efforts and Frein responded by coating himself with an aura of protective Siffera. He dodged what he could, but the continued, indiscriminate spray of whipping meiyal eventually caught on his evasive maneuvers. They singed his protective aura, scratching his skin. But he refused to relent. Instead, Frein hastened his movements further and dashed for the influence¡¯s hovering core, slamming himself against it. It was like breaking thin glass. The Nightmare influence let out a maddened scream before rupturing open, inky black meiyal surging from its cracks. Frein found it odd. Would something like this really hinder Kristel? ¡°There are more like this deeper in her Mind Palace,¡± Elizzel assumed, her intent clearly delivered within their Tether. ¡°Well, we better go find the rest of them,¡± the Visitor said, turning to where Evanclad should be. ¡°You¡¯re not done yet, Frein,¡± said the Monarch¡¯s presence. ¡°You have to cleanse all of it.¡± He didn¡¯t understand until the rest of the dark meiyal leaking out of the Nightmare influence fully emptied. It slowly coalesced into a gigantic form. A skeletal structure manifested, enveloping the influence within a large ribcage that protruded over an elongated spine. Muscles formed and tied themselves over the bones with mind-numbing, squelching sounds. Frein counted four heavily muscled legs connected to a slithering body and four ripped arms holding a pair of spears and a pair of long swords with lengths several times his height. The serpentine lower half of its torso gave way to a human¡¯s upper half, showing bare muscular abs and a pair of impressive breasts covered only by the flowing dark meiyal that served as its hair. The creature¡¯s head¡ªa surprise even for Frein¡ªwas enchantingly beautiful. Elegant and smooth porcelain skin covered its face with eyes fully colored with shining blue. It had a nose perfectly sculpted as a centerpiece for its artistic resemblance. Finally, it formed a pair of serpentine tails that lashed back and forth. Frein expected a set of wings at this point, but he was left disappointed. Though, not enough to break him out of his curiosity. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name?¡± he asked. The creature blinked at him once and he half hoped that it would reply. But when its frown, twisted and angry as it was, only made it slightly less beautiful, Frein knew there would be no discussion to be had. It withdrew a gigantic spear with one hand, flame and lightning enveloping it. Frein¡¯s Mesiffera quickly analyzed it. There wasn¡¯t any sign of a Drawn Meiyal Art, but the amount of meiyal surging within whatever technique it was using, sent him alarms. ¡°You might want to step a bit further away, First Monarch,¡± Frein said as he prepared his stance. ¡°This could get ugly.¡± ¡°Sure thing! Good luck!¡± Evanclad exclaimed as his voice grew farther away. ¡°And don¡¯t Gather! You might hurt my heir!¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Frein smiled as he enveloped himself with four-meiyal Siffera. ¡°Another handicap. Just what I need.¡±
Chapter 92: Sphinx Without Questions Sphinx Without Questions ¡°Do we have a name for it?¡± Frein asked as the Nightmare drove the empowered spear forwards. At first he thought it meant to throw the weapon, but quickly realized it was commanding the flames and lightning to rush at him instead. ¡°A Sphinx Without Questions,¡± Elizzel replied through their Tether. ¡°Not quite a Deep Nightmare, but it¡¯s a tad bit stronger than a Forest Jaws.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t quite resemble a sphinx to be honest,¡± Frein commented, sending an image to Elizzel through their Tether. ¡°The body¡¯s different, no wings, no¡ªwhatever they call that thing they wear on the head.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your cultural, fictional impressions, which isn¡¯t exactly bad or wrong. I don¡¯t know. It is what it is, I guess. You¡¯re better off concentrating on the fight than figuring out why it¡¯s so different from your mental image.¡± It didn¡¯t take much effort for Frein to dodge the projectile assaults. The lightning strikes were a challenge to dodge, but in comparison, the flames were nothing more than a bit of a nuisance. Sure enough, it wasn¡¯t that easy. The Sphinx¡¯s initial attack provided it enough space to wind up for a more destructive slash. Its gigantic body spun, lashing tails and swords in a twister of destruction. Frein couldn¡¯t get out in time. Two giant longswords struck at his raised arms, slicing through the protective layer and piercing flesh. His Siffera dampened much of the impact, enough to prevent the attack from severing his hands completely. But the Sphinx followed up with a massive tail swipe, pushing Frein off his feet. He flew past the walls of the chamber and collided with more layers of rooms until he was completely out of the Palace. The Sphinx Without Questions appeared a second later, causing destruction in its wake as it continued its relentless assault. Its maddening scream pierced his ears, stunning him in place. ¡°You alright there, Frein?¡± Elizzel asked. He wanted to assess his damage, but he prioritized enduring the ear-shattering scream and planning his counter-attack. Elizzel didn¡¯t bug him any further. The Sphinx thrusted a spear at Frein. He dodged it at the last second and pulled it over his back, gripping the shaft with his entire wingspan. He leveraged it with Siffera, bending and pulling forwards with all his might while using the Nightmare¡¯s momentum to throw it off balance. He heaved the giant creature over his shoulder and slammed it to the ground with as much force as he could. The earth quaked at the impact as the Sphinx made a massive crater, letting go of its spear. It was too large a weapon for Frein, but its weight and unwieldiness were only mild nuisances. Focusing his Siffera around his fingers, he dug them into the iron shaft of the spear for his grip and trudged over to the Nightmare. After fighting a few of them on the outskirts of the Nightmare Lands, Frein had ensured one important thing. These Nightmares could feel pain. And for a giant like the Sphinx to topple over with such force, it would surely be hurt, surprised, and disoriented. Frein took his chance, flaring his Siffera just enough so he could run while carrying the spear. With a leap, he reciprocated the Sphinx¡¯s initial attack. The Nightmare recovered just in time and managed to catch the weapon, but Frein¡¯s momentum forced it down its chest where the heart would usually be. The Sphinx Without Questions screamed¡ªno, it roared. Frein quickly reacted and erased his Siffera before the Nightmare¡¯s Negating Roar affected him. It was a dangerous maneuver, and the screech was enough to make his ears bleed. The impact that carried along with the Roar also sent him away. He was able to recover and re-Draw his Siffera before falling on the ground. ¡°Shit, my ears!¡± Frein winced but kept one firm eye at his target. The Meiyal Art, Siffera, didn¡¯t possess the same effects Samesia had even with four-meiyal and couldn¡¯t replace damaged parts of his body like Katherine did with her fight with the Forest Jaws. But enhancing his constitution as a whole, it allowed him to endure more pain while reinforcing his senses. So while the ringing in his ears didn¡¯t stop, it became significantly bearable, allowing him to hear the oncoming assault of the Nightmare. This time, he made sure to keep his Mesiffera up to predict the Negating Roar earlier than relying on his reflexes. He added four-meiyal to the Art. The amazing part about four-meiyal, after studying it quite extensively, was that Frein didn¡¯t have to burn through the specific resource to enhance an Art. He could simply add it as a supplement while relying on his normal reserves. Like adding a splash of polish and sheen on an otherwise finished painting. It worked perfectly for his massive supply of Milled meiyal, allowing him to sustain both Siffera and Mesiffera at the same time. The Sphinx had taken the spear out of its chest, leaving a large hollowed hole.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Of course there¡¯s no heart. Not even blood. With its serpentine body and four legs, it slithered around in random patterns, jumping and sliding as it circled around the Visitor at amazing speeds. Frein couldn¡¯t turn fast enough to keep up. Instead, he focused on his surroundings, enveloping it with his awareness to track the Sphinx¡¯s movements. It edged closer in range and showed intentions to attack. As it thrusted a long ranged spear, Frein stepped slightly to the side and swayed just in time to get out of the way. He felt the wind graze through his clothes as the Sphinx moved into his vision. He glared at it. In response, the Nightmare sent a flurry of sharp steel. Frein calculated them all, feeling each approach within his awareness and moving only at the exact moment to evade. For a Nightmare such as this, its attacks carried a certain pattern. It never attacked with the same weapon until the rest of its arsenal made a move. A stab and a slash interweaving perfectly one after the other. It made Frein¡¯s job easier, but he didn¡¯t dare lower his guard. If this creature was practiced enough to develop a pattern, it would surely be intelligent enough to break it. So, for the next few minutes, Frein studied the creature while avoiding all of its attacks. He didn¡¯t care if he suffered a few scratches or if his clothes were ripped apart. He wasn¡¯t losing too much blood and his shirt could be replaced. Most of all, he was curious how far he could maintain his focus. In short, he was having too much fun. Battles of attrition was something that thrilled him the most. And the Sphinx looked nowhere near exhausted despite its intense movements and attacks. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Elizzel couldn¡¯t help but gawk from within the Tether. ¡°I can see everything! I can see every move, every action! And it¡¯s costing us almost nothing!¡± ¡°I want to see more,¡± Frein admitted. ¡°I want to try and peek at Destiny, but I don¡¯t think we should try it here. We can¡¯t replenish our meiyal.¡± ¡°And the last time you did it, you almost lost consciousness.¡± But Frein could feel it. Within this storm of steel and scale, he could feel he was on the cusp of something profound. A realization he couldn¡¯t quite grip. Still, the situation wouldn¡¯t allow him to risk it. The two of them couldn¡¯t expect any rescue, and he wasn¡¯t stupid enough to try something new unless it was the only way. Instead, he etched the feeling into his Mind Palace the way Norazzel taught him with intentions to simulate it with Katherine later. I¡¯m getting ahead of myself. The Nightmare soon figured out it was getting nowhere. Whatever it tried, however angle it chose to approach, Frein read through them without fail. Frustrated, it leapt away, causing the earth to shake once more from its massive weight. And then, it roared. It wasn¡¯t a Negating Roar, nor was it anything Frein was familiar with. He raised his guard further. His Mesiffera showed how far the roar reached, reading the web of meiyal rushing out of the Nightmare. And a foreboding feeling descended upon him when a response came from the opposite side of the broken Mind Palace. A shadow leapt from beyond the walls and landed with an earth-shattering impact on the opposite side of Frein. Another Sphinx. ¡°I think we should run,¡± Elizzel said, struggling to hide her panic. ¡°Look here, lady. I¡¯ve been dodging the entire fight. If I could run, I would¡¯ve done that already!¡± Frein lied. They both knew it was a lie. The Tether made sure Elizzel knew about it. He was smiling ear to ear.
In a sense, Evanclad was thankful for Frein¡¯s appearance. It made his work a lot easier. As soon as the first Sphinx summoned the second, he knew he was in the clear. The First Monarch truly didn¡¯t know where to find this Palace when he first manifested in Kristel¡¯s Dream, but he knew the Mind Palace itself. It was his in the first place. Time was against him. While his observations gave him enough confidence that Frein could take care of himself, two powerful Nightmares against a practitioner with only two Meiyal Arts seemed too askew a balance regardless of whether the Visitor possessed four-meiyal or not. If it had been six-meiyal, this fight would¡¯ve been over. Maybe I should¡­ Evanclad stopped himself from getting distracted. Need to find the Princess. Evanclad proceeded to the basement. It was where he kept his Worldspace, now known as Spatiera. He stalked carefully out of every corner, making sure there were no stray Nightmares. Even if the Sphinx Without Questions used its Summoning Roar, sometimes a Nightmare would just be too stubborn to respond to the call. Fortunately, they were in the Dream, and these creatures couldn¡¯t invade such a protected individual as constantly as they would anyone else. In fact, he was surprised there were any Nightmares here at all. Thankfully, the Visitor arrived just in time to help. It didn¡¯t take long for Evanclad to find the problem. The stairwell to the basement was shattered. It was only due to his intangible form that he was able to fly downwards and find his way. A pair of doors stopped him. A thick layer of Nightmare meiyal enveloped the hinges of the frame, tendrils of it wrapped around the handles. He could feel each piece of power leering at him with malice, urging him to open the doors. Evanclad clicked his intangible tongue. Of course it wouldn¡¯t be this easy. Without much choice, he leveraged his existence and Opened his meiyal core, careful enough to limit his influence only within this section of the Mind Palace. Wouldn¡¯t want to distract the Visitor. He didn¡¯t know the modern name of this Void Control Technique, nor was it given one during his time. In a sense, this was the Void Control Technique. The root of them all. Due to the principles of his current state, he was left with no choice but to exchange a flicker of his existence to cleanse the hindering Nightmare. As usual, the screams of a thousand souls echoed from the malignant meiyal as it vanished from the Dream. Finally, he opened the door and the contents of the room made him hesitate. It was so unbelievably small. There was nothing inside except for one Princess Kristel chained up against walls that she could almost reach. Evanclad didn¡¯t know the rest of what was wrong with her, but this cramped Worldspace was proof enough that she couldn¡¯t connect with most of her potential as an Irista. Have all my heirs been like this? Kristella wasn¡¯t, but that was because the remnants of the Divine Severing still allowed her to embrace her Deitar status. But what about Eva, his granddaughter? What about Eva¡¯s children? There was no way for him to know right now. Right now, I need to get you out of here. ¡°Wake up, Princess. Time to wake up.¡± Kristel stirred but whatever it was keeping her from full consciousness had no intention of letting her go. It was too solemn to consider a Nightmare, but was angry enough to be one. The chains tightened and the Princess winced in pain. Now what do I do with you?
Chapter 93: Frein鈥檚 Meiyal System Frein¡¯s Meiyal System While Frein emphasized his Siffera, echoing his killing intent towards both Sphinxes to keep them from spontaneously attacking him, he simultaneously tried to calm Elizzel down. ¡°You do know we have a contingency plan right?¡± the faunel reasoned out. ¡°I can pull you out of here and we can come back again.¡± ¡°What¡¯s our guarantee that those two will do nothing while we¡¯re gone? For all we know we just activated Kristel¡¯s death sentence, not to mention Evanclad¡¯s in danger.¡± Elizzel hesitated. ¡°Come on, Eli. I need you here,¡± Frein whispered. ¡°Alright, but we have no time to be idle. This time we¡¯re on the offensive. And you need to be prepared for that Negating Roar.¡± Elizzel tugged at their Tether, delivering a set of instructions that confused Frein. He almost lost focus. ¡°Are you sure this will work?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯ll strain your meiyal system since you¡¯re not used to it, but I¡¯ll guide you, so you don¡¯t have to worry,¡± she sighed. ¡°At least this method¡¯s safer compared to meddling with Destiny.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not objecting?¡± ¡°You trust me, I trust you. That¡¯s how it works.¡± Frein could see the second Sphinx Without Questions finally breaking free from the intimidating constraint caused by his Siffera. But rather than let the Nightmare tear through his oppressive presence, he relented instead, and focused everything to an offensive. Within a blink, he leapt right next to the injured Sphinx, creating distance from the new Nightmare and sending a four-meiyal empowered fist straight to his target¡¯s massive, yet majestic face. He felt a hint of regret when he realized it¡¯ll leave a blemish on such a beautiful figure, but Elizzel pulled him back to reality¡ªthe Dream¡¯s reality. He¡¯d disfigure this piece of treasure over and over again if it belonged to a Nightmare. The impact threw the Sphinx straight to the ground. Frein shot straight towards its face again and slammed both his feet on its skull. He felt it shatter underneath. Before he could unleash a devastating combo, however, his awareness sent him alarms. The Visitor flipped away just in time as lightning struck at the Sphinx¡¯s face. The second one had reached them and didn¡¯t care if it hurt its ally. Playing shield¡¯s out of the option, I guess. But he could utilize this instead to his advantage. In a severe state of panic, the injured Sphinx bellowed a Negating Roar. Frein saw it coming and distanced himself just in time. He switched his focus towards the second Nightmare, dashing from side to side to avoid the onslaught of projectiles. The moment he was within striking range, the Sphinx sliced towards him with both longswords. Frein leapt past them, but was met by a spear. He responded with a kick, swatting away the pointed blade that was almost as large as he was. He was then met by the second spear swinging towards him. Frein spun out of the way, catching the shaft just in time so he could take advantage of the strike¡¯s trajectory. He let go at the zenith of the attack¡¯s follow through and the momentum sent him higher than the Sphinx. Frein began to fall, aiming towards the Nightmare¡¯s skull once again. But the creature had just recovered its longswords and thrusted them towards him, intent on skewering him as he fell. These Nightmares were smart, but they were absurdly slow. With Mesiffera, Frein predicted the swords¡¯ path and managed to slip through in between. He fell straight towards the Sphinxes face and slammed a fully emphasized four-meiyal Siffera punch. The gigantic Nightmare¡¯s form twisted and recoiled, flipping back straight to the ground as the impact of his punch caused a massive impact. Just like with the first Sphinx, Frein followed up by smashing its skull. And as expected, it reacted in desperation. It sent its own Negating Roar. At the same time, the first Sphinx had caught up on them and sent its own flurry of attacks, opting to use its weapons after realizing that projectiles were not effective at all. The combination caught Frein in an awkward spot. He had nowhere to dash off to and his opponents didn¡¯t allow him enough time to make a decision. He was forced to meet the first Sphinx¡¯s attacks while withstanding the second¡¯s Negating Roar. ¡°This is it, Frein! You have to be quick.¡± As Frein swatted away a jabbing spear, the second Sphinx bellowed. He poured as much as he could into focusing his awareness towards himself. Time slowed down. Frein briefly recalled when he achieved such a feat back during Frill¡¯s maelstrom. It was such a challenge back then. He admitted it happened out of the blue and was totally a fluke. But now it seemed so easy. The Negating Roar slowly brushed from his right ankle, spreading slowly upwards. The moment Siffera was erased from a certain part of his body, Frein re-Drew it with precision, rendering it as if the erasing wave simply moved through him. He managed to do it perfectly, but it was mostly because Elizzel helped him out. The faunel had focused everything she could to make sure they didn¡¯t go too fast, causing the new Siffera to be negated, or too slow and fail to protect him just in time from the impact. The entire sequence, however, caused a massive strain on Frein¡¯s system. As if he pulled a muscle the wrong way or tore a part of his tendon. The pain surged from within his chest and caused a shortness of breath. It took all of his willpower to refuse to relent.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. This was his only chance. He gritted his teeth and moved. Time, then, resumed. The oncoming wave that followed the erasure did little to throw him off balance, let alone hurt him in any capacity. But it was enough to make the first Sphinx to flinch out of its reckless attacks. His instantaneous recovery caught the two Sphinxes off-guard, but most importantly, it placed him in prime position while the second Nightmare still recovered. He pried away its longsword and lunged at the first, more injured, Sphinx. It was weak, driven solely by its fury and nature, and couldn¡¯t defend itself anymore. So it was slow to react when Frein stabbed its neck and sliced, parting a portion of its head off its shoulders. The Sphinx¡¯s movements stopped. At first, Frein thought it might recover, but when it fell lifeless on the ground, it confirmed for him that Nightmares operated differently inside the Dream. Their influences were more apparent here but in exchange for their vulnerability. The second Sphinx had recovered from its Negating Roar and realized its companion was gone. It didn¡¯t care in the slightest and continued to focus on attacking Frein rather than spare any remorse. It circled around him at blinding speed, sending a storm of attacks from its spears and remaining sword while it closed in its serpentine coil. Frein had seen this once already. He took his time to recover his breath while he maneuvered around the Nightmare¡¯s attacks. And with one, heavy stroke of the stolen longsword, he dispatched the second Sphinx with relative ease. The Visitor could finally breathe as the second Sphinx fell lifeless on the ground. He assessed himself and his resources while maintaining Siffera-empowered awareness spread around him. His meiyal reserves were still plenty. The entire fight didn¡¯t even cost him half of what he had Milled. He found it a little odd to consciously stop himself from Gathering and Milling, but thankfully, it wasn¡¯t too much of a bother to distract him from the fight. On the other hand, he had almost run out of four-meiyal after they used a big chunk of it for re-Drawing Siffera. He specifically stored this new experience into his own Mind Palace. Something to train and improve for the future. Frein didn¡¯t know exactly how it would help him, but if he could efficiently Draw and re-Draw his Meiyal Arts without effort or cost, he was sure it¡¯ll give him confidence to face more dangerous Nightmares. Even with a Purifying Stone protecting him from the effects of a Negating Roar, there was no absolute proof that it would defend him from stronger Nightmares using the same attack. His injuries were a mystery to him. In fact, he noticed all his wounds had closed, clotted as if days had passed since he got them. It only clicked to him a second later that Siffera even enhanced his natural physical healing as opposed to the instantaneous recovery brought by Samesia. What the hell is with this Meiyal Art? It just improves everything! A dangerous thought entered his mind as he realized something. ¡°If Siffera can enhance an observation Meiyal Art, what¡¯s stopping it from enhancing other Arts?¡± he mused within himself, but prompted Elizzel with the question as well. The faunel simply smiled from within his Exhibit. ¡°That¡¯s where other meiyal-charged materials help. Among other effects, some of them also serve as mediums for you to combine Arts together. Emerald Guidance doesn¡¯t function the same way, but you¡¯ll notice it from others who open their Displays. Still, we¡¯re getting ahead of ourselves.¡± ¡°Yeah, we should look for Evanclad.¡± Frein moved to return to the Mind Palace when a massive tear in the Dream opened to a cosmic portal. He stopped and stared past the whirling stars and solar systems until a gigantic, furry creature crossed the threshold, promptly closing the portal right after. His heart almost skipped a beat when he thought he had to fight another, more sinister Nightmare. But relief quickly embraced him when he realized Norazzel¡¯s wolf form. Elizzel appeared out of the Tether in an instant. ¡°Norazzel!¡± she called out. ¡°Elizzel, Frein. It¡¯s good to see you, but where are we?¡± the faunel of Dreams asked. She lifted her snout, sniffing the air with the curiosity of any normal sized canine. The size difference melted the Visitor¡¯s heart. ¡°We¡¯re in the Irista Mind Palace,¡± Frein answered after gathering his composure. ¡°You don¡¯t get around here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. This place is too isolated and sinister.¡± ¡°Are you saying there are more Nightmares?¡± The giant wolf shook its head. ¡°Far from it. This particular Dream is filled with painful memories, suffering dreams. It¡¯s oozing with self-pity and lack of self-confidence from the Iristas that came before the current heir. Whatever it was that made Evanclad Irista great and powerful is also the one hindering his bloodline from ever surpassing him.¡± Frein could read that Norazzel wasn¡¯t eager to discuss it any further. So he moved the topic along while he stretched. He was itching to Gather and Mill. The feeling of an empty space within his reserves didn¡¯t sit too well with him. ¡°So how come you¡¯re here now?¡± he asked. ¡°I asked her to come,¡± Evanclad¡¯s voice echoed as his presence slowly approached. ¡°Glad you could make it, Nora.¡± ¡°Without your guidance, I never would¡¯ve reached this place. Thank you, First Monarch. I¡¯ve taken the liberty of memorizing the path, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± The faunel bowed with such magnificence that her immense size gave Frein a sense of secondhand gratification. His lips parted at the sight of strength and beauty lowering herself to such a small¡ªand quite frankly nonexistent¡ªcreature. ¡°Please, Nora. There¡¯s no need for formalities. And by all means, visit as much as you wish. But I did call you right now for a favor.¡± ¡°As long as it is within my power to fulfill.¡± ¡°My heir¡¯s fallen to a Void Sleep.¡± ¡°Void Sleep?¡± Frein asked, immediately magnetized by the new term. ¡°It¡¯s the origin of why the Void Region eventually became the Nightmare Lands,¡± Evanclad explained. ¡°The influence of the Nightmare¡ªthe Void, back then¡ªturned people into¡­well, Nightmares. But some individuals are resistant to it. Instead, they fall into a deep sleep while the Void tears away at their resistance and turns them from inside the Dream first.¡± ¡°So Kristel¡¯s about to turn?¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t do anything about it, yes.¡± ¡°Are you for certain, Evanclad?¡± Norazzel asked. It seemed that she could also sense where the First Monarch currently stood. Frein wondered if it was due to her sense of smell. He didn¡¯t ask. ¡°No, not exactly,¡± Evanclad replied. ¡°But I would like an expert¡¯s opinion.¡± ¡°Then lead the way.¡± ¡°Ah, but first, I have to ask, Frein.¡± Evanclad made an invisible gesture. Frein could feel him pointing towards the Sphinxes Without Questions. ¡°Are you going to eat those?¡± Frein blinked twice. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Eat. Eat the Nightmares. Nom, nom, and all that.¡± For a voice as gruff and deep as Evanclad¡¯s, he sure didn¡¯t speak like one as far as Frein was concerned. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m supposed to eat those, right?¡± Evanclad frowned. ¡°You¡¯re telling me, you, the Visitor, became this strong without eating Nightmares? Are you telling me, you don¡¯t even know why you have such a special meiyal system?¡± Frein calmed himself down. He met Evanclad eye to invisible eye. This was something he had to pay his utmost attention to. ¡°Please explain.¡± The First Monarch realized the change in his demeanor and settled on a rock. By now, Frein was accustomed to simply feeling what Evanclad was doing by reading his presence. ¡°Now it makes sense why you didn¡¯t react so much when I told you about the Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core.¡± He sighed and went silent for a while. ¡°Your meiyal system didn¡¯t come from this Schrodie, the Gatekeeper fellow. I assume when I was gone someone made her the caretaker of that system and bound her in oath to continue our Visitor project. ¡°That meiyal system you have there, is from none other than Zerax¡¯thum, the Fallen Dragon, the one who caused the Divine Severing. Also known to a few as the Eater of Nightmares.¡± Evanclad returned a sincere stare. ¡°So eat, Visitor.¡± ¡°Why do I have to eat those?¡± Frein retorted, not liking the concept at all. Never mind that the source of his strength came from such a powerful, yet problematic¡ªtoo generous a term¡ªentity. ¡°I can get stronger on my own.¡± ¡°Do you honestly believe that you can face the Nightmare just by training everyday? Well, you can, if you have more than a year. Do you?¡± He stood and turned to Norazzel. ¡°Follow me, Nora. Eli, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t remember how it works, but since you¡¯re helping Frein out, make sure he doesn¡¯t succumb to the influence and throw up.¡± While Frein struggled to digest what he just heard, the First Monarch turned to him once again. ¡°Find their cores, and eat them. You do know how to eat, right?¡±
Chapter 94: A Nightmares Influence A Nightmare''s Influence
¡±If anyone else told me that, I probably wouldn¡¯t believe them. If Schrodie told me that from the get-go, I¡¯d say she¡¯s crazy.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
Frein churned out Evanclad¡¯s words as he walked over to the one of the Sphinxes Without Questions. He already forgot which Sphinx this one was. Was it the first or the second? It didn¡¯t matter. He was supposed to eat both anyway. How do I eat them? For that matter, he wondered if he should believe Evanclad in the first place. The Monarch was nonchalant about Schrodie taking over the Visitor project. Regardless of what the Gatekeeper¡¯s true involvement was, that word irked him. Project. It implied a set objective. He was simply a means to an end. He had sort of expected that already, but to what end still remained a mystery. Not exactly. Evanclad clearly implied he wanted Frein to deal with the Nightmare. Whether to eradicate it completely or not was another story, but at the very least, the Monarch expected him to be strong enough to deal with all manners of creatures from the Nightmare Lands. Frein soon realized he was looking at the first Sphinx. The distinct injury he left over its chest remained hollow. No core inside. Elizzel stood beside him, seemingly in a daze. ¡°You didn¡¯t know about this either, huh?¡± he asked. ¡°No. But I think you should believe Evanclad. For what it¡¯s worth, he¡¯s dedicated his entire life for Brymeia, even after his death.¡± ¡°But if we take the events into account, the Letterman staged all of this. He forced Kristel to take Evanclad¡¯s materialized form.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t trust the Letterman?¡± Elizzel craned her neck with curiosity. ¡°Everyone else seems to trust him.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get a letter.¡± ¡°Maybe he thinks you¡¯ll get the message on your own? Maybe he¡¯s afraid you¡¯ll figure out who he is with just a letter?¡± Frein sighed and reached out towards the nearest longsword. With a flex of his Siffera strengthened by a drop of four-meiyal, he dug his hands into the flat of the blade and wrenched out a piece of the sharp edge like tearing off paper. ¡°That¡¯s for another time, I think. But you¡¯re right. If you trust Evanclad, then I¡¯ll trust him too.¡± He walked towards the Sphinx and performed an incision, slicing the Nightmare¡¯s torso open. He had to walk to complete the dissection, but halfway through, he realized he was side by side by the Sphinx¡¯s left breast. It was large. Larger than he was. He couldn¡¯t wrap himself around it if he tried. And now that the dark meiyal was gone, he could see the half-erected nipple at the tip of the mound¡­the hill. Frein swallowed hard, letting go of his improvised scalpel. Elizzel just sighed, shook her head, and massaged her forehead out of irritation. ¡°Are you serious, right now?¡± Frein stuttered his words and snapped back at Elizzel while gesturing towards the nipple with both hands. ¡°Look at it! It¡¯s practically begging!¡± ¡°It¡¯s dead, Frein! It¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Let me just bury myself for a bit. I want to know what it feels like! I need to know! It¡¯s in my nature as a man!¡± ¡°That¡¯s your nature as a pervert. Disgusting.¡± ¡°Get over here and tell me you¡¯re not one bit curious.¡± Frein compelled the faunel over. She couldn¡¯t hide from the Tether. And when her interest leaked out for just a bit, he immediately snagged it. Elizzel reluctantly followed. She looked at it from below and her jaw slowly slacked. It took her a second to regain her composure, clearing her throat. ¡°Fine. I guess you do have a point.¡± ¡°Wait, wait. I have an idea.¡± Like a tourist, Frein produced his M.O.B.I.L.E. and pondered for a second if he should use the record function. In the end, he decided to take just one image of himself and Elizzel with the giant breast behind them, taking extra care to keep the nipple within frame. ¡°I¡¯ll have to show Kat this one later,¡± he said, giggling. ¡°Are we done? If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say you¡¯re delaying because you don¡¯t want to eat the core.¡± ¡°No, no, no. This is purely scientific. A study of culture. This is curiosity, not perversion nor diversion.¡± ¡°Yeah, keep telling yourself that.¡± ¡°You say that, but you¡¯re not taking your eyes off it either.¡± It was Elizzel¡¯s turn to overreact, gesturing towards the nipple. ¡°Just look at it! Who wouldn¡¯t be enamored by it.¡± After a smirk, Frein took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, moment of truth.¡± The two approached in synchronicity. They found themselves at the base of the giant tit and pressed one hand each towards the flesh. It was full to the touch. Heavy and soft and somewhat elastic, and it bounced whenever he released the pressure. Without a second thought, he launched himself in it, stretching out his entire wingspan to take as much flesh as he could. Elizzel did the same. It was like squeezing a marshmallow with his entire body. A mildly sweaty marshmallow. Determined, the two quickly raced for the top of the breast. While the base was fine and pleasurable, the top was indeed where the cherry could be found. But before they admired the nipple up close, there was one curiosity they still had to satisfy. Elizzel was the first to jump, treating the tit like a trampoline as she bounced right back on her feet. She did so repeatedly, laughing and inviting Frein to try as well. The Visitor suppressed the desire to call her out and simply enjoyed the treat. Satisfied after just a few more bounces, the two were then filled with excitement and anticipation as they made their way for the top. Frein¡¯s shoes dug into soft flesh with every step. And finally, there they were. Elizzel knelt on the areola while caressing the nipple with both hands. She had been completely absorbed by the activity. In the meantime, Frein snatched a picture of the faunel before appreciating how huge this nipple was, just a head smaller than Elizzel when she sat. It felt firm to the touch. Just like any other nipple, but the size made it feel more gratifying. Frein could feel a grotesque curiosity creeping at the back of his head. Should I lick it? Elizzel looked at him at that. Then she turned back at the nipple and then back at him. The thought made them swallow in anticipation. She tried it first, slowly pressing her tongue and licking up at length, savoring it like ice cream. A wave of exhilaration electrified Frein as the sensation travelled through their Tether. He had to try it for his own. He pressed his lips against it first, before sticking out his tongue. It tasted of sweat, like the skin hadn¡¯t been washed for a while. But the experience of licking off this piece of marvel overpowered any sort of disgust that tried to surface at the back of his mind. Satisfaction crashed at the two like a heavy burden as they realized what they just did. Frein didn¡¯t know if he should feel disappointed about it, but there was a clear sense of victory as if they had conquered the impossible.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Now, Elizzel was completely hypnotized by the curiosity. She tugged at the Tether instinctively, and Frein could read her intentions clearly. But there was work to be done. And while he couldn¡¯t help but admit he was extremely curious as well, entertaining it any further would be crossing a line. ¡°I think we should look for the core now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the tail,¡± Elizzel said, giving up on voicing her request. ¡°I could feel it by touch.¡± Following the faunel¡¯s instructions, Frein carefully sliced open one of the tails. He found the first one empty, but successfully located the core in the second one. It was a dark, rectangular gem. Black smoke swam inside, but tendrils of it licked out of the precious container, wrapping around his fingers like curious appendages. With Elizzel¡¯s locating ability, they found the second Nightmare core inside the second Sphinx¡¯s stomach. It looked the same, if only a little thicker. The two found a small space away from the Sphinxes in order to avoid further distractions and focus on the task at hand. Frein found a stone to sit on while Elizzel looked over him. ¡°Before I eat this, do you have any idea why?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Elizzel crossed her arms, her eyes drifting back towards the Sphinxes. She blinked it away and returned to focus. ¡°If Evanclad¡¯s correct, and your meiyal system did originate from Zerax¡¯thum himself, then you should be able to convert these cores into another source of meiyal. It was one of the ways the Fallen Dragon became almost unstoppable.¡± ¡°Wait. That means Nightmares existed before the Divine Severing? I thought it was the other way around?¡± ¡°Not as prominent as now. Deep Nightmares existed long before then under a different designation. Remember the Oblimoths Rindea mentioned? Those have been around¡­probably since the beginning. Way before the gods got involved. Long before I was born. Of course, they weren¡¯t as large as mountain ranges back then.¡± Frein pondered for a while. Unlike storing, retrieving vivid memories and details from his own Mind Palace meant he had to enter it, and that process took unnecessary time. He practically had to fall asleep. So, he relied on plain old memory. ¡°It feels like there¡¯s a missing piece. Feels like I already have it, but not sure. We need to look into this later.¡± He studied the cores once again. ¡°So, if I eat this, I can Mill a six-meiyal reserve?¡± Elizzel took one from his hand and analyzed it. She went as far as licking the gem, which made her disappointed. ¡°Not with these two, no. You¡¯ll need more. Once you accumulate enough cores, we can start progressing to five-meiyal.¡± ¡°How much more.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say about ten total of this quality, or a Deep Nightmare¡¯s core. Just an estimate, though.¡± ¡°When you were a Forest Jaws did you eat Nightmares, too?¡± ¡°To sustain myself, yes. Not to make meiyal pools for myself.¡± She pointed at him. ¡°I have you now, so I don¡¯t need to do that anymore.¡± ¡°I only love Katherine,¡± Frein said. Elizzel leered at him. ¡°No one¡¯s asking.¡± Frein quickly moved on from the joke. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m curious, Eli. Does the meiyal pool you provide the same as Emerald Guidance¡¯s?¡± This time, she glared at him. ¡°No, I have far better quality.¡± ¡°How better?¡± ¡°At my current state, about three times better.¡± ¡°Current state?¡± The faunel sighed, as though the implication was obvious. ¡°We¡¯re Tethered, Frein. The stronger you get, the stronger I get. You can basically treat me as a multiplier. I¡¯m three times better because, not counting myself, you have three sources for me to amplify.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°You really thought I¡¯m just some addition, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I asked.¡± Focusing back on the task, Frein tossed one gem and caught it as he stood. ¡°Alright, how do I eat this?¡± Elizzel raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean how? Obviously you chomp at it.¡± She mimicked the act of devouring something from both hands. ¡°You need to put as much gusto as you can. Like a savage.¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± ¡°Obviously you Gather it like any other meiyal-charged material. It¡¯ll manifest into your Exhibit, then you need to grind it through your Mill. I¡¯ll help you out. Make sure you don¡¯t throw up.¡± He had heard that multiple times already. And now that he was sure to Gather it like a material, he couldn¡¯t quite picture what it meant to throw it up. ¡°Means you¡¯ll hurl it out,¡± Elizzel clarified for him. ¡°It won¡¯t disperse like a material. You literally hurl it all out of your body. It¡¯ll usually go through the mouth, but some reactions will probably make you throw up from other orifices, if you catch my drift. Not to mention it¡¯ll be bloody, throw you instantly into Art fatigue, and you might be unconscious for a while.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just bring these out then, so we can do it properly outside?¡± The faunel shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Some cores stay for a while, some disappear almost immediately. They¡¯re your cores, so do what you want.¡± ¡°If you put it that way¡­¡± It left Frein with a simple choice. He made his intentions to Gather known and the faunel merged inside his meiyal system. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t accidentally Gather anything else. Just the cores, alright?¡± Frein didn¡¯t respond audibly. He was already concentrating, manifesting his own meiyal around one core. He chose to absorb the thicker gem. There could¡¯ve been many assumptions for it, but the obvious one was that a larger core could be more difficult to Gather. And easing into it wasn¡¯t really his style. His dark red meiyal enveloped the Nightmare core. Now it made sense to him why the color of his meiyal looked sinister. It was very Zerax¡¯thum-like. With precision, he Gathered his meiyal and brought along the core, making absolutely sure it was isolated enough. It felt like a massive wrecking ball slammed down his Mill. It almost broke, and his body instantly rejected the foreign object. On the other hand, the core pushed against its confines. It wanted to invade the rest of the Exhibit, banging its smoke-like tendrils against an invisible wall indicated by the stanchions surrounding the Mill. The force brought Frein onto his knees. Something blocked his airway, as though he was punched in the gut multiple times. His head throbbed and a wave of nausea washed over him. ¡°Concentrate, Frein!¡± Elizzel¡¯s worried voice echoed from their Tether. ¡°Mill it. Grind it down!¡± Frein relied on his instincts. He was too bothered by the sickness. His body Milled on its own, crunching and grinding at the Nightmare Core using the same routine he always did. He doubled over and vomited, mostly water with small chunks of what he already digested. ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Elizzel echoed. ¡°Just don¡¯t stop Milling. Don¡¯t let the core take over.¡± His internal organs were getting twisted, as though someone reached inside and went crazy with his flesh. He felt them yanking out, ripping through his bones. And the bones themselves, cracking and snapping. His eye bulged and popped while the other slipped out of his sockets. He went blind. His hairs fell out. And he was hard as a rock through all of it. While he continued to throw up his meals and innards, his lower half humped at the ground like a sex-craved maniac. But through it all, one, faint sliver of his consciousness continued to Mill, grinding halfway through the entire core. Frein climaxed and immediately felt hungry. He reached out blindly until he felt something wet and moist. It smelled repugnant, but he was famished, and he was hard again. So one hand scooped up the glob and he drank from it, slurping small chunks to fill his stomach, while the other hand took a handful to lubricate his shaft. He ate and masturbated at the same time. Light brought the Visitor back to his senses. ¡°Good work, my perverted host,¡± Elizzel echoed from the Tether. She had gathered the granules of the Nightmare core into a secure display case. Frein couldn¡¯t see them properly from the outside, but he didn¡¯t have time to enter his own Exhibit. ¡°Why, in Brymeia¡¯s name, do you have dreams like that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it felt amazing.¡± Frein smiled ear to ear, looking at the other core still in his hand. ¡°This might get addicting.¡± ¡°You know, that¡¯s the entire point why I¡¯m here, right? We don¡¯t want you to end up like the Fallen Dragon.¡± Frein didn¡¯t listen and Gathered the second core.
It took Frein a while to recover from the second core. Ironically enough, it drained him more this time around. Smoke sizzled out of his right arm where his meiyal core was. He didn¡¯t quite reach Art fatigue yet, but it had been close. And he noticed he had fourteen marks now. He was weirded out by that fact. For him, the marks literally didn¡¯t matter now. With Elizzel helping him out, he could Gather any meiyal-charged material regardless of their limitations. ¡°Don¡¯t expect the same reaction every time,¡± Elizzel scolded him, pulling him back to his senses. She had manifested out of the Tether, massaging his back with a small hand for comfort. ¡°Even if they¡¯re from the same type of Nightmare, their sources are still different.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Frein looked at his arms. They were still there. He felt his stomach, still present. His legs, his hair, eyes, nose, genitals. All present. He sighed in relief, but at the same time he wanted to experience it again. ¡°All this, and no power gained,¡± he commented. ¡°We need to hunt more Nightmares.¡± ¡°We need to check on Kristel first.¡± That made him realize where he was, still in Kristel¡¯s Dream. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± They returned to the Mind Palace, trying to figure out where the other two were. Frein focused his Siffera on his awareness and almost immediately found traces of the Monarch. He couldn¡¯t help but feel that Evanclad purposefully left them as breadcrumbs for them to find. It led them to a broken stairwell, plunging into darkness. Elizzel reached out and perched on his shoulders as he leapt off, empowering himself for the balanced and reactive blind landing. He had never done it before, but as long as his fall wasn¡¯t any higher than the Vanguard¡¯s, he should be okay. He reached the ground soon after, landing like a superhero. Only, there weren¡¯t any crimes to fight. What he found was Norazzel in her normal sized wolf form and the presence of Evanclad turning only slightly towards their arrival. In front of them was a small room where Kristel was suspended in mid air. Chains from all sides coiled around her body. It took Frein a moment to realize she was completely naked, with the links of the chains covering most of her. They gripped and tightened every few seconds, causing the Princess to wince in pain. ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°Norazzel¡¯s almost out of meiyal. Can you lend her some?¡± It was only then that he noticed a number of dead wolves on the ground inside the room. Another materialized out of Kristel and fell dead on the floor underneath her. ¡°Sure,¡± he replied. ¡°Take as many as you need.¡± ¡°No,¡± Elizzel interjected. ¡°No one bites Frein but me. We made a pact.¡± ¡°Katherine bites me whenever she likes,¡± Frein reasoned out, too late to stop himself. ¡°That¡¯s different.¡± Elizzel hopped off his shoulders and offered her hand to Norazzel. ¡°Take mine instead.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± the faunel of Dreams said. ¡°Thank you.¡± She gently sank her canine into Elizzel¡¯s wrist. Blood trickled out and the faunel of Freedom winced in pain. And then, it was done. Norazzel¡¯s fur glowed with power as she manifested ten more copies of herself. They quickly leapt and entered the Princess through her core. One appeared an instant after, falling dead. ¡°Can we do anything else?¡± Frein asked. He would¡¯ve yanked on the chains already if not for the two in front of him. ¡°No. This should be enough, Frein,¡± Evanclad said, his presence turning to him. ¡°Thank you. We just need to wait now.¡±
Chapter 95: Within the Dream Within The Dream
¡±The layers within the Dream are infinite. And within the Dream, so am I.¡± ~Norazzel
Kristel tried to catch her breath while she walked over a pile of corpses. Blood had flooded up just below her knees, making it impossible to see whenever someone tried to snatch her ankles. So when a hand submerged in the blood pool dug its nails around her leg and pulled, it took every bit of the Princess¡¯s Siffera to keep herself in place. She sliced in a fit of panic, severing the hand of whatever it was underneath. The sudden release of tension pushed her out of balance and the slippery nature of the bloody terrain made it impossible to recover with how weak and simple her Siffera was. She fell on her bum, submerging her entire lower half in blood. The metallic stench of it assaulted her nose as some splashed on her face from the impact of her fall. Kristel almost tried to wipe it off, but luckily noticed just in time that she had planted her hands on the ground to keep the rest of herself above the pool. She cursed herself for not having a better Siffera. A vision of Frein flashed in her mind. His confidence, his skill, the way he fought with pride and power with just one Meiyal Art. No, two now, but even then, the Visitor treated Mesiffera as part of Siffera still. She cursed herself for being weak, for harboring envy towards the Visitor. She cursed herself for being jealous of the fact that circumstances made Frein a far better practitioner in just half a year of training, when she had devoted her entire life for it. I hate mountains, she realized. When Kristel got back on her feet, she was surprised to see her leg remained free of injuries. But she wasn¡¯t out of danger. Everywhere she looked, there was a lesser Nightmare coming her way. These humanoids who had succumbed to the Nightmare¡¯s influence took their time, gathering together in mobs as they walked, one lousy step after the other. This is just a dream. Don¡¯t panic. Kristel Gathered and Milled. It wasn¡¯t as greedy or relentless as Frein¡¯s, but in this Dream, she could convince herself to be stronger than in reality. Even at that, she was disappointed. She enveloped her meiyal blade with Kaimfra, causing the short sword to spark ablaze. Here, she could maintain the Art almost perpetually, as if she only had to Draw it once and required no upkeep to maintain. She struck down the closest Nightmare while wondering why the Art behaved this way in her Dream. None of the other Meiyal Arts she knew acted differently when she Drew them. Only Kaimfra. As if to prove a point, Kaimfra¡¯s flames blazed brighter, eager to burn the next enemy. Three lesser Nightmares rushed at her. Kristel took her stance, Drawing a second meiyal blade enveloped with the burning Art. She slipped to the side of her leftmost enemy, ducking away from a telegraphed strike and slicing off the arm with a well-aimed spinning slash. The Princess stepped for a follow-up, but the Nightmare ignited completely. It caught her, and the other two, by surprise. Kristel recovered first. Out of curiosity, she flicked her blade towards one of her assailants. The flames of Kaimfra surged forth in a similar arc, blasting at both enemies and reducing them to ashes. A rush of emotions filled her as she observed the disintegrating corpses. She realized this was how the Meiyal Art was supposed to be, not some heat enhancement wrapped around the blade. But why only in the Dream? Kristel burned down more mobs of lesser Nightmares until she ran out of breath and yet she still couldn¡¯t figure out the answer. Her Siffera had waned again and she had to re-Draw it¡­again. She had been fighting for a long time now. How long, she couldn¡¯t say. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t wake from the Dream. But fortunately, here, she had an infinite amount of meiyal, and there were no signs of Art fatigue at all. If her circumstances had been better, this situation would¡¯ve been preferable for training. But she knew this was a nightmare. Nothing good would ever come from it. Her effort wasn¡¯t exactly in vain. After dealing with every Nightmare around her with a conflagration from her pair of meiyal blades, the closest one now was but a tiny speck in the distance. Now she only had to deal with surprises underneath the bloody flood. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just burn them, too?¡± a voice asked from behind her. A soothing voice, comparable to that of a doting mother. Kristel had no memories of her mother, but for some reason the voice sounded familiar. She turned to find no one there. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± she replied, urging the voice to return. She would prefer any company other than a Nightmare right now, even if said company was a mysterious person playing mind games with her. ¡°Why not?¡± asked the voice. This time it sounded different, that of a small girl, a curious child who couldn¡¯t stop asking questions. ¡°Because I knew them,¡± Kristel answered before questioning the change in the stranger¡¯s voice. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Allow me to answer that question another time, Kristel,¡± the mother-voice replied. No matter which way Kristel turned, it seemed to always echo from behind her. ¡°You knew them how?¡± asked the child-voice. ¡°They were my soldiers, my knights. I wouldn¡¯t hurt them if I could help it.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re in the way.¡± ¡°In the way of what?¡± Kristel calmed the mild irritation caused by the voice¡¯s indignant effort to remain behind her combined by its heartless opinion for the dead. ¡°I have nowhere to go in this nightmare.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°What about that mountain over there?¡± the child-voice asked. ¡°Over where?¡± Kristel turned again and found the Flat Lands embraced by the Rindea Mountain Range. She turned again only to find herself standing on top of the Vanguard¡¯s tallest wall. She was alone, feet no longer submerged in blood, corpses no longer surrounded her. The night wasn¡¯t enveloped by the usual mellow purple. It was as if the blood had turned the skies red instead, far redder than a full Darkmoon would provide. ¡°Any of those should do,¡± said the mother-voice. ¡°Sometimes, conquering the hardest trials spontaneously might lead to some desirable results.¡± ¡°Just tell me who you are,¡± Kristel asked again, ignoring the suggestion. She didn¡¯t bother turning. ¡°How about this; reach any of the peaks you see before you, and I will give you the answer.¡± Kristel considered the challenge. She had nothing better to do, so it was an easy decision to make. ¡°No rules?¡± she confirmed. ¡°Use anything within your capabilities. I will wait for you there.¡± ¡°How would you know which one I¡¯m going for?¡± Kristel asked but felt the voice vanish without replying. With a sigh, she leapt off the Vanguard. With Siffera she recovered easily in the air and landed without any problems. At least, this feat she could manage like Frein did. There was some comfort in that. Determined, Kristel raced for the nearest peak. She had traversed these mountain forests numerous times and the familiarity allowed her to speed up¡­and immediately slow down. These were not the same paths she remembered. The trees were more sinister, a blend of decay and death intermixed within their barks and roots. The place was deathly silent, absent of any small critters that scamper every which way. It became so eerie and still that the Princess was forced to stop and observe. She daintily landed on a tree branch that was thick enough to support her weight. All around her were only decaying trees and fallen leaves. She quickly realized she was lost. To find her bearings, Kristel climbed to the top. It only took her a few seconds to realize she couldn¡¯t reach it. They grew ever taller with every step she took. And when she looked down, the ground stayed the same distance. Even when she tried climbing with her eyes fixed to the ground, she made no progress. Confused, she dropped to the ground. That, she was permitted to do, but it made it more difficult to find her way. Still, the easiest thing to do was to find the slope and climb high. Kristel remembered the general direction of the mountain itself and headed east. But where¡¯s east? Kristel couldn¡¯t find the moon or see the stars. Faint beams of moonlight shined directly downwards, providing her no clue. And even when she waited to measure the change of light, the light itself refused to move. She was in her Dream after all. I am in my dream, she realized. With a thought, she willed the Dream to change, commanding the forest to show her the way. She felt a tug within herself, something tangible pulling at her meiyal core, refusing to follow her orders. She pulled back, clutching it with every ounce of her willpower. The stronger she tried, the harder it was. But her surroundings were changing. Slowly but surely, she could see the trees changing form, returning to the luscious green ones she recognized. When it finally settled to what looked like the exact replica of the real Rindea Mountain Range, she felt the tug loosen. It was exhausting. Kristel¡¯s knees gave out and she had difficulty breathing. She emphasized her Siffera, hoping it might ease her physical fatigue and provide her stamina the way Frein¡¯s did. But no. The Art only ever allowed her to hit harder, dash faster, jump higher. None of the other aspects that helped Frein. Kristel clicked her tongue in irritation and pressed her fists on the ground to anchor herself up her feet. She sucked in a lungful of air and exhaled in a burst, easing her fatigue even if just for a little. With her Siffera already emphasized, Kristel made for the mountain with as much haste as possible. The moment she moved, something swiped at her. A gigantic skeletal claw¡ªno, a piece of a ribcage. The Princess ran away from Those That Fell Off A Cliff. Her goal was to reach the peak of a mountain, not fight off Nightmares. The Fallen chased her with a purpose. Kristel dashed with all her might, employing Ascensia, to provide her with a speed boost she couldn¡¯t gain from Siffera alone. The Art surrounded her limbs with layers of wind mimicking silk cloth. She became lighter, as if the wind itself carried her every step. It was a painful Art to Draw. Before, she used it to enhance herself further, but now it was like admitting defeat; that she had to rely on another Meiyal Art when Frein could achieve the same thing with just one. The Princess shook her head as she left the Fallen in the dust. She had been comparing herself to Frein for a while now. She couldn¡¯t help it. Anyone would do so if they saw the rate of his growth. More Fallen appeared from her peripheral view and she only now realized that she was supposed to be running from the secured side of the Rindea Mountain Range. She disregarded that fact and blamed it on the Dream. Still, the Nightmares had been relentless. Some larger, more capable Fallen managed to keep pace with her speed. Maintaining her distance wasn¡¯t a problem, but there were so many that she couldn¡¯t even count how many were chasing her. And the new ones were increasingly getting faster. At this rate, a new Fallen would appear and catch her. It was unnatural even for Nightmares. At least, her assumptions of them said so. Desperate, she exerted her will into the Dream again, and the tug responded. This time, she couldn¡¯t afford to stop. She suffocated as she ran, as if something from within her choked her airways. Not only that, but she could feel something grip at her limbs, like heavy chains weighing her down. She could feel herself losing precious speed. One of Those That Fell Off A Cliff almost reached her, swiping down with all its might. Kristel barely jumped away in time. She almost turned to fight, but when she saw the same Fallen disperse into nothingness, she knew she was doing the right thing. With one strong pull, she willed all of the Fallen to vanish, and instantly, she was alone. The feedback was too much, as if the thing that pulled against her meiyal core ripped it off from her chest. Her knees gave way and she fell flat towards the ground. Darkness consumed her before what little light remained vanished from her sight. Kristel snapped awake, tasting dirt and out of breath. She had no indication of how long she was unconscious for, but she knew she was still in her Dream. She tried to move, but her body was sluggish. It was taking her all to breathe. ¡°Get up, please,¡± she begged herself. ¡°You¡¯re in your dream and even here, you¡¯re still worthless.¡± A tear fell down her face. She hated it¡­crying. Her fists clenched with rage and emphasized Siffera as she punched the ground, forcing herself up. Her shoulders shook at the effort and her elbow gave way, plopping her back on the ground. Kristel screamed and cried, punching the ground with a vengeance. ¡°Get up!¡± she yelled. She fired her frustrations, her anger, her jealousy, everything, on the ground. She hated that that particular ground didn¡¯t even sustain a single crack. Her breathing dragged, finding no closure for her rage. She managed to turn herself over at least. The view of the canopy, dark and red as it was, was more comfort for her now than the dirt below. Kristel closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. She eased her will into the Dream once more. This time, she wasn¡¯t forceful. She patiently took her grip and eased whatever it was that tugged back towards her. She willed her Siffera to be the same as Frein¡¯s. The tug didn¡¯t respond. At least not in the way she suspected. It didn¡¯t pull, but pushed towards her instead. Kristel¡¯s Siffera flared with emphasis and clarity she¡¯d never seen before. She felt a surge of energy and her physical fatigue faded away until there was nothing. The Princess sat up confused. Her hands trembled with energy, as if they could rip trees out of their roots. She lifted herself up her feet with amazing ease, a gentle push off the ground brought her bouncing up in the air for just a few seconds. More than just confusion, Kristel felt lost. She wondered if such a thing was possible for her outside of the Dream. But even more than that, she now knew how to get to the peak. With the same gentle tug, she brought the peak towards her. It was flat. A small table waited for her. There were two chairs, with one of them occupied¡­by Liona. ¡°Looks like you made it,¡± Liona said. ¡°Welcome, Princess.¡± Kristel glared at her retainer while she drank tea. Anger began to surface but she tempered it down with her waning discipline. She contemplated on Drawing a meiyal blade, but thought better of it. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked instead. Liona simply smiled.
Chapter 96: Speaking With Her Speaking With Her Kristel couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. The person impersonating Liona took a teacup and saucer with both hands and casually took a sip. ¡°You won¡¯t believe who I am even if I tell you, Princess,¡± she said, finally. ¡°Why do you look like my friend?¡± Kristel demanded, struggling to control her voice. ¡°Because I have been trying to talk to you for ages and you kept ignoring me. Same as Lady Katherine. Frill listened for a bit, but then she lost her marks.¡± The Liona imposter took another sip of tea. ¡°You¡¯re the voice we keep hearing¡­¡± Liona nodded. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, mind joining me? I assure you, I only wish to talk.¡± Kristel relaxed but not fully. She realized addressing the mysterious voice would happen at some point, she simply didn¡¯t expect it to take her late retainer¡¯s form. She approached with caution, utilizing an observation Meiyal Art while taking careful steps. Their surroundings were flat and clear. Springing an ambush here would be next to impossible. But she had seen a lot of impossible things lately¡­ Liona looked at her expectantly, but didn¡¯t mention anything regarding her anxious approach. She leisurely took sips from her teacup while waiting. Kristel reached the table and took a seat. Liona poured her tea. It was extremely reminiscent of the time when the retainer still lived and the memory aggravated the Princess¡¯s temper. ¡°Would you mind changing appearance?¡± she asked, finally running out of patience. ¡°I suppose, but any other form I take wouldn¡¯t be in your favor regardless.¡± Still, the stranger took upon her request. With a swift glow, Liona¡¯s form vanished¡­no, not really. The stranger still retained her retainer¡¯s likeness, only she was taller now, more mature. Her hair had grown down to her waist and her proportions increased in favorable places. She looked like Liona, ten or twenty years older. ¡°Are you trying to pick a fight with me?¡± Kristel removed all malice from her voice, replacing it with a chilling threat that she would carry out in a heartbeat. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, Kristel. Not with you, at least,¡± said the adult-Liona. Either she was oblivious or uninterested didn¡¯t seem to matter. ¡°I haven¡¯t been trying to reach you just to pick a fight. I¡¯ve been looking for your help, or rather, I would like to help you so that you can help me in return.¡± Kristel¡¯s attention was stuck to the stranger¡¯s form. It felt like a mockery of her deceased friend. Anything she said went into one ear and out the other. Liona noticed and sighed. ¡°Alright, Princess. I understand this form provokes you. I do not mean to mock you or your friend. However, this appearance specifically evokes the most emotion in your heart right now. The source of your guilt and worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s hardly surprising.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m using it to keep your attention and help you get over your guilt. You see there are two of us, and I can¡¯t let the other one wake up and take you from me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t own me, neither does the other one,¡± Kristel retaliated. The fake Liona simply smiled, an understanding gesture most parents gave their child when they speak more than what they know. Kristel had seen that irritating smile mostly from her father and from Lor as well. ¡°What if I told you that Liona isn¡¯t dead yet, would you give me your attention, then?¡± That gave Kristel pause. ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°Well, to be fair, only one of the two Lionas are still alive. I can¡¯t show you proof here, but if you think about it, it¡¯s hardly surprising.¡± ¡°No, it is. There¡¯s only one Liona, and that¡¯s certainly not you.¡± Liona gasped. ¡°Oh, no, you¡¯re mistaken. Of course, I¡¯m not Liona. The remaining vestiges of her second life reside within the Vyndivalian her sister so valiantly saved.¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t find her words. Xiv did have Liona¡¯s meiyal core, but that hardly meant she was still alive. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s all I have to offer, Princess. If this doesn¡¯t get you to listen, then I shall rest my case and find another. Maybe Katherine¡¯s more willing to listen now. Why don¡¯t you drink on it before giving me your answer?¡± With a sigh, Princess Kristel took her teacup. It actually did not contain tea. The black sheen and the enticing smell of fresh coffee invited her. ¡°I have milk and sugar, if you prefer,¡± Liona offered. Even in her Dream, Kristel felt the tinge of repulsion that always surfaced from looking at milk. She never really understood why, or how, but she had been working towards changing that. She poured some over her coffee and took two small scoops of sugar, mixing them well before taking a sip.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The hot concoction was oddly relaxing. Not in some sort of underhanded trick to manipulate her, no. But she felt being in the moment. The past and future suddenly pulled away from her worries. She was here for this coffee, to savor it and enjoy it until it was finished. Kristel took her time, and Liona drank tea with her in silence. Her royal retainer passed some biscuits that went well with coffee. She took in a few bites, and then a few more, washing them down with the warm bittersweet drink. The silence dragged on, but it was warm and cozy. And then finally, they finished their break. The magic of relaxation subsided and her worries and guilt began to creep in again. But now they were more under her control. She had expected them to return, and that anticipation made all the difference. ¡°Perspective is a wonderful thing, don¡¯t you think, Kristel?¡± Liona asked. Now with a clear mind, Kristel took a good look at the stranger. She indeed looked like a more mature Liona. A future of her retainer that could only exist now in her Dream. She was beautiful. The Princess felt regret, but the understanding smile from the stranger now seemed to ease her rather than mock her. Kristel couldn¡¯t help but agree. ¡°I¡¯m glad,¡± Liona said, before standing. ¡°Well, it seems at the very least, I managed to ease your pain. If you do not wish to hear what I have to tell you, then I will let you go. Your friends are worried and Frein has gone through leaps and bounds to get you out of your nightmare.¡± She began to gesture but Kristel found herself standing in protest. ¡°I¡¯ll listen,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be fine.¡± Liona¡¯s smile was full, gentle and heartwarming, a grin so full of joy it broke Kristel¡¯s heart. ¡°Thank you, Kristel.¡± She offered a hand. ¡°Now let me show you the past.¡±
Recollection: Kristel Irista Subject: The Vanishing of The Sky Islands Timeframe: Day 544 of the 4th Year of Monarch Kristella Thunder barraged Kristel¡¯s ears relentlessly as the wind swept past her. She could hear nothing else. The sudden light and ear-shattering noise, combined with the fact that she was falling, gave her little time to consider where she was or what she was doing before this. She looked around in panic, trying to find something to grab on. The flashing lights made it hard to see, almost blindingly so. Hence, Kristel plummeted as she covered her ears and eyes, unable to hear even her own scream. Even with her eyelids pressed hard to protect herself, the assault of light made her see glaring reds through her skin. It hurt to see, it hurt to hear. She spun out of control until an unknown force oriented her in place. The flashes of red dimmed and the clashing thunder muffled. She could hear her scream again, fighting against the ringing in her ears. Kristel abruptly stopped, surprised by the sudden calmness of the situation. She opened her eyes to a blur. The oppressive, shimmering light was still present, but it was now manageable, same as the thunder. Beside her was the mature Liona, carrying her with both arms. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± She placed her down and it took Kristel a second to realize she was standing on air. No, a barrier of some sort that was fixed in the air. It was almost transparent, with only a thin film giving it away through a slight sheen. ¡°Thank you,¡± said the Princess, unable to distance herself from Liona. Her heart still raced and it was taking her all to calm her burdened breathing. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°This is The Sky Islands,¡± Liona introduced. ¡°Or at least what¡¯s left of it now. We¡¯re in the time of its destruction. You remember your history lessons, right?¡± ¡°This was Kristella Irista¡¯s greatest achievement. The Slaying of Su¡¯karix.¡± Liona nodded. ¡°Whether it was great or not, I will leave up to you. What I want you to witness primarily is the long lost Art carried by your bloodline. And Kristella was the last person to use it. Are you ready? You¡¯re here to witness what it was like before your world lost the power of the gods.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t get a chance to calm down. As soon as she caught her breath, anticipation whelmed inside her. She had read the accounts of this battle, how it devastated an entire country, how it brought a powerful enemy to ruin. All by one small girl. She gulped down her nervousness and gave a stern nod. ¡°Good,¡± Liona said, smiling. The barrier that contained them both moved through the clouds, towards the source of the relentless lightning strikes. It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach an opening. The sky above was clear and a shade of purple, riddled by the stars of the cosmos. The Shinemoon was but a quarter filled while the Darkmoon had just passed its third phase. Underneath them, the clouds roared and rained. Lightning surged from one end to another, creating a complicated web of electrical storms. Kristel could spot moving creatures made out of pure lightning. The distance made it difficult to gauge their size, but she surmised they were about twice or thrice larger than she was. They continued to move, following the lightning elementals. ¡°Brace yourself, Kristel,¡± Liona warned. ¡°The sky itself would shake and tear in a few seconds. The barrier will protect you, but do not, in any given circumstance, jump off it.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Kristel replied. Soon after, she felt the impact as a colossal thunderclap blasted off the dark clouds below them. The barrier shook, and the force pushed against her. Siffera helped her remain where she was, but it was mostly because of Liona casually buttressing her with one hand that she was able to stay. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said timidly. This time, she admitted, even Frein wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand that force. Liona smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t assume the Visitor¡¯s limits, Kristel. You¡¯d be surprised.¡± Her smile disappeared, replaced by a firm, determined look as she turned towards their direction. ¡°Then again, as far as this case is concerned, you do have a point.¡± The dark clouds, instead of dispersing from the impact, shifted their way above them, covering the cosmic skies above. And the shift revealed the destruction below. Kristel observed Su¡¯karix, the Thousand-Year Storm coiled around entire islands that had been ruined by the battle. Multiple lightning bolts surged from one length of its ghostly white scale to another, causing the blinding light and the deafening thunderclap. Multiple limbed wings made out of lightning and storm clouds fixed themselves at certain intervals of its serpentine form. Claws reaching the size of larger islands gripped at floating rocks and mountains as if they were mere hand holds of a climber. Its enormous draconic face shimmered with electricity, lightning affixed in the shape of horns, fangs surging with electrical energy. Its maw alight with fulgur meiyal as with its eyes, crackling with so much power that it caused space itself to bend. Despite this colossal, godlike creature¡¯s power, for some reason, it remained still. Kristel didn¡¯t know how, but she could feel its fear. She tried to look for its source, but failed, until Liona pointed at a small, pink speck floating at a distance away from the storm dragon. For how little the speck was, it took Kristel a moment to realize who it was. She looked back at Liona with a questioning look and she was met with nothing but a shrug. Compared to Su¡¯karix, an ancient dragon tantamount to an ocean that could embrace an entire country or two, Kristella was like a quarter of a grain of sand.
Chapter 97: A Glimpse of Destiny A Glimpse of Destiny Kristel absorbed the scene before her. She needed to remind herself of the distance that allowed her to see Su¡¯karix in full view, putting into perspective how difficult it was to find the Second Monarch. Liona assisted her in that aspect, providing the Princess some sort of ability to spot and focus whenever she turned her attention towards her ancestor. Kristella Irista blazed with meiyal. The energy itself was excited around her, eager to be utilized into catastrophic Arts. Her torn up clothes fluttered from the density of power surging within her direct vicinity. A royal dress customized for field combat that was barely representative of her stature anymore, only her purpose. A one-sided cape flapped vigorously beside her right shoulder. It reminded Kristel of her own epaulet design, emphasizing regality. On the Second Monarch¡¯s right hand, she held a glaive that was taller and larger than she was. The Princess recognized it. Vantera, End of Zerax¡¯thum. Evanclad¡¯s weapon. Like its wielder, the glaive amassed an incredible amount of meiyal. Kristel couldn¡¯t fathom the density concentrating around the blade. It was like four¡­no, five times her maximum capacity. ¡°It¡¯s ten,¡± Liona corrected. ¡°And that¡¯s in its idle state, merely manifested in reality.¡± ¡°I understand that it¡¯s strong,¡± Kristel admitted. ¡°But I don¡¯t see it comparing against¡­that.¡± She pointed at the Thousand-Year Storm. Su¡¯karix was the embodiment of meiyal. Every layer of her¡ªas Liona earlier pointed out while Kristel zoned out briefly when she admired the standoff¡ªscale sizzled with lightning meiyal. If Kristella¡¯s Vantera amounted to ten times Kristel¡¯s capacity, and the Second Monarch herself another ten, then Su¡¯karix, in comparison, would be around a thousand. Liona smiled again. ¡°It¡¯ll take you more experience to properly gauge strength that far surpasses your level. If I am to give Su¡¯karix a numerical comparison to your capacity, a thousand would be too generous a number.¡± ¡°How much then?¡± Kristel¡¯s urge to know triumphed against the fear of knowing the gap. The fake retainer shrugged. ¡°A hundred-thousand would be more accurate, but still probably far off course. You cannot compare a Deitar to a mere mortal, is the point I¡¯m trying to make.¡± ¡°A Deitar¡­¡± Kristel recalled her history. These were beings favored by gods, avatars of their divinity. No wonder the Thousand-Year Storm possessed so much strength, so much power. She also recalled Frein sharing this term, along with Worldborn which was new for her. He had learned them from Rindea, but the way he mentioned them didn¡¯t reach this particularly profound strength. To him, they seemed a simple matter of fact. It made the term lackluster in comparison to what she was looking at. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about it?¡± Liona asked, and the Princess nodded. ¡°That makes it easy then. Su¡¯karix employed with her the backings of three gods, making her one of the most powerful Deitars during her time. She was slated for godhood long before the Divine Severing. ¡°In fact, she was in the frontlines against Zerax¡¯thum, fighting side by side with Evanclad.¡± ¡°So why are they fighting now?¡± Kristel knew the answer before she finished the question. Liona answered anyway. ¡°Jealousy, hate. Worldborns and Deitars and many faithful rebelled against Evanclad, blaming him for the Divine Severing. Conspiracies arose, that the First Monarch colluded with Zerax¡¯thum and betrayed him in the end so that he, alone, could rise in power when things settled down. The conspirators even went as far as blaming the existence of the Cult of the Fallen Dragon on him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Kristel retaliated. ¡°Well, that¡¯s for another matter, Princess.¡± Liona gestured towards the two ancients once again. ¡°You wanted to know how Kristella can compare against Su¡¯karix, right? Why don¡¯t you look behind her?¡± Kristel followed her instruction and found something odd. A gigantic circle rotated far behind the Second Monarch¡¯s small frame. Smaller compared to Su¡¯karix, but it was at least five times wider than the Vanguard, making Kristella a mere ant in comparison. For all the colossal things to surround such a small human being¡­it was honestly mesmerizing. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t finish. Giving voice to an impossibility strained all the logic in her head. Liona finished for her. ¡°Her Display, yes.¡± The truth boggled Kristel. She couldn¡¯t grasp the concept at all. Despite how large the Display was, she could only recognize a handful of patterns within them. There was a familiar section containing the pattern for Siffera, but she couldn¡¯t comprehend the enhancements or additional designs that surrounded the Art. What materials were those? How many levels above from the base form were her Meiyal Arts? The questions overlapped and it hurt her head. ¡°Calm down, Kristel,¡± Liona said, massaging the back of her neck. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it,¡± said the Princess, trying to calm her breathing. ¡°The biggest one I knew was from Katherine before she left. It was barely wider than her wingspan.¡± ¡°Kristella, too, is a Deitar,¡± Liona explained. ¡°Favored by three gods as well. In terms of strength, they¡¯re evenly matched.¡± ¡°So, why is Su¡¯karix afraid?¡± Kristel asked as she recovered. ¡°Explaining this one to you, I¡¯m afraid, would be more confusing than just letting you see how the battle plays out. For now, let¡¯s sit back and watch.¡± As if in cue, thunder clapped once again. With it came an army of Living Lightning Elementals under the command of Su¡¯karix. Kristel could barely follow their speed, but Liona¡¯s assistance was effective and subtle enough for her to adjust properly. The Princess came to this Recollection to learn first and foremost. And her companion, for whatever reason, caught it every time she struggled. Just who is she? ¡°Concentrate on the fight, Kristel,¡± Liona said. ¡°Who I am matters little for now.¡± The Princess sighed and committed all her attention to the spectacle before her. The Living Lightning Elementals, beings of pure lightning that changed shapes in the chaotic ways of electricity, sent a barrage of lightning bolts towards the small Monarch. She barely moved in response, but timely slow-motion revealed her using Vantera to parry the projectiles. She deftly reflected one back towards an unsuspecting elemental, causing it to violently shake as if it caught a stroke. Kristella followed up with a strike, waving the glaive casually from where she stood. The elemental promptly got its body severed in half, as if reality itself just decided it had to happen. The Monarch was nowhere next to it.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°How?¡± Kristel asked. The Recollection, then, slowed down to a stop. ¡°There will be a lot of these that you will not understand yet, Kristel,¡± Liona explained. ¡°However, should you be able to fix your Mind Palace, you will not only gain access to this Recollection, but to the rest of your ancestral line. You will have all the time in the world to study it all, but for now, accept that I cannot answer all your inquiries.¡± ¡°Alright, but I¡¯m mostly just gushing,¡± Kristel admitted. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stop at my every question.¡± Liona smiled. ¡°Understood.¡± The Recollection resumed. Kristella Irista pushed an opened hand towards one of the Living Lightning Elementals. It froze in place. Then, with an abrupt gripping motion, she closed her hand in a fist. In response, the elemental burst to sparks of lightning, dispersing into nothing. ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Kristel managed to stop herself. ¡°Meiyal Weaving,¡± Liona answered regardless, unable to stop a giggle. ¡°I did say not everything, but I can provide you with short answers.¡± This time Kristella moved. The Recollection significantly slowed down, allowing Kristel to track the Second Monarch as she sliced open four elementals in a straight line. The Princess also noticed that, even while she moved, Kristella¡¯s Display remained affixed where it was. ¡°Observe her weapon,¡± Liona instructed. Kristel Drew her observation Meiyal Art, wishing subtly that she could use Mesiffera instead. This would have to do. Regardless, it was enough to show her the amassing concentration of meiyal within the center of the glaive. Kristella pressed it further, flattening it and wrapping it in more meiyal, absorbing everything around her. Even the elementals she killed weren¡¯t spared. The Living Lightning Elementals, in return, didn¡¯t stop their relentless assault. From the clouds above Su¡¯karix, they stormed like raindrops. The Thousand-Year Storm herself was gathering an enormous amount of meiyal, absorbing them from the lands she coiled around. Her maw crackled with lightning. Meanwhile, Vantera amassed so much meiyal that it pained Kristel¡¯s eyes. The Second Monarch found herself caught in the middle of lightning elementals attempting to dogpile her. Kristel saw her ancestor smirk before she spun once, driving Vantera in a full circle. The energy within the glaive burst to life, unleashing a magnificent circle of fire. It caught every single elemental and they instantly vanished from existence. It was a beautiful sphere of flame, lasting only but an instant and leaving a heat haze in its wake. In Kristel¡¯s estimate, it was as large as Minaveil Town itself. ¡°Ferenfra,¡± Liona introduced. Kristel snapped at that. ¡°What!¡± she exclaimed rather than ask. Liona nodded. ¡°The strongest version in history.¡± The Recollection didn¡¯t pause this time and Kristel was forced to swallow her questions as Su¡¯karix unleashed her own attack. A massive beam of lightning meiyal. It spread in a wide arc, blasting all dimensions in front of her. It painted the entire scenery in electrical white and blue, save for a small pocket in the middle. Kristella blocked the lightning breath with both hands, using the flat of her glaive. The beam reached the other landmasses floating in the air, it even reached the sea below, causing massive meiyal explosions and sparks to fly off everywhere. Kristella remained where she stood, sizzling and panting. Art fatigue? No. It was due to the lightning, causing the threads of the Monarch¡¯s clothes to catch slightly aflame before abruptly fizzling out in smoke. ¡°There were no battle gears back then?¡± Kristel mused. ¡°Most practitioners depended on a film of Siffera during Kristella¡¯s era,¡± Liona explained. ¡°Not only did it serve as an extension of Siffera, it also protected their clothes without relying on another Art. Battle gear Meiyal Arts, however, I appreciate them. You can make such intricate designs for those.¡± ¡°Does Frein know how to use it? The film, I mean.¡± Liona shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s learning. You should as well.¡± The fight between Kristella and Su¡¯karix returned to a standoff. Kristel could see the Second Monarch speak but she couldn¡¯t hear any of it. Even with Liona¡¯s assistance, most of what she heard was blurry or disrupted. ¡°Not exactly an interference,¡± she explained. ¡°It¡¯s because half of your Mind Palace doesn¡¯t exist. We¡¯re almost to the part that I want to show you.¡± Kristella¡¯s face twisted in anger. Her grip on Vantera tightened, unleashing a surge of meiyal that caused space to crack, not bend. It was reminiscent of Frill¡¯s destructive meltdown, only in this case, the Second Monarch made it look so casual and easy. In response, the Thousand-Year Storm flexed her own limbs, causing literal mountains to crumble. They floated away but stopped in stasis soon after. And then the unbelievable happened. Kristel blinked, trying to comprehend what she was looking at. Her head hurt and she felt like vomiting. The entire scenery suddenly cracked into multiple images. A broken kaleidoscope replaced the skies and the seas, reflecting multiple Kristellas and Su¡¯karixes. At first, she thought the Recollection broke. ¡°Focus your mind, Kristel,¡± Liona commanded. With her words, the Princess found herself easing away from the dizziness, allowing her to focus on one slice of reality. The Recollection had slowed down, in fact, the rest of the divisions had stopped completely, and time only resumed for which reality Kristel focused on. In this one, the two ancients clashed in a final collision. Su¡¯karix unleashed a devastation of lightning strikes along with her destructive lightning breath. Kristella met them with an array of her own power, unleashing Meiyal Art after Meiyal Art in patterns the Princess couldn¡¯t recognize, and in levels she couldn¡¯t comprehend. The clash settled down soon after with the Thousand-Year Storm standing proud above the falling Second Monarch. The lightning dragon roared and reality shook with her proud declaration of victory. Liona pulled Kristel away from that reality, gesturing towards a second broken mirror. In this instance, the initial events replayed, but rather than meet the lightning breath head-on, Kristella sliced open the space in front of her at the last second. The wide beam fed through that opening. It took Kristel a second to realize that it was Spatiera. And the implication of that Art meant that the Second Monarch had to match that beam meiyal for meiyal in order for it not to cause any sort of feedback. But maybe there was another way? Liona didn¡¯t respond this time. In any case, that improvised move permitted Kristella a step above Su¡¯karix. She opened Spatiera behind her and moved away from the opening space, unleashing the lightning breath back at the storm dragon. It barely affected her. But it was enough disruption for Kristella to deal a lethal blow with her Vantera¡¯s Ferenfra. It was on a size and level leagues above her initial Draw, and it connected against the Su¡¯karix¡¯ lower jawline. Unlike the first reality, this one did not finish before Kristel was forced out back into reality. ¡°What am I looking at?¡± Kristel asked, exhausted from peering through the slices of reality. She had seen a few more play out, finding either one of the ancient winning, but never a draw. ¡°This, Kristel, is Reading Destiny,¡± Liona explained. ¡°Both of them are peering through possibilities beyond infinity, looking to find resolutions that favor them and trying to manifest them into reality. ¡°I apologize if I cannot show you the resolution of this battle, Kristel. I¡¯m afraid we have to stop here. You¡¯re at your limit.¡± Liona gestured to end the Recollection. But before it all ended, Kristel looked one last time, painting the absurdity of all realities colliding in a single space, and godlike entities grasping them and pulling them to manifest. And one of them was just a small girl. She was around her height, and had the same frame. She was her ancestor. And yet, she carried such power, such responsibility, and she faced them all head-on. I wonder how many times she cried.
End of Recollection: Returning to the Present
Kristel breathed as she observed her surroundings reform back to the flattened mountain peak. Liona passed her a teacup. ¡°Actually tea, this time around,¡± she said. ¡°Thank you.¡± After a few sips, her retainer began to speak. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± ¡°Reading Destiny?¡± ¡°Yes. What do you think of it?¡± ¡°How can I do it?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a straightforward answer. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re interested.¡± Kristel frowned at that. ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be?¡± ¡°Common folk, ambitious folk. Most people, actually.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Because you no longer have the means to achieve it.¡± Liona allowed that to sink in, sipping from her tea. ¡°At least, not in the way people in the past did. The things most people reach now are premonitions, blurred divinations, and outright false guesses.¡± ¡°Because of the Divine Severing?¡± The fake retainer nodded hesitantly. ¡°It¡¯s part of that. The Divine Severing did a lot of harmful things, but forgetting about the gods¡¯ names is probably the most detrimental thing that resulted from it. ¡°See, as Deitars, Kristella and Su¡¯karix are already extremely favored by Destiny, making them special even among their peers.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Liona nodded slowly. ¡°Only gods can bring Destiny to reality and only if it involves them. Not their subjects, not their plans, not their influences. Only if their existence is directly involved. So what business do these two Deitars have trying to bring Destiny into reality when even gods have strict rules to follow?¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t find an answer. ¡°Because they¡¯re loved, Kristel. Loved by Destiny.¡± ¡°What does it mean to be loved by Destiny?¡± Liona¡¯s eyes turned to one side. ¡°I think we should address this another time, Kristel. I¡¯m glad that I was able to talk to you, but we¡¯re running out of time. Before I let you go, heed my warning. Remember: there are two of us. And we will both try to earn your favor.¡± ¡°Wait. You still haven¡¯t told me who you are.¡± ¡°Who else am I supposed to be? I¡¯m Brymeia.¡± With a smile, Liona vanished. And from her dispersing form, a small wolf replaced her. ¡°Princess,¡± said the wolf, ¡°I¡¯m Norazzel, faunel of Dreams and Memories. Frein requests that I bring you back to your Dream.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t process any of it and simply followed where the wolf led; her mind still busy with what she just learned. ¡°Yeah¡­¡±
Chapter 98: Wake Up Once Wake Up Once
¡±For a world as important as Brymeia, there¡¯s more than just good and evil fighting for the world. There are those like us who try to save it. What? You thought the good guys wanted to save Brymeia? I didn¡¯t come here to speak of comedy.¡± ~Schrodie, the Gatekeeper
About half an hour had gone since Frein found Evanclad and Norazzel. With nothing much to do, boredom quickly overtook him and Elizzel. Since he couldn¡¯t even Gather, there was nothing to Mill, and he didn¡¯t feel like reading at the moment given the place they were in. Exercising didn¡¯t have a point either; he needed to be ready in case something wrong happened and he couldn¡¯t afford tiring his muscles since there wasn¡¯t much meiyal to spare. So Frein just sat on the floor, splayed his legs comfortably, and patiently waited. Elizzel flopped in between his legs and began to doze off. He didn¡¯t like that. And their Tether was tied enough that there was no chance she wouldn¡¯t be aware of it. Meaning, the faunel was doing it on purpose to get him to do something interesting to take her off her boredom. Without a hint of warning, he wrapped his arm around the faunel¡¯s head and pushed her face against his armpit in a suffocating submission hold. Elizzel squirmed in surprise, flailing her slender legs in a state of panic, while helplessly trying to pry open the lock. Her thin form was powerless and left her no choice but to tap out desperately. Frein released her only after a few more seconds. Elizzel breathed and wiped her face with her sundress, disgusted by the sudden torture. ¡°Why!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°Ask before you sit on Katherine¡¯s throne.¡± Frein firmly pointed the gap in between his legs. ¡°I sit on you, piggyback on you, and this? This is the limit?¡± Elizzel gestured dramatically. ¡°Correct. Ask Kat if she¡¯s willing to share. Otherwise, it¡¯s off-limits for now.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The faunel pouted and turned away. She walked around to his back and promptly sat. Frein didn¡¯t even budge after she threw her entire, nonexistent weight. ¡°I¡¯m still bored, though.¡± Evanclad¡¯s presence and the dream wolf, Norazzel simply gave the two of them a glance before promptly returning their attention to Kristel who was still chained up. The ninth wolf had just manifested, dead as expected. The faunel of Dreams and Memories created three more copies of herself, sending them into the Princess. She was almost out of meiyal again. ¡°I do have a question, if you folks would indulge my curiosity,¡± Frein began, trying to drift between his formal and casual mannerisms. ¡°What is it?¡± Elizzel asked. She instinctively probed through their Tether. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Where was Kristella¡¯s meiyal core located?¡± He felt the faunel¡¯s reluctance to respond. But Evanclad turned his attention to him, fortunately. ¡°Do you mind if I ask why, first?¡± ¡°Just curious in general. And I couldn¡¯t find it on the painting earlier. I thought meiyal cores are supposed to be always uncovered to allow for full potential?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know back then,¡± the Monarch replied. ¡°But to answer your question, it¡¯s on her tailbone, with her fluid line-patterned marks spreading up to her spine.¡± ¡°Did she unseal all one-hundred?¡± ¡°Easily.¡± ¡°Oh, but she didn¡¯t leave any advice on how to do that when she wrote her book.¡± Evanclad turned away, returning his sights to Kristel. ¡°Because the marks don¡¯t matter.¡± Frein tilted his head. ¡°You know, if you say it like that, it makes me think like you¡¯re hiding something.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± The Monarch turned to him again. ¡°Sure, you are. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t pry if you prefer keeping secrets. I just wanted to know if there are any.¡± Evanclad studied him carefully and sighed. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see the day to find someone more capable than one Blessed with Heart¡¯s Will. Yes, Frein, we know the way to unsealing your meiyal marks. But we would rather not tell people¡ª¡± ¡°It has something to do with Destiny again, does it?¡± The Monarch¡¯s invisible presence stepping back in surprise was all the confirmation he needed. ¡°As I said, I won¡¯t pry any longer. I think I can figure it out from here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s absolutely crazy. I thought you were literally reading my mind!¡± Evanclad couldn¡¯t hide his amazement. He coughed slightly to regain his composure. ¡°But yes, you¡¯re right. I will leave the rest up to you.¡± ¡°One more question, totally unrelated, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Oh, Frein, would you please not ask that one?¡± Elizzel complained. It didn¡¯t stop him, though. ¡°Where was Evangeline¡¯s core?¡± Frein felt Evanclad¡¯s presence gesturing towards the faunel beside him. ¡°You can do the honors.¡± She was covering her face. ¡°You know I can pull on the Tether if I want to, right?¡± Frein threatened jokingly. ¡°Fine!¡± Elizzel covered her eyes in total embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s underneath her navel. Above her womb. It¡¯s shaped like a rose petal with thorn-patterned marks going around her waist.¡± His eyes widened at the information. ¡°That¡¯s¡­kind of kinky. I was sure it would be the same given that they were twins.¡± He found it amusing when Elizzel withdrew into a little ball while squealing like a kid. ¡°So, uh, I assume you were feeding from her meiyal before, right?¡± Frein asked, allowing his curiosity to win over. The faunel, still covering her face and blushing brilliant red, nodded frantically. ¡°Did you, uh, bite her over there?¡± This time she shook her head so much that her pink hair whipped everywhere. ¡°I only need to bite the core directly when performing a Faunel Tether,¡± she explained. ¡°You didn¡¯t Tether with her?¡± ¡°No. I didn¡¯t know about Tethering until after she was gone.¡± She calmed down, now solemn with the memory of regret washing over her embarrassment. ¡°I do wonder what it would¡¯ve felt like.¡± ¡°Still,¡± Evanclad interrupted. ¡°I doubt you would¡¯ve Tethered with Evangeline, Eli. You two were already deeply in love that a Tether wouldn¡¯t matter at all.¡± A realization hit Frein like a truck appearing from a blind corner. ¡°Wait a second! I get now why you¡¯re so embarrassed! You have them on you, don¡¯t you?¡± Frein crawled on all fours, chasing Elizzel who squirmed away while screeching at the top of her lungs. ¡°Show me!¡± he demanded. ¡°I have it! You don¡¯t have to look! You¡¯ll see everything!¡± As easy as that, Frein relented. ¡°Oh, so touching your bum, biting your thighs, it¡¯s fine. But looking? That¡¯s your limit?¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Yes!¡± Elizzel cried, defending her skirt with her life. ¡°You have your limits, I have mine. We deal with it!¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Frein agreed, driving the discovery into a more productive discussion. ¡°So if you do have a meiyal system, can¡¯t you really do Meiyal Arts?¡± ¡°I told you I can¡¯t,¡± Elizzel replied, sitting more relaxed now that her host had given up on his assault. ¡°It¡¯s against our oath.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re free, right?¡± ¡°Actually, Eli, you can now,¡± Evanclad interjected casually. His presence indicated that he still faced Kristel, just leaning to the side towards them slightly. ¡°You just keep forgetting about it, but your meiyal system adjusts to the Visitor you¡¯re Tethered with. So for Frein¡¯s case, you can Draw the same Meiyal Arts as he can.¡± At that, the two were of single thought. Elizzel immediately tried to Draw a four-meiyal Siffera. And it worked, almost instantly and fluidly as if Frein Drew it himself. Surprisingly enough, Frein also gained the benefit of the Art through their Tether. ¡°See?¡± Evanclad¡¯s smug grin transcended his non-existent physicality. His voice rumbled with laughter. ¡°One of the reasons why your oath makes you forget previous Visitors is to prevent the current one from information overload when you Tether with them. But basically, what either of you can do with regards to meiyal¡ªbe it Meiyal Arts or whatever¡ªthe other can do just as well.¡± ¡°Seems like she¡¯s taking from my meiyal reserves,¡± Frein observed, causing him to catch the implication a little bit slower than usual. ¡°Wait, but Eli forgets the disciplines.¡± ¡°Eli doesn¡¯t actually forget.¡± Evanclad turned to them this time around, aware of the gravitas he was about to say. ¡°She offers them for safekeeping. Now, there¡¯s nothing in her oath that says she can¡¯t take them back.¡± Frein turned to Elizzel. ¡°Where are your memories?¡± She shrugged. Evanclad said something, but Destiny intervened. Just like that, it deflated all the tension Frein had. He sighed. ¡°The earlier I can get that Fragment, the better. I hate getting denied like this.¡± ¡°Oh, I can tell you the name of the place, just not how and where to find it,¡± Evanclad clarified. ¡°It¡¯s called Talendrym Isle.¡± Before Frein could ask any further, Norazzel stirred from her concentration. ¡°She¡¯s waking up.¡± Frein pulled out some spare clothes from his Spatiera, passing some of them to Eli while holding a long coat. The chains snapped one by one, causing a resounding echo to bounce off the narrow walls of the basement. As soon as the last of them snapped off, Kristel fell. She dropped slowly into Frein¡¯s arms, allowing him to cover her with the coat. The marks left by the chains riddled her body, leaving her with bruises and other minor injuries. Otherwise, she was breathing fine, stirring into consciousness as he placed her down the ground. The surrounding dead copies of Norazzel vanished one by one, dispersing into residues of meiyal. The Princess opened her eyes slowly, burdened by fatigue and pain. Azure pupils tried to focus as they peered over Frein. She blinked multiple times, trying to get rid of the blur. ¡°Hey,¡± she said, finally. ¡°Thanks for waking me up.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± he admitted, pointing towards Norazzel and where Evanclad¡¯s presence was supposed to be. The Princess turned to the First Monarch first. ¡°Evanclad?¡± she asked. ¡°You can see him?¡± ¡°I think so?¡± Kristel blinked and rubbed her eyes, trying to get a clear view of her ancestor. ¡°No, I can¡¯t see him anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s alright, child,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t I who pulled you out of your nightmare.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s you?¡± Kristel asked the dream wolf. ¡°Ah, I remember you leading me out. Thank you. But I didn¡¯t quite catch your name.¡± She made an effort to stand, but failed. Frein helped her sit up and held her by the shoulders. ¡°My name is Norazzel, Princess. I once served under the Irista bloodline, but I¡¯m now oathbound to the Dream. It¡¯s my pleasure to have served the Irista once again.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Kristel took her time to find her words. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be alright now,¡± she said, finally. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I feel much better. I think I¡¯ll be able to sleep well from now on.¡± Norazzel approached them and sat on her rear haunches. ¡°Would you give me permission to analyze you briefly? Just to confirm if everything is indeed stable.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± The dream wolf lowered her head, her fur glowing with meiyal. A few seconds passed before she opened her eyes again. She began with a few agreeable mumbles. ¡°Indeed it seems you¡¯re better now. Apologies that I had to examine you. You were under Void Sleep due to an aggravated Nightmare influence.¡± ¡°I had Nightmare influence?¡± Kristel wondered. ¡°I thought Atlas Sid cleared me when we got back?¡± ¡°It must¡¯ve been a dormant one from when you were younger,¡± Evanclad suggested. ¡°Otherwise, they screwed up.¡± ¡°It must have been,¡± Kristel guessed. ¡°I made a few visits to the Western Sanctum when I was a kid.¡± ¡°The Nightmare influence was triggered by your guilt and loss, weaponizing it against you,¡± Norazzel explained. ¡°But now that Frein has taken care of them, there should be more problems.¡± ¡°I concur,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°They were hindering you from Milling and utilizing your Exhibit properly. I would even go so far as to say that they¡¯ve been affecting your use of Spatiera specifically. But you will need to find that out yourself, I¡¯m afraid. ¡°In any case, I think the three of you should wake up now. In the real world, I would guess that only a few minutes have passed, but you¡¯ve exhausted yourselves way more than what should be possible in that timeframe and you must recover.¡± ¡°Will I see you again? I have a lot of questions.¡± Kristel¡¯s firm eyes made an impression on Frein. She was more determined now, still trying to find her way, but not completely lost anymore. Evanclad¡¯s presence nodded. ¡°My intention has always been to stay here and help you rebuild your Mind Palace. If you will allow it, I would like Norazzel to stay here as well.¡± He gestured towards the dream wolf who bowed gracefully. ¡°I would love that. Thank you.¡± ¡°Great, off you go now.¡± ¡°How?¡± Frein asked. Elizzel wrapped her arms around them both. ¡°I can always pull you back, remember?¡±
As soon as Kristel, Frein, and Elizzel vanished from view, Evanclad made a sigh of relief. He hadn¡¯t expected the results to be this favorable. ¡°That Frein¡¯s surely something,¡± he mused. ¡°I agree,¡± Norazzel said, standing and stretching. ¡°We should head back to a more open space.¡± Evanclad picked up the small wolf and began to float back up the stairwell. Just like Elizzel, Norazzel also weighed nothing. The two walked and talked. ¡°How many did it take to wake up the Princess?¡± he asked. ¡°About a hundred, give or take a few.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot.¡± Norazzel agreed. ¡°Something was blocking me on my way there.¡± ¡°Destiny?¡± ¡°No, something more tangible.¡± Evanclad stopped. ¡°You think it¡¯s Brymeia?¡± ¡°If my mother refuses to meet me, I would be¡­¡± Norazzel stopped as well. ¡°No, I think I would understand. Her ways are always too out of the way.¡± ¡°Brymeia finds loopholes in Destiny with relative ease,¡± Evanclad commented. ¡°But if it was the other one¡­¡± ¡°She would do the same thing.¡± Evanclad sighed and resumed walking. Norazzel followed, unable to stop a sigh of her own. ¡°How many copies do you have left?¡± he asked, trying to find a more tangible topic to discuss. ¡°I managed to produce a few millions before things went into chaos. It¡¯s not enough to monitor every edge of the Dream, but there¡¯s absolutely no possible way to achieve that anyway. I¡¯m only just a faunel. That said, I¡¯m sure I still have millions going about while a few have turned and died.¡± ¡°Have you made a contract with Frein?¡± ¡°Yes, just recently. He has a surprisingly wide Dream, and he¡¯s not bothered at all by my comings and goings.¡± Finally, good news. ¡°I¡¯m glad to know that.¡± They finally reached the main foyer. Evanclad assessed the damage and tried to visualize how he would go about fixing the place. A lot of the infrastructure floated about and some sections were gone entirely, disintegrated into nothing. Meaning, he had to convince the Princess to spend time recreating those sections, which would cost more time than meiyal. But to possess a firm and well-built foundation was key to most success, and the Princess would be wise to invest in it as soon as possible. Nonetheless, no reason to start later. Might as well be now. Evanclad picked up the closest pebble suspended in the air and started collecting all of them. Norazzel noticed what he was doing and began to help, creating two more copies of herself. She tagged each piece of debris with a paw, causing them to orbit around her. ¡°Say, Nora,¡± he began after making a third pile of rubble. ¡°Have you heard anything about Liang?¡± The closest dream wolf deposited her collection to the rubble before sitting on her haunches. ¡°I did. She also told me not to tell you anything unless you ask for anything specific.¡± ¡°She always says that,¡± he retorted. ¡°She told me you¡¯d say that too.¡± ¡°Fine. Can you tell me what she¡¯s up to?¡± ¡°Specific, please,¡± Norazzel corrected. ¡°Can you tell me what she¡¯s been up to when you heard from her?¡± A second dream wolf deposited some rubble before taking a seat. The first copy went to return to work. ¡°She was preventing a Consumed world from dying out, sending a number of heroes and adventures in a collective movement by influencing their dreams and ambitions.¡± ¡°Was she successful?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t stay long.¡± ¡°Did she tell you when she¡¯s visiting?¡± ¡°You know she doesn¡¯t tell anyone who doesn¡¯t need to know.¡± ¡°Fair. Did she mention anything about Kielmera?¡± The third dream wolf arrived and replaced the second. ¡°Yes,¡± Norazzel replied. ¡°Anything I should know?¡± ¡°Not for you, sadly. You¡¯ve been long dead.¡± Evanclad sighed. The name, Kielmera, eluded him for the longest time. And all he knew from the day he heard the name, from Liang on the day of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s death, until now was that it was somehow another world involved with Brymeia. Nothing more, nothing less. It was maddening. Liang, too, was aggravating with how much she wasn¡¯t willing to share. Why did he have to trust this old ha¡ª Norazzel clawed at him before he could finish the thought. It didn¡¯t hurt the First Monarch, since he wasn¡¯t physically tangible, but he felt the motion. ¡°I was told to do that to you should you be silent for more than ten seconds.¡± ¡°That old ha¡ªstop scratching me!¡± Norazzel swiped at him again. ¡°I was also told to do that when you start calling her names.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to follow all her instructions, you know? She¡¯s not even your mother. And how do you even remember all that?¡± The dream wolf tilted her head. ¡°I¡¯m the faunel of Dreams and Memories, Evanclad.¡± ¡°Oh, damn. You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°In any case,¡± Norazzel began, ¡°I was told to keep information from you until, and I quote, ¡®I make sure that Gatekeeper gets his job done¡¯.¡± ¡°Alright, tell me about the Gatekeeper then.¡± ¡°Gladly.¡± The three dream wolves gathered around him, each sitting beside one of the piles. Evanclad sat as well, no longer motivated to pick up any debris for the rest of the day.
Chapter 99: Wake Up Twice Wake Up Twice Kristel stirred awake and was immediately met by soft arms wrapping around her. Frill sobbed on her ear while shaking with relief. ¡°Frill, I¡¯m alright, but I can¡¯t breathe. Help!¡± Kristel tapped frantically until her retainer finally released her. She caught a glance of Katherine letting go of Frein and Elizzel. ¡°How long were we out?¡± They were still in her room, no surprises there. She was still on her bed with Frill beside her. Katherine was still on the chair and was now joined by Frein and Elizzel taking up the rest of the available seats. Other than that, nothing seemed to have moved. Not even the moons. Still, it was a relief to know that they were finally awake. ¡°About ten minutes,¡± Frill replied, sniffling. ¡°We were getting a little worried since Frein kept reaching Art fatigue and recovering from it instantaneously in a weird way.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s because¡ª¡± Elizzel began, enthused to share but quickly realized it would be better to let Frein do the talking. ¡°We met Evanclad in Kristel¡¯s Dream,¡± he said, turning to the Princess. ¡°Turns out he converted a part of himself into a meiyal-charged material.¡± She caught the implications. ¡°That¡¯s what the Letterman forced me to Gather? So they¡¯re really on our side, then? Evanclad and Letterman?¡± She realized she didn¡¯t even integrate with it. Was it forced integration? If so, how? Frein shrugged. ¡°According to him, he hid this part of himself in a seal comparable to The Four Sealed Ones and told no one about it.¡± ¡°Which means the Letterman having possession of it makes him more suspicious than helpful,¡± Katherine concluded. ¡°Did Evanclad tell you where he hid it? Maybe we can find some clues about the Letterman.¡± ¡°He¡¯s secretive about it.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain your fluctuating Art fatigue, though,¡± Frill interjected. She left Kristel¡¯s side, opening her Spatiera to prepare some refreshments. ¡°Right,¡± Frein pointed at her while nodding. Kristel observed his slow Gathering and Milling, recovering what he lost in the Dream. She felt the same for her own reserves, barely filled with anything now. Spurred by the moment, she Gathered and Milled as well, as calmly and slowly as she could. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s because of the Nightmares I ate.¡± Kristel blinked twice, surprised at what she just heard. It took her out of the Gathering process almost instantly. Frein glanced at her. Just from that, she knew that the Visitor caught on to what she just failed to do. Despite that, she tried again. ¡°You ate Nightmares?¡± Katherine asked, just as bewildered as everyone else. A scan ran all over them. It wasn¡¯t an observation Meiyal Art. It felt more direct and the Lady of the Void wasn¡¯t Drawing at all. A Void Control Technique, she concluded. ¡°Explain,¡± she asked finally after finishing the scan, unable to discern anything. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad, but before I explain, I need your word that this information remains here for now.¡± Frein was looking more towards Kristel and Frill. ¡°Like Eli, we don¡¯t want people finding out if we can help it.¡± ¡°I appreciate the trust, Frein. Yes, you have my word,¡± the Princess said, nodding rather aggressively. She climbed out of bed and asked Frill to bring out a spare chair. Unsurprisingly, her retainer pulled one out of her Spatiera. ¡°Same as mine,¡± Frill followed, passing tea. Everyone took their cups, but Frein and Elizzel asked for just cool water instead. ¡°Thank you.¡± Frein gulped down his glass before explaining. ¡°Evanclad, apparently, organized the Visitor Project. That¡¯s what he called it. Schrodie didn¡¯t exist back then, and he doesn¡¯t know how the Gatekeeper ended up in-charge with it. Regardless, with that in mind, he told me about my meiyal system, that it came from Zerax¡¯thum, the Fallen Dragon itself.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kristel exclaimed, and so did the others. ¡°So it¡¯s really a special meiyal system, then!¡± ¡°Shocking, I know, but you¡¯d be more amazed to find out that some Nightmares¡ªor Void Creatures¡ªexisted even before the gods got involved. And one of the ways Zerax¡¯thum became so strong so quickly is because of his ability to consume them.¡± ¡°Still, you¡¯re eating literal Nightmares! That can¡¯t be good no matter how you think about it.¡± Katherine folded her arms, clear about her argument. ¡°Unless you can prove to me that you won¡¯t turn into one of them, then I¡¯m against it.¡± Elizzel, in response, raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll keep him in check. It¡¯s part of what I do. He already ate two Nightmares and all he got were severe hallucinations.¡± They all stared at each other for a while. Kristel knew that with just those simple gestures, the two¡ªno, the three now somehow¡ªwere having a discussion in their heads.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. In truth, Kristel understood where Frein was coming from. It was on a different scale, and for a different reason, but both of them wanted more power. And if she were to have that ability, consuming Nightmares for power, if she was in his shoes, she would at least explore the option rather than outright dismiss it, regardless of the risk. Katherine sighed finally. ¡°I want to be there the next time you try to consume a Nightmare.¡± Frein and Elizzel nodded in unison and responded at the same time. ¡°Promise.¡± ¡°So there were Nightmares inside Kristel¡¯s Mind Palace?¡± Frill asked. ¡°I don¡¯t explore it much, but is that even possible?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Elizzel answered. ¡°The Mind Palace exists within the Dream, or for the more formal term, the Meiyal Dream Realm. And Nightmares, as per their namesake, allows them to invade these Dreams via influences.¡± ¡°Why would they do that?¡± Kristel asked this time. She didn¡¯t get to ask the question earlier, but it had been rolling in her head this entire time. ¡°To turn you,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°As a well-trained practitioner, you have innate resilience against Nightmarification. The influence, then takes its time and¡­well, literally influences you at the most opportune moment. But I¡¯ve never seen this sort of reaction before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Void Sleep,¡± Frein added and pointed to Kristel. ¡°Evanclad¡¯s term. The Nightmare influence becomes too much to handle, but your resistance still perseveres. So it assaults you from within the Dream until it can completely turn you from the inside-out.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s safe now, right?¡± Frill asked, worried. Too worried to even take a sip of her tea. ¡°Yes, very safe. I got rid of them.¡± They all felt relief, except for Katherine. ¡°I should¡¯ve checked,¡± she said. ¡°I didn¡¯t feel anything strange when I was checking up on you earlier.¡± ¡°The influence had festered and laid dormant for so long, I think it wouldn¡¯t be possible to detect them from the outside,¡± Elizzel suggested. ¡°And the Princess¡¯s Dream was so dark and her Mind Palace so broken that navigating took a long time to find her.¡± ¡°A broken Mind Palace?¡± Katherine mused, her face slowly twisting into a frown. ¡°Kristel, have you been Reading Destiny?¡± All heads snapped at the Lady of the Void. ¡°You know about it?¡± Frein asked. Katherine¡¯s frown shifted towards him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you know it too?¡± Frill shyly raised her hand. ¡°Can you please explain?¡± Frein crossed his arms and legs. ¡°It¡¯s basically about reading the futures, the possibilities, also known as Destiny. When I met Rindea, she forced me to Read mine. Look into, peer into¡ªI guess the official term is Reading, huh? In any case, I Read about five seconds before I hit Art fatigue.¡± ¡°Wait. How?¡± Kristel almost jumped from her chair. ¡°I can¡¯t really explain it unless I try again and I mean deliberately try again this time. Did I get the description right, though?¡± Frein turned to Katherine who was probably the most experienced out of all of them with regards to this sort of thing. ¡°It¡¯s not something I do on a regular basis,¡± the Lady of the Void replied. ¡°Frankly I don¡¯t have the resources to do that with my current state, but back then, I could Read up to thirty minutes on a good day. It helps us navigate through unknown territory. It¡¯s a secret we keep in the Order of the Void.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that put you in trouble?¡± Kristel asked. Katherine shook her head in response. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter to me that much now.¡± ¡°But if it¡¯s Destiny, wouldn¡¯t you end up in the same place regardless of what decisions you make?¡± Frill asked. The four of them, Kristel, Frein, Katherine, and Elizzel, looked at her in unison and shook their heads slowly. ¡°How then!¡± The Aria pouted, crossing her arms. ¡°How did it go for you?¡± Frein asked Kristel. ¡°I, uh¡­¡± Kristel pondered. The shock of knowing Brymeia showed her the fight between Kristella and Su¡¯karix still boggled her mind. In fact, she couldn¡¯t exactly believe that it was Brymeia in the first place. You won¡¯t believe who I am even if I tell you, Princess. Still, whoever she was, she didn¡¯t make any request to have her name hidden. ¡°I met Brymeia,¡± she began and told everyone what happened to her Dream within the Dream. She told them about the eternal spawn of Nightmares, the bloody flood, Brymeia disguising herself as Liona¡ªFrill reacted strongly at that¡ªwho asked her to find the mountain. She was in the middle of explaining how she controlled her Dream when Frein interrupted her. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of Nightmares,¡± he commented. ¡°I don¡¯t think they were influences. I think Brymeia made them as a sort of test.¡± With that, the Princess continued on with her story. She made sure to include Kristella¡¯s Display, Su¡¯karix¡¯ enormous size, and the battle that occurred. She described the Destiny that she saw. The confusing array of overlapping kaleidoscopes, with each section having its own reality and possibility. ¡°According to Brymeia, they¡¯re trying to manifest a Destiny into reality, one that benefits them. But for some reason, Destiny loves them both. I didn¡¯t get to see how it ended.¡± ¡°Destiny loves them?¡± Katherine asked, but the question surfaced on everyone¡¯s faces, including Elizzel which surprised Kristel the most. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she meant by it either.¡± ¡°So Reading Destiny shows you things that can happen in the future, and you choose which path to take?¡± Frill managed to take a sip as she pondered the question. ¡°What¡¯s manifesting, then?¡± ¡°It probably works differently than just choosing,¡± Katherine assumed. ¡°It¡¯s making reality obey,¡± Kristel answered with certainty, but it waned as she proceeded. ¡°It¡¯s also the realm of the gods, if I am to believe Brymeia. Kristella and Su¡¯karix, while not gods, were apparently so loved by Destiny that they could do it regardless.¡± Katherine¡¯s eyes brightened at that hint. Frein caught it and grabbed her hand. Again, the two had a silent conversation, but this time, Kristel knew what was going on. ¡°Unless either of you are loved by Destiny, I don¡¯t think you can place your bets on that.¡± ¡°But maybe Schrodie knows a way?¡± Katherine retaliated, too hopeful for her own good. Even Kristel could tell it was beyond delusion. ¡°Did Brymeia mention anything else?¡± Frein asked, disrupting the Lady. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more about it later, Kat. For now, I¡¯m curious if the world itself really went and talked to you, Kristel.¡± ¡°She said a few more things,¡± Kristel admitted. ¡°But frankly I don¡¯t really know who to trust except for you guys. She¡¯s the voice that we hear after unsealing a certain amount of meiyal marks.¡± She turned to Katherine. ¡°She mentioned that you kept ignoring her.¡± Then to Frill. ¡°For you, she¡¯s interested to make contact when you unseal more of your marks. But she also gave me a warning.¡± ¡°That there¡¯s two of them,¡± Frill said. ¡°Letterman told me. I¡¯d show you the letter, but it¡¯s completely blank now.¡± ¡°So we need to be careful who we listen to,¡± Kristel finished. At this point, no longer surprised by the sudden reveals of the mysterious letters. Frein nodded. ¡°Alright, I think it¡¯s already late. We should take a rest.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Kristel stood and passed the teacup to her retainer. ¡°Can you let Admiral Garm know that we can proceed for tomorrow? I want to make it to Liona as soon as possible.¡± Frill bowed and rose from her chair and all four of them headed for the door. But Frein turned abruptly, stopping everyone in their tracks. ¡°Oh, lastly, I think I found a hint on how to unseal our meiyal marks.¡± He pulled the door and took a step. ¡°I¡¯ll churn on it a bit more and experiment to see if I nailed it. But I think it has something to do with Destiny.¡±
Chapter 100: Accepting Today for Tomorrow Accepting Today for Tomorrow
¡±Things may or may not work out. The important part is that we try at least.¡± ~Katherine Militia
¡±It¡¯s something only gods can do, Kat,¡± Frein said, throwing his shoes on a corner that had Katherine¡¯s Imbelia running. She Drew six films of the cleaning Art to create a cube, making an improvised washing machine. One film was enough to clean everything, so why bother with six? Frein didn¡¯t ask. He started working on his clothes. ¡°Kristella and Su¡¯karix were special cases.¡± Katherine took her top off, revealing the giant scar on her torso. ¡°Can¡¯t we look at it at least? If there¡¯s a possibility for any of us to change reality, then we shouldn¡¯t let that chance slip. We can get rid of your time limit. Come on, Eli. Let me clean you up, first.¡± ¡°Hey, wait!¡± Elizzel tried to dodge her way out, but Katherine had already lifted her sundress. ¡°I don¡¯t need to wash!¡± ¡°Just enjoy it, Eli,¡± Frein said, entering the bathing chambers. He took a cubicle and started rinsing himself off the sweat and the day¡¯s fatigue. ¡°We have the entire thing to ourselves. Just the three of us.¡± The faunel was quick to calm down. Their footsteps echoed within the domed walls and the singular sound of a closing door indicated the two ladies chose to be in a single cubicle. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll help wash your back,¡± Katherine said. By the sound of her voice, she was just right next to him. ¡°If Rindea wants you to Read Destiny anyway, manifesting shouldn¡¯t be that far ahead. Close your eyes, Eli.¡± A splash of water and Elizzel¡¯s muffled scream manifested a devilish thought. Frein snapped the devil¡¯s neck before it could whisper anything. ¡°Evanclad said it¡¯s called a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core. Said it¡¯s a meiyal-charged material that I can integrate with to have an audience with the Fallen Dragon. I don¡¯t think that fellow¡¯s sane enough to tell me how to become a god.¡± ¡°Evanclad or Zerax¡¯thum?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Frein knew this wouldn¡¯t be enough to convince Katherine. But he did have one that could. ¡°Besides, we already know how to be one. And we know it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°We?¡± ¡°Eli and I worked it out.¡± ¡°How? When?¡± ¡°When you were recovering,¡± Elizzel responded, her voice a little shy and shivering. ¡°We worked on his Mind Palace to sort things out.¡± ¡°Essentially, Rindea told us how to do it,¡± Frein said, washing off the lathered soap off his skin. He left the cubicle and opened the other one. There she found two naked women bubbling and lathered with pure white soap. ¡°You two mind if I go ahead?¡± ¡°Pervert!¡± Katherine and Elizzel said at the same time. The faunel screamed louder, gathering as many bubbles as possible to cover herself while the Lady didn¡¯t care for much, expecting it already. ¡°Oh, come on, it¡¯s not like we won¡¯t have to deal with this sooner or later.¡± Frein left the door open and dipped his legs into the steaming, hot waters of the bathing chambers. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°The Tether,¡± Frein answered as if it meant everything. The rejuvenating sensation as the heat and massaging effects of the water reached his neck caused him to exhale. Relaxation induced a sort of weightlessness, making him almost forget what he was talking about. ¡°Evanclad told us that the Tether would make us literally inseparable and eventually become a singular thought. It will make Eli and I fall in love with each other,¡± he said, waiting just long enough for his girlfriend to react. ¡°What?¡± Katherine exclaimed. Frein smiled at that. ¡°But since I am already helplessly in love with you, Kat, the Tether will make Eli fall in love with you eventually instead. You can blame this on my gender preferences all you want, but if Eli turned out to be a guy, I¡¯d be totally against it.¡± ¡°I¡­umm¡­¡± Elizzel¡¯s frantic heartbeat echoed through the Tether. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d find it out this way.¡± An awkward silence lingered for a while, disturbed only by the splashing of water. Frein enjoyed the quiet, focusing on relaxation and rest. Until two naked women slipped on either side of him. ¡°This ain¡¯t half bad,¡± Elizzel exhaled. Katherine¡¯s hand slithered their way underwater, interweaving her fingers around Frein¡¯s. She leaned across his chest to look at the faunel. Unlike her, Elizzel had kept a small distance apart from him. Only by a smidgen. ¡°When I first saw you, Eli, I used my Heart¡¯s Will to make sure you weren¡¯t hostile.¡± ¡°I know.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Now, I can¡¯t use it on you.¡± Katherine reached out to hold the faunel¡¯s hand, keeping Frein in between them. He, on the other hand, kept his silence, appreciating the sight before him while keeping his sanity in check. He concentrated on the water. ¡°It must¡¯ve been the Tether,¡± Elizzel replied. She was hesitant, but eventually accepted the Lady¡¯s hand. Together they wrapped Frein in their embrace. ¡°I didn¡¯t know about the falling in love part, I swear. I must¡¯ve forgotten about it. And I don¡¯t want to intrude in your relationship. I¡¯m more than happy to support you two from afar and be happy for you.¡± Elizzel tried to let go, but Katherine pulled her back. ¡°What if I¡¯m alright with it?¡± the Lady asked. ¡°I don¡¯t mean right now, but maybe this is something we can explore as we go? If the Tether makes you one with Frein, there¡¯ll be like two Freins loving me. There can be only one man for me, but I didn¡¯t say anything about other women.¡± Her eyes looked into his and then to the faunel, sincere and caring. ¡°If you¡¯re alright with it, so am I.¡± Frein tightened his hand around Katherine¡¯s and reached out with his other to hold Elizzel¡¯s remaining free hand. The water rippled slightly around his skin, electrifying the sensation even further. He and Katherine then looked at the faunel of Freedom and Consequences. Her lips were pressed and eyes close to tears. She let out a soft sob. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you two to be alright with this,¡± she said, crying fully now. ¡°I thought for sure you were eventually going to chase me away. I don¡¯t want to be alone anymore.¡± At that, Katherine shifted over Frein, not minding which of her body parts grazed his. She wrapped her arms around Elizzel, trying to comfort her. He embraced the two of them in his arms. Elizzel eventually calmed down. Not letting an awkward moment pass by, Frein then proceeded to divulge their discoveries to Katherine. They told her of the path to godhood and how it was now impossible due to the Divine Severing. ¡°Without a god to sponsor any of us to become a Worldborn, we can¡¯t even start the process,¡± Frein finished. ¡°Maybe Zerax¡¯thum can. When you find his Fragment, you can ask him,¡± Katherine suggested. ¡°Look, it¡¯s not totally farfetched if you think about it. If he¡¯s powerful enough to change Destiny and make us forget about the gods, why can¡¯t he be powerful enough to sponsor you? I¡¯m just saying, we shouldn¡¯t outright dismiss this. Besides, it¡¯s oddly specific that we can remember him.¡± Frein sighed and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Eli does remember that not all gods were pushed away by the Divine Severing. We¡¯re placing our bets on Zerax¡¯thum as well. If he¡¯s more than what gods are capable of, then he probably counts as one either way.¡± Katherine smiled, but Frein instantly regretted what he said. He sighed again, touching the face of the one he loved most. She reciprocated by kissing his hand. ¡°Kat. I don¡¯t want you to get your hopes up for this. It¡¯s not something we can prove. We might end up spending too much time chasing this myth.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Katherine held his hand and pressed her lips against his palm once more. ¡°But you can¡¯t blame me for clinging onto it, right?¡± The Lady gave a glance. Her intent was strong. Too strong, in fact, that it caused a recoiling response from Elizzel¡¯s side of the Tether. ¡°I think I¡¯m done for tonight,¡± the faunel said. She didn¡¯t wait for either of them to respond. ¡°I¡¯m happy enough to know that you¡¯ll accept me when the time comes, but I¡¯m not quite ready for it yet. You two enjoy the night.¡± ¡°Thank you, Eli,¡± Katherine said, wrapping Frein completely by sitting on his stomach. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Frein asked. He knew the faunel intended to distance herself as much as possible, but he cared enough to ask for a specific location in case something happened. Elizzel manifested her sundress. It was a part of her in the first place. ¡°Just the edge of town. Up north. I think that¡¯s far enough for me not to get second-hand arousal.¡± ¡°Alright, ask Enza to go with you. And be sure to pull on the Tether if you need my help. Doesn¡¯t matter when, we¡¯ll go to you.¡± Frein tried to say it all while facing Elizzel, but Katherine had already begun ravaging him all over. ¡°Kat, can you wait until I¡¯m outside?¡± Elizzel asked, blushing not from the heat of the water. ¡°No,¡± was the only thing Katherine said before she took a deep breath and submerged herself entirely, taking the whole of Frein into her throat. Elizzel sighed. ¡°Alright, have fun you two.¡± Frein almost missed the words. His world now entirely focused on Katherine, intent on indeed enjoying the entire night.
It took Elizzel the end of the marketplace to finally stave off her own desires. Seeing Evangeline again, memory or not, Dream or not, had made her long for those soft touches, those sweet kisses once more. She had to distract herself. A good thing Frein had recommended that she bring Enza along. The yuma was Blessed by Nature¡¯s Favor, and was bonded to Frein¡¯s meiyal system. And as farfetched ideas went, her curiosity¡ªprobably influenced by her host¡ªmade her try at least once. To invoke the Blessing for herself. ¡°Wow, is that how it works?¡± the yuma asked. ¡°They can still hear us, so let¡¯s be a little more stealthy, okay?¡± Elizzel didn¡¯t exactly expect it to work, but when her form vanished, melding out of sight rather than returning within the Tether, she was caught by surprise. And so the two went on their way. Enza allowed Elizzel on her back and they flew low, gliding above rooftops. They continued on a few more stretches beyond the marketplace until they finally rested under a tree near the edge of town. ¡°We should be clear here,¡± she said, releasing her Nature¡¯s Favor. Even at a distance, it was Frein who spent meiyal for her. That, in itself, was amazing. Only then did she realize she missed something. If I can channel Nature¡¯s Favor, maybe it also affected Frein? She found that amusing. Something to confirm for later. Enza followed suit and sat behind her, allowing the faunel to lean back and relax on her fluff and warmth. The yuma smelled nice, an indicator of the strong bond and the meiyal she shared with Frein. It was a sweet, warm fragrance, like tea with too much sugar, or maybe a cinnamon roll. Elizzel couldn¡¯t help but relax. A calm breeze regularly passed through, and the hours went by in silence. Enza had fully fallen asleep, her muscles relaxing completely. Elizzel, on the other hand, reminisced on her past. From what she could remember, at least. The glorious days of when she and Evangeline rode together, blitzing through the skies, free of any worry. Her lips curved into a smile as the breeze responded to her memories. ¡°Hello, Eli,¡± a familiar voice echoed beside her. ¡°Others seem to call you that now. You don¡¯t mind if I join in, right?¡± Elizzel opened her eyes to find Schrodie, sitting a few paces beside her. ¡°Not busy tonight?¡± she asked. ¡°I thought I¡¯d visit you at least. Ask how you¡¯re holding up. It has been a week after all.¡± ¡°That it has.¡± Schrodie¡¯s distorted face shifted, turning. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been busy today, but we should talk.¡± A few things came to mind. All of them dire, all of them too serious. But Elizzel couldn¡¯t get rid of her smile tonight. The comfort and satisfaction of acceptance was too strong for her little frame. ¡°Alright. We can talk here. No one will bother us.¡± The colors of the purple evening vanished, deteriorating into black and white.
Chapter 101: A Discussion Between Three Entities A Discussion Between Three Entities Elizzel had almost forgotten this about Schrodie. The Gatekeeper¡¯s way of locking reality had always been somewhat sinister, though he would decline such a claim. Sucking away all the colors, freezing everything in stasis, leaving no room for any scrying eye or eavesdropping ear to gain any sort of inkling that they were even there in the first place. Beside her, Enza remained still, pulled away from the frozen reality. Even the fallen leaves stayed in stasis. One could say that time stopped, but Schrodie wouldn¡¯t put it that way. Too simple. After all, those that he allowed to exist in this locked reality still moved. The faunel breathed a sigh, calming herself. ¡°Do you always have to do that?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, apologies.¡± Schrodie stood, painting a coffee table with a pair of chairs beside the tree. Painting on reality was the most straightforward way to describe what he was doing, but the actual terms and discipline was something that only he was privy to. ¡°I have to make sure that we are in a secure, private space. I wouldn¡¯t want to scare any of the locals or start any rumors.¡± He sat on one of the chairs and gestured towards the other. ¡°Care to join me?¡± Elizzel didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Still smiling¡ªonly slightly now¡ªshe took the opposite chair while Schrodie painted a tea set and served her. The flavor was oddly creamy, a relaxing brew that complemented her mood. ¡°You¡¯re in a rather surprisingly cheerful mood, Eli. Care to share?¡± ¡°I saw Evangeline.¡± The thought rejuvenated her smile as she sipped from the tea. ¡°And Frein and Kat said they¡¯ll accept me in their relationship.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°That reminds me! You never told me that the Tether would make me fall in love with the Visitor!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll forget about him when he¡¯s gone. Are you sure you want this relationship?¡± Schrodie took a sip, emphasizing his question. His distorted face shifted into proper lips, too full and pretty for a man. ¡°I won¡¯t forget Katherine,¡± Elizzel said with confidence, drinking her own tea. The awkward moment that followed was long enough for her to question the statement. ¡°Won¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Only the Visitor,¡± Schrodie assured. She accepted that answer. ¡°That¡¯s good enough for us.¡± ¡°So where did you see Evangeline, if I may ask?¡± ¡°Inside Kristel¡¯s Dream. In her Mind Palace. It¡¯s beyond broken.¡± Reminiscing the recent memory brought Elizzel a more urgent thought. ¡°We also met Evanclad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd,¡± Schrodie said, finishing his tea and pouring another. ¡°Why would he be there?¡± ¡°Before that, this Evanclad doesn¡¯t even remember you.¡± Elizzel¡¯s words caused Schrodie¡¯s features to slip through, too vague, too many to comprehend. It bothered Elizzel. ¡°Can¡¯t you just focus on one appearance?¡± she asked. ¡°I prefer it when you show up as Kristella. At least, then, you¡¯ll look like Evangeline.¡± ¡°No. Too many souls for me to concentrate on one.¡± He poured Elizzel another cup. ¡°Kristella¡¯s not with me tonight. She volunteered to stand guard.¡± ¡°There hasn¡¯t been an invasion for centuries now.¡± ¡°Three centuries, yes. But we¡¯ve spotted probes and scouts beyond the far reaches. While we¡¯ve managed to deal with them, I¡¯m afraid we have to rely on Liang¡¯s tactics to prevent any of our enemies from triangulating where we¡¯ve hidden this world.¡± Elizzel motioned for a sip, but a question slipped by her. ¡°Did you have news from her?¡± ¡°Still a ¡®no¡¯ on that department, sadly.¡± Both of them sighed. ¡°What did she last tell you?¡± Schrodie asked. ¡°That was centuries ago,¡± Elizzel replied. She took her time to gather the memory. ¡°Always trust the Visitor, whether they do the right thing or not.¡± ¡°Seems vague as usual.¡± ¡°What about yours?¡± ¡°Only divulge your plans to Elizzel from now on.¡± The faunel¡¯s eyes widened at that. ¡°What? Wait. What does that mean?¡± ¡°Means that I can¡¯t trust anyone else but you, Eli.¡± ¡°What about Frein? Or Katherine? You trained her for so many years, you know you can trust her. What about the previous Visitors or Seekers?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be wise to question Liang, Eli. You know that.¡± The two of them sighed again. Silence grew, disrupted only by the mild clinking of teacups pressing on saucers. Liang Apocalypse. An enigma of a person. A frail and short looking lady with white locks and crystal blue eyes, who always wore a ceremonial robe. Elizzel remembered her collection of intricately designed paper fans. She never left without one. And for some reason, she always knew where and when things exactly were, as if the future itself, Destiny itself, was eager to tell its secrets. No, that¡¯s not exactly it. ¡°I guess, you¡¯re right,¡± Elizzel started. ¡°We can only stay the course until we receive further instructions from her.¡± ¡°And so we shall,¡± Schrodie agreed. ¡°If Evanclad doesn¡¯t even remember creating me, this means the Monarch that you met wasn¡¯t even at his peak. What did he look like? Did he look old, or young?¡± Elizzel shook her head. ¡°We only met his presence. He didn¡¯t have a physical form. His voice sounded old, strained and deep, but he¡¯s been like that from the first day I met him.¡± ¡°No form¡­ but if he couldn¡¯t remember me, his creation, it means this version of Evanclad was still beneath Destiny.¡± ¡°But Destiny hates him, he said.¡± Elizzel felt to be on the edge of discovery. She had forgotten her tea. Schrodie took his time. ¡°Not much I can reveal on the First Monarch, mind you. But I know, that even after the Divine Severing, he did not stop improving. When the gods were forced away, he stopped relying on them and began researching other conventions and paths for power. Two things emerged from it: Meiyal Arts and Meiyal Armaments.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Evanclad pioneered Armaments? I thought that was Vyndival?¡± Elizzel had the brief mind to place her teacup saucer back on the table. She was too immersed now to drink. ¡°Evanclad worked both with his daughter, Kristella, and his closest friend, Galavand, to create both disciplines. The two were supposed to work together, but you know the rest of that part of history. ¡°Regardless, both the Exhibits of Meiyal Arts and the Arsenals of Meiyal Armaments were the two paths he found for near endless power, enough to reach the realm of gods¡­ or at least, that was his hope.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Schrodie was silent for a while. Slip ups of his features indicated he was staring at her. ¡°After Kristella¡¯s era, no other Meiyal Art or Armament practitioner has reached the same strength and powers comparable to even at least a Worldborn. Which means the godless era did not live up to Evanclad¡¯s expectations. Except himself.¡± The Gatekeeper already knew she was going to keep asking questions about it, so he continued. ¡°From what I know¡ªmind you that I wasn¡¯t born yet during this time¡ªafter Kristella passed away and the crown fell upon her daughter, Eva, Evanclad left Brymeia with Liang to train. I don¡¯t know exactly what happened, but when he returned, he had completely changed the way he approached Destiny. ¡°He no longer relied on it. In fact, he challenged it at every turn. If I¡¯m to guess correctly, he is nowhere near the same as the incarnation you¡¯ve met in the Princess¡¯s Dream. He has become a Contradiction.¡± Schrodie sighed. ¡°That is as much as I can tell you.¡± ¡°Is he still alive? The real him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know for certain, Eli. He could be out in the cosmos dealing with things far too much for us to handle, or he may have completely snuffed out his flame.¡± Schrodie finished his tea, before following up. ¡°Ah yes, there¡¯s one more thing I can share. ¡°The day he created me and bonded me through oath, he asked me a question that to this day I have not found the answer.¡± Elizzel instinctively leaned forward. ¡°What is it?¡± Schrodie, himself, leaned in for a whisper. ¡°What would you do if Destiny lied?¡± Elizzel tilted her head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°As is the nature of Contradictions.¡± The faunel couldn¡¯t figure out the riddle, nor did she have anything to say about it now. For sure Frein would have a lot to ask about it. It was another route for power, something that was beyond what even the previous Evanclad knew. ¡°You won¡¯t mind if I share this with Frein?¡± As she uttered the words, she realized the point of this meeting. ¡°No¡­ you want me to tell him.¡± ¡°Indeed. Very perceptive of you.¡± Schrodie poured himself a third cup of tea. ¡°As for the Monarch that you met, did you have any idea how he ended up in Kristel¡¯s Dream?¡± ¡°Our best guess is the Letterman,¡± she said. ¡°Quite frankly, we¡¯re pretty sure it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°The Letterman?¡± ¡°The person I told you about a week ago. The one we think who has Death¡¯s Wish. Frein gave him a name so we can refer to him easily.¡± ¡°Makes sense. Why him?¡± Elizzel shared the story about what happened to Kristel on the day they fought the three Forest Jaws. ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly there when it happened,¡± she clarified, ¡°but I think that what the Letterman used wasn¡¯t even Meiyal Arts.¡± ¡°Judging from the description, I don¡¯t think it was either.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Meiyal Casting,¡± said the Letterman¡¯s distorted voice. It sounded like both a man and a woman whispering together. His blurred form pierced Schrodie¡¯s veil as though casually walking through a curtain. Mild cracks in reality shifted in and out of his silhouette. ¡°A lost and forgotten discipline derived from Meiyal Weaving, but in a more aggressive form and combined with Void Control Techniques.¡± Elizzel looked at the stranger for a few dazed seconds. ¡°Hello, Elizzel. You look well,¡± said the Letterman as he approached with careful steps. His every movement resonated with space, producing cracking sounds like ice breaking apart. ¡°Do you mind if I join, Schrodie? This won¡¯t take long.¡± Only then did the faunel come to realize that it was really him, the Letterman, and that she couldn¡¯t discern any of his features at all. Not his height, approximate weight, build, hair color, or anything. He was a term of convenience that Frein used to refer to him. But he could very well be a she. Elizzel also realized the slow way he walked. Letterman was fighting against Schrodie¡¯s stasis. ¡°You are one of strong caliber, stranger. To stand so casually against this veil isn¡¯t something anyone alive on Brymeia today should be able to achieve.¡± Schrodie slowly stood, a deliberate action compared to his usual distorted antics. ¡°You may join us.¡± The Letterman eased, his form no longer restricted by the reality freezing veil. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d care to tell us your name, then?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°Apologies, Eli. I would¡¯ve come here completely free of any disguise if I wanted to tell you my name in the first place.¡± ¡°Why are you here, then?¡± It was Schrodie¡¯s turn to ask. ¡°I wanted to make it clear that I¡¯m your ally.¡± The Letterman motioned to sit which made Schrodie respond instinctively to paint a chair for him. ¡°Seems like Frein¡¯s antics rubbed on you, Gatekeeper.¡± ¡°Yes, very funny.¡± Schrodie returned to his chair. ¡°You may explain yourself.¡± ¡°As you have guessed, I¡¯m Blessed with Death¡¯s Wish. To what extent, I¡¯m afraid I cannot tell you. I¡¯ve been working for far too long to even recall it properly. But you may rest assured knowing that every knowledge I pass, every advice I give, every future I predict are well within the trenches of what Destiny will allow and Contradiction will ignore. I¡¯m not like Liang, but I¡¯m sure she knows I am here. If she didn¡¯t she would¡¯ve returned already.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Schrodie asked. ¡°Within the next two weeks, a Nightmare Incursion will occur. This is different from the Void Encounter the people of Irista Nation usually deal with. And something I¡¯m sure Liang really cares about.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t pinpoint the exact time?¡± Schrodie asked. ¡°I can,¡± said the Letterman. ¡°But the more specific I try to be, the more dangerous it will become for Frein and the others. It¡¯s better this way.¡± A Nightmare Incursion was a familiar term, and its main difference with a Void Encounter¡ªor a Nightmare Invasion as it was more recently called¡ªwas its scale and unannounced appearance. While an Encounter would hit towns or cities with a predictable pattern, an Incursion would devastate entire regions, or even a country overnight without warning. Still, a Nightmare Incursion had never occurred within Irista Nation territory. Not since Evanclad¡¯s Order of the Void secured the nation along with the Vyndival Kingdom. Recent events had made that quite possible now. ¡°The Incursion will hit three places simultaneously. But I can only tell you of the one that matters.¡± ¡°Where?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°It¡¯s wherever Frein ends up being when it happens.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± The faunel shot out of her chair and stomped her way towards the Letterman. An intangible field forced her at a distance. It wasn¡¯t harmful, but it kept her away. ¡°Frein won¡¯t survive an Incursion!¡± ¡°He will. He should. All of you should.¡± ¡°What happens if I prevent this, Letterman?¡± Schrodie asked calmly. He remained seated, enjoying his tea. ¡°What if I prevent the Incursions, I mean.¡± ¡°Frein will miss his opportunities. Katherine won¡¯t return to her peak. Kristel will re-entertain her guilt and die. Frill will succumb to vengeance. They¡¯ll be too scattered and too weak for the rest of their journey, and nothing I do from that point will change that.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± ¡°Without affecting Destiny or Contradiction prematurely, I can tell you that it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Why not tell Frein all this directly?¡± Elizzel asked. She was still frustrated, but the words of a person with Death¡¯s Wish held too much weight. After all, he was someone who had outlived everyone and everything. While people envy it, being a Blessing and all, it was more of a curse than anything else. A curse that Brymeia would entrust to those she knew could carry it without complaints¡­forever. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± said the Letterman. ¡°You might not believe this, but whatever method I choose, however much I try, Frein will always figure out who I am. I¡¯ve already risked enough sending a letter to Katherine. I will not interact with either of them anymore for as long as I possibly can. You support the two of them, while I support Frill and Princess Kristel from the shadows.¡± The Letterman stood. ¡°Thank you for your time, you two. You will see me again when the time comes.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Elizzel said. She calmed herself down, allowing for her curiosity to surface. ¡°You know exactly when Frein will die, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he replied without hesitation. ¡°When?¡± Elizzel didn¡¯t expect an answer. She had learned from Frein that most people who held truths tend to keep their revelations close to their chests. But the pause gave her anticipation. ¡°Eli,¡± the Letterman began. ¡°I expect you to be there for him when the time comes. And I expect you to not forget. Katherine will need you until the very end.¡± He then, for the first time, made an indication of movement. A shift of his blurry form, looking at Schrodie for a brief moment before looking back at the faunel. ¡°There won¡¯t be another Visitor.¡± With that, the Letterman walked out of the veil, vanishing completely. ¡°You have your work cutout for you,¡± Schrodie said, standing up and finally finished with his tea. ¡°Vyndivalian bombs, and now a Nightmare Incursion.¡± Elizzel sighed as the Gatekeeper released the reality freezing veil. ¡°We really need to get moving.¡±
Chapter 102: Floating Along the Sea Floating Along the Sea
¡±The boys are who I have left. I can¡¯t bother Katherine now.¡± ~Selfiya Lunasensia, Void Mother
The salty breeze bothered Venry Stepholm, forcing him out of his concentration. His hair, despite being tied in a wolf tail, fluttered relentlessly. He opened his eyes, black pupils tired from lack of regular sleep. More than a week had passed since he met the Vyndivalian knights and Void Mother Selfiya Lunasensia. Since then, he had been focused on regaining his strength, while his new friends¡ªacquaintances¡ªassisted in his acclimation to the Nightmare Lands. Truth be told, it was a surreal experience. His Meiyal Arts had no effect in dissuading the Nightmare influence. He had repeatedly lost his mental faculties, succumbed to Art fatigue, and had entertained the thought of submitting to the Nightmare multiple times, only to be rescued by either Hal, Ral, or Dystro. After a few days of repeated close calls, they came up with a rather peculiar solution. ¡°Gathering and Milling for Meiyal Arts, Mining and Smelting for Meiyal Armaments,¡± Selfiya began. Her Soul¡¯s Walk had taken the form of clouds, barely maintaining her shape as the wind blew past them. ¡°Essentially, they are the same, proof that these two disciplines were meant to work together. While Meiyal Arts primarily work to influence the world outside by Drawing, Meiyal Armaments focused mostly with the internal self. Hence, Reinforcing the body. ¡°Siffera, in a sense, was initially classified as a Reinforcement, but as it is with our history¡¯s chaotic nature, it was now more commonly known as a Drawn Meiyal Art. But even today, Vyndivalians still use the Full-Clad Reinforcement, providing them their absurd resistance to Meiyal Arts.¡± ¡°While I get that,¡± Venry said, trying to manage his tone in order to remove any hint of complaint in his voice. ¡°How is this one able to resist the Nightmare influence if they¡¯re the same in the first place?¡± Dystro, who was sitting beside Selfiya, tilted his head, pointing spiky red hair towards Venry. The air barely made them sway. ¡°It¡¯s because the influence came from the outside. If you have a strong and full inside, nothing from the outside can push and fit in.¡± Selfiya nodded, barely noticeable by how puffs of her features struggled to hold its shape. ¡°Your Siffera, the version that you use, has been diluted by modern practices that it barely resembles the Reinforcement. And while the same can be told about the case of today¡¯s Full-Clad itself, it¡¯s not as useless against the Nightmare influence because of its internal approach.¡± ¡°We should let Venry take a break, Void Mother,¡± Dystro said. ¡°He¡¯s been at it for a few days nonstop now. We should let him exercise his Meiyal Arts, or he might forget what it¡¯s like to Draw. Then, he¡¯ll be completely helpless.¡± The former Lord Knight stood. ¡°I¡¯ll check on the twins. See if we have a remote island we can land on. Our ride¡¯s probably getting hungry too.¡± ¡°Very thoughtful of you, Dystro. Good work,¡± Selfiya said, turning to Venry. ¡°I¡¯ll take my respite early, then. Do not force yourself, Venry. It will take time, but it will be very useful for you. Not to mention a pure Iristan employing the Meiyal Armaments discipline is unheard of in this day and age. You just have to remember that it¡¯s not impossible, and eventually, you will pull it off. Then, you can Forge that rock spike that almost took your life.¡± As the Void Mother¡¯s Soul¡¯s Walk dispersed into nothingness, Venry sprawled on the scaly skin of the Floating Dream Amidst the Nightmare. It was the second day of their journey, and he had pretty much acclimated with their current altitude. This docile Nightmare, a concept beyond his comprehension, had provided them its services after the three Vyndivalians hunted down the few Fallen that had roamed their previous location. He couldn¡¯t understand how it worked, if he was being honest. For some reason, they gathered the Nightmares they killed and eventually this gigantic, sky-swimming manta ray glided by and ate them. And just like that, they were able to ride it. Ral and Hal drove the Floating Dream, gliding well above the Great Sea Dividyr just beyond the safe zone. This way, Dystro could use the Nightmare¡¯s influence to provide pointers for Venry while he learned Meiyal Armaments. After two days of constant flight, they were now running low on supplies. And while the sea was a constant source of food, risky as it was outside of the safe zone, their problem was more directed at the lack of clean water supply. ¡°Hey,¡± Dystro returned, nudging Venry¡¯s foot. ¡°We found an island not too far away from Brymeia territory.¡± The Guard Knight followed and the two headed for the Floating Dream¡¯s head. There he found the other two former Lord Knights, each handling a large feeler of their own. ¡°Over there, Venry,¡± said Ral, pointing towards the west. He no longer had neatly maintained hair. Still black, but the lack of preparation time had left them disheveled and the slight patch of beard had given him a more mature appearance than his twin. Hal had the same hair, but the facial hair avoided him. He also had brown eyes, unlike his twin brother who had black. It was almost unrecognizable for Venry at first, but since he was essentially forced to spend time only with them, he had to learn quickly. Venry looked over the horizon. To his east, he saw Befall¡¯s scorched earth, a basin of brown and desolate desert, surrounded by the luscious green of the Eastrise Region¡¯s mountains. It was hard to tell from the distance if something was amiss, especially since the constant rising smoke and the aura of decay emanating from cursed land was a common sight.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. To his west, where Ral pointed, much closer to them now, was a small island. Calculating their distance, Venry surmised it was well outside the safe zone and Brymeia¡¯s territory like Dystro said. ¡°This must be the First Settlement. Order of the Void territory. It¡¯s where recruits from Irista Nation first land to acclimate to the Nightmare Lands.¡± Venry recalled as much information as he could. ¡°There should be an entrance there leading towards the Western Sanctum, but if I¡¯m remembering this correctly, reports said that it¡¯s now rundown by Nightmares.¡± ¡°The entrance?¡± Dystro clarified. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s locked either way. Only Atlas Sid regularly visits it to check for any changes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s perfect,¡± Hal said. ¡°We can probably find something safe to drink in there and we can hunt some Nightmares to feed our Floating Dream. We¡¯ll find a safe spot for you to train as well while we wait for Mother Selfiya¡¯s further instructions.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Venry didn¡¯t have much of a choice. As wide and accommodating the Floating Dream was, he was still starting to miss stable footing. ¡°We don¡¯t have to go to Befall right away. The longer we wait, the better we can pinpoint her location.¡± ¡°The riskier it gets, though,¡± Ral pointed out. ¡°She knows the risk. And she¡¯ll let us know.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head for it,¡± Dystro said. The twins meddled with the Nightmare¡¯s feelers and with a soft, deep moan, it started to change direction. Without much else to do than wait, Venry meditated and began Milling carefully. The constant exposure to the Nightmare Lands had allowed him to slowly get used to its influence. As long as he took his time, Gathering tiny strips of meiyal and Milling them as refined as possible, he could manage to refill his meiyal marks with only thrice the amount of time it usually took him. It was a slog given that he didn¡¯t have a Purifying Stone, but at least it was something to keep his mind busy. They slowly began to descend. And throughout, Venry could feel an ominous sensation. The Nightmare¡¯s influence deepened, heavier now than the one near the safe zone. A chill crawled up his nape, as if something had been staring at it while standing absurdly close for comfort. He snapped back, looking for Dystro specifically. The guy was one for pranks and mischief but he never did something creepy like this. Still, he wouldn¡¯t let it past the guy. But there was no one behind him. Only¡­something was moving on the clouds above, disappearing beyond the cover. It was something big, probably, he wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°What¡¯re you looking at?¡± Dystro crept beside him. ¡°Those clouds seem odd,¡± Venry said. It was far, but amongst the clouds that gathered, moving along with the wind, one particular patch remained still. ¡°Some clouds move fast, some slow,¡± Dystro dismissed. ¡°Some extremely slow. Nothing odd about it.¡± ¡°No,¡± Venry insisted. ¡°There was something behind those clouds. Pretty sure. I just don¡¯t know what it is.¡± ¡°Well, whatever it is, it¡¯s far enough that it won¡¯t bother us anyway.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Venry didn¡¯t bother asking what sort of creatures could hide behind clouds. Nightmares, he assumed. The thought soon left him as they arrived on the island proper. They surveyed from the air, and immediately, they found mobs of lesser Nightmares following Those That Fell Off a Cliff. He observed the three as they nervously looked from one side to the other. ¡°Anything in particular we¡¯re wary of?¡± he asked. Ral turned to him. ¡°We¡¯re in legitimate Nightmare Lands territory now, Venry. Even if you¡¯re above ground, you¡¯re not safe. Even if you feel safe, you¡¯re not safe. No matter how much your mind tells you you¡¯re safe, whichever voice it comes from, whether it¡¯s yours or someone else¡¯s, you¡¯re not safe. It might be hard for you to keep that thought, but try not to feel safe.¡± ¡°You sound weird,¡± Venry pointed out. ¡°It helps to be logically chaotic with your choice of words in situations like this,¡± Dystro said. ¡°Keeps you aware that something¡¯s always wrong.¡± ¡°It really doesn¡¯t,¡± Hal said. ¡°The oddity helps drill it in your head, sure. But you¡¯ll still fall for their tricks whatever mnemonic or weird mantra you follow. If you can¡¯t fight it off with your meiyal, you¡¯re still practically helpless.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring,¡± Venry said sarcastically. ¡°Just try to avoid the actual Nightmares, Venry.¡± It was Ral again, this time. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with them. And you can help by covering us against the lesser Nightmares. You too, Dystro. You¡¯re not particularly trained for this.¡± ¡°You got it, chief.¡± ¡°Those ruins might be our ticket,¡± Hal pointed out. It was a ruined stronghold perched on the side of a small mountain. Half of the structure was destroyed, leaving most of it out in the open. Venry could see Nightmares roaming around, but they were everywhere anyway. ¡°You really can¡¯t tell them apart from the undead from up here,¡± he commented. ¡°If you hone your observation Meiyal Art, or Reinforce your eyes in a particular way, you can tell the difference,¡± said Dystro. ¡°See the difference is, these guys still have meiyal in them, affected by Nightmarification. Undead, zombies, walking skeletons, mummies, and whatever else only have meiyal around them.¡± The Floating Dream Amidst the Nightmare settled just above the stronghold. It did so with utmost stealth that its huge body could perform. Tendrils extended from the ends of it flaps and slowly tied themselves on the cliff face beside it like an anchor. How it knew to wait was beyond Venry¡¯s understanding. ¡°It expects us to feed it within the day, or else it¡¯ll leave tomorrow in search of its own food,¡± Ral said after observing his confused face. ¡°If we let it leave, we¡¯ll be stuck here for who knows how long, so our priority is to hunt as many Nightmares as we can.¡± ¡°Get the big guy some food, and at the same time, make a safe space for us,¡± Dystro said, Donning one of his Forged Armors and Wielding a Forged Weapon. Both Armaments were of simple nature. The Armor was a breastplate with one obvious Embellishment, and the Weapon was a generic longsword. But for how simple they appeared to be, they were brimming with so much concentrated meiyal that Venry didn¡¯t have to Draw an observation Meiyal Art to see it. Arts that conjured the same items were nothing compared to the dense energies packed tightly into these Armaments. ¡°I told you, Dystro, you¡¯re assigned to the small fries. Ral and I will hunt the big ones.¡± Hal prepared his own Weapon and Armor. It looked oddly the same as Dystro¡¯s, but Venry could tell the quality of meiyal was different. Hal¡¯s was more compact and solid, while Dystro¡¯s flowed like a crawling skin. ¡°We¡¯ll ditch if we meet a Forest Jaws or anything stronger,¡± Ral said. His Armor and Weapon was more similar to his twin. ¡°We¡¯re not equipped to deal with anything stronger than a Fallen.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go look around the stronghold,¡± Venry said finally. His task was clear, locate any lingering lesser Nightmare within the area and report to Hal and Ral for anything else stronger. He wanted to find clues about this place at the same time. Dystro would be there to help him in case of sudden danger. ¡°Use a red flare if you need help,¡± Hal said. ¡°We won¡¯t be far.¡± He headed off and his twin followed soon after. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m on bodyguard duty,¡± Dystro said, smiling. ¡°Probably the best job ever, if you ask me.¡± Venry smirked. ¡°I have a bad record of getting into trouble, Dystro. You better keep that sword handy.¡±
Chapter 103: The First Settlement The First Settlement Hal and Ral took the quick way down¡ªjumping off the ruined ledge of the stronghold while Venry worked his way through the proper channels¡­or what was left of it. Behind him, Dystro strolled along, whistling nonchalantly and proclaiming their location to every potential Nightmare. ¡°Is that some sort of strategy?¡± Venry asked while he peeked down the stairwell. Each step had a crack or a missing piece in it, but it was otherwise complete. He still wouldn¡¯t trust it with his life, though. He placed one foot on the steps with as much caution as he could afford without slowing down to an excruciating pace. They had a lot of floors to cover. ¡°You can say that,¡± Dystro replied. ¡°Not that we want an encounter, but if there are lesser Nightmares around, they¡¯ll immediately respond to the foreign sound. It¡¯s better if we hear them coming from far away rather than get jumped by one because we¡¯re too stealthy.¡± Venry didn¡¯t buy the logic. Then again, Dystro and his comrades had more expertise with regards to dealing with Nightmares in the first place. So he went along with it. They entered a room which comprised the entire floor, emerging from the stairwell in a puff of dust and old cobwebs. Venry had no knowledge which floor this was, nor did he care. It was too ruined to matter anyway. Like the floor above, this one was missing an entire section as well, only it was missing from the opposite side. The oddity of it made him observe the infrastructure¡¯s make up a little bit more. He studied the stable parts of the room. The floors and walls and ceilings were made from some sort of stone. Maybe marble, or something sturdier than marble. It was white and glossy, almost like glass with its smooth and chill texture. The chill was particularly weird. It didn¡¯t make sense for it to be this cool while being exposed directly to the sun. He walked along the walls, towards some shade to see if the temperature was consistent. As he did so, some parts reflected his face, as if someone had implemented a blurry mirror inside the stones. There was no pattern behind the implementations, scattering it in totally random segments, which made him conclude that it was a natural feature of the material, not man-made or induced. He arrived at a shaded section and found no apparent change to its chilled touch. ¡°I think,¡± Dystro began. He was performing his own investigation and was enamored by the same oddity of the floors and walls. He cleared his throat and tried again. ¡°I think this is Eternal Ice.¡± ¡°What¡¯s an Eternal Ice?¡± Venry made some deductions with just the name alone, but an eternally solid ice didn¡¯t make sense for him. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know much. That¡¯s why I¡¯m assuming. I just know it has something to do with Palar¡¯gog up in the Oh¡¯strol Continent when the entire ice cap was still a singular landmass. Said that the Deitar¡¯s presence alone turned stone into these things¡ªprobably.¡± Dystro brightened up as he rummaged for something from his pack. ¡°Actually, we can test this theory.¡± He pulled a small chest. It looked like a toy, fitting perfectly on his palm. ¡°You Meiyal Arts folks have your fancy Spatiera. We have this.¡± Venry observed the former Lord Knight channel his Smelted Meiyal, bringing the object to life. Sections of it began to grow and move like clockwork, creating clicking sounds as parts of it dislocate and reattach on certain parts. It eventually grew to a legitimate-storage box which was at least half a meter in all dimensions. Dystro pulled a switch on top of its lid and a hiss seeped through as the pressure left the container. Cold air crept out of the box and touched the floor. Immediately, the stone resonated, emitting a slight sheen. He nodded agreeably, but he still opened the box and retrieved a small water canister. ¡°See, Eternal Ice is a bit of a rare commodity,¡± he started. ¡°From Vyndival Kingdom¡¯s perspective, mind you. I trained a slight bit in the Western Sanctum before I realized my talents are more attuned to suppressing people than Nightmares. I heard this little bit that these things don¡¯t really lose their cold all that much, but if you hydrate them, they¡¯re supposed to become a lot colder.¡± ¡°I thought you lost to Princess Kristel?¡± Venry asked, latching on a tangent that he couldn¡¯t quite let go. Dystro glared at him. ¡°She was killing my comrades, Venry. We were caught by surprise. Usually, that¡¯s my thing. Plus, Xiv wanted to speak with her. Can we just let that go already? This thing right here¡¯s more interesting.¡± He pointed at the wall while pulling the canister¡¯s lid. ¡°Yeah, my bad.¡± ¡°All good. Just watch.¡± Dystro splashed the contents and the reaction immediately took hold. Rather than bounce off like normal water, the liquid latched onto the wall and solidified into ice, slowly submerging into the stone. Crackles of ice popped as a small section of the now confirmed Eternal Ice transformed into clear, solidified water. The former Lord Knight breathed and leaned away, blinking a few times before surveying the entire room. ¡°What is it?¡± Venry asked. He could see some sort of realization dawning on the man and a slight smile appeared on his lips. ¡°You seriously never heard of Eternal Ice before?¡± he asked. Venry shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s ice that never melts! We can have all these fancy meiyal-crafted devices or Meiyal Arts to keep things preserved and chilled, but non-melting ice is a different thing entirely!¡± Dystro couldn¡¯t hide his excitement.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Calm down, Dystro.¡± While he agreed on the fancy and amazing properties of this material, Venry couldn¡¯t fully grasp what was so amazing about it. ¡°If you want, we can probably chop a few blocks as souvenirs, but we need to keep going.¡± ¡°Alright. So, to clarify, it might not seem the case because we have an entire floor full of it, but Eternal Ice is an extremely rare commodity. You have to go to the Nightmare infested region of the Oh¡¯strol Continent, survive the frigid winds, the living blood pools, the freaking Nightmares themselves, and Brymeia knows what else, to even get a glimpse of these things.¡± Dystro shrugged, throwing his hands in the air and gesturing all over the floor, walls, and ceiling. ¡°This entire floor, if we can mine it and sell it, I can bet you my entire life and the next that we¡¯ll be richer than most nobles in Irista Nation.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Venry relented. ¡°How long would it take you to demolish everything? Do you even have enough storage for all of it?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re right, pal. Let¡¯s just take a few chunks.¡± Dystro walked towards the missing section of the floor and began hacking at the edge of the wall. It didn¡¯t take him long to get a nice slab about his height. He returned with his haul, storing it inside his meiyal-crafted chest. The box itself wasn¡¯t large enough for the slab, but Venry didn¡¯t question it when the entire thing got swallowed. Dystro did compare it to Spatiera. ¡°I¡¯m getting a few more for the twins,¡± said the former Lord Knight. ¡°You want some too?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Venry looked around in the meantime. Figuring out the glossy properties of this place only spurred him to investigate further. The top floor and the stairwell certainly weren¡¯t made of Eternal Ice. It was also odd not to find any lesser Nightmares in this place. But other than those, something was missing in place. He couldn¡¯t quite put it together. His mind whirled around the conundrum as he joined his impromptu bodyguard. Dystro was working on his third slab. He¡¯d taken quite a few chunks off the missing section of the room, using his Forged sword like a saw to slice off sections of the Eternal Ice a teeth-grinding portion at a time. It was utter blasphemy of swordsmanship, but Venry wasn¡¯t one to nitpick, especially since he wasn¡¯t asked to offer any help in the first place. He was going to get a slab of it either way. Instead, he gazed upon the horizon of the island. He could see the shore from here, as well as signs of the twins who were hard at work hunting Nightmares. They¡¯d piled up quite a large number of the lesser creatures along with one Fallen. Soon there wouldn¡¯t be a Nightmare within a kilometer of them. Preferably, he would rather have more distance, but this vantage point would be enough to make up for it. The sound of falling pebbles caught his attention and he turned back to Dystro who silently cursed himself. ¡°Messed up the cut,¡± he said and shrugged. ¡°Guess this is yours, buddy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t mind,¡± Venry said. His attention was more focused on the pile of rubble as though something had clicked into place. He picked up a pebble of Eternal Ice and looked around. ¡°There¡¯s no rubble,¡± he murmured. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°I said, there¡¯s no rubble,¡± he repeated, gesturing all over the place. Sure there were signs of ruin, of age and neglect. Cobwebs, dust, dirt, wilted plants, and fading paintings. But there were no signs of destruction. Save for the current ones Dystro made, there weren¡¯t any cracks or rubble. Venry studied the edge of the missing section again, now more focused on the line around the missing area. It was clean, free of any signs of external force, as if the place simply vanished. He traced a hand on it, and then over. His fingers dipped rather than pass through nothing. There was a mild interaction, like heavy and freezing smoke softly passing on skin. He stretched his hand further and felt the soft force working against him, pushing his arm upward until it was back on surface level. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± Dystro interrupted. ¡°Pass me a rock,¡± Venry replied, holding out a hand. The former Lord Knight shrugged and tossed over a pebble. Venry chucked it over the ledge. The pebble kept falling at first, reducing into a speck as it gained distance. And then it quickly grew back to normal size as an invisible force hurtled it back at him. He barely dodged in time. It shot straight to the ceiling, smashing itself to tiny pieces while leaving a crack. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name was that?¡± Dystro exclaimed, snapping back just as he finished sectioning the final slab. His glances moved past Venry, the ceiling, the crumbled remains of the pebble, and finally back to the Guard Knight. ¡°I think, this section over here,¡± Venry began, motioning his arms towards the wide opening. ¡°It¡¯s not exactly gone. I think I need something heavier. Can you toss that over here?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°You can cut off another one, just pass me it.¡± ¡°No,¡± Dystro protested. ¡°This is the best cut I made so far, so you wait and let me get you a new slab.¡± The next two minutes were excruciatingly long. Venry almost entertained the idea of jumping off himself. Worst case, he¡¯d need to expend precious meiyal to survive, but the image of the shattered pebble made him rethink that notion. ¡°Here you go. I got you a really large one.¡± Dystro pushed a flat block that was at least twice as wide as his wingspan. Sections of it were hastily sliced off since he no longer cared for preserving beautiful corners. ¡°You said you needed heavy, right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Venry said, pushing off the idea of excess and concentrating on his experiment instead. ¡°Just push it off the ledge.¡± He went over to help. As soon as the block of Eternal Ice slipped over, the external force worked hard to push it up. It made the block float as if it was buoyant enough for this air-water. And then it clicked. ¡°Maybe Eternal Ice, isn¡¯t eternal after all?¡± Venry questioned as he stared at the block slowly drifting away from them. He motioned for his bodyguard to keep it in place. ¡°Maybe if it actually melts, it¡¯s like this air-water current or something.¡± Dystro pinned the Eternal Ice with the tip of his sword, pulling at just the right angle¡ªas awkward as it looked for him¡ªwhile trying his best not to risk his balance. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you plan on riding it, smart guy?¡± he said with a tensed voice as he struggled to keep the block in place. ¡°It¡¯s pulling away quite strong. It might sling you off the entire island.¡± ¡°Let go,¡± Venry said. ¡°What? Are you sure?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t follow physics at all. I want to see how it¡¯ll behave when you let go.¡± Dystro did as told. He did so while keeping the rest of his body clear away from the block as if he expected the entire thing to just shoot straight to the skies. But the Eternal Ice simply drifted. With a deep breath, Venry hopped onto the block. It bobbed down for a bit and slowly bounced back to surface level. The odd motion forced him to sit down, else he would lose his balance and fall off. ¡°You sick son of a¡ª¡± Dystro stopped himself from falling off. ¡°You out of your mind or something?¡± ¡°I have no idea how to stop this, so you better hop on or you¡¯ll miss the fun.¡± Venry beckoned his bodyguard over while he continued to slowly drift away. ¡°Freaking crazy Iristan,¡± Dystro cursed. ¡°You guys think you can solve everything¡­¡± Despite his complaints, the former Lord Knight didn¡¯t back off from the challenge. He cleared a meter jump and landed on the ice, promptly slipping down on his butt. He shoved his sword straight into the block to stop himself from falling. Good thing Eternal Ice didn¡¯t shatter from cracks the same way normal ice did. Venry helped his bodyguard up to a proper sitting position. ¡°There we go. Now to find where this leads.¡± ¡°It¡¯s oddly slow.¡± Dystro breathed, trying to calm himself down. ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining.¡± They continued to float while slowly bouncing up and down. It felt like they were on a raft, drifting along an odd sea. Venry followed his gut and cupped his hand, dipping it off the edge of the block and pushed off the air-water. And just like that, they sped up out of the stronghold and towards the other side of the mountain.
Chapter 104: T.E.A. T.E.A. The two found themselves in front of a sheer cliff face near, the peak of the mountain. In front of them, secluded by a forest of hanging trees, were a pair of mechanical doors twice as tall and wide as their slab of Eternal Ice. This door, Venry noticed, was made of the same material. As their slab drifted over the ledge, the doors parted and permitted them inside. He quickly saw the hallowed interior and the manmade ceiling disguised as a peak. From the looks of it, this place was originally a volcano, but the heat didn¡¯t radiate from the inside nor at all. The air-water form of the Eternal Ice kept the temperature low. Before he could share his findings to Dystro, their ride abruptly stopped. The doors behind them closed, and now they found themselves floating in the middle of darkness, with only the dim glow far below to illuminate their surroundings. Lava, he assumed. A few seconds passed without anything happening, and Dystro was immediately concerned. So was he. ¡°Dude, are we trapped?¡± the former Lord Knight asked, trying to hide his panic. Before Venry could reply, a small chime echoed in front of them. A holographic screen appeared, and the two desperately turned their attention towards it. Unauthorized personnel detected. Scanning for Nightmare/Void influence. Please hold and remain calm while the scan proceeds. Incompliance of any kind will resort to immediate containment procedures. A small film of liquid meiyal washed over them. Venry recognized it as Imbelia at first but quickly realized it was neither Drawn by a practitioner nor did it clean them. ¡°Are we going to die here, Venry?¡± Dystro asked as a portion of the liquid meiyal splashed into his mouth, causing a hacking cough. ¡°Oh, gods, what did I do?¡± ¡°Calm down, Dystro. You know, you¡¯re awfully twitchy for someone who spent their time in the Nightmare Lands.¡± Venry paused just long enough to let the scan pass through his lips. ¡°I told you, man, I didn¡¯t last long. I went back to Vyndival since my aptitude leaned towards fighting other people.¡± ¡°In any case, it¡¯s just scanning us for Nightmare influence. As long as we comply, we shouldn¡¯t be in any trouble.¡± ¡°But what if it¡¯s broken? What if it suddenly detects a Nightmare influence and initiates containment procedures?¡± Venry mimicked quotation marks as he emphasized his words. ¡°Well, you better hope the containment procedure¡¯s malfunctioning as well.¡± ¡°Knowing our luck, that might not be the case.¡± The scan took a few excruciating seconds to complete. Dystro fidgeted in place the entire time. And when the screen¡¯s chime came, he jerked out of his seat, almost falling off the slab. Venry was quick enough to get a hold of him. ¡°Dude, are you serious?¡± he asked as he pulled the former Lord Knight¡ªless and less convincing by the second¡ªback on their platform. ¡°Not good with the dark, okay?¡± Dystro complained, breathing frantically. ¡°Give me a break. What did the panel say?¡± Nightmare/Void influence: 5% Influence is within expected parameters. Emergency Addendum Protocol: Destruction Secrets is in effect. Employing DNA scan for intruders¡¯ origins to allow bypass of Standard Security Measures. Do you comply? (Y/N) Incompliance will result in immediate expulsion of intruders to protect Order of the Void¡¯s secrets. Venry read it aloud. Then he turned to Dystro. ¡°We¡¯re five percent influenced?¡± ¡°Once you¡¯re touched by the Nightmare, you¡¯re never really pure again,¡± he replied, finally calming down. ¡°The point is, we remain under the threshold. Should we comply, though?¡± ¡°I think we should. I¡¯m far too curious now.¡± Without waiting for a confirmation, Venry selected ¡®yes¡¯ on the screen. ¡°Hey, what¡ª!¡± Their slab was suddenly surrounded by a cube of Imbelia-looking layers of water, which instantly crystalized into ice. Venry looked down as their enclosure was quickly filled with water. ¡°It¡¯s going to drown us!¡± Dystro cried in panic. He punched the enclosure once and their screen quickly issued a ¡®final warning before expulsion¡¯. The Guard Knight couldn¡¯t disagree this time. They both took a deep breath at the last second, plunging in the cold, and trying not to move much to save oxygen. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t last long. The water quickly drained and left them amazingly dry, albeit a little cold. The screen in front of them split into two. One of them approached Venry. Intruder, please enter your name. After a quick thought, the Guard Knight entered only his first name. A bunch of information appeared, providing his vitals like age, height and weight, and blood type. It even included the disciplines he was practicing which amazingly included Meiyal Armaments now. Overall, nothing really jumped at him save for the last few lines far below the screen. Bloodline Origins: Irista (human) 88%, Oh¡¯strol (orc) 8%, Yuma-bond 3%, Vork-bond 1% Meiyal Marks: 53 of 100 Destiny Adhesion: 3% (INSIGNIFICANT) Nightmare Tendencies: Averse, Vulnerable, Inconsiderate, Reluctant Emergency Addendum Protocol: Granted ¡°It says here I¡¯m seventeen percent Vork-bond and twelve Yuma-bond. What does that mean?¡± Dystro asked, trying to take a peek at Venry¡¯s screen.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± Venry replied. He pushed his screen towards his impromptu bodyguard and was surprised to see the floating rectangle to respond to his touch. ¡°We might as well exchange, if you¡¯re that interested.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Bloodline Origins: Vyndival (human) 71%, Vork-bond 17%, Yuma-bond 12% Meiyal Layers: Five-fold Destiny Adhesion: 3.9% (INSIGNIFICANT) Nightmare Tendencies: Curious, Resistant, Amenable, Reluctant Emergency Addendum Protocol: Granted ¡°What does this Destiny Adhesion mean?¡± Venry asked, slightly annoyed that Dystro¡¯s was almost a percentage higher than his. ¡°And how are you amenable but reluctant to the Nightmare at the same time?¡± ¡°Beats me,¡± the former Lord Knight¡ªnow no longer convincing¡ªreplied, smirking. ¡°But at least we can proceed now¡­I think?¡± They both turned to the screen again as it merged to a whole, displaying a new set of instructions. Iristan origin detected. Please deposit a M.O.B.I.L.E. if available. Modifications will be made for your tour. Otherwise, please procure one of our disposable M.O.B.I.L.E.s for your temporary permits. ¡°Mine¡¯s broken,¡± Venry commented. His fall over Mount Rindea smashed a significant portion of his device. It no longer operated, so he stored it within his Spatiera, doubtful whether it was still repairable. A small orb floated towards them. It was like a M.O.B.I.L.E. but significantly smaller. When he activated it, it only showed a single function. At the same time, the crystalized cage melted away, freeing the slab to float down slowly. The orb lit up and a mechanical female voice echoed from it. ¡°Welcome to the First Settlement, Venry and Dystro. You may address me as Tour Expert Assistant, or T.E.A. for short. I may not be a semi-sentient or full-sentient M.O.B.I.L.E., but I can help you with all your questions regarding the First Settlement. So long as it is within your permissions.¡± ¡°Hi, Tea,¡± Dystro said. Venry was too stunned with the concept of sentient M.O.B.I.L.E.s to talk. But the thought faded away when the orb spoke again. ¡°Greetings, Dystro,¡± Tea replied in as scripted a fashion as possible. ¡°Do you require any assistance?¡± ¡°Mind if you give us a full rundown of this place?¡± ¡°Certainly!¡± said the orb, weirdly enthusiastic for this one word before reverting back to its¡ªher¡ªmonotone voice. ¡°The First Settlement functions primarily to receive new recruits from the Irista Nation. Historically this also included volunteers and recruits from the Oh¡¯strol Continent under the Irista-Northern Orcs Alliance¡ªknown as the Irista-Norc Alliance¡ªbut Palar¡¯gog¡¯s resurgence and subsequent disappearance had plunged the entire Oh¡¯strol¡¯s civilization to a halt, eventually vanishing within the annals of history.¡± ¡°Palar¡¯gog¡¯s resurgence?¡± Venry asked. ¡°Correct. Palar¡¯gog, otherwise known as one of the Sealed Ones. The Eternal Winter.¡± ¡°Palar¡¯gog was a Sealed One?¡± Both Venry and Dystro exclaimed at the same time. ¡°Correct,¡± said Tea, still in her casual tone. ¡°As part of the Destruction Secrets Protocol, you are privy to this information. The Eternal Winter Dragon was one of the Four Sealed Ones to be sealed by Evanclad and the only one to escape following the Great Dragon Kingdom Exodus.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Dystro interrupted. ¡°This is a lot of information for my brain. Slow down. What¡¯s the Dragon Kingdom Exodus?¡± As if to adhere to his request, the slab of Eternal Ice they were riding on also slowed its descent. They were entering the inner heart of the volcano. Venry could see drips of lava instantly cooling into solid rock as it touched the air-water Eternal Ice. Regardless, Tea continued her lecture. ¡°As you may know, a kingdom is the collective term for dragons. Palar¡¯gog was Patriarch to four powerful kingdoms around Brymeia. We do not know exactly of the cause, but the Great Dragon Kingdom Exodus¡ªor Dragon Exodus for short¡ªwas a recorded global event penned by Alphazzel, the faunel of History and Disasters himself. ¡°It is said, as per the record, that all the dragons in Brymeia were called to the skies and beyond, leaving the world entirely. It is believed that they will one day return, or that they have created a new kingdom beyond the skies, free from the meddling of lesser creatures. With regards to this prophetic assumption of the record, even Alphazzel was not sure.¡± ¡°And Palar¡¯gog joined that Exodus?¡± Dystro asked. ¡°Correct. It is of reasonable logic to say that the entire Oh¡¯strol Continent and even Irista Nation¡¯s Northsnow are in perpetual winter because of Palar¡¯gog¡¯s continued influence, and is a sign that he is still alive somewhere where his god-like powers still reaches Brymeia. ¡°Nevertheless, to get back on topic, we no longer receive recruits from the Oh¡¯strol Continent since it is now considered a wasteland, and the few that explore there are either veterans of the Order of the Void or members of the Cult of the Fallen Dragon.¡± Venry looked at Dystro at the mention of the cult. The former Lord Knight looked back at him defensively. ¡°I know about the cult,¡± he said. ¡°Moving on then,¡± Venry nodded. ¡°Is this were the new recruits train? Inside this volcano?¡± ¡°Negative,¡± Tea replied. ¡°This place is only accessible to Void Lords and Ladies or higher. Granted that the permissions have changed due to the Addendum.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s this volcano for?¡± he asked. ¡°What¡¯s the Addendum?¡± Dystro interrupted. Before the two could argue, Tea started talking. ¡°This entire island was raised by Mineltha Irista when she carved out the Great Sea Dividyr. It was initially purposed as a seal for a Sealed One.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Venry asked. In truth, even in their history lessons, the names of the Four Sealed Ones were never disclosed. Research was discouraged, save for a few potentials that were inevitably recruited into the Order of the Void. Needless to say, it was them who held the secrets to this stuff as part of their responsibilities. ¡°Your permissions do not contain enough authority for me to disclose that information,¡± Tea said, verifying his thoughts. ¡°The Destruction Secrets Protocol only allows me to provide information regarding the Seal, which you may observe, if you wish. We are headed there now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to show us the Sealed One, but not tell us its name?¡± Dystro asked this time, his confusion apparent not for lack of understanding, but for the overwhelming information swirling inside his head right now. Venry was about on the verge of spilling over mentally himself. ¡°Negative. I will direct you towards the source of the seal and will ask you to make your assessments as per the protocol in order to indicate if it¡¯s still intact or not.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± Venry blinked. ¡°You¡¯re saying the protocol¡¯s active because the seal might not be intact?¡± ¡°Possibly. The Destruction Secrets Protocol becomes active when members of the Order of the Void are unable to perform maintenance on the area for whatever reason. The timeframe for its activation is one year, but no member has returned for more than two years now. In which case, this protocol then runs any friendly trespasser through a series of tasks which allows me to deliver information to the correct channels to update the Order somewhere on the other side of the planet.¡± ¡°But if the seal¡¯s broken, won¡¯t we meet the Sealed One?¡± Dystro asked, his voice shaking. ¡°If the seals are all broken,¡± Tea began, however, the voice was different. It sounded like a recording of someone familiar. ¡°Then they won¡¯t be here in the first place. If this one is broken, then they can help us know so we can check the others right away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Void Mother Selfiya,¡± Venry commented. ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Dystro said, realizing something. ¡°You mean there are multiple seals for one Sealed One?¡± ¡°Also correct. There are eight seals in total for this Sealed One, spread across the Great Sea Dividyr. Some are particularly deep under the sea and are almost inaccessible save for a few strong members of the Order. As long as at least one remains intact, the Sealed One remains contained.¡± ¡°What happened to the other seven?¡± Venry asked. ¡°I have no records or updates that involve them.¡± Finally, their slab of Eternal Ice came to a halt above a walkway made out of even more Eternal Ice. Venry touched the railing and peered over, observing flowing lava below them. The ice was still particularly cold and amazingly solid, despite being so close to the lava. He couldn¡¯t feel even a slight hint of heat. But a constant sizzle hissed through his ears as he and Dystro were ushered out of the slab. ¡°This way, Venry and Dystro. And please, whatever you do, do not jump off the railing. There will be nothing I can do to save you from burning and melting to your death.¡± A grotesque thought formed inside Venry¡¯s mind as he figured out why they were so close to the lava. ¡°Is the Sealed One underneath the lava?¡± The small orb turned. He could imagine it blinking, regarding him whether he knew too much now and had to be disposed of. Instead, it turned back and proceeded to the cavern across the walkway. ¡°Correct. And hopefully, it¡¯s still there.¡±
Chapter 105: My Lover Who Kills Me My Lover Who Kills Me The cavern was a small, open space where Venry saw another set of doors. Three pairs surrounded them. The one on their left was crushed by a cave-in. They could clear it out and assess the situation inside, but simply observing through the cracks, he could already see that everything inside was broken. ¡°We don¡¯t need to go there,¡± Tea said, floating along as they passed through. She ushered them towards the pair of doors in front. ¡°What about that one?¡± Dystro pointed behind them towards another pair that was previously their right. It was still intact despite being moldy. ¡°It¡¯s a cabin for in case a member of the Order needed a prolonged stay. It¡¯s mostly just beds, a kitchen, and a restroom, nothing interesting.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± ¡°What should we expect inside?¡± Venry asked, nodding towards the doors they were meant to enter. It looked the same as the one on the right, only worse. Mold had basically eaten any free spot on both doors, and the handles were no exception. ¡°I would expect some amorphous Nightmares,¡± Tea replied, rotating towards them. ¡°It can range from something simple as a Rolling Mist of Death or a Deep Nightmare like a Mist That Carries the Nightmare.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either of those,¡± he said, turning to Dystro. He gave a shrug. ¡°I will let you know once we¡¯re inside. But you will have to open the doors manually.¡± Venry invested meiyal in his Siffera while Dystro took the front. Longsword in hand, the former Lord Knight nodded to him before slowly pushing the door open. He peeked inside and closed it instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dystro blinked twice. He motioned to push the door open again, but ultimately decided against it. He turned to Venry. ¡°I think I saw my childhood girlfriend.¡± It was the Guard Knight¡¯s turn to blink. He strode over, gesturing for Dystro to move aside. ¡°What¡¯re you on about?¡± He placed his hand over the freezing handle and pushed slowly. At first, he wondered how and why the room was well-lit. Meiyal torches was the most reasonable answer. After all, those devices could work perpetually as long as there was a constant supply of meiyal. But that, in itself, was the problem. Meiyal torches could only function in normal meiyal, much like all the other meiyal-crafted devices. It was for this exact reason that the Iristan people still employed their beasts of burden despite their advancement in vehicular technology. The Nightmare Lands simply ate any device, structure, or construct with an interface. The only choice was to make those things within the Nightmare Lands itself using materials from the environment¡ªlike the Atlas Sid¡ªprovided that the materials were stabilized and that the people who worked on those things survived first. Venry lingered on the idea just long enough for him to catch a small silhouette of a woman¡¯s back. It was oddly, incredibly familiar. Light azure hair swayed slightly on what little breeze was present in the room. It barely touched her slender shoulders. It was then that he realized that the rest of her back was exposed. It took every bit of his willpower to pry himself before his eyes gazed any lower. He closed the door as quickly as he could without making any noise. ¡°That wasn¡¯t your childhood girlfriend,¡± he told Dystro in between harsh breaths. ¡°That was Princess Kristel Irista.¡± ¡°No, dude,¡± the Lord Knight complained. ¡°I saw a woman with long, blonde hair. She was looking away, but I knew who she was just from the shoulders and umm¡­her butt.¡± Venry wanted to argue, but Tea interrupted them first. ¡°If you both saw a different person inside the room, and if my calculations are correct, the Nightmare inside would be a My Lover Who Kills Me. It is a Deep Nightmare that usually slumbers, which makes us fortunate.¡± ¡°Fortunate how?¡± Venry asked, trying not to look at Dystro who suddenly had so many questions to ask. ¡°Yeah, how?¡± the bodyguard asked sarcastically, snickering beside him. ¡°This Deep Nightmare relies too much on its nature, knowing that its appearance turns to the person you love or care for the most, thus rendering you unable to harm it. But since our objective is only to confirm that the seal remains intact, all we have to do is enter the room quietly, quickly analyze the seal via the control panel, and then escape.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Dystro complained. ¡°I understand your implications, Dystro,¡± Tea replied. ¡°If you are unable to comply, I¡¯ll have to rely on Venry. In the event that neither of you are brave enough for this task, then I¡¯ll escort you two out of this place and file a report that two prospects have declined the Destruction Secrets Protocol.¡± It didn¡¯t matter to Venry either way. As far as he knew, there hadn¡¯t been any form of communication from the Order of the Void, specifically from the Western Sanctum, for a few years now. Meddling with devices he had no knowledge of already seemed risky, not to mention adding a slumbering Deep Nightmare. Mother Selfiya had warned him to be especially wary of those. Their mere presence could turn him into a Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh, causing him to eat everyone and himself to death. The fact that this My Lover Who Kills Me slumbered was a stroke of good luck already. And even he knew one should not poke the sleeping yuma who carried you on its back. But he had to admit, he was already curious about the seal. A craving curiosity wishing to be sated. A drive rushing to know. The desire to look at Kristel, naked or no, dragged him by a thin noose. Who was he kidding? He wanted to see her naked, stripped of all¡ª ¡°Hey!¡± Dystro hissed, shaking him awake. Venry blinked twice and almost yelped in a panic. ¡°Quiet!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± he whispered back aggressively.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°You were daydreaming,¡± said another voice, a familiar one. Mother Selfiya stood behind them, her Soul¡¯s Walk taking the form of a humanoid Eternal Ice. She was almost transparent with mild formations of cold air rolling within her encased skin. ¡°That¡¯s not a good sign. It¡¯s time for us to return.¡± ¡°But Mother Selfiya, what about the Protocol?¡± Tea pleaded. ¡°Sorry, Tea. With a Deep Nightmare inside, these two would be helpless against it. Even the twins outside would be powerless against it. You can add to your report that I instructed you to abandon it. As far as we¡¯re concerned, this seal is compromised. What else would a Deep Nightmare be doing inside there if not to ruin everything?¡± The Void Mother turned and began to head out of the cavern. ¡°Come, you two. It¡¯s almost dark, and I bring grave news.¡± Venry followed, abandoning his curiosity. He realized he wasn¡¯t actually that attached to the seal, nor did he want to look at a Nightmare impersonating the Princess. He¡¯d much rather see the real her again. To apologize for abandoning his duties and to tell her news about the Order of the Void. He made a step, but Dystro quickly pulled him aside. ¡°Hey,¡± he began. ¡°You and I have to talk about this, you know? You and the Iristan heir? This is the juiciest gossip ever!¡± The best course of action was to ignore this devious, sneering, mischief maker of a man. Venry knew this with all his heart. And yet, he couldn¡¯t deny how much he wanted to talk about the Princess. How strong-willed she was, how committed, how dedicated she was to her Meiyal Arts. For someone so small¡ªhow adorable she was when he teased her about her height¡ªto carry so much responsibility. He couldn¡¯t help but be amazed.
Venry had just alighted the slab of Eternal Ice when he heard Mother Selfiya speak. ¡°You can¡¯t stay the night here,¡± she began, addressing the twins. ¡°There¡¯s a Deep Nightmare sleeping just on the other side of that mountain. Granted it probably has been there for a while now, but there¡¯s no telling when it¡¯ll wake up, especially since you¡¯ve made quite a disruption to the local Nightmare ecosystem already.¡± They¡¯ve returned to the stronghold on the same floor made out of Eternal Ice. The twins, Hal and Ral, were taking a break on one of the tables near the meiyal-crafted chest that Dystro left open. The two were in the middle of a snack and their hands froze in midair, mouths agape, and eyes staring quizzically at them. ¡°Can confirm,¡± Dystro said. He was the last to step off the slab and pulled it off the air-water Eternal Ice using his longsword. He started working on sawing it in manageable chunks. ¡°Warning,¡± Tea interrupted as she whizzed every which way, abruptly stopping and dropping onto Venry¡¯s hands who caught her just in time. ¡°Current area is outside of my jurisdiction. Automated shut-down imminent. Please store me in a secure place and call for me again when you find yourself near another Seal One. Thank you for your care.¡± With that, the light from the Tour Expert Assistant vanished. Venry stored it inside his Spatiera. ¡°Did I hear that right?¡± Ral asked. He prepared two more sets of snacks for the newcomers. Sadly, Mother Selfiya¡¯s Soul¡¯s Walk couldn¡¯t eat. ¡°We have a Deep Nightmare and a Sealed One on this island?¡± ¡°One of the seals of a Sealed One,¡± Dystro corrected, looking smug. ¡°There are eight for this Sealed One. The other seven are somewhere around the sea.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to check for those,¡± Selfiya interrupted, taking a seat farthest away from the snacks. ¡°I need you to move out as soon as the Floating Dream is done eating. Your destination will be Cape Talon. There you can properly recuperate. The people there are not averse to the Floating Dream and are in constant attack of lesser Nightmares lurking from the shores. They¡¯ll happily take your services in exchange for lodging.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that place within Irista Nation territory?¡± Hal asked. ¡°Won¡¯t we get in trouble?¡± ¡°It is, but we won¡¯t get in trouble,¡± Venry replied. He took a biscuit and washed it down with iced tea. The incredible chill of the drink caused by one small cube of ice made him double check. Sure enough, it was Eternal Ice. The amazement took him a second to continue talking. ¡°Save for the High Palace, Cape Talon and Bloodaxe Fort next to it are the two most isolated places in Irista Nation. Being on the very edge of the Great Sea Dividyr, they¡¯re constantly under attack by lesser Nightmares like Mother Selfiya said, mostly mermen and merwomen. It¡¯s also the closest place in the First Settlement, meaning trainees from Irista Nation, Vyndival Kingdom, and I guess Oh¡¯strol Continent back then, constantly visit during their breaks. It¡¯s probably the second most diverse town in the entire Nation. We can blend in easily. ¡°I can also ask for a few favors. If I can reconnect with the High Palace Network, I can¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Selfiya interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t use the High Palace Network, or your M.O.B.I.L.E., Venry. You need to stay hidden.¡± He instinctively shot a questioning look at her, realizing too late of how rude he was. She responded with a dismissive hand. ¡°I need you to understand, Venry. I have reason to believe that your entire government is compromised from the inside. And while you and I can place our confidence in Princess Kristel, the rest of her retinue are not clear of guilt. If we¡¯re not cautious enough, they¡¯ll catch wind of your survival and probably the rest of our plans. I need you to stay in Cape Talon and prepare for the right moment to strike.¡± ¡°And when is that?¡± he asked. ¡°Probably in a week or two¡­or three,¡± she sighed. ¡°I know it¡¯ll be a lot of waiting. I can¡¯t get a firm grasp of their plan, but I know for sure now that they¡¯ll be moving me to Befall soon. Their plan has something to do with the formal announcement of the next Monarch of Irista Nation, but that¡¯s all I have with regards to their timing.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we just rescue you from Befall? Or while you¡¯re in transit?¡± Dystro asked this time. ¡°Pretty sure the security will be most laxed during that time. Even if we cause a ruckus, we can probably still pry you out of there.¡± ¡°My rescue is the ultimate goal, but it¡¯s not the priority right now. I need to be nearby when a Nightmare Incursion hits Eastrise.¡± Venry had the mind to place his tea back on the table before shooting out of his chair. ¡°Calm down, Venry. It surprised me too.¡± ¡°A lot of people will die! We should prevent this rather than wait for it to happen!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Mother Selfiya remained calm, her voice was the definition of stoicism. ¡°Please sit down.¡± Venry took in a few deep breaths before returning to his chair, no longer in the mood for a snack. ¡°How do you propose we let them know? Or how do you plan on preventing this Incursion?¡± she asked. ¡°M.O.B.I.L.E. communications are out of the equation. They¡¯re being constantly monitored.¡± ¡°As soon as we arrive at Cape Talon, I can hire a yuma transit straight to the High Palace,¡± he replied desperately. ¡°Since the Floating Dream just ate, we should arrive by sunrise tomorrow. If I take a yuma, and ask them to skip the proper channels, we should make it to the High Palace in less than a day.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Selfiya asked. ¡°Most yumas tire after three hours of flying, especially if they¡¯re bonded to a weak practitioner.¡± Venry regretted not bonding with a yuma. The only baseline he had was from Testra and Kristel. Testra was the fastest ground runner he had ever seen, which was probably twice or thrice faster than any common-bred yuma with aerial advantage. He might¡¯ve been expecting too much. ¡°What if we bring the Floating Dream?¡± he asked, before shutting down his own suggestion. ¡°That would garner too much attention.¡± ¡°And will make our enemies suspicious, yes.¡± ¡°So what if they¡¯re suspicious?¡± Dystro asked. ¡°Why does it matter if they know about us?¡± ¡°Because the Cult will accelerate their plans. They¡¯ll know that we¡¯re still unprepared and will take advantage of it. Or they¡¯ll abandon it entirely and vanish for another decade or so. Either way, it¡¯ll be more damaging compared to us waiting for the right time.¡± ¡°If they abandon it for another decade, wouldn¡¯t that give us more time?¡± Ral argued. ¡°We can spend our resources chasing them down.¡± Selfiya nodded at him. ¡°That¡¯s a big if. And if it does happen, we won¡¯t have a Visitor to take advantage of the situation.¡± ¡°What does the Visitor have to do with it?¡± It was Hal¡¯s turn to ask this time. ¡°That will be too much information. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t tell you right now. But you have to believe me that he and his predecessors are the key to getting rid of the Nightmare Lands for good.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll have to sacrifice Eastrise for this?¡± Venry asked. He couldn¡¯t fathom the need for this decision. It was outright illogical. Why let an entire city be destroyed for the sake of one man? Void Mother Selfiya Lunasensia simply nodded. Dystro timidly raised his hand. ¡°Sorry, I still don¡¯t get it. When¡¯s the right time?¡± Mother Selfiya sighed again. ¡°This might still be rather confusing but believe me when I say that the right time is when the Visitor finally takes a peek at Destiny.¡±
Chapter 106: The Atlas Sid The Atlas Sid
¡±It¡¯s probably not as fast as a plane, but it sure is fancier than one.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
Frein entered a different world¡­again. He managed to hold every bit of enthusiasm and childlike joy he had as he stepped foot aboard the platform. It was a simple, circular hovering podium, meant to carry around ten to twenty passengers aboard the Atlas Sid, though they have this one in exclusivity. But even just this simple thing was enough to give him too much anticipation. The lack of sleep and the strain on his back helped ease his excitement. Not to mention he was slightly Art fatigued, not enough to render him unable to Draw. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Frill asked. She wore a sleeveless shirt with pink frills laced around the hem. It was layered with a thin, cotton jacket, matched with a pair of short shorts and sandals. A frilled strap wrapped around her right thigh, which was an eye-catchy albeit odd choice for fashion. She also arranged her hair in a beautiful bun, affixed with seashell ornaments. She was ushering Stiry and Fittey. The two yumas were obedient enough that they didn¡¯t need a leash. Enza melded out of her Nature¡¯s Favor and snuggled up to her parents. Frein could hear them catching up like they haven¡¯t talked to each other for a long time, despite seeing each other a few days ago. As it turned out, Elizzel hadn¡¯t returned last night. She was too bothered by all the intimacy between him and Katherine dripping onto their Tether during the entire evening until sunrise. So Enza stayed up late as well to accompany her. The faunel returned a few hours ago bearing some news but was too sleepy to be in the mood to share. In any case, she went to sleep inside his Mind Palace. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Frein replied finally. ¡°Kat sucked the life out of me last night.¡± He looked at Katherine who was busy talking with Bennie. The Lady of the Void was practically blooming. Her black tank top, short enough to reveal her scarred navel, emphasized her glowing skin. She had a nondescript cap on, allowing for her long, radiant, hair to slip through the back like a ponytail. Like Frill, she wore a pair of short shorts, revealing a little too much leg for Frein to ignore. She covered some of it with her trusty coat, wrapping it around her waist to wear it like a skirt. Apparently she also wore a strap around her right thigh with a simple black and red design. Even the meiyal orbited around her with joy and elation. As if to feel his gaze, she turned towards him and stuck out her tongue. He made a face in return. Bennie saw it and the two girls laughed at him. ¡°Gross,¡± Kristel said, appearing beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you guys didn¡¯t sleep last night?¡± The Princess was in a summer outfit as well. She had a sleeveless, blue one-piece which she layered with a translucent, long vest. Underneath her skirt, she had a barely visible pair of short shorts and then slippers. At this point, Frein was convinced that the three girls agreed to wear a sort of garment around their thighs. Kristel¡¯s was a blue and white strap with a flower ornament. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t tell you the details, young Princess,¡± Frein laced his words with light sarcasm while nodding slightly. ¡°Maybe in a few days when you¡¯re old enough.¡± Kristel¡¯s face twisted in disgust and she strolled away, Testra close to her heels. They went and talked to the person in-charge of their boarding. Xiv lurked behind Frill and gave him a thumbs up. In response, Frein subtly nodded towards the Aria in Red, careful enough for her not to notice. The Vyndivalian was immediately on guard. That gave him a mild giggle, strong and sudden enough to overstimulate his back. He winced and arced slightly forwards, massaging his back. Katherine joined him, massaging his waist with a Drawn Samesia. ¡°Thought your Siffera can help you recover faster now?¡± she asked. ¡°I need four-meiyal for it and the sudden shot of awareness will wake up Eli, I think.¡± His backpain quickly vanished. ¡°Thanks.¡± The Lady of the Void pecked his cheek and whispered, ¡°No, thank you for last night.¡± Bennie soon joined them. The innkeeper gave him a warm basket and passed another to Frill. They were both filled to the brim with various baked goods. Amazing fragrance wafted from within. Frein didn¡¯t hesitate and dug his hand inside, rewarding himself with a toasted egg sandwich. The crunch was followed by the filling egg along with a strong taste of garlic. ¡°For the journey,¡± she said. ¡°Nothing too fancy.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± he replied in between bites while Frill responded with a hug. ¡°We¡¯ll miss you,¡± she said, squeezing the innkeeper a little too tightly. ¡°Me too!¡± Bennie said. Despite the mild suffocation, she did her best to return the embrace. Her glasses skewed a little off to the side. ¡°We can chat through M.O.B.I.L.E. when we have the time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to keep in touch,¡± Frill said, finally letting go. Bennie made a sigh of relief, but she was smiling ear to ear as she alighted the boarding platform. ¡°Alright folks,¡± Kristel called from in front of them, waving at the boarding officer to pass a signal. ¡°Time to go.¡± Frein was filled with anticipation once again. He concentrated on Bennie, waving at her as she waved them goodbye. The platform hovered off the ground. He was thankful for his Siffera providing him balance as he and the rest of his company were lifted up towards the Atlas Sid. Soon enough, the innkeeper was nothing but a speck on the Flat Lands. He turned to see the floating, inverted mountain up close.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Atlas Sid was a city, a metropolis. There was no denying it. A complete turn compared to the province that was Minaveil. As soon as their platform landed aboard the grand carrier, he was immediately greeted by a variety of smaller, flying aircrafts zooming past him, none of which looked anything like the jets or planes he was used to seeing. A fleet of yumas followed closely overhead. In fact, an entire aerial traffic of beasts and machines combined encompassed most of what he saw before the landscape captured his attention. The first, the most obvious, was the spire in the middle. A massive tower stood tall, a giant compared to its neighbors. Frein assumed it was the central hub of the entire floating facility. Which meant it was also their destination. ¡°You¡¯re not talking,¡± Katherine said, nudging him. ¡°Usually, you talk.¡± ¡°I, uh¡­¡± He was too busy looking around. Massive floating crystals the size of entire buildings orbited about the edges of the Atlas Sid. There was one right behind them. He Drew his Mesiffera, and poured four-meiyal on it, not taking any chances. It was already too late when he remembered it might overstimulate Elizzel. Fortunately, the faunel was too tired to be bothered. Sure enough, these massive crystals were made out of pure meiyal. But it also contained an impressive supply of Nightmare meiyal. ¡°The Atlas Sid was made in the Nightmare Lands,¡± Katherine explained, following his gaze. ¡°At least the entire floating mechanism and the protective zone that it uses. Any mechanical device or structures without any stabilized Nightmare components are susceptible to the influence. The rest were made in Irista Nation, with the latest iteration designed by our Master Midan Goldes. They should be functional as long as they remain inside the protective zone.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know¡­¡± Frein said absentmindedly, his jaw agape as he looked around for more amazing stuff. ¡°I read about it¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re like a kid on a field trip,¡± she commented, giggling slightly. ¡°Yeah¡­You can say that again.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s pretty exciting and all, but we should settle our rooms before anything else,¡± Kristel said. She mounted Testra and turned her to face the whole group. ¡°Flying¡¯s faster.¡± Frein raised his hand. ¡°Enza and I haven¡¯t tried it out yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get the hang of it,¡± Katherine replied. She mounted Stiry, taking the seat behind Frill. Even Xiv easily sat over Fittey. ¡°Easy there, friend,¡± he said as the yuma made a slight growl. Ultimately, she allowed him under Frill¡¯s request. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said to both the yuma and the Aria. ¡°Come on, Frein, we can do it!¡± Enza hopped beside him, her giant tail whipping back and forth. ¡°Frill gave me a saddle, just hold on tight!¡± ¡°If I fall, you catch me,¡± he said. He placed one foot firmly on the saddle¡¯s stirrup and pulled himself over using its horn, swinging his other leg over the other side with relative success. It was his first time, but with three samples in front of him and his Siffera to guide his balance, he was able to avoid embarrassing himself. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re pretty light!¡± Enza commented. ¡°You sure you¡¯re eating well?¡± She strutted in place just to test it out. Frein held the horn and reins with all his might while doing his best to hide his desperation. The naughty yuma laughed at him. ¡°You¡­¡± Frein rapped his yuma¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll feed you nothing but vegetables tonight if you throw me over.¡± That calmed her right down quickly. ¡°Killjoy.¡± Frein held on for dear life as the four yumas lifted off the platform. Enza was still smaller compared to her elders, but her growth spurt still shocked him. In just one week since he bonded with her, she had grown large enough to carry him and keep up with the others in the air. They flew over tall buildings, swooping past a large dome to their right and fields of agriculture to their left. Frein wanted to study them all in detail but they were in a hurry. In the end, he concentrated on the feeling of flight. It was exhilarating, to say the least. The wind pushed against his face, which he tolerated with Siffera, and the speed was beyond his expectations. His excitement filled to the brim and eventually overflowed. The thrill dared him to let go of the saddle horn, and he did so while locking his legs firmly around Enza¡¯s sides. He lifted his arms and allowed his screams of joy to surface. The wind greeted him with the same enthusiasm. The others had a moment to turn to him before Enza¡¯s overzealous personality took over. She folded her wings slightly and leaned to a side, causing her to roll over. A rollercoaster couldn¡¯t even compare. Frein felt his legs slip due to the sudden change of momentum, but he recovered quickly thanks to his Siffera. The sudden relief just spiked his adrenaline even more. ¡°Whu¡ª?¡± Elizzel stirred awake and had a single moment before realizing the aerial maneuvers that Frein and Enza were doing. Her screams were much less excited, leaning more towards terrified. Thankfully, she was inside his Mind Palace. Frein didn¡¯t let the thrill get the best of him. Not by a lot. His mind raced with different stunts he wanted to try with Enza, but it wasn¡¯t the time to practice them. ¡°Let¡¯s try some more moves next time, Enza,¡± he said, patting the yuma¡¯s head to calm her down. ¡°We should!¡± she said and returned to formation. They landed on another platform, this time on top of the spire. Somewhere during the flight, Elizzel had fallen back to sleep. She must¡¯ve been pretty exhausted. The platform was connected to the main bridge through a narrow passageway between two pairs of automatic doors. Frein saw a number of people fiddling with various screens and panels and talking through their M.O.B.I.L.E.s. Oddly enough, if he ignored all the magical parts of this hub, the setup resembled a typical mothership bridge. Admiral Garm Militia greeted them. Behind him were the four Guard Knights he had sparred with the day before. Maffelyn, the elf, was the first to speak. ¡°Welcome, Princess Kristel and company, aboard Atlas Sid.¡± She made a bow and the rest of her group followed suit. And that was the end of the formalities. The felintine Sharron approached Kristel and held her hand. ¡°Are you all better now, Princess?¡± ¡°Yes, Sharron. Thank you.¡± Kristel rubbed the felintine¡¯s forehead. While the Princess talked to the four knights, Admiral Garm approached Frein. ¡°Impressed, I take it?¡± he asked. ¡°Very much,¡± Frein nodded. ¡°I haven¡¯t even explored anything yet. It¡¯s like a different world out here compared to Minaveil.¡± Garm grunted his agreement. ¡°The province focuses primarily on their tradition and agriculture. Simplicity and comfort are their greatest charms. Liquor too. ¡°What you will see beyond this point, here in the Atlas Sid, in Central, or even in the High Palace, will be unlike the tame, cozy Minaveil. You¡¯d best be prepared.¡± Frein only grinned and nodded in excitement. Garm smiled his approval. ¡°Well then, Maffelyn and her friends will escort you to your rooms. I¡¯ve prepared five, one for each of you, but I¡¯m guessing you only need four?¡± He pointed towards Katherine. ¡°Three,¡± Kristel interjected. ¡°Frill and I can share the same room.¡± ¡°Ah, that means only Xiv here is the unlucky one.¡± Garm placed a comforting hand atop the Vyndivalian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There are a lot of pretty ladies out here aboard Atlas Sid. I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t pass an exotic find like you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Admiral,¡± Xiv said. ¡°But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be allowed outside without supervision.¡± ¡°Ah, ¡®tis a pity.¡± Garm laughed as he returned to the bridge. He sat on an exquisite chair at the center and barked some orders before turning back to them. ¡°We take off in one hour.¡± Pretty sure Xiv prefers it that way, Frein stopped himself just in time. Instead, he focused his attention towards the windows, admiring the systematic metropolis as the elven Guard Knight guided them to the lower floors of the spire.
Chapter 107: Heat of the Moment Heat of the Moment Xiv had never seen a marvel like the Atlas Sid. He had to keep reminding himself that every time he looked out the window of his luxury suite. His room overlooked a military training center to his left and a street market at his right. The two places were quite a few minutes walk away by his estimates, but considering their scale and the view he got from the height, the two places might as well be next door neighbors. He sighed and sought reprieve from the onslaught of brilliant things that made him envious on top of everything else he was feeling. Only, he wasn¡¯t provided any comfort. The room was too big. The air was cool and relaxing, mixed with a fragrance that reminded him of orange and mangoes. The kitchen could be an aspiring chef¡¯s dream come true. His table could fit an entire family. The bathroom! By Brymeia¡¯s name, the bathroom! It was an excess! As if someone figured it was funny to put a hot spring inside and call it improvisation. Not to mention the impressive collection of toiletries and bathrobes. It became an effort to find a fault. To find some sort of lack in this overabundance. Xiv was helplessly losing at the challenge. His bed didn¡¯t even give him a chance. The sheer size of it could fit three of him. And the cushion¡¯s thickness was at least twice his head. Maybe three times. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it was actually three and a half. There was one more thing, most of all. It wasn¡¯t the grandeur, or the excess, or the scale. Nothing of that sort. It was the fact that this moving mountain could withstand the Nightmare Lands. Admiral Garm admitted to him in one of their talks. It wasn¡¯t without any of its challenges; surviving the Nightmare Lands. Rather, it was the grand carrier¡¯s ability to provide protection without succumbing to its influence that made it different from any infrastructure ever created in the Forimeyn Continent. To remain in the air while others fell like mundane folded constructs. That was what earned its title and prestige. All of these made Xiv realize and admit defeat. If this marvel was present during the Battle of the Vanguard¡­ ¡°We wouldn¡¯t stand a chance,¡± he mused. ¡°Not that we stood a chance in the first place.¡± ¡°The timing was too specific,¡± said another voice. Princess Kristel Irista sat in one of the chairs in his freely rented grand table. ¡°It¡¯s not everyday that Atlas Sid ventures into the Nightmare Lands. All the more reason for us to believe there¡¯s a rat in our midst.¡± ¡°Any guesses?¡± Xiv asked, trying not to get too surprised that the Princess of Irista Nation was sitting next to him, unannounced. True, they had been acquainted for more than a few days. They¡¯ve been very cooperative with each other. She¡¯d given him better treatment than he ever deserved for an enemy of her country. But to be in the same room talking shop and conspiracy theories together wasn¡¯t something he thought would be possible given the difference in their stature. Kristel crossed her legs and leaned on one hand. ¡°The most obvious suspect is Tryvinal Bree. He has the biggest motivation out of everyone. If I failed, he¡¯ll have more leverage to convince people to be under his banner. If I died, he¡¯s pretty much guaranteed to be the next Monarch. Frein thinks it¡¯s too obvious.¡± Xiv still couldn¡¯t believe the Princess shared all the details about the competition regarding the next Monarch. It felt like something that should be kept hushed, but Kristel insisted that, given the status of the competition, almost everyone knows about it now. ¡°I see¡­¡± the former Lord Knight didn¡¯t have anything to add to the discussion. For all he knew, she could be right. Frein, as intuitive as he was, didn¡¯t have anything for his argument other than gut feeling. Still, this left him in an awkward spot to keep the discussion flowing. He ended up, as usual, resorting to the idea in the forefront of his mind. ¡°So, I hope you don¡¯t mind if I ask, but what are you doing in my room?¡± Kristel smiled. ¡°Frill¡¯s right. You¡¯re too honest.¡± As if on cue, the Aria in Red entered the room, hanging up her M.O.B.I.L.E. She walked as though she was in slow motion. The bounce in her every step made the frills around her sleeveless shirt flow like the fins of an elegant fish. She had long since removed her jacket. The amount of skin she was showing for what little clothing she had pulled Xiv¡¯s jaw agape. Something got caught in his throat and it took a lot of effort to swallow. He was ogling too much. Xiv saw Kristel wave at him. His attention moved for a bit, but his eyes did not. In the end, he couldn¡¯t pry himself away from staring at Frill who¡­was smiling at him. ¡°People usually pay a lot to get a look at me, you know,¡± she said, striking a humble pose. She placed one hand on her waist, leaned forwards to tease a bit of her chest, and winked. Xiv was going to die today. He¡¯d rather die than look at anyone or anywhere else. She was focused on Frill. Not just the visible parts of her breast, or her slender and smooth legs, or her detailed collarbone. Her neck, her face, her lips¡­the way strands of her scarlet hair fall off her shoulders¡­ His intense stare finally got to Frill. She blushed. She actually blushed! ¡°For my concerts, I mean,¡± she said defensively, turning redder after realizing the obscure implications of what she said earlier. ¡°I don¡¯t go around showing people¡ªwill you stop staring at me!¡± Xiv jolted back. He forced his eyes to close. He wanted to keep looking. To admire such a wonderful treasure and drown in the delusion that it can be his to keep, admire, and cherish forever. I think you should go for it. Aim straight and true, my friend. Frill¡¯s there, just waiting. If you don¡¯t do anything, someone else will. You have no idea how famous she is.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Frein¡¯s words had kept repeating in his head. It was thanks to them that he had become more assertive with what he wanted. But if the future of his life demanded he closed his eyes forever, not even death could keep him away from fulfilling that wish. ¡°Hey,¡± Frill¡¯s voice rang true to his ears. Like a soothing bell to ease all his worries. ¡°You¡¯re overreacting. We just wanted to talk.¡± As Xiv permitted himself to see again, he convinced himself to act normally. He wanted to be in Frill¡¯s good graces¡ªher best and greatest graces, beyond what she would give to the Princess¡ªnot to be creeped out by his actions¡­and his thoughts. Thank Brymeia she doesn¡¯t have Heart¡¯s Will. While he struggled with being normal, Frill spoke to the Princess. ¡°Stables just confirmed. They boarded Stiry¡¯s litter. We¡¯ll have them delivered straight to the High Palace.¡± ¡°What about Fittey?¡± ¡°Frein said she still wants to join us for Liona first, then she¡¯ll stay at the High Palace as well unless we need her. I¡¯m not bonded with her but I can ask Stiry if we need to.¡± She turned and met him eye to eye. ¡°Are you back with us now?¡± Those purple eyes were doing their best not to look away out of embarrassment. Her tensed shoulders looked as though they were winding up her arms in case they needed to lash out at him. Xiv desperately reeled back his obsession. ¡°I¡¯m here, sorry.¡± He turned his focus to Kristel. No offense to the Princess, but looking at her helped calm down his burning passion. ¡°Why do I suddenly feel like I should be irritated?¡± the Princess asked, crossing her arms. ¡°Please,¡± he replied in a desperate act to change the subject. ¡°I¡¯m here, what do you need?¡± The two ladies looked at each other and nodded. ¡°Fine,¡± Kristel began. ¡°We want to know how you¡¯re recovering. Are you still suddenly feeling sleepy?¡± Xiv assessed himself. The flow of his Smelted meiyal seemed more fluid than it used to. He was used to having them intact, ready to Reinforce at a moment¡¯s notice. But now, they moved and reacted at his touch. They weren¡¯t entirely his. Asserting his will would make them obey, but that extra step made it jarring sometimes. In terms of actual recovery though¡­ ¡°I¡¯m feeling much better,¡± he began. ¡°I don¡¯t suddenly fall asleep anymore, but I do get sleepy from time to time. My appetite¡¯s a little too much than usual, if I¡¯m being honest, but I guess that¡¯s the body demanding more nutrients. I also feel sudden bursts of energy at awkward times. Usually at night.¡± The two of them nodded like they expected them. Or they weren¡¯t listening. ¡°You¡¯re not experiencing anything weird?¡± Kristel followed up. ¡°No voices or suggestions or anything?¡± Ah, so here¡¯s the crux of the visit. Xiv had been hearing voices, especially during his sleep. They were fleeting. A passing dream, or a soft warning, or a simple urge. Sometimes it spoke to wake him up, or to lull him back to sleep. But most apparent of all, it told him whenever Frill was feeling emotional, when she was at the verge of tears of despair like that one night when she kept the stove open. Or during extreme senses of longing like when she talked to her mother. Cases of helpless worry like when Princess Kristel went to the other side of the Rindea Mountain Range. Or during extreme relief like when Kristel woke up from exhaustion yesterday. Basically, the voice knew when Frill needed someone. Someone to talk to or someone to be there to distract her from her thoughts, it didn¡¯t matter which. Xiv never once questioned this voice. Truth be told, judgement be passed, he didn¡¯t care, he took every advantage of it. Did that make him a bad person? Maybe. But regardless of the voice or not, if Frill needed someone and the Princess couldn¡¯t be there for her, he would drop everything¡ªeverything¡ªin a heartbeat and go to her. He could be waging his entire land and house on a bet, he could be fighting for his life, damn; he could be saving the entire world. He would drop them all if Frill needed someone to be by her side. ¡°Hey,¡± Frill¡¯s voice shot him awake. ¡°Stop being weird.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The sudden jump forced the answer out of his mouth before he could consider anything else. ¡°Yes, I hear voices.¡± He decided to leave all the other parts out of the answer. Frill shot out of her chair, slamming two demanding arms on the table. ¡°Is it a girl¡¯s voice? What did she say? Anything about me? Or the Princess?¡± ¡°Frill, calm down,¡± Kristel said. The Aria in Red slumped back on her chair and sighed. With a practiced motion, she produced a tea set out of her Spatiera. Xiv was particularly impressed by the fact that serving tea actually calmed her down. As usual, she was quick with work. She even remembered his preferred mix: one and a half teaspoons of sugar, and a quarter cup of milk. ¡°The voices are very simple,¡± Xiv began after taking a sip. He was painfully aware of the bias squirming around his brain, but no other tea could taste any better. No, only other teas made by Frill could taste better. ¡°But yes, they were voices of a girl,¡± he continued. ¡°I hear simple phrases like, ¡®wake up¡¯ or ¡®go to sleep¡¯ or ¡®hungry, food¡¯.¡± The two ladies sighed at this revelation. They looked at each other once again, but this time, only Kristel nodded. Frill sighed. He would rather not see her sigh like that. Stressed and tense. He would rather have her sigh in relief or satisfaction. Frill snapped to get his attention. ¡°Are you listening?¡± He nodded. ¡°When you were attacked, back at the outpost, your meiyal core was shattered.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this, yes,¡± Xiv confirmed. ¡°Lady Katherine saved my life.¡± ¡°But we didn¡¯t tell you how,¡± Frill said. She leaned back and sighed again. That made him concerned. ¡°We had to replace your meiyal core.¡± The realization hit him like the arrow that pierced his core, too sudden for him to respond. Now it made sense why his Smelted meiyal were too stubborn. Why he was hearing voices. The realization cascaded into more revelations that fell nicely on top of each other. But his own conclusion was too morbid for his own liking. He needed to hear it from someone else. ¡°Whose core?¡± he asked, already knowing the answer. Frill tensed, and it hurt him to see her like that. So he answered for her. ¡°Liona.¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Frill followed at that. ¡°Yes. My sister¡¯s core.¡± Now it all made sense. Why the voice always involved the Aria. Even at her deathly echoes, Liona was caring for her sister first and foremost. Xiv didn¡¯t care after that. He was moved beyond words, beyond his obsessions. No, they combined into an emotion too large and full for him to keep inside. He got up his chair, took a clear space beside Frill, and knelt down, offering himself. ¡°I¡¯m not worthy of this sacrifice, Frill,¡± he began, eyes looking intensely at hers. ¡°You only need to ask, and I¡¯ll return it to you without question. But until then, I will treasure it as my own and will try to live up to your expectations. Every decision I make will be for your protection and benefit. You will be my priority above all.¡± Xiv took a deep breath. Frill and Kristel were too stunned to react. They were both red as tomatoes. Even he was feeling the fire underneath his neck. But he needed to make one final declaration. ¡°Frill Veli. My life is in your hands. Do what you will with it.¡± He bowed. And the doors swung open. Frein kicked them with a triumphant gusto, and Katherine Drew sparks out of meiyal. They blared a ridiculous fanfare while cheering his name. Xiv was beyond himself to even care. He rode with it. It was now or never. If this was a prank, he would turn it into a serious occasion. The two intruders caught wind of his dedication, his desperation. And they, in his utter disbelief, delivered the question softly over to Frill. Frein even subtly shoved the Princess away. How he managed that was beyond his understanding, but he no longer cared. Frill was so close. How she got so close was even more underneath his current capability or desire to understand. He wanted an answer. Wait, did I even ask something? Frill was extremely red, almost as red as her hair. Hands over her chest. Her breathing was staggered, her pupils dilated. She was slightly shaking in a rhythmic pattern. Was that her heartbeat? But she was enduring all of the embarrassment, waiting for him to ask. Waiting in torturous anticipation for that one question. Xiv swallowed hard to make sure he spoke clear and true. ¡°Frill, will you go out with me?¡±
Chapter 108: Budding Love in the Sky Budding Love in the Sky Kristel cursed herself for not figuring it out sooner. In retrospect, it was so painfully obvious. All the times she observed Xiv, his attention had always been a little more dynamic whenever Frill was involved. Even Frein figured it out. It wasn¡¯t actually that surprising, but the fact that he kept it hidden while rooting for the guy was amazing. Katherine was already a given of course, since she had Heart¡¯s Will, but she also supported the guy. Why was I the only one who figured it out late? Kristel had an inkling at best. Her own struggles blinded her from the things developing around her. It made her wonder what else she missed. The walk from the room back to the main bridge was a daze while Kristel went through all this in her head. She was so immersed that it even evoked Evanclad to respond to her. ¡°Kristel, I think you¡¯re thinking too much about it. It might not even be your business at all. It¡¯s budding love between two people. If you care about them, support them. If not, let them be.¡± Kristel found herself inside a council room just behind the main bridge. At first, she wondered how she got there, but finding Frill and Xiv on either side of her, and Frein and Katherine sitting together on the other side of the table, made her remember that they were invited to join the launch procedures. The council room was like any typical meeting room there was. At the center was a triangular table with an open space in the middle. Three chairs were placed on each side, each with a hovering screen panel that was currently offline. Paintings of the previous Admirals adorned the top side of the walls; the lower half was made out of transparent glass, allowing view to the main bridge. Admiral Garm sat on his chair in the middle, barking orders. Kristel¡¯s observation wasn¡¯t particularly lengthy, but the dragging silence made it all awkward. She looked at Frill. The Aria in Red had ultimately answered ¡®I¡¯ll think about it¡¯ before Maffelyne invited them to the bridge. The phrase disheartened Xiv, but according to Frein: ¡°A non-no answer is a yes answer.¡± Indeed, that seemed to be the case. Frill had her head down, but she was stealing glances at Xiv when she thought no one was looking. She¡¯d blush and snap away whenever someone caught her in the act. Her shoulders were pressed too high to be even considered simply as tensed. And she¡¯d occasionally shake her head unprompted, though she tried to be subtle about it. Kristel sighed and turned her attention to Frein and Katherine. The two were surprisingly looking expectantly at her for some reason. They both smiled mischievously, obviously scheming their next ploy to get the two together. And somehow, she would be involved in this one this time? She vaguely remembered how Frein pulled her to the side earlier. It was so subtle, just like that time when he first arrived. Pulling her to the side with such subtlety. There wasn¡¯t even a hint of authority behind the act. How could he keep doing that? The Princess was most wary of Katherine. The fact that she was smiling while Frill was struggling with how to act around all of them right now was a clear indication that things were looking positive. It didn¡¯t need a genius to know that the Lady of the Void would use her Blessing for something as ridiculous as this. She had admitted to using it on Frein; there was no reason to believe she wouldn¡¯t use it on Frill, especially if the Visitor dragged her into it. At last, she looked at the brave man who had a foot into his grave. The way Xiv looked, Kristel might as well prepare some candles and review the Ritual of Peace. He looked pale. Both hands covered his eyes, massaging his forehead and dark red hair. He looked better with disheveled hair compared to a neatly combed one. He was also constantly mumbling. The curiosity motivated Kristel. She hadn¡¯t had much practice with it yet, but she already felt an improved version of Siffera back in her Dream. She tried again, focusing only on her hearing. There was effort, but it felt easy overall. Frein did say the senses were the easiest to improve. They¡¯ve been with her since birth and are essentially ingrained in her very nature. Using Siffera to enhance it was a logical next step over anything else that she owned. She could clearly hear Xiv¡¯s mumblings now. ¡°What have I done? She hates me now. I¡¯m going to die. What do I do? I can¡¯t believe I did that,¡± were some of the few lines Kristel caught until her Meiyal Art slipped. She needed more practice, but it hardly mattered right now. A plan formed in her head. She sighed and leaned towards Xiv. ¡°Hey,¡± the Princess whispered. Xiv turned to him, dragging his face off with the pressure from his hands. It pulled the skin off his eyelids, making him look weird and stretched. Kristel held back with all her might from having a laughing fit. ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked, deciding to start with something simple. Xiv slowly, lethargically, annoyingly weaved his head from left to right and back again.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Kristel hissed and pulled his arm closest to her. His head promptly jerked down, and he bounced aggressively back up. His face, one of death. ¡°Will you stop it!¡± she whispered the shout, trying to avoid Frill¡¯s attention. ¡°I want to know if you were serious back there. Tell me you¡¯re not wasting her time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been sincere the very first moment you saw me, Princess.¡± Xiv pressed his eyes again. ¡°I think that¡¯s part of the problem.¡± He turned away from her in the same zombie-like way again. His voice was hushed, even softer than his mumbles. It forced Kristel to use her Siffera again. ¡°I¡¯ve been in love with Frill from the very first moment I saw her,¡± he began reminiscing. It was completely unprompted, but Kristel saw it as a moment to focus on. Something to take the strain out of Drawing such a meticulous Siffera. ¡°I knew she went on the wall to kill all of us back then. She was glaring with meiyal, practically swimming in it. She was beautiful. A devastation come to life. The ending of all things personified to perfection. She entered the scene with purpose. I didn¡¯t mind dying from her Meiyal Art. I don¡¯t mind until now. I didn¡¯t care at all that my entire company, my brothers and sisters, died by her hands. ¡°I know. There¡¯s something wrong with me. We, Vyndivalians, train our mental faculties to battle the Nightmare Lands. We can assess what¡¯s going on in our heads while we succumb to them. It doesn¡¯t make sense to fall in love with the murderer of the people you spend months training with. But I never expected them to return in the first place. We got the short stick, you see.¡± Xiv sighed. And then, he smiled. ¡°But I fell in love with Frill. Regardless of what she did, I know this is the calling I must pursue.¡± ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s not just because you have Liona¡¯s core?¡± Kristel asked. Xiv shook his head, energetic this time around. ¡°I told you, I was already in love with Frill from the beginning.¡± Kristel studied the man. For what it was worth, she discovered something new about Vyndivalians. And that he was plainly serious about his confession. Xiv originally came to Irista Nation with the agenda to bridge the relationship between the two nations. Mend whatever bad blood existed and create a friendship, despite the will of his King. He didn¡¯t come here to betray his kingdom. He also didn¡¯t come here to fall in love. But he does like Frill. Love might be pushing it, despite his choice of words. Only time can prove that. And he could only get that time with her support. The fact that if he did end up with Frill would be pushing his agenda even further seemed orchestrated at first. But such a good-willed person like Xiv appeared too simple to be able to concoct such a complex plan. And the fact that Katherine, a person Blessed with Heart¡¯s Will which allowed her to read inner thoughts, was supporting this person was all the assurance she needed. Kristel smiled and decided to push her plan to fruition. ¡°Xiv,¡± she whispered. ¡°Are you willing to be my bodyguard?¡± The question made the Vyndivalian freeze. ¡°Why offer that now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too in love to run that over your head? Nothing but Frill in that nogging of yours?¡± Xiv, like the honest-to-goodness that he was, simply nodded. She couldn¡¯t stifle a giggle. ¡°Look here, lover-boy. If you become part of my retinue, you¡¯ll get all the chances you need to pursue your relationship with Frill. You¡¯ll only be my bodyguard in name, but it will be good for your publicity. If you want to convince Irista Nation to be friends with Vyndival Kingdom, it¡¯s not only me you have to please. My authority doesn¡¯t sway the entire Nation, especially since I¡¯m losing the Monarch¡¯s challenge. ¡°Sure, you have to make appearances, but use that to your advantage. But I know your main focus now is that oath of yours. And as part of my retinue, you can spend all the time you want with Frill. As long as she¡¯s fine with it.¡± Kristel enjoyed the slow realization that rippled on Xiv¡¯s face. He gradually gained color and the gears in his head started to move. ¡°You¡¯re a genius,¡± he admitted. ¡°Pretty sure it¡¯s Frill,¡± she replied. ¡°No, you¡¯re a genius. She¡¯s the best,¡± Xiv corrected. Kristel laughed at that. ¡°I¡¯ll take this offer, Princess Kristel, but I want Frill to agree to it too.¡± The two turned to Frill. Her face was pale, and both of her arms covered her face. Her legs curled up the chair and was doing her best to hide her head from all the embarrassment. ¡°I heard all of it,¡± she said in a muffled voice. ¡°I taught her how to use Siffera on her ears,¡± Katherine admitted, smiling deviously. She turned to Xiv. ¡°You¡¯re right, she¡¯s the best. Learned it in just a few hours. Mastering it would be different, but she doesn¡¯t need to do that for how close you two are and how loud you were with your whispers.¡± Frill suddenly snapped, opening her curled form with a determined look. She turned to face the Vyndivalian. Red and determination on her face. ¡°One date,¡± she said, holding up a finger. ¡°Tonight. No exceptions, no excuses. You make all the plans. Bring me wherever you want, but nothing sketchy, or I¡¯ll burn you to ashes.¡± Xiv stood. ¡°But I have no idea about this place.¡± ¡°I said no excuses!¡± Frill was red. Kristel had the mind to wonder if that was good for her health. She wanted to ask her to calm down, but Xiv was quicker to respond. ¡°Where¡¯s Frein?¡± he asked. ¡°He left to ask Pa how the grand carrier works. Why?¡± Katherine asked in return. Her tone was deathly serious. It didn¡¯t occur to Kristel when the Visitor left. How? When? Why in this very moment? Did he already know how it was going to go down? ¡°I need help,¡± Xiv asked. ¡°It¡¯s called a wingman.¡± ¡°I need a wingman.¡± Katherine stood and led Xiv outside. ¡°You have two. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two left the council room, hurrying over to Frein who was beside Admiral Garm. Even as she strained her Siffera to enhance her hearing, she couldn¡¯t hear past the glass barrier and the distance. She saw the Visitor laugh and swing an arm around the lover-boy¡­and then, they left him there. Xiv looked defeated but didn¡¯t pursue the two. Katherine was leading Frein out of the main bridge, to the front of the spire, where it would only be the two of them. Presumably, Admiral Garm stopped him from pursuing the two. They were about to launch Atlas Sid after all. Frill deflating on her chair caught the Princess¡¯s attention. She found it extremely amusing that this prim and proper maid, who was doubling as a famous celebrity idol, loved by millions for her amazing songs and musical ability, was reduced to a melted mess, squirming and giggling and stressing out all at the same time. ¡°What have I done?¡± said the Aria, desperately turning to the Princess. ¡°I¡¯m not prepared at all.¡± Kristel laughed. She laughed as heartily as she could. It had been so long since she enjoyed this much. The bitter taste of Liona¡¯s loss still lingered within the happiness, but it was overwritten by the fact that knowing the little sister, she would also be overjoyed the same way as she was now. The Princess stood with renewed energy and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± she proclaimed. ¡°Xiv can¡¯t take his eyes off you now, but we¡¯ll make him wish he can stare at you forever the next time he sees you.¡±
Chapter 109: Blossoming Love in the Sky Blossoming Love in the Sky Frein left the council room as soon as Kristel asked Xiv to be her bodyguard. At that point, as far as he was concerned, the gears began to turn in earnest. All odds were now in Xiv¡¯s favor, and he shouldn¡¯t let any chance slip by. While Frein was excited to see how the relationship between a former Lord Knight of Vyndival and the most popular idol of Irista Nation would unfold, his attention was currently gripped by the Atlas Sid itself. ¡®Idol¡¯ was such a surprising word for Frein. He never thought the people of Irista Nation would use the term in the same way as his people did back on Earth, including all its nuances and meanings. It was sort of refreshing, albeit simultaneously jarring. In truth, the entire affair with the Atlas Sid still had him shellshocked. In a good way. The level of coordination between all the people walking around the main bridge was on a level he only saw in movies. People report and relay information using hovering screen panels which he knew worked in similar mechanics with M.O.B.I.L.E.s. Some even utilized the device itself. He would¡¯ve had an easier time if this whole thing, as enormous as it was, traveled by sea. But no, this thing flew. An inverted mountain with a city traveling the skies. ¡°We don¡¯t even have this level of technology back where I came from,¡± he thought out loud, expressing his amazement to Admiral Garm. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me this is your first time flying, Son?¡± he asked while signing off a document on his hovering screen. He swiped it off casually and turned to Frein. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s a lot different compared to a yuma. You won¡¯t feel anything as long as you¡¯re inside our buildings.¡± ¡°Flown a few times,¡± Frein admitted. ¡°We have airplanes, vehicles like your airships, but we don¡¯t have as precise control as yours do. We need to use runways and have a running start in order to fly them. I think there¡¯s been a few models, recent ones, that can take off and land without a runway, but those aren¡¯t for commercial use as far as I¡¯m aware. And we feel the gravity whichever we use. Oh, and we do have helicopters that can go up and down no problem, but they¡¯re not as fast as planes and they¡¯re extremely noisy.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re in for an experience then, Son. This lady flies like a smooth whisperer, and she¡¯ll take your breath away.¡± ¡°How high can she fly?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± The question gave the Admiral pause. ¡°It is law that we don¡¯t fly any higher than a certain point, so we only flew her a little higher than that. Just in case it became necessary.¡± ¡°Because of that dragon legend?¡± ¡°Dragons rule the land of the skies, yes, that one.¡± Frein turned to the Admiral fully. ¡°Surely there are outliers? Even if it¡¯s not Atlas Sid, someone must¡¯ve flown higher than the clouds.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯re right,¡± Garm sighed. ¡°But I¡¯d attribute it to the people who work in the Order of the Void. It¡¯s part of their duties. Can¡¯t say they went past the Sphere, though.¡± ¡°The Sphere?¡± Frein swam through his memories, through all the books and records he¡¯s read, but none of them mentioned the Sphere. His curiosity overpowered his restraint, making him step a little closer than he intended. Admiral Garm engaged his enthusiasm with a smile. ¡°Not something you read in books, eh?¡± He deftly navigated through a couple of screens while mumbling to himself. ¡°I guess we have time.¡± A screen appeared in front of Frein. It depicted a planet, half of it at least. At first glance, it didn¡¯t look any different from Earth, but he knew the entire point of this image was to show him how Brymeia looked from the outside. It was intriguing to say the least. Blues, greens, and browns took up the majority of the moving image. But he also saw a few of red and black spots. One was particularly large, surrounded by sea. The lands around it were carved in such a smooth way that piecing them together could draw a circle, as if something massive detonated and pushed all those islands away. ¡°That place is called The Nothing,¡± Garm pointed out. ¡°And, if you¡¯re wondering, there¡¯s absolutely nothing in it. Legend says it¡¯s the epicenter where the lands were broken. The place where Zerax¡¯thum fell when he was defeated. But then, every destroyed, desolate place in the Void Region is allegedly the place where the Fallen Dragon¡­fell.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enormous!¡± It took Frein a while to gauge the size, but The Nothing could be compared to a continent. Not to mention the black trail in the middle of the sea that crossed it. ¡°It is. It contains the heaviest Nightmare influence. I wouldn¡¯t recommend going to it without good reason. Even Katherine¡¯s mother had a hard time going through such burdens.¡± ¡°Did Katherine go there?¡± ¡°No, she was too busy with Schrodie¡¯s training regimens, and she eventually went to your world before she collected enough tenure.¡± Garm touched the image and moved it slightly downwards, revealing a smooth layer that surrounded the world. ¡°But this is what I wanted to show you. The Sphere.¡± The layer was like glass. It contained the entirety of Brymeia, including its clouds. Beyond it was darkness. Frein felt something odd about it. He tapped on the image and pulled it lower, dragging it until he saw the Shinemoon and Darkmoon. ¡°They¡¯re not within the Sphere?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not,¡± Garm confirmed. ¡°Only Brymeia.¡± Frein tried to pull further, but saw nothing else beyond what he¡¯d already seen. ¡°This is a record copied from the Order of the Void. I¡¯d say it¡¯s proof that we haven¡¯t pierced the Sphere, yet.¡± Frein felt somewhat relieved that space exploration wasn¡¯t something that existed here in Brymeia. He was filled by what he qualified as undeserved pride for Earth¡¯s humanity and shoved it away at the same instant. At the same time, he felt frustrated that a world with this much advanced technology hadn¡¯t done space exploration yet. If he compared meiyal power to fuel power, there wouldn¡¯t even be a competition. Then again, he wasn¡¯t an expert in rocket science. He sighed. He shouldn¡¯t be comparing the two worlds. He won¡¯t be coming back to the other one anyway. Instead, he focused on the Sphere, dragging the screen back to it.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Someone tried to go through it before?¡± he asked. ¡°Not as far as I know,¡± Garm admitted. Frein appreciated the honesty. He¡¯d rather be disappointed with facts than try to decipher actual information from people trying to be know-it-alls. ¡°What else do we know about it?¡± he asked, staring intently at the subject. ¡°Well, some experts say that the Sphere caused the five colors of the day. That the meiyal surrounding it shimmers in such a steady rhythm and with such density that it refracts the sunlight consistently.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t shift at all?¡± ¡°As far as recorded history is concerned, there hasn¡¯t been a shift in the days.¡± Before Frein could ask further questions, Maffelyne approached them. ¡°We just finalized all pre-launch procedures, Admiral. We¡¯re all clear and good to go on your word.¡± She passed an acknowledging nod towards the Visitor. In the short time that she spent with them, ushering him and his company to their rooms, Maffelyne shared her new duties as a second-in-command trainee. She was supposed to handle one of the smaller cruisers aboard the grand carrier, but apparently, her performance during the sparring with him garnered her enough favor to take an option for the main bridge. She nabbed the opportunity in a heartbeat and her friends were taken along as main operators. ¡°Good,¡± Admiral Garm said, standing up. ¡°It was a good talk, Son. We¡¯ll continue this some other time.¡± Frein agreed, excitement filling him. ¡°Where can I get the best view?¡± ¡°Right at the front,¡± Maffelyne replied. ¡°I suggest bringing Lady Katherine along.¡± ¡°Frein!¡± A cheerful voice resonated from behind him, and he didn¡¯t have to look to figure out it was Xiv. He slipped in between him and Admiral Garm, remembering only after the fact that he forgot his manners. ¡°I got a date!¡± he said in defense, obviously elated beyond proper decorum. ¡°I know,¡± Frein said, laughing and swinging an arm around his compadre lover-boy. ¡°Congrats. I¡¯ll hear all about it in a bit, but for now, let me go soak in this experience.¡± Someone held his other arm in such a way that he instinctively recognized it. He opened it to let Katherine slip through. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s his first time,¡± she said. ¡°We have the whole day to prepare for you, so let us take this moment for now.¡± She made a face to Xiv and her father and started pulling Frein by the arm. He tapped Xiv by the shoulders and let Katherine lead him. The former Lord Knight wanted to protest, but Admiral Garm wrenched him into place. ¡°Leave them be, kid. Nothing feels more romantic than watching the skies grow larger and the lands growing smaller. ¡®Together, they will conquer the world¡¯ or something like that. If Frill miraculously reciprocates your confession¡ªand yes, you can blame Frein for being a blabbermouth¡ªI¡¯d suggest you bring her to the same place. Maffelyne dear, the intercom, please.¡± Admiral Garm¡¯s voice echoed throughout the bridge and the entire Atlas Sid. Frein ignored them all as Katherine slowly led him towards the front of the main bridge. Her slender form and minimalistic fashion bounced with each step, and she smiled seductively at him. A lot of eyes looked at them. At her. It could be her fame or the free and loose outfit, but neither of them cared. They only had eyes for each other. They soon exited the main bridge and found themselves alone in front of the spire where a bench was conveniently placed for them. To call the edge of the circular platform the ¡®front¡¯ was an oddity. It wasn¡¯t lost on him that this grand carrier could maneuver in all directions without turning. Any side could be the port or starboard or the helm. The only reason to call this place the front was because Admiral Garm¡¯s chair faced that direction currently. Not that it even mattered. This was a moment to be remembered. One he would only share with Katherine¡­and one other. The Lady of the Void remembered at the same time. ¡°Wake her up?¡± she asked. Frein reached into the Tether and gently stirred Elizzel awake. As soon as she gained consciousness, he fed her information through their connection, and just like that, she was up to speed. The faunel appeared without hesitation and promptly sat in between them. She was still sleepy, but she was eager enough to join them. Together, they looked like one happy family. One that was hidden from prying eyes. The large obelisk-type meiyal crystals on the edges of the grand carrier whirled to life. They slowly spun in place and resonated waves of meiyal. Frein¡¯s Mesiffera-empowered eyes saw the formation of protective layers enveloping around Atlas Sid. There were initially three layers already stacked on each other, but seven more wrapped around them. As soon as the tenth layer fully enveloped the grand carrier, the crystals stopped spinning. Instead, they slowly rotated, orbiting the entirety of Atlas Sid. They slowly left the ground, lifting off at a steady pace. Like the others told him, there was no feedback from the inertia of moving upwards. No feeling of lift off or anything akin to even an elevator. He was there, seating neatly with Katherine at his side and Elizzel squeezed in between them. He wrapped his arm around the both of them and pulled them closer. Katherine reciprocated and together they sandwiched the faunel. She groaned but didn¡¯t complain, lazily looping her arms around the Lady¡¯s waist and burying her small head in between breasts that snuggly fit her. She proceeded to turn left and right, bouncing her face on the firmness and fullness of those two luscious mounds. ¡°You feisty little opportunist,¡± Frein said as Katherine suppressed a moan. ¡°It¡¯s what you want to do to her right now,¡± Elizzel said in a muffled voice. The echoes she made resonated at Katherine¡¯s sensitivity. ¡°But unlike you, I¡¯m nicely hidden here.¡± ¡°Are you getting aroused? At this moment?¡± Frein asked Katherine. ¡°My mind¡¯s in the gutter,¡± she admitted. ¡°There¡¯s two of you and one of me. What you did to me last night, I still can¡¯t get enough of it. I was white! I have to admit, my imagination¡¯s going crazy.¡± Elizzel reacted to that by becoming more aggressive. Frein had to calm her down by reaching into her tummy and feeling her just low enough to jolt her out of her agenda. She squirmed in shock, releasing her hold to pull his hand away. ¡°We¡¯re outside, Eli. And Kat¡¯s in heat. Don¡¯t do something she¡¯ll regret,¡± he reprimanded his¡ªat this point, he had to admit¡ªother self. Anyone else would¡¯ve gotten a beating. Not just from him, but from Katherine herself. Even back then, those that tried to be her suitors, and those that tried to take advantage of her when she was still starting out her career, retreated like whimpering dogs not long after. There was even that one case when a head officer from a different department went into great lengths to get her attention, so much that he even intended to cheat on his wife and force¡ª Frein realized Katherine was smiling at him. ¡°I know exactly what you¡¯re thinking,¡± she said. ¡°I really don¡¯t even need Heart¡¯s Will on you anymore. That¡¯s your jealous face. The I¡¯ll-kill-anyone-who-dares-touch-Katherine-face. You always wear that when I¡¯m working with guys you don¡¯t trust back on Earth. Even Elizzel¡¯s wearing it now.¡± He and the faunel looked at each other and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. They looked exactly the same. Stern face with evil looking eyes, as if they¡¯ll pounce on anyone who tried to even graze Katherine¡¯s fingernails or pluck a strand of her hair. ¡°I can¡¯t get enough of that.¡± Her eyes called to him. Called to them. ¡°You know I have to be the better man in this case, Kat,¡± Frein said. Her eyes pleaded, but she smiled. ¡°I know. I can let myself go if it¡¯s you, because I know you can reign me in.¡± ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t want to waste this view.¡± Frein pried his eyes away from Katherine and saw the clouds. The magical shine of Blueday spread sparkling glitters at the sea below them painting different shades of blue on ebbing and churning canvas. They were fully airborne. The land below, Minaveil Province, looked small and distant, and the Great Sea Dividyr was imposing and everlasting in contrast. Short static slipped out of the speakers and Admiral Garm¡¯s voice quickly took over. He said something about their flight destination and estimated arrival time, as well as including some household rules that Frein totally ignored. He was looking back at Katherine, she was now more expectant than ever. Even Elizzel leaned on him to nudge him on. ¡°Just kiss her already,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re not on that level yet.¡± ¡°Molesting my breasts is a level lower than kissing?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°She has weird standards,¡± Frein commented, leaning close and locking lips with the love of his life. A deep kiss that stepped over sexual. It took every bit of his sanity to stop himself from undressing her right then and there. To forget everything and everyone else and just lay waste and destroy each other, to drown each other in all their perverse desires. No one else was there. A quick one wouldn¡¯t hurt. Frein pulled himself away. Katherine chased her, but Elizzel bit her neck. The Lady gasped as she pulled the faunel closer, but even she managed to slip away from those desperate clutches. ¡°Fuck,¡± Katherine said, breathing hard. ¡°Tonight,¡± Frein said while Elizzel leaned on him, smiling at the Lady¡¯s ragged, pained, and insatiable expressions. ¡°I promise.¡± Admiral Garm was right. With Katherine, and with Elizzel, they could conquer the world. And no Nightmare could stand in his way.
Chapter 110: Atlas Life Atlas Life
¡±The wonders of the Atlas Sid or the excitement of blossoming love? It¡¯s practically impossible to choose!¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
Kristel brought Frill to a special service facility, Atlas Life, that included a private bathhouse. A location within the Atlas Sid¡¯s Central Navigation Spire that provided specialized amenities for the V.I.P.s of the grand carrier. Needless to say, a Princess such as her was automatically afforded the commodity. Her retainer quite possibly had forgotten about it, but she was also under that same list, and on the same highest tier of that list. The receptionist of Atlas Life, a dwarf named Belldrin¡ªas indicated by her nametag¡ªwelcomed them. She wore a fancy dress made of slick silver¡ªa complement to her black, wavy hair¡ªand high heels that could be the envy of some upper class citizens. The realization of who her next patrons were hit the poor woman a second too late, and she almost fainted. The commotion quickly spread the news that the Princess and her celebrity idol retainer was in the facility. They were quickly surrounded by employees who wanted to gawk and admirers who wanted to take a peek. While Kristel didn¡¯t care, for the attention would get them speedier service than usual, Frill was struggling internally. She was good enough to hide it in public, but the Princess saw the clenched fist behind her back and the stiff shoulders trying to maintain control. Kristel requested a private outdoor jacuzzi and a full-service relaxation package, as well as the best beauty make-over the facility could provide. She also asked for a catalogue of their fanciest summer clothes. Frill grew more and more concerned with every piling request the Princess made. She spoke up after Belldrin wrote down two sets of the ¡®Atlas Life Lunch Exquizette¡¯ to be delivered by boat right on their jacuzzi. ¡°Isn¡¯t that excessive?¡± she asked. Clearly, the three years they had spent in simplicity¡ªif one could even call it that¡ªhad conditioned the Aria against such luxuries. ¡°Not for you, not today,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°Today, you get the best of everything we can afford.¡± She pondered for a moment, finding a more fitting phrase to match her intentions. ¡°The best that they can afford for us.¡± ¡°If you say so¡­¡± It was no secret between the two of them, but neither had even the slightest experience in preparing for a date. So Kristel went with her instincts. ¡°For any special occasion, you must be free of any form of stress and be as presentable as you can to avoid as many mistakes as you can and minimize anything undesirable within your control. So we¡¯ll get you relaxed and give you a beauty treatment and get you the best clothes for the occasion!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Katherine said, showing up suddenly between the two of them. Her abrupt appearance caused a new wave of commotion in the entire facility. The Princess noticed the significant increase of women suddenly showing up. ¡°Can you include me in whatever they¡¯re having?¡± she told Belldrin. The poor dwarf was struck with indecision. She couldn¡¯t even say a single word, helplessly turning to the Princess for permission. Kristel nodded enthusiastically in response. Belldrin was subtle enough to hide her sigh of relief as she excused herself to deliver the orders to the staff. ¡°I thought you¡¯re helping Xiv?¡± the Princess asked. ¡°Frein has him covered and sent me here,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°Besides, I was worried. I wasn¡¯t sure if either of you got into dates already. But it looks like you two are doing just fine. So I guess, I¡¯m just tagging along to relax and unwind a little.¡± Kristel observed Katherine and indeed saw that she was bothered somehow. She was restless, a little sweaty, and blushing. With that observation, the Princess began to notice how she¡¯d been able to discern these subtle signs. If she calmly and patiently looked for them, she could perceive telltales that would give her a gauge on the person¡¯s current mindset. Nothing compared to Katherine¡¯s Heart¡¯s Will that allowed her to literally read thoughts, or Frein¡¯s intuitive mind-reading senses that went on borderline prediction with the help of Siffera, but she felt more confident than ever in assessing another person. ¡°You alright?¡± she asked Katherine. ¡°That obvious, huh?¡± ¡°You seem restless.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind me, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± The Lady leaned in towards the two for a whisper, moving closer to Frill who couldn¡¯t focus at all. ¡°Frein¡¯s intentionally keeping me on edge, if you know what I mean.¡± Kristel knew exactly what she meant. She might be lacking in experience, but she wasn¡¯t entirely that pure. Even Frill was jolted awake. ¡°Sex is rotting your brain, Kat,¡± said the Princess, trying not to cringe and whispering as low as she could. ¡°There has to be a limit.¡± ¡°The fight with those three Forest Jaws awakened something in me, Kristel. I can¡¯t get enough of Frein! I have to eat him! And he eats m¡ª¡± Katherine caught herself and sighed, her frustrations getting the best of her. She backed off and smiled before she could say anything more that could risk tarnishing her public image. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m here to unwind as much as I can. You two worry about tonight. And feel free to ask me if you need anything.¡± Just in time, Belldrin called for their attention and ushered them to their private jacuzzi. It really didn¡¯t take them that long to get things done. The three were led to a floor just below their suites and into a narrow corridor designed with framed paintings. Numbered doors ran along even distances on one side and a long continuous window showed the landscape on the other.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Belldrin opened the fifth door for them and the three went inside. ¡°Your snacks and drinks will be delivered in a few minutes via the floating toy boats beside your spa. Lunch will be for later at noon. Simply take the plates and glasses and pull the corresponding lever to allow the boats through the gates. Please enjoy and stay for as long as you like. We¡¯ve taken the liberty to keep this room reserved for all of you for the duration of the entire flight.¡± Belldrin, after delivering her practiced speech, turned to the Princess and passed a small M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°Princess Kristel, here¡¯s the catalogue you requested.¡± She ended her sentences abruptly. Kristel had a good guess that the dwarf wanted to say more but was hesitant because of the intimidating company. She had an inkling of what the receptionist wanted, but it was better to urge her to speak rather than assume things for her. ¡°Go ahead, Belldrin,¡± she said. The dwarf jumped at the permission and stuttered her speech. She cleared her throat and tried again. ¡°If I may be so bold, Princess Kristel, Lady Katherine, Aria Frill, could I please get your autographs?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± said the Princess. ¡°Okay,¡± Frill said absentmindedly. ¡°Get me one of those catalogues while you¡¯re at it,¡± Katherine said. Belldrin used all of her professionalism to stop herself from jumping for joy and instead produced a pen and paper and another small M.O.B.I.L.E. The girls, then, took turns signing them with small messages. Keep up the good work and don¡¯t forget to have fun! Kristel wrote and gave her complete signature, not one of the initials only variety that she used to sign off documents. Katherine and Frill wrote something similarly encouraging. Frill, in particular, turned on like a robot with a switch before writing her message, making sure she didn¡¯t write anything bland or disappointing. Belldrin was over the moon after taking the combined autograph. She gave them the keys for the room and left them in peace with a fixed smile on her face. Kristel locked the door and pulled Frill into the room. Katherine already vanished somewhere inside. Their private bathroom was split in half. The inner half, the portion closer to the door, was an open rest area with three purposefully prepared sunbathing benches. There was a drink bar in the corner filled with a variety of cool drinks stored in a meiyal-crafted container and a panel to order fresh juice, spirits, and cocktails should they wish. It also led to an inner room with wardrobes to store clothes in case the potential tenant was unable to use Spatiera for one reason or another, and a washroom to cleanse themselves before proceeding to the jacuzzi. The jacuzzi itself took the entire outer half. It waved and bubbled, inviting them to take the plunge and skipping any rituals they might have. On the left side was a small waterway sectioned off from the massive pool. A toy boat carrying a small pad of paper with a welcome message slowly floated from a small, gated tunnel. It reached another wooden barrier, causing the bell attached to it to produce a soft chime. Like Belldrin said, there was an intricately designed lever next to it.
Welcome to Atlas Life. It¡¯s our pleasure to be at your service. Please take this pad of paper and allow the boat to go through so we can be notified that you are ready for your snacks. You may also use the paper to send us any customized requests through the toy boat, or you may use the panel at the drink bar should you wish to skip this novelty. Thank you very much for your patronage.
Aside from the jacuzzi, the room¡¯s pi¨¨ce de r¨¦sistance was the view of the entirety of the Atlas Sid outside. The clouds passing through and the sea at the horizon were still as breathtaking as Kristel remembered them. The entire wall was taken away, while the section that walled off the jacuzzi was replaced with a one-sided glass for them to view from, should the fancy nudge them. Nothing was stopping anyone from leaning over or literally jumping off. For any other normal person, this setup could be a hazard, but none of the V.I.P.s of the Atlas Sid were ever considered normal in the first place. Besides, automated safety protocols were still installed to deal with accidents for after they fall from the ledge of the jacuzzi. The best perk of it was the novelty of enjoying such a view while taking advantage of the height to hide themselves from any prying eyes. While flying vehicles and mounts were allowed on the Atlas Sid, the only moments they were permitted to fly as high and as close to the spire were in moments of crisis or when the grand carrier was currently docked, which meant that these facilities were either closed or the walls were sealed. It was written in law to prohibit such actions. Doing so would guarantee criminal offense for disrupting navigations and other necessary operations during flight. ¡°Hey, get over here already!¡± Katherine called out. ¡°Come on,¡± Kristel urged, pulling Frill, who helplessly allowed herself to be dragged around. The Princess stopped. Clearly there was something more going on in her retainer¡¯s head than just figuring out how to do dates. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°Can I really go through with this?¡± she asked. ¡°It feels like I don¡¯t deserve to do something this exciting until we¡¯re done with Liona¡¯s Ritual of Peace. It doesn¡¯t feel right. It feels like skipping a step.¡± Kristel held both her hands and looked up to her. ¡°Do you want to cancel it?¡± She didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°I know you don¡¯t need to hear me say this, but I¡¯m sure Liona wouldn¡¯t mind. Sure, we¡¯re skipping a step, but we intend to backtrack. And she¡¯d be happy to know that you¡¯re interested in somebody and that you¡¯re moving forward. Xiv¡¯s a weird choice, if you ask me, but we can talk about that in the water.¡± She tugged both hands, urging the Aria out of her indecision. ¡°Just give it a try?¡± Frill sighed, closed her eyes to consider, nodded, then smiled. While her retainer looked elegant in just about any expression, Kristel still preferred her to always smile. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two entered the shower room to find a naked Katherine rinsing herself off. ¡°Oh, there you guys are. I went ahead and took a shower.¡± She had the mind to dry her hair with a towel while flaunting all her nakedness and the huge scar on her stomach. Not only that, but Kristel couldn¡¯t possibly miss the ridiculous amount of bite marks on her skin. They were in extremely peculiar places as well. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want Xiv biting me like that,¡± Frill commented, gawking at Katherine. ¡°You won¡¯t know until you try, my innocent little Frill.¡± The Lady smiled knowingly at her and winked. ¡°I can give you a taste if you like.¡± ¡°Seriously, why are you so hung up with sex lately?¡± Kristel demanded. ¡°That has to be bad for you.¡± Katherine shrugged as she walked past them. ¡°It¡¯s crazy amazing. I¡¯ll try to hold back with my remarks as much as I can, but I can¡¯t make any promises.¡± She stretched both hands above her head and leaned back, sighing with satisfaction before turning back to them. Everything that could bounce did so as soon as she finished her stretch with a strong release. ¡°Don¡¯t keep me waiting long,¡± she said while letting herself fall into the jacuzzi. A bit of water caused by the splash got onto their clothes. Kristel sighed and started undressing, turning to the wardrobe when something caught her mind. She tried to visualize her pattern for Spatiera. Interestingly enough, it took a depiction of a wardrobe itself. She hasn¡¯t done anything significant with her Mind Palace yet, but Evanclad had told her about a few things he and Norazzel had cleaned up during the short time since they met. She poured meiyal onto the pattern to Draw and tried to push her Worldspace open. A small section tore through space. It was the size of her fist, but that was enough for her to jump for joy. The spike in her concentration caused the Meiyal Art to fizzle out. She turned to Frill, eager to tell her all about it only to find her retainer looking the other way towards Katherine. The Lady of the Void had both hands on the outer ledge while she rested her head on them. She was as relaxed as can be. Frill was looking at her hand and then back to Katherine. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kristel asked. She had that dumb look, as if her mind was filled and overfilled to the point that all thought stopped except for one thing. Kristel saw a bite mark on the edge of the Aria¡¯s palm. She sighed before Frill could even say her next words. ¡°I wonder if I taste good¡­¡±
Chapter 111: Woes and Worries Woes and Worries Relaxing in the jacuzzi became a bit of a challenge, as far as Kristel was concerned. She tried to enjoy the snacks provided for them. Every patron was given three pieces of freshly baked chocolate and cream macaroons along with the local Atlas Sid brewed coffee. It didn¡¯t seem much, but when she saw each cookie was the size of her fist, she had to maintain awareness to hold herself back from drooling all over them. The straight-from-the-oven fragrance alone was enough to make her forget she was a princess. As instructed, Kristel took the plates and mugs and placed them on a provided tray just beside the ledge of the pool on the inner room side. It wasn¡¯t the meal, or the fact that she convinced herself to mix her drink with some milk, that made it difficult to enjoy the relaxation. It was the weirdness of the back and forth between the Lady of the Void and the Aria in Red. ¡°Why not?¡± Frill asked. She sat in the water towards the outer side of the room next to Katherine, facing inwards and resting her head on the ledge while letting the length of her scarlet hair drift freely on the wind. ¡°I thought you wanted to give me a bite?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you Frill,¡± Katherine said as she turned her head towards the Aria. She eyed Kristel as well. It made the Princess stop munching on her macaroon. ¡°You two are the closest people to me except for Frein and Eli. And quite frankly, I¡¯m on edge enough that I might not hold myself back when it¡¯s you two. I¡¯m aware that I¡¯m a little sex-crazed right now, so I don¡¯t want to do anything that might make either of you not look at me the same way anymore.¡± She tried to place a hand on Frill¡¯s bare shoulder but hesitated and smiled instead, moving over to the pile of snacks that Kristel arranged neatly for them. Kristel noticed Frill giving her a stare, frozen in surprise by the fact that she, the retainer, was too distracted and had a lapse in service. The Princess stuck out her tongue to play it off so that the Aria wouldn¡¯t be stressed by her lack of concentration. Katherine read the entire scene play out and giggled. ¡°Tell you what, Frill. When I¡¯m all better and satisfied, and Xiv still hasn¡¯t taken a bite out of you, I¡¯ll consider it,¡± she emphasized it by sensually nibbling on the macaroon. The short gap in conversation gave the Princess enough time to snag something from the Lady¡¯s words. ¡°How are you close with Eli now?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s a Tether thing,¡± Katherine replied with her mouth full. ¡°It¡¯s making her turn more and more into Frein. Personality-wise, mentality-wise. Even the things that matter to her are the things that matter to Frein, which includes me. But we can talk about that more later.¡± She turned to Frill and ushered her plate of those delectable cookies. ¡°First, we should talk about you and Xiv.¡± Now this was something Kristel intended to participate in. ¡°That¡¯s right. Of all the people that proposed to you, sent you love letters, embarrassed themselves, or whatever, why this guy?¡± Kristel started handing out their coffees in mugs. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, it¡¯s just because he has Liona¡¯s core?¡± Frill shook her head but didn¡¯t reply right away. A soft tune started playing within the room, courtesy of Katherine. She started navigating through the small M.O.B.I.L.E. that Belldrin provided her. Not only did the device carry a catalogue of summer clothes, it also contained a remote control for the room as well. She chose something gentle, a ballad combination of piano and violin. The title of the song was lost on Kristel at the moment. ¡°I don¡¯t really know,¡± Frill admitted, finally. ¡°We¡¯ve only met each other for about a week, but I feel comfortable around him. He doesn¡¯t care about my fame or that I¡¯m close to someone in a position of power. He doesn¡¯t get intimidated by those and he talks to me like I¡¯m just another person¡­ Well, except for when he¡¯s being overdramatic.¡± Frill took a sip, allowing for anyone else to speak, but Kristel allowed her the spotlight. Even Katherine simply vibed with music while listening to the Aria explain herself. ¡°We talked about the Battle of the Vanguard,¡± Frill continued. ¡°After I saw how sincere he was in helping us and building a working relationship between our countries, I couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty towards the people I killed. ¡°He didn¡¯t even get mad, not outwardly towards me at least. He said they were under Urzic¡¯s Monarch¡¯s Law, and that I had no choice but to defend my nation. He forgave me just like that, but I don¡¯t think I deserve it.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going on a date with him because you feel guilty?¡± Kristel asked. She didn¡¯t like that notion at all. Frill frantically shook her head. ¡°Not like that, no. He¡¯s the first person who actually asked me out. Personally. He didn¡¯t make a letter, he didn¡¯t prepare anything grandiose, no love confession. He reached out and asked if I wanted to go on a date. I don¡¯t know, it might be the pressure, but I ended up saying yes, so¡­here we are.¡± ¡°Seems like a legitimate reason to me,¡± Katherine interjected. She was now floating in whatever which way the water brought her. Her mug of coffee followed her like a faithful servant, floating through precise meiyal control. ¡°Couples end up together for pettier or simpler reasons.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°How did you end up dating Frein?¡± Frill asked, throwing the question out of nowhere. ¡°Our rooms were next to each other,¡± the Lady answered without skipping a beat. ¡°You stayed in rooms?¡± Kristel asked, derailing the entire conversation. It dawned on her that she never really asked about Katherine¡¯s living conditions when she set out to fulfill her role as Seeker. All they had really talked about regarding that matter were Frein, her job, and the recipes she taught to Frill. ¡°It¡¯s like an inn, but is a bit bigger. I have my own kitchen and restroom, and I can stay for as long as I can pay rent. It¡¯s called an apartment. You rent out a section of the building, which becomes your room, and pay for it on a monthly basis. You get kicked out if you don¡¯t pay on time. ¡°Frein¡¯s door was literally only eight steps from mine. And since he was kind enough to get me a place to stay and even gave me dinner on my first day on Earth, I ended up returning the favor. One meal went to the next, and we naturally spent dinner together all the time at that point. Prices were cheaper there if you buy shared meals or cook for many.¡± ¡°But where are the dates?¡± Frill clarified. ¡°Oh, those were the dates, Frill.¡± Katherine giggled. ¡°He didn¡¯t even bother asking me out. We just did. I guess we did just stay in his room, but that¡¯s just semantics. After I got a job as a detective and dragged him along, we ended up with better dinner dates in fancier restaurants. ¡°Frein¡¯s very simple and practical. His earnings in the underground arena could cover his rent without issue, but he¡¯s only allowed to fight once a month. He was almost undefeated, but that didn¡¯t matter. He was fighting in an illegal establishment. The kind that took advantage of the desperate. The money he earned from there didn¡¯t really change unless he got invited into the more prestigious rings. So he had to always budget his earnings if he wanted to get through the month. He had odd jobs, menial labor, but he was mostly focused on the next fight.¡± Katherine realized she took the conversation away from their agenda. She pulled herself to sit back properly in the jacuzzi and sheepishly scratched her head. ¡°Sorry, I got a bit into it.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t know Frein was so¡­¡± Kristel started but held herself back. ¡°Poor?¡± Katherine finished, nodding. ¡°Maybe, but that doesn¡¯t matter now.¡± ¡°So,¡± Frill began, trying to get back on topic. ¡°Is that what dates are? Just eating and going to fancier restaurants?¡± Katherine pondered for a while. ¡°We¡¯ve been to other places. We visited a zoo once. Lots of animals there that looked like ours. They¡¯re mostly really docile and they don¡¯t look strong at all. Obviously, none of them were meiyal-attuned.¡± ¡°No yumas or vorks?¡± Kristel asked. She realized she was down to her last macaroon. Katherine noticed this and gave her another one. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No yumas or vorks. They have this giraffe, though. It looks really weird. They have this super long neck. You can mistake them for a Nightmare at first glance. But no, they¡¯re extremely docile and they evolved the neck to eat from tall trees.¡± ¡°What else aside from zoos?¡± Frill asked, now immersed in their talk. She was munching on her own macaroons and almost choked when she spoke. She washed it down with coffee. ¡°Sorry.¡± Katherine pointed her mug at the Aria. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to prepare for your date instead? Just from this catalogue alone, we¡¯ve got lots of clothes to look at and choose from.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t want the Lady slipping away. ¡°We can look at those later after lunch.¡± Katherine smiled, resigning that there was no going away from this. Kristel realized they hadn¡¯t really had the time to unwind and just talk lately. She intended to make full use of today just for exactly that. ¡°Fine. We also went to malls. They¡¯re these large buildings that lease spaces for businesses. Not exactly like Atlas Life. I¡¯d compare it closer to our markets but in a fancier place that¡¯s strategically positioned to attract many people from different walks of life. We mostly just went window shopping, until we got to the used bookstore.¡± She shrugged. ¡°You know him and his books.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Kristel and Frill nodded at the same time. ¡°Other than that, when we became an official couple, we pretty much just stayed in his room and chatted. Maybe bought a few drinks, some beer, some food, and then had some fun, if you catch my drift.¡± Kristel saw that Katherine wanted to share more, but was trying to hold back since she was becoming more and more aware of the fact that she was hogging all the attention. Frill didn¡¯t let her get away either. The Aria realized there was something more and wanted to get as much information as possible. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. Katherine turned to Frill and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that important.¡± Then it definitely is¡­ Kristel just stared at Katherine. She knew Frill was doing the same. It was the easiest, surest way to get the Lady to speak. That was how it was before, at least. A tinge of regret started to surface within her chest, but fortunately she began to see signs that their strategy still worked. Katherine sighed and held both knees together as she withdrew into them. Eyes staring at something somewhere distant. ¡°This has nothing to do with dates, though, Frill,¡± she said, trying to sway the conversation away one last time. ¡°It¡¯s important to you,¡± Frill argued, ignoring the dismissive statement the Lady said earlier. She looked at Kristel, passing the baton. ¡°It¡¯s important to us,¡± the Princess said, delivering it perfectly. Katherine sighed again. ¡°I¡¯m sure both of you already asked Frein why he chose to be the Visitor.¡± The two nodded in unison. ¡°He¡¯d tell you it¡¯s because of me. So that I can come back here and be with my friends and family while he goes and figure out his role in all this.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s really only doing it for himself,¡± Kristel said. ¡°He¡¯s adamant that bringing you back here is the best thing for you, but that only makes him feel good and justified for his own satisfaction.¡± Katherine shook her head and gave the Princess an understanding smile. ¡°Not quite.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± Frill asked this time, the thought of the date looming behind her already forgotten. The Lady shrugged. ¡°There was a moment during the night I gave myself to Frein, our first night together. I remember it as the effects of Heart¡¯s Will stopped working for him. I was in the heat of the moment, too occupied by the pleasure and couldn¡¯t pay it too much attention at that time. But until now, I still remember the last thing I heard from him.¡± Kristel prepared herself as Katherine stared from her to Frill. ¡°I don¡¯t mind giving her my heart.¡± The Princess looked at her retainer. The both of them were confused, while Katherine simply smiled at them. ¡°You don¡¯t get it, huh?¡± Both of them just slowly swayed their heads back and forth. Kristel, try as she might, could only think of the phrase as an internal resolution, a promise to one¡¯s self. Like she did when she promised herself to be as strong as the Visitor or even stronger. Nothing about it connected to why Frein chose to be one. ¡°I guess, that¡¯s fair. You¡¯ve never seen him without a shirt on.¡± Katherine stood and showed them her scar. She traced them, starting from the lowest point just above her waist and up. Finally, she pointed to her chest directly above her heart. ¡°Frein¡¯s heart isn¡¯t his.¡±
Chapter 112: Don鈥檛 Plan, No Plans Don¡¯t Plan, No Plans ¡°Why are we sparring?¡± Frein had the mind to pay Xiv¡¯s complaint a little attention. He was currently more preoccupied by the enormous military training facility before them. Admiral Garm had been more than happy to allow them clearance to enter the establishment. And rather than spend time grueling over an awkward date plan that he was sure would fail, he thought it would be better to help the Vyndivalian handle his worries first. He had to come up with a good reason though. Frein churned on an excuse while he admired the training facility. He could not help but compare it to a school. Similar to a university but even more vast. He had been in one, but dropped out pretty early on. Sitting in class to listen and slogging through boring subjects wasn¡¯t really something he preferred at that time. But could things be different now? No. He didn¡¯t really have any time for that now. Not at all. People of all varieties, wearing fine clothes, or uniforms, or training wear, walked in and out of the campus. All of them ignored the two, treating them like any other student, trainee, hopeful, or whatever else they called those wishing to become Iristan knights. Frein questioned the lax security but quickly remembered that everyone aboard the Atlas Sid would¡¯ve gotten some sort of clearance first. Anybody skilled enough to trespass from there wouldn¡¯t have any problems here. That, or he just wasn¡¯t aware of any other security implements that could¡¯ve been monitoring them for all he knew. The campus, as now Frein assumed, encompassed three main buildings surrounded by smaller facilities littered around various paths. Stone walkways were tidily kept and short grass and trees provided comfort for people who wanted a break but were too lazy to take a few more steps to get to the benches. Through his M.O.B.I.L.E., he looked at a map provided by the Admiral and followed the instructed path. They were headed for one of the smaller facilities near the middle main building. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Frein mused, still coming up with a good reason. Xiv, surprisingly, was patient enough to follow him. ¡°By the way, before I answer that, did Frill allow you outside of the navigation tower? Aren¡¯t you still technically a captive?¡± ¡°Admiral Garm, Princess Kristel, and Frill all agreed that I¡¯m cooperative enough to be given some freedom. Besides, Lady Katherine vouched for me and they all know I¡¯m with you right now.¡± Frein nodded, feigning ignorance. He¡¯d known all about this beforehand, but he needed to buy time. Three young ladies walked past them. Two felintines and an elf, all wearing uniforms. Black suit and tie paired with a skirt, socks, and shoes. One of the felintines was wearing slacks. If he didn¡¯t know any better, he¡¯d think he was suddenly transported back to Earth. Thankfully, the fact that they were surrounded by clouds helped him keep his reality in check. He observed Xiv while the three girls giggled. One in particular, the felintine in slacks, was brave enough to wink at the two before they finally went out of sight. Xiv was ignoring the girls deliberately. Sure, he was aware of their passing, on-guard enough for any surprises, but subtle enough to not raise any suspicions. ¡°You think they¡¯d attack you?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I¡¯m technically on foreign soil. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if more assassins come looking for me.¡± ¡°They¡¯re students.¡± ¡°I was eleven the first time I had to kill somebody. Some creep tried to mug me and my mother. She ended up dying to protect me and I lost control and killed the bastard. I¡¯m not sure how it goes from where you came from, but here, you can¡¯t be too young to know how to end someone¡¯s life. The King¡¯s justice is too slow and too preoccupied to deal with common-folk problems.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Frein said, the thought of the girls¡ªthe one that blinked in particular¡ªturning out to be a cold-blooded assassin gave him a nasty thought. He knew himself well enough to hold back from killing any of them. But the thought of even just subduing someone so skinny and young left a bitter taste in his mouth. He resisted the urge to look back and check, trying to avoid unrelated misunderstandings. ¡°Me too,¡± Xiv said, melancholy apparent in his eyes. He got over it immediately. ¡°It was a long time ago. It is how it is.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the two to finally reach their destination. ¡°Frein Nivan and Xiv Arcturus.¡± A dwarven receptionist, a stout man with silky smooth beard, staying at a booth near the entrance called out their names. His eyes moved from his M.O.B.I.L.E. to them, verifying their identities. ¡°Aye, the Office of the Admiral sent word ¡®bout yer visit. The facility¡¯s at yer disposal. If ye need somethin¡¯ to eat, just use the panel inside and it¡¯ll be delivered to ye. There are shower rooms as well. If ye need some spare clothes, just let me know.¡± He passed a pair of keycards through the slot on his window. ¡°Do you have anything summer-like for a formal occasion?¡± Frein asked, taking the cards and giving one to Xiv. ¡°Can ye elaborate?¡± He pulled his buddy by the shoulder. ¡°My friend here has a date tonight. Someone pretty special. We want to make an impression.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ye usually wear suits fer those? Formal wear and the like?¡± ¡°Summer look¡¯s kind of the theme.¡± The dwarf stroked his beard in contemplation. ¡°If ye don¡¯t mind the missus taking a look at ye, lad, I can call her over this afternoon. Free of charge since the Admiral¡¯s paying.¡± ¡°Appreciate it,¡± Frein said and entered the facility. ¡°Thank you,¡± Xiv said as he followed. ¡°Facility¡¯s constantly monitored with recording devices. Just so yer aware. The place is pretty sturdy fer anybody below Grand Virtuoso, so ye can go all out if ye¡¯d like.¡± Frein waved his thanks and worked on the door. ¡°Looks like even Admiral Garm¡¯s vouching for you,¡± he commented towards Xiv as he slid the keycard on a slot provided near the door. It chimed and ejected the card right away before unlocking. It was as modern as it could get. The only thing lacking was an automatic detector to open the door hands-free. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know.¡± ¡°Well you have Katherine to thank for that. Her dad¡¯s too keen to grant requests to make his little girl happy. Apparently, all five of us have V.I.P. access. Yeah, including you.¡±is The rectangular room inside was white and wide. Various equipment for training and exercise lined at the opposite end of the room, and then there was just simply nothing else aside from a wide space, probably around thirty meters or more across. Doors lined up on their left, which Frein assumed were the shower rooms. For their purposes today, this place was perfect.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me why we need to have this sparring session,¡± Xiv said. ¡°I¡¯m bored, to be honest,¡± Frein admitted, finally. ¡°Besides, I can¡¯t help you properly if I don¡¯t know more about you.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll know more about me through fighting? Couldn¡¯t you just ask?¡± ¡°Too simple. Boring. Exchanging fists is better.¡± ¡°And what if one of us gets injured?¡± ¡°Katherine¡¯s got our back.¡± Sam, or S.A.M., Katherine¡¯s Sentient Assistant M.O.B.I.L.E. integrated with his own device, allowing the surprisingly silent fellow to hear emergency calls or peek at his own discretion when needed. Though he couldn¡¯t fully transfer his consciousness, which was what they actually wanted to do. ¡°Besides, we¡¯re not fighting to the death.¡± Xiv sighed. ¡°I guess we have time. The sooner we get this done, the better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± Frein retrieved two badges from his Spatiera. They were worth quite the hefty meiyal to store. At the time, both items had burned through half his reserves and had taken him to the edge of Art fatigue. They weren¡¯t as much of a burden to him now. In fact, he had used both items to practice the Meiyal Art. Like weight lifting, but for his meiyal system to increase his resistance against Art fatigue. They were quite helpful in that aspect, since he couldn¡¯t get much use out of them. He tossed both badges to Xiv, who casually caught them. A question formed on his face. ¡°Spoils of war,¡± Frein explained before the Vyndivalian could make assumptions. ¡°I fought Hal and Ral, remember? It was the duel that ended the war. They gave that to me.¡± ¡°Because they chose exile over death,¡± Xiv continued. He tried to hide the venom in his words, but Frein didn¡¯t miss it. ¡°I convinced them,¡± Frein explained. ¡°There¡¯s no honor in death if you can live a life making better of yourself and of others. If you are to sacrifice your life, let¡¯s say, for the protection of other people, then that I¡¯ll understand. But to die because your king said he wanted to invade another nation and force her innocents out of their lands? Disgusting.¡± Xiv didn¡¯t seem convinced, but he pushed the topic aside. ¡°What do you want me to do with these? Use them?¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°I have my Display. It¡¯s only fair you have a Forged Armament. I know they¡¯re signature locked, but I have keen eyes. The signatures are the same. Though the two are twins, I doubt they¡¯re so locked into their D.N.A.s that they even have the same meiyal signature.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a specific signature, made for Lord Knights.¡± ¡°That feels a bit lacking, security-wise.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no stopping someone like you from using those then. What if a former Lord Knight gets his hands in one of these and¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± Xiv interrupted. ¡°These things are standard fare and a Meiyal Armament practitioner worth their title, especially Lord Knights, will have their own Forged Armament or something better in their Arsenal.¡± Frein saw Xiv pour his Smelted meiyal over the silver badge and Donned the Armor. ¡°These things are nothing but reserves. Hal and Ral¡¯s Armors were destroyed during our final expedition in the Nightmare Lands when we acquired the Jaws Lurking in the Forest before the Battle of the Vanguard. They had to make do with these toys.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Frein wondered if he¡¯d have a more difficult time with the twins if they had their better Armors. But a more pressing question surfaced in his mind. ¡°I thought you can repair Forged Armors?¡± Xiv Doffed the silver Armor and tried the black one. ¡°You can, if they¡¯re simply damaged. Something about the Nightmare Lands, the influence or simply the nature of the environment, completely destroyed their Armors. It¡¯s nothing uncommon. Technically, it¡¯s part of the job description if you¡¯re specializing as a Nightmare hunter.¡± He tapped the breastplate and nodded. ¡°This one fits better.¡± Frein scratched his head. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m just using those two to bait some information out of you. Sorry. I actually have a better one here.¡± He reached into his Spatiera and pulled out a necklace. Xiv reached out to him in a way that was close enough to begging. Frein didn¡¯t have much time to choose a reaction and quickly gave up, giving the heirloom back to its owner. ¡°Cordralym,¡± Xiv whispered, opening the locket to find his parents¡¯ image looking back at him. Frein took the liberty to check it himself earlier. ¡°Why do you have it?¡± ¡°I asked Frill. Told her I¡¯d have you Don it for research purposes. Promised to return it to her, but I guess you can fulfill that part.¡± Xiv wasn¡¯t exactly listening. He was pouring his Smelted meiyal over the heirloom. Gradually and slowly. Savoring every bit of transformation the locket undertook until it snuggly fit his entire body, unlike the discarded Armors earlier that only covered his torso. The amount of meiyal permeating through the Armor was mind-boggling. To compare, even with four-meiyal, it would only take about a quarter of what Xiv was using to fully emphasize Frein¡¯s Siffera. Anything else would simply be excessive without another meiyal-charged material to handle the meiyal and elevate the Art into a stronger form. It made sense, given that Forged Armaments were created by a Meiyal Armaments practitioner through their Arsenal, which was the equivalent to a Meiyal Arts practitioner¡¯s Exhibit. Cordralym was a dark armor with red intricate outlines lining the edges. Frein couldn¡¯t quite consider the thing as a plate or half-plate armor. It looked more like a combination of leather and steel. Small chains covered his joints with more proper steel covering parts of him that didn¡¯t need to bend as much. A layer of leather covered his body like a suit and his trousers were also a mix of those materials. They favored freedom of movement without compensating defense at all. The most impressive part was how quiet the entire set was. It wasn¡¯t entirely silent, but the leather muffled the echoes steel on steel would create. The Armor also had a pair of greaves and gauntlets, following the same black and red design. Frein observed the Vyndivalian relish the sensation of the Armor. Xiv tested out a few things; running, jumping, attacking, and all other sorts that involved dynamic and explosive movement. It impressed the Visitor, not exactly by the moves, but by how at ease those movements were done. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you also brought Benovrymm?¡± Xiv asked, relaxing. Frein could see hints of¡­Art fatigue? ¡°Say do you call it Armament fatigue rather than Art fatigue?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t help but ask. Xiv nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the meiyal core. I¡¯m sure of it now that I know it was transplanted. It¡¯ll take some getting used to, so I guess this sparring will help a lot now that I think about it.¡± ¡°Well, if it makes you feel any better, we technically have the same situation,¡± Frein said. ¡°I know about your meiyal system,¡± Xiv interjected. ¡°Came from the Gatekeeper herself.¡± ¡°No, no that.¡± Frein pulled the collar of his shirt down to reveal a light scar in the middle of his chest. ¡°I had a heart transplant, see.¡± That stunned the Vyndivalian. No surprises there. When Katherine almost died and had to replace most of her organs, Chief Healer Jo¡¯war was specific enough to point out that she was lucky to have kept her heart away from irreparable harm. That, and the reproductive organs were the only ones they couldn¡¯t synthetically produce. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, though. I had it when I was pretty young. The doctors confirmed I had long enough to live. Well, that was before I became a Visitor. I was even strong enough to fight people without restraint. So don¡¯t hold back on my account.¡± ¡°Do other people know?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Frein waved him off. ¡°I¡¯m sure Katherine would tell Kristel and Frill eventually, but aside from them, there shouldn¡¯t be anybody else. ¡°And about your weapons, that¡¯s a no,¡± Frein continued, not allowing the dead air to stifle their conversation. ¡°Admiral Garm and Princess Kristel didn¡¯t think it would be wise to give you everything back without earning a bit more trust. If for some wild reason you turn out to have some sort of objective or planning a suicide mission, you can really cause some damage given the place we¡¯re in right now.¡± ¡°What about Frill?¡± Xiv asked, recovering slightly. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Did she think I¡¯m not trust worthy enough?¡± Frein almost failed to stifle a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about?¡± But thinking about it twice, he immediately understood. ¡°I guess that¡¯s fair. She didn¡¯t bother arguing for it. Don¡¯t read too much into that, though.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Xiv began, sighing, ¡°I¡¯m ready when you are.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Frein opened his Display and emphasized his Siffera with four-meiyal. As usual, it didn¡¯t take much of that meiyal quality to surge the Art to its upper limits. The usual fare was enough to maintain it. He concentrated the Art to enhance his physical capacity, which was nothing special. But it was enough to stir Elizzel awake. Without prompts, the faunel pulled on the Tether to get a better read of the situation and immediately understood what they were about to do. ¡°I¡¯m still sleepy,¡± she complained. ¡°Just watch for now, then.¡± ¡°Rules?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°A down gets you a point. You¡¯re considered downed if three or more of your limbs touch the floor for whatever reason. First to five points wins. Winner gets to order the loser around for the rest of the day.¡± ¡°I have a date tonight, Frein.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lose?¡± Frein threw his M.O.B.I.L.E. into the air. The device hovered and projected a screen that tallied the current scores, courtesy of the silent Sam, while recording the two of them. ¡°Use anything at your disposal,¡± Frein finished and began to Gather and Mill. Xiv saw it and reacted expectedly. ¡°I know that¡¯s how you fight, but that¡¯s really irritating.¡± Frein just smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡±
Chapter 113: Friendly Spar Friendly Spar Frein didn¡¯t need to be reminded to take this sparring session seriously. According to reports provided to him by the Princess, Xiv had scaled the walls of the Vanguard, survived Frill¡¯s Diferenfra, and subdued hundreds of Iristan knights without killing them all on his own. While the Visitor himself had his own feats to boast about, it wasn¡¯t lost on him that his current opponent, who was wearing a suit of Armor specialized for fighting humanoids instead of Nightmares, wasn¡¯t someone to take for granted. Why else would Vyndival Kingdom segregate fighters from hunters? Not to mention Xiv was that kind of a man. The kind who wouldn¡¯t even think twice to let someone else get their way for their own ego trip. He didn¡¯t mind stepping aside and working from the shadows, thinking that a good deed left unheard and uncelebrated was his life¡¯s calling. Frein knew this type of people. The type that responded best to sincerity. For if he took them seriously enough, they would return the favor a hundred percent of the time. Frein took his stance. An orthodox posture, keeping both arms on guard in front of him, while setting his center low in perfect balance. There was a time when he would get his trusty gloves, but Siffera had spoiled him. Now they simply collected¡­meiyal dust?¡­inside his Spatiera, he wasn¡¯t sure. Rooting himself on the floor would cost him precious seconds should there be a need for explosive movement, but his defense would be sturdier in return. He meant to challenge Xiv head on, not play cat and mouse. Not to mention it was the best stance in terms of stability and weight shifting, allowing him to react quicker. At least initially, as far as a standoff was concerned. It was perfect for preparing against unknown attack patterns that he was sure would come out, given the things he had already seen from this world. In addition, he reverted his Siffera in a calm flow. Steady but loaded with a hefty supply of meiyal and ready for sudden bursts of emphasis. These preparations, with the continued display of Gathering and Milling, should be enough to convince his opponent that he meant business. Xiv, thankfully enough, was indeed that kind of man. Without words, he recognized Frein¡¯s desire for a serious, albeit friendly exchange. The Visitor didn¡¯t care if he won or lost, he didn¡¯t care if the scales were tipped far against or too much into his favor, so long as he learned something. The two didn¡¯t require a preamble to begin. Xiv took two steps and covered the distance between them within a second. He threw a proper straight, precise and quick enough to impress even Frein. The Visitor slipped his head to the side at the last moment and allowed the arm to slide across while he delivered his own counter. He connected on a jaw, but Xiv was experienced enough to twist his neck to disperse the impact. Frein felt nothing but light grazing as he ducked, avoiding the Vyndivalian¡¯s extended arm from swiping at the back of his head. It was a bait. By swinging back his arm and skipping backwards, Xiv had produced enough leverage and space to send his leg, aimed straight to his opponent¡¯s midsection. Frein responded with a low cross block, sparing a thought to wonder if Xiv¡¯s combat style of choice was an unsurprisingly clean and orthodox closed-quarters style that followed traditional momentum and physics. Free from the influences of meiyal. He immediately regretted making such a casual thought. The moment Xiv¡¯s greaves caught his arms, Frein¡¯s Siffera around them shattered. It took all his Siffera-empowered concentration and reaction to re-Draw the Art, barely preventing any of his bones from breaking right then and there. The result was a miniature collision of meiyal, exploding and throwing him a few meters up in the air. He recovered just before he landed on the floor. His arms felt numb, but thankfully intact and unharmed. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name?¡± Elizzel commented. ¡°Wait! I know it, they have the same properties of a Nightmare¡¯s Negating Roar, but exclusively produced in Vyndival. It¡¯s called¡ª¡± ¡°Vynore,¡± Frein finished for the faunel, directing his words to Xiv at the same time. ¡°I thought those things were incredibly rare.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xiv replied, lowering his leg. ¡°The walls south and east of Vyndival Kingdom were made from Vynore. It negates all meiyal properties, including Nightmares. But even a wall made entirely out of it was still no match from such evil and hate. ¡°Officially, I don¡¯t have any. Only King Urzic is known to have one left. But this heirloom has one hidden as an Embellishment. I thought, since you¡¯re taking this so seriously, I¡¯d show you my hand.¡± ¡°You know they¡¯re monitoring this place, right?¡± Frein asked. Xiv shrugged. ¡°Take it as a gesture of good faith. I don¡¯t have anything to hide anymore anyway.¡± He scoffed at that. ¡°Admit it; you just miss your Armor.¡± The Vyndivalian smiled and prepared his stance, meiyal swirling dangerously around him. ¡°Yeah, but I knew you could handle it. Even if it¡¯s just the outskirts, how else would you have survived the Nightmare Lands? And I figured, you don¡¯t want me holding back, right?¡± Frein responded by emphasizing his Siffera to its full capacity. Reality bent at the sheer power suddenly echoing out of him. He couldn¡¯t hide the joy from his face, mildly contorted as space itself took its time to accept this disruption. One step. ¡°Bring it!¡± And suddenly, Frein was beside Xiv, his left fist merely inches from the Vyndivalian¡¯s face. He pivoted and struck, slamming his knuckles on a face that just realized what had happened. Sparks rippled in the air as it acknowledged the Visitor¡¯s passing, friction remembering they existed. Xiv spun as he flew across the room. With a quick step, he broke momentum and twirled in the air, recovering just in time before he smashed onto the wall. He skidded through the rest of the force, clutching his jaw with one hand and while stopping his entire fall with the other. Sam, watching silently from Frein¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. sent a chime, updating the score one to zero in favor of the Visitor.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The Vyndivalian looked twice at the scoreboard and looked at his hand on the floor. He wasn¡¯t particularly harmed but rather frustrated that he instinctively used a hand to arrest his momentum. That impressed Frein. He was sure that punch had caused some serious damage. He felt the impact and the follow through colliding against flesh and bone. Without a doubt, it was another feature of the Armor. Mesiffera confirmed the significant loss in the Vyndivalian¡¯s meiyal reserves. That ticked a little switch in his head. Frein dashed and appeared midair in front of Xiv, who barely dodged a knee. He crashed on the wall, digging deep enough that cracks traveled all around while the Vyndivalian scampered on his feet. ¡°I¡¯m trying to get advice for a date here, Frein,¡± he reasoned out. ¡°Not to get killed!¡± Still, he found it in himself to retaliate. He threw a few punches and kicks, but they were nowhere near as sharp or precise as the first ones he sent out. Or maybe it was Frein who could sense them easier this time, now that he was more cautious of their effects? He slipped from side to side, but never took a step backwards, not allowing Xiv any breathing room even when it was the Vyndivalian sending out a flurry. Instead, Frein weaved at the last second and redirected punches and kicks when he could not afford to dodge. Mesiffera was an invaluable help, allowing him to see the Vynore Embellishment¡¯s activations and durations. The trick was to move the Art out of the impact to avoid its erasure, while enhancing himself internally. Utilizing this technique would hurt a lot, which was why he made sure never to block or parry, but only to use slight and calculated flicks and pushes to turn the attacks away from him. Xiv was caught confused but only for a few seconds before he switched tactics. Frein could see the thoughts formulating in the Vyndivalian¡¯s head and didn¡¯t want to give him an easy time. He sent his own flurry of attacks. At this, he needed to be extra careful. From the small exchange they¡¯d had so far, he concluded that the Vynore Embellishment could only be activated for a second or two. Either Xiv couldn¡¯t maintain it for long, or he had something up his sleeve. So he sent his attacks when he was absolutely sure that the Embellishment wasn¡¯t active. Xiv quickly realized he couldn¡¯t use the Vynore for defense and doubled his efforts, until he finally came up with a plan. And this time, Frein read correctly. The Vyndivalian made his bread and butter combination; two jabs and a straight, but mixed up the final sequence by pulling the punch halfway and sending a kick instead. Not once in Frein¡¯s entire time here in Brymeia had he ever seen somebody employ a feint. None of the adventures nor the knights he had fought before. Their deceptions utilized Meiyal Arts and were nothing as primal and clean as a simple feint. No, not even Katherine. It must¡¯ve been the lack of practice, or the fact that he was too mesmerized by the realization that Frein was too stunned to dodge on time. Xiv¡¯s shin connected with his head and shattered his Siffera, slamming him straight down on the floor. His instincts were just fast enough to re-Draw the art to avoid anything damaging. Even Elizzel was taken off-guard, unintentionally yelping through the Tether. Sam updated the score: one to one. Xiv wasn¡¯t done and raised his leg to stomp on him. But Frein was quick to take advantage, grabbing and pulling the one leg that kept the Vyndivalian¡¯s balance. He failed to recover and promptly joined the Visitor on the floor. ¡°You don¡¯t get a score by bullying someone who¡¯s already on the floor,¡± he reminded Xiv. Sam made another update. ¡°Right.¡± Xiv breathed heavily. Armament fatigue was catching up on him. It wasn¡¯t lost on Frein that Xiv was doing his best. He also knew that the Vyndivalian hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet. And while he was impressed by the things he saw, ultimately, he felt like a bully. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough for today,¡± Frein concluded. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a draw.¡± He had learned enough. ¡°You sure?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°Afraid to lose, huh?¡± The taunt wasn¡¯t as convincing when his Armor Doffed by itself, returning to a pendant. ¡°Damn, last time it felt this heavy was probably back when I first Donned it.¡± He lay flat on the floor, taking in as much air as he could. ¡°Fight didn¡¯t even last ten minutes and you¡¯re out of breath,¡± Frein pointed out as he stood laughing. ¡°I¡¯m so scared.¡± That took a chuckle out of Xiv. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never seen an Iristan¡ªno, a Meiyal Arts practitioner fight in hand-to-hand combat. Most of them hurl Art after Art until they run out of meiyal.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t fought people like Maffelyne? Even Kristel and Katherine fight at close range.¡± Frein reached out towards his M.O.B.I.L.E. and the device quickly zoomed towards his hand. ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Xiv said while grunting his way to a sitting position. ¡°Maybe not Lady Katherine, but whenever I overpower a Meiyal Arts practitioner, they usually step back and resort to ranged Meiyal Arts.¡± The Vyndivalian¡¯s eyes studied Frein. ¡°In this fight and the one before, you¡¯ve never taken a step backwards. Every time you were distanced from your opponent, it was them pushing you away. From what I¡¯ve seen, it¡¯s not a choice you make at all.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s stupid?¡± Xiv barely stopped his nodding head. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t blame you. It is pretty stupid.¡± Frein reached out a hand and helped Xiv on his feet. ¡°It¡¯s a subtlety I¡¯ve ingrained in my fighting style and performance.¡± ¡°Performance?¡± ¡°Back where I came from, I fought as an entertainer, pleasing crowds with the way I dissected my enemies without flinching back. They called me a gladiator, a warrior of the ring. And showing people unyielding strength was my forte.¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t fight to the death like the actual gladiators in our history, but I do the entertainment part good enough to get a living out of it.¡± ¡°Do count me entertained and impressed.¡± Xiv presented a fist, which caught Frein confused. ¡°You don¡¯t bump fists as a sign of acknowledgement?¡± ¡°We do, but not Iristans. I had to teach Kristel about it. You call that a bro-fist?¡± ¡°We call it a fist-bump.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Frein shrugged again and pressed his knuckles with Xiv¡¯s. ¡°Same thing.¡± ¡°Speaking of ¡®bro¡¯, another thing we do back in my kingdom is to call people we treat as equals as Brother or Sister.¡± Xiv pushed his fist and Frein responded in kind. ¡°You mind if I call you Brother Frein?¡± Frein smirked at the notion and decided to do a bit of teasing. ¡°I won¡¯t be your equal for long Brother Xiv. You better keep up.¡± Xiv took it like a true sportsman, laughing as they finally parted fists. ¡°Let me learn how to run with this core and then we can start to race.¡± ¡°Not a chance. I¡¯m burning everything I can as fast as I can.¡± ¡°You do shine like a bright star when you fight, Brother.¡± The comment reminded Frein of a certain trivia. ¡°Do you name your stars around here?¡± he asked while approaching the facility¡¯s panel to order lunch. He swiped through the menu until he found something that looked delicious and filling before he gestured to his newfound brother. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so,¡± Xiv replied as he navigated through the panel a bit longer. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We named a bunch of stars back where I came from, and the fourth brightest star discovered was named Arcturus. At least the fourth brightest before I left.¡± ¡°How did they know it¡¯s the fourth brightest?¡± Xiv asked, not even blown away by the fact that he was named after a star. Frein supposed, in hindsight, it wasn¡¯t as amazing given that people here in Brymeia didn¡¯t have as much interest with celestial bodies. ¡°Out of all they¡¯ve accounted for, mind you,¡± he pointed out and shrugged. ¡°Math, I guess.¡± ¡°Hate math,¡± Xiv commented, finally deciding on a meal. ¡°Well, in any case, are you going to help me come up with a plan now?¡± ¡°About your date?¡± The Vyndivalian made a face. ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°No plan is the best plan, my friend.¡± Frein quickly followed up before Xiv could complain. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give you some pointers and we¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re dressed up nicely. Making plans will just make you nervous. They make you hyper-focused. Even if you prepare for any eventuality you can think of, the moment they fail, all the confidence you have will come crumbling down. That¡¯s not good, if you want to make an impression. If you want a goal; you want to ensure that there will be a next time, a next date. ¡°Besides, I have training lessons with Katherine this afternoon. Frill and Kristel will be joining, so you¡¯re invited to hang around, if you want.¡± ¡°But you said we¡¯ll be preparing for the date this afternoon!¡± ¡°See what I mean about plans failing?¡± Frein smiled just as Xiv gave up on the argument.
Chapter 114: Training Training
¡±If both disciplines can conjure weapons and armors, then what¡¯s the difference?¡± -Frein Nivan, The Visitor
Lunch was a feast. Frein ordered half a roasted chicken drowned in gravy while sitting on top of a plate of mashed potato and a side of salad. Xiv got himself a slab of smoked barbecue pork belly and even more salad. With the enormous portions, combined with fruit infused non-alcoholic spirits, it became a no-brainer for the two to share their meals. Though they were eager to chat and discuss theories about their common hypothesis; the similarities between Meiyal Arts and Armaments, Katherine¡¯s message told them to hurry up. Frein went to shower after the meal. By the sound of the water echoing from beside his cubicle, Xiv probably had the same idea. ¡°Why train?¡± the Vyndivalian asked. His voice was somber, delivering the implications he would dare not say out loud. ¡°Why train if I¡¯m going to die anyway?¡± Frein completed the question. ¡°Well, to be honest, at first I didn¡¯t know why. All I knew was I should. But now, I think I have an inkling for my purpose.¡± He decided to leave out the possible path of overcoming that inevitability. It was better to keep it to just himself, Elizzel, and Katherine, and only divulge to people who would know about the path to godhood or to those who could see Destiny. The water on the other side stopped pouring. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Frein didn¡¯t bother closing his shower while he lathered himself with liquid soap that was provided conveniently inside the cubicle. It, including this talk with his newfound brother, reminded him so vividly of his days at the gym. He wasn¡¯t really talkative back then. ¡°It¡¯s just a hunch,¡± he premised, ¡°but I think me and my predecessors have something to do with fixing either the Divine Severing or the Nightmare Lands. See, we only existed after that cataclysmic event. But the former is my wild guess, while the latter is backed by a bunch of clues I¡¯ve gathered so far.¡± ¡°That would be nice.¡± Xiv said. ¡°I care not for the gods, but if you can get rid of the Nightmare, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be revered throughout history. I guess that¡¯s a good enough reason.¡± ¡°Just a tiny bit, yeah,¡± Frein commented, pouring as much dry humor as he could. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong, Brother.¡± Xiv¡¯s voice echoed with renewed enthusiasm now that he had a better understanding. ¡°If you pull this off, I¡¯ll name my first son after you and my first daughter after Katherine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already thinking about getting married?¡± Frein teased. ¡°You sure do plan ahead. You¡¯re not even done with your first date!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just hypothetical.¡± ¡°Who talks about kids in the shower?¡± Katherine¡¯s voice echoed from outside the showers followed by the sound of an opening door. ¡°Which cubicle are you in, Frein? I need to make sure I don¡¯t steal Xiv¡¯s virgin display before Frill feasts her eyes all over him.¡± ¡°Over here,¡± Frein replied, pushing his door to peek out his head. It was only Katherine, gathering his clothes and washing it inside her Imbelia. Apparently, while the Art could instantly remove dirt and grime, it needed some time to replace the smell with something more fragrant. Xiv¡¯s clothes were already swirling inside another already existing instance of the Art. ¡°Where¡¯re the others?¡± ¡°I finished my lunch first. The two are having dessert somewhere. Should be here anytime now, though.¡± ¡°Who barges in the men¡¯s shower room!¡± Xiv exclaimed from his cubicle. Frein and Katherine laughed. ¡°I remember those days,¡± she reminisced, looking at him while he rinsed away the soap. Frein didn¡¯t care one bit. ¡°You were so pure back then.¡± ¡°And you were so shy,¡± he retaliated. ¡°Care to join me?¡± ¡°Are you two serious right now?¡± Xiv called out again. ¡°We had a jacuzzi,¡± Katherine said to Frein. ¡°Really? Why was I not invited?¡± ¡°We can ask for our own tonight.¡± She shrugged while opening her Spatiera. She pulled some spare clothes to replace the dirty ones. ¡°I better go, Mr. Innocent over there¡¯s going to have a panic attack.¡± ¡°I am not! But please go.¡± ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Frein said as he wiped himself off. Katherine watched him silently as he slipped on a new pair of underwear and baggy shorts. Not really his style but he couldn¡¯t complain. ¡°Thanks. And try not to get overboard with Xiv. Apparently, we¡¯re brothers now as per their customs in Vyndival.¡± The Lady of the Void shrugged playfully. ¡°Fine. I left you some spare clothes, Xiv. Just let me know if they don¡¯t fit.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Xiv said awkwardly. Frein reached out a hand to catch a shirt that his girlfriend casually threw his way. He slipped it on and followed her outside, struggling just a bit with one of the arms. It was a snug fit, not too shabby, not too fancy. As casual as it could get on a sunny cruise amongst the clouds. He closed the door only to find two other women staring at him from afar. ¡°We¡­brought some fruit shakes. Mango shakes,¡± Kristel said, almost shouting as she turned slightly away. She extended a cup towards him. Just the distance itself was enough to make the gesture awkward. ¡°People usually dress up before they leave the showers.¡±The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, trying not to make the situation more complicated. He approached them while Katherine stuck out her tongue as a way to cutely apologize. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be around so soon.¡± The shake was a fantastic blend of creamy milk, shaved ice, and the chunks and juices of sweet, delectable mangoes. It tasted like ice cream. ¡°Where¡¯s Xiv?¡± Frill asked while she handed Katherine¡¯s cup. She was also facing away, stealing glances while she blushed. ¡°Finishing up. Not sure if he¡¯ll join us. Probably just observe. I thought we had a change of plans?¡± he asked Katherine. ¡°We¡¯ll multitask. All we need to do is choose some clothes for Frill anyway. How hard could it be?¡± ¡°I see.¡± Frein handed his cup to his side, knowing that Elizzel would appear there just in time to take it from him. ¡°About Xiv, if you guys trust him enough, I don¡¯t mind revealing my existence to him,¡± Elizzel said before she took a sip. The joy on her face as she savored the flavors was enough to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°What? If he¡¯ll be joining us regularly, it¡¯ll be a pain to keep the secret.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Kristel said, ¡°I completely forgot to get you one.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t actually have to eat,¡± the faunel said. ¡°I need meiyal for sustenance, but I do enjoy the flavors.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, she can have it,¡± Frein said to the Princess. ¡°So what about Xiv?¡± All heads turned to Katherine. ¡°He¡¯s truly sincere. Not just to Frill, but to his agenda as well. He really wants to help us. Besides, if he can hide anything from my Heart¡¯s Will, then we¡¯re probably in more trouble anyway.¡± ¡°How does one resist Heart¡¯s Will?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Meiyal,¡± Elizzel replied before anyone else could say anything. As though the word explained it all. She was too busy enjoying the shake to be bothered to explain. So Frein tugged at the Tether and got the gist of it. ¡°Well, he can¡¯t use much of that, that¡¯s for sure.¡± When the two girls turned to question him, Frein added, ¡°He¡¯s not used to the core yet. Can barely maintain his Armor for a few minutes.¡± ¡°Then I have no complaints or reservations,¡± Kristel concluded after some consideration. ¡°He¡¯s obviously gone through a lot just to earn our trust. I say he deserves the chance.¡± She turned to Frill for her opinion. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just here to follow you around and keep you safe, Kristel.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s cut that out, Frill. As far as hierarchy is concerned, you¡¯re equal to a Monarch¡¯s adviser. We¡¯re not in Minaveil anymore.¡± Frein caught the implication. ¡°Care to explain?¡± ¡°In official capacity, the Veli family is sworn not just as the protectors, but also as the hands of the Monarch,¡± Kristel explained. ¡°Frill, Lor, and Liona spent their youth in preparation for my eventual ascension to the crown. Well, Lor was supposed to be at my Father¡¯s side, but the plans changed when I was born. And we also have that issue with the competition right now.¡± ¡°So the maid and butler were just disguises?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a well guarded secret, but it¡¯s not something that¡¯s known out in the open either. Publicly, the Veli are the premiere servants of the High Palace, so the disguise came naturally when I arrived on Minaveil.¡± ¡°Why all the secrecy, though?¡± At that, Kristel shrugged. Katherine was busy talking and enjoying the fruit shake with Elizzel to join the conversation. And Frill didn¡¯t know either. ¡°Something with our long lost history, I presume,¡± the Aria said. ¡°In any case, if you really want my opinion on Xiv. It¡¯s pretty obvious that I¡¯m willing to trust him.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re all in agreement,¡± Frein said, turning finally to Elizzel. At the same time, Xiv emerged from the shower room. He was fortunately fully clothed, dressed in Frein¡¯s old clothes. Only a simple, black shirt and a pair of white shorts, but they were a good fit to him regardless. He walked up to them with a smile while clutching his own clothes with one hand. Katherine pulled a bag out of her Spatiera and gave it to the Vyndivalian. He intuitively knew what to do. Did she bring the entire apartment, or what? Frein had the mind to run the question through his head before dismissing it outright. There had been no need for her to use these mundane items since they left, so he didn¡¯t even consider that possibility until now. Of course she did. ¡°Hey,¡± Xiv said, waving a hand awkwardly at Frill. The gesture had to pass through everyone else before it got to her. Frein couldn¡¯t suppress a smirk. Katherine joined him, and Kristel was unamused. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Frill was absolutely no better. It was a prelude to an epic disaster waiting to happen for tonight. But Frein, despite the cringe lurching from within his chest, couldn¡¯t get enough of the situation. Heads turned to him, and he knew he had to take the initiative to stir this conversation away from the crushing silence. The instant Xiv emerged from the shower room, Elizzel had instinctively returned to the Visitor¡¯s Mind Palace. It wasn¡¯t because she was shy. Rather, it was simply because of cautiousness. Frein just suddenly felt the cup of mango shake back in his hands. He cleared his throat to direct the Vyndivalian¡¯s attention. ¡°We need to introduce you to someone if we¡¯re going to work together, Brother Xiv,¡± Frein said. The Vyndivalian observed the rest and was immediately attentive. Elizzel emerged with a more profound gravitas this time around. Joined by residues of meiyal for flare, she materialized in front of Frein, stepping delicately on the floor. Frein followed her presentation. ¡°This is Elizzel, Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. I¡¯m bonded with her via Tethering, which means we are one the same. The short of it is, she is me, I am her.¡± ¡°Greetings, Xiv Arcturus. You fought well earlier.¡± Xiv was immediately on one knee. ¡°I didn¡¯t know I was in the presence of a faunel. Please forgive my rudeness.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal, Xiv,¡± Elizzel said, putting both hands on her waist and resorting back to a more casual tone. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, if you¡¯re treating Frein as your brother now, it means I am your sister.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of it!¡± ¡°Even with my explicit permission?¡± She turned to Frein. ¡°See? This is the sort of respect my kind usually gets. Not to be toyed by you.¡± ¡°Get up, Brother,¡± Frein said while she responded to Elizzel¡¯s bit by dropping a hand on her head. ¡°You¡¯re spoiling her too much.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Just stand, Brother Xiv,¡± Elizzel commanded, crossing her arms. She ignored Frein¡¯s hand completely. The Vyndivalian stood as though he was controlled by Monarch¡¯s Law. The sight before him brought him on the verge of laughter. ¡°Good, now you¡¯ve ruined it.¡± ¡°If you want it to be fair,¡± Frein began while she ruffled Elizzel¡¯s hair, ¡°you can treat this as my return gesture regarding the fact that you have a Vynore Embellishment in your Armor.¡± That brought all eyes to Xiv and he immediately bowed in apology, providing the reasoning behind the secrecy of his heirloom. He pulled the pendant from his neck and offered it to Frill. ¡°I was meant to return this after the spar.¡± Frill glanced at Kristel, who merely shrugged. ¡°You can keep it. We can¡¯t have you completely defenseless anymore.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xiv smiled and wore his heirloom again. ¡°But I never thought we would have a faunel involved in all this.¡± ¡°You essentially brought me to Frein,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I originally took the form of the Jaws Lurking in the Forest that you brought to the Battle of the Vanguard.¡± Words failed to escape Xiv¡¯s lips as he fell back on both knees this time around, bowing even lower and almost pressing his forehead to the ground. ¡°I promise, we didn¡¯t know, Elizzel,¡± he begged. ¡°If we had known, we would not have done such terrible things to you!¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s enough, Xiv,¡± Elizzel and Frein said at the same time, but the faunel continued. ¡°You¡¯re embarrassing yourself in front of Frill. And yes, I¡¯m also rooting for you two, so go get a move on already! I already said the whole thing turned out to be in my favor.¡± It took the faunel literally pulling him to his feet for Xiv to gather himself. Frein felt a tug on the back of his shirt. He turned to see Katherine. She¡¯d already gotten bored of the situation and was more excited for what was about to go next. He smiled and called the faunel while he finished the rest of the mango shake. ¡°Time to train,¡± Frein began. ¡°Good.¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I¡¯ve been itching to integrate for a while now.¡±
Chapter 115: Four in Training Four in Training Katherine divided the training facility into four quadrants. She stood in the middle while Frein, Kristel, Frill, and Xiv each took one of the corners. All of them were Gathering and Milling¡ªwith the exception of the Vyndivalian who was Mining and Smelting. Each of them had a task while Katherine silently observed as their mentor, guide, trainer, or observer, whichever one suited the most. Xiv¡¯s task was the simplest. After convincing him to participate, he agreed that his meiyal control and stamina were all over the place, and those needed immediate improvement. He couldn¡¯t Don his Armor as easily as before, sapping at his reserves at a tremendous rate while unreasonably pushing him towards fatigue. In a sense, while he maintained his seven meiyal layers, they were too affected by the transplanted core to function properly. The layers were the equivalent of meiyal marks for Meiyal Arts practitioners. There were only ten and each layer was equivalent to ten marks. Not that these layers mattered or functioned any differently, other than allowing Reinforcing, Donning and Doffing, and Forging. At most, it limited the amount or type or quality of Embellishments each Meiyal Armament practitioner could use. Xiv¡¯s main concern now was to familiarize those layers with the new core so that he didn¡¯t have to waste so much Smelted meiyal. Frein and Katherine agreed that he simply needed more time and practice. He was under observation as far as the Lady was concerned. Kristel¡¯s task was simple but a bit harder compared to Xiv¡¯s. Aside from practicing the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, she also wanted to improve her Siffera. She claimed that she was able to use it inside her Dream, which gave her a relatively tangible feel for how she had to go about improving the Art. Katherine gave her all the pointers she could provide. To define what ¡®everything that she is¡¯ meant was the best hint out of all of them. And there was in fact, improvement, meaning that the Princess hadn¡¯t been idle at all and had been practicing the Art even before her Dream. Next it was Frill. Her task was to integrate with Mercurial Liquid. The meiyal-charged material had been stored in her Exhibit for an extensive amount of time now. Usually, prolonged storage of meiyal-charged materials without integrating them could cause severe repercussions. But fortunately, there weren¡¯t any negative effects even after her sister¡¯s meiyal core was transplanted to Xiv. The challenge would be figuring how the material would react now that the second core was gone. As far as Katherine knew, it was a material meant to help practitioners who were physically fused, activating only during those times. The theory was, since Liona¡¯s core was fused to Frill¡¯s, she could always use the material. However, the attempt at Xiv¡¯s life caused that plan to change. Frill still wanted to try and integrate with the Mercurial Liquid since the rest of Liona¡¯s system was still fused with her. Not to mention how rare the material was. Last were Frein and Elizzel. Rindea Fallsween had left them such magnificent and extremely rare treasures. A Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm and a Shinemoon Scabbard. Just the names themselves was enough to cause intrigue among the group. ¡°Thousand-Year Storm,¡± Kristel had said before they went to their separate corners. ¡°That¡¯s Su¡¯karix¡¯s moniker. I saw her in my Dream.¡± When asked, she had promised to tell them all about it some other time. Katherine was particularly interested with the Shinemoon Scabbard. Meiyal-charged materials carrying such a name¡ªShinemoon¡ªbrought about ice or crystalline properties to a variety of Meiyal Arts once integration was successful. Which Arts depended on the material itself. Most practitioners even made this particular behavior related as to why the blue moon reflected light in such a way. Though, for all their guesses, no one had actually gone and reached the moon first hand. But it made Katherine question the origins of these particular meiyal-charged materials. Did they fall from the moon? Was someone actually able to go there and come back without anyone noticing? No one really knew, which was what made it so intriguing. The only solid lead she had about them for certain was the fact that they all came from the Nightmare Lands. Frein didn¡¯t look like he needed help. Neither did Xiv. Kristel was struggling, but she was concentrating too hard to be even aware if someone approached her. That left Frill. ¡°How is it?¡± Katherine asked, joining the Aria in her quadrant. ¡°I think it¡¯s still there,¡± she replied. ¡°I just need to enter my Mind Palace.¡± Unfortunately, without Elizzel to help them¡ªbusy as she was with Frein¡ªKatherine couldn¡¯t step into Frill¡¯s Mind Palace, much less access her Exhibit. There was supposed to be a meiyal-charged material that could assist her observation Meiyal Art to at least give her a visual. A rare one, the name of which eluded her right now. The thought reminded her about Mesiffera. She didn¡¯t exactly have the free time to learn it yet, but Frein had given her enough tips to test it herself. The idea was to combine Siffera with the observation Meiyal Art to be able to assess internal meiyal or hidden meiyal. Katherine gave it a quick try, and was suddenly caught off-guard by how easily it worked. She could see the flow of meiyal inside Frill, how much she had Milled and the current Arts she had Drawn¡ªa subtle instance of Siffera. It didn¡¯t show her anything about the Mercurial Liquid, though. In the end, she was left to observe the old-fashioned way, giving Frill the go signal to start integrating. Frill relaxed to a calmed state as she sat cross-legged on the floor. Meiyal swirled around her, causing her red hair and clothes to float about. And then, she was still, fully immersed in her Dream Realm.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Integration, for most practitioners, usually didn¡¯t involve anything risky, save for the occasional rejections that lead to instant Art fatigue and material loss. But there had been records of permanent, or worse, fatal injuries, which could¡¯ve been avoided if someone was around to prevent such tragedies. Katherine filled that role. And so far, things were looking straightforward. She could only hope it would stay that way.
People had shared the descriptions of their Mind Palaces to Frill. Most were the standard mansions or grand castles with flying books and floating staircases, or whatever variant of an actual library or castle one could define. Which made her certain that hers was unique from everyone else¡¯s. Frill¡¯s Mind Palace was a bright underwater world. One where she could breathe without discomfort and move as easily as willing it to happen. Gigantic coral formations made up the exterior of the Palace. Colors so vibrant that every angle she looked was pleasing to the eye, like paintings that could be considered masterpieces of every veteran artist known to Brymeia. Creatures made out of meiyal swam about, carrying her memories to proper places. Frill loved her Mind Palace. She was a daughter of the sea. She cherished everything about it. Yes, including the unknown depths that could crush her through sheer pressure. The one time she visited the First Deep of the First Settlement, young though she was back then, was a core memory she often visited before. That was, until Liona died. The only thing that frightened¡ªbothered¡­maybe confused was the better word¡ªher was the presence of a gigantic wolf always sleeping nonchalantly outside her Palace. It had always been there on the same spot at the edge of her Dream. Always asleep. And never once did she gather enough courage to try and stir it awake. Today was no different. She left it alone. The task at hand was more important. Frill swam through her Mind Palace, entering through a tunnel illuminated by bioluminescent meiyal plants and animals. The end of the tunnel was blocked by vines and seaweed, which moved away as she approached, revealing her Exhibit. To put it in simple words, the Exhibit looked like a huge aquarium in the shape of an underwater dome. It was mostly empty aside from the coral reefs at the bottom filling up the lower half of the structure. The meiyal fishes never wandered into this place, leaving it a barren location of an otherwise beautiful display. The only other thing that existed in the aquarium was Frill¡¯s Mill sitting at the center. An underwater mountain structure of rocks and corals that produced numerous waterfalls leading into a reservoir deep in the middle and out of the Exhibit. Meiyal¡ªsome Gathered, some hers¡ªconsisted these falls, appearing more viscous as they ignored the water and flowed downwards. They fall into layers of rocks, churning and mixing and joining together until they ultimately Mill as one down into her reservoir. This centerpiece was the only thing that kept this aquarium even worthy of a visit. This, and the Mercurial Liquid surrounded by vines near the entrance. The vines dared not touch the meiyal-charged material. They formed a circular enclosure, with three roots grasping at the rocks below to keep them in place. The gaps of the cage were filled by a blue translucent field, almost like glass, to prevent the material from floating away. With a thought, Frill commanded the vines to make way, opening for her to access the material. She reached inside, only to be interrupted by something touching her back. Frill twisted in surprise to find a small paw touching her waist. The pup was shaking her head. ¡°Not now, Frill,¡± she said, pointing her snout towards the empty Exhibit. ¡°The material has stayed long enough. It¡¯s too volatile at this point. Choose a location first, so you can move quickly.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Frill recognized the canine. A small version of the giant one outside her Mind Palace. ¡°My name is Norazzel, Faunel of Dreams and Memories. You have met my sister, Elizzel, and I¡¯m also acquainted with the current Visitor, Frein.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve seen you even before Frein arrived here. You¡¯re sleeping outside my Mind Palace all the time.¡± Frill could tell the pup was judging her. ¡°Yes, because your Dream Realm is important, Frill. Sleeping is the best way for me to avoid your approaches. But our task has always been to protect you.¡± ¡°Our?¡± ¡°There are many of me. The big one outside is still there.¡± ¡°Protect me from what?¡± Norazzel hesitated. ¡°Also me. The Divine Severing caused the Dream Realms to be unstable and it became my task to salvage what I could. And for many years, copies of myself slowly succumbed to the Nightmare. While I maintain the existence of the Dream Realms across everyone in Brymeia, the burden is not without its repercussions.¡± Frill decided not to dive too deep at the concepts being thrown her way, and focused on the practical. ¡°If that¡¯s true, what¡¯s my guarantee that you, right now, won¡¯t succumb to the Nightmare?¡± ¡°The Visitor provides my copies respite, allowing us to recover from our burden. Their next stop is always your Dream Realm.¡± Frill considered verifying the statement, but the faunel quickly interjected. ¡°The two are currently deep within their Exhibit. It would be best to leave them alone until they finished integrating with their materials.¡± She sat on her haunches, her fur dancing underwater. ¡°If you need me to leave your Mind Palace, I will do so, but allow me to pass some pointers for your integration. However, I will still remain in your Dream Realm.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Frill concluded. Without much to go on, she trusted her instincts. Truthfully, she wasn¡¯t confident in them. But with no one else around, she had no choice. The puppy was cute, anyway. ¡°Then I shall help you the best way I can,¡± Norazzel said. She observed the meiyal-charged material. ¡°This is Mercurial Liquid.¡± ¡°You know about it?¡± ¡°More than most, I¡¯d say.¡± Frill¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Please explain.¡± Norazzel looked around. She swam about, exploring the Exhibit before finally returning to Frill. Her eyes narrowed at the Aria. ¡°Two hundred marks. I see. But where is the second core?¡± ¡°I had to give it away.¡± The pup gave a nod. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Will the Mercurial Liquid still work?¡± ¡°In a sense, yes.¡± Norazzel swam closer to the material. ¡°The Liquid only cares whether the meiyal systems are merged or not. It doesn¡¯t matter whether said systems are complete or incomplete. You will have the same result.¡± She turned to Frill. ¡°However, this will double the burden on your singular core. This is the price you must pay for giving away the other one. You will reach Art fatigue far sooner than you intended, but your capabilities will increase tremendously.¡± ¡°Tremendously how?¡± Frill didn¡¯t mind the price. If Frein could train his stamina to prolong Art fatigue, then she could do the same. She would dare not squander this gift. ¡°Simply put, the Mercurial Liquid takes advantage of two intertwined meiyal systems to elevate all the Arts that both practitioners know. Technically, with this, you can achieve the Nidai levels of your and the donor¡¯s Arts. But without the donor¡¯s core, I¡¯m afraid only your Arts will count.¡± ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t that skip a level? Dai levels are the ones above base.¡± Norazzel judged Frill with her eyes again. ¡°All Arts are expected to achieve Dai levels without any sort of external help, Frill. The potential is always within the practitioner, the quality of their meiyal, and their commitment to refining the Art.¡± ¡°So you mean to say, when Frein masters his Siffera, he can elevate it by himself to Dai-Siffera?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re mistaken, Frill.¡± The faunel tilted her head. She swam towards the Exhibit once again, finding an appropriate location for the Mercurial Liquid. She nodded to herself and settled towards the western part of the aquarium near the center before turning back to the Aria. ¡°Frein had been using Dai-Siffera ever since I met him.¡±
Chapter 116: When She Spoke Again When She Spoke Again Kristel wasn¡¯t getting anywhere at all. It could¡¯ve been ten minutes or an hour, but the lack of response both from her Milling and Drawing threw her into boredom far sooner than her patience could allow. And while she considered herself a patient person, enough that she could power through this struggle with sheer will, her curiosity easily leveraged the lack of action in the room. So the Princess opened her eyes. She noticed Frill and Katherine first. Kristel had never seen such a powerful resonance effect permeating from an integration. The Aria¡¯s hair, long and scarlet it was, along with the frills of her clothes fluttered wildly through the surge of meiyal. Kristel wondered why she wasn¡¯t feeling its effects until she realized that Katherine was blocking them in order not to bother the other trainees. Frein and Xiv were, in fact, oblivious to it, absorbed in their own meditation. With her interest piqued, the Princess decided on a break and stood, approaching Frill¡¯s quadrant. As soon as she entered the shimmering barrier that Katherine formed, she was struck by the violence of meiyal. ¡°Will she be alright?¡± she asked the Lady who was already aware of her presence, gesturing to stand beside her. Kristel followed while Drawing a significantly emphasized Siffera. ¡°This is still within expectations, yes,¡± Katherine said, struggling slightly. ¡°It¡¯s probably one of the most potent integrations I¡¯ve seen yet, but there aren¡¯t any signs of her losing control or outright getting rejected.¡± Kristel afforded a sigh of relief before the change in the Lady¡¯s demeanor abruptly cut it off. ¡°Uh, oh¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Some complications.¡± A small dream wolf emerged from Frill. Kristel immediately recognized her. ¡°Norazzel, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°I have no time to explain. Lady Katherine, Frill couldn¡¯t control the Nightmare in the Mercurial Liquid. Can you assist her?¡± Katherine didn¡¯t ask and agreed. ¡°Stay behind me.¡± ¡°I apologize, I couldn¡¯t stop it from her Dream,¡± Norazzel said as she sat behind the Lady of the Void. The faunel was visibly exhausted. Kristel followed suit. Kristel¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t handle what she was looking at. Frill was in a trance, floating in the air through sheer meiyal. Surges of her power leaked through, bouncing off Katherine¡¯s barrier. It kept the situation isolated, but the Princess could see traces of cracks starting to form. In front of her, Katherine was taking a deep breath. She removed her cap and retied her ponytail. Kristel had never seen such composure as the Lady¡¯s meiyal system burst to life. The shimmering prismatic colors of her hair ornamental meiyal core fought against the uncontrolled meiyal surges. The meiyal surrounding Katherine sprung forth. Gathering, Milling, and surging through her Siffera like a strong flowing river compared to the chaotic tidal waves coming from Frill. Trepidation dawned on Kristel. The view looked oddly familiar. And she remembered the day the Lady of the Void returned from her Seeking mission. Katherine turned to look at her directly in the eyes. She was smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not the same as last time. I believe Frill can do this. All I have to do is contain the Nightmare.¡± Her eyes move beyond the Princess. Kristel followed to see the two guys still in their respective quadrants, completely unaware of the situation. When she turned back to Katherine, the Lady had already returned her attention to Frill, taking another deep breath. Something was different with her floating meiyal core. It was pulsing with meiyal. Kristel could tell it was different from when she usually Gathered or Drew. Like two chocolates looking completely the same but tasting entirely different from one another. It was Katherine¡¯s meiyal. Untouched and un-Milled. Completely pure, coming from the Lady herself. Kristel knew of the Order of the Void¡¯s Void Control Techniques. How they developed a completely different discipline from Meiyal Arts and Armaments that adapted to any practitioner in order to fend off the Nightmare. The training involved was extremely risky, playing around the rules of the Nightmare influence. She didn¡¯t quite understand how it all worked, but she knew that many trainees never viewed the Nightmare Lands the same once they¡¯ve had a taste of those Techniques. Kristel didn¡¯t know how it initially looked, but she could tell that Katherine had Opened her meiyal core. It was the only thing Void Control Techniques required. Only thing that differentiated it from Arts and Armaments. It didn¡¯t matter if the Technique was supplied with Milled meiyal or Smelted meiyal. As long as the practitioner could Open their core. Katherine¡¯s meiyal, a shade of silvery white, surrounded the chaos emanating from Frill and reinforcing the barrier at the same time. Cracks mended and layers reformed. Kristel could barely resist the pressure from the two opposing meiyal alone. The Lady of the Void reached out a hand towards Frill and spoke, her voice causing ripples of meiyal as she uttered the Technique. ¡°Brace Against the Madness.¡± The silver-white meiyal exploded in volume, completely surrounding Frill in a globe of spinning meiyal. Kristel couldn¡¯t see the Aria anymore, but she began to hear her screams. ¡°Tell him to stay back.¡± Kristel almost didn¡¯t process the Lady¡¯s command before Xiv¡¯s voice barely penetrated the chaos. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he said, pushing against Katherine¡¯s barrier. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it to Katherine,¡± Kristel said unconvincingly as she pushed back against the Vyndivalian. He was quick to calm, settling outside the barrier, but the worry didn¡¯t leave his face. He turned towards the Visitor, which made Kristel look as well. Frein was completely immersed in his own meditation. She had seen that before and understood that he wouldn¡¯t be able to help for a while. Not that she could see Frein helping with this current situation. But then again, she couldn¡¯t be too sure. ¡°Can you assess her from here, Nora?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°She¡¯s fighting it off, but she¡¯s struggling. Why not completely purge the Nightmare?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kristel asked. The dream wolf turned to her.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Brace Against the Madness, is a Void Control Technique used to remove the Nightmare influence.¡± ¡°Without purging the Nightmare itself,¡± Katherine finished for the faunel. ¡°Why not?¡± Kristel and Xiv demanded at the same time. ¡°Because I believe she can control it,¡± Katherine replied with finality in her voice. Out of everyone present, she and Frein were the only ones that didn¡¯t waver. As if in response, the chaos subsided. Frill was still inside the silvery globe. With the way Katherine slowly rested her arms, Kristel realized things have finally calmed down. ¡°Give her time. We¡¯ll monitor her closely.¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± Xiv¡¯s voice barely pushed through now that he wasn¡¯t screaming. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Katherine turned to the Vyndivalian. ¡°Hopefully before your date.¡±
¡°Kristel said I¡¯m supposed to hear you out,¡± Frill said towards Liona. Or at least it was Liona if she had lived for ten or more years. ¡°She should¡¯ve told you about my warning also.¡± Liona, or as Kristel had shared, Brymeia, sat on a bench which was floating atop a calm sea illuminated by an afternoon blue sun. The water was deathly still, only the points that touched it¡ªFrill and Brymeia¡¯s feet¡ªcaused suppressed ripples which instantly vanished. The sea was also transparent, showing Frill¡¯s underwater Mind Palace. ¡°That there are two of you, and that I should only listen to the right one. Yes.¡± Frill could feel the Mercurial Liquid in her Exhibit rejecting integration, but for some reason, something was keeping it from disintegrating completely. She could only look at Brymeia. ¡°If you¡¯re wondering about the Liquid, it¡¯s Katherine, not me. You should integrate with it easily once we¡¯re done talking.¡± ¡°But the problem is, are you the right one?¡± Brymeia pushed herself to one side of the bench. ¡°There are two of us, Frill. That much is true, but what if I tell you that we¡¯ll respond to that question with the same answer? How would that help you decide?¡± She didn¡¯t offer the seat, but she kept it open. Her hand gestured to the opposite side and a champagne glass manifested in her grip, filled with sparkling orange juice. However she classed it up, it couldn¡¯t fool Frill¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not much for wine,¡± Brymeia said in defense, taking a sip. ¡°If I don¡¯t want to talk, will you let me leave?¡± Frill asked. She had never seen Liona shrug for the longest time. And the one in front of her did so in the most familiar way she recognized. It was aggravating. ¡°Sure. I can always try again next time.¡± Frill had the urge to leave but ultimately decided against it. Whether or not this was the correct person to talk to didn¡¯t really matter. The Princess or Frein wouldn¡¯t let this chance for information slip by, neither should she. Sitting beside someone who looked like her sister was a little out of what she could stomach, though. ¡°Well, that¡¯s to be expected, I suppose.¡± Brymeia conjured a chair opposite her and gestured for the Aria to take a seat. When Frill took it, a cup of tea manifested in front of her. It wasn¡¯t infused with fruits or herbs she was familiar with, but she caught a dab of honey within the taste. ¡°So what are we talking about?¡± Frill asked. She had never quite tasted such delicious tea, but she kept that to herself. She noted the taste and wondered how she could replicate it. It was mostly an afterthought. ¡°What I have to say right now wouldn¡¯t take very long,¡± Brymeia began. ¡°But I can see you have a¡ª¡± ¡°Are you the voice I heard back in Mount Rindea?¡± Frill¡¯s sudden question took Brymeia aback. But rather than get angry, she ended up smiling instead. ¡°It was both of us, to be honest. The other one was stirred awake by your awakening, but I managed to separate myself eventually. Who before you now is just me. Brymeia.¡± ¡°Why do you look like Liona?¡± ¡°Your Princess responded well to this form. I admit she also didn¡¯t like it at first, but we eventually reached a consensus. I¡¯m hoping you would respond the same way.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t exactly answer my question.¡± Brymeia nodded. ¡°My forms are limited to the people you recognize, Frill. They have to be significant to you personally. In your case, aside from Liona, my options are Kristel, Katherine, Frein, and Xiv. I was tempted to appear as the Vyndivalian given your current situation with him, but I would rather not affect your future decisions with him or with anyone if I can help it. As you can tell, I can vary the age of the person¡¯s form I¡¯m assuming as.¡± Frill churned the response. From a logical standpoint, appearing as a person who already passed away made the most sense. This way, she wouldn¡¯t mistake Brymeia for anyone else. The idea was cold and inconsiderate, but it couldn¡¯t compare to the fact that she was having a conversation with a person who named herself the same as the world she lived in. That gave her the next question. ¡°Why do you call yourself Brymeia?¡± ¡°Because I am,¡± the person in question replied simply. ¡°It is the name I gave myself and the name you all agreed to call me. Therefore I am Brymeia.¡± ¡°¡®You?¡¯¡± ¡°You, your ancestors, your descendants, your closest relatives, your farthest enemies, even those who will never be born recognize me by this name. Such is the way that Destiny works, Frill. It is the one thing it holds true, and none of the known Contradictions can sway it otherwise.¡± ¡°Contradictions?¡± Frill tried not to be confused, and it was unsurprisingly more difficult than she thought. Brymeia sighed. ¡°We are getting sidetracked, it seems. But we have time. The Contradictions can wait. Instead, allow me to show you Destiny.¡± The world suddenly turned to mush and was instantly replaced by nothingness. Frill blinked and things changed once again. This time, she found herself in the middle of a mirror world. Everywhere she looked was a reflection of some sort of reality playing out. As if hundreds upon thousands of M.O.B.I.L.E.s suddenly delivered a holographic message and were neatly ordered to provide some sort of symmetry. ¡°It¡¯s not everything,¡± Brymeia began, ¡°but what you see before you are possibilities of Destiny. Why don¡¯t you focus on one and observe?¡± Frill clutched her throbbing head and tried to follow the instruction. She found one with an image of herself and Xiv and decided to give her full attention to it. She was giving him a tight embrace. At first, Frill thought it was a simple show of affection, until the image panned to his back to reveal a dead Those That Fell Off the Cliff. Its massive skeletal ribcage weaponry had stabbed the Vyndivalian straight through his core and it was taking his all to prevent it from piercing through. He died a moment later. The revelation pushed Frill out of her concentration and she was returned to within the kaleidoscope of Destiny. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the future, Frill,¡± Brymeia assured hastily. ¡°It¡¯s one possibility. A consideration for Destiny. Whether it becomes reality or not is still a distance away for you to know right now.¡± Frill studied a few more and came to the conclusion that all these are reflections of the future. ¡°I can show you the ones in the past, but your heart might not take it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Brymeia hesitated before giving an answer. The way she looked away reminded Frill of Liona¡¯s habit when responding to something her little sister didn¡¯t like. ¡°Because I know you¡¯ll look for who killed your sister, Frill. It is not yet the right time for that.¡± Brymeia was right. Frill couldn¡¯t take it. Just the mention of the possibility made her heart ache. ¡°I need to know!¡± Brymeia¡ªLiona¡ªturned to her, eyes close to tears but full of determination. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Even here, Frill could feel the meiyal surge with her anger. She could feel it close to wreaking havoc. But she pulled herself back. Her fists ached from clenching too much. Her arms shook because of how tensed her muscles were. Her jaws were tired from pressing too hard. Her teeth hurt. She pulled them all. Suppressed them until they were nothing but pain and exhaustion, unable to find closure. The rage she stored along with the rest. ¡°How?¡± she asked. Frill had never felt the need to breathe so heavily before. ¡°How can I look for it myself?¡± Brymeia¡¯s stern face eased and afforded a soft smile. ¡°Thank you, Frill. I will help you.¡± The kaleidoscope vanished and they returned to the surface of Frill¡¯s Mind Palace. ¡°First, you must integrate with the Mercurial Liquid. What has Norazzel told you about it?¡± ¡°She said it should work and allow my Arts to be elevated to Nidai levels.¡± Frill concentrated on the now, but the things this revelation could bring kept playing in her head. She wanted revenge, she wanted power. She wanted them now. ¡°The Mercurial Liquid originated from Palar¡¯gog. His essence resides in that material. If you successfully integrate with it, not only will it increase your Meiyal Arts level, but it will also provide you with a new type of meiyal just like what Frein has now.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have three-meiyal?¡± ¡°Yes. Unfortunately, the core is the source of your own meiyal, and you gave your sister¡¯s away. But I think it¡¯s for the best, Frill. You can get more sources of meiyal in the future. ¡°You need more power if you are to look at Destiny on your own. You need to achieve strength on par with your ancestors.¡± Having something to work with was proving to be a good motivator. Now Frill couldn¡¯t handle the anticipation. She wanted to get back to work. It made her realize that Brymeia hadn¡¯t told her why she appeared before her yet. She motioned to ask, but was met only with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad with the time you shared with me, Frill. Don¡¯t worry, if you allow it, we will meet again. Next time, I¡¯ll tell you all about it. I¡¯ll tell you how to become the next Brymeia.¡± Frill blinked before she could ask. A mistake. Her words caught in her throat, unable to be voiced as she suddenly found herself in front of the Mercurial Liquid. The material was calm, lying on a smooth sea stone while surrounded by a coral bed. The Mercurial Liquid turned towards her. A small blob rising from the rest of its circular body. Both it and Frill tilted their heads, wondering what to do with each other.
Chapter 117: Somewhere Else Somewhere Else ¡°They¡¯re making quite the commotion over there¡­¡± Frein did his best to ignore what was happening outside of his Dream Realm. Elizzel wasn¡¯t helping. She wasn¡¯t holding back her curiosity, leveraging it from the Tether along with his own, making it almost impossible for him to ignore her. She was undecided whether to stay on the task or get involved with Frill. ¡°Frill¡¯s having some complications with the Mercurial Liquid,¡± said a small Norazzel. She was in her smallest incarnation yet, a dream wolf pup that was the size of his palm. She comfortably settled over Elizzel¡¯s head, lying on her stomach and looking like an animal hat. With a round face and large eyes, she was admittedly incredibly adorable. Frein was busy looking around his Exhibit, trying to find the best place for the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm and the Shinemoon Scabbard. Elizzel¡¯s proposal to combine the two along with Nakiri¡¯s hilt to create a specialized Meiyal Art added some extra challenge, not that he would back off from something so interesting. Still, where to put it? ¡°Katherine¡¯s handling it, right?¡± Frein asked casually, not really trying to pay much attention to whatever the two faunels were talking about. ¡°Yes. Things have stabilized,¡± Norazzel replied. ¡°You don¡¯t want to look?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°We¡¯ll ask about it later,¡± Frein said, adamant in his decision. He was considering an area the near north of his Mill. It wasn¡¯t quite at the center since Elizzel had said to reserve that space for when he was sure of his Magnum Opus. Just going by the name, Frein knew it was a special type of Meiyal Art or meiyal-charged material. One that was unique only to him, one that would define him. He wasn¡¯t sure if a meiyal-charged material originating from a storm dragon Deitar combined with a moon should fit that spot. He could rearrange them when the time comes anyway. ¡°This looks like a good spot,¡± Elizzel commented. ¡°It¡¯s not too far away from your Emerald Guidance, so we can still expect some synergy.¡± Frein looked to his left where the Emerald Guidance emitted a slight, verdant glow. It wasn¡¯t currently active, but power steadily gathered within it, ready to provide when needed. ¡°I thought Powers of Color only work with themselves?¡± he asked. With the location finalized, the three of them returned to the meiyal-charged materials waiting at the entrance of the Exhibit. ¡°True, but you can always expect some sort of synergy with every material that integrates with your Exhibit,¡± Elizzel explained. Norazzel drooped over her head, almost falling off, but she casually caught the small pup and fixed her back on her head. ¡°It¡¯s not a drastic effect, so most practitioners don¡¯t really care, but it¡¯s better to allow for it if possible.¡± ¡°What sort of synergy should I expect?¡± ¡°It could be anything.¡± Elizzel crossed her arms and pondered for a while. Norazzel was now fast asleep, or she could be busy communicating with her other copy to monitor what was going on with Frill. At least, they would know if she really needed his help. ¡°Better meiyal flow, easier Drawing to name a few. Other materials might even include themselves with the integration, but I don¡¯t expect it from the Emerald Guidance.¡± She held up a finger. ¡°In any case, you can work for the synergy but don¡¯t place your bet on it. It¡¯s better to concentrate on the integration with the current materials you have instead.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°So how do I combine these?¡± Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm crackled with lightning meiyal. It was a blindingly white blade, with electricity crawling all over it. He knew of Su¡¯karix, who possessed the Thousand-Year Storm moniker, but he couldn¡¯t quite fathom this piece of meiyal-charged material actually originating from such a powerful Deitar. ¡°You better believe it,¡± Elizzel said, tugging on the Tether. ¡°If anyone were to actually get something like this, it would be someone as powerful as Rindea.¡± She studied the material closely. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s a nicked talon nail or a chipped off tooth. Small enough to fit a human¡¯s sword.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying it¡¯s a scrap of its power?¡± ¡°For her, yes. For you, I¡¯m not even sure if you can handle it without my help. For starters, this would probably require a normal practitioner to possess at least eighty-nine meiyal marks to integrate.¡± ¡°So only Katherine could possibly use this right now, technically.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m here, so let¡¯s not bother with that.¡± Frein pointed to the other meiyal-charged material. ¡°What about the Shinemoon Scabbard? You¡¯re saying that came from the moon itself? I thought there wasn¡¯t any space exploration in Brymeia?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Schrodie.¡± That didn¡¯t make sense to Frein. ¡°But Rindea didn¡¯t know Schrodie until we mentioned her.¡± ¡°That, I can¡¯t explain.¡± Elizzel tried not to look away, but she was too honest and pure to keep still when something bothered her. ¡°You know I can pull on the Tether, right?¡± Frein asked, giving the faunel a chance to open up herself. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just that, I¡¯m not sure if I should be telling you this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure Schrodie would¡¯ve warned you about it or shown up right now if you¡¯re not supposed to tell me these things.¡± The two waited for a while, but there was nothing except the slight snoring coming from Norazzel. So she did fall asleep¡­ ¡°Well¡­¡± Elizzel hesitated once more. Frein felt guilty. ¡°Look, if you don¡¯t want to, you don¡¯t have to. I won¡¯t pry.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°No, no, no. I¡¯ll say it. But don¡¯t expect me to be able to explain everything.¡± He nodded. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Elizzel found a display case on the floor and sat on it. Her arms still crossed. ¡°You¡¯ve been on the Shinemoon, Frein. That¡¯s where the Gatekeeper stays.¡± Frein blinked twice at the tidbit. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I remember it. I¡¯m sure.¡± Elizzel crossed her legs this time. Her eyes were full of confidence now that she had decided to tell. ¡°Not only that, but it was Evanclad who actually created Schrodie.¡± ¡°But he didn¡¯t know about the Gatekeeper when we met him.¡± It was now Frein¡¯s turn to find a display case big enough for him to sit on. ¡°That was the Evanclad of the past, yes. From a time before he created Schrodie. A much weaker version of him.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Well, Schrodie and I have reason to believe that the First Monarch might still be alive, but is currently not in Brymeia.¡± She was also quick to make sure they didn¡¯t go on a tangent. ¡°In any case, point here being, is that Schrodie used to acquire meiyal-charged materials from the Shinemoon. He¡¯d leave them in significant places or subtly give them directly to would-be heroes to help them out. But this was before he became in-charged with the Visitors and Seekers.¡± ¡°Schrodie doesn¡¯t do it anymore?¡± Elizzel shook her head. ¡°If he did, he would¡¯ve given you or Katherine one already.¡± Questions filled Frein¡¯s mind. He knew the minute he entertained them, he¡¯d be too distracted to accomplish their actual task. And as much as he wanted to theorize on the implications of a healthy and living Evanclad being absent in his Nightmare-filled world, he was also equally excited to finally come up with his own Meiyal Art. It has to be a sword. There was simply no other option. The thought brought about an image of a blacksmith in his mind, and it surfaced another question. ¡°So I¡¯m sure the difference is pretty distinct for you, but if I¡¯m making a sword out of all these materials, how different is it compared to Forging?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The question rendered Elizzel confused. She even tugged at the Tether to no avail nor clarity. ¡°The result ends with a sword, or a Weapon as far as Meiyal Armaments are concerned. And why is it Donning a Weapon? Who makes these terms?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re Drawing it, not Forging or Donning,¡± Elizzel said as if that explained everything. ¡°When Meiyal Armaments was first conceptualized, they were focused more on Armors rather than Weapons. At least, that¡¯s what Schrodie said to me.¡± ¡°Did she tell you if the two were supposed to work together? Meiyal Arts and Armaments?¡± ¡°How did you come up with that?¡± ¡°Bunch of research. Xiv thinks so too.¡± Elizzel smiled. ¡°Well, you¡¯re right. I don¡¯t really remember how it all happened, personally. I was busy taking care of Evangeline when Evanclad, Kristella, and Galavand were busy coming up with the disciplines. But what Schrodie said to me yesterday can confirm your theories. The two were supposed to work together.¡± ¡°Sorry, you met Schrodie yesterday?¡± ¡°Last night, you were busy, remember?¡± ¡°Oh¡­right.¡± Elizzel slightly blushed as Frein¡¯s recollection of his intimate night with Katherine oozed through the Tether. The faunel was quick to return to the original topic. ¡°Anyway, Meiyal Armaments were originally focused on defense, while Meiyal Arts were for offense. But history happened and now the two are their own disciplines. So they adapted along the way. Siffera was eventually developed to create a protective layer of meiyal around you, along with Drawn battle gears, sort of like the Armors of Meiyal Armaments. And Weapons were Forged in response to their lack of offensive capabilities, that¡¯s why Armaments practitioners are stuck with Donning a Weapon.¡± Clarity dawned on Frein, but the clouds of mystery quickly took over. ¡°So, why is it so difficult to learn both disciplines now?¡± Elizzel opened her mouth but came up empty. Norazzel responded instead, her voice accompanied with a yawn. ¡°Because thousands of years have passed since a devoted bloodline consistently tried to learn both disciplines. Monarch Kristella Irista was the last person I know to have done it. You see a brave pioneer venture on both paths every once in a while, but none of their descendants followed through. Eventually, the genes simply settled to adapt to one discipline once a practitioner decided whether to Draw or Forge.¡± Norazzel hopped off Elizzel¡¯s head and onto Frein¡¯s arms, climbing to rest on his shoulders. She snuggled tightly before speaking once again. ¡°As for the difference. A Forged Weapon or Armor, as you can obviously tell, are like small Exhibits that can integrate with meiyal-charged materials, turning them into Embellishments.¡± ¡°So Meiyal Armaments have more Exhibits?¡± ¡°Each Armor or Weapon is limited to how many Embellishments they can have on them, unlike your Exhibit that can constantly grow and make room when needed. They have to Reforge their Armaments in order to make them stronger and make more room. I would say the progression on either is about the same, given all things equal in terms of acquiring meiyal-charged materials.¡± Frein had never seen a pup balance itself effortlessly while sleeping on someone¡¯s shoulder. But given Norazzel¡¯s lack of weight, he figured he shouldn¡¯t be surprised in the first place. With the topic settled, the three of them turned their attentions back to the meiyal-charged materials. No matter how many times Frein considered it, the vision of a sword was still prominent in his mind. Not that he didn¡¯t want a sword, but the type of the weapon in particular brought along with it a memory he¡¯d rather have kept buried. Being inside his Mind Palace didn¡¯t help at all. The memories were vivid and quick to respond to his queries, whether consciously or subconsciously made. ¡°Why not just recreate it?¡± Elizzel said. ¡°The sword. No matter how much I pull on the Tether, I can¡¯t get its name.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t deserve Ayame anymore, Eli,¡± Frein said, turning to the faunel. The mention of the name caused a wave of regret to drown his heart. The memory was too vivid, but he prevented a Recollection from taking hold. He didn¡¯t want to relive it. The scar on his chest throbbed and ached. A memory of a dancing girl, a childhood friend. A promise he intended to keep this time around. Frein took one breath and pushed them all away, but not before Elizzel could pull from them. The faunel was somber, eyes close to tears, and a sob escaped even as she struggled to hold them back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said. ¡°I gave her away, Eli. I don¡¯t deserve the right to hold her anymore, even if it¡¯s a recreation.¡± Determination filled Frein. He now knew what to do. He pulled Nakiri¡¯s hilt from his Spatiera and presented it to Elizzel. ¡°We¡¯ll make the sword first,¡± he said. Norazzel picked up on the signal and jumped off of Frein, settling a distance away from the two of them. ¡°Good luck,¡± she said. The same determination filled Elizzel. She took hold of the hilt with one hand and hovered her other hand in front of the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm. Frein followed suit and reached out with his free hand, creating a circle. Lightning meiyal licked at his fingers, sending a numbing sensation all throughout his arm. He resisted them with Siffera. ¡°Ready?¡± Elizzel asked. Frein nodded and the two took hold of the material together. The closed circuit sent lightning running through their bodies, but with emphasized Siffera surging from them, they managed to convince the material to cooperate, if only slightly. They pulled the lightning blade together and brought it close to the hilt. The pressure and lightning surging from the Fulgurblade caused the hilt to sustain damage, creating black burn marks all around it. Elizzel was quick to envelop it with protective meiyal, minimizing the damage and preventing the entire thing from turning to ash. The Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm was resisting union with the hilt, but Elizzel simply urged Frein to keep pushing. Frein gathered a hefty supply of meiyal and poured his four-meiyal alongside it, strengthening his Siffera. They forced the material and the hilt to touch and for one instant, Frein thought there was an explosion. But in the next second, he found himself, along with Elizzel, standing in a different place, the material and hilt gone from their hands. They were above the skies, staring at the distant stars. A large circular landmass loomed above them. ¡°Another guest? What a coincidence¡­¡± A mature feminine voice echoed from behind and the two quickly turned to find a lady standing so casually in the air. She was dressed in white ceremonial robes. Her silver hair was tied in layers of buns, filled with different hair ornaments, but she still had excess to flow all throughout her body. Her eyes were white filled with sparkling blue with no pupil to be found. They narrowed at him, studying him. And then, she spoke once again, gravity and thunder followed her words. ¡°No¡­a Visitor.¡±
Chapter 118: To Speak With Ancients To Speak With Ancients
¡±Legends are based on true stories that have been lost in the flow of time. But sometimes, legends are not based on stories at all. Sometimes, legends do exist.¡± ~Su¡¯karix, The Storm Forever
¡°Curious¡­¡± said the strange lady. ¡°A Dream manifestation of the Visitor. Is this the modern way of going around these days? It¡¯s a creative way, I suppose.¡± ¡°Pardon the intrusion, madam,¡± said Frein. He kept his voice calm and his choice of words neutral despite the difficulty in keeping his uncertainty in check. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to trespass.¡± The woman casually gestured to the side. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t. I would¡¯ve known otherwise. But since you¡¯re here, it would be rude of me to shoo you away. Allow me to at least provide you some hospitality. Come, follow me.¡± She flew past them, heading towards the circular landmass above. As she did so, she spared a glance towards Elizzel. ¡°Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. You haven¡¯t changed one bit.¡± She moved on, not waiting for any response. ¡°Or I suppose you did. I don¡¯t really care.¡± Frein willed himself to move. His thoughts processed and his muscles flexed, showing a desire to move forwards to follow the strange woman, but all he got was a slight shift upwards. Elizzel helped him through the Tether, showing him the correct mindset for flight. He had to imagine himself pushing off the air, not pulling in desperation. The instant reaction threw him out of balance, but the faunel was there again to straighten him up. ¡°You seem awkward,¡± he whispered to Elizzel. He knew that a whisper didn¡¯t guarantee privacy, but the gesture might convince the strange lady not to eavesdrop. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see her again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m assuming then, that she¡¯s Su¡¯karix?¡± Elizzel just nodded. ¡°And that landmass over there is where the dragons are?¡± ¡°I will show you, if you will follow, Visitor, Elizzel.¡± The lady, Su¡¯karix, turned. ¡°There¡¯s still time to decide whether I allow a piece of my power to integrate with you or not. Do not squander it.¡± The two followed without saying anything else out of respect. They were, after all, trespassing in someone else¡¯s territory. It was only wise to follow their rules. It also helped that the landmass looked stunning in the night sky, which made Frein realize it was actually night. That brought a confusing amount of questions to his head. Did they go forwards or backwards in time? Or were they still in the present but in a different time zone? If the former question, then how far? If the latter, then where? Are they even in Brymeia? ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you this distracted before,¡± Elizzel commented telepathically. ¡°You¡¯re right. Need to focus. It doesn¡¯t matter when this is or where. What matters is how and why.¡± The night had a slightly darker shade than the usual purple glow Frein had been used to. A red tone was more prominent overall. He looked up and saw the Shinemoon was no longer in its full phase, a quarter of its face darkened, while the Darkmoon was still a complete circle of red. He wondered how the nights would be if the Shinemoon was in its new phase and the Darkmoon still reflected its red. ¡°It¡¯s not that red, actually,¡± Elizzel said, bored of their slow flight towards the landmass. ¡°The phases of both moons are consistent and there¡¯s never a new moon Shinemoon phase with a full moon Darkmoon phase. But the reverse is true for every other full Shinemoon.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The Shinemoon moves equally twice as fast as the Darkmoon.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind whispers behind my back,¡± Su¡¯karix said without turning towards them. ¡°Frankly, quite a lot of those has been happening rather frequently lately. But I do hope it¡¯s not about me. Nothing bad at least.¡± She craned her neck towards them when Frein couldn¡¯t voice the obvious question. ¡°Your telepathic link is based around Meiyal Arts. The discipline¡¯s sole weakness is that every Art you do originates from within your body. As long as I closely observe the movements of meiyal around each of you, I can take educated guesses as to what you¡¯re doing.¡± Her eyes narrowed and she stopped in midair. Only then did Frein feel the foreign meiyal, Su¡¯karix¡¯s meiyal, closing in on him. They were subtle once, no different from the passing of air, but they¡¯ve revealed themselves. Heat and cold, and crackles of anticipation waiting to be unleashed upon cornered prey. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°Sorry. No. We were talking about the moon, madam.¡± Frein ignored the attempt to frighten him. At least, he tried as much as he could. Su¡¯karix¡¯s meiyal retreated to a calm. ¡°Madam. You¡¯ve called me twice that already.¡± Frein was confused. The term wasn¡¯t exactly foreign or misunderstood, at least as far as his experiences with other women were concerned. Adventurers, soldiers, knights, even those by the markets didn¡¯t have an adverse reaction to being called a madam. Su¡¯karix saw his struggle and smiled, resuming their travel towards the landmass. ¡°My point is that I prefer to be called by my name.¡± ¡°I would hate to assume,¡± Frein implied. Whether or not she knew that Elizzel told him telepathically wasn¡¯t exactly a good confirmation of the woman¡¯s actual name. ¡°You¡¯re expecting a grand reveal? A show of prowess? I¡¯m afraid revealing my real form to you would instantly eradicate your meager manifestations. I would even venture so far as to accidentally and permanently scar your meiyal systems when I do so. Mortals of these modern times are too fragile. Too weak. It would not do well for my reputation to hinder Evanclad and his spawns any further. My name in the history books has been tarnished enough.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. When Frein still refused to say her name, she sighed. ¡°Fine. You may address me as Su¡¯karix, Visitor. This should suffice, yes?¡± ¡°Thank you, Su¡¯karix.¡± Frein gave his most appreciative smile despite the dragon in humanoid form not looking at him. ¡°I¡¯m Frein Nivan.¡± His recollection of the Thousand-Year Storm, depicted as she was in the history books, were all filled with insecure, misleading information. There were many embellishments involved whenever her account was concerned, trying to portray her as the villain. But he found something consistent within all the confusing details. Su¡¯karix cared for her Sky Islands. The people, the land, the culture. She treasured them all. Someone who cared, someone who protected like that was always someone Frein would try his best to understand. ¡°You are adorable,¡± she said, turning towards them once again. This time, she continued to fly, sure that her back wouldn¡¯t bump into a levitating rock or debris. ¡°Frein Nivan is an adorable name. I quite like it.¡± They were so close now. Frein could see more details of the landmass which was actually a number of islands. Clouds formed connections in between these islands, filling the gaps and creating the illusion of a single landform. ¡°Me?¡± he asked. ¡°Someone¡¯s been talking about me?¡± Su¡¯karix looked at Frein as one would look when admiring a small puppy or a kitten. He felt embarrassed and Elizzel felt the same in turn. ¡°She¡¯s a Deitar,¡± the faunel reminded him. ¡°Looking at Destiny is a common thing for her.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The way it clicked in his head wasn¡¯t particularly mind-blowing. In fact, he felt even more embarrassed. ¡°You¡¯ve been watching me.¡± ¡°Observing,¡± Su¡¯karix corrected. ¡°And only during times when your mind or situation overlaps with mine, my past, or my future. Such is the way Destiny works. You can only look at your own, see. But we can talk more about that after a while. Let me first introduce you to my humble abode, The Keeper¡¯s Isolation.¡± The world opened up to Frein once again. This must be the third time, or the fourth. He had lost count. Every new place, every vista of wonder and beauty, they simply always took his breath away. He wondered if he could take anymore of it, or if he would get used to it at all. He realized it hadn¡¯t even been a month since he stepped foot on Brymeia, but he had already seen so many wonderful things. And he was supposed to expect even more. The Great Cities of Irista Nation, the High Palace, the Nothing, Vyndival Kingdom, and so many other places yet for him to know, yet for him to visit. Maybe that was the true essence of being a Visitor¡­ Frein pulled himself back¡ªhe wasn¡¯t sure whether to consider this reality¡ªto The Keeper¡¯s Isolation. They landed on one of the small islands. It had a perfectly spaced out forest of trees at its center, surrounded by a river that fell directly towards another small island. It reminded him of the Relativity Temples in Schrodie¡¯s Realm, only there were no upside-down islands. Instead, what the Keeper¡¯s Isolation had was a massive piece of land surrounded by smaller islands connected by clouds and rivers. Frein realized they were slowly rotating, orbiting around this central landmass while slowly interchanging altitude with the other, smaller islands. Frein could see a gigantic tower on what could only be the center of the central island. They were too low and too far away for him to make sure of its exact location. Despite this wonder, he couldn¡¯t help but notice that something was obviously missing. ¡°Where are the dragons?¡± ¡°Not here, Frein. Unfortunately.¡± Su¡¯karix¡¯s face was somber, her glowing pupil-less eyes shimmering. ¡°Would you do me a favor, Frein? Would you refuse to believe any assumptions made about our kind written in their history books?¡± ¡°Will you tell me what really happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Su¡¯karix walked towards the edge of the island, urging them to follow. ¡°But definitely not right now. Our history is lengthy, and we do not have enough time for that. Perhaps when you¡¯re actually able to set foot on this land to meet me face-to-face, I might consider telling you my story.¡± Frein accepted the answer and offered his own. ¡°I¡¯ll study what I can, analyze whatever I can. But I will always keep in mind to be open until I hear your side of the story.¡± ¡°Fair enough, I suppose.¡± She led them to a suspended bridge made out of clouds that mimicked a road. A platform made out of round stone appeared before them, lifting from somewhere below the island. She boarded it and Frein and Elizzel followed suit. The Visitor had to make sure to maintain his balance as they slowly ascended towards the central landmass. ¡°Why not just fly directly?¡± he asked. ¡°The Keeper¡¯s Isolation is equipped with automated defense systems,¡± Elizzel replied, much to Frein¡¯s surprise. ¡°We¡¯ll be shot down the second we fly without permission.¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve assumed you¡¯d lost that particular memory, Elizzel. Color me surprised.¡± Su¡¯karix smiled and turned to him. ¡°See, I do not originally own The Keeper¡¯s Isolation. It was left to me by Alphazzel, before he isolated himself.¡± The Thousand-Year Storm nodded towards the tower. ¡°He is either at the very top, or the very bottom, I¡¯m not quite sure.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Frein asked. It was naturally the next question. Su¡¯karix allowed Elizzel to answer. ¡°He is the Faunel of History and Disasters. He¡¯s convinced that the Void Region, the Nightmare Lands, was because of his existence. He believes that by isolating himself, he¡¯s effectively slowing down the Nightmare Lands from spreading.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised he hasn¡¯t tried to kill himself,¡± Frein said. ¡°That¡¯s a bit dark,¡± Su¡¯karix commented. ¡°How sure are you, how sure can he be, that the Nightmare Lands would vanish if he ended his own life? What if his death, as the Faunel of Disasters, resulted in an even greater destruction?¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Frein conceded. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°You are a very sly person, Frein,¡± Su¡¯karix said, smiling. ¡°But you are not so subtle as you believe yourself to be. Still, you deserve your answers for being cunning enough.¡± Like getting caught red handed, Frein couldn¡¯t help but scratch his head. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said again. ¡°What is she talking about?¡± Elizzel asked him. Before she could pull from the Tether, Su¡¯karix responded. ¡°The question was neither to make assumptions nor to make a dark remark towards Alphazzel, Elizzel,¡± the dragon began. ¡°It is to determine whether a faunel can be killed or not.¡± ¡°You could¡¯ve just asked me,¡± the faunel said, expressing her disappointment. ¡°I know,¡± Frein said, not even trying to defend himself. ¡°But let¡¯s be honest, Eli. Your memory takes a bit of clarifying and double checking. We have with us here a person of great and vast knowledge. I¡¯m just skipping a few steps.¡± Elizzel narrowed her eyes and puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms in a huff. ¡°Fine! Whatever¡­¡± ¡°Eli,¡± Su¡¯karix repeated. ¡°An adorable nickname indeed. Would you give me one, Frein?¡± She began to sit and the stone platform immediately produced a part of itself into a chair. Then she made a gesture towards the two and another pair of chairs appeared. ¡°Give you a nickname?¡± Frein asked while taking a seat. Elizzel slumped on hers. ¡°Correct. I would like an adorable sounding one. Make it as cute as you can. See, all my life, I¡¯ve been given a plethora of terribly intimidating names. The Thousand-Year Storm, The Storm Forever, Dragon of Lightning, Terror of the Sky Islands. I am very much not a terror of the Sky Islands, mind you!¡± Su¡¯karix sighed. ¡°I would love a cute name for once.¡± Frein pondered and came up with a number of simple nicknames. Su, Stormie, Kari, and a bunch of other wordplay with the storm dragon¡¯s name. None of which sounded adorable or cute. ¡°Mind if I think about it for a while?¡± he asked. ¡°You have until before you have to leave.¡± Frein nodded. The deadline reminded him of something that he had taken for granted. The awe and grandeur was too much that he almost forgot about that one small detail. ¡°You said I was ¡®another¡¯ guest, but I don¡¯t see anybody else around.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because she¡¯s already inside,¡± Su¡¯karix answered. ¡°She¡¯s also arrived as a Dream manifestation like you. Appeared about an hour ago. I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯s still around. Quite the conundrum, that lady. Had to summon a connection with Palar¡¯gog, see. I believe her name was Frill Veli.¡± Frein felt faint as he processed two very important things from what Su¡¯karix just said. First, Palar¡¯gog, one of the Four Sealed Ones, was actually really still alive somewhere. Second, Frill was here and was talking to the Dragon of Eternal Winter. ¡°Do all draconic meiyal-charged materials go through you or what?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t afford the brainpower to sugarcoat his question for Su¡¯karix. The Thousand-Year Storm simply laughed at him.
Chapter 119: Palar鈥檊og鈥檚 Story Palar¡¯gog¡¯s Story Frein and Elizzel were led not towards the tower, but to a mansion just near the edge of the central island. Already they could hear the argument. ¡°Like I said, I don¡¯t care!¡± Frill¡¯s raised voice amazingly still felt soothing, at least as far as Frein was concerned. He wouldn¡¯t mind getting yelled at by a voice that was so easy to listen to. Maybe that was the reason why the other side of the conversation was laughing manically. ¡°Care or not, sweetie-pie, you sure are taking this poorly. You¡¯re the sort of child who stubbornly insists on doing the opposite of whatever your elders say. Don¡¯t go alone in the forest, and yet you do. Eat your vegetables, and yet you don¡¯t. Stop running around, and yet you keep running until you tumble over and cry for help.¡± Frein didn¡¯t have the time to admire and observe the mansion¡¯s interior as Su¡¯karix quickly led them to the same room as Frill. She opened a sliding door and allowed them to enter first. ¡°Wait inside while I bring you tea,¡± she whispered. The room was oddly minimalistic for a mansion''s interior. Frein couldn¡¯t avoid comparing the soft floor to tatami mats. The walls were also made out of some sort of folded wood or paper, depicting abstract flowing images which reflected the evening light in such a beautiful way that it made looking away difficult. The interior wasn¡¯t overly large, nor was there much furniture. A small center table was placed in the middle, with one pillow seat where an oddly glowing Frill currently knelt. She was too distracted to realize someone else had entered. In front of her was a floating metallic blob, swirling above the table. Frill was cautious enough to put her tea glass on the side to prevent any particulates from dropping in it. ¡°Hey, Palar¡¯gog,¡± Frein casually said as he entered the room proper. ¡°Hey,¡± the blob responded. Frill snapped to her, a surprised expression on her face. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Dream stuff.¡± ¡°You too, huh?¡± Palar¡¯gog commented. His blob form swirled rapidly. It reminded Frein of Sam for some reason. ¡°Wait, do I know you from somewhere, kid?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve studied you a bunch,¡± Frein answered. ¡°What you are, what you did, speculations about you. If what Su¡¯karix said about Destiny is true, then I should¡¯ve appeared in one of your gazing sessions. You¡¯re not trying to be a god still, are you?¡± ¡°What if I am?¡± He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m interested to know what you¡¯ve tried. I would sort of like to be one.¡± Manic laughter filled the room once again. It was so lively and terrible that the meiyal around them shook with malice, confused whether to be angry, disappointed, or amused. ¡°Wait,¡± Palar¡¯gog abruptly stopped. He swirled for a few seconds and came to a halt. ¡°You¡¯re serious.¡± ¡°Yeah. But this isn¡¯t about me.¡± Frein gestured towards Frill. ¡°She made the appointment with you. I¡¯d hate to take the spotlight.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Frein. Frein Nivan.¡± Palar¡¯gog hovered towards him. ¡°Can you believe this babe, Frein, my dude?¡± ¡°Babe?¡± Frill turned, her arms crossed. ¡°She wants to integrate with me! I¡¯ve never had a chick come on to me like that before!¡± The Dragon of Eternal Winter produced an elbow out of its blob and nudged Frein¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I think she likes me.¡± ¡°I think you got the wrong idea there, Palar¡¯gog,¡± Frein whispered back. ¡°She wants to integrate with your meiyal-charged material. Not you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same thing?¡± Frein pressed his lips and subtly shook his head. Palar¡¯gog¡¯s blob form turned to a sphere filled with spikes as he spun rapidly. He stammered, trying to explain the reason behind his logic. He couldn¡¯t find the right words. ¡°Really?¡± he asked finally, defeat following his voice. ¡°Aww¡­¡± Elizzel was the last to enter the room. Her presence caused Palar¡¯gog to rotate towards her. He did so in a slow, lethargic way. ¡°Hey, Elizzel,¡± said the Dragon of Eternal Winter in a low rumbling voice. A long sigh escaped him. ¡°You¡¯re still mad at me, are you?¡± ¡°Palar¡¯gog,¡± Elizzel acknowledged. ¡°Yes.¡± The blob sighed again, deeper this time. ¡°Yet another one. Of course. Where¡¯s an orc when you need one?¡± ¡°What about them?¡± Frein asked before he could stop himself. ¡°I kill them when I¡¯m stressed. They seemed to like it, so it sort of just became a habit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good habit,¡± Frill commented. ¡°So you say. Those Norcs were blood-crazed, babe. They literally killed each other for sport. When the Divine Severing happened, they assumed that only blood sacrifices could gain back their favor. It was bloodbath after bloodbath, and they needed a medium.¡± ¡°Norcs?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Northern Orcs, dude.¡± ¡°Right¡­ And you were the medium?¡± ¡°Well, the other half of me was.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Frein, Elizzel, and Frill all asked at the same time. The door slid open to reveal Su¡¯karix with tea sets and pillow seats hovering around her. ¡°Settle down, everyone. Let¡¯s not break into too many tangents.¡± She organized the pillows and tea, allowing for Frein and Elizzel to take one side of the table while she took the opposite. Palar¡¯gog¡¯s blob took the last available side, opposite Frill, but remained hovering. ¡°I will let Palar¡¯gog clarify his story, after which we will immediately return to our main agenda. We can only hold this meeting for so long.¡± She turned to Frill Veli. ¡°Especially since you¡¯ve been here for a while now, Frill.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Everyone agreed, so the winter dragon resumed his story. ¡°Well, not a lot of people know this¡ªyou know, I think everyone that knows about this is dead, except for Su¡¯karix and Alphazzel¡­wait, is Alphazzel dead or not?¡± ¡°Get to the point, dragon,¡± Su¡¯karix calmly demanded. ¡°Jeez, calm down, babe.¡± Thunder responded for the Thousand-Year Storm. Multiple thunderclaps to be specific. Frill and Elizzel jumped out of their seats while Frein cracked the table trying to keep himself calm. ¡°Oh, my bad,¡± said the Visitor. The storm dragon gestured absentmindedly and the crack immediately mended itself. He was immediately impressed. ¡°Cool.¡± ¡°Alright, sorry, sorry.¡± Two small limbs grew out of the blob, gesturing to stop. ¡°Force of habit.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask again, Palar¡¯gog,¡± Su¡¯karix warned. Frein braced himself for meiyal pressure, but none came. Only a cold stare from the Thousand-Year Storm trained directly on the Eternal Winter. ¡°Well, the truth is, there are seven other Palar¡¯gogs in Brymeia. Palar¡¯gog was the name of our kingdom. Seven winter dragons, four of which were Worldborns and three, including myself, were Deitars. My god in particular, though I have forgotten its name, upheld the Concepts of Wonder, Discovery, and Advancements.¡± Frein had to remind himself that ¡®kingdom¡¯ was the collective term for a group of dragons. He also made sure to make a mental note of these Concepts and how they could possibly relate to other information he had already gathered. ¡°You¡¯re just saying that to make it look like you¡¯re not the bad guy,¡± he said. Granted there wasn¡¯t much written about Palar¡¯gog other than he was the only publicly named Sealed One. Even access just to that information needed Princess Kristel¡¯s authentication. ¡°I am so not the bad guy!¡± the blob said in defense. ¡°Look, alright? Four of us loved the attention from the orcs. I was one of them because I enjoyed their sacrifices and I had power to give in return. It was a deal that they asked me to sign, okay?¡± ¡°What happened to the other three?¡± Frill asked. Palar¡¯gog shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Dead, probably. They were even crazier than I am. Went to fight too many magnificence of giants. Glacial giants too. I mean, they were Worldborns, but they didn¡¯t really pick their fights, you know?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re sorry at all, considering you¡¯re part of the kingdom,¡± Elizzel commented. ¡°It was a long time ago, alright, buddy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your buddy!¡± ¡°Eh, whatever. Stay mad.¡± The blob turned back to Frein. ¡°In any case, I didn¡¯t go around flaunting my power, killing innocents and all that tyrannical stuff. I was having fun experimenting with blood meiyal.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that forbidden or something?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Who decided that? Your lords, your rulers? Eh. They value life too much. No wonder they¡¯re so afraid of my blood pools. Look, I don¡¯t care. As far as I was concerned, I never made trouble for anybody. I used my own blood if I had to.¡± ¡°You said there were other three Palar¡¯gogs who sided with the Norcs?¡± Frill followed up. ¡°Ah, yes. Them, I¡¯m sure are actually dead now. One died during the fight with Evanclad, the second was sealed. He was the actual Sealed One, see? The First Monarch assumed he was immortal because of his Deitar status, and because we all look alike. Without sustainable meiyal and because of the Diving Severing, he eventually died within the seal. Not a good way for a dragon to die, honestly. ¡°The third one stole my research and hid back in Oh¡¯strol Continent for years, until heroes from Eva¡¯s era defeated her. She¡¯s the one who permanently destroyed the land and the one most people refer to when talking about history.¡± ¡°And you?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Well¡­¡± the dragon blob turned to the dragon human, and the three guests quickly followed. ¡°I invited him to the Great Dragon Kingdom Exodus. He was one of the first to leave this world.¡± Su¡¯karix drank her tea, eyes fixed on Elizzel. ¡°You don¡¯t believe what you¡¯re hearing¡­¡± ¡°How am I supposed to buy that?¡± said the faunel, her voice struggling to stay calm, her eyes were daggers trained at the blob. ¡°You made our people suffer so much! You didn¡¯t kill innocents? No? Is decimating entire cities for blood sacrifices not the same as killing civilians? Huh?¡± Her breathing dragged, but her eyes flared, forcing her to her feet. ¡°We made a pact with Oh¡¯strol! Evanclad sent entire armies to help the continent because they couldn¡¯t handle your deranged orcs! No, you didn¡¯t kill those innocent people, your orcs did! You empowered them, you worthless garbage! Stop playing innocent!¡± Palar¡¯gog and Su¡¯karix both turned away from Elizzel, directing their eyes towards Frein. They were inconsiderate, as if telling him to put a leash on his misbehaving pet. It rubbed him the wrong way. ¡°Why would I stop her?¡± said the Visitor. ¡°You think just because they¡¯re all in the past, I should just convince her to let it go? You think I don¡¯t understand because I¡¯m mortal and you¡¯re close to gods?¡± Frein flared his Siffera to the limit. As expected, both Deitars didn¡¯t even flinch. Compared to them, he was simply breathing. But it wasn¡¯t the display of power or the surge of meiyal that kept both beings of power to remain silent and in awe. The Visitor did not focus the Art to strengthen his physicality or his intimidating aura. Instead, he invested all of it to project his ambition. Godlike beings, through his observations with Schrodie and Evanclad, and even in the stories he had read before, they were all enamored by the grandiose ambition, by the impossible. And Frein¡¯s ambition was beyond what even mere Worldborns and Deitars could imagine. A world free of Nightmare. ¡°Let me make one thing clear,¡± he began, meiyal carrying his voice throughout the room. ¡°We didn¡¯t come here to absolve you of your sins, we didn¡¯t come here to be convinced of your innocence. We came here for your powers. Own your mistakes and take responsibility. Don¡¯t complain like a child.¡± Meiyal pressure slammed into the room. Elizzel was brought to her knees, barely resisting even with Siffera coursing through the Tether. Frill¡¯s glow was quickly fading, but she resisted somewhat, relying on both hands to keep her from getting squished. Frein fought through the force with his Art but he couldn¡¯t move a muscle. None of them could breathe. ¡°Don¡¯t mistake me for a juvenile, Visitor,¡± Palar¡¯gog¡¯s voice echoed, much louder compared to Frein¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a footnote trying to make history.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I call being childish,¡± Frein retorted. He knew it would anger the Eternal Winter even more, but that was proving his point. And hopefully, he would only pay with meiyal-charged materials for his stubbornness. ¡°You¡ª¡± The pressure lifted and thunderclaps roared outside once again. ¡°Apologies, Visitor,¡± Su¡¯karix¡¯s voice was calm and collected, sipping from her tea. ¡°Though I detest your choice of words, I must admit you do have a point. Apologize, Palar¡¯gog.¡± All the intimidation vanished from the Dragon of Eternal Winter. He kept stammering his words. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t even my fault! I didn¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°Not in the eyes of the victims of those you empowered.¡± The Thousand-Year Storm gestured towards Elizzel. ¡°She¡¯s right. You are responsible for the people you provide with power.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The blob paused and turned. Then it slumped on the table like spilled liquid. Palar¡¯gog sighed, a long, drawn out one, before plopping back to its spherical form. ¡°Elizzel,¡± he began, ¡°this might sound disingenuous, for in my heart and conscience, I know I did nothing wrong. However, if everyone says otherwise, then it must be true and I¡¯m just missing the point. But personally, I know what¡¯s important to me is that I desire no quarrel from any of you. I only want to be left alone with my studies. ¡°I went away with the Exodus because I know I¡¯m no longer accepted in Brymeia. And it seems to be staying that way for the time being. I want to make amends, really.¡± Silence filled the room for a short while, until everyone remembered to breathe. ¡°Wow,¡± Frein and Elizzel said at the same time. ¡°That¡¯s pretty mature of you.¡± ¡°So you forgive me?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked, his voice trembling with anticipation. ¡°It¡¯s a step, I suppose,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I can¡¯t not consider it after a speech like that. Sorry about what I said earlier.¡± Frein noticed Su¡¯karix smiling at him. ¡°A conversation like this would¡¯ve resulted in a war years ago,¡± she said. ¡°Looking at it now, it does seem childish.¡± The Visitor had learned his lesson. He neither agreed nor argued with the point. The Thousand-Year Storm only smiled even further. ¡°You¡¯re very perceptive for one so young.¡± ¡°I know when someone¡¯s trying to bait me.¡± ¡°Very cunning.¡± She finished her tea and placed it on the table. ¡°Well then, I suppose it¡¯s time for our main topic. First come first served, of course. Frill and Palar¡¯gog. Do you agree to integrate with each other or not?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can explain what this exactly entails first?¡± Frill asked. She had remained somewhat silent throughout the entire discourse, but Frein could see she was absorbing every moment of it. Too respectful, too quick to bow in front of overwhelming power. But he could see that she was trying to change that. ¡°I suppose.¡± Su¡¯karix motioned for snacks to appear. They were offered some crispy vegetable chips, assorted biscuits, and more tea, all delivered through floating plates and other containers as if the air was their very servant. ¡°What would you like to know?¡± Frein raised his hand. The Thousand-Year Storm gestured towards him. He popped one vegetable crisp into his mouth and spoke. ¡°Everything.¡±
Chapter 120: Deitar Integration Deitar Integration "Go on, then." ¡±So what I¡¯m most curious about, is why integrating to these materials brought us to you guys,¡± Frein said after taking a biscuit. It had a mild salty taste, perfect for the slightly bittersweet tea. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that, like, normal?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± the Visitor sipped from his tea. ¡°At least not for me. I¡¯ve only integrated with Emerald Guidance, and nothing so drastically different happened then. I added a new meiyal source, gained a huge boost in my abilities, but that¡¯s about it. No Dream manifestations or Deitars talking to me.¡± The Dragon of Eternal Winter shrugged with his blob arms and turned to Su¡¯karix. She was smiling and observing. ¡°There are various types of meiyal-charged materials, Frein. Emerald Guidance, for example, is a natural material created organically in Brymeia, time and other external factors helping with its creation. The Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm is different. It is power formed from my very being. A nurtured material, if you will. Deliberately cultivated for a specific purpose.¡± ¡°What purpose?¡± Su¡¯karix scanned him, analyzing the material within him. ¡°This one was honed specifically for biting. A chipped off piece of my canine from when it clashed against Kristella.¡± The explanation created more questions than answers in Frein¡¯s mind. He didn¡¯t bother hiding his confusion, telegraphing it freely for the storm dragon to interpret. ¡°I can answer every question you have, if you ask them.¡± ¡°How would one create their own material? If I made my own and integrated with it, what would happen?¡± Were only two of a dozen other questions Frein had. Su¡¯karix indulged herself with the entire glass of tea and leaned forward when she was done, making herself more comfortable. A teapot promptly gave her a refill. ¡°You create a meiyal-charged material to provide others with power. It¡¯s a piece of yourself, your existence to be given to others. What already belongs to you won¡¯t provide you with anything else, other than what you have in the first place.¡± Her eyes wondered for a while, recalling what Frein guessed would be some possible exceptions. ¡°Though if you combine a piece of your existence with a different vessel that didn¡¯t belong to you in the first place, and provided the event that caused this union was significant enough, you might just be able to create your own material at your own expense. One that can actually help you improve. Though, the semantics requires something that¡¯s not of your own possession.¡± ¡°How significant are we talking about?¡± Frill asked. Frein had the same question in mind and was glad that it wasn¡¯t just him who was absorbed in this conversation. Su¡¯karix turned to the Aria. ¡°Most successful ones that I know of involved risking one¡¯s own life. Stabbing yourself with a blade and surviving for an hour or more, for example. Your essence essentially fuses with the blade and Destiny will deem your survival a significant event, thus charging the object with a piece of your power.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s the survival rate for that?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. The Thousand-Year Storm turned to him this time. ¡°Terrible. See, if you try to play around the mechanics, try to fool Destiny, if you come up with contingency plans or creatively lessen the risks, you¡¯re essentially making the event less significant. Do you understand? ¡°With the method that I presented, you would have to survive the entire hour without any sort of external assistance. No healing, no backup plans, nothing. Just you and the blade for one hour. Of course, practitioners back then were extremely greedy people. If they survived the first hour, why not the second?¡± ¡°And that¡¯s the leading cause of death?¡± Frein asked this time. ¡°I guess the safest way is to hunt for materials rather than make them on your own.¡± Su¡¯karix nodded. ¡°Correct. Trying to gain more power that exceeds your own limits, using your own terms, always leads to risks that only a few fully understand and are willing to pay. The safest way, though it is not entirely without risk, is to always find external sources of power.¡± ¡°How did you get yours?¡± Frill asked. ¡°My era was during the age of gods. There¡¯s always an abundance of power lying around if you know where to look or who to ask¡­or who to defeat. Strength was everything back then.¡± Su¡¯karix motioned to take another sip but stopped halfway. ¡°I¡­was special, different compared to the other Deitars. While Palar¡¯gog represented three Concepts, it was still under the tutelage of one god. Bonding your Destiny to more than one incurs great expense towards your own Destiny and existence. It takes a lot of preparation to achieve something almost impossible. ¡°But I had the backing of three gods the moment I became a Deitar, representing eight Concepts in total. And it didn¡¯t cost me anything at all.¡± It was obvious that the gravity of her words didn¡¯t translate to Frein and Frill. Elizzel, having known all these already¡ªFrein guessed¡ªdidn¡¯t give any reaction at all either. Su¡¯karix sighed. ¡°Alas, my achievements hold no weight against the test of time. Such is the fate of all ancients it seems.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± Frein started. ¡°I just thought becoming a Deitar implies gaining the favor of multiple gods in the first place. I thought bonding with different gods with multiple Destinies was a common thing.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re half right, dude,¡± Palar¡¯gog said. ¡°It does take more than one god to elevate a mortal beyond Worldborn. But it¡¯s usually agreed beforehand that the succeeding Deitar chooses one of those gods to bond Destinies with. Su¡¯karix here just so happens to be able to do that for all three that helped her ascend.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°There were four, if I recall correctly,¡± the Thousand-Year Storm interjected. ¡°But the fourth denied its bond after helping me become a Deitar.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Frill asked. ¡°That feels reversed.¡± ¡°It could be that it saw something within Destiny that it didn¡¯t wish to manifest, but agreed just enough to help. It doesn¡¯t matter now.¡± Su¡¯karix shifted on her seat, lifting a leg to help her balance and feel more relaxed. ¡°What else do you want to know?¡± ¡°Can you clarify what happens if I integrate with the Mercurial Liquid?¡± Su¡¯karix turned to Palar¡¯gog, urging him to answer. ¡°Well¡­ the Liquid serves as a primer for fusion techniques, regardless of the discipline you practice. We had this ultimate goal of combining all of ourselves and becoming the one true Palar¡¯gog. As you can see, it didn¡¯t quite work out the way we intended. Apparently, we¡¯re not actually in unison with our agendas. I never quite finished my experiments with the material, but it at least allows for two fused individuals to work together. You can possibly push it to three.¡± ¡°I¡¯m permanently fused with my sister¡¯s meiyal system,¡± Frill said. Immediately, the two Deitars scanned her. They weren¡¯t even trying to be subtle about it. They were direct with their intent and the Aria couldn¡¯t do anything about it but to feel embarrassed. Frein made a mental note to find ways to block this scan. It wouldn¡¯t do well for them if their enemies could simply gain information this easily, potentially speaking. ¡°I only see one core, babe,¡± Palar¡¯gog said. Frill still didn¡¯t like the way the Eternal Winter addressed her, but her lack of ability to fend off a Deitar reduced any attempts to call out the dragon to merely looking at him with dagger eyes. Fortunately, he was generous enough to read the room. ¡°Fine. Frill, it is.¡± ¡°I had to give it away. If you can see my system, you should be able to see the marks.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Su¡¯karix said. ¡°Two hundred marks. Complex enough. Other than the missing core, I¡¯d say it¡¯s a fuse.¡± ¡°Then the material should work without a problem,¡± said Palar¡¯gog. ¡°It¡¯ll make your techniques a level higher, or make the maximum potential of the base level easier to achieve if you can¡¯t do so yet. Basically, it raises both your ceiling and floor potential. Also gives you another meiyal source.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± Frein¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Thanks. Only works when you¡¯re fused, so it basically does nothing for you, Visitor.¡± He held up a blob hand with a smaller blob finger. ¡°Tethering isn¡¯t the same as fusing, just to clarify.¡± He ignored the comment and turned to Frill. ¡°But it¡¯ll work permanently for you, right, Frill?¡± ¡°I think so?¡± Both of them turned to Palar¡¯gog. ¡°I have every confidence that it will.¡± ¡°In which case, I assume both parties agree with the integration, then?¡± Su¡¯karix asked. ¡°It doesn¡¯t do that bond thing with Destiny or anything, right?¡± Frill asked, hesitating a bit. ¡°I won¡¯t hear you whispering in my head or in my dreams, would I?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that kind of material,¡± Palar¡¯gog replied. ¡°But I¡¯ll still be able to see you in my Destiny whenever you have your Exhibit Displayed. I won¡¯t be able to affect it or anything, given my circumstance anyway. I¡¯ll need Su¡¯karix to help bridge a connection if I want to communicate with anyone in Brymeia, and only through here in the Keeper¡¯s Isolation, so¡­¡± Frein observed the blob shrug. Only now did he notice such a movement was reminiscent of a human action, not a dragon. He found it amusing and ironically adorable from a murder machine who performed his kills without any shred of malice. Elizzel zapped him through the Tether. Frill pondered for a while and none in the room spoke, allowing her to churn through her thoughts. Frein did the same. Overall, it wasn¡¯t a bad deal. If Frill could go over the fact that he was gaining power from someone who was once her ancestors¡¯ worst enemy¡ªdespite Palar¡¯gog¡¯s version of truth¡ªthen there was nothing for her to lose at all. ¡°Norazzel said I¡¯ll reach Art fatigue faster this way,¡± she murmured. ¡°But Brymeia said I should integrate anyway.¡± That caused the air to freeze. Palar¡¯gog and Su¡¯karix looked at her with intensity. Frein fought against his instincts to raise his guard, not wishing to give the wrong impression. ¡°You met Brymeia?¡± both Deitars asked. Frill was immediately alert. ¡°Yes,¡± she said with finality. Since she didn¡¯t mention the Princess meeting the same person, Frein and Elizzel both decided to keep quiet about it. ¡°Apologies,¡± Su¡¯karix said. Her face relaxed back to her calm and confident smile. ¡°Mention of her name outside the context of the planet simply brings a little tension. You know there are two of them, correct?¡± ¡°And that I should only listen to the correct one,¡± Frill answered. Palar¡¯gog made an audible sigh of relief. Frein couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity anymore. ¡°Why? What happens if you listen to the wrong one? How do you know the wrong one?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t, buddy. But knowing helps a lot. You can sort of get a feel for it if you¡¯re aware enough.¡± Su¡¯karix didn¡¯t remove her eyes from Frill. ¡°Did she ask you to be her next vessel?¡± When Frill didn¡¯t respond, she continued. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t have to tell me.¡± Just from the hesitation alone, even Frein could tell Frill already unintentionally gave her answer. He wouldn¡¯t let it past the Thousand-Year Storm to have read the same. The thought actually raised a few alarms in his head. What if Su¡¯karix had Heart¡¯s Will? He saw her smile in his direction, and everything suddenly made sense. ¡°See, if you act like you don¡¯t have it, no one would assume.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to get paranoid really quickly at this rate.¡± ¡°What are we talking about?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked, turning from Su¡¯karix to Frein. He even turned to Elizzel who just played along and shrugged. ¡°She did,¡± Frill said, oblivious to the side chatter. ¡°She said she¡¯ll tell me how to become the next Brymeia.¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± said the Eternal Winter. Su¡¯karix stood and knelt formally beside Frill. Her hands were on her lap, showing the beautiful symmetry of her ceremonial robes. Her face was solemn, blemished only by the slight crease on her eyebrows. ¡°Frill,¡± she began, turning her arms with an open hand. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much to ask. Would you please allow me to embrace you?¡± The Aria awkwardly shuffled on her knees. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I would like to offer my support. To be the next vessel of this world is a daunting task. I would go so far as to advise you against it. But this is a decision you have to make. Regardless, I would like to provide you with some comfort along your journey.¡± Su¡¯karix turned to Frein. ¡°In a sense, you¡¯ll be treading a far more dangerous path compared to him. You will leave your peers behind, and you will feel alone most of the time. If you do find yourself in this path, know that I, the one who represents the dragons of Brymeia, will be at your service. So please, let me embrace you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Frill paused, trying to comprehend her own words. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I want to be Brymeia.¡± ¡°Whatever it is you decide, I will support you, Frill.¡± Su¡¯karix raised her arms this time. ¡°This I swear to you.¡± Frill slowly moved and leaned onto Su¡¯karix¡¯s bosom. The Thousand-Year Storm wrapped her arms around the Aria¡¯s shoulders while she reciprocated with her arms around the dragon¡¯s waist. The two glowed for a brief moment. ¡°You are a kind soul, Frill,¡± said Su¡¯karix, caressing the Aria¡¯s head like a doting mother before releasing her embrace. ¡°I will watch over you and your journey.¡± ¡°What just happened?¡± Frein asked, finally gathering himself from the amazing display he just saw. He could see, through his Mesiffera, a different source of meiyal swimming in Frill¡¯s meiyal system. ¡°It¡¯s another type of meiyal-charged material,¡± Su¡¯karix said, not bothering to return to her side of the table. She raised a leg and began to relax once more, turning to Frill. ¡°A conceptual type. In other words, an abstract material. I¡¯ve given you my Storm Veil.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already integrated with it!¡± Frill said, observing herself. She was brimming with meiyal, causing her hair to float. ¡°The embrace was the requirement for it. It¡¯ll provide you with another source of meiyal and other surprises that I¡¯ll reveal to you along the way. Simply mention me in your thoughts, and I¡¯ll contact you when I can. You don¡¯t have to resort to Dream manifestations.¡± ¡°Well, that sort of took me out of the spotlight, but fine, I guess,¡± said Palar¡¯gog, crossing his blob arms. ¡°Same,¡± said Frein. Elizzel got bored and finally decided to munch on some biscuits. A glass of tea floated near her. Su¡¯karix turned to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Visitor. I haven¡¯t forgotten you.¡± Frill faced Palar¡¯gog simultaneously. ¡°Same.¡±
Chapter 121: Keeper鈥檚 Tower Frein observed another significant change within Frill¡¯s meiyal system as well as her overall demeanor. She was struggling in a positive way, smiling despite the weight of her new meiyal combination. After she and Palar¡¯gog formalized their agreement, the Aria finally integrated with the Mercurial Liquid. ¡°It feels so heavy,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s four-meiyal for you.¡± ¡°How do you do it?¡± Frein pointed a thumb towards the bored faunel sitting on his shoulder while looking at the abstract wall paintings. ¡°Hmm?¡± Elizzel slid and bent backwards, her long, pink hair slipping over his arm. She looked at Frill upside-down, slightly drowsy. She balanced herself on his shoulders, using both arms and legs as counterweight. The faunel didn¡¯t weigh anything at all, making the entire effort nothing more than an act to entertain herself. ¡°I make it easier for Frein to work his Milling. It¡¯ll take you some practice, but you can eventually do it on your own. Or maybe acquire a meiyal-charged material that can help you with it.¡± ¡°At first, it seemed impossible,¡± Frein added. ¡°I almost reached Art fatigue just by Milling. Now, it¡¯s not as difficult anymore, I can even actively do it on the run like the way I usually do it. But it still takes me four times the usual amount of time, so that¡¯s the next area I¡¯m trying to improve.¡± ¡°Why make the effort if Elizzel is by your side, Visitor?¡± Su¡¯karix asked, still relaxing beside Frill. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t her assistance make it moot?¡± ¡°To prepare,¡± he answered easily. ¡°I¡¯m not going to stick with just four-meiyal.¡± ¡°How much, then?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked this time. ¡°As many as we can take. But the more I can improve, the further we can push the limit.¡± Frein returned to Frill. ¡°In any case, as long as you keep practicing the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, you should be okay.¡± The Deitars looked at him in a weird way. ¡°That¡¯s what the Gatekeeper told me.¡± This pushed a thought to the surface of his mind. ¡°You do know Schrodie, right?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re familiar,¡± Su¡¯karix replied. ¡°Yeah, dude. She¡¯s an oddball,¡± said Palar¡¯gog. Before anyone else could speak, Frill¡¯s glow began to dim dramatically. Everyone in the room understood what it meant. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s time for me to go.¡± Frill was the first to admit. ¡°It was nice meeting you, Su¡¯karix. The Princess won¡¯t believe it when I tell her.¡± ¡°The pleasure is all mine, Frill Veli.¡± Palar¡¯gog made a sarcastically audible cough. ¡°Yes, you too, Palar¡¯gog. I don¡¯t think the Princess would believe your story either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m worried about, ba¡ªI mean, Frill.¡± The Aria smiled. ¡°It was nice meeting you, too.¡± She turned to Frein. ¡°Don¡¯t take long.¡± Frill waved them goodbye before her Dream manifestation vanished completely. ¡°You could¡¯ve extended her stay,¡± Frein said. It took the two Deitars by surprise. ¡°How did you know?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked too quickly, realizing only a moment after that Su¡¯karix was staring at him. She sighed and turned her clear, glowing eyes towards Frein. ¡°For one without Heart¡¯s Will, you sure act like you do.¡± ¡°How do you know I don¡¯t have it?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh, please.¡± Frein accepted the fact that those two, specifically Su¡¯karix, could easily look into whatever he was trying to hide. So, he gave up. ¡°I was just guessing, really,¡± he said. ¡°And I fell for it,¡± Palar¡¯gog admitted. ¡°That¡¯s pretty irritating.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go killing orcs because of it.¡± The blob quickly shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me. I¡¯m trying to change, dude.¡± With that, Frein decided to direct the topic back to his original agenda. Now that Frill had returned to her physical self, there was nothing to distract the Visitor from his trivial questions anymore. ¡°How does time work while I¡¯m in a Dream manifestation?¡± ¡°Same as usual,¡± Su¡¯karix answered. ¡°But Frill barely had an hour during practice, when you said she¡¯s been here an hour already.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because our manifestation took time,¡± Elizzel answered. ¡°Probably¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re correct, Eli.¡± Su¡¯karix placed down her tea and began working on some vegetable crisps. She dipped them in seasoned vinegar that Frein didn¡¯t notice was there. ¡°I was alerted to a significant probability within my Destiny and waited for you two to manifest. For you, the transition might¡¯ve been instantaneous, but that was mostly because your consciousness wasn¡¯t awake during your manifestation.¡± ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong, dude?¡± Palar¡¯gog suddenly turned into a spike. ¡°I¡¯m a bit worried for Frill.¡± Frein looked at the Eternal Winter, who was slowly returning to a blob. ¡°Before I started my transition to a Dream manifestation, Frill was having a few problems integrating with the Mercurial Liquid. Our friends might¡¯ve been worried sick if it took her more than an hour to come back.¡± ¡°She can take care of it, Frein,¡± Su¡¯karix said, confident as if she had known Frill far longer than he did. ¡°I guess, you¡¯re right. She was a lot more confident compared to an hour ago. Hopefully she covers for me too.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Well,¡± the Thousand-Year Storm started, turning to Palar¡¯gog. ¡°I gave your accidental progeny additional assistance, so you can probably give mine in return, no?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t decide whether he liked the notion of becoming someone¡¯s progeny when integrating with their meiyal-charged materials. He felt like he owed them now. Su¡¯karix turned to him. ¡°No, Frein. You don¡¯t have to think that you owe us anything. It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t gain anything from this exchange.¡± ¡°What do you gain exactly?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for another time, Frein. Maybe when you get to the point where you can actually produce your own meiyal-charged materials for others, then we can talk about it.¡± The Thousand-Year Storm gestured towards the blob dragon. ¡°I suggest you focus on convincing this other Deitar to help you out instead. ¡°You gave that to her willingly, Su¡¯karix,¡± the winter dragon replied, crossing his blob arms. ¡°I have no obligation to assist Brymeia¡¯s Visitor.¡± ¡°That sucks,¡± Frein said. ¡°I totally believed you¡¯re not the bad guy despite what the history books wrote about you, but I guess I was mistaken.¡± ¡°Nice try, dude. Not falling for that.¡± ¡°Give him a trial, then,¡± Su¡¯karix urged. ¡°A simple test with a meiyal-charged material as a reward.¡± ¡°Sounds like a hassle. I also think it¡¯s about time for me to return. I have experiments to run.¡± Frein was quick to bargain. If he couldn¡¯t play mind games with this Deitar, he would earn his favor through brute force if he had to. ¡°I¡¯ll make it worth your while, Palar¡¯gog. Put me on an experiment or something. Give me a trial that¡¯ll help you or make it more difficult for the reward. Anything!¡± ¡°What about the Tower, Palar¡¯gog?¡± Su¡¯karix suggested. The Eternal Winter was quick to gasp. ¡°He¡¯s a Dream manifestation!¡± ¡°I can still use Meiyal Arts!¡± Frein insisted. ¡°So he says.¡± Su¡¯karix gestured confidently towards Palar¡¯gog. The Dragon of Eternal Winter made a long, drawn out groan. ¡°Fine! Fine! Let¡¯s go to the Keeper¡¯s Tower. Jeez¡­ Which orc do I have to kill to get some free time in here?¡± ¡°No orc killing,¡± Elizzel said, hopping off Frein¡¯s shoulders before heading out of the room. She didn¡¯t bother looking at the Deitar. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Sorry, ma¡¯am.¡± He leaned towards Frein and began to whisper. ¡°Normally, she¡¯s more reserved, you know¡­¡± Frein just laughed. ¡°It¡¯s a Tether thing.¡±
With Su¡¯karix¡¯s help, the travel from the edge of the massive island to the tower at the center rushed like a blur. Frein didn¡¯t even get a chance to soak up any details from the landscape. He thought he saw a pair of moving mountains at some point, but it could really just be his imagination with how fast they were moving. Still, the tower itself, the Keeper¡¯s Tower, was a sight to behold. A deep moat surrounded the spire, so deep that Frein couldn¡¯t see the bottom at all. He could see a portion of the tower getting swallowed by the darkness. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the section above pierced the eternal skies, meaning, he couldn¡¯t see either end of the Tower at all. He¡ªand Elizzel, much to his surprise¡ªtook a deep breath as the amazement dawned on both of them. ¡°I¡¯ve never been here for as long as I can remember,¡± Elizzel said before he could even ask. ¡°I think, I¡¯ve been only here once. Maybe¡­¡± ¡°This, is the Keeper¡¯s Tower,¡± Su¡¯karix introduced. ¡°Within, you will find an infinite amount of challenges for you to surpass. It could be as simple as solving a word problem, or something as complicated as saving a world. All theoretical simulations. Of course, it will be up to Palar¡¯gog to give you your challenge.¡± The Dragon of Eternal Winter made a small blob arm and audibly cleared his throat to address their attentions. ¡°Your challenge, Visitor Frein Nivan, is to retrieve a certain token called, The Record of Northsnow, 3rd Year of Eva¡¯s Era, authored by Alphazzel himself. Many copies of it can be found all around the tower, but you only need to retrieve one. It doesn¡¯t matter whether the copy is complete or not. Do so before your time limit ends, and I will grant you a meiyal-charged material.¡± Frein wanted to ask a few questions, but the blob dragon stopped him. ¡°Su¡¯karix and I have some influence over what can exist in the Tower before you enter. Well, it¡¯s more on Su¡¯karix than me, since I¡¯m not physically here. What will stand in your way will be by her and Alphazzel¡¯s design.¡± He waved a blob hand over to the Thousand-Year Storm. ¡°I cannot tell you the exact mechanics of this Tower, Frein,¡± she said, answering his untold question. ¡°Only know that my abilities will try to push away undesirable situations in order to give you a reasonable but challenging time. And no, you won¡¯t find Alphazzel in there unless he wants to see you.¡± ¡°Do I go up or down?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s up to you. I will limit your challenges into defeating Nightmares, rather than throwing you into a random situation. If you choose to go up, you will face more Chaotic Nightmares. Going down will lead you to Abyssal Nightmares instead.¡± ¡°Sounds new to me,¡± Frein said, turning to Elizzel who only shrugged. ¡°Same here. All we know are Deep Nightmares.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Su¡¯karix clarified. ¡°Both categories are under Deep Nightmares. Chaotic Nightmares tend to be physically mutated, but do not discount their instincts and creativity. Abyssal Nightmares linger with their influences and trickery. The choice is yours.¡± Both Frein and Elizzel quickly agreed to go up. ¡°Can I ask what material I¡¯m going to get?¡± he said to Palar¡¯gog. ¡°Motivation comes a long way.¡± ¡°I suppose.¡± The blob turned a small head to Su¡¯karix for a while before returning to him. ¡°You said her material is the Fulgurblade, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I have a Shinemoon Scabbard, too.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ll end up with a sword made out of multiple materials.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± ¡°Do you have a hilt?¡± ¡°From my old sword. Been with me since I was a kid. It¡¯s not meiyal-charged, but we ended up combining it before arriving here.¡± Two scans ran through him. They were quick and deliberate, but it didn¡¯t make the experience any more comfortable. ¡°Seems to be a success, but not fully integrated yet,¡± Su¡¯karix commented. Frein felt somewhat relieved from that confirmation. It gave him a giant boost in his morale, free of worry to face the Tower without distractions. ¡°Haven¡¯t started with the Scabbard yet,¡± Elizzel said. She was leaning dangerously from Frein¡¯s shoulder, peering down at the nothingness below. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you something to complete the weapon, Frein,¡± Palar¡¯gog said. The mention of his name painted the winter dragon in a different light, just like when he was angry. This time, there was gravitas in his voice, contradicted ridiculously by his small blob form. ¡°If you¡¯re successful with this challenge, I¡¯ll provide your sword with a finishing ornament, a sash. A tassel.¡± Frein wasn¡¯t impressed, but he held his breath, realizing quickly that the dragon wasn¡¯t done with his presentation. ¡°It¡¯s called a Blood-Ribbon Tassel. Much like the Mercurial Liquid, I created it from the living blood pools of Oh¡¯strol Continent. I will not tell you what it does until you earn this reward. But know that this material requires a great deal of capacity to integrate with. In terms with your Meiyal Arts, I would say it requires¡­¡± He turned to Su¡¯karix for help. ¡°Eighty-three marks,¡± she answered. ¡°I never really tried to learn Meiyal Arts or Armaments,¡± Palar¡¯gog admitted. ¡°Too many rules.¡± The amount of marks and the origin impressed Frein more than the type of material. But he didn¡¯t have much reference to decide whether the effort was worth his while despite urging the Deitar into giving him a difficult challenge. ¡°I think it¡¯s worth a shot,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°We¡¯re a Dream manifestation. I think there¡¯s no risk of death¡­right, Su¡¯karix?¡± ¡°Correct. You will still feel physical pain, but your wounds will not carry over to your bodies. However, I should warn you that the Nightmares inside are as real as it gets. There can be risk of damaging your meiyal systems. Consider the Keeper¡¯s Tower as a form of prison for them.¡± That didn¡¯t click well with Frein. ¡°Why not just outright kill them?¡± ¡°You know I can¡¯t answer that, Frein. It¡¯s part of the Tower¡¯s mechanics.¡± ¡°But no Nightmare has ever escaped it, right?¡± ¡°Not since it was built, if you believe Alphazzel¡¯s records.¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a first time for everything.¡± ¡°And only time will tell, Frein, if the Tower is part of everything.¡± Su¡¯karix smiled. ¡°You are indeed very perceptive, reminds me of Evanclad too much.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a compliment.¡± The storm dragon shrugged. ¡°Take it however you want.¡± Frein took a deep breath and headed for the bridge. It was wide enough for him, but narrow compared to the Tower itself. ¡°Alright, I think that¡¯s all I need to know,¡± he said while stretching. Elizzel returned to the Tether, forcing herself to wake up fully. She still ended up yawning. ¡°Good luck, dude,¡± Palar¡¯gog said. Su¡¯karix approached him and held out a hand. A small pearl rested atop her palm. ¡°Run your meiyal around this pearl and crush it if you feel a need to escape. Prioritize your safety above the reward. You have no use for it if your meiyal system is too damaged to integrate.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Frein took the pearl. It was incredibly sturdy. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it in mind,¡± he said while storing it in his pocket. ¡°You still remember our deal, correct?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll have a nickname for you by the time I¡¯m done with the Tower.¡±
Chapter 122: To Cross a Bridge To Cross a Bridge
¡±Not a prison, not exactly. A record by yours truly. One that I endeavor to keep unblemished and true. One that will serve Brymeia when hope is lit anew.¡± ~Alphazzel, Faunel of History and Disasters
Frill woke up back in the training facility. She was lying in the middle of her quadrant with Katherine sitting beside her. The Lady of the Void was deep in concentration, maintaining some sort of shimmering barrier around them. The Aria tapped her friend¡¯s knee. Friend. Frill smirked at the thought. Katherine was pretty much her big sister. Everyone¡¯s big sister. Katherine¡¯s eyes lit up, and she immediately Drew Samesia. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± she asked before looking towards the other side of Frill. ¡°She¡¯s awake!¡± The Aria turned her head to see Kristel standing in the middle of her quadrant. She had one hand on her waist and another holding her M.O.B.I.L.E. and was about to make a call. They met eye to eye and the Princess forgot about everything else, rushing over to Frill. She pushed past Katherine¡¯s barrier before the Lady remembered to remove it. ¡°How long was I out?¡± Frill sat up, causing mild nausea. She noticed Norazzel sleeping on her lap. ¡°About an hour and a half,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°That¡¯s abnormally long for an integration,¡± she implied, looking at Frein on his quadrant, asleep in his meditative sitting position. There was another Norazzel sleeping on his lap. Frill noticed someone was missing. She looked around to find Xiv on his own quadrant and also meditating. Mining or Smelting, she struggled to recall. The dizziness was slowly fading, but it hurt to think at the moment. The Vyndivalian faced away from her and was surrounded with his own barrier. ¡°I had to keep him away. He was too worried,¡± Katherine explained. She looked at Kristel and back to Frill. ¡°Tried to keep her away too, but she begged me not to.¡± Kristel took her hand. ¡°How are you feeling, Frill?¡± she repeated. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I have a lot to talk about, but I need to get my thoughts organized.¡± ¡°Should I tell Xiv the date is off?¡± Frill smiled and struggled on her feet, carrying Norazzel with one arm. The two ladies beside her lent a hand. ¡°No, I think we¡¯ll go still. But maybe we should go for a simple dinner for now.¡± ¡°I thought you wanted him to make plans?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like he had time to prepare any.¡± Frill gestured over to Frein. ¡°He should be fine. We met as Dream manifestations in the Keeper¡¯s Isolation.¡± ¡°As a what, where?¡± Kristel asked. Katherine nodded, clarity and relief surfacing on her expressions. ¡°Who did you meet?¡± the Lady asked. ¡°I¡¯ll explain in full detail later, Princess,¡± Frill replied before turning to Katherine. ¡°I met Palar¡¯gog and Su¡¯karix.¡±
¡°To be clear, if your manifestations sustain a significant amount of damage, you¡¯ll be returned to your bodies. The Tether will pull both of you back if either one of you are forced to return, so keep that in mind.¡± Frein sighed. ¡°I wish she would¡¯ve told us that first and foremost,¡± Elizzel complained, reading his mind. She busied herself with constant Milling. A bit of her frustrations seeped into the Tether, causing a mild disturbance in Frein¡¯s focus. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like Palar¡¯gog, Eli. But you don¡¯t need to hate on Su¡¯karix just because they¡¯re buddies.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know¡­¡± Crossing the bridge felt like a balancing act despite the wide horizontal clearance it provided. The fact that it didn¡¯t have any railings or barriers to prevent anyone from falling to the eternal darkness below contributed the most for its eerie atmosphere. Not to mention the entire island¡¯s altitude brought about an excessive amount of wind. Or maybe that¡¯s part of the challenge? Frein did only start to notice it the moment he crossed the bridge. He decided to walk and take his time, ensuring his footing, rather than sprinting as fast as he could. Siffera could help him cover the distance within a few seconds, but something was constantly trying to throw off his instincts. Something he couldn¡¯t quite explain. Cautiousness always helped traverse the unknown. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anyway,¡± he said. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t get hit, we¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what people say before bad things happen, right?¡± Elizzel asked before Frein unconsciously dragged her attention through the Tether. He could see it, slowed down through the help of his Siffera. A hurricane of wind meiyal spiraled towards the bridge. It came zooming past from the corner of the Tower, its trajectory aimed straight at the bridge where Frein would have been had he decided to run seconds earlier.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. It blasted through solid stone, chipping off fragments with its sheer force. The impact exploded and caused the entire bridge to shake as the hurricane itself dissipated. Frein was fortunate enough to be far away from the collision, feeling only a strong breeze that pushed him a few steps backwards. He didn¡¯t know if he could withstand such a thing. Survive, sure, but he could imagine himself getting swept off his feet and plunging down the darkness below. He ignored the chill that ran up his spine. ¡°In most stories, yeah. I didn¡¯t know you read books,¡± he said casually as if he didn¡¯t almost fall to his failure. He resumed his steps, focusing his Siffera into his survival instincts. The sudden alertness made him a little jumpy and more prone to feints, but he betted on the fact that the environment wouldn¡¯t be that cunning. ¡°I don¡¯t. I watch your memories.¡± ¡°Hey. Just because you¡¯re living rent free in my Mind Palace, doesn¡¯t mean you get to watch movies of my past too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t live rent free! We have a contract, remember? Besides, I won¡¯t pry on your deeper memories.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. Just wanted to say something along those lines.¡± Frein felt relieved that Elizzel respected his privacy, despite the Tether making it difficult. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about them some other time.¡± Another hurricane of wind meiyal collided with the bridge. This time it was behind them, pushing Frein closer to the Tower¡¯s entrance. It certainly gave the impression of randomness, but he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that it was somehow deliberate. The fact that the hurricanes only started assaulting the bridge after he made a few steps on it was his only proof, which he held on to given that no one else was around to argue with him. ¡°Were you counting?¡± he asked Elizzel. ¡°That was exactly fifty-two seconds. See? Not rent free.¡± ¡°It was a joke, alright?¡± ¡°Let me rub it in a few more times before I let it go, ¡®kay?¡± Frein ignored the faunel and attempted to dash, abruptly stopping after a few steps. And just like he expected, another hurricane struck in front of him. This time, he fought through the backlash, determined to stay in place and not lose his current progress. To his surprise, another blast crashed just behind where he would¡¯ve landed if he allowed himself to be pushed back. All alarms in his instincts went off and he made a mad dash towards the Tower. A hurricane blast slammed where he had been a second after he kicked off, barely missing his foot. The impact pressed him against the force coming from the front. He leaned forwards, reducing the amount of surface area for the forces to sandwich him with while increasing his speed. More blasts missed him from behind and from the front, but every time one was close, he¡¯d push himself faster. He couldn¡¯t afford to stop and Elizzel was too busy focusing on Milling both two and four-meiyal and constantly supplying Siffera to even watch what was going on. Frein was closer now when he noticed the hurricanes were coming from both sides. He could see three hurricanes rushing straight where he would be in a few seconds, covering for if he ever afforded another speed boost. Another one approached rapidly where he currently was, and the rest closed off the path behind him. In other words, Siffera sped up his awareness for him to analyze there was clearly no way out. Unless, of course, he forced through and made one. Fortunately, the three hurricanes in front of him were on alternating sides. As soon as he reinvested his Siffera back to his speed, he made a slight shift in his direction, meeting the first hurricane to his right head-on. He expected the clash, but the sheer weight of the meiyal still took him by surprise. It wasn¡¯t just the wind physically lifting him off his feet, it was also the meiyal ripping away at his reserves. Elizzel screamed in agony. ¡°Two more, Eli.¡± Frein couldn¡¯t afford to check up on the faunel. ¡°Endure it,¡± he said as he was blasted dangerously close to the edge to the very left of the bridge. He didn¡¯t stop running, knowing that he would be trapped by more hurricanes if he did. Instead, he met the second hurricane coming from his side. He was thrown away again, meiyal crashing on his core directly. This time, Elizzel was ready for it, growling on clenched teeth. ¡°Last one!¡± Frein rode his adrenaline, pushed it with his Siffera, and shoulder tackled the last oncoming hurricane. His internal companion braced for impact, her determination against the pain binding with his through the Tether. If there was one thing he regretted in this situation, it was that even at his strongest, he couldn¡¯t meet the hurricane and stay on the ground. But his tactic worked. By moving out of the middle of the bridge and meeting all the rushing wind meiyal, he effectively gave himself enough space to clear as he was pushed back by the force. Fortunately, the bridge itself dissipated the meiyal hurricane, preventing the entire thing from carrying him into the void below. And the last impact pushed him to the Tower¡¯s entrance. What he didn¡¯t expect was the entire bridge collapsing behind him. ¡°You alright, Eli?¡± Frein asked as he took deep breaths and assessed his meiyal system. His training had paid off. Even with the prolonged emphasis and the constant four-meiyal activation of Siffera, he didn¡¯t even feel any hint of Art fatigue. But he was worried for the faunel. Elizzel was taking ragged breaths. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Everything¡¯s still in place, I think.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It felt like your entire Dream Realm was flipping over.¡± ¡°Did it?¡± ¡°No.¡± The safety of success brought a smile on Frein. Even Elizzel afforded a laugh. ¡°I was so sure we¡¯d failed,¡± she said. ¡°Should¡¯ve warned you.¡± Frein exhaled and gathered himself. ¡°Okay, what to do next?¡± After confirming Elizzel was safe, Frein looked at the massive gate before him. A pair of metal doors in an arch made for giants stood on top of a large stairway. He craned up his neck to study the swirling decorations, trying to find a pattern or any inscription he could recognize. There was symmetry for sure, but as far as he could tell, even with Mesiffera, the entire thing was simply designed to be extremely meiyal heavy. ¡°They expect me to push this or what?¡± Frein gave it a kick just for fun and he bounced right off, rolling down the stairway dangerously close to the endless pit. He stopped his momentum just before he slipped off the final step. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of an overreaction, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I think it pushed against your Siffera,¡± Elizzel started. ¡°You need to emphasize it and push slowly, or else the barrier will just deflect you.¡± The sigh of relief that came out of Frein combined with his exhaustion. He noticed that the quiet had returned, allowing him a moment of respite. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break,¡± he said. ¡°But we might run out of time if we don¡¯t hurry,¡± Elizzel reminded him. ¡°That¡¯s fine. I think we have enough time.¡± He got up his feet and headed for the gate once again. ¡°Those winds took out about half of what we have in our reserves. We can take a few minutes to refill. It¡¯s just a hunch, but I¡¯d hate to enter the Tower unprepared only to realize too late that we can¡¯t Gather and Mill inside.¡± ¡°Oh, good point. We are against Nightmares after all.¡± Frein Gathered and Milled in front of the gate only to slowly see it creep ajar on its own. Slick, black hands emerged from the darkness, extending into tendrils of meiyal. They lashed at him just as the stairway shot up to the ceiling, blocking his way out and causing the ground to shake violently. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no cheating allowed.¡± He sighed and didn¡¯t even bother resisting as the hands wrapped around him and pulled him into the Tower.
Chapter 123: Inside the Tower Inside the Tower The nightmarish tendril hands quickly disappeared as soon as they completed their objective. Frein found himself in the middle of a dark room. Four braziers emitted blue flames that dimly lit each corner, but the unnatural darkness absorbed any light from those sources, preventing them from illuminating the entire room. His steps landed on solid floor submerged in unseen liquid. The curiosity to touch it lingered for a moment but was quickly dismissed. It was impossible to look at his hands in this darkness anyway. It could be water, or blood, or some other form of substance, but it didn¡¯t really matter at this point. Before he did anything else, Frein decided to Gather. He got nothing, but at least it only meant that the Tower was refusing him meiyal. It was evidence enough that the Nightmare influence was properly maintained. When he tried to Mill, what he already collected responded as expected. He and Elizzel Milled as quickly as they could before reaching his dispersion limit. He barely got anything from it in the grand scheme of things, but little is better than nothing. With a sigh, Frein started walking around, reaching one of the braziers closest to him. The moment he was within the light, the darkness pulled away slightly, revealing a pillar beside the light source and a damp wall just a few steps away. The wall led to an archway, opening to a tunnel. He ignored it and went to the next one, only to find the same setup. A pillar and a damp wall with an archway leading to another tunnel. The two remaining braziers showed nothing different. It irked Frein. For one thing, he couldn¡¯t remember which tunnel he came from or if the entrance had completely disappeared. ¡°This feels so much like a game,¡± he said, scratching his head. ¡°What about this is a game?¡± Elizzel asked, tugging on the Tether. The entire situation was too deliberate. He appeared on a different land as a manifestation of himself where death wasn¡¯t exactly a risk. He met powerful beings who could offer him rewards in exchange for completing an objective. In other words, a quest. And said quest brought him into a dungeon with a puzzle. ¡°If we¡¯re on a time limit, this would be exactly just like a game.¡± Frein walked towards the first brazier he approached only to realize he had jinxed himself. ¡°Is it just me or is the water higher?¡± The sound was obviously different, but he couldn¡¯t feel the water level¡ªif it was indeed water¡ªthrough his shoes. The fact that it wasn¡¯t seeping through his footwear was enough clue to indicate that it was, in fact, not water. Thankfully, it couldn¡¯t be blood either. ¡°We need to get a move on, Frein.¡± The curiosity nagged at him but he pressed on just like Elizzel said, deciding to venture into the tunnel. Frein kept his left hand on the wall as his guide while he walked in the dark despite the same presence of the eerie liquid on it. It wasn¡¯t flowing downwards, as if gravity decided that the substance should be on the wall. Frein endured the creepy feeling and kept his right in front of him as he moved on. He also took deliberate steps, keeping his balance on his back foot in case he needed to jump away from a sudden pitfall or any other kind of trap. Most of all, he emphasized his Siffera on his awareness and sense of hearing. He had tried on his sight first, but the darkness wasn¡¯t natural at all, and his eyes couldn¡¯t see even if he enhanced it. His right hand, the one he kept in front, touched something. Another wall, wet as expected. Did I reach a dead end? Frein shuffled around, trying to reach for an opening while still maintaining his left hand attached where it was. Finally, he bent down and reached an open space. It was wide enough for him to crawl into. A chill ran up his spine and he had to gulp down the nervousness that was stuck in his throat. ¡°I should¡¯ve learned some flare or light Meiyal Arts.¡± Somehow, he doubted that would work anyway. Frein quickly rummaged through his Spatiera, trying to look for any mundane light sources. He brought his mobile phone and had never tried to use it outside of the initial attempt when he first came to Brymeia. Naturally, he forgot to charge it¡ªno, he couldn¡¯t find any proper way to use the charger. And after he was introduced to M.O.B.I.L.E., he never had any purpose for the phone at all. ¡°Did I bring a flashlight?¡± No, he did not. And he quickly killed the small hope that he could be lucky. A sigh escaped him. Closing and opening his eyes didn¡¯t change a thing. It was pure darkness, and it was chipping off his sanity. The one thing he didn¡¯t want to happen is to start imagining some horrifying things lurking within the darkness. Like a horribly disfigured zombie crawling from under his feet screaming. Frein shook his head and renewed his grip on reality. He didn¡¯t need his own thoughts making him mad. The unknown liquid that was his constant companion was troubling enough. Elizzel, too, was understandably silent. Frein could feel her fear through the Tether. The lack of sight made both of them more sensitive to their connection, blurring the line on who was actually feeling frightened. It felt like a cop out, but Frein had no choice. He focused his Siffera on his courage. Enhancing his mental state and emotions were by far the hardest things for the Art to accomplish. Making himself braver, or happier, or sadder, or angrier, or calmer, or whatever else that changed his mental condition or emotional disposition seemed to contradict the Art itself. The only explanation he could come up with for it was that emotions and mental states weren¡¯t something for him to own. It felt like a farfetched detail, but he really didn¡¯t have anyone to compare with, nor was it a necessary angle to consider for Siffera. At least, not until now.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Enhancing his courage with Siffera cost him a significant chunk of meiyal. If a physical enhancement amounted to a finger, then becoming braver took an entire hand instead. But it helped ease the unwarranted chill and calm the anxiety building up from the constant darkness. Even Elizzel grabbed on it, making herself calmer. Without words, Frein dropped to his stomach and started crawling. The liquid had risen deep enough to cover his hands and legs, but the narrow ceiling afforded some space for him to raise his head still. Whatever this substance was, he didn¡¯t want his lips anywhere near it, not even if it smelled like nothing. The sloshing bothered him more than the tight space. It caused too much noise for his enhanced hearing. But he couldn¡¯t afford to stop it, he had to be aware in case something unexpected happened. The constant thought of the ceiling suddenly dropping down and reducing him to paste lingered in his mind. The incessant sloshing confused him, making him wonder if someone else was crawling behind him or beside him. Even the uneasy thought of the liquid slowly rising added pressure to his already taxed mind. But Frein held on and crawled, stopping every once in a while to listen. Both the silence and the noise were torture, and he was afforded no middle ground. ¡°How long is this going to take?¡± Elizzel asked, finally running impatient, her annoyance and enhanced courage blanketing the fear. And just when Frein started to wonder himself, the ceiling that brushed against his hair suddenly vanished. He reached backwards, feeling for the sharp angle of the wall and slowly guided himself to his feet. Light slowly appeared. It was kind enough to give Frein¡¯s eyes time to adjust, the blue flames returning one by one. At first, he thought he had circled around when he saw four of the same braziers. Then relief washed over him when a fifth blue fire appeared in the middle of the room, hanging on a chandelier. The unnatural darkness vanished, and the room was eventually properly illuminated. It provided Frein some reprieve. He immediately checked himself. The liquid was nowhere to be found, not even traces of it stained his clothes. He was simply dry. Imbelia? Why? It was the only thing that made sense for him. A flood of Imbelia that suddenly disappeared. But the Keeper¡¯s Tower supposed to have existed even before Meiyal Arts existed¡ªor at least, that was the impression Frein had. The mysteries kept piling up and it was taking a toll on Frein¡¯s curiosity. But before he could entertain the thought of figuring out how to wield the blue flames and crawling back to check if the liquid would return, a podium slowly raised from the center of the room. There was an orb on the platform. A M.O.B.I.L.E. It shimmered to life and projected a screen. Acknowledged: New Tower Participant Discipline: Meiyal Arts Unique Perks: Faunel Tether, Visitor Challenge Activation: Analyzing¡­ External influence detected Considering Proposal¡­ ¡°Really feels like a game.¡± Frein made a swiping motion in front of the screen, expecting something to change, but nothing responded to his prompts. Only until a minute later did the screen change. Challenge Activation: Completed. Challenges have been organized for the Participant. Challenge Completion: 1/2 Objective: Fulfill all Challenge Completions to retrieve your desired item. Warning: This Challenge, including this guide, will dramatically change should you reactivate the Tower through any reason or method whatsoever. This specific environment has been prepared for you by the Keeper¡¯s Tower with consideration to external influences namely, Su¡¯karix, the Thousand-Year Storm. Please choose a destination: Up / Down ¡°Up it is.¡± The device acknowledged his response with a soothing bell, creating a wave of meiyal that rippled throughout the entire room. The four braziers stoke their flames, and runes began to form a circle. More scribbles of flaming runes descended from the brazier above and soon Frein was surrounded by a familiar sight. ¡°Katherine used this back on Earth!¡± he couldn¡¯t help exclaim. Trepidation filled his thoughts. The assurance that he was in a state of Dream manifestation didn¡¯t keep the anxiety away. ¡°What if it brings me somewhere far away and I can¡¯t go back?¡± he asked, hoping Elizzel could answer. He motioned to step out, but the pillars extended into enclosed walls. It was the second time a part of the Tower had hindered him from backing away. This time, he really attempted to leave. Not so much that he¡¯d choose to break Su¡¯karix¡¯s pearl. He was still holding onto it as a last resort in case he was really brought somewhere impossibly far away. Without waiting for a response, Frein emphasized his Siffera and delivered a fist to the enclosed wall, hoping to bulldoze out of the enclosure. His arm punched through the earth, but it didn¡¯t break the entire wall. In fact, the wall itself gripped on his arm, preventing him from pulling away. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll bring us anywhere else but inside the Tower, Frein,¡± Elizzel replied finally. ¡°This is a transportation mechanism that most people from the Order of the Void use. I think what you saw from Katherine looked the same, but the runes are most likely entirely different.¡± It was too late to churn on her words. His instincts screamed that the information was important for some reason or another, but the current situation didn¡¯t allow him enough room to think. The circle completed and the entire room vanished. Frein clearly remembered the first time it happened. He blinked, and then he was in Schrodie¡¯s Realm. No preamble, no fanfare, no cosmic tunnels or portals. So when he was lifted rapidly to the skies, out of the stratosphere, and into the darkness, he couldn¡¯t help but swing back and hope there was a way to return. He found nothing. Not even Brymeia. Only a void of darkness. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Then land appeared. Frein was assaulted by the stench of death and decay. He was on top of a hill, surrounded by corpses. They were arranged in a way that it cleared four distinct paths. To his right was a bright red river, bubbling and producing heat haze on top of it. To his front was a gigantic section of a skeleton arm sticking out in the background of a burning wasteland. It rested on an entire mountain range, creating sections over the landform where it had fallen. To his left was a canyon, a steep drop to the lava rivers below. He could see some creatures running around the riverbanks while some swam in the molten rocks. His gaze followed the flow, leading to an estuary and eventually into a sea of lava. Noise pulled his attention behind him. There was a small, ruined outpost, surrounded by lesser Nightmares. They were all malformed humans, succumbed to the Nightmare influence but lucky enough to avoid an encounter against a Deep one. ¡°Looks like that¡¯s where we¡¯re supposed to go,¡± he said, trying not to panic in case Elizzel wasn¡¯t with him. ¡°Where are we anyway?¡± she responded, much to his relief. ¡°And why there? Didn¡¯t Su¡¯karix say we¡¯ll meet Deep Nightmares?¡± ¡°Hopefully, we¡¯re still in the Tower and this is a new floor. And we¡¯ll still probably meet one... or maybe two, considering our Challenge Completion thing.¡± Frein prepared his Siffera. Now that he had a clear objective, he no longer needed to enhance his courage. With a goal in mind, his confidence shot through the roof. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s the closest landmark and doesn¡¯t look as dangerous compared to the other directions.¡± ¡°They might be lesser Nightmares, Frein, but that¡¯s still a lot of Nightmares.¡± Frein took a chance to Gather just to double check if the rules had changed. No luck there, but he quickly moved on. The faster they were done, the lesser the risk of running out of meiyal. ¡°At some point, we have to be strong enough to not get bothered by them.¡± Frein took a step and unleashed his meiyal pressure, calling the lesser Nightmares¡¯ attention. They all snapped towards him and broke into a stampede, making the ground shake. He smiled, taking the time to press his fists together to hype himself up. ¡°And this is probably the most ideal situation for us to get to that point.¡±
Chapter 124: Dreams Versus Nightmares Dreams Versus Nightmares Frein quickly adapted when the first lesser Nightmare pulled out a sword. It swung in a wide arc. Whatever sort of training or technique this poor soul cultured throughout its lifetime didn¡¯t matter once it was turned. The Visitor stepped to the side, positioned his feet, and in a single heartbeat, performed a spinning roundhouse kick straight to his opponent¡¯s neck. He felt a crack and heard a crash, but he didn¡¯t have time to check how effective the attack was. Frein jumped just in time as another lesser Nightmare lunged at him, thrusting a spear. It was a surprisingly sharp and precise assault, but it lacked in recovery. He spun midair and pried the weapon out of its grip before returning the favor. There was no technique or Meiyal Art involved, since he had never touched a spear in his entire life. Fortunately enough, there was no need for such a thing against lousy opponents. ¡°If you don¡¯t use fire, we can¡¯t kill them,¡± Elizzel reminded him. ¡°We don¡¯t have one, so we¡¯ll just disable them as much as we can.¡± Lesser Nightmares regenerated much slower compared to their greater varieties. The influence also affected the rate in which they recovered, but the Tower¡¯s rules might¡¯ve changed it completely. In any case, the best move was to not linger. Frein kept his eyes on the outpost while deflecting another Nightmare trying to pounce at him. He made a practiced spin while pulling its arm, effortlessly throwing it at the mob behind him. Four more lesser Nightmares appeared from the outpost, carrying with them massive bows. Their weapons were almost as large as they were. They looked ancient, nothing like the ones he had seen in Irista Nation. In fact, they resembled the traditional bows he had seen back on Earth. It prompted Frein to check the other weapons. All were mundane. Neither Drawn nor Forged. Their clothes too, particularly their accessories, became obvious to him. Wrist watches, headphones, wireless earpieces, damaged phones dangling on their waists, and he even saw one swinging a skateboard as an improvised weapon. Humans from Earth? The notion that Earthlings were brought to Brymeia and subsequently turned into lesser Nightmares was simply impossible. Not only were Schrodie and Katherine¡¯s integrity at stake, it also went against everything Frein knew. ¡°This is one sick Tower,¡± he said while dodging a volley of arrows and crushing three heads with a single haymaker. Frein assumed that the Keeper¡¯s Tower was taking parts of his memories or experiences as details for its challenge. It was subtle enough that the lesser Nightmares remained nondescript, but obviously the Tower hadn¡¯t considered that someone from outside Brymeia could be taking its simulated trials. He had no proof, but it was the only logical conclusion he could come up with. In the grand scheme of things, it hardly changed anything. A mob was still after him, and he still had to complete the challenge if he wanted Palar¡¯gog¡¯s reward. Assuming the Tower didn¡¯t have any surprises in that regard, this was supposed to be the only challenge he had to complete. The trick was to never stay in one place and keep throwing the closest lesser Nightmare on top of the others. Smashing their heads or breaking their legs was also on the table, if he could make enough space to afford it. He gained ground while smartly outmaneuvering the Nightmares. ¡°If this was Katherine, she¡¯d be done already,¡± he said disappointedly. Frankly, she would¡¯ve just used Rivasia and flew over everyone, but Frein had an inkling that the Tower wouldn¡¯t give her such an easy challenge. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t compare yourself to someone who literally grew up dealing with these things,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°We¡¯ve also spent a good chunk of meiyal already, so you should probably get a move on.¡± She was right. It was time for a change in tactics. Frein moved like a blur, emphasizing his Siffera with four-meiyal, and tackled through every lesser Nightmare in the way. His defenses served to deflect any stray attacks that he didn¡¯t bother to consider as he plowed through them like a piercing bullet. He reached the outpost in a straight line, jumping on two archers who were standing side by side. He slammed into them, using their malformed bodies to breach through the walls of the structure. Frein rolled and turned quickly, expecting the lesser Nightmares to follow, but it was immediately quiet as soon as he was inside. Even the two archers were gone. He blinked, trying to analyze what he was looking at. The interior of the outpost wasn¡¯t anything like he expected. For one thing, it was much larger, much wider. Blue tinted lights danced on the ceiling which looked more like a floor with upside down chairs and tables. The floor looked like the ceiling, complete with its own chandelier, lamps, and other hanging furniture that, instead of sprawling down due to gravity, stood up straight instead. He was looking down from a balcony which was surprisingly arranged incorrectly with regards to the entire orientation of the interior. But the weirdest thing of it all was how the design looked like a chapel. The interior, both in size and in shape, completely ignored what should be allowed based on how the outpost looked like from the outside. Inverted stained glass windows were proportionally installed on each section, which only appeared inside. Peering through the scenery of the desolate land where he came from, refracted and painted on by the window¡¯s colors, added an eerie veil on top of the already hopeless landscape.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Frein stopped himself from getting confused and decided that the floor and the ceiling should maintain their classification respective of their orientation, regardless whether they looked to be the inverse of what they were. As such, he viewed the floor¡ªwhich looked like the ceiling¡ªwith curious eyes, observing the particularly black smoke swirling in the middle right on top of the inverted chandelier. ¡°You know what that is?¡± he asked Elizzel telepathically, avoiding any noise. Despite the crashing sounds he caused earlier, the fact that his surroundings instantaneously and unnaturally became quiet made him consider the stealthy approach. ¡°No clue,¡± the faunel replied. ¡°But as far as I know, it¡¯s a Deep Nightmare. It¡¯s one of their ways to conceal themselves. Most people from the Order of the Void know about it, but it barely helps them since it doesn¡¯t provide them any clue as to what type of Nightmare it actually is.¡± ¡°What about the surroundings?¡± Frein mentally pointed out the inverted orientation of the room and the disproportionate size and scale of the interior compared to the outpost outside. ¡°You think this might be something a Deep Nightmare is capable of? Or do you think it¡¯s just the Tower?¡± Elizzel was silent for a while, trying to recall every Deep Nightmare she knew. He could feel it through the Tether, so Frein patiently waited and observed more of his surroundings in the meantime. He looked back to where he came from only to find out that the breach he made was replaced by a completely shut door. He pondered whether to open it or not. Ultimately, he waited for his internal companion to answer first. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly, Frein. I think it¡¯s just the Tower,¡± she replied finally. ¡°But I won¡¯t dismiss the fact that it could be some Deep Nightmare still. I don¡¯t venture too far from Irista Nation and have only been on the other side of the Great Sea Dividyr a few times. If I ever frequented outside or know more Deep Nightmares, I probably met them with a previous Visitor and have forgotten about them.¡± Frein agreed. For the sake of his curiosity, he silently checked the door behind him first, opening it ajar. To his surprise, he only found the exact same room, showing the other side. In fact, he could see his crouched back at the opposite end. We¡¯re trapped, he concluded. ¡°Looks like we have to deal with this one after all.¡± But how to approach? Frein considered his options and prepared. He refreshed himself with everything he knew about Nightmares. Their influence came first, which he could mitigate by calming his mind with Siffera and with Elizzel¡¯s assistance. Their unpredictable attacks were another problem, which he could analyze on the fly by keeping his distance. Their Negating Roar was last, which was possibly the most difficult conundrum to solve so far, requiring a lot of concentration and meiyal to bypass. It might be more efficient to avoid it instead, but there might not be enough space in the room for him to run away. Frein sighed. No matter how he spun it, he lacked enough research on Deep Nightmares. Too varied, too out of his reach, and the chances of meeting one so soon after he arrived on Brymeia were abysmal at best. Well, that was, of course, until today. ¡°We¡¯ll just have to wing it,¡± he decided. ¡°Keep the pearl handy?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°I can probably use it from within your Mind Palace. Su¡¯karix gave me one as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± The option for a quick and absolute escape gave him the confidence to try. Though, that was giving a lot of stock in Su¡¯karix¡¯s integrity. But given that he had witnessed what the Thousand-Year Storm was capable of, to the point where she literally gave Frill a meiyal-charged material by simply hugging her, Frein didn¡¯t have a problem placing his trust in the Deitar. ¡°If you think we¡¯re in danger, you don¡¯t have to ask me. Just use it.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡± With that decided, Frein jumped off the balcony, landing face to face with the concealed Deep Nightmare. Quickly the smoke coalesced at a point in the center, which expanded as it absorbed more and more. Meiyal pressure slammed on him at the same time as a large scythe arced towards his neck. Frein forced himself forwards while lowering his stance, raising both hands to guard his head when the scythe curved low to match him. His advance brought him out of the blade¡¯s range, but the shaft collided with his defense. The impact threw him spinning, crashing towards chandeliers, lamps, and the wall. Getting thrown around didn¡¯t bother Frein at all, he barely felt slamming on to helpless furniture. Even glass couldn¡¯t scratch his Siffera-enforced skin. The damage was on his arms. If he hadn¡¯t specifically fortified them with the enhancement Meiyal Art, they would¡¯ve broken the moment they made impact with the scythe if not totally ripped out of their sockets. Frein pulled himself out of his crater, his glow, the indication of his Dream manifestation, significantly dimmed. About half its brightness. He didn¡¯t spend too much attention to it, focusing instead on the formation of the Deep Nightmare finally appearing. ¡°I¡¯m sure now, Frein. It was the Tower turning this place upside down,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°A Haunting Death can¡¯t rearrange space or infrastructures.¡± An excessively large, black cloak fluttered in the nonexistent wind. A chill of air, like dry ice flowing down the stage, expanded into mists from within its skeletal feet. Four skeletal arms held an unwieldy large scythe. And three skulls looked at him, mocking him like a laughing trio. Each skull had gems engraved in their sockets, each possessing colors of their own. The left had blue aquamarines, the right had red garnets, while the middle had purple amethysts. They all glinted as if to wield their powers, causing the scythe to separate into three blades corresponding to the colors of their gems. The Haunting Death stood at five meters tall, holding a three-headed scythe that was at least twice its height. With one seemingly indiscriminate slash, it unleashed waves of sharp meiyal that eradicated the entire room. Frein didn¡¯t need to dodge. The Deep Nightmare purposefully left him out as a show of strength. The entire building exploded outwards, revealing the blackness of the night. The lava, the bloody river, the wastelands, and even the lesser Nightmares were all gone. It was just him, Elizzel, and the Haunting Death, in the cold isolation of the night. Frein prepared himself. No words to hype himself up, no attempt at a peaceful conversation. He was silent, focused on the target, meiyal running in a calm flow. A chill ran up his spine when his target, the Haunting Death, completely vanished from his sights.
Chapter 125: Haunting Death Haunting Death Frein relied on every sense he had other than sight, and was instantly rewarded by the sound of the Haunting Death¡¯s scythe cleaving through the air. He jumped high, feeling the wind shift as a glint of the three-headed blade sliced underneath him. The problem now was that the position left him vulnerable. He didn¡¯t possess any Meiyal Arts to maneuver in midair, relying only on his Siffera-empowered spins and twirls that would make any acrobat jealous, but ultimately couldn¡¯t make a difference against a weapon that huge. Surely swinging a ten meter, three-headed scythe would take time to recover, right? Frein didn¡¯t count on it. It was coming for him with speed and intelligence right from the get-go. No way it was going to let this opportunity pass. What to do? Frein¡¯s enhanced senses and awareness, even with Siffera emphasized to its limit, could not help him pinpoint the Haunting Death Blessed by Nature¡¯s Favor. It was a sickening thought, knowing that a Blessing of Brymeia could be possessed by a Nightmare. But maybe it was the Tower¡¯s doing; bending the world¡¯s rules and utilizing the participant¡¯s memories? Regardless, the situation made him painfully aware of how much he was lacking, how much he was unprepared. As painful as it might be to admit, Frein accepted that he wouldn¡¯t survive the Nightmare Lands on Siffera alone. The Art¡¯s ability to speed up his thoughts extended his time in the air. He considered using Su¡¯karix¡¯s pearl to avoid any risks, but Elizzel stopped him. ¡°We haven¡¯t even tried anything yet.¡± It was exactly what he was thinking, like a mirror of himself, but the faunel didn¡¯t bother to filter his thoughts. He wondered how literally the Tether would make them one. He even wondered if the same happened to the other Visitors that Elizzel contracted. And if that could be the reason why she had had to remove her memories. To regain her true self, or something along those lines. ¡°Hey, concentrate. We don¡¯t have meiyal to spare.¡± That gave him an idea. ¡°Save some for the pearl, but let¡¯s use everything. As soon as we run out, use it.¡± Elizzel delivered her agreement through the Tether and immediately went on assisting his Drawing. Despite the plan, they still didn¡¯t have a solution to the invisible Deep Nightmare, and they couldn¡¯t stay suspended in the air until they could come up with one. They still had to rely on a gamble. Frein poured everything into his reflexes. He had seen athletes, highly skilled performers, racers, monks, boxers, and many more respond to situations with unbelievable speeds. He only had to surpass them and more. He extended both arms and waited for the first sign of the weapon. Something touched the very tip of his left finger, and he immediately reacted without hesitation. Frein didn¡¯t care that it came from the opposite side where he actually expected the scythe. He concentrated his Siffera around his left arm, curved himself like a ball, and defended with all his might. The mighty three-headed weapon slammed down on him. He was on the ground in the next instant. His arm bloody but intact, his Dream glow almost nonexistent. One more hit and it would be over. Frein kicked the ground with all his strength, sending a wave of earth and stone to where he calculated the Nightmare would be based on the two attacks it did. Rocks bounced off its invisible bones while dirt powdered one of its sides. It was enough for him. Frein didn¡¯t have to take a deep breath. As a Dream manifestation, there was no need for him to breathe. But he did it anyway to help him switch to an aggressive mindset. The Visitor shot off the ground, reaching where the three skulls would be. There was no time to calculate the exact location, no time to prepare a punch. Instead, he raised his elbow, fortified it and his shoulder along with the rest of his body, and pierced his invisible target like an arrow. He collided with something solid and felt a crack. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t his bones, but he felt the impact reverberate throughout his body. He expected his manifestation to reach the limit right then and there, but it held on, so he kept attacking. Frein managed one Siffera-enhanced punch on the same spot he landed on before something massive ripped him out of the air. It threw him away like a discarded toy of a baby with a tantrum. He managed to turn just in time to catch himself, but his hard landing still caused a crater. His Dream manifestation flickered out of existence for just a second. At the same time, the cloaked skeletal form of the Haunting Death melded into existence. Frein had shattered a red gem of the right skull. It screamed in agony, curling and clutching its eye with both hands as it stepped back. The scythe floated conveniently beside it. Of course. Frein felt cheated by the weapon moving on its own, but that was the point. He shouldn¡¯t have expected the Deep Nightmare to be so mundane and primitive. ¡°Stop thinking about it!¡± Elizzel exclaimed. ¡°Now¡¯s our chance!¡± Art fatigue was kicking in. They were running out of meiyal. Dream manifestation was also at its limit. All things considered, Elizzel was correct to take this chance. Send everything in on one final attempt and then use the pearl if it failed. But in her eagerness, she missed a great deal of detail. The two other skulls were looking at them. Frein reigned the faunel in through the Tether. Only slightly, not fully dampening her adrenaline. She still had a point. They should attack now, but while wisely utilizing the initiative that they¡¯ve earned for themselves, instead of blindly risking everything. He formulated a plan, and it quickly¡ªalmost simultaneously¡ªtransferred over to Elizzel, as if she had thought of it at the same time. There was no discussion, no debate to be had. Frein jumped towards the skulls and the floating scythe retaliated in response, spinning aggressively towards him. Now that he could see it, and had experienced its speed twice already, the Visitor managed to easily twist in the air and bound off its shaft, kicking himself back to the ground while completely avoiding the gigantic weapon. It provided him enough momentum to speed towards the Nightmare¡¯s ankle.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He rushed like a speeding bullet, utilizing the same technique he used to crack the skull¡¯s garnet. If this Haunting Death had tougher bones than it had gems, he would just give up and move on. His elbow crushed the bony ankle, and he pierced through completely, positioning himself at the back of the Nightmare as it crumpled down on one knee. Frein pushed himself to the limit; in a single bound, he jumped off the giant skeleton¡¯s back and caught the spinning scythe. The Nightmare couldn¡¯t control the weapon while it was distracted by agony. And the Visitor intended to finish it off with its own weaponry. It reminded him vividly of the greatsword he used against the Sphinx Without Questions. Too large, too unwieldy. But just like the sword, he only needed to guide the scythe to cleave through the spine. He¡¯d consider that a win, though technically, he wasn¡¯t sure if that would finish off the Nightmare. Frein swung with all his might, curving the three-headed scythe directly at his target. The Haunting Death retaliated as he expected. He just didn¡¯t expect a Negating Roar at this point. Frein was already mid swing, he was also in midair. He was left with two choices; abandon his attack, jumping off the scythe¡¯s shaft to gain distance from the roar and completely redirecting the swing off target; or take the gamble and follow through, hoping to kill the Nightmare and possibly make the roar fizzle out before it reached him. He recalled the first Negating Roar he ever took. The one from Those That Fell Off a Cliff. It erased his Siffera completely and essentially threw him away from the scene. He was lucky enough to regain awareness and re-Drew his Siffera on time, managing to sustain only mild bruises. But a Fallen was nothing compared to a Haunting Death. The Deep Nightmare was in a completely different league. Frein clenched his teeth and risked it all, delivering everything he had as he swung the massive scythe. He felt the Negating Roar vibrate against the three arcing blades. And then he felt the sensation of slicing through hard bone just before the roar completely washed over him. He was blasted off to the blackened skies, and darkness took him. But not before he heard a bell echoing a soft chime.
¡°Well I¡¯ll be.¡± Frein felt something cold and wet tapping his cheeks repeatedly. It was irritating to say the least. It was also his first indication of victory. He opened his eyes to Palar¡¯gog, who was proudly swaying his arms. ¡°You¡¯re much more of a madman than I thought you¡¯d be, Frein,¡± said the blob dragon. ¡°Consider me impressed.¡± The Visitor pulled himself up, trying to find his bearings. He was inside Su¡¯karix¡¯s mansion. Elizzel wasn¡¯t inside his Mind Palace, causing a mild panic that was quickly eased by a soft hand on his shoulder. The Thousand-Year Storm sat behind him, pointing to the faunel that was sleeping on her lap. ¡°Elizzel used the pearl at the exact moment you achieved victory, Frein,¡± Su¡¯karix explained. ¡°She gave you everything she had, including every bit of her own meiyal, sparing only enough to use the pearl.¡± ¡°I thought my meiyal was her meiyal?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a faunel, Frein. Meiyal given form, given life. While the perks of the Tether certainly helps both of you more than just her own meiyal, you should not take Elizzel herself for granted.¡± ¡°What if she runs out of meiyal?¡± Frein asked. The storm dragon simply caressed the faunel¡¯s hair. ¡°It¡¯s as you see here.¡± ¡°I mean, if she runs out completely.¡± Su¡¯karix stared at him, reading his intentions with Heart¡¯s Will. He was worried that his personality might push the faunel into doing something so drastic some day. And he also wanted to know if a faunel could die this way. ¡°Yes, Frein. If they run out of meiyal completely, they will die. Then, a new faunel will be born. It might take centuries or millennia, but Brymeia will birth someone to replace Elizzel, should she perish.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want her to die,¡± Frein said. Su¡¯karix smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. For them, it¡¯s like holding your breath. You either stop instinctively or pass out, but you won¡¯t die unless someone else was choking you.¡± The Thousand-Year Storm reached out a hand. ¡°In any case, you should help her wake up.¡± Frein offered his hand, the one with his meiyal core, and placed it above Elizzel¡¯s lips. She bit on his wrist, as if she knew by instinct. His meiyal reserves were dry, but the faunel wasn¡¯t looking for Milled meiyal. She wanted his meiyal itself. Smoke sizzled from Frein¡¯s back and his Dream manifestation¡ªa glow that he thought had completely vanished¡ªdimmed to almost nothing. But he ignored all of those, waiting for Elizzel to wake up. The faunel slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Did we make it?¡± she asked. Frein nodded and smiled. Su¡¯karix leaned forward, showing herself in the faunel¡¯s narrow vision. ¡°You did great,¡± she said. Elizzel smiled, closed her eyes, and turned to make herself comfortable on Su¡¯karix¡¯s lap. ¡°Good. Now let me sleep.¡± ¡°But we have to integrate,¡± Frein reminded her. The faunel pressed her face deeper into the storm dragon¡¯s lap. ¡°Five minutes.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you let Palar¡¯gog introduce the material to you first, Frein?¡± Su¡¯karix said, enjoying the feeling of Elizzel¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± Frein shrugged and turned to the winter dragon, a blob that was waiting patiently in front of a flowing, blood red sash. The Blood-Ribbon Tassel had incredible length, floating in midair as if it was underwater. It was probably longer than the room¡¯s width, definitely longer than the Fulgurblade. Frein found it unwieldy and distracting, but he couldn¡¯t deny the density of the meiyal flowing through it. Despite its floating nature, he felt gravitated towards it, a tremendous mass of meiyal compressed into ribbons of flowing blood. ¡°Impressed, I see,¡± Palar¡¯gog couldn¡¯t smile in his blob form, but the intonation of his words clearly expressed it. ¡°Pretty proud of this one, you know?¡± ¡°How does it work?¡± ¡°Provides you another source of meiyal among other things. You can explore what it does when you integrate with it. Don¡¯t worry, you have my permission now, so there won¡¯t be any risk of rejection. But like my Mercurial Liquid, it won¡¯t work on your own.¡± He was quick to raise a blob finger. ¡°Fortunately, unlike Mercurial Liquid, this material can work with the Tether.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you gone when Elizzel discovered how to use the Tether?¡± ¡°You have your timelines crossed, dude. Our faunel over there was learning to use the Tether before the Great Dragon Kingdom Exodus. I figured, then, that I should adapt any material I make to be compatible with any form of union or contract, since I was the only one versed with such creations. This Blood-Ribbon Tassel was one of my final creations before I left. I brought it with me, of course, but it¡¯s yours now.¡± ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t even have the record with me.¡± ¡°Already have it.¡± A small booklet appeared in midair near the blob dragon. The Record of Northsnow, 3rd Year of Eva¡¯s Era. ¡°Was in your hands when Su¡¯karix pulled you from the Tower.¡± Frein tried to read through the winter dragon for any form of deception, but there was literally no way to judge the blob other than through his voice. Whether he was willing to give the Tassel in the first place or not, wasn¡¯t a question the Visitor intended to bring up. He had an inkling, but he would just rather take the material instead of potentially insulting the Deitar. He raised a hand, attempting to absorb the meiyal-charged material when the Eternal Winter stopped him. ¡°Are you serious, dude?¡± he said, gesturing all over him with his blob arms. ¡°What? I thought it¡¯s mine now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in Art fatigue, Frein,¡± Su¡¯karix reminded him while still enjoying her relaxation with Elizzel. ¡°You¡¯ll die if you absorb it now.¡± ¡°Like I said,¡± the faunel began, ¡°five minutes.¡±
Another hour passed before Su¡¯karix allowed the Visitor to absorb the Blood-Ribbon Tassel. He and Elizzel then left, no longer able to maintain their manifestations. Palar¡¯gog sighed beside her. ¡°I don¡¯t like lying.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t lie, Eternal Winter. We simply gave him an impossible test to see if he would give up so easily.¡± ¡°But now he thinks he can kill a Haunting Death!¡± Su¡¯karix smirked. ¡°I¡¯m sure Katherine Militia would be quick to correct him. By then, he wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything about it. I imagine he would be raring to have another go at the Deep Nightmare.¡± Palar¡¯gog sighed once again. ¡°I guess so.¡± He crossed his blob arms and pondered. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a mortal hold the scythe and feel nothing.¡± The two of them watched the fight between Frein and the Haunting Death once more, stopping at the moment where the Visitor held the scythe. ¡°Not only is it strong, it¡¯s also deceptive,¡± Su¡¯karix commented. ¡°I suppose even the Visitor could be fooled.¡± The skeleton was merely a distraction, a puppet conjured by the scythe which was the real Haunting Death. For the Visitor to hold a Deep Nightmare and feel nothing from it¡­ ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Palar¡¯gog asked. ¡°I know that smile, Suchie. That¡¯s a dangerous smile.¡± ¡°Suchie¡­¡± Su¡¯karix repeated her nickname and felt giddy all over. She didn¡¯t bother composing herself as she turned to Palar¡¯gog with excitement. ¡°We should tell the other Deitars.¡± ¡°About your lame nickname?¡± Thunder roared, masking the splattering sound coming from Su¡¯karix¡¯s mansion.
Chapter 126: Formal Integration Formal Integration
¡±To call it a sword is an understatement. Not even our Master Smiths could replicate something like it. Then again, we have very few practitioners who have reached that level nowadays.¡± ~Xiv Arcturus
Frein¡¯s consciousness returned to his Mind Palace, arriving specifically in his Exhibit. The place had become his comfort zone since the day he had learned how to utilize it. Despite its nondescript overall design, save for its two mainstay features¡ªhis Mill and the Emerald Guidance¡ªthe mostly blank, unorganized feel of the room allowed him to feel at home. He found Elizzel already polishing the third, newest feature of the Exhibit. Contained in a display case was the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm, merged with Nakiri¡¯s hilt. Norazzel, still in her tiny, dream puppy form, drooped on top of the pink-haired faunel¡¯s head. The Visitor could feel a tingling feeling coursing through him, like lightning in his veins but without the element¡¯s raging intensity. It was an incredible sensation, yet a dangerous one. Dangerous not because of any uncertainty with the material¡¯s nature¡ªthe successful integration already ensured that nothing harmful would happen to him anymore. But because of the sheer amount of power coming from it was boosting his ego to uncomfortable levels. He could beat anything, or anyone. Frein repeatedly tried to calm himself down, recalling Katherine¡¯s lessons and his experiences with the Nightmares he had fought against until now. In his heart, he knew he never won against the Haunting Dream. At most, it was a sacrifice on his part. If he really wanted to get rid of the Nightmare Lands, he should be far stronger. Strong enough that even Deep Nightmares wouldn¡¯t take much effort to destroy, much less pose a threat. I have a long way to go, he reminded himself. The thought stirred Elizzel from her task. She smiled, helping him on his feet. ¡°Ready?¡± she asked, pointing towards two more meiyal-charged materials waiting for them. ¡°We should probably integrate with everything before we study what we can do with them individually and in unison.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you could convince Palar¡¯gog to give you a material as well,¡± Norazzel said, lazily sliding off her perch to fall in Frein¡¯s arms. She reminded him of Enza and the fact that he hadn¡¯t spent any time with the yuma yet today. He made a mental note to rectify that before the day ended. ¡°Did you know we would be meeting with Su¡¯karix, Nora? And how much did you tell her exactly, Eli?¡± ¡°I only had a hunch,¡± the Faunel of Dreams and Memories replied. ¡°Up until now, I didn¡¯t have a way to know for certain that she¡¯s still in Brymeia, or if she¡¯s still alive.¡± ¡°Told her everything,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that Palar¡¯gog was a kingdom of seven dragons, either,¡± Norazzel admitted. ¡°I feel conflicted about the whole thing, to be honest. Are you sure this material isn¡¯t a trap?¡± ¡°How would it be a trap?¡± Frein asked, walking over to the Blood-Ribbon Tassel at the entrance of his Exhibit. It swam within its container, flowing like actual blood suspended in water which refused to mix with it. ¡°If Palar¡¯gog turns out to be a liar, this material will completely ruin your meiyal system, if not outright cripple it entirely.¡± Elizzel crossed her arms, examining the Tassel with suspicious eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t really trust it, but¡­¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t deny the power within it,¡± Frein finished for her. ¡°I think we can trust the Eternal Winter.¡± Elizzel frowned, closing her eyes as she pondered to herself. ¡°Maybe¡­ I feel like the Tether¡¯s pulling me too much in one direction.¡± ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Elizzel turned to him, finally smiling. ¡°I trust you more than anything else now, Frein. If you want to integrate with it, I¡¯ll help you and make sure nothing bad happens in case something goes wrong.¡± Su¡¯karix¡¯s words echoed in Frein¡¯s memory. Elizzel caught wind of it. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s my fault,¡± Frein said. ¡°The Tether might be influencing you a little too much.¡± The faunel wanted to say something, but he spoke first. ¡°I know self-sacrifice is my thing, but I need you to understand, Eli; I need you alive. It¡¯s hard for me to admit, but I can¡¯t do this without you, not with the time I have left. If we ever encounter a situation where someone needs to make a sacrifice, it¡¯ll be me. Understand?¡± Frein found it odd. He was ready for a backlash, prepared with his counter arguments when it came down to a debate, but only silence came. Elizzel held herself back, clenching her fists and curling her lips until her entire face contorted on the verge of tears. ¡°Can¡¯t we just avoid the self-sacrifice thing altogether?¡± She sniffed and sobbed. ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit too late for that, but¡­¡± Frein placed a heavy hand on top of the faunel¡¯s head, ruffling her pink hair until she got irritated. She reached up to stop him, but she didn¡¯t push his hand away. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best,¡± he said. ¡°But no more endangering yourself, okay?¡± The faunel nodded in between sobs. She hugged him for comfort and Frein rubbed her back until she calmed down. ¡°Better?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Elizzel wiped her tears and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t fondle my butt or anything.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°I was tempted, believe me,¡± he said, grinning back at her. ¡°Next time?¡± ¡°Pervert.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to report this unnecessary flirting to Lady Katherine,¡± Norazzel said, stretching her cute, little paws. ¡°Didn¡¯t take you for a playboy, Frein.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. In fact, she might want to get in on the action, too,¡± he said. The puppy faunel blinked at him, tilting her head in confusion. He smiled back. ¡°It¡¯s a Tether thing.¡± ¡°In any case,¡± Elizzel began, trying to push away the awkwardness, ¡°we should integrate now. We¡¯ve been in your Dream for too long. It might be dangerous even if Norazzel¡¯s here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°An active Dream Realm attracts my corrupted incarnations, Frein,¡± Norazzel explained. ¡°And while your Dream Realm is almost imperceptible to them, you won¡¯t be able to hide from them forever. The longer you stay, the more of them will try to find you, which runs a greater risk.¡± ¡°Because if at least one finds them, everyone else will start invading,¡± Frein finished the thought. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s why you¡¯re here, right? Isn¡¯t that why you¡¯re also helping the others? So they can spend more time in the Dream, in their Mind Palaces?¡± ¡°Yes, but I do not completely remove the risk. Katherine lingered for far too long a few days ago. It almost ruined her entire Mind Palace.¡± Frein frowned. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me anything about that.¡± Norazzel looked away. She had run her mouth more than she realized, but it was too late. The faunel sighed. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal, Frein. Her Exhibit is safe, her meiyal system is safe, only her Worldspace was affected mildly.¡± ¡°Worldspace? Her Spatiera? She¡¯s having the same case as Kristel?¡± Frein recalled the Lady not having any issues with the Meiyal Art. ¡°I didn¡¯t see any problem with it, though.¡± The pup nodded. ¡°It¡¯s fixed now. I forced her to wake up before anything irreparable happened.¡± She sat on her haunches, ears drooping low, and a soft whine escaped her. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t me. Brymeia forced her to wake up. A copy of mine got corrupted while near her Dream Realm. It was unfortunate timing. She had been in the Dream for only ten minutes, watching a Recollection of when the two of you first met.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sweet,¡± Frein and Elizzel said at once. ¡°How long do we have left?¡± ¡°The risk is incredibly high now. I personally suggest that you wake up and cool off before returning here but¡­¡± Both man and faunel just shook their heads in unison. Norazzel narrowed her puppy eyes before visibly sighing. ¡°I¡¯ll send my copies to closely monitor the edges of your Dream. You have one hour at most. Any more and I¡¯m forcing you to wake up.¡± Norazzel stood and left Frein¡¯s Mind Palace. Almost immediately, numerous gigantic dream wolves appeared, their silhouettes shifting in and out of the windows as they sped throughout his entire Dream. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get back on business,¡± Elizzel began. She raised both arms, bending back to stretch her entire body. Her slender form, her chest, the curves around her waist etched from within her thin sundress. She let out a carefree moan, relieving herself of fatigue as she twisted and turned. A satisfied exhale followed soon after. ¡°I thought I told you, I don¡¯t like getting looked at?¡± she said to Frein. He met her gaze confidently, and she was getting used to his stares in return. ¡°You¡¯re nice to look at. Katherine looks at you all the time whenever you show up. And I think Frill wants to make some clothes for you, too.¡± Elizzel shrugged. ¡°Who has the time for that?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make time. After we visit Liona, we should be able to take a break. Maybe a week, then I should start training for the Nightmare Lands.¡± Frein tapped on the container storing the Shinemoon Scabbard. ¡°I think we should go in order and integrate this first with the Fulgurblade. What do you think?¡± He turned to the faunel who suddenly turned quiet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I talked to the Letterman,¡± she said. ¡°Is this about yesterday?¡± Frein willed two display cases towards himself and gave one to the faunel to sit on. ¡°What did you talk about?¡± ¡°He warned me about a Nightmare Incursion. You know what those are, right?¡± ¡°All I know is that it¡¯s worse than a normal Void Encounter, or a Nightmare Invasion. But I can¡¯t really tell the difference.¡± Frein skipped his questions about the Letterman specifically. Not that he didn¡¯t trust Elizzel. He simply knew the mystery man¡ªor woman¡ªwould be cautious enough to not let any clues slip. ¡°It¡¯s worse. Far worse.¡± The faunel fiddled with her fingers, trying to find the right words to explain. ¡°Do you want to just¡­pull on the Tether or something?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Elizzel slowly pulled away, shutting her eyes tight and tensing up her shoulders as she allowed Frein to access her memories. A Recollection started to take shape, but something within the depths of that memory pushed him away. No, he instinctively pulled away. What he saw wasn¡¯t just a massacre. It was annihilation. Complete corruption of land, man, and beast alike. Indiscriminate and beyond comprehension, it was the Nightmare claiming entire landscapes for itself. Blood and gore were but simple descriptions compared to the festering malformations and abominations that flashed through his mind. Frein saw an image of a tree. It was wider than any vistas he could imagine. Entire cities, towns, and villages prospered and traded upon its roots, while kingdoms of dragons and magnificences of giants among other sentient fantastical creatures, considering how vast they all made their territories, didn¡¯t have qualms with sharing a single branch or two. In a blink of an eye, he saw it burn down and become corrupted by Nightmare. He saw the tree come alive and wreaked havoc upon the world beyond its own grasps. Frein fell on his back as the familiarity of his Mind Palace returned to him. He pushed himself up to find the faunel still flinching away. Elizzel slowly peeled one eye open. She sighed in relief when she realized the Recollection completely failed to take form. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± Frein slowly returned to his makeshift seat. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that¡¯s a place here on Brymeia?¡± ¡°Was,¡± Elizzel clarified. She was somber, recalling a memory she had kept for a long time. ¡°Sylvanus, the Tree of Stars. It was the first Nightmare Incursion I ever saw. It was also my first home, destroyed long before the Divine Severing. ¡°We didn¡¯t know much back then. Evanclad wasn¡¯t even born yet, and I didn¡¯t know what to do to save my people.¡± Her eyes met Frein¡¯s. Blue and yellow eyes full of desperation. ¡°I couldn¡¯t save anyone, Frein.¡± ¡°But times have changed, Eli. If we let the others know¡ª¡± Elizzel shook her head aggressively. Her voice was trembling, trying not to scream. ¡°We can, but it won¡¯t change a thing Frein. Nightmare Incursions are something only people from the Order of the Void can deal with.¡± ¡°Then we have Kat.¡± ¡°Alone, she won¡¯t be enough. Not even at her peak.¡± Frein sighed. There was no point arguing for hope, arguing that they could do something about it. It was always better to take action. Do not cling to hope, do not drown in despair. Take action and never give up until the end. Elizzel¡¯s face turned to confusion as Frein¡¯s thoughts echoed towards her through the Tether. ¡°Who was that?¡± ¡°It was a quote my dad used to tell me when I was a kid,¡± Frein said, feeling mildly embarrassed. ¡°I used to ask him about his war stories. But never mind that. How long do we have until the Incursion?¡± ¡°What?¡± Elizzel¡¯s mind was clouded by her past and she couldn¡¯t move on quickly enough. It took her a second to understand what he was asking. ¡°Within two weeks. The Letterman won¡¯t tell me the exact time.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll do everything we can and prepare.¡± Frein stopped when the faunel didn¡¯t agree with him right away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elizzel hesitated for a while. She sighed and looked at his eyes for strength. ¡°He also said there would be three Incursions at the same time.¡± Frein could hardly grasp the gravity of her words. He knew she spoke of disasters coming his way. He knew they were all catastrophes that had caused her trauma. He even saw what one Incursion did in the past. But he also knew that he wouldn¡¯t just lay down and accept defeat. So he did what he did best and placed a calm hand on her shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eli. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s the end of the world.¡±
Chapter 127: Blood Moon Fulgurblade Blood Moon Fulgurblade The Shinemoon Scabbard bore with it the idea of scale and gravity, despite its thin and fragile frame. It came from the moon itself, so these concepts naturally occurred to Frein as he began the integration process with it. The process itself was straightforward, a surprisingly refreshing change this time around. No Dream manifestations, no sudden visions, nor were there any historical nor incredibly powerful beings messing with the standard procedure. And while Frein appreciated it this time, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bored. I guess this is how it¡¯s supposed to go normally, but still¡­ Elizzel glowed blue as soon as she successfully absorbed the meiyal-charged material. Frein closely followed behind her as she walked down the Exhibit, heading for the Fulgurblade just north of his Mill. The blade made out of Su¡¯karix¡¯s chipped canine flickered as it shifted in and out of its electric form. Nakiri¡¯s hilt had drastically changed, its length doubling to compensate for its new blade. And the length of the entire sword¡ªif one could consider it that¡ªwas probably longer than Frein¡¯s height, and was essentially double of Elizzel¡¯s. The Faunel of Freedom and Consequences unlatched the Fulgurblade¡¯s display case with a single gesture, causing the material¡¯s power to spill all around the Exhibit. Frein felt the surge of meiyal and the numbing electrical flow throughout his body reaching high levels of intensity. He held on as the faunel turned to him with one hand opened. Like before, they held hands and touched the lightning blade at the same time. Almost immediately, the Shinemoon Scabbard resonated from within Elizzel, manifesting around the Fulgurblade. It felt incredibly heavy and strong. Its solid form wrapped around the blade, covering its electrical power and replacing it with its own distinct weight. The manifestation also involved the entire Exhibit. The white walls that were once blank canvases were painted over by the cosmic and rocky feel of the Shinemoon. Even the roof was replaced by the great emptiness of space, littered with the twinkling lights of the distant stars. ¡°What in the¡­¡± Frein had to take a deep breath to convince himself that he wasn¡¯t really in space. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Is this permanent?¡± As if to respond to his question, the canvas of the moon and space dissolved and was vacuumed into the Shinemoon Scabbard that currently contained the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm. The heaviness of power emitting from it also dissipated, humming instead as space literally bended and flowed while it hovered from within its container. Elizzel closed the latch with a thought, gesturing casually as she turned towards Frein. ¡°It¡¯s mostly your Exhibit receiving the power of the Scabbard, but if you really want, you can redesign the entire room with whatever material you have integrated. Just concentrate.¡± Frein didn¡¯t hesitate. The room instantly returned to its vast depiction of space, but this time, without the heaviness of power coming from the material that provided the look. Elizzel blinked twice. ¡°That usually takes a lot of practice¡­¡± ¡°Amazing,¡± he exhaled, tracking a distant comet hurtling through the nothingness. ¡°Nerd,¡± Elizzel said teasingly. She made her way back to the entrance to retrieve the Blood-Ribbon Tassel, but she lost her footing along the way and stumbled, reaching on a display case just in time to catch herself. At the same time, Frein lost his balance, collapsing on the floor completely. ¡°What just happened?¡± he asked while pushing himself back up. He saw Elizzel leaning over the same display case, taking deep breaths with her eyes closed. ¡°You alright?¡± ¡°Just a little tired.¡± The faunel took one final inhale and exhale before straightening herself up. ¡°Didn¡¯t think the Scabbard would be so heavy.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a break,¡± Frein said. ¡°You haven¡¯t fully recovered from the Tower yet. We can integrate with the Tassel some other time.¡± Elizzel shook her head, her adamant attitude causing waves of her pink hair to flow down her waist like the tail of a dancing fish. ¡°I can handle it. We¡¯re so close.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re excited, Eli, but¡ª¡± ¡°I am! Besides, it¡¯s better to complete the sword so we can create your stylized Meiyal Arts properly. If we can put all the upgrades together, then we won¡¯t have to compensate. We can do our training more efficiently!¡± The faunel¡¯s excitement and stubbornness spilled out like an overflowing glass of water. It was so predominant within the Tether that Frein almost thought it was his. It almost convinced him to yield. Well, it did, but he had to keep it under control. ¡°Fine, just take a five minute break, Eli. Take a seat somewhere. I¡¯ll go talk to Nora.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I can¡¯t do it if you don¡¯t really want to anyway.¡± The faunel plopped on the floor like some puppeteer detached her strings. ¡°I¡¯ll be right here.¡± Frein returned to his foyer. As usual, paintings were floating around in seemingly unorganized fashion. He recognized all of them, which memory they depicted, why they were floating, and where they were headed. It was order in chaos, as some would say. He ignored them and headed for the main door of his Mind Palace. Outside, he immediately saw a small dream puppy, who was yawning and stretching as much as she could. ¡°Nora,¡± Frein said. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯re you doing out here? Done already?¡± ¡°Eli¡¯s taking a break. Just wanted to ask, how long do we have left?¡± ¡°You have about thirty minutes left, but let me check something.¡± Norazzel sat on her haunches and closed her eyes. She spoke while concentrating. ¡°We managed to dispatch a corrupted Nora from three Dream Realms away. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wise to extend your time limit. Either delay the integration for a day or do it now.¡± ¡°How close is three Dream Realms away? Whose Dreams are those? Are they alright?¡± ¡°They¡¯re fine. It¡¯s very close. As for who, it depends on who¡¯s currently using their Dream Realm. You get shuffled around until you actually enter your Dream. It¡¯s our best method to confuse the corrupted Norazzels. Don¡¯t recognize this person, but it¡¯s not essential to my job.¡± Frein couldn¡¯t feel the urgency in her words, but the faunel turned to her. ¡°Don¡¯t take my warning lightly, Frein. I¡¯ll force you out if I have to.¡± He nodded. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll head back. Thanks, Nora.¡± ¡°Mmm. Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Frein returned but not before he heard the faunel yawn again. It reminded him of a concern he had before. ¡°Say, Eli,¡± he began as soon as re-entered his Exhibit, ¡°are all faunels heavy sleepers? Can¡¯t help but notice you and Nora really like sleeping.¡± ¡°Hmm? You could say that.¡± Elizzel pushed herself up. ¡°I¡¯m definitely looking forward to sleeping. And don¡¯t forget, we haven¡¯t slept for two days now.¡± She caught herself before Frein had a chance to point it out. ¡°But I still want to finish this before I go to sleep!¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Yeah, I know, I know. If you¡¯re ready, let¡¯s do it now.¡± The faunel hyped herself awake by slapping both hands on her cheeks. She was by the entrance a quick second later. Frein observed the Blood-Ribbon Tassel once more. Indeed, without the name helping him out, he¡¯d simply dismiss this thing as a weirdly flowing red cloth. And if he didn¡¯t have such a highly sensitive awareness for meiyal, he wouldn¡¯t think of this thing as a meiyal-charged material at all. Now he wondered if there were many things he already missed, materials that were hiding in plain sight simply because today¡¯s practitioners didn¡¯t think it wise to invest in their Siffera or Mesiffera. ¡°They¡¯re not as common as you think, Frein,¡± Elizzel said, pulling him back from his daydream. ¡°Even those that don¡¯t have the awareness to meiyal like you do will instantly recognize a meiyal-charged material when they find one. At the very least, you can rest assured that Palar¡¯gog can¡¯t lie to you with regards to that aspect.¡± ¡°Only if it¡¯s a trap, then?¡± The faunel nodded. ¡°Remember what I asked you?¡± Frein asked, keeping a hand on the container to make sure it remained closed until Elizzel could answer. ¡°Yes. If it¡¯s a trap, I¡¯ll dismiss it right away so you don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± Frein nodded in satisfaction and opened the container, reaching out a hand towards the faunel. She held his hand and together, they began the integration process. Elizzel absorbed the Blood-Ribbon Tassel seamlessly and she began to emit a dark red glow. It was oddly similar to Frein¡¯s personal meiyal¡ªZerax¡¯thum¡¯s meiyal. He still didn¡¯t know if he liked that. Even though he trusted Evanclad, it still seemed too farfetched for him to believe. ¡°Concentrate, Frein,¡± Elizzel reminded him. ¡°You can review what you know some other time.¡± ¡°Right. What¡¯s your assessment?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a trap. We can safely integrate with it.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± The entirety of the Tassel coalesced within Elizzel. The dark red glow around her body receded into a thin layer of blood-red aura on her skin. She was brimming with power and it was taking a toll on her frail form. They slowly made their way to the Fulgurblade. Frein opened the display case with his thoughts this time around, allowing the faunel to concentrate on holding the overwhelming power while he guided her by the hand. She steadied her breathing by taking them with each step. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be there in a sec,¡± she replied, shaking her head with frustration because of the slow progress. Frein observed her with his Mesiffera. Her concentration was unwavering, even though the Tassel¡¯s power was swirling within her like a raging storm. He Drew a four-meiyal Siffera to help her. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said as soon as they made it to the Fulgurblade. ¡°Ready?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Together they touched the Scabbard of the lightning sword. The material seemed eager to accept the Tassel, taking it greedily from Elizzel. She looked rather relieved at that. The entirety of the sword turned dim and completely transformed. Never mind that it was taller than Frein. Now it even had a fluid tassel tied around the reformed hilt. The edges of the Shinemoon Scabbard formed blood-red swirling patterns while its main shaft remained the pristine, glowing moon rock that shimmered a soft blue every once in a while. The sword had taken the shape of a large katana. An odachi, taken directly from Frein¡¯s memories. Frankly, it could be even larger than that. Unwieldy to say the least, but large enough to take down even a Fallen¡ªmaybe even a Forest Jaws given the amount of power surging from it. It reminded him too much of Ayame. Frein took it out of the case. The heavy aura of the Shinemoon Scabbard returned, but the sword itself felt light in his hands. ¡°I¡¯m opening it,¡± he said to Elizzel, who was supporting herself with one hand on a nearby display case. ¡°Should be fine,¡± she said, acting tough. Frein slowly pulled the sword. The entire length of the blade would be a literal drag to pull out. Without any fancy maneuvers, it would be impossible. But he didn¡¯t have time to consider that yet. The Fulgurblade¡¯s white lightning color that he expected to appear had turned completely black, with streaks of red lightning sparking to life every now and then. It was mesmerizing to look at. Not to mention the solid feel of the Scabbard provided him enough protection to withstand the blade itself. Frein lightly flicked the sword by the handguard, pulling out the final inches of the blade. He caught it back and swung with a flourish as he took stock of the feel from the hilt. He had a solid grip, even the weight didn¡¯t feel any different. It was as if Nakiri had never left his hands. It almost brought him to tears. He wished to hold the sword with both hands but he didn¡¯t know where to put the Shinemoon Scabbard. Then he felt something nudge at his consciousness. Then intuitively, he knew the Scabbard would float beside him when he let it go, as if it had told him beforehand. When it actually remained by his side, he immediately grinned, imagining all sorts of maneuvers he could perform with it. He ordered it to settle on his back, and it remained there, acting as if it was latched on to something. Just like that, he felt like a kid on a field trip. Next, he turned his attention to the blade itself. It weaved in the air, leaving sparks of red electricity as he performed practiced swings. He couldn¡¯t determine yet what exactly the blade could do. Elizzel was at her limit despite the smile and amazement on her face. So Frein did one final thing. Something that the kid in him had always wanted to do. He slowly returned the sword on the Shinemoon Scabbard on his back. He felt the Scabbard adjust for him, allowing him to keep hold of the hilt as he pushed it down. The satisfying click made him feel giddy, and when he let go and the sword remained on his back, he was outright laughing in amazement. He reached out a hand, expecting the sword to float towards it, but he didn¡¯t expect it to materialize there instead. Before he could even process his amazement, Elizzel spoke. ¡°Frein,¡± she began, still smiling, ¡°I think I know what the Blood-Ribbon Tassel can do.¡± He started to ask, but when the faunel materialized beside him, the question got stuck in his throat. ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± ¡°Try ordering the sword to go there,¡± she said, pointing towards the entrance. Frein followed and immediately felt the weight vanish from his hands. With a swirl of blood-red, the sword appeared by the entrance. Elizzel appeared next to it a second later, beckoning him over. Excitement filled his thoughts as he willed himself to appear before them. The next thing he knew, he was right beside the faunel. ¡°What!¡± ¡°Now order me to go there!¡± Elizzel said, pointing towards the Fulgurblade¡¯s display case. A thought after, the faunel was there. ¡°Can you try going back to me?¡± Frein asked. He hadn¡¯t even finished the question before Elizzel appeared beside him. ¡°What!¡± ¡°I should note, this is probably only one of the things the Tassel can do. The Scabbard floating beside you isn¡¯t the only thing it can do either. And we can¡¯t test out the Fulgurblade yet.¡± ¡°What else can they do?¡± Frein asked, his voice raised with excitement. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen what they can do combined, yet. But we don¡¯t have enough meiyal for that. Plus, the Fulgurblade and the Tassel both provide us an additional meiyal source each.¡± ¡°So we¡¯re up to six-meiyal now? I don¡¯t even know if I can Mill that yet.¡± Elizzel stared at him with disbelief. ¡°You already forgot, Frein? I do not add to your meiyal sources. I amplify them! Count again.¡± Four-meiyal was composed of Brymeia, Elizzel, the Emerald Guidance, and his own personal meiyal. With the addition of the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm and the Blood-Ribbon Tassel, it should¡¯ve been¡­ ¡°Wait, do you only amplify meiyal-charged materials?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Correct. I can¡¯t amplify Brymeia¡¯s meiyal since I¡¯m made out of it. I can¡¯t amplify yours because I depend on it. Should be easy to count from that point, right?¡± ¡°Eight? Eight-meiyal? You¡¯ll count for three meiyal sources because I have three materials that provide them.¡± ¡°You think you can handle that?¡± Elizzel asked, smiling. She clung on a display case, completely tired. ¡°We can try after you take a rest.¡± Frein willed the sword back to its case and closed it with a thought. ¡°Yeah, I agree.¡± They exited the Exhibit and entered a room adjacent to the main foyer. Frein had made a small room for Elizzel to rest properly. A small comfortable bed with a small window to view the Dream Realm outside. There was also a small basket for the puppy Norazzel to sleep in. Dim lights gave it a relaxing feel, but there was pretty much nothing else. ¡°We should probably sort out one thing first, Frein. Before I completely go to sleep.¡± The faunel threw herself on the bed, bouncing a few times. It completely ignored her weightlessness. ¡°What will you call it?¡± ¡°The sword?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The entire look of the sword, and the materials involved in its creation, had already given him an appropriate name. Still, he felt embarrassed formally naming it. ¡°Blood Moon Fulgurblade,¡± he said, finally. ¡°I guess that suits you,¡± she said before completely dozing off. Frein lay beside her and woke up instead.
Frein could feel his skin sizzling from Art fatigue. But he ignored all that when he found Princess Kristel staring at him with concern, with a M.O.B.I.L.E. on her hand. ¡°You alright?¡± he asked. ¡°Me? Are you alright?¡± she asked in return. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good,¡± he replied. There was no one else in the training room. It was also dark outside, judging by what he could see from the windows. ¡°Where¡¯s everyone?¡± It took the Princess a second to reply. ¡°They, umm.¡± She stuttered and tried again. ¡°Katherine brought Frill and Xiv somewhere luxurious and private for their date. The Skyside¡¯s the name. It¡¯s a fine-dining restaurant. I don¡¯t know the way, so she went to guide them.¡± ¡°Oh, she¡¯s covering for me, because I didn¡¯t help Xiv at all. Is that it?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s how you got stuck here. Because I¡¯m still integrating?¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°Sorry.¡± This time she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I had nothing to do anyway.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the M.O.B.I.L.E.?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been in Art fatigue for almost an hour!¡± she yelled, finally breaking her composure. ¡°I was so worried and I didn¡¯t know what to do! No one integrates for an entire day! Frill was also saying something about Su¡¯karix and Palar¡¯gog and how your materials came from Deitars. It all sounded so terrifying!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine, Kristel. Thanks for worrying. What did you do while waiting?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t help but pat the Princess on the head. It took her a second to slip away, protecting her light azure hair. ¡°I was practicing the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form for a while. But you started showing signs of Art fatigue, and Norazzel went into your Dream Realm. I got so worried, I couldn¡¯t concentrate.¡± Frein checked the time. He expected Katherine to return once the lovebirds are done with their awkwardness. They had time. ¡°Want to try again?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I¡¯ll help you out. I can¡¯t Mill for a while anyway.¡± Kristel pondered for a second before dropping into a meditative position. ¡°Sure.¡±
Chapter 128: A Warm, Fuzzy Evening A Warm, Fuzzy Evening
¡±I¡¯ve always imagined myself with Frein relaxing somewhere on Atlas Sid. I just didn¡¯t expect it to happen, and with more than just him.¡± ~Katherine Militia
¡°Just be yourself out there, Bro,¡± Katherine said while she tidied up Xiv¡¯s summer vest. ¡°The Skyside¡¯s the perfect place for a date. It¡¯s private, food¡¯s good, music is relaxing, and the scenery¡¯s the best wherever you look. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything external ruining your time with Frill. So all you have to focus on is yourself, you understand?¡± ¡°Bro?¡± Xiv asked like the dumb, overwhelmed man that he was. Katherine found it funny and adorable. ¡°Short for Brother, dummy.¡± She produced two reservation pamphlets and gave them to the Vyndivalian. ¡°If you¡¯re close enough with Frein and Eli to call them brother and sister, then I¡¯m taking a slice of that. Now you don¡¯t have a M.O.B.I.L.E., so don¡¯t lose these. I¡¯ve personally taken care of the reservations, so these are just for formality¡¯s sake, but still.¡± Xiv nodded along. He took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. ¡°I can¡¯t believe something like this is making me nervous,¡± he admitted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Katherine assured. ¡°Frill¡¯s nervous too. She¡¯s just better than you at hiding it.¡± ¡°I find that hard to believe, Sis,¡± Xiv replied, awkwardly piecing together the short term for sister. Katherine leaned forward and spoke in a serious tone. ¡°Look, Bro. Frill¡¯s never gone on a date before. Too busy with Kristel. Now, I don¡¯t know how many dates you¡¯ve been on¡ªzero, if I had to guess¡ªbut no one does it right the first time. You don¡¯t know what to expect, and sometimes, you expect too much. So you don¡¯t have to go there trying to make this the most special event you two will ever have in your life. Just have fun and get to know each other. You just have to convince her that she¡¯s not wrong about you. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, Frill won¡¯t expect you to do this perfectly the first time either. The plan happened out of the blue and neither of you are prepared, let¡¯s be honest.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what we¡¯ll be talking about,¡± Xiv said stubbornly. Katherine didn¡¯t have to use Heart¡¯s Will to see his brain frying and melting. ¡°Well, that¡¯s your problem lover-boy. I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯ll come out naturally. Just don¡¯t start with the weather, okay?¡± Xiv nodded again. He¡¯ll definitely start with the weather¡­ With a smile, Katherine tapped both shoulders and sent the Vyndivalian on his way. ¡°Take a right on the next corner and the first establishment you find will be The Skyside. You won¡¯t miss it. Get yourself comfortable in there. I¡¯ll bring Frill over in a few minutes.¡± Xiv gathered his courage and determination, giving Katherine one final nod. ¡°Thanks, Sis.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± As soon as he turned the corner and out of sight, Frill emerged from the other corner behind the same block, riding Stiry, her brown yuma. She dismounted elegantly, while looking past Katherine. ¡°He gone?¡± ¡°Yes, I made sure he prioritizes your reservations so nothing stupid happens.¡± Katherine looked all over Frill. As always, the Aria dressed in a way that emphasized her namesake. This time, she wore a pretty pink, frilly, summer dress layered with a white shawl to add some weight on her thin fabric. She was subtle with her makeup, only slightly accentuating around her eyes. Impressive but not surprising since Frill had a lot of practice with Kristel and even her late sister. ¡°How do I¡ª¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll keep that to myself. Don¡¯t forget to ask Xiv.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what we¡¯re going to talk about,¡± Frill complained. Katherine did her best and managed to prevent any signs of laughter from showing on her face. She played it cool, tapping Frill¡¯s shoulder like she did for Xiv. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she replied. ¡°You¡¯re both nervous, and that¡¯s okay. It might get awkward, but that¡¯s okay. Start with things you two are comfortable with. Your relationship doesn¡¯t have to develop to anything on your first date. All you need to do is to get to know each other more and see if this thing you have going on is worth a shot.¡± Frill nodded the same way Xiv did earlier. They¡¯re definitely going to start with the weather. And again, Katherine wore her best poker face, preventing giving any accidental hints to Frill. ¡°Alright,¡± the Lady started, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you to the entrance.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± They took a few steps¡ªStiry closely behind them¡ªbefore Frill completely caved and desperately held Katherine¡¯s hand. ¡°I think I¡¯m having a breakdown after all,¡± she said, her voice shaking. Katherine closely examined her friend with Mesiffera to make sure there wasn¡¯t anything wrong with Frill¡¯s meiyal system. A thorough scan clarified that she was clear. It was really just her nerves. ¡°You want to back out?¡± she asked Frill. Katherine made her voice neutral, rid of any sarcasm. While she didn¡¯t want her friend backing away from a potentially positive thing, she didn¡¯t want to force her either. ¡°I just wish it was the same for me,¡± Frill replied, desperately trying to stabilize her knees. ¡°You and Frein, I mean.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly smooth sailing for us either, you know. And unlike you, I didn¡¯t have someone else to cling on to.¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± Frill asked, her purple eyes desperate for answers. Katherine smirked when she recalled her first serious date with Frein. ¡°I clung on Frein, of course,¡± she said naturally. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Look. Xiv already said he likes you, Frill. You don¡¯t have to try for him to like you. I know there are a lot of uncertainties still involved, but at least you¡¯re done with the most important part, right? If you also like the guy, then try to keep it that way. ¡°For now, why don¡¯t you just go there, get something to eat, and just talk about things you¡¯re comfortable with? Come on. You¡¯re already fashionably late. Let¡¯s not drag that too long and give him the wrong idea.¡± Frill still shuddered, but she was smiling. ¡°I¡¯ve never been this nervous since my first concert.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Remember what you did back then?¡± Katherine asked. The Aria nodded. ¡°Together now.¡± Both ladies took slow, deep breaths. ¡°You got this, you got this,¡± Katherine whispered. ¡°I got this, I got this,¡± Frill repeated. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be alright,¡± the Lady added, and the Aria repeated that too. It was like magic. Frill calmed down and stood straight, smiling as confident as before. She reached behind her to find Stiry reflexively taking her hand on his large snout. ¡°You be good,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll call for you later.¡± Stiry made a small nod and nudged his master¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I get it, I get it. I¡¯ll be alright.¡± After sending the yuma off to return to his mate, Frill turned to Katherine. ¡°Thanks, Kat. I can take it from here.¡± Katherine gave her one final encouraging nod and sent her off with a proud smile. ¡°Have fun!¡± Satisfied, she turned around, pretending to return to the training room. As soon as she turned the corner, however, she brought out her coat from her Spatiera and sneaked somewhere within sight of The Skyside. The venue was indeed private, in the sense that the place was high enough that anyone trying to snatch a peek would either be flying or climbing the establishment. Katherine preferred to simply listen. Her Siffera was now about on par with Frein¡¯s without four-meiyal investment, enough to eavesdrop from the roof of The Skyside and make sure things were going fine between the two lovebirds. She liked what she heard and decided not to linger for long. Someone else was stalking her. ¡°You know that¡¯s cheating,¡± Katherine began in a whisper. ¡°Sneaking with Nature¡¯s Favor just gives you so much advantage.¡± A soft whine confirmed her suspicions long before Enza melded into view. The yuma snuggled on her lap, already too large for her adolescent antics. But Katherine tolerated her. Despite how the yuma looked, large as a horse as she was, it was still a fact that the youngling wasn¡¯t even a month old yet. ¡°Did Frein ask you to fetch me?¡± The yuma made an affirmative, yet snuffed out bark. It was adorable looking at such a beast of burden trying to be sneaky. ¡°Alright, we should glide down the other way and just take the road. We want to avoid flying since it¡¯s against the rules while traveling on the Atlas Sid. You understand?¡± Another affirmative bark. It was only then did Katherine realize that the yuma understood her word for word. It was odd. Not even bonded yumas could comprehend their masters the entire time. Maybe bonding with Frein granted her more than just a Blessing? she thought while they both made their way down the road. Enza was even courteous enough to carry her. That she found extremely surprising. A yuma required a lot of training to carry someone else, especially if their bonded practitioner was absent. ¡°Can you try and talk to me, Enza?¡± Katherine took a gander, not expecting the yuma to respond. But she tried. Enza tried. Katherine, in utter shock, could feel the yuma trying to communicate with her. She could feel the intentions behind the attempt. Enza wanted to say hi and ask if the Lady could understand her words. The realization stunned Katherine. It took her a second a nudge from Enza to gain back her thoughts. ¡°No, I couldn¡¯t hear your words, Enza,¡± she said, ¡°but I can understand your intent. I think, if Frein helped you out, or if there¡¯s a meiyal-charged material he can integrate for you, you might be able to communicate with everyone else!¡± Enza jumped with joy, rocking Katherine from her seat behind the yuma¡¯s back. The Lady didn¡¯t mind. She was excited herself. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to Frein! We should tell him about it!¡± Enza ran like the wind and entered the military facility within minutes. No one tried to stop her. People were so used to rushing yumas and vorks that the time of day didn¡¯t matter at all. Despite the evening, the entirety of Atlas Sid was still bright. It would remain so during the whole flight. People who wanted to sleep simply used the curtains in their rooms. As soon as they arrived at the training facility, Katherine passed her greetings to the current guard on duty and entered with the yuma. There she found Princess Kristel sprawled on the floor, trying to catch her breath. Frein was on the other end, using some makeshift weights out of some obstacle course parts. He was smoking, clear signs of Art fatigue. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Katherine announced herself, dismounting Enza. ¡°Hey,¡± Frein replied first, dropping his weights and running to her. ¡°How are they?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be alright,¡± Katherine replied before taking a kiss. They took a prolonged moment and indulged in each other before parting with a sigh. ¡°Thanks for asking Enza to fetch me. Did you know she can understand me even without you around? That¡¯s not something bonded yumas can do.¡± ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re experimenting a bit. I think I can help her communicate with other people with words.¡± ¡°Oh, so you already know. That¡¯s good to know.¡± Katherine wasn¡¯t surprised. Only slightly. But she already expected it from Frein. She turned to the Princess, who was still on the floor, instead. ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. Recovering from Art fatigue.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s right. She can¡¯t use meiyal resuscitation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re waiting.¡± ¡°Did you try?¡± ¡°Try what?¡± Frein visibly tried to play dumb, but quickly caught himself. ¡°Meiyal resuscitation is a deep kiss, Kat. It only works for lovers.¡± ¡°Thought I¡¯d ask since you seem to be getting a lot of attention lately.¡± Katherine tempered all of her excitement and tried to push Frein¡¯s buttons. The kiss made her feel hot under the collar and her desires and priorities became entangled again. Kristel¡¯s right¡­ I¡¯m basically addicted now. ¡°Eli¡¯s a different case, Kat. Kristel¡¯s like a sister to me. Even Frill and Xiv are siblings to me. Never had siblings before.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Katherine quickly admitted. ¡°Just confused. You did promise tonight, remember?¡± The Visitor just stared at her, waiting. She frowned for a while, but she quickly realized what he wanted to convey. ¡°Oh¡­¡± she said, looking at Kristel. The two lovebirds would be busy¡ªhopefully not too busy too soon¡ªtonight, leaving the Princess on her own until late evening. It wouldn¡¯t be a good idea to leave her alone, especially since it might cascade into unwanted events, leading to Frill and Xiv¡¯s relationship not working out¡ªas one mild example among other things. ¡°I guess we¡¯re babysitting,¡± she whispered. ¡°How about you bring me on a tour?¡± Frein suggested. ¡°Play a bit of hide-and-seek while the Princess¡¯s around?¡± Katherine felt his hand drift on the scar of her stomach, slipping under her shirt and working their way up her bra. He snatched a squeeze behind the Princess¡¯s back while his other hand masterfully undid her hook. She felt her lust skyrocket, as Frein pulled her undergarment off and stored it in his own Spatiera. The man was still in Art fatigue, but he forcefully Drew the spatial Art. It aggravated his condition only slightly, but neither of them cared. Still, Katherine tried to regain control, realizing Enza was still around. The yuma had ignored both of them and was playing around Kristel instead, messing up the Princess¡¯s azure hair while she tried to recover. Enza was serving as a distraction. ¡°Did you just ask your yuma to assist you? That¡¯s¡ª¡± Katherine hissed, but she did nothing when Frein¡¯s other hand slipped inside her shorts, pressing a finger in between her ass. She almost let out a moan. ¡°No,¡± Frein replied smoothly, pressing his lips on her collar bone and licking her up to her neck. At the same time, his finger went in and explored her insides. ¡°I¡¯m just taking advantage of it.¡± This time a soft sigh escaped Katherine, causing Frein to quickly release all engagement. He acted nonchalant. ¡°So where do you think we should go?¡± he asked, slightly tilting his head towards where Kristel was. It was a subtle sign to say she was gaining awareness, no longer busy with recovering. At the same time, he sucked on his middle finger, the one that was inside her just now. ¡°Katherine? When did you come back?¡± Kristel asked, sitting up and massaging Enza¡¯s face to calm her down. The Lady of the Void double checked herself before turning towards the Princess, making sure none of her clothes were loose or inappropriately slipping on the side. She felt frustrated but still excited at the same time. Good thing she had her coat on. Her stiff nipples would¡¯ve shown through the shirt, especially without the bra. Frein had barely touched her, but she was overwhelmed with arousal already. She zipped it close before replying to the Princess. ¡°Just a few minutes ago. How was training?¡± she asked. ¡°Dead tired. But I¡¯m ready to try again.¡± ¡°Actually,¡± Katherine started, ¡°I was thinking if you want to come with us? I wanted to show Frein around.¡± ¡°Oh. I don¡¯t want to be a bother.¡± Kristel quickly raised her hands in denial. ¡°You don¡¯t have to include me in your plans just because Frill¡¯s not around. I¡¯ll be fine on my own, I promise.¡± ¡°How about just dinner and maybe one place?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Then we¡¯ll call it a night?¡± He motioned for Enza to give the Princess a ride. Katherine saw him use the hand that assaulted her breasts and couldn¡¯t help imagine it resuming its work. ¡°Let¡¯s do dinner then, then let¡¯s see how it goes,¡± the Princess replied, pulling herself up on Enza¡¯s saddle. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°So, where?¡± Frein asked. ¡°The Skyside?¡± Katherine asked jokingly. ¡°That would be incredibly funny, but rude. Let those two have their moment. We can wrench the details out later.¡± ¡°Well, I know a few places that just opened when you were gone, Kat,¡± Kristel suggested. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to experiment?¡± ¡°Sure! I¡¯m in an experimental mood.¡± the Lady said, letting the Princess on the yuma lead the way. As soon as Kristel was in front of them, Katherine looked at Frein and teasingly smiled, undoing just a bit of her coat¡¯s zipper to show him a part of her breasts underneath a braless shirt. ¡°Take my panties off, too,¡± she said invitingly, mouthing the words so only his eyes could read the message. His dumb smile accepted the challenge.
Chapter 129: Hide and Seek Hide and Seek Frein mulled over how to approach his current task while on their way to whatever fine dining restaurant Kristel led them. It didn¡¯t matter where they would eat for dinner. Fulfilling Katherine¡¯s desires mattered more. Question was¡­how? It didn¡¯t help¡ªor it probably did¡ªthat Elizzel was asleep. She would¡¯ve had a bunch of ideas given that they both wore them, or she would¡¯ve nagged on him nonstop on how perverted this entire circus was. He hoped she would be into it at least, given the target of said perversion. Never mind, Frein sighed, remembering that the faunel¡¯s clothes were actually made of meiyal and she wore a sundress, not short shorts. Alas, no amount of training or Meiyal Arts would help him solve this conundrum. They failed him when it mattered most. And the fact that Katherine was enjoying his dilemma urged him even more. ¡°You guys are awfully quiet,¡± Kristel said, craning backwards from atop Enza¡¯s saddle. ¡°You didn¡¯t have a fight, did you?¡± ¡°No, just¡­¡± Frein began, acting interested in some building far away to his right. ¡°Admiring the view.¡± The building was indeed interesting. It was a massive dome surrounded by a number of floating, spherical infrastructures large enough to be considered their own buildings. If he considered the combination as one entity, the clearance it had from the next closest structure was about a town away. At that point, Frein stopped to ask. ¡°What¡¯s that place for?¡± Kristel followed his gaze. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the Research and Applied Meiyal Department. They¡¯re isolated so that when an experiment or any other dangerous research gets out of hand, Atlas Sid can simply detach the area after evacuating everyone.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Frein blinked. He saw realization dawn on Kristel. Even Katherine tempered down her aroused anticipations, realizing exactly where this conversation was heading. ¡°Did you just say ¡®Research Department?¡¯¡± ¡°You want to check it out before we eat?¡± the Lady asked. ¡°Oh!¡± Kristel beamed. ¡°That¡¯s like, the best place for you to go.¡± ¡°Can I, though?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Don¡¯t I need special permits for it? I know I¡¯m with you guys, but even so. Just by the name of that department, there¡¯re probably some things in there I¡¯m not allowed to see.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Katherine turned to Kristel, telegraphing something that Frein couldn¡¯t quite catch. ¡°Is she still working there?¡± ¡°Yeah, I think so. As far as I remember,¡± the Princess replied. She grinned at him. ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you formally when we get there. I bet she¡¯ll be more than interested in studying you rather than caring for confidentiality. It¡¯s not like we don¡¯t trust you or anything.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Frein grasped the situation. He had leveraged his title as the Visitor multiple times already, and gaining access to a research facility would be leagues better than any of the deals he had made in the past. ¡°There¡¯s still time. Dinner can wait,¡± Katherine urged, as if Frein needed more convincing. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry yet anyway.¡± She made sure to send him a subtle message of her hidden expectations. ¡°Not that hungry yet either,¡± Kristel joined in, oblivious to the situation. ¡°Alright, if it¡¯s fine with you guys. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± Since the building was in the middle of an open area, Frein headed off-road. Katherine stopped him right away. ¡°There¡¯s a proper path to get there,¡± she explained. ¡°It just looks empty, but there are defenses and securities in place.¡± Frein Drew Mesiffera in response and found the whole place surrounded by layers of shimmering barriers. Now that he knew where to look, he realized they weren¡¯t exactly invisible to the naked eye; just creatively hidden. He decided not to find out exactly how they operated and returned to the group. Kristel led them, continuing on the same path and eventually taking a right turn when they were at a crossroads. Along the way, they met a number of people who gave them respectful gestures and greetings, but no one dared to stop them or invade their personal spaces. Frein noticed that the closer they got to the research center, the less people they met. They eventually reached a guardhouse. It was empty, but a terminal for their M.O.B.I.L.E.s was available. Kristel and Katherine deposited both their devices to register, causing a screen to appear. It reflected their names, titles, and unsealed meiyal marks. Nothing profound. Frein followed suit. He hoped for nothing weird to happen and was thankful when the screen showed him the same things as the others¡¯. However, he found it odd that the terminal also recognized him as the Visitor. ¡°I registered you under that name, remember?¡± Kristel reminded him. ¡°It¡¯s not like the meiyal-craft devices know about it intuitively. It just reads from your M.O.B.I.L.E. and sends the information to the department¡¯s registry for their records.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Frein felt slightly embarrassed for reading too much into it. But only slightly. As soon as they made it out of the guardhouse, Frein caught sight of something he honestly did not expect. It was an open-framed vehicle, hovering off the ground and, based on the absence of a driver¡¯s compartment, seemed to operate remotely or automatically. He glanced at Katherine who purposefully leaned on its frame, gesturing to one of the seats. ¡°After you,¡± she said proudly. ¡°Is this seriously a hover craft?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a C.A.R.,¡± Kristel said, entering the vehicle with a smooth, practiced motion. Frein realized she had no idea what was going through his head. ¡°Are you being serious right now, Princess?¡± he asked sarcastically. ¡°What?¡± the Princess frowned. ¡°It¡¯s a Close-Air Relocator. C.A.R.¡± Frein turned to Katherine for an explanation, knowing that she could relate to this ridiculous naming scheme. First it was the M.O.B.I.L.E., the Meiyal-Operated Bio-Integrated Life Enhancer. He couldn¡¯t explain to Kristel how funny that was the first time. Now the devices¡¯ name felt so natural for him.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. But C.A.R. was something else. How could it be so close, yet so far? Relocator made some sense somewhat, but what did Close-Air mean anyway? He wasn¡¯t even sure which was funnier¡ªor lamer; the relation between the items and their names compared to Earth, or how the names felt forced to his ears. Ultimately, he decided to wave it off, focusing on the fact that a hovering vehicle was in front of him. Kristel took the front row seat, purposefully trying not to get in their way. Enza, of course, didn¡¯t need a ride. Her eyes were looking everywhere, intent to run around. ¡°Follow the C.A.R., Enza,¡± Frein began before anything else. ¡°We don¡¯t want to get in trouble.¡± ¡°Fine, fine,¡± replied the yuma, whining her disappointment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Enza,¡± Katherine said, inferring from the yuma¡¯s behavior while petting her head. ¡°It goes pretty fast.¡± She wagged her tail at that. ¡°Get up there, time¡¯s wasting,¡± Frein commanded and pushed Katherine¡¯s butt while giving it a squeeze, examining what sort of prize he was working on. The coat and her short shorts didn¡¯t exactly give him any detail, except for the fullness of her bottom translating through in his hand despite the layers of fabric. He was rewarded by a surprised yelp and a mild slap on his arm for his troubles. ¡°You two better behave in there,¡± Kristel warned them. She gave Frein an especially suspicious stare. ¡°No funny business.¡± ¡°Not even a bit?¡± he asked, trying to negotiate. ¡°There are probably a lot of things I want to check and touch in there.¡± He looked around his seat, not waiting for the Princess¡¯s reply. ¡°So what¡¯s the deal here? Do I have something to strap myself in or what?¡± ¡°No straps,¡± Katherine replied, understanding the hidden message behind his question. ¡°It¡¯s just a plain old C.A.R. Just use your hands and hold on to something.¡± ¡°We can take it slow if you want,¡± Kristel asked, showing him a panel on the front row with a few buttons. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he and Katherine replied at the same time. He continued, ¡°Enza wants to sprint anyway, and we don¡¯t want to take too much time. I¡¯ll just hold on, but I¡¯ll probably rip it apart.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± said the Princess. The three-minute ride lasted ten times longer in Frein¡¯s perspective. He spent the first few seconds mesmerized by the mechanics in which the C.A.R. hovered, silently speeding on a designated road. Of course, it ran on meiyal. Whose meiyal, whether it was Milled or harvested straight from Brymeia, he wasn¡¯t exactly sure. Then he turned to Enza who was having a blast chasing their vehicle. She was experimenting with wing-assisted running, gliding ever so often to allow for maintained speed as if mimicking the C.A.R. All the while he was keeping an eye on Kristel, making sure she was unaware of what was going on behind her. She was busy with her M.O.B.I.L.E., probably to inform the personnel inside the research facility about their unexpected visit. Frein was thankful she was such a thoughtful Princess. Content of their privacy, he explored Katherine¡¯s waist with one hand. He slipped inside her short shorts and confirmed her underwear was indeed just a normal pair of panties, none of the fancy ones that were tied or strapped. It made his objective clear but confusing. While he thought of a way, Katherine leaned close to his ear and whispered, ¡°You think I should stop wearing bras from now on?¡± She took his other hand and guided it to her breasts. The firmness of her flesh snuggly filled the grasp of his palm, and her aroused nipples called his attention. He desperately wanted to suck on them, but he had to make do with teasing those stiff nubs with his fingers. Katherine bit her lower lip while her legs squirmed in agonizing ecstasy. Her eyes pleaded him, asking him to go all the way, as if she didn¡¯t care if anyone saw them. Not even the Princess. She kept challenging his sanity, urging him to go further while she barely kept herself under control. Instead, Frein decided to explore a bit further around his main target. It was an impossible task, given how thin he had to spread himself between feeling up Katherine and monitoring Kristel¡¯s continued obliviousness. His hand found its way between her legs, feeling something stiff and moist. He played around it, teasing it, before pushing in a finger. She reacted as expected, gasping for air and trying her best not to make too much noise. He pulled it out, then pushed in two before she could even recover. Desperate to keep her voice down, Katherine bit his shoulder as she was incessantly assaulted and teased on both sides. Her hands went all around him as well, grasping at whatever muscle she could cling on to. Frein decided to quickly give her release, serving her with his fingers until she reached her climax. He was satisfied to see Katherine hold her voice. But her insides desperately clung to his fingers as he pulled them away. He fiddled with the mucus on his fingertips, still thinking of a way of how to get her underwear. An idea formed in his head while he showed the stringy line of liquid in front of Katherine, asking her to clean his finger. He considered the idea barbaric at best, too simple, but it would get the job done. He wanted a more proper way, so to speak. Like a hypnotized victim, Katherine cleaned his fingers with her mouth. He was still at a loss by the time they arrived at the main office building of the Research and Applied Meiyal Department. By then, he had completely taken his hands off Katherine, leaving her still craving despite having one climax. She desperately distracted herself by immersing their hands in Imbelia, using sanitation as an excuse. She even made one for Kristel, who was busy speaking with a receptionist. But really it was all just a ruse to get her scent off Frein¡¯s fingers. It was a treat observing her try to temper herself back down. Not to worry, I have time. Frein smiled, content for the time being but eager to continue his work at the first opportunity. He focused his attention to the main building¡ªor at least, he tried to. Katherine weakly alighted the C.A.R., causing a tinge of worry. But her smile quickly dispelled any uncertainty in the air. ¡°You didn¡¯t put them back right,¡± she whispered, asking him to cover her from prying eyes while she fixed her underwear. ¡°Act cool,¡± Frein said. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve never done this before.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never taken my panties out in public, yet,¡± Katherine replied with a suspecting tone. ¡°Everything else aside from that, dumdum.¡± ¡°Oh. Right.¡± ¡°Get your head in the game.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Katherine finished fixing herself just before Kristel emerged from the building. ¡°I just reserved a rest area for Enza. You lovebirds coming in, or what?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll be right there,¡± Frein replied while he presented Katherine his freshly cleaned hand. The Lady of the Void automatically took his gentlemanly offer while she mumbled to herself about getting her head in the game like it was a mantra she held on to for dear life. She was adorable. Beautiful. And downright helpless. Not once did she complain about his sexual torture, enjoying every minute of it instead. Frein didn¡¯t mind being torn apart for his attention. There was the kid side of him, excited and anxious for this impromptu field trip at what could be the most informative destination he had ever been in yet. And then there was the maniac who wanted to strip his lover of her clothes down to the last fabric and just ravage her senseless. Together, in this hide-and-seek, both of them entered the stage with clear goals in mind. First, Frein wanted to learn everything he could from this place, and quite possibly make connections so that he could come back to here whenever he wanted. Second, and quite possibly the more important part, leave this place with Katherine¡¯s underwear in his hand or his Spatiera. He could tell Katherine was right there with him, finally able to bring herself back together. She could read his excitement. ¡°Remember,¡± she started with a whisper. ¡°Let¡¯s try not to get caught.¡± ¡°Get caught doing what?¡± Kristel intervened, whispering as well. The two weren¡¯t even fazed and smiled at her. ¡°Get caught stealing,¡± Frein whispered. ¡°You¡¯re not stealing anything!¡± the Princess hissed. ¡°But Your Highness,¡± Sam intervened out of nowhere, appearing from Katherine¡¯s pocket as if he was waiting for this moment right from the beginning. ¡°I need upgrades.¡±
Kristel didn¡¯t know what to do. Acting like she couldn¡¯t hear anything or see anything was either the safest choice, or the dumbest one. She had never seen Katherine¡¯s face like that before. So twisted, so desperate. So in love. Kristel was thankful when the Lady of the Void suddenly offered her Imbelia to clean her hands. Whatever her reasons were¡ªthough they were already obvious in the first place¡ªthe Princess still appreciated the convenience. This way, no one would know that she got herself off from sneakily watching the other two pleasuring each other. As soon as she got Enza a place to stay and play, she mentally prepared herself, burying the experience in the depths of her memory before going out to fetch the two. Katherine¡¯s weak and satisfied face was the hardest one to hide. But Kristel made sure it was well hidden. For if the Lady so much as caught a hint, no doubt she would dig it out of her using Heart¡¯s Will. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t mind. Maybe she would. Kristel didn¡¯t intend to find out.
Chapter 130: J.A.M.
J.A.M.
¡±These acronyms will be the death of me.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
Frein expected another surreal experience. Another portal of sorts. He quickly learned that his past adventures had spoiled him rotten, elevating his standards and expectations to unreasonable levels so that even the spectacle of the Research Department¡¯s reception area felt mundane to him. Of course, not every new avenue would be a titillating experience. He was greeted by a luxurious, clean, and yet amazingly empty room. There was a large circular table in the middle where one of the two receptionists was sleeping. Two hallways at the back of the room led to somewhere deeper; hopefully more interesting places. Aside from the table, each corner of the room had a pillar which he generously considered to be the highlight of the entire reception area. For one thing, these pillars didn¡¯t appear to be structurally designed to support the building at all. Each one had cubic containers spiraling along a thin central pole, containing small oddities of sorts that were unfamiliar to Frein. They were of particular interest, he had to admit. One such container held a small orb within which emitted sparks of electricity. It resembled those plasma orbs he had seen in science fairs or exhibits. Not that he frequented those places before. However, the orb in this container specifically was nothing like those science projects. It constantly made cracks on the container, which in turn continuously mended itself. In fact, it felt more of a showcase for the glass container than the item within it, displaying how quickly it could recover from damage. They closely resembled the display cases inside his Exhibit. The curiosity astounded Frein. While he kept his goals in mind, he allowed himself to be distracted by these things, despite how much of a downgrade they were from everything else he saw beforehand. He bitterly admitted how easy it was still for him to be entertained. After a while, he concluded that all these containers secured within their seemingly fragile selves something destructive or corrosive. A few had in them perpetually flowing lava, swirling in a vortex. Some had twisters that threw around sharp rocks. He also found some that contained the same crackling electricity as the first one, and a few more that he couldn¡¯t quite define. They could be acid, or poison, or some other element. ¡°Having fun?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°You look disappointed.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I sort of expected more. Busy people and all that. It¡¯s a research facility after all.¡± Frein wondered if he should touch any of the containers. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re all upstairs or something?¡± ¡°They are,¡± said an unfamiliar voice. It completely pulled Frein away from asking about the containers. The person at the reception table yawned herself awake, rubbing her yellow eyes. She blinked a few times while her felintine ears flapped and jerked around. Then she stretched, a big and satisfying one, almost to the point of breaking her back. She shivered in satisfaction as all the energy from the release dispersed from her body, causing her to flop back down on her chair. ¡°Jaylene, that¡¯s very rude!¡± said the other receptionist, the one that had initially entertained Kristel about Enza¡¯s resting area. ¡°And fix your clothes, please.¡± Frankly, Frein didn¡¯t feel offended. He was rather entertained by the lax and carefree attitude of this felintine. Jaylene eyed her coworker before sighing, fixing the oversized shirt that slipped off one of her shoulders. She wasn¡¯t dressed for work, especially as a receptionist. In fact, she didn¡¯t look like she worked in this place at all. But the fact that the other receptionist acknowledged her was enough context for Frein to assume otherwise. There was something special about Jaylene. The felintine stood up straight, fixing the frizzle of her blonde hair. She eyed each of the guests, spending an awkwardly long time on Katherine. ¡°Welcome to the Research and Applied Meiyal Department, honored guests,¡± she began. ¡°I¡¯m Jaylene Atlas Morphinnel. Jam for short.¡± She placed both hands together in front of her as a sign of welcome. She tried to look the part, but her clothes made it an uphill battle. Her voice was also listless and awkward, absent of the welcoming tone expected from a receptionist. All in all, Jaylene¡ªJam¡ªlooked like she was forced in this position. Frein threw financial reasons out of the equation. No one in Atlas Sid would be caught in that position. It was a floating, self-sustaining city tasked with monitoring the Nightmare Lands. Nobody could afford to be poor under those conditions. Besides, the felintine didn¡¯t look desperate for money. Punishment, then. For what, he didn¡¯t know. Or maybe she¡¯s just waiting for us? Frein noticed that the felintine was staring at him. ¡°I already know their names, so¡­¡± she implied, pointing at the other two ladies behind him. ¡°Jaylene!¡± the other receptionist, a human by the looks of it, reprimanded her before bowing towards Frein. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for her. My name¡¯s Gumi Baker. Welcome to the R.A.M. Department.¡± ¡°Ram¡­¡± Frein repeated. ¡°Short for¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah, I get it, sorry. I¡¯m Frein Nivan. Feel free to call me Frein.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect the Visitor to look so normal,¡± Jaylene said, yawning once again. ¡°I¡¯ll take them, Gumi. You can take a break.¡± She took a few things from the table before lazily heading towards the left-side hallway. ¡°But Jaylene¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just Kristel and Katherine. I can handle them. You¡¯ll just be too self-conscious if you do the tour for these two, especially with the Visitor.¡± Jaylene shooed Gumi away with one hand. ¡°Over here, folks.¡± Gumi sighed but quickly rid herself of the unpresentable look, smiling towards Frein instead. ¡°Please let me know if she causes you any trouble.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Thanks, Gumi,¡± Kristel said, pushing Frein by his shoulder. ¡°We won¡¯t stay long.¡± They caught up to Katherine, who was already in mid-conversation with Jaylene. ¡°You haven¡¯t aged a day,¡± said the Lady. ¡°I suppose not,¡± the felintine replied. She didn¡¯t care for how slow they walked. ¡°You should ask your dad to retire, so I can stop staring at his old face. Want a drink?¡± With another yawn, Jaylene opened her Spatiera and retrieved a packet of some sort of juice. She even had a metal straw to go along with it. Frein had never seen anyone in Minaveil Province use a straw. Katherine took the offer so the felintine produced more, offering them to the Frein and Kristel. He didn¡¯t hesitate to have a taste. Frizzy berries, almost like sparkling wine or beer, but there was no alcoholic content as far as he could tell. ¡°I asked him to retire before I went away,¡± Katherine said, continuing their discussion. ¡°I think he¡¯ll still say no today.¡± Jaylene hummed an inquisitive tune while she took a sip. ¡°Of course. His grandfather was just as stubborn. I had to force him to step down. Tell that to your dad.¡± ¡°That would make you more than a hundred years old,¡± Frein said, casually joining the conversation. ¡°Stopped counting after two hundred. What¡¯s the point, right?¡± Jaylene glanced at him and then to Katherine. She sighed. ¡°Already taken, huh¡­ Can¡¯t be you either anyway.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°She¡¯s looking for her one, true love,¡± Katherine explained. ¡°How did you know I¡¯m taken?¡± he asked Jaylene, inferring from the subtle glance she gave earlier. The felintine gave him a proper look without stopping. Frein could see through his Mesiffera that she was scanning him using the same Art. And while it shocked him, it wasn¡¯t exactly surprising, given her supposed age. ¡°Seems like you know how to use your Siffera properly as well,¡± Jaylene commended. ¡°Not only that, but you have more than two types of meiyal in your Mill. I have four myself.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t exactly answer my question, though¡­¡± Jaylene took a deep breath and raised a finger, pointing out her felintine ears. ¡°I bet it does.¡± It clicked in his head. Without words, he slipped the hand that molested Katherine inside his pocket. Imbelia should¡¯ve cleaned it thoroughly and gotten rid of the smell. But could a felintine, empowered by Siffera, have a more acute sense of smell? He glanced at the Lady, trying not to make Kristel suspicious. In fact, the way Katherine looked at Kristel and not at Frein made him suspicious. He turned her gaze towards the Princess whose face had turned crimson. He didn¡¯t need to ask. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt and make things awkward,¡± Kristel said, covering her face. Jaylene laughed. ¡°And here I thought, it¡¯s between you three.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡± Kristel squealed. ¡°Well¡­umm.¡± Frein¡¯s thoughts froze. He wasn¡¯t sure exactly what to say. A quick glance at Katherine didn¡¯t help either. ¡°Sorry you had to¡­go through that.¡± Kristel peeked between her fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t do it again?¡± ¡°I mean, I suppose, unless¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t make things awkward, right?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll feel guilty if you two keep apologizing to me!¡± Kristel stooped to a crouch, trying to make herself smaller. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly innocent either.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Frein and Katherine said at the same time. ¡°If you two are interested,¡± Jaylene intervened, addressing him and the Lady. ¡°I¡¯ll record you both while you¡¯re doing it. Strictly for research purposes. Promise.¡± ¡°You wish!¡± Katherine said. Frein got a glaring when he didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Come on, Kristel, get up. That¡¯s a completely natural reaction.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± he said to Jaylene, while offering the Princess a hand. He deliberately used the one from his pocket. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be ashamed about it. It¡¯ll be a bit more worrying if you didn¡¯t react that way.¡± The felintine shrugged and continued walking. ¡°Well, it was worth a shot.¡± Frein sighed and decided to steer the conversation into something more informative. ¡°So, why are you looking for your true love? Do you have Fate¡¯s End like Mineltha or something?¡± he asked, naturally falling into the conclusion. He figured it was rude to ask, but he already asked about her age. The felintine didn¡¯t seem like the kind of person who was easily offended anyway. The question stopped Jaylene in her tracks, halting their progress in the hallway once again. She turned to Frein, eyeing the other two ladies beside him. ¡°How come you already know so much?¡± she asked. ¡°I thought you¡¯re the Visitor?¡± ¡°I spoke to Rindea Fallsween just a few¡ª¡± ¡°Wait, the Rindea?¡± Frein realized the absurdity of his words. In fact, the entire conversation jumped around too much. He tried to reign them back in. He began with a thorough explanation of Rindea essentially dying from The Mist That Carries the Nightmare, and how her Worldborn status allowed her spirit to survive by taking over the Deep Nightmare. Then, he glossed over some details and eventually concluded with his meeting with The First Protector. ¡°Worldborn¡­¡± Jaylene mused. She turned around and continued her slow walk down the hallway. The three of them followed. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard that term for many years now.¡± ¡°As far as I know they¡¯re just considered to be myths,¡± Frein said. ¡°Well, they are, given that it¡¯s now impossible to be one.¡± Frein stopped himself before telling the felintine she was wrong. He didn¡¯t have enough proof to argue his point anyway. Instead, he returned to his original question. ¡°So, about Fate¡¯s End¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I have it,¡± Jaylene replied. ¡°Elves or half-elves have an average life expectancy of three human lifespans. I acquired my Blessing when I was eighteen. Stopped aging since. I think there¡¯s been ten Monarchs since then? Too lazy to count.¡± She glanced back, studying Frein. ¡°If you know Mineltha, then you should know why I¡¯m looking for my one, true love.¡± Her face twisted with embarrassment and disgust as she said those words. ¡°You make it sound like a curse, not a Blessing.¡± Jaylene agreed, turning away. ¡°Someone¡¯s Blessing will always be someone else¡¯s curse. Besides, I¡¯m not in a rush. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m not enjoying my life or anything.¡± Frein found the logic sensible enough. Her case was the inverse of his. While he thought of her situation somewhat fascinating, it wasn¡¯t lost to him how morbid it was in hindsight. Jaylene wanted to find someone so she could lose her agelessness and eventually die. Unlike his situation, however, Fate¡¯s End was kinder, allowing the Blessed One to perish at the same moment¡ªJaylene in this case¡ªas her true love. Frein envied her for that. But he didn¡¯t let it distract him from latching on two important questions. ¡°Did you say you acquired your Blessing? And you¡¯re an elf?¡± ¡°Half-elf, half-vork,¡± Jaylene replied. ¡°And yes, I acquired it from Brymeia.¡± Katherine and Kristel had been busy with their own conversation since Frein started asking his questions. But the felintine¡¯s reply made them stop. ¡°Wait,¡± said all three of them. It startled Jaylene, hopping back and raising her arms. Her tail instinctively wrapped around her waist. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Did you just say Brymeia spoke to you?¡± ¡°No, I said I acquired it from her. I dreamt of her offering me this Blessing. I was young back then, so I said yes. I woke up not thinking anything of it, until, of course, when I started noticing everyone becoming older while I remained the same. ¡°Of course, no one believed me back then. Being half-elven, it took me about a century to fully convince myself and everyone else that I wasn¡¯t just making it all up. And now, everyone I grew up with is dead. Can¡¯t even tell them ¡®I told you so.¡¯¡± Jaylene¡¯s listless voice didn¡¯t help with the somber mood. But it was clear to Frein¡ªto Kristel and Katherine as well, by the looks of it¡ªthat her experience was different from what the Princess described when she spoke with Brymeia. The felintine had an actual dream rather than entering her Dream Realm. Frein made a mental note to ask Norazzel if there was a difference. ¡°Anyway,¡± Jaylene began when no one else spoke, ¡°here¡¯s your first stop. The Meiyal Experiments and Science Section.¡± ¡°M.E.S.S.,¡± Frein said. The felintine clapped lazily. ¡°Yay. Someone gets it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that difficult after J.A.M., C.A.R., and M.O.B.I.L.E.¡± ¡°You liked my acronyms?¡± Jaylene asked. ¡°Seems like you can pronounce them easily even though they¡¯re just made up words.¡± ¡°You have jam in your world. I have it for breakfast with bread.¡± ¡°True.¡± Jaylene shrugged again. ¡°But we didn¡¯t have C.A.R.s or M.O.B.I.L.E.s until I made them.¡± ¡°You made them?¡± The felintine¡¯s eyes judged him with disappointment. ¡°I thought that was already obvious.¡± Chapter 131: M.E.S.S.y Discussions
M.E.S.S.y Discussions ¡±If it¡¯s not obvious enough, I¡¯m Jam, the head of the R.A.M. Department. I¡¯m also a retired member of the Order of the Void, so most of their technologies stemmed from my creations.¡± ¡°Retired?¡± Frein asked. ¡°You get tired of the Nightmare after a while, Visitor. I served under the Order for two centuries. I earned my retirement, but I¡¯m not out of shape. So I spent my days here on Atlas Sid, trying to help with my inventions.¡± ¡°That reminds me,¡± Frein began while they walked through a narrow path, heading into the M.E.S.S. proper. ¡°Your middle name is Atlas. In fact, you¡¯re the only person I¡¯ve met so far who has a middle name.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my title. Jaylene ¡®Atlas¡¯ Morphinnel. I¡¯m also the current owner of the Atlas Sid.¡± Frein stopped abruptly, almost bumping on the two ladies behind him. ¡°Not Admiral Garm?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in-charge of operating it, but it is officially under my name. I¡¯m serious about him retiring, but he¡¯s still spry enough to be stubborn. I¡¯ll force him down after a decade.¡± They finally reached a threshold. A pair of large doors with a panel in front of it. The doors looked imposing. A quick scan with Mesiffera told Frein of its security measures. It looked awfully alive, akin to the doors of the Keeper¡¯s Isolation. He wondered¡­ ¡°Did you make the Keeper¡¯s Isolation, Jam?¡± he asked while the felintine manipulated the security panel. She stopped, surprised that he also knew of that place. ¡°I studied it. Have you been there?¡± Frein contemplated for a while, using his Siffera to speed up his thoughts. He wasn¡¯t sure how much information he wanted to share. By the looks of it, Jaylene was simply highly perceptive like he was due to her vast experience, and not because she was Blessed by Heart¡¯s Will. As far as he knew, no one person could be Blessed twice. Ultimately, he admitted that this felintine was an important person, and that gaining her favor would be an advantage for him and his purpose. Besides, Su¡¯karix didn¡¯t make him swear to secrecy anyway. ¡°For a while,¡± he said finally. ¡°I was integrating with a meiyal-charged material. The next thing I knew I was in the Keeper¡¯s Isolation.¡± Jaylene resumed operating on the panel. ¡°I thought Su¡¯karix would be more subtle. I guess she would¡¯ve probably given you some special treatment, since you¡¯re the Visitor.¡± ¡°You knew about Su¡¯karix?¡± ¡°One of my materials is called the Thousand-Year Storm Scale. I also met her when I integrated with it.¡± ¡°Oh, fancy that.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jaylene smiled. She finished operating the panel, finally. Not that it was a complex series of security checks. As far as Frein could tell, the felintine simply loved taking her time. ¡°You know it feels a little weird,¡± she said. ¡°Saying these things and receiving no challenges, I mean.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Frein asked. The door behind Jaylene opened, revealing a series of interesting things spread throughout the entire room. She looked at him with an appreciative smile. ¡°Normal people find it hard to believe when you tell them about these things,¡± she replied before ushering them inside. ¡°Despite how important you are?¡± Frein turned to Kristel, implying his question in front of a government official. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t take it the wrong way, Visitor,¡± Jaylene quickly intervened. ¡°I don¡¯t have any issue with Irista Nation. They technically believe my claims. I wouldn¡¯t be here if they didn¡¯t. And thank you. I¡¯m not used to being called important either.¡± ¡°Well you are. And I¡¯m surprised no one¡¯s called you that, being ageless and all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just one person, Frein. Even if I live a long life, I can¡¯t make a lot of difference.¡± She turned to an exhibit on her right. It was arranged like an altar of sorts with a label, ¡®Prototype: M.O.B.I.L.E.¡¯. She eyed them like a doting mother hiding her disappointment. ¡°These things never worked outside of our safe zones. The Nightmare disrupts its very core, let alone the signals in the atmosphere. I couldn¡¯t make it work, so it became useless to the Order of the Void outside of novelty or entertainment. ¡°They turned it to T.E.A., Tour Expert Assistant. As if people frequented their Sanctums. It¡¯s hilarious.¡± Jaylene tried to laugh it off, but she failed to hide her sarcasm from Frein. ¡°I think we can help with that,¡± he began, turning to Katherine. ¡°I meant to show this to you before I went away, Jam.¡± Katherine pulled Sam out of her pocket. ¡°Sorry it took me so long.¡± Jaylene carefully held it with both hands. ¡°This is?¡± ¡°Hello, Jam,¡± said the sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°I¡¯m Sa¡ªwoah!¡± The way Sam suddenly spoke caught Jaylene off guard, with her almost dropping the device out of shock. Her quick reaction, empowered by Siffera, allowed her to recover the M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! You¡¯re speaking!¡± Sam cleared his nonexistent throat. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m S.A.M. Sentient Assistant M.O.B.I.L.E. Pleased to meet you, mother.¡± ¡°Mother?¡± ¡°Technically you created me. Admittedly, I formed this consciousness thanks to Katherine over there¡ªnice woman, but a little depraved. I mean, she¡¯s really strong and smart and nice¡ªplease don¡¯t disassemble me. However! Technically speaking, I came out of your imagination, innovation, genius, awesomeness, creativeness, and determination, Mom.¡± Jaylene raised her eyebrows and slowly turned to Katherine. ¡°It¡¯s not a recording, is it?¡± The Lady shook her head. Sam¡¯s internal meiyal whirled. ¡°I can pre-record stuff, if you want. But the one I said before, and this one, and the one after this one, they¡¯re not recordings.¡± ¡°Can I keep him?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We tried passing ownership before,¡± Katherine began, gesturing over to Frein. ¡°But we can¡¯t. Sam can only utilize my meiyal, but until he runs out, you can borrow him and study him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for me.¡± ¡°I would also like some upgrades, Mom. If you have them?¡± ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Sam hummed while he pondered. ¡°Meiyal efficiency? Maybe you can replicate an Exhibit internally in my system? How about some hidden weaponry? Like concentrated meiyal beams or something.¡± The felintine nodded. Frein noticed she didn¡¯t refute any of those requests. ¡°I wonder if we can replicate you,¡± she added. ¡°I prefer to be unique, but if that¡¯s what mother wants. Also, this is a bit late to ask, but I¡¯m not offending you by calling you mother, am I?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t argue with your logic, so I accept the name. Just avoid calling me that in public.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t show up in public.¡± ¡°We¡¯re trying to keep it a secret,¡± Katherine added. ¡°We think it¡¯s best for you to study it first, and we don¡¯t want any unnecessary information leaking out.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°We might have some problems,¡± Kristel replied this time. ¡°Internally.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jaylene nodded. ¡°Okay. If it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll keep him in my private study for a while and call for you, Kat, when he runs out of meiyal. Frein calls you Kat, right?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Katherine replied, ¡°Wait, when did you¡ª¡± ¡°The C.A.R. has a security surveillance, Kat,¡± Jaylene replied. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I was the one on duty. I turned off the recordings.¡± Frein caught the Lady of the Void using her Heart¡¯s Will. She tried to be subtle about it, but frankly, the situation prompted her move as naturally as goading a yuma with treats. The felintine sighed. ¡°Would I ever lie to you?¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you were staring at me?¡± ¡°I thought it was your nose?¡± Frein asked. ¡°To confirm, yes,¡± Jaylene replied to him first. ¡°Out of respect, I turned the surveillance off the moment I saw the signs.¡± Kristel breathed in relief. ¡°We should really get better control of ourselves.¡± Jaylene shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s true for you,¡± she said, pointing at the Princess before nodding towards Frein and Katherine. ¡°These two have different circumstances.¡± The felintine frowned and turned back to Sam. ¡°You¡¯re suddenly awfully quiet.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been given strict rules against joining in this type of conversation. Not that I have nothing to say on the subject matter, but frankly, I possess too many secrets about the relationship of these two, so I advise against prodding too much. Satiate your curiosity elsewhere, Mother.¡± ¡°Oh, so you do respond when prompted.¡± Jaylene mused, observing the sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°Shame. I would¡¯ve wanted to transfer some confidential files.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± Katherine pleaded. ¡°I won¡¯t. Pretty sure Sam won¡¯t let me anyway. I know what I¡¯m supposed to do.¡± The conversation reminded Frein of something he had wanted to resolve for the longest time. ¡°Jam, actually, I do have a request,¡± he started. ¡°I think if someone were to figure it out, it would be you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it first,¡± the felintine replied. She attempted to store Sam in her Spatiera only to notice how much meiyal it required her to do so. ¡°This is absurd!¡± she complained to Kat. ¡°My meiyal, plus his meiyal when he became sentient,¡± the Lady explained. ¡°I just pocket him for convenience¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯m not paying for that.¡± Jaylene realized her clothes didn¡¯t have any pockets. ¡°Here, you can have this.¡± Katherine opened her Spatiera and pulled out a small shoulder bag. ¡°Brought that from Earth.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you!¡± Jaylene¡¯s voice had been gradually rising since Sam rested on her hands. It reached its peak when she received her bag. It didn¡¯t take her much to understand how to use it. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s pretty convenient. I like it!¡± ¡°I picked that with you in mind,¡± Katherine added. ¡°Did you seriously bring souvenirs for everyone?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°What did she get you?¡± Frein asked as well. ¡°An anklet.¡± The Princess candidly raised her leg, showing off an anklet with a diamond imbedding. ¡°You like subtle stuff,¡± Katherine commented. ¡°So this is fashionable and subtle, if you wear the right combination.¡± ¡°I like it.¡± Kristel quickly realized they were drifting on a tangent. ¡°You said you wanted to ask Jaylene something, right?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right,¡± Jaylene said. ¡°What is it?¡± Frein opened his Spatiera and pulled a small, black device. Its screen no longer functioned, its battery long dead. He presented his mobile phone. ¡°We call this a mobile phone,¡± he explained. ¡°It¡¯s basically your M.O.B.I.L.E., but with a few distinct differences; mainly, it doesn¡¯t function on meiyal.¡± ¡°Electricity,¡± Jaylene said. Her eyes were glued on the device. She pointed to the socket below the phone. ¡°This attachment point, clearly you attach it to something to charge the device.¡± ¡°How did you know about electricity?¡± Frein asked. It was an odd yet honest question. Nothing of what he observed in Minaveil Province showcased anything that used electricity. Frankly, he believed they didn¡¯t use that resource at all. ¡°Let me check,¡± Jaylene mumbled, disappearing into the depths of the M.E.S.S. She returned a minute after, carrying a small mechanism. ¡°I visited the Sky Islands a few centuries ago, trying to find signs of Su¡¯karix. Instead I found her meiyal-charged scale, and the ancient ruins of her long lost civilization.¡± She found an empty table near them and placed the machinery with care. ¡°What do you think?¡± asked the felintine. She looked at Frein with expectations. It was a small contraption with two protruding metals above it. It resembled a pocket taser, as far as Frein was concerned. But he humored Jaylene and used Mesiffera which allowed him to see the meiyal flowing within. It crackled with energy. ¡°How long has it been in there?¡± he asked. ¡°Since I found it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Electric meiyal,¡± Frein answered. ¡°This is like a perpetual charger.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Jaylene corrected. ¡°The energy inside isn¡¯t exactly meiyal. It¡¯s natural electricity mixed with meiyal. It diminishes when you use it, but the meiyal freezes the electricity¡¯s natural energy conversion¡ªor depreciation, some would say¡ªallowing the device to keep it stored, basically forever.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying the Sky Islands used actual electricity before?¡± Frein asked to clarify. ¡°I think so,¡± Jaylene agreed. ¡°But I think I¡¯m jumping to conclusions. What exactly do you want me to do with your mobile phone?¡± ¡°Can you transfer its data to my or anyone¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E.? Maybe Sam? Doesn¡¯t matter if it ends up destroyed.¡± ¡°If you let me keep it, I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± ¡°All yours. You can copy the files as well if you want. There are some really good songs there that I want to share with Frill.¡± Jaylene added the phone in her shoulder bag, appearing satisfied. ¡°I¡¯ve never been this excited for a long while.¡± ¡°We were going to come by tomorrow,¡± Katherine began, ¡°but I¡¯m glad we chose to go today instead. I missed you, Jam.¡± ¡°I missed you too, Kat. It¡¯s been three, maybe four years? I don¡¯t count them anymore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s three,¡± Frein said, not even trying to hold himself back. ¡°Read the room?¡± Jaylene glared at him. ¡°I don¡¯t see you hugging each other,¡± he said. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware this is a normal conversation.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re just making it awkward.¡± ¡°Jam,¡± Katherine called, opening her arms wide. ¡°I did miss you.¡± Jaylene¡¯s demeanor changed completely. Her lazy disposition, her slouched shoulders, her tired eyes, they all changed. She looked happy, alive. She looked proud and relieved. Frein could easily point it out. Atlas Sid was Katherine¡¯s mode of transport in and out of Irista Nation during her training when she was growing up. The familiarity between her and Jaylene appeared faint at first, but that was simply because of the long gap between their farewells. It was also because he felt that sense of longing, watching this felintine open her arms to accept Katherine, which made him sure of their relationship. Jaylene¡ªJam¡ªwas Katherine¡¯s adoptive mother. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± the Lady said, cry-laughing as she embraced the felintine. ¡°Welcome home. Don¡¯t go breaking my back now.¡± Jaylene held Katherine¡¯s face, admiring her. ¡°You¡¯ve matured so much. I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t be coming back.¡± ¡°I almost didn¡¯t,¡± Katherine replied, looking at Frein. ¡°He told me otherwise.¡± Jaylene¡¯s hand was quick, it almost threw Frein for a loop. The next thing he knew, he was with Katherine inside the felintine¡¯s embrace. It was a warm embrace. One full of motherly love. ¡°Thank you for bringing her home. It must be difficult for you.¡± Frein didn¡¯t know what to say. He melted before such sincere care and compassion. He had missed this. He missed his own mother. He missed his parents. ¡°Yeah,¡± was the only response he could afford, trying desperately to hold back his tears. Jaylene showered his forehead with sweet kisses. ¡°You¡¯re a brave man, Frein Nivan. A brave, brave man. Kat¡¯s lucky to have you.¡± In the midst of this, Katherine was just smiling towards him, enjoying every moment. Until all three of them heard a snapping sound. They all turned to find Kristel holding up her M.O.B.I.L.E. towards them. ¡°Give me some smiles,¡± she said. Katherine and Frein didn¡¯t even hesitate, wrapping Jaylene around their arms and giving Kristel their biggest, teary smile. The felintine couldn¡¯t hold her emotions any longer, sobbing and laughing at the same time. ¡°Well, this tour has become a total mess.¡± ¡°Ah, I get it,¡± Frein said. ¡°Me too,¡± Katherine followed. ¡°Me three,¡± said Kristel. Jaylene sniffed, trying to recover from her emotional twister. ¡°I think we should check the firing range next. I want to show you my G.U.N.s and R.I.F.L.E.s.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kidding?¡± Frein and Katherine said at the same time. ¡°They have those on Earth, too?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°You have no idea.¡± Chapter 132: To Plan For the Future
To Plan For the Future
¡±Did you know Atlas Sid was supposed to have a third word? Skyfarer. I was asked to redact it from the official title. Said they didn¡¯t like the acronym for it. I had to agree.¡± ~Jaylene ¡®Atlas¡¯ Morphinnel, J.A.M.
¡°So, did you come up with the name for the Atlas Sid?¡± Frein asked as they ignored the rest of the M.E.S.S., skipping all the interesting things that tugged at his curiosity every which way in order to get to the shooting range. He could come back for them some other time anyway. ¡°Oh, yes,¡± Jaylene replied. ¡°It wasn¡¯t actually Atlas Sid when I first received it centuries ago. I forget the name, though. Should be in some record somewhere.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A mechanism squeaked at Frein¡¯s left side, isolated by four thin walls. He couldn¡¯t see what it was. ¡°There¡¯s a history book for Atlas Sid, if you¡¯re interested,¡± Kristel suggested. ¡°Always am.¡± There was a large bucket on the far right. It could be a trash bin or the weird moving lights surrounding it could be an indication of something other than garbage. ¡°You like reading books or something?¡± Jaylene asked. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± On his left, he found¡ª ¡°Oh, drop the ¡®ma¡¯am¡¯, Frein. I liked it better when you were calling me Jam. Kat calls me Jam anyways.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Jam it is.¡± The group entered another hallway. It looked so much like the previous narrow path that Frein had to double check whether they were going back or not. Katherine assured him they were heading deeper into the building. ¡°I don¡¯t remember you having a firing range,¡± she said. ¡°Repurposed it. Used to be for volatile meiyal experiments.¡± ¡°Oh, the B.O.O.M. Room, I remember that.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the B.O.O.M. Room?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°That sounds dangerous.¡± ¡°Big, Overloaded, and Oversaturated Meiyal Room,¡± Jaylene replied. ¡°It¡¯s for¡­¡± she gestured to the side like a teacher prompting her students for the answer she had obviously provided. ¡°Big, overloaded, and oversaturated meiyal,¡± Frein replied, feeling the gesture mostly directed at him. ¡°So, what¡¯s the new place called?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Jaylene sighed. ¡°Too recent, and no one¡¯s come up with any good acronyms.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you have figured that out during the renovation?¡± Frein shrugged. Jaylene smiled and pointed a finger at him while her other hand worked on another security panel. ¡°I really like him, Kat. Not afraid to ask questions. The previous boys were too easily intimidated. This guy, right here, is a man.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Frein said, feeling confident. ¡°But I¡¯m already taken, Jam.¡± The felintine made an amused laugh. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t date other guys?¡± Frein asked Katherine, dramatically lacing his words with betrayed feelings. ¡°Oh, yeah, about a dozen,¡± she replied sarcastically. ¡°Kissed them all and everything.¡± ¡°Everything?¡± Kristel asked, not getting the joke. ¡°She was still a virgin when I had her back on Earth,¡± Frein explained without hesitation. Kristel blushed, Jaylene laughed a bit harder, and Katherine smacked the back of his head. ¡°Ow!¡± A thought entered Frein¡¯s mind. ¡°Unless Samesia can heal it?¡± he asked genuinely. Katherine hesitated so Jaylene beat her to it. ¡°It can,¡± she said. ¡°But do you truly think this sweet child of mine is that kind of a person?¡± ¡°Never doubted,¡± Frein answered in a heartbeat. ¡°Just curious. Actually, if it¡¯s possible, then we can do some more weird¡ª¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Katherine said. ¡°I didn¡¯t date anyone else before you, alright?¡± Just then, the security doors opened to reveal a narrow pathway. Inside, Frein saw a large field on his left, sectioned off by transparent mirrors. There was another door for them to get through, and Jaylene continued her self-indulgently slow process. On his right were three separate rooms with their own security doors, but they looked less impressive. He imagined they were utility rooms like restrooms or locker rooms and the like, but he couldn¡¯t see past the walls except for one that had a window. It looked like a lounge room, complete with seats and coffee stations. Frein almost missed that he had never seen a coffee station in Brymeia before. Then again, he had not seen a shooting range, a floating vehicle, and a lot of mechanically advanced appliances and devices before boarding the Atlas Sid either. ¡°So, how many times have you done it?¡± Jaylene asked, interrupting his thoughts. ¡°Just curious.¡± Frein didn¡¯t answer right away, shifting his eyes to Katherine, who in turn, looked at Kristel. The Princess shrugged hopelessly. ¡°I guess, I¡¯ve heard and witnessed enough. I have to get used to it at this point.¡± ¡°A lot,¡± Frein and Katherine replied at the same time, turning back to Jaylene. ¡°A whole lot,¡± Frein added. ¡°A disgusting amount,¡± Katherine added as well. ¡°It¡¯s not even funny.¡± ¡°Especially after he learned Siffera, he just wouldn¡¯t stop. At all. It¡¯s crazy.¡± ¡°Okay, stop,¡± Kristel said finally. ¡°I said it¡¯s fine, but you didn¡¯t need to rub it on my face!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Frein replied, hiding a smirk. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh, come on!¡± ¡°You walked right into it, Kristel,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Do you guys talk about your sex life so freely with other people?¡± Jaylene asked. ¡°Feels like you two are used to it.¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Only when asked,¡± Frein added to it. ¡°She usually stops me if she feels embarrassed.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not embarrassed right now, Kat?¡± Jaylene asked. She finished processing the security panel and the door behind her slid open. She didn¡¯t enter yet, waiting for an answer. ¡°I am, but I know why you¡¯re asking.¡± The felintine nodded her appreciation. ¡°Thank you. But enough about that. Time for something just as fun but less cringe.¡± While the field mimicked the outside feel of a typical terrain, the air within was still artificially cooled just like everywhere else in Atlas Sid. It was a wide field, about a hundred meters across. Almost unreal for the building¡¯s make up, but Frein reminded himself that he only saw the R.A.M. Department building from the front.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. The field was separated into four thresholds. First, there was the standby area, where storage boxes waited for them. Frein assumed these stored the G.U.N.s and R.I.F.L.E.s. They were particularly small. Some were about just a size larger than his hand, while others were a bit larger than his arm. The second threshold was the firing area just in front of the standby area. Each section had a safety barrier which looked adjustable to compensate for different heights and stances. The third threshold encompassed the largest section of the firing range. Here were the target dummies. They depicted various silhouettes, ranging from humanoid targets to common Nightmares. He saw Those That Fell Off a Cliff with a variety of skeletal ribcage legs, arranged in different distances. He even noticed one Jaws Lurking in the Forest currently not in use, but oddly looked like it was actually lurking. The final threshold was a security measure. Various meiyal barriers were erected in strategic angles to serve as stoppers for what would look to be like bullets. Meiyal Bullets, Frein thought. He couldn¡¯t erase the correlation of guns and rifles to these devices Jaylene came up with. So far, she was always almost replicating their Earth counterparts one-for-one, modifying them to their meiyal-crafted versions. ¡°So, who would like to try first?¡± Jaylene asked with a smile. Her felintine ears perked up, excited. Frein couldn¡¯t help but think it was because someone was about to test drive her prototypes. He couldn¡¯t blame her. He was excited as well. ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± he said. ¡°Choose a box.¡± ¡°This one.¡± Frein selected the small container first. It looked appropriate enough for a pistol. Jaylene took it from the standby area and carried it to the second threshold, inviting Frein along. She opened the box. Frein gazed upon what he deemed as a magical pistol. No, a meiyal-crafted pistol. It looked oddly familiar. The barrel, the grip, even the magazine that came with it. Even the trigger and the hammer at the back also looked familiar. The only differences were the remarkable etchings around the design, and a distinct container on each side of its barrel. Containers that looked empty for the moment. From the box, there were twelve bullets. Empty bullets. Shaped like one, but they looked like transparent glass. Jaylene took one of them and passed it to Frein. ¡°Fill them up?¡± she said. ¡°With my meiyal?¡± he confirmed ¡°Yes, just your meiyal. Not your Milled one.¡± He did as instructed, filling up the glass casings of a bullet. His dark-red meiyal flowed into it, applying its color to the shell. ¡°That¡¯s a sinister looking meiyal,¡± Jaylene commented. The way she said it implied that she knew about him a bit more than she led on. And just now, Frein realized how he was subtly manipulated. The gesture earlier, pointed at him, so he would volunteer. The motion to follow so that he would leave the two girls in the standby area. It clicked. Jaylene wanted to talk shop with him. ¡°Apparently it¡¯s Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s,¡± Frein whispered, getting straight to the point and delivering to the felintine his understanding of the situation. ¡°Only our group knows about it.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you too quick to trust?¡± Jaylene asked. She activated something on the pistol, which caused the mechanism within to slowly Gather and to fill up the containers beside the barrels. She brought out a hand and passed him the rest of the empty bullets. Frein filled them up easily. ¡°Katherine treats you as her mother, and you have far more experience than anyone else out there. Just wondering if you know anything about it.¡± ¡°Good. At least you¡¯re not totally ignorant. I thought you¡¯d depend on her Heart¡¯s Will.¡± ¡°We know it can be worked around.¡± Jaylene nodded. ¡°You want to know about Visitors?¡± ¡°Have you met another one before?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Your ancestors are millennia apart. I just know your predicament as the Visitor, and that you should be looking for faunels.¡± ¡°I have. I found two. Or, two found me.¡± ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, most of them have been hunted down. When you kill a faunel, they get replaced eventually, but it takes time. Some decades, some centuries. A rather infamous organization has been constantly hunting down faunels in order to disrupt your work. Meeting two is already a miracle.¡± This tidbit stopped Frein from filling up the bullet casings. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°The Cult of the Fallen Dragon. The one that worships Zerax¡¯thum as their god.¡± Jaylene nodded towards him. ¡°You understand most people won¡¯t like knowing the original owner of your meiyal system, right?¡± Frein nodded. ¡°But you¡¯re fine with it?¡± ¡°I was made aware in the past. You said you found two faunels. Did you Tether with them?¡± ¡°One of them. The other one doesn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°That would be Norazzel, faunel of Dreams and Memories.¡± Jaylene stared at his eyes, waiting for the realization to dawn on Frein. It didn¡¯t take too long. ¡°Yes, I know about the Dream Realm. I acquired my Fate¡¯s End from it. I just wasn¡¯t sure if you and the others knew about it, so I acted a little normal, if you get what I mean.¡± ¡°Is that why you wanted to talk to me in private?¡± Frein subtly motioned on the two girls chatting with each other in the standby area. ¡°I think they can hear us from here.¡± ¡°And they know that I¡¯ll know about it. So they¡¯re not eavesdropping right now.¡± The felintine signaled Frein to continue filling up the bullet casings. He still had four to work on. ¡°Who¡¯s the faunel you Tethered with?¡± ¡°Elizzel.¡± Jaylene breathed a sigh of relief that Frein didn¡¯t notice she was holding. Her tension was extremely subtle, almost nonexistent until she released them all. She relaxed, as if she had her guard raised all this time. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I know Elizzel. You can trust her.¡± ¡°You mean there are¡ª¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jaylene shook her head, just obvious enough for Frein to notice. ¡°You know about Destiny, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you know what we¡¯re not talking about, right? Invoking even just the slightest bit of relation to the subject matter we¡¯re not discussing, appears on Destiny, remember?¡± Frein nodded subtly. He distracted himself with the rest of the empty bullets, making sure that his mind was clear of any implications. Elizzel and Norazzel, as far as Jaylene was concerned, were the only two faunels they could trust. And now, Frein knew the enemy. ¡°This is going to be problematic, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m only hundreds of years old, Frein,¡± Jaylene started, passing him the magazine. ¡°I can tell you right now that I have no solid proof. All of this is simply based on my years of experience. Get used to it, I guess. My problems have never left my side even after all these years.¡± ¡°Maybe after a millennia, then?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not funny.¡± ¡°I thought you liked my sense of humor?¡± ¡°I was kidding.¡± ¡°About?¡± Jaylene simply urged him to take the magazine. Frein had no choice but to take it. He loaded the bullets one by one. ¡°But I do, like you, Frein. In all seriousness. I¡¯m really glad you ended up with Katherine. You¡¯re going to ask her to marry you, right?¡± The question made Frein hesitate. Jaylene sought his eyes. ¡°Answer me, Frein.¡± Frein had rolled, churned, chewed, ripped apart, and reassembled the question over his head so many times already. Whenever he had a chance alone, whenever Elizzel was asleep or Norazzel was somewhere else aside from his Mind Palace, Frein always considered this question. And he never found the answer. So he looked back at Jaylene¡¯s inquisitive eyes, passing on his desperation to a mother-figure he had longed for for the longest time. His voice almost cracked. ¡°Should I even bother?¡± he whispered. ¡°I really want to, but I¡¯m so afraid to ask. I only have a year, Jam. I don¡¯t even know if she thinks it¡¯s worth it.¡± Jaylene tried to sigh. The anticipation had made her forget to breathe, so that almost nothing came out. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should call you smart or stupid. You¡¯re probably both.¡± The felintine stopped herself from pointing towards Katherine. She jabbed a finger on Frein¡¯s forehead instead. ¡°Have you seen how she looks at you?¡± she hissed. ¡°She wants to have sex with you whenever and wherever! And she¡¯s begging for it, practically pleading for it. I can feel it whenever I¡¯m near her, and it¡¯s making my senses uncomfortable. If you turn around now and ram her in, I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll even complain at all! ¡°Look, I know love is not all about sex. But you can¡¯t show this in front of me and tell me that she¡¯s not in love with you. So what if you only have a year? Do you think she¡¯d care? Do you think she¡¯ll fall in love with someone else after you die?¡± ¡°We think so,¡± Frein replied and quickly explained to Jaylene about the Tether. They¡¯ve been in the firing area for far too long without moving on to the actual testing, but neither the Princess nor the Lady seemed to be bothered by it. They were in their own little world, talking shop. ¡°The Tether makes Elizzel become you?¡± Jaylene confirmed. ¡°As in, does she turn into you? Inherit your body when you die or something?¡± ¡°Not physically. Not like that. But it¡¯s my existence that becomes hers. It¡¯s hard to explain without experiencing it. I can go as far as to say that our Destinies aren¡¯t only bonded, but become one and the same.¡± ¡°But when you die, she still remains.¡± ¡°And forgets about me, thus undoing the Tether. I¡¯d have her explain further, but she¡¯s currently recovering.¡± Jaylene took the pistol from the assembly table in front of them. The containers on the side of its barrel were completely filled. Frein could tell they were Brymeia¡¯s meiyal. The felintine passed the weapon to him with her lips twisted in condemnation. ¡°In any case, that¡¯s not the point, Frein. Whatever it is you¡¯re worried about, it¡¯s pure stupidity. If you ask her, she¡¯ll marry you in a heartbeat. It doesn¡¯t matter if she falls in love again or not. ¡°I can sort of understand where you¡¯re coming from, dear. But you have to trust me on this one.¡± Jaylene gripped her pistol in a more proper way, passing Frein her experiment. ¡°Don¡¯t plan for her future, Frein. You can leave that part to me. Plan for your present together instead.¡± The words brought comfort to Frein. He realized he had been focused on the wrong thing. Jaylene was right. He had planned to discuss this with Garm, being Katherine¡¯s father and all, but he was glad to have had this talk with her adoptive mother as well. Frein felt free. It was his turn to relax and release all the tension he didn¡¯t think was present. He took the pistol from Jaylene¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you, Jam. I needed that.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t do it for free. You can start paying me back by firing at those training dummies.¡± ¡°No problem.¡±
Chapter 133: G.U.N.s N R.I.F.L.E.s
G.U.N.s N'' R.I.F.L.E.s Frein held the meiyal-crafted pistol in his right hand. The way it rested on his palm felt oddly familiar. Even the weight was just right. In his left hand was the magazine filled with Meiyal Bullets, each with a concentrated dose of his own meiyal. Jaylene looked at him curiously. ¡°You look like you know how to use it.¡± ¡°Just to hold,¡± he replied. ¡°They look oddly familiar to the weapons we have back where I came from.¡± He loaded the magazine, which kicked in his muscle memory. But when his hand moved towards the barrel to reload the chamber, he quickly found the contraption didn¡¯t exist. Rather, the barrel was tightly sealed. ¡°Alright, they are a bit different. How do I prep this?¡± ¡°Press the meiyal cartridge¡ªthose two on the side¡ªinto the barrel to start the Milling process,¡± Jaylene pointed out. ¡°This is the G.U.N., short for General Use Neutralizer.¡± He did as instructed, blinking at the pistol¡¯s name at the same time. ¡°General use?¡± Frein asked. He observed as the device activated, its runic etchings bursting to life. His Mesiffera confirmed the Milling process was happening inside, mixing his meiyal in the bullets and the Gathered meiyal from the cartridges into a suppressed energy within the chamber. The G.U.N. was preparing to Draw by itself. ¡°It¡¯s a neutralizer of sorts, nothing lethal. The plan is to provide the lower-end field guards and security personnel with one of these to expand their options during nonlethal operations or when they¡¯re in the line of duty.¡± Jaylene deftly navigated a panel on the assembly table, activating the training dummies on the field. They started moving horizontally and vertically, with various speeds and acceleration. Quite the advanced target practice. ¡°I¡¯ll spare you the details,¡± she continued, ¡°but I imbedded these G.U.N.s with a specific Meiyal Art which attempts to temporarily freeze the target¡¯s ability to Draw.¡± Frein blinked at that. ¡°That sounds oddly powerful. Like a Nightmare¡¯s Negating Roar?¡± Jaylene nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a botched Meiyal Art at best. Since it¡¯s inspired by a Nightmare¡¯s ability, the pattern for it is too disturbing and indiscriminate. If you learn it and try to use it by yourself, you¡¯ll just end up harming your own Drawing capability and possibly your meiyal system as well.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It was a simple concept to grasp. ¡°So you bypass that side-effect by letting the G.U.N. do it for us. That¡¯s why you need my meiyal separated.¡± ¡°It also controls the weapon¡¯s output, to ensure we only incapacitate the target.¡± Frein found it odd to look at a pistol and consider it only capable of incapacitation. He quickly dismissed it since there was a more pressing question on the top of his head. ¡°How did you imbed the Art?¡± He turned the pistol around, admiring the fancy glow. Jaylene¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. ¡°Care to guess?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m almost absolutely sure that it¡¯s not a basic Meiyal Art at all. I did the same for a sword I brought with me, tried to envelop it with Siffera but it didn¡¯t become any stronger. Is it Meiyal Weaving and Meiyal Arts combined?¡± The guess was forced at best, in Frein¡¯s opinion, but it was better than nothing. The light from the pistol dimmed to a subtle glow, indicating it was done preparing. It took about a minute since he activated the Milling process. Terribly slow for twelve measly shots, but he didn¡¯t mention anything about it. The actual shots might just more than make up for the long wait. ¡°Would you believe me if I tell you it¡¯s a combination of Meiyal Armaments and Meiyal Arts?¡± Jaylene pointed at the G.U.N. and whispered, ¡°This is a Forged Weapon, Frein. Made through my design, yes, but Gumi did the heavy lifting. I had her skip the Signature Principle for the prototypes, though.¡± ¡°Gumi¡¯s Vyndivalian?¡± Frein asked. Gumi Baker was the other receptionist. ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything about the Battle of the Vanguard?¡± ¡°We talked about it. After we read the reports. See, we didn¡¯t know about it until a few days ago.¡± Jaylene revealed another layer from the G.U.N.¡¯s container, showing a few more bullets and magazines. She filled this batch with her own meiyal this time¡ªhers was a vibrant green. ¡°It¡¯s not like she doesn¡¯t care, but our work here is more important. Same goes for the other Vyndivalians aboard. ¡°While we¡¯re technically affiliated with Irista Nation, we also function as the main bridge for the Nightmare Lands and the Order of the Void. Though the latter part has been a bit of an issue lately since we¡¯ve lost contact with the Western Sanctum.¡± ¡°I heard that¡¯s been the issue for a few years now,¡± Frein said. ¡°Since Katherine left,¡± he added, expressing his implications. ¡°You think it has something to do with that?¡± Jaylene asked. ¡°I think they deliberately waited.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s they?¡± ¡°The¡­ Cult¡¯s the only thing that comes to my mind.¡± Frein had a more specific word in mind, but the felintine¡¯s stare reminded him just in time to avoid anything deterministic enough for Destiny. ¡°Good.¡± Jaylene sighed, finishing the second magazine. ¡°In any case, Gumi and the other Vyndivalians were relieved that the invasion stopped at Minaveil Province. At the very least, we can continue our work without issues.¡± ¡°What about their families?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all with us, of course.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Big, floating, self-sustaining city.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°So, do you two just casually do your research while operating the reception area?¡± Frein asked, eager to move on quickly from the war subject. ¡°Oh, that.¡± Jaylene smiled. ¡°We saw Katherine¡¯s name on the boarding manifest. Naturally, I told my employees to inform me no matter what I¡¯m doing as soon as she¡¯s headed here. I was asleep, and you know the rest.¡± ¡°And Gumi?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my secretary and research assistant. Of course she had to come along.¡± Jaylene finished a second magazine. ¡°What¡¯s the spare for?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I¡¯ll show you in a bit. Wanna start? You look like you know how to pull the trigger.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Frein nodded, cueing Jaylene to give him space. He held the pistol with both hands, ensuring his fingers wrapped tightly around the grip. He quickly noticed something was missing. The grip felt too smooth. A rougher texture would improve the hold, removing any risk of slipping. He made sure to let Jaylene know later. He started to aim, bracing his arms, shoulders, and back to adjust to the expected recoil when he realized that this G.U.N. might have no such thing. It was still better to be safe than sorry. Frein aimed down the pistol¡¯s sight and tracked a slow moving lesser Nightmare¡¯s head. He pulled the trigger. It could have been because of his Siffera, but he barely felt any recoil. The Meiyal Bullet shot out of the barrel just as instantly as he made his shot, true to how a pistol would fire off a bullet. Again, it could have been his enhanced senses, but the shot¡ªa concentrated beam of meiyal¡ªmoved across the field painfully slowly. The sound of a round firing off a barrel was reduced to a loud hum, rather the satisfying bang he was expecting. It was a letdown but it made sense, given that the pistol wasn¡¯t using any gunpowder in the first place. As the Meiyal Bullet collided with the dummy¡¯s head, Frein wished he could¡¯ve seen if it was possible for him to trace bullets from Earth¡¯s firearms now. He felt he would¡¯ve had a field day dodging those. Still, there were eleven shots to go. He fired all of them, attributing his insane accuracy to his Siffera. It was truly worth it, mastering that one Meiyal Art. And apparently, he could raise it to the next level with the correct meiyal-charged materials. But he was skipping ahead. The feeling was nostalgic. Every time he did his drills back on Earth, though occasional, his mind would always go floating somewhere else. He placed the G.U.N. down. ¡°Done already?¡± Jaylene asked, returning to the firing area. ¡°I fired all twelve shots.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The felintine pointed at the pistol. ¡°Oh, those bullets aren¡¯t one time use. Each Meiyal Bullet provides the G.U.N. five shots, provided you filled the bullets properly and the weapon Gathered enough meiyal for its cartridges.¡± Frein blinked. ¡°That¡¯s sixty shots! That¡¯s quite a lot.¡± ¡°Very efficient, I¡¯d say. Since it takes about a minute to Mill the entire magazine, I wanted to make sure the wait was worth it.¡± ¡°But it takes a long while to Gather,¡± Frein rebutted. ¡°Was it about five minutes?¡± ¡°It only needs one cartridge to Mill a magazine, since this has two, you¡¯ll only need about a minute to reload the second one.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a total of one-hundred and twenty shots.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s a lot?¡± Frein only nodded. ¡°For practitioners, it could be,¡± Jaylene conceded. ¡°But this could actually help with Nightmares, more on lesser ones than the actual ones, mind you.¡± ¡°This neutralizes them?¡± Frein started firing off a few more shots. ¡°For far longer compared to normal people. I imagine since it disrupts their meiyal system, the Nightmare couldn¡¯t utilize it, and a lesser Nightmare¡¯s recovery is extremely poor.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t get rid of the Nightmarification completely, does it?¡± Jaylene shook her head. ¡°I was only able to test it on the field once. We were hopeful, but no.¡± A realization came to Frein. ¡°The Nightmare doesn¡¯t disrupt this, like the rest of your inventions?¡± ¡°The first batch, yes. They were completely useless in the Nightmare Lands, but should be good enough for those in the safe zone. These ones have Vynore in them. A small pebble each, but enough to protect them from the Nightmare disruption. We don¡¯t have a lot of those ores running around.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t use those in your M.O.B.I.L.E.?¡± Again, Jaylene shook her head. ¡°Those utilize an obscene amount of preprogrammed meiyal. You can¡¯t even consider those Meiyal Arts. I had to meticulously create each complex connection and combination of parts to make it work and viable for mass-production. ¡°Vynore¡¯s main function is to disrupt meiyal flow, and that makes it completely incompatible for M.O.B.I.L.E.s. For the weapons, all I had to do was make sure they¡¯re separate from the Gathering, Milling, and Drawing mechanisms.¡± She made an inquisitive look, taking Sam out of her bag. ¡°But maybe I should take another look and see if I missed something.¡± The sentient device whirled to life. ¡°As long as I don¡¯t vanish or anything.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make your safety a top priority.¡± ¡°Thanks, mom.¡± By the time Frein had fired all sixty shots, Jaylene had brought with her a larger container, presumably the R.I.F.L.E. Katherine and Kristel came along with her. ¡°That¡¯s an awful lot of rounds for a pistol,¡± the Lady commented, which sparked another series of explanations from her adoptive mother. ¡°How sure are we about the neutralizing effectiveness of these things?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°And how far along are we from mass-production?¡± ¡°For mass-production, should be within the year or the next,¡± Jaylene replied before turning to Frein with an opened hand. ¡°As for effectiveness. Frein, mind if I shoot you? Figured you might be interested in how it feels.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± he said, passing the weapon before any of the two girls could even complain. The felintine switched the magazines with a practice motion, retrieving and loading either with a single hand. She pressed the cartridges again to begin the Milling process. ¡°A few things I want to improve,¡± she mentioned while they waited. ¡°This thing can only Gather or Mill at any given time, not both. Would¡¯ve been nice to save some time. I also can¡¯t switch magazines without wasting the rest of the ammo, or Mill them with another G.U.N. ahead of time. For these, I¡¯m not sure if I can work around them or not. Those would defy some Meiyal Arts principles.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you use it even if it¡¯s still Milling?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Oh, that too. It can¡¯t fire until it finishes Milling everything.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you stop it partway for emergencies?¡± ¡°I guess, I can explore that option¡­¡± Jaylene observed her weapon. Frein could see the calculations running in her head as she smiled with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll put it on the list. Ready?¡± Frein opened his arms wide while looking at a worried Katherine. ¡°I saw the bullets. I can handle them.¡± Jaylene took only a few steps back and opened fire, shooting Frein once with the G.U.N. He kept eye contact with Katherine, making sure she didn¡¯t move out of worry. Frein got hit, and he felt the Meiyal Bullet ripple through his protective film of Siffera, weakening it significantly, but not neutralizing the Art completely. The force pushed him back a few steps. The felintine shot twice more. Frein took the hits, emphasizing his Siffera with four-meiyal. He endured the damage, but again, the bullets reduced his Art to a mere flicker. Three more shots. He felt his world spin. Art fatigue was so close, and he was pretty much sizzling. His Art faded to nothing. Frein breathed deep, pressing his hands on his knees to keep himself from falling. Jaylene stared at him with disbelief. Katherine quickly rushed to his side. ¡°You idiot.¡± She gave him a kiss, a deep and passionate kiss in front of the Princess and her adoptive mother. She didn¡¯t care; it was meiyal resuscitation. The Lady of the Void¡¯s cool meiyal dripped into his throat, rejuvenating the channels of his meiyal system. His Art fatigue was gone as fast as it settled in, but their lips didn¡¯t part. He responded in kind until she released a helpless moan. ¡°Hey, chill out,¡± Kristel intervened. ¡°You guys are degenerates, you know that?¡± He released Katherine, leaving her breathless. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± said Jaylene, ignoring the entire commotion. She was busy staring at her weapon, as if to make sure it was working properly. ¡°Why?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone endure six bullets.¡± ¡°Usually how much?¡± Frein asked. ¡°One or two at most.¡± ¡°Oh, please no,¡± Katherine said without skipping a beat. Her face was flushed, and one of her hands still held his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s perfect!¡± Frein complained. ¡°Why?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jaylene added. ¡°He wants one so he can practice. He wants to endure the entire magazine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy!¡± Kristel and Jaylene both said at the same time. ¡°But you¡¯ll still lend me one, right?¡± Frein smiled, masking the pleading in his voice. ¡°For science, right?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jaylene said. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to endure it, Frein.¡± ¡°But what if it¡¯s possible? Not by us, but by something else,¡± he said, deliberately avoiding invoking anything that might hint their enemies through Destiny. ¡°This is just a neutralizer, Frein. It can¡¯t solve that kind of problem,¡± Jaylene replied. ¡°What are we talking about?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Destiny stuff,¡± Katherine answered. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, I get it.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s in the other box?¡± Frein asked, sighing as moved on. ¡°Is that the R.I.F.L.E.?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jaylene stored the G.U.N. inside its container and opened the bigger one. It looked, indeed, like a rifle. It had four cartridges and its magazine contained far more dangerous looking bullets. Each one looked like it had the cumulative strength of at least five pistol Meiyal Bullets. The felintine carried the massive firearm with both hands. ¡°This is the Really Impressive and Fast Lethal Emitter, also known as the R.I.F.L.E. As you can tell by the name, this one can kill a Nightmare through continuous fire. It has two-hundred rounds per magazine, but its reload and re-charge time comes to about ten minutes in total, in addition to the time it takes to fill up those bullets. Want to try it¡ª?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think we have time for that, Jam,¡± Katherine interrupted. ¡°We¡¯re actually having dinner soon. Care to join us instead? We can bring Gumi along.¡± Frein sent the felintine a subtle gesture of resignation. ¡°Fair enough, I guess. I¡¯ll send Gumi a message.¡± Jaylene reluctantly returned the weapon to inside the box and turned off the training dummies. ¡°So,¡± she began, smiling. ¡°Where do we go now?¡±
Chapter 134: From Cold to Warm
From Cold to Warm
¡°I have no idea what I¡¯m doing. Really!¡± ~Xiv Arcturus
You look nice, Xiv thought, almost to the point of saying it before the butterflies in his stomach made him gag. He walked back and forth in front of their reserved room, trying to figure out how to greet his date. ¡°Of course she¡¯ll look nice, what in Brymeia¡¯s name are you thinking?¡± Nice clothes. ¡°That¡¯s worse.¡± How long did it take to do your hair? ¡°Are you a child?¡± Xiv stopped and sighed, letting go of his frustrations. All the while a service attendee looked at him with concern. She was a mature elven canintine, holding a tray of refreshments with such skill as if she forgot about them. ¡°Welcome to the Skyside, sir. Is this your first time?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, sorry.¡± Xiv was desperate. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have enough time to think of what to say and it¡¯s making me all jittery.¡± She smiled, barely hiding a giggle. ¡°I meant first time in Skyside.¡± Xiv shook his head and cursed internally. ¡°Yes, yes. First time in Skyside.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to feel nervous, sir¡­?¡± ¡°Xiv. Xiv Arcturus.¡± ¡°Sir Xiv.¡± The canintine smiled like a doting mother sending off a child to the academy for the first time. ¡°If you¡¯re worried enough and nervous enough to have a breakdown, it means you actually care about your date. Who¡¯s the lucky one?¡± ¡°Frill Veli.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The canintine opened her M.O.B.I.L.E. to check her list of guests. Xiv quickly intervened. ¡°The reservation¡¯s under Katherine¡¯s name.¡± ¡°Indeed. Apologies, I just took my shift. This is very unprofessional of me. Your room should already be prepared. Shall I arrange for an escort for Miss Frill?¡± ¡°Oh, no need,¡± Xiv replied right away, immediately regretting if he should¡¯ve considered it a bit longer. ¡°I think we¡¯re just keeping it simple for now. We don¡¯t want a lot of attention.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s what you¡¯ll get for dating the Aria in Red.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve been told. We¡¯re minimizing it.¡± ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll keep everything subtle and private for you two. An interface should be present on your table should you need anything from us. I¡¯m Carol, I¡¯ll be your head servant for tonight. I¡¯ll make sure everything goes swimmingly.¡± ¡°Thank you, Carol. Do you have anything for the nerves?¡± Xiv asked. He rubbed his hands together to keep them from shaking. ¡°Some liquid courage, perhaps? Nothing too strong, but should be enough to calm you down at least.¡± Carol presented her tray. There was a small bottle of a brand Xiv didn¡¯t recognize and a small glass with ice cubes. ¡°Just a small one, then.¡± With a practiced motion, Carol spun the bottle and poured a generous swig of its contents, giving the glass a few twirls with a mixer before offering them to the Vyndivalian. The taste was crisp and cold, then immediately spiced and warm, shooting straight within his throat and offering him some needed heat in his freezing nerves. ¡°Better?¡± Carol asked, her fluffy ears flapping inquisitively. ¡°A lot better, thank you.¡± ¡°Then may I recommend that you stay inside your room? It would be a poor impression for the lady to show up to find you fidgeting around like a lost puppy.¡± Xiv nodded. He assessed himself first. Just like his emotional state, his training allowed him to read his stress levels and mental stability. They were all borderline frigid, stunned to a freezing halt by his own unreasonable and illogical imaginations. It would take him a few minutes to thaw the ice, which was not enough time. ¡°Mind if I take another glass?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take the entire bottle inside.¡± Carol opened the door and gestured for him to enter. The room, no, the venue, was an outdoor, private dining space. It was wide enough for multiple tables, but only a rectangular one was present at the center. It was large enough for a number of plates, but small enough that he could reach the other side if he leaned in. A fancy table cloth, red mixed with white frills, gave a stark contrast to the entire blue and green theme the veranda had going for it. A small candle was at the center, providing a simple, yet intimate atmosphere. Two lustrous chairs faced each other, with designs grand enough for the evening. Only now did the name ¡®Skyside¡¯ clicked for Xiv. The building was at the edge of the permitted construction site allowed by Atlas Sid. This gave the establishment an elevated seaside look. It seemed that Katherine specifically picked a reservation with this in mind. He appreciated her taste. The rest of the open space was filled with beautifully arranged plants and flowers, allowing the fresh air for them to breathe. Smaller light sources were scattered about, giving the entire place a cozy and secluded feel. At least here, they could talk in private. The notion stirred something in Xiv and he tried to calm it down by taking another swig at his drink as he took a seat. Carol gave him a refill before placing the bottle on the table. ¡°What¡¯s this drink, by the way?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Rainshine, Sir Xiv.¡± ¡°Xiv is fine.¡± ¡°Of course, Xiv.¡± ¡°Rainshine tastes good.¡± ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s a local liquor, produced here on Atlas Sid. While it¡¯s not as potent or as flavorful as Minaveil¡¯s special brew, it¡¯s good enough and calm enough to let you enjoy the kick while keeping your wits about you. Provided you keep it under a bottle or two.¡± Carol made a short bow. ¡°Enjoy the quiet while you wait for Frill, Xiv. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for her in the mean time. Should you need anything else, here¡¯s the interface I was talking about earlier.¡± She slid a small panel from beside the table before leaving him. Xiv reminded himself not to drink too much, but he was immediately tempted to take another glass. Left alone, his thoughts began assaulting him once again. He tried to recall everything Frein and Katherine said to him, but they were immediately overshadowed by his own worries. ¡°You should be excited,¡± a voice said. A woman¡¯s voice. Liona¡¯s voice. ¡°Liona?¡± Xiv whispered. ¡°Even if you say awkward things, sad things, or weird things, my sister won¡¯t hate you. She¡¯s not that kind of person.¡± Liona¡¯s voice had never told him anything this lengthy and coherent before. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because you¡¯re stressing out. Your mental faculties are trying to imagine ways to cope. So, here I am helping you out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m imagining things?¡± ¡°Could be. How am I supposed to know? I¡¯m already dead.¡± Xiv listened for more, hastily taking another glass of Rainshine. He promised himself this was the last one before Frill arrived. He heard nothing more for a while.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°Well, I guess you¡¯ve calmed down now. So, like everyone else said before, just be yourself. Talk about things you want to talk about, it¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t had a discussion with her before, right? Just say the things you want to say at the top of your head, and don¡¯t stress too much about the words.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ watching from inside my head?¡± ¡°Is that what you¡¯re supposed to be worried about right now? I¡¯ll talk to you later, Xiv. Oh, and if you can, can you please not think about my sister when you deal with your fantasies? I know you¡¯re into her, but that¡¯s just creepy.¡± ¡°Hey! What are you¡ªare you still there?¡± Xiv called out, but Liona¡¯s voice had completely gone. A few seconds passed and just like that, a knock came from the door. Carol didn¡¯t wait for him to reply, opening the door and allowing for Frill to enter. She looked astoundingly simple. Her pink, frilled dress and white shawl carried much of her iconic dancing fish theme, a fashion style that Xiv had grown to love and expect from her. Her face was more prim, but the makeup was subtle enough, as if she didn¡¯t want to wear any in the first place. It made him conscious of his own clothes. All he had working for him was a rented summer vest over a pair of jeans. He felt a little too casually dressed for the occasion. Frill was smiling subtly. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°Hi,¡± Xiv replied. He spotted Carol from behind Frill, gesturing all over her clothes while pointing towards the Aria. ¡°You look¡­amazing.¡± Carol pressed a hand to her forehead, shaking her head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound convincing if you hesitate,¡± Frill said, unable to hold back her smile. ¡°I was looking for the best word to compliment you,¡± he reasoned out. Each word stung his tongue and punched him in the gut. He felt the immediate need to explain himself. ¡°I mean, every positive word can apply to you right now, so I thought ¡®amazing¡¯ would encapsulate all of them. But now it sounds like I¡¯m just trying to make excuses, ¡®cause it sounds so simple now that I said it.¡± ¡°Well, thank you for the compliment, Xiv. Should we take a seat?¡± ¡°Yes, yes of course.¡± Xiv was his most careful self at this moment. If there was one thing Frein kept reminding him, one thing he learned from every other story he read, every other date he had heard from his colleagues, it was to make sure to properly assist the lady on her seat. It wasn¡¯t mandatory at all, at least, as far as other simple things in life went, but it was the number one task for a gentleman to perform this task on their first date. Everyone made it sound so important, and so Xiv made absolutely sure to do it well. By freezing behind the other chair. Frill had instinctively read which chair he was going for and took the opposite one without thinking about it. She was halfway on her seat before she realized Xiv had intentionally pulled the other one for her. ¡°Oh,¡± she said, quickly rising from the chair and taking the one he offered. She smiled nervously. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xiv couldn¡¯t believe it. This woman, capable of wooing an entire crowd with her songs, popular beyond belief, would act so nervously in front of him. ¡°Should we make our orders?¡± he suggested. Carol was quick to respond by presenting their menu. She waited patiently on a corner. Frill must¡¯ve asked her to stay in the room rather than wait for the interface¡¯s prompts. Xiv observed Frill flip through the pages, her purple eyes keen on considering which one to order. She turned the menu¡¯s pages twice before speaking. ¡°If you¡¯re going to stare at me all night, do you want me to order for you as well?¡± Her eyes turned to meet his, not allowing him to look away. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. You staring, I mean.¡± Xiv swallowed hard. He felt her pushing against his wavering confidence, urging him to push back. He nodded, more abruptly than he intended. ¡°I don¡¯t know much of the menu anyway. I¡¯ll eat whatever you order for me.¡± The menu was large and fancy enough to cover Frill¡¯s lips, but the way her eyes narrowed gave Xiv confidence to assume that she smiled. He breathed a sigh of relief, hiding it under his own menu before putting it down. Xiv spent the next five minutes admiring Frill as she gave Carol their orders for the evening. She was magnificent. Her slender form filling her dress in just the right way to show her proper curves, accentuating both her beauty and restraint at the same time. Her semi-translucent shawl teased the skin on her shoulders and the features of her collarbone just enough to keep him wondering what was underneath. Her hair was done just like any other ponytail, but with a few, beautiful shells for her ornaments. And a small armlet filled with tiny, sparkling gems swayed back and forth on her left hand whenever she moved it. ¡°You do stare a lot,¡± Frill commented, finally done with their orders. Xiv didn¡¯t even notice Carol had gone. ¡°I¡¯d say I¡¯m used to it, but I¡¯ve never been in front of someone who stares at me with this much intensity. I have to admit, I¡¯m a little creeped out.¡± ¡°Not even your fans?¡± Xiv asked before he could even process the rest of her words. She frowned. Not a good sign. ¡°I don¡¯t sit down and date my fans, dumb-o.¡± Xiv was quick to panic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what I mean to say is¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re extremely nervous and I¡¯m just as jumpy as you are. Relax, Xiv. It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t seen me curl my eyebrows at you.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Xiv remembered the first time they met. It was a battlefield he¡¯d rather forget, save for those little snippets of her. They were all filled with suppressed fury. ¡°That¡¯s true. But you don¡¯t look like a bundle of nerves like I do.¡± Frill smiled again. ¡°Well, I am.¡± She showed her hands. Thin, slender fingers trembling white as if all the blood had been sucked out from her entire arm. Xiv did his best not to hold them. He felt the urge to try and calm her down, and quickly realized she was keeping everything under control for him. Instead, he offered her some Rainshine. But there was only one glass. She took it anyway. ¡°Always like this before a concert,¡± she continued after upending the glass of liquid courage. ¡°And it¡¯s a terrible feeling. I always think something will go wrong, then I¡¯ll have to apologize in front of thousands of people.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m worth thousands of people?¡± Frill blinked at him once. ¡°Thousands of strangers, yes.¡± When his expression lowered, she added, ¡°but just like them, I don¡¯t want to disappoint you.¡± Xiv was stunned. He thought his witty quip had brought him the initiative, but she was quick to turn it against him. His mind, capable of observing himself as it was, observed his feelings falling all over for her again. It was addicting. But Frill wasn¡¯t done. ¡°See, I actually wanted to apologize for earlier today.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Xiv quickly realized what it could possibly be. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I felt a little cornered and didn¡¯t know what to do, so I ended up forcing you into the spotlight.¡± ¡°Is that why you suggested that we go through it even if I didn¡¯t come up with a date plan?¡± ¡°I did feel a bit responsible, yes.¡± Xiv pressed his lips together, stopping himself from asking one more question. He was afraid. ¡°What is it?¡± Frill asked inquisitively. ¡°It might anger you. Nevermind.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll just make me more curious if you don¡¯t tell me. And if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be angry anyway.¡± Cornered, Xiv sighed. He would be too bothered to not know anyway, so might as well ask it now. ¡°I know I said the things I said earlier, and quite frankly, they are my honest thoughts and feelings, and I will follow them through to the end. But I want to know, Frill, if you¡¯re just dating me because I have your sister¡¯s meiyal core.¡± The first thing Frill did was look around in a panic, her hand was too late to stop him from speaking, just inches away from his lips. The fragrance of her hand smelled of sweet flowers. Frill returned to her seat after confirming no one else was around. She sighed and considered his question in earnest. ¡°Would you be mad if I say, it¡¯s part of it?¡± she asked. ¡°And what of the rest?¡± Xiv didn¡¯t even consider the possibility of this fact not being part of the equation. It was sensible from a logical standpoint, and he wouldn¡¯t blame her for the convenience of it. Am I being too lenient? ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t let that stop you.¡± Liona¡¯s sudden voice forced every drop of Xiv¡¯s willpower to discipline himself and avoid jumping out of his chair out of shock. He waited patiently for Frill¡¯s response, steadying his breathing while disguising it as anticipation. ¡°There¡¯s also Kristel¡¯s proposal to help your campaign in uniting both our countries,¡± the Aria said, oblivious to his internal struggles. ¡°What about between just the two of us?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really going to make me say it?¡± ¡°I imagine it will only get more embarrassing from this point onwards, whatever happens.¡± Frill nodded, more towards herself rather than agreeing to Xiv. ¡°Fine. I admit it. I¡¯m interested. Alright? I¡­¡± She took a breath and kept quiet for a while, staring at her hands while she organized her thoughts. Xiv waited patiently. ¡°I¡¯m curious to know where this will all lead. I can¡¯t tell you yet, but apparently, I¡¯m going to have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders soon. And I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do it alone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to help,¡± Xiv said almost immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll always help.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why I¡¯m hesitant, Xiv. I don¡¯t want you to think that I¡¯m just stringing you along so I can get your help for free.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to¡ª¡± ¡°Will you let me finish?¡± Frill tapped both hands on the table. She wasn¡¯t frustrated or angry. Just irritated. Xiv backed up right away, raising both hands and nodding slowly. He didn¡¯t speak any further. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just¡­¡± Frill took another deep breath. ¡°For some reason, I feel like it¡¯s too early to tell anyone about it. Like some greater power doesn¡¯t want me to tell you, or Katherine, or Kristel.¡± But what about Frein? Xiv desperately wanted to ask. Frill read his face like a book. ¡°My part will start when he¡¯s done with his job, I think. And then, I¡¯m sure, I can share it with you. But my point here is that I don¡¯t want this relationship to balance itself on those factors. Not even on Liona. I want you to know about this so that you know what you¡¯re signing up for, because I don¡¯t think we can avoid them.¡± Xiv waited for more, missing his cue entirely. ¡°I¡¯m finished,¡± she said, frowning some more. ¡°You can say something now. Please.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t change anything for me, Frill,¡± he began. ¡°If you¡¯re meant for something greater than you already are, then I¡¯ll be there with you.¡± Frill¡¯s satisfied smile melted Xiv like ice in the middle of the day. He realized she was blushing. ¡°Alright then, Xiv,¡± she said while taking her hand out for a handshake. ¡°If you¡¯re this gung ho with this ridiculousness of mine, I¡¯ll make sure to drag you along to all the craziness waiting for me out there.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re making me excited for it.¡± This time, he took her hand with no hesitation. It was ice cold, so he used his other hand to cover it, giving her warmth. ¡°That feels nice,¡± Frill said, showing her other hand. Xiv took care of it immediately. ¡°That reminds me,¡± he started, ¡°where¡¯s our order?¡± Just then, a bell chimed from their door and a bunch of servants appeared, carrying with them two trolleys which contained four plates each. They carried them one by one, presented each of them with their names and lavish recipes. Xiv didn¡¯t hear any of it. The moment the first smell of food reached his nose, he immediately realized how hungry he was. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything since late morning. More importantly, he was astounded by Frill¡¯s greedy look. The way she eyed each entre was akin to a vork about to pounce on its prey after an entire day of tracking and hunting. She looked like she could finish them all. By the moment the servants left, she was practically drooling. It took her a moment to gather herself. ¡°Sorry. Haven¡¯t eaten anything since breakfast.¡± ¡°I also heard integrating with materials also takes a lot out of you,¡± Xiv commented, adding some casual flair. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s eat!¡± she said, filling up her plate with a steak of some kind. ¡°I bet you can eat the whole thing.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t start eating, I definitely will!¡±
Chapter 135: One Without A Pair
One Without A Pair
¡±I can afford to wait.¡± ~Kristel Irista
Somehow, someway, Frein managed to return to his hidden objective after distracting Kristel and Jam by coaxing Sam into assisting him. Now he owed the Sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. some stories, but it was worth it. With one swift motion, Frein pulled Katherine out of view, shoved his hands inside her shorts, and simply ripped her panties apart before anyone knew what was happening. All he got was a yelp and a pair of desperate hands gripping his shoulders. She tried to control her surprise as he hastily pulled apart the soft fabric. It lacked the excitement and subtlety that the Lady probably expected, but they were running out of time. Jam¡¯s experiments were simply too distracting. And Frein wasn¡¯t one to give up and make excuses. He stored Katherine¡¯s torn underwear, warm and moist though it was, in his pocket. If he opened his Spatiera now, it would attract attention, and he didn¡¯t want to be accused of theft or to put his girlfriend in an awkward position by explaining himself. Avoiding it altogether was the wiser idea. Plus, keeping it in his pocket added a bit of risk to the whole ordeal, giving him some semblance of unity with Katherine¡¯s vulnerable situation. ¡°This feels weird,¡± Katherine whispered, feeling around her buttocks. She made sure her long coat was buttoned on properly. ¡°I¡¯ve never done this before. Lucky I¡¯m wearing shorts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be more gentle next time,¡± Frein said. ¡°You won¡¯t even feel it.¡± ¡°Are you two ready?¡± Kristel asked, not even hiding her suspicions anymore now. ¡°Can both of you control yourselves until we¡¯re done with dinner? I get it, you two are stuck with me because Frill¡¯s somewhere else. I appreciate the courtesy, but I won¡¯t stick around after dinner. You can eat each other¡¯s faces then, if you¡¯re still hungry.¡± ¡°Bit harsh, Princess,¡± Frein replied. ¡°But alright. I¡¯m starving, actually.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± said Katherine, smiling to mask her embarrassment. ¡°We don¡¯t have to go anywhere,¡± Jaylene intervened. ¡°Our cafeteria¡¯s topnotch, you know. Also, Gumi said she¡¯ll need to clean up. She can join us in about half an hour.¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright with that,¡± Kristel followed. ¡°I¡¯m pretty hungry, too.¡± With all in agreement, the group took a lift to the fourth floor of the building. If he had known they weren¡¯t going to leave the R.A.M. Department, he would¡¯ve taken his time on Katherine¡¯s request. He argued with himself. For some reason, the defeat was obviously waiting for him as soon as he stepped out of the M.E.S.S. There was the lift to consider as well. It wasn¡¯t an elevator, not a cube nor a rectangular machinery. It was a round platform on a wide tube at the very end of the building. It was entirely operated by meiyal, but Frein could see some hints of mechanisms and analog fail safes in case some disruptions occurred during operation. The exterior wall of the tube was replaced with glass, allowing the passengers to admire the edge of the grand carrier overlooking the seas below and the skies above. The fourth floor greeted them with a lot of people. The entire floor was a cafeteria after all, and they were still at the height of the evening. There was an entire buffet with all sorts of food, following recipes from the entire Forimeyn Continent. Frein could see the distinct labels for Iristan and Vyndivalian cuisine. He was thankful for those, otherwise, he couldn¡¯t tell the difference. Their arrival brought with it an entire scene. Eyes and murmurs quickly turned towards them. Frein assumed it was because of the three women that appeared together with him, but he slowly realized how most of the onlookers were staring at his exact direction instead. ¡°We¡¯re old news,¡± Jam said, pushing him forward. ¡°You¡¯re more interesting.¡± Frein started to hear some of the weirdest comments from these people. Granted, being the center of attention wasn¡¯t a rarity for him even before he became the Visitor, the words some of these people said were simply invasive. They all didn¡¯t know how acute his hearing was with Siffera. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll give me some of his hair?¡± ¡°Are those clothes from his locale? Maybe we can snip some later?¡± ¡°Make sure you let the kitchen staff separate whatever he¡¯s eating on. His leftovers, too!¡± ¡°He¡¯s pretty hot, you think the Princess has dibs on him? I¡¯d do him if he asks me. Maybe we can join them?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s Lady Katherine. I would¡¯ve given everything up just to get a night with her.¡± ¡°Or maybe¡­oh¡­¡± The last line had taken Frein for a loop and his unwarranted jealousy shot through the roof. He worked his arm around Katherine and pulled her intimately close to his chest. Temptation tested him, urging him to deeply kiss the Lady in front of all these people just to proclaim war to anyone who would dare lay a finger on her. But he restrained himself, not wanting to put her in such an embarrassing position, especially when she was feeling a bit vulnerable at the moment. Instead, Frein turned to the direction of whoever was whispering malicious intent towards Katherine. It was an entire table of young adults who all immediately turned their heads down. ¡°He can hear us? Is he for real?¡± ¡°Creeps,¡± he whispered. ¡°They work in this department or what?¡± ¡°Must be guests from the academy,¡± Jaylene commented, her Siffera just as acute as his. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening, but don¡¯t get into trouble,¡± Kristel said, crossing her arms while urging for the group to get a move on. ¡°Ignore them, Frein.¡± Katherine pushed him onwards to the start of the queue of the Irista Nation buffet. ¡°They¡¯re just a bunch of growing kids who can¡¯t control their libido. They¡¯ll fantasize about just anyone.¡± ¡°We¡¯re technically hardly older than they are,¡± Frein argued. ¡°In fact they look just as young as you, Kristel.¡± ¡°Keep me out of this,¡± said the Princess. ¡°I just want to eat.¡± She passed along some trays and began walking around the buffet.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°True,¡± Katherine continued as if Kristel didn¡¯t speak at all. ¡°But they¡¯re not in a relationship like we are. I know you¡¯re the jealous type, but you don¡¯t have to pick a fight with everyone who dares to turn my way.¡± ¡°They wanted to do nasty things with you!¡± Frein took a healthy section of a something that looked like a pasta of some sort; akin to lasagna but with sausage layers intersecting with the pasta noodles. ¡°And yet you didn¡¯t bat an eye to the girls over there who¡¯re all over you,¡± Katherine argued as she took two helpings of pulled barbecue chicken. She pointed at some mashed potatoes, waiting for him to nod before taking large serving. ¡°Because I don¡¯t have any plans on entertaining something that stupid.¡± Frein followed where she pointed next, then took two bowls of soup. He didn¡¯t bother getting their name, though he noticed a bunch of seafood in it. ¡°Get me some pork.¡± ¡°And what about Eli¡¯s case?¡± Katherine asked while he took a large bowl of pork braised in tomato mixed with some dumpling-looking ingredient. ¡°Eli¡¯s different,¡± Frein said with finality. They both passed on the dessert isle, but agreed to just return to it later. Instead, he waited for Katherine to put two glasses of fruit punch on his tray. ¡°She¡¯s the only one I¡¯ll accept. No one else gets to take my place.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Katherine looked for Jam, who gave them the signal to skip the cashier, beckoning them over on a free table. Frein noticed a servant providing the felintine with her own meal. ¡°I¡¯m amazed,¡± Kristel said while she took the seat beside Jam, knowing full well that Katherine and Frein would sit together. ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories, but this is the first time I ever saw a couple argue over something so trivial while maintaining complete coordination.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Katherine mused as she prepared the trays on the table, arranging them so that Frein could easily access his share from the portions she took. ¡°What?¡± Frein did the same, passing the bowl of soup in such a practiced way that he managed to slip it underneath Katherine¡¯s moving arms without spilling its contents. Within seconds, their meals were so neatly organized that it looked like a family sharing a main course. Kristel pointed at both of them. ¡°You two. You were arguing over something nasty you heard from whoever. Your Sifferas are just too amazing sometimes.¡± The two gestured their disagreement. Frein shook his head while Katherine waved both her hands in denial. ¡°We weren¡¯t arguing,¡± they said at the same time. And, in the same synchronized fashion, produced their reusable chopsticks from their respective Spatieras. Kristel¡¯s response to that was to sigh as hard as she could. Jaylene rubbed the Princess¡¯s back. ¡°There, there. You¡¯ll find someone to be all warm and fuzzy with soon.¡± She eyed their utensils. ¡°What are those?¡± Frein and the rest spent the next hour enjoying dinner and sharing stories, most of which were from his perspective. Gumi had joined them somewhere in that timeframe. In fact, more and more people were listening in. He didn¡¯t care about them, as long as they didn¡¯t say anything creepy about him or his companions. His overbearing Siffera was enough to dissuade anyone who even had the inkling to try.
Kristel stared at her M.O.B.I.L.E. While the vibrant purple of the evening has been skewed by the more prominent red of the Darkmoon, the warm tone it provided helped the Princess stave away the cold. She was alone now, perched like a bird on the railings of the veranda outside her room. She concentrated her Siffera to her balance. She was getting more used to it¡ªusing the Art to enhance something more than just her physical strength. She still struggled doing it on the fly, where she couldn¡¯t rely on her brainpower or instincts to do it subconsciously like Katherine or Frein. But the Visitor insisted that she kept practicing whenever time allowed. And so she did. As expected, Frill wasn¡¯t back yet. In fact, Kristel contemplated on finding her and Xiv, not exactly to spy, but to make sure no funny business was happening. In the end, she decided against it. Allowing those two free reign would be the highest form of respect and display of trust she could provide those two right now. Kristel sighed as she scrolled down her contact list. There wasn¡¯t much on it, at least as far as a casual contact or friend was concerned. Most of them were either officials or advisors or department heads that weren¡¯t interesting enough to talk to, given that they were decades older than she was and probably had families of their own to take care of. Princess Kristel realized she didn¡¯t have a lot of friends. Her screen displayed Liona¡¯s name. She had contemplated numerous times whether to delete this contact or not. She couldn¡¯t ask Frill about it. It was too insensitive. In fact, a big reason why she never really looked at her contacts that often was because it was filled with names of people that were already gone. Most of the Cross Irista had died during the Battle of the Vanguard. Save for herself and Lor, only the elders were left in that group. Maybe Venry was still alive, but she wasn¡¯t hopeful. She sighed again. With more than half of the members gone, she wondered if there was a point in keeping the group. That was one more thing to add on the pile of problems to consider. Kristel passed her sister¡¯s name on the list and didn¡¯t even bother looking at it. The way they parted ways wasn¡¯t the best of farewells and considering the time, she would probably be asleep. Lastly, her screen scrolled to Venry¡¯s name. His was the last on her list, and she stared at it for the longest time. Venry was her childhood friend, just like Flimeth. When they were younger, Frill and Liona were too busy taking extracurricular lessons to prepare for their role as Kristel¡¯s retainer. Katherine would also be somewhere else training. It was mostly Flimeth and Venry who kept her company. Then they grew up and had to go their separate ways for their own ambitions, making it more difficult to spend time together. Kristel had given Venry¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. a call at least once a day since the time they found promising proof that he survived the Battle of the Vanguard. Every time, it failed to connect. Tonight, she tried again, but she did so in a different way. A M.O.B.I.L.E. call utilized the meiyal transmission of the device to connect to a central hub, the High Palace Network in this case. It would then proceed to boost the transmission, throwing it along strategically placed relay towers, until it reached the intended recipient. This ensured a quality signal within the entire nation and could even potentially reach Vyndival Kingdom if they had agreed to build those towers. No luck on that last part, as far as she knew. This complex signal boosting and throwing wouldn¡¯t work in the Nightmare Lands, primarily because no relay tower would survive such dense and hostile meiyal. Potentially, there could be a way not to rely on those towers, but they were not meiyal efficient at all and were never successful according to the researcher¡¯s reports. It was too deadly to keep testing. In conclusion, it wouldn¡¯t matter whether the transmission was sent through land, air, or sea, the Nightmare would be all over it and rip it apart instantly. And while the High Palace Network had an ironclad privacy policy, the fact that Kristel suspected a rat from the inside made her hesitant to make calls in the first place. So in an attempt to bypass both the issue with the Nightmare Lands and the potential security breach in the High Palace Network, Kristel tried something different this time around. She used her own meiyal system to serve as the connecting hub, utilizing her own Milled meiyal to feed the M.O.B.I.L.E. and transmit the signal directly to Venry¡¯s. She had done this before, many times in fact, but the most recent occasion was when she gathered the Cross Irista for the Battle of the Vanguard. It was just a whim. In fact, now that she analyzed it, this method wouldn¡¯t help with the Nightmare Lands issue. If it could, the Order of the Void wouldn¡¯t have had to decommission Jaylene¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E.s. But at this point, Kristel was committed. She didn¡¯t expect for Venry¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. to ring anyway, much less for him to pick it up. The Princess waited for a while, making sure the transmission was sent correctly¡ªa task usually handled by the High Palace Network. The process gave her unnecessary anticipation. Even though she handled the transmission, it was still the M.O.B.I.L.E. sending the signal. Meaning, she couldn¡¯t tell where it was going. She wished it was possible to tell, at least this way she could deduce whether Venry was still alive. Long minutes passed and the M.O.B.I.L.E. didn¡¯t budge at all. By herself, it would take her an hour and a lot of meiyal to cover the entire Irista Nation. By her estimates, ten minutes would be enough to reach back to Minaveil Province and cover the entire portion of The Great Sea Dividyr within the safe zone. Kristel sighed once more, deactivating the call. ¡°I wonder if Maffelyne is free tonight.¡± She decided against entertaining it. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just sleep.¡± At least this was one thing she looked forward to; a long and peaceful sleep, finally. It was better this way anyway. Tomorrow, they would have to Jump.
Chapter 136: Afterglow
Afterglow Elizzel woke up with Norazzel cuddling on her chest. The dream wolf had ignored the bed allotted for her and had taken the liberty of pretending to be a soft pillow instead. The Faunel of Freedom didn¡¯t mind and gave the pup a tight squeeze. Norazzel stretched, reaching up with her paws to push the disturber away. Elizzel took that as a sign to climb out of bed before those tiny claws scratched her face. With a yawn, she emerged from her room to find Frein. A simple tug on the Tether already informed her that his physical body was asleep, quite exhausted from the evening¡¯s intimacy to the point that he reached Art fatigue. You two don¡¯t have to go all out every night. Elizzel shook her head. She followed a bunch of paintings heading up the second floor of the Mind Palace, into a large study hall where more paintings had gathered. She didn¡¯t dare guess if this hall was even larger than the Visitor¡¯s Exhibit. ¡°Hey, Eli.¡± Frein emerged from a wall of stacked paintings, pushing them like a door. ¡°How¡¯s sleep?¡± ¡°Lovely. Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°My physical body is.¡± ¡°I know, but there¡¯s a difference.¡± He nodded, quickly conceding the point. Elizzel couldn¡¯t help a yawn escape. She could tell there were more arguments in him. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. She didn¡¯t mind when Frein continued poking around the paintings, selecting and discarding batches as though he had multiple invisible assistants presenting him with information. When he spoke, he didn¡¯t even bother turning her way. ¡°Apparently, having a dream wolf¡¯s favor works to my advantage, Eli. Nora can just sleep in my stead. Not my physical sleep, mind you, but she can send one of her wolves to substitute for my Dream manifestation. Which technically means, I don¡¯t have to sleep at all. She gets to rest, I get to keep working. It¡¯s a win-win situation. Potentially, I could even travel other Dream Realms if she deems it safe enough, but we don¡¯t have any use for that right now except for the novelty of it.¡± ¡°That sounds risky,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Are we sure it works that way?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not convinced?¡± Frein asked. When she shook her head¡ªregardless of whether he could see the action or not¡ªhe continued. ¡°I¡¯m the same. That¡¯s why I¡¯m testing it. Besides, I want the advantage. This way, I can work on my research and other stuff while my body rests after a long day of training.¡± ¡°You sure you¡¯re exhausted from training?¡± ¡°Did we bother you during your sleep?¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s lingering in the Tether.¡± ¡°Actually, Kat wants to talk to you about¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯ll happen when I feel like it¡¯s time, Frein. We don¡¯t have to push the ball this early.¡± ¡°Fair enough. I¡¯ll let her know.¡± ¡°What are you working on anyway?¡± Elizzel asked. She already knew there was no talking the Visitor into getting some proper sleep. It was better to just move on and do something productive. She pointed to a small book in his hand. ¡°Oh, this is a research paper on synthesizing organs. Remember when Doctor Jo¡¯war said they had to replace most of the organs in Katherine¡¯s abdomen? He said she was lucky her heart and ovaries were left intact, since they couldn¡¯t artificially synthesize those. I got a few questions in my head, so I asked for more information.¡± ¡°What questions?¡± Elizzel asked, immediately taking on the soundboard role just like last time. ¡°How were the organs made? Aside from the heart and reproductive system, what else can¡¯t they synthesize? Why not?¡± ¡°And what did you find out?¡± Frein gestured for them to walk and talk, heading deeper into the study hall. ¡°The organs were created using Nightmares.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elizzel stopped just as she was about to take a step. ¡°It¡¯s not that crazy if you think about it,¡± he explained, not even holding back to wait for her. ¡°They harvest the parts from subdued humanoid Nightmares, then a Void Mother will purify them off their Nightmarish influence before storing them in condensed pure meiyal. By pure, I mean Brymeia¡¯s meiyal. This prevents the organ from assuming any other form, essentially freezing it in its current state. ¡°When it¡¯s time to use one of them, they prime it with the patient¡¯s cells and their own meiyal, nurturing the new organ and utilizing the Nightmare¡¯s malleability to transform it exactly how the original one looked and functioned. ¡°This requires two things: First, the patient¡¯s meiyal core¡ªKatherine in this case¡ªmust be Opened and understand Void Control Techniques in order to pull the Nightmare under her influence. Second, she has to be strong enough to withstand the Nightmare inside her body.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Which are two things Katherine can do easily,¡± Elizzel confirmed. They reached the end of the study hall where a large table waited for them. Frein threw the research papers which slid conveniently beside an already existing stack. ¡°Correct. This process also answers a lot of my questions so far.¡± Frein sat on the table while summoning a blank canvas. A paintbrush hovered and began listing down his thoughts. ¡°Elaborate,¡± said the faunel. ¡°Well, for starters, it explains why this sort of medical operation isn¡¯t streamlined or provided to the public. See, it doesn¡¯t solve the issue of a defective organ, only replacing damaged ones. It¡¯s for people who sustained significant injury rather than those who have theirs deteriorated due to some disease or illness, or even age. ¡°Plus, common folk would probably riot if they ever find out the process behind this treatment. It¡¯ll isolate every member of the Order of the Void. It also makes sense that only members of the Order could utilize this medical feat, since it requires a lot from the patient in the first place. Heck, even I eat Nightmare cores and I think it¡¯s weird.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised they shared with you this information, then.¡± ¡°Perks of being a Visitor, I guess. Or maybe Doctor Jo¡¯war knows my relationship with Katherine.¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Anyway, this also explains why they can¡¯t synthesize the heart and the reproductive organs. Also the brain. And the spleen for some reason. Kat was really lucky.¡± Elizzel thought for a while. ¡°Yeah, I can understand the other three. Actually, no. I can understand the heart and the brain. You¡¯re basically dead without those. But the reproductive organs and the spleen?¡± ¡°Well the only common thing on those four according to this research is that they¡¯re always damaged beyond repair. They can¡¯t harvest it from any Nightmares.¡± Frein finished the painting and sent it floating to disappear behind another already existing stack. He sighed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Elizzel asked. She took a seat opposite him. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m expecting more organ replacements in the future, but I¡¯m just wondering how they¡¯re faring in terms of supply.¡± ¡°Supplies? You mean Nightmare organs?¡± ¡°Yeah. Right now we¡¯re missing one key ingredient.¡± Elizzel recalled all the information they had so far. It took her a few seconds to pinpoint exactly what Frein was going for. ¡°Oh! We don¡¯t have a Void Mother.¡± He nodded. ¡°As far as I can tell, Irista Nation¡¯s main contact with the Order of the Void comes from the Western Sanctum. We know little of what happened with Void Mother Selfiya; all we know is that she survived. ¡°Kat said she¡¯s been waiting for a Soul¡¯s Walk contact, but so far, we have nothing. Either something¡¯s preventing her or she¡¯s deliberately avoiding us. I think the Void Mother just doesn¡¯t know we¡¯re here, or she does but she has other plans. ¡°This is just a wild guess, but if the Western Sanctum couldn¡¯t contact Irista Nation because the enemy got to them first, then maybe Mother Selfiya¡¯s taken prisoner. All I know about Soul¡¯s Walk, based on Katherine¡¯s descriptions and what little information there are in books, is that the Blessed one can send her soul like an apparition and talk to people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I know about it, too,¡± Elizzel confirmed. ¡°I¡¯m also pretty sure Soul¡¯s Walk apparitions can channel meiyal disciplines, but it will cost her more meiyal. Not to mention the Blessing can only reach a certain range. If the Void Mother¡¯s being kept as a prisoner, I imagine her captors are keeping her meiyal starved to prevent her from using the Blessing.¡± Frein clapped his hands together and hopped off his chair. ¡°In any case, that¡¯s an issue beyond our reach until we can safely explore the Nightmare Lands. You want to practice with B.M.F.?¡± ¡°What¡¯s a B.M.F.?¡± Elizzel asked. She wondered even more when the Visitor groaned, pressing a palm on his forehead as he cringed. ¡°Sorry, the acronyms are getting to me. Long story. I meant, the Blood Moon Fulgurblade.¡± Elizzel shook her head. ¡°But you¡¯re asleep, and we can¡¯t practice this in your Exhibit. That¡¯s not how it works.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s another perk for having Norazzel¡¯s favor,¡± Frein said as they headed out of the study hall. ¡°I can force myself to wake up anytime. Two hours of deep sleep should be good enough, right?¡±
The firsts of the lime rays of the morning sun made themselves known to Katherine, waking her up. The sweet pain of her aching muscles and the freshly inflicted bitemarks soothed the hurt of not finding Frein beside her. She touched each aching spot, running her fingernails along or around the mild yet throbbing wounds. They stung, waking her up even further by reminding her how Frein feasted on her last night. She bit her lips, recalling every moment of how he dismantled her. She felt devoured, savored, and enjoyed. Dark thoughts lingered in her head. A discussion that they had had, and subsequently decided to forgo. For no matter how mad and depraved they were, Frein could never actually tear off her flesh and consume it. He was not that sort of man, though the way he used her body more than made up for it. Katherine¡¯s fingers worked on her breasts, desperate to reenact how he took away her bra. She remembered they were still in his Spatiera and wondered how long he would keep it there. Naturally, it brought her thoughts to her panties. She reached under Frein¡¯s pillow. Somehow her ripped underwear ended up there. It was a little sticky and flaky from when Frein used it last night in a fit of heated passion. She remembered licking from it when he was done before using it again after she had swallowed everything. This piece of garment had become their toy, and they had done all sorts of things with it. Katherine sniffed the abused piece of clothing, overwhelming her senses with his scent while she played with herself. It was maddening; addicting even. And she lost control. Her tongue reached out and licked the flaky parts of the underwear. Bitter. After lubricating it well enough, she propped it between her legs with a finger and pushed it inside. It was like Frein was back, forcing himself inside her like a maddened dog. She let her imagination run wild, using one hand to mimic his rhythm, while her other hand squeezed her bitemarks. Katherine raised her legs and she let her voice echo all around the room as she labored away on repeatedly shoving her underwear inside. She touched herself in earnest now, using both hands to work both inside and outside her groin while she kept the image of Frein ramming her within her imagination. Her breathing ragged and sweat dripped all over her skin. She squirmed from one side to the other, desperate for something to bite. She ended up turning over, raising her hips like a dog in heat and doubling her intensity. Katherine chomped down on Frein¡¯s pillow at the same time the electrifying sensations sent her to ecstasy. Fuck, Frein. I want to keep going¡­ Katherine breathed heavily, sighing in both satisfaction and frustration. It just wasn¡¯t enough without him. The clarity of what she had done dawned on her. At this point, she had to admit, she was getting too addicted to her depravity. She smiled, looking at the glistening sheen on her underwear and the thin, sticky thread between her fingers. Admitting was one thing. Doing something about it was something else entirely. Katherine hopped off the bed and prepared for the day, knowing exactly where to find Frein.
Chapter 137: Freins Meiyal
Frein''s Meiyal
¡°His meiyal is my meiyal. Whomever you¡¯re referring to doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re talking about the same thing anyway.¡± Elizzel, Faunel of Freedom and Consequences
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Katherine tried to calm down the hyperventilating canintine. She was on duty as a receptionist for the training facility behind her and was struggling for a response. ¡°Too much meiyal¡­inside,¡± she said, gasping for air. Katherine quickly Drew and administered Samesia, instantly relieving the canintine¡¯s stress. Mesiffera indicated an excessive amount of foreign meiyal running through her system. She recognized the type; it was Frein¡¯s Milled meiyal. How it got inside someone else¡¯s system was beyond her understanding, nor was it the time to contemplate on such a thing. ¡°How long is your dispersion time?¡± she asked the canintine. ¡°Eight minutes.¡± It was an impressive amount, but not something that would help her right now, given her situation. Katherine helped the receptionist back on her feet, putting one arm around her shoulders. ¡°Alright. You should be okay after you disperse all of it. Don¡¯t Mill; you might get hallucinations or something worse, and it might damage your meiyal system. Did you peek inside before this happened?¡± The canintine helplessly nodded. ¡°I was curious about the Visitor. It¡¯s like the Nightmare Lands in there, Lady Katherine.¡± The Lady nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you stay here, you should be alright. You can monitor us from the image feed. If something wrong happens, call the Admiral right away.¡± The canintine nodded and returned to her seat inside the booth in front of the training facility. She still struggled for air, taking slow and deep breaths, but at the very least, she was still conscious. Katherine opened the first door of the facility, entering the airlock. She made sure it was tightly sealed first before approaching the second door. Meiyal pressure slammed on her as if an entire ocean suddenly manifested on top of her. She instinctively Opened her meiyal core to use Peace Within The Chaos, a Void Control Technique that would help her fend off the Nightmare and its influence by projecting her own in a form of a barrier or a film outlining her person. However, she quickly realized that there was nothing to fend off within this absurd supply of meiyal. No Nightmare. It was just Frein, Elizzel, and numerous other sources of meiyal spilling from the Visitor and filling the entire facility. Siffera was the key. Katherine Drew the Art, focusing on enhancing her ability to exist within a meiyal-filled environment. It was an obscure thing, an abstract concept, to enhance, yet it was easier to do than merely enhancing her strength. When she thought about it, it made sense. Since the day she was born, she was already living alongside meiyal, basically swimming in its power. Katherine sealed the door and approached the Visitor and his faunel. Each step was laboriously done, costing her a tremendous amount of meiyal. Not overwhelmingly so, but if merely drawing Siffera was a drop, then each foot forward was a glass. The surrounding meiyal was surprisingly amenable despite its overwhelming nature. It wanted to be Gathered, drawing upon Katherine¡¯s instincts and taking advantage of her floating meiyal system. Unlike other people who had their meiyal cores and marks embedded on their skin like tattoos, hers was unique, imitating a hair ornament floating beside her temple. This meiyal system perpetually swam on meiyal, Gathered easier compared to others, and didn¡¯t have a dispersion time limit, allowing her to manually do so instead. Other people throughout history had had this type of meiyal system before, but as far as she knew, right now, only her and Frill possessed such a thing. The meiyal, Frein¡¯s meiyal, was extremely dense. It was comparable to clay rather than any viscous liquid, barely moving within Katherine¡¯s system as she accepted it. This gave her an understanding why the canintine collapsed and misinterpreted this pressure for the Nightmare Lands. But unlike that dreaded place, this was neutral, uplifting even. Like the sort of an extremely optimistic companion that never failed to consider a good thing from all the bad. Someone who could smile at even the most tragic of moments. It guided Katherine. She Milled it willingly, utilizing every skill she had to combine his meiyal with hers. Quickly enough, the struggle was gone. Her steps were light, as if the place itself carried her forwards. Nine-meiyal. Eight were from Frein and Elizzel¡¯s Milled meiyal. Katherine was experienced enough to dissect all the resources apart, but they didn¡¯t add up. There were too many. Regardless, she continued to Mill, claiming such tremendous amounts of power for her own. She felt a sense of loss followed by an overwhelming feeling of pride. Even at the height of her power, she had never reached eight-meiyal. In truth, most Virtuosos who never progressed couldn¡¯t fathom the concept of multiple meiyal sources, while Grand Virtuosos like her¡ªeven taking history into account¡ªtopped at ten-meiyal. Before she went to Earth, she had six, then her prolonged stay on that meiyal-starved planet deteriorated her Exhibit to almost nothing. And then here came the Visitor, only two short of the highest recorded ones while his meiyal marks were stuck at fourteen. She could feel him leaving her behind. It didn¡¯t matter if she was the strongest Meiyal Arts practitioner in Irista Nation. Right now, for her, that title belonged to Frein. The meiyal surrounding her still pressed her on. To say that it was uplifting was an understatement. It was encouraging, emboldening, as if the meiyal existed with the sole purpose of pushing her forwards using one single phrase. Catch up. With a smile, Katherine felt like a student again. Of course, she would follow Frein. She would¡¯ve done it her entire life, and she would keep doing it now. This time it was genuine. No need for her to hold back on his account, no need to take things slow. There were two of them ahead of her after all. This time, she was the one chasing with all her might. The Lady of the Void sat down with the other two, completely disregarding her initial intentions of disrupting their trance. She saw both of them smile with their eyes closed, but she didn¡¯t say anything about it. Instead, Katherine Gathered their meiyal and Milled.
After an hour, Frein decided it was time for a break. As expected, Katherine had found him and joined him in meditation. All the while, a realization had dawned on Frein. Grinding eight-meiyal on his Mill was exponentially harder than four. He was barely getting used to Milling four-meiyal on his own, but even with Elizzel¡¯s help, eight was an excruciating task.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Not to mention his meiyal marks were unable to contain the Milled meiyal properly without his direct attention, causing most of it to release whenever he hit the dispersion time limit. It was a good decision to Mill in isolation, just as Elizzel recommended. This way, they could Gather the deviant meiyal and store them properly in his marks. Frein wondered if this would always be the case or if they were just missing something. ¡°The others Mill like this, remember?¡± Elizzel said as she opened her eyes, understanding his conundrum. ¡°They sit down and concentrate. This is the actual reason why they do that. Only, modernization misunderstood history, so eventually everyone, including Aspirants, are doing it nowadays even if they don¡¯t need to.¡± Katherine breathed out. Hints of Art fatigue had emerged from her back, but she didn¡¯t look tired at all. ¡°That actually makes sense. If we show this case to others, we can convince them to drop this weird tradition and have them Gather and Mill properly. ¡°How come you two have so many resources anyway?¡± she asked. ¡°You only integrated with two materials.¡± ¡°Three,¡± Frein corrected. ¡°Palar¡¯gog gave me another one. We completed a Meiyal Art last night, and we wanted to practice with it, but just Milling became a challenge real quick.¡± ¡°By Milling, you mean Milling eight-meiyal, right? Three still doesn¡¯t add up to eight.¡± Frein then proceeded to explain how Elizzel served to amplify the resources. Multiplying them instead of adding to them. ¡°Only meiyal-charged materials,¡± the faunel confirmed. ¡°Which means, I add another resource for each one he possesses. That¡¯s the Emerald Guidance, the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm, and the Blood Ribbon Tassel. The Shinemoon Scabbard doesn¡¯t provide a meiyal resource, so we only have those three. I can amplify those to a total of six. Add Brymeia and Frein, that¡¯s eight.¡± Katherine nodded, following the logic now. ¡°Did you know I could Gather your Meiyal? I can feel it. I have nine-meiyal stored right now.¡± Frein blinked, amazed. ¡°You can Mill nine easily?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of it, but I think I can benefit from it, too. Like when you gave me your four-meiyal before.¡± His mind went into overdrive, making plans layered on top of other plans. ¡°We should invite the others and let them Gather and Mill!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that would be viable right now, Frein,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Same here,¡± Elizzel agreed. ¡°Kat was able to do it because her Siffera helped her out. The others should learn how to use the Art the same way we do first. And I¡¯m not sure how to make it possible for Xiv.¡± ¡°The receptionist outside took a peek and collapsed just from the sheer pressure of your meiyal,¡± Katherine added. ¡°I don¡¯t think you can Mill this naturally when you¡¯re outside, not until both of you can prevent this weird dispersion from happening.¡± Frein churned the gravity of Katherine¡¯s words. He also recalled something Schrodie had told him before.
¡±Limiting your Meiyal Arts is for your own good. Your reception to meiyal will be far more sensitive compared to that of a native.¡±
¡°Meiyal Arts¡­¡± Frein murmured. ¡°What is it?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Schrodie said she was limiting my Meiyal Arts. I thought at first she meant my meiyal system.¡± Without even explaining to Katherine, Frein returned to his meditation, pulling Elizzel along through the Tether. Meiyal Arts was a discipline on its own, not simply isolated to Drawing the Art. It included every bit of the process starting from the beginning. Meaning, if Frein were to interpret Schrodie¡¯s words literally, then the Gatekeeper had placed a limit on his Gathering and Milling in the first place. Now that he understood the process better, it was time to remove those limiters. ¡°Fine, let me see it, then.¡± Schrodie¡¯s voice echoed from across the room, waking Frein from his concentration. She stood by the doorway, distorting in and out of reality as she moved closer. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Don¡¯t worry, I put the canintine to sleep; she couldn¡¯t recover properly given her proximity to this place.¡± ¡°We have a lot to talk about, Schrodie,¡± Frein said. The small bits of her hair melding into reality was his only indication that the Gatekeeper was shaking her head. ¡°Apologies, Frein, but I don¡¯t have enough time. I¡¯m only here to witness if you can properly remove the seal I¡¯ve placed upon your system. If not, then I will make sure it¡¯s affixed properly to prevent any risks. If you can, then I will be on my way. We can talk about other matters once you have a Fragment.¡± ¡°Fragment?¡± Katherine asked, realizing a second later what the Gatekeeper meant. ¡°Oh, a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Meiyal Core.¡± ¡°Correct. Only then will I know it¡¯s safe to tell you everything.¡± ¡°Alright, fair enough,¡± Frein conceded and returned to his meditation. The effect was immediate, he didn¡¯t even need to bother returning to his Mind Palace at all. From within his meiyal core, there was a small film of meiyal affixed like an envelope with a small opening. It was almost imperceptible and didn¡¯t give him an impression of any discipline he knew of. This was Schrodie¡¯s Painting. To recreate things with just her imagination. An unbelievable control and application of meiyal that Frein could only begin to grasp. What did she have to do to achieve something like this? Were the souls she collected from Brymeia¡¯s heroes something that enabled her to do this? ¡°Concentrate, Frein,¡± Elizzel reeled him back to their objective. Frein controlled his meiyal from within. Like a pair of massive hands tearing off a sheet of paper, he ripped away the limiters placed upon his system. Everything became calm. Schrodie¡¯s meiyal, a thin film that limited his Meiyal Arts, integrated within his system. Now it became a part of his Mill, something Frein didn¡¯t expect was a possibility. He immediately began to Mill eight-meiyal, feeling the unwieldy combination progress to a suitable mixture. It was like two Elizzels helped him with the process, rolling and pressing each type of meiyal equally and efficiently, until it resulted in the perfect yield that Perpetual-Layered Milling Form had always given. Such tremendous power behaved as though it was his own, a familiar sensation from the common two-meiyal he was used to. Despite the advanced combination of meiyal involved, Frein knew that this was his most efficient batch yet. He opened his eyes, hungry to test his strength. His eyes were met by an astonished Katherine, her jaw dropped as she turned back and forth between him and Schrodie. The Gatekeeper was smiling, or at least, every face that quickly flashed on her was elated by how easily he was able to remove his limiters. ¡°Good,¡± she began. ¡°This bodes well for all of us. I will be on my way. The Letterman¡¯s warnings might just be the least of our problems.¡± ¡°What warnings?¡± Katherine asked. A frown appeared on the Gatekeeper¡¯s distorted features, but Frein was quick to raise his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll explain. Good luck out there, Schrodie.¡± ¡°If I find the time, we can talk in two weeks. I¡¯ll see if I can address some of your worries.¡± The Gatekeeper vanished as if she wasn¡¯t there to begin with. ¡°What warnings?¡± Katherine repeated. Frein relayed the Letterman¡¯s message about the three Nightmare Incursions about to occur within a couple of weeks. He observed the astonishment from the Lady¡¯s face slowly turning into fear. ¡°That can¡¯t be,¡± she said. ¡°The last time something like this happened, an entire country disappeared.¡± ¡°You survived a triple Nightmare Incursion?¡± Elizzel asked. Katherine was quick to shake her head. ¡°Records from the Order of the Void. Even if we have the entire support of the Western Sanctum, we can¡¯t fend this off.¡± Something in her words made something click in Frein¡¯s head. ¡°Wait,¡± he began, trying to crystalize the idea in his head. ¡°Did the Letterman specify which places those Incursions will occur?¡± Elizzel was silent, hard at thought. ¡°He only specified one.¡± Frein tugged on the Tether. ¡°It¡¯s where I¡¯ll be.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where you¡¯ll be, he said. But he can¡¯t specify the exact time either.¡± ¡°He¡¯s probably accounting for Destiny,¡± Katherine guessed. ¡°That ironically makes him more sincere.¡± ¡°Which means, that simplifies our problem,¡± Frein concluded. ¡°I don¡¯t have to deal with three Incursions.¡± ¡°But if they all hit Irista Nation¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do our best if that happens, Kat.¡± ¡°We should warn them, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll make a difference,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°It will,¡± Katherine and Frein retorted at the same time. ¡°Because unlike last time, Eli,¡± the Visitor continued, ¡°this time, we know it¡¯s coming. And you have us.¡± Before the faunel could say anything else, Frein¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. rang. He answered it, and Kristel¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Where are you, guys?¡± she started. ¡°No one¡¯s answering from your room.¡± ¡°We¡¯re at the training facility,¡± Frein replied. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Oh, good! Head to the boarding platform nearest you. I reserved a spot. We¡¯re Jumping today. See you there!¡± ¡°Jumping?¡± he asked, but the Princess already hang up. He passed the question to Katherine who brightened up, almost forgetting the doomsday prophecy she just heard. ¡°You want to test your eight-meiyal, right?¡± she asked. ¡°We can try it on the Jump. You can probably try your new Meiyal Art as well. We should probably change clothes too.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Frein tried to stop the Lady from pushing him into the bathroom, but she was too excited. ¡°What does the Jump mean!¡±
Chapter 138: Talks By The Bay
Talks By The Bay Frein found himself in a pair of shorts, a pair of sandals, and a jacket. ¡°Not even a shirt?¡± he asked Katherine. His midsection was exposed, leaving his abdominal muscles and scars for all to see. The bullet wound he sustained and the surgical scar on his chest were centerpieces fighting for attention. Even the stab wound right above his kidney, from when he had assisted in a major operation years ago, peeked just underneath the lightweight jacket. ¡°Nope, you don¡¯t need it,¡± Katherine replied as she appeared from the bathroom, sporting a two-piece bikini. Her conservative nature¡ªironic, as far as Frein was concerned¡ªstill convinced her to add more layers, adding a new pair of shorter shorts and her own matching lightweight jacket. The great scar from below her chest travelling across her entire midsection was out in the open, like a trophy of survival or some sort. He noticed that her bitemarks had diminished, presumably thanks to Samesia, which was understandable enough given her current fashion. Though he could see hints of them, slipping from underneath what little clothes she wore, if he looked hard enough. ¡°So skimpy,¡± Frein said, ogling at her nonstop from head to toe. ¡°Even with the jacket, that¡¯s so much skin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll be drooling all over everyone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°I¡¯m drooling right now,¡± he admitted. ¡°So where are we going? We¡¯re going to a pool or something?¡± ¡°Something like that. Did you call Enza over?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s outside. Are you sure she can carry us both?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not running or flying, so it should be okay. Get her some training and exercise.¡± With everything prepared, the pair headed out of the training room. And like an instinctual response, Elizzel returned inside Frein¡¯s Mind Palace. ¡°You don¡¯t want to join?¡± he asked. ¡°I get a better view from here. Easier to help out when needed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let Nora distract you.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Outside, Enza waited patiently while observing a canintine pacing back and forth in front of her. The receptionist suddenly jumped, surprised by their appearance. ¡°Kat told me what happened,¡± Frein said to the canintine. ¡°Sorry about that. Are you okay now?¡± She nodded frantically. ¡°I¡¯m alright now, thanks to Lady Katherine.¡± She looked over them once, her eyes were particularly glued on both their midsections. ¡°Are you both headed for the Jump?¡± ¡°Yes, can you tell me what it¡¯s about?¡± ¡°No, she can¡¯t!¡± Katherine was quick to intercept while signaling for Enza to lie low. ¡°It¡¯s a surprise.¡± The canintine suddenly brightened up. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll love it, Visitor Frein!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an everybody thing, is it?¡± Frein asked his girlfriend who just shook her head while mounting over Enza. He followed right after. ¡°You good, girl?¡± ¡°Yeah, just about,¡± the yuma replied, walking around in a circle to test her burden. ¡°No running or flying, but I can carry this weight.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ excuse me?¡± The canintine waved at them. ¡°Is it alright for me to clean up inside?¡± She pointed towards the training facility. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve taken care of it,¡± Frein replied confidently. He had made sure none of his deviant eight-meiyal remained inside before they went out. ¡°Should be safe now.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you! Have fun out there.¡± ¡°We will!¡± Katherine replied as she urged Enza to start walking. The travel wasn¡¯t that long, but Frein didn¡¯t let that stop him from flirting¡ªor playing, more like. His hands deftly moved along Katherine¡¯s exposed sides, eager to feel her smooth skin. He made it a deliberate choice to avoid the parts that she chose to cover underneath her clothes. ¡°You removed your bitemarks,¡± he whispered from behind her. ¡°I might be as perverted and degenerate as you are, Frein. But I don¡¯t have to go out of my way to proclaim it to everyone.¡± Katherine leaned on his chest, savoring the skinship. Her hands rested on his knees. From afar, they looked nothing more than an innocent couple having a relaxing ride on top of a yuma. Enza¡¯s wings covered most of their lower bodies. Good thing it was early in the morning as well. There were barely any people around walking on the streets, let alone was there anyone close enough to have a clean look at them. ¡°You¡¯re just going to tease me the entire way, are you?¡± Katherine asked. She struggled to steady her breathing, her legs squirming from the pleasure of not getting touched in the right places. She had let go of her balance atop Enza, allowing Frein complete control whether she fell off or not. The Lady craned her neck upwards, asking for a kiss. When he did not respond, she licked his neck instead, occasionally running her teeth along his skin. ¡°We¡¯re on top of Enza, Kat. I¡¯m just giving you some skin.¡± ¡°Horsing around, skin contact, they¡¯re good ways to form a bond!¡± Enza said, completely innocent to what was happening behind her. ¡°She said she doesn¡¯t mind if we¡¯re just horsing around,¡± he translated for the yuma. ¡°I like it a lot,¡± Katherine said, reaching out an arm to wrap around Frein. ¡°We can probably horse around seriously tonight.¡± She pulled him close while sticking out her tongue. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you had horses here in Brymeia,¡± said Frein, finally indulging Katherine¡¯s request after making sure no one was around. They locked lips, exchanged fluids, and felt each other¡¯s tongues for a good minute, before letting her go to have a breather. Katherine exhaled. ¡°They¡¯re endangered, now, the horses,¡± she said in between breaths. ¡°You¡¯ll find some pegasi in some noble¡¯s stable sometimes, but the unicorns are more cunning. I think the last sighting was in Nolomori Forest. That was when I was a kid.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I should just keep teasing you,¡± Frein said. He rested his hands on Katherine¡¯s thighs, unable to suppress the desire to squeeze them. ¡°I learn a lot more this way.¡± ¡°I expect a proper reward.¡± Katherine leaned her entire weight on Frein, treating him like a chair. ¡°Take a left here, Enza dear.¡± The yuma, while unable to speak to others, still understood verbal commands without needing any training or bonding through the Namestones. Katherine had pointed it out yesterday, and while he already had an inkling this was the case, he still hadn¡¯t figured out yet if the reverse was also possible. He ventured on a guess. ¡°Hey Enza, I¡¯ll provide you some of my meiyal. These are heavier than usual, can you stand on the side for a bit?¡± Frein motioned for Katherine to sit properly before dismounting his yuma. Enza lowered herself on the sidewalk, rather than sit on her haunches, since she was still carrying the Lady. She raised her head to show him his Namestone. While the stone already served as a medium which allowed the yuma to utilize his Milled meiyal, a more direct touch made the process easier to control. Frein deemed it absolutely necessary, given how the current state of his meiyal had affected the canintine earlier. He slowly fed his eight-meiyal through. Enza¡¯s fur bristled and glowed, the sudden power forcing her up on all four legs. Streaks of white appeared on her brown coat, etching through the middle of her snout, up her back, and up to the edges of her wings. It continued down the length of her tail, causing it to extend much longer than before. Meiyal flowed out from the feathers of her wings, behaving like a trace of light. The change looked permanent and made Enza another weight class larger and stronger. ¡°Incredible!¡± the yuma exclaimed. ¡°I feel so powerful!¡± ¡°Frein! Frein!¡± Katherine squealed with excitement. ¡°I can understand her!¡± she said, bouncing on the saddle like a kid. She didn¡¯t care how her current clothes made everything else that was bouncing around easier to see. ¡°Enza, I can understand you!¡± ¡°Yay!¡± The yuma hopped around in circles, celebrating with Katherine who had to hold on tight. The two were giggling as if they¡¯ve never met each other for the longest time. Frein felt like the task to reign them both in rested on his hands, but he ignored the straight-man role and jumped around in celebration as well. He yelled with joy, catching the giant, winged canine who leapt into his arms. Siffera allowed him to carry her as though she weighed nothing. ¡°We should go, we should go!¡± Katherine said, her voice a pitch higher than usual. ¡°Everyone should know about this!¡± ¡°I think I can fly you both!¡± Enza barked, too happy and giddy for her own good. ¡°The regulations say we still can¡¯t fly, Enza,¡± Frein reminded her. ¡°Not until the Atlas Sid lands.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s only when the grand carrier is cruising,¡± Katherine corrected. ¡°It might not be obvious since we¡¯re above ground, but we¡¯re currently not moving.¡± ¡°How come?¡± Frein asked as he returned on the saddle behind the Lady. He quickly realized what she meant. ¡°Oh, is it because of the Jump for some reason?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll ruin the surprise!¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s see if you can carry us then, Enza.¡± The yuma took the middle of the street, which was still empty despite the entire time they spent nearby. Frein began to wonder if the Jump also had something to do with it, but he held the question this time. Since Katherine was so intent to keep it a surprise, though he already had some inkling for what it might be, he decided to just keep it to himself. Enza opened her wings in a wide spread. The meiyal that flowed out of her feathers intensified. In a single bound and flap, she lifted off. Her body pushed on Frein, and he couldn¡¯t get the feeling like someone was picking him up off his mind. It was a surreal experience, nothing compared to riding a bike, or even a horse for that matter. He imagined this would be how it felt to ride a rollercoaster, but he didn¡¯t have that luxury to truly compare to begin with. Each time Enza flapped her wings, he felt his center rising and his head and back fighting against gravity. He held on, not just with his hands but also his legs, making sure he was securely strapped on Enza while avoiding too much pressure. ¡°Over there!¡± Katherine pointed somewhere, directing the yuma. Only then did Frein realize they were actually, truthfully, flying. To see something was different than simply feeling after all. He was so busy keeping himself from falling off that he hadn¡¯t even had the time to look around yet. They flew in between buildings, not rising any higher on account of Katherine¡¯s directions. While they were allowed to fly, some laws still prohibited them from going higher than intended. Frein felt the wind rush on his face. He was thankful for Siffera once again, allowing his eyes to withstand the air as if they were nothing. Finally, he oriented himself enough to trace where the Lady was pointing. At the same time, Enza banked and began to descend. They were headed for a boarding platform at the edge of the grand carrier. Frein could already see three other figures waiting for them. Kristel waved a hand, signaling for them as they began their approach. The yuma flew low, handling their landing with ease as she used her wings and legs to slow their momentum to a full stop. Katherine slid off the saddle naturally, but Frein took a while. He breathed, patting Enza by the neck. He was still undecided on whether he liked the experience or not, but he was sure he wanted to do it again. ¡°We¡¯ll practice more,¡± he said. ¡°Hey guys!¡± Katherine started, urging everyone to huddle over Enza. ¡°We want to show you something.¡± Frein dismounted his yuma as the other three gathered around. He paid attention to Frill and Xiv in particular. They weren¡¯t distant with each other, closer in fact. And Kristel didn¡¯t look aggravated. A good sign that last night¡¯s event was fruitful and would be interesting to listen to later when they have the time. He also noticed their swimwear. Xiv was sporting the same look as he was, showing a lot of his chest and midsection underneath an open jacket. It was boring, so Frein quickly moved on, respectfully observing the other two that were more pleasant to look at. Kristel sported a black one piece that emphasized her chest area. It made Frein realize that, while the Princess was indeed a short fellow, she excelled on other parts of her body. She layered a white jacket on top of it along with a translucent button skirt. Frill was again, as he expected, a beautiful dancing fish. Her deep blue two-piece bikini had white and red frills that extended to a floating tail along the length of her legs. She covered her top with a translucent shawl, while the rest of her frills¡ªmade out of meiyal as Frein observed¡ªcovered her from the waist down. They were magnificent. And Katherine was right, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off them. Of course, the Lady noticed it and slammed a fist down his exposed abdomen. Air left his lungs and his Siffera went into overdrive, allowing him to recover quickly, but only after realizing that Katherine didn¡¯t use any Meiyal Art at all. ¡°I told you,¡± she said, shaking her knuckles while applying a mild Samesia on them. Frein straightened and gestured towards Frill and Kristel. ¡°If they¡¯re pretty like that, of course I¡¯ll give them a look!¡± ¡°I sort of expected this,¡± Kristel said, crossing her arms and shaking her head. ¡°Is this what you wanted to show us?¡± Frill asked while clenching a fist. ¡°Is it alright if I punch you, Frein?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t blame him, honestly,¡± Xiv said, gesturing over to Katherine. ¡°That scar actually works for you, Lady Kat¡ªI mean, Sis.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you. Frein said I should keep it.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t, but you¡¯re still beautiful either way, Kat.¡± Frein struggled to hold a laugh when Katherine turned away and crossed her arms, trying to ignore him. It didn¡¯t suit her, but he played along. ¡°Alright, fine. I¡¯ll stare at you twice over whenever I look at someone else. How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Fair,¡± she said after a pause. ¡°Guys, is this what you really wanted to show us?¡± Kristel asked this time. ¡°No,¡± Katherine said. She gestured over to Enza who was sitting on her haunches the entire time. The yuma¡¯s tail wagged, excited to finally have her turn. ¡°Hello, everyone!¡± she said. Immediately, the three took a step back in shock. ¡°Ha! They really can understand me!¡± ¡°She¡¯s talking!¡± Xiv exclaimed, his face was torn between fright and amazement. ¡°Enza, is that you?¡± Frill asked, recovering quickly and stepping forward. ¡°You¡¯re so big! You look so powerful!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Kristel said this time. ¡°She can actually talk to us now! How?¡± she asked Frein. The Visitor simply shrugged, too proud to explain. ¡°Meiyal, I guess.¡± Before he could actually explain any further, a chime echoed throughout the Atlas Sid. Maffelyne¡¯s voice was sent through unseen speakers. ¡°Greetings, Jumpers! We will now commence the Jump in five minutes. Please standby in your respective positions.¡± ¡°Did you explain to Frein what we¡¯re doing?¡± Kristel asked Katherine. She, like the rest, removed her outer clothes. ¡°No,¡± he replied instead, ¡°but I think I know what it is now.¡±
Chapter 139: Before The Plunge
Before The Plunge Frein removed his jacket, following everyone else who had taken off their outer layers. His Mesiffera allowed him to see the reduction of protective barriers, moving away from the boarding platforms. The movement caused the chill of the breeze carrying the slightest hint of salt to touch his skin, prompting him to exert a layer of protective Siffera around himself. Katherine stood at his side, sporting her beautiful red two-piece. The scar on her stomach really improved her appeal. Perfection in imperfection, some would say. She produced her cap from her Spatiera, wearing it to keep the gorgeous strands of her brown hair from flying all over the place. At first, Frein thought it was futile, but realized that the cap somehow held on despite the strong winds. Though the cap was a souvenir from Earth, he wouldn¡¯t put it past the Lady to perform some meiyal-involved modifications on it. He made a mental note to study it when he had the chance. As of now, they were preoccupied. ¡°So, we really are jumping off the Atlas Sid?¡± he asked instead. They stood by the edge of the boarding platform, a step away from plunging towards the shimmering blue of The Great Sea Dividyr. ¡°Yep,¡± Kristel replied, standing on his other side. She did her warm-up stretches, a dangerous move given her current one-piece swimsuit. Frein¡¯s attention pulled at the Princess¡¯s instincts, snapping her eyes in his direction. She stared back, looking at his chest, specifically the surgical scar in the middle. ¡°You really do have a scar,¡± she said. ¡°So Kat already told you, huh?¡± Kristel nodded hesitantly. ¡°Me and Frill.¡± The mention of her name caused the Aria to look and confirm his scar as well. ¡°Oh yeah, it¡¯s really there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not really a big secret,¡± Frein said. ¡°I can talk about it some other time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m absolutely curious,¡± Kristel said. ¡°But sure.¡± ¡°So why are we jumping now?¡± Xiv asked, taking the Princess¡¯s other side. He was performing his bodyguard role rather dutifully. ¡°Do I really have to join? ¡°Food,¡± Frill replied lastly, taking the Vyndivalian¡¯s free side. With her, the line was complete, and all five of them stood side by side, looking down on the sea far, far below. ¡°And yes, you do.¡± Frein realized he had never done skydiving before. He could see some clouds underneath him, which was surprisingly familiar to him. He had been on the Atlas Sid for a while now. ¡°Food?¡± he asked, finally processing what Frill said. ¡°Wait¡­ I feel like I¡¯m missing something.¡± ¡°What are you missing?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°And it¡¯s seafood specifically.¡± ¡°Like fish? Tuna? Sharks?¡± he guessed. He couldn¡¯t figure out the lingering thought that he was missing something very important. It gnawed at the back of his mind. ¡°Not fish. Not small.¡± The Lady stifled a laugh. ¡°Whales?¡± ¡°Sea serpents,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°A kraken if we¡¯re lucky. Charred barbecue kraken would be nice. Atlas Life was out of stock. And if they¡¯re out, most likely, everywhere else are out as we¡ª¡± ¡°A kraken?¡± Frein exclaimed his clarification. The thought of enjoying a nice dip in the sea with gorgeous ladies wearing swimsuits suddenly vanished from his mind. It was replaced by a gigantic octopus of the abyss instead. He began to regret reading a lot of Eldritch books. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°That would be a rare occurrence, given that it¡¯s early in the morning and we have such nice weather,¡± Katherine said. ¡°A Tentacles Of The Deep would be more likely. They¡¯re edible, surprisingly enough. Only the core inside its head is tainted with Nightmare influence.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying there¡¯s a Nightmare kraken?¡± Frein asked. Katherine nodded excitedly. ¡°Despite its name, it¡¯s not a Deep Nightmare.¡± ¡°Outside of the Nightmare Lands?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the sea, Bro,¡± Xiv interjected. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s how it is? You¡¯re playing smart with me, Bro?¡± Katherine giggled this time. ¡°No, seriously. We¡¯re flying back to Central from outside the safe zone. One final check before the grand carrier¡¯s long break, since we¡¯re circling around anyway. We¡¯re in the far west of The Great Sea Dividyr now, so we¡¯re technically closer to the volcanic regions than we are with the Western Sanctum. But we are outside the safe zone now.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°It is, but most people who are participating in the Jump are used to the Nightmare Lands or are trainees intending to become part of the Order of the Void. And since there haven¡¯t been any new recruitments, they¡¯re just continuously training here. A trainee technically has to be as tough as a Guard Knight or even a Royal Guard.¡± Katherine pointed towards the other platforms. ¡°Look over there.¡± Frein followed where she pointed, finding a nearby platform¡ªthey were more like launching platforms now rather than boarding ones. Sure enough, he saw more people standing by near the edges. There were about one or two groups per platform. Each group had one person in front of them, providing some pointers or reminders. Katherine pointed over to Kristel, Frill, and Frein. ¡°These three will be under my direct protection as part of their training. I don¡¯t think I have to worry about you, right, Brother Xiv?¡± ¡°I have my Armor, so I should be fine.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Katherine breathed and began to emphasize her Siffera. ¡°Alright, folks, go prepare your Sifferas please. Enza, are you there?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± said the yuma who melded into view. That caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Do you just automatically become invisible if you¡¯re not moving?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Been like that since the beginning,¡± she said. ¡°I can still move around but it¡¯s an effort.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how Nature¡¯s Favor works,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Well, at least, that¡¯s what the records say.¡± ¡°The Blessings aren¡¯t fully explored, remember?¡± Frein said, quick to dispute. ¡°This could be a special Nature¡¯s Favor, but we¡¯ll deal with that when we have the time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Katherine followed. She turned to Enza. ¡°I need you to stay here and be on standby. Frein should be able to send you instructions through the Namestone.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t join?¡± the yuma whined, her ears drooping. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°You can jump, dear, but don¡¯t go near the water. And try to stay invisible. Its precaution in case of emergencies. Since Frill¡¯s yumas are taking care of your siblings, all the responsibilities fall to you.¡± ¡°Way to pressure her,¡± Frein commented. Enza¡¯s ears perked. ¡°It¡¯s alright! I can do that!¡± She stole a few licks before Katherine could calm her down. All the while, Frill and Kristel slowly emphasized their Siffera. By Drawing the pattern slowly, not only would they be able to use the Art efficiently, it would also be more stable compared to a rushed one. Their Meiyal Arts have improved dramatically, especially Frill¡¯s with her improved Milled meiyal. Frein observed with Mesiffera and saw four-meiyal powering the Art. For such a short amount of time, the Aria in Red managed to Mill her Mercurial Liquid and Storm Veil. It hadn¡¯t even been a full day yet. Truly a genius of her time, but Frein could still spot some places for her to improve in. ¡°You don¡¯t have to invest four-meiyal continuously, Frill,¡± he said. ¡°Once you emphasize the Art with four-meiyal, you can just use your normal two-meiyal to keep it going. If you see it diminish, that¡¯s when you add more. Otherwise, you¡¯re spending too much.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t do anything if I keep using four-meiyal?¡± she asked, walking over to get a proper talk. The frills on her swimsuit swam in the air, ignoring the strong winds. They looked magnificent. She looked magnificent. Frein looked over and saw Xiv stealing glances. He could only sigh. How do I help my Bro out? ¡°It does something,¡± he answered finally, not wanting to make an awkward situation. ¡°It makes emphasizing the Art to the greatest degree a lot easier, but then you¡¯re limited by that.¡± Suddenly, he was reminded of what the Mercurial Liquid could actually do for Frill. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right! You can use second-level Siffera!¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Nidai,¡± Katherine added before turning to Frill. ¡°Have you practiced it?¡± The Aria shook her head slowly. ¡°Then I advise against using it. It¡¯ll be too much information to handle while you¡¯re hurtling down the sea. A highly emphasized Siffera should do fine.¡± And then it clicked for Frein. ¡°Parachutes! We don¡¯t have parachutes!¡± He yelled as if everyone else understood him. Only Katherine did. ¡°Wait! We don¡¯t need it¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s he talking about?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°It¡¯s something they use on Earth to slow down their fall,¡± Katherine quickly explained before turning her attention back to him. ¡°Normally if you jump from here, you¡¯ll hit the water like it¡¯s solid concrete, but you should know by now, Frein, that with a really strong Siffera, something like that wouldn¡¯t bother you at all.¡± ¡°Really? Are you sure?¡± Frein recalled all the times he was slammed against anything solid and knew it to be true. It was like slowly dipping in sand. But even while his memory convinced him, his mental faculties suggested otherwise. Katherine laughed at him. ¡°Seriously, this is where you hesitate? Not the kraken, or the Deep Tentacles, or the sea serpents?¡± She pondered for a little while. Frein knew exactly where her mind was going. It was the exact same thing that made him hesitate in the first place. ¡°I guess there was the case with Venry, huh¡­¡± she started. ¡°What about him?¡± Kristel asked. Frein noticed how quick she was to react, but decided not to mention anything. Katherine recognized and followed his decision through just a simple eye contact. ¡°Based on the things we saw near Rindea Mountain, we assumed he fell and got hurt pretty badly,¡± Katherine explained. ¡°We also assumed he survived.¡± ¡°Bloody and hurt, but he survived,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°Sure. And I¡¯m just going to jump down from who knows how high, and assume my Siffera can handle it better than falling from a mountain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking like a wuss,¡± Kristel said. ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± Katherine didn¡¯t bother hiding a smirk. ¡°She¡¯s right, you know? Look, that was during the war. We don¡¯t even know how stressed Venry¡¯s condition was and what circumstances he had to face when he fell off the mountain. And besides, not a jab at the guy, but we¡¯re all in a better situation and we¡¯re a lot stronger than he is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a jump, Frein,¡± Frill said. ¡°Yeah, Bro. What are you scared of?¡± Xiv followed. Frein latched on it like a hungry yuma. ¡°Oh, you know I won¡¯t back down from an obvious challenge.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Katherine clapped her hands. ¡°Now emphasize that Siffera so I can check if there¡¯s anything wrong with you before you jump. Safety first and all that. You too, Xiv. Don your Armor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much for a jump, Sis,¡± Xiv said confidently. ¡°I can just Reinforce my body like your Siffera. I¡¯ll use the Armor for emergencies. I don¡¯t think I can maintain it for very long still, anyway.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Go Reinforce then, please.¡± The Vyndivalian did as instructed. Frein observed him with Mesiffera, and he guessed Katherine did as well. Reinforcement was indeed a lot different compared to Meiyal Arts. Xiv¡¯s meiyal were applied throughout his body directly, without any sort of medium or pattern. It was as if he was the pattern itself. The effect was straightforward as well, strictly physical, unlike the weird interpretations that Siffera was capable of. Katherine nodded. ¡°Looks good. That should keep you sturdy enough for the plunge.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Xiv said. Frein found it odd. ¡°Not your first time crashing on something like this?¡± ¡°You get thrown around a lot in the Nightmare Lands, Bro.¡± Frein quickly recalled all the Nightmares he had fought and couldn¡¯t help but agree. ¡°Yeah, tell me about it.¡± Katherine pressed a light jab at his chest. ¡°Your turn.¡± The moment Frein tapped eight-meiyal to Draw his Siffera, he immediately knew it was at the peak of the Art¡¯s current level. Elizzel didn¡¯t even need to do anything. It felt like a total waste, like too much power on an engine that couldn¡¯t switch higher. But at the same time, it was overwhelming. Frein managed to achieve its highest performance without the need to emphasize the Art. It was like reaching top speed the moment he pressed on the gas pedal. The sudden output made the Art surge out of his control, causing it to enhance his aspects and strengths randomly for a few seconds before he managed to retake a firm grip. Everyone around him had taken a step back. Even some people from other platforms, despite their distance, felt the effects of his Art, causing them to turn his way out of curiosity. But all of that paled to the chill that Frein felt running up his spine. He turned quickly towards his right. Towards east. Something was staring at him. Something in the clouds. It was far away, terribly far so that he couldn¡¯t possibly see it. If they were travelling west outside of Irista Nation territory, this chilly, incessant presence was on the complete other side. Despite this impossible distance, he could feel it staring at him, deciding on something he couldn¡¯t fathom. And then it was gone. ¡°Hey!¡± Katherine called out. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Frein assessed himself. His Siffera was at the peak of its level, and was now surprisingly stable. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m okay,¡± he said. ¡°First time using eight-meiyal.¡± ¡°Eight?¡± Kristel, Frill, and Xiv exclaimed at the same time. Before Frein could explain, another chime echoed from the invisible speakers of the Atlas Sid. Rather than Maffelyne¡¯s voice, it was Admiral Garm who spoke instead. ¡°Jumpers, to your stations. Baits have been set. Initiate jump in one minute.¡± ¡°Looks like it¡¯s another story for another time,¡± Frein said. ¡°Fine,¡± the Princess conceded. ¡°If we get a huge haul, the entire city will probably hold a feast. You can tell your stories, then.¡± They all returned to their stations, finalizing their preparations for the jump. Admiral Garm announced the timer at a ten-second interval. Frein could feel his heart pump and his adrenaline rushing through his veins, but he couldn¡¯t fully dedicate his attention to it. He could feel Elizzel sharing the same sentiment. She had never taken her eyes off the eastern direction. ¡°Whatever that was,¡± she began, ¡°it¡¯s not something we can handle.¡±
Chapter 140: Sense Of Freedom Sense Of Freedom
¡°It¡¯s really interesting why they called it the Jump. I mean, it¡¯s so obvious in hindsight. I just thought it couldn¡¯t possibly be that, you know?¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
¡°Ten¡­nine¡­eight¡­¡± The countdown helped Frein prepare himself and set aside any other distractions. Whatever that monstrous presence was far to the east had long since decided to ignore him. At least, that was his assumption. The fact that the nagging sensation of being stared at was gone left him no choice but set the issue aside. ¡°Five¡­four¡­¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Katherine said, holding out a hand. Frein and everyone else in the group stared back at her. ¡°Something feels odd.¡± Frein expected her to turn east, afraid that she had also attracted that monster¡¯s attention. She had nine-meiyal after all. But when she looked the other way, he felt relieved. Only for a moment. It quickly dawned on him that if a Lady of the Void acted cautious about something, he was in no position to relax regardless of how less of a threat it was compared to the other one. He turned west and saw some people already jumping off the platform. Only then did the countdown finished registering for him. That didn¡¯t matter for now. What mattered was that he couldn¡¯t find anything out of the ordinary. At least, not anything that would cause alarm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked. ¡°Should we call off the Jump?¡± Kristel asked, unwavering in her trust with the Lady. ¡°We can send the airships now and get them back.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Katherine said, walking ahead of everyone to get a closer look. Wherever it was, Frein didn¡¯t think a few steps would¡¯ve changed anything. ¡°What do we do, then?¡± Frill asked this time. ¡°We can take care of this,¡± the Lady replied. ¡°Look at the clouds.¡± Frein scanned the clouds, the ones up close, the ones above and below them, and the ones far away. When his eyes turned to look at the clouds farther away, he blinked twice before squinting. The clouds themselves looked different. Still white, still fluffy, but they looked stiff at the same time, like branches of a huge tree made out of white cotton balls. Only, this tree was upside down and floating in the sky with no roots to speak of. ¡°That¡¯s a cloudbark!¡± Kristel exclaimed. ¡°Why is there a cloudbark here?¡± ¡°That looks amazing!¡± Frein matched the Princess¡¯s enthusiasm. He just didn¡¯t expect to receive weird looks because of it. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I need to keep reminding myself that you¡¯re not from this planet, Bro,¡± Xiv said. ¡°Won¡¯t get used to that anytime soon.¡± ¡°So that cloudbark¡¯s a bad thing then, is it?¡± ¡°Most of the time,¡± Kristel said. ¡°We don¡¯t often see cloudbarks in this region, though. The volcanic area nearby should¡¯ve swayed it away.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s so bad about it? Wait, are you saying a cloudbark can move?¡± Frein realized how weird his question was. It was still a cloud after all. Or at least, it looked like one. When no one laughed at his question, he realized he could¡¯ve been on to something. ¡°Look closer,¡± Katherine said. ¡°On the branches.¡± She was observing the people who had already jumped. ¡°Looks like they haven¡¯t noticed anything.¡± Frein observed the white branches of the inverted, floating tree. It was almost camouflaged by the clouds and the distance, but he spotted something move. Judging by how far they were from the cloudbark, he surmised that the wing slipping out of the cloud was massive. And when it poked its beak, followed by a lot more, he started to see the entirety of the inverted tree. He had to look up to see the length of the bark arcing over them. ¡°Birds,¡± he said. ¡°Gigantic birds.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot,¡± Frill commented. She didn¡¯t seem alarmed, however. ¡°Where you see a cloudbark, you can guarantee Cloud-Nesting Rocs,¡± Katherine explained. ¡°Our ancestors used to keep some of them as guardians against dragons, since they come in flocks. I¡¯m pretty sure we still have a cloudbark nest in the Order, but this isn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°Are they hostile?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Kristel answered. ¡°They¡¯re man-eating birds, Bro,¡± Xiv followed. ¡°Cloud-Nesting Rocs see us as nothing but food,¡± Katherine continued explaining. ¡°They mainly hunt sea serpents or krakens, but it¡¯s a mutual predation. Giant things eating other giants, you know how it is. Since we look so tiny, they think we¡¯re free snacks.¡± ¡°We should warn the other Jumpers,¡± Kristel said, preparing a red flare Meiyal Art. ¡°If we issue a retreat now, we can probably find another jumping spot.¡± ¡°Have you had roc meat, Kristel?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°They¡¯re heavenly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of them, Kat. I don¡¯t think we can fight all of them.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to deal with all of them. Look, they¡¯re hesitating. I think they see the Atlas Sid as a rival cloudbark. They¡¯re waiting for our Jumpers to get busy with the sea serpents so they can prepare an ambush.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°If we hunt they¡¯re first wave, we can force them to retreat,¡± Frein concluded for Katherine. But he couldn¡¯t put all his trust behind this way of thinking. ¡°You think they¡¯ll do that?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not exactly intelligent creatures, Frein. Their ambush strategies are all driven by instinct, and the survival of the flock matters to them the most. They¡¯ll probably send their oldest and most dispensable Rocs first, which means it¡¯ll be a challenge. But if we can get rid of them without sustaining any casualties on our side, they won¡¯t have any choice but to see us as the better predators. They¡¯ll fly their cloudbark nest out of here.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t even fight them in the air,¡± Kristel complained. ¡°You three can jump and get us some serpents,¡± Frein started. ¡°Kat and I can handle the rocs.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Kristel and Katherine asked at the same time. The Lady of the Void continued, ¡°You can¡¯t even fly.¡± ¡°Oh, let me worry about that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too dangerous for Enza as well.¡± ¡°Enza¡¯s task doesn¡¯t change. Elli and I can do something about it.¡± Katherine stared at him intensely. He could see the words of caution forming in her head, but she ultimately decided to keep them. ¡°Alright, I trust you,¡± she said before giving Kristel and her group the signal. ¡°When we jump, I¡¯ll Open my core and use I, Alone, Am the Center. It¡¯ll let me keep track of all of you and monitor your conditions. It¡¯ll also help you feel if you¡¯re still within my reach. Don¡¯t stray too far, understand?¡± ¡°Just how far exactly, Sis?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°Not that I need the protection, but just in case.¡± ¡°I can push my detection in an eight-kilometer radius. The terrain doesn¡¯t matter as long as nothing¡¯s blocking my influence. If that¡¯s the case, you¡¯ll feel it right away. I¡¯ll position myself in the middle of the sea and the sky, but I¡¯ll be constantly moving about, so make sure you pay attention. That should still give you a large area to cover. Once the chaos starts, I might start to miss things. So in case of emergencies, just push your meiyal output to the limit. I¡¯ll come find you. Understand that if Frein comes into danger, I¡¯ll prioritize him before any of you, alright?¡± ¡°What if something there prevents them¡ªus¡ªfrom using meiyal?¡± Frein asked. He didn¡¯t like how Katherine had to point him out specifically, but he kept his words to himself. ¡°That one, I¡¯ll know right away.¡± The fact that Katherine didn¡¯t outright dispute the possibility made Frein a little anxious. Losing the ability to use Meiyal Arts while plummeting to the ocean surface at terminal velocity wasn¡¯t something he wanted to imagine. ¡°Alright, we should move or we¡¯ll lose out on our catch!¡± Kristel commanded, prompting everyone to take their positions. Frein, however, got confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°We¡¯re not doing this for free, Frein,¡± Frill replied, finishing her warm-up stretches. ¡°We sell the best ones we can catch, then the rest we serve for the feast tonight.¡± ¡°Everyone ready?¡± Katherine cued and received four stern confirmations. ¡°Three, two, one, jump!¡±
The feeling of falling had taken all of Frein¡¯s thoughts and worries away. The jump was an instance of commitment, the airtime was a moment of regret, and the fall was the acceptance of consequences. In these aspects, he felt Elizzel resonating with them deeply. Despite his willingness to participate, the decision to leave the safety of the Atlas Sid rested ultimately in his hands. Frein had eagerly discarded it, using his freedom to make his own decision, and now he faced the consequence. The thrill of falling through the skies. He eagerly transferred every second of the experience through the Tether. Elizzel cherished it, enjoying the sensation of freefalling. Frein opened his arms and legs wide, and his eyes closed, letting his body glide through the air and allowing himself to immerse in the entire experience. He was tempted to remove his Siffera just to feel how it would be if he had been just an ordinary human from Earth. This time, he chose not to risk it. It was an absurd feeling. An absolute sense of freedom, to reach out far and wide and touch nothing but air. Exhilarating. The sound of the wind whizzing past his ears, grazing on his skin, flapping what little clothes he had, whipping on his hair. It was everything he ever imagined and more. Frein couldn¡¯t help but give voice to the excitement, yelling at the top of his lungs. His Siffera helped him hear the faint reciprocation from Xiv, followed by Frill and Kristel. He expected Katherine to follow last, but when he didn¡¯t hear her voice, he opened his eyes to look around. Everywhere he looked, he couldn¡¯t find her, so he twisted his body to turn around. It didn¡¯t take a lot of effort like he anticipated. With his sense of balance and direction enhanced by Siffera, he managed to guide his momentum just enough so he could turn upright. A pair of hands met his face and a smiling Katherine filled his view. Her cap was amazingly intact despite all logic, but her hair furiously flapped about behind her. Even the small straps of cloth lingering on her swimsuit dangerously flailed about, but the two of them ignored all of those. Their attention was stuck on each other. The adrenaline, the sense of danger and freedom, they all accumulated to one conclusion. It was so direct and powerful that it convinced Elizzel to manifest. They were the last batch to jump after all, and no one was around to see her. Frein immediately took hold of the faunel, making sure her weightlessness didn¡¯t affect her fall. Katherine was quick to grab her as well. Together, they held hands and formed a circle, creating a larger surface area to increase their drag. Frein looked down. It had been only a few seconds, but from what he could see, they still had a long way to go. He had only read in some random article that freefalling messed with one¡¯s depth perception. The altitude and curve of the planet would be disorienting to an inexperienced skydiver. It was the reason they kept altimeters with them rather than eyeballing their fall. He quickly threw away those analytical thoughts and looked at the two in front of him. He etched their loving smiles in his Mind Palace, utilizing the largest canvas he could afford. Elizzel felt what he was doing and thoughts of her affection filled the Tether. She couldn¡¯t restrain herself. With a strong pull, she moved closer to Frein and pecked him on the cheek. Before he could even react, the faunel moved to Katherine next and did the same. ¡°Thank you!¡± she yelled before returning to the Mind Palace. Frein and Katherine stared at each other, both of them holding their cheeks. Then Katherine smiled. Then she laughed. Frein followed quickly, pulling her close in a spiraling embrace as they continued to fall. ¡°I love you!¡± he declared to the heavens. ¡°I love you too!¡± Katherine declared the same. Their kiss made their fall seem like slow-motion. Frein felt like it lasted forever. And when they parted lips, both of them knew that their time enjoying the dive had come to an end. Frein held out a hand and Enza came into view, catching him with such precision that arresting his momentum didn¡¯t hurt either of them at all. Katherine, at the same time, slowed down using Rivasia. Now suspended in the air, both of them looked up towards the cloudbark to find the first of the Cloud-Nesting Rocs emerging from the safety of their cloudy lair. Massive avian beasts, sporting wings as white as clouds, filled with an abundance of meiyal. One by one, they folded those wings and began their descent. Birds of prey through and through. ¡°Enza, I need you to maintain your Nature¡¯s Favor, but make sure to always keep your presence known to me. I need to know where you are right away in case I need to return to you.¡± ¡°What are you planning?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Frein smiled and Displayed his Exhibit.
Chapter 141: On-Field Testing
On-Field Testing Manifesting the Blood Moon Fulgurblade was a lot smoother than either Frein or Elizzel had anticipated. They could both feel the Emerald Guidance doing work. It was an odd manifestation. For one thing, Frein didn¡¯t need to Draw the Fulgurblade. The weapon itself was not a Meiyal Art. Displaying his Exhibit caused the blade to manifest, as though it was part of the circular Display on his back. While the material¡¯s appearance in reality emitted ripples in space through sheer meiyal pressure, it still remained perfectly under control. Frein felt the sword¡¯s eagerness to be used, to be drawn free from the shackles of the Shinemoon Scabbard, And while the scabbard itself enjoyed keeping the Fulgurblade¡¯s power in check, it was also paying close attention to him and his commands. It was like both materials were somehow alive. The two had known each other for a long time, originating from Rindea herself. It was the same for the Blood-Ribbon Tassel, an addition accepted by the two. It was simply happy to be around, cruising on the fact that it could exist with the help of Frein and Elizzel¡¯s Tether. Katherine hovered near him, using her Rivasia to remain afloat. She observed the weapon. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should pull that out with Enza nearby,¡± she said. ¡°Unless you can make sure you can control it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, but don¡¯t worry,¡± Frein assured. ¡°I¡¯ll draw the sword when it¡¯s safe.¡± He nodded over towards the rocs. The cloudbark vanished behind the swarm of giant birds. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that these creatures wanted him and everyone else who jumped off Atlas Sid for breakfast, he would¡¯ve relished the view. Instead, he had to focus on the amount of beaks aimed towards him and away from him. Almost none of the rocs wanted him or Katherine. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Frein asked before he looked. It was difficult to turn away from massive, murderous birds of prey after all, especially since they blended so well with the clouds and losing sight of one could be a death sentence. But as soon as he pried his eyes off them, the answers quickly hit him. The sea was a battlefield. Arrays of Meiyal Arts fired off in a systemized rhythm from one end of the field, bouncing off a barrier on the other. Frein saw massive tentacles behind the force field, whipping enormous tidal waves back at the Jumpers. They created their own barriers in response before the colossal tsunami engulfed them. Frein didn¡¯t have time to observe further. The rocs were closing in, and now some of them have noticed him and Katherine. ¡°We can¡¯t let them through, Frein,¡± Katherine said. He stood on top of Enza¡¯s saddle, using Siffera to keep his balance. With a thought, he reached out with his left hand and commanded the Blood Moon Fulgurblade to spin to his palm, rather than appearing in it. He still couldn¡¯t get over the giddy feeling of controlling the blade like it was a part of himself. ¡°Time to get to work,¡± he said, turning to Katherine. ¡°Kick.¡± With that simple word, Frein tossed the Fulgurblade to the Lady. And without question, she spun, catching the sword¡¯s hilt with her foot. She flexed her Siffera in an instant and shot the sword with her spinning kick, aimed at the closest Cloud-Nester Roc. The sword instantly disappeared as it shot faster than a bullet, leaving behind a sonic boom. Frein only had a second to wink at Katherine before he pulled on the Blood-Ribbon Tassel. With an insignificant cost of meiyal, he instantly appeared right next to the Fulgurblade. Sword Step. It was the most logical name Frein and Elizzel could come up with. Like taking a step, either of them could travel instantly to the sword or to each other. With the combination of the Shinemoon Scabbard and the Blood-Ribbon Tassel, he could also order the sword or the faunel to appear anywhere within a certain range of him. Ribbon Blink, he named it, alluding to the Ribbon¡¯s ability and restriction. To the untrained eye, these Meiyal Arts seemed to bypass an ironclad rule of the discipline, that the Art should always originate from the practitioner. However, it was the scabbard¡¯s ability to send a small portion of his Milled meiyal in a blink of an eye combined with the Ribbon taking advantage of the Tether that made both Arts possible. A simple Mesiffera could easily let anyone see whenever he used Ribbon Blink. These two Meiyal Arts were both what Elizzel categorized as Special Style Meiyal Arts, akin to Kristel¡¯s Judgement, or Flimeth¡¯s Grand Fissure, or Katherine¡¯s First Spark. Unlike how Mesiffera named itself after Frein pieced the parts together, he was able to choose the name for his own Stylized Meiyal Arts. It was Destiny who gave him the name for Mesiffera, now that he thought about it. He was sure of it. But now was not the time to see if he was correct or not. Frein caught the sword and spun above the roc in front of him. It reacted a second later, surprised to find something foreign on its head. With an ear-shattering caw, negated by the power of Siffera, the giant bird began to spread its wings in an attempt to maneuver an attack. The Visitor was a hundred times quicker. ¡°Remember, you have to invoke the Art,¡± Elizzel¡¯s reminder echoed through the Tether. ¡°Giving it voice will help you Draw the Art easier. The Emerald Guidance will handle the rest.¡± Frein didn¡¯t have time to argue with the logistics of it. Even during his training days, he had been constantly reminded to invoke Siffera until he had mastered it. Within a single instant, Frein held Nakiri¡¯s hilt with his dominant hand, invested eight-meiyal through the blade, and uttered the invocation.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Song of Aya: Meteoric Lightning!¡± Frein drew the blade and attacked in a single masterstroke. The dark edge of the Fulgurblade sparked with black, electric meiyal. It ignited a lightning slash large enough to decapitate the roc. The lightning was the pure color of darkness and the flash of light that followed it seemed to swallow normal light as a whole. For a blink, there was nothing. Thunder clapped a second after, causing a massive ripple of meiyal as his influence bathed his surroundings with sizzling heat and electricity. Within the same instance, Frein had returned the Fulgurblade to within the Shinemoon Scabbard. The extravagant eruption of meiyal caused multiple rocs to turn his way, diving towards him as he began to fall. Katherine¡¯s voice echoed with the strength of nine-meiyal a second later. He barely managed to turn her way. ¡°Sandai-Katastro-Diferenfra!¡± The Lady of the Void swung her own blade and painted the skies with brilliant, flaming sword slashes, instantly decimating a large portion of Frein¡¯s assailants. For a moment, it looked like the sun had exploded in front of him. He was left at awe towards the burning skies, towards the destruction before him, towards the singular fact that Katherine¡¯s capability for annihilation was still out of his reach. True, he might¡¯ve supplied eight of the nine-meiyal she was currently using, but that simply proved how powerful she really was. To control a tremendous combination of meiyal so effortlessly made Frein wished he could see what she was like during the peak of her power. ¡°No time to get jealous, Frein,¡± Elizzel said, pulling him back to reality and making him aware of his continued fall. He quickly Ribbon Blinked the sword to a roc below him and Sword Stepped an instant later. Rather than the quick combination of Meiyal Arts, it was the aiming that was more difficult than he imagined. The target moved faster than he anticipated, causing him to miss. He quickly compensated for the next Blink and Step combo, and appeared exactly in front of the giant bird. This one was more alert, immediately spinning out of the way and lashing out with its tail. Frein had a moment to react, raising both hands to defend just in time before impact. The collision pushed him far away, throwing him next to another roc. He dispatched it quickly with Meteoric Lightning. Siffera quickly helped him regain balance and orientation, allowing him to keep his eyes on the main target. It was circling around, which gave Frein some perspective. This particular roc was far larger than the rest. An elder, or the leader of the flock, Frein guessed. Searing pain made him look at his arms. They were bleeding slightly, as if a knife had sliced through the length of his forearm. Frein observed the elder roc once again, paying attention to its tail. It glinted slightly, reflecting the lime rays of the sun. They were as sharp as blades. The Cloud-Nesting Roc closed in and flipped rapidly forwards, somersaulting in midair. It caught Frein by surprise, to see a bird¡ªa giant one at that¡ªcurl like an armadillo as a way to constantly attack with its bladed tail. He didn¡¯t have the time to question the logistics behind it. Defense was of paramount priority. The Fulgurblade Ribbon Blinked towards his hand, just in time for him to draw it. The roc slammed into the black blade, causing a meiyal explosion that threw Frein closer to the sea. He flipped upright, preparing his legs to land on Enza who caught him just in time. Frein felt a little awkward standing on her invisible saddle. It made him look like stepping on air. The thought quickly reversed the awkwardness into a sense of confidence. He looked up and met the gigantic roc eye-to-eye. It began to transform in front of him. The tips of its feathers shimmered under the sun, becoming blades like its tail. With a flap, a bunch of its down scattered around him before transforming into blades as well, swirling around the roc like a twister of sharpness. It appeared like a cocoon, meiyal surging from within it as it continued to transform. All manner of instincts left Frein. To take advantage of the situation, to attack the creature while it was completely defenseless¡ªfor a tornado of blades surely was just for show¡ªwas something that had crossed his mind and instantly discarded. His gladiatorial mannerisms took over. The desire to entertain despite the lack of audience. Even if the fate of the world was at stake, Frein would never do something so underhanded as to make a cheap shot against a formidable foe. Instead, he took the time to find Katherine. All around him, flaming sword slashes the size of buildings appeared one after the other, and the amount of falling rocs increased. He noticed the more experienced ones retaliating against the Lady, but she fended them off with a series of Meiyal Arts. He really did not need to worry about her. And she, on the other hand, avoided stepping in between him and the Cloud-Nesting Roc leader. With another ear-shattering screech, the swirling blades around the roc leader dispersed and coalesced into nine larger swords. It formed a circle, keeping the evolved form of the creature at their center. ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t a Nightmare?¡± Frein asked aloud despite directing the question to Elizzel. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± the faunel replied. ¡°This is a Cloud-Nest Sovereign. Cloud-Nesting Rocs thrive in the Nightmare, but they could instinctively filter its influence, providing themselves with an abundance of meiyal. They¡¯re still beasts through and through, strong enough to battle Nightmares themselves.¡± Nine wings spread out of the quadrupedal creature. It no longer looked like a roc, no longer like a giant bird. It looked something else entirely, something familiar to Frein. ¡°It¡¯s a griffin,¡± he said. But some of its features weren¡¯t the same as the ones he pictured in his imagination. The Cloud-Nest Sovereign retained its avian head, replacing its neck down with the features of a wyrm. Two pairs of its wings were of the gigantic roc, while the middle pair was the scaly, webbed wings of a dragon. Scales dominated its body, leaving few areas filled with feathers, and some portions even sported fur. It gave Frein the feel of chaos a Nightmare would have. But if Elizzel was sure, maybe it would be possible to settle this skirmish other than through violence. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, calling out to the Cloud-Nest Sovereign. ¡°Do you understand me?¡± It responded by commanding the nine floating blades around it to attack him. He Blinked and Stepped as far from Enza as possible, keeping the yuma out of harm¡¯s way. Then he met the giant swords with a series of Meteoric Lightning, destroying them at the same time. The Sovereign flapped its wings hard, creating more down-blades. It rapidly made another nine, but this time, its dragon wings enveloped them with flames. ¡°They¡¯re not meiyal-attuned creatures, Frein,¡± Elizzel informed him. ¡°They¡¯re mastery over meiyal is purely based on instinct. Meiyal-attuned creatures are more sentient, capable of expressing themselves through a variety of ways, able to entertain themselves, and most of all, they can understand and bond with people. ¡°There can be some outliers for creatures who constantly thrive in meiyal heavy environments like the Nightmare Lands, but they¡¯re far and few between. This Sovereign surely, isn¡¯t one of them.¡± Frein held the Blood Moon Fulgurblade in front of him and drew the sword slowly. He continuously invested eight-meiyal on the blade until he was able to completely draw the full length of the sword. Black lightning surged from the massive cleaver which was far taller than he was. Now that he had freed the Fulgurblade completely, Frein was now able to keep the Shinemoon Scabbard floating in the air underneath his feet. He was essentially air-surfing, flying with the help of the meiyal-charged material. He swung the Fulgurblade in a flourish, creating an arc of black electricity, and prepared to meet the Sovereign head on. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said to Elizzel. ¡°I just wanted to make sure I¡¯m not eating someone I can talk to.¡± Just then, another surge of meiyal exploded in a torrent from underneath the sea.
Chapter 142: The Second Battlefield
The Second Battlefield ¡±What in Brymeia¡¯s name is going on!¡± ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Deep Nightmare!¡± ¡°Which Nightmare?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! That doesn¡¯t matter!¡± ¡°Everyone, to your groups! Your group leaders will protect you from the influence!¡± ¡°Someone tell Atlas Sid!¡± ¡°The M.O.B.I.L.E.s aren¡¯t working!¡± ¡°Brymeia help us!¡± Kristel was left speechless amidst the chaos. She stood, stunned, on the wobbly ocean. Ascensia produced an aura of wind around her, allowing her to be light and buoyant enough to not sink. At first, the Jump had been going well. Everything had been proceeding as expected. The krakens had retaliated, but the Jumpers had no issue progressing without any casualties. The harvest had gone on smoothly. In fact, because of how well Katherine and Frein had been handling the situation with the Cloud-Nesting Rocs, some Jumpers had taken the time to appreciate the destruction in the skies. That was probably their first mistake. While the Princess doubted any of these trained individuals would let their guards down so casually, it didn¡¯t really matter now. Survival first; blame later. Kristel didn¡¯t know its name, but it surely wasn¡¯t Tentacles Of The Deep. It wasn¡¯t a Nightmare kraken after all. And as always, Frein was right. It was a whale. One after another, the krakens and sea serpents that they were hunting were devoured in front of them by a gigantic whale with a disturbing face. For while it sported the giant bowhead of common whales, its teeth were eerily that of a human. Molars, rather than fangs or canines, gave this monstrous oddity a permanent, bloody smile as it chewed openly on prey. Thankfully, none of them were the Jumpers. At least, that was one good thing. This Deep Nightmare was too busy feeding on the poor sea creatures, but the effects of its mere presence was taking a toll on the group. The unnecessary chaos was a glaring evidence of it. While most of the Jumpers were training for the Nightmare Lands, none of them¡ªnot even Kristel¡ªexpected to meet a Deep Nightmare this close to Irista Nation territory. The continued absence of the Western Sanctum had given these cursed creatures uncontested reign over the Great Sea Dividyr. For Kristel, the objective became clear. Rather than retreat, eradicating this Deep Nightmare was their path to victory. Not only would that be a huge boon for Irista Nation, it would also remove the stigma that Iristans were helpless against Nightmares in general. Easier said than done. The sudden meiyal pressure slammed on everyone. It was too akin to Frein¡¯s whenever he unleashed his four-meiyal Siffera. This¡ªalong with the fact that the Visitor had literally eaten away the Nightmare inside of her¡ªgave Kristel the edge to fight the influence. Not to mention she was also under Katherine¡¯s protective Void Control Technique. The rest, however, were not so lucky. Only one, if not entirely none, in each group were able to stay calm like she was. Those who had weaker fortitudes were in a state of panic. If this continued, they would soon turn to Grinding Teeth On Living Flesh, and that would be their death sentence. ¡°Rally them!¡± Evanclad called out from within her Mind Palace. ¡°How would that help them against the Nightmare?¡± Kristel asked before she even questioned Evanclad¡¯s whispers. The First Monarch was evidently observing through her whenever he wanted. He wouldn¡¯t quite meddle with her affairs too often, but whenever he did, it was usually during times of stress. ¡°Hope,¡± he replied. ¡°If they can cling on to hope, that would mitigate the effects of the Nightmare.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can¡ª¡± ¡°You can! I can help you!¡± Kristel was immediately on guard. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re the real Evanclad, and not just a Nightmare influence?¡± There was no immediate reply. The Princess prepared herself for a backlash, but none came. At the same time, Frill appeared beside her, utilizing the same Ascensia Meiyal Art. ¡°What do we do?¡± she asked, hiding the desperation in her voice. ¡°None of our Jumpers can fly back to the Atlas Sid. Some who brought their yumas along managed to retreat, but it might take a few minutes before they can reach the grand carrier and alert them.¡± They wouldn¡¯t last a few minutes. Kristel looked to the skies, past the chaos of the aerial battle, and found the grand carrier. The distance had made it far less imposing for the massive, floating landmass that it was. Which was the problem. The Atlas Sid possessed its own Sky Vision and a network hub that connected to its passengers M.O.B.I.L.E.s. But they were currently in the Nightmare Lands, causing a disruption in the network, and the people managing the Sky Vision would most likely see the battle against the rocs first and assume that things were under control. Which meant that Kristel and the other Jumpers would have to survive the Deep Nightmare until the people who retreated with their yumas reached the grand carrier and sent reinforcements. ¡°We can kill it!¡± Evanclad urged once again. ¡°Let me prove to you that I¡¯m the genuine Evanclad. You don¡¯t have to enter your Mind Palace, but you can look into it.¡± Look was an incorrect term. There was no visualization involved in the process after all. But Kristel felt it. Her Mind Palace was whole again. Not quite completed, but the main foyer and the entirety of the ground floor was now intact. She could feel two presences¡ªEvanclad and Norazzel¡ªinside, hard at work in their mission to fully repair an entire palace on their own.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. What this truly meant for the Princess was more significant than simply having a fully functioning Mind Palace to watch Recollections, or arrange memories, or gain proper access to her Exhibit. Her Mind Palace was unique. She understood this on the day Frein took away the Nightmares inside her broken Dream Realm. This palace did not form on its own, not through the regular means by which a Meiyal Arts practitioner cultivated their Dream Realm. The enlightenment came naturally for Kristel, almost instinctively, unlike the others who had to go through rigorous training and self-reflection to discover this potential for elevated power. Yes. It might¡¯ve been because Kristel had spent too much time with people like Katherine and Frein, but a Mind Palace wouldn¡¯t form so nonchalantly for the common practitioner. Effort was its minimum requirement. Discipline, commitment, and desire for power. To uphold self-improvement above all else. These were all a given, something common in all the practitioners who had the potential to achieve this breakthrough. Even then, only a few would manage to manifest their Dream Realm, and even fewer of those would go through the struggle of investing in the foundations of their Mind Palace.. It wasn¡¯t something most people strive for. Even within the ranks of Cross Irista, whose members were all capable Virtuosos, only Flimeth and Lor had managed to manifest their Exhibit, besides the advisers and Kristel, of course. But whether Kristel considered herself capable of manifesting her Dream Realm on her own or not didn¡¯t matter. It was Destiny that decided for her. No, it was Evanclad. The foolish First Monarch who bound his entire bloodline to Brymeia and her Destiny. ¡°Then you understand,¡± Evanclad whispered through the Mind Palace. The low rumbling of his voice was that of a soothing father. In a sense, he was. ¡°This is our responsibility, Kristel. This Mind Palace is your Destiny. But I¡¯ve changed it a little bit. I bent the rules a little. Frein mentioned your hesitation for the crown. And I suppose I¡¯ve tortured my bloodline for long enough. ¡°What you feel before you is no longer your Mind Palace. It¡¯s a meiyal-charged material, the entirety of it. And I will help you instantly integrate with it. But when you do, Destiny will recognize you once more. And those that can see themselves through Destiny will know about you as well.¡± Kristel listened well. It didn¡¯t even occur to her until now that reality had stopped. Was it Evanclad¡¯s doing? ¡°Do you understand what this means, Kristel? If you integrate with this Mind Palace, it means your enemies will know you¡¯ve reestablished yourself with Destiny. You will no longer be able to hide.¡± ¡°No longer?¡± Kristel asked aloud, but no one in this suspended reality heard her. ¡°Did you really think your father sent you to Minaveil Province just to help govern it? Remember, he¡¯s also part of my bloodline.¡± The Princess had all the time to consider the question and the implications it brought. True, the people of Minaveil Province were steadfast and capable of surviving without formal leadership. She had observed enough community efforts led by a variety of people that it seemed the position of Mayor was simply for formality. Even times of crises, like the Battle of the Vanguard, proved how capable each of them were at maintaining order. Kristel couldn¡¯t help feel like he was pulling her leg, but Evanclad did present a good point. All the more reason for her to consider what it meant to integrate with her own Mind Palace. ¡°Frein can¡¯t help you forever, Kristel,¡± Evanclad reminded him. ¡°Remove him from your equations. Remove Frill, remove Katherine, remove everyone else including me. When it comes to Destiny, you can¡¯t rely on anyone but yourself.¡± ¡°I know. I know that.¡± Kristel took the longest breath she had ever done. From the perspective of those unaware, such a decision was already set, already made for her. To not accept integration was a sure way to be devoured by whatever this Deep Nightmare was, suspended in flailing animation. But that was, in itself, a decision. Her brief time with Elizzel had taught her much about making a choice, the freedom and the consequences of it. And the time she spent with Brymeia gave her enough perspective about the complications of Destiny and the power held by those who could see it. Let alone the fact that she would be helpless against its whims. ¡°Integration will only bond you to Brymeia¡¯s Destiny,¡± Evanclad said, following along her train of thought. ¡°But to see, and even manipulate it to your will, requires more power than you can imagine.¡± ¡°Realm of the gods,¡± Kristel said. ¡°But Kristella¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s different, Kristel,¡± the First Monarch interrupted. ¡°If Destiny favors you the way it favored Kristella or Su¡¯karix, then you don¡¯t need me here at all. The fact that your Mind Palace stayed broken should be enough to tell you where you stand.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°I also can¡¯t hold this suspension much longer. What will it be, Princess?¡± Kristel breathed again. Since she was young, the burden of responsibility had always been there. She grew up knowing she would take her father¡¯s place to lead Irista Nation. These last few years were a form of escape. She had thought that maybe, her father¡¯s competition was a way for her to leave, to be able to take her own future to whatever she desired. Alas, power and responsibility had always gone hand-in-hand. But even with the decision narrowed down to the point that it seemed impossible to choose anything else, Kristel could still grasp some sense of freedom. It would be her taking on the reigns of the entire nation, to carry it over her tiny shoulders. And the consequences of getting crushed under the burden or standing tall and proud by surpassing its trials fell completely and solely into her hands. Whatever the implications might be, she knew there was one motivation behind all of it. She didn¡¯t want to be left behind. ¡°Looks like this is the mountain I have to climb,¡± she whispered to herself. With her decision made, she pulled on the entirety of her Mind Palace and integrated. Norazzel and Evanclad were quick to assist her, making the process instantaneous. Time resumed. The Deep Nightmare soared out of the ocean, casting its shadow over the Jumpers with its massive, weirdly conglomerated body. From its whale-shaped head down was a strange transition into the scaly length of a sea serpent. It had three tails the size of tidal waves and numerous sets of webbed limbs, making it look like a gigantic whale-headed centipede. It flipped in the air, attempting to slam down its three massive tails on the Jumpers nearest to it. ¡°Sandai-Kaimera!¡± Kristel swung a colossal meiyal blade the size of the serpentine whale. It struck the Deep Nightmare squarely at its jaw, but its sturdy body mitigated the damage. Though the Princess¡¯s extremely potent Siffera allowed her to follow through, pushing back the whale away from the Jumpers. ¡°Kristel!¡± Frill exclaimed, appearing beside her once again. She stammered, trying to find the right words. ¡°What¡­¡± Xiv was swimming past the Aria, carrying injured Jumpers onto improvised platforms made by barrier Meiyal Arts. He was also stunned by the powerful display, but he managed to say his question with more clarity. ¡°What¡¯s happening to you?¡± Only then did Kristel feel the absurd surge of meiyal flowing through her. Brymeia herself was feeding her with meiyal, as if she was Gathering at twice Katherine¡¯s rate. Her Mill was working overdrive, even with Evanclad helping her. ¡°It¡¯s just two-meiyal,¡± the First Monarch added. ¡°But this has every bit of Brymeia¡¯s favor behind it. Now your Meiyal Arts is the same as your ancestors.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kristel asked telepathically. Evanclad hummed inquisitively. ¡°Well, to give you an idea. What would you do if no matter how much meiyal you Gathered, or how many Arts you Drew, you would never reach Art Fatigue?¡± The Princess struggled at that. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± The First Monarch sighed. ¡°At least we know our first hurdle.¡± From the way he spoke, Kristel thought he wasn¡¯t talking about the Deep Nightmare. ¡°It¡¯s not the Deep Nightmare, Kristel,¡± he said simply. ¡°Right, we should take care of the people first.¡± The Princess turned to Frill. ¡°We could use some singing. Gather those who can fight, those who can¡¯t should stay behind. We can survive this.¡± She could feel Evanclad shaking his head. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say, my dear Princess, is that you will never reach Art fatigue. Go all out.¡±
Chapter 143: Restraint
Restraint ¡±Enza, go help with the rescue. Don¡¯t forget to show yourself.¡± Frein stood at his floating Shinemoon Scabbard. Floating might not be the right term now that he thought about it. The word gave the impression of movement, however slow. Even the word hover meant the object bobbed slightly up or down. The meiyal-charged material was spatially affixed in place, uninfluenced by any external factors, be they wind or other forces. Sturdy as a floor, or ground. ¡°Roger that,¡± Enza replied, appearing as she dove down to the battlefield over the Great Sea Dividyr. While they were closer to Atlas Sid compared to the others fighting at sea, Frein didn¡¯t exactly have the time nor the leisure to personally make his reports, nor would he risk his yuma to do it on her own amongst the giant rocs still attempting to break past Katherine. Sending her to assist the people below was the safer, more practical option. Until, of course, Katherine showed up to tell him why Kristel¡¯s group was having trouble in the first place. ¡°It¡¯s a Deep Nightmare,¡± she said while she briefly appeared beside him, sending a wave of her complex Sandai-Katastro-Diferenfra before flying away again. It invoked a feeling of apprehension in Frein, almost forcing him to call Enza back. But he stopped himself, believing that the yuma would be capable enough to make her own decisions. Instead, he focused on Katherine¡¯s Meiyal Art. There was nothing artistic about the Art¡¯s name. In fact, it wasn¡¯t even a true combination of Arts, like how Mesiffera was a combination of an observation Meiyal Art and Siffera. The Lady of the Void was simply unleashing a multitude of devastating, high-level Arts simultaneously. ¡°Are you sure? I don¡¯t feel its influence,¡± Frein shouted as he unleashed a Meteoric Lightning towards the Cloud-Nesting Roc leader. It responded by combining its hovering blades in front of it as defensive shields. The clash of meiyal reverberated throughout the skies. ¡°What Deep Nightmare is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a Da¡¯bloop,¡± Katherine yelled back. ¡°Its influence travels specifically on water. We¡¯re not in its range at all.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Frein confirmed, unable to believe his Siffera-enhanced hearing. Maybe something went wrong. How could a Deep Nightmare possess such a ridiculous name? Who, in this literally godforsaken world, came up with such a name? ¡°We¡¯re safe up here, Frein.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pretend like you don¡¯t understand, Kat! Why would someone name a Deep Nightmare Da¡¯bloop?¡± he asked as soon as he Ribbon Blinked and Sword Stepped away from the roc leader¡¯s bladed retaliation. ¡°No idea,¡± Katherine replied. She took a lungful of air and unleashed another wave of massive sword slashes, which erupted in flames as soon as they made contact with the rocs. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the smile. Whoever named it had a weird sense of humor.¡± The smile? That only piqued Frein¡¯s curiosity by tenfold. He wanted to take a look at the Deep Nightmare and find out what it looked like, or understand whether it was Abyssal or Chaotic in nature. But most importantly, he wanted to know why someone would give it such a ridiculous name. Anything possessing a weird name like that, and still thriving under the intimidating classification of a Deep Nightmare, was interesting beyond anything else. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s so scary that they gave it a name to help fight the fear,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it looks like either, but we should take care of this one quickly so we can kill that Deep Nightmare. Whatever it is, you should eat its core.¡± ¡°Not everything¡¯s a power up, Eli,¡± Frein said. ¡°This one is.¡± He sighed. ¡°Kat, we can take care of these. You go help them out.¡± Katherine agreed. Her final barrage of Meiyal Arts had finally convinced most of the rocs to flee back to their cloudbark. Those stubborn enough had joined their leader. Six rocs and one leader, that was it. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a bit,¡± she said as she pushed off the air, plummeting straight to the commotion below. Before Frein could even say anything, three of the six rocs zipped through the air, their gigantic beaks aimed straight towards him. ¡°Nidai Song of Aya: Meteoric Lightning!¡± The Nidai-level Art was the culmination of Frein¡¯s hasty training. He had been proud of it¡ªand had hidden it as a trump card to impress Katherine¡ªright up until the point when the Lady of the Void had unleashed a Sandai-level Meiyal Art combo and had repeatedly colored the skies with a fiery sun. Now the Nidai-level Meteoric Lightning seemed to have lost its purpose, but definitely not its effectiveness. In one fell swoop, mixed with the blinding flash of darkness and the burning surge of electricity, the three rocs fell past Frein, smoking as they fell utterly lifeless towards the sea. He began to wonder how they would retrieve such bounties through all the chaos if these carcasses all ended up sinking into the ocean, but he didn¡¯t really have time to consider an answer. The roc leader had equipped its lesser goons¡¯ tails, wings, and beaks with its sharp, meiyal blades by showering them with its down. They cawed, trying to intimidate him, but he simply responded by flexing his Fulgurblade. It was an odd feeling, flexing the meiyal-charged material. Intuitive as it was, it still felt jarring trying to treat something external like it was his own muscle. But the blade responded with vigor, surging with black, white, and red lightning. The thunderclaps that followed silenced the mob in front of him. ¡°Back off,¡± he said quietly, relying on his Siffera to echo his voice strong enough for the rocs to hear. He made sure the Art did not resonate any of his malice in order to avoid spooking the beasts any further. ¡°You know how this ends.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. While he could not speak with the rocs, Frein still relied on their instincts. If he could prove to be infallible to their eyes, they might choose survival over hunger. Not only would that conserve a lot of his meiyal, he could also help with the Deep Nightmare sooner. The moment that followed was accompanied only by the crackles of lightning and the flapping of wings. The longer the standstill, the more Frein risked. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the mob, so he had to rely on his enhanced awareness to track any stray enemies trying to flank from his blind spots. Just then, something moved within his range. A drift, cutting through the clouds closest to him. It was obviously another roc. While it diminished his chances of convincing these predatory birds to back away, he could still make use of them as¡ªto put it bluntly¡ªpractice. He would¡¯ve preferred to test and improve his skills without stepping into life or death situations. But alas, this world wasn¡¯t as peaceful or as whole as Earth, no matter how much more fantastical and better it was, compared to it. The sneaking roc moved closer at the same moment the roc leader moved in front of its goons. With the way they were coordinating, he could tell the option to resolve this peacefully was futile. But Frein wasn¡¯t one to give up so easily. In response to the leader¡¯s movement, Frein lifted up his sword, pointing the tip at the leader and purposefully leaving his backside open. As expected, the sneaking roc took advantage of it and propelled through the air like a missile, pointing its beak directly at him. At the same time, the rocs in front of him lunged as well, intentionally delaying their attacks a breath later. And lastly, the roc leader prepared to unleash the largest concentration of bladed feathers. It was a well coordinated combination, intended to prevent Frein from recovering once he dodged the sneak attack. But these rocs missed two things. First, the roc leader held his attack in order to avoid killing its own goons. Second, while they compensated for the fact that their target might be cautious about a sneak attack, they didn¡¯t know that Frein knew exactly where it would be coming from. Frein, in one single motion, ordered his Shinemoon Scabbard to slightly drift backwards and reached out a free hand to grab the first roc by its wing. It was massive, too large for his fingers to completely curl around. But it was no different than when he had held the giant weapons of Nightmares that had tried to kill him. He yanked the wing hard in the complete opposite direction, taking advantage of the roc¡¯s momentum. The wing cracked, crunched, and snapped in a single instant. The roc cawed and retaliated, but Frein followed up by slamming it against the other two. He connected with their heads, but he was careful enough to make sure the one in his hands didn¡¯t get stabbed by their bladed beaks. The impact was enough to daze the captured roc, causing it to dangle helplessly and cry in pain. Frein silenced it by placing the Fulgurblade on top of its neck. He didn¡¯t like what he was doing, and he projected that disdain towards the roc leader. In his heart, he believed these creatures still valued their lives and their comrades. Even a dog would know if they were getting scolded. Even a snake would know when to back away. Predators, no matter how proud they might be, had a limit. And they have sacrificed enough. There would be no feast for them today¡ªno doubt they would settle for lesser bounty¡ªbut at least the flock would survive. This time, there were no more tricks. The roc leader dispelled its bladed feathers, including those attached to the other two, and reverted back to its bird form. It cawed once, and Frein understood exactly what it meant. He wasn¡¯t willing to let go of the one in his hands just yet. Not without one final test. He began to Draw. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Elizzel asked as the pattern of a closing wound was projected into reality by eight-meiyal. ¡°What if they attack you again.¡± ¡°Then I will kill them without mercy,¡± Frein replied simply, focusing on Samesia. It was much harder than he thought, mainly because of the size he was trying to heal. His Emerald Guidance worked overtime and it cost him more eight-meiyal than he estimated. Less than half of his initial reserves remained. The Art fatigue was also unexpected. It wasn¡¯t quite there yet, but the strain in his meiyal system made themselves known. Frein didn¡¯t let up. The Meiyal Art manifested completely and began to heal the roc, bathing its broken wing in yellow brilliance. The other birds cawed, unaware of his intentions, but the one in his hands cawed back, livelier than before. It took only a few seconds. Frein released the roc, and as soon as it was free, it and the rest returned to their cloudbark nest without turning back. Except for the leader. Its bladed feathers had not completely disappeared. Instead, they coalesced into an azure orb. It floated slowly in Frein¡¯s hands, and once he took hold of it, the roc leader cawed once and flew to the rest of its companions. He could¡¯ve imagined it, but it looked like it bowed slightly first before turning away. ¡°What is this?¡± Frein asked, turning the orb around his hands. He knew it was a meiyal-charged material, but not what it was called. ¡°Azure Calm,¡± Elizzel replied. ¡°That¡¯s weird.¡± He agreed. ¡°Why would a creature like that have a meiyal-charged material? And why Azure Calm? There was nothing calm about it at all.¡± ¡°Except the last moment.¡± ¡°But why would it have one?¡± ¡°I can only guess it¡¯s because of the nature of this material. Colors of Power, like Emerald Guidance, are not simple natural meiyal-charged materials. You can imagine them as representation of Brymeia bestowed upon significant parts of her world. They¡¯re difficult to find because of how much attuned to nature these materials are, so, as a result, their requirements to attain one and the reasons behind them are also a mystery.¡± ¡°So what does it do?¡± Frein asked while absorbing the material into his Mind Palace. ¡°Do we integrate right away?¡± Elizzel sighed. ¡°I know you want to integrate the same way Katherine does, but she¡¯s more experienced than you are. I can only help you make sure nothing wrong happens, but you¡¯re ultimately the one responsible for speed.¡± ¡°We can speed up our time inside the palace, right? Like when we finalized the Tether and integrated with Emerald Guidance.¡± ¡°We can, but that takes meiyal. And with a Deep Nightmare involved, every second counts.¡± Frein agreed. ¡°Fair enough.¡± He turned to observe the battlefield on the sea, figuring out what was going on before making his entrance. It was a Deep Nightmare after all. His arrival might be beneficial, but it could just as easily be the worst detriment to the battle if he entered the fray hastily. Frein could read four sources of power through his Mesiffera. One was obviously from the Deep Nightmare, but the other three were Katherine, Kristel, and Fill. He could feel the Aria¡¯s hymn Meiyal Art resonating throughout the battlefield and even reaching him despite his distance. It was invigorating and confidence-boosting. Beat per beat, he could feel his strength bursting forth. It felt like placebo, but the rhythm literally tugged at his meiyal system, that even Elizzel was brimming with power. The Princess was almost unrecognizable with the output of power she was releasing. Frein couldn¡¯t believe it. She was like a different person. Her conservative nature was gone, or at least, she was trying to ignore that side of her. She unleashed one inflamed, gigantic meiyal blade after another, throwing them like darts on the Da¡¯bloop. Katherine was playing support and defense, blocking everything the Deep Nightmare was throwing at them. It was all her. Tidal waves, body slams, and blasts of meiyal and Nightmare influence, one after the other, it was the Lady of the Void who deflected them all, saving the Jumpers numerous times. The Jumpers were doing the best they could, but it was futile, and Xiv was busy swimming around trying to get to all the injured and incapacitated. This all meant only the Princess was actually inflicting any significant damage to the Nightmare. Despite all her effort, it was taking her all to hold back the Da¡¯bloop, and the Deep Nightmare looked irritated more than anything. Or was it just the smile? Frein could barely see through all the pillars of seawater gushing out from all its flailing. Not enough. Frein jumped off his Shinemoon Scabbard, tricking it like a skateboard while he twirled in the air. He caught the hilt by the tip of his toes. With a burst of eight-meiyal Siffera, he kicked it off, shooting the scabbard straight down. It zipped through the sky, piercing through air resistance as it caused a sonic boom. Frein Sword Stepped a second later.
Chapter 144: Leviathan
Leviathan ¡±I can¡¯t deny how strong he is at this point.¡± ~Kristel Irista Kristel threw a fourth Dai-Kaimera at the Deep Nightmare. It stabbed just above the horrid creature¡¯s left eye, lodging itself deep to open a gaping wound. A fountain of black blood gushed out of the torn skin, evidence of its damage. But the Princess didn¡¯t feel like she had done anything significant, nor could she see any evidence that this whale of an oddity was anywhere close to being hurt. It was definitely the smile. No matter how many giant greatswords she threw at it, the damn monster just kept on smiling. A full, human smile, stretched too far beyond what a mere facial expression should look like. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Evanclad encouraged from within Kristel¡¯s Mind Palace. ¡°Don¡¯t let up! Wear it down!¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± the Princess asked audibly. ¡°Nothing looks effective against it at all.¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t get fooled by its smile. It¡¯s aggravated. It won¡¯t have any choice but to use its Negating Roar.¡± Urgency filled Kristel. She had experienced that roar once against Those That Fell Off A Cliff. It erased her Siffera completely, leaving her defenseless. The picture of a Negating Roar unleashed in a magnitude worthy of a Deep Nightmare fired all the alarms in her head. Best case, most of them would survive the oncoming onslaught of Nightmarish meiyal. Worst case, most of them would die right then and there, unable to withstand the pressure. It only took the Princess a heartbeat to realize there could be something far worse; some, or even most of them, turning into a Grinding Teeth On Living Flesh and killing the rest long before help could arrive. ¡°We have to get out¡ª¡± ¡°Defend,¡± Evanclad said calmly. ¡°You have help incoming.¡± Kristel really had no choice. They were in a desperate situation. It was all she could do to dash towards the frontline, hoping that her tiny frame would be enough to endure the colossal wave of meiyal coming their way. The voice came as sweet as the morning sun, and the blazing flames that followed were just as destructive. ¡°Militia Style: First Ignition!¡± Katherine plummeted like a meteor falling from the sky. Kristel had only ever seen one from the safety of her home in the High Palace during her younger years. The Lady of the Void¡¯s fiery form resurfaced that memory. She was brilliant, blinding even, dispelling the turmoil, twisters, and tidal waves that erupted from the seas. Her coming reminded everyone that the sun was still high up in the sky, disrupted only by a mere cloudbark and the multicolored lightning that clashed with it. Katherine was hope. One Kristel wished to be. She desperately coveted the Lady¡¯s position. How would it be like to hold such power? To appear so confidently, assuring everyone with her mere presence. Integrating with the First Monarch¡¯s Mind Palace seemed so insignificant now. And even as she expressed these insecurities to Evanclad, he could not deny the overwhelming power being displayed in front of him at this moment. ¡°She¡¯s at the epitome of what a Meiyal Arts practitioner could be,¡± he said, breathing as if to praise the Lady of the Void was a given and not a choice. Katherine collided with the Deep Nightmare¡¯s head foot first. The impact caused its entire body to undulate as the massive eruption of meiyal followed. And then the flames bombarded the entirety of the whale. Explosions of varying degrees erupted around the monster¡¯s face. Its roar was evidently from the pain, despite its permanently fixed smiling face. Kristel saw the whale¡¯s body bursting forth from underneath the ocean, lifting its entire length while its head was pushed down by the sheer force of Katherine¡¯s kick. Another wave of meiyal erupted from the Lady. This time it was met by the Nightmare, causing an explosion that sent everyone flying. Kristel held on, emphasizing her Siffera to its utmost degree. The epicenter of two colliding forces created a singularity of power that brought anyone unworthy to witness out of commission. The light caused colors to disappear and reappear with the wrong hue. Black and white, and then orange, purple, green, and more colors quicker than the Princess could register. The Princess could barely see anyone enduring the collision, much less anything to know what was going on. She relied on her ability to enhance her awareness with Siffera, no matter how unreliable it was still for her. Frill was the first one the Princess recognized due to her slightly more significant meiyal output compared to all the other onlookers. She was doing her best to maintain control of her hymn while rescuing anyone she could. Xiv was nowhere to be found, but Kristel could trace his power somewhere underneath the waves. Based on his movements, the Princess could tell he was moving with urgency and purpose, probably trying to help anyone who had fallen unconscious. The same could be said to all the abled bodies Kristel could detect. She could only hope they were all helping each other, because she had a job to do right now. As the singularity dispersed, and the colors returned to normal, Kristel knew she was the only one who could deal with the massive tidal wave that was coming their way. Formed from the impact made by Katherine and the whale, it towered over all of them. She knew, without words, the Lady of the Void had entrusted the safety of the Jumpers to her, the Princess of these people. Despite this wave reaching the heights of mountains, somehow, compared to that Deep Nightmare, this was easier to solve. She had to solve it. Everyone else had taken their roles. If I can''t deal with something like this, then I¡¯m just proving those Nightmares right! Kristel heard some words of encouragement from Evanclad, but she was already too busy exerting her all in her Kaimera. It was a Meiyal Art anyone could learn, but it was the one she loved the most; the one that spoke to her the most. When she first unleashed Sandai-Kaimera, it never really occurred to her how she was able to do it. An Art of that level required at least two meiyal-charged materials. She didn¡¯t possess anything like those, at least as far as she was aware. But they were there, placed in her Exhibit as if they had been dormant all this time. Now that they have stirred from their slumber they eagerly fueled her Kaimera. The questions poured in her mind, tempting to distract her thoughts. Was it the effect of integrating with the Mind Palace? Did it provide her with these materials, or did she possess those materials without her knowing?If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Concentrate.¡± Evanclad finally pulled her into focus. ¡°It¡¯s a big one.¡± Kristel pushed her materials to the limit, Displaying her Exhibit consciously for the first time. She felt how much meiyal it took to feed the elevated form of Kaimera. It was more than what the normal two-meiyal could provide. And this time, she was sure, there was no extra material that provided her with a third source of meiyal. It was the Mind Palace itself, nurtured by her ancestors, cultivated to the point that it no longer felt burdened by the constant strain of continuous flow of power. Combined with bonding her Destiny with Brymeia, Kristel was given all the favors of the world in exchange for the role of its protector. And protect, I shall. Kristel placed the meiyal blade over her shoulder. In its Dai-Kaimera form, the small weapon erupted with an aura in the shape of a greatsword that was thrice her height. She felt no weight behind it, a concept only known by her enemies whenever they made contact with the sword. She fueled it to reach its Nidai form. The blade expanded outwards, fanning into a cleaver while extending once more in length. It was massive, and it had no right to be hefted by such a small woman. But Kristel held on and pushed herself to the limit. Sandai-Kaimera casted its shadow behind the Princess of Irista Nation¡¯s subjects. But while it looked like Kristel carried upon her shoulders a colossal sword the size of a mansion, the looming tidal wave rose like a wall of death, imposing its challenge towards Kristel. She was not done. Deep within the still ruined parts of her Mind Palace, underneath a rubble in a nondescript corner, one more meiyal-charged material brimmed to life. It was instantaneous, the way it disappeared and reappeared within her Exhibit, choosing a place on its own volition. Kristel knew not what it was, the same as the other two that had already existed alongside it, but she knew it wanted to help. Kaimera became a mountain. An aura of meiyal blade concentrated to match the exact size of the tidal wave threatening to drown them all. No longer was the Princess able to ignore its weight. Reality could only be bent so much. And while it would allow an ant to carry a slice of a leaf multiple times its body weight, convincing it that such a creature could lift an entire tree was next to impossible. And so, Siffera made it possible. The enhancing Meiyal Art, the one that frustrated Kristel to no end, combined with Kaimera and created an entirely new Art. No, it wasn¡¯t new. It felt strangely familiar. Once again, Kristel found herself blending with her ancestors. Who was it that created this Art? Was it really her? Regardless, the now combined form of Kaimera and Siffera allowed Kristel to carry the entirety of its weight on her tiny frame. She met the tidal wave head-on, shifting the sword¡¯s weight over her shoulders and throwing everything she got in this one Meiyal Art. An Art that made its name known. ¡°Worldcleave: Leviathan!¡± The Leviathan fell on the colossal tidal wave, cleaving it two. It followed through with its own weight, crashing on the sea and tearing it apart so that the seabed deep below appeared. Its meiyal force struck straight and true, towards the toppling Deep Nightmare. It sliced the lower tail of the whale and its force hurled the creature towards the opposite direction. Everything dropped at the same time. The Leviathan vanished as the Da¡¯bloop fell on its back. Then the sea crashed back into place, engulfing the Deep Nightmare. Kristel felt something break. Something inside her Mind Palace, inside her Exhibit. The feedback surfaced to her physical form, causing dizziness and loss of focus. Her Meiyal Arts almost disappeared, if not for the help of Evanclad. ¡°You can¡¯t use that again, Kristel. Not in your condition,¡± he explained. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was unaware that my wife left her materials inside the Palace.¡± ¡°That was your wife¡¯s Meiyal Art?¡± she whispered, panting to recover her stamina. While her meiyal system no longer suffered Art fatigue, and she had taken advantage of it wonderfully, she still used everything in her reserves, barely keeping any left for her current Meiyal Arts. She quickly Gathered and Milled, and was surprised by how easy it was to do now. Forget Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, the meiyal itself was doing it for her. Within just a few seconds, she could breathe normally again. ¡°Yes. Worldcleave. That¡¯s Mineltha¡¯s forte. It was originally based on Meiyal Weaving, but she adapted it to Meiyal Arts when we invented it. Leviathan is a Deitar¡¯s Art. Destiny may have played a part on helping you manifest it, but without a firm grasp on its mechanics, it will be detrimental for your safety; including the ones around you.¡± ¡°But this time, it worked,¡± Kristel said. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what matters.¡± As if to confirm the First Monarch¡¯s statement, the crowd of Jumpers behind the Princess exclaimed in unison with a triumphant roar. Kristel turned to see their proud faces, celebrating her for their survival. It didn¡¯t last for long. One entity matched and overpowered the crowd. The Deep Nightmare. Kristel felt the Negating Roar travel towards her, which was immediately countered by Katherine¡¯s presence. The Lady of the Void was thrown back, recovering in midair so that she hovered right beside the Princess. She took deep breaths. ¡°Good job,¡± she complimented. ¡°Can you do it again?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°Not right now,¡± she added. ¡°This Void Lady is indeed the epitome of a Meiyal Arts practitioner,¡± Evanclad commented, unable to help himself. ¡°But she is no Deitar either. Not even a Worldborn. Such a shame for one so talented. I bet the gods would¡¯ve literally begged for her Destiny.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Katherine called, unaware of the voice inside the Princess¡¯s head. ¡°That was more than I could have hoped for for my entrance, but we can¡¯t stay here for long. Well¡­they can¡¯t.¡± She nodded towards the Jumpers. ¡°I have to play defense until they can all get away. Can you keep attacking?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kristel replied eagerly, but she risked a question. ¡°You can¡¯t attack?¡± ¡°Not while I¡¯m expanding myself to protect everyone here from turning into a Grinding Teeth. The other Jump leaders can¡¯t deal with a Deep Nightmare. Usually this is a job for a Void Mother, so it¡¯s not exactly my specialty either. I can¡¯t risk even one turning against us. It¡¯d be too much chaos to keep under control, and we don¡¯t need that on our conscience.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t need further answers, except for one more. ¡°What¡¯s the name for this Nightmare?¡± Katherine paused and scratched her chin. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh?¡± she asked while deflecting a barrage of meiyal projectiles. Projectiles was such a simple term for actual rays of concentrated meiyal. It was simply because of how effortlessly the Lady took care of them that the Princess had that impression. ¡°Seriously?¡± Kristel asked as she threw another Sandai-Kaimera at the whale. The Deep Nightmare didn¡¯t even budge. ¡°I wonder what name they gave this one. It never existed during my time,¡± Evanclad said, enthused. ¡°And you asked me to fight it?¡± ¡°Because I know help will come.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called a Da¡¯bloop.¡± ¡°A what?¡± Kristel felt her tension threatening to leave, her adrenaline fading away. But she stopped it from happening through sheer will. ¡°Who would name a Nightmare something like that?¡± At the same time, Evanclad asked¡ªexclaimed¡ªthe same thing. ¡°That¡¯s what Frein told me earlier,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°And I have no idea. That¡¯s all I know.¡± Despite their casual conversation, the fight itself was a struggle. Kristel felt like the odds were against them. Their trump cards were gone and yet, the monster lived. No matter how many greatswords she threw at it, it still convinced her that she was doing nothing but chip damage into bloody scale armor. The Lady of the Void was stuck playing defense. At least in this aspect, they were able to ensure no one else would get hurt. Frill was doing everything she could to boost everyone¡¯s morale, allowing them to throw Meiyal Arts that ultimately did nothing. Once, she tried throwing her own Diferenfra. It was a destructive Meiyal Art in her hands, eradicating sections of the Vyndival Kingdom¡¯s army during the Battle of the Vanguard. But against a Da¡¯bloop¡¯s Negating Roar and Nightmarish hide, it was utterly powerless. Kristel could see the frustration in the Aria¡¯s face. More than once, Frill attempted to use her Mercurial Liquid, but she kept hesitating, resorting to supporting everyone else instead. It was a blessing in disguise. For if she didn¡¯t hold back, Xiv would be left alone to rescue everyone. Speaking of the Vyndivalian, he was completely out of meiyal, forced to take a break on a floating barrier Meiyal Art along with the other incapacitated Jumpers. Kristel couldn¡¯t blame him. He was still adapting to his new meiyal core. These only solidified the fact that they were desperate¡­ Kristel could see it. A thin bar of black, red, and white bouncing off the Da¡¯bloop¡¯s head. It didn¡¯t do anything at all, like a stick out of nowhere that did nothing but distract. A flash of darkness blinded her for a split-second, then the three colors erupted into a massive slash of lightning. It cleaved cleanly through the Deep Nightmare and the ocean beneath it. The Da¡¯bloop let out a massive roar before it completely faded. Its smile no longer held the bone-chilling creepiness it once possessed, relaxed now that all life had left it. And on top of its head was a man. Kristel saw Frein Nivan enter the whale¡¯s wound and vanished completely.
Chapter 145: Lack of Control
Lack of Control Frein followed Elizzel¡¯s directions. He didn¡¯t have the time to calculate his strike, lest the Da¡¯bloop become aware of his presence, but he was lucky enough to miss the Deep Nightmare¡¯s core. ¡°I¡¯m so glad it¡¯s in the head,¡± the faunel pointed out. ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the one walking through innards and soon-to-be digested sea creatures,¡± Frein said aloud. ¡°No, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll send the feeling through the Tether just to irk me.¡± ¡°True.¡± He stared at the Da¡¯bloop¡¯s head, from its point of decapitation down to where half of its bloody innards were either slowly dropping or still eerily pulsing, pumping out black blood. ¡°Just the innards then.¡± Elizzel groaned. ¡°We suffer and enjoy all the things,¡± she told herself before taking a deep breath. ¡°Correct.¡± Frein sliced away everything he could manage with his Fulgurblade, beginning to carve out a tunnel. It was odd to see bits and pieces of it keep floating on the ocean surface. Can¡¯t quite remember if they should float or not¡­It¡¯s the sea, so maybe. ¡°Watcha doin¡¯?¡± Katherine asked as she peeked from above the Da¡¯bloop¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯m looking for the Nightmare core,¡± Frein replied, unsurprised by his girlfriend¡¯s arrival. ¡°You¡¯re going to eat it?¡± ¡°Ideally.¡± He remembered his promise to her. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll let you watch. I need you to make sure I stay sane, anyway. Where¡¯s Kristel?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± asked the Princess, showing up beside the Lady. ¡°Gross.¡± Frein observed her with Mesiffera. ¡°Did you ask Evanclad how to unlock your meiyal marks?¡± he asked as he continued to cut off fibrous muscle tissues like they were branches in need of pruning. ¡°What do you¡ª¡± Kristel gasped as she realized. ¡°I have ninety marks!¡± Katherine was surprised as well. She Drew Mesiffera and quickly counted. ¡°You¡¯re right! There¡¯s only ten left!¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s a no, then, huh? He wouldn¡¯t tell me either.¡± Frein had to invest some meiyal to strengthen the Fulgurblade now that he was dealing with bone. There was no Meiyal Art involved, and he was being careful not to accidentally destroy important parts of the skull that held the integrity of its form. Though he was just eyeballing and guessing most of it. ¡°It¡¯s not about the marks,¡± Kristel said, repeating the mantra that all three of them had heard numerous times already. ¡°It actually is, believe it or not,¡± Frein rebutted. ¡°If my theory¡¯s correct, the amount of marks you have is related to how much Brymeia favors you. It has nothing to do with training or emotions aside from showing your dedication to her.¡± He realized they were not in private company. ¡°Actually, we can talk about that more later. I wanted to actually ask you to make sure none of the Jumpers disturb the head while I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kristel said. ¡°We¡¯re trying to salvage what we can from the Jump anyways.¡± ¡°You can harvest the Da¡¯bloop, too,¡± Katherine added. ¡°Eating it can improve your tolerance against Nightmare influence. Some of the chefs should be able to cook it, if not, Jam can help.¡± ¡°Before you go,¡± Frein started again, not bothering to look at the two. He was quite deep in the skull now, near the jaw. Elizzel pointed him up towards the bottom of the brain. ¡°I wanted to say, great job out there, Princess. What you did back there didn¡¯t look like anything a Meiyal Art could achieve.¡± ¡°Evanclad said I shouldn¡¯t use it again.¡± ¡°Did we have some casualties?¡± he asked. ¡°Any of the Jumpers, I mean.¡± ¡°None,¡± Katherine answered. ¡°We might need to decommission some people now that we know those who can¡¯t fight against Deep Nightmares, and I imagine this would be traumatic for some of them. Usually, we try to ease them to stronger influences, but what¡¯s done is done.¡± Frein stopped his work and walked out of the skull, making sure he could see the two ladies. They¡¯ve descended the roof of the carcass, waiting by the opening of it. He nodded towards Kristel. ¡°If the same thing happens again, and the lives of many people are once again on your shoulders, would you let the words of a dead Monarch stop you from doing it one more time?¡± Kristel didn¡¯t even process the question. She quickly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll do the same thing twice over if I have to.¡± She stopped. ¡°But it¡¯s broken now, the material that lets me use Leviathan.¡± Apt name. ¡°Is it gone?¡± he asked. The Princess shook her head again. ¡°Good. It means you can fix it. I¡¯ll get back to work. Make sure no one disturbs us. If anyone asks, just tell them I¡¯m doing Visitor-only things, and I¡¯ll turn them to Nightmares myself if I see them here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a liar, Frein, but I get what you mean. I¡¯ll leave you two to it. Thanks again.¡± Kristel jumped off with enthusiasm. Katherine joined him at the base of the tunnel he had made. ¡°Big words,¡± she commented. ¡°Ultimately, I want to make sure everything¡¯s settled before I¡¯m done here,¡± Frein started. ¡°But in case I fail, you and the Princess will have to¡ª¡± ¡°Skip,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Next dialogue.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He could only sigh. ¡°Alright. Sorry.¡± Frein glanced at her. He could see a thin film of blue surrounding the outline of her body. It was so subtle that he almost mistook it for a weird reflection of light. ¡°What¡¯s that around you?¡± he asked as he resumed cutting away nerves and muscles. They were bloody. He had to position himself at correct angles every time to make sure each cut he made wouldn¡¯t shower him with black blood. The squelch in every step, in every touch, joined by the repulsive smell of decay and half-digested food, made his stomach twist unreasonably. It took all his will and Siffera to keep himself from hurling. ¡°Imbelia,¡± Katherine replied simply. ¡°I don¡¯t want any of that around me. Plus I had to use it during my dive. My clothes aren¡¯t exactly fireproof, so I had to layer it over my Siffera to make doubly sure they don¡¯t catch on fire.¡± ¡°Good thinking. I¡¯m the only one allowed to see you naked.¡± ¡°Too late for that,¡± she giggled. ¡°Kristel and Frill already saw me naked. Jam, too. And my dad when I was a baby, obviously.¡± ¡°You know what I mean, Kat.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. Do you need help with that?¡± Katherine pointed at the tough membrane above Frein. ¡°No, I think I just about got it. You might want to step aside, though.¡± He returned the Fulgurblade within the Shinemoon Scabbard and climbed on it, utilizing its ability to stay affixed in space. With a strong Siffera-empowered push, he pierced the membrane with his arm, reaching within the squelching brain matter. Black blood dripped from the opening, flowing down the length of his arm down to his shoulder. It was invasive. Drops of it fell on his face. Frein decided to go all-in, commanding the scabbard to inch higher. He reached inside the membrane, shoving the entirety of his arm. Blood showered him completely black. Elizzel¡¯s shivering echoed through the Tether while she continued to guide him. They had to go further. Frein took deep breaths in rapid succession, preparing himself to enter head fist. With one command, he ordered the scabbard to push him all in. Darkness. Frein was surrounded by nothing but squirming flesh, suffocating him and pressing him with its weight. He pulled himself deeper, reaching into handfuls of meaty, bloody, brain muscles as he struggled to crawl through the darkness. He was navigating solely on Elizzel¡¯s instructions, despite how irked she was with the process. ¡°It¡¯s in front,¡± she said, ¡°just reach out and find a crevice. It¡¯s lodged in there.¡± Frein didn¡¯t have the time to question why the core of a Deep Nightmare would be lodged inside its brain. It wasn¡¯t even about the crushing weight on all sides of him. His Siffera could withstand it easily. It wasn¡¯t about suffocating either. He just wanted to get out as quickly as possible. He stuck his hand into the crevice and immediately touched something solid for once. Only, this one grabbed back. He felt it wrap around his forearm and pierce his wrist where his meiyal core was located. Quickly, Frein made a firm grasp of it and Sword Stepped out of the brain. He appeared beside his Shinemoon Scabbard that was waiting patiently beside Katherine. He didn¡¯t try to process anything else. He put aside the fact that his Sword Step allowed him to bring along something else that wasn¡¯t surrounded by his Siffera. He made sure to remember practicing with Katherine later, but for now, he wanted to take advantage of his high tolerance for disgust. Without saying anything, he chomped down on the thing on his arm.
Katherine didn¡¯t know what to do. While she had dealt with numerous Deep Nightmares before, it had always been under the context of annihilating them. Harvesting had always been done by the trainees along with the Void Mothers. None of it prepared her with whatever Frein was doing. He shoved his face with the thing he acquired from the Da¡¯bloop¡¯s brain, presumably, its core. Then he gagged as if he was running out of air before vomiting. He hurled out not the core, but blood and his breakfast, probably. He hacked, doubled over, and coughed out more blood. Elizzel emerged as well. There was urgency in her steps as she quickly forced Frein to lie down on his back on the black pool of blood. She reached for his wrist where his meiyal core was. ¡°Resuscitate him, quick! Don¡¯t let him reach Art fatigue, and stay on top of him.¡± The faunel didn¡¯t wait for Katherine¡¯s confirmation. She immediately started sucking Frein¡¯s wrist, spewing out its contents as if she was drawing poison from him. Katherine didn¡¯t bother to ask. Frein was convulsing in all directions, making it hard for Elizzel to do her work. So she sat on his stomach, anchored his legs with her feet, and pushed down one arm with her hand. She used her other hand to guide his lips, bloody and putrid as it was from all the gore, to hers. Katherine couldn¡¯t hide her disgust. She gagged as her tongue explored his teeth, finding remains of whatever that stupid thing it was that he ate. But she quickly found herself enjoying the process. She was forcing down the man of her life, saving him by taking advantage of his vulnerability. His convulsing body had gradually focused on his hips, humping on her like a mad dog. His hardness was barely shielded by his shorts, and her bikini did nothing at stopping him. Katherine let out a moan. She was no longer focused on just providing Frein with her meiyal. They were dry humping each other while half submerged in black, inky blood. And Frein was on a mission of piercing through whatever thin fabric was preventing him from entering her. ¡°It¡¯s too much,¡± Elizzel whispered as she collapsed on Frein¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s too much!¡± The faunel¡¯s clothes began to dissipate into pure meiyal, showing her entire nakedness. She reached down between her legs, trying to take control of herself. Katherine could only imagine what was going through them in between their Tether, but she knew what to do. She slipped off her bikini and Frein¡¯s shorts and took him inside. At the same time, she reached for Elizzel¡¯s face and gave her a deep kiss. The Lady¡¯s hands worked overtime as she reached down in between the faunel¡¯s legs and began to pleasure both her man and her faunel at the same time. Only then did Katherine realized she was giving meiyal resuscitation to Elizzel. This process only worked between lovers. So was it because of the Tether? Or was it the faunel¡¯s ability? She did regularly feed off Frein¡¯s meiyal for nourishment. The Lady of the Void didn¡¯t have the time nor the mental facilities to consider those questions. She desperately placed them at the back of her head before pleasure completely overwhelmed her. Elizzel took her meiyal with a ravaging, insatiable hunger. And Katherine gave it all to her. She trusted their Tether, assured that the faunel would provide Frein whatever he needed. The Visitor had climaxed inside her, but he wasn¡¯t done. Because Katherine had to adjust her position to compensate for Elizzel, Frein was able to let loose. His head found the back of the faunel¡¯s thigh and he chomped on it. She reacted with a suppressed scream but she quickly took control by sitting on Frein¡¯s head. Elizzel didn¡¯t let him take the pace, rubbing herself all over him while she took Katherine¡¯s intimate kiss. The two of them worked on Frein while they pleasured each other with their tongues and lips. Katherine lost count how much she had reached ecstacy, or for how long they had been there, or if anyone saw them. She was too busy with Frein and Elizzel. Too busy with herself. ¡°Don¡¯t let Frein out until he regains control,¡± Elizzel whispered as the final strings of her consciousness left her, exhausted from too much pleasure. So Katherine focused on Frein. Of course, she knew her man. His pleasure points and triggers, how to satisfy him and how to keep him on edge. She knew Frein like the back of her hand. This version of him right now, drowned in the influence of Nightmare, with nothing but depravity in his mind, was boring. He did nothing special to pleasure her other than the virtue that it was him doing it. It only made her ask for more. ¡°Please, Frein,¡± she whispered. ¡°Come back and fuck me properly.¡± His movements stopped. ¡°Kat?¡± Frein looked around, confused. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®what¡¯ me, Frein.¡± Katherine¡¯s breathing intensified, her excitement growing. ¡°We should get out of¡ª¡± ¡°Not until you push me down and treat me properly.¡± ¡°What are you¡­¡± Frein looked down and around some more. He saw Elizzel unconscious in the bloody pool with her clothes off, and then realized his position underneath Katherine. ¡°Please?¡± she asked once more. If there was one thing Katherine loved about Frein the most, it was that whenever she said ¡®please¡¯, he would never let her down. He pushed her down instead.
Chapter 146: In the Desert
In the Desert "Thousands? Probably millions. I stopped counting after a hundred.¡± ~the Letterman ¡±Wait here.¡± Lynera didn¡¯t expect Tristan to stop their travel so soon after entering the Desolate Lands. It had barely been an hour since they left the Vyndival Kingdom territory, and had begun their adventure in earnest. They were afforded a sandglider, a mechanical boat powered by meiyal that was capable of moving quickly through the sands. The way it moved through the sands, with the wings it used to navigate, gave it the impression of gliding, thus the name. This one was old, ancient even. Most of what they had, had been destroyed in the Battle of the Vanguard¡ªa name that had reached even their borders¡ªand the rest that they were able to salvage were on standby south of Vyndival Kingdom, in case the Nightmare Lands decided to move and consume their territory. That left them with the old model. While it no longer performed as well as during its peak, hopefully it would still survive the journey. Lynera¡ªand she assumed Tristan as well¡ªcould travel the desert without issue, but she worried for Dylan. At the very least, the vehicle traveled smoothly, up until the half-orc decided to stop. Fortunately, they were given the enclosed model, which was equipped with a fortified glass to protect them from the harsh, sandy winds. It provided enough room for eight passengers, spacious enough for a company of three. Tristan dismounted the pilot¡¯s seat to look around the area, so Lynera spent the time sharing a meal with Dylan in the meantime. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect for Jena to agree with you leaving the Kingdom,¡± she started while biting on a rice roll. The egg inside was well cooked and seasoned, but that was about it in terms of content. It wasn¡¯t as filling as fish or any other meat, but they were given plenty of seconds. The young half-elf was in a daze. It was his first time in the desert and first time outside of the Kingdom by the looks of it. His eyes were glued on the dunes and steppes and the scarce flora and fauna that surrounded them. A kid lost in wonder was a treasure to behold. ¡°She said I shouldn¡¯t let her worries be in the way of my duties.¡± That immediately made Lynera feel responsible for the boy. Doubt quickly surrounded her, but she stayed calm, not allowing her hesitations to surface. Combat wasn¡¯t her forte. Void Mothers did not train primarily for fighting unlike the Void Lords and Ladies. She specialized in subduing the Nightmare influence, like a walking oasis amidst the constant chaos of the world. If a Nightmare were to appear before them right now, she could assure the others that they would not succumb to any of its mind games or illusions. But there was nothing she could do against the brute force that came with those monsters. As a native of the Western Sanctum, her meiyal system did not adapt to Meiyal Arts or Meiyal Armaments. She only possessed her meiyal cores, one that of a human, and another that of a vork. Regardless of how academics deemed them to possess halved cores, Lynera firmly believed that felintines and canintines possessed two wholes instead. She would not believe otherwise. Worst case, I¡¯ll need to rely on the vork. The thought wasn¡¯t pleasant. She could barely recall from her recently restored memories when the last time she had unleashed her vork side was. She only knew she couldn¡¯t rely on it properly. Too many instincts involved. It would be a gamble at best, and not one she would particularly see falling to her favor. ¡°Do you think they will help us?¡± Dylan asked, pulling Lynera out of her stupor. ¡°The Iristans, I mean. I don¡¯t know much about politics or war, but I know we started a fight with them, right? Why would they help those that tried to invade them?¡± Smart kid. Lynera wondered the same. She didn¡¯t particularly have a clear answer on whether Irista Nation would provide help, but she could assure the kid of his unvoiced question. ¡°We¡¯ll be alright, Dylan,¡± she began. ¡°I¡¯m still technically part of the Order of the Void. As long as they honor the treaties made by Evanclad, they won¡¯t harm us. As for whether they¡¯ll help us or not, that depends on how good I will be at my job.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were¡­¡± Dylan¡¯s voice trailed off. Lynera could read the guilt on his face. ¡°That important?¡± she finished for him, giggling a little. ¡°You might be right. I didn¡¯t finish my training after all. But since we haven¡¯t heard from the Western or Southern Sanctum, we can safely assume the same thing is happening over there. If that¡¯s the case, I can leverage my position.¡± ¡°But if you haven¡¯t finished your training, wouldn¡¯t that mean you don¡¯t have the proper authority of a Void Mother?¡± Dylan tilted his head as he wondered. ¡°My aunt said they were the most respectable people in the entire world, the Void Mothers and Fathers, I mean. They could cleanse entire areas of Nightmare and even revert the turned ones back to normal!¡± Lynera frowned at the last part of that statement. It was true that Void Mothers and Fathers were essential parts of maintaining cleansed areas within the Nightmare Lands, but there was nothing about them removing the Nightmare from those that had fallen or turned. Nightmarification was the one thing they had desperately wanted to solve. It was also the farthest away for a solution in terms of their research results. The conundrum now was whether to tell Dylan the truth or not. She had had this exact expectation ripped away from her when she was young, and if her memories were correct, it was quite devastating. Maybe easing the kid into the truth would save him from such disappointment. Before she could say anything, however, Tristan returned. There was urgency in his steps, and he quickly activated the sandglider¡¯s engine. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lynera asked. ¡°Dune Queen,¡± the half-orc replied. His calm tone belied the nervousness of his actions. Maybe the man was simply incapable of expressing his emotions? Regardless, a Dune Queen was bad news. ¡°Is it slumbering?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll go around.¡± Lynera agreed and sighed in relief. This was the best they could hope for in this troublesome situation. But she couldn¡¯t complain. At least, they would be alive. A Dune Queen¡¯s average territory went as wide as a twenty-kilometer radius. To be on the safe side, they would need to go around for thirty kilometers to completely avoid the big ones. Depending on weather conditions, that might take them the entire morning and even a portion of the afternoon. The sandglider wasn¡¯t exactly meant for speed. The only bright side here was that she and Tristan could provide the vehicle¡¯s fuel needs indefinitely if they alternated the responsibility.Stolen story; please report. It was more of an inconvenience, and Lynera hoped it would stay that way. As soon as Tristan held the steering wheel, an explosion sent entire clouds of sand into the air. The Dune Queen emerged not far away from them. Lynera saw the horns first. They were the size of trees with sinister curves that had adapted to the color of the sands. The pair moved outward, a mechanism uncommon to most beasts, but it allowed the Dune Queen to shovel away sands as it dug through underneath. Next, she saw the pincers. They were a size larger than the sandglider, capable of crushing rock like they were made of powder. Chitinous exoskeleton armored its skull, with a translucent membrane covering its entire lengthwise face from any external forces including the sands. Spikes protruded along its spine, running the entire length down to its large tail. Lynera could see sparks of electricity travelling from one spike to the other. It stood on four legs, totaling to six limbs if counting the pincers on its forearms. Sand drifted down the chitinous beast, showing colors of white, gray, and brown on various parts of its scales. The protective membrane on its face opened from the middle, moving as if a spring was released from its tension. Inside were three pairs of eyes and a beak that looked too large for its head. It pushed outward, the entire head, like a turtle¡¯s neck extending out of its shell. If Lynera didn¡¯t know any better, she¡¯d assume this creature was a Deep Nightmare. But since it wasn¡¯t, she knew right away there would be nothing she could offer to fend off the monster. ¡°You said it was asleep?¡± she asked the pilot. ¡°Yes. The explosion woke her up.¡± Lynera went behind the pilot¡¯s seat and reached for the generator beside Tristan¡¯s seat. She began feeding it her meiyal. ¡°Use as much as you need,¡± she began. ¡°Let me handle the supply first. If we need to go by foot, we¡¯ll be depending on you to protect us.¡± Lynera¡¯s meiyal was the same as any other practitioner of any other discipline. It was combined with Brymeia¡¯s meiyal. The only difference was the terminology. Meiyal Arts had Milled meiyal, Meiyal Armaments had Smelted meiyal, Meiyal Weaving had Woven meiyal. But for someone like her who didn¡¯t study any discipline, she had to make do with the generic Combined meiyal. Tristan agreed with Lynera¡¯s strategy and accelerated the sandglider as much as he could. The felintine lost her balance, but she bounced off the chair provided for the co-pilot¡¯s seat. She didn¡¯t relent with her meiyal, glancing back quickly to make sure Dylan was alright. The half-elf was well secured on his seat, but his face was glued on the glass, staring at the Dune Queen behind them. The giant creature screeched, but not towards their sandglider. ¡°Hold on,¡± Lynera began, her eyes stuck at a silhouette amidst the chaos caused by the Dune Queen. ¡°Someone¡¯s there.¡± Tristan glanced in disbelief and eventually stopped their vehicle when he confirmed for himself. The sands had brewed into a storm, courtesy of the Dune Queen¡¯s natural electrical field. Its head had returned inside its armor while the sands whirled around it, creating a protective barrier. Lightning struck all around it as the creature began to walk. And amidst all this chaos was a person, standing tall and proud. Lynera had no distinction of the stranger¡¯s gender, and the dark meiyal made it difficult to see any other physical feature that would provide her a description. So she simply assumed it was a man. For all the felintine knew, he could very well be a woman. Lynera was so busy indulging in her curiosity that the fact that this stranger stood in front of a Dune Queen almost went over her head. She had an immediate reaction to help him, but was stopped by the sands and lightning completely ignoring his space. Like he didn¡¯t exist. The stranger held out a hand and snapped his fingers. A great force pushed everything away. The Dune Queen, the sands, the rocks, plants, animals, everything. What was left was the ground, free of dunes and dust. From far away, the sandstorm summoning creature screeched. But when the stranger held out a hand once more, it backed away, scampering into the safety of the desert. A moment later, the stranger turned and headed their way. Lynera was frozen into place. Tristan as well. Dylan was too absorbed to do anything. In the end, the half-orc found his courage and went out of the sandglider. He Donned his Armor and Weapon. They were standard issued gear for a High Sentry, a position just a rank lower to the Lord Knights of Vyndival Kingdom. Lynera had no way of knowing what Embellishments Tristan had, but she knew enough about meiyal to know he stood no chance against the stranger. Vyndivalians were simply all about duty, and dying for trying so it seemed. ¡°I mean you no harm, Tristan and company,¡± the stranger said, his voice laced with echoes of multiple people, masking his true voice. Female? Male? Felintine? Human? Elf? Lynera had no clue. ¡°I¡¯m here to assist you.¡± ¡°I appreciate the help,¡± Tristan said, lowering his sword, but keeping a firm grip around it. ¡°But forgive me for asking your name and your reason.¡± ¡°Please call me, the Letterman. Providing you with my real name will cause too much disruption upon Destiny.¡± ¡°Destiny?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Tristan,¡± Lynera said. ¡°I will speak with him.¡± The felintine alighted the sandglider, the layers of her clothes fluttered on the sandy winds. She asked the High Sentry to guard the vehicle and Dylan. And while Tristan was hesitant, he didn¡¯t dare disobey his orders. ¡°You know most people don¡¯t speak about such things,¡± Lynera started, speaking towards the Letterman. ¡°You¡¯ll make him ask the wrong questions.¡± ¡°Apologies. It¡¯s the fastest way to gain your trust.¡± ¡°My attention, yes. Not my trust. Not yet.¡± ¡°You want to know if I¡¯m involved with the destruction of the Western Sanctum?¡± Lynera nodded. ¡°Enlighten me.¡± ¡°I am not.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Blessed with Death¡¯s Wish, Mother Lynera. If you¡¯re here, and if you know about Destiny, then I¡¯m right to assume that you¡¯ve recovered your memories, yes?¡± Death¡¯s Wish. It was more of a curse, than a blessing. Lynera couldn¡¯t believe such a person would claim to have such a thing. And maybe, just because of that, it made sense for the Letterman to be this strong. ¡°How many?¡± she asked. ¡°Too many to count, I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°Alright. Show me proof then.¡± The Letterman paused. While the darkness of meiyal enveloping him kept any distinguishing details hidden, his body language was still apparent enough for Lynera¡¯s keen eyes. Too feminine. His poise, the way he stood, the way he kept casually swaying his balance on either side, it was too dynamic, too bouncy for it to be from a man with such straightforward words. The only masculine thing going for him was the name Letterman. ¡°What do you wish to know?¡± he asked. ¡°Will Irista Nation help us?¡± ¡°If you make it in time, yes. I¡¯m here to specifically make that happen. There are two more Dune Queens surrounding this current territory. I¡¯m afraid, if you choose to go around, it would take you more than a few days to get to Irista Nation. It will be too late by then.¡± Was that enough proof? Lynera didn¡¯t think so. She needed something more concrete. ¡°Your sister is alive, Lynera,¡± the Letterman said, as if to skip straight to the point. ¡°Lynera Lunasensia, that is your full name, remember? Your sister, Selfiya, is currently held captive by the Cult of the Fallen Dragon and the forces hiding behind Destiny. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he added. ¡°If things are going as I¡¯ve predicted them, she will be alright. You will meet her soon.¡± ¡°How can I¡ª?¡± ¡°This will be as far as I can provide in terms of proof, Lynera. If this does not convince you, then you no longer need me here.¡± Just then, his stance became firm, his poise straight and rigid. Too manly for a woman. ¡°What will it be?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll help us cross the desert?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s imperative for you to arrive by nightfall. This way, you¡¯ll be able to immediately meet with Midan Goldes, the current governor of Minaveil Province, and inform him of your need. A nice inn will also be provided for you, courtesy of Bennie.¡± ¡°And if I said no?¡± Lynera almost failed to give voice to the question. She was already of the mind to accept the Letterman¡¯s assistance, but her curiosity wouldn¡¯t let her go. ¡°Then I will ask the next Lynera.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that important?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t think you were that important, did you?¡± With Lynera¡¯s decision, the travel through the Desolate Lands became smooth gliding. The Letterman gave them strict directions that cut through their travel time significantly. He even provided all the meiyal the sandglider would ever need to travel at top speed. He was right. They would make it before nightfall. And throughout the entire trip, Lynera still contemplated how important her role actually was.
Book 3: Cover and Blurb Book 3 is now officially up! I''ve adjusted the previous chapters after pulling the trigger. So if you''ve been keeping up all this time, you already know the drill. Nothing''s changed, just the order. And if you haven''t been keeping up... (do it now? pls?) Obviously don''t read the blurb below to avoid spoilers. You can admire this awesome cover though. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Brymeia: Nightmare Incursion (Book 3) Blurb: A Fragment is all he needs, but the greatest challenge of his life has yet to come. After finally learning his true goal, the next thing in Frein''s mind is his purpose. The reason why Visitors have to exist in Brymeia. But before that, the warnings of the Letterman are drawing near. The Nightmare Incursions, true or not, he will find out soon enough. The shadows hiding in the background are on the move as well, forcing him out of his comfort zone. Frein begins the next leg of his journey in Westleaf, to witness Liona''s burning, a retainer that he never met. And as it was promised, everything will begin to move. Chapter 147: Avoiding Awkwardness Avoiding Awkwardness ¡±Downtime? Who does that?¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor Frill woke up with a yawn. Last night had been full and satisfying. People feasted on the Da¡¯bloop, the Cloud-Nesting Rocs, and the krakens and sea serpents they¡¯d acquired from an extremely successful¡ªbut equally stressful¡ªJump. Admiral Garm had even asked her to perform. And much to her hesitance, with a little nudging from her friends, she was able to convince herself that Liona would rather know her big sister was able to sing her heart out once again. Though the man might not know it, Frill had drawn most of her courage from Xiv as far as yesterday was concerned. The Aria in Red had always offered her songs to someone. And while Kristel or Liona¡ªwith or without their knowledge¡ªhad been her recipients most of the time, she had found it proper to give last night¡¯s performance to the Vyndivalian instead, what with his promises and all. She simply couldn¡¯t admit it to the guy. It was at this moment that Frill realized she was sleeping on hard floor. The party lasted the entire day, and when the night had settled, their small group had decided to continue their celebration inside the training hall that they¡¯d utilized since arriving in Atlas Sid. They were too tired to be bothered to return to their rooms. The only comfortable part of her body right now was from her neck up. She reached out and opened her eyes at the same time, immediately realizing she was lying on someone¡¯s leg. ¡°Good morning,¡± Xiv said. He sat in an awkward position, one leg folded while the other was outstretched¡ªthe one that served as her pillow. It was obvious how much he was careful not to move, relying on his hands to keep his balance. ¡°Morning,¡± Frill replied, confused on what to say. She wanted to make fun of him for being too nice, but she wanted to thank him at the same time. It went out as one word that had nothing to do with her intentions. Thankfully, it was a comprehensible one. She promptly pushed herself up, the scarlet strands of her hair covering her face. Without realizing it, she tucked some of it behind her ear. ¡°Sorry about the leg.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a problem,¡± Xiv replied, scratching his chin. As expected, his eyes were glued on her. Frill rather enjoyed it. ¡°You were pretty tired last night.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°I meant to say you were amazing,¡± Xiv followed. ¡°Beautiful, pretty, wonderful. I¡¯ve never heard a voice as heavenly as yours. And I¡ª¡± Frill pushed both hands on Xiv¡¯s face to shut him up. ¡°I know you¡¯re direct, but that¡¯s too much! I just woke up!¡± Xiv took her hands away from his face, because of this, he ended up holding both of them. The two realized a moment later and abruptly let go. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s, umm¡­ it¡¯s okay,¡± Frill replied. ¡°It sounds a little different when you hear compliments from someone you actually care about.¡± Xiv¡¯s face turned red. ¡°I thought it was about the hands.¡± ¡°Dummy. It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t held my hands before.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s okay to hold your hands?¡± ¡°When I¡¯m not busy. And it¡¯s okay to give me compliments too, just don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Silence quickly followed as Frill relaxed. She noticed Xiv¡¯s eyes shifting down, so she followed where he was looking. A part of her blouse had slipped off her shoulder, revealing a generous part of her bosom, but not enough to show everything. At least, she hoped that was the case. Her long hair was too mischievous to help cover her exposure. Blood quickly rushed to her head as she covered herself. ¡°Sorry,¡± Xiv said, turning away and covering his face with one hand. ¡°That caught me off guard.¡± Twice now this man caught her lacking the moment she woke up. First was the drool back in Minaveil Province, and now this. What next? She¡¯d be completely naked? Frill shook her head, reminding herself to be extra careful when around him. A yell caught their attention. Xiv didn¡¯t look surprised, but that didn¡¯t stop Frill from almost jumping to her feet. ¡°How long have they been sparring?¡± she asked. ¡°They¡¯ve been at it since I woke up. About an hour ago.¡± Frill could barely follow Kristel¡¯s movements as the Princess zipped around the training room, appearing and disappearing as she circled around Frein. The Visitor stayed at the center, calm and collected, with a sword in his hand. He tracked the Princess through his awareness, only taking a step whenever Kristel took an approach. The move would deter any further aggression, forcing her to back off to search for a new angle while he returned to tracking her in the meantime. Frill could see the dance happening between the two. Kristel increased her tempo with each failed attempt, and in response, Frein would keep up but deliberately limit himself to half the Princess¡¯s speed. This way, he showcased how easy it was for him to recognize her patterns and deceptions, no matter how much she tried to accelerate.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It was demoralizing, even for Frill. She wasn¡¯t involved in the fight, but she could figure out how much of a struggle it would be to break Frein¡¯s defenses without resorting to stronger Meiyal Arts. In a battle of Siffera, he was, without argument, the better of the two. ¡°They¡¯ve been at this for an hour?¡± Frill asked Xiv. ¡°Yep,¡± he replied. ¡°No development whatsoever. When I woke up, they said they wanted to find out if Kristel really can¡¯t reach Art fatigue anymore. Then Frein just simply dragged it to what you¡¯re seeing now.¡± To confirm, Frill Drew an observation Meiyal Art. It wasn¡¯t quite like Mesiffera, which was capable of seeing which Arts were active, how much Milled meiyal a practitioner had, and which Arts they were trying to Draw. But an observation Art, at least, could determine if a practitioner was Milling, it could find early signs of Art fatigue, and it could show which Arts they were emphasizing¡ªKristel¡¯s Siffera in this case. ¡°She¡¯s been doing this for an hour¡­¡± Frill muttered in disbelief. Kristel¡¯s Siffera was emphasized to its limit. The only thing holding it back now was the lack of meiyal-charged materials to elevate the Art to Nidai-level. If what Xiv said was true, they had been at this for more than an hour. She didn¡¯t know who she should be more impressed by: Kristel, who had a fully emphasized Siffera for far longer than anyone could possibly do, or Frein who kept up with her this entire time. Frill sighed, trying to find herself something else to focus on. She trusted Frein enough to know he wouldn¡¯t harm the Princess. Even that thought made her feel like she was admitting defeat. Shaking her head didn¡¯t make it any better. ¡°Where¡¯s Kat?¡± she asked Xiv. At this point, if everyone would be calling Katherine by her nickname, she might as well join the club. It took her a bit of getting used to. Xiv nodded behind her. Frill turned to find a pair of bodies covered in pink and brown hair. Katherine leaned on the corner, spooning Elizzel on her stomach. The faunel¡¯s long, pink hair essentially hid both of them. Now that she had taken everyone into account, Frill took a meditative position and began to Draw. The Meiyal Art had a name, Quiet Loom, but there was no need for her to invoke it. The Art manifested an entire apparatus around her, causing Xiv to shift to the side. ¡°Sorry, forgot to measure,¡± she said, apologizing quickly. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m crafting our battle gear,¡± Frill explained while she opened one of the compartments of the apparatus. It contained a sheet of paper with her design for the clothes that would make up the battle gear. She settled it on top of the platform at the center and immediately, the entire contraption activated. Threads of meiyal latched on brackets and bars hovering around the Quiet Loom, and a small flower spun slowly in the middle of it all. Now that things had finally calmed down, and her design had finally completed, Frill could begin creating the battle gear based off of this flower. The flower actually caused most of the delay. Even Katherine didn¡¯t know what it was¡ªonly that it was safe to use, and it took a bit of research to study it. It was one of the Nightmare Land¡¯s better creations, or at least, a creation due to the need to survive in such a harsh environment. Drop Oasis was its name, a rare flora found only in the depths of the Nightmare Lands. It was a mutation, so to speak, for while the rest of the living organisms in those forsaken places had adapted to survive, turning themselves into cruel manifestations and abominations, this flower managed to remain unblemished. How, or why, none of the books she¡¯d read seemed to come up with an agreeable conclusion, but none of them denied the purifying capabilities of it. Essentially, it was a meiyal-charged material. However, it was one of those that had an incredibly high rejection rate. Ninety percent, as far as records went. The material rejected the Nightmare Lands by itself after all, so its refusal to accept a master made a lot of sense. This was where Frill¡¯s Quiet Loom could shine. By incorporating the material into clothes, she would be able to access the Drop Oasis¡¯s integrated capabilities without harming anyone¡¯s meiyal system. True, this method wouldn¡¯t be able to fully utilize the material¡¯s power, but the safety it provided far outweighed the risks. Now, Frill was hoping that with this, along with the Purifying Stone they procured from Admiral Garm, their¡ªhers and Kristel¡¯s¡ªability to survive in the Nightmare Lands would increase significantly. She just had to make sure it was well incorporated with her design. Not for anything subtle or profound or specialized efficiency in terms of utilizing materials for a battle gear, it was just simply a matter of pride for her. Fashion design was the one thing Frill enjoyed just as much as singing or dancing. She made all her costumes for the stage, which was an edge she had on top of most entertainers. And the more people appreciated her work, to the point that she had received commissions from celebrities, the more proud she became. ¡°It¡¯s like a Forge,¡± Xiv said, observing Frill do her work with such amazement. ¡°Is it? I can¡¯t make Armors with spaces for Embellishments, though.¡± ¡°That would make me question everything I¡¯ve ever known,¡± Xiv began. He frowned, rubbing his chin. ¡°But actually, it might be possible.¡± Frill paused, looking away from her Quiet Loom. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Frein and I have been discussing the similarities between Meiyal Arts and Armaments. We think¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯re meant to work together,¡± Frill finished for him. ¡°I was told that as well.¡± ¡°By who?¡± Xiv¡¯s excitement suddenly skyrocketed. He was more interested now in their discussion rather than the sparring in front of him. It was a shame, she had to turn him down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t tell you that, yet.¡± Try as she might, not knowing who else could look into Destiny made her hesitate to tell Xiv anything. ¡°But this is a confirmation, right?¡± he asked, undeterred. Frill gave him a nod before returning to her work. Xiv leaned back against the wall, a hand pressed on his forehead. Frill glanced to make sure what expression he was wearing. He was smiling ear to ear. ¡°This is amazing,¡± he said. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°It means, I can start learning Meiyal Arts!¡± ¡°That might be a long shot,¡± Frill said, smiling. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s impossible, though.¡± Something caught her attention, and she turned to the other side to find Elizzel crouching beside her. The faunel¡¯s eyes were glued towards the Quiet Loom. ¡°Morning, Eli,¡± Frill said, trying to get her attention. Elizzel blinked but she didn¡¯t look away. ¡°Good morning.¡± Her jaw slacked a little as the threads of meiyal completed an article of clothing. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± ¡°Want one?¡± Frill asked, making sure her own excitement wasn¡¯t showing too much. She didn¡¯t want to chase away the faunel with too much enthusiasm. There was no need. She was nodding frantically. So Frill suspended her Quiet Loom for a moment to take Elizzel¡¯s measurements. Just then, Kristel and Frein surged with power.
Chapter 148: Ahead of Schedule Ahead of Schedule
After her sparring partner suggested for her to go all out, Kristel Drew her Nidai-Kaimera. It was nowhere near the level of Leviathan. But since she and Frein agreed to fight only using their own capabilities, without Evanclad¡¯s help, she couldn¡¯t even Draw the Sandai-level of the Art. Not that she would even consider using either of those inside the training facility. Swinging Sandai-Kaimera, let alone manifesting Leviathan, would destroy the entire building. Then again, she needed to let go of ever Drawing Leviathan for a while, at least until she found a way to fix Mineltha¡¯s meiyal charged material, one that Evanclad insisted to remain unnamed. ¡°Destiny and all that,¡± he had reasoned yesterday. Nidai-Kaimera would have to do. It was at least thrice taller and twice wider than she was. But of course, it was nowhere near enough to faze Frein. He just smiled annoyingly, enjoying the challenge in front of him. Kristel indulged his smugness. If she held back, he¡¯d only mock her for it. There were people keeping an eye on them anyway, or at least, they were close enough to notice if something had gone wrong. She spared a glance over to Frill and Xiv. Those two are getting really close. ¡°You want to take a break?¡± Frein asked, noticing the pause. ¡°If you can fight for a few hours like this without reaching Art fatigue, we can safely say you¡¯re pretty much immune to it at this point. That¡¯s quite amazing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± ¡°You¡¯re distracted, though.¡± Kristel responded by swinging the giant sword. Something stopped her right as she began her motion. For her, Kaimera wasn¡¯t heavy at all, even at Nidai. She could swing the weapon around with one hand while the things it struck felt the full weight and destructive power of the Art. But a small bar of red, black, and white stood at the beginning of the swing, blocking her from even building up momentum. Frein pointed at the bar while staring at her. The next moment, it was gone, causing her entire weight to shift out of balance. ¡°See what I mean?¡± Kristel¡¯s Siffera was good enough that she recovered easily from a tumble without much effort. It was one precious instant enough for Frein to invade her space, but the Princess expected his move. The Visitor always struck when it was most embarrassing for her. She pulled herself back using Nidai-Kaimera, utilizing its long shaft as a foothold to help shift her direction. Through the same move, she Drew a normal Kaimera and lashed out where Frein would be, had he continued to step in. But the Visitor also saw through her retaliation. He ducked low, attempting to grab her foot. She quickly hopped off her greatsword and sent a spinning kick as retaliation. He blocked it effortlessly. Kristel was forced to flip backwards. She took the chance to grab her Nidai-Kaimera, a decision which Frein responded to by kicking the flat of the blade. That, along with the Princess¡¯s retreating momentum, sent her slamming into the wall. It didn¡¯t hurt, but she was bothered by it nonetheless. Frein had never given ground during their entire sparring session. Three hours of only forward and side steps. Not once did he take a step back. She had seen this time and again, from the very beginning, from the first time she saw him. During his fight with the Vyndivalian twins, he was always approaching one of the two. Creating distance was only a by-product of closing another. During the sparring against Maffelyne¡¯s team, even one against four, he never once took a step backwards. The only times Frein was ever forced to create distance with his opponents were when someone was strong enough to push him away. Even with his battle with Those That Fell Off A Cliff. It was a Nightmare! And Frein wouldn¡¯t even back away from it, to the point that the abomination itself feared for its life! That determined Kristel¡¯s goal for this sparring session. It was no longer to see if she would reach Art fatigue. Two goals, in fact. ¡°I like these goals,¡± Evanclad whispered, observing the situation. ¡°Do you need some advice?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kristel said verbally. She knew Frein would understand. She also knew he would know her plans. So, the Princess took the initiative and stepped out of the crater she made in the wall, pointing her Nidai-Kaimera at him. It wouldn¡¯t matter whether he knew or not. ¡°I¡¯ll push you back and make you step back on your own using my efforts. I don¡¯t need Evan¡¯s help.¡± Frein smiled and pulled his sword out of its sheath. ¡°You can try.¡±
The Blood Moon Fulgurblade wouldn¡¯t manifest on his Display without Elizzel¡¯s help. To be fair, he wasn¡¯t supposed to be able to integrate with any of his current materials, at all, in the first place. A restriction on his current, greatest arsenal was a better deal than not being able to use his entire Exhibit at all. Frein¡¯s sword was still a bloody black, but the lightning pressure that came with it whenever it was drawn from its scabbard remained dormant. As far as he was concerned, it was nothing different from a common blade Meiyal Art. He smiled at that. Here he was, staring down at the Princess¡¯s Nidai-Kaimera, an Art filled to the brim with meiyal, and yet when compared to his current weapon, the dormant Fulgurblade was leagues better. Frein felt a little irritated by the thought, his mind going on a tangent. He didn¡¯t appreciate that at this moment, he was thinking about ¡®size doesn¡¯t matter¡¯ rather than the battle to be had. Especially since it was about comparing swords, his thoughts just went straight to the gutter. ¡°Now you¡¯re getting distracted,¡± Kristel said, slightly lowering her guard. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. Just something stupid.¡± Frein shook his head. He tried to replace his thoughts, focusing on their spar. But something else took over. At the very least, this one was helpful. ¡°Actually,¡± he began, ¡°do you think there¡¯s a way for you to reduce your Nidai-Kaimera? Compress its power, make it more dense.¡± ¡°For what?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°You¡¯re not just asking me to lose my range advantage, are you?¡± Frein raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly out of my range, Princess.¡± He Drew Ribbon Blink to send the Shinemoon Scabbard beside Kristel. She was quick to react, swiping at the meiyal-charged material. But Frein simply Blinked the scabbard towards her other side before Drawing Sword Step. At this close range, Nidai-Kaimera was absolutely useless apart from becoming a defensive board. That was what exactly happened when Frein struck with his dormant Fulgurblade. The moment both weapons collided, he invested a rush of eight-meiyal on the weapon, sparking it to life for but an instant. It absolutely refused to ignite completely, but the mere flick of its power was enough to send Kristel flying towards the other end of the training hall. ¡°See what I mean?¡± Kristel nodded, breathing hard. It might not be possible for her to reach Art fatigue anymore, but she would still need to Gather and Mill to replace every bit of meiyal she spent. The world favored her enough that the Perpetual-Layered Milling Form was now something she could do with ease, but she still needed to reform her habit in order to keep those two processes constantly active. Frein shuddered with excitement, looking forward to the day that the Princess became just as greedy as him and Katherine.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Give it a try,¡± he urged her. Kristel dispelled her weaker Kaimera and held the Nidai-level one with both hands. She struggled, but ultimately, nothing happened. ¡°Do you have any pointers?¡± With this, their sparring was effectively put on pause. Frein returned his dormant Fulgurblade within the scabbard and approached the Princess. Her face was quickly disappointed. ¡°We¡¯ll resume in a bit,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this is possible first. Can you Draw Mesiffera now?¡± Kristel relaxed and nodded, Drawing the Siffera-enhanced observation Meiyal Art. ¡°Good.¡± Frein reached up a hand. ¡°Now, observe my Siffera.¡± Frein currently used the Art the same way as most practitioners would use them, simply to enhance their physical strength. Slowly, he progressed this by emphasizing the Art to its limits and producing a layer that protected his body. By the modernized, albeit weaker, standards, this Siffera was common to many Virtuosos who were lucky enough to have reached a certain understanding with the Art. Fortunately, Kristel was one of them. It allowed Frein to skip the explanation and proceed with the next step. Slowly, in order to demonstrate to the Princess clearly, the Visitor compressed the enveloping Siffera towards his fist so that it was the only part of his body completely covered by it. To a person Drawing a simple observation Meiyal Art, it would simply look like Frein removed a great portion of his enhancing Art. But to one using Mesiffera, like Kristel for example, she could clearly see the absurd condensation of meiyal around his fist. ¡°Want to test it out?¡± he asked. Kristel, still absorbed by such concentrated Art, nodded dumbfoundedly. She raised her Nidai-Kaimera like a guard. ¡°Hit it.¡± Frein stepped closer, letting the bend of fingers touch the ridiculously large great sword. He positioned himself sideways, relaxing his entire body as he steadied his breath. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Kristel asked. Evidently, the Visitor¡¯s posture was nowhere close to somebody preparing for a punch. Frein understood that most practitioners in Irista Nation focused more on improving their Meiyal Arts, and not necessarily their martial prowess. Granted, he had never used this type of punch in actual combat. It required too much setup to unleash it perfectly. He never quite found any opportunity to use it. ¡°Just make sure you¡¯re guarding properly,¡± he said while he returned to focus. ¡°It¡¯s called a one-inch punch.¡± In a single breath, Frein pushed off the ground, using his back foot as an anchor to generate a sudden torque. The burst of force traveled all the way up his midsection and straight to his right arm. At the last moment, he closed his hand in a fist, sending all the force he generated into a punch that traveled only within the length of his pre-bent fingers. Backed by the compacted strength of his emphasized Siffera, the force that lanced within this one inch completely destroyed Kristel¡¯s Nidai-Kaimera and sent the Princess hurtling towards the other end of the training hall and out of its walls. She returned right after, climbing into the hole she made with a bloody nose and mouth. Frill was quick to abandon what she was doing. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Kristel nodded, gesturing for the Aria to not bother with her Samesia. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± She turned to Frein. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name was that?¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Just a punch with super condensed Siffera behind it.¡± He lifted his fist again, still enveloped by the Art¡¯s focused power. ¡°You don¡¯t reduce the Art¡¯s meiyal output at all, but you pack it as condensed as you can.¡± By the time he finished explaining, Kristel had completely recovered using her own Samesia. Frill, on the other hand, had returned to Elizzel, who had both hands raised awkwardly while the Aria took her measurements. At the same time, Katherine began to stir into consciousness, moving stray strands of her brown hair away from her face. She turned, looking for everyone, and once she confirmed everybody¡¯s presence, the Lady turned once more to face the corner and go back to sleep. Kristel ignored everyone and re-Drew her Nidai-Kaimera. Frein simply observed her. It was truly amazing, he thought, finding such raw talent refusing to rely on their innate abilities, and instead, utilizing their gift with matching, worthy effort. Especially for a person in a position of power since birth, Kristel was truly an enigma for Frein. As if to prove his impression, Nidai-Kaimera gradually reduced in size. At the same time, its glow flared with intensity. It went on until, much to Frein¡¯s expectations, the Art became as small as the Princess¡¯s arm. Reality bent at the sheer weight of its power. As Kristel smiled, Frein already knew what was going through her head. He was thinking the same thing. What if it was Sandai-Kaimera? What if it was the Leviathan? They had to test it. Without words, Frein pulled his dormant Fulgurblade from its scabbard. There was no preamble, no need to check if either practitioner was ready. He and Kristel simply met at the middle and clashed swords. Frein found himself at the other side of the wall, his Display completely gone. He was smiling ear to ear. He pulled himself to find the Princess and everyone else¡ªincluding a startled Katherine¡ªstaring at the commotion in disbelief. Good. This way, I can push even further. Frein was afraid to push ahead too much. Kristel had been frustrated for the longest time, trying to catch up with everyone else. She was the missing piece in the entire group. Of course there was also Xiv, but his problems were something else entirely, and one that could be easily solved by simply waiting for his full recovery. But now that the Princess has caught up, there wasn¡¯t anything stopping Frein from going all out. Once he integrated with the Da¡¯bloop¡¯s core, he would have a ten-meiyal resource. According to Katherine, that was the top as far as recorded history was concerned. Frein spiraled into deep thought. What would happen if he kept gaining more meiyal resources? The naming seemed awkward after a point. Would it be called by the number still? What if he gained up to a hundred? One-hundred-forty-nine-meiyal. What about thousands? Would it even be possible for millions? One-million-three-hundred-forty-two-thousand-six-hundred-ninety-nine-meiyal. His head hurt. ¡°Coin a term,¡± Kristel said. It pulled Frein back to his senses. At first, he wondered how Kristel was able to read his thoughts until he saw Elizzel and the rest of the gang around him. He was back in the middle of the training facility, unaware that his thoughts were being delivered by the faunel. ¡°I agree,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Just come up with something when you get there. Maybe you can start as early as ten, and then go from there. Make a naming system or something.¡± ¡°That sounds very loose and irresponsible,¡± Frein said. ¡°That¡¯s what everyone did, back in the day,¡± Frill reasoned. ¡°Even for Vyndival that¡¯s the case, right?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Xiv agreed. He shrugged. ¡°Donning a Weapon doesn¡¯t make sense if you think about it, but that¡¯s what they came up with. Eventually though, they found the proper term. Flourishing.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re the only one who can do it, you can call it however you want,¡± Kristel finished. Frein wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Didn¡¯t Evanclad or Kristella come up with anything back in the day?¡± ¡°The long-winded numbering system,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. Come up with something else.¡± ¡°Decimeiyal,¡± said a voice that didn¡¯t come from anyone in the group. Everyone turned to find Jaylene entering the training facility, her felintine tail swaying in time with her steps. ¡°There, named it for you. Only count by tens at that point. Solved your problem until you get to a hundred-meiyal.¡± ¡°One-decimeiyal for ten-meiyal,¡± Frein contemplated. ¡°Two-decimeiyal¡­ decimeiyal. It sounds¡­¡± ¡°Weird,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Simple,¡± Katherine followed. ¡°Too on the nose,¡± said Frill. Xiv simply shrugged. ¡°I like it,¡± said S.A.M. The talking M.O.B.I.L.E. startled the Vyndivalian, and it took a few good minutes for Katherine to explain it to him while forcing him to a promise of secrecy. The entire time, Frein contemplated on the thought. Suddenly, he felt responsible for it. ¡°I think it¡¯s fine,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°One-decimeiyal. Two-decimeiyal. Nine-decimeiyal. It might take a long time before we need to come up with a hundred.¡± ¡°I might not even get there,¡± Frein replied through their Tether. The faunel looked like she wanted to say something, but Jaylene cut her off. The owner of Atlas Sid passed him two small orbs. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Your songs. I made two copies. You wanted to give one to Frill, right?¡± she asked while her felintine ears twitched. ¡°Thanks,¡± Frein said, taking the copies. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go all the way here for that, though. We would¡¯ve visited you later.¡± Jaylene shook her head. ¡°With everyone asleep last night, Admiral Garm sped up our route for a bit. There were too many injured Jumpers and while we healed them all, our resources took a hit. Not to mention a lot of them won¡¯t be staying on the grand carrier anymore. So, we also need to get new recruits to train. The sooner we¡¯re back at Central, the better. ¡°That means, you¡¯ll be arriving in Veli Manor a little earlier than expected,¡± she finished, turning to Frill and the others. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Frill. I heard about Liona. My condolences. As much as I would like to escort you, I have my responsibilities here in Atlas Sid. So, please deliver my condolences to your mother as well.¡± Her speech brought a heavy atmosphere within the room. She was clearly aware of what she had done, but Frein agreed with her decision. There was no easy way about it. He was amazed, however, by Frill. She didn¡¯t outright smile; of course she couldn¡¯t. But she stepped forward and accepted Jaylene¡¯s words as well as her embrace. ¡°Thanks, Jam. I¡¯ll let my mother know.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Jaylene said, rubbing the Aria¡¯s back. After a while, she addressed the entire group again. ¡°I¡¯ll send for a C.A.R. to help you on your descent. The Atlas Sid won¡¯t be stopping, so we¡¯ll just send for someone after a few days to retrieve the vehicle.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jam,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Jaylene turned to Katherine. ¡°I¡¯ll see you again some other time.¡± The Lady of the Void hugged her right away. ¡°Take care, Jam.¡± After Jaylene left, Frein looked at his group first before turning to Katherine. ¡°I think this is as good a time as any,¡± she said, purposefully creating intrigue for everyone. It served as a good segue to distract Frill from her thoughts. ¡°What is?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°We want to talk about something important before we leave Atlas Sid,¡± Katherine said while gesturing towards Frein. Just like with Jaylene, there was no easy way to go about it. So he took a deep breath and just said the words. ¡°There¡¯ll be a Nightmare Incursion sometime within two weeks. So Katherine and I were thinking that this is the best time for us to go our separate ways.¡±
Chapter 149: Hesitation
Hesitation ¡±A perfect leader does not exist, even amongst the gods we all worshiped.¡± ~Evanclad Irista, the First Monarch ¡°Wait! What do you mean?¡± Kristel asked. She had heard Frein¡¯s words loud and clear, but the concept portrayed by them in her head¡ªseparation¡ªwas blurred in the process of her understanding. She looked at Katherine, demanding for an answer. No, the Princess looked because she was desperate. She didn¡¯t want her to go. Not again. When the Lady of the Void didn¡¯t say anything, Kristel turned to Frill. The Aria in Red was in the same state of panic as her. And when their eyes met, an understanding took shape. Both of them turned back to Frein. ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± they said at the same time. Surprisingly enough, even Xiv joined them. He added a ¡®Bro¡¯ which awkwardly pulled everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°It¡¯s a Nightmare Incursion,¡± Frein reminded them. ¡°Frankly, I haven¡¯t witnessed one, but it¡¯s apparently more dangerous than a Void Encounter.¡± ¡°I know about it,¡± Kristel retaliated, barely containing her irritation. ¡°Who told you about this anyway? How are they so sure?¡± ¡°The Letterman,¡± Elizzel said. She had her arms crossed, facing away. It made apparent that they didn¡¯t like what they were doing either. That just irritated Kristel even more. However, the Letterman held too much integrity now, as far as their trust in him was concerned. Without his help, they wouldn¡¯t have survived their fight against the three Forest Jaws. They wouldn¡¯t have any confirmation that Venry was alive either. Kristel sighed, rubbing her forehead. She didn¡¯t want any of them to go. Not when she had just caught up. ¡°Nightmare Incursions kill entire nations, Kristel,¡± Evanclad reasoned from within her consciousness. ¡°They¡¯re doing this to protect¡ª¡± ¡°I know why they¡¯re doing it!¡± Kristel exclaimed. If it was with anyone else, they would think she had gone crazy, but everyone here knew of the dead Monarch residing within her Mind Palace. Even Xiv was informed about it, now that he had to work as her bodyguard. ¡°I still don¡¯t want any of you to go.¡± ¡°If we stay here, we¡¯re risking this entire country,¡± Frein said. ¡°Millions will die,¡± Katherine followed. ¡°This isn¡¯t preventable, Princess Kristel,¡± Elizzel said lastly. ¡°The Letterman said the Incursion will strike wherever Frein happened to be. It¡¯s within the next eight days. If we don¡¯t go soon, everyone will be in danger.¡± ¡°But what about you guys?¡± Frill asked. ¡°You won¡¯t survive a Nightmare Incursion on your own!¡± ¡°We¡¯re a lot stronger now,¡± Frein said. ¡°Besides, the less people we have to worry about, the better we can concentrate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to work!¡± Xiv complained. ¡°No matter how strong you guys are now, it¡¯s still an entire Nightmare Incursion! It¡¯s literally the Nightmare Lands coming to consume you.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s better than having millions of people dying because of it,¡± Katherine retaliated. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our plan is to survive within the Nightmare Lands until the Incursion hits, then we¡¯ll escape from it and return to Irista Nation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a guarantee!¡± Frill exclaimed. ¡°There must be a better way.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the best plan we¡¯ve¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Kristel¡¯s words were laced with meiyal, causing the world to reverberate her command. Silence followed the echo of her voice. ¡°Let me think,¡± she said in between ragged breaths. The Princess walked away, trying to process the information, but Frein cut her off. ¡°We don¡¯t¡ª¡± Kristel snapped and pointed at him. ¡°You¡¯re not taking her away, Frein. I don¡¯t care. Shut up and let me think of something.¡± The Princess stormed out of the training room. No matter how much she tried to stop it, a single tear still managed to flow down her face.
Frein sighed, staring at the small girl as she left the training room. Frill grabbed his attention with a death glare before turning to follow the Princess. Then there was Xiv, indecision gripping him in place. ¡°Go after them,¡± the Visitor said, making the decision for the Vyndivalian. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here.¡± After the three left, Frein leaned on the wall as he slowly slumped down the floor. Another sigh escaped him. He was surrounded on either side by Katherine and Elizzel. The two leaned on him, the Lady on his shoulder, the faunel on his lap. And without words, they held his hands as well. ¡°You made her cry, you know,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Told you it won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Frein sighed. His fingers intertwined with both Katherine¡¯s and Elizzel¡¯s. The two held hands as well, completing a circle. ¡°Give me Nightmares to fight anytime. Just don¡¯t force me to make these stupid decisions.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°We haven¡¯t even told them there will be three at the same time,¡± Elizzel mentioned. Frein¡¯s mind lingered, not bothering to add to Elizzel¡¯s worried statement. He remembered Enza, and the faunel quickly picked up on his thoughts. ¡°We can¡¯t bring Enza, you know.¡± Katherine agreed. ¡°She¡¯s right.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t even been together for a month,¡± Frein said. He realized his words meant more than he intentionally realized. ¡°I haven¡¯t even been in Brymeia for a month.¡± The two ladies that surrounded him held his hands tighter at the same time. ¡°There has to be a way,¡± both of them said. He agreed. ¡°We¡¯re probably missing something.¡±
¡°Calm down, Kristel.¡± The Princess ignored the First Monarch. She wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with intruding voices. In fact, she had been constantly assaulted by them since even before the day Frein arrived. ¡°Damn it!¡± she cursed, slamming a fist on a metallic trash bin. It was planted in the ground, but the force from her Siffera-empowered slam sent it twirling in the air. The trash bin stayed suspended midair, all its contents slowly returning inside as Frill steadily placed it back on the ground through sheer meiyal control. Not quite Meiyal Weaving, but the Princess didn¡¯t really bother to care. She just kept on walking. Kristel couldn¡¯t look at Frill, not when she couldn¡¯t control her emotions. So she kept moving. The Aria, her retainer, followed while maintaining a good distance. Xiv was with them as well. The morning was eerily silent. There was no one around. Probably because last night¡¯s celebration had lasted until the sun was almost up. People decided to sleep in. The break was definitely deserved, which was why Kristel couldn¡¯t comprehend the reason for her headache right now. They ended up in the boarding platform at the edge of Atlas Sid. It was the same one they used yesterday for the Jump. The events of that day came rolling through flashbacks of her memory. It was the day of her triumph. The moment when she became on par with Katherine and Frein. When she had carried that sword, the Leviathan, she felt invincible. Nothing could¡¯ve stopped her. Not even Nightmare Incursions. The voice didn¡¯t come from Evanclad this time, but it was familiar regardless. Quickly, she turned and gestured for her retainers to come closer. They were hesitant, but followed anyway. ¡°I¡¯m talking to Brymeia. Make sure no one bothers me.¡± The Princess didn¡¯t wait for their response. She simply sat where she stood and entered her Mind Palace. Somehow it was different, the transition from reality into her Dream Realm was now more fluid than ever. No need for her to sleep, and especially no need for dreams that turned into nightmares. No guilt, no stress, no pressure. A simple thought was all it took for Kristel to stand in front of her Mind Palace. Her ancestor¡¯s Mind Palace to be exact. ¡°Speaking with her costs more than you know, Kristel,¡± Evanclad said, standing on the threshold of the entrance to the Mind Palace. He specifically stayed on the side, a gesture indicating that he simply wanted to advise and not decide for the Princess. ¡°I know,¡± she said. She attempted to enter, but the First Monarch spoke again. ¡°If you keep relying on her, there will be consequences.¡± ¡°That¡¯s expected.¡± Kristel moved on, entering her Mind Palace for the first time since Frein had pulled her from her nightmare. She was surprised to see a carpeted hallway accompanied by high bells that tolled, announcing her arrival. What for? There¡¯s no one else in here. She entertained the question only for a second before she carried on. A chamber was at the end of the hallway. It was grand and filled with historical depictions of her ancestors. Images of every monarch who carried the burden of the Crown shifted in and out of the stained glass windows of the great chamber. She recognized so few of them, she realized. Kristella was an exception. The Second Monarch, who she was named after, looked so similar to Elizzel after all. The image of her winked before flying past the frame, to be replaced by another monarch that the Princess didn¡¯t recognize. At the center of the chamber was a throne on a raised platform. Steps surrounded it on all sides. Beside it was a small dream wolf, Norazzel, who stirred from her slumber after hearing Kristel¡¯s arrival. The faunel¡¯s eyes shimmered as she read the Princess¡¯s intentions. She rested her head on the floor. ¡°You have been warned. I have nothing more to say. If you wish to continue, sit on your throne.¡± Hesitation crept at the back of Kristel¡¯s mind. Norazzel¡¯s decision to simply stand aside had a psychological effect on her. Was it just a reversal, or was there something more into it? ¡°What would happen if I talk to her?¡± she asked, completely losing her tension. It was probably for the best. Even Katherine wouldn¡¯t do something so reckless without knowing her odds first. ¡°What exactly are the consequences?¡± ¡°No,¡± Norazzel replied. ¡°Is it because of Destiny again?¡± Kristel retorted, irritated by all the secrecy. ¡°Sometimes you need to take action without all the information in hand.¡± The faunel met the Princess¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your stride just before, it was one of a strong leader. Now you¡¯ve slumped back to your usual naivety.¡± ¡°She means, you have to trust your instincts sometimes, Kristel,¡± Evanclad said. He walked slowly into the chamber, stopping a few steps behind the Princess. ¡°If you start second guessing yourself, you¡¯ll never be able to lead.¡± Kristel analyzed their words. They were right. Her decisions were always sound, provided she knew well enough about the choices she was making. Whenever she was kept in the dark, however, the unknown always made her stop or even walk backwards. ¡°We all make mistakes, Kristel,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°Leaders most of all.¡± He sighed, gesturing for her to proceed. ¡°But again, this brings us back to hesitation and lack of information. Since Norazzel refuses to provide you any more hints, I will abstain as well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying, talking to Brymeia is a mistake?¡± Kristel asked. It was the most sensible conclusion from all the vague words both the faunel and the monarch had said. ¡°Yes,¡± Norazzel said, raising her head. ¡°Would that stop you?¡± Kristel froze on the spot. And the faunel sighed once more. ¡°You know why you¡¯ve come seeking Brymeia¡¯s advice, Princess, but you¡¯re too afraid, for you do not know the price of what you seek.¡± The Faunel of Dreams and Memories stood completely. ¡°Then, let me ask you this, Kristel. How important is it for you? How important are your friends to you? If a simple mistake is all it takes for you to save everyone, why are you so hesitant?¡± Norazzel stepped down the raised platform, sitting on her haunches beside Evanclad. The two looked more or less as though they had taken the roles of her adviser. They gave her pointers when she needed them, but ultimately, both left the decision to her. Kristel took a deep breath and clenched her fist. She took one step up the raised platform towards the throne. The elegant and oversized chair was made of pure meiyal with the brilliant hue of white and gold. Red cloth, drapes, and cushions completed its color scheme, but its most prominent feature was the heavy atmosphere that its meiyal composition created. Each step was an effort. It didn¡¯t matter if Kristel used Siffera or not. The steps themselves pushed back against her feet, while gravity pushed down on her. She felt herself being squeezed, and by the time her hands reached the throne, she was bleeding from her mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. The world spun around her, but she made all the effort to take her seat. Suddenly, everything and everyone was gone. There was only the darkness. The Princess no longer bled, she couldn¡¯t even see herself anymore. A chill ran up her nonexistent spine as a voice, so quiet and cold, whispered something next to her. ¡°Oh¡­ you should not have done that, little Princess.¡±
Chapter 150: Ones Own Decision One''s Own Decision

With nothing much to do than wait, Frein spent his time inside his Mind Palace to look for clues. He tried to pull every piece of information he had regarding the Nightmare Lands, Void Encounters, Nightmare Invasions, and Nightmare Incursions. Too many terms, too many names. While Void Encounters and Nightmare Invasion were one and the same, history recorded them using both terms interchangeably. Clearly, none of these people had agreed to a single naming scheme. The countries of this world were far from united, compared to Earth, when agreeing on a single title. Not that united, but still¡­ Immediately, he was absorbed in his work, completely forgetting about something else that was just as important. An array of paintings presented themselves in front of him, depicting historical records that he had read and seen over the last few weeks. The only account that gave him direct information was when Elizzel told him about Sylvanus, the Tree of Stars. It was a vivid account. For all the memories the faunel had forgotten, this¡ªand her memories of Evangeline¡ªwere all that remained, making for a solid recording of history. But Frein didn¡¯t think it would be worth reliving the faunel¡¯s trauma through a Recollection. Maybe when we really have no choice. Frein left it as a last resort and studied other historical accounts in the meantime. ¡°This feels so weird and so amazing at the same time,¡± Katherine said as she browsed the paintings around the foyer. Her Dream manifestation was beautiful, as if the meiyal was overjoyed by her visit. Frein wasn¡¯t sure if that was because of how much he was willing to accept her inside his Mind Palace. ¡°Want to see where he keeps all his lewd memories about you?¡± Elizzel asked, smiling like a kid out for mischief. ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°They¡¯re super detailed. Recollections on Recollections.¡± Frein turned, finally addressing the fact that Katherine could exist inside his Dream Realm. ¡°How exactly does it work? I know we can enter other people¡¯s Mind Palace, but I didn¡¯t think you could do it the other way around?¡± ¡°True, we can do that by ourselves just like with Kristel¡¯s case, as long as they¡¯re not strong enough to push us out. But it usually wouldn¡¯t work the other way around. If anything else, this is unique to Katherine.¡± ¡°So, how exactly?¡± ¡°Temporary Tether, plus¡ª¡± Elizzel gestured towards a sleeping dream wolf. ¡°The Tether allows Katherine to smoothly transition into the Dream Realm, while Norazzel ushers her to your Mind Palace. Technically, we don¡¯t need the Tether, but I was just curious if it would work, since we¡¯re in this weird relationship now. It¡¯s actually Norazzel who can connect Dream manifestations to other Dream Realms. Deitars like Su¡¯karix could do it, too.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we manifest on the Physical Realm in the Keeper¡¯s Isolation?¡± Frein asked while dismissing one of the records he was studying. ¡°We did, but that¡¯s because of her meiyal-charged material. It¡¯s a completely nonrelated similarity.¡± Elizzel pulled a canvas depicting Sylvanus and presented it to Frein. ¡°I agree, if there¡¯s no other choice, we can use this Recollection.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Frein nodded and took the canvas, putting it on the side separate from the massive pile of painting he was going through. ¡°We¡¯ll do it for last, just in case.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You need to form a relationship to tie a Tether?¡± Katherine asked, recalling a point Elizzel had mentioned earlier. She was blushing while looking at the images of her naked body. ¡°That didn¡¯t seem to be the case for Frein when you tied one after you just met him. Also, Frein, why?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± he shrugged. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to look at those.¡± ¡°They¡¯re memories of me! Naked!¡± ¡°I have a collection of wholesome ones over on the other side.¡± Frein made a gesture and a collection of large canvases waited in line behind Katherine. They were exactly the amount of dates they had gone through both on Earth and Brymeia. Not that he had a lot of those from Brymeia, yet. Elizzel just giggled. ¡°No, we don¡¯t need to form a relationship. I was just curious if I could tie multiple Tethers at once. Didn¡¯t need to do that before, you know? Or I forgot, I¡¯m not sure. But since it¡¯s working, I can basically transport your thoughts and intentions even more instantaneously through this method. I don¡¯t think you two need it, but I can do it if you want.¡± With a flex of thought, Elizzel transferred Katherine¡¯s current musings towards Frein. ¡ªand I look weird from this angle. Why are there so many with my scars on it? The Lady of the Void blinked and looked at the both of them.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. What in the world? You¡¯re right! I can hear my thoughts! ¡°That¡¯s so weird!¡± she said audibly. ¡°It¡¯s like using my Heart¡¯s Will on myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re using it on me,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Of course there¡¯ll be feedback.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Katherine mused. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work on you anymore either, Eli. It¡¯s your Tether doing a feedback loop, since you¡¯re pushing on it towards both me and Frein.¡± ¡°I was going to tell you about it,¡± Frein said, scratching the back of his head. He spared a quick glance to check on the faunel, who was in utter shock. ¡°Since when?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°Hmm¡­ when was it?¡± Katherine followed, crossing her arms. She tilted her head, frowning. ¡°It was recent, if I remember correctly.¡± ¡°Before we boarded Atlas Sid,¡± Frein answered. He flipped to another canvas. So far, none of the recordings had been enlightening. He already knew most of them. ¡°You were distracted by the Letterman, Eli.¡± I should really get my hands on Alphazzel¡¯s records. It was a conundrum. Those records were in the High Palace, and with the Nightmare Incursion hitting them without a definite schedule, it would be too risky to make a visit. ¡°Oh¡­ right.¡± Elizzel looked up, grabbing Frein¡¯s attention. She turned from him to Katherine and back. ¡°But if that¡¯s the case, then¡­¡± The Visitor found it amusing. ¡°It means she trusts you as much as she trusts me, Eli.¡± The faunel turned to him with a face of disappointment. Frein couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°It also means, I love you just as much, Eli,¡± Katherine said before turning to Frein. ¡°Don¡¯t bully her too much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s how I show my affection.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Katherine rolled her eyes and shook her head. The two of them looked at Elizzel to comfort her, but the faunel was hiding behind her hands, blushing and crying. She fell to her knees, sobbing. Both of them were immediately beside her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to bully you, alright? That was my bad.¡± ¡°I thought¡­ I thought I was going to get rejected,¡± she said, sniffling. ¡°I couldn¡¯t control myself yesterday, there was too much Nightmare influence, and I didn¡¯t want to bring it up, but I thought it was over. I didn¡¯t mean to get in between you two.¡± ¡°Well, you did,¡± Katherine said. ¡°But that¡¯s fine,¡± Frein followed immediately. ¡°It was sort of fun.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Elizzel continued to cry, sniffling and sobbing uncontrollably. She could barely speak. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely fine if it¡¯s you, Eli,¡± both of them said at the same time, embracing the faunel together. They stayed that way until Elizzel finally calmed down. ¡°You know, I noticed you feel really anxious every time this relationship gets brought up,¡± Frein began. ¡°Evanclad even told you about it, remember?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t really know then,¡± Elizzel said, her tears finally stopping. ¡°I think, I became more worried because he mentioned it. I¡¯m not really good at this sort of thing. Back then, Evangeline and I fought hard for our relationship. Evan wasn¡¯t exactly approving of it right away.¡± ¡°Because both of you were women?¡± Katherine asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Because I¡¯m a faunel.¡± ¡°Everyone,¡± Norazzel called, stirring rather quickly from her slumber. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation. I must ask that you return to the Physical Realm.¡± Right away, as they were pushed by Norazzel, Frein found himself waking up from his slumber to find Frill and Xiv carrying an unconscious Kristel. He Drew Siffera right away to stir his alertness and awareness even faster than normal. Before he could get up on his feet, however, he felt something snap. He turned towards Elizzel, who was clutching her head. ¡°I can¡¯t maintain the Tether with Katherine if you¡¯re emphasizing an Art,¡± she explained. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why.¡± ¡°We can deal with that later,¡± Frein said, quickly assessing their Tether. There was no damage. He returned his attention to Kristel. ¡°What happened?¡± Katherine was quick to assess the Princess¡¯s condition with Samesia. She became immediately worried. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with her.¡± ¡°She said, she¡¯ll talk to Brymeia,¡± Frill explained. ¡°I think she wanted advice on what to do with the Nightmare Incursion.¡± That¡¯s no good. ¡°She relied on a higher power?¡± Frein asked. ¡°That¡¯s never a good thing.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t think to stop her,¡± Xiv admitted. ¡°We don¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°You pulled her out before, right, Frein?¡± Frill almost begged. She was close to tears, and was using her all to stop herself from breaking down. The Visitor¡¯s Mesiffera even showed him how the Aria was using her Siffera to bolster her courage. It wasn¡¯t as well practiced as his, but she was desperate enough as it was. ¡°I¡¯ll try and see if I can pull her out.¡± ¡°No.¡± Norazzel¡¯s worried voice echoed before she even manifested out of Kristel. ¡°Do not enter the Princess¡¯s Dream Realm.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Frein, Katherine, and Elizzel asked at the same time. The unified question forced the Faunel of Dreams and Memories to take a step back. Her breathing was ragged and her fur was a mess. She was scared. This was a different Norazzel, not the one inside his Mind Palace. He had never seen this one before, so meek and fragile, and yet, still trying hard to perform her duty. ¡°Sorry,¡± Frein followed up to calm Norazzel down. ¡°Please explain.¡± The faunel stared at him, studying his intentions. She breathed a sigh of relief before beginning her explanation, addressing everyone. ¡°Much like each of you have a purpose to fulfill, this one belongs only to Princess Kristel Irista. She made this decision on her own, without any influence from Evanclad or myself, or even this Letterman you speak of. If¡ªor when¡ªshe asks for any of our help, will be the only time we should step into her Destiny. This is as much for your safety as it is for hers.¡± Frein churned out Norazzel¡¯s words and ultimately decided to sit down. The faunel was correct. The Princess¡¯s decision was meant to help them. Intervening to drag her out of that decision would be an insult to her determination. He just wished she could¡¯ve talked to them about it. He couldn¡¯t stop himself from shaking his head. He¡¯d punch himself if he could. We didn¡¯t ask for her opinion before we made our decision either¡­ He glanced towards Katherine and Elizzel, and immediately, they were in unison, agreeing with him. They gave him a nod at the same time. Frein turned towards Frill and Xiv next. ¡°Norazzel¡¯s right. You two have to stay strong. Sorry, but this is her fight until she asks us for help.¡± With that, the Aria in Red slumped on her knees and began to cry. ¡°Why? Why can¡¯t I help her whenever it matters the most?¡± Xiv knelt beside her, placing a caring hand on her shoulder. Frill caved and leaned on him, finding solace inside his embrace. Frein had no other choice but to sit down beside the Princess. He Drew Mesiffera and maintained it directly at her small body. He addressed Norazzel without looking. ¡°You¡¯ll tell me when she¡¯s in danger, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, Visitor.¡± ¡°If this doesn¡¯t go well, you know what I¡¯ll do, right?¡± The dream wolf¡¯s tail tucked between her hind legs, and her ears folded down while she bowed out of instinct, trying not to look at him. ¡°I apologize, Visitor. Yes, we¡¯re prepared for our deaths.¡± Frein turned to her and frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you, Nora, don¡¯t be silly.¡± He smiled. ¡°I¡¯m going to stop playing all your riddles and make you spill everything. I promise you that.¡±
Chapter 151: Out of Body Out of Body ¡±The world you know and the one I know are different, little Princess.¡± ~The Entity ¡°Who are you? Where¡¯s Brymeia?¡± Kristel¡¯s voice echoed louder than she anticipated. It was difficult to control; she didn¡¯t have a body in the first place. None of her Meiyal Arts worked, since she didn¡¯t have a meiyal system. Her powerlessness dawned on her like a bucket of ice water, matching the chill running up her¡­ well, she didn¡¯t even have a spine to speak of. The wave of meiyal accompanied the dark laughter originating from a direction she couldn¡¯t identify. None of her senses worked. She was space, a concept, an existence that which couldn¡¯t exist, a consciousness without form, a soul without a vessel. Once again, Princess Kristel was nothing. This time, however, she remained firm. She would be standing tall, if she could. ¡°Amazing. So a simple warning actually works. Does it influence Destiny somehow?¡± The voice sounded just like Brymeia¡¯s whispers before she took the form of Liona the other time. However, it felt eerie to Kristel. Somewhat malicious and seductive. ¡°You sound like the most untrustworthy person. That¡¯s all,¡± Kristel said, trying to provoke the Entity. ¡°Do I now?¡± The female voice, despite its sinister timbre, was in genuine thought. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right, little Princess. You know about Destiny, yes? She taught you about it, if I recall. Sometimes, even knowledge alone can make rippling effects in what it can show.¡± The Entity pondered for a while, leaving Kristel to wander on her own amidst the void. Was she still in the Dream Realm? No, far from it. Looking around didn¡¯t help either. What was there to look at? What was there to look with? All Kristel got were visions. They slammed into her consciousness the moment she tried to see something. A blur of images raced past her before settling into a horizon filled with nothing but toxic bog. Muddy pools bubbled, hidden underneath rotting fields of grass. It produced thick smog, obscuring the other end of the field and carrying the smell of half-digested innards and waste. There was no comfort to be had. Kristel, without her physical form, couldn¡¯t even gag to find some sort of relief. She couldn¡¯t vomit as a reaction. It was pure torture. ¡°Ah, I remember this place,¡± the Entity said, her¡ªas Kristel recognized¡ªterribly soothing voice coming close somehow. ¡°One of my finest works, if I do say so myself. No survivors, you see. One of Liang¡¯s greatest failures. Why are we here?¡± Liang? Kristel had never heard the name, but for some reason, it felt familiar. The simple mention of it gave her much needed comfort. A placebo influencing her existence. ¡°You¡¯ve never heard of the Great Apocalypse?¡± the Entity probed, reading the Princess¡¯s mind. ¡°Not all too surprising, really. Much like how Zerax¡¯thum folded Destiny multiple times, Liang did the same to hide her history. How about I show you a glimpse of your wisest ancestor, hmm?¡± Reality started to bend as a Recollection began to take root, but Kristel denied it. Relief filled her when the manifestation fizzled out, indicating to her that wherever this was, she was still in control of it. For now, at least. The Princess was subjected to deathly cold when the Entity made its frustrations known. ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just let you lead me anywhere you want,¡± Kristel said, gathering all her courage. ¡°I¡¯m here for Brymeia, not you.¡± ¡°How cold of you to say such things, little Princess.¡± The Entity sighed. ¡°Stop calling me little.¡± ¡°No.¡± There was silence for a while, but the Entity didn¡¯t let the thought linger for too long. ¡°Regardless, your caring¡ªhmm? Seems like Destiny won¡¯t let me say it still. Fascinating. Brymeia it is, loath am I to utter the name, mind you. She¡¯s currently asleep. I¡¯m here to keep you company until she stops being lazy. Shouldn¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t really have a choice. ¡°But no Recollections.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so boring.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± The chill became sweltering heat as the Entity¡¯s anger surged in all directions. Kristel felt herself, her existence, melting away. The bog gradually turned into a sea of lava. The toxic smog disintegrated completely, finally allowing the Princess to see the vast horizon. There was nothing now but molten rock. The skies above were filled with falling meteors and passing comets. Explosions and supernovas were still images that brightened the cosmos. Formations of stars, of planets, of orbits, and other celestial bodies were in complete suspension. ¡°Fine,¡± the entity said along with the normalizing temperature. Time resumed far too quickly. Instantly, the ocean of lava began to cool. And the cosmos above settled into a peaceful nothingness. ¡°Tedious as it is, I will tell you the story of Liang Apocalypse. Understand, enemies though we are¡ªwere, I am still fond of the Great Apocalypse. So, how about we begin from the very beginning?¡± Kristel was locked into place as the world around her began to reform. Snow enveloped the lands and melted just as quickly, forming oceans that rose landmasses along overlapping, fleeting earthquakes. Trees and all sorts of fauna grew faster than she could register, and the first signs of life swam and prospered in rivers until they began to explore the lands. ¡°Oh,¡± the Entity sighed once more. ¡°I forgot how boring the first few billion years were. Let¡¯s fast forward a bit. Nothing really happens here.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. In a flash, too quick for Kristel to comprehend, intelligent life appeared. Humans, dwarves, elves, the Triad of Origins claimed territories and warred against each other¡ªincluding themselves. Blessings, Curses, Burdens, and Glories influenced the world, creating the source of all powers. Meiyal. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± the Entity mused. ¡°This should be around the time the Nightmarish Void planted its influence. It created utter chaos, you see. It was around the same time canintines and felintines emerged because of the genetic influences of meiyal core bonding. Caused a great amount of discrimination against those races. The coincidence was definitely calculated, in my oh, so humble opinion.¡± ¡°Nightmarish Void?¡± Kristel¡¯s voice was drowned in explosions as devastating meiyal techniques from old, forgotten disciplines bombarded landscapes and kingdoms. Death counted by the millions, by the billions, by generations upon generations. Kristel felt sick despite her nonexistent form. It was savagery. Violence and chaos without rhyme or reason. It was too much for the Princess. ¡°Not to your liking, I see,¡± the Entity said. ¡°No matter. It¡¯s not that important.¡± Just like that, the chaos calmed as it was engulfed by the rapid change of seasons. Signs of war quickly vanished and fantastical creatures began to roam freely. Dragons, phoenixes, chimeras, unicorns, pegasi, and many more that only existed in myths in the present world, roamed the wilds, while civilization finally found proper territories to settle in. ¡°The Nightmarish Void is exactly what you think it is. The Nightmare Lands, the Void Region. All the same. Its true name, however, one that it prefers are not these silly interpretations of its nature. But alas, telling you of its Prime Designation might eradicate your entire existence. Its influence on Destiny is mighty strong, you see.¡± Kristel pondered over the words as peace settled over the world in front of her. Kingdoms, nations, frontiers, and even underground settlements prospered, collapsed, and were rebuilt as time rapidly went by. One thing though, pulled at her curiosity, and the Entity seemed to have read it almost immediately. ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t know what a Prime Designation means, little Princess?¡± The mocking tone only emphasized the fact that the Entity was having too much fun. ¡°It is one¡¯s own mark on Destiny. A name, so to speak, but with the significance recognized by Destiny¡¯s threads, making them valuable anchors to determine outcomes and futures. ¡°Irista, for example, is a Prime Designation bestowed upon Evanclad¡¯s entire bloodline and whoever would end up carrying his Crown. A relatively weak Designation, some would say mind you, but one of the most recent ones to make a breakthrough. I would personally consider it promising instead of weak.¡± ¡°Whoever wears the Crown?¡± Kristel asked. Her thoughts still lingered towards finding out where Brymeia was, but this Entity¡¯s stories made it too difficult to stay focused. ¡°It¡¯s not just his bloodline?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the significance of the Prime Designation, you see. Not only does Destiny not care whether the heir is of Evanclad¡¯s bloodline or not, it also strictly follows the mandates of the Designations it deems significant. In Evanclad¡¯s case, hmm¡­ let me see.¡± The silence only lasted a few seconds as far as Kristel was concerned. She realized, her perception of time was all around the place at the moment. ¡°Evanclad¡¯s Crown serves as the anchor of his Prime Designation. The bonds he made with Brymeia¡¯s agreement made it possible for him to create impactful bends and advantageous decisions that allowed him to come toe to toe with Zerax¡¯thum. ¡°But see, your ancestor is no god. Sure he may have reached the epitome of a Deitar, but that couldn¡¯t be enough when he fought the Fallen Dragon. Zerax¡¯thum, after all, did more than just bend Destiny to his whims. He could literally fold it.¡± Too many questions suddenly bombarded Kristel. If what this Entity claimed was true, how then, did Evanclad succeed against Zerax¡¯thum? What did it mean to bend Destiny? To fold it? The gods could only influence Destiny that involved them. Influence sounded so soft and distanced compared to doing the act of bending, folding more so. Then, how much stronger was the Fallen Dragon to be able to do something like it? ¡°Ah, and what does Liang Apocalypse have to do with all of it?¡± the Entity added. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this is still a story about her. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re getting to the good part. See, Liang¡ª¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Brymeia¡¯s command echoed with the soft, lovely voice of Liona. Time froze, suspending a busy market of intermingling intelligent races and species. Kristel saw a bulky man with a rhino¡¯s head in a perpetual state of panic as kids with rabbit ears and tails gathered around his feet. Before she could look around more, however, the adult version of Liona pulled her by the arm. It was at that moment that the Princess saw her arm reform. Was it really that thin? It was clarified for her as her shoulder became reality along with the rest of her torso. She could finally feel her head and the mild swaying her of azure hair that was now made slightly brighter through the mix of silver. Then the rest of her body formed. ¡°Brymeia. A pity.¡± The Entity¡¯s voice gurgled with regret. ¡°I shall take my leave then. Storytime is over.¡± Just like that, the Entity vanished. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Kristel asked the world turned person. Brymeia simply smiled. ¡°You were brought into a different world, Kristel. Even I can¡¯t simply go around the cosmos to find you instantaneously. You¡¯re here to find answers for the Nightmare Incursion, correct? Let¡¯s go back first.¡± Kristel turned, studying everyone in the market. ¡°So these people. They¡¯re not from Brymeia?¡± ¡°Kielmera. A world of meiyal just like Brymeia. Once, it had a vessel like myself to anchor a protective sphere against the Nightmare.¡± Brymeia opened a portal upon which Kristel entered, but only after admiring the finer details of the world she had just visited for the last time. Somehow, she could relate to Frein a little more now. Not much different. ¡°Protection from the Nightmare?¡± Kristel asked as they dove into the nothingness. Worlds, stars, asteroids, and other cosmic entities zipped past them. ¡°But if what the other one said was true, then this Kielmera was supposedly destroyed by the Nightmare, right?¡± ¡°The harsh truth about a living vessel is that they are alive and capable of thought,¡± Brymeia began before turning back to the Princess. ¡°Kielmera got bored and abandoned his duty.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t the same thing happening on Brymeia? On our world?¡± ¡°Are you implying that I¡¯m lazy?¡± Brymeia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, you were asleep just now, if I¡¯m to believe that Entity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s necessity, not leisure.¡± Brymeia returned her attention towards their destination. ¡°Sustaining the roles of the severed gods ever since the Divine Severing has taken a toll on my fortitude. Sleep mitigates this price, but in turn, it makes me somewhat vulnerable to the Nightmare. Norazzel could only do so much.¡± ¡°But if Brymeia is also protected, how come we¡¯re so ravaged by the Nightmare?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the nature of playing defense, Kristel. Putting up a wall, literal or otherwise, could only last so much against oppressing and relentless forces.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t fight back?¡± Kristel asked. She felt the need to ask given that a lot of her training was about taking the offense. ¡°My forte is to provide life, Kristel. Not to end it. I asked for help.¡± ¡°Evanclad?¡± ¡°Yes. But before him, I asked Zerax¡¯thum.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s to be expected, but that¡¯s a story for another time, Kristel. We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Kristel found herself looking at her own body lying on the floor of the training room. She was surrounded by everyone, waiting patiently for her. Frill was stressed, leaning on Xiv for support. Katherine and Elizzel were behind Frein, who was attentively observing the Princess. ¡°The High Palace will be the safest place against the Nightmare Incursion, Kristel,¡± Brymeia said as she gestured for the Princess to return. She hesitated. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s still on top of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull, yes?¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°Then that¡¯s why.¡± Brymeia smiled as she pulled the Princess back into her body. ¡°Frein will understand. I have more things to tell you, Kristel, but your venture has cost you too much. Art fatigue or no, you need your rest. Please let Frill know that I¡¯m still waiting.¡±
Chapter 152: To Veli Manor To Veli Manor ¡±The family had served the Irista bloodline since before the dawn of Evanclad¡¯s reign. And it will stay the same until the end of time.¡± ~Celosia Veli ¡°That could work.¡± Frein nodded a little too enthusiastically. He didn¡¯t mind how childish he looked. The idea was simply that interesting. At the moment, they followed Kristel as they officially alighted Atlas Sid. The C.A.R. provided for them was slowly descending towards their next destination, Veli Manor. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Katherine asked. She casually leaned on him with her arms crossed, acting as if she had forgotten about it. Again, this too, he didn¡¯t mind. This Close-Air Relocator model was different compared to the previous one they had ridden a few days ago. Instead of multiple rows of seats on an open vehicle, this was instead a closed cargo with seats all facing each other. This allowed Frein to be flanked by Katherine and Elizzel while he faced Kristel, who sat in the middle of Frill and Xiv on the opposite side. Determination and confidence were present in the Princess¡¯s face. She had presented quite the ridiculous notion. As soon as she had woken up from communing with Brymeia, it was as if she had known exactly what she needed to do. And of course, it wasn¡¯t without logic either, which was the most interesting part of her plan. ¡°Zerax¡¯thum was called the Nightmare Eater, or Consumer of the Void during his time. At least, that¡¯s what Evanclad said before,¡± Frein said, rubbing his chin. ¡°It would make sense that his presence could prevent a Nightmare Incursion. But he¡¯s dead. How sure are we that it¡¯ll work?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask much, because I needed to get out of my Dream Realm. But I can assure you, Brymeia was confident about it.¡± Kristel was indeed exhausted. Despite the gift of never reaching Art fatigue anymore, her meiyal reserves were drastically and consistently emptied trying to maintain her Siffera and Samesia at the same time. She was constantly trying to remain awake. She needed rest, but she wasn¡¯t allowed to sleep, lest she accidentally dive straight back into her dreams. What was more, it was too early in the morning. Frein wanted to scold her for relying on Brymeia. He stopped himself. She did what she had to do for them in the first place. For all he knew, this was how it had been for her entire bloodline. That gave him a curious thought. ¡°Did Monarch Denis mention anything about speaking with Brymeia or even Evanclad?¡± he asked, more to the entire group rather than just the Princess. While he didn¡¯t hope much regarding Evanclad¡ªsince the theory was it came from the Letterman who somehow knew about the First Monarch¡¯s meiyal-charged material form¡ªFrein still decided to include him in the question just to make sure. They all shook their heads. ¡°How many meiyal marks does he have?¡± Kristel and Frill made eye contact before the Princess gave her answer. ¡°Last time I was there, it was sixty-six. His marks originate from his collarbone and wrap around him.¡± ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be enough for Brymeia to communicate with him, then.¡± He saw Frill frown, and he knew right away what she was going to say. ¡°I only have sixty-seven marks, and I was able to speak with her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re special,¡± he retorted almost instantly. ¡°Brymeia did say she¡¯s waiting for you, Frill,¡± Kristel added. ¡°Why is she waiting for you?¡± The question brought an eerie silence inside the C.A.R. Frein dared not intervene or give any hints to anyone, despite the overwhelming pressure silently coming from Katherine¡¯s stare. She knew that he knew about Frill¡¯s purpose, but she had no idea that it was about becoming the world¡¯s next vessel. He simply couldn¡¯t say anything about someone else¡¯s significant purpose without feeling guilty. Instead, he urged Frill to try. ¡°Sharing might cause a significant ripple on Destiny, but I think it¡¯ll be worth it to share with everyone here, Frill.¡± The Aria in Red squeezed her fists together. ¡°I¡¯ll try. It¡¯s been pulling at me whenever I try to say something about it, like there¡¯s a finality to it. I can¡¯t even properly Draw my Arts since that day. It¡¯s like sharing or using her power is acceptance, and I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m ready for it.¡± Kristel moved to say something, but Frein interrupted her. ¡°I think you should let her give it an honest try, at least.¡± The Princess settled down and nodded. ¡°Okay. Take your time, then, Frill.¡± Frill looked at each of them. First to Kristel, then to Elizzel. Next were Katherine and Frein. She even turned to the yumas¡ªStiry, Fittey, and Enza all huddled up together. And finally, she turned towards Xiv. She lingered a moment longer with the Vyndivalian before returning to the Princess. ¡°Brymeia¡¯s waiting for me because she wants me¡­¡± Frill shut her eyes as if she was in pain. It took her a moment, breathing deeply to calm herself before trying again. ¡°She wants me to replace her as this world¡¯s vessel.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kristel asked. Frill started by shaking her head in combination with a shrug. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask. I assume I¡¯m taking her role, whatever it is.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Once more, silence filled the C.A.R. as everyone allowed for the fact to sink in. Frein wondered how far they were from landing. He looked out the window and saw that they were still some ways away from touching ground. It felt like a long elevator ride. While there was a setting he could fiddle with to speed up their descent, he¡¯d much rather stay put and wait for everyone¡¯s reaction. ¡°Is this for real?¡± Katherine asked finally. Kristel and Xiv had the same expression plastered on their faces. Elizzel also knew about it beforehand, but she was just as worried. ¡°It was a request, not a command,¡± Frill added, trying to diffuse any potential panic. Not that it would help, but everyone was too stunned to cause any commotion. ¡°But I feel extremely compelled to accept it.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s Monarch¡¯s Law?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Are you going to accept it?¡± Xiv asked this time. The Aria in Red just shrugged. Frein noticed her turning his way before saying more. ¡°Brymeia said I have all the time until you¡¯re done. I figured you¡¯ll be staying for a while longer, right?¡± ¡°Well, if what Brymeia says is true, and Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull can really push away the Nightmare Incursion, I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯ll be fine for a long while.¡± He crossed his arms and wondered. ¡°Although, that begs the question, why didn¡¯t the Letterman just tell me to go hide there in the first place, right? I¡¯m also wondering about that second Entity you encountered, Kristel.¡± ¡°Whoever she was, she wasn¡¯t a fan of Brymeia.¡± Kristel crossed her arms. ¡°She¡¯s powerful, Frein. She¡¯s the one Brymeia warned us about.¡± Just then, a notification from the C.A.R. alerted all of them. They were close to land. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll talk about that later,¡± said the Princess. ¡°What I want to know right now is that you¡¯re in agreement, right Frein? You as well, Eli, Kat?¡± Frein looked at his companions. Both of them gave a nod. It wasn¡¯t much of an agreement, but more of placing their trust in him. He followed his instincts. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go to the High Palace after this.¡±
Veli Manor was just as large and imposing as Minaveil Manor, only that the gardens here were prosperous and well-maintained, given that it had more attendants to take care of them. Affixed conveniently on the regional threshold between Westleaf Region and Central, the manor served not only as home for the prestigious Veli name, but it also served as a landmark and a main tourist destination for many travelers. And once again, Frein found himself in disbelief. Truly, oftentimes, descriptions of books and records paled in comparison to actually looking at the details with his own eyes. The C.A.R. parked by the cul-de-sac that was surrounded by three grandiose buildings. Before he could even gaze and observe further details however, his attention was pulled by the centerpiece in the middle of the opening. Protected by stone fortifications and knightly statues was a plant. It was not quite a tree, but it was as large as one. Two, towering stems¡ªwhich confused Frein as to whether the organism was singular or not¡ªcurved in a rising spiral, forming a helix. Flowers of varying kinds, most of which were foreign to him, blossomed all around it. But the oddest thing about it was the sinister meiyal suppressed within. Normal meiyal enveloped it, which was essentially what made him interested. He almost missed the small detail even with his Mesiffera now constantly active. If he didn¡¯t know any better, he would¡¯ve assumed this plant to be a Nightmare of some kind. ¡°Curious?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°This isn¡¯t a Nightmare, is it?¡± he asked in return. ¡°It¡¯s quite harmless, I assure you, Visitor,¡± said a voice too manly to have come from his girlfriend. Frein turned to find a half-orc half-elf bowing in front of the entire group. ¡°Welcome to Veli Manor, esteemed guests. Lor Veli, at your service.¡± He was mostly introducing himself to Xiv more than anything else, his keen elven eyes studying the distance between the Vyndivalian and his stepsister. But instead of pointing any of those observations out, Frein decided to ask more about the plant. ¡°Not even with the Nightmare meiyal inside it?¡± ¡°Nightmare meiyal?¡± Lor asked in return, blinking twice and distracting him from intimidating Xiv, not that it had made much of an effect. Lord Knights were well known for controlling their emotions. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± Frein was about to explain when another person caught his attention. He turned left to find an unfamiliar face so close to him. She had the fluffy ears of a canintine with the curious eyes that went along with them. Almost as tall as Frill, this stranger¡¯s jet black, slender hair flowed down her entire back, almost reaching her ankles. She smiled knowingly and expectantly before taking a step back, displaying confidence of the highest form, and carrying her velvet formal dress with a natural poise. ¡°Very perceptive, Visitor,¡± she said. ¡°While the Blazing Fountain does contain a small amount of Nightmare meiyal, you can rest assured that it has complete control over it, only using it whenever it feels threatened. It is one of those rare organisms capable of living within the Nightmare Lands while utterly unaffected by their influence.¡± Frein stood up straight and bowed. ¡°You must be the owner of this establishment. I apologize for not knowing your name beforehand. This is a misstep of my own, please allow me to make up for it.¡± Katherine immediately elbowed her. ¡°You¡¯re being stupid.¡± Elizzel pulled from the Tether. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She had to return inside since they were out in public. The canintine giggled. Frein took it as appreciation of his efforts. He waited expectantly to get some answers while maintaining his inclined posture. ¡°Please be at ease, Visitor,¡± she said, passing a glance at Katherine. ¡°So what Frill said is true. I¡¯m happy for you, Lady Katherine.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a little weird sometimes,¡± the Lady of the void said. ¡°Sorry about him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite alright. You are correct in your assumption, Visitor Frein. My name is Celosia Veli, the current head of the Veli family and owner of Veli Manor. Mother to Frill, Lor, and of course, Liona.¡± Frein bowed deeper. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry.¡± ¡°Thank you, Frein. And to you as well, Xiv. I will have a good look at you both later. Now please, raise your heads.¡± It was only then that he noticed the Vyndivalian mimicking his posture. Both of them eased at the same time. ¡°Good. Now, take a rest inside. Lor will guide you to the lounge. Make sure you leave all this formal talk here. I¡¯d rather all of you relax. Alright? Frill, come with me, dear.¡± Just like that, the canintine pulled her daughter away. Immediately, she wrapped her arm around the Aria and the two walked and talked out of earshot. Frein returned his attention to Lor who was still staring at Xiv. The Vyndivalian noticed the stare and met his gaze. ¡°You guys want a match or something?¡± the Visitor asked. ¡°I¡¯m betting on the big guy.¡± ¡°I wanted to ask if you do actually have Liona¡¯s core,¡± said the big half-orc half-elf. He wasn¡¯t overly muscular, or huge, but compared to the Vyndivalian, he was at least two weight-classes above. ¡°Yes,¡± Xiv said, taking a formal salute by pressing his fists together. ¡°I¡¯m here because your sisters decided to save me. I am in their debt, and I will continue to repay it for as long as I live.¡± Lor smiled and nodded, content. ¡°Come then.¡± He reached out towards Kristel, who also smiled and ran like a kid to hug her foster father. Frein had only heard about it, but to see this sort of relationship in front of him made him think of the half-orc as sort of family. To Frein, Kristel was like his little sister. So maybe Lor¡ª ¡°Nope. Big bro at best.¡± Frein smiled and walked. The rest of them followed. The Visitor saw it, how Xiv took the first step and promptly fell like a sack of potatoes. He almost didn¡¯t catch him. Chapter 153: A Foreign Dream A Foreign Dream ¡±I woke up not where I expected.¡± ~Liona Veli Xiv found himself in a familiar place. It was his Dream Realm. Only, the feeling of familiarity wasn¡¯t authentic. He could tell because despite knowing that this place belonged to him, he had only seen it in such a chaotic state three times. The Vyndivalian sighed, looking at the depressing landscape before him. Volcanoes erupted in the distance, hurling rocks towards the skies that seemed to take forever to crash, and tainting the clouds with its thick ash. That was as far as Xiv got with regards to the interesting details on this side of his Dream Realm. He turned around to find something far more breathtaking, but more dangerous at the same time. It was a cliff with a sheer drop to nothingness. Well, not exactly nothing. Rocks, mountains, and islands rotated on a great vortex in the middle of a great maw. In that vortex was his Mind Palace, and everything else underneath was simply a void. ¡°Why do I always wake up here when I enter my Dream?¡± he asked, to no one in particular. With a sigh, he stepped off the cliff. A great gale pushed him as expected, throwing him towards one of the big, rotating islands. Xiv landed by the edge, forcing it to rotate through his momentum. He waited until the opportune moment, kicking off towards another rotating rock, a mountain this time. Something glinted in his peripheral vision as he sped through the air. He instantly reacted by Reinforcing his body even further, making his hands sturdy enough to deflect the jagged gemstones aiming for his head. They¡¯d been a natural occurrence since the change in his Dream Realm, and he had never figured out why or how many of them there were. Not that it would help with anything; he wasn¡¯t even strong enough to shatter them in the first place. Xiv slammed onto the next landmass, rotating it once again with his momentum before dashing towards the next. He did this for the next five jumps while defending himself against the gemstones along the way. Finally, he dropped in front of his Mind Palace. He commanded it to open, recognizing the usual feedback pulling against his wishes before giving it a soft nudge. This, too, was another change. It had never really been the same since his core was replaced. Eventually, his nudging worked and the gate allowed him inside just as he expected. Xiv¡¯s Mind Palace wasn¡¯t exactly a palace, in a sense. Even among his Lord Knight peers, his was unique. It was a grand colosseum with four spiraling towers in each cardinal direction, surpassing the intended height of the round structure. Inside, tiers of seats made up a large portion of the circle, leaving a small clearing in the middle where sand and dirt collected in the arena. As one would expect from those in the know, despite this infrastructure¡¯s actual purpose, it was deserted. His Dream Realm might have changed, but this Mind Palace of his was the only thing that remained the same. At least, from the outside. Xiv stood in the middle, turning to look at each of the four towers. Ultimately, they didn¡¯t represent anything special other than storing his core memories. Their uniqueness was in their aesthetics. If he were to manifest a Recollection, the four towers would converge their sources in the middle of the arena to create an immersive experience for him. And while the urge to watch while he waited tempted him, there were far more important things for him to do right now. Xiv considered whether he should visit the dungeons below, just to check if he could discern some inspiration or enlightenment by studying his past traumas. He shook his head, ultimately disregarding the thought. In the end, he could only really go to his Forge. With a sigh, he turned to exit the main stage and stopped, completely frozen in place. On a bench on top of the exit was a woman sitting with her hands on her lap. She had short, raven black hair and a pair of emerald eyes. For someone who wore a casual, baggy shirt and loose jeans, Liona¡¯s poise was too professional and stiff. Xiv preferred to be cautious. ¡°Are you Brymeia?¡± he asked. On both accounts, Frill and Kristel briefly shared how Brymeia, the World Personified¡ªas Frein so proudly named¡ªtook the form of Liona. Kristel noted that she could change her age, but what Xiv was looking at right now, he assumed, was the actual royal retainer on the day she was killed. ¡°Why would she look like me?¡± Liona asked. Her eyebrows contorted in confusion, but it might as well be irritation at the same time. ¡°Why would a planet look like me?¡± Xiv shrugged and quickly recounted the events that happened to the Princess and the Aria. Liona¡¯s frown visibly became worse with each passing phrase. ¡°That sounds impossible.¡± ¡°You being here is also impossible.¡± ¡°She saved you by giving the core.¡± ¡°That¡¯s supposedly impossible too, you know.¡± It was Xiv¡¯s turn to frown next, catching something wildly confusing. ¡°She?¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Ironically, it was Liona¡¯s turn to shrug next. ¡°The first Liona.¡± Xiv raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you going to explain that, or am I just supposed to understand it? Because I don¡¯t. Also, come down here. Let¡¯s walk and talk. I need to go to my Forge.¡± Liona vaulted off the ledge and descended the ridiculously large, ten-meter tall gate. She floated down, slowing her fall with a lightning-based Meiyal Art. ¡°What¡¯s the Forge?¡± she asked, following closely behind him. Xiv pushed the absurd metal gate with one hand like it was made of plywood. ¡°It¡¯s like your Exhibit but for Meiyal Armaments.¡± They entered the hallway underneath the colosseum. Meiyal torches lit as they detected Xiv¡¯s presence, providing ample light on the clean walls adorned by the sturdy flow of meiyal. ¡°So,¡± he started, ¡°care to explain this first and second Liona?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t tell Frill or the Princess?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I?¡± She looked down. ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll believe you. I think it¡¯s better not to know rather than be rejected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an odd way of thinking,¡± Xiv said. ¡°I get it, though. Still, I think telling them that a part of Liona still exists is the way to go. I think they have the right to know.¡± ¡°You can decide after I tell you my story.¡± Xiv raised an eyebrow. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be totally against it.¡± Liona responded by shaking her head dejectedly. ¡°I¡¯m just not so sure anymore, Xiv.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± The Vyndivalian willed a pair of benches to appear. They¡¯d already reached the door to his Forge, but he decided not to enter just yet, giving his full attention to the second Liona. He sat and gestured across the other chair. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Liona sat as instructed, keeping her knees together. She was tensed, as if she was caught doing something illegal. Her hand moved, shyly tucking the length of her hair beneath one ear. ¡°Can you relax a bit?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°I¡¯m tensing up here just looking at you.¡± Liona withdrew. ¡°I haven¡¯t really talked to anyone other than Liona. Sorry.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like it when you talked to me a few days ago.¡± Xiv recalled the night he had had a date with Frill and how this second Liona¡¯s advice had saved him from having a complete meltdown. She was nowhere near this shy, hesitating girl back then. It was so out of character that he almost didn¡¯t process who Liona was referring to. ¡°It¡¯s different when it¡¯s face to face,¡± she said defensively. ¡°I¡¯m used to being an inner voice. A second personality. I¡¯m not used to having a body, even if it¡¯s inside someone¡¯s Mind Palace. Liona only allowed me be in control sometimes, when everyone else was asleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xiv tried to process her words without becoming visibly confused. ¡°So you are the first Liona¡¯s second personality. How did that happen?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± It seemed like shrugging was this Liona¡¯s favorite gesture. Xiv wondered what the first Liona had liked to respond with. ¡°All I really know was that we were both surprised when it happened,¡± she continued. ¡°She said I was the rebellious side of her, but I was also the energetic one. So I usually woke her and the Princess up when they were sleeping in late.¡± ¡°Did you two fight for the main body or something?¡± This time she shook her head. ¡°It was a problem at first, but I know my place. Despite our differences, I¡¯m still Liona. She wouldn¡¯t want to possess someone else¡¯s body, and neither do I. She only really gave me a chance to take over when she felt lazy.¡± ¡°Sounds convenient.¡± ¡°For her, yeah.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like having a body?¡± It was the first time Liona made direct eye contact with Xiv. ¡°I had to act like her when people were around.¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯re basically the same person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the rebellious type. I don¡¯t like standing around waiting for people and serving them. Not even the Princess. I want to be free. I thought I could finally give Frill a piece of my mind. But now I¡¯m stuck here with you.¡± That gave Xiv something to think about. ¡°Wait. How come it¡¯s you that¡¯s here in my Mind Palace and not the first Liona?¡± At that, she looked down again. She pressed both fists on her lap, withdrawing even further. Xiv couldn¡¯t help but feel concern. ¡°If it¡¯s too much for you right now, I¡¯m not going to insist,¡± he said, feeling overwhelmingly guilty for some reason. ¡°You can rest here and take all the time you need.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The rest of her words were too muffled, buried beneath what Xiv assumed was a sob. He stood up, attempting to console her. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Liona.¡± ¡°I want to help!¡± The woman¡¯s determined face, though close to tears, made Xiv smile. He couldn¡¯t help but tease her a little. ¡°I thought you¡¯re the rebellious one?¡± ¡°I am! I am but¡­¡± She looked at her hands before meeting him face to face once again. ¡°Whenever I observe what¡¯s happening outside, I just¡­ It makes me feel ashamed. I didn¡¯t have to be the one who survived, but Liona pushed me. She said¡­¡± The second Liona¡¯s face twisted in pain as she recalled the memory. Xiv felt a connection, the memory forming enough significance to enable a Recollection to manifest. He immediately snuffed it out, deciding that he didn¡¯t want her to re-live such a painful memory. Noticing his gesture, she decided to try again. ¡°She said it¡¯s my turn to help out as I see fit. I tried to force her to take my place instead. I really tried! But I don¡¯t own her body. She just made me wait inside her core while we waited for her sister.¡± ¡°Frill¡¯s your sister too, you know.¡± Xiv placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re also Liona. That makes you two siblings, no matter how you try to piece it.¡± ¡°Are you going to tell her?¡± At that, Xiv pondered for a while. ¡°I think this isn¡¯t really about whether they would believe us or not. I think this is all about you being ready to show yourself to them. Not as the first Liona impersonator, but the real you instead.¡± Xiv straightened out and offered a hand. ¡°So, I¡¯ll keep this between us until you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± Liona asked, finally able to control her sobs. ¡°I thought you said you¡¯ve been observing the outside world from my Dream Realm?¡± ¡°Not always, no.¡± Xiv insisted on his gesture. ¡°Well, this is a handshake. It¡¯s a sign of good intentions and trust. It¡¯s part of the Visitor¡¯s culture. This is a sign of my trust in you that you¡¯ll help me out whenever I¡¯m in time of need, and my promise to do the same for you as well.¡± Liona just stared at his hand. Xiv thought she wouldn¡¯t take it, but before he decided to take back his gesture, the royal retainer took it with both hands. She immediately hesitated and let go, however. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know how much help I can be.¡± This time, Xiv took both her hands and shook them properly before letting go. ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯ve already helped me out a lot of times. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same! I was just worried for Frill! I want to help in a more tangible way. Everyone¡¯s moving forward and getting stronger! I can¡¯t let you fall behind.¡± ¡°That obvious, huh?¡± Xiv crossed his hands and turned to the door of his Forge. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re here to help, I might as well take your offer. Let¡¯s start by Polishing my Equipment.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Liona hesitated once again. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about Meiyal Armaments.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xiv smiled with confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡± He started to head in, but Liona pulled the ends of his shirt. ¡°The next time you get a chance, ask Frill to give you a haircut.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You look like you could use one¡­ And it helps her relax.¡± ¡°Alright. Thanks.¡± Chapter 154: Courage for a Farewell Courage for a Farewell Frill stood still and stared blankly at her father¡¯s tomb, not really thinking of anything in particular. Beside the grandiose gravestone, workers were digging a grave for Liona. She would be cremated, and her ashes would be kept in the shrine inside the manor, so this particular grave was smaller, serving only to be a reminder that her sister once lived. Frill tried to imagine Liona¡¯s gravestone beside their father¡¯s. She couldn¡¯t stomach the picture, and so she stopped thinking entirely. Veli Manor had a luxuriously large courtyard, almost five times larger compared to Minaveil Manor. And the green rays of the sun elevated the vibrant shine of Celosia¡¯s garden. Frill had not seen this view for three years, but even that was not enough to distract her from remaining completely blank. The graves were at the far east of the courtyard. Celosia had had the garden done so that it felt like entering a shrine rather than a graveyard. This was different to the one inside the manor proper where they kept the family¡¯s ashes. The one here was for the gravestones. There were currently two stones. The first one, Frill already saw, was for Histrom Veli¡¯s tomb. Histrom was a Royal Knight charged with the king¡¯s assault force, and Captain Garm¡¯s brother-at-arms. He had fought during the eighth Void encounter of Monarch Denis¡¯s rule and was able to repel it with the exchange of his life. He was then buried here when Frill was about to turn seven. Since then, he had slumbered in peace until he was raised by The Hollowing Storm eight years later. Celosia, though in tears, had burned her husband to ashes that day. As far as memories of her father went, that was it for Frill. Frill¡¯s eyes turned to the second stone behind Histrom¡¯s grave. It was much bigger, a large pillar looming over her. The Veli family had been cremating their dead long before it was a national decree. Whenever a new generation would take over the manor, the gravestones were replaced and the names were then written on this monument. As the rightful heir of the Veli family, her death would mark the arrival of the new generation. She would replace her father¡¯s gravestone, while his name would then be immortalized on the memorial behind. It was tradition, but only now did Frill think about how sad a tradition it was. Just imagining how alone she would be on that patch of ground while her family were reduced to mere writings¡­ ¡°You should eat, or at least entertain your guests.¡± Celosia¡¯s voice reminded Frill of the present. Nagging as it was, she understood the gentleness of her mother. Three years of scolding her sister and the Princess made her understand such affection. Frill did nothing, at least not for a while. She simply stared at her father¡¯s tomb. ¡°I can¡¯t even remember him anymore,¡± she said finally. ¡°You make your father sad.¡± Celosia settled a hand at Frill¡¯s shoulder. She leaned on her mother, and the two spent time in silence in their embrace. ¡°The pictures help,¡± Frill said, ¡°and I can still make his face inside my head. But I have no memories of what we did together.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped, sweetie. You and Liona were barely youngsters when he passed on.¡± ¡°How are you okay with this, Ma?¡± Tears started to fall, Frill¡¯s voice broke into soft sobs. ¡°They¡¯re gone¡­ How can you be so strong?¡± Celosia smiled while her felintine ears drooped. ¡°I¡¯m not made of stone, Frill. I¡¯m made of ice. Your father¡¯s death taught me when the ice should stay frozen and when it should melt. Now is not yet the time for me to melt. But for you Frill, my dear, you can learn when to freeze the water later.¡± Frill buried herself into her mother¡¯s bosom, unable to control her emotions any longer. ¡°I miss her so much!¡± ¡°She¡¯s with you now, remember?¡± Celosia brought up her daughter¡¯s face and wiped away her tears. ¡°Would you show me?¡± Frill took the time to calm down. Her mother was patient, soothing her back to help temper her emotions. She realized she had missed her mother. And when that realization hit, another dam broke, and tears came rushing through. ¡°It¡¯s alright, sweetie,¡± Celosia said, embracing her daughter once more. ¡°I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Can I stay just a bit longer?¡± ¡°Sure, sweetie. Take your time.¡± When Frill next straightened herself, she was able to finally wipe away her own tears. With a mere flex of her emotions, she was able to manifest her meiyal marks. The marks sparked above her right, purple eye, expanding further like a wing. They depicted red, formless marks swimming on their respective spaces while sparks of blue struck each of them. Frill observed her mother¡¯s jaw hang agape. In that, she found some semblance of confidence. ¡°They¡¯re beautiful,¡± Celosia said. Her eyes returned to her, observing her meiyal core. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why you gave your sister¡¯s core to him.¡± ¡°It was on the spur of the moment, Ma. I had to make a decision. I couldn¡¯t let him die when he was willing to help¡ª¡± Celosia nodded and smiled. ¡°Even if I don¡¯t understand, sweetie, I know you did the right thing.¡± Her hands moved, reaching out for the marks. Physical touch on her floating meiyal marks didn¡¯t do anything to Frill. So she allowed her mother to be mesmerized and observe for as long as she wanted. Finally, Celosia smiled and touched her face. This, she could feel easily.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°You can get through this, sweetie. Darkness and suffering go hand-in-hand with a fulfilled life. Endure, but never forget to ask for help. We¡¯re always here to help. I love you, you know that.¡± ¡°I love you too, Ma.¡± ¡°Those were your father¡¯s words.¡± Celosia tapped Frill¡¯s face before letting go. ¡°Make sure you remember them. ¡°I¡¯ll go back inside and prepare something for all of you to eat. Don¡¯t forget to visit Liona, alright? We¡¯ve waited long enough, so we have to do the Ritual of Peace tonight.¡± Celosia gave her daughter a small peck on the cheek before heading back to the manor. Alone, Frill recomposed herself. Her mother was right; she had to visit Liona one last time. Just the mere thought made her hesitate. ¡°Hey.¡± Xiv¡¯s voice was just as shocking as it was uplifting. Frill spun towards the entryway of the shrine. There, she saw him looking at her, and further back was her mother giving her a wink. ¡°Your mother said I should help you visit your sister.¡± ¡°Help?¡± Xiv just nodded, disregarding her sarcasm. ¡°I know how it is to lose family. You should see her one last time.¡± At that, Frill lost her words. He was honest and sincere, just like always. ¡°You could use a little humor, you know?¡± He smiled. ¡°Given the circumstances, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the right occasion. Maybe when all this is done and you need something to smile about, I¡¯ll have a joke ready.¡± ¡°No more dates until you can make me laugh, then.¡± Frill moved past him, determined now to see her sister. But when she heard no footsteps following closely behind, she turned again. ¡°Come on, then.¡± Xiv was just there, frozen. ¡°I¡­ uh¡­¡± He stammered his words and scratched his head. She found him adorable. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be encouraging me, not the other way around.¡± ¡°I just¡­¡± Xiv started to walk. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what jokes you like.¡± Frill held a laugh, failed, and snorted. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot!¡± She continued walking and smiled a little when she heard his footsteps. The way to Liona¡¯s wake was on the other side of the complex, on a large patio surrounded by yet more amazing gardens. On their way there, Frill noticed Frein and Katherine talking with each other in one of their training halls. The place was meant for about twenty practitioners at once, and the pair had the entire venue for themselves. Curious, Frill decided to take a detour. ¡°Hey,¡± she greeted them. ¡°What¡¯re you guys up to?¡± ¡°Hey, Frill.¡± Katherine waved and pointed at Frein, who was deep in thought. ¡°He¡¯s trying to figure out a way to counter Mesiffera.¡± As always, Frill was impressed by the Visitor. She had barely grasped the concepts of Mesiffera, but here he was finding a way to block it. ¡°Any progress?¡± Katherine shook her head. At that, Frein exhaled and let his concentration collapse. ¡°Hey, Frill,¡± he started, ¡°do you have your M.O.B.I.L.E. with you?¡± ¡°Yeah, what for?¡± ¡°I have some songs to share. They¡¯re from my world. You might find them interesting.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Frill lit up and produced her device. Frein transferred about a couple hundred songs, which caught her off guard. ¡°Any recommendations?¡± ¡°All of them are great,¡± Frein replied. ¡°There¡¯s a good mix of genres, so you won¡¯t get bored. But if you want a personal recommendation, I think, for you, the song ¡®Light Up The Night¡¯ might be the best one. It¡¯s from an independent singer, so the quality¡¯s not that exemplary, but it¡¯s great nonetheless.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll listen to it later.¡± With a smile, Frill stored her M.O.B.I.L.E. She always appreciated something to look forward to. ¡°Where¡¯s Kristel?¡± Frein pointed towards the other side of the building. There, just outside the glass sliding doors, was the Princess. Small as she was, she had a habit of putting her hands on her waist to seem bigger. It never really worked. ¡°Midan called,¡± Frein explained. ¡°Looks like an envoy from Vyndival arrived.¡± ¡°Envoy?¡± Xiv asked, immediately alert. ¡°Don¡¯t have the details yet. Kristel said she¡¯ll tell us later.¡± ¡°Oh. Alright.¡± Frill tapped Xiv¡¯s shoulders to get his attention. ¡°Well then, we¡¯ll get going,¡± she said. ¡°Where?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I have to see Liona one last time,¡± she replied. There was a feeling of sadness, but Frill pushed it away. She could feel everyone supporting her, and she didn¡¯t want to disappoint any of them. Especially not her own sister. ¡°Oh.¡± Frein passed a look to Katherine. The Lady nodded in understanding before returning to Frill. ¡°We already visited her earlier. You don¡¯t have to wait for us.¡± ¡°What about the Princess?¡± ¡°We¡­¡± Frein stopped, awkwardly touching his nape. ¡°She said she wanted to visit Liona first before you. She said you deserved to be the last person to see her. She, uhh¡­¡± He turned to Katherine for help. The Lady sighed. ¡°Kristel said if she cried while you¡¯re there, you won¡¯t be able to, because you¡¯ll try to comfort her instead. So we already helped her out with that. You go take your time, okay?¡± Her eyes turned to Xiv, who nodded, understanding his assignment.
¡°We also brought Fittey and the other yumas,¡± Frein added. ¡°She exhausted herself to sleep, but she¡¯ll be there tonight.¡± ¡°Thanks, Frein,¡± Frill said. With that, the Aria returned from her detour. She entered a hedge maze and still knew exactly how to go through to reach the patio. The yard surrounding the area was freshly trimmed, and the pool where she used to play was still there, clear and empty for now. There was a small gazebo as well, where an image of Liona was surrounded by many flowers. Guests had already come and gone, filling the structure with their farewell gifts. The main patio housed Liona¡¯s coffin. There she was, unblemished and peaceful, as though she was simply sleeping. The gaping wound from her left shoulder down across her chest was sealed, to provide her with some dignity before her eventual cremation. Unmoving, but as Frill continued to stare, she half hoped her sister would just simply open her eyes and tell her it was all a prank. Still clinging to hope until the very end. Frill shook her head, trying to dispel her delusion. Xiv held her shoulder, wrapping her around his arm. Only then, did she realize she was shaking. ¡°Any excuse to touch me, huh?¡± she said, trying to act tough. The sniff that followed instantly broke her fa?ade. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be alright, Frill,¡± Xiv said. ¡°You¡¯ll be alright.¡± Frill allowed herself to let the tears go. She leaned on Liona¡¯s coffin, embracing it entirely. She wailed on her, called her name, apologized, and then cried some more. When her sister didn¡¯t respond, she just wallowed in her sorrow. All the while, Xiv stayed with her. He didn¡¯t say anything. He didn¡¯t comment on how ugly she looked while crying, he didn¡¯t mention how annoying her crying was, or how childish she seemed while desperately trying to cling on something that was already lost. He just stood there and stayed, waiting until she finally calmed down. Frill looked at Liona. This time, she gathered all her strength, all her courage. She focused on her final words, on her promise, on the flame that she kept burning. She felt Xiv¡¯s hand unfolding her clenched fist, urging her to relax, to think of just Liona and not of the flame. His eyes said how much she understood her. That vengeance wouldn¡¯t bring her sister back; that it wouldn¡¯t solve anything. He gave her peace. ¡°Liona.¡± Frill looked at Liona. This time, it would be the last. She accepted the truth, anchoring her wavering determination on Xiv. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Frill was the final person to arrive. Liona waited for her until then. Without anyone else, it fell on her shoulders, as it was tradition for the Ritual of Peace, to close the coffin. Her hand wavered. This time, she already expected that. She also expected Xiv to help her out. Together, they closed Liona¡¯s coffin and sealed it for cremation. They had to wait for the night. ¡°Thank you,¡± Frill said. ¡°I should probably busy myself for a while.¡± Her mind went to her M.O.B.I.L.E. She wasn¡¯t exactly in the mood for them, but maybe Frein¡¯s songs would lift up her mood. Xiv scratched his head. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for something to do, I could use a haircut right now.¡± Frill raised an eyebrow. ¡°Where did you learn I give haircuts?¡± She observed the Vyndivalian¡¯s head. He could really benefit from one right now. Xiv just shrugged. ¡°You make clothes, maybe you know about scissors than just cutting fabrics.¡± Frill smiled. She didn¡¯t really care. She was just happy enough to have something to distract her mind at the moment. ¡°I¡¯ll make you bald.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Chapter 155: A Message Beyond A Message Beyond ¡±It didn¡¯t matter whether she knew or not. She just wanted to be prepared.¡± ~The Second Liona The evening was somber, as one would expect. Despite Frill¡¯s determination to keep a light mood, the closer they were to the Ritual of Peace, the more she couldn¡¯t stop herself from facing the truth. It was time to let go. She spent the last few moments alone in her room, playing Frein¡¯s playlist through her M.O.B.I.L.E. It had been Liona¡¯s room as well, but Celosia had taken the liberty to clean out her sister¡¯s belongings long before Frill had even arrived. Well¡­ not everything. Their mother didn¡¯t know about their secret stash behind the closet. It was a meiyal-crafted closet, keeping all of Frill¡¯s clothes clean and rid of wrinkles. Liona¡¯s clothes weren¡¯t there anymore, but the compartment at the back was still intact. Frill reached out, running a small portion of her own meiyal carrying her Signature through the camouflaged seal. The lock recognized it and popped the secluded section open. Inside was a small, metal box. With a heavy heart, she took the moment to gather her courage before retrieving the container. The box contained letters from their past. Something they did as kids. Whenever they felt strongly about a certain thing but couldn¡¯t find the courage to say it to someone, they wrote it and sealed it in this box. Those messages were mostly directed to their mother, to Kristel, or to Katherine. For some reason, Lor never really got to their nerves. Despite his innately brutish, yet handsome form, he was a scion of peace through and through Still, every so often, one of the sisters would leave a letter for the other. Frill opened the box, not exactly expecting a letter from Liona. She only wanted to see her sister¡¯s handwriting again, read about the things she strongly felt about when she was young. So when the Aria found a new piece of paper, unblemished by the test of time, she couldn¡¯t help but blink twice. Retrieving it actually revealed two letters. She opened both papers and almost dropped both of them at the same time. They were from different people, but she recognized the handwriting all the same. One was from Liona. The other was from the Letterman. Frill contemplated which one to read first. She didn¡¯t expect the Letterman to send a letter, more so in a secret place that only Liona and herself knew about. Somehow she didn¡¯t find this part as surprising as receiving a letter in the first place, given that the letter had managed to appear in Katherine¡¯s treasure room despite all its sophisticated security measures. Liona¡¯s was just as surprising. It was recent. Frill quickly ran through her memories, trying to recall the last time Liona was here. She had come and gone for vacation a few times during their stay in Minaveil Province. It could have been in any of those occasions. Frill decided to read Liona¡¯s first. Not that she didn¡¯t care about the Letterman, but her sister had always been the priority since the beginning.
Sis, If you¡¯re reading this now, I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m dead. It also means you didn¡¯t take my meiyal core. If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t need to worry about it. It¡¯s a little silly, writing this without any actual reason for me to do so. I just had a hunch, really. I¡¯ve been practicing a way to unify my meiyal system easier. Let¡¯s me help with the fuse. I realized I had a talent for it. No, not really. It¡¯s the only thing I knew how to catch up to you. I¡¯ve always been jealous. Always. Jealous of you, of Kristel, and of Lady Katherine. Not a day goes by where I wish I was as good as any of you with Meiyal Arts. When I learned how to fly, I thought I was a step closer. Turns out, it¡¯s something many people can do. I don¡¯t have anything unique to me like you and your singing. I¡¯m jealous, but I¡¯m also proud. I¡¯m proud of you, most of all, Sis. Between us two, you are the better one, and I think I¡¯ve learned how to embrace and accept that. That¡¯s why I dedicated myself to making my meiyal system adaptable. So that when I, weak as I am, eventually perish, I can at least support you in my death. Well¡­ if you¡¯re reading this, I probably failed in that, too. When Lady Katherine left, I wondered how long it would take for her to return. She told me that if within five years, she¡¯s not back yet, she probably lost the means to go back here. She told me that I have to take her place at that point. How am I supposed to do that? Crazy, right? Anyway, I think I¡¯m just rambling now. If, for some weird reason, you¡¯re reading this while I¡¯m still alive, can you just forget about it? It¡¯s really embarrassing now that I think about it. And if I¡¯m actually really dead. Well¡­ I guess you can cry. I¡¯d appreciate that. But, make sure you move on right away, okay? I know how much you tend to blame yourself whenever something bad happens to others.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Whatever the case, I know it¡¯s not your fault, alright, Sis? Just do it the same way we do with the other hate letters we write. Burn it. Burn your sadness away, Sis. I¡¯m proud of you. I¡¯ll always love you. Please say the same to Mom. I¡¯ll do the same to Dad. Liona Veli PS: Mom¡­ if for some reason you found this. I love you. Always take care of yourself. Show this to Sis when the time is right.
¡°Liona¡­¡± Frill was at a loss. Her sister had prepared for her death. Katherine had told her about this before, how a meiyal system had to be trained meticulously and purposefully for a fuse. That her sister had deliberately chosen to perfect it, not just to help with their goal, but to prepare just in case¡­ The sigh that followed after her realization was heavily accentuated by the silence coming from her M.O.B.I.L.E. We¡¯ve been through fire We¡¯ve been through rain, but we won¡¯t give up Just then, the next song playing on Frill¡¯s M.O.B.I.L.E. caught her attention. It felt weird. At first, the language felt foreign, alien, even. Even the previous songs before this one were just garbled up mouth sounds that matched rhythmically with the music. But Frill could feel the meiyal move for this song. She could not believe it, but Destiny deemed it worthy to translate for her. Why? How? Does it even matter? ¡°We¡¯re leaving it all¡­ Leaving it all behind,¡± Frill said, following along the lyrics and absorbing it all. Her heart raced with the swelling of the inevitable chorus. As always, Frein was right. This was an appropriate song. Frill wanted to learn it. The next hour passed quickly as Frill spent the time memorizing the lyrics and practicing the song with her specialized Meiyal Art, Beautiful Notes. Just like her Quiet Loom, both Arts didn¡¯t require her to have a meiyal-charged material, unlike other specialized Arts. It hit her just now how Liona had felt, realizing her sister¡¯s jealousy. But Liona had said she was proud of her for it as well. So, instead of nurturing the ugly feeling inside her chest, she snuffed it out with her sister¡¯s encouragement. And the events that had happened recently did clarify for her how special she was. She read her sister¡¯s letter once more, putting to heart her words and holding them like an immense treasure. Liona was right. Frill should burn the past. But just like with Diferenfra, she would keep her sister¡¯s treasured memories. The joy she exuded, her uplifting nature, her desire to be better, her mischievous escapades with the Princess, and her adorable ways of apologizing. Frill almost forgot the Letterman¡¯s letter. She picked it up from the metal box, replacing it with Liona¡¯s letter before sealing the box properly.
Frill, By now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve received Brymeia¡¯s offer. I did tell you before that the world has chosen you, remember? But I know that accepting this burden or not should be left completely up to you. Therefore, in order to avoid any influences from my end, I will only tell you, that whatever it is you choose, I am here to support you always. I know you¡¯ll do the right thing, Frill. I¡¯m also sure that you¡¯re reading this after you¡¯ve read Liona¡¯s message. I¡¯m really sorry, and I would like to apologize again. Someday, I will formally ask for your forgiveness. Personally; without hiding myself. But until the proper moment, I ask that you hold your judgement of me, and heed my words instead. Elizzel should¡¯ve passed my warnings to you and the Princess by now. Whatever preparations your group has decided on, I need you to be ready. Saying whether the choices you¡¯ve made are correct or not will make detrimental ripples within Destiny, and I dare not challenge it on my own. In this, I¡¯ve always failed. I¡¯m no god after all. Just be ready. Always stay by the Princess¡¯s side until after you survive the Nightmare Incursions. Yes. I¡¯m sure Elizzel might¡¯ve told you of one, but I¡¯m also sure the Princess is too hotheaded to listen. The faunel probably missed the chance to tell you there are three. The places always change, and only one remains constant. There will always be one Incursion targeting Frein. If Kristel dies, the anchor that protects this world from getting completely consumed by the Nightmare will be lost. Yes. The key is Princess Kristel. Monarch Kristel. Do not let the other guy take the Crown. You have to make sure of this. Ask Frein for help if you need to. He¡¯ll know what to do. Kristel¡¯s Destiny, tied as it is with Evanclad, serves as the leverage Brymeia uses to maintain this world within reality. This is why all the other countries were destroyed, except for Irista Nation. Vyndival was a happy coincidence, but if you¡¯ve listened to Xiv, I¡¯m sure you know how close the entire Kingdom is from succumbing to the Nightmare. As long as Kristel survives, Brymeia can concentrate all her power on protecting Irista Nation. Remember. It doesn¡¯t matter who else dies in this Incursion. I¡¯m sorry if these are all jumbled up. I didn¡¯t have much time to prepare this one. Best of luck, Frill. Letterman
Frill¡¯s mind was still struggling to comprehend how the Letterman had managed to slip this paper in their secret stash. The contents of the letter just made it worse. Despite all the confusing things it had, however, one thing was adamantly clear. Kristel¡¯s safety. No, not exactly. The way the Letterman wrote it, he knew the Princess would be at the forefront of this Incursion. Would it still be the case had they agreed for Frein and the others to wait out the Incursion in the Nightmare Lands? Or did the Letterman knew from the get-go that Kristel would be against the idea? It hardly mattered now. Frill had to make sure Kristel survived the Incursion. No matter what or who had to be sacrificed. No. No one needs to be sacrificed. We¡¯ll all survive this, Frill promised to herself. I won¡¯t let Liona¡¯s death be in vain. I won¡¯t disappoint her. ¡°Frill,¡± Celosia¡¯s voice came from outside her door. ¡°It¡¯s time, sweetie.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom.¡± With a flick of her meiyal control, Frill returned the box inside the hidden compartment while keeping the Letterman¡¯s letter inside her Spatiera. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take too long.¡± Frill wore the formal uniform of the servants of the High Palace. Not that she needed to wear such a thing anymore, but it was the last thing she and her sister had spent the most time doing before her death. She took all the appropriate layers to mix with the white and gold, making sure all the frills of her dress were measured appropriately. Then, with a deep breath, she opened the door to find Xiv waiting patiently for her. He looked handsome with the new haircut, thin on the side and brushed up on top. She realized they both had red hair. Hers was brighter, while his was darker. But he was the light right now. Her light, at least. With a nod, Xiv led Frill outside to meet her sister for the final farewell. Chapter 156: Light Up The Night Light Up The Night ¡±Burning and rising up from these flames, we¡¯re finally taking the reins.¡± ~Lyrics from Light Up The Night Frill stood behind her mother as the Ritual of Peace began in earnest. Everyone was present. Everyone that mattered. The event was as private as it could be. Aside from the housekeepers, Celosia, and Lor, only those who had arrived with her were in attendance. Elizzel was nowhere to be found, presumably hiding inside the Visitor¡¯s Mind Palace. As soon as she confirmed everyone was prepared, Celosia formally opened the ritual. ¡°Tonight, on the three hundred and thirty-third day of the twenty-seventh year of Monarch Denis¡¯ rule, we say goodbye to Liona Veli, a beloved daughter¡ª¡± Celosia¡¯s voice cracked. She shook her head in pain, unable to continue. Frill urged her mother, placing a gentle hand on her back. Celosia wiped away a tear and nodded towards her. ¡°I¡¯m alright dear, thank you.¡± The felintine gathered herself. Her ears perked, and her tail rose as she took a lungful of air. As she slowly released her breath, meiyal began to steadily gather, shining around the entire patio and surrounding all the guests. At the same time, she produced her own meiyal, adding a hue of bright pink to their surroundings. Frill could see the Visitor completely mesmerized by the display while the rest of her friends were more solemn. She returned her attention to Liona and contributed her own meiyal for the ritual. A bright red. Celosia finally found the courage to carry on. ¡°A sweet sister, a loving friend, a faithful soldier, and a caring servant. We burn her tonight so that her memories will forever blaze within our hearts.¡± She stepped aside, giving way to Frill, who had requested to personally take charge of the burning. The Aria stepped forward, activating her meiyal marks at the same time. She presented them to her sister, as if proving to her that all the effort she had invested in making her meiyal system adaptable had paid off. Two-hundred meiyal marks in total, while some were sealed, they were twice that of any other Meiyal Arts practitioner, alive or dead. The meiyal surrounding them responded to her will, producing heat while expressing sorrow. Only during times of intense emotions would it respond in such a way, as if it had a life of its own. Now that she understood better, Frill appreciated the meiyal¡¯s reaction. Even for a Ritual of Peace, this behavior was rare, and it signified for her Brymeia¡¯s favor and attention more than anything else. She focused and gathered a portion of her mother¡¯s meiyal and mixed it with hers, creating a vortex atop the palm of her hand. The Aria gave the signal to her companions, and one by one, they produced their own meiyal. Lor was first to do so, releasing a pristine green glow. He directed it towards Frill¡¯s outstretched hand. She took it and combined it within the vortex. Kristel¡¯s was gold mixed with silver. Now that she thought about it, Frill had never seen the Princess produce her own meiyal at all. It was beautiful, a fine addition to the gathering power in her hand. Next, she went to Xiv, who frowned, confused. ¡°Me?¡± Frill nodded. ¡°Yes, please.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I am. I never got the chance to introduce you to her, so this will be the only way I can do that.¡± The Vyndivalian was hesitant. He looked to everyone else for confirmation, but none of them denied Frill¡¯s request. Defeated, he held the Aria¡¯s hand and produced his meiyal. A metallic shine of blue surrounded the vortex before completely mixing with the rest. Next was Katherine. A simple gesture was all she needed. The floating meiyal marks beside her temple spilled ribbons of light. She produced her own meiyal. They were like glittering gemstones reflecting light in a prism, creating rainbows of colors before they mixed eventually with the accumulating power in Frill¡¯s hand.
The yumas were next. Fittey and Stiry contributed the most meiyal. Enza as well, but the rest of her siblings were not as miraculously developed as her. Still, they gave what they could. Last was Frein. His face said he didn¡¯t want to give his, but Frill insisted. ¡°You saw my meiyal back in Atlas Sid,¡± he said. ¡°Do you really want it mixing with everyone¡¯s?¡± Frill nodded. ¡°Liona never knew you, either, Frein. And I want to introduce you as well. Don¡¯t worry, I can handle your meiyal.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt that.¡± Frein smiled and produced his meiyal. Even without his intent mixed in, the meiyal was sinister in nature. Blood red with an aura of darkness. Was this really the Fallen Dragon¡¯s meiyal? The moment it mixed with the vortex of other meiyal, the overall color dimmed somewhat, mitigated in general by all the other sources. It was heavy as well. Frill felt the weight for the first time. The Visitor did not produce more meiyal than the rest, but the one he gave was the highest quality of all. Katherine¡¯s was the prettiest, but she had been long surpassed by Frein in terms of meiyal intensity.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. How? Frill gave it serious thought. It was weird. The Visitor didn¡¯t produce Milled meiyal. He gave his own. So how and why did this feel like it was Milled over and over? ¡°You okay?¡± Frein asked. ¡°It¡¯s not too much, is it?¡± Frill shook her head. Despite the added weight, the vortex itself was still manageable. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand how your meiyal is like this.¡± Frein smiled and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s not just mine,¡± implying the faunel within his Mind Palace. ¡°But good catch. I¡¯m somewhat continuously refining my own meiyal aside from just constantly doing Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. I can explain more in detail later if you want.¡± He winked, urging Frill to proceed with the ritual. She felt like there was more to it than just what the Visitor was saying. But she didn¡¯t want to linger too long. Liona had waited long enough, and she didn¡¯t really have that much fortitude to keep holding her emotions in the first place. With the meiyal of all participants finally in her hands, Frill returned to where Liona rested. The next part was rather simple, despite the complex mechanics involved. In a way, Frill used the principles of Meiyal Weaving. Kristel and Frein had shared what little they knew about the discipline and found that the Ritual of Peace was, in its very essence, Meiyal Weaving. Modernization had taken root in this ritual, applying parts of Meiyal Arts within the process. Instead of Gathering all these different sources of meiyal to Mill and Draw an Art, Frill instead pushed her will to it, projecting the pattern of a flaming phoenix. ¡°Diferenfra.¡± The natural meiyal surrounding them responded to her will, using the vortex of everyone¡¯s meiyal as a catalyst to manifest the Art. Instantly, a great conflagration of a magnificent phoenix soared to the skies, flying around before falling like a wishing star. It engulfed everyone with its flames, but burned only Liona from within her coffin. The smell of burning flesh quickly disappeared as Frill intensified her flames until there was nothing left but her sister¡¯s ashes. It was done before Frill even realized it. She felt something let go. The tension in her legs gave way as she fell down on her knees. Her tears didn¡¯t stop falling, even though she knew not when they started. All her Meiyal Arts disappeared and she was quickly slammed by Art fatigue. The world was in sorrow. ¡°What?¡± Frein asked. He was the first to notice. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Katherine asked next. The rest expressed their confusion. Frill paid them no mind, they were all looking at the sky anyway. A brilliant display manifested among the clouds, rays of light that gathered to create a sea of colors. Pink, blue, red, gold, silver, mixed with more tones and hues than Frill could describe. She cried in awe and sorrow at the magnificence before her. What was the world trying to say? What did Brymeia want to show them? The aurora lasted until Frill had fully recovered, never really finding an answer to those questions. By then, Celosia had gathered Liona¡¯s ashes and stored them in an gem-encrusted urn, while the rest of the manor housekeepers had buried the coffin beside Histrom¡¯s grave. After the sorrow came hope. Frill could feel it in her heart, the desire to live on to carry her sister¡¯s memory. It was bursting, pushing away the sadness as if she was finally released, no longer shackled by the feeling of loss. It was bittersweet. The desire to keep still, to forever wallow in darkness with her sister¡¯s death was tempting, but the happy memories Liona gave her pushed her forwards. She couldn¡¯t stop herself. Frill realized, she truly, deeply, and wholeheartedly loved Liona. Her Meiyal Art, Beautiful Notes manifested, and the first pitch was perfect. The melody that followed after carried with it hope, burning with passions so true that the colors in the skies returned livelier than ever. Frill, then, in a single breath, lit up the night.
Frein felt his heart was going to burst from the overwhelming mixture of sadness and hope. He listened to Frill sing the very song he had recommended, and couldn¡¯t stop himself from following along ¡°We¡¯re gonna light up the night¡­ Leave the darkness behind¡­¡± He had never really once considered himself a singer, but that barely mattered at the moment. The hymn Meiyal Art was too strong, far stronger than any he had ever witnessed from Frill. It pulled on his feelings with ease, twisting them and wrenching them with each passing bar of music. He looked to the side and saw Katherine in tears while smiling back at him. Elizzel manifested behind them, well hidden enough from Celosia and Lor who was on the other side of the venue. They were too mesmerized by Frill¡¯s song to even notice her appearance. Katherine embraced and hid the faunel underneath her coat, and she and Frein sandwiched her. Elizzel didn¡¯t care, she hugged both of them. By the time Frill was on the third chorus, everyone was singing along. No more holding on No more pain We¡¯re gonna light up the night We¡¯ll set the past aflame And light up a future with my name The song ended with a grand display of meiyal flares. The moment he broke the embrace, the faunel returned to his Mind Palace. He simply couldn¡¯t stop himself from giving Frill a round of applause. Everyone quickly followed suit. The Aria managed one smile before she completely collapsed from exhaustion. Kristel managed to catch her just in time. ¡°Is she alright?¡± Frein asked, urgently assessing the Aria with Mesiffera. Art fatigue had completely settled in. ¡°The Ritual of Peace is exhausting,¡± Kristel explained. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Frill just gave all she got¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Apologies, Princess,¡± Celosia said, approaching them. Her eyes were red and her cheeks wet. ¡°I hate to impose, but will you please bring Frill to her room? I wish to attend to Liona and formally close the ritual.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Kristel said, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of her.¡±
Kristel waited until Frill was finally asleep before she took her turn to cry. The Aria¡¯s song was magnificent and new. She only learned after the performance that it was a rendition of a song from Frein¡¯s world. It was truly magical. Only after she calmed down did she try to listen to the original, realizing that the language was foreign. So how had Frill translated it? Frein had said it was a perfect rendition. ¡°Destiny, little Princess,¡± said the Entity¡¯s voice. Kristel ignored it just like the other voices she had heard before. ¡°Oh, how cold. You didn¡¯t think you¡¯d get to visit me and I wouldn¡¯t be able to return the favor, did you?¡± Kristel sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to see you in the first place,¡± she whispered. ¡°Just go away. I don¡¯t have time for you.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. Have it your way. I would¡¯ve spent the entire night telling you my elaborate plan to kill your sweet, little Aria¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°No take backsies, little Princess. I¡¯ll see you after the Incursion. Make sure you don¡¯t die until then. That¡¯ll be too boring.¡± Kristel stood from the chair so abruptly that it made too much noise. Immediately, she looked at Frill. She stirred, but did not wake. The Princess, then, looked within herself, feeling for the Entity to see if it was still there. Gone. Completely gone. Kristel slumped back down on a chair, pressing a hand on her temple. They wouldn¡¯t even let her properly grieve. Pained beyond frustration and sadness, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from expressing her stress in a growling whisper. ¡°Goddammit¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know when she fell asleep. But when she woke up, rising from the study near the bed, Frill was already looking out the window. The Aria turned to her with a worried face. ¡°It¡¯s Ashtine. I think it¡¯s urgent. I don¡¯t see Smyl.¡± Chapter 157: Ashtines Problem Ashtine¡¯s Problem ¡±Who?¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor ¡°Who?¡± Frein asked Katherine. He nodded subtly towards the stranger, who was accompanied by a number of Sky Knights. He recognized the mandated armor of those soldiers, lightweight leather gear for flexibility, as they mounted their trained yumas. What he didn¡¯t recognize was who these people were exactly, especially the woman in the middle with a slightly modified uniform and a better armored yuma. She seemed important, or at least the way her blonde hair was neatly braided said just as much to Frein. Or it might have been the intensity in her brown eyes. Those told him she was worried. ¡°Ashtine Solfey,¡± Katherine replied, mimicking his subtlety. ¡°General Sky Knight. It¡¯s comparable to a Royal Knight in terms of rank, but this position mainly focuses on the yumas.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Why yumas?¡± The Lady of the Void nodded. ¡°In addition to being just as strong as a Guard Knight, the Sky Knights are generally more in-tune with their yumas. It simply means they have a higher survival rate in the Nightmare Lands if they trained their tolerance against them, since they can depend on their companion if needed.¡± ¡°So in a sense, you can consider me a Sky Knight?¡± Frein asked, referring to his bond with his yuma, Enza. She, in her ever-present Nature¡¯s Favor nudged his leg slightly. He relaxed a hand on top of her invisible head. ¡°Sure. You can say that.¡± Katherine frowned. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t recognize her, though?¡± He made a confused face and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve no clue.¡± ¡°You met her on top of the Vanguard. She was with her twin, Smyl Solfey. He was gravely wounded¡­ I think. I don¡¯t remember that part very well.¡± That caused their frowns to curl tighter. Frein asked Elizzel to search his Mind Palace for any memories of the General Sky Knight or her twin. The faunel, yawning away her boredom, started digging through piles of canvases. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll go look¡­¡± she said lethargically. Granted, Frein hadn¡¯t known how to use his Mind Palace back then, but the fact that he could manifest Recollections further into his past didn¡¯t give the question regarding Ashtine that excuse. Maybe it was just that forgettable? The only pristine memory he could recall after the Battle of the Vanguard was Frill¡¯s chaotic meltdown. Admittedly, something as significant as that would overshadow meeting two strangers for a quick while and never seeing them again. With this in mind, Elizzel ignored the important piles and rummaged through Frein¡¯s discarded paintings first. It would take her a while to go through even just a few collections, were they important or not. Fortunately, she was too bored to decline a request. In the meantime, Frein and Katherine were satisfied to simply observe from afar, using their Siffera-enhanced hearing to listen in on Ashtine¡¯s conversation with Kristel. So far, they were still in the middle of greeting each other and catching up, settling on a conveniently stationed porch. ¡°Frill¡¯s with them,¡± Katherine pointed out. It took Frein a single Mesiffera-enhanced look to see that the Aria was doing better now. The flow of her meiyal was stable, and she was even subtly practicing Perpetual-Layered Milling Form while standing behind the Princess. ¡°She¡¯s Milling,¡± Frein said. ¡°If I haven¡¯t been constantly using Mesiffera, I wouldn¡¯t have known.¡± ¡°You can do the same,¡± Katherine responded. Her brows contracted into another frown, trying to read him. ¡°Not everyone can use that Art or that Milling form.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t bet on it.¡± Frein looked at his wrist; at his meiyal core. The Art allowed him to see the same Milling form, toned down to the same subtlety as the Aria¡¯s if not quieter. ¡°If our enemies can see us through Destiny, there¡¯s no way they can¡¯t see through our meiyal systems.¡± ¡°That thing with the Deitars?¡± Katherine asked, referencing his experience with Palar¡¯gog and Su¡¯karix. Those two scanned him and Frill like they were reading a hospital record. ¡°You¡¯re saying we¡¯re fighting Deitars?¡± ¡°If Elizzel¡¯s so sure that there are gods still maintaining their hold on Brymeia despite the Divine Severing, why not Deitars? We already have two of them as proof that they still exist.¡± ¡°You saw what a mere Deitar Art could do, Frein,¡± Katherine pointed out, reminding him of Kristel¡¯s Leviathan. ¡°It sliced through the entire ocean. If she had aimed just slightly to the left, she would¡¯ve killed that Da¡¯bloop. If she had aimed slightly through the right, though, it would¡¯ve probably reached and cleaved off half of Veli Manor.¡± ¡°Still don¡¯t really like that name¡­¡± Katherine just shrugged with a smile. Frein did the calculations inside his head. Veli Manor was positioned far beyond the shores of Westleaf. It was right at the border of Central, which was aptly the name of the capital at the center of the entire landmass that encompassed the Four Great Cities of the country. Katherine might have been overexaggerating it a bit, but he got the point. An Art capable of that devastation would¡¯ve ripped through part of the nation regardless. It would¡¯ve dealt enough damage to warrant some cartographers. She leaned on him, continuing the conversation. ¡°If you¡¯re saying our enemies are capable of that kind of destruction without any repercussions, I don¡¯t think trying to hide your powers from them should be our priority.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Frein conceded. ¡°It¡¯s like trying to maintain Siffera while sleeping all over again.¡± Which was, in fact, something he could do now. With that in mind, the two now focused their attention fully on Kristel and her guests. It was weird trying to eavesdrop from so far away. None of them would know, not even the Princess or the Aria, that he and Katherine were listening in. Well¡­ Frein figured those two would be already aware of what they were up to, since they were keeping their distance in the first place. ¡°So, why the sudden visit, Ash?¡± Kristel asked, sipping from her coffee. The General Sky Knight was alone with the Princess, while Frill busied herself serving tea or coffee to the other guests on a separate table. They were well out of earshot. ¡°You didn¡¯t just come here to pass your condolences, did you? And where¡¯s Smyl?¡± Ashtine was frozen in place. From Frein¡¯s perspective, he could see she was hesitating. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡± he said. Katherine was immediately alert. Mesiffera, now with Frein¡¯s absolute mastery, told him she was using her Heart¡¯s Will. It was his first confirmation ever. The Lady¡¯s meiyal swirled in a completely different way. It didn¡¯t use her Milled meiyal at all. Instead, it strained her core to quickly Gather Brymeia¡¯s meiyal before using that alone as the Blessing¡¯s source of power.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. It was quick, subtle, and almost imperceptible had Frein not been looking for it. He had already confirmed the same was happening to Enza, and that her innate connection to nature was simply allowing her meiyal core to constantly use Nature¡¯s Favor without any sort of stress. It reminded him too eerily of Schrodie¡¯s instantaneous flesh appearances. So that¡¯s how she could use it back on Earth. Katherine had Gathered excess amounts of Brymeia¡¯s meiyal before venturing on her Seeker duty. It only cost her a sliver to use the Blessing, which meant she had had no problems using it before, and even now more so, since she had completely mastered it. Before he knew it, the Lady had already relaxed. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any hidden motives,¡± she said. ¡°But you¡¯re right; something¡¯s wrong.¡± She nodded towards the General Sky Knight, sure that she would say it anyway. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Ashtine hesitated, her fingers wrapped around her cup. She took a breath before straightening her posture. ¡°That¡¯s part of the problem, Princess Kristel. My brother is missing.¡± Suddenly, Frein didn¡¯t care about finding out who Ashtine or Smyl were. They needed help. At that point, it was all that mattered. And of course, the Princess shared his sentiment. ¡°Tell me the details.¡± At the same time, she signaled for Frill to come over. The Aria approached, leaving the other Sky Knights to their drinks. ¡°People from the High Palace have been missing,¡± Ashtine began. ¡°Two of your father¡¯s advisors had disappeared a few days after they returned from the Battle of the Vanguard. They returned just as suddenly, but with no recollection of what had happened to them. Two other Royal Knights suffered the same a week after that. And then two days ago, it was Smyl. He still hasn¡¯t come back.¡± ¡°What about¡­¡± ¡°Monarch Denis and Princess Scuti are worried, but they¡¯re safe. Security was doubled after the first incident. Tripled after the second.¡± Kristel breathed and gestured for Ashtine to continue. ¡°Sorry. Go on.¡± The General Sky Knight was on the verge of tears, but she was holding on. ¡°We can¡¯t figure out how they¡¯re disappearing or returning. But the only constant thing is that they keep forgetting what happened to them. ¡°We couldn¡¯t make any public announcements because they were only targeting high ranking officials, whoever they were. The others didn¡¯t want to cause panic. I had heard news that you had arrived here yesterday, so I wanted to personally ask for your help. I can¡¯t help but think ¡®what if Smyl never returns?¡¯¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll help. Can you tell me how¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± Frein said. ¡°Yeah.¡± Katherine used her Heart¡¯s Will again. She was even more subtle this time. ¡°You think Ashtine might be the traitor?¡± She shook her head rather vigorously. ¡°She¡¯s clean. But it¡¯s still weird.¡± Why keep it secret? Why tell the Princess now and not through M.O.B.I.L.E. when it first happened? Why bother making a personal visit? Why are they being taken and returned? Why only high-ranking officials? How are they missing their memories? ¡®To not cause panic¡¯ didn¡¯t answer the first question at all. Keeping that detail hidden would bring out more suspicions the longer they kept the secret. The entire monarchy was risking the trust of their citizens for something so important. But Frein couldn¡¯t blame them. It was probably a gut reaction from the rest of the advisors and the Monarch himself. Whatever decisions they made were probably what they thought was the best for the nation. Besides, because the victims were returning anyway, they probably couldn¡¯t justify making an announcement. For the rest of the people, it would¡¯ve been unnecessary information, which would cause more public stress without resolving anything at all. Still, the rest of the questions burned in Frein¡¯s head like glaring issues that he should be able to figure out right away, but couldn¡¯t for one reason or another. ¡°Calm down,¡± Katherine said, placing a hand on his head. ¡°This world is different from yours, Frein. You already know that. Every decision you think wouldn¡¯t make sense can¡¯t be justified by how Earth operates.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s like defying common sense.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Katherine looked at him with a calm stare. ¡°You know how the M.O.B.I.L.E. works, right? You know how it sends its messages. You also know that this network is monopolized by the High Palace Network. It doesn¡¯t matter how they present their privacy policy. Our enemies won¡¯t exactly leave something so fragile uncompromised.¡± ¡°I know that, but Kristel bypassed it when she called the entire Cross Irista before, right? How come Ashtine didn¡¯t if she was so worried?¡± Katherine scratched her head. ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to explain this to you, Frein. But if you disregard your standards as a Meiyal Arts practitioner for a minute, and just think about it in the shoes of the people in Irista Nation, like Maffelyne for example. Kristel¡¯s meiyal control and capacity is actually the best among them. Only Frill surpasses that standard because of her meiyal system. And I¡¯m basically an enigma.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying, Ashtine couldn¡¯t really do it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they even bothered trying to figure out how to bypass the High Palace Network.¡± The things clicked inside Frein¡¯s head, but he couldn¡¯t get rid of the feeling that, somehow, it felt forced. Was it really that simple? Would a General Sky Knight not really bother trying to figure out how to use the M.O.B.I.L.E. while bypassing the High Palace Network? He appreciated that Ashtine was cautious enough to figure out that there could be hidden spies and enemies within their midst, but he couldn¡¯t get rid of the nagging feeling that they were missing something. ¡°It could be a Blessing,¡± Frein guessed. ¡°That¡¯s the only blind spot we have.¡± Katherine took his guess seriously. ¡°We only know of five out of the ten in terms of how they actually work. Heart¡¯s Will, Monarch¡¯s Law, Fate¡¯s End, Souls¡¯ Walk, and Nature¡¯s Favor. The other half, we just know by name, because they were already mandated throughout history.¡± Frein named them anyway. ¡°Time¡¯s Eye, World¡¯s Chosen, Heaven¡¯s Grace, Death¡¯s Wish, and¡­ what¡¯s the tenth¡¯s name, again?¡± Katherine shrugged. She enumerated the Blessings again, only to fall short at the tenth one. ¡°Is it¡­ no way.¡± Frein pressed a hand on his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s Destiny again, is it?¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Elizzel¡¯s lethargic voice echoed through the Tether. ¡°Also, I can tell you a few things I know about Death¡¯s Wish. I know the Letterman has it. Probably¡­ he claims he has it.¡± ¡°What!¡± Frein exclaimed, barely catching himself in time to not use Siffera or an echo Meiyal Art. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us about this before?¡± ¡°I was too busy thinking about the Incursion. And we don¡¯t talk about Blessings that much compared to when you¡¯re practicing or discussing Meiyal Arts, or whatever else.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Katherine asked, startled. Frein gave him a signal, a new one they came up with, to indicate that he¡¯s busy talking with Elizzel within their Tether. He covered his left ear. ¡°Alright, fair. Tell me what you know now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know much about it, to be honest. I only know that only one can be Blessed by Death¡¯s Wish at any given time. And that person can¡¯t die at all. It¡¯s in the name, Frein. The Letterman wants to die, but he can¡¯t. He¡¯ll keep re-living the same thing again and again until he can finally find the right path to die. At least, that¡¯s what me and Schrodie think about the Blessing. We don¡¯t really know with absolute certainty how it works. Only Brymeia does.¡± It came out of nowhere, but Frein slowly repeated Elizzel¡¯s words to Katherine verbatim. ¡°That completely hurts his reliability,¡± she said. ¡°What if all the clues he¡¯s been giving are just so he can finally die? And not really bothered with the rest of us?¡± ¡°But what if he¡¯s taking advantage of it?¡± Frein asked. ¡°For us?¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll head out tomorrow,¡± Kristel said a little too loudly, unknowingly breaking the conversation between Frein and Katherine. ¡°We need to get to the High Palace soon, anyway.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be today?¡± Ashtine implored. She could barely hold the demand in her voice. ¡°I know it¡¯s very important, Ash, but I think you should give Frill and her family a day to grieve, at least.¡± There was a moment in the General Sky Knight¡¯s face when she appeared ready to give a retort, but Kristel stopped her. ¡°I¡¯m part of their family, too, Ash.¡± The Princess smiled. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to operate properly if you rip me away from my retainers now.¡± ¡°I¡­ I understand, Princess.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ash. We¡¯ll set out at first light tomorrow. Why don¡¯t you introduce yourself to Frein in the meantime? They should be in the training hall. I¡¯m sure he and Kat can keep you busy until then.¡± At that, Frein instructed Elizzel to forget about looking for details regarding Ashtine and Smyl. He asked her, instead, to record what she knew about Death¡¯s Wish while he prepared to meet the General Sky Knight. He inadvertently smiled. He might be reading too much into it, but he wanted to believe that it was the Princess¡¯s subtle way of letting him know that she was aware of them eavesdropping. Katherine elbowed him, puffing her cheeks at the same time. ¡°Pervert. Don¡¯t forget about what we talked about today just because you¡¯re meeting a new woman.¡± He stammered in self-defense. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of anything like that!¡± ¡°Oh, sure. Whatever you say, Pervert. Lech! Stupid!¡± ¡°Are you¡­ are you getting jealous?¡± ¡°Duh!¡± Chapter 158: Too Formal of an Introduction Too Formal of an Introduction ¡±I¡¯m Frein Nivan, the Visitor,¡± he said, stretching out a hand. ¡±Ashtine Solfey, General Sky Knight,¡± replied the General Sky Knight. She stared at his hand. At this point, Frein was used to it, expecting this particular gesture to be questioned. In fact, he used it this time as a gauge to see how she would respond, just to get an idea if they had actually met before or not. This didn¡¯t prove either exactly, but at least it indicated that they hadn¡¯t known each other at all. It would¡¯ve been weird if she knew exactly how to respond. Katherine spent a quick minute to explain to Ashtine how a handshake was supposed to work. With a smile, the General Sky Knight accepted his gesture. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you formally, Frein,¡± she said. ¡°I apologize you have to meet me at my worst both times.¡± Frein shook her hand firmly while scratching his head. ¡°Sorry, can you refresh me on when we first met? Katherine mentioned it was on the first day I arrived here on Brymeia, but I was probably too distracted by all the amazing stuff to remember everything properly. No offense.¡± ¡°None taken, Visitor.¡± Ashtine afforded a smile. ¡°I figured everything had been jarring for you back then. Are you doing better now?¡± ¡°Much better, yes.¡± Frein gestured towards the small rest area of the training hall so they could talk while sitting down. ¡°Well,¡± Ashtine started while taking a seat, ¡°to clarify, we met briefly atop the Vanguard right after Vyndival called for a retreat. You were riding a Jaws Lurking In The Forest that time. I had to rush my brother because he had been seriously injured, but not before I told the Princess about Frill¡¯s situation. Then, you all left looking for her.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± The explanation jogged Frein¡¯s memory, but he still couldn¡¯t recall the exact thing vividly. It was probably just that forgettable because of the urgency involved. ¡°Thank you. Sorry, I couldn¡¯t remember exactly how we met.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart, Visitor. Things happened pretty fast that day, and I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ve gone through more amazing things these past few days.¡± Ashtine smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to remember every little detail, or feel sorry for forgetting some of them.¡± With that, Frein decided to change the subject. ¡°So what brings a General Sky Knight out of the High Palace?¡± he asked. It was Ashtine¡¯s turn to scratch her head. ¡°It¡¯s confidential, unfortunately.¡± ¡°The Princess didn¡¯t direct you to me to talk about it?¡± He could see her eyes taking glances towards Katherine. ¡°Or I guess, to the Lady of the Void, more specifically?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ no. The Princess said I should introduce myself. That¡¯s about it.¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re that hesitant, I won¡¯t insist. But Kristel would probably tell me about it anyway.¡± While he already knew about Ashtine¡¯s actual purpose, Frein wanted to see how careful she was with the information. ¡°The Princess trusts you that much already?¡± she probed. Like Frill before, there was a hint of disdain when Frein referred to Kristel without her title. She didn¡¯t mind personally, so he didn¡¯t really bother adjusting for it. He nodded towards Katherine, then pointed to himself. ¡°It¡¯s more like she trusts her a lot, and she trusts me unconditionally. I became trusted by association.¡± ¡°Unconditionally?¡± Ashtine implied. ¡°Like¡­ that way?¡± The two in question nodded enthusiastically before Frein answered. ¡°That way, yeah.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Frein raised an eyebrow. ¡°Something wrong?¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± Ashtine hesitated. She gathered herself and continued. ¡°But aren¡¯t you going to die after a year?¡± Frein blinked, surprised. ¡°Wow. No subtlety in you, huh, young lady?¡± The General Sky Knight was quick to recover. ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m sorry! I wasn¡¯t thinking straight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ashtine, relax,¡± Katherine said before turning to him. ¡°And you, take it easy.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even done anything yet.¡± ¡°You were about to.¡± ¡°Done anything?¡± Ashtine asked. ¡°Am I supposed to be understanding something here?¡± Frein sighed. He gave Katherine one look, and she simply shrugged. ¡°I think it¡¯s okay, still,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s okay?¡± Frein raised up a hand, volunteering to explain. ¡°We actually know why you¡¯re here, Ash. Kristel called you Ash, you mind if I call you the same?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± The General Sky Knight took a second to pick up on the rest of what he said. ¡°Wait, you know?¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Frein shrugged. ¡°Yeah. We can hear you from here actually.¡± ¡°How?¡± Ashtine almost demanded an answer. ¡°Good hearing,¡± he replied, hiding the rest of the facts regarding Siffera. This part, he and Katherine would be sure to hide until Ashtine gained their trust. ¡°I can also tell none of your companions know about Smyl missing.¡± The Sky Knight¡¯s jaw slacked, unable to come up of anything to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Frein said. ¡°We won¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± Ashtine took a second to breathe, looking at Katherine. Frein understood the situation. Of course, she would trust the Lady of the Void more than some stranger. Even if that stranger was the famed Visitor. After all, she only knew about his foretold death, and not how important his role was. At that Frein questioned himself again. What exactly was his role, anyway? Despite Elizzel¡¯s help, they hadn¡¯t really determined it yet. His actual purpose. Why a Visitor had to exist in the first place. The path to reveal it was there, he simply had to go through it. But this Nightmare Incursion is in the way. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Ash,¡± Katherine said, bringing Frein¡¯s attention back to the discussion. ¡°You can trust this guy. I can bet my life on it.¡± ¡°If Kristel wants to help you out, we¡¯ll help you out, too.¡± Frein pushed on. While he barely actually knew the General Sky Knight, he still wanted to offer help. Not only was it so that he could expand his connections, but it was also to make sure that his arrival at the High Palace would be more accepted. If a general were to vouch for him, along with the Princess, the Aria, and the strongest Lady of the Void, it would definitely lessen the chances of anyone questioning his sudden appearance. He could bet on his name as the Visitor, but he judged it to be not enough. Anyone could claim that title, as far as he was concerned. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Katherine alone vouching for you be enough?¡± Elizzel asked through the Tether. ¡°You¡¯re just making excuses because you feel pity for the girl.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Frein admitted. ¡°So what? It¡¯s not like we have anything to do while we¡¯re in the High Palace.¡± ¡°What about Alphazzel¡¯s records?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t take too long, but thanks for reminding me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to agree or offer to help everyone, you know?¡± The faunel shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I guess.¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s just thinking a little,¡± Katherine said, pulling Frein back once more. ¡°He does that a lot. You¡¯ll get used to it.¡± ¡°What did I miss?¡± he asked, acting along. ¡°I said, if you can promise me your secrecy, I would like to ask for your assistance,¡± Ashtine said. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the plan. But can you be a little less stiff? You¡¯re being too formal.¡± Ashtine blushed a little. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Alright, now. Can you tell me what happened the day before your brother went missing?¡± There was a bit of hesitation from Ashtine¡¯s words. It was clear that she was just as confused as any person who had had a relative kidnapped. Worse, no one was contacting them for any sort of ransom. She was also threading the line of hope and despair. The similar cases had resulted in the safe return of the victims, albeit their memory lost. This, hearing it for the second time, was consistent, but still out of place for Frein. ¡°They weren¡¯t missing anything else? Are they still able to Gather and Mill properly?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°No receding meiyal marks?¡± ¡°None.¡± Ashtine shook her head with a frown. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s been any case of receding meiyal marks at all, even isolated from this case. Is that possible?¡± Frein passed a glance at Katherine. ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± she replied, deciding to keep the case with Frill a secret. ¡°But it¡¯s usually only after excessive unsealing. There¡¯s been records of it with the Order of the Void.¡± ¡°You think it has something to do with the Nightmare Lands, then?¡± Ashtine asked. ¡°Possibly. You¡¯ve read Kristel¡¯s report from the incident back in Minaveil Province?¡± ¡°That Fallen in the middle of Minaveil Town? The officials in Central almost wouldn¡¯t have believed it, if it wasn¡¯t the Princess writing the report.¡± Frein blinked at Katherine, surprised at her implications. ¡°You¡¯re saying the Nightmare¡¯s capable of going in and out of the High Palace?¡± he asked, hiding the true question behind it. ¡°That would be a big problem, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s likely. It¡¯s impossible to rule it out, though.¡± Katherine gave him the eye, subtly gesturing that she understood his question about the Nightmare Incursion. ¡°How long are you expecting Smyl will return?¡± Frein asked, moving the subject along. ¡°The longest case we¡¯ve had previously was at most four days.¡± ¡°Then I think the best plan would be to wait two more days, then, before we go looking for him.¡± Frein knew right away that Ashtine wouldn¡¯t like that plan, but it was the most logical step after all, and it had to be said. Regardless, he moved the conversation right away so she wouldn¡¯t get the chance to complain. ¡°If we¡¯re going to look for him, do you have any idea where he might be?¡± At that, Ashtine was immediately in deep thought. Her face struggled, until she finally gave up. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Any specific location that you two frequent?¡± Katherine asked, helping to juggle the Sky Knight¡¯s memory. ¡°Any hidden spots or favorite places to relax?¡± ¡°Why would he be in any of those?¡± ¡°The first place you usually find a missing person is from where they went missing,¡± Frein explained. ¡°Their homes or workplaces aside, of course. But since you didn¡¯t know where your brother was last before he went missing¡ªhe could be in a lot of places within the first eight hours¡ªthe most familiar areas are the first places that make sense for you to look. ¡°It¡¯s not guaranteed that you¡¯ll find your brother in these places, but you should narrow down your options so you don¡¯t go around too much and waste energy unnecessarily.¡± Frein caught himself, too immersed in his own words. ¡°Sorry, I got a little carried away there.¡± Ashtine shook her head. ¡°No, I think that makes a lot of sense. I know a few places, but¡­¡± ¡°You want to go there to look for him now,¡± Frein finished for him. He scratched his head. ¡°You can¡¯t exactly tell your subordinates to go to those places, with all the secrecy and stuff.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Kristel¡¯s voice echoed as she entered the training hall. She had her M.O.B.I.L.E. in her hand. ¡°I talked to Uncle Kento. They found your brother, Ash. He¡¯s back in the Palace.¡± Ashtine shot from her chair but the Princess raised a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be too hasty. Uncle¡¯s taking care of him. Your father¡¯s also there. Apparently Smyl was more riled up than the other victims. But he is recovering, and you need to take a rest, Ash.¡± Frein felt as if the wind was knocked out of his sails, but he disregarded that and instead, expressed his relief for Ashtine. ¡°She¡¯s right, Ash. You should rest.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The General Sky Knight turned once, her exhale turned from one expressing relief to one extremely burdened. She promptly fell to the ground, unconscious. Frein, Katherine, and Kristel were immediately by her side, utilizing their own ways of assessing the situation. He was amazed. They were all panicking, but were instantly able to control their internal chaos to quickly resolve the issue. And just as fast, they all came to the same conclusion. ¡°Void Sleep,¡± they all said at once. As if to confirm their diagnosis, Elizzel appeared, knowing right away that Frein intended to enter the General Sky Knight¡¯s Dream Realm to get rid of the Nightmares inside. ¡°We might have a problem,¡± said the faunel. Everyone looked at her, and she looked back at them. ¡°You might not believe this but, this lady, Ashtine¡­¡± Elizzel paused as if to try to confirm her discovery. Frein was too absorbed to consider pulling from the Tether. ¡°What is it?¡± Kristel asked, unable to hide her worry. ¡°Is she turning into a Nightmare?¡± Elizzel shook her head. ¡°Ashtine¡¯s a half-faunel.¡± Chapter 159: Promises and Schemes Promises and Schemes ¡°Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t really been in your Dream Realm yet, Eli,¡± Frein said as he traversed Ashtine¡¯s Dream Realm. It was a forest of gigantic trees, enough for him to easily lose his way. Fortunately, like it had been in Kristel¡¯s Dream, a figment of illuminated meiyal told him where to go. Choosing to cure Ashtine¡¯s Void Sleep via her Dream Realm had been an easy decision to make, even if it risked any potential complications due to her half-faunel nature. He and Elizzel were stronger now. Far stronger. A mere Nightmare influence that would put someone of Ashtine¡¯s level into this cursed state shouldn¡¯t pose any problems for them now. Frein didn¡¯t like admitting it, but the General Sky Knight¡¯s strength couldn¡¯t really impose any challenge to him, which corresponded to the nature of the Nightmares they would be facing along the way. The only real issue had been touching Ashtine¡¯s meiyal core, which was located on her right inner thigh, with the marks wrapping around her leg like a garter belt. Touching such a soft, intimate spot was one thing, but keeping his hand on it while he slept in reality¡ªand while Katherine was there watching¡ªwas another. He could feel the Lady¡¯s glaring, dagger eyes from the Physical Realm piercing the Dream Realm. But of course, that was just his imagination. Regardless, so far, it was easy going, and the boring walk made Frein¡¯s thoughts linger on things such as Elizzel¡¯s own Dream Realm. ¡°We don¡¯t have them,¡± Elizzel replied through the Tether. ¡°Well, technically I have one, since I¡¯m Tethered to you. But usually, we simply connect to The Great Dream.¡± ¡°Oh, the one Nora mentioned? With The Great Gathering?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°So, you can technically pull me towards there, right? Through the Tether?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Elizzel considered for a while. She ended up manifesting and sitting on his shoulders again like she had done before. ¡°I think Nora would be the best person for that. I don¡¯t exactly remember the Dreamways that much.¡± ¡°Are those, the paths to get there?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Yeah. But the Ways aren¡¯t exactly just paths. If you simply want to exist in The Great Dream, I can help you have a glimpse, but to actually traverse, you need to follow any of the Ways that the Dream recognizes.¡± ¡°Example?¡± Frein almost stopped in his tracks. He had never heard of any of these things before. Records, academic books, even people like Jaylene or Katherine hadn¡¯t hinted about something like this. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Elizzel thought for a long while, and as always, Frein never once felt the urge to pull from the Tether. He only ever did it for trivial things, or fun things, but never for important secrets. ¡°You¡¯re really not going to try reading me?¡± Frein shook his head, rubbing his face against the faunel¡¯s thighs. ¡°That tickles!¡± she giggled, holding his head in place. ¡°Why not, though?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to intrude,¡± he explained. ¡°I know it¡¯s weird since we¡¯re Tethered, but if I was in your shoes right now, I wouldn¡¯t exactly want someone else looking at what¡¯s left of my remaining memories.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Elizzel slowly descended from his back, causing Frein to stop walking. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re kind and considerate, but I didn¡¯t think you were that much of a thoughtful person.¡± Elizzel looked him in the eye, her gaze intense as it could be. ¡°I made a promise to Kat, you know? That I would never snatch a kiss from you without her knowing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the same promise you gave me with regards to Kat, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She nodded. ¡°I sort of wanted to break it just now.¡± Frein smirked. ¡°You know we can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°I know, but I didn¡¯t promise anything about hugging you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He opened his arms, allowing the faunel to wrap her arms and legs around him. Her weightlessness made it easy to carry her. ¡°Thanks for thinking about my well-being, Frein.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± He moved on, following the ever-present flowing meiyal. Of course, his hands moved conveniently underneath the faunel¡¯s bum. ¡°You¡¯re a real maniac, though, aren¡¯t you?¡± Elizzel asked, but her face was nowhere near disdain or disgust. She was enjoying it. ¡°I didn¡¯t promise anything about my hands.¡± ¡°You¡¯re threading the line with that one.¡± With a smile, the faunel pecked his cheek. A quick one, unable to control herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t promise anything about not kissing your cheeks, either.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡± Frein threw the faunel on his back. She immediately recovered her balance and returned to her usual seat, piggybacking on his shoulders. His nape felt particularly warm, somewhat moist. He ignored it. ¡°We¡¯re only doing it when Katherine¡¯s involved. That¡¯s the actual promise.¡± ¡°You only say that when it¡¯s convenient,¡± Elizzel said, pressing her thighs against his face. Frein regained control with his hands. ¡°That, and¡­ it wouldn¡¯t really sit well with me if we went any further than just a little flirting. Just spend your time imagining what you¡¯ll do to Kat, then we¡¯ll do it to her together.¡± Elizzel placed her hands on his head again, playing with his hair. ¡°Yeah. I agree. Katherine trusts us just as much. I¡¯ll think of something, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m anywhere as sick as you guys.¡± ¡°That aside,¡± Frein pointed out, returning the conversation to their initial topic. ¡°Is this your roundabout way of saying you can¡¯t tell me about the Dreamways?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the appropriate time, and I¡¯d much rather share it with Katherine too.¡± ¡°Oh, fair.¡± ¡°Takes so much time to explain.¡± ¡°Practical.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°What about explaining this thing about half-faunels?¡± He could hear the faunel scratching her head. The level of discomfort she was trying to ignore was channeled straight through the Tether. Frein endured it rather than insisting or withdrawing his question. ¡°Sorry,¡± Elizzel said after realizing what happened. ¡°Faunel¡¯s reproduction is the same as everyone else¡¯s; the only difference is that we can¡¯t reproduce with each other. A faunel has to have a Concept, you see, like Freedom and Consequences, for me. Only Brymeia can create more faunels. But that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t reproduce with the other creatures that we turn into. It¡¯s just a matter of who we choose to be our partners, and that doesn¡¯t happen as often as you might think. ¡°Plus, our Tether makes our situation a little more complicated than usual. I also want to explain this to Katherine, but simply put, if you¡¯re worried about it, the two of us can¡¯t conceive because you and I are Tethered. There¡¯s no way you can get yourself pregnant no matter how many times you play with yourself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a weird stretch of logic.¡± Frein couldn¡¯t get such a twisted thought out of his head. The faunel picked up on it.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°It¡¯s exactly like that, Frein, you disgusting pervert.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Elizzel sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a Tether thing, for sure.¡± She held Frein¡¯s face. ¡°Now that I think about it, it¡¯s important that we talk about this now while it¡¯s just the two of us. ¡°If you and Katherine ever seriously decide to have a child, you need to decide whether you should sever your Tether with me before you do so.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Frein had an inkling where the conversation was leading to, but the thought was simply too alien for his mind to comprehend without Elizzel saying it properly. ¡°Because of the Tether, Frein,¡± she said simply. ¡°If you two are to conceive, I will be a part of it as long as we¡¯re one. Your child will be a half-faunel and will have three biological parents.¡± Frein was silent for a while. He walked a good distance within the forest, carrying the faunel over his shoulders. Elizzel was patient, returning the favor by not pulling from the Tether. Finally, he decided to ask a question. ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, Eli, but if our Tether ends up being severed one way or another, would we be able to rebind it?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said without missing a beat. ¡°It¡¯s the same reason why you can¡¯t Tether with another faunel even after severing our bond. I didn¡¯t tell you this because there was no time for you to hesitate, but the main reasons are the Concepts that I¡¯ve imparted to your existence. ¡°Even if I end up leaving, those Concepts¡ªFreedom and Consequence¡ªwill remain with you. They¡¯re already too heavy for a mortal to carry on their own, so if you ever try to add more, you¡¯ll just simply die. It¡¯s a separate subject altogether if you managed to become a Worldborn or a Deitar or a god, but that makes having a child even more complicated. Even I don¡¯t know much about it.¡± ¡°That makes it easy for me, then.¡± Frein smiled, refusing to show it to the Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. ¡°Kat and I will have a kid. That, I can assure you, Eli. So you better learn from the parents we¡¯ll meet along the way because I¡¯ll be leaving that child to you two.¡± Joy overwhelmed their Tether, but Elizzel pulled on his cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re not just a pervert, you¡¯re irresponsible, too!¡± ¡°Ow!¡± Frein fought back by pinching the faunel¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here doing my best to make sure there¡¯s a future for this world, not only for my kid, but for their kids and everyone¡¯s kids for generations to come! And I¡¯m the irresponsible one?¡± ¡°Thank you, Frein,¡± Elizzel said, ignoring his sarcastic question. ¡°This matters a lot to me, you know. I know, I don¡¯t say this often enough, but I love you and Katherine just as much as I loved Kristella.¡± ¡°We love you, too, Eli.¡± With that sudden segue, Frein was forced to let his question pass. He decided on a different topic instead. ¡°So, do you have any idea who Ashtine¡¯s mother is?¡± Frein had asked about the General Sky Knight¡¯s background before they had entered her Dream Realm, and Kristel had been quick to provide. She vouched that Judiciary Knight Verdim Solfey was not a faunel. So it could only be Fena Solfey, his deceased wife. The Princess couldn¡¯t recall much about her, which made the conclusion lead obviously towards one way. Frein thought it was too simple. ¡°I don¡¯t remember a Fenazzel, or any other faunel disguising as someone named Fena,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Maybe if I know what she looked like¡­ I can discern something from it. Besides, after the Divine Severing, most of us faunels don¡¯t really go out of our way to interact with each other.¡± ¡°That would have to wait, then.¡± The meiyal trail they were following had eventually led them outside the forest maze, into a wide desert clearing different enough to consider it an entirely different region. Snow-capped mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks curving as if the skies pushed down on them, unwilling to let them pass. The mountain formation gave Frein an impression of claws, as if they belonged to some creature the size of a country. But what really grabbed his attention were the Nightmares. ¡°Just look at that,¡± Frein exhaled, mesmerized by the chaos he was seeing. ¡°This is¡­ too much.¡± Nightmares of all sorts appeared and disappeared, in and out of the Dream, as if they were unable to maintain their existence. It reminded him vaguely of Schrodie¡¯s Realm. ¡°You think it might be because she¡¯s a half-faunel?¡± Frein asked. ¡°I mean, with regards to why she hasn¡¯t turned yet despite this¡­ whatever this is. There¡¯s so many, and they¡¯re blinking in and out. It hurts just looking at them.¡± Just as suddenly, a lesser Nightmare appeared beside him. Frein crushed its head without even thinking about it. Elizzel pulled from their Tether, Displaying their Exhibit for an instant, and created a spark from the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm. It wasn¡¯t even a Meiyal Art. Just pure lightning meiyal. But the headless, disfigured abomination promptly combusted from the sheer nature of its power. ¡°I have no idea, honestly,¡± she replied as they both observed the enemy¡¯s blazing death throes. ¡°Like I said, faunels don¡¯t develop a Dream Realm or a Mind Palace of their own. But that¡¯s one good assumption.¡± The lesser Nightmare evaporated, reduced to mere meiyal residue. It left its core, but it vanished from the Dream as soon as Frein reached for it. Not even a trace leading anywhere, just a pop, then it was gone. ¡°Weird,¡± Elizzel said. Frein waited a while, making sure it wasn¡¯t just phasing out momentarily. After a minute, he decided the core was completely gone. ¡°Guess we won¡¯t be gathering much,¡± he said. ¡°So much for an easy power up.¡± ¡°Easy?¡± Frein asked sarcastically. ¡°We undergo some stupid, uncontrollable shenanigans every time I eat a Nightmare core. There should be some way we can tame it. I might be a lecherous pervert, but I¡¯m no exhibitionist.¡± Elizzel didn¡¯t bother stifling a smirk. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± Frein just sighed. ¡°In any case, we should probably get ready for a big fight.¡± The Visitor assessed his meiyal reserves. Even with Schrodie¡¯s limitations removed¡ªnow named as Schrodie¡¯s Help¡ªthe amount of decimeiyal they had been able to Mill barely one percentage of his current supply. It was astoundingly difficult even with Elizzel¡¯s constant help. A quarter of it was eight-meiyal, and the rest was six. Frein no longer had any of the normal two-meiyal. Without any limitations to his Milling anymore but his own progression, Elizzel¡¯s sources of meiyal¡ªcurrently four¡ªadded effortlessly to his constant two. In a sense, producing six-meiyal was just as simple as it had been for him with two-meiyal before. The difficulty of jumping straight to ten, or decimeiyal in other words, however, was akin to stirring thick mud with paper. Fortunately, the very meiyal sources they owned were useful in their own right. Specifically, just now, when Elizzel had burned the lesser Nightmare with un-Milled meiyal from the Fulgurblade. With basic understanding of Meiyal Weaving, assisted by their ever-improving mastery of meiyal, they could now hurl sparks of electricity without effort. The intensity would be far weaker compared to a fully formed Art, but it would still be strong enough to spark any living tissue incapable of resisting meiyal aflame. ¡°Anything stronger than a lesser Nightmare would be able to hold it off,¡± Elizzel said, playing with sparks around her fingers. ¡°But at least, they won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Frein continued. ¡°And it won¡¯t cost us any Milled meiyal at all.¡± He still needed to incapacitate them to render them unable to resist, but this improvement alone gave him a lot of confidence. ¡°As long as we don¡¯t abuse it,¡± the faunel reminded him. ¡°Just as there¡¯s Art fatigue for practitioners, there¡¯s also a limit to how much raw meiyal a meiyal-charged material can produce at any given time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s open up with a strong one, then,¡± the Visitor said, Displaying his Exhibit. ¡°The more attention we get, the less effort we have to give chasing them around.¡± Elizzel didn¡¯t argue. They were always of the same mind when it came down to decision-making. Seldom did she question his choices, always seeming to agree. The same could be said for him, though. Frein invested a generous amount of eight-meiyal in his Blood Moon Fulgurblade as he calculated the best trajectory for the highest amount of damage to all the Nightmares on the horizon. The mere manifestation of his Exhibit and the culmination of power within the Fulgurblade were enough to stir the phasing abominations into focus, turning their unreasonable wrath towards him. They gathered like moths to a flame. Frein took his stance, holding the Fulgurblade on his side. In a single breath, he drew it from the Shinemoon Scabbard as he invoked the Meiyal Art into the Dream. ¡°Song of Aya: Meteoric Lightning!¡± Darkness flashed in an instant the moment the black lightning struck. Thunder clapped a moment after. Then hundreds upon thousands of lesser Nightmares disintegrated to meiyal residue. Frein released his blood-lightning sword and the scabbard quickly caught it before reappearing behind his back. At the same moment, he jumped as the ground beneath him cracked and collapsed. Above him, Nightmarified Could-Nesting Rocs, yumas, and vorks lunged at him. He held onto his scabbard, only to realize he was surrounded from all directions. But instead of regretting his decision to attract them all, the Visitor only smiled.
The Entity was confused. Now that it had some semblance of freedom because of that stupid, little Princess, it quickly took the chance to explore, only to find a half-faunel suddenly primed for the taking. Cautious, it tried to peer through Destiny, but Brymeia¡ªcurse her and her annoying schemes¡ªhad most of its divinity contained within herself. Not only was it unable to invoke its Prime Designation, it couldn¡¯t trust what Destiny was showing it at all. Still, whatever tricks or plans Brymeia had come up with to keep it shackled, it was far too curious to not try its luck on this¡­ Ashtine Solfey. Much to its dismay, however, the Nightmare tolerance of this half-faunel was akin to a Void Mother. It didn¡¯t have much interest as to the how of it, but rather, the how and why there were so many Nightmares within this person¡¯s Dream were the more interesting questions it wanted answered. A brief scan of her memories brought the Entity to two weak conclusions. First, Ashtine¡¯s Mind Palace was abnormally modified; some of her memories weren¡¯t her own. Second, this General Sky Knight hadn¡¯t been to the Nightmare Lands at all to be this infected. While both discoveries were odd, neither of them explained the amount of Nightmare influence Ashtine had, much less how she was able to resist it. Well, her half-faunel nature greatly helped, but without practical training, she should¡¯ve easily succumbed. This only made the Entity realize that its entry within Ashtine¡¯s Dream Realm caused a tensed thread to completely snap, unintentionally causing a cascade of complications to her body. Before it could do anything about it, the General Sky Knight had fallen into Void Sleep. The Entity couldn¡¯t take advantage of the moment, however, since a disturbing presence had entered Ashtine¡¯s Dream Realm soon after. It didn¡¯t need to observe up close, for it identified the presence almost instantly. ¡°Just what exactly are you scheming, Zerax¡¯thum? Why are you involving yourself over this petty squabble? This is utterly beneath you and your Contradictions. And yet, you went so far as to die for her.¡± The Entity clicked its nonexistent tongue before scurrying away. It would rather not let the Visitor know it was here. Chapter 160: A Promise to Help A Promise to Help As much as Frein wanted to keep using eight-meiyal, existing within someone else¡¯s Dream meant that he couldn¡¯t keep Gathering and Milling to resupply his meiyal reserves. ¡°They just won¡¯t stop,¡± said Elizzel through the Tether. Frein agreed, but he was too busy throwing lesser Nightmares into each other to reply even telepathically. They had already spent a significant amount of raw meiyal from his Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm, keeping only a portion in case he needed it for a desperation move. He had been fighting for almost an hour, only maintaining Siffera in a manageable emphasis. Yet again, they were faced by the problem: his lack of fire-based Meiyal Arts. Frein afforded himself with an excuse. He quickly ran a simulation within his head while sweeping his Shinemoon Scabbard into a group of enemies trying to pounce him. If someone like Katherine or Frill was in his shoes right now, they would surely employ their Ferenfra or Diferenfra. But no matter how he tried to piece it, somehow he still thought they¡¯d be overwhelmed. Either they would run out of meiyal or reach Art fatigue. While the latter was improbable, the former was definitely possible. There was just simply flood after flood of lesser Nightmares, and even with the ones he had personally burned to meiyal residue, there seemed to be no end to them still. ¡°We need to figure out a way to combine the Fulgurblade with Siffera,¡± he said as he chopped off three lesser Nightmare heads using only his hand. The decapitated bodies still went after him. He slammed his leg into one, following through to the other two. They flew straight into another pack of these mindless, zombie-like creatures. ¡°I agree,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°But we have to do something about this problem first.¡± She delivered a thought through their Tether. ¡°We haven¡¯t practiced that one at all, Eli.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of it the first time,¡± she reasoned. ¡°I¡¯ll help you out, and the Emerald Guidance should work as well. Besides, this is Nidai-level we¡¯re talking about.¡± Frein didn¡¯t argue; he didn¡¯t have the time in the first place anyway. With a hefty investment of eight-meiyal, he Drew Nidai-Siffera, invoking the upgraded power granted to him by the Blood-Ribbon Tassel. It elevated the Meiyal Art to a degree far beyond enhancing his physical and conceptual strengths, surpassing their limits beyond any form of his comprehension. The confusion simply lasted for a moment. He had experienced something similar back in Atlas Sid, when he prepared his Siffera for the jump. Nidai-level went beyond that sensation, fully grasping him at the moment. Thankfully, his Emerald Guidance worked overtime, providing him much needed direction from the sudden stimulation all over his body. Frein swung the Blood Moon Fulgurblade in a full circle, using only its raw power from manifesting through his Exhibit. Nidai-Siffera carried the rest. The move erupted with a shockwave of meiyal which threw all lesser Nightmares and sand dunes around him by a hefty distance. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± After spending a while cleaving and smashing and burning through lesser Nightmares, it became clear that they were virtually endless. It came to a point where they noticed these abominations blinking into physicality within the Dream. It reminded Frein of the tower challenges in the Keeper¡¯s Isolation. ¡°There has to be some sort of Nightmare spawning these things,¡± he said, not particularly liking his implications. He rushed forwards, plowing through layers of lesser creatures like they were made of sand. ¡°We can¡¯t be fighting another Deep Nightmare,¡± Elizzel complained. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense! That would make Ashtine akin to a Void Mother.¡± Frein didn¡¯t know what to think of that information. He mulled over it while he gained distance from the mob of lesser Nightmares, looking for that flow of guiding meiyal once again to find Ashtine¡¯s Mind Palace. The only thing he knew about Mothers of the Void was their incredible ability to purify the Nightmare Influence. That power also resulting in such an infected Mind Palace however, didn¡¯t make sense to him. ¡°Not that,¡± Elizzel pointed out. ¡°A Void Mother shouldn¡¯t be infected in the first place, but in the rare instances that they are, it would take a Deep Nightmare to put them into Void Sleep.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Frein crossed it out. Nobody said she was a Void Mother in the first place. This could be an entirely different situation for all he knew. With Nidai-Siffera, it didn¡¯t take much for Frein to cross the entire desert of Nightmares. They reached the far end of a tall steppe leading to a sheer cliff. What he didn¡¯t expect however, were the clouds covering what was underneath. Though the sudden appearance of these clouds gave him pause, Frein didn¡¯t exactly hesitate. He jumped, feet first in case it was a cloudbark. He simply passed through, however. The moment the clouds no longer obstructed his vision, Frein saw the root of the curving mountains far in the horizon. It led to a valley where a huge Mind Palace stood in the middle, protected by a gaping moat. Nightmares of all sorts filled the rest of the landscape, so much that they ended up pushing others into falling into the nothingness either outside of the Dream or into the moat. Frein fell, but his mind was too preoccupied in trying to understand how one individual could have this much Nightmare Influence inside them and still be alive and sane. Granted, Ashtine had now fallen into Void Sleep, but that condition only happened to individuals capable of resisting Nightmarification. He was even more impressed because despite this impossibility happening in front of him, the only thing that had happened to the General Sky Knight was falling asleep.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°This couldn¡¯t have happened overnight,¡± he mentioned as he spread himself to catch more updraft, gliding closer towards the Mind Palace. At this point, he noticed abominated Cloud-Nesting Rocs trying to penetrate the palace. They would fly over the moat for a little while before instantly disappearing. That gave him enough warning to alter his destination. ¡°This would¡¯ve taken years.¡± An uncomfortable thought formed in Frein¡¯s mind. The same happened to Elizzel, simultaneously, enough for them to consider that their train of thought was one and the same. And just as quickly, they dismissed it. Frein sighed as he kept gliding. ¡°I know this is a lot, but I don¡¯t think their existence is definite proof that Ashtine can¡¯t be trusted.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the most logical thing, though,¡± Elizzel echoed like a soundboard. She didn¡¯t believe a word she said. ¡°We¡¯ll just ask her as soon as we finish this.¡± ¡°And maybe check her brother, too.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Frein flipped and landed near the edge of the moat, creating a crater and a shockwave that hurled rocks at the lesser Nightmares. Those who were unfortunate enough to be too close were reduced to meiyal residue by the sheer impact of his landing. His Mesiffera identified layers of protective barriers around the Mind Palace. It pushed on the outer rim of the moat, cleansing away any Nightmare that went into contact with it. Something felt off, causing him to investigate further. First, for some reason, compared to the ones in the desert, these lesser Nightmares were afraid of him. They were all humanoids; the rest of the winged beasts had already fled. Second, the barrier was sinister in nature, as if it had pushed away the land beneath it, causing the moat that led to the darkness below. It was enough to dissuade him from using Ribbon Blink and Sword Step. He looked up towards the curved mountains. They gave him an eerie feeling. The peaks pressed on the barrier¡¯s outer layer, creating a crack. ¡°It¡¯s like they¡¯re trying to crush the barrier.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Elizzel appeared, standing dangerously close to the barrier. Her eyes were fixated on those mountain peaks. Frein followed her gaze, and the more he looked, the more he was convinced it was actually a hand. A claw, more like. ¡°You know it?¡± ¡°If it is what I think it is¡­ For Ashtine to resist something like this¡­¡± The faunel turned, her face was now more concerned than ever. ¡°I think we should get out.¡± For the first time, Frein felt a real urge to pull the answer from the Tether, but he tried to convince Elizzel first. She was afraid to utter the name, as if the mere mention of this creature would cause it to wake up. ¡°If you think we should really get out,¡± Frein began, ¡°I need your assurance first that we¡¯ll not abandon Ashtine.¡± ¡°Why do you care so much about her?¡± Elizzel asked, her voice controlled despite her frustration. ¡°You only met her today. This won¡¯t get you closer to becoming a Worldborn or becoming strong enough to look at Destiny.¡± Frein ignored the fact that the faunel mentioned the path to godhood first instead of what should be their main priority. He wanted to convince her to help Ashtine instead. Elizzel delivered the question with legitimate concern. She didn¡¯t intend for him to completely ignore the General Sky Knight, but her worry had actual basis; they seemed to always help anyone they met along the way. Frein chose to be sincere. He couldn¡¯t convince her with simple honesty. Elizzel wanted an explanation. ¡°It¡¯s to keep a promise, Eli,¡± he began. ¡°I promised to always help anyone who asked. I promised to do so to the best of my abilities, to make sure there would be no stone unturned. I also promised to make sure no one I love would get hurt while I did my best helping someone.¡± Elizzel frowned at his words. She had a desire to pull from the Tether to find clarity to her confusion, but just like him, she stopped herself and asked him instead. ¡°A promise to who? Kat?¡± Frein shook his head. ¡°Not Katherine Militia, Eli. Catherine Nivan. My sister, the one who gave me her heart.¡±
Katherine couldn¡¯t help but worry. She halfheartedly reprimanded herself. She should be used to it at this point. Even back on Earth, Frein had deliberately put himself in danger to help a complete stranger. Many were the times he had rushed to a passing pedestrian to save them from a speeding truck. Many were the times he had been the first to reach a live grenade to throw it away. Many were the times he had come face to face with armed people to settle a hostage situation. Many were the times where he given away some of his winnings to help a poor fighter. Many were¡­ Katherine sighed and shook her head, her thoughts spiraling to what-ifs and what-if-nots. ¡°I¡¯ve only ever seen you nervous and worried whenever Frein is involved, Sis. You¡¯re always collected, usually,¡± Xiv said, sitting on Frein and Ashtine¡¯s opposite side. ¡°This is really weird.¡± He pointed at the Visitor¡¯s hand firmly holding the General Sky Knight¡¯s inner thigh. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped,¡± Katherine said. She looked up, tearing her eyes away from Frein to look at the former Lord Knight. ¡°He has to directly touch someone¡¯s meiyal core to enter their Dream Realm.¡± ¡°So I was told,¡± he said. ¡°Still weird, though.¡± ¡°How are you?¡± she asked. Xiv frowned. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t passed out for a long while until yesterday.¡± ¡°Oh, that.¡± He scratched his head. ¡°It must¡¯ve been because I pushed myself hard when we fought the Da¡¯bloop.¡± Katherine hummed. She could see that Xiv was still hiding something. At least that was what her intuition told her. And the more nervous and worried she was, the more she relied on it. ¡°The next time I feel like you¡¯re hiding something from me, I¡¯m going to use my Heart¡¯s Will on you. Usually, I¡¯m more subtle about it, but you¡¯re a friend, so I¡¯m giving you a warning now.¡± ¡°I uh¡­¡± Xiv looked around. ¡°It¡¯s just us,¡± Katherine reassured. ¡°Frill and Kristel went to explain the situation to Ashtine¡¯s escorts.¡± ¡°Liona¡¯s alive,¡± Xiv said finally. ¡°A part of her at least. But I¡¯m not sure if this has something to do with my sudden collapses.¡± ¡°Because you have her core.¡± Katherine frowned as soon as she stated the obvious. ¡°You mean it¡¯s something more?¡± Xiv nodded once. ¡°Liona had developed a second personality, not a mental personality, but a second persona altogether. A second Liona. She¡¯s alive in my Mind Palace. ¡°She¡¯s different from the first Liona you knew. She said she¡¯s the rebellious one. And before the first Liona died, the second was forced into the meiyal core to wait for Frill. Then, well¡­ you can figure out the rest.¡± ¡°I need to make sure,¡± Katherine said, implying to Xiv what she intended to do. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Heart¡¯s Will verified that he wasn¡¯t making up this story, but Mesiffera couldn¡¯t confirm it since the Art couldn¡¯t actually see someone¡¯s Mind Palace from the outside. Katherine still trusted her Blessing, however. It was just taking her a second to believe what she just heard. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told them yet?¡± Xiv shook his head. ¡°The second Liona isn¡¯t ready. I have no doubts about Frill and Kristel believing it and trying to verify it for themselves, but she¡­ Liona¡¯s not sure of who she wants to be yet. She¡¯s been spending her entire life pretending to be the first one. She needs time, Sis.¡± Katherine nodded. She understood that she had cornered Xiv in the first place, and that she could ultimately leave this matter to him for the meantime. ¡°Alright. Thank you for letting me know. If you need help, you know you can rely on me and Frein.¡± ¡°You two seem to be helping just about anyone.¡± Katherine smiled, placing a hand on Frein¡¯s chest. ¡°That¡¯s how he is.¡± At that moment, the Visitor opened his eyes. Elizzel appeared beside him almost instantly. ¡°We have a problem,¡± said the faunel. ¡°We can¡¯t wake her up,¡± Frein followed up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kristel asked, entering the training hall at the exact same time. Frill was close behind her. ¡°The thing inside Ashtine, the Nightmare Influence,¡± Elizzel began but was unable to continue. She looked at Frein. ¡°What is it?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Is it a Deep Nightmare?¡± ¡°Not just a Deep Nightmare,¡± Frein said. ¡°It¡¯s an Oblimoth.¡± Chapter 161: Safe Travels Safe Travels ¡±Not even a step outside the Manor¡­¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor ¡±You look disappointed.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped,¡± Frein replied to Katherine. He almost successfully held a sigh. ¡°I can explore Westleaf some other time.¡± ¡°We can come back after the Incursion, if you want?¡± Kristel offered. ¡°Yeah.¡± This time, he made some genuine effort to smile. ¡°Ultimately, it depends.¡± ¡°Depends?¡± It was Frill who asked this time. ¡°After the Nightmare Incursion, we seriously intend to find how we can take a look at Destiny. Regardless of what the Letterman says afterward, if we survive.¡± Frein signaled Katherine to continue. ¡°We need to go look for Mother Selfiya, too. I think she¡¯s the only person who can safely help us navigate the Nightmare Lands.¡± ¡°Why there?¡± Xiv asked, joining the conversation. ¡°I need to keep eating Nightmare cores,¡± Frein replied. ¡°Oh, you did mention that.¡± ¡°Yeah. If I can build to a hundred-meiyal¡ªI think, even before then¡ªI can finally find some results¡­ hopefully.¡± ¡°Well, we have to survive the Incursion first,¡± Kristel said with finality. Frein could see that the Princess didn¡¯t like the idea. She hadn¡¯t wanted to be separated from Katherine then, she wouldn¡¯t want it now. But she was right this time; they needed to survive first. With the arrival of the white sun, it signified the second week from when the Letterman had given Elizzel his warning. Within the next five days, the Nightmare Incursion would hit. This meant they needed to arrive at the High Palace as soon as possible. The C.A.R. was a little more crowded now that they had to bring Ashtine¡ªwho was still unconscious¡ªwith them. Her escorts were kind enough to ride along on their yumas, who were joined by Enza and her parents from time to time. The rest of her siblings were still small, the size of large dogs, but with the three horse-sized yumas going out of the vehicle in intervals, they managed to make space for the General Sky Knight. If Kristel had brought Testra with her, things would¡¯ve been more complicated than they already were. Thankfully, the yuma was understanding enough to go ahead with Atlas Sid. Frein wondered if their combined weight would push the Close-Air Relocator closer to the road. A quick look didn¡¯t tell him much, other than that they were still hovering above ground with a convenient clearance. ¡°How long ¡®till we get to the High Palace?¡± He asked. ¡°At our speed, probably three to four hours,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°Probably six, since we need to give all the yumas a break.¡± Frein sighed. ¡°That¡¯s a long ride.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not why you¡¯re sighing, though, isn¡¯t it?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°I wanted to take a look at Central as well,¡± he replied. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m in some special quarantine. Not exactly complaining, though, just to clarify.¡± ¡°The High Palace is a big place in its own right,¡± Frill said while she wiped the sweat off Ashtine¡¯s forehead. The General Sky Knight had developed a fever overnight. ¡°It¡¯s not as big as Atlas Sid, probably a quarter, but there are a ton of places you can visit.¡± ¡°I can show you around,¡± Kristel offered. ¡°You and Xiv.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ll have quite a busy day when you arrive, Princess,¡± Frein reminded her while turning to Frill, who received the same message. ¡°Kat and I can look after Xiv.¡± The Vyndivalian simply shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t have a say in this until I¡¯m formally recognized as part of your retinue, Princess. I¡¯ll agree with whatever you decide.¡± With that matter resolved, Frein turned his attention to Ashtine again. She was significantly getting worse, but there was still the question of how the General Sky Knight was able to resist Nightmarification. He emphasized Mesiffera again and immediately saw the same thing as always; her slow, worsening condition, but no significant signs of turning. Granted, Frein never personally witnessed anyone turning into a Nightmare before, but he figured the essence of the Influence would be involved, and that he could spot easily enough. ¡°Still nothing?¡± Frill asked. Kristel¡¯s face mentioned the same question. Frein shook his head. ¡°Her meiyal system is struggling. The flow of meiyal doesn¡¯t exist, as if it¡¯s almost frozen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not indicative of her turning,¡± Katherine echoed his thoughts. ¡°But frozen meiyal flow is bad in its own right. The healers can figure out exactly what¡¯s wrong with her, but I¡¯m guessing these are the effects of prolonged Void Sleep.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a part of Nightmarification?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°It¡¯s a result of resisting too much Nightmare Influence, but it¡¯s not Nightmarification. Because once that process starts, we can¡¯t stop it. Our only choice, then, would be to do her a favor and end her life before she completely turns. Void Sleep happens because the Nightmare wants to reduce your resistance to its Influence.¡± The Vyndivalian nodded, still a little confused but he caught the important part of that answer. It simply meant their window was closing fast. The longer Ashtine was in Void Sleep, the riskier it would be for her and them.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I don¡¯t think we can afford to give their yumas rest,¡± Frein said to Kristel, referring to Ashtine¡¯s escorts. ¡°Either they push their yumas, or we leave them behind. I suggest they do the former, since we can take care of Ashtine anyway.¡± The Princess passed a glance to Frill, who nodded in understanding. ¡°I¡¯ll let the escorts know,¡± she said before jumping off the C.A.R. Frein panicked a little before realizing that the Aria wasn¡¯t exactly in any danger. Stiry, her brown flying yuma and Enza¡¯s father, caught Frill as if he had been waiting for her the entire time. He saw Xiv relax from the sudden fright. ¡°You two are pretty jumpy,¡± Kristel commented. ¡°I haven¡¯t been around Sky Knights for very long,¡± Frein retaliated. ¡°Same,¡± Xiv said, raising a fist towards Frein¡¯s direction. They bumped fists in unison. ¡°Fair enough,¡± said the Princess while closing the C.A.R.¡¯s door. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if this is the correct time to ask, but can we talk about the Vyndivalian Envoy now?¡± Xiv asked. He was quite awkward at raising the question, probably because he wasn¡¯t sure of how to bring it up. Kristel nodded. ¡°I talked about it with Frill last night anyway. What do you want to know first?¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Her name is Lynera,¡± Kristel began, but Katherine immediately shot up to speak. ¡°Lynera? Lynera Lunasensia?¡± ¡°Her, yes,¡± Kristel confirmed as if to understand the Lady¡¯s question. ¡°Mother Selfiya¡¯s sister. We spoke two days ago, and while I can¡¯t verify her identity through M.O.B.I.L.E., I trust Midan¡¯s judgement. She said she knows what happened to the Western Sanctum, and that the Letterman also helped her reach Minaveil Province without a problem.¡± Frein observed everyone. It seemed at this point, none of them were surprised by the Letterman¡¯s intervention. He decided to keep the discussion moving. ¡°Did she mention anything about her letter?¡± he asked. ¡°Apparently the Letterman helped by actually helping, not through some letter. He took care of their route and any obstacles they faced. They reached the province in record time.¡± ¡°What is she doing now?¡± Xiv asked this time, no longer able to keep his questions under control. ¡°Is she with anyone?¡± ¡°She¡¯s staying in Minaveil Inn, under Bennie¡¯s care. She¡¯s with a High Sentry named Tristan and a young courtier named Dylan. Three people in total. They intend to go to the High Palace to have an audience with the Monarch.¡± ¡°That might complicate things,¡± Frein said. ¡°I thought so, too, but the krakens that escaped during the Jump migrated to the sea south of Southshore. They¡¯re making a mess of the weather over there, which means there¡¯s currently no travel from Minaveil Province to the High Palace. ¡°That said, she sounded a little distraught, saying that the Letterman intended for her to arrive as soon as possible so she can ask help for Vyndival Kingdom right away.¡± ¡°Help?¡± Xiv echoed. ¡°Did Urzic send her?¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°Not only that, but I also found a letter in my room way back in Atlas Sid. I¡¯m sorry, I couldn¡¯t tell you right away.¡± The Princess opened her Spatiera¡ªa feat that still put a smile on her face every time she Drew it¡ªand produced the letter in question. But as always, it was already erased, replaced with a different message.
*It was me who helped Lynera. It was me who told Kristel to keep this message from you. Please understand. The entire reason why I urged Lynera to hasten their travel was to prevent her death in the Desolate Lands. However, for a stranger to warn someone of their doom results in mistrust more often than not. Hence, I offered to help them personally instead. I intend for Lynera to remain in Minaveil Province until after the Incursion. To all of you, good luck.*
Frein studied the letter intently as the words completely dispersed into a blank page. This was the first one he had seen of this length, as if the Letterman¡¯s careful avoidance was no longer needed. Was it because he had grown stronger? He didn¡¯t think it was that simple. Without any proper basis to go on, he changed his thought process. He could clearly recall Elizzel sharing the reason why this mysterious person was avoiding him; that he would recognize him. He frowned, unable to think of anyone. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you know too much now?¡± Elizzel guessed, her yawns apparent. ¡°Sorry, but I need to sleep.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about it. Go rest.¡± Frein and Elizzel had been researching nonstop in his Mind Palace last night, trying to recall anything they knew about the Oblimoth. They had also looked for any records of Void Sleep cases that could resemble Ashtine¡¯s situation, but to no avail. In the end, the faunel had run out of energy to keep up with the conversations. ¡°What do you think?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°I think he¡¯s planned all of this from the get-go.¡± Frein, then, went through a lengthy explanation of what they assumed Death¡¯s Wish was about. With every phrase, he had to make sure he was pointing out the credible sources he had; Elizzel and Schrodie. But the more he went on, the more Xiv and Kristel looked like they couldn¡¯t believe him. ¡°That¡¯s just impossible,¡± the Princess said. ¡°Proving it is next to impossible as well,¡± he added. ¡°Are we sure about this?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°Nope.¡± Katherine simply shrugged. ¡°Make sure you tell Frill about this later,¡± Frein said, not waiting for the Princess to agree. ¡°We can¡¯t really spend our time thinking whether the Letterman¡¯s warnings or his Death¡¯s Wish are legitimate or not. The only thing that matters is that we have a plan for the Nightmare Incursion, whether or not it happens.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kristel agreed. ¡°It¡¯s not like we have a choice in the matter. So far, everything the Letterman wrote came true.¡± ¡°It makes you want to rebel, though,¡± Xiv commented with a dumb smile on his face. ¡°The way he¡¯s so sure about his words.¡± ¡°Maybe this is the best approach,¡± Frein argued. ¡°You can¡¯t really just show up and tell people how you¡¯ve seen everything happen and tell them what¡¯s the perfect way to solve things, especially with Destiny being an actual, influential thing messing up with the equation at every opportunity.¡± The Vyndivalian pondered for a moment, then hesitantly agreed. ¡°I guess so. I¡¯d probably call him crazy and punch him in the face if he did that.¡± ¡°Right?¡± This time, Xiv eagerly agreed, understanding his point. ¡°So, what else happened?¡± Frein asked the Princess. ¡°After I told Lynera the Letterman¡¯s actual intention, she calmed down and agreed to stay in Bennie¡¯s inn.¡± ¡°Alright, that simplifies things for us at least.¡± Kristel turned to Katherine. ¡°She asked about you, too. I told her you¡¯re back. That helped her really calm down after.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t spend as much time with Lynera as I did with Selfiya,¡± Katherine began. ¡°But she was a very talented Void Mother-in-training before I left. If she¡¯s strong enough to survive what happened with the Western Sanctum, then she¡¯s probably as formidable as Mother Selfiya now.¡± ¡°You think we can trust her, then?¡± At that, Katherine turned to Xiv. The Vyndivalian shrugged. ¡°When we found her in the Nightmare Lands while looking for a Forest Jaws, she was half-dead. Apparently she had amnesia, but she couldn¡¯t separate herself from Urzic. We should probably verify that first; if she¡¯d regained her memories, that is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still long after the Incursion anyway,¡± Katherine concluded. ¡°I think we should concentrate on that first. But for what it¡¯s worth, I¡¯m glad to know that she also survived.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Frein began, ¡°wake me up when we get there.¡± He planned to take it easy for the rest of the trip. He didn¡¯t actually sleep, but Gathered and Milled instead, trying to process decimeiyal from time to time until concentrating on it began to hurt. After a while, he gave up and simply concentrated on improving on his six-meiyal. Even seven-meiyal had a sudden spike in difficulty. Just then Katherine screamed, startling everyone, including the yumas that came back with Frill to rest. ¡°I almost forgot!¡± she began, standing to grab Kristel¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s your birthday this week!¡± Frein felt a wave of relief electrifying from his heart and around his chest. He breathed slowly. ¡°Kat, you¡¯re going to give me a heart attack.¡± The Lady of the Void scratched her head, apologizing to everyone. ¡°Sorry, my bad.¡± Chapter 162: An Odd Face An Odd Face Since the C.A.R. was technically a ground-based vehicle, despite the fact that it hovered on the ground, Frein and the rest of the group had to go to Atlas Sid first. They had to return the vehicle and borrow a different one at the same time. A proper flying carriage this time. Kristel did most of the work. She took a favor from Jaylene to make the exchange outside of Atlas Sid in order to avoid any snooping onlookers accidentally finding out Ashtine¡¯s condition. ¡°Our resupply¡¯s taking a bit,¡± said the felintine. ¡°Recruiting is slow since we¡¯re in the middle of the year. People who graduated earlier already found their own jobs. I think returning Ashtine to the High Palace is for the best.¡± She brought two hovercrafts with her, one for the C.A.R. and one for them to use. These were legitimate aircrafts, meant to carry a platoon with them along with a number of smaller crafts like the Close-Air Relocator. ¡°A.I.R.,¡± Jaylene introduced to Frein. ¡°Advanced International Relocator. Efficient meiyal usage. With a full supply, she can stay up in the air for up to a week at cruising speed or up to half a month while stationary. Has enough room for twenty troops, with four wide sleeping rooms, equipped with sanitary and shower rooms each, a large kitchen, and a stable for up to ten yumas.¡± The A.I.R. took the shape of a ship, at least its main vessel did. No masts, no sails, just the main body. It was surrounded by a number of small meiyal crystals that served as its levitating device. They looked like the ones on Atlas Sid, only smaller. If those on the grand carrier were the size of a fist, the ones here on this ship were fingernails. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re selling,¡± Frein commented. ¡°You looked bored,¡± she replied. ¡°Thought I might get your interest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look around if I feel like it. So far, out of all your acronyms, this is the lamest one.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°No training rooms?¡± ¡°Your flight from here would take about thirty minutes tops. If you want to train, do it on the roof, try not to fall off or something.¡± Jaylene made a face and went to do other things with the other A.I.R. ship. Frein responded with his own face, which eventually broke into a yawn. ¡°Guess the scenery¡¯s gone old at this point, huh?¡± Katherine asked, nudging him awake. Frein yawned even more. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a spar in a spell. All I¡¯ve been doing is dealing with Nightmares, and they don¡¯t necessarily fight back the way normal people do.¡± ¡°We sparred, like, three days ago,¡± Kristel reminded him. ¡°That¡¯s quite a long time, if you ask me.¡± Katherine shrugged and nodded. ¡°For him, I guess that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°See you around, folks,¡± Jaylene said after loading the small C.A.R. into her A.I.R. She went around hugging everyone¡ªyes, including Xiv, who was awkward about it, despite the light embrace. Frill was laughing at him while she hugged the felintine. ¡°And advanced happy birthday to you, Princess. Not sure if the Admiral and I can make it to the ceremony.¡± ¡°Thank you. And it¡¯s quite alright. There¡¯s no pressure to attend.¡± ¡°Ceremony?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Her coming of age,¡± Jaylene answered. ¡°Technically, it¡¯ll also be when Monarch Denis should declare Kristel as his successor, but we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s the deadline for the competition?¡± he asked. ¡°You¡¯ve barely done anything for it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Kristel said. ¡°I won¡¯t let Tryvinal get the crown.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± Jaylene smiled before turning to Katherine. Their embrace took the longest. ¡°You know where to find me.¡± ¡°Take care, Jam.¡± The felintine took one last look at Frein. ¡°Proud of you, Frein. You keep her happy, alright?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± The group waited for Jaylene to leave first before proceeding as planned. But at this point, despite how he would love to explore the new vehicle, he just could no longer stay still inside another vessel. Enza was feeling the same. ¡°Can we fly outside instead?¡± he asked everyone. ¡°Enza¡¯s just as bored as I am.¡± ¡°I better come with,¡± Katherine said. The lack of denial was reassuring. She looked at his yuma. ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t push it if you¡¯re getting tired, alright? There¡¯s a way at the back of the ship if you need to take a break.¡± Enza eagerly barked, wagging her tail. ¡°I can do it!¡± With all that settled, the group began to fly. Enza took Frein to the air, Katherine used her Rivasia, and the rest of the group boarded on the ship. As expected, Enza couldn¡¯t exactly keep up with the A.I.R. ship yet. She had to return to rest after just ten minutes of constant flight. ¡°You did good,¡± Frein said, still fighting his own nerves and absorbing the fact that he had been riding in the air without any safety measures. ¡°Next time for sure!¡± Enza barked with a vengeance. ¡°I¡¯ll be faster than anything out there!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you will.¡±
At long last, Frein felt it again; the sensation of entering another world. Like it was with Minaveil or with Atlas Sid or even with Schrodie¡¯s Realm, the sight of the High Palace was like staring into an alien planet with its own unique environmental features. As far as impressions went, that was his. In reality, the effect of novelty and meiyal and all other foreign things was the driving influence to his absurd look at this new place. He was obviously overreacting, if he would compare himself to his other companions.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Luckily enough, Xiv was with him, and the Vyndivalian was also visiting the High Palace for the first time. Both of them gasped in amazement. The three women looked at them with proud smiles, and Kristel took the opportunity to introduce them. ¡°Welcome to the High Palace, Frein and Xiv. Make sure you don¡¯t step off the cloudbark.¡± ¡°What in the world am I looking at?¡± he asked. It was obviously a rhetorical question. It was impossible to miss the colossal skull of a dragon floating above the clouds. And above it, was a civilization. An entire city settled above a fossil of exponential size. They were still quite a distance away, and Frein couldn¡¯t believe how large it already looked. He could not begin to identify which part of the city was what. He couldn¡¯t even determine which was supposed to impress him more. The fossil, or the fact that the people of Irista Nation chose to settle their most prestigious family on top of a dead dragon. ¡°It¡¯s not just any dragon,¡± Kristel said. ¡°It¡¯s Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull,¡± Frein finished for her. ¡°I read about it. Just¡­ sometimes you can¡¯t believe historical facts until you see it with your own eyes, you know?¡± The Princess smiled with swelling pride. ¡°And now that you have, what do you think?¡± Frein shook his head while smiling like a kid in a theme park for the first time. ¡°Mind-blowing. Where are we headed first? And tell me that I can go wherever I want.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll go through the normal procedures, since we have you and Xiv to register. I can ask them to expedite the process.¡± Kristel tilted her head and pondered for a moment. ¡°As for places you can go, I can probably give you the same access as I do, except, of course, my father¡¯s personal quarters, and the female dorms, and the Royal Knights¡¯ personal quarters, and the Guard Knights¡¯ as well, and the forbidden library, though I did promise I¡¯ll get you access to those, and the¡­¡± ¡°I get it, I get it. Just tell me where I can or can¡¯t go later, depending on which is fewer.¡± Frein looked for Xiv who was already engaged in a discussion with Frill. The two were getting closer by the minute, and it looked like they found something to bond over with. ¡°I can show you around, you know?¡± Katherine whispered teasingly. ¡°Just like you said, Kristel¡¯s going to get busy when we get there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Frein said. ¡°I¡ª¡± Just then, a loud, deep moan echoed from outside the A.I.R. ship. It was similar to a whale, a huge one, and it reminded Frein eerily of a Da¡¯bloop. He moved with urgency, but the rest of his companions didn¡¯t follow. Regardless, he reached the deck and looked around to find nothing but clouds. A shadow loomed behind him. Frein turned to see a huge, white, wormlike creature with a face disturbingly similar to a person¡¯s. It was surrounded all around by white fur, smiling with a huge set of human-like teeth that curved up to where the absent ears should be. Its eyes were completely black, acting like inquisitive mirrors that reflected his face, as if those pupils stared right into his soul. ¡°Greetings and salutations,¡± it said slowly in a deep, reverberating tone that made Evanclad¡¯s voice seem childish. Its mouth didn¡¯t move, but Frein could feel the sounds coming from it, rather than being directly delivered inside his mind as during telepathic communications. ¡°You are a curious fellow. A curious fellow, indeed.¡± ¡°Wha¡ª?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t finish his question. Not because he was frightened, nor was his mind stunned trying to come up with any logical explanations as to what was happening, nor was he undecided whether he should treat this creature an enemy or not. He was simply taken by surprise. The creature inched closer, showing its true size. Frein considered himself to be average in height, yet he could barely compare to the size of this monster¡¯s tooth. ¡°You think me a monster? How rude. How very rude, indeed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry?¡± Somehow, the creature¡¯s smile curved a lot higher than it was supposed to be able to. ¡°Apology accepted, Visitor. Oh, great Visitor. Such an honor to meet you. Such an honor, indeed.¡± ¡°Umm¡­ I suppose I should ask, who are you?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The creature¡¯s musing caused the very air to rumble, masking the footsteps from below. Katherine and the others were on their way. ¡°I am of strict obligation to refuse you any answers, Frein Nivan. Such a shame. Such a shame, indeed. You seem a kind fellow. Kinder than the others before you. But alas, only those under my watchful gaze possess such ability to name this one and those of mine to a mighty person such as you.¡± Kristel entered first. ¡°Ah, and she has arrived at last. At long last, indeed.¡± The creature, despite all possibility, smiled wider. ¡°Welcome home, Princess Kristel Irista, rightful heir of Irista Nation. Your presence puts this one and the rest of one¡¯s kin at ease. No more worries. No more worries, indeed.¡± After the second time, Frein finally understood that the creature referred to the rest of its kin. He looked around and found more fuzzy colossal worms swimming behind the clouds and cloudbarks, their white fur allowing them to disguise themselves easily. He counted about nine more eagerly staring at him from afar, showing their smiles when he caught them before diving under the safety of those clouds. There were probably a few more just minding their own business. Now that he paid attention to it, his Siffera could feel them surrounding the A.I.R. ship. ¡°George!¡± Kristel exclaimed. The Princess jumped on the creature¡¯s¡ªGeorge¡¯s¡ªhead, bouncing like a child jumping on a new bed. ¡°It¡¯s so good to see you!¡± ¡°George?¡± Frein asked. Xiv had the same look, but Frill and Katherine were just smiling. At the very least, he understood that they were in no danger at all. It was a weird reminder to him that not all fantastical creatures on Brymeia were limited to Nightmares¡ªdespite caring for a yuma. Now, he just wanted to know who this fuzzy giant worm really was. ¡°Ah!¡± Kristel jumped down as if she forgot something. She sauntered over merrily next to Frein, George¡¯s head following closely behind. The entire picture looked like a horror show. If he didn¡¯t know better, he¡¯d think the creature intended to swallow the Princess whole. ¡°Let me introduce you. George, meet Frein, the Visitor, and Xiv, our Vyndivalian informant and my new retainer. Boys, this is George, or Georgery Brianfen Plauntifur.¡± ¡°Georgery Bri¡ªwhat?¡± ¡°Georgery Brianfen Pauntilfur.¡± ¡°I heard it the first time. Sorry. I¡¯m just¡­ can you please explain?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Kristel smiled awkwardly. She looked like she was imitating George. ¡°That¡¯s right, we don¡¯t include them in our records. George here, is a King Cloudbark Worm. His kin are oath-sworn to protect the Royal Family. It¡¯s a decree sent by a god before the Divine Severing, but they honor it despite well¡­ the Severing. Basically, you can treat them as some form of angel.¡± ¡°Uh huh¡­¡± ¡°And now that this one has been formally introduced, I am now able to address any of your concerns,¡± George said. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely have a few questions,¡± Frein started, addressing the Cloudbark Worm. ¡°But maybe after I¡¯ve sorted everything in my head. Can you clarify first¡ª¡± ¡°Wait a second!¡± Kristel blurted out. ¡°I completely forgot you can talk to meiyal-attuned creatures!¡± ¡°Wait, you don¡¯t understand him?¡± ¡°Unfortunate. Very unfortunate, indeed.¡± Kristel shook her head, but her face was excited. ¡°Tell him, I missed him!¡± ¡°Ah, but I did miss the Princess as well.¡± ¡°He can understand you,¡± Frein clarified. ¡°He says he missed you too.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Kristel hopped back on George¡¯s head, sliding down the rest of his furry body. She disappeared and reappeared from the clouds before ultimately circling back to the A.I.R. ship. It made Frein realize how colossal this worm was. ¡°If you have no questions for now, Frein Nivan, then you may call for me when you have them.¡± He leaned closer, smiling ever wider. ¡°And since you and I have not formed a bond of friendship, you shall address me by my full name. Or else, I shall ignore your call.¡± The King Cloudbark Worm motioned to leave, bidding everyone farewell, but Kristel stopped him. ¡°George, umm¡­¡± the Princess hesitated. Georgery Brianfen Plauntifur turned to her and smiled. For the first time, Frein thought it was a genuine, understanding smile. ¡°You need not hesitate, kind Princess. What is your concern?¡± Kristel turned to Frein, asking if the worm said anything. He repeated it verbatim. ¡°How¡¯s my sister?¡± George sighed. ¡°She has not quelled the burning flame sparked from the night of your departure, Princess Kristel. I¡¯m afraid your return shall be met by her anger. Second Princess Scuti Irista is young. Please be patient with her.¡± After Frein conveyed the message word for word, Kristel dismissed George to return to his kin. The Princess sighed. ¡°Sibling quarrel?¡± Frein asked Katherine. ¡°I think so,¡± she whispered, nodding silently. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Kristel turned with a confident smile. ¡°I¡¯ll make her understand.¡± ¡°Interesting name, though. Scuti.¡± Frein mused while turning to Xiv. ¡°What about it?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°One of the largest stars Earth discovered before I left was named Scuti.¡± Chapter 163: The High Palace The High Palace ¡±I can¡¯t not make a joke about it. It¡¯s just impossible. It¡¯s just so goddamned big! I said it, okay? She said it, too! That¡¯s what she definitely said.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor Of course Frein kept his mouth shut. Or at least, he tried his best. It was inevitable for him to utter the words ¡®huge¡¯, ¡®big¡¯, and ¡®humongous¡¯ when talking about the High Palace¡¯s scale and size. It wasn¡¯t even just a palace. It was an entire city! The High Palace City! But he always let his words end at the size descriptors. He was having too much fun watching Katherine¡¯s struggling face, who was the only other person who could see the joke coming from the next planet away. ¡°Is she okay?¡± Frill asked in a whisper, pointing towards the Lady of the Void, who was clutching both her stomach and her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Frein replied. ¡°I think she¡¯s just not used to how big this city is. She¡¯s been gone a while.¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Katherine finally said, no longer able to hold her laughter. ¡°I get it, alright? No one else here gets the joke.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a joke about the High Palace being so big?¡± Kristel asked curiously. ¡°Yep,¡± Frein said, not bothering to explain. ¡°It¡¯s too big. It won¡¯t fit anywhere except the sky.¡± ¡°I guess, it is?¡± Xiv admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t see the joke, though. Why would you want to fit it somewhere?¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Katherine pushed Frein towards the checkpoint. ¡°We¡¯re skipping the lines. They already gave you special privileges, so stop making them wait!¡± The snout part of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull easily accommodated the A.I.R. ship. And despite Frein¡¯s impression of an isolated area to secure the royal family, it seemed that people came and went from this place, just like any other city. The checkpoint, however, was atrociously packed. While the flow was consistent, there just seemed to be no end to the people arriving at and leaving the High Palace. Frein observed envious gazes towards him as he skipped the entire queue. He felt somewhat guilty and relieved at the same time. Boredom had gripped him these last few hours, and lining up on a queue might lead him to consider some unspeakable things. ¡°Welcome back, Princess Kristel,¡± said Maffelyne, who personally met them at the checkpoint. The half-elf did the procedures as normal. ¡°Checkpoint duty?¡± Frein asked, trying to get a rise from the half-elf. ¡°Did you do something bad on Atlas Sid?¡± ¡°No, Visitor,¡± she replied, eyeing him curiously. ¡°Since we¡¯re on downtime, we took up some extra workload to help out. Sharron¡¯s helping out at the academy while the brothers are down at Central doing guard work. Need to find ways to not get as bored as you, you know?¡± ¡°Keen eyes,¡± Frein commented. ¡°Up for some sparring?¡± ¡°Maybe after I clock off duty.¡± She nodded. ¡°You¡¯re all set. Would you like us to take care of you yumas?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not too much of a bother,¡± Frill said, handling both Stiry and Fittey¡¯s reins. Their litter followed obediently. ¡°It¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°Please show Enza where to stay as well,¡± Frein said, handling the half-elf Enza¡¯s reins. Maffelyne stared at his empty hand. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Enza melded into view, causing the half-elf to yelp for her dear life. The yuma giggled. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°What! I can understand her!¡± Maffelyne¡¯s eyes were a treat to look at. ¡°How?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my yuma,¡± Frein explained, as if that was enough. But when the half-elf didn¡¯t press any further, it seemed that it was actually satisfactory explanation. The entire scene caused a commotion, however. ¡°Behave, Enza.¡± ¡°All I said was ¡®hi¡¯.¡± ¡°That you did, but they aren¡¯t used to a talking yuma. Plus, you showed up out of nowhere.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful,¡± Enza said in a tone that was in no way apologetic, so much as it was mischievous. Frein handed her reins again. ¡°She¡¯s a little playful, I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°No, not at all!¡± Maffelyne took the reins with a dumb smile. ¡°Welcome to the High Palace. Please make sure to observe proper decorum as bad mannerisms are grounds for rapid eviction. Enjoy your stay,¡± she said as if reading from a script. She was already too engaged with the yumas, especially Enza.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Just like that, their checkpoint was complete. ¡°I¡¯m never going to underestimate royalty¡¯s privilege again,¡± Frein sighed, looking back at the length of the queue behind him. He swore he could see a bunch of people raising their fists at him in anger. ¡°It¡¯s quite unfair,¡± Kristel admitted, ¡°but we¡¯re not without proper cause anyway.¡± She pointed at a group of Sky Knights that entered far from the High Palace territory without entering through the checkpoint. They brought Ashtine with them, heading straight to the Sky Knight barracks, presumably straight to their infirmary. ¡°We can check on her, right?¡± Frein asked, recalling the places he wasn¡¯t allowed to explore without permission. ¡°If I¡¯m with you, it should be allowed,¡± the Princess replied. They walked and talked. Frein spent most of his time observing his surroundings while asking a few questions here and there. The entirety of the High Palace revolved around Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull. They paid respect to the fossil by keeping its skeletal structure unblemished, adding only cobblestone paths on the designated roads, which went around bumps and spikes. Overall, it made for a uniquely shaped city, one where efficiency was secondary. ¡°Since it¡¯s your first day, I think we ought to take it slow,¡± Kristel said, adamant that she be involved in his tour, for the day at least. Frein understood where she was coming from. The Princess had literally grown up here. ¡°Where should we go first?¡± he asked. ¡°What about some place to eat?¡± Katherine suggested. ¡°We can go to either the Sky Knight Tower or the Royal Knight Academy. The cafeterias over there are top-notch. Or we can try one of the restaurants over at the residential area.¡± ¡°I can go wherever,¡± Frein said. ¡°As long as there¡¯s good food. It¡¯s a plus if it¡¯s quiet. But I¡¯m not sure if I want to sit down or stand up.¡± ¡°Well, the big cafeterias are pretty far away, but I know a spot right in the next residential area.¡± Kristel led the way, but before they could even take a few steps, something alerted all of them. Footsteps came rushing towards their direction, but there was no one around. The nearest person to their group was one of the Guard Knights manning the checkpoint and a merchant minding her own business. Besides, the footsteps were coming from the opposite direction, coming from the city proper itself. Frein heard the Princess click her tongue before Drawing a Kaimera-enhanced blade Meiyal Art. She raised the sword while stepping to the side. At the same time, Katherine gestured towards Frill and Xiv to step aside while offering a different proposal to him. ¡°I think you want to meet this head-on,¡± she said, placing him a few paces behind Kristel¡¯s meiyal blade. ¡°What?¡± he asked before the clanging of metal reverberated through the air. Only then did Frein realize the entire ordeal had lasted for only a quick second. It clicked for him that all five of them were now fast enough to work together at multiplied speed. Even Xiv managed to keep up. The clash prompted him to go even faster. It was the sword he saw first, manifesting as it made sparks against Kristel¡¯s Kaimera. The next he saw was the slender hand of a woman that wielded it, before the rest of her body. She looked similar to Kristel, only much taller with a darker shade of royal blue hair. She had the same azure eyes, sparking with a fiery rage. Her dress was a beautiful gold and white gown that was customized for freedom of movement. It could only be Scuti Irista. Frein was too busy processing this that, despite his hastened mental processes, it still took him a second or two to realize the reason behind Kristel¡¯s sidestep. From the clashing blades, a meiyal wave erupted from Scuti¡¯s sword. It headed straight for him, and he only had an instant to defend himself. But there was no need for him to react. His six-meiyal Siffera was sturdy enough for him to simply deflect the wave without issue. It was so utterly weak that it took him a moment to consider if the attack would¡¯ve risked the safety of the people lining up in the queue behind him. He decided not to bother. The conundrum of strength was the adjustments for the weak. And while Frein felt guilty about it, it was still a huge waste of his time to give everyone consideration. He could just ask Scuti if she had calculated her attack in the first place anyway. But before that, proper introductions were needed. And even more before that, maybe some explanation. Time resumed to normal as he dusted himself off, showing enough flare that the Second Princess knew that her attack was ineffective. Scuti was ignoring her sister; her eyes locked on him. ¡°You trying to pick a fight?¡± he asked, pulling from his boredom. ¡°Too many people with Nature¡¯s Favor¡­ but the way you folks utilize it is such a shame.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Scuti yelled, finally realizing that she was staring too much. She turned to her sister and swung. ¡°I told you not to come back here!¡± While Kristel deflected her sister¡¯s attacks, Frein turned to Katherine. He ignored the fact that he had gotten thrown to the side. Usually people cared a lot that he was the Visitor. Maybe the High Palace did have higher standards, after all. ¡°I used to miss sibling quarrels,¡± he said. ¡°Not anymore?¡± she asked. The two of them were alone. Frill and Xiv were too busy trying their best to stop the fight, but Kristel ordered them to stand down. ¡°I don¡¯t think my sister would¡¯ve swung a sword at me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not usually open with that kind of stuff.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I just told Eli about it, and now I¡¯m being sentimental.¡± Frein shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s enjoy the fight instead.¡± ¡°You think there¡¯ll even be a fight?¡± Frein observed Scuti with Mesiffera. She was utterly unprepared, suffering from the traditional upbringing of Meiyal Arts practitioners. She had no chance against Kristel. ¡°Well,¡± Frein began, giving the Second Princess the benefit of the doubt. ¡°She¡¯s still an Irista. If Kristel puts her mind to it, she can probably stop the fight, but I think there¡¯s something more to this fight than just a quarrel bred from years of being apart.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being overdramatic,¡± Katherine said. ¡°I just told you I was being sentimental, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, you did.¡± Together, they observed the fight develop, and it seemed nobody in the High Palace¡ªbe it Guard Knights, Royal Knights, or Sky Knights¡ªbothered to make an attempt to stop them. The entire time, Kristel was deflecting her sister¡¯s attacks, throwing them to the side where the meiyal waves wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone. On the other hand, Scuti was yelling her heart out, saying all her grievances about how she was left all alone for years. Frein felt his heart sink. He could relate to Kristel. He didn¡¯t know how to apologize then. Even now, he couldn¡¯t figure it out. All he knew was that Kristel had to say sorry and not let her temper get in the way. There was no way he could tell her that now, though. ¡°I don¡¯t think we should stop it,¡± Frein said to Katherine, deciding to stay put. ¡°I think so too.¡± Chapter 164: Scuti Irista Scuti Irista Kristel couldn¡¯t think of what to say. She knew she had to apologize, but there was nothing she could do in the first place. The order to descend to Minaveil Province had come from their father. It wasn¡¯t some kind of whim that led her to leave Scuti, but her younger sister was making it more difficult to say sorry with every swing of her sword. The First Princess exercised patience. She had to deal with this dangerous temper tantrum with poise, and she knew that calling Scuti out for it would only make the situation worse. She still believed her younger sister didn¡¯t really hate her, despite the ongoing attempt on her life. ¡°You left me all alone, and you think you can just waltz back here as if nothing happened?¡± Scuti yelled, slashing her sword along with every line. She must¡¯ve realized that Kristel wasn¡¯t fighting back, right? But the Second Princess ignored that too. Her immature and emotional state was enough to blind her from what was actually going on. Kristel was thankful that Frein and Katherine decided to keep themselves out of the situation. It was uncharacteristic of them, but it seemed they knew that their presence would only complicate things. This was a matter between siblings in the first place, and she should handle it alone. Frill and Xiv were close by, but they followed her orders to stand down. ¡°Say something!¡± Scuti yelled as she made an overhead slash. Kristel raised her meiyal blade to deflect, but she erased the Art at the last second, letting Scuti¡¯s sword pass through. It was too late for the Second Princess to stop her swing. Her shocked face was instantly filled with regret, which gave comfort to Kristel. She smiled, confident that her younger sister didn¡¯t really hate her for leaving. Scuti¡¯s sword fell straight towards Kristel¡¯s shoulder. The First Princess emphasized her Siffera with all her might, but she wasn¡¯t as skilled with it as Frein was. Despite her ability to invest as much meiyal into the Art as she could, elevating it to Nidai-level at such a quickened pace as the Visitor¡¯s was still out of her grasp. No matter. It was sufficient enough to handle the situation. As a result, Scuti¡¯s sword, despite her desperate attempts to abandon her attack, sliced deep into Kristel¡¯s shoulder, stopping at her collarbone. Frill was quick to her side, shoving away the Second Princess out of pure desperation and instinct. Xiv was quick to get in between the princesses, delivering a silent threat towards Scuti. All the while, Scuti was in shambles. She dispelled her sword Meiyal Art and fell to the ground, clutching and shaking her head and apologizing frantically. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it, I didn¡¯t mean it!¡± she cried, earning a glare from Frill. She withdrew even further. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t mean it¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, Frill,¡± Kristel said, already healing herself with Samesia. ¡°She tried to stop midway. Take it easy on her, please.¡± ¡°Even so, that was too dangerous!¡± Frill complained. Her eyes were fixated on the First Princess¡¯s wound. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I know, Frill,¡± Kristel said. If her Siffera was any weaker, if Scuti¡¯s attacks were any stronger, she would¡¯ve suffered the same fate as Liona. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please let me speak to my sister. I need to calm her down.¡± ¡°Promise me first, you won¡¯t do something like this without informing me next time. We both know your safety is all our priority now.¡± Kristel smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, I promise.¡± With that, the Aria stepped aside. Kristel tapped Xiv¡¯s shoulder, ordering him to stand down. He silently backed away. The Princess walked up to her younger sister, showing her shoulder. ¡°What?¡± Scuti blinked in both confusion and amazement. ¡°It¡¯s gone? When did you¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty good with Samesia now,¡± Kristel explained, smiling at the chance to show off to her sister. ¡°Still, that hurt, you know?¡± Tears appeared from Scuti¡¯s eyes, pleading for an apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was just really angry. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡± Kristel placed a hand on her sister¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, too, Scuti. I¡¯m sorry for leaving you alone. I¡¯m back now, and I¡¯ll be staying for a while.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving again?¡± the Second Princess asked, catching her implications. She didn¡¯t sound as angry now. Kristel looked up towards Frein and Katherine, gesturing for them to approach. ¡°That depends. The Visitor has changed a lot of things since he arrived. And you have a lot of catching up to do. Starting from introducing yourself to him.¡± She reached out a hand to her sister. Scuti took it with one hand while she wiped her tears with the other. ¡°I read your reports. Is he really as strong as a Deep Nightmare?¡± ¡°Can hear you from far away, too,¡± Frein said as they approached. As expected, he presented a hand for a handshake. ¡°You must be Scuti Irista. I¡¯m Frein Nivan, the Visitor.¡± What Kristel didn¡¯t expect was how Scuti responded to it. Frein was just as surprised. ¡°Uncle Kento mentioned it before,¡± the Second Princess explained, noticing their questioning expressions. She observed Frein from head to toe. ¡°Handshake equals good terms, or something along those lines. The reports also mentioned you Gather and Mill openly and while moving, too.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°I do,¡± Frein said. ¡°I can do it subtly now, but the more I put in effort, the more obvious it becomes.¡± As an example, he Gathered an entire pocket of meiyal and Milled it in an instant. Scuti instantly forgot she was crying just a few seconds ago. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! There¡¯s really nothing left.¡± She felt the air where meiyal once was. Slowly but surely, it was being refilled by the environment¡¯s natural abundance. ¡°You seem to be in high spirits,¡± Katherine said, making herself known. She made a formal curtsy. ¡°Lady Katherine! Welcome back!¡± The Second Princess made a formal bow in return. ¡°I¡¯d also have a handshake, Scuti, if it¡¯s all the same to you.¡± ¡°Gladly!¡± ¡°Well,¡± Frein started, ¡°that sure was an interesting welcome. George gave us a warning, but I didn¡¯t expect you to actually come out trying to kill your own sister.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t!¡± Scuti yelled. ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention. Wait¡­ what did you mean George warned you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Visitor thing.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re bored, but you don¡¯t need to instigate it, Frein,¡± Kristel said as she placed both hands on her waist. Despite what she said, Frein shrugged. He trained on Scuti. ¡°Sure. Hiding yourself with Nature¡¯s Favor like that. If you wanted to, you could¡¯ve slit any of our throats without us knowing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how the Blessing works!¡± the Second Princess complained. ¡°Nature¡¯s Favor melds away whenever I try to attack or touch someone. That¡¯s the counterbalance of the Blessing.¡± Kristel raised an eyebrow and Frein frowned at the same time. ¡°Are you sure?¡± they both asked. The Visitor then pointed to the Second Princess¡¯s side. Kristel expected it, but not Scuti. Just then, something touched her thigh. ¡°Hello.¡± The Second Princess yelped and jumped away at the same time that Enza manifested out of her Nature¡¯s Favor. Somewhere, through her Siffera-enhanced hearing, Kristel could hear Maffelyne calling the yuma¡¯s name. She produced her M.O.B.I.L.E. to inform the Guard Knight. ¡°I told you to behave, Enza,¡± Frein said. He then spent the next few minutes trying to make Scuti understand how his yuma¡¯s Nature¡¯s Favor worked differently and how she was able to speak like a normal person. It was enough time for the half-elf Guard Knight to arrive and join the conversation regarding the Blessing, since she was Blessed by it as well. ¡°That makes her different, then,¡± Maffelyne concluded. She was busy trying to re-attach the reins to Enza¡¯s collar. ¡°Mine works the same way as Princess Scuti¡¯s. That¡¯s why when I tried to attack you before during our sparring, my intention was enough to keep me from disappearing.¡± ¡°But you appeared after I parried your attack,¡± Kristel reminded Scuti. Frein gestured to second the point. ¡°Because I was fast enough.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kristel, Frein, and Katherine all said at the same time. ¡°So that¡¯s why you were running so fast that we could hear you,¡± the Visitor said. ¡°But what if you used a ranged attack?¡± ¡°If there are no more questions for me, may I go resume my work?¡± Maffelyne asked, interrupting Frein. ¡°Sure. Thank you.¡± Kristel dismissed them. She could hear the Visitor reprimanding his yuma while she complained in return. ¡°Where were we?¡± ¡°If you used a ranged attack while in Nature¡¯s Favor,¡± Katherine said, giggling at the Visitor. ¡°Yeah,¡± he added, returning to the group. ¡°Once your mind starts considering attacking or touching or involving yourself with someone else through any motion, Nature¡¯s Favor¡¯s effect gradually starts to disappear,¡± Scuti said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how different or special it is for Enza, but that¡¯s what¡¯s written in our records and that¡¯s how it is for me and Maff.¡± ¡°The records aren¡¯t accurate,¡± Frein said. ¡°At least when it comes to the Ten Blessings. But enough of that. Let¡¯s eat somewhere and talk there. I¡¯ve decided I don¡¯t want to stand anymore.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve made reservations to the nearest fine-dining restaurant,¡± Frill said, putting away her M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°We can head there now.¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± Scuti started, scratching her head. ¡°Then I guess, I¡¯ll be on my way. Sorry again.¡± Kristel wanted to say something, but Frein beat her to it. ¡°Nonsense! I have a lot of questions for the Second Princess, and as the Visitor, you¡¯re not allowed to say no.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not?¡± ¡°You can say no,¡± Kristel said, punching Frein¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But he has a point. I would like to have you around as well, Scuti. We can catch up while we eat. I did miss you, you know? Very much.¡± Kristel waited for it. Scuti¡¯s smile. It was a treasure to behold. One of pure joy and relief. She did miss her younger sister. ¡°I missed you too, Sis.¡± ¡°Good! Now I¡¯m a little less bored,¡± Frein said, walking in front of the group. He turned towards Frill. ¡°Where to, then?¡±
The Entity felt insulted. Sure, it was a plan it had come up with on its own, but when it had actually worked, it had felt the painful reminder of losing its powers. When the Visitor had arrived inside Ashtine¡¯s Dream Realm, the Entity had hidden itself well behind the Oblimoth. It had relied on the fact that this monster, dubbed by most scholars as a Great Disaster, would serve as enough warning to chase away Frein Nivan and his annoying, little faunel. It had been a genius thought. Since it had lost most of its divine authority, the presence of the Oblimoth should be enough to mask its existence. So when they had left, proving its theory true, it had been baffled by the fact. Confusion and frustration struck it. Masked? Veiled? By a mere Oblimoth? It gasped in sheer disbelief. ¡°But why?¡± it asked. No, not why it was weaker than an Oblimoth. That was already evident by the lack of its divine powers. The question was, why would there be such a creature inside a half-faunel in the first place? ¡°How?¡± it asked as well, to no one in particular. No, not how it had lost its powers. Brymeia existing was enough proof that it had them still imprisoned somewhere. The question was, how was this half-faunel, this Ashtine Solfey still alive and able to suppress a Great Disaster? Granted she was in Void Sleep, but it was the Entity¡¯s fault¡ªthis much it acknowledged despite the disappointment¡ªnot the Oblimoth¡¯s. With those in mind, the Entity strolled inside Ashtine¡¯s Mind Palace. It was mildly surprised when the faunel beside the Visitor didn¡¯t recognize the barrier that protected this place. But it helped it determine who the faunel was; Elizzel, the Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. She was another curiosity, for it did not understand the reason behind her voluntary memory wipes. ¡°A matter for later,¡± it said. ¡°This place is full of curiosities on its own already.¡± The Entity was already content to find proof of concept that a Nightmare-cleansing barrier didn¡¯t work on it, thus proving once more that it wasn¡¯t a Nightmare. It strolled inside the Mind Palace merrily, enjoying the irony that it couldn¡¯t share to anyone. The Entity returned with one goal in mind, to determine if Ashtine had never really gone to the Nightmare Lands. It was late to realize that the discovery of the Sky Knight¡¯s memory modification might have affected the integrity of her potential adventures to those cursed lands¡ªor lack thereof. It wanted to verify the truth, possibly to glean some answers or clues to this Nightmare infested Dream Realm. ¡°What for?¡± it asked rhetorically, again, to no one in particular. ¡°Just curious,¡± it answered itself, shrugging its nonexistent shoulders. Of course it could only be a Blessing that modified Ashtine¡¯s memory. Which one? It had no idea. Brymeia wouldn¡¯t tell it the names in the first place, and she influenced Destiny to block their information from it. Why? It didn¡¯t know, it didn¡¯t care. But it was enough of a telegraph on how important those Blessings were. It didn¡¯t bother with the details. Still, it would take the Entity some time to find the truth. It needed to determine and segregate a true memory from a modified one. Starting where? Most likely from Ashtine¡¯s birth. The Entity sighed, entertaining its boredom. ¡°I have nothing to do anyway.¡± Chapter 165: Too Much Attention Too Much Attention News of the Visitor¡¯s arrival spread like wildfire. And because the restaurant they were dining in had an open-air setup, it was easy for the onlookers to spot and stare at him. Frein felt like a celebrity, but in an uncomfortable way. The fact that someone else strolled over and joined their table didn¡¯t sit well with him. He exercised patience. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not because of you two?¡± he asked the two princesses. ¡°Ah, nonsense! They see them everyday!¡± said Advisor Kento Valmas. He had a Minaveil Signature Brew in his hand, drinking it like he would drink water. It was way stronger than their Light Brew variant, but the adviser might as well be drinking that one with the way he was gulping it down. ¡°Princess Kristel here might attract some eyes¡ªwelcome back by the way, Princess¡ªbut they¡¯re all here to see you, trust me.¡± ¡°Sorry, but why are you here again?¡± Frein asked. The Advisor might have explained it earlier, but he had been too taken off-guard to retain any information. Frill, Kristel, and Scuti smiled at him, but Katherine literally failed to hold down a laugh. Xiv was simply there, just as bewildered. ¡°Gah! Like I said, son, I¡¯m supposed to welcome you lot!¡± Kento said. He raised both arms which pulled on his oversized shirt. It gave Frein the impression that the advisor was once a stout man who had successfully lost weight but couldn¡¯t let go of his old clothes. ¡°Old bones take a while to get anywhere these days. Besides, when I found out Princess Scuti here wanted to personally greet you, I decided to take my time.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Frein looked around. They were literally surrounded by curious people. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, we should probably talk somewhere more private.¡± ¡°This soon? But you¡¯ve just arrived.¡± Kento took down an entire bottle and ordered another. He didn¡¯t even look buzzed. Was he enhancing his resistance to alcohol through Siffera? Frein thought it was totally possible, but his Mesiffera couldn¡¯t confirm something that detailed. He could totally see the Meiyal Art brimming on the Advisor, however. ¡°It¡¯s important,¡± Kristel said. ¡°And we¡¯d rather talk to you now while you¡¯re still sober.¡± ¡°Bah!¡± Kento dismissed the First Princess¡¯s implications with a wave. ¡°I complain about it a lot, but this is the main reason why I travel all the way back to Central every night. Minaveil¡¯s drinks are top-shelf stuff, but it just doesn¡¯t hit the spot. I need a kick! Not a light tap!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point,¡± Frein followed up. ¡°Better now, than tonight.¡± Kento¡¯s black eyes widened in understanding. ¡°That kind of talk, huh? I got you.¡± The Advisor began to Draw. Frein¡¯s constantly active Mesiffera, empowered by his six-meiyal, showed him exactly what was going on. At this point, he could clearly see the pattern Kento was Drawing into reality even if the Advisor didn¡¯t Display his Exhibit. The only problem was he couldn¡¯t recognize what it was. The pattern was a vaporous circle. The Meiyal Art manifested in reality, enclosing the entire group in a dome of smoke that gradually turned transparent. The noise from their neighboring diners was significantly muffled. They noticed the formation of the Art, but when they saw Advisor Kento, they accepted the situation and moved on. Frein didn¡¯t like two things about this soundproofing Meiyal Art. For one, they could still be seen. Discussion about the Nightmare Incursion wouldn¡¯t exactly be a calm one. And if he were to judge Advisor Kento, his body language alone would be too much of a give away. Onlookers might not know exactly what they would be talking about, but it would definitely give them cause to be troubled if the Advisor failed to maintain composure. The Visitor sighed. The second problem was even more unacceptable. He turned to Katherine, who nodded back to him, confirming the issue. But just to make sure, he intensified his Siffera slightly. Almost right away, he could hear their neighbors just as clearly as though he was right next to them. ¡°This won¡¯t do, Advisor,¡± he said, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. They thought Katherine¡¯s nod was an indication that the sectioned off privacy was satisfactory. They were obviously incorrect. Frein turned to the First Princess. ¡°Invest some meiyal in Siffera.¡± It took Kristel some effort. She only had two-meiyal in the first place, but she also quickly realized the issue. ¡°It¡¯s no good, I can hear them,¡± she said. ¡°Really?¡± Kento asked, baffled. With the Princess supporting the claim, he had no way to object. ¡°I¡¯ve always used this during our private meetings with the Monarch.¡± Frein sent a subtle signal to Katherine, and she responded just as quickly. ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t trust your capabilities, Advisor Kento,¡± she started, ¡°but we don¡¯t have a measure of our enemies¡¯ strengths. I think it¡¯s better if we discuss this somewhere more private.¡± Kento conceded at that, and once again, Frein was thankful for Katherine¡¯s fame. It made convincing other people so much easier. He had to get used to riding on her coattails, because he technically didn¡¯t have the time to spend trying to convince everyone that they had to listen to him. So, someone with a respected identity on his side like Katherine was truly a godsend.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Well¡­ regardless of her title, Katherine was well and truly a godsend already anyways. Maybe that¡¯s why Schrodie chooses very capable Seekers in the first place? Frein shook himself out of the distraction, following up on the Lady¡¯s words. ¡°Are the terms Worldborn and Deitar familiar to you, Advisor Kento?¡± he asked, making his tone neutral. ¡°Myths and legends,¡± the Advisor replied. ¡°Are you implying what I think you¡¯re implying?¡± ¡°They¡¯re true?¡± Even Scuti joined in. Frein frowned at that. ¡°They¡¯re actual recorded historical advancements.¡± ¡°Ah, please don¡¯t misunderstand,¡± Kento said. ¡°We¡¯re aware that they actually existed, but that¡¯s in the past. You¡¯re saying our enemies are these kinds of beings?¡± They were finally on the same page. ¡°They could be. We have absolutely no idea.¡± ¡°I see. Then if we¡¯re looking for a private place¡ª¡± Kento turned to Kristel, ¡°¡ªit could only be there, right?¡± The First Princess¡¯s eyes widened as she smiled. ¡°We need George¡¯s help.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Ah, I think it¡¯s better if we just show you,¡± Kento said, smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t want to get the word get out, yes?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve settled the bill,¡± Frill said, returning to the group. She had excused herself earlier while no one was paying attention, Frein just hadn¡¯t wanted to bother pointing it out. The Aria entered Kento¡¯s soundproofing Meiyal Art without much concern. Xiv was following behind her. ¡°Frein¡¯s correct. I could hear you all the way from the cashier.¡± ¡°I get it, I get it,¡± Kento laughed, erasing his Meiyal Art. ¡°You youngins sure know how to rub salt on the wound.¡± Frein smiled at the old man for being a good sport. Seldom were the elderly who stepped aside to give way for the younger generation. Kento caught him. ¡°Not the first time a prodigy proved me the lesser practitioner, Visitor,¡± he said. ¡°Why do you think I follow the First Princess despite her being so young?¡± ¡°Well, I can certainly understand the sentiment, Uncle,¡± Kristel said, rising from her seat. ¡°Have had a lot of that recently. Not fun at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just amazed,¡± Frein admitted while lowering his voice. ¡°When Kristel vouched for you, I was skeptical. But you really are a trustworthy person, Advisor Kento.¡± ¡°Ah, you flatter. Keep it up and I might share my finest wine to you. But we¡¯ll talk about that later.¡± Kento pointed towards the princesses. The two went to a wider, more open area before beckoning them over. As the group approached, Kristel and Scuti reached out to the skies with a hand each, pushing their meiyal as much as they could. The onlookers saw what they were doing and started to back away, providing them an even wider space. Just then, George descended from the skies, his eerie smile rotating as he spiraled down like the doom from the heavens. Frein felt shivers run all over his spine. How can something so creepy be so widely accepted by everyone? ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be a secret?¡± he asked the group. ¡°Secret?¡± Kento confirmed, he turned towards Xiv. ¡°Are they? Oh, welcome, by the way, the Princess gave me a briefing about you, and I personally think it¡¯s a good step towards mutual reconciliation between our nations.¡± ¡°Thank you for your support, Advisor,¡± the Vyndivalian said, bowing awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best and prove that your trust isn¡¯t misplaced. However, I¡¯m not the best person to ask whether these supposedly celestial beings are to be kept a secret. The Vyndival Kingdom knows about them, if you¡¯re wondering.¡± ¡°Too stiff,¡± Kento commented. ¡°For how much of a sealed mouth you were back in Minaveil Province, you sure do have a way to sound sarcastic. I¡¯d tone it down, if I were you. Ah, but this is just between us members of the Cross Irista. You¡¯d be better served to keep that classy air about you when speaking to anyone else.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ keep it in mind. Thank you for the advice.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ good lad.¡± Advisor Kento returned his attention back to Frein. ¡°What were we talking about?¡± ¡°George and his kin,¡± Frein began, scratching his head. ¡°He said his identity¡¯s only allowed to be known to people who the Irista bloodline deems worthy to trust with their existence. They¡¯re not even in the books.¡± ¡°Ah. Good point. But see, every person here in the High Palace serves the bloodline. You get it?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Frein nodded in understanding. ¡°So it¡¯s really just towards people not involved with the High Palace?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Then how come Xiv and the others from Vyndival Kingdom know about it?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not exactly invisible,¡± Xiv pointed out. ¡°We didn¡¯t know exactly what their purpose is, but we just know they surround the entire palace.¡± Frein still had to wrap his head around the idea about the palace referring to the entirety of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull. He got the gist of what Xiv was saying. At the same time, Kristel was done providing George her instructions. And of course, the King Cloudbark Worm just smiled at her, so Frein went to translate. ¡°¡®Ah, of course, First Princess. I¡¯m happy to oblige, happy to oblige, indeed,¡¯¡± he said, trying to mimic George¡¯s deep, vibrating voice. ¡°How rude, how very rude indeed,¡± said the Cloudbark Worm. He was still smiling. ¡°And here I thought you were the kindest among the rest. Oh, the pain of my own mistakes. Truly heartbreaking, heartbreaking indeed.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just being sarcastic, right?¡± Frein asked as he waited for the group to climb on George¡¯s back. ¡°It¡¯s just, your facial expressions don¡¯t exactly change.¡± ¡°First, you thought me a monster, then you mock my voice, and now you criticize my beautiful smile?¡± ¡°Not exactly beautiful. More like haunting.¡± ¡°Oh, the horror! Am I truly that terrifying?¡± Regardless of George¡¯s tone, he made it a point to stay still for the people climbing. ¡°Stop bullying George!¡± Kristel shouted from atop the Cloudbark Worm¡¯s head. ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t understand him?¡± ¡°Not his words, but I can guess from the grumbles. And besides, I can understand you.¡± ¡°Well, I was mostly joking,¡± Frein said. ¡°So was I, so was I,¡± said George. ¡°Very entertaining.¡± ¡°Very entertaining, indeed,¡± Frein said at the same time. The Cloudbark Worm made a hearty laughter that made the air vibrate. With everyone onboard, he made a single jump and joined the others. George slowly ascended and the rest of his kin started to join them. They went higher until they were totally within the cloudbark. Frein could see some Cloud-Nesting Rocs sleeping within the clouds. He realized it was his first time touching a cloudbark. It felt like cotton, and when they passed through, he became confused. ¡°I thought we could stand on these things?¡± he asked. Katherine sat next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, but if you run your meiyal in a way where you meet the cloudbark, you can push yourself off it. I can teach you how later.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With that, Frein and the rest enjoyed their ride. It was easy to settle in, using George¡¯s fur to keep himself stabilized, and the Cloudbark Worm himself was careful enough with his movements. At first, Frein assumed they were just going to gain more altitude to make sure it¡¯s just them on the edge of the stratosphere. He became a little too excited to see a glimpse of space, until he realized they were starting to descend. ¡°Where are we going?¡± he asked, trying to keep his disappointment to himself. ¡°We¡¯re moving around inside the cloudbark.¡± Kristel craned her neck over towards him, smiling. ¡°We¡¯re headed inside the skull.¡± Chapter 166: Navigating Through and Around Discussions Navigating Through and Around Discussions The interior of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull made the King Cloudbark Worm seem small. George looked like a strand of noodle wriggling around fossilized canines. But that only made him realize that he, compared to this permanently smiling creature, was like a particle of food stuck in the gums of this dead dragon, too small for a toothbrush to pick. In other words, he was completely baffled. And as always, Xiv was in the same boat, and their companions were smiling at them with proud satisfaction. The addition of Kento and Scuti made the stares quite a bit more embarrassing than Frein cared to admit. ¡°He always has that reaction,¡± Kristel told her sister. ¡°He¡¯s like a kid on a field trip,¡± Scuti said. ¡°Bet you look like it sometimes,¡± Frein teased back. When the Second Princess¡¯s face withdrew aghast, he looked at the First. ¡°She usually doesn¡¯t get this treatment from other people?¡± Kristel nodded with a smile. ¡°She¡¯s a princess, Frein.¡± ¡°Just from you then?¡± She nodded again. ¡°I¡¯m also a princess, but she¡¯s more of a princess than I am.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ve had that entire talk a long time ago. I¡¯ve never seen a princess fighting in the frontlines, or eating with her hands, or sitting carelessly, or¡ª¡± ¡°My sister is every bit of a princess as I am!¡± Scuti stomped, kicking up dust. It drew Frein¡¯s attention to the dusty ground that was probably filled in by cement to give proper footing. There was something weird about it. Frein looked around, ignoring everyone. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Scuti yelled, her voice echoing in prolonged delays. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Scuti. Calm down.¡± Kristel was alert enough to stop her sister. She noticed the Visitor¡¯s strange behavior. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s too many footprints,¡± Frein answered, turning to Katherine. Both of them enhanced their awareness using Siffera. Along the way, the Princesses had said that the interior of the skull had always been prohibited to anyone, other than the royal family and whoever they had decided to bring with them. Advisor Kento had been generous enough to confirm that the Monarch hadn¡¯t graced this place with his presence for a long while now. To his knowledge, at least, Frein made sure to remind himself. With these extra sets of footprints, things might have well been different. ¡°It could¡¯ve been any of our footprints from the past,¡± Kristel said. Just to double check, Frein checked the wind. ¡°It¡¯s odd enough that there¡¯s even dust here, Kristel. I¡¯m not exactly knowledgeable by how much dust a fossil could produce. With a size and scale like this, anything¡¯s possible, really, not to mention we have an entire civilization up top. Still, the wind is no mistake.¡± He pointed to some footprints where he felt the wind the strongest. ¡°Some of our own tracks are disappearing already.¡± ¡°So these are recent footprints?¡± Kento ventured a guess. ¡°There¡¯s too many of them to trace.¡± In the end, Katherine gave up and Opened her meiyal core to use I, Alone, Am the Center. Frein felt the Lady¡¯s scan. He paid it no mind and patiently waited for her results. She shook her head. ¡°No one but us.¡± ¡°No sneaky Nature¡¯s Favor people?¡± he confirmed. ¡°They can¡¯t hide from that Void Control Technique.¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Just making sure.¡± With that, the Visitor dismissed his theories altogether. It was a waste of time to bother with what had been happening in this place, at least for now. Since Katherine had verified that they were alone, it was time to discuss private matters. He looked to Kristel to begin. ¡°Are you sure we don¡¯t have to check first?¡± she asked. ¡°We can track them,¡± Frill volunteered, pulling Xiv to her side. ¡°It¡¯s not like you need us for this, right?¡± ¡°Take this,¡± Katherine threw her M.O.B.I.L.E., Sam. The sentient device didn¡¯t bother activating, since there were new people about. ¡°Jam made some upgrades.¡± The Lady¡¯s move essentially fast forwarded any concerns others might have. Frein appreciated it. With a sigh, Kristel turned to Advisor Kento Valmas and Princess Scuti Irista. She crossed her hands, not exactly hesitating, just pondering over her words. She sighed again before turning towards Frein. ¡°I think you should go first, just in case.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Frein, in turn, directed his attention to their two new companions. ¡°Aside from Scuti¡¯s Blessing, do you two know of anyone else possessing one, and what kind?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t go all this way just for that, right?¡± Kento asked, skeptic. ¡°Me and Maff, as far as I know,¡± Scuti answered. Frein nodded towards the Second Princess and addressed the Advisor. ¡°We¡¯re leading towards it. Depending on your answers, we might need to withhold some information.¡± ¡°Afraid we might bump into someone with Heart¡¯s Will, eh?¡± Kento crossed his arms and thought hard. ¡°Well, there¡¯s Tryvinal Bree with his Monarch¡¯s Law. It¡¯s become increasingly obvious with all the additional support he¡¯s been gaining.¡± Frein nodded. ¡°We know about him as well, but thank you. Anyone else? Anyone you know with Heart¡¯s Will?¡± ¡°No one, fortunately¡­ or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it. I don¡¯t suppose any of you have it?¡± ¡°I can talk to meiyal-attuned creatures, like George or my yuma, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s one of the Blessings. It¡¯s most likely just a Visitor thing.¡± Frein gestured towards Kristel, smoothly navigating through Kento¡¯s question. ¡°I think our only concern at this point would be Tryvinal, then. I don¡¯t think we need to hide any information.¡± ¡°Alright, then.¡± Kristel¡¯s hands flopped before locking on her waist. ¡°I know this might sound crazy, but there might be a Nightmare Incursion coming for us any time within this week.¡± Advisor Kento¡¯s jaw slackened while Princess Scuti frowned. Two different reactions, but both were expected, as far as Frein was concerned. He studied them subtly, reading their expressions and body language. It was a quick process, creating a baseline profile of what he concluded was a genuine response to the situation. Katherine pressed her lips into a slight curve, showing a smile on one side. They were in agreement. Kristel, then, went on to explain almost everything they knew about the incoming Nightmare Incursion. From the warning given to them by the Letterman¡ªwhich led to a tangent of explaining who he was and what he had done for their survival¡ªto the fact that the reason why she brought Frein here to the High Palace was for the location¡¯s supposed capability to suppress such an outbreak of Nightmare Influence.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°But we¡¯re not sure if it¡¯s one-hundred percent guaranteed,¡± Kristel concluded. Frein noted how she skipped the parts about Brymeia and Destiny, and how she was looking his way as she navigated around those topics. He picked up on it. There was something she wanted to tell him, but couldn¡¯t say it in front of the Advisor or the Second Princess. Speaking of, those two were in shambles. Advisor Kento had the composure to remain calm, analyzing their story carefully, but he was clearly taken off balance by this sudden reveal. At this point, Frein realized that the old man was not one to dismiss the First Princess. In fact, there was no hint of skepticism in his face anymore, just mere disbelief of how daunting the threat actually was. Princess Scuti, on the other hand, was in a state of utter collapse. ¡°How are we going to fight them?¡± ¡°Well, the idea is that we shouldn¡¯t have to,¡± Frein answered. ¡°Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull should prevent it from happening.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s contradictory to how you¡¯ve been explaining the Letterman¡¯s accuracy,¡± Kento pointed out. Scuti jumped on it. ¡°That¡¯s right! And we have no proof that the skull actually works!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we wanted to let you know in the first place,¡± Kristel said. ¡°You, Uncle Kento, not you Scuti, but at this point, we might as well tell you to show you our trust. You can be discreet with this, right?¡± ¡°I¡­ I can!¡± Scuti nodded, keeping a hand close to her chest. ¡°As long as we think of a plan in case the skull can¡¯t prevent a Nightmare Incursion.¡± ¡°I can move a few positions without raising any suspicions,¡± Advisor Kento suggested. ¡°Anything immediate?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Yes, I can have them move closer to the royal palace tonight.¡± Advisor Kento nodded. ¡°The more time we have, the better. I also plan to have you stay in the palace regardless. If the Incursion actually hits, it wouldn¡¯t matter how far you are from the Monarch; we¡¯ll all be in trouble. So, it¡¯s better to have notable people such as yourselves protecting him.¡± At that Frein disagreed. ¡°Our only priority is for Kristel to survive the Incursion,¡± he said with finality. The Advisor turned to him and he stared back at those worried eyes. ¡°You need to know what you¡¯re getting for you to plan accordingly, Advisor. This is what I¡¯m offering; If we end up choosing between Kristel and her father, you know now what to expect.¡± ¡°The only one that needs to survive this fight is Kristel, Advisor Kento,¡± Katherine added. ¡°Guys¡­¡± the First Princess reached out to them. ¡°It¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°You folks worry about trying to find a compromise,¡± Frein interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not against it. In fact, I prefer that we all survive. You can let us stay focused on the objective. Besides, we¡¯ve adjusted enough already.¡± ¡°Because the Letterman said it?¡± Scuti asked, her tone was accusatory. ¡°You haven¡¯t even met the guy.¡± ¡°He¡¯s our strongest lead,¡± Frein reasoned with a controlled voice. ¡°He¡¯s saved us numerous times, prevented complications that would otherwise hinder us, and has been spot on in everything. ¡°I get what you¡¯re trying to say, trusting a complete stranger sounds dumb. But the Letterman has been a more reliable source of help to me than either you or Kento have been so far.¡± Katherine held his shoulder. ¡°Ease up.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Frein conceded. ¡°Sorry about that. I meant no offense.¡± ¡°No, I¡­¡± Scuti took a step back. ¡°That was reasonable. You¡¯ve made your point.¡± ¡°Fair enough, Frein,¡± Kento said, rubbing his chin. ¡°I suppose I¡¯m to formulate and execute a defensive plan without bothering any of the other Advisors?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Frein answered. ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a problem if we involve the Monarch himself. This way, we¡¯ll have no issues if all of these backfires.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s a job for the princesses, then?¡± Advisor Kento suggested. Frein nodded at that. ¡°Why just Father?¡± Scuti asked. ¡°We think there are spies within your ranks.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s¡ª!¡± ¡°I know about the reports of the missing officers and knights,¡± he quickly added on top of Scuti¡¯s words. ¡°Ashtine came to us for help when her brother disappeared. If that¡¯s not enough evidence that there¡¯s something wrong with your security, I don¡¯t know what is.¡± ¡°Where is Ashtine?¡± Kento asked. ¡°She fell ill. Void Sleep,¡± Kristel explained. The fact that she withdrew at the mention of talking to her father didn¡¯t slip past Frein. But as always, he decided not to point it out. ¡°She¡¯s resting in the Sky Knight Tower. We sent for a team to retrieve her earlier, but we intend to check on her later today or tomorrow.¡± ¡°Void Sleep?¡± This time, Scuti managed to finish her sentence. ¡°How?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Katherine replied, knowing that her answer on the matter wouldn¡¯t raise any questions. ¡°But we have better equipment here. We¡¯ll find a way to wake her up.¡± Kento sighed. ¡°Alright, I think we have an initial plan to make some proper moves. Everything I¡¯ve heard today will remain a secret. I¡¯ll do my best to develop the plan further, but I would prefer to have more input regarding this matter later, Kristel. If needed, I¡¯m prepared to make an oath.¡± ¡°No need!¡± Kristel was quick to deny. ¡°We trust you, Uncle. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°But this won¡¯t do,¡± Kento insisted. ¡°At least let me reveal my own secret in return. It might not be as drastic or groundbreaking as yours is, but let me reciprocate the trust.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Kristel said, confused. ¡°Venry is my adopted child,¡± the Advisor began. His words were somber, but the Guard Knight¡¯s name was enough to grab everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± the First Princess said. ¡°His parents were full-fledged elves who were killed by a barbarian raid on the day he was born. I happened to be in a nearby town, so I went immediately to help. ¡°In any case, it was upon his own request to enter the academy under a different name. He didn¡¯t want any special treatment during his training. So we kept his adoption a secret. The rest¡­ well, you know the rest.¡± Frein felt the shared secret wasn¡¯t exactly in order to return the gesture. The man had been keeping his secret all this time, honoring his adoptive child¡¯s request for as long as he could. He must¡¯ve been going through such a difficult time since after the Battle of the Vanguard. He didn¡¯t know the entire truth, though. ¡°He¡¯s alive!¡± Kristel proclaimed, as expected. ¡°Venry¡¯s alive, Uncle! We have evidence!¡± ¡°What! Where is he, then? How?¡± Kristel produced Venry¡¯s insignia from her Spatiera and gave it to him. At the same time, Katherine relayed their findings on the Guard Knight¡¯s situation. ¡°He¡¯s currently with Mother Selfiya,¡± she said in conclusion. ¡°We¡¯re not sure exactly where they are or what their plan is currently, but you can rest assured that he¡¯s out there still alive.¡± Kento relaxed like a deflated balloon, as if something heavy was lifted out of his shoulders. He breathed and exhaled slowly. ¡°Thank you. This is the most wonderful news I¡¯ve heard for a long while. Out of everything you¡¯ve told me today, I didn¡¯t expect this one at all.¡± With that, the princesses asked George to escort the Advisor back to the surface. Frein found it odd that they were technically considered as being underground, despite floating above the clouds. ¡°So it looks like they don¡¯t know about your Heart¡¯s Will,¡± he said to Katherine. ¡°Told you Kristel and the others could keep a secret,¡± she smiled with a smug grin. ¡°I don¡¯t think he noticed I was using it on him the entire time, either. He¡¯s clean, by the way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Their private conversation was kept short as soon as Kristel and Scuti returned. Frill and Xiv joined them at the same time. ¡°The tracks led to nowhere interesting in the end,¡± the Aria said. ¡°No hidden letters or anything?¡± Frein asked. ¡°We looked under rocks and fossil debris,¡± Xiv explained. ¡°Nothing. Besides, the letters just appear when you least expect them.¡± ¡°Alright, I guess that¡¯s fine. Still, don¡¯t stop trying to look for them. Just in case.¡± The Visitor turned to Kristel next, who was clearly trying to say something a long while ago. ¡°What¡¯s up with you?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been acting strange the entire time we were talking with Advisor Kento,¡± Katherine said. ¡°What is it?¡± The First Princess conceded at the fact that they could read her like a book even without resorting to Heart¡¯s Will. She sighed. ¡°I didn¡¯t think much of it at first,¡± she began. ¡°When I met the Entity, it didn¡¯t stop making its presence known. I had to deal with it the entire time. But after Liona¡¯s Ritual of Peace, I couldn¡¯t feel it anymore.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the Entity?¡± Scuti asked. Frein pondered to himself while Kristel and the others tried to explain to the Second Princess who or what the Entity was. This time, they didn¡¯t hide anything, telling her about Destiny, Brymeia, and everything else. ¡°You sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡± Frein asked. It was a rhetorical question. The Second Princess was already slack-jawed from the information overload. ¡°We had agreed about this beforehand,¡± Kristel pointed out. He didn¡¯t bother to argue. His mind was more towards the possibility that the Princess might have unleashed something too damning to be ignored. Of course, it wasn¡¯t her fault. Tracing it back to the roots of the issue, it was his own carelessness that had led Kristel towards desperation in the first place. The others, then, noticed his serious expression. He sighed and waved his hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said. ¡°We can¡¯t spend our time on what-ifs and what-if-nots. Let¡¯s concentrate on what we have and go from there.¡± ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Anywhere I can study or something?¡± he asked. ¡°Books about Nightmare Incursions, preferably. Or maybe just give me somebody to spar with.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we get back to the surface first?¡± Katherine suggested. While they waited for George to come back, Frein¡¯s boredom had led his thoughts back to their earlier conversation with the Advisor. They didn¡¯t miss anything significant. Speaking of, Frein also checked on Elizzel for a bit, but the faunel was still asleep. In the end, he pondered something that wasn¡¯t as crazy as the Entity or the mysterious footprints. ¡°Any chance we could reach Venry?¡± he asked to the group. Just a whim. They were in a different place now, so things might¡¯ve improved. ¡°I¡¯ve been checking constantly,¡± Kristel said, ignoring Frein¡¯s raised eyebrows. ¡°His M.O.B.I.L.E. won¡¯t respond.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wondering what he¡¯s up to?¡± he asked, implying a different question. Rather than withdraw, the First Princess confidently smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s taking care of himself.¡± Impressed, Frein allowed his own thoughts to take over. ¡°Would be epic if he just suddenly shows up here with Mother Selfiya and tells us everything we need to know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx them,¡± Katherine said. Before Frein could reply, he felt a great presence towards the east. It was there again, that same thing he felt before back in Atlas Sid during the Jump. Something sinister, observant. Something powerful. And then it was gone. ¡°What is it?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°You¡¯re sweating¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to believe it.¡± Chapter 167: Monarch Denis Irista Monarch Denis Irista Kristel walked up the steps of the High Palace as she pocketed her M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°Still can¡¯t reach him¡­¡± ¡°Venry?¡± Scuti asked, following closely behind her. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kristel sighed and moved on. After discussing their plans, the group had gone their own ways. Frill had brought Xiv along to show him his private quarters, while Katherine and Frein had gone to the library to study, albeit not to the restricted section yet. The princesses, on the other hand, had spent the rest of the afternoon fixing their room. Time went by quickly, and in a blink of an eye, it was already evening. So the two went on their way to speak with the Monarch. Kristel sighed, facing the door to her father¡¯s personal dwelling. It was far larger compared to the other steel doors of the palace, with only the main doors of the hearing chambers as its only exception. When she was a kid, pushing or pulling them open had been a chore, and a Royal Knight had always been there to help her. ¡°Maybe we can just try tomorrow morning?¡± Scuti whispered nervously. ¡°It¡¯s already night time.¡± Kristel raised an eyebrow. Her sister should have no reason to be this shaky. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Scuti looked away. ¡°Nothing¡­¡± ¡°Did you get into another fight?¡± ¡°No, no, nothing like that.¡± The Second Princess¡¯s guilty face was apparent. She tried to act cute, taking stolen glances at her sister. ¡°I skipped class today.¡± ¡°Because you heard I was coming home?¡± Scuti nodded, pouting. Kristel couldn¡¯t stop her hand from covering her face in shame. Of course she did¡­ And because of her prestigious title, such a misconduct would instantly reach the Monarch before the day even ended. Their father was nothing if not strict. Kristel already knew what her sister wanted to say. ¡°Fine, fine. We¡¯ll say you skipped classes because of me. It¡¯s true anyway.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Scuti squealed with glee, almost jumping for joy. ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± Just then, the door opened. The image of their father loomed over them as he pulled one of the heavy, metal doors with a single hand. Scuti quickly hid behind her sister, struggling because of how much taller she was. Monarch Denis, still in his formal work clothes, stared at them from a height similar to Frein¡¯s. Both of them weren¡¯t very tall, in fact, but the intensity of the Monarch¡¯s eyes was completely different from the Visitor¡¯s. Years of leading an entire nation had given him a permanent scowl. He had a knack for making Kristel aware of how much she lacked in height. The Monarch had his eyes trained on Kristel, completely ignoring Scuti. The First Princess wished she had figured out Frein¡¯s Mesiffera by now, but all she could rely on was her normal observation Meiyal Art. True enough, his meiyal was moving at a rate common enough for someone who was Drawing. Does he know how to Draw it? Monarch Denis gave a smirk, barely noticeable from his aging white, full beard. ¡°After all this time, you still look the same, Kristel.¡± The First Princess was stunned, unable to make sense of his father¡¯s words. Was he proud? Disappointed? What was that smirk about? Was he underestimating her? Before she could ask, however, her father continued to speak. ¡°What you lack in physical growth, seems like you¡¯ve more than made up for in meiyal strength. Welcome home, my dear Princess. Come in. I¡¯m sure we have much to discuss.¡± He turned to Scuti. ¡°And you. I¡¯ll let you off the hook tonight, but you¡¯ll take double classes tomorrow whether you like it or not. Understand?¡± Scuti could only nod so fast. ¡°Thank you for taking it easy on her, Father,¡± Kristel said. Denis waved a hand before returning to his room. The metal door immediately closed as soon as he let go of it. Kristel reached out just in time, almost instinctively. It was too late when she realized the weight might crush her fingers. She was just as surprised as Scuti when she held it in place instead. ¡°Talk of formality between us is over, Kristel,¡± Denis said, not waiting for them. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯ve long surpassed my strength. Evanclad¡¯s Destiny has favored you. I¡¯m sure you know this means that you¡¯re more of a monarch now than I am.¡± Stunned by her father¡¯s words, Kristel dumbfoundedly pushed the entire door open. It was so easy now, so natural, as if the door weighed lighter than a feather. Scuti, behind her, was just as lost for words as she was. ¡°Ah, but I¡¯d much rather you don¡¯t forget your manners and make your elders wait,¡± Denis said as he sat on his study. ¡°I do not wish for you to grow into a disrespectful lady.¡± The two princesses hastily entered the room. The door closed softly, despite its weight. The room was just as Kristel remembered it. One side filled with the absolute grandeur that the High Palace could offer, and one side filled with comforts and fond memories. Family portraits were scattered all around, and luxurious drinks were stationed near the study. Kristel¡¯s eyes went straight to her mother¡¯s image. Meiyal swam all over the frame, providing it some semblance of realism. Youni Irista looked exactly like Scuti. Dark royal blue hair, azure eyes, and a smile that could outshine whichever rays the sun chose to be. She had been taken far too early, back then. And while the years had allowed the hurt to subside, it never really went away. ¡°You never did bring a picture,¡± Denis commented, he gestured for them to sit down. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize then that I was staying there for three years,¡± Kristel admitted, taking one of the seats in front of her father¡¯s table. Stacks of papers were neatly organized on the side, but otherwise, it was empty, save for the black and gold cloth over it.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Now that you have returned, tell me what you¡¯ve been through.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Kristel didn¡¯t know where to begin. ¡°Start with the most interesting one.¡± ¡°Katherine¡¯s back,¡± she said. ¡°Ah, yes. Somehow I¡¯m not surprised you would start there.¡± With a flick of Meiyal Weaving, Monarch Denis summoned to him three wine glasses and a bottle. In a single snap, meiyal turned to ice, filling the glasses, while he manually filled two of them. He summoned a different bottle for the third. He then gave one of the glasses containing wine to Kristel, and the other¡ªa non-alcoholic beverage¡ªto Scuti. ¡°It¡¯ll be your birthday soon. No harm in starting a few days early,¡± he explained before turning to the Second Princess. ¡°None for you, though.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine for me,¡± Scuti said, taking the glass with both hands. Kristel took hers, and with a signal from their father, they made a toast. He urged her to try it. She took the fragrance first. Fruity, yet strong. The sip took her by surprise. She understood, then, what the drunkards at Minaveil Province had meant when a drink went down smooth. It was cold, then warm. The taste was strong and lingering, making her wanting for more. She lifted her glass again, but her father held out a hand. ¡°Pace yourself, young lady. The night has just begun, and you have many stories to tell.¡± Monarch Denis summoned his M.O.B.I.L.E. and commanded it to play a soft tune. Just like that, Kristel felt like she was back in The Big Mess, during hours of lull, where entertainers played soft, relaxing music for its patrons. She saw her father smile, and then she understood. He had been looking forward to this moment. A chance to sit down with his daughters to drink and chat throughout the peaceful evening. The next few hours quickly went by as Kristel went from story to story. She had covered most of her early years in Minaveil Province within that time, mentioning a few significant topics here and there. She fast forwarded to her highlight; Frein and Katherine¡¯s arrival. From here, she took her time, retelling every moment she remembered. All the while Scuti was skeptic, asking verifying questions at every turn. Kristel continued, up until it was time to tell of her experience with Brymeia and Destiny. Her father read her like a book. ¡°I know of it, Kristel. You need not worry. I know regarding Destiny, regarding Brymeia, and even the fact that Zerax¡¯thum may have sacrificed himself for this world instead of the other way around.¡± ¡°How?¡± Kristel asked. Scuti said the same, but her tone was more exclamatory. ¡°We are connected through a singular Dream Realm,¡± Denis began. ¡°I may no longer have access to it as you do, but I can find glimpses of it through my own Mind Palace. Besides, I¡¯ve also spoken with Brymeia, years ago.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kristel almost stood. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I did, but then I had to modify your memory.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± This time, she actually stood up. ¡°Please, calm down, Kristel. You too, Scuti.¡± Denis held out a hand again. ¡°I¡¯ll explain. About time I take my turn to tell you a story.¡± The Monarch started by taking an entire glass of wine, speaking as he refilled it. ¡°Do you remember your birthday from five years ago, Kristel?¡± She tried to go through her memories. And just as quickly, she found it a blur. She could recall her birthdays, but they all melded together. Slowly, she organized them, determining which celebration she had done for which year. There was nothing for her thirteenth birthday. It was baffling. How did she not notice it? She blinked multiple times, trying to invoke any sort of memory, any name, anything¡­ Her head hurt. ¡°There¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Same here,¡± Scuti said. She was struggling the same way. ¡°First, allow me to apologize,¡± Denis said, interrupting their concentration. ¡°It was a necessary action.¡± ¡°How?¡± they both asked. ¡°A Blessing. It¡¯s called Time¡¯s Eye. Brymeia granted it to me. It allows me to erase, reconfigure, or restore entire sections of your memories. The requirements are, aside from the absurd amount of meiyal, direct eye contact and an equal amount of time spent within the presence of each other.¡± Kristel churned on the information. She committed it to memory, not in the way Frein could literally paint them¡ªshe was still learning the technique¡ªbut she made a mental reminder to tell the Visitor about this as soon as possible. Of course, Monarch Denis saw it on her face. ¡°I¡¯d much rather this information only reach the people you can trust with your life, Kristel. The Blessing can be resisted, so the less people know, the better.¡± He pondered a little. ¡°Not that I have any capability to use it now¡­¡± ¡°I can trust Frein and Katherine that much,¡± she said with finality. ¡°And Frill as well.¡± ¡°What about this Xiv, the man from Vyndival?¡± ¡°Yes. Him, too.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t find him a risk?¡± ¡°He knew he might die when he went to us. I¡¯ll never forget that bravery. He has Liona¡¯s meiyal core, and as long as Frill trusts him enough that she¡¯s willing to maintain a relationship with him, then I will do so as well.¡± Monarch Denis nodded. ¡°Alright. I trust you.¡± Of course, the next natural question then was, ¡°Why then? Why erase our memories?¡± At this, the Monarch pinched his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m sure, now that you¡¯ve spent some time in Minaveil Province, you¡¯ve wondered why we don¡¯t send help to Vyndival Kingdom, yes?¡± Kristel nodded quietly. The question might be completely irrelevant to her question, but she knew her father would eventually get around to giving her an answer. ¡°It¡¯s because The Cult of the Fallen Dragon has a more prominent presence there than here in Irista Nation.¡± Monarch Denis waited for a response or a follow up, spending a moment to sip from his wine. When neither of the sisters said anything, he continued. ¡°Five years ago, members of this Cult from Vyndival infiltrated the High Palace. Up to this day, we still don¡¯t know how they did it, but they were able to get past George and the Royal Knights. Because of this, they were able to take both of you away on the eve of your birthday, Kristel.¡± Monarch Denis waited again, and this time, he allowed for the moment to truly sink in. Kristel, once again, tried to recall her memories. And again, she failed. ¡°We were kidnapped?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Denis said, his voice deep with regret. ¡°It was my greatest failure as a Monarch. I thought I would never be able to face your mother. I thought I would never be able to face anyone ever again.¡± ¡°But how are we here, then?¡± Scuti asked. Monarch Denis reached out, and a small box atop a stand near his magnificent bed floated slowly towards his hand. ¡°Does the name The Letterman sound familiar to you?¡± Kristel felt as if she was going to faint. ¡°Are you telling me, that he saved us?¡± ¡°He did mention that you will know him by now.¡± Denis only gave a single nod. ¡°He covered himself in dark meiyal, completely taking out all of our knights. But he returned you girls to me. And for that, I¡¯m forever in his debt. ¡°He only asked me for one thing in return. Erase everyone¡¯s memory. Somehow, he even knew I had Time¡¯s Eye.¡± ¡°Did he tell you why?¡± Kristel asked, assuming that her father would naturally ask the question. He simply shook his head. ¡°He told me that knowing would affect Destiny too much. He also knew that I would do it regardless of whether he answered or not. And so, I did as he asked. I erased everyone¡¯s memory. In the High Palace, in Central, all the Great Cities and Provinces, and even in Vyndival Kingdom. ¡°With the Letterman¡¯s help, I traveled in secret and spent a months searching for everyone involved. He knew exactly who to find and where to find them. Then I spent the required amount of time to alter their memories. And every time I did, I paid the price. ¡°Time¡¯s Eye isn¡¯t cheap. If I was able to tie my Destiny with Evanclad, I might¡¯ve been able to supply it with the required meiyal. But alas, I was not chosen, nor am I a genius. So instead, I paid every second I had to alter with my own lifeline.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s¡­¡± Kristel swallowed her hesitation and tried again. ¡°That¡¯s too many people.¡± ¡°And now you know why I¡¯m dying.¡± Monarch Denis finished his glass. ¡°If you wish, I can restore your memories. It¡¯ll only¡ª¡± ¡°No!¡± Kristel and Scuti said together. The First Princess continued, ¡°There¡¯s no need, father. We believe you.¡± The Monarch smiled and presented the box in his hand. ¡°The Letterman said, that if you told me not to restore your memories, I should give this letter to you instead.¡± Kristel opened the box, her mind too blurred at the moment. It was racing too fast, wondering how far back had the Letterman been involved. Did Monarch Denis actually erase everyone¡¯s memories? For what purpose? She was too distracted that it took a second for the one line in the letter to register in her head. Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull won¡¯t save you. ¡°Father!¡± Kristel almost screamed, causing Scuti to yelp from the shock. ¡°There¡¯s something important we need to talk about.¡± Although she had enjoyed their drinking time together, the Letterman¡¯s letter brought the First Princess back into focus. They spent the entire night discussing their preparations for the Nightmare Incursion. She was so immersed that she forgot to ask about the reason behind the Monarch¡¯s succession competition. Chapter 168: Crazy And Stupid Crazy And Stupid ¡±How else would I find it? How else would I scale past it?¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor Frein looked at the High Palace from above, Art fatigue almost settling in. He regulated his breathing, and enforced his stamina with Siffera. It was a lot harder to do now that his meiyal system was stressed beyond its limits. Elizzel silently urged him from within their Mind Palace. She resisted the instinct to verbally push him, knowing that such a thing would actually cause a distraction. Frein refused to stop. At this point, his mind had done everything it could to send him alarms that his stamina was running out, or that his meiyal system couldn¡¯t breathe anymore, or that his donated heart would burst if he kept it up. But he refused to stop. Frein kept running. It was all a trick of the mind. His heart wouldn¡¯t explode. He could still push his meiyal system even further. His stamina was far from depleted. One foot after another, the Visitor ran at top speed on the encircling cloudbark, doing laps since Katherine fell asleep. He only had one goal, to see how long it would take for him to reach Art fatigue if he drove everything he had to maximum from the beginning. Hours had passed, the moons had set and the blue sun had risen high in the sky. And even then, he kept going. Frein had already lost track of time. He guessed it was almost noon; he had forgotten breakfast and had even been too busy to consider lunch. His mind was only focused on running. Running like he had never done before. Still not empty. He Gathered and Milled continuously at the same rhythm as he took his breaths. His momentum came to a ceiling, and he kept it there for as long as he could. Frein lost count of how many times he¡¯d circled around the High Palace. But there were still more he could push. He scraped everything he had, pushing himself by any means necessary. His brain desperately begged for release, but he convinced it to stay focused by showing it the worst case scenarios. He thought of everyone. His friends here in Brymeia. The images of them dying because of some unknown force. Them losing their lives because of his failures. He convinced himself, that if he couldn¡¯t push further beyond what lied beyond his limits, that if this was all he could give, they would surely all die. Like a snap, Frein found his second wind. He propelled himself, his mind no longer in contention with himself, pushing with all its might instead. It might¡¯ve been minutes, or it might¡¯ve been hours, but he was finally completely empty. The last step, now no longer filled with meiyal, fell past the cloudbark. He plummeted down, his eyes blurry. Elizzel was in a panic, but before she could even materialize, George appeared from the clouds and caught Frein. ¡°Remarkable!¡± The King Cloudbark Worm said. ¡°Truly remarkable, indeed! Reckless, but admirable! A true testament to commitment¡ª¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Frein said, putting all of his focus on breathing properly. His ears heard nothing but his exploding heartbeats. ¡°Can you please¡­ put me somewhere¡­ isolated?¡± ¡°Ah, as much as I would like to grant your request, Great Visitor, I regret to say that the Second Princess has caught our attention. I am oathbound to respond to her summons if I can for as long as she is in the High Palace.¡± Frein¡¯s head struggled to process George¡¯s convoluted explanation, but he eventually got the gist of it. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Take me to her.¡± ¡°At once.¡± Fortunately for Frein, Scuti was in an open courtyard behind the High Palace proper. She was in an extravagant, tiled open area that was wide enough to allow for her training. Gardens surrounded the circular arena, making the space somewhat isolated. ¡°Woah,¡± Scuti said as he saw Frein dismount from George¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re at full Art fatigue, Frein. What happened?¡± ¡°Training,¡± he said, promptly lying on the floor. ¡°Just give me a sec.¡± ¡°You sure you were only training?¡± ¡°What can I do for you, Princess Scuti?¡± George asked, leaning close with his absurd smile. Frein couldn¡¯t stop the urgency his instincts always sent him whenever the Cloudbark Worm came too close to anyone. He always felt that the creature intended to swallow them whole. ¡°I was just curious why you suddenly popped out of the cloudbark. Usually you stay hidden,¡± Scuti said. George turned towards Frein in a creepy way. ¡°Ah. It is because of the Visitor here. He requested that I monitor him while he exercised.¡± ¡°That¡¯s some exercise.¡± The way George snapped back to Scuti made Frein¡¯s heart skip a beat, but the Second Princess didn¡¯t even flinch from it. ¡°It was admirable. Admirable, indeed,¡± the colossal, levitating worm said. ¡°A true display of commitment and passion!¡± ¡°I just¡­ ran as much as I could,¡± Frein said, finally recovering his breathing. His body was still heavy and aching, and he still suffered from Art fatigue. ¡°What¡¯s so impressive about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it!¡± George¡¯s body coiled around atop the stage. ¡°Throughout all my years, I¡¯ve seen all manner of feats of strength. I¡¯ve seen practitioners render clouds asunder, or split entire lands in two. I¡¯ve witnessed the breaking of the world when the great Zerax¡¯thum fell. But never, in all my days, have I witnessed a single man run laps around the High Palace until he had nothing more to give.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°It was such a beautiful thing to experience. For hours on end, doing nothing but that singular task, not thinking of anything else. You turned something monotonous into a unique display no one else could imitate.¡± ¡°No one else?¡± Scuti asked, shrugging. ¡°It¡¯s just running.¡± Frein agreed. ¡°No, no, I must disagree, Princess Scuti. Anyone could run, but not everyone could run until they couldn¡¯t anymore. The mind becomes the enemy, you see. It¡¯ll convince you that you¡¯ve reached your limits in order to avoid any unnecessary strain on your body. ¡°Only during times of desperation, at the height of adrenaline, could the mind be persuaded otherwise. When a hero digs deep beyond what they could imagine and achieve miracles, it is always under duress, under pressure. But you, Frein, you are different. ¡°You push yourself beyond what¡¯s beyond. You desperately grasp at miracles even if you don¡¯t need them just for the sheer curiosity of it. And when you do make the miracle, you¡¯re still not satisfied. You still want more.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ are you reading my mind?¡± Frein asked. George¡¯s smile twisted wider. ¡°Much like some Forest Jaws Lurking In The Forest have a pseudo-Nature¡¯s Favor, some Cloudbark Worms develop pseudo-Heart¡¯s Will. The entire time you were running, I was monitoring what was going through your head. As some wizened, elder people would say, ¡®It could make an old man cry.¡¯¡± ¡°You¡¯re a real flatterer, aren¡¯t you?¡± George responded with another creepier, open smile. Frein saw tongue, throat, and all the saliva he could stand for the day. But he also realized that it was the worm¡¯s genuine showing of delight, and he would not be one to condemn such a positive, brightened behavior. At the very least, he was beginning to understand why people called them angels. ¡°Well, it was a pleasure watching you run, Visitor Frein. If there¡¯s nothing more you need from me, Princess Scuti, I shall be on my way.¡± ¡°Thanks, George,¡± Scuti said, waving the Cloudbark Worm goodbye. She turned to Frein while pulling something from her Spatiera. ¡°Want some water?¡± ¡°Oh, thanks,¡± Frein said, sitting up. The Second Princess lobbed a bottle of water. He caught it with one hand, popped it open, and chugged it down. It was rejuvenating. Is there meiyal in this drink? Frein couldn¡¯t verify it without being able to Draw. And for something so trivial, he couldn¡¯t push himself to make the effort. He dismissed it as the placebo effect, since his Art fatigue wasn¡¯t going anywhere. ¡°You owe me one gold coin,¡± Scuti said. Frein spat out a shower. ¡°Ew!¡± The Second Princess hopped away just in time. ¡°I was kidding!¡± His nose hurt, and the uncomfortable sensation of water existing where they shouldn¡¯t be bothered him to no end. He pushed it out. ¡°Yuck!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t prepared for that at all¡­¡± Frein¡¯s head spun, but he pushed himself on his feet. It was irritating, but he finished the bottle with his entire guard up this time. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Scuti¡¯s facial expression was stuck on disgust. ¡°Yeah¡­ are you?¡± ¡°Yeah. Just Art fatigued.¡± ¡°I can see that.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Frein lazily gestured towards the Second Princess. ¡°What¡¯re you doing? Before I got here, I mean. Thanks again for the drink.¡± ¡°Training,¡± she explained, nodding. ¡°I skipped classes yesterday, so I¡¯m taking double right now.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your trainer?¡± ¡°She¡¯s taking a break. I¡¯m the only person who needs to extend.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s an honesty system?¡± Scuti smiled as she took a ready stance, Drawing her sword Meiyal Art. She started swinging. ¡°The High Palace Network closely monitors this place. They¡¯ll know if I¡¯m not training on my own.¡± Frein hummed curiously and observed for a while. The Second Princess¡¯s form was standard, as far as Iristan Knight training was concerned. It wasn¡¯t that much different from Earth. Placing the sword in front for a balanced stance was just too much of a natural step for it to be any different despite being galaxies apart. Scuti swung, not minding the audience. Her trainer would¡¯ve done the same, so there wasn¡¯t anything too different to their current setup. Still¡­ ¡°You¡¯re not taking this seriously, are you?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Huh?¡± The Second Princess¡¯s tone rose to return the accusation. ¡°I¡¯m right here swinging as much as I can!¡± ¡°Yeah, but you look bored. Like you¡¯d rather be anywhere else. You have your form down to a science, and quite frankly, it¡¯s honed to a level that¡¯s above what someone your age has any right to have. But! Your heart¡¯s not into it.¡± Scuti didn¡¯t budge from her training sequence, despite her irritation. ¡°What did you expect? I¡¯m here rather than spending time with my friends. Not everyone¡¯s as gung-ho at getting stronger as you, you know?¡± Frein just nodded. ¡°Good point.¡± ¡°And swinging a sword like this isn¡¯t any more entertaining than listening to a lecture I¡¯ve already heard a hundred times.¡± ¡°Want to spar, then?¡± At that, the Princess stopped. ¡°With you? In your condition?¡± ¡°You can dull your sword, right?¡± ¡°Sure, but you can¡¯t Draw.¡± ¡°And I think that¡¯s perfect.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy¡­¡± Elizzel¡¯s voice echoed from within their Mind Palace. ¡°I know you¡¯re crazy, but in case you just find joy in hearing it all the time, I¡¯ll just say it again. You¡¯re utterly crazy and stupid.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Scuti asked. ¡°Look, here¡¯s the deal,¡± Frein began, rubbing his ear after hearing the accusations both in and out of his head. ¡°You win if you can hit me once within the next thirty minutes. I¡¯ll do whatever you want for the rest of the day.¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking this seriously¡­¡± Scuti¡¯s realization was quicker compared to the other people that Frein had had to convince. ¡°Alright, then. What if you win?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll do more training.¡± Without waiting for a signal, the Second Princess moved like a blur. Frein had a split second to respond. Without relying on his Siffera at all, he extended his leg, predicting exactly where Scuti would appear. It felt like getting hit by a baseball bat. He endured the pain while the Princess tripped over, tumbling and recovering, but her face was in full disbelief. Then it twisted in anger. Frein smiled, knowing she would try again. He stepped to the side, stretching out an arm just in time to slip through between Scuti¡¯s swing. Twisting on his pivot leg, his entire arm caught the Princess by the neck. At the same moment, he placed a leg behind her, and with single motion, reversed her entire momentum against her. The sudden switch caused her to lose balance completely, and she flopped to the ground. Her recovery was instantaneous, but she was too shocked to move right away. ¡°That kind of stare means you¡¯re Drawing an observation Meiyal Art,¡± Frein said, smirking to provoke the Second Princess further. ¡°You should try and be more subtle about it. And to be perfectly clear, I never said I wouldn¡¯t Draw.¡± Scuti ignored his taunt, flabbergasted by the entire exchange. ¡°You¡¯re not even using Siffera! How?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you once you start your next training segment.¡± Frein smiled, beckoning his opponent over. ¡°Time¡¯s running, Princess.¡± The Second Princess stood, resting in a stance. This time, she didn¡¯t recklessly attack. Good. Returning to a neutral position made predicting her attacks a little more interesting. But before she could engage, Elizzel manifested into reality. ¡°Who?¡± Scuti did a double take. ¡°Kristella?¡± ¡°You sure you¡¯re alright to show yourself?¡± Frein asked the faunel. ¡°Yes,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I¡¯m not Kristella, Princess Scuti. My name is Elizzel. I¡¯m the Faunel of Freedom and Consequences. I don¡¯t have much time, so you may ask your questions to your sister, or we can talk later after your sparring match.¡± The faunel started walking towards the High Palace, the actual palace. ¡°Where you going?¡± Frein asked, as if it wasn¡¯t obvious. He was more curious of the ¡®why¡¯. ¡°Clearly someone has to knock some sense into you, so I¡¯m dragging Katherine out of bed.¡± She continued on, waving. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let anyone see me.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Change of plans then. You have until Katherine gets here.¡± Scuti charged in desperation. Chapter 169: When Things Slow Down to a Stop When Things Slow Down to a Stop Elizzel¡¯s memories were scattered all around. She couldn¡¯t remember any of the previous Visitors that had come before Frein, but anyone, anything, and anywhere else throughout her entire existence in Brymeia she could remember pristinely. Of course, most details had eroded over the years, despite her not growing old. The passage of time simply had that effect. But the memories that she treasured the most remained crystal clear. One of which, of course, was the High Palace. The faunel knew her way like it was the back of her hand. Evanclad¡¯s decree had indicated that the palace¡¯s design was to remain the same for as long as Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s skull existed. Of course, repairs were allowed, additions as well, but the very foundations of the structure were to be left the way they had been made. The same was true for the crown. The Crown of the First Monarch. At first, she had no idea why that was the case, but knowing more about Destiny revealed that there might be some sort of importance for maintaining such a thing for so long. Elizzel made a turn into a corner, waiting for a patrolling group to pass by. At the same time, she realized something. Destiny. She knew some things about it, but not all. It was odd, given that she had never once died throughout her years in Brymeia. Meaning, she was never replaced. Even from before the Divine Severing, she had been there, along with Alphazzel and some others. So why? Elizzel could only conclude that she had given up that memory as well. As soon as the guards passed, she leisurely took her way up towards their room. Although she had long, pink hair, her petite build made her small enough to slip through anyone¡¯s sights at the slightest bit of distraction. She expected a lot of stationed knights here and there, and while they were a nuisance, her expertise of years hiding from attention gave just enough ways for her to reach her destination without detection. It wasn¡¯t their fault; she was just that at home with the place. Elizzel had her own key. Or rather, her Tether with Frein had developed enough that she had gained access to his Spatiera. A simple tug indicated to her that he had somewhat recovered enough to Draw. The Blood-Ribbon Tassel allowed for Frein to Draw the Art remotely, using her as the medium instead of his body. She retrieved it from within the spatial Art and entered the room, returning the key right after so Frein knew when to erase his Art. It was an extremely convenient discovery for them. And she knew right away how excited the Visitor was to apply it in other ways. The high-class guest rooms in the High Palace were enough to house an entire family. A bungalow style with a stupidly high ceiling that made Elizzel wonder why the architects of old had chosen not to build a second floor. Maybe they housed giants before? It didn¡¯t make sense, since those creatures were way, way larger. Besides, none of her memories indicated as such. Everything they needed was there; bathrooms, beds, a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, a balcony¡ªwhich had a literal garden¡ªand more things and rooms than they really needed. The faunel went to the bedroom to find no one there. The bed was left a mess, and like always, she found evidence that Katherine had had a little fun before climbing out of it. Assuming that the Lady of the Void had just woken up, Elizzel headed for the washroom. On her way, however, she saw her sitting on the circular windowsill. Katherine was staring outside. Elizzel made quick work through her memories and figured out that this room coincidentally looked over the courtyard behind the High Palace. The Lady was looking at Frein and Scuti¡¯s sparring session. Elizzel approached, intent on dragging Katherine to her feet in order to help stop the Visitor¡¯s madness. But before she took a single step, a soft sob escaped the woman in front of her. ¡°Kat?¡± Katherine froze and relaxed almost immediately. She didn¡¯t turn, but her hand tapped the other side of the platform, inviting Elizzel over. The faunel didn¡¯t miss her using her other hand to reach for something on her face, however. ¡°I thought you¡¯re with Frein,¡± the Lady said, still not turning. ¡°I was¡­¡± Elizzel sat beside Katherine. She could see the red in her eyes, and when she stopped, the Lady simply shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me.¡± ¡°You can talk to me, you know?¡± Elizzel urged, inching closer. ¡°I know you¡¯re the strongest person out there, but you¡¯re not immune to everything.¡± Katherine turned to her, her lips pressed hard and eyebrows contorted. A single tear fell down her cheeks. When she realized, she desperately wiped it again. ¡°I hate stopping,¡± she said. ¡°If I stop, I can¡¯t help but think of the future. I think of what I should do when he¡¯s gone. And I can¡¯t¡­ I just can¡¯t think of anything.¡± Katherine struggled between control and surrender. She kept shaking her head, her brown hair making messy waves. All the while, Elizzel couldn¡¯t find the right words to comfort her. They both knew the truth. They didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Elizzel¡¯s heart ached for her. She gently held the Lady¡¯s hands. They were trembling and wet with tears. At this point, she had forgotten her objective, only caring for this crying woman in front of her. Frein¡¯s instincts kicked in from within her very core, her existence; she disregarded that. This was as much of her own volition as his. They both cared for Katherine. ¡°You should spend some time alone and tell him about it,¡± Elizzel advised. ¡°I know how you two do that thing where you understand each other without saying a single word, but you can¡¯t really rely on that for everything. If you don¡¯t tell him, if you don¡¯t make him sit down, then you can¡¯t talk about it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about?¡± Katherine forced a smile, trying to act strong. She failed immediately, dejectedly looking down. ¡°We all know how it ends. He doesn¡¯t have any intentions to go against it. He just wants to make sure this world can survive after he¡¯s gone. It¡¯s¡­¡± Her voice trailed off with nothing but pain on her face. She pulled the faunel¡¯s hands closer, trying to cover her sobs. ¡°It¡¯s stupid,¡± Elizzel finished for her, letting Katherine do whatever she wanted with her hands. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Crazy. Idiotic. Unreasonable. Selfish. Egotistic.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Katherine nodded to each one of them. ¡°But you still love him.¡± ¡°I do,¡± the Lady of the Void whispered, gripping Elizzel¡¯s hands. The faunel held them tighter. ¡°Say it, Kat.¡± Elizzel pulled back, revealing Katherine¡¯s face. It was messed up by her tears, not to mention how vulnerable she looked right now. She couldn¡¯t help but cry as well. ¡°I¡­¡± They stared at each other¡¯s eyes for a long time. Silence embracing them. Tears falling from their eyes. Elizzel urged Katherine once more. She tried again. ¡°I don¡¯t want him to die.¡± The words lingered for a long while as both of them tried to calm each other down. They never let their hands go. ¡°Tell him that,¡± Elizzel said finally, smiling. When Katherine didn¡¯t say anything, she continued. ¡°Tell him, that if he won¡¯t look for a way, we¡¯ll do it on our own. There has to be a way.¡± The faunel pulled Katherine out of her seat, leading her out of the room. But the Lady held back. ¡°Wait,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll be there with you, Kat. You don¡¯t have to fear anything.¡± ¡°I know. Thank you, but it¡¯s not like that,¡± Katherine said, smiling. It was a genuine relief. ¡°I need to wash my face. You should, too. He¡¯ll figure out we¡¯ve been crying, but we shouldn¡¯t make it easy for him.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With a smile, Elizzel led her to the washroom instead.
The sparring session had devolved from a competition to a lecture. After a while, Frein had convinced Princess Scuti that she was completely outclassed¡ªthough she visibly loathed to admit it. With some choice words, however, he successfully turned her tantrum into something productive. ¡°What I can do, you can do as well.¡± ¡°Make me your student!¡± Just like that, Scuti was begging to learn from him. The next few minutes became a dance between giving the Second Princess some tips and tricks while he navigated away from formally accepting her as a student. Frein could¡¯ve just as easily said yes to stop her incessant pestering, and then just escaped stealthily later, but he recognized her age pretty well. Despite the weird length of time being almost irrelevant to how quickly people of Brymeia matured, the personality profile Frein had for Scuti was typical for someone her age, sixteen. And so, he knew she would be taking every bit of his word seriously. Hence, his persistent avoidance. ¡°I turned sixteen two months ago,¡± she clarified. ¡°What of it?¡± ¡°Your people age differently from mine,¡± Frein said, moving the topic away to something he could freely talk about. ¡°But in most cases that I¡¯ve observed, maturity factors are pretty much the same thing for both. Your external circumstances have great influence on how quickly or slowly you mature in life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯m not mature enough?¡± Scuti said, making a rather huge swing at him. He slipped out of the way while twisting her wrist, forcing her to let go of her weapon. The sword dispersed into motes of meiyal. ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯re mature enough for your age,¡± Frein explained as if nothing significant happened. ¡°You¡¯ve lived a comfortable life, albeit somewhat more eventful compared to others. But at the same time, you¡¯re fortunate enough to have strict discipline enforced in you. As a result, you¡¯re honest enough not to skip on your punishments when you clearly deserve them. ¡°Most people would just lie and say they did their time. Often, it comes back to bite them when it matters most. But you, as long as you stay true to your self-discipline, I¡¯m pretty sure your genius would show.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Scuti said as she re-Drew her sword Art. ¡°I¡¯m not a genius.¡± ¡°There are two kinds of geniuses, in my personal, not-so-humble opinion,¡± Frein began while finessing his way out of Scuti¡¯s attacks. His Art fatigue had dwindled down a long while ago, but he was having too much fun to actually Draw Siffera. ¡°First, there are lazy geniuses. People who rely solely on their innate talent alone. Take Frill and your sister for example. They¡¯re both gifted in their own ways, but until someone like me showed up, they thought they were at the height of their current potential. Now they¡¯re wishing they¡¯d stayed diligently on their training. ¡°Second, there are hard-working geniuses. People who are either gifted or not. Regardless, for them, their innate skills don¡¯t matter. As long as they find something in their life worth pursuing, and know that they have the potential to be great at it, they¡¯ll do everything in their power to reach the height of their capabilities. And those people, Scuti, they find out that there¡¯s always a higher mountain to climb. A higher goal. Something better than the best.¡± Frein¡¯s words had put a stop to the Second Princess¡¯s attacks as realization hit her. He crossed his hands for emphasis. ¡°I see, in you, Scuti Irista, that drive. The hard-working genius. I think, if you seriously apply yourself, you¡¯ll outclass your sister in no time at all.¡± Scuti¡¯s hands trembled, but she quickly held her excitement back. ¡°You¡¯re just saying that ¡®cause you know I¡¯m easy to please!¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re self-aware!¡± Frein said, laughing slightly. ¡°While part of it is true, I¡¯m not exactly lying. Just take your Meiyal Art for example.¡± ¡°Eternera,¡± Scuti said. ¡°Cool name.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone else using that Art,¡± he pointed out. ¡°Me neither,¡± Scuti nodded. ¡°I was just training one day, and the pattern and the name just suddenly clicked in my head. I tried it out and I was surprised it worked. That was about five or six years ago.¡± ¡°And now, you¡¯ve honed it to something personal to you. With some proper training, you can really go toe-to-toe with anyone, and even surpass them.¡± ¡°Does that mean, you¡¯ll take me as your student?¡± Scuti¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°And I thought, you two were sparring,¡± Katherine said, appearing from within the hedges of the garden. Elizzel was beside her. ¡°You know how it is,¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°How¡¯s your Art fatigue?¡± Katherine leaned in for a kiss, performing meiyal resuscitation. She didn¡¯t wait for Scuti to turn away. Both of them heard the Princess¡¯s gasp, but they didn¡¯t care. ¡°Why are your eyes red?¡± he asked as soon as they parted lips. He turned to Elizzel for an answer and was surprised to see the same. ¡°Why do you both have red eyes? Were you two crying?¡± ¡°I told you, he¡¯d notice it anyway,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Can¡¯t exactly wash it away,¡± Katherine admitted. ¡°Couldn¡¯t get a hold of it this time, Frein. Sorry.¡± ¡°No, that was¡­ no¡­¡± In slight panic, Frein left Scuti to train on her own, pulling Katherine and Elizzel somewhere behind the garden. Conveniently enough, they found a table with some chairs in a hidden corner, nestled neatly between the hedges. ¡°Was it about me?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s always about you,¡± they said at the same time. Frein scratched his head. ¡°Umm¡­ sorry.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Elizzel sighed. ¡°This isn¡¯t how I thought this conversation¡¯s supposed to go.¡± ¡°No, I mean.¡± Frein stuttered again. ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t understand. And honestly, I was putting it off until we can actually find some time to rest before we seriously talk about this, but¡ª¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s fair,¡± Katherine said, forcing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s enough for me to know that you¡¯ve given it some thought. If that¡¯s the case, I can wait until after the Nightmare Incursion, before we have a serious talk.¡± Frein got confused. ¡°Wait. Just to be sure, we¡¯re talking about me proposing to you, right?¡± Katherine¡¯s jaw slacked. Elizzel pressed a palm on her forehead. ¡°No?¡± ¡°We¡¯re talking about your death!¡± Katherine almost yelled. She shot up from her chair, but Frein quickly stopped her before she could storm out of the conversation. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m seriously thinking of that, too, Kat. Sorry. We¡¯ll have that talk, too, okay?¡± Katherine¡¯s eyes contorted in pain, breaking back down to her chair and sobbing. She was hyperventilating. And as much as she tried to muffle it, she couldn¡¯t. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Frein said, enveloping her within his arms. She weakly thumped on his chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That was my bad.¡± Leaves ruffled behind them, and Frein quickly turned to see Scuti. She gradually came out of her Nature¡¯s Favor. ¡°Sorry, I got a little curious,¡± she said. ¡°Is Lady Katherine okay?¡± Frein realized that the Second Princess¡¯s desire to console Katherine had forced her Blessing to dissolve. That barely mattered for now. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, Princess,¡± Katherine said, quickly recovering now that they¡¯d been discovered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Scuti,¡± the Lady insisted, wiping away her tears. She beckoned the Princess over with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way to make it work. That¡¯ll take some time, though. How about we introduce you to Elizzel instead?¡± Frein gave a smile, trying to subtly convince Scuti to agree. She got the message. While they were busy pointing out the faunel¡¯s mesmerizing, heterochromatic eyes, he began to think internally instead. In truth, Frein hadn¡¯t really given it any thought. He knew it would just end with his death. The Visitor, and all that. He was making the most of his year, his remaining time. Before, that was all that had mattered, really. That and Katherine. But looking at Scuti had made him realize something. He thought of Kristel, of Frill, of Xiv. Elizzel, Norazzel. All the other people he had met and befriended. Frein began to smile, along with the tinge of regret surfacing within his chest. Maybe I belong here¡­ Just then, a noise came from the front of the High Palace. Chapter 170: Punishment of Hastiness Punishment of Hastiness Kristel had been spending all morning, until the afternoon, in the main hearing hall of the High Palace. She was stuck in a meeting with Uncle Kento and Judiciary Knight Verdim Solfey¡ªfather of the General Sky Knight twins. Frill and Xiv were standing behind her, fulfilling their duty as her retinue. Lor was also present. He arrived last night to represent the Veli Manor in the discussion. Guard Knight Flimeth Estura, who they had missed during Liona¡¯s Ritual of Peace, was also there. Apparently, she had had to respond to a distress call from a nearby northern village and had only been able to return this morning. She and Kristel had caught up a bit before their meeting had begun in earnest. The First Princess found the reunion bittersweet. She couldn¡¯t help but remember the Cross Irista. Can we even still call ourselves that? I wish Venry was here. Upon Monarch Denis¡¯ suggestions, Kristel and Kento were able to maneuver the troops of the High Palace in a subtle-not-so-subtle way. With his discreet agreement, they used Xiv as an excuse. It took little convincing, but essentially, he was playing the role he initially set out on: to warn Irista Nation of danger. However, they bent the narrative a bit so that the danger supposedly originated from Vyndival instead of some unknown entity hiding behind Destiny. This way, they could convince the others not in the know of the coming Nightmare Incursion to strategize with them without raising too much suspicion. They could always clear up the misunderstanding later. Kristel, personally, thought the plan was convoluted. But she admitted that it was good enough to fool any of the enemy spies, even if the plan were to get leaked somehow. They would simply assume that Xiv was turning coat. Plus, avoiding mention of their true enemy in the first place essentially blanketed them from Destiny. In a sense, it was perfect but fragile. It protected all of their important pieces without risking too much. Though she felt uncomfortable making moves without running the strategy over to Katherine and Frein, she still trusted her father. Kristel couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought. They had just finished the primary patrol route for the Sky Knights when the entrance to the hearing hall burst open with a bang. Not because they were under attack, but because some arrogant Guard Knight thought it was alright for him to disrespect everyone with his lack of manners. Other than having been structured to accommodate the giants of the past, these were the same as the doors that Kristel had held last night on her father¡¯s study. Heavy to the point that one must have a honed Siffera to push or pull them properly. Doors that even some Royal Knights struggled with. And yet, here came Guard Knight Tryvinal Bree, shoving them open like they were made of plywood. Not that it was because he was uniquely powerful, but because he wanted to gloat just how powerful he thought he was. ¡°A meeting for the defenses of the High Palace, and no one calls for me?¡± he said as he sauntered into the room with his head held high and his confidence through the roof. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is not a good show of respect for your future Monarch, ladies and gentlemen.¡± Ignoring this fool would be difficult and childish, so Kristel called for the meeting to adjourn right away, sending Advisor Kento and Verdim to Monarch Denis¡¯ study to report. Lor and Flimeth had urgent matters to prepare in order to maneuver the High Palace Guard Knights and Royal Knights. That left Frill and Xiv with Kristel. Both of them stepped in front, getting in the way of the Guard Knight who stopped from a good distance away. He bowed mockingly, exaggerating the way his arms moved. His spiky, black hair pointed at them like daggers as always. ¡°You¡¯re a Knight,¡± Frill pointed out. ¡°Salute.¡± ¡°True as that may be, you see, dear Frill, tomorrow, I will be proclaimed the rightful heir of Evanclad¡¯s Crown.¡± Tryvinal¡¯s smile was rid of any forms of modesty. He straightened up his posture, taking extra care of emphasizing his refusal to salute. He looked excitedly at the other Guard Knights stationed within the heavy pillars that made the foundations of the hearing hall. Then his eyes looked upon the throne perched on a level above the main floor, reachable by a pair of golden-etched, white marble stairs with red carpets. He longed for that chair. Kristel could feel it seeping out of his manic face. ¡°So you see, Frill, it should be you who¡¯s bowing.¡± A meiyal wave assaulted the Aria. She was forced to step back, pained, with her head struggling to stay up. Xiv was quick to step in front of her. ¡°I said,¡± Tryvinal stepped forward. ¡°Bow.¡± Xiv and Frill hit the floor on their knees. The Guard Knight¡¯s Monarch¡¯s Law reached Kristel. She could feel his suggestions, but she shrugged them off for what they actually were. Just words. It was her turn to step forward. ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked. ¡°The same thing as I¡¯ve asked before, Princess.¡± Tryvinal¡¯s eyes were wide; his grin could compete with George¡¯s perpetual smile. Only, his was sinister compared to the Cloudbark Worm¡¯s. ¡°Your hand in marriage.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kristel said simply. She began to turn, but when her instincts told her to stay put, she followed it immediately. Her mind raced, trying to find what could be suddenly triggering her fight or flight tendencies. Why would he bother coming here? He already knows I¡¯m going to reject him again. Did he really just come here to gloat? Kristel turned to Frill and Xiv. Those two would never succumb to Tryvinal¡¯s commands, especially since they¡¯d been constantly warned of what the Guard Knight was capable of. How? The thought that it could be the Law of the First Monarch crept at the back of her mind. She dismissed it immediately.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Yet the display before her told otherwise. The moment was too quick, and she spent too much time mulling over what-ifs. ¡°Royal Knights, arrest Frill Veli and this Vyndivalian for standing in the way of their future Monarch.¡± Tryvinal smiled as his Blessing spread across all the knights standing in attendance. There wasn¡¯t even any consideration or hesitation in their faces. They simply turned and made their way towards her two kneeling retainers. ¡°Stop this, Tryvinal!¡± Kristel commanded. She flared her Siffera, but no matter how hard she tried, it couldn¡¯t replicate Frein¡¯s intimidating aura. She Drew her sword Meiyal Art instead. ¡°Even for you, this is beyond low. None of their actions violated any of our laws!¡± The Guard Knight simply laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Princess. There will be new laws tomorrow. I¡¯m simply taking action a day early.¡± ¡°That¡¯s abuse of power!¡± ¡°And what of it?¡± Tryvinal growled, then he smiled again. ¡°Long have you ignored me, Kristel. You act high and mighty and yet you fail to protect anything! What¡¯s this secret meeting then, huh? A coup? You¡¯re strategically moving your most trusted people so you can get the jump on me? I don¡¯t think so!¡± What¡¯s with this weird timing? Kristel¡¯s jaws slackened. She could not begin to formulate coherent words to explain how wrong this Guard Knight was without revealing too much of the coming danger ahead. There was absolutely no way she could trust him to keep it secret, much less even see him believing her in the first place. Again, she hesitated too long. ¡°Aha! I knew it!¡± Tryvinal pointed at Kristel. ¡°Royal Knights! Arrest the Princess and the rest of the Cross Irista! They¡¯re confiding in malicious plans to create chaos in the arrival of a new monarchy!¡± Before Kristel could even speak, the doors of the hearing chambers opened. No, they collapsed. The large doors, built for the giants of old, made to test even the powerful Royal Knights, were shoved off their mighty hinges, flying a good distance from where they were attached before breaking apart on the ground. They almost fell on top of Tryvinal. A pebble broke and bounced off his boot. The boom created by the collapse echoed throughout the entire hearing hall, causing everyone and everything to pause. They all turned their heads outside. Behind the exposed arc were three people, one of which had his leg stretched out as if to imply that he had kicked the door. ¡°Who the hell makes stupid doors like these? Some kind of test?¡± Frein said as he walked all over the debris. He continued speaking with a mocking voice. ¡°Only those powerful enough to open these doors have the right to gain an audience with the monarch, blah, blah, blah¡­¡± ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name have you done?¡± Scuti¡¯s complaining voice echoed from behind. ¡°Wait¡­ how did you do that? You¡¯re Art fatigued!¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Even though Frein said it with as much convincing confidence as he could, Kristel could still see faint signs of smoke coming from his back. Katherine entered last, shaking her head, and saying the word sorry towards Kristel without giving it voice. Tryvinal was just there, awestruck. The First Princess took the time to get her friends up and dispel the Guard Knight¡¯s Blessing. She couldn¡¯t. Frill and Xiv were doing the best they could to simply keep their heads down. The rest of the knights surrounding them were still under its suggestion, so Kristel abandoned her task while threatening them with her sword. But they weren¡¯t paying attention to her or her retainers at the moment. Rather, they were concerned for Tryvinal. ¡°You must be that ambitious Guard Knight everyone¡¯s talking about,¡± Frein said, walking up face to face with the ambitious man. ¡°Sorry about the door. Someone can fix that, right?¡± ¡°Frein Nivan, the Visitor,¡± Tryvinal said, almost mesmerized by him. Kristel could feel his jealousy seeping into his words. Of that, she could relate, but not with the malice that came along with it. ¡°Yep. That¡¯s me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware of what you¡¯ve done, correct?¡± the Guard Knight asked. ¡°Destruction of the High Palace is a severe criminal offense! We should lock you¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, I got permission. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°From whom?¡± Tryvinal¡¯s expression twisted as he was cut off. ¡°Colluding with nefarious entities and masterminds¡ª¡± ¡°Georgery Brianfen Plauntifur,¡± Frein said, cutting him off again. Kristel enjoyed just how much the Guard Knight was taken aback. The Visitor continued, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a little bored with your theatrics. In any case, the King Cloudbark Worm asked me to interfere in his stead since you¡¯re threatening the First Princess and her friends.¡± With a sarcastically, jolly enthusiasm, Frein nonchalantly planted a hand on Tryvinal¡¯s shoulder. Kristel observed as the Guard Knight¡¯s confidence slowly crumbled. ¡°See, I can understand how excited you are from taking the throne, but celestial entities like George can¡¯t really relate to that. So, would you mind dispelling your Monarch¡¯s Law over these poor guys and just come back again tomorrow? He promises he won¡¯t eat you, if you do.¡± Tryvinal tried to shrug Frein off, but the Visitor simply clamped on his shoulder, smiling. Despite not liking the guy, Kristel felt genuine concern as the Guard Knight started squirming in pain. ¡°Unhand me!¡± he said, his words laced with Monarch¡¯s Law. It didn¡¯t affect the Visitor. So he turned to the Royal Knights instead. ¡°Everyone! Arrest him!¡± ¡°Look here, future Monarch,¡± Frein began in a sarcastic tone. He didn¡¯t care when the knights surrounded them. Katherine was subtle enough to move herself and Scuti out of the way. ¡°I¡¯m here giving you a chance to make the right decision.¡± Tryvinal started screaming and gasping. Frein¡¯s grip had completely deformed the Guard Knight¡¯s pauldron and shoulder. And yet, despite this, the people that should¡¯ve come under his command, his Monarch¡¯s Law, simply stood. Kristel could see their hands shaking. The First Princess began to approach, intending to put a stop to the whole thing, but Katherine took her attention by simply staring. One of the Lady¡¯s arms was wrapped around a mesmerized Scuti¡¯s shoulders, while her other arm lifted a finger across her lips. Curious, Kristel used her observation Meiyal Art, once again failing to Draw Mesiffera. She foolishly made a step anyway. Kristel felt it. Fear. She would die if she stayed. It forced her to back away. Frein¡¯s intimidating presence surrounded a fixed area, making every Royal Knight around him and Tryvinal hesitate and tremble in place. In that simple instance, she saw the Visitor¡¯s unvoiced promise to beat the living life out of anyone who would dare interfere with his actions. Indiscriminate. Unbridled. Kristel understood why Katherine stepped aside instead. And she knew he would make true of that promise. Tryvinal was now on his knees, clutching his shoulder and desperately Drawing Samesia while Frein kept crushing it. ¡°If it were me,¡± the Visitor said, crouching down to the Guard Knight¡¯s level. He released his grip and Drew his own Samesia, instantly healing Tryvinal¡¯s deformed shoulder. ¡°What?¡± the Guard Knight asked, his face completely void of any pride or arrogance now. ¡°I said, if it were me, I¡¯d just kill you now.¡± Frein¡¯s eyes turned to Kristel, and she felt a shiver run up her spine. ¡°But we¡¯re here upon the grace of the most generous First Princess Kristel. It would be rude of me to stain her presence with your worthless blood. So I¡¯ll ask again, Guard Knight Tryvinal Bree, remove your Blessing from these poor fellows, and I¡¯ll let you stand. And I mean everyone.¡± Tryvinal nodded silently. One by one, the Guard Knights blinked as the realization hit them, their eyes turning in contempt, disgusted by the fact that they worked for the same nation with this misled, ambitious man. They quickly nodded their thanks to Frein before awkwardly returning to their posts. Some of them eyed the massive doors, paralyzed in indecision of what to do with the person that caused it. Frill and Xiv stood up together, disgust towards Tryvinal plastered on their faces. Their meiyal flared, as if a single command would instantly make them go rabid against him. With a smile, Frein pulled Tryvinal up to his feet. He had completely detached the pauldron from the Guard Knight¡¯s armor. He crushed it into meiyal residue rather than giving it back. The Guard Knight nodded awkwardly, attempting to leave. ¡°Thank you. Please enjoy your stay. I¡¯ll be back¡ª¡± Frein planted a hand on his other shoulder. It was lighter this time, just laying it on top of the pauldron. ¡°Who said you can leave?¡± Horror froze Tryvinal where he stood. ¡°You said I can leave¡­¡± ¡°George said you can come back tomorrow,¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°I only said that I¡¯ll let you stand up.¡± Chapter 171: Unfair Trial Unfair Trial ¡±I¡¯m not an expert in Iristan Law, but I¡¯m pretty sure this won¡¯t work back on Earth.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor Frein made it a point not to exert any strength in his hand as he held Tryvinal¡¯s shoulder. His smile was enough of a threat to warn the Guard Knight not to do anything suspicious. He held him there until Monarch Denis and his advisors arrived. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name¡­?¡± Advisor Kento said as he entered the hearing hall from the concealed entrance behind the elevated throne. He stepped aside as more people made their way in. All of them had the exact same set of expressions; awe, wonder, confusion, with a hint of anger, as they tried to determine who had caused the destruction of the stone doors. Frein understood that what he had done was clearly a form of disrespect to the High Palace, the place and its people, but he had done it to prove a theory¡ªor in this case, disprove. Monarch Denis Irista was the last person to enter. Unlike the rest, he retained his composure. Or maybe it was because his face was already permanently twisted to one of constant worry and anger, as if he had been left to deal with people far less competent than himself since he became the Monarch, but had long since given up on trying to make them better. As far as Frein was concerned, that was the case. ¡°Visitor Frein Nivan,¡± the Monarch began, ¡°did you cause this destruction?¡± ¡°Yes, Monarch,¡± he replied simply, a hand still resting on Tryvinal¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Explain.¡± Cool and collected. With every passing second, Frein¡¯s respect for Monarch Denis rose. With a single word, he had conveyed immediate understanding that such destruction wasn¡¯t without cause, skipping all the unnecessary exchange of accusing or blaming, and providing the Visitor a clean stage without prejudice. It was more than Frein wanted. He was ready for a backlash, prepared to stifle anyone who wanted to make a big deal of what he had done to those doors. Insignificant it might be to some, but those pair of giant gates stood for far longer than anyone currently present had lived. Well¡­ except Elizzel, of course, who was currently observing quietly within the Tether. ¡°I wanted to see what it takes to dispel someone¡¯s Monarch¡¯s Law, Monarch Denis,¡± Frein explained. ¡°The prevailing theory is that the Blessing muddles the mind with suggestions by exploiting what little admiration a person has to the Blessed one. My idea, then, is to cause a significant amount of shock to try and rattle their minds out of this mind control-like power.¡± ¡°And what have you found out?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t work. Or it could be that Tryvinal¡¯s hold on them was just too great. I had to convince this Guard Knight to personally let go of them instead.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Denis said as he took the throne. The rest of his advisor stood before the chairs flanking the Monarch on either side, but they chose to keep standing. ¡°This is an act of crime!¡± said one of them, the only woman in the council. ¡°Destruction of property, destruction of historical artifacts, and not to mention trespassing the house of the royal family!¡± Frein recognized her as Eliot Greyshot, advisor to the throne and head of the Financial Committee of Equity and Businesses department. The grays of her hair were apparent, but just like any Virtuoso or Grand Virtuoso, her physique was honed, in top shape, compared to the elderly he was used to back on Earth. As if they could go for a fight at any moment. ¡°Advisor Eliot raises a good point,¡± Denis said, gesturing towards Frein. ¡°What do you have to say to this, Frein Nivan?¡± The Visitor felt as if he was forced to be on trial without any sort of preamble. In a weird way at that. Not only did he not have an attorney, one of the assumed jury seemed completely biased against him from the beginning. And while he didn¡¯t care much for the laws of Irista Nation, he didn¡¯t wish to start in a bad direction with the leader of the entire country. He kept to his facts. ¡°I was given permission by the King Cloudbark Worm, Georgery Brianfen Plauntifur. He asked for my assistance to assist Princess Kristel. In exchange, he agreed on my proposal, which I had already explained earlier. He deemed it a minor sacrifice if it meant the safety of the Princess.¡± ¡°Georgery had no right to give you that permission, Visitor!¡± Eliot said, pointing an accusing finger. Frein exercised his patience, completely ignoring the advisor. His concern was with the Monarch, not her. He kept his eyes towards the man on his throne. ¡°Peace and patience, Advisor Eliot,¡± Denis said, raising a hand. ¡°While it¡¯s obvious that the doors are expensive to repair, you seem to have missed his point. Explain why the Princess needed your help, Visitor.¡± It was an obvious telegraph. Frein smiled and pushed forward the Guard Knight in his clutches. ¡°I have reason to believe that this man here, Guard Knight Tryvinal Bree, created a scenario with the goal to defame not only Princess Kristel¡¯s retinue, but also herself. With an arrogant use of his Blessing, Monarch¡¯s Law, these Royal Knights¡ªunder its suggestions¡ªwould¡¯ve harmed the Princess, or the reverse, resulting in chaos and disorder amongst your ranks. ¡°With my timely intervention and controlled use of force, I was able to persuade Guard Knight Tryvinal to dispel his Blessing, and the rest was a waiting game until you arrived. You may consider that part of my plan was to create such an alarming noise so that Your Majesty and his council could be quickly alerted and arrive just in time before the suspect managed to talk his way out of an escape.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Monarch Denis nodded, turning his attention back to his advisor. ¡°What say you, Advisor Eliot? It seems that the Visitor did have good reasons for his actions.¡± Frein paid attention to the woman this time. He needed to see how she would react. While it could simply be her frugality that had forced her to press the issue regarding those expensive doors, the reason might as well be that she was in cahoots with Tryvinal. In fairness to her, she was at a loss for words, considering the situation in new light. ¡°I understand, Monarch. It¡¯s up to the family with the damages to press charges in the first place. If you¡¯re willing to let him go, then so will I. But, I must insist that he pays for the damages he¡¯s caused.¡± Fair enough. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Katherine said, one arm still around Scuti. The Second Princess was visibly uncomfortable with the entire situation, but the Lady wouldn¡¯t let her go. ¡°I¡¯ll bear the cost of repairs.¡± The Lady of the Void was being cautious. While they all knew about Tryvinal¡¯s Monarch¡¯s Law, there were still some unknowns regarding him. By keeping Scuti beside her at all times, she was able to protect the Second Princess while keeping her attention on everyone else. Frein could see Heart¡¯s Will working on everyone at the moment. And so far, Katherine wasn¡¯t giving any hints. Frein found it weird. ¡°With the issue of repairs out of the way, we move on to the next matter then,¡± Monarch Denis said, his eyes piercing a calm glare towards Tryvinal. ¡°You are accused of defamation against the royal family as well as attempted treason, Guard Knight Tryvinal Bree. With the number of witnesses around you, are you willing to admit your guilt, or are you going to act like a fool that everyone thinks you are?¡± Frein suppressed a shrug. This was nowhere near a fair trial. Guilt was essentially already placed, and the Guard Knight had no way out of this. But there was desperation in his eyes. ¡°As the future Monarch of Irista Nation, I have reason to believe that Princess Kristel and her Cross Irista are confiding to instill a rebellion! They¡¯re strategically moving troops in order to surround the High Palace while my own soldiers are kept out.¡± Frein had to admit, he was pretty impressed. The reason was almost infallible. Though the method and assumption was incorrect, Tryvinal had the right to protect his future for something he thought he earned. The ball was back in Monarch Denis¡¯ hands, who was rubbing his beard inquisitively. ¡°It was under my instructions that the Cross Irista mobilized the High Palace army. You¡¯re not implying that I¡¯m involved in this conspiracy you¡¯re claiming, are you?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Tryvinal bowed and stepped back. Frein made a point that he couldn¡¯t be anywhere else other than in front of him by pushing the Guard Knight back. ¡°Watch it!¡± ¡°I am,¡± Frein said. ¡°You move past me, and I¡¯m killing you.¡± ¡°There will be no killing in my presence, Visitor,¡± Monarch Denis said quickly, his voice still calm. He turned to Tryvinal. ¡°Your actions caused by your misunderstanding placed my family in grave danger. If you had been patient, you would¡¯ve earned the honor to bear the crown. But clearly, you are reckless, driven by haste, unable to consider other possibilities. You are unfit to be a leader Tryvinal Bree, and as such, I am disqualifying you from my competition.¡± ¡°What?¡± Frein could sense the anger swirling within the Guard Knight. Despite his methods, he had still strived to garner a following large enough to win the Monarch¡¯s challenge. That much was obvious to anyone. Cheap, but it had taken him years of going around and convincing people of his visions. He had all the right to be angry. ¡°Monarch Denis,¡± Frein began. ¡°Let him prove his eligibility as a leader.¡± Everyone turned to him. Even Tryvinal suddenly diffused and snapped his way. ¡°If the only reason for his disqualification was this single misunderstanding, it wouldn¡¯t feel right to remove him from your competition. Everyone makes mistakes, even monarchs.¡± Eliot stepped forward, ready to lash out with words, but Monarch Denis raised a hand once again. ¡°What do you propose?¡± Frein spread his arms as if the answer had been obvious from the beginning. ¡°A duel, of course. How else can you measure the right to lead if not through the display of strength?¡± ¡°Not all leaders are the strongest people around.¡± Oddly enough, it was Advisor Kento who spoke. ¡°Case in point, Lady Katherine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good point, but just like how we settled the war back in the Battle of the Vanguard¡­¡± Frein lifted a finger. ¡°One duel, that¡¯s all we need. Not to the death, of course.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting Kristel and Tryvinal fight it out?¡± Denis asked. ¡°That¡¯s unfair!¡± the Guard Knight exclaimed, too late to realize his misconduct. ¡°I would rather just disqualify you now, Tryvinal, if that is what you prefer.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Taking his hesitation as a sign, Frein stepped forward to answer the Monarch¡¯s question. ¡°Of course not, Your Majesty.¡± Frein made a formal salute, one that he had seen countless Iristan knights done on a daily basis. He placed his right hand on top of his collarbone, indicating Denis¡¯ meiyal core. With the other hand behind him, he made a slight bow. ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to fulfill that role.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡± Tryvinal pointed out. ¡°Why not? Even if your alibi makes sense, we can¡¯t disprove your intentions of harming Princess Kristel. If you have any nefarious weapons or secret Meiyal Arts or Weaving or what have you, we won¡¯t know until it¡¯s too late. I, instead, can withstand whatever it is that you throw at me.¡± Frein smiled as he taunted the Guard Knight even further. ¡°Here¡¯s my proposal, Monarch Denis. Thirty minutes. If within this time, Guard Knight Tryvinal is able to inflict even a single wound on me, we can consider him competent enough to continue participating in your competition.¡± ¡°Overconfident fool¡­¡± Advisor Eliot mumbled. ¡°You think a Guard Knight can¡¯t lay a single finger on you?¡± Frein grinned. ¡°Even if all of you in this room fight me right now, I won¡¯t even break a sweat.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try and not complicate things, Frein,¡± Katherine said, leading Scuti towards Princess Kristel. ¡°Oh, yeah. Except Katherine, everyone else except Katherine, is what I meant by everyone.¡± The Lady could only sigh. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Denis continued to rub his beard. His eyes carefully observed the people present. With the silence dragging on this way, everyone involved immediately knew to stay quiet. Finally, he turned to Kristel. ¡°What¡¯s your opinion on this, Princess Kristel?¡± All eyes turned to her. As always, Frein could see that change, that confidence. She slowly crossed her arms, intent to show everyone she wouldn¡¯t back down. ¡°Frein¡¯s claims hold water. Even how I am now, I¡¯ll struggle against him, but I don¡¯t need him to win fights for me. I can fight Tryvinal on my own.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Denis observed everyone once again. ¡°The Visitor has made a valid point. Meiyal Arts and Blessings aren¡¯t fully discovered and researched even to this day. And I do not wish to put my daughter in harm¡¯s way. Let the duel be between Guard Knight Tryvinal Bree and Visitor Frein Nivan. Everyone make space. We begin immediately.¡± Just like that, Frein ducked as a meiyal dagger flew where his neck would have been. Tryvinal¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret this, Visitor.¡± Frein¡¯s hand that was shoved away by the Guard Knight¡¯s sudden move found its way to Tryvinal¡¯s face. With a sudden burst of six-meiyal emphasized Siffera, he slammed his opponent¡¯s head into the floor, creating a skull-shaped crater on the otherwise pristine, white marble. Tryvinal gasped for air, eyes rolling backwards, but his own Siffera kept him steady. ¡°Well¡­¡± Frein began, ¡°you¡¯re lucky I¡¯ve decided to fight you barehanded.¡± Chapter 172: Duel in the High Palace Duel in the High Palace ¡±He was fatigued just minutes ago,¡± Scuti said as she stood beside Kristel. Katherine¡¯s arm was still around her shoulder and it was getting a little heavy. She tried to pry it away, but the Lady ignored her. ¡°Stay with me until the duel¡¯s over, Scuti,¡± she said. ¡°We don¡¯t know what might happen, and out of all of us here, you need my protection the most.¡± ¡°Listen to her, Scuti,¡± Kristel said, but her eyes were focused on Frein. She clicked her tongue. ¡°How in Brymeia¡¯s name can he do that?¡± ¡°I resuscitated him a while ago,¡± Katherine explained. ¡°But that only clears some fatigue,¡± Frill said, standing behind the First Princess. ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain how he¡¯s able to use six-meiyal again.¡± Scuti¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Six?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°Did I hear you right?¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s a surprise,¡± Monarch Denis whispered, joining their group. Everyone suddenly turned and made their salute. Xiv bowed in addition to his own nation¡¯s salutation. The Monarch nodded at them. ¡°At ease. Explain the Visitor¡¯s six-meiyal.¡± Scuti was about to tell her father about the faunel, but Katherine¡¯s sudden grip told her to stay silent. The First Princess spoke instead. ¡°The Visitor can consume Nightmare cores to increase his meiyal count. Supposedly he has ten-meiyal now, which we all agreed to call decimeiyal, but he can¡¯t Mill it all. He can utilize six instead.¡± ¡°Ten?¡± Scuti exclaimed in greater disbelief, and even when Kristel, Frill, Xiv, and Katherine nodded to her, she still couldn¡¯t comprehend it. She knew all these were pieces of information that they were willing to reveal to anyone and everyone. Elizzel was their hidden card, and they would rather have people believe the Visitor had eight meiyal-charged materials or Nightmare cores than tell anyone he¡¯s been Tethered with the Faunel of Freedom and Consequences this whole time. Monarch Denis rubbed his beard inquisitively as always. ¡°I see. No wonder he was so confident to take on all of us.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t mean anything like that, Monarch Denis,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t start with me, Lady Katherine,¡± he said, laughing heartily. ¡°Arrogance and confidence often mix with each other, but your man can clearly distinguish the two from one another. Which reminds me, you still have no plans for a wedding yet?¡± Scuti was so shocked from the sudden question that she almost missed Frein maneuvering Tryvinal to the floor in the same way he had done to her during their little sparring. Is the Iristan Fighting Style really that predictable? In any case, the Second Princess observed Katherine open her mouth and blush at the same time. They did both hear Frein mention something about preparing for a marriage proposal. ¡°He hasn¡¯t proposed yet, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Monarch Denis¡¯ attention returned to the fight. ¡°Make sure to send an invitation to me when you¡¯ve settled on a date. Either me or Kristel will give you a Monarch¡¯s Blessing.¡± ¡°You make it sound like Sis will be Monarch whether Frein wins or loses,¡± Scuti said, making her implications obvious. ¡°Yes. Unlike everyone else, I think Frein and Katherine here understood my scheme the most. But I will reveal more after this duel.¡± Scuti looked to her sister, and was surprised to see her sat on the floor, Milling and ignoring the discussions around her. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Everyone else looked at each other and smiled, as if all of them except for her had come to a singular conclusion. She turned to her father. ¡°Frein proposed this duel on a golden platter, Scuti. He had taken the initiative from me, from everyone else. All his words, irritating and taunting as they are, culminate to a singular thing.¡± Denis lifted a finger to emphasize his point. ¡°For him, the only person who can wound him within thirty minutes, is the only person worthy enough to be the next Monarch.¡± He laughed. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t know where he got the impression that we¡¯ll follow his idea, but I see no harm in letting Kristel have an honest try.¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of it,¡± Kristel said, her eyes closed and her Milling heavy that reality around her bent, forming a heat haze. She opened one eye. ¡°But I also want to fight.¡±
With a quick and precise arm movement, Frein caught Tryvinal¡¯s overhead slash. The Guard Knight had a sword in one hand¡ªhis right, and seemingly his dominant hand¡ªwhile he held a dagger in his off-hand. A sidestep, a pivot, and a twist all in a relaxed, flowing motion. The next moment, the Visitor had flipped his opponent, slamming him on the floor. Tryvinal winced in pain but he refused to let go of his meiyal sword. In response, Frein added more pressure on the Guard Knight¡¯s wrist and dislocated it completely. The man, who was once filled with ambition, screamed at the top of his lungs. He lashed out with his left hand in a pathetic attempt to escape. Frein easily pulled him out of balance and stomped on it instead. The crushing sound of bones crumbling underneath his foot quickly lost its novelty. The Visitor found no joy in it. He let go of those broken hands with a disappointed sigh. Tryvinal¡¯s screams had turned to wails. He knelt on the ground, looking at his hands with teary eyes. His right limped in an awkward way, unresponsive to his desperate attempts to shake it awake. His left was flattened, with bits of bone protruding from his skin and blood dripping from his fingernails. Frein found it odd. Why does this pathetic show for a knight possess Monarch¡¯s Law? He turned to Monarch Denis. ¡°Are you sure this guy is a Guard Knight?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Monarch replied simply. ¡°He can¡¯t even recover from shock.¡± ¡°You crushed his hands.¡± Frein shrugged, returning to the Guard Knight. ¡°I¡¯ve fought new graduates more competent than you, Tryvinal. At least when I stab them, they use Samesia right away.¡± When Tryvinal refused to take any other action than cry and stare at his broken hands, it irritated Frein. He pulled the Guard Knight up by the collar of his meiyal battle gear. ¡°Why do you want to be a Monarch, Tryvinal?¡± he asked directly. ¡°What are you hiding? Are you really that stupid as to rely on Monarch¡¯s Law?¡± No response, only cries of pain. Frein let go in anger, shoving the wailing man away. Tryvinal didn¡¯t even try to recover his balance, falling on the floor as he broke down in more tears. He had completely given up. The Visitor kept his distance. There was still about five minutes left in their duel, and he wasn¡¯t one to put down his guard in front of his opponent. Even if that opponent turned out to be a total disappointment. For all he knew, this might just be an act. Something that even Katherine¡¯s Heart¡¯s Will could possibly miss for some vague reason or another.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Frein didn¡¯t want to rely on any Blessing. They were too vague, too unknown, therefore, unpredictable. But he didn¡¯t need one to see how this Guard Knight in front of him had completely withdrawn into himself. It pulled on his guilt, but he completely ignored it. Whatever role Tryvinal had to play in all this, whether he was actually in cahoots with the real enemy or just a random man with potential that abused his opportunity, Frein believed he deserved what had happened and would be happening to him from this point onwards. In the end, Tryvinal never healed himself. So when the duel ended, Frein did it for him, holding his hands and Drawing Samesia. The Guard Knight was silent the entire time. When the Visitor turned to leave, however, he started talking. ¡°I thought it was my destiny,¡± he said, not even trying to stand. ¡°When I discovered my Blessing, my words started to hold weight. People followed my commands. I¡ª¡± Frein turned. ¡°Discovered? Not granted?¡± Tryvinal was puzzled. ¡°Grant? Who could grant such things? Brymeia? You think just because they¡¯re named after our world, it¡¯s the one that grants them? The records in those books, they¡¯re for children. Fairytales and myths meant to deceive and distract. No. I discovered it on my own. Saved a child from a couple of muggers.¡± ¡°You told them to kill themselves?¡± ¡°No, no matter how strong my Blessing is, it¡¯s not the Law of the First Monarch. I told them to leave.¡± Frein crossed his arms. He had heard this variant of the Blessing multiple times already, and just assumed that it was a more powerful version of Monarch¡¯s Law. To think it would be possible to command people to kill themselves¡­ ¡°Well, whatever the case, you lost the duel.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Tryvinal¡¯s passion had completely dissipated. He kept his head down, unintentionally pointing his spiky hair at the Visitor. ¡°It¡¯s my defeat. Thank you for healing my hands.¡± Frein found it unnatural for a person of such delusional pride to simply fold back like this. The Guard Knight was utterly hopeless now. As if¡­ As if he knows something about this defeat¡­ ¡°Am I reading too much into this?¡± Frein delivered the thought through the Tether, asking Elizzel¡¯s advice. ¡°You¡¯re thinking he¡¯s seen this part of his Destiny?¡± The faunel gave it serious thought. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. People can be shown their Destiny as we¡¯ve established with Frill and Kristel. But who would do¡­¡± The realization hit the both of them at the same time. ¡°In line with this defeat,¡± Monarch Denis intervened before Frein could act, ¡°you are hereby disqualified from my challenge. You are to release everyone you held within your Blessing¡¯s suggestions, and you shall be detained for further investigations. In addition, you are relieved of your duties as Guard Knight.¡± Frein observed as Tryvinal rekindled his flame. Darkened eyes glaring at the Monarch, face turned to a snarl, meiyal rushing like a torrent. In an instant, he kicked off the ground, brandishing a meiyal dagger in his hand. ¡°You liar!¡± There was a moment where Frein considered interrupting Tryvinal. Unlike the Guard Knight, he could speed up his perception to such a degree that he could calculate exactly when and how to intervene. But in his peripheral view, someone else was surging with meiyal. Kristel¡¯s elbow crashed into Tryvinal¡¯s chest, launching him into the air. Frein spared a hand and caught the Guard Knight. He was instantly knocked out. Well¡­ there goes my chance. He passed the unconscious Tryvinal to a nearby Royal Knight, who carried him out of the hearing hall. Frein intended to return to his companions to begin discussing his theory, but Kristel¡¯s Siffera challenged him. He stopped. ¡°Thirty minutes, Frein,¡± Kristel said, Displaying her Exhibit and Drawing a Sandai-Kaimera in its compressed form. Space shifted around her as the weapon manifested in reality. Oohs and ahs echoed from the impressed Royal Knights and the Advisors that watched them. ¡°Let me earn that crown.¡± Frein spared a glance over to Katherine, who simply nodded. Frill and Xiv were just as worried as Scuti. And then finally, there was Monarch Denis. He gracefully raised a hand, a gesture for them to proceed. ¡°I¡¯m curious as to how much my daughter has grown,¡± he explained. ¡°This display of power alone should suffice, but if you¡¯re willing, Frein Nivan, allow her to show me more.¡± ¡°Well, then¡­¡± Frein activated his fourteen meiyal marks and emphasized his Siffera to its Nidai-level. He raised an arm to his side and Displayed his own Exhibit. The Blood Moon Fulgurblade manifested in his open hand, surging black and red lightning meiyal all around him. There was only one small problem. Frein¡¯s meiyal system began to ache from the amount of meiyal he was constantly Milling and Drawing. He had just recently recovered from Art fatigue, and here he was exerting himself once again. A problem? Frein smiled as he considered the thought. This is the actual challenge I need right now. ¡°Get ready, Frein,¡± Elizzel said from within the Tether. Kristel dashed in a blur, slashing down with her meiyal sword. Frein placed one foot forward and brought his Fulgurblade upwards. Meiyal on meiyal clashed, resulting in a singularity of power that ripped away all the colors in reality. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re pretty even,¡± Frein said through a struggling grin. ¡°Even?¡± Kristel repeated. ¡°Stop joking around. You¡¯re practically smoking already!¡± Frein emphasized his Siffera and pushed harder, forcing Kristel to withdraw. She was right; he was already on the verge of Art fatigue. But he kept smiling. ¡°If you think that¡¯s your best chance to win, you better rethink your strategy.¡± Frein sheathed the Fulgurblade within the Shinemoon Scabbard and placed it on his side. He delivered his intentions well. It was pretty obvious to anyone with a sense of using observation Meiyal Art that he wouldn¡¯t last thirty minutes. Kristel realized and responded in kind, pouring all she could muster in her Kaimera. It was truly a beauty, looking at how much she had changed after bonding herself with Evanclad¡¯s Destiny. She wasn¡¯t leaving a single drop of meiyal behind. The aura around her meiyal sword brimmed with power, despite the Art¡¯s limitations. Both of them intended to end it in a single strike, to determine who would come out on top. One, grasping for miracles he didn¡¯t need. The other, grasping for proofs she didn¡¯t need. As if their thoughts were in unison, the two combatants dashed towards the center. ¡°Wait!¡± Monarch Denis¡¯ voice echoed with all the authority his title could afford him, but the two were already committed. To hesitate was to disrespect the other. They had poured all of their strength, all of their pride, in this single strike. And not one, not even a monarch, not even a princess, not even the retainers and council members, not even the Royal Knights, and not even a Lady of the Void could stop them now. Black and red lightning collided with rippling prismatic meiyal. The resulting meiyal explosion that followed crashed on everyone and everything. A rippling wave reverberated throughout the hearing hall, causing cracks and craters. Frein pushed and Kristel responded in kind. Neither budged from where they stood. They were perfectly even. So when the moment lasted a little longer, Frein¡¯s Art fatigue kicked in. He refused to give up, but neither did the First Princess. She pushed, Gathering and Milling and Drawing all at the same time. He tried to do the same, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing left. That was when the Emerald Guidance pulled the Azure Calm out of its container and forced an integration. The Guidance walked Elizzel through while Frein held on for dear life. It was almost instantaneous, the faunel had sped up everything within the Mind Palace. The Azure Calm did exactly what it intended to do. It calmed down the fatigue effects inside Frein¡¯s meiyal system, washing it with a refreshing blue. Aside from that, it did nothing else. By then, it was already too late for Frein to take advantage of it. Kristel had gained ground, pushing his Fulgurblade down. It took all he had to defend against the follow up. The split second it took for the First Princess¡¯s face to shift from awe to realization told Frein how much she was aware of the sudden change. She committed to the strike. Frein¡¯s Fulgurblade wouldn¡¯t make it on time. Instead, he raised an arm, coating it with as much protective Siffera as he could muster. Sandai-Kaimera pierce skin and muscle, but Frein¡¯s bone stopped it completely. At that point, Kristel retracted her attack immediately. ¡°What was that?¡± she asked, not even caring enough to celebrate her victory. ¡°The smoke around you just completely disappeared.¡± ¡°I got an Azure Calm back when we fought the Da¡¯bloop,¡± Frein explained, healing his arm with Samesia. ¡°I wasn¡¯t integrated with it yet, but the Emerald Guidance just did it by itself. I guess the effect gets rid of my Art fatigue, but I have to research more about it to make sure.¡± Frein reached out for a handshake. ¡°Congratulations, by the way. Nice fight.¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t Art fatigued¡ª¡± ¡°Take the victory, Kristel,¡± Frein insisted, urging with his hand. ¡°Come on.¡± The First Princess smiled. She took his hand with both of hers. ¡°Alright. Thanks, Frein.¡± ¡°That was intense,¡± Katherine said as she and the rest of the group approached. ¡°Thought I had to intervene at the last second. What happened, Frein? You don¡¯t look fatigued at all.¡± The Visitor spent the next minute repeating his explanation. ¡°That¡¯s all well and good, but,¡± Monarch Denis gestured all over the hearing hall. ¡°Not only are the doors broken, look what you two have done with the place.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Frein and Kristel said at the same time. ¡°Bah. I was kidding. It¡¯s not a problem. Come, let¡¯s celebrate and talk over dinner.¡± Everyone followed, while Katherine and Frein walked last. ¡°You¡¯re pretty sly, aren¡¯t you?¡± she whispered. ¡°A loss is a loss, Kat,¡± he whispered back. She simply smiled and shrugged. ¡°You stopped treating it like a duel at the end there, Frein,¡± Elizzel said, her voice laced with disappointment. Not because they lost, but because Frein almost killed Kristel. ¡°I¡¯ll be more careful next time¡­¡± Frein looked at his left arm, now completely healed. Then he looked at his right, remembering how much effort it took to keep it reigned in during that last moment. How easy it could¡¯ve been to just let his instincts and muscle memory stab the Fulgurblade straight into the First Princess¡¯s stomach and let the lightning explode from within. ¡°Did I stop it on my own?¡± he asked Elizzel. ¡°Or was that the Azure Calm?¡± ¡°Thankfully, Frein, it was all you.¡± Chapter 173: Innocent Desire for Power Innocent Desire for Power ¡±The simplicity of the desire for power usually originates from a single objective. And that is to catch up to someone.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor Even with the Visitor¡¯s presence, Scuti thought that dinner was the same as usual. Monarch Denis led the conversation most of the time, and people replied to his questions. Either Frein or Katherine responded, sometimes at the same time. Occasionally, Kristel or Frill would add more details. Only when directly asked would Xiv provide his statements, preferring to be quiet while enjoying his coffee at the side. They had been all the same questions and stories that she had heard back inside Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Skull. Fortunately, for them, Monarch Denis was the only new face to join the discussion. His council had been dismissed earlier, under the reason that they should spend dinner with their families from time to time. This allowed for the information exchange between all parties to be fully honest without the need to navigate around topics for secrecy. Everything except, of course, when the discussion would vaguely involve Elizzel, when Frein would masterfully and subtly redirect away. They were having some iced jelly with cream by the time the topic had moved to Monarch Denis¡¯ succession challenge. ¡°Really? Nobody thought it was fake?¡± Frein asked. Scuti was too ashamed to admit it. Back then, the Monarch had proclaimed the challenge with such gravitas without any hint of deception. ¡°Most people just didn¡¯t bother with it,¡± Monarch Denis explained. His speech was significantly more relaxed now compared to earlier in the hearing hall. ¡°At that time, they believed I was having an argument with Kristel, to the point that I did not trust her to be my successor.¡± ¡°It was the perfect setup to find anyone who might be untrustworthy when you pass the crown.¡± Denis nodded towards Frein. ¡°Correct. There was also the fact that I¡¯m dying, making it more believable amongst our ranks.¡± ¡°Your meiyal marks are damaged,¡± Frein said with a hint of regret. ¡°You can see it?¡± Scuti asked at the same time as her big sister, both abandoning their jellies. ¡°Can we find a cure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a disease,¡± the Visitor corrected before turning back to the Monarch. ¡°My Mesiffera can see the flow in your system. There are some dead spots where your marks should be. Even if a mark is sealed, some flow has to be present, but yours is completely dead. Unless you have some weird, forbidden Meiyal Art or Destiny involved, I¡¯m guessing this can only be brought upon by an abused Blessing. I don¡¯t know of anything that can fix that problem.¡± Frein held nothing back, and to Scuti¡¯s amazement, no one else¡ªnot even her father¡ªwas surprised at how the Visitor nailed the problem. At this point, after three years had passed, they weren¡¯t exactly hopeful to find a solution to the Monarch¡¯s problem. ¡°How?¡± she had to ask. ¡°How did you figure that out with just one look?¡± Frein shrugged. ¡°Constant observation. Mesiffera is an incredible Art. I think you should try and normalize it for everyone. It¡¯s like an observation Meiyal Art but on stero¡ªI mean, a lot more refined and effective.¡± ¡°You¡¯re constantly scanning everyone¡¯s meiyal systems?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°You should see Su¡¯karix and Palar¡¯gog. They can practically look into your Mind Palace.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve spoken with them?¡± Monarch Denis asked, unknowingly interrupting Scuti. She didn¡¯t mind, she was curious herself. ¡°Me and Frill, yes.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Frill confirmed when people looked her way. ¡°But for reasons involving Destiny, I¡¯m not in any position to provide any details.¡± ¡°The same for me,¡± Frein said. ¡°Knowing that the Thousand-Year Storm is alive is enough for me. Kristella brought the result of her duel with the Deitar to her grave.¡± Monarch Denis rubbed his beard, a habit whenever he was in deep thought. ¡°So what¡¯s your Blessing, Monarch Denis?¡± Frein asked. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± Scuti wondered what she could contribute to the discussion and found herself completely lost. All of this was too grand for her. Nothing about her ambitions aligned with this Destiny talk, or the Blessing talk, or the Nightmare Incursion, or even the Monarch¡¯s challenge. She just wanted to catch up to her sister. But the display Kristel had shown during her fight with Frein made Scuti feel nothing else but doubt. ¡°Having trouble keeping up?¡± Katherine whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should involve myself or not,¡± Scuti admitted. ¡°It all seems very complex.¡± ¡°It is. There¡¯s a lot riding on the line here, and since you¡¯re part of the Iristan bloodline, you can¡¯t really take a break from it. If there¡¯s something you need clarified, I can help you out with that.¡± Scuti completely ignored Frein¡¯s talk with Monarch Denis¡ªa discussion regarding the Monarch¡¯s Blessing, Time¡¯s Eye¡ªnow that Katherine had offered her assistance. She asked the one thing she was most curious about. ¡°How come Frein¡¯s this strong? He¡¯s been training for far less time than the rest of us.¡± ¡°He has multiple meiyal resources,¡± Katherine answered simply. Scuti didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°From the stories I¡¯ve heard, he was stronger than a lot of people already as soon as he arrived in Brymeia. He stopped that invasion from Vyndival in a two against one duel. He even fought in the Nightmare Lands.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Ah, that part,¡± Katherine nodded in understanding. She smiled a little. ¡°I trained him differently from our usual methods. Instead of learning step-by-step how to Draw and Mill, I urged him to treat the Perpetual Layered Milling Form as his basic foundation.¡± Scuti tried to wrap her head around the concept, and Katherine was having too much fun observing her internal struggle to make it easier for her. ¡°That¡¯s crazy¡­¡± ¡°Schrodie thought so, too. But Frein eventually figured it out, and I think it¡¯s not too late for you to try.¡± Katherine gestured and urged the Second Princess to give it a shot. ¡°Right here?¡± she asked. ¡°Frein does it anywhere even now,¡± Katherine said, shrugging and pointing towards her boyfriend. Indeed, he was. Even a simple observation Meiyal Art allowed Scuti to find the steady flow of an active Milling. Again, she was more than just impressed and irritated at the same time. Utterly baffled would be the more appropriate term. ¡°It¡¯s like he¡¯s just breathing. You sure that¡¯s Perpetual Layered Milling Form?¡± Katherine smiled. ¡°If you emphasize your observation Art, you can see more of it. He¡¯ll probably notice you, though. If you have Mesiffera, you¡¯ll be able to tell exactly how he does it. But by then, you would¡¯ve most likely figured out how to do the Milling Form, since that Art requires extremely high-quality Milled meiyal.¡± ¡°How does he do it, exactly?¡± Scuti asked, not even attempting to emphasize her observation Art. She didn¡¯t want to bother him and her father¡¯s discussions. Katherine made a thoughtful expression. ¡°He said, he constantly grinds his meiyal sources into fine powder, however that works. Then he presses and combines them particle for particle with Brymeia¡¯s meiyal. It¡¯s all mental feel, though. It¡¯s how he envisioned the process within his mind before he developed a Mind Palace.¡± Before Scuti could give it an honest try, however, Frein interrupted them. ¡°We have a problem,¡± he said. The Second Princess looked around and found her sister looking back at her and then at Frein, worried. She followed her gaze. ¡°Kristel got a letter,¡± he continued. ¡°From the Letterman?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Yeah. It says, ¡®Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Skull won¡¯t save you.¡¯¡± Frein returned to his seat and folded his arms. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Does it mean the skull won¡¯t stop the Incursion?¡± Scuti took a guess. She had been thinking about it since she saw the letter. Frein acknowledged it. ¡°Is it verbatim?¡± Katherine asked, to which Frein pointed towards Kristel. The First Princess nodded. ¡°Then it could be just specifically you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s another possibility, and that¡¯s a bigger problem,¡± Frein scratched his head. ¡°Care to explain?¡± Monarch Denis asked. ¡°I¡¯m already aware of the Nightmare Incursions and the Letterman¡¯s letters. As I¡¯ve said, he saved my daughters, so I trust him.¡± ¡°Trust isn¡¯t the problem,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°Usually his predictions are on point, and we know exactly what we need to achieve. But it¡¯s different this time. That single line doesn¡¯t tell us what to do. If Scuti¡¯s interpretation is correct, then we¡¯ve made a huge mistake. I should never have come here.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s the second one?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°What if it¡¯s about me specifically?¡± ¡°Then we have nothing to worry about,¡± Frein said simply. ¡°The skull¡¯s not going to save you. It¡¯s an inanimate object that¡¯s flying above the clouds.¡± ¡°Then we only have Scuti¡¯s guess to go with.¡± Frein leaned back on his chair. ¡°Well, at the very least, I guess I¡¯m glad we didn¡¯t leave Irista Nation.¡± That piqued Scuti¡¯s interest. ¡°You¡¯re confusing me. You just said coming here was a mistake. What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, if I¡¯m out of Irista Nation, I can at least ensure that one of the three Incursions won¡¯t be here, but that means I would be far away from Kristel. Which means, the letter wouldn¡¯t make sense at all.¡± Frein turned to the First Princess. ¡°That letter either means, we made the right choice coming here, or we should¡¯ve brought you along with us to the Nightmare Lands. And I think we can all agree that the former is better than the latter.¡± ¡°You make it sound like you¡¯re planning to lock me up here,¡± Kristel said, folding her arms as well. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the next monarch of this nation, Frein. I¡¯ll fight the Incursion one way or another. It¡¯s my duty. I¡¯m not some damsel for you to protect.¡± Scuti felt tension rise between the two. But she was utterly caught off-guard when the Visitor smiled. ¡°Well said. Don¡¯t let some piece of paper dictate what you can and can¡¯t do.¡± He stood. ¡°Thank you for the dinner, Monarch Denis. Now, please excuse me, I have other important matters to attend to.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Scuti asked, eager to join him. ¡°I¡¯m going to visit Ashtine and Smyl. Questions to ask, answers to get.¡± ¡°I heard about Ashtine,¡± Denis said, gesturing his permission to dismiss Frein. ¡°Void Sleep¡¯s a rare occurrence for Iristans. I pray she gets better.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Scuti and Kristel said at the same time. ¡°No,¡± Frein and Katherine replied in unison. But both of them were only looking at Kristel. The Visitor continued, ¡°If you want to fight the Nightmare Incursion, you have some training to do with Kat. We got lucky with the Da¡¯bloop, but if its influence was anywhere but the ocean, you¡¯d be toast.¡± ¡°How can you be sure?¡± Frein answered by emphasizing his Siffera to enhance his presence. Then he pinpointed it all to Kristel. The First Princess jumped out of her seat, hopping a few steps back and Drawing a blade Meiyal Art. It took her a second to realize what had happened. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Now that you can Mill the same way I can, protecting yourself against the Nightmare Influence shouldn¡¯t be that difficult for you anymore. Kat just needs to give you some pointers. Plus, you have a Purifying Stone.¡± Frein looked at Scuti. ¡°We¡¯re going.¡± Just like that, they were out of the Monarch¡¯s dining hall. ¡°You¡¯ll have to help me get to Ashtine,¡± Frein said. ¡°Huge place, and since you¡¯re around, I¡¯d rather not wake Eli up.¡± ¡°She¡¯s already asleep?¡± Scuti asked while taking the lead towards the Sky Knight Tower. ¡°Yeah. She sleeps multiple times a day, especially since she was forced to integrate with my Azure Calm. She also makes up for my lack of sleep. Well, she and Nora.¡± ¡°Norazzel?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve met her?¡± Scuti shook her head. ¡°I just know the name.¡± ¡°I see. Anyway, I heard you talking to Kat about my Milling.¡± ¡°She said you¡¯re always using Perpetual Layered Milling Form.¡± Scuti implied her request. Frein understood and emphasized his Milling without even stopping to breathe or prepare. It was exquisite. A constant movement of meiyal resources combining into something that she could only define as ¡®perfect¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s only difficult at first,¡± the Visitor said after relaxing his Milling. ¡°It¡¯ll feel like you¡¯re drowning, like you can reach the surface but something¡¯s dragging you down the moment you get a little chance to breathe. You have to get used to that sensation, barely receiving any respite and always on the edge from getting any result. ¡°But if you persevere, you¡¯ll get it. And once you see what it can do, not from me, or Katherine, or even Kristel, but from yourself, when you experience it first hand, you¡¯ll never want anything less.¡± Scuti stopped and turned around. She saw Frein smiling. ¡°That¡­ that sounded like a lecture,¡± she said, stopping herself from requesting him to be her mentor again. She¡¯d been annoying him enough for one day. ¡°Well, your sister¡¯s going to have some really advanced training. It doesn¡¯t sit well with me for you to get further behind.¡± Scuti brightened up. ¡°Does that mean¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a strict mentor, Scuti. You sure you¡¯re up for it?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes, I¡¯ll keep up!¡± She could almost jump for joy, but she reigned it in. She was still a princess of Irista Nation. ¡°Good. Then tomorrow, you¡¯ll wake up an hour before sunrise and do laps with me on the cloudbark. But first, let¡¯s see what¡¯s going on with Ashtine.¡± With a proud smile, Scuti led the way again, but she froze in place before she could take another step. ¡°What is it?¡± Frein asked. ¡°It¡¯s my sister¡¯s birthday tomorrow.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°We have to prepare for her party.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do it after one lap around the cloudbark while Gathering and Milling.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Frein raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yes, teacher.¡± ¡°Good. Now keep walking.¡± Chapter 174: Mysterious Recovery Mysterious Recovery Frein wasn¡¯t exactly surprised when he saw Ashtine and Smyl both conscious in the Sky Knight Tower infirmary. They were sharing a single recovery room and the half-orc Doctor Jo¡¯war was there, providing the two some final checks. He noticed the Visitor along with Princess Scuti and immediately broke focus. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know they¡¯re awake. Please carry on,¡± Frein said. ¡°We¡¯ll wait outside.¡± He closed the door and folded his arms, thinking to himself. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Scuti asked. ¡°Are they¡­?¡± Frein placed a finger in front of his lips and reduced his voice to a whisper. ¡°Their meiyal systems are flowing naturally. It¡¯s like they haven¡¯t gotten sick at all. When your sister recovered from Void Sleep, she¡ª¡± ¡°My sister had Void Sleep?¡± Scuti exclaimed in a hushed tone. ¡°You didn¡¯t mention this in your stories!¡± Frein sighed. ¡°She¡¯s alright. She¡¯s fully recovered. Don¡¯t worry about it. My point is, her meiyal system took a few days to properly recover. We made sure she didn¡¯t strain herself for awhile on Atlas Sid. Well, until the Da¡¯bloop happened, that is. ¡°But she¡¯s all better now. You saw it for yourself, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right.¡± Scuti¡¯s nod was slow and worried. ¡°So what¡¯s the deal with the twins having normal meiyal cycles?¡± Frein shrugged at that. ¡°I guess we can ask Jo¡¯war about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here if you have questions,¡± the half-doctor said as he emerged from behind the door. He didn¡¯t close it. ¡°But I can only do so with the twins¡¯ consent.¡± Frein appreciated that Scuti immediately took action. In that moment, he thought she was the older of the two princesses. Being at least a head taller than Kristel certainly gave him that impression. ¡°I hope you both don¡¯t mind?¡± Scuti asked. ¡°Frein needs it for his Visitor responsibilities.¡± ¡°What exactly are your responsibilities, Mr. Frein?¡± Ashtine asked as the entire group entered the recovery room. There wasn¡¯t much to look at. Two beds, a single restroom, a single closet, a table, a window, and a currently folded curtain for separating the twins if needed. ¡°Dealing with the Void Region, the Nightmare Lands as you now call it,¡± he answered easily. ¡°Since you both recovered from Void Sleep in a way I¡¯m not familiar with, I would like to know your diagnosis and recovery observations in detail.¡± The twins gave each other a look. Frein paid as much attention to the interaction as possible without making himself too suspicious. It was a normal exchange between siblings, even close friends shared that same look. Not to mention that he and Katherine did the same thing from time to time. Too often, actually. There was nothing wrong with it. A simple, silent gesture that meant they wanted to agree, but only if the other was of the same mind. ¡°Sure thing,¡± Smyl said this time. A scar ran down from the top of his right eye, slicing off a large portion of his blond hair. More scars ran from across what¡¯s visible of his body, but he was otherwise uninjured. The power of Samesia. ¡°If you think it¡¯ll help.¡± With that, Doctor Jo¡¯war produced his M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°Just to make things quicker,¡± Frein began, ¡°I know about the case regarding the missing officers.¡± Jo¡¯war grunted in understanding. ¡°Smyl presents the same pattern as the previous cases. I should preempt that I¡¯ve only heard of this confidential case a few days ago when I was asked to observe the Royal Knights that were abducted before Smyl.¡± Frein followed. ¡°Disappeared for a few days, then reappeared somewhere in the High Palace with no memory of what happened.¡± ¡°They were found unconscious, yes, near the palace itself. Same as Smyl, here, it took the victims a day or two to regain consciousness.¡± Frein saw a hint of speculation on the doctor¡¯s face. ¡°What is it?¡± Jo¡¯war gestured to the male twin. ¡°The pattern seemed the same, except that Smyl was significantly more injured when he was found. There were hints of Nightmare on his injuries and it took the Atlas Sid¡¯s intervention to help him recover.¡± ¡°And you still don¡¯t recall anything?¡± Frein asked the General Sky Knight. Kristel had mentioned how Smyl was more riled up compared to the other victims. ¡°Last I remembered was reading in the library.¡± ¡°No flashes of sudden attacks?¡± Smyl shook his head. ¡°What about before the library?¡± This time, the Sky Knight thought hard. ¡°I think I had breakfast? Maybe it was lunch, I don¡¯t remember.¡± Frein nodded and returned to Jo¡¯war. ¡°How badly was he hurt?¡± ¡°The scars you can see are what¡¯s left of his injuries. He lost a lot of blood, but most of his internal organs were intact. The others, compared to him, only suffered minor bruises.¡± ¡°Concussion?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Jo¡¯war gestured with a quick ¡®no¡¯. ¡°That¡¯s the first thing I examined.¡± ¡°What about the Nightmare Influence?¡± ¡°What about it exactly?¡± ¡°How intense was it for Smyl compared to the others?¡± Jo¡¯war reviewed the notes from his M.O.B.I.L.E. for a moment. ¡°They¡¯re not too far apart.¡± ¡°What about Ashtine¡¯s?¡± ¡°Why me?¡± the female twin asked. She realized just as quickly what Frein meant. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jo¡¯war navigated his device until he found the correct documents. ¡°The Void Sleep was caused by the Nightmare Influence, yes, but it wasn¡¯t as grave compared to Smyl¡¯s case.¡± Frein did all he could not to raise his eyebrows. He made a mental note of it. It was an inconsistency to what he knew. Ashtine had an Oblimoth in her Dream Realm. That alone should¡¯ve sent alarms to whatever process or device Jo¡¯war was using to monitor the Nightmare Influence. He nodded towards the doctor. ¡°Thank you. I have a few more questions for them.¡± Jo¡¯war understood the implications. He deposited his M.O.B.I.L.E. and nodded. ¡°Please don¡¯t keep them up for too long. While my professional assessment indicates that they¡¯re ready to return to duty anytime they want, I would still suggest they take at least a day or two off.¡± As soon as the doctor left, Frein leaned on the door and waited for him to be completely out of earshot. He tracked him using his enhanced Siffera, waiting for the footsteps to disappear. When he felt Ashtine was about to ask, he lifted his hand to keep her quiet. ¡°Did you two know, you¡¯re both half-faunels?¡± he asked without preamble. ¡°What?¡± Ashtine asked, a genuine confusion on her face. Smyl, on the other hand, was a second late. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Frein didn¡¯t buy it. The male twin¡¯s reaction was too stiff, as if it took him a second to remember that he was supposed to be surprised by such an absurd claim. While Ashtine¡¯s reaction was a genuine surprise, Smyl¡¯s was caught off guard. She didn¡¯t know. He did. Frein suppressed a smile. He turned to Scuti, who had been silent and listening this entire time. She was as surprised as Ashtine. The Second Princess wanted to say something, but she had the mind and awareness to stay on the side, allowing for him to return his attention to the twins. ¡°After we examined you, Ash, back in Veli Manor, we discovered that your meiyal core has a unique center. Something that could only be found in faunels. And since you two are twins, I can only assume Smyl is the same.¡± ¡°Does that have anything to do with her Void Sleep?¡± Smyl asked. ¡°Or my kidnapping?¡± Frein shrugged. He could feel the Sky Knight was trying to maneuver any implications away from him. It only made him stand out more. ¡°How often are you in the Nightmare Lands, Ash?¡± ¡°Never been,¡± she replied. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ashtine nodded. ¡°Do you have any blank spots in your memory? Try to recall what happened a day or two before Smyl disappeared.¡± This time, the female Sky Knight thought hard. Her expressions became more and more concerned as she came to a realization. ¡°I can¡¯t remember anything.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re having a similar, yet different, case as your twin. The difference is, nobody kidnapped you.¡± Ashtine clutched her head with both hands. ¡°This is frustrating. I can¡¯t remember some things. I know I should know about them, but I can¡¯t recall the details, or they¡¯re different or foreign to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Scuti suppressed her guess. Time¡¯s Eye. Frein quickly dismissed the Monarch having to do with Ashtine¡¯s situation. He had studied Denis¡¯ meiyal system. He was no longer capable of using that Blessing. In fact, he was no longer able to emphasize even the simplest Meiyal Art. His Drawing was limited to a subdued Siffera and other basic Arts. It was the reason he studied Meiyal Weaving. Frein, however, didn¡¯t like this line of thought. The conclusion following this assumption wasn¡¯t simple. He straightened up and began to leave, signaling for Scuti to get out of the door first. ¡°Sorry. I shouldn¡¯t stress you guys out more than you already are. We¡¯ll leave for now. I think the half-faunel situation or your memory losses are big leads, but we should let you two rest first. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow after Kristel¡¯s birthday party.¡± The two perked up, but he shot them both down. ¡°Rest. Kristel¡¯s going to scold all of us if you don¡¯t.¡± As soon as they left, Frein headed for the courtyard where Kristel was supposed to be training. Scuti was right behind him. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we have brought Katherine?¡± she asked. ¡°No need. None of them were lying except for when I pointed out that they¡¯re both half-faunels.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Smyl knows about it, but he kept it a secret from Ash.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°The next time you lie, I¡¯ll point it out for you.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it? Smyl¡¯s our suspect? Is he a spy or an agent from the Nightmare, or something like that?¡± Scuti whispered. No one was around them, and Frein had been closely monitoring their surroundings. ¡°Could he be from the Cult of the Fallen Dragon?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Frein replied, still walking at a brisk pace. ¡°It¡¯s difficult not to do assumptions, I know, but once you start speculating, you view evidence in a biased way. Smyl knowing that he¡¯s a half-faunel might have nothing to do with the Nightmare Incursion, or it might be the key to everything. This world is still too foreign to me, and I have much to learn. But leaning towards one conclusion isn¡¯t a good thing in general if you want to find out the truth.¡± ¡°So what do we do then?¡± ¡°Keep investigating.¡± ¡°But you left.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Jo¡¯war said so. And because if I keep it up, it¡¯ll be too suspicious, assuming Smyl is really involved with the enemy. We have to make sure and act as if we¡¯re confused.¡± They finally reached the courtyard and saw Kristel concentrating as much as she could. Katherine was there with her meiyal core Opened. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Frein asked, putting all he had learned today into his Mind Palace. Canvases were so hard at work that it stirred Elizzel awake. The faunel started reviewing what she missed through their Tether. ¡°I¡¯m Nightmaring her,¡± Katherine said, mimicking quotation marks in the air. ¡°Void Control Technique, Lost In The Darkness. I enveloped Kristel in a small fog of Nightmare that¡¯s a little stronger than the one we encountered in Minaveil Province. Her goal is to break through and dispel it however she can.¡± ¡°That sounds like a theme song.¡± Frein shook his head. ¡°In any case, let me relay what we¡¯ve learned. Is she alright?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can hear you,¡± the First Princess said. ¡°Let me finish this first.¡± It took Kristel roughly thirty minutes before she managed to push through Katherine¡¯s Void Control Technique. The secret was in the Milling. She Gathered the surrounding Nightmare and Milled it, filtering the influence out of the meiyal. Without meiyal to hold on, the Nightmare Influence dispersed. Easier said than done, but with the First Princess¡¯s Destiny tied to Brymeia through Evanclad¡¯s Mind Palace, she managed to do it. ¡°So,¡± Kristel began. ¡°Are the twins alright?¡± Frein and Scuti looked at each other before they started telling what they¡¯d learned.
The Entity stirred due to a great disturbance. Ashtine looked inward into her Mind Palace. Unlike some particularly gifted practitioners, someone of this Sky Knight¡¯s level couldn¡¯t easily manifest themselves within their Dream Realm. It ignored her completely. Instead, it was more concerned with Ashtine¡¯s shattered and modified memories. True, it was Time¡¯s Eye, like the Visitor had guessed. And he was also correct in assuming that it wasn¡¯t Monarch Denis that did it. For mortals, he might be quite hard to read, but he couldn¡¯t hide from someone of the Entity¡¯s caliber. Additionally, unlike Frein, the Entity had direct access to Ashtine¡¯s memories. And as confusing as they were, they all presented something quite clear. The Entity smiled as the last piece showed the exact same pattern. ¡°Tryvinal Bree, huh,¡± it said. ¡°So how did someone with Monarch¡¯s Law manage to possess Time¡¯s Eye as well?¡± The Entity smiled not because the discovery was interesting, but because it was impossible in the first place. ¡°Unless, of course, the Blessing did not come from Brymeia.¡± Chapter 175: Little Monster Little Monster ¡±People didn¡¯t really recognize her real talent, but Frein¡¯s eyes were more keen than anyone else¡¯s.¡± ~Kristel Irista Scuti thought that running two laps around the cloudbark surrounding the High Palace would impress her new mentor. But not only was she struggling to get halfway through her second lap, Frein wasn¡¯t even looking at her. He was somewhere within the cloudbark, but had left to Mill alone after leaving her and Georgery some instructions. It didn¡¯t matter how fast she ran or whether she emphasized her Siffera or not¡ªshe couldn¡¯t comprehend that weird part of the Meiyal Art that he was so adamant that she explored. The important part was for her to keep Gathering and Milling while running. ¡°You¡¯re very close Princess Scuti, very close indeed!¡± Georgery urged her on. He wasn¡¯t actually accurate, but it was the encouragement that counted. ¡°Once you finish your second lap, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll acknowledge your hard work.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not¡­¡± she said before completely stopping as she ran out of breath. Her feet refused to move an inch more, and it was taking all of her arms¡¯ strength to keep her from plopping on the cloud. After a few ragged breaths, she tried again. ¡°He¡¯s not even looking at me.¡± ¡°Oh, and I was asked to remind you to keep Gathering and Milling,¡± Georgery said, ignoring her. ¡°Whether you¡¯re taking a break, or running, or falling off the cloudbark, please keep Milling. Quite the strict mentor, indeed.¡± At the very least, that part wasn¡¯t difficult. She was using the standard Mixed Milling Form, rather than the Perpetual-Layered version. The idea was for her to get used to both Gathering and Milling while doing other things, instead of spending time meditating. Frein had promised to help her with the harder part once she broke the old habit. While she could do this process with ease, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like she was cheating. After a few seconds of investing more Milled meiyal into her Siffera, she was able to carry on running. If it had been a formal duel, or a competition, people would be frowning at her. They don¡¯t know how much more powerful they could be, if only they dropped this stupid tradition. Frein¡¯s words radiated inside her mind. With that promise in mind, she resumed her lap around the cloudbark. Run, she did. All the while, she felt humbled. Despite the pain in her chest, and how much her legs wanted to give up, she was still standing on the cloudbark. It was proof that she wasn¡¯t all spent yet. That which she thought was everything she could give was just her mind playing tricks on her. She pushed. At that moment, Georgery stopped his encouragements and simply kept pace with her, providing her ample space to concentrate. His smile was confident and proud. Scuti found her stride. The realization came as the pain subsided. Here, there was nothing else but running. There was only genuine joy. As if her entire life, she had been caged and this was the first time she had ever broken free. The discovery was as profound as it was fulfilling. She could run for ages. When the last bit of her meiyal finally burned and Art fatigue embraced her, she was still smiling and gasping with joy. Georgery caught her before she even slipped off the cloudbark. ¡°Four laps, Princess Scuti. That was twice your goal. Impressive, truly impressive, indeed.¡± It was nothing compared to what Frein had done yesterday. But truth be told, she didn¡¯t expect to reach this far. She wanted to keep going, and the excitement clashed with her strained body. Tomorrow. Again. No, maybe tonight, after the party. The Cloudbark Worm brought her to the highest point of the cloudbark, where Frein sat in meditation. There, they waited while keeping a good distance away. Without even the use of an observation Meiyal Art, Scuti could see the surrounding meiyal disappearing and reappearing around the Visitor. Other Cloudbark Worms were observing him from afar, keeping him isolated but enclosed in case something happened. He didn¡¯t seem to care or mind. ¡°Observe, Princess Scuti,¡± Georgery began. ¡°This is what it takes to Mill decimeiyal.¡± ¡°Decimeiyal¡­¡± she repeated. Ten meiyal resources Milled through Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. ¡°He can¡¯t Mill them all.¡± ¡°Correct. The Visitor is still struggling. The meiyal you see appearing from him is not simply dispersion caused by Gathering too much. It¡¯s combined with the other meiyal resources he produced from inside his Exhibit, including his own. Which is why we must stay away until he is done, why he has to Mill in isolation, and the actual reason why practitioners must Mill while meditating. Such a wonder to observe from afar, indeed.¡± ¡°What happens if we get closer?¡± Scuti asked, still busy regulating her breathing. The smoke about her wasn¡¯t as extreme as Frein had displayed yesterday. She had the mind not to push herself beyond Art fatigue. While she recognized now what Frein had been trying to achieve yesterday, she wasn¡¯t as crazy as him. She didn¡¯t possess the absurd amount of meiyal-charged materials that he did in the first place, and today was supposed to be one of the busiest days ever. ¡°If we reach closer, we¡¯ll subject ourselves under his influence, much like entering the Nightmare Lands. I suppose he will not be hostile to us, but whether he could control it or not is something we should determine beforehand, not while it¡¯s currently happening.¡± The Visitor Gathered with the intensity of a vacuum, leaving a pocket devoid of meiyal that reached right in front of Scuti. She instinctively reached out to feel the emptiness, which was weird for her to notice given that she couldn¡¯t Draw.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Greedy,¡± Georgery said. ¡°Incredibly greedy, indeed.¡± Space bent around Frein as he breathed out, as if reality was having a hard time accepting his existence. He opened his eyes and turned around. ¡°Good work on doing four laps, Scuti,¡± he said as he walked down the cloudbark. He was still Milling. ¡°I was expecting three at most, to be honest.¡± ¡°You said I should do only one,¡± she replied, trying to stand her ground. For some reason, the Visitor¡¯s approach felt intimidating. He shrugged. ¡°True, but when you didn¡¯t stop running, I assumed you wanted to make an impression. I noticed you stopped Milling around the second lap, but for a first run, I think you did well beyond expectations. I genuinely hope you¡¯ll keep this up.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting just running lessons today, teacher,¡± Scuti said, expressing her fabricated dissatisfaction through sarcasm. In truth, Frein¡¯s words made her too excited to acknowledge the praise properly. ¡°But you¡¯re already all spent,¡± Frein pointed out. ¡°And you have a lot of things to prepare for, you said.¡± She nodded. ¡°Well, true. But I expect more next time!¡± ¡°Next time, you¡¯re doing five laps. If you¡¯re not Art fatigued by then, I¡¯ll teach you something.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± ¡°Do you need a lift, Visitor?¡± Georgery asked, sensing the end of their training session. ¡°Can you send Scuti over first, then come back for me? I need to check on something for a bit.¡± The King Cloudbark Worm nodded. ¡°As you are, then.¡± Scuti didn¡¯t argue. She had a schedule to keep. But she couldn¡¯t help notice the Visitor staring suspiciously towards the east. When she followed his gaze, however, she only saw clouds and nothing else. ¡°Do not mind what you can¡¯t see, Princess Scuti,¡± Georgery whispered. ¡°The Visitor is here for a reason, and you have your own role to play.¡±
Scary. Frein was truly terrified of the innate, untapped talent hiding within the Second Princess. People had claimed Frill, Kristel, Katherine and even himself as geniuses of Meiyal Arts. One way or another, the four of them were the current strongest in Irista Nation. And no one could surpass their level. Well, they haven¡¯t seen Scuti. More than once, Frein had to pause Milling his decimeiyal and check on the Second Princess. For someone so young, she was limitless. It didn¡¯t take her much to push herself beyond her capabilities. ¡°She¡¯s a monster,¡± he mumbled to himself. ¡°Just imagine if she had an actual goal in mind.¡± ¡°Is that really a compliment?¡± Elizzel asked, manifesting beside him now that they were alone. ¡°Also, catching up to her sister isn¡¯t enough of a motivation?¡± ¡°You sure you don¡¯t mind the Cloudbark Worms finding out about you?¡± She shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re protectors, not rumor mills.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°What about that catching up thing?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good motivator for sure,¡± Frein said, looking towards the east. ¡°But more often than not, true strength and power appears when you¡¯re doing it for someone else, not because of someone else.¡± ¡°Is that why you agreed to teach her? To help her realize that?¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°I suppose. She has a genuine enthusiasm to learn, she¡¯s patient, she knows how to not be annoying, and despite craving for instruction, she doesn¡¯t really depend on it.¡± Elizzel lifted a finger. ¡°Some of those are personal preferences rather than objective assessment.¡± ¡°I have to agree to be the mentor. Of course I should consider my preferences.¡± It was the faunel¡¯s turn to shrug. ¡°Good point.¡± ¡°You know, thinking about it, you¡¯re her mentor as well. You should give her some pointers next time.¡± ¡°Sure, but don¡¯t think you can just throw this responsibility over to me. We¡¯re one, but just like you said, you chose to be her mentor.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t planning to¡­¡± Frein clicked his tongue as he walked on the cloudbark, heading to the eastern edge. He sat and kept staring. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong over there,¡± Elizzel commented, observing while she benefited from their six-meiyal Siffera. ¡°I really want to check it out, but I can¡¯t leave.¡± Frein couldn¡¯t really pinpoint it, but something about the sky was weird. It was right above Eastrise, unmoving over the past few days. For most people, they wouldn¡¯t even notice it, but those clouds were looking straight back at him as if they had thousands of eyes. ¡°The Letterman said there would be three, right?¡± he asked. ¡°But Nightmare Incursions don¡¯t act like this,¡± Elizzel said, shutting down his implications. ¡°They¡¯re sudden. Unannounced. This is different.¡± ¡°But what if they were only caught by surprise because they didn¡¯t have the same awareness as we do now?¡± The faunel opened her mouth to respond, but she quickly pulled back. She couldn¡¯t disagree, but she couldn¡¯t agree either. ¡°I think we should let them know.¡± ¡°Let them know what now?¡± Katherine said, emerging from underneath the cloudbark using her Rivasia. ¡°George said I¡®d find you here.¡± Frein pointed east with his lips. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel anything from Eastrise?¡± The Lady of the Void climbed the cloudbark and sat beside Elizzel, sandwiching her with Frein. She concentrated for a while before ultimately shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯ve been observing that place for a while now,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s a sinister feeling, Kat. Like those clouds are just looking at me, waiting for me to get close. Inviting me. But I¡¯m stuck here in the High Palace for three more days.¡± ¡°You think we can find a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core over there?¡± Frein¡¯s eyes widened. He almost forgot about that. ¡°Could that be it?¡± ¡°What? Did I get it wrong?¡± ¡°We were assuming it¡¯s something related to the Nightmare Incursion instead,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah, we know,¡± Frein interrupted. ¡°But since I¡¯m the only one who could feel it, I assumed people were caught by surprise back then because they didn¡¯t have the same awareness as I do.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel it, though,¡± Katherine said. ¡°So maybe your guess is more accurate.¡± He considered it as an actual possibility. Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s meiyal was sinister in nature in the first place. ¡°But I¡¯m not fully convinced. I still think it might be the early signs of a Nightmare Incursion that no one¡¯s discovered until now.¡± ¡°Then we should let the right people know.¡± She looked at him with concerned eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on going, right? If you want to sneak away, don¡¯t leave me and Eli behind. We¡¯ll come with you.¡± ¡°I keep my promises, Kat. I don¡¯t want to make anyone cry.¡± ¡°Too late for that, but I¡¯ll take it. I¡¯ll ask Kento or Verdim to check their communications on Eastrise, and if that¡¯s clean, I¡¯ll ask for someone to make an ocular inspection on the clouds.¡± Katherine pushed herself to stand. ¡°That should take roughly a day or two, if we send a small group.¡± Frein nodded silently and brought himself up as well. His Siffera-enhanced awareness told him of Georgery¡¯s approach. ¡°Come on,¡± Katherine urged him. ¡°You should enjoy the party since you¡¯re here. You wouldn¡¯t want to miss Kristel in a formal gown.¡± He frowned at that. ¡°You make it sound like I¡¯m looking forward to it. I don¡¯t have eyes for anyone but you, you know.¡± Elizzel deliberately coughed. ¡°You and Eli now.¡± ¡°Not like that, silly.¡± Katherine smiled and started to float. Behind her was Georgery¡¯s looming, creepy smile. ¡°Kristel looks really cute in a long gown.¡± The Cloudbark Worm¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Indeed. But she¡¯s embarrassingly awkward with it.¡± Frein pointed a finger. ¡°I¡¯ll take that bet.¡± ¡°What?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet that the First Princess will take her gown in stride with pride and confidence.¡± The Lady pondered to herself. ¡°Considering the things that happened lately, you might have a point.¡± As Frein hopped on Georgery¡¯s head while Elizzel returned inside his Mind Palace, he was reminded of something quite important. ¡°By the way, George,¡± he began. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°No matter what happens today, make sure you don¡¯t let Scuti go back to sprinting. She¡¯ll probably chase that high, but she¡¯d abuse her body for it. She needs to rest and see how her body reacts tomorrow.¡± Georgery¡¯s growling laughter sent waves in the air. ¡°And here I was thinking that she had found herself a strict mentor.¡± ¡°I am. If I see her running tonight, she¡¯ll get a scolding. You and her both.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll do my best to keep her from exerting herself.¡± Chapter 176: Anointment Anointment ¡±One thing I¡¯ve observed is that Katherine goes out of control at the most ridiculous of moments.¡± ~Elizzel, Faunel of Freedom and Consequences Kristel clicked her tongue. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to wear this.¡± She was staring at a headless mannequin, currently wearing a gown with a long skirt that was approximately twice her height. The sleeves were riddled with frills and patterns that flowed elegantly, but got in the way of movement. Not to mention the cape that came with it, along with the layers that gave even more volume to the dress. Unwieldy could only begin to describe the entire¡­ apparel. ¡°How so?¡± Monarch Denis asked. ¡°During your mother¡¯s time, she wore something similar to this almost every other night.¡± ¡°Poor mom,¡± Kristel and Scuti said at the same time. The Second Princess had recently arrived, grimacing at her own proposed clothes. They weren¡¯t as drastically embellished as the monarch¡¯s gown, but her exasperated face was too twisted for someone who was only suffering from Art fatigue. ¡°What did you do all morning?¡± Monarch Denis asked, noticing the slight smoke coming from her back. ¡°Lessons with the Visitor,¡± she answered. ¡°He made me run around the cloudbark while Milling and Gathering.¡± ¡°Until Art fatigue?¡± Kristel asked this time. ¡°That was my choice.¡± Scuti examined her gown closely, shaking her head all the while. ¡°Can¡¯t we get something less bulky?¡± ¡°I can propose some alternatives,¡± Frill said. Her voice was salvation delivered from the door she stood near. ¡°I do not mean to overstep, Monarch Denis. But I believe we must cater this occasion to the celebrant first and foremost.¡± The Monarch rubbed his chin in contemplation. ¡°I dare not question your expertise in fashion, Frill. Frankly, you set the trend all the time. My only request is that you keep the regality of their attire. Not a jab at your idol fashion, mind you.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Frill bowed and reached into her Spatiera. From within, she produced a small flower. It was surrounded by pure meiyal, providing a crystalline effect that obscured most of its features. ¡°I designed this battle gear using my Quiet Loom. I made it in such a way that it can be integrated rather than used as a medium for Meiyal Arts.¡± ¡°Integration?¡± Monarch Denis inquired. ¡°You can make meiyal-charged materials now?¡± Frill was quick to deny. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m capable of doing something like that without becoming a Deitar. But since the base of my design is this Drop Oasis, which is already meiyal-charged, I discovered that I could incorporate its properties instead of limiting its potential with my designs.¡± ¡°Discovered, you mean¡­?¡± Kristel asked this time, letting her implication do the talking. Frill followed along easily. ¡°Yes, Katherine provided two Drop Oases, and I used the first one as an experiment. Xiv monitored my integration.¡± ¡°Can we see the design, then?¡± Denis asked. ¡°Of course, but I should make clear that the gear I did for myself is simple compared to what I made for Kristel.¡± ¡°But the basis is the same, right?¡± Scuti asked. Frill nodded. ¡°I¡¯m curious, too,¡± Kristel said, noticing Xiv¡¯s proud smile from behind the Aria. ¡°Now, I¡¯m really curious.¡± The First Princess observed as Frill began to Draw. She noticed the significant difference of invested Milled meiyal compared to the other battle gears that she knew. It was tripled. Even more than just tripled, actually. The Aria was investing four-meiyal. Not that Kristel¡¯s observation Meiyal Art had determined it for her, but her experience with the near countless instances of Frein using numerous meiyal resources whenever he Drew his Arts made her sure of it. I¡¯m still lacking in this aspect, she admitted. Bonding her Destiny with Brymeia¡¯s created a tremendous increase in both her power and confidence to the point that she almost felt like a different person. But she couldn¡¯t pursue the next step without meiyal-charged materials. Without the world¡¯s help. I need to find my own materials. ¡°Delolera,¡± Frill invoked. It caught everyone¡¯s attention. Much like an echo Meiyal Art or an observation Meiyal Art, a Drawn battle gear didn¡¯t possess an Art name. Meiyal surrounded the Aria. It took the form of a knight¡¯s breastplate, creating a distinct feel of metal, cloth, and leather combinations. Cloth made out of her Milled meiyal floated above her shoulders and elbows to resemble her trademark fish motif. Her skirt was opened, acting more like a hip scarf than a complete skirt. Instead, tights with flowing wave patterns wrapped her legs, while the hip scarf flowed like a full, curtain tail that covered her back from the waist down to the ankles. As if to emphasize this part, a ribbon of crimson meiyal accompanied the scarf. Her greaves matched the metal theme of her breastplate, as well as her gauntlets, completing the feel of a knight¡¯s armor. The general color scheme of her battle gear was red and black. Kristel knew right away it was to pay homage to Liona, who had been supposed to get her own gear as well. ¡°Where¡¯s the floral part?¡± Scuti asked. ¡°It appears when I Display my Exhibit,¡± Frill explained while she demonstrated. The Aria¡¯s Exhibit bloomed a circle behind her while her armor manifested layers to mimic the petals of a flower, rather than creating actual floral shapes or patterns. Shoulder plates materialized and connected with her gauntlets while her greaves extended the armor to protect her lower extremities. Frill¡¯s hip skirt bloomed as well, with the meiyal strand separating in four distinct parts. The flowing cloth on her shoulders and elbows extended to match the overall transformation. Kristel found herself speechless. This form of Frill¡¯s battle gear easily rivaled the Forged Armors of Vyndival. And Xiv¡¯s admiration, well beyond his fondness for the person and more from his fascination towards the brilliant design, was all the proof that anybody needed. ¡°And mine¡¯s supposed to be more extravagant than this?¡± she asked, feeling the armor with her hands. Meiyal thrummed around the gear as soon as it made contact with foreign Siffera. Kristel felt like her hand would fly off if she were to lose focus even for an instant. ¡°Yours have less of the floral aspect and more of the golden and white colors of the High Palace. I also made it a point to make your skirt be part of the design rather than serving an actual function.¡± Frill produced the Drop Oasis once again, showing it to the Princess first before presenting it to the Monarch. ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ve no intention of wearing this today. I¡¯m joining the maids, and Xiv will join the butlers, as per the original plan.¡± Kristel understood. It was a bit of a shame, but they had their jobs to do. She turned to her father. ¡°Any thoughts, Father?¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He nodded once. ¡°Magnificent. But this will require you to integrate, yes?¡± ¡°I cleared it of any malicious Nightmare Influence,¡± Frill reassured. ¡°Katherine helped me out.¡± Monarch Denis turned to his first daughter. ¡°Then, this is all up to you, Kristel.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll integrate with it,¡± she said without any hesitation. ¡°Wait!¡± Scuti interrupted in such a way that Kristel had to restrain herself from going into combat mode. The Second Princess was looking at Frill with a desperate face. ¡°What about my clothes?¡±
¡°Well. I guess we¡¯re both wrong,¡± Frein said. He and Katherine were on a balcony of the newly repaired hearing hall, observing the grandiose gathering for Kristel¡¯s anointing. The impression he had had regarding this place¡¯s restoration had quickly become an afterthought. People of different races and species entered the hall, dressed to impress and challenge the monarchy to wear the best they could. Gowns, suits, floating ornaments, mystical add-ons; they were all there. Frein suddenly felt a little bare. All he had for a celebration like this was a gray blazer jacket on top of his most pristine, plain, black shirt. He didn¡¯t have the jeans to match the outer garment, but he tried to carry his outfit with as much confidence as he could. ¡°Yeah,¡± Katherine agreed. Her arms crossed while leaning on his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s a battle gear.¡± She, on the other hand, was dressed extravagantly just like everyone else in the room. She wore a black, strapless, off-the-shoulder gown layered with silvery white lines, and her prismatic Milled meiyal to impress as much emphasis in her full skirt that had a large tail end to the side as possible. It was as suggestive and confident as a person of her status could be without stealing the spotlight. Frein was receiving all the signals from her as plainly as if she was whispering next to his ear. Even Elizzel from within his Mind Palace couldn¡¯t escape the Lady¡¯s suggestive looks. Seems like we won¡¯t be sleeping tonight. ¡°If you keep staring at me like that, I might just pull down my clothes,¡± Katherine whispered this time around. ¡°Look, Kat. I love you, but you don¡¯t have to do things like this to impress me, alright?¡± She lightly tapped his face. ¡°It¡¯s not always about you, pretty boy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying you like this sort of thing?¡± Katherine simply smiled. Frein received the assignment without another word. ¡°Fine. After the ceremony, then.¡± The Lady of the Void leaned closer to his ears. Her lips pressed lightly on his earlobes. ¡°Thank you.¡± His hand failed to accept any of his desperate commands to stop and quickly moved to pull Katherine by her waist. Flashes of inappropriate exhibitionism crossed his thoughts, and Elizzel joined them willingly. It took all of his self-restraint to stop himself, to the point that his stoic fa?ade lost all composure. The Lady enjoyed his struggle, but she was also fighting hard to keep herself in check. ¡°You started this,¡± he said, as he placed Katherine in front of him, putting her against the ledge. The crowd surrounding them provided such risky cover, heightened all the more by the fact that they were all looking at the Princess at the stage of the hearing hall. Katherine read what he was thinking and relaxed, leaning her butt against his groin. She aimed perfectly and snuggly, and the comfort of her soft flesh made him harder. Frein acted quickly. He surrounded Katherine with both arms and held the ledge of the balcony, making sure that she was properly covered on all sides. He could only hope that their outward appearance portrayed a sweet couple cuddling together at this esteemed celebration. And while that was still considered inappropriate, it was far more acceptable than whatever else was going on in their minds right now. Distracted as he was, he still focused on getting everyone¡¯s libido under control. ¡°I said, after the ceremony, Kat.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Katherine fully leaned on him comfortably. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s stay like this for now. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t move if you don¡¯t.¡± Relieved, Frein sighed and turned his attention back to the actual reason they were here. Advisor Kento was giving a speech, something about the explanation regarding the Monarch¡¯s challenge and why Tryvinal was no longer qualified to join. Just from a quick scan of the people around, most of which were¡ªFrein assumed¡ªimportant people, they looked relieved rather than confused. A good sign. He simply absorbed the gist of the speech. He was already too distracted with Katherine, but he couldn¡¯t take his attention away from Kristel¡¯s outfit as well. ¡°And I thought you didn¡¯t have eyes except for Katherine and me?¡± Elizzel said, a hint of breathlessness in her voice. ¡°It¡¯s just specifically the outfit,¡± Frein said, trying to convince the faunel. ¡°And calm down. Why is everyone suddenly in heat right now?¡± Frein shook his head and compared Kristel¡¯s battle gear to that of the Royal Knights and Guard Knights that were currently present in the newly repaired hearing hall. They were evidently far apart in comparison to the design. Even the Sky Knights, led by Ashtine and Smyl, in their more elegant armors, barely touched the grace of Kristel¡¯s royal garments. A sudden lull hovered in the air as everyone became quiet to provide Monarch Denis the silence for his formal announcement. He stood from his throne and gestured for his daughter to accompany her. ¡°This year marks the end of my reign. While I wish to serve all of you for far longer, it is apparent that my illness will not allow me that honor. Twenty-seven years feels painfully short, and I regret that they were not enough to prove myself a worthy leader. ¡°And so, I trust my next of kin, Kristel Irista, to bear the Crown and continue the Iristan legacy. I pray all of you will be patient with her as she learns the path of true leadership. Let it be known, that when the calendar turns for the new year, it will be the beginning of the prosperous reign of Monarch Kristel Irista.¡± Applause filled the crowd. No cheers, no whistles. All seemed too normal for a declaration of a new era, as far as Frein was concerned. ¡°They¡¯re waiting for her speech,¡± Katherine said, reading his mind without even bothering to look. As she had predicted, Kristel took the center stage while Monarch Denis returned to his throne. Silence filled the hall once more. Frein found himself leaning closer, and Katherine doing the same. Neither of them cared how their bodies currently intermingled with each other. The naughty thoughts and signals were gone, for now, replaced by the anticipation of the First Princess¡¯s anointment speech. He saw Kristel take a deep breath, her eyes looking around while she waited for the silence to take place. Then when she found them, she smiled. At that moment, Frein and Katherine were in sync and smiled and waved back at her, hoping that it would give her courage. Of course, the ledge was enough to hide whatever else they were doing in the middle of the ceremony. At the same time, however, something felt different with that smile. There was something off-putting, something unsure. The synchronization between Frein and Katherine prolonged, as they realized together what Kristel had prepared for today. ¡°She¡¯s going to tell them about the Incursion.¡± The new Monarch began to speak.
My friends, citizens of Irista Nation, I hereby accept this charge: to be your leader, your protector, your guardian. Under my rule, your safety will be my utmost priority, while my council will help me make sure our lands remain prosperous for all. Under my rule, life will be encouraged to grow. I am sure, all of you are aware of the dangers lurking outside our territories. The Nightmare and its hideous Influence. We will not let it take our lands. We will push back! And we will succeed! If there is one thing I can promise you all today as your new Monarch. It is this: before my rule ends, we will free Brymeia of the Nightmare, and restore our world to the glory it once had. Our charge is to protect the entire world, not just our own country. Engrave this onto your hearts, my friends, citizens of Irista Nation. This is our world, and we must save it. I know, this is too much to ask. You all expected a grandiose speech of a new monarch who will cater to all of your agendas and plans for the future. But I implore you all to unite now, abandon your short-term desires and think of your children¡¯s children. The Nightmare is closing in on us. If we do not fight back, if we let this chance slip away, there will be nothing left for our future. I will not let the Nightmare consume us. I will fight, even if I have to do it alone. But I¡¯m confident that you all will join me in this endeavor.
Frein felt a surge of meiyal as Kristel Displayed her Exhibit. Her armor transformed, providing her with meiyal strands that acted like wings. She looked like a floral paladin, a templar, or whatever other kind of knight of light and glory that Frein had in mind. The amount of power coming from her battle gear was enough to make everyone gasp in awe, filling the hall once again with applause. Cheers and whistles accompanied them this time. The next moment, Kristel removed her Exhibit. She glanced towards their way again and gave a quick sign of apology. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be like this,¡± Frein admitted. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s better than what we thought.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Katherine said. ¡°And it looks like she won the crowd.¡± Frein observed said crowd. He found it difficult to believe that people would simply accept a speech coming from a new leader, telling them to fight for her. But he was quickly proven wrong. Excitement was in the air. And then it clicked for him. These were people who had suffered from the Nightmare Lands one way or another. They all had motivations to help them fight against it. And now they had found themselves a leader prolific enough to take charge, and one strong beyond their imagination. Frein couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Frein,¡± Katherine whispered. She was squirming a little. ¡°They¡¯ll be busy for a while with the party. I can¡¯t hold it much longer.¡± He didn¡¯t take any chances. He pulled her by the hand and slipped away from the gathering to find someplace open but isolated. The moment they turned the corner however, Katherine pushed him inside what seemed to be a powder room. She locked it while Elizzel manifested out of his Mind Palace. The two ladies were hungry, and he was more than happy to provide. Chapter 177: Love Talk Love Talk The green rays of the morning sun signified both anxiety and profound wonder for Kristel. Wonder because the idea of her becoming the next Monarch was starting to sink in. Anxiety because there were only two more days before the end of the week promised by the Letterman. The courtyard behind the High Palace, where she finished her morning exercises, was unusually empty. Scuti should¡¯ve been here, grunting all over the place while swinging her Eternera. But instead, she found a half asleep faunel hiding in a corner of the hedge maze before the empty practice ring. Elizzel noticed her and beckoned her over for some morning tea. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you away from Frein,¡± Kristel noted as she took a seat. ¡°You two had a fight?¡± ¡°No. He¡¯s busy. Mornings aren¡¯t my thing.¡± ¡°What were you guys doing last night?¡± the Princess¡ªas she still considered herself as, for the title of Monarch still belonged to her father until the end of the year¡ªasked. ¡°I didn¡¯t see either three of you for about an hour after my anointing. Then you vanished after mingling for a while.¡± Elizzel stiffened. ¡°I asked you for tea so I can personally congratulate you, future Monarch. Not get interrogated.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a simple question.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the next monarch of this nation, Kristel. And you¡¯re tied with Brymeia and Evanclad¡¯s Destinies. As a faunel, it is in my nature to support and follow you when I can. But private matters¡ª¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kristel pieced the subtle clues and the constant dodging together as easily as a baby would fit shapes in their correct pockets. ¡°You guys were having sex during my birthday?¡± The faunel spilled tea from her mouth with a hacking fit. She ignored it and went low to the ground. The figure of the Second Monarch¡¯s twin sister, hair flowing to the cobblestone, and head bowing in complete submission, was both unnerving and awkward for Kristel. ¡°My sincerest apologies, Princess,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°Excitement played with our emotions and we could only revel in the way we knew how.¡± What¡¯s so good about it? Kristel ripped her thoughts away from the tempting pleasures of it before the indecency played with her head. Sure, there were nights where her thoughts got the better of her, but they were nowhere near this level of manic craze. Kristel waved away the apology and urged the faunel to her feet. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t bow while in her form, Eli.¡± She refilled their teacups and returned to her seat. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Katherine¡¯s become more and more out of control since she came back from Frein¡¯s world. I think the idea of him dying makes her more desperate to make use of any excuse to show their love for each other.¡± Kristel shook her head. ¡°What am I even saying?¡± ¡°Seems to me like you¡¯ve dabbled a bit about love, Princess,¡± Elizzel said with a smile while she cleaned the spilled tea. ¡°Ever had a crush? A boyfriend?¡± ¡°A crush,¡± Kristel replied, surprised at how easy it was for her to admit. She felt the sudden rise of heat behind her neck and was quick to douse it with her words. ¡°Venry.¡± Elizzel¡¯s wide expression telegraphed the desire to know more, but Kristel was far too quick to change the subject. ¡°Forget about that,¡± she said. ¡°You said you wanted to congratulate me?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t yesterday,¡± the faunel said, understanding the Princess¡¯s desire to move away from the mushy topic. Her eyes, however, said clearly that she wouldn¡¯t forget it. Kristel could only hope that Frein wouldn¡¯t find out about it, but that reality was next to impossible. ¡°With what you three were doing yesterday, no wonder.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t because of that, Princess. I couldn¡¯t exactly manifest with so many people around.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kristel tapped her forehead. ¡°Right, right. You¡¯re excused, then.¡± Elizzel got up from her seat and went down on one knee, placing a hand in front of her chest where Kristel¡¯s meiyal core was located. ¡°As the Faunel of Freedom and Consequences, I have two important duties. First is to support the Visitor in any way I can. Second is to provide you assistance whenever possible.¡± ¡°Frein¡¯s a priority over me?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°While he¡¯s here, correct.¡± Elizzel rose to her feet and returned to her seat. ¡°It¡¯s an agreement I¡¯ve made with Evanclad when he initiated the Visitor Project. I used to occasionally come here as a Floating Dream, inquiring reports from Georgery and his kin. I don¡¯t often reveal myself to the Monarchs, however.¡± ¡°Then you go to the Visitor when they arrive?¡± Elizzel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember. Despite how much I suffered for it, meeting Frein during the Battle of the Vanguard was purely coincidental. Well¡­ that¡¯s what I thought at first.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± At this point, Kristel realized she hadn¡¯t had a sincere interaction with Elizzel before this point. It was just the two of them, sharing stories¡ªmostly the faunel¡ªwhile drinking tea. Elizzel shrugged. ¡°The intervention of the Letterman convinced me and Frein that everything so far had been orchestrated by him.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that bother you?¡± the Princess, soon Monarch, asked. ¡°It¡¯s like, no matter what you do, he¡¯s seen through your possible actions and has accounted for them. Especially that letter with Father.¡± ¡°True, it¡¯s a little infuriating. But if you think about it, it¡¯s a display of absolute trust.¡± The faunel pointed her teacup towards the Princess. ¡°None of his letters told any of us that we made the wrong decision, that we should do this instead of that. They were all proclamations and preparations for what¡¯s to come.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you trying to say?¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Elizzel slowly returned her cup on the table, placing it on the saucer with as much care as her desire to emphasize this profound revelation. ¡°This is something Frein and I have been sorting through in his Mind Palace,¡± she began. ¡°I think, the Letterman is one of us. Or someone particularly close, or related for one reason or another.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s better if Frein provides you his arguments. He can deliver them better.¡± An awkward silence filled the air after that. They refilled their tea, but somehow, neither of them could come up with a conversational topic. Something came into Kristel¡¯s mind eventually, but she felt it was a little controversial or too personal. ¡°What is it?¡± Elizzel asked, reading the struggling expression on the Princess¡¯s face. With the question presented, Kristel took the opportunity. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask, do you have any other appearances aside from Evangeline?¡± ¡°The Forest Jaws,¡± Elizzel replied. ¡°And the Floating Dream, like I said. But changing appearances isn¡¯t in my forte. It would require a lot of meiyal.¡± ¡°What I meant to ask is other people, specifically.¡± ¡°Just Evangeline.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Another silence passed, but the faunel broke it this time. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± Kristel felt like she was getting interrogated. But with these probing questions providing her with openings to indulge in her curiosity, she felt compelled to address them truthfully. ¡°Did she ask you to eat her core so you can remember her?¡± Elizzel took a moment to answer. ¡°Yes.¡± After that, Kristel didn¡¯t bother holding herself back. ¡°What about the previous Visitors? Did they ask you to eat their cores?¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t have their appearances.¡± ¡°How are you sure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Elizzel frowned. She took a sip of her tea before she continued. ¡°No, you might be right. I¡¯ll have to explore what remains of my memories to make sure.¡± ¡°What about the Seekers?¡± ¡°Like Katherine? This is getting awfully too personal, but no as well.¡± ¡°Sorry. I was just curious.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Another probing question. And again, she responded to it truthfully. ¡°I¡¯ve discussed your Tether with Evanclad and Norazzel. And while we can¡¯t figure out much, we have a theory that you might possess their appearances.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Elizzel caught herself asking the same question over and over. ¡°Sorry, I got used to being Frein¡¯s soundboard.¡± Kristel wasn¡¯t bothered by it. ¡°It¡¯s just a hunch, but if Evangeline loved you enough that she¡¯d give you her core willingly, why wouldn¡¯t the other Visitors that you¡¯d Tethered with do that as well? Since, as per our initial understanding, Tethering makes you fall in love.¡± ¡°Last time we talked about this, you were skeptical about Evangeline¡¯s decision.¡± ¡°Last time, I didn¡¯t have Evanclad¡¯s entire Destiny and his personality with me. It¡¯s a lot of information, but I¡¯ve been trudging my way through it.¡± Kristel sighed and bowed sincerely. ¡°He told me about you and Evangeline. I apologize for how I acted last time. I disrespected your relationship with her.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t bow, Princess Kristel,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°I accept your apology.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The faunel continued their conversation. ¡°With this in mind, are you trying to say I didn¡¯t Tether with the previous Visitors? It¡¯s possible that I could¡¯ve missed some of them, but I surely would¡¯ve Tethered with those that I met.¡± ¡°No. What I¡¯m trying to say is that the Tether doesn¡¯t actually make you fall in love with them. It just makes you one and the same, and Frein is just coincidentally in love with Katherine.¡± Kristel observed the faunel fall into deep thought. She was frowning while sipping tea. Finally, she came to a conclusion. ¡°It means, the Tether makes me fall in love with Katherine which bounces back to Frein¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s the theory, yeah.¡± Suddenly, a certain doubt disappeared from Elizzel. The enlightenment made her realize that she might not have been enslaved by love, doomed to fall for every Visitor she Tethered with. Kristel could feel waves of that realization. She detected massive hints of relief, doubt replaced with reassurance. It was a strong reaction that even she couldn¡¯t avoid. Elizzel wasn¡¯t in love with Frein because of the Tether. She was in love with him because he was in love with Katherine. And the cycle of true, genuine affection wrapped around her. The faunel sighed with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Kristel. I didn¡¯t know I needed this information.¡± Kristel returned that relieved smile. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I wasn¡¯t exactly sure how you¡¯d respond to it.¡± ¡°I just have one question, Princess.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Why are you, Nora, and Evan, talking about me?¡± ¡°We all agreed that we should help you get your memories back.¡± Before she could continue on to explain, however, Frein, Katherine, and Scuti arrived. The Second Princess was smoking beyond Art fatigue, drenched with sweat, panting from exhaustion, and barely able to stand. Kristel quickly dispelled whatever inappropriate thoughts about what the couple could have possibly done to this innocent minor. She decided to even avoid joking about it. ¡°How many laps did you run this time?¡± she asked. ¡°Four¡ª¡± Scuti gasped. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it four yesterday?¡± It was understandable. Improvement couldn¡¯t be found everyday. It was impressive enough that the Second Princess had managed to maintain her current record. ¡°Fourteen,¡± Scuti said. Kristel did a double take instinctively, as though she couldn¡¯t recognize her sister. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Fourteen,¡± Katherine repeated for her. She administered Samesia while urging the poor princess to keep standing. ¡°Don¡¯t sit or lie down. The vertigo will kill you¡­ metaphorically. I told you not to push it. Unlike Frein, no one around here can provide you with meiyal resuscitation.¡± Kristel remembered the process. According to Doctor Jo¡¯war, such a resuscitation was an act of love, an unconditional sacrifice on the part of the provider to relieve the recipient. She had always wondered if it actually required the kind of affection Katherine and Frein shared. ¡°No,¡± Evanclad whispered from within her Mind Palace. ¡°It¡¯s a process that¡¯s inexplicably shared between family members. However, such an act would be embarrassing. Imagine either your father or mother giving you such an affectionate kiss.¡± Kristel shuddered at the imagery and replaced it with something less disturbing instead. She finished her tea, keeping some inside her mouth. Without preamble, she grabbed Scuti¡¯s face with both hands and pressed her lips against hers. The Second Princess¡¯s muffled protests and squirms slowly diminished as Kristel¡¯s meiyal, along with the tea, washed away her Art fatigue. It was an odd sensation. A melancholy feeling, as if part of her was going away. At the same time, there was catharsis, knowing that what she was giving away was helping someone she cared about. The action derived a form of response from her sister. Scuti reached out with her tongue, grasping for more meiyal. Kristel provided only for a few more seconds. Both of them desperately took in air as soon as they parted. Only then, did they realize they were among the sexually deranged trio. They ogled at them with keen interest. ¡°Did it work?¡± Frein asked. It was the first time she heard him today, she almost forgot he was around. Scuti wiped her mouth. She tried her best to hide her embarrassment. ¡°My fatigue¡¯s gone. I think it worked.¡± ¡°Did Evan ask you to do it?¡± Frein asked next. ¡°He just told me about it,¡± Kristel admitted. ¡°I thought it was worth a try.¡± ¡°So the affection required isn¡¯t lustful love, but familial love?¡± the Visitor pondered to himself. ¡°Is he okay?¡± Kristel asked Katherine. ¡°He didn¡¯t react how I thought he would¡­¡± ¡°Would you rather we tease you about it?¡± the Lady asked, smiling. ¡°That was sexual harassment, what you just did, you know? What if we told everyone the future Monarch¡¯s a minor molester?¡± ¡°I had it recorded in my M.O.B.I.L.E. and everything,¡± Frein added in a heartbeat. Somehow, Kristel felt relief. She turned to her sister. ¡°Sorry about that. I couldn¡¯t stand to see you suffering.¡± Scuti blushed. ¡°No¡­ It¡¯s okay, sis. Thank you.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying when I said I recorded it,¡± Frein said, interrupting. He showed the screen of his device as evidence. ¡°Send me¡­¡± Kristel stopped herself. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I said, send me a copy¡­¡± Frein¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± Scuti started, her face beet red. ¡°Me too, please¡­¡± The Visitor smiled awkwardly. ¡°Sure, but I want to ask something first.¡± Kristel gulped and prepared herself. This action and reaction between her and her sister would surely cause a lot of misunderstanding. She was racing within her mind to prepare arguments and reasoning that could help alleviate the most damning ones, at least. Only, Frein had a different agenda in mind. ¡°I really need to access Alphazzel¡¯s personal records now,¡± he said, scratching his head. He knew exactly what he was doing, fully aware of how tensed Kristel was. ¡°Sorry. I just wanted to make sure nobody forgot the entire reason why I¡¯m here.¡± Kristel released all the tension on her shoulders. She felt weak and irritated. ¡°I¡¯m going to strangle you in your sleep.¡± Katherine laughed out loud before Frein could even say anything. He looked at the Princess with a sly smile. ¡°Sorry, Kristel. I¡¯m not into that sort of thing.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Chapter 178: Irony Irony Before Frein could enter the library, Jaylene and Advisor Kento met him and the others on the way. They each had a report for Kristel, and by extension, him and the rest of the group. However, Frill left a message through M.O.B.I.L.E., saying that she and Xiv couldn¡¯t join them. She was currently busy providing the former Lord Knight with some lessons on how to perform his duties better as a part of the future Monarch¡¯s retinue. Those who were present entered the library and found a private meeting room to discuss. Frein forced himself to ignore the towering shelves and the flying books that he could see from the main entrance, focusing instead on the reporters. The room was a cozy environment, all things considered. It could fit two groups easily. A large table with ten cushioned chairs was set up squarely in the middle, while shelves stacked with books surrounded it. A coffee table had a fresh pot brewing by the only window that showed the main library. Katherine pulled the curtains over the latter before she started pouring cups. ¡°Is it okay for me to be here?¡± Scuti asked. She had inevitably joined them after practice. While no one seemed to reject her presence, she was still seemingly feeling out of place. ¡°Becoming Frein¡¯s prot¨¦g¨¦ has its benefits,¡± Katherine replied, distributing the coffee cups through meiyal control. ¡°It also comes with responsibilities.¡± Frein silently analyzed the Lady¡¯s meiyal control. It displayed characteristics close to Meiyal Weaving, but it wasn¡¯t a fully-fledged Weave. He could perform the same action now, but not as precisely as she could. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Kristel nodded towards Scuti, urging her to stay. She gestured for everyone to take a seat. ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡± Kento was the first to speak. ¡°We couldn¡¯t find any of the orbs that you mentioned, Princess Kristel. We made a search when you first warned us about it, another yesterday before your ceremony, and another one this morning. We found nothing that even remotely resembled your descriptions.¡± Frein wasn¡¯t hopeful at that point. He could sense the same for the Princess. It had been quite a long stretch of days since the time those things had disappeared. In fact, he would struggle to confidently identify them if he were to ever spot one, since neither Kristel nor Xiv had any images of them. If they were indeed bombs, or implements that would sabotage Irista Nation in any sort of way, then their enemies were either really secretive, or they had chosen not to interfere with the Monarch anointment ceremony. It had been the perfect moment for it, and despite the superfluous drive Katherine had had at that time, they were still closely monitoring the event. But it seemed as if they changed their minds at the last second, thankfully or not. And now, they had completely missed their chance. Security around Irista Nation, specifically the High Palace, had been increased many times over within the past few days. First it was due to the missing officers that threatened the royal family. Next there was the warning from the Letterman about the Nightmare Incursion. With these many eyes looking for anything suspicious, large orbs containing concentrated meiyal would be like spotting a blot of ink on white paper. Somehow, despite all of these precautions and lack of evident danger, he still felt uneasy. ¡°What if the two are related?¡± he murmured. ¡°The bombs and the Incursion?¡± Kristel inquired. ¡°Could be, but what if the bombs never made it across the Great Sea Dividyr? And that¡¯s why we can¡¯t find any of them?¡± ¡°Optimism is great,¡± Katherine started, crossing her hands. ¡°Carelessness isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Kristel nodded before turning her attention back to the Advisor. ¡°Please make sure they keep an eye out. We can¡¯t be too relaxed about this.¡± Kento confirmed his directive and wrote something on his M.O.B.I.L.E., probably a note to make sure he reminded the knights at regular intervals. He turned to Jaylene so she could take her turn to report. The felintine cleared her throat. ¡°I checked the recent communications from Eastrise like you asked, Katherine. There doesn¡¯t seem to be any unusual activity over there.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this about Eastrise?¡± Kristel asked. Frein quickly took the reins. ¡°Whenever I Mill my decimeiyal or emphasize my Siffera, I feel a certain response coming from the east. Not exactly Eastrise, but it¡¯s in the general direction.¡± He turned to Jaylene. ¡°What about the clouds over there?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Since I first felt them back during the Jump, the clouds over there haven¡¯t moved at all.¡± Silence fell inside the room. Everyone was in deep contemplation. Frein could detect confusion overall. ¡°How sure are you about those clouds not moving?¡± Jaylene asked. ¡°Not one-hundred percent. But pretty close.¡± Frein crossed his arms. ¡°Is it something bad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a cloudbark?¡± ¡°That was my first guess as well.¡± It was his turn to cross his arms. ¡°So I confirmed it yesterday.¡± ¡°You went there?¡± Kristel asked, her tone accusing. ¡°No, no. I looked at it with Mesiffera.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Scuti perked up. ¡°That was the time I was running around our cloudbark.¡± ¡°Yes, that one. It took a lot of meiyal, but Drawing Nidai-Mesiffera with decimeiyal allowed me to essentially zoom in. It¡¯s not a cloudbark. But I could definitely say that something¡¯s out there keeping the clouds in place.¡± ¡°Your Art didn¡¯t detect it?¡± Jaylene asked. ¡°That could be bad news. I wouldn¡¯t put it past a Nightmare¡¯s doing.¡± He understood the implications. If something was able to hide from an Art meant to reveal secrets, then whoever or whatever it was would certainly be powerful. Or they were Blessed with Nature¡¯s Favor. Frein didn¡¯t know which he preferred. There was also the issue of the fact that if it was indeed a Nightmare, it was well beyond the territory of where it should be able to exist. Which simply meant it had a high chance of being a Deep Nightmare. ¡°But if it¡¯s a Nightmare,¡± Katherine started, ¡°then it might be the assumption Frein initially had?¡± ¡°What assumption?¡± Kento asked. It was his first time hearing about this, and he was helplessly absorbed.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°That it¡¯s a sign of a Nightmare Incursion,¡± Frein said. Silence fell in the room once again. Now it wasn¡¯t because of confusion. Rather, most people, other than him and Katherine, were deflated by the information. They churned it over; Frein could see the gears rotating inside their heads, trying to find any sort of argument that they could use as rebuttal for his theory. The more they tried, the more convinced they looked. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound good,¡± Jaylene said finally. ¡°I sent one of ours to scout yesterday, like you asked, Kat. I¡¯ll ask him to check the clouds closely. He should be able to return this afternoon. But for now, that¡¯s all I have.¡± Frein stood. Like all the times he had contemplated the bombs, or the Nightmare Incursion, or the unknown presence from the east, there was nothing that could be accomplished by just sitting around and thinking about them. He had to act. It was about time he investigated the only solid lead they¡¯ve had so far. Kristel quickly thanked the other two, and allowed them to return to their duties. She followed right after to grant Frein access to the restricted area of the library. All the while, Frein was focused on the intricate interior of the building. He confirmed that he hadn¡¯t imagined the flying books. Scholars of all sorts summoned them without even turning their heads away from their research. The looming shelves looked like stacked walls and pillars. He would¡¯ve questioned the way they made the books reach as high as the ceiling, if not for the fact that he could just will them to his hands. He would¡¯ve considered this place heaven, if only there had been enough time for him to roam around and read these books. After finally gaining access to the restricted area, Kristel led Frein and the others behind the wall of shelves. From there, they passed a gate, into a hallway, before reaching a smaller library. The shelves here didn¡¯t reach the ceiling. Instead, it reminded Frein of the common libraries he was familiar with, bookshelves creating a sort of maze. Based on how Kristel was scratching her head, this maze posed a problem she didn¡¯t expect. ¡°You don¡¯t know where it is, don¡¯t you?¡± Frein ventured a guess. ¡°The only thing I¡¯m sure of is it¡¯s here. Only officers and the Monarch get access to this place. There was no need to incorporate the sorting mechanisms of the Grand Library. In case some haughty researchers find their way into this area, they can¡¯t use it to summon the books they want to borrow. That means, however, the only sorted things are the ones our advisors think are important.¡± ¡°Alphazzel¡¯s book isn¡¯t important?¡± Kristel shook her head. ¡°After it was mass-produced, no one really bothered to read the original. To them it¡¯s identical.¡± ¡°So if not for Rindea, we wouldn¡¯t even think of getting the original¡­¡± ¡°Sorry, but we have to look for it. I¡¯m not exactly familiar with the books here.¡± ¡°Understandable,¡± Frein said. He pulled a random book just to try his luck. It was an old ledger from a monarch¡¯s era he didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Been a while since you were last here, I suppose.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even use this place back then.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re sure it¡¯s here?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°I asked Kento before he left. He confirmed that the book remained untouched and should still be here. Unfortunately, he doesn¡¯t know exactly where they stored it.¡± Kristel perused a row of shelves. It was up front and it looked like important books were placed in it. ¡°No luck.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be here all day, won¡¯t we?¡± Scuti asked, sighing. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stay here, you know,¡± Frein said. ¡°And yeah, I think even if we find it early, I¡¯ll be busy studying the book all day.¡± ¡°Katherine said responsibilities.¡± The Second Princess placed both hands on her waist, mimicking her sister¡¯s signature pose. ¡°It won¡¯t sit right with me if I duck out now that I know I can help. It¡¯s Alphazzel¡¯s history book, right?¡± ¡°The one he personally penned,¡± Frein clarified. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go take this side.¡± Just like that, Scuti vanished into the maze. Kristel did the same. She was already focused on reading titles off the spines. After one final shelf, she went around a corner and into the maze. ¡°Give a holler when you find it,¡± Katherine said, shrugging and flew to the second floor. Frein tried to feel the room with his enhanced Siffera, just to check if any of the books resonated with his awareness. He sighed. No luck. ¡°We should start looking,¡± Elizzel said, manifesting beside him. The titles were impressive. Some of them took his interest right away. The faunel had to keep reminding him that the sooner they found the correct book, the sooner he could check out the other titles. And every time, he had to return the books with regret. Unfortunately, taking a book outside of the restricted area was prohibited. Not that they could stop him, but he didn¡¯t come here to steal books and make trouble for Kristel. Minutes felt like hours. Shelves felt like prison bars. To no avail. Frein¡¯s head hurt from reading too many titles and ignoring the interesting ones. He decided to return to the center of the room and see if anyone had found anything. He turned a corner and met darkness. ¡°You¡¯re looking for this one, yes?¡± a voice said. Frein turned again to find Tryvinal Bree holding a book. He was asking him to take it. Instead, the Visitor flared his Siffera to warn the others. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be in prison.¡± Tryvinal tossed the book. It slid until it tapped Frein¡¯s foot. ¡°There¡¯s no point in keeping me in there,¡± he said. ¡°Kristel¡¯s officially the next Monarch. Why bother with me?¡± Something was odd. Despite Frein¡¯s enhanced Siffera he couldn¡¯t feel anyone else aside from Tryvinal. His eyes looked around to find the bookshelves slowly disappearing, replaced by darkness. ¡°Be careful, Frein. That¡¯s not Tryvinal,¡± Elizzel said. As soon as she did, something choked her. She grasped at her throat, desperately gasping for air. Meiyal was choking her. ¡°Elizzel,¡± Tryvinal said with scorn. His hand outstretched. ¡°Meddlesome amnesiac. I was in the middle of acting.¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Frein shouted, hoping it would reach the others. He emphasized his Siffera even further, helping the faunel strengthen her body and resist whatever was choking her. At the same time, he dashed towards the former Guard Knight. He didn¡¯t reach him. Meiyal, Brymeia¡¯s meiyal, was holding the Visitor in place, keeping him suspended and frozen in the air. Whatever was choking Elizzel had started doing the same to him. Tryvinal laughed like a maniac. Meiyal Weaving. It was on a level Frein had never seen before. It was invading his internal organs, making it difficult to breathe. He could feel his Milled meiyal seeping out. He switched to Nidai-Siffera, but it only sped up the drain. The Weave blocked his meiyal system, rendering him unable to Gather so there was nothing to Mill to keep his Art active for long. He heard Elizzel dropping on the floor, but he couldn¡¯t turn his head to confirm. He couldn¡¯t even move his eyes. ¡°Tryvinal¡¯s dead,¡± said the would-be Tryvinal. ¡°He was such a useless pawn. Brought more trouble than he¡¯s worth.¡± Frein couldn¡¯t even speak. He couldn¡¯t respond. He wanted to know who this new Tryvinal was. The creature who looked like the Guard Knight came into view, a sinister smile on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Visitor. I¡¯m a faunel like Elizzel. And I¡¯ll help you skip straight to the end of your Destiny.¡±
Katherine sighed. The book was nowhere to be found. She decided to return to the center of the library. Scuti was plopped over a sofa with copies of Alphazzel¡¯s history books around her. Unfortunately, none of them were the original. Kristel arrived at the same time. ¡°No luck?¡± Katherine inquired. Kristel saw the pile of copies and tossed one more on the stack. ¡°Not the original.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Frein?¡± Before anyone could answer, the door behind them slammed open. ¡°Let me in!¡± Enza screamed, pushing away the knights that protected the restricted area. ¡°She¡¯s with us,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Let her through.¡± The knights had no choice. They were taken so off-guard by the speaking yuma that the Princess¡¯s command was more of a relief than anything. Speaking of, the yuma was in a state of panic. Katherine tried to calm her down. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Frein! He¡¯s suddenly so far away! I can barely sense him. I wanted to ask if you knew anything about it!¡± Katherine felt the panic in her chest. She wrestled it under control. I, Alone, Am The Center brought it back tenfold. There was only Elizzel. The faunel was unconscious on the floor, in full Art fatigue. Katherine disregarded the fact that a faunel could reach such a state. The priority was to wake her up. Lips locked in haste, performing meiyal resuscitation. As soon as Elizzel gained consciousness, she gripped Katherine by the collar. ¡°They took him, Kat.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s they?¡± the Lady asked. Fire ignited within, looking for a target to burn to ashes. Before the faunel could answer, Jaylene called for them. The felintine found them in seconds by responding to Katherine¡¯s Void Control Technique. The scene locked her in place. ¡°What is it?¡± Katherine asked. Anger had seeped into her voice. Too late to pull back a growl. It¡¯s my fault, not theirs. Calm down. Deep breaths. Frein will be alright. Her eyes couldn¡¯t meet anyone but Elizzel. The faunel now held her hand, begging her to calm down. Unlike her, Elizzel had Frein¡¯s presence of mind to quell her raging fury into a deadly calm. Time and again, it had been the anchor she depended on. Now under control, the Lady of the Void addressed everyone. ¡°This might have to wait, Jam. Sorry, but Frein¡¯s gone. I have to look for him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Eastrise,¡± Jaylene said, holding her ground against Katherine¡¯s intimidating presence. ¡°We lost contact with them.¡± Chapter 179: A Moment A Moment ¡±Just a moment. That was all I had.¡± ~Venry Stepholm At the beaches of Cape Talon, near the Eastrise City¡­ Venry had never fought a merman Nightmare before. His blade Meiyal Art found its way towards a shelled torso, bouncing off horribly. It sent vibrations up to his arm as he rolled away from the giant claw that struck from the merman¡¯s back. What am I looking at? The merman Nightmare was bipedal, but it had limbs in the wrong places. Its head was in the middle of its chest, as if something had smashed it in. Its neck extended outwards, not upwards, resulting in an eerie structure. An oblong head made it look too alien for Venry¡¯s liking. Mermen were not supposed to look like this. As far as the Guard Knight¡¯s memory served, the main differences were their scaled skin and the little parts that represented the sea. They were still humanoid in form, with a structure no different to a human or a felintine, or whatever. Sometimes, coral would replace part of their hair, or they might possess a fish tail, or they might even have extra limbs as well, but in the right places. Nothing like¡­ this abomination. Much like other Nightmares, Venry couldn¡¯t even consider it alive. He couldn¡¯t consider them as undead, however. A massive turtle shell weighed it down to a sluggish pace, and it had lobster talons craning from its waist, almost like a pair of tails. It had an unreasonable amount of tentacles all over its back, which were all lifeless, just adding to its burden. It tried to chase Venry, stretching out human arms as it growled incoherent noises. The Guard Knight searched for his companions. Dystro was struggling with his own group of merman Nightmares, fending off three at a time. Hal and Ral were in synchronicity, spearheading an assault force that was headed towards the sea. They were doing more damage compared to the Iristan local knights. Venry abandoned his enemy and went to help Dystro. The three mermen were better equipped, but still too random for him to properly identify. Fortunately, nothing deflected his meiyal blade as he sliced through one of them cleanly this time. ¡°We should get back to the twins!¡± the Guard Knight suggested. ¡°They¡¯re attacking the main force. We can drive them back!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Dystro pointed behind a pair of rock formations that were infested by shelled sea creatures. Behind were a pair of young girls trying to hide. ¡°Get them out of here!¡± Venry didn¡¯t argue. It was his duty to save the people in the first place. He hastened towards the rocks, while the Vyndivalian rendezvoused with his comrades. The ground beside him crumbled as two mermen Nightmares emerged, screaming as they struck with sharp, sword-looking claws. ¡°Kaimera!¡± Venry yelled, Drawing the Art while manifesting a second blade in his free hand. Weapons clashed, and he found himself pincered in place by both Nightmares while a third emerged. It wasn¡¯t aiming for him, however. Venry pushed with all his might, emphasizing his Siffera. When the Nightmares didn¡¯t budge, he let go of his weapons and slipped through instead. He chased the third Nightmare, grabbing its flailing fishtail. It reacted quickly, spinning backwards with the blunt of a giant crab claw prepped to smash his head. The Guard Knight duck-rolled, avoiding the abomination¡¯s weapon, while keeping his grip on the tail. It was slimy, but he dug his fingers through. As he recovered, Venry took his turn to spin, lifting the entire Nightmare and using it as an improvised club against the two that gave chase behind him. The three of them collapsed over each other. He stretched out both hands. ¡°Ferenfra!¡± Venry exclaimed, investing a significant amount of his meiyal reserves to engulf the Nightmares in a cone of flame. They quickly burned to ashes, dispersing into motes of meiyal residue. With a breath of relief, he made his way behind the rock formations. ¡°Help, please!¡± said one of the girls. She was the older one, desperately clinging on him for safety while pointing to the other girl. ¡°My sister¡¯s not breathing!¡± Venry focused on the much smaller girl. She was just a kid, barely ten, probably. Her face was riddled with sand, and she was pale as a ghost. He pressed his ear on her chest, searching for a heartbeat. A wave crashed on them, as if to tell him there was no hope. He felt a beat. Venry wasn¡¯t anywhere near as proficient as Frill, or even Princess Kristel, when it came to Drawing Samesia. In fact, with his current reserves, a single use of the Art on someone else would push him into Art fatigue instantly. He would inevitably become a burden and ultimately bring more harm to the girls.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°We need to get out of here first,¡± Venry said, pulling the conscious girl. ¡°Can you stand? Can you use your arms and legs?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡± ¡°If we stay here, those Nightmares might get us, and we¡¯ll all die. Your sister might not be breathing, but she has a heartbeat. If we¡¯re quick, we can still save her, alright?¡± Venry positioned his back towards the big sister. ¡°Hop on, and make sure you don¡¯t let go. You know how to use Siffera, right?¡± She nodded silently as soon as she understood that Venry had no intention to leave behind her sister. She reached over, wrapping arms around his neck and legs around his waist. He started jogging to test her grip. ¡°Good. Alright¡­ now, whatever happens, don¡¯t let go, okay? I¡¯ll have my hands full carrying your sister, and I won¡¯t be able to save you if you let go. I wouldn¡¯t want to tell her that I could¡¯ve saved you instead. Alright?¡± The girl doubled her efforts on her Siffera. She clung to him desperately, enough that a normal man would¡¯ve choked to death. ¡°Thank you, mister.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet.¡± Venry picked up speed. They had precious seconds to get out of the coastline. They zipped through lines of stray Nightmares and projectiles coming from everywhere; some friendly, some not. An explosion erupted near them, pushing him off balance. He had an instant to recover, but a second one hit, breaking any hope of even regaining his footing. The girl behind him screamed, disorienting him further. Venry suffered a moment of despair, his quick thinking making him understand that he had to let go of someone. But before he could even make a choice, something grabbed them out of their turmoil. ¡°Steady now, soldier.¡± Mother Selfiya¡¯s voice echoed as she brought them to safety. Her Soul¡¯s Walk was made of sand and dried leaves. She was controlling the meiyal in the air as if they belonged to her. Meiyal Weaving. ¡°This should be safe enough. Be quick about it, Venry.¡± After verifying that the smaller girl had indeed drowned, the Guard Knight began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After a few cycles, she was still not responding. ¡°Is she going to be alright?¡± said the big sister. ¡°Don¡¯t distract him, girl,¡± Selfiya said, but she did not approach. Her form was too fragile to make physical contact. Venry ignored them both and focused on his task. After one more cycle, the girl finally coughed up seawater and gasped for air. ¡°Good, let¡¯s bring you to the tents,¡± he said. ¡°We can¡¯t afford that, Venry,¡± Selfiya said. Despite her lack of facial expressions, her tone alone was enough of a tell that she didn¡¯t like it either. ¡°You need to help them break the Nightmare Sign.¡± ¡°We already tried, Mother Selfiya,¡± Venry said, not letting go of the girls. ¡°It won¡¯t budge.¡± ¡°Then this entire effort is futile.¡± She started walking. ¡°Go. Bring them to the tents.¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll issue a full-on retreat. We¡¯ll take them on the mountains instead. This place will be completely overrun by tonight.¡± Venry bit his lip, regret fully washing over him. But he couldn¡¯t deny the truth. Irista Nation¡¯s territory had once again suffered a major loss. Cape Talon was lost. And the rest of Eastrise Region would be next. They didn¡¯t take long to reach the tents. After drying himself, Venry checked on the sisters. A few volunteers from Eastrise City were already taking care of them. ¡°Where are your parents?¡± he asked, not exactly hopeful. But the quicker they went over it, the better it would be for them. The older sister shook her head. ¡°Any reason for you two to be at the edge of Cape Talon? Surely, you¡¯ve heard of the constant Nightmare presence over there, right?¡± ¡°Please, sir Guard Knight,¡± said one of the volunteers, interrupting his interrogation. She was an older lady, not exactly gray in the hair yet, but her age was made apparent from the stressful environment. ¡°They¡¯re just kids. They don¡¯t know any better. I¡¯ll talk to them.¡± Venry considered it. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m sorry. Please take care of them, ma¡¯am.¡± He turned to leave, but the older sister grabbed the end of his shirt. Her face was close to tears, but she forced a smile. ¡°We didn¡¯t know,¡± she began. ¡°We were just out there playing and collecting seashells. Thank you for risking your life for us, umm¡­ Sir Guard Knight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Venry,¡± he said, his heart aching. He placed a hand on the girl¡¯s head and her younger sister. ¡°You guys take care of each other, alright?¡± As soon as he left, signs of the retreating force appeared not far from the camp. Patrolling knights noticed and people quickly gathered. He pushed himself to meet them halfway. The first he saw was Dystro. When the Vyndivalian reached him, he raised a fist. Venry tapped it with his own. ¡°You alright?¡± the Guard Knight asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Selfiya issued a full retreat,¡± Hal said, showing just behind Dystro. ¡°We couldn¡¯t budge the Sign at all,¡± Ral followed up, marching closely beside them. ¡°What is it anyway?¡± Venry asked as he marched back with them to the camp. ¡°Nightmare Signs randomly appear within the Nightmare Lands,¡± Mother Selfiya said, gliding along in her sandy form. ¡°It¡¯s a solid indicator, for us, that we¡¯ve been conquered. It creates a desecrated territory for the Nightmares to exist, increasing their activity and the chance that a Deep Nightmare might spawn. ¡°For it to appear so near Irista Nation was just another consequence from when the Western Sanctum fell. It¡¯ll only get worse. We should inform Eastrise right away so they can send someone to Central for help.¡± ¡°Our M.O.B.I.L.E.s aren¡¯t working,¡± said one of the knights marching alongside them. They were almost to the camp now. ¡°The Nightmare rots and destroys any technology that does not possess any materials gathered from its lands. Send for a messenger instead. Once they reach Eastrise, they should be able to use their M.O.B.I.L.E.¡± Before anyone could agree or disagree, Mother Selfiya¡¯s visage violently shook. The entire march stopped. ¡°You filthy, worthless, pieces of shit!¡± echoed from Selfiya¡¯s form. The voice was different, muffled and distorted. ¡°I told you to make sure she¡¯s meiyal starved, you idiot!¡± ¡°Mother Selfiya?¡± Venry whispered. Someone was stomping over. ¡°Are you stupid? Can¡¯t you see, she¡¯s frozen?¡± the voice echoed much closer now. A man¡¯s voice. ¡°Fair enough. You¡¯ve outsmarted us, Void Mother. But guess what, it¡¯s not just you we¡¯re having problems with. That fucking Death¡¯s Wish guy keeps avoiding us. ¡°Nightmare Incursion within two weeks, blah, blah, blah,¡± said the voice, increasingly higher pitched and laced with all the mocking he could muster. His laughter was maniacal and sinister, before pausing just as suddenly. ¡°Well guess what? Why don¡¯t we start now?¡± Mother Selfiya¡¯s Soul¡¯s Walk vanished. Then the green rays of the sun completely became black. Venry managed to turn towards the camp before five colossal Jaws Lurking In The Forest flattened the entirety of it. He could hear the two sisters screaming, and he tried to run to their rescue. But Dystro, Hal, and Ral grabbed him and pulled him away. The screams lasted for just a moment. He could no longer hear them. So he screamed for them instead. Chapter 180: Broken Plans Broken Plans ¡±Yumas can track their bonded masters, no matter how far. And I¡¯m sure they¡¯ve taken that into consideration. They¡¯ll be ready for us.¡± ~Katherine Militia, Lady of the Void Plans were instantly broken that afternoon, and the night that followed was the coldest it had ever been. Katherine looked at Elizzel, who had lost her consciousness after she had tried to return to Frein¡¯s Tether. It hadn¡¯t worked, and the backlash had caused the faunel to instantly blackout. Alone in their room, the Lady of the Void wrestled with her desperation and discipline. To Gather and Mill was all she could do. Silently, she entered her Mind Palace, the cathedral of her memories blurring as the haze of her own indecisiveness frustrated her to no end. There, beside the door to her Exhibit, the shadow stayed silent. ¡°Let¡¯s talk,¡± Katherine said, standing at the entrance of her foyer. The empty cathedral, as wide as it was, carried her voice across without issue. The shadow, unamused, lifted its head. ¡°So now that you¡¯re desperate, you come to me.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Just like you predicted, years ago.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The shadow crossed its arms. ¡°Better late than never, I suppose. What do you need?¡± ¡°My strength back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re plenty powerful already.¡± ¡°Not compared to my peak. I need to be better. I need to become a Worldborn.¡± The shadow¡¯s scoff was the first genuine reaction she got from it. It leaned on the door, gesturing nonchalantly. ¡°What makes you think I can help you with that?¡± ¡°Because I know now that you¡¯re Brymeia.¡± The shadow didn¡¯t react. It stayed silent for a while. Katherine was content enough to wait. She had nothing better to do for now anyway. A grim reminder of how powerless she was. With Elizzel out of commission, the group couldn¡¯t afford to make their move. She even had to make sure Enza understood not to track down her master without her. The yuma had been visibly stressed out, pacing back and forth within the room before she had inevitably fallen asleep. ¡°You¡¯ve ignored my offers before, too wary to listen,¡± said the shadow, pulling Katherine back to their conversation. ¡°Now it¡¯s too late. I¡¯m now pouring all my efforts into Frill, while keeping my promise to Kristel¡¯s entire bloodline.¡± That made Katherine trust her instincts more, this shadow was indeed Brymeia. ¡°Then why are you still here?¡± she challenged. ¡°Because I want to remind you, that becoming a Worldborn isn¡¯t the only path to strength. Not that becoming one is impossible for you, but there¡¯s an alternative waiting for you now.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Katherine clenched her fist and began to walk, approaching Brymeia¡¯s shadow. She had an inkling on what it might be. ¡°You have something in your Worldspace, in your Spatiera. You gave it up before you left, only bringing a piece of it. But as soon as you returned, I know that you reclaimed the entirety of it.¡± Katherine was frozen in place. No one else, not even Frill who was with her back then, knew about what she had retrieved from her room. Maybe the Letterman did, but that wasn¡¯t exactly surprising. Brymeia sighed as if she was missing the obvious. ¡°You can¡¯t hide something like this from me, you know? You might be the strongest of your generation, but compared to Evanclad¡¯s time, you¡¯re barely better than the most gifted prot¨¦g¨¦. If you can¡¯t even gaze into your Destiny, you¡¯ve no hope of hiding anything from me.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t stop me, either.¡± Katherine implied her question. ¡°You¡¯ve earned the right.¡± A white curve came out of Brymeia¡¯s shadow, smiling proudly. ¡°What¡¯s making you hesitate?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re storing such immense power within your Worldspace, Katherine. It simply isn¡¯t feasible for you to pay this amount of meiyal to store it within your Spatiera. Aware or not, this is Destiny bending the Art¡¯s rules for you. Sure, you might not own the Magnum Opus, but how is this any different from when Frein accepted Rindea¡¯s Exhibit?¡± Brymeia switched her form. The shadow melded away, taking the appearance of the adult Liona. She stepped away from the Exhibit¡¯s door, and approached a different one on a corner. The door to Katherine¡¯s Worldspace. ¡°Evanclad¡¯s Destiny tied his Mind Palace to the rest of his bloodline,¡± she began. ¡°This ensured that my favor would remain tied to the First Monarch, thus, the Crown. Do you know how Evanclad¡¯s Crown works?¡± ¡°Whoever wears it becomes an Irista, despite not being his direct descendant,¡± Katherine answered. ¡°Did you know, that despite this function, his bloodline had never branched out? Marrying outside is a given, but everyone that succeeded the crown was still a full-fledged Irista that carried Evanclad¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Yes, Tryvinal was the closest one to ever tainting that line.¡± Brymeia touched the door, feeling the power being suppressed from within. She breathed, reminiscing that familiar strength. ¡°Then, did you know, that your mother once possessed Evanclad¡¯s Exhibit?¡± Katherine couldn¡¯t find the words. Her mother, Catelyn Militia, had been also the strongest of her generation. She had been a Lady of the Void as well, and had fought in countless Nightmare Invasions and Void Encounters. It was a Nightmare Incursion that had claimed her life. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Much like how the First Monarch made it so that his bloodline inherited his Mind Palace, so too did he make his Exhibit for the strongest Lords or Ladies of the Void.¡± Brymeia pointed at Katherine and beckoned her to approach. ¡°You, Katherine, Lady of the Void. If you will not claim this, then no one else can.¡± Katherine walked slowly. Each step was a deliberation. Convincing herself was a battle between humility, pride, and desperation. She remembered Frein. She remembered how easily he was taken from her. There was no room for hesitation. Katherine touched the door to her Worldspace, but she hesitated again. Not because she was afraid or naive. It was simply because she was curious.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°How many materials will I be inheriting?¡± she asked. She remembered how it had happened for Frein. Hundreds of materials had gone through rejection. He had lost consciousness then and took time to recover. Time that she might not be able to afford. ¡°Five,¡± Brymeia replied. Katherine blinked and frowned. ¡°Just five?¡± The shadow wearing Liona¡¯s form smiled smugly. ¡°Four were from gods your ancestors have long forgotten.¡± It took Katherine a while to process what those words meant. Meiyal-charged materials originate from natural, environmental reactions, or Deitars that left pieces of themselves, or self-inflicted, almost suicidal circumstances. One from a god was unheard of. The anticipation and fear became twice over. If she had no connection to these gods, then surely their materials would reject her. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Brymeia said. ¡°These gods agreed to support Evanclad. This decision won¡¯t change even if they¡¯ve begun to hate him or myself. You¡¯ll be able to integrate with their materials.¡± Katherine held on to that assurance. ¡°But you said there¡¯s five.¡± Brymeia slowly raised a hand and pointed to herself. She had never seen such an entity be so overly confident before. ¡°One, I provided myself.¡±
The next morning¡­ ¡°She promises she¡¯ll catch up.¡± Kristel left as soon as Elizzel said those words. When she asked what was happening to Katherine, the faunel simply said that the Lady was integrating. With what? As far as they all knew, Katherine hadn¡¯t acquired any new materials. ¡°Are you confident that she¡¯s the strongest of your generation?¡± Evanclad inquired from within their Mind Palace. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then she¡¯s most likely integrating with my Exhibit.¡± Kristel paused in the middle of a stairwell. She didn¡¯t understand. ¡°How? Exhibits and Mind Palaces go hand in hand.¡± ¡°But they are two different entities. A Mind Palace holds your memories¡ªour memories in your case, and is your main medium to reach out to Destiny. ¡°Exhibits hold your meiyal-charged materials and your Mill. They¡¯re usually housed within your Mind Palace, but they can just as easily exist without it. Same goes for your Worldspace.¡± Kristel resumed making her way out of the High Palace. After Jaylene had made her emergency report, and after making sure Elizzel had been secretly returned to her room, she and what remained of Cross Irista had immediately made preparations to depart for Eastrise Region. There was no reason to remain in Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Skull¡¯s protection anymore, now that Frein had been taken. Believing was one thing, living through it was another. For some reason, this whole situation felt like a prelude for what was to come after a year. Somehow, weird as it was, the notion was encouraging. There¡¯s just no way he¡¯s dead. This thought, as well as Katherine¡¯s preparation, would have allowed Kristel to concentrate on the task at hand, if not for this confusing information that Evanclad had dropped on her. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, how come I have meiyal-charged materials that I don¡¯t remember?¡± Kristel had finally figured out what those two materials inside her Exhibit were. Heart of the Flame Giants and Heart of the Frost Giants. Though their sources were old and different, their functions were the same. When integrated, they increased the limits of all Arts by one. This allowed Kristel to use Sandai level Meiyal Arts, easiest of which was Kaimera. The other Arts, she still needed to practice. Unfortunately, the material from Evanclad¡¯s wife, The Leviathan, remained as ashes within its container, no longer functional. Frein believed there might be a way to restore it, or make something out of it. So she kept them within her Exhibit. ¡°There¡¯s an easy hypothesis we can come up with, Kristel,¡± said Evanclad. ¡°The Letterman.¡± The Princess sighed at that. It was the Letterman again. Time and again he was involved somehow. ¡°Who in Brymeia¡¯s name is he?¡± Kristel returned to her room to prepare. Scuti wasn¡¯t around, but she already expected her to be with the ships. It would take a lot of convincing to get her not to come. ¡°No matter how feasible it seems, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s Frein with a Death¡¯s Wish,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°Why not?¡± Kristel said, audibly now that she was sure she¡¯s on her own. ¡°It¡¯s my best bet so far.¡± ¡°Frein hates depending on divine powers. Even after I told him he could eat Nightmare cores to become stronger, he was hesitant.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s because of divine powers,¡± Kristel said, remembering how Frein described them and the aftermath of eating them. ¡°Fair, but my point stands.¡± ¡°Yeah, fair.¡± Kristel finished her preparations. There wasn¡¯t much to pack in her Spatiera except for some spare clothes. Frill would most likely have prepared more than enough for the both of them. She went out and made her way to the launching docks. ¡°Who then?¡± she asked. ¡°Who¡¯s your bet?¡± ¡°It could be Xiv,¡± Evanclad guessed. ¡°The Letterman has a distinct favoritism towards Frill, if you remember. And he¡¯s the only one without a Blessing.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Kristel held her chin in contemplation. ¡°You might be right. But I don¡¯t have a Blessing either.¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You have a Blessing, Kristel. You just don¡¯t use it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like taking advantage of people¡¯s respect for me.¡± ¡°And yet people follow your orders as if you¡¯re using your Monarch¡¯s Law.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that.¡± Kristel found the lined up Advanced International Relocators being manned by knights, Guard Knights, and a number of Sky Knights with their armored yumas as well. The Royal Knights, however, needed to remain to protect the High Palace. Frill and Xiv were accompanied by Maffelyne and her four companions, taking one of the ships. Jaylene and Kento were organizing more troops. Admiral Garm was present as well, making his approach towards the Princess. ¡°Again, I¡¯ve failed you, Princess,¡± he said. ¡°Atlas Sid has been nowhere near operational, ever since its last voyage. We have enough power, but not enough men. And despite our specialty being explorations of the Nightmare Lands, the grand carrier can¡¯t exactly tackle Nightmare Incursions head-on. We specialize in avoiding them. So instead, we¡¯re contributing all the A.I.R.s we can man.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve not failed me, Admiral,¡± Kristel retorted. ¡°If not for these A.I.R. ships, it would take us longer to get to Eastrise. I appreciate your help.¡± ¡°They¡¯re ready to depart,¡± Jaylene said to Kristel. ¡°Garm and I will be staying and trying to organize some reinforcements. It might take a few days, though. They¡¯re under your command.¡± Advisor Kento approached next and passed a list of all the enlisted knights using his M.O.B.I.L.E. Kristel found a few names she was wary of. ¡°Ashtine and Smyl?¡± she asked. ¡°Have they recovered?¡± ¡°They insisted on joining,¡± Kento said. ¡°I ran them through some exercises, checked their numbers, and they passed them all with flying colors. You can use them as you see fit. I¡¯ll be joining as well. Verdim and Greyshot will remain to help the Monarch maintain order.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get going then.¡± Before Kristel could take another step, Monarch Denis Irista approached from the High Palace. He was flanked by the two advisors who would be staying behind. ¡°Where¡¯s Katherine?¡± he asked. As expected, he already knew what had happened to Frein yesterday. ¡°She¡¯s preparing. She¡¯ll catch up to us later.¡± Denis nodded. It was a sign Kristel was familiar with now. Last time, when she had been sent to Minaveil Province, he had done the same gesture. Back then, she didn¡¯t reciprocate. This time however, she knew to embrace her father. The Monarch placed a heavy hand on top of her head. ¡°It is in our nature as Irista to be at the forefront of conflict. If I was in any condition to fight, I would¡¯ve joined you. I would¡¯ve loved to fight alongside you, Kristel.¡± From the back, the Princess felt a pair of arms embrace her. Scuti buried her head in her shoulders. ¡°Please come back safe, sis,¡± she said. Kristel turned to embrace her little sister properly, surprised that she didn¡¯t have to stop her. Tall as her sister was, she ended up burying her head on Scuti¡¯s chest. ¡°We¡¯ll be back with your mentor,¡± she said. ¡°Just be safe here, alright?¡± ¡°Yeah. You too, sis.¡± With goodbyes done, the future Monarch approached the helm of her A.I.R. ship. From there, she reached into an echoing mechanism that internally broadcasted to all the other ships. Keeping her voice only to her enlisted knights ensured that her next words wouldn¡¯t cause any major public panic. ¡°Knights of Irista Nation, we venture out now to Eastrise Region. Publicly, we¡¯re on a training exercise to assess our response time in case the region becomes overwhelmed by the Nightmare. ¡°You all already know this, but let me repeat that we are not on a training exercise. This is the real deal, my knights. Not only that, but we have reasons to believe that we¡¯re facing a Nightmare Incursion. Not some flimsy Void Encounter, but a full-on Incursion. If any of you do not have a Purifying Stone or any other means of resisting the Nightmare, you are not to join this campaign.¡± On her vessel, at least, no one left. ¡°We¡¯ll arrive in five hours. Be sure all of you are ready.¡± Kristel took her seat beside Frill. She didn¡¯t say anything when she noticed the Aria holding Xiv¡¯s hand. In fact, she wished she could hold Venry¡¯s right now. Instead, Frill¡¯s hand reached out to hers. ¡°We can do this, Princess,¡± she said, smiling confidently. ¡°It might not look like it, but I¡¯ve been training, too.¡± Xiv peeked and smiled as well. ¡°I can fight properly now, Princess. I think I have my core under control.¡± Kristel breathed out and nodded towards her retainers. Her determination burned through her eyes. ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve all been training for this. There¡¯s no way we can lose.¡± Chapter 181: Prison Prison Ever since Frein had started immersing himself in meiyal, he had never felt lethargy after waking up. When he had been training to keep his Siffera active while sleeping before, in Schrodie¡¯s Realm, sleepiness only really had slammed into him whenever he reached Art fatigue. Every other time, aside from that, especially after Norazzel had helped him improve this technique, he always woke up full of energy. Today was different. The strain on his outstretched shoulders didn¡¯t help, and the metal clamping on his wrist made it worse. His knees were forced to carry his weight against hard stone, and his neck hung low, putting more pressure on his back. Sweat, thirst, the need to relieve, they were all secondary to his desire to open his eyes. The energy wasn¡¯t there at all. Meiyal refused to enter his core despite how much he tried to Gather. No¡­ There¡¯s no meiyal at all. No meiyal to Gather, nothing to Mill. However many sources of meiyal he possessed within his Exhibit, none of them allowed him to Draw. Only Brymeia¡¯s meiyal allowed such a thing. In fact, he couldn¡¯t even access his Mind Palace at all. His last desperation move was to use Meiyal Weaving like Elizzel had done before. Pull from the Fulgurblade of the Thousand-Year Storm and throw it like a lightning strike against his shackles. It couldn¡¯t be done. Not without the faunel. No matter how much he tugged at the Tether, there was no response. It was like something had been taken out of him. A huge part of himself. His other half. It chipped away at his sanity. Old voices that he had silenced with her help came creeping out again, as if they had been waiting for this chance all along. Loser. Overconfident. You deserve this, you know? You¡¯re going to die here and you won¡¯t be able to see Katherine again. Only his mind kept working. As much as he wanted to scream at these voices, his energy just wasn¡¯t there. It was as if he had abused himself with meiyal, pushed himself beyond what a human should be capable of, and now his body was claiming what it was owed. It wouldn¡¯t listen to him. ¡°How does it feel to be meiyal starved, hmm?¡± said a voice. Tryvinal¡¯s voice. Only this time, it was more sinister, laced with confidence that the real one had lacked. He reveled in Frein¡¯s suffering. The Visitor couldn¡¯t speak. Just breathing alone was already labor that refused to properly pay. As if his lungs could never be full, or something was pressing down on them. The last time he could breathe properly had been back at the restricted library. ¡°Guess, you can¡¯t respond at all, huh. The previous Visitors were the same, you know? The moment they couldn¡¯t use their meiyal cores, they quickly started to expire. The only thing holding you together now is Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s meiyal system. Starved. It¡¯s eating you from the inside out. Very sinister.¡± Tryvinal¡¯s words were accompanied by the sound of metal. Frein could only guess that this fake had locked him up in a prison cell and was currently gripping those metal bars. Of course, someone who knows the previous ones has to be my enemy¡­ If Frein could¡¯ve sighed, he would¡¯ve. Air was precious, it kept him from totally suffocating. ¡°Now, about your Destiny,¡± Tryvinal began again. ¡°Surrounding you right now isn¡¯t Brymeia¡¯s meiyal. It¡¯s Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s. The chains around your wrists are made of Vynore. Yes, from Vyndival. Meiyal-breaking minerals that they¡¯ve weaponized against the Nightmare and even Iristans. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t feel it. Very rare now. Previous kings thought a wall of it could stop the Nightmare Lands. Wrong.¡± The faunel impersonating Tryvinal laughed like a maniac. As if someone had made a joke and it had caused him to have a laughing fit. He was wheezing by the time he was done. ¡°Ah, that felt good. If they knew just a little bit of history, they¡¯ll know Vynores need to form an enclosure, like a circle, to function properly. Instead they did what? Make weapons out of it! The rest? Thrown at the South Wall! Just the south! What a joke!¡± Frein had no arguments to dispute, nor had he any reason to. He couldn¡¯t even do it in the first place. ¡°Anyway, I digress. Destiny. Core on your wrist, wrap it with Vynore, and voila, no Meiyal Arts for you. The moment you remove it, surrounded by Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s meiyal, what do you think will happen?¡± Frein had his ideas, but he imagined the question was rhetorical. ¡°Your starvation will force you to Gather just a teensy little bit. But just that will be enough for you to keep going. Keep you craving for more. It¡¯s your Destiny, after all, to absorb a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core. Yes¡­ it¡¯s all meiyal, Frein. Not something for you to hold, not something for you to see. Break out of your chains, Gather the Fragment, and fulfill your Destiny.¡± Why? Why the chains, then? Why not just let me Gather it in the first place? ¡°By now you must be asking, ¡®Why not just let me absorb it in the first place?¡¯,¡± Tryvinal said, smugness in his voice as he mimicked Frein¡¯s tone in a mocking way. ¡°Well, it¡¯s your Destiny. Not mine. You choose to break out of those chains and do what you¡¯re supposed to do. I only said I¡¯ll help.¡± What happens after? ¡°What you should be thinking, is what happens after you absorb the Fragment,¡± Tryvinal continued. ¡°See this is where it gets tricky. Let me give you a little history lesson¡­You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Fourteen Visitors have come before you. Each came to a different country. When Zerax¡¯thum fell, Brymeia¡¯s lands were separated into sixteen countries. Fourteen countries have fallen to the Nightmare, with only Irista Nation and half of Vyndival Kingdom remaining. You can do math, right?¡± Of course, the faunel didn¡¯t care and spelled it out for him. ¡°See, whenever you, you Visitors, claim a Fragment, a country or a nation or a kingdom, what have you, gets destroyed. Don¡¯t ask me why, but it¡¯s random. Vyndival had their Visitor, but Oh¡¯strol Continent died for it. It wasn¡¯t because of Palar¡¯gog. The norcs survived after that kingdom of dragons laid waste to their lands. It was the Nightmare that finished them. ¡°But now, there¡¯s just two countries left. I did half the work on Vyndival, but this Letterman of yours just keeps thwarting my plans. Irista Nation has to be sacrificed instead.¡± Confusion filled Frein. There were a lot of gaps in that history. The faunel left out how many Fragments had broken out of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s core. He claimed to not know why countries had to pay for Visitors fulfilling their Destinies, but he had somehow been involved in destroying at least one of the two remaining safe territories of the world. At the very least, this gave Frein more confidence in the Letterman. But now, the issue was whether he should absorb the Fragment or not¡­ ¡°Ah, by the way,¡± Tryvinal spoke again. ¡°I already began the Nightmare Incursion. Eastrise is gone, then I¡¯m taking Southshore next. You must be asking why, when you haven¡¯t even absorbed the Fragment yet, right? Well, here¡¯s the deal, Visitor¡­ ¡°I¡¯m going to destroy a country whether you like it or not, the only thing you get to choose here is which one. If you do not Gather the Fragment, I¡¯ll end Irista Nation. Otherwise, bye-bye Vyndival Kingdom. With so few countries to choose from, we can¡¯t really make it random, can we? So I¡¯m giving you a choice.¡± Tryvinal tapped the metal bars. Frein didn¡¯t know if it was to intimidate him, but he cared so little that he didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Oh, one last thing, Visitor.¡± He spoke again. ¡°After you absorb the Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core, that¡¯s when you die. Usually, Destiny has a way of making that happen for you before your time limit, sort of a way to let you enjoy your time before you go. But we¡¯re on a tight schedule here.¡± For how morbid his words were, Tryvinal delivered them so casually. Like it was just another day at work. ¡°So, I¡¯ll be completely honest with you, Frein. If you don¡¯t absorb the Fragment, not only will I destroy Irista Nation, I¡¯ll give you a few hours before I completely engulf Vyndival Kingdom in the Nightmare.¡± So, I basically have no choice. Destiny in the end, huh¡­ ¡°If you absorb it, though. I¡¯ll just take Vyndival Kingdom. I¡¯ll let you pass on peacefully, and I¡¯ll let Irista Nation struggle as much as they want until they, too, get engulfed by the Nightmare. But at least, you know, Katherine gets to get old. Or maybe not¡­ maybe I¡¯ll just kill her so she can join you in the afterlife. That could be interesting¡ª¡± The chains clanged with a deafening echo as Frein strained against them. It drained him right away. A sudden fire, then a sudden cold. But the blaze didn¡¯t completely die out. ¡°What the fuck!¡± Tryvinal said. ¡°That scared the shit out of me, you fucker! Here I am bargaining with entire countries; I mention one girl, and you go mental? Fucking shit. I was trying to do you a favor!¡± Frein responded by pulling against the chains once again. They barely budged. There was absolutely no way he could rip them apart without meiyal. ¡°Fuck! You there, keep an eye on him, and make sure you keep them meiyal starved or I¡¯m killing you next. I need to go fetch somebody.¡± Tryvinal¡¯s voice became distant, his voice trailing as he stomped out of this place. Wherever this was. Frein kept trying. There was absolutely nothing else he could do. Threatening Katherine was the only thing that kept the fire within him ablaze. And the only goal he could form in his mind was to break the chains. Until, of course, his brain caught up to him. Telling him of an important detail he just missed. Them?
The sound of metal spurred Mother Selfiya awake. She was used to it by now, ears heightened to such a level that even other felintines and canintines wouldn¡¯t dare covet. Her nose picked up the scent of her own refuse, for she was left by her captors without even the freedom to save herself that little dignity. They fed her at the same place. Not that these Nightmares cared where or what she ate. She heard Alphazzel storm out of the prison. Mad faunel. Whatever his objectives were, they hadn¡¯t come from Brymeia. Whatever Divine Will or Prime Designation was letting him exist didn¡¯t come from this once beautiful world. It was the Nightmare. It was always the Nightmare. Selfiya believed this with all her heart. She also believed that whoever was making that noise was her ally. She had so little precious meiyal left. A feat she would dare not let the mad faunel know. For how ancient and knowledgeable Alphazzel was, his maddened state had left him out of the loop. His methods were just as ancient as they were strong, but they lacked flexibility, just like how he had missed the hidden meiyal from her second meiyal core. Her canintine core. Still, this little meiyal wouldn¡¯t let her reach Venry and his companions with her Soul¡¯s Walk anymore. But this man on the other side of her prison, she could easily reach. All she had to do was whisper. She began by infiltrating his mind. A different function of her Blessing. Crude, but there was no other way around it with these Nightmares standing guard. Though they could no longer understand, spoken words would still stir them into suspicion. The rhythmic sound of chains suddenly stopped. Not because he was tired, but because he was sensitive enough to be aware of another presence. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he asked out loud. Selfiya responded with her mind. ¡°I¡¯m Selfiya Lunasensia. Mother of the Void. There are Nightmares around, so respond through your mind. I¡¯m a captive, just like you. May I ask your name, stranger?¡± ¡°Frein. Frein Nivan. I¡¯m the Visitor.¡± Suddenly, it all made sense. Where they were and what he was doing with the chains. Alphazzel might be mad, but he had taken clear records of the past before he had succumbed to the madness. Records that only Mothers and Fathers of the Void had access to. ¡°I see. Are you sure you want to go through with this?¡± she asked. ¡°He¡¯s going to kill Katherine,¡± was all he said. ¡°If you break those chains, you know you¡¯re going to die, right?¡± ¡°I have to try something rather than just stay here. He¡¯s going to kill everyone if I don¡¯t stop him.¡± At this, Selfiya knew that she was right about the Visitors. They never made any sense. Not to her, anyway. To throw away a life for a purpose they wouldn¡¯t possibly know until the end. It was absurdity, at the very least. Complete madness at most. Alphazzel couldn¡¯t even hold a candle to them. Frein¡¯s desperation was apparent when he started struggling against the chains once again. Visitors already accepted death when they entered Brymeia. But he was different. Selfiya could feel it. This Visitor didn¡¯t care about his purpose. His mind was only on protecting Katherine. That resonated with her on such a level that she started to tear up. The Lady of the Void was her most gifted student. One who kept up with her teachings despite Schrodie getting in the way. That child hadn¡¯t lived a proper childhood. Expectations on expectations were irresponsibly placed upon her shoulders, and then she was thrown out in a strange world. Selfiya had never gotten to say sorry. And here came a man with no expectations for Katherine other than to be with her. No wonder she had fallen in love. The Void Mother had taken the liberty to peek when she found out the Lady had returned, but she couldn¡¯t take the courage to approach her. She had done too much and too little to deserve even asking for forgiveness. ¡°You can¡¯t break those chains without meiyal,¡± she said. ¡°I have to try. I have no choice but to try.¡± This was it. Her chance to make amends. ¡°Let me help.¡± Chapter 182: Meteors Meteors ¡±Katherine mentioned once that deflecting meteors was one of her training regimens in Schrodie¡¯s Realm¡­¡± ~Kristel Irista Katherine breathed out and opened her eyes. She found herself sitting on the floor, leaning on the foot of her and Frein¡¯s bed. Five meiyal-charged materials, and already, she felt like her Exhibit would explode at any moment. ¡°Remember, these things were made by gods and myself. And while my influence will help protect you from theirs, one wrong move and you¡¯ll be torn apart from the inside. It¡¯s not a matter of their cooperation, but your ability to keep them contained.¡± Brymeia¡¯s words whispered from inside her Mind Palace. It sounded all too familiar. ¡°Feels like managing the Nightmare Influence,¡± she whispered, but it was enough to stir Enza and Elizzel into action. ¡°Correct. Which is why only the strongest among Lords and Ladies of the Void can be entrusted with this Exhibit.¡± ¡°Kat, are you okay?¡± Elizzel said, kneeling by her side and holding her hand. Enza whined and placed her snout on her lap. ¡°We need to get to Frein, but I¡¯m worried about you too.¡± She patted both of them on the head. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Way better, actually. We should go catch up to Kristel.¡± ¡°Kat,¡± Elizzel started, reaching up to the Lady¡¯s head. ¡°Your hair.¡± Stray strands of her hair had turned white. ¡°I was born with white hair just like my mother,¡± Katherine explained, wondering at her own transformation. ¡°My Siffera turned it brown because I thought it made me look old. I¡­ I¡¯m not sure why it¡¯s turning back to white.¡± She could only point towards the Exhibit as the cause. It wasn¡¯t something to blame, per se. At one point in her life, she had wanted her white hair back. But whether it was her indecisiveness, or regret, or the Exhibit, it didn¡¯t matter right now. ¡°Eli, I want you to Tether with me.¡± Unlike before, when she had outright denied her, Elizzel simply stayed quiet. She knelt down, eyes meeting the Lady¡¯s without hesitation. It wasn¡¯t as if a faunel could only Tether with one person, but mortal people who made that bond couldn¡¯t carry the burden of another. If anything else, Katherine would be helping her out. ¡°This can¡¯t be just because you¡¯re jealous, isn¡¯t it? Pretty awkward timing if you ask me.¡± The faunel managed a thin smile amidst the heavy desperation in the atmosphere. ¡°Half of it still, yeah,¡± Katherine admitted. ¡°But I have more reason to help you out now. Just look at you.¡± The Lady of the Void gestured all over the faunel. They were almost imperceptible, but Elizzel was suffering from a sort of Art fatigue state. Heat haze outlined her entire body, and extremely thin lines of smoke hissed from her back. Not to mention her sundress was turning awfully translucent. ¡°Frein can¡¯t supply you with his meiyal right now. And whatever that faunel did to you back in the library, drained you just enough so that you can¡¯t recover without eating.¡± Katherine smiled and reached out a hand to feel Elizzel¡¯s face. The faunel held it like a treasure. ¡°I know you made a promise to me and Frein, but we both know he¡¯ll understand. We don¡¯t want to see you hurt, Eli. So go ahead. You can eat me.¡± Katherine¡¯s meiyal core was special. It floated outside her body like a hair ornament. Because of this, Elizzel couldn¡¯t sink her teeth into it like whenever she fed on Frein¡¯s core. The workaround, however, was extremely intimate. The faunel sat on Katherine¡¯s lap, while Enza moved out of the way. The young yuma had some understanding of what was to happen and made herself scarce, embarrassed. Elizzel pulled the Lady¡¯s head back to her. ¡°Focus on me,¡± she whispered. ¡°Tethering with Brymeia¡¯s subjects isn¡¯t the same as with a Visitor.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Katherine frowned, but she didn¡¯t turn away. Her hands held the faunel¡¯s waist, pulling her closer. ¡°Because,¡± Elizzel started, leaning closer, their lips almost touching. ¡°Brymeia loves you more than she loves a Visitor.¡± The faunel¡¯s kiss was deep and affectionate. It was also filled with meiyal, demanding an exchange of equal measure. Katherine drowned herself in pleasure while providing her own meiyal. It wasn¡¯t like meiyal resuscitation where only one was providing for the other. This was a mutual trade. Elizzel moaned and gasped in reaction to Katherine¡¯s meiyal, but her greed got the better of her. She attacked and demanded more. Katherine didn¡¯t back down and gave as much as the faunel needed. Her desires were about to overflow. She kept telling herself that Frein wasn¡¯t around to stop or satisfy her antics. There was no time for sex, and this was all so that the both of them could save him together. The moment the Tether formed, Katherine¡¯s mind immediately understood how Frein treated himself as the same person as Elizzel. It was an odd notion at first, and quite frankly, the bond was too fresh for that realization to take proper hold.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. But she could see herself in Elizzel now. She was Elizzel, and Elizzel was Katherine. They both smiled.
Katherine, after finding some proper clothes, made her way out of the High Palace. She still chose her trusty white, tank top, layered with her trademark black coat. But instead of shorts, she wore a pair of combat pants that Frill had made for her. It was based on the actual pair she had brought from Earth, but with sturdiness and flexibility enough to benefit from her Siffera. The faunel stayed in her Mind Palace. It was an odd, yet wonderful feeling. Finally, she could take part in something only Frein and Elizzel had once shared. Already, her mind was filled with possibilities and theories of how the Dream would work for the three of them now. Focus, she reminded herself while pulling over Enza¡¯s saddle. We need to bring Frein back first. The launching docks of the High Palace bustled with the intense activity of everyone present. A.I.R. ships were being prepared and manned. Far less than what she would have expected, however. ¡°Why so few?¡± she asked Jaylene. The felintine showed surprise and relief at the same time. ¡°Everyone with a Purifying Stone has already left,¡± she explained. ¡°This batch is for rescue efforts for anyone who got out of the Nightmare.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an Incursion,¡± Katherine said dryly, implying that there would be no survivors. ¡°That won¡¯t stop us from trying, won¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It sure won¡¯t,¡± Admiral Garm said. He placed a heavy hand on his daughter¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Trying a new hairstyle?¡± ¡°Not sure if I like it, yet.¡± Katherine shrugged. ¡°When are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re good to go now,¡± Scuti said this time, joining in last. ¡°I might not be able to get close, but I want to help if I can.¡± Katherine didn¡¯t deny the Second Princess this request, but she asserted her role in the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll take command,¡± she began without preamble or breath. Her voice carried throughout the entire docks, making everyone pause in attention to her. ¡°Everyone who flies towards Eastrise will either listen to me; no questions asked, or will not fly at all. This situation is now under the Order of the Void¡¯s jurisdiction. Understood?¡± Everyone, including the Second Princess, even her father and adoptive mother, stood firm and made their Iristan salute. ¡°If I tell you ¡®run¡¯, you run. If I tell you to close your eyes, you close your eyes. If I tell you not to breathe, you¡¯ll hold your breath even if you go unconscious. If I tell you anything, you will do it without question, or you will either die, or worse, become a Nightmare yourself. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± everyone said with a resounding roar.
Kristel could see the devastation even from the distance. The entirety of Eastrise Region, named after the beautiful mountains that surrounded its main city, was engulfed in a red void. A half-sphere of crimson blood throughout the entire horizon. Nightmare Incursion. They flew just underneath the clouds to gain enough of a vantage point to see what they were dealing with. It was grim. The skies above Eastrise had turned black and red. Rainless storms caused lightning strikes to constantly barrage the ground outside of the sphere. The only good thing was that it wasn¡¯t spreading. Not yet, anyway. If Elizzel¡¯s warnings were to be believed, the Incursion could easily move and take the neighboring regions. That meant Northsnow, Southshore, or Central. Not to mention that they were expecting to have three¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone could survive that,¡± Xiv said. It caused the rest of the people inside, all of whom were Iristans, to turn to him with judging eyes. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my retainer,¡± Kristel reminded them before turning back to the devouring sphere. It was still far away, but the scale was already daunting. ¡°You guys can trust him. But Xiv, even if there are no survivors, we still have to stop it from spreading.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xiv said. ¡°I understand.¡± She looked back to her retainer. ¡°Besides, if none of us can pass through that sphere, I¡¯ll have to send you, since you have more experience in the Nightmare Lands when compared to the rest of us.¡± It wasn¡¯t exactly true. Many knights from the Atlas Sid had joined them, but no one could dispute the innate resistance against Meiyal Arts and Nightmare Influence that the Lord Knights of Vyndival Kingdom possessed. ¡°I¡¯d really rather not, Princess.¡± Xiv worded his response slowly. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t care, I just think it¡¯s too much for one person.¡± ¡°I was kidding,¡± Kristel clarified, but she wasn¡¯t smiling at all. ¡°Only half kidding. I¡¯ll join you. And Frill, maybe.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll join you too, Princess,¡± Maffelyne said. Her companions, Sharon, Darrofille, and Bartholomew shared her enthusiasm. The rest of the knights on the ship didn¡¯t want to be outcompeted. ¡°I appreciate that. All of you,¡± Kristel said. ¡°But truth be told, if the Nightmare Influence is too strong, it¡¯ll turn any of you who can¡¯t withstand it into a burden. Not just in terms of manpower, but morale as well. If you turn into a Nightmare, we¡¯ll have no choice but to kill you. And we don¡¯t want that on our conscience. ¡°So please, if you¡¯re unable to steady yourself against the Nightmare Influence, stay back. If you can¡¯t do it because of your pride, do it for your loyalty to the Crown.¡± Silence filled the air. Kristel couldn¡¯t blame them. Before they had left for this fight, she was encouraging them to join her. Now it looked like she was pushing them away. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, hiding her clenched fists behind her back. ¡°It¡¯s the truth of the matter. If there was a way to help you increase your resistance against the Nightmare, I would¡¯ve suggested it. But I¡¯m not a Void Mother.¡± Maffelyne was the first to recover. ¡°We understand. We¡¯ll do our best to support you, Princess. If we can¡¯t fight in the Nightmare, we can make sure to help you from the outside anyway we can.¡± Kristel smiled at that. ¡°Thank you, Maff.¡± ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± Frill said, interrupting the discussion. She arrived atop Stiry, dismounting with grace while the yuma flew to the back of the A.I.R. ship. ¡°Look up.¡± Everyone did, but only Kristel and Xiv knew what it was that they were looking for. The unmoving clouds. Frein had pointed them out to Kristel, and she in turn, to her retainers. Frill was right. Something was wrong. It wasn¡¯t just the fact that the clouds weren¡¯t moving. Meiyal from them were stretched, as if¡­ ¡°Oh, no.¡± Evanclad¡¯s gasp escaped along with Kristel¡¯s as they both understood. It was different for the First Monarch, however. ¡°Go down! Go down now!¡± Kristel moved like a blur, reaching for the communicator. ¡°Everyone, fly low! Fly low now!¡± Ashtine and Smyl, who were piloting her ship, didn¡¯t even hesitate. But the others weren¡¯t so lucky. Strands of meiyal shot out from the clouds, wrapping the unfortunate ships. They couldn¡¯t get away, stuck like insects caught in a web. ¡°We need to help them out,¡± Kristel said without hesitation. ¡°Smyl and those of you without a yuma, stay with the ship. Land. The rest of you, with me. On your yumas. Use your observation Meiyal Art and dodge the webs. Cut the webs off, or pull the men out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re coming with me,¡± Frill said, throwing Xiv out of the A.I.R. ship. He screamed until Stiry caught the both of them. ¡°Spider webs in the sky,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°This can¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kristel asked as she got on Testra. Before the First Monarch could respond, however, something bright caught their attention. First was flame. Next were the large rocks, hurtling down towards them and the ships. But atop was something even more disturbing than the meteors hurtling towards them. It was a spider. A spider hiding beyond the unmoving clouds. Upside-down, melding out of its Nature¡¯s Favor, its scale was beyond belief. So colossal that Kristel couldn¡¯t even find the ends of its legs. ¡°Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz.¡± Evanclad said clearly, despite the confusion it caused the Princess. ¡°One of the Four Sealed Ones.¡± Chapter 183: Trapped in a Web Trapped in a Web A few things became clear as soon as Xiv saw the multiple eyes of the colossus spider Nightmare shifting every which way. There was no hope. There was no escape. They were all going to die. The screech was the very definition of hopelessness. It had taken everyone out, save for the Princess, Frill, himself, and the knights from the Atlas Sid. The Guard Knights and all the soldiers under that rank were helpless against the Nightmare Influence. Many of them had lost consciousness, while some had begun to transform. The bubbling carnage loomed over the entire army as those who still had the will to fight saw their brothers and sisters in arms twist and contort into abominations that no longer recognized them. Screams filled the air of desperation and confusion as the reality set in. In order to survive, they would have to kill their own. The web of clouds was the inescapable prison that they had found themselves in. Apart from Xiv¡¯s A.I.R. ship, no one else had made it out. Even if some of the Sky Knights could still fly on their yumas, the webs had boxed them in, slowly enclosing like a net fishing up dumb schools of fish. Those who were foolish enough to strike it were instantly caught, and the more they struggled, the more webs wrapped around them. Some had already suffocated. The meteors were their death. There was no argument to be made against it. While Xiv processed the logic behind their existence and how they seemed to completely evaporate before colliding with the prison web, his attention was forcibly directed to one coming straight for him and Frill, and one of the A.I.R. ships behind them. ¡°Nidai-Imbelia!¡± Frill screamed, Drawing a giant film of meiyal water and pushing it out to meet the meteor. How would that help? Xiv stopped himself from saying out loud. He had seen that Meiyal Art once or twice before. It was used for cleaning without getting things wet. That was pretty much it. He wanted to complain, but he dared not distract the concentrating Aria. She was already busy making sure she was stable on Stiry. The meteor passed through the film, and the effect was instantaneous. The fire was gone. It didn¡¯t even sizzle out into smoke. Just gone. But it was still a large piece of rock hurtling straight for them. Xiv had enough time to notice that it was wet, despite his expectations, but it didn¡¯t really help their situation much. ¡°Kia!¡± Frill said, flexing her fingers like a claw with a vice grip. The moisture around the meteor froze, enclosing the entire thing in ice. At this point, the Vyndivalian knew Frill had had a plan all along. ¡°!¡± Frill exclaimed and completely closed her hand in a fist. And the meteor shattered. Not into smaller meteorites that could still hurt them. No. It completely disintegrated into harmless powder. Ice dust that was swept away by the wind before completely dispersing into meiyal residue. ¡°I love you, Frill,¡± Xiv said in amazement. He couldn¡¯t stop himself. ¡°What?¡± The Aria turned, blushing and frowning at the same time. ¡°Why now, all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re amazing,¡± he admitted. ¡°I¡¯m sure you and the Princess can get out of here, but just in case I can¡¯t, I want you to know that I fell for you from the day we first met.¡± Frill squinted at him. ¡°I almost killed you that day¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t judge me,¡± he retorted. ¡°Hey, lovebirds,¡± Princess Kristel called out. Her words tried to diffuse the danger they were in, but her twisted frown made it backfire. She noticed and went straight to the point. ¡°Stop gawking at each other and get to work. We have more incoming. Can you sing, Frill?¡± ¡°It¡¯s either that or the meteors, Kristel,¡± she replied while shattering the last meteor from far away. They expected more to come, however. ¡°Fine. Meteors, then.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we can kill that Nightmare, Princess,¡± Xiv admitted, trying to summon what dry humor he technically didn¡¯t have. ¡°It¡¯s too big.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We can¡¯t,¡± Kristel responded without batting an eye. ¡°Its name is Velruzen-something-something-something. I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s too long. It¡¯s one of the Four Sealed Ones. If Evanclad can¡¯t kill it, then we have no choice but to run, if we can.¡± The Princess Drew an echo Meiyal Art. ¡°We have one objective! Escape! Gather at the bottom of the enclosure. If you¡¯re going to get stuck, get stuck down there. Help everyone you can out of the A.I.R. ships if you can¡¯t cut off the webs. Those you can¡¯t save¡­¡± Xiv saw the Princess clench her fist, pained regret on her face. He felt her pain. A decision like this was never easy. Frill took his hand as they both awaited their future Monarch¡¯s command. ¡°Those you can¡¯t save, you leave behind.¡± No roar, no battle cry. But with a direction in mind, the surviving knights finally projected some semblance of coordination. One by one, people left via smaller ships or outright jumped off, trusting that the web would catch their fall. One A.I.R. ship managed to get loose with Advisor Kento¡¯s help. Xiv, however, felt the subtle touch of meiyal behind the Princess¡¯s words. Specifically, the last command. ¡°Was that¡­?¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Yes,¡± Kristel admitted, realizing there wasn¡¯t much time for discussion. ¡°Monarch¡¯s Law. I have it, Xiv. I never used it on you, even back then when you were still a prisoner of war. But I did, just now.¡± Xiv looked at Frill, whose silence all but said that she knew all along. ¡°Why now?¡± he asked. He wasn¡¯t angry. He trusted Kristel enough to believe her words. He was just curious. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want them to blame themselves for leaving their comrades behind.¡± Kristel¡¯s eyes were close to tears, but she was determined to see everything through. Back, straight and proud, she was the exact opposite of everything King Urzic was, and Xiv felt proud in return. ¡°I see.¡± Xiv nodded slowly. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I have a different request for you, Xiv,¡± Kristel began as the skies began to turn fiery red once again. The Sealed One was about to unleash the second wave of meteors. ¡°I¡¯m at your service,¡± Xiv replied. ¡°Can you¡­¡± Kristel clenched her jaw hard, swallowing a sob that almost got out. ¡°Can you please put everyone who became a Nightmare to rest? I can command you if it works better on your conscience.¡± Xiv understood. She was asking him to kill the knights that had turned. Friends, or even families, of those that were currently struggling to survive. The Princess couldn¡¯t ask them to murder their own comrades. And she couldn¡¯t handle the guilt all by herself. She was asking him to help her shoulder that blame. ¡°I can help¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Kristel interrupted Frill without reservations. ¡°Please. Just you, Xiv.¡± ¡°Yes, Princess,¡± he said firmly, providing her with an Iristan salute. ¡°I can take care of it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Xiv. Delolera.¡± Kristel Drew her battle gear. Meiyal wings sprouted and lifted her from her yuma. ¡°Testra, give him a paw, will you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s alright,¡± said the retainer. His mission was as morbid as it got. He didn¡¯t want the poor yuma to live through that experience. ¡°I think it¡¯s best if I do this on my own.¡± ¡°Alright. Thanks again, Xiv. I¡¯ll take her to help the others. Frill, just concentrate on the meteors, alright?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°I can handle them. Kristel gave one final nod before diving down to help the rescue. Xiv Donned his Meiyal Armor, Cordralym, before giving Frill a pat on her shoulder. ¡°You sure you can handle them?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not actually meteors,¡± Frill explained while she was concentrating on her next Meiyal Art. ¡°Katherine told me about them a long time ago. It was part of her training regimen. If I can¡¯t handle these, then I have no hope of catching up. ¡°You, on the other hand, have your own problems. Are you sure you can do this?¡± She pointed towards the webbed up A.I.R. ship behind them. Kristel had already emptied it with the survivors, leaving only the Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh, a ball of knights who were weak enough to succumb to the Nightmare. ¡°Yeah.¡± Xiv nodded once. ¡°It¡¯s my job. I¡¯m the only one who can do this.¡± Frill tapped his leg, her way of encouragement. ¡°Please don¡¯t die.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± Xiv pulled himself up Stiry¡¯s saddle, using Frill¡¯s shoulders to help him. He leaped off and dashed through the air as he Flourished his Weapon, Benovrymm. In a single strike, he eradicated the Grinding Teeth into meiyal residue. At the same time, a large film of Imbelia expanded on top of them. Frill covered the entire enclosure, catching all the meteors with her own net. Each one, she reduced to frozen meiyal residue. Xiv didn¡¯t let the spectacle stop him from doing his job. He leapt to the next, making sure these soldiers who had served their nation didn¡¯t suffer anymore than they already had.
Kristel lived through her guilt with the help of her desperation and fear. Many were the moments she fought against rushing towards the spider and giving it a piece of her mind. Each time, Evanclad stopped her. ¡°Concentrate on what you can do, Kristel,¡± said the First Monarch. ¡°Grieve later. Take your vengeance later.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always later,¡± she shot back, but she left it at that. Just words. All her efforts were to get everyone she could to safety. That meant dealing with the webs. The only similarity those meiyal webs had with household cobwebs was the flimsy look. These cursed things were all but soft. They deflected all manner of Meiyal Arts, not to mention that they were sturdy enough to withstand the Sealed One¡¯s own meteors. Speaking of, Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz took its sweet time. Confident and arrogant. That was part of the reason why the Princess was full of rage. It knew they couldn¡¯t do anything against it, and so it decided to make them its plaything. Silently, she swore to find a way to end this hideous otherworldly monster. ¡°But first¡ª¡± ¡°I know!¡± Kristel Drew her Sandai-Kaimera and cleaved through a web-cage with the power of her Sandai-Siffera. It felt like slicing through rock with a dulled knife, but her strength and expertise prevented the web from catching her weapon. She unleashed all her frustrations on it, sending a combo of slashes into an inanimate, conjured object, until it finally collapsed. It released the only A.I.R. ship full of knights that haddn¡¯t succumbed to the Nightmare Influence. ¡°Move now,¡± the Princess commanded. ¡°Get everyone you can to safety. Get them below. Now!¡± The flow was quick, and everyone knew what to do. Especially Kristel. Her attacks had worked against the web, and so she dove down to tear open a hole for everyone to escape. She swung with all her might against the solid web, each strike tempering her meiyal blade. Sharper, faster, stronger. She cleaved through layers of web like she was digging through earth. And from atop, Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz realized what was happening. The Sealed One let loose another screech. Everyone fell into despair, clutching their heads as the Nightmare Influence assaulted them once more. Kristel pleaded for them to hold on. They couldn¡¯t afford to lose more people. ¡°Stand tall!¡± she commanded, pouring every bit of meiyal she could into her Monarch¡¯s Law. ¡°Do not give in to the Nightmare! You are proud Iristans! You¡¯ll return as Iristans!¡± Her will clashed against something and it pressed its will on her in return. ¡°Disappointing, utterly disappointing,¡± Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz said. Everyone stopped and looked to the Spider In The Sky. Eight heads emerged from the clouds, surrounding the main ninth. Pincers from its hairy maws were the size of castles, as if the monster could feast on mountains and cities if it wanted to. It was laughing. All nine heads were laughing. ¡°Not a single one worth hunting,¡± the Sealed One continued. ¡°Tell me: where is Frein Nivan?¡± Kristel froze. Not because the creature spoke. Of course they can speak¡­ She froze because it was looking specifically for the Visitor. It looked down at them, expecting an answer, not a question. No one could say anything. For one, most of them didn¡¯t even personally know Frein. For another, they had no idea where he might have been taken. Including Kristel. But she wasn¡¯t one to back away from her role. She proudly raised her sword, reaching as far as she could despite being the farthest one away. With all her might, she responded. ¡°He¡¯ll hunt you down when he¡¯s ready!¡± Everyone looked at her, faces aghast. All of Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz¡¯ eyes turned towards her. The invasive scan dissected her very being as the Sealed One gathered all the information it could, as if she was an opened book. Its laughter became more sinister. ¡°What a tiny, little Princess, you are, Kristel Irista,¡± it said, chittering voices echoing on top of one head to another. ¡°A shadow of your former ancestors. You don¡¯t deserve to be named after her. You¡¯re barely worth the laugh I¡¯d spare a poor joke.¡± Kristel blinked and stepped back. The sting from her own words being spat right back at her was nothing compared to the fact that the Sealed One had seen her past. It was reading her Destiny, and she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. ¡°Fine,¡± it began. ¡°But only because I hold Evanclad in the highest regard. I will spare the rest of you, for I shall savor what morsels are left on this pathetic world. And if the Visitor dies without providing me the entertainment I¡¯m owed, you shall find my wrath as cold as the shadow of the clouds cast upon your very nation.¡± Just like that, Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz let them go. The Sealed One vanished. The clouds began to move. And the webs dissolved as if they were never there in the first place. People began to freefall, but this problem was trivial compared to the deathly promise that bonded around Kristel¡¯s Destiny. Even more pressing than that, however, was the slowly expanding Nightmare Incursion in front of them. Chapter 184: Everyone Makes a Sacrifice Everyone Makes a Sacrifice ¡±Life has a weird way of showing truth to people¡­ And so do I.¡± ~Alphazzel, Faunel of History and Disasters. ¡±Princess Kristel¡­¡± ¡°Uncle.¡± Kristel sat upon a rock on the edge of a crater caused by a fallen A.I.R. ship. ¡°How goes the count?¡± ¡°We only have about two-hundred knights remaining. A hundred of those are either incapacitated by the Nightmare Influence, or too injured to continue. The rest¡­ The rest are gone, Princess.¡± Kristel clenched her jaw. Her frustrated grip on the rock crushed it into powder. The entire army was gone before they could even approach the Incursion. Out of the ones that remained, she doubted anyone would wish to enter that black void. Her thoughts turned to Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz, but she quickly stopped herself before she mentally cursed the Sealed One. She knew next to nothing with regards to Destiny, and she wouldn¡¯t risk its wrath by calling it something undesirable. Kristel sighed. In the end, she could only rely on the other two and their yumas right now. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± she said, shaking the dust off her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll organize a camp for the knights to recuperate,¡± Advisor Kento started, unfazed by her outburst. ¡°We can proceed tomorrow, when they¡¯re more able.¡± ¡°Good decision,¡± she replied. ¡°We¡¯ll be back before nightfall.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only two hours left before nightfall, Princess.¡± ¡°That should be enough for us to scout what¡¯s right in front of us.¡± Kristel hopped down the rock and looked around for Frill and Xiv. The look on her uncle¡¯s face was between worry and desperation. ¡°You¡¯re not going in there, Princess.¡± ¡°This is not a discussion, Advisor Kento,¡± she retorted, holding herself back from using Monarch¡¯s Law. ¡°None of you are in any shape to resist the Nightmare Influence now.¡± ¡°And you can?¡± he said, catching himself too late. ¡°Yes,¡± Kristel replied confidently. ¡°Times have changed, Uncle. I¡¯m not as helpless as I was three years ago.¡± The Princess didn¡¯t wait for her advisor to retaliate. She just left him there, forcing him to keep his words to himself. She would not be dissuaded from this decision. There was a moment, when Kristel had considered going into the Incursion on her own, but she thought better of it. First of all, Frill and Xiv were her only reliable hands in this current situation. Second, she was a hundred percent sure that the Aria would jump straight into danger if she found out, which meant Xiv would come plunging in without hesitation. It was best to just have them join her now. Kristel saw Xiv first. The new retainer was going around distributing medical supplies. He passed them all to another knight when he saw her. ¡°Where¡¯s Frill?¡± she asked. ¡°They went to survey the outer rim of the Incursion.¡± ¡°They what?¡± Kristel blinked, exercising all her patience to not jump straight into the Incursion. She couldn¡¯t even appreciate the irony of the situation. ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®they¡¯?¡± ¡°Frill¡¯s with Smyl and Ashtine, as far I know. She also said you¡¯d complain if they asked permission first, so they just went.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a complete disregarding of my authority,¡± Kristel said, clutching her head with one hand. ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± Xiv scratched the back of his head. ¡°They¡¯ll be coming back soon, I think. They promised to only survey what¡¯s right in front of us.¡± As if on cue, the three in question landed not far from them. Kristel glared in their direction and the two Sky Knight accompanying her retainer immediately tensed up. ¡°We were just following orders,¡± Ashtine said as soon as Kristel joined them. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with this when we get back,¡± Kristel said. She needed Frill right now, and dismissing her would be the most stupid decision she would¡¯ve ever made. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°Absolutely nothing,¡± Frill replied. ¡°The sphere completely blocks everything from the outside, even if we get close. There¡¯s something odd with it, however.¡± Kristel just motioned for her to continue, still struggling to tame down her frustrations. ¡°The Nightmare Influence is also completely blocked off. Doesn¡¯t matter how close we get, there¡¯s not a shred of it seeping out from the sphere.¡± ¡°How close did you get?¡± Frill gestured towards the distance between her and the Princess. ¡°Just me, though,¡± she said. ¡°I know we can handle the Nightmare now, but I¡¯m not sure with these two.¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°That¡¯s awfully close. Ashtine, you¡¯re not allowed inside the Incursion. We were keeping this a secret, but Frein saw something wrong with your Mind Palace. I¡¯m afraid if you go in there, it might aggravate your situation. ¡°I¡¯m not opposed to you, or even you, Smyl, joining this campaign, but I intended to stop both of you from entering the Incursion in the first place.¡± ¡°What did Frein see?¡± Ashtine asked, nervous because of the unknown and because she was still conscious that she ignored Kristel¡¯s authority. ¡°That you¡¯re weirdly under the influence of the Nightmare, but somehow you¡¯re walking fine. He wasn¡¯t able to explore your Mind Palace directly because of it, so I don¡¯t want you anywhere inside that sphere.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Ashtine shook her head, unable to comprehend what she just heard. ¡°I find that hard to believe.¡± Kristel couldn¡¯t agree more. ¡°I know, but he saved me from my own Nightmare Influence. He knows what he¡¯s talking about, so I suggest you trust him rather than risk your life.¡± The Princess made sure not to mention the Oblimoth residing in the Sky Knight¡¯s Mind Palace, or that she and her brother were half-faunels. Just the Influence alone was already hard enough to believe. There would be time for those other revelations later. ¡°What about me?¡± Smyl asked. He caught himself sounding like a kid, so he tried again. ¡°Why can¡¯t I join?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have to explain that, do I?¡± Kristel said. ¡°Despite what Uncle Kento said, you¡¯re in no shape for a fight. Besides, do you think Ashtine will stay put if you go in there?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t stay put if you go in there, Princess,¡± said a new voice. Maffelyne. She was accompanied by her group and a few others who had overheard their talk. Advisor Kento was with them. ¡°Sorry, but we can¡¯t really stay put if you¡¯re going.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°You will, or I¡¯m knocking you all out,¡± Kristel said, her patience running thin. ¡°Don¡¯t make me use more meiyal than I have to. You will all stay here and recover. Frill, Xiv, and I will scout ahead. We¡¯ll be back before full dark.¡± She started storming off, leaving everyone aside from the people she mentioned. She heard Frill saying something to Ashtine and the others. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s safe.¡± No one else complained. Kristel expected as much. Despite their willingness to support her, they were all shaken by the truth of the Nightmare. Even if Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz hadn¡¯t interfered with their campaign, they would have felt this despair one way or another. She paused. Did it stop us on purpose? Did it want to make sure those who are too weak won¡¯t needlessly sacrifice themselves? Kristel thought that was too good to be true. It was more likely that the Sealed One had parked itself near what would be a Nightmare Incursion in order to feast off anyone strong enough to survive it. And clearly, it was disgustingly disappointed. ¡°You know,¡± Xiv began as they left the camp¡ªor the beginnings of it, at least. He was riding with Frill on top of Stiry. ¡°If I had only heard this sort of story from someone else, I¡¯d imagine you to be taller than anyone out there, Princess.¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re her retainer, doesn¡¯t mean you can mock her for her height, Xiv,¡± Frill retaliated. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Kristel said. ¡°The strongest person I know is even smaller than I am.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± they both asked at the same time. ¡°Kristella,¡± she replied. ¡°The one I don¡¯t deserve to be named after.¡±
¡°It¡¯s frustrating,¡± Ashtine admitted as she sat on the debris of a collapsed A.I.R. ship part. She leaned forwards, steadying her head as she perched it over an arm that she propped on one knee. Her fingers twirled around her blonde hair. It had grown a little since she had returned from the Battle of the Vanguard. ¡°What is?¡± her brother asked. Smyl sat beside her, combing his own hair that shared the same color. ¡°That you can¡¯t accompany the Princess?¡± ¡°That, and I can¡¯t enter my Mind Palace.¡± She slapped a frustrated hand on her lap, forcing herself to stand. ¡°And then here comes the Visitor just waltzing in and claiming I have a problem.¡± ¡°The Princess did say he wasn¡¯t able to enter your Palace. He¡¯s in your Dream Realm, sure, but that¡¯s about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± Ashtine stomped her way down the debris and turned around with a frowning face. ¡°How am I supposed to verify it for myself, if I can¡¯t enter my own Mind Palace?¡± Smyl shrugged. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why you can¡¯t enter it? Because whatever¡¯s preventing the Nightmare Influence from turning you into one, is also somehow preventing you from entering until after you¡¯re cured?¡± ¡°Sometimes, I feel like you have too much of a better head than I do.¡± Ashtine pouted. ¡°It¡¯s better if you share some of it. We¡¯re twins, you know?¡± ¡°And I¡¯m the older one,¡± Smyl replied with a smug look on his face. ¡°So I deserve all the smarts.¡± ¡°And you also have all the brawns!¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m the older one.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Ashtine turned to leave to think about her issues on her own. Or at least, she tried. Her muscles had frozen, and it was getting difficult to breathe. Her eyes were affixed on Smyl who had gradually realized that something wrong was going on. ¡°Hey! Hey, Ashtine!¡± He ran towards her and tried to move her arms, but he couldn¡¯t. In fact, she couldn¡¯t even feel his grip. ¡°Hey! Help! Somebody help!¡± he started shouting, but he froze. Ashtine could only look at his brother as he stumbled around in horror. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She couldn¡¯t even utter the same question. She couldn¡¯t even move her eyes to look around, her gaze completely affixed on the ruined A.I.R. ship as her brother backed away out of view. ¡°Really now, stop panicking, Smyl.¡± Ashtine heard the voice somewhere to her left, towards where her brother had gone. Her natural instincts urged her to turn, but she was held in place, worse than a prisoner chained inside a cage. All she could do was listen. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Smyl, I¡¯ll help you remember.¡± The panicked screams of her brother gradually stopped. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Smyl said, much to Ashtine¡¯s confusion. ¡°All this just to get around Katherine? I almost died back there.¡± ¡°We had to make it realistic, Smyl,¡± said the unknown voice. ¡°If you underestimate a Seeker and a Visitor, you¡¯ll dearly pay for it. I know because¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯ve handled every last one of them. Just because I was just born, doesn¡¯t mean you get to boss me around. I agreed in the end, alright?¡± Smyl entered Ashtine¡¯s view once again. But rather than feeling relief, the confidence in her brother¡¯s face made her instincts scream for her to run. It was too out of character. He was hysterical a second ago. ¡°She can hear us, right?¡± he asked, turning to the stranger she couldn¡¯t see. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter, does it?¡± ¡°Answer the question.¡± ¡°She can, she can.¡± Smyl¡¯s eyes narrowed at that. ¡°Cover her ears.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll pop, if I cover everything,¡± the voice explained. ¡°It won¡¯t be pretty, you know? If there¡¯s nowhere else for things to go, they go down. If they go down, it gets messy. You don¡¯t want your sister to lose her dignity, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re disgusting.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying it how it is, Smyl. I¡¯m being considerate.¡± A pause. ¡°At least let her know she won¡¯t be¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Smyl growled. ¡°She¡¯s still my sister.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± the voice said softly in return. Mockingly softly. ¡°Take your time then. I¡¯m going to kill everyone in the meantime.¡± Ashtine heard the footsteps leave. Her heart pounded on her chest, realizing the stranger¡¯s final sentence. Not to mention the problematic face her brother wore, and the simple fact that he didn¡¯t stop the stranger. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ashtine,¡± Smyl said. ¡°Everything¡¯s been going according to plan.¡± He reached in front of him. Drawing. No¡­ Smyl Flourished a Weapon. Meiyal Armament. A dual-bladed sword with the hilt in the middle. He shrugged, admitting that he had been keeping this a secret all along. ¡°It¡¯s just a plain Weapon,¡± he explained, as if it would clear any sort of confusion swimming in her head. ¡°No Embellishments, or anything of the sort. Stole it during the Siege at the Vanguard. It needs a signature, but I can work around it without any problems.¡± Ashtine had a ton of questions in mind, but she couldn¡¯t give voice to them. Smyl shook his head. ¡°What am I saying?¡± He ran a hand over his hair, slowly turning it black. ¡°Sorry, I just don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Her brother looked past her, his lips curled in and his breathing deep. ¡°The Visitor¡¯s right,¡± he began. ¡°You¡¯re infested by a lot of Nightmares. We¡¯re born half-faunel. Our mother, Fellazzel, she disguised herself as a mortal and used our father to give birth to us. It was all for this moment, Ashtine. All so that we could attract the Entity out of the Princess.¡± He wasn¡¯t making sense as far as Ashtine was concerned. Her memories of her mother were¡ª ¡°Fake. My¡­ acquaintance, Alphazzel. He has Time¡¯s Eye. He can change your memories depending on how long you¡¯ve been within his company.¡± But I don¡¯t know any Alphazzel¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t remember because he erases that too. Every time.¡± Smyl paused again. The silence was long and excruciating. Ashtine almost forgot that she was hardly breathing. ¡°You¡¯re still not done?¡± asked the stranger¡¯s voice. Alphazzel. ¡°I¡¯ll do it, if you won¡¯t.¡± Smyl raised his Weapon. ¡°I¡¯ll end you the moment you try something.¡± Alphazzel laughed. ¡°You¡¯re not scary, Smyl. I know scary. Got fucked up by the Visitor last night. Just do what you¡¯re supposed to do, or get lost. I¡¯ll do it for you if you¡¯re such a baby about it. I gave you enough time.¡± Smyl ignored the faunel and turned his eyes on Ashtine. For the first time since she was frozen, they met eye to eye. She wanted to beg to be spared, but there was nothing she could do. Then he turned his Weapon to her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But I need your life, Ashtine.¡± The blade pierced her skin. She felt the pain as the sword entered her chest. It was slow, deliberate. She questioned everything in her life as the face of her brother inched closer to her, his pained expression unjustified by this cruel act. What¡¯s making him do such a thing? Ashtine concentrated on the question as she endured the pain. She could feel the metal pierce the fibers of her flesh, crushing bone as the blade ripped through it. The pain had long since turned cool, a final moment of mercy from her brother. Smyl wasn¡¯t torturing her, she realized. At least, she still clung to the small hope that her brother wasn¡¯t such a cruel person. Whatever was keeping her frozen, was making it difficult for him to finish his task. Even at death¡¯s door, she still saw the good in her murderer. She was kidding herself. Ashtine¡¯s breathing wasn¡¯t taking hold. The blade had pierced her heart. As if relieved, Smyl drew the sword out and threw it on the ground in frustration. He cried on the ground and screamed. She could feel her lifeforce fading away. It was slow, but it had caused whatever was freezing her to give way, at least a little. Relief and lethargy caressed her, and the tears were finally allowed to flow. ¡°Why¡­¡± she said weakly. It was the only word she could afford. When her brother didn¡¯t respond, Alphazzel invaded her view instead. He looked exactly like Tryvinal Bree, only his eyes were more crazed, and his hair was longer. ¡°Let me help you out,¡± he said with a compassionate smile, his eyes unblinkingly staring at her own. ¡°As a final gift for your sanity. Thank you for your great sacrifice, Ashtine.¡± Her final moments were spent recalling everything that had happened throughout the years of her life. How Destiny was real, and the plans had been brewing since the previous Visitor had died. They were after the completion of Frein¡¯s meiyal core. No, they wanted him to absorb the Fragment so he could die. They wanted him gone, so no one else would be in the way of their plans. But really, it¡¯s for the good of the world. The good of Brymeia. Ashtine was no longer frozen. She lay on the ground with tears of joy mixing with her pool of blood. She smiled in her final moments, knowing that her memories had finally returned¡­ Knowing that her sacrifice would be for the good of all¡­ A clarity for her final moments, so she could be at peace with her death¡­ Time¡¯s Eye was such a cruel thing. Chapter 185: Light Within Hopelessness Light Within Hopelessness Eastrise Region was, in a sense, the nation¡¯s largest nature reserve. Compared to Westleaf Region, where they concentrated all their bountiful and wondrous flora, here, they boasted beautiful and exotic fauna. The region also housed one of the largest yuma reserves of the entire nation. Sometimes, a rare breed called a could be found within the Nolomori Forest just north of Eastrise City. As elusive as the creature was, the healing properties of their horns, should they willingly provide them, were considered miracles left by the gods. One yumacorn had been spotted during the early years of Denis Irista¡¯s rule. And as for Kristel, she had only heard of them in stories. By the looks of things, however, it would probably stay that way for a long while. Just judging from the size of the Nightmare Incursion, the entirety of Nolomori Forest, and Cape Talon further east, were likely taken whole. Even the cursed place called Befall, Scar of this World, down further south of Eastrise Region would¡¯ve had a huge chunk of it taken by the Incursion. Kristel shuddered at the implications of Nightmare and Undead combining, but there was no time to explore that far to confirm right now. For now, they needed to scout what was in front of them, . It was a small town by a large lake where most of the people there found their livelihood. That and serving as a respite station for most of the miners from Eastrise City. Now, it was deserted and in ruins. ¡°A number of great adventurers and heroes originated from this town,¡± Kristel said, inspecting the rubble of ruined statues in what looked to be the remains of the town square. She was filled with nothing but regret. ¡°All part of history now.¡± Even the notion of rebuilding felt too out of reach. Such was the hopelessness caused by the Incursion. Xiv returned to their group after surveying the town perimeter. Frill also finished her investigation through the ruined houses over the lake. ¡°No survivors,¡± they both said. Kristel, though she was loathed to admit, had expected as much. This town was embraced by mountains on all sides, save for the path towards Eastrise City. They had flown their way over with their yumas, but with the protection coming from the mountains and the fact that it was geographically in between Central and the region¡¯s city, setting up protection became almost unnecessary. The town had probably only had a few guards and local police to uphold the bare minimum of the law. What Kristel didn¡¯t expect, however, was the peacefulness of the aftermath. There was almost no Nightmare Influence in this place. ¡°What about Nightmares?¡± she asked. The two seemed to catch her implications. They looked at each other and answered together. ¡°No Nightmares, Princess.¡± Kristel felt uneasy. Taken at face value, this would be the perfect place to set up camp for the rest of the army¡ªor what remained of it. They could take advantage of the weak Influence and allow for the people to acclimate with the environment before pushing on. But at the same time, it felt like a trap. It was too peaceful. She wished Katherine was around to provide her some experienced advice. There were too many variables. Is this how the Nightmare behaves? Just leave things alone when there¡¯s no life? Why haven¡¯t we been ambushed yet? Kristel struggled with her options, and Evanclad and Norazzel withheld their opinions. But, if she was to learn something from Frein, it was that even silence could be information she could use. If the two entities within her Mind Palace deemed it unnecessary to provide guidance, then whichever option she chose wouldn¡¯t be a detriment for her. And that was the problem. They only cared about her. Even the time when Evanclad urged her to protect her people from the Da¡¯bloop, it was so that she could break her limits. ¡°What should we do, Princess?¡± Frill asked, concern on her face. She unknowingly pulled Kristel back from her mulling. ¡°We¡¯ll set up a base of operations here tomorrow,¡± Kristel concluded. Despite all her worries, there were no better places for her army to prepare within the Nightmare Incursion. ¡°For now, we should return to everyone.¡± She began to lead the way back, but Frill turned the other direction. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± she said. Immediately, the group was on their guard. Kristel emphasized her Siffera to enhance her awareness and instantly picked up on something odd. A feat that was once something only Frein could do. But with enough training, just like he and Katherine had promised, she and Frill were able to do it now as well. The reward for her first application of it, however, wasn¡¯t as pleasing as the Princess would¡¯ve liked. ¡°I think they¡¯re lesser Nightmares,¡± Xiv said, evaluating the strange occurrence from the distance through his own methods. ¡°Quite a lot. I think they got attracted to our presence.¡± ¡°So much for a safe place for our troops.¡± ¡°I think you have the right idea, though, Kristel,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of experience with Nightmares compared to someone from the Order of the Void, but judging strictly from a strategic standpoint, this lake can provide us a great advantage.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t cross the water?¡± Frill asked, preparing to Draw her Meiyal Arts, but the Princess stopped her. ¡°Avoid extravagant Arts or using too much meiyal,¡± she reminded her. ¡°We¡¯ll attract more of them. It¡¯s what Katherine did before, but we¡¯re trying to lessen our encounters this time.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The Aria stopped Drawing. ¡°Not all of them can cross the water,¡± Xiv answered the previous question. ¡°But if we¡¯re only talking about lesser Nightmares, those that do try to cross, would be sluggish and easy to eliminate. As long as we wall up properly, we can funnel them into one side and make defending this place easy.¡± ¡°What about non-lesser Nightmares?¡± Frill asked. ¡°Ones that could fly or something.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you can avoid those completely anyway,¡± Xiv shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m trying to lessen the problems that we can solve, not create a miracle. Can¡¯t prepare for everything and expect all of it to work out.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Frill said, nodding along. She turned to Kristel. ¡°Up to you, though.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s clean up first, then we¡¯ll present what we found to others. We can take it from there.¡± Everyone agreed and prepared for the fight. None of them brought out any weapons, however. The objective for now was to confirm their enemies first before deciding how to eliminate them, or retreat if needed. The lesser Nightmares were coming from the direction of Eastrise City. That fact still stung, but Kristel closed her heart to it. She had a job to do, and emotions could easily get in the way. The group decided to take the path up the mountains for a better vantage point while ignoring the devastation along the way. How the trees were rotting, or the fact that they couldn¡¯t hear any animals at all, or how entire chunks of land were missing. It didn¡¯t take long for them to see the lesser Nightmares. As always, it was difficult to separate them from undead zombies. Husks of their former selves, they lumbered along whatever path they could step on. Some of them tripped over roots and were stomped on by their fellows. They simply regenerated back up and continued walking. Kristel reminded herself of the difference. Undead were born from an ancient curse of a god long forgotten. Most of them were gone, save for those residing in Befall. And the victims of those abominations, fortunately or unfortunately, simply ended up dying because what was left of the curse couldn¡¯t raise more undead. Nightmares were different. They possessed the Influence and would turn any of their victims into malformed abominations. And stronger victims became more than just lesser Nightmares, as with the case of the knights that had turned into Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh when Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz screamed. ¡°I think¡­¡± Frill began, observing the mass of lesser Nightmares. ¡°I think, I recognize those clothes.¡± Kristel turned to her retainer with a heavy heart. Before they had gone to Minaveil Province, Frill had been one of the top fashion trendsetters due to her being an idol and a known seamstress. If she recognized those clothes, then it only meant one thing. ¡°They¡¯re from here?¡± Xiv guessed as much. Frill confirmed silently, her lips curling in regret. A heavy atmosphere filled the group as the reality of the Incursion set upon them once again, now with full evidence of its consequences. ¡°We can¡¯t stop just because they¡¯re from here,¡± Kristel said, forcing the words out. She was trying to convince them as much as she was doing the same for herself. ¡°We have a duty to end their suffering.¡± Before any of them could act, however, a group of people ambushed the Nightmares. Kristel immediately noticed the trained movements of a Guard Knight, while Xiv pointed out three who were using Meiyal Armaments. Amidst the depressing sight, and despite the heartbreak she felt within for the victims of the Incursion, Kristel clung on the glint of hope in front of her. The battle was over quickly, and the group decided to meet the survivors. In that moment, however, something else alerted the three of them. There was no discussion. They couldn¡¯t afford one. Kristel, Frill, and Xiv all moved like a blur, ignoring the survivors. The Princess heard one of them yell her name, but there were five Jaws Lurking in the Forest chasing them. One of the Forest Jaws was closer than the rest. It lunged towards one of the survivors, who looked more like a civilian than a fighter. Kristel got there first with two Sandai-Kaimera Drawn over her meiyal blades. She spun and sent her Sandai-Siffera empowered momentum over the Nightmare¡¯s claw. Her Meiyal Arts exploded forwards, toppling over the giant monster while keeping the civilian behind her unharmed. The crowd rallying behind her stopped, save for Frill and Xiv who bombarded the reinforcing Nightmares with their Arts and Armaments. Kristel turned towards them, the survivors. She felt like she didn¡¯t deserve their attention. One of them looked like Venry. He looked much older, however. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re late,¡± she said, turning back to the five gigantic Forest Jaws and the lesser Nightmares underneath them. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it from here.¡±
Katherine soothed the restless yuma, who kept turning south. ¡°We¡¯re going the wrong way,¡± Enza complained. ¡°Frein¡¯s not in Eastrise.¡± For one, a bonded yuma could always, always track their master. No Arts or Armaments could deceive their senses. But that was the problem; they weren¡¯t against these disciplines. The good news was, they still had leads to find Frein. Meaning, it was only a matter of time before they could find him. And while Katherine wanted to turn the ship around and follow the yuma¡¯s directions, two things stopped her from doing so. One, these A.I.R. ships were sent as reinforcements for Kristel to help her with the Nightmare Incursion. Two, Katherine¡¯s senses detected something incredible and sinister towards Eastrise. ¡°We need to help out the Princess first, or Frein will get mad at us,¡± she said to Enza. The yuma was incredibly smart, quite smarter than most compared to others her age. She had grown at an incredibly fast rate. Not even a month had gone by since she was born, and already she could carry people on her back. Only a few people knew about her incredible growth, and all of them credited it to Frein¡¯s meiyal system. Katherine had to ignore the possible implications of that assumption, and concentrated instead at the task ahead. Enza pondered for a moment. ¡°Fine. But we shouldn¡¯t take too long.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t, don¡¯t worry. As soon as we make sure the Princess is alright, we¡¯ll go straight for Frein.¡± While the yuma calmed down, the Second Princess made her approach. She wore a grim expression. ¡°Something¡¯s off,¡± she began. ¡°We can see the Incursion, but we can also see crashed A.I.R. ships just before it. Some ships are intact, though.¡± ¡°Make haste,¡± Katherine commanded. ¡°Let¡¯s meet up with them.¡± The strong smell of iron hit them as soon as they got near. The Lady of the Void was the first one to see the massacre. She flew down even before the ships landed. Katherine¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Everyone was dead. Guard Knights, soldiers from the Atlas Sid, everyone. She saw Advisor Kento on the ground, lying in his own pool of drying blood. A foreboding worry caused her to panic. ¡°Kristel!¡± she shouted, but heard no response. Immediately, she Opened I, Alone, Am The Center. Amongst the entire army, only a single source of feedback returned from her scan. She followed the ping until she was staring at nothing. Someone was supposed to be right in front of her, but she saw no one. When she reached out, however, she could feel somebody there. Katherine pulled and quickly realized that the meiyal in front of her had frozen. ¡°It¡¯s the same one Alphazzel used on us,¡± Elizzel said from the Tether. The Lady of the Void tried a number of things to thaw out the frozen meiyal. Samesia didn¡¯t work, forcefully pulling didn¡¯t work. People had started to land, gasping at the sight of death, but Katherine kept trying to release whoever this invisible person was. ¡°If you can hear me,¡± she began, ¡°push your own meiyal outwards. Not your Milled meiyal, just your own. Do it slowly.¡± Katherine waited a while, allowing whoever this was some time to follow her instructions. Her Void Control Technique and enhanced Siffera gave her enough indication that there was enough reaction from the person. Slowly but surely, Maffelyne melded out of her Nature¡¯s Favor and collapsed on the ground. She was weakened, gasping for breath. Katherine quickly administered Samesia. The Guard Knight was the only survivor in this mass slaughter. Her friends, those that graduated with her, were just beside her. All dead. Maffelyne stared at them, tears finally able to flow. And just as quickly, she clenched her fist. ¡°Calm down, Maff,¡± Katherine said. ¡°I need you to help me understand the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive him,¡± the half-elf growled. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him!¡± Katherine knelt in front of Maffelyne, blocking the view of her dead companions. She held her by the shoulders. ¡°Who¡¯s him?¡± she asked. ¡°Smyl,¡± Maffelyne said, her eyes angry and in tears. ¡°I watched him kill his own sister.¡± Chapter 186: Verdict Verdict ¡±Swift as lightning, I shall pass my Verdict.¡± ~Kristel Irista, Future Monarch of Irista Nation. The last time Kristel had fought a Jaws Lurking in the Forest, she was utterly defeated. The Letterman had had to personally step in to save her. But now, compared to the Da¡¯bloop, these five colossal pseudo-dragons looked like newborn pups. That was, if newborn pups could literally reform the lands they treaded on and kill people by simply stepping on them. Under her command, Xiv rallied the survivors away from the fight, while she and Frill made sure none of the five Forest Jaws escaped with their pseudo-Nature¡¯s Favor. As long as they kept them engaged, they couldn¡¯t go back into lurking. However, that meant all attention was divided only to the two of them. Frill was at a disadvantage because of this. Having never fought one, the Aria faced for the first time the intimidating presences of these Nightmares and the unknown of what they were capable of. Pointers and stories from Katherine and the Princess couldn¡¯t possibly compare to the actual thing. Despite this, Kristel found Frill calmly assessing the situation and reacting to the fight in a way that protected herself and the survivors. Her Nidai-Imbelia rendered any flaming breath attacks so completely moot that it took a while for the Princess to remember that the common Forest Jaws were supposed to be incapable of such feats. All five, however, could breathe fire and were much larger than the one Katherine had killed weeks ago. One of the Nightmares pounced towards the retreating civilians once again, as if it was desperate to get to them. Kristel¡¯s Delolera battle gear allowed her to quickly fly and meet the monster head-on, kicking it in the face and sending it back. It toppled the others, spreading flame all around them. The Forest Jaws, however, didn¡¯t care at all if their scales were burnt to a crisp. They simply regenerated, unlike the lesser Nightmares. Kristel and Frill needed a stronger flame. ¡°Katherine used something from her Exhibit,¡± Kristel explained when Frill asked. ¡°It was essentially something that came from these Nightmares. Something stronger than Kaimfra will work too, I think.¡± ¡°We have materials stronger than what these Nightmares have,¡± the Aria said simply. She flexed her Milling, but not her Gathering. Unlike the Princess, her Gathered meiyal had no dispersion time, so she had stocked up on meiyal before entering the incursion. Despite their current knowledge on Perpetual-Layered Milling Form, and how Frein had used it before to filter out the Nightmare Influence from his Gathered meiyal, the Incursion was still a different beast overall. They simply couldn¡¯t risk Milling the Influence by mistake and complicating their situation even further. This meant, however, that they were on a time limit. Not only did they need to exterminate¡ªor escape from¡ªthese Forest Jaws, they had to get out of the Incursion before they both ran out of meiyal as well. Not to mention their use of stronger Meiyal Arts now rendered their decision to keep their presence hidden moot. Kristel still instructed Frill to avoid singing, so she could concentrate on the fight and prevent Nightmares further away from making the situation worse. Another Forest Jaws attacked. But this time, rather than going for the survivors farther back, they attacked Kristel instead. Kristel met it with finesse, ducking underneath a gigantic claw swipe while slashing upwards with her condensed Sandai-Kaimfra. The burn cauterized the wound, preventing it from regenerating. Frill was right; their meiyal-charged materials were far stronger. Combined with her fortified confidence, Kristel weaved upwards through the Forest Jaws with the help of her winged battle gear, slashing and burning everything along her path until she cut off one of its wings. At the apex of her movement, however, a second Forest Jaws met her with a claw slashing downward. Frill tackled the gigantic arm and the Nightmare with it, pushing away a monster the size of a small mountain as if it were made of cotton. The Aria reached out her left hand while she clutched her shoulder with her right. Meiyal rapidly concentrated on her open palm. At the same time, the Display on her back intensified its glow, emphasizing her Storm Veil. ¡°Dai Irista-style: Judgement!¡± Frill¡¯s entire arm crackled with lightning while she Drew the Irista-style Art into reality. In a single instant, a straight lightning blast scarred the land, disintegrating two Forest Jaws in the process. Kristel understood. They couldn¡¯t preserve the condition of the land and eliminate the Nightmares at the same time. There wasn¡¯t much to save anymore in the first place. Rebuilding could come later. Survival first. Just as quickly, she noticed Art fatigue settling in on her retainer. ¡°You can¡¯t use that again,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Frill confirmed while her back slightly sizzled with smoke. ¡°But at least, we have less to worry about.¡± ¡°I think you should go,¡± Norazzel¡¯s voice called out from within her Mind Palace. ¡°Unless you can find the source of the Nightmare, they¡¯ll keep swarming you until you¡¯re overwhelmed. After a display like that, I don¡¯t think the rest will ignore you.¡± Kristel considered the faunel¡¯s suggestion while she dodged around the other Forest Jaws, keeping them occupied while the survivors kept running. She could still detect some of them right at the edge of her Siffera-enhanced awareness. In fact, Xiv was running back straight towards them. Just like before, the council inside her Mind Palace, Norazzel and Evanclad, only made their presence known whenever they felt it would benefit her or keep her out of dire trouble. But always, they presented their advice as options, not ultimatums. And unlike before, she did not heed them right away.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Let me deal with these three, then we¡¯ll retreat.¡± Norazzel stayed silent. Frill¡¯s use of Judgement gave the Princess an idea. In fact, it was a culmination of all the things she had learned so far. Her unusually gifted control of Meiyal Arts which allowed her to handle fusing with Frill and Liona. Her deep connection with Kaimera as her preferred Art of choice. Her ability to condense the power of Sandai-Kaimera into a normal sword. And the knowledge of combining Meiyal Arts just like with Frein¡¯s Mesiffera. All of them united into this singular act. She erased her left meiyal blade from reality, hopping back to gain distance. Frill immediately noticed and began to play defensive. Kristel poured her meiyal, Drawing her own version of Judgement in her left hand. But rather than use it to blast away the Forest Jaws, she placed two lightning-infused fingers on top of her Kaimera and slowly transferred the Meiyal Art. ¡°Sandai Irista-style,¡± Kristel began, her voice calm and composed, concentrating in manifesting the new Meiyal Art into reality. Lightning strikes, rather than hitting the ground indiscriminately, ran through her meiyal blade, her Kaimera, and all over her body. And just like before, when it taught her Leviathan, Destiny provided her the name. ¡°Verdict.¡± The weight of her new Meiyal Art rendered reality unable to stabilize. Lightning crackled around her singular blade, converting the natural colors of the world into their opposites rather than flashing blinding light. It was an Art of her own, and it was proving to be stubborn. Each lick of lightning was a body part of her own, sending her information at an impossibly fast rate. A Forest Jaws managed to slip under Frill¡¯s protection and swiped at her. Kristel moved by a miniscule amount, slipping perfectly in between the massive claws. In that same instant, before the entire arm of the Nightmare even reached the ground, the Princess spun and sent a net of lightning slashes that diced the entire arm before disintegrating it into nothingness. The Forest Jaws, now suddenly missing an arm, fell straight for her. It didn¡¯t even hesitate, opening its massive jaws in an attempt to devour her whole. In return, Kristel slashed a hundred lightning cuts in a single blink. Thunder crashed as the entire upper half of the Forest Jaws became nothing. Kristel reeled her Meiyal Art under control, channeling every ounce of discipline she possessed on the grip of her sword. The colors of lightning became normal, but it was still too energetic. It was too pure, her Art and her lightning, eager to unleash its strength in a display that would remind the world that even mortals could reach the realm of gods. Still, she kept the Art under control. She could feel her body changing because of it. Her hair, losing more of the royal azure, and gaining a far lighter shade of brilliant, silvery blue. Her physique was becoming stronger, as if it found the perfect blend of softness and definition for her short form. Strength that could lift mountains with ease. Even the wings of her battle gear transformed, losing its feathers to adapt a pair of wings made out of pure electricity. But the most prominent of them all were her meiyal marks unsealing at a rapid rate. She could feel them, she was sure. All one-hundred meiyal marks, fully unsealed. Two Jaws Lurking in the Forest left. With a silent gesture, Kristel ordered Frill to retreat beside Xiv, who arrived just in time to witness her transformation. He was with someone. Someone who looked like Venry, but older. No time to get distracted. Kristel poured more meiyal into her Verdict, adding and condensing rapidly until the blade became a giant sword but in condensed form. The Forest Jaws spat fireballs. She sliced them all away, the lightning of her strikes creating controlled explosions that rendered the projectiles unable to destroy the land. A step, and she was right under one of the Nightmares. A flex, and she condensed her giant sword once more into a blinding blade of lightning. A stab, and the lightning erupted skyward, sundering the skies. A thunderous roar, and a singular Forest Jaws was left. Then everyone finally managed to blink. Kristel steadied her breathing. If she had been any less focused, her Art could have easily collapsed and backfired. Something this strong, to where reality could barely keep up, wouldn¡¯t simply vanish if she happened to lose control of it. Art fatigue might not be her worry anymore, but that only meant she could take on far greater risks when compared to others. But it was almost over. Only one more Forest Jaws. After that, she would feel satisfied. The Nightmare, however, had other plans. With a vengeful scream, it unleashed a Negating Roar. Without a second thought, Kristel flew away, carrying Frill, Xiv, and the old-looking Venry out of the roar¡¯s massive area of effect. Since she held her Verdict under control, and with the trained defenses of the three, the lightning running all over her body thankfully didn¡¯t hurt anyone. The distance created, however, was enough for the remaining Jaws Lurking in the Forest to make its move. It was a singular act. The Nightmare tensed up as the four Nightmare cores of the dead Forest Jaws, along with whatever flesh of the corpses was left, coalesced into the creature. It formed a massive ball of blackness. And then¡­ And then there was nothing. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Frill asked. ¡°Did we beat it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Nightmare Sign,¡± answered the old-Venry. ¡°Is that you, Venry?¡± Kristel asked, unable to stop herself now that there was a sudden pause in the skirmish. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± The Guard Knight made a salute. ¡°I¡¯ll explain myself later. First, I think we should go. It¡¯s only a matter of time before the Nightmare Influence here thickens. If that happens, Deep Nightmares will start to appear.¡± ¡°Is that what the Nightmare Sign does?¡± Kristel stepped to approach, but Venry stopped her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t break,¡± he said. ¡°We did all we can, but it won¡¯t budge. Unless we have a Void Mother, we can do nothing but run¡ª¡± In a blink, the Princess stepped close to the Nightmare Sign. She was immediately slammed by the heaving Influence of being next to the giant black orb. She didn¡¯t hesitate, sending her entire weight into a downward slash with her Verdict. In that moment, the world stopped. Kristel saw a vision of the cosmos, of a giant figure embracing a black void. The figure curled around the sphere until itself became one. Became a planet. Became Brymeia. Just as quickly, she returned to reality. But not before she saw something else wrap itself around the world. The vision was too fleeting, too erratic for her to properly observe. The next thing she saw was a shattered Nightmare Sign. Unlike what she expected, it wasn¡¯t completely gone. Broken but not erased. The Sign was repairing itself, one loose fragment at a time. Her Verdict and Delolera were gone. She was dangerously running low on meiyal, but she still couldn¡¯t risk to Gather more. That was when the others caught up to her. ¡°We should go,¡± Kristel said. ¡°That should give us enough time to escape.¡± ¡°You broke the sign,¡± Venry said with disbelief in his eyes. He quickly shook himself back into reality. ¡°We have injured people, but I know a way to get everyone out fast.¡± Without waiting for permission, the Guard Knight made a whistle with an echo Meiyal Art. A low rumble echoed back in response. Katherine had told Kristel stories of what hope had looked like to her when she was fulfilling her duties as a Lady of a Void. ¡°It looks like a manta ray,¡± she had said. ¡°A giant manta ray swimming in the skies.¡± Kristel now knew what that meant as a Floating Dream Amidst the Nightmare appeared from the dark horizon. It was shining and magnificent, bringing with it a semblance of peace that allowed the Princess to finally collapse on the ground and relax. ¡°Quickly,¡± Venry said, turning to Frill and Xiv. ¡°We need to gather the dead Nightmares.¡± Chapter 187: Their Own Duties Their Own Duties Katherine looked at the Nightmare Incursion and recalled her years serving as a Lady of the Void. She had never experienced being subjected to one, or taken by surprise by the sudden appearance of the Nightmare and this¡­ whatever this sphere of darkness was. She had seen the aftermath of many, however. The destruction of The Great World Tree, Sylvanus, was a site of pilgrimage for all trainees of the Order of the Void. When Elizzel mentioned that it had been a home to her, the first place she had ever called home, all Katherine could feel was sorrow. The world tree had wreaked havoc upon the lands, creating massive desserts and other desolate areas devoid of life. An entire nation, from the time when the lands were whole, had been destroyed overnight by the ancient Void Region, the Nightmare Land¡¯s first name. Another Incursion she had visited was the sunken Turtle Island. A place once inhabited by monks and weapon masters, according to history. It had been a civilization thriving atop the shell of a colossal, flying turtle. Gone now, when the Incursion had turned all of those people into Nightmares. Signs of their madness, the destroyed fragments of the turtle¡¯s shell, were the only evidence that that place had once existed. There were many other places Katherine had had to visit during her training years. None of them displayed this giant sphere of darkness. ¡°It¡¯s because the Incursions there were over,¡± Elizzel said through their Tether. ¡°But I know what you¡¯re thinking¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as big as I thought¡­¡± Katherine blushed and reprimanded herself for thinking like a child. Elizzel afforded a soft giggle despite their current situation. Small lewd jokes like those were exactly what Frein would¡¯ve done. Not that the two ladies could afford those right now¡­ ¡°It¡¯s how it¡¯s supposed to start,¡± Elizzel said, materializing behind Katherine. ¡°It should be expanding soon, unless someone managed to destroy a Nightmare Sign.¡± ¡°They have to destroy a lot,¡± Katherine commented. ¡°Well, destroying one is like thirty minutes of respite before the Incursion summons two with an army of Nightmares behind it.¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot about Incursions, Eli.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know enough,¡± the faunel admitted. ¡°If I did, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡± Katherine sighed. Elizzel had a point. ¡°We should go back. If what Maffelyne said is true, the Princess should be coming back within the hour.¡± She managed to contemplate a little on how to break the news to the Princess before a massive earthquake lifted the ground. Katherine quickly recovered while Elizzel returned to her Mind Palace. Entire lands broke apart, toppling over trees, A.I.R. ships, and people in the distance, as a massive wave rippled from the Nightmare Incursion. It began to expand. Katherine was at the forefront of it all, the black sphere growing ever closer. She hopped away, skipping over floating rocks while dodging everything else that flew her way. Eventually, she reached the reinforcements. Her father, Admiral Garm, hastily issued commands to get everyone back up in the air. Maffelyne saw her return. She approached, stumbling but recovering with every step. ¡°Did you find them?¡± she asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t go out there to look for them,¡± Katherine replied while ordering the half-elf to get on Enza¡¯s back. She complied, but she had an accusative expression for just a few seconds. The Lady didn¡¯t like it, but she understood the lack of respect. Maffelyne was high on vengeance, or at least, the desire for it. Fortunately enough, she wasn¡¯t as attuned to meiyal as Frill, or things would¡¯ve been complicated. In exchange, however, the half-elf¡¯s eyes had turned to blaming everyone she could see. With a wordless command, Enza carried Maffelyne to one of the A.I.R. ships that had managed to lift off. Admiral Garm replaced the audience. Unlike the first one, he could steady himself effortlessly on the shaking ground. ¡°We should go,¡± he said. While his words were, at most, suggesting escape, he understood that they had no effect on someone of Katherine¡¯s caliber. So he delivered it in a way that implied he was leaving her behind. ¡°If you can manage to stop this, we¡¯ll return to land. If not, we¡¯ll start evacuating the entire nation.¡± To where? Katherine didn¡¯t give voice to the question. She simply nodded. Her father looked at her for a brief moment before nodding back in return. He turned. ¡°Pa,¡± she called out, stretching two arms to her side. Admiral Garm smiled, almost to tears, before embracing his daughter. ¡°Whatever happens. I¡¯m proud of you.¡± ¡°I love you, Pa.¡± ¡°I love you too, dear.¡± He arranged Katherine¡¯s brown and white hair before letting go. ¡°You can do it.¡± Despite delivering his parting words, the Admiral stayed rooted on the ground. Katherine smiled and wiped away her own tears that she hadn¡¯t noticed were there. ¡°You need to go, Pa. I can¡¯t do my work with you here.¡± Garm sniffed and nodded. ¡°Right. Best of luck, sweet.¡± As her father turned away, so did she. Katherine looked at the slow, expanding sphere of death, devouring all under its crushing Influence. She stood still and took a steady, deep breath. Since there was no Void Mother or Father around, the task of protecting the remaining territory free of the Nightmare fell into her hands. Free¡­ Nothing about this is free. Katherine accepted that truth. The world, Brymeia, was dying. Frein and his predecessors were the keys to prevent that from happening. She now understood why he wouldn¡¯t spend his time preventing his death. Why he would rather search for a way to save this world even at the cost of his life. Right now, she felt the same. The Incursion loomed over her, threatening to infinitely expand and engulf her within it. While she wouldn¡¯t have trouble herself, the rest of Irista Nation was not as privileged. The earthquake had long since stopped, but the Nightmare¡¯s advance continued. It was so close now, but Katherine had to wait for the right moment. She Opened her meiyal core and expanded her own Influence. At the same time, she utilized all her divine meiyal-charged materials with Elizzel¡¯s help. As expected, not all of them responded. While they did not outright reject her, as Brymeia had promised, following her every command was a different matter entirely. It felt like trying to convince skulking children out of their bad mood. Unreasonable, to say the least. Two materials, fortunately enough, responded to her and Elizzel¡¯s call. The first was , the material that Brymeia herself had created and bestowed upon her. It provided her with warmth, and guidance, assuring her that the world herself will be supporting her actions.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The second was called . A material of a forgotten deity who, according to Brymeia, was once a malevolent god that had been forced to help Evanclad¡¯s cause against the Nightmare. How and why this material responded to her so easily compared to the materials supposedly from more benevolent gods was a mystery Katherine had no time to deduce. For now, these would have to do. The weights of these meiyal-charged materials were nothing to scoff at. Katherine understood that if she let up, even for an instant, the meiyal coming from these materials would undoubtedly crush her. Yes, even Brymeia¡¯s Embrace wouldn¡¯t afford her that luxury. These materials were meant to be taken seriously at all times, and something only the strongest of the world could handle. They were constantly asking Katherine to prove herself, and she wasn¡¯t one to back down. Likewise, the Nightmare Incursion was doing the same. It was dangerously close now. Too close. The Lady of the Void reached out and held the black sphere with her left hand. ¡°Let my words speak true.¡± Void Control Techniques between combat oriented members of the Order of the Void, namely the Lords and Ladies, and their leaders, the Mothers and Fathers, were completely different. Lords and Ladies utilized these Techniques to aid themselves in combat, while Void Mothers and Fathers created literal pockets of territories safe from the Nightmare. They delivered those Techniques in a completely different way, originating their powers from the one who created their organization, Evanclad Irista. In a sense, Void Mothers and Fathers were the people closest to replicating the First Monarch¡¯s way of bending reality through mere words. A pseudo-Monarch¡¯s Law. And so, Katherine began to speak. ¡°From this point onwards, you shall go no further.¡± A layer of her own meiyal, mixed with The Beauty of Darkness, manifested in front of her. It expanded northwards and southwards, reaching far into the horizon blocking the Incursion from expanding east. It was the only thing she could afford. Holding a complete surround on the Nightmare Incursion required three other Void Mothers or Fathers. Katherine¡¯s Influence could protect only one side. But protect it did. The Incursion expanded in other directions, the sphere growing ever larger, but it dared not surpass Katherine¡¯s Influence. The Lady of the Void rested her hand. Immediately she could feel the Nightmare Influence slamming against her very being. The Incursion dropped its entire weight on her protection, testing how sturdy it was¡­ how sturdy she was. The world was behind her, acting as support. She wouldn¡¯t easily relent. Katherine held her breath for a long time, waiting for the Nightmare to push harder, to force her stability to break. But it didn¡¯t arrive. Just like that, the Incursion stopped.
¡°What do you need all those dead Nightmares for?¡± Kristel asked. She leaned on Testra, her yuma. She and the rest were back in Oray Town. While the other abled bodies piled up the dead a distance away from her, she, on the other hand, was forced to take a break. Her Verdict took a toll on her body that was beyond a simple Art fatigue. It was taking her all to barely stand, but she couldn¡¯t afford to be seen on the ground by these people. They looked hopeless, and showing them her weakness would further decrease their morale. She had to keep looking like the beacon of hope until the very end. So she leaned on her yuma and started small talk with Venry instead. ¡°It¡¯s our agreement with the Floating Dream,¡± the Guard Knight explained. ¡°We provide it with dead Nightmares to eat, then it¡¯ll carry us wherever we direct it, so long as it will remain relatively unharmed.¡± ¡°That sounds awfully convenient.¡± ¡°I get that. It sounds too good to be true for a Nightmare, but Dystro explained that the Floating Dream is actually a mutated creature, not a Nightmare. Like Cloud-Nesting Rocs.¡± Kristel found a tangent and took it. ¡°You seem friendly with those Vyndivalians.¡± ¡°They taught me how to survive in the Nightmare Lands. Them and Mother Selfiya.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± The answer was hard to explain, she noticed. Venry abandoned his current task and started from the beginning. He mentioned how he had almost died of shame from abandoning his duty as a Guard Knight, and actually almost dying from having a shard of Mount Rindea literally embedded in his stomach. He showed the piece of rock, a meiyal-charged material of his own making, but was too stubborn to integrate inside his Exhibit. ¡°I¡¯m studying Meiyal Armaments now,¡± he continued. ¡°If Exhibit won¡¯t work, I can probably Forge it into a Weapon or Armor. Mining and Smelting are completely different from Gathering and Milling, though.¡± Kristel followed along, keeping her thoughts to herself. She didn¡¯t dispute when Venry proposed his idea, and he quickly caught on to it. ¡°I expected you to disagree,¡± he said, implying his understanding. ¡°I recently found out that both disciplines were supposed to work together in the first place,¡± Kristel explained. ¡°If you can achieve that, then you would be the living proof of that concept.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Venry held the shard tighter and forced a smile. ¡°Seems like a lot of things have changed since I was last around.¡± ¡°I can tell you all about it later,¡± Kristel smiled in return. ¡°But you first. Why do you look so old now?¡± Venry continued his story. It was Mother Selfiya who saved him from death¡¯s door, but in exchange, seven years was taken from his lifespan. It advanced his age quite significantly, but, in Kristel¡¯s opinion, he didn¡¯t really look that much older. ¡°I think men who look more handsome as they age are pretty cool,¡± she said. Venry blinked. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you preferred older men.¡± ¡°Shut up. I¡¯m eighteen, you only look like twenty-six-something. You¡¯re not that much older.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯d rather I¡¯m older¡­¡± Kristel narrowed her eyes. ¡°The last time I remember, you were the one busy trying to woo me with words. Not the other way around.¡± ¡°That was years ago! Way back before you even went to Minaveil.¡± ¡°Guess you¡¯re the sort who gives up easily.¡± Kristel mentally smacked herself for saying something so stupid. She expected Venry to recoil away from it, and so she panicked, trying to find the right words to apologize. ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡± What she didn¡¯t expect was the Guard Knight kneeling gracefully in front of her. ¡°Princess Kristel Irista. You¡¯re right. When I heard about Tryvinal planning to propose to you, I was ready to give up. But when you summoned us to Minaveil Province, and I found out you rejected him, I was ready to try again. ¡°I thought I¡¯d make my intentions clear after we fended off the Vyndivalians, but I never got that chance. And with the Nightmare ever-growing, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to properly have that chance. So please hear me out.¡± Kristel felt the heat behind her neck. Testra¡¯s warm fur didn¡¯t help at all. Nor was the fact that her yuma was too intuitive to keep her nose out of their business. The Princess pushed her snout away. Venry took that as a sign for her permission. ¡°You might have a lot of prospects and suitors, or the Visitor might be the one you¡¯re aiming for, but it would loathe me forever if I keep my piece withheld until it¡¯s too late.¡± Kristel¡¯s eyes widened. She motioned to interrupt, but the Guard Knight just kept talking. ¡°All these days away from Irista Nation made it clear for me that I am smitten by you, Princess Kristel. As embarrassing as it is for me to admit, I feel just as strongly and proudly to say it. And I¡¯m sure that you have a lot of other things on your mind so I¡¯m willing to¡ª¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Stop.¡± Kristel stood, fanning over her neck while forcing Venry on his feet. ¡°I get it. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve been doing your best hiding it before. But can I just clear up a few things first?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of prospects, because I turned them all down for you. Alright? Even Frein, the Visitor, is nowhere near my radar. We¡¯re like siblings, and I and Scuti look to him as our big brother, but that¡¯s all there is to it. I¡¯m not getting in Katherine¡¯s way.¡± Testra teasingly licked Kristel¡¯s face just to push her forward. The Princess pushed back, annoyed. ¡°Get out of here!¡± The yuma barked before heading for the rest of her kin. Kristel and Venry were left alone. The other people were too busy and tired to surround them, content on observing from a distance while they did their work. ¡°I¡¯ll give you my answer when this Incursion is over,¡± Kristel began. ¡°We¡¯ll meet back at the High Palace, you¡¯ll earn your new rank as a Royal Knight, and only then will I give you my answer.¡± This was all she could give for now. As much as she wanted to say ¡®yes¡¯, it would not do her well to be distracted. Neither would it help the Guard Knight. So, she gave him encouragement instead. Venry took a step back, but he quickly recovered with renewed fire in his eyes. He straightened and made the Iristan salute. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best!¡± Kristel returned the salute, but with a different one. Rather than placing her right hand on her left collarbone¡ªwhere Monarch Denis¡¯ meiyal core was located¡ªshe placed it on her chest instead. ¡°It¡¯s here now,¡± she said, allowing for Venry to piece the puzzle. His eyes widened and happily corrected his salute. ¡°Congratulations, Monarch Kristel.¡± Kristel delivered her gratitude and allowed the Guard Knight to return to work. At the same time, Testra returned to serve as leaning support. ¡°You¡¯re a piece of work, you know that?¡± The yuma simply barked. ¡°You should¡¯ve just said yes,¡± Evanclad intervened. ¡°Who knows what might happen in the next¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t give voice to it, idiot Monarch!¡± ¡°She¡¯s right, you know¡­¡± Norazzel followed. ¡°Why would you jinx them like that?¡± Silence. ¡°You¡¯re right. I apologize.¡± Now that the First Monarch mentioned it, Kristel couldn¡¯t help but think through the conversation again. She absentmindedly watched the Floating Dream feast on the dead Nightmares, not caring for how grotesque the entire process was. She noticed it suck up the bodies using weird tubed straws, but her mind was swimming on things she could¡¯ve said better. The next thing she knew, she and everyone else was flying on its back, on their way out of the Incursion. There, she realized how ironically distracted she was. The Nightmare Incursion had expanded, but fortunately enough, someone was stopping it. Chapter 188: Defeat and Anger Defeat and Anger It wasn¡¯t that difficult to find Katherine. Kristel¡¯s sensitivity to meiyal wasn¡¯t anywhere near unique, but if someone was swimming in power the way the Lady of the Void had been for who knows how long, anyone could easily spot her. Katherine was peace and control. She was the Order of the Void. At first, Kristel found that impression contradictory. She had never really seen the Lady be anywhere near organized or orderly as a person, especially when she had come back from her Seeker duty with Frein. But those impressions were completely washed away, just like how Katherine prevented the Nightmare Incursion from expanding. Only in one direction, however. When the Floating Dream Amidst the Nightmare finally broke through the Incursion and landed on broken ground, the survivors quickly filed in, seeking refuge upon the rescuers before them. Rescuers that Kristel didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Where¡¯s Uncle Kento and the rest?¡± she asked as soon as Katherine met them. And when the Lady¡¯s response was nothing but silence, she feared the worst. Maffelyne was also around. But instead of providing the Princess relief, her dire, desperate expression only made matters worse. ¡°Where are they?¡± she repeated, using as much of her commanding voice as calmly as possible. The half-elf tried to speak, but she hesitated and stopped. The girl was full of anger, but despite it all, she knew the question wasn¡¯t for her. Katherine pulled a sack from her Spatiera. Even without seeing its contents, just hearing the clinking noise inside, Kristel knew they were the badges worn by every Iristan knight. The Princess¡¯s heart sank before the Lady could even speak. ¡°They¡¯re gone, Kristel. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t make it in time.¡± Kristel took a second to process the news. They had been just there a few hours ago. And despite how credible Katherine was, and the desperation in Maffelyne¡¯s face, she couldn¡¯t find it in herself to believe them. Venry was different, however. The grizzled Guard Knight stepped in front of Katherine, holding out his hands without an ounce of self-restraint in him. ¡°Advisor Kento¡¯s dead?¡± he asked. ¡°Venry¡­¡± Katherine picked two badges from within her pocket. One belonged to Advisor Kento, and the other was his. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about your father.¡± This news didn¡¯t come as a surprise to him. Heavier was the sudden grief that fell upon everyone. The Guard Knight simply recovered the badges and went to a quiet place to mourn. The three Vyndivalians that had ventured into the Nightmare Lands with him silently followed. ¡°What happened?¡± Kristel finally found the courage to ask. She was too scared to utter the question, as if doing so was admittance of their passing. She was still coming to terms whether it was true or not. The sound coming from the sack of badges were almost mocking. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± Xiv said, flanking the Princess along with a silent Frill. ¡°How?¡± At this, Katherine turned to the half-elf. Maffelyne¡¯s face twisted in agony, torn between composure and rage. ¡°It was Smyl,¡± she growled. ¡°He¡¯s working with someone who looks like Tryvinal Bree. We were frozen in place. I was lucky enough with my Nature¡¯s Favor, but the rest wasn¡¯t.¡± She started tearing up. ¡°They were slaughtered like pigs! It wasn¡¯t even a fair fight. No honorable death! And¡­ and¡­ ¡°And Smyl, that bastard! He killed his own sister!¡± The rationale within Kristel was slipping away. It was only because her body was still recovering from using Verdict that she wasn¡¯t storming back into the Incursion right now. That, and Katherine¡¯s vigilant stare. What remained of her rationale recognized the clues from Maffelyne. Based on Elizzel¡¯s words, the one who took Frein also looked like Tryvinal. This was their enemy. A faunel disguising as the former Guard Knight. Alphazzel. The matter of when it had started wasn¡¯t of any importance anymore. Her brain was busy trying to figure out how to kill an immortal incarnation of meiyal. She was desperately trying to find a way to speak with Brymeia again. But not only was she unable to return to her Mind Palace in her current state, she couldn¡¯t risk another blackout because of her hastiness. Frein¡¯s warning about depending on gods and divine powers was enough to hold her back. ¡°What do we do now?¡± she asked the Lady of the Void instead. There was barely any control in her voice now. Instead of answering directly, Katherine turned to Frill. ¡°Send word for everyone to return to the High Palace, then come back here. Maffelyne, you¡¯re joining them. You too, Princess Scuti.¡± The Second Princess appeared out of her Nature¡¯s Favor, surprised at how she had been caught. Kristel was too preoccupied to even notice. ¡°I want to help,¡± Scuti said weakly. ¡°I can¡¯t just stand back after seeing all this.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Katherine submitted. ¡°If you want to help, either go to Northsnow or Southshore and warn the people. My barrier will disappear if I die. Your best bet will be to go higher, and the High Palace is your only way for that.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t want the public to panic,¡± Kristel said, barely holding on. ¡°And if you¡¯re the only one holding this barrier, you shouldn¡¯t be joining the fight.¡± ¡°How many Nightmare Signs did you break?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°One¡­¡± Kristel knew where this was leading towards. ¡°Just one.¡± ¡°My barrier doesn¡¯t wrap around the world. The Incursion will eventually find its limits and spill over. If we don¡¯t find a way to stop it by then, then either Southshore or Northsnow will be gone. The rest will follow. This isn¡¯t a discussion we¡¯re going to entertain. ¡°But with regards to the public, I¡¯ll leave that decision to you,¡± Katherine said. ¡°My duty is to stop this Incursion, not run the country. But I need you to come with me, Kristel. I don¡¯t have a lot of manpower. Venry and his team will also come with me. So will you, Frill and Xiv. The rest of you are going back or warning the neighboring cities.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I want to fight, too! I¡¯ve been training for a long time to be a part of the Order of the Void!¡± Maffelyne complained, flexing her meiyal. Katherine shot her down by slamming her Influence on the half-elf, resulting in instant Art fatigue. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maff. If you can¡¯t handle this level of Influence, you¡¯ll turn within a few minutes of exposing yourself within the Incursion. There are ways to improve your resistance, but that takes years. You¡¯ll have to go back for now.¡± The half-elf couldn¡¯t even respond. All she could do was slam her fists on the ground, crying about her helplessness. Scuti, defeated by this truth, picked her up without another word and helped her back to the A.I.R. ships. Frill and Xiv left to follow their orders. Kristel could see Katherine regretting her actions, but she understood that it was necessary. They couldn¡¯t risk stowaways playing hero and making things complicated. ¡°How soon until you recover?¡± the Lady asked. The Princess wasn¡¯t even surprised by her subtle assessment. ¡°I should be able to Gather and Mill after a few more hours.¡± Katherine blinked. Kristel felt the full scan of Mesiffera. ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t clear,¡± she said. ¡°I was talking about your recovery from the news. There¡¯s time to properly grieve and mourn, but if you can¡¯t wait, I can handle things on my own.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fight,¡± Kristel said simply. ¡°I found my path to power. Even if you try and stop me, I won¡¯t abandon my duty to this world.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll depend on you to help me stop this Incursion.¡± She said it so confidently, as if it was just another day at work. Katherine saw her wondering and afforded a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not a question of whether we can, Kristel.¡± ¡°Duty.¡± ¡°You two make it sound like you don¡¯t plan on coming back,¡± said Admiral Garm. He dismounted from Kish, his veteran yuma. At the same time, Enza appeared out of her Nature¡¯s Favor. With three people Blessed with the same Blessing, Kristel wondered how common the others were. She quickly shook herself out of it. Her mind was finding ways to distract itself, finding something else other than to contemplate on their dire situation. ¡°It¡¯s an Incursion, Pa,¡± Katherine said. ¡°There¡¯s basically no chance.¡± ¡°Except this time, you have the Visitor,¡± he retorted. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the things he can do. He even predicted this Nightmare Incursion. I didn¡¯t become an Admiral just because of instinct, but I do have a damn good one. And it¡¯s telling me that you have to get him to get rid of this problem.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t the Nightmare Incursion,¡± Kristel began. ¡°What he felt was a Sealed One. Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz.¡± She didn¡¯t spend the brain power to consider if mentioning the name tugged at Destiny and alerted the giant Spider in the Sky. As far as she was concerned, just like she was, it wouldn¡¯t even care. ¡°Velru-what?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Wait. I¡¯ve heard that name. That¡¯s the Sealed One in Western Sanctum. It had eight seals!¡± ¡°We saw one of those,¡± Venry said, joining the conversation. His eyes were red, but he had a determined look on his face. Where his badge was alone before, now there were his and his father¡¯s. The other three Vyndivalians were with him, looking just as determined to join the fight. ¡°There was a Deep Nightmare inside. The entire place was compromised.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the Sealed One now?¡± Katherine asked Kristel, after acknowledging the information. ¡°Gone. It won¡¯t be bothering us for now. All it wants is Frein.¡± ¡°Sounds to me like he really is the key to all our problems, then,¡± Garm said. ¡°When are you planning to go?¡± ¡°As soon as you guys leave,¡± Katherine said, moving on quickly. She knew their priorities, and Kristel was thankful for that. ¡°We¡¯ll use the Floating Dream to head to Befall.¡± ¡°The Floating Dream won¡¯t be moving anytime soon,¡± said one of the Vyndivalians. Kristel recognized him as Dystro, just basing off of Xiv¡¯s descriptions. ¡°Sorry. Speaking out of turn. But the weight it carried was too heavy, and we don¡¯t have enough dead Nightmares to feed it.¡± It reminded Kristel of something she just disregarded. ¡°What did you do to¡­ their bodies?¡± Admiral Garm understood the question. ¡°We burned them. Advisor Kento had the same family traditions as the Veli family, so we¡¯re bringing him back home.¡± Unlike Katherine and Kristel, however, his words regarding Kento were purely coincidental. Venry kept his reaction in check. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the Floating Dream,¡± Katherine said, moving on from the topic as quickly as possible. She looked at the giant, floating manta-ray. ¡°That one¡¯s actually bonded to me.¡± All eyes turned to her. She just shrugged. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Who bonds with a Nightmare?¡± Admiral Garm complained. ¡°It¡¯s not actually a Nightmare, Pa. It¡¯s more like a Cloud-Nesting Roc. Just adapted to the Nightmare Lands.¡± ¡°How did you bond to it?¡± Venry asked this time, accidentally interrupting what would¡¯ve been a retort from the Admiral. ¡°Long story. But when I was a kid, when people were caring for yumas and vorks, I was playing with Tich.¡± The Lady of the Void reached out towards the Floating Dream. The creature responded by extending one of its tubed straws, the one it used to eat the dead Nightmares. It started feeding on Katherine¡¯s meiyal instead. ¡°Frein¡¯s not the only one feeding others with his meiyal.¡±
¡°Sorry about earlier,¡± Katherine said to Kristel. They were aboard Tich, but the creature was taking its time, unlike before. She didn¡¯t mind, not exactly. While she wanted to rescue Frein right away, she did miss her Floating Dream. And the others were still in no condition to fight. They needed sleep. They were already resting, except for the two of them. ¡°About what?¡± Kristel asked in return. The Princess¡¯s eyes were staring far away, admiring the colossal barrier that was stopping the Nightmare Incursion from expanding. Even now, Katherine couldn¡¯t believe that she was capable of such a feat. She was staring at it the same way. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to lose people you care for, people you¡¯ve stood with, people you¡¯ve fought with. I know how hard it is to stop yourself from grieving.¡± ¡°I¡¯m angry,¡± Kristel said, curling into himself. ¡°I¡¯m angry at myself. I¡¯m angry at you. I¡¯m angry at everyone.¡± Despite her words, the Princess¡¯s eyes were calm. The grip of her fingers around her arms were telling a different story, however. ¡°I know I¡¯m being unreasonable. It wasn¡¯t your fault, nor anyone else¡¯s. That¡¯s why I¡¯m just trying to hold it all in. I need something to unleash myself on, but I just can¡¯t find my targets.¡± ¡°Then, you should rest,¡± Katherine said. ¡°It¡¯ll take a while before we get there. And I need you all to be prepared and ready to fight.¡± Kristel didn¡¯t reply for a long time. Katherine was tempted to use her Heart¡¯s Will, but she respected the Princess¡¯s silence. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°No, not really,¡± she answered honestly, much to the Princess¡¯s surprise. ¡°But I do have someone trying to come up with something.¡± A small orb whirled around her. Sam, her semi-living M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°You only really only call me if you need something, huh?¡± said the floating device. He was making a solid effort of keeping up with Tich¡¯s flying speed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I hate feeling useful, or your last resort. It fills me with ego, knowing that I¡¯m the only one who can solve all your problems.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°You had upgrades, right?¡± ¡°The upgrades are more of efficiency, and ways to make me operate within the Nightmare unlike some of my ancient fellows. No special weapon compartments, sadly. Master Jam was skeptical about my trigger-fi¡ªI don¡¯t have fingers¡­ But yes, the plan.¡± Sam turned to Princess Kristel and made an effort to mimic a bow. ¡°The plan is very simple right now, Princess. Do not, under any circumstance, die. And, without fail, succeed in rescuing Frein. Hopefully, your guy isn¡¯t a failure unlike me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not much of a plan,¡± Kristel commented, frowning. ¡°In order to determine the micro of things, you must first comprehend the macro,¡± Sam explained. ¡°Special stuff, I know, but trust me on this.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ve done the macro,¡± Katherine said, implying her question. ¡°I¡¯m still trying to figure out the micro, to be completely and whole-heart¡ªI also don¡¯t have a heart¡­ but I¡¯m being honest here. Katherine¡¯s right, Princess. You should rest first. I should have something in the morning.¡± Kristel sighed. ¡°Fine, morning then. Frill made some air-resistant tents. Go rest too, Kat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sam said, flying low. ¡°I was trying to lighten up the mood. I¡¯m not used to dampened ones. Sorry, if it sounded like I¡¯m insensitive.¡± The two ladies blinked at that. ¡°Did you get upgrades on emotional awareness?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think I did¡­¡± ¡°In any case, thanks, Sam,¡± Kristel said with a smile. It was forced, but at least she found a reason to do it. ¡°I know you mean well. I¡¯ll see you guys tomorrow.¡± After Kristel left, Sam rested in Katherine¡¯s hand. ¡°That was the plan all along, right?¡± he asked. ¡°Nudge the Princess out of her funk, or something like that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Katherine said. ¡°You tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you, Kat. I¡¯m not getting good numbers. I¡¯ve ran the data I have multiple times, and I can¡¯t find a way for Frein to lift the Incursion, or any of you for that matter.¡± ¡°What about just stopping it?¡± Her M.O.B.I.L.E. whirled, taking the time to carefully calculate her query. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Sam began. ¡°If we can save Frein and if he can have a breakthrough, there might just be a chance.¡± Chapter 189: To Be in Someone鈥檚 Mind Palace To Be in Someone¡¯s Mind Palace Katherine fell asleep on Tich¡¯s head. She had done so in the past, trusting the Floating Dream to adjust and make sure she wouldn¡¯t roll over and fall. Given that Enza had also joined her to cuddle for warmth, the Lady and everyone else took their much needed rest before the fight of their lives. Elizzel was content to slumber inside the Mind Palace. The flight was slow, but progressing. When Katherine woke up after a few hours of rest, they reached Befall, Scar of this World at the same time. It was now fully engulfed by the massive sphere of darkness. Tich, under her command, waited just outside the Incursion. Whiteday. Break of dawn. ¡°Rise and shine everyone! The sun is white hot with blistering awesomeness!¡± It wasn¡¯t, but Katherine allowed Sam to float around the flying encampment and stir everyone awake with his enthusiastic announcement. Some were surprised by his appearance, specifically Venry and all the Vyndivalians, for even Xiv hadn¡¯t known he existed. At this point, however, they didn¡¯t have to hide. ¡°It¡¯s like Tea,¡± one of them said. Ral, the older-looking of the twins. He wore a full-beard, and combined with his black unkempt hair, he looked at least a decade older than his twin. ¡°You¡¯ve never even met Tea,¡± said Hal, the younger twin. He pointed towards Venry and Distro. ¡°Well, neither did I. Just heard about it in stories from these two here.¡± Katherine realized who they were talking about. T.E.A., or Tour Expert Assistant. Preprogrammed M.O.B.I.L.E. devices used in secure pockets of land within the Nightmare Lands made by the Order of the Void. With that in mind, she felt a little offended, but she knew Sam wouldn¡¯t let a remark like that slide. ¡°Excuse me, bearded handsome!¡± the device started, with an overdramatic tone. ¡°I am not some ancient device preprogrammed to act like an interactive tour guide! I am S.A.M., the one and only Sentient Assistant M.O.B.I.L.E., and I will not tolerate this slander! Apologize at once, or you will incur my wrath!¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry?¡± Ral said, scratching his beard. ¡°I¡¯m also sorry, I guess?¡± said Hal, shrugging. ¡°Good. Fine. Needs work, but accepted regardless. I will no longer deviate my plans to reduce your survival rate to zero.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Sam¡¯s taking care of our plan of attack,¡± Katherine explained while waiting for everyone to gather. ¡°He needs more information, specifically what you guys can do. Kristel, Frill, I need to know how you¡¯ve improved as well, and if you can still fuse.¡± The two were caught by surprise, especially the Princess who was stretching herself awake. They looked at each other, before turning back to Katherine with grief on their faces. ¡°We haven¡¯t tried it since then,¡± Frill said. Katherine nodded. ¡°Alright, we don¡¯t have a lot of time. Just see if you can grasp a feel for it, then let Sam know. It¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t. I imagine with the three of you combined back then, you constantly tapped into a certain wavelength, which might not be present with just the two of you, even if it¡¯s theoretically easier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s usually Liona who fuses with me first,¡± Kristel said. ¡°But we¡¯ll give it a shot.¡± The two of them headed for Tich¡¯s tail to practice in isolation. Katherine wasn¡¯t exactly hopeful for their fuse, but Kristel had pulled miracles before as far as meiyal-control was concerned. Hypothetically, if the Princess had access to her or Frill¡¯s floating meiyal, and the capabilities that came along with it and her bonded Destiny, she would be basically unstoppable. Katherine¡¯s sentiment directed her attention to the meiyal marks running over Kristel¡¯s shoulder. Her eyes widened. She went after them while the boys shared their combat capabilities with Sam. ¡°Hey, Kristel,¡± she called out, and the Princess and her retainer turned at the same time. ¡°Sorry, I just have a question.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°When did you get all one-hundred meiyal marks?¡± ¡°Yesterday.¡± Frill, much to Katherine¡¯s surprise, peered behind the Princess to confirm. The retainer blinked multiple times, went closer, before gasping and clutching Kristel from behind in celebration. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! That¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°Not much has changed, Frill,¡± Kristel said, trying to slip away from the embrace. ¡°It really isn¡¯t a power-up.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Katherine started, scratching her chin. The interruption caused the celebrating girls to stop. ¡°While it¡¯s not exactly a power-up, you actually still gain something from getting one-hundred marks.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°For starters, you¡¯ll have a more significant Destiny Adhesion compared to everyone else.¡± Katherine held up a hand as soon as the term came up, so as to imply that she understood the strangeness of it. ¡°With regards to Destiny, the Order of the Void isn¡¯t exactly unfamiliar with it. Destiny Adhesion determines how significant you are into influencing its course, or how possible it is for you to look at it. It¡¯s not a thing that¡¯s talked about much because barely anyone exceeds five percent Adhesion. ¡°With a hundred meiyal marks, however, you jump straight to fifteen percent. Mother Selfiya checked with me and we decided to keep it hidden.¡± ¡°Fifteen percent doesn¡¯t sound high,¡± Frill said. ¡°Or significant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not. I could barely take a glimpse without getting Art fatigue even at my peak. But Kristel¡¯s a step further than anyone else.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Anyone else but you,¡± Kristel pointed out. ¡°Because you have a hundred.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not anyone else.¡± Katherine observed Kristel process the information. While the number was indeed pretty low, it was still more significant than anyone might think. Based on how the Princess was taking the revelation in, it signified that she knew more than most. Frill, despite her earlier retort, withdrew to herself in order to ponder as well. A good sign as far as Katherine was concerned, since these two ladies would be more involved with Brymeia compared to her in the future. Which reminded her of exactly that. ¡°The second part,¡± she started, ¡°is that you can get Brymeia¡¯s attention more often.¡± The two stared at her. ¡°But we can already talk to her,¡± Frill said. At this, Katherine smiled. ¡°When has she ever talked to either of you inside your Mind Palace?¡± The two were suddenly back in their thoughtfulness. This time, rather than thinking about their Destiny Adhesion, they were trying to recall their interactions with Brymeia. ¡°The first time was when Frein saved me. I was inside my Mind Palace, and not at the same time. It was like a dream within a dream. The second one, I was outside Brymeia. It was a planet called Kielmera.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t told us the full story on that yet,¡± Katherine noted. ¡°It¡¯s because Frein dropped a bomb on me and wanted to leave!¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± The Lady shrugged this time, before turning to Frill. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I think the first one was when I couldn¡¯t control myself, back when¡­¡± The Aria took a deep breath. ¡°Back when Liona died. I¡¯m not exactly sure. The only other time was during our training in Atlas Sid, and that happened directly outside my Mind Palace. She said that the next time we meet, she¡¯ll explain the whole idea about me replacing her.¡± ¡°You have to share that, when that happens,¡± Kristel remarked. ¡°It¡¯s all well and good, for now, but if she¡¯s taking you from me, then we¡¯ll have a problem.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let her know,¡± Frill responded with a smile. She turned back to Katherine. ¡°Are you implying that Kristel can talk to her in her Mind Palace now? What¡¯s the difference?¡± ¡°Only if you¡¯re alone.¡± Katherine held out a finger to grab their attention. ¡°When Eli Tethered with me, Brymeia went into hiding. She said she¡¯ll only talk if I¡¯m alone again. And the difference is that you¡¯re hosting her, not the other way around. You¡¯ll get it eventually.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why she has to do that,¡± the faunel complained. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°Me neither.¡± ¡°So I should push out Nora and Evanclad?¡± Kristel asked. She blinked after catching and processing Katherine¡¯s words properly. ¡°You Tethered with Eli?¡± ¡°You Tethered with Eli?¡± Frill exclaimed the same. Katherine nodded and smiled while transferring her held out finger to the front of her lips, encouraging the other two to tone down their voices. ¡°Yesterday. None of you asked for her. She¡¯s a little peeved. And as for Nora and Evanclad, you only have to ask them to leave your Mind Palace. They can stay within your Dream Realm.¡± ¡°Excuse me? I¡¯m not peeved!¡± Kristel scratched the back of her head. ¡°We¡¯re just used to not seeing her all the time. I honestly thought she found a way back to Frein.¡± ¡°I was just kidding,¡± Katherine said as a reply both to the Princess and the faunel. ¡°She¡¯s totally fine. She needed a source of meiyal to normalize. So I offered for her to Tether with me.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Kristel gradually let go of her chipper mood, becoming a little more serious. ¡°Does that mean, if we meiyal starve a faunel, we can kill it?¡± Katherine turned the question to Elizzel. ¡°No. Eventually, the natural meiyal from Brymeia will restore us. It¡¯ll just take much longer. If you can continuously meiyal starve us, I guess that¡¯s a way to stop us, essentially.¡± Then Katherine passed along the faunel¡¯s words verbatim. Kristel was disappointed. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s not enough.¡± ¡°I get what you¡¯re trying to say,¡± Katherine started. ¡°For now, check if your fusion can work. You don¡¯t have to fully fuse yet, just check for the possibility. Then we¡¯ll have Sam add that to his calculations.¡± The two agreed to the instructions and headed for Tich¡¯s tail to test their fuse in isolation. Katherine returned to Sam and the boys, eager to know what they had planned.
The Entity had been staring at the Oblimoth inside Ashtine when the Sky Knight had been killed. It had attentively given an ear to the entire conversation between her and her twin brother. Up until the final vestiges of life had left the poor girl. And then, darkness. The Entity sighed. Brutal and stupid was its impression of the whole thing. ¡°As if you would be able to control me,¡± it said. Within the nothingness, now no longer able to see anything but the Oblimoth and Ashtine¡¯s deteriorating Mind Palace, the Entity took the moment to reflect. It felt unreasonably connected to the Sky Knight. More than it felt with the Princess. Used and abused. Made to run around someone¡¯s palm until the moment it was no longer needed. A pawn. Destiny and Contradiction played their great, unending war throughout the entire cosmos. At the center of such grand conflict were Brymeia and it, the Entity. It could recall so much now, but not its name. That cursed¡­ she made sure it could never find its name again, its Prime Designation. And so, it became the Entity. Born of the same as Brymeia, their Destiny had clashed against one another for countless millennia. Realities had been destroyed and recreated. Galaxies had been swallowed and spat. Life and death had been jumbled against one another. Order and Chaos had been split apart. Blessings and Curses had melded into each other. Truths and lies had become indistinguishable from one another. So when Brymeia had grown tired of their endless creation and destruction, she had embraced the Entity. Had Given it all her love and affection. And had become its prison. A prison out of love. Like a dagger stabbing the chest of a loved one. Pure lies. The Entity forced the deterioration of the Mind Palace to halt. Its hold upon Destiny was almost nonexistent, but there were other ways to make it work besides that undependable power. Contradictions were so much easier to work with. It refused to let Ashtine completely die. Not yet. The Sky Knight manifested beside it, confused and struggling to gain clarity. Meanwhile, the Entity considered its options. As it was written, when pulling a mortal for a divine intervention, the host must assume a form that was significant and familiar to the guest. It was only good manners to appear as a friendly form, rather than risk the guest¡¯s sanity. But the Entity was stripped of its power and authority. It was nothing but a shadow now. And while it could take the form of someone significant and familiar to Ashtine, that person had literally tried to kill her. The Entity ignored the Rule and simply appeared before Ashtine as a shadow. The Sky Knight blinked, looked around, recognized her Mind Palace, then turned her attention to it. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked. An obvious choice for someone¡¯s first question. Also boring. ¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± it said. While before, the Entity impersonated Brymeia, that had been during the time it was constantly bonded with the Irista bloodline. Now that it had a small semblance of freedom, there was no need to use such a cheap trick. ¡°What¡¯s important is what you¡¯re going to do now.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Ashtine held her chest. It was clean, unblemished by blood and tears. ¡°I died. My brother murdered me.¡± ¡°Not quite,¡± the Entity said, bringing the Sky Knight¡¯s attention back to it. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Not yet?¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to die in the next three hours. Your meiyal system can no longer fuel your mental faculties, and your manifestation will simply vanish along with this Mind Palace. Technically, you¡¯re already dead. But if I am to nitpick, you¡¯re still on your way there.¡± Ashtine fell to the ground. She started crying, and the Entity understood. Not everyone wanted to die. Even those that thought they had accepted it, when faced by the finality of that reality, they still clung to their final regrets, their hopes, their what-ifs. And all of them had only one thing to say. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Ashtine cried. The Entity, its shadow, walked up and crouched before the Sky Knight. It felt pity for her. It connected with her. ¡°You were used in a game you didn¡¯t know you were playing, Ashtine. And you lost.¡± The Entity reached out, placing a shadowy hand over Ashtine. It felt her pain. Her desire to survive. But most of all, it connected to that small spark of vengeance within her. Just a drop of fuel would turn such a small thing into a glorious conflagration. ¡°The question is, what are you going to do about it?¡± Chapter 190: To the Scarred Land To the Scarred Land ¡±It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t make a good plan. How do you make sure everyone goes on an unknown, deadly, almost suicidal mission, while guaranteeing that they can come back in one piece? You don¡¯t, that¡¯s how.¡± ~Sam ¡°Everyone in agreement?¡± Katherine asked, her arms folded while staring daggers at Sam. ¡°I was absolutely sure you were going to refute this plan,¡± he said. ¡°No, it makes sense,¡± she answered back. ¡°It¡¯s a good way to utilize everyone¡¯s talents. The way you laid it out feels like I¡¯m getting used, though.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t that how¡ª?¡± ¡°Shut up. That¡¯s not how it works.¡± ¡°Eh, agree to disagree, I guess.¡± Sam turned to everyone else. ¡°So? As the Lady asks; everyone in agreement?¡± Heads bobbed up and down, some of them shrugging. ¡°As long as the Lady¡¯s agreeing with the plan.¡± Venry said, turning his attention to the semi-sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. ¡°You¡¯re using her as a distraction.¡± ¡°The best one there is,¡± Sam confirmed. He turned to the Vyndivalians. ¡°See, it¡¯s a little different from the Battle of the Vanguard. Remember that deal Frein made? I wasn¡¯t there, but she told me about it. Not that hard to piece things together¡­ ¡°Anyway, this will be how it¡¯ll look like if Frein loses, and you have full control over Katherine. But turning the situation back to the present, this Alpha-whatever¡ªvainglorious name, I might add. Like he¡¯s compensating or something¡ª¡± ¡°Stop getting distracted,¡± Katherine said. ¡°We¡¯ll run out of time if you go to all your tangents.¡± ¡°Sorry, sorry. Anyway, if we let Katherine go out there and cause mayhem, Alphazzel is stuck with two choices: fight her head-on, or keep hiding. First, which is the more likely of the two, will demand all his attention, so you folks will be free to rescue Frein and Mother Selfiya. If it¡¯s the second, Katherine will eventually cleave through every defense there is and rescue the two of them anyway.¡± ¡°How sure are we that Frein¡¯s over there?¡± Ral asked. ¡°We¡¯re sure that Mother Selfiya¡¯s over there,¡± Hal followed up. ¡°Not the Visitor, though.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Enza said, making the Vyndivalians jump. ¡°I¡¯m bonded with the guy.¡± ¡°A talking yuma¡­¡± Venry stared, bewildered. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Visitor for you,¡± Kristel said, turning to the yuma. ¡°Did you convince Testra?¡± ¡°It feels weird trying to instruct your seniors,¡± Enza whined, her ears drooping. ¡°Took them some convincing, but Testra and Stiry will stay behind with Tich.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Frill said. ¡°They were getting a little restless.¡± ¡°Am I in Katherine¡¯s group? Or Venry¡¯s?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m still a little distracted by the fact that I¡¯m in the air on a flying manta ray.¡± Frill pressed her hand on the Vyndivalian¡¯s face, and pushed him into a corner. Kristel sighed, turning away from her retainers and back to the yuma. ¡°Thank you, Enza.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait,¡± Dystro interjected, while pointing back to Sam. ¡°A talking yuma¡¯s cool and all, but I think we¡¯re forgetting something. This Alphazzel has a third option.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t run,¡± Katherine said. She understood the implications. ¡°If he runs, he¡¯ll run alone.¡± ¡°What makes you so sure?¡± Dystro withdrew after realizing he sounded rude. ¡°No disrespect, it just seems a little convenient. Just hearing about the things that happened, it doesn¡¯t make sense for him to be in one place and then in another, faster than we are.¡± In response, the Lady of the Void gestured over to Sam. ¡°It¡¯s Meiyal Weaving,¡± he said. ¡°In which it applies folding space between Brymeia¡¯s meiyal, thus allowing for one to step through it as if they were just walking.¡± ¡°In other words, teleportation,¡± Katherine concluded. ¡°Way to simplify my detailed interpretation and step-by-step process of the Weaving,¡± Sam sighed. ¡°In any case, yes. Teleportation. But, and it¡¯s a big, squishy butt, the conditions and requirements for that Weaving are very complex. To give you an idea, simply consider how often Mother Selfiya has moved.¡± Katherine observed as Venry¡¯s group made a variety of gestures, all indicating they were in deep thought. The Guard Knight was the first to answer. ¡°Takes a while, and a little farther compared to a carriage¡¯s average speed.¡± ¡°But we assumed they were moving her through some sort of a faster transport, not teleportation,¡± Hal added, rubbing his non-bearded chin. ¡°If it is an actual transportation method, that¡¯ll be much easier for us to handle,¡± Sam said. ¡°We see it leaving, we can chase it. There are no known vehicles to have Nature¡¯s Favor.¡± ¡°What if there is?¡± Dystro asked. ¡°What if it¡¯s like the Floating Dream and has that Blessing?¡± ¡°Brother,¡± Sam started, ¡°if we plan for every scenario there is, we might as well let the enemy do what they want, because we¡¯ll be here for a week or two.Stolen novel; please report. ¡°The point is, we can¡¯t really plan for everything, so we consider, based on our knowledge, the worst scenarios and plan to counter them. Every mode of transport that we know, Katherine can demolish in a single Meiyal Art. If it¡¯s something we don¡¯t know, we adapt. Planning will give you the best chance to reach your objectives, but they will one-hundred percent not go according¡­ to plan. God, that was awful. ¡°Now the worst of this hypothetical third option is Alphazzel¡¯s teleportation ability. However, he can¡¯t use it unless he¡¯s running on his own, because this Weaving is free for him, but not for others.¡± The semi-sentient M.O.B.I.L.E. floated a little more near Venry¡¯s group. The others closed in. The device continued his lecture. ¡°Let¡¯s just call it Teleportation Weaving for now. The records are a little fuzzy with their naming schemes. Anyway, based on history, if a practitioner were to teleport someone else, they have to pay two things. First, they have to pay meiyal equal to the person¡¯s meiyal value. Second, they have to pay meiyal equal to the meiyal that person is currently carrying in their system.¡± ¡°How do they calculate someone¡¯s meiyal value?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°And what is that exactly?¡± ¡°Meiyal value is related to one¡¯s Destiny Adhesion,¡± Katherine replied. ¡°At least that¡¯s how the Order of the Void simplifies it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct,¡± Sam said. ¡°Now, while I¡¯m sure Alphazzel is keeping Mother Selfiya and Frein meiyal starved all the time, what do you think their meiyal values are? This is a Mother of the Void and the Visitor we¡¯re talking about. Combined, I¡¯m pretty sure even Alphazzel couldn¡¯t pay it in one go. Not to mention he had to pay Smyl¡¯s yesterday. He can¡¯t transfer all three, four people at once. ¡°Now, here¡¯s the clincher,¡± Sam continued, zipping past everyone and stopping beside Enza. ¡°Let¡¯s say the faunel is an amazingly, overpowered, godlike being that can practically bend all the rules of Teleportation Weaving. Let¡¯s say they managed to escape. We have this fuzzy, little girl here to help us track down Frein to the ends of the world.¡± ¡°Alphazzel knows that,¡± Katherine said. ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯ll know about it. He¡¯ll also know that I¡¯m constantly watching over Enza. He won¡¯t catch us by surprise. And that¡¯s when he¡¯ll realize that he has no other choice but to fight me.¡± ¡°Then we sneak around, and rescue the two,¡± Dystro said, contemplating. ¡°Alright. I can¡¯t think of anything better.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I planned it,¡± Sam said. ¡°Told you, I¡¯m not Tea.¡± ¡°Bit arrogant, are we?¡± ¡°It comes with the fact that I am better.¡± ¡°Alright, Sam. That¡¯s enough gloating.¡± Katherine reached out and summoned the device to her hand. He had no way to disobey the command. ¡°I¡¯ll be hearing a lot of it from Alphazzel later. I¡¯ll need all the patience I can muster.¡± ¡°Thank you, oh Great Sage Sam! We would never have come up with a plan without you!¡± the M.O.B.I.L.E. said sarcastically. ¡°Not hard to do, you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll thank you once we get them both back,¡± Katherine said. ¡°And without casualties,¡± Kristel followed. Sam wriggled out of the Lady¡¯s hand. ¡°Fine. Fair enough. But I¡¯ll be staying here to record everything.¡± ¡°Record?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Frein¡¯s request. Super secret stuff. From a long while ago.¡± She narrowed her eyes, looking at her device so curiously that it made him shiver. ¡°Fine,¡± she said finally. ¡°You¡¯re much safer here anyway. And no one else has a M.O.B.I.L.E. that¡¯s working. Try to communicate with Atlas Sid and give them updates while you¡¯re at it. Decide for when you think they can approach or have to evacuate people.¡± ¡°I can do that,¡± Sam said, whirling his meiyal components. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure my codename still works.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Frill jumped alert, tapping the Princess¡¯s shoulder. Katherine wondered why she was pointing at Sam. ¡°I just remembered, he¡¯s the secret agent that was providing High Palace with hints about terrorists and upstart evil organizations.¡± ¡°That was you?¡± Kristel gasped. ¡°Guys, guys,¡± Sam started, playing the sound of clapping hands. ¡°It¡¯s all in a day¡¯s work. No need to fall to your knees to worship my secret achievements. Let¡¯s focus on the task at hand instead.¡± Katherine met Kristel¡¯s tired and disgusted expression as they made their way towards Tich¡¯s head. Since they both belonged to the same group for Sam¡¯s plan, they waited until they were out of reach before talking behind his back. Xiv and Frill joined in a moment later. ¡°I¡¯m amazed by your incredible patience,¡± said the Princess. ¡°I would¡¯ve probably turned him off right now.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just shy because of the new faces,¡± the Lady replied. ¡°He¡¯ll soften up with them, give it time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope there is time for later,¡± Xiv said. ¡°Not a real fan of our odds.¡± ¡°Fighting the Nightmare never had good odds to begin with,¡± Katherine said. ¡°But ours, and Sam¡¯s plans, probably have the best odds out there.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Frill interjected. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound reassuring.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t,¡± Kristel answered for the Lady. ¡°So don¡¯t put your guard down even for a moment.¡± Katherine sighed. ¡°In any case, Sam prepared three different plans. Let¡¯s hope that¡¯s enough to confuse this faunel in case he can look at Destiny.¡± It was Frein¡¯s contingency plan that he had shared a long time ago. If someone can look into the future, then confuse them by making at least three futures happen at the same time. Confusing in theory and in practice. In fact, Katherine wasn¡¯t even sure if this was what he meant. ¡°It¡¯s about looking ahead and figuring out which will happen, right?¡± Frill asked. ¡°What if he makes it so that the outcome changes?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a faunel, not a god,¡± Katherine reminded them of Frein¡¯s words. ¡°Only gods can change their own Destiny. This isn¡¯t someone loved by Brymeia like Kristella. We¡¯ll have our chance.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t do anything staying still here, anyway,¡± Kristel added, and the rest followed in agreement. ¡°Tich, let¡¯s move,¡± Katherine said, agreeing with the Princess. The Floating Dream entered the Nightmare Incursion engulfing Befall, the Scar of this World. What they saw took everyone by surprise. Everyone immediately gathered, and even Sam pushed through to get in front of Katherine. ¡°Well¡­¡± he began, ¡°this pretty much changes everything.¡± ¡°Where¡­¡± Kristel looked around, unable to finish her question. Even with Katherine¡¯s Void Control Technique, I, Alone, Am the Center, now with an even greater range, she could not detect a single undead. This land, devoid of life and true death, scarred to never heal, was no longer filled by the lumbering remnants of the past. ¡°They¡¯re just all Nightmares,¡± she said. ¡°I take it back,¡± Sam said, turning back to everyone. ¡°This doesn¡¯t change anything. We¡¯ll proceed with the plan. Enza, can you pinpoint Frein from here?¡± Just as he posed the question, Tich, the Floating Dream, stopped progressing forward. She remained hovering in the air, but she made a subtle tug within her bond with Katherine to let the Lady know she could no longer proceed. ¡°This is as far as she¡¯ll go,¡± Katherine said to everyone while gesturing for the yuma to come in front. ¡°What do you think?¡± The Lady of the Void already had a guess. There were extremely few locations in Befall that could serve as a hiding spot for prisoners. There were two main valley entrances to this region, northwards towards Eastrise and westwards towards Southshore. Both entrances had a watchtower and a small barracks. Those would be enough to hide Mother Selfiya and Frein. But concentration of Nightmares towards either of those places was almost nonexistent. There was one other building in the middle of Befall. Aderis Tower. A building that had once belonged to an ancient lich of the same name. Katherine only knew about it from the records of the Order of the Void. Liches, or undead with powerful magical affinities, had once thrived during the era of the gods. Aderis had not been as fortunate. His turning was a curse, brought from the madness caused by the remnant Divinity and Burden of whatever Forgotten Deity upheld the Concept of Undeath. He had never been a full-fledged lich, but even then, the influence of his power and evil had been enough to earn him a place in history. History that, for whatever chaotic twist of fate, led Katherine and Enza to point towards the tower¡¯s direction. ¡°Frein¡¯s over there,¡± they both said at the same time. ¡°We¡¯re sure of it.¡± Chapter 191: The Strongest Pracitioner The Strongest Practitioner Befall, the Scar of this World, was a significant place not only to Iristans, but to everyone else in the world. Its historical value could easily surpass even some of the most iconic places in the Nightmare Lands. This vile, uninhabitable place was the sole remaining evidence that the gods had once ruled over Brymeia. Sure, some legends could be considered as proof, or myths like the blood pools of Oh¡¯strol Continent and the protective plateaus of Alvo and Sel¡¯Rindea could also be taken as reminders of the divines¡¯ forgotten existence. But none could compare to the truth that Befall held openly before the world. The miasma of undeath, the moving corpses, the constant presence of rot. No such necrotic abominations could be found in other places of the world. And nowhere in their fragile, undependable history, had anyone ever mentioned a mortal being raising the remains of the past True evidence that a malevolent god once cursed these lands. Or so it had been. Now there were only Nightmares. Ironic was the perversion of life, so chaotic and unknown, that something far worse could be derived than undeath. For most people, historians, scholars, researchers, even devotees, the corruption of Nightmare over Befall could be seen as a significant and unrecoverable loss. Secrets never to be discovered. Remnants of the Divine Severing no longer to be found. Treasures of unfathomable power lost to all time. A true shame. For a Lady of the Void such as Katherine, it was just like any other day. She had seen even more sacred places, significant places, divine places, ravaged and devoured by the cursed Nightmare. Entire populaces, cities, countries, continents, made mad by things beyond the worst thing imaginable. Compared to her other companions, gasping from the oppressive atmosphere and the realization of loss, she was entirely numbed. They walked, travelling through the shadows and avoiding unnecessary fights. Their objective, Aderis Tower, was far more important than culling a few mindless beasts¡­ She could not even consider them that. It was difficult to determine if they were stepping on sand or ash. The lifeless color of the place was only worsened by the Incursion. The wind was sharp to the skin, and even meiyal itself, affected by the Nightmare or no, was trying to twist their very essence of life. It belonged to Brymeia, still, that much she was sure. But whatever god had cursed the land, scarred this land, made sure that life could not find escape through meiyal. Katherine¡¯s understanding of Brymeia was complicated, and the existence of Befall contributed a large amount to that complexity. But now that she had integrated with a material that the world herself created personally, and had spent time communing with her, the Lady was more confused than anything. Why let the land remain scarred? Is it because Brymeia¡¯s too weak against a god? Surely not¡­ she¡¯s been bearing the weight of multiple gods since the Divine Severing. No¡­ for some odd reason, Brymeia chose not to heal herself. A matter for later. Katherine, Kristel, Frill, and Xiv found themselves on a foot of a large dune. Looking around, they were finally provided some respite from the roaming Nightmares. With a subtle nod, she allowed the Vyndivalian to scout ahead. He was the best choice for this task. If things went wrong, the nature of Xiv¡¯s discipline, Meiyal Armaments, wouldn¡¯t risk their position. Since the discipline was an inward oriented method of improving one¡¯s self, as opposed to Meiyal Arts, he wouldn¡¯t easily attract other Nightmares. It was one of the reasons why a lot of Vyndivalians were candidates for the Order of the Void, when compared to Iristans. Katherine monitored their surroundings while Xiv climbed up the dune. She wanted to use her detecting Void Control Technique, but even if she tried her best to be subtle, there was no guarantee that the Technique would go unnoticed, especially since they did not have a precise census of the Nightmares involved. The two other girls beside her were silent, observing their surroundings with alert eyes. Katherine pointed at a large boulder, the size of an average house, nesting at the foot of the dune, and directed them there to rest while waiting for Xiv. As they leaned on the rock, a loud snap came from underneath. Kristel and Frill jumped back, looking around the rock for anything hiding on the other side. Katherine simply grabbed their attention and slowly, carefully, lifted the rock. She pushed it gently, using as little meiyal on her Siffera as possible to carry the entire weight of the boulder. Underneath were skeletons and crushed bones, mildly shaking and moving now that there was nothing hindering their movements. After showing it to the girls, she settled the boulder down to prevent dismembered undead from moving. Kristel and Frill took a deep breath. If things would¡¯ve been any less dire, they would¡¯ve all eventually burst out laughing. As it was, Katherine only afforded a smile. ¡°You two are a little jumpy.¡± ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Kristel shrugged. ¡°Last time I was here, I had a whole team of Guard Knights and Royal Knights. Not to mention it wasn¡¯t under a Nightmare Incursion back then.¡± ¡°It¡¯s way too dead now,¡± Frill said. ¡°Empty, I mean.¡± ¡°Well, if these bones underneath are of any clue, I¡¯d say the undead moved somewhere else.¡±This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Really?¡± Kristel asked, a little skeptical. ¡°Just from that?¡± ¡°What else is there?¡± Katherine shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s definitive. But I think the assumption that the Nightmare simply eradicated the undead is pretty much disproven by the moving bones below this rock.¡± ¡°What if they combined?¡± Frill asked. ¡°That¡¯s what Kristel and I came up with.¡± ¡°They did, for sure. The problem is, we don¡¯t know the implications of that, and to what extent.¡± Katherine turned towards the large dune and found Xiv coming down towards them. ¡°Do you have any idea who these undead people were during the time they were alive?¡± The two shook their heads. ¡°It was never pointed out,¡± Kristel said. ¡°But now that you¡¯re asking, I¡¯m guessing the Order of the Void had some documents?¡± Katherine just shrugged again. ¡°Nope. I only have assumptions.¡± ¡°Do tell.¡± ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s better if Xiv gives us a rundown first.¡± The Vyndivalian arrived, carrying a confused expression. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure what I was supposed to find out there. It¡¯s just any other Nightmare infested region.¡± ¡°Then they really went somewhere else,¡± Frill said. ¡°What went?¡± ¡°The undead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡± Katherine pondered to herself, crossing her arms while in deep thought. ¡°If my theory¡¯s true, we might be in big trouble.¡± ¡°What theory?¡± Xiv asked. ¡°The undead of this place,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t have any evidence or proof, but my guess is that they were once heroes.¡± ¡°Heroes?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°From the Divine Severing?¡± ¡°Way before that. It didn¡¯t really matter before, so I didn¡¯t dig too much into it. But the only reason I can find to logically explain why they didn¡¯t disappear after the Divine Severing, is because they¡¯re powerful individuals able to push their influence on Destiny.¡± ¡°People with high Destiny Adhesion?¡± Frill asked this time. ¡°Correct. That¡¯s why when the Divine Severing happened, they were unaffected.¡± Katherine sighed. ¡°Think about it. There are no other undead sightings aside from the ones here in Befall. Not even in the Nightmare Lands.¡± ¡°Could they have already been corrupted?¡± Xiv inquired this time. ¡°You know, makes it impossible to see the origin of the Nightmare?¡± ¡°Possibly, but any mentions of undead in records from any sources doesn¡¯t say any other places aside from Befall. Unless Vyndival has secret texts that we should know about?¡± The Vyndivalian thought for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°No. But then again, I don¡¯t pay much attention to that sort of thing.¡± ¡°If they are powerful enough to prevent Destiny from affecting them, how come they¡¯re undead?¡± Kristel asked. She realized the answer a second later. ¡°Something even more powerful¡­¡± ¡°Gods,¡± Katherine said simply. ¡°My entire point is, this might just be the confirmation we¡¯re waiting for, Kristel, Frill. I¡¯m pretty sure at this point, both undead and Nightmare have combined.¡± She turned to Xiv. ¡°These two powers are nothing alike. And to tackle your concern earlier, we might find something more, compared to a simple Nightmare.¡± With this, she led the way back to the top of the dune and confirmed Xiv¡¯s sightings. There were too many Nightmares to classify roaming around the barren lands. Both on the ground and in the skies. She was pretty sure there were ones underground as well, just waiting for prey. Far in the distance, they saw their objective, Aderis Temple. ¡°This should be near enough,¡± Katherine said. ¡°What?¡± was the response everyone made. ¡°Hmm?¡± Katherine turned to each of them, just as confused. ¡°What?¡± Xiv gestured, pointing themselves and the tower. ¡°We¡¯re too far.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Katherine almost smacked herself. ¡°No, we¡¯re close enough.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying you can reach it from here?¡± ¡°Our job is to be the distraction, right?¡± she pointed out. ¡°Technically, I¡¯ll be the main bait. From here, I¡¯ll kill all the Nightmares until we reach the tower. Kristel and Frill will fuse and be my backup if we get the catch we¡¯re looking for. And you, Xiv, should make sure no stray Nightmares get in the way of Venry and the others. You can stay in the shadows and move faster. If you need our help, just use a flare. But if you end up meeting with their group, you don¡¯t need to come back for us.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Xiv, in his own time and Frill¡¯s guidance, had begun to utilize his new meiyal core, allowing him a much easier time to practice Meiyal Arts in comparison to Venry who was learning Meiyal Armaments. At this point, the Vyndivalian could use the simple flares that most Guard Knights learned for warnings and communications. He couldn¡¯t Draw any proper Meiyal Arts yet. ¡°Alright,¡± Katherine said, nodding towards the two ladies. ¡°You two said that you can make the fuse work, right? Once I start the chaos, you can begin. Make sure I take their attention first, alright?¡± As soon as the two returned her nod, Katherine stood atop the dune. She took off her black, long coat, tying its arms around her army pants. She stretched her arms, now that she was only wearing a tank top, to warm them up. Lastly, she pulled a scrunchie out of her Spatiera and tied her hair. This getup allowed her to focus. The feel of weight from the layers of her bottom clothes contrasted by the freedom of her top. She breathed, preparing herself for battle. ¡°Frill,¡± she started, ¡°back at Minaveil Manor, I¡¯m sure you were wondering what I took from that room, right?¡± It took the Aria a while to remember. ¡°You never showed us.¡± ¡°Before I went as a Seeker on Earth, I had a particularly special Exhibit.¡± Katherine turned to Kristel. ¡°I was entrusted to inherit Evanclad¡¯s Exhibit. That¡¯s what I retrieved from that room that Schrodie personally made for me.¡± ¡°Now the whole security makes sense,¡± said Frill. The Princess¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So that¡¯s why I have my own Exhibit!¡± ¡°Not only that,¡± Katherine said with a smile, facing back towards the mass of Nightmares. ¡°I also have something of his that I¡¯m sure you¡¯re familiar with.¡± The Lady of the Void reached out, Displayed her Exhibit, and began to Draw. As soon as her mind settled on the pattern, all the godly meiyal-charged materials she had integrated with suddenly responded. It didn¡¯t matter whether they had been stubborn or not, this was the exact purpose they had been made for in the first place. This pattern was different from everything else. Not only was it complex beyond normal, it also required Katherine to invoke all the elements related to Meiyal Arts. ¡°Fra, sia, lia,¡± she started in a soft whisper. Her Milled meiyal flowed outside her body, turning into motes of flame, wind, and water. ¡°Tia, gia, nra, kia.¡± With each invocation, the elements of lightning, earth, nature, and ice appeared as motes as well. At this point, the Nightmares began to notice her surge of power. They made their approach en masse. Katherine ignored them and focused, combining all the motes of elements in the palm of her hand. They swirled in a violent vortex, colliding against each other until they were combined, forced to exist despite their opposite natures. The Nightmares, those travelling from the air, were close now. She didn¡¯t stop nor hesitate, pouring her meiyal and all the divine authority her meiyal-charged materials provided her into the Art as she closed her hand around the vortex. As if drawing a sword from its scabbard, she pulled. From the edge of her enclosed fist, a weapon began to manifest. First was the shaft, curved at a miniscule angle that was almost imperceptibly straight. Then came the large, curved blade. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Kristel¡¯s words barely finished. Katherine flourished the glaive in a resting position to her side, but even just that emitted enough destructive meiyal. It instantly eradicated the oncoming onslaught of Nightmares. The Lady of the Void breathed, her entire hair turning white. She relaxed her form and held the weight of the weapon that had once slayed Zerax¡¯thum. She needed to declare its existence, provide finality to its form by saying its name. ¡°Vantera, Glaive of Evanclad.¡± Chapter 192: The Cost of Vantera The Cost of Vantera
¡±The cost of Vantera isn¡¯t as simple as using meiyal. It¡¯s a Magnum Opus that belonged to someone else. Copying someone¡¯s greatest Art is never cheap.¡± ~Katherine Militia, Lady of the Void
¡°I had a feeling she had it,¡± Evanclad said, stirring from Kristel¡¯s Mind Palace. The Princess barely noticed his words, on the account that she was too busy admiring Katherine¡¯s wonderful form. The Lady carried the glaive on her side rather than allowing the sand-ash to even touch the bottom shaft. She barely moved, her immense power fluttering her clothes and ponytail hair. Back straight and eyes forward, she was the peak of the strong. She was at the top of the mountain. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kristel asked internally while they waited for Katherine to get used to her Art. The destruction the Lady had caused from manifesting the glaive eradicated enough Nightmares that it had caused a heavy lull. Much to Kristel¡¯s surprise, those monsters were stunned in awe. ¡°Vantera is a unique Meiyal Art. It was originally a Meiyal Weave that I converted into an Art. My Magnum Opus. And I bestowed it, along with my Exhibit, to the strongest practitioner under the Iristan rule. Brymeia helps with the process.¡± ¡°Why give it to the strongest?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Why not to the next monarch?¡± ¡°You jealous?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m not, but I¡¯m more curious in general. I don¡¯t think I want it, though.¡± ¡°To be honest, I was always under the assumption that the strongest among our people would always be from my bloodline.¡± ¡°Sorry we couldn¡¯t keep your expectations,¡± Kristel said sarcastically. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that. In fact, my granddaughter, Eva¡­ You know, that¡¯s a story for another time. We have Nightmares to kill.¡± Kristel waited for Katherine to say something, but the Lady of the Void was simply still. She was breathing normally, no signs of Art fatigue. So after a long drawn out silence, the Princess and the others looked at each other, confused. ¡°Kat, are you alright?¡± she asked finally. ¡°I just had an epiphany,¡± Katherine replied, her voice somewhat distorted by her surging meiyal. She didn¡¯t turn to face them. ¡°This power should probably belong to you, Kristel.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± said the Princess. ¡°But I want to know why you¡¯re using it now, and why you didn¡¯t tell us about it before.¡± ¡°Because Frein¡¯s not here,¡± Katherine replied simply. ¡°I never thought I would have any need to use Evan¡¯s Magnum Opus. It feels like a disgrace.¡± ¡°Disgrace?¡± Xiv echoed. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone can just whip out something that powerful and be okay with holding it.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s not mine,¡± she answered simply once again. ¡°I don¡¯t have a Magnum Opus. And unlike the rest of you, I don¡¯t think I can develop my own.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Frill asked this time. ¡°It¡¯s too heavy. I¡¯m not sure I can handle two Magna Opera.¡± Kristel had somewhat of an understanding. When she had first used Verdict, though it wasn¡¯t something she could consider a Magnum Opus, yet, it had exacted from her a payment that went beyond simple meiyal cost. ¡°What¡­¡± she started, trying to find the courage to ask. ¡°What does it cost?¡± This time, Katherine turned. Just slightly, enough to show a look of appreciation that someone else understood her melancholic state. ¡°A year,¡± she said, turning back to the sea of Nightmares. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work the same way with Venry¡¯s, but every time I use Vantera, it¡¯ll shave off a year of my lifespan.¡± ¡°A year?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Wait, what do you mean use? Did you pay a year just now?¡± ¡°Yes, basically. Each slash, each stab, each parry or block, any and all things that involved this glaive. If I use it as much as balance myself, that¡¯s an entire year gone.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Xiv exclaimed. ¡°Unfair!¡± Frill followed. Katherine ignored their complaints, simply turning again to pose a question. ¡°What do you think, Kristel?¡± she asked. The Princess understood. She had had a glimpse of that insane power. Power reached beyond simple training. Costs and sacrifices had to be made. ¡°It¡¯s a Deitar¡¯s Meiyal Art. We¡¯re not supposed to be wielding them in the first place.¡± Katherine smiled once again. ¡°Indeed,¡± Evanclad said within her Mind Palace. ¡°Bestowing this Rule was the only way to pass down my Magnum Opus.¡± ¡°But if you become a Deitar¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t understand Frein¡¯s choice in becoming a Visitor,¡± Katherine said, returning her gaze to the Nightmares once more. ¡°I can¡¯t even read him with my Heart¡¯s Will anymore, which is the absolute proof that I trust and understand him with my entire existence. But I think, only now, do I truly realize why he¡¯s not even bothering to find a way to stop his death.¡± She turned fully, carrying with her a deep and understanding smile. Kristel found herself confused, and the others as well. They all had the same question. There¡¯s a way to stop his death?Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°I just really want to be with him,¡± Katherine continued, oblivious to the confused crowd behind her. ¡°And if I have to sacrifice my life, I¡¯ll gladly give it away.¡± Kristel was stunned by her words, and so were the rest. Her question regarding the Deitar suddenly became an afterthought. The choice of self-sacrifice for the sake of a loved one was something all of them were familiar with. And to see it in its purest, simplest form, matched with the greatest, strongest power, left them speechless. In the most generous of senses, the Lady of the Void could swing Vantera eighty times, given her age. A hundred would be miraculous. Eighty swings against an infinite Nightmare¡­ Kristel wasn¡¯t so optimistic. But she had no doubt Katherine would swing them all, and even beyond, if she deemed it necessary. ¡°Rokudai¡­¡± The Lady¡¯s words stirred them back into focus. She had her free hand extended towards the Nightmares. They had grown bolder since the lull had passed. In response, the Lady of the Void amassed Milled meiyal that Kristel assumed easily matched her own entire reservoir. ¡°Diferenfra.¡± The Princess was still processing the fact that the Meiyal Art had nothing to do with Vantera, when a massive explosion incinerated all the Nightmares in front of them. A cloud of flaming smoke formed from the point of impact, erupting a second time to disintegrate the flying ones. ¡°Hold on,¡± Katherine said. Everyone, except for the Lady, braced for impact. The sound of the explosion came first, then the force hit them a second later. Ash and sand blasted into their faces with enough force to behead someone without Siffera, and gales of wind threatened to throw them off the dune. They didn¡¯t expect the second one to blast away their entire footing. It toppled the Princess over. She recovered in time, flipping in the air to land in solid ground, but a tsunami of sand and ash crashed onto her. She forced herself out, looking for everyone. Xiv was on his feet, pulling Frill out of the sand. They had fallen quite deep, she realized. The entire desert was pushed back, revealing the real ground below. It was at least a few stories deep. Kristel looked up and saw Katherine standing in the air. She had more questions to ask, but even with such massive destruction, the pile of Nightmares simply didn¡¯t stop surrounding them. ¡°It¡¯s the Nightmare Sign,¡± Xiv explained. ¡°If we can¡¯t find and destroy it, they¡¯ll just keep on coming¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Frill said, turning to Kristel. ¡°We can help with that.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the fuse.¡± Kristel nodded. ¡°Xiv, defend us for a while.¡± ¡°Roger that.¡±
Katherine understood the idea behind the Rule within Vantera, and why Evanclad had made it such a way. The First Monarch had never expected the decline of power in his bloodline, as well as his people. Rather, he had expected them to find a way to match the powers of Deitars without depending on gods to ascend them. And this was his way of helping them out. Vantera, a Deitar Meiyal Art that could be held by someone who had yet to hold such a status, in exchange for their lifespan. But the truth was plain and simple. Her path to power was a singular path. If Katherine wished to wield this Magnum Opus and create her own, she needed to become a Deitar to pass Vantera¡¯s Rule. ¡°It¡¯s the same for Frein,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°What?¡± Katherine stopped. It was partly because she was confused by what Elizzel had said, as well as the army of Nightmares surging in front of her like a tsunami. The mass of death was a mix of everything. From Grinding Teeth On Living Flesh to Jaws Lurking In The Forest, and many more classifications she had not met after returning to Brymeia. Nightmares that lived truly within corrupted territory. She sent another Rokudai-Diferenfra, causing another set of massive explosions that people from Frein¡¯s world would envy. The enormous destruction took into account the environment. While sand and ash were helpless against the force, Diferenfra did not melt or burn them away, and neither did it harm the ground. Only Nightmares were destroyed. ¡°Explain,¡± she said audibly towards the faunel. ¡°You can, right?¡± Elizzel didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Remember when I told you that if Frein doesn¡¯t want to find a way to stop his death, we¡¯ll do it on our own? It¡¯s because we actually know a way. And that¡¯s to be a god, which means he also has to be a Deitar, which also, also means he has to be a Worldborn first. ¡°And yes, we wanted to explain this to you later after the Incursion, but I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t mind if I tell you some of it right now¡­ even though he told me not to. It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re one and the same, remember?¡± ¡°And now, so are we¡­¡± Katherine felt her head jumping into things and topics she didn¡¯t quite know if they were hers to begin with. ¡°This is getting confusing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you have a lot of questions regarding that, but don¡¯t worry about it for now. I won¡¯t be going anywhere. And even if I can¡¯t answer all your questions, I¡¯m sure we can find someone who can. As for the Deitars, we can talk about it more in detail after we¡¯re done here.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Katherine technically didn¡¯t have a choice. The Nightmares were surrounding her once again, even faster than before. ¡°Let¡¯s deal with this first.¡± Despite the grim situation, Katherine was filled with hope and excitement. She took Elizzel¡¯s information as a sign that she could aim to be a Deitar together with Frein. A straightforward path. Only, the fact that it was broken by the Divine Severing abruptly placed a wedge in that hope. ¡°Not all the gods are gone,¡± Elizzel whispered. It almost caused Katherine to lose focus. While she didn¡¯t care about spending her lifespan with each slash with the Vantera, she couldn¡¯t afford to summon it a second time with the amount of meiyal investment it required. Not as far as speed was concerned, at least. ¡°What?¡± She stopped completely. ¡°Again, for later. Sorry, I can¡¯t stop trying to reassure you.¡± A gigantic Forest Jaws appeared out of its pseudo-Nature¡¯s Favor, its weird sideways maw outstretched in an attempt to devour Katherine. It was almost laughable, how slow the Nightmare was compared to the first time she had been ambushed since returning to Brymeia. ¡°It¡¯s my fault,¡± Katherine said, still talking to Elizzel despite the danger crawling towards her. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be distracted.¡± The Lady of the Void stretched out a hand, allowing the Nightmare to engulf her whole. But instead of letting herself be swallowed straight to the stomach and be melted by its acidic fluids, Katherine stepped right into its ribcage and ripped away its core. She emerged out of its chest already cleaned by Imbelia. In her hand was a meiyal-charged material like the one she had harvested before. She integrated with it in an instant. ¡°Frein can eat Nightmares, huh¡­¡± Katherine mused, realizing how she could essentially do the same. Her eyes locked into the mass of Nightmares. Despite eradicating wave after wave, she still couldn¡¯t pinpoint the Nightmare Sign spawning them. Even I, Alone, Am The Center couldn¡¯t detect it. In fact, simply judging from the amount of spawn rapidly coming out, there might very well be multiple of them. She looked on, finding which monster looked more valuable and which she could destroy without mercy. There were plenty. Too plenty. ¡°Kat, are you¡­?¡± Katherine, face to face with despair and the horror of Nightmares, only saw hope. A way to fuel Vantera for an infinite number of swings. ¡°Meiyal-charged materials have significance in them,¡± she started. Within her Exhibit, she pulled the material she had just harvested from the Forest Jaws and presented it to the First Monarch¡¯s Meiyal Art. ¡°This should be about equal to a year of my lifespan.¡± She poured the material into the Art, allowing it to disintegrate from within her Exhibit. It was gone now, no longer usable. Vantera had accepted payment. Katherine heaved the glaive and took a giant swing as she Drew Rokudai-Katastrofera over the Deitar Art. Meiyal froze, and space and reality themselves were torn asunder. The slash that came from the glaive erased all Nightmares in the horizon in an instant. For a moment, even the Incursion itself was split apart, as well as the clouds above it. The ashes and sand, completely gone. In their wake were five Nightmare Signs already spawning more abominations. The results were devastatingly destructive. In a singular slash, the entirety of Katherine¡¯s front became a clean canvas, if only for a moment. That moment lasted for a breath and the sands and ash began to appear from the ground again. The land was cursed after all. Even the skies and the Incursion started mending. But this time, Katherine knew where the Nightmare Signs were. And more importantly, she didn¡¯t feel the Deitar Art sapping her lifespan away. Even as Deep Nightmares began to spawn, the Lady of the Void could only smile. For the first time ever, she could wield Evanclad¡¯s weapon without any reservations. ¡°Get ready, Eli,¡± she said, carefully placing the glaive on her side once again. ¡°We¡¯ll be here for a while.¡± Chapter 193: Incompetence Incompetence Smyl Solfey wasn¡¯t used to having black hair. While his blue eyes gazed in awe upon the splitting of the Incursion and the skies, a hand of his was busy combing through his dark strands. They were coming, just as predicted. As soon as the dark globe of the Nightmare Incursion had mended, the former Sky Knight rushed down from his room at the top of Aderis Tower to the main office below. Alphazzel, who had begun to look less and less like Tryvinal, turned from the window to stare at him. ¡°What?¡± asked the faunel in the most annoyed tone he could conceive. ¡°Losing your nerve, kid?¡± Gone was the spiky hair of Tryvinal, replaced by straight, raven black tied in a large braid that reached his ankles. A closed beard framed a now firm, rigid face. And his black eyes had a thin, white line crossing them lengthwise. Smyl caught himself stepping back in surprise, taking a second to realize it was actually Alphazzel. The faunel smiled, noticing his apprehension. In response, he forced himself to walk into the room with confidence. ¡°I¡¯m not here for your jokes,¡± he said. ¡°Looks like she completely stopped the Incursion from advancing. What¡¯s your plan now?¡± ¡°Advancing from one side,¡± Alphazzel corrected, smiling. He laced his voice with as much mockery and sarcasm as he could afford without looking like a cartoon character. ¡°The moment the Incursion makes contact with the Nightmare Lands, we can consider this a win. We made sure to prevent any potential reinforcements from the Order of the Void, remember? And the plan is pretty obvious, Smyl. Why don¡¯t you exercise your mental faculties a bit and take a guess, hmm?¡± ¡°You insufferable¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, drop the righteous act, would you? Just humor me. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re going anywhere. And it¡¯s really not that difficult of a solution. I¡¯ll give you some time.¡± Alphazzel ignored everything else and observed the destruction outside. Sword waves that cut through space, explosions that caused the earth to quake, and meiyal pressure that challenged everyone. Smyl could see why the faunel was so fixated on Katherine¡¯s display of power. ¡°Before the Divine Severing,¡± Alphazzel started, knowing that Smyl would take some time thinking of an answer. ¡°Practitioners like Katherine were a familiar sight. Individuals that could level entire regions with their power. Organizations that were defined by strength alone. Followings that could elevate a Deitar to godhood. It was grand, cutthroat, destructive. Calamities were as frequent as the grains of sand you could cup in your hand. Restorations were just as equally prominent. I was busy; it gave me purpose.¡± The faunel gestured wildly towards Katherine¡¯s direction. ¡°Now look at it. Dull. Creative, but dull. Instead of heroically sacrificing her life, she¡¯s spending meiyal-charged materials to fuel her Deitar Art.¡± He shook his head disapprovingly. ¡°Utter waste of a good love story.¡± Smyl was confused. He knew Alphazzel was a particular historian, the greatest of them, in fact, but he didn¡¯t see him as a fan of love stories. ¡°A good love story is when both lovers are dead?¡± The former Sky Knight asked. ¡°That means they¡¯re together even in death, right?¡± Smyl asked in return, not even turning away from the destructive show. ¡°I was trying to do the both of them a favor. Now it¡¯s just a tragedy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re seriously screwed in the head.¡± Alphazzel scoffed. ¡°Say whatever you want, but if it weren¡¯t for that pesky Death¡¯s Wish intruding in our plans, this final showdown would¡¯ve been an epic one.¡± Something clicked in Smyl¡¯s head. ¡°Wait. Are you saying¡­ the plan is to just kill Katherine?¡± ¡°Obviously.¡± Alphazzel jerked his head out of the office. ¡°We¡¯ve got an infinite supply of Nightmares thanks to your mother, and since you have no use for your yumas anymore, I took the liberty of turning them into one of my fancy creations.¡± There were a lot of things wrong with that statement, Smyl surmised. He wanted to dispute all of them, but there was one thing more urgent than the rest. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to harm anyone above ten percent Destiny Adhesion, remember?¡± ¡°I was asked. Not commanded. Don¡¯t be smart with me. We all know Brymeia would be better off with that singer girl. The Seeker has no part in what comes next. She can die for all I care.¡± Smyl had a lot to say against that. But before he could utter a single word, something else interrupted him. Something that shouldn¡¯t have happened. The sound of strained chains from within the dungeons couldn¡¯t be that much louder than the literal explosions happening in front of them. Alphazzel turned grim. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s awake. That fucker¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t loud. It was simply prominent. Distinct. A thing Smyl couldn¡¯t ignore. It repeated in a set rhythm. And all the while, its intensity was consistent, if not increasing.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I told him that if he broke the chains, he would die,¡± Alphazzel said rather proudly. ¡°Zero hesitation, Smyl. Zero fucking hesitation, I tell you. Have you ever seen someone so insane? He would suffocate me with his glare if he could, just because I threatened to kill his lover.¡± Smyl realized that the faunel was enjoying the rhythm. He, however, found it haunting. Where does he find the strength. He¡¯s meiyal starved and hungry. He¡¯d probably soiled himself multiple times already. ¡°Do you really take me for someone who doesn¡¯t give a shit?¡± Alphazzel said. He pointed towards Smyl¡¯s face, much to the Sky Knight¡¯s confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t have Heart¡¯s Will, but it doesn¡¯t take a genius to notice that disgust on your face. I provide them with some form of dignity and feed them regularly. I¡¯m nice like that.¡± The constant clanging of metal chains gave the faunel a dark thought. Just as much as Alphazzel could read Smyl¡¯s face, the Sky Knight could do the same. ¡°You want me to go talk to him,¡± he said before the faunel could even utter a single word. ¡°What for?¡± ¡°So you can see what we¡¯re dealing with,¡± Alphazzel answered. ¡°Maybe then you¡¯ll realize how killing your sister isn¡¯t enough of a resolve to clash against the Visitor.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t kill her,¡± Smyl said. ¡°She¡¯ll be a vessel for something greater.¡± ¡°Yeah, keep telling yourself that, kid. Whatever makes you sleep better at night. You and your mom are screwed in the head, but don¡¯t pile me with either of you. And definitely don¡¯t compare me to the Visitor. Or all of the Visitors, for that matter. Who would sacrifice their entire life for this shit?¡± With that, the faunel literally shooed Smyl away with a force of meiyal, locking the door at the same time. He clicked his tongue in frustration, but the earth quaked again as if to reprimand his bad manners. He sighed and turned, heading to the dungeons below.
The old wall stones of the dungeon underneath Aderis Tower amplified the rhythmic echoes of chain straining at high speeds. Smyl ignored the couple of Grinding Teeth on Living Flesh guarding the entrance. They recognized his presence and subsequently ignored him in return. He still appreciated the small fact that even people from the Order of the Void would have their jaws dropped at the sight of an obedient Nightmare. And while that was true in every sense of the word, Smyl couldn¡¯t get rid of the fact that these monsters were salivating at the thought of eating him right then and there. But unlike normal people, or even animals for that matter, they didn¡¯t look the least bit disappointed by passing up food. They simply stood there and returned to their duties as glorified guard dogs. Smyl erased his smug smirk after realizing how shallow this feat actually was and moved on at a brisker pace. The prison cells were empty. The dungeon wasn¡¯t particularly large. It had a hallway that turned to form a square shape. The outer walls had small cubicles that could allow an average person to lie down fully stretched and roll once, while the inner section had four larger cells for each quadrant. Frein¡¯s cell was in the farthest cubicle of the inner section. Opposite it was Lunasensia¡¯s prison in the outer wall. Smyl ignored the Void Mother, showing his face to the Visitor while wondering if he would recognize him. He was ignored. Frein was breathing slowly. His knees were bruised and scratched up, swollen from bearing his entire weight this whole time. Smyl couldn¡¯t imagine him sleeping comfortably in such a way. He couldn¡¯t imagine the Visitor sleeping at all, for that matter. Frein moved. It was sudden and powerful. With all of his lower extremities incapable of movement, he pulled on the chains with nothing but his upper half. He was like a whip, twisting and lashing with a force that ripped away at his skin. In fact, his arms were bleeding. But he didn¡¯t stop. He twisted again, the other way, and pulled the other chain, causing another massive set of echoes. It looked like he was punching with restraints pulling back his arms. ¡°You know¡ª¡± ¡°Get lost,¡± Frein said, slowing down his breathing. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a distraction. The fact that you¡¯re here, Smyl, doesn¡¯t change anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not surprised that I¡¯m here?¡± Smyl asked, rather than pointing out to Frein the futility of his actions. No response. The Visitor simply made another attempt at the chains. ¡°Come on,¡± Smyl said. ¡°Humor me here.¡± ¡°No.¡± Frein wasn¡¯t even looking back. His eyes were closed, strained into a frown. ¡°But if I threaten Katherine, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll bark back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the most laughable thing you¡¯ve ever said.¡± Frein steadied his breathing once more, preparing for another pull. ¡°You should be more worried with how you¡¯re going to defend yourself from Frill.¡± The Visitor emphasized his point by making the chains screech once again. Smyl was stunned in place. ¡°How¡­ How did you know?¡± Frein paused, and then he began to laugh. It went on for so long that he missed his rhythm. ¡°Okay, that was pretty funny, Smyl. You¡¯ve successfully distracted me.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do I seriously have to spell it out for you? Weren¡¯t you a Sky Knight General?¡± Despite this, Frein still kept his eyes closed. He knew exactly how to counter Time¡¯s Eye. Smyl caught himself. There was absolutely no definite proof to point Liona¡¯s murder towards him. Nobody else knew about his meiyal signature manipulation skill for Meiyal Armaments. Nobody. So how? Smyl flinched when the chains clanged once more. But he figured it out. ¡°You guessed?¡± ¡°You fell for the oldest trick in the book, kid. At least that¡¯s one mystery solved.¡± Finally, he opened his eyes. ¡°So now that I know who murdered Liona, are you going to kill me? Can you do that?¡± Smyl could see life in Frein¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe it. Someone as tortured as he was should not have this much life in him left. Unless¡­ Smyl Drew an observation Meiyal Art. ¡°So weak. So slow,¡± Frein commented. ¡°So obvious. Do they teach you to narrow your eyes whenever you¡¯re Drawing an observation Meiyal Art? I don¡¯t have to use mine to know what you¡¯re doing.¡± Smyl ignored his mockery. He was more distracted by the revelation he saw inside Frein¡¯s meiyal system. The Visitor was accumulating Milled meiyal. ¡°How?¡± ¡°No,¡± Frein answered. ¡°You¡¯ll have to try and kill me if you want to know the answer.¡± Smyl stared back at Frein¡¯s challenging eyes. Direct. Full of confidence, despite the obvious situation. ¡°Silence isn¡¯t an answer, Smyl,¡± Frein said, pulling the chains once again. This time, the Sky Knight General saw the Visitor use a sliver of Milled meiyal. The sound was different, slightly louder. ¡°If your faunel friend can¡¯t even come back down here and threaten me with his eye, then you have no chance at all. Don¡¯t beat yourself up over it.¡± ¡°If you break those chains, you¡¯ll die,¡± Smyl said, completely changing the subject. ¡°So why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m done talking, Smyl. You can go now.¡± Frein pulled the chains once again. He closed his eyes. ¡°The next time I see you, I¡¯m talking with my fists.¡± Smyl couldn¡¯t find a retort. The ground shaking, along with the deafened echoes of explosions, made it impossible to find one. ¡°If you keep standing there like an idiot, you won¡¯t have a chance to explain yourself to Frill, or even defend yourself. And it¡¯s starting to annoy me.¡± Frustrated, Smyl turned to leave. He didn¡¯t miss the observant gaze coming from Void Mother Lunasensia. Nonetheless, he stormed out of the dungeon having accomplished absolutely nothing. Chapter 194: Three Strikes Three Strikes Katherine had destroyed the five Nightmare Signs she had spotted during her initial fight with the Nightmares, and many more after that. Out of all the attacks she had done with Vantera, five of those didn¡¯t have a meiyal-charged material to alleviate the cost from sapping her lifespan. Including the cost of Drawing the Deitar Art in the first place, six years had been taken from her. The sacrifice wasn¡¯t in vain, fortunately. At least, not immediately. The destruction of the Signs would greatly diminish the Nightmare Influence from this section of the Incursion. However, if the root cause itself wasn¡¯t handled, eventually, these monolithic abominations that could summon countless Nightmares would return. And then that would make her five years-worth of sacrifice be essentially useless. For Katherine, it was a problem for later. What mattered was she was closer now to Aderis Tower. Her grip on Vantera was failing. Not because it was heavy¡ªwhile this was certainly true, it was not the main reason. It wasn¡¯t because she was tired either. This Magnum Opus didn¡¯t belong to her. It would only obey her so much before it started acting up. Three more, she told herself. Three more uses, and that¡¯s it. I won¡¯t be able to use this Art ever again. Unlike with the case of when Kristel had Drawn Leviathan, Katherine had the expertise to know the limits of her Exhibit and the meiyal-charged materials within them. The strain on Evanclad¡¯s Vantera, the material, couldn¡¯t handle prolonged and multiple usage without ample rest. Handle was the wrong word. The material had a semi-sentience within it. It knew it was being used by someone else, not its creator. And while Evanclad had influenced Destiny as a Deitar, and allowed for his Magnum Opus to be shared, he wasn¡¯t a god, nor was he as loved by Destiny as Kristella or Su¡¯karix. In short, she only had two more inconsequential uses of the Magnum Opus, before she started weighing the worth of losing it forever. Vantera was designed as a single use finale. Not intended for the way Katherine was using it. Despite this, she kept on. The Lady of the Void advanced slowly and cautiously through the air. At the same time, her Void Control Technique, I, Alone, Am The Center, monitored her companions. Kristel and Frill were finalizing the solidity of their fusion, making sure they were in complete synchronicity with each other. Xiv was with them, killing lesser Nightmares and preventing anything from distracting the two. Venry and his companions were skirting the edge of Befall just as they¡¯d planned. There were concentrations of Nightmares even in those areas, but they were negligible for a group of Nightmare-hunters. Enza was with them as well, keeping herself safe with Nature¡¯s Favor, while leading the group discreetly. And then there was Alphazzel at the very edge of her Void Control Technique where Aderis Tower was. No matter how subtly Katherine used the Technique, the faunel still detected her, resonating with the Technique to send feedback, just to indicate that she had been caught. It didn¡¯t matter. She wasn¡¯t exactly trying to hide in the first place. The flare coming from her surging meiyal became a bright star, signaling everyone, including the faunel, to meet her challenge. He didn¡¯t budge. So be it. Since she couldn¡¯t detect Mother Selfiya or Frein anywhere in the tower, despite finding the faunel there, she understood that they were either not there or underground. Regardless, her lead was the faunel. Katherine landed on the sand-ashes of Befall, on a particularly tall dune that had re-manifested after all the chaos. She steadied her breathing, observing the faraway Nightmares gathering around the tower. As usual, there were entire colonies of these abominations, and the Nightmare Signs were well hidden from her Void Control Technique. There couldn¡¯t be that many remaining, however. At the very least, Katherine could still rely on her experience for this assumption. Even if it was an Incursion, Nightmare Signs themselves were territorial in nature, and would indiscriminately cannibalize one another to become a singular, more powerful entity. That being said, she knew they were on a time limit. While she had not witnessed it first hand, she had studied the nature of Nightmare Incursions and how they could become irreversible. Once it connected with the full-fledged corrupted Nightmare Lands, even Void Mothers and Fathers would become unable to completely cleanse them. It would be like any other Nightmare Lands, and the best that the Order of the Void could do then would be establishing patches of safe havens with constant Void Mothers and Fathers on duty. Katherine¡¯s inability to prevent the Incursion from expanding eastward, despite how she could ensure Irista Nation¡¯s safety, for now was a sore spot for her. Sure, Void Mothers and Fathers could do the exact same as she could, stop the expansion on one side, but she had five godly meiyal-charged materials to give her more of an advantage when compared to them. And yet, she couldn¡¯t do more. Regardless, the Lady¡¯s priority was still Frein. It was just the truth of the matter. Between saving Eastrise or the love of her life, there wasn¡¯t even a question to consider. In order to do that, she needed to lure out the big fish. Katherine breathed and amassed as much Milled meiyal as she could, doubling down in an instant by Gathering more of the Nightmare Influenced meiyal. Unlike the rest of her companions, she could do this feat without risking her own sanity. Vantera flared with compressed meiyal as the Lady took a stance, bringing the glaive across her back, winding up for a large frontal slash. At the same time, she paid its price.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Kat, what are you doing?¡± Elizzel, who had been inside Katherine¡¯s Mind Palace this entire time, stirred into confusion. ¡°This is too much!¡± The Lady of the Void didn¡¯t reply and continued to amass power. If it was for any moving target, this sort of attack wouldn¡¯t really work unless she tripled her distance. But for an arrogant faunel who refused to move, this would be perfect. ¡°How many¡­?¡± Elizzel gasped, unable to comprehend what was happening. ¡°Militia-style Juudai¡­¡± Katherine uttered the words, whispering them as she Drew the Art into reality. Vantera screamed with power. The sand-ash around her began to melt, leaving her to once again stand in the air with Rivasia. The power emanating from Evanclad¡¯s Magnum Opus brought about it cleansing effect. While it did nothing for the curse of undeath, the Nightmare Incursion was being pushed away. ¡°Katastrofera.¡± No shouts, no screams, no exclamations. Uttering the Meiyal Art, invoking it, allowed for reality to easily accept its manifestation. Like a warning before the plunge. But even with this accommodation, the strain it had caused upon her surroundings was devastating. The idea was simple. Destruction was an equalizer among all things. Including the Nightmare. While the Art was an addition, the concept was behind the abilities of all Void Mothers and Fathers. It was also the reason why they couldn¡¯t just erect safe havens everywhere. The resources alone to allow for plants to grow again were daunting. In this cursed land where nothing could grow despite the absence of Nightmare, however, Katherine was free to use the most devastating Art in her arsenal. One that she paid for with three years of her entire lifespan. Katherine stepped and slashed the widest arc she could possibly manage with the glaive, aiming it straight and true to Alphazzel and all the Nightmares surrounding him. As it was with the nature of the Meiyal Art, the light of a slash cutting through space erupted for a single instant. Only, it sliced through the entire half of Befall. Katherine knew exactly where to strike to avoid her companions. And then the rest, she was completely free to eradicate from existence. The second had barely passed. The Nightmares within the strike, the Nightmare Signs, and even the sliced part of the Incursion itself, were all erased from reality. Vantera was Evanclad¡¯s Magnum Opus, and he was the founder of the Order of the Void. The Art itself was the First King¡¯s greatest creation to fight against the Nightmare. And even in the hands of a lesser, it did a splendid job. True, in his hands, the Magnum Opus could probably do more than just erase a small section of the Incursion. But for Katherine, this was enough. Two more. She took a moment to breathe. Art fatigue was settling in, but the meiyal now was easier to Gather without the weight of Nightmare Influence adding to the pressure. Without more seconds to lose, Brymeia¡¯s Embrace, one of her godly meiyal-charged materials, took action and eased her fatigue. She recovered in an instant. It did not, however, alleviate the worsening condition of Vantera. But it did its job. Katherine traversed the desolate land. Still cursed, but for now, no undead nor Nightmare was present to stop her advance. When she reached the tower, the top half of which was now gone, the faunel finally emerged. He looked nowhere near Tryvinal. Long hair in a braid, closed beard, and formal clothing. Alphazzel looked a distinguished, old version of the former Guard Knight if he had actually worked on himself and matured. ¡°Impressive,¡± he said. ¡°The hair, and the display of power. Really good.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Frein?¡± Katherine asked. Now that she had gotten closer, she expected to finally get a sign from her Void Control Technique. She could feel the basement of the tower, but it was empty. ¡°They¡¯re in the dungeon,¡± Alphazzel said simply, completely contradicting Katherine¡¯s Technique. He raised his hands as if to present something grand. ¡°As well as a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core. It¡¯s disrupting your Void Control Technique.¡± Heart¡¯s Will told Katherine that the faunel wasn¡¯t lying. Despite this, however, she couldn¡¯t trust him. ¡°So what?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯re just giving it to him?¡± Disappointed, the faunel flopped his hands to the side. ¡°You don¡¯t really know anything, do you?¡± ¡°Stop dodging the question!¡± Alphazzel laughed. ¡°Why is everyone trying to be intimidating today? It¡¯s seriously hilarious.¡± Katherine contemplated on just forgetting the talk and simply attacking. But she knew better. She and Frein had not discussed enough about killing faunels, but they both understood that it was nigh impossible. They had exchanged a few theories, but nothing they could apply. Faunels weren¡¯t exactly commonplace. And the only ones they knew about before meeting Alphazzel were friendly to them. ¡°Fine,¡± Alphazzel said. ¡°Let me explain. The entire reason why Visitors come to Brymeia is because they need to gather Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Fragments to recreate the Fallen Dragon¡¯s core. But because of the sheer weight and significance of this entity, they immediately die right after integrating with it, or whatever they call it in the meiyal discipline they adapt before coming here. ¡°The one year deal? Total bullshit. The Gatekeeper just needs to know that the Visitor can easily accept their death. It makes sacrificing their own lives easy. It¡¯s Destiny, Katherine. Destiny defines how long a Visitor will take before they can gather a Fragment. It provides them with a journey so memorable, so fulfilling, that they will deem their deaths worth it.¡± Alphazzel smiled. ¡°I am simply skipping that one step, and giving your loving Visitor an easier time.¡± Katherine blinked once, twice. The more the faunel talked, the more she couldn¡¯t trust her Heart¡¯s Will. There was no lie in his words, no hidden motive. He was simply stating a fact. One that he was personally involved with, given that he was the Faunel of History and Disasters. ¡°So you see?¡± Alphazzel smiled once again, understanding that the Lady of the Void, the Seeker, was using her Blessing. ¡°I¡¯m helping you out. So why don¡¯t you just die and be with your lover? I can help you out with that too.¡± Concentrated beams of meiyal blasted out of the ruins of Aderis Tower. One was aimed at Katherine, the other somewhere up in the skies. The Lady of the Void took a moment to realize she was under attack. She needed another one to determine where the stray beam was headed. The realization painted a grim picture in her head. It was aimed at Tich, who was well outside of the Incursion. No¡­ It was aimed at Sam. The how and the why didn¡¯t matter. The origin of the attacks didn¡¯t matter. Katherine simply knew that her Floating Dream and her MOBILE would have no chance in avoiding such a concentrated beam of death. And she was sure, with full certainty, that despite the distance, the beam would hit its mark. The third moment came, and Katherine quickly flew up to meet the beam. The one aimed at her completely missed, but it had done its job to confuse her. It had also prevented her from thinking of a proper way to deflect the one aimed at Sam. Vantera, with another payment of her lifespan, blocked the beam and split it into multiple rays. Katherine had no time to determine where they would go, except making sure that they didn¡¯t harm her companions. The beam was strong. Stronger than she had expected. It had the properties of Negating Roar condensed within, and it took Katherine and Elizzel their all to make sure they keep Drawing her Siffera and other Meiyal Arts to counter its effects. Defend, she did. However, Vantera wasn¡¯t stable enough to remain in reality after taking the hit. And while Katherine could probably force it to make one final strike, she decided to let it go. She couldn¡¯t guarantee victory against Alphazzel with this Art, despite how strong it was. Losing it forever over something like that would surely disappoint Frein. She remained in the air, Drawing Delolera to mend her clothes. All the while, she observed the faunel and the tower ruins, making sure whatever was causing those beams wouldn¡¯t catch her off-guard another time. ¡°Despite knowing the truth, you still don¡¯t want to die?¡± Alphazzel asked, disappointed as he massaged his forehead with one hand. ¡°It¡¯s a true tragedy, indeed.¡± His sad face suddenly turned stern. Wrath burned in his eyes as he removed his hand. The tower behind him began to completely crumble as a colossal two-headed yuma emerged from it. ¡°No matter,¡± Alphazzel said. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the story ends as wonderfully as it should be.¡± Chapter 195: Shallow Victory Shallow Victory
¡±People often overestimate their odds of success, when in fact, I decide whether they can win or not.¡± ~Alphazzel, the Corrupted Faunel
¡°Those are¡­¡± Katherine couldn¡¯t finish. While they were multitudes more gigantic than their originals, and disregarding the fact that they both shared one body now, the Lady easily recognized Ashtine and Smyl¡¯s yumas. It was simply hard to believe that such fiercely loyal creatures, meiyal-bonded to their masters, would be forced to suffer such Nightmarification. Not to mention they had been turned in an unnatural way. Katherine could sense multiple sources of Nightmare and undeath jam-packed into their singular body. So much so that they would keep dying and living and turning in a roil of madness. She felt disgust towards the faunel that was obviously involved in this cursed display of perpetual despair. ¡°Oh, so you recognize them?¡± he said, finding glee from reading Katherine¡¯s expressions. ¡°They were very obedient pups, accepted their fate once they saw me and didn¡¯t even bother trying to retaliate.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Katherine called out, patience growing incredibly thin. She relaxed, standing tall. Her eyes were trained towards the faunel, who stopped mid-gesture. ¡°How do I kill them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not very nice of you, is it?¡± he asked in return, crossing his arms to act as the righteous person. ¡°They¡¯ve just been reborn and already you want to end their life.¡± ¡°I want to end their suffering, idiot.¡± She Drew a blade Meiyal Art. It was ridiculously outmatched by Vantera, but a super-condensed Rokudai-Kaimera enveloping it was a real threat that no sane person would simply laugh off. ¡°And what makes you think that I¡¯ll tell you?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re a faunel,¡± Katherine said simply. ¡°Brymeia made the faunels to help us mortals.¡± ¡°That¡¯s arrogant thinking. And stupid. It¡¯s like Elizzel being forced to help you, when in fact, she has the freedom to choose.¡± For how mature Alphazzel looked, as long as Katherine was concerned, he didn¡¯t speak like it. ¡°You¡¯re not Eli.¡± Negotiation tactics weren¡¯t Katherine¡¯s strong suit, especially now that she was almost out of patience. Back on Earth, she had often had to rely on her Heart¡¯s Will to get people to talk. She knew she couldn¡¯t rely on the Blessing against Alphazzel, so she decided to just appeal to his nature. ¡°At least prove to me there¡¯s a hint of yourself still in there somewhere.¡± The faunel narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment before giving a drawn out sigh. ¡°Fine, fine. Just this once. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s difficult to figure out.¡± Alphazzel pointed at the giant two-headed yuma, who had been obediently staying put despite their constant growling. ¡°The easiest way is to destroy every fiber of their being, much like how you kill lesser Nightmares. ¡°The unique thing about this masterpiece, however, is that if you leave even a spec of their body, they will instantly regrow in seconds.¡± The faunel threw his hands up, before plopping down to sit on a piece of debris that once belonged to the tower. ¡°There. Happy? As a bonus, I¡¯m giving you ten minutes to deal with them, before I actually join the fight.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually tell me.¡± Katherine narrowed her eyes, suspicious of the faunel. ¡°What? You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Alphazzel leaned backwards and crossed a leg over the other. ¡°I don¡¯t lie, Katherine. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re still using your Heart¡¯s Will, but that¡¯s on you. I said I¡¯ll only say it once. I¡¯m not repeating it again.¡± Katherine, indeed, didn¡¯t miss out on using her Blessing despite her wavering trust in it. She was only slightly wavering, and it was still better to have more information. ¡°And besides, I¡¯m just as curious as you and Frein are.¡± For the first time since meeting face to face with the faunel, Katherine saw genuine interest in Alphazzel¡¯s eyes. A genuine curiosity. Whether it was for good or evil, the desire to know would always grip anyone in unison. ¡°You want to know if overwhelming strength can change Destiny?¡± ¡°You were not the first to try, or even the first to consider the option,¡± the faunel pointed out. ¡°But those of you who did have always continued to be irresistibly interesting. It¡¯s been a principle of mine to always give you guys a chance. Of course, none of you have succeeded so far.¡± Alphazzel didn¡¯t give her enough time to digest his words. The only thing Katherine understood is that he was trying to find ways and possibilities to redirect Destiny, just as she and Frein had been trying to figure out all this time. ¡°There. I did my part as a faunel like you asked,¡± he said, signaling the giant two-headed yuma to attack. ¡°Now you do yours, Lady of the Void. Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll go easy on you just because you¡¯ve lost your Magnum Opus. Just so you know, it¡¯s part of your Destiny. There was never a possibility that you¡¯d face these yumas with Vantera.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Katherine didn¡¯t care. Neither did she care enough to point that out to Alphazzel. She dodged another set of Nightmare meiyal beams, trusting that by this point Sam would¡¯ve stirred Tich well enough away. She couldn¡¯t afford to think about them now as she dodged. Since blocking the beams of concentrated Negating Roar instead would absolutely rip away at her meiyal reserves. At the same time, she Drew a Godai-Katastrofera, severing one of the heads from a distance. While the method to eliminating the Nightmare yumas just as Alphazzel had said was likely true, there were no indicators of other behaviors or interactions relative to how they operate. For all she knew, there could be multiple ways to defeating it, or making matters more complicated. A new body growing out of a severed head for example. The yumas wailed in pain. Katherine took the moment to refill her reserves, while observing if her hypothesis was correct. Fortunately for her, the severed head dispersed into pure meiyal. Unfortunately for her, however, the head regrew from the main body. As soon as it recovered, the poor abomination howled, emitting large quantities of Nightmarish meiyal. It formed a dark shadow around the creature, mimicking flames of darkness. Then it vanished. No, it wasn¡¯t Nature¡¯s Favor, not even a pseudo version that Forest Jaws liked to use. It vanished because of speed. The moment Katherine turned, she elevated her Godai-Siffera to its utmost capacity, blocking a gigantic claw. Instantaneously, her Meiyal Arts were erased, but her instincts and self-preservation immediately re-Drew Siffera. The dark meiyal around the Nightmare yumas was a cloak-version of the Negating Roar. Katherine recovered, her feet scraping the dirt off the ground as she stopped her momentum. Godai-Samesia went to work, stitching her left arm, waist, and leg, before any of her muscles or innards fell off. A bunch of her bones snapped back into place and mended together. She jumped and twirled right before another claw slashed where she had been. At the apex of her spin, she aimed her fingers towards them and snapped. A Rokudai-First Spark sparked a conflagration just before Katherine landed. This Meiyal Art, derived from the Expunged Blaze of a Forest Jaws, engulfed the entirety of the Nightmare. The heads were disintegrated, the body turned to ash, but a small nub of its tails was blasted away by the force. Katherine observed, stunned as she recovered from the Art, at the rate in which the entire giant, two-headed yuma reformed in a matter of seconds. It was unbelievably fast. By the time Katherine invested meiyal and Drew another Art, the poor abomination had already regenerated. She formulated a plan, but her opponent didn¡¯t want to give her the time. They disappeared again, but she already predicted their move. ¡°Peace Within The Chaos,¡± she uttered, Opening her meiyal core and enveloping herself with her own Influence. This time, she held out a hand, catching the entire claw with her Godai-Siffera. The Void Control Technique prevented the Negating Roar cloak from erasing her Art. While she couldn¡¯t confidently commit the same resolve against the beam version of Negating Roar, she could properly assess this cloak, and knew she could withstand it. Ridiculous though, how it looked. A single claw was just as big as herself. She wasn¡¯t done, however. Her grip doubled, and paired with a second hand, Katherine pivoted and lifted the creature over her shoulder. She spun with just enough strength to throw the giant Nightmare towards Alphazzel. The faunel, amused, simply smirked and casually gestured a wave. The two-headed yuma was flung to the side as if an invisible force swatted it away. While he looked like he wanted to say something, Katherine was already Drawing her First Sparks. She ignored the faunel and brought both hands together. With a single sharp breath, she prepared her meiyal reserved and snapped her fingers in quick succession. Seven Rokudai-First Sparks ignited the poor Nightmare abomination before Katherine completely ran out of meiyal. She quickly Gathered and Milled, ignoring the ever closing Art fatigue. Before she could turn towards the meiyal however, the smoke rising from the Nightmare was disturbed by its rapid regeneration. Alphazzel held up a finger. ¡°I was trying to say, its tail is immune to fire.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking¡­¡± ¡°Am I laughing?¡± The two-headed yuma out of the smoke, snarling at Katherine with such enthusiasm, as if it hadn¡¯t been reduced to ashes a moment earlier. It re-enveloped itself with its dark meiyal of Negating Roar, while preparing to use beams of it at the same time. If there was one thing Katherine was thankful for, it was the straightforwardness of her adversary. Three tricks. At this point in time, if it had had a fourth, it would¡¯ve used it. The problem was, she was running out of tricks herself, and Art fatigue was really close. Brymeia¡¯s Embrace was there, but hadn¡¯t quite recovered yet to ease the fatigue away, compared to the rate she had been running towards it. ¡°The heads are immune to ice. Limbs are immune to slashing attacks. Wings are immune to water. Body is immune to rocks and piercing, but you don¡¯t have anything like that. And tail is immune to fire like I said.¡± Alphazzel counted with his fingers, making sure he had everything accounted for. In the mean time, Katherine busied herself with dodging and redirecting. The two-headed Nightmare shifted between beams and quick attacks. She was used to them by now, dodging the projectiles while deflecting the physical attacks. ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t account for lightning, but that¡¯s the one thing you don¡¯t have.¡± Alphazzel shrugged. ¡°Granted it¡¯s technically, chemically speaking, fire and lightning have similarities, but that begs the question why do Meiyal Arts separate them? Like fra is for fire and tia is for lightning?¡± ¡°Because the patterns involved are different,¡± Katherine answered after throwing the giant, two-headed yuma. While she did so, she caught something in her I, Alone, Am The Center. She almost smiled, but the threat of Destiny being involved once again ripped the joy out of the discovery. ¡°Irista-style: Yondaitia.¡± Kristel¡¯s voice echoed throughout Befall as thunder clapped from the skies. ¡°Divine Judgement!¡± Flashes of lightning struck down, concentrating on the two-headed yuma. It had no chance to react, no chance to retaliate. A quick, clean death. ¡°Tell me, Alphazzel,¡± Katherine started as she observed the Nightmare disintegrate into pure meiyal. ¡°Is this part of Destiny?¡± ¡°You failing to win and having to rely on the Princess and her retainer?¡± Alphazzel clarified and stood, telegraphing well enough that he knew of the two¡¯s fusion. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Kristel said as she descended from the skies. She looked like she understood the situation completely, nodding towards Katherine to gesture her apology. The Lady didn¡¯t much care. The yumas hadn¡¯t suffered for long. And with one less obstacle out of her way, she could get closer to finding Frein. She did note, however, that it had taken almost ten minutes for the Princess to intervene. Almost at the same time where the faunel said he would join the fight. It made her realize that he must¡¯ve intentionally left out lightning from the Nightmare¡¯s immunities. ¡°Now what?¡± Kristel asked. ¡°Now¡­¡± Alphazzel flexed his meiyal, creating a pressure equal to that of the Nightmare Lands. It forced the Princess down to the ground. Katherine, on the other hand, negated it with her Void Control Technique. ¡°Now we fight, two against one.¡± Chapter 196: A Veli Must Protect A Veli Must Protect For Katherine, who had spent most of her entire youth surviving in the Nightmare Lands, the change of atmosphere was as simple as a slight drop in temperature. Kristel wasn¡¯t as acclimated, however. It was true that the destruction of the Nightmare Signs allowed the Princess to Gather and Mill meiyal now. But the truth could not be avoided that it was still a lot slower than normal. Her Milling form, while it was far better than Frein¡¯s, could only make up for her inexperience so much. Katherine noted Kristel struggling, trying to shrug off the pressure of Nightmare meiyal with an intense concentration of her Sandai-Siffera. She was burning through her reserves far faster than she could refill them. Art fatigue might be no longer a problem, but she was on a timer, unless she could do something about her net negative. Katherine helped her out by extending her Peace Within The Chaos. ¡°Come near me if you need to refill,¡± she said. ¡°I can¡¯t extend this without concentrating.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Kristel confirmed. ¡°I¡¯m ready when you are.¡± No, they both weren¡¯t. Katherine could sense the difference in experience and prowess between the two of them and Alphazzel. The faunel could see it directly, assess it personally, and scrutinize it inch for inch within Destiny. And he was more than happy to flaunt that power. ¡°So the two of you did fuse,¡± he started, pointing at Kristel. ¡°Impressive. There were not very many futures of you two succeeding after what happened to the Aria¡¯s little sister.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Kristel and Frill¡¯s voice reverberated with anger. Katherine immediately understood what was happening. ¡°Hey! Stop it!¡± she said. ¡°Ignore him, Frill. He¡¯s trying to disrupt your concentration and drop the fuse.¡± ¡°Oh, but aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Alphazzel teased. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who killed Liona?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say her name!¡± Frill¡¯s voice echoed from Kristel. A blurred image of the Aria in Red shifted out of the Princess for a split second. ¡°Calm down, Frill,¡± Kristel said, reeling back her retainer. ¡°He¡¯s trying to rile us up.¡± ¡°I am, I am,¡± Alphazzel said, nodding. ¡°But I¡¯m also telling the truth. I know who killed her. I know how she died. I know the last thing she said¡­ Before you found her, of course. I don¡¯t want to be called a liar under some technicality.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to believe that?¡± Katherine asked. She immediately felt the question was superfluous. Alphazzel laughed. ¡°We all know I always tell the truth. It¡¯s my nature, Void Lady.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Kristel asked next. ¡°Are you buying time? Are we supposed to beat it out of you?¡± ¡°I want Frill,¡± he answered almost immediately. ¡°I want Brymeia¡¯s next vessel. In exchange for the truth.¡± ¡°What do you want with her?¡± ¡°Nothing any of you would like, of course. But that¡¯s none of your business.¡± Alphazzel folded his arms, confident that he could handle any surprise attacks without needing his hands. ¡°That¡¯s my price. Take it or leave it.¡± A moment passed before Katherine could say her piece. Kristel stepped forward, leaving the protective barrier of Peace Within The Chaos. ¡°We¡¯re not going to have this conversation, Frill,¡± she began. The Princess Drew a super-condensed Yondai-Kaimera, the formation alone causing ripples in reality. She directed its point towards the faunel. ¡°Forget negotiating, Alphazzel. We¡¯re going to beat the answers out of you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try, Princess.¡± The faunel simply presented his open arms, inviting the three of them. Katherine readied herself, but before she could make the first move, Frill spoke again from within Kristel. ¡°Let me fight, Princess,¡± she said. ¡°If he truly knows who killed my sister, then this is my fight.¡± ¡°Oh, but what if I¡¯m just dangling this bait so that the Aria will come out, instead?¡± Alphazzel said with as much sarcasm as possible. ¡°He¡¯s telling the truth,¡± Katherine clarified. Her Heart¡¯s Will, sketchy as it was, read the faunel constantly. ¡°Both knowing who killed Liona, and trying to force out Frill.¡± She made her piece as neutral as possible. While her instincts told her that Frill appearing now would be the wrong choice, the realization that Destiny was playing a part with their conundrum made her stop giving a suggestion. Alphazzel turned to her, clearly disappointed. ¡°Not everything has to be decided by Destiny, Lady of the Void. Because not everything matters. Whether these two choose to switch or not, won¡¯t change the outcome of this fight.¡± For a while, Katherine felt smart. The implication of the faunel¡¯s words meant that the ¡®outcome of this fight¡¯ has been decided by Destiny. But when he smiled, she understood that knowing the result wouldn¡¯t change what would eventually happen. And the fact that Alphazzel wasn¡¯t running away¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it, Kat,¡± Elizzel said, tugging at the Lady¡¯s consciousness. ¡°Destiny can be read, but Alphazzel is no god. He¡¯s trying to bluff.¡± ¡°But we have no way of killing him.¡± ¡°True. In this place, meiyal starving him is out of the option. But you can seal him. You have the arsenal of Void Mothers now, remember?¡± Before Katherine could agree, Kristel jumped into action. Her appearance changed. Silvery azure hair extending to a scarlet crimson. Blue eyes switching to purple. And the floating meiyal marks originating from her chest, switched to her left eye. Frill instantaneously Drew a meiyal blade and sliced, aiming Alphazzel¡¯s neck. Kaimera wasn¡¯t even involved. The faunel held up two fingers and caught the blade in between. The Aria didn¡¯t care. She let go of the blade, shifted her momentum, and slammed a closed fist straight to his face. He flew to the base of the destroyed tower behind him. ¡°Fine,¡± Kristel said, her voice echoing from her retainer¡¯s physical form. ¡°Remember: we¡¯re here to save Frein. Keep your vengeance in check.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Katherine waited, but Frill made no response.
Every Veli was special. Whether they were married into the family, or adopted by their foster parents, a Veli was¡ªand must¡ªalways possess a gift. That was the truth. So Liona having two different existences, while surprising, was expected. The moment she woke up from within Xiv¡¯s Mind Palace, she found herself staring at her own likeness. It can¡¯t be¡­ The real me is dead. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± said the other Liona. ¡°But you aren¡¯t. And I¡¯m not Liona.¡± Indeed, whoever this was, she looked much older. A mature Liona. The younger one rose from her bed, trying to understand what exactly was going on. ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter,¡± said the older Liona. ¡°What matters is that you need to trust Xiv and Frill. Remember: it¡¯s the Monarch¡¯s duty to protect her people. But it¡¯s your duty as a Veli to protect your Monarch.¡± ¡°Trust? Protect?¡± Liona clutched her head. A sudden pain blinded her. Raging flames, burning with such anger that it felt so real. Then it was gone just as suddenly. She gasp, recovering from the blur. But when she turned to find the older Liona, she was already gone. It didn¡¯t matter. Liona already knew what was going on. ¡°Xiv, where are you?¡± she asked, calling out to her host. ¡°A bit busy here, Liona. I thought you needed to sleep some more?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my sister.¡± ¡°She fused with the Princess,¡± he said casually. ¡°They¡¯re probably fighting this Alpha-whatever.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Liona went out of her bedroom, rushing towards Xiv¡¯s Forge. ¡°She¡¯s angry. We need to calm her down before she gets lost in her vengeance.¡± ¡°You should trust your sister more, Liona,¡± Xiv said. ¡°And trust in your friends. They¡¯ll protect her.¡± She stopped right before opening the door to the Forge. Her mind was racing trying to decide which was the right decision to do. The older Liona had told her to trust Frill and Xiv. She had also told her to protect the Monarch. ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± It was too late when she thought out loud. She tried to change the subject. ¡°What are you doing, anyway?¡± The last thing she remembered was going to sleep on the Floating Dream. Granted it would be easier to just peer through the Vyndivalian¡¯s senses, but it would take less effort to just ask. ¡°Trying to rescue our trump card.¡± With a sigh, Liona synchronized with Xiv¡¯s senses anyway.
Frill had never once hosted for a fusion, but with Kristel¡¯s willingness to give her a chance, the task was surprisingly light. ¡°Just think of it as your own body,¡± the Princess said into her mind. ¡°We¡¯ve made the union strong enough to hold even with the strongest strains. Just make sure you keep your emotions in check.¡± The last one was a lot harder to accomplish than handling the fusion. Frill wanted answers, stomping towards the recovering faunel while her meiyal flared. Nightmare Influence or no, Frill¡¯s command of meiyal had been absurdly natural as of late. Since the Ritual of Peace, it felt as if every mote of meiyal from this world belonged to her. Brymeia¡¯s plans to make her the next vessel was proving to be truer the more she interacted with her gift. ¡°Answer me, Alphazzel,¡± she said, aiming Diferenfra at the faunel. ¡°Just because you¡¯re immortal doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t hurt.¡± The faunel observed her, before breaking down into a fit of laughter. ¡°I see, I see. No wonder you¡¯re so confident.¡± ¡°What¡¯s he talking about?¡± Kristel said aloud. ¡°The Nightmare doesn¡¯t work on Frill,¡± Katherine said simply. ¡°It¡¯s Brymeia¡¯s protection.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter right now,¡± said the Aria. She unleashed a concentrated beam of Diferenfra, aiming at the faunel¡¯s leg. He quickly dodged, but she caught his movement. Just like earlier with the meiyal blade, she punched him just as he acted. ¡°Final warning, Alphazzel.¡± ¡°Or what?¡± he shouted, spitting blood on the ground out of frustration. ¡°You¡¯re out of your league, Veli. Your family is special, that¡¯s true. But seeking revenge? Serving justice? Don¡¯t make me laugh! You¡¯re way beyond your jurisdiction.¡± Frill had had enough. With Sandai-Siffera, she dashed towards the faunel, readying another strike. If Meiyal Arts wouldn¡¯t work, then she would tear him down with physical attacks. ¡°Foolish girl.¡± The Aria suddenly found herself unable to move. She was stuck in place, frozen. Her clothes, her hair, all stopped awkwardly in the air. She could barely breathe. Even her eyes couldn¡¯t move. ¡°You think meiyal¡¯s yours to control?¡± Alphazzel started, walking slowly towards her. ¡°Whether it¡¯s affected by the Nightmare or not, without enough concentration, meiyal is unconscious and will naturally do nothing but float in the air, swim underwater, or crawl on the ground. It is the will of the mind that controls them, Frill. And yours is weak. Laughably weak. Let me show you what true will looks like.¡± Alphazzel raised a hand to the side and began to Gather. Suddenly, the Nightmare was gone. Gone, not from the result of Katherine¡¯s previous interventions. It was gone because of the faunel. While the Incursion was spreading somewhere else, the section around the entirety of Befall was sucked right into his hand. Into a black orb. The faunel closed his fist, shaping the dark energies into a weapon. From his hand formed a hilt, extending into a sharpened pommel on one side, and a large guard on the other. Red and black blade emerged from the handle, one of pure Nightmare. Unreadable runes ran through its entirety. Then he moved out of her line of sight, replaced by Katherine, who was chasing after him. ¡°The first Meiyal Art,¡± Alphazzel introduced before scratching his head. ¡°Actually, it doesn¡¯t have a name. Destiny refuses to name it¡­¡± Frill struggled to even struggle, the very desire of moving, even the smallest of motions, were hindered by something she couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Calm down, Frill,¡± Kristel shouted, but her voice was muffled. She could barely hear the Princess. ¡°Concentrate. Our meiyal¡¯s still flowing. Force it outside!¡± Frill did just that. She could feel her skin warming up as she mustered out more and more of her own meiyal. Her voice broke through, screaming against the tension of whatever it was locking her in place. ¡°Admirable,¡± Alphazzel commented, looking at the Aria with astonished eyes as if he was discovering a rare sight. ¡°Few discover how to push away my hold. Most of the time, they just panic and die.¡± Frill could finally move her head. She tracked down Katherine, colliding swords with Alphazzel. The Lady¡¯s Meiyal Art, strong as it was, could only last a single strike before it broke down. She compensated by Drawing it rapidly. ¡°Fewer still completely manage to remove it,¡± he continued, unperturbed by the Lady of the Void. He was obviously lacking in skill, compared to Katherine, who managed to stab and slash him continuously. But he simply regenerated. Even engulfing him in flames just made him instantly reform from his ashes before his sword even fell to the ground. Finally, he lost patience, utilizing a wide strike big enough for Katherine to avoid. He didn¡¯t care if it ended in an exchange. Such was his advantage. ¡°Focus, Frill!¡± Kristel called out. ¡°Kat can handle herself. Get out of this lock first.¡± Frill steeled her senses and focused solely on breaking through her entrapment. She could feel the air crack; the meiyal around her had materialized into something transparent and solid right down to her pores. Her eyes, throat, and nose began to hurt, as the solid meiyal began to melt away. Only her ears were unaffected. With one final push, she finally broke free. Frill looked for Katherine and saw the Lady steaming from Art fatigue. Her face might not show it, but she had almost exhausted herself. ¡°Ascensia, Freemesia,¡± Frill invoked, Drawing the Princess¡¯s Meiyal Arts. Freemesia did little to help. The lines that was supposed to guide her attacks didn¡¯t appear. Such was the strength of their adversary. Ascensia however, was a self-improving art, covering her with wind that allowed her to move faster. Ready with a third Meiyal Art, a super-condensed Sandai-Kaimera, Frill hurried over to assist. Alphazzel raised a hand at her, but she instinctively dodged to the far side and zigzagged her approach. A quick employment of Mesiffera made her aware of the invisible, solidifying meiyal. Frill came in close and plunged her Sandai-Kaimera. Alphazzel made a strong move, blocking Katherine¡¯s own Kaimera with his black sword on one hand, while grabbing hold of Frill¡¯s with another. The Aria could see a thick layer of solidified meiyal enveloping the faunel¡¯s hand, completely stopping her blade. ¡°The strongest practitioner and the great genius.¡± Alphazzel turned calmly from Katherine to Frill. ¡°Both of you have been completely disappointments. I¡¯m afraid this is where the end of your Destiny begins.¡± It was all too quick. A flash of light blinded Frill despite her Freemesia. She could barely see Alphazzel moving through the blur, shattering Katherine¡¯s weapon and stabbing the end of his pommel straight into the Lady. And then there was another flash. Right after the blur, Frill saw Katherine lying on the floor, unconscious. Then she felt something hot on her right arm, a piercing pain gnawing at her with each passing moment. Her heartbeat pounded and she began to palpitate. She couldn¡¯t feel her right arm. ¡°Vynore,¡± said a voice, as if it was enough to explain everything. Frill looked up. Smyl stood in front of her, looking down at him with eyes dead of emotion. ¡°If I recall correctly, your sister died from one.¡± His sword dripped with blood. Frill looked down again, searching the bloody ground. At the far corner of her eye, she could see an arm lying on the dirt. The connection hit her along with the excruciating pain. It took seconds before screams of pain and shock filled the grounds of Befall. Chapter 197: Words of a World Words of a World
¡±It feels like Katherine¡¯s revelations all over again. Only, this is a lot more exhausting.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
Frein finished Milling. He had almost forgotten how to do the process without Elizzel¡¯s assistance. Not to mention, the meiyal provided to him was a lot different. The method was peculiar. It was a Void Control Technique, working with the underlying principles of meiyal resuscitation, but without the intimacy or action involved. Using her Soul¡¯s Walk, Mother Selfiya provided it to him in batches too small for any Nightmare to notice. ¡°You only have one chance,¡± she whispered. ¡°If you fail, we¡¯ll need to Gather once again, and that¡¯ll be too late. Make sure you get it right¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t paying attention any longer. Frein¡¯s focus was on Drawing Siffera in the right moment to break the chains. So small was his supply. But he prepared himself, regardless. If you break these chains, you¡¯ll get the Fragment. In other words, you¡¯ll have fulfilled your Destiny. In other words, you¡¯ll die right after. The faunel¡¯s words lingered in his mind, distracting him. He pushed against the doubt. Mere words to prevent him from helping. I don¡¯t have a choice anyway. With all his strength, he gave the chains another pull, Drawing Siffera just before he strained the slack. The chains broke. His fist hit the ground from the sudden change of momentum. At the same time, vast amounts of meiyal pressed themselves into his body. Frein felt like a giant was stepping on him with a burning foot. His bones, muscles, chest, meiyal core, meiyal marks¡­ Everything. Everything was in searing pain. He couldn¡¯t help but scream. His body wanted to roll around but the chains on his waist made it impossible, making the feeling worse. He flailed and screamed as hard as he could, trying to transfer the pain somewhere else. ¡°You. Why do you even try? You are not yet ready.¡± It wasn¡¯t Elizzel. It wasn¡¯t Selfiya. It was strange. But the moment he heard the voice, the feeling of pain vanished and there was nothing but the cold touch of what Frein could only describe as death. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked, fighting against the chill. ¡°You know who I am, Visitor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time, Brymeia. I don¡¯t need to be ready.¡± Silence was only a momentary company. ¡°Then there¡¯s no need for me to hold back.¡± Frein was drawn into his Mind Palace, where a small woman with short, black hair waited for him. She looked oddly familiar, but years of absence and disbelief prevented him from recognizing her right away. Only after a moment passed did he realize he was staring at a ghost. ¡°Cat?¡± he asked. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°I just look like her. This is the only way we can talk.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Frein hesitated. He had forgotten his longing. Forgotten how much he missed her. And now that she was here, he couldn¡¯t help but reach out. ¡°Will you let me hug you? Please?¡± Brymeia smiled. No. Catherine smiled. She opened her arms wide, urging him for an embrace. Frein fell to his knees and embraced his little sister. The emotion came in a rush, forcing tears out of his eyes. He let them go, squeezing Catherine as if he was afraid to let go. She stayed silent the entire time, rubbing his back like a mother would soothe her child. He didn¡¯t care. He missed her too much. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt this much affection since Zerax¡¯thum,¡± she said when he finally let go. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But I need you to break out of your illusion, Frein. If I had any other choice, I would¡¯ve chosen someone else.¡± Frein nodded and stood, wiping away his tears. ¡°I understand. Thank you for letting me see her again.¡± ¡°You know, you can always visit your memories, right?¡± she asked. ¡°You can always see Catherine whenever you want.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready for that, yet.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not exactly here for that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here for my Destiny.¡± Brymeia shrugged. How close it was to the usual way Catherine shrugged was a mystery to Frein. It had been so long since he had last seen her do the gesture. He pulled himself out of the longing and focused on the task at hand. ¡°What is it, then?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m here to give you a choice,¡± she answered while sitting in the air. Frein¡¯s instincts kicked in, wanting to catch his little sister. His Mind Palace reacted, creating a seat for her. ¡°Is that how Schrodie does it?¡± he mused. ¡°We should talk about the Gatekeeper, too. But maybe not today.¡± She opened a hand as if to hold something to drink, which Frein reacted to by making a glass of soda manifest. She gave it a sip and instantly frowned before drinking some more. ¡°What is this? This is so good!¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Brymeia has sodas,¡± Frein said. ¡°I¡¯ve had a few before.¡± ¡°Nobody¡¯s ever offered me soda!¡± she said, drinking some more. ¡°Always tea and coffee. I declare this as my favorite! Make sure the others know.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s just because you don¡¯t spend time talking to your people,¡± Frein said, but he noted her request regardless. Brymeia smiled solemnly. ¡°That¡¯s true. I need to find a way so that they¡¯ll update the scriptures. Without Alphazzel to help me out, that might be a problem. I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± ¡°How did you lose him?¡± Frein asked, refilling her soda while conjuring the same for himself. ¡°He was taken away,¡± she said simply. ¡°You see, I wasn¡¯t exactly a planet at the start. I¡¯m called a Stellar.¡± ¡°A stellar what? Stellar god?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Brymeia shook her head. This gesture, Frein clearly remembered, but he made no note of it, allowing for her to continue. ¡°In your tongue, it¡¯s used as a descriptor. For us, however, it is what we are. Stellars. Entities far greater than gods. While a god can influence their own Destiny. We Stellars can influence much more. It was another Stellar that took Alphazzel.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Frein clutched his head with one hand. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. How does it work?¡± ¡°Well, in the simplest of forms, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s a tug-of-war, but the ropes, Destiny, have their own wills. Without anyone influencing externally, the rope remains the same and goes wherever it¡¯s supposed to be. We Stellars attract that rope one way or another.¡± ¡°So the other Stellar overpowered your pull?¡± ¡°That, yes. And also other Stellars can join in whenever they want, pulling the rope towards them. Alphazzel was strained against three Stellars, which is why he¡¯s now completely lost.¡± ¡°Who are the other two?¡± ¡°Zerax¡¯thum is one of them, but do you really wish to know who¡¯s the third one?¡± Brymeia asked, sipping from her drink to emphasize the gravitas of this decision. Frein knew what she meant. Knowing the name of one capable of influencing Destiny of not just their own, but someone else¡¯s would make a far greater opponent than Alphazzel. ¡°No. I think I¡¯ll pass for now.¡± ¡°Good choice.¡± Brymeia nodded this time. This too, was a familiar sight. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to tell you anyway.¡± ¡°What do you want me to do with Alphazzel?¡± he asked, knowing clearly the purpose of Brymeia¡¯s visit. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here for that,¡± she said, proving him wrong. ¡°I¡¯m here to give you a choice, remember?¡± ¡°Alright. Go on, then.¡± ¡°What Alphazzel said about a Visitor¡¯s Destiny is true. After you absorb a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core, whether he cares enough to grant you an audience or not, you will die. On average, it usually takes one of you a year to fulfill that Destiny. But with Alphazzel¡¯s intervention, he¡¯s made that journey a lot quicker for you. ¡°However, you are not without a way out.¡± She quickly held up a hand before Frein could utter a word. ¡°I¡¯ll explain. But first, we¡¯ll talk a bit about Schrodie. See, Alphazzel and his comrades were not recent cases. The same thing happened with two other Visitors before you. At the same time, they destroyed the countries they were involved in, as per their usual norm to make sure no information about their plans gets out. ¡°The Gatekeeper, fortunately for us, was an excellent experiment made by Zerax¡¯thum and Evanclad. Far superior to faunels. Now that you are the final Visitor, but with three Fragments still missing, he has no other choice but to place his bets on you.¡± Brymeia pointed out a finger, noting something important. ¡°The thing you need to understand here is that if you fail, this planet will be doomed. I will have no resources to prevent its corruption, even if I sacrifice my entirety to save it.¡± ¡°Which means¡­¡± Frein forced the gears in his head to turn faster. There was too much being revealed left and right. But he clung into the one thing that mattered. ¡°I need to get all three Fragments. Meaning I won¡¯t die after the first?¡± He couldn¡¯t help converting his statement into a question. ¡°Not without my intervention,¡± Brymeia clarified. ¡°See, I was supposed to intervene when you finally Gather your first Fragment. But Alphazzel intervened, as we all know, which is why I told you, you weren¡¯t ready yet. In any case, this is where your choice comes into play. ¡°Your Destiny was placed in stone by the Fallen Dragon, Zerax¡¯thum. He wanted you to die. It is to make sure that no other Stellars will be enticed enough to pull your rope. But here I am trying to pull it.¡± Brymeia sighed, reminiscing while she drank more soda. She shook her glass, asking for more. Frein obliged. ¡°In order for me to do so, you must help me make a Contradiction.¡± She allowed her words to linger for a moment, letting Frein digest the suggestion. ¡°You know of it, yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it. But I never thought I¡¯d be involved in one.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked, smiling. ¡°Visitors are Contradictions in the first place.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for another time. What you need to know now, is that Destinies can only be reverted by a Contradiction. And Contradictions are very specific.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­¡± ¡°The truth,¡± she finished. ¡°Becoming a god is only the first step into influencing such a defined Destiny, Frein. In order to influence it, you need a Contradiction.¡± ¡°And you can provide that Contradiction, right?¡± he asked, sounding a little too hopeful than he expected. ¡°For you to Gather all three Fragments specifically, Frein. Yes. For you to completely remove your determined death? I have not the heart to tell you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because, just as I said, Contradictions are very specific.¡± Brymeia rubbed her forehead. At the same time Frein came to a realization. ¡°You knew our conversation would lead this way¡­¡± ¡°Yes. But I know you¡¯re cautious enough not to push for things you¡¯re not prepared to know yet.¡± Brymeia drank the rest of her soda and refused a refill. ¡°Once you¡¯ve Gathered two Fragments, Frein, I will tell you how to make the Contradiction you¡¯re looking for. Even if you¡¯re granted an audience with Zerax¡¯thum, we¡¯ve made a vow not to tell you until the last moment.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Frein finished his drink. ¡°Tell me what I need for the Contradiction against this first Fragment.¡± Brymeia smiled, appreciating how understanding he was. Frein wanted nothing else but to pull the answers from her, but Catherine¡¯s face was helping him stave off that desire. She was clearly aware of it. ¡°Schrodie made your meiyal system a bit more special compared to your predecessors¡¯. It was subtle enough of a change that Alphazzel and his companions wouldn¡¯t see it through Destiny. A design of my making, I might add. ¡°Once you Gather this Fragment, I will synchronize my will with yours through your meiyal system. You will have full control of yourself, do not worry. But the process will be excruciatingly painful. ¡°You will feel like you¡¯re being dissected and burned, like your head¡¯s not in the right place. You will reach Art fatigue far deeper than you¡¯ll ever know. But this will allow you to exist for an hour longer than you¡¯re supposed to die.¡± ¡°So I just get an hour?¡± ¡°No. Within this hour, you must get your replacement. Someone to die in your place because your time was cut short. You understand?¡± ¡°I have to get Alphazzel?¡± ¡°Correct. Now you have your objective, Frein. Once you have him, I¡¯ll handle the creation of the Contradiction myself.¡± Brymeia stood, extending her hand for a shake. ¡°I intended to give this sort of greeting earlier, but you asked for a hug instead.¡± Frein stood and shook her hand, before pulling her for another embrace. ¡°Sorry, I just can¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite alright,¡± Brymeia said. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve missed a lover¡¯s embrace.¡± ¡°Catherine¡¯s my sister,¡± Frein clarified. ¡°But you¡¯re also in love with a Katherine. C or K, it doesn¡¯t matter. You love them both. Why complicate it? While I¡¯m not one to put herself between a relationship, unlike my daughter, Eli, I do appreciate the love. Besides, you remind me too much of him.¡± ¡°And who¡¯s that?¡± The answer hit Frein just as he asked the question. The pause was enough for Brymeia to respond. ¡°Zerax¡¯thum, of course. Who else?¡± Chapter 198: Absolute Law Absolute Law Kristel saw it clearly. If Frill hadn¡¯t been so obsessed with answers, she could¡¯ve noticed the way Alphazzel had pulled Kaimera closer to himself at the same moment Smyl had emerged. She would¡¯ve let go in time, giving her enough space to intercept the faunel¡¯s attack on Katherine. The Princess had been caught completely off guard despite her perspective. She had never considered that the enemy was also capable of fusing. Or is it a Tether? It didn¡¯t matter. Her momentary hesitation, along with Frill¡¯s resistance, had been more than enough time for Smyl to deal what would¡¯ve been a fatal blow. The Aria¡¯s instincts had saved her life, in exchange for an arm. Everything was already too late. Their fusion had completely dispersed the moment Frill¡¯s arm had been severed. The Aria doubled over on the ground, pressing her head on the dirty cobblestones while she applied pressure on what remained of her limb using her other hand and stomach. She was in shock and didn¡¯t even consider sealing the wound with Samesia. Vynore. Smyl¡¯s singular word echoed in the Princess¡¯s head. If that¡¯s true, then Samesia wouldn¡¯t even matter. ¡°Now only you remain, Princess,¡± the traitorous Iristan said. His Vyndivalian sword swirled with meiyal as he pointed it towards her. ¡°Yes, Smyl,¡± Alphazzel followed with sarcasm. ¡°Taunt your Princess. You did so much to get this upper hand.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion, faunel.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion, faunel!¡± Alphazzel repeated, mocking the traitor like he would when making fun of a kid. ¡°That¡¯s what you sound like, you stupid motherfucker. Bad mouth me all you want, but I did all the work. Stop trying to act like Frein. He¡¯s out of your league.¡± ¡°You!¡± Smyl shouted his frustration. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of a fight here!¡± While the faunel laughed out loud, Kristel prepared herself. There was no way she would allow herself to go down without giving it her all. She Drew Sandai-Kaimera in both hands, wielding them in such a condensed state that they looked more like long daggers than swords. She crouched low, stalking like a vork, with both weapons on guard in front of her face. Her two opponents saw her and promptly stopped horsing around. Before the fight began, however, they noticed movement not far from them. ¡°Don¡¯t count me out just yet, traitor,¡± Katherine said, struggling on her feet. Her stomach wound was gone, already completely healed, but she was still suffering from mild Art fatigue. She spared a glance at Frill before turning to Kristel. The Princess immediately understood. Frill¡¯s fire hadn¡¯t died yet. She kept shooting piercing glances at Smyl like a cornered yuma, threatening to bite the moment he lowered his guard. But she was clearly still in pain, screaming whenever she succumbed to the injury. Kristel stood her ground while Katherine made her way towards Frill. Their plan was obvious, but their threat was just as real. It quickly became a battle of attrition. The Lady knew she couldn¡¯t move quickly. She was still recovering, first of all, and she couldn¡¯t risk their two opponents just using large blasts of meiyal attacks. While her pace could be faster, it was just as much of a tell that her guard was as high as possible. Kristel¡¯s focus was at its highest point as well. Eyes wide, responding to every movement with the correct reaction. She was dwelling deep in her awareness, conscious of how important it was for Katherine to reach Frill. Smyl kept shaking his head. He was trying his best to intercept the Lady. But every movement he made, Kristel was on top of it, flexing her muscles in the exact moment he attempted a move. ¡°This is quite interesting,¡± Alphazzel said. ¡°You seem to be struggling, Smyl. Do you need help?¡± ¡°Obviously!¡± With that, the faunel nonchalantly pushed the traitor towards Kristel. The sudden action forced Smyl to commit, brandishing his Vynore Weapon with whatever poise there was left for him to muster. Although surprised, the Princess didn¡¯t miss the faunel preparing to use his freezing Meiyal Weaving. In a sudden burst of speed brought upon by Nidai-Ascensia combined with Sandai-Siffera, Kristel moved like a blur. She instantly invaded Smyl¡¯s space, allowing her to push the traitor straight back at the faunel. A barrage of Katastrofera, courtesy of Katherine, assaulted the duo. At the same time, she took this chance to reach Frill. ¡°Useless,¡± Alphazzel said, pushing Smyl away. ¡°Half a faunel, knows two disciplines, provided a Vynore Weapon, and still can¡¯t hit a little girl! Pathetic!¡± ¡°You knew it was going to happen!¡± said the former Sky Knight. ¡°You deliberately did it because you knew it was going to happen!¡± ¡°Of course I did!¡± The faunel pointed angrily at Kristel and her companions. ¡°Look at them! Look at how they¡¯re struggling! They know they¡¯re going to lose, but they¡¯re not giving up! No hesitation. No backing down. If you¡¯re even at least half¡ªno, if you¡¯re even just a quarter of their competence, then you can at least face your Destiny with some dignity, you squat!¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°This is going to hurt,¡± Katherine whispered to Frill. Kristel guarded them. Whatever those two were arguing about, they didn¡¯t care. All that mattered was for them to heal Frill. ¡°Vynore¡¯s a big problem,¡± the Lady continued. She summoned Frill¡¯s severed arm using meiyal control. She lay it on her side, while pulling out a vial of some potion from her Spatiera. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with trying to reattach the arm later, but for now, I have to stop the bleeding. This will help you numb.¡± Katherine poured the potion¡¯s contents over Frill¡¯s stump, causing her to scream as the foreign substance¡¯s initial contact aggravated the wound. She felt the effects almost instantaneously, fortunately enough. Next, the Lady¡¯s hand began to ignite as she Drew Ferenfra. Without waiting for Frill¡¯s permission, she held it to the stump, causing the Aria¡¯s flesh to sizzle. She didn¡¯t react at all. The smell of burning flesh assaulted Kristel¡¯s senses. It wasn¡¯t her first time experiencing such a smell, given that she had participated in many Rituals of Peace. But the kneejerk reaction of repulsion never quite became familiar. ¡°It¡¯s no use,¡± Katherine said. ¡°The Vynore¡¯s blocking even my Ferenfra. Kristel, you need to buy time. Sandai-Samesia.¡± ¡°Surely you don¡¯t have the time for that,¡± Alphazzel interrupted, breaking free from whatever argument he was having with Smyl. A tear in space opened from behind him. It resembled Spatiera in many aspects, except its size. It was as huge as the giant, two headed yuma. From within emerged a head of a Jaws Lurking In The Forest. Only that, there were five heads combined in one body. ¡°You¡¯re familiar with this particular Nightmare, yes?¡± Alphazzel teased. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware by now of my preferred aesthetics. Many heads in one body. More heads, more perfect. And five heads, I¡¯m pretty sure, is too much for you to handle, Princess.¡± Kristel was aware. The five-headed abomination was giving off a presence similar to a Deep Nightmare. Far greater than the Mist That Carries The Nightmare that they had encountered in Minaveil. The added heads were far from simple additive boosts. They were exponential. ¡°What in the world¡­¡± Katherine gasped. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen something like that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stop healing,¡± Kristel commanded, her voice confident despite the danger they were in. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡± Alphazzel laughed. ¡°Surely, you jest! Tell you what, I¡¯ll ask you one last time. Surrender Frill and the Lady, and I will let you go. Sorry¡­ We will let you go. Don¡¯t want to discredit my useless friend here.¡± ¡°No.¡± The reply came quick and confident. ¡°Then you leave us no choice, foolish Monarch.¡± At the words of Alphazzel, the five-headed Forest Jaws heaved its heads. Elemental power surged from within each jaw. Three of them were fire, while the other two were lightning. Kristel couldn¡¯t find a way to fight all those heads offensively. The moment she left where she stood to attack one or two heads, the rest would surely fire off at Katherine and Frill. Moving them would be risky as well. Not only would it distract the Lady and worsen the Aria¡¯s condition, there was no way of telling if the Nightmare¡¯s attacks would hit them. Not even at her highest speed. ¡°Nidai-Rakkera!¡± Without any other choice, she Drew a barrier Meiyal Art. ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Alphazzel laughed. ¡°You better hope that works!¡± The Jaws Lurking In The Forest fired its elemental breaths. Kristel¡¯s barrier broke in a matter of seconds, but it gave them enough time to predict the trajectory of the attack and move out of the way. Katherine and Frill were unscathed, but she wasn¡¯t so lucky. The Princess¡¯s left arm was caught in the blast, burning away the sleeve of her battle gear and a good amount of her skin. Even after she had fortified herself with Sandai-Siffera, she still suffered significant damage. She began to Drew Samesia while keeping an eye on the pseudo-dragon and the faunel. Smyl was nowhere to be found. Kristel heard a thud. She quickly turned and saw the traitor kicking Katherine out of the way. The Lady was at full Art fatigue now, unable to heal Frill at all. He followed up by stabbing another Vynore Weapon straight into her thigh, pinning it to the ground. Katherine struggled, but without Siffera to protect herself, the punch that followed left her on the dirt, unmoving. Smyl took his time, leisurely walking towards Frill while looking at Kristel. The Princess moved to intercept, but the five-headed Forest Jaws stepped on her way, aiming another set of deadly breath attacks. Frill stood, Drawing one Meiyal Art after another. She held Smyl back, but Alphazzel took advantage of the distraction. He froze her for a moment, giving the traitorous Sky Knight enough time to kick her down. He stepped on her grievous wound, pressing with his dirty boot as forcefully as he could. She screamed in excruciating pain, her struggles too weak. Tears appeared in Kristel¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t help it. She couldn¡¯t protect anyone. ¡°Stop,¡± she whispered weakly, aware that her enemies wouldn¡¯t listen. ¡°You know what we¡¯re asking for, Princess,¡± Alphazzel said in return. He approached nonchalantly and lifted her by the neck. Kristel tried to retaliate, but quickly realized that her limbs had been frozen in place. He had deliberately left her head free, in order to show her the hopelessness of their situation. ¡°And we now have what we want. We don¡¯t care about you anymore. I guess I can use your head for something. Combine the three of you. That would be interesting. Go ahead, Smyl. Kill Brymeia¡¯s vessel. We can always get the next one.¡± Smyl wordlessly Flourished a Weapon. It looked similarly to the axe that had murdered Liona. Frill, noticing what it was, stopped moving. Her desperation overpowered by the realization. ¡°Kristel, don¡¯t give up,¡± Evanclad whispered from her Mind Palace. ¡°You know you can still win this.¡± ¡°Not even Verdict can help,¡± Kristel retaliated. She had tried to summon that power numerous times during this fight. But it was ever fleeting. A power within reach, but her will and physical strength just couldn¡¯t grasp it. It had taken a toll far greater than just Art fatigue. ¡°That¡¯s not the only power you have, my dear heir,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°You have my blood. My Destiny. Of course, you have my Blessing. Embrace who you are, Kristel. Embrace the Monarch you¡¯re supposed to be.¡± There was no backing out now. There were no choices left. Whether it was Destiny calling, weaving events that had led to this moment¡­ That had forced Katherine out of commission. That had severed Frill¡¯s right arm. It didn¡¯t really matter. If this is what Destiny wants, then so be it. ¡°Stop.¡± There was no movement. The strong hand crushing her windpipe lost all its force. Kristel dropped to the ground, breathing desperately as she realized she was no longer frozen. She turned and saw Alphazzel¡¯s expression of disbelief as it was his turn to remain frozen. Smyl was frozen as well, his axe touching the very skin of Frill¡¯s throat. Katherine, who had faked her unconsciousness, was also there, stuck in place while sneaking behind the traitor. ¡°This can¡¯t be,¡± Alphazzel struggled to say, pushing against whatever force was stopping his actions with his absurd command over meiyal. ¡°After all this time, you actually do have it. Law of the First Monarch¡­¡± She didn¡¯t care about his realization. There were other important things for them to settle right now. So she did what any sane person would do at this moment. Kristel pointed at him, mustering her meiyal. ¡°Shut up.¡± Chapter 199: Something Forgotten Something Forgotten ¡±Relying on the Blessing is a big mistake. But at this point, I have nothing else.¡± ~Kristel Irista Kristel pushed Smyl out of the way and removed the effects of Monarch¡¯s Law from Frill and Katherine. The Lady quickly pulled the Aria away from the scene, but with her Art fatigue, they didn¡¯t get far. Especially since the other one didn¡¯t want to go away. The traitor, on the other hand, struggled to get up, as if the gravity itself was too much for him to take. ¡°Kneel,¡± said the future Monarch. Smyl¡¯s efforts softened and his knees gave way, bending down to the weathered stones of the ruined tower. Alphazzel raised his sword, but Kristel turned to him as well. ¡°On your knees.¡± The faunel, despite his excessive shaking, stomped one of his feet deep into the floor. He bent a single knee, leveraging the rest of his weight over his greatsword to prevent himself from going down completely. ¡°You don¡¯t control me!¡± he yelled, growling as he struggled. ¡°Even the Law of the First Monarch isn¡¯t absolute!¡± ¡°Glad to know,¡± Kristel replied. ¡°Now, Shut up and stay there!¡± The Princess stomped over to Smyl, grabbing the traitor by the collar of his shirt. He looked desperate, not even hiding his desire to retaliate and his frustration of not being allowed to do so by the Blessing. She didn¡¯t care. ¡°Did you kill Liona?¡± she asked. Smyl¡¯s lips began to shake and his jaws clenched as he did all he could to turn away. Kristel invested every ounce of meiyal her reason and logic allowed her to use. ¡°ANSWER ME!¡± The world shook at her command as the Law of the First Monarch indiscriminately forced Kristel¡¯s surroundings to follow. And while she didn¡¯t ask anyone else a question, it was as if reality itself wanted to provide her with an answer. Still, it was only Smyl who could satisfy that command. ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered, choking on his own words. The Blessing forced him to speak louder. ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± Frill screamed. She had enough cognizance to attempt healing herself, now that Katherine had talked some sense into her. Her glare, something Kristel had seen numerous times throughout her life, was now rid of any of the usual warmth that went along with it. Only anger and rage and vengeance were in those eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I swear it, I¡¯ll make you pay!¡± Frill growled in between pain and fury. Katherine was doing her best holding back the Aria. Without Meiyal Arts to back her up, however, she was easily pushed back. Still, she never stopped getting in the way. ¡°Heal yourself first, Frill. You¡¯ll run out of blood if you don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Frill retaliated. ¡°If I can¡¯t close the wound, I¡¯ll just replace my blood with Samesia.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Katherine, despite herself, stopped trying to reason with her. Kristel knew why. It was the exact same thing the Lady had done back when she had faced three Forest Jaws on her own in Minaveil Province. Samesia and Siffera working hand in hand to keep the injury from taking her consciousness. And since the Nightmare Influence had no effect on Frill, there was no stopping her. Except for Kristel herself. ¡°I¡¯ll hold them back,¡± she said. ¡°Please heal your wounds first, Frill.¡± This command¡ªrequest¡ªshe made sure didn¡¯t have an ounce of her Blessing¡¯s authority in it. Instead, she looked at her retainer directly in the eyes. With that, Frill wordlessly focused her efforts on healing. Katherine, on the other hand, sat on the ground, trying to recover. ¡°You¡¯ve never used the Monarch¡¯s Law before,¡± Alphazzel said, struggling to utter each word. He was giving his all to break through the Blessing. ¡°I believe I told you to shut up.¡± Kristel tossed a glare towards the faunel, and his lips clamped on each other like they were held on by pincers. Kristel had been aware of the Law of the First Monarch since she was a toddler. Back then, it had been something she couldn¡¯t control, to the point that she had changed people¡¯s emotions through simple words. Fortunately, she had caught on it early in life, and had made a vow to never let her emotions take advantage of such a dangerous Blessing. She had almost forgotten about it, after all these years. Until Frein¡¯s initial plan to move out of Irista Nation had caused her so much an emotional turmoil, resulting for the Blessing to accidentally resurface. Kristel had almost let it. At least, to some extent, she believed this. But in her heart, she wasn¡¯t exactly sure if her subordinates believed in her herself, or it was because of her Monarch¡¯s Law leaking out without her knowledge. Of course, she kept these thoughts to herself, not wanting the faunel or Smyl to know any information that might help them. Kristel turned to the five-headed Forest Jaws. ¡°Leave or die. I don¡¯t care. Just stay away from here and never return.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. This command, she carefully and cautiously delivered specifically towards the giant Nightmare. She absolutely made sure, for she had allies nearby. The Nightmare closed its snouts. Black scales tore off from its back and formed two pairs of wings. It turned away and flew east towards the Nightmare Lands. The moment Kristel turned her attention towards the Nightmare, her hold against Smyl wavered. The traitor immediately grabbed his Forged axe and charged. She was quick to recover, merely looking at him. In an instant, he was back with both knees on the ground, dropping his weapon beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t think for one second that I¡¯ll show you mercy, Smyl.¡± Kristel began to feel a numbing sensation on her chest, exactly where her meiyal core was located. The Law of the First Monarch allowed her to impose her will beyond the limits of Monarch¡¯s Law, but it required an incredible amount of meiyal. It was similar to Verdict in this sense, but since it was tied to her destiny, and the fact that it was a Blessing of Brymeia, allowed her more access to it than the Meiyal Art. Commanding the Nightmare to leave and never return had taken a huge toll on her. Granted, Art fatigue was no longer a concern, but trying to supply her commands with continuous meiyal was proving to be a challenge. At this rate, she would run out faster than she could Mill. And she knew trying to resort to faster Milling forms would result in the Blessing failing completely. Kristel made sure not to let her struggles show on the surface. She intended to hold them back until Frill recovered. Until Venry and his friends retrieved Frein. ¡°The only thing keeping you alive is the fact that your death belongs to someone else,¡± she said to Smyl, making sure she made her bluff as convincing as possible. She turned to Alphazzel next. ¡°But you¡­ You I can take freely.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a faunel,¡± Alphazzel began, laughing. ¡°A living meiyal incarnate of Brymeia. Commanding me is tantamount to commanding this world. You think you can keep me down for so long?¡± He slowly rose from his feet, wielding his black sword with ease. The faunel was aware of her struggles. She expected as much from someone who could see Destiny. For all she knew, he was just going through the motions while acting shocked. Alphazzel, from the brief time she had known him, showed much dedication to making a good story, after all. ¡°If you really think you have a chance of getting out of this, Monarch Kristel, then by all means, try to kill an immortal.¡± She ignored what the faunel said. Kristel knew they could be killed, otherwise, there would be more of them. True, the method eluded them, but there could be more than just one way to deal with Alphazzel. Even if it was just him specifically. No use standing around. Kristel Drew Kaimera, Freemesia, and Ascensia all in a single motion, closing in on the faunel in a blink. ¡°I¡¯ve never placed my hopes in chance!¡± She swung her blade down. ¡°This world will never bend the knee to a Monarch like you!¡± Alphazzel arched his sword upwards. The two blades collided and Kaimera shattered without any resistance. It took Kristel a split second to muster as much meiyal as she could to defend herself from the incoming blade, raising her arms with as much Siffera as she could enforce. The sword made of Nightmare meiyal sliced into her arms, breaking through her defenses. She was thrown back by the force, but her arms, though bleeding, were still intact. She ignored the pain, spinning and recovering on the ground on all fours. ¡°I don¡¯t need the world to bend for me. I just need to get rid of you.¡± Kristel rushed back, Drawing five Kaimeras. She threw each one with all her might, while keeping a smaller one clamped between her jaws. Alphazzel parried them, the speed of the blades forcing him to step back. Kristel took advantage and Drew a Dai-Kaimera in both hands. With a strong step, she swung the large meiyal blade. The faunel had no time to recover for a defensive strike, his block falling completely to the mercy of the impact. This time, the faunel was thrown back. Kristel quickly gave chase, Drawing more Kaimeras to keep the barrage going. She didn¡¯t want to give the faunel any second to rest. A quick glance to her side confirmed that Smyl was still struggling to get on his feet. Denying a direct command from the Law of the First Monarch was something not just anyone could do. Knowing she was free to move around, Kristel picked up the pace and zigzagged towards a recovering Alphazzel. The faunel raised a hand, intending to freeze her in place. She went out of the way, leaving behind a copy of herself with Solomera. She had not used this Art since the Battle of the Vanguard. An idea formed. If Alphazzel was truly caught off guard by something she had not used for a long time, then maybe her old way of fighting would work. It was worth checking out. Kristel moved quickly, snapping her fingers to Draw Ganfra. A sudden flash of light, blinded the backpedaling faunel. His disoriented state gave her a huge opening. Dai-Kaimera slashed through his waist, parting him cleanly from his lower extremities. She didn¡¯t let up, jumping at his upper half. Just as quickly, she grabbed the dagger in her mouth, letting go of her giant sword. With both hands, Kristel stabbed the dagger straight into Alphazzel¡¯s skull. The faunel¡¯s shocked face gradually relaxed, as both arms fell to the ground, lifeless. Kristel breathed. Her mind caught up with her actions, and the realization hit her after a moment. The faunel wasn¡¯t moving. She frowned, checking her surroundings. It was already too late. ¡°You cannot kill faunels, foolish Monarch,¡± Alphazzel reminded her. He was quite a distance away. The copy of him in front of her vanished into meiyal residue. ¡°And don¡¯t forget, I helped create Meiyal Arts.¡± Kristel motioned to move, but the faunel raised his Nightmare sword in front of a large object. In front of a closing portal, was an orb. She immediately recognized it. ¡°So that¡¯s why we couldn¡¯t find any of them.¡± The question of why Alphazzel had to smuggle the orbs and not just transport them using his portals became a distracting afterthought. ¡°I must admit, you made it really difficult to slip these things through. They were meant for something far greater than this, but I think you¡¯ve earned this part of Destiny anyway.¡± Alphazzel stabbed the orb. Kristel braced for impact, but no explosion came out of it. Instead, it hissed, expelling from within black meiyal. It rose like smoke and dispersed through the air. ¡°Want to know how we can control a Nightmare Incursion?¡± The realization came in an instant, but it came too late. Countless Nightmare Signs appeared throughout Befall. In a single moment, the small respite from the Incursion that Katherine had made was gone. It was a mockery of her efforts. ¡°What did that Death¡¯s Wish person warn you about, again?¡± Alphazzel asked as two more orbs beside him began emitting black meiyal. ¡°Three Incursions, right?¡± Nightmare Signs appeared from the skies. Rotten trees grew from the undead sand. Meiyal was screaming, transforming into something Brymeia would never allow to exist. It was repulsive. Kristel¡¯s body rejected it instantly. For the first time in a long while, Art fatigue slammed her. Evanclad and Norazzel¡¯s urgent voices were nothing but desperate muffled noises. She fell to her knees, coughing and caving in from the excruciating pain on her chest. From her meiyal core. It felt like something was wrenching it out of her body. Her world spun, and she began to hurl. Blood mixed with her vomit. In the far distance, her blurry sight could barely make out the faunel¡¯s silhouette, rejoicing by himself. ¡°Look at you Iristans,¡± he began. ¡°Just because you endured a simple Incursion, a simple Nightmare Influence, you think you can conquer everything? Your precious Lady Katherine had to spend her entire life succumbing into this foulness just to comprehend and withstand its powers! She is the gifted one here, not you!¡± He approached with glee, black sword in one hand. ¡°Young Solfey is a rather special case, as you know. And Frill is just so loved by this world, you don¡¯t even know half of it! ¡°But you¡­¡± Alphazzel crouched down, staring at Kristel with crazed eyes. He raised his weapon. ¡°You¡¯re nothing.¡± Chapter 200: World鈥檚 Chosen World¡¯s Chosen Moments before Alphazzel opened the Incursion orbs¡­ ¡°You¡¯ll pay with your life!¡± Frill¡¯s screams echoed while she crunched on the ground. The pain from her severed arm had never ceased. It was taking all of her Samesia and Siffera combined, both emphasized to Nidai-levels, just to keep her body from experiencing paralytic shock and suffering from blood loss, while enduring the throbbing pain. Her heart raced. She regulated that, too. The fury she had cultivated after all this time, blazing and swelling with hate, she directed it all towards Smyl. The traitor was planted on the ground, even as Kristel fought the faunel. Frill was so surprised by the Princess¡¯s Blessing that she almost forgot she had lost a hand. But the astonishment when the Law of the First Monarch forced Smyl to answer the question that had eluded them for so long. There was no denying it. Under the spell of the Blessing, Smyl had admitted to his crime. ¡°Frill,¡± Brymeia¡¯s voice¡ªLiona¡¯s voice¡ªwhispered from within her Mind Palace. ¡°You must calm down.¡± Frill thought she was going crazy with rage. Everyone kept saying she had to calm down. Even the glimpses of her sister¡¯s memory were reminders of how hot tempered she was. I¡¯m not¡­ ¡°I just miss her so much.¡± Frill¡¯s pain overwhelmed her. Despite Brymeia and Liona¡¯s voice, they only hastened her deteriorating grip upon her sanity. It wasn¡¯t even a matter of patience, or a matter of discipline. The person responsible for her sister¡¯s death was there. There was no need to wait for justice. There was no need for further discussion. He was there, just kneeling on the floor, waiting for his death. ¡°Trust me, Frill. I¡¯m not here to stop you.¡± Brymeia¡¯s voice came with a cooling sensation, as if to douse the flames within. It was not overwhelming, but enough to encourage the Aria to listen. ¡°I¡¯m here to help you.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Frill asked. Only now did she realize that time had stopped, and that she was completely pulled into her Mind Palace. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to become my Chosen, Frill. Time for you to accept my Blessing.¡± Brymeia, in her mature Liona form, swam around the ocean-themed Mind Palace. ¡°Hmm¡­ It¡¯s actually pretty nice, once you get used to this place.¡± ¡°Why now?¡± Frill asked, ignoring the cheery mood of the world¡¯s personification. The sight of her sister, especially now that her murder¡¯s appearance had resurfaced that ache, made the Aria turn away. ¡°Because you need me now, Frill.¡± Brymeia forced herself into view, clutching the owner of the Mind Palace with both hands. ¡°You will run out of meiyal, and then run out of blood, if we don¡¯t fix your arm. We can¡¯t depend on Katherine. She¡¯s done plenty and needs to recover before she can fight again. If she¡¯s forced to break her concentration because you get yourself in trouble, then everything we¡¯ve worked for will be over in a flash.¡± Brymeia looked down, frowned, before looking back to Frill with a shrug. ¡°And I sort of owe Frein a live Katherine, Frill, and Kristel, if I¡¯m being truthful with you.¡± The Aria tried to process the world¡¯s words. The clarity came a moment later. Brymeia had a point. If she failed now, the cascading effect it would bring would eventually accumulate in them ultimately losing. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± Frill asked. ¡°I just need your consent, Frill,¡± Brymeia replied. ¡°Keep your mind calm and accept my Blessing.¡± ¡°What Blessing?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s pretty obvious.¡± This time, Brymeia smiled. ¡°World¡¯s Chosen. With this Blessing, you¡¯ll be able to use four of my other Blessings. Heart¡¯s Will, Nature¡¯s Favor, Soul¡¯s Walk, and Heaven¡¯s Grace. Of course, my meiyal will be at your complete disposal. You¡¯ll never reach Art fatigue or anything similar. You can Mill at a rate and yield far greater than a mastered Perpetual-Layered Milling Form. In addition, you can integrate with any meiyal-charged material without fear of any potential backlash. And lastly, you will be protected from all the other Blessings, like Time¡¯s Eye or Monarch¡¯s Law.¡± Frill¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ absurd.¡± ¡°Only the best for my chosen vessel.¡± ¡°But you haven¡¯t explained that at all.¡± Brymeia released her hold and sat, or at least, she tried sitting. She remained bobbing up and down within the water, with a leg over the other and a hand reached out, asking for a drink. Frill obliged with a teacup. The water inside her Mind Palace was purely superficial, created by the dream. Much like how she could breathe in it, the tea¡¯s purity wouldn¡¯t be diluted either. ¡°No soda?¡± Brymeia asked. At this, the Aria frowned. But with a mere flick of her will, the teacup changed into a bottle of soda. The world¡¯s personification, who looked exactly like a mature Liona, smiled with such familiarity that it hurt Frill to see. She endured, waiting for Brymeia to proceed with the explanation. ¡°It¡¯s not as you or Kristel fear, Frill. Becoming my vessel doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll have to take my place. Once Frein is ready, I will have to synchronize my existence with him, much like how he is with my daughter currently. This is something he has no knowledge of currently, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll eventually figure it out. ¡°If he manages to convince Destiny, then we¡¯ll be able to properly take the Nightmarish Void out of this world. But in order for me to help him out with this task, someone must stand-in for my duties in the meantime.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s me?¡± Frill asked. ¡°Correct. How long before this has to happen is beyond my knowledge right now, but preparing you for this task will take a long time. I¡¯d say it¡¯s more difficult than Katherine¡¯s training as a Lady of the Void and the Seeker combined. In fact, even after becoming World¡¯s Chosen, you won¡¯t be able to use the other four Blessings right away. You¡¯ll need to properly train yourself for those. You can use one right away, however. And I suggest you make sure that it¡¯s Heaven¡¯s Grace.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the one that can regenerate my body, right?¡± Frill ran through her history lessons quickly. ¡°That makes sense. I can get my arm back and prevent blood loss.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Brymeia sipped from her soda. ¡°And eternal youth.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as drastic as Fate¡¯s End, trust me.¡± ¡°Frein said your Blessings are more like curses.¡± At this, Brymeia shrugged. ¡°Can¡¯t say he isn¡¯t wrong. It¡¯s somewhat true for some, yes. But it simply depends on your perspective. What do you think of it, Frill?¡± The Aria sighed. ¡°I think they¡¯re useful right now. Yes. I¡¯ll become your World¡¯s Chosen.¡± Brymeia smiled and approached, leaving her soda behind. Frill instinctively closed her eyes and waited for the Blessing. ¡°When you open your eyes, you¡¯ll find yourself back in the battlefield. We will talk more soon. But for now, I need you to make sure you survive.¡± Frill opened her eyes and saw Smyl breaking out of Monarch¡¯s Law. She raised her severed arm. Meiyal enveloped it, shining with blinding light and forming the shape of her arm. As it vanished, her entire arm had returned, as if it had never been severed in the first place.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Heaven¡¯s Grace,¡± Katherine said. She was still meditating and focusing on recovering, but the sudden surge of meiyal stirred her away from her task. ¡°So you really have become Brymeia¡¯s dog,¡± Smyl said, grabbing the axe that murdered Liona. Several Meiyal Arts and Armaments surrounded him. While they were far from the quality a Virtuoso or Smith could produce, he made up for it with sheer quantity. In response, Frill moved her once severed hand like she was pulling something from the ground. Spikes formed, pointing at Smyl. In other words, Meiyal Weaving. The traitor, although taken by surprise, simply sliced through the spikes as he retaliated with a frontal assault. Frill continued with more gestures. Immediately, the spikes cut from their roots honed on him. Smyl refused to back away from his charge, the spikes flying hot on his trail. Frill made another sign, pointing from the ground to her head. A wall of land erupted to block his path, but her assailant sliced through it without losing momentum. Frill made a strong gesture, clasping her hands together. In response, the meiyal within the wind created a strong gust, pushing away Smyl right before his axe fell on his target¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You can fake your meiyal signature,¡± she said in a low voice, walking slowly towards Smyl. The traitor tried to get back on his feet, but she quickly Drew a concentrated lightning Meiyal Art, piercing through his leg. It wasn¡¯t even named a Art; the pattern wasn¡¯t even clear. She simply thought of it and the principles surrounding patterns of tia, the lightning element, made it possible for her to Draw. Smyl screamed in pain as he stumbled to the ground. His hands applied pressure on his thigh. ¡°Vyndival weapons require matching signatures before they can be used. This might look the same, but the axe that killed my sister had a different one.¡± Frill felt her stomach churn. It might not be as deplorable as murder, but this act was disgusting all the same. ¡°Plagiarist.¡± ¡°I never liked you Velis,¡± Smyl spat, hyperventilating. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but dogs of the royal family. You should blame the Princess for your sister¡¯s death. Liona had no business flying with us¡ª¡± ¡°She sent her to help!¡± Smyl simply laughed. Almost crazed. He hadn¡¯t even tried healing himself. ¡°I didn¡¯t think she was smart enough to keep following me around. You should¡¯ve seen the shock on her face when she found out. I took the closest weapon at the foot of the mountain while Alphazzel kept her frozen. I drove that axe straight into her heart.¡± He awkwardly reenacted the motion with his right hand. Frill rewarded it with another bolt of lightning. ¡°Damn you!¡± Smyl cursed in pain. Frill¡¯s hand shook, but not from lack of control. She could end his life now, but it didn¡¯t feel right. She wanted him to suffer. Truly, Destiny had a way of mocking people. ¡°Frill!¡± Katherine shouted, and pointed to the skies. She saw the surge of black meiyal coming from where Kristel and Alphazzel fought. And then the sphere of the Incursion suddenly reappeared. Only this time, the pressure that came from it was magnitudes stronger. Frill fought against it, using all of her meiyal to stay on her knees. This Nightmare was different, far more oppressive than the ones she could effortlessly resist. Even her Blessing was of no help. No. She quickly realized that World¡¯s Chosen was helping her to stay sane, but that was the limit of her current mastery of the Blessing. She was just like any Iristan. Smyl, on the other hand, stood like there was nothing wrong, except for the fact that his leg limped. He sent his good foot back and drove it to her chin, knocking her back. ¡°You¡¯re lucky we need you alive,¡± he said, wincing as he ultimately lost his balance. ¡°Now that you¡¯re the World¡¯s Chosen, Alphazzel will have a good use for you.¡± Now that she had lost her chance, Frill could feel her consciousness fading in and out, her tension losing and giving way to all the stress and physical fatigue. She could see Katherine barely standing her ground, breaking out of her meditation. In the end, she failed that task. Before she passed out in tears, however, she heard the sound of Smyl¡¯s footsteps fading away. Frill saw Katherine slump back on the ground. Both of them were helpless.
With many of the Nightmares rallying against Katherine and the others, Xiv eventually reached Venry and the others. The destruction of Aderis Tower gave them enough cover to actually sneak in without Alphazzel or Smyl knowing about it. They followed Enza down to the dungeons and spotted two large, floating abominations guarding the prison cells. ¡°They don¡¯t look like ordinary Nightmares,¡± Hal whispered as they hid in a corner. ¡°Venry, are you alright?¡± The Iristan Guard Knight had suddenly fallen into complete Art fatigue. He was barely conscious. But surprisingly enough, the symptoms had only lasted until they were in the dungeon. He was recovering, but the sudden attack had taken a toll. ¡°We can take them down,¡± Xiv said, Flourishing his Benovrymm. ¡°That¡¯s most likely Frein and Mother Selfiya behind those cells. I can take the one on the left.¡± ¡°Hold on a sec,¡± Dystro interrupted, holding him by the shoulder. ¡°We have no idea how strong those things are. They¡¯re guarding a freaking Mother of the Void. What makes you think they¡¯re not strong enough for either of you?¡± ¡°Void Mothers don¡¯t specialize in fighting, Dystro,¡± Xiv argued. He shoved away the former Lord Knight¡¯s hand, but he settled down nonetheless. ¡°I¡¯m just saying we need to come up with a plan.¡± ¡°As much as I hate to admit it,¡± Ral began, keeping his eyes guarding their rear. ¡°I agree with Dystro on this one.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Hal followed. ¡°Surprisingly, me too,¡± Venry said in between heavy breaths. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can contribute much, by the way.¡± ¡°Okay, fine.¡± Xiv conceded. ¡°Distract the ones on the right while I kill the one on the left. Then I¡¯ll come back for you cowards.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not very nice!¡± Dystro hissed. ¡°But good plan, I¡ª¡± A scream came from the prison, and Xiv and the others stopped their breathing for a second. The screams continued along with indistinct cries. They heard an explosion and a clash of metal. Xiv felt the floor shake, and when he heard a thud, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He slowly peeked and saw something entirely different. Frein was there on the floor, steaming in Art fatigue and screaming as he squirmed in agony. His prison cell on the right was completely destroyed while the two Nightmares guarding him were gone. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± Dystro hissed, but Xiv ignored him. He ran closer to Frein. The smoke coming from the Visitor wasn¡¯t normal, at least not compared to the ones he had seen from other Meiyal Arts practitioners who reached Art fatigue. ¡°Don¡¯t touch him,¡± said a woman on the other side of the prison. She had long, white hair and fair, elegant features, if not for the scars and bruises all over her arms and legs. Void Mother Selfiya Lunasensia. ¡°He¡¯ll overwhelm you with the Contradiction, and you¡¯ll go mad. Bringing you back, with my current state, would be impossible.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening to him?¡± Xiv asked. Before he could respond, the other four and Enza had caught up. Xiv immediately held the yuma back away from Frein and explained the danger. The yuma understood and sat obediently despite constantly whining her master¡¯s name. ¡°Mother Selfiya?¡± Venry asked the other prisoner. ¡°Hello Venry, Dystro, Hal, Ral,¡± Selfiya replied, turning her eyes on each of them. ¡°You must be Xiv, correct? And you must be Enza.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Xiv replied. ¡°How did you know our names?¡± ¡°Frein and I had nothing much to do.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get you out.¡± Venry tried to Draw a meiyal blade, but the Void Mother quickly reached out from the bars of her prison. ¡°No Arts,¡± she warned, pointing her eyes over to Frein. ¡°You¡¯ll disrupt him.¡± ¡°Then this should do.¡± Dystro pulled out a Forged sword. Nothing fancy. ¡°The bars look fairly rusty. You can get out of this place if you want to.¡± ¡°The bars weren¡¯t exactly the problem,¡± Selfiya replied and took a few steps back. Dystro slashed the prison bars and escorted the Void Mother out. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, then turned to the Visitor. ¡°Frein, you¡¯re running out of time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening to him?¡± Xiv asked again. ¡°He¡¯s absorbed all the meiyal in this place, fulfilling part of his Destiny a little early than he should have.¡± Selfiya smiled. ¡°The rest, I¡¯m not in any authority to share with you.¡± ¡°The meiyal here is pure Nightmare,¡± Venry said. ¡°He¡¯s going to die if he absorbs it!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Frein replied, his voice breaking. He quickly held up a hand before any of them could reach out to help him. He stood up on his own. ¡°No touching. Until I kill that Alphazzel bastard, I¡¯ll be Contradicting each and every one of you. And I have no idea how this works. Worst case, you¡¯ll cease from existence in a blink.¡± Despite this however, he reached out to Enza. The yuma followed without hesitation. ¡°For now, I can only hold those who I¡¯ve bonded with.¡± ¡°Brother,¡± Xiv began, ¡°you¡¯re not okay, and you¡¯re totally burned out.¡± ¡°They¡¯re fighting a faunel out there.¡± Frein scratched Enza¡¯s fur by the neck and she reciprocated with affection. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°You were squirming in pain just a second ago,¡± Dystro commented. Frein looked at him. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Dystro, nobody important.¡± He stretched out a hand for a shake. ¡°Monarch Kristel said this is how you express your greetings.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Frein took it mindlessly and turned to the other person who was in Art fatigue. ¡°Then you must be Venry. So, you all survived after all.¡± Venry shook his hand with a bit of hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to finally meet the Visitor.¡± Frein gave him a nod like he couldn¡¯t be bothered with all the formalities, then turned to the twins. ¡°Fancy meeting you guys here,¡± he said. ¡°Who would¡¯ve known, right?¡± Hal said. ¡°Not me,¡± Ral said. ¡°That¡¯s funny,¡± Frein said last. He opened his Spatiera, pulling out various Vyndivalian weapons he had collected during the Battle of the Vanguard. The twins immediately recognized what was theirs. ¡°There¡¯s a massive wave of Nightmares coming from south-east, trying to connect with the Incursion and eventually expand towards Minaveil and Southshore. Alphazzel is summoning them from the Nightmare Lands. I¡¯m going to stop him, but I prefer to do so without distractions.¡± ¡°How massive are we talking about?¡± Dystro asked, picking up a pair of long daggers from Frein¡¯s Weapon collection. He went on to choose an Armor. ¡°No signatures required, these should do¡­¡± ¡°Thousands, probably more.¡± ¡°You expect us to stop that?¡± Xiv said, almost complaining. He felt himself shaking both from fear and shame. ¡°Delay,¡± Frein corrected. ¡°I¡¯ll get this done within less than an hour. Turn back if you¡¯re overwhelmed. No need to play hero.¡± He turned towards Mother Selfiya. ¡°Alphazzel would¡¯ve turned this place into a Prime Nightmare Land by now.¡± ¡°As long as they stay near me, they won¡¯t be affected,¡± she replied. ¡°We¡¯ll be alright.¡± Frein nodded and took a deep breath. Something changed. Xiv felt a chill run through his spine and was sure he wasn¡¯t the only one. Everyone, even the Void Mother, instinctively raised their guards as they saw the Visitor and his yuma walked. Bloodlust. Killing intent. Deafening calm. Frein and Enza left the prison dungeon, leaving the rest of them sighing with relief that their lives had been spared. Chapter 201: The Visitor The Visitor
¡±At first, I was doing it for Kat. Now, I admit, there are a lot more people I care about. I¡¯m doing this for all of them.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
Kristel braced herself for the killing blow. Her life flashed before her eyes, as if time had suspended itself so she could savor every fleeting instance of her remaining moments alive. Images from her sparse encounters with her father, the training and camaraderie she had spent with Cross Irista, bonding times with her younger sister. Lor. Liona. Frill. Katherine, Frein, and Elizzel. Enza. Venry. Everyone. It all rushed through the Princess¡¯s head during this precious dilation of time. Even now, even after all she had achieved, she still envied Frein. This she couldn¡¯t hide. She envied how he worked so hard despite the small amount of time he had left in this world. How he was so considerate of people he barely knew, how he loved Katherine and Elizzel. And how his Shinemoon Scabbard suddenly appeared beside her head. Kristel blinked, and reality caught up to her. A wash of relief and confusion mixed with the pressure of meiyal as she looked upon Frein. He was under Art fatigue, but also, he wasn¡¯t. It was difficult to explain. How else would he have enough meiyal to Ribbon Blink next to me? The Visitor had interrupted Alphazzel¡¯s fatal strike with his own hand. Much to Kristel¡¯s surprise, he did it in an awkward way. He didn¡¯t catch it with both hands. He didn¡¯t block it from underneath either. Frein had caught the blade from above, pinching it in between his index finger and thumb. How he had arrested the downwards strike in such a way was beyond her understanding. But it had happened. That was all that mattered. ¡°There¡¯s really no point in killing her, is there?¡± Frein asked rhetorically, his voice calm and controlled. His eyes were black and emotionless. Kristel knew she was staring at someone far more dangerous than Alphazzel right now and was glad to have him by her side. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name¡­¡± the faunel¡¯s eyes widened. As far as Kristel was concerned, this was the first time Alphazzel was truly taken aback. ¡°Wow¡­ So you really didn''t foresee this.¡± Frein smirked. ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± Alphazzel spun his wrist to force the blade free, but Frein deliberately released his hold. The unexpected momentum from the lack of resistance threw the faunel out of balance, committing more of his arm¡¯s length into his swing. The Visitor didn¡¯t miss a beat and skillfully caught the blade again by just pinching it. This time, he pulled back, directing Alphazzel¡¯s balance into a helpless frontal lunge. He drove a knee in the opposite direction, straight onto the faunel¡¯s stomach. Meiyal exploded, passing through Alphazzel¡¯s body and into whatever ruins remained from Aderis¡¯ Tower. Just like that, the faunel was on his knees, gagging. ¡°He¡¯ll be recovering for a while,¡± Frein commented, turning calmly towards Kristel. ¡°We should get you to Kat and the others.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± the Princess asked. But before the Visitor could answer, she caught a movement behind him. Alphazzel was struggling on his feet, sword raised. ¡°Behind you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, don¡¯t worry,¡± Frein said, ignoring her warning. Kristel tried to Draw, but the disgusting pressure from the Nightmare suddenly slammed on her, causing her to withdraw and fall on the ground. ¡°I can¡¯t help you up,¡± Frein said. ¡°Sorry, but you¡¯ll have to get up on your own and walk. Crush the windpipe.¡± The last sentence confused Kristel. She looked up only to see Enza pouncing over Alphazzel, her jaw clamped on his throat. The yuma ripped it out and spat. ¡°That¡¯s for taking Frein away, you poop!¡± For good measure, Enza clawed his neck, completely decapitating the faunel. ¡°Yuck! Disgusting!¡± Kristel had seen yumas fight to the death before, but not from someone so young like Enza. It was a clean strike, direct, brutal, and efficient. Alphazzel didn¡¯t see it coming. Whatever advantages the yuma¡¯s Nature¡¯s Favor had, unrestricted by her intent, completely took her enemy by surprise. And as if to prove a point, Enza simply vanished. ¡°Is he dead?¡± Kristel asked. The faunel wasn¡¯t moving, but it felt too good to be true. ¡°Of course not,¡± Frein replied, unperturbed by the madness in his own response. He started to walk. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kristel turned to follow, but for the second time, she saw a sudden movement. And like the previous one, she couldn¡¯t react on time. She quickly realized why this was the case. Her Siffera wasn¡¯t working properly. Fortunately, Frein had seemingly formed a habit with catching swords effortlessly with his fingers. This time, it was a Forged Weapon of Smyl, who had suddenly showed up. The Visitor simply flexed and snapped the sword¡¯s blade. Kristel¡¯s mind, however, was racing past the spectacle she just saw. If Smyl¡¯s here then¡­ The Princess couldn¡¯t bear to finish the thought. She scanned the horizon. The rotten trees and the undead nature mixing with the Nightmare had completely changed the visibility of the terrain. Where dunes were once their only obstacle, now there were far too many varieties. But eventually, she found them. Katherine was sitting on the ground. Frill was completely collapsed. From this far away, Kristel couldn¡¯t see their actual condition, not without the help of an observation Meiyal Art. She realized how dependent she was on the discipline. Still, that was her way of life. The way forward was to adapt to the Nightmare, not to live without her Arts. That was beside the point. Urgency and confusion had brought Kristel¡¯s mental faculties into a haywire state. Without Siffera to help stabilize her focus, she was lost between decision paralysis and panic. All the while, Frein stared at her. Like a reliable anchor, Kristel found a focus. The Visitor was ignoring Smyl completely. Whatever he was trying to say¡ªfor she also couldn¡¯t find the mental energy to understand¡ªnever found a recipient. ¡°You good to go?¡± Frein asked. He wasn¡¯t even concerned about Frill or Katherine¡¯s condition. ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of time, so the quicker you get over this panic and confusion you¡¯re going through, the better it is for all of us. Sorry, I can¡¯t really afford to be gentle right now.¡± Kristel quickly nodded. If there was one thing she was absolutely sure about, it was that Frein always knew his priorities. If he was under some kind of time constraint, she wouldn¡¯t be the one to waste all of it. As they moved, the Visitor finally turned to the traitor. Whatever Meiyal Art or Armament he had prepared were completely nullified by Frein¡¯s hand. ¡°My only concern is Alphazzel, Smyl,¡± he said. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d run away now. You¡¯ve been warned. If Frill couldn¡¯t finish you off, I can¡¯t promise you that same leniency from my end.¡± They had taken a few steps before the traitor finally found the courage to retaliate with words. ¡°You can¡¯t scare me, Frein! You¡¯re just one man. Your friends can¡¯t help you, and you can¡¯t possibly kill Alphazzel!¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Pathetic. Despite this, Kristel admitted the same for herself. As soon as they reached Frill and Katherine, Kristel quickly assessed their conditions. The Aria stirred awake, but her eyes were out of focus. The Lady had completely recovered from Art fatigue and was beginning to Gather and Mill. ¡°You look cute with white,¡± Frein said to Katherine, pointing out the change in her hair. ¡°Is that permanent, or¡­?¡± She shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± Elizzel appeared from within Katherine. An action that, as far as Kristel was concerned, shocked Frein. ¡°You two Tethered?¡± he asked. The two ladies nodded. ¡°But what about the whole pregnant thing?¡± ¡°We can talk about that later,¡± Katherine said, frowning. The sudden topic disturbed the flow of her Milling. ¡°We have things to do here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sort of important,¡± Frein insisted. ¡°Nothing¡¯s changed, Frein,¡± Elizzel said finally. ¡°I¡¯m the one in between, not either of you. But you, Frein. You¡¯ve changed a lot. You¡¯re a Contradiction.¡± ¡°For the next forty minutes,¡± he said. ¡°If I don¡¯t get Alphazzel to die in my stead, then I¡¯ll be gone. Also, Brymeia mentioned that Visitors are already Contradictions, but she didn¡¯t have time to explain that one.¡± At this, Katherine completely broke concentration. But before she could even get up from where she sat, Frein had already held up a hand. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to touch anyone not bonded to my meiyal core, Kat. Since Eli¡¯s acting as the middleman, that means we¡¯re technically not bonded. I can¡¯t risk losing you on a technicality.¡± Kristel saw the longing in Katherine¡¯s eyes. She was close to just risking touching Frein, despite not understanding the full extent of a Contradiction. Even the Princess herself wasn¡¯t so knowledgeable with the concept, but she knew it was dangerous. In the end, the Lady relented. ¡°Once we get Alphazzel, this will get fixed, right?¡± she asked. ¡°That¡¯s what Brymeia said.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Katherine sighed and returned to Milling. Frill stirred once more, shaking her head. Finally, Kristel saw her retainer using both hands. ¡°Your arm¡¯s back!¡± said the Princess. ¡°I had to¡­¡± Frill clutched her head, wincing in pain. She was in complete Art fatigue. ¡°Brymeia,¡± Katherine answered for her. ¡°She gave Frill a Blessing, World¡¯s Chosen. It lets her use Heaven¡¯s Grace, which is a different Blessing. This one completely regenerates her body.¡± ¡°Frill,¡± Frein called. The Aria slowly looked up, locking eyes with the Visitor. Then she turned away. Kristel saw shame in her motions. ¡°Did you hesitate?¡± The Aria in Red made a silent nod. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± A pause. Finally, she shook her head. Frein relaxed and smiled a little. He turned, heading back to the ruined tower. ¡°Smyl¡¯s right,¡± Kristel called out. She took stock of the situation. ¡°You¡¯re fighting alone. We can¡¯t help you. We¡¯re out of resources. Frill and I can¡¯t Gather here.¡± ¡°Forty minutes is a long time, Kristel,¡± was all he had to say in return. It didn¡¯t explain or argue anything. ¡°Besides, he¡¯s not alone,¡± Elizzel said, playfully sticking out her tongue. ¡°You really have a knack for forgetting I exist, you know.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t my intention¡­¡± ¡°I know,¡± said the faunel, smiling. ¡°Just trying to lighten up the mood a little. There¡¯s also Enza, remember. We practically outnumber them.¡± ¡°Unless Alphazzel summons more Nightmares,¡± Frill said, turning to the skies. They all followed her gaze. The numerous Nightmare Signs in the sky were starting to manifest all sorts of abominations. ¡°Enza,¡± Frein called out. ¡°Stay here and keep them safe.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± said the yuma. ¡°That makes us a tie now,¡± Elizzel said, shrugging. ¡°Numbers-wise.¡± ¡°Frein,¡± Katherine called out this time. The two met eyes. Suddenly, silence filled the air. Kristel understood what was happening. As always, she was amazed at how the both of them could communicate in utter silence. ¡°How much?¡± Frein asked at last. ¡°Fifteen should be enough,¡± Katherine replied. He nodded and finally started heading for the tower in earnest while stretching his arms in all sorts of ways. ¡°I¡¯ll be done in ten.¡± Without any other argument for her to convince Frein to do otherwise, Kristel turned her attention towards Frill. Her heart sank at the sight of the Aria. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Liona,¡± she whispered, sobbing. ¡°I failed.¡±
Frein made sure they were out of earshot before slowing down for Elizzel to finally speak in private. ¡°They defeated two Blessings,¡± she said. ¡°And you look like you¡¯re going to fall over with a push.¡± Everything had been devoured by the Nightmare, now prime and true to its name. It might still be waiting to connect with the rest of the Nightmare Lands from the east, but at this point, that was only for the sake of becoming permanent. Frein ignored the faunel¡¯s implications and presented his wrist instead. ¡°I need to know everything.¡± She gave a nod and bit through his meiyal core. At first it was confusing. Splitting images of visions from what had happened flashed before Frein all at the same time. Then, it gradually slowed down to the beginning. He saw Katherine¡¯s brilliant and magnificent display of prowess, Kristel and Frill¡¯s fusion performance, their defeat against Alphazzel, Frill losing her arm, Kristel showing her Law of the First Monarch for the first time, Frill becoming the World¡¯s Chosen, all of it. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, breathing slowly. ¡°Your core¡¯s more complete now,¡± Elizzel said. ¡°You have the Fragment.¡± ¡°No audience, though.¡± ¡°Maybe because you¡¯re busy. How are you feeling?¡± The faunel gestured all over him. ¡°Except for all the smoke, I mean.¡± ¡°A bit unstable, but I should be alright,¡± Frein replied. ¡°That reminds me, Brymeia said you¡¯re her daughter, but you¡¯re not exactly doing as she commands, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Elizzel shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m my mother¡¯s embodiment of Freedom and Consequences. I know I do what I want, but just like everyone else, Destiny ever so subtly influences where I end up being and what I end up doing.¡± ¡°And what do you want to do right now?¡± ¡°Get even.¡± The faunel smiled. ¡°Alphazzel left me for dead. Twice. Let¡¯s get rid of him, and I¡¯ll call it quits.¡± For whatever reason, Frein saw Smyl sitting where the entrance to the tower had been. He was alone, Alphazzel was nowhere to be found. ¡°I told you to run away,¡± Frein said, his eyes focusing on the traitor, reading the flow of his meiyal. Mesiffera saw two rhythms. The Visitor reached out a hand, and just as quickly, Elizzel returned to his Mind Palace, settling snuggly into their Tether. It had been so long. ¡°I don¡¯t take orders from you, Visitor,¡± Smyl said. ¡°You can still surrender and take responsibility for your crimes. Leave the faun¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s no coming back from this, Frein!¡± A sword with a Nightmarish black blade appeared on Smyl¡¯s hand as he pointed the tip towards the Visitor. The corrupting meiyal reached out, inviting. ¡°I killed Liona! I killed half of Cross Irista! I killed my own sister! The only thing I¡¯ll gain from surrendering is my own death!¡± ¡°Tell us everything you know about our enemies. I know someone¡¯s pulling the strings behind you and Alphazzel. If you help us out, I¡¯ll convince Kristel and Frill to spare you.¡± Frein knew it was pointless. Not even he was confident enough to shoulder such a burden. Still, it was worth a try. A snicker escaped Smyl, reading through the obvious bluff. ¡°If you won¡¯t make the first move, then I will.¡± Smyl charged in with incredible speed, brandishing the Flourished Weapon. It wasn¡¯t something Frein couldn¡¯t handle. Compared to Kristel, the traitor moved like a zombie without feet. The Visitor¡¯s footwork handled the dodging and his arms stayed low for a counter. He almost pitied Smyl. The attacks left so many openings that he could¡¯ve ended the poor soul¡¯s misery on the very first strike. But there were things he needed to know. Without a doubt, like her sister, Smyl might¡¯ve been a victim of Time¡¯s Eye. It could be that his memories had become extremely distorted to the point that he¡¯d lost hold of his reason, fighting for the wrong things while believing he was just for it. If so, Frein would be taking away the traitor¡¯s chance for redemption. ¡°You should know you can¡¯t beat me, Smyl.¡± Frein¡¯s Siffera alone, emphasizing his authority as a Contradiction, his confidence, and his anger, was tearing on the traitor¡¯s stamina like a ravaging yuma. ¡°Stop running away and fight like a man!¡± Smyl retaliated. He hadn¡¯t even noticed that Frein never took a step backwards. He took heavy breaths while lashing out a flurry of attacks. Waves of meiyal rushed past Frein as he weaved around them with just the right amount of movement. The most damage he received was tears on his shirt. He maintained a close distance as he danced around the former Sky Knight, rendering his long-ranged display of prowess a mere spectacle with no real threat. Frein eased his way through the combination of attacks and flurries and waited for his chance. At this rate, his time would run out before he could discern whether Smyl was a victim or not. He decided to move on to his actual target. The traitor finally gave in to his frustration. Frein didn¡¯t miss that chance to step in. The Visitor did many things simultaneously. He Displayed his Exhibit, Drawing his Fulgurblade. His Sandai-Siffera flared his killing intent. The moment of fear froze Smyl on the spot, leaving him wide open as Frein drove the back of his hilt straight into the traitor¡¯s abdomen. He followed with a backhand swing to the ribs, keeping the blade within the scabbard. And as Smyl bent down in reaction to the pain, Frein quickly pulled the traitor¡¯s head with one hand while sending his knee straight to the cranium. In a blink, Smyl was on the ground, unconscious. Almost immediately, the Nightmarish sword swung upwards as Alphazzel manifested out of Smyl. Like before, Frein simply caught the blade with a pinch before snapping it. The faunel took that chance to create distance. ¡°Is that your world¡¯s way of fighting?¡± Alphazzel started with a mocking tone. ¡°Dodging like a coward and attacking when it¡¯s most comfortable. Katherine chose poorly. Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s gambit will never pay off. You might be Contradicting Destiny right now, but you still can¡¯t kill me, Visitor. You can¡¯t kill a faunel.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Frein said, much to the faunel¡¯s puzzlement. ¡°I don¡¯t have to worry, then. All my opponents so far have been too fragile, Alphazzel. At least you can take more beatings than the others.¡± Frein erased his Fulgurblade. There was no reason behind it. He simply didn¡¯t feel like using the Art. Smyl¡¯s attacks, though they had completely missed, had torn away from his rugged clothes. He ripped them off and flexed his muscles, showing the faunel a body forged by years of training, scarred and sharpened by extensive experience, and strengthened by the power of this world. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t die on me, faunel. Because I¡¯ll kill you so many times, you¡¯ll wish you could die.¡± Chapter 202: A Waste of Deaths A Waste of Deaths
¡±When I first touched upon meiyal, I couldn¡¯t explain it. Now it¡¯s like air. It has a smell, a feel, an intensity. The works. It even has thoughts of its own.¡± ~Frein Nivan, the Visitor
By his calculations, Alphazzel had died about a hundred times in the last five minutes. Not because none of his Meiyal Weaving, Arts, or Armaments worked against the Visitor. It was more of the Contradiction-given mortal not allowing him even a second to move. Meiyal activity within his physiology was at an all-time high, regenerating his consciousness and life at a pace he had never known was possible. Yes. Even with his ability to glimpse Destiny, Alphazzel had never seen the extent at which he could revive himself from death. Not that it was impossible, the curiosity had simply never touched him. Added to that, death, for him, was overselling it. True, his consciousness would disappear. His heart would stop. All bodily functions would cease. Medically speaking, he had died every single time. But there was no point in death, if he could come back from it. A waste, as far as he was concerned. Alphazzel was spending meiyal to bring himself back from death. The truth behind a faunel¡¯s immortality was their absurd supply of meiyal, given that they were exclusively made up of it. In the past, this discovery had led many of his kin to become victims of experimentation. Royal families, rich, influential people, and many others sought to find immortality. The faunels had been the prime lead towards that path from the beginning. Irony, however, wasn¡¯t content with just watching countless faunels become helpless prisoners due to their nature. It also told these mortals how they could be properly killed. Worst of it all, none of these experiments had yielded any tangible result for the mortal races. Again, a waste. Evanclad had gone through great lengths to rectify that mistake. He had been a good leader, truth be told. Alphazzel had witnessed and recorded this fact himself and made sure it was never embellished. Much like how Destiny was used to hide the truth of Brymeia¡¯s nature, Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Fall, and the Visitor¡¯s purpose, the method of killing faunels was silently erased, and then replaced by blatant lies. A faunel is meiyal personified, therefore they couldn¡¯t be killed. When a faunel dies, another replaces them after a few centuries. Anyone with a lot of time and interest on the topic of faunels could easily pinpoint the contradiction between these two statements. For if even one of these things were true, his kin should¡¯ve been more abundant. Not reduced to such meager numbers that Alphazzel could remember only three others besides himself. The truth was simple. Faunels could die if meiyal no longer wished to sustain them. This, Alphazzel defined as ¡®a faunel¡¯s true death¡¯. And because of Zerax¡¯thum causing the Divine Severing, Brymeia could no longer afford to replace any of them. Logically speaking, these would explain why there were so few of them left in this world. Still, it didn¡¯t make a lot of sense because of one important argument. Meiyal was abundant and had no thought or mental faculties to decide on its own. Even after dying a few more times, this source of power kept returning him to life as per the Rule. Unlike the mortal practitioners, including those with a gifted meiyal system like Frill or Katherine, faunels like Alphazzel commanded meiyal as if it was a genuine part of their bodies. Faunel was meiyal and meiyal was faunel, after all. And so, this resource, and through this undeniable Rule, simply ¡®killing¡¯ a faunel wouldn¡¯t exactly kill them. More than two-hundred deaths in under ten minutes, however, was a different story altogether. For the first time in his ancient life, Alphazzel was pushed to the limit. Every turn, every step, every blink, breath, retaliation, attack¡­ Everything. No matter which action he took, Frein always found the optimal way to end his life multiple times in a second. He was treated like a fragile web string, snapped and torn without effort or thought. At least, it seemed that way. Alphazzel knew he should never underestimate an opponent. History had told him much. And truthfully, he never did. Especially not Frein. It¡¯s just¡­ The Visitor, despite his youthful age, knew exactly how to end a person¡¯s life. This form, a marvel that all advanced races and civilizations of this world had evolved into one way or another, and deemed as the most appropriate and efficient composition, was easily deconstructed by a man who had only entered this world in less than a month. And he did it with such methodology and precision. Like building blocks, or mastering cooking recipes, mindlessly performing the task as if it was an afterthought. Just the notion of it was absurd. And worse, the reality was far more surreal. Three-hundred deaths now. An estimate at this point. Alphazzel¡¯s consciousness had drifted between light and darkness in such rapid successions that counting had become the least of his concerns. Concerns¡­ Indeed, there was something to be concerned about. If the rate at which he kept dying continued, then his true death might not be that out of reach. There was no precedent, after all. Not even Evanclad had ended faunels this way. So brutal, yet so masterful. After what he thought was his four-hundredth death, Alphazzel tried his best to create distance, if only to keep his consciousness present for more than a split second. He succeeded, but not because of his skill or his opponent failing to catch up. Alphazzel looked and saw Frein deliberately allowing him to back away. The smile on the Visitor¡¯s face said it all. He knew. No matter. Once he had gained distance, the meiyal around Alphazzel would begin to completely regenerate him, pushing the Visitor¡¯s efforts back to square one¡­ Something was odd. Frein¡¯s smile was far too deliberate and confident. And allowing Alphazzel to back away was a ridiculously stupid move, especially if he knew the limits at which a faunel kept their immortality. He studied himself closely. There, the absurd truth was laid bare before him. The rate at which he was recovering had stalled to a crawl, if the one who was crawling was a person without limbs, trying to climb a slippery slope. Meiyal had prioritized everything in returning him to life, utterly convinced that he would instantly perish completely if it had laxed even a little. That was Alphazzel¡¯s evidence. The reason why he hadn¡¯t seen this version of Destiny. Because it didn¡¯t exist. Not without a Contradiction¡¯s intervention. Destiny was being reshaped in front of his eyes. It was also the final straw. Her mother had completely abandoned him. He couldn¡¯t blame her. This was his decision after all. But no matter what species, race, or form, and for whatever reason, a mother wishing her child to die would rip anyone¡¯s heart out. ¡°No retrospections in my presence, Alphazzel,¡± Frein said. ¡°I need you to die in my place. Nothing you will say can convince me otherwise.¡± This guy¡­ It was eerie. Like a smiling face staring at him in the darkness while he tried to sleep. Even without Heart¡¯s Will, Frein could read him like a book. No amount of resistance or meiyal could prevent him from doing so. It was all intuition, observation, and experience. Far more effective than a Blessing when used in such a ridiculously absurd way. But Alphazzel had his own Blessing. Frein knew this, challenging him by staring directly at his eyes. Even Katherine had avoided eye contact the entire time they had been fighting. Still, the faunel wasn¡¯t one to back down from an obvious challenge.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He stared Frein in the eye, swimming through the Visitor¡¯s memories. Instantly, he was blocked off. ¡°How¡­?¡± ¡°Time¡¯s Eye depends on how much time you spent together with your mark,¡± Frein explained, as if he was talking to someone who didn¡¯t own such a gift. Then, he stared back. ¡°Wordings are subject to interpretation, and these Blessings are uncannily loose in how they operate. Did you ever think we spent time together?¡± Alphazzel looked back. The only times he had been in the presence of the Visitor were when he had abducted him and the one time he had checked on him in his prison. The rest was during this fight. There were no idle moments, no bonding, theatrical or otherwise. But strictly speaking, these were all times they had spent together. So how? Again, as if using Heart¡¯s Will, Frein smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve always told you people to not depend on their Blessings. They¡¯ll always betray you.¡± The Visitor made a step. In response, the faunel took one backwards. A chill ran up his spine, and the gesture solidified his realization. For the first time in his life, he felt afraid that he might truly die. ¡°Fine, Alphazzel. Just this once, I¡¯ll help you out.¡± Her voice was a warm and inviting as a lover. No¡­ a whore, one who couldn¡¯t live without drowning in sexual pleasure all the time. Even without her saying it, her unabashed moans alone told stories of endless passion, and that she would act upon more of it given the chance. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help, slut.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you an army to help you out. They¡¯ll do anything to please me. Just let me have fun with you. Be my lover just for a day. I¡¯ll make you feel all sorts of things your little imagination would never think even exist. It¡¯s a win-win for you, dear.¡± The entire time, she was moaning in a rhythm, and even some of her words were muffled. She was getting rammed both ways while talking to him. ¡°You disgust me,¡± Alphazzel replied. He saw Frein narrow his eyes, and he realized this was something the Visitor had no way of knowing no matter how much he tried to investigate. The faunel had no choice. ¡°Fine. Send me your lovers. I¡¯d rather be your bitch for a day than die here.¡± She giggled. That alone sent tingles down his spine, and inappropriate thoughts assaulted him, distracting him from the fight. Alphazzel internally shook his head, dispersing the depraved acts he wanted to do to her. ¡°They¡¯re ready for you anytime, sweetie,¡± she said. This time, she let out a scream of pleasure. Her voice, excited and ragged as her lovers intensified their pace now that the conversation was almost over. ¡°Don¡¯t forget. You owe me a good time. So don¡¯t go dying on me, yet. You there, my armpit! Use both of them! Ahh!¡± Alphazzel ripped away their connection as soon as he felt the ¡®lovers¡¯ arrive within his Worldspace. A few hundred of them. There would be more on the way, but as he was, he couldn¡¯t afford transferring all of them at once. Despite the reinforcements, however, the confidence didn¡¯t find him. ¡°Shit¡­¡±
Frein understood it as simple logic. Faunels wouldn¡¯t die, therefore, the fear of death wouldn¡¯t work on them. But this contradicted everything else he had observed from them. From the way they hurt, the way some of them protected themselves, and the scarce number of them roaming around the world. These were light arguments at best, something that special rules or logical absurdities could justify one way or another. But in a sense, they gave Frein some reason to theorize their fallacy and prove it in his own way. And when Alphazzel stepped back out of fear, he knew he was on point. A faunel¡¯s immortality had limitations. Frein becoming a Contradiction had helped him stave off Alphazzel¡¯s ability to fully recover, but aside from helping him contradict Destiny, that was all it had done as far as the fight itself was concerned. It allowed the Visitor to take a breath without losing any of his progress. The limit was a weird variable at best. It all depended on how Brymeia¡¯s meiyal interacted with the faunel and how fast he could intercept that connection before a full recovery was achieved. But now, with Destiny bending the Rules because of the Contradiction, he had convinced the meiyal to only pay attention to the faunel¡¯s deaths. First step was achieved. It took him ten minutes, however. Far longer than he had anticipated. And the change in the faunel¡¯s demeanor was surely not good news. Alphazzel reached out, attempting to Weave the meiyal to freeze Frein in place. One swing from his arm disrupted it. ¡°I¡¯m sick of that trick,¡± said the Visitor, starting his approach with calm and calculated steps. The principle behind it was simple. Meiyal Weaving influenced meiyal itself, rather than the concept behind Meiyal Arts, which was reforming and manifesting a patterned will into reality. This meant that the origin of Alphazzel¡¯s Weaves was set on a determined range so long as meiyal existed there, instead of originating from the practitioner like with Meiyal Arts. Then the answer was simple. Just Gather all the meiyal before the faunel could Weave it. Even in disbelief, Alphazzel tried once again. Frein spent a quick breath, making sure there were no gimmicks behind this attempt before fully disrupting it again. At the same time, he fully closed in. A clean roundhouse kick flipped the faunel straight to the ground, instantly killing him. Frein grabbed the lifeless body and delivered a flurry of punches. Whatever fortification Alphazzel used took Frein no effort to destroy. He knew that each of his attacks were lethal, and that each blow would essentially put the faunel in a ¡®death-state¡¯ where consciousness drifted away. The Rule for the faunels would instantly perform its working, and in that millisecond where Alphazzel would be brought back from the dead, Frein¡¯s next strike would instantly kill him again. Without losing a beat, the Visitor perfectly executed the faunel another hundred times. He was quicker this time, simply because Alphazzel had almost no effective way of shielding himself and all of his tricks were completely nullified. If there was one gift Frein could truly claim was his, it was his quick familiarity and adaptability during a fight. With Alphazzel having almost no time to fully utilize his cognition, the faunel could only resort to defenses from his muscle memory. Actions that the Visitor had seen numerous times already. Still, something felt wrong. No. Different. Frein had implanted fear in Alphazzel¡¯s heart, but there was still hope in his eyes. Even after five-hundred deaths. ¡°Frein, what¡¯s happening inside your meiyal system?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°You¡¯re in full Art fatigue, but you¡¯re functioning just fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s core,¡± he replied, still focused on finding the limits on Alphazzel¡¯s resurrections. He ignored the desire to study the faunel, to find out what exactly allowed him to be capable of such a feat. He was on a time limit after all. ¡°I¡¯m still integrating with it,¡± he continued to explain. ¡°Part of how the Contradiction works.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re not actually fatigued?¡± ¡°I am, but I¡¯m using the Fragment to help me Draw Meiyal Arts, instead of using Brymeia¡¯s meiyal, even though I¡¯m not integrated with it yet.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain some other time. We¡¯re on a time limit here. And your big brother needs to die.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not my big brother!¡± Elizzel¡¯s disgust and anger traveled violently through the Tether. ¡°Kill him. I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± Frein said, abandoning his assault after Alphazzel¡¯s six-hundredth death. ¡°We¡¯re getting carried away.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Almost instantly, Alphazzel returned to life and tried to freeze Frein once more. As always, he easily disrupted the Weave. ¡°Tired already?¡± taunted the faunel. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to execute your plan.¡± ¡°What?¡± Alphazzel and Elizzel said simultaneously. Frein crossed his arms. ¡°I¡¯m not an idiot, Alphazzel. I swear your name isn¡¯t fitting at all. Anyway, you¡¯re trying to buy time. You changed your tactics from fighting back into stalling. You¡¯re betting on the Nightmare Signs up there to eventually amass enough monsters to overwhelm me before you take action, but that¡¯s not going to happen. So, instead, I¡¯m letting you take your breath and do whatever it is you¡¯re planning to do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s on a timer here,¡± Alphazzel retorted. Frein scoffed and tapped his knuckles together. ¡°If you¡¯re that confident, then I¡¯m sorry I wasted your time. Let¡¯s resume, then.¡± At his first step, Alphazzel jerked away. Frein simply smiled, opening his hands once more to give the faunel another chance. ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Alphazzel sighed, putting his hands on his knees. Sweat had accumulated on his forehead. ¡°You know, for a final fight, you sure are taking this easy.¡± ¡°We might not agree on some things,¡± Frein said, crossing his arms once again. ¡°But I want you to try everything you can before I end all of this and return you to your mother. I don¡¯t actually hate you, or anything like that. And the best way I can honor fighting someone so below my capabilities is to let them give it their best shot.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a nasty little prick with words, aren¡¯t you?¡± Alphazzel smiled. ¡°Can¡¯t say you¡¯re wrong after all this. But you¡¯re just really trying to rub it on me by giving me one last shot.¡± Frein shrugged. The faunel was half right, but he was telling the truth as well. ¡°Fine,¡± Alphazzel said, standing tall. ¡°Backing me into a corner like this is already an achievement no one has done before, Visitor. You¡¯re the first to ever have killed me so many times that I don¡¯t even remember half of them. So it disheartens me to say, that allowing me this chance is a huge blunder on your part. A shame that I will grab victory this way.¡± Frein¡¯s eyes widened at the number of portals appearing behind Alphazzel. From within emerged countless undead. No. Nightmarish undead. Immediately, it clicked. Even Elizzel realized just as quickly what they were looking at. Befall, Scar of this World, according to Elizzel¡¯s memories, was filled with undead heroes from the past. Those that had helped in Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Fall. When Katherine and the rest had first arrived in this place, it was completely deserted¡­ ¡°So that¡¯s where they are¡­¡± Elizzel said, exhausted. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how we¡¯re going to deal with this, Frein. Nightmarish undead, even for me, this is a first.¡± ¡°This is my ace in the hole, Visitor,¡± Alphazzel said, raising his head high. He slowly ascended to the air, allowing for the undead a clear path to take formation. At the very least, Frein was sure that the damage Alphazzel had sustained would remain until his time as a Contradiction was over. A few more deaths and Destiny would be convinced to truly kill the faunel. This horde of undead heroes however¡­ ¡°Everyone has a trick up their sleeve.¡± Frein sighed and started walking to meet the heroes of the past while looking at the Faunel of History and Disasters. He emphasized his clarification slowly as the meiyal in his hands ignited with sparks. ¡°Everyone.¡± Chapter 203: Ferrocefra Ferrocefra Frein ignored the mass of undead heroes lumbering his way, his attention directed more towards the faunel. He considered his options while grasping the skull of someone bold enough to rush ahead of the pack. Sparks ignited from his hand, sizzling the rotten skin of the undead and the Nightmare meiyal residing around it. Frein half-heartedly observed its reaction. Ignorant, was his chosen word to describe it. This one, specifically, didn¡¯t even bother trying to come up with a plan to get out of its predicament. These poor creatures, living without a soul and corrupted by foul powers, cared only about performing a task given to them by someone behind the scenes. Someone probably more powerful than Alphazzel. Frein ignited the spark, allowing for the pattern of a small, black rod within his meiyal system to Draw the Art. Ferrocefra. The origin of it was simple, and something quite unique to himself. The pattern was a depiction of a ferrocerium rod, a synthesized metal of sorts used by many campers to ignite campfires. The rod, when struck with enough friction, ignited sparks which were, the at its peak, had heat comparable to a spacecraft entering a planet¡¯s atmosphere. Something in that sense, at least. Frein¡¯s vast supply of reference books claimed different measurements, after all. What mattered was, it could cause fires. However, such a material might or might not have existed here in Brymeia. So he had consulted with the world herself when she had reached out to him during his imprisonment. ¡°Sure. It¡¯ll work. Why wouldn¡¯t it?¡± she had said. ¡°Evanclad made the discipline pretty flexible. Anything that exists can be used as a pattern. And those that don¡¯t has some possible work arounds. You just need to explore those possibilities in order to find the limits, and if they can be broken.¡± And so the Meiyal Art had come to be. An amplified version of the ferrocerium rod, in which his hands acted as one. The heat emitted by this Art ignited exponentially higher than its original, and required much less friction. And, in the same vein as its metal origin, shaving off sparks cost him almost no meiyal at all. Frein had seen how much meiyal both Ferenfra and Diferenfra consumed. He didn¡¯t appreciate it. Sure, it covered a lot of ground. Arguably, the amount of meiyal it took to Draw Ferrocefra could be mathematically just as efficient as the other two. But it was more of a preference more than anything. At this point, although he was capable of Arts with wide coverages such as Meteoric Lightning, he still preferred fighting with his hands and weapons. There was no denying the truth. Katherine had taught him the best Meiyal Art for him from the very beginning. Siffera, elevated to its Sandai-level, allowed Frein to navigate the battlefield with ease. Those Nightmare undead sprung to life whenever he was within proximity, Weaving meiyal in ways he wasn¡¯t familiar with. A few commanded wind, another group molded earth, and more utilized the powers of other elements. They used their Weaving in combinations worthy of cognizant practitioners, not mindless abominations. As far as Frein was concerned, none of them stood out from the pack. Heroes, then, slowly fell into context, and his heart sank at the realization. These undead had been soldiers during their lifetime. People who had sacrificed themselves in order to protect their country¡ªin this case, their world. He saw his parents in them, giving up their lives and their time with him for their duty. Of course, he had hated that fact. It felt unfair to care for his sister alone because some war that they had nothing to do with, had decided to take away their parents for good. But over time, he matured. He understood the sacrifice they had made for him and his sister. And he understood his sister¡¯s sacrifice for him. And so, despite relating to these undead Nightmares surrounding him, desperately trying to end his life, he couldn¡¯t give them that wish. Nor did he have the time to grant them their deaths. Frein cleaved his way through the pack, unperturbed by their attacks. Easy, was not the word he would use. Some of them grouped up in teams to make their obstruction more difficult to pass through. Some of them attacked relentlessly. Some of them even served as fodder to find an advantage. The Visitor forced his way, piercing through obstacles, withstanding attacks, and shrugging off anyone who tried to stop him. It didn¡¯t take him long to reach Alphazzel. The faunel, bewildered by Frein¡¯s appearance, had transported Smyl to wherever their hideout was. The portal behind him closed. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to run away, are you?¡± Frein asked, noting that his adversary had a clear chance to escape but chose not to. ¡°Are you sure you have the time to worry about me?¡± Alphazzel asked in return. He found his confidence, curving his lips into a smug grin. Before Frein could completely close the gap, the faunel formed a barrier in between them. A forcefield, one meant to return a strike with double the strength. The Visitor punched it lightly, just to confirm. It was an odd move, all things considered. Sending Smyl away but not himself at the same time, simply meant some conditions hadn¡¯t been met.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°You can¡¯t afford to transport yourself,¡± Frein exposited calmly. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re trying to buy time. Do you really think this flimsy shield can stop me?¡± ¡°Be my guest, Visitor,¡± Alphazzel said, his confidence unwavering. ¡°It¡¯s your life on the line. If you don¡¯t destroy this shield in a single strike, you might lose more than just a limb or two. And don¡¯t forget those monsters behind you.¡± Frein could sense the undead heroes gathering behind him. The cause of the faunel¡¯s smile. Not to mention the gathering Nightmares coming from the Nightmare Signs of the Incursion. Darkness had enveloped Befall once more, and all sorts of monsters surrounded them. But Alphazzel misunderstood something. ¡°Let me ask you something, faunel,¡± Frein started, leaning on the shield with a smug look. He could feel it push back, but without enough force, it didn¡¯t really bother him. ¡°You rely on Destiny too much, don¡¯t you?¡± Alphazzel¡¯s face contorted, but not enough to take away his smile. Frein continued. ¡°You see a future of yourself after your fight here. That¡¯s why you¡¯re so confident you can live through this. But you¡¯ve never seen this part of Destiny, haven¡¯t you? Me standing in front of you after absorbing a Fragment of Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Core. You haven¡¯t seen the outcome of this fight. And yet, you still believe that there¡¯s a future for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Alphazzel spat. ¡°Of course there¡¯s a future for me. My Destiny continues because yours ends here! I don¡¯t need to see the outcome of our fight. That¡¯s already evident.¡± Frein drove a fist into the forcefield. Immediately, it resonated, sending a feedback twice as strong. In the same instance, he doubled his strength, forcing the reverberation back. In response, the barrier did the same. It went on in rapid succession until his fist pushed through the protected space, sending ripples into the shield. And then he pulled back, using Siffera to strengthen his arm and protect it from getting ripped off. Alphazzel was speechless. The faunel knew he wasn¡¯t even trying. ¡°You don¡¯t have the time to break my shield,¡± he said, faking his confidence. Frein could read him like a book, could see him grasping at straws. ¡°They¡¯ll eat you alive if you keep ignoring them!¡± The Visitor couldn¡¯t help but laugh. It was the most comical ¡®look behind you¡¯ phrase he had ever heard. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking!¡± Alphazzel screamed. ¡°That¡¯s fine by me, Visitor. Go ahead and die!¡± ¡°You serious?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Did you really forget the people I¡¯m with?¡± ¡°Juudai-Katastro-Diferenfra!¡± A thousand sword slashes followed by a thousand explosions covered the entirety of Befall. Then the Nightmares were gone. Even the undead heroes. Alphazzel¡¯s face froze in disbelief, his eyebrows unable to frown as he tried to find an explanation. Frein ignored him. Katherine, with her shining, beautiful white hair, appeared beside him, breathing heavily. Signs of Art fatigue caused smoke to rise from her back. But she was still Gathering and Milling. ¡°Took you longer than fifteen minutes,¡± Frein commented. ¡°Well, excuse me for making sure Kristel and the others are safe first,¡± Katherine bit back. She shot a glare towards Alphazzel. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°He¡¯s playing hard to get,¡± Frein said. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better. How long do you have left?¡± ¡°Fifteen minutes, give or take.¡± Katherine returned her attention towards the faunel. She looked like she was about to beg, but they all knew Alphazzel wouldn¡¯t give up his life. She shook her head and faced the Nightmare Signs that survived her ambush. ¡°I believe in you, Frein,¡± she said. ¡°But please don¡¯t drag it until the last second.¡± Katherine left without waiting for a response. ¡°She¡¯s right, Frein,¡± Elizzel followed. ¡°We don¡¯t want to lose you.¡± Frein sighed, standing in front of the faunel¡¯s forcefield. ¡°You heard her. I¡¯ve spent all the time I can to convince you, Alphazzel. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t wait until you can redeem yourself.¡± Without waiting for the faunel¡¯s response, Frein stepped closer, letting the bend of his fingers touch the shield. He positioned himself sideways, relaxing his entire body as he steadied his breath. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing?¡± Alphazzel asked. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen anything like this before, Alphazzel,¡± he said as he emphasized Godai-Siffera and Ferrocefra to their utmost capacity. Frein felt an odd sensation. Someone else was looking at him. In fact, there were many of them observing him blatantly from different directions. The most peculiar of them all was someone from above. Not above the clouds or the skies, though there were others from there. No. It was a presence far beyond the atmosphere. Frein was confident he could point out Schrodie from any of those onlookers, but he found none of her presence. So he shrugged them off. There was no time to hesitate. In his moment of distraction, Alphazzel pulled one, final, desperate move and tried to freeze the meiyal around Frein. The faunel had forgotten how fast and absurd the Visitor was when it came to Gathering and Milling meiyal. Much to his surprise, his Weave fizzled out. Frein pushed off the ground, converting the force into precise torque. At the same motion, he closed his fist and delivered a devastating one-inch punch. Alphazzel¡¯s shield bent from the sudden force before shattering like glass. Then Ferrocefra sparked. White was all there was for an instant. Frein, unaffected by the blinding light, saw everything beyond his punch disintegrate into nothing. The Nightmares, the rotten trees, the Signs, the ruins, gone. Even a mountain cradling Befall had its peak scraped away, then the clouds far above were torn asunder. ¡°What in Brymeia¡¯s name happened?¡± Katherine said, approaching from behind him. Her eyes were in awe at the destruction before them. ¡°Was that a Deitar Art?¡± Frein turned to see that she had finished her own task, getting rid of the Signs on her end of the Incursion. Once again, they had prevented the disaster from expanding further. ¡°We¡¯re not done,¡± he said, ignoring the question. He wasn¡¯t exactly sure what had happened either. The amount of power he had unleashed had been exponentially more destructive than he had anticipated. ¡°Go get the others. I need to finish things with Alphazzel before he fully recovers.¡± Katherine only gave a short stare before deciding not to insist on helping out. Frein could see her anxiety, despite how much she tried to hide it. The Visitor walked, dropping down onto the land he had devastated. There, lying on the carved dirt ground, was Alphazzel. The entirety of his torso and everything below it was gone. His right shoulder was still intact, connected to his neck that barely held what remained of his head. The faunel turned towards him. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to go that far,¡± he said, trying to sound sarcastic. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see the day¡­ where a faunel would die by sheer brute force.¡± ¡°Your Destiny didn¡¯t see it,¡± Frein said. ¡°No. Not until before you punched my shield. You¡¯re a Contradiction. It¡¯s your job to convince Destiny of a different possibility. I wouldn¡¯t have the foresight to see whether you succeeded or not. I only record the past, not the future.¡± Frein kneeled beside the faunel and held a hand over his head. ¡°It was well fought, Alphazzel,¡± he began. ¡°I¡¯ve never had to exert myself this much in a fight before. Now, it¡¯s time you and your mother have that heart-to-heart talk.¡± Alphazzel stared in disgust, before giving up with a sigh. ¡°Fine. You won. You get to call the shots. Just don¡¯t blame me for what happens after.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Frein said with a smile. ¡°I can take care of it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to like this, am I?¡± Elizzel said, sighing as well. ¡°Let¡¯s get it over with.¡± With a hefty investment of his will, Frein Gathered Alphazzel into his Mind Palace. Chapter 204: Honor of the Lost Honor of the Lost
¡±There will be no one to record my defeat. But I will acknowledge it, nonetheless.¡± ~Alphazzel, Faunel of History and Disasters
Frein was surprised to see Alphazzel still in his overly aged Tryvinal form. Cleaner now, but his beard, along with his comically long braid, made him look a thousand years older. And wiser. Not to mention, the faunel¡¯s silent and stoic expression dispelled most of his malevolent antics. He simply stood there by the foyer of Frein¡¯s Mind Palace, observing a canvas painting by itself. ¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± Frein said. ¡°A loser has no right to speak ill of the victor,¡± Alphazzel said. He finished at that, though his expression indicated more words that had been stifled by his self-control. ¡°Fair enough,¡± the Visitor replied, gesturing over to the door across them. ¡°She¡¯s waiting in my Exhibit.¡± Alphazzel stood still, despite Frein¡¯s urging. He shuffled about, stiffening and keeping his hands behind him. ¡°You don¡¯t want to meet her,¡± Frein stated. ¡°But she wants to talk to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not exactly fond of what our discussion will entail.¡± ¡°No child enjoys being scolded by their parents.¡± Frein crossed his arms. ¡°Grit your teeth and get it over with. You¡¯re already dead anyway.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a comfort of a companion.¡± Alphazzel frowned. ¡°Must be a joy being in your presence all the time.¡± Impressed, Frein acted hurt by the faunel¡¯s dry wit. ¡°Where was this Alphazzel back then? Your words actually bite!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the method of attack, that¡¯s different,¡± the faunel explained. ¡°My words then were fueled by my knowledge of Destiny. Now, I simply infer from what you provide. And I must admit, I was not myself back there.¡± ¡°You were roped in by a different Destiny,¡± Brymeia said, appearing from the door of Frein¡¯s Exhibit. She still looked like Catherine, a more mature and serious version of her. ¡°I tried to wait, but clearly, you¡¯re not going to approach me.¡± Immediately, Elizzel¡¯s strong emotions towards her mother became evident within the Tether. Frein almost longed to hug Brymeia just as much as she did. But the self-restraint was there for the both of them, and he wondered if it was more because of him than her. She stayed where she stood. Brymeia, fortunately, wasn¡¯t oblivious to her daughter¡¯s emotions. She turned and gave a smile, signaling to catch up later. Just this was enough to elate Elizzel to the clouds. This time, Frein was sure, he used everything he had on the Tether to keep her in place. ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to answer your questions, Mother,¡± Alphazzel began. Whether he was aware of the subtle exchange between mother and daughter, he didn¡¯t appear to particularly care. ¡°Just let Frein fulfill his Contradiction and let me pass on. I¡¯ve been stretched thin for long enough.¡± ¡°Please, Alphazzel,¡± Brymeia begged. ¡°Help us, just this once.¡± The faunel¡¯s face contorted into full disdain. ¡°Just this once? What? Everything I¡¯ve ever done for you was nothing? From all the millennia I¡¯ve served your Concept, the only thing you see now is my failure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°Of course, not. When have I ever understood what you meant?¡± ¡°Calm down,¡± Frein said, noticing the sparks coming from the faunel, and the desperation coming from Brymeia. He didn¡¯t appreciate the fact that the face of his little sister could look so hurt. ¡°You don¡¯t like your mother, that¡¯s clear enough,¡± he continued. ¡°But the both of you are here to answer my questions while we can still hide from Destiny¡¯s gaze. If you don¡¯t want to reconcile, that¡¯s fine. Just honor your loss so we can all get a move on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I want!¡± Brymeia yelled, stomping her feet. Her angry face was familiar, much to Frein¡¯s annoyed memory. ¡°I want¡­ I want to make amends.¡± Alphazzel scoffed. ¡°After all this time, I don¡¯t think¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Brymeia interrupted. ¡°I know it¡¯s my fault. I don¡¯t have any excuse. I can¡¯t handle everything on my own. I should¡¯ve paid more attention. To all of you. ¡°When I couldn¡¯t reach you anymore, I thought you were gone. I thought I was betrayed.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Frein asked. At this point, he summoned seats for all of them, but the moment wasn¡¯t warm enough to warrant any drinks. Fortunately, they all sat down. ¡°It¡¯s the Divine Severing,¡± Brymeia explained. ¡°Before, the powers of this world were handled by gods. Favors, deals, contracts, Blessings, Curses, what have you. These were all channeled through the divines. My task was completely unrelated.¡± When she stopped there, Frein gave her a look. Many times he had allowed for the truth to slip by, understanding that higher powers involved preferred to keep him in the dark until he was ready. But in this moment, whether he was ready or not, Destiny was not involved. And so, observers from afar were completely out of the equation. Now it was only whether Brymeia was willing to share it or not. She sighed. ¡°Becoming a world, a planet, was the only way to stop the Nightmarish Void from completely consuming my sister.¡± ¡°Your sister?¡± Frein asked. He noticed Elizzel was just as curious, but Alphazzel looked on without interest. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of her. Having lost her command over her own being, she calls herself The Entity now. She was a Stellar, like I am. Before this world existed, her corruption had led to the destruction of numerous worlds and planetary systems. She was convinced that it was for a good cause, that she was getting rid of Nightmare-consumed worlds. But she was wrong. She was tricked. The planets she destroyed were untouched by the Nightmare. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°I tried to stop her, but combat was never my forte. Our battles led to too much destruction, and my conscience could no longer take such needless deaths. I embraced my sister and enclosed her within me, turning myself into a planet while I tried to reason with and cleanse her.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it went well.¡± Brymeia shook her head. From there, Alphazzel took the reins to continue the story. ¡°The gods saw the power within this planetary Stellar, and knew that it would eventually bring life. With mother¡¯s permission, under the pretense that they would assist in cleansing the Nightmarish Void, the connection was made. And so mortals began to wield divine powers. ¡°Eventually, they forgot their initial cause, vying for the powers brimming from the planet in order to make themselves even more powerful.¡± With a gesture, he allowed Frein to process his words. ¡°Meiyal,¡± was his only answer. ¡°Correct. The Stellar¡¯s lifeblood. One that allowed for the gods to create connections with mortals in order to bolster their pantheons. Without meiyal there could be no divinity. Mother wasn¡¯t some stray resource found in the cosmos. She was a Stellar, the source. You can see how such power can corrupt even those that delve within their own Destinies. This allure, the Nightmarish Void didn¡¯t miss.¡± ¡°The gods abandoned their deal with me,¡± Brymeia continued. ¡°They allowed for the Nightmare, the Void Region, to expand, deeming parts of my world as training grounds for their own armadas. It was not until a great seer found my predicament and allowed me to reach my kin.¡± ¡°Great seer?¡± Frein asked. ¡°She goes by the name, Liang. Liang Apocalypse. It¡¯s a story for another time. And not for either of us to tell.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The Visitor observed the two, Brymeia and Alphazzel. Now that they had begun to tell the same story, it seemed that the feud between them had temporarily subsided. But he could feel the friction, still. ¡°Go on, then.¡± ¡°It¡¯s evident enough, I reached out for Zerax¡¯thum,¡± Brymeia continued. ¡°It took many years, but he eventually found me and tried to help. At this point, however, the gods had been scheming against me. They did all they could, even going as far as bargaining with Evanclad, to create a Contradiction, and made my beloved succumb to the Nightmarish Void.¡± ¡°I penned the events myself,¡± Alphazzel said. ¡°But after the Divine Severing, my texts were changed, and no evidence of this remained. Not even the First Monarch remembered any of this.¡± ¡°It was then that my people¡¯s dependency on divine power became a problem. Without powers to fight against the Nightmarish Void, they would have been instantly destroyed. I had to step in and become a substitute, losing my ability to create more faunels. At the same time, it became more difficult to reach them.¡± ¡°So all this was because the gods tricked Evanclad?¡± Frein asked. Brymeia nodded. ¡°In his mind, he was trying to stop Zerax¡¯thum, not realizing that he had caused the bridge between the Nightmare and the Stellar. It was only after he had ripped himself out of Destiny did he realize he was coerced into¡ª¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Frein interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly following all of this, didn¡¯t Evanclad and Zerax¡¯thum start the Visitor Project together? And that was way after the Divine Severing.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Alphazzel confirmed. ¡°It¡¯s because Zerax¡¯thum never died. Stellars have command over Destiny that even gods could never comprehend. For them, they had succeeded, but the Fallen Dragon they had defeated was simply a strand of his being. ¡°It was after Evanclad sealed the Four Sealed Ones did Zerax¡¯thum mention the truth, and initiated the Visitor Project.¡± ¡°But what about these Fragments, then?¡± Frein followed up. ¡°Are you saying these Fragments are from just a strand of Zerax¡¯thum? And it¡¯s this powerful?¡± ¡°The Fragments are from the whole,¡± Brymeia replied. ¡°It¡¯s a last ditch effort Zerax¡¯thum made to initiate the Visitor Project. Now, he¡¯s not exactly a Stellar anymore. Not exactly dead either. He is¡­ beyond restrictions.¡± ¡°So he¡¯s stronger than a Stellar now?¡± ¡°No, not exactly. He doesn¡¯t have a way to meddle anymore. So his strength doesn¡¯t really mean anything.¡± Frein crossed his arms. ¡°But why do that?¡± ¡°Because this world doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Alphazzel said. ¡°Not in a way that you think. There are countless worlds beyond ours. And if we can isolate the Nightmarish Void from the rest, then we can ensure that there¡¯s one less corrupted planet in the future. Zerax¡¯thum sacrificed himself to keep it here, regardless of whether The Entity escaped or not.¡± ¡°This can¡¯t possibly be isolated in just one world,¡± Frein guessed. ¡°The one you contained was The Entity. It can¡¯t be just that one case.¡± ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Brymeia confirmed. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t change what we¡¯re fighting, and what we¡¯re trying to do.¡± ¡°You still want to cleanse her¡­¡± ¡°Ours is beyond Destiny, Frein,¡± she said. ¡°There¡¯s no definitive proof that we¡¯ll fail. But this is not a burden you have to carry. Not yet. Your task is to complete the Fragments, and manifest Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s final charge into reality. Only then will you have a chance to actually fight the Nightmarish Void.¡± ¡°And you want me to do this within the year I have left¡­¡± Frein passed his stare from Brymeia to Alphazzel. ¡°Why did it have to be a Visitor? Why do they have to die? At this point, I don¡¯t buy that it¡¯s this planet¡¯s atmosphere that will cause my death. If this Destiny and stuff can be controlled, if this Contradiction allowed me to survive, why do I still have to die?¡± ¡°We¡­¡± Brymeia began, but she stopped and turned to Alphazzel. The Faunel of History and Disasters, now cleared of any influencing Destiny, faced his mother. Frein recognized what was happening. Despite the years, the centuries, and quite possibly the millennia apart, their ability to converse with mere eyes had never gone away. ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Alphazzel said, finally. Frein didn¡¯t know whether to be shocked or not. He was expecting for this information to be kept away from him. The fact that they gave a straightforward answer, albeit not one he expected, stunned him out of his words and reactions. ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡± Elizzel asked for him. ¡°It was Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s choice,¡± Brymeia explained. ¡°We weren¡¯t involved in the Visitor Project. I told you before that he wrote your Destiny as the Visitor in such a way to prevent others from taking interest. But that¡¯s all I have. If any, Evanclad would have more answers for you.¡± With that, they had tackled everything Frein wanted to know. The time for the Contradiction to be fulfilled, for Alphazzel to replace Frein¡¯s death, came nearer. Brymeia was expectedly anxious. ¡°I don¡¯t mean it,¡± Alphazzel began, much to everyone¡¯s surprise. ¡°It was my fault.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Brymeia said. ¡°If I had known sooner¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mother.¡± The faunel rested a hand on his mother¡¯s shoulder, and immediately she leapt for an embrace. There were no further words. Just two family members crying on each other¡¯s shoulders. Elizzel, who had been on the side this entire time, could no longer stop herself and joined the two. They stayed there for a while, until the time to depart finally came. ¡°I have one last gift, before I go,¡± Alphazzel began. ¡°Aside from my meiyal core, that is.¡± Frein felt the faunel¡¯s stare. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Talendrym Isle.¡± Immediately, Frein and Elizzel were attentive. ¡°That¡¯s where she stored her memories.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Alphazzel said, his voice clearly impressed. ¡°On Day 369 of Monarch Denis¡¯ Calendar, Talendrym Isle, the Vanishing Lands, will appear northeast of Northsnow, across the sea. It¡¯s south of the Oh¡¯strol Continent, and well within the clutches of the Nightmare Lands. It will stay there for three days. After which, your next chance of finding it will be well after you¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Frein asked purely out of curiosity. ¡°I was the one who always helped Eli store her memories. And I always erased my part with Time¡¯s Eye. It was my way of protecting her, in case Destiny wanted to make fun of me.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, I almost forgot,¡± the Visitor folded his arms, not really expecting an answer. ¡°Can you tell us who¡¯s pulling the strings behind the scenes?¡± Alphazzel began to vanish, dispersing into motes of meiyal residue. But with one final effort of his will and sanity, he gave Frein an answer. ¡°Kielmera.¡±
As soon as Alphazzel vanished, Frein found himself lying on the ground of Aderis¡¯ Tower, or whatever else remained of it. ¡°Help¡¯s on the way,¡± Katherine said, lying beside him. ¡°Sam had Atlas Sid on standby just outside the Incursion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Frein said, and was immediately hit by a tidal wave of a headache. He clutched his head, making sure it wasn¡¯t split apart. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Katherine was immediately up, Drawing Samesia. ¡°It¡¯s like what happened with Rindea¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m integrating with Alphazzel¡¯s meiyal core, while finishing the one from the Fragment,¡± Frein tried to explain. ¡°I think it¡¯s the Contradiction doing work, but¡ª¡± Frein coughed up blood and immediately fell to the ground. The ringing in his ears, as Katherine kept calling his name, became a distant blur. Then darkness¡­ Darkness opened its eye. Chapter 205: Colors of the Sunlight Colors of the Sunlight
¡±To die or not to die? I had this question at the end. I chose both.¡± ~Zerax¡¯thum, the Fallen Dragon
The only evidence Frein had to distinguish the sight before him as being an eye, rather than endless flowing magma, was the motion of the eyelid opening. It was an odd sight. Darkness, riddled by the distant twinkling of stars, wiped away as a flaming eye stared at him. To call it an eye was apt, but an infinite wall could also be appropriate. The scale alone was giving Frein a hard time believing such a thing could exist. As if the knowledge that he was staring back into an eye of flame, far larger than planets, was impossible for him to digest. And yet, he believed it. He might not see the ends of the eye, or the eyelid that reflected the stars, he might be staring at a slit pupil that could fit billions of himself, but not a strand of doubt filled his heart. The question he had instead was: Am I in space? ¡°Yes,¡± answered the eye. Again, Frein found himself unsurprised. And he believed that the eye of flame had answered his internal question. ¡°Are you Zerax¡¯thum?¡± he asked. His words did not carry sound, but he knew they were delivered nonetheless. ¡°I was.¡± ¡°Was?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dead,¡± the eye replied. Its voice was heavy, deep, and smooth at the same time. Like a well-aged liquor from the finest of grapes. ¡°Did Brymeia not tell you that?¡± ¡°She said you¡¯re somewhere in between.¡± The eye rumbled as it considered the statement. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong. But to refer to myself in the past tense, for I was Zerax¡¯thum, is the appropriate course of action here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to debate whether you¡¯re still alive or not, am I?¡± ¡°No. You¡¯re here because of the Fragment.¡± Frein crossed his arms while he willed himself to float backwards in order to get a better view of the eye. No matter how much he craned his neck upwards, he could only see the ends of the flame curving out into the horizon. Only then did it hit Frein that Zerax¡¯thum had confirmed he was in space. And then the realization hit him as he tried to take a breath. He couldn¡¯t. But he was still alive. And in a cascade of thought, he also figured out how he was speaking through his mind. ¡°Am I dreaming?¡± While Frein thought the same, the question came from Elizzel instead. He turned to find the faunel staring at the eye in awe. ¡°Hello, Elizzel,¡± said Zerax¡¯thum. The joy in his voice made a ripple in space. ¡°Although you might not remember much about me, it¡¯s nice to see a familiar face.¡± ¡°Father,¡± she said with a deep sigh. ¡°I thought you were dead. We thought you were dead.¡± ¡°I was,¡± he replied. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°This is a little confusing for me,¡± Frein interjected. ¡°Not just the death thing. Everything. Am I just talking to an eye, or what?¡± ¡°You cannot see the rest of me, for I am a Prismatic Dragon, Frein. I reflect light and darkness in accordance to my whims. Granted, this is not the reason you cannot see the rest of me, for I am much larger than you can possibly comprehend.¡± ¡°Put it in simple words then.¡± ¡°How about you simply look down instead?¡± After a pause, the Stellar clarified. ¡°Down is between your feet, slightly behind you.¡± Frein and Elizzel did as instructed in unison, and the sight before them was much more mind-boggling than comprehending looking at an eye of flame the size of a planet. For a moment, they forgot to look at anything else. Much like the unexplainable belief of knowing about the eye, Frein realized he was looking at Brymeia, the planet. Blue were the oceans, green were the lands, white were the clouds, and rotting were the Nightmare. Within the center of it, he was certain, was The Nothing. A black void where the ocean perpetually fell. The lands around it were carved, as if pushed away by an otherworldly force, or whatever caused this gaping hole to appear. If that wasn¡¯t enough, from space, he could see a spider, crawling along the clouds. From where he was, it looked small, but Frein knew how scale worked¡­ Or at least, he thought he knew. Strictly eyeballing what he was looking at, he guessed the spider was at least as large as Central. A glint of light passed through the world as Frein observed the spider. It helped him focus on what he should be truly seeing. Something enveloped Brymeia. Something huge. He was running out of words to describe anything colossal at this point. Frein was only sure it was larger than whatever sphere Admiral Garm had shown him back in the Atlas Sid. He turned to figure out the shape. It was an arm, and over it was a wing. In fact, arms, legs, and wings, coiled around the world. He could make out the length of the body wrapping around it. A dragon¡¯s body. Serpentine in form, it looked like one of the l¨®ngs he had read back on Earth. From there, Frein couldn¡¯t help but look all around, floating away to get a wider view. He didn¡¯t care to know how he did it, or if it was safe to do so. He wanted to see the entire thing. The Visitor saw five pairs of wings, and he assumed there were probably more, invisible to his sight. Ten tails. Arms and legs, far too many for him to count. But there was only one head. The shimmering of the dragon¡¯s scales made it next to impossible to determine exactly what was what. The scale of the head became clear to Frein as he zoomed out. The eye alone was comparable to Brymeia. If he had wanted, Zerax¡¯thum could¡¯ve swallowed the world whole. ¡°So you see,¡± the Stellar began, ¡°I¡¯m not just an eye.¡± ¡°You¡¯re protecting her,¡± Frein said. He saw scratches on the dragon¡¯s scales. And as if to prove his point, the Visitor bumped into something hard. He turned and saw nothing but darkness, until Zerax¡¯thum provided him light. He had bumped into a bone in space. A bone as large as a building. The Stellar was generous enough to give him more light, then he saw the entire skeleton. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°A dead god,¡± Zerax¡¯thum said. ¡°One of the seventeen arrogant enough to steal Brymeia¡¯s power.¡± ¡°Seventeen?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°We had seventeen gods?¡± ¡°Twenty-three,¡± the Stellar replied. He turned around, providing light among the darkness to reveal seventeen more skeletons. Not all of them were humanoid, but all of them were dead. ¡°The final six were smart enough to hide.¡± ¡°You killed all the gods,¡± Frein concluded. Realization had hit him hard. ¡°The Divine Severing was just a cover story. You were hunting them down.¡± ¡°Not me,¡± Zerax¡¯thum said. ¡°Not all of them.¡± ¡°Me,¡± a voice said. From the Tether, Frein could feel Elizzel¡¯s heart skip a beat. They both turned, and saw Kristella¡ªNo¡­ ¡°Evangeline,¡± the faunel cried, launching herself carelessly towards her lover¡¯s arms. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Through me,¡± said Schrodie. She was an empty entity this time. No form, no shape, only presence. As if¡­ ¡°Evanclad!¡± Frein exclaimed, remembering how the First Monarch appeared before him inside Kristel¡¯s Dream Realm. ¡°It¡¯s not much of a shock now, is it?¡± the Gatekeeper said. ¡°And it¡¯s not just me.¡± ¡°Hello, Frein,¡± said another disembodied voice. A woman¡¯s. Caring and loving, as any mother would address their beloved son. ¡°It¡¯s nice to finally meet you properly this time.¡± Frein took a guess. ¡°Mineltha, I presume?¡± ¡°Indeed, I am,¡± she replied. ¡°My husband and I united as one, and created Schrodie, the Gatekeeper. Which lets us appear as both man and woman at the same time.¡± There were too many dots connecting at the same time, and Frein was struggling to keep up. His Mind Palace was hard at work, drawing up canvases to immortalize his memories. ¡°So, you hunted down the gods? With the help of Brymeia¡¯s heroes?¡± he asked. ¡°There¡¯s a lot for you to digest, Visitor,¡± Evanclad said. ¡°How about we take Elizzel for a while, so you can talk alone with Zerax¡¯thum?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not taking her away, are you? Like the heroes you took from Brymeia.¡± ¡°Of course not, dear,¡± Mineltha said. ¡°Eli is like a daughter to us. Well, she was like a mother at first, but then I eventually looked older than her. And with the memories she kept giving away, we eventually had to take care of her. As Schrodie, of course.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go catch up with them, Frein,¡± Elizzel said, her arms wrapped around Evangeline. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, I promise.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Frein said. Elizzel was quick to frown, but he was quicker to clarify. ¡°No, I mean, alright, you can go, Eli. I¡¯m just wondering where Kristella is. I would¡¯ve expected the entire family.¡± ¡°She¡¯s busy,¡± Evanclad said. And as if to prove his point, a large explosion, one that looked like a supernova in space, erupted from extremely far away. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Alright, then.¡± Frein waved the others goodbye before returning his attention to Zerax¡¯thum. The Stellar was solemn. He had ignored the reunion, and had focused his attention towards the planet, observing the spider. ¡°Who¡¯s that,¡± Frein asked. ¡°Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz,¡± Zerax¡¯thum replied slowly, enunciating each syllable with care. ¡°He is a Sealed One, and is very much interested in you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Better to ask him.¡± Zerax¡¯thum turned his eye of flame towards Frein. ¡°Matters of privacy are a rare commodity for those who can see Destiny, Frein. Whether with evil intent or not, it¡¯s not in my nature to spill everyone¡¯s secrets.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Frein conceded. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°Because of the Fragment.¡± ¡°I mean, why have Visitors?¡± ¡°So you can Gather the Fragments and rid Brymeia of the Nightmare. You already figured these all out, Frein. Why bother asking?¡± ¡°Confirmation,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s nice to finally not be rejected for seeking the truth for once.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zerax¡¯thum said. ¡°It¡¯s a liberating, yet anti-climactic feeling.¡± ¡°Brymeia said I fulfilled my Contradiction¡¯s condition. But before I came here, I felt like dying.¡± ¡°You did fulfill your condition, Frein. You will return and recover once you¡¯re done integrating with my Fragment and Alphazzel¡¯s core.¡± ¡°Does that mean I still have my entire year?¡± ¡°If you survive for that long, yes.¡± ¡°Why have that condition?¡± Frein asked, finally. He had been holding on to that question for the longest time. And this time, he wouldn¡¯t accept a rejection for an answer. ¡°Brymeia already told you of a few reasons,¡± Zerax¡¯thum started. ¡°You cannot survive in the world¡¯s atmosphere for long. This is true. You also cannot survive after fulfilling your Destiny and Gathering a Fragment. This was true until Schrodie came up with his plan to invest more of himself in my meiyal system. The condition was also there so that no other Stellar will have any interest in you, not even Brymeia. Interest, in a sense of pulling your Destiny away from me.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s more,¡± Frein implied. ¡°There¡¯s a more definite reason, right?¡± ¡°Two. Yes.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°These reasons will only ever apply to the Visitor. One, we needed to find people who were willing to give up their lives. Not in a sense of helplessness or despair, we were not looking for people looking for a way out. But we were looking for people who were crazy enough to not care for their lives, but care for others. This is a trait of yours, is it not?¡± Frein couldn¡¯t argue with it. He simply nodded. ¡°The second reason was only recent. We needed to find one who would eventually change their mind. To wish to not die in a year. Be desperate to find a way to extend their lives, but not to return to their own world. And not for themselves, but for others. Because they¡¯ve fallen in love with someone from Brymeia. Only that Visitor has enough determination to actually fulfill our cause. Someone who is as dedicated as I am towards her.¡± Frein¡¯s jaw slacked open. ¡°So, Frein. Are you this person? Or do you still truly wish to die after a year?¡± The Visitor¡¯s mind raced. It caused him to hesitate. But he knew in his heart, he didn¡¯t wish to die. He wanted to stay. For as long as possible. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die,¡± he answered. ¡°This, you already know how to surpass,¡± Zerax¡¯thum said. ¡°But we don¡¯t have a god to help me ascend. Elizzel said not all of them died, but if you chased the remaining six away¡­¡± Frein connected two and two together. He felt silly not realizing it sooner. ¡°You¡¯re going to help me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the reason why you¡¯re here, Frein.¡± Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s eye intensified. ¡°I will train you to become a Worldborn. It¡¯ll be a grueling task. Given your potential and ability to learn, I say a year would be enough. Then you must Gather the rest of the Fragments so you can become a Deitar.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a year,¡± Frein rebutted. He knew this was not a mistake on the Stellar¡¯s end, but he wanted more clarification. ¡°Ah, yes. Out here, you are outside of time. I hold the Concepts of Space and Time¡­ Or at least, I held it once. It¡¯s a complicated matter. The important part is that a year with me is a few days in Brymeia.¡± ¡°What about Eli?¡± he asked. ¡°She will return to Brymeia to inform your friends and loved ones that you are in good condition. Schrodie is already seeing to that as we speak.¡± Frein agreed to the plan. ¡°But if I become a Worldborn, I¡¯ll be the strongest there is in Brymeia.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zerax¡¯thum asked. ¡°Remember, long before you were even born, Worldborns and Deitars and gods were already having difficulties dealing with the Nightmare Lands, the Void Region. Even with the establishment of the Order of the Void, they could not cleanse Brymeia.¡± ¡°The Nightmares we¡¯ve fought,¡± Frein began, ¡°they¡¯re just the tip of the iceberg, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°You have not even fought anything comparable to the tip.¡± Zerax¡¯thum turned his head slowly. ¡°What do you think would happen if a Nightmare is capable of reason and thought? A sentient being determined to make your life a living nightmare?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read a lot of things the Order had written down,¡± Frein started. ¡°None of them said anything about a sentient Nightmare.¡± ¡°Who said they were coming from Brymeia?¡± It clicked. But before he could even think of the other Stellar¡¯s name, Zerax¡¯thum was quick to stop him. ¡°We¡¯re not in a Dream Realm, Frein.¡± The Visitor nodded. ¡°Alright. Then train me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a year of hardship, Frein. You might think of me as company, but without your friends, you will feel truly alone.¡± He smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve had worse.¡± Frein might¡¯ve imagined it, but he thought Zerax¡¯thum sighed. ¡°Magnificent. I shall call Schrodie back so you may say your goodbyes to Eli. For them, it¡¯ll be only a few days. But a lot of things can change for a man such as yourself in just a year. Be sure to not forget them.¡± This time, Zerax¡¯thum blinked. For a moment, everything was dark. As if his eyes were the sun. No, that can¡¯t be true. Frein only had to look around to find the actual star that served as Brymeia¡¯s sun. It was distant, but it didn¡¯t have the colors he expected it to have. Bright white was all it was. ¡°They are on their way,¡± said the Stellar. Frein was already distracted by the sun. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°The sun here is pure white,¡± he started. ¡°But in Brymeia, the sunlight changes colors.¡± Frein didn¡¯t wait for the Stellar to answer, nor did he want him to do so. The Visitor observed once more. And he quickly found what he was looking for. It was Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s scales. A prismatic dragon, reflecting light as he pleased. That was one mystery solved. And Frein was sure the people back on Brymeia wouldn¡¯t believe his discovery. He was fine with that. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going to train?¡± Zerax¡¯thum pondered. ¡°You¡¯re not going to just pester me with questions, are you?¡± ¡°Oh, you better be ready, Stellar,¡± Frein replied, his smile ear to ear. ¡°You¡¯re going to tell me everything you know.¡± This time he was sure that the dragon, larger than a planet, made a deep, exasperated sigh. Chapter 206: Those in the Background Those in the Background Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz noticed it when Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s gaze passed over him. Not because the Stellar was lacking in subtlety, but because the Visitor with him didn¡¯t bother hiding his intent. Not that Frein was skilled enough for such a thing in the first place. The odd thing, however, was his reaction. The spider had never been the subject of someone¡¯s curiosity before. Not once in all the millennia he had lived. Yes, even the great Evanclad Irista had never been interested in him as a creature. Only fear. Only anger. Everyone either only cowered before him, or only stood up to him. Not Frein Nivan. The spider didn¡¯t feel animosity coming from the Visitor. Neither did he sense fear, or anger. Curiosity was Frein¡¯s strongest thought. Frankly, it was annoying. How did it get so big? Can it see me from space? Does it weave webs towards space? What does it eat? The laws of physics don¡¯t apply¡­ Well, I guess it doesn¡¯t apply to anything here, pretty much. But even so, that¡¯s bigger than an Oblimoth. Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz gagged at the thought of being compared to such a creature. Sure, an Oblimoth¡¯s legs could be comparable to steel mountains, its head an entire dungeon on its own. But for a Spider In The Sky, and one who had attained the powers of a Deitar, such creatures were way under his league. Thraxzim¡¯gar would be a whole different topic, but such was the case for a fellow Sealed One. The spider, however, didn¡¯t have much time to spend contemplating on the Visitor¡¯s weird reaction. He was busy enough trying to figure out if the entity before him was a threat or not. ¡°Destiny won¡¯t help you,¡± said the distorted figure. Meiyal was blurring his¡ªthe spider guessed¡ªfeatures. ¡°My bond doesn¡¯t exist in this reality.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Frein and his friends call me the Letterman. You may address me the same.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not your real name.¡± His nine heads studied the Letterman. No matter which method he tried to use, through Destiny, Contradiction, or even Meiyal Weaving, he couldn¡¯t unveil the mystery behind this person. It was another annoyance that led to mild frustration. Other than gods and above, no living mortal could hide from him and his webs. Not until now. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± said the Letterman, his voice echoing interchangeable tones between male and female. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to figure it out.¡± ¡°Why are you here, then?¡± Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz asked. ¡°Obviously you¡¯re not here just to gloat about your superiority.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you to not meddle with Frein and his friends¡¯ affairs until they¡¯ve resolved their missions in Talendrym Isle.¡± ¡°Kind of you to tell me exactly where they¡¯ll be.¡± ¡°Even without my help, you¡¯d eventually figure it out,¡± said the Letterman. ¡°I¡¯m here to tell you not to bother.¡± ¡°Or what?¡± The Spider In The Sky skittered on the clouds, circling the Letterman, who was merely standing in the air. ¡°I¡¯ll put you back where you belong,¡± the Letterman said simply. ¡°But it would be entertaining, I gather. Meddling with mortal affairs, that is.¡± ¡°None of them would be strong enough to match you in their current state,¡± the mysterious entity explained. ¡°You¡¯ll only be disappointed. But if you allow them to be unbothered for the next few months, you¡¯ll get an even more worthy adversary as a reward.¡± ¡°And what would that be?¡± ¡°A Deitar Frein.¡± Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz stopped in his tracks. He began to read the possibilities within Destiny. He found the line the Letterman was talking about. A Deitar Frein. But the path he would have to go through to get there was nothing short of¡­ insane. ¡°And here I thought you were their ally,¡± the spider said, laughing menacingly. ¡°What a cruel person you are.¡± ¡°Say whatever you want, just don¡¯t bother them. You were never meant to be freed this soon in the first place.¡± ¡°Fine. Only because it¡¯s interesting.¡± The eyes of the spider¡¯s nine heads narrowed, studying the Letterman once again. This time, it wasn¡¯t to determine the entity¡¯s identity. ¡°How do you propose I spend my time then? You look like a worthy opponent. We could spend the next few months just fighting each other.¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Oh, please¡­¡± The Letterman flared his meiyal, pushing away the spider without even touching him. ¡°You want a challenge, Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz, not death. Don¡¯t waste my time.¡± The Deep Nightmare spider shrugged off his fear as if he was simply molting. He had faced stronger opponents before, so he understood the script. This was not an opponent he could defeat with either brute force or subterfuge. Unless he could figure out how to become a god without a divine sponsor, he would have no chance. ¡°Alright, I get it.¡± Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz crawled away, not wanting to face the Letterman. ¡°Do I have your word?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. I¡¯ll go sleep somewhere. Don¡¯t bother me again.¡± Just like that, the oppressive presence from the mysterious entity vanished, like he was never there in the first place. ¡°How bothersome¡­¡±
The Letterman stood atop a forsaken tower somewhere in the Nightmare Lands. He was past the ruins of the Sky Islands, Su¡¯karix¡¯s home thousands of years ago. Some landforms still floated in the air, now ravaged by the Nightmare and bereft of life. The island he was on was not in the sky, but was isolated somewhere in The Great Sea Dividyr that separated Irista Nation and the east. It was also left alone by the Nightmare. A safe haven created by a Void Mother or Father, but was eventually abandoned by the Order. Now, the haven was slowly deteriorating. In a month or two, the Nightmare would completely engulf it once again. The Letterman wasn¡¯t here to prevent such a tragedy from happening. He was contemplating. The future was far harder to read from this point on. Branches upon branches, interweaving with one another. One possibility causing another that was drastically on the opposite spectrum of potential realities. This was the thing with Destiny. If too many people with high Destiny Adhesions moved in synchronicity, even the future itself would become hard pressed to decide on an outcome. And the people who could read these possibilities become lost in the kaleidoscope. All except the Letterman. He was far more experienced than the rest. Even Zerax¡¯thum wouldn¡¯t compare to his mastery. Simply because he had lived through these realities over a billion times already. ¡°Are you tired?¡± a small orb asked. It floated beside him, nonchalantly waiting for their next course of action. ¡°No, Sam. I¡¯m just reminiscing,¡± she said, dropping the manipulations within her persona. Her voice turned sweet, bittersweet, diluted by the repressed exhaustion. ¡°Ah, this is the part where things get tricky.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be running around, Sam. Your other self might catch your presence.¡± ¡°This far? I doubt it. Besides, in this moment, I would be too busy trying to figure out what¡¯s happening to Frein, or teasing Katherine. Depends on how soon Elizzel returns.¡± The Letterman sighed, turning her attention towards a more productive outcome. There, in the sky, she found what she was looking for. Weaving around the floating islands was the wandering Sky Knight atop a five-headed Forest Jaws. Depositing Sam in her pocket, the Letterman reapplied her disguise, blurring her features and hiding her real voice. In a single step, she appeared before Ashtine. The Sky Knight lost her balance, rolling down the Forest Jaws¡¯ spine before eventually catching herself. That was a good sign. At least, the Letterman knew she was talking to the actual Ashtine. The Entity would¡¯ve stood its ground. ¡°Where¡¯s the Entity?¡± she asked, her voice echoing with both male and female tones. Ashtine had that look. Tired and lost and in despair. The Sky Knight¡¯s own brother had tried to kill her and almost succeeded, an unknown being with mysterious motives was possessing her, and she was riding a five-headed Nightmare pseudo-dragon that had no interest in her. Even for a soldier, these things would be a lot to take in. The Letterman had to be direct, however, to make sure she was well hidden. ¡°She¡¯s in my Mind Palace,¡± Ashtine answered while maintaining her distance. She was cautious, but she could see the gap in power between them. ¡°She¡¯s resting.¡± ¡°What did it¡ªshe¡ªtell you?¡± ¡°Are you here to take her away?¡± the Sky Knight asked instead. ¡°Depends,¡± the Letterman answered honestly. There were many possibilities in Ashtine¡¯s Destiny. Only a few of them were good. ¡°I¡¯m here to help, but only if the Entity¡¯s plans don¡¯t involve Frein and the others.¡± ¡°She wants me to find Thraxzim¡¯gar,¡± said the Sky Knight. ¡°She said, I have its soul within me, and I have to return it if I want to get my memories back in order.¡± The Letterman smiled, but it didn¡¯t show, her meiyal blurred it from reality. This was the best path for Ashtine. Isolated from the others for a long time. Challenges will be on her path, but the Entity would take care of her and teach her how to become stronger. If things went according to her expected future, she would return reaching the Deitar stage the next time she and Princess Kristel would meet. ¡°Good. Then I¡¯ll let you go,¡± the Letterman said. She only vaguely entertained the thought that the Entity had somehow calculated her presence and told Ashtine to lie. Even if that were true, her solution to it would be to simply extinguish the root of the problem. But she chose to trust the Sky Knight this time. This was the best path for everyone right now. ¡°The Princess¡¯s control over this Nightmare will disappear the next time it touches the ground,¡± she said to Ashtine. ¡°Either conquer it or run away from it. Either would work for you.¡± The Letterman turned but waited for Ashtine to ask her question. ¡°Wait! Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a friend,¡± she replied. ¡°But only as long as you keep the Entity away from Frein and the Princess. Don¡¯t worry. Once you¡¯ve finished your task, I¡¯ll come find you again.¡± The Letterman turned back to Ashtine and approached her, placing a blurred hand over the Sky Knight¡¯s shoulder. Hers would be a difficult future, and one full of despair and loneliness. ¡°Stay strong, Ashtine,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t give up. You¡¯ll see everyone again in the future.¡± This time, she didn¡¯t wait and stepped away. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s Ashtine guided and encouraged,¡± Sam said, appearing before the Letterman once again. They had returned to the tower. ¡°You sure that¡¯s enough?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said the Letterman, not bothering with her voice this time around. ¡°Ashtine¡¯s strong. Her despair would be her anchor, and the Entity would value her even more once she tapped into her potential.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Time to head back.¡± Chapter 207: Catching Up Catching Up When Katherine woke up to the green rays of the sunlight, she found herself cuddling with Elizzel. That was one thorn in her chest gone. She slowly caressed the faunel¡¯s hair, pink and luscious and silky. The sleeping girl breathed calmly, a good sign as far as the Lady was concerned. At the very least, it meant that she had returned safely during the night, able to sleep without worry. This bode well for the other problem she had. Katherine turned and saw Frein sleeping. He didn¡¯t move at all from how he was positioned on the bed. As if the only indication he was still alive was the slow rise and fall of his chest. Trying to enter his Mind Palace through the Tether was impossible without Elizzel. Despite being denied, for Katherine, this was proof that she and Frein were still separate people. It didn¡¯t matter if they were one and the same with the faunel. The logic behind it was a complete mess unless she took Contradiction as part of the equation. An hour passed. Elizzel finally woke up, and still, Katherine couldn¡¯t get this thought out of her head. ¡°It is,¡± the faunel confirmed. ¡°Basically, it¡¯s a Rule that somehow acts as a Contradiction against Destiny. The Tether only concerns me and who I bond with. Even if I bond with multiple people, they¡¯re completely isolated from each other. ¡°What¡¯s a Rule?¡± Katherine asked, moving quickly from the topic now that her guess was confirmed. Somehow she felt like Frein, his curiosity rubbing off on her. ¡°A Rule¡¯s a rule,¡± Elizzel said, shrugging. ¡°They¡¯re rules that indicate how a thing works, especially in Destiny and Contradiction. The most common example of this is how gods in the past weren¡¯t allowed to directly set foot in Brymeia. They had to intervene by influencing the natives to act for them.¡± ¡°But ¡®rules are meant to be broken¡¯,¡± Katherine said, quoting a common phrase both from Earth and Brymeia. ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, we¡¯re not exactly strong enough to do that.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s true, right?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°They can be broken, right?¡± From the looks of it, Elizzel seemed to understand where her interest was coming from. If Katherine had understood this correctly, it was a Rule that dead people could never truly return to life. And if it was a Rule, it could be broken. The faunel nodded. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve had an example of that before, Kat. Rules can be broken.¡± ¡°What example?¡± Elizzel simply shrugged. ¡°Zerax¡¯thum, who else? He stepped into Brymeia.¡± Katherine crossed her arms and thought to herself. The answer seemed convenient. The Fallen Dragon was, as history said, a god that Evanclad managed to defeat. From the snippets that Frein and Elizzel shared, it seemed he wasn¡¯t really at all that evil. ¡°He¡¯s a Stellar,¡± the faunel said, observing her. ¡°A being greater than gods.¡± While Katherine processed those words, Elizzel continued, her eyes moving over to the sleeping Frein. ¡°He¡¯s currently with Zerax¡¯thum,¡± she said. ¡°When he wakes up, he¡¯ll be a Worldborn.¡± ¡°What?¡± Katherine couldn¡¯t hold her bewilderment anymore. ¡°Explain. Tell me everything.¡± ¡°Even better, Kat. I¡¯ll just show you.¡± Elizzel smiled and pulled on the Tether.
After a long time observing Elizzel¡¯s memories through the Tether to find out what would be happening to Frein in the next coming days, Katherine decided to take a stroll around the High Palace. She had nothing to do. She kept the faunel hidden in her Mind Palace. Even this early, there was already high activity within the miniature city afloat Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Skull¡ªor according to Elizzel, the Fallen Dragon¡¯s Avatar¡¯s Skull. People were going around the place, but the most apparent consolidation of those busy bodies moved towards the main palace¡¯s backyard. Katherine decided to follow, making sure she was out of everyone¡¯s way while she traversed the hedge maze. It wasn¡¯t like these people were in any rush; they were simply moving with a purpose. The Lady of the Void had expected she would eventually meet someone she knew amongst these people, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to be Frill. The Aria in Red stood in the middle of the backyard¡¯s large platform, directing the flow of the crowd as if she had returned to the role of a maid back in Minaveil Province and had assumed her brother¡¯s main function. ¡°Good morning,¡± she said when she found Katherine. ¡°How¡¯s Frein?¡± ¡°Good morning,¡± the Lady replied. ¡°Frein should wake up in a few days. It¡¯s a little too crowded here.¡± Frill caught up to what she meant, but she returned a gesture that she couldn¡¯t leave. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°We¡¯re preparing for a grand Ritual of Peace for tonight.¡± Frill pointed towards one of the candle racks being set up at the edge of the circular stage. ¡°For everyone who didn¡¯t make it during the Incursion.¡± The Aria¡¯s words caused a fresh and horrible memory to resurface. The entirety of Eastrise was gone. According to initial assessments, the Incursion within the region had been successfully stopped. With Mother Selfiya and her ragtag group of Vyndivalians, with the addition of Venry, they had managed to push back the expanding Nightmare Lands, segregating it from the Incursion. These achievements ensured that the Eastrise Region could be saved. It would take a long time, but it was possible. The terrifying thing about these Incursions, however, was how Elizzel had interpreted them. The faunel didn¡¯t truly believe they were real Nightmare Incursions. And she had pointed out the ¡®bombs¡¯ Alphazzel had used as proof that they were fake. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°A real one can¡¯t be controlled like that,¡± she had said. This only brought more concern to everyone. Fake they might be, but the damage was real. And who¡¯s to say their enemies couldn¡¯t replicate them? Or make more potent ones? Something potentially far more dangerous than the real Incursion? Katherine had retrieved some fragments of those containers, but had yet to find the time to study them. In any case, she shook herself out of her stupor. ¡°Did you see Mother Selfiya this morning?¡± she asked Frill. The Aria in Red was in the middle of giving instructions to another group of volunteers. She turned Katherine¡¯s way and shook her head without stopping her words. The Lady nodded and said a quick goodbye. She left the scene and wandered around, eventually finding herself treading on the edge of a Cloudbark. She was also underneath it, walking upside-down with the help of her meiyal. The story about a colossal Spider In The Sky, a Deep Nightmare, and apparently a Sealed One named Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz, had invoked a certain fascination in her to walk in such a way. She looked down¡ªup¡ªtowards the High Palace, trying to find Mother Selfiya. The way every witness described the spider gave Katherine the confidence to assume that the Nightmare had Nature¡¯s Favor. It was also apparently described as a male. Regardless, it sent shivers up her spine. Despite all they had faced, a Deitar was simply too much for them. A Deitar, a Nightmare, and a Blessed One packaged into one monster. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if he becomes a Worldborn,¡± Katherine said when Elizzel expressed her eager retaliation against the Sealed One. Apparently she, including Frein, had seen the spider from space. ¡°If history¡¯s right, unless he becomes a Deitar, he won¡¯t have a chance against that Velruzen-guy.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to ask him, then,¡± the faunel said. ¡°Zerax¡¯thum might¡¯ve given him some pointers on how to achieve that.¡± ¡°Without a god?¡± ¡°Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s more capable than a god. He¡¯ll be more than enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Katherine sighed and crossed her arms. She stood there, hair covering her face due to wind and gravity. ¡°Alright, Selfiya¡¯s clearly hiding.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°Try Siffera. That¡¯s all we have left.¡± Because of the urgency she had to face during the Nightmare Incursion, Katherine didn¡¯t have enough time to actually evaluate Evanclad¡¯s Exhibit. She had leaned too much on Brymeia¡¯s Embrace, the material this world herself had provided for her. With the pause she had been given today, for she was sure the battle was just beginning, the Lady of the Void finally observed her meiyal-charged materials in earnest. Still, out of the five, just Brymeia¡¯s Embrace and The Beauty of Darkness were the only materials that responded to her. The first material, other than making sure the four godlike materials didn¡¯t destroy her Mind Palace, also relieved the stress of Drawing high-level Arts. Those like Nidai up to Juudai Meiyal Arts had an increasing stress on the body, on top of the required materials, meiyal quality, and skill. Needless to say, it also allowed her to actually Draw up to those levels. Juudai, or up to the tenth degree. The Beauty of Darkness was there to enable Katherine to use her greatest arsenal, Evanclad¡¯s Magnum Opus, Vantera. In addition, it also increased the intensity of her Void Control Techniques. Whether there were more to this material or not, it refused to tell her. With these things in mind, Katherine Drew Godai-Siffera, the fifth level. This was the epitome of the Art as far as research on the discipline was concerned. Even if the Lady was capable of using Rokudai, or sixth level Arts, Siffera wouldn¡¯t provide her with any more enhancements. She had a theory that it could still be improved, but that would be for another time. For now, Katherine enhanced her awareness with Godai-Siffera. She had wondered how and why Frein¡¯s Siffera allowed him to detect some anomalies like Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz, and why her own Art couldn¡¯t do the same. In truth, though, it was never the Visitor¡¯s Art that made him aware. It was his survival instincts alone, reacting to the Sealed One¡¯s interest, that made him notice the danger. For Katherine, even if she could feel the entirety of the High Palace and beyond, she suppressed her range to only around her direct vicinity. At this level, she quickly pinpointed where the Void Mother was hiding. ¡°Hello, Katherine,¡± Mother Selfiya said as soon as Katherine reached the top of the cloudbark. Georgery was there, having a chat. The King Cloudbark Worm noticed the new guest and promptly excused himself, gesturing a silent nod. She was used to the worm¡¯s wide, eerie smile at this point. ¡°Hiding from the people?¡± Katherine asked the Mother. ¡°Just the people in the higher-ups,¡± she replied. She raised her hands, stretching all the way without a care in the world. ¡°It¡¯s not everyday, I get to do nothing, you know?¡± As Mother Selfiya Lunasensia turned, a veil of meiyal gradually dissolved from her body. Her head revealed two white dog ears the same color as her hair. On her back blossomed three tails covered in thick, white fur. ¡°I should mention, white hair suits you, Kat,¡± the canintine, Selfiya, said. She splayed completely on the cloudbark, like a kid playing on snow. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re here to ask some questions?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to catch up,¡± Katherine replied, lying down beside her teacher. ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°Recovering,¡± she admitted. ¡°Years of imprisonment and meiyal starvation took a toll on my body. I had to make sure no one figured out I was canintine. Or else, Alphazzel and his friends would¡¯ve figured out how I was supplying my Soul¡¯s Walk with meiyal.¡± ¡°They were only stopping your human core,¡± Katherine concluded. ¡°My yuma core isn¡¯t as developed as my human one. But I was eventually able to train it. Didn¡¯t have much to do in prison, you see? I had to be really careful, though. Made sure my Delolera outfitted me with a disguise, rather than a battle gear.¡± ¡°Smart.¡± Katherine turned to her teacher. Selfiya was staring at the sky, softened by the green hue of the sunlight. ¡°What¡¯s your plan now?¡± ¡°Help your Monarch recover Eastrise Region, first and foremost,¡± the canintine replied without skipping a beat. ¡°That should give me enough time to train the Vyndivalians. I would ask Venry as well, but I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯s staying with Kristel now that they¡¯re together.¡± The realization didn¡¯t phase Katherine at all. ¡°They had that going on, huh?¡± ¡°A Deep Nightmare occupied one of our outposts,¡± Selfiya started. ¡°The closest one we have here. There was a Deep Nightmare in our control room. You¡¯re very familiar with it: My Lover Who Kills Me.¡± ¡°And when it saw Venry¡­¡± ¡°It took Kristel¡¯s form.¡± Katherine nodded slowly. ¡°Ah. That solidifies that, then. What happens after we retake Eastrise?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to finalize anything beyond that yet,¡± Selfiya replied. ¡°But I¡¯ll have to go to one of the other Sanctums eventually. I don¡¯t have a lot of hope. It¡¯s been years, after all. But we still need to know what happened and if we have any clues to fight this Nightmare. There might be survivors. I¡¯m not exactly sure yet, Kat.¡± ¡°Did you hear anything about Lynera?¡± Katherine asked. Selfiya only silently, slowly shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s alive, you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± In direct contrast to her lethargic movements, this time, the canintine almost leapt out of the cloudbark. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°The Letterman.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Just as quickly, Selfiya slumped back on the cloudbark once again. ¡°It was a letter he gave to Kristel. Lynera, for some reason, ended up becoming Vyndival Kingdom¡¯s ambassador. She¡¯s been waiting in Minaveil Province, but she¡¯ll be here soon. Probably after the Ritual of Peace.¡± ¡°Thank you, Kat.¡± Selfiya turned to her. ¡°I really appreciate that.¡± Katherine smiled in return. ¡°I thought you might need it.¡± ¡°What about you? How are you faring? How¡¯s Frein?¡± ¡°We¡¯re waiting for him to wake up. He¡¯ll be alright.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. That¡¯s good.¡± Katherine pulled herself up with a bouncy step. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll go help with the ritual.¡± ¡°No,¡± Selfiya said, getting up as well. ¡°Stay. You¡¯ve been gone a long time, Kat. Surely you have a lot of stories for me.¡± ¡°Well,¡± the Lady sat back down, scratching the back of her head. She was still not used to seeing white strands dangling in and out of her vision. ¡°As long as you promise you won¡¯t get tired of how much Frein¡¯s involved in these stories, I can tell you about them.¡± ¡°I like him,¡± Selfiya admitted. ¡°I¡¯m glad for you, Kat. I promise I won¡¯t get tired of your stories.¡± ¡°Alright. Let me tell you about this one mystery case that we solved together¡­¡± Chapter 208: Ritual of Peace Ritual of Peace
¡±What does it take to become a Monarch? Whatever answer I give you right now, you won¡¯t understand until you become one.¡± ~Denis Irista
Kristel had been staring at the door for the longest time. The name Judiciary Knight Verdim Solfey was embossed in bronze over the steel door. The office, from her perspective right then, looked more like a prison than the room of a high-ranking Iristan officer. She thought of what to say; how to comfort a parent who had lost two of his children in an unimaginably cruel twist of fate. Verdim had locked himself inside his office after hearing the news of Ashtine¡¯s death, and Smyl¡¯s betrayal. Kristel wished Katherine was around, or even Frein, or even Frill, someone to accompany her to try and convince the Judiciary Knight to partake in the Ritual of Peace before everything was too late. Her responsibility and pride as the future Monarch had denied her that assistance, and now she stood all alone in front of this door that seemed so massive and hindering, denying any entry. Finally, she sighed and knocked twice. ¡°Verdim, may I come in?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not locked, Princess,¡± a low voice responded. Kristel opened the door slowly, its hinges creaking. Verdim¡¯s office was well organized. Books and old records were well placed in a shelf at a corner of the room. A wide office table stood at the center, topped with well stacked papers and other writing materials. Behind the table was a shelf of liquor bottles, two of which were at the table, empty. No wineglass. In front of the table were two high-quality chairs for the guests, while a bigger one stood behind for the Judiciary Knight. The man wasn¡¯t seated, however. Kristel¡¯s eyes panned on the other side of the room, where the swaying of window curtains barely hid Verdim. He looked over the High Palace¡¯s backyard, where the Ritual of Peace was currently being prepared. ¡°Fena died when they were born,¡± he began as Kristel closed the door behind her. ¡°She was beautiful, always smiling, always a free spirit. She loved nature; she even claimed she could talk to animals and plants. I believed she could.¡± Verdim snickered at his own words. Kristel saw him holding a picture frame but said nothing, staying exactly one step through the door. The knight¡¯s eyes swayed between the frame and outside the window. By the sounds of it, she concluded that Verdim knew nothing of his wife being a faunel. He probably also didn¡¯t know that she was still probably alive out there somewhere. It was just a guess. Frankly, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to discuss this thought with anyone yet. And so, she held back her words. Until she could clarify things with her friends, she shouldn¡¯t make false claims in front of someone. Especially, not when the person involved was currently mourning. ¡°We were overwhelmed with joy when we knew we were having twins. When they were born, I think she knew it was her time¡­ She made me promise never to blame the kids, and I tried not to. I tried my best not to.¡± Verdim sniffed, wiping his tears with his big fingers. Kristel wanted to say things to comfort Verdim. That everything would be alright. He didn¡¯t know how Ashtine died, but he knew Smyl had betrayed them. His words somehow said he had pieced the puzzle. ¡°When the first Hollowing Storm came, I searched Fena¡¯s grave. I didn¡¯t find her there. She was gone. I wished I could¡¯ve seen her one last time and burned her to peace myself.¡± Verdim¡¯s grip on the frame tightened, and his forehead curled, showing his regret. A sound of something cracking echoed within the room. This little snippet solidified Kristel¡¯s theory. Fena, if she was actually a faunel, had escaped her grave through under the cover of the Hollowing Storm. The Princess carefully and desperately tempered the desire to brainstorm with her friends. This was not the time for it. More pressing matters needed to be done first. And she was not about to disrespect those who she had failed to protect. ¡°Ashtine¡¯s waiting,¡± she said finally. ¡°She¡¯ll wait for you, until you¡¯re ready to meet her one last time.¡± Kristel met his eyes as he turned to her. She could feel the transformation of sadness inside him slowly turning into demands of justice. His Siffera flared with a tempered rhythm. Nothing close to anyone she knew who was actually strong, those that defied the traditional norm. But she could see him on the verge of breaking through. For someone so experienced and old, he wasn¡¯t anywhere done trying to improve. If only you would stop drinking yourself to sleep¡­ Everyone who spent time with the Judiciary Knight knew he had never stopped mourning for his wife¡¯s death. But things were probably about to change. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, placing the picture frame of his family on the table. A crack on its glass disfigured Smyl¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±
Four hundred thousand and thirty-two had been the last census of Eastrise Region before the Nightmare Incursion had completely eradicated all life from within it. Princess Kristel had asked Frill to prepare candles for everyone who had perished, including those who had helped them in their rescue operation. The backyard had turned from a stage of practice, into a place of sacred ritual. Candles stood in gilded frames, flowers in full bloom surrounded the platform, and a gazebo lined with royal tapestries shielded them from the sun. The Princess, her family and friends, more royal figures, and other authoritative personnel gathered in front of the ritual candles. They all wore something humble and fit for the ritual: formal, nothing fancy, and dark colors. They waited for the entire attendance to assemble in silence before beginning the ritual in earnest. ¡°Today, on the three hundred and fortieth day of Monarch Denis¡¯ Calendar, under the future rule of Princess Kristel, we mourn the lives we lost from the Nightmare Incursion that devoured the Eastrise Region.¡± Judiciary Knight Verdim¡¯s voice sounded far from his usually booming tone. It was gruffer, more restrained. In the middle of the surrounding candle assembly were two unlit bonfires. Kento Valmas lied in one, while the other was left empty. Ashtine Solfey¡¯s body was taken by her traitorous brother. But Maffelyne¡¯s account, along with her Blessing and vengeful demeanor, made it clear that she was telling the truth. They had also found the Sky Knight¡¯s bloody badge on the ground exactly where the Guard Knight had pointed it. While there was no body to burn to prevent the Hollowing Storm from raising it, they would still not leave Ashtine out of the ritual under the speculation that she had somehow survived. It would be completely disrespectful to her and her family. At their requests, Verdim stayed beside Ashtine¡¯s bonfire, and Venry took the side of his stepfather. Kristel had no reason to deny them. ¡°Let the fires we light today guide us towards remembering our loss, and honoring the memory of our departed so that they may find eternal peace.¡± Verdim Drew a flame and hovered it atop his fingers. Venry wordlessly did the same. They simultaneously lit their respective bonfires. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air, followed by a masking scent that made the foulness of it tolerable. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. While the burden for the burning was taken away from her, it was Princess Kristel¡¯s duty to light the candles representing the lives lost. Her father, in his advanced age, could no longer fulfill such a task. They were ceremonial candles, demanding concentrated effort and a fair deal of meiyal before expressing a dim bluish light. Kristel began as the others watched with patience. She nurtured a hundred candles in a single batch while making sure each of them were equally bright. It took her about three hours to light a hundred thousand of them. Lighting each batch of candles weighed heavier on her than Art fatigue. It was impossible for her to reach it now, but the weight pressed on her mental strength instead. The very action of lighting the candles was an admittance of her failure, and she relived it a hundred-fold every time she lit a batch. When she was done with the second hundred thousand, her hands were shaking. Six hours she had been there, going through each candle and rewinding the deaths she could never prevent. She tried to breathe, but her own lungs denied the air. Her eyes ached, and tears kept flowing. Her knees gave in as the number of lives she had failed to protect and save became an etched reality in her existence. A burden that every Monarch must carry. Evanclad didn¡¯t even need to tell her that. Gentle fingers wrapped around her hands. Kristel¡¯s whimpering and constant shaking made it difficult to raise her head. When she finally saw Frill and Katherine¡¯s faces, her whole world collapsed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± the Princess cried, her hands clinging to her friends. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± They embraced her, pushing Kristel¡¯s emotions out of control. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore!¡± she said, her voice breaking. She dug her face in Frill¡¯s bosom, praying never to emerge again. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I don¡¯t want to do this anymore. I don¡¯t want to be the Monarch anymore. I don¡¯t want to be the Princess anymore.¡± She didn¡¯t care if the other officials or representatives heard her. She cried her heart out, and she didn¡¯t care. ¡°Kristel.¡± Frill¡¯s voice echoed softly amidst her cries. ¡°Without you, Irista Nation would¡¯ve been overrun by the Nightmare Lands by now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t save anything,¡± Kristel said. ¡°Frein and Katherine saved Irista Nation.¡± ¡°You know that¡¯s not true, Kristel,¡± Katherine said gently. Despite this, Alphazzel¡¯s words echoed inside her head like poison. ¡°I¡¯m nothing,¡± the Princess repeated. The confidence she had been carefully building, even with the help of Evanclad and his Destiny, had endured cracks during the Incursion. The Ritual of Peace made it crumble. ¡°My Princess,¡± Frill began, her embrace pressing Kristel closer to her chest. ¡°When Liona died, you and everyone being there for me saved me from a path I would¡¯ve surely regretted. And I think, you arriving on Eastrise on the day the Incursion hit made all the difference. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right. Maybe we¡¯re nothing. Maybe we owe our lives to Katherine and Frein. But I believe the very reason why they¡¯re here, why they saved us, why we¡¯re still alive because of them, is because they believe in you. I don¡¯t care what Brymeia told me,¡± she continued in a whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t care about this Law of the First Monarch or World¡¯s Chosen. I care about you, my dear Princess Kristel. I believe you¡¯re the reason why we were saved.¡± Kristel¡¯s mind raced through her memories. The times when Frein had urged her to lead on, the moments when he and her friends had given her courage, the times she had questioned why Frein did what he did. If he really wanted to, he could¡¯ve left when he said he would. And yet, he had changed his mind. The realization came to her like a well-fitted glove, and she began to understand what Frill meant. She slowly raised her head, eyes widened with more shock than realization. Frein was preparing something. Something more valuable than his own life, something very few people¡ªprobably only Frill first¡ªhad realized. She turned to the center of it all. Katherine. The look made the Lady of the Void understand. She kept her expression under control, despite visibly struggling to do so. She didn¡¯t want to admit it. ¡°He left us no other choice now, didn¡¯t he?¡± Frill said. Kristel rose to her feet, eyes looking for the next candle. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t.¡± Katherine scratched her head. ¡°I know this is somber and all, but please don¡¯t talk like he¡¯s already gone.¡± Another three hours went on. Without food, without rest, the future Monarch caved in once again after the third hundred thousandth candle was lit. She succumbed to exhaustion, but it was different this time. She breathed slowly and meditatively in order to recover faster. The other officers and authoritative representatives had lost their patience and had left. The remnants of the Cross Irista, along with a respectable few, remained patient. Princess Kristel urged herself to finish the rest, ignoring the physical exhaustion. She was still full of meiyal, but even with her Siffera exerted to its highest level, the burden of the dead was still too much for her to handle. She lit the final batch on the twelfth hour. ¡°May the lives of our departed forever light our path,¡± Verdim said. The people who stayed repeated the mantra, but Kristel was too tired to even stand anymore. One by one, the people left after they had had their fill of the mesmerizing lights. The candles would remain lit for five days, fulfilling the full week cycle of Brymeia. They would never be used again. ¡°You lost a city a day after your coronation. Some Monarch, you are. Tryvinal would¡¯ve done better.¡± Princess Kristel recognized the man. Malmar Emir, a representative of the common people and first of those who had given their allegiance to Tryvinal. He was clad in a black robe, hiding most of what he wore, save for his boots made with fine leather. Long hair ran down to his nape, showing a proud face unaffected by a scar that ran across his nose. Frill was furious. ¡°Tryvinal bet¡ª¡± ¡°Tryvinal died long before I was inaugurated as your Monarch. His body was under the spell of our enemy. The Tryvinal you knew then, was mere a puppet implanted by the masterminds who want to take Irista Nation.¡± Kristel had no evidence, nor did she see it as truth, but this was the only way she knew how to persuade the nonbelievers to her side without stepping on their pride. ¡°I should¡¯ve known the truth earlier.¡± Kristel made a bow, prostrating herself in front of the man. She tried to stop her fists from shaking, but her own rage wouldn¡¯t let her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I truly am.¡± When she finally raised her head, Malmar had turned a way. ¡°I see. I¡¯m sorry. I take back what I said. The common people will always show support to their Monarch. But remember that we¡¯re always watching.¡± As the representative started walking, Frill stretched out a hand. ¡°Time to rest, Princess.¡± ¡°No.¡± Kristel took the hand and struggled on her feet. ¡°There¡¯s still so much to do.¡± ¡°They can wait,¡± Katherine said this time. She gave a nod to Frill before leaving the Princess in the Aria¡¯s careful hands. Princess Kristel had no more strength to argue. She struggled as she climbed the spiraling stairs to her chambers, her shaking legs forced her to rely on Frill. ¡°You¡¯re returning to Veli Manor today,¡± Kristel stated, but it was more of a question in reality. ¡°Only for a few nights,¡± Frill answered as she helped the Princess sit on a bed that could fit five or six of her. Testra entered the room, lying on the floor beside the bed. Kristel looked at her yuma and weakly tapped the bedsheet. Testra understood and moved beside her. ¡°I think it¡¯s time I take a look at Liona¡¯s Spatiera,¡± Frill continued, fixing the bed and activating the dim meiyal-crafted torches on the walls. She vanished into the bathroom and emerged with a basin of water, and started wiping away Kristel¡¯s sweat. ¡°Can¡¯t you do it here?¡± Kristel had never opened someone else¡¯s Spatiera. She couldn¡¯t even open her own properly until recently. Practitioners were allowed as many people as they wanted to have rights of access to their Worldspace. This was traditional practice, and was mostly used among family members and close friends in case something unforeseen happened to them. Kristel had the rights for Frill, Lor, and Liona¡¯s, and she had given them the rights for hers. They had all agreed at the day of Liona¡¯s burning, that it was Frill who would reopen Liona¡¯s Spatiera for the last time. Two things were required to accomplish this. First, would be the owner¡¯s crystalized meiyal, to serve as a sign of their consent. Second, would be the beneficiary¡¯s crystalized meiyal stored inside the owner¡¯s Spatiera as a symbol of agreement. ¡°It has to be at Veli Manor.¡± Frill finished cleaning Kristel and gave her a fresh set of clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the servants to bring you something to eat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Kristel threw herself on Testra¡¯s side, grabbing a blanket and making herself comfortable. ¡°I want to sleep. Wake me up when you return.¡± There was silence for a while. An eerie and guilty silence. But Kristel refused to look. Gentle fingers moved the hair away from her face, and a soft kiss pressed upon her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re due for a haircut, Kristel. I¡¯ll be back before you know it,¡± Frill whispered. ¡°Rest well.¡± The sound of her door closing made Kristel painfully aware that Frill had left. She dug herself deeper into Testra¡¯s fur, and no amount of the yuma¡¯s affectionate nuzzling could stop the Princess¡¯s muffled cries and screams. Until the door opened again. ¡°Sis?¡± Kristel didn¡¯t reply. She didn¡¯t move. Someone climbed on her bed, and she knew exactly who it was. There was a subtle sob, and Kristel¡¯s sisterly instincts immediately kicked in. She turned around and embraced Scuti as they both cried themselves to sleep. Chapter 209: Those That Care Those That Care
¡±We knew we wouldn¡¯t hesitate.¡± ~Liona Veli
Xiv spent time in the Forge of his Mind Palace. He had accompanied Frill on her trip to Veli Manor and had suddenly lost consciousness once again the moment he had stepped foot on the establishment. Once was a fluke, but a second had been a warning. Though neither him nor the other persona residing within him understood what was going on. ¡°It could be your homesickness interfering with my psyche,¡± he guessed, talking to Liona. While she wasn¡¯t the real Liona, both of them had agreed that she should still take the name. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± was all she said. She had joined him in polishing his Armaments before, but she was in no mood to participate currently. He didn¡¯t mind. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem,¡± Xiv said after preparing the whetstone for his weapons. Benovrymm lay on a workbench. The pair of hammers chained to their respective swords awaited their owner. The whetstone was different. It was a meiyal-charged material he had acquired a few days ago from a Nightmare. Mother Selfiya had purified it for him. ¡°It¡¯s natural to be homesick,¡± he began, taking one of the blades. The chains extended according to his will, allowing for the hammer to remain on the workbench. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not the cause of the issue, I understand.¡± ¡°Are you not going back to Vyndival?¡± ¡°The odds of that happening are pretty low, yeah.¡± The moment Xiv placed the whetstone at the base of Benovrymm¡¯s blade, the meiyal pressure within the entire Forge escalated dramatically. It wasn¡¯t crushingly so, but it caused their conversation to stop, both of them focused on the blade and the stone. ¡°You sure you want to do that?¡± Liona whispered. Without moving his hands, Xiv gave the living alter ego a look of assurance. He smiled, noting her confused look. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to help out more?¡± he asked. ¡°Everyone¡¯s getting stronger except for us. I¡¯m pretty sure they¡¯ve taken, and are taking, greater risks compared to this little whetstone.¡± ¡°What is it anyway?¡± Liona asked. ¡°Mother Selfiya called it Diamond Edge,¡± he replied. ¡°Despite its name, I think it¡¯s a pretty common material. Dystro and the others have it. Even Venry got one.¡± ¡°For a common material, the meiyal pressure alone seems too intense,¡± Liona countered. ¡°Maybe. The Void Mother did say she had never seen so many of them at once. And its effects are supposedly pretty strong.¡± ¡°Like?¡± ¡°Well it adds a meiyal resource for me to pull from.¡± ¡°Oh. I didn¡¯t know even Armament practitioners have that too.¡± ¡°We do.¡± At this point, Xiv relaxed and lifted the Diamond Edge from Benovrymm. Right away, the intensity of the meiyal pressure alleviated from the room. ¡°We Mine the environmental meiyal, which we now know as Brymeia¡¯s meiyal. Then we Smelt it with our own meiyal. We store Smelted meiyal in meiyal layers, which is equivalent to your meiyal marks. Lastly, we use those to either Forge our Weapons and Armor, or to Reinforce our bodies in different ways.¡± ¡°Oh, so you just add more meiyal resources when you Smelt, like when we Mill.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Xiv presented the whetstone to Liona. It had a black sheen to it, nothing like a diamond. But when he turned the stone, the light reflected a different hue, a sort of dark shine within the surface. The former maid took the stone and studied it. ¡°What else does it do?¡± she asked. ¡°Well, it should improve my Forged Weapons in a way that¡¯s not considered an Embellishment. See those, they sort of combine with the Weapon or the Armor. This diamond, however, can improve multiple Weapons.¡± ¡°But not Armor?¡± ¡°Not Armor, no. It¡¯s a whetstone.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Liona nodded and returned. ¡°What sort of improvements?¡± At this, Xiv shrugged. ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re just taking it without knowing first?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?¡± Xiv asked, taking the whetstone. ¡°It¡¯s in the nature of meiyal-charged materials to be mysterious. Most practitioners don¡¯t get more than one. And only those from the Order usually get special ones like this Diamond Edge.¡± ¡°I guess.¡± Liona shrugged. ¡°Well, it¡¯s your body¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re helping,¡± Xiv said, narrowing his eyes. ¡°How?¡± she complained. ¡°Try to get help if something goes wrong.¡± Liona looked like a child who couldn¡¯t be bothered to do anything her parents told her to do. To be fair, she didn¡¯t want to show herself to anyone. If she had ended up in Frill¡¯s body, she would¡¯ve done her best to hide until the last possible moment. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯ll happen,¡± Xiv began. ¡°But in the worst case scenario, I need you to try and call for help.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to do that.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll think of something.¡± The former Lord Knight now turned Royal Knight placed the whetstone in position once again. And once more, the meiyal pressure around the room became heavy. ¡°You¡¯re really going to put this on luck?¡± ¡°We need to catch up, Liona,¡± Xiv said, admitting his weakness. ¡°Your sister is destined for great things. I want us to be beside her when that happens.¡± Without waiting for another word, he ran the Diamond Edge along Benovrymm¡¯s blade. The sparks that ignited on that weapon were dark blue and green hues. But before Xiv could assess what improvements he had acquired, his body forced himself to wake up.
Xiv shot up awake to see Frill looking at a tear in space. He turned to the window to see that the moons had already risen. ¡°How long have you been trying?¡± he asked, skipping all the preamble, and going straight to the Spatiera in front of them. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Hours,¡± Frill replied, not even bothering to check on him. At this point, both of them were already used to his sudden blackouts. He trusted she would check up on him while she trusted he would eventually wake up. ¡°After I made sure you¡¯re alright, I went straight to work.¡± ¡°Am I in your room?¡± An awkward pause gave Xiv a moment to observe his environment. It was definitely a lady¡¯s bedroom, hoisting a harmony of light colors. Plushies of different animals filled the rose pink bed. The smell was nice. And everything was organized. Too organized, actually. ¡°It¡¯s my room,¡± Liona said. ¡°It¡¯s Liona¡¯s room,¡± Frill said, not knowing anything about the alter ego residing within Xiv. She held Liona¡¯s crystalized meiyal. The Spatiera in front of them had stabilized and the Aria¡¯s intentions were clear. ¡°Promise me you¡¯re not going to laugh,¡± Liona said, sounding nervous all of a sudden. Xiv was too curious to reply. Frill stretched out a hand and carefully pulled out her sister¡¯s personal effects. She started with common wardrobes, some long dresses, oversized casual attire, slippers, and more assortments of clothes. She carefully placed them on the floor and categorized them by type. On a few items or so, she would stop to look, tracing her fingers on the object. Liona, then, would proceed to explain in Xiv¡¯s head. ¡°That¡¯s a sunhat she gave to me on my ninth birthday,¡± she started. ¡°It was the first time she ever learned how to make handicrafts and sew clothes. She really got into it.¡± After a while, Frill started pulling out undergarments. ¡°Spatiera¡¯s pretty handy, huh?¡± Xiv said internally, trying to stifle a laugh. The Aria noticed and shot a death glare, then positioned herself to make sure that he wouldn¡¯t see the rest of the garments. That didn¡¯t work. Men had their ways. ¡°Shut up!¡± Liona¡¯s voice turned to squeals as the garments turned skimpier than the previous ones. ¡°If we had known a man as lecherous as you would be looking at our underwear after the real me died, we would¡¯ve hidden those things somewhere else! Don¡¯t laugh at a girl¡¯s fashion sense!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it for the clothes.¡± Frill gave a soft sigh as she continued to rummage through the Spatiera. ¡°Can you give me a hand?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xiv said, ignoring the rampaging Liona inside his head. Frill started pulling out various tools for different purposes. Some were for housecleaning, others were for gardening, while some still were for the kitchen. None were too big, but they numbered quite a few too many. ¡°Alright, I really have to say it this time. This Meiyal Art is really handy,¡± he said as he carried some meiyal-crafted power tools, organizing them by purpose and size. He was extra careful with the fragile looking ones. The clutter was proving to be too much for the room, so they decided to place them outside. ¡°They¡¯re really convenient, especially for things that don¡¯t involve meiyal. As long as they still fit within your Worldspace.¡± ¡°Ah, so there¡¯s a limit?¡± ¡°Well, we can¡¯t fit living creatures, as far as I know.¡± Frill pulled out books this time, old and new with varying thickness. She held one particularly old-looking book. ¡°That¡¯s my favorite,¡± Liona said. ¡°Tell her to open it.¡± ¡°Open it.¡± Xiv said it so monotonously, without thought or motive, that Frill followed it unquestioned. A piece of paper slipped out as the pages fluttered. Frill took it and read. Her eyes moved faster on each line and she began to cry. By the end of it, she was kneeling on the bedside, weeping soft sobs. Xiv gently took the note from her hand. Just judging from the handwriting, he was sure it hadn¡¯t come from the Letterman.
To my dearest sister, Frill If you¡¯re reading this note, then I¡¯m no longer around. I¡¯m sorry for leaving you behind. I love you and Mother and Brother. Please send my love to them. I will be with Father now. The times we share together are the most precious to me. Please remind the Princess to always take her days off, even though we both know she wouldn¡¯t listen. If Lady Katherine should ever return, please tell her that I miss her so much. And if it¡¯s not too much to ask, can I ask you to take care of Fittey, too? Send my love to Minaveil as well. I¡¯ve grown to love this province, and I wish we can stay here forever. My sister, please don¡¯t cry for me. A part of me will always be with you. With most love, Liona
¡°You did know you were going to die,¡± Xiv said, his eyes starting to ache. ¡°We knew we wouldn¡¯t hesitate.¡± Xiv¡¯s jaw began to shake as he forced his emotions to keep still. He was a Vyndivalian knight, his training alone could keep confusion and fear at bay. And yet, this feeling was too difficult for him to withstand. A single tear forced itself out of his eye. ¡°Do you want to talk to her?¡± he asked. There was no response. Not right away. ¡°No,¡± Liona answered. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°Just let me know when you change your mind.¡± Xiv looked at Frill, and he decided that he, too, wouldn¡¯t hesitate. They spent the rest of that night clearing everything from Liona¡¯s Spatiera.
Lynera forced her own spit down her throat. Her travels had been tiring. Although not fully welcomed by the people of Irista Nation, Minaveil Province specifically, a short respite after being through the harsh Desolate Lands and the long, winding Flat Lands was more than welcome. The mere beauty of Minaveil Province, its simplicity and liveliness, differed almost too unbearably when compared to the situation of the Vyndival Kingdom. Despite the wary glances of the common folk, Lynera appreciated their way of living and had wished the same for Urzic¡¯s people. She, along with her companions, Tristan and Dylan, spent a number of evenings under the care of a young and pretty-looking girl by the name of Bennie. She had seemed reluctant at first, but after a short discussion with Mayor Midan Goldes, the young girl had conceded and had allowed them to stay in her inn. She had provided food and rest along with all sorts of hospitality. Lynera had spent each evening trying to talk to Bennie. Though there would be nights when the young girl wouldn¡¯t return to the inn, every time she had, the Vyndivalian¡¯s ambassador had always made an effort to befriend her. After some time, they finally got word that the Monarch had called for them. And with the summons, Mayor Midan had instructed Bennie to accompany them. Lynera appreciated that gesture. It meant that a local Iristan could vouch personally for their good behavior. Whether that young girl could protect them from potential harm was another matter, but this was as good as any sort of protection. A couple of days passed, and soon they landed on Central. There, they were immediately met by Sky Knights and were escorted to the High Palace, causing them to miss the opportunity to fully appreciate the capital city of Irista Nation. Bennie had promised them to give her and her companions a tour some other time. The mere view of the dragon head in the sky was enough to take Lynera¡¯s breath away. Procedures were meticulous, and therefore slow, but she was too busy taking in the environment to even care about it. Spectators, politicians, and other military men and women sent suspicious glances at her and her companions as they slowly walked past the gates. She ignored them to the best of her abilities. With Bennie¡¯s help, along with Mayor Midan¡¯s letter of recommendation, they were able to pass without issue. Then there was one woman. Her hair boasted a black shine with dog-ears perked up in excitement. Another woman stood beside her, glacial white hair flowing down her waist and eyes of ruby red. The canintine issued the escorts and guards to step aside and they finally met eye to eye. ¡°Lynera?¡± asked the canintine. The felintine ambassador couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. And the next word she said were trembling, as if to say it towards a ghost she had longed to see again. ¡°Selfiya?¡± Their shocked expressions gradually turned to wide smiles, and Mother Selfiya almost threw herself that Lynera barely caught the weight. ¡°I¡¯ve been so worried! What happened to you?¡± Selfiya¡¯s eyes examined her from head to toe, and her gaze was magnetized to Lynera¡¯s chest. ¡°You bear the mark of Vyndival. Just like they said¡­¡± The felintine couldn¡¯t hide her own excitement. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, sis. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll have to wait. I must speak with the Monarch right away.¡± ¡°She¡¯s waiting in the palace,¡± said the woman with red eyes. The memory hit Lynera, and she finally recognized Katherine. ¡°Katherine!¡± she almost jumped. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t recognize you!¡± ¡°New hair,¡± said the Lady of the Void. ¡°Let¡¯s go. With me around, no knight should bother you anymore.¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± Bennie, who had been quiet during the entire reunion finally stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here, if that¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°Find somewhere to relax, or something to eat,¡± Katherine said. ¡°My treat. They¡¯ll recognize Enza. We¡¯ll come look for you after we¡¯re done.¡± Suddenly, a huge yuma appeared beside the young girl. She yelped in a panic, but eventually went her own way. As they entered the palace, Lynera commanded her escorts to remain a fair distance from the throne as she approached the female Monarch by herself. There, her eyes affixed to no one else but to the small girl, her felintine senses detecting a charisma and presence worthy of a leader. She found a comfortable distance and bent both knees to the ground, paying her respects to the one sitting on the elevated throne at the end of the hall. ¡°Hail Kristel Irista, Monarch of the Irista Nation.¡± ¡°State your name,¡± said the girl, her voice commanding, cautious, and yet exhausted. ¡°I am Lynera Lunasensia. I bear word from the King of Vyndival, Urzic Lasterfol.¡± Monarch Kristel made a quick glance over to Selfiya, who sent confirmation of her last time with a bow. ¡°She is my sister, Your Highness. A Mother of the Void in training. Our Sanctum was destroyed before she could accomplish her pilgrimage.¡± The Monarch nodded and turned her eyes back to Lynera. They were piercing, observant, and yet somehow, they lack sleep. ¡°What does Urzic have to say?¡± Lynera directly met the Monarch¡¯s eyes. There was only one word to save Vyndival, and in turn prevent Irista nation from becoming the Nightmare Land¡¯s next victim. One word to start the wheels spinning. One word to fight the Nightmare Lands, with or without the Visitor. ¡°Peace.¡± Chapter 210: To Wake Up Once Again To Wake Up Once Again It took four days for Frein to finish his training. A year of his life, unexpectedly given to him, gone in a flash. He had learned much, and had more to look forward to still, but now he had to return to Brymeia. To his body. The first thing he noticed were the obnoxious movements on his bed. Then the sound of something wet. And when he finally heard the moans, he was finally sure that something pleasant was going on beside him, just as he awoke. Immediately, he was presented with a chance to apply some of what he had learned. Subtly, he Drew Siffera, enhancing his awareness. It reached to the point that, even with his eyes closed, he could see the room. Feel it, really. A sort of extremely enhanced echo-location painting a picture for him just from the negligible vibrations in the air. But the real challenge was making sure that the two ladies, who were too busy eating each other, wouldn¡¯t notice his Meiyal Art. ¡°Eli,¡± Katherine whispered while she spread the faunel¡¯s legs to feast upon her. ¡°Kat,¡± she responded in kind, dragging Katherine¡¯s head with both arms and locking her legs around the Lady¡¯s neck. They began to move. Katherine¡¯s arms worked their way into Elizzel¡¯s holes, exploring both entrances while her tongue made sure the faunel was under constant pleasure. Elizzel let loose, grinding herself on the Lady¡¯s face. She moaned and twisted every which way. A hand reached above her head, grabbing a pillow to anchor herself flimsily as she continued to use Katherine for her own desires. The Lady of the Void continued to devour her meal, rising and pushing Elizzel¡¯s back upwards towards the ceiling, pinning her in desperation. She was using Frein¡¯s techniques on the poor girl, stripping every bit of control away from her. Elizzel, with her movements constricted, drowned in uncontrollable pleasure. It travelled all the way throughout the Tether, pulsing in all directions. Frein couldn¡¯t help but feel aroused. He steadied himself, enjoying the scene before him while pretending not to move. He waited for the best moment to strike, deciding on which victim he would take first. The obvious choice was Elizzel. Once Katherine was done with her, the faunel would be weak and vulnerable. It would also be the best way to punish both of them, for leaving him out of their fun time. ¡°No, Kat! Wait!¡± Elizzel tried to push Katherine¡¯s head away, but she easily lifted the poor faunel¡¯s waist higher, preventing any resistance. Katherine feasted while Elizzel squirmed. No matter how much the faunel struggled, the way she was restrained and the pleasure weakened her. Her small form twisted high as she bit her lips, anticipating the great release. The Lady noticed the sign and took the offensive, taking her reward. Elizzel¡¯s moans, sweet and helpless, turned to ragged breaths as she was released from being half-suspended in the air. She fell to the bed with a listless bounce. Katherine licked her lips, savoring her passionate work. And that was when Frein struck. Without letting a single word in, he pushed Katherine on top of Elizzel, as he penetrated the faunel. It was wet and tight, and her convulsing layers meant she was still in the middle of her climax. He didn¡¯t let her rest. ¡°Frein!¡± Katherine exclaimed, trying to turn and push herself off Elizzel, but he kept her properly pinned. ¡°Wait, she just came!¡± ¡°Frein¡­ no¡­ please¡­ so¡­ good¡­¡± Elizzel squealed in between grunts and moans. She was too weak to resist, especially with Katherine unintentionally keeping her pinned. He didn¡¯t listen as he kept pushing himself in and out of a squirming Elizzel. She was in a world of pleasure, face overwhelmed by a sensation only reachable by the insistent and repeated climaxes. A smile, bitten, rhythmically moving up and down. Her growling, struggling moans echoed relentlessly without care if anyone else could hear. The rest of her body was relaxed, unable to fight back anymore. She accepted whatever sort of abuse she was taking with pleasure, her insides tightening and relaxing in rhythm. Katherine eventually stopped complaining, enamored by the completely dominated and drained creature in front of her. She could not help but assault her lips, pushing in her tongue and forcing the faunel to drink her saliva. Unlike the rough, uncontrolled movements coming from Frein, she did her deepest kiss affectionately, carefully, observing the wild reactions Elizzel absentmindedly gave. Frein felt the electrifying sensation and pulled out at the last second, showering the two women with his essence. The two began to relax, specifically Katherine, who wiped a dab of semen from her ass with a finger and placed it affectionately in front of Elizzel¡¯s lips. She slowly pushed the wet finger down the faunel¡¯s mouth, letting her suck on it like a child. That was when Frein was reminded that this was supposed to be a punishment. He went back to work, feeding his sexual desires with Siffera and running it through the Tether, but he specifically didn¡¯t let Elizzel recover from it. He went back in, assaulting her small frame. Even as she started to convulse violently from the pleasure, he didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Frein, she¡¯s no longer conscious,¡± Katherine said, her words laced with jealousy. She was no longer pinned down, but she still stayed on top of Elizzel, still continuing her lovely deep kisses. ¡°I¡¯m right here. I can take you.¡± The Lady of the Void raised her ass, showing Frein a treasure to take his attention away from the faunel. This time, Frein pushed his Siffera to stir Elizzel awake, but only to keep her consciousness drowned in this painful pleasure. But he didn¡¯t ignore Katherine¡¯s ass. He pressed his face upon it and started licking everywhere. Stolen story; please report. Hours passed by. Elizzel was kneeling on the floor, leaning in between Frein¡¯s legs. She was busy doing clean up duty, lethargically running her tongue along his hard, still energetic, member. Katherine was slumped over his shoulder, her lips just barely reaching his for a deep kiss. They were completely spent, Frein observed. And he was running totally on Siffera. He imagined he would¡¯ve been unable to keep up with those two without it. ¡°I still have much to go,¡± he bluffed. ¡°A year without sex is just pure punishment.¡± Katherine smiled, though lazily. She completely lost all energy and fell on the bed. Eyes closed, she began to whisper, ¡°Welcome back, Frein.¡± ¡°Frein,¡± Elizzel said, looking up through the massiveness on her face. She used a hand to nurture it, going up and down while her tongue played with his balls. ¡°It¡¯s all clean. Can we go again?¡± Frein spent the rest of that night making up for lost time. He didn¡¯t care if either of them fell asleep, using them for his and their pleasures despite their tiredness. For them, it had been only days, but he had spent an entire year completely abstaining from any of his desires. Hunger could wait. He was busy feasting on something else. And they gladly offered themselves to him.
Greenday, break of dawn. After spending an entire day in their room taking pleasure in each other¡¯s bodies, Frein, Katherine, and Elizzel finally decided to talk about catching up. He ushered them onto the highest patch of cloudbark atop the High Palace. Georgery was there, but after a minute of explaining about privacy, he left them alone. When Enza finally caught up, he began to explain the situation. ¡°Basically, as long as you¡¯re Tethered to Eli, Kat, you¡¯re also now a Worldborn.¡± He didn¡¯t know exactly where to start, so he just went straight to the most important part. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like a Worldborn,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m veiling my Stellar Meiyal.¡± He scratched his head. ¡°It still sounds a little cringe. Can¡¯t get used to it.¡± ¡°Stellar Meiyal?¡± Elizzel asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of that sort of thing, even way back in history.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a recent name Zerax¡¯thum came up with,¡± he explained. ¡°When the gods allowed for a practitioner to become a Worldborn¡ªnot Deitar, that¡¯s a different case¡ªthey imbued a small portion of Divine Meiyal in their system to allow them to ascend. Since mine came from a Stellar, he didn¡¯t want to be grouped up with the gods. For the record, Deitars are Worldborns that bind their Destiny to a god. That¡¯s the difference.¡± ¡°Can you show us, then?" ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s why we¡¯re up here.¡± He crossed his arms and looked around. ¡°We¡¯re waiting for one more, however.¡± ¡°One more?¡± Katherine asked. ¡°Kristel?¡± ¡°Scuti,¡± Frein replied. ¡°My student.¡± ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t keen on taking students?¡± Katherine¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re not planning something perverted, are you? Eli, I can understand, but this is a young princess we¡¯re talking about.¡± Frein raised his eyebrows. ¡°I think the first thing you should say is that you don¡¯t want me loving anyone else.¡± ¡°You play with my heart, Frein.¡± Katherine turned away, eyes closed and arms crossed. ¡°Do you have any idea what sort of hoops I had to go through to accept our kind of relationship? We¡¯re not even talking about your inevitable death here. Once you become a Deitar, we can forget all about that. But¡ª¡± ¡°God,¡± Frein interrupted her. ¡°I have to be a god to stop that. It¡¯s the only way I can have full control over my Destiny. But I understand what you mean. I¡¯m not here to woo every available girl out there, Kat. Eli¡¯s the exception here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still here, you know?¡± Elizzel said. ¡°It¡¯s not actually comfortable hearing you two say those things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what we mean!¡± Katherine and Frein said together. ¡°I¡­ I get it! I get it!¡± The faunel shook her head. ¡°Anyway, why do we need to wait for your student?¡± ¡°In case I fail,¡± Frein sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m planning to. I just need to make sure someone can pass on these teachings in case I do.¡± ¡°Why not to me?¡± Katherine suggested. ¡°You¡¯ll be skipping steps,¡± Frein said, pointing towards Elizzel and reminding her of their Tether. His face turned solemn, staring at the love of his life. ¡°And I imagine, if I fail, you won¡¯t need my lessons anyway.¡± Katherine received the message. ¡°I see. Alright, that makes sense.¡± Not long after, Scuti Irista appeared. Before, this blue haired lady, who was much taller than her big sister, would have been out of breath just reaching the top of the cloudbark. However, with training, she appeared not even the least bit bothered. ¡°Hey,¡± she began. ¡°You called for me? How are you, Frein? Does anyone else know you¡¯re awake?¡± ¡°No,¡± Frein replied, signaling for the Second Princess to sit down with everyone else. ¡°As of today, you¡¯re officially my student. And as your mentor, I¡¯m here to show you a few important things about how to become a Worldborn. Other than me, Katherine, and Elizzel, you, Frill, Kristel, and Xiv need to become the next Worldborns. Venry also has potential, but I think he¡¯s still a little ways away.¡± ¡°Wo¡­ Worldborn?¡± Scuti stuttered. ¡°Wait. I haven¡¯t even mastered the Perpetual Layered Milling Form.¡± ¡°The effects are showing now, though,¡± Frein said. ¡°Your meiyal system is much more refined. The flow is smooth, and you don¡¯t expend as much as you need to before in order to get here.¡± He sighed, trying to come up with a way to explain his situation to his student. There was honestly no talking his way around it. ¡°Look. I¡¯m not exactly in any leisure to relax, Scuti. I agree that you¡¯re not exactly at the stage to attempt ascending to Worldborn, and unless you¡¯re coming with us, the next time we meet might not be for a little while.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± she asked, more interested in their plans. ¡°Talendrym Isle,¡± he answered. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it.¡± ¡°Me neither,¡± Scuti added, pondering to herself. ¡°In any case, that¡¯s not important right now,¡± Frein began. ¡°I¡¯m here to show Eli and Kat my Stellar Meiyal. I¡¯ll explain these terms later. I thought I¡¯d show you too, so that you¡¯ll get some feel on what you¡¯re aiming for.¡± The Second Princess nodded enthusiastically. Hands on her knees, she sat up straight, and her eyes were focused and attentive. Her passion to learn changed the mood in the atmosphere a bit, influencing Katherine and Elizzel to pay more attention. Enza was just sleeping on the side, hidden by her Nature¡¯s Favor. ¡°I should mention, that once I do this, it¡¯ll be declaring to the entire world that a new Worldborn has appeared on Brymeia. All the interested parties, maybe even this Velruzenshup¡¯nertoroliz, will know about me. Some of them might take action, some of them might not. What they won¡¯t know is that there¡¯ll be three of us.¡± Even with his disclaimer, none of the people present showed any signs of objection. They wanted him to unveil the secrets to becoming a Worldborn. ¡°Well¡­ here we go.¡±
For a few thousand years, Brymeia had been eerily silent. Once a place brimming with power, the pulses of Worldborns and threads of Deitars had been constant ripples in space. Entities far beyond could sense them. A sign of hope for some. A warning for the rest. After eons of silence, once again, a pulse could be felt. It rippled through galaxies, through celestial clusters, through universes and realities themselves. It reached even the Entur¡¯alovir. Within the dark recesses of this starfaring city, a small woman sat on a mechanical chair. Tubes and wires were connected throughout her spine and limbs, cautiously placed so as not to disturb her extremely long, pearlescent white hair. Ocean blue eyes, reflecting a layer of extremely pure meiyal, slowly opened. With it, the room hummed to life, creating digital tones and manifesting various screens in front of her. She looked at them once, then ignored the rest. With a hiss, her connection apparatuses disconnected. She stood and studied the meiyal in the air. A small curve etched on the edge of her lips. ¡°Wake everyone up,¡± Liang Apocalypse decreed. ¡°It¡¯s time to visit an old friend. And someone get me my ceremonial robes!¡± Chapter 211: Lingering Shadows Lingering Shadows
¡±Beyond the shadows where the Visitor cannot see¡­¡± ~Schrodie, the Gatekeeper
Smyl woke up to a bed he vaguely recognized. The walls of the room were made of rough stones, brimming with Nightmarish meiyal. They didn¡¯t hide the desire to crush him to a pulp, but for whatever reason, they stayed in place and acted like normal walls. As long as he ignored the faint whispers coming from them, asking him to slit his throat, he could consider them normal. If not for the luxuriant furniture of bronze and silver, garnished by cloths of red and gold, the room would¡¯ve fit a dungeon cell for the mentally challenged. His memories cleared at the same time that his vision restored. He¡¯d been here before. A soft cry echoed from one of the two doors in his room. A cry so far away from agony or despair, that it was closer to the sweet, high, rhythmic tones of pleasure. It had undoubtedly come from a woman, who was currently in the middle of being ravaged deeply. ¡°You, take me from behind,¡± said the woman in the other room. She sounded desperate for air, but not caring to breathe. A few seconds later, her moans become more ecstatic. Loud, pleasurable, uncaring for anyone else. Smyl could hear from where he was the sound of fleshes plopping into each other, followed by wet, raunchy noises. ¡°You, come here.¡± The command wasn¡¯t for him, but someone else in the room. A moment later, the woman¡¯s moans became muffled. The noises became louder and louder, filled with grunts of men who took pleasure in the woman. Smyl could do nothing except to submit to the off-hand ecstasy seducing his ears. His legs urged him out of bed and his feet started walking. Slowly, noiseless like a shadow and curious as a cat, he peeked into the crevice of his door. Fellazzel engaged with three other men in a melting display of pleasure. She rode on top of a canintine while a felintine took her from behind. A large, muscular, pureblooded orc was grabbing her head, pressing down her dog ears while using her skull to voraciously thrust into her throat. Her straight, raven hair flowed like a raging wave. The canintine faunel was fully out of it, letting the men use her however they wanted. Her throat bulged with every thrust, her moans making gurgling sounds as spit and tears flowed down her face. Her ass and breasts bounced in rhythm, the skin red with all the slapping and biting that had been done to them. Her arms flailed like loose strings as the men treated her like a pig in a spit roast. But despite the raging frustration welling up between Smyl¡¯s legs, he caught sight of the orc. The brute¡¯s eyes were blank, colorless, and, despite his lively grunts, he wore the stoic expression of the dead. Smyl thought his stomach lurched out of his mouth at the same time as Fellazzel and her necrotic partners reached their climax. The former General Sky Knight returned to his bed in a daze, his urges completely gone. There was silence, except for the faunel¡¯s heavy breathing coming from the other room. After a while, the door opened. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have minded if you joined,¡± said Fellazzel as she casually entered her son¡¯s room. She was undressed, sweaty, and oozing with the smell of sexual essence. A faint shine still lingered between her legs and the edges of her mouth. ¡°Another one wouldn¡¯t hurt,¡± she said, licking her lips suggestively. ¡°You¡¯re a sick woman.¡± Fellazzel smirked, taking a goblet of wine from her Spatiera. The simple Meiyal Art, through the mastery of this faunel, was much larger and smoother when compared to any Iristan practitioner Smyl had ever known. Even Katherine¡¯s seemed pale in comparison. ¡°Those Iristan morals have rubbed off on you. You¡¯re like one of them now.¡± Smyl couldn¡¯t deny the truth of her words. ¡°Well, it was bound to happen. You did grow up with them.¡± She took a chair opposite Smyl, casually crossing her legs closed but not before showing her son her entirety. She took a sip, with eyes urging him to take her, not even caring to get dressed. ¡°You can¡¯t stay there anymore, and you can¡¯t change like we do, either.¡± Smyl fought his urges, but he couldn¡¯t take his eyes away from Fellazzel. The only thing helping him was the knowledge that this woman was his mother. But that was the problem; she had never treated him like a son, and she had done nothing motherly for him except to give birth. Fellazzel on the other hand, had put her intentions as bare as she was. She wanted to take him, but she wanted his consent. Her lips curved into a smile as she shifted her legs and shoulders so teasingly. Her curves were simply alluring, and the perkiness of her breasts openly offered sweet promises. Any other man would be insane not to take her hints. ¡°Do you know why I never Tethered with anyone?¡± Fellazzel started. ¡°Because I love giving birth to children. Those three back there? They were your half-brothers. Heroes from another era. The only reason I agreed to help Alphazzel was so I could get them back from Befall. You have more half-siblings, Smyl. Sisters and brothers. And I love you all.¡± ¡°What happened to him?¡± Smyl asked, desperately gripping on something to keep himself sane. ¡°Alphazzel, I mean.¡± ¡°Gone,¡± said the canintine faunel, shifting her legs once more. ¡°Frein absorbed his core; he¡¯s never coming back. Not only did the Visitor survive integrating with Zerax¡¯thum¡¯s Fragment, he also has two faunels now.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°He asked you to help.¡± ¡°And I did! Why do you think you¡¯re here and not rotting in a dungeon somewhere? I even assassinated a Vyndivalian Lord Knight for him. But that Xiv Arcturus is really resilient. I had to give up one of my experimental subjects for that, you know? And what did I gain for it? Nothing.¡± ¡°He asked you to fight with us,¡± Smyl clarified. ¡°Not to send your goons to do your work for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not setting foot in Irista Nation, Smyl. Not while your father¡¯s alive. Believe it or not, I still love him. But I love you more.¡± Smyl swallowed hard. The way Fellazzel was seducing him clouded his train of thought. The canintine faunel finished her drink and slowly made her approach, like a lover smoothing her way onto his lap. Her hands held his chest, tracing them slowly to his shoulders. She leaned on him and softly whispered, ¡°I can hear your desires so clearly, Smyl. Forget everything for now and just take me.¡± He could feel her pressing against his crotch, grinding so eagerly despite his trousers. Smyl struggled within himself, his desires fighting against his mortal morals. ¡°This is wrong,¡± he said weakly, his own hips responding to her, despite his objection. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, Smyl.¡± Fellazzel moaned as she took his hands and pressed them onto her breasts. Smyl¡¯s fingers dug into her flesh instantly, sending a wave of pleasure to both of them. ¡°You were mine. You came from me. Forget what they taught you and return to me. I¡¯ll make you mine again. I¡¯m the Faunel of Love and Material Things. And I love you so, so much.¡± She pressed her lips against his. Smyl could feel her tongue so eagerly tasting every corner of his mouth, sucking his saliva and replacing them with her own. His hands moved, finding a firm grip of flesh around her hips as they continued to hump each other through his clothes. As soon as he gave in, Fellazzel quickly undressed him and they both succumbed into a maddening exchange of heat and passion. He let his desires consume him, taking the faunel with every available part of her body. From her mouth, her breasts, her armpits, her legs, her thighs, and finally taking her inside and behind and anywhere else he could violate her. He stopped counting the number of times they had done it after ten, just drowning in Fellazzel¡¯s screams and moans of pleasure. He took her again whenever she thought it was over, despite his own fatigue. And in response, she would try to fight back. They fought for dominance through the pleasure and ravaged each other without restraint. Fellazzel was over him, grinding on him, when they started talking again. ¡°You¡¯re mine now, Smyl,¡± she said, her voice breaking into moans with every move. Smyl raised his hips and toppled her over dangerously, her head hanging on the edge of the bed. He penetrated her with all his might, his reckless movements carrying her hips in the air. Her breasts bounced rhythmically, his bite marks so evident that they were almost bleeding. He reached his climax inside her once again, and this time, finally, they stopped to rest. His thoughts flew mindlessly in the air, blank and dazed, his ears ringing from a nonexistent pitch. Fellazzel crept beside him, her hands finding his forehead and massaging him tenderly. ¡°You¡¯re mine forever now, Smyl,¡± she said. She started licking his face. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for you to give me another child.¡± A thought came over him. Something so out of place, and yet it caught him, and pulled him out of his lust, and pushed him into guilt. ¡°I killed Liona,¡± he said. ¡°I killed my own sister.¡± ¡°Your sacrifice, your guilt, they will haunt you forever, Smyl,¡± Fellazzel started. She gave him a deep kiss, urging him to forget. With a hand alone, she slowly guided him out of his guilt and into deep pleasure once again. He reached his climax again, making the faunel¡¯s hand wet and sticky with his essence. ¡°I will keep you away from them, Smyl.¡± He looked at his arm, now riddled with Fellazzel¡¯s bitemarks. They were glowing with meiyal, her way of telling the world she owned him. He didn¡¯t bother to look, but he knew his whole body was covered with them. ¡°What happens now?¡± he asked. Fellazzel took his hand and stuck his fingers in her mouth, the bitemarks shining with meiyal. ¡°Come with me.¡± She pulled two cloaks from her Spatiera and gave one to Smyl. They went out of the room and into a hall of rough stone adorned by meiyal-crafted lights that mimicked torches. Smyl¡¯s legs wobbled and his hips ached, but the softness of the red carpet on his feet helped ease the unpleasantness. At the far end of the hallway were giant, arched doors made of steel. They were brimming with meiyal. As Fellazzel came close, the doors opened themselves and gave sight to what seemed to be a portal. The faunel held his hand, and together, they walked through. People upon people of different races and species were pinned on the walls of what seemed to be a mountaintop. The peak was hollowed out, and meiyal was used to keep the walls from collapsing. The display before him was as breathtaking as it was eerie. These people were still conscious, being barely kept alive by some manipulation of meiyal or another. Their arms spread as if they were kept in place by invisible wires around their wrists. Smyl couldn¡¯t count them all, he couldn¡¯t see them all. ¡°We may be missing one Void Mother and one Void Lady, but this many should suffice for our plans,¡± Fellazzel said. She looked at him and smiled, as if presenting the people as a gift. ¡°Rest and recover. You¡¯re meant for greater things now.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve come, at last.¡± A voice spoke directly in his head. And by the looks of it, it included Fellazzel. The ground rumbled and a thunderous noise echoed. Smyl lost his balance and covered his ears, not even his Siffera could help them from hurting. Wind and dust followed, knocking him over. In the skies above, he felt something move, something more than just simply gigantic. He could see scales on what should¡¯ve been the sky slowly descending on him. He feared the worst: getting squashed by a sky made of scales. Just the simple downdraft it emitted was enough to render him immobile. Then it stopped. The scales slowly moved upward, showing a membrane that moved sideways. It revealed a great eye emitting a faint red glow. It was as if the sky itself had opened its eye and stared down at him with intense interest. The size was indescribably encompassing to say the least. Smyl literally saw himself as a mere speck of dust compared to just its elliptical pupil. ¡°Stellar Kielmera,¡± Fellazzel proclaimed, making a deep bow. Smyl followed hesitantly. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to stand before your presence.¡± ¡°I presume the portal remains hidden from the Gatekeeper?¡± ¡°It took us years, but with our efforts, we¡¯ve made sure that Schrodie can no longer perceive us through any means, including Destiny.¡± ¡°Good. And your mediator?¡± Fellazzel straightened her back and gestured over to Smyl. ¡°My son here will be your guide.¡± ¡°He looks weak,¡± said Kielmera, his voice too ominous and deep. ¡°We were busy,¡± Fellazzel replied coolly. ¡°He will recover in time.¡± ¡°Then the plan continues,¡± the Stellar said. ¡°The Gatekeeper could no longer keep us at bay. Zerax¡¯thum cannot directly interfere, and his plans are crumbling down as expected.¡± From the sky, Smyl could see five or more silhouettes starting to fall. The eye¡¯s light made them impossible to perceive properly. ¡°Now that Schrolima¡¯folordie is no longer a threat, I¡¯m sending you aid to weaken Brymeia¡¯s defenses.¡± The meiyal intensity coming from those silhouettes was easily overshadowed by the eye in the sky. But even then, Smyl could not help but feel utterly inferior to them. Even Fellazzel¡¯s expression lacked confidence. ¡°I await the good news, Fellazzel,¡± said the eye. ¡°Now that Alphazzel no longer exists, I trust that you will not return to your mother.¡± The faunel refused to reply. ¡°Should the alternative be true,¡± Kielmera continued, his eye returning to the skies. ¡°Know that my wrath will not stop at your death.¡± Chapter 212: His Greatest Gift His Greatest Gift
¡±It¡¯s the single, most nerve-wracking thing I¡¯ve ever done!¡± ~Frein Nivan, Worldborn of Zerax¡¯thum
¡±Are you sure you can stay out here?¡± Frein asked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Kristel need you in there, or something?¡± He sat on a bench near the edge of the High Palace. It was somewhat out of the way, but only a minute¡¯s walk back to the main entrance of the actual palace, which he just recently discovered was called the High Citadel. Frill was with him. She was fiddling with something on her MOBILE, her fingers tapping at a certain rhythm while she hummed along. ¡°As far as I see it, Frein, anyway we can repay the favor to you, would be the Princess¡¯s number one priority,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s weird how you still don¡¯t call her Monarch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for next year, when¡­¡± ¡°I told you there¡¯s a way now, Frill.¡± Frein, despite his attempts at reassuring the Aria, was struggling himself. Both hands clasped together as he pressed them on his forehead, as if in desperate prayer. ¡°Fuck, what the fuck do I do?¡± ¡°Can you relax?¡± Frill complained. ¡°I¡¯m getting nervous here, and I¡¯m the one who has to sing!¡± Frein breathed in an attempt to lay down his rebuttals, but when he turned to find the Aria in Red smiling sarcastically at him, he lost all composure and sighed. With a rough exhale, he collapsed on the bench like a puppet without strings. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the heck I should do!¡± ¡°Relax, Frein,¡± Frill said, turning back to her MOBILE. ¡°I¡¯ll be extremely surprised if you don¡¯t pull this off. I mean, you¡¯re a Worldborn now. You practically have nothing to be afraid of.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, Frill.¡± Frein didn¡¯t bother to turn or check if the Aria was listening to him. ¡°When I unveiled myself, Brymeia made a declaration throughout the world. Zerax¡¯thum said, she might have even boasted it in the Great Beyond. Space, Frill. Other worlds.¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid your own people might come after you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a stretch. I don¡¯t think anyone on Earth has any capabilities to reach me here, or even detect the declaration. I¡¯m afraid of other powers looking for Brymeia.¡± Frein whipped himself back forwards, massaging his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s a problem for the future, though. Did you hear anything from Lor and Flimeth?¡± Frill paused the song on her MOBILE. ¡°Yeah. We got a report yesterday. Lor said that Northsnow was unaffected by the Incursions that happened on Eastrise. ¡°He also received reports that the Nightmare Lands were receding on the Oh¡¯strol Continent. Allegedly, a norc found his way across the sea and was looking for help. They¡¯re going to meet him today and try to find out what was going on.¡± ¡°Receding, huh¡­ That¡¯s odd.¡± Frein clung onto the information. It was the only way he could get his nerves to calm down. ¡°We might head there some time in the future.¡± ¡°To get to Talendrym Isle, right?¡± Frill asked. ¡°If Princess Kristel wants to come with you¡ª¡± ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there,¡± Frein interjected. ¡°I¡¯m not sold on the idea of putting the future of this nation at risk. But I can¡¯t say for certain that I won¡¯t need Kristel¡¯s help either, or yours, or Xiv¡¯s for that matter. I¡¯m still considering that.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Frill moved a finger to resume her MOBILE¡¯s song, but decided against it. ¡°So what¡¯s your plan now?¡± ¡°Get her attention with your song, first and¡ª¡± ¡°No, not that, silly. I mean your plan before you get to Talendrym Isle.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Frein massaged his temple again. ¡°We¡¯ll help you recover Eastrise Region first. I think Mother Selfiya mentioned a possibility regarding that. If we have more time after that, then we¡¯ll probably go somewhere peaceful for a bit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s nice. Thanks for still helping us despite how urgent things are for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m helping you help me.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Frill resumed studying the song, and Frein reverted back to a nervous wreck. He couldn¡¯t help sighing every few seconds, and it was definitely distracting her. She was exercising patience, keeping to herself and humming along with her MOBILE. At some point, however, she reached her limit. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Look, Frein. I know this could be the most important thing you¡¯ve ever done so far, but I think you¡¯re overreacting a little bit.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Frein sighed once again. And again, he slumped over the bench. ¡°I think you¡¯re right. But what if I mess it up? What if I had the wrong idea all along?¡± ¡°Oh, please.¡± Frill couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°If you had the wrong idea, then I¡¯m not an idol.¡± At this point, even Frein himself was getting irritated, but once again, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°You survived a war, fought against Deep Nightmares, went through Nightmare Incursions, and even defeated a faunel. But here you are, a wreck just because you¡¯re going to¡ª¡± ¡°Get off my case, Frill. You¡¯ve never done something like this before either.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t argue with that, to be honest.¡± Frill shook her head. ¡°In any case, I¡¯m here to help. Might as well act the part.¡± ¡°Thank you. That¡¯s what I need to hear.¡± Despite his words, Frein broke down into a nervous wreck once again. ¡°Goddamn it.¡± The cold winds of the High Palace¡¯s high altitude didn¡¯t help ease his nerves, and the contrast to his warming face only worsened the situation. He also couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Frill was somehow having fun at the same time. ¡°You¡¯re enjoying this, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, look at the time! The meeting should be done soon. I think I better hide,¡± Frill said, completely dodging the question. She started walking away, heading towards one of the distant trees. ¡°Just¡­ Don¡¯t miss your cue.¡± Frill merely waved a hand in response, until she was out of view. ¡°I¡¯m okay, I¡¯m okay, I¡¯m okay,¡± Frein repeated to himself, grasping a knee with one hand to stop it from shaking. He took a deep breath and pushed it out slowly. Another hand fidgeted around a small, red box. Nothing he did to calm himself down worked. ¡°Hey.¡± Katherine¡¯s voice was too sudden, catching Frein completely off guard. His brain had gone completely blank for an instant, but he managed to hide the box. ¡°Oh, hey.¡± ¡°Sorry, the meeting took a bit¡­¡± her voice trailed off when she saw him shaking. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frein took one final breath and stood from the bench. Katherine wore formal attire today. She had dressed up nicely as a gesture to the emissary they had received while he had slept. Maybe¡­ He shook his head. He was getting desperate. Enza even appeared beside him, trying to give him courage. And even within the Tether, Elizzel was there sending her silent cheers. Neither of them wanted to distract him or make him panic. ¡°You¡¯re freaking me out,¡± Katherine said. ¡°You¡¯re also sweating like crazy.¡± Frein motioned for her hands. ¡°You¡¯re shaking way, way too much, Frein.¡± Katherine spared a laugh while looking worried the entire time. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Frein cursed himself. Everything he had done since arriving in Brymeia, he did for her. Every single decision, every sacrifice, every risk, it had all been for Katherine. And yet, for some reason, he couldn¡¯t keep himself composed at the most crucial moment of his life which everything had been leading up to. ¡°Hey,¡± Katherine said, looking him in the eyes. ¡°Take your time.¡± The way she held his hands changed, sending in some sort of comfort into his uneasiness. Even at this moment, Frein couldn¡¯t believe he still had to depend on her for courage. Frein gave her hands a kiss as he bent on one knee. Almost as if on cue, music started to play, beginning with the soft notes of a piano. Frill¡¯s voice followed next, smoothly creating a rendition of a song she had heard of just a few days ago. A love song that had originated back on Earth. Katherine looked around and quickly found where the Aria was hiding. She struggled to hold a laugh, but her eyes began to water. ¡°This is my favorite song.¡± Frein remembered the first time she had heard it back on Earth. She had cried back then, like she was about to now. He felt a small tug from her hands. She must¡¯ve wanted to cover her face out of embarrassment, but he stopped her. He wanted to see every detail of this moment and burn it in his memory, not just paint it in his Mind Palace. ¡°I love you, Kat,¡± Frein said, pulling out the small box. She started crying and smiling at the sight of it. He opened the box and showed her a ring made from his own crystalized meiyal. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t the custom here in Brymeia, but still. If you¡¯ll have me, Katherine Militia, I¡¯ll give the rest of my life to you. Well¡­ I think I¡¯ve already given it anyway. Will you still marry me?¡± Everything had disappeared. Nothing else mattered at this moment. Random spectators vanished from his sight. Even the curious eyes of Kristel, and everyone who followed her because of Frill¡¯s singing, didn¡¯t matter. All that remained was Katherine, who was looking at him so earnestly with tears pouring down her cheeks. ¡°Yes.¡± Frein felt like his heart was about to give way, and suddenly the next moment, its beats exploded with joy. ¡°Yes!¡± she said again. ¡°A thousand times, a million times, however many more times you want to hear it, yes!¡± Katherine clung to him, and their lips locked together. Frein thought he was in shock, both physically and mentally. He embraced Katherine with all his might, as he cried tears of joy while they kissed until the song finally finished. They stared at each other for a while, and Katherine suddenly started laughing. ¡°What¡¯s funny?¡± Frein asked. He quickly dismissed the thought that the Lady was playing a prank on him. ¡°You¡¯re a dork!¡± Katherine teased. ¡°Corny! Old-fashioned! Idiot!¡± She teasingly punched his shoulder with every sweet insult, and he treasured every last one of it. In the end, she came in for another embrace. ¡°I love you.¡± When they finally got a chance to catch their breaths, and when everyone found where their courtesies went and left them alone, Frein showed her the ring he had crafted himself. It spiraled three loops with neither end meeting with each other. A closed loop meant repetition in eternity, and his design rebelled against that symbolism, giving Katherine love that would surpass beyond the ends of time. A small concentrated meiyal crystal marked either end, while a slightly larger crystal was emphasized at the center. Katherine allowed him to put it on her. ¡°This is beautiful,¡± she said, turning her hand in different angles to admire the ring. ¡°When did you make this? It takes a very long time to crystalize meiyal. And when did Frill learn that song?¡± ¡°Pa gave me instructions back in Atlas Sid, and I gradually worked on it in secret. I had to double check most of the time if I got the size right. As for Frill, well, she¡¯s talented so I asked her to study it last night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s crazy.¡± Katherine looked at her ring one last time, before turning back to Frein. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to make a move so soon after the Incursion.¡± ¡°I did say, I¡¯ll follow through right after, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Katherine smiled. ¡°Thank you, Frein. I love you.¡± ¡°I love you, too, Kat.¡± He gave her another kiss. ¡°Happy Birthday.¡±