The sun rose on the following day, casting its golden rays upon us as Seimi beckoned us to gather beneath the majestic tree. With a commanding tone, he declared, "In four days' time, you shall venture to the Luminaria in search of any survivors from the Magna Familia. However, should you encounter any battle priests, remember that your safety takes precedence above all else."

"Are you not accompanying us?" I inquired.

"Regrettably, no. I have pressing matters to attend to," Seimi replied cryptically.

The group couldn’t resist prying further, “Where are you off to?”

Drawing nearer, Seimi leaned in and whispered, “It’s a se~cr~et~,” punctuating his response with a playful wink that elicited irked expressions, particularly from Akaku and myself.

Leviathan’s frustration became palpable as he suggested, “Should we punch him?”

Suddenly, Leona stepped forward, positioning herself beside Seimi, her presence commanding everyone’s attention. A clear “ehem” preceded her confident stance and hands-on-hips posture. She turned her gaze toward me and proudly announced, “Hear me out, for this king has something of great import to share! Just last night, Noctis,” she pointed towards me, “successfully called forth his entity!”

"Oh! Good for you!" Raphael exclaimed.

"I'm overjoyed that you've achieved it!" Miya chimed in.

"You've done it, Noctis. Good job," Akaku added.

"Yes, it's a matter of accepting that this entity is a part of me," I explained.

"Show us! Show us! Show us!" Akaku chanted, joined by everyone else.

"Hehe, should I? Since you insist, here I go," I teased.

"No," Seimi and Leviathan interjected simultaneously, halting my intentions.

"Why? What's the matter?" I questioned.

"I am not some spectacle that can be summoned at will. Do not forget, I still have my pride as a demon," Leviathan retorted firmly.

"Save that for later, Noctis. Now that you have successfully summoned your entity, we shall require your power moving forward. To aid our cause. The same goes for all of you. This is not a matter to be taken lightly," Seimi advised.

"Too bad, huh? Noctis! Khahaha!" Leona chuckled.

"No, no, it's alright," I reassured.

"Akaku, I entrust them to your care," Seimi declared.

"You can count on me, Seimi," Akaku replied with confidence. Seimi nodded in acknowledgement, knowing he could trust her wholeheartedly with the responsibility.

——-

In the bustling city of Luminaria, which lay just a few hundred kilometers from our home in Aethertide, we found ourselves in an enchanting place. It seamlessly blended the charm of medieval architecture with wondrous sights. Cobblestone streets wound through lively neighborhoods teeming with people, market stalls, and at its heart, the famed Grand Cross.

The Grand Cross towered at the center of Luminaria—a majestic spire crafted from shimmering crystal. It held deep significance as a monument to two heroes who had once saved this world. Beneath it, an inscription spoke of their legacy: "Never shall malevolence find refuge in this realm. We, the protectors, guardians of the sacred, vow to keep this world free from the shadow of malevolent beings, for it is our solemn duty to safeguard its very essence."

As I pondered these words, Akaku, her eyes smoldering with anger, remarked, "It's as if they're declaring us their enemies, and that we must die."

“There’s something off about this place, Nox,” Leviathan's voice echoed in my mind. But before I could respond, a soft voice interrupted. A young girl, clad in a white gown, sporting a straw hat and clutching a stuffed bunny toy, tugged at my pants, seeking my attention.

"What's wrong, little one?" I knelt to meet her gaze, perplexed.

The girl's mother, appearing worried and frantic, rushed over to us, realizing her daughter had likely wandered off. She apologized profusely, "I'm so sorry for my daughter's intrusion. I hope she didn't cause you any trouble. Maya, say sorry to the nice young man."

"No trouble at all, ma'am," I reassured with a warm smile as I stood, offering a respectful nod to the concerned mother.

I glanced at Maya, who remained quiet, offering only a shy bow before taking her mother's hand as they began to walk away. Yet, just before they vanished into the bustling crowd, Maya turned back to me, her lips forming words too soft to hear but with a clear message: "Be careful."

"Noctis! Quit daydreaming, we're moving ahead!" Raphael's voice pierced the eerie stillness, jolting me from my reverie. I watched the mother and daughter as they gradually fading into the crowd.

——

In the shadow of Luminaria's bustling facade, we confronted a haunting scene. A shattered silver gate stood before us, a grotesque blemish compared to the bustling town. Beyond that gate, the ground was marred by bloodstains and strewn with rubble, while lifeless bodies lay in eerie stillness. "Is that..." I faltered, my voice choked by dread. My face twisted with horror, and I quickly covered my mouth, desperate to contain the rising nausea. I fought back the imminent wave of sickness threatening to overtake me.

"Yes, that was the Magna Familia's base and Mr. Veridian's home," Miya whispered solemnly, her eyes mirroring the grim reality. She offered, "Would you like to wait here while we investigate?"

"No, I'm okay now. Thank you."

We ventured deeper into the grim tableau, witnessing destitute civilians in tattered clothing scavenging amidst the ruins, looting what little remained. Disgust surged within us, a shared sentiment among my companions. This place, once the site of unspeakable tragedy, was being treated as a macabre tourist attraction.

As we scoured the area for signs of survivors, our hope gradually waned. Until, by chance, we stumbled upon an untouched room, igniting a spark of hope within our hearts.

With cautious optimism, we pushed open the door, only for hope to wither away before us. An eerie silence and a scene of horror greeted us—an unfortunate man, his body riddled with wounds, hung lifeless from the ceiling, his vacant eyes locked onto us.

"Raphael, Leona, lower him down. His suffering has endured long enough; let him rest," Akaku commanded with somber authority, her eyes clouded with grief.

With gentle reverence, they brought down the lifeless form of Mr. Veridian to the floor. Miya's keen eyes caught something on the wall. "Akaku, look," she said, pointing at words written in blood: "Death to all vessels!"

——

"I swear, this king will have their heads!" Leona declared, slamming her drink onto the table with a resounding thud that cut through the cheerful chatter in the bar. All eyes turned toward us, and the jovial atmosphere gave way to an uneasy silence.

Suddenly, an inebriated man staggered our way, grinning foolishly, and said, "Hey, hey! What's the commotion, babe?" He continued, "We should be celebrating! The battle priests and heroes just dealt a blow to another haven! Ain't that right, folks?" His words dripped with a mischievous enthusiasm, sparking laughter and cheers from the surrounding crowd.

"That's spot on! Who'd have thought they were hiding a vessel after we welcomed them into our town! Those guys are disgusting!"

"You've got that right!"

"To the battle priests! To the heroes! To the church!"

The crowd erupted into a chorus of praise for the heroes, united in their belief that the discovery and eradication of a vessel was a cause for celebration.

Leona, known for her fiery temper, rose to her feet without hesitation and...

"I'm glad you didn't destroy that place, Leona," I interjected.

"Noctis... Naturally! This king knows they're mere pawns, manipulated by the church!" Leona replied, her clenched fist revealing the effort she put into controlling herself.

"But you didn't have to send that guy flying across the room. Miya had to apologize on your behalf, you know? It looked like something out of a movie, honestly."

"Khahaha! Don't fret! I held back; he won't die! By the way, where are the others?" she inquired.

"I'm not sure. On another note, I met a little girl named Maya earlier."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Hmm? What's this? Are you into something strange? A lolicon, perhaps?" Leona teased with a hearty laugh.

"No, it's not like that!"

"Don't worry, this king will accept you no matter what! Khahaha!"

"No, really, it's not like that! She just warned me to be careful."

"A little girl told you to be careful?"

"Yes, but I don't know what she meant by that. Do you have any ideas?"

Leona rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head slightly. I followed suit, deep in thought.

"I don't know, and frankly, this king don't care! Khahaha!" It seemed my hopes of gaining insight from her were in vain.

——-

As night descended upon us, we decided it was time to regroup with the rest of our party, who were investigating different parts of the town. Leona's fiery outburst had attracted too much attention, and we agreed it was best to steer clear of that bar. It was unfortunate, as it seemed to be the only place offering affordable food, drinks, and lodging. Raphael was stressed about finding another establishment like it, especially since his search had consumed the entire evening. When he voiced his concerns to Leona, she simply laughed them off with a booming, "Khahaha! Don't worry about it!" Her dismissal left Raphael with no option but to relent.

Leona then turned to Miya, saying with a warm smile, "Oh yeah! I want to thank you, Miya." As she placed her hands on Miya's shoulders, Miya responded with a gentle nod and a smile, "Please, don't do that again. I was really worried about what might happen to that person."

Interrupting the moment, Akaku reminded Leona of a crucial rule. "Do you still remember our rule?" She asked. In the Yūgen Garden, I was taught a crucial principle: as a vessel, we must uphold a specific code at all times. Being a vessel means having two souls living within one body, coexisting and granting more power and strength than a normal person possesses. That is why there is a steadfast rule: "Never use our power against ordinary people."

Leona chuckled, "Of course, I remember! That's why I held back! Kahaha!"

With the air lightened, Raphael agreed to lead us to the new place he had found, away from prying eyes, so we could discuss his discoveries.

Once outside, the moons bathed Luminaria's streets in an eerie glow. We moved stealthily through the winding alleyways, under the dimly flickering lanterns. The town had transformed into a surreal landscape, a stark contrast to the festive atmosphere we had first encountered. Everyone was alert, moving lightly, their footsteps silent.

Akaku whispered to me, "Noctis, be on guard and hide your presence. Someone is following us." I nodded, not uttering a word, understanding that silence was crucial to remain undetected.

In the shadows, a man cursed, "Tsk! We lost them. Go find them!" He commanded his companions hastily as the four figures they had been tracking vanished without a trace.

—-

At least more than half an hour later, we arrived at a small inn. It took us a while to get here, although it’s not that far from the city; we had to make a detour since we had to lose someone who was on our tail. Raphael opened the door with caution, and there we were greeted by an old man who seemed to be the owner. “Welcome to Sunshine,” he said.

“Owner, the room that I reserved this afternoon? Is it ready?” asked Raphael.

“Why yes, Sir Raphael, it’s the last room on the second floor.”

Raphael said his thank you to the owner after receiving the key. “Please enjoy your stay.”

As soon as we got inside the room, we sat down on one of the beds. Akaku took a chair and sat in front of us, then began talking about what she discovered about this city. “This place is now being inhabited by battle priests. There’s also a chance that every single person we saw is a battle priest.”

Tension built up in the room, and breaths were held as we listened to what Akaku had just said to us. Training and spending time together with these guys had proved that they are indeed strong. I learned how they fight: Miya with her fast and swift movements using her katana, Raphael with his versatility in ranged and close combat abilities, and Leona, who is very prideful about her abilities. But that’s not what makes her strong; it’s the fact that she can back them up that proves she is indeed the strongest among the three of them. And then there’s Akaku; until now, I’ve never seen how she fights. But Leviathan, who doesn’t want to admit that Seimi is strong, admitted that Akaku is strong. No matter how strong the battle priests are, they’re not strong enough to beat us, but if there are hundreds, we don’t know if we can escape them unscathed.

“So, does it mean that they were the ones who were following us?”

“Yes. We don’t have any leisure to stay here any longer. I also discovered that the people who were at the site of what’s left of Magna Familia were the former residents of this city.”

“What do you mean? Are you telling us that the bustling city from this morning was nothing but a facade?”

Akaku nodded at Miya's question and then continued, “We must leave now.”

“Hey, Akaku, do you want us to abandon those people?”

“I knew you were going to react like this, Leona. But I’m afraid we don’t have any choice.”

“If you already knew, then you do know what this king is about to do. They are part of one of the Familias.”

Leona and Akaku locked eyes, neither wanting to give up. Akaku thinks about what’s best for the team; she doesn’t want to leave anyone, but staying here doesn’t guarantee safety. And Leona, with her past and conviction that if there’s someone who needs help or saving, she will go to them, no matter what happens to her.

“Leona, I don’t think you understand this, but the more we stay here, the more we risk losing our lives. And we don’t know yet if the heroes are also here. Not to mention we didn’t bring any weapons. We came here as civilians.”

“You’re right, we don’t know. And as long as we don’t know that, then this king thinks it is worth the risk to save those people.”

“No. You don’t understand the risk of what you’re saying. If there’s a hero, we would be at a disadvantage, not just with numbers. I don’t think that the four of us can win against all of them.”

“This king doesn’t care! Even if there’s one person that I can save, I will go save them! Even if it means dying!”

“That is if they let us die, but if they capture us alive, they will know more about us, and where the Yūgen Garden is located along with the rest of the Families who are helping us. There will be more casualties if that ever happens.”

Thuk thuk…

In the midst of their conflicting values, footsteps were heard that caught all of our attention, until they stopped in front of the door, their shadows visibly peering out from the gaps of the door. Two knocks came from the door. Raphael, Miya, and I stood up as we watched the door. Leona put on a stance and Akaku slowly walked towards the door.

“Dear guests, I’m sorry but I seem to forget that breakfast is free.” A sigh of relief washed over us as we heard the voice of the owner. Akaku opened the door and said to the owner, “I’m sorry, but we’ll have to pass on the breakfast as we are about to leave now. But thank you so much.”

“Why is that? Did you find anything you don't like? It's already late, dear guest, so I hope you can enjoy your stay here even until morning.”

“Thank you, but we insist. And don't worry, we didn’t find anything we didn’t like.”

The owner paused for a moment, staring at Akaku, then for some reason, he looked at me, smiled, and slightly bowed his head. “I understand. Though it might be short, I hope you enjoyed your time here.”

We walked out of the room and followed the owner as he instructed us to follow him. He guided us to a door at the back of the inn and said, "If you’re going to leave now, I hope you use this door. It seems you’ve been followed." Suspicion arose against the owner. Then Raphael stepped forward, "Old man, who are you?" he asked in a commanding voice, but the owner didn’t flinch. He smiled at him and replied, "I’m just an owner. I hope you enjoyed your stay here." Raphael was about to respond, but Akaku stopped him, "That’s enough, Raphael, we must leave now. All of us," she said, emphasizing "all of us" as she looked at Leona. Leona, being herself, seemed to dislike that but said nothing and walked towards the door. Raphael and Miya followed her, then Akaku. As I was about to leave, the owner stopped me and said, "We shall meet again, you who are the dweller of darkness," as he pushed me towards the door.

“Sir Gavin, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we couldn’t find them,” one of his subordinates reported.

“Don’t worry, they won’t be able to leave this city. I’ve placed battle priests at all the gates. They are now trapped like small mice in a cage!” Gavin let out a wicked laugh, pleased with his plan. “This is my chance to show the heroes that I am more important than that Katana and anything else! I can't lose this opportunity. Every single day, I had to follow their orders like a tool. But that ends today. Today, I, Gavin, will personally exorcise those filthy vessels!” Always the one to command, Gavin was used to his words holding absolute authority. But ever since encountering the heroes in this world, he realized he was just an ordinary, mediocre individual. Standing before such remarkable beings, he couldn't deny his own normalcy. It wasn't something he despised; all he ever wanted was the respect and admiration of those he held in high regard.

However, everything changed with Katana's arrival. In a short time, Katana became a high-ranking battle priest, even surpassing the top ranks. Consumed by hatred and jealousy, Gavin refused to let those emotions cloud his competence. With his loyal followers and his morning star, he was determined to rise to power, vowing to exorcise every single...

“Too long!”

A punching so fast was thrown at him that Gavin didn’t have any time to react. It was fast, incredibly fast, and strong, so strong that his jaw was now barely hanging on by his skin.

“What the heck is with your monologue! It’s too long! You’re not even important, and no one’s going to remember you!” Gavin heard the irritated voice of a woman beside him. As he tried to keep his jaw from falling off by holding it, blood flowed from his mouth. His mind was in a panic as he looked at the source of the voice and stared in surprise. A woman with blond hair and scarlet eyes was staring at him with a sinister smile, as if she saw him as prey. “Only important people are allowed long monologues, like me, a King! Khahaha!” she exclaimed.

“Damn it!” Gavin thought.

A few minutes earlier...

As the owner pushed me through the door, I saw Akaku stamping her foot on the ground. When I asked Miya what happened, she replied, “Um… It seems Leona disappeared.”

“No, she went to attack the battle priests. That Leona seriously never listens to anyone,” Raphael remarked, shrugging his shoulders.

Akaku exhaled deeply, looking at us with anger and frustration. “Go find her! I'll teach that pompous, self-proclaimed king a lesson! Now go!” she commanded.

——

“Yo, it seems like you’re one of the battle priests who attacked the Magna Familia and killed them,” Leona taunted, her eyes locked on the man before her. He didn’t respond verbally, but his glare was sharp enough to cut through steel. Unfazed, Leona's smirk widened. “I'll take your silence as a yes!” she declared, launching herself at the battle priest with a predatory grace.

But suddenly, a new voice cut through the tension. “Sir Gavin, we’re sorry we’re late. Please retreat for now. Leave this to us!” A squad of 10 battle priests, each armed with different weapons, materialized in front of Leona. Yet, her smirk only evolved into a wild, triumphant smile.

In a blur of motion, Leona seized one priest by the head and crashed it against another’s. The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed as she moved. Blood splattered across her hand, which she then used to brutally punch through the stomach of another priest. She continued her ferocious assault, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake, until only two priests remained.

One, gripped by fear, turned to flee, only to have Leona cruelly twist his neck, leaving his body facing one way and his head another. The last priest stood frozen in terror, awaiting his grim fate at Leona's hands.

Meanwhile, Gavin, overwhelmed and unable to flee, collapsed to the ground. He couldn’t see the carnage, but the sounds of Leona's ruthless onslaught reached his ears. As his life ebbed away, Gavin made a final, desperate act. Fumbling in his pocket, he drew out a whistle. With the last of his strength, he blew a soft, piercing sound that resonated throughout the city. His jaw dropped to the ground, and with his dying breath, Gavin summoned the remaining battle priests, sealing his final act in this world.

——-

As I frantically searched for Leona, concerns about being spotted by battle priests were the last thing on my mind. Leona's actions were unpredictable, and her safety was paramount. "Just don't run into any battle priests," I silently hoped. But fate had other plans. The piercing sound of a whistle cut through my thoughts. "Nox, follow that sound. That's where she is," Leviathan instructed, and I hastened to comply. The whistle's echo was brief but unmistakable, guiding me to its source.

Reaching the grand cross, a staggering sight unfolded before me: Leona, encircled by hundreds of battle priests.

“Leona!”

When suddenly, I heard a voice. "Noctis, it looks like you found her first." Turning around, I saw Akaku, Raphael, and Miya approaching.

The battle priests' focus shifted entirely to Leona. "You're going to pay for what you did to Sir Gavin!" one shouted. Unfazed, Leona leaped atop the grand cross, her voice booming. "Noctis! Now that you can summon your entity, watch how I fight with mine! Burn this into your mind! Khahaha!" She struck a commanding pose, as if wielding a staff, and called out, "King Leonidas! Fight alongside me!"

Her call split the grand cross in two. Descending from above, Leona's appearance transformed: her blond hair ignited into a fiery red, her clothes morphed into golden armor.

"Watch closely, Noctis. This is how you battle with your entity. Don't blink, or you'll miss everything," Akaku said, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

In a swift, powerful motion, Leona wielded the grand cross's half, obliterating the surrounding battle priests in one fell swoop. I watched, awestruck, as she lowered the once pristine crystal, now stained with blood.

"Still as destructive as ever," Raphael commented dryly.

Miya nodded in agreement, "Yes, and messy."

"But she's undeniably strong. I worried for nothing," Akaku added, shrugging her shoulders. She then turned to me, "What do you think, Noctis?"

I gazed at Leona, now back in her original form, beaming at us with a triumphant V-sign. "Amazing, Leona is truly amazing," I replied, still processing the incredible display of power and prowess.

——

Four pairs of eyes peered at Noctis's group from a distance, witnessing the destruction unfold. Hundreds of battle priests were annihilated with a single, devastating swing, leaving a scene of complete destruction and bloodshed.

"Heh~ not so bad, Yūgen Garden, is it, Clara?" A small child, playing with her bunny stuffed toy, spoke with an air of nonchalance.

“Uhm, Ms. Maya, may I act as your mother once again? He he he,” a woman wriggled nearby, causing discomfort in Maya's eyes. Gracefully hopping down from her seat, Maya approached the odd woman. “Tell your entity this: if she doesn’t want to be hanged again, she should stop influencing her vessel!” Despite her small, childlike appearance, Maya's demeanor suggested otherwise. Turning her attention to the sulking man beside Clara, she scolded, “Stop that, Sebastian. She didn’t hit you that hard.”

“Easy for you to say! I was thrown across the bar just for following your order!” he retorted.

“Yes, I instructed you to ensure they ended up at the Sunshine, not to anger them and wreak havoc in that poor place! I had to reserve all the other inns just so they’d have no choice but Sunshine. I sometimes wish you’d inherit a bit of your entity's gentlemanliness,” Maya sighed.

Then, turning to the old man, “And you!” she pointed.

“Nothing, you did well,” she conceded. The old man’s face lit up with joy. “Such high praise! I am so unworthy! Thank you very much!” he exclaimed.

Maya surveyed them with a puzzled look, wondering, “What’s wrong with these people?”

As she contemplated, the voice inside her head chimed in, "But still, despite your efforts to avoid their confrontation with the battle priests, things unfolded exactly as I foresaw in the future." Interrupted, Maya gazed up at the night sky and closed her eyes, a smile gracing her face. “Yeah… I guess I still can’t outdo your visions. But in the end, everything turned out well, right, Nostradamus?” she mused contentedly to the voice in her head.