Xaviel closed his eyes and saw the web of icons once again. Like before, there's only one glowing in blue color. It was the Phantom Armament icon. Xaviel reached and touched it, opening the pop-up window
-+
[Phantom Armament]
Objects you currently possess are converted to a 'phantom' state.
Click to Expand
-+
(What the hell should I do?)
Xaviel realized and questioned the properties behind a 'phantom' state.
(If an object became intangible, entered an object, and returned to tangible while still inside another object, what would happen?)
Xaviel then simulates this phenomenon by his own logic inside his head.
(It will explode! Let's say a blood vein is suddenly filled with more oversized objects than it can hold. Without a doubt, it will explode!)
"That's it!" Xaviel shouted, and with his little energy, he used his knife imbued with Phantom Armament and stabbed the door handle. The dagger went through the wood and the handle.
(Now!! I'll Make the dagger tangible to the Lock!)
BRUAK!!!
The lock part of the door suddenly burst, creating a medium hole that returned the door's ability to be opened.
(I made it, I just need to touch the root!)
Xaviel ran and opened the southern door.
BRUK!
(Damn, if only I had more energy…) Xaviel's legs were now powerless as he tumbled to the ground.
He crawled desperately and held out his hand to reach the tree's root.
(Just a little bit more…)
Then his whole body froze. It was like he was shocked by electricity and paralyzed. His hand, reaching the root, fell down, and the motion moved his body to a sprawling position. It was close. He was just centimetres away.
BRUK
"I…"
Drip!
***
Hoff Praya Crestia, as of now, has returned to Kirzig Village. He discreetly walked to the shack where he took Xaviel.
"What? Why is there.."
Turns out the shack was now surrounded by the town guards. In the distance, he could see Maru and Zed investigating the area.
(This can't be. Did the Mylen family find out the secret of the tunnels?) Hoff thought.
Hoff then hides in an alley, thinking hard about getting Xaviel back without being suspected. Though this is his main priority, he is bothered by the movements of the town guard. As if the Mylen family was suspecting him and what lies inside the shack.
(If Victoria would find out about the tunnel. I might be accused of harboring the Dark Knight's syndicate. Then…)
Hoff flashes his memory of Quilla and Mika. Sweat then drips from his forehead.
(What the hell should I do? I don't want Xaviel to be accused, but at the same time, I must protect my family…) Hoff gritted his teeth.
Hoff then ran away from the location. He moves swiftly to another part of the Village.
***
"Hah… Hah…" Hoff panted in exhaustion.
(If only I could learn about what Mylen knew. I can divert all the accuses from my family and possibly Xaviel!)
Hoff arrived at the entrance of the Village Guard Outpost. As he entered, many greeted him and asked what his business was after giving clearance that he was coming because of the order of Victoria Mylen. The people there are silenced and provide help to Hoff of anything they can do.
"I would like to see The Flicher," Hoff said.
The other guards nodded their heads and complied with his request. They took him to where The Flicher was held. First, the guards opened a metal door with a key to enter the Dungeon cell. Walking through the corridor of weapons, they arrived at the metal bar gate guarded by a Jail Keeper. After hearing the details, the Jail Keeper opened the gate and let Hoff inside, but the other guards must not follow him.
As the jail cell corridor goes, Hoff arrives at the cell of The Flicher. He was somewhat surprised to find that The Flicher looked like a minor. She had black hair and black colored eyes.
"Are you really The Flicher?" Hoff said in suspicion.
"Yes, I am. Are you here by the orders of Mistress Victoria?"
"I am. I would like you to answer some of my questions," As Hoff spoke to the inmate, he noticed that the left abdomen of The Flicher was covered with bandages.
"Did that happen recently?" Hoff points at her left abdomen.
"Oh... This? This is nothing.. good sir.." She answered, showing a fake smile.
"What did you do anyway? How can you be thrown inside this cell?"
"I.. robbed people through pickpocketing…." The Flicher said curtly.
(Damn, Mylen. Pickpocketing isn't worth a torcher. She is also only a minor.) Hoff thought.
"Do you have a name?" Hoff said
"It's Irene."
"Okay, Irene, listen to me. This is not your fault. Being torchered here... It's clearly an abuse of power from the higher-ups," Hoff whispered.
Irene looks blankly on the ground refusing to respond to Hoff's claim. A single tear then dripped from her face and splatted to the ground.
Hoff reached to Irene and patted her head.
"There... there… I'll promise to find a way to get you out,"
"You…will...?" Irene looks at him with desperation showing in her eyes.
Hoff noded as Irene began wiping her tears.
"I need to know something, though," he said. "Victoria Mylen ordered me to find out about a syndicate of the Dark Knight coming to this province. She deduced you might have something to do with it. But I believe that's just her bullshit way of accusing you of something you didn't do," Hoff continued.
"Since you are her former stewardess, you must know information regarding what I am about to ask. Just to clarify, you are her former stewardess, right?"
"Yes... apparently, I am," Irene looks down, covering her face with her hair.
"Then tell me, by any chance, do you know anything about the kidnapped 'Forte' users?"
"How did you know about that?"
"I had recently found documents regarding the origin of Forte. As one of those documents said, it had something to do with-"
"Why did you need to know that?" Irene cuts Hoff's explanation with another question.
Hoff was surprised but continued anyway, "If I can locate other Forte users Mylen is hiding, I could use their help to overthrow the family,"
"Wow..hahaha.." Irene said as she giggled a bit.
Hoff suddenly got weirded out by her giggle. He steps back and decides to carefully look at her.
"You must be planning for quite a while, huh... Hoff Praya Crestia.."
(This feeling… So familiar…)
"I commend your careful planning. I guess it's true that you had a vendetta with our family, huh?" Irene said.
"Family? It can't be? Victoria Mylen???!!!" Hoff blurted out.
"Bingo! You are correct," Irene said as she revealed her face with red glowing eyes smiling towards him.
(Shit.) Hoff turned to his back to find that he was entirely surrounded by the guards. But the guards weren't normal. Their eyes also glow red, and each movement is rigid, like controlled puppets. They walked bit by bit uncoordinated as they bumped to one another quite frequently yet not stopping even to consider the situation at hand.
"The moment you decided to enter this room. You already lost, Hahahahahahaha." Irene said.
"Under the authority of the-
"Under the authority of the great-
"Under the authority of Victoria the-"
All of the guards started speaking simultaneously, creating an incoherent sound. As they grew closer and closer, Hoff had no choice but to slowly back out from them. Alas, he hit the front of Irene's cell, tumbling to the floor.
"Catch... Catch… Catch…" They repeatedly muttered as their hands reached out towards Hoff.
(Is this it? Am I here doom to fail?) Hoff thought.