Shameless One

Surprisingly, a calm and assured smile spread across Eden Pyram's cold face upon hearing Silver's words.

He stepped forward, gesturing with an unexpected courtesy, his demeanour now markedly different from the earlier hostility. "Please forgive my previous rudeness, honoured guests," he said, his voice smooth and placating. "Everything that transpired was, in fact, a scheduled test issued by my master. Please do not take it personally; consider it merely a reassuring examination."

Confusion flickered across the faces of the group. They were at a loss to comprehend the situation. Had the confrontation and ambush merely been a test all along?

Sensing their bewilderment, Eden raised himself to his full height and spoke slowly, as though explaining a basic concept. "As you can see, the ambush was intended as a trial of your combat abilities. However, we already know that the forces Haven sent us are far from weak commoners."

He paused briefly, ensuring his words sank in. "But my master also understands that warriors from Haven, especially those dispatched on a mission of such importance, possess a certain... pride, perhaps even arrogance," Eden continued with a wry smile. "Had you simply submitted without protest, we would have had no choice but to regard you as potential spies sent by our enemies."

Shun shook his head in quiet resignation, a bitter mockery of Alexander Levison flickering in his mind. He was not surprised by such carefulness from a weak strategist.

Joe frowned, his lips parting to speak, but only an emotionless "Wow" escaped him.

"Follow me inside, honoured guests," Eden announced, undisturbed by the irritated expressions on their faces. "Prime Advisor Alexander Levison is waiting to discuss the situation."

He gestured toward the entrance of the castle, welcoming them to step inside. But as the group passed him and made their way into the heart of the central castle of Sila, Shun noticed something: a faint, almost imperceptible smile that lingered on Eden's lips. It was a look of quiet satisfaction, one that only Shun seemed to catch.

… 

Meanwhile, Vito Fool traversed the desolate expanse along the border between Lordrixis and the Cult of Luca Azoria. He moved with unhurried precision, observing the changing landscapes and the people in each city he passed through. After all his years, the constant nature of the land had ceased to capture his interest. Yet, humans—ever-changing, ever-evolving—fascinated him. Their emotions, their stories, they never failed to intrigue him.

But his fascination was tinged with disappointment. Even in such a peaceful era, the discrimination and suppression faced by those with lower-tier ethereal arms remained ever-present. While Haven's gilded narrative attempted to obscure this fact, ignorance of it didn't mean it ceased to exist.

Vito sighed. The tales of ascended and complete ethereal warriors had always been ones of glory, honour, and cheer. Yet those of the instrument class were steeped in sorrow, resignation, and disillusionment.

Ironically, his own ascended status made it difficult for him to truly care, despite the empathy he felt.

As Vito pondered these thoughts, a voice, faint yet powerful, cut through the air from several miles away. He could discern the vague outlines of the figures as they approached—one was lean, with messy hair, and the other, strikingly large for a human.

"Yo, September, we're officially in Lordrixis now. Isn't that exciting?" The voice was rough and lazy, yet had an undercurrent of optimism.

"We're here to complete the mission, not on vacation," came the reply, deep, hollow, and distant. "If I'm not mistaken, that boy is headed toward Sila. Most likely to deal with The Unfinished."

"Why'd I get paired with you?" The other man sounded frustrated.

"Because Commander Valdis said so." The answer was flat and emotionless.

As the duo drew nearer, Vito saw the colossus figure in full detail, covered in thick, impenetrable armour, with not a patch of skin exposed. The other man, meanwhile, wore a bushy beard that seemed to obscure the features of what might have been a handsome face.

They were surprised to see Vito. The bearded man waved to him and called out, "Hey, where are you headed?"

Vito carefully assessed them, recognizing their connection to Antonio Valdis, the very person he was searching for. But their presence in Lordrixis raised questions.

"Are you sent by Antonio Valdis?" Vito asked directly, his immortal nature allowing him to speak with blunt honesty, unburdened by any fear of retaliation. He had no idea where Valdis was, so it made sense to ask those who might know.

The bearded man's smile faltered, and he dropped his hand with a sigh of resignation. "Hmm, looks like we'll need to eliminate one more."

"That's your fault, September," the man muttered under his breath.

Without warning, September, the armoured giant, launched himself at Vito with surprising speed for his size. A massive black hammer materialized in his hand.

Vito didn't even flinch. He stood his ground, letting the full force of the blow hit him. He staggered back several meters, but the impact didn't faze him. He rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and summoned his black sword in preparation for a counterattack.

But as soon as September saw the weapon in Vito's hand, he froze. His eyes widened as he studied the Immortal Beyond closely.

After a brief, tense moment, he turned and gave a silent signal to the other man, indicating that further combat was pointless.

"Let's go, June," September said, his voice cool and final.

"What? Finish him off!" June shook his head.

"No one can. No one will," September replied cryptically, turning away. "I didn't expect to encounter that weapon again."

Vito watched as the two continued their journey toward Lordrixis, neither of them sparing him another glance. They parted ways without realizing just how much disruption each would ultimately bring to the other's world.

"Come on, September," June grumbled. "Explain it to me. I can't sleep with curiosity gnawing at me."

September sighed, though his expression was concealed inside a giant helmet, a rare hint of feeling breaking through the cavernous depths of his voice. "Kolgwyn's failed bid for immortality. He crafted a weapon intended to preserve his life eternally. But the result," he added quietly, "was… ironic."

His words trailed off, fading as Vito continued walking, deep in his own reflections.

"Immortality, you see, is possible," September continued, his voice low, fading away as Vito moved forward, lost in thought. "But only at one cost—a demand Kolgwyn could never fulfill."

June's irritation softened, replaced by a rare moment of thoughtfulness. "What could possibly be beyond Kolgwyn's reach? The man had everything. There was nothing his power couldn't claim. History has proven that."

After a beat of silence, September's response came, low and unwavering. "Love."

With that, September seemed to dismiss the subject entirely, though the weight of his words lingered in the air. "Come on. Let's finish this task. Once we bring that boy back, even December will have to look up to us."