"....."
A figure stood amidst the debris.
The air was dry, and a white sun hung over the sky, washing the world below in a pale, lifeless glow.
"...I should be in the right place."
Julien muttered, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. This was supposed to be the area within the area of the Mirror Crack in Bremr. It was just a little bit outside the Safe Zone. However, this was exactly where he needed to be as he took out a small object from out of thin air.
"Master told that I have to plan this over here, correct?"
He looked around.
All he could see were shattered buildings and crumbling structures.
In the end, he shrugged his shoulders.
"It’s whatever."
He tossed the object onto the ground and stomped on it with his foot.
"This should do for now. If Master has any complaints, I’ll just change it. I’m sure he’ll call when the ti cos."
Julien reached out for his communication device. He stared at it for a good mont, waiting for several minutes until it turned on.
—Have you done what was asked of you?
A soft voice echoed from the communication device.
Julien’s brows furrowed for a mont, but he eventually nodded his head.
"Yes, I have completed the mission."
—That’s good. I’m sure the Seat of Dawn will be happy with your actions.
"You think...?"
A smile cracked on Julien’s features.
To him, his Master was everything. He was the sole reason why he was allowed to live again, and he was also the person who had helped him beco who he was today.
In the years that he had spent with him, he was able to learn a lot.
In particular...
The way he carried himself.
"I’d be happy if that were the case."
Julien was no longer consud by madness and obsession like he was in the past. He ca to learn to control such emotions, never outwardly showing them, but instead, using them to fuel and control his power.
The way a person carried themself was also a reflection of their power.
The more out of control one was, the more out of control their power was. It was only when one had absolute control over their emotions and the way they behaved that they’d truly beco strong.
—You shouldn’t be happy just yet. I’ve received a report that those from the Empire are surrounding the Mirror Crack. They’re looking to eliminate you.
"They are...?"
—Yes. It seems like there are quite a few powerful people. Do you need help?
"Hmm."
Julien’s eyes narrowed. Despite getting told about the situation, he didn’t look at all concerned. If anything, there was even a glint of excitent in his gaze.
However, he was able to quickly suppress that excitent as he shook his head.
"Help would be nice, but I think it’s a little too late for that. I can already feel them coming from a distance. By the ti you arrive, it’ll all be over. It’s best if I use this chance to run away."
—Are you sure?
"Yes."
Julien’s voice remained calm despite the situation.
It would certainly be helpful if she chose to assist. As the Low Seat of Attraction, one of the Low Seats, she possessed considerable power. The issue was that even if she were to co, it would be hard for them to win.
’Now that I think about it, I did hear that she used to be in the sa Academy as . What was her na again...?’
Elizabeth Smith?
Or sothing like that. He had never bothered to ask her.
Nonetheless, she used to be one of the Black Stars of Haven. There was no questioning her abilities.
"If you want to be of help to , how about you create a way point for to escape. While I don’t think I won’t be able to handle the people coming at , it’s always best to set up a contingency plan."
—I understand. I wish you luck.
"Mhm."
With a soft nod, the communication ended.
Julien’s eyes narrowed further as he looked towards the distance. In truth, there was sothing that he hadn’t been truthful about.
He wasn’t really planning on escaping.
It wasn’t because he was confident in his victory. He was, in fact, unsure. The original plan had truly been to run away. However, that all changed the mont he felt a familiar aura. He wasn’t even hiding it.
He was showing proudly. Almost as if he was taunting him.
"Well, that’s fine."
This all worked out for him. He had been waiting to see him again. Not just because there were several things that he wanted to talk with him about, but because there was sothing that he needed from him.
Julien slowly brought his hand to his chest, clenching it.
Finally...
Finally, he could get his hands on the thing that would make him whole again.
***
Swoosh! Swoosh—!
One figure after another began to erge within the safe zone.
Clad in armor and robes, they all carried a powerful and somber air, their movents steady, as though each of their actions was rehearsed beforehand. Each presence seed to thrum faintly against the air, their armors glinting under the pale white sun above.
At the helm of the group stood Aoife, her cold gaze sweeping the surroundings.
She carried a commanding presence, one strong enough to press back against the collective weight of pressure radiating from the army itself.
"Cast a net over the area. Find him and trap him at any cost." Her eyes narrowed, and the air grew colder. "Even if it costs you your life. Find him, no matter what."
It felt as though the air had been stripped from the place. Every eye stayed fixed on the Princess as her gaze swept the periter. Then, one by one, the guards slipped away, racing toward the Mirror Dinsion’s access points.
Only one figure did not move.
It was only when everyone left that he finally turned his attention towards Aoife.
"....You’ve changed a lot."
"Hm?"
Aoife turned her attention to Leon. Noticing the way he was looking at her, the coldness in her expression softened, lting ever so slightly. She, too, was clad in armor, protecting her chest, shoulders, hips, and legs.
As her red hair fluttered silently in the air, she looked towards the distance.
"...I never truly understood it before, but ruling an Empire is far from easy." Her words drifted softly through the air as her eyes grew montarily hazy." An Empire cannot be governed by rcy alone. Only authority and power hold it together. Show even the slightest weakness, and who knows what might happen? I might very well find my head separated from my body."
There was a certain irony in her words as she spoke.
"I’m tired of all this. I want to leave everything behind and return to how things once were. I didn’t realize it at the ti, but those days at the Academy were probably the best of my life. If only I had known I was living in the good tis before they ended, I would have cherished them more. A pity I can no longer do that..."
Shaking her head, Aoife redirected her gaze towards Leon.
"I don’t know exactly what happened with Julien, but you need to understand that in my position, I have no choice but to eliminate him. If you—"
"I am not going to stop you."
Leon answered flatly, his robes shifting silently as his gaze remained fixed on the Mirror Crack. Soon, the Crack humd, and shortly after, a couple of figures erged, causing Aoife to raise an eyebrow as she glanced at Leon.
"What are you—Huh? Where did...."
Aoife hastily looked around, stunned by Leon’s sudden disappearance. He had just been here a mont prior...
"Oy."
A voice reached Aoife not long after, causing her to freeze on the spot.
"Even after years have passed, you still haven’t changed. You still look like a bitch."
***
Swoosh!
Leon’s figure blurred, passing through several areas.
"Cough...!"
From ti to ti, he coughed, his chest tightening under a crushing pressure. It was as if a massive boulder had been set upon him, pressing down relentlessly.
He nonetheless ignored it.
"A-lmost done. I’m almost done..."
He was beyond tired. It had been a very long ti since he had gotten so proper sleep. The years had been like a blur to him. His strength had gone through significant changes, with him mastering everything that he had learned from ’Mortum’.
He had now reached the pinnacle of Tier 7, just a small step away from ascending to Tier 8.
He had already succeeded in rging his domain with the outside world. All that remained was to shatter it completely.
However, that was easier said than done.
That was the quickest, yet most difficult step. One wrong move and he’d be crippled for a long ti, if not permanently.
He had been holding out for quite so ti.
Leon just never felt that he was in the right condition to attempt such a dangerous task.
"H-haa..."
Taking a deep breath, Leon finally ca to a stop and surveyed his surroundings. He was standing amidst the ruins of a city. One he had been to before.
’Right, this is the sa place where the Summit had been. The Rigolia Monarchy, right...?’
Leon wasn’t entirely sure; it had been a long ti since the Summit. Yet he was certain he had been here before. As his gaze swept across the ruins, it eventually settled on a specific area where several figures had gathered.
He dashed towards them, but as he did, his expression shifted.
Because—
"They’re dead."
From their armor, it was clear they belonged to Aoife’s army. They all stood in formation, ready to battle, but as Leon drew closer and got a better look, he realized how wrong that impression was. Though upright, their faces were drained of all color, their skin completely dry, and their eyes fixed in horror on sothing in the distance.
Leon’s expression shifted subtly as he dashed forward.
As he did, he was t with similar sights.
His chest grew heavier and heavier with each passing second, until—
Tak!
He ca to an eventual stop.
A figure stood on top of a broken building, their cold gaze locked in Leon’s direction.
For a mont, ti seed to co to a total standstill between the two of them. But that was until—
"You’re here."
A smirk began to play on the figure’s lips, his eyes flickering into a purple hue as he extended his hand.
"Hand it over."
He muttered, his voice calm.
"The Chalice. Hand it over."
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