On the eve that Mité dispatched his message, he strode forth into the shadows, his steps muffled by the stillness of the night. The sentinels were occupied with the commotion caused by Lenz and Korito, leaving the path unguarded and granting Mité a prime chance to slip away unnoticed.
Amidst the chaos, a lone figure emerged from the shadows, a glint of steel in her hand. With a void etched onto her face, she plunged the knife deep into her own belly, the pain seemingly irrelevant in the face of her passiveness. And she was not alone, for several chambers, others bearing her visage did the same, their blood staining the earth beneath them. The air grew thick with the scent of iron, as lifeblood poured out in rivulets from their wounded forms. In unison, they fell, each breath escaping them like a whisper, each heartbeat a fading echo. And in the stillness that followed, it was clear they had orchestrated this mass suicide.
The elite of Antemur was thrown into disarray at the news of Anna's passing, for she had been their eyes and ears, their very means of communication. Panic gripped their hearts as they scrambled to issue orders to the few remaining soldiers, urging them to hasten their search for Mité, for Anna had only ever acted upon his command.
Their minds raced with questions and doubts, for without Anna, they were left vulnerable and exposed to their enemies. What plans had she set in motion before her death, and what would be the consequences of her final act? Only time would tell, as they waited with bated breath for the outcome of their search. The fate of Antemur hung in the balance, its future uncertain and destiny yet to be written.
Inietta's eyes fluttered open, roused from her deep slumber. Her gaze fell upon Tobias, a stranger in her eyes. "Did you not sleep at all?" she queried, her voice calm and collected. Tobias, his back against the cold, unyielding bars, met her gaze with unwavering determination. "I won't be able to sleep until I hear about Ephi's condition," he declared, his words firm and resolute.
Inietta felt guilty about her actions, thinking that if there weren't any misunderstandings, things would have been different. "I apologize, Tobias. We all got it wrong." After hearing Inietta's apology, Tobias tried to console her. "Please don't blame yourself. We're here now, talking as friends. Oh, I just remembered something." Tobias searched his pockets and pulled out a relic card. "Inietta, have you seen this before? I took it from Rod."
"Are you serious? Does it not affect you in any way?" Inietta asked in a flat and serious tone. She never expected to see that thing on Tobias' palm. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. I don't feel anything," Tobias honestly replied. Upon hearing Tobias' response, Inietta approached and gently held his hand, repositioning it to take a closer look at the card without touching it. "So you found it when you checked him, and it really was his? It's strange that you didn't feel anything," she remarked.
"You don't have any idea, do you?" Tobias simply nodded silently in response. "This card is known as the relic card, Tobias. It's quite rare to come across someone who possesses it. The cards were created by the Goddess of Gambling, Lisa, who has a passion for card games. She made several card relics for those fortunate enough to encounter her," Inietta elaborated.
Tobias had a question, "So, the Goddess of Gambling is the same as Mr. Albalbel? But what exactly is gambling?" Inietta went silent upon hearing Tobias' question. She was surprised that he didn't have any knowledge of gambling. She let out a sigh and said, "You're not familiar with gambling? Well, it's quite a complex topic to explain fully. But I won't delve into that as it's not a good practice, you know. However, I can tell you more about the card."
"You see, Tobias, once someone touches the relic card, they may experience a range of different desires and feelings. Those who possess the card can be influenced by the wishes of the Goddess of Gambling, which is reflected on the card. For instance, the Miner of Lasogon card can detect valuable coins or treasures. I'm not exactly sure how the card works, but the person who touches it will likely have an intense urge to own and use it to its full potential, like detecting someone's precious treasure and then taking it. It can make someone very greedy for treasure, which is why Rod likes to take and snatch other people's things," Inietta explained.
Tobias looked closely at the card and said, "Will I become like that too? But, I don't feel anything." Inietta was also puzzled as to why Tobias was not affected by the card. She recalled the incident when Tobias survived her surprise attack from above. "In that case, it's best to keep the card, Tobias. Don't touch it or let anyone else touch it, okay?" Inietta advised, still intrigued by Tobias' identity. Silently, Inietta wondered to herself, "It's strange that the God of War doesn't seem to be taking much notice of him. What could he possibly be doing here?"
Tobias was now curious about something else. "What is Lasogon, Inietta? Is it a place?" he asked. Inietta let out a sigh before responding, "You really don't know much, do you? Lasogon is the largest mine in the world, located on the southernmost continent. I've never been there myself, but Ruzel taught me about the outside world. We're currently on the Western continent, which is quite far from there. People go to Lasogon to find gold and other precious stones, but many never return. However, if someone does make it back, they'll likely have something of great value." Tobias had just learned something new. "It's amazing how big the outside world really is," he thought to himself.
A mighty tremor rocked the ancient edifice to its core. Inietta and Tobias, the two lone figures within the chamber, gazed in awe as the stone wall before them began to crumble and crack. Sensing danger, Inietta drew near to the rusted iron bars imprisoning them. From her fingertips sprang forth strands of shimmering mana, poised to slice through the metal. But to her dismay, the iron proved too resilient, too enchanted to be so easily sundered. Meanwhile, Tobias pressed his weight against the unyielding gate, hoping against hope that it might give way.
The room was shrouded in a maelstrom of ebony particles, swirling and pulsating with an ominous aura. Bell, his countenance stoic and inscrutable, betraying no hint of emotion as he stood behind Aeria, his hand thrust deep into her belly, siphoning away her energy force and channeling it into the ornate bracelet clasped tight around his wrist. With a sudden and decisive gesture, Bell withdrew his hand from Aeria's body, severing the flow of energy with swift and deadly precision.
Beyond the pane of glass, the air began to stir in an eerie, circular motion, the very fabric of reality itself warping and twisting. Space was compressed and twisted, forcing distant objects to draw close and appear distorted to the eye, their shapes bent and distorted by the strange forces at work. Suddenly, the whirling particles exploded into a maelstrom of black light, causing the very wall before him to disintegrate into nothingness. Aeria, caught in the grip of the swirling vortex, was hurled forward with alarming force. But as she hurtled towards the compressed space, she began to shrink and fade from view, as though being pulled into another dimension altogether. In an instant, she vanished entirely, consumed by the unfathomable forces that lurked just beyond the unknown.
Bell gazed down at his bracelet, which now pulsed with an intense, viridian glow, evidence of the vast reserves of power it had siphoned from Aeria's very being. He spared a fleeting glance at Ephi, the only one left amidst the chaos he had wrought, shielded by his swirling black particles.
Bell directed his attention toward the floor beneath his feet. In a flash, a gaping square-shaped hole materialized, leading down into the depths below. A spiral staircase wound its way down into the unknown depths.
Inietta and Tobias had been struggling to free themselves from their captivity, the walls of their prison vibrating and shaking with each passing moment. But just as suddenly as the trembling began, it ceased altogether, leaving them momentarily relieved and confused.
Their respite was short-lived, however, as a sudden burst of energy erupted from the wall opposite them, tearing open a square-shaped hole that revealed a dark and foreboding chamber beyond. The invisible force struck the metal bars of their cell, crushing them to dust in an instant and hurling Inietta and Tobias backward against the opposite wall.
Inietta coughed as the dust settled, and quickly gestured to Tobias to follow her. "Something's happened. Don't ask too many questions. Let's go," she said, before leading Tobias into the hole that just appeared. As they emerged, they realized that the hole led directly into Ephi's room.
They were greeted by a scene of utter chaos within the chambers of Ephi. Bell loomed before them, his dark aura suffusing the room, and alongside him stood a foreign girl, bearing the unconscious form of Ephi upon her back.
"Ephi!" cried out Tobias, rushing towards the motionless figure of his friend.
Inietta stood rooted to the spot, speechless and bewildered by the devastation. She had never fathomed the existence of an enemy with the sheer audacity to challenge the mighty god of war, Albalbel.
"Tobias, thou art but a base and lowly creature, fit only to obey my behests and execute them with alacrity," Bell intoned, his voice laced with a venomous undertone. Tobias halted his stride, hushed and perplexed as he confronted Bell's penetrating stare. The chamber fell into a hushed stillness, devoid of any noise. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, as if afraid to disturb the eerie tranquility that had settled over the room.
Inietta's heart raced with curiosity and concern as she gazed upon Bell, her eyes wide with wonder. "Oh, gracious Lord," she exclaimed, "What has come to pass?" Bell met her gaze with a stern, unwavering stare, and for a moment, Inietta feared she had overstepped her bounds.
As the woman cradled little Ephi in her arms, a low, throaty chuckle escaped her lips.
Bell strode purposefully towards the mirror, his eyes fixed on its gleaming surface. With a sudden, fluid motion, he thrust his hand forward, reaching into the mirror as if it were nothing more than a pool of water. To Tobias and Inietta's astonishment, a figure clad in the same outfit and bearing the same features as Bell emerged from the mirror.
The two Bells regarded each other for a moment, their eyes meeting in a silent exchange of understanding. Then, without a word, the second Bell leaped from the shattered wall and vanished into the night. Tobias and Inietta were left standing there, utterly bewildered by what they had just witnessed.
"Tobias, Thou art but a worthless being, capable only of weighing down Ephi. Behold what dire fate hath befallen her by thine hand." Tobias staggered as Bell's words crashed into his mind like a battering ram. As the blow landed on his head, his mind reeled with the shock of the impact. And at that moment, he was hit with a sudden realization - all of this was happening because of his meddling in other people's affairs. His heart sank as he remembered how he had only sought to help, how he had thought he knew what was best for others.
But now, as the world spun around him and his thoughts grew muddled, he could see the error of his ways. And he could no longer deny the truth of who he was - a well-meaning but reckless fool who had caused more harm than good. The truth seared through Tobias's mind like a blazing flame, illuminating the dark corners of his soul.
"Art thou so haughty that thou deemest thyself invincible? Or art thou but a self-centered soul with no thought for others?" Bell's words fell from Tobias's muddled mind, leaving him consumed by a sense of deep regret and despair. It was never his own strength, but Ephi's unwavering courage and determination. He could only hang his head in shame and regret, knowing that he had brought her to this point of sacrifice with his own arrogance and ignorance. He couldn't help but dwell on the life he had ruined, the precious person he had wronged.
"Are thy ears, perchance, dulled to the sound of my admonition?" As Tobias fought to find the right words, his tongue felt heavy and uncooperative. He knew that he was the cause of all the trouble that they were now facing, and the weight of his guilt seemed to press down on him like a physical force. No matter how hard he tried, he could not seem to find the words to express the depth of his regret and remorse. All he could do was stand there, a silent witness to the chaos that he had wrought, his heart heavy with shame.
"Hadst thou not existed, Ephi would have prospered unscathed. This turmoil is wrought by thy very presence." As the painful sentence hit him like a blow, Tobias felt his strength give way. He dropped to his knees on the hard ground, the weight of his regret too heavy to bear. Silent tears streamed down his face as he mourned the consequences of his foolishness, the cost of his arrogance.
Tobias was filled with self-loathing, knowing that his recklessness and carelessness had brought nothing but pain and suffering to those around him. He was a fool, a failure, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he would never be able to make things right. All he could do now was weep in silent agony, his heart breaking with the weight of his own sorrow.
As Bell looked upon Tobias, his piercing gaze flickered for a moment, then averted. His face remained as expressionless as ever, but within him, there was a sense of emptiness. He felt nothing, neither anger nor sympathy for Tobias who now wept before him.
Bell's gaze shifted to Ephi for a moment before he turned his attention to Sarah. "Sarah," he said, his voice flat and unemotional. "As per our accord, vow never to utter falsehoods in my presence." The words were spoken with a tone of finality, a command that brooked no argument. He would tolerate no deception or misdirection, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. And so he waited, his eyes fixed on Sarah until she gave her word and pledged to uphold their agreement.
"Who would have thought that teaming up with an ancient artifact would be the key to fulfilling your request? You really have a thing for mummies, don't you?" Sarah teased playfully.
"A mummy, you said?" Inietta seethed, her fists clenching in fury. She longed to deliver a punch to Sarah's smug face, but she refrained from doing so, for Bell - the one she held in high regard - stood right beside her. Her gaze darted to Bell, who returned her stare with an unwavering gaze, causing her to halt in her tracks.
"Thou art one whom I shall never grant forgiveness, offspring of Ruzel," declared Bell with an air of superiority and unyielding authority. "Tit for tat. Pay in full thou must, a soul for a soul," commanded, Bell's eyes glinted with a haughty air.
Inietta gazed down at her hands, feeling the weight of her sins heavy upon her heart. "Take my life, my lord," she spoke softly, "for it is stained with the blood of those I have killed." She lowered her hand and met Bell's piercing gaze, finding strange beauty in the intensity of it. "I fled my homeland in search of a key to its salvation," Inietta continued, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "But how can I find an object that I have never even laid eyes upon?" Inietta asked, turning her gaze toward the shattered wall. It was then that she saw the stunning landscape that lay beyond.
A heavy silence fell upon the room, and Inietta's words echoed in the stillness. She felt a pang of uncertainty as she looked around, unsure of what would happen next. But then, her gaze fell upon Tobias, who knelt on the ground with his head bowed low. He had remained silent throughout their conversation, his presence almost forgotten in the intensity of the moment. "Whatever it is that you ask of me, my lord, I will do it," she declared, her resolve unwavering. "But what of my past deeds? What of the sins I have committed?"
The ground beneath the gigantic mansion rumbled and shook as if the very foundations were being ripped apart. Tobias stumbled, struggling to keep his balance as the tremors grew more violent. When the shaking finally subsided, Bell's voice echoed through the air, "Verily, thy soul doth hold no value in the presence of the souls of those thou hast slain. Forsooth, a soul for a soul, to atone for thy transgressions by repaying the lives of those thou hast taken, shall not bring them back from the void, nor shall it expunge thy heinous deeds from memory.
Indeed, when thy soul is placed in balance with the souls of those whom thou hast taken, the outcome shall be justly grim. Yet, in the matter, betwixt thee and Ephi, such a judgment would weigh unbalanced were thy life to be taken. Give thanks that thou hast not spilled the blood of Ephi.
Verily, the proposed solution doth entail surrendering thy soul unto Ephi, and I shall make restitution for the inadequacies. However, to redress the imbalance between the two souls, what would thou ask in exchange for thy paltry soul?"
Amidst an eerie stillness, the ground began to tremble once more, heralded by the tell-tale rumbling of a quake. The vibrations seemed to stretch on for an age as if the earth itself was convulsing in agony. The air crackled with the magic of ancient forces, as though the very fabric of reality was being rent asunder. And then, just as suddenly as it began, the tremors ceased, leaving only the weight of an ominous silence in its wake.
As the earthquake's aftershocks rippled through the earth, Inietta stood firm, planting her feet firmly into the ground. Her mind raced with thoughts, considering her response to Bell's awaiting question. She peered over at him, taking in his steady gaze and the calmness that radiated from him despite the chaos around them.
"O' my gracious and benevolent lord, please permit me the honor of rendering the payment." With a deliberate cadence to her words, Inietta spoke in a sentence style that conveyed both her confidence and determination. "I would like the first wish to be... the elimination of Ruzel."
Upon hearing Inietta's request, Bell's piercing gaze remained unchanged, his eyes meeting hers in a silent show of determination. The intensity of the moment was palpable, the air thick with unspoken understanding.
"Thy soul's worth is as lowly as thy conduct. Yet, thou dost augment it by coveting the souls of others. What a gluttonous deed thou committest."
The room fell silent, the weight of the conversation lingering heavily in the air. Sarah, who had been listening intently, broke the silence as she strode purposefully over to Tobias.
Suddenly, the sky was awash with a deep, foreboding shade of red. It was as if the very air was charged with otherworldly energy, crackling with a potent force that was beyond comprehension.
Then, without warning, a searing flash of bright white light engulfed everything in its path, rendering the world invisible for a moment in time. The intensity of the light was blinding, overwhelming, as though the very fabric of reality was being torn asunder.
Following the blinding flash of light, another earthquake rocked the very foundations of the earth. The ground trembled and heaved beneath their feet, the aftershocks of the quake intensifying with each passing moment.
Inietta took a tentative step closer, her expression grave as she held her tongue, considering her words carefully. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air, the intensity of the world outside pressing in upon them.
She paused, then added, "And secondly, I want you to stay alive." The words were spoken with a quiet urgency, Inietta's eyes widening with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Now art thou dragging my very soul? How intriguing." Bell slowly opened his palm, and as he did so, black particles began to swirl around it in a mesmerizing circle. For a moment, it seemed as though the particles would consume him entirely, but then they began to subside, revealing a transparent crystal necklace in the shape of a water droplet.
The necklace floated gracefully towards Inietta's palm, and as she received it, a sense of awe washed over her. The crystal was unlike anything she had ever seen before, shimmering with an otherworldly glow that seemed to come from within. "Thou dost bear a striking resemblance to someone I know, only if thy strands were as clear as water and as white as crystal. Would that I could behold her once more."
Bell stepped past Inietta, his gaze fixed on Tobias and Sarah, who were together in conversation. As he approached them, he could see that Tobias looked visibly better, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Oblige thy life debt to Ephi, Tobias," Bell spoke with a commanding tone, his eyes fixed on Tobias. "With that object on thy wrist, thou art perchance the mightiest." Bell gestured towards the black bracelet adorning Tobias' hand.
Tobias had beheld the same ornament upon Ephi's wrist before, only it radiated with a luminous emerald hue. Tobias was consumed by curiosity, yearning to inquire about the object's properties, but Bell quickly pivoted and strode away, leaving Tobias to ponder the mysteries of the bracelet in silence.
In the midst of Bell's stride, there stirred a cloud of ebony particles, coalescing together in a swirling vortex akin to a miniature tempest. Suddenly, a portal materialized, fashioned from the very essence of shadow, and yawned open, disgorging an impenetrable shroud of darkness from within its inky depths.
As Bell gazed upwards, his eyes roved over the expanse of the celestial vault, shimmering with a myriad of stars. Yet, despite the vastness of the cosmos, he felt a sense of foreboding looming over him.
With a heavy heart, Bell muttered under his breath, "Even he hath the power to upset the equilibrium of mine own realm." And as if in response to his words, a blazing orb of incandescent energy burst forth from beyond the limits of the known universe, hurtling towards Bell with a fearsome velocity.
The very ground trembled and the air quaked with the sheer force of the impact, threatening to obliterate everything in its path. But lo and behold, Bell was enveloped within a black shield, resembling a ghostly sphere, that had materialized out of nowhere. The dark radiance of the shield glowed with an eerie intensity, defying the fiery onslaught that sought to reduce Bell to ashes.
Without hesitation, Sarah strode towards the portal shrouded in impenetrable darkness, her form disappearing into the void without a trace. Tobias, who had witnessed Ephi's sudden departure, wasted no time in following her into the unknown.
As the chaos raged on, Inietta's eyes widened in alarm as she watched Tobias bolt toward the shrouded portal. In a desperate bid to stop him, Inietta reached out to grab his hand, but the sheer force of his momentum dragged her along instead.
As they stepped through the portal, Inietta felt as though the outside world was slipping away from them, as if the very light was receding into the distance. Inietta reached out, her hand grasping at the fading light as if trying to hold onto a tangible anchor in the midst of the unknown.
Her heart yearned for one last conversation with Bell, hoping to find the courage she needed. But the light was fleeting, and soon it vanished completely, leaving them all stranded in the abyssal darkness of an unstable dimension. The very fabric of the dimension undulated and shifted under their feet as if trying to shake them loose from its grasp.
As his companions disappeared into the maw of the void, Bell's fingers curled into a tight fist, his expression dark and foreboding.
The fiery orb bore down upon Bell, a menacing presence that seemed to defy all reason and logic. As it made contact with his black shield, it passed through with eerie ease, as if the barrier itself were no more substantial than a ghostly mist. The searing heat of the blast left a trail of destruction in its wake, obliterating everything in its path with ruthless efficiency. Buildings crumbled and the very earth itself seemed to shudder under the onslaught of the inferno.
Yet, the fireball passed harmlessly through Bell, leaving him unscathed.
Bell approached the enchanted mirror once more. As he extended his hand to touch its surface, a mysterious hand emerged from within and seized his own. Before he knew it, he was being pulled into the mirror, the world around him fading into a blur of colors and shapes.
Bell emerged from the mirror, finding himself in a familiar room that had miraculously been restored. Ephi's room was there, but it wasn't as ruined as before. As his gaze fell upon his other self, he realized that it was the one who had pulled him into the mirror. Tobias and the others were there too, but Bell knew that destiny must be fulfilled, and there would be consequences to face.
With a determined step, Bell left the safety of the room, bracing himself for the consequences of fulfilling his destiny. The threat loomed ahead, but he was ready to face it head-on.