-Why the hell… how the hell?!

For was not hiding her surprise.

-Your guess is as good as mine - I said.

-Arbo?! The capital? - said Kon. - But… it’s… empty…?

That was the problem.

Sure, there was no mistaking that, we landed right in the middle of the capital, in the royal palace nonetheless, but, there was not a soul anywhere.

None of us could feel any mana. Hell, even the presence below us was so deep that without knowing beforehand I’d just probably miss it.

And it was not like our ranges were short. We were certain: there was not a living person below, nor in the city surrounding us.

-Did they evacuate for some reason…?

-Whole city? With no one left?

-That’s not possible!

-How the hell do you imagine that would happen? What, hundreds or if not thousands of people would just stand up on command and leave without leaving even a single one behind? Hell, even in this city, there always is some kind of underbelly. Our certain friends are good enough proof.

Kon nodded.

-There’d be a lot of looters left behind! At least, that is. Damn, even without that, I doubt that everyone would just stand up and leave everything behind!

-We have to check properly - agreed For. - Let’s get down from here…

It was easier said than done.

The palace was not the easiest to navigate, especially when you have no idea where you are. We had an advantage of being able to scout the place with magic, and being here before, so it took us less than it should, yet we still had some problems.

The place where we landed was also not the easiest to find. Hidden behind multiple secret doors, some being just plain old moving bookshelves, some straight up fake walls, but we managed to get out.

On our way we peeked into multiple rooms, to check what was inside, and every single one we found completely untouched.

Sure, they were empty, devoid of people like we confirmed before, but every one had its decorations and furniture left. If it was indeed some large scale evacuation, I’d expect for people to at least take some more fancy knicknacks with them. Or, after it was deserted, for them to be stolen.

True, we were still in the palace, so maybe it was a bit intimidating for an everyday thief to try and man up enough to rob the place, but…

The situation in the actual city wasn’t different at all.

It was even more eerie.

While the palace looked more or less normal, the same couldn’t be said about the city.

Every single door was opened.

It honestly looked like some kind of rapture happened. Hell, some even had food left on counters.

And to boot it looked absolutely perfect. Like everyone just stood up and left a minute ago. I even expected that whatever meals were left would be hot, they looked so pristine, but that was not the case.

I poked one piece of a half-bitten apple and it immediately turned into ash, crumbling before my eyes.

For a second I thought that I accidentally drained it, but nope, that was not the case. There wasn’t even anything to drain, really…

Wait.

That was weird. I was looking right at it, but I couldn’t feel any mana from it. Be it a wall, chair, or some random fruit lying on a counter: everything had the same amount of mana… and that was not much.

It was like I was looking at some strange replica of a town, made completely out of barely infused material.

Sure, it would be somewhat normal if it was just a wall or another piece of furniture, but not here. I’ve been here. I knew that the place was full of energy, especially houses, made with green magic, were always full of life.

Not now.

-This place is giving me chills… - mumbled For when we walked past yet another deserted alley of open doors.

-No shit… What happened here?

-Whatever it was, it also drained most of the mana from the area - I pointed out. - This is absolutely stunning…

-That’s one way to put it…

-No, really! I know, It’s easy for me to say, I drain things all the time, but to manage that kind of range and that kind of restraint…

-Restraint? I barely can see the restraint in here…

-Barely? Ha - I laughed. - Let me tell you, if whoever made this was not controlling themselves, we’d just be left with another Wildnorth. This time, a bit more ashy, though.

-Whoever…? So you think someone caused that? - asked Kon.

-Let’s not beat around the bush - I said. - It’s clear that it was Axelrod. Who else would be able to do that?

-A remnant for one - agreed For.

-And someone proficient enough with their crystal to be able to pull something like that… There’s not many people that I know like that…

-Not many? More like one - said Kon.

-Well, maybe two - said For. - I am pretty sure Mor would also be able to do it.

I shot her a look.

It was strange for her to compliment me. If that was even one. I was not sure, to be honest.

-I doubt that I would be able to contain myself - I said truthfully. - Last time I drained an area, it was left in a lot worse shape than this…

-You… did something like that?!

-Not on that scale. Just in a random shed’s worth of mana. Was pretty dead after I was done with it.

-What…

-Not on purpose, mind you - I added. - Anyway, it doesn't matter.

-I would be more concerned about what that means for us.

-And what…

-That Axelrod suddenly has access to a lot more mana. And we can imagine what he’s going to use it for…

-He wants to leave, right? So what? Let him! He won’t be a problem any more!

The last sentence came from Rob.

He was still unbound, but also was carefully watched by every single one of us.

-Yes, leave. Sure, let’s go with that - I said nonchalantly. - I don’t care. But I feel like you probably should.

He looked at me, confused.

-Don’t look at me like that. Do you really think he’s just going to leave and everything is going to be fine? Then tell me, why hasn’t he done that already?

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-Because…

He started stumbling on his own words.

-Exactly - I interrupted. - You don’t know. And I don’t. That is the problem. If that was just the case of getting the hell out of here, he’d left a long time ago. No. He’s planning something…

-The main question is, what? - finished for me For.

-Too bad we have no idea… - said Kon.

-There is one person who probably knows, though…

-There is?

-I mean… it’s going to be weird trying to reach her, but…

-Her? You mean ILMA?

-One of them, yes - I nodded.

-But I thought that she disappeared… - said Kon.

-Well… I am not so sure about that.

-You know, I’ve been observing you. And I keep seeing things that make me think twice about everything you do…

-We?

-Yes. You and Kon - I said, looking at both of them. - See, I know you are being changed, the crystal and all that, but that makes me think… What does that mean exactly?

-Huh…?

-Look at him for example - I pointed towards Rob. - He’s been under influence for most of his life, yet he’s barely changed. I mean, I barely know the guy, but I do know Il. It definitely does not give me any indication that it was manipulated by her.

-On the other hand - I said, continuing my train of thought - you two… are different.

I hesitated for a second. Should I really be telling them that flat out?

Yeah.

They should know.

They probably realized that already.

Even if not, that’s for the better.

-I also barely met you, maybe it was not yesterday, but still. I am not great at reading characters, but yet I feel like I know you inside out. Like I’ve known you for years…

-Er…

-Yes. And it’s exactly what you think you are. You are starting to be closer and closer to her. Merging with her own person…

-I mean… - For said after a moment of silence - I knew… that I was different, but is it really that bad…?

-It is. I even started noticing some things… like, you definitely already have memories that don’t belong to you. And you don’t even realize it.

-...

Her silence only confirmed what I thought.

She already realized that, but was keeping quiet about it. I am not sure if it was from fear, or just that Origin Crystal already took over that emotion, making her more complacent…

If I was to guess, probably the second one.

-You… you’re right.

It was Kon.

-I… I think you are right… - he repeated himself. - Truth be told, it’s been a long time like that…

-How long?

-Since you pulled me out of the tree.

-Oh. Well.

-Yeah…

I sighed.

I sort of expected that answer.

It probably should make me feel worried or something.

But it was already too late.

I only felt like it was right.

-Eh… of course. Well, it is what it is. But it also helps us in current circumstances.

-Helps…? That they are merging with some weird entity?!

Rob was positively scared, which was strange. I didn’t even recall telling him most of the details, yet he picked up on them without issue.

Ah.

So he as well.

So there’s no longer need to keep an eye on him.

-Yes. And now, that entity is going to help us communicate with the person in question. I was thinking of some experimental measures, but now I realize that there’s no point. We can just ask normally.

-What the hell does “normally” mean? - asked Kon.

He was calm, yet I could feel that he was very tense.

-Simple. We are just going to have a conversation.

-So why did we even leave the basement anyway? - asked For, slightly irritated. - We took our sweet time fucking around and now we’re back where we started?

-Look, do you think I expected that we’re going to need that thing? - I asked. - I am not sure if I am even correct, but that’s the only thing that makes sense right now…

-”Makes sense”, yeah, sure…

She was understandably annoyed.

So was I, to be honest.

I was annoyed at myself that I didn’t put two and two together: that us appearing in some infused area that apparently was hosting some presence wouldn’t be connected to Axelrod somehow… It was preposterous.

Especially after we used something that was definitely part of him. Or at least some kind of Origin Crystal.

Whoever it belonged to, had to be connected to her. Just like we were.

Too bad that in our minds the connection was too thin. I am not sure why, but none of us could communicate with her. Before, I attributed that to certain Goldie and his bullshit, but more and more it felt impossible. That something else had to happen.

Quick walk later we were again in the vicinity of the magical stain.

-Are we ready…?

For asked the question, yet she was not going to be doing anything anyway… I was the only one who could feel her anyway.

What’s the point in asking then? I don’t know, it’s always better to ask for consent, right?

-Let’s go.

The only ones reacting were the two that traveled with me, Rob just was passively watching everything.

I am not sure if that was just him being docile and compliant, or more like overwhelmed and confused.

Probably all of the above, considering.

I unwrapped my hands from the makeshift bandages and placed both of my hands on the throne, touching the sculpture directly.

Of course, there was no immediate reaction.

My crystal did not drain it, nor the sculpture did drain anything from me. But I did feel that presence I noticed before. This time, a bit deeper, but still present. Dormant.

I was going to have to awaken her.

So I started pouring mana into it.

I already had some practice before, so it was easy for me. Yet, the reaction was barely noticeable. The sculpture did get the mana, sure, but that’s about it. The presence did not react, it was just the material it was made of reacting with fresh mana that came into contact with it.

I knew that was not going to be enough.

So I started pouring more.

Not just mana, but also memories. Just like I was connecting with For and Kon multiple times already, talking in each other’s head, I started pushing towards the sculpture with my own mind.

Like when I was trying to interrogate people. But this time, I didn’t push my negative emotions with it. Instead focusing on the singular name.

Michael.

The reaction was immediate. And almost shocking, to be honest.

I expected maybe understanding. Or longing, or anything that would be considered a positive emotion.

But no. I didn’t even get hit by the opposite spectrum either.

It was just… annoyance.

It was like I just felt someone nagging me for hours on end, I was irritated and yet I knew that wasn’t me.

That was her.

But, that was a good thing. I had a reaction. It was not a contact I wanted yet, but it was a start.

So I switched from memories to words.

Il.

Ilma,

Axelrod.

Ilon.

Mike.

Mor.

MIRE.

Iloa.

Just singular names.

I am not certain if they even reached her, but the presence wasn’t fading either, so I was hoping that I was going in the right direction.

I was sort of disappointed that his name didn’t wake her up, but hey, I can’t get lucky twice in a row, right?

I had to think of something else, maybe something that would jump-start her attention… condense her thoughts into one singular thing.

If that was even possible any more.

That was actually something that started bothering me more and more, the more I was thinking about it.

I already knew that we were slowly turning into someone else, as in, something more akin to being her than us, and I did nudge my team to try and manipulate that feeling to work the other way…

But was it happening already?

And I don’t mean with us.

Since she was somewhat part of a lot of people, what was happening to her? She had to be connected to so many entities over the years that who knows what exactly was left of her…

As far as I knew, most of her essence was present in my own crystal.

I mean, it was only my suspicion, but…

The presence in the sculpture was her. That I was sure. But how much was still intact?

It was certain that this piece was manipulated via Axelrod, who else would even be remotely capable of something like this?

But how much did he change?

Well, even if he didn’t do it on purpose, it would’ve changed anyway.

Was there even a point in trying to communicate with this thing? As far as I knew it could be just some unknown amalgamation of minds in there that lost its sense of self.

And the more I was trying to connect with it, the more I felt like it was the case.