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JULES
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“Kat.”
“Pop." She struck him with a cross look. He didn't flinch. "It’s time for this kitten to grow her wings and fly away.”
“What an absurdity,” Whiskers said.
“We can go tomorrow morning, first thing. There’s something I want you to see, so you understand our mutual…situation. And then Whiskers and I will leave with you—”
“Kat—”
“Pop, I already said—”
“And now you will listen,” Pop said, and listen, she did. “I know you must go. I know you must leave without me. I've prepared myself for this day. All of you Arcanics will face great challenges as you approach your System Unlock Days. I knew it would be soon. The timer's always been in my face. But none of you," his speech slowed, "are taking your positions seriously in the long term. You are all too focused on your immediate safety, which is important, but has blinded you worse than that beggar you've gone chummy with. Not one of you lot has mentioned the most serious issue at hand."
Jules shifted uneasily. The Prophesies of Salvos.
“The Church is full of cracks, but they were right about your birthdays, down to the time of day. If they were right about that, then they might be right about the Sins bringing on the Apocalypse. I don’t know Wrath here from any other freeloader walking through my doors, but I know you, Kat. Envy. You are a beautiful, gentle, kind young lady—” Do not laugh. “—And would never destroy this world, but you need to take it seriously and think about it from this point forward. Often.”
> [New Quest Available: Start the Apocalypse]
>
> [ERROR: Start the Apocalypse — No Description, Rewards, or Objectives available.]
Uh…
Jules' heart skipped a beat. Then several. Kat's not acting weird, like she didn't just get that Notification. Maybe her System's silenced, but better keep this one to myself for now. No one added to the discussion.
“I think I got the message across," Pop said. "Now all of you, to bed. Go.”
Thank Salvos. I need to get out of here.
Jules, Cyrus, and Rukia filed into the room next to Katarina’s. They brainstormed plans, and how they would test Katarina’s trustworthiness, when Whiskers pranced in.
“Do you mind?” he asked. “I’d rather sleep here tonight. If that’s OK with you.”
“Uh, actually—”
“Great. It’s better this way. I can keep an eye on you.”
“Won’t Kat be lonely?”
“Lonely? Perhaps. Jealous? Absolutely.” Whiskers purred away into the night.
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Jules walked to the edge of the black lake.
“Back again. Wonder what I’ll remember this time.”
He walked on the water’s surface until he reached the massive golden doors. Each footstep rippled across the water. Doors aren't disappearing this time. He winced, afraid to plunge into the water, before he reached for the handle. Blinding light radiated from the doors, and Jules shielded his eyes.
His vision adjusted. The prison cell door floated before him on the water now. Red and orange flames surrounded Jules—They burned even on the water. The heat scalded him and he took a step back and sank through the lake's surface.
Air fled his lungs. Boiling water filled them. He drifted off into sleep, or maybe death.
SPLASH!
Ice cold water, a stark contrast to the lake and flame's heat, wrenched him awake. He saw the cheap iron bucket first, then the person holding it. I recognize you. But from where?
A tomboyish girl with short red hair, emerald eyes, and freckles overlooked his sleepy body.
“Oh. It’s you. I guess we’re both here this—”
“Obviously, you idiot. Now hurry up and help me unload!” Right, unload. We're back at the docks.
They unloaded cargo after cargo. Barrels of mead and whiskey, crates of grapes and other fruits, boxes full of weapons. The work was tough and dragged on. Each boat's size surpassed the next until they encountered full-sized ships, which continued to grow in size. They never took time off for themselves; they just worked, and worked, and worked. For what, though?
“You know,” Jules said, “I really wish we had a nicer boat. Hell, even just a bigger one.” He waved his arms around the port. “I mean, look at all of these, and ours is the shittiest.”
“Yeah, well, I wish we had better jobs,” she said. “But we don’t. Keep unloading. He’ll wake up any second.” Who?
Jules' train of thought dissipated in the haze of his dream.
“Can’t get a better job,” he said. “Not how we were born. If only we came from a higher station, if our parents had been merchants, or something.” He threw smaller cargo off the side of a ship to the silent girl. She rolled her eyes. “Look, I’m just saying. We could be wealthy if we came from wealth. Nobles have it all, and don’t even realize it.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
He threw another crate to her, then paused to gaze at the massive city's center. The castle glistened in the early morning sun, and its alluring draw always captured his attention.
“Hey, …” She shouted his name. What? Is that my name? Why can’t I remember it? “They’re coming for us!”
Jules didn't look away from the castle.
“Help! …” There’s that name again. “No, stop, we didn’t do anything—Ack!”
Jules snapped out of the daydream. A guard yanked his spear from her body. Jules looked at them curiously, almost detached. Two other guards aimed crossbows at Jules. He reached for the castle, then went to leap off the boat for it.
TWANG!
The crossbows released. They struck Jules midair. He fell and woke up on the prison cell floor, before he ever fell into the water's depths.
He was back to his senses—the allure of the castle faded away. Some sort of spell?
“That… That wasn’t me. Couldn’t have been.”
Jules eyed the prison door and its closed service hatch.
“Don’t open that door,” he repeated.
The hatch slid open.
“Let me guess, save him,” Jules said. Nothing happened.
He rolled his eyes, got up, and peeked through the open slat. No fire tonight? Wait, who's that? A man approached Jules. A massive white tiger prowled at his side. Not a tiger, a fox. Rukia? And that man, he looks like a Shinsorai. I think I’ve seen him before.
The man whispered to Jules, from the void beyond the cell.
“Jules…tomorrow…the Fountain of Virtues…”
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The Fountain of Virtues…
The sun's rays woke Jules through the window. He gasped for air. Why is it so hard to breathe?
> [Shut the Damn Door — Quest Objective ADDED: Unlock The Nightmare, Level 1.]
>
> [Shut the Damn Door — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Unlock The Nightmare, Level 1.]
>
>
>
> [Seeketh Patience — Quest Objective ADDED: Visit to the Fountain of Virtues.]
Rukia got to her feet and shook out her fur as if she were wet. "Get it off! Get it off!"
“What’s gotten into you two?” Whiskers yawned and draped one front paw over the dresser he'd slept on. He stretched out his weariness with grace.
"I dunno. Coulda sworn I was wet." Rukia chomped on a dog bone she’d saved last night; drool pooled on the wooden floors beneath her.
"Well now you are."
“Should you be talking?” Jules whispered to Whiskers. He meowed in response. “Can Cy and I have a moment?”
Whiskers jumped down, extended the claws from a front paw, got on his two hind feet, and opened the door slightly, all while glaring at Jules. He strode out of the room that way. So much for being incognito. Guess he knows the lay of the land, though. Jules slammed the door shut and relayed his dream to a sleepy Cyrus.
“Alright,” Cyrus said, “guess we just need to convince your girlfriend to go to the Fountains with us. She’s not gonna let us go alone after last night.” Come on, man.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll convince her, alright.” They stretched and entered the inn's main room. Katarina and Pop ate their breakfast. Whiskers drank his.
“Listen, Kat. We want to—uh—” Jules looked around the crowed room. A half dozen drunken men slept on chairs and barstools. “Take you on a date to the Fountain. Let’s get going soon.”
Pop’s eyes grew wide. “It’s the wee fookin’ morning you—”
“The Fountain, you say. In the plaza, where all the kooks and cultists gather every day?” Her eyes narrowed. Whiskers looked up from his milk.
“Before you say no—”
“OK!” Katarina smiled. “Sounds great. Let’s go.”
“Kat, you can’t—”
With just a single glance, she silenced that old man.
“Listen, Father, you said I couldn't have a boyfriend. So I got two. You should work on your clarity.” She turned and left him gaping at the table. Katarina yawned and snapped at the two boys.
The three men looked at each other—No one dared speak up to their collective boss. When she was out of sight, Cyrus stuffed his face with some fruit, then grabbed a loaf of bread in each hand.
“No funny business.” Pop slid a finger across his throat. He practically fumed with rage.
Jules grabbed some bread as well, then retreated to his room and stuffed Rukia in his backpack. "No, no, no—"
The boys scurried out of the inn, and the black kitten followed behind them like a watchdog. Or a shepherd. Whole new meaning to the phrase herding cats.
“Well, that was easy,” Cyrus mumbled through his food.
“I don’t know what you’re up to,” Katarina thrust a finger into Jules’ chest, right over his Seal, “but you need to see this.” She stormed off ahead of them, then spun around again. “Relationships are founded on trust, you know.”
Cyrus laughed and slapped Jules’ back. “She’s gonna run you over, flatten you out, and hang you up to dry, buddy.” Cyrus followed after her, still laughing. Any other day, I’d laugh. But somehow I can’t find the humor today.
Thirty minutes later, Jules smiled and laughed when he rode his first moving bridge. "I can't believe it! I've watched these things for year, years!"
"Savages," Katarina said.
Up ahead sat the Fountain of the Virtues. Surely a Genius Sculptor crafted these.
They arrived at the plaza alongside a large and bustling crowd. Each of the seven fountains was chiseled from magnificent white marble—all except for one—and were all similarly constructed to the others. Central cylindrical pillars extended from circular bases with flanged tops that spouted never-ending water.
And yet each was completely unique in its own way. Even the gushing water patterns from the six active fountains retained their own individuality.
One black sheep towered among the Seven. Yep. I know who that's for. Any ordinary person would feel comforted here, safe. But I'm feeling more on edge the closer we get to them.
> [Seeketh Patience — Quest Objective COMPLETED: Visit to the Fountain of Virtues.]
And the crowd—they all look desperate for something. A savior? Probably what Kat wanted us to see.
The Fountains sat high on a cliff that sheared straight down to the sea, between one of the many Aquilantis isles connected by the moving brides. The sun rose in the east, immediately behind the altars. Now that’s a statement I don’t like. I bet they’d put a fountain for Sins facing the sunset. But after last night’s conversation with Pop—
Damn, he got me. I actually called him that.
Katarina scanned the crowd. Jules copied her. A few odd figures caught his attention. A young man with a shaved head in billowing black pants and a monk’s sleeveless robe hulked about. He looked like he could break a bridge with his muscles. And his frown looks like the arched bridges surrounding us.
Another man, though maybe on the cusp of adulthood, leaned against a tree in its shade. He wore all black clothes that matched his slicked back hair. Hiding any weapons under that cloak? Dagger or something small? Guy is a Stealth type, definitely not a Tradie.
After a bit more searching, a purple-haired girl caught his eye. She looked about his age. Her fair skin contrasted with her jet-black clothing. That’s an insane amount of zippers she’s got there. Definitely Cy’s type. Jules nudged Cyrus and nodded toward her. Maybe I shouldn’t've done that. He’ll be ogling all morning.
Oh, this one. He’s an odd sort.
A painter sat before an easel. With one eye closed, he held his hands up in a rectangle. Probably deciding how to capture his shot. He wore a blue kimono covered in brightly colored flowers and leaves. His wild hair was partially tamed into a bun. What a wicked-looking grin, almost ear to ear. Hasn't started painting yet.
I wonder if he's Kat's type. Wait, why do I care?
When he finally looked away from the man, his stomach lurched. Guards marched up the staircase beside the Fountain, and from either side of it. Just in front of the altars, they converged on a man—the man Jules had seen in his dream last night. He beamed at Jules and put a finger up to his lips.
Shhh…
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