The battlefield had gone eerily quiet, an uneasy stillness settling over the bastion.
For the past hour, there had been no more advances from the Ordeal.
The frost from the Frostwrought Mirror's remains had dissipated entirely, leaving only faint crystalline glimrs embedded in the ground—a haunting reminder of the fight.
We did our best to procure what we could get access to, but there seed to be a problem harvesting essence that beca the leftover of the sprawling ice tendrils that the Mirror summoned in our fight.
They were too fragile and prone to dissipating into outright nothing.
There were also the materials from the Wailing Clocktower.
It wasn't exactly the sa case with the remains of the Frostwrought Mirror, but the resources that the Wailing Clocktower just left had a surprising psionic property to it.
For one, it was capable of 'resonating', was what Verina referred to the phenonon that could be witnessed from it.
"Hmm~ we might want to use these debris as a reference to enhance the utility of the Neuro Alloy," Kuzunoha said as she pressed the dust of the Wailing Clocktower between her thumb and middle finger. "They act similarly to how a living being act, with blood vessels, consciousness, et cetera, but in a conceptual way that is beyond a simple reasoning~"
We ended up looting the remains of the Wailing Clocktower as much as we could as soon as Kuzunoha said that verdict. The news that we could improve the rendition of the new Neuro Alloy was enough for to stop caring about those threats that I received from nurous alternate versions of Daffodils.
Though, it was quite surprising that there were no more assaults from the Ordeal after an ample amount of hibernation.
Maybe there was an error in the code?
"... Hahaha, who am I kidding?"
This was no longer a re ga.
Carcosa had beco my sole world and ho now, especially with how keen those Daffodils were when it ca to making accept my fate and impending doom of my future.
Even with the giga-brain of Narcissus and her impossible dexterous prowess, I was still but a naive ugly duckling who tried 'his' best to adapt by painting his feather gold.
All in the hope that none of the dull color I had in my past life got carried over.
"It has been quite a while," Lupina comnted. Her head was carried by Verina who cared enough to be the wolf girl's legitimate helper from ti to ti. "This is making sleepy, yawn~!"
"How does that even work when you're nothing but a head?" Verina said as she squished Verina's adorable cheeks like she was softening a dough.
I couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess the real Ordeal is Lupina's abnormal source of sleepiness all along."
From my vantage point on the wall platform, I watched as the bastioneers carried out their post-battle routines. Weapons were cleaned, armor repaired, and supplies that Kuzunoha left before she went on her own excursion to the realm where the Drowned Revenant was inhabiting got redistributed.
Despite their focus, I could sense the weight of anticipation hanging over them. With only two hours left until midnight, the tension was palpable.
As much as I want to give them more rest and a fun mood-increasing session, I preferred to condition them to be at all tis cautious when the Ordeal was still ongoing. After all, they already had a good share of rest and breaks in the dayti.
The bastioneers knew, as did I, that the Ordeal of the Midnight lood—sothing that would always beco the decisive factor on whether this bastion could stand the test of ti or fail in its endeavor.
I always wondered how a citadel could stand its location so long with all of these city-destroying levels of Calamity Object or Qliphoth Object that may happen from ti to ti every midnight.
I guess the only way to find out was to visit one myself.
But for now, there was quiet. And quiet ant ti—ti to regroup, to plan, to steel ourselves for whatever would co next.
"Lupina actually fell asleep," Verina reported, showcasing the sleeping head like the friend she was holding was so kind of an exotic specin.
"Lupine actually fell asleep, huh."
An hour passed, and the bastion remained undisturbed.
The absence of threats, while welco, felt unnatural. I couldn't shake the sense that sothing was waiting, lingering just beyond the horizon.
Hmm, why do things like this always happen?
Am I really just dood to suffer misfortune with the amount of rare yet sohow appearing when I was barely a week, let alone a month into this new life that I was forced into?
This made quite reconsidering about Daffodils' threats and the whole shebang about the future and suffering that I must go through, just because Narcissus was actually one of the alternate versions of Daffodil or sothing along that line.
If only I could et these so-called Arbiters that had been kept ntioned everyti the notification was blaring into my psyche.
As I stood deep in thought, a shimr of crimson light split the air before . An arcane portal materialized, its edges swirling with intricate runes that pulsed faintly. The faint scent of cherry blossoms wafted through the opening—a surprising signature touch.
Kuzunoha stepped through the portal with her usual theatrical flair, parasol resting lazily on her shoulder. Her crimson eyes glimred mischievously as the portal closed behind her in a ripple of energy.
"My darling Narcissus," she purred, giving a playful bow. "I have returned, and with delightful news, no less."
I raised an eyebrow, her dramatic entrance doing little to ease my already frayed nerves. "Delightful, you say? Should I brace myself?"
She chuckled, twirling her parasol with a nonchalant air. "Oh, you wound . I bring nothing but the most wonderful tidings. The Drowned Revenant is now ready for a civilized discussion."
The words hung in the air for a mont, their weight sinking in.
The Drowned Revenant—an especially dangerous Qliphoth Object I had fought and sealed with Kuzunoha's help. The process of rendering it into a state fit for communication was reported to have been long and grueling, and it had occupied the back of my mind ever since the day was left behind.
And now, seeing that such a big deal being dealt with in a very short amount ti?
Hmm, I really need to try my best to not get over-reliant on my extrely reliable secretary.
Again, hearing that it was ready brought a strange sense of calm over , a respite from the chaos of the day.
"I see," I said, allowing a small smile to creep onto my lips. "You've outdone yourself again."
"Naturally," Kuzunoha replied, preening under the faint praise. "But I must admit, darling, the Revenant was quite... stubborn. It took so coaxing to bring it to this state. I hope you're ready for an enlightening conversation."
I nodded, the wheels of my mind already turning. "We still have an hour before midnight. I'll speak with it after the Ordeal of the Midnight."
Her expression flickered briefly, almost imperceptibly, before returning to its usual sly deanor. "As you wish. Though I wonder, what could be more fascinating than conversing with a being whose very existence defies logic, more so than the Calamity Object?"
"Common sense."
The hour dragged on, the stillness of the bastion growing heavier with each passing mont. Despite the reprieve, I felt a gnawing anxiety in the pit of my stomach. The Ordeal of the Midnight was imminent, yet there were no signs—no foreboding notifications, no ominous energies. Nothing.
The bastioneers remained on high alert, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movent. Verina floated just above the parapet, her musket resting against her shoulder. She glanced down at , her expression unreadable.
"Sothing's off," she remarked. "Even the air feels wrong."
I nodded in agreent. "It's too quiet. The Ordeal should've given us a sign by now."
Alia, ever vigilant, approached with her Skypiercer in hand. "Lady Narcissus, do you think... it's already begun? Or is this so kind of trick?"
Before I could respond, Kuzunoha's voice cut through the tension, calm and assured. "It's midnight."
Her words sent a chill down my spine.
I turned to face her, my gaze sharp. "Are you certain?"
She nodded, closing her parasol with a faint snap. "Oh, I'm quite certain, my darling. The air shifts in subtle ways when the clock strikes twelve, and I can feel it in my very bones."
Before I could press her further, another voice joined the conversation, its tone casual yet carrying an undeniable weight.
"It has been a long ti," Viviane said, stepping into view from the shadows of her comfortable abode.
She was still dressed as simply, her now un-styled long, flowing sunset hair gleaming faintly in the torchlight. Despite her unassuming arrival, there was a quiet intensity in her orange eyes, a depth that seed to pierce through the silence.
"A long ti since what?" I asked, my voice steady despite the growing unease in my chest.
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She stopped a few paces away, her expression unreadable. "Since the ti of Nihil arrived."
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