"Where... where am I?" The Knight mumbled as he'd came to, his body resting on a bed chamber, being surrounded by the children who bested him. To say he was concerned was an understatement, but such concerns were slowly put at ease once they'd scavenge and return back his blade.
"NOW... you can explain yourself." Harvard would add, watching as the monster would sit up, the metallic plating healing itself, as he'd take off his silver helm and let the shadows form a proper head. A man nearly in his forties, rugged scars through his mouth and cheek, a stubble from what can only be assumed to be made of smoke. The most pressing detail, however, is the yellow eyes, glowing brightly and showcasing figures dancing within his iris, as if they were the souls long since gone.
"I... was not like this. Ages have since passed during the time this Circle was made. The Devil decided to play a visit on a man. 'Build me a Kingdom', he asked. 'Make my subjects cherish me as their King.' The devil agreed, and helped alongside him in the construction. This city of clay, its people, it's merely a product. A result. Now... it's also a testing chamber."
"The Devil? Did he, by any chance, have a weird mask on his face?"
"Can't say. I was unfortunately the first of many who came over without noticing the history. He preached to us about salvation. About how we can be at peace if we follow his lead. Inevitably... it always goes back to that infernal sun."
"Testing Chamber, Sun, yeah all this is reading that big light we saw being a problem." Solomon piped up, being quick to let Shady do such shadow puppetry to showcase their own situation, about how the light nearly pierced through everyone, even damaging Applin with its harsh rays. "By any chance, Does it have something to do with the Dome thing? First guess is that it's keeping prying eyes away from it."
"Indeed, but that's not its entire purpose." Eustace would shift in his bed, glaring down at the blade he wielded, his mind wandering back to when it was simpler. Staring at the jewel made him lost in such thoughts, wracked with a guilt visible in his face. "...It's also a defense mechanism. Because of the Sun's properties, the Dome has been laced with seals and minerals to both block off and absorb its properties. When fully unveiled, however, it does far worse than mere melting."
"Disintegration?"
"Transmogrify."
The group fell silent, yet Eustace continued. "I had a Wife at one point. A Son as well. All three of us are victims to the Sun. If you are exposed to it... you will become a Monster. A beast only the Devil himself could make up. I have failed as a Husband and as a Father to them. With this last soul tethered, I swore to myself to bring down the sun. To bring down the light that cursed many others that followed."
"Hold on... You said 'first of many', right?" Zazel pitched up, as he'd be quick on having Shady be directed under Solomon's guidance. A massive wall of text appeared, each one labeled as a name, a casualty. The names were familiar to the children, as they were the ones involved with the genocides Sozo has brought upon the Circle. "...Does that include these guys?" He asked.
Eustace only sighed, as if he didn't wish to give the answer. "I remember those too... Yes, what you're inferring is exactly that. Men, Women, Children, it matters not to the infernal light." The children were left stunned at such words, looking amongst one another in dismay. Applin, who've learned such names were real, reeled back and huddled herself, her mind wandering if she was a potential victim willing to be used by the star. The very thought of her body being morphed and used as a tool to hurt whom she loves dear petrifies her. Stolas, who's the most knowledgeable, grips his talons hard, enough to draw blood against such pricks. His eyes darted at each name, thinking how much they must've been through to endure such experiments. "...You all finally see my vision. My mission is as sound as the winds that blow past. I want to kill the Sun. When that dies, my purpose is finished. I am free to die and wallow in hell for my sins, knowing I did something right with my life. I am beyond saving... but there are still others who aren't. I refuse to let them suffer under his rule, under his light."
"Help me... and my life is yours."
His message was sound, yet before they gave their answer, officials were quick to arrive. The kids threw up a bunch of blankets and pillows from the other bed to cover and conceal Eustace, in the case helping the enemy is considered to be illegal. Thankfully, they didn't seem to notice it, even as Eustace struggled in trying to get out from the covers, thrashing around like a child. Solomon and Zazel had to work together to hold down his arms and legs, trying to look as innocent as possible, whilst Stolas and Harvard helped keeping their focus far away from the Knight of Shadows. Two more bounties were prepared in advanced, as the boys were quick to take the poster and wave goodbye to the staff, though their suspicions are now raised tenfold. The two beasts were before them, their objective once more to hunt them down.
"Fenrir and... Jormungan?" Harvard would say aloud, as Eustace would be able to push the blankets off slightly, once the people took their leave.
"Two others who were with me. I believe I can face them myself. You children simply focus on finding a way to reach the 'Sun.' We will meet up later." With such words, he disappeared, using the shadow made by the covers to disappear. The five nod to themselves as they got to work in investigating against Kabanaska.