As it was said, Veils were alternative timelines, manifesting into their own worlds, anchoring itself within the main world it stemmed from. They were akin to gates to other universes, often with their own histories and cosmology. But when it came down to it, and if they're not contained, Veils more often than not were actively harmful.
They were parasites on a cosmological scale, seeds of abrupt change. They were made from intense concentration of Essence rewriting the laws of the world, conjuring rifts in reality that awakened another timeline into being. Not only did they have the potential to corrupt the environment they absorbed if left for too long, but they could actually expand and replace the main timeline in turn.
This was the main threat the Veil Storm had posed, the danger of the world being displaced. While the storm-born Veils that have awakened were currently only in its growing stages, with a significant amount throughout the year already being liberated or destroyed, the threat was still present.
And Marilyn did not intend to let it go that far. She would not have it ruin this new world she was born into.
A familiar world in another time, the glory of Albion in its ancient past twisted and destroyed. Villages laid in ruin, the kingdom destroyed and almost empty of actual life, mass graves everywhere, death evermore relevant in this world than the original.
She wouldn't let it be that way for her world, having to experience darkness the same as this.
Notice: Tome System Updated.
Marilyn opened the device up that she had stored previously in her back pocket. The others beside her, those five friends of hers, had also opened up their devices. They had just recently entered this alternative world, so it was expected this would happen.
Veil Designation: Fallen Kingdom
Type: Storm-born Corruption; Indefinite
Current Threat Level: Moderate
Main Objective: Locate the source of manifestation and destroy it.
Tome Checkpoint: Active; Location - FK-1 Aegis Supply Outpost.
“...hm.”
Marilyn pondered the words shown to her on the holographic screen, before being interrupted by another voice.
“Tome Checkpoint…that’s for when the owner is in grave danger right?” Cecilia remarked, speaking out her thoughts towards the rest of the group.
Adrian nodded, “That's right. Whenever the owner is under the threat of fatal injury, they would be teleported back to a safe zone to lower the risk of any further danger.”
“That's…” Marilyn thought about it some more, “...nevermind, I think Professor Hilde’s combat class already taught us how to take advantage of that.”
She was reminded of a question she'd had before: how did injured Pathfinders manage to recover from their wounds after teleporting? There was no time-reversal function in the technology—nothing like a save/load mechanic from RPGs—so it seemed like a valid concern.
Imagine her surprise when she learned that Pathfinders were actually trained to passively heal themselves using Essence whenever they teleported to a safe zone. In that sense, the teleportation mechanic allowed them to focus fully on that task at hand, knowing they would have the time to heal once they reach that designated location.
“Aegis supply outpost…? They're watching us, huh?” Vincent commented, scratching the back of his head.
“Well, right now they are the ones responsible for managing the storm…” Adrian responded, closing his Tome and putting it back into his pocket. “Knowing that we can get supplies if needed, it's helpful.”
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Marilyn watched as her other friends tucked away their Tomes, each of them processing the mission in their own way. Around them, the Veil stretched out in ominous silence, a broken landscape where Albion’s past lay twisted and corrupted. Crumbling towers jutted from the earth, shadows of an ancient glory, and a cold, dead wind brushed past them, carrying the faint, unsettling scent of decay.
After a while, Vincent broke the silence, looking into that distant horizon, “What do y’all think happened here? I mean, we know it’s a ‘what-if’ version of Albion, but…what could’ve twisted it so badly? It's fuckin’ creepy that's for sure.”
“Maybe something that is related to Phantoms overrunning it, or something worse,” Eldryn replied solemnly, his blindfolded eyes looking into that same horizon. “The area seems equivalent to what Albion was like thousands of years ago, after its founding, maybe after Valerius? Could be the result of an invasion it seems.”
Cecilia’s voice was softer than usual. “Then it might be the absence of anyone left to fight for it that caused it to fall.” She glanced around, her expression hardening. “The history of the Lenore family has always been one of guardianship. If the royal line failed here, the kingdom likely fell with it.”
Adrian cleared his throat, pulling everyone’s attention back to the mission. “Alright, I think that's enough speculation for now, you’ve all seen the objective. We need to locate the source of this Veil’s manifestation and destroy it before it grows stronger.” His voice was steady, a grounding force against the oppressive atmosphere. “Let’s stay focused and stay together. Even if the threat level’s marked as ‘moderate,’ we can’t underestimate what we might find here.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Elysia chirped, brushing the atmosphere of this conversation off, as if the shadowed ruins around them didn’t bother her at all. “So, we go in, find the bad guy, and pow! Done and dusted. Easy, right?” She gave Marilyn a playful nudge, grinning. “Besides, I’ve got a whole new sword that is dying for some action. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you, Lyn-lyn!”
Marilyn blinked, feeling a smile tug at her lips despite the tension. Elysia’s cheerfulness was infectious, she's definitely not denying that. “Thanks, but I think you might be the one who needs protecting if you rush in too fast.”
Elysia gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her heart. “Moi? Get in over my head? Never!” She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, loud enough for everyone to hear, “But between you and me, I think our dear Hero here worries too much.”
Adrian sighed, though he couldn’t entirely hide his smirk. “Elysia, ‘charging in without a plan’ is not a strategy.”
Cecilia raised an eyebrow, giving Elysia a pointed look. “Adrian’s right. We need to keep our wits about us. This isn’t just a training exercise. The Veil can twist reality itself, so there’s no telling what dangers we might face.” she said, her voice calm and measured, “Reckless sword fighting isn’t going to help if we don’t know what we’re up against.”
“Aw, come on, Your Highness, lighten up!” Elysia laughed, swaying back and forth with a mischievous gleam in her eye. “We’ve got our big brave lovable Hero, a genius mage, and the best dragon around—” She gave a little bow, adding a theatrical flourish. “What could possibly go wrong?”
Vincent rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. “Only you would look at a deathly Veil where entire timelines come to die and think, ‘What could possibly go wrong?’”
Elysia shrugged. “Hey, if we’re going to face doom and gloom, might as well do it with some style.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, giving Vincent a wink. “Besides, you’d miss me if I wasn’t here to keep things interesting, admit it.”
“Oh, sureee. Where else would we get our daily dose of unneeded trouble?” Vincent retorted.
“From you, that's what! Remember two years ago?” Elysia’s smirk widened, reminding him of that memory.
He clicked his tongue, “Touche.”
Eldryn chuckled softly from the back, his voice calm and grounding. “It’s good to have a bit of spirit. We’ll need all the hope and humour we can muster if we’re going to keep our courage intact.” He closed his eyes briefly, murmuring a quiet prayer. “The Veil can be…disorienting. Let’s keep each other grounded.”
Marilyn glanced around at her friends, feeling a warmth swell in her chest. Not even days ago, she would’ve stood in silence on the outskirts of the group, unsure of her place among them as she wallowed in grief. But now, their banter and laughter reminded her that she wasn’t alone in this daunting mission. They were all here to support each other, each bringing something unique to the team.
“So…we’re starting at the Aegis Supply Outpost, right?” she asked, steering them back to the task at hand. “According to the Tome, that’s our checkpoint. If we run into trouble, it’ll be the place we’re teleported back to.”
Adrian nodded, his expression turning serious once more. “Exactly. The outpost should have some supplies and maybe even clues about the source of this Veil. We’ll group up there, assess the area, and go from there.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Vincent said, his gaze sweeping over the darkened horizon. “And if things get weird, well…just remember, I told ya so.”
“Of course you did, Mr. Cautious,” Elysia teased, grinning as she reached over to ruffle his hair. Vincent swatted her hand away, clearly angered by that attempt of hers.
Marilyn chuckled at their antics, feeling the cold weight of the Veil lighten just a bit. The dynamic, their banter and playful exchanges, made her feel glad that they're here for her. Whatever horrors awaited them, she knew that they’d face them together, as a team.
Adrian glanced around, giving them all a final, approving nod. “Alright, everyone ready?”
Elysia pumped her fist in the air. “Ready as I’ll ever be! Let’s go kick some Veil butt!”
Cecilia sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. “Let’s just hope that enthusiasm lasts.”
Together, they turned toward the distant shape of the Aegis Supply Outpost, disappearing into the distance, their spirits high despite the darkness closing in around them. Marilyn had some semblance of a worry that things may get bad, but for now, she had hope.