Originally uploaded Jul 3, 2023

Grey Pov

The burning blade of my sword hung just above Neoth's throat. Just the slightest push would have freed his head from his body. While he could possible jump to another surrogate body, judging from his reaction to the sword I am now holding and the terrified look in his eyes it won't be that simple.

"Hand over Regis." My voice bellowed, bouncing off the marble wall.

"You think you've got the upperhand just because of that cursed sword?" Neoth spoke carefully as to not get stabbed. I could sense the aether, the power he was trying to channel. His runes were burning bright gold and purple but nothing happened. Perhaps this was the sword's effect. Nullifying nearby spellforms that was not my own.

"Do you think you have the luxury to be saying such things in your position?" I spat as my foot came down hard onto his chest. A symphony of cracking bones filled the museum as Neoth yelled in pain.

"For despising the asuras so much, you share many qualities don't you think?" My feet dug in deeper as red blood trickled from the Djinn's mouth.

"All high and mighty, but losing all of it when you loose your strength." I threw every word full of venom. Djinn or not, if they got in the way of my plans I had no choice but to destroy it. No, having such a potent aether wielder running around would turn into a problem in the future. Better I snuff it out now.

Neoth desperately grappled my feet that was pinning him to the hard ground, but to no avail. My legs may as well have been immovable concrete pillars. The abundant atmospheric aether only increased my raw strength now that I had no distractions.

"You seem to recognize this particular weapon. Care to tell me about it?" I said as I drew closer, only a couple of inches apart as I stared directly into his eyes. But he didn't speak.

"Don't want to talk, perhaps I could test it out on you. Or maybe, I destroy your core and make you helplessly watch as I destroy you life's work in front of your very eyes." I spoke with a wicked smile. It was a bit much but I needed him to believe my words.

Neoth's face turned pale. As he mocked confidence.

"Pwah, don't make me laugh. It would take you a million years to even visit every single one of my galleries."

I leaned in closer, releasing the full brunt of my aetheric aura. With enough force behind to crush any lesser's heart. Neoth's skin turned paper white as he seemed to shrink before my eyes.

"Time is not something I lack, unfortunately for you." And that seemed to have finally driven the point across. He should know as well, my draconic body paired with my aether core would extend my life expectancy by several magnitudes. Even I didn't know the full limit, but in such an aether abundant place like the Relictombs I could be functionally immortal.

"I'll give you two choice. One, you follow my orders and do as I say. Or you watch thousands of years of your work go up in flames." I willed aether into my voice as I spoke, giving my words a deep bellowing quality.

Neoth seemed to hesitate for a bit. But seems his noble pride got the best of him. It was a shame I would have to kill a Djinn survivor. If I could have brought him to my side it would have been invaluable. But I'm sure I should salvage some information and tech from his galleries.

I plunged my sword into Neoth's chest, it was effortless. It didn't even feel like I was cutting through anything as my blade punctured his core. A rush of mana rushed out of his own broken core. He only continued to stare at me in disbelief as I withdrew my sword as grabbed him by the collar. He was now powerless, the medium in which he alters the material world now shattered he could do nothing but watch.

Lifting him up to be at eye level with me I carry him with one hand. As I walk towards one of the exhibits. The large main one dominating the surrounding galleries.

I stood at the base of the dragon's frozen body. Its sapphire scales reflected the holy light from my blade as I approached.

"You know, I have dealt with a fair amount of dragons before. And I know it is a pain. So how unfortunate will it be if something were to happen to this one." I waved my sword around the base of the dragon. I could see the veins of aether running to and fro from the runes on the base, casting a barrier and spell containing the glorified mana beast.

I looked back at Neoth, hanging from his collar from my hands. He continued staring at me with horror. In fact I didn't even need to destroy his museum by myself. If I could just release a couple of the more dangerous specimens they would do the job for me.

A sense of longing entered my brain. As if there was a quiet sweet voice beckoning me to do it. My sword hummed with energy as if began to glow brighter. Its white light was almost unbearable.

I lowered my sword as the tip of the burning blade made contact with the base. The effect was instant. Crackles of aetheric lightning, purple sparks flew up from the point of contact. As the glow of aether was interrupted the invisible barrier encasing the dragon flickered for a moment. And the large winged beast shifted. Its muscles flexed, wings flapped. Only for a moment, the aetheric barrier quickly rebuilt itself. But it was enough for the dragon within to attempt to strike at us both. Only to be frozen in time again.

'The sword interrupts the flow of aether it seems.' I mulled over in my mind, but it felt as if there was something missing. As if their was a piece to the puzzle that was entirely gone. I could sense the sword in my mind, a mental link akin to the ones I share with my bonds. But it was different at the same time. Something that felt alien but also a part of a own soul.

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind as I turned to face Neoth again. He was practically screaming at me to stop.

"Ready to talk?" I asked with my eyebrows raised. Pointing the sword back at him again. He shielded his eyes from its glow and shrunk back. As if repelled by its mere existence.

"Here here! Take it!" From his cloak appeared the small blue cube. Taking it in my hands I crushed it. Shattering it into million of glass pieces as a shadowy wisp emerged from it and materialized into the familiar wolf.

Regis looked around confused, fully ready for combat his mane flared up in violet flames of destruction. "Where! What?!"

'Calm down. I got this.' I sent him, as I opened up my mind to Regis for him to understand.

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He simply looked back at Neoth with a shit eating grin. "I should be used to this but I still enjoy this sometimes." He spoke out loud as he drifted back into my core. I could sense the satisfaction he was feeling as he settled into my core.

'So you gonna kill him?' He asked eagerly.

'Not sure yet. Depends on whether he wants to cooperate.'

'Cooperate? Even if he agrees are you going to trust him?' Regis asked, shocked by my answer.

'Bringing him into my cause would be well worth it.' I reasoned. While yes, the risk of him going behind my back is evident. His experience and knowledge of aether and Djinn technology is invaluable. As well as his own warriors, he could be what I was searching for.

Neoth Pov

"I have a proposition for you Neoth." Grey's voice boomed with power and authority. But there was something else to it. A soft whisper, beckoning me to hear his every word. Like some mind virus that was trying to mine its way into my very soul. No doubt the workings of the damned sword he now carried.

"I'll spare you your life and your gallery. And you will work with me." Grey spoke, not a question or a deal. A command. A small part of my mind wanted to bow to him. To heed his order. The enticing third party whispers only grew louder.

'That cursed anathame blade.' I cursed in my mind. If he had such a weapon in his possession I wouldn't have dragged him into my realm. There was no Djinn alive that wouldn't recognize that holy sword.

If Grey learns of its full potential then he could easily destroy my soul. No amount of soul manipulation or aetheric tricks would save me. The sword's nullifying powers were already rendering my spellforms and runes useless. I doubt I could even jump into a new surrogate body.

No, I had to play this smart. One wrong move and I am truly dead. And him wielding such a sword only means that He is behind this. Even if I somehow miraculously survive this I won't be able to avoid His grasps.

My emerald cloak shimmered as the small scales of crystalized time began to vibrate. Each small tile of time showed me a different pathway in the ocean of time as I peered into the near-future. All of them ended with me dead, all but one.

It is true. I have seen the inner mind of Grey and his plan for the future. But there is still much he does not know. While a reincarnated soul like him are outside the natural order and fate of this world what he plans to do is ridiculous. Severing fate itself, while I understand his reasoning and purpose, I can only see death and destruction upon the path he has chosen.

And that was the only path in where I survive this. I mentally sighed in my mind. 'Fate truly is a cruel mistress isn't she?'

But this could be a new opportunity. Grey is still ignorant of my kind and aether as a whole. I could simply bide my time as I prepare countermeasures for beings like him. And He won't give away such power willy-nilly. He will come to reap what he has sown. And his draconic body paired with an aether core would be the perfect vessel for him. It was only a matter of time.

I never wanted to intertwine myself with any kind of war. Even during the scouring I stayed hidden. Perhaps that is why the council has such ire for me, labeling me as a coward. But here is this freak of a kid, dragging me right back into this world. My only chance was to wait for him to show his weakness, then... I will deal with the anomaly.

I finally croaked out my response as Grey looked expectantly.

"A deal it is."

***

Caera Pov

I quietly closed the door behind me. Making sure to lock it as I did so. Making sure the sound dampening spell was in place. I have already placed multiple detection spells and artifacts to notify me of any approaching visitor.

I don't know what kind of strings Scythe Seris has pulled to get my into the floating castle the Dicathians called their fortress but I wasn't going to squander it. The scenes from the incident at Xyrus still replayed fresh in my mind every night. While I have sneaked out on occasions to the Relictombs, within those dungeon were mages and warriors all ready to die in battle.

But Xyrus was different. Innocent students, being killed unable to do anything but cower in fear. I can still picture them, their eyes. The primal fear they felt. I instinctively had jumped to their aid. Despite us being on different sides it felt wrong. To kill people uninvolved in all of this.

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind as I shook my head.

'No, I had to focus. This is war, nothing is won without bloodshed.' I reassured myself as I withdrew a long-ranged communication artifact from my robes. Communication with Scythe Seris was growing more infrequent. She surely has her own duties to serve, and having two asuras monitoring Dicathen I had to be extra careful.

I ran my fingers along the smooth edges of the device as tiny spellforms lit up the room. A faint see through screen appeared from it. The image was distorted at first by soon came to focus.

And I was met by my master.

"Caera." Scythe Seris said, her face the same as a porcelain doll. Her light lavender, almost pearlescent white hair around her two large horns and down her shoulders.

"Scythe Seris." I replied as I bowed. Scythe Seris only waved it away as she began.

"What do I owe this rare occasion my student?" She asked, a hint of friendliness in her voice.

"I have done as you instructed. Becoming a part of Dicathen society." I curtly answered, like a underling giving their superior a report.

"And you have done just that." My mentor spoke with slight pride.

"But I have not been given any further instructions." I desperately asked. I wasn't worried about my blood. They could go to hell for all I cared, and I knew Scythe Seris would deal with them so I had no worries. But I was worried as to why it was me that was here. I never trained to be a spy of any sort. I only got away as posing as a rich noble girl who didn't interact with society much. While learning about other cultures was fascinating there was a sense of uneasiness I felt. Perhaps this is what all double agents feel.

Every minute interaction causing my hands to sweat and my entire body to tense. An unknowable paranoia creeping up behind me even when I am truly alone.

"As you know Caera. I recommended your services to Agrona. He was searching for a way to keep a closer eye on his target." She reminded me. It was quiet a shock to both me and my blood when I was selected by the High Sovereign to leave Alacrya. But the stranger thing was the report I received about my mission here.

Keeping close tabs to an individual called Arthur Leywin. From just his report he just seemed to be a talented young boy. While he appeared much older than his reported age there wasn't anything else that was strange about it. But when I came face to face I felt it.

An uneasy sense of dread. A suffocating aura surrounding him, a powerful pressure. It felt similar to Scythe Seris'. Perhaps he was some asura hiding among the lessers. His skills with a sword suggested decades of experience. And his mana control was flawless, I couldn't even detect him with mana measuring devices. Perhaps he was an asura agent sent to observe and nurture Dicathen, and the reason why Agrona took interest in him.

If he truly has some connections to Ephetous, he could be the thorn in the High Sovereign's side when war comes.

"I am aware Scythe Seris. But I..." My teacher interrupted me.

"You've lost contact with him?" She asked, as if she already knew the answer.

I meekly nodded my head at the acknowledgement of my failure.

"That is to be expected Caera. War is brewing, even in Dicathen. And Arthur isn't a child that would stand still in such scenarios. Although I have my suspicions." She said as she rubbed her chin in contemplation.

I looked at my mentor, hoping she would satiate my growing curiosity.

"Several weeks ago one of our camps within the beast glades was attacked. There were no survivors. But us Scythes were made know to the message it carried." She asked, her tone turning more serious.

"Retainer Uto no longer lives." She announced as the world around me seemed to go completely silent.

Retainer Uto? Scythes Dragoth's retainer? But how?

"Wh-" Before I could even finish my sentence Scythe Seris continued.

"The Lances have already been accounted for. We have eyes and ears within their ranks. No, this was someone else. Someone we don't have a good hold on." She mused.

If it weren't any of the Lances then who could dispose of a Retainer. And Uto was one of the longest serving Retainers within Alacrya. Having faced many challengers during multiple Victoriads. I didn't know his full strength but I would have hypothesized that at least a handful of Lances were needed to subdue him.

"Caera. It is about time I tell you why I chose you." Scythe Seris stared directly into my eyes. Despite being an ocean apart I could feel her undeniable power.

Something in my mind, perhaps the strange timing in which Scythe Seris choose to tell me or just an unconscious thought that was floating around in my mind, told me this had something to do with my purpose being in Dicathen. My target. Arthur Leywin.