LUCIUS
"You sure about this?" Sara pressed again, her concern palpable as she repeated the question for what felt like the third time in five minutes. Her voice, laced with worry and genuine care, trailed behind Lav, who strode confidently ahead of us. As they were engaged in a light-hearted conversation, switching topics with ease and laughter, my mind was elsewhere. I was lost in thoughts about the wraiths lurking within the city—dangerous entities that could spell disaster if they had indeed slipped past our defences.
The Lunar walls—the monumental fortifications that stood sentinel over the seven cities of our easternmost region—were not merely impressive structures; they were an intricate web of protection, infused with ancient magic and upgraded with cutting-edge technology. These walls were designed to be impenetrable, serving as the last refuge against any threat from within the beast rims. The moment someone or something unfamiliar approached, whether by ground or air, the detection zones embedded within the walls would spring into action, alerting the Lunarknights, the squadrons of Aerialknights and the battleknights stationed nearby and across the city.
These sacred structures boasted the empire's most advanced surveillance systems, capable of sensing even the faintest disturbance. With this level of security, it was hard to believe that anyone could infiltrate our territory undetected. I recalled vividly my own entry into Varis, a moment that was supposed to be tightly controlled. I had been meant to be in custody, restricted to ensure the safety and security of the city. But that plan had unravelled, thanks to the interventions of Mercy, Edward, Rartar, Dargan, and Jhansi. Their willingness to bend the rules made me question the authenticity of the walls' defences when I was young and stupid. Surely, no sentient being could pass through these barriers as casually as if they were a familiar friend. Yet, the words of Aurora echoed in my mind, words that held a maturity and depth beyond her years.
'I'm so done with this city, its people, and basically everyone except my friends and family.' My growing frustration had been clear, and it struck a chord within me, amplifying my own sense of weariness. I felt my posture slump, an indication of the mental fatigue that gripped me. Each yawn felt like a weight, pulling me further into exhaustion. My eyes were heavy-lidded and stung with unspilled tears. The heaviness in my arms made me feel like I was navigating through molasses. Most troubling of all was the fear that loomed in the back of my mind, swirling with thoughts of the calamities that could arise. I felt utterly inadequate, lacking the strength or skills necessary to confront the dark possibilities that loomed ahead...
"... I'm fine, really," I said, forcing a reassuring smile, though the truth was far from that. "I just... I'm not really in the mood for a delightful conversation right now. Please excuse me." My voice was barely above a whisper as I finally managed to reply to Sara. Her genuine concern lingered in the air, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on us. I couldn't fault her for worrying—after all, her heart was in the right place—but at that moment, all I craved was a cocoon of solitude. I needed time to collect my thoughts, a semblance of space to breathe, and a dash of tranquillity to sort out the chaos churning within me.
Having just climbed to the S-rank, a monumental achievement in itself, I found myself in the centre of a daunting mission. The implications of my new status loomed overhead like a storm cloud. My mind, unrelenting in its need to piece together the puzzle, had begun to weave the two most terrifying possibilities together: the Nmanas and the Wraiths might be intertwined in ways we never anticipated. If the threads of conflict were to unite the two—if war became an inevitability—our empire would find itself facing a battle not only against external threats but against insidious dangers lurking within our own walls.
The Lunar walls stood tall, a formidable barrier against outside invaders, but what could they offer us against the silent foes already breathing down our necks? We could not rely solely on swords and shields when the adversaries moved like shadows, unseen and undetectable. This realisation was unfathomable, almost surreal, yet as Rebecca spun her tales and shared her gossip, the notion seemed far-fetched. But after my unsettling conversation with Arcane and the haunting encounter with Ahana and Aurora, the lines between reality and the otherworldly blurred... I mean, if someone were to declare that the gods themselves had descended upon our realm to exact long-overdue judgment, I'd find myself in a place of eerie acceptance—I might very well believe them, without much of a second thought.
Thinking—overthinking—they were both crucial skills, tools we had been gifted or burdened with. They served us well in navigating the complexities of life, but they often lacked one critical element: practical implementation. It was ironic, really; the countless hours devoted to analysing, reflecting, and contemplating had only led me down a maze of possibilities, none of which illuminated the path to action. I found myself ensnared in a web of relentless thought, paralysed by the very gift that should propel me forward. It felt pitiful, almost tragically comical.
"... I've also heard that the woman Commander Avraham of the Guardian-knights loves is a commoner, plus they say she's got some complications related to pregnancy—" Lav's super-informative gossip-I mean words of wisdom, cut through the heavy fog of my thoughts. I couldn't let them continue such intellectual sharing of wisdom, especially given the gravity of my concerns. Interrupting their trivial chatter, I felt a primal surge of annoyance swell within me.
"Oi, asshole," I snapped, interrupting their ongoing conversation, which was undoubtedly less meaningful than the storm brewing in my mind. Lav's jovial demeanour shifted instantly as he turned to face me, his grin evaporating like mist under the morning sun. His bright eyes darkened, the shift from playful banter to somewhat annoying, with seemed serious urgency palpable in the air.
"What is it?" he snapped, annoyance lacing his tone as he clearly resented my intrusion on their moment. I didn't bother to answer with words; instead, I extended my hand, revealing what I had been holding tightly—a shimmering orb, fitting snugly in my palm, radiating light like a miniature sun.
"Catch!"
I shouted, my voice slicing through the air as I whipped my wrist with a decisive flick, sending the object spiralling toward him. My heart raced, not just from the sudden movement but also from the implications of what this gesture might entail. The object soared through the air with an unexpected velocity, aimed directly at his charming prince-like visage. To my surprise, Lav was quicker on his feet than I anticipated. His reflexes kicked in, allowing him to tilt his head just in time while extending his arm to seize the projectile darting toward him.
As soon as his fingers wrapped around it, the annoyance that had flared in his eyes transformed into outright anger.
"The fuck is wrong with—" he started, nearly tripping over his own tongue. His gaze rapidly darted down to the object clasped tightly in his dominant hand, and I could see the shock wash over his features.
"This... this isn't what—" The expression on his face shifted dramatically, a mix of disbelief and confusion swirling in his eyes. He stood there, staring at the powerhouse he now held—a fire core. This particular core, if harnessed with meticulous care, patience, and total concentration, had the potential to elevate him to an S-rank in just a few short months, a significant leap from his current standing as a lowly A-rank.
"I figured you could use some help; after all, you've been falling behind, best friend," I murmured, letting the weight of my mana suppression drop for just a fleeting moment. I wanted him to feel the vast difference in power that lay between us. As I walked past him, our earlier urgency nagged at my feet—lunch with Sia and the other ladies awaited, and I had no intention of keeping them waiting. I could only imagine how they would scowl if we missed the meal, refusing to eat until we joined them. I didn't really expect him to thank me, not in front of Sara anyway... I'm doing this for my own benefit, after all.
"Thank you, brother," Lav whispered back, just barely loud enough for me to catch his words. Many other thoughts were spinning in my mind, warnings I wished I could share, insights I felt compelled to impart—yet those would have to wait. In time, he would know everything, along with Mercy and Edward, of course. 'Grow stronger... I need your strength, not your feeble words.' I thought as I chose not to turn this thought into words, he knows what I expect from him, if I'm lending him such a gift.
Up to this point, I had been too passive, too careful, despite the strength and connections I wielded. Those very ties had allowed our mysterious adversaries to operate unchecked, their reach extending further and further without any resistance. That era of complacency must come to an end; they needed to be stopped, and swiftly.
Our empire surely had an inkling about them, perhaps even working meticulously behind the scenes, but they seemed to be lagging. If the empire itself couldn't grasp the full extent of this threat, then what could I do? I recognised my limits, my lack of overwhelming strength or exceptional skills, but I had never let that deter me from pursuing my goals, and this would be no different. The time had come for action; I could no longer stand idly by, nor could I afford to keep other powerful and influential figures in the dark. The time has come.
"Come on now, we've got no time left to spare," I called out, my voice firm yet encouraging, as I noticed the two of them stalemated in their tracks. Sara was the first to lift her gaze and nod, her steps careful and deliberate as she made her way toward me. Lav took an additional moment, processing what had just happened, before quickly tucking the core into his storage ring and following suit.
"No thanks, and sorry, between friends, remember?" I reminded Lav, as he strode alongside me to my left while Sara took her place on my right.
"Yupp," Sara replied, a radiant glow illuminating her face that heightened her natural beauty. Lav offered a closed fist, his gesture signalling camaraderie, and I met it with a hard fist bump. In that moment, we transcended from our previous youthful banter into a realm of maturity, stepping up to face the challenges ahead, adult responsibilities that awaited us.
***
"I see..." Edward replied after a lengthy silence, one that was entirely understandable given the astonishing revelation I had just dropped on them. It was a lot for anyone to digest, particularly for people who typically thrived on logic and reason. Mercy remained quiet, as per his usual demeanour, head bowed and eyes closed. He had a knack for maintaining silence, keeping his thoughts to himself—a classic reaction from Mr. Rational himself. On the other hand, Lav was the most animated of the group, his face contorting in a way that revealed a surprising array of functioning facial muscles, as if he was suddenly becoming aware of just how expressive he could be.
Once our lunch concluded—a meal that felt more like a ticking clock than a time of enjoyment—we found ourselves running a bit late. Fortunately, the ladies were also lagging behind on their schedule, a coincidence that worked to our advantage; it spared us from Sia's inevitable wrath. She had been subtly inquiring about my absence from home the previous night. I discreetly gestured that we would discuss it later, once everyone else had left. This elicited just enough of a reaction to quell her curiosity, although I sensed her growing concern for me. It seemed I wouldn't be able to keep secrets from her much longer without putting her in the dark, which was certainly not my intention.
Rebecca and Adrianna were still organising their belongings, preparing for their move. They still had about another hour before departing, which gave us the crucial time we needed to process the weighty information I had just shared. It felt as though I had detonated a mana bomb in the midst of our gathering, one that had altered the very atmosphere in the room.
"This is bad... Really bad," Lav said, his voice trembling yet surprisingly assertive. It was a relief to see him coping better than I had anticipated. Edward nodded in agreement, his expression serious. Meanwhile, Mercy, still with his eyes closed, finally opened them, glanced at us, and then promptly closed them again. It was a strange gesture, one that I mentally noted, but nonetheless, the rest of us were eager to hear his thoughts, especially since Edward had been rendered speechless.
"For the love of god and all his creations, Merc, say something! Anything would suffice!" Edward's voice was laced with frustration, directed towards his friend, who was typically so composed. Mercy, however, maintained his calm exterior, looking directly at me and asking, "So, you're telling me... That even you weren't able to detect this supposed shadow entity that was present?" He spoke with a straight face, his tone unperturbed as if this was just another random topic on the table, under the sun's gaze and the winds suppressed howls.
"If this shadow entity was indeed lurking nearby, then yes, I couldn't sense its presence. However, Sara did report feeling something extraordinarily unusual..." I answered, my candour a deliberate choice as I chose not to concern myself with Lav's feelings, especially since he had been kept in the dark for this mission. Mercy made a flipped 'U' shape with his lips, nodding slowly in a theatrical manner, while Lav shot me an inquisitive look, silently questioning why he hadn't been included, but I dismissed his expression; my focus was elsewhere. Edward rolled his eyes, directing his gaze towards the sliding windows of my residence, clearly exasperated. The ladies, busy with their tasks, were engaged in conversation, particularly Sara, who was keeping them occupied, likely so that we—'the men'—could have this conversation more privately.
"If he can't sense them, then we're a fucking lost cause!" Edward declared emphatically, gesturing towards me with an air of desperation. Both Lav and Mercy nodded in agreement, acknowledging the unwritten truth that my senses were, for some unfathomable reason, exceptionally sharp, which wasn't even a surprise anymore. Just as Lav was about to interject, Mercy continued, almost cutting him off completely, commanding the room's attention.
"Well, that's a no-brainer, albeit an unfortunate one... But the fact remains that these Wraiths are already amongst our people, 'supposedly', lurking in the shadows and waiting for some unknown purpose... I genuinely have no idea how we're supposed to proceed from here. Plus, the reality that we can't even detect them—at least not willingly, based on your explanation—" he paused momentarily, pointing a finger at me, "means we're going to have to rely on instinct and intuition, exactly as you've indicated." There was an incredulous tone in his voice, barely masking his astonishment at the gravity of our situation.
"Easier said than done," Lav chimed in, his expression turning contemplative as he inexplicably fidgeted internally with his elemental mana circulation—a process I didn't fully understand but could distinctly sense.
This conversation felt precariously poised on the edge of clarity and confusion, teetering towards a direction we were definitely not prepared for just yet.