Waking up from Bed, Fort felt like his head was spinning around, looking at the clock he quickly realized "oh no! " he was already late for his training at the 09:30. Fort takes a bath before leaving his house.
Arriving at the South gate, Fort was greeted with the smile on Mr Alaric face. ".. I-I can explain" Fort stutter.
Smile on Mr Alaric went bigger before he ordered Fort to physical training. Fort running and push up while being watched by Mr Alaric. In his mind Fort were freaking out.
(I hope this end quickly!!! )
Alaric keep pushing Fort physical state for hours!... After the training of torture. Fort was lying in the grass while closing his eyes.
Opening his eye, Fort looking at the clock Fort notice, it's almost 11:50.
(Finally!) He was relieved that this training will be ended.
While lying down and relieved, Alaric voice was heard from behind. Fort reflexively looked back, raising his gaze he saw Alaric holding his needle sword. "Did you learn your lesson!? "
Fort suprised by Alaric sudden Appearance, he quickly answered " Y-yes" Fort stutter saying it.
Then Mr Alaric said "Hope so.." Mr Alaric shook his head And then Said "before I end this training, I will teach you something"
He brought out something from his right pocket, it was a wooden doll in the shape of a human.
" Spirituality was an energy created by gods to protect human " Alaric said
"Look at this doll" Fort looking at the doll as Instructed by Alaric.
" Spirituality protect it... Maybe you can't see it yet ". (As matter of Fact I can..)
" you know Fort, any human have an protection either it from a god or an Mythical Creature." Alaric then take the doll back to his pocket.
"Human is an egg.. " (True..)
"They can't survive from bad spirits if they don't have 'spirituality' " Fort nodded before asking "what happened when we running out of Spirituality"
Alaric silent for a few minutes before shook his head and said "it rarely happened, and even if that happens, Spirituality was based of the person souls, if the person soul can't handle losing spirituality for a split second then he will lose his sanity" . Fort looked at Alaric with a bored face before being surprised by him
"Spirituality protect human from bad spirits! "
Alaric emphasized his previous words. Fort who was sleepy quickly wake up And listening.
"Still, losing all of your spirituality could be a serious matter. Because of Evil spirits will be easily corrupt your soul.. Making you lose your sanity and much more" Alaric looking at Fort who was waiting for this session to ended. Because.. after looking at the clock Alaric realized it already 11:50.
11:50
After finishing his training with Alaric, Fort quickly making his way far from the South gate.. "He scary when angry" Fort muttered in his mouth.
He was inside a carriage on his way to the Cathedral, Fort meet with Ignis again, because of Ignis Request.. Looking at the side walk he noticed that not a single person walking in the side walk. He then talking to himself "Is it because of the Corpse found the other day? or is it because of the Sky?" Looking up from Carriage windows Fort noticed that the sky was fully covered in cloud.
....
Arrived at the meeting points. Fort greeted Ignis "Good afternoon senior Ignis", Ignis then return the greeting "ha ha You don't need to be so formal, we're friends! "
Ignis once again asking Fort assistance for an investigation for The Azzel Case.
" There is a clue about the other burned body in South gate" Ignis telling Fort his information
"This Corpse was an Ordinary person. Named Rucard" Fort listening while making sure if he actually ever meet Rucard.
" other pioneers succeed in returning his burned belongings.. One of the card have name in it and it belongs to Rucard Wilson's"
"Isn't it can be a decoy set up by the real killers to manipulate Pioneers " Fort reminding Ignis about the possibility.
"Don't worry, we can be sure about this. Sortilegium Revelation has proved it to be real" Ignis convincing Fort that the card was something that can be trusted
"Revelations from Sanctuary of Light and God of Light can't be false" Ignis said
Meanwhile Fort was curious about what Sortilegium Revelation was but refrained from asking
After the explaining Pioneers First clue about Azzel death, Ignis held a Pendant with sign of sun and stars in it. He grab the pendant so hard while praying to the Gods of Light.
After praying, Ignis looked up to the sky and
telling Fort about Pioneers second discovery. " This isn't the only thing we found for the past 2 days " Ignis looked at his colleagues.
"Pioneers has been tracking Azzel and Rucard activity for the last week's, they did not meet each other at all.. Beside the last Saturday"
(Last Saturday?)
Fort listening to Ignis who continues talking.
"They meet in the museums near South gate, according to one of the witnessed they was seen talking in front of a painting " Ignis finished speaking.
Looking at the sky Fort noticed that the sky was starting to get cloudy, before thunder strikes on the Cathedral roof.
surprised by the thunder, Fort looked at Ignis whose face was already used to it, Fort then speak "maybe it's gonna be better if we arrived in the museums before Strom hit "
Hearing Fort suggestion Ignis nodded before stopping a Carriage whose in rush to not get into the rain.. The driver's looked at Ignis and said " I'm in a rush! " After Ignis "talk" To the driver's, the driver's finally agreeing to Ignis request.
He then going inside the carriage, followed by Fort.
Inside the carriage Ignis and Fort had a conversation, started from Fort. "wow... how did you make him agree to drive us? ".
Ignis responded with laughter " Come on it's nothing really, just a little request from me and a small additional payment.. " before continues laughing.
Fort response with a disbelief face to Ignis laughter.
While hearing Ignis' loud laughter, Fort looked out the carriage window, he saw many people running around trying to take shelter from the storm, old people packing up their wares while children ran around.
remembering himself as a child, playing and laughing.
Fort smiled for a moment before he looked back at the dark sky full of clouds. His face was full with smile, while a drop of
Finished laughing... Ignis looked at Fortis, finding him staring at the sky seriously. Ignis then asked Fort in a curious tone "seriously what's wrong? ".
Fort then looked at Ignis with a laugh and said "it's nothing, just remembering the good old days."
"The rain... the people, the atmosphere is all very beautiful when this day can be reached..." said Fort with a relieved face.
"But.. what about people who have died?... they haven't enjoyed the days ahead, why are they separated from humans?" said Fort in a disappointed tone.
Ignis looked at Fort with a disbelieving face.
Fort then Lowered his head and laughing again before saying " Sorry sorry, I'm a little emotional about this".
"It's reminded me about some happy old days, I used to be have a good childhood.. "
"..." Ignis listening to Fort with serious face, his hand holding his other hand.
Before Fort could start to telling the story the carriage stopped, followed by the driver shouting "hey get-out fast! ", Ignis couldn't help but gripped his own hands hard while looking down with an annoyed expression.
Fort and Ignis get down from the Carriage, Ignis then pays the good driver... The driver then drive his carriage far away from the museums..
Fort and Ignis then go inside the museums, but because of his old habit Fort said " Bet the storm will arrive now " Ignis looking at Fortis with a curious look but before he could asked a split second after they set foot in the museums the Storm was happened.
the rain was heavy, the wind was blowing hard, lightning was dancing in the sky, and loud rain was heard from outside.
surprised by Fort's ability to predict the downfall of the storm, Ignis had to suspected Fort as Another Sortilegium Revelation.
"A-are you an Sortilegium Revelation? " Ignis asked with stuttering
"No no no! It's just a lucky guess! I don't even know what that is !" Fort answers in fear of being captured by the Cathedral. His hands were sweaty because of nervousness coupled with the cold rain making him shiver
Both of them ended in confusion, one was confused about Fort luck, while the other one was just scared...
...
After clearing the confusion Fort and Ignis went to the museum, inside the museum there are various fossils of living creatures some of them were huge and some of them were small.
Not long after Going inside.. Ignis quickly recognized the witnesses of Rucard and Azzel. Ignis then shouted with sopan " Mr aries! ".. The person then looked at Ignis and Fort before waving his hand gesturing to come at him.
After walking to Mr Haris chair Ignis greeted him while Fort was observing Mr aries appearance. He wear a blue hat and a oldold cane his appearance suggest that he was around 34 years old.
While Ignis was asking a few questions about Azzel and Rucard, Fort wandering around the antique paintings.
Looking at one of the antique paintings on display, Fort felt a pain in his head and goosebumps on his neck.
The painting was the same as the one in Azzel's office, the portrait was the same, even the frame of the painting still had burnt ashes remaining.
Fort carefully examined the painting displayed in the museum, the same portrait convinced Fort that it was the same painting... (but why is it here? Wasn't this confiscated by the Pioneers last time?)
Fort thought hard as he explored every corner of the painting, which in the end! Fort noticed something, he brought his head closer to the bottom left corner of the painting, at the end of the cliff leading to the sea there were two human figures raising their hands and praying at the stone gate..
Seeing that Fort felt the coldness from the rain making him feel his skin crawl.
Looking at the name of the painting, Fort was shocked beyond words, his eyes widened.
"Salvation for the followers of the Void"
(if this were seen by the priests of the Cathedral of Light it would definitely be considered heretical!) Fort thought how this could be displayed in this museum
This includes insulting the God of light, the appearance of followers of other gods in the Iustitia Empire is a blasphemy against their god, God of Light.
when he was about to turn around to tell Ignis about the strangeness of the painting he had just found.
Fort was surprised, his eye's was wide opened. to find an oddity from Mr. Aries. his wrinkled skin bulged abnormally like it was about to explode.
Seeing the possibility of what might happen and possibility for an combat fighting, Fort thought for a moment before deciding not to tell Ignis his findings.
He then continued to observe one of the paintings that caught his attention.
the painting is entitled
"The Man From The Fog"
there is another name listed below it, it is not clearly visible. but Fort can read it.
"Exchange Angel"
The portrait contains a tall, faceless human figure with several parts of his body tied with threads leading up into the mist, and several strange creatures are also around him. such as dog figures without eyes and noses as well as large and very scary humanoid figures.
After a few minutes he observing 2 paintings that caught his attention. Unease feeling was running around in his head, Fort felt needed to tell Ignis about his founding. However
Suddenly a hand grabbed his shoulder, making him jump backwards.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Realizing that it was Ignis, Fort stroked his chest trying to calm his heartbeat.
"n-no" Fort said
Ignis looked at Fort with a suspicious expression.
Before he could ask, Fort interrupted himself and said "The storm has stopped!"
Hearing what Fort said Ignis looked outside and sure enough, the storm had stopped.
The rain had stopped, the sun was starting to appear accompanied by the sound of birds chirping.
...
outside the museum
Fort and Ignis left by waving their hands towards Mr Aries. With an eerie smile Mr Aries waving his hand back
While walking Fort felt this was the right time for him to tell Ignis.
but before he could ask, Ignis interrupted him.
"what's the problem" Ignis said
"..." Fort was silent for a while before saying, "There's a problem with Mr. Aries."
Ignis then nodded his head in agreement. They both thought for a moment about what steps they would take.
"if we wait for help, it will take longer" Ignis said.
ensuring there is no other choice Fort proposes to monitor the activities of Mr Aries. that way the risk of a physical fight can be minimize.
Ignis agrees with Fortis' proposal, as long as they wait for help. Fort and Ignis will monitor Mr Aries' condition. The two of them went back into the museum and found that Mr. Aries had left his chair.
Ignis and Fort then looked outside, after searching the streets for a while, they found Mr Aries walking alone into a dark alley, Seeing conditions like this, Fort and Ignis had no choice but to follow Mr Aries.
Aries walked through a dark, transparent alley to the other side of the building.
while following Aries, mist suddenly appeared between them, making Ignis and Fort lost track of him in one of the alleys....