After taking a shower, Zach came out in his signature obsidia nightgown. In dark blue and black. Zach rubbed his face as he stared out the window. The lanterns lining the city streets and the fun-filled crowds saved the dark night.
Zach sat in a chair in front of the glass window looking out quietly. "Zach... It looks like fun outside. How about we go for a walk" Emma hugged Zach from behind.
Zach raised his eyebrows as he said "Mmm, I already put on my nightgown, after all aren't you tired from the trip earlier?" Zach said softly.
Emma stood up and looked out the window "I'm not tired, but if you are tired then rest is also a good choice" Emma looked sullen.
Zach sighed seeing Emma's expression, he stood up and changed clothes in the bathroom. it was not yet their custom to change directly.
As the cool breeze brushed against their skin, Zach and Emma walked together on the Amethyst town footpath. The bustling situation made Zach's heart calmer, and he forgot the previous terrible incident for a while.
They toured various places, until they finally decided to relax in front of the beach. "This is really fun, If only Violet was still awake, I'm sure she would be happy" Emma smiled contentedly.
Zach sighed "It's already ten o'clock anyway, far from his bedtime already"
After a casual chat, they decided to head back to the inn. Emma changed into her previous sleepwear. Meanwhile Zach sat back in the chair in front of the window.
"Zach, are you tired?" Emma suddenly said when Zach was about to take out a brown book from his suitcase. Emma's clothes look half open.
Zach turned his head and looked at his wife who was hinting at something. Zach canceled his action and was silent for a few seconds and finally fell to the temptation. He put the book back in the suitcase and quickly climbed into bed.
...
The next day, Zach was awakened by the noise of birds chirping.
Realizing it was already morning, he got up and opened the glass window. He stared seriously out the window as he thought "The day has passed, And that incident must have passed. Obsidia must have been in a mess already" Zach lowered the corners of his lips as he remembered the people he knew including his friends and captain and interspersed with the sights their death.
Zach turned his head and saw Emma still fast asleep. He didn't wash himself off right away and instead sat up limply and looked at the beautiful city of Amethyst.
He averted his eyes as a brown object appeared in his vision. It was the book he had bought before, tucked away in a slightly opened suitcase.
His curiosity made him buy the book, He didn't have time to read it before. He grabbed the brown-covered book and placed it on the table.
"A book dealing with supernatural events. I wonder if the facts about Astral are written in here. Even though Emma says most of it is myth, but somehow I feel I have to read it at least once" Zach thought out loud as his messy black hair swayed in the wind from the window .
Zach opened the book, the first page was the page he was reading before, Zach turned the page and a different title was visible in thicker ink.
"Guardian Self-Control"
Zach focused and read the book silently.
"Guardians who must be subdued by themselves are weak. Likewise Guardians who die because of doubt in their hearts. Nothing is easy in their path, everything is full of thorns, knowing the truth is the most painful. What they believe in is the thing that hurts them the most. and lead them to the brink"
"Taking the path of a Guardian means eliminating a clean path. There is only bloodshed, but behind that all their sense of kinship cannot be underestimated. Even though that is what made them have to fall into the abyss"
"As I thought, this is more like a poem than a history book" Zach flipped to the next page.
"The mad world knocked them down to the bottom of hell. In the end they went mad and knocked each other out"
Zach frowned as he thought, "Tearing each other down? Does that mean there's internal conflict between the Guardians?"
The Guardians mentioned were heroes from before the war between cities. It was a time when shadow creatures were still around, Guardians were figures who would protect people from these shadow creatures. This has been common knowledge for thousands of years.
Zach turned to the next page and noticed a torn and missing page. There are at least 20 pages or the equivalent of 10 missing sheets. And what he saw jumped onto the page far away.
The title this time made Zach's eyes widen, his posture quickly became serious.
"The Rotten Soul Sealer"
Zach glanced at a symbol that looked like an inverted triangle and three circles at the three corners. The two unequal lines in the middle of the triangle look like water drops.
"The Clourfuss family is one of the families who have the ability to create sealing mediums. By using a special symbol we harness our pure blood to create powerful sealing mediums."
Zach tilted his head again, "Sealing? I've never heard of that term." At that moment, Zach's attention was distracted by Emma tapping him on the shoulder.
"You're awake…" Zach reflexively said.
Emma smiled as she stared at the symbol on the book, her black hair flowing long and touching the table. "What are you doing?" Emma's smile looked more sincere than usual.
Zach smiled and closed the brown book. while saying quietly, "Just reading a book"
A few moments later, Zach was wearing his casual clothes. White shirt and black vest without jacket. He wasn't wearing his hat either. On the other hand, Emma seems simpler. It was the usual casual attire that women on the Stonefield Continent would normally wear.
Her long hair was loose with a wide hat that protected her from the sun. They got together with Leonard, Diana and Violet.
It was time to have fun, to enjoy the beauty of Amethyst City. They visited many places including several places Zach and Emma had visited last night.
In the afternoon, they returned to the inn. Because he was tired, Zach immediately threw himself on the bed without taking off his black vest.
He closed his eyes and his head suddenly throbbed. Zach was surprised to stand up and try to stabilize his irregular breathing. "What is this? It's the same sensation as when I die" Zach mutters.
After a while, the headache subsided. Emma had just arrived and put her broad-brimmed hat on a hanger. She sat with a beaming face and a little tired.
At that time, there was a commotion outside the inn, Zach stood up and watched what was happening through the window. Outside, Residents and tourists seemed to be looking panicked.
Zach immediately realized what might have happened. "City of Obsidia..." Zach muttered lowering the corners of his lips.
It was only after a while, the appeal from the mayor made residents and tourists get clarity. The appeal stated that everyone in the city at this time must remain silent at their homes or inns.
As it got dark Zach rubbed his forehead staring out the window. The previously bustling city streets became silent, only the sound of horses' footsteps could be heard from the main street.
"They sent the Police and at least the gatekeepers. Well, no matter how powerful the Astral is, it definitely won't survive the police and Gate Keepers in the various cities with full preparations"