"What's your current Sequence?"
... what?
Irina's entire body froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes widened in shock as the question echoed in her ears.
"... what?" She barely managed to whisper, her voice betraying the dread twisting inside her. Fear clamped down on her chest, suffocating.
Why-how-when?! Her mind stuttered, paralyzed as panic surged like icy water flooding her veins.
Dunn's gaze flickered in surprise, but Crestet's eyes burned with an unyielding intensity. "Have you been lying about your sequence this whole time?"
"N-no!" Her words tumbled out, frantic and stumbling over themselves. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plausible excuse.
What gave me away?! I was so careful, I never used any special skill! What-
The temperature in the room dropped "Your current sequence." His unnatural jet-black eyes burned a hole in her soul, "What is it."
Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat drumming louder than the last as her mind clouded with desperation. She opened her mouth, but no words came. I can't-
Then, like a lifeline, Dunn spoke, his voice breaking through the fog. "Her sequence was verified by Madam Daly herself, not long before moving to Backlund." He continued, though his confidence wavered, "... there is no way-"
The Deacon's raised hand silenced Dunn mid-sentence. His gaze never left Irina, piercing through her like a cold blade. "You mentioned breaking into Neil's house through a window, didn't you?"
Her stomach twisted violently. Oh, no... no... he can't possibly know that Sequence 7 improves my agility... right?
"Yes," she stammered, her mind scrambling. "I did, but-"
"There was only one open window in the entire house," Crestet interrupted, voice cold and measured, "on the second floor, high enough that no one could reach it without enhanced physical abilities."
Her mouth went dry, her pulse thundering in her ears. Shit shit shit-That minor mistake cost me so much?! NO-
"And your pathway just happens to grant that kind of ability at your next Sequence." His words hung in the air like a death sentence, the weight of them pressing down on her shoulders.
Irina's thoughts spiraled into chaos. He knows. Unable to bear his gaze any longer, she lowered her eyes to the ground. He knows my pathway's sequences. Of course they lied when they said they didn't have the potions formula! They did the same with the Seer pathway after all! How could I be so dumb?!
"So let me ask you again," Crestet's voice lowered dangerously, the tension in the room thickening. "When and how did you advance?"
"I..." The words stuck in her throat. She felt stupid for trusting an official church, the same one she knew lied constantly to their own believers.
I was such a fool to trust them... She cursed herself internally, a miserable expression painted on her face. I have to find an excuse, anything! FOCUS! Get it together!
Dunn's voice cut through the suffocating air, stern and filled with warning. "Irina-"
Her mind flailed for something, anything, to save her. "Not long ago," her mouth moved before she could stop herself, desperation spilling out like a dam breaking. " When Klein caught and killed Sirius Arapis, I... felt it."
A heavy silence settled over the room, thick with tension. Crestet's brow furrowed, his displeasure evident. "What do you mean by that?" His voice was sharp, demanding.
Irina drew in a slow, shaky breath, trying to muster the courage to meet his gaze. "I explained something to Klein, and he thanked me for the 'lecture.' After that..." The memories of that day started coming back one by one, "It just happened. A sudden surge of energy, and I just knew. It disappeared as quickly as it came."
Dunn's expression twisted into disbelief. He stared at her as if she'd spoken in some foreign language. "How can it just..." His voice faltered, searching for reason. "Irina, did you actually drink a potion?"
She shook her head firmly. "No." Her voice softened with honesty, laced with a hint of exhaustion. "I don't know any potion formulas or ingredients. I truly have no idea. It just... happened. Just like that."
The Deacon's expression shifted, deep in thought. Dunn, on the other hand, looked utterly stunned. Both of them were mid-sequence Beyonders and he hadn't suspected a thing. "It's been almost a month since then!" He blurted out, unable to contain his shock.
Irina offered him a small, sad smile. "It has..."
"Wh-" Before Dunn could continue, Crestet cut him off, his voice measured, deliberate. "What's the name of the Sequence and its abilities?"
Is he testing me? Irina wondered, dread pooling in her stomach. Of course he is. He's a deacon, he knows things I could only guess at.
"It's called Custodian," she began, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "Most of the abilities are physical-my hearing, my speed, they're all greatly enhanced. I'm better with weapons now, my aim's sharper." Her words slowed, her fingers twitching slightly as she tried to remain composed. "And my protection... it's stronger too. I think that's the only reason I was able to hold out for so long with..." Her voice faltered, cracking at the end. "With Old Neil..."
The name fell from her lips like a stone, heavy with guilt.
"Why didn't you say anything."
"I..." Irina shifted nervously on the bed, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "I didn't want to move to Backlund."
Both men caught the words, though they were soft. Crestet's disbelief was palpable. "That can't be the only reason."
His words hit a nerve, striking deeper than he knew. Irina smiled bitterly, a flicker of something broken passing over her face. "But it is." She let out a small, mirthless laugh. "There was that whole incident with Aiur Harson. He insisted I move to Backlund-didn't ask, just demanded it. And I was just a Sequence 8 back then." Her voice faltered, cracking slightly. "Imagine now that I'm higher. Daly was moved too, after all."
Her next words were quieter, like a confession she could barely bring herself to voice. "I just wanted more time in Tingen. I like it here... it's the first time I ever had friends. I didn't want to leave them behind..."
The silence that followed felt unbearably heavy. Irina could feel something cracking inside her, something she had been trying so hard to keep together, buried deep down. These are just characters in a novel... she reminded herself, but the thought tasted bitter now. This isn't real... it can't be that I care about them... right?
Crestet's voice, though now softer, brought her back to the present from her spiraling thoughts. "You were originally supposed to be transferred within the next three years."
Irina's stomach churned with anger, frustration boiling inside her. Damn you Aiur Harson. Why, why did you send that telegraph asking for my transfer?
She sighed in defeat, "Yes, I'm aware."
The Deacon's tone grew a shade gentler. "Because of this whole incident, the time will be now greatly shortened. You'd be returning to the diocese with me."
Irina felt her heart sink. Everything's falling apart... all my plans...
"But," Crestet continued, his voice measured, "considering everything that has happened in Tingen in the past month. I can push it back. The maximum I can do is six months."
The custodian blinked. I... wait, what? Her head snapped upward in disbelief. Her mind scrambled to make sense of it, her lips parting to speak, but no words came out.
The Deacon's eyes gleamed with the familiar dark green hue she recognized from the novel. "I'm thankful we were able to clear this misunderstanding. I know you were being honest, but I can't do more than this."
"I-No no, six months is..." She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the small glimmer of hope rising within her. Perfect.
"In that case," Crestet said as he reached down to retrieve the silver suitcase he had brought with him, "make sure to keep a close eye on that sealed artifact. Once you move to Backlund, it will undergo multiple examinations."
That's not happening, so I don't really care, Irina thought with a sigh of relief. "Uh, yes. Sure."
The Deacon's gaze narrowed slightly, "You don't sound convinced."
Irina shrugged slightly, trying to keep her tone casual. "Oh well... I don't understand what the reason behind it is... but sure, I guess. I don't really mind."
Crestet turned to leave, but her Captain's voice stopped her. "Irina." She turned slowly to look at him. "The artifact... it caused another incident."
Her head tilted slightly to the side as she expressed her confusion "Huh?"
I beg your pardon?
Dunn sighed heavily as the Deacon exited the room. "Come with us," he said, his voice softer, but firm. "Your spirituality won't replenish properly if you stay behind Chanis Gate."
Irina rose from her seat without a word, her legs feeling heavier than usual. She was about to leave when she noticed Crestet's gaze fixed on her, though his eyes quickly shifted to something behind her. She followed his eyes, realizing with a jolt-I forgot the mirror.
"I forgot..." she murmured, walking over to retrieve the pocket mirror. The weight of such a small mistake pressed down uncomfortably in her chest.
As they exited, Dunn filled her in on what had happened earlier. The pocket mirror had caused another incident. "While moving you, it fell to the floor," he said, his voice tinged with discomfort. "Last time anyone touched it... well, they lost control of their body. So no one dared touch it again."
Irina asked normally "What happened then?"
Dunn sighed heavily, as if still wrestling with the memory. "Hours later, Crestet and I came back to check on you. I hadn't touched it... but I suddenly felt this overwhelming urge to pick it up and move it. Crestet was leaving the room already, so he couldn't stop me in time."
He paused, his face tightening with the memory. "I grabbed it. Laid it on top of you. And... blacked out. Just like that."
"What?" She was baffled, nothing of the sort had ever happened to her after all.
Dunn shook his head. "Sir Crestet didn't do anything at first-he was unsure how dangerous the artifact might be. He just stood there, waiting and monitoring everything. After about ten minutes, I woke up. Confused, disoriented... but unharmed. It was like nothing had ever happened."
Irina swallowed hard, trying to make some possible connections. "That's... quite the story, Captain. I'm sorry that happened to you."
He gave her a weary smile. "There's nothing for you to apologize for. It's not your fault the artifact has that effect. It's already the second time this has happened."
She frowned, trying to recall. "The first was... Leo, wasn't it?"
Dunn nodded solemnly. "Yes, Leonard Mitchell."
Irina remembered that moment vividly-her first time opening her eyes in the worl-novel of 'Lord of The Mysteries.' It felt like both a lifetime and no time at all had passed. She had done so much, and yet, it felt like nothing. Knowing what the future held, she couldn't help but worry, she was still so weak. Far too weak to fight it. The last seal... I have to break it, she thought with determination. At any cost.
She sighed mentally, the weight of her situation never fully leaving her. Thank the Gods this one feels weaker than the last one. Probably because I've been spending so much time in Alexandria... just chilling up there.
Crestet asked her more questions, none too invasive, but enough to make her tread carefully. She answered truthfully for the most part, only omitting anything related to the Sefirot and the Tarot Club. That was a secret she would take to the grave if needed.
Finally, the conversation came to a close, and she was allowed to return to her normal duties-at least for the next six months before her theoretical transfer to Backlund.
As she prepared to leave, a sense of dread settled in her chest. I don't have much time left. Irina needed space, solitude, and above all, a solid plan. Everything felt like it had been crashing down around her since the beginning. Now more than ever, she needed to recharge. The upcoming incident... it can't go wrong. Not this time.
The deacon and Dunn bade her farewell, Crestet tracing a simple symbol across his chest. "May the Goddess bless us," he murmured, his voice solemn.
Dunn followed suit and Irina smiled, as usual, lightly tapping the green gem on her necklace. The familiar motion felt hollow now, but she did it out of an old habit.
Dunn opened his mouth to say something more, but Crestet interrupted him, his gaze lingering on her. "You don't?"
"Pardon?" Irina blinked, confused.
"You didn't draw the Goddesses emblem," Crestet pointed out, his voice calm but scrutinizing. "Nor have you ever thanked 'Her', at least not in my presence."
Well, I... never did it since I didn't want to be noticed by 'Her'...
Dunn turned to her, his brow furrowed in thought. "Now that he mentions it..." he began slowly. "I don't remember you ever praising the Goddess either."
Captain, with all due respect, you constantly forget things. How could you possibly remember that? But then, her stomach dropped.
Dunn's words struck a chord within Irina, a cold wave of realization washing over her. "I don't remember you ever praising the Goddess," he repeated, his tone growing heavier.
Crestet's gaze turned sharp, his voice dropping dangerously low. "Oh. Why is that?"