"Emily, what happened? I tried calling you, but when we died there was just... blankness, and I couldn't see anything" Delilah asks, her voice tinged with concern and confusion.
Emily doesn't fully understand either but she asks if Delilah didn't see the system message and the three chests. "Didn’t you see anything on your end after we died?"
Delilah's response is filled with unease, "No, nothing at all. When we died, it felt like the world had just stopped, and everything was swallowed by darkness. I was scared, Emily—it was like being nowhere at all."
Emily explains that her experience was somewhat different. "There was a message congratulating me on dying, bizarre as that sounds. Then, three chests appeared out of thin air, and I was allowed to choose a reward. I got this card" she continues, holding up The Distress Call card for Delilah to see.
Delilah listened intently, her curiosity piqued by the description. "And you chose a reward from these chests?" she inquired, trying to grasp the situation from her own void experience.
"Yes, I picked the middle chest" Emily replied, feeling the weight of the card in her hand even now. "It gave me this—The Distress Call card. It’s supposed to offer some kind of help, but it’s a gamble. It says that 'Give up your life with the chance of receiving additional help' "
Delilah paused, digesting the information "A chance of receiving help? And it's not even guaranteed? What kind of help is that?"
Emily shrugged, equally perplexed by the unusual mechanics introduced to her. "I honestly don't know much more than you do about this. The game I played back home didn't have any sort of card system like this. It’s all new to me. And even stranger, all the items seem to have 'Tiers' and this card being labeled 'Iconic' suggests it's a rare item" she explained, turning the card over in her hands as if it might reveal more secrets.
She paused, weighing her desperation against the uncertainty of the card’s promise. "Here's the thing, Delilah—I'm at a loss. Even if it’s a high-tier card, the idea of gambling my life doesn’t sound pleasing. But yet after everything I’ve tried so far has led to my death. I don’t know what else to do" Emily confessed, her frustration evident in her tone.
Delilah listened intently, her expression thoughtful. "It sounds risky, yes. But maybe, just maybe, it's a risk worth taking? We've seen how the game changes, adapts. Maybe this card is a part of that adaptation, offering a new way to challenge or change the rules" she suggested, trying to offer a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty.
Emily considered Delilah's words. "You might be right. But I still want to check if the same event actually plays out before we risk our neck by using the card" she concluded, her decision carrying a mix of resolve and resignation.
Emily, feeling the weight of repeating the same actions but desperate for any change in outcome, quickly executed her previous plan. She approached Thaddeus, asking for the tinderbox with a sense of urgency that left no room for hesitation. Snatching it from his hands, she dashed to the same table, grabbed a drink, and hurled it at the curtain, igniting it with a swift strike of the tinderbox.
----------------------------------------
[SYSTEM]: Area Lockdown
----------------------------------------
As the flames began to climb the fabric, the hall erupted into chaos. The sound of the emperor being escorted away blended with the panicked shouts of the guests. Thaddeus, bewildered and concerned, rushed over to Emily. "What are you doing? Lady Fernway" he exclaimed, his voice barely audible over the commotion.
The guards, following protocol, moved to escort Emily to the left wing. Nadia's face was a mask of fury as she witnessed the disruption to her daughter's ceremony. But Emily resisted. She stood firm in the hall, refusing to be moved, her eyes scanning the crowd and the reactions around her.
Nadia was beside herself with anger, yelling over the noise, "This is unacceptable! You are ruining a perfect evening!"
Despite the chaos and Nadia's furious shouts, Thaddeus intervened, placing himself between Emily and the advancing guards. "Wait! Your grace. She must have a good reason for this. Let's hear her out" he pleaded, his voice firm, showing a mix of confusion and trust in Emily's intentions.
The flames flickered and began to die down, subdued by the swift actions of the staff, Emily stood silently amidst the chaos, her mind racing with possibilities. The expected assault from the knight in armor never came, and no debris barricaded the doorway this time. Was it because she hadn’t followed the guards, or had the killer adapted his strategy, learning from previous attempts just as she was trying to do?
While she was lost in thought, Duchess Nadia stormed up to her. Overcome with anger and frustration, Nadia delivered a sharp slap across Emily’s face. The sting of the slap snapped Emily back to the moment, but she was so engrossed in her thoughts about the killer's possible awareness of their repeated encounters that Nadia's furious words seemed to fade into a distant murmur.
Delilah’s voice echoed urgently in her head, "Emily, why aren’t you saying anything? Respond!" But before Emily could gather her thoughts to reply, the sudden twang of a crossbow bolt slicing through the air cut the tension.
The bolt struck Duchess Nadia squarely in the chest. The impact sent her staggering back as a shocked gasp rippled through the room. Soldiers quickly moved to protect her, but it was too late. Nadia collapsed, her life slipping away amidst the confusion and horror of the onlookers.
Thaddeus, his face etched with concern and fear, quickly pulled Emily into a protective embrace, shielding her with his body as he scanned the room for any further threats. "Stay down" he whispered, his voice tense, "We’re not safe."
As Thaddeus and Emily crouched behind a table, the banquet hall echoed with chaos and confusion. Hidden from immediate view, Emily whispered urgently to Delilah, her voice barely audible even in their close proximity. "It doesn’t matter if he remembers the attempts like I do" she murmured, her words tinged with fear and realization, "what’s terrifying is that he learns from them, adjusting his tactics each time."
Thaddeus, overseeing their makeshift cover, seemed focused on scanning the room for threats, but his presence provided a semblance of security. Emily continued, speaking directly to Delilah in her mind, "This changes everything. We’re dealing with someone who not only plans meticulously but also adapts. We need to understand his endgame."
As Thaddeus adjusted their position behind the table, ensuring their protection, Emily's mind raced. "Who at this event could be capable of such calculated brutality?" she pondered silently, sharing her thoughts with Delilah. The question was rhetorical yet pressing, echoing the uncertainty and danger that now palpably filled the room.
Peering cautiously over the tabletop, Emily scanned the gathering for any unusual movements or signs of the assailant. "We don’t know yet who he is, but we need to find out—and fast" she confided in Delilah, her resolve hardening despite the fear. "He’s already struck again, and if we don’t stop him, he might continue."
In the shadowed space behind the table, Emily's thoughts were a tumult of fear and strategy. With the sudden realization of the killer’s adaptability, the weight of their situation felt more oppressive than ever. "Should I use the card?" she mused quietly, her voice barely a whisper even to her own ears. She only had one chance with the card, and it wasn't guaranteed to succeed. Yet, outside the hall, the killer remained a shadowy threat, unseen and unpredictable.
Delilah’s voice broke through her contemplation, tinged with urgency. "Do you have a plan, Emily? We can’t predict his moves if he doesn’t follow any consistent pattern."
Emily looked down at the Distress Call card in her hand, its presence both a promise and a gamble. "I don’t have any other cards to play, and I'm not even sure if it’s wise" she admitted, the words heavy with uncertainty. "But at this point, I’m willing to try anything."
Delilah, ever the voice of cautious bravery in Emily’s mind, asked softly, "Are you sure about this? Once you use it, there's no going back."
Making up her mind with a resolve that surprised even herself, Emily nodded, more to herself than to Delilah. Without another word, she threw the card onto the floor, its surface striking the stone with a sharp slap that seemed to echo too loudly in the suddenly silent hall. As the card touched the ground, it activated with a burst of light, signaling the call for help that Emily hoped would turn the tides in their desperate favor.
----------------------------------------
[SYSTEM]: Card activated.
[SYSTEM]: Using : The Distress Call.
[SYSTEM]: Calculating...
[SYSTEM]: Calculating...
[SYSTEM]: Calculating...
[SYSTEM]: Iconic tier item detected.
[SYSTEM]: Iconic tier condition : Trade 3 lives.
[SYSTEM]: Do you wish to continue?
----------------------------------------
As Emily pondered the grave implications of the system's prompt, another crossbow bolt whistled through the air, its target not any of the cowering guests but the grand chandelier hanging precariously overhead. The bolt struck with a sharp clang, severing the chain that held the chandelier aloft.
As the ornate fixture began its slow, inevitable descent towards the crowd, Emily’s decision crystallized amidst the impending chaos. "YES, CONTINUE!" she shouted in response to the system, her voice ringing clear even as the shadows of fear loomed around them.
In an instant, the world around Emily blurred into obscurity, the chaotic sounds of the banquet hall fading into an eerie silence. The figures of Thaddeus, Nadia, and even Delilah vanished, leaving Emily standing alone in a void of darkness.
In the stillness of the void, an ornate mirror appeared before Emily. Through its reflective surface, she glimpsed a scene both somber and distant: a figure in cloak and a woman, their backs turned to her. The figure was not kneeling in deference to the woman, but rather he appeared to be cradling something—or someone—in his arms, his posture one of sorrow rather than subservience.
"Help!" Emily called out, her voice echoing faintly in the vast emptiness. The figures remained immobile, as if carved from stone, their attention fixed on something unseen in their own distant world. Growing more desperate, Emily shouted again, "HELP ME!" and began to bang her hands against the mirror's cool, unyielding surface.
Despite the force of her pounding, the figures showed no sign of awareness or response. Her hands struck the glass harder and harder, but it was as if the sounds were swallowed by the void, leaving no mark on the scene within.
Breathless and disheartened, Emily's hands fell to her sides. She leaned her forehead against the glass, the cool surface a stark contrast to the heat of her frustration and fear. With a sense of defeat washing over her, she whispered one last plea into the glass, "Please... help me."
At that whispered entreaty, the mirror began to tremble subtly, a shiver running through its frame as if touched by the quiet desperation in her voice. Then, unexpectedly, the glass shivered and shattered, sending a cascade of shards spiraling into the void. The figures blurred and dissolved as the mirror's surface broke apart, and the scene that had held Emily's last hope vanished into darkness.
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Cedric kneeling on the cold ground, his hands gently shaking his friend. "Brenon, open your eyes, please" he urged, his voice thick with emotion. The desperation in his tone mirrored the urgency of the moment.
"Don't you dare die on me, not after everything we've been through together" Cedric continued, his words a mix of command and plea. He watched his friend's face, looking for any sign of response, any hint that he would comply and fight back against the darkness encroaching upon him.
Brenon's breathing grew shallower, each breath more labored than the last. With a monumental effort, he managed to open his eyes and utter a faint whisper, his voice barely audible, "But at least this time... this time I managed to save Anastasia. That's all I was hoping for." His eyes flickered with a mix of pain and peace, content in his sacrifice if it meant her safety.
Beside Cedric, the woman standing over them, tears streaming down her face, clasped her hands together as if in prayer. "No, no, no, you can’t do this, Brenon! You can't just leave her! Just hold on a little longer, the physicians are on their way"
As Brenon's breathing grew fainter, he locked eyes with Cedric’s mask, a deep understanding passing between them. "Cedric, you mustn’t use your powers on me" he murmured weakly. "I know you're thinking of using it but we both know that you too don't have much time left"
Cedric's hands clenched into fists, his heart heavy with the burden of his friend’s impending death and the limitations of his own powers. "No Brenon, I can. If I just—"
Brenon cut him off with a weak but determined shake of his head. Turning his fading gaze towards Anastasia, Brenon's expression softened. "Anastasia, I'm so sorry I can't fulfill our promise to live out our life together." His voice was a tender caress, meant to comfort despite the sorrow it carried.
Anastasia, tears streaming down her cheeks, clung to his hand. "What is life without you, Brenon? You promised me a future, a future with us together" she sobbed, her despair palpable.
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With a gentle smile, Brenon replied, his voice growing fainter "You deserve a chance to build a future, Anastasia. You’ve endured so much... more than anyone should. Live, not just for yourself, but for both of us." His eyes lingered on her face, a silent testament to his love and final wish for her safety.
As he slowly closed his eyes, Cedric and Anastasia remained by his side, united in their grief but bound by Brenon's last wish.
As Brenon's life slipped away, the finality of the moment struck Cedric with overwhelming force. He clenched his fists tightly, the frustration and sorrow boiling over as he punched the ground beside him. His mind raced with regrets and what-ifs. If only I had stopped him from using that damn artifact... If only I had taken the curse instead of letting him transfer Anastasia's curse onto himself, Cedric thought bitterly.
Grief-stricken, he continued to cradle Brenon in his arms, his friend's lifeless form a heavy weight in more ways than one. Cedric's mask met Anastasia's grief-stricken face. "I'm sorry" he whispered hoarsely, the words barely audible, laden with guilt and despair. He felt responsible, not just for failing to save Brenon, but for not finding another way, a better solution that could have spared them all this tragedy.
Anastasia, overcome with sorrow, could only nod, her tears mingling with Brenon's still form as she leaned closer, seeking solace in their shared loss.
As Cedric and Anastasia sat together in somber silence, a sudden, faint vibration from Cedric's pouch broke the heavy stillness. It was his book, an ever-present companion on his journeys across different worlds, now adding a new entry on its last page. Cedric carefully pulled it out, his eyes scanning the freshly inked words that confirmed the end of a chapter in his life: "And Brenon Thalric met his demise. The End."
As he closed the book, a familiar rift began to form behind him, swirling with the silent promise of a portal to another world. This was always how it ended, with a rift appearing at the conclusion of a major event, beckoning him to step through and leave behind the world he had come to know.
Cedric's heart ached as he looked down at Brenon, his desire to stay clashing with the inevitable pull of his duties. Anastasia, sensing his hesitation, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Cedric, just go" she urged softly, her voice thick with emotion. "You can’t change what’s happened, but you can continue to make a difference elsewhere. He would have wanted you to keep going."
Her words, though painful, carried the weight of truth. With a heavy heart, Cedric gently laid Brenon down, standing to face the rift. He took one last look at his friend, committing his face to memory, before turning to Anastasia. "Take care of yourself, Anastasia." he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
With a final nod to Anastasia, Cedric stepped towards the rift, the pages of his book fluttering slightly as if in farewell. The portal enveloped him, pulling him from one reality to the next, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.
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Instead of the sight of the unfamiliar realm and the cold emptiness that typically greeted Cedric as he transitioned between worlds, he was thrust into a scene of chaos and confusion. The air was thick with smoke, and the scent of burnt fabric hung heavily. Cedric stood momentarily disoriented, his senses trying to adjust to the unexpected surroundings.
The banquet hall around him was in disarray. A curtain was still smoldering, its fabric charred from a recent fire. People were scattered across the room—some screaming, others trying to find cover. Guards were clustered around a woman on the floor, her still form drawing a crowd of frantic onlookers.
As Cedric took a step forward to gain a better understanding of where he was, his eyes caught a critical moment unfolding: a woman directly in his line of sight was standing under a precariously swinging chandelier. It was teetering dangerously, moments away from crashing down.
Reacting instinctively, Cedric dashed forward. His movements, honed by countless encounters in various worlds, were swift and decisive. Reaching the woman just as the chandelier gave way, he pulled her away with only seconds to spare. The heavy fixture crashed to the ground where she had stood, the impact sending shards of glass and twisted metal skittering across the floor.
As Cedric steadied the woman he'd just rescued from the imminent danger of the falling chandelier, his gaze swept around the chaotic banquet hall. Confusion marred his features; never before had he transitioned into a world in such a tumultuous manner. Did something happen to the shrine? he pondered internally, the question echoing through his mind as he tried to make sense of the disarray surrounding him.
Holding the woman securely, Cedric felt an unusual pull, an inexplicable connection that seemed to emanate from her very being. This sensation was different from anything he'd experienced with others in his past travels across worlds. With urgency driven by curiosity and the need to understand his sudden and chaotic surroundings, he asked, "Who are you?"
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[SYSTEM]: Used: The Distress Call.
[SYSTEM]: 3 lives successfully spent.
[SYSTEM]: You now have 3 attempts left.
----------------------------------------
As the din of the banquet hall slowly ebbed into her consciousness, Emily's senses began to refocus, pulling her back from the brink of the void where she had briefly wandered. The air was thick with the residual tension of recent events, and her head throbbed with a disorienting mix of relief and confusion.
Delilah's voice buzzed anxiously in her head, "Emily, what were you thinking standing there like that? You could have been killed by that chandelier!"
Blinking away the disorientation, Emily struggled to piece together her surroundings. Her body felt oddly detached, her mind grappling with the fragmented reality of her situation. It was then she realized she was not standing but being held, cradled in the arms of the cloaked figure she had seen in the mirror just before using the card. "What? What did you say?" she murmured, her voice weak, as she tried to orient herself.
Her eyes locked with those of the stranger holding her, a cascade of questions tumbling through her mind. She could feel the firm grip of his arms, an unexpected comfort given the chaos that had just unfolded around them. The realization that this man, this rescuer, was potentially the aid summoned by her desperate use of The Distress Call card began to dawn on her, blending relief with a deep-seated curiosity about his identity and intentions.
Emily's grip tightened on Cedric, her voice urgent as she asked, "Are you here to help me?" There was a hope in her voice, mingled with the confusion of the chaotic moment.
Before Cedric could respond, Thaddeus burst through. With a protective fury, he shoved Cedric aside and pulled Emily close to his chest, his eyes darting suspiciously at the new figure. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Thaddeus demanded, his voice heavy with accusation. He assumed Cedric was the assailant from outside, especially after the incident with the crossbow and the chandelier.
"Thaddeus, wait—he's here to help!" Emily tried to interject, her words rushed as she attempted to clarify Cedric's sudden and dramatic entrance. However, the tension spiked anew as another crossbow bolt whistled through the air, cutting her explanation short.
The bolt zipped dangerously close, causing the crowd to scatter in panic once again. Thaddeus instinctively tightened his hold on Emily, looking around frantically for the source of the attack. His primary concern was to shield her from any further harm, his body poised defensively between Emily and the direction of the incoming bolt.
Amidst the chaos, Emily shouted over to Cedric, her voice edged with desperation, "There's a killer trying to kill me!" The urgency of her words seemed to snap Cedric fully to the present, his focus sharpening as he quickly assessed the situation.
Cedric glanced towards where the last bolt had landed, his strategic mind calculating the trajectory and origin. Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the main entrance, his cloak billowing behind him as he moved with purpose. He had a clear target now, determined to confront the assailant who was disrupting the event and endangering Emily.
Meanwhile, the soldiers, following strict protocol in such emergencies, moved swiftly to secure Duchess Nadia's body, carefully transporting her towards the right wing of the palace, where it was deemed safer. At the same time, they also began to usher Emily and Thaddeus away from the main hall, guiding them towards the same wing for protection.
Thaddeus, still maintaining a protective grip on Emily, looked back anxiously as they were led away. He was torn between his duty to ensure Emily's safety and his concern for the stranger, who had just risked his life to save her. "We need to make sure you're safe" Thaddeus insisted, his voice firm yet filled with worry as he hurried alongside the guards, glancing over his shoulder to keep an eye on Cedric's progress towards the entrance.
As they moved briskly towards the right wing, Thaddeus, with a stern and commanding tone, demanded additional security measures. "Ensure that there are soldiers stationed inside the room with Lady Fernway" he instructed the guards escorting them, his voice resonating with authority. "We can't take any risks, not with everything that’s happened."
Once they reached a secure room, Thaddeus made sure Emily was safely inside before speaking to her. "I'll return to the banquet hall. Despite your assurances, I cannot place my trust in that masked man. I must ensure there is no further threat" Thaddeus explained, his expression conflicted but resolute.
Emily nodded, understanding his concern but also feeling frustrated by his inability to see Cedric as an ally. "Please, just be careful" she urged him, her eyes conveying the seriousness of her plea.
Outside the banquet hall, Cedric quickly surveyed the area, his eyes scanning for any sign of the assailant. The night air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the heated chaos inside. His training and instincts honed over countless worlds sharpened his focus, and he moved with purpose and caution.
As he neared a cluster of ornate bushes that lined the walkway leading to the main entrance, a slight rustling caught his attention. He paused, every sense heightened, watching for further movement. There, behind the lush greenery, a shadow shifted subtly. Cedric approached silently, ready to confront whoever was hiding.
The bushes trembled slightly as he neared, and without hesitation, Cedric parted them with a swift move of his hand, revealing a figure crouched in the shadows.
Cedric's grip tightened on the nobleman's collar as he dragged him out from behind the bushes. The man stumbled, his hands clutching a tangled mess of strings, his expression one of bewilderment and pain. "Why are you trying to kill people?" Cedric demanded, his voice stern, expecting a confession or at least some clue to the chaos unfolding at the banquet.
The nobleman winced, his face scrunching up as he cried out, "Ow! Let go, you're hurting me!" His words slurred slightly, his breath heavy with the scent of alcohol. It became apparent to Cedric that the man was not only drunk but also utterly confused.
Cedric's initial suspicion began to waver as he took in the man's disheveled appearance and the nonsensical manner in which he clutched at the strings, which seemed more likely to be part of some drunken folly than a weapon. The nobleman swayed slightly, his eyes unfocused, clearly not in a state to orchestrate any sort of attack.
His suspicions reignited as he questioned the nobleman, who, despite his inebriated state, managed to utter a few coherent words. "Someone told me if I pulled these strings, they'd send lots of girls to my room tonight" he slurred, smiling foolishly before his eyes fluttered shut, succumbing to his drunken stupor.
Realizing the gravity of what the nobleman had just implied, Cedric hoisted him over his shoulder with a firm grip. He followed the strings to their end, discovering they were tied to a mechanism near a big rock by the window. As he inspected closer, he saw that the strings were connected to a series of crossbows, all aimed strategically at the banquet hall.
The realization hit Cedric like a ton of bricks—the nobleman had been unwittingly turned into a pawn, manipulated into potentially triggering a deadly trap. The setup was sophisticated, designed to cause maximum chaos and casualties without the true perpetrator ever having to reveal themselves.
With the drunk nobleman now unconscious and harmless, Cedric began the careful task of disarming the crossbows, ensuring that no further harm could come to the guests inside. He knew he needed to alert the security at the banquet and possibly find the woman to warn her of this dangerous development.
As Cedric was meticulously disarming the crossbows, Thaddeus emerged from the banquet hall, his expression one of concern mixed with confusion. He paused upon seeing Cedric with the unconscious nobleman slung over his shoulder. "What's going on here? Why are you carrying that man?" Thaddeus demanded, his tone both curious and wary.
He set the nobleman down gently against the wall, he explained the setup he had just uncovered. "This man was manipulated into a scheme. I found these" Cedric gestured to the disarmed crossbows, "rigged to shoot into the banquet hall. Someone used him to orchestrate an attack without dirtying their own hands."
Thaddeus listened intently, his initial suspicion giving way to concern over the security implications. After a moment, Cedric asked, "And the woman I saved from the chandelier—where is she now?"
Thaddeus's eyes narrowed slightly at the question, a hint of suspicion creeping back. "Why do you ask about her?" he probed, trying to gauge Cedric's intentions.
Cedric responded "Because whoever planned this may still be targeting her. We need to ensure her safety."
Thaddeus, although still wary, was convinced enough by Cedric's earnestness. "She’s in a safe spot, well-guarded."
Cedric's tone grew more serious. "You're a fool for leaving her alone, even if she is with guards" Cedric chided Thaddeus sharply. "She told me someone was trying to kill her. This whole setup," he gestured towards the drunken nobleman and the rigged crossbows, "might have been just a part of it to lure people out and isolate her."
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Inside the secured room, with the din of the banquet hall's chaos muted by thick walls, Delilah's voice pierced the silence, anxious and confused. "Emily, what happened when you used the card? What did you see?"
Emily paced slowly, her mind still reeling from the surreal experience. "It was like being nowhere and just... darkness, an endless void. And then there was a mirror" she began, her voice reflecting her bewilderment. "In the mirror, I saw him—the man who saved me from the chandelier—and a woman. They seemed caught in a moment far away from here, disconnected from this chaos."
Delilah furrowed her brows, struggling to piece together Emily's fragmented account with the reality she observed. "But Emily, from what I see, you didn't go anywhere. After you threw down the card, you just... froze, like you were gone. Then all this madness with the crossbow and the chandelier happened." Her concern deepened, evident in her tone. "Do you know anything about this masked man? Who is he?"
Shaking her head, Emily stopped pacing and turned to face Delilah. "I don't know who he is. He just appeared out of nowhere, and now he's out there, possibly still in danger—or maybe even in danger because of me." Her voice trailed off as she resumed her restless movement, her thoughts tangled with images of the void, the mysterious man, and the unsettling calm of the woman beside him in the mirror.
Delilah pressed the issue, concern lining her voice as she tried to understand the mysterious circumstances. "So, do you think he's the 'additional help' the card was supposed to send? It sounds like he was pulled from somewhere else entirely."
Emily nodded slowly, her mind piecing together the events and the enigmatic figure of the masked man. "It seems so. From what I witnessed in that void, he was dealing with his own issues, deeply involved in some other crisis. But since he appeared right after I used the card, he must be the one sent to help, regardless of his own situation."
Her expression grew thoughtful as she considered the implications. "This means that the card not only brings help but might also intertwine our fates. He’s here now, caught up in this chaos with us. We need to find out more about him—understand his capabilities and how he fits into all of this."
Delilah nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of awe and uncertainty. "That’s a lot to take in. A man from another world or situation, brought here just when you needed help... It’s both incredible and a little terrifying."
But a chill ran down Emily's spine as she felt a firm grip on her wrists, pulling her back sharply. The voice that followed was unfamiliar, menacingly calm, "So that's who he is..."
In a swift motion, the supposed guard revealed his true intentions. He had already subdued the other guard in the room, a chilling reminder of his lethal capabilities. Emily struggled against his grip but found herself forcefully pinned against the wall. Her heart raced as she faced her captor, trying to understand his motives.
"What do you want from me?" Emily demanded, her voice a mix of fear and defiance.
The man's response came with a sinister closeness as he leaned in, "You really don't know, do you? You of all people should know, Delilah. So why don't you tell Emily" His words were taunting, using her identity to twist the confusion and fear deeper.
He drew a knife, its blade glinting ominously in the dim light of the room, Emily felt a surge of panic. The situation was dire, and she could see no way out. However, before the blade could reach her, the door to the room burst open. Cedric and Thaddeus charged into the room, their arrival timed with desperate necessity.
As Thaddeus and Cedric burst into the room, their shouts of warning filled the air, echoing the urgency and danger of the moment. Thaddeus, recognizing the immediate threat, lunged towards the attacker in an attempt to intervene. Cedric, still grappling with the shock of recent events and the rapid shift from grief to action, reacted instinctively to the unfolding crisis.
In a desperate move to prevent another tragedy so soon after losing his friend, Cedric extended his hand towards the scene, his intention clear—to use his power to halt time and save Emily. His face set in grim determination, he focused all his will on activating his ability, a skill that had saved lives in countless worlds.
However, instead of the world pausing around him, Cedric was met with nothing. No power coursed through his veins, no stillness took hold of the room.
Instead, a cold system message appeared in front of Emily.
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[SYSTEM]: Using: Time Manipulation.
[SYSTEM]: Error: The card you are trying to use does not exist.
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Confusion and frustration washed over Cedric as he realized that his abilities were restricted in this world, his powers somehow blocked or nullified. The realization dawned on him that he was not just in a different place but under different rules, ones that might not acknowledge his usual capabilities.
As Thaddeus rushed forward, his efforts to intervene came just a heartbeat too late. The knife, driven by malice and desperation, found its mark, piercing Emily's side. Thaddeus's hands were quick to support her as she faltered, his voice a pained whisper as he called her "Delilah!"
Meanwhile, Cedric, driven by a rush of protective urgency, tackled the assailant to the ground. He swiftly jammed a cloth into the attacker's mouth and bound his hands tightly behind his back. This precaution was to ensure that if the attacker had any hidden means of suicide—like a poison capsule—there would be no chance of use.
After securing the killer, Cedric turned back to Emily and Thaddeus, his heart sinking at the sight of Thaddeus cradling Emily, who was growing increasingly pale. The wound was evidently more than just a stab; the rapid decline in her condition suggested poison.
Without hesitation, Thaddeus began to suck at the wound, trying to draw out the poison. He spat repeatedly, each time with a look of grim determination, unwilling to pause even for a moment, his actions driven by desperation and the hope of saving Emily's life.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Cedric swiftly removed the gag from the killer's mouth. "What poison did you use? Tell us now!" he demanded, his tone brooking no refusal.
The situation was dire, and every second counted as Thaddeus continued his frantic efforts to mitigate the effects of the poison, the room tense with the struggle for life and the urgency of obtaining an antidote.
Thaddeus's desperate attempt to extract the poison proved futile. Emily's breathing became shallower, her life force visibly ebbing away. Cedric, filled with urgency, turned from the incapacitated killer, stuffing the cloth back into his mouth to prevent any suicidal attempts. He sprinted out of the room, heading straight for the infirmary. Most palaces right wing was supposed to have medical facilities, and every second was crucial.
Bursting through the infirmary doors, Cedric startled the physician on duty. "Give me anti-"
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[SYSTEM]: Delilah Fernway is eliminated.
[SYSTEM]: Mission failed.
[SYSTEM]: Restarting…
[SYSTEM]: Restarting…
[SYSTEM]: Restarting…
[SYSTEM]: Starting 6th attempt.
[SYSTEM]: You now have 2 attempts left.
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"-tidote!" Cedric's voice trailed off as he realized the disarray in the room. The physicians, just moments ago, are now standing in different positions, and the whole room felt oddly rearranged.
Back in the banquet hall, as the noise of the celebration resumed around her, Emily turned to Delilah with a serious expression. "Not only that the killer knows me but he also knows you, Delilah. We need to talk."