"Oh, you've finally arrived."
Jackson who was eating on one of the stalls saw me walking the path to the castle. I was able to reach Opidelhm before the capital became busy at noontime.
"Do you know where Senior Jade is?"
"That must be the Morning Glory you're bringing. You can find her in the laboratory. It's not like she leaves that place anyway. How about you eat with me first."
"I'll eat later. This thing needs to be delivered as soon as possible."
"Ok. Say hi for me when you meet Senior Jades… Also, tell her I'll pay for the damages later."
"What did you do this time."
I got no reply this time. This bastard went back to eating while ignoring me completely. Now meeting Senior would be difficult because of this guy. I hope she is not in bad mood today.
…
"Why are you late this time? And where's the one who usually harvest this?"
She is upset as expected. What did you do this time, Jackson? Never mind. I can guess what happened based on the expensive-looking wreckage at the corner of the room.
'I might not leave this place safely.'
"I'm sorry Senior. Circumstances were happening in Twilight City because of the appearance of Travellers and-"
"Enough Excuses. Just give me the damn thing. It should be reaching its limits."
I gave her the Morning Glory before her mood turns sour any further. My job here is done and I cannot wait to leave this place. Anymore second and I feel like something bad will happened to me.
"Sit Down! Don't go yet."
Jade pull me back and forced me to sit on a chair with a force that is difficult to imagine coming out of a woman. Immense pressure was striking out of her glare making me silent and cower down. I do not know what will happen, but now I am stuck here.
*Cling*
*Boom*
*Clang*
Weird sounds keep on escaping from behind the curtains where Senior Jade is busy doing something. Nothing good happens to anyone involves in her works that is why she was alone in this room. I was thinking about the previous victims of her actions and their experience of why she was feared even among the higher-ups.
While I was thinking it, a loud explosion with a cloud of thick smoke coming after came out of the curtain and filled up the room in a matter of time.
I do not know what happened back there and I do not want to imagine it, but maybe this smoke could cover my escape. Now I have decided. I sneakily went out.
"Where are you going? I said to stay put, right?"
I saw the silhouette of a devil holding chains within the smoke. I was going to rush at the door when the devil threw the chains and perfectly caught my leg.
"I've got something that needs a volunteer. Luckily, you came at the perfect timing. Why do you look so scared? Don't worry it's perfectly safe and it will not take long… you'll just be in a coma for a day, at best."
"There are better volunteers who may volunteer rather than me. And what was that? I heard something bad at the end."
"You're already here."
No matter what I say, looks like I can't escape my fate. Senior Jade was also still pulling the chains on my feet, so there is nothing I can do.
"My lab rat is finally quiet."
As I was dragged in further, I cannot help but think what Senior Jade would do if she met a Traveller. A curious person like her would trap one just to satisfy her curiosity.
Although, I do not see any signs that she is interested in them yet. Maybe the message of the Pope has not reached her yet like many of us here.
Nevertheless, I hope I am still the same after when she is satisfied with me.
"AHHHHH!!!"
…
Far away from the suffering of Vaughn, Jackson who was called to report back to the King was munching on a bread he brought along the way.
"What the reason for calling me this time, King?"
"You heard about those people who are supposedly blessed by the Holy Oversee, Kefri?"
"You mean the Travellers? Yeah, heard about them. In fact, we met one in Eurus."
"What can you say about them?"
"I don't know what details you want to learn, but I can tell they're same as us but different."
"What do you mean by that?"
"They walk like us, act like us, speak like us, but they don't have the same perception as us. We only saw many of them for a short amount of time, but I can tell you that they have the same haughty attitude as the previous King. No, it was even worse than him. And they were several of them. I'm not sure about the others, but almost all Travellers we met was like that."
"Hmm~"
"Why do you want to know anyway? Strange for you to ask."
"Pope Theo is about to proclaim a prophecy tomorrow. I heard that this should be about Travellers."
"Oh, quite late isn't it? They are already here."
"I'm afraid I also think so. But we can't do anything anymore except wait for tomorrow on what the Pope is going to do."
"…"
"How about Vaughn, I heard he volunteered for harvesting the Morning Glory this time. That's unusual of him."
"Your guess is same as mine. But it is a good thing anyway. At last, he did something that he wanted to do."
"You're right… Where is he anyway?"
"My best guess is he is probably with Senior Jade right now."
"Oh. How unfortunate. May God help him."
"May God help him"