Three days later. Reception Hall of the Auriga Palace in Nefra.

The interior was draped in resplendent, beige-gold walls and scarlet silks wreathed upon intricate archways. The air itself even sparkled, brilliantly and blindingly so. Glass-shelves encased priceless valuables; each item sprinkled in vibrant jewels, resting on cloud-like cushions. A fitting royal blend that was more intimidating than it was congenial.

This place is just a blatant debuff to a commoner’s eyes... And it hasn’t changed one bit since MO.

We were currently inside the Auriga Palace for a celebratory event, a gathering of those invited by the Queen herself. I was personally given a vocal invitation by Vostoun, to which he also stated that I was more than welcome to bring guests. So, I did, and I now feel as if that was a mistake.

“W-wait! Y-you can’t! You’re going to get us kicked out!”

“Aha. Relax. We can’t successfully kick-start a lively party unless we mix these two beauties here. Let’s see... Oh! There we go, now give it a taste, Ery. Drink!”

“Huh? W-where'd you even get that bowl—aaaaaaaaaaaah! Is that a decorative piece!? Astrid!!”

Taking two separate bottles from one of the stewards and a gem-coated bowl that seemed akin to an heirloom, Astrid was already becoming one with her debauchery. Out in the open for all to see, while technically being associated with myself—the one that allowed for her to tag along.

“Shhhh! Quiet down a bit, Ery. And don’t wooooorry~ That Al’ guy will get us out of any trouble if anything happens. I’m sure of it! Ahahaha!”

“W-where exactly are you pulling that confidence from...?!”

And I refuse. Sorry, Eru. If she ends up getting taken away, I’m going to act as if I don’t know who she is. I pray that you make your decision wisely and fend for yourself too for when it does happen. Don’t let her drag you down with her. Godspeed.

I gestured a sluggish, silent and unseen apology with my hand their way. I felt a bit tricked into thinking better of her as of recently, but Astrid still seemed like a walking disaster like none other. At the very least, Eru was getting along well with her.

I’ll be sure to keep away from her for the rest of the night, though with Eru there, it’s not like I have much of a choice...

There were only a few dozen or so people currently within the hall. Many were familiar faces from the tournament, while quite a few were strangers that were well beyond my social status. Thus, I became one with an isolated corner in the room, since it wasn’t as if I had accepted the invitation to get friendly and mingle.

Just where did Vostoun even disappear to anyway? He was just here a second ago.

It’s been three days since the abrupt conclusion to the Tournament of Trials, where the winner was instead unanimously decided the day after. The one to claim said victory was none other than Vostoun, since I—or more so ‘Euler’—took the easy way out, by blaming my injuries after a sudden forfeit. An excuse, yes, but I couldn’t be bothered further after what had already transpired.

A final fight between him and I would have been interesting, sure, but the center of the arena is currently still a wreck. Also, match after match, only to then be attacked by a Special Beast...? And that’s not even the most important part.

Aside from being a spectator, I had no intention of being involved in the tournament to begin with. Yet in a string of bad luck, it happened. It was a bit exhausting to think about, even leaving me a bit bitter. It didn’t help that certain people—an aggressive duo—still wanted answers regarding Ossifra and Yojim too.

“He spoke to you before he disappeared, didn’t he? We need a trail, human.”

“That’s right! There must be something he said that can tell us where that masked prick ran off to. So, tell us!”

They were rather adamant about going after him, but I didn’t have any answers for them. And even now, I could still feel their gaze on me from across the room. They too, were invited after all.

You’d think they would have already gone after him, but here they still are. Passing on a Queen’s invitation was out of the question for them, huh? Hmm.

The hall was essentially a minefield of people I didn’t want to be near currently. I only accepted the invitation myself because I was seeking answers from none other than the Queen—another Bearer of a Virtue. But as time continued ticking, I was starting to feel even more impatient given everything I had learned over the past few days.

“It has been almost an hour already, and she has yet to arrive. I was hoping Vostoun would be my liaison, but maybe I should just have a look around myself...?”

It was an irritating itch I couldn’t satisfy no matter how long I weighed in on each issue in mind. A set of unforeseeable events occurring within their separate spheres, yet still feeling connected in such an odd way. I had continued to contemplate it persistently, attempting to find anything I had missed the last few days.

It all seemed to begin after the previous Magister’s apparent assassination...

Elemnin Eibe, a man who was the ‘Master’ of the Qualm, Guil, and considered one of the heads of an organization referred to as Eboracum. The news of his death circulated Nefra rather quickly, yet there was nothing exposing that suspicious position of his.

Eru also said that he was an old acquaintance of her grandfather. I still wonder just how far back the two are connected. I don’t suspect Torrel or anything, but maybe hearing about Elemnin’s past would help us in some way?

According to Astrid though, we were already aware of who had been behind his supposed death too. It wasn't public information, but it was a fellow Effigy by the name of Essylt, one that was summoned alongside Astrid in Ospus. From the way she had described Essylt, she was a woman that made use of Blood Magic.

“She’s a bloody harlot that won’t hesitate to betray someone and turn tail the moment the odds are against her. And that damned... Anyway, this isn’t something she would do of her own accord. She has more to lose than gain from being in the spotlight.”

I had heard from Eru, but seeing it firsthand was an unusual experience. Her suppressed fury could shift the air itself as she talked about Essylt. Lukos had said that she was one that was driven by a repressed impulse, while involuntarily allowing her emotions to even leak her abilities. It was then that I became curious on whether her Class was associated to that of a Barbarian, and yet it surprisingly wasn’t.

Name: [Astrid]

Rank: [Human]

Level: [60 (MAX)]

Class: [Psionicist/Requiter]

Alignment: [Chaotic Good]

INFO:

Unique SKILL - [Paradoxical Trove]

Titles - [The Preserver],

[Cadence of the Scourge], [Effigy of Ospus],

[Adventurer, Tier SS]

She was nothing short of another oddity. She held her own moniker on top of having a title I had never seen before, [Cadence of the Scourge]. And yet we did share a strange similarity regarding the use of rare Classes. Her Class, Requiter, was one that derived its essence from the saying, “Lex Talionis’, a principle centered on the act of retaliation—an eye for an eye.

A failed Class that made use of extremities—a perpetual ‘do or die’ approach. A large portion of its abilities could only be used on the cusp of death, so pretty much when one’s HP was almost depleted. And yet, Eru praised her way of fighting rather highly...

It was a Class that was fairly useless due to that peculiar defect, not being worth the effort. Still, she had apparently fought against her fellow Effigy, and then against a far more formidable foe by the name of Ursa, the Hound of Ospus.

But that enemy was defeated by a rather unlikely person instead... Eru.

My dilemma at the arena seemed to pale in comparison to what had come to pass within the abandoned church in the slums. I was given loose details about what had emerged. An unknown, skeletal entity that was summoned by Eru herself.

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And if it wasn’t for Haifalaura, then...

It could have taken a turn for the worse, for her and everyone involved. I could feel my stomach drop at the thought of that. With confidence, I had promised Torrel that I would make sure that she was kept safe, but I personally wasn’t able to be there for her during her worst incident yet. That arrogance was reflected within me as if it were now shattered glass—cutting me from the inside out.

I really am weak, huh?

I never once touted myself as being one that embodied an ideal strength, but the past few days were truly an eye opener. My weaknesses were blaring, far louder than ever before. I was being pulled within a vicious cycle of self-doubt—and I knew it too—yet couldn’t do anything about it.

Am I truly even qualified to help carry her burden...? Maybe I really am just in over my head, thinking I can save her from something I can’t even understand. Right? For something this serious, someone like me is just...

I was exhausted, completely drained and thrown off my balance at this point. One moment I could just make out the path ahead of me, and before I even realized it, it was then seemingly swallowed whole. Each step forward would normally illuminate the long road I was on, if even but tad bit more, yet now I could only restlessly question whether the next step was leading me over a cliff or not.

I dread thinking about it... Does the path behind me even still exist? Would it truly still be there if I were to turn back around?

I always refrained from entertaining that sense of fear that came with tackling the unknown. And now I truly considered it for the first time. If I were to turn back right at this moment, return to the sole place that I referred to as home in this world—and to her side. There was but a single question that now remained in the air.

Would I be in the wrong if I were to run away from it all...?

(You would, and deep down, you understand that too.)

I hadn’t been aware until that very moment, but my gaze was attached to the ground as I then dragged my head away from my chest and toward the voice. Yet, it was suddenly displaced by another.

“You’re not looking so great over here, all alone, Albel. Here, you should at least try and have a drink.”

It was Lukos, holding two slender glasses in his hands. He was now extending one my way.

“I think it might help you loosen up a bit.”

I made a feeble attempt to decline, yet nothing would come forth as I instead took the glass in silence. He responded with a soft smile, turning to the two girls in the distance behind him.

“Huh? I think you’re the one not listening here. I’m not bothering anyone, am I? We were invited to have a good time, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Or does your Queen prohibit her attendants from amusing themselves?”

“C-careful now, Astrid! Caaaaarefuuuuuul...!”

Astrid was currently arguing with one of the guards, flippantly swinging her hand whilst holding a now emptied bowl. Eru’s attention, however, was kept peeled to the bowl, making certain that it wouldn’t hit the floor if it were to suddenly fall.

“I wanted to thank you again for allowing us to come along, as well as apologize for Astrid’s behavior. She just can’t help herself when alcohol is involved.”

I shook the glass slightly in my hand, watching as the waves barely reached the rim. I then finally took a long breath, gathering enough energy for a proper, more audible reply.

“...Don’t worry about it. It would have been awkward coming here alone, or with just Eru...”

“I see. I guess she’s still keeping her distance, huh?”

I gave a short nod, placing the untouched glass of wine on a nearby stand. We all had discussed everything that had transpired that day, and when it came to an end, Eru began avoiding me once again. It reminded me of the time before I departed from Druhwood, yet I couldn’t figure out her reason why.

“She was still mulling over the offer we extended to her too, so we gave her space until today. I personally believe it could help her for the better, becoming an Adventurer that is. She would gain the advantages of the Old Palisade’s connections and information network.”

His empty wine glass joined mine as he then crossed his arms, turning toward me. His expression was a bit more solemn now.

“I’ve been wondering about your opinion though, Albel. Since Astrid and I, two strangers, would be journeying alongside you too. Also, you’ve been by her side for far longer than us, so you must know more about that, right?”

That day we talked about Eru’s incident; we only covered the basics while deciding against revisiting the details in-depth. At the very least, not while Eru was there. No one wants to relive a trauma, repeatedly, and we hadn’t talked about it outside that until now. He was interested in two things: my knowledge and thoughts about Eru’s curse, and whether I could trust the help of two individuals I barely knew anything about.

Well, there’s that thing that Marna mentioned in her letter, but...

“No, I probably only know about as much as you do regarding that. And...”

My eyes found their way to Eru again as she was now apparently berating Astrid while holding the gem-covered bowl. Astrid was apologizing, slowly creeping her hands toward the bowl, only for Eru to immediately pull it further away from her each time.

“It’s not as if I’ve known her for that long either. Even so, I still believe she’s stronger than she looks, even without that, and more perceptive than she believes herself to be. She trusted the two of you enough to explain her situation, and you both stood by her despite what happened before that.”

That’s right. Eru was just sheltered and is inexperienced, that is all. Having them at her side would definitely help her grow for the better, far more than I can. And maybe they could even...

I stopped myself from going further as I bit my bottom lip. Astrid’s flaws aside, she had proven herself based on the stories that I had heard. And even Lukos wasn’t half-bad—so neither of the two at Eru’s side could be considered weak.

Name: [Lukos]

Rank: [Human]

Level: [60 (MAX)]

Class: [Forgecraft/Knight]

Alignment: [Lawful Neutral]

INFO:

Unique SKILL - [Paradigm Shift]

Titles - [Effigy of Tourac], [Oathbound]

[Adventurer, Tier SS]

Lukos, the Effigy of Tourac. He was somehow summoned to a small village rather than by the country. From the few times we had spoken over the past few days, he seemed like a well-rounded person with a good head on his shoulders. And it made sense that he had to be, given that he was always dealing with Astrid.

“It’s ultimately her decision on whom she’s willing to entrust, and I have faith in the answer she decides on. After all, it’s her curse; not ours. But more than anything...”

I met his eyes, readying a rather crucial question. It was one that I could feel as if it were also being aimed at myself. An attempt at disputing one’s nature toward second guessing.

“Are you certain that the two of you are prepared to travel with her, despite everything you’ve seen and heard until now?”

His eyes lingered on mine for several seconds, seemingly a bit baffled before he suddenly shut them. A faint smile formed over his face.

“Lady Haifalaura asked us a similar question. For you to say the same thing, I guess that should be expected from the person that summoned her.”

He took a seat on a nearby chair, keeping his eyes on the ground as he continued.

“You know, unlike Astrid, I don’t really have any memories of my previous life. I didn’t even know what an ‘Effigy’ was until I met her. My memories begin in the village of Tourac, where I was accepted and given a home. But I don’t believe memories are everything to a person.”

His palm was open as he observed it in silence for several seconds, repeatedly opening and closing it.

“It’s strange, despite not having a distant past I can look back on, I still feel this urge to assist those in need. At least, for as long as this body is able and willing to move. I believe Astrid feels something similar. We can’t simply look away from someone like Eru, and that goes for those like her too.”

He clenched his palm into a fist, tightening it as his tone seemingly strengthened.

“Cover our eyes to what is in front of us and go about our days? It feels wrong to even consider that an option.”

He spoke as if he were tied to an invisible and unconscious desire to protect those around him. I had an inkling on that having something to do with his title, [Oathbound], but I decided against saying anything about it. Instead, a different question nudged me the moment he began talking about memories.

“So, that means you don’t remember ever meeting that white-haired Goddess either?”

“Goddess?”

He gave me a strange and questioning glance, looking away in apparent thought. And for some reason, I couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease after I had asked that.

“Hmm. I don’t remember Astrid saying anything about a Goddess and she can remember her passing. You’re referring to the one that’s worshiped by the Church of Evening, right?”

“Y-yeah, but wait, what do you mean by ‘passing’...?”

That word didn’t sit right with me.

“Astrid doesn’t really like to discuss her past, but we talked about her arrival once before. She heard from those that summoned her, that an Effigy is one of merit in whom held the utmost will to live in their previous life. A tempered soul that is placed aside and safeguarded until called upon. That passing apparently refers to a gateway created by the one that sends us here.”

“What...?”

I could feel my head begin throbbing. He wasn’t making any sense to me at all. If neither of them had gone through the Goddess, yet something had sent them to Aerith, then what exactly was that something?

But wait, didn’t Marna say that Effigies are... Huh?

I looked through my memories, every word I could remember coming from Marna. I couldn’t recall her ever saying that the Effigies were summoned through the Goddess herself.

“In doing so, it’s as if it—the will of the world—activates a series of summons all together. The world finds a reason to bring forth the remaining set of Effigies.”

The will of the world...? No, that wouldn’t make sense, would it...?

That’s right, I wasn’t considered an Effigy by normal standards to begin with. I didn’t have a title stating that I was the ‘Effigy of Dormou’ or anything of that nature. Instead, my ‘passing’ was through the Goddess, Eve, and yet Lukos was now exposing an entirely different method. That an Effigy was summoned through an unconnected means—a different passing altogether.

“Ah, now I remember. I believe she stated they called the one in charge of the gateway, the ‘Heart of Aerith’. Oh? I think it’s finally beginning.”

A spirited stirring began amid the guests within the Reception Hall as people began to applaud the arrival of the host. A set of stairs occupied the opposite end of the venue, where the Queen, Leonora, now stood with Vostoun beside her. With all eyes on her, she began making her speech. Every word was murmured and practically silent for me as I withdrew mentally.

The...Heart of Aerith...? If the Effigies came from that, then just what... What the hell am I...?