Chapter XIV

Bursting through the door of the laboratory, Ryokumo Caeli sent ropes of wind straight for the spot that Album claimed Mallicent would be, and sure enough, the information given to them by the subject within that room had been accurate. The young Malloway boy exclaimed in surprise as he was hoisted into the air by Condite and slammed back into the ground, his arms snapping to his sides and remaining bound there as his ankles tied together as well. Flopping around on the cold floor of the lab in a clear struggle to break free, Mallicent’s eyes wandered up to where Ryokumo was already darting towards him, wind swirling around his hands as he prepared to fire off a spell should the boy even begin to utter an incantation.

“Cast anything and this time, the blade won’t be blunted, my friend,” Ryokumo threatened, stopping just a few feet from where Mallicent was laying. “Whether you like it or not, you and I are finally going to get our long awaited chat.”

Mallicent’s face went pale as he took in the sight of Ryokumo above him and Album still standing in the doorway, but that fear was only present for a few seconds before he was overcome by utter rage.

“Damn you, Caeli!” he snarled. “I knew you were the one that broke into my quarters! Do you understand what you’re doing right now?! You have broken into a private lab of Aquesen and assaulted the son of a lord! I could have you executed for treason, you bastard! Do you hear me?! Unhand me at once or else—”

“Blah, blah, blah.” Raising his tone in a mocking voice, Ryokumo’s smile turned smug as he regarded the sputtering child before him. “I perfectly understand what I’m doing, and I’m not particularly afraid of you. What exactly do you think you’re going to do against me? I’m a trained student of the Academy of Erika and you’re…well, to put it nicely, a whiny little shit. Though if you think you can fight your way past both myself and the esteemed daughter of the Luz family, then by all means, go ahead.”

Mallicent’s lips quivered in one of the most pathetic expressions Ryokumo had ever seen, and had he not been suspecting the boy of being an accomplice in murder, he might have even felt a little bad for what he was doing. However, Ryokumo no longer had the option to pull his punches, for this time, he had truly overstepped his jurisdiction and if he didn’t at least gain something from this move, not only would he be kicked from the royal team, but he could land himself in prison, or even get executed, for the very reasons Mallicent had claimed. Therefore, finding proof of Mallicent Malloway’s treachery was now a prerequisite for not ruining his life, and thus Ryokumo was more than prepared to squeeze whatever he could out of the child before him.

That being said, even when I decided to pursue him down here, I had no intention of attacking him like this, but that conversation I overheard in the hallway could not be ignored. Not only is it highly likely that the Lady Yoral we’ve been interacting with is not actually Yoral Malloway, but they also spoke as if they were plotting something tonight. So regardless of what Master Taurus and Princess Ilirianna think, I know that this is the right decision. And especially because of that.

Keeping his hand aimed at Mallicent, Ryokumo now turned and gazed over at the massive glass cylindrical container where a black humanoid mass was floating within yellow liquid, it’s silver eyes gazing directly at Album, who still hadn’t moved from her spot in the doorway.

I’d recognize those eyes anywhere… That’s the subject Mallicent’s notes were referencing, but with that said, I can’t even begin to guess what the living hell I’m looking at. I can feel intense mana radiating off of it, and it's clearly a powerful being. I need to be cautious and take this one step at a time.

“Album,” he called to her, though he didn’t turn back to look. “I would imagine that’s the thing that was speaking to you, yes? Is it talking to you right now?”

His teammate didn’t reply immediately, and believing that her delayed response might have been due to the fact that his assumption was right, he waited patiently for her to finish whatever she was doing. When she did finally speak with a trembling voice, she only confirmed what he believed.

“Yes, it’s talking to me right now. It’s saying, well…” She hesitated. “It’s saying to break the glass and let it out.”

“NO!”

Snarling that protest, Ryokumo sensed magic flowing to Mallicent’s hands, and knowing that he couldn’t show any weakness, he cast Perkari and sent a blunted blade straight into his back. While it didn’t draw any blood, the impact was still hard enough that he let out a grunt of agony and began coughing violently.

“What did I say, Lord Mallicent?” Ryokumo inquired with a click of his tongue. “No sudden movements, no incantations, and especially no drawing of your mana.” The wind mage cocked an intrigued eyebrow as he was met with another glare from the boy. “Now, seeing as you’re clearly desperate to keep that thing locked away, would you mind explaining yourself? What exactly is this fine specimen?”

Mallicent was breathing heavily, clearly still in pain, but he didn’t hesitate to shake his head and scoff. “Go fuck yourself, Caeli! I’m not telling you a damn thing! I’d never betray my allies so you can waste your breath all you want! Go right ahead and do as you please to me! I will personally ensure that you regret it!”

“Is that so?” Ryokumo then let out an exaggerated sigh and shrugged, keeping his left hand trained on Mallicent while he slowly turned his right to aim at the cylindrical container. “Then perhaps your dear subject will be more cooperative than you, especially if I let him out of his cage like he wants us to.”

“DON’T YOU DARE!” Mallicent roared furiously. “I swear on the Goddess, Caeli, if you do that—”

“The goddess?” Talking over the screeching boy, Ryokumo immediately latched onto the strange part of what he said. “That’s a peculiar choice of words, now isn’t it? You have a goddess somewhere around here? Is it the thing in the tube?”

The young lord’s mouth was trembling again, seeming completely uncertain of what to do at that moment, and Ryokumo couldn’t deny the satisfaction he felt after such a frustrating week. The fact that Mallicent was almost certainly aligned with the knight and changeling that almost killed him only made this moment of revenge all the sweeter.

Ryokumo shrugged once more. “Very well. If you truly have no interest in discussion, then I’ll blast the thing open. But I’m a benevolent man, and so I will gladly give you until the count of five to make the right decision or else we’re all gonna get to see what that thing is made of. Five… Four… Three…”

“Stop, stop!” Mallicent vehemently protested. “I don’t know what it is, you insane bastard! Haven’t you read my fucking notes?! That’s why we’re studying the damn thing! But we know it can be dangerous! If you let it out, I can’t promise we’ll all walk away alive! And hell…” His face was turning bright from shouting so much, his eyes practically bulging from his head. “Lady Luz over there probably knows more than we do at this point given how talkative it's been with her!”

Ryokumo frowned and spared a glance back at Album, who was blankly gazing at the creature in the tube. Content to let her handle whatever she was doing, the wind mage nodded and addressed Mallicent once more.

“Yes, I saw your notes, of course. Quite a fascinating read, really, and I can’t say I’m not intrigued by this parasite, I think you called it. What makes you think it’s seeking a host? What has the creature done to give you that impression?”

The boy clenched his teeth, clearly considering not telling him anything further, but when Ryokumo raised his hand to aim at the tube once more, he snorted and did as was ordered.

“While I say it hasn’t communicate much, it has still spoken to us,” he admitted. “And the few times it has, it’s requested that we find it a fitting body, but each person who stepped forward in the name of understanding this being was rejected by it! I don’t know what it seeks, but the fact that it’s reached out to that girl over there tells me that she may be what it wants! So keep that in mind when you threaten to bust it out, for I cannot promise that Album Luz will not be consumed by it!”

Intriguing, Ryokumo thought. And I can’t disagree with him on that last bit. I’m only bluffing. I have no intention of letting it out for that very reason. I’m not putting Album’s life at risk, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“Album can handle herself,” he stated firmly. “Now where did you find this thing?”

Mallicent narrowed his eyes and smiled a self-satisfied grin. “No fucking clue. The doctor’s the one who brought it in. All I did was help provide him with the space to conduct his experiments here in Aquesen. Father doesn’t even know all of the details. The old fool doesn’t take research seriously to begin with, so he’s never asked to know about it anyway! All we needed was a half-assed cover story and he hardly batted an eye!”

Ryokumo didn’t immediately respond as he observed the boy’s tone and expression in the hopes of determining whether he was lying or not, and he eventually concluded that it was probably the truth. Mallicent didn’t know any more about the subject than he had already said, so without finding and interrogating the doctor, there wasn’t much else they could do. Therefore, Ryokumo knew he couldn’t afford to waste any more time on the matter, turning the conversation now to more important questions.

“Very well then. In that case, why don’t you tell me what your allies have planned in the ballroom?”

Mallicent’s grin completely vanished from his features as he gaped in shock up at him. “You…?”

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“Yes, yes, I know you’re plotting something, you slimy little shit. We overheard you talking to who I assume is not your mother about hiding out down here until the plan is over.” Ryokumo raised his eyebrows expectantly. “So, same rules as before. You give me what I want to know, and your little subject stays nice and safe in his tube of piss, yes? And while we’re at it, why don’t you explain those strange combustions as well. I’ve been curious about that, too.”

“How have you—? How can you possibly know all of this?!” he cried out. But his confusion quickly turned to frustration and understanding as his lips tightened in rage, as well as what might have even been a tinge of guilt. “Willow and Gaya, was it? So we weren't able to cover that up as well as we thought, huh?”

Ryokumo chuckled, finally after all of that time having confirmation that Mallicent and his allies were related to the combustions. Good, then regardless of what happens, as long as I can get this information back to Ilirianna and the Masters, I can justify doing what I’ve done. It doesn’t matter what happens to me so long as we can prevent more people from dying. I hope you’d be proud of me, Master Daisuke.

“You were not as slick as you thought,” Ryokumo mocked. “Now answer the damn questions. We don’t have all day, and if you waste more of my time, well…given that I’m getting repetitive, I’ll just leave the threat hanging.”

But to Ryokumo’s surprise, unlike every other time he had used the subject as a method of coercing cooperation out of the boy, Mallicent simply laughed, fixing Ryokumo with an unhinged glee in his eyes.

“It doesn’t matter,” he told him between laughs. “It’s already set in stone, Caeli. The magic has been cast and it can no longer be stopped! Nothing, not even the all-powerful Iijis, can prevent what they’re going to do tonight! You can threaten me all you like, but hell is about to be unleashed upon this castle and this city, and you’re going to be powerless to—”

Unleashing a swift kick to Mallicent’s face, he snapped the boy’s head back as blood gushed from his nose. He cried out in agony, but Ryokumo didn’t feel any pity this time, for a sense of doom had come over him as he listened to the boy talk. The certainty with which he spoke caused a shiver to go down his spine, and a frantic desire to abandon the lab and rush back to the ballroom overcame his desire for information. And as if designed to coincide with Mallicent’s threats, Ryokumo suddenly heard a series of violent explosions somewhere off in the distance, followed by a brief shaking of the room.

Explosions? No… The combustions, but… That sounded like a bunch of them! Shit! Abi, Nigreos, the princess!

“And there we have it!” Mallicent sputtered through the blood running into his mouth. “All of that for nothing! You might have been onto us, but it didn't matter! They’re all dead! The reckoning has started and now there’s not a damn fucking thing you can do but watch as the scum of this city is eradicated!”

In that moment, despite the dozens of potential repercussions, Ryokumo felt the strong desire to kill Mallicent Malloway then and there—to ensure that he couldn’t hurt anybody ever again, but before he could even properly consider such a violent act, the clear voice of Album Luz echoed throughout the room.

“Luminetta!”

To the utter shock of both Ryokumo and Mallicent, a beam of light burst from her outstretched hand and smashed a hole into the liquet of the container.

***

From the very second they entered the room and Ryokumo began his interrogation of Mallicent, the silver eyes of the subject never once turned away from Album, nor could she bring herself to focus on what her teammate was saying. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting upon seeing the being that had reached out to her, and when she finally did bear witness to the floating black mass, she felt both intense fear, and a little bit of intrigue.

Ah, and there you are. I was quite disappointed that you weren't present during your friends’ little heist, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. In the end, you still found your way to me. Now break this container and release me so we can have a proper discussion.

A proper discussion? Album nervously licked her lips, briefly answering Ryokumo’s question before turning her attention back to the subject. What do you mean? What even are you? I don’t think I can bring myself to just let you out without first understanding what exactly you are. The notes said you’re a parasite, so…

Describing what I am would be pointless, Little Light, for nobody from this age could comprehend it. I come from a world far more developed and complex than this one has yet to reach. The abominations who captured me have referred to me as an angel, so as loath as I am to go by such an inaccurate name, for the sake of simplicity, that is what you may call me. And as for me being a parasite… The subject paused. I can’t say it’s wrong. But if you’re imagining me stealing your body and taking it for my own, then you would be mistaken. No…a host of mine would have full autonomy.

Album narrowed her eyes, knowing that taking The Angel’s words at face-value would be idiotic. But at the same time, she didn’t sense that it was lying either.

Why me? There’s nothing special about me, you know? You must be able to sense my mana deficiencies? I would be useless to you. Ryokumo…the young man over there, would probably suit your needs far better, right?

No, he may be powerful, but I have seen plenty of mages like him. But in this realm, I had believed the arts of darkness and light magic to be nonexistent. Yet here you are, a light mage before me. And as for mana deficiencies, well, I have so much of it that I could more than make up for your shortcomings.

What? She took a step towards it, her eyes going wide with disbelief. You can…give me mana?

Yes. It would be simple.

But just as quickly as it came, her excitement vanished as she realized it was far too good to be true. No, you’re just saying that to trick me into releasing you.

I am not.

Yes, you are! There’s no way that it would be that easy! I’ve struggled my whole life with my inability to produce magic properly, and all of a sudden you’re just saying you can fix me! As if! It’s not that simple! Nothing is ever that simple!

For a moment, The Angel didn’t say anything, and Album briefly keyed back into Ryokumo and Mallicent’s discussion, but before she could properly catch herself up on what they were saying, the voice in her head returned.

Your life has not been easy, has it, Album Luz?

Startled by the fact that it suddenly spoke her name, Album’s head snapped back toward the subject and glared at it. How did you learn my name?

I can sense your internal thoughts. You seek companionship and respect. You seek to live up to the name you were born with, and you want acceptance and validation from your father. You see yourself as weak, and as undeserving of the position you now find yourself in—inferior to the other members of your team and a hindrance to their success. Did I get all of that right?

Get the hell out of my head!

I can help you! Let me out and you can have a taste of what I can do for you! And if it’s trust you seek, then let me tell you exactly what it is you want to know! Doctor Uma Miyon, the one who has been studying me, is a magicless bastard who crawled here from the realm of Omaruo and who is a member of a cult known as the Kosah-Rei.

Woah, hold on just a moment! Album clenched her teeth, feeling her heart beginning to beat like crazy as important in formation was suddenly dumped upon her so fast that she couldn’t process it all immediately. The doctor is magicless? That’s not possible! An Omaruan could not come to Ijiria without a realm dagger, and the Citadel has possession of every dagger left in existence!

Correction. The Citadel had every realm dagger in existence, but that is no longer the case. The Kosah-Rei possess another—one brought to the realm of Ijiria from Omaruo by Miyon.

From Omaruo? But then…?

Centuries ago, after the end of the Kairan Genocide, those with the knowledge of how to craft realm daggers, the ones known as the Realm Forgers, collected almost all of Ijiria’s daggers and fled to the surrounding realms with both the means of traveling across realms and knowledge of how to create them, leaving Ijiria with only three daggers left in their possession.

So if this Doctor Miyon came to Ijiria with a dagger, then he found one left in Omaruo by a Forger that fled all those centuries ago!

That would be my assumption, though he has yet to say such a thing explicitly. The Angel let out a soft chuckle. Now, given your lack of time, I will swiftly give you the names of the only other members I know, those being Captain Rotana Vesh, a changeling known as Leiolai Sartella, and a giant of a man called Barron Kristoff. There are two others I have heard mention of but I do not know their names. Do with that information as you may, but I hope it is enough to convince you of my trustworthiness. I do not seek to harm you, Album Luz. I seek to help you, and by helping you, I would help me.

Furrowing her brow in thought, Album filled all of those names away, prepared to report them to Ilirianna and the Masters the moment she had a chance. Well, we already kinda knew about Vesh, but the other two are very useful. Leiolai Sartella was the one impersonating Abi, and Barron Kristoff was the red knight who almost killed Ryokumo. The question is…? Recalling the women posing as Yoral Malloway, Album couldn’t help but wonder. Was that Leiolai Sartella? It can’t have been. Mallicent called her Firrik…

“I’m doing exactly as I was told. I’ll hide in the lab until it’s over, I won’t go anywhere near that ballroom…”

The words Mallicent snapped at her returned with a vengeance as she recalled the fact that they mentioned something was going down in the ballroom. Angel! I swear on my name that I will free you if you can tell me what these…Kosah-Rei are planning tonight!

Hmm? Well I suppose I could make such a deal, but I must confess that humans are often liars. Therefore, I will only do so if you release me first. Otherwise, we have no deal.

But—

Album’s body went cold as a sudden series of explosions sounded somewhere off in the distance and above them, in what she feared was the direction of the ballroom. As she did, she once again returned to listen to the discussion between Mallicent and Ryokumo, only to hear the young lord practically screaming.

“And there we have it! All of that for nothing! You might have been onto us, but it didn't matter! They’re all dead! The reckoning has started and now there’s not a damn fucking thing you can do but watch as the scum of this city is eradicated!”

Gaping at Mallicent with utter terror, Album frantically turned back to face The Angel, just as another message was sent to her mind.

The clock is ticking, Album Luz. Make your decision, or forever hold your peace.

Damn it! Damn it all!

Panicking at the thought that Abi and Nigreos might have just died somewhere up in the castle, Album’s constant weakness and inability to make decisions was yet again brought to the forefront of her mind. She had no idea what The Angel was or what the implications of releasing it were, but at the same time, it had been rather cooperative, and she didn’t sense ill intent from it.

But it’s also some ancient being! Who knows how well it can lie to me! Come on, Album! Stop being such a loser and just decide!

And so, gritting her teeth and deciding to just make her choice and live with it, Album raised her hand and summoned her meager mana, then chanted “Luminetta”, sending a burst of light straight from her palm and into the canister, aiming away from The Angel’s body and smashing a hole through the glass.

“You stupid bitch!” Mallicent snarled with raw terror. “What the hell have you just done?!”

The yellow liquid began to spill out through the hole, and without hesitation, The Angel slammed its hand straight into the glass, shattering it completely. With that, the laboratory erupted into utter chaos as both Mallicent and Ryokumo snarled off incantations, and the black form of The Angel stepped from the canister.