Do you want to live?
Is that even a question?
Why would I not want to live?
You’ve been through too much, why not just die?
If you’re going to continue to talk nonsense, don’t talk to me.
Very, well. I shall accept you. I can sense it after all. Your indomitable spirit.
————
Kaen: “I still don’t understand what you're doing here.”
The man known as ‘Eight’ lifted up a pair of ice spectacles on his face.
Eight: “Did you know, the Emperor has a secret library.”
Kaen: “Huh?”
Eight: “It’s true. And twenty one years ago, someone robbed that library empty. A library that contained every major piece of information and secret about the history of this Fortress.”
Kaen: “That’s very cool. But you still haven’t answered my question.”
Eight sighed.
Eight: “You kids nowadays have no patience. Do you not care for the history of the place you live in?”
Kaen: “Maybe not when I’ve just seen my old friend die. I’m also in the middle of the Tournament.”
Eight let out a hearty laugh.
Eight: “The Tournament is long over. Let me tell you something you might find interesting.”
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They had walked next to a table, and Eight offered him a seat. Kaen accepted, for his curiosity on this mysterious man was quite high.
Eight: “The Emperor’s first daughter was a feisty woman. In the early days, women could not even be fighters or political heads. Their role was to remain subservient. That was part of the order established by the first Emperor and Spear. She rebelled against this ideal. Women were weak at the time because they weren’t taught to fight. This woman was a different case however. She, by pure talent, became one of the strongest in the Fortress. However, the first Spears viewed her existence as a threat to the order. In a highly unfair fight between the First Division of the time and that lone girl, she impaled with spears over two hundred times, but she always came back just as strong. She had the soul of an undying Phoenix. Her end was only met when the first Chain Subclan head joined the fray and sealed her.”
Kaen was confused for a few seconds, but a line from the Prophecy came back to him.
Kaen: “When the bird of the sun is reborn, true change will sweep this land.”
Eight: “It seems you possess knowledge of the Phoenix. Very good.”
Kaen: “But who-?”
Eight had raised a finger in the middle of Kaen’s question, pointing to the collapsed Aria. A strange steam had begun emanating from her corpse.
Eight: “Do you see it?”
Kaen had no words.
Eight: “Looks like it’s finally starting.”
Two beautiful wings of ice emerged from Aria’s back as she began to float up slowly. She suddenly shot upwards from the Royal Palace faster than Kaen could blink. He looked back to see Eight was also gone.
From everywhere across the Fortress, those who turned their heads could see a large Phoenix of Ice emerging from the top of the Royal Palace and letting out a deafening screech. It was a tremendous sight, leaving all those who witnessed in complete awe. Its wings flipped a few times rhythmically.
“This is even more impressive from what I originally envisioned.”
Hidden in the steam, Eight sat on the roof of the Palace, observing the Phoenix with great interest. After a second or two, he jumped up onto the tail, placing his hand on it.
Eight: “If I recall, this should be the core.”
He sent a shockwave into it before jumping back down the hole. He landed in front of Kaen who had been staring up.
Kaen: “What just-”
He was interrupted by Aria falling from the sky. Eight caught her and handed her to Kaen. Kaen was shocked to see her wound gone, as well as the fact that she was still breathing.
Eight: “Now, if you want the two of you to live, heed my words carefully.”
————-
When Sorn could see again, he, along with the other three accompanying him in the tunnel, landed on a pocket of snow. They were on top of some strange runes.
Oden: “Serene?”
Before them stood the heir to the Marauders, her arms folded in front of her as she stood before a strange ice wagon.
Serene: “I was told by the Emperor to wait here. Now get in”
First, Sorn noticed Oden could move again. Second, he noticed Serene’s eyepatch.
Serene noticed the expressions etched on everyone’s faces.
Serene: “That bad?”
Oden: “I’ll kill them. All of them.”
Serene: “Can you do that at this stage you’re in?”
Oden: “Well-”
Serene: “No, right? Then get in and get out of this Fortress if you don’t want to die. Otherwise, why did my dad have to fight the head of the First Division.”
Crystal tapped Oden’s arm. She was uncharacteristically melancholy. It wasn’t difficult for Sorn to understand why.
Crystal: “Let’s go.”
Oden sighed, but got in.
Keilan looked back at Serene.
Keilan: “You’re not coming with us?”
Serene: “Truthfully, I’m surprised you’re even here. But I have a duty here as head of the Marauders. I also cannot leave my father here. Besides, someone has to push the wagon. Once I move this, you’ll burst out the doors before you. From there, you have nowhere to go but down straight out of the main gate.”
She kicked the wagon, and it burst through the door. Serene looked at them as they rolled away. She wanted to know what had happened in the tunnel, but time was short. She turned and began walking towards the Royal Palace.
End.