Part 1: The Return Home
The midday sun hung high in the sky, casting sharp shadows across the cobblestone street as Leonard's carriage came to a stop in front of the Astraeus household. The sound of the horses' hooves striking the pavement seemed louder in the stillness of the moment, and the rattle of the carriage's wheels against the road felt strangely out of place in the otherwise quiet city.
As Leonard stepped down from the carriage, he felt a sudden shiver creep down his spine. The air was warm, but something about it made his skin crawl, as if the atmosphere was too thick, too tense. He couldn't shake the sensation that he was being watched.
The street was bustling with activity—locals hurrying about their daily business, children playing on the corners, and merchants shouting their wares—but through it all, Leonard felt the weight of too many eyes. He scanned the crowd, his instincts prickling, only to catch glimpses of strangers watching him from the shadows. A group of men lingered near a street corner, their eyes flicking over to him before quickly looking away. Another figure, standing by a lamppost, seemed to stare for just a moment too long before vanishing into the crowd.
Leonard stopped in his tracks, his hand instinctively resting at his side. "Great," he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he continued to observe the people around him. "They really suspect me, huh?"
The thought gnawed at him as he stood still for a moment, taking in the scene. Back in Korea, he had known this feeling all too well—the constant sense of being hunted, the ever-watchful eyes of the authorities. But here, in this strange new world, it felt different. As if the entire city was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. He felt like a criminal in a world he still didn't fully understand.
He couldn't help but laugh, though it was hollow, the sound empty in his own ears. "Guess I'm starting to get the hang of this paranoia thing. Just like back home," he joked to himself, though there was no humor in his voice.
Leonard's gaze shifted once more to the people around him. Their faces remained indifferent, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were all a little too interested in him. He had been careful to avoid making a scene, to keep his movements measured, but it didn't seem to matter. The eyes were still there, hidden in plain sight.
With a sigh, he brushed off the unease and turned toward the house. "Paranoid," he muttered under his breath again, forcing himself to focus. If someone was watching him, there was little he could do about it now. The day had already grown warm, and the afternoon was slipping away faster than he would've liked.
As Leonard made his way to the front door, he glanced back one last time. No one followed. No one stood in the shadows. It was just the bustling city, and yet, the weight of unseen eyes lingered. It was as if the entire city was waiting for him to slip up.
Shaking his head, he reached for the door handle. With a soft creak, the old wooden door opened, and the familiar scent of the house—the musty smell of old wood, the faint scent of candles burning somewhere in the distance—welcomed him inside. The light from the outside world barely pierced the gloom of the house, but it didn't feel quite so warm anymore.
As he stepped in, he felt a fleeting moment of relief, though it didn't last long. The house, which had once felt like a sanctuary, now seemed like a trap—a cage that closed in on him the more he stayed. He closed the door behind him quietly, the weight of the silence pressing in.
Maya's footsteps could be heard upstairs, but the unease didn't leave him. His eyes flickered to the shadows of the room, almost expecting to see someone—or something—lurking there. But it was just him, the same as always. Only now, the feeling of being watched followed him inside.
"Guess I'm just losing it," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.
Part 2: The Visit
Leonard was just about to make his way upstairs when he heard the familiar sound of footsteps descending from the upper floor. Maya entered the room with a half-smile, her eyes catching his.
"Guess who came looking for you earlier today?" she said, her voice light but with a hint of curiosity. "Maria Saintword. She was asking about you when you left the house."
Leonard stiffened for a moment, his earlier unease returning. "Maria, huh?" he murmured, rubbing his temple. "What did she want?"
Before Maya could respond, a loud knock at the door echoed through the quiet house, cutting their conversation short. Maya's eyebrow arched in surprise. Leonard felt the weight of the moment, his gaze flickering toward the door.
"I guess we'll find out," Maya said with a shrug as she walked over and opened the door.
Standing in the doorway was none other than Maria Saintword, the Holy Knight, her presence as commanding as ever. Behind her stood four other knights, all dressed in light armor, their expressions serious and stoic, but there was a sense of purpose in the air that only heightened the tension.
"Good afternoon, Maya," Maria greeted with a polite but firm tone. Her eyes swept over Leonard for a moment before returning to Maya. "Is Mr. Leonard home?"
Maya's eyes flickered to Leonard before she gave Maria a sly smile. "He's right here. Do you plan on interrogating him, or are you just stopping by for tea?"
"Tea sounds wonderful," Maria replied with a faint, knowing smile. "But I'll be needing more than that, I'm afraid."
Leonard stood frozen in the background as Maya stepped aside, allowing Maria and the other knights to enter. They moved with precision, their presence filling the room with an unspoken weight. Maya glanced at the knights before returning her focus to the situation at hand.
"Tea or coffee, your choice," Maya offered with a smile, as she closed the door behind them. "But just a heads up—if it's coffee, I'll need to charge you. The beans are expensive, and we don't have a lot left. You understand."
Maria's smile faltered slightly, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "We'll take tea, then."
As Maya busied herself in the kitchen, Leonard could feel the heavy gaze of the knights. The silence between them was thick, and he could sense their suspicion, even if they hadn't spoken yet. As Maya returned with a tray of tea, the atmosphere shifted. Maria cleared her throat, turning her attention back to Leonard.
"I know this might be a strange request," Maria began, her voice now a little more serious, "but I need to ask you some questions, Mr. Leonard. Recently, there's been some... troubling information circulating. You're aware of the rumors, yes?"
Leonard nodded, though his nerves were starting to fray. "You mean the cult?"
"Yes," Maria said, her expression darkening. She took a sip of the tea Maya had prepared before continuing. "It's not the first time something like this has happened. A few years ago, there was a similar incident—a group of cultists dabbling in forbidden magic. It didn't end well. The ritual they attempted destroyed everything in its wake, and no one survived. Not even the survivors of the cult itself."
Her words were heavy, laden with the weight of history and loss, and Leonard felt the chill of her story settle deep in his bones.
"They play with dangerous powers," Maria continued, her tone hard. "Powers that shouldn't be touched. Powers that are not for humans. I'm warning you, Mr. Leonard. Stay far away from them. If you're truly innocent, then be thankful for that. You survived when others perished for reasons beyond understanding. And you need to keep it that way."
Leonard's heart beat faster as her words hit him. He knew the world was far darker than he'd realized, but hearing about the cult's previous attempt, the devastation, the power that could bend the very fabric of reality—it felt all too real now.
"So, what... you want me to just leave it alone?" Leonard asked, his voice steady but a little unsure. He wasn't sure whether he should be angry, scared, or grateful.
Maria gave him a pointed look, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes. Stay away from things that you don't understand. Trust me when I say that there are forces in this world you're better off not encountering. If you want to live your life without becoming a pawn in something far worse than you can imagine, then take my advice seriously."
The knights, who had remained silent up until now, exchanged glances. Maya stood by, watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and concern. She had a way of teasing the Holy Knights, but Leonard could tell this was more than just a casual warning.
"I'll take your advice to heart," Leonard said after a long pause, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "But I can't just sit around and ignore what's going on. If there's more to this cult and their activities..."
Maria cut him off, her expression becoming more somber. "Don't go looking for it. The knowledge you seek may not be worth the cost."
As the tea cooled in front of them, the knights remained still, watching Leonard closely. He was beginning to realize just how dangerous the path ahead could be. What had started as a simple investigation into his own strange survival now seemed to be unraveling into something far more complicated—and much darker than he could have ever imagined.
Part 3: The Final Exchange and the Book
The knights filed out of Leonard's home, their armor clicking in unison as they left the small room behind. Maria stayed back for a moment longer, her sharp gaze sweeping over Leonard as if considering something important.
"You're sure you don't care about the cult, Mr. Astreus?" Maria asked, her voice a little softer now. "Your curiosity won't lead you into danger?"
Leonard gave a nonchalant shrug, trying to mask his unease. "I'm just gathering material for my new book on curses and cults," he assured her, adding with a slightly forced smile, "I'm not trying to get caught up in anything dangerous. Just... research."
Maya, standing by the door with her arms crossed, rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "That's what you always say, Leonard. Writing about things that no one would ever read. You should stick to topics that sell, not whatever strange nonsense you're focused on this time."
Leonard shot her a playful, exasperated look. "Some people appreciate the weird stuff."
Maria watched them for a moment, her lips tightening slightly as if she was contemplating something. Finally, she turned to one of the knights who had been waiting by the door.
"Give him the book," she said quietly.
The knight hesitated, then handed over a thick tome wrapped in dark leather. The cover bore no title, just an ornate symbol that Leonard didn't recognize. It looked ancient, almost like a relic.
Maria offered it to Leonard. "This is a history of the Thalassian Empire," she explained. "It's not exactly about curses, but it's a good starting point. You may find something relevant to your... research."
Leonard took the book carefully, noting the weight of it. "Thank you," he replied. "I'll put it to good use."
Maya raised an eyebrow at him, though she couldn't mask a small smile. "You and your books," she teased, shaking her head. "What's next? Are you going to start writing about dragons or something?"
Leonard chuckled. "You never know."
With a final glance between them, Maria nodded to the knights and gestured for them to leave. "Be careful, Leonard. Not all knowledge is meant to be uncovered," she said, her tone heavy with something unspoken.
As the door shut behind them, Leonard was left standing in the hallway, the book in his hands feeling heavier than ever. Maya watched him for a moment, a bemused look on her face.
"You're weird, you know that?" she said, stepping back toward the kitchen. "Writing about things that don't make sense, chasing things that are beyond you. But it's your life."
Leonard didn't respond. Instead, he moved to the table, sitting down with the book.
The moment the door closed and the sound of footsteps faded, Leonard's curiosity overtook any lingering doubt. He opened the book, the musty scent of ancient paper filling his nostrils as he scanned the first few pages. His fingers traced the words, and as he delved deeper into the history of the Thalassian Empire, he felt an odd sense of foreboding rise in his chest.
The book was a treasure trove of knowledge—stories of the empire's great battles, political intrigue, and the long-forgotten rituals of its past. But it wasn't the events themselves that caught his attention. It was the repeated references to something darker, hidden beneath the surface. There were mentions of the "Eye of the Abyss"—the same symbol he had seen before in his strange visions.
Leonard paused, his fingers resting on a page that detailed the history of the ancient cults that had plagued the empire centuries ago. He frowned, heart racing slightly. There was more to this book than just history. He could feel it.
As his eyes scanned the pages, a chill ran down his spine. The last line he read sent his thoughts spiraling: "The Eye's curse never truly fades. Those who survive are marked for a fate far worse than death."
Part 4: Fragments of Truth and the Black Sigil Order
Leonard's eyes moved frantically over the pages, his fingers turning quickly as he skimmed through the sections that might hold answers. His brow furrowed deeper with every line, every turn of the page, but the information he was hoping for didn't appear.
A sigh escaped him as he turned the next page, only to find more blank space. There were sections of the book where entire pages seemed missing—pages that had been deliberately torn out or obscured. Some parts of the history were so fragmented, it felt like the book had been pieced together from scraps of paper.
He flipped back and forth through the pages, frustration mounting as he found no mention of the Abyss Walkers—no solid information about them, save for one vague reference in a footnote. His eyes scanned the words:
"The Abyss Walkers, neither gods nor men, but something in between. Forgotten in time, these beings were once revered by those who understood the power of the gods, yet feared by those who did not."
Leonard leaned back in his chair, the book still open in front of him. The words swirled in his mind like smoke. What were they—beings feared and revered? And why was there so little mention of them?
He tried to focus, looking deeper into the notes of the Black Sigil Order. But again, the pages were filled with more holes than words. The mentions of the Order were sparse—here and there, a few references to an ancient and powerful group, tied to dangerous and primal gods, but the details were nowhere to be found. It was as if the knowledge had been intentionally buried.
One entry, however, caught his attention. It was a fragment from the time of the empire's first emperor. It read:
"The Black Sigil Order is neither hero nor villain. They stand between the light and the dark. To some, they are protectors—guardians who protect the balance of the gods. To others, they are threats, wielders of a power so great it can tear the world apart. Heroes to some, fools to others."
The words were haunting, leaving him with more questions than answers. Could the Order be the key to understanding the cult, the Eye of the Abyss, and the curses that seemed to plague his every waking moment?
Leonard turned the page, hoping for more, but was met with more empty space. The rest of the book was nearly blank, with some notes on the history of the empire's early years, its wars, and its heroes. He found stories of warriors who fought great battles against mysterious forces, some of them rumored to have had encounters with beings like the Abyss Walkers. But the line between what was considered "good" and "evil" seemed blurred in these tales.
Some of the heroes were celebrated, others forgotten by time, and still others thought of as traitors for their connections to these ancient powers. The stories were muddled, inconsistent—did the heroes who faced the Walkers even truly defeat them, or had they merely survived their encounters?
Leonard leaned in closer, his fingers gently brushing against the leather-bound cover of the book. He felt the weight of its secrets, pressing down on him.
The words from the first emperor echoed in his mind once more: "Heroes to some, fools to others."
Could these "heroes" be the same figures who had stood against the Abyss Walkers? Were the Black Sigil Order the ones who had once fought to control the powers of the gods, or had they fallen into obscurity for a reason?
Leonard closed the book, his mind whirling. There was too much here that didn't add up. Too many gaps in the history, too many missing pieces that seemed to be hidden on purpose. But one thing was clear—whatever the Black Sigil Order was, it wasn't something he could ignore.
He set the book down and rubbed his temples, trying to push aside the creeping feeling that he was on the edge of something dangerous—something that could pull him in deeper than he ever intended. The cult, the abyss, the ancient gods... he had no idea what he was getting into, but it was becoming impossible to turn away.
Part 5: Fragments of the Past and the Puzzle Unfolding
Leonard stared at the ceiling, the weight of the book still in his lap. A deep sigh escaped him as his fingers twitched absently at the edges of the leather binding. His mind was awash with fragments—cryptic stories of heroes, missing pages, and the haunting words of the first emperor.
He muttered to himself, "Just a book full of holes…" but as he gazed upward, something caught his attention.
It was strange—his thoughts briefly snapped away from the book, as he noticed a curious detail. For the first time since his transmigration, Leonard realized something—he was understanding the text without any difficulty. The words seemed to flow into his mind naturally, as though they belonged to him. Before his transmigration, he had only spoken Korean, but here he was, reading fluently in a completely different language.
He blinked, shaking his head in disbelief. "What the hell... how am I understanding this? I've never studied the language..."
A strange sense of awe gripped him as he reflected on it, but the feeling faded just as quickly. There was too much at stake, too many questions to answer. Leonard pulled himself back to the task at hand, shaking the book in his hand in mock frustration.
"Unfortunately, this book doesn't have the information I really need, but at least it sheds some light on the Empire's power and position after the Age of Destruction and the Age of Legends…" He trailed off, still mumbling to himself as he let his gaze wander over the words on the pages.
That's when something unexpected happened.
A thin, yellowed piece of paper slipped out from between the pages and fluttered softly to the floor. It looked ancient, as though it had been buried in the book for centuries, faded with time. Leonard leaned forward, picking it up carefully. His fingers brushed the crinkled edges as he read the small fragment written on the paper, its ink a faint black that had barely survived the ravages of time.
He squinted, unsure if his eyes were deceiving him.
It was Korean.
Korean.
At first, he couldn't believe it, but there, unmistakably, was the script—his native tongue.
"Year 156, after the Age of Destruction, second month of autumn... the Order was formed."
Leonard's heart pounded in his chest as he read on, unable to tear his eyes away from the cryptic message that seemed to speak to him personally. He could barely read the older form of Korean—it was different from the modern language he had once known, but the meaning was clear enough:
"As the gods have said, after passing the trial, my 12 comrades and I—most loyal and strongest among us—made it through the devilish trial. We became the Abyss Walkers. I think I understand the meaning of the god's riddle now... We are probably fools. I watched three of our comrades become corrupted and disappear without a trace, leaving us thirteen to proceed. We obtained the powers needed to fight off evil and save the Empire."
The words were cryptic, the ink faded and uneven, with parts of the text so old that they were burned and illegible. Leonard's pulse quickened. This was far more than he had expected—a personal record from someone who had undergone the same trial. But who was this person?
His eyes locked onto the last legible phrase, and his mind spun, trying to piece together the puzzle.
"Thirteen… to fight off evil and save the Empire."
Leonard's hands trembled as he slammed the book shut. "Who is this person? Is this… is this someone like me?" He was stunned, unable to fully comprehend what he had just read. The implications were vast—Abyss Walkers, a trial, powers to save the Empire? Had someone else, too, passed through some form of trial, gained power, and became a part of this Order?
Could this be some kind of secret history, one that had been buried, lost, and left untouched by time? Was this person—was he connected to him somehow?
Leonard's mind raced as he processed everything, but the one thing that gnawed at him more than anything else was this: if these Abyss Walkers had fought to save the Empire, then what had happened to them? Why was their Order erased from history?
And most importantly… why was this person's message written in Korean? Had they, too, once been someone from his world, now lost to the ages?
As the weight of these questions pressed down on him, Leonard felt a wave of unease wash over him. He had always believed the world he had found himself in was foreign, strange, and full of mystery—but this... this felt personal.
Part 6: The Abyss Veil and the Revelation
Leonard closed his eyes, trying to focus on the lingering tension of the energy inside him. He had used Absolute Order before, but the Abyss Veil always felt different each time. This time, however, something felt strange. The voices—the usual whispers in the purple mist—were barely there. Was it him growing stronger? Was this a sign of progress? It was hard to tell, but he had learned not to ignore these small changes.
A flicker of golden light danced across the edges of his vision, and for the first time, he could read the description of his skill.
ABSOLUTE ORDER LVL 1
Call for order to assemble.
A simple phrase, yet powerful, like a command of the universe itself. He had always felt its potential, but seeing it in words made it feel so much more real.
And there it was—another skill description that had eluded him before.
ABYSS VEIL LVL 2
Bend time and space to enter the neither.
Golden words flashed before his eyes like a message written by an unseen hand, glowing brightly before vanishing. Leonard exhaled slowly, realizing that he had unlocked more than just power. This skill was truly becoming a part of him, guiding him through the mysteries of the abyss.
"So this is what it's like," Leonard thought to himself, his heart quickening. He wondered what would happen if he used Absolute Order on one of the princess's flickering blood-red shadows. The shadows had always been unpredictable, but now that he had more control, it felt like the perfect time to test his limits.
He extended his hand, hesitating for only a moment before making his decision. But instead of merely touching the shadow, he activated Absolute Order directly on it.
At first, nothing happened. But then, the world around him seemed to warp. Space itself bent, and the air rippled like the surface of a pond disturbed by an unseen force. The pendant—the eye carved into the moon—began to glow with an intense golden light. Time stretched in strange ways, the boundary between reality and the abyss blurring until—
A golden door appeared before him.
It wasn't just a door—it was a doorway with cryptic text swirling in the air, suspended above the floor, with the eye of the pendant in the center, glowing ominously. The door opened slowly, revealing the abyss on the other side.
The mist within the abyss thickened as the door stretched wider, beckoning him to step through.
Meanwhile, in Princess Freya's Room:
The princess sat at her delicate wooden table, sipping tea in the comfort of her private room. Her quarters were richly furnished, bathed in the warm glow of oil lamps that flickered like a thousand tiny suns. The windows were shut, yet the room seemed unusually cold. The calm, quiet atmosphere of her sanctuary was disrupted by something unseen.
A feeling of unease gripped her. The air thickened, turning heavy. The temperature dropped as purple mist began seeping through the cracks in the walls. The mist filled the room with an ominous presence, one she could not understand.
Freya's pulse quickened. She tried to stand, but something paralyzed her—her feet wouldn't move. She felt trapped, unable to escape.
Then, the impossible happened. A door began to appear in the wall—a door that had not been there a moment ago. It was glowing with a strange, golden light, filled with cryptic text she couldn't read. The eye symbol was emblazoned in the center, the same as Leonard's pendant.
Frozen in place, Freya's wide eyes locked onto the door as it slowly creaked open. The sense of danger was overwhelming, but she couldn't break free. Something—no, someone—was pulling her toward the door.
Her heart raced as she realized the unthinkable: she was being pulled into it.
The moment she was about to be consumed by the doorway, the world outside the room felt like it had ceased to exist.