“Ha! Ya must be wonderin’ how someone as brilliant as me ended up in this here joint. Well, c’mon then. I know ya wanna hear it. It’s itchin’ in the back of yer mind, fer sure. I can tell…”

“Eh… What? Are you talking to me?”

Shadows obscure the dirty jail cell, as the newly arrived inmate beckons to his fellow prisoner. It is hard for the other to tell, but the newcomer has a mischievous grin planted on his face.

“Course I am! Ya don’t see nobody else here I’d be chattin’ it up with, now do ya?”

“Er, no…”

“That’s right, that’s right. Two to a room they told me, an’ threw me in this here dump with you. Oh, by the way, sorry fer meddlin’ with yer solitude an’ all, my friend.”

“No worries. I was just feeling a bit bored, myself. The name’s Hartharus, but people just call me Goer.”

With that, the man called Goer reaches out one of his long, rugged arms in a friendly gesture. Seeing this, the newcomer reciprocates by vigorously clasping it, and giving it a generous shake.

“Goer it is, then. Ah, my name’s Barty, just so ya know. People also call me Barty, so I guess Barty’ll have to do, my friend. Heheh.”

Leaving those words, Barty takes a seat on the long bench attached to the wall, opposite the bunk beds. Having his curiosity peaked, Goer decides to humor this awkward, yet not unlikable man.

“You’re right though, I am wondering.”

‘Clap!’

“I knew it! Yes, I pegged ya for a genuine bloke, I did, I did. Anyways, it’s like this, see, long story short, I just love puzzles! I can’t get enough of ‘em, fer sure, but that’s not the good part, no sir.”

In collaboration with his Gatling-like storytelling, Barty weaves frantic hand movements to and fro, causing a distracting display. His words all blend together in his unparalleled haste.

“I also heard the king of this here kingdom has a beauty of a treasure, that he locks away, nice an’ tight in his vault, I did. So, I thought I’d like to crack me that there vault, an’ low and behold, I ended up in here.”

“You tried to rob the king!?”

“What? No! I cracked the vault. I don’t need no pile of useless coins or dirty rocks. Were ya even listnin’, huh? I love puzzles!”

Offended, Barty throws his hands in the air, while Goer simply looks on in confusion. To him, it makes little sense for Barty to have broken into the most highly guarded vault in the entire kingdom, just for the challenge. Especially if he is going to end up in jail because of it.

“Wait, so did you actually manage to break in, or did you get caught before you were able to?”

“Ha! Of course, I did! Just who do ya think I am, some kinda crackpot ninny!? There’s no puzzle I can’t solve, none!”

Standing abruptly, Barty turns his back to Goer, and in a show of displeasure, crosses his arms, and taps his left foot. Though the act is only a childish gesticulation, somehow, it still has an effect on his fellow inmate.

“Ok, ok, I get it. But really, how in the world did you even manage to accomplish something like that? I mean, getting past the guards alone is a scary thought, but breaking into the king’s vault as well is just insane!”

“That’s a trade secret, it is. Ain’t nobody gettin’ it outa me, I swear. I’ll take it to the grave, ya hear, the grave!”

“Uh huh…”

The turnaround emotions Barty sporadically displays, although dizzying and a bit over-the-top, almost fit his character too much. Pride, stoicism, outrage, everything seems to boil beneath the surface, ready to pop out at the slightest provocation. Goer, on the other hand, only shows disappointment at being shut out.

“Hmmm… In that case, would it even be possible for you to break out of a joint like this…? Like, the whole thing, unnoticed even?”

This presumptive statement makes Barty’s eyebrow twitch involuntarily, as he places his linked hands in front of his mouth in abstraction. Once again taking a seat on the bench, he thoughtfully digests the question.

“Does that mean yer lookin fer me to bust us both outta here at the same time, like?”

An overly scrutinizing glare supplants his earlier outgoing attitude, causing Goer’s answer to stall for a few moments. Goer can almost feel Barty’s eyes sizing him up from across the room.

“Er… Well… Yeah, I guess. Could you do it?”

“He… Hehe… Hyahehahaha!! Yer a real dog if I ever saw one, fer sure! A dog with a straight up backbone on ya! No cure fer this! Hyahehaha…”

Taking a few moments to catch his breath, Barty reorganizes himself, before he looses a fearless grin…

“You’ll just have to find out, won’t ya?”

------------

At first, I thought he was some kind of flake, but I guess this happy-go-lucky windbag might actually be of some use. The way he picked the lock on the cell door was like magic, I mean, I still don’t even understand how he did it.

After he stomped one of the guards while they weren’t looking, he got a couple of keys, which worked to unlock the door to get out of the cell block area. Even when a guard with a pistol caught us in the hallway, he still managed to take him out in one hit; He’s got reflexes like a damn cat!

But what surprises me the most, is how laid back he is about all this; It’s like he knows what’s coming or something. I’m so nervous I can hardly concentrate. But this Barty guy’s leading the way, taking care of the guards, handling the locks, and still has enough attention to keep a lookout.

Like this, I have no doubts he’ll get us out of here. In fact, I can’t imagine how he even got caught breaking into the king’s vault in the first place; He’s just that good…

“Listen, Barty… Are we almost at the access hanger?”

“Yessir! Down the next hallway, I’d say. Better be quiet about it though, there’s loads of rowdy blokes ‘round here, fer sure.”

“Uh huh… Got it, but are you sure we can make it out of here through such a crowded area? Do you have a plan?”

It’s not that I don’t trust him. I mean, I’ve seen his work, but still… Living the life I’ve lived, you learn to always be extra cautious of who you do business with, especially in a situation like this.

If he has some sort of plan then all the better. But if not, I may need to rethink this whole operation. I’d rather stay in this rathole, then get shot while trying to escape. The problem is…

“Barty…”

“Shh! I’m concentratin’…”

“Hmph…”

So the fool was just winging it this whole time!? I don’t know whether to be impressed or just pissed off. I’ve been seen by some of these guards we’ve been toppling like flies, so even if I were to go back to my cell after all this time, I’d still end up in hot water.

What is this guy even doing, clenching his eyes tight like that…? He never makes any sense…

“Got it!!”

“Wha!?”

Gods! That scared the life out of me. We’re pretty close to the hanger, so I hope no guards heard us. Maybe we should turn back just in case they come looking. Awwww! I just don’t know anymore!

“Six, fer sure…”

“Six? Six what?”

“The guards, Goer, the guards! There’s six of ‘em in total; three inside the hanger, and three guardin’ the drop-off area.”

“Six guards!? How in Gods are we supposed to make it past six guards without getting caught, or worse, killed!? They have pistols and clubs, Barty! I doubt even you could take on six pistols at once.”

“What kind of idiot would take ‘em all on at once? No Sir! Gotta death-wish, or somethin’, Goer? We’re gonna take ‘em out, one at a time. Nice an’ easy like. Ya got that?”

“Oh… Yeah… That makes sense…”

What was I even thinking!? I’m glad at least someone knows what they’re doing. I’ve got to think more carefully, or I’m going to get us both killed.

“So… How are we going to separate them? We can’t just sneak up and bash them, or the others will see it.”

“Hehehe. Well… Just leave it to me…”

Hmph, I guess that’s fine. He is great at this sort of thing, and I’d probably get in his road, anyways. I’ll just do as he says, for now… I still don’t get how he thinks this is going to work though.

While I’m wondering about it, Barty starts to move. The hallway we’re in is the bottom part of a “T” hallway, and Barty takes the path to the left, which leads to the hanger. He sneaks through the hall like a master thief, totally quiet, and stops right at the corner in front of the doors.

“This guy’s crazy…”

If I were to try that, I’d definitely be caught. So instead, I wait. Unlike him, I’m no thief, just your run-of-the-mill murderer, but that doesn’t mean I’m useless. In a brawl without weapons, I’m sure I could knock a few of these guards around… Not all six at once though.

When I take a peek around the corner, Barty is just listening to the guards on the other side of the door. If he doesn’t hurry up, a guard could come from behind and ruin his whole plan.

Just as I was thinking that he turns to me and pops a toothy grin, so I guess he’s heard whatever it is that he was listening for. Does that mean we can finally do this thing?

Then it happens… Barty hears something that changes everything…

Barty’s smile suddenly fades, his face becomes limp, and his eyes become cold and dead. For some reason, he begins walking back towards me. His entire mood completely changes. No, this can’t even be called Barty anymore.

This is giving me the creeps…

“Hey, Barty… What’s wrong?”

He doesn’t even react to my question, just stares into the distance with his empty eyes. It’s a few seconds before he bothers to give me an answer, but it is not what I’m hoping for.

“Well now, it seems there’s been a slight change of plans. I’m afraid we’ll have to go our separate ways; A minor inconvenience. You know how the world is; Quite a busy place, I must say. I’m sure you’ll understand. Fare Thee Well.”

His attitude, voice, and even his accent is totally changed. There is no way this guy is the same person as before…

Turning on his heels, Barty is about to leave, when I grab him by the right shoulder. He’s not going anywhere until he tells me what’s going on.

“Wait! What are you talking about!? Where are you go… Uragh!?”

Before I can finish my question, I feel a sudden blast of pain in my left knee, causing me to fall to the floor. My mind goes blank from the endless burning, as I roll on the ground, grasping my knee.

‘Kkhhrraaarrggghhh!!!’

It hurts so much, I can’t help but scream out in pain, even with guards so close by. What the fuck happened to me!?

Helpless tears blur my eyes, but I’m somehow able to check my knee, spotting the problem. There’s a finger-sized hole going right through it, with burned skin around the outside. For the love of Gods! The hole even goes through the damn floor!

‘Nnnnrgh!’

“Can we please be civilized about this? I do not wish further harm upon someone who can barely walk. Hmmhmhmhmhm.”

“I… It was you!?”

“How astute we are! You do realize it’s only you and I here, do you not? Why don’t I spell it out for you? You’ve been shot in the back, so to speak. Now then, I have business to attend to, so, if you’ll excuse me…”

Shot in the back…? Betrayed…? You mean, this bastard’s been playing me for a fool this whole time!? Son of a bitch!!

I’d always thought he was strange, but I’d never felt he was untrustworthy… Which is kind of weird now that I think about it. So I’ve been strung along from the very start, and now he’s just going to leave me out to dry…? No fucking way!!

“WAIT!! Get back here you slimy bastard! If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me! Ugh! GUARDS!! A PRISONER HAS ESCAPED!!!”

Ha! Good luck getting away now, you backstabbing prick!

“Oh my. You shouldn’t have done that. And here I was, showing you mercy and everything… How foolish… Let’s make a mental note of this, shall we… Always tie up loose ends.”

The guards take almost no time finding us. It’s scary to think that this could have happened at any moment, had we only been a bit louder. Actually, why didn’t they hear my yelp from earlier?

Pistols at the ready, they line up at each end of the t-shaped hallway, blocking off all escape. Three guards from the hallway to the left, three guards from the hallway to the right, and two guards behind us. We’re completely surrounded…

But something feels off… Come to think of it, how did he manage to make the hole in my leg in the first place?

“Get your hands up, prisoner! Don’t even think of pulling any funny business! We’ll shoot you if we have to!”

“How prudent…”

Seemingly listening to the guards, Barty puts his hands above his head. If he just gives up now and gets caught, I can rest easy, knowing I’ve returned the favor. But the movement doesn’t end there. Linking them together, he makes the shape of a pistol with his hands, and after a painfully loud sound, the guards drop to the floor.

‘Pah!!’

“… But, know your boundaries.”

All of the guards have died, somehow shot straight through their heads, while Barty is totally unharmed. Dusting off his shoulders, he then turns to me causing my blood to turn cold…

“Slimy bastard, was it? There’s no need for name-calling, is there? I thought we were friends…”

“H-how…?”

What is happening here? Am I dreaming?

“I’m afraid not. From the look of agony on your face, I think it’s safe to rule out you having merely dreamt this whole thing, wouldn’t you say so? Hmhmhm…”

Huh…? Did he just read my mind?

“No, fool… You display your thoughts upon your face, clear as day. Cold reading is child’s play, for someone like me. This, of course, is of little importance to you, I suppose… As you will soon be dead.”

“What did you say!? You son of a bitch! Fuck you!!”

“Whatever you say…”

‘Pah!’

…

------------

Being left with nothing in this foreign world was a tragic miscalculation on my part; A treachery upon me, if nothing else. But I can manage, I always do.

The first order of business was to build a foundation of knowledge, upon which I could oversee this bountiful new realm. Though this proved almost impossible in the trough called a town where I had arrived.

The petty townspeople were of absolutely no assistance, leading meager lives of paltry. But eventually, I heard tell that the king of this kingdom covets a treasure of great importance. Something about it being able to make him almost, if not equally as powerful, as the self-titled Gods of this world.

Gods and kings and treasure… Such a quaint little fairy tale. Even the people were abominable bastardizations, that little resembled humans, save for the general shape. Fantasy and fiction wholly resided among the populous.

So I went there, to see this great treasure of which they spoke. Passing through the rather lax security, and opening the ancient looking vault was simple enough if only to be sorely disappointed in the end. Apart from the typical coffers, you might expect in a royal vault, there was nothing worth mentioning… Almost nothing, that is.

The most extravagant goblet one could even imagine, upon which jewels of radiating beauty shone like stars brought from the night sky. Every articulate detail had been meticulously crafted to the extent that the golden goblet had not a flat surface to be seen.

The contents, a crimson liquid, glowed with a supernatural sheen, and an effervescent life broiled from beneath. Though it was clearly the blood of man, it was mesmerizingly enticing, drawing me ever nearer.

You could say it was pure whim, or the accumulation of the stress and boredom, since the time I’d come to this world until that moment. Thus, I drank of the goblet’s contents, and it was then that I felt the intangible essence become one with my body.

It was overwhelming like my soul was being fettered to the endless abyss of the cosmos. Trapped in a constant stream of flowing particles, as they ripped and tore at my flesh, dragging me into the darkest recesses of time and space.

I was not prepared for the devastating force it entailed, but I held fast in its wake. Whatever it was attempting to do to me, I had prevailed over it, and now I’d received an almighty power as my reward.

Being sent to jail had been a minor setback. But because of this, I was able to overhear the foolish guard mention the arrival of a so-called vampire noble; Just the intriguing prospect I’d been searching for.

Taking care of the few loose ends that had cropped up, turned out to be a negligible feat. This is only to be expected of this new, chaotic power I hold in my hands.

It took me quite some time to figure out the specifics, during which I’d chortled alongside that ignorant fellow, but eventually, I got the hang of it. The science behind it is rather fascinating, I must say.

In this case, I fashioned a low-energy particle beam, using my fingertip as the initial point. But, even though I’d tried to output the minimum amount of energy, it cleanly shot through the floor, and further into the solid ground, about six meters deep. I’ll have to do some serious work on the mechanics if I am to be able to use this in a tight situation.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

So… Now that these pathetic fools are dead, I must rid myself of the bodies, lest they are found by any passersby. If they should warn my target of this whole situation, it is highly probable that he may abscond to a safer place.

A simple particle beam will be of no use in disposing of these bodies, but I believe I have another solution to this problem. The first time is always the most troublesome, of this I am sure…

“Hmnnnrrgh… Ha! Prometheus has descended upon man, once again!”

I’ve created fire out of thin air, sort of…

“Hmm… I wonder what causes it to be black like so…? Oooh, I see!”

Much to my surprise, rather than creating fire, like I was expecting, I’ve produced something akin to anti-fire; The combustion of antimatter. The resulting reaction burns, but does not give off light. How devilishly uncanny.

Be that as it may, the bodies are still engulfed in flames, becoming ash, which in turn disappears, taking the black fire along with it. I’m very pleased with this unforeseen outcome. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to dwell on how it is that this miraculous ability works.

My target will come and go before I arrive if I don’t make haste. For something as interesting as that, it would be a shame if I were to miss it, don’t you think? I certainly do…

It takes next to no effort to make my way to the room in question. I have now become akin to deadly artillery, after all. Even so, I cross paths with only a single infantry along the way, who is dead and cremated before even noticing my presence. Who or what they are is of little importance to me.

I anticipate this noble fellow shall be sentineled by a task force of some sort, but I don’t anticipate any trouble arising because of this. My plans should go unhindered, despite even their best efforts.

Ahhh… I surely hope this fellow can guide me to a far more interesting place than this one has turned out to be. If not, I can always search elsewhere. I am hopeful that he will not disappoint me though. I hate disappointment…

Having made short work of the two clods, who brashly deny me entrance, I knock on the heavy double doors, which obstruct my path. It is beyond these doors, where I can claim my prize. My greedy mandibles are salivating.

“Housekeeping!”

In one fluid motion, I burst the doors ajar, designate any living objects, besides who I deem to be the noble, as targets, and let loose a string of accurately calculated shots. The once proud taskforce has now become a vibrant, chaotic, bloodbath. Only one of them had even drawn his pistol in time before a hole is burned straight through his brain.

This went rather well…

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Noble Sir! Hector Xavior Quince, by name. But please, feel free to call me whatever it is you desire. Nn…?”

Bowing as a courtesy, I then look towards the single living entity left inside the room, apart from myself. This is when I notice an anomaly. All the men in the room are dead, while the one left alive, is in fact, a woman. Or rather, a girl.

Oooh… This is certainly intriguing…

“My apologies, young madam. Perhaps I have wandered into the wrong room. I’ll be on my way then…”

“Wait!”

Hmhmhmhmhmhm… Heheheh… Hahahaahaahahaaa!!

“…Yes? How can I be of service, young madam?

“You heathen. You have reduced my most trusted officers into such an unsightly scene as this. And yet somehow, you still have the gall to patronize me so? You will not get away with what you have done, on this, I swear!”

The elegantly dressed young madam, although distraught, and so very furious, still manages to uphold an air of majesty about her. If I had known this was a suit and tie affair, I would have come dressed a bit more stylishly.

“So this was the correct room after all. Ahh… I was quite understandably doubtful, considering your appearance, and what not. I must hand it to these vampire fellows, they certainly do love their virgin maidens. Hmhmhm…”

“Vi…!? Ahem!”

That’s what I thought… You can smell these kinds of things.

“Putting aside whether such things are any of your concern, I’ll have you know that such anachronistic sentiments would cause an uproar if spoken in public. In the interest of common decency, I’d ask you keep them to yourself.”

“Is that so? I do apologize. Hmhmhmhmm…”

It seems I’ve touched a nerve. I’ll keep note of this for future reference. If the young madam wishes to be civil about this, perhaps I should play to her demands… No, instead, I should push harder…

“I suppose you’d like to hear the reason as to why I’ve taken such drastic measures as these…? Or perhaps not? Someone such as your busy self must have little time to listen to the plight of the common man, I presume.”

“Common man!? Do not take me for a fool! No common man could single-handedly assassinate an armed guard before they even have time to react, no less!”

“Now that’s just not true… That diligent fellow on the side there at least managed to grab hold of his pistol. Though that obviously wasn’t of much use to him, was it? Hmhmhmhmhmhm…”

Though she does her best to keep herself in check, I can easily read the hidden disgust on her face. Coupled with the slight squeezing of her fist, both clear signs that her emotions are roiling.

The amount of control she has over herself is astonishing. It’s a wonder she hasn’t thrown that fist towards me, judging by how thick her current hatred of me stands. Harder, I need to push harder!

“How dare you! That man had a family…”

“Everyone has a family! Don’t bore me with such drivel. I didn’t come all this way to tell ghost stories, young madam.”

“Then what have you come for?”

That’s more like it. What indeed…

“Mmmm… Before we get down to business, why don’t we have a seat?”

“Fine.”

After replying curtly, the young madam sits back where she had originally been seated, only ever having moved a single step. The fragility she so wittingly exudes does nothing to belie her rigorous composure in the face of the earlier pandemonium. Is this how all nobles act?

More and more, I’m becoming interested in this rose of thorns…

“By chance, would it be too much trouble to beseech a name from the young madam?”

“Alya Bastoviz, head of the House of Bastoviz, one of the leading seats on the Senate of the Immaculate.”

Turning her nose up, her voice proudly rings out, as if trying to declare war upon the man who has so sullied her good name.

“Well, Alya, I suppose it’s about time I told you my reason for seeking you out on this occasion. You see…”

Leaning forward from where I sit across from her, I clasp my hands together in the shape of a steeple. My previous look of sarcastic complacency fades, replaced by a battle-ready soberness; A call to arms, which defines the seriousness of my conviction in this matter.

I will only say this once…

“I’ve come… To kill God!”

------------

Standing in the center of an empty stone vault, a solitary figure, garbed in a peculiar white robe, carries in his left hand a lavishly ornate birdcage. The bird occupying this regal-looking cage being none other than the Goddess of Light herself, Yvir the Wanderer.

Strangely, the domed room is in itself, absent any form of light. Thus, the Goddess’ own luminous feathers act as the only means of lighting the dark depths of the cavernous chamber.

“Is this really the right thing to do? I fear that if we do not clear the misconceptions those two have made, far worse shall befall them.”

“Do not fear, my child, for the conclusions they have come upon, are not entirely false.”

Having just returned from announcing the dire revelation of the Oracles’ precognition having come to pass, Yvir is now giving her account of the reactions to said information. This, of course, includes the conversation between Tilrem and Galea the Hammer, of which she has stealthily observed.

Each has come to a hasty conclusion, but just as her counterpart states, each is also at least half correct in their assumptions…

“That may be so, but if we leave them to chase after that unfortunate child fruitlessly, would they not be distracted from the real problem? I don’t believe it wise to allow that man enough time to bolster his forces.”

As if to reflect her discontent, the light she emits becomes erratic and flickers like the glow of a candle. Despite this, the robed individual remains firm, his stance unwavering.

Heavily wrapped layers of black cloth cover his entire head like a cocoon, while his ceremonial robe’s extended collar raises high above where his face should be. The black circle on the front of the mask-like collar acts as his only features, in place of his obscured visage.

It is questionable as to how he can hear the Goddess’ voice through all of the wrappings, and there is little chance he is able to see any of his surroundings. Still, he stands firm.

The deprivation of his senses, whether by will or perhaps due to disability, is likely the reason for his choice location being as bleak and inhospitable as it is. Residing here, in this sort of place, that others would consider him some kind of recluse is of no stretch of the imagination.

“Your heart still wavers, I see… Do not falter on the path that has brought you here, my child. All things will come to their natural conclusion; All paths are one.”

Though what he says sounds admissible, the true meaning, as with everything else about him, is far too obscure for one to fully understand. Even for Yvir, the one who is by his side the most, his words are always a difficult puzzle, that's truth is often fleeting.

“He will bring calamity if he is left alone! Well… He’d likely do so no matter what… And the scale would probably be harrowing, regardless of their interference… I suppose it really makes no difference, either way.”

“The people come to us, seeking guidance from our wisdom. But wisdom is medicine, as wisdom is poison. Be ever wary of what this wisdom bears.”

Causing hysteria is of no benefit for the Guild, nor for the people, is what she takes this to mean. When learning the truth comes with risks, it is better to limit the flow of knowledge. However, refusing to help at all, is simply negligence. Which must be why she was sent to tell the leaders of the Guild of Judgement about the Prophecy.

“Déis… Did you know that this would happen? That they would misinterpret my message?”

For a moment, the man is silent, standing still, as he always does. The room starts to dim, as the illumination from the Goddess’ feathers, slowly begins to fade.

If she had been sent unknowingly, to cause such a farce, for some kind of hidden agenda. Left in the dark by her most trusted person, it would be a terribly painful thing. She would much rather have been informed of this from the start.

Even if he had told her to do such a thing, she still most certainly would have complied. She trusts him just that much. Why then, had he sent her without telling her anything…?

“I know of all there is, of all there ever was, and of all that will ever be. You know this.”

“Of course! I alone know this. But then… Why…?”

This man, the second in command to herself, although to others is known only as Déis, the Grand High Prophet of the Guild of Wisdom, he is in fact, The God of Mercy, Déis the Prophet. From the ever powerful Dominion attribute, he possesses the omniscient ability of Prophecy.

Little is known about the ability, as the details are kept hidden by the man himself, for good reason. But from what Yvir does understand of it, it is almost certain that he should have known this would happen.

“The flow of time is like a tree, nourished by the network of roots that lie beneath it. Moving a single root, will not alter the growth of the tree.”

“Are you saying that they would have come to these conclusions either way? Then why did you even bother telling them in the first place?”

“Just as the sun rises at dawn, so too, are we bound by our obligations. And just as the sun sets at dusk, so too, does shadow encroach upon us.”

“Obligations… I see… You did it to protect me…”

Eventually, the fact that a terrible evil has come to this world, will become known, by some way or another. Yvir having brought the news to them first acts as a show of faith, strengthening the ties between them.

If they had not been warned ahead of time, it could be interpreted as an act of malice. The Guild of Wisdom has a vast information network, spread far and wide. Therefore, the probability that they would be the first to find out is extremely high. However, Déis had thought of this ahead of time.

The room once again lights up, even more magnificently than before, as Yvir’s feathery coat begins to radiantly shine along with her emotions. Nervously, she preens her slightly ruffled feathers, to calm herself down.

“Ah… Um… Thank you…”

Despite her efforts to steady herself, these were the only words she could muster in reply. Even if he had sent her out of obligation to the Guild, rather than to protect her, she is still happy for the gesture.

“Ahem. On another note, it seems that unfortunate child has crossed paths with a child of God… What does this mean?”

“One can only watch and wait, as the gears of fate turn.”

“Hmm…”

Using the power of her many children, the Travelers, Yvir keeps tabs on any persons of interest who should surface in Gearia. Of course, with the assistance of the children of Déis, better known as the Oracles. The Oracles travel the world, receiving information from various sources. They act as data banks, while the Travelers transport them from place to place.

As the Oracles have only a minute fraction of ability compared to Déis, this method allows them to bypass any problems they would experience due to their limited range. Altogether, this method of situated extraction of data makes up the bulk of how the Guild of Wisdom harvests the information it keeps track of. Though they are occasionally backed by Déis’ own power.

On the list of important persons being tracked by the Guild, there are leaders of national powers, members of powerful organizations, highly wanted criminals, and various other individuals. This includes two relatively new additions, Wade Alder Pierce, and Hector Xavior Quince.

Each is rated as the highest of priorities, Stage 10, which demands a strict, constant surveillance while remaining at a safe distance. This distance also takes into account the minimum range required to sense another ability user, known as the Mind Field.

Though it is different depending upon the user and can be heightened with experience, painstaking measures have been taken to prevent either target from recognizing they are being monitored. That said, in the end, it is still guesswork. Thus, they are under strict orders to retreat immediately should they feel they have been discovered.

“I’m not sure it is in their best interest to travel together, considering how regretful their first encounter was.”

“Grass will still grow on scorched soil, my child, given enough time.”

“Hmm… I wonder… Nevertheless, I shall continue observing how they will act. I just wish there was some way for me to minimize any damage they should cause. I feel so helpless.”

Again, the room grows dim, demonstrating the disheartening emotions the bird of light is experiencing. In the presence of her most trusted person, she loses the stoicism from her demeanor, and lets down her guard, displaying her much more fragile, and gentle inner-self.

“You cannot control the chaos of this world, my child, just as you cannot control the tides of the red moon.”

‘Sigh…’

Despite the drawn out sigh, the cavernous room brightens up, as Yvir draws her left wing over her face, and shakes her head exaggeratedly.

“I was looking for support, Déis, not looking to be treated as a child.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Nn!?”

Having taken such an unexpected jab from a man commonly known as being a methodically taciturn recluse, Yvir freezes in subtle amazement. It is genuine moments like this, few and far between, that let her feel a solid connection to this otherwise unsociable person.

“I suppose that was rather foolish of me, yes. Hahaha…”

“Do not fear, my child. Soon, the time will come for us to let ourselves become known. However, until that time, we must wait…”

“Of course… Let’s just hope that time comes sooner, rather than later.”

Though they do not yet know when that time will come, they do know it is an inevitability. Therefore, they will wait. For the chaos to plunge their world into calamity, and for the heart of man to begin their search for a light to guide them through the darkness, These two will wait.

It should not be long now…