Areyos Orionis' Point of View
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We had spent a pleasant day with Oredys. I would have liked to get to know her better; it's a shame she doesn't study at Moore.
"She seemed really captivated by your stories, Yoko," Nia observed.
"True, for once, talking too much has an advantage," I added, amused.
"Why are you teasing me so much today, Rey?!" she protested, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Who loves well, chastises well," I replied with an innocent smile, making Nia laugh.
"Stop teasing her, Rey," Nia said, laughing softly.
"Oh, it's getting late. Do you want me to help you put everything away?" Yoko offered to Nia.
"Yes, please."
"Rey, could you go find Kaiser? I think he's playing on stage right now," Yoko asked.
"On stage?"
"Yes, he agreed to perform in a play scene reenacting Thaleus' victory over the demon king Zamos. They're presenting this scene tomorrow at Hero's Park in front of a crowd for the second day of the event, which celebrates the world's victory over the demons."
"Seriously! I didn't know! I definitely have to see this," I said as I headed toward the stage area.
Upon arrival, I found the stage alive with energy. Troy played Zamos, the fearsome demon king who had dominated humans at the beginning of the war. Corvus played Professor Miller, the cunning strategist. Professor Miller himself was in the audience, watching the show with an admiring smile. Kaiser was taking on his father's role, while Sorey stepped into the part of Thaleus. They paused for a moment, preparing for the final act.
"Hey, Kaiser!" I shouted from afar. "Looks like you're having a good time here," I added as I approached.
"Totally! I think I'm playing General Barrios better than my father himself," he said, sounding proud, clearly not realizing how silly what he'd just said sounded.
"Mr. Areyos! Could you please play the final act for me? In the final scene, Thaleus has to terrify the demon king by dragging his sword on the ground. Unfortunately, I'm facing Troy, the leader of the Metaryon gang, and he keeps bothering me. There's no way he'd look scared in front of me, even with his acting talent!" Sorey told me, running over.
"That's true, you have no chance of scaring him, and the scene would become so absurd with you that he might just burst out laughing," added Arwyna, overhearing the request.
"Leave him alone, will you, Arwyna?" Kaiser replied, visibly annoyed.
"Sink into the very essence of Thaleus at that crucial moment. Imagine yourself standing tall, imposing, on the battlefield. Your sword, heavy and relentless, drags along the ground with a threatening slowness, resonating like an inevitable sentence. Visualize your opponent, the demon king, crawling desperately before you, his gaze betraying pure, visceral terror. Feel the power within you, an almost insurmountable force crushing the ground beneath its weight, and the certainty of being the greatest threat on the battlefield. Feel the enormity of your victory, the liberation of an entire continent from misery, and the bitter satisfaction of avenging your lost parents. Let this vision fill you, transform each movement, each look, into a palpable incarnation of terror and power. Become the living nightmare, the implacable shadow looming over Zamos and his army."
All eyes were fixed on him, hypnotized by the depth and intensity of that vision. Sorey, absorbed in the description, could almost feel the weight of the legend he was about to relive, transforming the stage into a place where power and vengeance took on an almost tangible dimension.
"Wow... feeling like Thaleus must be one of the best feelings in the world…" Sorey said.
"Excuse me, Areyos, right? Now that you mention it, we couldn't manage to create a replica of Thaleus' sword. For the black blade, it's fairly easy, but it's the bluish gleam that's troubling us. We were wondering if you might have an idea to help us? There's going to be a close-up when he drags the sword, so it'd be great if we could achieve that bluish effect since it's a unique feature of Thaleus' sword," asked an elf.
"Sorry, but creating a sword like that is very complex and would take time. You wouldn't be able to finish your performance. But I do have such a sword with me, though I can't unsheathe it."
"Interesting, let's see," Professor Miller said, approaching calmly.
I then brought out Thaleus' sword from my ring.
"Wow, that sword is just the right size," the elf said.
"That's because this sword is 'Dawnbreaker', the original sword of Thaleus Sendaris!" exclaimed Professor Zemus, who was also present.
"That's right. He probably got it from Barrios; I was wondering what he'd done with it," said Professor Miller.
"Would you mind if Sorey used it for the final scene?" Miller asked me.
"Not at all, but I don't think anyone can draw it," I replied.
"Why not?" Professor Zemus asked.
"Dawnbreaker requires a certain level of psyche to be drawn, as a mystical seal binds the blade," answered Professor Miller.
"That's right," I confirmed, surprised to see that Professor Miller knew this.
"Pass it to me; I'll draw it by force," said Professor Zemus. He took the sword and pulled on the hilt with all his strength, his biceps contracting until they ripped through the sleeves of his white t-shirt. The sword didn't move an inch.
"What kind of strength does it take to break the seal?!" exclaimed Troy.
"It's the psyche that's at play here, since we're dealing with a non-elemental power seal. Only those with an extraordinarily high psyche can draw this sword. There's no one at the university who can do it, and as of the last report, no one on the entire continent could, except for Barrios," said Miller as he calmly took the sword. "But we have to finish this scene, don't we?" he said. And in that moment, he pulled on the hilt of the sword. The world seemed to stop as the metallic sound of the blade leaving its sheath echoed through the room, hypnotizing every one of us. Light refracted off the blade, revealing a mystical blue gleam that seemed to dance along the black edge.
Miller stood there, blade drawn, with a disconcerting ease. The aura emanating from him was almost palpable, a silent but undeniable demonstration of his extraordinary psyche. The silence that followed was heavy with respect and surprise, no one daring to break the sacredness of this revelation.
"Be careful not to touch the blade; this is the sharpest sword in the world," said Professor Miller as he handed the sword to Sorey, who, like the rest of us, was still in shock at the feat the professor had just accomplished with such ease.
"I thought Barrios was the only one who could draw this blade in Baringer," I said, still in shock.
"Ahahaha, Barrios can only do it because he's the creator. I've grown much more powerful since the war, so it's only natural that Barrios doesn't know about it. It's very likely that some of my former teammates are capable now, too. We all trained after the war to prepare for any potential conflict. Anyway, thanks to this sword, the scene can be performed," said Miller.
"You're just in time, Rey," Kaiser said, patting me on the shoulder. "We're ready to perform the final scene."
The final scene was eventually performed, and Sorey was so immersed in his character that he amazed the small audience who watched. There was a small dinner between students and teachers after the rehearsal. We were fascinated to hear Professor Miller's adventures and how he earned his nickname, the God of Strategy. Yoko and Nia joined us, as we'd stayed behind a little longer. In the end, we all enjoyed the evening together. These stories made me realize something. Thaleus's allies surely have children, right? If so, it's likely that they, too, are monsters in combat. Either way, the day came to a close, and everyone headed home.
"It was great, really. I enjoyed it a lot," said Nia cheerfully.
"That's true, it was fun. I'm heading home to rest, and tomorrow I'll sleep in," Yoko added, yawning.
"You guys go ahead; I've got something to take care of nearby. I'll see you tomorrow to discuss the investigation," I said.
"What investigation?" asked Nia.
"Just a little something you don't need to worry about," replied Yoko.
"She's right; as far as we know, we're not in any danger," confirmed Kaiser.
"Oh, good, then," Nia replied, sounding reassured.
"Take care getting home," I said. I headed toward Moore Park, which, as the name suggests, was a Moore property. From there, we could see the academy.
It was 6:59 p.m., as indicated by the magical watch created by my signet ring. I saw a shadow approaching—it was Erina. She was dressed entirely in black.
"I didn't think you'd make it on time, Rey."
"And I didn't even think you'd show up, Eri."
"I always keep my word," she said with a slight smile.
"That gives us one more thing in common," I replied, sitting on the bench.
"Oh, really? And what else do we have in common?" she said, sitting down as well.
"An unusual past that made us into the monsters we are," I said, elbows resting on the back of the bench, eyes fixed on the crescent-shaped moon.
"Is that your way of trying to break the ice about my past?" she said, tilting her head slightly, her gaze fixed on me.
"Break the ice?" I paused, meeting her gaze. "No, I'll wait for it to melt," I continued, looking back at the sky.
She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're always playing with words, I see."
"True, especially when words are the only weapons I have left. That's why I wanted to talk with you tonight."
"What kind of situation would force you to rely solely on words?"
"The kind of situation that my strength alone can't handle."
"So, you're counting on your words to convince me to help you manage a situation beyond your control?"
"Yes, and apparently, also on your deductive skills," I said with a faint smile, letting my eyes briefly meet hers.
"Tell me everything."
"Do you know a certain Reiner Fox?"
"That depends—what do you want with him?"
"I have reason to believe this person is already dead, and an imposter has taken his place. I'd like to know if you know where to find him."
"Why don't you ask the police?"
"Useless. As a member of military personnel, information on him is confidential. Besides, if he has allies in the police, he'll know we're looking and be on guard," I replied.
"Good point. And why are you after him, or rather, the imposter posing as him?"
"Because this person is potentially the assassin of Yoko's sister."
"Megane Belserion, I'd heard of her case. She died during an unofficial mission after crossing paths with members of the Twilight Order."
"The Twilight Order? What's that?" I asked, puzzled.
"According to the army, it's a group of criminals paid to destroy kingdoms from within. But it's more complex than that. According to our sources, they act independently with a specific purpose. The destruction of kingdoms would only be collateral damage," she explained.
"What kind of project has kingdom destruction as collateral damage?" I asked, my face showing both confusion and astonishment.
"I have no idea. But if the one you're looking for is indeed a member of the Twilight Order, infiltrated into the military at a rank as high as Megane Belserion's right hand, then it's likely that Baringer is potentially in danger," she deduced.
"Good deduction, Sherlock. That's the same conclusion I came to." I noted, realizing that she indeed knew Reiner Fox. By initially giving me a vague response, she had cleverly led me to address the heart of the matter directly. This psychological maneuver allowed her to gauge the extent of my knowledge while avoiding revealing information she preferred to keep secret. In doing so, she hoped to gather new data from me while controlling the direction of the conversation. She was truly a master of psychology and manipulation.
Erina smirked. "So, in summary, you need my help to unmask this imposter, right?"
"Exactly," I replied, looking her straight in the eyes. "I'm certain you can uncover information even the military can't access due to the barrier of ethics."
She crossed her arms, reflecting. "You want to push me to help you even if it means using illegal means? The illegal part doesn't bother me, but why should I help you?"
I straightened, my elbows leaving the bench's backrest. "Because we have a common enemy. If, as you just said, this imposter truly belongs to the Twilight Order, they pose a threat to us all. Plus, I imagine you like challenges, don't you?"
Erina chuckled lightly. "Touché. But you know, my help comes at a price. What do I gain?"
I smiled, anticipating this question. "The honor and satisfaction of bringing down an imposter who dared attack the kingdom. And... a favor, to use whenever you need it."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A favor, huh? Interesting. And what guarantees that you'll honor it?"
I looked at her with a calm intensity, a slight smile on my face.
Erina fell silent for a moment, then, with a knowing smile, guessed my response. "You only have your word. Understood." She said, recalling it was the second thing we had in common.
"Nothing less than I expected from your powers of deduction," I replied with a confident smile.
She uncrossed her arms and stood up from the bench, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I have a few contacts who might have information on this imposter."
Suddenly, from the park, even though the academy lights were off, I could see hooded figures in the corridor leading to the headmaster's office. There were also some on the roof, apparently standing guard.
"Erina, there are people at the academy, and my instinct tells me they're not here for night classes."
"Excuse me? Your seismic sense lets you locate people from that far?" She asked, surprised.
"No need; I can see them from here," I replied, standing up.
"You're kidding me; you're not going to tell me you can see in the dark from that far," she said, shocked.
"Let's just say I have some unusual physical traits. Coming with me?"
"I hope you're not pulling my leg," she said.
So, we headed towards the academy, creating a platform with our earth mastery because we didn't want to risk being spotted by using the light from our fire bending. We landed close to the fence and walked up to a wall. I noticed that Erina's footsteps made no sound, just like mine. With our seismic senses, we realized there were armed people hiding in the trees.
"We take them out and move on," said Erina, drawing a splendid dagger. This unique weapon had a golden chain coiled around her forearm, attached to a finely crafted pommel. The handle, ebony black, contrasted elegantly with the golden guard, adorned with intricate engravings, at the center of which shone a brilliant purple amethyst crystal. The double-edged blade featured a gleaming silver edge, while its center was a mysterious dark gray. It wasn't an ordinary weapon; it was clearly of the same order as Dawnbreaker and Skybreaker, the legendary axe of Barrios.
"I think we should capture them instead to get information," I said.
"Pointless. If they've put them here, they're probably underlings. If we want information, we need to catch the head of this operation," she explained.
"You're probably right. Let's go," I said, summoning the Blades of Chaos, making them float around me.
"I didn't know you mastered metal. I didn't see it among your abilities when you were analyzed in combat class," she said, puzzled.
"Wait, you remember my powers?" I asked.
"Of course; earth, fire, lightning, ice, water, and healing. Those are your abilities, aren't they?" she asked.
"That's right, you have a good memory," I said, surprised at her ability to remember details. "As for metalbending, I actually trained during the holidays before classes resumed. I ended up mastering it shortly after the term started, if you must know. That's why you didn't see it when I was being analyzed."
"Ah, I get it. Alright, enough chit-chat; let's make this quick," she said, vaulting over the wall.
She hurled her dagger into the foliage of a tree, and the distinct sound of a body being pierced echoed. Using the golden chain and her Metaryon strength, she yanked her victim toward her violently, grabbed them by the face, and incinerated them completely after slamming them to the ground. With her flames, she then vaporized the blood on her blade.
"Are you done?" she asked.
"Yes, this one is dead as well," I replied, having eliminated the second guard by piercing him from a distance with three of my eight blades.
Erina Shelter's Point of View
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"A shot to the forehead and two in the lungs; no doubt, he's a professional," I thought.
Areyos had just taken down the other guard with absolute efficiency, without the slightest sound. His target hadn't even had time to emit a groan of pain. Examining the wounds, it all became clear. He had struck at the forehead and lungs. A headshot usually guarantees an instant death, but some targets might survive. To counter this, Areyos had also pierced the lungs, preventing the victim from crying out or calling for help. The blood flooding the lungs and the hole created by his blades would finish the job, ensuring silence and hastening the victim's death.
Areyos displayed a terrifying level of mastery, combining surgical precision with a deep knowledge of anatomy. It was the mark of a true expert in silent elimination.
Without wasting time, we buried the two bodies and headed toward the principal's office, skillfully taking down other masked individuals whose weapons were no match for our speed and assassin skills.
"Honestly, where did you learn to do that? I seriously doubt General Barrios is the kind to train his sons in assassination," I asked.
"When I was twelve, Marcos, a human friend of Barrios, asked if he could take me along to help me master water control, assuring Barrios that, due to its rarity and versatility, few people knew how to counter it. Barrios agreed because no one in Baringer could control water at that time. So, I trained for a year with the masters of the Veridonia sanctuary. But one day, criminals broke into Marcos' house to kidnap his wife and daughter. But out of fear for his life, he sold me out to the criminals, boasting about my training achievements. I was then abducted and taken to a desert city with other children. To make our guardians believe everything was fine, the criminals used some kind of metallic devices that ran on electricity to project fake images of us in good health and progressing, even imitating our voices. That's why Barrios didn't worry," he said pensively, his gaze cold as we cautiously walked through the academy's hallways.
"They were using machines powered by artificial intelligence," I deduced.
"That's indeed what they called it. It's a technology only humans possess. Technology is to them what magic is to the elves, I suppose."
"True. But back to your captors—they were trafficking organs?" I asked.
"Organ trafficking for those old enough; the rest of us were mere test subjects for drugs and other things," he said.
"Cruelty is a skill humans heavily abuse," I affirmed.
"I see. Fortunately for me, the drugs and other substances used on us had no effect, as the biology of my body was, according to our captors, a miracle. Anyway, I eventually escaped the city, saving the remaining children. I stayed there for a year, during which I learned everything I know about the arts of assassination before inventing my own techniques."
"Wait, you learned assassination techniques, escaped from an abandoned city overrun with armed criminals, and managed to flee with the others—all at just 13 years old?! That's impossible! They would have tracked you down and killed you!" I exclaimed, stunned.
Areyos didn't respond immediately. He briefly looked at me with a cold, predatory gaze—the look of a seasoned assassin. After a short silence, during which he had just killed another guard, he added in an icy voice, turning his gaze away from me:
"I doubt the corpses still have the energy to track anyone," he said, eyes fixed on the guard he had just killed.
To be continued...