2.
As soon as Jakob returns to his room to rest after answering an endless amount of questions, he is finally able to get some rest. However, his mind continues to wander back to the things that had happened recently. As well as the new information he learned that shocked him. Not only him but the entire system of Misfits.
"To think that the purpose of the Contract Dungeons was for them to conquer our world…" Jakob stood and walked towards the mirror and stared at his reflection, "Are we nothing but a mere way to escape their own world?" he thought to himself.
Conflicted by what he just learned, Jakob realized how dangerous they are to the entire world. With the news of the threat of the Lords of a ruined world being declared, Jakob has started to doubt his existence.
He stood there for a couple of minutes before finally turning his gaze at his weapon placed on the floor just a few inches away from him.
Now equipped with the knowledge, Jakob reached a conclusion of his own.
"If we are a threat, then it's only right for us to disappear." he said to himself.
And as he reached out to grab his weapon, he heard a familiar voice calling out to him.
[Cease this foolishness.]
Jakob stopped the moment he heard the voice. He had not heard that voice ever since he got out of the dungeon almost 4 years ago and thought that it would be the last time. And yet, he heard it once again.
"Did you know?"
It is their first conversation in years. However, Jakob did not show any hesitation to jump into the topic right away.
[What plans the denizens of Agartha have has nothing to do with me. I cannot be bothered by such trivial things,]
Jakob, as stoic as he is, flinched upon hearing the voice in his head. And without hesitation, he grabbed his weapon at hand.
"Then why bother talking to me now?"
[Foolish humans. My goal is to ascend to whence I came. The matters of this world, be it engulfed in flames or go to ruin matters not to me. However, you are my vessel that would grant me the wish I have longed for. I will not allow you to take your life as you see necessary.]
"So you are just talking to me now because you will be in danger. Without me in the picture, returning to the place whence you came would only be a pipe dream." Jakob took a deep breath, "Had it not occurred to you that telling me beforehand wouldn't lead to this decision?"
[.....]
"Why have you gone silent, Lucifer? Realized your blunder just now?"
Jakob's lips broke into a smile as he grasped his weapon tightly, "What great timing. By killing myself now, I get to eliminate one of the greatest threats in our world and also a minion of Agartha's Demon Lord. This is like killing 2 birds with one stone!"
Just as Jakob is not afraid to take a life, he isn't afraid to take his own for the sake of the greater good. He had already steeled his resolve and was about to slit his neck when he remembered what his master used to say. In that instant, dragon scales formed around his neck. Protecting himself from his weapon.
The moment that failed, Jakob immediately went and tried to pierce his heart. But dragon scales would immediately form around the place where he plans to stab himself. He tried stabbing himself faster, however, he failed to even scratch himself. Death was not available to him no matter what he did.
Angry after failing to kill himself, Jakob threw his weapon away.
"How annoying. Is this your response, Lucifer?"
[I told you, human. You will be my ticket back. I cannot have you die before that happens.]
With absolute protection to almost everything, Jakob resigned. His body fell heavily on the floor.
[Just accept your fate, human.]
Similar to what happened earlier, Jakob was silent this time. Still, exasperated from failing to take his life, he asked the voice in his head a question.
"Lucifer, can you tell me something? Do you have no connection with the Demon Lord of Agartha?"
[And what would you do with the information?]
"Just tell me,"
The voice was silent for a moment as if pondering whether to answer Jakob's question or not. Nevertheless, the voice decided to answer his question thinking nothing of it.
[Aside from coming from Agartha, I have no connection with the Demon Lord whatsoever- wait-]
Jakob smiled as soon as he heard the voice's confirmation about its relationship with the demon lord. And the latter, as if hit by lightning, finally understood what Jakob was planning on doing.
[You don't plan to-]
"Thanks. With your protection, I might be able to do something."
[Foolish. I can only do so much to protect you in this limited state. Taking on the Lords of Agartha is suicide. Your mortal body would not be able to withstand it and you will start to break.]
As if waiting for the voice to say those words, Jakob smirked.
"Is that so? Then I guess we'll have to see what happens next then. It's either I die fighting them or break myself first. Either way, it's bad news to you. Isn't that great news?"
Despite not seeing the face behind the voice, Jakob could tell how angry it was. He felt his insides boiling, teeming with anger like a volcano about to erupt. Even so, Jakob doesn't mind.
[Detestable humans. You will pay for ever using me.]
"Hah! You're just using me just as bad. I don't see any difference, do you?"
[Let's see how long you can actually push yourself to the limit, human. I will be watching you.]
With that last remark, Jakob felt the voice's presence disappear as if something left his body. Finally free and with a new goal in mind, Jakob dared to make a last attempt to see if he is still under the voice's protection. Jakob hurriedly grabbed his weapon and swiftly tried to slit his throat. However, the moment he swung his weapon, dragon scales would instantly form to protect himself.
"Looks like it still works," Jakob said to himself and threw his body on the bed, "With that kind of impending threat, things will get busier from now on," were his last thoughts as he drifted to sleep.
Because of the information that was extracted from the person leading the monsters to wreak havoc all throughout Haven. Most of the students in the academy are temporarily put on a break while the council tries to sort out the situation. Some were confused and some were shocked after hearing the announcement.
Not knowing the consequences of letting the public know immediately, the council has decided to let at least all the Misfits know about the imposing danger of using their contract more often. This led to the ban of using their contracts temporarily. Some were shocked and some are doubtful of the council's abrupt decision. However, the council reassures them that the problem will be sorted out soon which led the students and other Misfits to believe that the council is in control of the situation.
Sadly, that belief is far from the truth.
Although the council made sure to keep the strict confidentiality of the matter. There are some people who managed to get hold of the information; the information brokers. These people started to sell the said information to influential people, and ultimately caused riots all around Haven.
In just a span of a week, the trust that was built for 2 decades is hanging by a thread. With tiny accidents associated with Misfits causing uproar, the system started to collapse.
Jakob woke up a week after he drifted to sleep. He was surprised to hear the odd silence around him. The once lively and vibrant air inside the dormitory was no more. Despite not being able to see a thing, Jakob could feel the world around him through his other senses. And what he felt was cold and distant sadness emanating in the air.
"What in the world happened?" he thought to himself as he rose from his bed.
Almost instantly, Jakob noticed how bad he smelled. And without delay, he knew he had slept for a good amount of time.
Jakob reached towards his drawer and grabbed his towel, "I must have slept longer than I should have," he said, making his way towards the bathroom.
After a good long and warm bath, Jakob made his way to the hallway. Tapping the walls to make a little bit of sound to guide himself, Jakob reached the end of the corridor where he senses a familiar presence hidden just behind a large pillar before the series of steps.
"Noli, is that you?" he asked,
The person immediately stood and turned around upon hearing someone calling out to him. Seemingly surprised by Jakob's sudden appearance after resting for a week, Noli replied, "Yes, Jakob. It is me."
Noli, a member of Jakob's squad, stared silently.
"What's the matter? Why does everything feel so out of place?"
Noli nodded his head the instant he heard what Jakob had said.
"Figures. You were resting for a long while that you're unaware of what has happened throughout this past week." Noli said, scratching his head.
Jakob got curious and Noli did not waste time and told his squad mate about what happened while he was gone. Jakob was surprised to hear everything that had transpired while he was out. He didn't expect how things could go differently from what he expected.
"I guess the council is not careful enough," Jakob muttered.
"It's just a rumor. It hasn't been proven yet," Noli strongly opposed.
"Rumor or not. We are already here. There's no turning back." Jakob replied.
Noli could only look down. He knows what Jakob said is right. Whether it's just a rumor or not, it doesn't really matter. Everything is different now, and as part of the losing side, they can't even do anything about it.
"Why do you think all these happened?"
The two sat on the stairs. With an effective temporary break, they had nothing else to do but talk.
It is then that Jakob remembered how he was able to converse with his contractor.
"Say, Noli…." Jakob spoke softly, "... did your contractor ever speak to you after the contract has been made?"
At Jakob's question, Noli strained his eyebrows and shook his head hard.
"That's just impossible. There is no way something like that could happen. And there's not a single case reported, either."
Jakob looks at Noli, unconvinced. After all, he was able to converse with his contractor right after he woke up from his deep sleep.
"I think it's possible, Noli." he insisted,
The latter looks at him in awe, raising his arms and shaking his head as if succumbing to Jakob's ridiculous claim.
"We may have only known each other for a few months but I'll have you know that I have your back." Noli pat Jakob's back as if trying to comfort him, "Because that's what friends do. And don't get me wrong. I support you, okay? I'm serious." he said sarcastically.
"Look, Noli. I'm not joking either."
"Do you think I'm kidding you?"
".....Yes?"
"What's with the short pause? You're not sure?"
Instead of answering Noli, Jakob made a 'little bit' gesture which enrages Noli. He wants to hit Jakob in the face however, he knows that he would not be able to fight back in case Jakob retaliates. So he stops himself from doing so, and takes a deep breath instead.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that just now." Noli sat as if meditating.
"I'm serious. I asked because mine did."
"Come on, Jakob. Are you saying that-"
Noli's words were cut off. He saw the expression Jakob had just now. With the little time they had spent with each other within the academy. The first thing Noli learned about Jakob is that he doesn't lie and always does what's right.
So hearing Jakob claiming something impossible, he had little doubts about its authenticity.
"A-Are you sure?" he said, trailing off.
"Of course. Do you think I'd lie to you? There's no merit in lying." Jakob responded.
Noli looks at his friend's face for a few seconds and then takes a deep breath as if he is trying to digest the information Jakob just handed to him.
"I'm a little shaken right now. Wow." Noli said, amazed, "Can you tell me what exactly happened? How were you able to converse with your contractor?"
Jakob turned to Noli's direction and hesitated for a moment. However, since he already shared his experience, Jakob thought that he should see through it till the end and told Noli everything that happened.
Unable to process all the information at once. Noli's immovable for a few minutes before finally going back to reality.
"Damn. I didn't expect you to act like that." said Noli after hearing everything from Jakob and agreed, "I'd do the same thing too if I were in your shoes. Since by doing so, I will be eliminating a potential threat to the world," Noli nodded his head.
"Yes. That's what I thought, too. I also thought that my contractor was a part of this scheme." Jakob fixed his head and continued, "But it looks like my contractor has a different plan. A plan that's completely unrelated to everything that's happening. And because of that, I would be able to exploit the protection that my contractor granted me."
Noli looked at his friend with eyes filled with envy. He is envious of the fact that Jakob's contractor is unrelated to the plans of the Demon Lord of Agartha while he and the others are still unconfirmed. And what's even more disheartening to him is that they are unaware if they will be able to control themselves in the future.
What they saw as a blessing had just turned into a curse all of a sudden without warning. With things spiraling out of control, Noli and the others could only hope for the best.