Silveryns hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. After ascending to the island, she was taking a brief respite, gazing at the landscape spread out below her feet.
Then, a man dressed in priestly robes silently approached her along the corridor that encircled the sky garden.
The man stopped four steps away from Silveryn and bowed politely.
I had not thought we would et again, Lady Silveryn.
Silveryn slowly turned her body to look down at the priest and said,
Its been a while, Price. I didnt think this place would last much longer, becoming dood so soon. Seems its lifeline is tougher than I thought.
The Altar of the Stars had stopped accepting successors. Therefore, whether one way or another, it was fated to have its lineage cut and to be completely forgotten by the world eventually.
Haha, its always been in a position where it wouldnt be unusual to fall.
Thats right. I ca hurriedly to seek so help before it does.
If not for help, there would be no other reason for you to visit this place again. When you left before, you said you would return once you found the owner of the cube. Am I right in thinking that is what brought you back?
Silveryn produced a glass bottle filled with blood and showed it to him.
As she gently shook the bottle, the cube made a clinking sound within.
The priests eyes sparkled with keen interest as he observed.
So it truly happened. I never thought Id see the day. The Silveryn was able to acquire the Rosenthal Cube
Silveryn narrowed her eyes and cut off the priest sharply,
Unfortunately, its not what youre thinking.
Price hesitated, his face reflecting confusion.
Not what Im thinking? What are you implying? Dont tell you disregarded the traditions of the Rosenthal Cube?
Yes. I just used it in a hurry.
No, how could you with such a sacred object
The priest was so astounded he couldnt continue. The Rosenthal Cube wasnt just difficult to source material for; it also took years to make. It was not an item to be used carelessly.
Upon witnessing Silveryns confident deanor, Price sighed deeply as if resigned and spoke,
Your headstrong ways remain unchanged. The wind is colder up here than below. Lets go inside.
The priest led Silveryn to where the Altar of the Stars was located. As they walked along the corridor, he asked her,
So even if not to that extre, there must be soone bothering you, Lady Silveryn. The purpose of the Rosenthal Cube itself implies as much.
For the normally aloof Silveryn to use the cube on soone implied sothing significant.
The Rosenthal Cube was traditionally a relic ant for betrothed lovers to swallow one each and form a spiritual bond.
It was unlikely she handed over one of her pair of cubes to soone else without attaching any aning to it.
Prices mind brimd with questions. Silveryns cube was a token of gratitude for the help received from the Altar of the Stars.
Although the priests of the Altar had owed their lives to Silveryn, all she strove for had resulted in failure.
The cube was given with the hope that the disillusioned Silveryn would find aning in a different life.
The priests all genuinely wished for contentnt and happiness in Silveryns future.
Price, like any other priest, deed it important to know who had unsettled her heart.
May I inquire who it is that has so stirred Lady Silveryns heart?
Won typically sought ascendant unions, rarely engaging with n of lower station than themselves. To be on par with Silveryns standard, one would have to think about princes, swordmasters, or great magicians.
Anticipation about who the impressive figure might be made the priests lips twitch slightly.
However, for so reason, Silveryn maintained her silence.
Realizing he had prodded too deeply into her personal affairs, the priest quickly recanted,
In my pleasure upon seeing you, I have overstepped. My apologies.
Silveryn hadnt swallowed the remaining cube but had instead brought it in the bottle. Perhaps she genuinely attached no aning to the tradition and utilized the cube solely for its functional convenience. Considering Silveryns character, it was a plausible possibility.
While Price inwardly concealed his disappointnt, Silveryn tentatively began to speak.
My disciple.
Price suddenly stopped and turned to face Silveryn, his curiosity piqued.
Your disciple, did you say?
Yes.
Prices eyes widened increntally.
Though he was already surprised to hear disciple, what halted him to reconfirm were the uncharacteristic feelings lacing Silveryns voice.
There was an absence of her usual nonchalance when she ntioned her disciple, replaced faintly by what appeared to be a hint of bashfulness.
That was sothing never seen in Silveryn before.
***
Erzebet had told Damian the iron bracelet would ward off curses.
There was talk of curses spreading through the labyrinth. However, what the curse entailed remained a mystery.
It was his first ti seeing so many corpses. Damian was busy looking for anyone still breathing amidst the sea of bodies.
Much of the ground was stained with blood, and sticky black substances squird on the surfaces and atop the cadavers.
What is all this
Damian pulled at the black substance with his hand, identifying it as leeches. The needle-like holes in the bodies were ford as the leeches fed on blood.
The sight of leeches clinging to and drawing blood from bodies was nightmarish in its gruesoness.
He didnt know how leeches ca to be here, who spread them, or why.
In the midst of his thoughts, coughing sounds reached him.
Damian laid down the body he was carrying and rushed toward the source of the coughs.
Damn, damn, where are you? Where are you!
While hastening and scanning around, his eyes caught a librarian trembling like a leaf.
Approaching the librarian, Damian halted, resisting the urge to support them. The leeches apparently craved living blood, latching onto the librarians skin in countless numbers.
The librarians body quaked like an aspen as he coughed out in agony.
Damian removed the librarians mask, revealing a face already full of leeches.
Becoming desperate, he started frantically plucking the leeches barehanded.
Damn, damn, just hold on. Ill get you out of here.
After several handfuls were removed, the librarians face could finally be identified.
With coughing spasm, he spat out a mouthful of dark blood and said,
Cough. Whowhowho are you?
Sothing was off. Damian had removed all leeches from his face and, despite his eyes being wide open, the librarian didnt see him.
The librarians pupils had turned white and lost focus. He had gone blind.
Damian clenched his teeth.
Damian. Dont talk! Ill get you help right now.
Damian tore open the librarians clothes to assess the condition but bit his lip once more. There was no spot untouched by leeches.
He swiftly stripped away the leeches.
In the midst of that, the librarian abruptly grabbed Damians wrist, halting his actions.
Imcough, its too late for . You must escapeimdiately.
Stop talking already!
The mans hand shook violently.
That Trisha aiming for in the labyrinth You must escape, quickly, quickly
Damians heart sank.
Trisha. He had montarily forgotten about Trishas existence.
What happened to Trisha?
Its still not confirdcough, go now, flee escape
Just stay alive and lets go together!
Its useless You must leave now the compass is pointing cough, as far away from here as possible before its too late, hurry.
The librarian vomited blood as if his innards were being squeezed out.
And then the hand that gripped Damians wrist fell lifelessly; the librarians breathing had stopped.
Damian stood motionless, his heart pounding as if it would explode, wishing all this was a dream.
What on earth was happening?
The place had beco a veritable hell on earth.
He repeated the librarians words. Targeting Trisha? Damian didnt notice her among the bodies when he scanned the area.
Only one thought flickered in Damians mind.
He had to save Trisha.
Again fierce winds swept through the labyrinth, and clouds of red mist rolled in like dark storm clouds.
A putrid sll of blood and rotting corpses jabbed at his nostrils.
Goosebumps rose on his skin and he felt a chill. Damian stood up and turned in the direction from which the bloody mist ca. His vision was obscured; he couldnt see anything, but his instincts told him sothing was approaching.
A strange wailing suddenly filled the labyrinth. A demons cry, surely not of human origin.
It was a sound that once tore through his soul long ago. Thanks to that, Damian recognized it in an instant.
It was the cry of a wraith.
Damian felt his heart turn to ice. mories of being helplessly thrown off a cliff flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, there was a sign of life from one direction.
Click-clack
Soone, their footsteps light, was coming toward him. Damian stood frozen, nervously swallowing saliva.
Sothing then pounded noisily against his chest. Damian pulled out the necklace he wore. The necklace gifted to him by Professor Ella vibrated intensely.
There was only one danger the necklace detected.
A dark mage. It was the herald of death.
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