《Threads of Discord》 -GRAVITATION- One Night of the Fallen Star Three Days, the Abyss Feasted This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Seven Days, the Fiery Tree Thrived Three Days, the Abyss Retaliated One Day for the Flame to Devour Once Again 1st Fragment: -INCIPIT- ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| The cold turbulent water pierced his sandy beige skin like a hundred knives. He could neither breathe nor move his limbs. With the torrent wrapped around his body like invisible chains, he was slowly but surely pulled into the deep abyss. Then, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. He saw the water around him turn red, and a faint taste of iron soon filled his mouth. ''Too tired...to swim...'' With his strength waning, he allowed himself to be swallowed by the maelstroms. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| "Sam." He opened his eyes and saw a pair of azure blue eyes staring at him with concern. "Are you alright? You looked like you were in pain," asked the fair-skinned woman. Instead of answering, Sam took a deep breath and exhaled. Much to his dismay, he could feel his black cloak drenched in cold sweat, no thanks to the nightmare he just had. "Yeah, it''s nothing, " he replied before getting to his feet. Sam lifted his head heavenward and saw the moon glowing brightly in the starless sky. Under its pale light, the maple beech forest became a place not even the locals dared to venture. Fortunately, it was the best-case scenario for them to conduct their investigation. "Lucy, where''s your brother?" Sam inquired. After fixing her caramel brown hair into a ponytail, the young woman answered, "Rupert went on ahead to scout the nest half an hour ago. He should be back at any moment. I think." Despite trying her best to hide her anxiousness, Sam could already see the frown forming on her face. So, he decided to change the subject, "While we wait for him, perhaps we should go over the report again?" Lucy fidgeted before nodding her head in agreement. She swiftly pulled out a small rectangular device from the back pocket and spoke her full name, "Lucia Nightingale. Open Report #34." The gadget then let out a beeping sound before displaying a holographic projection of the document. Narrowing her eyes, Lucy began to read through the text audibly, "Let''s see. There had been 12 cases of violent murder in the past two weeks. Autopsies on all of the deceased suggest a possible attack by the Distorted designated Lacerator." CRACK! Their heads swiftly turned toward the sound, only to see a youthful man dressed in a similar black robe smiling gleefully at them. "Jeez, I''ve told you many times to not sneak up on us like that," scolded Lucy. The man named Rupert proceeded to laugh, clearly amused by her little sister''s reaction. "You two seemed preoccupied, so I thought it would be rude to interrupt. With that said, I found the nest not far from where we are right now." "Good. Then, we should head over there immediately," said Sam before the elder Nightingale stopped him. "Well, about that. I found something else lurking in the nest -- aside from a small group of Lacerators. Something that is 7 feet tall with no mouth and has people''s faces all over its body." Lucy''s eyes soon lit up after listening to the description given by her brother. "Are you sure about that? You didn''t make it all up?" asked Lucy, to which her brother responded with a confident nod. Sam noticed the woman munching on her lips, a habit she often does when there is trouble. Big trouble. "Problem, I assume?" "A big one," Lucy puts away the device in her hand before continuing, "Based on all those characteristics, we''re probably dealing with the Mangler. Strange though, a Giant Class Distorted usually dwells in ruins and canyons, never in woodlands. Perhaps we should inform Markus first before going in," she suggested. "I''m afraid I must disagree with you on that one, Lil sis," said Rupert. "Dawn is approaching, and with it, the First Raid. We can''t afford to waste more time waiting for Markus'' permission. " Lucy scowled at her brother, pointing out the potential danger of his recklessness. "Don''t be too hasty! You only saw a single Mangler. But there could be more roaming around the area. Even with our combined strengths, it''s still quite risky." Out of frustration, Rupert expressed his feeling, "So what? Are we just going to wait while they kill the towners? Come on! You know that''s not how we roll!" "Alright, that''s enough!" exclaimed Sam as he stepped in between the siblings. "I admit, both of you made some fair arguments. However, we need to reach a consensus." Sam placed his hand below his chin with his eyes shut. A few seconds later, he proposed a solution to the Nightingales. "Lucy, send a message to Markus, along with the coordinates of the nest. Make sure to tell him about the Mangler as well. We''ll be going into the nest without waiting for him. If that is okay with the two of you?" Lucy was, of course, reluctant at first but eventually conceded to the motion. "Fine. But if we got out of this alive," she shifts her attention to Rupert, "I''m giving you a solid punch in the gut." "Fair enough," her brother casually answered. ******************************************** Sam and Lucy followed Rupert closely as the latter led the group to the Distorted''s nest. The siblings still refused to talk to each other even though it had been nearly ten minutes since they fought. Sam felt the atmosphere grow heavier with each passing moment, prompting him to think of a way to defuse the situation. "We''re here," stated Rupert. The trio quietly took their place behind an old maple tree -- their eyes focused on a large gaping hole sitting ten yards away from where they were currently hiding. The trio could see piles of bones and brown slime surrounding the opening from afar, discharging a pungent smell of rotten meat into the air. "Ugh," muttered Lucy as her throat tingled from the obnoxious odor. "That''s a nest, alright," she added, with her hand covering both her nose and mouth. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Sam pulled out an object from his tattered robe -- a faceless white mask specifically designed to protect him from potential hazards such as corrosive acids and poisonous fumes. "I guess it''s time to have some fun, eh?" said Rupert, smiling from ear to ear. "You can kill as many Distorted as you want but do not forget about our main objective," Sam reminded the elder Nightingale sternly. However, his advice fell on deaf ears as Rupert already went ahead, leaving him and Lucy behind. "As always, like a moth to a flame," the youngest Nightingale breathed, "It will be a maze down there. The Crystal of Birth could be anywhere. I bet it will be guarded heavily by those monsters," said Lucy. "Then we just have to keep our eyes open and hope for the best," Sam replied. Lucy could only sigh aloud after hearing his response, "And here I thought my brother was the laid-back one," she remarked before putting on her mask. ******************************************** SQUELCH! "Ah, still can''t get used to that sound," remarked Lucy after stepping on the waxy substance scattered on the ground. What irked her the most was the fact that the same slime was also on the wall and ceiling of the tunnel, occasionally dripping down like moldy syrup. As they went further inside, their mask''s night vision automatically switched on, greatly aiding their navigation into the darkness. Suddenly, Sam raised his left hand, and they stopped dead in their tracks. He gestured at his ear with his finger, quietly telling her to listen closely. Seconds later, they could hear it -- heavy breathing and groaning of a person, a sound they didn''t expect to hear in a Distorted''s nest. "Oh, God. Sam," uttered Lucy while pointing at the wall. A boy''s head, barely a teenager, stuck out of the slime. He was staring blankly at the ground, the skin on his face fractured like a broken mirror. Lucy initially tried to break him free from the viscid prison, but eventually, she realized that the boy was too far gone. "He''s nearing the final stages of Fragmentation," Sam commented, "I''m sorry, Lucy, but there''s nothing more we could do." "I know. Let''s...let''s just...keep moving," Lucy replied. The two continued their descent, encountering more stolid faces along the way. "I thought Fragmentation only occurred outside the nest. What the heck is going on?" said Lucy. "Unfortunately, that question will have to wait," Sam answered, noticing the shadows in front of them began to shift around. A pair of spindly fingers appeared from the darkness, followed by a naked lanky figure with pale chalky skin. Its eyeless orbits settled on the two uninvited guests, the creature''s mouth contorted into a hideous smile, revealing rows of black, jagged teeth. "So much for avoiding confrontation," said Sam, swiping his robe aside to reveal a katana with a dark crimson handle. As a response, the creature''s fingers started elongating into thin, needle-like claws. Infused with a paralyzing agent, a tiny scratch by those claws could immobilize any living thing for up to 24 hours -- enough time for the Distorted to devour its prey. "Are you sure about this? The others will surely notice the commotion," said Lucy anxiously. "We have to," he pulled the blade out of its sheath, holding it steadily with both hands. The Lacerator dashed forward with its jaws wide open. However, before the creature could reach the man, Sam deflected the blood-caked claws with a single stroke of his blade and sliced into the creature''s bony chest. The monster staggered backward as a dark viscous fluid flowed out of its wound, but instead of panicking, a mocking grin appeared on the Distorted''s face. "Impressive," Sam muttered as he watched the gash on the entity''s body close up -- barely leaving a scar. Instead of making another move, Sam swiftly slid the katana back into its sheath and said nothing. The Lacerator grunted proudly at its regenerative ability -- until the monster burst into flame. The creature flailed its arms around, screaming as the crimson fire agonizingly blackened its flesh and skin. "Fiery Edge? You sure you want to be using it right now?" said Lucy as the Lacerator collapsed to the ground, charred and motionless. A brief moment later, they heard multiple roars coming from the deeper part of the tunnel. "I''m guessing that will be the cavalry." "Of course, it is," Lucy scoffed at Sam''s obvious remark. Hearing the approaching footsteps, she walked past her friend and pulled out a blue-handled dirk from her robe. "You''re not going to flood the whole place, are you?" asked Sam as the woman calmly headed toward the voices. "That does sound tempting," Lucy replied, just before five Lacerators came into her line of sight. "But, where''s the fun in that?" Seeing the glistening claws in front of her, she easily dodged all of them with her dance-like movement. Noticing an opening, the azure-eyed woman thrust the dirk into a Lacerator''s thigh and immediately yanked the blade out. The creature instantly shriveled up like a dried leaf in autumn. Lucy cracked a smile as her remaining enemies were bewildered by their friend''s desiccated corpse. "That''s right. Get scared," Lucy spouted confidently. After the four monsters regained their composure, they charged toward her simultaneously. Lucy repeatedly avoided the razor-sharp nails and cut through the monsters'' limbs. The Distorted fell to the ground one by one - their bodies dried up beyond recognition. "Wow, that was a bit...disappointing," she grouches. "Perhaps, but thanks to you, we are probably in the clear," before Sam could finish his sentence, they heard a familiar voice shouting at a distance. "For a short while." ******************************************** The two ran as fast as they could until they saw a faint light at the end of the tunnel, eventually reaching a large chamber with meat-like walls and skull-shaped torches dangling from the ceiling. "You''re late," said Rupert, standing in the middle of the room with a pool of black goo underneath his feet. Lucy stomped toward her brother; her fists clenched in anger. Even with the mask, Sam could picture her face slowly turning red. "You''re a dumbass, you know? I thought you were hurt. Or worse," Lucy scolded her older brother. "Woah, calm down, baby sis. You know it''ll take more than a few Lacerators to finish me off," he retorts. "But, it''s quite a relief to know you''re still worried about your dumbass brother." Lucy clicked her tongue out of annoyance, but before she could smack her sibling in the face, Sam quickly diverted her attention by changing the topic, "Right, how about we take a deep breath and calm ourselves down? If we''re going to find the Crystal of Birth, each and every one of us needs to play our part. In other words, we need to work as a team, which means no more running heedlessly into danger and losing control over our emotions. Got it?" The Nightingales glanced at each other before nodding their head in unison. "Good," Sam exhaled to calm himself down. He then looked over at the other side of the chamber, directly at a doorway -- presumably leading to the nest inner sanctum. "Any signs of the Mangler?" Sam asked Rupert. "Didn''t see nor hear them." "I bet it''s guarding the crystal with the rest of the Lacerators. Our previous escapades must have already alerted them," said Lucy. Sam crosses his arms together and begins to think of a plan. He paces back and forth, grumbling to himself -- till an idea popped into his mind. "You know what? A little chaos might do the trick. Hey Rupe," he called out. "What''s up?" asked Rupert. "Want to stir up some trouble?" said Sam with a smile spreading across his face. After hearing that, Lucy could already imagine the grin on her brother''s face. "Oh boy, this is not gonna be good," she sighed heavily. 2nd Fragment: -ROOTS- Even after Sam''s long explanation, Lucy was still not convinced by the plan. She thinks it was careless and dangerous -- but, as much as she hates to admit it, it was the only plan they had right now. Standing side-by-side with Sam in the narrow tunnel, she waited restlessly for Rupert''s ''signal'' -- at least that was what he called it before he ran off into the darkness. "You know, Sam?" Lucy struck up a conversation, hoping it would alleviate some of her agitations, "You realize we are possibly going against the largest horde of Lacerators we have ever faced?" Sam turned his head toward her and answered, "Yes. I''m aware of that." "And if we fail, we''re going to die in agony, shredded to pieces by those monsters?" she added. "Of course. But there is also a possibility that we could walk out of here alive and in one piece," Sam replied confidently. "Ah, optimism. It is certainly an admirable trait but not exactly reassuring." "Reassuring or not, this same optimism has saved our necks countless times. Surely you haven''t forgotten about the Trappers incident?" "Oh, that," sighed Lucy, rolling her eyes, "Fine, I''ll give you that. Although, I remember we also got our asses handed to us that day. Pretty badly too." The couple''s idle chit-chat was interrupted by approaching footsteps. Sam and Lucy gave each other a solid nod -- before promptly brandishing their weapons and bracing themselves for the incoming swarm. "Oh crap!" said Rupert repeatedly as he sprung out of the darkness with a big group of Lacerators on his tail. "Now!" As soon as Sam gave the order, Rupert spun around with a pair of blue-edged kama in his hands. "It''s my turn now, boys!" Rupert laughed maniacally. Overcame by his bloodlust and adrenaline, the elder Nightingale charged headfirst into the furious crowds, swinging his weapon around like a deranged man. "How predictable," Lucy grumbled. Nevertheless, she came to her brother''s aid, cutting down every monster in the vicinity. Sam eventually joined the fight, but instead of using the Fiery Edge again, he chose to dispose of the enemies with his own swordsmanship. Silently, he swung his blade with deadly precision, decapitating each Lacerator that came close without an inch of hesitation. At the same time, Sam took a hurried look at Rupert who was guffawing like a madman. ¡®Strange,¡¯ Sam thought. Even though he had seen the man in action numerous times, he still couldn¡¯t understand Rupert¡¯s fondness for slaughtering the cannibalistic creatures. Or perhaps his own sense of duty prevented him from sharing his friend¡¯s sentiment. "33, 34, 35," Rupert gleefully counted until he felt someone tugged him in the back. "What the heck!? Lucy?!" The elder Nightingale expressed his surprise at his younger sibling''s unexpected action. But rather than explaining herself, Lucy pointed her finger toward the other side of the dwindling swarm. It was a Distorted that was entirely different than the one they''re currently facing. Dark, throbbing pustules covered the left side of its scraggy body, except for its iris-less right eyes and grimy mouth. "A Bulbhead? Here?" Lucy gasped. The creature was known to patrol the shore and the grassland, never a Nest. So, it was a jarring sight for her, and no doubt, to her brother and Sam. The creature''s teeth razor-sharp chattered eagerly as soon as it saw the trio. Its spindly fingers reached for one of the lumps on its body and yanked it off with a single motion. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good. That¡¯s not good at all,¡± said Lucy, her feet slowly shuffled backward. The Bulbhead let out a hog-like grunt before it hurled the lump in its hand toward the trio. Noticing the flying projectile, Rupert immediately shoved his sister away -- seconds before the tumor hit the ground in front of him and exploded on impact -- releasing a black, tar-like fluid all over the place. "Shit!" cursed Rupert as some of the sulfur-scented slimes got on his robe, prompting him to toss the entire cloak away. He then watched quietly as the sticky fluid ate through the cloth in less than five seconds, turning it into a pile of ashes. Fortunately for him, most of the Lacerators were drenched in the same corrosive substance, and it didn''t take long for their gangly figures to be reduced into a pool of sludge. "Lucky me," Rupert remarked triumphantly. As he shifted his attention to the Bulbhead, the creature was already holding one of the gelatinous bombs. "Oh no, you don''t!" exclaimed the elder Nightingale. Guided only by instinct, Rupert threw the sickle in his right hand, and the curved blade planted itself into the black lump -- causing it to burst, splattering the caustic slime on the Bulbhead''s upper torso. The Distorted instantly let out a bloodcurdling scream as the sludge bore into its arm and head, greedily devouring every inch of its skull and bones. "Got you!" Rupert gave a cackle of laughter until a Lacerator came to him with both claws over its head. Before the creature could slice the man open, it suddenly froze in its place. "I thought I told you not to get too excited." The Lacerator instantly fell to the ground like a mannequin, revealing an annoyed-looking Lucy standing with a bloody dagger in her hand. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Thanks, little sis," Rupert sighed out of relief. "It''s not over yet," replied Lucy, gesturing at Sam, who was fighting the last Lacerator near the burrow''s end. The vermillion-eyed man dodged an attack and swiftly ran his katana through the creature''s chest. Without pulling out the sword from Lacerator''s torso, Sam shoved it against the wall, slowly twisting the edge. The monster let out a grunt; its mouth twitched, snarling in a foreign tongue. "Did you just...talk?" or at least, it tried to. Instead of responding to Sam''s question, the Lacerator grabbed the katana and yanked the blade out of its chest. Sam could only watch in shock as the creature slid down the wall, bleeding itself out. "You alright, dude? You looked a bit upset," asked Rupert after tapping Sam on the back. "No, it''s a...probably just my imagination. Here," Sam picked the kama off the ground and handed it to the elder Nightingale. "Nice shot, by the way." "Don''t encourage him," Lucy jumped into the conversation. "Come on now, baby sis. A little compliment won''t do anyone any harm, right?" said Rupert with a grin across his face. "Oh, don''t get me wrong, brother. I have nothing against a compliment, but we both know you can be a little bit ''impatient'' after receiving one. And, before I forget," Lucy punches Rupert squarely in the stomach, causing the latter to let out a faint whimper. "That''s for running out on Sam and me." Rupert nodded his head before replying, "Point taken." ??******************************************** Despite the earlier encounter, the three eventually reached their destination: the inner sanctum of the Nest. As they anticipated, the current chamber was much more spacious than the prior ones, and it was missing the gaudy skull torches. In their place were massive roots expanding in every part of the chamber to the point it was nearly impossible to see the other side of the room. "Damn, I didn''t expect the Infestation was already this bad," Lucy commented. It was a miracle, she thought, that the nearby town had not yet been decimated by the Distorted. Infestation aside, she didn''t see any signs of the rumored Mangler, which could either be good news or, a bad one. "I don''t think it left," said Rupert as if he was reading into his sister''s mind. He cautiously approached the outgrowths that were exuding a runny, crimson-red liquid from their hardened body. They were the Ichor, or, sarcastically known as the Elixir of Life -- a constantly circulating fluid providing nutrients to the roots. "Guys," Sam called out to the siblings, "I think I just found our esteemed guest." In the middle of the chamber, a giant figure sat solemnly between the enormous roots with its pale and bald head tilted downward. Initially, the trio was hesitant to approach the colossal Distorted until they saw the root-like structure sprouted from its upper torso. "Is it...is it feeding off of those roots?" Rupert asked rhetorically. "Whatever it''s doing, it doesn''t seem to notice our presence," said Sam as he approached the sleeping giant. After a closer look, the Distorted fitted the physical description of a Mangler: a mouthless square face and a broad chest covered with the indentations of its victims'' faces. Then, he noticed something gleaming on its sternum -- a knuckle-sized rock jutting out of the skin as if it was stuck in there by someone -- or something. "Hey, Lucy. Have you seen something like this in your study?" Sam asked the youngest Nightingale, an avid reader of the bestiary. "The Crystal of Birth buried in a Distorted? No, I''m afraid not," Lucy retorted. "Hm, something smells here, and it''s not the Ichor," Rupert grumbled, feeling a wave of uneasiness washed over him. ''So, you''ve come, Children of the New World.'' The trio fidgeted after they were greeted by a gruff, disembodied voice. "Am I hearing things, or did that crystal just talk?" remarked Rupert. "Who are you? Identify yourself," Sam demanded, but his request was returned with a short, ominous laugh. ''An existence, like yourselves.'' "That''s a pretty vague answer. What exactly are you? A ghost? Or the giant sleeping between the roots?" ''This ephemeral body is merely a vessel, similar to the one you slew.'' "Now you''re just spouting gibberish, mate. Talk some sense, damn it!" exclaimed Rupert. ''What we find more illogical is for humans to voluntarily expose themselves to countless pain and struggle. Isn''t it humanity''s desire to be free from turmoil and suffering? To crave for emancipation?'' "Now that''s ironic. Your kind has been slaughtering us for nearly a century -- and yet, here you are preaching to us about pain?" Lucy lashed back. ''We offer the optimal solution to humanity''s predicament: death. To be permanently liberated from worldly torments. Aren¡¯t this what humans truly desire?'' "Heck no! Since when have we desired that?" Rupert cried out. The voice paused as it pondered over the siblings'' defiant response. ''We realize you are oblivious to the reality of this world. You enabled yourself to be blinded by desperation, bloodlust, and vengeance.'' "Vengeance?" Lucy muttered. "What are you on about?" ''Do not feign ignorance, Child of the Lake. You seek the one responsible for your progenitors'' death. While you, Child of the Flame, are seeking for your forgotten past.'' Sam was frowning beneath his mask. How could a piece of rock possess such information? He wondered. Lucy drew her weapon, aiming the tip directly at the crystal, and threatened the voice, "I don''t know who you are, but it seems you know something about my parents'' murder. So, give me a name unless you want to be smashed into smithereens." ''What will that accomplish other than bringing more pain to yourself and those around you?'' "To hell with all that! Tell me what I want to know! NOW!" Lucy shouted aggressively. The crystal let out a flash of light which temporarily blinded the trio -- using the fleeting moment of disorientation to bury itself into the Mangler''s torso. Seconds later, the enormous Distorted raised its head, and its bloodshot eyes were fixated on the trio. Sam, who is the first to recover his eyesight, and noticed the goliath''s intense stare, said to his friend, "I think it''s time for us to leave." The entire chamber quivered as the Mangler wrenched its arms free from the coiling roots. The trio could barely stand on their own two feet, and to make matters worse, the ceiling above their heads slowly started to crumble. "Crap!" Rupert blurted out after he was nearly crushed by falling stone debris. "God damn it, Lucy! You just have to go and upset that little rock!" "Me?! You were yelling at it too!" "Enough, you two!" Sam chided the siblings before pointing his finger at the tunnel where they came from. "Through there! Hurry!" 3rd Fragment: -WILD- The trio sprinted as fast as possible while avoiding the falling rocks and debris. "Come on! We''re almost out of here!" Sam cried out soon after seeing the light at the end of the crumbling tunnel. It was a close shave, but they managed to escape the Nest seconds before it caved in. The comforting morning sun gazed down on them; even then, the trio could not afford to waste more time just to take a breather. As they turned around, a giant arm exploded out of the ground, scattering the golden-brown maple leaves and bits of soil all over the forest. "Holy shit," Rupert muttered excitedly at the sight of the goliath''s torso crawling out of the depth of the earth -- his sister, however, did not look too happy. "The locals are definitely not going to like that. Markus is not going to like that," Lucy grumbled. "Oh, cheer up, Lil sis. Just tell that old man that it was all an accident." "Yeah, right. Then, what, brother? We''re gonna hold hands with the villagers and dance with them in circles? We''ll be lucky enough to have our heads intact after all of this is over." "Stop it, you two! We''ll cross that bridge later," said Sam before removing his mask. "First things first, our honorary guest," he gestured at the Mangler -- who had just pulled out its left leg from the crater it created. "I can go cut its head off," Rupert volunteered, much to his sister''s chagrin. "That''s pretty bold of you, Rupe, but the guy''s neck is as thick as a log. I don''t even think combining your power with those little sickles of yours will do the trick," Sam replied. He then shifted his attention to the youngest Nightingale, asking her, "Does it have any weak points?" "Well, um," Lucy fidgeted. "If I remember correctly, its heart is hidden behind one of those faces...thingy. Lucky for us, its chest tissue is also much softer than the rest of its body." "Uh, you DO notice there are nearly a hundred faces on its chest, right, baby sis?" "Oh, excuse me? Don''t tell you''re more intimidated by those faces than, I don''t know, THE FREAKING GIANT THAT HAS THEM?!" As soon as Lucy finished, she took a deep long, breath before saying in a much softer voice, "Sorry, that was uncalled for. Sam, if you would please continue with your explanation." "Um...Well, the good news is it''s not a hundred. More like," Sam''s eyes vigorously move from left to right, counting the number of faces on the Mangler''s chest. "34." "Is that so?" Lucy sighed, "The question now is how exactly are we going to get up there? He''s about, what, 500-foot tall?" Sam could only shrug his shoulders at the young Nightingale''s assumption and replied, "More or less." Shortly after, his eyes lit up as an idea popped into his head. "Maybe we don''t need to climb up its body." The siblings looked at Sam with a confused expression; curious and anxious about what kind of plan their friend cooked up this time. "Alright, let''s hear it. You''ve come up with dozens of riskier ideas before -- so, I don''t think it''s gonna be a whole lot worse, right?" Lucy retorted. "No. We just have to topple him over and restrain him long enough for me to get on top of it," uttered Sam. "Right. And let me guess, you''re going to use the Fiery Edge to burn all the faces off, aren''t you?" Lucy exhaled as she found the proposition to be quite rash. "You know, Sam? I usually have no problem with any of your schemes but don''t you think you''ve gone a bit too far this time?" "Come on, it''s not that bad. At least it gave us some room for...improvisation," Rupert replied with a triumphant smile. "THAT is precisely what I''m afraid of." "It''s the best I could come up with on such short notice. I''m quite sure if Markus was here, he would approve my suggestion." "Please don''t drag his name into this," said Lucy, before the ground beneath them shook once again. They turned their gazes forward, and as expected, the Mangler had finally freed itself from its earthly cage. "You know what? Let''s do it. Let''s go with this so-called plan of yours. It''s not like we''re gonna die if we fail." Although he did not show it, Sam was relieved that Lucy changed her mind in the end -- despite the latter''s obvious reluctance. "Great! Now, listen closely..." ??******************************************** "That''s it?! That''s the whole plan? No contingency or anything?" exclaimed Lucy, scowling at the vermillion-eyed man. "I like it. It''s simple but effective," Rupert answered, bobbing his head confidently. "We only got one chance at this. If things did decide to go south, we just have to...improvise -- but let''s just hope it doesn''t." "Then, what are we waiting for?" Rupert retorted, clapping his hands together. Then, he drew his kama and went ahead, leaving Sam and his sister behind. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Rupert, wait!" Despite Lucy screaming her lungs out, her brother had already scampered away, waving his sickles around like a child. As the elder Nightingale approached the Mangler, he saw the giant slowly raising its muscly right arm over its head. ''Planning to crush me, huh? ''Rupert grins from ear to ear. The cheerful youth then came to an abrupt stop before swinging one of his kama upward -- creating a powerful gust of wind that hit the Mangler in the face. The goliath staggered for a brief second; it let out a loud, muffled moan that could be heard throughout the forest. With the monster still addled by pain, Rupert took the opportunity to slice into one of its ankles, causing a black slime to ooze out of its ankle. Compared to his previous assault, there was barely a reaction from the Mangler, but Rupert could see the furious look it was giving him. As a response, the elder Nightingale taunted him with his index finger -- quietly taunting the giant to make its next move. And, much to Rupert''s expectation, the Mangler took the bait; it bent itself down with the intent to grab the man with its bare hand. Rupert swiftly rolled away before he was caught in the creature''s grip. Then, just as the Mangler lifted its hand up, Rupert stabbed his sickles into the monster''s wrist. Moments later, he was hoisted up to the sky with his legs dangling above the Mangler''s head. "Crap, this is much higher than I thought!" spouted Rupert, his head spinning from the extreme height. However, the dizziness he was experiencing soon faded when he saw the Mangler glaring at him with its blood-red eyes. "That doesn''t look good." A slit began to form across the Mangler''s face, on the spot where its mouth was supposed to be. It eventually opened up, but it was not a row of razor-sharp teeth or even whip-like tongues that awaited the elder Nightingale -- it was, instead, a pitch-black abyss where the light from the sun itself did not touch. "Ah-ha! So, that''s how you ate those people. I think I''ll pass," Rupert blurted before climbing up the giant''s forearm -- using his sickles as makeshift pitons. Noticing the man''s ascent, the Mangler attempted to grab him with its other hand. "Oh no, you don''t!" Rupert remarked before dislodging himself from the monster''s arm. He plunged straight into the open palm of the Mangler and waved both of his kama simultaneously. In a blink of an eye, all five fingers of the giant were severed by an invisible blast of air, prompting it to expel an ear-piercing scream of agony. Blackish fluid spurted out of the amputated sites and rained down on a large area of the maple forest. "Oh, shit!" exclaimed Rupert in mid-air. He quickly twisted his body and planted his kama into the Mangler''s thigh. In spite of his arms writhing in pain from the sudden change of momentum, Rupert continued his descent without releasing his grip on his weapons. The man eventually landed on the ground safely, and the first thing he did was look over his shoulder -- directly at a huge gash running along the Mangler''s right leg. "Wow, did I do that?" said Rupert, gawking at the large wound. Seconds later, the Mangler''s heavy body wobbled as it tried to lift its injured foot. "Uh-oh." Rupert bolted after realizing the giant was falling toward him. Even when his body grew heavier from fatigue, he kept running until he was safe from the expanding shadow''s reach. BOOM! The elder Nightingale stumbled as the Mangler crashed to the ground -- only missing him by a few inches. "How...about...that?" Rupert beamed even though he was out of breath. Unfortunately for him, the moment of respite was cut short when the giant raised itself by using its arms like a pair of stakes. "This is good enough," sighed Lucy after appearing out of nowhere. As she held out her left arm, tendrils of crystal-clear water gushed out of the blackened ground and wrapped themselves around the monster''s limbs -- including its neck. "Upsy-daisy," Lucy murmured before snapping her fingers. The Mangler gasped as the watery shackles yanked its enormous body, causing it to land on its back. Then, the chains gradually tightened up, tethering the goliath firmly to the ground. "Nice work, Luce!" Rupert complimented his sister. "Hush! I need to concentrate!" "I supposed it''s my turn now," said Sam, unsheathing his sword. He ran past the siblings to clamber the monster''s right arm. It was a rocky climb, but sooner or later, he made it to the giant''s broad chest. Sam trembled just from seeing the faces sticking out of the Mangler''s breast; each was different in size -- ranging from toddlers to adults. But, there was one thing that associated them with each other. Their facial expressions. They were said to be the last faces the Mangler''s victims made before being thrown into the giant''s maw. ''Do not resist, Child of Fire,'' a familiar monotonous voice echoed inside his head. ''Your search for your past will bring you nothing other than pain and suffering.'' "Maybe. But it is a sacrifice I''m willing to make." ''Oh, do you? You might be able to accept who you are, but your so-called companions? Your Order? They will despise you -- shun you from their folds without a second thought.'' "What are you - Argh!" Sam yelped after being hit by a sudden headache. A flash of blurry images flooded his mind; some were from his dream, while the rest were something new. He caught a glimpse of a small wooden house that he had never seen before, and yet, it gave him a certain sense of nostalgia. Then, he heard the voice again, repeatedly saying, ''Do not resist.'' "SHUT UP!" Sam yelled in vain. ''The Flame''s fate is neither to save nor to build. It is to burn. To devour. To destroy. That is your destiny, Child of Fire. Always has been. Always will be.'' "Yeah? Guess what -- that is not up to you to decide," Sam chided before slashing the monster''s chest with his katana. As soon as Sam jumped off the Mangler, the giant immediately burst into flame. The monster barely showed any reactions even when its flesh gradually turned to charcoal, much to Sam''s surprise. Then, he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Are you alright? You looked spaced out just now. Did something happen?" Lucy asked worriedly. "I''m...I''m fine," replied Sam. "Fine, you say?" said an orotund voice, prompting the trio to make a big gulp in unison. They hesitantly turned around and saw a well-built man clad in a grey uniform glaring at him with a pair of shining onyx eyes. With his jet-black hair and neatly trimmed beard glinting under the sun like morning dews, the man gave out a pleasant aura -- only to be betrayed by his stern expression. "You three better have a good explanation for this," the man uttered, crossing his arms together. "Speak, and do not even think of lying to me." 4th Fragment: -NEXUS- The serious-looking man stood quietly as the trio explained everything from the beginning. His expression barely changed until Sam told him about the Crystal of Birth. After they finished their story, a few deep lines appeared on his forehead, which did not surprise the three youths. "So, let me get this straight. A piece of rock spoke to you?" "Telepathically spoke to us," Lucy corrected. "Right, my mistake. A piece of rock spoke to you...telepathically like a sentient being?" The trio nodded at the same time. "Even if that was the truth, do you actually think the Faceless Lord will believe your explanation?" the middle-aged man exhaled. "I admit it does sound preposterous, but it is still the truth. You''ll be the first to know if we lied, Markus," said Sam. "That''s not what I meant," Markus, who was still in his thirties, proceeded to let out another sigh. Using only his right hand, the bearded man gestured at the once beautiful forest -- now tainted by the Mangler''s putrid blood and destruction. "Ah, that''s what you meant," Sam retorted with guilt written all over his face. "The good news is all these are restorable, although it will take a few weeks for the Research Department to clean the black slimes from the trees and plant new ones. The smell, however, that''s gonna take longer to wash off." "And...the bad news?" asked Rupert. "Not only did you infiltrate a Nest without my supervision, but you also managed to destroy a five-hundred-year-old forest in less than five minutes. If it weren''t for the Mangler, all of you would be heading to the Culling by tomorrow." The trio''s hearts sank as soon as they heard about the Culling. But, the heavy atmosphere was quickly alleviated by Markus, who suddenly let out a short, breathy laugh. "Though I must say I''m impressed. Defeating a Giant Class Distorted without being full-fledged Faceless is quite a feat. So, you should at least be proud of yourselves." Shortly after, Markus took out a small, clear glass orb from his jacket before handing it to Sam. "A Rift Gate Generator," Sam recalled the device''s name. It had been almost three years since he and the siblings had seen and used one. For them to obtain it now could only mean one thing. "Congratulations. You passed your apprenticeship," said Markus with a smile, causing the trio''s faces to light up from joy and relief. "However, I must urge you to keep a low profile for the time being, especially when you return to the Tower of Nexus." "You''re not coming with us?" Sam asked, only for him to receive a headshake from the bearded man. "I''m afraid not, Mr. Edelweiss. Someone needs to stay behind to deal with the towners. No doubt they''ll be furious, but it is the nature of our work," replied Markus, shrugging both of his shoulders. Sam and the siblings soon felt a wave of guilt washed over them. They could only imagine the amount of flak the man would have to endure from both the natives and the higher-ups. But, Markus quickly dismissed their worries by reminding them, "Remember what I told you before? About crying over spilled milk?" "That it is simply a waste of time and energy," Sam retorted. "Correct. There is nothing wrong with feeling a little bit of regret over our past decisions, but we shouldn''t let it keep us from moving forward. We are, after all, the Faceless Order, humanity''s last line of defense against the Distorted and other possible threats. Understood?" "Yes, sir," the trio immediately responded. Markus bobbed his head before turning his attention to Sam, asking him while pointing at the tiny Rift Gate Generator, "Do you still know how to use that thing?" "Yeah, just toss them to the ground, right?" Sam then threw the small marble into the wet soil, and a doorway of light appeared from thin air in a blink of an eye. The trio could not help but marvel at the sight of the pulsing portal -- its smooth, white surface reflected their silhouettes perfectly, like a real-life mirror. "Just to let you know, Miss Strelitzia will be the one to greet you on the other side. She is the current Chief of the Chamber of Convergence," explained Markus. "Ah, old man Dory finally retired, huh?" Rupert smirked. "No, he passed away two years ago." The trio mouthed an ''oh'' -- much to their supervisor''s dismay. "I thought I already told Mr. Nightingale about this?" Markus added. "Did he now?" muttered Lucy before giving her brother a black look. Instead of saying anything, Rupert averted her piercing gaze and started to whistle to a tune. "Oh, one more thing," the bearded man cleared his throat, "When I said you need to keep a low profile, that also includes controlling your temper and...impetuousness." Markus paused to give his three apprentices time to prepare for the next thing he was about to say, "Now, I''m aware that all of you bear an unwavering hostility towards a particular individual. As much as I hate to break this to you, this fellow also passed his apprenticeship -- two days ago, as a matter of fact." The trio grimaced as they knew full well the person their supervisor was referring to. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Jack Cindar -- a man in his mid-twenties who was fond of harassing the younglings simply for self-gratification. Furthermore, he also had a history of using excessive force on the new recruits -- breaking their limbs and noses for, as he called it, education purposes. Sadly, his questionable actions were overshadowed by his talents, and he ended up under the supervision of the Faceless Lord himself. Lucy rolled her eyes and grumbled, "That douche is still around? I thought he left after the beating ''The Scarred Empress gave him." "Broke his nose, didn''t she?" Rupert chuckles, "That''s what he gets for pissing off Rowanna on her break." "That, and he was also bothering some of the female recruits. So, yeah. He should''ve seen that coming," Sam added. "Either way!" exclaimed Markus after noticing his apprentices were getting distracted with each passing moment, "Please minimize your contact with him or, better yet, avoid him, if possible." "We''ll try," the youngest Nightingale reluctantly answered. She then slowly approached the Rift Gate; her azure eyes were focused on the undulating outline of the portal. As her fingertips touched the portal, its surface rippled like a water surface. She glanced over her shoulder, giving her supervisor one last look before disappearing into the gateway. "Well, Markus. Catch you later," said Rupert before charging head-first into the portal. Sam was about to follow the Nightingales before Markus grabbed his shoulder. "A few words, please, Mr. Edelweiss." "S-Sure," Sam could barely form a sentence due to his supervisor''s sudden interruption. "Your memories. Have you seen anything new?" "No, um, I mean, yeah. When we were dealing with the Mangler, I saw something. A small wooden house and that was it, I think." "I see," said Markus, nodding his head, "Well, I will try my best to gain your permission into the Archive, but I need you to be prepared -- Just in case-" "Just in case I couldn''t find what I am looking for. Thank you, Markus, but I''m already aware of that possibility. " "Good," Markus exhaled, "Look after those rascals for me, will you? Those two might be a little handful most of the time, but they are the best companions one could ask for." A tiny smile appeared on Sam''s face, and he simply replied, "Yes, sir." ??******************************************** It was like passing through a cold, invisible curtain. Sam could feel his teeth chattering from the sudden drop in temperature, but thankfully, the sensation lasted only for a few seconds. It was soon replaced by a warm and soothing air with a faint, lemony smell of camellia. Then, he was greeted by the sight of the Chamber of Convergence -- a simple snow-white hall with a yellowish-brown, herringbone floor. But, its most prominent feature was the alien-like arches carved along the stone walls. After finishing his inspection, Sam turned his attention to the middle of the room where the Nightingales stand side by side, talking to an elegant-looking woman dressed in a long-sleeved, black cold shoulder top and denim blue flare jeans. Matched with a pair of dazzling emerald green eyes and short, wavy brunette hair, Marie Strelitzia was a famous Faceless known for her beauty and battle prowess. Shortly after, Sam was greeted by Marie''s silken voice, "Ah, finally. Our last guest of honor is finally here." A mischievous, dimpled smile spreads across the woman''s porcelain face as Sam walks up to her and the siblings. "You three looked a bit thin since the last time I saw you. I''m guessing Markus'' routines are more arduous than you initially thought, huh?" "That''s one way to put it," Lucy smiled sheepishly at Marie''s comment. "Congratulations, by the way, on your recent exploit. Fighting a Mangler on your apprenticeship, let alone defeating it -- I think the three of you are the first to do so." Lucy immediately dropped her gaze to the floor out of exasperation. Unwanted attention was the last thing she needed after their battle against the Giant Class Distorted. Conjuring the watery tendrils had consumed most of her energy; it was no less than a miracle for her to even stand on her own feet right now. Then suddenly, she felt someone pinching her left cheek. "Ow," Lucy cried out. "What''s with the gloomy face, darling?" Marie remarked, "Worried the news will spread? Afraid everyone will look at you funny? Isn''t that what you''ve been facing ever since you first arrived at the Tower?" "But-," Lucy stopped mid-sentence after realizing the truth in the woman''s words. "See? You''re just getting worked up over nothing," Marie replied before patting the youngest Nightingale''s head. "As much as I would love to catch up with all of you, I have to prepare the Rift Gates for the approaching Summer Solstice. Oh, before I forget!" Marie cleared her throat before announcing to the trio, "Welcome back to the Tower of Nexus." **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS ||| [Meanwhile, somewhere in The Wailing Forest...] Markus calmly flipped through the sheets of paper; his expressions occasionally cycled between a frown to complete awe. Even after reading the report, it still didn''t answer the question lingering in his mind for a while now: Why would a Giant Class Distorted casually roam the woodlands instead of its usual habitats? All of a sudden, an arm burst out of the creature''s chest -- a figure in a yellow hazmat suit soon climbed out of the monster''s carcass, covered in burnt innards and black slime. "Need some help, Michael?" Markus offered, but the person refused with a simple hand gesture. After hopping off the Mangler''s charred torso, the individual removed his headgear -- revealing a fresh-faced man with brown, untidy brown hair. "Couldn''t recover a decent sample with this one. Even the crystal was shattered beyond repair," Michael whined as he placed his headgear down. Then, the man''s caramel eyes darted at Markus -- his gaze filled with fatigue. "Those rookies of yours need to learn how to restrain themselves. It is not often to encounter such rare specimen outside its territory," complained Michael. "I truly apologize for their actions. But, in their defense -- a Mangler is not the sort of enemy they''re supposed to be facing, especially during their apprenticeship." "Unpredictability is a part of our job. As a matter of fact, that''s also how the world works. You, of all people, know that." After venting out the last of his frustration, Michael lowered himself to the ground with his eyes fixated on the Mangler''s corpse. "A thousand years since the Cataclysm, and we still haven''t figured out a way to permanently eradicate the Distorted. Under different circumstances, all of these probings could have been a pretty good joke." "You have a very odd sense of humor, Michael. Either way, I''m confident this war will end sooner than we expected. We just have to be patient, that''s all." The man in the PPE suit later started laughing, "Still putting your trust on that lad, I see. Perhaps I''m not the only one with an odd sense of humor." "Maybe," Markus chuckled back. "But, even the smallest cinder can turn into an unstoppable force of nature, my friend. Who''s to say the boy couldn''t do the same?" ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS ||| 5th Fragment: -VOLATILE- The trio walked along the long, steel hallway -- peering through the glass windows to see nothing but barren land. The desolate scenery stretched to the horizons adjoined to the bright, opalescent sky. It was an awe-inspiring sight to newcomers, especially the fledglings. But, as time went by, the view became somewhat unsettling to downright creepy -- as if the world itself was showing them the possibility of a future where the Order failed in its duty of defeating the Distorted, thus bringing forth the extinction of humankind. "Man, this place is as dull as ever," said Rupert. "So, you preferred to stay behind in the Wailing Forest then?" asked Lucy, her arms crossed. Her brother then shrugged before replying. "At least, it''s much more....vibrant?" "Was," Sam interjected, "We kinda destroyed it -- in case you forgot. Besides, the Phantasmal Plane is the ideal location for the Order''s headquarters. No Distorted, no disasters, and no human threats." "And boring," the elder Nightingale added. "I get that our forefathers wanted a safe haven for people like us, but why did they have to build it in another dimension?" "That''s because the Mortal Plane has none," Sam replied before stopping in front of a double door. He placed his hand on the cold, metal surface and soon heard a loud chime. The door parted ways, opening up to a vast and highly pillared hall more spacious than the one they were in. The trio stood side by side in the atrium -- their eyes were already fixated on the seven layers of glass corridors above their heads. Perched at the top of the lofty tower was an iron spire adorned with a fresco depicting a giant meteor falling from the heavens. "The Cataclysm," Sam mumbled before recalling the tale he frequently hears from Markus: ''A thousand-year-old catastrophe that triggered a series of natural disasters, leading to the death of nearly 7 billion souls and sinking half of the landmasses into the ocean''s depth. But, what came afterward drove humanity to the brink of extinction. The Distorted, creatures of unknown origin, began to appear around the globe -- preying solely on the remaining survivors.'' GRRR! Sam and Lucy shifted their attention to Rupert grasping his stomach, who in turn, smiled sheepishly at their probing gaze. "Sorry. It''s been a while since we last ate," he apologized. Lucy grouched, but she could not exactly blame him. Their fight with the Mangler had depleted nearly all of their strengths -- plus, the one who moved the most was her brother. "You''re one crazy dude, you know? Climbing that thing with your sickles," she sighed. "Well, Sam did say to improvise. So, I just did what I was told." "I told you to improvise, only if everything goes south," Sam corrected him. "I also told you to aim for its legs -- so it''ll drop on its knees instead of on its whole body." "Eh, the job''s done, ''right? That thing is already dead, and the same could be said about the Crystal of Birth. I would say that our mission is a complete success." The younger Nightingale, out of frustration, placed her palms across her face. There were things she wanted to say to her brother -- one of them was about the impending consequences of his actions. Unfortunately, she knew he would only brush her off with his carefree answers. "You know what?" said Sam, scratching the top of his head. "How about we just get some grubs before returning to our rooms? We''ve been out in the field for 3 years, eating bland porridge and sleeping on branches -- so, it''s no surprise that we''re a little bit...disconcerted." The Nightingales exchanged looks before bobbing their heads at the same time. Sam felt a little relief, albeit temporarily -- for by tomorrow, the brother and sister would undoubtedly start their squabbles anew. The trio trotted across the hall, heading directly towards an elevator -- its door opened automatically as soon as they were a foot away from the entrance. Luckily for them, the elevator was completely vacant, and they slipped inside with ease. "Here we go," Rupert pressed the button to the third floor, and the door instantly slammed shut. As they ascended to their destination, Sam suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He began to massage the nape of his neck, hoping to alleviate some of the intense sensations running down his spine. "Again?" Lucy simply asked after noticing her friend''s odd behavior. "Yeah. It''s becoming more frequent as of late," Sam winced. "And your dreams?" Sam was taken aback by her question. Even though he was already aware of Lucy''s perceptiveness, he didn''t expect her to be that observant. "Nothing notable -- still the same drowning dreams. Although when we were fighting the Mangler, I saw something -- a small house." "That''s it? A small house?" Lucy exhaled. "Well, at least it was something new. What else did you see?" ¡°Nothing that I haven¡¯t seen before.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°So, that¡¯s the reason you were standing idly on that monster¡¯s chest. Perhaps you should visit the Infirmary ¨C just to make sure your condition is not something¡­detrimental.¡± ¡°Nah, it¡¯s no use. Every time I went there, the officer in charge always say there is nothing wrong with me ¨C that my memory will sort itself out in due time. Been waiting for ten years and the only thing I can remember is a tiny house.¡± Lucy became quiet, unsure how to proceed with the conversation from there. However, much to her relief, the elevator came to a stop at their desired floor. As the door slid open, the trio was greeted by the pleasant smell of freshly-baked bread and roasted meats. Enticed by the mouth-watering scent, Rupert stormed into the glass corridor, leaving his sister and Sam behind. "Figures," Lucy rolled her eyes before pursuing her exuberant brother. "Rupe, I told you not to run in the...," the azure-eyed woman was rendered speechless after seeing a stocky man in an all-black attire blocking her older sibling''s path. With a greasy, crooked nose and greying curly hair, the golden brown-skinned man gave the Nightingales an eerie sneer -- revealing rows of pearly white teeth. "Well, well, well. Look at what we have here," said the man with his deep, booming voice. "Jack Cindar," replied Sam, suddenly appearing from behind Lucy, "Still alive and kicking, I see. Thought you quit after your little scuffle with Rowanna." "Ooh, so harsh. The three of you know it''ll take more than a few punches to break my spirit." "But they surely broke something, though," Rupert snorted amusingly while eyeing the man¡¯s nose. The smile on Cindar''s face gradually faded away. He grabbed the elder Nightingale by the collar and snarled at him, "Watch your tongue, you cur. Just because you''re a Nightingale, that doesn''t mean you get to run your mouth without any...repercussions." "Now that''s ironic," Lucy spoke out. "If you think just by being favored by the Faceless Lord himself, it will give you a free pass to do anything you want? As always, you flattered yourself." "Oh, am I?" Cindar chuckled. The burly man shoved Rupert away before directing his focus on Lucy. "Markus might fancy all three of you because of your rare abilities, but that still doesn¡¯t change the fact that you still messed up. Badly. The denizens of the Opal Sun will not take lightly those who ruined their beloved Wailing Forest. In other words, you¡¯re fucked.¡± ¡°Probably. But why do you care? Unless, there is another reason you¡¯re telling us all this,¡± Sam retorted. Cindar grinned. ¡°I heard some interesting rumors regarding the potential candidates for a seat in the Council, in case that old Lord decides to retire.¡± ¡°Everyone already knows who those candidates are; it¡¯s either the Opal Sun Prince or the Overseer of the northern continent,¡± said Lucy. ¡°You missed one -- Thomas has nominated my name for a seat in the Council as well -- alongside that incompetent prince and the ever-brooding northerner. They are worthy contenders but the result is pretty much set, I''m afraid. As far I know, you are looking at a Captain and Faceless Lord." The trio glanced at each other -- their lips quivered as they struggled to hold in their laughter. ¡°Thomas nominated you? There must be some kind of a mistake,¡± Lucy chortled. ¡°Yeah, laugh while you still can. Don¡¯t come begging for my forgiveness when I successfully joined the Council ¨C let alone my compassion.¡± ¡°Compassion?¡± Rupert chuckled. ¡°If you have even a tiny amount of compassion, your nose might still be in its former state.¡± ¡°Not to mention, your bruised ego,¡± Sam added. ¡°I was merely caught off guard. In a fair fight, I would have won against that red-headed bitch ¨C with or without my blade," Cindar grunted. "You know what, Cindar? There''s a fine line between confidence and delusion," Lucy commented, "Similarly, there''s also a fine line between true brilliance and madness." "Are you implying that I''m insane?" "I''m implying those two other people are more worthy of that seat than you will ever be,¡± Lucy huffed. ¡°Even if you have the support of the Faceless Lord himself, there are still the Seven Captains; each one of them has their own reasons to reject your nomination. Considering you had already upset one of them, your chances of becoming a Faceless Lord is what people would say, slim." Cindar scowled at the woman, obviously offended by the latter''s scathing remarks. He lunged forward, trying to reach for Lucy''s throat -- only to be stopped by Rupert, who acted as a wall between his sister and the furious man. "Uh uh. Don''t even think about it," warned the elder Nightingale. The crooked nose man took a few steps backward before letting out a mocking giggle. "After all those trash-talking, you still need someone else to cover your ass. How pathetic," Cindar scoffed. "It seems you''ve misunderstood something, future Lord," said Sam sarcastically, "Rupert is not there to protect his sister. As a matter of fact, he is the only thing preventing you from being beaten to a pulp. I''m sure you don''t want a woman to break that beautiful nose of yours for the second time, right?" Cindar clenched his jaws; his fists trembled as a familiar burning feeling filled his chest. "Don''t think this is over," after leaving the threatening remark, Cindar marched past the trio and disappeared into the elevator. ¡°Funny. For someone claiming to be the next Faceless Lord, he sure is quick at running away,¡± Rupert blurted out before shifting his attention to his sibling who looked shaken up by the encounter. ¡°Are you alright, lil sis?¡± "Well, that was...far more intense than I anticipated," Lucy blew out her cheeks and leaned heavily against the wall. "But, is it true, though? Do you think the Council of Eight will make him one of them?" the woman asked worriedly. "I doubt it. It is just as you said, Thomas might have been blinded by Cindar''s talent, but I wouldn''t say the same about the remaining seven. That man has caused a lot of trouble ever since he set foot in the tower," Sam calmly answered. ¡°But,¡± Lucy paused for a brief moment, her head tilted toward the floor. ¡°What if¡­what if he gets the position? It¡¯s bad enough for us to be on Thomas¡¯s shit list ¨C if his apprentice is promoted to a Captain, there¡¯s no doubt he¡¯ll give us a lot of headaches.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we need to worry about that. If there is one thing the Seven have that the Faceless Lord hasn¡¯t is their hatred toward Jack Cindar. Although some of them detested our presence in the Tower ¨C except Markus, of course, they despise the future Faceless Lord even more,¡± Sam solemnly assured the young Nightingale. "Guys, guys," said Rupert, waving his hands to attract the duo''s attention, "Enough with the depressing talk, and let''s just get something to eat. My ears really need a break after hearing all those nonsensical things Cindar spouted.¡± ¡°Ugh, will you shut up about your stomach for once?¡± Lucy said in exasperation. 6th Fragment: -LULL- After a one-minute walk from the elevator, the trio finally reached their intended goal. Designed to accommodate up to a hundred people at once, the Dining Hall is filled with rows of blue rectangular tables; each equipped with a state-of-the-art self-ordering system. Sam and the siblings breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the empty hall. For the first time after three years, they could finally have a decent meal without interruptions. As they took their seats near a corner, a holographic projection appeared on top of the table -- displaying a vast array of delectable dishes from around the globe. After countless consumption of tasteless oatmeal porridge, Rupert could not stop his mouth from watering at the sight of the menu -- much to his sister''s disgust. "Hey, can you hear me?" said Lucy, nudging her brother on the shoulder, "Only choose what you need, not what you want, got it?" ¡°You¡¯re such a spoilsport, you know that?¡± Rupert grumbled in response, but he followed her instruction, nonetheless -- by putting up an order of herb-crusted rack of lamb with mint sauce and a mug of spiced honey milkshake. Lucy, on the other hand, ordered a slice of apple cinnamon custard cake paired with a cup of affogato al caffe. Then, she looked over to Sam who was quietly surveying the entire Dining Hall. ¡°Sam, the usual?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± the vermillion-eyed man fidgeted before quickly giving his reply, ¡°Yeah, the usual.¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯ll be¡­a bowl of chicken stew and a cup of dark hot chocolate. Aaaaand, we¡¯re done,¡± said Lucy as she put up the order. ¡°Now, we just have to wait. Hopefully, not too long.¡± "That¡¯s strange,¡± Sam suddenly commented. ¡°Shouldn''t the hall be packed at this hour? We can''t possibly be the first group to return, right?¡± Lucy silently nodded her head. The sight of the unoccupied room left an unsettling feeling in her chest. If she remembered correctly, there were 25 groups on the first day of the apprenticeship -- some were comprised of the most exceptional fledglings she had ever seen. Now that she thought about it, she also didn''t see any signs of Cindar''s two teammates. "He couldn''t have...?" Lucy muttered under her breath. She was fully aware that Jack Cindar could be crafty and cruel at times -- but foolish? However, before she could continue with her train of thought, a familiar-looking man casually strolled through the front door. His shining onyx eyes darted around the giant hall before finally settling on the trio. "Oh, great. It¡¯s Markus," she told her two companions, causing them to turn their attention to the approaching bearded man. "You three looked anxious. Did something happen while I¡¯m not around?" Markus asked after noticing the distressed look on his apprentices¡¯ faces. "Something happened, alright. Guess who we ran into not too long ago," replied Lucy, frowning. Markus blinked his eyes repeatedly as he pondered to himself. Shortly after, he let out a heavy sigh, "I see. Well, you''re bound to meet the man sooner or later. I trust you didn¡¯t cause any issue which may bite you in the future?" ¡°Sure hope not,¡± said Rupert before he decided to change the subject, ¡°that aside, weren''t you supposed to oversee the clean-up?" "I did ¨C until Thomas summoned me back. He wants to discuss your performance in the Wailing Forest and your future assignments." "Already?" Sam spouted, "I thought the placement takes place after all the groups are gathered in the Tower." "Technically, they...already are," Markus responded sombrely. "Out of 25 groups, only three completed their apprenticeship. The rest of them decided to quit." "Quit?!" Lucy shot up from her seat, unable to contain her shock. At first, she thought Markus was playing a joke on her, but as soon as she saw the serious look on his face, it was clear that her supervisor was telling the truth. "Does this have to do with the recent massive influx of the Distorted?" Sam asked. Markus nodded, "I''m impressed you already know about this, Mr. Edelwiss. But you are correct. The number of those monsters has increased ten-fold over the past 20 years -- with it, the frequency of Raids. Because of that, the fledglings became a little....overwhelmed." ¡°You mean scared shitless?¡± Rupert chuckled. ¡°To put it bluntly, yes, Mr. Nightingale ¨C they were scared shitless.¡± "But you said there were three groups that made it, right? Is it someone we know?" Sam curiously inquired. "Aside from Cindar? Yes. Two, in fact," said Markus as he placed his hands on the trio''s table. "Amelia Lilium and Ashton Achillea." The trio recognized those names pretty well. Amelia Lilium. A timid and petite woman, well known for her unusual appearance. Her entire face was wrapped in bandages to hide the scars she obtained during her childhood -- presumably from a Distorted attack. Furthermore, her older brother, Timothy Lilium, worked as the Order''s blacksmith. Conversely, Ashton Achillea was a talented artist who usually spent most of his time with a sketchbook and a pencil rather than mingling with his peers. Due to his good looks and exceptional swordsmanship, he was well-known among the female fledglings -- much to the man''s chagrin. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "However, your Induction is the least of our worries," Markus groused. "For the past few weeks, I received several interesting reports from the Overseers. Armored Distorted, natural disasters, and a possible insurrection -- just to name a few." "The first two are understandable, but an insurrection? We''re not... dabbling into politics now, are we?" Lucy inquired; her eyebrows raised. "No, nor we will ever be," Markus sternly replied," Unfortunately, these so-called insurgents from the Opal Sun claimed that we, the Faceless Order, have been interfering with their states'' affairs. An outrageous accusation, of course, but some believed it. Called themselves the Liberation Army of the Opal Sun and our sources believe they¡¯ve been recruiting." "Recruiting?" Sam stated with a tense voice, "Are they seriously intending to start a war? With who? A group of unequipped and untrained peasants? They could barely hold a pitchfork ¨C let alone a sword. Surely the Inner Circle won¡¯t allow it to happen.¡± ¡°Given their track records, it is unwise to put your trust in the Inner Circle, Mr. Edelweiss. The Helians, however, have persistently tried reaching out to the army¡¯s leader ¨C hoping to settle things through diplomacy.¡± ¡°Let me guess,¡± Lucy intervened. ¡°It didn¡¯t work out?¡± ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Markus retorted, nodding his head in disappointment. ¡°Not only did the army refuse to respond to the siblings¡¯ messages, but they also harassed the residents who openly disagree with their cause.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± said Rupert, his forehead furrowed. ¡°Not gonna lie, Markus. That sounds like the¡­um¡­ what was it again?¡± ¡°The Liberation Army of the Opal Sun,¡± Lucy mouthed, rolling her eyes upward. ¡°Right. Those¡­Liberation people really intend to pick a fight with the Opal Sun Kingdom. Maybe it¡¯s not a bad idea to¡­you know¡­for the Order act as a mediator for both sides.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion, Mr. Nightingale. But just like I said to your sister earlier. We will not interfere with the eastern state¡¯s affairs ¨C no matter how severe it is, ¡°Markus paused after seeing the frustration written all over his apprentices¡¯ faces. ¡°I admit, you three must find it hard to accept, but it is part of a treaty between the Order and the first Sun King. By breaking it, we will fall prey to the Liberation Army¡¯s narratives which will only worsen our relationship with the Opal Sun¡¯s residents.¡± The trio shifted uncomfortably in their seats, not even one of them dared to object to their supervisor¡¯s points. Sensing the tension in the air, Markus decided to talk about something else, ¡°Speaking of Cindar, you didn''t do anything to him, did you?" The bearded man''s eyes narrowed. "Well, nothing physical, at least," Rupert chuckled. "We just talked a little bit, and he just left." "Just left?" Markus repeated, obviously unconvinced by the short clarification. The bearded man leaned toward the table with a scowl on his face. "And what was it you talked about?¡± The trio instantly shuddered at the sound of their supervisor''s gravelly voice. It took them a second to regain their composure before they began explaining everything from the start. Markus listened intently to his apprentices and when they were finished, the first thing the bearded man said was, "So, you pissed him off?" "Technically, it was Lucy who-OW!" Rupert yelped as his sister elbowed him in the ribs. "It doesn¡¯t matter who did what. From here on out, you three need to watch each other''s back. Cindar¡­well¡­he doesn''t take kindly to anyone who dares to oppose him." "That sounded quite ominous, Markus," said Sam, as he held his chin up. "Something happened to Cindar¡¯s teammates, did it? Something bad." The bearded man took a few steps back before crossing his arms together. His jaws moved as if he was masticating on something. "It''s nothing conclusive yet, but his teammates were found buried inside a collapsed Nest. Sadly, both of them succumbed to their injuries." "You don''t think...?" Lucy gasped. "As I said, Miss Nightingale -- it''s still an ongoing investigation. So, I advise you to keep your speculations to yourself. That also includes you, Mr. Nightingale." "Fine," said Rupert, pouting his lips. ¡°Oh yeah, the guy said he was nominated for a seat in the Council. Is that true?¡± ¡°He told you that? Of course, he did,¡± Markus grumbled. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. Thomas nominated his name, BUT there is no guarantee he will get the position. There are many variables we have to take into consideration and I cannot tell you more because it¡¯s¡­well, classified information.¡± "And before I forget," Markus uttered before pulling out a thick, brown envelope from his uniform. "When I was down in the Archive, I found an old report, written 30 years ago. Coincidentally, it mentions a certain something the three of you are already acquainted with. A talking stone." "Seriously?!'' Lucy exclaimed avidly, "So, it has happened before!" "Yes but, that is not the only intriguing part, Miss Nightingale. The one who wrote this report ¨C it was none other than Sarah Gladia ¨C your mother." Both Lucy and Rupert were speechless. It felt surreal to them ¨C for their mother to have experienced a similar event 30 years prior. But that also begged the question, as to why such an incident was kept out of the public eye for this long? The siblings couldn¡¯t help but wondered. DING! A loud chime snapped the Nightingales out of their daze. Seconds later, the table surface parted ways, bringing out the dishes they ordered earlier. "I guess that''s my cue to leave," Markus proceeded to place the envelope on the table. "One week, and then, I''ll be taking this back. All of you are not official members of the Order, after all. Plus, I''ve also taken care of your lodgings. You''ll find your stuff in your rooms, safe and sound. Remember: the fourth floor is for the females while the fifth is for the males," Markus then gave Rupert a piercing glare, "Got that, Mr. Nightingale? Don¡¯t get lost." "Y-Yes, sir!" the elder Nightingale fidgeted in his seat. "Great!" Markus responded with a smile. "Now, eat up and rest. You three earned it." The bearded man spun around and started to walk away from the trio''s table. "Psst," Rupert hissed at Sam after ensuring their supervisor was out of sight, "Don''t you think the old man is being too charitable with us? I mean, pulling out a confidential document from the Archive and giving it to us -- kinda ballsy, especially for someone in his position." "It certainly is, but he must have his reasons," Sam retorted before grabbing the slightly crumpled envelope. It felt heavy in his hand -- not surprising since the Order only began miniaturizing their devices five years after the report was written. "Is it okay if I take a look at this? It''s your mother''s..." "It''s fine. It''s an official report, so you don''t need our permission to read it," Lucy swiftly answered. "Forget the report!" Rupert cried out with fork and knife in his hands, startling his sister and Sam, "Let''s frickin'' eat!" -ASKEW- ¡®Those eyes again¡¯ ¡®Those piercing, judgmental eyes¡¯ If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡®So, even brats like you judge me nowadays¡¯ ¡®Come here, and let me show you my judgment'' ''That''ll surely shut you up'' -BURIAL- ¡®Red.¡¯ ¡®All I see is red.¡¯ ¡®My chest hurts.¡¯ If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡®My hands¡­my legs¡­I can¡¯t...feel them.¡¯ ¡®What is going on?¡¯ ¡®Where is everyone?¡¯ ¡®I feel¡­cold¡­¡¯ ¡®Please¡­someone...¡¯ ¡®Please¡­help me...¡¯ 7th Fragment: -SMOG- ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| As Sam drifted off to sleep, he expected to once more be embraced by the freezing cold and turbulent water. But much to his surprise, he felt a gentle, salty breeze brush against his cheek, accompanied by the overlapping sounds of waves. "What...," he muttered before opening his eyes, only to find him staring at the bright blue sky. Sam shot his torso up, and right in front of his eyes was a vast ocean with crystal-clear water stretching as far as his eyes could see. The man quickly got to his feet and dusted off the black sand sticking to his clothes and hair - his eyes darted left and right until he saw a silhouette near the water''s edge. It was a tall, slim figure dressed in a traditional-looking blue robe adorned with wave-like patterns. Their face was concealed under a white beaded veil; in their left hand was a vibrant red rose - its petals covered with sand and ashes. "Hello?" said Sam, prompting the figure to turn toward him. "You..." a mellow, female voice came from behind the veil. The woman pointed the rose stalk at him before saying, "Edelweiss." Sam strangely felt a chill running down his spine. Moreover, her voice sounded eerily familiar to Lucy''s but gentler. "Do I...know you?" Sam asked. "No," the woman replied, "But I know what you seek." The man narrowed his eyes as the mysterious figure slowly circled him. His hand began to move on its own - trying to reach for his nonexistent katana. "Tell me, young man. Why are you so desperately searching for your past? Has it ever crossed your mind that perhaps it was forgotten for a reason?" "Those are very odd questions, Miss. Are you implying that you possessed the knowledge of my past?" "If I do, will it give you the peace you''ve longed for? Or perhaps the purpose of your existence." "The purpose of my existence?" Sam huffed at the woman''s last statement, "If you are referring to the old prophecy, Miss, then I must apologize. I''m not exactly a firm believer of words written by an anonymous author." "Yet, I could see it in your eyes ¨C even if it was for a split second that you were convinced that you were the second coming of the Red Ravager, the same wildfire that once dyed the sky crimson and singed every patch of land in the Mortal Plane," the Lady in Blue added before she stopped on the spot where she originally stood. "Who are you? How come you know so much about me? About the Red Ravager?" Sam returned with a hint of annoyance in his voice. The lady in blue let out an eerie chuckle ¨C a reaction that bemused Sam further. "Patience is a virtue, lamb. Take one step at a time, and see the world as it is now ¨C or there will be a moment when you will be presented with a choice that will decide the fate of every soul on earth." Suddenly, a pair of decaying hands sprung between Sam''s feet and grabbed his ankles. Crying out in pain, Sam fell on his stomach. "W-What is this?" he growled, thrashing his legs to break free from the rigid hold. Seconds later, similar decomposing hands sprouted from the ground, clutching his limbs. He even tried to conjure up his flame, but the intense pain spreading throughout his body made it difficult for him to even create a spark. "Remember. One. Step. At a time." Sam lifted his head and saw the Veiled Lady standing right in front of him. She then placed the rose near his face before walking away without a word. "Argh!" Sam yelped as more hands popped up and, little by little, pulled him into the solid ground. "Wait, you-!" the man continued to yell even though the woman was nowhere to be seen. He gasped as his body was crushed into the earth; unfortunately, that only caused the gravelly sand to slip into his mouth - clogging his airway. He could no longer scream. Nor breathe. In fact, he could no longer feel anything. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Sam woke up panting, his white pajamas drenched in sweat. He felt a tingly sensation on the tips of his fingers and toes that eventually faded away. His heart was pounding vigorously against his chest even when he was already sitting straight on his bed. BANG! BANG! BANG! "Hey-yo! You''re up?" Rupert shouted on the other side of the steel door. Sam flung himself toward the entrance and pulled the door wide open. The elder Nightingale, clad in a simple blue denim jacket paired with black khaki pants, is staring at him alarmingly. "Dude, you alright? You looked pale," mouthed Rupert after noticing the beads of sweat running down his friend''s face. "Yeah. Yeah, I''m fine. What''s the matter?" "A youngling came to me crying earlier ¨C said that Cindar is beating his friends in the Training Hall. I tried finding Rowanna, but it seems she hasn''t returned yet." Sam shook his head in disbelief. "Give me a sec. I''ll go prep myself," he exhaled before shutting back the door. "Goddamnit, Cindar. What the hell are you doing?" Sam murmured while walking toward his closet. He pushed the white wooden door and, as he anticipated, his new uniform: a custom-made, mahogany red duffle jacket with brown corduroy trousers already hanging side-by-side on the metal pole. Although he was looking forward to wearing it, he had to hold it off due to the pungent smell of his sweaty skin. Stolen novel; please report. "Perhaps I should take a bath first." ??******************************************** [15 minutes later...] As soon as they reached the third floor, Sam and Rupert stormed out of the elevator and quickly made their way to the east wing. Located across from the Dining Hall, the Training Hall was where the younglings and the full-fledged members worked out daily. Despite its dull name, the Training Hall was divided into six distinct spaces: The Main Arena was the largest of the six areas where the residents often sparred with each other - either by using the provided wasters or their own fists. The remaining five rooms, officially known as the Simulation Chambers, were one of the Order''s architectural crown jewels - capable of creating realistic terrains, weather, and other environmental elements. As the duo got closer to the hall, they saw a lone little boy weeping at the double glass door. With his instinct kicked in, Sam bent down until he was at the same level as the kid''s height. "Hey, it¡¯s alright. Would you mind telling me your name?" "E...Eva...Evan..." the boy sobbed. "Evan, is it? What happened? Why are you crying?" "We...were just...finishing our routine until he...Clive! And Rachel! He hit them! I don''t know what to do, so I just...ran!" Baring his teeth, Rupert went into the Training Hall by himself - much to Sam''s dismay. "Rupe, wait!" Sam called, but he was too late. He shifted his attention to the boy - staring into the latter''s terrified eyes, and said, "Just stay here, alright? My friend and I will handle this." Sam gave the kid a pat on the head before chasing after the elder Nightingale. **??****************************************** Revolting. That was only the word that came up to Sam''s mind to describe the situation in the Training Hall. In front of his glistening eyes, a pair of younglings lay motionlessly on the floor - their faces covered with nasty cuts and bruises. He later found Rupert near a blonde-haired boy, quietly checking for his pulse. "They''re barely hanging on," said Rupert with a scowl, "We need to take them to the Infirmary now." Sam then turned his attention toward the middle of the room, where Cindar stood pompously with a bloodied wooden longsword in his hand. "Are you mad?" Sam angrily remarked. "Mad?" Cindar grinned, "I was merely teaching them about manners, especially toward their upperclassmen." A few moments later, Lucy barged through the front door in her new garments - a black undershirt, a teal blue linen blazer, and raven black trousers. "What in the world-?" the woman paused after her eyes settled on the unconscious younglings. "You bastard!" she snarled, her face gradually turning bright red. As the youngest Nightingale reached for her dirk, Sam swiftly grabbed her arm, telling her, "Calm down. Do not let him get to you." "But..." "Focus, Lucy! Your current priority is to take the younglings to the Infirmary," said Sam, glancing over his shoulders," I''ll deal with Cindar." Lucy''s eyes widened, clearly trying to protest the man''s decision. However, after seeing Sam''s solemn expression, she knew the man had already made up his mind seconds ago. "Fine," despite Lucy''s lukewarm answer, Sam released the woman''s arm and watched her shuffle to her brother''s side. The siblings quickly left the Training Hall with the younglings, leaving Sam alone with the perpetrator. "Impressive," Cindar clapped his hands from out of the blue, "I must say, taming the duo must have been a chore. So, what''s the secret?" Sam glared at the cheerful-looking man, who was seemingly unperturbed by his previous actions. Why? he wondered. What did the Faceless Lord see in this sadistic and unruly man? "Taming? They''re not animals, Cindar. Also, provoking me will not do you any good. I''m not as ardent as the siblings," Sam retorted. Cindar snickered, "You are an exceedingly patient man, Edelweiss - I''ll give you that. Or perhaps you''re just heartless." "Enough with the chit-chat," Sam interjected, "Just put the weapon back on the shelf and follow me to the seventh floor. As much as I would love to entertain my temper, the Eight will be the one to decide your fate. But, considering the damages you have done, even Thomas won''t be able to get you out of this scot-free." Cindar smirked, "Unfortunately for the old man, he doesn''t have that kind of choice. You see? He made an oath with my late father - to raise me into an official member of the Order, no matter the cost. In other words, unless I deliberately killed someone, I am exempted from any form of punishment." Shortly afterward, Sam caught a glimpse of Cindar squeezing the wooden sword. "The younglings didn''t do anything to you, did they?" "I must admit it was a bit crude, but they served their purpose well. Baits are still baits, no matter how big or small they are," Cindar stated before tossing the waster away. The man dashed forward, pulling a trench knife from the inside of his black jacket. Sam dodged the incoming blade but, he knew the vile man would not give up that easily. Grinning menacingly, Cindar kept swinging the knife at his opponent while taunting the latter, "Come on, Edelweiss! Don''t you want to avenge the younglings! So what is with the hesitation- Oof!" Cindar gasped after Sam kicked him directly in the solar plexus, causing him to fall on his back "Enough with this pointless quarrel!" yelled Sam, "Don''t you have a shard of honor in that thick head of yours?" "You and your self-righteousness," Cindar chuckled, "It''s laughable, seeing you miserably cling to it even though it did nothing but hinder your true potential." Taking a deep, long breath, the man got back up to his feet before exhaling a cloud of greenish-yellow gas from his mouth. Sam grimaced as an irritating, bleach-like odor filled the air, prompting him to cover his own nose and mouth. "Seriously, Cindar? Chlorine gas?" uttered Sam, his voice slightly muffled. Cindar started to laugh maniacally at his panicking foe, "You can try to hold your breath Edelweiss, but sooner or later, even your own body will betray you." BAM! The door burst open; a willowy figure walked into the hall with her fiery, amethyst eyes scouring the room before her piercing gaze landed on the two men. Cindar''s face was already as white as a sheet; his entire body froze just from the mere sight of the unexpected visitor. On the other hand, the woman grunted after noticing Sam''s glassy eyes and the colored vapor surrounding him. "Same shit, different day," she sighed heavily. 8th Fragment: -CHALICE- After wiping the tears from his irritated eyes, Sam glowered at the stern-looking woman. A tawny skin with a warm olive undertone, a pixie cut auburn hair, a pair of brilliant amethyst eyes, and a patch of freckles on her concave nose - she was, unmistakably Rowanna Zinnia, the Captain of the Swallowtail Guild. The woman was sporting a black sweater with a violet bolero on top and a pair of skinny blue jeans - an outfit she usually wore for field missions. Sam also took notice of the zweih?nder fastened to her back, its blade tainted with mud and black slimes. For such a fearsome warrior to appear in person, not to mention during his scuffle with Cindar - Sam was convinced that he was somewhat cursed. A brief moment passed, and Rowanna began to crack both of her knuckles. After taking a long, deep breath, the imposing woman began to mutter sonorously, "I came back to this Tower, bone-tired, looking forward to a good night''s sleep. As I was about to retire into my room, I was suddenly informed about two of my younglings currently in critical condition." The woman then slowly folded her sleeves up until they reached her elbows before continuing, "I am truly dumbfounded. Not only is this unknown perpetrator willing to risk their position within the Order, but they also have the balls to test my patience." Rowanna locked eyes with Cindar - the man was sweating bullets. "And now, this certain someone is trying to kill one of his own," Rowanna added as she casually drew her zweih?nder and gently rested it on her shoulder. "Perhaps I made a mistake. Perhaps a broken nose might not be enough to teach this certain someone about humility and respect." Cindar clenched his jaws - the fearful expression he had earlier disappeared, replaced with an unenthusiastic smile. "It''s been a while, hasn''t it? Three years, was it?" the man greeted the Scarred Empress in a trembling voice. "What''s the matter, Cindar? You look terrified." "Me? Terrified? You''re just imagining it." "Is that so?" Rowanna remarked before she slowly advanced toward Cindar. "Tell me then, why two of my younglings are fighting for their lives right now in the Infirmary? Is there a particular reason for you beating the shit out of them?¡± Cindar remained quiet. ¡°Do you think Thomas picked you because you''re special? One of a kind? Sorry, to burst your bubble, but you''re not,¡± Rowanna scoffed. "That is not for you to decide," Cindar countered. "No, but you''ve proven time and time again that you are nothing more than a child throwing a temper tantrum when things didn¡¯t go as you wanted." "A child?" Cindar snarled, "I''ve broken nearly all the bones in my body, and endured many moons of agonizing trials. I even risked my life fighting those Distorted - you dare call me a child?" Rowanna smirked, "Oh, did I strike a nerve? How about this?" The woman stopped five feet away from Cindar and planted the zweih?nder into the wooden flooring. "If you can land a blow on my chest, we will keep the things you did off the record. In other words, you will be exempted from any punishment." "What?!" Sam exclaimed, taken aback by the unusual deal. "I accept," Cindar declared without a sliver of hesitation. He shoved the trench knife forward, but Rowanna swiftly disarmed the man, snatching the knife for herself instead. She pressed the sharp tip against Cindar''s neck - the latter froze in place. "A valiant approach, but your movement is too sloppy," Rowanna stated before launching her fist into Cindar''s face. There was a faint cracking sound followed by a howl of pain. "YOU BITCH!" Cindar screeched as blood dripped out of his misshapen nose. "You, Edelweiss," said Rowanna calmly. "Y-Yes, ma''am?" Sam stammered; his entire body tensed up. "Go and stay out of trouble. This imbecile is my responsibility now." ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE BLADES: ROWANNA ||| As soon as the main entrance flung shut, Rowanna shifted her attention back to Cindar who was persistently spouting curse words to her. A smirk formed across Rowanna¡¯s face as she tried to suppress her laughter. ¡°Still easily compromised by your emotions. I thought Thomas had already taught you to subdue your anger.¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Cindar exclaimed with blood flowing out of his nostrils. ¡°Tsk, if only you put all that energy into improving your offense instead of shouting like a jackass,¡± Rowanna chided. ¡°Here, I believe this is yours,¡± the woman tossed the trench knife toward Cindar who managed to grab it in mid-air. ¡°Come on, one more time.¡± ¡°Are you fucking with me?¡± barked Cindar while staring at the auburn-haired woman in disbelief. ¡°Of course, I am. Isn¡¯t that obvious? Do you really think for one second that I¡¯m going to take you seriously?¡± ¡°What?¡± the irate man bared his teeth like a hungry wolf. He immediately marched toward Rowanna, his trench knife pointed forward. However, the auburn-haired woman swiftly dodged out of her foe¡¯s way before thrusting her right palm against Cindar¡¯s chin. The man let out a short cry as his head snapped heavenward where he could see the ceiling covered with blinking white stars. ¡°Hold your breath,¡± said Rowanna as she yanked Cindar by the collar and slammed him against the floor with a loud bang. Immediately after the vicious takedown, the Training Hall was filled with the sounds of Cindar wheezing and gasping for air. The man''s furious demeanor was completely gone ¨C replaced with him whimpering on his back like a wounded dog. ¡°Stay down, if you know what¡¯s good for you,¡± Rowanna calmly stated before snatching the trench knife in Cindar¡¯s hand. ¡°Tsk, what a waste of good Core Blade.¡± ¡°Give¡­it¡­back,¡± said Cindar, trying to grab the woman¡¯s ankle. Though, as the man stretched out his arms, he suddenly felt an intense pain in his chest, as if a giant boulder was placed on him. ¡°Quiet,¡± Rowanna hissed at the groaning man. ¡°Don¡¯t even think of moving a muscle, got it?¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°I¡¯m afraid¡­I can¡¯t do that. There is¡­too much to do. Too much¡­to achieve.¡± ¡°Huh? What are you on about?¡± Cindar slowly raised his right arm; his palm facing Rowanna. ¡°You¡­will not stop me. No one¡­will.¡± Rowanna scowled at Cindar, thinking the man had lost his mind ¨C until a brownish-red smoke shot out of his hand, hitting the auburn-haired woman directly in the face. ¡°You¡­!¡± Rowanna gagged as the pungent gas slipped into her nose and mouth, inadvertently causing her eyes to tear up. At the same time, she could also feel her throat burning, as if she had just swallowed a beaker of acid. ¡°Using your power inside the Tower¡¯s compound?! Thomas will flay you alive when he finds out about this,¡± exclaimed Rowanna in frustration. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn what he thinks,¡± Cindar chuckled. Despite his aching body, the man somehow managed to stand to his feet, albeit a little unsteady. ¡°I have bigger things to worry about than babysitting a dying old man.¡± ¡°That dying old man¡­,¡± Rowanna coughed out, ¡°He took you in after you lost your family ¨C cared for you like a son¡­ ¡°For that I am grateful. But the path he chose for me ¨C the path of honor and justice ¨C is not the path I truly desire.¡± ¡°Then, what is this path you truly desire? Is it worth getting yourself Culled? Or worse, executed?¡± Cindar grinned, ¡°It worths more¡­than every life of the Reprieved.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Rowanna sighed loudly. ¡°If this is the path you adamantly choose, then the Faceless Lord will decide your face.¡± ¡°I suppose. But we both know that I won¡¯t follow you willingly.¡± ¡°Who said anything about following me willingly?¡± the auburn-haired woman said before throwing Cindar¡¯s trench knife over her shoulder. ¡°Let us see whether the rest of your face is much sturdier than your nose.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE BLADES ||| **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS ||| [15 minutes later¡­] [Seventh Floor of the Tower of Nexus] [Inside the Chamber of the Eight] The moment Markus entered the dim room, greeted by a flurry of cold air and the acrid smell of tobacco. As his eyes adjusted to the lighting, he saw a bald and chalky elderly man sitting leisurely in a grey armchair - a lit cigar latched between his fingers. "Thomas," Markus calmly greeted the Faceless Lord, dressed in a black mandarin collar suit. "It seems you''ve shaved off that awful goatee of yours." "A good thing I did. It was seriously giving me an itch. But let''s spare the idle chit-chat for later," said Thomas, jumping out of his seat. "So, a Mangler in a woodland. Sounds a bit outlandish, don''t you think?" Markus nodded his head, "It does. But we both know that''s not the strangest news we have heard recently." Thomas took a whiff of his cigar, "I told you countless times, Markus. The Liberation is no threat to us. They are just a bunch of insurgents who, despite claiming to be the protectors of the oppressed, did nothing but spread chaos across the Opal Sun Kingdom. I believe the Royal Sun Guards are enough to deal with the group. But at least for now, I prefer to discuss your apprentices." "What about them?" asked Markus after noticing the old man''s furrowed eyebrows. "For starters, their imprudence is getting out of hand, especially the siblings. The recent incident in The Wailing Forest was a prime example of it, and the locals weren''t exactly happy to see the aftermath of the battle,¡± Thomas grumbled before taking another whiff of his cigar. ¡°As the Captain of the Deathstalker AND my eventual successor, I was assured that you will act as their mentor ¨C to teach them about courtesy, responsibilities, and more importantly," Thomas glowered at his lieutenant before finishing his sentence, "Discipline." "Yes, sir," Markus simply replied. "Now, if it was up to me, they''ll be suspended immediately. However," Thomas pulled out a yellow crumpled slip from his breast pocket before handing it over to his deputy, "It will undoubtedly be a waste of their talents." Puzzled by his superior''s words, Markus quietly inspected the paper; although it was faint, he could vividly see a symbol resembling a small goblet with a snake coiled around it. "No, that''s impossible," Markus breathed before his eyes darted back toward the Faceless Lord. "Is this what I think it is?" "Unfortunately, it is," Thomas sighed, "60 hours ago, we received a message from Elisabeth Rosier, the Overseer for the Desert of Ashes. She said she discovered something that wasn''t supposed to be there. 24 hours later, a distress signal was deployed. When the Hornets were dispatched to her cabin, they found it ransacked with its occupant missing." "Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too hasty to link the incident with the Disciples of Vidia? Not only did we purge the entire organization a decade ago, but physical altercations were never a part of their MO." "True. That is why I want your apprentices to investigate the incident." Markus was visibly confused by Thomas''s command - it made him wonder what the old man hoped to gain from assigning three novices to a missing person case. "Now, before you start pulling your hair out pondering the reason for my decision, think of it as a way to rectify their mistakes," said the Faceless Lord, smiling mischievously. ''That was obviously a lie,'' thought Markus, with raised eyebrows. THUD! Both men suddenly heard something slammed against the main door. A few seconds later, Rowanna marched inside, dragging along Cindar, who was battered beyond recognition. "Miss Zinnia. What is the meaning of this?" Thomas barked. "The meaning of this?" Rowanna shoved the injured man to the flooring. "This idiot assaulted two younglings. Not only that, he used his Typhokinesis on Samuel Edelweiss AND me - with the intent to kill." Markus was speechless after hearing the explanation. He could hardly believe that Cindar would even dare to break the first and foremost rule of the Order. "Is that true, Cindar? Assaults and attempted murder? Do you have anything to say for yourself?" After spitting out the blood in his mouth, Cindar sat on his knees with his bloodshot eyes fixated on Markus. "Oh, spare me from your righteous bullshit. Did you use that same high-and-mighty tone used after stabbing your best friend in the back?" "That¡¯s enough!" Thomas inadvertently crushed the cigar in his hands - disappointment was written all over his face. "I''ve tolerated your behavior for more than 20 years, hoping you''ll grow out of it. Clearly, that was a mistake on my behalf." The old man turned away from his apprentice and instructed the zweih?nder-carrying woman, "Miss Zinnia. If you would please escort Mr. Cindar to his cell. I want him under constant surveillance until his trial date is decided." The conversation is suddenly interrupted by Cindar''s eerie laugh, "A mistake? You wanted a leader, right? Someone ruthless and unafraid to act, even when the whole world is against them? Well, you did it, Thomas. You created me." Rowanna couldn''t help but roll her eyes as she yanked the man up to his feet "Alright, Mr. Leader. You can continue your rambling down in the dungeon," remarked the woman before towing the man out of the room. The front door closed. Markus looks over to Thomas, who is staring quietly at the armchair. "Was it a mistake, Markus?" the old man muttered. "Was I too consumed by my oath to John ¨C to make his son into a warrior better than he was - that I ended up disregarding the well-being of my subordinates?" "Truthfully, I don''t have the answer to that," said Markus, "To be fair, you have fulfilled your vow to John. Jack certainly inherited his father''s courage and craftiness. If only I could say the same about his sense of honor." Thomas exhaled deeply. Then, without looking at the man in front of him, the elderly man said, "You may go, Markus, and best of luck to your apprentices." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS ||| 9th Fragment: -PURSUIT- As soon as the elevator door opened, Sam could already feel his nose tingling from the smell of alcohol and burning metal. It was not surprising since the sixth floor housed the two most important facilities of the Order - the Infirmary and the Forge. He headed to the left path without delay and kept walking until he saw an automatic glass door. Even without passing through the entrance, Sam could see the Nightingales waiting in front of a blue double door. "Oh no," Sam muttered nervously before storming inside, prompting the siblings to turn their heads toward him. "You sure took your time," said Rupert. "Sorry," Sam swiftly apologized. "How are they doing?" "It''s hard to say. Michael and Morgana are treating right now," replied Lucy before asking Sam, "What''s up with Cindar? Did you manage to bring him to the 7th floor?" "Well, about that," Sam then recounted the incident to the siblings - from the time Cindar tried to poison him until the Captain of the Swallowtail''s sudden visit. Rupert was quivering, struggling to keep himself from laughing out loud. On the other hand, his younger sister couldn''t stop cursing, even after Sam finished telling the whole story. "He really did that? The guy really tried to pick a fight with Rowanna?" Lucy commented, facepalming herself. "Wow, I always knew Cindar is one mad lad, but he totally got himself in deep shit this time," the elder Nightingale smirked in return, "On top of that, he even got his nose broken by the Scarred Empress. Again." "All those aside, I just hope Thomas will lock him away for good this time,¡± Sam sighed before he let out a few mild coughs. "Are you okay?" Lucy asked worriedly. "I¡¯m fine. It''s just one of Cindar''s nasty gases." ¡°You should probably get that checked. I mean, some of the gases he uses could do serious damage.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s just¡­I don¡¯t know how to phrase this, but um¡­I feel like Cindar wasn¡¯t trying to kill me.¡± Their conversation, however, was soon interrupted by a bespectacled man who walked out of the double door - still in his scrubs and face mask. The trio charged toward the man, anxiously inquiring about the condition of the younglings. "They''re stable," Michael calmly retorted before removing his mask, "Aside from a few broken bones and weeks of physiotherapy, they''ll be just fine. But I must say, the kids are either lucky ¨C or the assailant purposely missed their vitals. Either way, he needs to be apprehended before he causes a major headache to the Order ¨C and more importantly, to me," Michael complained. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me ¨C I¡¯ve got patients to tend to,¡± the doctor added before trotting back through the double door, leaving the trio by themselves. As if a heavy weight was lifted from her chest, Lucy let out a loud sigh of relief before leaning his back against the wall. "See? I told you the kids will be alright," Rupert chuckled. ¡°Yeah, or else, I¡¯ll find Cindar myself and break both of his wrists.¡± ¡°You sounded just like Rowanna,¡± said Sam, which led the elder Nightingale to nod his head in affirmation. The moment of solace was interrupted by Markus, who suddenly barges through the Infirmary''s front door. "There you are. I came here as soon I heard the news, and judging from your faces, I assume both younglings are safe?" The trio bobbed their heads in unison. Then, Markus turned his attention to Sam, "And how about you, Mr. Edelweiss? I heard about your little altercation with Cindar in the Training Hall." "Yeah," Sam quickly answered, "He sprayed chlorine gas into my face and, if it wasn''t for Rowanna, I might have to take him down myself." ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯t,¡± Markus retorted as he patted Sam¡¯s left shoulder. ¡°But, I''m afraid I¡¯m here as a bearer of bad news." The trio tensed up after hearing the change in their supervisor''s tone. ¡°Are we¡­?¡± Lucy couldn¡¯t bring herself to finish her sentence. ¡°Due to your recent adventure, the probability of you three getting suspended is what I would say¡­inexorable. In other words, Thomas is not happy, and the same can be said about the Opal Sun residents.¡± "Seriously?" Lucy grunted. "Well, it''s not like we''re expecting to fight a Mangler in the middle of a forest, no less." "Patience, Miss Nightingale. I''m not done yet," said Markus, "Now, for unknown reasons, Thomas wants to give you a chance to redeem yourself. " "A chance? That sounds pretty...dubious. As long as I knew him, he wasn¡¯t exactly the charitable type," Sam remarked, his eyes narrowed. ¡°So, what does he want us to do? A clean-up duty? A guarding post?¡± "A search and rescue mission,¡± Markus then pulled out a crumpled paper from his back pocket and handed it to Sam. ¡°Two days ago, Elisabeth Rosier, the Overseer of the Desert of Ashes was reported MIA. The Hornet was dispatched soon after and they discovered Miss Rosier¡¯s cabin was completely ransacked with its owner nowhere to be seen. Among the three, Lucy was the first to notice the fading emblem. She blinked a few times to make sure she wasn''t imagining it, "I-Is that legit?" If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "The Disciples of Vidia," Sam blurted out, prompting Rupert to jump into the conversation with a bewildered expression. "Wait a minute, THE Disciples of Vidia? That same group of mad scientists who experimented on people like us?!" "Not only that, but they also managed to abduct Lizzy WHILE her cabin is still in one piece? With the temperament she has, I expected her to, at least, put up a fight," Lucy further added. "Precisely. That''s why I want you to find out what really happened and bring Miss Rosier back alive if possible. Marie will be waiting downstairs with all of your equipment," before Markus spun around, he had one last thing to say to the trio, "Good luck. You''ll need it." ??******************************************** Rowanna pushed Cindar into the small, dank room and slammed the steel door in the man''s face. Shortly after, she heard laughing from beyond the barricade, followed by a sarcastic comment, "Isn''t there a better accommodation than this dump? I am the apprentice of the Chief himself, ya know?" "Zip it!" Rowanna exclaimed as she furiously banged her fist against the door. "Let me remind you that Thomas will not be covering your ass this time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t expect him to,¡± said Cindar as he wiped the blood on his chin. He could still feel his jaw throbbing, thanks to the kick Rowanna gave him earlier. ¡°Not bad. For a former Throat-Gasher, that is. Why didn¡¯t you finish me off back in the Training Hall?¡± ¡°What does it matter to you?¡± Rowanna replied before taking a step back from the steel door. ¡°Well, actually I¡¯m rather¡­fascinated by their way. Is it true that each Votary that failed their duty will be lashed 50 times in the back?¡± Rowanna remained quiet, refusing to entertain the incarcerated man¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes,¡± Cindar giggled sinisterly. ¡°Tell me: were you lashed when the Throat-Gasher was still thriving? Did it hurt when one of those spinal whips chafed you in the back?¡± The auburn-haired woman took a deep breath and exhaled. A tiny smile appeared across her face shortly after, followed by her response, ¡°Was that it? Was that your best attempt at making me angry? I must say, that was pretty¡­weak.¡± ¡°Oh, come on now. There¡¯s no need to put on a brave face.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. Though, I can¡¯t say the same about you,¡± Rowanna sneered. ¡°The fallen son of a revered hero ¨C that has a nice ring to it, don¡¯t you think? I can¡¯t imagine the amount of humiliation you must be feeling right now.¡± BANG! The steel door rattled as Cindar suddenly launched his fist towards it; a reaction that made Rowanna snickered. ¡°It seems someone hasn¡¯t gotten over his daddy issues,¡± the auburn-haired woman persisted with her taunting. ¡°That man was no hero,¡± Cindar grunted. ¡°The fucking drunk wouldn¡¯t stop blabbering about his ¡®glory days¡¯, so much so that he was ostracised by his community ¨C the same community that once revered him as a hero. The funny part is the Faceless Order never offered any help to him ¨C not even once.¡± ¡°Then, you are greatly mistaken. The Order did try to help him, but your father stubbornly declined our offer over and over again.¡± ¡°Then, he is a greater fool than all of you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± said Rowanna, both of her eyebrows raised. ¡°The last time I checked, I wasn¡¯t the one who is enclosed behind a solid steel door. So, I suggest you shut your fat mouth and sit down in there like a good little puppy," after finishing her sentence, Rowanna stomped off, leaving Cindar alone in his cell. With his head raised, Cindar stared directly at the tiny dome camera fixed to the ceiling. With a sneer on his face, he made an obscene sign with his fingers before uttering a barrage of unpleasant-sounding words. **??****************************************** Lucy crossed her arms in silence; her azure eyes were fixated on Sam who was unknowingly massaging his throat ever since they left the Infirmary. At first, she wanted to bring it to his attention, but as soon as she saw the scowl on Sam¡¯s face, she knew her advice would only fall on deaf ears. The elevator door slid open and the trio marched out together ¨C heading toward the direction of the Chamber of Convergence. As the main entrance swung open, they saw Marie pacing back and forth in the middle of the room with a black handle claymore strapped to the left side of her waist. "The Stream of Anguish," Lucy murmured. Named after the fabled weapon from the Old World, the two-handed sword was said to bring misfortunes every time it was unsheathed. She also recalled other strange tales attributed to the object - the most popular one was how the blade was made from a mixture of iron ores and human bones. "Oh, there you are. Took you long enough," Marie greeted the trio with her usual motherly smile. ¡°Miss Marie,¡± Sam replied, his voice was slightly hoarse. ¡°Ooh, you don¡¯t sound too good,¡± Marie remarked out of concern. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re up to it? If you need more time to recuperate, then-.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve rested long enough,¡± Sam interjected. ¡°Um¡­if you say so,¡± Marie answered before she noticed Lucy staring intently at her Core Blade. "Don''t worry, darling. I can assure you that most of the things you heard about this cheeky little girl are exaggerated.¡± ¡°Most? So, some of them are true?¡± Lucy responded. Marie shrugged both of her shoulders and simply countered, ¡°Who knows?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean to intrude,¡± Rupert suddenly jumped into the conversation. ¡°But Markus said you have something for us?¡± ¡°I do," said Marie before she reached into her jacket to produce three items from her coat: a small black case containing three earpieces, a glass orb, and a rectangular device the trio used back in the Wailing Forest. "I believe all of you are already acquainted with these little gizmos. The Order''s standard issue for every field mission. You''ll find the coordinates to Liz''s cabin in the Projector ¨C you know? this flat, cuboid-like gadget." Marie then handed all the tools to Sam before she shuffled toward one of the arches. ¡°Do you have any questions?¡± ¡°Well, we have never gone to the Desert of Ashes before. What should we expect?¡± Sam inquired. ¡°Sands. A lot of them ¨C though I¡¯m sure that wasn¡¯t what you wanted to know,¡± Marie chuckled mischievously. ¡°Thanks to Lizzy¡¯s effort, the Distorted¡¯s presence in the Desert of Ashes is declining rapidly. Unfortunately, that does not mean there is no immediate danger.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lucy further asked, her head tilted slightly to the right. "Someone I knew told me this: big or small - ferocious or not - an unseen enemy is a dangerous adversary, more than the one you can see." The trio glanced at each other in total confusion, wondering what the emerald-eyed woman was talking about. Marie proceeded to giggle after seeing the puzzled look on the trio¡¯s faces. She, however, quickly regained her composure to assure the trio, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, fellas. You¡¯ll see what I meant soon enough.¡± After finishing her sentence, the lady in black snapped her fingers which caused one of the arches to light up, creating the familiar rippling surface the trio went through yesterday. ¡°Mind your steps,¡± Marie told the trio; her glinting emerald eyes darted between the three fledglings. ¡°And try not to die.¡± 10th Fragment: -DESERT- [Somewhere in the Desert of Ashes] Gray as the storm clouds, the mountains of sand bleakly stood before them -- a stark contrast to the clear sky above the trio''s heads. Sam leaned down and grabbed the hot, gritty sand off the ground -- watching silently as it gradually turned glittering gold. "This is the Desert of Ashes, alright," he murmured before turning to Lucy, who had already switched on the Projector. With the aid of the holographic map, the trio could see their destination marked with a flickering red dot. "Lizzy''s cabin is a 10-minute walk from here. If this coordinate was correct, it should be," Lucy points to her right, "That way." "Wait, what is that?" Rupert gestures at a small red cross -- northwest of the cabin. "Hm, I''m not quite sure. The ruins, perhaps? Lizzy is a Tarantula Hawk, so maybe she was assigned to that location?" Lucy said with a shrug. ¡°Ruins? Of what?¡± ¡°A long-lost civilization from the early days of the post-cataclysmic era,¡± Lucy began her explanation. ¡°It is rumored that they created a device that could conceal their entire kingdom from any form of detection. Needless to say, the Order took a great interest in the technology and has put the Tarantula Hawk in charge of finding documents and relics which could help in recreating the rare contraption.¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s¡­interesting. How do you know so much about the¡­uh¡­technology?¡± Rupert replied while scratching his chin. Lucy exhaled; she felt slightly sad looking at her clueless brother. ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised with how much reading can benefit you. You know what? Maybe it could save your life someday.¡± ¡°Me? Reading?¡± the elder Nightingale let out a short burst of laughter. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll have to pass on that one. You know me, I¡¯m more of a doer than a thinker.¡± ¡°RUPE! HOLD!¡± Sam suddenly exclaimed, causing Rupert to stop dead on his track. The vermillion-eyed man shoved his friend aside before drawing his katana ¨C pointing it toward a black, cactus-like growth on the ground. ¡°The heck is that?¡± asked Rupert. ¡°A Sand Urchin,¡± Lucy answered. ¡°A nasty little fella. Once it clings to you, it will be nearly impossible to get them off.¡± ¡°And¡­what if you can¡¯t get it off?¡± ¡°Well, for starter¡­it¡¯ll start to multiply until it fully envelops your body. Then, this thing will suck up all of your nutrients, turning you into a prune.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± was the only thing Rupert said before he slowly took a few steps back from the Sand Urchin. ¡°But, unless you got one sticking to you, it poses no threat whatsoever. As a matter of fact, it plays a significant role in this type of biome.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry then,¡± Sam retorted before sheathing back his sword. ¡°So back to our main goal: find out about Elisabeth¡¯s whereabouts and bring her home. Let us pray she¡¯s still in the realm of the living.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Rupert muttered. ¡°But, what if she¡¯s¡­not?¡± ¡°Then, we follow the standard protocol: bring her body ¨C or what¡¯s left of her ¨C back to the Tower for a proper burial. Though, I doubt she already kicked the bucket.¡± ¡°Huh, what makes you so sure?¡± Sam gestured at the whole desert with both of his hands and said, ¡°This entire place is still standing. If Elisabeth is dead, she will drag this desert down with her to the bottom of the ocean.¡± ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE NEXUS: MARIE ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Inside the Chamber of Convergence, Tower of Nexus] "Plotting something again, are we, Markus?" said Marie as soon as the bearded man walked into the Chamber of Convergence. "Ouch. You''re treating me like some sort of crook, Miss Strelitzia," Markus chuckled. "How were my apprentices doing? I''m hoping they didn''t cause you any trouble." Placing her hands on her hips, Marie took a quick look at the archway and recalled the expressions worn by the trio before they went through it, "Disconcerted ¨C every single one of them. Putting them in that position is uncalled for, particularly Sam." "You know pretty well that Thomas'' words are final," Markus calmly replied. "And that is what worries me," said Marie, crossing her arms together, "So? How may I assist you this evening?" Markus glanced at the main entrance, ensuring no one was coming in. "I have a little favor to ask." "A little favor, you say? It must be super important then if The Captain of the Deathstalker himself is asking for my help." "Important enough that Thomas will have us both executed if he finds out about it," Markus said grimly. Marie squinted her eyes, wondering what the man was planning this time. Then, it suddenly hit her. "Oh no, you did not do what I think you did? Please tell me you didn¡¯t use your Chronokinesis in a reckless manner?" "Of course not!" Markus lashed back, "Well, at least not when someone is around." The woman sighed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Fine, I''ll help you out, but in exchange for some favors of my own." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "Name it," said the Captain of the Deathstalker, brimming with confidence. "Promise me you¡¯ll stop using that skill of yours ¨C the one where you can catch a glimpse of the future. And¡­" ¡°And?¡± ¡°Your wife¡¯s famous puff pastry. A dozen of them by tomorrow.¡± Markus emitted a short laugh, "Sure. You have my words." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE NEXUS ||| **??****************************************** [Meanwhile...] [Desert of Ashes] Made exclusively from pinewood, Elisabeth''s small lodging was surprisingly still in pristine condition, even after being exposed to the harsh climate of the desert. The trio wasted no time pushing the front door open and carefully went inside the cluttered building. To their surprise, the two-story cabin was fitted with amenities such as a bedroom, a pantry, and also a reader''s corner. Sadly, the coziness of the entire space was ruined by the scattered papers and books. "Strange," Lucy stated, "The place is a mess and, yet, the door and the windows are still intact." "Could it be that Lizzy knew who the perpetrator was? Ooh, perhaps they are one of us?" Rupert said playfully. "No, that would be improbable," Sam told the elder Nightingale before picking a black leather-bound book off the floor. "For the last seven days, Elisabeth was the only person reported to have traveled between here and the Tower. Other than that, the Desert of Ashes is practically uninhabitable. The last known settlement was destroyed by a giant sandstorm 20 years ago." After finishing his explanation, Sam wiped the sand off the book he recovered before putting it back on the shelf. "Hm, I don''t know. I mean, don''t you think this whole room is kinda weird? I was expecting blood smears or some signs of struggle. There''s nothing here except for some old books and useless scraps of paper. Pretty darn suspicious, don''t you think? " Rupert spouted. "Are you implying she''s doing this on purpose? That''s preposterous, to say the least,¡± Lucy lashed back. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like there wasn¡¯t any case where a Faceless tried to desert the Order. Not to say that Lizzy will do it, but of course, we can¡¯t dismiss the possibility, right?¡± ¡°Rubbish!¡± Lucy snarled. ¡°She would never do that. Lizzy herself told me that the happiest day of her life was when she was officially inducted into the Order.¡± "No, Rupert raised a good point," Sam interrupted, "Not the desert part but about the room." His glinting, vermillion eyes surveyed the entire area, searching for something specific. "Elisabeth is a Tarantula Hawk, right?" "Yeah," both Lucy and Rupert answered at the same time. "Then, she was supposed to have a space dedicated to her studies. A workshop of some kind," Sam shifted his attention to the virtually empty shelf. "Guys, pick up the books and arrange them in alphabetical order," the Nightingales immediately did as they were told. Eventually, each slot was quickly occupied until they were left with a single gap. Sam took a deep breath before he inserted the last book. CLICK! A keypad suddenly popped out on the left side of the shelf, that upon further inspection, seemed to be a six numbers combination lock. "Okay, now what?" Lucy grumbled. "Her birthday, maybe?" Rupert grouched, scratching his head. "Close. The date of her induction into the Order. When was it?" Sam asked. Lucy swiftly replied, "2nd April 1001, if I remember correctly." After hearing those dates, Sam inputted 020401 with the keypad. DING! The shelf slowly split open, revealing a hidden staircase leading into the basement. "Dude," Rupert was so stunned he could not even come up with a witty remark. "How did you know that was the code?" asked Lucy, sharing the same baffled expression as her brother. "You said the day Elisabeth was inducted was the happiest day of her life. So, it''s highly possible she used the date for the code. Thanks for that, by the way," Sam cracked a little smile. "S-Sure. No problem," Lucy stammered, blushing at the unexpected compliment. "Anyways, let''s head straight down," the flustered woman rushed toward the stairs while trying to hide her bright red cheeks from Sam and her brother''s eyes. ****??**************************************** As they anticipated, the workshop was more spacious than the whole cabin upstairs. Various equipment was arranged neatly around the room -- each was powered by the solar panels fitted to the roof of the building. Numerous bookshelves sat at each corner of the basement, storing research journals dating back to the first year of the post-Cataclysmic era. Being an avid reader, Lucy could not contain her excitement when she saw Elisabeth''s awe-inspiring collection of books, "Oh my God, could it be¡­? All of these are about past civilizations! Let¡¯s see¡­The Dominion of the Eagles, the Country of the Lone Iron Tower, and there''s also one about the Underwater Cities!" "Sheesh, of all the things to get yourself worked up," Rupert muttered, rolling his eyes out of boredom. "Who can blame her? She didn''t even have the chance to visit the Grand Library since our return from the Wailing Forest," Sam then patted the elder Nightingale on the back, "Let''s leave her be and look around. Oh, and don''t break anything." Then, the two men roamed the area together, inspecting each cabinet and machine -- hoping to find some kind of clue. "Ah-choo!" Rupert sneezed, "Lizzy should really clean this place up. I can barely breathe in here." "Well, you''re one to talk. I do remember a certain someone got himself kicked in the rear for not tidying up his bed," Sam responded with a sarcastic tone. The next thing he heard was a burst of laughter, followed by Rupert saying, "Fair play, dude. Fair play." The duo continued their search quietly until something caught Sam''s attention. On one of the worktables was a slab, with wave-like symbols carved on its surface. He noticed brushes of different shapes and sizes next to them, alongside a small sticky note filled with scribbles. The only words he could make out of it were ''Jewels'' and ''Tree'' while the rest were crossed out, either out of frustration or on purpose. However, what bothered Sam the most was the writing ¨C it felt somewhat familiar to him ¨C as if he saw them somewhere before. "Hey, guys!" the female Nightingale called out, "You might want to see this." Shortly after the trio regrouped, Lucy instantly showed them a page from a brand-new journal. "This was written...three days ago," Sam mouthed before he started to read the recent entry out loud: [0700] [An overnight sandstorm has revealed a stone structure resembling a crypt entrance -- northwest of the Base. Initial analysis indicates that the architecture predates all of the Four Major Kingdoms. But there are also traces of electronic components, suggesting a later addition by an unknown party. Nevertheless, the excavation was postponed at 1230 due to a sandstorm. Further investigation is imperative to determine the origin of the electronic components.] "Northwest? Isn''t that the red cross we''ve seen on the map earlier?" Rupert interjected with his eyebrows knitted together. "That seems to be the case," said Lucy as she gently closed the journal, "What do you guys think? Maybe Lizzy is somewhere near the ruin?" Sam held his chin, both eyes completely shut as he mulled over the new piece of information. After some time, he looked at the siblings; both were already aware of what he was about to say, "I''m afraid there''s only one way to find out." 11th Fragment: -DUSK- As the waxing gibbous moon hovered above the hut, the trio postponed their search to take a breather. Both Sam and Lucy remained down in the workshop, with Rupert staying upstairs, guarding the front door. After the youngest Nightingale carefully placed a journal back into its place, she turned away from the shelf and noticed that Sam was fixated on the slab. "Had any luck?" asked Lucy as she headed to the worktable. "I wish I could say that," the man shrugged, "But unfortunately, I''m not a trained linguist like Elisabeth." Lucy giggled as she took her place next to the man, her azure eyes scrutinizing each symbol. "Huh, I never thought there''ll be anything left of the Country of the Reeds," she remarked sadly. "What happened to it?" "A revolt of some kind - stemmed from years of oppression and suffering," Lucy took a deep breath before continuing, "My mom told me a tale about this land. A beautiful kingdom with fields of shining golden reeds stretching as far as the eyes could see. The royal palace, built from pure white stone, sat right next to a large river; its flowing surface is so crystal clear, it was like looking through glass." ¡°Hm, that sounded like something out of a fairy tale." "It was. My mom described the kingdom as, and I quoted: a whole nother world." "So, what happened to it?" "Well, it is said that the last king was suddenly consumed by an abnormal lust for gold and riches ¨C so obsessed he was that he ended up hoarding all of them in his castle like a lunatic. Because of his unscrupulous actions, the land soon fell into years of famine, poverty, and abuse -- turning what used to be a bountiful land into graves for the poor and the sick. Eventually, as you might have guessed, the people had enough, and it didn''t take long for them to storm the castle, catching the king sleeping blissfully with his wealth." "Sleeping with his wealth? That is pretty...abhorring. So, what happened then? To the king, I mean." "The people caught him, of course, and he was thrown in a vat of liquid gold. Soon after, his remain was paraded around the city before it was cut into pieces and thrown into the river." "Oh." "Yeah. Regrettably, by the time the rebellion was finished, the damage done to this land was pretty much irreversible. Thanks to the greedy king''s decades of negligence, not even a single blade of grass could grow from the hills outside." Lucy crossed her arms together after finishing her story, and with a low voice, she said, "I''m sorry. If it wasn''t for my brother and me, you could have gained access to the Archive without dealing with all this shit." Sam was rendered speechless by the sudden apology. After recollecting himself, Sam asked the woman, "Was it a mistake ¨C what we did back then?" "What?" Lucy''s forehead creased, both confused and intrigued at the odd question. "Back in the Wailing Forest, what we did ¨C was it a mistake? You know, saving the towners from the Distorted?" "That''s..." Lucy halted, her head tilted down to the floor. Sam sighed, "A wise man once told me that doing the right thing can sometimes get you in trouble. But, that doesn''t mean you should stop doing the right thing. I never blamed both of you for what happened. Truth be told, I was expecting the suspension. Thomas wouldn''t want someone like me to be associated with Conclave, let alone join it." "Then he is an idiot," Lucy snapped before leaning against the table, munching her lips. At the same time, Sam was peering at her with concern. He had been observing her since they escaped The Nest -- noticing how easily agitated she was after the encounter with the Crystal of Birth. "You''re still thinking about that crystal, don''t you?" Sam mouthed. Lucy fidgeted as she felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder. "It was supposed to be like any other day. Out on the lawn in the morning, training with Rupert and my father. Then in the afternoon, I''ll watch my mother cooking in the kitchen. On the day it happened, we were supposed to bake a cherry pie together." Lucy laid her glassy eyes on Sam, "I''m going to find him -- the man with the Black Flame. I''ll make sure his death will be slow...and painful." "I understand your reason for doing it but you are treading on a very dark path. One that, I¡¯m afraid, you might not be able to come back from," Sam retorted. "I know," Lucy exhaled with a smile across her weary face. "So, no words of wisdom from Samuel Edelweiss? You know, to prevent me from pursuing this road of vengeance?" "No," Sam shook his head, "You and your brother have the right to do so. However, aside from avenging your parents, you mustn''t forget about your main duty." Lucy chuckled, "You sounded so much like Markus. But, in case that happened," she bumped her fist on Sam''s arm, "I''ll be counting on you to bring me back to my senses." ¡°That¡­was so corny,¡± Sam commented and both started to laugh out loud. "Yo, guys! I think you might want to see this!" Rupert suddenly called them out, much to his younger sibling''s dismay. "Well," Sam shrugged, "So much for a peaceful night." ??******************************************** The two rushed upstairs, only to find all the lights were off except for the candle in Rupert''s hand. As soon as the elder Nightingale saw Sam and his sister, he put his finger on his lips before gesturing his fingers at the window in front of him. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Now tell me, what do you guys see?" muttered Rupert, pointing to the outside of the cabin. Sam and Lucy peeked through the glass and it didn¡¯t take long for them to see an orb of light floating between the black dunes. "Are those¡­people? Real people?" Lucy spouted. Under the dim moonlight, she saw two hooded figures wading through the sand -- guided by a single flashlight. "They sure look like real people. They¡¯ve been patrolling the area since half an hour ago but this is the first time, they are approaching us," Rupert explained. ¡°So, who do you think they are?¡± ¡°Well, considering Elisabeth was the only person who is supposed to be here, I¡¯m guessing they¡¯re the ones who messed this place up ¨C and maybe even knew Elisabeth¡¯s whereabouts,¡± Sam replied. ¡°So, what¡¯s the next course of action?¡± Lucy inquired. "Well," said Sam as he pulled out his mask from his jacket. "Let''s give our guests a warm welcome." ¡°Now, we¡¯re talking,¡± Rupert sneered. **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [The Dungeon, Tower of Nexus] Markus stopped in front of the metal door, his heart was beating anxiously at what waited for him beyond the cold, emotionless barricade. How should he proceed? How should he strike up a conversation with someone like Jack Cindar? Those were the questions that kept repeating in his mind. ¡°Here goes,¡± Markus sighed before he pushed the door open, revealing a man meditating on the concrete floor with a reddish-brown mist swirled ominously around him. "I expected you to come sooner, Markus Strigis," a smirk appeared across Cindar''s swollen face. As soon he opened his eyes, the colored gas instantly disappeared without a trace. "So, what do you want? A confession? Some words of regret?" "Those would be nice but all I want for now is a reason. For your recent...mishaps," said Markus, his nose crinkled from the lingering stenches of dried blood and sweat. Cindar huffed proudly, "And what do you hope to find if I tell you? Solace? A sense of resolution? You don''t strike me as a sentimental person, Markus." "Don''t try to change the subject now," said the Captain of the Deathstalker, as he glared scornfully at Cindar. "Let me remind you that you are currently in a very precarious situation. So, for once in your life, why don''t you act like a man of honor, and take responsibility for your actions?" "A man of honor?" Cindar chortled. "Oh Markus, let''s not hide behind an archaic concept such as honor like our predecessors did. You and I are the same -- a pragmatist. Someone who is not afraid to break the laws of the old for the sake of achieving our goals." Markus proceeded to scoff at the man''s remark, "You flattered yourself. Your ways of ¡®breaking the laws of the old¡¯ are clearly different than mine, based on what had transpired in the Training Hall¡­and during your apprenticeship." ¡°Ah, those two idiots. If only they did as they were told, they will probably be alive,¡± Cindar blurted out. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m referring to how I tried to persuade them not to explore the tunnel they were buried in.¡± ¡°Those two idiots...had families who will be grieving because of you.¡± ¡°So? Isn¡¯t it better for them to grieve now than later? Our job is not exactly risk-free.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point!" Markus exclaimed before lowering himself down to Cindar''s level. "I''ve reviewed the footage of what you did those kids and honestly, I found it to be a tad...peculiar." "Oh? How so?" "For starters, you never once tried to conceal your act; you did it nonchalantly within the view of the camera ¨C it was as if you wanted to be seen on purpose. Do you have anything to say about that?" Cindar broke into a vast roar of laughter, "You are letting your imagination run wild again, Markus. Isn¡¯t it obvious? What happened was I lost my temper and what happened next was kinda of a blur to me." "Really? You ''lost your temper'' and, yet you still managed to miss their vitals?" "Lucky for them, I suppose." "Are you seriously expecting me to believe that?" Markus narrowed his eyes. "I don¡¯t expect you to. But, it will be nice if you do." After seeing the arrogant smile on Cindar''s face, Markus knew he could not get anything else from the stubborn man. "Fine, if that¡¯s how you want to play it," he stood up and casually made his way back to the entrance. ¡°So, what do you think will happened to me, Markus? Will I be Culled or executed?¡± ¡°Whichever it was, I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t care less. However, there¡¯s one thing for certain ¨C your punishment will be much more severe since Thomas won¡¯t be covering for you this time. Oh, you mentioned something about me stabbing my best friend in the back. Do you know why I did?" said Markus as he grabbed the door handle. "Enlighten me, please." "Because he''s the one who killed the previous Faceless Lord.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS ||| ****??**************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Desert of Ashes] "Dude, are you sure you¡¯re seeing right? I don''t see anyone in there," said the man with the flashlight, pressing his flat nose against the window. "You¡¯re not pulling my leg again, are you, Earl? ''Cause I''m not in the mood for your stupid jokes." "I swear on my mother''s name, Keith! I definitely saw someone walking around inside this freaking cabin," the stout man replied. ¡°I don¡¯t even know your mother,¡± the man named Keith sighed heavily. He directed the light at his companion, when he noticed Earl''s dilated pupils, Keith immediately clicked his tongue out of annoyance. "You imbecile! you took those things again, didn''t you?!" "What?! No! I didn''t!" Earl snapped, "Maybe just a little bit?¡± ¡°For Vidia¡¯s sake, how many times do I have to tell you to stay away from those drugs? It¡¯s not designed for someone like us.¡± ¡°I know, but¡­please trust me. I¡¯m not trying to trick you or anything like that." the man pleaded. After a few moments of deliberation, Keith reluctantly gave in to his friend''s demand. ¡°Fine. But if there is nothing in there, then you will stop sniffing that stuff.¡± Keith marched toward the entrance and carefully place his hand on the doorknob. It was expectedly cold to the touch, which only made Keith grumble out loud. KRIK! The door creaked open as soon as Keith twisted the knob, and he quickly pointed his flashlight forward which only ended up raising his disappointment. ¡°See, Earl? There¡¯s nothing here except for a vacant and messy living room. Can we go back-?¡± Keith paused after realizing his friend was nowhere to be seen. "Where the hell did that doofus go?" the man grunted, shortly before he saw a fist shot out of the darkness in front of him. 12th Fragment: -FRIGID- "One final knot¡­and, all done!" Rupert proudly declared after tying the two unconscious men to the chairs -- thanks to the rope he found in the basement. "Hush, not so loud," Lucy softly reminded her brother as she stood guard near the entrance. Seconds later, the front door swung open, and Lucy gasped as the draft of cold air hit her squarely in the chest. "It seems we are in the clear. For now," Sam calmly replied before carefully closing the door behind him. "How are they doing?" he asked Lucy while rubbing his clammy hands together. "Still knocked out,¡± replied Lucy before she glanced toward a man with cut lips. ¡°But as usual, my brother went overboard with one of them ¨C nearly smashed the guy''s face into pieces." "For the last time, it was a complete accident," Rupert ranted, "It was dark, and I ended up with a tiny...miscalculation." Lucy grunted, "Our masks are equipped with night vision. So, how in the world did you miscalculate?" "Oh. Well, as they always said: shit happens," Rupert casually shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, alright, save your bantering for later," Sam mouthed as his eyes darted to the intruders. He immediately noticed one of them wearing a yellow pendant with a familiar-looking emblem. Goaded by his curiosity, the vermillion-eyed man quickly dropped to his knees to take a closer and soon found, encased within the transparent amber ¨C a miniature silver snake coiled around a fancy chalice. "So, did you find anything interesting?" asked Rupert after hearing his friend grumbling to himself. "How about a supposedly dead organization?" said Sam as he searched the man with the cut lips. Eventually, he recovered a few oddities such as a shining black button, a small glass vial, and, "A keycard? Quite a strange object to carry around in one¡¯s pocket, especially when you''re in the middle of a desert, don''t you think?" ¡°It must be for some kind of door. Wait,¡± Lucy instantly recalled what she read from Elisabeth¡¯s journal. ¡°Lizzy said she discovered electronic components near the old ruins. Whatever this keycard is for, we¡¯ll probably find the answer there.¡± "Hold on a sec," Rupert interjected, "This doesn''t make any sense. I mean, come on? The Disciples of Vidia? They¡¯ve been extinct for what? 20 years? In case you forgot, Markus himself executed the last member of the organization, therefore putting an end to their decades of terror. For them to make a sudden return is just so, I don¡¯t know, sudden?¡± "That is true. Furthermore, all their research notes are also locked away permanently in the Archive, where no one, not even the Chief of the Council himself can access it," Sam added and later turned his attention to the vial in his hand that contained a bubbly pinkish liquid. "Perhaps all we can do is confirm it ourselves ¨C find out how far the rabbit hole goes.¡± Lucy sighed heavily, "It¡¯s time to wake them up then?" ¡°Of course, it is,¡± Rupert grinned before shifting his gaze to the flat-nosed man. ¡°Wait, Rupert. Not-¡° The elder Nightingale lightly slapped the man in the cheek, waking the latter up. "Wha-Who?" the man stammered, slightly dazed from the jab the elder Nightingale gave him earlier. Once his vision returned to normal, his face became drained of color when he saw the masked trio standing in front of his very eyes. "Oh God, you-you''re the Faceless," he whimpered. "So, you already know who we are. Good, that¡¯ll spare us from the introduction," Lucy remarked. ¡°You must be having a splitting headache, am I right? Well, you can blame my friend for that one. He can be a bit of an ass sometimes.¡± ¡°Once again, people: it was just a miscalculation,¡± Rupert pouted. ¡°Anyhow,¡± said Lucy before she drew her dagger and gently rested the sharp tip against the bonded man¡¯s chin. ¡°Would you be so kind as to tell us your name?¡± "M-My what?" the man fidgeted. "I¡¯m sorry, you must still be a bit disoriented. Your. Name. Please" "Keith." "Keith. Well, nice to meet you, Keith. Your buddy over there, what¡¯s his?" "He''s...um...E-Earl,¡± Keith groaned. ¡°Are you going to kill us?¡± ¡°That depends,¡± said Lucy, shortly before moving her dagger away from the anxious man. ¡°I¡¯m gonna ask you a few questions and if I find your answers satisfactory, then maybe we¡¯ll let you and your friend go. Sounds fair?¡± Keith nodded nervously at her, prompting Lucy to first ask, ¡°Where did you come from?¡± ¡°T-The ruins¡­¡± ¡°And?¡± Rupert interjected which made Keith tremble in his seat. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t tell you. They¡¯ll kill me.¡± ¡°Who? The Disciples of Vidia?¡± Sam blurted out the name without a hint of hesitation. ¡°We already know who you are working for. So, let¡¯s cut to the chase and answer the question.¡± Keith blinked his eyes repeatedly; he could also feel cold sweats trailing down his back. ¡°The ruins¡­We came from the ruins.¡± ¡°Now, that wasn¡¯t so hard, was it?¡± Lucy once again took over the conversation. ¡°For the second question, what happened here?¡± ¡°We-Well¡­Our superior wanted the Faceless that resided in this house. He said it is so we could¡­extract her cells for our research,¡± Keith explained. ¡°But by the time we are here, the house was already thrashed and the person who lived here is nowhere to be seen.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re not lying to us, are you? ¡®Cause if you do¡­¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°No! I¡¯m not lying to you!¡± Keith cried out in return. ¡°I swear I don¡¯t know what happened to your friend! If I do, I¡¯ll tell you!¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Lucy huffed before turning her head toward Sam. ¡°What do you think? Is he telling the truth?¡± ¡°Maybe, if he can tell me what this is,¡± Sam showed the vial to the shackled man. Keith opened his mouth slightly to answer but later changed his mind for some reason. "Didn¡¯t you hear him? He asked you a question," Lucy said menacingly, resting the dagger against the man¡¯s sweaty jaw. Keith twitched, feeling the sharp edge pressing against his neck. "I¡­I can¡¯t. I¡¯ll be dead for sure." ¡°Dead? You should realize by now that the Disciples won¡¯t be that merciful to a tattletale. They¡¯ll make it slow, and not to mention painful,¡± Lucy chuckled. ¡°Me and these two gentlemen here? We could at least make it quick.¡± Keith was rendered speechless. After a brief moment of contemplation, the flat-nosed reluctantly told the trio about the mysterious liquid, "It''s¡­It¡¯s an experimental drug...developed by our researchers five years ago. What it does is temporarily grants the imbiber with the Faceless ability." "Woah," the Nightingales muttered, obviously amazed by the weird-colored concoction. Seeing how the siblings were distracted by the new information, Sam decided to lead the interrogation, "That¡¯s impossible. We''ve confiscated all of your data - executed all of your senior researchers, including your leader. Those should have at least put your work 50 to 100 years behind ¨C unless you had some help." Keith''s eyes widened, "Look, that¡¯s the only thing I know, alright? My only job is to follow orders and don¡¯t bother asking questions." "Ah, the living standard of a true coward. Now, I see why they made you the errand boy. Well, can¡¯t really blame you for that,¡± Rupert commented. ¡°I told you everything, right? Can I go now?¡± Keith''s voice cracked. ¡°Not yet,¡± Lucy responded, shaking her head. ¡°We haven¡¯t talked to your friend yet. Besides, what¡¯s the hurry? You¡¯re not thinking of warning your friends down in the ruins, are you?¡± Then, from out of the blue, Earl rose from his stupor and began to quiver in his seat. Keith watched in horror as the man''s face reddened, followed by streams of thick, crimson liquid flowing out of his orifices. ¡°What are you doing to him!?¡± Keith shouted. ¡°It¡¯s not us!¡± Sam lashed back at the panicking man. Earl¡¯s head jolted from right to left; the skin on his face started to peel off as if he was exposed to direct sunlight. Soon after, his eyeballs popped out of his sockets followed by a bubbling green fluid spilling out of his mouth. Then, the spasming man simply froze in his place. ¡°Earl? Earl¡­?¡± Keith called softly even though he knew his friend would not answer. Lucy tiptoed toward the corpse and placed her fingers below his gaping jaw while avoiding the flowing sticky liquid. "Yeah, he''s gone," she gloomily confirmed. ¡°Damn. That was¡­that was pretty gnarly,¡± Rupert exhaled. "What...what happened to him?" asked Keith, still staring at his deceased friend with an expression ranging from shock and confusion. "My first guess is poison, but I never saw one acting as aggressive as this," Lucy spun around to bombard the man with several questions, "Did the Disciples give you something? A pill? A capsule? Or perhaps an injection?¡± "H-How did you...?" "Hey, focus! Did they or did they not?" Lucy cut him short. "After they recruited us, we were scheduled for a mandatory health inspection. One of the doctors injected us with a nano-tracking device ¨C just in case we got lost in the desert." "Hm, I don¡¯t think it was a tracking device. It¡¯s probably a proximity microbomb - triggered when you are too far away from the ruins for a certain period of time," murmured the youngest Nightingale. Realizing the situation, Lucy swiftly swung her dagger to cut off the restraint around Keith''s torso -- much to the latter''s surprise. "We need to get him to the ruins right now before his organs turn into cheese." ¡°Let¡¯s head there now,¡± Sam nodded his head and he quickly yanked Keith off the chair. ¡°Urgh! My legs! I can¡¯t feel my legs!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be alright. A little stroll will perk them back up, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Lucy sighed. ¡°His friend¡¯s body. We can¡¯t leave him like this.¡± ¡°The hell we can¡¯t. We¡¯ve got no time to clean the place up,¡± Rupert protested. ¡°It¡¯s not about cleaning up the place,¡± the young Nightingale growled. ¡°It¡¯s about respecting the dead. Whether they are our allies or enemies, they still deserve a proper burial.¡± ¡°Then, do what you must,¡± breathed Sam. ¡°But make sure to keep an eye out for any hostiles.¡± "Aye, chief," Lucy gave a single nod to the vermillion-eyed man, and despite wearing the mask, Sam could hear her whisper a simple, ¡®Thanks.¡¯ ¡°Hold it! We¡­I¡­?! Oh, fine¡­I guess I¡¯ll be the mortician¡¯s assistant then,¡± Rupert complained before rushing to his sister¡¯s side. "I don''t understand," said Keith, with a confused look on his face. ¡°Why are you trying to save me? More importantly, why are so eager on giving Earl his last rite?" "Oh, don''t take this the wrong way. We''re not doing this out of the kindness of our hearts. It¡¯s just¡­it¡¯ll be a great inconvenience to us if you died before we could even finish grilling you," Sam uttered. ¡°Now, shall we get going?¡± ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [The Dungeon, Tower of Nexus] ¡°SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!¡± The auburn-haired woman was fuming with anger. She cursed vociferously at the empty isolation chamber ¨C the same chamber where Cindar was supposed. Rowanna touched her earpiece, furiously backing into the little device, "Shut down the entire Tower! Jack Cindar is on the loose! I repeat: Jack Cindar is on the loose!" **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| With the flashlight in his hand and his mask''s night vision, Sam followed the man closely from behind; while at the same time, his vermillion eyes darted around -- actively searching for potential dangers. Even so, an unexpected enemy was the least of his concerns. For each step he took, the burning sensation in his legs grew intense due to the sandy surface -- not to mention the freezing night breeze that sliced through his skin like a hundred invisible knives. He never once thought he would die from hypothermia, but perhaps it was time for him to reconsider the possibility. "W-What is that?" muttered Keith, pointing at a distant white flame. It floated on top of a dune -- gracefully swaying left and right as if beckoning him to come closer. "Ghost fire," Sam mouthed, "The bane of night travelers. Like the rod of an anglerfish, it lures the lost and the curious with its warm, deceptive flame." "You''re saying as if that thing belongs to something big." "It does. That is why we need to keep moving-," Sam turned silent as he felt the sand shifted between his feet, followed by a hair-raising screeching echoing throughout the desert. "The hell was that?" said Keith as he felt a shiver down his spine. "That¡­is the Sandcreeper." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| 13th Fragment: -SLITHER- Lucy¡¯s azure eyes quietly settled on the horizon, watching vigilantly for any movement. She had not seen Sam and the Disciple ever since they left the house ¨C which could either be good news or¡­ ¡°Control yourself, girl. There¡¯s no need for any negative thoughts right now,¡± Lucy whispered to herself. ¡°Yo, Luce, is this deep enough?¡± Rupert called out, prompting Lucy to turn around to see her brother inside a human size hole. ¡°It¡¯s good enough. Now, help me carry the guy down,¡± said Lucy, her focus shifted toward Earl¡¯s body which was now enveloped with thin white cloth like a cocoon. ¡°Before we do that,¡± said the elder Nightingale as he climbed out of the hole with a shovel in his hand. ¡°I still don¡¯t get it. Why don¡¯t we just leave him out here to rot? It¡¯s not like we know him very well, and he¡¯s¡­one of those bad guys, right?¡± ¡°Look at him. Is he a threat to us?¡± Lucy gestured her hand at the corpse in front of her. ¡°¡­No?¡± ¡°Why are we having this conversation then? So, hurry up and give me a hand.¡± Without further question, Rupert reluctantly picked the body up with his sister and carried it toward the hole he dug earlier. ¡°Ugh, this guy stinks like the sewers,¡± the elder Nightingale grimaced as the pungent smell of vomit stung his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare throw up in my face,¡± Lucy warned, baring her teeth at her disgusted brother. Despite that, the siblings managed to bring and drop the cadaver into the hole. Rupert swiftly buried the corpse ¨C his sister, on the other hand, scooped some of the black sands into her hands and murmured something into them. ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked Rupert, curious at his young sibling¡¯s strange demeanor. ¡°A prayer ¨C for his body to be accepted by Mother Earth,¡± Lucy retorted before tossing the sands back to the ground. ¡°It is done.¡± ¡°Who taught you that?¡± ¡°Mom did,¡± said Lucy as she dusted her hands and clothes. ¡°She taught me when you were out fishing with Dad.¡± ¡°Huh, no wonder I never knew about it. As soon as she heard her brother¡¯s childish response, a tiny smile appeared across Lucy¡¯s face. However, her eyes started to flicker after noticing a ball of white flame floating in the distance. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Rupert immediately spun around and saw the unidentified object which slowly drifted away from them. ¡°Now, that¡¯s new.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s trouble,¡± Lucy corrected. ¡°And I think it¡¯s heading toward Sam.¡± ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| [Meanwhile¡­] Sam drew out his katana as the entire desert began to roar. Soon after, another piercing scream broke the nightly silence; this time, he could hear it rushing from the direction they were heading. "Oh, this is bad. Really, really bad," Sam mumbled before he shuffled past Keith ¨C making sure the Disciple was behind him. ¡°Whatever happens, don¡¯t get left behind,¡± Sam remarked. "H-How big is this Sandcreeper, exactly?" said Keith, with an anxious look on his face. "It depends. Usually, it¡¯s as large as a camel but some can grow up to the size of an adult elephant," Sam replied as he finally discovered the source of those eerie noises. Right in front of his eyes, he saw a large mound of sand slithering down the hill -- briskly making its way toward him. "Though, I would say this one might be bigger." BOOM! A giant lizard-like creature suddenly emerged from the ground, dispersing a cloud of sand everywhere. In that same instance, Sam''s katana burst into flame -- causing the monster to howl in pain as the blaze stung its eyes. As a result, the fearsome beast quickly clawed its way back into the sand, and the black desert became quiet once again. "That''ll hold it off for a while," Sam muttered as he turned around, only to see Keith sitting on the ground staring at the fiery blade in horror. "You¡¯re¡­the Flame Accursed. The Scorcher of the World. He of the Crimson End," spouted the flat-nosed man, "But, you''re supposed to be a myth." Ignoring the Disciple¡¯s blabbering, Sam swiftly pulled the man up to his feet and said, "We need to go. Now!" However much to his chagrin, Keith was still transfixed with his burning katana. ¡°For God¡¯s sake¡­¡± Sam grumbled before flicking the man in the forehead. "OW!" ¡°WE NEED TO GO! NOW!¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF DISTRUST: CINDAR ||| [In the meantime¡­] If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Cindar grunted repeatedly as his feet sunk into the sand, allowing the color-changing gravel to annoyingly sneak into his shoes. He twirled around, expecting a ride or something to pop out from one of the dunes at any moment. But all he saw were mountains of sand and nothingness, bathed under the gloomy moonlight. "Where the hell is that bastard?" he gritted his teeth out of frustration. At that exact moment, he was reminded of the time when he was dragged into the Council of Eight, especially when he saw the disappointment written across Thomas¡¯s and Markus¡¯s faces. Who are they to judge him for choosing his own path? Markus begrudgingly thought. He had done everything they told him to without question and all he wanted was a little reward for his deed ¨C a reward that he was denied. Soon after finishing his inner monologue, a gust of wind slapped him across the face -- strong enough that it caused him to fall on his back. He moaned as the pain in his body returned ¨C not to mention the sand grinding between his skin and clothes. ''You are late.'' Cindar jolted to his rear after hearing the toneless, breathy voice -- his droopy eyes settled on the shining black orb floating in front of his face. "Just a minor setback, that''s all. I thought we''ll be meeting in person this time. So, what''s with the change of plan?" ¡®You are the change of plan, and do not speak as if we are equal, Jack Cindar,'' the orb chided. ''Compared to your former superior, our master does not tolerate incompetence. Therefore, proof to him that you are capable of finishing the job, or there will be consequences for your failure. The orb proceeded to disappear into thin air, leaving Cindar growling to himself. "That son of a bitch really needs to learn how to loosen up a little bit," he muttered. The man stood up to brush off the sand from his hair before hearing a demonic shrieking on the other side of the dunes -- followed shortly by a familiar crimson glow. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF DISTRUST ||| ****??**************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| The two men ran across the desert with their eyes and ears open. It wasn''t long until they heard the guttural scream behind them, accompanied by an approaching sandstorm. "What the-?! It can do that?!" exclaimed Keith, after taking a hurried look over his shoulder. "JUST GO!" Sam lashed back. Then, the Sandcreeper sprung out from the sand behind them with its jaw wide open - revealing rows of sickle-shaped teeth. "So much for conserving energy," Using his left leg as a pivot, Sam turned around to face the monster head-on. With the flaming katana raised over his head, he could finally see the Sandcreeper''s features more clearly: its ash-grey scales resembling the bleak color of the desert, its menacing, golden eyes, and more importantly, the rod-like appendage sticking out of its horned head. "Go, Keith! I¡¯ll hold it back!" "Wait, what?" "GO! NOW!" The flat-nosed man reluctantly bolted away from the scene, leaving Sam alone to deal with the creature. "So, you can control the sandstorm, huh? Then, how about this!" he murmured before swinging the sword downward -- flinging a massive fireball that hit the Sandcreeper in the face. The lizard staggered back, wailing in pain as the flame blackened its snout. But, Sam knew it would take more to completely subdue the monster. ''I need to finish this quick,'' thought Sam as he noticed the scowl on the monster''s scaly face -- not to mention the cloud of sand behind it. He steadily ran his hand along the burning edge, extinguishing the flame while at the same time turning the entire blade bright red. Without a sliver of hesitation, he charged toward the infuriated Sandcreeper, who also seemed to share his idea. "Oh, crap!" Sam quickly dived to the ground when the lizard suddenly pounced on him. He could feel the air ripping over his head, followed by a prickling sensation on his back. Brushing aside the dull pain, Sam immediately jumped to his feet after hearing the creature landed behind him. As he turned around, the Sandcreeper was already rushing toward him, fervently snapping its burnt jaw together. Sam stood his ground, waiting patiently for the monster to come nearer. "That''s right," he whispered, "Just a little closer." As the Sandcreeper opened its mouth, Sam leaped to his right -- just before the monster slammed its mouth shut. With the lizard briefly bewildered by its prey''s disappearance, Sam drove his glowing blade into the Sandcreeper''s foreleg -- causing the latter to yowl. "Urgh!" Sam gasped after the lizard''s massive tail smacked him squarely in the chest -- sending him flying away from the giant. The man slammed into the sandy ground -- his entire back throbbed excruciatingly from the rough landing. He lifted his head, watching silently as the Sandcreeper slowly made its approach. But then, its left foreleg began to twitch uncontrollably, stopping the lizard dead on its track. "Got you." The scaly skin around the gash slowly turned black as if they were charred by an invisible flame. Overcame by panic, the lizard thrashed around as the scorch mark rapidly spread to the rest of its torso but soon realized it was all for naught. The Sandcreeper collapsed on its belly, breathing heavily as the burnt mark reached its neck. Sam, who was already on his knees, peered into its frail yellow eyes before they closed -- this time, permanently. A huge wave of relief instantly washed over him as the sandstorm also subsided -- until he caught a glimpse of a tiny crack on his blade. "Shit. Should''ve seen this one coming," he exhaled, "Should have requested more Spider Core metal during the forging." "Woah. You actually managed to beat it." Sam looked over his shoulder to see Keith staring at the Sandcreeper''s carrion in awe. "Didn¡¯t I tell you to run?" the Faceless replied as he sheathed the sword. "Why did you come back?" "I...don''t know," Keith shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe because it doesn''t sit well with me to just abandon someone to their death." "Is that so? Not trying to offend you or anything, but I find that difficult to believe." "Okay. You might be thinking I''m trying to pull something here, but I''m not. All my life, I was told that the Faceless slaughtered the Distorted and normal people alike. But maybe, the people who told me that were wrong about you. About all of you.¡± GRRR! "Wait, something¡¯s not right," Sam interrupted after hearing something moving in the sand below. He shifted his attention back to the Sandcreeper, which was still lying motionlessly in front of him. Then, without warning, he heard Keith shouting behind him, followed by a hefty shove on his back. BOOM! The ground exploded, and another Sandcreeper popped out, sinking its teeth into Keith''s left thigh. The man screamed and desperately scratched the creature''s snout, hoping for the monster to release him. "NO!" Sam cried out. Before he could brandish his katana, the giant lizard crawled back into the ground -- mercilessly dragging its unwilling prey along. Panic-stricken, Sam instantly dropped on all four -- fruitlessly digging through the sand with his bare hands. "Damn it!" he uttered. Curling his fingers into a fist, Sam vented every last drop of his anger by pummelling the ground. A moment later, he sat on his rear with a shaky breath and a grazed knuckle. After calming himself down, he recalled a piece of advice Markus used to tell him. "Focus, Sam. Focus, and never...hesitate." After uttering those words, Sam hesitantly straightened himself up and reached for his earpiece. "Lucy, Rupert. Come in," he said, "I have some bad news." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| 14th Fragment: -REMNANT- ||| THE PATH OF THE NEXUS: MARIE ||| [Tower of Nexus] "For the umpteenth time, Anna, Jack Cindar never set foot in the Chamber of Convergence," Marie complained with an annoyed expression, "Besides, I''ll be the first to know if someone activated the Rift Gates - especially without the Council''s permission." ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± Rowanna sternly inquired. ¡°¡­¡¯Cause I¡¯m the one who builds and maintains them?¡± Rowanna started to pace back and forth in front of Marie while grumbling to herself¡ªuntil the front door swung open. Thomas, who had a solemn look on his face, stormed into the room, followed closely by Markus. ¡°Lord Thomas,¡± said Rowanna as she bowed her head down to the Faceless Lord. "At ease, Miss Zinnia," the Faceless Lord began, "Do we have any lead on the whereabouts of Jack Cindar?¡± "No, sir," Rowanna gave a quick response while glancing at Marie with her amethyst eyes. ¡°According to Miss Strelitzia, Jack Cindar has not passed through the Chamber of Convergence ¨C let alone, using one of the Rift Gates.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, Thomas,¡± Markus interjected, ¡°I¡¯ve confirmed it with Fritz. Cindar never left the dungeon corridor.¡± ¡°Then, what about the surveillance footage inside the jail cell?¡± the Faceless Lord inquired though his question was quickly met with Markus¡¯s shaking his head in disappointment. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to say that footage has been severely corrupted. It could probably take weeks or even months to recover the entire recording.¡± ¡°So, in other words, we got nothing,¡± Thomas exhaled. ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Marie suddenly commented, prompting her three visitors to look at her in total confusion. ¡°There are only two ways Cindar could escape the Tower. Either he knew someone with an ability similar to mine or procured a device that could tap into the Interdimensional Network. I¡¯ve heard some stories floating around ¨C one of them was about a Reprieved who managed to create such a device, but in case I¡¯m not mistaken, the guy was found dead in his home not too long ago.¡± ¡°Where did you hear this story, and why hasn¡¯t the Council been notified about this?¡± Rowanna muttered. ¡°That is why you need to mingle with the civvies more often, darling,¡± Marie chuckled, which caused her auburn-haired colleague to roll her eyes. ¡°Besides, it is just a rumor - so, I don¡¯t bother to check whether it is true or not.¡± Thomas proceeded to shake his head, "I''m not currently invested in how he managed to slip away from our watch. Our main objective now is to find where he went and bring him back here - alive." "Well, no offense Thomas," Marie casually jumped in, "Your plan on catching Jack Cindar is easier said than done. You¡¯ve taught him everything about the art of infiltration ¨C how to slip past detection, how to blend into the crowd, and also how to escape incarceration. What¡¯s worst is he somehow found a way to tap into the Interdimensional Network without my knowledge.¡± "Then what do you propose, Miss Strelitzia?" asked the old man, scowling at the woman that in turn, smirked mischievously at him. "If that man is as smart as you claimed him to be, he''ll avoid stirring up some troubles - for the time being, of course. So, rather than wasting our resources trying to find someone who doesn''t want to be found, we''ll just have to wait for him to make his move," Marie finished her explanation, eagerly waiting for her listeners'' reply. However, the silence was soon broken by Rowanna¡¯s loud sigh followed by her saying, ¡°Shit. I hate to say it, but Strelitzia is right. This rumor about the Reprieved, where did you hear it?¡± ¡°The Sapphire Star Village. The locals have been talking about it for a few weeks now. Hm, if I remember correctly, the Captain of the Ghost Mantis is currently on an errand there.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll get hold of him right now,¡± Rowanna turned around and stormed out of the Chamber of Convergence. ¡°A hard worker, that one ¨C and quick on her feet too,¡± Marie smirked with her hands over her hips. ¡°You look troubled, Strelitzia. Is there something else you wish to tell us?¡± said Markus as he gazed into the woman¡¯s emerald green eyes. ¡°As a matter of fact, there is one other rumor that piqued my interest. Have you two gentlemen heard about a group called the Harbinger?¡± ¡°The Harbinger?¡± Markus dropped his head, pondering to himself. ¡°Can¡¯t say I have. Thomas?¡± The Faceless Lord had a serious expression across his face; his lips quivered as if he was struggling to answer Markus¡¯s question. ¡°The Harbinger¡­is a myth. An old bedtime story to scare disobedient children. If I were you, Miss Strelitzia, I won¡¯t pay much attention to such frivolity.¡± Marie crossed her arms together, her right brow raised. "The people of the Sapphire Star believe otherwise. I¡¯ve seen the looks on their faces ¨C children and adults alike ¨C they were genuine fear. If the Harbinger was simply a bedtime story, then there is no reason for them to be so terrified at the mere mention of the name. Shouldn¡¯t we look into this ¨C just to be on the safe side?¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. However, despite the sound advice, Thomas strictly told her, "There is no such thing as the Harbinger!" His sudden outburst surprised every single person in the room. By the time he realized what he did, Thomas quickly cleared his throat and apologized to the woman. "Forgive me. Perhaps the recent events affected me more than I anticipated. It¡¯s like I said, the Harbinger is nothing more than a myth. Our main priority as of now is to find Cindar, but I won¡¯t stand around idly while he¡¯s out there enjoying his freedom.¡± "Sure. I understand," Marie calmly answered, bobbing her head. Thomas then turned his attention to his deputy, "Markus, inform the Overseers about Cindar''s disappearance and tell them to keep their eyes out for that man. Also, notify the Captain of the Hornets - tell him to prepare his team for extraction." "Extraction?" Markus grimaced, "Isn''t that a bit excessive? I admit, Jack Cindar is a dangerous man, but the Hornets will - without a shadow of a doubt - kill him." "Have you forgotten, Markus, that I am the one who trained and supervised his apprenticeship?" Thomas retorted. "Of all the people in the Order, I''m the only one who truly knows what he is capable of. Remember, just as your former apprentices, Cindar was not the same person as he was three years ago.¡± After finishing his sentence, Thomas marched out of the chamber, leaving Markus and Marie behind to stare at each other in confusion. ¡°Now, THAT was intriguing,¡± said Marie. ¡°It¡¯s not every day I could see the Faceless Lord look so aggravated.¡± ¡°It has been¡­a tough day for the man,¡± Markus retorted while scratching the back of his head. ¡°Tough? Oh, there¡¯s no need to be polite. It¡¯s been one hell of a day, and you know I¡¯m not exaggerating.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± the Captain of the Deathstalker let out a short burst of laughter. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE NEXUS ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Desert of Ashes] Sam let out a sigh of relief when he saw two familiar figures rushing toward him. The first thing he heard was Rupert''s loud voice, expressing his astonishment at the Sandcreeper''s corpse, "I can''t believe you single-handedly defeated that thing." "Would you just shut up about the monster?¡± Lucy scolded her brother before shifting her attention to Sam, ¡°Is it true what you said. Keith''s really...he¡¯s really gone?" "Yeah," Sam exhaled, "What about the other guy? I assumed he was buried properly." "He was. Um, do you still need a moment? My brother and I could go on ahead-." "No, I''m fine. Let''s just go," replied Sam exasperatingly, with his back facing the siblings. Then suddenly, Lucy grabbed his wrist, lifting it high enough for her to see the lacerations on his hand more clearly. "We should probably tend to this first," Lucy suggested before pulling out a roll of white cloth from inside her jacket. The man reluctantly watched as the younger Nightingale firmly worked on his hand until she fastened the entire bandage with a small metal pin. "There you go. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but you¡¯ll get used to it." Sam clenched his fist repeatedly - already feeling the lint restricting the movement of his hand, albeit a little. "Thanks," he softly commented. ¡°Hey,¡± said Lucy as she rested her hand on Sam¡¯s right shoulder. ¡°Remember what Markus used to tell us? That the power we possessed is not our greatest curse?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sam replied, dropping his gaze to the ground. ¡°It is the undeniable fact that we couldn¡¯t save everyone despite having the capability to do so.¡± ¡°Then, you should know there¡¯s nothing you could have done. It¡¯s just¡­it¡¯s just how it is for us ¨C always has been.¡± "Hey, guys! You better take a look at this!" exclaimed Rupert, standing near the giant lizard''s remains. Sam and Lucy swiftly made their way to the elder Nightingale, with the latter painstakingly ripping through the brittle flesh. A few seconds later, the man wrenched out a steel rod lodged in the creature''s arm and tossed it to the ground. "Holy schnitzel! That was freaking heavy," Rupert remarked as he patted his dusty palms together. "Really? No heads up or anything?" Lucy grunted. Nevertheless, she dropped to her knees to examine the peculiar metallic object. "It''s got the Disciples written all over it, don''t you think?" Rupert stated, "So, any ideas what it is?" "Can''t say for sure. Probably some kind of an implant," Lucy then placed her hands on the cold surface, and much to her surprise, the object suddenly let out a hissing sound. A holographic display then appeared in mid-air, startling the trio. "God damn it, don''t they have some kind of startup sequence or something?!" said Lucy, her eyes stung from the sudden illumination. "Sheesh, I thought that thing was going to self-destruct," the elder Nightingale chuckled, causing his sister and Sam to grunt at him. "Oookay, that was a bad joke. Got it." Lucy''s attention returned to the projection, which showed various figures and diagrams - all in red. "Vital signs, hormonal secretions, brain activities...this thing seems to be a monitoring device. But, why would the Disciples want to monitor a Sandcreeper?" Shortly after hearing the question, Sam pulled out the vial of strange-colored liquid and started to piece together the information. "It wasn''t the monster," he blurted out, prompting the Nightingales to turn their heads toward him. "Is there something on your mind?" asked Lucy, with a hint of curiosity in her voice. "It''s just a hunch, but I think the Disciples are testing the effectiveness of this drug - a field experiment to find out if the imbiber can defeat the Sandcreepers." "Hold up," Rupert interrupted, "Are you trying to say that Keith dude and his friend were participants of this ''field experiment''? How come he didn''t tell us about it?" "Maybe because he wasn''t aware of his participation," Sam replied, "He said every recruit was tagged ¨C to make sure they didn''t get lost in the desert. What if it wasn¡¯t just a tracking device? What if a smaller version of the monitoring device was implanted into their body as well? One that monitors their vitals as soon as they consume this liquid?" Lucy immediately rose to her feet after feeling a shiver down her spine. "Are you implying that the Disciples are one of their own as test subjects? That is unheard of ¨C not to mention it will be going against their code." ¡°I don¡¯t think we are dealing with the same Disciples from ten years ago,¡± Sam jumped in, "Whoever is in charge right now has no qualms about sacrificing one of their own. Just imagine the kind of atrocities for a group of such individuals can do, especially toward civilians." "Um, guys?" said Rupert, with his right hand raised. I know it''s not my place to say this, but all this talk - as intriguing as it sounds - still doesn''t bring us closer to Lizzy''s whereabouts." Lucy sighed, knowing that her brother had brought up a good point. "As much as I hate to admit it, he''s right. Besides, the commotion earlier might have attracted the attention of other Sandcreepers, and the last thing I need is one of those dreadful sandstorms," the young Nightingale complained while scratching her itchy back. 15th Fragment: -MOONRISE- ||| THE PATH OF ILLUSION: ARIADNE ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in The Edge, The Opal Sun Kingdom] The hunching old woman slipped into the dank and narrow alleyway, her terrified eyes constantly peeking over her shoulder. Her lungs were burning, desperately gasping for air, but she couldn''t afford to stop ¨C not even for a brief second. She quickly pulled her tattered brown shawl up to hide her white, braided hair, hoping to blend in with the backstreet ¨C although her action was a little too late. "Where are you going, you old hag?" She heard a raspy, male voice calling for her from behind. Instead of turning around, the elderly woman quickened her pace ¨C until she collided with something in front of her. Lifting her head, she saw a pair of incandescent eyes looking down at her. "Going somewhere?" asked the tall and jaded man before shoving the woman against the wall. ¡°Urgh!¡± the old woman coughed out but then, she heard someone clapping his hands. "Oi, Cy! Careful now! Don''t go breaking that old hag in half. Not until we finish questioning her first," said the initial voice that was later revealed to belong to a stout middle-aged man in a blue military uniform. "Question me?" the old woman giggled weakly, "I wonder why would you be interested in an old woman like me?" SMACK! The woman yelped as she was slapped on her left cheek. "Goddamnit, Cy! If you don''t restrain yourself, I''m gonna make sure you spend a week in The Gaol, got it?" The robust figure let out a grunt in return before finally taking a few steps back from the woman ¨C much to his companion''s relief. "Sorry about my friend here. He can be a bit of a pain in the arse to work with, sometimes ¨C not to mention, stupid. But, beggars can¡¯t be choosers, amirite?" "You¡­I know you," the old woman squinted her sunken eyes, "You''re one of those Liberation goons. Dimitris, wasn''t it?" "Ah, you knew of me? I must say, it''s truly an honor to be recognized by the former handmaiden of the late Moon Queen herself. Unfortunately for you, that is as far as my respect to you," Dimitris returned. He yanked down the woman''s shawl and wrapped his hand around her neck. "I¡¯ll be asking you some questions and what happened next will depend on your answer.¡± ¡°Oh, lucky me.¡± ¡°Quiet, lady. Now, firstly ¨C a little birdy told me you spoke with the Envoy last night when he was doing his rounds. Mind telling me what you two are discussing?" "Then, that little birdy must be mistaken because I do not recall having such a conversation." "Do not play games with us, witch," Dimitris growled, "We have eyes and ears everywhere, especially in The Edge. We are aware of your visits to the slums to lend aid to the people on behalf of your Royal Prince. So, allow me to reiterate ¨C what did you two talk about?" "Well, for starters, he asked me how I''ve been doing in this godforsaken place. Then, he wanted you and your kind to mind your own damn business." Overwhelmed by frustration, Dimitris threw the chuckling old woman to the muddied ground. "To be perfectly honest, I¡¯m slightly impressed. Your misplaced loyalty to the royal family is commendable, Diana. But, such loyalty in this day and time, can one day get you killed. Just as it did to your beloved Queen," said the man as he fixed his sleeves. ¡°Wow, I''m getting lectured about loyalty by someone who barely knows what that word even means. That¡¯s funny ¨C until you insulted my Queen." Dimitris sighed heavily. He shifted his attention to his companion and made a gesture by sliding his finger across his neck. The tall, topless man later sneered in response. The man named Cy marched toward Diana - his hands outstretched. However, before he could grab the old woman, a dark, shadowy figure suddenly landed between them ¨C the sound of a knife slicing into the flesh soon followed. The muscular man collapsed to the ground like a stringless marionette with a large gash on its face, shocking Dimitris greatly. "You¡­!" the man gritted his teeth as soon as he saw the white mask worn by the mysterious black hooded visitor. "This is none of your business, you mangy Faceless mutt! So, get lost!" exclaimed Dimitris. "Careful with your words, punk, or I¡¯ll slice up that tongue of yours to be fed to the crowds,¡± said the Faceless with a distorted voice. "Oh, he''s not the only one I brought," said Dimitris before putting his fingers in his mouth and whistled out loud. Then, there was nothing. He was expecting heavy footsteps and the clattering of swords, yet, he still heard nothing but pure silence. "Don''t bother. Brainbiter and I have already taken care of your other friends," the Faceless calmly remarked, a white-handled saber slipped out of their robe. Startled by the sight of the blade, Dimitris raised his hands and dropped to his knees. "Now, let''s not do anything rash here. You don''t kill an unarmed person, right?" the man nervously uttered. "That will depend on your answer." "Okay, okay. How about we struck a deal? If you let me go, I''ll tell you everything you want to know about the Liberation Army. Sounds fair?" "Tempting, but let''s stop beating around the bushes. You don''t know anything, do you?" replied the Faceless as they approached the kneeling man. "Let¡¯s play a guessing game, shall we? A little birdy told me that there used to be a low-rank soldier who is too scared to get his hands dirty. So, he ordered someone else to do the job for him. Do you know who this soldier is?" If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "H-Hey! Would you please p-put that sword away," Dimitris stuttered as the saber rested on his right shoulder. "Okay, I admit it. I don''t know anything, alright! If you let me go, then-." "Hush now, it''s alright. Just close your eyes and take a deep, long breath," the hooded figure casually interrupted. Then, as Dimitris exhaled, the Faceless knocked him out with the hilt of their saber and clasped on his collar before the man fell on his face. "Huh, you''re keeping him alive?" asked Diana as she got to her feet. "For now," the Faceless retorted, removing her mask and hood to reveal a young, fair-skinned woman with tangerine-colored eyes and black, sleek hair tied into a waterfall braid. "This guy may have been a small-time crook, but he might prove to be useful for other purposes." "To be honest, Lady Aria, that doesn''t sound exactly reassuring ¨C but, I guess¡­beggars can''t be choosers," said the old woman before leaning against the brick wall while holding her aching hips. "Diana?" Aria spouted with a frown forming across her face. "I''m fine. I just need a¡­moment to catch my breath." The princess couldn''t help but shake her head at the sight of her exhausted guardian. Clearly, the woman''s old age was catching up to her. Despite being told to minimize her participation in field missions, the former handmaiden had proven too many times that any advice given to her would only fall on deaf ears. "Three minutes, and that''s all you get. It''s getting dark soon, and we can''t afford to stay in this place any longer," said Aria. Diana gave the princess a thumbs up - with a tired smile, she replied, "Will do, dear. Will do." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF ILLUSION ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Desert of Ashes] The trio stood on top of the dune overlooking the ruins where they could see several crumbled ionic pillars and a roofless stone house. Much to their surprise, they didn''t see anyone patrolling the areas ¨C a strange occurrence considering how loud the commotion with the Sandcreeper was. "Something''s not right. It''s too quiet," Lucy expressed her concern out loud. "Or maybe they didn''t hear what happened up here because they are deep underground," Rupert swiftly replied. "No, Lucy is right. It is too quiet. Moreover, do you see anything resembling an excavation site?" Sam inquired, even though he already knew the answer. "Possibly buried underneath the sand, or the Disciples covered it up to hide their tracks," Lucy countered. "Whichever it is, make sure to stay vigilant ¨C we are no longer in the Tower, after all," Sam calmly advised. "You do realize that you sounded like Markus, right? Relax, dude. Being overly cautious all the time is not a good thing. Sometimes we need to loosen up a bit and simply follow the flow. Got me?" After delivering his brief speech, the elder Nightingale slid down the mound of sand, leaving his sister and Sam behind. "Sorry about my brother. Seeing the Sandcreeper made him a bit¡­chirpy," Lucy apologized. Sam let out a short laugh in return, "No worries. In fact, our little talk just now was quite refreshing." "Well, if that''s true, then better keep it to yourself. If Rupert found out you¡¯re complimenting him, then we¡¯re doomed." "Duly noted." **??****************************************** After Sam and Lucy glided down to the base of the dune, they noticed the eldest Nightingale was frantically examining one of the pillars. His head swayed from left to right; his facial expression cycled between frustration and total confusion. "Now, that''s a first," said Lucy as she made her way over to her brother. "You look troubled. I never thought I¡¯ll be seeing you become so absorbed by a¡­stone pillar," the azure-eyed woman added, patting her sibling on the shoulder. "Have you seen these weird doodles before? I swear they''re kinda familiar," muttered Rupert, pointing at the pillar''s brown surface. Lucy took a closer look, and true enough, she saw a few lines of blade-like letters carved into the pillar and started to mumble, "These¡­these are not the Runes of the Golden Reeds. They''re¡­no, it can''t be." "Luce?" asked Sam after seeing the female Nightingale scratching herself in the head. "I don''t know how to put this, but these are the Bone Scripts - the language used by the Worshippers of the Bones." "Another long-lost faction possibly brought back to life? It seems this mystery deepens even further," Sam retorted. "Worshippers of the Bones?" said Rupert, crossing his arms together, "So, they''re uh¡­worship bones?" "They do, but not in the way you imagined. You see," Sam begins his explanation, "The Worshippers of the Bones have this superstitious belief that every natural disaster and Raid happened because of people like us. In other words, our existence is why there is so much chaos in this world." "So, they are blaming us for something we have no control over? That''s bonkers." "True, but that was what they truly believed, and because of that same belief, the Worshippers saw themselves as hunters appointed by the heavens with the sole duty of cleansing the world from the threat of the Accursed." "And that''s not the worst of it," Lucy jumped into the conversation, "Every time they made a kill, they took the bones of their victims as trophies - a symbol of their dominance over our kind. Cheery, right?" Rupert couldn''t help but gawked at his sister''s grim explanation. After taking a second to recollect his thought, he commented, "Woah, I know some people out there hate us, but that''s really messed up." "Messed up or not, there''s no one alive that could read the-," Sam paused after seeing the Bone Scripts pulsing and squiggling around erratically. "Do you guys see that?" he told the siblings while gesturing at the pillar. Lucy''s eyes darted in the direction of her friend''s finger, but she didn''t see anything other than the 50-year-old runes. "See what, exactly?" Sam blinked, initially thinking it was a hallucination induced by his fatigue. That was until the moving characters rearranged themselves into a complete, intelligible sentence: ''FEAR THE DIVINE FLAME, THE DESTROYER OF THE WORLD, THE GIVER OF LIFE, AND THE END OF EVERYTHING.'' -P- "Dude?" Rupert waves his hand in front of Sam''s face, immediately awakening the latter from his trance. "Are you okay? You look a bit pale." "I''m fine. It''s just¡­wait, is it just me, or is the entire place shaking?" The siblings exchanged looks at first. However, they soon sensed there was indeed some movement underneath the sands. "Maybe¡­it''s the wind?" the elder Nightingale commented, shrugging his shoulders. Then, without warning, the ground beneath their feet dissolved, and the trio instantly plummeted into a dark pit. 16th Fragment: -TOMB- "Bleargh!" Rupert coughed out the cloying black sand from his mouth. He thought he had it ¨C he thought he could land perfectly on his feet, but his right leg somehow got caught on something, causing him to fall head-first into the hole. Fortunately for him, the drop was a short one, and there was no spiky deathtrap waiting at the bottom. However, he still wondered how the sand got into his mouth since he still had his mask on. Shortly afterward, he could hear his sister groaning in agony which immediately stirred up his concern - until a few curse words flew out from the darkness. "Great, starting off by nearly plunging to our death, " Lucy spouted while lying painfully on the ground, and to make matters worse, her night vision seemed to have stopped working. ''Someone out there must really hate me'', she pouted. Later, the woman found out that she was not the only one with a similar technical malfunction - much to her relief. As her eyes gradually adjusted to the dark, she saw Sam quietly scrutinizing his mask with a frustrated look across his face. ¡°Any luck?¡± asked Lucy as she sat herself up. "Sadly, no," Sam retorted half-heartedly before putting his mask back on, "The air filter is still functioning though. So at least, we won''t suffocate to death from some kind of toxic gases or other airborne hazards." "Well, that''s...reassuring? I guess?" Lucy wasn''t sure whether the man was being honest or sarcastic. Even so, that still did not change the fact that they were trapped in a pit without a single, viable light source. Then, they heard a loud pop from behind them, followed by a sudden burst of red light that illuminated the entire crater. Both Sam and Lucy turned around and were surprised to see Rupertr holding a burning flare stick over his head. "Hang on, where did you get that? I don''t remember Marie ever giving us one of those,¡± Lucy inquired. "Lizzy''s cabin. There''s a box of it down in the basement. So, I took¡­I mean, I borrowed some in case of...emergency? Like the one we are in right now," Rupert let out a suspicious laugh that made his sister facepalm herself. "Borrowed, huh? Right, let''s leave it at that," Lucy exhaled. ¡°Hey, Rupe. Come here for a sec,¡± said Sam with his hands resting against a wall in front of him that was icy cold to the touch. The elder Nightingale perked up after hearing his name being called - even with the mask on, Sam could already imagine the excitement on his friend''s face. "Soooo, what did you find? A treasure map? An entrance to a secret vault?" Rupert chirped, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "I¡¯m not sure yet. Could you hold it here?" Sam replied before pointing at the wall with his hand. As Rupert brought the flare closer, a familiar symbol could be seen on the dusty steel surface - a snake wrapping itself around a chalice. "Hm, the mark of the Disciples. We are definitely in the right place. The only problem now is finding a way to get inside," Sam remarked but swiftly noticed a rectangular object affixed to the wall directly in front of his lower abdomen. Taking a closer look, he noticed a small round indentation at the bottom of the panel and it instantly hit him. ¡°Now, what are the chances?¡± Sam murmured as he reached inside his jacket to pull out a tiny black button he seized from Keith. ¡°Woah, woah. How do we know this is not a trap?¡± Lucy blurted out. ¡°Well¡­I guess there¡¯s only one way to find out,¡± replied Sam before he inserted the button into the hole. ¡°It fits. Now, what?¡± CLICK! The panel slid down, revealing what seemed to be a worn-out access card reader. ¡°Hah, got that one too,¡± Sam proceeded to produce another item from his jacket: a grey keycard. "Are you sure about this?" Lucy asked. "I mean, the moment you used that, the Disciples will surely be alerted to our presence." Instead of Sam, it was Rupert that responded to his sister''s concern, "So? We''ll just beat them up, plain and simple. Compared to the Distorted, a group of mundane scientists will not be that much of a deal to us." Lucy couldn''t help but sigh at her brother''s impetuousness. Therefore, she shifted her attention to Sam, the only person she knew would listen to reason. "I''m just saying that once we infiltrated the facility, we should avoid any unnecessary confrontation until we''re certain that the Disciples didn''t hold Lizzy captive." "Wait, didn''t that Keith dude tell us that the Disciples had nothing to do with Lizzy''s disappearance?" Rupert interjected. "Well yeah, but he was also oblivious about the proximity microbomb planted inside his blood vessels. As far as I know, it might be another lie made up by his superiors just to throw us off the track," Lucy defended her theory so adamantly that Sam could feel her gaze piercing through her mask. "Alright, we''re just going to sneak in, find clues about Lizzy and get out. How''s that sound?" Lucy nodded quietly - seemingly agreeing to Sam''s straightforward proposition. Unfortunately, the same couldn''t be said of Rupert as he clicked his tongue in disapproval. Even without asking the man, Sam knew what was eating him from inside. "I know what you''re thinking," Sam retorted. "You want to stop the Disciples of Vidia, don''t you? However, that wasn''t the order Markus gave us. Our main priority is to find Lizzy and bring her back home - no more, no less. Besides, you haven''t forgotten what happened to those who upset him, do you?" Rupert grabbed Sam by the collar without warning and shoved the latter against the wall, "Screw the order! We have the chance to end them once and for all, so it''ll be foolish for us to let this opportunity slip through our fingers!" This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Listen to me, Rupe. We are not here to be heroes," Sam calmly remarked, "We''re here because we have a job to do. So, are we just going to continue idling about, OR help each other by finishing the task at hand?" Rupert growled, dropping the flare and curling his left hand into a fist. Thankfully, Lucy managed to pull her brother away before the situation escalated. "That''s enough!" she exclaimed as she slipped her way between the two men. "What''s wrong with you, Rupert? You are acting pretty weird right now." "What¡¯s wrong with me?! What¡¯s¡­Uh¡­I¡­It''s... it¡¯s nothing," the elder Nightingale''s voice started to trail off as if he had awoken from a deep slumber. "Just¡­just forget about it," he grunted, sounding more like his former, usual self. Both Sam and Lucy were puzzled by the man''s sudden change - it was as if he was possessed by something. "I¡¯m sorry; I don¡¯t know what just came to me,¡± Rupert apologized. ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know? You just shoved Sam to the wall,¡± Lucy reminded her brother. ¡°Did I¡­? I¡­don¡¯t seem to recall doing that.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± said Sam as he stroked his chin, seemingly lost in his own thought. "Uh, Earth to Sam? I repeat, Earth to Sam?" Lucy spouted, and the man fidgeted. "You are spacing out again, which means there''s something that caught your attention. So, what is it?" Sam tilted his head to the left, contemplating whether or not he should tell her. In the end, he dismissed the question with a shrug, telling the young Nightingale that it was ''nothing important.'' It was, of course, a blatant lie, and he was fully aware that Lucy would see through it. Moments later, Sam heard the surly woman replied with a toneless ''I see'', but he could tell she was upset based on her body language. "So," Sam proceeded to clear his throat, "I think we''ve wasted enough time already. Shall we?" He gently placed the card on the reader, anticipating some kind of an audio prompt or, at the very least, a short chime. But, there was nothing. "Is...is that it?" Rupert exhaled, dropping his shoulders out of disappointment. PSSSSST! The trio shuddered as the wall in front of them slowly separated, releasing a rush of prickling wintry air into the pit. Together they stared into the black void, waiting anxiously for swords and spears to come flying out of the darkness. "Something''s off," breathed Lucy, with one hand resting on her dirk. She could feel it in her bones - the paralyzing sense of dread. Even after nearly a minute since the door opened, the ominous atmosphere grew thicker with each passing moment. Sam instinctively picked up the flare near his feet before tossing it into the dark chamber. Even though the light source did little to brighten the entire room, it was enough to explain the fear in Lucy¡¯s heart. Within the desecrated hall, dozens of shriveled corpses, dressed in ragged lab coats and medical gowns, lay scattered on the flat ground shrouded in cobwebs. The walls were decorated with huge claw marks and black stains - the latter presumably belonged to the bodies on the floor. "Woah," Rupert gawked at the eerie scene, feeling a slight chill running down his spine. "I''ve seen some awful shit, but this is just on a whole nother level." Sam stepped into the vault while simultaneously snapping his head upward to make sure the ceiling did not suddenly come crashing down on him. "It''s safe. Let''s go," he told the siblings. Accompanied by the shuffling of their feet and the rustling of their clothes, the trio ventured further into the old vault. Eventually, they split up into different parts of the room - hoping to figure out what kind of monsters could have caused such carnage. Lucy, in particular, hunched over a disemboweled corpse with a twisted, horrified facial expression - as if the last thing he or she saw was the face of their killer. "Despite everything you and your comrades had done, I hope your death was swift," she whispered before taking a closer look at the torn attire. The insignia of the Disciples was sewn on the collar of the lab coat, alongside a strange-looking emblem - a bird with its wings spread out. Lucy frowned, trying to recall any organization that associated themselves with the sign but, alas, nothing popped into her head. "Oi! You guys might want to see this," Rupert suddenly cried out from the middle of the chamber. Feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu all over again, Sam and Lucy came running to the elder Nightingale, who in turn, showed them a small book he recovered from one of the corpses. "I think this is your department, Lil sis," Rupert casually handed the item to his younger sibling. As the old leather book touched her fingers, Lucy felt an unnatural coldness spreading all over her body - as if the old book was buried underneath the freezing mountain of Krio. She cautiously flipped through the brittle pages and was surprised that the writings inside were still readable. "Huh, it''s...it¡¯s a research journal," she remarked, "Whoever you took this from was probably a lead researcher or someone important." "What does it say?" Sam asked. "Well, um - I''m not pretty sure, but just by skimming through the pages, it seems the Disciples were trying to create a ''perfect life form'','' Lucy explained. "Perfect life form? Sounds like the rambling of a lunatic, if you ask me," Rupert commented. "Now, there''s an understatement. Listen to this - the orphaned children of the war will be taken in and individually screened for superior genes. Those who lack such genes will be immediately terminated, and their organic materials are recovered for...holy shit," Lucy instantly slammed the book shut and slipped it into her robe. "Oookay, what was that about?" Rupert inquired, with his hands on his hips. "O-ho, trust me. You don''t want to know," Lucy sternly replied. BANG! The door slammed shut, inevitably trapping the trio inside the dimly lit vault. Guided by instinct, Rupert sped toward the entrance, repeatedly hurling himself against the sturdy door in vain. "Darn it!" he spat, "Welp, should have seen that coming." "No need to panic. For a chamber this size, there is bound to be another entrance nearby," Sam reassured his restless friend. "Wait, do you guys hear that?" Lucy told the two men. It was a faint rumbling sound - like distant thunder - but the noise slowly grew louder and louder until- BOOM! The wall in front of them smashed to pieces, creating a large gaping hole. The trio froze in their place, dumbfounded by the unexpected incident. However, their astonishment was swept away by the sight of the glowing amber eyes gazing at them from within the dark tunnel. A few moments later, a russet brown-skin woman emerged from the opening with a torch in hand. Garbed in a muddied brown cloak, she had a sullen expression on her chiseled face, and her espresso, layered bob hair was slightly unkempt. Moreover, her downturned eyes were brimming with fatigue - possibly due to the recent ordeal on the surface. "You''re late," said Elisabeth with her sonorous, breathless voice. ¡°Follow me. Quietly.¡± 17th Fragment: -ENVY- ||| THE PATH OF ILLUSION: ARIADNE ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [The Forest of the Bandit Lord, The Opal Sun Kingdom] The black-tipped arrow cut through the air before burying itself into the well-worn straw boss. ¡°Darn!¡± Dressed in a milky-white frock coat, the fair woman grunted after realizing her aim was slightly off the mark again. Troubled, she was, for she had spent weeks tinkering around with her black longbow, Nightfall - and yet, it still didn''t solve anything. Lifting her head up, Aria peered through the pine tree canopy and noticed that the moon had well passed its zenith. ¡°Crap, it¡¯s already this late?¡± she sighed heavily. The princess quickly slung the bow across her back and gathered her essentials for the trip back to the citadel - until she heard a loud rustling from the dense thicket in front of her. A grin appeared across the princess¡¯s face, followed by her saying, "I expected you to arrive sooner, Theo. Did you get lost somewhere?" A slim young man walked out of the bushes, scrubbing the conifer leaves off his Aegean blue greatcoat and dark, curled hair. "My apologies for the delay, Your Radiance," the man named Theo remarked as he fixed his orange-tinted shield sunglasses. "There have been some minor disturbances near the East Gate. So, I was dispatched by the Inner Circle to mediate." "Mediate, huh? Is that what they''re calling it these days?" A humorless chuckle escaped Aria''s lips. "Taking us royalties as fools - they are either brave or just plain stupid," the princess blatantly expressed her discontentment. "Careful, Your Majesty," Theo muttered, "Even though you are the daughter of the Sun King himself, your position is what I would say, precarious, for your recent brazenness seems to rub many up the wrong way. " "Surely you''re not referring to my argument with the Inner Circle? To be fair, they¡¯re the ones who asked the question and in return, I gave them what they wanted - the truth," Aria retorted. "And does this ''truth'' includes you being involved in a full-blown scream fest with the ministers? Yelling out threatening remarks to the Chief Consul himself?" the man asked with his arms crossed. The princess shrugged nonchalantly to the question - much to her bodyguard''s chagrin. "I admit, it did get a bit out of control, but at the very least, I''ve said my piece. Daedalus and his cronies should have seen it coming - with how thoughtlessly they used my family''s noble name for their gains." Theo could only respond to Aria''s explanation with a heavy sigh. ''Hard-headed like her brother'', he grumbled to himself. "Your brother''s coronation will take place in less than a few months, and he''ll surely put an end to the Inner Circle''s madness. But until then, Your Radiance, I advise you to refrain from saying AND doing anything that could put you in a bad light." "I think we can pretty much agree that it is already too late for that," a smile spread across the firm line of Aria''s lips, but Theo could see the sadness and anger in her glistening tangerine eyes. It was the same gaze her brother had every time he was reminded of the suffering of his people. "Anyhow, I heard of your recent endeavor in the Edge went well. There is only one thing that baffled me and your brother. The two brand new prisoners in the keep: why is there a large cut mark on one of their faces? " Theo asked. "The Liberation saw her talking to you, and they ended up chasing her down an alleyway. After that, the situation got out of hand," Aria replied with her eyebrows raised. "Out of hand, you say?" Theo tilted his head slightly to the left as the princess had used the same words over and over again in the last few weeks. "Yeah. You can ask Diana about the details. She was there with me when¡­the situation got out of hand.¡± Theo eyed the princess suspiciously, but then he replied, ¡°Fine, but we have to make a stop at the West Gate first. You do realize what time it is, don''t you?" "Oh right, the Third Raid!" Aria grumbled, slightly angry at herself for forgetting such an important event. "Thank God, you remembered. I was getting worried you might end up forgetting about your duty.¡± ¡°Worry, huh?¡± The princess giggled mischievously. ¡°Did you really mean it? When you said you were worried about me?¡± ¡°¡­Never mind,¡± Theo exhaled. ¡°Come, your brother is already waiting for us.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF ILLUSION ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Inside The Disciples'' Lair] Guided by the torch-bearing woman, the trio quietly followed her down the tunnel until they reached a metal wall sullied with Bone Scripts and claw marks. Without saying anything, Elisabeth placed her right hand on the barrier and a loud, distorted beep echoed throughout the passageway. Slowly the wall split open - the fluorescent lamps above their heads lit up as soon as they walked in, revealing a bleak little bunker fitted with old, unusable medical equipment and rows of grimy operating tables. In addition, two large furnaces sat side by side at the far corner of the room - both had been badly eroded by time. "This place...Death lingered in this place, yet it strangely felt more...subdued," said Lucy, finally breaking the long silence. "That''s because there were no violent deaths here," Elisabeth stared blankly at one of the beds for a brief second before turning around to face the trio, "Every failed test subject was sent here to be euthanized and subsequently cremated." "Cremated? Then, the ashes¡­? Did they¡­?" Lucy inquired, even though she already could tell she would regret asking that question. "Yes, it is just as you thought. After they were done processing the corpses, they threw the ashes out into the desert," Elisabeth responded sombrely. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me. Yuck!" Rupert suddenly felt nauseous after recalling the sands he accidentally swallowed earlier. "You said ''were'' which means the Disciples no longer use this facility for those purposes," Sam presumed, and Elisabeth swiftly validated his guess with a single nod. "Correct. All of this is the Old Complex - the one raided by the Order ten years ago, resulting in their initial demise. Through there," the woman pointed to the hatch next to the furnaces, "Is the new complex, constructed five years later. Unfortunately, for these past few days, I''ve been having some trouble trying to open that damn door." The four strolled past the operating tables until they reached the aforementioned door, which was covered with a decent amount of red oxidized metal. "Looks pretty sturdy," Rupert commented as he grabbed the handwheel. The elder Nightingale tried to turn it, but due to the rusted mechanism, the wheel refused to budge an inch. Frustrated with his futile attempt, Rupert eventually conceded defeat. "The door appears to be stuck," he grunted. "Obviously," Sam chuckled before looking over to Lucy, "Perhaps, instead of brute force, all we need is a little touch of finesse." "A little touch of finesse? Guess that''s my cue now, huh?" The female Nightingale rolled her eyes before taking a closer look at the hatch door, murmuring and scratching the nape of her neck every now and then until she was done with her inspection. "Seems like your standard hatch door." "Can you crack it?" Elisabeth asked. "Sure, if I could remember the schematics." Lucy held her right hand out, and a tiny orb of water materialized out of thin air, hovering peacefully over her palm. "Here goes nothing." With a flick of her wrist, the sphere glided off and disappeared into the center of the handwheel. Like a puppeteer, Lucy moved her fingers with the utmost care, guiding the water drop through the gears and rails solely from her memory. Shortly after, the four Accursed heard the sounds of creaking metals, followed by the handwheel rotating by itself until they heard a loud clang. "Voila!" Lucy said triumphantly, feeling proud of herself. "Nicely done," Sam''s simple word of praise made Lucy blush furiously under her mask. "Now, with that out of the way," the man shifted his attention toward Elisabeth, asking her, "There''s something that has been bothering me, and I would like you to clarify it - if you don''t mind?" "And what would that be?" replied Elisabeth, her eyebrows snapped together. "I''m not trying to accuse anyone of anything but the door we went through earlier - it uses a biometric security system which, I assumed, can only be opened by the Disciples. Now, unless you found a way to hack into their server, then you owe us an explanation," Sam crossed his arms together, waiting for a response. Elisabeth''s mouth set in a hard line after hearing the sudden question. Her eyes darted between the trio, who, in turn, was staring intently at her. "This is hardly the time to discuss such a thing." "Oh, it actually is," Sam quickly retorted, "You see, our mission is only to search and bring you back to the Tower - not join your personal crusade against the Disciples." "Watch your tongue, Edelweiss," Elisabeth snapped, much to everyone''s surprise. "If you think this has nothing to do with you nor the Order, then you are gravely mistaken. We can''t allow these people to roam freely again - knowing what they''ve done and will do." "I know what they did, Liz - we all do. But even a fool can see that you are not in the right state of mind. The last thing I need is to work with someone who is emotionally compromised," Sam said bluntly. Elisabeth struck the man''s face in the blink of an eye, causing the latter to crash into the floor with a heavy thud. Lucy immediately lunged forward to break off the argument, but Sam raised his hand, stopping the female Nightingale dead on her track. She was initially reluctant to follow his order - that was until she saw the large crack on the man''s white mask. "Alright, that confirms that you really are emotionally compromised," Sam spouted as he rose to his feet with a crumbling mask and a killer headache. "So, are you ready to tell us the truth now?" the man chided before throwing his broken mask to the ground, "Or are we just gonna stand around beating each other to a pulp?" Elisabeth raised her right hand as if she was about to deliver another blow to the man. But after taking a long, deep breath, she lowered her arm. "Fine. You want the truth?" she said calmly, "No, I''m not affiliated with the Disciples. Not anymore." "Not anymore? So, you were one of them? As what? A scientist?" asked Rupert. "Oh no, no, no - I''m something entirely different. Something much worse." Elisabeth spun around and gently leaned against one of the operating tables. "The Disciples believe that our powers are meant to be shared with the world but in a more unpleasant way. As you may have known, they kidnapped war orphans from around the globe - both the Reprieved and the Accursed with the intent of harvesting their genetic materials. They were trying to search for what they dubbed as the superior genes." "And these genes - what are they exactly?" muttered Lucy. "It is a¡­theory of theirs, to put it simply. They claimed that the Accursed''s unnatural abilities are dependent on their genetic makeup. You see where I''m going with this?" "Let me get this straight - are you saying that all of their actions stemmed from a mere assumption?" Lucy sighed, "Isn''t that kinda...drastic? For starters, they are a group of scientists; they preferred to spend their time underground, tending to their equipment rather than hunting and kidnapping children from around the globe." Elisabeth gave her friend a solemn nod. "You are correct. An idea alone is not enough to goad them into committing such cruelty. No, they needed a conductor - a charismatic leader to guide them down the dark path. That leader, I''m afraid-," she inhaled, "was not among those executed ten years ago." "What?!" Lucy blurted out, unable to contain her bewilderment. "That''s impossible. There were no survivors that day - Markus himself made sure of it." "He did," Elisabeth replied, "But he and the previous Eight misunderstood one thing. This leader was not a researcher - he never was. No one knows who he was or where he resides - not even the senior members of the Disciples." "So, he''s a ghost? That''s a bit...perturbing," Lucy exhaled. "You got to admit, though - for someone who doesn''t want to be found, he''s doing a pretty good job," said Rupert exuberantly. "Ghost aside," Sam interjected before showing Elisabeth an object he pulled out from his pocket, "One of the Disciples was carrying this with him. Said it was a drug that temporarily grants its drinker the Accursed ability." A grimace appeared on Elisabeth''s face as her eyes settled on the small bottle. "It''s not just a drug; it''s a vile concoction brewed from a thousand deaths. Each sip gives you the power of the gods but at the cost of your humanity." "That sounds dreadful. I''m surprised the Disciples are still making that stuff after knowing the grim side effect," Lucy retorted. "The side effect is the least of their concerns," Elisabeth replied, shaking her head, "The fact that the drug has been mass-produced means they''re not too far off from reviving their gene integration project." Sam''s eyes lit up as he was hit by a sudden realization, "I see - an artificial insertion of the superior genes. So, that''s why they abducted the Reprieved as well. As guinea pigs." "The Disciples are trying to turn them into the Accursed? That''s insane!" Lucy cried out, "If they could do that, then the frequency of the Distorted''s attack would surely skyrocket! They can''t be that stupid, right?" Elisabeth let out a sad chuckle, "Oh, they know. Unfortunately, they are blinded by their jealousy towards the Accursed, and that same jealousy is what drives them to cast aside their compassion and morality." "Well, it''s a good thing that Markus and his gang put a stop to their experiment," said the eldest Nightingale. "Did they? What if...the Disciples succeeded in achieving their goal?" Sam glanced at Elisabeth suspiciously and said, "Earlier you told us that you are something much worse. It''s you, isn''t it? The proof they have been searching for - the culmination of their great work. A Reprieved...who is turned into an Accursed." 18th Fragment: -NARROW- ||| THE PATH OF THE NEXUS: MARIE ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [The Training Hall, Tower of Nexus] Breathing heavily, Marie leaned against the wall with a wooden sword in hand, her emerald eyes stared down at the straw doll lying on the floor. She grunted, slightly annoyed at the absence of a clock in the Training Hall - making it difficult to tell how many hours passed since she started sparring against the inanimate object. "Huh, I thought I told Stephanie to add one last week," she mumbled, "Oh well, must have slipped her mind." Seconds after, a thin, beige-skinned woman stomped into the room - frantically shifting her head left and right until her shining magenta eyes met Marie''s startled expression. "Miss Strelitzia!" exclaimed the visitor. Her blonde, tousled hair swayed around as she rushed toward her upperclassman with a sense of urgency. "Sorry, I just...remembered about...the clock," she panted. "Easy, Stephanie. Try catching your breath first," said Marie calmly. However, the thing that instantly caught her attention was the orange boilersuit the woman was wearing. "Did you just run all the way here from Maintenance? Steph dear, have you forgotten Pascal''s advice about overexerting yourself?" "I''m truly sorry, Miss, but as soon as I recalled your request, my legs kinda moved on their own," Stephanie replied bashfully. "Oh, did you hear? Markus nominated you for a seat in the Council." "Again?" Marie sighed, rolling her eyes. "That sly man ¨C he¡¯s a persistent one, I''ll give him that. Guess I have to give him the bad news later." "You''re...declining the offer?" Stephanie was taken aback by the woman''s response. "Oh, don''t be upset, dear. I''m sure there is someone else better for the job than me. Besides, the last time I was given a big responsibility, I screwed it up pretty badly," Marie let out a humorless laugh. "That''s not true," Stephanie muttered, shaking her head vigorously, "You have saved a lot of people, Miss Marie, and I don''t think you gave yourself enough credit for that." After listening to the heartfelt compliment, Marie couldn''t help but beams at her. "I appreciate the kind words, but I still won''t change my mind. I¡¯m pretty comfortable with my current job, and just because I saved a lot of people, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m worthy of a seat in the Council." ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s a bummer. Are you sure you won¡¯t reconsider? For Markus to nominate you for the second time ¨C he must have seen something special about you.¡± ¡°No, he thought he saw something in me. You know, Steph ¨C even though Markus is the second-in-command, he can sometimes be a little na?ve ¨C in a good way. He thinks I¡¯m¡­redeemable when in reality, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Miss Marie¡­,¡± said Stephanie. She wanted to say something to the lady in black in return but not a single word came out of her mouth. ¡°Sorry about that. I didn¡¯t mean to bring the mood down,¡± Marie instantly changed the subject. ¡°So, who''s the other sad sap that got recommended? Let me guess ¨C it¡¯s Jason Helians, isn''t it?" "Yeah, how did you know?" Stephanie looked somewhat perplexed. "''How? First and foremost, he''s the Crown Prince of the Opal Sun Kingdom who, at the same time, is a brilliant strategist and an adept swordsman - not to mention a fairly good-looking guy. Uh...don''t tell him that, okay?" "Somehow, you don''t look too thrilled about it. Isn¡¯t that supposed to be good news?" A smirk appeared on Marie''s face as if she was anticipating the question, "Oh, it is good news ¨C that is if, and only if he accepted the offer." A soft ''oh'' flew out of Stephanie''s mouth as she recalled the ongoing turmoil in the eastern kingdom. "I''m guessing he¡¯ll reject the offer as well?" ¡°Jason has a lot on his plate right now. The Liberation Army, and the Inner Circle, just to name a few. But hey, who knows? Maybe he¡¯ll change his mind one day and decides to take on the responsibility. ¡°He should. I don¡¯t think there is anyone more worthy for a seat in the Council than Jason ¨C and, you, of course.¡± Marie¡¯s eyes narrowed. She slowly raised her right hand toward Stephanie before flicking the latter on the forehead. ¡°OW!¡± ¡°Nice try, Steph,¡± Marie retorted. ¡°Now, aren¡¯t you here to do something?¡± The bespectacled woman fidgeted. "Drat! I nearly forgot about that!" exclaimed Stephanie, as she pulled out a pair of oval glasses from one of her suit¡¯s pockets. "I''m...ah, gonna, you know...the clock?" "Sure. Take your time, sweetie," Marie responded with a motherly smile. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE NEXUS ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Inside the Old Disciples'' Complex, Desert of Ashes] "You made it sound so trivial, Edelweiss ¨C but, you are right. I am indeed one of the Disciples'' creations - a Reprieved who was turned into an Accursed, " Elisabeth shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "Now, I think that should be enough to answer your question about the biometric system." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Perhaps," replied Sam, his eyes narrowed. Although he could tell that every word uttered by Elisabeth was the truth, he still had a sneaking suspicion that the sorrowful-looking woman was still hiding something. Instead of probing further, Sam decided to let it slide for now. "Alright, we''ll help you stop them - on one condition." Elisabeth grunted, "Are you serious? We don¡¯t have time for that right now!¡± "You¡¯re right, and that¡¯s why you need to listen very carefully to what I¡¯m about to say," Sam answered. "Now, considering your history with the Disciples, I suggest you stay in the bunker while Lucy, Rupert, and I deal with the scientists. Sadly, I don''t exactly have authority over you, since you are still the Overseer of this land." "That, and the fact that she is as stubborn as a mule," Lucy giggled, much to Elisabeth''s dismay. "Yeah, yeah, jokes aside," Sam interjected, "When we go past this door, I would prefer if we minimize the number of casualties - in other words - unless threatened, use only non-lethal forces." "What?" Elisabeth''s voice cracked. "Don''t get me wrong - I hate them as much as you do ¨C well, perhaps not as much as you, but you get the point. We need them alive for further questioning. Neither of us here is well-versed in the language of the dead, and I don''t think Ethan is generous enough to lend us a hand on that particular matter," Sam exhaled, putting back the vial he was holding into his pants. "So, do we have a truce?" Elisabeth stared intently at the vermillion-eyed man; her frown soon deepened into a scowl. "Quite bold of you to impose such demand on me. You¡¯re not even an official member of the Order, so what makes you think I will abide by your rule?" "Markus is the one who sent us," Elisabeth instantly shuddered at Sam''s retort. "If you won''t listen to me as equals, perhaps you''ll listen to me as his former apprentice. You, after all, like the rest of us here, are honor-bound to him." Elisabeth''s fierce expression began to ease up after hearing Sam''s last sentence, a reaction that took the siblings by surprise. After a brief moment of contemplation, Elisabeth let out a snort of disgust, later accompanied by a grimace. "I wonder ¨C what exactly is the price of honor when you are 10 feet underground surrounded by rusted metals and grating sand?¡± ¡°None. Your conscience, however, is a whole different story.¡± ¡°Yeah, unfortunately,¡± Elisabeth glared into Sam¡¯s eyes for a few seconds before she eventually replied, "Fine. I will try not to harm the scientists. You have my word." "Good," said Sam, bobbing his head as a wave of relief washed over him. As he turned back to face the rusty door, Sam noticed the Nightingales quietly eyeing him. "Is there a problem?" he asked. "No, it''s just, ah...," before Lucy finished her sentence, she suddenly shoved her brother to the front, "Rupert wants to do the honor of opening the door." "Wait-what!? I never said such-OW!" the elder Nightingale yelped after his sister slapped the back of his head. "See? He''s really, REALLY looking forward to it. Right, big brother?" Lucy added. "I''ll do it," Elisabeth casually jumped into the conversation. "And you two can take those things off. They won''t be much use to you down here - at least, not until we shut down the signal jammer." While the siblings removed their masks, the stern-looking woman strolled past Sam and grabbed the handwheel with her right hand. Thanks to Lucy¡¯s contribution, Elisabeth could wrench the metal door open effortlessly. "Ah, shit," said Elisabeth after seeing a figure in a yellow hazmat suit standing right in front of her. "INTRU-UGH!" the person cried out as Elisabeth caught them by the arm and slammed their entire body into the concrete wall. "Huh, that was too close," remarked Elisabeth as she released her hold, causing the person to slide down the wall - completely out cold. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Sam glaring at her disapprovingly. "A non-lethal approach - just as you instructed." "Well, he may still be alive, but the impact just now was probably enough to confine them to a wheelchair for the rest of his life," Rupert stated. "Or he''ll just wake up with a mild headache. Can we go now?" Elisabeth replied before hopping over the unconscious Disciple. **??****************************************** As the four Accursed walked along the rock-strewn passageway, Lucy tugged on Sam''s arm - slightly tilting her head toward the man''s right ear and whispered, "Are you sure it''s okay to let her tag along?" "Even if I told her to stay behind, do you think she''ll listen?" Sam answered. "And I also have the feeling that she''s still withholding some information from us.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°About the real reason she wanted to get rid of the Disciples.¡± "No offense, Sam, but don''t you think you''re being a little paranoid? You¡¯ve been on edge ever since¡­ever since the Sandcreeper," Lucy responded. ¡°I know you trust her, Luce, and honestly, I wish I could say the same. But, there¡¯s something in her eyes ¨C it was not the gaze of someone who wanted justice; it was a gaze of regret and suppressed anger.¡± ¡°Anger toward who? ¡°Toward herself.¡± GRRR! The tunnel began to rumble, causing the four Accursed to stop dead in their tracks. The next thing they heard was the screaming of the Sandcreepers echoing throughout the dark burrow. ¡°That sounded pretty close,¡± Rupert remarked. ¡°This¡­this place won¡¯t collapse on us, right?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re built to last,¡± Elisabeth swiftly replied. ¡°And the Sandcreepers are far away from our current position. I¡¯m not sure what is happening but something must have caught their attention.¡± ¡°Or someone,¡± Lucy added. GRRR! Another rumbling, but this time, a few grains of sand fell from the ceiling above their heads. ¡°We should go. Now,¡± said Sam, a decision that was unanimously agreed by his three companions. The four Accursed rushed onward without taking a single peek over their shoulders. However, it did not take long until all of them walked into a solid brick wall. "Hold it," Elisabeth suddenly blurted out as she pushed her hands against the barrier. ¡°Oh, you gotta be kidding me.¡± "A dead end?" said Rupert with his eyebrows raised, "Wait, is it supposed to be a dead end?" "Tsk," Elisabeth clicked her tongue - loud enough to be heard by the trio behind her. "This is not a dead-end. It¡¯s a door," the amber-eyed woman grumbled, lifting her head upward. "Those bastards know we''re in here." The Accursed trembled after hearing a third rumbling above their heads, followed by the overlapping clattering of stone and rock debris. Rupert snapped his head skyward and realized the ceiling gradually descended towards them. "Holy shit! We need to get out of here!" he uttered, but Elisabeth immediately scolded him. "Stop panicking, Nightingale - this is not your first rodeo, so calm yourself down!" Elisabeth then leisurely knocked on the solid wall until she heard a hollow sound. "There¡¯s no other way, but forward.¡± ¡°Wait, Liz! What are you doing!?¡± Sam shouted. ¡°Finding us a way out,¡± Elisabeth muttered as she curled her right hand into a fist and exclaimed, ¡°BRACE!¡± 19th Fragment: -JAY- In a blink of an eye, the entire wall exploded - smashed into smithereens by Elisabeth''s bare fist. A tiny, triumphant smile appeared on her face as soon as she saw a path on the other side, and she wasted no time informing her friends, "Hurry! This way!" All of them marched into the hidden hallway but were promptly stopped by several tall and familiar figures bursting out of the steel floor. "You''ve got to be kidding me!" Lucy grimaced at the approaching Lacerators until Elisabeth got close to one and effortlessly busted its head open with her bare hands. "Holy shit!" Rupert was shocked by the woman''s sudden attack even though he had slain countless Distorted in his own violent way. However, seeing the black ooze dripping from Elisabeth''s fingertips stirred something sinister inside him - an insatiable urge to listen to the creature''s last few gasps. "Rupe, stop staring at the corpse and move!" shouted Sam, instantly snapping the elder Nightingale out of his trance. But then, he heard a loud scraping noise to his left. ''Oh crap!'' was the only thing that came into Sam¡¯s mind before a pair of claws tore through the concrete wall and sliced into his left forearm. Sam winced in pain as the needle-like sensation spread throughout his body; he could already see his warm blood seeping down his hand, soaking his entire sleeve. "SAM!" the Nightingales cried out in unison. With his sickles drawn, Rupert rushed to his friend and chopped off the Lacerator''s flailing hands. The monster shrieked in agony before retreating its severed arms into the hole. "I''m...fine...," Sam spouted while pressing his hand against his wounded limb, "Just...keep¡­moving." "Nuh-uh, pal. You''re anything but fine. Here, let me help you," Rupert grabbed Sam by the shoulder and slowly guided him forward. Shortly after, Lucy came to their aid by applying pressure to Sam''s injury. "Ugh!" "Sorry about this, but you''ll just have to bear with it for a while longer," Lucy responded. "The way is clear!" roared Elisabeth after she slayed the last Lacerator. She glanced over her shoulder; her calm expression twisted into a frown as soon as she noticed the trio''s predicament. "God damn it - of all the time," she muttered bitterly. With the ceiling barely an inch away from the top of her head, Elisabeth splayed her arms upward - allowing the descending trap to fall into her palms. ¡°Argh blasted! I can''t hold it for long! So, hurry your asses over here!" Elisabeth groaned; her entire body was shivering from the staggering weight of the ceiling. The Nightingales picked up their paces, dragging along their wounded companion until they reached the other side of the demolished brick wall. "We''re out!" exclaimed Lucy, carefully putting Sam on the floor. Elisabeth hopped backward, and the stone ceiling crashed to the ground, spewing clouds of sand and dust at her and her friends. After regaining her composure, Elisabeth turned her attention to Sam, still bleeding profusely from his wound. "Take this," Elisabeth tossed Lucy a small first aid bag she pulled out from her robe, "Stitch him up before he bled to death." ¡°Alright, alright,¡± said Lucy as she began frantically looking for the suturing kit. ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF DISTRUST: CINDAR ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Desert of Ashes] ¡°Well, well, well, what do we have here?¡± said Cindar as soon as he saw the ruins resting at the base of the dune. The man darted his head right and left ¨C half-expecting to encounter the Nightingales and more importantly, Samuel Edelweiss. Shortly after, he pulled out a white mask from his back pocket and placed it on his face. ¡°Now, where are those mongrels hiding?¡± said the man as the night vision functionality switched on. Cindar carefully slid down the black sand hill until he reached the crumbled pillar. ¡°Now, what do we have here?¡± said Cindar as he noticed several footsteps which led to a large pit. Crouching down, he quietly scrutinized the hole, ensuring it was not a trap of some sort. ¡®Fascinating,¡¯ Cindar thought before picking up a pebble near his feet and tossing it into the darkness below. KLAK! The man grinned as soon as he heard the stone hit the bottom a few seconds later, which prompted him to jump down. Cindar landed perfectly on his feet even though he could feel the sand scraping against his soles. Nevertheless, his focus soon shifted forward where a large doorway eerily stood before him with the mark of Disciples of Vidia carved on its metallic surface. ¡°God damn, that jerk was right. They are really back,¡± Cindar huffed. The masked man rubbed his hands on the door, searching for a lever or a button but to his dismay, there was none. Then, he drew his gladius and stuck it into the gap between the door. After taking a deep breath, Cindar gave his sword a push. ¡°Come on¡­Come on! FUCK!¡± Cindar could only snarl in exasperation as the iron door refused to budge. He kicked the sturdy barrier in his anger but soon regretted the decision. "Son of a-!" Cindar squawked before limping away from the door. However, his frustration grew exponentially when his night vision suddenly turned off on its own. ¡°Are you shitting me, right now!?¡± Cindar exclaimed. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Do you need any help, good sir?" Cindar spun around as a cheery male voice greeted him. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?" he said to the tall, grey-hooded figure who appeared out of nowhere. He had never thought anyone could sneak up on him - let alone a stranger. "Did the Order send you to capture me?" was his first question to the mysterious visitor. ¡°If you are, then you should know, I won¡¯t be coming with you willingly.¡± "The Order? Ah, I see. It seems The Hawk didn¡¯t tell you about me," the stranger replied. "Well, to answer your question, Mr. Cindar: No, I''m not with the Order. As a matter of fact, I''m the one who''s going to get you inside. So, how about we cease with this¡­um¡­pointless hostility and work together as a team?¡± ¡°A team?" Cindar let out a scornful remark. "The last team I was a part of betrayed me. Besides, I have no reason to trust you. As far as I know, you could be lying to my face." "True, but at least we could agree on one thing - a partnership built on trust can be quite fragile; one built on a mutual interest, on the other hand, usually last longer." Cindar snorted, "You''re quick - I give you that. So, stranger, what name do you go by?" The stranger tilted his head, briefly pondering to himself before answering, "A name, huh? Back when I was disguised as one of the Disciples, I was referred to as Keith. I admit, it was a nice name, but now I preferred to be called Jay." "Seriously? As in, the noisy, little bird?" said Cindar, his expression was a mix between disbelief and amusement. "I know. It sounds ridiculous, but I like how it sounds. So, that¡¯s that," Jay exhaled, shrugging unenthusiastically. Instead of continuing the conversation, Jay quietly trotted past Cindar until he was a yard away from the sealed door. "Huh, I never thought this entrance is still intact after all these years," breathed the hooded figure. "I must confess, Mr. Cindar - I''m a bit disappointed that someone with your talent failed to open this old door." Jay''s blatant criticism seemed to have rubbed Cindar the wrong way as the latter''s face gradually reddened. "Mind your tongue, boy. I''m here at your boss'' behest. So, I suggest-.¡±" "Oh, don''t take this the wrong way, sir," Jay interjected with a sarcastic tone, "Compared to my boss, I''m not actually good at sugar-coating my words. I stated the fact as I see them. As of right now, I only see you as a liability to my organization''s cause. Do you realize what I''m getting at?" Cindar stayed quiet. He could feel a slight chill running down his spine - a sensation he thought he had conquered a long time ago. "In my eyes, you are just an insignificant little worm who fancies himself as a mighty, fire-breathing dragon. In other words, you are expendable. So, you can keep the idle threats to yourself - they made you sound like a whiny runt. But I trust you¡¯ll change my opinion about you," after Jay finished his sentence, he placed his index finger against the barrier, and the structure instantly crumbled to the ground into tiny, cubic pieces. "Now, with that out the way," said Jay, reverting to his genial self, "Let''s get to work, shall we?" ¡°Do you even know where you are going?¡± ¡°Of course, I do. Now, come along. We have an appointment with one of our clients.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF DISTRUST ||| **??****************************************** [Inside the New Complex, Desert of Ashes] "There you go," Lucy sighed after she finished suturing Sam''s wound. She gently wiped the remaining blood on his forearm with a clean gauze before bandaging the man up and putting his arm into a sling. "The laceration should be completely healed in about an hour. More or less.¡± "Hopefully, because I could barely feel my fingertips," murmured Sam, realizing the Lacerator''s neurotoxin was starting to affect his body. Although he knew the effect would not be as severe as in a Reprieved, it was enough to dampen his reaction time. He lifted his head, intending to apologize for his rookie mistake, but Lucy immediately stopped him by saying, "Don''t." "It doesn''t matter if it''s your fault or not. As someone I know used to say: Shit happens. End of story," said Lucy as she helped Sam get to his feet. ¡°All we have to do now is think about our next course of action.¡± The first thing Sam saw after standing up was Rupert beaming at him. "So, how is our esteemed Samuel Edelweiss doing? Judging from your appearance, I can safely assume that my little sister did a good job patching you up." ¡°Good is an understatement. Her suturing seems to have improved,¡± Sam complimented. ¡°It¡¯s safe to say that it¡¯s almost on par with Morgana¡¯s.¡± ¡°Well, I have to improve my suturing because you two boys are prone to injury. I¡¯m surprised neither of you hasn¡¯t lost some of your limbs yet,¡± Lucy ranted. Unfortunately, Elisabeth interrupted the exchange by saying, "Spare the idle chit-chat for later, Nightingale. We still have work to do." She turned to the vermillion-eyed man, asking him, "Can you still fight?" "For God''s sake, Liz - just give him a moment. He nearly lost his arm a few minutes ago," Lucy scolded her austere friend. " ''A moment'' is a privilege that we don¡¯t currently have. If what Edelweiss said is true, then he only has less than an hour until he loses his mobility, and when that happens, he will be completely vulnerable. In short, he¡¯ll be a dead weight.¡± ¡°Then, what? You¡¯re gonna leave him behind?¡± said Lucy, glaring intently at Elisabeth. ¡°Who the hell are you? The Lizzy I know wouldn¡¯t abandon her friends so easily, let alone calling them a dead weight.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being realistic-.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re being a complete jerk,¡± Rupert jumped into the conversation with a sarcastic smile across his face. ¡°Stop it, both of you!¡± Sam quickly intervened before getting to his feet. ¡°What Elisabeth said was right. If I ended up being paralyzed from top to bottom, then you¡¯ll be preoccupied with me instead of the mission. Remember what Markus taught us ¨C no matter what happened, we must not let our emotions cloud our judgment.¡± Lucy and Rupert quietly glanced at each other; both of them were conflicted with Sam¡¯s advice. ¡°And besides, I think you misunderstood Elisabeth¡¯s earlier statement. What she meant by dead weight is that she¡¯s concerned that she won¡¯t be able to protect me from potential danger. It''s a nice gesture but all I have to say is your protection is not needed because we¡¯re gonna finish things up down here in under one hour.¡± Elisabeth opened her mouth slightly as if she was trying to say something in return but then, she decided to bow her head down towards the siblings. ¡°My apologies. I should have been more¡­tactful with what I said.¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry too. We shouldn¡¯t have lashed out at you as well,¡± Lucy regretfully remarked. ''MARVELOUS! WHAT A SPECTACULAR DISPLAY OF FRIENDSHIP!'' The four fidgeted simultaneously after hearing a disembodied, raucous voice echoing throughout the concrete corridor. "That voice...," whispered Elisabeth, her eyes narrowed. "No, it can''t be..." ''AH, WHERE ARE MY MANNERS?'' *ahem* ''WELCOME, FELLOW FACELESS, TO OUR HUMBLE HOME. DO NOT BE ALARMED. WE MEAN YOU NO HARM. FOR NOW, PLEASE CONTINUE DOWN YOUR CURRENT PATH SO WE CAN GREET EACH OTHER PROPERLY.'' The voice stopped, leaving the four in total confusion. "Ooookay, that wasn''t creepy at all," Lucy broke the silence before shifting her attention to Elisabeth, "You look unsettled, Liz. Is it someone you know?" "I do," replied Elisabeth, grimacing to herself, "But he''s supposed to be dead ten years ago." 20th Fragment: -ROSE- The four Faceless walked along the path in utter silence, mainly because of Elisabeth''s previous comment on the mysterious voice. Lucy, in particular, felt her chest burning with impatience. She was curious - not only about the identity of the disembodied voice but also about his connection to Elisabeth. Judging from her friend''s somber expression, Lucy deduced that whoever was waiting for them may be someone of great importance. "We''re here," Elisabeth exhaled as she stopped in front of a blue steel door. One could tell that the structure was well maintained by the Disciples as there was barely a spot of rust on its smooth, metallic surface. Their serpentine emblem was also engraved in the middle, but the four Accursed noticed something else alongside the symbol. On the goblet was another sign: a hexagonal spider web - a shape all of them knew too well. It was the Spider Core - the primary ingredient used to create every Accursed''s weapons ever since the formation of the Order a thousand years ago. Being the rarest metal on the face of the Earth, it was mined from the meteor that caused the Cataclysm. The same meteor where the Four Royal Jewels were also obtained. Nevertheless, the four Accursed found it jarring for such a sought-after resource to appear inside the Disciples of Vidia''s Lair. They were aware that the only people capable of manipulating the metal were the blacksmith of the Order. ''AH, YOU''RE FINALLY HERE!'' ''GREAT, I''LL BE THERE IN A JIFFY!'' As soon as the microphone was turned off, Rupert let out a short burst of laughter, "In a jiffy? How old is he? 80?" "I think there are far more important questions than the one you just asked," Sam wryly commented. Elisabeth turned around to face her friends, who in turn saw the distress written across her face. "When we go inside, do not believe anything that comes out of his mouth," Elisabeth''s breathy warning was simple, but it was enough to explain the kind of person they''ll be meeting. ¡°So, he¡¯s that persuasive?¡± said Sam. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Then, the door parted way, and the first thing four Faceless saw was a spacious, canary yellow room with a spiraling staircase carpeted in a dark shade of red. Near its base was a tanned, average-looking man who had an eerie smile across his face. He was clad in an immaculate black tuxedo paired with a white loafer - overall, a bizarre outfit to be worn in the middle of the desert. After the creepy-looking man fixed the red dahlia perched on his chest pocket, his dark grey eyes peered through his curtained brown hair, actively scrutinizing the approaching four Accursed. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to our humble dwelling," said the man, bowing down to his guests. "I''m your host for today. You can call me Silva," the man paused after noticing Elisabeth scowling at him. "Hm, you look kinda familiar. Have we met before?" he asked, eyes narrowed. Elisabeth bit down on her lower lips, contemplating whether or not she should answer him. In the end, she responded with a solid, "No," before averting her gaze from the man. "But, we sure as hell knew everything you guys have done," Lucy jumped in, causing the grin on Silva''s face to slowly disappear. All of sudden, the man in the tuxedo fell to his knees, his head hung low. "Please ¨C I beg you, forgive us for our past transgressions. We are fully aware of our crimes and the pain we caused you," Silva calmly stated, startling the four people standing in front of him. ¡°I don¡¯t know how, but me and my subordinates should be dead and yet, here we are walking in the realm of the living. Perhaps it is the will of the Envious One ¨C perhaps she brought us back to rectify our mistakes ¨C to atone for our sins. So once again, forgive us for everything that happened.¡± "The Envious One?" murmured Rupert. He nudged his sister on the shoulder, asking her softly, "Psst, who is this...Envious One?" Lucy looked at her brother with utter disbelief as the term was taught to them during their first year in the Academy. "The Envious One is another name for Vidia, a divine being worshipped by the Disciples. They considered her the Goddess of Knowledge and Progress," she reluctantly whispered back. "Ooooh...I see," replied Rupert unenthusiastically, "Well, it sounds cool but isn''t that a bit mouthful?" "Hush, you two!" Sam chided the siblings before gesturing at Elisabeth, whose face was already twisted into a furious scowl. Despite the brief interruption by the Nightingales, the amber-eyed woman continued to glower at the kneeling man. Her mouth was slightly open as if she was about to say something but immediately changed her mind after remembering Silva''s deceptive nature. Instead, she grabbed the man by the collar and lifted him off the floor - much to her companions'' amazement. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "Forgive you? What makes you think all of your past sins will simply be absolved with forgiveness? You abducted children from their homes ¨C tortured and cut them open like guinea pigs. And when you are done with them, you burnt their remains and buried their ashes in unnamed graves.¡± Even after being chastised by Elisabeth, Silva showed no signs of anger or regret. The man was surprisingly quiet as he listened to every word spouted by the furious woman. "I know what we did was wrong," Silva calmly responded, "But it was necessary. The Distorted has terrorized us ever since the dawn of the Cataclysm, and let¡¯s face it ¨C even the Faceless Order can¡¯t protect everyone. So, we opted for the better solution ¨C to give people the ability to fight back against those monsters." "Bestowing the Accursed abilities to the Reprieved does sound like a great plan - in an ideal world, that is," said Sam while adjusting his sling. "Introducing such power on those born without it will cause a tremendous strain to their mind and body - that is why not a single soul got through your experiment. I thought you as a scientist are aware of the harmful effects of your research." "We are aware of the risk, but the benefits outweighed the risks,¡± Silva retorted, "Every calculation ¨C every sacrifice was made for the sake of humanity itself. In other words, those children¡¯s deaths were not in vain; they were martyrs to a noble cause.¡± ¡°Martyrs?!¡± Lucy snapped at the man. ¡°They are children, you prick! CHILDREN!¡± ¡°We know!¡± Silva cried out in return. ¡°But we have no other choice. Our research required them due to their faster rate of cell proliferation. My colleagues and I initially tried searching for alternative methods ¨C but alas, there were none. However, we have tried to minimize their suffering as best as we could.¡± ¡°And is that reason good enough to justify your actions?¡± Elisabeth scoffed. ¡°We do not seek justification. In case you haven¡¯t noticed, we seek the same thing ¨C the salvation of the entire human race,¡± Silva sternly corrected the woman. ¡°Also, your claim that no one survived our procedure is false. There was proof of our treatment''s success: a little girl called Rosa. She was taken by one of you when¡­when we were attacked.¡± As soon as she heard the name, Elisabeth shoved Silva to the floor and rebuked, "We are not the same, and the girl you spoke of: she''s dead. After the Faceless took her back to the Tower, her body began to reject your treatment and she died in a tremendous amount of pain.¡± Silva''s face turned pale in an instant - as if the entire world was going to end. "No. No, that''s impossible," the man blurted out, his face slowly turning pale. "The integration was a success. We have the data to support it-!" "To hell with the data! Face it, Silva! Your experiment was a failure! It was always doomed to fail!" Elisabeth cut the man short with her outburst. ¡°No matter how hard you try and how much you sacrificed, a Reprieved will never become an Accursed. The girl¡­Rosa¡¯s death proved it.¡± ¡°No¡­I refused to believe that,¡± Silva vigorously shook his head in denial. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about what you believe. All that matters now is for you to stop what you¡¯re doing; shut down your whole operation,¡± Elisabeth then took a hurried look at Sam before continuing, ¡°And atone for your sins. Isn¡¯t that the reason why your goddess brought you back to life?¡± Silva dropped his gaze, his mouth quivering with frustration. "Lady Vidia has guided us all these years ¨C she granted us forbidden knowledge of the past so we could make a difference. To abandon our research now,¡± the man in the tuxedo paused to take a deep long breath. ¡°That will be blasphemy.¡± ¡°Uh, guys? I have a bad feeling about this,¡± Rupert anxiously interjected. ¡°You dare trespass into our home and demanded us to cease our entire operation?¡± Silva began to snarl as he slowly rose to his feet. ¡°While you cowered in your Tower, coddled by an extraordinary gift you called a curse ¨C we on the Mortal Realm are forced to face the threat of uncertainty daily ¨C unsure whether tomorrow or the day after it will be our last.¡± Elisabeth frowned; both of her fists are clenched as the man in the tuxedo glowered at her. ¡°Whatever it is you¡¯re planning to do: don¡¯t. It will not end well for you and your subordinates,¡± warned the amber-eyed woman. ¡°Your words of caution might mean something ten years ago. But no longer will we be afraid of you ¨C afraid of the Faceless Order.¡± Elisabeth shook her head in disagreement and began to exclaim, "Listen to me, Silva! Do not throw away your second chance like this! We could still walk out of this like civilized people. This place has no need for more pointless deaths. If you won¡¯t do it for yourself, then do it for your colleagues.¡± Silva darted his eyes upward after hearing the woman''s earnest request; a pained expression appeared on his face as he struggled to process the situation. On the other hand, the four Accursed could only stare at him, nervously waiting for his response. Finally, after a brief moment of silence, Silva let out a heavy sigh - a clear sign that he has reached a decision. "My colleagues," Silva replied with a brittle voice. ¡°They are my friends ¨C my families. I could still hear them screaming as your Order slaughtered them one by one without mercy ¨C watched as their mangled bodies drowned in the pool of their own blood.¡± Slowly, he raised his head and started muttering a few ominous words, "But mark my words, things will be different from now on. I¡¯ll make sure of it." The man snapped his fingers which, for an unknown reason, induced a wave of nausea that swiftly engulfed the four Accursed simultaneously. "You...bastard...! What did you...do to us?" Lucy moaned while clutching her throbbing head. "It is a true pity that the Faceless Order is still plagued by their own short-sightedness and archaic moral codes,¡± Silva exhaled. ¡°We could have built a better world together, but that offer is gone the moment you butchered us like pigs. For that, you¡¯ll feel everything ¨C every cut and every jolt of electricity. There won¡¯t be a day where I will not be hearing your screams echoing throughout this place.¡± BANG! Elisabeth slammed her fists against the ground, causing the room to quake. Silva, who nearly lost his balance, was completely in awe - not by the sheer strength of the amber-eyed woman - but by the type of ability, she possessed. "This is¡­Terrakinesis. Could it be¡­?" uttered the man in the black suit, smiling from ear to ear - until he heard a series of loud cracking noises from beneath his feet. "ROSA!" was the only word that escaped Silva''s mouth before he dashed toward the spiral staircase. "Hold on...to something," said Elisabeth to her friends. Seconds later, the whole floor disintegrated, and the four Accursed fell into the dark abyss. 21st Fragment: -ECHO- ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| The first thing Sam felt after he plummeted into the void was the solid, sandy ground and intense pain spreading throughout his body. It was one thing to fall into a deep, dark hole but to land directly on his injured arm. He laid on his back, nauseous and quivering uncontrollably; his eyes quickly welled up with tears. "Oh¡­God¡­that hurts¡­that really freaking hurts," Sam whimpered. Biting down on his lips, the man proceeded to take a few deep breaths and waited for the pain to subside. As his eyes adjusted to the looming blackness, he was anticipating the Nightingales to unleash their usual snarky remarks at any moment. Yet, he could hear nothing except the grinding sands against his back. ¡°Lucy? Rupert? Liz?¡± Nothing. ¡°Is anybody there?¡± Sam called out once more, but like before, there was only silence. ¡°Okay, okay. Don¡¯t panic. Don¡¯t¡­panic. They¡¯re probably somewhere nearby. You just¡­have to stand up and search the area. Alright, here goes ¨C one, two¡­¡± Sam groaned as he slowly got to his feet. He could feel the back of his head throbbing, but even then, it was no match to the pain he felt along his injured arm. Raising his head upward, Sam caught a glimpse of the hole he fell into which was shaped like a tiny white dot. It was nothing less than a miracle, he thought ¨C for him to have survived the plunge without losing his life or at least breaking some of his bones. Nonetheless, that still didn''t change the fact that he was alone in the dark, covered in gravel and bloodied bandages - an unpleasant situation he once experienced during the annual Grisly Gauntlets. ¡°Alright. Now, which way to go?¡± BZZT! Sam spun around after hearing a brief, static noise from behind him. "What the...?" he spouted, squinting his eyes as hard as he could. It was a surprising find ¨C an old computer terminal covered in dust and grime - its small screen emitted a faint green glow in the midst of the thick shadows. Like a moth to a flame, Sam was drawn to the eerie terminal whose light pulsated with every step he took. Just as he was within an arm''s distance from the machine, the monitor began to flicker over and over again - until it displayed an image of a compact grey room furnished with an autopsy table and a ventilated cabinet packed with various types of surgical tools. Although it was slightly blurry, Sam noticed the metallic table was stained with blood. ¡°Is this¡­a recording?¡¯ the man muttered. Seconds later, he heard someone heaving followed by a scraping sound. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "For the love of Vidia, you''re heavier than I thought," said a muffled male voice with a bit of an accent. Shortly after, a figure in a yellow PPE suit appeared on screen, dragging along a black, body-sized plastic bag before lifting it onto the metallic table. "Let''s see. Subject...," the Disciple picked up the red clipboard from the cabinet before continuing, "#116. A 10-year-old male. Found partially digested in the bowel of the Sandcreeper. Approximate time of death: six hours ago." The man unzipped the bag, revealing several body parts immersed in brownish-black sludge. ¡°Let¡¯s see ¨C judging from the level of decomposition, Subject #116 has been submerged in the Sandcreeper¡¯s stomach acid for about¡­four¡­no, sorry, five hours. And, huh¡­?¡± The man in the PPE suit reached his hands into the plastic bag and carefully pulled out a glass vial from the muck ¨C the pink liquid inside remained pristine. ¡°The Transitory Elixir given to Subject #116 was found in good condition. There were no signs that the container has been tampered with ¨C indicating the deceased disobeyed a direct order and refused to consume the liquid.¡± "Poor thing," remarked a familiar voice off-screen, causing the man in the PPE suit to shudder. "Silva? I didn''t see you came in." "I''m truly sorry for this late-night visit, but I came here as soon as I heard about the boy. So he didn¡¯t drink the elixir like the previous one?" "Unfortunately, no. As you can see, he didn¡¯t even touch the bottle.¡± Finally, Silva appeared on-screen with a disappointed look on his face. He put both hands on the table and exhaled; his lips started to move, muttering some sort of prayer to the deceased, "You were a stubborn one, but I hope your end was swift." Silva then shifted his gaze at the man in the PPE suit and said with a monotonous voice, "Clean everything and scheduled his remains for cremation." "I beg your pardon, sir?" the doctor expressed his astonishment, "I haven¡¯t finished with my autopsy-.¡± "There is nothing to study. The boy did not take the elixir, so anything you find is useless to us," Silva interrupted, "Besides, the Faceless are closing in fast, so we can''t afford to waste any more time or resources." "You know, Sir? Don¡¯t take this personally, but are we even on the right track here? I mean...Isn''t it possible that what happened to Rosa was purely out of chance?" "Chance?" replied Silva, glaring menacingly at the doctor. "Our research does not and will not depend on a fickle variable such as luck. There should...there MUST be a solid explanation as to why the treatment worked on her." All of a sudden, the entire room turned dark red with the siren blaring in the distance. Before the two Disciples could react, they felt the whole chamber tremble, later replaced with the blood-curdling screams of men and women coming from outside the morgue. "No. NO!" Silva shouted, and the screen cut to black. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Sam stood quietly in front of the blank monitor, struggling to comprehend whatever he had just seen. However, one thing was certain: the recording was presumably taken ten years ago - on the day the Order launched an attack on the Disciples'' stronghold. Still, it was strange, Sam thought. Shouldn''t the Order first send an envoy to negotiate with the enemies before resorting to brute force in case everything failed? "Hm, something doesn''t add up here," Sam whispered. He tried pressing a few buttons on the keyboard, but to his disappointment, the machine had ceased functioning altogether. "Figures. Now what?" the man grunted. As Sam turned away from the computer, his entire body froze, but not from the Lacerator''s paralyzing venom. Near the entrance of the chamber was a little girl holding a small flashlight, and she was staring warily at Sam. Without uttering anything, the girl slowly backed away from the room. In order to prevent her from fleeing, Sam dropped to one knee and calmly introduced himself with a smile, "Hi there. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not gonna hurt you. My name is Samuel Edelweiss, but you can call me Sam." Although she was still suspicious of the man, the girl stopped dead on her track and started talking in a slightly hoarse voice, "You are not one of the men in the funny suit." Sam shook his head before answering, "No, I''m not. I came from... somewhere far, far away." "Far, far away?" the girl''s eyes instantly lit up. "How far?¡± ¡°Very far.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the girl replied. ¡°Sam, was it? How did you get down here?¡± ¡°I fell from up there,¡± Sam simply said before pointing at the hole in the ceiling. ¡°That¡¯s¡­pretty high, and yet, you¡¯re still alive.¡± ¡°Guess it¡¯s my lucky day.¡± The mysterious girl eventually came forward. She was probably no older than ten, Sam thought; her haggard face was so pale and delicate that it was like staring at a thin layer of ice. She was also wearing a worn-out medical gown with the Disciples'' insignia embroidered on the left side of her chest. Yet, despite the girl''s ragged appearance, her neck-length mocha hair was near immaculate. "You''re hurt. Did you get that from falling down?" said the girl, gesturing her finger at Sam''s wrapped arm. "This? No, I got this from before the fall. It¡¯s just a little scratch," Sam returned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like a little scratch. Honestly, it looks pretty bad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite shrewd for a kid,¡± Sam complimented. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. It is so bad that I had to stitch it up. I got it from a fight with a¡­um¡­how should I say this?¡± ¡°The Distorted?¡± the girl remarked. Sam¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You know about them?¡± ¡°Yeah. They¡­killed my parents and friends. That¡¯s why the men in the funny suit took us down here ¨C to protect us from those monsters.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± uttered Sam as he felt a sudden heaviness in his chest. ¡°What business do you have with those nasty things anyway?¡± ¡°Well, do you see this?¡± Sam gestured at the katana strapped to his waist. ¡°My job is to hunt those nasty things down ¨C to make sure they won¡¯t be hurting anyone ever again.¡± ¡°Hunt? If that¡¯s true, then I have one request,¡± the girl said confidently. ¡°A request, you said?¡± Sam smirked as he was unable to contain his amusement. ¡°Interesting. Sure, let¡¯s hear it.¡± The girl proceeded to clear her throat - a gesture that made Sam chuckle quietly. ¡°In exchange for your way out of this place, I want you to take me and my friends along with you.¡± ¡°Your¡­friends? How many friends are we talking about here?¡± asked Sam, his head tilted slightly to the left. ¡°Uh-uh,¡± the girl showed her left palm to Sam. ¡°I won¡¯t tell you more until you agree to my conditions. Soooo, do we have terms?¡± ¡°And, what if I disagree with your conditions?¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave you here in the dark. Be warned though, this entire is a maze and only I knew which pathways to take ¨C and I also have a flashlight in my hand.¡± ¡°Hm, I must admit, you¡¯re a cheeky one. Fine, we have terms.¡± The girl held her right hand out which Sam gently shook. Oddly enough, he felt a wave of nostalgia suddenly wash over him ¨C as if he had experienced this kind of situation before. Or perhaps it was the pain playing tricks on his mind. ¡°You know, girl, if we¡¯re going to work together from now on, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to refer to each other by name?¡± Although hesitant at first, the girl eventually muttered, "Anemone. Annie, for short." She then glowered at the man, waiting for some kind of reaction from him. "Now that you know how to call me, is there anything else you want to know before we begin our mission?" she later asked. "Nothing, I guess. At least for now," said Sam, shrugging both of his shoulders. "Perfect!" Anemone exclaimed, "Now, let us go forth without delay!" ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| The first thing Lucy saw after opening her eyes was a building that was supposed to be destroyed years ago. A lone tower mill, with a red cap and white sail standing in the vast, green plains - similar to the one in her and her brother''s hometown. ''How can this be?'' she wondered as it was completely razed to the ground by the Distorted, leaving her family as the sole survivors. But there was no mistaking it. The mosses on the building, the number of missing bricks, and the discolored wind shaft - the only word that escaped her mouth was, "Impossible." Shortly after, a gust of icy cold wind hit her in the face, along with the acrid smell of sulfur, smoke - and the sickly, sweet stench of burning flesh. "Lucia..." A raspy female voice crept into Lucy''s ears. It was the voice that haunted her in her sleep for the past 13 years - the same voice that used to be warm and welcoming before it was marred by the voracious black flame. In that instant, a black mist began to swirl in front of her very eyes, forming a shadowy humanoid figure. "Lucia..." said the silhouette - its slightly distorted voice sent a shiver down Lucy''s spine. It slowly glided toward the female Accursed with both arms stretching outward. "No, stay away! Don''t come any closer!" warned Lucy, slowly backing away from the approaching blackness. Her hand instinctively reached for the weapon on her back, but she could only feel the wintry air grazing against her palm. Lucy looked over her shoulder; her entire face turned white after realizing her dagger had disappeared without a trace. She turned her attention forward and gasped when the silhouette was already an inch away from her face. "WHY DIDN''T YOU SAVE ME!? WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME TO DIE!?" the shadow shrieked before grabbing Lucy by the neck. "Stop..." Lucy whimpered as the foggy hands tightened their grips with each passing moment. "IT HURTS! THE FIRE! THE FIRE FROM THE ABYSS! YOU WATCHED, BUT YOU DID NOTHING! YOU UNGRATEFUL CHILD! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU-!" "Enough!" the shadows dispersed after Lucy screamed at the top of her lungs. Sinking to her knees, the woman stared blankly at the distant windmill for a few seconds before bursting into tears. "I''m sorry...I''m...sorry....mom," were the only things she murmured before she prostrated on the field of green, bawling her eyes out. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 22nd Fragment: -PHANTOM- Sam was thoroughly impressed. Simply with a single flashlight, Anemone effortlessly navigated both of them through the dark maze, making sharp turns without even stopping to think. They quietly passed through corridors of metal doors - each seemed to have been eaten away by the sands and time. For a brief moment, Sam managed to take a peek into a room beyond the eroded barrier. He noticed a single bed resided alone in the chamber - its decayed frame and mattress were disgustingly tainted with mold and an unknown pale-yellow substance. Despite the unsavory scenery, what caught Sam''s eyes the most was the wilted flower bouquet lying near the bed. Compared to the other objects in the room, the flowers looked slightly out of place, as if it was placed there recently. "Did you put them there? The flowers?" Sam asked. "Hm? Oh no, it was the hooded woman. She¡¯s the one who placed them there. Now that you mentioned it, she puts the flowers in every room," replied Anemone before making a sharp right turn. "A hooded woman, you say?" said Sam as she recalled the cloak Liz was wearing. It made him wonder if it was her who left the bouquet inside the cramped chambers. ¡°Tell me, Annie. How long have you been down here?¡± the man asked. ¡°I¡¯m¡­not quite sure. It¡¯s hard to tell the time with this pitch darkness around me,¡± Anemone responded. ¡°Okay¡­let me rephrase that: How long has this place been like this?¡± ¡°Since¡­um,¡± Anemone came to an abrupt stop as she began thinking deeply to herself. ¡°That¡¯s weird. I¡­I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Then, what¡¯s the last thing you remember?¡± ¡°Waking up from my bed¡­I think?¡± Before he could ask further, the little girl suddenly made an abrupt stop, nearly causing the Accursed to collide with her. "What''s the matter? Did you spot something?" Sam inquired. But instead of answering, Anemone placed a finger against her lips and turned her flashlight off. At first, there was nothing but silence and the sounds of their thumping hearts. Seconds later, they could hear something. KLANG! KLANG! KLANG! "Oh no. Oh no," Anemone nervously muttered as soon as she heard the rattling chains. She quickly grabbed Sam''s uninjured arm and dragged him into one of the rooms. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Sam asked again. ¡°It¡¯s the bogeyman,¡± whispered Anemone as she slammed the door shut. ¡°Now, help me with this.¡± Noticing the agitated look on the girl''s face, Sam did as he was told. Both of them pulled the rusted bed to block the entrance. Then, they trotted the corner ¨C hoping for whatever roaming outside the room to pass by. They waited. And waited. Until they heard a loud groan. "Ugh!" Sam turned his head to the girl, only to see her on her knees ¨C clasping her aching head. "No! That...that can¡¯t be! She wouldn''t-! No!" the girl continued to say out loud, much to Sam''s bewilderment. BANG! Sam gasped as the metal door swung open and the bed flew off into the wall nearby. He tried to reach for the katana, but his hand wouldn¡¯t move ¨C no, it refused to move to his command. At first, the man thought the Lacerator''s venom finally affected his limbs, but later, his chest tightened up, and his heart started beating like a drum. Both of his eyes were fixated on the gaping entrance as if they were pulled in by the vacant darkness. "Anemone. Can you hear me?" Sam softly called out to the girl, but alas, she remained unresponsive to his voice. KLANG! KLANG! KLANG! The unnerving sound of clattering chains returned- only this time, it was as if it was coming toward him. In spite of that, he still couldn''t see anything ¨C not even the slightest movement in the void, let alone the face of the being that stirred the primal fear he thought he had overcome a long time ago. ¡®Hold on¡­this feeling¡­is it¡­?¡¯ Before Sam could process his thought, he felt something belt him squarely in the chest and pinned him against the concrete wall. "ARGH!" cried Sam. His head was pounding so badly that he could barely keep his eyes open; at the same time, he also could feel a searing sensation wrapped around his neck. Then from the darkness, he heard a distinct snarl ¨C an amalgamation of a wild boar and a panther. "So, you finally decided to show yourself, Eidolon," Sam deduced, gritting his teeth in agony. Thankfully, the man regained control of his arm and immediately reached his hand out ¨C conjuring a crimson fire from the tips of his fingers. Sam had no idea what he was aiming for, but there was a screech, followed by the shuffling sands and clanking metal chains. The next thing he knew, his body was freed from the invisible shackles that bound him to the wall. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. After letting out a few dry coughs, Sam pulled out his sword; the blade instantly burst into flames. Shortly after, another scream came out from the dissipating darkness - the only difference was Sam could finally see the owner of the feral voice. A towering figure covered in chains from top to bottom, except for its abnormally long arms and legs. Its whole face was completely disfigured, twisted into an eddy with its circular mouth as the center. Sam grimaced at the sight of the Eidolon - for he knew the darkness was this fearsome Distorted''s domain. Thus, the first thing that came to the man''s mind was to take the girl and distance themselves as far as possible from the Distorted. Unfortunately, as he tried to grab Anemone''s arm, the girl promptly slapped his hand away. ''What are you doing!?'' Sam breathed - his question was soon answered when Anemone rose to her feet and stared at him with her dead-looking eyes. ''She will not hear you, Child of Fire.'' Sam could only shudder after hearing a deep, booming voice spill out of Anemone''s mouth. It was unmistakably the same voice that spoke to him and the Nightingales back in the maple-breech forest. "You? No, that''s¡­but how?" Sam fumbled at his reply. ''Didn''t we tell you? That prison of flesh was merely a vessel ¨C the same could be said for this frail being.'' Anemone(?) raised her right hand, and the Eidolon instantly bent down to the ground, bowing its head toward the little girl. Sam was rendered speechless. For all his years with the Order, he had never seen someone control the Distorted like a puppet on strings. ''Now, this is intriguing,¡¯ said Anemone(?) as she glanced at her palms. "Intriguing? What the hell are you on about?" ''Don''t you find it a tad peculiar?'' a smirk appeared on Anemone''s(?) face. ''For a child her age to live alone in such a dreary place? Or were you too preoccupied with your doubt and pain to even consider that?'' Anemone(?) glared at the male Accursed, who looked guilt-stricken by the inquiry. "Oh, you knew, didn''t you? The true nature of this girl, and you hid it from her.¡¯ "I have my suspicion," said Sam, nearly choking on his words. "But she wanted my help, and that is all that matters." Anemone(?) grinned eerily at the man''s answer before giving an ominous reply, ¡®For now. But when she finds out who she truly is ¨C what she truly is ¨C she¡¯ll wish that she never met you in the first place.¡¯ As she finished her sentence, Anemone¡¯s expression eased up as if she had just awoken from a deep sleep. The girl started to sway from side to side, prompting Sam to sheathe his sword and caught her before she toppled to the ground. ''That was too close,'' he sighed out of relief. GRRRR! "Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me," Sam murmured after hearing the familiar growl. He reluctantly lifted his head and realized the Eidolon was already on its feet. Even though the Distorted has no visible eyes on its malformed face, Sam could still feel them glowering at him. "Now, let''s not do anything rash, shall we?" the man calmly advised. The Eidolon grunted in response as if it was mocking him and his warning. Then, it lunged at him. Sam swiftly snapped her fingers, creating a flash of red light that caused the Distorted to shield its face. With the creature temporarily blinded, Sam snatched Anemone¡¯s flashlight off the ground and quickly carried its owner out of the room. ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] With a green light stick in his hand, Rupert looked at her sister with concern. Not only was she moaning earlier in her brief stupor, but now, she had been awfully quiet for unknown reasons. When he tried to speak to her, she just brushed him off with some vague answers. "Come on, Lucy. You''ve been ignoring me for about what? 15 minutes? Can¡¯t you at least tell your older brother what''s going on?" "I told you before, everything¡¯s fine. So, can you please get off my back?" Lucy replied with a hint of frustration in her voice. ¡°You were spouting gibberish in your sleep. Obviously, you are far from fine." "Hey!" The siblings jumped on their feet after being scolded by an irate Elisabeth. "Can you guys just stop bickering for a few minutes? You do notice that Edelweiss fell further down than all of us?" the woman added while pointing at the large hole behind her. "Well, you should have at least said something before you started poking the floor," Rupert retorted. "If I didn''t, then we will all be dead." "What do you mean?" asked Lucy, her eyebrows furrowed. Elisabeth took a deep, long breath before answering, "Did you feel dizzy or weak as soon as Silva snapped his fingers?" The siblings exchanged looks before nodding at the same time. "That''s because he used soundwaves with a frequency a human''s ears couldn''t pick up. To the Reprieved, it might not do much, but to someone like us, it could be fatal." After finishing her explanation, Elisabeth moved her head around as if she was searching for something. A tiny frown soon appeared on her face when she saw a doorway across the crater. "Drat, the entrance is on the other side of this blasted hole," she muttered. Shortly after, she heard Rupert calling for her, saying that he found ''something interesting.'' As Elisabeth spun around, she realized that the elder Nightingale was standing in front of the concrete wall, frantically rubbing his hands against what seemed to be a ventilation grille embedded in the wall. "What do you think you''re doing?" Elisabeth inquired as she shuffled toward Rupert. "Um, trying to find a way out, I guess?" "No. What I meant was - why are you trying to pry that grating open with your bare hands? You know what? Just step aside, and let me crack it open," Elisabeth grunted. She slid in front of Rupert and gently placed her right hand on the wall. A few moments later, her fingers sunk through the solid concrete like butter ¨C much to Rupert and Lucy¡¯s astonishment. Then, with a single jolt, Elisabeth ripped the grille off the wall and casually tossed it over her shoulder. "I don¡¯t know if someone said this to you but, you know Liz, sometimes you can be really scary," remarked Lucy, her expression a mix between surprise and fearfulness. "Trust me. There are far worst things beyond this shaft," Elisabeth answered before discarding the torn robe she had been wearing ever since the excavation site was hit by a sandstorm, revealing an ensemble of a brown sleeveless turtleneck, and a pair of grey combat trousers. "There''s a reason you don''t see any Disciples down here, and it''s not because they were afraid to be buried alive, no. They build something as a security measure. Their very own guardian angel. At least, that''s what it was supposed to do." "Supposed to do?" said the puzzled elder Nightingale. "The Order''s assault from ten years ago not only put a stop to the Disciples'' Gene Integration experiment, but they prevented the completion of this monstrous being. Sadly, the beast is hidden away in a secret chamber only known to several people, including Silva." "I see. Now that he has returned from the dead, there is a possibility that he might attempt to finish what he started," Lucy exhaled. "Or, you know?" Rupert interjected, "Maybe he already did?" 23rd Fragment: -PARALYSIS- With a gleeful smile across his face, Silva barged into the room filled with people in PPE suits. He climbed onto one of the metal tables and clapped his hands to attract his audience¡¯s attraction. ¡°We have good-No¡­great news, actually!¡± Silva exclaimed. ¡°Rosa has come back to us, and she is a full-fledged Accursed!¡± The entire chamber was immediately flooded with cheering and murmuring ¨C the people in the PPE suits embraced and patted each other on the shoulder, repeatedly chanting ¡®Lady Vidia¡¯ toward the ceiling. ¡°Now, now, my fellow friends. Our duty is not over yet!¡± Silva cried out, silencing the entire room. ¡°In fact, this is only the beginning! Starting tomorrow, our Retrieval Unit will be back in operation and we will continue our great work ¨C the work given to us by the Envious One!¡± ¡°All hail, Lady Vidia!¡± ¡°All hail, Lady Vidia!¡± ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| [Meanwhile¡­] Sam did not have the slightest clue about how long he had been running or where he was heading. The only thing on his mind was to get himself and the girl on his shoulder far away from the room where the ghost Eidolon resided. With the piling stress and fatigue, his whole body grew heavier with each step he took; the sharp pain along his injured left arm intensified. He felt like he was about to pass out at any moment, and the only thing that prevented him from doing so was the adrenaline pumping throughout his bloodstream. After taking a sharp right at an intersection, Sam switched his flashlight off and leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Then, he took a peek around the corner, ensuring the Distorted wasn''t on his tail. Suddenly, he felt a jolt on his shoulder, followed by a frail voice groaning into his ear, "Sam?" "Hush, kid. We''ll talk later," Sam softly replied before letting out a big sigh of relief. He shifted his focus back to the dark hallway, anxiously waiting for some movements in the shadows, or at the very least, the jangling of chains. ''Maybe...maybe it''s gone,'' Sam quietly convinced himself. Seconds later, he saw a flash of white light near the corner of his eyes. At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him ¨C until he noticed a room across him with its door slightly ajar. Although it was faint, Sam could see a flickering orange light on the other side of the hinged metal barrier - beckoning to him. Thus, without a sliver of hesitation, Sam carried Anemone into the dimly lit room and slammed the door shut - sliding the bolt into its socket. He took a quick look around and noticed a human-size marble statue standing in the middle of the chamber surrounded by melting candles and more bouquets of withered flowers. It was a bust of a beautiful long-haired woman in a peplos; both of her arms reaching toward him. Resting on her slender hands was a glossy silver chalice with a snake coiling around its stem. ¡°Lady Vidia, I assume,¡± Sam muttered, shortly before hearing Anemone groaning again on his shoulder. ¡°Oh, sorry! I¡¯m gonna put you down now, alright?¡± Sam carefully placed the girl on the sandy, concrete floor; his vermillion eyes quickly scanned her from top to bottom, searching for any signs of injuries. ¡°Are you hurt? Do you feel any pain?¡± he asked. Instead of giving a quick response, Anemone lifted her head and stared directly into the man''s vermillion eyes. Her expression was that of anguish and confusion - it was the kind of look Sam was hoping to avoid. ¡°Annie? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I heard everything. What¡­what did that voice mean by my true nature?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­,¡± Sam let out a heavy sigh. ¡°It¡¯s¡­nothing for you to worry about.¡± ¡°Nothing for me to worry about? Sam, if it is bad news, then I can take it,¡± Anemone lashed at the man. ¡°No, you can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°TELL ME!¡± Sam spun around and slowly walked forward until he reached the bolted door. The man placed his hands on his hips - he took a deep breath before beginning his explanation, ¡°Do you know about the Cataclysm?¡± ¡°The day when of meteor crash? Yeah, everyone knows about it.¡± ¡°Well¡­there were seven events that happened soon after the meteor landed. Firstly, The Great Submergence: a giant ocean wave that sunk half of the landmasses of the earth ¨C reducing the major seven continents of the world into four. Second, the Dissonance in which the world was split into three realms: the Mortal Plane, the Phantasmal Plane, and the Obscure Plane. Third, the Birth of the Royal Jewels: the four treasures of the four Kings of the four Continents. Next, the appearance of the Revolving Island: a small land that constantly circled the meteor crash site until today. Then, the rise of the Distorted and the birth of the Accursed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s only six,¡± Anemone stated. ¡°What¡¯s the last one?¡± ¡°The last one¡­,¡± Sam grumbled. ¡°A strange and rare phenomenon where the dead can be brought back into the realm of the living.¡± ¡°You mean, like a ghost?¡± ¡°¡­Not exactly. You see, instead of the dead themselves, this phenomenon affects the living, especially those who went through immeasurable pain and loss. Their traumatic memories act as sort of like a catalyst to the occurrence¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯re kinda lost me,¡± the girl interjected. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Anemone, you are an image from someone else¡¯s memories ¨C in other words, you are not a human. You are an Echo ¨C an imitation of a real person who is highly likely no longer alive.¡± ¡°No¡­that¡¯s¡­that¡¯s impossible,¡± Anemone as she gradually shuffled away from Sam. ¡°How can I not be real? Look!¡± the girl began pinching both of her forearms. ¡°See? My skin! They turned red! And I can feel the pain! If I¡¯m a ghost, then I shouldn¡¯t be able to feel this sensation! Moreover, you carried me here!¡± ¡°An Echo can be as real as a living human being. As a matter of fact, most of them do not even aware that they are¡­not what they think they are.¡± ¡°So¡­so, I¡¯m dead?¡± Anemone¡¯s voice briefly cracked. ¡°No¡­no¡­that can¡¯t be¡­I¡¯m not¡­¡± ¡°Tell me then, Annie. When was the last time you feel hungry, thirsty, or even tired?¡± Sam¡¯s question rendered the girl completely speechless. ¡°Several prominent characteristics of an Echo is they never experienced those three basic human traits ¨C that also include memory loss. But you already knew that, don¡¯t you?¡± Anemone proceeded to lower her head toward the ground. She quietly stared at her hands, fully fixated on each wrinkle on her glistening palms. ¡°Back then, when we were inside the room, I saw something. A vision¡­or maybe it was a dream?¡± ¡°A vision of what?¡± ¡°I was lying on the floor with my chest¡­cut open. Oddly enough, I don¡¯t feel any pain ¨C I just feel cold. Then, when I turned my head around, I saw people in white coats and PPE suits drenched in blood ¨C their bodies were in pieces as if they were torn by a monster.¡± With tears flowing down her rosy cheeks, the girl lifted her head to look Sam directly in the eyes. "The people in the white coat told us we were special ¨C that we could help them kill the Distorted. So, every day, they took us into the labs upstairs ¨C injected us with many things, and put us in constant pain. When we cried, they simply comfort us by saying that it was all for the greater good. I watched my friends die puking out this disgusting black lump, that smells like rotten meat.¡± ¡°And the people in the white coat ¨C they didn¡¯t do anything to help your friends, did they?¡± "No. All of them just¡­watched. That is all they did, every single day. Then when tomorrow comes, they¡¯ll adjust their formula and try again. Those who rejected the treatment died on the table covered in their blood and vomit, while the lucky ones as they called it, were sent outside for the next stage.¡± Sam frowned as he recalled the footage he watched earlier. ¡°I see. That must have been utterly difficult.¡± ¡°It was. God, I was so stupid! I should have known that they were up to no good,¡± Anemone spouted before wiping her face. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you could possibly do. You were just a child, after all ¨C no offense.¡± ¡°None taken,¡± the girl calmly replied. Seconds later, she scrambled up to her feet and dusted the sand from her clothes. ¡°Anyhow, if what you said earlier is true, then why am I still here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. However, for an Echo to exist, the one who¡­created you must be alive somewhere in this place.¡± Anemone¡¯s eyes immediately lit up and she blurted out, ¡°My friends! It¡¯s them, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°Annie, I don¡¯t think-.¡± ¡°No! Trust on me this, alright? They are real! Please, you have to believe me.¡± Sam pinched his forehead as he silently reflected on the girl¡¯s plea. They barely escaped the Eidolon and now with the Distorted roaming around, he was not sure whether they¡¯ll be lucky the second time. Additionally, he also wasn¡¯t convinced that Anemone¡¯s friends were still alive. ¡®Hm, I wonder¡­,¡¯ Sam murmured to himself. ¡°Very well,¡± the man reluctantly nodded his head. ¡°If we¡¯re going to get to your friends, then we need to be extra careful.¡± ¡°Actually, there¡¯s no need for that. My friends and I made some secret pathways during our time here. Now, if only I could remember where one of the entrances is,¡± Anemone grunted. ¡°Well, before that, here,¡± Sam handed the flashlight to the girl. ¡°I believe this is yours.¡± ¡°Thanks. Huh, I thought I lost it,¡± Anemone remarked, smiling from ear to ear. Suddenly, the candle lights near the statue danced wildly as if they were hit by a gust of air. The two glanced at each other; a sense of impending doom gradually filled the air around them. ¡°Sam¡­,¡± the girl uttered, shortly before a loud bang caused the entire room to shake. Anemone let out a gasp after she saw the front door bent inward. She could feel the Eidolon¡¯s terrifying presence creeping in between the cracks in the walls. "Damn it. Of all the times¡­," murmured Sam. As the man placed his right hand on the handle of his katana, he felt a tingle in his fingers. The next thing he realized, he was sitting on his rear with both legs completely paralyzed. "Oh, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me," Sam groaned as the prickling sensation spread to his torso. "Sam?!" Anemone cried out in panic, but the man calmly told her, "I¡¯m fine. Just do me a favor ¨C hide behind the statue and close your eyes. Whatever happens, do not open them until I said otherwise.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time to explain. Do what I said ¨C NOW!¡± The girl unwillingly followed his instruction and scuttled behind Lady Vidia¡¯s bust. ¡°Good girl. Now,¡± with his remaining strength, Sam unsheathed his blade and pointed the tip towards the entrance ¨C patiently waiting for the monster to barge into the small room. BANG! A bony claw punched through the door before yanking the entire thing from its hinges. Freezing winds rushed into the room, extinguishing all the candles except for one. GRRR! The Eidolon snarled as it stomped into the room; its warped face was already fixated on its next prey. With its skinny arm, the creature casually slapped the katana off Sam''s hand before grasping him by the neck. The man could only heave as he was lifted off the ground and brought closer to the monster. "If there¡¯s one thing I could say right now, thank you," Sam muttered with a little smile across his sweaty face, "For making it easier for me." He placed his palm on the Eidolon''s wrist, and its hand and forearm disintegrated in a blink of an eye. Sam fell flat on his back, his clothes covered in the monster¡¯s powdery residues. He watched amusingly as the Distorted scratched its arm in exasperation, only for it to unknowingly accelerate the process. "See you later," Sam spat. ¡°Or not.¡± The creature let out one last, bloodcurdling scream before its entire body crumbled into a mound of grey ashes. Sam rested his head against the ground, the dread he felt earlier had already subsided. Soon after, he heard light footsteps approaching him, followed by Anemone''s concerned voice calling his name. "Sam? Sam? Are you alright?" The man wanted to say something in return, but all that came out of his mouth were incoherent words and gagging sounds. ¡®Oh no,¡¯ Sam thought. He couldn¡¯t feel anything. Not his hands. Not his legs. And not even his fingers. As he moved his eyes upward, he saw Anemone¡¯s frightened face; her thin lips curled into a grimace. Then, everything faded to black. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| 24th Fragment: -UNDER- "Halt!" Rupert alerted the others before pressing his shoulder against the metal grating. With a gentle push, the grille detached with ease and fell to the ground. KRANG! ¡°Oh, shit!¡± the elder Nightingale muttered. ¡°Welp, so much for discretion.¡± With the light stick in his hand, he waved it outside the vent, ensuring there was no bottomless pit waiting for him. "Okay. All clear¡­I guess," Rupert added as he crawled into an old stairwell. As soon as his feet touched the landing, the whole U-shaped staircase creaked aloud ¨C much to his dismay. "Oof, that¡¯s a long way down," said Lucy after exiting the vent. "That''s...what? Probably 18 to 20 feet deep?" she guessed aloud before noticing the steps leading up were damaged beyond repair. ¡°The good news is the Disciples will not be coming soon ¨C unless they have other ways to come down here.¡± ¡°There are no other ways,¡± said Elisabeth, who was the last to leave the shaft. ¡°This is the only staircase leading further down into the bunker. If they made a new one, I¡¯ll be the first to know.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Liz, how did you get inside this facility? Is there another entrance somewhere?¡± Lucy asked, staring curiously at her friend¡¯s face. ¡°I dig.¡± ¡°Dig?¡± Rupert repeated. ¡°With what?¡± Elisabeth proceeded to crack her knuckles before replying, ¡°Take a guess.¡± ¡°O-Oh ¨C with those. I see, just¡­just forget I say anything,¡± the elder Nightingale nearly stumbled over his words. ¡°Tsk! Quit joking around,¡± Elisabeth clicked her tongue in annoyance. Shortly after, her amber eyes darted to the left where a large number ¡®2¡¯ was painted on the wall in red. ¡°Whatever you see down there, DON¡¯T touch anything.¡± ¡°You of all people should know my brother is not pretty good at following orders,¡± Lucy inquired as she slowly made her way toward the banisters; her eyes were fixated on the darkness beneath her feet. ¡°What¡¯s down there, anyway?¡± ¡°The Quarantine Facility.¡± ¡°A Quarantine Facility? In the lowest level of this complex?¡± Lucy retorted. ¡°Don¡¯t let the name fool you. It was where the Disciples imprisoned the captured children whose fate is to be subjected to their countless, inhumane experiments.¡± After Elisabeth finished her explanation, she pointed her finger at Rupert and demanded, ¡°You ¨C give me the light stick.¡± ¡°What?! This is mine!¡± ¡°You took more than one from my cabin. So, give me that and play with a new one, NOW!¡± Rupert reluctantly tossed the light stick in his hand to the furious woman, who in turn threw the object down into the void. ¡°Hm, seems the rest of the stairs of the rises are still intact. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait, what if it¡¯s not¡­intact? We could fall to our death, you know?¡± the elder Nightingale blurted out. ¡°No, we won¡¯t,¡± Lucy countered. ¡°Our bodies are much sturdier than a normal human being ¨C which means, the fall won¡¯t be enough to kill us. The pain, however, can sometimes be a little bit unbearable.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t exactly sound reassuring.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way. You either come down on your own accord, or I¡¯ll drop you,¡± Elisabeth interjected. Rupert¡¯s entire face turned pale. A brief moment later, the amber-eyed woman patted the man on the shoulder and with a stern expression, said, ¡°Chill. Learn to take a joke.¡± ¡°O-Oh, that was a joke? Of course, it was a joke. Huh, nice one. Haha¡­ha¡­,¡± Rupert¡¯s voice trailed off. CLANG! ¡°Wait, do you hear that?" Lucy blurted out. She swiftly edged near the railing with her eyes shut and her ears wide open. But, she hears nothing. ¡°That¡¯s strange. I thought I heard something earlier ¨C like a rattling chain.¡± ¡°Rattling chain, you say?¡± Elisabeth added, her eyes narrowed. ¡°Odd. Two days ago, I heard something similar on the floor above, but I couldn¡¯t pinpoint the source. Are you sure you heard-.¡± CLANG! The three Accursed exchanged looks as if they were making sure each one of them heard the sudden clattering. ¡°A chain-like sound in a dark confined space where terrible, and unjust deaths took place,¡± Lucy paused, as she momentarily munched on the insides of her cheeks. ¡°Well, it¡¯s safe to say the only one who fits the criteria is an Eidolon.¡± "An Eidolon? That sounds kinda familiar," said Rupert, scratching his head. "Seriously? We learn about-Urgh, never mind. An Eidolon is humanoid Distorted, considered to be one of the nastiest monsters ¨C I would say, they are much nastier than a big old Mangler. They can produce an odorless, airborne chemical that when inhaled, will intensify one¡¯s sense of fear, thus temporarily paralyzing any human in the vicinity.¡± ¡°Ooh, that sounds rad!¡± spouted Rupert. ¡°The chemical only affects the motor function of the Eidolon¡¯s prey, but not their other senses. In other words, the victims can still feel as the Distorted¡¯s fangs gnawed into their flesh and sucked the lives out of them,¡± Elisabeth elaborated. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Oof, not rad. Got it.¡± Elisabeth glanced at Lucy in disbelief, asking the latter, ¡°Is¡­is this normal? Is he always like this?¡± ¡°Oh, you have no idea,¡± the youngest Nightingale huffed. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. I think.¡± ¡°I understand if it¡¯s you, but Edelweiss¡­?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say there were several¡­disagreements between the two of them before they could properly tolerate each other.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for disagreement or any kind of tomfoolery. Not only are we in the Eidolon¡¯s territory, but we also have the Disciples hot on our tail. So, we need to be on our toes at all times.¡± ¡°Woah, you sounded like Sam there, Liz ¨C which is a compliment, of course,¡± Rupert commented as he walked away from the banister. ¡°And relax. The Eidolon will not stand a chance against the three of us together.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether Markus has mentioned this to you, but overconfidence is a dangerous trait to have ¨C at times, it could be fatal. Sure, it has brought you many victories ¨C however, all it takes is a tiny slip-up and you¡¯ll find your whole world turned upside down in a blink of an eye.¡± ¡°Ah, but it is you said: it has brought me many victories. I appreciate your concern, Liz, but-.¡± KRANG! The metallic landing beneath Rupert''s feet disintegrated without warning, causing him to crash down to the lower level. "RUPERT!" Lucy yelled out, lunging toward the opening before hearing her brother groaning in pain. "I''m fine! I¡¯m fine! My butt is not, though!" "He''s fine. Let''s get a move on," Elisabeth sighed. The two women cautiously climbed down the squeaking stairs while resisting the urge to grab the rusty balustrades. Despite their slow descent, both Lucy and Elisabeth eventually reached the sand-covered ground floor where they saw Rupert already on his feet examining a barred metal door. Peeking through the small, broken glass panel, he saw a large room occupied with cabinets and tables ¨C each one lying in disarray. "Hm, no one¡¯s in there for sure. I wonder what¡¯s inside?¡± Rupert remarked. "The entrance looks blocked," said Lucy before tugging on the heavy iron bar fixed to the door frame. ¡°Yup, it is indeed blocked. Hm, doesn¡¯t seem it could be opened from this side." ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to be opened from this side,¡± Elisabeth retorted as he clenched her fists and nonchalantly drove them into the wall. With a single movement, the amber-eyed woman spread the concrete barrier wide open as if she was handling a piece of clay. ¡°There ¨C our way in.¡± ¡°You¡¯re one scary gal, Liz,¡± said Rupert, causing Elisabeth to roll her eyes. One by one, the trio slipped through the hole into what used to be a laboratory. The benches and tables were blanketed in layers of dust and molds while the cobwebs enveloped the glassless, steel cabinet. "Now, would you look at that," Rupert muttered as he approached lines of sealed glass jars sitting on top of a square table. As the man took a closer look, he realized they were filled with dark, viscous liquid that bubbled as soon as the man picked one up. "Hey, don''t touch anything!" Lucy ranted, although her warning came a tad too late. "Relax, sis. It''s probably just one of those expired chemicals-HOLY MOTHER OF CRAP!" the elder Nightingale gasped after seeing a small head popped out of the liquid, prompting him to frantically place the jar back on the table. "What in the world was that? That''s-that''s freaking gross!" Rupert stammered as he rubbed his palms together in disgust. ¡°This¡­,¡± Elisabeth¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°I know this boy¡­Finn was his name. He, uh, he used to live across from my room. And this,¡± the amber-eyed woman then examined the second jar, ¡°Is Mira. I only met her for three days before she¡­suddenly passed away.¡± ¡°What is all this?¡± Rupert asked, grimacing at the content of the jars. ¡°Failures. Those who rejected the gene integration therapy. I thought¡­I thought Silva burnt them all.¡± "Um, Liz?" said Lucy, standing in front of a cabinet jam-packed with ring binder files. She noticed the names on the spines -- most of them were struck out by black tapes except for one. "Rosa. That''s the same name that Silva guy was shouting earlier. It''s¡­it¡¯s your old name, wasn''t it?" "Really?" Rupert stormed toward her sister, who in turn, obstructed him from reaching the cabinet. "No. These are all important documents. They''ll fall apart if you touch them without proper equipment and procedure. Besides," Lucy pulled her brother closer and whispered into his ear, "They contained sensitive information. Very. Sensitive. You got me?" Rupert pursed his lips in defiance, but he eventually relented to his sister''s wish. ¡°Yes, it is,¡± Elisabeth responded. ¡°It¡¯s my birth name ¨C a name I abandoned once I was taken to the Tower.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t-.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. As a matter of fact, we should focus on our initial objective,¡± the amber-eyed exhaled. She then headed toward a double door and shoved it open, causing the warm and musty air of the underground tunnel to hit the trio in the face. "At least, there are no signs of the Eidolon ¨C which could either be good or bad.¡± ¡°Forget the Eidolon. Look," blurted Rupert as he pointed the light stick at the hallway. For him, it was d¨¦j¨¤ vu all over again ¨C seeing piles of fully-clothed skeletons scattered around the corridors. Similar to the first chamber he ventured into with his sister and Sam, the area is yet another unnamed tomb -- a place where violent deaths took place. "Another massacre, and those claw marks¡­," Lucy remarked, gesturing at the multiple depressions on the walls. Then, an idea came into her mind, prompting her to ask her friend, "Say, Liz? You said the Disciples created a monster, right? Are these¡­one of its handiworks?" "I don''t know. Never saw the thing - so, I have no idea," Elisabeth responded before placing her right hand into one of the indentations. However, the woman strangely felt something familiar about the scene in front of her eyes -- as if she was here when the carnage occurred. "Liz?" Elisabeth fidgeted as Lucy tapped her on the shoulder. "Are you alright? You look¡­tensed." "Tensed?" the amber-eyed woman scoffed at the word. "Why would I feel tensed?" "Really? Do you seriously want me to answer that?" said the youngest Nightingale, her left eyebrow raised. Elisabeth could only grunt as she knew there was nearly nothing that could escape Lucia Nightingale''s keen eyes. "I grew up here with the other orphans abducted by the Disciples. A dreary place, of course, but some of my fondest memories were made here. So, you know? It''s a bit jarring to see a once pretty little hallway reduced to nothing but dust and rubbles now," Elisabeth elucidated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lucy expressed her sympathy, but she could sense her friend was hiding something else. "I know I shouldn¡¯t be saying this but¡­what exactly happened here-?" BOOM! A flash of reddish-orange light in the distance cut Lucy short, followed by the pungent smell of burnt carbon penetrating her nose. "Woah, that flame. Do you think it is what I think it is?" Rupert uttered excitedly. "Sam," Lucy murmured before charging into the dark corridor. 25th Fragment: -SCIONS- ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| The Edge. One of the residential zones in the Opal Sun Kingdom was blighted with disease, famine, and poverty. The small region was filled with dilapidated houses arranged closely next to each other; their roofs were ridden with holes while the walls were covered with cracks and moss. Despite that, the houses were the only shelters for the locals of the Edge ¨C provided they paid their monthly taxes. For years, Aria struggled to convince the Inner Circle to lend aid to the residents, but her appeals were met with countless rejections. She was aware of the history between the people of the Edge and the Opal Sun Kingdom ¨C about how the former attempted to overthrow her father. However, all the participants of the failed coup were executed - so, it did not make sense to the princess as to why the Inner Circle punished the relatives of the insurgents as well. ¡°Stay alert, Your Radiance,¡± Theo¡¯s voice suddenly came from behind her. ¡°Not everyone in this area tolerates our presence.¡± Aria¡¯s head darted left and right, noticing a few curious eyes peering at them walking the muddy road from the unglazed window. ¡°Calm down, Theo. They¡¯re not our enemies,¡± said the princess. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the residents.¡± ¡°What? Oh, you mean them? Don¡¯t worry, my sources told me those hecklers retreated back to their dens in the Sapphire Star continent.¡± ¡°Sources? You mean, Io?¡± Theo proceeded to let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Forgive me for questioning your judgment, Your Radiance, but I don¡¯t think it is wise to allow the little girl to be involved in our conflict.¡± ¡°Perhaps. Unfortunately, even if I forbid her, she would return the next day with vital info on the Liberation. A persistent ball of energy, that one is. But who am I to stop a concerned Opal Sun citizen from trying to make their homeland better?¡± ¡°Or is it because you have a soft spot for her? Because she reminded you of yourself?¡± ¡°Hm, maybe that too,¡± Aria replied nonchalantly. ¡°In any case, Io is in good hands. I placed her under Diana¡¯s care who in turn will train the girl to become a maid. So, the Inner Circle won¡¯t be suspicious of her movement around the kingdom ¨C let alone the Palace itself.¡± ¡°It is still a risky plan,¡± Theo exhaled once more. ¡°But I can see you¡¯ve already made up your mind - so, who am I to stop you?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so gloomy, Theo,¡± the princess chuckled softly. ¡°I always follow your counsel when I¡¯m having trouble with my duty.¡± ¡°If I remembered correctly, Your Radiance, one of my counsels to you was to avoid any unnecessary encounters.¡± Aria glared over her shoulder, pouting. ¡°You are never going to let that go, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Never.¡± Eventually, the duo reached the end of the winding road, where a giant arch gate towered over them. In front of it stood a black, crop-haired figure in a scarlet military jacket; a sheathed, silver-guarded rapier strapped to his left waist with his hand on top of the hilt. Even from afar, the man emanated a regal-like aura that could awe and intimidate any onlookers in the vicinity. "Jason," said Theo, bowing his head down. The man turned around - even with the mask on his face, Aria could feel her brother glaring furiously at her. ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± said the Opal Sun Prince with an orotund voice. ¡°Is there a particular reason why you are late?¡± ¡°Sorry. Lost track of time,¡± Aria swiftly responded. ¡°Lost track of time? Right,¡± the prince retorted. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you are late ¨C gives me time to chat with the residents.¡± ¡°And what did they say?¡± ¡°A fascinating tale of a hooded figure roaming the Edge, leaping from rooftops to rooftops ¨C beating up the goons from the Liberation Army. Whoever this person is, they¡¯ve caused quite a stir ¨C so much so that the people of the Edge begin to consider this mysterious figure as an urban legend.¡± "Hm, is that so? Sounds like bogus to me," Aria shrugged her shoulders indifferently. ¡°I would say so myself, but,¡± Jason paused to take a deep breath. ¡°The latest rumor I heard is that this person fought the Liberation soldiers including a brute called Cy. Coincidentally, the man you brought back to the Palace earlier this evening AND is now imprisoned in the dungeon is also named Cy. Do you have anything to say about that?¡± Aria kept quiet, refusing to comment on the matter ¨C much to her brother''s dismay. "Look ¨C I¡¯m not going to lecture you, BUT I¡¯m going to anyway. You are an adult ¨C moreover, you are the Princess of the Opal Sun, the daughter of the Brilliant King Cyrus and the Moonlight Queen Serena. Every action you take, whether how small or big it is, will greatly affect this entire Kingdom,¡± Jason boldly muttered. ¡°Furthermore, have you forgotten the vow we made to the King many moons ago?¡± ¡°To protect our people from harm until our very last breath,¡± the princess grumbled. ¡°In my defense, brother, I¡¯m still keeping the vow to our father. While you opt for a more diplomatic approach, I choose a method that best suit my¡­choleric temperament.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Vigilantism is not an effective way to solve all of our problems.¡± "Maybe not," Aria interjected. "But, I¡¯m sick of sitting around, watching silently as our people die in their own excrement ¨C thinking that their prince and princess have forsaken them. What I did ¨C what I will do may never be enough to solve our problems, but it will at least give the people hope. Just like what the Night Terror did.¡± Jason¡¯s eyes narrowed as soon he heard his sister mention the name. He had to admit ¨C the vigilante known as the Night Terror indeed inspired the locals to rise against his tyrannical grandfather decades ago. Sadly, the revolution also caused countless casualties on both sides ¨C a catastrophe he wished to prevent from ever happening again. "I don''t deny the influence the Night Terror had on our Kingdom, but to idolize this controversial figure is unfitting for someone of your stature. He was an outlaw for a reason. Well, for many reasons, actually ¨C but you get my point," the prince stated. "Your Radiances," Theo jumped into the conversation, promptly ending the siblings'' quarrel. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± Jason looked at Aria whose cheeks were gradually turning red. He slowly placed his hand on the princess¡¯s shoulder before giving her another piece of advice, ¡°Your intention is undeniably noble, but the end does not justify the means. Now, get ready. That means you too, Theo.¡± Aria begrudgingly pulled out her faceless mask from her back pocket and put it on. As she fixed the bow on her back, Theo, who has already worn his mask, slowly made his way toward the prince. ¡°A bit harsh today, are we, Jason?¡± ¡°Harsh? I¡¯m simply speaking the truth. Don¡¯t tell me you are taking her side now?¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m not taking anyone''s side. In fact, I commend you for telling her the truth. However, a good leader should also encourage any of his subordinates who realized their mistakes ¨C so they will strive to learn and improve themselves ¨C to make sure they will not repeat their blunders.¡± Jason glanced at his sister and began to feel guilty for his blatant approach. ¡°Hey, Aria,¡± the prince called. ¡°What?¡± ¡°100 Distorted.¡± Aria tilted her slightly to the right, still confused by her brother''s sudden statement. ¡°If you can defeat 100 Distorted, then I¡¯ll turn a blind eye to your little¡­escapade. I¡¯ll also ensure the rumor about the hooded vigilante does not reach the Inner Circle¡¯s ears ¨C or at least, Daedalus¡¯s ears.¡± "Hm, that is certainly an interesting offer," the princess replied, holding her chin, "But knowing you, there must be a catch somewhere?" "As you and Theo are the only two people I trust in this corrupted domain, I need you to look into something." "Well, this is not exactly the type of encouragement I had in mind, but regarding this request of yours ¨C does this ''something'' involve the princess venturing into the Land of the Sapphire Star?" Theo asked, and the prince swiftly answered with a nod. "With all due respect, suggesting such an idea is quite bold and¡­outrageous. Our relation with the Sapphire Star is like walking on thin ice - sending a spy into their territory will only make it worse for both parties." "That''s why I want you to go with her, "Jason responded. "Out of all of us, you are the only one that knows the in and out of that land." Theo was grimacing under his mask. He could see that the scheme concocted by the prince was foolish and reckless as one misstep would lead to a full-on war between the two kingdoms. "Tsk, tsk," Jason clicked his tongue after noticing his friend lost in thought, "You''re overthinking again, my friend. Don''t worry, you''ll be just fine." Despite the reassurance, Theo still remained unconvinced by the plan. In the end, he had no choice but to reluctantly obey the prince''s order, "Very well." "You know, Theo? You should really learn how to say ''no'' to my brother''s nonsensical demands sometimes," Aria spouted. "Oh, I don''t think he has any intention of declining my proposal," Jason chuckled, "After all, the Sapphire Star is still his motherland, and it has been nearly a decade since he last set foot in that place." The prince paused; his cheerful disposition disappeared as soon as he noticed a fully-armored guardsman trotting toward him. "Your Radiance," said the soldier, raising his hand in salute. "At ease, sir Rudolph. What do we have this afternoon?" "13 hordes of Entities: 10 Lacerators, one Bulbheads, and...one unknown." "One unknown? How can it be unknown. Is the radar broken?" Theo asked as it was the first time had he faced such a problem. "Quite the contrary, sir. The radar works perfectly, but for some reason, it still can''t identify this last horde," the soldier explained. Theo fidgeted nervously. The last thing he wanted was for all of them to charge blindly into battle. He shifted his attention at the prince and said, "Your Ra-I mean, Jason. Allow me to scout ahead. Perhaps I can help shed some light on this unknown horde." "No, it''s already too late for that," Jason immediately answered, shaking his head, "The hordes are already outside the gate, so we can''t afford to send someone on a solo mission right now." The prince then signaled at Rudolph with his fingers, ordering the soldier to open the gate. "Sister, if you''ll do the honors." Aria placed her right hand on her chest and took a few deep breaths before murmuring a few words that sounded like a prayer, "Oh God of our fathers and forefathers. Bless us with your grace; bestow to us the fortitude and strength to vanquish your enemies." "May the heavenly light guide us through the darkness," Jason and Theo said in return. Seconds later, they heard a loud boom followed by one of the gates swinging inward, creating a space big enough for a person to pass through. "Let''s do this," the prince uttered before drawing his rapier. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD: ADAM ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Krio Zone] The northern continent, the realm of the eternal white. The entire land was blanketed in a thick layer of snow as far as the eye could see, including the firs and the spruces. In the middle of the vast and lifeless field stood a goggled man in a white parka with a black mask covering his lower face. Fastened to his back was an arctic blue-bodied spear encased in a block of ice. The man was staring at the distant mountain through the small binoculars, noticing a large formation of clouds drifting his way. "Another blizzard," he sighed as he lowered the optical instrument. It had been nearly a year since he ventured into the mountain range, but even then, he didn''t recall the snowstorm could occur as frequently as thrice a day. ''Is there a breach? No, that''s impossible,'' the man grumbled to himself. But the incoming snowstorm proved otherwise. With a strong feeling of uncertainty, he tightened the strap on his chest and started walking toward the mountain range. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD ||| 26th Fragment: -BUGBEAR- [Somewhere in the Opal Sun Kingdom] ¡®The Empyreans are on the move.¡¯ ¡®Commencing Phase One.¡¯ ??******************************************** [Meanwhile...] [The Disciples of Vidia¡¯s Lair, Desert of Ashes] Sam didn''t know how long he was out cold, but by the time his senses returned, he heard familiar voices talking to each other. He slowly opened his heavy eyelids - the first thing he realized was that he was lying on his side in a room filled with benches and tables. He also noticed a green glowstick resting on the ground near him ¨C the same one he used back at the entrance of the lair. As his eyes darted upward, he saw Lucy pacing back and forth near the doorway while her brother sat at a table, peering into a small glass jar. As Sam tried to raise his fingers, he unintentionally let out a groan that instantly caught the siblings'' attention. "Oh, Thank God you¡¯re awake," exclaimed Lucy before shuffling anxiously toward Sam. "Hey, are you alright?" whispered the young Nightingale as she aided the man to sit himself up. ¡°Are you hurt somewhere?¡± "N-No," a gruff voice came out of Sam''s mouth. "H-How long have I been out?" "I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s been¡­about an hour since we found you in that corridor. What happened? You looked like you were in a scuffle or something.¡± "About that¡­" Before Sam began his explanation, the duo heard brisk footsteps heading their way. The front door burst open with Rupert and Elisabeth marched in simultaneously. For a fleeting moment, Sam noticed a tiny smile on the amber-eyed woman''s face though it was soon replaced by her usual scowl. "It seemed fortune still favors you, Edelweiss," Elisabeth simply remarked. "Perhaps," Sam sighed, finally able to move his limbs. He reached for his katana but soon discovered his scabbard was empty. "Where''s my Core Blade?" No one dared to answer the question. A sense of dread washed over the man after seeing the gloominess in his friends'' eyes. Sam turned to Lucy and asked her again, "Luce, where is my Core Blade?" "It''s right there," said Rupert, pointing his finger at the table behind his sister. Lucy swiftly grabbed Sam¡¯s by the arm, and with a worried expression, muttered, ¡°What you¡¯re gonna see is¡­it¡¯s not a pretty sight.¡± Sam quickly got to his feet; his heart sank as soon as he saw his sword on the wooden table ¨C its blade completely shattered. He limped forward and placed his right hand on the handle. Sam trembled as an icy cold sensation spread throughout his arm, followed by a sudden tightness in his chest. "I¡¯m sorry, Sam,¡± Lucy apologized. ¡°We tried our best to salvage what we can, but¡­the damage was too much.¡± "No, it''s not your fault. If anything, I¡¯m the one who should be blamed for this," Sam retorted as he picked up the katana and carefully slid it into the sheathe. Shortly after, his eyes lit up after remembering a certain someone. "Wait, there was a little girl with me! Have any of you seen her?" he blurted out. "A little girl?" Elisabeth repeated, "What are you on about? You''re the only one down here." "No, there''s¡­well, she''s not actually a real girl. She''s an Echo in the shape of a girl." Lucy''s brows drew together out of surprise. "An Echo? Here?" she uttered before nodding her head. "Well, that makes sense. Many terrible things had happened here, so there should be a lot of residual energies to bring forth an Echo." "But we''ve checked the areas many times. There''s nothing out there except empty rooms and¡­sands," Rupert grunted at the last word. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s also a statue of a cute lady holding a chalice. She¡¯s¡­um¡­pretty weird.¡± ¡°That was the bust of Lady Vidia, the goddess worshipped by the Disciples,¡± Elisabeth corrected. ¡°Anyway, what is more important is that there is Eidolon roaming about this place. Have you seen it?¡± "I did, and I took care of it. It won¡¯t be a nuisance to anyone ever again,¡± said Sam, causing his friends to stare at him in awe. ¡°You¡­took care of the Eidolon? That¡¯s so sick, dude!¡± Rupert complimented. ¡°It¡¯s not sick; it¡¯s unheard of. In fact, I have never heard of anyone who single-handedly defeated an Eidolon before,¡± Elisabeth added. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaking it for a weaker Distorted?¡± ¡°Maybe, if there¡¯s another creature with a spiral-like face and chains around its body,¡± the vermillion-eyed retorted before removing the sling tied around his neck. He took a hurried look at his forearm; the wound he sustained earlier had finally closed up ¨C leaving behind a long visible scar covered in stitching. ¡°Here,¡± said Lucy as she quickly cut the thread with her dagger and discarded it. ¡°Now, even though it¡¯s healed, you still need to be mindful about moving your arm around.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I have any other choice,¡± Sam grunted as he stretched both of his arms. ¡°With my sword beyond repair, the only alternative I could think of is using my fists.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not gonna stop you from doing that. As far as I know, I¡¯ve already done my part in patching you up. Now, about this girl¡­¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. She, um¡­,¡± Sam began to recollect himself. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, she said her name was Anemone, and she was one of the children who was taken to this place.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Anemone?¡± Elisabeth spouted with a scowl across her face. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what she said?¡± ¡°Yeah. Do you know her?¡± ¡°Hm, that name does sound familiar,¡± the amber-eyed woman paused as she briefly pinched her forehead in silence. Various faces flashed before her eyes, but as soon as she tried to recall the girl named Anemone, all she could see was a thick fog. ¡°That¡¯s¡­strange. If she was one of the captives, then I should be able to remember her.¡± ¡°Anyways, the kid said there are others like her down here. However, I¡¯m not sure whether her friends are real or an Echo like her,¡± Sam further remarked. ¡°There¡¯s no use mulling over it,¡± Elisabeth returned. ¡°We stick to our initial objective which is to capture the Disciples ¨C anything else can wait.¡± Sam exhaled loudly before he replied, ¡°Fine. If we¡¯re going to do that, then we need a way out here. You¡¯ve been down here longer than us, Liz, do you know any routes we can take to move around ¨C preferably one that could help us evade possible encounters with the Disciples.¡± ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± ¡°Some kind of a nerve center or a control room. I want to find out how big this place actually is, and also shut down the device that rendered our equipment useless.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Elisabeth grumbled. ¡°There is one, but I¡¯m not sure whether the path still exists or not.¡± ¡°Um, what do you mean by ¡®still exist or not¡¯?¡± asked Lucy, grimacing at her friend¡¯s comment. ¡°This place is more than a decade old - so, there have been some¡­cave-ins, especially in the Old Complex.¡± ¡°Let me get this straight,¡± said Lucy before she took a deep breath to calm herself down. ¡°Are you saying that everything in here can come falling down on us at any time? Great, that is precisely what I want to hear right now.¡± ¡°Oh? You¡¯re not afraid of getting buried alive, are you sis?¡± Rupert teased his younger sibling. ¡°Said by someone who has never been buried alive,¡± Lucy spouted before shifting her attention back to Elisabeth. ¡°This path you mentioned, where is it anyway?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in one of the rooms inside the Quarantine Facility. Come, I¡¯ll show you,¡± replied Elisabeth as she picked up the glowstick from the ground. **??****************************************** Five minutes later, the four Accursed reached a steel door with the name Rosa etched on the top rail. Elisabeth''s eyes trembled at the sight of the corroding doorway; she could feel her lips drying up though she wasn''t sure whether it was because of the arid surroundings or her nerves getting the best of her. Seconds later, she felt a hand clung to her shoulder, followed by Lucy''s breathy voice, "Liz? Do you need a moment?" "No, I''m fine," Elisabeth exhaled. She then pushed the door open, spewing out a cloud of dust into the dark corridor. Despite that, the amber-eyed woman continued shoving the door until it was wide enough for all of them to pass through. "Huh, it''s much smaller than I thought," the elder Nightingale commented. "Well, you''re not wrong," Sam acknowledged Rupert''s blunt opinion. He noticed the room''s interior was pretty much the same: the rusted single-sized bed in the middle of the confinement chamber and the decaying reading table. The only difference was the empty canvases scattered on the ground ¨C covered in dust and black sand. "I didn''t know you paint," said Lucy. "Used to. Not anymore," Elisabeth murmured as she pulled the bed aside, exposing the metal grating on the floor. She single-handedly lifted the structure and cast it aside, revealing the hidden shaft to her colleagues. "No cave-ins," said Elisabeth before she jumped into the hole. "Shit." "Everything alright?" Sam asked. "Y-Yeah. Just got some cobwebs on my face. Toss me one of those light thingies." Soon after, Elisabeth felt something brush against her feet, and the entire tunnel instantly lit up. "It''s clear!" she shouted. The remaining three Accursed dropped down - their landings echoed throughout the underpass. "Urgh," Rupert gagged as something thready slipped into his mouth, "That''s frickin¡¯ nasty." "Nasty aside," Sam interjected after noticing the crude design of the entire passage. No metal plates. No electrical wirings. Just an ordinary, rocky tunnel. "This is not a part of the Quarantine Facility, is it?" "No, it is not. I made this pathway myself. It does look a bit crude, but it''ll hold. Hopefully," Elisabeth answered, shrugging her shoulders. "The control room should be straight ahead. Stay close ¨C unless you want to get lost on purpose." ****??**************************************** ||| THE PATH OF DECEIT: JAY ||| [Meanwhile¡­] "Here," said Jay as he handed a black faceless mask to Cindar. "You want me to wear this silly thing?" "This ''silly thing'' is the Disciples'' bugbear ¨C it allows us to be seen as something more than a simple and defenseless human being -- a fiend from an unknown part of the world, worse than the ones outside. In other words, using fear as a tool to keep them in line." "I like the sound of that," Cindar grinned. "If you do, then put it on." Cindar cheerfully wore the mask -- just in time as the door in front of them parted ways. A figure in a PPE suit walked out between the crevices and instantly bowed their head down, greeting the duo with a soft, feminine voice, "Welcome, gentlemen. We have been expecting you." "Is that so? Where is he?" asked Jay sternly. "He''s on his way-," the figure was interrupted by Silva who suddenly appeared from behind her. "Thank you, Lee. You can go back inside now," the man calmly ordered, sweat beads forming on his forehead. After the person in the PPE suit left, Silva cleared his throat and spoke mildly to his guests, ¡°Gentlemen, I was told you will be here tomorrow." "Indeed," Jay returned, "Unfortunately, there has been a change of plan. My superior heard you''ve been working on something other than what we ordered you to do. Something that is related to your previous venture." Silva fidgeted, but then a nervous smile appeared across his face. "I can assure you, sir, that is completely untrue. We are working hard to fulfill your demand and-," Silva paused abruptly after hearing Jay clicking his tongue in disappointment. "I don¡¯t think you understand the situation you are in, Silva. You see, I can tolerate incompetence. Lying, however, is a whole different story." Jay swiftly grabbed Silva by the chin, and a loud crack soon followed. The man in the black tux let out a gurgling scream as he collapsed to his knees while holding his excruciating dislocated mandible. "It hurts, does it?" Jay remarked as Silva incessantly whimpered on the ground. "Continue defying us again, and you''ll experience pain that is beyond your comprehension. Got it?" Shortly after Jay finished saying his piece, he easily popped Silva''s jaw back into place. "Now, the thing you promised us. Where is it?" ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF DECEIT ||| 27th Fragment: -TRANSIENCE- [The Desert of Ashes] Elisabeth grunted as she encountered an intersection in front of her. Her eyes darted from left to right, trying to recall where each path led to. ¡°Darn it, should have put a sign here,¡± the woman murmured. She immediately crouched down, resting her right palm against the ground. ¡°Are we lost?¡± Rupert whispered to his sister. ¡°We¡¯re lost, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°No, we are not,¡± Lucy swiftly replied. Sam approached Elisabeth and squatted down next to the woman, asking her, ¡°So, should we split up?¡± ¡°No, that would be too risky. We don¡¯t know how stable this tunnel is. Just give me a moment.¡± Elisabeth closed her eyes and knocked on the floor with her fist. In that instant, the layout of the entire tunnel manifested in her mind, including the images of cave-ins and the Disciples walking on the surface. For a brief second, Elisabeth caught a glimpse of Silva on the topmost level, conversing with two hooded figures. However, their silhouettes quickly disappeared as soon as they walked into a room ¨C much to her ire. ¡°Liz,¡± Sam called her name, instantly snapping her back to reality. ¡°Sorry, um¡­the control room is that way,¡± the amber-eyed woman pointed her finger to the right. ¡°I won¡¯t go there if I were you.¡± The four Accursed fidgeted after hearing a child-like voice spoke to them. Sam, in particular, stood up and spun around to find the source of the mysterious voice. ¡°What was that? Did you guys hear that?¡± Rupert spouted. ¡°That was Anemone,¡± Sam replied, nodding his head firmly. ¡°Anemone? That Echo lass?¡± said Elisabeth, although she still wasn¡¯t convinced of the girl¡¯s existence. ¡°How did you know my name?¡± a little girl suddenly appeared from the left pathway; her face and gown were slightly tainted with grime and sand. ¡°You¡¯re¡­not one of those people in the suit.¡± ¡°What do you mean, how? You¡¯re the one who told me, remember?¡± Sam replied as he lowered himself to the girl¡¯s level. Anemone frowned and eyed Sam from top to bottom before replying, "No¡­I don''t think we¡¯ve met you before. Who are you guys anyway? Your outfits are kinda weird, and how did you know about this passage?¡± ¡°Weird? Weird!?¡± Rupert exclaimed, obviously offended by Anemone¡¯s comment. Sam quietly gazed into Anemone¡¯s fatigued eyes, making sure she wasn¡¯t bluffing. Then, it dawned on him. An Echo is incapable of creating and preserving new memories, so it came as no surprise that she could not recall who he was. ¡°This is just great,¡± the man sighed. ¡°You¡­,¡± Anemone shifted her focus toward Elisabeth. ¡°You look kinda familiar. Have we met before?¡± ¡°Um, I¡­,¡± Elisabeth stumbled over her words, a reaction which baffled her three companions. Shortly after, dozens of images flooded her brain, causing the amber-eyed woman to fall to her knees, clutching her throbbing head. ¡°Wait, you¡­I know you¡­You¡¯re Anemone Ortega.¡± ¡°Okay, this is getting very, very odd. I think I¡¯m going to go¡­now,¡± the girl countered before she scuttled away into the darkness, leaving the four Accursed behind. ¡°Wait, Anemone! Ah, shit!¡± Sam yelled out in vain. ¡°Are you alright, Liz?¡± asked Lucy as she helped Elisabeth get to her feet. She could hear her friend breathing heavily against her shoulder. ¡°God¡­must be punishing me right now¡­¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°That¡­was Anemone Ortega. She lived next to me when I was¡­,¡± Elisabeth gulped, unable to finish her sentence. ¡°That¡¯s strange. I should have remembered. I should have! But, why¡­?¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± Rupert inquired; his arms crossed together. ¡°She¡¯s¡­one of my closest friends. In fact, she and I built this tunnel together to escape this place. But, how is she¡­¡± ¡°My guess is you¡¯re the one who created her,¡± Sam interjected. ¡°For an Echo to come to life, they require a memory of the deceased, and the only one I could think of is you.¡± ¡°So¡­she¡¯s here, because of me? I guess¡­that makes sense.¡± ¡°But, even if Liz remembered who the girl was, that is still not powerful enough to give the Echo a physical body,¡± Lucy explained. ¡°Unless¡­something happened to her,¡± said Sam, staring intently at Elisabeth. ¡°Something so terrible, it caused Liz to consciously forget about Anemone. However, her repressed memory proved to be strong enough for the Echo phenomenon to happen.¡± Elisabeth hung her head low; her lips were quivering while her eyes gradually become glassy. ¡°It was on the day the Faceless launched an assault on the Disciples. Silva and his subordinates started to panic and it led them to destroy their years of research ¨C to prevent the Order from getting hands on their life works. That includes terminating any living test subjects ¨C all the children ¨C all my friends.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°That is so cruel,¡± Lucy remarked with a grimace across her face. ¡°Cruel? Yeah, I guess that¡¯s one word to describe what kind of man Silva is,¡± said Elisabeth before turning around to face the wall. ¡°Seeing the incursion as a good distraction, Anemone and I tried to make a run for it but we were soon caught by the scientists. Sadly, I was knocked out cold before I could wrestle my way out of their holds. Everything after was a blur ¨C until¡­¡± ¡°Until what?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Until I woke up to Anemone dying in my arms,¡± Elisabeth croaked as she could no longer contain her grief. ¡°I¡­I didn¡¯t know what happened, and I did not know what to do. There was blood everywhere ¨C on her clothes, on mine, and even on the sandy ground. Claw marks covered her little torso ¨C they were vastly different than those afflicted by the Lacerators.¡± ¡°Claw marks?¡± Sam exchanged looks with Lucy who seemed to share a similar idea. ¡°Like the one in the corridor?¡± ¡°The Disciples¡¯ guardian angel,¡± Lucy added. ¡°Well, angel or not,¡± Elisabeth muttered as she wiped the tears off her face. ¡°If I found that bastard, then it¡¯ll be answering to my fists ¨C that includes Silva.¡± ¡°That is a great motivation. So, should we follow her then?¡± Sam suggested. ¡°Oh, hold on, hold on,¡± Lucy intervened. ¡°You want to follow a ghost? What if she leads us to a trap? Or worse¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to explain it, but¡­I¡¯m confident she will not lead us into a trap. You just have to trust me on this.¡± Lucy glanced at her brother who in turn shrugged both of his shoulders. ¡°Fine,¡± the younger Nightingale relented. ¡°We are already 50 feet underground with a high possibility of being buried alive. I don¡¯t think it can get worse than this.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s not waste any more time.¡± ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [The Opal Sun Kingdom] Jason drove the rapier into a Lacerator''s chest before kicking the creature''s lifeless body out of his way. He raised his head, and the first thing he saw was a large group of Bulbheads running down a green hill. "Aria!" he called for his sister. The raven-haired princess immediately spun around as soon as she beheaded a Distorted; her shining tangerine eyes caught sight of the source of her brother''s agitation. She swiftly reached for the black longbow strapped to her back and aimed it toward the incoming horde. As Aria brought the string to her face, an arrow made of light appeared out of thin air -- pulsing warmly between her finger. "1000 yards, 30 Lacerators. That''s disappointing," she spouted proudly. Then, she released her hold on the bowstring and watched as the arrow cuts through the air before splitting apart into hundreds of similar size arrows. Their sharp tips embedded themselves into the bloodthirsty creatures, spilling dark viscous liquids everywhere. In a blink of an eye, all 30 Lacerators were torn into pieces, leaving behind a single group of Distorted. All of a sudden, the last horde turned their back on the trio and scampered off into the horizon. "What the? That¡¯s weird," said Aria, lowering her bow. She had never seen the Distorted retreat from battle -- not even when the odds were against them. "Weird, indeed," Jason concurred, his eyes darted around -- searching for Theo. Seconds later, he saw the bespectacled man with twin longswords dashed toward him. "Something''s not right. The Distorted are acting out of their usual behaviors," Theo sighed worriedly. GRRR! A rumbling came from beyond the green hill, loud enough to startle the trio. Then, a tall figure appeared on the peak of the hill with nearly a hundred log-sized arms attached to its stocky torso. Its face was decorated with horns, making its entire head resemble a morning star. "Are you seeing what I''m seeing?" Aria uttered, gawking at the peculiar-looking Distorted. "A Hecatoncheires ¨C in the flesh," Theo calmly said in return, "How is this even possible? That thing was wiped hundreds of years ago." "Ponder about it later. We''ve got a job to do," the Opal Sun Prince responded before he ran up the hill. As he got closer to the enemy, the Hecatoncheires buried one of its arms into the ground and ripped off the grassy patch below Jason''s feet. The prince staggered, but he managed to roll out of the way before the hundred-arms monster threw the green patch away like a piece of paper. ''Terrakinesis?'' Jason mouthed as he wiped the dirt on his cheek. Suddenly, a white arrow embedded itself into the Hecatoncheires'' chest, but the creature barely reacted to the attack. Instead, it yanked the arrow of light out of its body and casually crushed it with its right hand. "What in the world?" Jason gasped. It was the first time he had seen Aria''s arrow snap like a toothpick. Soon afterward, a shadow ran past the prince''s left shoulder, followed by the sound of clattering steel. It was Theo swinging his longswords against the Hecatoncheires'' armored torso. He gritted his teeth frustratingly. Not only did his blade leave nary a scratch on the monster''s thick skin, but it felt like he was hitting a solid brick wall. "Theo, get away!" exclaimed Jason, catching a glimpse of the Hecatoncheires raising all its arms over its thorny head. However, the bespectacled man didn''t move -- not out of fear, but because his legs were slowly sinking into the soil below. Then, the Hecatoncheires stumbled backward as five arrows hit it squarely in the face, thus giving Jason the chance to charge forward and drag Theo out of the quick soil. "Better hurry it up, guys! That mean-looking dude is coming back!" Aria cried out. True to the princess''s words, the Hecatoncheires had regained its composure and was now turning its attention to both men. Jason grimaced. His mind was racing, trying to think of ways to defeat the once-extinct Distorted -- until he saw the small puncture hole on the creature''s chest made by Aria earlier. "Now, this is going to be interesting," the prince grinned. "Now, hold on a second. Whatever it is you''re planning to do-," Before Theo could even finish, Jason had already pushed on toward the hundred-arms beast. "Damn it!" cursed the bespectacled man, "Ariadne, cover him!" The princess silently nodded and started to shoot another barrage of arrows at the Distorted - each one pierced the Hecatoncheires'' sturdy limbs, effectively preventing the monster from using its arms. With a sly smile across his face, Jason jumped on the monster''s limp arms and thrust the rapier into the minuscule opening. "Checkmate," the prince uttered after feeling the sharp tip penetrating the soft flesh beneath the Hecatoncheires'' carapace. The hundred-arms creature shuddered before it burst into a flash of blinding white light. Jason was thrown back by the force of the explosion, but luckily for him, Theo and Aria were able to catch him. "Huh, that was close," the prince chuckled -- much to his companions'' chagrin. "Close?!" Aria ranted, "You used Solar Flare at point-blank!" "I did," said the prince as he straightened himself up. "But at least we defeated the Hecatoncheires." "For that, I commend you," a distorted voice congratulated the trio out of the blue. A dark mist swirled in front of them, forming a hooded figure with a sinister black mask. "What the...?" said Jason, pointing his rapier at the mysterious visitor, "Who are you! Identify yourself!" "Your new master.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| 28th Fragment: -MONSTER- "Two people - in those ridiculous-looking suits," said Rupert as he peered through the ventilation grille. Lucy rolled her eyes before correcting her brother, "They''re called PPE suits, for God''s sake." Rupert snorted, sneering at the mere sound of the term. "That''s a funny way to name a piece of clothing. Are they called that because they resembled that certain thing when put on?" "Enough with the crude joke," Sam softly reprimanded the eldest Nightingale. He then carefully pressed his face against the grating, and the first thing he saw between the gap was a large chamber filled with a staggering number of monitors and control panels. True to Rupert''s words, two people were in the room - both were staring intently at the largest monitor. ¡°There¡¯s no sign of Anemone,¡± Sam grunted. ¡°She¡¯ll show up ¨C sooner or later. She always does,¡± Elisabeth muttered. Sam reluctantly nodded his head. "Alright, we''re going to push this slow and steady. Got that, Rupe? Slow and steady." "Roger." Sam clasped the grille and said, "On the count of three. One, two¡­" The grille easily slid out of its place, and the duo quietly placed it on the ground. The four Accursed snuck out of the ventilation shaft with Sam and Rupert tiptoeing toward the preoccupied Disciples. "Now," mouthed Sam before he and the elder Nightingale grabbed the people in the PPE suits - strangling the latter until they were unconscious. "Well, that went far smoother than I expected," Sam remarked as he set the Disciple''s body down. "Don''t celebrate just yet," Elisabeth retorted as her eyes scanned through all the monitors ¨C searching for Silva. "Wait a sec, is that what I think it is?" said Lucy, pointing at the far-left monitor. Displayed on the screen was an image of a large, diamond-shaped crystal suspended in mid-air with hundreds of cables strapped to it. "The Crystal of Birth,¡± Sam uttered. ¡°Those bastards¡­they''re still playing with forces they do not understand,¡± Elisabeth growled. "Hold on, there''s more," Sam muttered after seeing three figures approaching the crystal. It was unmistakably Silva, and he was tailed by two black hooded people. They later stopped in front of the glowing yellow crystal with Silva chattering something to his guests. Seconds later, the leader of the Disciples presented them with a small vial of sparkling golden liquid. ¡°Luce, can we somehow listen in to their conversation?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Well, I can try,¡± said the younger Nightingale as she began typing on the keyboard. ¡°Ah, shit.¡± ¡°Huh, is it a good shit or a bad shit?¡± Rupert smirked. ¡°Bad. It needs a password.¡± ¡°Try ¡®utopia¡¯,¡± said Elisabeth. ¡°Oh? It¡­actually works,¡± Lucy huffed. ¡°Aaaand¡­we¡¯re in.¡± --------------------------------------------------------------------- ¡°¡­.Is this stable?¡± said one of the hooded figures as he took the bottle from Silva¡¯s hand. ¡°I assure you, it is ¨C already tested it on myself.¡± ¡°After you tested it on your own subordinates.¡± ¡°Volunteers ¨C who dedicated their lives for Lady Vidia. It is truly unfortunate that they need to die but it is for the greater good.¡± ¡°The greater good? Is that what you tell yourself every night?¡± Silva¡¯s confident smile immediately disappeared ¨C replaced with a nervous grimace. ¡°I admit, Silva, your facility is truly a marvel. Yet, despite all of the technologies you have, you allow four intruders to move freely in your Complex ¨C to make matters worse, they are from the Faceless Order.¡± ¡°A minor setback, sir. I¡¯ve already ordered my men to search and capture them.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± spoke the second hooded figure. ¡°They are trained to fight - you, and your subordinates, however, are trained to cower in the face of danger.¡± ¡°How dare you-!¡± the leader of the Disciples snarled. ¡°Now, now. Instead of getting upset by my¡­partner¡¯s remark, shouldn¡¯t you be focusing on them?¡± --------------------------------------------------------------------- ¡°What the hell?! Is he¡­pointing at us?¡± Rupert blurted out in surprise. Shortly after, they could hear rushing footsteps outside the room, followed by loud crackling noises. "Shock sticks. And here I thought they were just a bunch of scientists," Lucy chided. "STEP OUT OF THE CHAMBER, AND YOU WON''T BE HARMED!" exclaimed a husky, masculine voice. "Liz, how many are there?" asked Sam, unfazed by the offer. Elisabeth placed her right hand firmly against the door, before swiftly replying, "10¡­no, 12.¡± ¡°12, huh?¡± Sam grumbled. ¡°Right, we¡¯re engaging them.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± exclaimed Rupert, his eyes lit up in excitement. ¡°However, my prior rule still stands: No. Killing,¡± the vermillion-eyed man sternly reminded his friends. ¡°Ugh, you and your rules,¡± Elisabeth scoffed. ¡°Alright, what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Which one of these buttons controls that awful sound and jams the mask''s signal?" Elisabeth proceeded to gesture at a yellow button encased in glass and a tiny red button, respectively. "Thanks. Rupe, if you''ll do the honor." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The elder Nightingale grinned at Sam''s command. Without a sliver of hesitation, Rupert ripped the buttons off the control panel with his bare hand, effectively rendering it useless. "Done. So, what now, boss?" "Put on your mask," replied Sam, as he walked toward the fuse box at the corner of the room, "And let''s give them a show of a lifetime." ??******************************************** The Disciples marched into the room as soon as the door parted open with long metal rods in their hands - the tips generated sparks of electricity. They had their eyes on the four Accursed, particularly on Sam, who was standing near the fuse box. "Greetings, folks. It''s nice of you to join us. You look awfully tired.¡± ¡°No thanks to you, Faceless. Come with us peacefully, or we¡¯ll make you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a better offer. How about you put down your weapons and walk away ¨C while you still can." "You''re not in a position to negotiate, Accursed," said one of the Disciples, prompting the rest of his companions to laugh confidently. "Oh, you got it all wrong. That was not a negotiation," Sam replied before pulling down the power lever. Darkness immediately filled the chamber and the corridor, followed by the overlapping gasps of the Disciples. A moment later, cries of pain and panic repeatedly echoed throughout the pitch blackness, accompanied by the flashes of the shock sticks flying around erratically. Then, there was pure silence. "All done!" Rupert spouted, and the light switched on once again. All the Disciples are now lying on the floor - each and every single one of them was knocked out cold. With one of their problems out of the way, Sam swiftly picked a shock stick up, checking whether it was still functioning. "Silva is five levels above us. We need to move right now," Elisabeth remarked. Suddenly, all of them heard screaming in the corridor, later replaced with an inhuman-sounding screech. The four Accursed stormed out of the Control Room, and the first thing they saw was a Lacerator gnawing into an unfortunate female Disciple. The woman quivered uncontrollably as the Distorted slurped out every inch of her life essence, resulting in the woman''s skin splitting apart like broken mirrors. The Lacerator raised its head with warm blood dripping down its chin, its vacant eye sockets fixated on Sam and his companions. ''QaPeDiUoDuNa DaIeSi EiPi MaFeQiEoKuJaGeDi,'' uttered the Distorted with its guttural voice that sounded like pure gibberish to the four Accursed. It pointed one of its long fingernails at the group and said, ''JaSeNiXo QaVeNi NaEe RaVe SaFeKi CaOeZi DaEeHiToZu OaFeSiTo.'' "Dude, did that...uh...did that thing just talk to us?" Rupert could barely form a complete sentence. "It sure did," Elisabeth replied before cracking both of her knuckles. Then, the woman slammed her right fist into the wall and yanked out a long block of dirt. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since this little fella¡¯s last battle with your kind. So, I hope you won¡¯t disappoint him ¨C and me.¡± The soil disintegrated, revealing a black tactical ax with a glinting golden handle. The Lacerator instantly hissed, seemingly agitated at the sight of the weapon. ¡°Headhunter,¡± Lucy breathed, completely in awe at the magnificent Core Blade. "Are you sure you want to take this?" asked Sam, and Elisabeth nodded in return. "Yeah, it won''t take long," the woman replied before she slowly approached the grotesque being. ''CaFeMiSoZuXa MaFeDiCo DaWeZiIo TaPeXi,'' the Lacerator growled, scrapping its claws together. "I have no idea what that means, but I''m guessing you''re threatening me?" Elisabeth scoffed at the Distorted''s gesture but at the same time, felt slightly uneasy at the creature''s human-like behavior. It made her wonder whether it was mimicking a real person just to ridicule her or..."No, you''re just imagining it. Yeah, that''s it," she murmured to herself. "Oi, Liz!" Lucy''s orotund voice immediately broke Elisabeth free from her daze. Her reflexes kicked in as a cold breeze hit her left cheek, prompting her to duck down toward the ground. Although she didn''t see it, she could feel the Lacerator''s claws swept over her head. Elisabeth later spun around and buried her ax deep into the Distorted''s stomach before pulling it out again. The monster staggered backward as black, bubbly slime oozed out of its belly. As she noticed the gash started to close, Elisabeth swung her ax forward and chopped the Lacerator''s head clean off. However, Elisabeth did not display a hint of relief on her face - even after seeing her enemy''s headless body fall to the floor. She felt something - a strong vibration beneath her feet. Elisabeth turned around to face her friends and told them the truth, "Shit! The Distorted! They''re here!" **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF DECEIT: JAY ||| [Meanwhile¡­] The blood drained from Silva''s face as soon as he heard the voices of his subordinates screaming and crying in agony. He instinctively grabbed Jay by the collar and exclaimed at the top of his lungs, "YOU SAID THEY WILL NOT BE HARMED!" "I did. But unfortunately, you and your acolytes have outlived your purpose. So, our superior sees no reason to keep you around anymore." "You-!" Silva abruptly stopped as the cold edge of the trench knife pressed against her neck. "Let''s not cause any more trouble, shall we?" Cindar warned calmly. Silva reluctantly released his grip on Jay, but not without spitting at the latter''s shoes. "You Accursed are all the same. Selfish and narrow-minded, each and every one of you." "Perhaps," Jay chuckled, "However, let''s not forget one thing, Mr. Silva. You and your forefathers have been hunting our kind for hundreds of years. Although the Order did well in executing you ten years ago, I feel it is still not enough to avenge those who perished at your hands." ¡°So, what? You¡¯re gonna kill me?" "A tempting offer, Mr. Silva. Fortunately for you, I have a far more interesting idea." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF DECEIT ||| ****??**************************************** After climbing several flights of stairs and traversing through a corpse-filled corridor, the four Accursed eventually reached the room that held the Crystal of Birth. Elisabeth stared anxiously at the large steel door - both of her hands were trembling. "You can stay outside if you want to," Sam suggested after realizing how agitated the woman looked. "No, I need to do this. I''ve run away long enough." Elisabeth placed her right palm against the door, and the structure opened up in a spiral-like motion. Right in front of their eyes, the Crystal of Birth hovered above the ground, emitting a faint, pulsating yellow glow. But, what bothered the four the most was the large empty chamber. There were no signs of the scientists and more importantly, Silva. "Huh? Where¡¯s everyone?" Rupert commented as he jerked his head around. "There''s someone over there," the female Nightingale responded, pointing near the base of the giant gemstone. They couldn''t believe their eyes at first, but their suspicions were confirmed as soon as they took a closer look at the crystal. It was Silva - his whole body was somehow fused to the stone except for his head and arms. The man let out a raspy laughter as soon as he saw the four, only for him to cough out a black, viscous fluid shortly after. "A pitiful sight, isn''t it, Rosa?" the man wheezed with a tired smile across his face. "You brought this on yourself," said Elisabeth as she removed her mask, causing Silva to let out a weak, breathy laugh. ¡°You were given a second and you threw it away for your stupid research.¡± "Ah, still as rebellious as ever. It''s such a shame, though. If you didn''t try to run away that night, we could have unlocked the secret to the Accursed''s power together. Your power is meant to be shared with the world." "At what cost, Silva? Countless lives, including yours, are lost for the sake of your research. Now, don''t go telling me that their sacrifices were not in vain, because we both know that''s a lie." "No, it''s not a lie. You are now standing in front of me - our greatest creation, bestowed by Lady Vidia himself. You are the culmination of our work, Rosa. Our very own guardian angel." Elisabeth''s eyes widened at Silva''s previous remark. She was completely in shock that the only word that left her mouth was, "What did you say?" "Oh, you don''t remember? Interesting. So, memory loss is one of the side effects." "Stop rambling to yourself!" Elisabeth lashed out, "What do you mean by your very own guardian angel?¡± "I think you already know the answer to that, my little Rosa. Those decaying corpses you saw in the old facility and underground? The claw marks on the walls? It was you, my child. It was you who killed them all ten years ago.¡± 29th Fragment: -TOPPLE- ¡°What did you say?¡± Elisabeth grasped Silva by the neck, both of her eyes were brimming with rage. "You''re lying," she croaked, fighting the urge to crush the man''s throat. "You are just trying to get into my head." A triumphant smile appeared across Silva''s face as if he was indulging in Elisabeth''s horrified expression. "Tell me, little Rosa. Where were you when the Faceless attacked? Hiding inside the ventilation shaft like a little mouse?" "I...I was caught by one of you, and was knocked unconscious," Elisabeth''s voice trembled, unable to answer the question. "No, you weren¡¯t knocked unconscious. You suddenly went berserk, and started killing my subordinates with the rest of the test subjects ¨C the rest of your friends.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s not true¡­I wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t hurt your friends?¡± Silva giggled. ¡°But you did. I saw everything - HEARD everything. Those little squeaks when you ripped them to shreds; their pitiful cries begging you to stop.¡± Overwhelmed by rage, Elisabeth smacked the man in the cheek, and screamed at him, ¡°SHUT UP! I¡¯M NOT A MONSTER! I¡¯m not¡­!¡± The amber-eyed woman lifted her ax, placing the sharp edge against Silva¡¯s neck. However, Lucy quickly grabbed her by the forearm, telling her to lower her weapon. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Liz,¡± said the female Nightingale with a calm, motherly voice. ¡°He¡¯s just manipulating you, so you could end his suffering. Don¡¯t give him the satisfaction.¡± ¡°What other options do I have? Let him live?¡± ¡°You are not a cold-blooded murderer, Liz. You never were. Besides, we don¡¯t know whether the words that came out of his mouth were the truth.¡± Elisabeth gritted her teeth. Only one swing, she thought ¨C one swing to avenge all the lives lost to the madness of the Disciples. Seconds later, a mischievous smile appeared across Silva¡¯s face as if the man was mocking her indecisiveness. ¡°What are you grinning at?¡± ¡°You are always a fighter, Rosa, but there is always one fight that you cannot win ¨C and that is against the truth. Why don¡¯t you ask little Annie there about what happened?¡± The four Accursed turned their heads toward the entrance where they heard Anemone gasping from outside the room. The little girl¡¯s head popped out from behind the door, her expression was a mix between confusion and anxiousness. ¡°There you are. Come here, and say hi to the guests.¡± ¡°H-How did you know? I evaded all the surveillance cameras to get here,¡± said Anemone; her voice was breathy as if she had just run in a sprint. ¡°We saw you roaming around in the Quarantine Facility for a while now. Please tell me, how is your search going? Have you found any of your friends?¡± Silva¡¯s question surprised Anemone so much that she was at a loss for words. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Elisabeth nervously warned the man inside the crystal. ¡°Why?¡± Silva smirked, before directing her focus back to the little girl. ¡°Have you been having nightmares lately, Annie? Images of your friends dying? Killed by some kind of monster?¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s¡­what¡­how?¡± Anemone stammered. ¡°It¡¯s just a dream. It¡¯s not-!¡± ¡°True? Dig deeper into your mind, child ¨C let your memory unravel itself.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± the girl held her head as she felt a sting at the back of her head. Shortly after, the pain subsided and she glared at Silva - her gaze filled with fear and disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m¡­dead?¡± ¡°Yes, my child. Unfortunately, you are no longer bound to the world of the living. You are simply a figment of HER imagination.¡± Anemone and Elisabeth stared at each other, the former¡¯s eyes moved up and down, quietly inspecting the amber-eyed woman. ¡°Rosa?¡± a brittle voice slipped out between the girl¡¯s trembling lips. ¡°You¡¯re¡­Rosa?¡± ¡°Annie, I¡­.¡± ¡°You killed me ¨C and our friends. How could you¡­?¡± Anemone spun around and bolted out of the chamber, prompting Elisabeth to yell out the girl¡¯s name multiple times. Then, the entire chamber was quickly occupied with Silva¡¯s sinister, raspy laughter. ¡°My apology. I just find it quite¡­amusing.¡± ¡°Amusing?¡± Elisabeth growled; her voice suddenly turned deeper. She could feel an intense burning sensation spread all over her chest. ¡°Liz?¡± Lucy mouthed after noticing the scowl on her friend¡¯s face. Aside from anger, the female Nightingale also noticed a hint of madness flashing across her amber-colored eyes. ¡°Listen to me, Liz. Don¡¯t let him get to you!¡± From out of nowhere, the Crystal of Birth gradually changed its color from bright yellow to garnet red. "Argh!" Elisabeth exclaimed before dropping her ax to the floor. An excruciating pain soon spread throughout her body and -- it was as if she was crushed between an invisible wall ¨C and her arms ¨C she couldn¡¯t feel her arms. She glared at Silva, panting heavily, "What...did...you do to me?!" Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Technically, it is the Crystal of Birth that makes you feel that way," said the leader of the Disciples. "You see, our major problem with the integration drug was the rapid degradation of the extracted genes. We''ve concocted a different solution to stabilize the genes, but none is much more effective than using the dissolved shards of the Crystal of Birth." "You did what?!" Sam blurted out after hearing the new piece of information. "Well -- sadly, we didn''t anticipate strong, negative emotions will somehow affect the imbiber," Silva sighed heavily, "For that, I''m truly, truly sorry." "You...wretch..., "Elisabeth cursed before she coughed out a vast amount of black sludge. "Liz!" Lucy exclaimed in panic, but Sam quickly pulled her away -- just as dark, grey veins popped out of Elisabeth''s brown skin - each one spreading like frost on a glass surface. The woman collapsed to her knees, spewing out more of the viscous liquid to the ground. "Everyone, draw your weapons," Sam told the siblings while eyeing his retching friend. "Woah, are we seriously going against Liz now?" Rupert inquired, slightly hesitant at the sudden instruction. "I don''t really think she''s Liz anymore, Rupe." Seconds later, Elisabeth(?) lifted her head -- the dark veins had enveloped her entire face like spider webs, and her once shining amber eyes were now as black as obsidian. As the woman got to her feet, she bared her needle-sharp teeth and hissed aggressively at the trio. Shortly after, Elisabeth(?) turned toward Silva whose smirk slowly faded, shifting into a grimace. "No. I''ve done what you asked of me, Lady Vidia. So why-?" Elisabeth(?) then seized Silva''s hair and ripped the man''s head off his mortal body. "Holy shit," Rupert spouted, "That is just plain brutal...and cool." After casting the severed head aside, Elisabeth(?) picked the weapon off the ground before throwing it at the trio. The ax swiftly brushed past Sam''s left cheek and crashed into the steel wall, creating a large cavity. "Touch¨¦," said Sam calmly, feeling a searing pain on the left side of his face. "You¡¯re bleeding," said Lucy as soon as she saw blood dripping from the man''s earlobe. "Later, Luce. We need to deal with her first," Sam retorted before drawing the shock stick he snatched earlier. His mind was racing, struggling to think of a strategy to incapacitate the frenzied woman. Unfortunately, every time a plan came up in his mind, he would be reminded of Elisabeth''s(?) fearsome ability which could put the three of them at a grave disadvantage. "Talk about a troublesome enemy," Sam muttered under his breath before noticing Elisabeth(?) reaching her hands out. "What is she...?" Rupert narrowed his eyes, wondering to himself. Then, the entire room started to rumble. Pillars of stones shot out from the ceiling and walls, and each one tried to crush the trio. Sam and the Nightingales skillfully dodged and jumped over the obstacles -- thanks to their apprenticeship. However, they were quite aware that they couldn''t cheat death forever. "This is getting pretty old, Liz," Rupert uttered after he landed on one of the pillars. After taking a long, deep breath, the elder Nightingale sprinted toward Elisabeth with a pair of kamas in his hands. "Darn it, Rupe!" said Lucy as she saw her brother headed directly into an incoming stone column. With a swing of her dagger, she fired a large, transparent blue arrowhead that instantly cleaved the pillar in half, allowing Rupert to slip between the bisected structure. But, in spite of the siblings'' valiant efforts, Elisabeth(?) had already expected the elder Nightingale''s approach. With a flick of her wrists, a myriad of black spikes sprouted out of the pillars and penetrated Rupert''s feet, causing him to cry out in pain. Elisabeth(?) beamed at the sound of Rupert''s voice, but her sneer quickly disappeared after a shock stick swept past her right shoulder. Before she could ascertain the perpetrator, a ball of flame hit her squarely in the face -- effectively stopping the moving pillars. "Took you long enough!" yelled Rupert, smiling painfully at the sight of Sam with Elisabeth''s ax. "Sorry, this thing is much heavier than I thought. Do you need a hand?" Rupert shook his head before replying sarcastically to the question, "Nah, I''m alright. It''s just a little scratch." "Uh-huh. Lucy, go tend to your brother." "On it," the youngest Nightingale exhaled. Sam turned his full attention to Elisabeth(?) who had already recovered from the fireball. She snarled at him, obviously displeased by the surprise attack. "I know, I know. It burns. That''s what fire does to you," Sam coldly responded, "Are you just gonna keep complaining, or shall we dance?" Elisabeth(?) grunted as if she understood Sam''s scornful words. As the woman clenched her fists, every pillar in the chamber crumbled to dust and congregated at her arms -- shaping into a pair of giant claws. "Glad to see we are on the same page," Sam held the ax with both hands. After a fleeting moment of staring at each other in silence, both of them dashed toward each other. Elisabeth(?) shoved her right claw forward, but Sam leaped over it in the nick of time. The vermillion-eyed man swings the ax, only for it to get blocked by the other giant claw. In that split second, Sam saw the smirk on Elisabeth''s(?) face, followed by black thorns growing out of the latter''s arms. Thankfully, Sam managed to back away before he was turned into a human skewer. "The Bloody Briar. Of course, you''ll use the Bloody Briar," said the man as he wiped his sweaty cheeks. Then, he noticed something floating above Elisabeth''s(?) head. An undulating black thread so thin it was nearly invisible to the naked eye. Much to his surprise, it was also connected to the Crystal of Birth. In that instance, Sam already knew what he had to do. But, before he charged onward, Elisabeth(?) thrusted her claws into the floor, and the ground began to ripple like the waves in the ocean. "Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me," said Sam, swaying left and right to keep his balance. "LIZZY!" Elisabeth(?) wrenched out her claws after hearing a girlish voice shouting her name. She spun around to see Anemone standing nervously in front of the Crystal of Birth. "I-It''s me, Annie," said the girl with a terrified expression. She cautiously approached Elisabeth(?) who was now standing motionlessly. With her tiny hands, Anemone touched her friend''s warm cheeks -- both of her eyes were glistening with tears. "This is not you, Lizzy. You are not a monster. You never were a monster," the girl whispered, "So, please come back. I want to see my best friend again." Elisabeth(?) stayed silent for a few moments as if she was contemplating Anemone''s heartful plea -- until the Crystal of Birth glowed dark purple. The deranged woman shuddered as a jolt of electricity ran along her spine, prompting her to grab the girl between her claws. "Liz...zy," Anemone groaned as she was gradually crushed by the increasing pressure. "You''ve done well, kid." Sam''s voice caused Elisabeth''s(?) obsidian eyes to widen. However, before she could react, the black thread over her head was severed by her own ax, prompting the crazed woman to release her hold on the girl. Elisabeth(?) let out a monstrous shriek -- the claws on her hands instantly dissolved into stones and pebbles, and the grey veins on her skin slowly vanished. After Sam dropped the weapon in his hand, he swiftly caught Elisabeth, just as she started to fall toward the floor. 30th Fragment: -ANEMONE- Anemone sat next to the slumbering Elisabeth; the former''s eyes were fixated on the latter. The little girl still found it difficult to believe that the sleeping woman was her childhood friend. "You grew up to be so pretty, Rosa," Anemone murmured, a tiny smile across her face. Then, she heard footsteps approaching her from behind. "How''s she doing?" asked Sam. "Still out cold, this one. I guess this part of hers never changes." "I see. How about you? I can tell it was not a pleasant experience." "Hm, my arms feel a bit sore," the girl sighed, "Which is strange considering I''m just...what you would call a ghost." Anemone then shifted her attention to Rupert, who was having his feet bandaged up by his sister. "Quite a hit, your friend took. I''m surprised his legs are still intact." "Oh, you don''t have to worry about him. He''s been in a much worse situation." "Much worse? Like what?" "Like nearly getting eaten by a giant monster." Anemone chuckled, "It sounds like the three of you had a fun adventure. I really would love to hear the rest of the story, but um....¡± Sam glanced at the girl''s hands which had become slightly translucent. "But time is not a privilege you currently have," he finished the sentence. Anemone gave the man a solemn nod. The girl then lifted her head; his eyes were fixated on the floating Crystal of Birth. ¡°Do you think¡­the real Anemone will forgive her?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡­um,¡± Sam sighed, his gaze dropped to the ground. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s difficult to say. Both of them were friends ¨C no, best friends. For one to be¡­killed by one¡¯s close friend, I couldn¡¯t possibly imagine the pain she must felt that day.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that was not a fair question,¡± Anemone quickly apologized. ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± the vermillion-eyed man shook his head. ¡°You know, I didn¡¯t expect you to return after¡­um, after Silva?¡± Anemone fidgeted; she felt a sudden chill running down her spine as she recalled her conversation with the leader of the Disciples. ¡°Me neither. I don¡¯t know what it was but, there was something inside of me¡­nudging me to go back ¨C to help Rosa. Strange, isn¡¯t it? For a ghost like me to have a conscience?¡± ¡°Or perhaps it wasn¡¯t a conscience. Perhaps a part of the real Anemone lives in you.¡± ¡°Is that even possible? How can a memory have a soul?¡± said Anemone, her eyes narrowed. ¡°Well, there are lots of things we do not know about the Echo ¨C even after nearly a thousand years since their first appearance. If you are just a memory, then you shouldn¡¯t have come back to this place to help us.¡± ¡°Us?¡± the little girl retorted. ¡°You said you came from a place far away ¨C does that mean Rosa managed to escape this place?¡± ¡°Yes, she is a member of a group called the Faceless Order ¨C the same group I¡¯m currently in.¡± ¡°The Faceless Order? Oh, so that¡¯s why you have those weird masks. What do you guys do anyway?¡± ¡°Well, our main job is to help the people in need all around the globe, primarily by defeating the Distorted and other similar threats.¡± ¡°Like heroes?¡± Anemone proceeded to giggle. ¡°Heh, so that means Rosa is a heroine? That¡¯s so cool! She always wanted to help people ever since she was little. Did you know the tunnel was her idea?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Sam before taking a hurried look at Elisabeth. ¡°The only thing she told us was you built it together.¡± ¡°Yeah, but she was the first to propose it. Of course, everyone opposed the plan at first because we were nothing but a group of kids ¨C some of us could barely walk or even form a simple sentence. However, as soon as they saw me and Rosa worked, they decided to help us.¡± ¡°Both of you inspired them ¨C gave them hope that tomorrow will be a better day. In a way, you are a hero yourself.¡± Anemone smiled sheepishly at Sam¡¯s comment. Then, her grin faded away as her eyes fell on her slumbering friend. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. I heard the people in the suit speak about the Order, and¡­they sounded like they are scared of you. Why is that?¡± Sam held out his hand in front of his face, and it instantly burst into flame ¨C startling the little girl. But after recomposing herself, Anemone stared in awe at Sam¡¯s burning hand, completely entranced by the dancing fire. ¡°Not all people regarded us as heroes like you ¨C let alone as human beings. Some called us the accursed ones - children of the demons because they are afraid of what we can do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Anemone proudly swiftly. ¡°Obviously, you are one of the brave ones,¡± Sam smirked, before extinguishing his flaming hand. Their conversation was soon interrupted by Elisabeth''s sudden moaning. "W-What? Where am I?¡± ¡°Well, hello there, sleepyhead," said the girl in return before helping the woman sit up. Elisabeth''s tired eyes were fixated on Anemone -- as if she was still in utter disbelief at the sight of her deceased friend. Her lips were trembling, struggling to utter a single word. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Still being hard on yourself, I see," Anemone sighed. ¡°That¡¯s why the others were having difficult times talking to you.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t get it. Why aren¡¯t you screaming at me?¡± said Elisabeth, perplexed by the girl¡¯s carefree remark. ¡°Huh, why should I be screaming at you?¡± ¡°Because I killed you! And our friends!¡± exclaimed Elisabeth furiously. ¡°You should be¡­cursing me - punching and kicking me, but here you are, grinning and cracking jokes as if nothing happens.¡± Anemone crossed her arms together; her right eyebrow raised. ¡°Okay. You¡¯re right, you killed me. I admit ¨C when my memories came back, I did feel angry at you. No, enraged is a more suitable word. At least, that is what I think the real Anemone would say.¡± ¡°But you are real-.¡± ¡°No, Rosa. You and I know that I am not the real Anemone. What I am is the manifestation of your guilt and shame, born in a shape of a girl you once called your closest friend. I exist only because you allow me to exist.¡± Elisabeth grimaced, refusing to believe every word uttered by her friend. However, as soon as she saw the girl¡¯s translucent arms, she finally realized that the Anemone standing in front of her was merely a figment of her imagination. ¡°If I let you go, then I have no reason to live anymore,¡± the amber-eyed woman spouted. SMACK! The sound echoed throughout the chamber shortly after Anemone slapped Elisabeth in the cheek. With a scowl, the girl scolded her friend, ¡°Don¡¯t you say that! You believe every life is a gift, and now you dare to throw away yours just so you can remain in the past ¨C blaming yourself over and over again for something that was beyond your control? It is an insult to your friends¡¯ memory ¨C and to yourself.¡± Without taking her eyes off the little girl, Elisabeth rubbed her aching left cheek - slightly surprised by the strength of the slap. ¡°That¡­was quite painful,¡± the amber-eyed woman commented. ¡°I hope it does, ¡®cause you¡¯re wasting a lot of beautiful flower bouquets.¡± ¡°So, you know? About the flowers?" "Of course, I do. I saw you bringing them down here every day after dusk. From now on, you should stop doing that, or better yet, leave this place, and never come back.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your talent is better used in places other than this godforsaken lab. Besides,¡± Anemone paused as she gestured at Sam and the Nightingales with her fading right hand. ¡°You have great friends who you can rely on ¨C who need your help to save the world.¡± Elisabeth glanced at Sam who quietly nodded his head in return. ¡°You want me to move on. That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s easier said than done,¡± Elisabeth exhaled with tears trickling down her chin. "Indeed, but I believe you can do it. You are much, much stronger than you think.¡± Raising her head high, Elisabeth watched as her best friend disappeared right in front of her very eyes. A long silence ensued ¨C until Sam came up to her, and asked: "Are you alright?" Elisabeth quickly wiped her tear-soaked face before answering, "Yeah." As she gets to her feet, her eyes dart toward the floating yellow crystal. She sees Silva''s decapitated body still partially inside the gemstone with his head lying nearby. "How did you do it, Edelweiss? How did you break me free?" "It''s, um...a long story," Sam retorted before returning the ax he''s been holding to its rightful owner. "I see. Then, I owe you one," Elisabeth retorted. Her eyes later darted toward Silva''s headless body, still trapped inside the crystal. "Did he¡­did he suffer? Or at least, beg for mercy?¡± "To his goddess, he did. Sadly, his prayer wasn¡¯t answered ¨C just like last time." ¡°Good,¡± Elisabeth exhaled deeply. Strangely enough, she felt slightly sympathetic for the misguided man ¨C despite everything he did to her and her friends. ¡°It¡¯s time to end this.¡± With a straight face, Elisabeth approached the Crystal of Birth and planted her ax deeply into the object. What started as a tiny crack soon spread all over the gemstone. The crystal began to quiver as if it was writhing in pain -- its color briskly changed into multiple shades of blue. Then, the crystal shattered, filling the entire chamber with a blinding white light. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Sam grunted as the acrid smell of smoke penetrated his nose. He opened his eyes and was welcomed by the horrid sight of a burned-down forest. But what surprised him the most was that his friends had disappeared without a trace. "Another dream," he deduced before taking a step forward. CRACK! Startled by the sudden sound, Sam looked down, only to realize that he was standing on a field covered with bones. "What the hell?" he uttered, unable to contain his bewilderment. "Saddening, isn''t it?" said a familiar voice. Sam instantly spun around and saw the Veiled Lady on her knees with a sunflower in her hands. Even though the woman didn''t carry any weapons, Sam couldn''t help but feel slightly intimidated by her mere presence. "What is this place?" he asked. Instead of answering the question immediately, the Veiled Lady dug through the bones with her bare hands before quietly planting the stem. After finishing her task, the mysterious woman turned her head toward Sam and replied, "This place was once the home to a tribe called the Faes." "Faes? You mean like fairies?" "Not exactly. They are mortals like us, but they are extraordinarily gifted ¨C capable to turn a desolate land into a fertile, green plain. I believe they are now known as the Tree Dancers." "Tree Dancers...," Sam''s voice trailed off as he tried to remember the map of Discordania. "They''re the ones that reside south of the Land of the Sapphire Star, right? I wasn''t aware they were called Faes before." "The term is pretty archaic, so it''s no surprise they didn''t use them anymore." Then, as the Veiled Lady got to her feet, the entire scenery shifted to the shore where the two initially met. "You''ve done well. Not only did you rescue your friend, but you also liberated her from the shackles of regret." "I didn''t do anything. That girl, Anemone, was the one who freed her." "But, if it wasn''t for you, they''ll not meet in the first place. You may think your actions were insignificant, but they managed to change someone''s life. Who knows? Perhaps your actions can also change the world. For better or worse." Sam''s eyes narrowed as soon as he heard the Veiled Lady''s foreboding words. However, the man suddenly felt drowsy before he could inquire further. "I suppose it is time for you to return to your friends," said the Veiled Lady as she caught Sam mid-fall. She gently laid the man on the ground, closing the latter''s heavy eyes with her fingers, and whispered into his ear, "There will be a time when the whole world will go against you. Even then, do not falter, my child, and never lose hope." |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 31st Fragment: -VORTEX- Sam awoke with a jolt and nearly smashed his forehead into Rupert''s nose. He panted heavily; his heart pounded heavily against his chest. Furthermore, his hands were shaking uncontrollably, presumably from the adrenaline. "Bro, are you alright? You blacked out again," asked the elder Nightingale with a frown. "What? Oh, yeah. I''m fine," said Sam, still disoriented from his prior dream. After getting up to his feet, Sam noticed that the two women were nowhere to be seen and that there was a Rift Gate near the Crystal of Birth''s debris. "Where is Lucy and Elisabeth?" ¡°While you were taking your beauty sleep, the girls have already headed outside. Said something about recovering some equipment that was buried during the sandstorm. Oh, there¡¯s one more thing,¡± Rupert paused as he searched for something inside his jacket. Seconds later, he pulled out a small transparent bottle with a golden screw top lid and handed it to the vermillion-eyed man. ¡°Uh, what am I supposed to do with this?¡± asked Sam, staring at the bottle confusingly. ¡°Liz ordered me to put some of the crystal fragments into that.¡± ¡°And why didn¡¯t you do it, if I may ask?¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Listen, alright,¡± Rupert quickly cleared his throat. ¡°I intend to, BUT I didn¡¯t want to make you feel left out. My sister and Liz went out to get their tools, while I¡¯m here to make sure the area is clear from any threats ¨C which means you¡¯re the only one without a job.¡± Sam grimaced at his friend¡¯s reasoning, leading him to respond, ¡°Well, thank you for your thoughtfulness, Rupe but it¡¯ll be much simpler if you just said you were too lazy to do it.¡± ¡°Me? Lazy? Oh, you seriously wounded me,¡± Rupert playfully replied. ¡°I really, really want to do it but as you can see, I¡¯m a bit¡­injured.¡± ¡°Fine, but you owe me for this,¡± Sam grumbled as soon as he saw his friend¡¯s bandaged leg. He walked toward the mound of crystal shards and began uncapping the bottle. Hunching over, Sam scooped some of the clear fragments until an arm shot out from between the glinting pile. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Sam cried out as he nearly dropped the bottle in his hand. He proceeded to take a closer look and realized it was Silva¡¯s left arm sticking out of the heap like a gravestone. ¡°Hopefully your beloved goddess is merciful toward you.¡± ¡°Dude, is that¡­is that an arm?¡± Rupert exclaimed; both of his eyes lit up at the peculiar sight. ¡°Yes. Yes, it is. Here, catch,¡± said Sam before tossing the bottle to the male Nightingale. ¡°Keep that safe. If you broke it, you¡¯ll be the one who¡¯ll recollect it.¡± GRRRRRRR! Sam fidgeted after the ground beneath him started to tremble. At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him or that his body was still under the influence of sleep inertia. But, his assumption was proven false as soon he saw his friend nervously looking down at the floor. "Dude, what was that? It''s like a minor earthquake or something," Rupert commented. "No, it''s not a minor earthquake. It was something else. Something big. And dangerous," Sam retorted. "We need to go right now." "Wait, why? Is it trouble?" "Yes. A really HUGE one. Now, come on!" ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Desert of Ashes] After finishing their excavation, Lucy and Elisabeth gazed at the unearthed equipment, or at least, what was left of them. Most of the tools were beyond salvageable ¨C much to Elisabeth''s dismay. However, both women soon noticed that the damages were not solely caused by the sandstorm. "Damn Disciples," Elisabeth lambasted. ¡°Still being a pain in the ass, even in death.¡± "Don''t give up just yet, Liz. There might still be some stuff we can take home," Lucy calmly encouraged her friend. Shortly after, the duo crouched down to the ground, and together, they began isolating the sand-covered instruments. "Did you notice? The hooded figures we saw with Silva?" said Lucy, trying to break the awkward silence. "I did. Whoever those people were, they seemed to have abilities like us," replied Elisabeth as the image of Silva merged with the crystal popped into her mind. "On second thought, it''s somewhat similar to Noah''s." "Noah? Noah Wyvern of the Tarantula Hawk? Your Captain?" Elisabeth held her chin and briefly pondered to herself. She recalled hearing something about an individual whose power was akin to her Captain. "There was someone who could do that, but the last I heard, he was dead.¡± ¡°Who was he?¡± ¡°Like Noah, he was a Librarian ¨C a prominent one, if I¡¯m not mistaken. The story was he discovered an underground cache filled with books from ancient civilizations. The Librarian read through one book and immediately went mad as if he was possessed by a demon. Because of that, the Librarians had to put the man down and confiscated all the books - storing them in a secret location only known to the upper echelon of the Keepers.¡± ¡°That sounds ominous¡­and a bit far-fetched, in my opinion. Are you sure it¡¯s not just a tale made-up by the Keepers to deter people from reading the book of the Old Era?¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°It might be. Then again, I¡¯m not a Librarian so I don¡¯t know much about what the Keepers¡¯ intentions are,¡± Elisabeth sighed as she dusted off the sand from a green-handled trowel. ¡°You and Edelweiss¡­how long have you been together?¡± ¡°W-What!?¡± Lucy blurted out; her face flushed from Elisabeth¡¯s sudden question. ¡°We¡¯re not together! We¡¯re just friends! That¡¯s all!¡± ¡°Oh? If that¡¯s the case, then why are you getting so flustered?¡± Elisabeth casually remarked. ¡°I¡¯m not flustered! I was just¡­astonished that you even said that!¡± ¡°So, he¡¯s not your type, then?¡± ¡°Well¡­I¡¯m¡­he¡¯s¡­STOP IT!¡± Lucy exclaimed, causing Elisabeth to let out a chuckle. ¡°Relax, Lucy. It¡¯s just between me and you, alright? I won¡¯t tell anyone about this ¨C I promise.¡± ¡°For crying out loud, there is nothing between us, okay? I¡¯m¡­hold on, are those¡­?¡± However, their conversation was cut short when they saw Sam and Rupert running toward them, frantically waving their arms over their heads. "What is it now?" Elisabeth grumbled before the area behind the two men exploded, creating a billow of dust that loomed over the desert. Then, the sands whirled around like waves, their colors cycled from raven-black to glittering gold. "What did you guys do!?" exclaimed Lucy as her brother was within earshot. "No time to explain! We need to go! Now!" Rupert said in response, gritting his teeth as both of his feet throbbed painfully. But, before the Four Accursed could react, they heard a deep, bloodcurdling howl reverberating throughout the sea of dunes, followed by a powerful earthquake. It was for a fleeting moment, but the group saw a pair of giant pincers burst out of the ground before retreating back into the raging sands. "Yup, that''s the Antlion, alright," Sam spouted, slightly annoyed that his hunches were proven correct. The ground beneath the group''s feet soon shifted -- turning into a slippery slope that made them struggle to stay upright. They quickly buried their hands into the sand, but it did little in stopping them from sliding down the newly-formed craters. To make matters worse for them, a swirl of black sand awaited them at the bottom of the arid bowl - within it, the gaping jaw of the Antlion. "Hey, Luce!" Rupert called out, "Remember that game we used to play in the backyard?" "What game-? Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me! You want to do that now?!" "Of course. It''s now or never, right?" said the elder Nightingale, smiling confidently at his distressed younger sibling. Then, the exuberant man dashed ahead, trotting and rolling down the steep hill without a care in the world. "Whatever it is you two are planning, better make it fast!" Sam shouted, realizing they were getting closer and closer to the expanding vortex. "Oh boy, my head is really gonna hurt tomorrow," Lucy sighed, gritting her teeth. She thrust her right hand towards Rupert, and a column of warm water burst out from below her brother''s feet -- launching him into the sky. The elder Nightingale laughed heartily as he drifted over the whirlpool. "Now, we''re talking!" he cried out joyfully. Seconds later, the man drew his sickles and swung them down, blasting a gust of scorching air into the center of the eddy. An ear-splitting screech was heard soon after, followed by the whirlpool slowly dying down. "Hah, take that, you-oh, wait! OH, SHIT!" were the only words Rupert uttered before he plummeted to the ground below. **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD: ADAM ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Krio Continent] The blizzard finally set in, burying the northern land in freezing, white snow. Amid the violent storm, a lone shadowy figure traversed the merciless weather with a single purpose in mind. He could feel exhaustion creeping in, hindering his movement through the tempest. But then, he saw it ¨C a cave at the base of the mountain. With a grunt, he sprinted toward the opening until he could no longer feel the snow biting through his clothes. The man removed the goggle from his face; his electric blue eyes glowed dimly, piercing through the darkness. It had been nearly three years since he last set foot inside the icy cavern, and he had hoped to stay away for a much longer period. Unfortunately, he didn''t have that kind of choice. A nearby settlement was ravaged by a plague - Cold Spots, as the locals called it. It began with a simple fever and later developed into severe rashes. But what happened beneath the skins was worst. Blood cells turned into ice crystals which then tore the victims'' organs apart, leading to their deaths. "I should have drunk some of that soup before coming here," the man exhaled before he strolled deeper into the cave, passing through walls of ice until he encountered a small opening sealed with a steel grid. "Adam Salvia," an androgynous voice shot out from beyond the grille, "Now, this is a pleasant surprise." "Fenrir," Adam said clearly. Although the man in the parka couldn''t see the dungeon''s interior, he could still feel the imposing presence of its prisoner. Therefore, he had to choose his words carefully. ¡°You look terrible. Bad weather, I assume?¡± Adam remained quiet, prompting the voice to snicker at him. ¡°Come on now. No need to be so uptight. I¡¯m just trying to lighten up the mood.¡± ¡°Lighten up the mood? Sure, if that¡¯s what you called it,¡± Adam scoffed. "So, have the Order decided that I am finally to be free from this infernal prison?" "Don''t press your luck." "Aw, one could only hope. Seriously though, why are you here?" "Why, you asked? You know damn well why I¡¯m here," Adam sternly replied. He started to pace back and forth in front of the cell door, organizing the words he wanted to say in his head. Then, he heard the Fenrir chuckle, followed by the irritating sound of grating metal. "Cold Spots, is it? Now, that''s a name I haven''t uttered for a very long time. However, your journey through the blizzard proved to be a fruitless one, I¡¯m afraid," the Fenrir yawned aloud before continuing, "You suspect me to be behind the re-emergence of the deadly disease, don¡¯t you? But as you can see, I am still inside this insipid enclosure ¨C locked up like an animal. So, it is highly unlikely that I am involved in those unfortunate incidents.¡± "You expect me to believe that?" "No, I expect you to be more vigilant from now on," the Fenrir snarled at Adam, causing the latter to fidget. "The world is changing, boy, and you know it. Sooner or later, I will come for you and the people of the Wintry Valley. I will erase every remaining trace of the Diamond Wolf''s descendants, just as I vowed to your forefathers." "Is that so?" Adam responded," Then, I''ll be there to stop you. That...is my vow to you." A pair of round garnet eyes materialized from the darkness, glowering at the man. ¡°Would you kindly send my regards to the villagers,¡± the voice coldly replied. ¡°Tell them, I missed their lovely screams.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD ||| 32nd Fragment: -RESOLUTION- ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| [Somewhere in the Land of the Opal Sun] Theo stood groggily on his feet, with his blades and clothes drenched in warm, red blood. He could only grit his teeth at the sight of Jason and Aria lying on the ground, slowly being devoured by a dark, pulsating mist. "You are one persistent man, Theodorus Stark." After hearing the distorted voice speak, Theo lifted his head and saw the swirling black mist floating in front of him. "Spare me the sarcasm," the man said defiantly before spitting out the blood in his mouth. "Impressive. I expected nothing less from the Captain of the Royal Guard." ¡°No one has ever incapacitated the Helians as fast as you did. Who or what exactly are you?¡± A sinister laughter came out of the mist, followed by it saying, ¡°Who or what we are is irrelevant, for we have abandoned our names hundreds of years ago. Like you and your Order, we strive to bring balance to this realm although we prefer a more direct approach.¡± ¡°Direct approach?¡± said Theo before he took a hurried look over his shoulder - toward the village of the Edge. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re the one who controlled the horde.¡± ¡°Correction, Theodorus Stark. Not a single soul in this world can control the horde - not even us. We merely aided them in their mission by pointing them at their targets.¡± Theo¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed as he could not hide his disgust at the prior statement. ¡°You said you intend to bring balance to this world but, speak of human beings as if they are nothing more than fodders to these monsters.¡± ¡°What I spoke is the truth. For this world to survive, sacrifices have to be made. The scales must be balanced no matter the cost - for a single, minuscule tip can be potentially catastrophic to all. Because of that, we cannot afford any possible interferences.¡± Then, black pulsing tendrils sprouted out of the mist and wrapped themselves around Theo''s neck. A grimace appeared on the man''s face as he felt the prickling, icy sensation spread throughout his worn-out body. With his last ounce of strength, Theo tried to wrest himself away from the frigid hold though his attempt briskly ended in failure. ¡°This is not over,¡± said Theo. "Hush, little warrior," the mist whispered in return, "Sleep now and dream. Dream of your paradise, and stay there ¨C forever." ||| THE END OF THE EMPYREANS ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Desert of Ashes] "RUPERT!" Lucy screamed at the top of her lungs after witnessing her brother plunged headfirst into the sandy ground. She frantically climbed out of the crater and rushed to the crash site. "Oh no, oh no..." the female Nightingale''s voice trailed off as soon as she saw her brother lying motionlessly on his back. Lucy swiftly dropped to her knees and slapped Rupert on the shoulders over and over again. "Ow! Ow! I''m up! I''m up!" As soon as Lucy saw her brother''s eyes open up, she let out a deep sigh of relief. "What''s with the teary eyes, Luce? Worry about your big brother?" Rupert chuckled before his younger sibling smacked him in the chest. "Shut up! It''s your fault, you know?" Lucy lashed back. "I thought I lost you for good this time." "Eh, it''s too early for me to kick the bucket." Rupert later did a kip-up to get to his feet. As soon as he saw Sam and Elisabeth approaching, he murmured to his sister, "Come on now, you little crybaby. The others are coming, so you better wipe your face quickly." Lucy immediately did as she was told, just in time as her two friends arrived. "Still in the land of the living, I see," said Sam as he gently punched Rupert in the chest. "Oh, you know me. It''ll take more than extreme heights and an Antlion to kill me." Shortly after, Elisabeth puffed at the elder''s Nightingale casual remark -- a gesture that surprised her three companions. "You lots are really something. No wonder Markus had a difficult time with all of you." "Liz, did...did you just laugh?" said Lucy, staring at the amber-eyed woman in disbelief. "Nonsense," Elisabeth retorted before turning away to hide her blushing face. Sam placed his hands on his hips and muttered, "There''s no need to be so reserved of yourself, Liz. We won, didn''t we?" "There''ll be plenty of time to celebrate. We''ve still got work to do - unless you want the Sandcreepers to join us?" Sam briefly exchanged looks with the Nightingales before answering with, "Fair enough." **??****************************************** [7 hours later] "And here''s the last one," Rupert declared triumphantly after placing the wooden crate inside the cabin. Elisabeth''s eyes actively scrutinized each crate before inquiring, "Are you sure there was nothing left behind?" This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Yes, Liz, we are perfectly sure," Sam returned, nodding his head in return. "The real question is: Are YOU sure you''re alright?" "What...what''s that supposed to mean?" Elisabeth fidgeted. "Well, you''re obviously still distracted by what happened inside the lair," said Sam, crossing his arms together. "Want to talk about it? We are all ears ¨C except for him, of course." ¡°Hey!¡± Rupert grunted. "What is there to talk about?" said Elisabeth, shrugging her shoulders, "You have already known everything: Who I was, and how I was under the influence of the Disciples'' drug, causing me to kill everyone in that place.¡±" "I think what Sam tried to say was: are you going to stay here ¨C to continue with your research in the Desert of Ashes?" Lucy interjected. The amber-eyed woman''s gaze lowered to the floor -- she wasn''t sure whether to linger in the desolate land or just simply leave. "I don''t know yet. After all these years, I never considered the prospects of another life -- one that is free from guilt and regret." Elisabeth exhaled before recalling the words of her late friend. "Maybe Annie was right. Perhaps I should have let other people be in charge of this place." "Should have?" said Sam, his left eyebrow raised, "You requested to be assigned here on purpose?" Elisabeth shifted uncomfortably in her spot -- confirming the vermillion-eyed man''s suspicion. "I was what you would call a mess. Even with the Order''s intervention, I still can''t get over this...this burden -- that I''m the one who was supposed to die ten years ago instead of my friends." "So, as a punishment for yourself, you asked to be transferred to the Desert of Ashes.¡± "No, not just as a punishment, "Elisabeth countered before she peered out of the window. "I never noticed it back then, but maybe this was a way for me to cope with the shit I''ve been through." Then, the amber-eyed woman chuckled as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. "Funny. Never thought the three of you would be the ones who made me realize that." "Oh, is that a compliment I hear?" Rupert grinned. Turning her back away to face the trio, Elisabeth bobbed her head and said, "It is. For that, I''m indebted to all of you." "You don''t owe us anything, Liz," Lucy said in response. "We just did what we were told to do. Although I must admit, it was a pretty horrendous job, but I¡¯m glad everything worked out in the end." "Oh no, this is not the end yet. We still need to catalog all the equipment before returning home," said Elisabeth, gesturing at the hoard of crates sitting next to the basement staircase. "All of these?" Rupert breathed out, and his shoulders dropped. "YES ¨C all of these, and don¡¯t think I¡¯m going easy on you just because you hurt your legs.¡± ¡°Oh right, speaking of cataloging,¡± Lucy interjected. ¡°How did your research go, Liz? Did you find what you were looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m assuming you are referring to the tech from the Kingdom of the Golden Reeds?¡± Elisabeth answered before letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°Well, before all of those Disciples¡¯ nonsense, I was following a few leads which might point me to the whereabouts of the old kingdom¡¯s registry. Unfortunately, my excavation was a bit more challenging than I initially anticipated ¨C thanks to the occasional sandstorm brought by the Sandcreepers.¡± ¡°What about the tablet downstairs? Did you find it from one of your excavations?¡± Sam inquired. ¡°Ah. So, you already saw it? I found it south from here. As you can already tell, I¡¯m in the midst of translating the whole thing, but what bothers me the most was where I found it.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°The tablet was buried under a tall, grey pillar, and it¡¯s¡­um¡­I don¡¯t recognize the architecture. In fact, it is vastly different from any structures built by the people of the Golden Reeds. There were also some kind writings on the pillar ¨C a language I have never seen before. Hold on, let me show you,¡± Elisabeth headed into the basement, loud noises ensued. A few minutes later, the amber-eyed woman returned with a small photograph in hand. ¡°Here,¡± said Elisabeth as she gave the picture to Sam. ¡°Tell me what you guys think.¡± Together, the trio took a closer look at the photograph. Etched to the stony surface was a single line of seven symbols ¨C each one shaped like coils of wire. ¡°Hmm, are you sure this is a language? They look like bad drawings of a worm to me,¡± Rupert commented. ¡°No, they are way too organized to be a doodle,¡± Lucy countered. ¡°Have you shown this to Noah?¡¯ ¡°I plan to, as soon as I¡¯m done with this place. That said,¡± Elisabeth began to sniff the air around her. Her nose immediately crinkled up as she smelled something rancid near where she stood, prompting her to ask, ¡°Is there a dead animal somewhere?¡± ¡°Well, about that¡­,¡± Sam exhaled before he recounted last night¡¯s incident. ****??**************************************** ||| THE PATH OF DISTRUST: CINDAR ||| [Meanwhile...] The hooded figure stood on the dune in silence, observing the cabin from afar. In his hand was the vial Silva gave him, and it was emitting a faint golden glow. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill that Silva guy? He could have ratted us out to those three,¡± Cindar complained. ¡°He could, but he won¡¯t. His mind was preoccupied with other matters,¡± Jay responded confidently. ¡°So, what the hell is in that bottle?¡± ¡°An important chess piece, Mr. Cindar. I wish I could tell you more, but my superior will be greatly upset if I do.¡± ¡°Pfft, are you telling me you¡¯re afraid of offending your superior?¡± Cindar chortled. ¡°Not exactly. I¡¯m just trying to avoid their incessant lecture about the importance of confidentiality. In other words, until my boss approves your credibility, I have no responsibility in explaining our¡­game plan.¡± ¡°Ugh, you Harbingers and their game plan,¡± Cindar murmured before crossing his arms together. ¡°Say, you told me those three were just a pack of weaklings.¡± ¡°And what of it?¡± ¡°For a pack of weaklings, they did quite an impressive feat ¨C defeating the colossal Antlion like it was nothing. Furthermore, you didn¡¯t mention they possessed rare abilities, particularly that kid with the vermillion eyes,¡± Jay paused, turning his head to face Cindar. ¡°Got anything to say about that?¡± ¡°What do you want me to say, huh? Sorry? For withholding information from you?¡± ¡°That would be nice, but no. All of those trash talks made it sound like you are jealous of them.¡± ¡°Jealous? Me? That¡¯s the most ridiculous thing I¡¯ve ever heard coming out of your mouth,¡± Cindar chided at his partner¡¯s statement. ¡°And, it seems I was right,¡± Jay chuckled mischievously. ¡°How intriguing. They must have done some terrible things to make you greatly resent them.¡± ¡°They did nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing? And¡­that somehow upsets you?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Cindar grumbled. ¡°They did nothing, and yet people admire them ¨C revered them as heroes. While I, who has been busting my ass since the beginning was ridiculed by my peers and mentors ¨C they called me the worst of my generation.¡± ¡°Well, your methods were questionable-.¡± ¡°My methods get the job done. No rules to obey, no socializing with the locals, and most importantly, no unnecessary dramas.¡± ¡°Huh, ain¡¯t you a cheerful fellow? Well, no matter," replied Jay, shrugging both shoulders. Then, he snapped his fingers, and a Rift Gate materialized behind him. "Come, Jack Cindar. It''s time to meet your new employer." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF DISTRUST ||| -REMEMBRANCE- ''Farewell, my dear friends'' ''May we meet again'' ''In the field of the eternal breeze'' Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ''With the calm morning sun'' ''Smiling down on us'' ''And the moon''s gentle light'' ''Accompanying us in our slumber'' -REVERIE- ''I miss you'' ''Your radiant smile'' ''Your soothing voice'' ''Your gentle touch'' ''And your warm kindness'' Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ''From the night, you appeared'' ''And into the night, you went'' ''O, mother'' ''How I wish I could see you again'' ''And rest my head against your laps'' ''Counting the stars, and the fireflies'' ''From dusk until dawn'' 33rd Fragment: -SUNLESS- ||| THE PATH OF BEASTS: ZACK ||| [Land of the Sapphire Star] A lone oak tree - covered in mosses and vines - stood mightily on the vibrant green hill. The century-old tree watched over the tiny hamlet - the last living remnant of the Sapphire Star Kingdom. Perched on one of the tree''s branches was a black hooded boy with a white mask; a grey handle khopesh strapped to his back. In his right hand was a silver coin that he had been flipping for the past half an hour. "Hm, how strange," muttered the boy, glancing at the evening sun. "Jason is awfully late. He''s never late." The boy caught the coin in mid-air before leaping to the ground. Then, he raised his head heavenward and noticed a flock of birds spiraling over the tree. The boy whistled as loud as he could, prompting a dove-size shadowy figure to swoop down from the sky and land on his right shoulder. "See anything, Roc?" the boy asked the resting sparrowhawk that in turn, let out a few chirps. "Okay¡­? Are there things other than the pigeons?" The bird stayed silent - much to its handler''s frustration. "Huh, someone sure is cranky today.¡± The bird chirped in return, confirming the boy¡¯s suspicion. ¡°Don¡¯t you get cheeky with me, girl. I told you earlier: today will only be a stakeout. I know it bores you and guess what? So do I.¡± The sparrowhawk instantly pecked the boy¡¯s forearm, causing the latter to yelp. ¡°Ow! Fine, Fine! I¡¯m sorry for scolding you. Happy? Now, go play with those pigeons of yours.¡± The bird immediately took off, leaving its owner behind to hunt its prey. The boy rubbed his stinging forearm, and began grumbling to himself, ¡°Sheesh, this is gonna leave a mark tomorrow.¡± Suddenly, his nose started to itch; at the same time, he could feel the hair on the back of his neck standing up. Seconds later, he caught a whiff of iron in the air followed by the sickly scent of rotten flesh. Without uttering a single word, he reached for his khopesh and spun around, just in time to block a Lacerator¡¯s claw. ¡°Well, this is quite a surprise,¡± the boy calmly remarked as the Distorted snarled at him in frustration. The creature pulled back its arm, leading the boy to somersault away from it. As he lifted his head to focus on his enemy, three Lacerators popped out from behind the oak trees ¨C each having the same hungry look over their gaunt faces. ¡°Ah, crap. Of course, you brought some friends along.¡± The Lacerators roared in unison before charging toward their lone prey. Seeing his approaching enemy, the boy quickly swung his blade in a horizontal motion, creating a bright navy line in the air. CRASH! In a blink of an eye, a pair of giant black, scorpion pincers burst out from the earth, snatching two of the Lacerators off their feet and causing their remaining brethren to go rigid. ¡°You can have them, Kala,¡± said the boy and the pincers withdrew back into the ground with their prey. The remaining three Lacerators glanced at each other - still dumbfounded by what they had just witnessed. ¡°Sorry about my friend. It¡¯s been a while since he had a meal,¡± the little Faceless spouted as he rested his khopesh against his shoulder. ¡°And it¡¯s also been a while since I¡¯ve been in a fight. So, who¡¯s going first?¡± One of the Lacerators rushed forward, swinging both of its arms madly. The hooded boy easily dodged the monster¡¯s frenzied attack - he chortled at the sight of the Lacerator¡¯s frustrated expression. SWISH! The golden-edged khopesh sliced through both of the Lacerator¡¯s thighs, resulting in the creature dropping to its knees. ¡°Here you go!¡± the boy exclaimed before he severed the Lacerator¡¯s head cleanly from its body. THUD! The headless body collapsed, and the boy shifted his attention to the last two Lacerators who stood quietly below the oak tree. ¡°Not so chatty now, huh?¡± the boy muttered firmly before darting toward his foes. He then slid down near a Lacerator¡¯s feet and briskly hooked its ankle with the blunt side of his khopesh. "Down you go!" the boy tugged his blade and the monster fell flat on its face. Without wasting any more time, the hooded boy hoisted himself up and decapitated his second opponent. A brief moment later, he turned his masked face toward the last Lacerator who was already dashing at him. ¡°A valiant attempt, but¡­¡± WHOOSH! A small shadow suddenly swooped down from the sky and speared through the Distorted¡¯s face ¨C killing the monster on the spot. ¡°It won¡¯t matter in the end,¡± the boy finished his sentence, just as his sparrowhawk landed smoothly on his right shoulder. ¡°Attagirl, Roc. Remind me to treat you later,¡± the boy proudly praised his feathery companion. The bird responded with a mirthful chirp before taking off to the sky once more. ¡°Now, that¡¯s one problem solved,¡± the boy grunted as he turned his head right and left to look for the Opal Sun Prince. Alas, the man had still not made an appearance and the boy had no choice but to alter his initial plan. ¡°Welp, Roc. Guess it¡¯s a solo mission now,¡± the boy huffed before he casually trotted down the hill. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF BEASTS ||| ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [in the Opal Sun Kingdom] "Close the gate!" Rudolph shouted after seeing three familiar figures slip between the crack. As soon as the giant door slammed shut, the veteran guard rushed toward the prince and his companions. Aside from the innards covering their clothes, Rudolph also noticed black veins popping out of their skins which caused the guard to stop dead on his track. "Your Radiance? Are you harmed?" the man uttered, but the Crown Prince stood quietly in front of the gate, barely flinching. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Rudolph quickly drew his sword after sensing something off about the trio''s behavior. "Who are you? Identify yourself," the guard demanded. "What''s the matter, Rudolph? Don''t you recognize us?" Jason(?) replied, his voice slightly distorted. An eerie smirk formed across the prince''s face, prompting the guard to raise his blade. "How dare you point your weapon at the Prince of the Opal Sun!" Theo(?) cried out, startling the guard. "And for such insolence, you will be punished by death," Aria(?) continued before pulling her saber out. "Now kneel, so I can cleave your head from your feeble body." "I kneel to no one except to the Almighty," Rudolph defiantly remarked. "Is that so?" Jason(?) calmly intervened, turning his attention toward the gate. "Then, will this God save you and your people from the upcoming massacre?" The prince thrusted his rapier into the steel wall, creating a giant explosion that reduced the entire barrier into rubble. As the dust subsided, Rudolph''s eyes widened from shock. Beyond the wall was the biggest horde of Distorted the guard had ever seen, and they were eagerly waiting to storm the city. "And thus, the last Jewel Kingdom is felled by me, its own beloved son," the Crown Prince chuckled. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| **??****************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [The Cabin¡¯s Basement, the Desert of Ashes] "Say, there''s something I''ve been meaning to ask you," said Lucy to Elisabeth as soon as the former placed the crate on the table. "And that is?" "Those flowers you placed for...your friends. Where did you get them from? I can tell they¡¯re not from around here.¡± "Really? Out of all the things, you could ask, and that''s the one you are curious about?" Elisabeth grumbled. But then she saw the stern look across Lucy¡¯s face, leading her to reply, "Oh God, you¡¯re serious, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course, I am. Well?¡± Elisabeth exhaled - contemplating whether she should answer the question. Eventually, she leaned against the table before staring directly into Lucy¡¯s azure eyes. ¡°I got them from Ash¡¯s mother.¡± "Ash¡¯s mother?" Lucy murmured, finding the name to be oddly familiar. Seconds later, she let out a gasp and blurted out, "Wait, Ash? Ashton Achillea?¡± ¡°Yes, that Ashton Achillea.¡± ¡°Huh, I didn¡¯t expect you to be well acquainted with that man. In case I remember, he¡¯s not exactly a talkative person.¡± ¡°I agree he¡¯s a bit aloof, but other than that, he¡¯s alright. Like his mother, he has a knack for gardening. He can grow some of the most difficult flowers in his backyard which is quite impressive.¡± ¡°Oh? Elisabeth Rosier impressed with someone? Now, that¡¯s interesting,¡± said Lucy, grinning from ear to ear. "Hey, don''t get the wrong idea. It is with his mother I usually do business with, not him," Liz sighed as soon as she saw a mischievous glint in her friend''s eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why are you getting so flustered about it?¡± Elisabeth¡¯s eyes narrowed, feeling slightly wary of her friend¡¯s comment. "You¡­Hold on a minute. Are you egging me on? As payback to what I said to you outside?¡± ¡°Me? Egging you on? Oh, that¡¯s just preposterous. All I did was asked some questions, that¡¯s all,¡± Lucy swiftly retorted. ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± said Elisabeth, shaking her head disappointingly. ¡°Obviously, you¡¯ve been hanging around with Marie for far too long. Oh, and don''t you dare tell her about this. She will not stop bothering me for weeks if she catches wind of our conversation." "No worries, my friend. My lips are sealed," Lucy giggled - seconds before her brother and Sam descended the stairs with crates in their hands. "You two looked awfully suspicious for some reason," said Rupert, squinting his eyes out of suspicion. "Really? It must have been your imagination," the youngest Nightingale replied indifferently. "Don''t mind them, Rupe. They were probably talking about things far more interesting than you," Sam said bluntly. "They better be...wait, you were mocking me, were you?" "Did I? You must be imagining things," the vermillion-eyed man retorted as he put the crate down on the floor. "Don''t worry, though. I''m sure the tale of you defeating the Antlion will be constantly talked about by the residents of the Tower." "Aye, for the next few weeks," said Rupert, shrugging his shoulders. "I prefer a feat that could last forever in people''s minds, like those performed by Erica the Purifier and The Brilliant King Cyrus." "What about your parents?¡± Elisabeth interjected. ¡°Their contributions are not to be taken lightly either. They fought together in the Autumn Maelstrom, right? Saved thousands of lives in the process as well." "They did," Lucy begrudgingly answered. "And Thomas hounded us because of that - thinks we''re not living up to our parents'' legacy." "Well, do YOU feel you''re not living up to your parents'' legacy?" Elisabeth''s sudden question caused the siblings to frown at the same time. "And you, Edelweiss. Have you found what you''re looking for? Your forgotten past? Your true identity?" "Well, I have not gone into the Archive yet, so no," Sam responded. Elisabeth could only sigh at her friend''s calm answer. "I''m not trying to sound pessimistic, but I''ve been down in the Archive countless times - never once did I find someone with your surname." Sam''s eyes narrowed at Elisabeth''s discouraging remark. He wondered whether the woman was doing it on purpose or otherwise. "What are you getting at, Liz?" "Don''t be so naive, Edelweiss. You should be aware that as much as there is a possibility that you''ll find out about yourself, there is also another possibility that you won''t." "So, are you telling me to just give up my search?" "No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I''m telling you not to get your hopes up. The pain of seeing your expectation subverted - it''s the kind of pain you do not want to experience. Consider this an advice from one friend to another." Sam glowered to the floor, pondering Elisabeth''s advice. As much as he hated to admit it, some parts of him agreed with his friend''s cynical words. What if his search was all for naught? All those years spent - the amount of blood, sweat, and broken bones he had to endure - no, he refused to believe it was for nothing. "It does cross my mind sometimes ¨C that I would fail to find out who I really am ¨C that my search will only lead to a dead end,¡± Sam replied grimly. ¡°But it will be a greater regret to me if I abandon my search now.¡± ¡°So, you are determined to see this through?¡± asked Elisabeth, frowning at the vermillion-eyed man. ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll see if I can persuade Noah to grant you entry into the Archive.¡± Sam¡¯s eyes flickered in disbelief. ¡°You would¡­do that? But, why?¡± he asked. ¡°Just think of it as my way of repaying my debt to you. Besides, unlike me, you three are not yet inducted into the Order.¡± ¡°H-How do you possibly know that?¡± Rupert inquired. ¡°How? Markus told me about you lot - about when your Apprenticeships will end. If my calculation is correct, you just returned to the Tower two days ago, and are now waiting for your Induction ceremony.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­actually true.¡± ¡°Then, my calculation is correct,¡± Elisabeth remarked, looking very pleased with herself. ¡°Also, just to let you know: after we finished with our current task, we are gonna scour this whole place from top to bottom. I expect the cabin to be spotless after we are done.¡± ¡°Aw, shucks,¡± the elder Nightingale murmured. 34th Fragment: -DISQUIET- [One day later...] [The Training Hall, Tower of Nexus] "Urgh!" Rupert yelped as he fell on his back. Although it was not his first time crashing down to the solid wooden floor, it still hurt nonetheless. Moreover, he could still the numbness in his feet thanks to the injury he sustained back in the Desert of Ashes. As he slowly sat himself up, he saw his sister walking up to him with a waster sword in her hands. "Still feeling a bit doozy, are we?¡± said Lucy as she helped her brother get to his feet. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to take today off? Your legs need more time to recover.¡± "If I take the day off, my skills will go rusty,¡± Rupert replied. Lucy could only roll her eyes after hearing her brother¡¯s defiant answer. After everything that happened to him ¨C the battle against Elisabeth, and the near-death experience with the Antlion ¨C Lucy assumed he would have learned to control his reckless behavior. She was so, so wrong. ¡°Tell me something, Rupe,¡± Lucy asked, causing her brother to turn his attention to her. ¡°Why do you like to risk your life every time we are out on the field.¡± Rupert lowered his head as he quietly pondered on the question. ¡°Because it¡¯s fun? Is that a good enough reason?¡± ¡°Fun?¡± ¡°Yeah. I mean, the thrill of being close to death ¨C it¡¯s a pretty good feeling, you know? It makes me feel¡­alive.¡± Lucy clenched both of her fists as she sensed an urge inside of her, goading her into giving her brother a punch in the guts. However, before she could do that, she heard footsteps coming from behind her, followed by the sound of someone clearing his throat. ¡°Am I intruding on something?¡± said Sam. Both of the siblings turned to face him with Lucy replying, ¡°No. You¡¯re not. I¡¯m just giving my brother a little pep talk.¡± ¡°Pep talk? I never would have thought Rupert would need a pep talk,¡± Sam further remarked; his eyes darted toward Lucy¡¯s knuckles. ¡°Anyways, you¡¯ve been at it for two hours straight. How about taking a little break to clear your mind?¡± ¡°Finally!¡± Rupert exclaimed ¨C much to his sister¡¯s dismay. ¡°Fine,¡± Lucy grunted. ¡°30 minutes. That is all you get.¡± ¡°Fine by me!¡± the elder Nightingale gleefully responded before heading toward the corner of the room to take a light nap. ¡°You looked awful,¡± Sam commented as soon as Rupert was out of the picture. He glanced at Lucy, and almost immediately he could see the exhaustion all over her face ¨C but it was not from the sparring. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I ¨C after everything that happened?¡± Lucy exhaled. ¡°True. How about we change the subject then?¡± ¡°To what?¡± ¡°Your mother¡¯s report.¡± Lucy¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she recalled the folder given by Markus a few days ago ¨C a folder containing her mother¡¯s account of the talking crystal. ¡°So, did you find anything?¡± Sam shook his head in disappointment. He desperately wished he could share some good news with her ¨C perhaps shed some light on the mysterious talking Crystal of Birth. Unfortunately, he found none of those things. ¡°Nothing significant, I¡¯m afraid. Although I must say, the report was written in great detail.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? That surely sounds like her,¡± Lucy chuckled as she felt a fuzzy feeling in her chest. ¡°What was she doing?¡± ¡°Well, she was tasked to destroy the Distorted¡¯s nest somewhere in the western continent. She found it, of course ¨C everything after that occurred quite similar to what we experienced ¨C minus the Mangler.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Lucy grumbled in return. Why she was not aware of this story? She remembered her mother often telling tales of her adventure before bedtime ¨C about how she was recruited by the Order ¨C about how she and Erica the Purifier saved the Tree Dancers from annihilation ¨C about when she met her future husband. Sam noticed the troubled expression worn by the female Nightingale. Considering how much she revered her mother as one of the Order¡¯s greatest warriors, it came as no surprise to him when she was oblivious to the event mentioned in the report. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± said Sam, darting his head left and right to make sure no one was listening in to their conversation. ¡°Ever since I began my reading, I can¡¯t shake this feeling that it was¡­incomplete ¨C as if some sentences were omitted.¡± ¡°You think someone modified it? Who could have¡­?¡± Lucy paused, just as a thought crossed her mind. No, it can¡¯t be, she mouthed. It was difficult to believe, but she could not dismiss the probability that someone in the Order could have altered the report. ¡°Lucy?¡± Sam inquired. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°If what you said was true, the only one who could change it was a Faceless ¨C possibly those in the Council of Eight.¡± Lucy proceeded to let out a heavy sigh as she uttered a name: ¡°Markus. Do you think he knows?¡± Placing his right hand below his chin, Sam began to reflect on the prospect that his former mentor might be cognizant of the original version of Sarah Gladia¡¯s report. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so,¡± he answered confidently. ¡°And I don¡¯t think the current Council is aware of it either.¡± ¡°Wait, are you saying¡­?¡± ¡°Thomas. He is the only surviving member of the previous Council. I can¡¯t think of anyone else who might know about the rewriting other than him.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­that¡¯s gonna be a tad difficult,¡± Lucy smacked her lips together. ¡°Even if we had the chance to confront him, all we have is an assumption, and I don¡¯t think he will be too pleased if we accused him of tampering with an official report.¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°That is true,¡± Sam nodded his head in agreement. ¡°Ah!¡± Lucy grouched as she scratched her head with both hands. ¡°The Council and their tendency to complicate things for everyone!¡± ¡°Yo, I can hear you moaning from across the room,¡± said Rupert, as he suddenly appeared behind his sister. ¡°Holy-! I told you not to sneak up on me like that!¡± scolded Lucy before fixing her messy hair. ¡°And missed the look on your face?¡± Rupert snorted. ¡°Anyways, isn¡¯t it about time we head to the Forge? You know? To get our brand-new Core Blade?¡± ¡°Oh, right. It¡¯s today, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sam responded. But then, the images of his old sword flashed in front of his eyes. The blade which had been with him for nearly a decade, only to see it reduced to pieces in less than 24 hours ¨C he still blamed himself over what happened, despite Lucy telling him it wasn¡¯t his fault. ¡°Hold on,¡± Lucy interjected. ¡°I went to the Forge this morning, but it was empty. Even the furnace was off.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Tim was at the Mining Isle for the past couple of days. He¡¯ll be back soon, or so I was told.¡± ¡°And, who was it that told you?¡± ¡°Marie did. She said there was a shortage of the Spider Core metals in the Tower, so Tim had to resupply,¡± Rupert explained before a mischievous grin appeared across his face. ¡°Wait, are you telling me you had no idea about Tim¡¯s whereabouts? Wow, so this is how it feels, huh? Not gonna lie, it¡¯s kinda satisfying.¡± ¡°Hey, focus!¡± said Lucy, snapping her fingers to regain her brother¡¯s attention. ¡°How soon until Tim returns to the Tower?¡± ¡°Well, um,¡± Rupert¡¯s voice trailed off as he started scratching the back of his neck. ¡°He should be here at any moment now.¡± GRRRR! Their conversation was cut short as the entire Tower quaked, followed by the foreboding sounds of rumbling thunders over their heads. ¡°What the¡­? What just happened?¡± said the elder Nightingale as he stared at the ceiling in bewilderment. Lucy, on the other hand, could only think of one possible reason for the sudden tremor. She turned to Sam, and simply muttered, ¡°Hey, are you thinking what I¡¯m thinking?¡± ¡°Marie. Something must have terribly upset her that it shook the whole Phantasmal Realm,¡± Sam countered, grimacing at the possible cause of the woman¡¯s perturbation. ¡°We need to find her. Now.¡± ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF ADAMANCE: ELISABETH ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [In The Infirmary] Elisabeth paced back and forth inside the clinic, anticipating the result of her blood test. Ever since she returned to the Tower, she had this lingering dread that she would lose control of herself again. Furthermore, the mere thought of having the shards of the Crystal of Birth floating in her bloodstream displeased her greatly. A few seconds later, the blue door which led into the laboratory swung open, followed by Michael walking out of it holding a thin stack of papers. Unable to contain her anxiousness, Elisabeth immediately asked the doctor, "How was it?" "It is just as you said. There''s a trace amount of Crystal of Birth in your blood. The good news is they are removable. The procedure will take a day, and the remaining three to recuperate." "Recuperate?" "As you may already realize, the blood is a vital component of our body. The process of cleaning them out will significantly affect your cells and organs. In simpler terms, you will feel as if you''ve been hit by a boulder. So, you must abstain from physically exerting yourself after the procedure." Michael paused his explanation after noticing the gloomy look on Elisabeth''s face. He already knew what the woman was thinking without even asking her. "I¡¯m not going to mince words, Miss Rosier. Even with the technology we have, I am not certain that you will completely lose your power after the operation. However, letting the shards swim around inside your bloodstream is also undeniably dangerous. The choice is yours, of course, and if you would like to take some time to decide, then-." "There''s no need," Elisabeth swiftly replied with a determined scowl. "So, when can we begin?" ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF ADAMANCE ||| **??****************************************** [In the meantime¡­] As soon as the trio reached the seventh floor, they saw Markus standing in front of the Council of Eight chambers. For a fleeting moment, they could see the worried look on the man''s face before it changed into a smile. "I''m guessing you three felt it then?" said Markus while glancing at his former apprentices. "We did. So, what''s going on? It''s been a while since the entire Tower quivered like earlier," Sam promptly asked. ¡°Well, uh¡­,¡± Markus struggled to find suitable words to describe the situation. ¡°I was informed that there was some sort of a commotion occurring within the Opal Sun Kingdom and as you can already guess, Miss Strelitzia was not happy about it.¡± ¡°Oh no. Is it about the Helians? Did something happen to them? Please tell me they are still alive?¡± Lucy bombarded her former mentor with questions. ¡°Settle down, Miss Nightingale,¡± Markus calmly returned. ¡°That is why I¡¯m here ¨C to find out what¡¯s really going on. Sadly, Thomas is unavailable at the moment.¡± ¡°Unavailable, huh?¡± Rupert huffed. ¡°I bet the old man is still preoccupied with Cindar¡¯s disappearance.¡± "Please mind your manners, Mr. Nightingale. Despite his... unsavory disposition, Thomas is still the Faceless Lord. Loathe him as much as you want, but at least show a little bit of respect to the title," Markus reprimanded Rupert with a hint of anger in the former''s voice. "Anyhow, I''m under the impression that you are diligently developing your Doomsday-level technique?" "We are," said Lucy, bobbing her head. "It''s just...a bit more difficult than we first thought - particularly in balancing our stamina part." "That is quite understandable. It can be quite stressful to our mind and body, especially for novices like yourselves ¨C but it is not impossible. Remember, if you three need any help, just let me know, alright? Oh, before I forgot," Markus pulled out three golden pentagonal badges from his coat''s pocket. "Wait, are those...?" Sam gasped. It was unmistakably the proof of membership to the Faceless Order though they were usually handed during the Induction Ceremony. "You''re just going to give them to us like this?" "Yes, Mr. Edelweiss,¡± Markus nodded his head with a smile across his kind face. ¡°It is a bit unorthodox, but technically, all of you have already finished your apprenticeship. That should be enough reason to grant you a place in the Order.¡± The trio''s eyes narrowed suspiciously at their former supervisor, as they knew there must be an underlying reason for the man''s unusual action. "Markus, you''re not hiding something from us, are you?" Sam inquired. "No, I just have this¡­this funny feeling that there is a great misfortune heading our way, and the three of you will be in the midst of it. So, I think it¡¯s better to give you these badges now than later,¡± Markus casually replied. ¡°Now, there are other matters I would like to discuss with you but, unfortunately, I need to check on something else first. If you''ll excuse me." After Markus went to take his leave from the trio, Rupert nudged his sister on the shoulder and said, "Hey, Luce. What does he mean by a great misfortune? Are we going to be in trouble?"" Lucy shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Though, it¡¯s not the first time Markus has given us a vague premonition,¡± the younger Nightingale then exchanged a look with Sam who seems to share her notion. ¡°And I¡¯m pretty sure it won¡¯t be the last.¡± 35th Fragment: -INVITATION- ||| THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS ||| Markus walked into the infirmary; his heart was boiling with uneasiness. The first person he met was Elisabeth sitting on the bench by herself. As soon as the man saw her grimace, it was clear that the amber-eyed woman had learned the truth - the real identity of the Disciples'' monster. However, before Markus could initiate the conversation, Elisabeth got to her feet and popped the question first, "What¡¯s going on? I could feel the entire realm shook.¡± ¡°Oh, um,¡± Markus briefly stumbled over his words as he was expecting a different kind of question. ¡°It¡¯s just Miss Strelitzia ¨C she had a¡­very bad day.¡± ¡°A bad day?¡± Elisabeth sighed. ¡°You know, Markus ¨C you are a great leader, but by God, you are very, VERY bad at lying. So, let¡¯s just cut to the chase, alright?¡± Markus exhaled. How could he have forgotten that the person in front of her was no longer a child? ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll only tell you what I know so far. Sounds good?¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°This morning, we were awaiting a daily update from the Opal Sun Kingdom¡¯s Overseer, particularly regarding the situation of last night¡¯s Raid. It was supposed to be the usual things: the number of enemies they encountered, their classes, and civilian casualties. But all we received was silence ¨C which sounded similar to your case.¡± A line instantly appeared between Elisabeth¡¯s brows. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Markus, but¡­are you saying that the Opal Sun siblings and the Captain of the Royal Guard went missing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet, but it is a possibility. Ever since he was appointed as the Overseer, Mr. Helians has never skipped a day in performing his obligation ¨C the same can be said about his sister and Mr. Stark.¡± ¡°Now, I can see why Marie is a bit cranky today,¡± Elisabeth grumbled. ¡°So, what¡¯s the next step?¡± ¡°The next step,¡± Markus paused before clearing his throat. ¡°Is for you to undergo your operation and take a few days off to recover.¡± Elisabeth stared at the man in disbelief; her lips parted midway as she quickly slammed them shut as a question suddenly crossed her mind. ¡°Did you know?" Taken aback by the sudden question, Markus silently locked eyes with the woman for a couple of seconds. Taking a deep breath, the Captain of the Deathstalker simply answered, "Yes." Elisabeth''s scowl deepened, and both of her fists began to tremble from anger. She wanted to scream at the man for keeping such vital information a secret, especially from her. "You think I couldn''t handle the guilt, do you? That''s why you lied to me about what had transpired on that day?" Elisabeth further inquired. Markus shook his head in response. "You went through something that a child shouldn¡¯t have, Miss Rosier. By the time we brought you back here, you were inches away from being permanently catatonic. So, I hid the truth and also demanded the other participants to do the same." "And how long were you planning to keep the truth from me, Markus? I put my friends in danger. If it wasn¡¯t for Edelweiss, I could have¡­I could have¡­,¡± Elisabeth couldn¡¯t bring herself to finish the sentence. ¡°But, you didn¡¯t,¡± Markus swiftly retorted. ¡°All of you returned safely to the Tower with only grit-filled boots and tiny scratches on your bodies.¡± ¡°Out of sheer luck ¨C which I¡¯m convinced will only happen once,¡± Elisabeth ranted. Feeling slightly nauseous, she sat down at the end of the bench with her arms crossed together. ¡°If you know what I am, then why did you vouch for me? Why did you encourage me to become a Faceless?¡± A tiny smile appeared across Markus¡¯s face as if he had anticipated those questions. ¡°Because, Miss Rosier, I believe you are a good person, and I¡¯ll surely be damned if I don¡¯t give you a second chance.¡± Elisabeth glanced at her former mentor - she could tell just from his voice that the man was speaking the truth. ¡°I¡¯m thankful for what you did, but that still doesn¡¯t change the fact that I could have killed Edelweiss and the Nightingales. It would not bode well for either of us if the trio died on their first quest - let alone killed by a Faceless." ¡°I have the utmost faith in their skills, Miss Rosier. Sure, they can be a little chaotic at times, but there is no doubt in my mind that they will succeed in their missions. Given enough experience and self-discipline, they might one day be able to surpass everyone in the current Council of Eight ¨C myself included.¡± Elisabeth¡¯s forehead creased from hearing Markus¡¯s bold claim. It was not often for her to see the man speak highly of someone else. ¡°For the Captain of the Deathstalker, that is a lot of trusts you put on a group of novices,¡± Elisabeth remarked. ¡°Unless you have another reason for doing so?¡± Markus remained silent - a reaction that caused the woman to grimace. ¡°Oh God, Markus¡­you used it, didn¡¯t you? You of all people should know that there are always consequences in trying to change the natural course of fate. Always.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fully aware of the ramifications, Miss Rosier and if my action can put an end to this ceaseless war, then I¡¯ll be willing to pay the price.¡± Unable to contain her frustration, Elisabeth started to pinch her forehead. ¡°Sacrificing your lifespan is a pretty steep price to pay. Then again, I have no right to dissuade you considering our line of work forced us to face death on a daily basis. Just...one more question, if you don¡¯t mind?" ¡°Sure,¡± said Markus, turning his head toward Elisabeth. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°When you found me in the Disciples¡¯ Lair, was there a girl in my arms?¡± Markus immediately dropped his gaze to the floor as he began to recall the incident. Even after a decade, the images were still vivid in his mind. The bloody wall and the torn corpses of the scientists scattered on the floor ¨C the entire Complex was so contaminated with bodily fluids and decaying innards, so much so that a single breath could suffocate anyone in the vicinity. Then, he saw her. He saw an amber-eyed girl with her waist fully submerged under a pool of blood. In her wobbly embrace was another girl whose petite body was covered with horrible gashes. ¡°Miss Rosier¡­¡± ¡°Was there a girl in my arms? Yes, or no?¡± Elisabeth angrily repeated. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is a good time¡­¡± ¡°Markus! Tell me!¡± The atmosphere grew thicker at the mere sound of Elisabeth¡¯s outburst. As soon as she realized what she said, the amber-eyed woman pleaded to Markus, albeit with a much softer tone, ¡°Please, I beg you. I need to know what happened to Anemone.¡± Markus let out another heavy sigh before deciding to take a seat on the nearby bench. ¡°Please do me one little favor, Miss Rosier.¡± ¡°What kind of favor?¡± ¡°Send my regards to Mr. Achillea and his mother.¡± Elisabeth jumped off her seat; her eyes sparked with joy. ¡°She was buried in the Realm of the Tree Dancers?¡± ¡°Yes, she was,¡± Markus returned before slowly rising to his feet. ¡°You can ask Mr. Achillea about the whereabouts of the cemetery. Just so you know, it wasn¡¯t easy to convince Thomas to give your friend a proper burial. But I got the feeling you will try to find out about her sooner or later ¨C so, I guess everything works out in the end.¡± Moved by her former mentor¡¯s deed, Elisabeth¡¯s eyes glistened with tears. She wanted to thank him, but not a single word escaped her mouth as her chest started to tighten up. ¡°See? I told you this is not a good time,¡± Markus calmly stated. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [The Training Hall] As Sam slowly pushed the door open, the faint scent of camellia slipped out from between the crack. The trio paused - exchanging looks to make sure they were not imagining it. Their prediction was quickly confirmed after they entered the hall and saw a slender woman checking out the weapon rack. ¡°There you are! We¡¯ve been all over the place looking for you!¡± Lucy spouted. "And you found me, at last," said Marie before turning around to face the trio. "Also, judging from your pouting faces, I would assume that Markus told you about the cause of the little earthquake.¡± ¡°He did,¡± Sam nodded his head. ¡°So, what happened?¡± ¡°What happened, huh?¡± said Marie as she placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Sorry, fellas. Can¡¯t tell you ¨C it¡¯s classified information.¡± ¡°Even after we got this?" Sam showed Marie the gold badge in his hand. "Ah, I see all of you are finally official members of the Order. Congratulations, but the answer is still no." "Oh, come on, Marie," Lucy interjected. ¡°We know it¡¯s about Jason and the others.¡± ¡°All the more reason why we can¡¯t discuss such a matter out in the open. Everyone has been on edge ever since Cindar¡¯s sudden disappearance. Take Markus for example ¨C he disregarded the protocol by handing you those badges without Thomas¡¯s knowledge, thus putting himself in a rather precarious position.¡± "Cindar again, huh? The man''s gone, yet he is still being a nuisance to us all," Rupert commented while scratching the back of his head. "Yes, he has a knack for doing that. Actually, it came as no surprise considering the investigation on the death of his teammates concluded yesterday." ¡°Why is that?¡± Sam inquired even though he could already guess the answer. ¡°As you may have guessed, it wasn¡¯t an accident. The cave-in was actually a cover-up ¨C both of Cindar¡¯s partners were already dead by the time they were buried underground. Their throats were slit open by something sharp ¨C like a sword,¡± Marie gestured her finger at her neck. ¡°He did not¡­Seriously? He killed them?¡± said Lucy with a hint of anger in her voice. ¡°What the hell is wrong with that guy? It¡¯s bad enough that he assaulted the little fledglings but murdering his companions? I never thought Cindar will be that far gone.¡± ¡°That is not the most baffling thing that he had done. Somehow, he managed to tap into the Dimensional Network without the aid of a Rift Gate WHICH is only possible if he had similar power as mine, or if he knows someone like me.¡± "So, Cindar know an Accursed that is not affiliated to the Order? Hang on," Sam blurted out, recalling the hooded figures he saw in the Disciples'' lair. "Did you guys remember? The people talking to the leader of the Disciple - one of them had a similar ability as Noah. Could they be the ones who helped Cindar escaped?" ¡°So, you¡¯ve seen an Accursed who is not a Faceless?¡± said Marie, her brows snapped together. ¡°Two, actually. Both of them wore a black mask,¡± Lucy countered. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I felt like they were trying to mimic us or something.¡± ¡°A black mask? How interesting,¡± Marie muttered as she slightly tilted her head downward ¡°These two ¨C what happened to them?¡± ¡°No idea,¡± Sam shrugged his shoulders. ¡°By the time we reached the leader of the Disciples, they were already gone. Even after we got out of the Complex, there were still no signs of them ¨C it was as if they disappeared into thin air. Do you think¡­?¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Marie murmured. ¡°I¡¯ll look into this ¨C see if these two mysterious figures had something to do with Cindar¡¯s breakout. As an exchange, I would like to ask a little favor from the three of you." "A¡­favor?" Lucy stuttered, glancing at Sam and Rupert who had the same reactions as her. "We''re basically novices, Marie, so I don''t think we could be of any help to you." "Quite the contrary. During your¡­visit to the Desert of the Ashes, Markus spoke quite highly of you - said that you are the best group he ever had the privilege to teach. Naturally, I became quite curious, and I would like to test his claim ¨C unless you are busy, of course.¡± "Are¡­are you inviting us to spar with you?" said Rupert, his voice slightly cracked. ¡°Oh, don''t worry, dear,¡± Marie chuckled. ¡°Here ¨C to make things fair, I won''t be using my power. The three of you, on the other hand, can come at me with everything you got. So, shall we begin?" 36th Fragment: -DOE- The trio slowly circled around Marie; their faces cycled between anxiousness and hesitation. It was not often for them to go against someone of her caliber: a master swordswoman and a cunning warrior. Not to mention, the woman also trained the trio shortly before the latter''s apprenticeship began. "Well? I''m waiting," said Marie with a sly, dimpled smile across her face. Rupert let out a rumbling roar and charged forward -- swinging his wooden sword at the slender woman. To avoid the incoming attack, Marie took a step to her left, allowing the elder Nightingale to run past her. "Ugh!" Rupert instantly yelped as soon as he felt something hard smack him in the back of his neck, causing him to fall flat on the floor. "In case you haven''t noticed, shouting will not always scare your enemies away," Marie remarked. Then, she raised her right hand and caught Lucy''s sword, seconds before the object hit the former in the shoulder. "And using your brother as a distraction will not always work." With a single tug, Marie slammed the female Nightingale into the floor -- directly next to Rupert. "Ow! I thought you said you are going easy on us!" Lucy grunted. "No, dear. I only said I''m not using my power," Marie giggled. "Furthermore-." The woman quickly spun around and lifted her weapon to parry Sam''s wooden sword. "It''s rude to interrupt someone when they are talking." "Not during a fight," Sam lashed back. Marie shuddered after she felt something cold climbing up her legs -- a sensation she knew too well. As she turned her attention back to the siblings, a powerful gust of wind hit her squarely in the torso -- causing her to skid away from the trio. Shortly after, the lady in black straightened herself up as if nothing happened. "Well, now," Marie grinned exuberantly while rubbing her aching chest. "Your teamwork certainly has improved. Though, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t say the same about the execution.¡± "Dude, that attack just now should have knocked her off her feet," whispered Rupert after getting to his feet; his eyes widened from shock. "It should,¡± Sam grumbled. ¡°But we are not dealing with a regular Distorted right now. We¡¯re dealing with Marie Strelitzia.¡± "Alrighty then!" Marie exclaimed, effectively stopping the conversation between the two men. "I suppose I can no longer lower my guard around you three." "Lower your guard? You don''t mean-," Lucy trembled after noticing the gleams in Marie''s emerald eyes. "Oh, don''t worry. I promised you that I won''t be using my power, remember?" as soon as Marie finished her sentence, she dashed onward ¨C catching the trio by surprise. Rupert fidgeted as the lady in black ran up to him ¨C her waster sword over her left shoulder. It prompted him to lift his weapon, preparing himself for the coming assault. However, instead of waving the wooden blade, Marie dived to the floor and briskly wrapped her right leg around Rupert''s thighs. "Oh shit, not again-!" the blue-eyed man breathed before he stumbled face-first to the solid ground. With a single kip-up, Marie quickly got to his feet ¨C just as Lucy sneaked behind her. Marie spun around; her sword clashed against Lucy¡¯s, creating a loud thud that echoed throughout the training hall. "Woah, you''ve gotten stronger, Lucia. I can feel my hands throbbing in pain." "Really? Then, you shouldn''t have a problem dealing with this!" Tiny orbs of water began to appear from thin air, surrounding the two females. All the stagnant droplets shot toward Marie, endlessly hammering her face and body like a barrage of transparent bullets. Even though the orbs didn''t cut through Marie''s skin, their velocity was strong enough to push the lady in black away from Lucy. After the bombardment ended, Marie looked down at her drenched clothes, her forehead puckered. "Huh, that stings a little, you know?" the woman grunted as she brushed off the wet hair sticking to her eyelids. "Welp, at least I know you''re not holding back." ¡°You looked terrible, Miss Marie. Should we call it a day?¡± Sam confidently suggested. "Nah, I''m perfectly fine. It''s just a minor setback," said Marie, squeezing her soaked left sleeve. ¡°Plus, I haven¡¯t seen you use your power yet.¡± Sam grimaced at Marie¡¯s cheerful comment. ¡°My power is not suitable to be used for sparring, Miss Marie.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s rubbish,¡± the lady in black retorted. ¡®This whole room is designed to withstand virtually everything: a hurricane, a flood, and even an inferno.¡± ¡°Even if I could, using abilities in the Tower ¨C like what Lucy and Rupert did earlier ¨C is strictly prohibited.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I totally forgot about that,¡± blurted Lucy, her face gradually turning pale as she realized her mistake. Suddenly, Marie burst out laughing, causing the trio to focus on her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s¡­I didn¡¯t expect you to be the kind of person who worries themselves over some silly rules. You should learn to loosen up a bit ¨C just like what Mr. Nightingale often does.¡± A smug grin appeared across Rupert¡¯s face as soon as he got to his feet. ¡°And also, you don¡¯t need to be concerned about the Froghoppers. They are currently performing some maintenance on their surveillance system. In other words, no one knows about what will transpire inside this chamber ¨C except for us, of course.¡± Sam squinted his eyes as he felt the situation to be oddly suspicious. Could she have planned this all along? He wondered. ¡°A maintenance¡­at the same time as our sparring session,¡± Sam expressed his thought. ¡°That is quite convenient, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Marie giggled mischievously at the sight of Sam¡¯s serious expression. ¡°Fate is a funny thing ¨C sometimes it brought us joy, and sometimes it gave us scars that could last our lifetime. In this case, it allowed us to recognize each other¡¯s strengths¡­and weaknesses.¡± Shortly after finishing her sentences, Marie tossed away her wooden sword, causing Sam and the siblings to shudder simultaneously. With a lopsided smile, the lady in black snapped her finger and a Rifit Gate suddenly manifested to her right. She slid her hand through the water-like surface for a few seconds before pulling out her unsheathed claymore. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Um, Miss Marie¡­what are you doing?¡± said Lucy nervously. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to make this fight a bit more¡­challenging.¡± ¡°But you said you were not gonna use your power,¡± Rupert replied. ¡°I did,¡± Marie confirmed. ¡°Until I realized that you are no longer the fledglings of the Order. So, it will be insulting for me, and for you if we don¡¯t go all out.¡± ¡°Wait, Miss Marie! Sam doesn¡¯t have his Core Blade!¡± Lucy blurted out. ¡°No worries, Lucia. There¡¯s no need for you to use your Core Blade. Also, I¡¯m not going to move from this spot,¡± said Marie. ¡°All you have to do is either knock my sword out of my hands or make me yield. Do either of those, and you win.¡± ¡°And what if we refuse?¡± Sam inquired, glaring at the lady in black. ¡°Then, I will tell Thomas about what happened here. I¡¯ll get chewed out, for sure ¨C but the three of you will be in much deeper trouble.¡± ¡°Damn¡­She really got us good, huh?¡± Rupert commented before turning his head toward Sam. ¡°So, are we doing it? We¡¯re doing it, right? Right?¡± Sam exhaled audibly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we have any other choice,¡± he further remarked. ¡°Great! Then, I¡¯ll go first!¡± ¡°Wait, Rupe-!¡± Lucy yelled out, but it was too late. Her brother swung his blade, creating another blast of cold air. As a response, Marie thrusted her claymore forward; the tip of her blade mysteriously disappeared into thin air. Seconds later, she yanked her sword, and a long, vertical line manifested in front of her which later stretched open into a perfect circle ¨C within it was nothing but complete darkness. In an instant, Rupert¡¯s powerful squall was sucked into the floating hole ¨C shocking the three novices. ¡°What in the world¡­!¡± the elder Nightingale loudly expressed his exasperation, just as the hole sealed shut. ¡°Oh, so close. Very close,¡± Marie stated with a playful grin. ¡°Here,¡± the lady in black snapped her finger. Another circular portal opened up to Rupert¡¯s right and the man immediately cried out in agony as a puff of wind shot out of the hole - hurling him into the chamber¡¯s wall. ¡°You should be more aware of your surroundings, Rupert, and also, charging heedlessly into battle is a big no-no,¡± Marie reprimanded. ¡°Heh, who said I¡¯m charging heedlessly?¡± the elder Nightingale, who was leaning his back against the wall, started to giggle. Marie looked at Rupert confusingly ¨C until she felt a breeze on the back of her neck. She instinctively tilted her head to the right; the first thing she saw was a wooden sword flying past her followed by Lucy¡¯s azure eyes staring directly at her. Without any delay, the female Nightingale raised her waster sword over her head. But before she could hit Marie¡¯s arm, she saw a pulsating black cloud forming between her and her target. Oh no! Lucy mouthed as she tried to step away from Marie. Sadly, her momentum forced her to fall into the darkness; the next thing she realized she was lying on the floor. ¡°Need a hand?¡± asked Sam before helping Lucy stand on her feet. ¡°Darn it! We could barely touch her!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± said Rupert as he approached her sister from behind. ¡°And I usually don¡¯t mind getting a beating, but, somehow, getting my butt kicked by Marie felt embarrassing.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a plan,¡± Sam replied confidently. ¡°The only tricky part is to get our timing right.¡± ¡°Well, a plan is better than nothing. Let¡¯s hear it,¡± Lucy sighed even though she knew Sam¡¯s idea could sometimes be a bit dubious. ??******************************************** [Three minutes later¡­] ¡°Hm?¡± Marie could not contain her curiosity after seeing the trio ten feet away from her, whispering to each other. There was no doubt in her mind that they were concocting a scheme on how to defeat her. Perhaps she made the challenge too difficult for them? Marie thought. But her concern was washed away as soon as she saw the trio''s heads turned toward her. ¡°You guys really took your time. So, ready for another dance?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Lucy answered before stretching her arms forward. Then, tiny orbs of water shot out of her palms; every single one of them made its way toward the lady in black. ¡°Another one of those,¡± Marie murmured. With her claymore, she opened another portal in front of her and watched as all the projectiles went into the dark hole. All of a sudden, she heard footsteps to her left and right; she glanced in both directions and noticed the two men were sprinting toward her. ¡°Oh, shit!¡± Rupert exclaimed after seeing the circular portal materialized in front of him and Sam. ¡°Rupe! Now!¡± the vermillion-eyed man yelled out, prompting the elder Nightingale to throw his wooden sword toward Marie. At the same time, Sam also tossed his waster sword toward the lady in black before passing through the portal. ¡°Sneaky!¡± Marie huffed. As the two flying swords drew closer, she created another two portals to divert them ¨C until one of the blades circumvented the hole, causing Marie¡¯s forehead to furrow. She quickly raised her forehead, intending to deflect the incoming projectile. However, before she could swing her blade, the wooden sword suddenly burst into flame. Marie gasped; she covered her hurting eyes with her right hand, and for a few seconds, she felt something pressed against her chin, followed by a faint scent of sea breeze. ¡°Yield.¡± The lady in black gradually opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Lucy with a triumphant smile on her face. ¡°Alright, alright. I yield.¡± As soon as she heard those words, Lucy pulled her sword away from Marie¡¯s lower jaw and instantly dropped to her knees. ¡°Luce!¡± Rupert called out as he rushed to his sibling with Sam following him closely from behind. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a little tired.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s actually my fault,¡± Sam stated. ¡°I should have been more perceptive.¡± CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! The four Faceless shifted their focus toward the main entrance where Markus stood on his own, applauding them for their performance. ¡°Spectacular work; all of you,¡± the bearded man complimented. ¡°Although I clearly remember that we are prohibited from using our powers inside the Tower.¡± Marie proceeded to let out a humorless laugh before apologizing to Markus. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. That is on me. I¡­coerced them into using their abilities for our sparring session.¡± ¡°Indeed, Miss Strelitzia. Fortunately, the only people who know about what you did is me and all of you here. So, let¡¯s just keep this between us, alright?¡± Marie and the rambunctious trio nodded their heads in affirmation. ¡°Good. With that being said,¡± Markus immediately cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ve got some update on Jason, and it¡¯s not good. No, it''s uh...actually much worse than I initially anticipated." 37th Fragment: -STRIFE- [One day earlier...] [The West Gate, The Opal Sun Kingdom] With his chest plate shattered to pieces, Rudolph leaned against the wall clutching his bleeding stomach. The Edge - one of the settlements of the Opal Sun, was raided by the Distorted. But, what pained him the most was the instigators of the misfortune. ''What have you done, Your Radiance?" the old soldier murmured as he slumped to the ground. He glanced at the scattered bodies bathed under the evening sun - each was barely recognizable thanks to the bloodthirsty monsters. Then, he felt a shiver running down his spine - as if someone was watching him from one of the disrepair houses. At first, Rudolph thought it was the Distorted, but as the man raised his chin, he noticed a pair of anxious golden eyes staring at him from a window. "Io?" shortly after the name escaped the soldier''s mouth, a small figure jumped out from the shadows and dashed to the injured man. Rudolph initially thought he was hallucinating, but his assumption was proven wrong when a young girl with short, disheveled black hair approached him. "Rudy?" the girl spoke before pressing her hands against Rudolph''s punctured belly, causing the old soldier to grunt. "We''ve got to move. I can''t treat you here." "No, it''s...it''s too late for me. I need you...to send a message to Daedalus." "Don''t be absurd! How about you go tell him yourself." GRRRR! Both of them shuddered as soon as they heard a beastly growl nearby. "There¡¯s no time. Tell Daedalus...that he must lock down the citadel," said Rudolph as he painfully rose to his feet. "He must prevent Jason and the others from reaching the Royal Palace." "What about you?" Io asked, even though she already knew the answer. "Buying you some time. Now, go!" As the girl reluctantly escaped the area, a Lacerator suddenly rushed out from one of the houses; its bloodshot eyes darted toward Rudolph who in turn, unsheathed his longsword. "For the Most High,¡± the old guard paused to raise his blade. ¡°...and for the Opal Sun." ??******************************************** [The Present day] [Tower of Nexus] ¡°What do you mean by ¡®worse than you anticipated¡¯?¡± said Marie, pursing her lips. In that instant, dozens of theories inevitably flooded her mind ¨C none of them were, as she said, promising. ¡°Before we get to that part, the good news is the Empyreans are still alive,¡± Markus asserted. ¡°The Froghoppers successfully found them a few minutes ago.¡± ¡°Now why do I feel there¡¯s a ¡®but¡¯ coming soon? Let me guess, they¡¯re in trouble,¡± Lucy swiftly jumped into the conversation. Markus reluctantly nodded his head in return before replying, ¡°That depends¡­on a matter of perspective.¡± ¡°A matter of¡­perspective?¡± Sam repeated, his left eyebrow arched upward. ¡°That is a pretty vague statement you made there. Should we be worried?¡± ¡°Yes, you should,¡± a familiar voice shouted from outside the hall. BANG! The door swung open, and Thomas walked into the chamber with a grim expression. He was followed by a burly, brown-skinned man with a well-trimmed beard and a large vertical scar on the left side of his face. His wine-red blouson jacket was covered with soot and minor tears; the same could be said about his cargo trousers. "Daniel Nastur,¡± Markus sighed at the mere sight of the man. ¡°I was informed that you will be returning next week.¡± "I was supposed to, but there has been a sudden change of plan. The Faceless Lord himself requested my immediate presence - so, it is natural for I, the Captain of the Hornet, to comply," the man named Daniel retorted with a fruity voice. ¡°By the way, how have you been Markus? You looked¡­tired.¡± ¡°If I were you, Mr. Nastur, I¡¯ll be careful with my next choices of words,¡± Markus growled, glaring furiously at the scarred man. ¡°Oof, so touchy,¡± Dan remarked sarcastically. ¡°Congratulations, by the way. I heard about your former apprentices¡¯ recent achievement in the Desert of Ashes ¨C despite the damages they caused to the landscape.¡± ¡°If you read their report more thoroughly, then you¡¯ll come to find out they are not liable for the damages,¡± Markus calmly replied with a hint of rage in his voice. ¡°Furthermore, it will be unfair to give me all the credits. The only thing I¡¯m responsible for was teaching them how to survive.¡± ¡°Obviously,¡± said Daniel before his graphite-colored eyes settled on Sam. ¡°So, the famous Flame Accursed is still here, or should I say, infamous.¡± Sam¡¯s eyes instantly narrowed. Was he trying to taunt me? the vermillion-eyed man thought. ¡°After the commotion in the Wailing Forest, I was¡­genuinely concerned that you will end up killing Miss Rosier. I¡¯m glad to see that¡¯s not the case.¡± ¡°And why would I kill Miss Rosier?¡± Sam inquired, causing Daniel to grin balefully at him. ¡°Why asked a question you already know the answer to?¡± ¡°Right, the old prophecy of doom; the great fire that will devour everything at the end of time. Don¡¯t you worry about that - If I¡¯m planning to kill someone, or burn an entire forest down ¨C I¡¯ll make sure to let you know.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Hah, I see you still have that sharp tongue of yours,¡± Daniel huffed. ¡°It must have been difficult for you ¨C to keep those siblings under leash.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Lucy snarled as she gave Daniel an intense scowl. ¡°Keep us under leash? What are we ¨C some kind of wild animals?¡± ¡°No, Miss Nightingale. However, I must say, sometimes you and your brother acted like one.¡± Lucy lunged toward the scarred man, but Marie quickly grabbed the rankled young Nightingale by the shoulder and muttered gently, ¡°Now, now, little bird. Take a deep breath; there¡¯s no need for violence. At least, for now.¡± Amused by the two women''s interaction, Daniel let out a hearty laughter. ¡°How intriguing. An animal who was soothed by the words of a monster.¡± ¡°All the more reasons for you to be more cautious of your comments, Dan,¡± said Marie with a lopsided smile. ¡°Because who knows, maybe one of these so-called animals will save your ass in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough ¨C both of you!¡± Thomas interrupted the exchange. ¡°We have a more pressing matter at hand.¡± ¡°Pressing enough that you required the aid of the Captain of the Hornets?¡± Markus retorted. ¡°I would assume this has anything to do with what has occurred in the Opal Sun Kingdom.¡± Thomas clenched his jaw; his sullen eyes darted between his audiences. ¡°I can assure all of you here that whatever transpired in the Opal Sun Kingdom is fully under control.¡± ¡°Hold on, Thomas,¡± Marie intervened, placing her right hand on her hips. ¡°You haven¡¯t told us exactly what happened there.¡± ¡°That is classified information, Miss Strelitzia.¡± ¡°Classified? So, something did happen to the Helians?¡± Rupert, who has been next to Sam, blurted out. ¡°As I said earlier, Mr. Nightingale ¨C that is classified information.¡± ¡°They deserved to know, Tom. The Helians are their friends. Sure, they¡¯re not close but nevertheless, they¡¯re still their friends,¡± said Markus. ¡°Besides, Mr. Helians and Mr. Strelitzia have been acquainted with each other since they were fledglings ¨C so, it is fitting for her to know about the current turmoil in the Opal Sun Kingdom.¡± ¡°And what will that bring, Markus?¡± Thomas responded as he scowled at his second-in-command. ¡°We do not need any more distractions, especially from someone who is well-acquainted with the prince.¡± ¡°Even if that someone is the Chief of the Chamber of Convergence?¡± Marie stated, and the room went dead silent. ¡°You do realize, Thomas, that if I wanted to, I could squash this entire realm into a can of beans?¡± The Faceless Lord squinted; he was unsure whether Marie was making an idle threat or otherwise. ¡°Please tell me, Miss Strelitzia, that you did not just try to intimidate me?¡± Thomas uttered; his voice was gruffier than usual. ¡°No, of course not. Intimidation is not my style ¨C it¡¯s a bit primitive, for my taste,¡± Marie countered, smiling from ear to ear. ¡°In case you haven¡¯t noticed, each and every one of us here is capable of laying waste to this entire Phantasmal Realm. The only reason we didn¡¯t do so is because we believe we are making a difference to the world ¨C a belief the Royal Prince of the Opal Sun also shares. In simpler terms, we are brothers in arms ¨C and if one of us is in a predicament, we should work together to help them, instead of withholding information from each other.¡± Shortly after Marie finished her speech, Thomas smacked his lips together before turning his attention to Markus. ¡°You taught her well, my friend. Perhaps too well,¡± said the Faceless Lord. ¡°I did my best.¡± For a fleeting moment, Thomas noticed a smirk on Markus¡¯s face ¨C like a smile of a proud father to his children. ¡°Very well, Miss Strelitzia. Do you want to know the truth? Well, the truth is less than 24 hours ago, Prince Jason, Princess Aria, and Mr. Stark abandoned their duties ¨C by allowing the Distorted to raid the Edge.¡± ¡°They did what?¡± Sam spouted in disbelief. ¡°It''s just as Thomas said, Edelweiss. Jason betrayed us; he betrayed our cause,¡± Daniel snickered. ¡°The Froghoppers captured footage of the Empyreans cheering and celebrating the slaughter of their own people. They even dragged the civilians out of their home just so the Distorted could feed on them.¡± ¡°There must be some kind of a mistake,¡± Lucy interjected. ¡°Jason wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°There is NO mistake, Miss Nightingale. The footages were clear as a day. Isn¡¯t that right, Markus?¡± Lucy¡¯s head darted toward his former mentor, but as soon as she saw the frown on Markus¡¯s face, she finally realized the Captain of the Hornets was speaking the truth. ¡°Then, what do you suggest our next course of action is, Dan ¨C if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± Marie queried. ¡°What the Hornets do best, Miss Strelitzia ¨C hunt and execute.¡± ¡°That,¡± Marie paused to take a quick breath, ¡°is a stupid plan. Are you seriously telling me that you¡¯re going to kill the heir to the Opal Throne? Does Daedalus even know about this¡­plan of yours?¡± ¡°We are working on it,¡± Thomas replied. ¡°Wait, hasn¡¯t it crossed your mind what Jason did was a tad suspicious?¡± Sam expressed his thought. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we investigate first before passing judgment on them?¡± ¡°Edelweiss is correct, Thomas,¡± Markus blatantly agreed to his former apprentice. ¡°The Helians and Mr. Stark have been loyal to us and our cause since the beginning. It will be a great injustice if we simply ignore the Empyreans¡¯ side of the story. Moreover, if we decide to execute them, the Inner Circle will see it as an act of war ¨C and that will be the worst possible outcome.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re proposing to bring them back alive ¨C to hear their side of the story?¡± Thomas grumbled. ¡°Even if we did that, it still doesn¡¯t change the fact that they let innocents die. For that grave offense, they will be punished accordingly ¨C if not by us, then by the Inner Circle themselves.¡± ¡°Daedalus won¡¯t allow them to be sentenced to death.¡± ¡°You are right, Markus ¨C or should I say, half-right. You see, the Chief Consul swore an oath to King Cyrus to only protect two people ¨C which means there will be one who will be held accountable for the crime; one who has to die in order to pacify the masses.¡± ¡°¡­kidding me,¡± Marie murmured, baring her teeth in anger. ¡°Mr. Stark is one of us ¨C not a piece of meat.¡± ¡°I understand your frustration, Miss Strelitzia ¨C I really do,¡± said Thomas, bobbing his head weakly. ¡°But the treaty the Faceless Order made with the first Opal Sun King clearly stated that we do not and will not interfere with their affairs in exchange for intelligence and refuge.¡± After ending his explanation, Thomas slowly approached Marie and placed his hand on the woman¡¯s trembling shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, child. I truly wish things will turn out differently, but you must know that we can¡¯t always get what we want.¡± The Faceless Lord then took a few steps back before turning his head toward his second-in-command. ¡°Meet me at the Chamber of the Eight. We will need to make some¡­ arrangements.¡± Arrangements, Markus grunted at the word for it was another term used to describe a funeral. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in five,¡± the Captain of the Deathstalker, prompting both Thomas and Daniel to dash out of the Training Hall. Silence soon filled the chamber, so much so that the remaining five could hear the sound of their own heartbeats. ¡°What now?¡± Sam voiced his concern although he could already see the scowl on Markus¡¯s face ¨C a fervent expression the bearded man often wore when he was devising a plan of action. Sam wondered how his former mentor was going to prevent Theo from being executed considering the Empyreans got themselves into a rather dire situation. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± said Markus, his eyes burned with quiet determination. ¡°However, we will be breaking dozens of rules ¨C not to mention, putting ourselves in the crosshairs of two, or possibly three opposing parties.¡± Sam looked over to Lucy and Rupert who in turn gave him a solid nod. Then, he cast his vermillion eyes over to Marie; the wavy-haired woman was beaming at Markus as if she had already expected the Captain of the Deathstalker to come up with a scheme. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not the first time we break dozens of rules.¡± Sam sighed heavily. ¡°Let us hear this idea of yours.¡± 38th Fragment: -ENTWINED- ¡°I need you, Miss and Mr. Nightingale to go to the Opal Sun Kingdom right away. It will take a day for Mr. Nastur to mobilize his task force which means we have at least 24 hours lead to reach the Helians,¡± Markus explained. ¡°You want us to bring back the Helians and Theo? That is quite a tall order, Markus,¡± said Sam with a grimace on his face. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t say it would be easy.¡± ¡°But if we did bring them back here, then what?¡± Lucy asked as she shifted uncomfortably in her place. ¡°Even if the Empyreans can prove their innocence, Thomas seems pretty adamant to sacrifice the life of one person just to keep the residents of the Opal Sun at bay.¡± "The old man won''t do that, right? I mean¡­he can be a jerk sometimes, but he''s not THAT cruel?" Rupert retorted, hoping the lady in black would agree with him. Unfortunately for the elder Nightingale, his notion was quickly overturned by Marie''s wagging head. "Sadly, Mr. Nightingale, if you think Thomas is above being cruel, then you are gravely mistaken," Marie''s emerald eyes soon dropped to the floor as she quietly constructed the next sentences in her mind. "The man was born and raised during a turbulent period in Discordania''s history; second only to the Great Cataclysm. Furthermore, there was also The Usurpation - a misfortune that further exacerbated his paranoia and trust issues." "Ah, The Usurpation. Never thought I''ll be hearing that term again," Rupert exhaled loudly. "It happened a long time ago. Everyone had already moved on from that terrible incident - so, why shouldn''t that old grump do the same?" Lucy uttered before hearing heavy footsteps approaching her from behind. The trio turned around and saw Markus scowling and standing with both hands on his hips. "Why you asked?" Markus calmly inquired, prompting his former apprentices to stare intently at him. "The leader of The Usurpation; he was Thomas''s former student and a close friend of mine. Treated the guy like his own son, that old man did - his pride and joy." "Ian Kestrel was his name, right? Rumor has it that he was originally the next in line for the Faceless Lord position," said Sam. Even though he had already anticipated the question, Markus couldn''t help but grumble in return, "The rumor is indeed true Mr. Edelweiss. He was supposed to usher the Order into a new age of peace; until he rebelled against the previous Council of Eight." "Rebelled?" Marie let out a short laugh. "Come on now, Markus. There¡¯s no need to sugarcoat the truth. Ian Kestrel murdered Thomas''s predecessor - effectively throwing the Order into complete disarray. Not to mention he foolishly declared war on the Opal Sun Kingdom for refusing to support him in his ill-fated revolt. In short, that man nearly obliterated us, no offense." "None was taken, Miss Strelitzia. Actually, you summed up what happened perfectly." "Thank you. So, getting back to our previous discussion ¨C what do you intend to do after I sent these three to the eastern continent? I hope you¡¯re not trying to do something that could jeopardize our relationship with the Opal Sun Kingdom?" Marie smiled as she leaned her back against the wall, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Of course not," Markus responded, shaking his head from left to right. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Citadel instead. I have a few friends there and hopefully, with a bit of luck, I may find some evidence that could exempt the Empyreans from their punishment, or at the very least, reduce the severity of their sentences.¡± "Oh, dear. Why do I get this feeling that you''re going to break the rule again?" Marie remarked, her lips curved downward. "That''s because he IS planning to break the rule again," Sam asserted, and his claim was instantly confirmed when Markus darted his head around suspiciously - making sure there was no eavesdropper in the vicinity. "It won''t be breaking the rules if it is done discreetly,¡± Markus remarked, smiling from ear to ear. ¡°Miss Strelitzia, is there a way to transport people to the Land of the Opal Sun without alerting the security system?" Marie''s head tilted toward the floor, quietly mulling over Markus''s request. "There is, but you''ll have to give me a day." "Very well. You three," Markus shifted his attention to his former apprentices. "Just like I said earlier, I want you to investigate the whereabouts of Jason and the others. Use force, if necessary, but please do not kill them. We need them alive and in one piece if we''re to prove their innocence." "Hm, sounds easy enough," replied Rupert while casually scratching his chin. "Except that Daedalus will be a bit testy of our unexpected visit," Lucy continued. "You don''t need to worry about the Chief Consul. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be a bit busy settling affairs with the people of the Edge," Marie reassured the siblings. ¡°Deploying inexperienced fighters to go against the Empyreans; are you sure that''s a good idea?" Sam asked as he glowered at Markus. ¡°The last time you did that, we nearly got ourselves buried six feet under.¡± "I know what you''re thinking, but due to the current time constraint, it''s the only plan I could come up with, and the three of you are the only ones I could count on.¡± "Then, we''re expecting a hefty reward in return: my clearance to the Archive and the answers to their questions," Sam swiftly countered, pointing his thumb at the Nightingales. "Questions?" said Markus, glancing at the siblings. "I see. You are still searching for that man after all these years. Look, I''m not trying to dissuade you or anything, but it''s been almost a decade, and there hasn''t been a single sighting of this person with the Black Fire." "No, he''s not dead, if that¡¯s what you meant," Lucy responded sternly before squeezing her pulsing right shoulder. "I''m sure of it." "And then, what? You''re going to avenge your parents? Even if you found him, you have no idea the kind of power he wields. Haven''t I taught you that charging blindly into the battlefield is like offering your life freely to the blades of your enemies?" "Oh, I appreciate all the lessons you gave me; I really do. However, that still doesn''t change the fact that the murderer is still out there - escaping justice." "Justice," Markus shook his head in disbelief. " That aside, I''ll see what I can do about the ''man with the Black Fire''. I only ask that you don''t get your hopes up. Oh, and one more thing." "Yes, sir?" the trio replied simultaneously with perplexed looks on their faces. "Come to The Forge later in the evening. I¡¯ve instructed Mr. Lilium to begin making your new Core Blades." "Ah, finally! I''ve been waiting for this for a long time!" Rupert grinned cheerfully. "Your enthusiasm is understandable, Mr. Nightingale. However, the Coalescence is not to be taken lightly - every step - from the beginning to the end is crucial to ensure the longevity and the resilience of your Core Blades," Markus calmly elucidated. Seconds later, he lifted his right index finger and said, "One wrong move and you will have to start over - that, I don''t recommend you do." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "Huh? Why?" the elder Nightingale uttered with his arching eyebrows. "Wait, you didn''t know?" Lucy mouthed. "In order to forge our new weapons, we need to infuse some of our life essences into the Core Blades. The only way to do that is¡­um¡­by dipping our bare hands into the molten Spider Core." "Oh¡­wait. W-What!?" ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [The Edge, Opal Sun Kingdom] Laying his back on the grassy ground, Rudolph took a few short breaths as the chill spread throughout his body. The old soldier slowly tilted his head to the right; his tired eyes glaring at the Lacerator''s corpse impaled by his sword. He then pressed his hands against his bleeding stomach, slashed open by the monster next to him. ''This is it,'' Rudolph thought. He had expected his life to end on the battlefield but under better circumstances. Shortly after, the wounded man heard light footsteps approaching him, followed by sinister-sounding laughter. "Poor, poor Rudolph. Felled by the weakest of them all," Jason(?) scoffed the old soldier. "I can save you, you know? You just have to tell me the location of the Royal Crypt." "Even if I tell you about that place, what''s stopping you from killing me afterward? So, thanks for your offer." "Huh, you Opal Sun soldiers sure are living up to your reputation - stubborn...and doltish. Two traits that are also possessed by your beloved king," said the prince, causing Rudolph to glower in return. "Then, you should be aware...that his children also carried those same attributes. Sooner or later, they will break free from the spell you cast on them...and there will be a reckoning," Rudolph smiled triumphantly despite his waning strength. "Perhaps there will," replied Jason(?), shortly before pushing Rudolph''s hands aside to see the extent of the elderly man''s injury. The prince smirked as if he was entranced by the sight of warm, red blood spouting out of the soldier''s perforated belly. "Unfortunately, you won''t be around to see it," Jason continued, carefully slipping his fingers into the puncture wound. Rudolph gasped; his body twitched as the sharp pain intensified and overwhelmed his other senses. "Ooh, is that your liver? Or perhaps, your pancreas?" A few unintelligible words escaped Rudolph''s chapped lips - and then, there was total silence. Jason(?) yanked his hand out of the soldier''s body - his tangerine eyes were fixated on the blood dripping from his fingers. "Do you see this, Your Radiance? This good fellow''s death is on you," the prince(?) snickered menacingly. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| **??****************************************** [Four hours later¡­] [Training Hall, Tower of Nexus] After taking a deep breath, Sam stretched his right arm out with his palm facing the ceiling. A tiny ball of orange fire soon manifested over his hand; it hovered and flickered for a fleeting moment before turning into a puff of smoke. "Damn it," the man murmured, shaking his head in frustration. "Almost got it, my dude," said Rupert as he patted his friend on the back. "Just because you were able to do it the first time, it doesn''t mean you need to rub it in my face," Sam ranted before letting out a heavy sigh. "Perhaps you were subconsciously being too cautious of your ability," said Lucy. "Compared to my Hydrokinesis and my brother''s Aerokinesis, Pyrokinesis is considered one of the most difficult powers to master. Use too little stamina, and you''ll end up with a weak ass flame; use too rashly, and you''ll end up burning yourself to a crisp. For a Doomsday-level ability, one must not only perform an expansive area of effect attack, but they also need to make sure they didn''t harm themselves in the process."" "Oh, I see - now, wait a second. I thought being a Pyrokinetic makes you impervious to flame," Rupert remarked. "I wish that was the case," Sam grumbled. "But, my body can only tolerate up to about 1200¡ãC - more than that, and I will get a first-degree burn. I know - it''s ironic, but it is what it is." Then, the vermillion-eyed man wiped the soot sticking to his palm - preparing himself for the next attempt. He straightened his hand out, and a ball of fire instantly appeared, albeit much more stable than earlier. A tiny smile appeared across Sam''s face as a wave of satisfaction swept over him - until the flaming ball grew bigger on its own. "Uh, what are you doing?" asked Rupert as he stared nervously at the enlarging fireball. "I...I don''t know!" Sam gritted his teeth as he waved his hand around - trying to extinguish the scathing flame - but his effort was all in vain. The flame continued to increase in size; its color changed from deep orange to bright white. "Hold on," muttered Lucy as she snapped her finger, conjuring up a jet of cool water from thin air. A loud sizzle was heard as the blue stream hit the bright fireball - generating clouds of steam that gradually filled the Training Hall. "What the...?" the female Nightingale gawked as the flaming orb slowly rose into the air, seemingly unfazed by her action. "Wait, do you guys see that?" Rupert commented, pointing toward the floating flame. Sam and Lucy shifted their attention toward the fireball, their eyes narrowed. They initially didn''t see anything except for the undulating white tendrils. Seconds later, a silhouette appeared on the surface of the flame - a faint image of a hooded man holding a shortsword in his right hand. "Is this...a vision?" Lucy''s question broke the silence. "Or perhaps a vestige from a forgotten past," Sam added. The mysterious figure turned around to face the trio, and a breathy voice slipped out from underneath the hood, ''Do not look so surprised. You should have seen this one coming.'' At first, the trio thought the silhouette was talking to them - that was until they heard a male voice angrily respond, ''We are not executioners! We don''t go around deciding who lives or who dies! Our job is to eradicate the Distorted - not starting a fucking genocide!'' ''Has it ever crossed your mind what fate will befall us after we complete our mission? Will we be revered as the saviors of mankind, or be hunted like those monsters?'' ''Again with this nonsensical claim? What concrete evidence do you have that convinced you they will turn on us? None, correct? You''re justifying your whimsical action based on a hunch!'' The hooded figure shook his head, grunting as if he was disappointed by the prior response. ''Hope has blinded you, my brother. Humans; It is in their nature to fear the unknown, especially when it is something they couldn''t control - like us.'' ''So, the most sensible answer you can come up with is to kill those innocent villagers? Really? And why are you talking so strangely? Have you forgotten the fact that we are nothing more than mere mortals ourselves?'' ''Don''t get me wrong, I do not deny that we will one day perish and be returned to Mother Earth. I''m only questioning why we need to risk our lives defending those who will eventually antagonize us?'' ''You are only assuming that. As a matter of fact, you have only sealed our fate when you drove that sword into your first victim.'' ''Then, join me - stand by my side, just like the way I stood by yours when we fought against those Distorted together.'' Suddenly, the image of the two men faded away, followed by the white flame gradually shrinking in size. Then, the ball of fire disappeared with a tiny pop. "What...what the hell was that?'' Rupert stammered, still taken aback by the phenomenon. "A memory, but not of mine," Sam returned - his expression was a mix between distraught and confusion. "Sam? Are you alright?" asked Lucy concerningly. "No, I''m not. I''m getting tired of these visions. All they do is raise more questions instead of answering them," the vermillion-eyed man exclaimed. Sam crouched down to the floor, scowling. He felt like he had been running around in circles since his first encounter with the Veiled Lady. Lucy carefully took her place next to the troubled man and, with a gentle voice, said, "Perhaps the things I''m going to say will not bring you solace, but my mom used to say: ''The heavens work in a way our limited mind couldn''t comprehend. I was five when she first uttered those words; truth be told, I didn''t quite understand what she was trying to tell me. But, after what happened in the Disciples of the Vidia''s lair; how you snapped Lizzy out of her frenzy - I believe there is a good reason you''re getting those visions - a reason that we might not yet understand." "I appreciate it, Lucy. Unfortunately, I have no interest in ''discovering my true destiny''. All I want is to find out who I really am and where I came from - no more, no less," Sam calmly replied before getting to his feet. The female Nightingale followed suit shortly after, letting out a heavy sigh in the process. "Fine," said Lucy as her azure eyes darted toward the clock on the wall. "Come. I think it''s time for us to visit the Forge." 39th Fragment: -COALESCENCE- As soon as the trio reached the sixth floor, they could instantly hear the faint sound of pounding metals in the distance. Lucy, in particular, was frowning, but not because of the blaring noises. "Drat, I can already feel the heat from here," she ranted softly. "Huh? I thought you have no problem with high temperatures anymore," blurted Rupert, noticing the water beads forming on his sister''s forehead. "It''s the lack of moisture in the air that irked me the most - not the heat itself," Lucy replied, looking down only to see her collar drenched with sweat. In that instance, the thought of running away crossed her mind, but the only two things that prevented her from doing so were Markus''s promise and also her brother''s possible snarky remark. "You know what? Let''s just get this over with," the female Nightingale spouted before wiping her soaked face with her sleeves. "Are you sure? You''re looking rather pale," Sam said worriedly. ¡°As a matter of fact, you looked far more awful than when we were in the Desert of Ashes.¡± "Nothing I can do about it, I''m afraid. It''s just the stupid downside of being a Water Accursed." Shortly after Lucy expressed her discontent, a short, willowy woman appeared at the intersection, and her presence was quickly noticed by the trio. Clothed in a steel grey turtleneck and a pair of obsidian cropped pants; the woman''s entire head was wrapped with bandages except for her black pixie hair and shining ruby eyes. "Oh, it''s Amelia. Hey, Amelia!" Rupert cheerfully called out while waving both of his hands in the air. The thin woman shuddered as her name echoed throughout the corridor, resulting in Lucy scolding her brother in return, "Hey, don''t shout at her. Have you forgotten how jumpy she is?" The female Nightingale later walked up to Amelia and said, "Sorry about Rupert. He didn¡¯t mean to startle you." "N-No, I...I don''t mind. Um...," Amelia retorted, her voice barely audible. The timid woman awkwardly rubbed her hands together; as if she was uncomfortable by the sudden attention. "My brother is making some preparations for your arrival. It won''t take long - probably five minutes at most. I, uh...that is all I want to tell you," Amelia immediately turned around and scampered off in the direction of the Forge. "Oookay, that''s just plain weird," commented Rupert, scratching the back of his head. ¡°That¡¯s rude, you know? She just has a little difficulty talking with people other than her brother, that¡¯s all,¡± Lucy retorted. "After all these years, I see she still hasn''t gotten over her¡­condition. I''m amazed she passed her apprenticeship without any issues," Sam added. "After all she''s been through, can you really blame her?" Lucy sighed heavily. "What''s more impressive is that she wanted to be a Faceless on her own accord, despite her near-death experience with the Distorted. Then again, the Lilium bloodline is renowned for their perseverance - an admirable trait that can be terrifying at times." "Ah, that''s right," Sam bobbed his head, recalling a fascinating tale about the Order''s former members. "The legendary couple collectively known as the Immortal Walls. They''re Tim and Amelia''s parents, right?" "Yup," Lucy swiftly replied with a smile across her face. "Real monsters, those two were - I mean, in a good way. During the Second Great Conflict, they held off against hundreds of Distorted, including the Manglers and the Chimeras. Mother was there, and she saw it all ¨C the two warriors with their wound-ridden skins, immovable and resolute were they that their own souls refused to release their holds on their bloodied husks.¡± ¡°Hm, was that supposed to be a poem or something?¡± Rupert remarked. ¡°No, silly. That¡¯s how Mom used to describe Amelia¡¯s parents. Hang on a minute, you were there with me when she told us about the Immortal Walls. How come you don¡¯t remember?¡± ¡°Really? Huh, must have slipped my mind,¡± the elder Nightingale replied which made his sister grunt in annoyance. "GOD DAMN IT!" a raucous male reverberated throughout the corridor, promptly ending the exchange. However, what bothered the trio the most was the silence - specifically, the absence of the hammering noises from earlier. "This smelled like trouble. Come on," said Sam, followed closely by the Nightingales. As they drew nearer to the Forge''s entrance, the pungent odors of burning metals and coals penetrated their nose, causing their eyes to water at the same time. The trio also noticed that the steel door was slightly ajar, causing the scathing heat to slip out incessantly. "Ugh," Lucy groaned as her head throbbed painfully as if it was hit by a solid brick. Slightly lightheaded, the female Nightingale rested her right hand against the wall to prevent herself from falling to the floor. Sam and Rupert tried to lend a hand, but Lucy shook her head, softly declining their offers. "I''m fine. I just...just need to catch my breath," the woman responded. "Really? We haven''t gone inside, and yet, here you are, barely able to stand on your feet," Rupert chided, his arms crossed. CREAK! The trio''s eyes darted toward the Forge''s main door, only to see Amelia''s head pop out from between the crack. "Oh," the bandage-covered woman simply uttered before she slinked back into the room. A few seconds later, Amelia rushed out; in her hand was a transparent mask which she carefully put over Lucy''s nose and mouth. "I know it''s difficult, but please take a deep breath." Without any hesitation, the younger Nightingale did as she was instructed, and much to her surprise, she immediately felt revitalized. Her headache was simply gone ¨C so too was the heavy, suffocating sensation she felt all over her body. "What...what is this thing?" asked Lucy, puzzled by the mysterious new gadget. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Although reluctant at first, Amelia eventually explained to the trio about the device, "Stephanie called it the Reinvigorator. She designed it for the Faceless assigned to extreme environments. It''s still a prototype though - so it can only be used once." ¡°Wow, I might need one of these someday. Tell Steph, I said thanks.¡± "Well, that''s quite interesting and all, but we heard Tim yelling earlier. Does he need some help?" Rupert interjected. "Um, actually - no," Amelia retorted, ducking her head shyly. "My brother was only upset that his experiment didn''t go as planned - that is all.¡± ¡°Experiment?¡± said Sam, looking curiously at the bandaged woman. ¡°For the past few weeks, he¡¯s been having difficulties finding the correct composition between the Spider Core metal and the earth metals for his next project.¡± ¡°Is he working on a new metamorphosizing weapon?¡± Lucy interjected, causing Amelia to bob her head in affirmation. ¡°Yes. Since his last work ¨C Miss Liz¡¯s Headhunter ¨C he¡¯s been eagerly searching for new challenges. Fortunately, Markus found a job that was worth his attention, and he¡¯s been tearing his hair apart ever since.¡± ¡°It must be for someone important, then.¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Amelia answered without elaborating further on the subject. She turned around to face the Forge¡¯s main door, and with a serious-sounding voice, said, ¡°For your safety, please refrain from touching any of the tools inside. My brother is very particular about his stuff.¡± ¡°Duly noted,¡± Rupert stated with a grin on his face. ¡°I hope so because that''s a warning. For you.¡± ¡°A warning? For me?¡± ¡°Yes, the first and the last. Now, please, follow me.¡± ??******************************************** Led by Amelia, the trio entered the Forge and was greeted by the sight of a well-built youthful man with both eyes partially covered with his brunette, shaggy hair. Dressed in a black tank top, the young blacksmith restlessly paced back and forth in front of the scorching furnace. "Brother, they''re here," said Amelia, causing the man to stop dead in his tracks. "Ah, finally," the man replied, grinning mirthfully at his newly arrived guests. "Welcome to the Forge. Timothy Lilium, at your service, but I can tell you already know who I am." "Actually, we met three years ago when you handed us the Core Blades," Sam returned. "Did we?" Tim gazed heavenward, trying to recall the said encounter. A few moments later, a glint could briefly be seen underneath the blacksmith''s hair, followed by him snapping his sooty fingers. "Oh, yeah! The flamy-boy!" "Y-yeah," Sam stumbled, slightly flustered by Tim''s cheery attitude. Flamy-boy? That was the first time he had ever been called that. Then again, he had been called worst. "And you two - the Nightingales, isn''t it?¡± Tim continued to greet his remaining visitors. ¡°Glad to see you are still among the living. So, what business do all of you have with me today?" "They''re here for their new Core Blades," Amelia stated. "Ah, the Coalescence, how exciting. I assumed you''re prepared for what''s to come?" The trio glanced at each other, expecting one of them to answer. Instead, it was Amelia responding to the question, "Everything you heard about the process is true. For three full minutes, your hands will be submerged in the molten Spider Core, and from that same liquid, my brother will build your new Core Blades." "That sounds simple enough. What''s the catch?" Lucy inquired; her eyes narrowed. "The catch is that you don''t get to decide the shape, the length, and the size of your weapons - at least, consciously," Tim remarked. "I''ll spare you from the long details. All you need to know is that no harm will come to you when you dip your hands into the liquid metal. Fair warning though, it will still feel hot as hell." "Crap. There''s no other way, is it?" Lucy groused, still feeling the effect of the heat, albeit a little. "Oh, don''t be such a downer, sis. A little challenge won''t hurt you, right?" teased Rupert, much to his younger sibling''s annoyance. "Said the one that doesn''t have a weakness to high heat," Lucy lashed back. "Alright, that''s enough, both of you," Sam interrupted before his vermillion eyes settled on the blacksmith. "I think for our sakes, we should start the Coalescence right now." "GREAT!" exclaimed Tim, clapping his hands exuberantly. "Let me go melt some ores, and we can get started! Amelia, collect their old weapons and dump all of them into the crucible." **??****************************************** [20 minutes later...] With a pair of tongs, Tim cautiously fetched the metal container from inside the furnace and set it on top of a stone table. A deep blue glow emanated from the insides of the vessel, and the sound of the bubbling liquid metal could faintly be heard by everyone in the Forge. "Behold! The ichor of the cursed meteor that brought about the Cataclysm a century ago," the young blacksmith proudly declared. "Extremely lethal to the Reprieved - a whiff of its fume will melt their brains like cheese and turn their skins into charcoal. Fortunately for us, the metal is as harmless as the afternoon sun." "That...is still quite dangerous," Lucy asserted. "Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night. Now, who wants to go first? How about you, flamy-boy?" Sam could feel his heart drop after the young blacksmith pointed at him. Despite Tim''s assurance, the idea of dipping his limbs into the boiling lava was not only bizarre but also intimidating. He wondered, what if everything didn''t go as planned, and he''ll end up losing both of his hands? "You''ll be fine," said Tim, as if he was reading Sam''s worried thought. "People like us are made from sturdier stuff. A gift from above; that can sometimes be a pain in the ass." "A gift from above, huh? That¡¯s debatable, but in this case, you''re not wrong," Sam retorted; shortly before approaching the steaming crucible. The sight of the vessel''s content made the man tremble, but he removed his jacket nonetheless and slowly slid his hands into the basin. As Sam touched the molten metal, he felt some pricklings in his fingers, akin to a warm bath. However, it doesn''t take long for an intense, scalding sensation to spread throughout his body, causing Sam to whimper in pain. The man''s reflex immediately kicked in, but he soon found that he couldn''t pull his hands out of the container. Looking down, Sam watched in horror as the blue lava climbed up his forearms, enveloping them like cocoons. "What the hell is this?!" yelled Sam, glaring at the smiling blacksmith. "The Coalescence, of course, and you''re barely a minute in." 40th Fragment: -ABOMINABLE- ||| THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD: ADAM ||| [Somewhere in the Tundra, the Krio Zone] Adam trembled as a gust of wintry air blew against his face, making it difficult for him to keep his head straight. Although he was resistant to the frigid weather ¨C thanks to his heritage ¨C the relentless wind still vexed him - especially during a hunt. Frustrated, Adam shoved the spear into the snow-covered earth to wipe his frosty goggles. ¡®How long has he been out here ¨C in the vast, empty white field?¡¯ The man wondered to himself. He could not see the sun, let alone the clear blue sky, and yet, strangely enough, the monotonous voice of The Fenrir sprung into his mind. Even though it was not the first time Adam had heard the sole inmate of the Prison of the Four Winds express his discontentment, something about his latest threat did not sit well with him ¨C especially with the reemergence of the Cold Spots. ¡°He must be the one behind it. He has to be,¡± Adam murmured. The man gazed heavenward; brows knitted. With the unnatural yet, familiar squall around him, he felt a warm, fuzzy feeling growing inside his chest. ¡®Damn it, what is it now?¡¯ Adam muttered under his breath. The man quickly took a deep breath to calm himself; his right hand slipped into his jacket until he felt something hard pressed between his fingertips. Adam pulled his arm out, along with a snowflake-shaped pendant on a silver chain. ¡°What the¡­?¡± Adam spouted as soon as he saw a faint, bluish light radiating from the gem. The man grimaced for this was the first time he had seen the Will-o¡¯-the-wisp glowed. He only heard stories about how the light of the tiny gem signified the change in one¡¯s destiny ¨C the unraveling of one¡¯s path toward the future. ¡°Could this be¡­no, that¡¯s impossible,¡± Adam stated as his mind wandered off to The Prison of the Four Winds. ¡°That place is a fortress ¨C the first Alpine King made sure of it.¡± GRRRR! As soon as he heard the growling, Adam yanked the spear out and spun around - only to be greeted by the sight of multiple hunched silhouettes skulking in the blizzard. "Finally decided to make an appearance. What took you guys so long?" the man casually remarked. The storm eventually subsided, revealing five bipedal creatures standing in proximity to each other. Their bodies were as white as snow with razor-sharp icicles growing out of their brawny torsos - each of their heads resembled that of a boar, minus the eyes. Furthermore, the Distorted''s hands were similar to a bear''s, with the addition of exceedingly long talons capable of ripping through the thick snow and also, human bones. "Five Terrouges banding together - either they''re getting smarter, or...," the man in the parka did not even dare to utter the other possibility aloud as if it was proven true, a great calamity would befall the entire northern continent once again. Grasping the spear with both hands, Adam looked straight at his idle enemies; their blood-caked snouts twitched at the same time as if reacting to the man''s movement. Shortly afterward, four of the beasts instantly clawed their way into the snow, leaving one behind to confront the Faceless. Adam squinted his eyes suspiciously - wondering what the Distorted were scheming. "Why do you look so anxious, boy?" said the Terrouge out of the blue. "That voice...no¡­Fenrir? But, how?" Adam muttered in disbelief. A creepy sneer appeared across the creature''s face, revealing rows of yellowish-jagged teeth. "Being imprisoned for a thousand years gave me plenty of time to...try out new things. A blessing in disguise - as you humans often say," The Fenrir replied. ¡°Even if that¡¯s the case, the first Alpine King took everything into consideration when he constructed the prison, including telepathy.¡± ¡°The King is long gone, child. Even with the kind of power he had, it is not eternal. You should know this ¨C for every Kingdom on this earth was once thought to be everlasting, but that is far from the truth. Three of them met their ends ¨C even now, the last of the four is slowly rotting from the inside, impatiently waiting for its demise.¡± ¡°People learn from mistakes-.¡± ¡°But people are also forgetful,¡± the Terrouge interjected. ¡°You¡¯ve ingratiated yourself with them all these years and somehow, you¡¯ve learned nothing. You and I ¨C we are far superior to those frail, whiny Reprieved. They need us more than we need them.¡± "Then, it¡¯s safe to assume the Cold Spots were your doings. Figures," huffed Adam before pointing the tip of his spear toward the monster. ¡°What is your end game here, aside from demonstrating your superiority to the people of the valley?¡± ¡°My end game has never changed, child. It is always to seek revenge on the one who imprisoned me.¡± BOOM! Adam shuddered as the ground in front of him exploded, releasing a large white cloud everywhere - obscuring the man''s field of vision. Then, he saw a dark shadow in the corner of his eyes, prompting him to swing his weapon around. A loud thud was soon heard, followed by the raucous cry of the Terrogue. Adam swiftly tugged the spear, creating a trail of sticky black fluid that sizzled as it touched the snowy ground. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Well done. You''ve certainly improved your skill with the Core Blade. What was its name again? Rue?" The Fenrir taunted, much to Adam''s annoyance. "How about you stop with the folderol and show yourself?" the Faceless demanded. A brief moment later, another Terrouge leaped out from the thick fog with both of its claws extended. Adam reacted by raising his spear in a horizontal position and successfully blocking the pair of talons from reaching his neck. Instead of retreating, the Distorted opened its jaw and spat out a blast of ice shards that tore the Faceless'' hood into pieces. "Seriously? You did NOT just use an ice attack on me," said Adam; his ivory fringe hair exposed. Taking a deep breath, the man shoved the Terrouge away and drove his spear into its sturdy abdomen. The Distorted twitched as rime ice started to form around the stabbing site which then spread rapidly all over its body. Adam tugged his weapon out of the beast who slowly disintegrated into fine, white specks of dust. "This is getting old, Fenrir," the man commented as he snatched his frozen goggle off before crushing them with his bare hand. With his patience running thin, Adam spun the spear in his hand to generate a strong wind that blew away the mist - only to discover he was surrounded by dozens of ravenous Terrouges. "This is the end of the line, boy," the monsters spoke in unison; their voices echoed throughout the plain. "For you, perhaps. I don''t suppose you still remember the Verglas Tree, do you?" Adam retorted; his spear began to emit a navy-blue glow. All the Distorted bared their fangs, growling nervously at the mere mention of the words. "How peculiar. I never thought I''ll see the day when the Fanged Avalanche would feel fear - the same human emotion that he constantly ridicules on a daily basis," the man in the parka added, which caused all the Terrouges to charge toward him. Adam quickly held his spear in a vertical position and plunged its butt firmly into the snow. The Distorted stopped dead in their tracks as soon as they saw ice branches sprout and proliferated rampantly from the spear''s metallic shaft. One by one, the offshoots skewered the Terrouges; their bulky bodies lifted high into the air with their blood raining down from each of the crystalline branches - turning the desolate white landscape black. "Urgh!" Adam groaned as he fell to his knees, sweating and panting. The Verglas Tree - he had underestimated the consequences of using the devastating technique. The man darted his head around to make sure there were no escapees - as he was now a sitting duck - vulnerable and weak. "Impressive. I expected nothing less from the descendant of the Alpine Queen," coughed one of the Terrogues hanging on the ice tree before letting out a peal of short, croaky laughter. "Man, you really don''t know when to shut up, do you?" said Adam, glaring at the dying creature. With the support of the spear, the man got up to his feet, but he suddenly felt shivers running down his spine. "Fenrir," the Faceless blurted; his electric blue eyes widened as soon as he saw a small, childish figure in a white cloak approaching him. A pre-adolescence boy with skin as pale as a corpse and snowflake-like texture - his garnet eyes shone brilliantly under the evening sky. Adam frowned as the youth bore an uncanny resemblance to him when he was younger, except for a few garnet streaks on his milky hair. "Don''t look too surprised, Salvia. We both knew this day would eventually come sooner or later," said the boy with a blank expression. ¡°H-How?¡± Adam stammered. ¡°How are you here? I¡¯ve inspected the entire Prison ¨C there was no sign of a breach.¡± ¡°Have you already forgotten what I said?¡± The Fenrir let out a sinister chuckle. ¡°You might not have realized it, but the Alpine King¡¯s power has been weakening every year. All I had to do was bid my time.¡± Adam¡¯s head tilted slightly to the left as he began pondering quietly on The Fenrir¡¯s statement. ¡°No, you¡¯re lying,¡± the man retorted, causing the pale boy¡¯s eyes to narrow. ¡°The Prison of the Four Winds is never dependent on the power of the Alpine King. It relies on another power source ¨C it always does.¡± ¡°Oh? And how do you know about this¡­ another power source?¡± ¡°Every Sentinels know about it ¨C including me. You of all people should know better than to lie to a Sentinel. So, who was it? Who broke you out? Was it someone from the Wintry Valley?¡± The Fenrir grinned from ear to ear, exposing rows of pearly white teeth. ¡°Do not worry. If it makes you feel better, none of your people betrayed you.¡± ¡°Then, who was it that set you free? Tell me!¡± Adam demanded. ¡°An enemy of my enemy. Like me, they saw you and your Order as a nuisance ¨C a blemish that should be wiped out a long time ago ¨C just like the previous Alpine Queen.¡± Adam could feel his jaws tighten up shortly after; he swiftly fixed his grip on his spear as both of his hands started to tremble ¨C but, not from the cold. Furthermore, he could feel the weight of his body pulling him down with each passing second. ¡°You looked tired, child,¡± the Fenrir remarked smugly. ¡°I assume the Verglas Tree must have consumed most of your stamina. I can¡¯t really blame you ¨C it has always been a tricky technique to master.¡± ¡°Oh, would you just shut up? If you¡¯re going to kill me, then do it,¡± Adam snapped at the boy. "Well, someone¡¯s eager about dying," the boy countered before walking up to the exhausted man until their faces were an inch apart. "You know, I had considered letting you live at first just so you could witness the destruction of your people. However, after much deliberation - finishing you off right now will prevent and eliminate any future inconveniences, which in my opinion, is a far better solution," The Fenrir further explained before thrusting his right hand into the Faceless'' chest. The man immediately shuddered. An icy cold sensation filled his lungs and intensified with each breath he took. With the remaining strength he had, Adam clenched his spear, causing the Verglas Tree to shatter into pieces. The Fenrir shuffled backward as the Terrouge''s corpses fell between him and the Faceless, providing Adam enough time and room to escape. "Don''t think you''re getting away from me!" the entire plain quavered from Fenrir''s thunderous roar. A few seconds later, the snow on the ground drifted toward the boy, swirling around and steadily growing in size until it towered over the tundra. "Shit," was the only word Adam managed to utter before the colossal pile of snow crashed down on him. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD ||| 41st Fragment: -TENEBROUS- "Less than a minute left! You''re doing great!" said Tim, grinning mischievously at the trio. Standing across the young blacksmith was Sam, who was squirming in agony. Both his arms were still inside the crucible - the blue bubbling lava refused to release its searing grip on the man. "It''s nearly time," Amelia calmly asserted before pushing her hands against the man''s back. All of a sudden, a burgundy-red gleam radiated out of the container that lit the entire Forge in an instant. "Now!" Tim instructed, and his sister quickly pulled Sam away from the vessel. Using only his bare hands, the blacksmith tossed the vessel into the furnace that soon released sweet-smelling fumes into the surrounding, akin to the scent of benzoic resin. "Wow. That¡­that went better than I expected," Tim remarked. "What?! What do you mean it went better than you expected?!" Sam lashed back. Despite the pain and the steam rising from his arms, he noticed that his skin was relatively unharmed by the crude process. ¡°Well, in some rare cases, the participants would suffer from a third-degree burn.¡± Sam and the Nightingales¡¯ eyes widened at the same time. ¡°But, it is just as I said,¡± Tim continued. ¡°They are rare occurrences. The last time it happened was¡­what? Fourteen or fifteen years ago?¡± ¡°That still doesn¡¯t change the fact that it happened,¡± Lucy replied with a scowl on her face. "Oh, Miss Nightingale. Has anyone ever told you that you worried too much over petty things? After all, what is life without a dash of surprise once in a while? Sure, it can be a bit aggravating at times but then again, we only have one chance in life.¡± ¡°Ah, see? Tim gets it,¡± Rupert snapped his fingers as he gleefully agreed to the blacksmith¡¯s little speech. Burying her face into her palms, Lucy exhaled before murmuring, ¡°You idiot ¨C you just walked straight into that.¡± ??******************************************** [30 minutes later¡­] As Tim placed the third and final metal vessel into the furnace, both the Nightingale siblings fell on their backs at the same time. "Ow, Ow! Freaking heck, it seems Sam wasn''t exaggerating with his reaction," Rupert groaned as he cradled both of his arms. "Of course, he wasn''t," Lucy retorted as she sat herself up. Her arms were still smoking, producing a briny tang akin to the sea breeze. Her brother, on the other hand, smelled like freshly mown grass in the summer - a scent that made her feel slightly nauseous. "So,¡± Tim interjected before picking up a hammer with a worn-out red handle from the nearby anvil. "I heard you¡¯re going against the Empyreans. I don¡¯t know whether to call you lucky or otherwise. If I were you, I would try to avoid a direct confrontation with them," the blacksmith added. "Well, we are tasked to bring those three back here, and judging from the recent incident, a direct confrontation is pretty much unavoidable," Sam replied. "Ah, the massacre at the Edge. That was quite saddening. I¡¯m not sure if what I said is gonna help you, but if you want to have the slightest chance of defeating the Empyreans, then I advise you separate them from their weapons ¨C and also from each other,¡± Tim casually suggested. "Oh, that''s right! You made their Core Blades as well, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lucy recalled. ¡°I did. The Three Friends of Twilight, as I called them,¡± the blacksmith answered proudly. ¡°They are some of the toughest Core Blades I have ever worked on. Those three requested so many things but somehow, me and my sister managed to pull it off.¡± ¡°Then, I don¡¯t suppose you could tell us about what they can do? Anything¡¯s fine,¡± the young Nightingale inquired. ¡°Hm, I don¡¯t know much about their fighting style,¡± Tim grumbled. ¡°But, their Core Blade, however:¡± ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "That Theo guy wields a pair of identical longswords with turquoise handles. They are collectively known as The Severed Lovers - if I remember correctly, one was Altair, while the other was Vega. But, what''s unique about those pair is there was something else added to them ¨C a rare metal that can only be found in the land of the Sapphire Star. Ambitite, as the locals called it. It is a peculiar ore that attracts when they''re far away from each other but repels if they''re too close. Overall, that metal was a pain to work with." "For Princess Ariadne - she also has two Core Blades: A white-handled saber called the Brainbiter, and Nightfall, an all-black longbow. Both of them are designed to be much lighter than a standard sword but sturdy enough to cut through a boulder. Furthermore, the princess'' bow is fitted with two curved blades as their limbs - in case of a sudden need for a close combat encounter." "Now, on to the prince himself - his Core Blade is a standard-size rapier known simply as Light. Compared to Theo and Ariadne, the only modification he requested was, as I quote, ''a sword that can be balanced on one finger''. Not sure why he wanted that, but hey, it''s not my place to ask questions." "I guess...that¡¯s all?" \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ "Hmm," Sam grumbled for a brief second before responding, "Thanks, Tim. That was certainly an invaluable insight.¡± "Really?¡± Rupert blurted out before his sister elbowed him in the chest. ¡°Don''t get too cocky just because you took down an Antlion. Have you already forgotten about our scuffle with Lizzy? The same fight where you nearly lose your legs? " Lucy sternly reminded her older sibling. "Ahem," Amelia jumped into the conversation, "I didn''t mean to interrupt but, brother, the Spider Core metals are ready to be shaped." "Ah, finally! Then, my dear sister, would you please escort our guests out while I work on their weapons?" Tim politely instructed. Amelia nodded before guiding the trio to the main entrance. As the petite woman pushed the door open, she turned around to face Sam and said, "Please don''t stray too far from the Forge. It won''t take long for my brother to finish your Core Blades." KLINK! KLANK! BANG! The Forge quivered as the furnace exploded, spewing out a black cloud of smoke everywhere. "Ah, shit. Not again," Tim bleated before tossing his hammer onto the table. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. "I¡­I stand corrected. Just leave the rest to me and Tim. Um, if you''ll excuse me," Amelia exhaled. **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Forest of the Bandit Lord, Land of the Opal Sun] Theo(?) grabbed the unconscious Royal Guard by the neck and dragged him toward Jason. The bespectacled man proceeded to throw the armored man to the ground before giving him a kick in the stomach. "Augh!" the guard yelped, both eyes wide open. "Rise and shine, soldier," Jason(?) said calmly. "W-What? Who? W-Where am I?" "Get up! Now!" Theo(?) exclaimed, sitting the disoriented man on his knees. The guard raised his head and noticed the Opal Sun Prince approaching him with a bloody rapier in his right hand. He instinctively tried to reach for his own sword but soon found out the scabbard strapped to his waist was empty. "I wonder what is it that you''re planning to do? Fight me? And then what?" the prince scoffed. With a flick of his wrist, Jason pressed the tip of the rapier against the guard''s throat and continued, "Is it worth it risking your life for this decaying Kingdom? Your beloved king is useless; even his regent turned a blind eye to the bigotry of his ministers. Honestly, it is actually quite sad ¨C no, almost comical really - to see the prince and the princess struggling to fix the mistakes of their greedy elders." "W-Why are you telling me this? Is it not enough that you used the prince''s body to kill my comrades and the civilians? Now you''re insulting my king?" the guard hurled back. "Insulting? No, I''m merely stating the fact. The Sapphire Star, the Diamond Wolf, and the Land of Mystica; their downfall was perpetrated by their ineptitude rulership. Guess who is in that similar situation now?" The guard opened his mouth to protest but closed it shortly after. He dropped his gaze, unable to deny the truth in the prince''s blunt words. Noticing the distraught look on the man''s face, Jason(?) drew his rapier away. "Fortunately, I can offer the solution to your problem. You want the Inner Circle gone, correct? I can do that - for a price, of course," the prince(?) proposed, grinning from ear to ear. "A price?" huffed the armored man, glaring irately at Jason(?). "The exact location of the Royal Crypt. I know it''s somewhere in this forest, and I believe that a person like you ought to know how to find it." "No," the guard instantly replied, shaking his head anxiously. "Even if I know, I will never tell you." SMACK! A fist shot out of nowhere and hit the guard in the face, causing him to cough out warm red blood. "That wasn''t a question," said Theo before punching the man in the cheek. "You don''t understand. That Crypt is forbidden to all except for the Royalties and the Inner Circle - the Chief Consul will have me executed." "Did you listen to what I said? I can solve your problem - provided that you solve mine," Jason(?) responded, extending his right hand at the guard. "So, do we have a deal?" The armored man wiped his bleeding lips, and his eyes darted at the prince(?). The man inhaled deeply before giving his answer, "No. I won''t do it - not at the cost of the House of Helians'' name." "I see. That''s too bad. Then again, I don''t exactly need you to physically point the way." Jason placed his hand on the guard''s head; the latter''s body started to tense up as a jolt of electricity ran down his spine. "Now, just sit tight and relax," Theo(?) whispered into his right ear. The guard gasped as an excruciating pain rushed into his head - as if someone pried open his skull and clawed into his brain. A few moments later, hundreds of images flashed before his eyes - the Guards'' barrack, the pearly white wall of the Opal Sun fortress, and the smiling faces of his fallen comrades. "S-Stop," the man pleaded, just as the scenery changed to the Raid of the Edge. Once again, he watched in horror at the savagery of the Distorted, they indiscriminately mutilated and devoured every living thing - including his friends. Their bloodcurdling screams filled the air as the monsters tore them to pieces, feasting ravenously on their dying corpses. "NO! STOP!" the guard continued to beg, but his request fell on deaf ears. As he tried to push the prince(?) away, Theo swiftly grabbed both of his arms and popped them out of their sockets. Jason(?) sneered as the guard howled in agony, prompting the former to playfully remarked, "See? That''s what happens when you''re not relaxed." The prince(?) later tightened his grip on the man''s head, skimming through the images inside the guard''s mind until a certain picture appeared ¨C an image of a spool-like object with cherry red thread wound around it. ¡°Interesting. So, that¡¯s how you get around. I wonder¡­¡± The prince(?) released his hold and began searching the armored man. ¡°A-ha!¡± Jason exclaimed before pulling out the spool from the guard¡¯s back pocket. ¡°There you are. That wasn¡¯t so hard, was it-Oh dear," said the prince(?) after spotting trails of blood dripping from the motionless guard''s mouth and nose. "It seems I¡¯ve accidentally fractured your mind. Meh, it''s not like I have any use for you anymore. Farewell, good soldier, and thank you for your service." After giving one last pat on the catatonic man''s shoulder, Jason(?) and Theo(?) left the area to resume their search for the Royal Crypt. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| ****??**************************************** [Meanwhile...] [Outside the Forge, Tower of Nexus] "What do you think my Core Blade will be called?" Rupert asked, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Hm? How should I know?" "Well, I hope it''ll be a really cool name; one that could rival Markus''s Absolute End or Rowanna''s Mortal Pain." "Or it could be a silly name like Blockhead or Scatter-brained," Lucy blurted, causing her elder sibling to burst out laughing. "Jokes aside," Sam interjected, "Back at the Disciples'' Lair - when I got my arm cut open - you were staring at the Distorted''s corpses as if you were in a stupor. What''s up with that?" "Did I? Can''t remember," replied Rupert, shrugging his shoulders. "I do," Lucy returned with a solemn look on her face. "And I know what it was. Bloodlust - the bothersome curse of the Nightingale clan; said to appear once every 10 generations." "Bloodlust? That sounds...concerning," Sam retorted, his left eyebrow raised. "It''s not as bad as you thought, okay? I just got...lost in thought once and a while - that''s all," Rupert casually explained. "It wasn''t just that, Rupe. Recently, you''ve become addicted to combat - to conflict," Lucy rebuked. "Perhaps you haven''t noticed, but your thirst for battle has become rather worrisome to the point it became nearly unquenchable." "That''s ridiculous! If you''re implying that I''m losing control of myself, then you''re clearly wrong. I admit that I can be rather impulsive and a pain in the ass sometimes; that does not mean I''m going crazy," whined Rupert. "You, on the other hand," the elder Nightingale proceeded to change the subject, "When will you learn that you''re simply wasting your life away for your quest for vengeance?" Baring her teeth, Lucy snapped back, "I''m trying to bring our parents'' murderer to justice - to make him pay for his crime! Is that so hard for you to understand?" "And how you''re gonna do that, my dear sister? This perpetrator has successfully eluded the Order for many years - for all we know, this guy might already be dead. So, that makes you the bigger blockhead ''cause you''re chasing a ghost." Suddenly, Lucy yanked his brother by the collar and shoved him against the wall. "Just because you have given up; doesn''t mean I should do the same. I won''t stop until I see that man''s lifeless body with my own two eyes, even if he was buried six deep under," muttered the female Nightingale. "Huh, here I thought I was the only one carrying our clan''s little curse," Rupert chuckled. "Let''s drop the ''seeking for justice'' charade and be honest with one another. You never intended to bring him in alive, did you?" "Tsk, look who''s talking nonsense now?" Lucy replied before freeing her brother. "Are you two done?" said Sam, who has been watching quietly from the sideline. Rupert and Lucy exchanged a look with each other. "For now," the elder Nightingale responded in unison. CREAK! The Forge''s front door swung open and Amelia slid out, looking quite restless. "Your weapons are done," she announced but immediately paused after noticing the Nightingales scowling at each other. "Um, did something happen?" "No worries. It was just a, um...minor siblings'' quarrel," Sam explained. "Now, let''s see what your brother made for us." 42nd Fragment: -CHRYSALIS- Led by Amelia once again, the trio trotted toward the furnace; at the same time, Tim pulled out three grey objects of various sizes from the inferno. The blacksmith proceeded to toss them onto the stone table before wiping the ashes sticking to his hands. "Ah, you''re finally here! Come! Come closer!" Tim said gleefully, gesturing his head at the spots across the table. Sam and the Nightingales were hesitant at first - primarily due to their prior experience with the Spider Core metal. But eventually, they heeded Tim''s instruction. "So, what do you think?" Tim spouted, pointing his finger at three elongated rocks lying on the table. "Spectacular, aren''t they?" "They''re rocks. What so spectacular about them?" Rupert remarked indifferently. "Not just any rocks. They''re Chrysalises - the igneous cocoons of the Core Blades," Lucy retorted, her eyes sparked with astonishment. "Quite right, Miss Nightingale. Hidden inside each of these are your brand-new weapons, and they are itching for their first battle," the blacksmith added. "Now, to break them free from their transitional phase; just simply put your hand on the rocks. I know what you''re thinking, but I swear - on my life that nothing will happen to you this time." "Well, that''s good to hear. Then, let''s crack this sucker open!" said Rupert as he leaned against the stone table; at the same instant, the young blacksmith took a few steps back from the elated man. "Wait, why are you moving away from us?" asked Sam, but his question was later answered when Rupert rested his palms on one of the rocks. For a brief moment, the lukewarm mineral emitted a faint blue glow before it crumbled into a pile of black sand. The elder Nightingale grinned in silence as his sky-blue eyes noticed a glint buried underneath the granules. "Would you look at that?" Rupert murmured, his hands instinctively dug into the heap - much to his sister''s and Sam''s surprise. Seconds later, the exuberant man lifted his arms, brandishing a new pair of kama. Compared to his previous weapons, his current ones have a cobalt blue body adorned with helical gold and an obsidian curved blade. "Now, this is what I''m talking about. Guess submerging my hands in that molten lava was worth it after all," Rupert snickered. "Superb, Mr. Nightingale," Tim stated. "I present to you the Death''s Whisper, the current Lord of the Four Winds; designed to be much lighter and sharper than its predecessor. Furthermore, they also have a secret feature which might be useful for you in battle - a feature that only you can unlock." "Cool! Thanks for letting me know." "Are you sure it is wise to spoil my brother? The first time he got his Core Blade, he nearly blew up the entire second floor," muttered Lucy, her arms crossed. "Now, that''s quite an understatement. He almost obliterated the Order''s research lab which will totally destroy the entire Tower," Sam added. "Oh, jeez. I told you dozens of times that it was an accident," Rupert complained. "I just got...overly excited; You know how I am when I''m overly excited." Lucy lets out a short, snarky laugh before replying, "Not to the Captain of the Ironclad. Last I heard, he chased after you with his war hammer in hand. If it wasn''t for Markus'' intervention, you would be lying on your back with your head split open." "Nah, Alex won''t do that. He was just trying to scare me off - that''s all. Right, Tim?" Rupert turned to the blacksmith who only respond with a quiet shrug. "I hope you''re right,'' the youngest Nightingale exhaled. She then walked up to the table and placed her hands on the craggy object; thus, repeating the events her brother experienced prior - except the rock melted into a puddle of wax - revealing a black handle dirk with a transparent blue edge. Lucy grumbled at the sight of the sticky liquid, but to her relief, the grey goo seemed to steer clear of her new weapon. She later picked her Core Blade up, and already she could feel the sheer difference in its weight. "This looks a bit fragile; don''t you think?" Lucy blurted out. "Yet, it is 10 times stronger and lighter than your previous weapon; unique properties only possessed by your new Core Blade, The Dragons of the Lake." "Dragons of the Lake, huh? I like the sound of that," the female Nightingale countered while holding the dagger-like an ice pick. "Glad to hear that. Now, Mr. Edelweiss," said Tim, pointing his right hand at the last rock. "It''s your turn." Sam narrowed his eyes, feeling a tad suspicious at the blacksmith''s eagerness. After observing the Nightingales, the vermillion-eyed man was convinced that the way the Chrysalises broke open depended on the individual''s ability. "I think it''s better if the both of you distanced yourselves from the table," Sam asserted which perplexed the siblings. "You said that as if this piece of the slab is going to explode when you touched it," Lucy said jokingly. However, she soon realized Sam was serious after noticing the scowl forming on the man''s face. "It happens once in a while," Tim suddenly jumped into the conversation. "As you can see earlier, the Shedding differs from one person to another. In most cases, the reaction is more...uh, subdued; the remaining few, on the other hand, can be quite volatile." "How ''volatile'' are we speaking here?" Lucy inquired. "Let''s just say there''s a reason why the Forge and the Infirmary are on the same level," Tim casually replied. "But, if it''ll make you feel better, we haven''t had any casualties since the formation of the Order." "That''s...reassuring," Sam retorted, setting his gaze on the last piece of rock. Then he felt a pat on his left shoulder; it was Lucy with a warm smile across her face. "Don''t worry. We''re not going anywhere," she said. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "Oh, that''s so sweet of you!" Rupert exclaimed. "Shut it!" Lucy countered her brother before shifting her attention back to Sam to continue her short speech, "All I''m trying to say is you shouldn''t concern yourself about us. We''re a lot tougher than you think." Sam stared at Lucy for a couple of seconds as if in disbelief over what he had just heard. "I see. Thanks, and uh...I''m sorry," he stated. "For what?" asked Lucy. "For underestimating you. Both of you." "Nah, don''t sweat it," Rupert said in return. "But man, you really need to lighten up a bit. You are always so gloomy every time you had one of those bad dreams." "They''re visions, Rupe. But you''re right - I shouldn''t have lashed out at you earlier. Still and all, I think I''ve been stalling for far too long," Sam sighed regretfully. With his mind focused solely on the final Chrysalis, Sam slowly and cautiously set his hand on the jagged object. The entire rock cracked, releasing a brilliant seven shades of red fire that lit up the Forge. Sam staggered backward, initially thinking the burning Chrysalis was about to explode. However, to his astonishment, the rock disintegrated into ashes - revealing a typical-looking katana with a scarlet, hexagonal guard and a flame-shaped design carved on the former. Sam grabbed the sword and noticed its blade exhibiting a vein-like pattern on its surface when viewed at an angle. "Beautiful, isn''t it? Your sword might be one of the most challenging weapons I''ve had the chance to work on - probably second to Jason''s rapier. Compared to your previous and flawed Core Blade, your new partner there can withstand the blazing heat of the sun itself; and also, the freezing wind of the Alpine!" Tim gleefully explained. "That...sounded a bit too specific," replied Sam before adding, "Either way, you have my thanks - no - OUR thanks." "Ah, no need. Promise me one thing: take care of your Core Blades - make sure you don''t damage them beyond repair." "Why? Can''t you whip up a new one?" Rupert queried while playfully tossing one of his sickles into the air. "It''s not about whether he can or otherwise," Lucy interrupted. "Haven¡¯t you learned anything in the Academy? The Coalescence took a minuscule part of our souls and fused them into our Core Blades.¡± "Okay? So, what? If it¡¯s broken, then just repeat the process all over again,¡± Rupert confidently answered. "That is easier said than done, Mr. Nightingale," Tim giggled. The blacksmith pulled out a thumb-sized black stone from his back pocket and laid it on the table. "The Spider Core is what I would say a fickle little metal, you see? Leave it out in the open like this, and you''ve got yourself this useless tiny rock. But-," Tim snatched the hammer strapped to his waist and with a single swing, smashed the stone into two. The trio stood in awe as soon as they caught a glimpse of the kaleidoscopic ore''s heart - its dazzling colors constantly changed with each passing second. Despite that, its octagonal, web-like motif remained - that was until the little rock started to melt. "As you can see when the ore is split open, it immediately turns to liquid, and it will stay in this state - never to solidify again. This is where the Coalescence comes in." "Hah, what do you mean?" the elder Nightingale scratched his chin, puzzled by Tim''s last statement. "Well, for unknown reasons, the Accursed''s soul perfectly acts as a bonding agent for this capricious metal. That''s why The Coalescence is a crucial step in the creation of the Core Blades. Unfortunately, the process can only be done once because, as Miss Nightingale might have implied, our souls cannot regenerate. Take too much, and you''ll only hasten your date with Death himself. That is why every Core Blade is precious and must be given the utmost care." "Then again, we learned about that during our time in the Academy," Lucy interjected, glaring at her older sibling. "Give him a break, Luce. We both know studying is not his best suit," said Sam. "Yup, that''s right! Wait, you were mocking me, were you?" Rupert grimaced at his friend''s blunt remark. "Of course not," Lucy huffed sarcastically, "Why would he ridicule the famous Antlion Slayer? That would be utterly cruel." CLAP! The trio''s exchange abruptly ended at the sound of Tim slapping his palms together. "Even though I''m glad to see the three of you are in a great mood again, I highly suggest you take your conversation outside where it''s much more comfortable - and safer," the blacksmith commented before his head darted toward Sam. "Oh, and one more thing Mr. Edelweiss. Your sword - whether it is coincidental or on purpose - its name...is Scarlet Coda." ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF LUMINESCENCE: VALERIE ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Isle of Light] The Gaze of Lux - a lone tower stood in the middle of the snow-covered Isle of Light, a small island located east of the Krio Zone. The structure was made with hundreds of flawless marble white bricks ¨C each was arranged perfectly in place and had stayed that way for nearly a millennium. Its spire was clad with black steel that reflected the moonlight like a mirror. The walls, on the other hand, were absent of any windows ¨C only a single, reinforced door laid near the base of the tower. In front of the same door was a tall figure shrouded in an ivory robe with a golden meander pattern sewn to the edge of the cowl. A sigh could be heard shortly before the hood was pulled down, revealing a young woman with bright fawn skin and long, cotton-white hair. Her upturned eyes were of different colors; butter yellow on the left while the right was arctic blue ¨C but both of them were focused on a pall of black cloud casting over her head. ¡°Another omen,¡± a breathy, feminine voice slipped out from between the woman¡¯s rosy pink lips. ¡°That makes it thrice this week.¡± The woman¡¯s attention then shifted toward the entrance; a grimace appeared on her face as she heard a faint screeching from beyond the door. Without any delay, she barged into the tower and the first thing she saw was a large, bladed crystal emitting multiple shades of colors that lit up the entire vacant hall. ¡®Valerie¡­¡¯ The woman fidgeted as soon she heard her name spoken by the crystal. ¡®Please¡­put an end to me¡­¡¯ ¡°Enough!¡± The entire crystal quivered at the mere sound of Valerie¡¯s outburst, so much so that the transparent mineral returned to its original color ¨C a shade of alabaster white. The woman finally took a deep, long breath to recompose herself. She could not believe it at first, but it happened in front of her very eyes ¨C The Merging, an event where the Three Realms attempted to fuse with each other which would be catastrophic. ¡°It seems Ghoul was right, yet again. The Three Realms are indeed getting unstable,¡± Valerie exhaled. ¡°Darn it, I hate it when that old sage is right.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF LUMINESCENCE ||| 43rd Fragment: -CLOVEN- ||| THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| [Forest of the Bandit Lord, Land of the Opal Sun] After hours of traversing the woods, a triumphant smile finally appeared across Jason''s(?) face. Finally, he found it. The Cerulean Mausoleum, the crypt of the Opal Sun Kingdom''s former monarchs. Its roof was completely shrouded with thick tree branches, rendering it nearly invisible from above. While at the same time, a dense thicket surrounded the structure, perfectly obscuring it from outsiders - until now. ¡°Hm, it¡¯s much smaller than I thought,¡± Jason commented. THUD! Jason(?) and Theo(?) turned their heads toward the sound, only to see Aria(?) approaching them from the shadows. "The horde retreated, and as expected, the Royal Guards are currently preoccupied with the aftermath. They won¡¯t be bothering us for a while," the princess(?) reported. "Good," Jason(?) replied, drawing out his rapier, and placing the sharp tip on the double stone door. A large yellow sunflower symbol appeared on the blue surface, emitting a faint glow that momentarily brightened the darkening forest. The main door slowly swung open, revealing a staircase leading down to the mausoleum''s inner sanctum. "At last...," the prince(?) smirked. ¡°Now, to get that precious little thing.¡± "Urgh!" Theo(?) exclaimed as he lurched away from the Helians. The bespectacled man held his throat with both hands before he began coughing out a puddle of black sludge, prompting Jason(?) to turn his attention to his companion and grumbled, "Ah, it seems this one''s fortitude is much stronger than I initially thought." "You''re...goddamn...right¡­imposter," the captain of the Royal Guard wheezed. After wiping the goo oozing from his nostrils and mouth, Theo lifted his head, scowling directly at the prince(?), "And you shouldn''t underestimate those two either." "Huh. You say that and yet, look who broke free from my hold first. If your noble prince cares so much for his subjects, he should have prevented me from harming those two guards. It makes me wonder whether this man you painstakingly try to protect is even worth it." "He is. You''re the one who is too short-sighted to see his brilliance. No, their brilliance," Theo blurted out with a grin. Jason''s(?) eyes widened as soon as he felt the air behind him shifting. With his rapier in front of his face, the prince spun around to block Aria''s incoming saber. "YOU¡­BASTARD!" the princess yelled before kicking her brother in the stomach, sending the possessed man flying into the grove. Aria spat the remaining slime in her mouth as her eyes gradually returned to their former tangerine color. "Blegh! That tasted like shit!" "You shouldn''t curse, Your Radiance. It''s...well...unladylike," Theo remarked. "Save it for later. We have a bigger problem, in case you haven''t noticed," Aria replied; seconds before Jason(?) emerged from the grove. "Not bad," said the prince, cracking his neck. "Not bad at all. ¡°You¡­I saw what you did with my brother¡¯s body. You killed Rudolph!" ¡°Rudolph? Oh, you mean that old soldier? Well, he was dying anyway. All I did was relieve him from his pain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just dodging the blame!¡± Aria countered fiercely. ¡°Now, give Jason back to us!¡± After hearing the request, Jason(?) let out a burst of sinister-sounding laughter. "You are in no position to make demands, little princess. If you think you''ve escaped my shackles, you are completely wrong." Aria gasped as her head started pounding once more, triggering a pain so excruciating her vision began to waver. The princess immediately gave herself a slap on the cheek - a gesture that surprised both Jason(?) and Theo. "I may have not escaped your shackles, but I have still time to kick your butt and shut off the mausoleum''s door," Aria stated confidently. "Kick my butt, huh? Hm, you know what? Perhaps you two will be more useful to me when you are dead," Jason(?) sneered, pointing his rapier forward. A shining white halo manifested from thin air, rotating and pulsating in front of the sword''s rapier. With a single flick of his wrist, Jason(?) launched the ring of light toward his own sister who in turn, raised her saber overhead. "There''s no point in resisting, child. I''m much stronger than-." Instead of letting her brother finish, the Opal Sun Princess brought her blade down, slicing the projectile clean in half. The cleaved halo instantly vanished, leaving behind the sharp smell of burning rubber, much to Aria''s annoyance. "Much stronger than who? Me? Don¡¯t flatter yourself," the princess cynically replied. WOOSH! A longsword shot out from behind Aria, which ran through Jason''s(?) left shoulder. The prince grimaced, nearly falling on his back due to the powerful momentum. He grabbed the sword''s edge, attempting to yank it out - until he saw brisk movement in his peripheral. Jason(?) instinctively raised his rapier; barely deflecting Theo''s blade. "Close, but no cigar," the prince taunted. "Is that so?" Jason(?) shuddered as the longsword in his shoulder wrenched itself out, flying back into Theo''s hand. The prince(?) took a few steps back while gripping his bleeding limb. Even though he knew his wound would heal, he still needed some time for his arm to be functional again - and time was not the luxury he currently had. "Had enough yet, imposter?" Aria continued to scoff at his brother. "Hmph, cocky - like the old king himself." "What did you just say?" the princess snarled. "You heard me," Jason(?) huffed, his left eyebrow arched. "Don''t listen to him, Your Radiance. He''s just trying to rile you up," Theo calmly advised. "What about you, Theodorus? How does it feel to be the traitor of your own nation? Must felt good living in the palace while your subjects suffer from disease and poverty." "That is none of your concern. Also, you can stop beating around the bush - I can clearly see your injury closing up," the captain of the Royal Guard sternly retorted. "Do you now?" Jason(?) chuckled, slightly impressed by the bespectacled man''s perceptiveness. The prince removed his hand from his shoulder, exposing the stab mark that was now only a millimeter long. "I guess I have no other choice then," said Jason, shortly before placing his rapier against his neck. "You-!" Aria snarled, scowling at the man with disdain. She was about to lunge toward her sibling before Theo stopped her. "Forgive me for this underhand tactic, but I MUST get inside the mausoleum - by any means necessary." "You are making a grave mistake, outsider," Theo commented, shaking his head out of disappointment. "Do I look like I give a damn about your law, captain? Besides, your precious prince serves no purpose other than being a figurehead to keep the restless citizens at bay. Well, served - to be precise," Jason(?) lashed back, subtly referring to the incident in The Edge. After a brief moment of deliberation, Theo ended up lowering his longswords, perplexing the Opal Sun Princess. "What are you doing?!" Aria angrily asked. "Let him go. We have other matters to attend to first," Theo muttered. Aria opened her mouth to protest but quickly changed her mind after noticing the man''s solemn expression. "I hope you know what you''re doing," the princess grumbled before reluctantly sheathing her weapon. "I''m glad we finally reached an understanding, captain," Jason(?) jeered at the duo. Shortly after, the prince casually strolled into the crypt with the rapier still pressed against his jugular. "See you both soon," said Jason(?), and the double door swiftly closed by itself. Theo and Aria stood in utter silence, staring intently at the mausoleum. Eventually, the Opal Sun Princess walked up to the bespectacled man, asking him, "So, what now?" "I sent a distress signal a few seconds ago. So, we wait until the Order sends someone over. At least in this place, we won''t risk harming anyone." The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "How can we be sure, Theo? Even now, I could still feel him crawling inside my mind - urging me to do bad things ¨C terrible things. "That''s why we need to stay near each other - in case one of us...relapsed. I know it sounds like a foolhardy plan, but it''s the only one I can come up with on the spot." "And what if both of us...loses our mind?" With his brows snapped together, Theo took a deep breath before replying, "I''m afraid you already know the answer to that question, Your Radiance." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE EMPYREANS ||| ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF RAZOR: AMELIA ||| [Meanwhile....] [The Forge] Amelia stood near the entrance, watching quietly as her brother meticulously cleaned every single one of his equipment. She caught a glimpse of his brother''s slightly reddish palms - a clear indication of a first-degree burn. Despite that, her brother showed no sign of being in pain. "Don''t be shy, little sis. Is there something you want to say to me?" asked Tim while wiping his sooty hammer. "Um, well...Your hands...Don''t they hurt?" Amelia murmured. "Oh, these? Nah," Tim casually replied. "Working with extreme heat can dull some of your senses. Ten years ago, I would be rolling on the floor, bawling my eyes out ¨C but not anymore." The young blacksmith proceeded to place the hammer on the stone table before turning around to face his sister. For a brief moment, he could see the hesitation in his sibling''s eyes, and he instantly knew what was bothering her. "You''re thinking about Edelweiss lad, are you? Why didn''t I tell him about the previous Flame Accursed?" Amelia hung her head low as if she was embarrassed by her line of thought. "Do not be ashamed, little sister; you are right for thinking that. Perhaps I should have told him, but at the end of the day, I chose not to." "Why? You know about his predicament, and you chose not to help him? I don''t get it," said Amelia, shaking her head. "It''s not about helping, Ame," Tim sighed. "His predecessor...is not what I would call a friendly sort. Never met him in person; my master, however, did. Told me he was a stoic man who antagonizes the previous Council of Eight - greatly." "He¡­did that?" Amelia muttered softly. "I don''t know much about the details, but he gave the Council some major headaches back in the day, so to speak. They hated him so much that they erased all of his information and treated him like he never existed. Regardless, I''m not exactly the guy that Edelweiss lad should be asking about his past." "Still, it doesn''t sit well with me ¨C keeping secrets from him." Tim slowly approached Amelia and gently patted her on the shoulder. "How would you feel if you''re suddenly associated with a deviant simply because your power is similar to theirs - or because there is prophecy stating you''ll be the destroyer of the world?" the blacksmith spouted. "Either way, it''s not our job to be involved in other''s personal matters. We just do what we do best: making weapons. No more, no less. Got it?" "Yes, brother," Amelia replied, nodding her head in dismay. "Good girl. Now, let¡¯s get you a new Core Blade." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF RAZOR ||| **??****************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Training Hall] Lucy glanced over his shoulder and noticed Sam was doing some drills with his new katana near the weapon racks. She could vividly see his sullen expression - a guise the man had been wearing ever since he found out about the name of his sword. "Scarlet Coda...," Lucy''s voice trailed off. She was cognizant of the Red Ravager which was also known as the Crimson End, the catastrophe that nearly wiped out all lives on the Mortal Plane and would eventually return in the future. Even then, the only similarity was the name - nothing more. As Lucy was about to say something, a wooden blade swooped past her before Sam caught it with his bare hand. "You look depressed, my guy. How about a spar?" Rupert exclaimed with a lopsided smile. "A tempting offer. Maybe next time," Sam declined, tossing the sword back to the male Nightingale. "That wasn''t a request. Now, stop sulking and spar with me." Sam clicked his tongue out of annoyance. He instantly slid his katana into its sheath and grabbed a waster sword from the rack. "Just one round," the vermillion-eyed man muttered. "One round? Meh, you''re no fun. Fine," Rupert retorted half-heartedly. "Hey, Luce. Mind being the timekeeper?" "No, not at all," Lucy exhaled. "How long?" "Five, and whoever got hit; loses." "Whoever loses has to stop talking for a week," Sam added, causing Rupert to frown. "Now, that''s not-." "Agree," Lucy cut her brother short. Rupert scowled at his younger sibling, quietly mouthing, ''Really?'' at her. "Good. After you, then," Sam responded, gesturing his hand at the Main Arena. The two men walked away from Lucy, staring keenly at each other in the eyes. After arriving in the middle of the chamber, Sam and Rupert held their swords in front of their face - waiting patiently for one of them to make the first move. Then, for unknown reasons, the male Nightingale lowered his weapon - an action that befuddled his friend. "Giving up already?¡± Sam sarcastically retorted. "Not really," Rupert grinned before hurling his waster sword at the vermillion-eyed man like a javelin. Although initially startled, Sam quickly regained his composure and parried the flying blade. As he turned his attention back to Rupert, he saw a silver glint in the corner of his eyes - prompting him to duck to the ground. Seconds later, he felt the wind shifting above his head, followed by a loud thump behind him. After straightening himself, Sam spun around and was infuriated at the sight of Rupert holding his kamas. "What the hell? Why are you using your scythes?!" Sam yelled out. "Why not? It''s not like we agree on a ''no Core Blade'' rule," Rupert chuckled. "Oh, what''s the matter? Don''t tell me you''re still hung up by that Scarlet Coda thing?" "That''s-! That is none of your concern." "Sure, sure. So, what if it¡¯s true? What if you are the destroyer of this world? Is that gonna stop you from your search? I thought you''re not one for prophecy," scoffed Rupert. "I didn''t say I''m gonna stop-." "Then, why do you worry yourself over things yet to happen? My pops used to say: If you allow your present to be dictated by uncertainty, then you''re limiting the prospect of a better future. With that said, are you gonna let uncertainty control your life?" Sam stared at Rupert in silence, only for the former to crack a smile shortly after. "Your father sounded like a wise man. Just tell me one thing - how many times did you rehearse for that speech?" "Nine? Ten times, I think?" said the elder Nightingale, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I admit it was pretty good," Sam muttered before his eyes darted toward Lucy. "How many minutes left?" "Four and a half," the female Nightingale answered. "I guess that''s more than enough," Sam breathed, throwing his waster sword away and pulling out his katana. "Now, that''s more like it," Rupert beamed excitedly. "Both of you do realize the use of Core Blades is prohibited inside the Tower compound? Ugh - it''s not like you''ll listen to me anyway," Lucy grunted, giving a disapproving glance at her brother and Sam. "We better finish this up quick then," Sam returned, holding his katana with both hands. "That...we can agree on," Rupert acknowledged before charging toward his friend. He waved his sickles around, aiming at Sam''s face, but the latter easily warded off each attack with his own blade. Suddenly, the male Nightingale flung one of his kama forwards, and Sam instinctively deflected the sickle. For a fleeting moment, Sam caught sight of Rupert slyly smirking at him - the same expression the blue-eyed man wore when he was scheming something. Taking a hurried look over his shoulder, Sam gritted his teeth as he saw the sickle he repelled earlier come flying back like a boomerang. "Got you now!" Rupert triumphantly cried out after cornering his friend. Unfortunately, to his amazement, the kama passed through Sam''s body before dropping to the ground. "Well, well, well. We''ve got ourselves a rule-breaker-OW!" the elder Nightingale yelped after trying to pick up his sickle. His fingertips tingled as if he just touched the surface of boiling water. "You''re one to talk," huffed Sam as he sheathed his katana. "That¡¯s a fair point. Now, can I...uh...have my weapon back?" "Give it a minute to cool down," Sam further commented "I¡¯m guessing you guys finally decided to stop fooling around. Thank God," said Lucy as she came up to the two men. "So, dear sister. Who won?" Rupert inquired. "It''s a draw," a fruity, female voice responded. The trio immediately turned their heads toward the entrance, where Marie stood with her arms crossed. Though she had her usual comforting smile on, her emerald green eyes told another story. "Miss Marie? We, uh...how long you''ve been there?" Lucy stuttered. "Since your brother''s inspiring speech. Gotta admit, he almost brought me to tears," Marie giggled. But, her brows soon snapped together as she reprimanded the trio for their offense, "Even so, that still doesn''t excuse you from violating our principal rules - twice in a day. Seriously - you''ll be in deep trouble if someone other than me saw you freely wielding your Core Blades and using your abilities." "Sorry," the trio simultaneously whispered with their heads lowered. Marie took a deep breath later and exhaled deeply, feeling slightly guilty for scolding the novices. "Look, I''m not angry at you, but you three have to...no, NEED to be mindful of your actions from here on out. Markus and I won¡¯t always be here to get you out of trouble,¡± The lady in black explained before her eyes briefly darted to the ceiling where the surveillance camera was located. ¡°With that being said¡­¡± "Huh?" Lucy blurted out, surprised by the sudden change in Marie''s voice. "Come, we¡¯ve got work to do.¡± 44th Fragment: -SHIFT- Without uttering a single word, Marie escorted the rambunctious trio out of the Training Hall until they reached the elevator. Then, the lady in black spun around to face Sam and the others, giving them an apologetic nod. "Sorry about that - had to prevent the fellas from the Froghopper from hounding us. They''re a bit skittish ever since our little mischief," Marie explained. "Ah, I see," replied Sam, bobbing his head in return. "But I really meant what I said. With Markus preoccupied with his duty, he won''t be around to save you in case of...unfortunate turn of events. Don''t forget; Thomas still has his eyes on you for that Wailing Forest incident," the lady in black elaborated, causing the trio to grimace in unison. "Duly noted," Lucy countered. "Splendid!" praised Marie. "Now, coming back to the main reason why I dragged all of you here, we finally received a distress signal originating from the Forest of the Bandit Lord. It was triggered by Theo¡¯s badge." Sam, Lucy and Rupert looked at each other with relief until they noticed the serious expression on Marie¡¯s face. "You don''t look too thrilled, though,¡± Sam interjected. ¡°Isn¡¯t that supposed to be good news?¡± "It is, sweetie, but it''ll be greater news if those three are found safe and unharmed,¡± Marie sighed heavily. ¡°There has been a¡­commotion in the Opal Sun Kingdom. The denizens demand us to take responsibility for the massacre in The Edge.¡± "They want us to take responsibility? Well, that''s just plain stupid. It''s not like we wanted that tragedy to happen," Rupert blurted out, prompting Marie to let out a short chuckle. "I suppose you can''t really blame them for acting that way. Those people went through some difficult times, and the thought of not only their prince but also Miss Helians and Mr. Stark turning on them can be quite...terrifying ¨C to say the least." "And in their fear, they want to hold us accountable. This is getting rather dicey, don¡¯t you think?" Sam retorted, shrugging his shoulders. "Exactly," said Marie. "Now, I¡¯ve got another piece of news for you: after spending a few hours, I''ve found a suitable Rift Gate point outside the Forest of the Bandit Lord. Needless to say, Markus has been notified and he wants you there, pronto." "Already?! That''s fast! You said it¡¯ll take a day?" Lucy exclaimed. "Right? I do surprise myself sometimes," Marie proudly declared, winking her right eye before proceeding to clear her throat. "Excuse me; it seems we''ve nearly strayed off from our previous conversation. Right, like Markus said a few hours ago, you need to venture to the Land of the Opal Sun and bring Jason and the others back. Although, judging from your intense scowls, I''m assuming you have a few questions?" The trio exchanged looks with each other until Sam opened his mouth to answer, "More like concerns. Miss Strelitzia, we had never fought the Empyreans before, so we don''t have a single clue what to expect. The only info we got is what kind of weapons they wield and that we have to separate them from each other." "Whoever told you that is not wrong, but even on their own, those three are still formidable opponents," said Marie. The lady in black then crossed her arms together; her emerald eyes wandered off as she pondered in silence. A brief moment later, Marie glanced over Sam''s shoulder, her lips curved downward. ¡°Already?¡± Marie muttered before she swiftly pressed the elevator button to open the door behind her. "Miss Marie? What¡¯s the matter?" said Lucy after noticing the woman''s odd behavior. "An unwanted attention. Meet me downstairs at the Chamber of Convergence in 5 minutes," Marie whispered before the elevator''s door slammed shut. "Okay, what was that all about?" Rupert commented, repeatedly blinking his eyes to ensure he wasn''t hallucinating. Sam''s eyes narrowed as he felt an immense presence behind him - as if someone was observing them from the shadows. He gave Lucy a hurried look who also seemed to share his thought. "We need to go. Now," said the vermillion-eyed man softly, prompting the female Nightingale to call for the elevator. "What''s going on now? Now you two are acting strange," spouted Rupert, his forehead creased. "Tell you later. We need to go. Now," Sam breathed, just in time as the elevator''s door parted open. The trio briskly made their way inside, and as the door started to close, they saw a dark humanoid figure emerged from the corridor wall. The shadowy apparition then straightened itself; its glowing mulberry eyes settled on the trio. "Ah, shit. So, she''s back," Lucy grunted, gritting her teeth. ¡°Who?¡± Rupert asked. ¡°The Fiend of the Revolving Island, Tulip Leonard.¡± ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD: ADAM ||| [Meanwhile...] [The Tundra Plain, Krio Zone] ¡°Urgh¡­,¡± Adam groaned as he slowly opened both of his eyes. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been unconscious ever since The Fanged Avalanche buried him underneath the stifling layers of snow. ¡°Come¡­on¡­move¡­damn it,¡± he murmured, struggling to move his aching limbs. How long has he been down here? Has the Fenrir begun his assault on the Wintry Valley? The man wondered. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°No, get yourself together, Adam,¡± the Accursed whispered to himself. The man mustered every last ounce of his strength to claw through the blanket of snow. His fingers stung but he had to ¨C no, he MUST get out of the icy tomb. A few minutes later, he caught a glimpse of the moonlight shining through a thin layer of ice; a sight that caused him to strike his fist upward. Then, he could feel it ¨C the cold night breeze brushing against his clammy right hand. A warm sensation immediately rushed along his spine, prompting him to drag himself out of the mass of snow. He took a few deep breaths while his electric blue eyes scanned the vicinity ¨C nervously searching for The Fenrir. However, much to his dismay, the ruthless hound was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Darn it,¡± Adam cursed softly. As he slowly grasped the severity of the situation, the excruciating pain in his chest returned ¨C only this time he could feel it spreading all over his abdomen. He knew this freezing sensation all too well, and the only cure for it was by taking an antidote manufactured by the Order. The white-haired man immediately reached into his jacket to pull out a clear glass orb. ¡°Fate¡­is a cruel mistress, don¡¯t you think?¡± Adam froze in his place after hearing the familiar, monotonous voice. He slowly raised his head, and the next thing he knew, he was staring into The Fenrir¡¯s garnet beady eyes. ¡°It must be difficult for you to guard the people of the Wintry Valley on your own ¨C to risk your life over and over again,¡± the Fanged Avalanche continued. ¡°It is my responsibility and mine alone,¡± Adam replied. ¡°How admirable, but also quite foolish,¡± The Fenrir chuckled. ¡°Your so-called honor means nothing in this desolate land. All that matters out here, child, is survival. In other words, the strong lives while the weak can either die or become slaves to the strong.¡± ¡°And what does a slave worth to someone like The Fenrir?¡± ¡°Not much. The life of a mortal is too short, especially the Reprieved. Furthermore, their bodies and spirits are easily broken with a tiny bit of hardship ¨C it makes it harder for me to savor their agony.¡± ¡°And yet, it was the worthless mortal that defeated you a thousand years ago,¡± Adam scoffed. The Fenrir¡¯s smile instantly disappeared, replaced with a furious scowl. ¡°The First Alpine King,¡± the Fanged Avalanche growled. ¡°He was truly a formidable foe, but at the end of the day, I am the one who outlived him.¡± ¡°That¡­is where you are wrong.¡± ¡°Oh? How am I wrong, child?¡± ¡°The Alpine King¡¯s will ¨C his dream, his ideal ¨C still lives on to this day. Every soul in this land still believes of the Paradise in the Snow ¨C a safe haven from the eternal blizzard and tempest.¡± ¡°Now, that¡¯s amusing,¡± The Fenrir huffed. ¡°That dream of his ¨C it didn¡¯t stop the infightings among your people. It didn¡¯t prevent the Distorted from destroying the Kingdom of the Diamond Wolf. It makes me wonder if this dream is even worth dying for. Anyhow¡­¡± The Fenrir proceeded to snatch the glass orb from Adam¡¯s hand and held it to the sky. A triumphant grin appeared on his face as he could see the warped image of the moon inside the delicate-looking object. ¡°Tell your friends back in the Tower: they can send anyone they want but they will never capture me again,¡± said the Fenrir before tossing the orb to the ground. ¡°The next time we meet, Adam Salvia, will be a fight to the death.¡± As soon as the Fanged Avalanche finished his sentence, his entire body crumbled into a pile of snow. Adam exhaled aloud; he noticed both of his hands were trembling ¨C but it was not because of the cold air. His eyes darted to his left where he could his spear jutting out of the snowy earth. ¡°Then, a fight to the death it shall be,¡± the Faceless uttered. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD ||| **??****************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Chamber of Convergence, Tower of Nexus] Marie immediately perked up at the sight of Sam and the Nightingales entering the room. Before she could say a word, Lucy stepped forward and interrupted her, "We saw her, back in the corridor. It was brief but¡­I¡¯m pretty confident it was her." "Then, you realize that you are currently treading on thin ice,¡± Marie responded. ¡°I''ll be blunt: this is an unauthorized mission which means we will be breaking a lot of rules. If Thomas found out about this¡­well, let¡¯s just say it won¡¯t bode well for either of us.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s an ¡®off-with-your-head¡¯ kinda situation?¡± Rupert inquired anxiously. ¡°Yes, Mr. Nightingale. It is an ¡®off-with-your-head¡¯ kind of situation,¡± replied Marie, nodding her head in agreement. ¡°Oh, and one more thing, you won''t be getting your standard-issued equipment.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lucy blurted out; her eyes widened from surprise. ¡°Standard-issued equipment is only given for official missions, Miss Nightingale. Additionally, I don¡¯t think the Ironclad will be too happy if we steal from them.¡± "No equipment, and the possibility of us getting executed. If I didn¡¯t know any better, it sounds like you¡¯re sending us to our death,¡± said Sam, his left eyebrow raised. "You could say that. But, you shouldn''t sell yourself short, Mr. Edelweiss,¡± said Marie. ¡°There is a reason Markus selected you and the Nightingales to be his apprentices ¨C and it¡¯s not only because of your rare abilities. No doubt, he saw something in each and every one of you ¨C something that you''ve yet seen.¡± Shortly after finishing her speech, Marie snapped her fingers, activating the Rift Gate behind her. "Beyond this doorway, The Coniferous Forest awaits. Exercise cautions, for that place, is also known as The Evergreen Deception." "What about you? Won''t you get in trouble for opening the Rift Gates?" asked Lucy, leading Marie to chuckle mischievously. "Don''t worry; Markus and I already got that part covered. You only need to concern yourselves with the Empyreans. I get this feeling they won''t be coming back willingly." "Jeez. No pressure, huh?" Lucy huffed before chewing the insides of her cheek. "Oh, come now, Luce. A little challenge won''t do us any harm," Rupert cheerfully added. "Except this particular challenge can possibly get us killed for real," Sam grumbled in return. "But, we made a promise to Markus, and we intend to keep it." A tiny smile appeared across Marie''s face after hearing Sam''s earnest words. She gently placed her right hand on her chest and bowed to the trio. "Thank you for agreeing to do this on such short notice. It means a lot to me...and Markus, of course." "You can thank us after we return, Miss Marie," Sam responded before he slowly approached the Rift Gate until he was an inch away from the rippling surface. He peeked over his shoulder to see the Nightingales standing behind him; their expressions ranged between uncertainty and exhilaration. "We''ll be fine. This is no different from what we usually do," Sam assured. "That is PRECISELY what I''m afraid of," Lucy exhaled. 45th Fragment: -SUBSUME- ||| PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS ||| [West Gate, The Edge] The town of The Edge bathed under the pale lights of the moon and the stars - its destruction laid bare to the heavens'' eyes. Every road was cluttered with shards of rocks and concrete, along with the persistent wailing and weeping of the Edge¡¯s residents ¨C their broken voices echoed throughout the decimated borough. Shortly after, the stagnant night turned hectic as dozens of orange lights floating around the district, followed by multiple voices barking orders and requesting help. Clad in their armors, the Royal Guard of the Opal Sun came running with lanterns in their hands, providing aid to the victims of the Raid. Amid the chaos, an elderly man in a grey, regal outfit strolled through the crowds with his brown walking stick - his other hand brushing his chest-length, white beard sprouting from his waxen face. As he reached the destroyed West Gate, the man''s downturned eyes scanned the area, but his mouth soon set in a hard line after noticing a hooded person standing near the collapsed metal structure. "You¡¯re late," said the elderly man with a deep, booming voice; his milky white hair glistened from the faint ray of the waxing gibbous moon. ¡°I was expecting you AND Thomas to be here an hour ago.¡± A few seconds later, the mysterious figure pulled down his cowl, and his onyx eyes settled on the elder. "My apologies, Lord Daedalus," Markus asserted, slowly bowing his head at the Chief Consul of the Inner Circle, the Opal Sun ministries. "Thomas sends his regards and his apology. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he won¡¯t be able to meet you tonight." ¡°Not even for an old friend?¡± Daedalus huffed after hearing Markus''s excuse. The old man then walked toward the debris - his eyes glistening with tears. "Do you know this gate was built by my great, great-grandfather alongside the First King of the Opal Sun?" Daedalus asked. "No, sir." "He was one of the hundred builders involved in the construction of this amazing structure, who at their own requests, wanted to keep their identities a secret - to prevent potential breaches. Despite no one knowing who they were, this gift of theirs has undeniably protected the lives of the Opal Sun citizens for nearly a century. To see it in this state is...heart-wrenching - and an insult to their memories." Daedalus turned his attention to Markus; a deep frown appeared on his wrinkled face. "People of the Opal Sun desire retribution, and I do not intend to deny their craving for justice." ¡°And what does this¡­craving for justice entail?¡± Markus retorted even though he already knew the answer. ¡°Does it involve sacrificing an innocent life simply to pacify the masses? With all due respect Lord Daedalus, I don¡¯t recommend you do that ¨C especially with the current situation with the Sapphire Star.¡± "I appreciate your advice, Markus but do not forget that your authority stopped when you left the Phantasmal Realm. As a matter of fact, I can have you apprehended right now for trespassing." "I''m not here solely on behalf of the Order, my Lord. I''m also here as a friend who is concerned about you and your people''s well-being. There¡¯s no doubt in my mind that your people deserved justice, but not by jeopardizing the relationship between two nations." ¡°WE are a nation,¡± Daedalus emphasized. ¡°While they are a band of farmers and peasants led by misguided leaders who believe we are attempting to conquer them.¡± ¡°But IF they are pushed hard enough, this band of farmers and peasants will be a force to be reckoned with. Some of them even managed to sneak past your guards, acting as spies and saboteurs on behalf of the Liberation. This kingdom would have fallen into chaos if it wasn¡¯t for Prince Jason and the others.¡± ¡°Prince Jason¡¯s contributions are not going to solve the restlessness among my people¡­¡± ¡°Your people, Lord Daedalus?¡± Markus stated. ¡°Have you forgotten your king and queen were well acquainted with the late Princess of the Sapphire Star? Have you also forgotten the Cerulean Oath ¨C a vow made between the first Opal Sun King and the first Sapphire Star King shortly after the First Conflict?¡± Daedalus became quiet. The Chief Consul then took a deep breath before uttering to Markus, ¡°To aid one another in times of need; to provide solace to the weak regardless of their motherland ¨C for we are born under the same cerulean sky. Yes, I am fully aware of what you are referring to, but the Oath died on the day Princess Andromeda passed away from her sickness.¡± ¡°No,¡± Markus interjected. ¡°The Oath will only die if no one remembers it ¨C believes in it, and I¡¯m sure the Empyreans also intend to keep the oath alive, just as their forefathers did.¡± The Chief Consul sighed as he felt a slight heaviness building inside his chest. "You made a valid point, but you¡¯re not here for a debate, are you Markus?¡± Daedalus responded. ¡°I can see it in your eyes; you¡¯re scheming something, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known you since you were a fledgling. So, you can stop feigning your ignorance.¡¯ "Fair enough," said Markus, fixing his black robe. "I want-No, NEED your permission to conduct a search for the Empyreans.¡± ¡°A search?¡± Daedalus repeated as he focused all of his attention on Markus. ¡°According to my sources, the trio are now inside the Forest of the Bandit Lord. It doesn¡¯t take a genius to figure out where they are heading.¡± ¡°The Cerulean Mausoleum,¡± said Daedalus, shuddering at the revelation. The elderly man clenched his wooden cane; his knuckles slowly turned white as he realized the gravity of the situation. ¡°That place is sacred to the Opal Sun residents. Allowing an outsider, especially a Faceless, to traverse through that forest will not bode well for the Order, and for me," muttered Daedalus with a grim expression. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "I''m quite aware of that, sir, but I assure you there¡¯s no other way. Your Royal Guards are preoccupied with the aftermath of the Raid, and the same can be said about your ministers.¡± "I know what you¡¯re trying to do, Markus. However, I¡¯m sorry to say your plan is quite¡­na?ve. Even if you managed to find the three, their words alone are not enough to prove their innocence. Every single resident of The Edge witnessed their treacherous act, including the surviving Royal Guards. Reason alone will not be enough to quell their wrath.¡± ¡°It was never enough, Lord Daedalus. It has always been that way,¡± Markus sighed in return. ¡°But, that does not mean I will stop trying.¡± ¡°Your conviction is admirable,¡± Dedalus grumbled; nodding his head. ¡°Unfortunately, I have to say no to your request.¡± ¡°Lord Daedalus¡­¡± ¡°I said no, and that¡¯s final. I¡¯m sorry Markus; I wish I could say otherwise,¡± said the Chief Consul. All of a sudden, a pair of anemic arms shot out from the rubble, surprising both men. Markus swiftly slid in front of Daedalus and drew an indigo-handled broadsword from its sheath. A few moments later, a bare-chested man dragged himself out of the debris before rolling down to the ground. ¡°Wait, that¡¯s¡­that¡¯s a Royal Guard,¡± Daedalus remarked after recognizing the chausses worn by the ashen figure. "He was a Royal Guard. Not anymore," Markus returned, his eyes fixated on the light-skinned man who was shakily rising to his feet. The trembling character straightened itself up, revealing a large, dark hole on its face. "Is that¡­is that what I think it is?" Daedalus gasped, blinking his eyes in disbelief. "A Subsumer; in its Burrower State," confirmed Markus, later adding, ¡°Lord Daedalus, it will be better if you return to the palace and leave this matter to me. " "Nonsense. I would rather stay and watch that creature''s demise with my own two eyes." Markus exhaled, even though he had initially predicted the elderly man''s answer. "Fine. At least, stand back a bit further." Daedalus nodded in return and immediately did as he was told. ''Finally,'' Markus mouthed before shifting his focus back on the Distorted staring at him with its hollowed head. He smiled wryly at the ironic sight of the faceless creature - it had been barely a day since he stepped foot on this land, and the heavens were already playing tricks on him. Soon after, the Subsumer began to heave, and a series of grotesque events ensued: all of its skin gradually melted like wax, and its muscles and network of veins were visible to the naked eye. Then, bone-white carapaces grew all over its body, enveloping the Distorted like full-body armor. Markus, who had been quietly observing the whole process, commented, "So, the reports were true: an Armored Distorted." The Subsumer proceeded to drag its feet toward the Captain of the Deathstalker, both arms extended with the intent to grab the latter. Markus swung his sword upward, and his blade deflected both of the Distorted¡¯s arms but not without any repercussions. ¡°Argh!¡± Markus exclaimed as he felt a sharp pain in the palms of his hands ¨C it was as if he just hit a solid brick wall. However, the man brushed off the sensation after noticing the Subsumer trying to grab him. But, the Distorted mysteriously froze in its place - unable to move even an inch. SWOOSH! The Subsumer¡¯s head was severed from its torso in a blink of an eye; dark tar-like liquid spurted out of the Distorted¡¯s neck, and shortly after, its body crashed to the ground. After letting out a sigh of relief, Markus lowered his sword, its blade was enveloped with the creature¡¯s sticky blood. "What is that? I never saw anything like it before," said Daedalus as he approached the Subsumer''s corpse. ¡°An Armored Distorted. They¡¯ve been appearing out of nowhere as of late,¡± countered Markus as he sheathed his broadsword. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Daedalus dropped his gaze, the elderly man uncomfortably clutched to his cane as if he was holding a hot cauldron. "I was never intending to execute Theodorus, in case you are wondering," muttered the Chief Consul, peering at Markus. "I already know about that, and I also know about the mole in the Inner Circle." "How...? I don''t remember telling anyone else about that - not even the prince himself." "A gut feeling, I guess? I thought it would be a foolish move to execute the boy, considering he''s your only connection to the Sapphire Star people. So, I''m guessing you''re just trying to flush someone out." "Huh, it seems I have once again underestimated your shrewdness. Well, you''re not wrong," replied Daedalus, his eyes scouring the area for any unwanted attention. "Considering you saved me from this Subsumer, then allow me to repay the favor. A few months ago, my scouts noticed unusual movements in Theodorus''s village. Soldiers came in and out daily, carrying barrows of weapons and supplies to the Fallen Star Hill. There''s a rumor about a group of insurgents gathering at that place, led by a man who claimed to be the last descendant of the Sapphire Star royalty." "Ah, the fabled Lost Prince. Where did the Liberation pick this guy from this time?" asked Markus, both hands on his hips. "The man came to the village himself and somehow managed to convince everyone of his...heritage. So, if the news of Theo''s execution reaches the Lost Prince''s ears, he will have no choice but to show up at the palace in person." "That''s quite a gamble, Lord Daedalus, considering your current relations with the Western Continent. Then, what do all these have to do with the mole in the Inner Circle?" "I have found irregularities in the treasury''s fund. Every month, an insignificant amount of the country''s wealth vanishes without explanation, but they are always the same amount. Coincidentally, the strange occurrence started soon after the Lost Prince''s first appearance." Daedalus turned his head toward Markus; the latter could guess what the Chief Consul was about to say. "If you could send your Ghost Mantises to check out the land of the Sapphire Star; find out what those soldiers are doing, then perhaps I''ll overlook those three Faceless you sent to the Forest of the Bandit Lord." "Y-You knew? Of course, you knew," Markus breathed out. ¡°Don¡¯t sound too surprised. Like you, I also have my own reliable sources. Just¡­make sure they do not burn the entire forest down," said Daedalus solemnly before walking away from the West Gate, leaving Markus gazing at the Subsumer''s cadaver. "Huh, so much for secrecy," The lone Faceless murmured. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS ||| 46th Fragment: -JUGGERNAUT- [The edge of the Forest of the Bandit Lord, Land of the Opal Sun] As Sam stepped out of the Rift Gate, the sharp smell of pine trees penetrated his nasal cavity. He instinctively rubbed his itchy nose, trying to dull the pungent odor. Seconds later, the Nightingales appeared behind him, with Rupert letting out a loud sneeze. "AH-CHOO!" The male Nightingale''s voice reverberated throughout the night, prompting Lucy to give him an exasperated glare. ¡°Good God. Can¡¯t you be any louder?¡± the female Nightingale ranted. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t help it,¡± Rupert chuckled. ¡°So, is this it? Is this the infamous Forest of the Bandit Lord?¡± The rambunctious trio cast their gaze forward ¨C to the sea of pine trees basking in the moonlight. The Evergreen Deception, as the locals called it, had existed ever since the reign of the First Opal Sun King. Numerous legends surrounded the place ¨C one tale that was often mentioned was about a gigantic monster who was defeated by a male Accursed and the goliath¡¯s body gave rise to the entire forest. ¡°So, what do you guys think? Shall we go in?¡± asked Sam, gesturing at the forest with his right hand. ¡°Of course! The quicker we find those three, the better, right?" Rupert replied; he looked over to his sister, hoping she would share his sentiment. But to his surprise, Lucy was gazing heavenward at the moon while quietly nibbling on the insides of her cheek. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± said Sam as soon he noticed Lucy¡¯s sullen expression. ¡°It¡¯s almost full,¡± the azure-eyed woman remarked. ¡°The moon, I mean. It¡¯s almost full.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± With his left brow raised out of curiosity, Rupert inquired, "Hm, is that a good thing or a bad thing? You made it sound like it¡¯s a bad thing." "That depends," Sam interjected, taking his mask out from his jacket. "As a Sun Accursed, Jason''s power peaked during the day while his younger sibling, a Moon Accursed, is stronger at night. With the approaching full moon, Aria will be a bigger threat to us - not that she wasn''t before." "Um, aren''t you forgetting someone? Theodorus of the Sapphire Star? Captain of the Royal Guard? The Indomitable Dual Wielder?" added Lucy. "Huh, I didn''t realize Theo had that many nicknames. You didn''t just make that all up, did you, lil'' sis?" "Oh, you wish! Did you think it was luck that got Theo to his current rank or was it because he is a good friend of the Opal Sun prince? He was 10 when he became a captain; even the older and more experienced soldiers persuaded the Inner Circle to appoint him to that prestigious position." "In that case, I would say he was rather unlucky. To be burdened with such responsibility at a tender age - if I was him, I''ll be tearing my hair every day," huffed Rupert, smiling wryly to himself. Lucy let out a short, unenthusiastic laugh at her brother''s blatant response. "Thank goodness you weren''t. Now, about the Forest of the Bandit Lord: despite its name, there are no more bandits in that place - not since the Night Terror''s sudden disappearance." Rupert immediately raised his hand, asking his sister, "Didn''t mean to interrupt, but what''s the Night Terror again?" "A hero, a villain, a vigilante; he''s been called all those. A thief who went toe-to-toe against the previous King - Jason''s grandfather," explained Sam. "Oooh...sorry, it still doesn''t ring a bell." "That doesn''t matter right now!" Lucy complained. "The forest in front of us is a maze. Every hour, its paths constantly change, making it impossible to navigate through without any aid. Now, if we are on an authorized mission, we¡¯ll usually be supplied with a navigational device called The Spool. Sadly, we are not, and worst of all, we are on this land illegally which means if we get caught¡­well, let¡¯s not try not to get caught, shall we?¡± CRUNCH! The trio''s heads darted toward the sound; their jaws dropped as soon as they saw an armored man sauntering out between the trees. Lucy quickly reached for her dagger but was swiftly stopped by Sam who murmured to her, "Hold it, he looks like a Royal Guard." "I know. But, there''s just...there¡¯s something off about him." Shifting his attention back to the soldier, Sam noticed the man''s bruised eyes lacked any signs of life ¨C it was as if he was staring into a dark abyss. Then, he felt something in the back of his mind urging him to reach for his katana, but before he could unsheathe his blade, the lone Royal Guard spun around and started making his way back toward the woods. ¡°Oi, you! Hold on a sec!" exclaimed Rupert, yet the soldier kept walking, ignoring the elder Nightingale''s call. ¡°Man, what the hell is with that dude? Is he deaf or something?¡± All of a sudden, the armored man dropped to his knees and began convulsing uncontrollably. Loud cracking noises were soon heard, followed by the soldier''s limbs contorting and elongating, imitating the legs of an insect. A massive hump grew on his back before it blew open, sprouting forth a pair of bony wings enveloped in blood and torn flesh. The disfigured soldier stood up and turned around to give the three Faceless an angry scowl. "Guys, what the heck is going on? Why is his body twisted like that?!" Rupert muttered, his eyes bulging with astonishment. "A Subsumer - in its Juggernaut State," Lucy answered, grimacing to herself. Shortly after, the soldier''s head split open like a jaw, revealing a greyish humanoid skull with a red, compound eye in the middle of its face. With its imposing height, the Distorted known as the Subsumer gazed down at the trio who in turn brandished their respective Core Blades. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "Hmph, he doesn''t look strong," said Rupert confidently. After hearing the remark, the Subsumer opened its mouth and spat out a ball of blood-red blob which landed on the ground near Rupert''s feet - causing the small patch of grass to shrivel and disintegrate into dust. "Not strong, he says," Lucy scoffed, giving a brief scathing look at her brother. "WATCH OUT!" shouted Sam after noticing the Subsumer lifted both its arms. The creature swept its deformed arms at the trio who managed to avoid being smashed to a pulp. "Don''t let it touch you! Its hands are covered with acid!" warned the female Nightingale as she straightened herself up. "We''ll just have to cut them off then!" Rupert retorted before charging toward the monster. The Subsumer unlatched its mouth as it saw the approaching man and coughed out more of the corrosive sludges - though Rupert easily dodged each of them. Afterward, a large fireball appeared out of the blue and smacked into the Distorted''s face, staggering the vicious beast. A gleeful smile appeared across the elder Nightingale''s face as he raised his right kama over his head, preparing to summon a gust of wind to cut off the monster''s upper limbs - until another arm sprouted out from the Subsumer''s left abdomen. "Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me!" blurted Rupert. Fortunately for him, a jet of cold water burst from the earth and sliced off the newly-formed hand before it could grab the Wind Accursed. "Stop freaking out, you blockhead!" Lucy shouted with water dripping from her dagger''s edge. "Sorry!" Rupert casually apologized - much to his sister''s dismay. "Save the bantering for later! Look," Sam intervened, pointing his finger at the enemy. The Subsumer gazed down at its arm, seemingly unfazed by the black sludge spurting from the amputated site. It proceeded to let out a grunt and its once-severed hand regenerated in a flash. Then, its skeletal wings began to flutter, creating visible sparks of electricity which led Lucy to yell, "BRACE!" The forest''s edge was illuminated by a blinding white flare that was soon followed by the deafening roar of a thunderbolt discharging between the Subsumer''s wings. Seeing the incoming attack, Sam briskly stepped in front of Rupert and, with his katana, drew a short horizontal line on the soil below. A wall of scarlet flame instantly sprung between the Faceless and the Distorted, just in time as the blast of electricity reached the former. The two forces collided with each other, producing a shockwave that rocked the ground beneath the trio''s feet before dispersing into tiny orbs of light. Sam held his katana out, and the firewall collapsed; the searing flame swirled around the man, coating his blade like a scabbard. ¡°That was too close for comfort,¡± Sam exhaled. ¡°That, and can someone PLEASE explain to me since when that damn thing learned Brontokinesis?!¡± Lucy expressed her frustration. SWISH! The Subsumer spread its grotesque wings as if it was responding to the female Nightingale¡¯s exasperation. Both of the forelimbs began vibrating once again, prompting Sam to say, ¡°Those two need to go. Luce, got any ideas?¡± ¡°Well, you''re in luck,¡± Lucy replied with a wide smile across her face. She placed her hand on the transparent blue blade and the gleaming edge melted into a puddle of water before it rose into the sky in the shape of a hundred tiny orbs. ¡°Woah, I didn¡¯t you know can do that,¡± said Rupert in amazement. ¡°Hush, I need to concentrate.¡± As soon she finished her sentence, Lucy pointed her handle toward the Subsumer; every one of the floating orbs flew toward the giant creature¡¯s direction. The Distorted swung its arms, attempting to destroy the incoming projectiles. However, the orbs dodged the giant perfectly and swiftly clung onto the Subsumer¡¯s bony wings, enveloping the latter like two massive cocoons. ¡°The bigger they are¡­,¡± Lucy mouthed, shortly before the cocoons exploded ¨C reducing the Subsumer¡¯s once mighty wings into black tar. The Distorted glanced over its shoulder and let out a grunt ¨C as if it was unfazed by its new injury. ¡°There. That should stop that annoying lightning attack for a while,¡± the female Nightingale huffed. "Superb work,¡± Sam complimented. ¡°Hey, Rupe. Do you know what a Fire Devil is?¡± "Yeah. Ooooh...I like where this is going," Rupert snickered. Sam glanced over his shoulder, and with a tense voice, said, "Lucy, if things go awry, I''m counting on you to back us up." "Improvising again, are we? Fine, just don''t get in over your head." "Thanks. Alright, Rupert, on my command." "Gotcha, boss." With a single swing, Sam launched another fireball at the Subsumer whose wings began to slowly regenerate. "NOW!" Rupert waved both of his kama, creating a powerful gale that fused with the flying fireball to bring forth a devastating fire devil. The Subsumer fidgeted as soon as it saw the flaming whirlwind; the creature gradually began to move toward the tornado. Eventually, the Distorted was pulled into the tempest; its shrieking filled the night air as every inch of its body was engulfed by the bright, red flame. "Now, that is what I call a grand finale. Too bad Darren is not here; he''ll be ecstatic to go against another thunder user," Rupert beamed at the sight of the burning Subsumer. "Don''t celebrate just yet. It might have some fight left in it," said Lucy as she appeared next to her brother. "No. Not anymore," Sam assured the azure-eyed woman as the fire devil died down, revealing the Subsumer who had been singed beyond recognition. The lofty Distorted slowly extended its arms, intending to seize hold of the trio. "QaPeDiUoDuN DaIeS EiP MaFeQiEoKuJaGeD, SaJe SaOeDiWoDuSaOe NaUe NaEe MaBeBi TaPeXi FaOeHiIoSuPaMe RaJe DaSeDiIoSu CaOeZi, GaTeHiSoDuQa KaMeHiXo XaUeHiOoZuNaTeIi," the Subsumer whimpered before it fell headfirst to the ground. Rupert carefully came up to the Distorted and lightly kicked one of the monster¡¯s hands. After realizing the creature was no longer moving, the elder Nightingale cried out to the others, "It''s dead! I think!" Lucy proceeded to let out a sigh of relief. The female Nightingale slowly lowered her weapon¡¯s grip and immediately, the blade grew back out of thin air. As she sheathed her Core Blade, she noticed Sam staring blankly at the Subsumer''s corpse with his lips pressed tightly against each other. "What''s the matter? Did your head hurt again?" "No, it''s...the Distorted''s last words; even though I couldn''t understand them, they felt like a warning." "Well, you shouldn''t think too much about it. We still have a job to do, and I bet our little skirmish might have alerted the citadel." "You''re right," said Sam, nodding his head. "Sadly, without The Spool, our search will be far more difficult than usual - not to mention, treacherous. To be frank, we could be walking straight to our death." "Is that so? It must have slipped your mind that we''ve been living on the edge ever since we picked up our first weapon," Lucy said sarcastically. "Besides, I would prefer to die with the sky as my witness than to be crushed by the earth''s embrace." "I can understand that," replied Sam before sliding his katana into its cover. "Let us proceed onward¡­into the Forest of the Bandit Lord." 47th Fragment: -PENUMBRA- ||| THE PATH OF THE NEXUS: MARIE ||| [Chamber of Convergence, Tower of Nexus] As soon as the Rift Gate disappeared in a burst of light, Marie slipped her hand into her back pocket and pulled out the Projector. ¡°Marie Strelitzia,¡± she spoke her name into the device. The gadget let out a beep and instantly lit up, displaying a holographic image of a black spider with a diamond-shaped abdomen. ¡°Server, please open the Level 3 Classified Documents.¡± Seven different colored folders instantly appeared; each having their own insignia to represent the Seven Faceless Divisions. However, Marie only had her eyes on one ¨C a gray file with a scorpion emblem. ¡°Search inside the Deathstalker files for this term ¨C open bracket ¨C The Harbinger ¨C closed bracket.¡± A prompt popped out saying: [RESULT(S) FOUND: 1] [WARNING: LEVEL 4 CLEARANCE REQUIRED] ¡°Level 4? Since when do we have a level 4 clearance?¡± Marie expressed her discontentment. ¡°Server, would you please tell me who has a level 4 clearance?¡± [ACCESS DENIED] ¡°Wha-? Server, tell me who has a level 4 clearance?¡± [ACCESS DENIED] Marie¡¯s face began to darken; she was never made aware of another level of authorization. Markus wouldn¡¯t keep this a secret from me? Would he? Or perhaps he too was oblivious about the matter? She wondered silently. ¡°I guess everyone has their own dirty little secrets, huh?¡± The emerald-eyed woman then made a circular motion with her right index finger to return to the previous screen. ¡°Server, search for this term in all seven files ¨C open bracket ¨C Flesh-Gorger ¨C closed bracket.¡± [RESULT(S) FOUND: 12] [DEATHSTALKER (2); SWALLOWTAIL (5); GHOST MANTIS (1); TARANTULA HAWK (2); HORNET (2)] ¡°Hm, should have been more specific,¡± Marie muttered before clearing her throat. ¡°Server, a minor correction. Search for this term in all seven files ¨C open bracket ¨C Flesh-Gorger ¨C slash ¨C casualties ¨C close bracket.¡± [RESULT(S) FOUND: 1] [DEATHSTALKER (1)] ¡°Open file, please.¡± A list of names manifested in front of Marie¡¯s eyes ¨C most of them belonged to the victims of the Flesh-Gorger while the rest were the members of the cannibalistic faction. But, only one name caught her attention. ¡°Server, give me the status of ¨C open bracket ¨C Shar ¨C close bracket.¡± [SHAR] [FULL NAME: UNKNOWN] [LEADER OF THE FLESH-GORGER] [STATUS: DECEASED] [C.O.D: EXECUTED BY MARKUS STRIGIS OF THE HORNETS (FORMERLY)] [BODY WAS LATER DISPOSED IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION] CREAK! Marie accidentally dropped the Projector as soon as the chamber door suddenly swung open, followed by the sound of rattling chains and heavy footsteps. She looked over her shoulder, only to see a pair of protruding mulberry eyes staring back at her. The slender woman drew closer; she was dressed in a black tee and ripped jeans with a gloomy expression across her pallid oval face. A silver chain hung loosely around her waist, while her studded boots were slightly caked with mud. Her long raven hair was tied in a braid and wrapped around her neck ¨C a distinctive trait of the Leonard clan. "Staying up late, Marie?¡± the surly-looking woman asked with a breathy voice. ¡°Something like that,¡± Marie replied calmly. ¡°What about you, Leonard? Have you visited your sister yet?¡± ¡°I did, and she told me you helped her with some errands. So, thanks for that.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°So,¡± Tulip paused as she glanced at the holographic image behind Marie¡¯s back. ¡°Mind telling me what you are looking for inside the Order¡¯s database?¡± ¡°This? I was just sorting some old stuff.¡± ¡°Sorting some old stuff, you say?¡± said Tulip before placing her hands on her hips. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then why did Thomas tell me to keep a close eye on you and the rambunctious trio?¡± ¡°Ah, is that what he did?¡± Marie nodded her head; a tiny smile appeared across her face. ¡°I had the feeling he would do that.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Then, tell me ¨C are you getting yourself in trouble again? ¡®Cause you¡¯re known for being a trouble magnet. Well, aside from those three, of course,¡± Tulip exhaled. ¡°After all these years, you¡¯re still being hard on them. They¡¯re no longer fledglings, you know?¡± ¡°And that is what worries me. Each of them possessed impressive and rare abilities but at the same time, they lacked the discipline and self-restraint ¨C which I found strange considering their mentor was none other than the Captain of the Deathstalker.¡± A few seconds later, Tulip walked past Marie and spoke with a crystal-clear voice, ¡°Tulip Leonard. Server, show me the location where Shar of the Flesh-Gorger was buried.¡± The Projector immediately displayed the full map of Discordania; a small red cross could be seen near the south peninsular of the Opal Sun continent. ¡°Only the Deathstalkers know the burial site of that monster. No offense,¡± Tulip remarked apologetically. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. In fact, the word ¡®monster¡¯ is not even enough to describe the kind of person he was,¡± Marie continued. ¡°Yet, you seem intent on reopening an old wound.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of that, but something has been nagging me ever since Miss Rosier¡¯s return to the Tower. She said two black masked men were chatting with the leader of the Disciples of Vidia as if they knew each other.¡± Tulip crossed her arms together quietly, partially intrigued by the direction of the conversation. She also noticed the glint in Marie¡¯s eyes which usually appeared when the latter was planning something. ¡°So? What does that have to do with the Flesh-Gorger?¡± Tulip inquired. ¡°Shar used to deal with people wearing similar black masks. I don¡¯t exactly know the details but every time the masked men came, the entire Valley of Viscera always held an extravagant festival, celebrating the strangers¡¯ arrival,¡± Marie paused her explanation, and her gaze slowly fell to her feet. ¡°I recalled Shar kept a journal about his interaction with the men, however, the last time I checked the Archive, it was not in the list of confiscated items.¡± ¡°The Order scoured the Valley of Viscera many times. If the journal was hidden, we would have found it by now,¡± Tulip retorted. ¡°We would have¡­IF it was hidden in the valley in the first place. Shar has an underground bunker somewhere in the Opal Sun land. He used that place as his personal study ¨C to research new rituals for his daily ceremony and store trinkets he took from his victims.¡± ¡°Okay¡­now, why do you want to know about the whereabouts of Shar¡¯s burial site?¡± ¡°Because the bunker is sealed shut and a special key is needed to open it ¨C a key that is now buried six feet under with the Chieftain of the Flesh-Gorger. If we can recover that journal, then I bet we can find out the identity of those masked men.¡± After Marie finished her explanation, Tulip let out a grunt in return. ¡°That sounds great but, unfortunately, everything you said just now was nothing more than a theory. Moreover, I need to know where you sent those trio to.¡± ¡°Oh? Getting straight to business already?¡± Marie chuckled. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m afraid I have no time to play games with you today,¡± Tulip apologized. ¡°The recent chain of events has exacerbated Thomas¡¯s paranoia ¨C he¡¯ll do anything to preserve the Order¡¯s good reputation ¨C even if he has to execute his subordinates.¡± ¡°Hm, it¡¯s not like we have a good reputation anyway.¡± ¡°I agree, but sadly, he¡¯s the boss, and you know how he is when he¡¯s crossed,¡± Tulip stated. ¡°Now, I ask you once again. Would you please tell me where you sent those trio to?¡± ¡°The former country of the Lone Iron Tower,¡± Marie swiftly replied, causing both of her friend¡¯s eyes to widen from shock. ¡°You what?!¡± Tulip blurted out; a hint of anger could be heard in her voice. ¡°It is just as I said. I sent them to the Land of the Opal Sun to search and rescue the Empyreans,¡± Marie added before picking the Projector off the floor and frantically inspecting the device. ¡°Thank goodness, Steph will be really upset if I broke this.¡± ¡°That is the least of your concern,¡± Tulip muttered as she pressed her fingers against her temples. ¡°I just¡­I don¡¯t even know what to say anymore. It¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to provoke Thomas on purpose. Surely, it¡¯s not because of your boyfriend¡¯s involvement in the massacre?¡± ¡°I told you many times that Jason is NOT my boyfriend, and no, it¡¯s not because of the incident in The Edge ¨C I¡¯m just doing it simply out of curiosity.¡± ¡°Curiosity?¡± ¡°For nearly two decades, I had never seen our taciturn Faceless Lord getting flustered over a name such as The Harbinger. So, I was intrigued by his reaction ¨C well, by the cause of his reaction,¡± Marie giggled. ¡°Damn it, girl! If it was any other time, I would be thrilled to hear about the outcome,¡± Tulip ranted while scratching the back of her head. ¡°But, with three of ours being the perpetrators of the massacre ¨C two of them which are the Opal Sun royalties ¨C who do you think will capitalize from the current situation?¡± A frown immediately appeared across Marie''s porcelain face. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­are you talking about the Lost Prince? Isn¡¯t that just a myth? Even if such a person existed, he would be nothing more than an impostor.¡± "Not this one. The Froghopper confirms it - this new guy is the real deal." Marie tilted her head slightly to the left, finding the new piece of information difficult to believe. Her mind started to race, envisioning every scenario that could occur if the Lost Prince was indeed the person the Froghopper claimed him to be. ¡°So, he has the Sign, then? No doubt he''ll try to reach out to the Inner Circle soon," the lady in black responded. "Then, you''ll realize sending those trios out there without the knowledge of the Council AND the blasted ministers will not only compromise our relationship with the Opal Sun Kingdom but also with the people of the Sapphire Star. If those two sides catch wind of this, we''ll be facing the wraths of both nations," Tulip explained, her bright pink lips twitching from the building frustration. "Most of the Reprieved already considered us to be the scum of the earth, sweetie," Marie sarcastically countered, grinning from ear to ear. "Besides, it won¡¯t be a problem as long as no one knows about it.¡± ¡°Assuming the trio can keep a low profile ¨C a trait that was not clearly displayed in their previous mission,¡± Tulip scoffed. Frowning deeply, the mulberry-eyed woman approached Marie until they were standing shoulder-to-shoulder. ¡°Are you sure it is wise to place your faith in these rookies? Because Markus himself trusted them?¡± ¡°THAT is precisely the reason, dear.¡± The two women glared into each other¡¯s eyes in silence, only for the intense stare-off to end with Tulip letting out a huff of air. ¡°Fine, suit yourself. Two days; after that, I¡¯ll have to tell Thomas everything.¡± Marie quietly watched her friend stroll out of the Chamber of Convergence; the emerald-eyed woman could also hear the sound of rattling chains growing fainter by the second. ¡°Well, well, well; looks like I¡¯m not the only one who has a soft spot for the trio,¡± Marie remarked. All of a sudden, the Rift Gate behind her lit up, and a tall figure passed through the rippling surface before collapsing on his back. Marie spun around and gasped at the sight of her snow-covered guest groaning in pain. "Salvia!" exclaimed Marie as she rushed toward the masked man. "No, don''t...don¡¯t touch me," Adam croaked, trying to prevent the lady in black from getting close to him. Instead of listening to the man¡¯s plea, Marie laid her hand on Adam¡¯s shoulder and yelped as an icy cold sensation crept up her arms, causing her hands to subconsciously jolt away from the man. "What? What in the world...?" breathed Marie, glancing at her palms which had turned slightly red. "Please, Miss Strelitzia. I need to see Thomas... I need to see him right now!" Adam added as he groggily rose to his feet with the aid of his spear. "Hold it, young man! We''re not going anywhere before you explain to me what happened-!" ¡°It¡¯s The Fenrir! He has broken out of the Prison of the Four Winds...and is now on his way to the Wintry Valley!" ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE NEXUS ||| 48th Fragment: -EVERGREEN- [Forest of the Bandit Lord] [Land of the Opal Sun] Sam cautiously waded through the thicket, creating a path for the siblings behind him. He occasionally glanced over his shoulder, noticing Lucy carving cross marks on the pine trees with her dagger. Her elder brother, on the other hand, was gawking at the forest canopy; both of his eyes were nearly shut as if they were focusing on something overhead. "What''s the matter, Rupe? Did you see something?" asked Sam, his hand clenched firmly on his scabbard. "No. Nothing in particular. It''s just¡­how do I put this¡­the air is kinda dead? Which is never a good sign in my book," Rupert replied, smacking his lips together. "Woah, that¡¯s new. Did you leave your optimism behind or something?" Lucy sarcastically replied before etching another cross mark on a tree. "I¡¯m more like weirded out. In the Desert of Ashes, I could still feel the lukewarm air slowly brushed against my skin. Furthermore, while we were inside the Lair of the Acolytes, I could taste the stale, underground air at the back of my throat. Here? I don''t sense anything ¨C not even a subtle movement in the night breeze." "Perhaps your senses are temporarily disrupted by the Subsumer''s lightning. Honestly, my ears are still ringing from that thunderstrike despite Sam''s timely intervention," Lucy grunted. "How about we take a short break?" Sam swiftly suggested. "Perhaps we''re just exhausted from our prior battle. Besides, it''s not like we''re making any significant progress in our search." A wide smile immediately spread across Rupert''s face after hearing Sam''s proposal, prompting him to say, "If that''s the case, then I''m gonna climb up there. Maybe I could provide us with a bird''s eye view ¨C you know, to assist with our navigation. Soooo, see ya later." The elder Nightingale grabbed his sickles and began his ascent on one of the trees ¨C leaving his younger sister alone with Sam on ground level. "You DO realize he''s not actually trying to help us, right?" said Lucy after her brother disappeared between the dense branches. "We''ve been on the move for nearly thirty minutes; it''s natural for someone like him to get distracted," Sam retorted as he leaned against a tree. "Or would you rather listen to him blabbering about his boredom?" Lucy rolled her eyes; she could already imagine every word her brother would spout if they continued walking. "Fine," the female Nightingale reluctantly answered before sheathing her dagger. "But a little rest doesn''t change the fact that we''ve been aimlessly traversing through the forest. I guess it''s safe to say that we are undeniably lost." "Which I think is a minor setback. You''ve been marking the trees since we first ventured into the forest, right? We can always retrace our steps ¨C so, getting lost will be the least of our problems." "And what will be the greatest of our problems, then? Other than the possibility of us going against Empyreans?" asked Lucy, her arms crossed. "The Subsumer, of course. What if there are more hiding among the greens, waiting to pounce on their unsuspecting prey? Furthermore, there could also be a different type of Distorted lurking around ¨C just like those Lacerators and the Mangler in the Wailing Forest." The woman with the ponytail cracked a little smile after listening to the man. "I believe you underestimate this place, Sam. We''re not in the Wailing Forest anymore. This place is THE Evergreen Deception, the same forest where countless careless people went missing without a trace, and even if they¡¯re found alive, they¡¯ll only be a shell of their former life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite aware of the story, Lucy,¡± Sam replied. ¡°A place where one¡¯s greatest fear is made manifest and prey on the weak-willed. There¡¯s no doubt there¡¯s something sinister going on in this place, but I don¡¯t personally believe it was the forest¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Then, what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know but I have the feeling the people of the Opal Sun do, particularly the Empyreans and the Inner Circle.¡± ¡°If so, then why would they keep it a secret from the Order?¡± Lucy inquired. ¡°Because we are outsiders, Lucy. Every country has its secrets including the Opal Sun Kingdom. Moreover, the Cerulean Mausoleum is situated somewhere inside this place ¨C so, it¡¯s no surprise they wouldn¡¯t share the secret of this forest with anyone.¡± ¡®Child of the Flame¡­and the Child of the Lake¡­¡¯ Sam and Lucy¡¯s heads darted toward the disembodied, breathy voice, but all they could see was the dark shadows creeping between the pine trees. The palms of their hands began to sweat; they could also feel a prickly sensation on their fingertips. ¡°Did¡­did you hear that?¡± asked Lucy who noticed Sam nodding his head in affirmation. ¡°Child of the Flame¡­Child of the Lake...Those were the names the Crystal of Birth called us back in the Wailing Forest ¨C or at least, what we assumed it was the Crystal of Birth talking,¡± Sam audibly recalled. ¡°Should we check it out, then?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. Splitting up in a place like this will be extremely dangerous.¡± ¡®Lucia¡­help me¡­¡¯ Lucy¡¯s chest tightened as soon as she heard her mother¡¯s voice echoing throughout the coniferous forest. She bared her teeth in anger but fortunately, Sam quickly stepped in to pacify the woman. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Calm yourself, Lucy. Don¡¯t let the voice get into your head,¡± Sam remarked. ¡°Just take a few deep breaths, okay?¡± ¡°Alright¡­alright,¡± the female Nightingale did as she was told, and slowly but surely, she regained her initial composure. ¡°What did you think that was? A Mimicrier?¡± ¡°Well, unless it can read your mind, then it¡¯s safe to say it wasn¡¯t a Mimicrier,¡± the vermillion-eyed man replied. ¡°Whoever or whatever that was, clearly it was trying to break us apart.¡± THUD! Sam and Lucy shuddered after Rupert suddenly landed between them with a troubled expression. "Um," he began, scratching the back of his head vigorously. "We''ve been¡­walking forward all this time, right?" "Yes?" Sam responded; slightly anxious by the change in the elder Nightingale¡¯s voice. "Then, why are we heading back to where we came from?" "What do you mean ''we''re heading back to where we came from''?" blurted Lucy, her forehead creased. "Well, I was surprised too and thought that maybe the moonlight was playing tricks on me. But it''s true ¨C I saw the edge of the forest AND the Subsumer''s blackened corpse." "I see," Sam simply remarked. Without adding anything further, the vermillion-eyed man rushed toward the last tree marked by Lucy and noticed the carved line on its bark was completely gone. "It seems you''re right, Luce. The forest does indeed pose a greater threat than those Distorted. The question now is: How should we proceed from here?" Rupert quickly raised his hand and with an excited voice, said, "Oh! Oh! I¡¯ve got an idea! How about I climb back up again and provide direction for both of you? We just need to reach the center of the forest, amirite?" "And risk falling to your death? Hell no!" Lucy huffed. "It''s not like we have any other choice," Rupert returned, shrugging his shoulders. "So, Sam ¨C how about it? Just say the word, and I''ll be up in a jiffy." Sam took a hurried look at Lucy who shook her head disapprovingly. Instead of giving a straight answer, the Flame Accursed pointed his finger at Rupert''s feet and said, "Your recklessness nearly cost your legs. If they do end up getting amputated, you''ll surely be sent to the Culling." "I''m still here, am I not?" "Yes, you are, and once again, tempting your fate." Rupert snickered at Sam''s reply. "Now, you sound like my worrywart of a sister. I''ll be fine ¨C fate won''t allow me to die. Not yet, at least." "Really? What makes you so sure?" "What makes me so sure, you asked? For one, our parents'' murderer has yet to be found. Just as it is your mission to find out about your past, mine is to find that son of a bitch and rip his heart out - so he''ll know the pain my sister and I have been experiencing all these years." With the pair of sky-blue eyes staring intensely at him, Sam hesitantly replied, ¡°Very well. Just¡­just be careful and don¡¯t stir up any trouble up there." The male Nightingale smirked and immediately made his ascent to the top of the forest once more. Sam placed his hand on the hilt of his katana as he recalled the gaze Rupert had given him earlier. "He has the same eyes as you, only more intense." "I noticed. It seems his bloodlust is getting worse," Lucy said worriedly. "You should watch him closely, and let me know if he starts to¡­lose control of himself." Lucy turned her head toward Sam, her brows snapped together. "You''re¡­you''re not gonna do it, are you?" the Water Accursed inquired, her voice trembling. "Let¡¯s hope it doesn''t come to that," Sam sighed heavily. ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Opal Sun Palace] The little girl''s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the large glass dome adorned with gold and silver plating. Her legs began to move on their own, drawn by what lied within the structure ¨C a vast garden of flowers and shrubberies taken from around the world, each one was meticulously tended by the Palace''s gardeners. "Io!" a deep female voice bellowed, stopping the girl dead on her track. Brisk footsteps followed after, prompting Io to spin around ¨C seconds before a hand grabbed her by the arm. "Would you please explain WHY are you in those filthy garbs?" Diana, the Opal Sun Palace head maid chided. The elder woman, now in her black, housekeeping tunic waited for the girl''s answer. "Keeping silent won''t save you, young lady. Tell me, or it''ll be a week with the scullery maids." "Alright, alright," Io relented. "I was¡­hanging out with the other kids in The Edge." "Only hanging out?" Diana growled; her eyes narrowed. "Okay! I was trying to find information regarding Aria''s whereabouts. That''s it, I swear!" Diana released his hold on Io before gently pinching herself in the forehead. "Didn''t the princess tell you to stay away from that place? You''ve disobeyed her AND my orders too many times now." "I just want to help-." "YOU are the princess''s handmaiden! Her Radiance will not forgive herself if anything bad happens to you. I will not forgive myself if anything bad happens to you," the Head Maid lashed back. Io dropped her gaze to the floor after feeling a sudden weight in her chest. After taking a deep breath, the girl whispered ''Sorry'' to the Head Maid before tears trickled down her rosy cheeks. Diana slowly kneeled to the ground and placed both hands on Io''s shoulder, causing the latter to look the former straight in the eyes. "I know you want to help them ¨C I really do - but not at the expense of your life. You are my responsibility, and your responsibility is to obey my order unconditionally. Do you understand?" "Yes, ma''am," Io hesitantly countered. "Now, go change your clothes. No maids of mine are allowed to wear such filthy clothes, especially in the Lunar Court." ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the girl repeated before something popped into her mind. ¡°Oh, um¡­what about Rudolph? Did the soldiers find him in the Edge?¡± A frown appeared on Diana¡¯s face as she struggled to piece her words together. However, seconds later, the little girl¡¯s face also changed ¨C from a look of curiosity to a remorseful expression. ¡°I¡¯m¡­sorry, Madam Diana. I should¡¯ve-.¡± ¡°If you stayed with him, then both of you¡¯ll be dead,¡± Diana retorted stoically. ¡°My husband was aware of the risk of being a Royal Guard. The fact that he survived numerous battles until now was nothing less than a blessing from above.¡± ¡°But-!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about blaming yourself ¨C don¡¯t. He made his choice ¨C he chose to die as a warrior instead of running away like a coward. So, don¡¯t waste his sacrifice by groveling in guilt and self-pity. Put your energy to good use ¨C like going downstairs to change your clothes.¡± Io bit down on her lips but she knew Diana would only scold her if she kept on protesting. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the girl complied and she briskly made her way out of the garden. 49th Fragment: -EPHIALTES- [The Forest of the Bandit Lord] [The Land of the Opal Sun] Standing atop the pine tree, the elder Nightingale guided his sister and Sam toward the center of the Coniferous Forest with his strident voice. At first, he seemed to enjoy performing the task assigned to him as he felt the nightly breeze brush against his cheeks. However, his enthusiasm soon disappeared after realizing a strange occurrence happening right in front of his very eyes. ''Not again,'' Rupert thought to himself; as each time he blinked, the Subsumer''s burnt carcass reappeared. "Oh, that''s not fair. That''s not fair at all," the blue-eyed man murmured while frustratingly scratching the back of his head. "What''s going on up there?" "N-Nothing. All is good!" replied Rupert, after hearing his sister yelling from below. Lucy frowned unconvincingly at the sudden change in her brother''s voice. She could tell her older sibling was lying, which prompted her to mutter, "Great. We''re lost, are we?" "It''s too early to say that," Sam interjected. "You''ve read about the forest, right? Is there anything that can help us get through this place without the aid of the Spool?" "I wish I could be a bearer of good news, but every piece of information about this godforsaken forest is classified ¨C accessible only to the Faceless Lord. I assume it''s because of, you know? The Cerulean Mausoleum." "The Tomb of the Sunsets," said Sam while stroking his chin. He recalled a popular rumor circulating during his training days in the Tower: a great treasure hidden in the deepest level of the crypt ¨C an heirloom of the Opal Sun royal family. Even if that''s the case, why then would the King and the Inner Circle leave a valuable object in a location far away from the palace, unsupervised. "Hm, something fishy is going on here," Sam''s remark piqued Lucy''s interest. "That sounded quite¡­ominous. What''s on your mind?" "I''m not sure. Perhaps I was simply overthinking about things-," the vermillion-eyed paused after seeing movement between the pine trees. At first, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him -- that was until a faint, disembodied voice whispered into his earholes. Sam fidgeted; he frantically rubbed his ears which had become icy cold. "What?! What happened?" Lucy asked concerningly, shortly before the color drained from her face. "Wha-What the hell?" the woman stammered after hearing her mother¡¯s voice calling her name again. ¡°You heard it too?¡± said Sam. ¡°Then, it definitely wasn¡¯t my imagination. Seconds later, the two Faceless heard something scratching against the tree barks, followed by the sounds of crackling twigs and dead leaves. Both of them swiftly drew their weapons, with Lucy crying out to her brother, "Rupert! Get down here now!" No response. "Damn it! Where has he gone now?" the female Nightingale grunted. "Lucia, put your mask on," Sam muttered, his voice tensed up. Feeling a lump down his throat, Sam watched silently as the moonlight faded away, allowing the shadows to grow and blanket the whole forest. The Faceless''s night vision immediately switched on, lighting the surrounding area in a shamrock green hue. "Holy shit!" Lucy spouted. It was a sight identical to a painting she saw in an ancient book, drawn by an artist from the distant past. A macabre-looking pine tree, its trunks made from human skulls and rib cages. Tattered skins hung loosely from each skeletal branch, resembling the weeping willows. As Lucy took a step forward, she felt a crunch beneath her feet ¨C much to her disgust. "Well, somebody is really into bones," Sam commented after noticing the entire ground was covered with countless bones. "Crap, talk about a bothersome situation." "Bothersome? Hmph, that''s quite an understatement." CRACK! Sam and Lucy''s heads darted toward the sound; the latter gasped as a sylphlike figure slithered out from between the trees. The hooded presence slowly approached the duo; his undulating white robe glowed faintly in the dark akin to the moon itself. A bird-like porcelain mask shrouded the person''s face, which Lucy recognized in an instant. "It can''t be. That''s¡­that''s the Night Terror," the female Nightingale blurted out. "The vigilante? So, he''s still alive after all these years," replied Sam, scowling at the imposing thief. He raised his katana, preparing himself for a confrontation. The Night Terror extended his gangly, ashen right hand forward, causing the pile of bones in front of him to quiver before spitting out a thin, long object. It was a black-edged falchion with a gleaming gold handguard and a snow-white grip. Even from a glance, Sam and Lucy knew the sword was unlike any standard weapon. "You''ve got to be kidding me. How the hell did a deviant like him get his hand on a Core Blade?!" Lucy scoffed. "I don''t think that''s the main issue right now," Sam added as the Night Terror yanked his sword out from the ground. Holding the blade horizontally, the masked vigilante softly chanted an elegant-sounding language that strangely made the Faceless''s heart pound faster. A few moments later, he noticed the shadows behind the Night Terror expanded, consuming everything in its path. Sam turned his head toward Lucy, trying to warn her of the approaching darkness, but it was already too late. ??******************************************** This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ||| THE PATH OF THE DELUGE: LUCIA ||| Lucy didn¡¯t know what just happened. The last thing she saw was Sam¡¯s alarmed expression and the next thing she realized; she was standing alone in the darkness. ¡°Oh great. What am I getting myself into this time?¡± the woman muttered with a hint of frustration. As she took a step forward, she heard a rustling beneath her feet akin to the sound of dry leaves. Shuddering, the ponytailed woman slowly lifted his leg; her eyes widened in shock as soon as she noticed what she was stepping on. It was a small rag doll in a pure white dress; its long, black hair was tied in a braid ¨C identical to the one she had when she was a little girl. KRING! Lucy twitched after hearing a chime coming behind her. She slowly turned around and was greeted by the sight of a tall, red windmill looming over her. ¡°No¡­that¡¯s¡­impossible,¡± the woman murmured. She refused to believe it at first, but there was no mistaking it. The lone building standing in front of her was the same windmill in her hometown. However, the last time she remembered, the entire structure was burned down by a great fire years ago. The Night Terror; the name suddenly popped into her mind. ¡®Of course!¡¯ Lucy quietly recalled. ¡®He was a master of illusion ¨C often using it to trick his opponents.¡¯ Even then, the female Nightingale found it difficult to believe that the infamous vigilante¡¯s ability could be powerful enough to materialize something from her memory. THUD! Lucy promptly drew her dagger as a shadowy mass landed in front of the windmill. The mysterious figure soon straightened itself up, eventually revealing itself to be none other than the Night Terror himself. ¡°So, I guess it¡¯s just you and me now, huh?¡± Lucy scoffed; her voice was slightly shaky. Instead of answering, the Night Terror extended his right arm forward ¨C the palm of his hand stretched wide open. A brief second later, an orb of light appeared inside the vigilante¡¯s hand ¨C its muted blue light glowed in the darkness like a lantern. Then, the tiny sphere¡¯s shape began to change ¨C contorting and elongating until it resembled a harpe. ¡°W-wha¡­?¡± Lucy was at a loss for words. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­that¡¯s¡­mom¡¯s¡­¡± The Night Terror gripped the golden-edged harpe, causing the vanes of the windmill behind him to revolve violently. ¡°Tch, you bastard¡­how the hell did you get your hand on that?¡± the female Nightingale exclaimed furiously. The masked vigilante raised the blade over his head and the windmill behind him started to quiver. Lucy could feel her heartbeat accelerate but it was not out of fear. There was something about the Night Terror¡¯s movement that evoked a sense of familiarity in her ¨C as if she was going up against her own mother. But before she could process the situation, the building behind the Night Terror exploded, bringing forth a stream of water that surrounded the vigilante like a wall. ¡°Crap,¡± Lucy uttered as she knew what was coming next. The pillar of water dispersed, turning into a million tiny, transparent needles that hovered above the Night Terror¡¯s head. ¡°This is gonna hurt really bad,¡± said the female Nightingale before the masked vigilante launched the needles toward her. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE DELUGE ||| **??****************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| Cold. That was the first thing he felt after being consumed by the darkness. For a while, he did not hear or see anything until he snapped his fingers, creating a small fireball on his thumb. As his eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, he realized that he was still in the forest except Lucy was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Lucy? Rupert?¡± Sam called for his friends but there was no answer. His vermillion eyes darted around, trying to search for the siblings until something else caught his attention. Squinting, Sam noticed an abnormal lump on one of the pine trees which seemed to be pulsating and¡­breathing. He pointed the fireball forward, only to stumble upon an elderly human face carved into the tree bark. Moreover, its lips were moving, murmuring in foreign tongues. Shortly after, the face became twisted as if it was in pain, followed by dark red sap-like fluid exuding out of its orifices. Then, the entire tree erupted into a bright, cyan flame ¨C prompting Sam to shield his eyes. However, Sam suddenly felt a firm grip around both of his ankles, followed by a forceful tug. The next thing the man knew, he was plunged into a body of water ¨C swept away by a familiar current. This again?! Sam chided quietly. Despite the powerful wave, he saw a dim, undulating light above his head and began to swim upward. As his right hand breached the surface, he was struck with vertigo, like he was falling from a great height. Then, he felt it. An invisible force pulling him toward the surface, or perhaps it was simply gravity? Nevertheless, Sam found himself emerging from the torrential waters ¨C only to land on solid, flat ground. The man swiftly removed his mark and started coughing; his entire clothes were drenched, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. ¡°That¡­was definitely not healthy,¡± Sam panted before putting his mask back on. He rose to his feet groggily, turning his head left and right to get his bearings. ¡°Wait a minute. That¡¯s¡­it can¡¯t be¡­,¡± the man mumbled. Countless tombstones spread across the barren field; each one of them bathed underneath the gloomy moonlight. However, Sam¡¯s heart sank as soon as he noticed some of the names etched on the stones: Markus Strigis, Marie Strelitzia, Rupert Nightingale, Lucia Nightingale ¨C all of them were the names of his friends. As he took a closer look, he realized that every slab had the names of every member of the Faceless Order, including the Faceless Lord himself. ¡°Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?¡± Sam grunted. ¡°Not at all,¡± said a distorted voice. Sam turned his head to the left and watched silently as the Night Terror walked out of the shadows with his drawn falchion. ¡°All of these are what awaits you at the end of your path.¡± ¡°And why should I believe the words of a criminal?¡± ¡°Because deep down inside, you know I am right. Finding your origins? Your family? That is all an excuse. What you desire the most is proof that you are not the monster the others claimed you to be ¨C The Red Ravager.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with all of these tombstones?¡± ¡°Everything you see here is the manifestation of your innermost fear. You are afraid they were right about you; YOU are afraid of the consequences if they were right about you.¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t know about that already?¡± Sam huffed at the vigilante¡¯s comment. ¡°Besides, this is only one of the possible futures; so, it is pointless to use this one against me.¡± ¡°We shall see about that, Samuel Edelweiss,¡± the Night Terror retorted, shortly before dropping into his fighting stance ¨C a gesture that Sam reciprocated. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| 50th Fragment: -DELIRIUM- ||| THE PATH OF THE DELUGE: LUCIA ||| ¡°That was a bit too close,¡± Lucy sighed, casting her eyes upon the million needles embedded in the tall wall of rushing water. She waved her dagger and the barricade instantly collapsed, seeping back into the earth. The female Nightingale then scowled at the Night Terror who was standing motionlessly with the golden-edged harpe in hand. The fact the vigilante was wielding the Core Blade infuriated Lucy the most ¨C not to mention the Fangs of Charybdis: the countless needle-like projections conjured by the Night Terror earlier ¨C both of them were used by her late mother during her heyday. More questions popped into her mind, but Lucy knew it would take more than a simple conversation to get the answers she needed. Either way, she had to find a way to escape from the masked vigilante¡¯s illusion and there was only one way she could think of. ¡°Tch, talk about a bothersome foe,¡± Lucy murmured before fixing her grip on the dagger. She immediately charged toward her enemy who seemed to be unfazed by her approach. The female Nightingale proceeded to swing her Core Blade and ended up colliding with the Night Terror¡¯s sword. ¡°It must be boggling your mind to see this blade again in the hands of the living,¡± said the Night Terror, his voice sounded like an amalgamation between a man and a woman. ¡°So, you can talk. Good, ¡®cause there¡¯s a lot of things I want to ask you,¡± Lucy replied sternly. ¡°Firstly, where did you get that sword?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there more important things you need to be concerned about?¡± the Night Terror chided before shoving the young woman away. ¡°Like your brother and Sam?¡± ¡°They can take care of themselves. Now, I ask you again: Where did you get that sword?¡± ¡°Where else? It¡¯s not like that place is well-guarded.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Lucy¡¯s voice began to tremble. ¡°You raided my mother¡¯s grave?!¡± ¡°And what if I did? It¡¯s not like she¡¯ll use it anymore.¡± The Night Terror¡¯s casual retort caused Lucy to see red; a part of her desperately urging her to choke the life out of the vigilante. But, no ¨C the last thing she needed was to attack her opponent while in a state. Furthermore, she was in the Night Terror¡¯s illusionary realm ¨C so it might have been a ploy to rile her up ¨C to coerce her into making a blunder. Lucy quickly took a deep breath to calm herself before holding her dagger horizontally. ¡°I was really hoping to save this for my encounter with the Helians. However, you might prove to be a feasible alternative.¡± The transparent edge of the dagger began glowing, followed by a faint growling akin to the sound of a raging thunderstorm. A few seconds later, the blade changed ¨C from clear blue to opaque grey. Its surface was covered in scales which gave it a serpent-like appearance. Without saying a single word, the young Nightingale bolted toward the Night Terror and swiftly cut through the vigilante¡¯s right hand. Lucy watched as the harpe fell to the ground before disintegrating into a veil of mist. The Night Terror¡¯s severed hand, however, shriveled up and subsequently crumbled like sand. After taking a glance at his amputated limb, the masked vigilante briskly distanced himself from Lucy who, in turn, said, ¡°I knew it. It was a fake all along.¡± The female Nightingale shifted her attention back to the Night Terror; the masked man was glancing at his wrist which was slowly drying up. However, what he did next shocked Lucy to the core. Without a shred of hesitation, the Night Terror ripped his entire right arm from his torso before tossing it away like a piece of garbage. ¡°How strange. There¡¯s not a single drop of blood spilled after he did that,¡± Lucy whispered. ¡°What was that technique you just used? I never seen anything like it before,¡± the Night Terror commented. ¡°It¡¯s just something I¡¯ve created during my free time,¡± Lucy countered. ¡°Now, are we going to stand here and talk, or finish our little scuffle?¡± ¡°No, I have seen enough,¡± the masked vigilante sighed. He raised his left arm and pointed his index finger forward. ¡°Also, have you already forgotten that you are still in my domain?¡± Lucy raised her dagger, preparing herself for an incoming attack ¨C until a storm of flower petals appeared out of nowhere, burying everything in their path. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE DELUGE ||| ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| How long has it been? How many hours have passed ever since they first crossed blades? Those were the thoughts that kept on repeating inside Sam¡¯s mind. He wondered how times worked in the Night Terror¡¯s domain or was there even a concept of time in his domain? Sam swung his sword firmly which could have cut through the vigilante¡¯s abdomen if the latter did not jump of the way. The vermillion-eyed man¡¯s head darted skyward ¨C only to realize the Night Terror was floating in the air above him. ¡°I¡¯m not here to cause any trouble. I¡¯m just here for the prince and princess of the Opal Sun Kingdom,¡± said Sam. ¡°Why?¡± The Night Terror inquired. ¡°What do their lives mean to you? Aside from being a part of the Order, you are nothing but outsiders to them.¡± ¡°They are my friends. Is that reason good enough for you?¡± ¡°Are you? Or are you just doing it for your own personal reason?¡± ¡°Does that even matter? I was entrusted with this responsibility and I intend to fulfill it, whether you like it or not,¡± Sam responded confidently. ¡°Hm,¡± the Night Terror grunted. ¡°Fortunately for you, I also have my own duty to fulfill.¡± ¡°Wha-?¡± Before Sam could finish his sentence, the masked vigilante suddenly manifested in front of him and grabbed him by the temples. ¡°Shatter,¡± uttered the Night Terror, causing Sam to scream in agony as he felt an intense pain spread throughout his entire skull. **??****************************************** As the stinging sensation receded, Sam opened both of his eyes; the dark spots clouding his vision gradually disappeared. After a few deep blinks, he finally recovered his sight ¨C but to his surprise, the vigilante known as the Night Terror was nowhere to be seen. Sam also noticed that the forest had returned to normal, thinking that the Bandit Lord might have scurried off ¨C until he realized Lucy was not next to him. "Another illusion," the man deduced. Just as the Faceless was about to sheathe his sword, he felt something gently brush against his back, prompting him to turn around with his katana raised. However, instead of an enemy, it was a star-shaped flower floating in the air. Sam stared at it in silence, wondering why such a bloom was in the Coniferous Forest. He proceeded to stretch his right hand out, allowing the lone flower to land in his palm. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "A pink poui," he stated. As far as he remembered, the blossom in his hand only grew in the south - more specifically, in the Realm of the Tree Dancer. ¡°What are you planning now?" Sam turned his gaze forward and saw a long, winding road made from the same flower, leading further into the darkness. The man was initially hesitant, thinking this might be one of the traps concocted by the Night Terror. But, he somehow sensed something coaxing him to follow the path - an intense wistful longing that he had never experienced before. Unfortunately, before he could even process his feelings, both of his legs started to move on their own. ****??**************************************** The sound of his feet rustling against the grass and flower petals echoed throughout the forest. Sam had no idea how long had passed ever since he began walking, but he strangely felt an air of calmness swirling around him - as if he knew he wasn''t in immediate danger. The flowery path eventually led to a giant oak tree enfolded in mosses and tattered white clothes with leaf-like symbols imprinted on them. "Wait a second...," Sam whispered, his eyes narrowed. Although he had only seen it once in a book, there was no doubt that the tree in front of him was the same ancient tree standing on top of the Fallen Star Hill. From out of nowhere, Sam felt something cold and sharp pressing against the nape of his neck. Shortly after, he saw a white silhouette in the corner of his eyes gliding into his field of vision. Sam grimaced at the sight of the bird-masked man scowling at him along with the vigilante''s falchion pining against his throat. "Finally decided to show up?" said the vermillion-eyed man. The Night Terror moved his head up and down, scrutinizing Sam with his round, citrine eyes. Then, the masked vigilante lowered his sword and took a few steps backward, a gesture that caught the Faceless off guard. Bringing his hand to his neck, Sam rubbed the spot where the blade was touching his skin while staring at the Night Terror in disbelief. "You could have killed me earlier. So, why didn¡¯t you?" asked Sam, but the masked vigilante remained silent. Sam fidgeted; his shoulders felt heavy as if a piece of weight was placed on them. "Argh!" he yelped as a stabbing pain spread all over his body. Looking down, he saw his entire clothes were stained dark red, causing him to hurriedly fold his sleeves. Much to the Faceless''s confusion and horror, his arms were covered in deep gashes with fresh, warm blood bleeding profusely from each wound. ''Just an illusion; it''s just an illusion,'' Sam repeated the words in his mind, but the pain felt so vividly real that he was slowly losing consciousness. Seconds later, he sensed someone standing in front of him, and the man could already guess who it was. As Sam raised his head, the Night Terror was an inch away from his face; the vigilante''s spindly fingers hovered between the wounded man''s eyes before they gently pressed against his forehead. That was all Sam felt before he slowly fell on his back. He held his breath, bracing himself for the solid ground, but he was soon enveloped in glacial, torrential waters. Sam''s eyes widened as the freezing temperature amplified his pain; his scream was drowned by the violent wave. The deafening sound of rushing water filled his ears ¨C yet, he could faintly hear multiple people''s voices muttering to each other: ''Better keep our distance from him. I heard he''s the one destined to destroy the world.'' ''If that''s true, then shouldn''t we...finish him off?'' ''Yeah. It''s not like anyone will miss him if he''s dead. Just club him in the head with one of those wooden swords and simply said it was an accident. That should do it.'' Sam clamped down on his ears, but his action did nothing as more voices came through - this time, they were spouting scornful remarks: ''You think you''re here because you''re special? Because your power is rare? No, you''re just here so the Council can keep their eyes on you -- so they can put you down in case you become a rabid dog.'' ''Fuck off! What makes you think we wanna be your friends!'' ''You should have let the river drown you, boy. That''ll spare us the trouble of killing you ourselves.'' "Ugh!" Sam cried out as he collided with a hard, stony surface. The next thing he noticed was that he was lying on a patch of grass -- all the cuts on his limbs disappeared without a trace. Moreover, his clothes were completely dry, but his body was still shivering from the cold. With a groan, Sam got to his feet; he felt like his head was about to split open. Never had he faced an illusion that could severely affect every single one of his sensory perceptions before. "The Night Terror¡­sure lives up to his reputation," the man panted. In that instance, a strong floral scent crept into his nose and almost caused him to sneeze. "What the-?" Sam gasped. A vibrant meadow stood before him, composed of various flowers and shrubbery bathed by the ethereal moonlight. What baffled him the most was some of the plants only grew in certain seasons and climates. A verdant pole nestled in the middle of the flourishing garden beckoned to him. Curious, Sam carefully waded through the bed of flowers, and as he got closer, he realized the long object was in fact, a naginata; its blade partially embedded in the ground. "A Core Blade..." The man uttered confidently, even though it was his first time seeing the weapon. Or was it? Nevertheless, he reached his right hand out, trying to grab the naginata - only for it to end up exploding into a thousand flower petals. "Shit, should have seen that one coming," Sam said wryly. He spun around; a frown appeared on his forehead as he caught a glimpse of the Veiled Lady standing a few feet from him. A hooded figure stood in front of her, and Sam instantly recognized him as the same person from the fireball vision. "You shouldn''t be here," the Veiled Lady calmly asserted. "The others are searching for you, including the Faceless Lord himself." "It''s your fault. Everything is your fault!" the hooded figure growled. "Everything would be perfect if you just kept your mouth shut!" "It doesn''t matter whether I keep my mouth shut or not. We''ve told you over and over again, that every action has its consequences - however, it¡¯s not too late to do the right thing. Please, turn yourself in." ¡°And then what? You¡¯re gonna let those ingrates trample on us even after everything we''ve done for them? We are not their lapdogs." "And we are not tyrants either. Your concerns for our well-being are admirable, but that does not permit you to seek and initiate a conflict with the Reprieved. Surely you haven''t forgotten why the Order was created in the first place?" "The only reason they tolerate our presence now is because they need us. When all these fighting are over, these ''hapless people'' will cast the Order aside like a group of pariahs." The Veiled Lady shook her head in dismay. "No one knows for certain what the future holds, including you. Just because there is a possibility that they will turn on us, it doesn''t mean they will do it." "No, you''re wrong. There IS one person who knows about the future," the hooded figure''s head moved toward the Veiled Lady. "Honorable Dame, I plead to you - please, let me do this." "One mustn''t interfere with the course of destiny, even if it is for the noblest cause." "This is not about a noble cause, Milady; it''s about our survival. So, please," a glinting silver blade slithered out of the hooded figure''s sleeve. "Before I make you." "I''m sorry. My answer is still ''no''." "I see. That''s...that''s a pity," the hooded figure sighed before driving his sword into the Veiled Lady''s abdomen. "Forgive me...for everything." Sam, who had been observing from afar, gawked at the unfolding event. His mind was quickly bombarded by questions such as: ''Was that what really happened? Was that how she died?'' But the most important one was: ''Why is he seeing all this?'' "You are asking the wrong questions, kid," said the hooded figure as he yanked his sword out of the Veiled Lady''s lifeless body, which dispersed into a cloud of sand. "For years, you''ve been seeking answers to who you are and where you came from - only to be hindered by the Order''s archaic laws." "How-? No, you''re-you''re not real," Sam retorted, her voice trembling. "Real or not ¨C I¡¯m the only person who can provide you with the answers to your questions. All you need to do is grab hold...and let me do the rest," the hooded figure offered his left hand. Sam''s eyes were focused intently on the man''s extended hand. He could feel his heart pounding painfully against his chest as he contemplated the proposal. To learn about his past -- it was indeed his greatest desire till today - still, he was also aware of the risks of striking a deal with a dubious character. "Stay away from the boy," said a warm, motherly voice. Sam glanced over his shoulder and saw the Veiled Lady standing behind him. Even with her concealed face, the flame Accursed could feel the anger seeping between the woman''s veiling. "Ah, it seems I was discovered," the hooded figure casually chuckled. The Veiled Lady stepped in between Sam and the sinister presence, both hands on the vermillion-eyed man''s shoulder. "It''s time for you to leave," the woman whispered. Sam opened his mouth to protest, but the Veiled Lady suddenly shoved him away, and he found himself plunged into the icy cold water once more. He flailed around, using his remaining strength to grapple against the turbulence - until he saw an enormous, shadowy apparition loomed over him. Then, everything faded to black. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| 51st Fragment: -FRICTIONS- [Forest of the Bandit Lord] [Land of the Opal Sun] The first thing Sam felt was something sharp pressed against his neck. His eyes snapped open and noticed Lucy was pressing the tip of her dagger against his Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°Lucy,¡± Sam said carefully but the female Nightingale neither responded nor moved a muscle. Then, he heard a crackle behind him followed by a familiar voice, exclaiming: ¡°Oi, Luce! What the heck are you doing!¡± Rupert rushed toward his sister and tugged her arm away from Sam. Shortly after, Lucy shoved her brother away; her head darted right and left as if she was being chased by something. ¡°Luce, calm down! It¡¯s me!¡± Rupert called out. ¡°Stay away!¡± yelled Lucy as she pointed her dagger toward her own brother. Realizing what was going on, Sam immediately stepped in by telling the female Nightingale, ¡°Lucy, it¡¯s alright. You¡¯re now in the real world. So, you can lower your weapon.¡± ¡°Prove it!¡± Sam swiftly removed his mask; he stared directly at Lucy and said, ¡°Look into my eyes. You¡¯ll know I¡¯m speaking the truth.¡± After a brief moment of silence, Lucy ended up dropping her arms before discarding her own mask, revealing her sweaty face. ¡°Sorry about that. I just needed to make sure you were real,¡± the female Nightingale apologized. ¡°Okay?¡± said Rupert, still dumbfounded by his sister¡¯s prior behavior. ¡°Can someone tell me what the hell is happening?¡± ¡°The Night Terror. That¡¯s what happened,¡± Lucy exhaled. ¡°Um, sorry. The Night Terror? THAT Night Terror? And he¡¯s the one who made you two acting¡­weird?¡± ¡°Hold on. You weren¡¯t affected by it?¡± Sam inquired with a scowl on his face. ¡°By what, exactly?¡± ¡°Huh, interesting. So, the illusion only affects those who were on ground level,¡± Sam further added. ¡°What illusion? Look, all I¡¯m asking for was the reason why my sister nearly stabbed you in the throat ¡®cause¡­¡¯cause that ain¡¯t normal.¡± ¡°Ain¡¯t normal?¡± Lucy scoffed as she sheathed her dagger. ¡°You know what else ain¡¯t normal? This entire forest ¨C everything about it is not normal. I don¡¯t know what it is, but it felt like this goddamn place is toying with us.¡± GRRR! The trio froze in their place after hearing a distant rumbling, followed by a gust of cold air that almost knocked all of them off their feet. Sam and Lucy shifted their attentions toward Rupert who shook his head in return, stating that it was not his doing. Then, they heard some rustling and also faint whispering above their heads. The trio listened closely to the voices though they soon came to find out that whoever or whatever was making those noises was speaking in an unknown language. ¡°Dude, are you hearing this?¡± Rupert said softly. ¡°Yeah¡­,¡± Lucy paused as she tried to identify the dialect. ¡°That song-like intonation¡­it¡¯s not the standard Discordanian. It sounds more¡­archaic.¡± Soon after, her eyes lit up before turning her head at Sam. ¡°That is the Lullaby of the Moon ¨C the same language used by the Bandit Lord and his followers.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m guessing you can¡¯t interpret what they are saying?¡± ¡°Not in real-time, and not without Lizzy¡¯s help,¡± Lucy sighed, feeling slightly disappointed by her own inadequacy. ¡°Soooo, what exactly are these voices? I thought the forest¡¯s bandits had disbanded a long time ago.¡± ¡°Those are not the forest bandits ¨C at least, not the actual ones,¡± Sam interjected as he slowly raised his head skyward. ¡°It¡¯s him ¨C it¡¯s the Night Terror. Every strange occurrence that has been happening ever since we first set foot in this place ¨C it was all his doing.¡± ¡°You mean¡­he¡¯s controlling this entire forest?¡± Lucy countered. ¡°How is that even possible? If the Bandit Lord is that powerful, then why won¡¯t the Inner Circle request help from the Faceless Order?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Markus say they wanted to keep their states of affairs to themselves? Perhaps that¡¯s why?¡± Rupert recalled. ¡°Hm,¡± Sam grumbled. ¡°I have a feeling that¡¯s not entirely true.¡± All of a sudden, the disembodied whispering stopped, allowing the prior lifeless atmosphere to creep back into the forest. However, it did not take long until the pine trees started to move on their own. ¡°Darn it, what is it now?¡± Lucy chided. The trees slowly closed in, forming a tall wall that surrounded the trio. But then, a part of the barricade began to open up, revealing a stony pathway that led into the darkness. Sam and the Nightingales cautiously headed toward the newly-formed entrance; each one of them eyed it anxiously, wondering if it was another trap devised by the Night Terror. ¡°Who wants to go first?¡± the elder Nightingale simply asked, causing both Sam and Lucy to glare at him. ??******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE REVENANT: MICHAEL ||| [Meanwhile...] [The Infirmary, Tower of Nexus] With a blue clipboard in hand, the bespectacled man quietly scrutinized every paper clamped to it; letting out a few dissatisfied grunts now and then. Shortly after, he took a red pen from his chest pocket and crossed the document. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Another failure. Drats!" he exclaimed before tossing the clipboard onto one of the empty ward beds, producing a loud slapping noise. Suddenly, he heard the wooden doors behind him swing open, followed by brisk footsteps and a gentle female voice uttering his name, "Dr. Pascal." The man in the lab coat spun around and was greeted by the sight of an almond-skinned woman in a blue scrub -- her glistening, golden blonde hair tied into a Dutch braid. Her intense canary yellow eyes betrayed her frail, skinny frame which Pascal thought had been a great help in subduing several of his unruly patients. "Miss Morgana, how may I help you?" Pascal asked, his voice bordered between real concern and sarcasm. "Well, I would appreciate it if you keep your hands off the beds. They''re not exactly easy to replace once broken," Morgana scoffed, her arms crossed together. "Secondly, our patients are fast asleep next door. So, if you''re intending to express your frustration out loud, I suggest you do it outside the Infirmary." "That will be counterproductive to both of us," Pascal swiftly answered before adjusting his glasses. "What''s the current situation with Rosier?" "Stable, despite her constant request to be released from the ward early." "And the impurities in her blood? Did you take it to the lab for further processing?" "I did. It won¡¯t be long until we get the results." "Good," the doctor trotted toward the door, but his assistant briskly blocked his path. "Not so fast, sir. Our researchers are still determining whether the distillate is safe to be handled or otherwise. The last thing we need is for the Order''s top doctor blown to pieces." "The search for knowledge is not without its risks, Miss Morgana." "Under different circumstances, I would have agreed with you. But I would rather spend my precious time tending to my patients than picking bits of your brain off the floor just because you ignored my warning." BANG! Morgana and Pascal shuddered as the doors burst wide open with Marie storming inside carrying Adam on her back. "Excuse me for my intrusion, fellas. Is there a vacant bed I can use? He¡¯s getting pretty heavy," said Marie, her voice brimming with a sense of urgency. "This way," Morgana replied before guiding the two visitors to a nearby ward bed. "Here we go. Lie his head gently," the doctor''s assistant ordered while she carefully lifted Adam''s legs off the ground. "Talk to me, Marie," Pascal remarked as he pulled out a set of rubber gloves from his coat pocket and wore them. "He came through the Rift Gate covered in thick snow; said the Fenrir has broken out of the Prison of the Four Winds." Pascal and Morgana gave each other a look of disbelief; the latter instantly handed the doctor a pair of trauma shears to confirm their suspicions. "Wait, don''t-," Adam tried to stop the doctor, but his objection came a tad too late. Pascal sliced the white parka in half and removed the entire clothing with his assistant''s aid. "My god," Morgana blurted out, both hands over her mouth. A large, black spot covered Adam''s chest with six fernlike arms that grew from the mark -- akin to a regular snowflake. Pascal grimaced as he also noticed smaller dots surrounding each spike, indicating the infection was nearing its penultimate phase. "Morgana, please prepare the quarantine room," the doctor meekly instructed. "Quarantine?! No, I can''t ...I have to go back!" Adam complained before trying to sit himself up. But, Marie quickly flicked him in the forehead, causing the man to lay on his back once again with a headache. "Better do what the doctor says, dear. Cold Spots are not to be taken lightly - even when you are an Accursed." "But, the Fenrir-!" "Is not a threat...yet," Marie continued. "The Fanged Avalanche had been inside the Prison of the Four Winds for decades - if he''s as smart as people claimed him to be, then that monster will lay low to fully regain his strength before making his next move." "You don''t know that, Miss Marie." A mysterious, lopsided smile appeared across Marie''s face. "Oh, you should know by now to never, ever underestimate your seniors, Mr. Salvia." ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE REVENANT ||| **??****************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Inner Forest of the Bandit Lord] "Come on, guys. The mausoleum is probably just around the corner," Rupert cheerfully stated. "That''s what you''ve been seeing for the past what? Five minutes?" Lucy retorted, rolling her eyes in annoyance. ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t even know if this path even leads to the tomb.¡± Amused by the siblings'' antics, Sam began to chuckle until he felt a sudden jolt of electricity running along his arms. "Halt," the vermillion-eyed man asserted, stopping both Rupert and Lucy dead in their tracks. The Nightingales then shifted their attention to Sam, wondering why he said that word. "Something...doesn''t feel right." "Are you sure it''s not just in your head?" Rupert commented. "I mean, sometimes you can be a bit...unstable?" "Rupert!'' Lucy instantly reprimanded her brother. "What? It''s not like I''m lying, ya know?" "GET DOWN!" Sam suddenly cried out. The trio dived to the ground as soon as an arrow of light swooped over them before boring itself into a pine tree, leaving behind a hole with the size of a rubber ball. "Something in his head. What the hell was that then, huh?" said Lucy sarcastically. "Take cover!" Sam commanded, prompting the siblings to crawl toward the tall conifers. Then, they leaned quietly against the rough surfaces of the trees, keeping their ears and eyes open. "What was that? It¡¯s like an arrow or something," Rupert inquired, gazing confusingly at his sister. "Aria," Lucy simply replied. "She''s the only one who wields a bow." "Well, if she''s here, that means Jason and Theo are also in the vicinity," Sam added. "I see you~," the Opal Sun Princess playfully called out. A brief second later, the trio heard a screeching, and the pine tree next to Rupert exploded with a thunderous bang. The elder Nightingale grouched as some of the splinters flew toward him, but luckily for the man, his mask protected his face from being punctured by the sharp fragments. ¡°Tch! If only she was Distorted, I would have thrown this sickle at her." "Calm yourself. Have you already forgotten what Sam told you earlier?" Lucy sternly countered, making her older sibling giggle. "You want me to calm down? Now, THAT is funny." Another shrieking and this time, the tree to Lucy''s left shattered to pieces. "Got any bright ideas? This is getting rather irritating." "Just wait for a bit," Sam said nonchalantly. "Um, for what, exactly?" Lucy probed. "For this." Sam rolled sideways as a longsword shot out of the darkness and embedded itself into the spot where his head was. Soon after, a robed figure lunged from the shadows along with his glinting blade which was immediately blocked by Sam''s katana. "Theodorus," mouthed Sam after seeing the Captain of the Royal Guard''s gleaming sunglasses. However, he immediately noticed the black veins spread all over the bespectacled man''s face and hands - a phenomenon he once saw in the Desert of Ashes. "Ah, I see. So that¡¯s what happened," the vermillion-eyed man remarked before pushing Theo(?) away. ¡°Those marks¡­they¡¯re the same as Lizzy¡¯s,¡± Lucy remarked with a frown across her face. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± said Theo(?), smiling from ear to ear. ¡°It seems the cavalry from the Faceless Order has arrived.¡± 52nd Fragment: -GUMUSSERVI- With his gleaming, vermillion eyes fixated on Theo(?), Sam held his katana with both hands and steadied his breath. ¡°To whom do I speak? Is it the Captain of the Royal Guard or an unnamed puppeteer?¡± Sam muttered before hearing shuffling from behind him which he presumed to be the Nightingales getting to their feet. ¡°Puppeteer? What makes you so say that,¡± Theo(?) retorted. ¡°Those markings on your neck ¨C we¡¯ve seen it on someone we knew.¡± Theo¡¯s(?) brows slowly knitted together as if he was in disbelief at what he just heard. However, his smile soon returned to his face, followed by a sinister-sounding chuckle. ¡°Then, you must be that Edelweiss kid,¡± the visored man said exuberantly. ¡°And the two behind you¡­they must be the Nightingales.¡± ¡°Wha-? How do you know who we are?¡± Lucy blurted out. ¡°How? You three spoke with He Who Resides in the Stone, the Ageless Voice that came down from the heavens a thousand years ago.¡± Sam and the siblings exchanged looks with each other, clearly confused by the sudden exposition. Unfortunately, their puzzled expression dissolved as soon as the visored man continued, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you forgot? Back in the Wailing Forest, didn¡¯t you hear the voices coming out of the Crystal of Birth? And with your own two eyes, witnessed how it made the Mangler do its bidding? The same voice that spoke through the Echo in the Desert of Ashes?¡± ¡°How did you¡­?¡± Sam spouted; his eyes widened from shock. ¡°We can see everything, boy. The past, the present¡­and the futur-,¡± Theo(?) ducked to the ground as a kama flew over his head, followed by the elderly Nightingale¡¯s mocking laughter. ¡°He Who Resides in the Stone? The Ageless Voice? Man, what a bunch of bull,¡± Rupert scoffed. ¡°Long story short, you¡¯re the culprit behind the massacre in the Edge, aren¡¯t you? Not to mention, doing it by using our buddies¡¯ faces ¨C one would say you¡¯re a coward for doing that.¡± ¡°A coward? But I¡¯m not the only one who hides behind a mask,¡± Theo(?) smirked before he casually walked toward his lodged longsword. ¡°Hasn¡¯t it ever occurred to you why the Faceless Order dictates its members to wear masks every time they are out in the field? Or are you too preoccupied with your own selfish quests to even wonder about it?¡± ¡°Woah, would you look at that,¡± Lucy snorted. ¡°It seems we¡¯ve got ourselves another edgy opponent. The only thing I wonder is how many times did you practice those lines in front of the mirror?¡± ¡°Not as much as the time you peered over your shoulder to curse the scar on your back.¡± Lucy¡¯s azure eyes narrowed; her right hand slowly reached for her sheathed dagger. ¡°You¡­you know who he is, don¡¯t you? The user of the Black Fire?¡± ¡°¡¯Know¡¯ is an understatement, Miss Nightingale,¡± Theo(?) replied smugly. ¡°Though, if you¡¯re interested, I can tell you where to find him.¡± ¡°In exchange for what? Dropping our weapons and joining your ranks? What a joke,¡± Lucy spat before a tiny smile appeared across her face. ¡°You can take your offer and shove it.¡± ¡°That¡­is truly unfortunate. I was hoping you¡¯d be more reasonable than your parents,¡± said Theo(?) before pulling his blade out of the tree. Black smoke began to slip out of the wooden cavity and in a blink of an eye, the sturdy trunk split in half. ¡°I must say, the Order is pretty bold to send three novices instead of their more experienced fighters,¡± the Captain of the Royal Guard commented. ¡°Or should I say, foolish?¡± Sam quickly drew his Core Blade ¨C a gesture soon followed by both Rupert and Lucy. The vermillion-eyed man then turned his head left and right, and instantly realized there was only one person who had yet made his appearance. ¡°Where is the prince?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Somewhere he¡¯s meant to be,¡± Theo(?) breathed. Sam¡¯s head slowly tilted to his right until it hit him. "He''s inside the Mausoleum, isn''t he?" The Nightingales simultaneously gasped, their gazes shifted toward Theo(?) who was grinning balefully at them - neither denying nor confirming Sam''s theory. "Whoever you are and whatever it is you¡¯re scheming; I advise, no, urge you to reconsider your plan. This land has no need for more meaningless deaths, especially the innocent civilians ¨C they have suffered enough.¡± ¡°Suffered?¡± Theo(?) giggled. ¡°They have no idea what the word even means. Not yet.¡± All of a sudden, a pair of ashen hands popped out of the darkness; grabbing Lucy by the shoulder. "What the-!" the ponytailed woman yelped, seconds before she was yanked into the shadows. "LUCIA!" Rupert exclaimed but his sister had already disappeared without a trace. The elder Nightingale instantaneously brandished his kama and turned toward Theo(?), spouting, "You piece of shit! Where did you take her!? Where!?" Before Rupert could charge toward the visored man, Sam stepped in between the two men, telling the male Nightingale to calm down. ¡°No, Rupe! Don¡¯t let him get into your head! This is exactly what he wants!¡± ¡°But-!¡± ¡°Have faith, my friend. Your sister will be alright. She¡¯s strong, and you know it.¡± As soon as he saw Rupert reluctantly nodding his head, Sam let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Fascinating,¡± Theo(?) commented from out of the blue, prompting the two Faceless to turn toward the latter. ¡°It seems the tale I heard was true ¨C you do have a way with the unruly siblings.¡± ¡°And what of it?¡± Sam said defiantly. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Nothing in particular,¡± Theo(?) beamed. ¡°Well then gentlemen, shall we begin?¡± ?? ******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF THE DELUGE: LUCIA ||| [Meanwhile¡­] "Ugh!" Lucy yelped as she crashed to the ground with a terrific thud. She could see stars flashing before her eyes along with the earthy taste of the soil at the tip of her tongue. The female Nightingale promptly spat out the dirt that managed to cling to her lips before complaining, ¡°Why do they always love tossing people around?¡± Then, her heart sunk a little as soon as she saw her mask on the ground, split in half. ¡°Great, off to a great start,¡± Lucy exhaled. As she slowly got to her feet, Lucy noticed the eerie grey moon on the nightly sky, its ghostly light somewhat calmed down despite her current situation. ¡®At least, it¡¯s not full yet,¡¯ she thought. But even then, she knew it would be foolish to underestimate the princess of the Opal Sun Kingdom. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Lucy fidgeted after hearing a distorted female voice whispering into her right ear. ¡°What the¡­!¡± the female Nightingale spun around but found nothing except for the rows of shady pine trees and bushes. Then, she felt it ¨C a gentle tap on her shoulder. ¡°You sure move a lot, don¡¯t you?¡± said Aria(?) playfully as she stood on Lucy¡¯s left shoulder with one leg. The princess¡¯s blood-red eyes scrutinized the female Nightingale up and down, which soon prompted her to say, ¡°Hm, I thought you¡¯d be taller.¡± Aria(?) swiftly leaped away from Lucy after concluding her sentence and settled gracefully on one of the tree branches. With a smile across her face, the Opal Sun Princess drew her saber before carefully resting the blunt edge against her left palm. ¡°I was hoping for the Subsumer to finish you off, but I guess that¡¯ll be too easy.¡± ¡°So, that was your guys¡¯ doing? Figures,¡± Lucy huffed. ¡°So, what now? Are you gonna kill me or not?¡± ¡°That depends. Tell me, what fears you the most?¡± Lucy could feel her heart palpitating and a sense of impending doom soon crept up on her. ¡®Of course, now I remember,¡¯ the ponytailed woman quietly recalled. The Pale Huntress thrived on her enemies¡¯ fears; using them to instill panic and terror in her opponents ¨C an ability similar to the Night Terror. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll tell you?¡± Lucy retorted. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just my favorite question, or at least, this person''s favorite question,¡± Aria(?) giggled. The lone princess then brushed her fingertips along the blade, causing a translucent white veil to manifest in her hand. ¡°And thus, the night is mine, for I am the Pale Huntress, the Heiress of the Moonlight,¡± the princess uttered before throwing the thin piece of cloth to the sky. Lucy immediately shifted into her fighting pose and watched as the veil expanded, shrouding the entire vicinity like a giant quilt. Shortly after, the curtain-like object vanished into thin air like it was never there in the first place. ¡°What did you do?¡± Lucy inquired, but Aria(?) only responded to the question with a mischievous smile. Seconds later, she smelled something in the air ¨C the sweet and alluring scent of plum blossoms. THUD! Aria(?) landed in front of Lucy; her saber raised. The female Nightingale briskly took a few steps back to dodge the incoming attack ¨C until she felt a sharp pain on her left arm. ¡°Ow!¡± Lucy hissed before noticing a silver glint in the corner of her eyes. Her reflex instantly kicked in, causing her right arm to jerk upward ¨C blocking the princess¡¯s saber. Lucy¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of Aria¡¯s(?) hand peering out of the darkness. ¡°Wait, if that¡¯s her, then who is¡­?!¡± The female Nightingale glanced to where the princess was prior, only to discover the lone monarch was no longer there. Moreover, she noticed a spot of crimson on her left sleeve and a shallow laceration on her arm, which despite its appearance, stung tremendously. ¡°Surely, you should already know what I can do before coming here,¡± said Aria(?) as her face emerged from the shadows. ¡°Or am I under the impression that the Order sent you here on a whim?¡± Refusing to answer Aria¡¯s(?) question, Lucy shoved the princess away before swinging her dagger, intently aiming at her foe¡¯s lower limbs. The short blade easily dug into Aria¡¯s(?) left thigh, much to the female Nightingale¡¯s astonishment, but she soon found out why. Right in front of her eyes, the princess¡¯s lower limb melted like a candle, followed by her entire body. ¡°What the-! What kind of trickery is this?¡± Lucy blurted out as she scowled at the red waxy substance enveloping her weapon. SWOOSH! A snow-white arrow flew out from out of nowhere and brushed against Lucy¡¯s waist. ¡°Shit!¡± the female Nightingale cursed out loud. It felt like she was experiencing an ice burn, and to make matters worse, the sensation intensified with each passing second. SWOOSH! Another arrow shot out of the darkness ¨C only this time, Lucy saw it coming. With her dagger finally broken free from the thick red slime, the female Nightingale waved her blade vertically and sliced the arrow right in the middle. In that instant, the broken projectile dispersed into thousands of white, bright orbs before disappearing into the night. Lucy could hear a familiar gasp somewhere in the darkness ¨C one that was usually expressed due to an unprecedented outcome. ¡°That got your intention, huh?¡± Lucy remarked. ¡°I must say, controlling the Empyreans is quite an impressive feat, but¡­¡± The female Nightingale swiftly turned around, just in time to parry Aria¡¯s(?) sword. ¡°Your habit, however, is a whole other story.¡± ¡°You-ACK!¡± Aria(?) yelped after Lucy gave her a solid kick in the stomach, toppling the princess to the ground. ¡°Wha¡­?! Don¡¯t you realize that you¡¯re hurting your friend!?¡± ¡°Oh please, the Aria I know is made of sturdier stuff. So, you can stop pulling that ¡®I am your friend¡¯ card,¡± Lucy stated before she was suddenly struck with light-headedness. She groggily distanced herself from the princess until she felt her back bump into the tree trunk. ¡°Feeling a bit sleepy, are we?¡± taunted Aria(?) who was already on her feet. ¡°What¡­what did you do?¡± Lucy panted as her entire body grew heavier with each breath she took. Then, she sensed something warm running down her left arm. The female Nightingale¡¯s eyes darted at her left sleeve which was drenched with blood. Furthermore, she also noticed the wound Aria(?) gave her earlier ¨C it was now a deep, long gash. ¡°This¡­but, how?¡± Lucy was rendered speechless. ¡°How you asked?¡± Aria(?) sneered. ¡°I slice your arm with my saber ¨C that¡¯s how.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Your blade¡­it barely cut into the flesh.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s what you think you saw.¡± Lucy squinted at the princess, wondering what the latter was talking about. But shortly after, the image of the white veil sprung into her mind and she finally pieced it together. ¡°That thing you threw in the air ¨C it was not just for show, was it?¡± ¡°No. It is an ability created by this na?ve girl,¡± Aria(?) began. ¡°She called it Glamour; a veil of illusion that enchants anyone trapped within its radius. I can make it seem as if I could teleport in a blink of an eye, produce a copy of myself ¨C or, disguise the severity of one¡¯s injury until he or she bled out.¡± After finishing her explanation, the princess gently placed her saber against Lucy¡¯s throat. ¡°But that will take way too long, and unfortunately, patience is not one of my greatest virtues.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE DELUGE ||| 53rd Fragment: -TIDAL- ||| THE PATH OF THE DELUGE: LUCIA ||| Aria(?) swung her saber, expecting a stream of red to splash to her feet. But to her surprise, there was none ¨C not even a single drop. The princess glanced at her weapon, quickly realizing it was spotless. ¡°What the-ARGH!¡± Aria(?) cried out after a wall of water burst out of the ground before shoving her away from the young Nightingale. The Opal Sun Princess tumbled over backward with a perplexed expression and a drenched outfit. ¡°That¡­was seriously not cool,¡± said the young Nightingale after the watery barricade subsided. ¡°How? I felt the blade cut through your flesh,¡± Aria(?) growled as she sat herself up. ¡°Did you? Take a closer look,¡± Lucy pointed her thumb toward her neck. Aria(?) narrowed her eyes and instantly noticed a transparent, film-like layer peeling off the female Nightingale¡¯s throat. ¡°So, that is what protected you from my blade. An armor, or a second skin made from...solidified water?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Lucy responded proudly before putting her hand over the wound on her left shoulder. After taking a deep breath, navy blue strands grew out from each of her fingers and started to pierce into the woman¡¯s skin. Lucy bit into her lower lips as the thread moved about freely to close up the gash, thus effectively stopping the bleeding. Then, she placed the same right hand on her waist, creating a soothing, gel-like pad on the spot grazed by the princess''s arrow. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty impressive trick,¡± Aria(?) complimented. ¡°Although I presume you can only do that for a limited number of times.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­maybe not.¡± ¡°Shall we put it to a test, then?¡± the princess spouted before thrusting her saber into the soil. The long-haired woman then gleefully grabbed the black bow strapped to her back and aimed it at the female Nightingale. ¡°Ready or not,¡± Aria(?) chuckled as she drew the string, generating a brilliant arrow of light from out of nowhere. Lucy immediately readjusted her grip on her dagger; her azure eyes were fixated on the gleaming projectile. In that instance, she felt the stinging sensation on her arm and waist returning which she knew would worsen if she kept entertaining the princess. ¡°Man, what a drag,¡± Lucy murmured dejectedly. Shortly afterward, Aria(?) released the arrow and it split into multiple smaller arrows ¨C each one of them headed toward her opponent. Lucy waved her dagger horizontally in response, conjuring blue arrowheads that flew through the air ¨C meeting head-on with the arrows. As soon as the projectiles collided against each other, the dark forest was filled with deafening explosions of light. At the same time, Lucy spun around and deflected Aria¡¯s(?) incoming saber with the latter baring her teeth in frustration. The female Nightingale then drove her dagger forward and sliced through the princess¡¯s right thigh before retreating to a safe distance. Lucy took a hurried look at her dagger and noticed a familiar crimson streak on the blade, indicating she cut through the real Aria(?). ¡°Is that it? Is that the best the daughter of the great Sarah Gladia can do?¡± Aria(?) scoffed. The princess proceeded to hurl her saber forward, prompting Lucy to sidestep the blade. However, the young Nightingale caught a glimpse of the shadow beneath her feet shifting about and she immediately raised her dagger skyward to block Aria¡¯s(?) bow. ¡°You¡¯re a persistent one, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± the Opal Sun Princess remarked before leaping back onto the branches. ¡°You do realize there¡¯s only one way to end this fight? It¡¯s either you or this friend of yours.¡± ¡°You¡­are talking way too much that you failed to mind your surroundings.¡± ¡°Wha-!¡± the princess gasped as she suddenly felt her entire right leg spasming up. Aria(?) directed her gaze downward; both of her eyes widened in shock after seeing a barely visible strand connecting the wound on her thigh to the female Nightingale¡¯s dagger. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Aria(?) blurted out, but her question remained unanswered as blue tendrils broke out of the tree trunks and swiftly coiled around her limbs and torso. The princess frantically grappled with the cirri; however, she soon discovered her struggle only tightened the slithering restraints. ¡°You asked me if this the best the daughter of the great Sarah Gladia can do,¡± Lucy stated before pointing her right index finger heavenward. The ground around the female Nightingale began to rustle and then from between the grasses, small crystal-clear beads rose into the air; every single one of them hovered and congregated above the coniferous forest canopy. ¡°So, you¡¯re seriously going to sacrifice your friend just to save yourself? That¡¯s pretty cold, even for a Nightingale,¡± Aria(?) snickered. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. That thing up there ¨C it is not heavy enough to kill her, but it will hurt really, REALLY bad,¡± Lucy sneered before lowering her arm, bringing along the massive water sphere onto the shackled Opal Sun Princess. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE DELUGE ||| ?? ******************************************** ||| THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Cradle of the Froghoppers] [Second Floor] [The Tower of Nexus] Markus stopped dead in his tracks, a tiny smile appeared across his face after seeing a sign affixed to the grey metal door saying, ¡®OFFICIAL BUSINESS ONLY¡¯. ¡°Someone is sure in a good mood today,¡± said the Captain of the Deathstalker before knocking on the door. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Who is it?¡± a muffled male voice from within the chamber. ¡°It¡¯s Markus. You said you have something to show me, Mr. Theris?¡± Loud rustling noises soon followed, accompanied by several vulgar phrases uttered by the occupant. A few minutes later, the entrance opened up to a spacious chamber filled with control panels and a large single monitor displaying images of different locations across the world of Discordania. However, Markus also realized that the usually hectic place was strangely empty for the night. Curious, he shifted his focus to the middle of the room where a medium-built man in his mid-20s stood restlessly next to a bluish revolving chair. Clad in a hooded tawny coat, Maximillian Theris, the Captain of the Froghopper greeted Markus with his sombre garnet eyes which were partially concealed by his messy raven hair. ¡°Was I interrupting something?¡± Markus inquired. ¡°No, not at all,¡± Max replied, a hint of nervousness could be heard in his voice. ¡°I just¡­I didn¡¯t expect you to come so soon.¡± ¡°Well, you said it was a matter of great importance, and, um¡­where are the other?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent all of them on an errand. With the recent incident in the Edge, I dispatched my crew to keep an eye on the hotspots, just to make sure there wasn¡¯t any...funny business happening on those locations,¡± Max retorted. ¡°Funny¡­business?¡± Markus repeated, his forehead wrinkled. ¡°Uh-huh. For example,¡± Max briskly pressed several buttons on the panel and an image popped up onto the monitor ¨C an image of a giant standing on a hill with multiple arms attached to its trunk-like torso. ¡°Is that¡­?¡± Markus was at a loss for words. He slowly approached the monitor with a sullen expression, smacking his lips together in disbelief. Somewhere deep inside of him, he hoped the image was fabricated, but alas, he realized that was not the case. ¡°Where and when was this taken?¡± ¡°About 24 hours ago, near the outskirts of the Edge,¡± Max responded. ¡°It appeared during a night Raid ¨C the same one the Empyreans were involved with.¡± ¡°And not too long after that, the massacre of the Edge happened, correct?¡± Markus asked and the Captain of the Froghoppers nodded his head in return. ¡°First, the Prison of the Four Winds, now this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s, um¡­actually more, and it''s the main reason why I called you here.¡± Alex clicked on a button, changing the image of the Hecatoncheires to that of a murky forest. Thin, subulate leaves dangled from the branches, and like a lantern, each one of them gave out a weak, silver glow. Bushes of various sizes and shapes rested at the base of the tree trunks, their translucent leaves were white as cotton and ghastly yellow orbs of light resided between the shrubs. ¡°The Devouring Forest,¡± the words flawlessly slipped out of Markus¡¯s mouth. A brief moment later, a humanoid figure emerged from between the trees clothed in a black tattered robe while his face was hidden behind a sinister stag skull. But, what captured Markus¡¯s eyes the most was the viridescent pole strapped to the stranger¡¯s back. ¡°The Hallowed One,¡± Markus stared at the weapon in awe. ¡°How long has it been, Mr. Theris? Twenty? Thirty years?¡± ¡°Twenty-five ¨C more or less.¡± ¡°Twenty-five years, huh?¡± the Captain of the Deathstalker let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°Who would have thought the long-lost Core Blade of Erica the Purifier would reappear right in front of our eyes. Have you identified who that person is?¡± ¡°Nay,¡± Max exhaled loudly. ¡°We¡¯ve tried looking for different angles, but this is the best we got. Also, in case you¡¯re wondering, this was taken six hours ago.¡± Markus crossed his arms together and began to grumble. What is going on here? He thought to himself. His mind was racing, struggling to find the common denominator of the unprecedented events. Unfortunately, much to his chagrin, he could only draw a blank. ¡°It¡¯s a funny business indeed,¡± said a female voice, prompting both Markus and Max¡¯s heads to dart toward the corner of the room. ¡°How...how long have you been standing there?¡± Max asked Tulip, who was leaning against the wall. ¡°Since you showed the image of the Hecatoncheires,¡± Tulip answered, her glinting mulberry eyes briefly cycling between the two men before finally settling on the monitor. ¡°The Hallowed One; how intriguing.¡± ¡°Just get straight to the point, Tulip. What brings you here, to the Cradle?¡± Max said impatiently. ¡°Rumours, Max. I¡¯ve heard rumors that Markus sent Edelweiss and the Nightingales to the Land of the Opal Sun without the Faceless Lord¡¯s knowledge.¡± ¡°He did what? Oh, you¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± Max grunted. ¡°Now, now, you two. There¡¯s no need to panic, I¡¯ve already sorted out everything with Daedalus. It will all be just fine,¡± Markus replied calmly. ¡°No need to panic?¡± Tulip countered. ¡°Permission aside, you dispatched three novices to go against the Empyreans; one of them is a candidate for a seat in the Council of Eight. Not only that, your former proteges went inside the Forest of the Bandit Lord. Even if they have the Spool, they are still no match for that wretched place.¡± Markus then scowled at Tulip, causing the woman to shudder. ¡°In case you forgot, Miss Leonard, I know them longer than you. They are far more capable than you give them credit for.¡± ¡°And that is what worries me,¡± Tulip muttered. ¡°Your faith in them is praiseworthy, Markus, but allowing your feelings to muddle with your judgment is a dangerous thing, especially in your current position.¡± ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m emotionally compromised, Miss Leonard?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying your obsession to prove the Prophecy is wrong will end up being your own undoing.¡± The entire room went silent in an instant. Then, Markus started to smile which confused both Tulip and Max. ¡°Your honesty is appreciated, Miss Leonard,¡± Markus countered. ¡°But I didn¡¯t do it simply to satisfy my¡­obsession.¡± ¡°No, you want to show the Council that the Edelweiss kid is not a threat ¨C that with proper guidance, he can be the solution to our perpetual struggle. In a perfect world, you might get what you wanted but sadly, it is not.¡± ¡°True, but there is still a slight chance for that to happen though. So, I think that¡¯s good enough for me,¡± Markus smirked which only exasperated Tulip even further. ¡°Just give it up, Tulip,¡± Max interjected while scratching his right cheek. ¡°You know how Markus is when he¡¯s dead set on something.¡± Tulip glared at Max, her lips parted a little as if she intended to rebuke the man, but for some reason, the ill-tempered woman suddenly changed her mind at the very last minute. ¡°You know what? Forget about it. I should¡¯ve known better than trying to dissuade the Captain of the Deathstalker.¡± ¡°It is a good attempt, I must say.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Max,¡± Tulip lashed back, shortly before looking over to Markus once again. ¡°So, you really believe they¡¯ll pull it off?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Leonard ¨C and you should too.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS ||| 54th Fragment: -CALESCENCE- Sam and Rupert swung their weapons, only to see them blocked by Theo¡¯s(?) longswords. An amused grin immediately appeared on the visored man¡¯s face ¨C as if the Captain of the Royal Guard was openly mocking the two men¡¯s attempts. ¡°So, do tell me gentlemen ¨C what¡¯s the proper solution for this kind of situation? A Faceless who betrayed the Order ¨C I¡¯m guessing your friend here will be put to death for his treachery,¡± Theo(?) proudly asserted. ¡°Not if everyone knows the true reason for their actions,¡± Sam responded. ¡°The truth is irrelevant, boy. Even if the citizens of the Opal Sun were made aware of it, they still need someone to carry the blame. Now, with the prince and princess being untouchable, who do you think will be chosen for that role?¡± asked Theo(?) before he effortlessly pushed both of his adversaries away. ¡°If you¡¯re going to say the people won¡¯t allow this kid to die, then you are truly deluded. It doesn¡¯t matter whether he had saved the king¡¯s life or protected the kingdom from the threat of the Distorted ¨C at the end of the day, the only truth they care about is that the Captain of the Royal Guard is an Accursed.¡± ¡°The First Kings have decreed the four Kingdoms to be neutral zones-.¡± ¡°Do you seriously think the law alone could get rid of the hatred and fear these¡­Reprieved have for the Accursed?¡± Theo(?) snickered. ¡°Even someone like you is despised by your own peers.¡± Sam fidgeted; his eyes widened in shock at Theo¡¯s question. How did he know? He thought to himself. No one else knew about his previous predicament except those who resided in the Tower Nexus. ¡°That¡¯s not always true,¡± Sam responded before glancing at the elder Nightingale. ¡°There are those who don¡¯t succumb to their hatred ¨C those who judge others on what they do instead of what they are born as.¡± ¡°But it still isn¡¯t enough for you, is it? You indeed found those who accept you for what you are and yet, ironically, you cannot accept yourself. You just have, no, need to make sure that you are not the monster others claimed you to be,¡± Theo(?) further remarked. A grimace soon appeared on Sam¡¯s face; an expression that caused the Captain of the Royal to guffaw maniacally. However, the visored man¡¯s cackle was interrupted by Rupert who suddenly clapped his hands. ¡°Woo-hoo, yeah, what a great speech,¡± the elder Nightingale said mockingly. ¡°Can we finally get back to the fighting? All those big words you used were starting to make me sleepy.¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s quite a change in your attitude. Weren¡¯t you upset when your sister was taken from you earlier? Now, it seems you were unbothered by it ¨C some would say you are being heartless.¡± ¡°Nah, I¡¯ve been called worst ¨C and, so was my friend here,¡± replied Rupert as he pointed his thumb at Sam. ¡°Speaking of heartless, weren¡¯t you the one responsible for whatever it was that transpired at the Edge? As far as I see it, you¡¯re in no position to label anyone as heartless.¡± ¡°Hm, you are much smarter than you look, do you know that?¡± Theo(?) huffed. ¡°Well, thank you for your compliment. Then, you wouldn¡¯t mind me doing this, right?¡± Rupert smirked before raising his right hand in the air. All of a sudden, a cold gust of air blew toward the elder Nightingale, followed by a silver gleam passing over Theo¡¯s(?) right arm before landing in Rupert¡¯s hand. ¡°What the¡­?¡± The Captain of the Royal Guard stated before he felt a warm sensation near his neck, along with a familiar sharp pain. He instantly snapped his head to the left and realized there was a large gash near his shoulder, causing his entire sleeve to turn wine-red. ¡°That¡­was quite an impressive feat.¡± Rupert smiled widely after hearing Theo(?) praising him, prompting him to hold his kama forward ¨C its curved blade stained with blood. ¡°Careful, Rupe. We didn¡¯t come here to kill him,¡± Sam interjected. ¡°I know ¨C it was a little payback for the horrible things he said about you.¡± ¡°Well, I do appreciate it but that is still Theo¡¯s body. Markus will surely chew us out if we return with a corpse. We just need to incapacitate him, that¡¯s all,¡± Sam retorted. ¡°And how are we supposed to do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­,¡± Sam paused for a brief moment before he eventually sighed out loud. ¡°I¡¯m still working on it.¡± ¡°Better make it quick then!¡± Theo(?) shouted from across the two men. The Captain of the Royal Guard lowered both of his longswords until their tips were an inch away from the ground. In that instance, his arms were enveloped in a lustrous golden aura ¨C the radiant light looped around his upper limbs like a piece of cloth and ultimately converged in the middle of his chest. A few seconds later, the dazzling illumination disappeared, revealing an extravagant golden-woolled fleece. ¡°The heck is on his shoulder? It looks like a sash or something,¡± Rupert spouted. ¡°It¡¯s not just a normal sash. Look,¡± said Sam as he gestured at Theo¡¯s(?) arm; the blood on his sleeve had faded away, and reverted back to its former pristine condition. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s cheating!¡± Rupert declared. Theo(?) shrugged his shoulders, completely unfazed by the elder Nightingale¡¯s comment. The visored man then hurled one of his longswords toward Sam and Rupert ¨C the flying blade was soon shrouded by a similar golden glow; its shape changed to resemble a detached bull horn. Sam quickly shoved Rupert aside before dodging the incoming projectile himself. All he heard before hitting the ground was the bull horn swooping past him, followed by a thunderous explosion. Sam coughed repeatedly; completely rattled by the force of the blast. His arms and legs were quivering; at the same time, he felt a prickling sensation on his back which prompted him to look over his shoulder. The first thing he saw was Theo¡¯s longsword; its blade partially buried in a pile of charred splinters. He was expecting the air to stink of smoke, but all he smelled was a fresh, woody-like scent akin to a bamboo. ¡°SAM!¡± Rupert¡¯s grating scream prompted the vermillion-eyed man to dart his head forward where he saw Theo(?) charging toward him. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± Sam groaned before swiftly getting to his feet. He raised his katana and barely managed to block Theo¡¯s(?) longsword. ¡°Huh, for a novice, you are quite persistent,¡± said the Captain of the Royal Guard. ¡°I noticed something odd about the two of you ¨C you have no idea what this man is capable of, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°The look of surprise on your faces. Is it safe for me to assume that the Order sent you out here without informing you of the abilities of the Empyreans? Unless¡­?¡± Theo(?) gasped before continuing, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here illegally, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sam remained silent, refusing to answer the question. ¡°O-ho, it seems I was right. The Faceless Order really did send you here to die, didn¡¯t they? Then, I shall not disappoint them,¡± said Theo(?) as he held out his left hand over his head. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Shit!¡± Sam uttered as he felt the air behind him shift; the sound of crackling wood soon followed. He tried to turn around but Theo(?) pushed the vermillion-eyed man down, firmly fixed him in place. However, a brief moment later, Rupert lunged out of the shadows and successfully deflected the soaring longsword before the weapon could plunge itself into Sam¡¯s back. Theo(?) bared his teeth in frustration at the sudden turn of events, but the distraction gave Sam a window of opportunity to retaliate by lighting his katana on fire. The Captain of the Royal Guard hissed in agony as the abrupt ignition stung his eyes, forcing him to leap away from the Flame Accursed. ¡°Bro, are you alright?¡± asked Rupert as he made his way to Sam. ¡°Man, that blast was pretty nasty. My freaking ears are still ringing.¡± ¡°Mine too, and I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll be the last time he¡¯ll be doing it,¡± Sam replied. ¡°Before that, could you, um, put that out first?¡± Rupert pointed his finger at the burning katana. ¡°It¡¯s starting to hurt my eyes a bit.¡± ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Sam softly apologized before placing his hand against the blade, extinguishing the lucent fire. As Sam veered his gaze back to Theo(?), he noticed something hovering above the visored man¡¯s head ¨C a black, wavy thread stretching upward into the night sky ¨C the same thread he saw back in the Desert of Ashes. ¡°I think I might have found a way to end this battle,¡± uttered Sam, causing Rupert to smile exuberantly. ¡°Well, thank God for that. This fight is starting to get pretty dull.¡± SWOOSH! Both Sam and Rupert trembled as Theo¡¯s(?) longsword flew over their heads before being subsequently caught by its owner. ¡°That was not bad. Not bad at all,¡± the Captain of the Royal Guard chuckled. The visored man then raised his weapons until they touched his shoulders, triggering the fullers to be filled with purplish treacly liquid. The whole blades were soon coated with the mysterious solution; some of it dripped down, blackening the patch of grass beneath Theo¡¯s(?) feet like the trees after a forest fire. ¡°That¡­looks quite dangerous,¡± Rupert remarked, shortly before Theo(?) rushed toward the two Accursed. The three men clashed once more with the visored man swinging his twin blades viciously, putting Sam and Rupert on the defensive. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you! Haven¡¯t you learned nothing from all those years you¡¯ve been with the Order! Haven¡¯t you been taught to face your foes with the intent to kill!¡± Theo(?) taunted boldly. ¡°You talk way too much!¡± Sam countered as he parried one of Theo¡¯s(?) longswords. Soon after, Rupert came forward and planted both of his feet on the visored man¡¯s chest. Theo grunted; staggering a few steps backward from the sudden dropkick. However, he quickly regained his composure and proceeded to wave his blade around, scattering the tar-like substance everywhere. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t!¡± Rupert exclaimed before swinging both his kama, generating a powerful wind that redirected the venom back to its caster. ¡°Oh shit! I didn¡¯t mean to-!¡± The viscid fluid splashed across Theo¡¯s(?) face, and it immediately ate through his skin voraciously, revealing the flesh and muscles underneath. However, the sash around the visored man¡¯s neck emitted a golden gleam which seemingly halted the corrosive effect of the purple liquid. ¡°You¡¯re becoming quite a nuisance, little bird,¡± Theo(?) snarled, pointing his right longsword toward the elder Nightingale. KLANG! A silver crystalline chain shot out from the forest canopy before wrapping itself around Rupert¡¯s neck. ¡°What the fu-? Ugh!¡± the chain stiffened, tugging the elder Nightingale into the air. ¡°Rupe!¡± Sam cried out as he tried to seize his friend in the legs but to his dismay, the chain was faster than his reaction. ¡°Damn it!¡± Sam cursed before he decided to climb the nearby tree. As he made his ascent, he was met with the relentless attacks of the sharp pine branches digging into his face and hands ¨C however, he had no time to dwell on the pain. Sam continued to scale up the tree until he reached a bough above Rupert¡¯s head. Without wasting any more time, the vermillion-eyed man swiftly swung his katana to cut the chain, only to later realize he was barely making a dent. ¡°There¡¯s no need to waste your energy, kid!¡± Theo(?) yelled out from below. ¡°The Shackled Maiden is virtually indestructible. Unless I said so, he¡¯ll remain up there like a rabbit in a snare. So, just sit back and watch ¨C the scene of death is always fascinating to see up close.¡± Sam ignored the visored man¡¯s comment and continued waving his blade frantically until he heard Rupert gasping, ¡°Forget¡­about me¡­You need to get him¡­¡± ¡°Shut up! I almost got it!¡± ¡°Tell sis¡­that I¡­¡± ¡°I said shut up!¡± the vermillion-eyed man lashed back before setting his sword on fire. As the blade made contact with the chain, Sam felt something heavy hit in the chest and the next thing he knew, he was sent flying into the tree trunk. Sam wheezed as all the air was forced out of his lungs while his arms were shaking from the constant swinging. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to not waste your energy?¡± Sam cast his eyes forward as soon as he heard the familiar voice and saw Theo(?) standing in front of him. The visored man¡¯s face was already healed from its prior injury which Sam deduced to be the work of the golden fleece. He then redirected his focus toward Rupert whose face was gradually turning blue. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­I must¡­,¡± Sam murmured; his right hand clenched onto his katana so tightly that his fingernails started to dig into his palm. Then, he felt it ¨C he did not know whether it was the adrenaline kicking in or something else, but he felt a cold sensation running up his spine. His whole body burst into flame, illuminating the Coniferous Forest with bright orange light. ¡°Whatever it is you¡¯re planning, it won¡¯t-,¡± Theo(?) was rendered speechless after seeing the branches around Sam scorched by the mere heat of the flame. Moreover, he could feel his skin drying up as if it were exposed directly to the sun. ¡°Rupert, Lucy ¨C I will save them, all of them ¨C no matter what,¡± Sam uttered. As if responding to the remark, the flame started to change its color ¨C from orange to yellow, and lastly to pastel white. He then swung his katana, easily slicing across Theo¡¯s(?) chest. ¡°What the hell!¡± The visored man spouted as he felt the searing fire seeped into his bone. Furthermore, he also noticed his wound was not closing which only furthered his bewilderment. Sam proceeded to hold his weapon with both hands and the white flame swirled away from his body to convene at the blade of the katana. ¡°Be warned, I don¡¯t know whether I can control it yet,¡± said Sam, glaring at Theo(?) with his vivid scarlet eyes. ¡°So, let¡¯s hope that fleece of yours will withstand the heat.¡± Putting his left foot forward, Sam waved his sword and the pale fire stretched out like a whip. Theo(?) crossed his longswords, trying to block the incoming attack. However, the blades instantly repelled each other, making him vulnerable to the fiery whip. ¡°Shit,¡± Theo(?) blurted out in terror until he saw the lash swooped over his head. ¡°Got you,¡± Sam breathed before the whip sliced the floating thread in half. The visored man began to judder uncontrollably, causing him to release his Core Blades. Dark slime poured out of his mouth while at the same time, the veins on his face and neck receded. Sam quickly sheathed his katana, dousing the white flame in the process. He then dashed forward to catch Theo before the man fell off the branch. ¡°Crap, that was too close,¡± Sam exhaled as he slung the visored man over his shoulder. KRANG! The crystalline chain suddenly shattered into pieces, and Rupert dropped to the ground with a loud thud. ¡°Oh, for crying out loud!¡± Sam bellowed as he jumped off the bough. As soon as the vermillion-eyed man landed on his feet, he carefully placed the unconscious Theo on the grass before galloping toward the lying elder Nightingale. ¡°Oi, Rupe! Rupe!¡± uttered Sam, tapping his friend on the shoulders. No response. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t you dare die on me now!¡± Sam further as he stacked his hands over his friend¡¯s chest. A few moments later, Rupert slowly raised his right arm and curled his hand into a thumbs-up. ¡°You should use that flame of yours more often,¡± the elder Nightingale croaked. ¡°For goodness¡¯ sake, Rupe. You were almost strangled to death not too long ago, and here you are still cracking jokes?¡± Sam sighed before helping Rupert sat up. ¡°Almost, my friend. Almost. Thanks, by the way, for saving my neck ¨C pun intended.¡± "You owe me for that. Now-." BOOM! The two Accursed shuddered after hearing an explosion in the distance, followed by the roaring sound of rushing water. ¡°Um, is it me, or is the noise growing louder?¡± Rupert stated. ¡°Get up,¡± Sam retorted after sensing the ground beneath him rumbled. ¡°GET UP, NOW!¡± 55th Fragment: -NIGHT- ||| THE PATH OF THE DELUGE: LUCIA ||| [The Forest of the Bandit Lord] [The Land of the Opal Sun] Lucy could not recall what just happened. The last thing she remembered was bringing down the water sphere unto Aria, and everything after that was just blurry. ''Was it the adrenaline? Or was it the pain and exhaustion finally overwhelming her mind and body?'' She thought to herself. As soon she came to her senses, her ankles were already submerged underwater and the forest was filled with the rhythmic pattering of water dripping from the branches. Lucy¡¯s tired eyes shot forward; all the color drained from her face as she saw the Opal Sun princess lying face-first on the flooded earth. ¡°Aria!¡± Lucy exclaimed before she felt an intense searing pain on the right side of her stomach, causing her to drop to her knees. ¡°Damn it!¡± the younger Nightingale hissed. She glowered down and quickly realized the watery pad covering her waist was gradually breaking down. SPLASH! Lucy shuddered at the sudden noise. Casting her eyes forward once again, she noticed the princess¡¯s body twitching unnaturally. A few seconds later, Aria(?) rose to her feet in a single movement as if she was pulled by an invisible string. ¡°A-Aria?¡± Lucy uttered once again, but the princess stood quietly with her long, raven hair shrouding her entire face. In that instance, Lucy instinctively held her dagger firmly and reluctantly pointed the tip at her friend. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You looked awfully tired,¡± the princess began to speak. ¡°Let me guess, you used up all of your stamina for that one move, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That will be outright foolish,¡± Lucy simply retorted. Aria(?) brushed her drenched hair aside with her fingers, revealing her pallid face which was nearly covered with black veins. Lucy¡¯s heart instantly sank at the sight of her friend''s worsening condition. ''Was she too late? Is Aria beyond saving?'' She contemplated silently. ¡°Why? Why are you doing this?¡± Lucy muttered absent-mindedly. ¡°Why did you let those Distorted kill the residents in the Edge? And for what purpose does the Empyreans serve you?¡± ¡°Why indeed, Miss Nightingale?¡± Aria(?) smirked as if she was amused by the questions. ¡°I would say you enjoyed the carnage, but then it occurred to me. The massacre in the Edge was simply a distraction, so you could venture into the Forest of the Bandit Lord without any interruption. You seek something in the Cerulean Mausoleum, and the only way you could enter the place is either through the Inner Circle or through the Empyreans.¡± ¡°And what do you think we seek?¡± ¡°My guess is one of the Four Royal Jewels ¨C The Harlequin Opal ¨C the same jewel that is currently fitted to the Imperial Crown of the Sun.¡± ¡°That is an interesting speculation,¡± Aria chortled. ¡°But we both know the Imperial Crown is kept behind the Royal Palace Vault.¡± ¡°That one is a replica,¡± Lucy swiftly replied, and the smile across the princess¡¯s face faded away. ¡°The real crown is safely hidden in the Cerulean Mausoleum, and that information is only known by two parties: The Faceless Order and the Inner Circle ¨C I would assume you got it from the latter.¡± ¡°You are too smart for your own good, don¡¯t you know that?¡± said Aria(?) as she scowled at the young Nightingale. ¡°Thanks,¡± Lucy spouted before she slowly stood on her feet. She could feel the wound on her shoulder opening up along with a tingling sensation spreading throughout her wounded arm. Furthermore, she was starting to see stars hovering in front of her very eyes. ¡°Oh dear, it seems you are in a pretty tight spot,¡± the princess chuckled. ¡°I can make the pain go away; you know?¡± ¡°By becoming your puppet? Not interested.¡± ¡°Not a puppet ¨C a vessel to true peace ¨C to a world that should have been.¡± ¡°A world¡­that should have been?¡± Lucy repeated with raised eyebrows, wondering what the princess was talking about. However, before she could find out further, the hair on the back of her neck stood up and an intoxicating aroma of plum blossom soon penetrated her nostrils. ¡°Shit!¡± was the only word Lucy spoke, shortly before a shadowy mass landed on top of her. ¡°Someone is being careless,¡± Aria(?) cackled as she gleefully sat on Lucy¡¯s chest. ¡°I can¡¯t really blame you though. The stress you have to endure for using such a technique plus the injuries you sustained ¨C you sure are persistent. Like mother, like daughter, I guess.¡± ¡°You¡­knew my mother?¡± ¡°In a way. That woman has been a thorn in our sides for a long time ¨C constantly sticking her nose in our affairs simply because to her, ¡®it was the right thing to do¡¯. What happened to her was quite unfortunate ¨C we could have used someone with her expertise.¡± ¡°But, how? My mother never told me about you ¨C whoever you are,¡± Lucy groaned. ¡°For good reason. We are, after all, The Faceless Order¡¯s dirty little secret,¡± Aria(?) replied before grabbing onto Lucy¡¯s wounded shoulder and squeezed as hard as she could. The young Nightingale let out a bloodcurdling scream as the pain exploded throughout her body; overwhelming her entire senses. She threw her other arm upward, attempting to push the Opal Sun Princess off but her wrist was instantly seized by the long-haired woman. ¡°No, no, no, don¡¯t try to run away now,¡± Aria(?) giggled as she tightened her grip on Lucy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You should realize by now that you couldn¡¯t possibly defeat me with sheer will alone. So, just relax, Lucia Nightingale ¨C I¡¯ll make this quick.¡± All of a sudden, Aria¡¯s(?) head jerked backward as if something tugged her hair. The Opal Sun Princess yelped as she was dragged away from the young Nightingale and hurled into the bushes. ¡°What in the¡­?¡± said Lucy at the strange turn of events. Despite the growing heaviness in her body, she slowly seated herself only to see a familiar robed figure standing between her and Aria(?). ¡°You¡­the Night Terror?¡± Brandishing his falchion, the masked vigilante shifted his gaze toward Lucy. His head moved up and down, quietly inspecting the sitting Accursed. Shortly after, he extended out his left hand; a gesture that baffled the young Nightingale. ¡°You¡¯re helping me? Why?¡± Lucy inquired, but the Night Terror responded to the question with a grunt. Although hesitant at first, Lucy eventually accepted the vigilante¡¯s aid and she swiftly straightened herself up. Soon after, Aria(?) emerged from the shadows with a drawn saber and a vexed expression. ¡°You should have been dead,¡± the Princess growled at the Night Terror. ¡°How is it you are still in the world of the living?¡± ¡°As long as the sun and the moon rise from the horizon, I will remain here, in this forest,¡± the vigilante retorted, his voice slightly distorted. ¡°Return to your master if you know what¡¯s good for you ¨C tell him the thing he seeks will never be his; not now, not even in the future.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Return? In case you haven¡¯t noticed, we have already infiltrated the mausoleum. The Crown will be ours in due time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the Crown,¡± the Night Terror interjected. Aria(?)¡¯s scarlet eyes widened from shock; a reaction that astounded Lucy, who had been watching from the sidelines. ¡°What are you two on about? What is this ¡®thing¡¯ his master seeks?¡± ¡°It is none of your concern, little Nightingale. At least, not yet,¡± the Opal Sun Princess interjected. ¡°All you need to know is that every path taken by you and your companions will someday converge and by then, you¡¯ll see what the Order hid from you ¨C hid from the world itself.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± the Night Terror calmly countered before thrusting his arm forward to grab something in the air. A gasp was heard soon after, followed by Aria(?) appearing out of thin air with her right wrist caught by the vigilante. ¡°Wha-!¡± Lucy shuddered; her eyes darted back to the princess¡¯s prior location but found a mound of red wax sinking into the water. ¡°You may have access to the girl''s technique but your execution is sloppy,¡± the Night Terror chided as he twisted Aria¡¯s(?) hand, prompting the princess to drop her saber. Then, the bandit lord swung his falchion upward, creating a shockwave that split the forest canopy apart and also the transparent veil conjured by Aria(?) earlier. ¡°That¡¯s¡­impossible,¡± the princess gawked at the sight of the torn white curtain fading from existence. ¡°No, the answer to your impossibility is right in front of your eyes, but your arrogance and cockiness have blinded you,¡± the Night Terror further remarked before shoving Aria(?) away. ¡°The Opal Sun Princess ¨C the real Opal Sun Princess has perfected Glamour, so much so that only she alone can deactivate it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your point?¡± ¡°My point is your possession of her mind and body is not as perfect as you initially thought. Even now, she is still resisting you ¨C sabotaging your every move.¡± The masked vigilante then picked the saber up, its blade emitted a weak glow amidst the dark shadows. ¡°Have you forgotten what one has to go through to get one of these weapons? Five years of rigorous training in the Academy and at the same time, one has to excel in five core subjects. Afterwards, the fledglings will be ordered to participate in the Gristly Gauntlet; to prepare them for the danger of Discordania. Basically, every Faceless is a trained killer ¨C so, it¡¯ll take more than a simple brainwashing to properly control their minds and bodies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve overestimated them,¡± Aria(?) giggled. ¡°As you can see, compared to these two, the Crown Prince showed no signs of resistance ¨C so much for the so-called prodigy.¡± ¡°That is precisely why I said you were blinded by your arrogance and cockiness," the Night Terror scoffed before tossing the saber back into its owner¡¯s hand. Seconds later, the vigilante turned his attention to Lucy and asked, ¡°Can you still use your Hydrokinesis?¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± ¡°I said can you still use your Hydrokinesis?¡± ¡°Y-Yeah, I think so.¡± ¡°When I gave you the signal, tie her down.¡± ¡°Signal? Wait, what kind of signal-,¡± before Lucy could finish her sentence, the Night Terror had already charged toward the Opal Sun Princess. The bandit lord swung his falchion forward which was easily blocked by Aria(?)¡¯s sabre. Then, a blackened hand sprouted out of the Night Terror¡¯s blade and tried to grab the princess by the neck. ¡°What the fuck!¡± Aria(?) exclaimed as she staggered backward. However, the charred arm then burst into flower petals; blasting the princess directly in the face. ¡°Enough with this cheap parlor trick!¡± Aria(?) angrily bellowed; her left hand frantically brushing the petals away. As she regained her vision, she caught a glimpse of a grey, horizontal line inching toward her eyes; prompting the princess to fall on her back -- to watch in alarming silence as the falchion swept over her head. ¡°No, no, no, don¡¯t try to run away now.¡± Aria(?) grimaced as soon as she heard her own words being thrown at her but her face immediately contorted into horror as her whole body slowly sunk into the flooded ground. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± the Night Terror questioned as he slithered out of the shadows in front of the princess. ¡°You seemed perturbed by something.¡± ¡°What the hell is this? What did you do?¡± said Aria(?). ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°Wha-?¡± the princess darted her head left and right, only to realize the ground had stopped moving. Or did it even move at all? ¡°You must be wondering whether what you see and feel just now was real or otherwise,¡± the masked vigilante chided. ¡°So, you seemed to think you¡¯re being engulfed by the ground, huh? Fascinating.¡± Aria(?) quickly got to her feet with a soured expression. Much to her surprise, cold sweats started to trickle down her back; her hands were quaking, making it difficult for her to even hold the saber up. ¡°I will not be defeated by a mere illusion,¡± the princess snarled before storming toward her opponent. Blades clashed as both parties refused to surrender to each other. The princess swung her sword relentlessly but she soon discovered she was no match for the Night Terror¡¯s superior experience and skill. ¡°You have superb technique but sadly, you lack the conviction to win,¡± said the vigilante as his falchion knocked the saber out of Aria¡¯s(?) hand. ¡°NOW!¡± The Night Terror cried out and in the blink of an eye, dozens of blue tendrils climbed up her legs and arms, subsequently chaining the princess down to her knees. ¡°Whatever it is you¡¯re planning to do, better hurry it up! I can¡¯t hold her forever!¡± Lucy roared; both of her hands rested against the surface of the water. The Night Terror proceeded to place the palm of his hand against Aria¡¯s(?) forehead and with a breathy voice, enunciated a single word, ¡°Shatter.¡± The Opal Sun Princess''s eyes snapped wide open; she let out a deafening scream that disrupted Lucy¡¯s focus, forcing her to release her grip on Aria(?). However, the Night Terror was undeterred by the shrieking and continued to hold the princess up. Slowly but surely, the black visible veins on Aria¡¯s face diminished and her blood-red eyes returned to their former shade of tangerine. ¡°Aria!¡± said Lucy as she rushed forward as the Night Terror released his hold on the princess. The young Nightingale swiftly caught her friend by the shoulders; her azure eyes swiftly inspected Aria¡¯s entire body, making sure the black veins were completely gone. ¡°It is done,¡± said the Night Terror before sliding his weapon back into its sheath. ¡°She won¡¯t be a problem to you anymore.¡± As the vigilante started to walk away from the two women, he was stopped by Lucy¡¯s sudden inquiry, ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡± The Night Terror looked over his shoulder and for a fleeting moment, Lucy swore she could see a pair of normal human eyes peering through the bird-shaped mask. ¡°Settling an old debt,¡± the bandit lord stated. ¡°Beware of those who lurk in the dark, Nightingale ¨C those who spread the seeds of chaos across the land ever since this world rose from the ashes.¡± ¡°And these lurkers in the dark, who are they exactly?¡± ¡°They are called many things ¨C The Nameless, The Whispers in the Shadows, The Unseen Wings. But there is one name that stood above the rest ¨C the Harbingers.¡± Lucy could feel chills running down her spine at the mere mention of the name. Her mind began to race as she tried to remember every clandestine organization that had ever existed in the Discordania, but none of them were called the Harbingers. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re not lying?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°You''ve already witnessed some of their works with your own eyes, experienced what they are capable of. Everything you know, everything you''ve seen -- it will all change. But even then, you mustn''t lose heart, little Nightingale, for the Faceless Order is built on the foundation of hope,¡± the Night Terror replied before disappearing into the darkness. ¡°L-Lucy?¡± The young Nightingale gasped as she heard the princess murmuring her name. ¡°Aria? ARIA!¡± Lucy called out in return. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lucy¡­for everything¡­those people in the Edge¡­I¡­I...,¡± Aria sobbed; her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t. Whatever happened back there, it wasn¡¯t your fault ¨C it wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault,¡± said Lucy as she slung one of the princess''s arms over her shoulder. "Can you get up?" "I...I think so." "Alright. On the count of three -- one, two...," both women managed to stand up despite their injuries. Soon after, they heard footsteps heading toward their direction and three familiar figures marched out from between the trees, causing Lucy to let out a sigh of relief. "Well, well, well. Look at who we have here?" said Rupert; a wide, joyful smile appeared across his exhausted face. "For God''s sake, what took you guys so long?" Lucy exhaled. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE DELUGE ||| 56th Fragment: -CALM- ||| THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD: ADAM ||| [Quarantine Room, Tower of Nexus] Adam could not help but paced around the all-white bedroom, musing worriedly about the Fenrir and his ill intention toward the people of the Wintry Valley. He initially tried to reason with Pascal ¨C to allow him to have an audience with the Council of Eight, but only to have his request brushed off by Morgana¡¯s scolding. The man¡¯s electric blue eyes darted toward the spear leaning idly against the corner of the room ¨C perhaps he should just storm out of the room and head straight to the Council¡¯s chamber. ¡°No, no, that¡¯ll be a very bad idea,¡± Adam softly reprimanded himself. He then felt a sudden chill in his chest, followed by a prickling, needle-like sensation. Out of time ¨C that was the situation he was currently in. Though he managed to slow it down, he knew without a doubt that the Cold Spot was spreading throughout his body. All of a sudden, he heard the door behind him swung open which was soon accompanied by a heavy set of footsteps. Spinning around, he was greeted by the sight of a slender woman with hair as red as the autumn leaves and eyes as purple as amethyst. ¡°Rowanna,¡± Adam uttered, prompting his visitor to stop dead in her tracks. He was anticipating the woman to spit out some scathing remarks but for some unknown reason, she remained silent. ¡°Is there anything I can help you with?¡± the man asked. ¡°That depends,¡± Rowanna replied before shutting the main door. In that instance, Adam noticed the woman¡¯s right wrist was wrapped in bandages ¨C traces of blood could be seen permeating through the fresh white cloth. There were also a few cuts on her hand which seemed to be at least a day old. ¡°So, what brings the Captain of the Swallowtail to this kind of place?¡± Adam began. ¡°I heard about what transpired in the Frozen North. The Cold Spots, the Fenrir¡¯s escape and his subsequent triumph over the local¡¯s Overseer.¡± ¡°As you can see,¡± Adam paused as he gestured at the dignity he was currently wearing. ¡°The stories were true, sadly. Though, I could tell you¡¯re not here simply to ask about my well-being.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Rowanna huffed as she crossed her arms together. ¡°And what¡¯s the tale behind that bandaged arm of yours? Did one of the fledgling bites you during a spar?¡± Adam inquired amusingly, causing Rowanna to gradually narrow her eyes. ¡°Courtesy of your northern friends,¡± the woman retorted with a hint of annoyance in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ve got to admit ¨C those Terrouges were a tough bunch, but I faced tougher.¡± ¡°You¡­were in Krio?¡± said Adam, his brows drew together. ¡°Against my will, of course,¡± Rowanna sighed aloud. ¡°After your recent mishaps in Krio, I was ordered to escort the Froghoppers to the Prison of the Four Winds ¨C to protect them while they investigate that cursed place.¡± ¡°Huh, I thought you would decline the job.¡± ¡°I did ¨C or at least, I tried to. But Thomas seems to be ignoring the fact that I¡¯m no longer a Hornet. Either way, the Froghoppers managed to find some interesting things ¨C one of them being signs of tampering with the prison cell. ¡°Tampering?¡± Adam murmured as he recalled the words uttered by the Fenrir. ¡°So, that crafty wolf was telling the truth about trying out some new things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± Rowanna interjected. "They also found three sets of footsteps: yours, the Fenrir, and someone else.¡± Adam¡¯s tired eyes fluttered as he processed the new piece of information. He then spun around, scowling directly at the tiled floor. ¡®Who could have done it?¡¯ The man pondered quietly, ¡®Who could have set the Fenrir free despite knowing the calamity he will bring upon the land?¡¯ ¡°Which brings me to the crux of the problem,¡± said Rowanna as she walked towards the lone single bed. Tracing her fingers along the foot of the bed, the woman¡¯s gaze settled on the resting spear for a fleeting moment before shifting back to Adam. ¡°Who might be crazy enough to let the old wolf out of his solitary confinement? At first, I thought it might have been one of the residents of the Wintry Valley but that will be too obvious ¨C plus, the handiworks were too¡­precise.¡± ¡°Too precise?¡± Adam repeated, his head tilted slightly to the right. ¡°Each crack and hole was done purposefully ¨C as if they knew where to strike. The Prison of the Four Winds is¡­was designed to be an impregnable fortress, and the blueprints of the entire structure were destroyed at the end of its construction. To make matters worse, the person who built it died nearly a thousand years ago,¡± said Rowanna, her lips drawn back in a snarl. ¡°Unless the architect came back to life, then I can only assume there is someone out there with the surviving copy of the prison¡¯s layout.¡± ¡°That sounds like an¡­interesting theory,¡± Adam responded before deciding to approach the wall across the bed. ¡°But unless you can find proof to support your claim, I don¡¯t think Thomas would be interested in theories especially when it involves an ancient bloodthirsty creature that can conjure a blizzard with a snap of his fingers.¡± ¡°Look, I don¡¯t expect you to believe me, but that¡¯s the only theory that makes sense-.¡± ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t believe you,¡± the electric blue-eyed man corrected as he leaned his back against the cold steel wall. ¡°Ugh,¡± Adam let out a groan as he felt mild tenderness below his chest. ¡°The old wolf got you good, didn¡¯t he?¡± said Rowanna, staring at the man concerningly. ¡°I thought Pascal would have administered the cure by now?¡± ¡°He should have but the antidote only lasts for a month. The last Cold Spots case was 800 years ago and I doubt our predecessors stored several vials of the cure in cryostasis in case the Fenrir escaped,¡± Adam grunted. ¡°What does the good doctor say about this?¡± ¡°That he¡¯ll try to find a substitute for the active component, but I told him we have no time for trials and error,¡± as Adam expressed his frustration, a muscle in his jaw twitched. ¡°Dozens of lives have already been afflicted by the Cold Spots and who knows how long they will last until the doctor finds what he is searching for.¡± ¡°Or are you looking for an excuse to go back out there ¨C into the lair of the beast himself? In your current condition?¡± Rowanna asserted; her suspicion was soon confirmed by Adam who silently averted his gaze. ¡°You are seriously trying to get yourself killed, aren¡¯t you? But who am I to talk,¡± the woman further remarked before her hand slipped into her back pocket, searching for something. ¡°Here.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Adam caught a glimpse of a silver glint flying out of Rowanna¡¯s hand and as soon as he caught the object, a familiar coldness akin to a freezing steel imbued into the palm of his own hand. Slowly, he spread his fingers apart, revealing a snowflake-shaped pendant ¨C one that he thought had been taken away by the avalanche. ¡°I told you to keep that thing in a safer place. Didn¡¯t you say it was your family heirloom or something?¡± Rowanna ranted. ¡°I did. Thanks,¡± Adam countered bashfully before giving the woman a sharp nod. ¡°Thanks?¡± said the woman, rolling her eyes upward, ¡°Spending time with people of the Wintry Valley has softened you, Salvia. Keep in mind that we are not a group of philanthropists; we¡¯re soldiers ¨C and in our line of work, relationships can be a liability especially when we¡¯re dealing with civilians.¡± ¡°Are you implying that they have anything to do with the Fenrir¡¯s escape?¡± ¡°I¡¯m advising you to be more mindful with whom you put your trust in. Not all of them viewed us as their friends, let alone their equals,¡± Rowanna stated sternly. ¡°Sure, you might say there are still good people in this world, but even good people make some bad decisions.¡± ¡°Duly noted,¡± Adam reluctantly acknowledged the woman¡¯s comment. ¡°Good,¡± said Rowanna, a tiny smile appeared across her face for a brief second before it was replaced by her usual frown. ¡°Anyhow, why did you do it, Salvia?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Adam inquired even though he could already tell where the conversation was heading. ¡°You know exactly what I meant,¡± the auburn-haired woman blurted out, a hint of anger could be heard in her voice. ¡°I¡¯ve read your report ¨C you visited the Fenrir, knowing that he will try to get into your head.¡± ¡°I was¡­um,¡± Adam took a deep breath before letting out a deep sigh. ¡°I was trying to confirm my suspicion of the Fenrir¡¯s involvement with the recent Cold Spots¡¯ cases. As you can already see, I¡¯ve got my answer.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t just for that single reason, was it?¡± Rowanna stated, her head tilted slightly to the left, ¡°You were hoping the Fenrir would have a change of heart during his incarceration, am I right?¡± Adam instantly dropped his gaze to the floor; a wave of cold air washed over him along with a fuzzy feeling building inside his stomach. He parted his lips to respond to Rowanna¡¯s question but not a single word came out of his mouth. On the other hand, Rowanna''s right hand instinctively reached for the nape of her neck as she felt her shoulders tensing up. ¡°I have no idea what you were thinking back there, Salvia, but despite what you believed, no one could change the nature of the Fanged Avalanche ¨C no one,¡± the amethyst-eyed woman emphasized the final two words. After finishing her sentence, Rowanna calmly fixed her collar before heading toward the main door. As the woman grabbed the knob, she turned her head toward Adam and said, ¡°Oh, and one more thing, about The Fenrir ¨C one of the scouts spotted him heading north, to the old castle on the mountain.¡± Adam¡¯s eyes widened; both of his fists clenched so tightly that he could feel his nails digging into his skin. ¡°The Alpine Graveyard,¡± the man murmured. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s laying low at the site of his first triumph.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t hear that from a certain someone in a certain place at a certain time,¡± Rowanna added before briskly leaving the Quarantine Room. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE BLIZZARD ||| ??******************************************** [Meanwhile¡­] [Forest of the Bandit Lord, The Land of the Opal Sun] ¡°Ow!¡± Lucy yelped as the surgical needle pierced her shoulder, followed by Sam apologizing to her. ¡°Sorry about that. It has been a while since I sutured a wound.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯m the one who needs the suturing,¡± Lucy grumbled, her mouth twitching every time Sam punctured her skin. ¡°Which is a good thing¡­considering you have two injury-prone teammates,¡± Sam retorted before taking a hurried look at the woman¡¯s restless expression. ¡°The thing that surprised me the most is that you¡¯ve nearly spent all of your stamina in your little scuffle with Aria. It must have been one hell of a fight to make you lose your cool.¡± ¡°It was annoying,¡± Lucy interjected. ¡°Aria, no¡­the punk that controlled Aria, he or she was fond of playing hide-and-seek like a child and shooting arrows from the shadows.¡± ¡°Well, I would say he was smart for doing that. He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat you in close combat.¡± ¡°Smart?! Hmph, coward ¨C that¡¯s who he was!¡± the female Nightingale huffed. ¡°What about you? It must have been tough going against Theo even with the support of my brother.¡± ¡°Tough? That¡¯s one way to put it,¡± Sam let out a humorless chuckle. ¡°Then, how would you describe the fight?¡± ¡°Catastrophic, disgraceful, and absolutely horrendous,¡± spouted Sam, waggling his eyebrows. ¡°But, to your brother¡¯s defense, he fought quite well. If it wasn¡¯t for him, I might not be able to take Theo down.¡± ¡°That still doesn¡¯t explain why he had a chain mark around his neck.¡± Sam briefly paused his stitching; his nervous eyes met with Lucy¡¯s curious gaze. ¡°Like I said, it was¡­catastrophic,¡± the man muttered before carefully snipping the black suture with a pair of scissors. However, he suddenly felt pins and needles around his right wrist which gradually crept up to his elbow. ¡°Now, that¡¯s weird,¡± Sam grimaced as he repeatedly clenched his fist. ¡°Roll up your sleeve,¡± Lucy asserted, causing Sam to look at her with a perplexed expression. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I said, roll up your sleeve. We need to make sure it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Although hesitant at first, Sam eventually did as he was told by pulling his right sleeve until it reached above his elbow, revealing the reddened skin underneath. ¡°Hm, looks like a first-degree burn,¡± said Lucy; her brows knitted together. ¡°It must have been one hell of a fight, huh?¡± The ponytailed woman said with a smirk across her face. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re gonna play that game with me now?¡± Sam lashed back. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m just trying to lighten the mood,¡± Lucy chuckled before placing the palm of her left hand down against the shallow water surface. ¡°Now, hold still. It¡¯s gonna feel a bit¡­weird.¡± At first, Sam intended to ask Lucy about her prior comment but decided not to after noticing the seriousness in the woman¡¯s eyes. A few seconds later, a tendril of water climbed along her ring finger, enveloping it like a film. She then brought her hand over Sam¡¯s reddened forearm, carefully lowering her finger until it made contact with the man¡¯s skin. Sam fidgeted as he felt a familiar coldness spread throughout his arm, but oddly enough, he could not recall where and when he experienced such a sensation before. ¡°Oops, sorry about that,¡± Lucy swiftly apologized as the film on her ring finger crept unto Sam¡¯s forearm, wrapping around his limb like a piece of transparent cloth. ¡°There you go. All done.¡± ¡°So¡­what is it?¡± asked Sam while staring astonishingly at the gel-like covering. ¡°It¡¯s just something I¡¯ve been working on for the past couple of weeks,¡± the young Nightingale declared proudly. ¡°That thing right there will soothe the pain a little bit and should accelerate the healing process.¡± ¡°Should?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not gonna explode¡­nor turn you into pickles. I think,¡± Lucy giggled. ¡°You think?¡± Sam exhaled loudly. ¡°Obviously, you¡¯ve been spending too much time with Miss Strelitzia.¡± ¡°A-hem.¡± Sam and Lucy darted their heads upward hearing the sudden cough, only to see Rupert hanging upside down with a sneer across his face. ¡°Sorry, am I interrupting something?¡± ¡°How long have you been up there?¡± asked Lucy, glaring at her brother. ¡°Not long enough it seems,¡± Rupert casually replied before sitting himself up. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt your little chit-chat but the princess and her bodyguard woke up ¨C and they want to talk with you about¡­what was it, again¡­the Cerulean Mausoleum?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± said Sam, nodding his head solemnly. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t keep them waiting then.¡± 57th Fragment: -GLIMMER- After about a minute''s walk from where they started, Sam and Lucy finally saw them ¨C Theodorus Stark and Ariadne Helians, two of the famed Empyreans. They were sitting close to each other with the Opal Sun princess testing the tension of her bowstring while her loyal guard inspecting his twin swords. More importantly, there were no traces of the black veins on their faces and necks which made both Sam and Lucy let out a sigh of relief simultaneously. Seconds later, Aria¡¯s vibrant tangerine eyes noticed the trio, prompting the princess to call out to them, ¡°Hey, over here!¡± Lucy waved her right hand in response though she had to be careful to not raise her arm too high. The princess immediately jumped to her feet and slowly made her way to the trio, still clutching her black bow. At first, she was smiling affectionately at the group until she saw the stitches on Lucy¡¯s arm. ¡°Oh, uh¡­,¡± Aria murmured, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­for everything.¡± ¡°Please, Your Radiance. There¡¯s no need to apologize for something that was clearly beyond your control,¡± Lucy reassured, ¡°All that matters is that you are safe.¡± ¡°Well, almost all of us,¡± Aria sighed, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°So, you decided to finally grow your hair. You know, my mother will be ecstatic if she sees you.¡± ¡°If the Queen sees me, she¡¯ll order me to come to the Palace just so she can have the opportunity to braid my hair.¡± Both women proceeded to let out a hearty laughter. However, Aria took notice of the inflamed skin on the young Nightingale¡¯s waist. ¡°Hang on a second,¡± said the princess before pulling out a piece of folded cloth from her coat and unraveling it to reveal a handful of greenish paste. ¡°Boys, if you wouldn¡¯t mind, can you give us girls some space, please?¡± Sam and Rupert glanced at each other before taking a few steps away from the two women. ¡°Wait, what are you doing? You¡¯re not gonna put that thing on me, right?¡± Lucy expressed her concern. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Aria chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s just a mixture of herbs I made in case one of my arrows¡­rebounded. But that¡¯s not important right now.¡± The princess walked toward Lucy with a pinch of the paste between her thumb and index finger. She then cautiously smeared it all over the young Nightingale¡¯s waist, causing the latter to fidget. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s cold!¡± Lucy remarked. Furthermore, her nose twitched as she caught a whiff of something pungent drifting in the air, akin to the smell of wet soil. ¡°I must say, you¡¯re quite lucky. A little deeper and your flesh would have come off of your bone,¡± Aria explained. Lucy repeatedly blinked her eyes, unsure how to process the information she just heard. In the end, she could only reply, ¡°Um, thanks, I guess?¡± ¡°Aaaaand, we¡¯re done,¡± Aria then shifted her focus toward Sam and Rupert, quickly spotting the wounds they sustained as well. ¡°I see our Captain of the Royal Guard has already welcomed you with the Opal Sun Kingdom¡¯s hospitality. I assume you are satisfied with his care?¡± ¡°It¡¯s, um, debatable,¡± Sam responded, his forehead creased. ¡°What is debatable?¡± said Theo, who suddenly limped out from behind the princess. Despite the visor obscuring his eyes, his raspy voice and heavy breathing exposed the aftermath of his prior battle. ¡°Nothing. We¡¯re just having a little talk, that¡¯s all,¡± Aria retorted although she could tell from the frown on the man¡¯s face that he heard everything. ¡°I¡­see,¡± Theo stuttered. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve been thrown into a gorge, Theo,¡± Sam jumped into the conversation, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to be walking around?¡± ¡°I appreciate your concern, Mr. Edelweiss, but I believe I¡¯ve been sitting long enough,¡± the Captain of the Royal Guard paused to clear his throat, ¡°I assure you; this is pretty mild compared to what we had to face on a daily basis.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Aria curiously inquired. ¡°Sadly, Your Radiance, it is,¡± Theo politely answered. ¡°You never realize it because, well, you and the prince are more adept at fighting than me. Also, every time we were done with the Raids, you quickly tended to the citizens of the Edge.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the princess spouted; there was a hint of regret in her voice. ¡°Anyways,¡± the Captain of the Royal Guard then looked over to Rupert and said, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Mr. Nightingale, about your neck. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯ll heal in about a day or two,¡± Rupert exhaled. ¡°My pride would take longer though.¡± Theo frowned, a wave of guilt washed over him until Lucy spoke to him, ¡°Please ignore my older brother. He¡¯s just being his usual sulky self.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Theo nodded before quickly gathering his thoughts, ¡°First and foremost, I would like to offer my gratitude to the three of you for rescuing Princess Aria. You have done the Opal Sun Kingdom a great service. Secondly, Your Radiance told me everything ¨C about your little encounter with the Night Terror and how he aided you in battle.¡± Sam and Rupert¡¯s eyes widened in shock; their surprised expression was noticed by Theo who in turn, retorted, ¡°My apologies. I thought Miss Nightingale already informed you two about what happened.¡± ¡°She did not,¡± said Rupert as his head snapped toward Lucy, ¡°I gotta say, lil sis ¨C the Night Terror helped you and you didn¡¯t bother to share that story with your dear older brother?¡± Lucy rolled her eyes upward, annoyed by her sibling¡¯s questioning. ¡°I was planning to AFTER we return safely to the Tower. Now with that out of the window, so yes, I did fight alongside the Night Terror but it was out of necessity.¡± ¡°Still, it doesn¡¯t explain why he would cooperate with a Faceless,¡± muttered Theo, casting his gaze to the ground. ¡°Well, he did say he wanted to¡­settle an old debt? I¡¯m not sure what he meant by that but it didn¡¯t sound like he was lying,¡± said Lucy. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I don¡¯t think we could trust anything he said, even if he was speaking the truth,¡± the Captain of the Royal Guard took a hurried look at Aria who was scowling at him. ¡°Let¡¯s save that for later. For now, we need to head to the Cerulean Mausoleum. It¡¯s safe to assume that Prince Jason is still in there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere,¡± Sam interjected. ¡°You could barely stand on your own two feet.¡± ¡°My condition is irrelevant, Mr. Edelweiss. The prince¡¯s well-being is.¡± ¡°Sure, it¡¯s all about your sacred duty, right? But your duty means nothing if you get yourself killed, let alone by someone you swore to protect,¡± scoffed Sam. ¡°So, it¡¯s decided then,¡± Rupert smirked, ¡°Me and Sammy will go find the prince while all of you wait for our return-.¡± ¡°No, Rupe,¡± Sam intervened, shaking his head, ¡°As much as I appreciate your help, I want you to stay with Lucy and help her escort the others out of this forest.¡± All eyes were instantly on Sam who had already anticipated his friend¡¯s bewildered reactions. ¡°Wha-! You''re going alone? That¡¯s bullshit!¡± Rupert cried out. ¡°Usually, I would disagree with my brother, but this time he¡¯s right and it is, I quote him: bullshit,¡± Lucy further added. ¡°It¡¯s not about what I want,¡± Sam responded with a grimace across his face. ¡°There are five of us; three are in no state to fight. Besides, I¡¯m the only one who knows how to snap Jason back to his senses.¡± ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± the elder Nightingale scratched his head in confusion. ¡°I¡­,¡± Sam sighed, feeling slightly hesitant to elaborate on his previous remark. ¡°What happened to the both of you ¨C it happened before to Elisabeth Rosier back in the Desert of Ashes. Someone or something took control of you ¨C dictating your movement like a puppet.¡± ¡°And what does that have to do with you being the only one who can snap Jason back to his senses?¡± asked Theo, his eyes narrowed. ¡°When you were¡­not yourself, I saw a black thread, as dark as the cloudless night sky and swelling like the waves of the ocean, sticking out of your head, extending up into the forest canopy. It was similar to the one that was on Elisabeth¡¯s head when she went berserk,¡± Sam paused briefly to give his listeners a moment to soak in the information. ¡°So, that¡¯s how you did it,¡± Lucy broke the silence, her eyes fixated on Sam¡¯s troubled expression. ¡°All this time, I thought it was out of pure luck, but it seems your flame is not the only burden you are carrying.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sound surprised.¡± ¡°Actually, I had a feeling that you would spill the bean sooner or later. I didn¡¯t dare to probe you about it considering you were as confused as I was,¡± the young Nightingale commented before scratching her itching right cheek, ¡°Though to be honest, I was hoping for this conversation to take place in better circumstances. Well, beggars can¡¯t be choosers, I guess.¡± ¡°Even if you know how to stop my brother,¡± Aria jumped in, giving Sam a disapproving frown, ¡°It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that you are going against him alone. He¡¯s stronger than you, and a far more experienced fighter. I¡¯m curious about how you¡¯re planning to subdue him.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to subdue anybody if I cut off the black thread-.¡± ¡°IF is not good enough,¡± the Opal Sun Princess lashed back. ¡°You don¡¯t strike me as a foolish person, Edelweiss, but your so-called plan suggested otherwise. Without reinforcements, your odds of surviving your battle with Jason is close to none.¡± ¡°That is precisely why you need to leave ¨C to get reinforcements,¡± Sam swiftly countered, ¡°Besides, to the residents of the Opal Sun, I¡¯m simply a novice of the Faceless Order ¨C in other words, a nobody. If something was bound to happen to me, it wouldn¡¯t be as chaotic as your current situation.¡± Aria immediately drew her saber and pointed it at Sam ¨C an action that simultaneously prompted Rupert to brandish his twin sickles. Sam briskly raised his right hand, gesturing at the elder Nightingale to lower his weapons. ¡°I don¡¯t need more needless deaths to occur under my watch,¡± the princess growled. ¡°I understand your frustration, Your Radiance, but unfortunately, this is neither about you nor me,¡± Sam carefully pieced his words together. ¡°Despite what had transpired, your Kingdom needs you ¨C your people need you. Not me; not Lucy or Rupert ¨C you.¡± ¡°But you are in my domain and I command you to stop. If you disobey my order and persist on venturing deeper into the forest, then you¡¯ll be charged for trespassing,¡± warned Aria. Sam could only exhale after hearing the princess¡¯s threat. ¡°Forgive me, Your Radiance, but I only take orders from the Council of Eight. If you¡¯ve got any complaint, then you can take it up with them ¨C but, I doubt you have the time to do that.¡± Aria turned her attention toward Theo, expecting the visored man to lend her some support. However, to her dismay, the Captain of the Royal Guard reluctantly shook his head in return. The princess bit down on her lower lip, and a line slowly formed between her eyebrows. ¡°You haven¡¯t the slightest clue who or what you¡¯ll be facing,¡± said Aria before lowering her saber to the ground. ¡°You may have survived your encounter with me and Theo, but if you are dead set on going into the Cerulean Mausoleum alone, then, you must know there¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯ll come back out alive.¡± A tiny, confident smile appeared across Sam¡¯s face as if he had expected the comment. ¡°Not to be disrespectful, Your Radiance; you and I know a Faceless¡¯ duty often involves us being thrown into the face of danger whether we like it or not. In other words, I¡¯m not seeking a glorious death ¨C I¡¯m doing this because I believe it¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± As soon as Sam finished his sentence, the princess¡¯s expression started to relax. ¡°Believe¡­,¡± Aria murmured. ¡°My father, King Cyrus used to say that belief is a powerful thing. It shines upon the fallen like the gentle, morning sun, but the same light will burn them if they stay under it for too long.¡± The princess proceeded to sheath her blade before turning her head toward Theo, who seemed to understand what she wanted. The Captain of the Royal Guard snuck his hand into his coat and pulled out the Spool, causing Lucy to gasp. ¡°Woah, is that¡­is that what I think it is?¡± the young Nightingale blurted out. ¡°It is,¡± Aria confirmed Lucy¡¯s suspicion. ¡°And I¡¯ll appreciate it if you bring it back in one piece. They are quite expensive.¡± ¡°How expensive?¡± Rupert asked curiously. ¡°About¡­,¡± Aria paused as soon as she noticed a mischievous glint in the elder Nightingale¡¯s eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s just say it was not made with your everyday materials.¡± Sam approached the Captain of the Royal Guard, who in turn, handed the peculiar device in his hand. ¡°When you want to head to the Cerulean Mausoleum, hold this in front of you and it¡¯ll automatically point you to your destination,¡± Theo explained. ¡°It¡¯s, um¡­much lighter than I thought,¡± Sam remarked as he weighed the Spool in the palm of his hand. ¡°But this is the only one you got, right? How are you going to find your way out of here?¡± ¡°The Rift Gate, of course,¡± said Theo. ¡°For some reason, the portal only works when we¡¯re leaving this forest. If one intends to enter this place with the gate, then they will only pass through it like a normal doorway.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Sam responded. A few seconds later, he heard footsteps stomping toward him from behind, followed by the sound of a man clearing their throat. Sam spun around, only to meet the disapproving stares of both Nightingales. ¡°So,¡± Lucy began, ¡°You¡¯re seriously going in alone?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not planning to change my mind, are you?¡± Sam retorted. ¡°Me? Changing your mind? Nah,¡± the young Nightingale replied, shaking her head from left to right. Rupert, on the other hand, was displeased by his sibling¡¯s unenthusiastic response. ¡°What the¡­? You¡¯re giving up already? That¡¯s supposed to be my job,¡± the male Nightingale ranted. His head then darted toward Sam with his right index finger pointed at his vermillion-eyed friend, and exclaimed, ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll go with them but not because I owe you. Just so you know, the debt between us is still unresolved, so you better make it out alive.¡± Sam bobbed his head in agreement, and replied, ¡°Well, catch you guys later?¡± ¡°Catch you later,¡± Lucy countered with a lopsided smile. 58th Fragment: -CONFINE- || THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL || As Sam waded through the shrubbery alone, various thoughts ran through his mind. The first one was about his speech to the Empyreans which he made in the heat of the moment. Now that he was all by himself, he finally realized how ridiculous his plan was ¨C not to mention dangerous. ¡°Why am I doing this to myself?¡± Sam mumbled, instinctively scratching his forehead. Strangely enough, he could feel his heart pounding against his chest along with a cold, prickling sensation running down his spine. Is it fear he currently experiencing or¡­is it just his anxiousness taking over? He wondered silently. Sam proceeded to take a few deep breaths to center his thought but even then, he was still unable to contain his uneasiness. ¡°Damn it, pull yourself together!¡± Sam cursed himself, slapping both of his cheeks. Shortly after, he brought out The Spool and held it in front of him. Immediately, the cylindrical device in his hand began to float into the air, radiating a comforting white glow. ¡°Okay? Now what?¡± uttered Sam. The rose-red thread slowly unraveled itself from the spool, as if responding to the man¡¯s question. It shot into the darkness, coiling around the pine trees to form a trail. ¡°Impressive,¡± Sam blurted out before fastening his sheathed sword. He took out his Faceless mask and wore it, but unfortunately, the night vision was out of order. ¡°Guess I have to depend on the moonlight then. That¡¯s just great,¡± Sam exhaled as he put his mask away. ¡°Right, here goes nothing.¡± The vermillion-eyed man followed the newly formed path with the hope that his journey into the deeper part of the forest would go smoothly. After what he assumed to be a five-minute walk, he felt his chest slowly tighten. He initially thought it might have been his imagination running rampant due to the darkness and isolation but, the more time passed, the more convinced that someone or something was watching him. Could it be the Night Terror? No, this feels¡­different, Sam murmured. Suddenly, a gentle breeze began to blow through the forest, filling the forest with the rustling of pine leaves and the musty smell of green moss. At first, Sam was expecting Rupert to pop out from behind one of the trees with a mischievous grin across his face. But much to his dismay, he soon found out that there was no one else in the area except him and him alone. Funny, the man thought. He never expected to miss the siblings¡¯ bickering and shouting behind him. He wondered if his friends managed to leave the Coniferous Forest; if so, they would surely be in a lot of trouble, especially Theo and Aria. However, the peaceful moment was disturbed by a familiar whispering. ¡°The Lullaby of the Moon,¡± Sam spouted. Raising his head skyward, he noticed movement within the shadows ¨C multiple humanoid figures leaping between the branches. For a brief moment, Sam swore he saw several pairs of bright yellow eyes peering at him from the darkness. Are they ghosts? Or, are they¡­alive? Sam gripped his katana and the voices stopped. He was anticipating the dwellers between the trees to spring out and attack him at any moment. He waited. And waited. But no one came down. Then, he saw something in the corner of his eyes ¨C a silver gleam beckoning at him from a distance. Fortunately for him, the shine was on the red thread path; so, it did not take long for him to make a decision. As he got closer, he finally discovered the source of the mysterious light. A lone metallic obelisk that was nearly his own height; its reddish-brown body caused it to blend in perfectly with the surrounding pine trees. The gleam he saw earlier came from the structure¡¯s crest which was the only part that was not eaten by rust. ¡°Now, this is new,¡± said Sam before his curiosity urged him to inspect the peculiar structure. Initially, the man did not find anything suspicious about the building until he saw several wavy-shaped symbols etched on its surface. He also noticed a sentence beneath the strange letters written in Discordania Scripts: The Sun Never Fades The Moon Never Sleeps and The Stars Never Waver Sam then went to another side of the obelisk and there was also another set of sentences carved into the structure: Here Lies the Last Remain of the Lone Tower A Warning to Those Who Tread the Path of Decadence. ¡°Huh,¡± Sam huffed, ¡°Someone sure wanted to sound as ominous as possible.¡± Shortly after, the man strolled to the next side and noticed some crude drawings of a tree, a river, and a flame. That¡­is quite an odd combination, thought Sam before he caught a glimpse of another picture on the fourth and last side of the obelisk. ¡°What in the world¡­?¡± Sam¡¯s eyes narrowed at the image of a person whose head was covered with a veil. One of their arms stretched out; on the palm of their hands were four different shapes which Sam found to be somewhat familiar. ¡°Four shapes. A diamond, a rectangle, an oval, and an octagon. Wait, could those be the Royal Jewels?¡± the man murmured, ¡°And that figure¡­that is definitely the Veiled Lady. So, she is connected to the Jewels, but how?¡± Sam fidgeted as soon as he saw the shadows shift beneath his feet, followed by a crackling noise coming from above him. Slowly lifting his head upward, Sam saw a large silhouette clinging to a tree trunk. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± the man remarked as soon as a single round bluish eye stared at him intently. He quickly spun around and bolted off, treading along the crimson-red path. It did not take long for him to hear an ear-splitting hissing accompanied by the sounds of the pine branches breaking apart. ¡°Of course, it decided to appear when I¡¯m alone,¡± Sam ranted furiously. Then, he felt the ground quiver beneath his feet as something came crashing down to the ground behind him. Despite trying to resist himself, he could not help but glance over his shoulder to confirm his suspicion. And his hunches were correct. A leech-like creature; its body was as big as a log and it was covered with coal-black scales. It raised its head, and a big eyeball popped out of its sucker ¨C fixated on its next prey. Sam grimaced. He had anticipated the Subsumer¡¯s appearance, but not in its Roaming Form. Now, he was forced to hasten his pace to avoid the creature from capturing him. All of a sudden, his eyes and nose itched as the air was filled with the stench of rotten fish. The man immediately dived down, shortly before feeling a cool breeze graze against the back of his neck. Scrambling over the ground, Sam took a hurried look toward the sky and saw glistening strands of clear mucus-like substance over him, each adhering to several pine trees. He then heard the Subsumer shrieking and realized it missed its target. Gotta move! You gotta move, goddamit! Sam kept on repeating those words in his mind. The man desperately wanted to draw his blade but the fluid spat by the Subsumer was highly flammable and he could not risk using his power ¨C not until he found some kind of a clearing or a forest glade. As the man straightened himself up, he caught sight of a blue building at the end of the red thread. ¡°The Cerulean Mausoleum,¡± breathed Sam, and he sprinted toward it without delay. SQUELCH! SQUELCH! Sam frowned after hearing squishing noises storming toward him. The next thing he knew, he felt something heavy and sharp hit him in the back, causing him to fall face-first into the solid ground. ¡°Urgh,¡± the man groaned as he felt a tinge of iron in his mouth, ¡°That¡­was gnarly.¡± Then, he saw it ¨C a tall shadow towering over him accompanied by the musty odor of rotting wood. ¡°Crap,¡± Sam muttered before turning around to see the Subsumer standing in front of him. The man watched as the creature curled its gelatinous body; spreading its circular mouth wide open. SWOOSH! The man trembled as he saw a shadowy figure shot out from the trees and in a blink of an eye, split the Subsumer in half. What the¡­? Sam mouthed, shortly before seeing a black mass rose from behind the leech¡¯s remains. ¡°You¡¯re¡­,¡± Sam gasped, glaring at the robed figure. ¡°It¡¯s not your time to die. Yet,¡± the Night Terror asserted, waving his falchion around to rid the slime from its sharp edge. Sam quickly got to his feet ¨C his tired, vermillion eyes were fixated on the masked vigilante. Many questions were running through his mind, but the first one that he blurted out was, ¡°Why did you help me? You have no reason to do that.¡± The Night Terror looked Sam dead in the eye, causing the latter to fidget. ¡°My reason for doing what I did is irrelevant. Yours, on the other hand, is much more important,¡± the vigilante responded. ¡°I thought you despise the Opal Sun Royalties-.¡± ¡°I despise those who oppressed the weak ¨C those who view the civilians as nothing more than fodders to the Distorted,¡± the Night Terror interjected, ¡°The one that dwells in the mausoleum ¨C he may be young and inexperienced but like his father, he is the ray of light for his people.¡± SQUELCH! The Subsumer¡¯s cadaver began to twitch, prompting the Night Terror to mutter something under his breath. ¡°Go,¡± the vigilante remarked, ¡°It won¡¯t take long for this thing to regenerate.¡± ¡°Wait, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to stay¡­with that.¡± ¡°As I said earlier, you have a more pressing concern than taking care of some pests,¡± the Night Terror barked, ¡°Now begone.¡± Sam let out a heavy sigh, realizing that his words would not sway the vigilante¡¯s decision. So slowly, he dragged his feet toward the mausoleum, leaving the Night Terror alone with the Subsumer. As he got closer to the building, he saw the main door was ajar. Wait a second, Theo said Jason shut both him and Aria out of the building. Then how¡­? Sam then turned his head toward the Night Terror who along with the Subsumer, had disappeared without a trace. ¡°He couldn¡¯t have¡­? No,¡± Sam shook his head, ¡°This is not the time to throw around some wild theories.¡± After taking a deep breath to compose himself, he walked toward the Cerulean Mausoleum to inspect the gap between the doors. The first thing he noticed was a cool breeze creeping out of the aperture accompanied by a mild floral scent. ¡°A tomb that smells of flowers,¡± Sam whispered, ¡°Talk about a breath of fresh air. Argh, why am I sounding like Rupert just now?¡± After finishing his monologuing, Sam slipped through the narrow gap until he turned up at a dim corridor lit by several small torches fastened to the pearly white brick wall. It had been barely a minute and Sam could feel the back of his neck slowly tensing up. Additionally, the palms of his hands were dry and rough like sandpaper. ¡°Starting off with some bad vibes,¡± Sam exhaled, ¡°This is just great.¡± Shortly after, he sensed the air around him grew heavier and colder ¨C so much so that he could see his own breath. The flames on each torch also began to flicker for nearly half a minute until they were fully extinguished. Then, a bluish light appeared at the end of the corridor and Sam felt a sudden sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over him. ¡°Interesting,¡± spouted Sam before he slowly approached the mysterious light. At first, he was expecting another obelisk waiting for him but the pathway soon opened up, leading to a bright, cylindrical hall. ¡°What in the world¡­?¡± Sam gawked at the ceiling that eerily resembled the morning sky. The walls of the chamber were white as snow; their surfaces were glittering like the calm ocean. Sam walked to the middle of the room, towards the glass steel railing where he saw the lower levels of the mausoleum. ¡°One, two, ten floors?¡± Sam grunted. Moreover, he noticed a circular pond lying at the depth of the hall which was filled with yellow flower petals. Yet, despite the impressive interior of the tomb, he still could not see any signs of Jason¡¯s current whereabouts. But he had a good feeling that the prince was on the same level as the pond. ¡°Now, how am I going to get down there?¡± Sam uttered, looking left and right to an elevator or at least, some stairs to make his descend. However, the only thing that caught his eye was a gap between the railing not far from where he was standing. Without having a second thought, Sam made his way to the breach but much to his disappointment, there was nothing there except for a short grey platform with a sun-like symbol imprinted on it. What now? Sam mouthed as he stood over the edge of the platform with a dejected expression. A few seconds later, he felt a weak vibration beneath his feet. The sun symbol he saw earlier began to emit a faint navy glow and the entire place was soon filled with the deafening sound of rushing air. Before Sam could comprehend the situation, a wall of flower petals emerged from below, surrounding him in all directions. ¡°Ah, shit! Of course it¡¯s a trap!¡± cursed Sam, swiftly reaching for his sword. But before he could grab the handle, his entire right arm exploded into countless flower petals. ¡°What¡­!¡± Sam gasped in shock. Strangely enough, he did not feel any pain ¨C in fact, he did not feel anything at all. Sam then shifted his attention toward the wall around him where he saw numerous silhouettes of different heights and sizes standing motionlessly on the fluttering surface. Although they lacked any form of eyes, Sam could feel them gazing at him like a pack of wolves ¨C waiting for him to make a move. Soon after, Sam saw a shadow in front of him lifted his right hand, and the wall instantly froze in place. But the moment of silence was cut short as Sam saw the whole enclosure collapse on top of him. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± Sam remarked before bracing himself for impact. 59th Fragment: -TEMPEST- Sam gasped aloud as the wall of flowers came crashing down on him. He expected to feel a tremendous weight slamming down on him, but to his surprise, all he felt was a gentle, almost ticklish sensation brushed against his face and skin. Then, in front of his own eyes, his legs and his left arm disintegrated into flower petals, followed by the remaining of his body. Oddly enough, he was not fearful of the occurrence ¨C as a matter of fact, a part of him seemed to welcome it. ¡®What¡­is happening?¡¯, Sam thought to himself. Despite losing his physical form, he could still sense everything ¨C the chaotic rustling of the flower petals, their delicate feathery touch, and also their mesmerizing wave-like movement. Moreover, he felt something slowly dragging him to the edge of the platform until the pond resting at the bottom of the mausoleum was in his line of sight. ¡®I can¡¯t¡­move,¡¯ Sam mouthed quietly before plummeting down toward the depths. As he made his descent, the flower petals inside the pond instantly cleared up, unveiling a dark, opaque liquid. Sam immediately took a deep breath, seconds before nosediving into the water. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| *** [Meanwhile¡­] [Somewhere in the Forest of the Bandit Lord] ¡°Urgh,¡± Rupert groaned ¨C his jaw felt slightly numb while his neck was throbbing and warm to the touch. Even without looking into a mirror, there was no doubt in his mind that the skin around his throat was as red as a beet. Lucy, who had been noticing the grimace on her older brother¡¯s face, walked up to him and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re awfully grouchy ever since Sam left us. If you¡¯re not happy about him going alone, why didn¡¯t you follow him?¡± ¡°He told me to stay, so I stay.¡± ¡°Huh, I never saw took as someone who likes to follow orders.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I like to follow an order,¡± sighed Rupert, ¡°Dad always told us to repay our debts, so I¡¯m simply repaying my debts ¨C whether I like it or not.¡± ¡°And you heeded our father¡¯s advice,¡± Lucy replied, crossing her arms together, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say you¡¯ve put a lot of trust in him to come back alive.¡± ¡°Well, look who¡¯s talking,¡± said the elder Nightingale before stretching both of his arms. He then looked over his sister¡¯s shoulder ¨C directly at Theo and Aria. In spite of his own injury, the Captain of the Royal Guard was helping the princess of the Opal Sun to stand up on her feet. ¡°Oi, you two lovebirds alright?¡± Rupert cried out, much to Lucy¡¯s chagrin. ¡°Gosh, you are so stupid sometimes,¡± Lucy ranted with a grimace on her face. ¡°Hey, at least I¡¯m not saying that to you.¡± ¡°Wha-? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°A-hem,¡± Aria cleared her throat, causing the Nightingales to jump on their feet, ¡°My apologies, I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt your conversation.¡± ¡°Oh, no worries. It¡¯s nothing really important anyway,¡± Lucy retorted while glaring at her brother. ¡°I¡­I see,¡± the princess stated as she sensed the tension between the siblings. ¡°What about you? I mean, it will be pretty messy when you return home, right?¡± the female Nightingale quickly changed the subject. ¡°Messy is an understatement, Miss Nightingale,¡± answered Theo who appeared next to the princess, ¡°allowing the Distorted to raid the Edge, abandoning our assigned posts and subsequently leading to the death of countless civilians ¨C there will undoubtedly be a heavy repercussion for our transgressions.¡± ¡°But it does not seem fair for the Inner Circle to punish you over something you have no control over,¡± said Lucy. ¡°Fair is the last word one would use to describe the Inner Circle,¡± Theo spouted. ¡°Although some will see reasons, regrettably, most of them will utilize the tragedy to smear the reputation of the Opal Sun monarchy even further.¡± ¡°Smear? Wouldn¡¯t that be, um, what¡¯s the term, treason?¡± Rupert inquired. ¡°If those geezers had the balls to do it themselves, then yes,¡± Aria interjected. ¡°Unfortunately, they preferred to let other people do their dirty work.¡± ¡°And Daedalus is okay with this?¡± Lucy blurted out, causing both Theo and Aria to look at each other with a pained expression. ¡°It¡¯s...,¡± the princess took a deep breath and sighed out loud, ¡°It¡¯s much more complicated than you thought. The others in the Inner Circle ¨C they learned how to hide their trails well. So well that Daedalus himself could not find sufficient evidence to convict them.¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Theo added, ¡°But we¡¯ve been making some steady progress.¡± ¡°Really? I find that hard to believe.¡± ¡°Jason-I mean, the prince has been gathering intel for a while now. Given enough time, he might be able to purge the Inner Circle¡¯s corruption. However, in order for that to happen, Prince Jason needs to return to the Palace to sort out everything, including the recent incident.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Time ¨C that is something our people lack right now,¡± Aria murmured gloomily before shaking her head left and right, ¡°Sorry, that was¡­not how a princess should act.¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to do that,¡± said Lucy, ¡°I mean, the kind of position you are put in ¨C I can only imagine what you¡¯re going through.¡± ¡°Well, that aside, Theo,¡± the princess turned to her Royal Guard who in turn seemed to understand what she wanted. The visored man quickly brought out a tiny crystal orb from his inner pocket but before he could throw it to the ground, he felt the atmosphere shift. The gentle cool breeze that brushed against his hair and skin was gone, replaced with a stagnant air that reeked of rotten flesh. ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± said Theo with a breathy voice. ¡°Who?¡± asked Rupert and his question was answered by the crackling of branches above his head. ¡°Shit!¡± Lucy cried out before shoving her brother away. A large shadowy mass fell on the spot where the Nightingales were standing, it raised its head and let out a shrill hiss that prompted Theo to shield Aria from the Subsumer. ¡°Finally! Some nightly entertainment!¡± Rupert yelled out as he jumped on top of the giant leech¡¯s head. He drove both of his sickles into the creature, causing the latter to scream in agony. ¡°Come here!¡± the elder Nightingale gleefully tugged the Subsumer away from Theo and Aria. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Lucy shouted, baffled by his sibling¡¯s action. ¡°Giving you time¡­to escape!¡± said Rupert, ¡°Now hurry up! Put the Rift Gate up and get out of here!¡± ¡°And leave you here with that thing? Screw that!¡± SQUELCH! The ground shook as two Subsumers fell from the sky, surrounding the Faceless. Lucy tried to reach for her dagger but alas, exhaustion had caught up to her along with her injury. She ended up dropping to her knees, groaning and clutching her throbbing belly. ¡°Just stay put, sister and leave these filthy mongrels to me!¡± said the elder Nightingale while still clinging to the Subsumer. With a grin on his face, Rupert yanked his sickles in the opposite direction and ripped the creature¡¯s head in half. ¡°Now, this is more like it!¡± Rupert laughed out loud, his face and clothes were drenched with the Distorted¡¯s tar-like blood. The Subsumer beneath his feet collapsed to the ground and after making sure the monster was no longer moving, the blue-eyed man turned his attention to the remaining Subsumers, particularly on the one to his right. ¡°Guess who¡¯s the next lucky one?¡± Rupert bolted toward his next prey, who in turn, sprayed a web of sticky liquid from its mouth. The man swiftly slid beneath the strands before swinging one of his kamas at the Subsumer, conjuring a powerful gust of air that tore the giant leech apart into small, sticky pieces. ¡°Who¡¯s next!¡± Rupert cried out before feeling a sharp pain near his waist. He looked down and saw a tree bark sticking out of his lower abdomen. ¡°You¡¯re one sneaky bastard, aren¡¯t you?¡± the elder Nightingale remarked as he turned his gaze at the perpetrator. ¡°Brother!¡± Rupert¡¯s eyes darted toward his sister¡¯s voice who seemed horrified by what she was witnessing. ¡°Don¡¯t look so upset, little sis. This is not the worst situation you¡¯ve seen me in,¡± said Rupert proudly even though he could barely take a breath without feeling the tree bark clawing its way inside. SHHHHH! The Subsumer hissed as if it was laughing at his current predicament. ¡°This is amusing for you, huh?¡± said Rupert before tossing his sickles to the ground. He then opened his arms wide open while trying to ignore the pain in his abdomen. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you¡¯re laughing after this,¡± the man asserted, his fingers curled toward the palm of his hands. The giant leech froze in its place, its slimy skin began to ripple as if it was boiling. Rupert slowly brought his arms together, his glinting eyes fixated on his last adversary. ¡°Your life¡­at the tips of my fingers,¡± Rupert muttered, ¡°I wonder what you¡¯re feeling right now? Fear? Hopelessness? Then again, I doubt a creature like you could comprehend the concept of emotions.¡± Rupert clenched his fists and the Subsumer¡¯s body became twisted; squeezed until its innards and tar-like blood burst out of its skin. What was left of the leech fell down like a wet rag which prompted Rupert to chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s¡­what you¡­get¡­for messing with¡­ha¡­ugh,¡± the elder Nightingale suddenly felt nauseous and the next thing he saw was the solid ground along with his sister¡¯s voice, calling out his name. *** ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL ||| Sam slowly opened his eyelids and the first thing he saw was the blue, cloudless sky. The coldness he felt earlier ¨C when he was plunged into the water had disappeared. More importantly, he could finally feel his fingers touching some sort of¡­grass? Sitting himself up, Sam realized he was now in a different place ¨C a vast field covered in butter-yellow grass and countless rows of black headstones. ¡°This keeps getting weirder and weirder,¡± said Sam before getting on his feet. Then, he noticed a fine line on the ground forming a circle around him with a sentence written on the outer ring saying: The Land of the Eternal Twilights ¡°Eternal¡­Twilights?¡± Sam unknowingly repeated the two words. ¡°Wait, is this¡­?¡± His vermillion eyes shot upward, toward the headstones. There were various names inscribed to them but the surnames were always the same: Helians. It was as he suspected. He was now standing in the graveyards of the former King and Queen of the Opal Sun Kingdom. The circle on the ground, he assumed must be some kind of a Rift Gate that connected the Coniferous Forest to his current location. The only question that remained was the whereabouts of the royal prince himself. Sam¡¯s focus soon settled on the lone black building in the middle of the cemetery which seemed identical to the Cerulean Mausoleum ¨C only smaller. What was inside this place that fascinated the puppeteer of the Empyreans so much they were willing to sacrifice innocent lives? Sam wondered. But before he could finish his thought, both of his legs began to move on their own; dragging him toward the building. As he was nearing the mausoleum, he caught a glimpse of something in his peripherals ¨C a silhouette of a person. His head snapped to his right, expecting to see someone else standing in the field, but there was no one there. ¡°Another phantom ¨C like the ones in the mausoleum. Were they¡­watching me?¡± Sam murmured. He then looked over to the building again; its front door was ajar. Furthermore, there was a set of footsteps heading in but not out. ¡°Right,¡± Sam exhaled before unsheathing his blade. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± He carefully pushed the door open and went inside; into a spacious chamber decorated with fresco depicting the sun, the moon, and a star. At the end of the room, however, was a man facing a familiar-looking obelisk. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± said Jason(?), ¡°I believe you enjoyed your trip through the Rift Gate earlier.¡± ¡°Yeah, no thanks to you.¡± The prince(?) slowly turned around; black veins had fully shrouded his face except for a tiny spot on his nasal bridge. A tar-like fluid flowed out his eyes and ears, staining both his outfit and rapier. ¡°Ah, crap,¡± said Sam with a grimace on his face, "That is not good." 60th Fragment: -SUNBURN- ¡°Congratulations, by the way, for your victory over the princess and his lion,¡± said Jason(?) with a sneer across his face, ¡°To be honest, I had expected at least one of you to perish in the fight.¡± ¡°Huh, sorry to disappoint,¡± Sam huffed. ¡°Then again, the unprecedented appearance of the Night Terror might have something to do with your momentary respite. Why would such a figure be interested in someone like you, I wonder?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say we share a common goal. For now.¡± ¡°Ah, the preservation of the great Opal Sun Kingdom,¡± Jason(?) chuckled, ¡°An admirable goal, albeit a childish one.¡± The prince proceeded to draw his rapier, prompting Sam to raise his own blade. ¡°There is a sickness in that land; an unseen rot that has been festering in its people for decades. There is no hope for that kingdom ¨C not anymore.¡± ¡°The prince believes otherwise.¡± ¡°Of course he does. That is the magic of denial ¨C it makes the prince blind to the truth even when the truth is staring at him dead in the eyes. He might say he was holding on to the hope of a better future, but what he is really clinging to is a delusion ¨C the same one that sent his father into a coma.¡± Feeling something off about Jason¡¯s(?) last statement, both of Sam¡¯s eyes gradually narrowed. ¡°You¡­had something to do with it, don¡¯t you?¡± Instead of answering the question, the prince grinned suspiciously at him. Then, without any warning, Jason(?) sprinted toward him before thrusting his rapier forward, aiming for his left eye. Sam quickly deflected the assault with his katana but he could see the prince was barely fazed by his reaction. Jason(?) continued to swing his blade repeatedly, forcing Sam to back away from his brainwashed brethren. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, boy? Didn¡¯t your instructors back in the Tower ever tell you that hesitating will only hasten your death?¡± Jason(?) asserted. The prince then waved his blade horizontally and managed to slash across Sam¡¯s nose; a prickling sensation soon followed along with a familiar iron taste touching his lips. Despite his new injuries, Sam kept on blocking and deflecting Jason¡¯s(?) rapier until he felt his back touching the mausoleum¡¯s door. ¡°The end of the line, kid!¡± the prince shouted triumphantly. However, Sam swiftly tilted his head to the left, barely missing the incoming rapier. In that split second, his free hand shot forward to seize the prince by the sleeve and with a single tug, threw his opponent through the main door. He heard Jason(?) yelped as the latter landed on the burial ground but clearly, he could tell it was out of surprise instead of pain. ¡°Argh!¡± Sam hissed as his left forearm started pulsating again. His heart immediately sank as soon as he saw the transparent cloth wrapped around his reddened skin start to melt. ¡®Lucy and the others ¨C did something happen to them?¡¯ He wondered. ¡°You should be more concerned with your own well-being, child.¡± Sam looked over to the prince who had already lied on his back. Suddenly, a warm and fuzzy feeling emerged from within his chest which gradually rose to his neck. ¡°What did you do to my friends?¡± Sam snarled angrily, but the prince only laughed at him. ¡°ANSWER ME!¡± Sam repeated as he walked out of the mausoleum. ¡°I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? So, what could I possibly do to your friends?¡± Jason(?) retorted before getting to his feet with a kip-up. Shortly after, the prince made a circular motion in the air with his rapier and created a bright, white halo. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind, would you show me the white flame you conjured in the forest earlier?¡± ¡°And what if I don¡¯t want to?¡± Jason(?) smacked his lips in disappointment and replied, ¡°I really wished you hadn¡¯t said that.¡± The hovering ring shot forward, flying toward its target without a shred of hesitation. Seeing the incoming projectile, Sam briskly sidestepped to his left to dodge it. But, to his astonishment, the ring split into four identical discs ¨C each one of them dispersed to surround him. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± said Sam in disbelief. Then, an idea popped into his mind. He was not sure if it would work or not, but his hands began to move on their own by driving his katana downward. Immediately, the ground around him cracked open, bringing forth a wall of fire that acted as a wall between him and the rings. Despite the blazing display, Sam could hardly feel the heat from the flame ¨C nevertheless, that was the least of his worries. Barely a second after the wall was erected, he heard something cutting through the air followed by a deafening explosion. Sam gasped; his bones were rattled by the shockwave but he was aware that was not the end of his predicament. A second explosion ensued and even though his ears were still ringing from the first one, he could still feel the pressure shifting behind him. The burning wall flickered as if it was in pain; its color momentarily changed from bright orange to pale yellow. Then, the third explosion occurred and Sam noticed a small gap opening right into his eyes where he saw Jason(?) sneering at him. ¡°That barricade of yours will not protect you forever!¡± the prince exclaimed, just as the final ring appeared from his right shoulder and slipped through the crack. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Sam¡¯s eyes widened as the disc stopped directly in front of his face, radiating a sinister white glow. ¡°Damn it,¡± was the only thing he uttered before everything turned white. *** [Meanwhile¡­] [In an unknown location] ¡°So, this is where you¡¯ve been hiding. Now let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve been up to, mind-jacker.¡± *** It was instant ¨C a bright light and a thunderous roar ¨C and when both of them died down, the pain came. Sam could his entire body tensing up; his arms and legs were quivering while his head ached. Terribly. In each passing second, the ringing in his ears worsened and his chest felt like someone sat on it. His nose and throat burned every time he inhaled, causing him to tear up. As he opened his glassy eyes, he saw the smoke around him clearing away and the Royal Prince of the Opal Sun standing on the same spot, wearing the same smug expression. Clenching down on his teeth, Sam got to his knees and that was when he felt an excruciating prickling sensation on the left side of his body. He did not want to see it but his eyes unintentionally darted toward the source of the pain ¡°Shit,¡± Sam murmured. The skin from his left shoulder to his hand has melted away, leaving behind the deep red layer of his arm out in the open ¨C even the weakest breeze felt like needles. Sam turned his attention back to the prince who was clapping his hands exuberantly. ¡°Well, well, well, color me impressed. I would have never thought you would sacrifice your left arm to protect yourself from the blast. Although I can see from the scowl on your face that it was unintentional.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got quite an astute observation,¡± Sam scoffed, ¡°But, shouldn¡¯t you be disappointed for failing to kill me, or is there a particular reason you¡¯re keeping me alive?¡± ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m keeping you alive?¡± Jason(?) sneered. ¡°The fact that I¡¯m still in one piece. If it was the real Jason, I would have been blown to bits by now,¡± Sam stated before taking a hurried look at his burnt arm. ¡°You said you want to see my white flame. Why?¡± ¡°Why you asked? Your power ¨C it¡¯s one of a kind. Haven¡¯t you ever wondered why there has not been another Flame Accursed in the Faceless Order for the past 1000 years?¡± Sam¡¯s eyes narrowed, sensing something fishy about the prince¡¯s previous question. ¡°What are you implying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m implying the Order you trusted so much kept some secrets from you; secrets that they were too afraid and ashamed to share with their own people. Secrets that could shake the entire foundation of the Faceless Order itself.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re just spouting nonsense-.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Jason(?) intervened, ¡°Ask yourself this: why is the struggle between the Order and those creatures you dubbed as the Distorted lasted for nearly a millennium without any signs of stopping? Why is it that the Crystals of Birth kept on respawning even though you and your predecessors have destroyed a bunch of them?¡± The Opal Sun prince then pointed his rapier heavenward and the sky began to change from its calming blue colour to sinister scarlet red. ¡°Lo and behold, the world sky on the day when God¡¯s judgment descended upon us; the Cataclysm, as the Order called it. From it, Seven Subsequences which ultimately paved the way for the Cleansing Fire.¡± ¡°Cleansing Fire? Do you mean the Red Ravager?¡± Sam mouthed, and much to his surprise, his statement made the smile on the prince¡¯s face instantly disappear. ¡°Red Ravager?¡± Jason(?) growled, ¡°What a cowardly name given to the most magnificent phenomenon the world has ever seen. Then again, the pioneers were a bunch of cowards ¨C deluded by their sense of duty and self-righteousness.¡± ¡°Putting their lives on the line every day does not really sound like cowardice to me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but I¡¯m not questioning their courage on the battlefield; I¡¯m questioning their courage to face the impending future. The path they walked; the same one you¡¯re walking right now is only delaying the inevitable; the end of mankind.¡± Sam¡¯s head tilted to the right as he tried to process every word he had just heard. ¡®Courage to face the impending future? Delaying the inevitable? The end of humanity?¡¯ To him, it sounded like a rambling of a madman but somehow, he did not feel Jason(?) or whoever it was behind the prince¡¯s face was lying to him. ¡°Is that why you are here then? To hasten the inevitable?¡± Sam inquired. ¡°Precisely,¡± the prince swiftly replied. ¡°But why? Why would you want to wipe out mankind from the face of the Earth?¡± ¡°Why, you asked?¡± Jason let out another chuckle, ¡°Now, now, nothing good comes to those who are too greedy. Besides, you should be asking that kind of question to someone you know and trust like the Faceless Lord, for example ¨C not to a total stranger.¡± Gritting his teeth in frustration, Sam stood up and raised his katana. ¡°Countless innocents¡¯ lives lost and you¡¯re here, treating everything like some sort of game. Not only that, my friends nearly died because of you,¡± Sam blurted out. ¡°An unintentional act. If the three of you did not step foot on this land in the first place, then none of you would be in your current state. But if you are destined to be here, then who am I to defy the threads of fate?¡± After finishing his short speech, Jason(?) held his rapier horizontally; its blade emitted a faint orange glow. ¡°As a Faceless, I assume you are familiar with the Art of Desperation?¡± Sam instantly felt his chest tightened, but not because of the pain. The Art of Desperation; a Doomsday-level technique he had been working on alongside the Nightingales. Strenuous and often times lethal, the technique was usually performed as a last resort when a Faceless is prepared to risk everything ¨C including his or her own life. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t¡­not here, not like this,¡± said Sam. ¡°Huh? All of a sudden, you¡¯re afraid of death?¡± Jason(?) taunted. ¡°It is not death that I feared right now,¡± Sam replied as he gripped firmly to his sword. Jason(?) gave him a scowl for a brief moment before he burst out laughing. ¡°Even now, you¡¯re concerned about the well-being of this incompetent prince? How admirable though you are na?ve to think that your loyalty will be heftily rewarded.¡± Sam¡¯s entire body tensed up as soon as he saw Jason¡¯s rapier grow brighter. However, a sudden turn of events caused the light to vanish as the prince coughed out familiar black liquid from his mouth. ¡°It seems we are not alone in this fight,¡± said Sam, a tiny smile appeared across his face. ¡°So, it seems,¡± Jason(?) sighed after spitting out the last of the foul-tasting tar. 61st Fragment: -SUNLESS [deux]- ¡®Good, the real Jason is still in there somewhere,¡¯ Sam let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, his vermillion eyes darted around, searching for the floating black threads. Unfortunately, he could not see even a hint of it and to make things worse, his left arm could barely feel anything. Sam grimaced, wondering whether he was getting used to the pain or was gradually losing his entire arm. Either way, he needed to find a way to incapacitate Jason(?) without killing him. ¡°Concocting another scheme?¡± the prince exclaimed after wiping the black tar from his mouth, ¡°You should realize by now that everything you planned will only end in naught.¡± ¡°Sorry for being so persistent then,¡± Sam said defiantly. Shortly after, he saw a grin appear across Jason¡¯s(?) face and as a response, the prince pointed the rapier at him. ¡®Is he conjuring those rings again?¡¯ Sam quietly assumed. However, much to his surprise, Jason(?) drew a cross in the air instead of a circle. ¡°What-?¡± before Sam could finish his sentence, he felt an invisible force pulling him downward. With his jaw clenched, Sam drove his katana to the ground to prevent himself from falling to his knees. ¡®What is this technique?¡¯ He breathed. It felt like an anchor was tied to his body and the worst thing was the pain he thought he had adapted to was amplified by the heavy pressure. He was not sure if he could remain on his feet until the oppressive sensation came to a sudden stop, followed by Jason(?) coughing violently and cursing, ¡°Damn you, you little brat! You just have to spoil the fun!¡± Seeing an opportunity to strike, Sam straightened himself and quickly bolted toward his opponent. He swung his sword, aiming at the prince¡¯s right arm but the latter quickly lifted his rapier, causing both blades to collide. ¡°Impressive. Even with only one hand, you can still deliver a deadly blow,¡± Jason(?) complimented. ¡°Thanks. I can even do this,¡± said Sam before smashing his forehead against Jason¡¯s(?) nose. Aside from a throbbing headache, he also heard a loud crack accompanied by a scream. The pressure on his katana lightened which meant the prince backed away from him. ¡®Why in the world did I do that?¡¯ He mouthed. As his vision gradually returned to normal, he saw Jason(?) grasping his crooked nose. ¡°That was¡­pretty good,¡± the prince responded before snapping his nose back into place, ¡°But to risk your own well-being for the sake of your friends ¨C no wonder the Order took a great interest in you.¡± Instead of responding to Jason¡¯s(?) remark, Sam swung his blade, aiming at his foe¡¯s sword arm. However, the prince quickly retracted his hand before the katana could even touch his stained sleeve. ¡°A valiant effort,¡± Jason(?) commented while at the same time, the tip of his rapier emitted an orange glow. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t,¡± Sam snarled before instinctively bringing his katana down, burying the tip of the rapier into the soil. But he soon found out it was a bad idea as the ground beneath his feet exploded, sending both him and Jason(?) flying in the opposite direction. ¡°UGH!¡± cried Sam as he crashed on his back. Thankfully, there were no burning limbs nor a deafening ringing in his ears, though his body still ached from the rough landing. ¡°Damn it, why does he like to blow stuff up? Is he trying to be the second Daniel Nastur or something?¡± he grumbled. Sitting himself up, Sam turned his gaze forward to a small crater created by the previous explosion. On the other side was Jason(?) who was lying flat on his face. ¡®Crap, did I¡­did I kill him?¡¯ Sam mouthed concerningly, but his worries vanished when he saw the prince¡¯s arms twitching. With the support of his arms, Jason(?) rose to his feet with a stone debris sticking out of his left cheek. ¡°Did you do it on purpose or was it just pure instinct?¡± said the prince, unfazed by his injury. He then pulled the small rock out and the black veins instantly covered the gaping hole. ¡®That blasted tar thing again,¡¯ Sam murmured. If he continued at this rate, there would be no doubt in his mind that Jason would have the upper hand. ¡®How? How do I disarm him?¡¯ he thought until he was struck by a flash of inspiration. ¡°I could use that, but I need to time it right.¡± ¡°People might get the wrong idea if you keep talking to yourself,¡± Jason(?) chided as he picked up his rapier. ¡°What other people think about me is not my concern,¡± Sam lashed back before lifting himself off the ground. ¡°That¡¯s what they always say and the next day, they succumbed to words spoken with cruel intentions and fetid ignorance.¡± After finishing his sentence, Jason(?) sprinted toward the crater and leaped across it without any hint of hesitation. Sam could feel his entire body tense up as soon as Jason¡¯s(?) feet reached the other side, but nevertheless, he raised his katana with his plan in mind. ¡°Good, keep that fighting spirit alive,¡± said Jason(?) before rushing toward his enemy. Sam swiftly deflected the incoming rapier; the Opal Sun Prince however exchanged the Core Blade to his right hand and swung his blade, nearly taking out his opponent¡¯s right eye. ¡°Shit!¡± the prince spouted before taking a few steps back with a frustrated expression. ¡°Ambidextrous,¡± Sam calmly whispered. Then he recalled what Tim, the Order¡¯s blacksmith mentioned about Jason¡¯s blade: a sword that can be balanced on one finger. Unfortunately, before he could finish his thought, the prince had regained his composure and was making his approach. Sam quickly positioned his sword in front of his face but Jason¡¯s(?) rapier had already embedded itself into his left shoulder. ¡°ARGH!¡± bellowed Sam, causing Jason to snicker. ¡°If you keep holding back, boy, you will lose more than your arm.¡± ¡°Proposal¡­accepted.¡± Jason(?) gasped as the blade of his rapier began steaming before gradually turning bright red. The prince took a closer look at the end of his sword and realized his adversary¡¯s shoulder was as translucent as a veil. ¡°Ah!¡± Jason hissed as the handle of his weapon became too hot to bear, forcing him to drop it. ¡°Got you,¡± said Sam, seizing the opportunity to smack the prince in his right temple with the pommel of his katana. He felt his entire arm rattled from the impact, but more importantly, Jason(?) was still on his feet; his gaze pointed downward. ¡°I wonder,¡± the prince began to speak, his voice slightly raspy, ¡°What is it you¡¯re trying to achieve after hitting me in the head?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Sam grunted after Jason grabbed his left wrist. His eyes widened as the black tar on the prince¡¯s hand spread unto his own hand, showing no signs of stopping. The veins climbed up to his neck and the only thing he felt was a familiar icy sensation akin to the one he experienced in his nightmare. His eyes darted upward, fixated on the reddened sky which started to melt and swirl around like a vortex. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡®Is this it? Is this where he will meet his end? Felled by an enemy wearing the face of his friend?¡¯ Just as his eyes were about to close, the sky returned to its clear, blue state and his nose caught a whiff of something sweet in the air. He immediately lowered his gaze and the first thing he saw were rows of pine trees similar to the ones he saw in the Coniferous Forest. More importantly, Jason was nowhere to be found along with the black veins that enveloped his body. Furthermore, the wounds on his body were completely gone ¨C and his left arm was also unscathed. ¡°An illusion¡­no, this doesn¡¯t feel like an illusion,¡± said Sam as he stretched his fingers. ¡°Not quite,¡± replied a familiar voice. Sam spun around and was greeted by the sight of the Opal Sun prince himself. But he noticed something vastly different about him ¨C his smirking face and his tangerine-colored eyes; there were no signs of the sinister black veins. However, Sam could not help himself from being suspicious of the man in front of him. ¡°You¡­are you the real Jason or¡­?¡± Sam stammered, expecting the prince to burst out laughing or at least, gave him a snide remark. ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed, and to answer your question, yes, I am the one and only Jason Helians,¡± the prince said sternly. ¡°My sister and Theo, did you find them?¡± ¡°We did, and they are safe.¡± ¡°Then, we are truly in your debt,¡± the prince retorted. ¡°My only regret is for us to meet in such dire circumstances.¡± ¡°Dire circumstances? Well, that is one way to describe it,¡± said Sam, nodding his head. ¡°So, what is this place anyway? It looked like the Forest of the Bandit Lord but it somehow feels much more¡­peaceful.¡± ¡°This place is one of the realms that exist alongside the Mortal and Phantasmal Realms ¨C the Realm of the Subconscious, the physical manifestation of humanity¡¯s psyche.¡± ¡°Humanity¡¯s psyche? How is that even possible?¡± ¡°I wish I could tell you, but sadly, we haven¡¯t fully grasped the total understanding of how the Cataclysm affected the fabric of reality. All we know is that this realm, like its two brothers, was created soon after the meteor fall.¡± Before Sam could say anything in return, his eyes met with Jason¡¯s intense glare. The prince then crossed his arms together and said, ¡°The real question is how you got here in the first place. There are only two ways you can enter this realm and judging from your expression, I doubt you were sent here voluntarily.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure how to explain it but a few minutes ago, I was¡­I was fighting you. Well, not you¡­I mean, the person who, you know? And the next thing I realized, I was here.¡± ¡°Hm, interesting,¡± replied Jason, bobbing his head up and down, ¡°Perhaps your presence here is not a mere coincidence after all.¡± ¡°Um, what is that supposed to mean?¡± Sam asked worriedly. All of sudden, the ground beneath his feet started to tremble, followed by dark clouds appearing out of nowhere, blocking the sunlight from reaching the forest floor. Moreover, he felt a cold breeze brush against the nape of his neck and the sensation lingered until the sky cleared once again. ¡°It seems we¡¯re running out of time,¡± Jason sighed, ¡°Come, follow me.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Meeting the root of our problems.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF THE INFERNO ||| *** ||| THE PATH OF THE DELUGE: LUCY ||| Lucy anxiously chewed on the insides of her cheek as she observed Theo tending to her brother. Thankfully, she did not see any serious wounds on his body, but that was the least of her worries. The fight just now ¨C it was undoubtedly the bloodlust taking over and it was definitely getting worse. ¡°Is there really no way to cure him?¡± Lucy murmured. She had spent a considerable amount of time scrutinizing every available medical journal but each one always said that the condition was incurable. ¡°Wha-!¡± Lucy gasped after she felt something grabbing her right shoulder. ¡°Oh, sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to startle you,¡± Aria apologized. ¡°No, no, it¡¯s alright. I was¡­never mind,¡± Lucy quickly took a deep breath to calm herself down, ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°Your brother is going to be fine. He was just exhausted from his previous battle,¡± the princess explained. However, the tiny smile on her face soon disappeared, replaced with a concerned expression. ¡°Lucy, what happened earlier¡­I could tell Rupert wasn¡¯t his usual cheerful self.¡± Lucy exhaled; she was really hoping that neither Aria nor Theo would notice her brother¡¯s erratic behavior. With the princess¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, all she could do was tell her the truth. ¡°My family, the Nightingales has this¡­hereditary illness. It caused an abnormal craving for battle or bloodlust, and if not satiated, he or she will enter a temporary state of frenzy, losing the ability to differentiate between friends and foes.¡± ¡°And this illness, how long has it been in your family?¡± ¡°Since the dawn of the Cataclysm, or so I was told. My father had it, but it was not as severe as this ¨C it¡¯s not supposed to be as severe as this.¡± ¡°Not supposed?¡± ¡°Often times the one who is afflicted by this ailment can still control their urge, but from what I read, physical or psychological trauma can amplify the bloodlust.¡± ¡°And it is incurable?¡± Aria added before his right index finger twirled with her hair. ¡°Have you gone to the Archive yet?¡± Lucy shook her head right and left and answered, ¡°I didn¡¯t, but I did ask Iris to search for anything related to Rupert¡¯s condition. All she could find so far were the names of those affected by the bloodlust.¡± ¡°I see,¡± the princess muttered, ¡°Then, how about the Grand Library?¡± Lucy frowned at Aria, thinking the latter was playing a joke on her. ¡°The Grand Library, you say? Requesting access to that place takes 5 to 10 years. Even then, the Librarians will only give us one hour to settle our affairs. I don¡¯t know about you but that policy of theirs sucks ass, no offense.¡± ¡°None was taken,¡± Aria giggled, ¡°You can¡¯t really blame them though. Most of the books and manuscripts stored there are quite fragile. However, if you are still interested, then I might be able to get you inside. Theoretically.¡± ¡°Theoretically?¡± ¡°During my assignment at the Grand Library, I was well-acquainted with one of the Librarians, and among her brethren, she is what I would say, more open-minded to visitors.¡± Lucy grimaced. She had to admit, it was a pretty good preposition ¨C perhaps too good. ¡°It is a generous offer but such an offer must have a price.¡± ¡°No price, I promise,¡± Aria retorted, ¡°Well, technically you have already paid for it by saving my life. There is, however, one condition.¡± ¡°Condition? You¡¯re sounding more and more like Marie,¡± Lucy sighed, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s hear it then.¡± ¡°Recently, there has been this strange tension among the Librarians, so if I were you, I¡¯d be extremely careful about divulging my personal information to those lots. Compared to their leader, the Librarians are quite¡­superstitious, especially if it involves anything related to the Cataclysm.¡± Lucy glowered at the ground, wondering what the princess was alluding to. Then, it hit her. ¡°Sam,¡± she blurted out and her speculation was confirmed as soon as she saw Aria nodding her head. ¡°Are you telling me the Librarians will treat him with hostility? Like those groups of fledglings who used to pick on him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just perfect,¡± Lucy exhaled, ¡°But, thank you for the heads up. I¡¯ll make sure to keep your advice in mind.¡± ¡°OW!!¡± Rupert¡¯s scream echoed throughout the forest and Lucy could finally loosen up her shoulders. However, the stunts her brother pulled on the Subsumers appeared before his eyes, causing her to ball her fists. ¡°Um, Lucy?¡± said Aria, ¡°A-Are you okay?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine. If you don¡¯t mind, I just need to have a little talk with my brother ¨C alone.¡± ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF DELUGE ||| 62nd Fragment: -ROT- ||| THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL EDELWEISS ||| The Subconscious Realm -- the physical manifestation of humanity¡¯s psyche. Sam grimaced, still finding it hard to believe that such a place could possibly exist. He spent nearly a decade living inside the Tower and never once he heard about this realm being discussed among the other Faceless. But honestly, he felt a little underwhelmed ¨C for a place called the Subconscious Realm, it was rather normal. ¡°How is Aria and Theo doing? I could tell from your face that they gave you a lot of trouble,¡± Jason said suddenly, there was a hint of pride in his voice. ¡°Troubles,¡± Sam sighed, recalling his battle with Theo, ¡°We nearly got ourselves killed trying to stop them; so, I don¡¯t think ¡®troubles¡¯ is a suitable word to explain everything that has been happening.¡± ¡°Yet, here you are, still alive and kicking ¨C which means whoever possessed my sister and Theo have no intention of killing you and the Nightingales.¡± ¡°So, you know what their true intention is?¡± Jason stopped dead on his track and for a fleeting moment, Sam could see the scowl on the prince¡¯s face. ¡°Are you aware of the reason why the Cerulean Mausoleum was built in the first place?¡± Sam¡¯s tilted toward his left shoulder, slightly curious by the question. ¡°Is this some kind of a trick question?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Jason before looking over his shoulder, ¡°It is an honest one. Generally, the Cerulean Mausoleum is known as the final resting place for the kings and queens of the Opal Sun. However, don¡¯t you think it is unusual for such a location to be hidden in the Coniferous Forest instead of inside the citadel?¡± ¡°I did, but I assumed it was to deter anyone with malicious intents especially those who lived through the reign of the previous king,¡± Sam replied. Shortly after, he began remembering his encounter with the lone obelisk in the pine forests. Coincidentally, a similar obelisk was also found within the mausoleum. He wondered if those two structures were connected somehow. ¡°Wait, back in the forest, I found some kind of a weird tower,¡± Sam brought up, ¡°It has these strange drawings and writings carved all over it. There is this one with a woman, and she was staring at four distinct shapes which I¡¯m guessing were the Four Royal Jewels. Does that have anything to do with this ¡®reason¡¯?¡± Jason¡¯s eyes widened as if he was surprised by what he had just heard. Then, he let out a chuckle; a reaction that baffled Sam greatly. ¡°Perhaps I WAS right about your presence here not being a coincidence,¡± the prince asserted. ¡°Um, should I be thankful¡­or concerned?¡± Sam remarked worriedly. ¡°Pleased, for you are correct regarding the obelisks, or as I called it, The Vestiges,¡± Jason further added, ¡°Those structures were built by the First Opal Sun King; they serve as a warning to his progenies on the danger of disunion and greed.¡± ¡°Let me guess, there is something else on them? Something that is only visible to your eyes?¡± ¡°You are half correct,¡± Jason corrected, ¡°There is indeed ¡®something else¡¯ on the obelisk, and it is visible to all eyes ¨C if they know where and when to find it.¡± ¡°What is it then? What is this ¡®thing¡¯ that is so important that they¡¯re willing to sacrifice hundreds of lives without any shred of hesitation?¡± ¡°The location of the Imperial Crown, or more specifically, the Harlequin Opal fitted to it.¡± ¡°Harlequin Opal? Do you mean, that Harlequin Opal? One of the Four Royal Jewels? That¡¯s quite bold of them¡­or foolish,¡± Sam uttered, ¡°So, does that mean we¡¯re dealing with some thieves or perhaps an enemy of the Opal Sun Kingdom?¡± Jason shook his head left and right and replied, ¡°Neither. Whoever did it is not after a few gold coins or the total annihilation of my homeland. You see ¨C before your arrival, I did a bit of digging myself, and found out that in the past, the Four Royal Jewels acted as keys to a weapon of mass destruction ¨C a weapon powerful enough to wipe out all living things from the face of the Earth.¡± ¡°Wipe out all living things,¡± Sam murmured before lowering his gaze to the ground. ¡°The end¡­of mankind.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s uh¡­I¡¯m just wondering what made you think me being here is not a coincidence.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you asked,¡± the prince responded with a lopsided smile across his face, ¡°Come, we¡¯re almost there.¡± *** ¡°What in the world?¡± Sam gawked at the sight of the tall black wall towering over him. The colossal structure extended far into the horizon and the top nearly touched the sky itself; dwarfing the sea of pine trees behind him. Furthermore, he noticed the surface of the wall was moving or more accurately, swaying around like the wave of the ocean. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to get around this barrier for some time now,¡± Jason explained, ¡°Perhaps you could provide a new insight into our predicament.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Sam blurted out, ¡°I don¡¯t think it is smart to place your faith in me. Compared to you, I¡¯m nothing more than a novice.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short, Sam. Markus did not choose you solely because of your power. He saw something in you ¨C a destiny, perhaps greater than mine.¡± ¡°No pressure, huh?¡± ¡°Nothing that you can¡¯t handle. So, go on,¡± said Jason, gesturing at the wall, ¡°and let me know if you see ANYTHING suspicious.¡± Sam sighed ¨C he could already feel his shoulders grow heavier from the sudden expectation. However, he had been entrusted with heavier responsibilities before, so checking out some walls should be fine. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go take a look. Just don¡¯t get your hopes up.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Jason nodded his head solemnly, though Sam could see a glimpse of optimism in the prince¡¯s eyes. ¡®Well, there¡¯s no going back now.¡¯ Sam slowly made his way to the wall and as he got closer to the wall, he saw some kind of smoke floating in front of the barricade. With his curiosity piqued, Sam reached his right hand out and the smoke instantly coiled around his wrists like a piece of rope. He quickly pulled his arm away, causing the wispy strand to revert to its gas-like state. ¡°What happened? Did you find something?¡± Jason inquired. ¡°Y-yeah, I think so,¡± Sam stuttered as he felt a weird tingling sensation in each one of his fingertips. Somehow, he felt it was meant to happen. Sam let out a short, dry laugh ¨C there was no doubt in his mind that Lucy would disapprove of his next course of action. Nevertheless, he stretched out his hand once again, allowing the smoke to wrap itself around his forearm. Eventually, the palm of his hand reached the wall and to his surprise, the wall was not as rigid as he initially anticipated. In fact, it was springy ¨C like pressing against a velvet. ¡°Wait, this is¡­¡± Sam¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement after realizing something oddly familiar about the wall. Instead of bricks or concrete, the entirety of the barricade was made out of threads stacked on top of one another. ¡°I think I found a way to get us through,¡± said Sam, smiling from ear to ear. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yeah, seriously.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great news. So, do you need some help?¡± ¡°No. Just¡­Just be prepared for any sudden attack.¡± ¡°Be¡­prepared?¡± Jason¡¯s brows snapped together, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to bring that wall down on your own?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not actually planning to tear the whole thing down ¨C maybe at least create a gap large enough for both of us to pass through,¡± Sam further added before drawing out his katana. He planted the tip of the sword into the wall and took a deep breath. ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± Sam exhaled, tightening his hold on the grip. The blade was immediately enveloped in a crimson-red glow which rapidly spread all over the wall. ¡°Oh, crap. That doesn¡¯t look good.¡± The barrier burst into a roaring flame, prompting Sam to back away from it as far as he could. For the entire wall to be consumed by the fire ¨C it was not what he intended but it might be for the best ¨C or so he hoped. ¡°Remarkable.¡± Sam shuddered as Jason suddenly appeared next to him ¨C his tangerine-coloured eyes were fixated on the burning wall. ¡°I¡¯ve seen some spectacular things; this might top all of them,¡± the prince expressed his amazement. ¡°Nah, I doubt it,¡± Sam retorted. After waiting for about five seconds, the wall gradually melted like candle wax. Sam held his weapon firmly, waiting for the enemies to come rushing toward him and Jason. However, the only thing he saw was a humongous tree standing alone on a vacant yellow field with its branches reaching up to the sky. Aside from its abnormal size, Sam did not notice anything peculiar about the tree ¨C until he focused on the trunk. Looped around its gigantic body were pulsing white veins which seemed to pump up a stream of black liquid to the offshoots above. ¡°`It is just as I suspected.¡± Sam turned his attention to the prince who looked unperturbed by the scenery. ¡°Mind explaining to me what that is?¡± he demanded. ¡°That, my friend, is The Tree of Vigilance, or so I was told.¡± ¡°The Tree of Vigilance?¡± Sam repeated with a baffled expression. ¡°I understand all of this is a bit overwhelming,¡± Jason responded; a hint of concern could be heard in his voice, ¡°All I know is that thing is what keeps this realm intact ¨C at least, my Subconscious Realm intact.¡± ¡°Sorry, you lost me again.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put it like this: the Subconscious Realm is much more complicated than other Realms that we know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s obvious,¡± Sam responded. ¡°See, imagine a large bubble, and contained within it are hundreds of smaller bubbles. The inner bubbles represent different individual¡¯s Subconscious realms. You, me, my sister, Theo, and even the Nightingales; all of us have our own distinct Realms, and as you may have guessed by now, our own Trees of Vigilance.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Sam breathed out. He tried to process everything he had just heard: the Trees of Vigilance, the different Subconscious Realms ¨C in a normal world, they might be considered as the rambling of a madman. ¡°You said earlier there are two methods to reach this place. What are they?¡± ¡°The first one is, of course, through a Rift Gate, but even then, it is too dangerous. Every Subconscious Realm is constantly in motion, making it nearly impossible to establish a destination point. The second method is much easier, although it is a bit tricky.¡± ¡°Tricky?¡± ¡°One needs to be an Accursed who specialized in the matter of the mind and based on my knowledge, there is no such person in the Order. In other words, we¡¯re dealing with a Faceless-level enemy,¡± as soon as Jason finished his sentence, he jumped over the pool of tar; an action that Sam followed shortly after. ¡°Be on your guard from here on out. Things might get a little dicey,¡± the prince warned before pulling his rapier out of its sheath. ¡°Say, this Faceless-level enemy you spoke of, did they happen to wear a black mask?¡± asked Sam, causing Jason¡¯s head to dart toward him. ¡°How did you know they were wearing a black mask?¡± said the prince with a scowl forming on his face. ¡°I saw two of them in the Desert of Ashes, interacting with the Disciples of Vidia,¡± Sam paused as Jason gave him a look of disbelief, ¡°It¡¯s a long story, but it is safe to say they were up to no good.¡± GRRR!!! Sam snapped his head toward the Tree of Vigilance after hearing a deep, loud rumbling coming from it. ¡°What¡­? The branches, are they¡­,¡± he thought he was imagining it at first, but limbs of the tree were moving or to be exact, expanding as if it were attempting to engulf the sky. ¡°So, the noble mouse managed to escape from its little enclosure and brought along an interloper,¡± said a low, disembodied voice. A black mist appeared out of nowhere, swirling and congregating in front of the giant tree until a familiar humanoid figure emerged from it. ¡°A black mask, and a black hood,¡± Sam spouted, already he could feel the sweat beads forming on his forehead. ¡°Welcome gentlemen, to the Land of Eternal Slumber,¡± the figure greeted. 63rd Fragment: -MIASMA- ¡°You sure picked a good spot to hide yourself,¡± Jason intervened, ¡°Though, despite everything you have done, I must commend your persistence to retrieve the Imperial Crown.¡± The masked man chuckled at the prince¡¯s deduction, and in turn, replied, ¡°So, you knew? Of course, you do ¨C the trail we left is not exactly subtle, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that is something you or anyone should be proud of,¡± Sam remarked, his brows drawn together. ¡°If you think we are proud of everything that went down, then you are sorely mistaken. Sacrifices must be made if one wishes to achieve greatness and that applies to everyone ¨C including the two of you.¡± ¡°Thank you for enlightening us on the significance of sacrifices,¡± Jason answered sarcastically, ¡°The only problem I have is that you viewed those deaths as meaningful, when in fact, they are not. You spoke of them as if they were martyrs to your cause, but in reality, they were victims of your delusion of grandeur. I knew each and every one of them; their ambitions and their hopes. You spoke of achieving greatness, but all you did was rob them of their chances to make the world a better place.¡± ¡°Ambitions and hopes alone are not enough to change the world, Your Radiance,¡± the hooded figure scoffed before a lanky right arm came out from between the robe. Sam quickly raised his katana, and his action was soon copied by the Opal Prince himself. ¡°There¡¯s no point in resisting, Your Radiance,¡± the hooded figure chuckled, ¡°Look around you, this Realm ¨C YOUR realm is no longer under your control and it is a matter of time until the Tree of Vigilance liberates you.¡± ¡°Liberate me? That¡¯s utter nonsense,¡± Jason growled, ¡°You murdered my people, destroyed my city, and almost made me kill my friends. Please do tell me how is that going to lead me to my ¡¯liberation¡¯?¡± ¡°How, you asked? Have you ever wake up in the morning, wondering whether you¡¯ll live to see the sunset? Or quietly carrying that shameful guilt of spewing lies to your beloved subjects, telling them that everything will be alright? You may have been their hero, but even someone like you has their own limits.¡± Sam turned his attention to Jason who slowly squinted both of his eyes at their foe. He also noticed the gentle gaze worn by the prince vanished without a trace, leaving behind a furious glare that he had never seen before. ¡°So what? I should be grateful for your concern for my well-being? If that¡¯s the case, then you have my thanks,¡± chided Jason, his hands tightened around the handle of his rapier, ¡°Sadly, I have no need for your concern ¨C your life, however, is a whole different story.¡± ¡°Killing me will not bring them back-.¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± the Opal Sun Prince exclaimed before a radiant, white ring manifested over his head. ¡°You¡¯re going to throw one of those at me now? May I remind you that I know every single one of your tricks and how to counter them? Also, do you think it is wise to let those things fly around in the vicinity of the tree?¡± ¡°Um, what¡¯s he talking about?¡± Sam interjected, but Jason remained quiet. His somber gaze, however, betrayed his calm expression. In that instant, he instantly recounted his previous conversation with the prince regarding the Tree of Vigilance. ¡°Jason, don¡¯t tell me¡­if something happens to the tree...¡± ¡°The entire realm will collapse and his life will be forfeited,¡± the hooded figure answered smugly, ¡°But that will be a waste of your talent.¡± ¡°I see. The strange condition of the tree ¨C you intend to wipe out my existence from this plane and take control of my body permanently.¡± ¡°Correct! We expected nothing less from the son of King Cyrus,¡± said the hooded figure, applauding the Opal Sun Prince, ¡°For your astute observation, allow us to present you with your reward.¡± As soon as the hooded figure stopped clapping their hands, a large crack appeared across the ground in front of them, and from the darkness, countless hands sprung forth, grabbing the edge of the hole. ¡°What¡­is that?¡± Sam gawked at the grotesquery that emerged from the fissure ¨C a massive blob of flesh with multiple humanoid arms that he had never seen before. His mind began to race, trying to identify the monstrosity that loomed over him and Jason, but he could only draw a blank. A few seconds later, he heard the prince cursing fervently at the giant and he soon found out why. What he thought was a blob of flesh was in fact clusters of twisted human bodies fused to each other. Furthermore, the faces were moving ¨C it was as if they were screaming in agony though not a single voice came out of their mouths. ¡°Marvelous, isn¡¯t it?¡± said the hooded figure as he appeared next to the creature. ¡°What did you do?¡± Jason snarled, ¡°Those people ¨C they are the residents of the Edge!¡± Sam was rendered speechless by the revelation. His eyes darted toward the monster and as he took a closer look, he realized the faces on its gelatinous body ¨C they were of various sizes and colors ranging from the elderly to children. ¡°Well, technically, they¡¯re not,¡± the hooded figure responded gleefully. ¡°Allow us to introduce you to the Miasma and it is, in fact, the embodiment of your regrets; your failure in saving your beloved subjects.¡± The Miasma instantly let out a roar so guttural, that the entire Subconscious Realm started to quiver. Sam gasped as felt his bones rattled from top to bottom, but to his astonishment, Jason was seemingly unperturbed by the monster¡¯s bellowing. ¡°How repulsive,¡± the prince murmured in disgust. He pointed his left index finger forward, causing the halo over his head to fly toward the Miasma with staggering speed. The ring cut through every single one of the Miasma¡¯s arms, and shortly after, changed its course toward the hooded figure. Unfortunately, the projectile dispersed into rays of light before it reached its intended target. ¡®What just happened?¡¯ Sam thought until he saw Jason drop to one of his knees, and panting heavily. ¡°It seems someone is nearing his limit,¡± the hooded figure commented, ¡°It must have been tiring ¨C to break free from your shackles AND to keep your body from succumbing to fatigue. One would say it is a miracle you¡¯re still standing on your feet ¨C well, one of your feet.¡± The hooded figure spun around and raised his head upward, looking directly at the branches of the Tree of Vigilance. From beneath the black mask, a loud sigh was soon heard ¨C loud enough that it reached both Sam¡¯s and Jason¡¯s ears. ¡°A pity. A pity, indeed,¡± the hooded figure added before his entire body disintegrated into black mist. ¡°Letting someone else clean up your mess. Typical,¡± Sam huffed. Then, he shifted attention to his sole companion who was still gasping for air. ¡°Are you alright, Jason? Can you stand up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± the prince responded confidently, though Sam noticed both of his friend¡¯s hands were shaking terribly. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about me - just focus on the enemy,¡± Jason exhaled. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Said the one who drained all of his stamina,¡± Sam retorted. But, the moment of silence was short-lived as the Miasma started to growl, presumably infuriated by its amputated limbs. Then, right in front of their eyes, the monster¡¯s severed arms grew longer until they split in half, giving rise to cleaver-like appendages. ¡°That is a little gnarly,¡± said Sam with a frown on his face. But strangely enough, he was not concerned by the sudden turn of events. No, in fact, he somehow felt¡­exhilarated. ¡°Another big one,¡± Jason stated, already on both of his feet, ¡°Cutting off its limbs is obviously not an option.¡± ¡°How about blowing it to pieces?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, but sadly, I don¡¯t have the energy to create another halo.¡± ¡°Then,¡± Sam sighed as an idea came into his mind, ¡°We¡¯ll just have to burn it from the inside.¡± Jason immediately scowled at him, wondering what he was talking about. However, the prince¡¯s facial expression eased up and his tangerine-coloured eyes settled on the katana. ¡°It¡¯s quite bold, but doable,¡± Jason asserted. ¡°Doable aside, are you sure you want to be a part of this? I mean, those faces on the Miasma¡¯s body¡­¡± ¡°All of them are already gone, Sam,¡± replied Jason solemnly, ¡°and I¡¯ll be lying if I said I¡¯m not affected by them. So, let us get this over with before I start to lose my composure. Again.¡± ¡°If you say so. What¡¯s on your mind then?¡± ¡°First, I¡¯ll distract the Miasma and when I give you the signal, you sneak up on it to do¡­whatever it is you intended to do.¡± ¡°That''s it? Doesn¡¯t that sound a bit¡­reckless?¡± Sam responded, surprised by the proposed plan. ¡°It is, unfortunately. Now, wait for my signal.¡± ¡°What kind of signal-Wait!¡± before Sam could finish his sentence, Jason had already dashed toward the writhing monster. As the prince made his approach, the Miasma extended one of its arms to reach him. But, Jason swiftly dodged it and thrusted his rapier into what he assumed to be the giant¡¯s forearm, causing the monster to scream in agony. ¡°Here comes the painful part,¡± Jason blurted out before hopping on top of the Miasma¡¯s limb. ¡°Ja¡­son¡­¡± Hearing a familiar voice calling his name, Jason instantly froze in his place. His eyes raced toward the Miasma¡¯s body where among the multitude of faces was Rudolph. ¡°Jas¡­son¡­Look¡­at what¡­you¡¯ve done to me¡­,¡± the old guard moaned. ¡°Should have guessed you would be part of the ¡®reward¡¯,¡± Jason murmured, shortly before he felt movement beneath his feet. Wasting no more time, Jason ran up the Miasma¡¯s arm while keeping his full attention on the other limbs. ¡°Ah, curses,¡± the prince spouted as he saw multiple arms heading his way. Jason instantly came to an abrupt stop and he began carving a symbol on the Miasma¡¯s bony arm ¨C an arrow pointing northeast. In a blink of an eye, the monster¡¯s pale skin around the emblem turned reddish brown which eventually spread all over the giant arm. ¡°Sam, go! Now!¡± shouted Jason, glancing over his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s the signal? Ah, crap!¡± Sam remarked before sprinting toward the Miasma. On his way, he noticed the arm Jason was standing on crumbled into dust, filling the air with the noxious odor of rusting metal. ¡®What in the world just happened?¡¯ the thought popped into Sam¡¯s mind. ¡°Wonder about it later!¡± Jason exclaimed, ¡°And look where you¡¯re going!¡± ¡°Wha-Oh crap!¡± Sam dove to the ground as he caught a glimpse of the Miasma¡¯s arm over his head. He felt a cold breeze brushed against the nape of his neck, but less than a second later, it was replaced with a coarse, sand-like sensation. ¡°Urgh, not again,¡± Sam whined as he wiped the abrasive red dust from his hair and clothes. ¡°Sam, move it!¡± Hearing Jason screaming his name, Sam scrambled to his feet to resume his march. However, the entire realm began to quake once again, causing him to fall on his knees. Luckily for him, the tremor also toppled the Miasma on its back, giving him a brief moment to breathe ¨C that was until he noticed the Tree of Vigilance¡¯s branches slowly expanding its domain. Then, he heard a loud thud coming from behind him and when he spun around, he saw Jason on both knees; his grimacing face was as pale as snow. ¡°Jason!¡± Sam called out, but before he could reach his unconscious friend, the prince raised his hand to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted! The fight is not over yet!¡± ¡°But-!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get it already? When that tree covers the entire sky, my current well-being will be the least of your problems. It will make the massacre in the Edge look like a minor accident!¡± Sam opened his mouth, trying to protest but then, he heard growling from the direction of the Miasma. As he was shifting his attention toward the monster, he felt a hand grabbing his forearm, followed by Jason whispering to him, ¡°If the branches manage to shroud the entire sky, promise me you will destroy the tree.¡± ¡°You want me to¡­¡± Sam paused after seeing the desperation on the prince¡¯s face, ¡°No, if I do that, you¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°Then I will die as a man, not as a monster,¡± Jason¡¯s voice trailed off. ¡°No one else is going to die today,¡± said Sam before yanking his arm out of Jason¡¯s grip. With his katana still in hand, he rushed toward the monster without a shred of hesitation. All he felt was this burning sensation in his chest that only intensified at every step he took. Was it rage? No, it was, ¡°Desperation,¡± Sam inadvertently whispered. Let it guide you. Sam¡¯s eyes widened as a mysterious voice rang inside his head. It was a totally different voice than the Veiled Lady ¨C in fact, this time, it sounded like a man. Let your desperation be your guiding light, the voice repeated. Suddenly, the katana burst into flame, much to Sam¡¯s surprise. However, the flame felt¡­strange ¨C it was as if it had a life of its own. He tried to extinguish it, but instead, it grew larger and hotter until the red flame turned chalky white. The burning sword instantly dragged him forward like a hunter chasing its prey. Sam winced; his hand felt like it was fused to the handle, making it difficult for him to let go of his katana. The blade eventually embedded itself into the Miasma and the searing flame rapidly enveloped its monstrous body. Sam promptly shielded his eyes from the sudden explosion of light and luckily for him, the katana slid out of the Miasma¡¯s viscid flesh, allowing him to put some distance between himself and the creature. As his stinging eyes gradually returned to normal, Sam scowled at the voracious fire that slowly consumed the giant; it did not scream nor move from its position until a minute had passed. The Miasma rose up -- the heat melted its skin along with the faces on its burly body. What remained behind was a cloud of black smoke still retaining its monstrous form. ¡°So, this is the embodiment of Jason¡¯s regret,¡± Sam muttered in disbelief. He wondered how Jason who was barely in his 20s could carry this kind of burden without crumbling into pieces. Spare your amazement for later. Sam fidgeted as the male voice returned, causing him to exclaim, ¡°Stop telling me what to do!¡± No answer. Sam let out a sigh of relief, thinking he was finally freed from the voice until a small ball of flame manifested in front of him. Despite its size, Sam could feel its heat pricking his face like tiny, countless needles. Before he could react, the fireball swelled and twisted around, subsequently shaping into a humanoid. ¡°Who¡­who are you? Or what are you?¡± Sam blurted out. The fiery figure did not reply. Instead, it gestured its right arm to the branches over its head which were almost covering the entire sky. Burn it down. Burn everything down. Sam grimaced. He pointed his katana to the figure and with a stern voice, said, ¡°No.¡± Then, you and your friends will die. As soon as the strange figure finished its sentence, it disappeared into thin air and Sam instantly realized the Miasma was slowly dragging its wispy body toward him. He glanced over his shoulder, only to see Jason already lying on his back with both eyes closed. Then, he recalled his prior conversation with the prince ¨C more specifically, his final request. ¡°To die as a man¡­than as a monster,¡± Sam spouted before reluctantly reigniting his katana. With both hands grasping the handle, he reluctantly swung the sword skyward, launching a large red fireball toward the overlapping branches. 64th Fragment: -SOVEREIGNS- [UNKNOWN LOCATION] With his back pressed against the rocky wall, the hooded figure took a few deep breaths to soothe his aching chest. He looked down at his hands; they were shaking and drenched in cold sweats. Interesting, he thought quietly. It has been a long time since a fight left him exhilarated and¡­scared. ¡°It seems you underestimated the boy, Hummingbird.¡± The hooded figure fidgeted after hearing a deep, male voice to his left. Shortly after, a tall figure glided out of the darkness clad in a priestly grey robe and a shiny black mask. ¡°Vulture. What a surprise,¡± the Hummingbird replied unenthusiastically. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t sound too happy to see me,¡± the tall figure chided. ¡°I don¡¯t think there is ANYONE in the world who is happy to see you,¡± said the Hummingbird before she quickly hid her wet hands underneath her robe. ¡°And I also don¡¯t think you are here simply to greet me. So, who sent you?¡± Instead of answering the question, the Vulture let out a gravelly chuckle. The Hummingbird huffed in return, wondering why he bothered asking in the first place. ¡°Have you forgotten something?¡± the Vulture inquired. The Hummingbird tilted his head and replied sternly, ¡°What?¡± ¡°The Crown. Weren¡¯t you supposed to return here with that thing in your hands?¡± said the Vulture. ¡°I would have if only the intelligence I received was accurate,¡± the Hummingbird retorted, ¡°The Crown was never hidden inside the Cerulean Mausoleum. In other words, your source gave us inaccurate information.¡± ¡°Ah, that is quite unfortunate,¡± the Vulture responded indifferently. ¡°Unfortunate? You have wasted precious time and resources simply because you did not fact-check your information. He will be very upset and you know how he is when he¡¯s upset.¡± The Vulture became quiet. Though there were no eyes on his black faceless mask, the Hummingbird could feel the priestly figure¡¯s eyes staring back at him. Seconds later, however, a pair of willowy hands emerged from the Vulture¡¯s robe; his fingers intertwined with each other. ¡°Quite a predicament we are in right now,¡± the Vulture commented. ¡°But why should we carry all the blame?¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s your solution -- to sell out your informant? That is a stupid move for someone like you,¡± the Hummingbird returned. ¡°That man has already outlived his purpose many moons ago. The only reason I kept him alive is because of his connection with the Inner Circle.¡± ¡°And you are willing to lose that connection?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the Vulture promptly answered, ¡°There is nothing more the Inner Circle could tell me. They are currently plagued with constant idleness and insatiable appetites for worldly things. It will be a matter of time until they start eating each other.¡± ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± the Hummingbird scoffed, ¡°You are not the kind of person who moves on so quickly without something up his sleeve. So, what¡¯s your angle here?¡± ¡°My angle is much simpler than yours, little girl. A certain someone wronged me in the past and I intend to make him pay for what he did,¡± as soon as the Vulture finished his sentence, he spun around and began walking toward the shadow. ¡°The Hawk is waiting for you, Miss Hummingbird. I wouldn¡¯t keep him waiting if I were you.¡± *** || THE PATH OF THE INFERNO: SAMUEL EDELWEISS || Sam watched in silence as the Tree of Vigilance was set ablaze by his flame. It was a breathtaking yet terrifying scene for him, seeing how the fire rapidly spread all over the trunk and branches. Not long after, he heard a sharp, cracking sound followed by one of the large branches breaking off of its main body before collapsing on top of the monster. The creature let out a piercing scream until its voice was muffled by the raging flame. Then, he turned his attention toward Jason who was not lying motionlessly on his back. ¡°Jason,¡± said Sam, and as he rushed to his friend, dozens of pure white threads sprouted out of the ground and encased the unconscious prince like a cocoon. ¡°NO!¡± Sam cried out but he suddenly felt something heavy pressing against his back, causing him to fall on his face. ¡°Blegh!¡± Sam spat out the grass from his mouth and quickly glanced over his shoulder. A tall wispy figure stood over him with its right leg resting on his spine. Hold still. Let nature run its course. ¡°That voice,¡± Sam spouted, ¡°You¡¯re the one who told me to burn the tree.¡± And you still did it, despite knowing the outcome. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± There¡¯s always a choice. You could choose to ignore my advice. You could choose to let yourself be crushed by that monster. Yet, you didn¡¯t ¨C why? ¡°I told you I don¡¯t have a choice-ARGH!¡± Sam cried out as the figure pushed its feet deeper into his back. Careful with your next words, boy. ¡°I¡­I did it because it was the right thing to do. If I don¡¯t burn down the tree, more civilians will die at Jason¡¯s hand.¡± So, you¡¯re willing to sacrifice one life to save thousands more? ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I just¡­I just don¡¯t want his last moment to be spent by slaughtering his people ¨C the same people he grew up with and swore to protect.¡± After finishing his last sentence, Sam felt the weight lifted off his back. He briskly got to his feet and drew his blade, aiming it at the figure. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. You are too kind for your own good, child, not to mention na?ve¨C assuming every single one of your problems will be solved if you find out who you are, the figure remarked. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± said Sam, both of his eyes narrowed. Think about it, child. The Wailing Forest, the Desert of Ashes, and now here, in this eastern continent. Do you think all of them are three separate events? Sam remained quiet though he could not help but feel intrigued by the question. There are those who lurk in the shadows, pulling strings and wreaking havoc across Discordania ever since the Cataclysm, the figure continued. ¡°The black masks,¡± Sam blurted out, ¡°You do know this is not the first secret underground organization the Order has ever faced, right?¡± This is not just another regular clandestine organization, the figure replied with a hint of annoyance in its voice. You have seen what they are capable of ¨C the trail of destruction they left behind. They are not as predictable as the Disciples of Vidia nor as vicious as the Flesh-Gorger. All they care about is sowing chaos across the land and watch as friends and families turn against each other. ¡°And what does this have to do with me?¡± What is the point of asking a question that you already have the answer to? Sam frowned upon hearing the figure¡¯s blas¨¦ response. ¡°You¡¯re one of those people. Look, whatever it is you believe, that Prophecy has nothing to do with me,¡± Sam stated. Hm, good, the figure retorted, Denial is the first step to acceptance. ¡°Why do I even bother,¡± Sam sighed. Then, he glanced at Jason¡¯s direction who was still enclosed within the white cocoon. ¡°What¡¯s happening to him?¡± Recovering. The young prince performed a great feat for his age ¨C gaining control of his subconscious self and venturing freely through this realm. He might have gotten himself killed¡­or worse, the figure explained. ¡°And what is worse than death?¡± His mind will be damaged beyond repair, causing him to be neither dead nor alive. However, thanks to you, he¡¯ll be just fine. Reassured by the figure¡¯s answer, Sam could finally feel his entire body relaxed. But, he still kept his eyes on the mysterious presence in case it was trying to do anything funny. To his surprise, the figure raised its right arm ¨C or what he presumed to be its right arm and all the flame enveloping the Tree of Vigilance gathered in its hand. Vibrant, but slightly feral, the figure commented before extinguishing the flame. ¡°Who exactly are you? For an apparition, you sure know a lot about¡­well, about everything,¡± said Sam. When you live in a world called Discordania, knowing everything is necessary, the figure replied as it lifted its hand at Sam, As to who I am, that is a question for another day. A golden hue flame shot out of its arm and Sam swiftly raised his katana as the flame headed toward him. Before the flame reached him, however, it began to expand until it resembled a large wave. ¡°Another one of those fancy attacks. But you are still a fire,¡± Sam spouted. He waved his katana in a semi-circular motion and as he expected, the flame also followed his movement. ¡°Urgh!¡± Sam gasped as his blade grew heavier and colder but he could not afford to loosen his grip. All of a sudden, the flame split in half, and the wispy figure walked out from between the blazing wall. Your mastery over the flame is truly impressive. Whoever taught you must be well-versed in Pyrokinesis, said the silhouette. ¡°He was not the only one who was well-versed in Pyrokinesis,¡± Sam answered. He brought his sword over his head and the golden flame flowed into the blade like a stream of water. As he finished absorbing all the fire, Sam swung his sword downward, releasing a massive golden fireball at the figure. He was expecting the mysterious silhouette to dodge the incoming attack but instead, it allowed itself to be consumed by the fireball. An explosion of yellow light ensued accompanied by a deafening, rushing noise. As the sound and light gradually died down, he heard deep rumbling and also shouting. From the dissipating smoke, a group of soldiers clad in full-body armor emerged with spears and shields in their hands. Sam quickly straightened himself up but instead of attacking him, the soldiers ran past as if he was invisible to their eyes. He spun around, noticing more similar-looking people surrounding a pack of Lacerators. ¡°Hold them down! Don¡¯t let them out of the circle!¡± a soldier shouted, prompting the others to point their weapons toward the Distorted. Unfortunately, one of the monsters managed to jump over the spears before the soldiers could complete their formation. SPLAT! An arrow of light burst open the escaped Lacerator¡¯s head, spilling its blood and bits of brain on the nearby soldiers. ¡°Told you boys not to let your guard down and what¡¯s the first thing you did?¡± said a sharp, female voice. Sam shuddered as a slender woman in sleek white armor appeared from behind. She was a splitting image of Aria except for her flowing silver hair and a small black crescent tattoo on her chin. In his hands was a grey bow and Sam assumed its body was made from steel. Furthermore, she had this commandeering presence ¨C a stark contrast to the warm gentleness exuded by the Opal Sun Princess. ¡°Forgive me, Lady Artemis. I should have-.¡± ¡°Hush, no excuses,¡± the woman called Artemis cut the soldier short. ¡°I promised your family to bring your back alive and I intend to keep that promise. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Y-yes, ma¡¯am. I mean, Your Radiance,¡± the soldier stuttered. ¡°Now, give me some space,¡± said Artemis. The soldier nodded his head before ordering his brethren to step away from the Distorted. ¡°Time to get to work,¡± Artemis exhaled. Sam watched in silence as the armored woman rushed toward the monsters, slicing and dicing them with her bow. After slaying her last foe, Artemis lifted her head skyward; her tangerine-coloured eyes focused on the looming dark clouds. ¡°Order, Your Radiance?¡± a soldier inquired. ¡°Regroup back at the Palace and tell Cassiopeia to not let anyone in nor out of the citadel.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not¡­coming back with us?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need me to hold your hands,¡± Artemis retorted, ¡°Besides, I already cleared the way for you.¡± GRRRR! A distant thunderclap made Artemis frown and she raised her bow just as a large dark mass fell from the sky and crashed in front of her. ¡°Ow. Well, that went better than I expected,¡± said a male voice. ¡°You¡¯re slipping, Apollo,¡± Artemis grumbled at the person lying near her foot. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you for asking by the way,¡± replied the man named Apollo who bore an uncanny resemblance to Jason although he had a longer and messier raven hair and a tiny sun tattoo over his left brow. ¡°Its skin is much thicker than I first anticipated,¡± Apollo added before getting to his feet. ¡°I told you not to go alone. See where that got you?¡± ¡°Just so you know, I didn¡¯t plan to go alone. Ivan and Lei are preoccupied in the south and Cassiopeia ¨C she¡¯s busy handling the civilians,¡± Apollo ranted. GRRRR! Another thunderclap ¨C only this time, it was directly over their heads. Shortly after, the dark clouds slowly parted way, revealing a humongous winged silhouette hovering in the air. A pair of round yellow eyes peeked through the thunderclouds; both of them gazed down on both Apollo and Artemis. Then, a giant ball of light began to manifest below the eyes, growing and crackling with energy. ¡°Oh, this is gonna tingle,¡± Apollo remarked before everything turned bright white. -TWO- ¡®The Barrier is crumbling.¡¯ ¡®It will be a matter of time until he finds out the truth.¡¯ ¡®Isn¡¯t that what you desired?¡¯ ¡®For the world to know the truth?¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s not ready.¡¯ ¡®No one is ever ready.¡¯ ¡®We were not ready when God¡¯s judgment descended upon us.¡¯ The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡®And yet we survived.¡¯ ¡®Out of sheer luck.¡¯ ¡®What happened back then was not luck.¡¯ ¡®The threads that bind all of us together ¨C they are still intact.¡¯ ¡®The task given to us ever since the First Sip of the Nectar,¡¯ ¡®There is no escaping it.¡¯ ¡®Not until we fulfill our own duty.¡¯ ¡®Is there even an end to our duty?¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡®But it is not us who will decide how and when it will end¡­¡¯ I. VISION OF SANDS ¡°Ow¡­,¡± Anemone moaned as she gradually opened her eyelids. She did not expect the first thing she felt when she woke up from sleep was a terrible pain in her chest. ¡°This is¡­strange,¡± she commented. Never once did she experience such sensation ¨C it was as if¡­as if she was stabbed by a knife. ¡°Is someone there?¡± the girl croaked but all she saw was pitch black. ¡®Hang on, when was the last time my room was this dark?¡¯ Anemone frowned. As far she tried to remember, the scientists ¨C the men in white had never turned the light off even when she and the others were sleeping. Anemone jumped off her bed and heard the floor beneath her crack loudly. ¡°Whoa, what the heck?¡± she reacted promptly. She did not recall the ground being so fragile¡­and gravelly. The soles of her feet were grinding against the sands; she only hoped there were no sharp fragments of glasses or stones lying around, waiting for her in the darkness. ¡°Hello?¡± Anemone called out again, but like her prior attempt, the only answer she received was the unnerving silence. With her arms in front of her, she carefully shuffled her way to the door until her hands touched the doorknob and twisted it. ¡®Wait, it¡¯s¡­not locked?¡¯ She pushed the door open, expecting the men in white to walk around in the corridor. But, to her surprise, the entire hallway was vacant and the lights were also out. Thankfully, her eyes were adjusting to the darkness, so she began to head to the room next to hers. ¡°Hello? Bashar? Are you in there?¡± said Anemone while knocking on the door. She tried rotating the doorknob but it was locked tightly. ¡°Bashar? Can you hear me? It¡¯s me, Anemone!¡± she repeated but there was no answer. KRANG! KRANG! Anemone¡¯s head snapped to her right, toward the end of the corridor. The chain-like noises ¨C she never heard that kind of sound before but somehow, she felt the need to run as far away from them. All of a sudden, the corridor¡¯s lights came back on, causing Anemone to cover her eyes in pain and rant, ¡°Oof, is that really necessary?¡± Then, her nose started to itch as she caught a whiff of something pungent akin to a rotten egg. Lowering her arms, Anemone let out a gasp as soon as her eyelids parted ways, appalled at the dilapidated state of the corridor. The once pearly and pristine white wall was now reduced to rusted metals and dented surface. Also, she noticed long and black drag marks heading away from her ¨C toward the direction where she heard the rattling chains. ¡°This¡­this is blood,¡± Anemone remarked, her heartbeats accelerated, ¡°Oh God¡­Oh God, no.¡± She started to slam her fists against every door in the hallway, shouting her friends¡¯ names. Shortly after, she heard a faint sobbing coming from one of the rooms. ¡°That voice¡­Rosa,¡± she muttered. ¡°Ow!¡± Anemone cried out as she felt a throbbing pain near her right ribs. ¡°What¡­is this¡­feeling?¡± she panted with both hands on her chest. As she looked down, she realized there were three crimson lines across her white gown ¨C three distinct claw marks that she had never seen before. Yet, in spite of being confused, she also felt sad. PLOP Anemone fidgeted after sensing something dropped on top of her head. Her right hand instantly reached for her hair and the first thing she felt was an unusually warm liquid. She pulled her arm back down, only to see each one of her fingertips covered in fresh blood. ¡®This¡­this is not mine,¡¯ she mouthed before her eyes slowly moved upward. Dangling from the ceiling, she saw a thin, dark-skinned boy with a metal hook pierced through his back. Unable to contain her shock, Anemone scuttled toward the wall with her eyes still fixated on the hanging corpse. ¡°Ba¡­Bashar?¡± her lips trembled. CREAK If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The wall behind her suddenly collapsed and Anemone fell on her back, magnifying the pain in her chest. ¡°Augh, crap. That¡­really hurts,¡± she hissed. Then, her focus shifted back to the boy on the ceiling ¨C ¡®What happened?¡¯ She quietly asked herself, ¡®Who could have done such a terrible thing?¡¯ The men in white, though they were ruthless, were never wasteful. They would try to salvage whatever was left from their failures before moving on to their next experiment. But the scene she just saw reeked with rage and malice, and whoever or whatever killed Bashar must still be nearby. ¡°I need to go,¡± Anemone whispered. With the support of her hands, she rose to her feet. Thankfully, she could feel the pain in her chest subsiding, although she doubted the tenderness would fully disappear. ¡°Now, where to¡­?¡± Anemone froze after turning her back on her deceased friend. A single autopsy bed stood in front of her and she was convinced it was the same one used by the men in white after¡­an unwanted occurrence. How many of her friends had been placed on it and cut open simply to satisfy the scientists¡¯ curiosities? Furthermore, when would her day come; the day where she was nothing but a cold, lifeless body fated to be thrown into the fire. If only she could find a way to escape this place¡­''Hold on, wasn¡¯t there a plan to escape the facility?¡¯ She tried to recall. Then, she felt it ¨C an itch at the back of her mind which was soon replaced with a momentary, throbbing pain. ¡°What the heck? That never happened before,¡± Anemone grumbled, wondering if it was the side effect of the drug the men in white injected into her bloodstream last night. Before she could recollect herself, the ceiling light shut off once more ¨C only this time, she knew it was permanent. Seconds later, she heard a deep growl coming from the corridor behind her, followed by a raucous screeching; like the sound she made when she scratched her nail against the metallic wall. Sensing the approaching danger, Anemone briskly hid herself behind the autopsy table while waiting anxiously for whatever was outside to pass through. She gritted her teeth as the noises grew louder and it was not long until she saw a large shadow gliding into her line of sight. ¡°Wha¡­?¡± she breathed out. She could not make out the exact size of the silhouette but she assumed it was at least as big as a grizzly bear. ¡®Is that¡­a Distorted?¡¯ She thought to herself, ¡®How did it find this place? Silva said a device created by him and his subordinates generated a jamming signal that prevented the monsters from discovering the facility. So how?¡¯ However, her pondering was disturbed by a bloodcurdling scream that echoed throughout the dark corridor. ¡®That¡¯s¡­Rosa¡¯s!¡¯ Anemone frowned. But she felt the blood drained from her face as she saw the large shadow also make its way toward the voice. ¡°Oh no,¡± Anemone murmured. As she tried to stand up, her legs suddenly gave way and she fell flat on the ground. ¡°What the¡­? Darn it! Of all the time, why now!¡± She ranted at her shaking legs. Another scream soon pierced through the darkness, prompting Anemone to drag herself across the floor despite her abdomen grazing against the sharp sand. ¡°Please, Rosa. Please, be alive. Please,¡± she prayed repeatedly until she tasted the iron in the air. Shortly afterward, her hands brushed against some kind of fabric ¨C as a matter of fact, it felt similar to her gown. ¡°Oh God,¡± Anemone blurted out as soon as she saw a familiar face staring back at her. It was Lila, the girl who lived in the room next to Bashar. Aside from her bloody gown, most of her short, brunette hair was ripped from her scalp and her face; it was twisted in fear. Anemone immediately gagged, unable to contain her shock and disgust. The sights of her friends dying one by one ¨C she wanted them to stop, but how can they? The white lifeless ceiling and the loud crying of her friends were the only things she knew. She could not even remember what the sky looked like or the very least, the faces of her parents. Was there a purpose for her to be alive at this point? She questioned herself every day. ¡°Wait¡­alive?¡± Anemone whispered; her eyes narrowed. She felt a bit restless as if she forgot something important ¨C something that she should remember. At that exact moment, she heard a familiar weeping in front of her and even though it was dark, she could recognize the high, squeaky voice. ¡°Rosa?¡± said Anemone, ¡°Rosa, is that you? It¡¯s me, Annie.¡± But the crying persisted. ¡°Rosa, it¡¯s me! It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m here! I¡¯m-.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­sorry, Annie.¡± Anemone initially thought she was imagining it until she heard Rosa repeat the apology over and over again. ¡°Argh!¡± Anemone yelped as her head began to ache once again though this time, she felt like her mind was¡­opened ¨C as if it was just awakened from a deep, long slumber. She remembered everything: the ruined facility, Bashar, Lila, and the shadowy mass ¨C all of them were memories. She directed her gaze forward and noticed that Lila¡¯s face was replaced with her own face. ¡®So, I¡¯m¡­dead? But how is that possible? I¡¯m still here¡­I can see, taste, and smell everything. I can still feel the sands rubbing against the palm of my¡­fingers?¡¯ Anemone looked at her hands, realizing that she could see through them. ¡®What¡­what¡¯s happening to me? Why am I¡­? Why¡­? Wait, what am I¡­supposed to be doing again?¡¯ Glossary (Updated: 16/10) Accursed Humans borned with elemental and reality manipulating abilities. They are tougher and have longer age than a normal human a.k.a. a Reprieved. Coalescence The process of fusing a soul with an inert Spider Core Metal to make the latter more malleable. Core Blade The Faceless'' main weapon. Core Blade can range from a simple, light dagger to a heavy, destructive war hammer. The shapes of the Core Blades differs from wielder to wielder. Council of Eight A group of elite Faceless which act as the leaders of the seven Divisions. Culling A process in which an Accursed is stripped off their power. Usually used when a Faceless committed a grave offence which compromises the Order''s reputations and/or endangering the civilians. Disciples of Vidia A defunct faction consists of scientists and researchers; their main objective is to change the Reprieved into the Accursed. They used to reside in the Desert of Ashes before they were annihilated by the Faceless. The members worshipped a being called Vidia. Their symbol is a snake wrapped around a chalice. Distorted Bloodthirsty monsters that hunts human to feed on them. They emerged from the depth of the Earth shortly after the Cataclysm and are separated into different categories based on their appearances. The Distorted are impervious to conventional weapons. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Divisions The sections of The Faceless Order responsible for different tasks. There are currently seven active Divisions: The Deathstalker, The Swallowtail, The Ironclad, The Ghost Mantis, The Froghopper, The Tarantula Hawk, and The Hornet; each led by seven Captains. Faceless An Accursed appointed by the Faceless Order. One must passed the Grisly Gauntlets and a three years Apprenticeship before they are worthy of the title. Flesh-Gorger A fanatical group that believed consuming the Accursed''s flesh will grant them immortality and the power of their preys. Fragmentation The feeding process of the Distorted. The monster devoured the life essence of its prey, causes the unfortunate victims'' skins to crack and shatter like a piece of glass. Reprieved Humans borned without abilities. Rift Gates Portals that serve as the main transportation of the Faceless. Spider Core Metal An extraterristrial metal mined from the meteorite that caused the Cataclysm. Its name is derived from the web-like pattern of its core. The Worshippers of the Bones An extinct group of Reprieved who believed they were chosen by God to purify the Earth by hunting and killing Accursed. They have a habit of keeping the bones of their victims as trophies. They have their own writing systems called the Bone Scripts. The Faceless Order An organization composed of Accursed with the purpose of protecting mankind from the threats of the Distorted. The Order is lead by the Faceless Lord and is assisted by the Council of Eight. Throat-Gasher A defunct group of adept assassins that rescues the Accursed and train them to kill the Reprieved. Tower of Nexus The headquarter of the Faceless Order. The building resides in the Phantasmal Realm that is only accessible via Rift Gates World of Discordania a.k.a. Mortal Realm (Generated by Inkarnate) The state of the world after the event of the Cataclysm. Primarily divided into Four Major Continents: Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. 1. The Land of the Opal Sun 2. The Land of the Sapphire Star 3. The Realm of the Tree Dancers 4. The Krio Zone Seven Divisions (Updated: 15/10) The Seven Divisions are responsible for different affairs of the Order; led by seven Captains. For one to become a Captain, they must either be nominated by the current Captains or the Faceless Order themselves followed by a series of gruelling trials. 1. The Deathstalker Current Captain: Markus Strigis Primary Duty: Managing the Overseers and the locations they are assigned to. Known members: Jason Helians, Adam Salvia, Elisabeth Rosier 2. The Swallowtail Current Captain: Rowanna Zinnia Primary Duty: To train the young Accursed for their induction into the Faceless Order. Known Members: 3. The Ironclad Current Captain: Primary Duty: Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Known Members: Timothy Lilium, Amelia Lilium, Stephanie Crusole, Michael Pascal 4. The Ghost Mantis Current Captain: Primary Duty: Known Members: 5. The Froghopper Current Captain: Maximillian ''Max'' Theris Primary Duty: Communication and surveillance. Known Members: Marie Strelitzia 6. The Tarantula Hawk Current Captain: Noah Wyvern Primary Duty: Recovering historical documents from the pre-Cataclysm era for preservation purpose in the Archive. Its members are also known as Librarians or Keepers. Known members: Elisabeth Rosier 7. The Hornet Curent Captain: Daniel Nastur Primary Duty: Usually deployed when there is a severe Infestation in the Mortal Realm. They are also tasked to hunt and execute rogue members of the Faceless. Known Members: TO BE CONTINUED Factions of Discordania (Updated: 17/6) Several known factions of the Discordania: 1. The Faceless Order An organization dedicated to protecting humanity from the threats of the Entities. It consists solely of the Accursed, humans with supernatural abilities; capable of manipulating different elements of reality. They resided in the Tower of Nexus located in the Phantasmal Realm. The Council of Eight a.k.a the executive committee of the Order is composed of eight Accursed - the Faceless Lord and seven Division Captains, with the latter responsible for managing various tasks such as communication, training, armory, and et al. The members of the Order are commonly known as the Faceless. 2. The Disciples of Vidia Composed of the best scientists and researchers around the globe, the Disciples of Vidia were founded with two purposes in mind: to find the ''superior genes'' purported to be the source of the Accursed powers, and artificially integrated them into normal individuals. In order to achieve their goals, the Disciples abducted children especially orphans to be used in their experiments. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Their insignia is a snake wrapping itself around a chalice. They also worshipped a mysterious being called Lady Vidia. For their crimes, they were eventually wiped out by the Faceless Order. 3. The Liberation Army of the Opal Sun A mysterious group responsible for inciting chaos in the Opal Sun Kingdom. 4. The Throat-Gasher Rowanna Zinnia was a member of this faction. 5. The Worshippers of the Bones Has their own writing system known as the Bone Scripts. TO BE CONTINUED Seven Subsequences (Updated: 16/6) Seven Subsequences are seven events that occured shortly after the Cataclysm. 1. The Great Submergence A giant ocean wave that sunk half of the landmasses of the earth, including three of the Earth''s major continents. 2. The Dissonance A tear in the fabric of the reality which split the world into three realms of existence: The Mortal Realm, The Phantasmal Realm, and the Obscure Realm. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. 3. The Birth of the Royal Jewels Discovery of four gemstones inside the meteor of the Cataclysm. They are given to the four kings of four major kingdoms. 4. The Appearance of the Revolving Island A small land that constantly circled the meteor crash site. 5. The Rise of the Distorted 6. The Ascendant of the Accursed 7. The Echoes Phenomenon The return of the dead to the land of the living. List of Characters and their Curses (Updated: 16/10) 1. Samuel ''Sam'' Edelweiss (Scarlet Coda| Katana) - Pyrokinesis (Flame) 2. Lucia ''Lucy'' Nightingale (Dragons of the Lake | Dirk) - Hydrokinesis (Water) 3. Rupert ''Rupe'' Nightingale (Death''s Whisper | Kama) - Aerokinesis (Air) 4. Elisabeth ''Liz'' Rosier (Headhunter | Tactical Ax) - Terrakinesis (Earth) 5. Marie Strelitzia (Stream of Anguish | Claymore) - Chorokinesis (Space) 6. Markus Strigis (Absolute End | Broadsword) - Chronokinesis (Time) Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! 7. Thomas Wolfe - ??? 8. Jason Helians (Light | Rapier) - Heliokinesis (Sun) 9. Ariadne ''Aria'' Helians (Brainbiter & Nightfall | Saber & Bow) - Menekinesis 10. Theodorus ''Theo'' Stark (Altair & Vega | Longswords; collectively known as the Severed Lovers) - ??? 11. Adam Salvia (Rue | Spear) - Cryokinesis (Ice) 12. Tulip Leonard (Gasp | Nine Section Whip) - Umbrakinesis (Shadow) 13. Maximillian ''Max'' Theris - ??? ??. Jack Cindar (?) - Typhokinesis (Smoke) ??. Jay - ??? ??. Hawk - ??? TO BE CONTINUED Characters Theme Songs (Updated: 24/10) THE FACELESS ORDER Samuel ''Sam'' Edelweiss: this is is this? [Ling Tosite Sigure] Lucia ''Lucy'' Nightingale: Breath [Ryokuoushoku Shakai] Rupert ''Rupe'' Nightingale: Towa no Machi [Scenarioart] Elisabeth ''Liz'' Rosier: White Prayer [Alice Nine] Marie Strelitzia: Kazoe Uta [Memai Siren] Jason Helians: Squall [D''espairsray] Ariadne ''Aria'' Helians: Sindra [vistlip] Theodorus ''Theo'' Stark: Star Light [amazarashi] Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Markus Strigis: Koukou [tacica] Michael Pascal: Gravity [Luna Sea] Stephanie Crusole: Diver [Polkadot Stingray] Rowanna Zinnia: XYZ [HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR] Thomas Wolfe: Toguro [Dir en Grey] Adam Salvia: Moratorium [Rookiez is Punk''d] Daniel Nastur: Volcano [Girugamesh] Amelia Lilium: Toka [TRUE] Timothy ''Tim'' Lilium: Sprechchor [Radwimps] Valerie Rivea: Sakitama [Rin''] Tulip Leonard: Resonance [Exist Trace] Maximillian ''Max'' Theris: Swallow Rain [Sadie] Zachariah ''Zack'' Romulus: Nimrod [People in the box] THE HARBINGERS Jack Cindar: Vanquish [SCREW] The Jay: A Moth Under the Skin [The GazettE] The Hawk: Psychopolis [9mm Parabellum Bullet] TO BE CONTINUED -BITING- ¡®From the freezing mountain,¡¯ ¡®The Fanged Avalanche came,¡¯ ¡®With him, 70 years of bleakness and carnage,¡¯ ¡¯70 years of him sitting on the frozen throne,¡¯ If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡®But woe the day when evil falls to his knees,'' ¡®The day when the Alpine King came to challenge the Wolf¡¯s reign¡¯ ¡®Bless the king and his descendants¡¯ ¡®For he brought warmth to the north once again,¡¯ ¡®Curse the Wolf for eternity¡¯ ¡®Until he disappears into obscurity.¡¯ 65th Fragment: -DREDGE- ¡°Urgh,¡± Sam groaned, his right hand clutching his throbbing head. ¡®Why does every one of his dreams need to end with an explosion of light?¡¯ He quietly ranted. ¡°You looked like you¡¯ve seen better days,¡± a familiar voice greeted him. Sam cast his gaze forward and standing in front of him was the crown prince of the Opal Sun. He looked the same except for the black veins on his skin which had already disappeared without a trace. ¡°Well, a certain someone tried to kill me. Thankfully, he failed to do that,¡± said Sam, prompting Jason to sit across him. ¡°You are one mad lad, you know? And here I thought you are far more rational than those Nightingales,¡± Jason retorted, ¡°Thanks. You could have¡­killed me, but you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yet, you don¡¯t look too thrilled to be alive,¡± Sam commented. ¡°Do I? It must have been the exhaustion,¡± Jason answered, but Sam could tell the prince was lying. ¡°990 years ¨C that is how old the Opal Sun Kingdom is. For more than 900 years it endured and I thought it would last for another millennium.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it will¡­if you¡¯re the king, of course,¡± said Sam. Jason let out a short, dry laugh. ¡°If only it were that easy, my friend. Even if the kingdom is ruled by the most shrewd and noblest king, it will not erase the rot hiding behind the throne.¡± ¡°Rot?¡± The prince glanced left and right; his expression was a mix of concern and annoyance. ¡°Perhaps we should continue this conversation at another time. There are eyes and ears everywhere after all.¡± Sam¡¯s eyes narrowed. He looked over Jason¡¯s shoulder, expecting someone to walk out of the trees behind him. Then, he remembered the shadows in the branches, speaking a song-like language. He was about to ask the prince about it but the latter was one step ahead of him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. They¡¯re mostly harmless,¡± Jason assured. ¡°Mostly?¡± Sam repeated. ¡°Who are they anyways?¡± ¡°They¡¯re called by many names: Kodama, Dryads, Garkain ¨C but they¡¯re officially known as the Children of the First, the followers of Artemis, the first Moonlight Queen,¡± Jason explained. THUD! The sudden noise made both men jump to their feet. Moments later, a burly man glided out of the shadows, clad in a dark green outfit. Placing his right hand on his chest, the mysterious visitor bowed down and said with a breathy voice, ¡°Your Radiance.¡± ¡°Forgive my intrusion,¡± replied Jason, bowing his head in return. ¡°Do not fret, Your Radiance. I¡¯m here on behalf of the Children of the First to warn you of an impending danger,¡± the man retorted. Jason¡¯s face tensed up. ¡°What kind of danger?¡± ¡°The same danger that once befell our Great Mother, Queen Artemis. I think you know what I am referring to.¡± ¡°The Whispers in the Shadows,¡± the prince mouthed. ¡°So, they still exist.¡± ¡°They are, and they have wreaked havoc across the land of Discordania in the past. They would have succeeded if it weren¡¯t for the first Opal Sun King and his companions'' interference.¡± ¡°So, instead of facing us head-on, they decide to work in the shadows, scheming and sabotaging their enemies from the inside,¡± Jason remarked. His eyes then lit up as a terrible thought crossed his mind. ¡°Huh, I see where this is going.¡± ¡°Whatever it is you¡¯re planning to do, You Radiance, we wish you luck,¡± said the burly man before retreating into the darkness. ¡°Well, mind telling me what you two were on about for the past 10 minutes?¡± Sam asked. ¡°That depends. What do you know about the Harbingers?¡± Sam heard of the name before. When Lucy was tending to his wound, she told him about her conversation with the Night Terror. ¡°Not much.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, there is a reason for that,¡± Jason sighed. ¡°Every information about them is either erased or kept in a high-security clearance archive accessible only to Faceless Lord.¡± ¡°But why? Why would Thomas keep that kind of information away from us?¡± ¡°The Accursed are both respected and feared by people across the world. How will they react if they find out there is another group similar to the Faceless Order except their purpose is to spread chaos and destruction all over the globe?¡± Sam trembled. His mind returned to the Desert of Ashes -- to the moment he saw the two hooded figures conversing with the leader of the Disciples of Vidia. ¡°I saw them before back in the Desert of Ashes,¡± he told the prince. ¡°Physically?¡± Jason replied, his eyes widened. Sam nodded his head nervously. ¡°Then, it means they finally setting their plan in motion,¡± Jason mouthed. ¡°Come, we need to get out of here immediately.¡± ¡°How exactly are we going to do that? The red string that guided us here has already disappeared.¡± ¡°You let me worry about that,¡± Jason said confidently. *** ||| THE PATH OF BEASTS: ZACK ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [The Sapphire Star Village] With his hood still up, the boy leaned against the warm, brick wall. He glanced upward, noticing the moon was nearing its peak and yet, there was not a single sign of life in sight. In less than a day, the once bustling village was reduced to a ghost town. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Judging from where this is going, there should be an ambush right about¡­NOW!¡± The boy spun around, expecting soldiers to surround him. However, there was no one there ¨C much to his disappointment. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bummer.¡± Suddenly, his nose itched as an intense smoke-like odor filled the air. ¡°Greysand,¡± he muttered. He instantly recalled everything he learned in the Academy: ¡®Greysand: a highly explosive powder created by the people of the pre-Cataclysmic era capable of destroying an entire civilization.¡¯ But not one soul in the entire realm knew how to synthesize the compound ¨C until now. The boy looked upward toward Roc who was calmly patrolling the air. ¡°No enemies around. That¡¯s good,¡± the boy muttered. He followed the acrid smell which grew stronger as he approached the empty town square. A fountain stood in front of him and looked like it had not been clean for decades. Moreover, it spouted a thick green liquid that gave out a sweet floral fragrance. Despite that, he could still smell the Greysand mingling with the mysterious concoction. ¡°That¡¯s kinda familiar,¡± said the boy, ¡°Hold on, this is¡­Skyblood.¡± Then, he heard Roc screeching. Without wasting any more time, the boy climbed to the nearest house and peered at the village¡¯s entrance. It was another convoy, only this time, he saw large silver vessels on top of the carts. The boy leaned against the brick roof as a group of armored soldiers approached the town square, trying to listen closely to their conversation. ¡°Are you sure these things can contain the Skyblood? I don¡¯t want them to blow up in my face like last time,¡± said one of the soldiers. ¡°Trust me, you would rather have a disfigured face than be a part of the Vulture¡¯s little freak show,¡± another soldier responded. ¡°What does he want with this gloopy mess anyway? I mean, it smells good but other than that, I don¡¯t see how scooping it into the vessel will help us win the war.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Skyblood, idiot,¡± the second soldier scolded his friend. ¡°It¡¯s the only thing that kept the Sapphire Star citadel afloat.¡± ¡°B-but, what does that have to do with our fight against the Opal Sun Kingdom?¡± ¡°That is none of your concern,¡± a third soldier jumped into the conversation, his voice was gruffer than his two companions. ¡°Your order is to retrieve the Skyblood and transport it back to the Fallen Star Valley. If you value your head, you¡¯ll do as you were told.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the two soldiers responded simultaneously. ¡°Before that, take a few men with you and scour the area. The Vulture wants the place clear of any possible nuisances.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the soldiers saluted before leaving the town square together. ¡°The Fallen Star Valley, huh?¡± the boy whispered while keeping his eyes on the lone soldier. The armored man glanced left and right, making sure there was no one in the vicinity. Then, he walked toward the fountain and pressed one of the tiles. A Rift Gate instantly manifested behind him, the portal¡¯s surface was as black as the night sky. As soon as the soldier went through it, the Rift Gate crumbled into dust. The boy carefully jumped off the roof, his mind focused only on one thing. He scurried toward the fountain and began inspecting the structure. It did not take long until he found a tile slightly jutting out of place. ¡°Found you,¡± said the boy before pushing the button. Just like before, the Rift Gate opened up behind him but this time, he felt a cold draft of air blowing against his back. ¡°Sorry, Roc. Gonna have to leave you here for a while,¡± the boy smiled. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF BEASTS ||| *** ||| PATH OF ADAMANCE: ELISABETH ROSIER ||| [Meanwhile¡­] [Realm of the Tree Dancers] As soon as she stepped out of the Rift Gate, she felt the grass brushed against her hands. ¡°Urgh,¡± Elisabeth complained as a tingling sensation ran up her arms. It was over three hours since her operation and unsurprisingly, her body was still affected by the anesthesia. However, the sight of the flower fields quickly melted away her worries ¨C filling her chest with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Then, she noticed someone wading through the field, heading toward her. It was a man in his 20s with light red hair and rose-colored eyes. She met him several times now but, he always had a melancholic expression across his face. ¡°Miss Rosier,¡± the man greeted her. ¡°Please, Ashton. Just call me Liz.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± the man named Ashton complied with her request. ¡°Have you come here to purchase another bouquet of flowers, Miss¡­I mean, Liz?¡± ¡°No, not today. I¡¯m here for another reason,¡± Elisabeth said nervously. Ashton¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I see. Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been running away from the world for quite a while now. I think it¡¯s about time I find some closure to my¡­past.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Ashton nodded his head. ¡°Please follow me.¡± *** After walking for nearly 10 minutes, she finally saw the cemetery. The entire zone was enclosed within wooden fences and each grave had a white headstone. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± asked Ashton after noticing the grimace on the woman¡¯s face. ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­feels weird seeing a proper graveyard,¡± Elisabeth explained. ¡°Your mother did a great job maintaining the place.¡± ¡°She tried her best.¡± After unlocking a small metal gate, Ashton led Elisabeth through the cemetery. Both of them did not utter a single word until the man stopped in front of a small grave. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± said Ashton. Elisabeth¡¯s eyes settled on the headstone with the name ¡®Anemone¡¯ engraved on it. She kneeled to the ground and placed her right hand on the mound. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve come sooner. And I¡¯m sorry¡­for what I did to you. To all our friends,¡± Elisabeth mouthed before grabbing a handful of dirt. She sprinkled them over the headstone and muttered, ¡°From the earth, we¡¯ve come to be and into the earth we shall return. May your soul be free forevermore.¡± ¡°Is that some kind of prayer?¡± Ashton suddenly inquired. ¡°Something like that,¡± Elisabeth replied. ¡°Strange. I thought making peace with my past would quell the uneasiness in my chest. Why won¡¯t it go away?¡± ¡°It will only lessen but never disappear,¡± said Ashton. ¡°There will be days when you¡¯ll forget about that feeling and sometimes, it¡¯ll come back worse. But one thing for sure, it will stay with you for the rest of your lives.¡± Elisabeth turned around to face Ashton and noticed him looking around the cemetery uncomfortably. ¡°You¡¯ve lost someone?¡± Ashton nodded his head and said, ¡°Most of those buried here are my friends. They were slain by the Distorted when I was little ¨C when there were no Faceless assigned to this realm.¡± ¡°But I thought you were protected by the Ancestral Tree.¡± ¡°The Ancestral Tree¡¯s strength started to wane in the past ten years. We¡¯ve tried everything but it was made clear that we cannot depend on its protection anymore,¡± Ashton explained. ¡°So, you joined the Faceless Order to protect your people. That must have been tough¡­and lonely,¡± Elisabeth responded. ¡°It has its moment,¡± said Ashton before dropping to his knees. He drew a small circle over the grave mound with his finger and suddenly, three stalks of white roses grew inside the circle. ¡°Whenever your friends sprung into your mind, always recall the happy memories you forged with them. It will be difficult at first but it is not impossible.¡± ¡°Thank you for your advice¡­and for the roses,¡± Elisabeth expressed her gratitude. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I would like to come here again in the future.¡± Ashton stood up and bobbed his head. ¡°Not at all. You are welcome here anytime,¡± the man answered with a tiny smile on his face. ||| THE END OF THE PATH OF ADAMANCE ||| 66th Fragment: -CRUMBLES- [One week later¡­] [Dining Hall, Tower of Nexus] Sam stirred the bowl of cream mushroom soup with a spoon. He stared blankly at the vortex, pondering about the Opal Sun¡¯s incidents. Fortunately, the Council of Eight remained oblivious to his and the Nightingales'' involvement with the Empyreans, thanks to Jason. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± asked Lucy from across the table. ¡°Does your arm still hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just¡­I remembered the moment when we returned to the Edge. All those people screaming at Jason and Aria, blaming them for what happened.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. Aside from us, the denizens of the Edge had no idea the trio was mind-controlled by someone,¡± said Lucy. ¡°How about we vouch for their innocence?¡± Rupert jumped in while chowing down on his roast beef sandwich. ¡°Then, Thomas will know about our little mishaps in the Opal Sun Kingdom, and believe me, he will not take that news lightly,¡± Lucy replied. ¡°When has he taken any news lightly?¡± Rupert huffed. ¡°Remember the first time Sam came to the Tower? The old man¡¯s face paled at the sight of him.¡± ¡°Rupert!¡± Lucy scolded her brother. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Luce,¡± Sam dismissed his friend¡¯s concern. ¡°It¡¯s just as both of you said. Things will only get uglier if we tell Thomas about everything that has happened. For now, we should follow Markus¡¯s advice to lay low.¡± ¡°Another ¡®wait and see¡¯, huh? Greeaaat,¡± Rupert rolled his eyes. ¡°Speaking of waiting,¡± Lucy paused to take a pentagonal badge out of her pocket. ¡°Have you decided which Division you¡¯re going to join? I¡¯m thinking of either Ghost Mantis or Swallowtail.¡± ¡°So, you want to either be a spy or a teaching instructor?¡± said Rupert, scratching his head. ¡°Well, a spy is kinda cool, but a teaching instructor?¡± ¡°Why not? Mom was a Swallowtail. Wait, what are you implying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not implying anything. I¡¯m just saying that patience is not one of your strongest attributes-OW!¡± Rupert yelped as Sam elbowed him in the chest, a gesture that made Lucy smirk. All of a sudden, the dining hall swung open and a robed figure briskly walked in. Lucy jumped from her seat; both of her eyes widened. ¡°Valerie?¡± ¡°Lucia?¡± said the robed figure before casually approaching the trio. ¡°It must be a good omen to see all of you here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite early. Is there trouble at the Gaze of Lux?¡± asked Sam. ¡°Trouble? Well, that is one way to describe it,¡± Valerie sighed, her face darkened. The trio glanced at each other, equally curious by the young woman¡¯s reaction. ¡°Apologies. I did not mean to ruin your moment of peace. Anyways, congratulations on your promotion to a full-fledged Faceless. I¡¯m surprised Thomas allowed you to become one despite the Wailing Forest incident.¡± ¡°Wow, news sure travels fast and far,¡± said Rupert proudly. ¡°So does your notoriety.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lucy inquired. ¡°The residents near the Wailing Forest were¡­unhappy on how you handled the Mangler. Some of them even requested for the three of you to be dismissed from the Order or worse,¡± Valerie explained. ¡°Celebrate your victory but the next time you¡¯re out in the field, make sure to be more discrete with your approach.¡± ¡°Thanks, we¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± Lucy replied, ¡°Um, are you waiting for someone?¡± Valerie looked over to the front door, and her eyebrows snapped together. ¡°I am, and it seems my partner is running a bit late.¡± The dining hall door creaked open, and a tall, black-robed figure entered the room. Despite his lanky appearance, his heavy footsteps echoed throughout the chamber. Poking out from underneath his hood was a white leather plague mask; its glass eyes quietly settled on the four. ¡°Lord Ghoul,¡± said Valerie, slightly bowing her head down. ¡°Lady Rivea. For what purpose did you summon me back to the Tower?¡± replied the man named Ghoul. ¡°Perhaps it is better we discuss this privately. It is about you-know-what.¡± Ghoul began to grumble. Then, he spun around, heading toward the door without a word. Valerie turned her attention to her friends and quickly apologized to them, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m afraid the things we¡¯re about to discuss are considered confidential.¡± ¡°No worries. We understand,¡± Lucy retorted. ¡°Thanks. If you¡¯ll excuse me,¡± Valerie quickly chased after Ghoul, leaving the trio alone again in the dining hall. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± said Sam after noticing the glint in Rupert¡¯s eyes. ¡°Remember the last time you stick your nose in other people¡¯s business?¡± ¡°Come on, man. Don¡¯t you at least feel a bit curious? The guardians of the Isle suddenly convening in the Tower? I don¡¯t know about you guys, but I smell adventure,¡± Rupert grinned. ¡°Like that time when you swallowed the ashes of the dead?¡± Lucy interjected. Rupert looked at her sister with disgust. He could still taste the bitter black sand in his mouth now and then but the taste grew stronger when his sister reminded him of the tragedy. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lucy smirked proudly to be able to shut her brother up. She hoped she could tone down Rupert¡¯s enthusiasm a little considering he nearly got himself killed numerous times. As she pressed her cup of hot chocolate against her lips, the front door swung open followed by Marie casually entering the hall. ¡°Well, well, well. What a pleasant surprise,¡± said Marie before walking up to the trio. ¡°It looks like Pascal and Morgana did a superb job patching you up.¡± ¡°Yeah, in spite of the lecture they gave us. Won¡¯t they tell the Council of Eight about our activities?¡± Sam asked concerningly. ¡°Nah, you don¡¯t have to worry about them. Those two are far more preoccupied with their jobs than sucking up to Thomas.¡± Marie took a seat next to Lucy and began to sigh heavily. ¡°What a chaotic week.¡± ¡°Woah, we never seen you this tired before, Miss Strelitzia. What happened?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Hm, not sure if I could tell you¡­just kidding, of course I can,¡± Marie giggled mischievously. ¡°There have been troubles around Discordania lately. Up in the north, the Fenrir broke free from the Prison of the Four Winds.¡± Lucy choked on her hot chocolate while a grimace appeared on Sam¡¯s face. Rupert looked at both of his teammates confusingly, wondering what the fuss was all about. ¡°Rupert dear, the Fenrir was the perpetrator of the Northern Onslaught; the 70 Years of Winter War between the Order and the Distorted of the Krio Zone,¡± Marie explained. ¡°Oh¡­.sorry, it didn¡¯t ring a bell.¡± ¡°The Fenrir is a bad guy. A really bad guy,¡± Sam simplified. ¡°That would explain why Adam was in the Infirmary. I¡¯m also guessing the fight did not go smoothly for him.¡± ¡°Your guess is correct. Fortunately, the Fenrir decided to rather reside in his old palace than terrorize the locals - though I¡¯m not sure for how long. We¡¯ve sent a few scouts to recon the area and to evacuate the people of the Wintry Valley.¡± ¡°What about Adam? Won¡¯t he be helping with the evacuation?¡± ¡°He will, in time. Interestingly, the north is not the only place that caught our attention. In the east, specifically in the Land of the Sapphire Star, we¡¯ve obtained news about suspicious activities in the Sapphire Star Village. The Ghost Mantis Captain leader was subsequently sent to investigate those activities, and he said soldiers of the Liberation were smuggling armaments into the village.¡± ¡°Smuggling armaments? How much?¡± Lucy inquired. ¡°Enough to start a three-year war against the Opal Sun Kingdom,¡± Marie said grimly. ¡°Smuggling that many weapons is not exactly inconspicuous¡­nor cheap,¡± Sam commented. ¡°It seems the Liberation has an outside help and my guts tell me it is someone in the Opal Sun Kingdom, particularly those in a position of power.¡± ¡°The Inner Circle?! Lucy exclaimed but gasped after realizing how loud she was. ¡°Sorry, you think the Inner Circle is involved?¡± ¡°Come now, dear. We know the Inner Circle has been lusting for the throne ever since the previous King went into a coma. A war is an effective way to get rid of both heirs to the throne. After that, one of the Inner Circle will be chosen as the savior of the people and will strike a truce with the Liberation. Thus, the world will be at peace once more. Devious, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s horrible,¡± Lucy remarked. ¡°You need to be more optimistic, love,¡± Marie chuckled. ¡°It will take more than an evil conspiracy to bring down Jason. You know what, I think I¡¯ve spent enough time away from my duty. Laters.¡± After Marie left the dining hall, Lucy started chewing the inside of her mouth. After everything the Empyreans had been through - now they''re faced with the possibility of war. ¡®Perhaps¡­¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re not helping them,¡± Sam cut her off. ¡°Why not? Friends are supposed to help each other, right?¡± Rupert interjected. ¡°This matter is beyond our friendship with the Empyreans. There are a lot of¡­variables to be considered. All that you need to know is that Jason personally asked me to not be involved with their states¡¯ affair from now on,¡± replied Sam before rising to his feet. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°The Training Hall. I need to¡­test something.¡± Sam turned to his friend and continued, ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow me if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Rupert grinned and quickly responded, ¡°Are you kidding me? Of course, we¡¯re going with you.¡± *** [Meanwhile¡­] [Land of the Opal Sun] It had been nearly an hour since he stood in front of the large ivory door. He received a message from the Inner Circle in the morning, demanding him to be present at the Ministers¡¯ Quarter as soon as possible. No doubt their intention was to discuss the last week¡¯s massacre. His right hand instinctively reached for the bandage across his forehead. It still throbbed from time to time but, he deserved it. Unsurprisingly, the people of the Edge were furious when he returned and they greeted him with a barrage of stones and dirt. ¡°Your Radiance.¡± Jason turned his head to the right and watched as Theo lightly limped toward him. ¡°Afternoon, Theo. How are you today?¡± said the prince. ¡°Better than yesterday and the day before,¡± Theo replied swiftly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your upcoming meeting with the Inner Circle. If it is possible, can I escort you inside?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a generous offer, but I¡¯m not the one who needs your support the most right now.¡± ¡°The princess remains adamant with her isolation ever since our return. I doubt I could persuade her to leave her chamber,¡± Theo said gloomily. ¡°You mustn¡¯t underestimate yourself, my friend. You¡¯ve helped Aria overcome various obstacles since we were little, and I thoroughly believe this time will be no different,¡± Jason assured. Theo glowered at the floor, pondering on Jason¡¯s words. Then, he looked at the prince and said, ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll try my best but I can¡¯t guarantee I could get through to her.¡± ¡°You will,¡± Jason responded confidently. ¡°Oh, before I forget, what of the men detained by my sister?¡± ¡°They are well. I interrogated them a few days ago and obtained¡­intriguing information.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve certainly piqued my interest. Do tell,¡± the prince smiled. ¡°First of all, they admitted they were a part of the Liberation, sent to the Edge to recruit potential soldiers. So far, they managed to convince a number of people into their cause ¨C enough to form a small army.¡± Jason sighed heavily, clearly troubled by the news. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± Theo added. ¡°They spoke of a person in charge of supervising their operation here. Interestingly, they never met him face to face ¨C the only means of communication they have with this mysterious presence is through a piece of paper. Blackbird, they called him.¡± ¡°This Blackbird sounds like a pretty secretive person,¡± Jason remarked. ¡°It¡¯s safe to assume he was also the culprit behind the Imperial Treasury missing fund.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true, then the Blackbird must be one of the Inner Circle, including Daedalus himself.¡± ¡°It is an unfortunate turn of events which means we need to be careful with our next approach,¡± said Jason. ¡°Meaning?¡± ¡°We have to lure out the Blackbird without him suspecting a thing. If he knew we were searching for him, there is a possibility that we¡¯ll be facing the Liberation early. So, keep this between us, and if you manage to coax Aria out of her chamber, let her know as well.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Theo retorted, shortly before the golden door swung door, revealing a dark hallway. The prince took a few deep breaths to calm himself. After making sure he was ready, Jason nodded his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to face the music.¡± 67th Fragment: -FROZEN- [Training Hall] [Tower of Nexus] It had been a while since they entered the vacant chamber. However, they still remembered the tragedy that occurred inside the room, instigated by a monster named Jack Cindar. Ever since his sudden disappearance, the Tower had never been quieter, but they doubted it was over. ¡°I wonder how Evan and his friends are doing. They weren¡¯t at the Infirmary,¡± Lucy commented. ¡°Michael said they are doing fine. A few more months of therapy and they¡¯ll be good as new,¡± said Rupert, causing both his sister and Sam to stare at him. ¡°What? I can strike up a casual conversation once in a while, alright?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Sam replied before shaking his head. ¡°Anyways, it¡¯s better if both of you stand near the wall.¡± Lucy looked into Sam¡¯s vermillion eyes and said, ¡°You never mentioned why you wanted to come here. Are you in trouble?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­let me show you.¡± Sam trotted to the center of the Training Hall. He held his right arm out and slowed his breathing. His hand instantly burst into flame, dyeing the entire room ruby red. ¡°I thought using your power inside the Tower is strictly forbidden!¡± Rupert yelled out. ¡°Well, technically, he didn¡¯t use it in a fight which means he didn¡¯t break any rules,¡± Lucy stated. Sam remained focused on his breathing and burning hand. Then, he felt a jolt of electricity along his arm and the flame immediately turned bright yellow. Despite the loud crackling noise, he could still hear Rupert¡¯s gasping at the change. ¡°Not yet,¡± Sam muttered and the flame slowly turned chalky white. However, he soon felt an intense heat seeping into his skin. ¡°Crap!¡± Sam yelped before waving his hand around to extinguish the flame. ¡°Dude, what was that just now? Since when can you create white flame?¡± said Rupert excitedly. ¡°Since I saved your neck in the Coniferous Forest.¡± Sam looked down to his hand which was warm and slightly pink. ¡°Strange. My hand should be scalded but now, it¡¯s barely affected by the flame. Moreover, it felt¡­refreshing.¡± ¡°Refreshing?¡± Lucy repeated, curious by Sam¡¯s expression. ¡°Yeah. Before the Cerulean Mausoleum, I always felt something hindering my flame control ¨C like a locked gate. Then, my battle with Theo happened and it was like a lock was opened in my mind. The next thing I realized, I was able to overwhelm Theo.¡± ¡°Hm, that¡¯s probably because of our Core Blades,¡± Lucy deduced. ¡°Do you recall why the Spider Core Metal is used as the basic material of our weapons? It has a property that channels and amplifies our abilities output. In simpler terms, it unleashes the full potential of our abilities.¡± ¡°In exchange for our life essence,¡± Sam added. ¡°You¡¯re making it sound like we¡¯re going to die if we use our power,¡± Rupert chuckled, but his smile disappeared as soon as he saw the serious looks on both Lucy and Sam¡¯s faces. ¡°Wait, are we really going to die?¡± ¡°If you overuse your power, then yes. I thought you already knew that,¡± Sam replied. ¡°He should because it is one of the first things we learned about in the Academy,¡± Lucy sighed. ¡°Must have missed that part of the lecture,¡± Rupert said nonchalantly. ¡°That¡¯s because you were asleep.¡± The trio quickly turned their attention toward the voice where they saw Tulip standing next to the front door, both arms crossed. She glanced at each of them, her right index finger tapping against her left biceps. ¡°I heard you three have been pretty busy.¡± ¡°Just doing our best to contribute to the world,¡± Sam retorted. ¡°Right,¡± Tulip responded, her eyes narrowed. ¡°Contributing is a funny word to describe what happened last week.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lucy asked. ¡°Feigning ignorance? How original,¡± Tulip scoffed. ¡°What is it that you think we did? I mean, my sister and Sam know how to keep themselves out of trouble; so, it must be me, right?¡± said Rupert. ¡°Do you think you did anything that might warrant a punishment from the Council of Eight?¡± ¡°W-Well, I, um¡­¡± the elder Nightingale stumbled on his words. ¡°Hold that thought,¡± Tulip immediately took a glass orb from her back pocket, and placed it on the palm of her hand. ¡°Tulip Leonard. Play the recording please,¡± the woman spoke to the object. In the blink of an eye, a holographic image manifested over her hand. The trio turned pale as soon as they saw the Coniferous Forest right before their eyes, followed by three silhouettes entering the forest. ¡°Breaking the rules is one thing, but meddling with the Opal Sun Kingdom¡¯s affair? You are either brave or the most foolish group I have ever seen.¡± ¡°That is what the Reprieved said about us, and yet we are the only one who could protect them,¡± said Sam. ¡°Which is why we must be extra careful with our actions. You¡¯ve learned that people are a fickle bunch ¨C one moment they support us and another, they want our heads on spikes.¡± ¡°Cautiousness has to be accompanied with actions, Miss Leondale. We don¡¯t sit around and wait for the perfect opportunity to act ¨C we must be the one to create the opportunity especially when countless lives are at stake,¡± Sam returned. ¡°Lives will always be at stake, Mr. Edelweiss,¡± Tulip calmly answered. ¡°But your recent recklessness nearly cost your lives and the Order¡¯s credibility. You made us vulnerable to those who seek to destroy us.¡± ¡°What¡¯s next, then? You¡¯re gonna turn us in?¡± ¡°I should,¡± Tulip growled before tossing the orb into Sam¡¯s hands. ¡°Luckily for you, I swore an oath and I intend to keep it.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°You¡¯re¡­you¡¯re letting us go?¡± said Lucy, taken aback by Tulip¡¯s decision. ¡°This does not mean you¡¯re off the hook. Remember - all of you are standing on thin ice. One more slip-up and I promise you, there will be a reckoning. Do you understand?¡± Sam and the Nightingales quietly gave Tulip a nod of affirmation. In return, the stern-looking woman snapped her fingers, causing the shadow beneath her feet to expand and shroud her like a blanket. ¡°I¡¯ll be keeping my eye on you,¡± Tulip remarked before her entire body sunk into the shadow below. After a brief moment of silence, Rupert let out a sigh loud enough it echoed throughout the Training Hall. ¡°That was a bit¡­intense.¡± ¡°Do you think she is speaking the truth? That she won¡¯t turn us in?¡± Lucy asked concerningly. ¡°Tulip may be a stickler for the rule, but an oath breaker, she is not,¡± said Sam. ¡°Say, is it me, or is it getting colder in here?¡± Rupert interrupted. As soon as they heard that, Sam and Lucy felt a cold breeze brushed against the nape of their neck. Their body began to shiver whilst their breaths became visible. Furthermore, they also noticed some fog squeezing through the seam between the doors. The trio swiftly headed to the entrance and the moment they pushed the door, frost smoke hit them straight in the face. ¡°What the hell? What is all this?¡± Lucy blurted out as she waved the fog away. ¡°Woah,¡± Sam expressed his amazement at the sight of the hallway encrusted in mirror-like ice. Then, he heard a loud thud to his left where Rupert was lying on the frozen floor, clutching his aching back. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s gonna leave a mark,¡± Rupert grumbled before his sister helped him get to his feet. ¡°What do you think is going on? Ventilation problem?¡± said Lucy. ¡°Nah, this is definitely not a ventilation problem,¡± Sam responded. He carefully approached the crystalline wall before knocking his hand against the hard surface. At first, he saw a clear reflection of himself and the Nightingales. However, the image slowly became distorted, twisting and pulsating until a sharp spike shot out of the wall, and barely missed Sam¡¯s left eye. ¡°And it¡¯s certainly not a normal ice.¡± ¡°This looks¡­ominous,¡± Lucy commented as she inspected the icy spike. ¡°But you gotta admit, it¡¯s pretty cool, right? Right?¡± Rupert grinned. ¡°Yeah, yeah, we heard you,¡± the younger Nightingale glared at her older brother. All of a sudden, a gate of light materialized in front of the trio, followed by Marie walking out of it. ¡°Oh dear, this is not good. Not good at all,¡± said Marie after seeing the icy hallway. ¡°Miss Strelitzia? This is a surprise,¡± Lucy spouted. ¡°Hi there, sorry for the intrusion. As you three can see around you, we have a problem ¨C one that requires your help.¡± ¡°Our help? No offense, Miss Strelitzia, shouldn¡¯t you find someone far more experienced than us?¡± Sam retorted. ¡°I could, but this is a matter that requires a little¡­subtlety. In other words, the less people know about it, the better,¡± Marie smiled devilishly. ¡°You¡¯re not asking us to break the rules again, are you?¡± Lucy expressed her worries. ¡°Do not fret, little bird. Tulip is currently preoccupied with her own task, so she won¡¯t be bothering us for a while.¡± The trio gave Marie a silent stare. A few seconds later, Rupert nudged at Sam and whispered, ¡°Hey, did she do something to Tulip?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sam shrugged, ¡°But a few hours without someone spying on us is kinda nice, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Alright children, enough with the gossiping,¡± Marie exclaimed, clapping her hands. ¡°Come, there¡¯s no time to waste.¡± *** [The Infirmary] The moment they stepped out of the Rift Gate, they were greeted with more fog and bone-chilling air. The entire Infirmary was covered in ice and frost, causing the room to resemble an icy grotto rather than a place for the ill and the injured. ¡°Michael? Morgana?¡± Marie called out, but there was no answer. ¡°Hm, where did they go?¡± ¡°Miss Strelitzia, why are we here? I thought you needed our help to clear out the ice,¡± Sam inquired. ¡°This is where the ice originated, and by the looks of it, it¡¯s getting worse.¡± SWOOSH! A pile of snow collapsed at the end of the chamber, unveiling the entrance to the backroom. ¡°Finally!¡± Morgana appeared at the doorway with a shovel in her hand. ¡°Morgana dear, I¡¯ve returned with some help,¡± said Marie gleefully. ¡°Great. The doctor is in the back, containing the source of this blasted ice. Follow me.¡± The four visitors were led further into the Infirmary. In the backroom, they saw Michael pacing in front of a large white cube. His hair was rimed with frost and there was a bandage across his forehead. When the doctor saw the newcomers, he gestured at them to come closer. ¡°How¡¯s he doing?¡± asked Marie. ¡°Terribly. If this carries on, the whole Tower will be completely frozen in approximately two hours.¡± ¡°Hold on. Can someone tell us what¡¯s going on here?¡± Sam intervened. ¡°I thought you¡¯ve already brought them to speed. Never mind,¡± Michael instantly cleared out his throat. ¡°You¡¯ve met Adam Salvia last week, correct?¡± ¡°Yeah. What about it?¡± ¡°He was infected with the Cold Spots during his fight with the Fenrir. Now, it is messing with his mind, causing him to lose control of his power,¡± the doctor explained. ¡°The Cold Spots?¡± Lucy gasped. ¡°But, the only cure for that is-.¡± ¡°The Fenrir¡¯s blood,¡± Sam finished the sentence. ¡°Aye. Unfortunately, the Fenrir¡¯s blood spoiled easily, so we haven¡¯t had one in stock for a long time. Add that with his imprisonment, the old Council thought the cure was unnecessary -- which is a stupid decision.¡± ¡°But, if we don¡¯t have a cure then how are we supposed to stop this?¡± Rupert asked. ¡°Sam, you¡¯ve been to the Subconscious Realm during your fight with Jason, right?¡± said Marie. ¡°I was, but I still don¡¯t see how that would help with our situation,¡± Sam replied, puzzled by the line of questioning. ¡°We may not be able to cure the infection, but we could slow it down. In order to do that, Adam needs to regain control of his subconscious,¡± Marie paused to cross her arms together. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, it will be tough and I understand if neither of you want to be a part of this.¡± Sam and the Nightingales exchanged glances with each other. Before they could say anything, the cube started to shake; its smooth surface slowly enveloped with frost. ¡°Doctor,¡± Morgana called, prompting Michael to turn his attention to the cube. ¡°Get another Containment Unit. Wait, make that two,¡± Michael ordered and Morgana left the room in haste. ¡°You better decide now because I¡¯m unsure if we can hold him for another hour.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do it,¡± the trio responded in unison. ¡°Wonderful,¡± Marie smiled. ¡°Take a seat near the cube. We¡¯ll begin shortly.¡± *** [5 minutes later¡­] ¡°What kind of place is this Subconscious Realm?¡± asked Lucy, staring directly into Sam¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s¡­different,¡± Sam struggled to explain, ¡°It¡¯s like the real world, but deep in your heart, you can sense something is off about the place.¡± ¡°That is one way to describe it,¡± said Marie as she stopped behind Sam and Lucy. ¡°The Subconscious Realm differs from one person to another. It is mostly harmless, but sometimes there are¡­outliers, and they can be particularly dangerous.¡± ¡°Ooh, dangerous, you said?¡± Rupert giggled. ¡°Oh, this is just great,¡± Lucy sighed. ¡°The preparation is done,¡± said Morgana after drawing a strange symbol on the cube. She turned around to face the trio with a sullen expression. She pressed her palms together and the symbol behind her immediately lit up, emanating a yellow light. ¡°Fair warning. If you died in that realm, you will be dead in reality as well.¡± ¡°Thanks. Uh, we¡¯ll¡­make sure not to get killed,¡± Sam answered. 68th Fragment: -HAIL- [Land of the Opal Sun] [The Sun Palace] Theo walked down the red hallway, occasionally passing by and greeting the palace¡¯s servants. When asked about Aria, all of them gave the same answer - that the princess never left her chamber. Then, he saw two familiar figures approaching him. ¡°Theo!¡± A little girl ran up to him, dressed in a clean black dress. ¡°Io,¡± Theo smiled, kneeling down on his left knee. ¡°Have you been well?¡± ¡°You know me. It¡¯ll take more than some errands to wear me down,¡± Io giggled. ¡°That was because the other maids covered for you when you were busy distracted by soap bubbles and the clouds,¡± Diana sighed. ¡°And the Captain of the Royal Guard is standing in front of you, so show your proper respect.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Io gasped and quickly bobbed a curtsy to the man. ¡°A pleasure,¡± Theo replied before getting to his feet. ¡°Lady Diana.¡± ¡°Sir Theo,¡± the older maid bowed her head. ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit late, but I¡¯m truly sorry for your loss,¡± Theo expressed his condolences. Diana shook her head and said, ¡°Please don¡¯t be. I¡¯ve prepared myself in case something like this happened.¡± Though Theo sensed the confidence in the maid¡¯s reply, he noticed the faint tear marks below Diana¡¯s eyes. The couple were childless, but their times together were filled with warmth and happiness. ¡°If you need anything, Lady Diana, just let me know. You have taken care of me ever since I was little, so please allow me to return the favor.¡± ¡°You can thank me by speaking to the princess,¡± Diana retorted. ¡°She is being her old stubborn self again, locking herself inside her room like a sulking teenager.¡± ¡°Well, it has been a tough week. Perhaps she needed time to settle her thoughts.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Ariadne is the Opal Sun Princess, and last week shouldn¡¯t bothered her too much,¡± Diana huffed. ¡°Both of you grew up together, Theo. You should know that she¡¯s not as weak as you thought she was.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± Theo affirmed her words. ¡°I just hope she didn¡¯t decide to act irrationally to channel her frustration.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely why you need to talk to her,¡± said Diana before her eyes shifted toward Io. ¡°Come now, little lady. You have a mess to clean up in the kitchen ¨C a mess that you made because you were too preoccupied counting the beans.¡± ¡°Aw, shucks-Uh, I mean, Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Io stammered. The girl trotted away, leaving Diana behind. ¡°What a handful child,¡± the maid exhaled. ¡°But you look like you enjoyed it,¡± Theo chuckled, causing Diana to glare at him. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to say that.¡± ¡°Please send my regards to the princess, and,¡± Diana paused to take a quick look at both ends of the corridor. ¡°Be mindful of what you say and to whom you speak.¡± Theo¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡®Does she know about the mole as well?¡¯ He thought. Without even uttering a word, Diana confirmed his suspicion with a simple nod. ¡°Thank you, Lady Diana. I¡¯ll make sure to heed your advice.¡± ¡°Now, I better chase down that child before she breaks something. Good day.¡± Theo quietly observed the maid trotted down the hallway. ¡°Right, that¡¯s enough distraction for the day,¡± he muttered before continuing his journey to the princess¡¯ chamber. *** [Meanwhile...] Sam opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was a large garden blanketed in snow. Frosted hedges and trees occupied the area; between them was a stony pathway leading toward a distant white-brick wall. His head pointed heavenward, and the moment he saw the northern light, he knew he had returned to the Subconscious Realm. ¡°Here we go again,¡± he immediately stood up; his eyes surveyed the area for threats. ¡°Woah,¡± said Lucy as she walked out from behind Sam. ¡°It¡¯s so¡­ethereal.¡± ¡°And peaceful. Too peaceful,¡± Rupert grumbled, poking the hedges with his finger. ¡°Which is good, brother. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we get out here. It¡¯s freaking freezing,¡± Lucy remarked while rubbing her clammy palms together. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like a great idea,¡± Rupert replied, his teeth chattering. ¡°So, where to next?¡± ¡°Forward, I guess. That wall looks promising,¡± Sam returned, fixing his sword strap. GRRR! The trio froze after hearing multiple growls in the vicinity. ¡°Uh, was the ground supposed to sound like that?¡± said Rupert. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the ground,¡± Lucy responded. The hedges began to quiver, and from them, nearly a dozen of white-fur wolves crawled out. Their shining black eyes stared ravenously at the trio; their fangs gradually became visible as they approached their potential meals. ¡°Close your eyes. When I give you the signal, I want you to run toward the wall,¡± Sam ordered softly, his hand slowly reaching for the katana. ¡°Why don¡¯t we blow these mongrels away? That¡¯ll be easier,¡± Rupert chided. ¡°And risk destroying the garden? We have no idea what that¡¯ll do to Adam,¡± Sam reprimanded the elder Nightingale. ¡°Alright, just be careful,¡± Lucy whispered back, nervously eyeing the wolves. Sam took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He only had one chance, and if he mistimed his action, the wolves would undoubtedly rip him and his friends to pieces. Shortly after, one of the wolves barked, triggering all of them to rush in simultaneously. Sam swiftly pulled his sword out slightly; the exposed edge emitted a bright that caused the wolves to howl in pain. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Now!¡± Sam shouted, and the trio bolted toward the wall without a second thought. It did not take long for them to hear the wolves barking again, followed by the pattering of their paws. ¡°Oh, shit! Stop! Stop!¡± Rupert cried out before coming to a sudden halt. The path in front of him had crumbled away, leaving behind a bottomless pit. ¡°Crap, talk about shitty luck,¡± Lucy grumbled. ¡°This must be the Cold Spot¡¯s doing,¡± Sam deduced. He spun around and saw the pack approaching. Furthermore, the wolves started to close in on each other and their bodies began to fuse. Their once solid physique now coalesced into a massive pile of snow that raced down the pathway like an avalanche. Sam attempted to unsheathe his sword, but it was too late. The snow now towered over him, and he instantly grabbed hold of Lucy¡¯s and Rupert¡¯s arms before the white wave swept them off their feet. The trio held on to each other as they were dragged nearer to the edge of the cliff. They could barely breathe, let alone move their limbs. Rupert tried to reach for his weapon, but the snow slapped his hand away as if it were doing it on purpose. ¡°Oh, fu-!¡± Lucy yelped as they were thrown off the cliff. Their fall, however, was cut short when they slammed against something solid. The trio groaned from the sudden change in momentum and their aching bodies. ¡°Hah, how¡¯s that¡­for a shitty luck?¡± Rupert chuckled. ¡°Shut it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not get too comfortable,¡± Sam reminded the Nightingales as he sat himself up. Looking down, he saw the cold abyss waiting impatiently for its prey, but the only thing that prevented them from plunging into the darkness was the transparent glass beneath his feet. ¡°Well, this is new,¡± Lucy remarked. ¡°But it beats falling into another pit.¡± ¡°Um, guys¡­,¡± Rupert¡¯s voice trailed off; his eyes focused on the cliff. The pack of wolves had returned to their original form and moved aside to form a path. Soon after, a bulkier wolf appeared between the pack; it had glistening ash-grey fur and a pair of deep, blue eyes. Despite its feral appearance, it seemed calmer than the rest of its pack. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to go,¡± said Sam, sensing something off in the air. The grey wolf howled; its blaring voice prompted the trio to cover their ears. A brief moment later, dark clouds began to gather in the sky, creating a much larger and menacing-looking cloud. ¡°Oh, shoot. It¡¯s a hail,¡± Lucy stated, scowling at the blackened sky. ¡°Move! Now!¡± Sam yelled out, seconds before sharp, water pellets rained down on them. The trio sprinted as fast as they could to the other side of the chasm, hoping to avoid the incoming hailstorm. ¡°Too peaceful, he said,¡± Lucy jeered at her brother. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is the time for that,¡± Rupert lashed back. ¡°That¡¯s enough, you two! Now start climbing unless you want to be turned into skewers,¡± Sam exclaimed. ¡°Jeez, dude. That¡¯s dark,¡± the elder Nightingale grimaced before starting his ascent. With the frozen rain closing in, the trio quickly climbed the steep, rocky cliff. Barely five minutes since they began, Rupert was already nearing the top and he did not even show any signs of exhaustion. ¡°Come on, guys! What¡¯s the hold-up?¡± Rupert gloated. ¡°Hey, careful! And stop kicking the rocks!¡± Lucy scolded while avoiding the falling stones. Sam could only sigh at the sight of the siblings bickering with each other. But funnily enough, he felt relief to see them this lively again after recovering from their injuries. Rupert eventually reached the top and immediately extended his hand to his sister. However, before Lucy could grab it, an icicle fell from the sky and crashed into the wall next to her. The ice shattered upon impact, causing Lucy to lose her footing. Fortunately, Sam managed to catch her by the arm before she plummeted to her death. ¡°I got you!¡± Sam cried out, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yeah, just a bit¡­rattled,¡± Lucy shook her head; her ears were still ringing from the collision. ¡°Alright. Hold on, and don¡¯t move,¡± Sam clasped Lucy¡¯s wrist as tightly as possible. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re not-!¡± With a roar and the help of adrenaline, Sam threw Lucy up the cliff and she subsequently landed on Rupert¡¯s back. The elder Nightingale let out a squawk and began rolling on the ground in pain. Lucy ignored her brother¡¯s whimpering; her mind was already fixated on one thing. ¡°Sam!¡± she yelled, ¡°Grab my hand!¡± Hearing her voice, Sam steadily made his way up, but then, something caught his attention. Within the darkness of the abyss, he saw a pair of red, glowing eyes staring at him. No, it was as if he was staring into his own eyes. ¡°Sam! What are you doing?¡± Lucy¡¯s anxious voice snapped him out of his daze. Sam looked back at the abyss, and the eyes were no longer there. Was it his imagination, or was there something else going on here? He silently wondered. ¡°Sorry,¡± Sam apologized before grabbing the female Nightingale¡¯s hand. Lucy hauled Sam up the cliff just in time as the hailstorm arrived at their position. Rupert stepped between the cloud and his sister; both of his kamas drawn. ¡°You¡¯ll make a fine target practice,¡± the elder Nightingale smirked. He joined his sickles together, producing a loud click sound. The curved blades slid to one end of the long pole, combining into one. Now in Rupert¡¯s hands was a large, imposing scythe ¨C a stark contrast to his lightweight dual weapons. ¡°Hah, it worked!¡± ¡°Rupert, you can¡¯t-!¡± Lucy stopped after seeing Sam raise his hand at her. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Luce. Let him have this one.¡± A mirthful smile appeared across Rupert¡¯s face as he pulled his scythe over his right shoulder. ¡°See ya. Not.¡± He swung his weapon horizontally, unleashing a powerful squall that reduced the dark cloud into nothing, and clearing up the sky once again. The wolf pack who had been watching from the other side scampered back into the shrubbery, leaving the grey wolf behind. ¡°That one certainly got some guts,¡± said Rupert. The wolf tilted its head sideways as if it heard the elder Nightingale¡¯s comment. It then slowly bowed its head down, much to the trio¡¯s surprise before turning around to chase its brethren. ¡°What just happened?¡± asked Lucy, still befuddled by the wolf¡¯s action. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s coming after us again,¡± Sam replied. Suddenly, he felt a light punch in his chest, followed by Lucy¡¯s furious voice. ¡°What happened to you down there? You¡¯ve just froze when I called you.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Sam stuttered. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re not telling me? Ever since the mausoleum, you¡¯ve been¡­quiet. What¡¯s wrong?¡± With Lucy¡¯s worried eyes fixated on his, Sam reluctantly expressed his concern, ¡°Since my last trip to the Subconscious Realm, I¡¯ve been seeing a shadowy figure with eyes like mine, following me around. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on, but I felt like it¡¯s trying to remind me of something important.¡± ¡°And have you talked about this to anyone? To Markus?¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t want to bother him. Lucy, I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯m losing my grip on reality.¡± ¡°Hey, look at me. You¡¯re not going crazy,¡± Lucy grabbed Sam¡¯s arms, and spoke with a softer tone, ¡°It¡¯s just your memories coming back. Perhaps the figure you saw is someone from your past ¨C a family member, maybe? Whatever it was, it¡¯s not because you¡¯re losing your sanity, alright?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sam took a deep breath to center his thought. ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± said Lucy as she pulled her arms away. ¡°If you two are done with the lovey-dovey, can we focus on the reason we are here in the first place?¡± Rupert interjected, smiling from ear to ear. ¡°Please don¡¯t say something like that again,¡± Lucy exhaled. ¡°You know full well I can¡¯t make that promise, little sister.¡± ¡°True, he will definitely bring that up in the future,¡± Sam continued. ¡°Can we go now?¡± the female Nightingale swiftly changed the topic before stomping away from the two men. ¡°Oh, I will definitely bring that up in the future,¡± Rupert muttered. 伪. VISION OF SANDS ¡°Ow¡­,¡± Anemone moaned as she gradually opened her eyelids. She did not expect the first thing she felt when she woke up from sleep was a terrible pain in her chest. ¡°This is¡­strange,¡± she commented. Never once did she experience such sensation ¨C it was as if¡­as if she was stabbed by a knife. ¡°Is someone there?¡± the girl croaked but all she saw was pitch black. ¡®Hang on, when was the last time my room was this dark?¡¯ Anemone frowned. As far she tried to remember, the scientists ¨C the men in white had never turned the light off even when she and the others were sleeping. Anemone jumped off her bed and heard the floor beneath her crack loudly. ¡°Whoa, what the heck?¡± she reacted promptly. She did not recall the ground being so fragile¡­and gravelly. The soles of her feet were grinding against the sands; she only hoped there were no sharp fragments of glasses or stones lying around, waiting for her in the darkness. ¡°Hello?¡± Anemone called out again, but like her prior attempt, the only answer she received was the unnerving silence. With her arms in front of her, she carefully shuffled her way to the door until her hands touched the doorknob and twisted it. ¡®Wait, it¡¯s¡­not locked?¡¯ She pushed the door open, expecting the men in white to walk around in the corridor. But, to her surprise, the entire hallway was vacant and the lights were also out. Thankfully, her eyes were adjusting to the darkness, so she began to head to the room next to hers. ¡°Hello? Bashar? Are you in there?¡± said Anemone while knocking on the door. She tried rotating the doorknob but it was locked tightly. ¡°Bashar? Can you hear me? It¡¯s me, Anemone!¡± she repeated but there was no answer. KRANG! KRANG! Anemone¡¯s head snapped to her right, toward the end of the corridor. The chain-like noises ¨C she never heard that kind of sound before but somehow, she felt the need to run as far away from them. All of a sudden, the corridor¡¯s lights came back on, causing Anemone to cover her eyes in pain and rant, ¡°Oof, is that really necessary?¡± Then, her nose started to itch as she caught a whiff of something pungent akin to a rotten egg. Lowering her arms, Anemone let out a gasp as soon as her eyelids parted ways, appalled at the dilapidated state of the corridor. The once pearly and pristine white wall was now reduced to rusted metals and dented surface. Also, she noticed long and black drag marks heading away from her ¨C toward the direction where she heard the rattling chains. ¡°This¡­this is blood,¡± Anemone remarked, her heartbeats accelerated, ¡°Oh God¡­Oh God, no.¡± She started to slam her fists against every door in the hallway, shouting her friends¡¯ names. Shortly after, she heard a faint sobbing coming from one of the rooms. ¡°That voice¡­Rosa,¡± she muttered. ¡°Ow!¡± Anemone cried out as she felt a throbbing pain near her right ribs. ¡°What¡­is this¡­feeling?¡± she panted with both hands on her chest. As she looked down, she realized there were three crimson lines across her white gown ¨C three distinct claw marks that she had never seen before. Yet, in spite of being confused, she also felt sad. PLOP Anemone fidgeted after sensing something dropped on top of her head. Her right hand instantly reached for her hair and the first thing she felt was an unusually warm liquid. She pulled her arm back down, only to see each one of her fingertips covered in fresh blood. ¡®This¡­this is not mine,¡¯ she mouthed before her eyes slowly moved upward. Dangling from the ceiling, she saw a thin, dark-skinned boy with a metal hook pierced through his back. Unable to contain her shock, Anemone scuttled toward the wall with her eyes still fixated on the hanging corpse. ¡°Ba¡­Bashar?¡± her lips trembled. CREAK Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The wall behind her suddenly collapsed and Anemone fell on her back, magnifying the pain in her chest. ¡°Augh, crap. That¡­really hurts,¡± she hissed. Then, her focus shifted back to the boy on the ceiling ¨C ¡®What happened?¡¯ She quietly asked herself, ¡®Who could have done such a terrible thing?¡¯ The men in white, though they were ruthless, were never wasteful. They would try to salvage whatever was left from their failures before moving on to their next experiment. But the scene she just saw reeked with rage and malice, and whoever or whatever killed Bashar must still be nearby. ¡°I need to go,¡± Anemone whispered. With the support of her hands, she rose to her feet. Thankfully, she could feel the pain in her chest subsiding, although she doubted the tenderness would fully disappear. ¡°Now, where to¡­?¡± Anemone froze after turning her back on her deceased friend. A single autopsy bed stood in front of her and she was convinced it was the same one used by the men in white after¡­an unwanted occurrence. How many of her friends had been placed on it and cut open simply to satisfy the scientists¡¯ curiosities? Furthermore, when would her day come; the day where she was nothing but a cold, lifeless body fated to be thrown into the fire. If only she could find a way to escape this place¡­''Hold on, wasn¡¯t there a plan to escape the facility?¡¯ She tried to recall. Then, she felt it ¨C an itch at the back of her mind which was soon replaced with a momentary, throbbing pain. ¡°What the heck? That never happened before,¡± Anemone grumbled, wondering if it was the side effect of the drug the men in white injected into her bloodstream last night. Before she could recollect herself, the ceiling light shut off once more ¨C only this time, she knew it was permanent. Seconds later, she heard a deep growl coming from the corridor behind her, followed by a raucous screeching; like the sound she made when she scratched her nail against the metallic wall. Sensing the approaching danger, Anemone briskly hid herself behind the autopsy table while waiting anxiously for whatever was outside to pass through. She gritted her teeth as the noises grew louder and it was not long until she saw a large shadow gliding into her line of sight. ¡°Wha¡­?¡± she breathed out. She could not make out the exact size of the silhouette but she assumed it was at least as big as a grizzly bear. ¡®Is that¡­a Distorted?¡¯ She thought to herself, ¡®How did it find this place? Silva said a device created by him and his subordinates generated a jamming signal that prevented the monsters from discovering the facility. So how?¡¯ However, her pondering was disturbed by a bloodcurdling scream that echoed throughout the dark corridor. ¡®That¡¯s¡­Rosa¡¯s!¡¯ Anemone frowned. But she felt the blood drained from her face as she saw the large shadow also make its way toward the voice. ¡°Oh no,¡± Anemone murmured. As she tried to stand up, her legs suddenly gave way and she fell flat on the ground. ¡°What the¡­? Darn it! Of all the time, why now!¡± She ranted at her shaking legs. Another scream soon pierced through the darkness, prompting Anemone to drag herself across the floor despite her abdomen grazing against the sharp sand. ¡°Please, Rosa. Please, be alive. Please,¡± she prayed repeatedly until she tasted the iron in the air. Shortly afterward, her hands brushed against some kind of fabric ¨C as a matter of fact, it felt similar to her gown. ¡°Oh God,¡± Anemone blurted out as soon as she saw a familiar face staring back at her. It was Lila, the girl who lived in the room next to Bashar. Aside from her bloody gown, most of her short, brunette hair was ripped from her scalp and her face; it was twisted in fear. Anemone immediately gagged, unable to contain her shock and disgust. The sights of her friends dying one by one ¨C she wanted them to stop, but how can they? The white lifeless ceiling and the loud crying of her friends were the only things she knew. She could not even remember what the sky looked like or the very least, the faces of her parents. Was there a purpose for her to be alive at this point? She questioned herself every day. ¡°Wait¡­alive?¡± Anemone whispered; her eyes narrowed. She felt a bit restless as if she forgot something important ¨C something that she should remember. At that exact moment, she heard a familiar weeping in front of her and even though it was dark, she could recognize the high, squeaky voice. ¡°Rosa?¡± said Anemone, ¡°Rosa, is that you? It¡¯s me, Annie.¡± But the crying persisted. ¡°Rosa, it¡¯s me! It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m here! I¡¯m-.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­sorry, Annie.¡± Anemone initially thought she was imagining it until she heard Rosa repeat the apology over and over again. ¡°Argh!¡± Anemone yelped as her head began to ache once again though this time, she felt like her mind was¡­opened ¨C as if it was just awakened from a deep, long slumber. She remembered everything: the ruined facility, Bashar, Lila, and the shadowy mass ¨C all of them were memories. She directed her gaze forward and noticed that Lila¡¯s face was replaced with her own face. ¡®So, I¡¯m¡­dead? But how is that possible? I¡¯m still here¡­I can see, taste, and smell everything. I can still feel the sands rubbing against the palm of my¡­fingers?¡¯ Anemone looked at her hands, realizing that she could see through them. ¡®What¡­what¡¯s happening to me? Why am I¡­? Why¡­? Wait, what am I¡­supposed to be doing again?¡¯ å°¾. THE FINAL OATH Rudolph could feel his armor weighing him down, but he could not afford to be exhausted right now ¨C not when there were people still trapped in the Edge. Gritting his teeth, Rudolph ran across the street, heading toward a dilapidated house. Suddenly, he heard a growl to his left and swiftly raised his sword. ¡°Oof!¡± Rudolph gasped as a Lacerator rammed against him, sending him flying into one of the houses. ¡°Shit!¡± the soldier groaned, sensing a dull pain in his chest. He groggily got to his feet, while brushing bits of wood and stones from his shoulders. As he turned his attention toward the Lacerator, he noticed a middle-aged woman crouching near the fireplace cradling a baby in her arms. ¡°No! No! Stay away!¡± the woman cried out. It did not take long for her voice to be heard by the Lacerator; its footsteps hastened. Rudolph instantly ran out of the house, staring directly into the monster¡¯s hungry eyes. ¡°Hah!¡± he deflected the Lacerator¡¯s arms and spun around in a circle before swinging his blade in a single motion. He heard a thump, followed by a hard slam. The Lacerator now lied next to his feet, and black liquid spurted out of its decapitated body. But he knew it was not totally dead. Rudolph darted back into the house, shouting at the sobbing woman, ¡°Come, let¡¯s go!¡± Although hesitant at first, the woman obeyed his order and followed him outside. ¡°Stick to the road and run toward the citadel gate. No matter what you hear or see, do not stop.¡± The woman nodded his head and bolted off with the soldier tailing her closely from behind. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I was just about to go to bed, but then I heard a big explosion-.¡± ¡°Focus on getting yourself and your child to safety first, ma¡¯am,¡± Rudolph retorted. BAM! A Lacerator burst out of the house in front of them, prompting Rudolph to step in between the monster and the woman. However, a shadowy figure soon leaped out of the destroyed residence, a silvery glint by its side. Rudolph gasped as soon as the moonlight cast its light on the silhouette, revealing the white porcelain mask on their face. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be,¡± the soldier murmured. The Night Terror landed in front of the Lacerator, their falchion completely drawn. Like the sword, their snowy robe was smeared with countless black dots and lines. Ignoring the soldier¡¯s presence, the vigilante taunted the Lacerator with their fingers. As a response, the monster angrily charged toward them, and all it took was one swift motion of the sword to effortlessly split the creature in half. However, the vigilante¡¯s action was loud enough to attract the attention of more Lacerators, it did not take long for them to come running toward the noise. Realizing this, the Night Terror waved his sword over his head, creating a translucent curtain that canvased the area. ¡°W-What is this?¡± said the woman, her eyes widened in fear. ¡°A diversion. Close your eyes, and don¡¯t open them until I said so,¡± Rudolph ordered. Shortly after the woman shut her eyes, two Lacerators emerged from an alleyway. They began to sniff the air; their eyes actively scanned the surroundings. Sauntering around, one of them stopped directly in front of Rudolph. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The soldier halted his breathing as the Lacerator¡¯s hideous face closed in on his. He firmly gripped the woman¡¯s arm, bringing her closer to his side. Fortunately, the monsters lost their interest and immediately returned to where they came from. Rudolph let out a sigh of relief, but he felt something cold touched his throat. ¡°An elderly soldier on the battlefield. How interesting,¡± the Night Terror remarked, the edge of their falchion pressed against the soldier¡¯s neck. ¡°Sir?¡± the woman said nervously, but Rudolph instantly grabbed her hand and reassured her everything was fine. ¡°If you¡¯re planning to kill me, at least let her and her child go.¡± ¡°You insult me, sir. I never put my hands on civilians¡­and good soldiers,¡± the vigilante replied before sheathing their blade. ¡°There is a secret tunnel north from here which will lead you into the citadel. It is not far from here, but there is no guarantee our road is safe.¡± ¡°Noted. Go on then, show us the way¡­please,¡± Rudolph muttered. *** [Five minutes later¡­] Sticking the shadows, they finally reached a sewer entrance hidden behind a thick bush. It was large enough for one person to fit through and looked like it had not been used for a long time. ¡°Follow the wall until you meet a man dressed in white. He will give you temporary accommodation until everything settles down.¡± The woman looked at Rudolph warily, wondering if the vigilante was speaking the truth. The old soldier, in turn, gave him a warm smile and said, ¡°Just do what he says, ma¡¯am. You¡¯re going to be alright, I promise.¡± ¡°A-Alright,¡± said the woman before giving Rudolph a kiss on the cheek. ¡°Thank you, sir. I¡¯ll never forget this.¡± Rudolph nodded his head sheepishly and watched in silence as the woman scurried into the shadows. ¡°Now, I remember where I¡¯ve seen you before,¡± said the Night Terror. ¡°You were that king''s personal guard, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°King Cyrus is his name, and I am still His Radiance personal guard.¡± ¡°Which makes it so much sadder. An absent king, and a traitorous prince ¨C it must be devastating for you.¡± ¡°Whoever broke down that wall, was not the prince of the Opal Sun. He will never betray his people,¡± Rudolph growled. ¡°Yet, it does not change the fact that the Edge is overrun with monsters,¡± said the Night Terror. ¡°Leave this place before it¡¯s too late, soldier. Spend your remaining days with your family. You don¡¯t owe the king anything.¡± ¡°I owe His Radiance my word,¡± Rudolph quickly retorted. ¡°The Empyreans are the beacons of hope for the people of this kingdom. They will bring peace to this land once more like the great King Apollo.¡± The Night Terror stared at Rudolph for a brief moment. Then, the vigilante shook their head and said, ¡°Your faith in them is commendable, soldier. However, if you return to the battlefield in your condition, you will surely die. If those Distorted did not kill you, your injury will.¡± Rudolph placed his hand on his breastplate, his chest was still aching and he also realized it was getting more difficult for him to breathe. ¡°If fate dictates it, so be it. Besides, I am not the only one who is eager to see Prince Jason ascend the throne.¡± The vigilante quickly turned away from the soldier, but Rudolph immediately added, ¡°If anything happens to me, please look over those three. They are still young and have much to learn, but they are the only ones who can restore this broken kingdom.¡± ¡°Asking an infamous criminal like me for help is unknightly of you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking as one warrior to another -- one that cares deeply for his people and, his motherland. Please, consider this my dying request.¡± The Night Terror spun around to face Rudolph and bowed their head slightly. ¡°Then, I will abide by your request, Rudolph of the Royal Guard. They will be under my protection; you have my word.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Rudolph before walking past the vigilante; his eyes focused on the destroyed village. He glanced over his shoulder, expecting the Night Terror behind him but they were already gone. Taking a deep breath, he pulled a heart-shaped locket from his breastplate and whispered, ¡°Forgive me, my love. Forgive me.¡± Characters Theme Songs (Updated: 6/2/25) THE FACELESS ORDER Samuel ''Sam'' Edelweiss: this is is this? [Ling Tosite Sigure] Lucia ''Lucy'' Nightingale: Breath [Ryokuoushoku Shakai] Rupert ''Rupe'' Nightingale: Towa no Machi [Scenarioart] Elisabeth ''Liz'' Rosier: White Prayer [Alice Nine] Marie Strelitzia: Kazoe Uta [Memai Siren] Jason Helians: Squall [D''espairsray] Ariadne ''Aria'' Helians: Sindra [vistlip] Theodorus ''Theo'' Stark: Star Light [amazarashi] Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Markus Strigis: Koukou [tacica] Michael Pascal: Gravity [Luna Sea] Stephanie Crusole: Diver [Polkadot Stingray] Rowanna Zinnia: XYZ [HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR] Thomas Wolfe: Toguro [Dir en Grey] Adam Salvia: Moratorium [Rookiez is Punk''d] Daniel Nastur: Volcano [Girugamesh] Amelia Lilium: Toka [TRUE] Timothy ''Tim'' Lilium: Sprechchor [Radwimps] Valerie Rivea: Sakitama [Rin''] Tulip Leonard: Resonance [Exist Trace] Maximillian ''Max'' Theris: Swallow Rain [Sadie] Zachariah ''Zack'' Romulus: Nimrod [People in the box] Ashton Achillea: World''s End Flower [SPLAY] THE HARBINGERS Jack Cindar: Vanquish [SCREW] The Jay: A Moth Under the Skin [The GazettE] The Hawk: Psychopolis [9mm Parabellum Bullet] TO BE CONTINUED 69th Fragment: -AMALGAM- [The Infirmary] Ten minutes had passed. Marie¡¯s green eyes were fixed on the three people sitting on the floor, still and unmoving. At the same time, Morgana was diligently drawing more symbols on the cube with a small piece of charcoal. She immediately recognized the runes; the same runes used by the people of the Golden Reed. Then again, it was no surprise since they were the first people to discover Spectral Voyage. A few seconds later, Michael entered the room holding a mug of steaming hot coffee. Marie glanced at him, asking, ¡°Will they be alright? I read that the Spectral Voyage can be a taxing experience to one''s mind and body.¡± Michael took a little sip of his drink, and replied, ¡°That is what those extra runes are for. I had to tweak the formula, of course. The people of the Golden Reed didn¡¯t usually use the Spectral Voyage to venture into the Subconscious Realm.¡± ¡°What the doctor meant to say was they¡¯re going to be fine,¡± Morgana interjected. Marie let out a sigh of relief after hearing the assistant¡¯s reply. ¡°What about you, Strelitzia? What¡¯s your angle in all of this?¡± Michael inquired. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It is seldom to see the Goddess of Anguish to be so invested with a group of novices. Something tells me it is not because they rescued the Empyreans.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I heard that pompous name,¡± Marie exhaled. She placed her hand over the handle of her claymore, and a tiny smile appeared across her face. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m doing it out of curiosity.¡± ¡°So, all those rule-breaking are out of curiosity? I find that hard to believe,¡± Michael scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t see any other reason to make it easier for you to comprehend.¡± ¡°Of course not. Your motive is constantly changing; it makes you unpredictable¡­and annoying.¡± ¡°That we can agree with,¡± Marie happily affirmed. ¡°Doctor,¡± Morgana called. ¡°The supplementary runes are completed.¡± ¡°A fine work, Miss Tanager. Now we just need to make sure there is no unnecessary distraction that could compromise the runes.¡± KRIK! Several tiny cracks appeared on the cube¡¯s surface, causing the symbols to flicker. ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± Marie asserted, and she could hear the doctor grumbling. *** [Meanwhile¡­] [The Subconscious Realm] The trio walked down the stony path accompanied by snow flurries and the sound of their heavy footsteps. The once faraway wall was now closer and taller; nearing the height of the Tower of Nexus. To their relief, the pack of wolves was nowhere in sight and they hoped it stayed that way. ¡°So, what does this Tree of Vigilance look like?¡± Rupert asked excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s¡­difficult to explain. You¡¯ll know when you see it,¡± Sam responded. ¡°May I remind you we¡¯re not here for sightseeing?¡± said Lucy. ¡°Cheer up, Luce. I¡¯m just trying to lighten the mood. We barely escaped an avalanche and a hailstorm, after all,¡± the elder Nightingale recalled before letting out a loud sneeze. ¡°See? That¡¯s why I said we¡¯re not here for sightseeing,¡± Lucy added as she rubbed her palms together. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± Sam announced. The trio stopped in front of the towering wall. Taking a closer look, they noticed the entire structure was composed of bricks of ice. Sam wiped off the condensation with his hand, and though it was a tad blurry, he could see the silhouette of the Tree of Vigilance beyond the frozen wall. The Nightingales followed suit; both were in awe at the sight of the great tree. ¡°Wow, that is¡­ certainly different,¡± Lucy remarked. SMACK! Rupert suddenly plunged one of his sickles into the wall, causing Lucy to shudder with shock. ¡°Holy-! A heads-up would be nice!¡± Ignoring his sister¡¯s rant, Rupert kept on striking the wall. However, he is action barely left a dent. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s like hitting an iron wall,¡± Rupert pouted. ¡°Well, it is made of ice, right?¡± Sam unsheathed his blade, and carefully placed the sharp end near the base of the wall. It did not take long for the tip to emit a sizzling sound, followed by a cloud of steam rising from the blade. Sam moved his sword upward, creating an outline of a triangle large enough for a person to pass through. ¡°There,¡± said Sam as he put his katana back into its scabbard. He then pushed his body against the block of ice but soon realized it was too heavy. However, the Nightingales rushed to his side without uttering a single word. The trio nodded at each other and they instantly gave the block a push. Little by little, the block slid out of its place, causing some of the cold fog to slip between the cracks. ¡°Just¡­a¡­little¡­more,¡± Sam groaned before the block of ice toppled to the ground. The Tree of Vigilance was now visible to their eyes, but Sam quickly noticed something strange about it. Half of its pure white trunk was black and wrinkling as if it was rotting. Its spindly branches loomed over them like a cage with dark glistening liquid trickling down from each one of them. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Look!¡± Lucy pointed upward. Hanging from the tree was Adam; his body was wrapped in a red throbbing cocoon. Both of his eyes were shut, but the trio could see his chest moving up and down. ¡°We should get him down-.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Sam cut Rupert off after smelling something foul in the air. ¡°We¡¯re not alone in here.¡± As soon as Sam finished his sentence, the dark liquid rained down on the area, creating puddles of tar. The entire place reeked of sulfur and rotten flesh, and Lucy could not help but gag as the odor hit her in the face. The puddles started to pulsate before coalescing in front of the trio, forming a large black pool. Goaded by their instincts, the trio drew their weapons simultaneously, readying themselves for what was to come. The pool rippled exuberantly as if reacting to their action; from its inky surface, a giant skeletal figure slowly rose to its feet. The massive humanoid had the head of a wolf and the arms of a bear; the tar-like liquid flowed smoothly along its limbs, mimicking the blood vessels. ¡°Lucy, any idea what that is?¡± Sam quizzed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Whatever that thing is, it is not a Distorted,¡± Lucy replied. The monster clumsily dragged itself forward, its hollow eyes were fixated on the trio. ¡°Got any plan to deal with this guy?¡± Rupert nudged Sam¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m still working on it.¡± The giant dropped on all fours and let out a thunderous roar that shook the whole Tree of Vigilance. ¡°Spread out!¡± Sam yelled, prompting all of them to run in different directions. As a response, the creature let out a gurgled scream and began chasing after him. Of course, he¡¯s going after me, Sam shouted inside his mind. He could hear the monster¡¯s gravelly voice growing louder with each passing second. Realizing he was running into the ice wall, an idea instantly sprung to mind. He made a sharp right turn and darted off toward the tree. The monster followed Sam¡¯s movement, but due to its weight, it was unable to stop in time and inevitably crashed into the wall. Sam turned around to see the opening made by the monster and to no surprise, he saw the chasm both he and the Nightingales crossed earlier. ¡°That was too close for my liking,¡± said Lucy as she ran up to Sam. ¡°But, you¡¯ve got to admit. It¡¯s a pretty ballsy move,¡± Rupert added, suddenly appearing behind his sister. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet,¡± Sam reprimanded the siblings, just before he heard a gurgled scream from beyond the wall. The monster crawled back into the compound with a tiny crack in its skull. There were also shards of ice sticking out of its body; dark sticky fluid spewing out of its veiny skin. ¡°Lucy, can you use that black liquid to hold it down?¡± asked Sam. ¡°I can do more than hold it down if you could distract it long enough,¡± Lucy retorted before unsheathing her dagger. ¡°Let me see what I can do.¡± A few seconds later, the monster¡¯s body began to twitch uncontrollably. Its bones cracked and twisted, subsequently reassembling into a new form. The once bulky creature was now replaced with a towering, serpentine figure. ¡°You have got to be kidding me,¡± Lucy grimaced. The giant snake slithered toward the trio with stupendous speed, leaving behind a trail of tar. Sam immediately pulled his katana out, conjuring a whip of bright red flame. He lashed at the monster, stopping it dead on its track. ¡°Rupert, distract!¡± Sam ordered. ¡°Aye, aye, cap!¡± The elder Nightingale grinned. He lifted his scythe and rushed toward the serpent without a shred of hesitation. The snake¡¯s jaw snapped wide open and tried to chomp down on Rupert. However, the elder Nightingale nimbly leaped over the monster¡¯s head before bringing his scythe down, driving the blade into the creature¡¯s skull. ¡°Come on now, a little bit of sightseeing might calm your nerves,¡± Rupert asserted as he directed the monster¡¯s head away from Sam. ¡°Now that is something you don¡¯t see every day,¡± Sam commented. ¡°He¡¯s just showing off at this point,¡± Lucy rolled her eyes. She held her dagger forward, allowing some of the dark liquid to land on the transparent blue blade; its color gradually turned black. ¡°This will be enough,¡± Lucy further remarked. ¡°Hey, guys!¡± Rupert exclaimed from the top of the monster¡¯s head. ¡°Can you hurry up with whatever you are doing?¡± ¡°What the matter, brother? I thought you were having fun?¡± Lucy yelled back. ¡°I was! But it¡¯s no fun anymore!¡± Lucy twisted her blade, causing the tail of the giant snake to fold like a piece of paper. The serpent yowled and started thrashing around in pain. Unable to hold on much longer, Rupert released his grip on the monster and crash-landed near Sam¡¯s feet. ¡°How¡¯s it going down there?¡± Sam asked casually. ¡°Not bad,¡± Rupert replied while still lying on his back. ¡°Just, um, give me a moment.¡± ¡°Was it fun?¡± ¡°It was, except for the last part.¡± ¡°But something tells me if you¡¯re given a chance, you¡¯ll do it again,¡± said Lucy before lifting the dagger over her head, folding another section of the serpent¡¯s body. She then swung it down and the entire serpent¡¯s torso was folded, leaving its head unscathed. ¡°Ugh,¡± Lucy dropped to one knee after feeling a bit lightheaded. ¡°Damn it, not now.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done enough,¡± Sam stated as he slowly approached the incapacitated serpent. He stared at its eyes, expecting some kind of a reaction. But all he saw was pure darkness; still and cold. Without saying anything, he thrusted his katana into the serpent¡¯s snout. In a blink of an eye, the entire creature burst into flame; scorching its bone beyond recognition. He gazed upward and noticed the branches shrinking; returning to their former shape. The black liquid also disappeared along with the foul-smelling puddles. He turned his attention toward the Tree of Vigilance; its trunk reinvigorated. All that was left of the infection was a small black spot in the middle of its body. Moreover, the cocoon that encased Adam began to descend; only releasing its prisoner once it was close to solid ground. The trio immediately rushed toward the unconscious man, and as soon as they reached him, Lucy crouched down to take his pulse. But, as her finger touched Adam¡¯s neck, his entire body collapsed into a pile of snow. ¡°What the-! Oh no, what did I do?¡± Lucy panicked. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Sam quickly calmed her down. ¡°I can¡¯t really explain why but it is supposed to happen.¡± ¡°Jeez, you could have told me earlier,¡± said Lucy, relaxing his tense shoulders. ¡°By the way, sis. Since when can you do that¡­folding thing?¡± Rupert inquired. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on it since last month. However, as you can see, I¡¯m still having trouble controlling my stamina.¡± ¡°Can you use it on humans though?¡± ¡°I can, but for the sake of my sanity, I would prefer not to.¡± After brushing off the snow on her pants, Lucy got to her feet before casting her eyes on the Tree of Vigilance. ¡°Was it like this? When you¡¯re in Jason¡¯s Subconscious Realm?¡± ¡°Pretty much, minus the snow ¨C and that,¡± Sam replied while pointing at the black spot on the tree trunk. ¡°What the heck is that? It seems to be alive,¡± said Rupert. ¡°Whatever it is, it must have something to do with the Fenrir.¡± ¡°Wait, your hands!¡± Lucy blurted out. Sam looked down and realized his entire arms were fading away. He looked over to his friends who were also in the same predicament. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are we dying?¡± Rupert remarked. ¡°No,¡± Sam calmly retorted, ¡°We¡¯re simply returning to the real world.¡±