Caelum pondered whether he should reveal his Thraxs to them or keep it hidden. After some careful thought, he decided to tell them.
"…Undead," said Caelum in a low tone.
The two men's eyes popped out—though not literally. Their jaws dropped, and a moan escaped their lips. Mr Daniel nearly fell from his seat.
"...Y-Your Thraxs is an Undead, meaning you're currently unable to die, no matter what kind of injury you sustain. Oh my goodness! You can surely survive even without an Essence," Philip exclaimed, clasping his hands together.
Mr Daniel tightened his grip on his dark axe, his lips curling upward in a sly grin.
Philip shot him a sidelong glance, as if he had predicted what Mr Daniel was about to do. "Don't even think about it, old man."
Mr Daniel instantly loosened his grip and grumbled.
The carriage suddenly took a left turn, entering a rocky section. The vehicle rattled and jolted as it traversed the uneven terrain, the wheels bumping over stones and swaying side to side before coming to a sudden halt.
"You are quite lucky, in my opinion. We have arrived." Philip concluded, opening the carriage door.
'Where?' Caelum thought.
They got down from the carriage, and were instantly drenched by the rain. Mr Daniel's axe vanished, seemingly dismissed by him.
He stretched his arms out wide, allowing the rain to batter him, while Philip quickly led Caelum into an old mansion.
The mansion loomed large, isolated from any other buildings. Its weathered stone facade was adorned with ivy, and the roof sagged. Tall, narrow windows framed the structure, and the entrance was marked by carvings of twisting vines and mythical creatures, adding an air of grandeur to the otherwise dilapidated exterior.
As they entered the mansion, the heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing a spacious interior.
The high ceiling gave the room an expansive feel, with walls lined with dark wood panels that absorbed the dim glow.
Numerous candles flickered in sconces fixed to the walls, emitting a subdued luminance that suffused the space and created shadows in the corners.
Mr Daniel entered last, slamming the wooden door shut with a loud bang, echoing through the hall.
From a staircase on the left, a young man rushed down. He wore the same dark fabric as Philip and Mr Daniel.
He had cropped blonde hair, blue eyes that shone with curiosity, and stood at 6'1".
Upon spotting Caelum, the young man hurried over and extended his hand for a handshake. Caelum hesitated for a moment before accepting the gesture, then turned to walk away with Philip.
Meanwhile, Mr Daniel seized the young man by his ears and dragged him back up the stairs, a bemused expression on his face.
"Ahh~"
...
"We are yet to fully tell you about us; well, shall we begin?" Philip started, taking a seat in the dining room.
The long mahogany table was surrounded by a total of ten wooden chairs, with a candle holder in the middle, holding about five lit candles and brightening up the room.
He gestured for Caelum to take a seat while he sat in the chair opposite him.
'This place is quite large; I have been living in a pen for so long and never knew about such luxury, despite it being old,' Caelum thought, glancing around the room.
"So, we're like a family, consisting of five members in total. With you, that makes us six. Mr Daniel and I are in charge of you all; the remaining three are all around your age—18—including the young man you saw earlier, Orion. Well, most of you have yet to begin your second fate, so yes, you are all ranked as Fledglings."
Once again, Philip seemed to know Caelum's age, not because of his appearance—Caelum didn't look his age; he appeared younger due to his frail physique and face. Anyone might have mistaken him for just a tall fifteen-year-old.
However, Philip spoke with the sincerity of someone who knew his age, yet not his name, as he had asked that.
Perhaps he might have done a couple of background checks on Caelum.
"We're here to assist you on your path as a Graceless. Consider yourself both a hunter and the hunted; in a few minutes, the inferno should come up. I will leave you to it then. Tomorrow, I will be showing you around and introducing you to the others, but be careful not to enter every part of the mansion; there are places here where your presence, or that of any other Graceless, isn't welcome..." said Philip in a slightly sharp voice.
He gave Caelum an ominous look, likely trying to frighten him. But Caelum remained as firm as usual.
Philip added, "Don't worry; the mansion has an effect that protects us from being hunted by enemies. However, due to the curse, we are compelled to hunt down enemies. On the day of the third full moon, your Second Fate will begin; until then, we will be guiding you."
The second fate, the Fate of Transformation, begins on the third full moon of the year. The full moon symbolises illumination and clarity, representing the unveiling of truths hidden within oneself.
The third full moon is particularly potent, marking a time when the energies of change are at their peak, allowing for profound personal evolution. This timing aligns with the natural cycles of life and growth.
By the third full moon, the Graceless have had time to reflect on their past and prepare for the challenges ahead.
This period serves as a transitional phase, where they can gather their strength and confront their fears.
The third full moon is traditionally associated with rites of passage. It is believed that during this time, individuals are more receptive to transformation, making it the ideal moment for the Graceless to embark on a journey of self-discovery and confrontation.
Four trials are associated with this Fate, designed to coincide with the energies of the full moon. Each trial represents a shedding of the past and an embrace of the future, culminating in a confrontation with their darker selves.
This aligns with the idea that true transformation often requires facing one's fears and insecurities.
As is known, emotions are the true source of a Graceless's powers; that is why the curse feeds on them, using them to its advantage.
Philip was about to leave the room when Caelum stopped him with a question.
"Wait, how did you find me?"
That was a serious question. Well, how they found him was quite simple; it was the same way an enemy tracks down a Graceless—the curse.
"That's due to the mark that extends from your back to your neck, the twin Serpent, which represents the curse. Through that, we were able to locate you during your rebirth as a Graceless."
The awakening of the Graceless End curse in an individual is called a "rebirth."
Philip then began to remove the top of his clothing with his back turned to Caelum, who stared with curiosity.
He slowly drew his clothing down halfway down his upper body, revealing a twin Serpent—the same that appeared on Caelum's neck during his rebirth. He studied the mark with intrigue; it was blood red in colour.
"This same mark is on your back, and it represents a tracker. Make sure to always keep it hidden; also, you reek. You need a serious bath. Once you're done with the inferno, inform me; I will be in the parlour."
Caelum lay his head on the table, highly anticipating the inferno.
For a few moments, he tried to recall his experiences in the Fallen land—the thought of it made him... shrug; he had literally been decapitated in the end. If only the stone knife hadn't successfully struck the red spot on that Monki, he would have been long gone.
'Hell seemed to have tried miserably, but failed de—'
Suddenly, Caelum felt a burning sensation in the atmosphere, as though he were close to a fire.
'Is that you, Hell? Coming for a rematch?'
He slowly raised his head, only to see the inferno floating above him, burning brighter than ever.
[Cursed One]: You have been awarded a Gift - [Durc of Clarity!]
[Classification]: Practical Gifts.
[Profile]: Enhanced perception. This reveals hidden things in the background, providing clarity without overwhelming detail.
[Illustration]: A small circular mirror with a black handle. One looks through it to reveal the other side.
[Cursed One]: You have awakened an Essence.
[Spectacular]: Curse
[Essence]: Great Eye
[Profile]: A cursed eye that temporarily freezes an enemy for precisely 20 seconds.
[Illustration]: A black, shadowed eye appears, its gaze stretching into a black void. Once an enemy is caught in the void, they shall instantly freeze. Raise a hand, curse a threat, purge the threat.
"Fascinating..."