— So you come to me... to my House... to address me with such arrogance, Reixys? I feel the poison in your voice... the sarcasm and the hatred you hold for me... I do not care for your affairs or the affairs of the Great Councilor. House RyzisX will have no part in this!... You... the Great Councilor... you take advantage of the horrific moment in which RyzisX finds itself... to... argh... You bastards...
An old, weary voice... it sounded tragic. A hall, once again. But this time, it carried the tragedy of a grieving father. His honor, beliefs, and everything he held dear: thrown away, lost in the infinite chaos the world had become. It wasn't change or revolution that one saw. It was pure destruction. A destruction so vast it had taken his glory, his honor, and his daughter.
— My... hah, is that how you speak to me, old friend? Your voice sounds so... tragic to my ears. What happened to the beautiful RyzisX glory, after all?
The demon's voice rang out. The demon's piercing eyes penetrated the soul of the sorrowful man. Through his eyes. Like a poison invading every pore of his skin.
— Why not just accept the blessing the Great Councilor is offering you?
The demon continued, infernal.
— I doubt your House has anything left to offer this world, RyzisX... not after your little daughter... oh, poor Lyza... not after the horrific death of your child destroyed everything you believe in...
The demon fell silent after spitting the venom into RyzisX's face. Defeated by the incontestable truth that nothing remained. The piercing eyes of the perfect hell the demon possessed hypnotized the fallen, defeated man.
There were seven people in that hall. The conference of peace and alliance between the Royal Family and the four Great Families. Appointed and set by the Great Councilor in RyzisX territory. The guard of the ambassador designated by the Great Councilor was entrusted to his newly formed guard squadron, created out of the necessity of an imminent war. This squadron consisted of five forces: Khaelis Kaiwen, a noble member of House Kaiwen—an elite military noble family, one of the six Great Noble Houses, the Sons of Order and Chaos. House Kaiwen's alliance with the Great Council and the Royal Family had been established for years, long-time allies.
The second member was Vidraes, the Master of Slaughter. An active member and the hound, guard, and attacker of the Glass Crimson. A high-ranking cult among the nobility, second only to the LiGodght. The cult had a long history of alliance with the Royal Family and the Great Council, and had provided Vidraes for other activities before. The third asset of the squadron was Kameliel Reixys, the primary son of the secondary family of House Reixys, the greatest of a generation of infinite promise.
A member of the currently powerful House Reixys in terms of raw and physical power, provided by House Reixys for being the House with the greatest power and best relationship with the Great Council and Royal Family after the fall of House RyzisX. And, finally, a man whose hood covered his face and identity at the back of the hall. The only thing visible was hair as black as the void.
The ambassador's guard remained quiet. But even they felt intoxicated by the venom that demon emanated from his infernal eyes. Only one, whose eyes were just as empty, remained unaffected.
— Come... don't be silent, Cirofi... I can call you that, can't I? "Lord RyzisX" has become outdated for you.
The demon stood up from his chair maliciously and slowly. Not for a single moment did he take his eyes off the poor man.
— You know very well... there is nothing left for you here... accept the benevolence of the Great Councilor in making you useless lot useful once again. After all, since your filthy little daughter died, you're only going to—
FUSH!!!
The wind was sliced rapidly. Something lunged before the ambassador with uncontrollable murderous fury.
— NO!!! NOZIEL!!! DO NOT ADVANCE!!!
Too late. The demon's eyes recorded the approach, a growing trail of hatred for what he had said. His deep eyes recorded every movement, yet they did not change. His face didn't show even a flicker of movement.
Every expression remained intact, held by an unshakeable boredom and loathing. His deep eyes feared nothing.
CLANG!!!
— Argh... but what?
Cirofi felt his heart tighten deeply. He feared that Noziel's premature and emotional action against that demon would bring about his son's ruin. But what his eyes captured at that moment was much worse.
— Da-damn it... argh... you... GET OUT OF MY WAY!!! I WON'T LET THIS BASTARD SPEAK OF MY SISTER LIKE THAT!
Young Noziel RyzisX. A young noble consumed by a sense of honor and duty that filled his heart. Faced with such words about his deceased older sister, even while guarding his father, he could not stay silent upon hearing such loathsome words.
— Oh, Kameliel... just in time, eh? But I'm sure this one is nothing to you...
Kameliel stepped in front of the ambassador. Noziel's rapid movement was completely crushed without the slightest effort. With bare hands, Kameliel held the weapon as if it were nothing. His deep eyes invaded Noziel's righteous but emotional mind. In that moment, young Noziel saw that the one before him was the greatest predator in that room, and he saw himself for what he was at that moment: a small prey about to be chewed up.
— Yes, father... this one... is nothing!
Kameliel continued to crush the weapon with his bare hands. The pressure of his palm was staggering; with slight effort and pressure, his overwhelming strength crushed Noziel, bringing him to his knees.
— Argh... Reixys... you bastards... YOU HAVE NO CONSIDERATION OR DECENCY, DO YOU?? You're just cursed monsters... predators...
The pressure continued to crush him. He felt that at any moment his body would yield to Kameliel's strength. Cirofi's eyes trembled; that incapacitating sight didn't fill his heart with terror, but with an anguish he could not put into words.
— Predators?... I've heard that before...
The pressure grew. More and more. Overwhelming, oppressive.
— I know the type that uses that word... pathetic weaklings like you... who haven't the slightest notion of tasks or duties...
Kameliel's eyes expressed nothing; the words left his mouth, but nothing came from those deep eyes, which confused Noziel's heart.
— Pathetic and emotional weaklings.
Kameliel sighed.
— And how I hate it... weak in body and mind, in both respects, driven by damn emotion. It makes me want to vomit.
The eyes of the two were locked there. From top to bottom. Like a wolf, Kameliel oppressed his small prey. And Noziel looked up at him with those empty eyes. But every time Noziel caught the slightest emotion in those eyes—no matter how small—it was so melancholy.
— And this... weapon of yours...
Kameliel's grip seemed intended to shatter Noziel's weapon with his very palms.
— I've studied it... an ancient Relic charged with noble and dense Purple Flame.
Inherited by the brave and honorable of House RyzisX. The honor of an entire lineage. Some even compare it to the honored ShadowStorm belonging to House Kaiwen... the RyzisX were at the top for years in ancient times.
The grip grew tighter. Kameliel's desire grew clearer. Cruel.
— And this object helped them, didn't it? I respected that... glorious in its days of glory.
The growing pressure. Noziel realized the cursed intention.
— But now... in your times of defeat, this object, in the hands of a weakling... is nothing but trash...
Noziel began to tremble. Terror seized his heart at that slight possibility.
— And since it is now trash... let me destroy it as such... and throw it away. Discard it like your entire lineage.
Noziel's eyes, heart, and soul filled with terror.
Trick.
A snap occurred. Something was cracking.
Trick.
Trick.
Two snaps followed. Noziel's breathing became heavy as steel. His lungs could not catch the air.
Trick.
Trick.
Trick.
It was already too late. The snaps were sequential. Noziel's skin turned completely pale. Beyond the shaking, he unconsciously stopped breathing. Terror had taken him completely. It was already too late.
Terror.
— ENOUGH!!!
Silence fell. The grip that had been so tense suddenly relaxed.
— Argh... argh... Hiro... that's enough...
please. Tell your son to move away from Noziel. I understand now... if the Great Councilor claims the participation of House RyzisX in this war... no... in this alliance...
House RyzisX will fight...
The man uttered the words. The humiliation that filled his entire heart was indescribable. Noziel watched his father, who after such difficulty, lowered his head before the wolves that had come to his house. Such melancholy and terror through his eyes had never been seen before.
Khaelis swallowed hard witnessing such a situation. His fist trembled on the hilt of ShadowStorm. Vidraes quickly noticed his discomfort and restlessness. His eyes did not blink. For that demon, his hatred did not cease.
Cirofi kept his head down. In that moment, his honor was nonexistent. The Reixys. The Great Councilor. This cursed world that changed constantly, destroying everything that had been built with such effort. All of it trampled to the extreme. Undone. Into shards without points. For, at that moment, they possessed no strength to fight back.
Khaelis grew increasingly tense, as if he were about to swallow his own tongue. Something that bothered the Master of Slaughter more and more. Khaelis's hatred at that moment went against his mission. His purification, salvation. His redemption.
Kameliel kept his eyes fixed on Noziel, who in turn stared at his father's tragic expression. The one who carried the honor and glory of House RyzisX, diminished to a mere spark. A piece to be moved in this new world, in a war for which he saw no meaning.
Hiro looked at him. Scorn. A smile did not form; only pure loathing on his face.
Loathing directed at the poor man who merely kept his eyes downcast in shame across the table. And with that loathing, and without a single drop of humanity, he uttered:
— Oh... but you yielded so easily... already? Let's not be in such a hurry...
Khaelis's eyes trembled incessantly. This went against everything—everything he believed in. Totally unacceptable.
Vidraes pressed a fist to his chest as a warning. He was not to act.
The hooded man watched from afar, showing not a single emotion.
— Well... to make it worthwhile... Kameliel... destroy their faith. And put them in their place... I permit it.
Kameliel nodded upon hearing his father's command.
— Of course, father... as you command... I shall make shards of this thing. And destroy their hearts without duty.
Everyone's soul there froze.
Trick.
Noziel swallowed his words.
Trick.
With every crack, they realized there was nothing to be done.
Trick.
Trick.
Cirofi realized that, joining or not, he had no strength to react.
Trick.
Trick.
His son, there before him. Cowardice was his only choice.
Trick.
A reaction would be stupidity. Before those cursed wolves, nothing could be done.
Tri—
VUSH!!!
— Enough... stop this now, Reixys!
The edge of the noble ShadowStorm, in a second, touched the neck of a distracted Kameliel. Caught off guard by an unexpected move from his ally, Khaelis.
— The RyzisX have already yielded...
continuing this is useless... stop this instant if you prize your beliefs!
— What are you doing, Kaiwen?
Shh...
The blade pressed against Kameliel's throat.
— If your ideals... if the justice you cited to this young RyzisX are not just an excuse for your cruelty... release the Lockheed now!
Even with ShadowStorm pressed to his neck, Kameliel maintained his cold gaze.
Not a single expression came from his face. Just like Hiro, who now returned the same loathing to Khaelis.
— Do you... know what you are doing, Kaiwen?
Kameliel's gaze grew even deeper, like a dense, black, and infinite sea trying to consume actions, words, and convictions.
— Just release the boy, Reixys... believe me... you won't even have time to activate your SanctBlood at this distance... before you even think of using your power, I will take your head...
The gazes of the two crossed. Kameliel's cold, icy stare against Khaelis's hot, determined look. Two wolves facing each other, capable of devouring one another.
Beads of sweat ran down Khaelis's chin, while Kameliel remained motionless. Both merely waiting for a single slip from the other.
Hiro maintained his look of loathing toward the Kaiwen, showing no fear or speaking a word. Only an invisible hatred represented in the swirling void in his eyes.
Noziel, even consumed by the terror of destroyed honor and having his conviction subjugated before something that escaped his reasoning, was seized by the cruel sensation of being unable to do anything.
Cirofi, who was being subjugated there out of fear for the worst for his son, became alert at Khaelis's action. For, in the face of perhaps a betrayal of the Great Councilor and the Royal Family, and a possible reality where he would need to act, he could not let Khaelis act alone before such wolves.
— Kaiwen... I... truly respect you a lot...
Kameliel addressed Khaelis; his cold eyes did not change, but there was sincerity in his words.
— Argh... what?
Vanmh...
Khaelis felt a thin layer of energy coming from his back. A thin, hot layer. It smelled of blood and had an irritating electric hum.
VASHM!!!
— Argh... Master of Slaughter... you bastard!
When Khaelis realized it, something pierced his back. His body, wounded from the previous battle, diminished his chances of reacting. Something shimmering in a sharp, totally irregular vibration burned his back. The smell of blood increased, almost unbearable. And that energy signature... it was clear.
— I warned you, Kaiwen... you will not interfere in my redemption!... Fall back... if you do not want your heresy to be the cursed cause of your end...
Khaelis stood before the Needle of Redemption.
— Argh... damn you! Attacking from behind... one can see... the cursed nature of that cursed class!
Khaelis agonized. The Needle of Redemption pressed against his flesh, with Kameliel Reixys in front of him and the terrible Master of Slaughter at his back. No escape.
— I warned you... your chance to serve a noble purpose for the Crimson was wasted. Now burn... and purify my sins!
— Lower your weapon, Master of Slaughter!
Kameliel's voice rang out, giving a command to Vidraes.
— Everything is under control here. Is it not clear?... everything follows according to the Great Councilor's plan.
Kameliel's eyes were now directed at an alert Vidraes, who felt the abyss of those eyes.
— What? Do you maintain your sane logic, Reixys?... Kaiwen just betrayed the squadron and the Great Councilor's order!
Vidraes stated in a fury. It was impossible to see his face, much less his eyes through his helm. However, it was possible to feel it: the faith, the conviction of someone who would do anything to forgive himself and be absolved of his sins.
— Just lower the weapon, Master of Slaughter... the command was clear, was it not? Simply follow it.
Kameliel's eyes, even empty, overflowed with arrogance. And this infuriated Vidraes, who even before that wolf, did not lower his head.
— Then you also intend to go against the direct orders of the Great Councilor, Reixys?... Neither you nor the ambassador are in control of the squadron. Any attempt at leadership in the absence of the leader must be seen as treason! I see you are a traitor just like Kaiwen, or you have gone mad... I have no choice... I SHALL ABSOLVE YOU OF YOUR FILTHY CONVICTION!
Tap!
Before the Needle of Redemption could make any move, the firm touch of a light palm made contact with his armor.
— Do not worry, Vidraes... I am right here.
The hooded man placed himself beside Vidraes. His firm palm slid along his armor in a mocking gesture.
— Argh... you...
Vidraes watched as the hood fell away.
— Do not worry... everything is fine. Everything goes according to what was planned by the Great Councilor.
Vidraes was paralyzed and soon lowered his weapon, sheathing it.
— I understand, sir.
Kameliel stared at Khaelis, who still kept ShadowStorm pinned to his throat.
— As I had said, Kaiwen, I respect you.
Sweat still ran down Khaelis's face. The situation was becoming increasingly confusing in his mind. That cursed conspiracy... But the voice of the man who previously wore the hood resonated in his mind and ears.
— It's alright, Khaelis... you can lower ShadowStorm... you remember, don't you?
The conversation we had. Some things are necessary to reach our new world... the world in which that cursed hell will not repeat itself... the world in which the people we love will no longer suffer in this cursed spiral of...
— Misery...
Khaelis completed his sentence.
— It is necessary so that the people we love do not suffer our cursed spiral of misery.
Thus, Khaelis lowered his guard and slowly sheathed ShadowStorm, returning to his previous post beside Vidraes.
But two of those present in that room could not believe the face they saw beneath that hood.
Noziel felt as if he were seeing an old ghost... not just a ghost, but the ghost of a good old friend. Melancholy once again took over his being, for there he saw a face that had gone away along with his sister.
But Cirofi's eyes expressed absolute terror and fear. For he was there on the day it happened. He saw everything on that cursed day. The day the Royal Family and House RyzisX fell. The day he saw what the Great Councilor was capable of to achieve what he craved. The day he lost his faith. So, he could not believe that the face his eyes captured was truly in front of him.
— Well... I admit, it was not the Great Councilor's intention for me to reveal myself so soon... but, since I had to intervene so you wouldn't make a mess... it will have to be this way. A shame the ambassador couldn't handle this.
That voice confirmed it. It was truly him. That ghost. The shadow of a day that should be erased, right there in front of him. And before his startled eyes, his mouth could only utter one thing:
— It can't be... you... you died that day... I saw it... Anexzander... Anexzander Rodalight...
The Bearer of the Flame traced the route with firm steps. Black hair framed his face. A path traced toward an objective in which he believed. His voice rang out, a simple question. However, it sounded like one of the harbingers of the end of what they believed in: the world.
— Well... this was supposed to come later. But... since things are moving along a more hurried path... well, things got a bit out of control, right? Therefore, I will hurry and ask... where is Andra RyzisX?