"An underwater city?" Admiral Kaelin and the others were shocked by Aquenis's revelation.
"The Neridian species has been governed by him ever since the cathedral sank a few years ago." Aquenis continued.
"A few years?" Kaelin was stunned by Valonik Vueresault's perseverance. "How many years ago?" He asked.
Aquenis's expression grew more contemplative as he attempted to recall the details. "I don't remember seeing it when I emerged from the water when I was a kid, but I never was able to learn about our culture before I was forced to attend the school up here."
"So it was most likely before you were born. How old are you, twenty?"
Aquenis blushed softly as he shook his head. "I'm 13."
"Then a reasonable guess is about 15 years." Kaelin said hoarsely as he crossed his arms. He then looked towards the direction from which the cathedral was supposed to be.
"I can guess that the cathedral is probably his palace of sorts?"
Aquenis nodded. "I saw the building right before I emerged, and I guessed it had some sort of importance, but I never guessed it was a makeshift palace."
"You called him a son-of-a-bitch, why?" The older man asked the teenager.
"He's...not nice to our people at all from what I've heard. A few years back another Neridian was forced to attend school on the surface. He was constantly cursing his name. At the time I didn't know why, so I guessed it was some sort of blasphemy."
"When I talked to him he said that Valonik was a dictator, and the only reason he even let his people leave was for soldiers. Luckily, he somehow forgot about me and I've been living somewhat comfortably on the surface for a while."
After Kaelin had heard all of Aquenis's facts, he raised his head slightly and peered into the murky depths of the ocean.
"Do you know why he would want the Black-Ember Charm?"
Aquenis's eyes narrowed slightly as he brought his slimy hands to his chin, rubbing in contemplative circles. After a few moments he exchanged a glance with the admiral and nodded.
"I previously mentioned soldiers, correct?"
Admiral Kaelin nodded.
Aquenis continued. "Perhaps that necklace is some sort of powerful artifact he can use to enhance his power."
"It's actually a torture device." Usagiyama chimed in, looking at the two.
"Then he most likely wants to make the people fear him by torturing those who dare to leave without his permission."
Kaelin and Usagiyama nodded after hearing Aquenis's guess.
"Well, since the whereabouts of the Black-Ember charm are most likely with the Errican Gang, they are most likely down inside this underwater city." Usagiayama said.
"We would be able to intercept them if we could breathe underwater somehow, but we're not Seekers."
Just then, Aquenis's lips curled into a small, cunning smile. "Perhaps we could lure him to the surface and ask him there?"
The duo was taken aback by Aquenis's proposal. "How would we do such a thing? If you were to return to the city you'd most likely be captured and tortured by Valonik and his forces. If we were to sneak down there we'd most likely be killed."
Aquenis looked down the road, his smile still replete on his face. "Well, the Neridian I mentioned earlier still resides here; I saw him a few days ago."
He turned back to them.
"Perhaps I could ask him to go down there and tell Valonik that we have a business proposal to expand his military?"
"Why not fight him?" Usagiyama asked, clenching her fists with an inhumane urge for combat.
"He's much more powerful than we could anticipate. It's best we don't fight him."
...
On the morning of early December, Arden and Cosette approached the extravagant building from where the event was being held. In Arden's hand, he carried the black box with red ribbon inlaid with the sealed artifacts power.
He turned to his sister, who was clad in an extravagant dress she had purchased for a discounted price with Mr. Dwane's help. She gave him a reassuring smile as they walked to the entrance of the manor.
A man with neatly combed blonde hair and glasses was standing at the door with his back straight, his hands behind his back. He eyed the duo before speaking in a solemn and serious voice.
"Are you acquaintances with Madame Jessica?"
The two siblings nodded. In his hands, Arden could feel the black box shaking as an unseen blue mist protruded from it, entering the blonde man's ear.
He smiled and nodded as he stepped back and opened the large wooden door.
Arden and Cosette stepped in and caught sight of the manor's main room. Within the large circular room, they both saw numerous maids preparing the event and its decorations.
Two maids hauled in a large white and pink cake, while others put up gold colored banners and decorations.
They both entered the room, looking around the sight as the numerous women continued to accommodate Madame Jessica's requests.
One of the maids, a young and beautiful woman with long ruby hair, approached the duo and reached her hand out.
"I assume that's a gift for the Madame?" She asked, a warm smile on her face.
The unseen blue mist left the box again, and the smile on the woman's lips gradually faded, contorting back into a natural expression as she walked away.
Arden suddenly reached into his jacket and pulled out a golden pin, before opening the box and putting it inside, closing the lid and removing the long, silver knife, along with the Sealed Relic.
"You're replacing its contents?" Cosete asked her brother as he approached the table and put the gift down.
He looked back to his sister and nodded. "Yes, it's to deter suspicion even more. Since the relics' influence was bound to the knife; removing it would make the knife's presence invisible to anyone regardless of its location."
Cosette then understood her brother's motivations and took a few steps back. After ten minutes they heard the door open again, and a few more guests entered the hall. They were all handsome young men around Jessica's age, most likely ones she invited.
Cosette's cheeks flushed a little when she saw the group. Even if she was technically a male in a woman's body due to the Order 8 potion changing her genes to accommodate its digestion, her male side had always longed for a relationship with a man.
One of the men, standing about 5 feet and 8 inches, approached Arden and smiled. "I assume you're one of Madame Jessica's friends?"
The mist's effects took hold again as Arden nodded with a small smile.
The loss of suspicion overwhelmed the boy, as he ran a finger through his hair and approached the table where all the gifts were laid out, before placing a rather large one on the floor beside it. It was clad in golden wrapping paper.
The duo had seen this exact wrapping paper in the store they went to. It sold for about 450 silver Lumin! That's their rent for an entire year!
"You sure this isn't a whore-house?" Arden chortled.
Cosette turned to her brother and scoffed. "You're surprised when rich people bring expensive presents to an event like this? Have you forgotten we're here to kill a noble?"
After the rest of the guests flooded into the room, the sound of a door opening upstairs was heard.
Soon, a trail of men wearing suits descended down the spiral staircase. In the middle of them was Madame Jessica, who was clad in a large and fluffy pink dress.
Her hair was chestnut brown, and her face was slightly freckled.
Jessica looked around the room as her smile widened slightly, seeing all of the faces that gazed towards her in admiration.
"Thank you all for attending; I'm forever in your favor." Jessica said as she bowed towards her guests.
Among the crowd, Arden and Cosette gazed like periscopes. Their gaze fell onto all the adults in the room that were present. They all were on the second floor on the circular balcony overlooking the event with proud expressions.
Within the gathering of noble adults, they saw Étienne Lavallée! His long black hair was tied into a bun and he was wearing a red and black suit inscribed with patterns.
The two siblings' expressions hardened as they began to move towards the staircase, ready to track down Étienne. Suddenly a hand wrapping around their forearms caught their attention. They turned around and saw the white gloved hands of Madame Jessica wrapped around their arms.
"My father said it's rude to touch people without their consent, but I couldn't help but not recognize you. Who are you?" She asked, her gentle expression faltering slightly.
The blue mist quickly left the box, but it quickly dissipated when it touched Jessica's body.
"What's that?" she asked, looking at the semi-transparent blue mist that emitted from the box. She sniffed the air and her eyes widened as it entered her nose.
"You're Seekers?" her tone suddenly changed, her voice cracking in amazement.
Arden and Cosette forced a smile at the nobles deduction. "Y-yes, we are." Arden said.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe it. My father always told me about Seekers, but I've been so caught up in here that I've never gotten the chance to meet any!"
"Y-yeah, we're here for important business." Cosette said, grabbing her brother's arm as she led him up the stairs. As they ascended they heard the clicking of heels behind them. They turned around again and saw Jessica with a curious expression on her face.
"Where are you going?" She asked. "The festivities are about to begin!"
The siblings ignored her, continuing their ascension.
"Tell me now!" Jessica shouted.
Everyone at the event paused, looking towards Jessica. Upon seeing this, she quickly turned around and assured them she had stubbed her toe.
Just then, Arden and Cosette's hearts sank when they saw Étienne Lavallée rush to the scene, descending the staircase to greet Jessica.
"What is it, my gorgeous daughter?" Étienne asked.