Setting down the intricately-made pendant and bejeweled, sleek, silver gauntlet on the table before the three, Mysta sighed inwardly and used all her past training and experience to keep a stable posture and calm demeanor.
Showing weakness would only lead to her downfall.
Soon, Vesba said with a seemingly casual remark:
"So, this is Scorpio's gauntlet, huh? I wonder what it does." Picking up the silver gauntlet with one burly hand, the tall giant imbued mana into the beige gem resting at the center of the back plate.
Nothing happened.
Sighing dissatisfactory, he rested it back on the table and sat back on his chair disappointedly. The others tried to do the same, but found themselves unable to do anything, forming disappointed looks on their respective faces.
'So, only a candidate can use it, huh…' Looking at the mystical items of astounding worth, Mysta couldn't help but perspire out of nervousness. To any other mundane mage or person, such items would be entirely useless. Worthless, even.
If not for the costly makings and research value the items held, then they would truly be without value or worth. That aspect must have also been taken into account by its creator.
Tapping her fingers on the table, Selen spoke aloud. "So, where's Aries right now?
"You mentioned before that you already have information regarding Sagittarius's location and whereabouts. Well, pull that up. Now."
She demanded with authority. Despite spending the least amount of time in the mansion, including the servants and guards, she was no rookie, and held a higher position than most. Her position was not one to be underestimated.
"Certainly." Mysta nodded her head and waved for a servant to retrieve and distribute the accompanying document and copies to the people in the room.
After most had a file in hand, she began her discussion.
"In the past five months, ever since the sudden announcement of this completion for Lady Alice's hand in marriage, there are several individuals of the main and branch families that have been suspected to be possible candidates.
"While most of these have been revealed to be accurate, there are some who were not within expectations; namely Sagittarius and Capricorn. The point of this meeting is to introduce and ascertain that everybody present is on the same page concerning this individual."
Mysta spoke in a loud and clear voice, burying her fatigue with her professionalism. There were some people, mostly a couple of advisers and logistics operatives in the room who did not have much general knowledge regarding the other candidates' main characteristics; namely Sagittarius and Capricorn.
They were never given the opportunity to handle such sensitive and important information, which was mostly directly passed to either Mysta herself or Selen Votum, the two most educated scholars out of everybody in the mansion. If not for them, certain channels would have already leaked the information, reaching the ears of certain families.
Most of the Exousia, Silata, and Mocný still believed in the old doctrine of "might makes right," focusing more on bolstering their own military potential than political and economical growth. Though, that's only with the more ancient families who lived and survived the Purple Night.
This has caused serious distraught and divide in the main and branch families.
Nowadays, some of the smarter families have started to follow the example Exousia was setting, making and creating their own network and hiring more and more experts on certain fields. However, they were still a few solid years away from reaching the heights that Exousia has attained through diligent effort; trial and error, and various failed experiments.
Still, the threat that other families presented were still a large and considerable problem.
…Pulling out a well-drawn sketch of Sagittarius, Mysta continued explained to everyone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Sagittarius, also known as the Mad Hatter.
"His real name and current occupation is unknown, though he is suspected to dabble in bounty hunting, slave trafficking, theft, and illegal possession of various magical items.
"Two months ago, during a separate investigation concerning a different contestant, Sagittarius was seen to be talking with the creator of the proof of participations — Blessen Exousia — as well as a potential connection he may have to the main family of Exousia.
"As you all know, the Mad Hatter is a feared and well-known name in the underworld of this city, earning the awe of several names you might be familiar with. One of the reasons for their awe was the fact that, seemingly, the Hatter cannot be arrested by the city guards and Knight's Order.
"This has lead to the speculation that the Hatter holds a very powerful card; he has an ally in very high places. This powerful ally is suspected to be Blessen Exousia."
Letting the words brew in the advisors, operatives, and master's heads and process them for a second, Mysta caught her breath and paused for a long while.
Some of the information she presented to the people in the room was not presented to Aries so as not to cloud his judgement. Since most of the evidence and observations they have are only on the level of a hypothesis or speculation, she had judged it not to be pertinent to his mission.
It was better to leave him with a clear slate and let the rest of the information come naturally. Mysta judged it to be the best course of action.
"We do not know how the Mad Hatter nor Capricorn became a candidate, since their blood connections and family history is very ambiguous.
"The working theory is that their ancestry date back to before the Purple Night, where their connection to the main and branch families were severed like many others."
At the mention of the Purple Night, several advisors visibly shivered, while others' faces were tainted with grim darkness, remembering the vile horrors that ravaged the Old Mireton in just one night.
…Surprisingly, Vesba had the darkest expression of all. The usual humor was gone, and the lackadaisical mask he always wore was gone to the wind.
The next moment, though, it was back on, and his smile returned with a chipper whistle. However, everybody clearly saw the discrepancy between this smile and the smile he always wore.
Clearing her throat, Mysta continued with her description of Sagittarius.
…After explaining The Hatter's abilities as an Accomplice, as well as the ability of the proof of participation he held, Mysta finally moved on to the main subject.
"…Using the data collected, a plan has been made and implemented to deal with the growing threat that is Sagittarius.
"There are three steps to this plan. One is the 'capture' of one our representatives: somebody important enough not to be killed.
"Second is the infiltration. Once 'captured,' the representative would gather information from within and await extraction.
"The third and final step is escape. Using the mana signature of a magic item in the possession of the representative as a homing beacon, we — the intelligence team — as support, along with the recon and assault team will launch a full-frontal attack to Sagittarius's base of operation and wipe out all of his goons, as well as all those under affected by his abilities as an Accomplice.
"The main family of Exousia's candidate, Aries, has been chosen to enact this plan. He has also agreed to this and, by estimation, has already completed the first phase of this plan."
The moment Mysta finished, several complaints flew her way like poison-laced daggers.
"Wait a minute, that's way too risky. Our candidate could die!"
"That's right, I agree. Not only is the death of Aries a high possibility, there's also his proof of participation: Aries's Blessing. If we lose that, it's all over!"
"Mhm, mhm. Sure, in terms of potential value, Aries is certainly one of the most likely candidates from the main family, he wouldn't die soon, but wouldn't the alternative also be as important?"
"If Sagittarius uses his Cane to project his Accomplice powers, Aries and his budding psyche wouldn't be able to handle it, let alone a concentrated blow!"
"At most, we have a few days—five or six, at best. After a week, Death's Edge wouldn't be a far-off destination anymore. Dying would be better than becoming a mindless puppet to that lunatic. This is too big of a problem all of a sudden."
"Why did you not consult us on this?"
Closing her eyes and waiting patiently for the advisors and logistics operatives to finish their ramblings, Mysta collected her thoughts with livid familiarity.
If she was proud of one thing, it would be her ability to plan ahead according to her mistress's 'whimsy'. This has trained her mind to remain calm under normally stressful situations and the perseverance to see it through.
When the table gradually settled, Mysta continued with a frown; eyes still closed:
"…It was a split-second decision.
"Since Sagittarius's goons were already there waiting to ambush Aries and Scorpio, I saw it fit to use the opportunity to inform Aries of the plan, as well as the risks involved.
"That was when he decided to give me these two proof of participations and went off on his own, telling me to escape."
She gestured to the intricately-made pendant and sleek silver gauntlet, then looked back to the advisors and logistic operatives.
She began to raise her voice:
"In fact, this can be considered a blessing a disguise, in some ways, as it reduces the risk to the main family. With two of the three proof of participation that we are in possession of, that would reduce the number of military assets we have concurred in this significant battle..." Mysta smiled.
…But she didn't get to finish the beginning of her grandiose speech when somebody else interrupted:
"The boy isn't an asset, property, or number that you can just chalk off in that tiny little checkboard of yours, Miss attendant.
"Lieren is our student and we are his teachers. Through blood and sweat, we have ascertained that he is more than your magical numbers.
"You're underestimating him." Selen Votum eyed her quietly, her gaze hidden behind the bright luster of blue.
For a second, she almost sounded like she was seething, buts she managed to control herself. Barely.
Then, she turned away, and pursed her lips.
"He's so much more than that."
Mysta lingered for a moment, noticing that the three masters had the same opinion about the boy, and looked down, then sighed inwardly.
'They never make things easy, do they?' Looking back up with an apologetic face, she muttered. "…Right, of course, whatever you say Lady Selen."
◇◆◇◆◇
In the depths of a certain warehouse, Harita closed his eyes and felt the familiar clangor of illusory chains ringing in a distant, far-off land beyond his reach.
It sounded so close, yet so far, like the vestiges of a dream upon waking up.
Looking back at the Myth with hesitation, he said with gusto:
"So… that's all? I thought you would want more."
Now that the Vow had been made, there was no changing or rescinding it. It was irrevocable.
The creature almost seemed to smile as its "voice" echoed in his head only.
"Though my transgressions may say otherwise, I'm a rather fair and just person… if you stay on good terms with me, that is.
"Oh, no. That is not a threat, mind you. Tis but a mental fault of mine. I tend to get… wild when I see something amiss or too enticing.
"Nevertheless, three days from now, I will surely take care of that titanic problem of yours. I need to gather my strength back first and foremost."
Harita squinted his eyes at the hundreds of masks littering the mass of pulsating darkness, feeling another anchor on his soul connect. After a while, the feeling faded, but the weight on his soul didn't.
It was the sign that the Vow had been completed.
Glancing at Bian with a deathly serious look, he said coldly:
"Stay close."
"Mhm." She nodded, gripping the handle of her silver rapier even tighter.
She had not dismissed it in grim expectation of something bad happening.
Unfortunately, something did—rather, was going to happen. She just had no power to stop it.
…Kneeling down to the various talismans sealing the Myth to his cell, Harita began ripping the seals one by one, feeling a dire sense of wrongness befall him each time.
Bian watched with a nervous expression, biting her lip. Her eyes darted to every seal that fell to the floor.
And, after a while, the Myth was finally set free.