In the small chamber, rays of amber sunlight filtered through dust-moted air, casting a deep, warm radiance that seemed to pulse with its own heartbeat. Despite the presence of three men, an oppressive silence reigned, broken only by the occasional settling of ancient wooden beams overhead.
Captain Dominus commanded attention even in stillness. His white cape coat, pristine as fresh snow, draped over a frame that spoke of decades of battle-forged strength. Age had done little to diminish his imposing presence; if anything, it had refined him like a well-honed blade.
His white-golden hair, perfectly combed caught the light like polished metal. Those remarkable golden eyes of his, sharp as a hawk's, remained fixed on the sprawling map before him, tracing paths only he could see across its weathered surface.
To his right, Vice Captain Alex cut a striking figure against the wooden wall he leaned upon. His normally casual demeanor had been replaced by an unusual formality, his clothing properly tucked and arranged – a marked departure from his typical laid-back appearance.
His grayish-blue hair fell in subtle waves as he bowed his head in contemplation, arms crossed over his chest. His closed eyes twitched beneath their lids, betraying the intensity of his thoughts.
Near the entrance, Jack struggled to contain his restlessness. His brown hair showed signs of nervous fingers running through it, and his legs shifted with barely controlled energy as he crossed and uncrossed his arms. The weight of being alone with the Captain and Vice Captain pressed down on him like a physical force, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a blade.
"She's late,"
Jack muttered, his low voice carrying an edge of discomfort as he referenced Jaz's absence. The words seemed to hang in the air like smoke, refusing to dissipate in the heavy atmosphere.
Dominus's keen senses picked up on Jack's unease and the suffocating tension permeating the room. A small, measured sigh escaped his lips as he made the decision to shatter the oppressive silence.
"We need to reach the Imperial Palace within a year"
The declaration crashed through the quiet like a thunderclap, its implications sending shockwaves through the room. Jack's composure crumbled as the impossibility of the task struck him full force.
[CLICK]
"WHAT?"
The word exploded from Jack's throat, a cry of disbelief that rattled the windows and echoed through the corridors beyond.
[THUD!]
The door burst open with enough force to rattle the hinges, revealing Jaz in the doorway, her body tense and ready for action.
"What happened?"
Her sharp eyes darted around the room, taking in the tableau of shocked expressions before her. Her sudden entrance had startled even the unflappable Captain and Vice Captain, their composure momentarily cracking in the face of her dramatic arrival.
"Ahem!"
Dominus's deliberate voice carried the weight of authority, immediately restoring order to the chaos. The sound seemed to thicken the air itself, commanding attention without raising his voice.
Jaz recognized the unspoken command, quietly closing the door before taking her position beside Jack. Her face settled into its characteristic mask of calm determination, though her eyes remained alert and questioning. Jack, too, responded to the wordless order, squaring his shoulders and clasping his hands behind his back in a pose of military precision.
With grace, Dominus slid an official letter across the polished surface of the table. Jaz moved forward to retrieve it, while Alex's measured voice provided context to the moment.
"It's an order from the Imperials," he stated, his tone carrying experience. "We're to reach the Imperial city within a year." The words hung heavy in the air, their implications spreading like ripples in still water.
"That's nearly impossible, Captain."
Jack's response came carefully measured, though an undercurrent of concern threaded through his words. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"And why do they need us specifically? What could be so urgent?"
"Not us," Jaz cut in, her mind working quickly to piece things together. "They need the Captain – more precisely, they need Dominus Vindex for The Oracle." Her voice carried absolute certainty, despite the gravity of the revelation.
"What?" Jack's confusion broke through his careful composure, his eyebrows knitting together as he tried to process the implications.
Jaz passed him the letter with deliberate care, her next words carrying the weight of careful analysis. "Notice the Emperor's Insignia is missing from this letter." Her eyes locked onto Dominus's golden gaze. "Something's happening behind the scenes, isn't it?"
The Captain's response came in the form of a slow, measured blink and a silent nod, appreciation for her sharp deduction evident in his subtle expression.
"Then time is even more critical than it appears," Jaz concluded, her words carrying the edge of steel.
"There's another problem, Jaz." Jack's voice had taken on a gravity that drew all eyes to him as he finished scanning the letter's contents. "One that could make this situation far more complicated than it already is."
"We have no choice in this matter," Jack countered.
"Consider the alternatives – if the Captain refuses and we maintain our current pace, will they simply accept that and postpone their plans? And even if they do, for how long can we reasonably expect them to wait?"
Alex finally pushed himself away from the wall, his voice carrying the weight of careful consideration. "Six to twelve months, at most, if they're truly preparing for the Oracle."
"That would give us almost two years," Jack acknowledged, running a hand through his hair.
"But what difference would it really make in the end? If they perform the Oracle while we're crossing The Great Meltana Ocean..." His voice trailed off ominously. "We could find ourselves stranded out there for years."
Jaz's characteristic sharpness faltered, replaced by genuine confusion that softened her features. "Why? I don't understand the connection." Her voice held no trace of embarrassment, a testament to her unwavering confidence in her own intellect.
Jack paused, gathering his thoughts like a scholar preparing a crucial lesson.
"The Oracle isn't just some simple ritual," he began, his expertise in Rune and Relic Engineering evident in his careful explanation. "It requires vast amounts of the purest form of essence – what we call Holy Essence. When they perform the ritual, regardless of success or failure, this essence is released into the air at incredible frequencies. For humans, it's like a divine blessing, but for monsters..." He shook his head grimly. "They simply cease to exist, disappearing like morning mist in the sun."
The profound silence that followed was broken only by the subtle creaking of the building's ancient timbers. Jaz's brow furrowed in concentration. "I understand that part, but I still don't see how it directly impacts our situation."
Jack's face twitched with barely contained frustration, his expression clearly screaming 'IDIOT!' though he held his tongue. Before he could formulate a response, Dominus's commanding voice cut through the tension like a blade.