Dance of the Gods

She spent the next few minutes devouring everything in front of her. She wasn't even really looking what landed in her mouth, and she hardly chewed any of it.

Before seeing the food her appetite wasn't really present, but smelling the fresh bacon her mouth watered and she promptly started to eat all of it!

Michael didn't even know what to say at this sight. He managed to snatch a bit of toast and eggs, but it was clear that he judged Veronica's appetite wrong.

"Wow, you are really hungry." He said absentmindedly. Veronica looked up from her plate with a mouth full of sausages. Her cheeks took on a small redness, but then she just shrugged and went back to her meal, causing Michael to chuckle.

Eventually all the food was consumed on her plate and she leaned back with a satisfied expression. She held onto her cup of warm tea and took sips from it every now and then.

"So... That was probably the worst first date I have ever had." She said while looking down at her mug.

"Well, it could've been worse." He said while smiling. She looked up with confusion... "How so?"

"At least we both had fun until the other stuff happened. I think we should just ignore everything that happened after the explosion! Our date ended before that, which makes it an amazing first date! In my opinion at least." He grinned brightly causing Veronica to smile as well.

"Yeah... I like that idea." With that they both stayed silent for a few minutes.

It was comfortable and kind of nice. The past few days were so hectic, she forgot what it was like to take a break. The atmosphere soon changed as Michael asked a question out of nowhere.

"So, when are you planning to ascend?" He spoke with a grim expression. This ascension seemed to really bother him for some reason. His face even hid a bit of worry.

"I think I will wait with it. It wasn't even a full week since my ascension, and I want to take other people's advice first... Also, there is that whole problem with the prerequisite. I have to think about everything, before attempting such a drastic change!" As she spoke Michael breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good, and a smart decision. If you need help with anything just ask." She smiled genuinely and nodded thankfully.

Thinking about the ascension made Veronica remember the ascended characteristic and Floyd. She turned around in her chair and looked at the small table next to the sofa.

There were many different objects sitting on it, starting with the Dancer's Rose, her small purse, Floyd's wallet, the knife Silent Whisper, the box with the ascended characteristic inside... and the pink letter.

With a sigh she got to her feet and brought every single object over. She put away her own stuff with a quick glance over. She looked over Floyd's wallet, but there weren't anything interesting about it.

Her eyes eventually landed on the knife, and she recalled all of its abilities. It wasn't easy because of how tired she was yesterday, but eventually she remembered everything, except one crucial information.

"What's the Silent Whisper's drawback?" Michael looked confused for a second, then he facepalmed.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you!... It's nothing too extreme, you just have to stay silent continuously for an hour each day if you want to use it. Sleep doesn't count, neither is unconsciousness. You have to be wide awake and silent."

She nodded while looking at the dagger a bit suspiciously. The drawback seemed too good for the benefits it provided.

She decided to divine its ability, purpose and origin in the Theater, just to be safe.

After putting down the dagger, she quickly looked at the small pink gemstone inside the Material Box. It glowed with ethereal light and when she touched it, the gem seemed to glow a bit brighter. She held it for a few seconds, then gently placed it back into the box.

With that done, it was time to examine the last item on the table.

Veronica lifted the letter and looked it over more thoroughly. Michael watched all this with great interest. He was hoping that Veronica would let him read the letter as well. He also wanted her to trust him more since no relationship could be built upon dishonesty.

"Have you seen anything like this seal?" She asked curiously. Michael glanced at it for a moment, even though he had looked over the outside of the letter hundreds of times.

"Kind of. It's similar to an older mark, which was the symbol of Utopia, at least that's what people say. I haven't seen this yet, but we sent a telegram to the Unbroken's Information Archive, so they should send something about it soon." He said, while his eyes never left the red seal.

"Unbroken's Information Archive? What's that?" Asked Veronica while she grabbed the rainbow knife and began to cut the letter open.

"It's literally just a giant archive containing every information about history or the supernatural. The people working there constantly get telegrams asking for information about different cases..." He answered while taking a sip of his already cold coffee.

"...Whenever people need help with knowledge, they send them a message, and if their request gets approved they receive the answer they are looking for." Veronica nodded and opened the envelope.

There were two items inside, the letter and a small pair of earing. She was about to touch the earring, when Michael quickly grabbed her hand.

"Don't! They could be cursed, or coated in some poison!" Veronica slowly pulled her hands back, then used her knife to push the pair back into the envelope.

It was kind of a bummer since the earrings were beautiful. They were gold and held a small hanging ornamentation. The two of them had different colored gems inside, one was colored light brown like her hair, the other was colored dark blue, like the night sky.

She didn't really understand why there was such difference between the colors of the gem, but she knew how important color symbolism was in this world. There had to be a reason for the colors, and she wasn't dumb to touch them without knowing what they can do!

After putting the earrings away, her eyes turned to the letter. With a small tremble in her hand she reached down and opened it.

Dear Veronica,

If you are reading this letter, then my plan worked and I'm dead, presumably by your hand. If the person reading this letter isn't you, then something went horribly wrong.

You are probably very confused about everything I had done, and sadly I can't reveal anything too concrete since that would cause Him to notice this hidden message.

I tried to find a way to save you from Him, but after my initial failure, I realized that this could only work with one of us dead. After making this plan I spent the days at the Dancing Hall waiting for you since I knew you would eventually come to try and acquire the Deeper Understanding.

After that I had to make you kill me. I don't know how I accomplished that, but since you are reading this it worked. I had to die in order to get this letter to you, while staying off the Rise's radar.

Veronica's eyes were bulging from shock. In the other seat Michael was very close from snatching it out of her hand. He was really curious what caused such a reaction in her, but as she read the next portion, she audibly gasped.

He was the one to bring you here. I don't know the exact ritual, but it involved a powerful creature or something from the Unknown, but don't divine anything about it. Just one look could drive you insane!

He brought you here with only one purpose, to give Him the Theater. For reasons I can't talk about He can never access it unless someone gives it to Him... I hope its obvious by now that you shouldn't.

Your knowledge about the Theater of Imagination is probably quite lacking, but it holds one of the core powers of the Universe... The Power of Imagination! This is something you won't get access to until you reach a much higher order, but you should've already gotten a glimpse to it since you are already an Ascended!

She read faster and faster, the further she got.

You probably have a lot of questions, but you have to find the answers yourself.

The last thing I want to say is a request. I want you to hide, and slowly try to reach a higher order. Only after you reach the 1st Order will you get full control of the Theater.

Sadly you don't have that much time. He is currently 2nd Order, but He is very close to the first. After he ascends the final step, he will be able to steal the Theater without your permission.

You either have to stay hidden from Him, or reach the 1st Order before he does. I don't know if you will succeed, but I want to make sure you understand the urgency of the situation.

If you don't succeed, and he gets the Theater. Everyone will die in the upcoming war!

I hope you make the right choices and good luck!

Floyd Hawkins

PS: The earrings I have provided will help you on this journey greatly. Also you should leave Hammon as soon as possible. One of His closest followers is causing the protests to escalate. Her name is June and she is a 4th Order Harmony of the Vocalist path.

Another advice: If you want your family to stay alive, you should leave them too. You will only bring danger to their lives!