As we rejoined the group, I noticed the Avatars looking quite shocked.
There were scattered remains of many sentinels all around. Many had claw marks on them and appeared to be partially frozen. Nasuria's signature handiwork.
"You three are alive...?" Ranis said.
"Of course we are! It would take more than a stupid machine controlling time magic to kill the Destroyer!" Cassandra said proudly.
Both she and Isabella had dispersed their respective weapon's fourth forms.
"Color me impressed... Who could have possibly guesses that they were mechanical..." Nirani asked.
"Yeah, I don't know who the hell built something like that, but I'm concerned that there could be more," I said.
"By the Elder Core...you actually killed a Warden...? Ha! No wonder I lost to you! You'll make a fine teacher!" Triglavikk said.
"Ugh... We should get moving. We need to find clues on Kestel and locate the Demon Queen."
"I can help with that, actually," said an unknown voice nearby.
I looked around as a mysterious figure uncloaked themselves from invisibility.
He was a handsome man wearing leather armor akin to assassin's gear and a face mask. He had two daggers at his side with many throwing knives attached to his front.
"Ah...wait. I think your name is...Kyle...?" I said with uncertainty.
"How the heck do you know my name!?" Kyle said.
He pulled down his mask.
The man before us was very handsome. The sort of guy girls would go crazy over.
This was, of course, because he was an incubus. The opposite of a succubus. Their kind lived to seduce women in their dreams to steal their magic power for sustenance. Although in some cases, they would take a tiny piece of the soul as payment.
"It's a long story. Let's just say that I came here in a previous life. I was acquainted with Queen Estelyn," I said.
"How so...? My Queen has never mentioned anyone..." Kyle said.
"We were married, actually. She picked me up because she thought I would be a cute toy and ended up falling for me. And she wouldn't remember anything, anyway. Reality was reset after I died. Everyone lost their memories of the event, including me. I only regained those memories a few years ago."
"Hm...well I can't say for certain if you're telling the truth. But the fact of the matter is that you killed that...abomination. The one who has been plaguing us for a long time. If you'll allow it, my Queen would like an audience with you."
I looked at the others and they mostly shrugged.
Nasuria, who had been protecting Aldaril the entire time, also seemed fine with it.
I decided to notify Rastair as well over the comm channel.
"Rastair, cloak the ship and follow us."
"Anything for you, handsome!" Her voice responded.
I just rolled my eyes and turned back to Kyle.
"Lead the way."
* * *
After walking for a while, we approached a ten-foot wall made of blue crystals. There was a magical force field above it that surrounded the structure inside.
Within the barrier, was an old castle. One that looked like it could have once been the center of this realm...
But now...it was in ruins.
"Hold on a moment. Wait here while I speak to the guards and open the way," Kyle said.
He walked forward and passed through the crystals as if they weren't really there.
Honestly, I could have easily done the same. But I wanted this opportunity to speak with Aldaril.
I turned to Aldaril and motioned for him to come closer.
"Uh...need something?" Aldaril said.
"Did you know the Warden was capable of nullifying your power?" I asked.
"No. I've never seen one before. Actually, until recently, I didn't even know they existed..."
"In his defense, he had only just become an Avatar. The general public isn't privy to such knowledge... In fact, I barely knew anything about them, either," Nirani said.
"Hm... Well, I had a thought while fighting the Warden. Do you think it's possible that Hikari could have been killed by it?" I asked.
Aldaril lowered his gaze.
"I...I suppose so... But why would that thing have attacked her? What possible reason could it have had for killing the Avatar of Order?"
Just then, Ranis stepped forward.
"Listen...I don't really agree with the things the previous Avatar of Death did, but...you don't really seem so bad. So I'll tell you this, Aldaril. Mainly because I don't think you were ever properly made aware... Avatars of light and dark are not permitted to intermingle," he said.
"What kind of sense does that make? We fell in love. Who cares? If we bridged the gap, we could have-"
"It isn't my rule, Aldaril. That's just how it is. A union between light and dark is considered taboo of the worst kind. The same as abandoning Tanavol with an Avatar Eye."
"Is that why the Warden got involved?" I asked.
"Perhaps? But, there seems to be a misconception..." Ranis said.
"And what could that be?" Nirani asked.
"THE Warden? No. That wasn't the only Warden. That machine was the Warden of Order. One of them exists for every realm in Tanavol. That likely won't be the last we see of them, either..." Ranis said.
Son of a bitch! There's more of them!?
I saw both Isabella and Cassandra slump their shoulders hopelessly at the thought of fighting another one of those things...and potentially several at the same time.
"Yes, they act like guardians of their respective realms while the Avatars are away. They also enforce the Elder Covenant. What that means, I can't say. The tablets inscribed with those laws have long-since faded into obscurity," Ranis said.
"Great! So they're enforcing laws we have no way of understanding!? Awesome!" Aldaril said angrily.
"I understand your frustration. The system our world functions with is breaking down and there is nothing we can do to stop it... The best we can hope for is to find Kestel and rebuild before it's too late," Ranis said.
"Ranis...that might not be possible at this point," I said.
"Who cares? If we fail, at least we can say that we tried. I would rather fight to the death than do nothing but watch my home wither away into nothingness."
I could relate to his sentiment.
His words drew on something that I had long forgotten...
Avernia. Ignitus.
My desire to save those worlds was enough to get me killed so many times in the past. And when I failed, my desire for revenge kept me going.
I felt like had a greater understanding for Aldaril's pain as well...
He just wanted closure. He wanted to know why his beloved had to die.
And at that moment, I promised myself to help him get the answers he sought.
"Aldaril, can you really not remember the last thing you saw when Hikari died?" I asked.
He seemed lost in thought for a moment at my question.
Then, without warning, he began clutching his head in pain.
"Gah...why does it hurt...!? Why can't I remember!?" He said.
"Hmm...would you allow me to help?" I asked.
"Can you? I mean...is that even possible? What could you do?" Aldaril asked.
"I can look into your mind and see why your head hurts whenever you try to remember. Or...I could have Cassandra forcibly pull those memories to you. Can you at least tell me where you were when Hikari died?" I asked.
"I was..."
Aldaril stopped and looked around. Then he took a few steps toward a ruined building.
"...right here."
"Right there...? As in specifically standing in that spot? Didn't you say you escaped the Order realm with her?" I asked.
"We did escape. We went back because she needed to do something. And when we got to this spot...ugh...I can't remember... The only thing that comes to mind are two figures. Both really powerful. They disappeared as soon as I woke up and saw them..." Aldaril said.
He woke up? Someone knocked him out then... I'll just have Cassandra try something.
"Cassandra, check his head," I said.
She walked over and touched his head.
"Ah...that's odd. There's a seal on his memories. His mind has been tampered with. Allow me to just...remove it!" She said.
Aldaril took a step back and clutched his head.
"Gah...what the-!?"
After a few moments, he seemed to relax.
"Alright. Let's try this again. What can you remember?" I asked.
At that moment, Aldaril looked me dead in the eyes and gritted his teeth in rage.
"Everything... The Wardens of Order and Death killed her... Then the Warden of Death modified my memories to make me believe Kestel had murdered Hikari. He didn't finish though... Something went wrong."
"Ah, that would be what I saw! It looked like he tried to make you see something else, but failed. You couldn't properly identify the culprit as a result," Cassandra said.
"And what could that have been?" I asked.
"I woke up too quickly. I saw that Kestel had been given the Eye of Order while I was being dragged away. I managed to get up, then attacked him with everything I had. I could have killed him, but that wasn't my goal. I stole the Eye of Order and destroyed a gateway. I removed the limiter on its possible destinations. It sent me to another world...Delvandal."
"Looks like we have our culprit. But why kill Hikari? Your union would have begun an end to the millennia of wars between light and dark realms. Taboo be damned...it was foolish of them to do that," I said.
"If we want to know, we'll have to keep digging. But we can save that for later. It looks like our escort has finally returned," Ranis said.
Just then, Kyle emerged from the crystal barrier.
"I hope you all had a fun chat... Regardless, the Queen is ready to see you. Please follow me," Kyle said.