Chapter 35 - Hidden From His Eyes

Mary and Yumiko rested in silence, waiting while Lukas lay unconscious. His chest rose and fell steadily, though his pale complexion betrayed his exhaustion. After what felt like an eternity, his eyes fluttered open.

“What’s going on?” he muttered groggily, sitting upright. A sharp wave of pain rippled through his body, causing him to wince.

Mary pointed toward the raised platform in the center of the cavernous room. “Now we grab our prize,” she said. “We didn’t want to do it without you—especially in case there’s a trap or... something worse waiting for us.”

Lukas’s gaze shifted, catching Yumiko sitting cross-legged across from him, her eyes shut and her breathing steady. Mary noticed his glance and offered a small smile.

“She managed to heal me a bit with what little mana she had left,” Mary explained softly. “She said to wake her as soon as you were up.”

Lukas reached down, brushing dried blood from his leather armor. “Let her rest,” he said, his voice firm but tired.

Mary chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “She was very clear. No delays. I’m going to trust her on this—I don’t like this place,” she admitted, her tone laced with unease. With a groan, she pushed herself upright and crossed to Yumiko. Gently, she shook her shoulder.

Yumiko jolted awake, her hand instinctively darting toward her kunai before realizing where she was. Mary raised her hands, palms open. “It’s alright,” she said soothingly.

Yumiko exhaled sharply, brushing a strand of dark hair from her face. “I had the nightmare again,” she murmured. Her voice trembled as she added, “Of the end of the world…”

She looked up, her gaze meeting Lukas’s icy blue eyes. For a moment, she braced herself for one of his cutting remarks, but he remained silent. The air between them was heavy, filled only with the distant echoes of dripping water.

Lukas finally broke the silence, his voice low. “Maybe... when we get this damn staff, I’ll start getting some answers from the two of you.”

Mary stepped forward, offering Yumiko her hand. “I think we’d all like that, right, Yumiko?”

Yumiko hesitated, staring at the outstretched hand before taking it with a faint smile. “Yes,” she said simply. With Mary’s help, she rose to her feet. Together, they turned their attention to the platform and the object hovering above it: the serpent staff.

The trio moved cautiously, weaving their way through the rubble of shattered stone and fallen boulders scattered across the chamber floor. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they ascended the steps leading to the platform.

When they reached the top, the staff came into full view. It was a masterpiece of craftsmanship: a sleek metallic shaft wrapped in the form of an intricate serpent, its coils frozen mid-slither. Twin golden mana crystals, embedded in the serpent’s eye sockets, emitted a faint, hypnotic glow that pulsed like a heartbeat.

Yumiko glanced nervously at her companions. The staff was mesmerizing, but there was something foreboding about its presence. Her fingers itched to reach out, but doubt gnawed at her confidence.

Lukas met her uncertain gaze and gave her a slight nod. “Go ahead,” he said, his voice steady. “We’re with you this time.”

Hearing those words from Lukas felt strange yet oddly comforting to Yumiko. His support, however understated, gave her the courage she needed. With slow, deliberate movements, she reached out, her hands trembling slightly as they hovered over the serpent staff.

As her fingers wrapped around the cold, intricately carved surface, a faint hum vibrated through her palms, resonating with an otherworldly energy. The sensation was both mesmerizing and unsettling. Pulling the staff close to her chest, she suddenly vanished before Lukas and Mary’s eyes.

Mary stumbled back, her heart racing. “Where did she go?” she cried, spinning around to scan the chamber.

“Was she teleported?” Lukas muttered, his sharp eyes darting around the room. His hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, his arm shaking ever so slightly from his injuries.

“Yumiko!” Mary shouted, her voice tinged with panic as she turned frantically, searching for any sign of their missing companion. “Where did you go?”

“This might be another test,” Lukas said, scanning the room.

“Yumiko!” Mary called again, desperation creeping in.

A sudden, inexplicable tug on Mary’s arm made her gasp and whirl around. Nothing was there. Before she could say anything, Yumiko reappeared, her expression troubled and her breaths shallow as if she had just run a great distance.

Both Mary and Lukas froze, staring at her in disbelief.

“Where did you go?” Mary asked, her voice a mixture of relief and bewilderment.

Yumiko exhaled deeply, clutching the staff tighter. “Thank the gods... You can see me now. I never left. I was here the whole time, but...” She hesitated, looking down at the staff’s glowing mana crystals. “You couldn’t see or hear me. It’s like I was... erased from your world.”

Her voice softened as she added, “This staff... I think it has the same power as the snake—whoever wields it becomes invisible and silent. Completely undetectable.”

Mary raised a brow, her lips tightening. “So you never really left the room?”

Yumiko shook her head. Before she could elaborate, a voice echoed in Mary’s and Yumiko’s minds—a calm, ethereal whisper:

“Champions, you have won the staff, congratulations. Have everyone grab it… I wish to say some things to you all, and I want Lukas to hear as well. Please… I will explain what I can.”

The two women exchanged wide-eyed glances. Without a word, Yumiko stretched the staff out between them, her hands steady despite the unease in her gaze. “Lukas, grab the staff,” she said softly.

Lukas hesitated, his eyes narrowing at the artifact. He glanced at Mary, who gave him a reassuring nod.

“We might finally get some answers,” she said, smiling faintly as she wrapped her fingers around the staff. “Let’s play along.”

With a reluctant sigh, Lukas reached out, his hand trembling as it closed around the staff. The moment his skin touched the metal, the voice spoke again, this time directly to him:

“No matter what happens, don’t let go.”

Before anyone could question the warning, the world around them began to shift violently. The walls of the chamber seemed to twist and ripple like water, pulling and distorting into an impossible spiral.

A deafening roar of rushing wind filled the air as the ground beneath their feet vanished. They were falling—or at least it felt that way—as they were dragged into a vortex of blinding colors and streaking lights.

Yumiko squeezed her eyes shut against the chaotic brilliance, her knuckles whitening as she clung to the staff. Mary held on tightly, her teeth clenched as the sensation of weightlessness overtook her. Lukas, though silent, gritted his teeth and tightened his grip as the gale howled past them.

They were caught in a storm of swirling energy, tumbling endlessly through an otherworldly void.

Yumiko’s heart pounded in her chest as she tightened her grip on the staff, its cold surface grounding her amidst the chaos. Then, as abruptly as it began, the howling wind ceased. An unnatural stillness descended, filling the air with a sense of emptiness so profound it seemed to hum in her ears.

The trio looked around, taking in their surroundings. They stood in a serene, endless meadow of soft, swaying grass. A surreal orange glow bathed the land, as though the sun was caught in perpetual sunrise. Above them, stars still glittered in the heavens, undisturbed by the rising light. Everything around them was eerily still, as if the world had paused in mid-breath.

“So, you’ve made it,” a familiar ethereal voice said. This time, it didn’t echo in their minds but came from somewhere directly ahead.

Ahead, a figure bathed in radiant light stood waiting. The light wasn’t blinding; instead, it was warm and comforting, like stepping into the embrace of a long-lost friend. Despite its brilliance, the figure’s features remained indistinct, but Lukas felt an unsettling familiarity stir within him.

“Who… who are you?” Mary asked, her voice tinged with awe. “Are you the one who’s been speaking to Yumiko and me?”

The figure remained silent for a moment before responding, its voice calm and steady. “Yes.”

Lukas’s jaw tightened, his expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. He couldn’t hold back. “You’ve been talking to them all this time? Why the secrecy? Why the cryptic riddles?” His tone sharpened as he added, “Who do you think you are?”

“Lukas!” Mary snapped, shooting him a sharp glare. “Don’t speak to her like that!”

“And why not?” Lukas countered, his voice rising. “This is the reason you two almost died! She’s been feeding you half-truths and vague warnings, and now we’re just supposed to trust her?”

Yumiko interjected softly, her voice firm but calm. “That’s not true, Lukas. She’s shown me glimpses—visions. I’ve been here before, a few weeks ago.” She turned to the glowing figure, her gaze steady. “The reason you were silent back then and most of this time… is because of Meino, right?”

“Yes,” the figure replied. “Meino... the Destroyer. The God of Darkness. He is cunning, dangerous, and ever-watchful. I’ve had to act cautiously to avoid drawing his attention.”

Lukas scoffed, his frustration boiling over. “This is ridiculous. If everything was such a big secret, why are you suddenly so eager to talk now?”

The glowing figure extended a pale, slender hand from the light, pointing at the staff clutched in Yumiko’s grasp. “Because that staff—the Serpent’s Staff—hides its wielder. It renders you invisible and inaudible to all, even to the gods.”

“The gods couldn’t care less about us mortals,” Lukas muttered, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips.

“Lukas!” Mary’s sharp tone cut through his cynicism, her eyes narrowing in warning.

“In a sense, he is correct,” the voice replied, calm and measured, as if unbothered by Lukas’s defiance. “The gods have grown distant as time marches on, their focus shifting away from the mortal realm. However, it is not their absence that endangers you, but those who would see it exploited.”

Mary frowned, her expression caught between concern and confusion. “Exploited? You mean Meino.”

“Not just Meino,” Yumiko interjected, her voice quieter but tinged with alarm. “It sounds like there are… others?”

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The radiant figure tilted its head slightly, the light shimmering around it as though pondering how much to reveal. “Yes. Meino is not the only threat. There are others who seek to tip the balance, to feed on chaos and reshape existence in their image. But Meino’s reach is unique. Through the eyes of his children, he watches the world unfold, listens to its secrets, and plans his rise.”

The figure began to move, its luminous form gliding gracefully around the trio. The motion seemed effortless, almost hypnotic, as though every step was calculated. “Yet here, you are hidden. The staff shields you from his gaze, masking you from his mark. That is why I can speak freely now. In this moment, you are safe—but it will not last.”

Yumiko tightened her grip on the staff, her knuckles whitening. “So… he could be watching us at any other time?”

“Precisely,” the voice said. “He sees through his chosen, his children, and anything they touch. Without the staff, you would be laid bare to his gaze. Their powers, gifted by Meino, offer them Fearful Sight.”

“Fearful Sight?” Mary asked, frowning.

The figure’s voice grew heavier, its tone grave. “Yes. Their eyes spread terror, paralyzing even the bravest of foes. They can sense mana, predicting their opponents’ magic before they attack. They can also identify divine magic, tracking it to its source. That is why they are so dangerous. They are Meino’s most loyal tools of destruction.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Yumiko pointed to her shoulder, her brow furrowed with concern. “Vanessa said she could see divine magic here—by my ear. That’s from when you spoke to me and Mary, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” the voice confirmed, steady but solemn. “The Eyes of Meino can perceive divine magic. What they see is relayed to him. It is dangerous... and now, it cannot be undone.”

Before anyone could respond, a portal shimmered into existence before the group. The glowing edges pulsated softly as an image began to take shape within.

The scene depicted the mouth of a familiar cave. Emerging from the shadows was a figure—a woman with wild, blonde hair matted with blood. Her armor was battered, her movements labored as she limped forward, her face set in determined fury.

“Vanessa Koroleva, the one you fought bravely against,” the voice said. “She lives. It will be short until she returns to her comrades.”

Mary clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as her frustration boiled over. “Then we leave now. We can find her before she has the chance to report back. We kill her—”

“No,” the voice interrupted, firm but calm. “Meino is already aware. He was alerted the moment Ronan fell… She was watching you from the shadows even after the fight. She knows you have the staff now. Meino knows that there are those that oppose him.”

The portal shifted, the image dissolving into swirling light before settling again, this time showing a dark, grim chamber. Chains hung loosely from the walls, and in the center was a man bound tightly. His long, unkempt hair obscured his face, his head slumped forward in exhaustion or despair. His body shook in rage as he breathed.

Lukas’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes narrowing in recognition. Something about the man struck a deep, visceral chord within him.

Yumiko, meanwhile, studied the surroundings with growing unease. “I’ve seen this place before…” she murmured, her voice almost a whisper. “It’s the hell prison. The same one I saw when... when you first brought me there.”

Lukas gritted his teeth, his jaw tight as tension radiated from his body. “Who is Meino?” he demanded, his voice sharp and laced with anger.

“How many times must I tell you!” Mary snapped, her tone harsh. “Stop talking to her like that!”

But Lukas didn’t even turn to her, his breathing ragged. “I know him… somehow. I know him,” he said through gritted teeth, his voice strained.

Suddenly, he staggered, clutching his head as if something inside was breaking free. A powerful tremor coursed through his body, radiating into the air around him.

Mary and Yumiko exchanged alarmed glances, their unease mirrored in the growing tension in the air. It wasn’t just heavy—it felt alive, rippling with a raw, chaotic energy that seemed to pulse outward from Lukas.

Yumiko staggered, her vision swimming as the force pressed against her chest like an invisible weight. It was more than just power; it was hauntingly familiar. A strange ache bloomed in her chest, as though she were mourning something she couldn’t remember. She clung to the staff, her knuckles white, trying to steady herself.

“This power… why does it feel like I’ve seen it before?” The thought slipped unbidden into her mind, accompanied by a deep, gnawing sorrow.

“Lukas!” Mary called, her voice edged with urgency as she stepped forward. “What’s happening to him?”

“He will be fine so long as he calms down.” The ethereal voice cut through the tension like a knife. She turned to the blonde man, “In time, you will understand. But for now, I ask you to be patient.”

“No!” Lukas roared, his voice a thunderclap that sent ripples through the charged atmosphere. “I want to know! I need to know now!” His blue eyes burned, wild and desperate. “That man… Meino… He feels the same as the one I’ve been searching for!”

The light of the holy spirit dimmed slightly, as though the weight of Lukas’s demand had pressed against it. “There are procedures,” it said at last, the voice steady but carrying a note of regret. “Meino is cunning. He glimpses the future, shaping his plans before you can act. Even now, he prepares his next move. Should you act rashly, you will fail. You will die. And everything—all you have fought for, all that has brought you together—will be undone.”

Lukas staggered, a sudden searing pain splitting through his head. His sword began to glow faintly, responding to the storm of power roiling inside him. His vision blurred, and then—like a dam breaking—images flooded his mind.

He saw a golden field drenched in blood, the earth scorched and blackened by fire. Armies clashed beneath a storm-darkened sky, lightning illuminating faces twisted in fear and determination. The wind howled, carrying the cries of the fallen as rain lashed down in torrents. At the center of it all, Lukas stood, wielding a blade wreathed in golden light. Across from him, a figure loomed, his dark form radiating malice as an army of shadow surged behind him.

Lukas gasped, clutching his head as the vision burned itself into his memory. He staggered forward, his knees buckling beneath the weight of it. “What… what is this?” he managed to choke out, his voice trembling.

Meanwhile, Yumiko swayed, the oppressive energy emanating from Lukas washing over her like a tidal wave. Her heart raced as fragments of something buried deep within her mind began to surface—fleeting, blurry images of despair and loss. The power pouring out of Lukas made her stomach churn, filling her with a dread she couldn’t explain.

“Mary…” she whispered, her voice faint, her grip on the staff tightening as her legs threatened to give out.

Mary darted to her side, wrapping an arm around her to keep her steady. “Yumiko, hey—it’s okay. You’re going to be alright,” she said, though her own voice was trembling. The staff between them pulsed faintly, as though it, too, was straining under the weight of Lukas’s growing power.

“No, she is not alright,” the holy spirit interjected, its voice soft but unyielding. “She is reflecting.”

Mary’s brow furrowed in confusion as she looked up at the radiant figure. “Reflecting? What does that mean?”

The spirit’s glow dimmed slightly, as though it carried the burden of the truth. “Reflections of the past stir within them both—fragments of a cycle that has played out countless times before. Their souls remember what their minds do not.”

Yumiko’s grip on the staff tightened further, her face pale and strained. She felt a deep sadness swelling within her, an unshakable certainty that they had been here before. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, “Why does it feel like this has already happened?”

The holy spirit exhaled, its voice tinged with sorrow. “Because in a way, it has.”

She closed the portal, removing Meino from their sight. The figure extended a hand, her radiant light intensifying as it washed over Lukas and Yumiko. “Soothing,” she whispered, the word like a balm.

In an instant, the tension in Lukas’s body eased, and Yumiko’s trembling subsided. Both exhaled deeply, their chaotic emotions replaced by a sense of calm clarity.

“What… What was all that?” Lukas asked, shaking his head.

“You wondered why I never spoke to you directly, Lukas,” the voice continued, addressing him now. “It is because your purpose, like theirs, is vital. All of you have been chosen. Yumiko, the brave—my tactful archer. Mary, the resourceful—my voice of reason. And Lukas, the strong—my unbreakable sword. Together, you are called to stop Meino.”

The figure stopped before the group, “You may ask why he must be stopped? Because Meino is the incarnate of darkness. Hatred. Evil. Above all, he has committed the greatest of sins.”

“Killing a god, right?” Yumiko interjected, her voice quiet but steady.

The light flickered briefly, as though taken aback by Yumiko’s insight. “Yes,” the voice admitted, subdued. “Meino killed someone dear to many in Heaven. For that crime, he was cast into Hell. But he is cunning… and relentless. He is already laying the groundwork to escape his prison. His plans hinge on his children—his chosen.”

Mary’s eyes shifted to the staff, its intricate snake design glowing faintly. “The staff. They wanted this desperately.”

The voice responded, her tone heavy. “It is but one of many. Meino’s chosen are gathering artifacts—powerful relics forged with divine magic. Each one brings them closer to achieving his goal.”

“These artifacts…” Yumiko’s voice wavered as her gaze swept across the timeless landscape, frozen in an eerie stillness. “They must be incredibly powerful. If they’re using them to attack others, they may be unstoppable.”

The ethereal voice exhaled softly, as though burdened. “They are powerful, yes. But the truth is, Meino’s children don’t intend to wield most of these artifacts directly. Their purpose is far darker—they seek to use them to open portals to Hell.”

Lukas narrowed his cold blue eyes at the shimmering light. “Portals to Hell. So, they’ll use these tools to free their master. How exactly do they plan to do it?”

The light pulsed faintly, a flicker of hesitation. “I don’t fully understand the mechanisms behind their magic. But I do know this: they are relentless in their pursuit. Only weeks ago, there was a massacre off the waters near Ferloch. Have you heard of it?”

“Of course,” Lukas replied flatly. His gaze flicked briefly to Yumiko. “That disaster is what drove me to Torrwr—and her to follow me.”

The voice seemed to soften. “Then you’ll know the gravity of what I’m about to tell you. One of Meino’s children was responsible. That child sank three battleships and two smaller escorts, slaughtering all aboard, some were level thirteen guild members. They did this for three artifacts. That child is far stronger than the ones you’ve faced so far.”

Mary stiffened, her heart pounding. A bead of sweat traced its way down her temple. “And you think we can take someone like that on?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Not as you are now,” the voice admitted. “And not alone. But together, with time and preparation, you can. You’ve proven today that you’re capable of overcoming them. Stand united, and you stand a chance. Have faith—not just in yourselves, but in me as well.”

Lukas scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. “Faith? Big words coming from someone we’ve never seen. If you want us to trust you, why hide behind all this light? Show yourself. Or are you afraid of what we might see?”

Mary shot him an irritated glare and elbowed him sharply. He returned her look with icy defiance.

The light pulsed again, this time with a note of resolve. “You’re right to question,” the voice said calmly. “Perhaps I’ve erred by remaining shrouded. Every encounter requires adjustment; the future is ever-shifting.”

Slowly, the light began to fade, its brilliance softening until a figure emerged. A woman stepped forward, her platinum hair streaked with white, cascading like liquid silver over her shoulders. Her face was calm, her features ethereal yet unmistakably mortal. Golden eyes, warm and piercing, regarded the group with a quiet intensity.

“I am Sofia,” she said, her voice steady and clear. “Some know me as Sofia the Oracle.”

Yumiko gasped, her hands trembling around the staff. “Y-you… you’re a god?”

Sofia’s lips curled into a gentle smile. “Surely you’ve entertained that thought,” she said, her tone teasing but kind. Slowly, the smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. “But no. I am not a god. I am merely a guide, a watchful eye. My purpose is to protect those I hold dear and to safeguard mortal lives against the darkness.”

Before anyone could respond, a sharp crack resounded through the stillness, like a thunderclap tearing the frozen sky. The sound reverberated, unnatural and foreboding.

Sofia’s golden eyes flicked upward, her expression unchanging. “So,” she murmured, her voice now laced with quiet resolve. “Even now, his eyes seek to find us. Even with the staff acting as a shroud… What power.”

Mary’s eyes darted upward as more fissures spiderwebbed across the twilight-frozen sky. Each crack seemed alive, pulsating with a menacing energy that made her stomach twist. “Meino?” she asked, her voice taut with unease.

Sofia gave a solemn nod, her golden eyes narrowing as another resounding crack echoed across the frozen landscape. “Yes. Even though the staff is shielding us, his awareness is growing. We don’t have much time. I must send you back to the cave before his gaze fully pierces this place.”

Her gaze softened as she looked at each of them in turn, her expression tinged with urgency and regret. “Listen to me carefully. I will guide you when I can, but his watch is ever-present. Use the staff to call to me if needed, but understand—there will be times when I cannot answer. His eyes and ears are relentless. Be patient. Be hopeful”

Yumiko clutched the staff tightly, her knuckles white. “What are we supposed to do?” she asked, her voice trembling as the sky above groaned, another deafening crack splitting the stars. “What are we looking for?”

Sofia’s expression grew wistful, even apologetic. “Your next steps will lead you to two items: a lucky rabbit’s foot and the voice of souls. These are crucial to the path ahead. I will explain more when it is safe, but for now, you must trust yourselves and the hints I will leave behind. Stay vigilant.”

A thunderous shatter reverberated through the stillness as a jagged piece of the sky broke free, descending with terrifying speed. It hit the grassy plain with the force of a falling star, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The serene beauty of the frozen landscape fractured in an instant.

Sofia raised her hand calmly, her movements precise and deliberate despite the chaos unfolding around them. “Go now!” she commanded, her voice steady as she snapped her fingers.

The world around them exploded into a whirlwind of light and sound. The trio was pulled back into the swirling vortex they had arrived through, the sensation of being yanked through space overwhelming their senses.

Moments later, the vortex spat them out unceremoniously, dropping them onto the damp, mossy ground of the Evergreen Forest. They tumbled and sprawled across the forest floor, the cacophony of the vortex replaced by the familiar rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds.