Jia Precinct - 22/02 5:40 pm 51 EE

People began to make their way home from the service through the many streets. The sun had begun to set with flocks of birds flying overhead and the tender orange glow laying its blanket over the town. The day was unwinding as a tiredness scrubbed away all worry. This sudden tiredness had caught Century as she sat on a stone ledge, overlooking most of the town. Since most of the housing ascended a mountain, with the market at the base, Century wondered if her fatigue was from walking uphill.

Rina sat beside Century with her umbrella as she gleefully gobbled on a blueberry muffin. Rina didn't seem tired at all and watching her scarf down the muffin with unyielding haste made Century envious of her boundless stamina. However, just feeling emotion caused Century to become even more tired.

"God, Werren's been away all day! I haven't had a chance to even try and fight him..."

Century threw herself back as she lay on the cold stone, her legs dangling off the ledge as she kicked them back and forth.

"And I have to go find the Haab' with that kid later... god I just wanna lie here forever."

Century got nice and comfortable as she closed her eyes.

"Wake me when it's night."

Rina paid no attention to Century however she had gotten up and gone to a nearby vending machine, mashing a few random buttons.

Century continued to lay there as she sighed. Footsteps then grew closer.

"Wake up."

Century waved her hand, refusing to open her eyes.

"Gimme a few more minutes..."

The person kicked Century.

"Wake up, poop."

Century's eyes shop open.

"The hell did you call me Rina?!"

Rina wasn't the one waking her up, however. A boy with swamp-green hair and ragged brown clothes stood over her.

"Who are you!?"

Century shot to her feet but stumbled a bit as blood rushed up to her head.

The boy looked up at Century, he was very small and had the face of a baby.

"Where are we?"

The boy looked around, maintaining a blank expression.

"Answer my question first brat! And why did you call me a 'poop'!"

Century stomped her foot as she raised her fist.

The boy paid no mind to Century however and knelt to inspect a small beetle crawling past.

"ANSWER ME!"

Century reached out to grab the boy. She leaned forward, not afraid to throw him off the ledge, but as her hand reached him it simply phased through the boy. Century looked stunned but quickly fell onto the floor.

"You little..."

Century turned around to look at the boy but he was gone. Century searched around the vicinity looking for where the boy could have gone. She stood up even more heated than before.

"Where did you go!?"

Rina walked up to Century, muddled at what Century was going on about.

"Surnm?"

Century looked to Rina who was holding two cans of soda.

"Rina! Did you see where that grasshead kid went? Little bugger ran away before I could teach him a lesson..."

Rina was utterly perplexed about who Century was talking about.

"Guhm... memuhm bur..."

"Eh, who cares... I have better things to do."

Rina offered a soda can to Century.

"I'm good. Not feelin' thirsty."

Rina smiled and took both cans for herself. It was then that Century noticed that a quarter of Rina's hair was still white.

"I was gonna ask, what's with your hair? It changed white during that last fight. You're not going old are you?"

Rina looked up surprised but it quickly turned to happiness.

"Murhn nerrp hurhm isse!"

Century looked blankly at Rina.

"I'm gonna be completely honest Rina. I can't understand you."

Rina slinked away and crouched in a corner looking defeated.

"I'll just ask Werren or Yuro later..."

7:58 pm

Night had arrived and cloaked the town in darkness. The crescent moon hanging above. In the park beside the church, the last remnants of people departed leaving only a handful of volunteers to pack everything away. Century waited by the church, Rina in tow. Century kept her hands in her pocket, clutching her glove. The door into the church was slightly ajar, the bright lights and warmth escaping out.

Century lightly pushed it open and looked around.

"Come on, it's cold out there."

Century and Rina slithered inside and stayed close to the wall. Peering down the aisle, no one was in sight. Century relaxed and began to walk down. The great clock behind the altar ticked, each second counting closer to the turn of an hour.

Rina went to put her umbrella on the rack but soon noticed a cute white sun hat. She was instantly enamored by it and tried it on.

"Where are we now?"

A voice behind Century asked.

Century turned to see the same swamp-green-haired kid as before.

"How the hell... hey! What are you doing here?"

The boy looked at Century, with the same blank expression.

"What are you doing here?"

"Stop answering my questions with YOUR questions!"

Century went to grab the boy's shoulder but her hand, once again, phased through him.

"How..."

Century then furiously swiped her hands through the boy but she couldn't touch him nor did he elicit any reaction to her attempts.

"What are you doing?"

"What are YOU doing!? Are you some kind of ghost?!"

Century was already tired from throwing her arms around.

"Why would I be a ghost?"

"JUST ANSWER YES OR NO!"

Century slammed her fist down on the boy but it had no effect.

"Um... Petra...? What are you doing?"

Century turned around to see Eliowen standing behind her holding his hands together.

"Oh, it's you. This dumb kid keeps..."

As Century turned to the boy he was gone once more.

"Wh- HOW DOES HE KEEP DOING THIS!"

Eliowen's face quickly changed to concern.

"Don't shout so loud. There are still people here and I shouldn't really be out this late."

Century stood up as Rina came up to them. Eliowen turned to Rina's direction.

"Oh who is..."

"That's Rina. Another of Werren's friends."

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"Ah, I know who Rina is! I have spoken to her a few times."

Eliowen smiles as Rina pats his head causing him to blush.

"Well, I'm sure one more person won't hurt. So I will ask this again later but... are you sure you want to see the Haab'?"

"Of course, that's why I'm here. Let's stop wasting time."

"I know I just wanted to make sure."

Eliowen began to walk out of the church.

"Hey, where are you going? Is the Haab' not in the church?"

"No. The Haab' is in my home. It isn't a far walk from the church."

Century sighed, not excited to do more walking. Century, Rina, and Eliowen left the church as the green-haired boy watched from the altar. A blank expression like always.

All three of them walked down the quiet streets, keeping close to Eliowen. The walk was quiet, Century was getting even more tired from how boring this was.

"Hey Eliowen, is this town haunted?"

Century walked beside him.

"Haunted? I don't believe so but I suppose if any paranormal events have happened I wouldn't have seen them."

Eliowen softly giggles to himself.

"What about a green-haired boy appearing out of nowhere?"

Eliowen looked in thought but he didn't respond to the question.

"Are you gonna answer?"

"I don't know."

"Don't know? You don't know what?"

Century couldn't read his face. He kept himself very cold.

"I... I just don't know. Color isn't my thing."

Eliowen seemed hesitant to answer. Century kept her eyes on him, suspicious of his dismissal.

They soon reached Eliowen's house. It was placed atop a small hill, overlooking most of the market district. They ascended the steps as Eliowen reached for the door handle.

"I think this might be the best time to ask again. Are you sure you want to see the Haab'?"

Eliowen looked to Century and Rina.

"No, I walked all the way here to not see the Haab'. OF COURSE, I WANNA SEE IT!"

Century pushed passed Eliowen and entered the house.

"Be quiet! My father is asleep in the other room. He watches over the Haab' so if he finds out people are here to see it he will get mad."

Eliowen led the way through the house. Century squinted at Eliowen sensing something off about what he said.

Eliowen led them through the house and to a bedroom. Inside was a single bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. It was quite empty. A contrast to Werren's revolting house.

"This is my room."

Eliowen stood in the middle.

"It looks sad."

Century looked around, somehow she would much prefer Werren's house than this prison cell.

"Sorry, I'm not too much for decorating. The room looks fine to me."

Eliowen smiled at his joke.

"Oh yeah, I forgot..."

Century scratched the back of her neck. The awkwardness pinching her.

Rina sat on the bed but Century kept standing.

"So where is it?"

Eliowen nervously laughed.

"Well okay... this might get a bit crazy but just... hold onto something."

Century grabbed onto the wardrobe but was confused at what was about to happen. Eliowen took a deep breath. He began to unbutton his shirt as he brought it down to his hips.

"Woah, okay kid, what the hell are you doing?"

Century let go of the wardrobe and backed away, unsure of what was happening.

Eliowen's skin began to glow. He turned around to show his back, fused on his skin was a small stone fragment with the symbol of a rising sun on it. The stone glowed brightly as Century and Rina dropped to their knees, an overwhelming sense of domination flooded their mind as their body felt heavy. The stone flickered as both Rina and Century felt the need to clasp their hands together. Nothing could prevent them from doing so, as they knelt on the ground they put their hands together over their chest.

"What are you doing?"

The green-haired boy asked looking down at Century. Century couldn't even respond as her body didn't respond to her.

"Get up, poop."

The boy kicked Century. She felt it, despite all her attempts to grab the boy he easily was able to touch her.

"Get up."

The boy's eyes glowed red. Century followed the boy's command and stood up. Her hands were tightly clasped as she walked towards Eliowen. As Eliowen's back was turned, Century reached forward.

"So this is what they wanted. I'll free you Eliowen from this cursed object's hold."

The boy turned to Century.

"Grab it."

Century's fingers latched onto the stone.

"Take it."

Century pulled the stone hard.

"Take. It."

Century pulled harder, the veins in her hand bulging.

"TAKE IT! NOW!"

Century felt her fingernails begin to tear off. She couldn't scream as she ripped the stone back. It began to come out as Eliowen shrieked. Century continued to pull it out, the skin and tendons ripping along with it. Not only had the stone fused with Eliowen's skin but also his flesh and bone. Eliowen howled as Century began to pull it out.

"HANDS OFF HIM!"

A loud voice bellowed behind Century. Suddenly all control over Century's mind evaporated as she returned to herself. Before she could gather herself however she was thrown through the wall and outside as she tumbled down the hill.

When she looked up she saw Archbishop Blues staring down at her. Around him were hundreds of floating metal nails. As Century put on her glove the Archbishop flung a barrage of nails toward her. Century blew herself upward to evade the attack but as she was in the air the nails' trajectory shifted as they followed Century closely. In dire need, she aimed her gloved hand down to the nails. Once they got close she ignited another blast scattering the nails all over the place.

Through the dust of the explosion, however, more nails zipped forward. A few grazed her but she turned her glove to diamond and tried to block as many as she could. Century fell back to the ground, or what she thought was the ground. She looked down to see herself on a wooden platform that appeared from thin air. The Archbishop was also there staring at Century with an enraged expression, an armada of nails gathering around him.

As Century got to her knees the Archbishop threw a nail at Century. She blocked it with her diamond fist but with each nail she blocked another would follow up. Century held strong as a non-stop volley of nails was thrown at her one at a time. She got to her feet and stepped closer to the Archbishop. His resolve was unchanging as he kept throwing nails at her. Century managed to get close to the Archbishop but to her surprise, as one final nail collided with her diamond fist it shattered. Century looked distraught as another nail was then lodged through the palm of her hand.

She stumbled back as blood dripped from her wound, the glove now torn preventing her from using it. She grits her teeth and rips out a hair tie.

"Fine, we'll do this the normal way."

She dashed forward dodging all the nails coming her way. As she got behind the Archbishop she hurled a hair tie at him. He looked over his shoulder before a sudden wooden plank appeared, taking the brunt of the impact.

Century got even more enraged but then the green-haired boy stepped forward.

"You... what the hell are you!?"

The boy shook his head.

"Well done pawn, the ward has weakened. All that's left is him."

The boy pointed to the Archbishop.

"Kill him.

"I'm not listening to you!"

Century evaded more nails as the boy kept following her.

"So you plan to die?"

"NO! I plan to take that Haab' AND KILL WERREN! This dumbass is just an obstacle!"

Century lunged at the Archbishop but with a swift dodge, the Archbishop threw another nail into Century's other hand.

"Shit-"

Century backed away as a nail was lodged in both of her hands.

"Reckless. I don't understand what Werren sees in you."

The Archbishop looked at Century.

"Stop."

Century then froze in place. She was looking at her hands, hunched over with her stance wide. The Archbishop walked up to her.

"You've gone too far now. May your soul rest peacefully for the rest of time."

The Archbishop held a nail to Century's forehead.

Down by Eliowen, Rina rushed to him. Blood seeped from his back as he lay lifeless. Rina bit his neck as the stone slowly embedded itself back into his flesh. Eliowen gasped, coming back to consciousness. He clung to Rina.

"R-Rina...? The ward... it's... disconnected..."

Eliowen looked worried as Rina's eyes widened.

On the other side of town, large Necrobeasts began to lurk their way toward the town. Their thick green fur hides their presence in the forest and greenery surrounding the town. As they creeped closer to the town their beady red eyes looked around, noticing the absence of a Haab' ward. Their noses twitched as a horde gathered from the forest. The scent of Strand users lured them from hiding. A passerby saw the gathering of these beasts, and in a panic, the person ran into town. The beasts snarled before dashing after them.

As the horde collapsed onto the town, Werren heard the distant growls and screams. He rushed over to see the Necrobeasts gnawing on the corpses of townsfolk. Their blood scattered in the streets. The beasts spat out the human meet before turning their attention to Werren.

"Damnit... the ward must have failed."

Werren faced the beasts, adjusting his tie as the horde surrounded him. Their jaws salivated with a viscus green goo.

"Been a while since I went hunting... I better get in shape."

With the ward around the whole town gone, the scent of Strand floats through the air, exciting the Necrostrands who gathered in full force to eat their first meal in a decade. Meanwhile, Century is in the clutches of Archbishop Blues, unable to fight back as the green-haired boy observes the next move.