"Tell me," I demanded, my voice amplified by the silence of the frozen city, "what are you trying to do?"
The figure chuckled, a hollow sound that carried a hint of defiance. "You dare question a sorcerer, huh? Go to the small village on the tallest mountain in this country, and you'll know what we want... to make the world perfect..."
"A perfect world, huh?" I scoffed, my voice echoing through the stillness. "Whose definition of perfect? Yours? The Seers'? Perfection is subjective, and your methods are anything but benevolent."
I paused, my gaze hardening. "I'll go to that village," I declared, my voice resonating with determination. "But don't think for a second that I'll let you carry out your twisted plans. The Unveiled Family will stop you, no matter the cost."
"Hey, I'm part of the Unveiled too, just not with your group," the figure retorted, a hint of defiance in their tone. "We have different ideologies."
I narrowed my eyes, skepticism clouding my vision. "Different ideologies?" I echoed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You terrorize the city with your monstrous Whale, disrupt the balance of nature, and you call that a 'different ideology'?"
The figure chuckled, their voice a chilling whisper. "Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good. You don't know anything, kid, nor do your family members."
"We know enough to know that your methods are wrong," I countered, my voice unwavering. "You're playing with forces you don't understand, risking the lives of innocent people for your own twisted vision of perfection."
Pull him closer.
The figure's body floated closer to me, and I reached out, my hand closing around his throat, choking him. "Tell me what your plan is," I demanded, my voice a low growl.
"Listen, kid!" he gasped, struggling for breath. "This world is not perfect, and we're trying to make it perfect! The reason I summoned my Harbinger is to increase people's fear. Then, my friends will use their power! Her power is to take people's lives through fear! And we're trying to kill... those corrupt... Release me..."
"Boy, release him," a woman's voice suddenly appeared beside me.
I was startled and looked to my left. It was clear a moment ago that there was no one there, but now a woman stood beside me, her appearance as sudden as her voice.
She had short black hair and glasses that perched on her nose. Her sharp eyes scrutinized the scene, her expression a mix of disapproval and curiosity. "Release him," she repeated, her voice firm yet calm.
"So you're with him?" I asked, my grip on the figure's throat tightening slightly. My eyes narrowed, assessing the newcomer. She didn't seem to possess any overt powers or weapons, but there was an air of confidence about her that suggested she wasn't someone to be trifled with.
"We don't want to harm the innocent just to get to the bad people," the woman explained, her voice calm but firm. "Most of the corrupt people in the government are Seers, and we intend to eliminate them. It's a different ideology. You might want to change the country, but we only want to reclaim our heritage. Don't you agree, descendant of Wali Ra Kian?"
I stared at her, surprised by her knowledge of my lineage. Her calm demeanor and unwavering gaze held a power of their own, a quiet strength that demanded respect.
I released my grip on the man's neck, allowing him to drop to the ground with a heavy thud. He coughed and sputtered, gasping for air as he clutched his throat.
Thud!
"Ack!"
I turned my attention to the woman, my curiosity piqued. "Tell me, what is your organization? And your name?"
The woman smiled faintly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "My name is Bennett, and I represent the Eclipse," she replied, her voice smooth and confident. "We are a group of Re:Unveiled who believe that the Seers have corrupted our heritage, twisting our powers for their own selfish gain. We seek to reclaim our true legacy, to restore balance to the world."
"The Eclipse?" I echoed, intrigued by the name. It evoked images of darkness and mystery, a fitting moniker for a group that operated in the shadows.
"Yes, the Eclipse," Bennett confirmed, her gaze unwavering. "We've been watching you, Imaginary. Your actions against the Seers have not gone unnoticed. We believe you share our goals, our desire for a world free from their corrupt influence."
She paused, her eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation. "We just have a different ideology. You want to recreate the world into a place without corruption, while we aim to infiltrate the government and lead the people... using our minds, our powers, but sparingly."
I considered her words carefully, weighing the implications of their approach. It was a different path, a more subtle and perhaps even more dangerous one. But it also held a certain appeal, a chance to change the system from within, to guide humanity towards a brighter future without resorting to outright conflict.
"I see," I replied, my voice thoughtful. "Your methods are certainly different from ours. But I can't deny that they have merit. The Seers' influence runs deep, and fighting them head-on might not be the most effective strategy."
I paused, a flicker of curiosity crossing my face. "Tell me more about the Eclipse. How do you operate? What are your plans?"
Bennett smiled, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "I'd be happy to enlighten you, Imaginary. But perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere more private."
Just then, the man I had choked earlier struggled to his feet, his eyes burning with rage. "You better not trust her!" he snarled, his voice hoarse. "I'll kill him first... and then we can talk... he choked me... and copied my Whale..."
"Parker!" Bennett's voice cracked like a whip, her gaze piercing the man's newfound bravado.
Parker flinched, his anger momentarily subdued by her commanding presence. He reluctantly sat back down, his eyes darting nervously between Bennett and me.
A tense silence hung in the air, the only sound the distant rumble of the city and the ragged breathing of the defeated Seer. Bennett turned back to me, her expression softening slightly. "Forgive Parker's outburst," she said, her voice apologetic. "He's still adjusting to the loss of his Harbinger. It was killed suddenly that time... but we're glad we have the genius on our side who can reincarnate the Whale, even though it's gone now, somehow..."
She's talking about me... or maybe she doesn't know I was the one who killed that Whale, I thought, a flicker of amusement crossing my face.
She removed her glasses, revealing sharp, piercing eyes that seemed to see through me. Her hair, now freed from its confines, fell to her eyebrows, framing her face with a wild elegance. "Now, let's talk, just the two of us," she said, her voice a low, seductive purr. "Let me lead the way, Imaginary."
"W-Wait, you're going to leave me here, Bennett?" Parker asked, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and betrayal.
"Stay there, don't move," she commanded, her tone brooking no argument.
I followed Bennett, intrigued by her sudden shift in demeanor. Her confident stride and air of authority commanded attention, a stark contrast to the playful demeanor she had displayed moments before.
"You have impressive power," she remarked as we walked, her voice a low, husky tone. "Suddenly, people vanished... even my Harbinger was gone. Where did you teleport them?"
"Somewhere within a 200-meter radius," I replied calmly. "I was worried they might get caught in the explosion if the Whale detonated."
"I see... you have good hair too," she commented, her gaze lingering on my long locks. "I wish I had long hair like that."
< Chapter 187 > Fin.