Three teams of mercenaries made funny noises as a dome went up all around Dia, and she heaved a small sigh as the unfriendly-looking fellows dispersed. Once again, Claud’s description about a deserted, empty plaza was wrong — there were ten or so ‘villas’ that had sprouted in the plaza. At the very centre, next to the public washrooms, a small trade fair had popped up, where mercenaries engaged in barter trade and other things.

“These people must have been camping elsewhere,” Schwarz muttered. “But what draws them here?”

“Maybe it’s easy to spot. Tall, circular building.” Farah squatted down and started to set up a bunch of barriers. “You know how it’s like. Anyway, you three go ahead first. I’ll set up the house, as planned.”

“Sorry to bother you,” Schwarz replied. “But you know, gotta get some good stuff. I hear there’s a carry limit of sorts, but even with that, innumerable years have passed. Some things must be running out by now.”

“Indeed,” Farah replied. “Just remember to take some for me too, yes?”

“Of course. And I’ll whip you up a good drink afterwards too.” Schwarz gestured at the building. “Come on, let’s go.”

Dia glanced at Nero, who nodded once in return. Without any further hesitation, the two of them followed after the bartender, who had taken out a bunch of artefacts and was hanging them all over his body.

“Here, these two are for you guys. They’re very…powerful artefacts. One-use only, but if you are ever in mortal danger, it’ll save you,” Schwarz replied. “Of course, try not to activate them where possible. We’re following Claud’s instructions here, which means whatever he did to get up to the top, we can accomplish too. Did you guys read the plan?”

“I’ve already looked through it,” Dia replied.

Nero bobbed his head at the same time, before saying, “Still, it’s a bit odd. That vision at the top…if you see it, Dia, does that mean the ruins will be destroyed immediately?”

“No. The five grand skies always intended to get rid of it,” Dia replied. “They just want to see what actually happened there, and I’m their…intermediary, it seems. That’s all to it.”

“I see.” Nero patted his chest. “With our luck, the Celestia Ruins would only be destroyed a few hundred years from now.”

“A few hundred?”

“Yeah. The Trial of Aeons is a Festival of Creation. I don’t think it’s possible to be ready in a century or so,” Nero replied. “I’m not too sure about the details, though. Most of it is what my Lord tells me, that’s all. So don’t go looking at me with googly eyes and eager faces, because I also don’t know all that much.”

“Uh, okay.” Dia withdrew her googly eyes and eager face, before turning to the brightly lit entrance. “We’re here, I suppose.”

“We, and a lot of people. Is this really going to be okay? Claud’s notes were taken when there were far less people,” Schwarz muttered. “Damn it.”

“I’m sure it’ll be easier,” Nero replied. “See? Someone has used a Sea-Queller...a lot of Sea-Quellers, in fact. We won’t need to use ours now…”

The three of them ascended to the second floor, which Claud had described as dangerous. Space on the second floor was warped or something, which would create massive dangers for anyone hoping to cross. The Sea-Queller that Claud had left for them could stabilise space for ten seconds, but so many people had used them at the staircase leading up to the second floor that for a moment, it felt like the danger had resolved itself completely.

“Let’s go before something stupid happens,” Nero urged.

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The rest of the way up was a lot more peaceful, but Dia knew that this was just an outward façade. Apparently, the Celestia Ruins had their own laws, their own cycles, and some traps and dangers would be active or inactive depending on factors that no one knew about. That was why certain traps and dangers would be active, while others weren’t.

The staircase…well, Dia called it a staircase, but it was probably a work of art that just allowed people to climb up. Every level had twelve rooms, and they were spaced so equally that a dizzying symmetry was created. A look was enough for Dia to feel slightly dizzy, and the twelve-pointed star that was at the very middle just made it so much worse.

Before long, the crowd heading to the top began to dwindle. Some of them had broken off to explore the other floors. Dia, from Claud and Lily’s records, knew that the two had explored the lower floors and tried to take out a bunch of stuff, but there were immense dangers in doing so. However, it also meant that there were probably quite a few useful items there.

As they arrived at the top floor, a bunch of screams echoed around the lobby. Two people ran towards them, their faces twisted by fear and insanity, but before they could reach the staircase, smoke began to rise from their bodies. Before Dia’s eyes, the two fleeing men turned into drifting ash, leaving behind no evidence of their existence.

Dia felt her heart skip a beat, and she took a step back.

“That’s…” Nero’s face twisted. “Well. That…was something that was noted in the rumours, anyway. But to see it happening in front of me is an entirely different thing, though.”

“Passing this last trial is rather easy,” Dia muttered. “We just need to stand our ground.”

“Surely the others must know that too,” Schwarz replied. “It’s hard to say why those two fled, though. It is a deadly threat to those who are unaware…”

“Unless they really didn’t know?” Nero suggested.

“Possible, but that’s…maybe they were schemed against,” Dia replied. “Well, we’re here. What should we do next?”

Schwarz watched on as a trio of mercenaries decided to try their luck next. Confidence emanating off them, their leader reached out and pushed on the door. Their bodies froze up a moment later, and Dia watched with bated breath, watching as the three mercenaries beheld the vision attached to the door.

Minutes ticked by as everyone else watched the trio. None of them seemed like they were about to flee, however, and Dia felt a small smile twist her face as they eventually continued on to the room beyond.

“Alright, it seems that the two who died were just extra-special,” Dia muttered. “Shall we, then?”

Schwarz looked around, and then nodded. “Better now than later. Come on!”

He beckoned for them to follow, and the small crowd of mercenaries gazed at Dia and the others, their gazes escorting them and egging them onwards.

“Now?” Nero whispered.

“Because it’s a lot more dangerous otherwise,” Dia replied. “There’s still a lot of people here. Anyone who has bad intentions wouldn't strike yet, but the second-last group here will be in far greater danger, since the final group behind them…basically, Schwarz is being cynical here, okay?”

“As expected of a professional body double.”

“Yeah, thanks, whatever.” Dia rolled her eyes.

The three of them stopped in front of the door, and the watching mercenaries seemed to hold their breath in that instant. Schwarz glanced at Dia, and then at Nero, before saying, “Don’t be scared. It won’t hurt you at all.”

“Of course.”

“Naturally. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“…Do you still want me to supply you free drinks?” Schwarz asked, eyeing the uppity Holy Son. “If so, just humour me.”

“Fine, whatever. Do it.”

As the two bickered on, Dia examined the door and the room it led to. On the lower levels, the central part of the building had a twelve-pointed star, with each end leading to a door each. The top floor, however, had no such star. Where the star once was, however, was now a crystalline dome that shimmered gently.

In other words, the dome itself was the actual office of the Secretary-General. Dia couldn’t even begin to conceive the sheer wealth and economic ability of this place; creating huge buildings and creating an entire dome out of what seemed to be precious gems and whatnot required an economic capacity that probably put Grandis’ own to shame.

She shook her head. “Guys, stop arguing.”

“We’re not arguing,” Schwarz replied. “We’re just trying to get rid of the tension here, you know. It’s so sharp that I’ll be able to cut some meat with it.”

“She has a point, though.” Nero gestured at the others. “They’re waiting for us.”

“Well, they can keep waiting…is what I want to say, but Dia’s right, I suppose.” Schwarz stretched his arms and hands dramatically. “Shall we begin, then?”

“No issue here. I’ve been wanting to see this for myself too,” Nero replied. “You can start whenever.”

“Let’s get on with it,” Dia added. “Schwarz, if you’d handle the honours…”

“What kind of dubious honour is this supposed to be?” Schwarz asked, letting out a sigh. “Well then, here goes nothing.”

Darkness filled Dia’s vision a moment later.