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Primrose 'Venomous' Gatran

The city of Onyx Gate's nocturnal cloak shrouds me as I weave through the labyrinth of tall buildings, their ominous structures emitting wisps of smoke and fumes into the night sky. These factories are essential for the creation of all the necessities of war and life. And it is for that very reason they are such a prime target to Elizabeth. At least the constant noise from the workers and the equipment helps hide my traces. I'm not exceptional at stealth, but I've learned enough through my time with Johnny to get the job done.

According to Earl, within these are mountains of substances just waiting to catch fire or explode—a perfect target for later when we need a distraction.

Staying close to the shadows, I move with feline grace, keenly aware of the watchful eyes that patrol the heavily guarded streets. Any time I have to cross an alley into the light of sight, I turn my form into a speeding gas to hide as much as possible. Thankfully, when combined with Stealth, Gaseous is utterly silent.

And as I cross Eighth Street, I find a larger-than-usual factory standing before me. It's heavily guarded, yet this emergency entrance only has a single man at it. The manager must think this backside is safe due to its proximity to the Estates housing—a thin smile curls as I creep forward. My target lies ahead, oblivious to the imminent intrusion as he lies slouched with his Colt across his arms. The weapon is a long rifle, and I can effortlessly tell that it packs a punch. Wish I could take it after this, but alas, I cannot. There is too much for me to do.

Yet I'm not here alone.

I snap my fingers lightly, the prearranged signal for Wyatt to act through my eyes. He placed an Insight on me before I left as I'm the stealthiest and most likely to succeed without Virgil. A moment later, I sense a subtle bulge within my gaze as he takes control, a connection formed in the shadows. The guard shivers for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment. Then, he twists and unlocks the door with his keys for me.

How kind, Wyatt. Sadly, it will only last a few more seconds at most.

My smile widens as I dart across the thin gap, careful not to stay within the lights of the city for too long. With a deep breath, I stride past the controlled man, a duffle bag heavy with explosives slung over my shoulder.

The weight of the bag serves as a constant reminder of just how important this is. Elizabeth's plans have a dozen parts, and this is one of the most important. So, I cautiously navigate the dimly lit corridors as Wyatt follows behind me in that other body. Another steel door looms before me, the gateway to the central portion of the factory. Before entering, I turn to the man under the temporary influence of my friend.

"Make sure he seems mad."

I instruct him grimly in hushed tones, my voice whispering amid the nocturnal symphony of the nightlife within Onxy Gate. Unlike the Wilds or the Borderlands, there is little wildlife to hear, like birds. There are only other people. And it's this vast concentration of humans that worries me so much for Wyatt. He's too emotional, too caring.

Still, the man listens to me serenely as I hold the handle of the door.

"We don't know the consequences if someone under your control dies, but he must not be able to report this. Do whatever it takes. Don't harbor any empathy for the man or his family. I need time to plant these, and you don't have much time in there. So whatever you do has to be big. Remember, the end goal is Eli. Most of these people will die in the coming civil war, anyway."

A silent nod from the controlled guard acknowledges his understanding. I stare at him for another second to confirm his emotions, and he raises the Colt in his hand, clasping over the bolt to make sure it works properly. Then, he checks the lever action's ammunition before speaking softly.

"I understand. Weiss needs to die."

The instant he finishes, the crazy bastard rips the door open, sprinting through it with a reverberating howl of madness. Bullets fly wildly as I quickly lose track of him within the depths of all the machinery and tools of the factory.

I crouch low as I follow past the door. My eyes search for the telltale signs of what I'm looking for. An explosives factory like this would very carefully protect the actual components that are flammable along with the ones that are readily explosive. However, Elizabeth and Earl are confident that the other parts will be far less guarded.

After all, who would expect a detonation from the water storage or the bathroom?

Frantic footsteps resonate against the metal surfaces of the factory, and I pause abruptly, hearing people right above me. Glancing up, I lower my body even further to reduce my chances of being seen. At the same time, I use my Ether to coat my body, eliminating all sound, smell, and vibrations from my movements.

My skin nearly jumps out of my flesh as shots echo out with painful moans. For a second, I worry that Wyatt is already taken out, but I shake my head. Even in a weaker body, he'd last longer than half a minute.

As the 'decoy' distracts and draws the attention of the guards, I move again stealthily along the edges of the factory. Shadows become my allies, concealing me as I dodge past sprinting guards, slipping into the narrow gaps between machinery and hugging the shadows of doorways. My heart races in tandem with the pounding footsteps around me.

While sprinting past a slightly open section of the factory, I halt due to the sounds on the other side of the door to my right. Slowly, I shift toward it, my body pressed against the cold metal of a door. Gunfire reverberates through the air, courtesy of Wyatt not too far, but that's the least of my worries.

A pair of mighty footsteps approach the door. Shit.

Seizing the moment, I leap to the ceiling, transforming into a wisp of gas to remain hidden. A guard storms out, a long chain-linked blade in hand. This one is different than all the others, though. It must be the owner or something. The scars on their face tell me they are by no means weak.

If Wyatt's decoy is to die to any of them, it'll be this one. Still...

I can hardly keep my Ether stable due to the situation. I'm not as experienced as Virgil is in all this. I've just done it a few times. That creepy bastard has probably done more missions like this than monsters I've even killed.

Nevertheless, I hold my breath, my form blending seamlessly with the shadows until he departs, leaving me an opportunity to slip into the room from which he emerged—labeled 'storage.'

Within, I search hastily, ducking and weaving to remain concealed from patrolling guards. However, as I dart through this section, there seems to be a far lower number of guards. The majority of them must be dealing with Wyatt.

The factory is a cacophony of gunfire and chaos, after all. He's still doing his part. Good. Seconds pass as I rapidly grow worried, but I locate the prime target before the bullets stop—the water tank. This unsuspecting container holds the key for the explosives remaining hidden for a long time.

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Who knows how long it'll be until Maddox strikes? We've only been here a day, but the man is already making remarkable progress through Qune. Elizabeth thinks he'll make it to the walls within the week. However, both she and Earl agree that he won't attack immediately.

Maddox will wait for another God to die, for when the chaos of a Godsfall wracks the lands and leaves them in confusion and disarray. Only then will Maddox Adkins attack.

I set the explosives in place with practiced precision, working swiftly to complete the mission. I've spent enough time with Earl and his tinkering creations to know my way around them. After all, I know I won't get much stronger than I am now.

The man is... he's more than just an intelligent mind. Not that I'll let him know that anytime soon. If I am to die, I'd rather it be without attachments. Hurts fewer people that way.

I shake my head as I focus wholly on my task instead of such unnecessary things. Another guard sprints past the room I'm in as I work, and I hide behind the tank. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to notice me at all. So, I quickly finish planting the charges that can be remotely detonated by having Wyatt cancel his 'Figment' or whatever he calls it that Earl put in the charge, keeping it from exploding.

The moment I do so, however, the gunfire stops. Sighing, I retreat into the shadows, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Shit. He's gone.

Not that we expected him to last this long, though. Still, I would have preferred more time. There are no windows or easy escapes this deep into the factory. Slow and steady.

I seriously hate that Virgil up and disappeared on us. I know he did it to become an Angel, but still.

This would be his time to fucking shine.

*************

Wyatt Graves

I cradle my head tightly as Earl places a cold pillow-like thing on my head. The pain of 'dying' from Insight seems to go beyond simply entering my mind. I can feel a pang from the depths of my soul, one that won't go away all too easily.

Grunting, I stand from our place in the cellar. I turn to Silas, who has his legs resting on an empty keg. The Undead man is far more relaxed than Elizabeth, who is carefully creating a map on the wall of Onxy Gate, or Earl, who is tinkering with the final aspects of the Jumpers.

"You and me are up next."

Silas nods. Then, he pulls out a coin from his pocket. The man sighs shortly before flipping the coin into the air.

"You owe me... ten thousand for this."

I laugh and cough at the same time and agree sheepishly. That's so much money... Still, no matter how much it would be, it would be worth it. There is a part we are still missing.

Aniwye.

"I Wish to find Aniwye Mhwee, the true form of the demon who raised Wyatt Graves."

The coin flies into the air, spinning rapidly before shifting colors and then settling the air with a dark bronze from the gold it once had. At the same time, I spot the shimmering coins along Silas fade away, sinking into his flesh.

Damn, his Sigil is weird. Shrugging, I take the Wished coin as he hands it to me with reverence. Silas clasps his hands around mine before tapping them roughly.

"Be careful. Do not be seen. And do not lose the coin. Any passing 5th or 6th Sigil could recognize the rarity of it while an Angel would instantly know it's a blooming Power."

I nod to Silas before creeping out of the cellar. The coin in my hand practically hauls me out of our hiding place, after all. While I depart, Elizabeth gives me a quick glance and a thumbs up. Her lips mouth a sentence as I gently close the cellar door of the family who has no idea we are even here.

"Find her."

I swirl Ether within my form to keep myself silent, wishing that I still had Adumbral. At the very least, though, I have enough skills to make up a bit for the loss of the Bulwark.

With the coin clenched tightly in my hand, I'm yanked through the city streets with a force that defies nature. Silas' Wishes are always odd, and this is no exception. Its relentless pull, paid for by thousands of coins worth of gold, propels me forward at inhuman speeds. Or, more so, I'm forced to not fall behind. Its actual pulling force is little; only its speed is dangerous.

I grit my teeth as I speed up to keep pace with it. Still, I have to be absurdly careful not to be seen. I slow down whenever I get close to any large buildings or groups of structures, but thankfully, the coin mainly carries me through unpopulated sections. My surroundings blur into streaks of color as I struggle to keep up without making so much of a racket I'd be found instantly.

The movements of the Wished coin are precise, leading me through the city with unwavering determination. It's a straight line, piercing through plains of grass, something I was unsure even existed within these great walls.

Still, I don't entirely dodge the city, for the true challenge lies not only in matching its incredible swiftness but also in avoiding prying eyes. I weave through alleys and side streets, taking advantage of the tumultuous environment that obscures my movements. Even in the depths of night, Onyx Gate is alive and breathing well.

Unlike most other places, the nightlife isn't filled with crime. I find people moving amongst their lives, laughing and living it up while I speed past. Newspapers fly up as I hurtle past a couple, but they don't even manage to spot me.

For a moment, I wonder what it'd have been like to have been born within these walls. What kind of person would I be? Would I be kind? Rude? Would I have ever even gotten a Sigil throughout my whole life or coasted on the efforts of others? I don't know, honestly. I don't hang onto the thought for very long, however, and focus on my goal.

Chaos reigns within the depths of the city. Primrose's stunt, with my help, didn't upturn the whole city, but it did enough that it increased the patrols within the heart of it, leaving the outer portions more susceptible. This is something that is only capable of happening since Maddox is so far away.

I'm almost certain, and so is Elizabeth, that if Eli doesn't believe any threats to be within Onyx Gate, all the available Sigileds will be sent to the walls to hold back Maddox.

Nevertheless, the coin pulls me in a direct line toward its target, and I fast find myself standing on the outskirts of a massive field. Trees dot the edge of the landscape, and a sprawl of buildings stands tall on the other side, something I can only see when my eyes are bolstered by Temper.

I take a moment here to catch my breath, assessing the situation. My muscles whine in protest as I hold the coin back from soaring forward, but I don't have a choice. Trees are over there, meaning Weiss has eyes there.

An Estate's living quarters and buildings must be over there. How clever. The Estates are surrounded by trees, giving Eli Weiss a clear view into their lives. Or at least there is a high chance that he can see through them. Many believe his Power lets him see through all trees, but I doubt its that extensive. He probably has to mark the trees or something. Regardless, I don't see a reason why these wouldn't be marked. They are in his territory after all.

What a forward-thinking man. I have to respect his intellect, even if I hate what he has done with it.

But... what do I do next?

I can't risk going toward those trees.

Sighing, I walk along on the far edge, barely able to see the trees at the end of my vision. Yet, no matter what side I go on of the Estate, there are trees. It is wholly protected by the twelfth Prime.

Damn.

What now?

I need in.

Hmm... Perhaps I need to think outside the box. If I can't go through the forest, can I go under? No. That'd take far too long. What then?

I squint my brows and think deeply. A dozen possibilities pass by my mind and are all rapidly crossed out except for one.

I could go over. If I go high enough, then the trees shouldn't be able to see me. The only problem would be the crash—and getting that high in the first place. Yet...

My Figments are far less restricted. Indeed, I could make a more extensive form of the Ballista and send myself into the air? Or is that suicidal?

I don't think so. The might of the Ballista, when enhanced by my new standing, is incredible, but I should be able to handle the force when sent into the air. As for landing, I can soften it with my chains by extending them to latch onto the centermost house.

There is no way I do this alone, though. I need Earl to figure out how to shoot myself over. Damn. Maybe things would be a bit easier if I was better at math. No. I'd have to be Earl-good to figure this shit out. I guess I'm heading back.

***************************

"You want to fly in there. From the air? From a Ballista?"

"Yes."

"Moron."

"Oh..."

"I've got a similar... but better idea. I'm sure it'll be just as fun as you imagined it to be."

***********************

The coin in my hand rumbles with unearthed potential as I keep it still. With my other hand, I carefully guide the Ether in my mind to create this... catapult, as Earl called it. It comprises five main parts, each using a Figment of my Madness. The pull on my Ether saturation is almost not worth it, but I push through, crafting the large construct.

It took me nearly six hours to memorize the structure he made within one.

Smart bastard. How does he even know how fast things fall?

So stupid.

Despite my faux anger, I smile and climb into the makeshift catapult. It's small and cramped, yet the power cannot be ignored. My old Ballista could probably send me hundreds of feet forward if all the energy was transferred properly.

This? This is gonna be fun, at the very least.

***************************

Not fun. Not fun. Not fun!

Spiraling in the air as I plummet with breathtaking speed toward the vast Estate sprawled below, I struggle to get a breath in. The world rushes past in a blur as I seize a quick note of the landscape, my eyes scanning the many buildings and the surrounding trees. Instinctively, I zero in on the most prominent structure at the heart of the Estate, surrounded by a thicket of trees.

I close in on the center place, attempting to get as far from the trees as possible. Ether blows out of my arms as I use Gaseous Ether for a slight push in the air.

A knot tightens in my stomach as I recall the last time I fell from such heights, an experience that nearly cost me my life. The memory lingers as I brace myself for impact. At the same time, I call for Blodwyn to do his thing.

Mute falls into place as I lose that extra sense of my own Ether. Just as one can hear one's own voice, I lose the ability to hear my own Ether, only becoming able to sense it while it is moving. Nonetheless, I don't falter or panic.

My body hurtles toward the chosen building, and in a planned but still desperate bid to control my descent, I extend chains from within me. The falsely real metallic tendrils snake out and latch onto the central structure, the largest one, arresting my downward trajectory.

The sudden resistance slows my fall just enough to alter the course of my descent. The building's exterior rushes past, and I brace for impact. In a last-ditch effort to minimize the inevitable collision, I release the chains, allowing myself to crash into a bundle of bushes instead.

The impact jolts through me, branches snapping and leaves rustling. A rush of pain courses through my body, but the alternative is far less forgiving.

My eyes scan my body as I feel my left leg jutting out in an odd position. Leaning back, I sigh while hidden within the foliage, breathing heavily. Blodwyn gets to work while I spend time simply breathing and listening.

The whole place seems quiet.

According to Earl's investigation when I saw him, this is the Shaw Estate, one of the oldest Estates to ever exist, dating back all the way to the time of the First. I don't know what secret has got them to be so influential even this many years after, but I know I won't underestimate them.

It is basically a requirement to have an Arca for an Estate to be one. So, I carefully rise to my feet as they are repaired and search for my mother.