WALLACE GARRET
"It’s been a long time, old friend," I said, facing Kei, who had been my loyal companion since the 2nd realm. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we were reunited.
A myriad of emotions washed over Kei, and tears welled up in his eyes. "It can’t be... How?" he stammered, rushing towards me and grabbing my hand, shaking it furiously as if to confirm that I was not a mere illusion.
He couldn’t contain his overwhelming emotions, and soon he dropped to his knees, his head bowed, as if a heavy burden he had carried for so long was finally released.
"I have been watching you, Kei. You have done exceptionally well. You don’t need to shoulder this burden alone anymore," I reassured him, patting his back gently. I glanced behind him, and to my delight, I spotted two familiar figures—Davy and Cliff, both wearing expressions of utter shock.
"Wallace… Is that really you?" Davy asked, though he managed to maintain a composed demeanour despite his evident surprise.
"So much has transpired over the past years. Let’s sit down." I suggested inviting them to gather around.
**
As Kei gradually regained his calm, I recalled my arrival at the edge of limbo as well as my interaction with Nebeus, the caretaker. I recalled how time moved twice as slowly there and how I had spent three years there compared to one year and six months here.
Kei eventually looked up in the middle of the talk, facing me as our gazes collided.
"I thought you were gone, Wallace," Kei finally managed to say, his voice tinged with both relief and disbelief. "After that encounter with the Mrizem, we all thought...
"I know, Kei," I interrupted gently, understanding his unspoken words. "I’m sorry for the worry I caused you all. But I’m here now, and we can face whatever lies ahead together."
"If you arrived here six months ago, then what were you up to these last six months?" Davy asked, his curiosity piqued.
"In the first three months, I managed to descend to the bottom of Compound 009. After that…" I began, but Cliff couldn’t contain his astonishment and interjected, "Wait, so you became a paladin in just 3 months!? You must be monstrously strong. The demonstration earlier also explains your otherworldly powers."
"It was all thanks to Nebeus’s guidance. He possesses vast knowledge about Limbo—countless realms, their routes, the creatures that inhabit them, and any abnormalities. He led me through the easiest route, enabling me to reach the bottom in just three months. My initial plan was to train at Limbo’s edge for a while longer, but unforeseen circumstances forced me to come out earlier," I explained.
Curiosity filled Davy’s eyes as he probed further, "What circumstances?"
"The void order. Though they’ve remained silent for the past two years, they’ve recently started sending voidlings to all the compounds, as if preparing for something big. Nebeus believes they are planning a large-scale attack on all the compounds simultaneously. Based on his calculations and the rate of voidlings entering, we have just one month left," I revealed.
A mix of surprise and despair washed over Davy and Cliff, but Kei’s gaze remained unwavering, determined to face the challenge ahead.
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"How do you know the situation in the other compounds? Isn’t Nebeus the caretaker of only compound 009?" Cliff inquired.
"The caretakers of all compounds can communicate with each other through a mental link. Along with becoming a paladin, I was traversing through Compounds 007 and 004 to inform their respective Heralds about the potential surprise attack. I came here to meet you both to inform you about this and to request something important," I replied.
Cliff and Davy stood still, absorbing all the information, and then exclaimed in unison, "Voidwalker! It’s you!"
"That is the peculiar name I’ve been given. The other compounds are more bustling than this one, but I can’t avoid being seen since they still have their Heralds. My unique spatial powers allow me to achieve feats like this," I said with a bitter smile.
After a few moments of contemplation, Cliff and Davy asked together, "What is the request you wish to entrust us with?"
"I want you to gather all the paladins and powerful Venturers you can find, as they are the only ones capable of protecting this place in the absence of a Herald. The information I’m about to share is highly classified and only accessible to Heralds. I acquired it from Nebeus," I began, emphasising the importance of the upcoming revelation.
"The heart of Compound 009, the 9th fragment, is located right here, in the Refuge of Titans," I announced, my voice echoing through the air.
Kei seemed to make a deduction, expressing his realisation, "I see... at the area below the clouds, at the foot of the giant statues... His intuition was indeed correct, and it explained the presence of the swarm of voidlings crawling all over the place, sent to trace the exact location.
Without hesitation, Davy approached me after conferring with Cliff, ready to take on the responsibility.
"Leave this task to us. Our families’ connections and status will allow us to carry out your request effectively. We only have one month, so if you could use your spatial powers to transport us to the nebula, we could leave immediately. Kei, focus on becoming even stronger. We are best suited for this mission," Davy declared with determination, his resolve evident.
Kei nodded, understanding his weaknesses and the importance of preparing for the upcoming challenges.
**
After Davy and Cliff departed to fulfil their duties, I was left alone with Kei. I could tell he wanted to ask about Elsie, but he held back, knowing that he had already confirmed her death.
"What are these?" Kei inquired, glancing at the two items I held in my hand.
"These are gifts for you to aid you in your journey forward," I replied, displaying one of the items.
It was a medium-sized dagger, completely obsidian in colour, with a mesmerising lustre and crystalline hue, giving it an otherworldly aura.
"Nebeus forged this weapon from the scales of a black dragon I killed. Your old weapons may struggle to match your growing strength, so I asked him to create this for you," I explained.
I tapped the medium-sized black dagger’s surface, causing ripples to form around it. Suddenly, the weapon broke into two smaller daggers of comparable construction. With another tap, the two little daggers divide into four. They finally melded again into a single obsidian blade with two taps as a white flame encircled the weapon.
"This is known as "Sablethorn." This may be shattered into shards and then reassembled into a single weapon. This dagger’s energy is fed by resentment and unpleasant emotions, which will suit your lune-weaving approach. I’ve additionally enhanced it with spatial modifications using my abilities." I included
"I see… Thank you," Kei expressed his gratitude as he received his new weapons.
I had a basic understanding of his powers thanks to Nebeus’s guidance.
"Also, please take this," I handed him the other item, placing it in his palms.
"A watch?" Kei looked at the pitch-black watch, its hands frayed as if it were broken.
"This is a relic I created. It won’t assist you in battle, but I need you to wear it when facing off against the void order. I cannot provide you with all the details, but please trust me and make sure to wear it," I requested.
Without hesitation, Kei put on the broken black watch.
"I’m heading to Compound 003 now. I’ll be fighting alongside the First Herald, leaving Compound 009 in your hands. Before I go, there’s one last thing I need to tell you," I continued.
"What is it?" Kei asked, his curiosity piqued.
"There are only four realms left to go. Try to reach the bottom in this one month. At the bottom of Compound 009, there’s a clue that can help you unravel the mysteries of Lune, the energy of death. The incomplete artefact containing Nebeus’s projection will respond to this clue," I suggested.
"Leave it to me," Kei declared, his eyes filled with determination.