Thal, Underworld
They had all gathered in the command center; everyone was seated. They had just heard the report from the Deadman who came from Jakob—Rowan appeared to be relentless. He had even murdered one of their own.
But the issue that left everyone in a daze was the reason why Rowan was in Jakob in the first place. The Deadman reported that he had met with a little girl. The man was questioned multiple times, yet his statement never changed.
This brought them to a single conclusion—the little girl he had met with was not normal, and the possibility that she was a high-ranking Conspirer could not be ignored.
They sat in silence. Rowan was becoming more of a mystery with each passing day. A human who was suspected to be in contact with the Conspiracy was a traitor in the truest sense of the word. What would one gain from involving themselves with such monstrosities?
The fact that he was extremely powerful for someone with a system that was not combat-oriented, coupled with his intelligence, made him dangerous. Dangerous in a way that the old man did not want to risk angering him unless they were certain they could subdue him.
After a long stretch of silence, Edmund finally spoke.
"What does he want with Lord Thorne that would make him kill someone to prove his point?"
"What if it's not him that wants me?"
Neil answered with a question of his own, leaving everyone in the command center deep in thought. The old man regarded him with a complicated gaze.
"What do you mean?" the old man asked.
"I mean it doesn't make sense that this man, Rowan, would want anything to do with me—unless maybe it's to expose our little lie to the world. But I believe he's smart enough to know that the media can be bought and silenced.
So, if I have to bet on something, it would be that one of the Conspiracy is looking for me—mainly because of what happened on the day of Kyle's inauguration. Although, that's just my speculation."
Edmund turned to him with a confused expression.
"But why, though?" he asked.
The old man sighed and signaled to the Sister to explain, but Elowen appeared so deep in thought that she missed her father's signal.
"El?" Clara placed a hand on her arm, and the Sister jerked awkwardly.
"Yes?" she responded. Looking around, she realized everyone's eyes were on her. Feeling embarrassed, she cleared her throat and spoke up.
"Forgive me for my lack of attention. I've been very busy the past few days trying to track Rowan. I barely got any sleep."
Neil shook his head. The Sister frowned.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
"You don't appear fatigued. It seems your lack of attention is because something's weighing on your mind. Am I wrong, Sister?"
Unable to answer, the Sister turned to her father, hoping he would intervene. The old man repeated his question, and she replayed the video of the ceremony. Neil got up and left the command center, unable to watch it.
Sister Elowen realized her mistake and was about to run after him, but her father shook his head, stopping her. Surprisingly, it was Sipho who got up and followed Neil.
...
Outside the Cathedral
Neil was panting slightly, having run out of the command center the moment the video began playing. Footsteps approached him. Turning back, he saw Sipho.
The man approached slowly, though Neil noticed he had been running—his posture and heavy breathing gave it away.
"Are you okay?" Sipho asked, his deep voice laced with concern.
Neil wanted to agree just to get the man off his back, but he found himself shaking his head.
"I let him die."
Tears streamed down his face. The façade he usually kept around others broke—it only took three words. No one had ever asked him if he was okay, not like Sipho did.
"What makes you say that?" Sipho asked calmly.
"I watched him fight something I knew he had no chance of defeating, yet I couldn't even lift a finger to help. I failed him."
Just as he finished speaking, the slightly mechanical voice whispered in his ear, and glyphs etched themselves into his sight:
[Integrity: 40%]
ESSENCE BALANCE: RED 80 : BLUE 20
[System Notice: Host's mental state is unstable.]
His reflection appeared in one of the glass panels—wrong, twisted, almost like a vile copy of himself. It stared back at him, sending shivers down his spine. Sipho's words reached him again, cutting through the silence.
"Is that Kyle's truth, or is it yours?"
Sipho's tone was gentle, yet his words pierced deeply. Neil froze, thinking. What would Kyle think? Would he see him as a failure? Would he hate him for not protecting him?
"I don't know," he eventually answered, falling to his knees.
"Then don't assume in place of your brother. Your grief is important—but don't let it drive you insane."
Sipho's words were both comforting and rebuking. When Neil looked into his eyes, he saw a vast well of pain.
Sipho offered him a hand, wearing the kindest smile Neil had ever seen—the kind that came only from someone who had suffered greatly yet refused to fall into despair.
"We are men. We cry, and then we wipe our tears and keep going—because we are men. Nothing more, nothing less," Sipho said.
Neil took his hand, stood up, wiped his tears, and took a deep breath.
Underworld
After they left, the meeting continued. Ed was still in shock at the information he'd received. The contents of the video replayed in his mind. Turning to Marcus, he finally asked,
"Why couldn't you intervene?"
Marcus regarded him calmly before answering.
"I was suppressed. I couldn't move, and even my system was forcefully shut down."
Ed's expression dropped. The statement shocked everyone in the command center—except Noctalis, Elowen, and Sunphire, who looked confused rather than surprised.
"What?" Marcellus asked in disbelief. It was clearly his first time hearing it.
Marcus looked down. His gaze softened, losing its usual imposing edge.
"Every single one of the twelve rulers had their systems shut down. I'd never experienced anything like it before. And for the second time in my life, I was genuinely afraid. That being still gives me nightmares—I witnessed something so harrowing, yet so beautiful."
Then his gaze hardened. The air grew heavy, and arcs of lightning danced in his eyes.
"I felt so weak. That being—falling from the heavens like a bolt of black lightning, twin galaxies in its eyes—murdered my disciple's brother right in front of me, like it was child's play.
I'd give anything for revenge. But for now, I'll focus my wrath elsewhere."
Everyone remained silent. The being from the sky had left scars on many of them. It was a grim reminder that the power humans possessed meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
The Twelve Rulers were the absolute pinnacle of human strength. If Marcus's theory about Conspiracy evolution was correct, then who was to say that the being from the sky wasn't a Conspirer who had evolved beyond the hierarchy—ascending to a domain far beyond human comprehension?
"I've been here for a week now, and I thought the church in Eberrune would've released the paper on my recent discovery. Well—it's more of a theory," Ed said, catching everyone's attention.
The sliding door opened. Sipho entered, followed by Neil. They took their seats. Noctalis grinned.
"Come on, tell us."
Ed glanced at Neil before explaining his theory, the same way he had with Father Lucien. When he finished, Noctalis clapped excitedly, his eyes gleaming.
"I'd thought of something like that before but brushed it off as ridiculous. Now that you've painted such a clear picture, I can finally see my scribbles weren't all wrong," Noctalis said eagerly.
"Then that makes them even more dangerous than we initially thought," Marcellus said. His words lingered in the air like a heavy mist.
"If only I could get my hands on a high-ranking Conspirer…" Noctalis's gaze drifted toward Sunphire, making Ed's heart drop.
The madman's a threat, Ed thought.
Noctalis then looked at Neil.
"Your Lordship, I have a new suit just for you. The first of its kind—made from materials we recovered from the Cocooned Conspirer you slew in Isak. Come with me."
Noctalis got up and left, Neil following close behind. Before Neil stepped out, Marcus addressed him.
"Neil Thorne, I've decided to send you to Rowan. Is that fine with you?"
Neil tilted his head slightly to get a better look at Marcus, then smiled and left. Elowen stared at the spot where he had been standing before looking away.
Marcus turned to Sunphire, who nodded. She waved at him with a smile.
"Meeting adjourned," he said, leaving the room with Marcellus.
Sipho followed soon after, leaving only Ed, Clara, and the women behind. Ed turned to Elowen.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked.
She shook her head slowly and looked up.
"It's nothing I can't handle."
Her smile didn't fool Clara or Ed. Clara took her hand gently.
"If you keep it sealed inside, it'll carve you up from within. So, whenever you find the courage, please tell me what's bothering you."
Hearing Clara's words, a spark ignited in Elowen's eyes. Then, without a word, she ran out of the command center.
Ed smiled faintly. Clara rolled her eyes, grabbed Sunphire, kissed him on the forehead, and left the room.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Ed muttered, hand on his chin. Noctalis did mention a new suit for Neil.
He got up and headed for Section C, where Noctalis usually worked.