It would not be an understatement to say that the current tension was enough to suffocate someone. On this day, Nathan Modernson had finally gotten a chance to witness the intensity between the Rune Arts Federation and the Four Pathtowers. There was no phrasing that bit, no tone that stung, just a plain, cold calmness enough to show the appropriate amount of disgust.
"Mister Indescribable," Viviana began, completely ignoring Lily's provocation like she was an object in the background, "To summon me here without prior notification, I had to assume that in this expedition, you have found something… upsetting. Want to prove me wrong?"
The Indescribable cackled unnaturally. "I'm always more than willing to."
"What I have found is not upsetting; it is catastrophic."
V did not have her hood on today. Her eyes visibly squinted in seriousness. "And this catastrophic thing cannot be directly communicated to His Majesty?"
"Absolutely not," the Indescribable replied word by word. "Someone else must know about it. It can be you, but NOT King Runaria."
Nathan stood aside and listened to the conversation in silence. Even for someone like him, he was not qualified to interrupt it.
"Understood," Viviana nodded. "Go ahead."
The Indescribable hovered towards her and rested the top section of his body on V's shoulder. Coincident or not, on the side where his twisted shape met the identical crimson blocks on her face. He whispered a short sentence to her ear, too quiet for anyone else to hear. Viviana couldn't even expect the simplicity within his conviction.
"Retrieve the sword, and destroy it immediately."
Her body did not flinch once throughout the process, as the Indescribable approached and left. Even her expression was perfectly stable.
"You are aware that that thing has not yet left its original owner, right?" she questioned.
"It does not matter," the Indescribable affirmed with a tone as cold as stone. "Destroy it. Remove all traces of it. Once it awakens, Runalond would be exposed to something our ancestors had prevented for their lifetimes."
"That thing is a symbol of Runalond's reign. I'm not worthy to determine its existence. If I have to, I need a suitable reason."
Nathan instinctively reached towards his chest, towards the crystal hanging on his neck. He prayed that whatever "thing" they were talking about, it was not Gideon's Crystal that he promised Granny Bella to protect.
The Indescribable sighed. "I'm afraid I can't tell you."
"Because I'm the First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation?" V instantly said.
"Because I forgot."
He what?
Forgot?
Nathan would rather believe he needed to have his ears checked than accept the content of the Indescribable's words. From the look on the others' faces, their response towards it was also funnily dramatic, but it wasn't shock, but rather anxiety.
He turned to his mentor, who almost uncontrollably retreated a few steps. He had never seen true fear on Lily's face before, but this time was clearly different.
"Memory Deletion," seeing the look on Nathan's face, Lily quietly explained. "The Indescribable's Personal Rune Art."
"I once thought it was useless. Well, you can't really blame me, because it cannot be used on anyone except for the Rune Artist who cast it."
"Until I discovered that… this Rune Art might be the most uncanny, most illogical thing to ever exist."
The Indescribable did not wait for V's response. "This information is just too dangerous, to the point that I did not consider I should even KNOW it."
"I could tell," V responded. "For you to share anything with me, it just has to be something disastrous, hm?"
"Nothing more is to be said. Whatever happens next, you decide for yourself." The Indescribable did not waste any more breath and turned to the other side, where Nathan and Lily stood.
"Nathan Modernson, is that right?" he called out, his voice weary yet carrying an unnoticeable trace of hope.
"Y… Yes." Nathan swallowed with difficulty and responded. He hadn't been so anxious in front of someone for longer than he could remember.
However, the Indescribable clearly did not understand why he acted in such a way. He walked towards him, words muddled with V's discussion with the Rune Arts Federation behind. Nathan could barely focus enough to hear his words.
"You were born into an unfortunate family, at the most unfortunate time, but because of that, you will be the most fortunate person ever."
Nathan looked up slightly to face where a face should be located. "I beg your pardon?"
"You…" the Indescribable continued. "You are special. You are destined to be special."
Nathan composed himself in time. He had been learning to do so with speed recently, and the results had been pleasing.
"I'll try my best to live up to your expectations. I appreciate the encouragement," Nathan said confidently, not thinking too much about his words. "If even you say so, then I must acknowledge it, right? Mentor Lily?"
Lily's attention was not on him; her eyes were fixed dead on his mother in the distance, but Nathan didn't have enough time to comprehend the emotions within.
The Indescribable laughed again. "Yeah, you are really different from your mother. These words are easy to think of, but to say them out naturally is a skill that many cannot learn."
"Because I am being genuine," Nathan replied. "To survive an accident like that, to live without a physical body, a mere mortal could never have achieved that. How could anyone not admire someone like that?"
"Do you know how I managed to survive?"
"No, but I cannot be more honoured to listen."
The Indescribable cleared his throat, looking like he was about to tell a great epic.
"I forgot."
Nathan Modernson later found out that the Spirehead of the Tower of Discovery did not make a joke to lighten up the atmosphere. When he did, he couldn't help but agree with Lily's statement about the Memory Deletion Rune Art.
It wasn't that he forgot how he survived the accident.
It was that he forgot that he died in the accident.
Through this uncanny, illogical Rune Art, he convinced himself, and the rules of the world, that he had survived.
To Nathan's fortune, he didn't have to respond to this supposed joke that he believed it to be at the time.
"You may return first. I'm going to have a word with the Undefinable," V commanded the officers of the Rune Arts Federation. The circumstances did not ask for a different opinion, and the officers knew better than to stay.
"Lily, Lily…" Seeing the last one of them depart, Viviana slowly walked towards their direction.
"What's the deal, most responsible mother of my apprentice?" Lily smiled sweetly.
Viviana turned to Nathan and the Indescribable first. "Nathan, and… Nathan."
"Can we have some privacy?" There was a huge shift in her tone, almost seeming like a beg.
"Of course, Miss V." The Indescribable walked away without any hesitation, towards the side of the mesa that could return to Runalond's realm.
"Alright, take care, Mom." Nathan chased directly after him as he waved towards Lily as well.
"Wait! Mister… ummm…" he called out behind the Indescribable.
"Nathan is fine," the Indescribable replied without turning around. "It's not that confusing if it's just us two. What's the matter?"
Nathan finally caught up to him and entreated, "Can you take me as an apprentice?"
"Hm?" The Indescribable's voice broke, not understanding what he just heard. "You? Me?"
"Yes," Nathan asserted. "You said I can become someone special, right? As much as I'd like to believe it, I'm certain I cannot achieve so alone. I need your guidance."
"It's not a virtuous thing to have more than one mentor," the Indescribable replied thoughtfully after he processed Nathan's words. "The Undefinable's mastery in Rune Art also exceeds mine greatly as well…"
"She is my mentor for Rune Art, and that will never change," Nathan argued. "But to truly become the person I want to be, Rune Art alone will not be enough. As for virtue, I don't believe wanting to learn more goes against it."
It was the most impossible mission to talk to someone whose expression could not be seen. Nathan could feel nothing but nothing in the Indescribable's emotions.
"Not that bad of a suggestion," he said. "In fact, you can even save the tuition, not like I need it. Just promise me one thing: don't let the Undefinable know. She doesn't listen if she doesn't want to, but why do I even bother? You are not stupid. Right, we don't have much time today, but for starters, I'll give you a quick history lesson."
"Have you heard of 'The Old Prophecy and The New Prophecy'?"
Nathan released a sigh of relief. It was not because Lily wasn't enough for him; it was that there was simply way too much that he needed to learn. He was a full sixteen years behind compared to his classmates, and he had to catch up on the missing information somehow.
"No, not even the name."
"I guessed so, not like anyone does." The Indescribable shrugged. "The story behind this prophecy is lengthy and tedious, so we ignore that for today. Just remember, it was from the mouth of a prophet who had never prophesied wrong, but because the content almost sounds like a fever dream, Runalond decided not to take notice of it."
"There shall be a rebellion, amidst the reign of the 13th king, amidst the reign of the 13 seats in the Rune Art Federation. Runalond shall fall into the hands of a trickster, with lingering ghosts trailing behind, with deceitful fools accompanying beside, and with blinded traitors guiding in front. His lies will shatter Runalond, and like a mirror smashed into pieces, never to be restored, the great kingdom shall live in fear for millennia to come."
"There shall be a redemption, amidst the line of the 13th king, amidst the 13 seats in the Rune Art Federation. Runalond shall raise a savior from his grave, with the memories of a stray idealist, with the body of an invincible warrior, and with the dream of a different tomorrow. His resurrection will preserve Runalond, and like the rising sun at dawn, never absent, the great kingdom shall persevere for millennia to come."
As he got to the second section of the prophecy, Nathan Modernson's attention was drawn away by a specific phrase: "the dream of a different tomorrow." If he remembered right, wasn't that similar to what he told his father as his dream back at Lostburg?
"You want to know something surprising?" the Indescribable continued.
Nathan nodded impulsively.
"From what I can tell, you are the savior from the New Prophecy."
His words sounded so staged that it was almost as if he could read Nathan's mind, but Nathan still denied that with absolute confidence.
"Isn't that savior from the line of the 13th king? That's the King right now, isn't it? I'm definitely not from his line."
The Indescribable remained silent for a while, struggling with whether he should say what he wanted to say.
"Right?" Nathan pressed on. An intoxicating warmth was circulating in his body, forcing him to find a way to verify that, no matter how low the chance was, he could be that savior in the prophecy.
"Nathan Modernson," the Indescribable exhaled deeply.
"The true, or rather, the intended, 13th King of Runalond was supposed to be your father."
The warmth disappeared, replaced by an unsettling chill that washed over Nathan's body.
"Wh… What? But my mother said…"
"In this absurd world, even what we see as common sense can turn out to be fake, let alone the words of humans," the Indescribable said slowly. "That is the second thing I will teach you, Nathan Modernson."
"The truth is… your father was the crown prince, the older of the royal twins, and the one who had proven himself to be the more worthy one. The current King of Runalond was intended to be imprisoned within the Royal Palace until his unfortunate life ended."
"But your father gave the Kingdom to him, willingly."
"For what?" Nathan asked, though the answer was already quite clear to him.
He didn't know what to say, nor what to feel. Even surprise seemed to be unsuitable for a situation like this. Nathan Modernson only felt numbness, as if even his brain refused to react to the painful truth.
"For your mother, but I don't have the right to tell you the entire story, do I? When the right time arrives, your father himself will complete this lesson for me."
…
"Viviana? What are you—"
Lily stood before the First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation, paralysed with astonishment and loss. One of the two leaders of Runalond, the most unjustifiable nemesis of her life, now knelt before her, her five wands spread before her like branches blown down by the wind. It wasn't like Lily hadn't imagined this sort of scene before, but when it truly occurred before her, the happiness she anticipated was somehow behind schedule. She reached her hands forward, not knowing whether to support her up or enjoy this slight moment of victory.
V lifted her head slowly and deliberately. Even at this level, her face was still a cut above Lily's childlike form.
"Lily, the conflict between us has existed for too long…" Viviana's words echoed. "But it's time to absolve ourselves from yesterday."
"Let's put an end to this child's play, and as for its finale, you are the victorious one."
"So please… Lily… take good care of my son, and raise him to be a man Runalond can be proud of."
Viviana lowered her face as her final word dropped, leaving Lily with her arm remaining outstretched.
Lily's face twitched. "Yeah, right, that's the Viviana Modernson I've always hated."
With a swift movement, a loud slap superseded anything that came out of Lily's mouth. Viviana was caught off guard; her body slumped to one side, falling motionlessly to the hard, rocky ground.
"Viviana, you're wrong." Lily nodded with a heavy breath. "This time, the winner is still you."
Viviana Modernson did not bother to pull herself up; she simply stared at Lily, who began dancing gracefully under the gentle blue light from the sky. For a moment, she felt that the world had reshaped itself to a time she could barely remember.
"Divine Beings overseeing Runalond," Lily chanted, "bear witness to my vow."
"Fortify my faith, supervise my promise, judge with wisdom, conserve with purity."
"Minister, when I summon your presence, when I swear on my life's worth."
"That even should land and ocean reform, earth and sky tarnish, sun and moon cease to rise, my vow prevails until eternity's end."
"I hereby oath that under my guidance, my apprentice Nathan Modernson will become a man of incomparable greatness, one the Modernsons, Runalond, and history itself will forever esteem."
"In the name of the Spirehead of the Tower of Delight, the Undefinable…"
"Liliana Modernson."