Jasmin screamed: "Stop, Gilgamesh! This isn't Ashura! I know this energy—it's Astra!"
Gilgamesh did not listen to her; his focus was entirely concentrated on whatever was about to emerge from that rift. The crack began to close bit by bit. Jasmin wondered, "Where is Astra? Why didn't she come out?"
Gilgamesh looked around, scanning the area, but found no one. Jasmin looked at the ground and shrieked: "Where did Erold go?!"
At that time, Luce was strolling through the quiet coastal city. He walked among the wooden houses until his gaze fell upon shops displaying art paintings. Luce stopped in front of one store that showcased carefully drawn works. His eyes moved between the colors and shadows in deep harmony before the merchant approached him with a greedy smile: "Did something catch your eye, sir?"
Luce replied calmly, without breaking his train of thought: "Beautiful... but they don't attract me." Suddenly, his eye caught something strange in the corner of the shop. It was a blank canvas, bright white, devoid of any trace of brush or color. Luce froze in his place, feeling a strange prick in his heart. Suddenly, a single tear flowed from his right eye very slowly. He wiped it with his fingertips, muttering in astonishment: "How strange.... this has never happened before."
Luce continued his walk, leaving the shop behind, observing his surroundings. He spotted a young man with calm features receiving a torrent of harsh words and mocking accusations from a group of city residents. The young man was silent, absorbing the insults with painful patience, before turning his back and withdrawing quickly, tears of anger shining in his eyes.
Luce followed the young man quietly until the latter reached an isolated rock overlooking the sea. The young man sat down, hiding his face in his palms, and began to cry, tormented by the kindness of his own heart. The youth cried out in despair toward the sea: "Why is this happening to me? I don't know what they want from me so they will stop this and accept me!"
Luce stood behind him like a shadow, then spoke in a quiet voice that flowed into the soul like an undeniable, packaged truth: "You truly do not understand. They do not respect kindness; they exploit it. You continue to give, thinking they will change, but they won't. Because in their world, the one who bows first is the loser, and you have been bowing like a dog since the first day. Men are moved by two basic motives: Love and Fear. If they do not love you, make them fear you."
Luce continued: "Make them fear your silence, your absence, or your growth. Put their lives under your hands so you can see their hypocrisy. Aspire for power, and after you obtain it, do what you see as right."
The young man stood up, his words stuttering and his hands trembling: "How… how will I do this?" he asked in a hoarse voice, his eyes gleaming with fear and hope together.
Luce cast a short glance, then extended a small metal piece carrying a glowing grid—a Matrix.
"Take it," Luce said with cold calmness. "This is a low-tier Matrix. It might make you ten times stronger than you are now, but your internal weakness… will not change."
The young man gripped the Matrix as if it were the last thread of hope. "And if I want to strengthen that weakness?" he cried out, trying to curb the trembling of his chest.
Luce smiled a warm smile. "True power is not given entirely. You ignite it yourself, and to do this, you must face those who caused this weakness."
At that moment, Luce turned slowly. The young man looked at the Matrix for a moment, then cast a fleeting glance at Luce. Luce did not wait for more. He walked away with calm steps, leaving the young man standing with the Matrix, saying to himself: "He will manage."
The young man held the Matrix, and in a moment of shock from Luce's words, he opened the Matrix quickly, and it vanished from his hands. Then darkness prevailed in the place, and a deep voice was heard saying to him: "The Emotional Blade Matrix serves you, my new master. Do you want me to teach you how to use me?"
The young man replied firmly: "Yes." The Matrix replied calmly: "As you wish, master."
Light began to overtake the place as the boy emerged, then he fell to his feet. His body was trembling and he was laughing intensely, muttering: "Now we shall see what you will do."
In a tavern, the four people who had been bullying the young man were sitting. One of them laughed: "Joey, you idiot! Why didn't you hit him with us? You missed a lot of fun!"
Joey said calmly: "No, I have nothing to do with it. All I will do is watch." They laughed at him: "How cowardly you are!"
The tavern door was smashed open. They all stood up in fear, but then realized it was that young man. The largest of them laughed and said: "Did you miss being beaten that much?"
The young man, in a pained voice, spread his palm: "Emotional Blade Matrix... Manifest!"
A sword materialized in his hand. The bulky man laughed and said: "A mouse carrying a sword? What's scary about that?"
The sword glowed, and the young man cut off the bulky man's head. Everyone shrieked: "Call the guards! He killed someone!"
One of them ran out quickly. The young man advanced toward the remaining three bullies. Two tried to attack him; he cut them down, and they fell. He approached Joey, who was on the ground. Joey screamed: "I didn't do anything to you! I never came near you!"
The young man said in a pained voice: "You are the worst of them! You saw me being beaten every day, and you didn't dare say anything! You didn't have the courage for that!"
Joey said in a frightened voice: "But—"
The young man plunged his sword into Joey's mouth, lifting Joey up while he was suspended on the sword. Joey's blood fell on him; he laughed and said: "So this is power! Silencing everyone who opposes you! What a feeling!"
Guards surrounded the place. The young man turned, and one of the guards said: "Surrender, Patrice."
Patrice smiled: "Finally, someone knows my name..... I have nothing left to do anymore." He looked at his sword and said: "One thing remains... a happy ending!"
Patrice plunged the sword into his heart and fell. Luce looked down from atop one of the buildings calmly: "How unfortunate for you! The Matrix affected you, boy."
At that time, and in a dark place with faint light, Erold woke up. He clutched his head and said: "What is happening?"
He heard a voice from behind him: "Welcome, Your Majesty. We meet again."
Erold recognized the voice and turned, saying: "Karl? Is that you?" He found Dante standing behind him laughing, saying: "No, I am not Karl. It is I, you ridiculous fool."
Erold looked at him in surprise: "Moments ago you were playing with my mind, and before that you wanted to kill me, and now you're acting like my friend?"
Dante turned his back to him and said: "I no longer want to kill you." Erold laughed mockingly and said: "What is the reason for all this?" Dante said calmly: "I may be confused sometimes, but I am aware of what I say." Erold looked at him with sarcasm: "Do you expect me to believe you?"
Dante moved indifferently: "I don't care if you believe me or not. To be honest with you, all I want is for you to take me to the Kingdom of Yursha."
Erold laughed: "Is that what you were aspiring to? And why would I do that?" Dante smiled: "Because you will benefit from my power." Erold laughed: "I don't want it."
Dante said calmly: "Do you realize what you're saying? You see that entity Ashura, and those who accompany you; if I were to unite against them, I would topple them." Erold replied mockingly: "Whoa! Has arrogance taken hold of you!" In a quiet voice, Dante said: "You are truly a fool who does not realize what stands before you." Erold: "I realize something of what you are... you have a corrupt and vile mind!"
The darkness began to shatter. Dante looked at him, his eyes igniting, and said: "Remember this, boy." The darkness shattered around them, and light began to consume the place.
Erold found himself in Mr. Ra's farm. He heard a voice: "Welcome, Your Majesty!" He turned and turned, shouting: "Stop the nonsense, you scoundrel!"
He found Karl, shocked, dropping to his knee in apology: "Forgive me, Your Majesty. Did I do something to upset you?" Erold quickly apologized: "No, no. Sorry, I thought you were someone else." Erold began looking around, looking at the clear sky and trees, and shouted in a confusion that tore the silence of the place: "What am I doing here?"
Karl looked at him with sincere wonder and answered: "I don't know. I found you here; I was tending to the farm and felt your presence."
Erold looked at Karl's calm face, which overflowed with kindness, and asked gently: "Wonderful! How are you, Karl? Are you happy here?" Karl smiled a warm smile: "Thank you, Your Majesty. Of course, I am happy to be near you."
Erold approached him to ask with curiosity: "What happened to your memory? Did you remember anything important?" Karl replied, trying to remember: "No, but there is something... a person..." In his memory, a blonde person appeared with a blurred face, almost featureless. He said: "Sorry, Your Majesty, I didn't remember anything useful."
Erold asked slowly: "True, Karl, when I was young, did you notice any evil deed or arrogance in me?" Karl wondered and said with quiet honesty: "No! On the contrary, you were kind-hearted like you are now, except for the stealing."
Erold took a step back, examining himself: "Are you sure? I wasn't a cursed, corrupt person, hungry for arrogance, with a plate over my head?" Karl laughed reassuringly: "No, Your Majesty. You weren't like that." Karl stopped laughing, his tone changing slightly as if remembering something old he saw in the Jinn kingdom: "But... I saw inscriptions close to your description in the Jinn world, in the kingdom's vault."
The world began to collapse, and water fell from the sky. Erold shouted: "What the hell is happening today?" Erold was pulled out of his world to find himself wet, fallen on the beach. The waves were moving his body.
Erold shouted: "Arthur, what happened?" Arthur replied with boredom: "I don't know. My place has returned to full light as before. I think that person took control of your body."
Dante returned inside Erold, and Arthur said: "There he is!" The place returned to being divided between light and darkness. Dante looked at him and said: "Do you want a drink, you?" Arthur answered in wonder: "Did you put poison in it?" Dante replied, smiling: "No, of course not." After hesitation, Arthur refused. Dante replied: "As you wish." He merged with his darkness.
Arthur said in wonder: "This is strange, why is he acting kindly?" Erold answered in a worried voice: "Beware of him. He acted kindly with me just like you. He is planning something."
Erold returned to the city with the moon shimmering behind him. He searched for his companions. The residents looked at him and said fearfully: "It's him! He has the same descriptions!" They shouted: "It's the thief!"
Erold looked around, saying in a curious voice: "Is there a thief here?" Guards surrounded him, and one of them shouted: "Surrender yourself!" Erold shouted tensely: "Wait! Stop! I didn't steal anything!"
Mr. Lorn appeared among the crowd and said angrily: "Your friends are worried about you, searching for you everywhere, and you are here stealing?" Erold shouted angrily: "I didn't steal anything!" Gilgamesh arrived, entering among the soldiers with terrifying calmness, and said to Erold: "Is this the reward for those who were good to you? You steal from them?" Erold shouted with intense anger: "Do not cast accusations at me! I told you I didn't steal anything! And what was stolen anyway?"
Lorn replied: "A diamond-studded necklace was stolen! It belongs to Lady Shelton, one of the nobles." Erold fell back shocked: "Studded... with diamonds?"
At that moment, Jasmin appeared, shouting at Erold: "Where were you?" Dante laughed inside Erold and said: "I like this little one!" and laughed. Arthur laughed in turn and said: "I agree with you; you will love her more in the future!" Erold grew angry: "Have you two become friends against me now, you bastards?"
Mr. Lorn clutched his head with both hands, as if a thunderbolt of memory had struck his mind: "So it's him again! Stop, citizens! It's the Imitator for the second time!" Erold shouted quickly as if someone who found salvation: "Yes, it's the Imitator... wait! Who is the Imitator?"
Mr. Lorn shouted toward one of the guards in a regretful voice: "Release Simon!" Erold lunged toward Lorn, grabbing him by his armor with force born of his confusion and anger, and shouted in his face: "Answer me, who is the Imitator?!"
Mr. Lorn replied: "He is someone who can take any form! Credit goes to the Mirror Matrix. He can copy people's forms! He caused 40 thefts in the kingdom and vanished, and now it seems he visited this city. There was a theft a week ago, and all the witnesses agreed they saw Simon stealing, despite his denial. We didn't believe him; we said it was impossible to be him! But after you today, I am certain he is here in this city."
Jasmin's eyes widened with admiration: "What an ability!" Mr. Lorn looked at Erold and Jasmin with eyes full of hope and asked in a serious tone: "'Simon' was wronged because of this freak. Can you two catch him?"
Erold stepped forward with confident steps: "Of course! This will be a return of the favor for the ship and innocence for me. And of course, Gilgamesh is with us, so it's easy for him to fall."
But Gilgamesh turned his back on the group, looked toward the sea, and said in a deep voice: "If he sees me, he won't steal. He is from the kingdom; he won't dare come out. So, I will leave it to you."
Erold nodded in understanding: "Alright, Luce, Argus, and I will take care of this." Jasmin looked at Erold with angry shining eyes and said sharply: "What about me?" Erold smiled mischievously, approached her, and whispered: "He might copy your form, and I want to deliver a punch to him for stealing under my name. So, I don't want to take a risk." In terror, Jasmin replied: "I don't want to go anymore." Then she continued: "As for Argus, he asked that no one approach him." Erold wondered: "And why is that?" Jasmin shook her head in confusion: "He mentioned something about merging elements to form an entity. Something I truly don't understand."
Erold looked at her: "Then it's just Luce and me." Jasmin replied in a faint voice: "There is a problem." Erold replied in wonder: "What? Did something happen to Luce?" Jasmin: "No, no, but we don't know where Luce is." Among the crowd, Luce replied: "I am here."
Erold smiled: "Great! So where could he be?" Mr. Lorn stepped forward: "Come inside." He took them to a small wooden hut and said: "This place is safe. Let's start tomorrow. There is a musical concert for the nobles; he will be there, I am sure of it." Luce asked curiously: "And how do you know?"
Mr. Lorn replied, recalling memories from the past: "His last theft in the kingdom was in this same way. He managed to rob half the attendees." Luce raised an eyebrow: "And how did no one sense him?" Mr. Lorn replied: "That's because of the Wind element. He is very professional in using it. For example, in the kingdom when he stole necklaces, his victims felt a light draft on their necks, and then they vanished."
Erold smiled: "Argus would have been useful... for the first time." Luce looked at him trying not to laugh. Mr. Lorn said seriously: "Can we continue here?" Erold and Luce apologized. Luce said: "Please continue."
Mr. Lorn said in a cold voice: "Alright. I want you to wait until you feel a draft, watch for anyone moving suspiciously, and catch him alive." Mr. Lorn added in a deep voice: "Or dead." Luce stood up quietly: "We don't kill, right Erold?" Erold replied hesitantly: "Yes, that's right." Mr. Lorn sighed: "If you cannot catch him, kill him. That's all there is to it."
Mr. Lorn exited, leaving Luce and Erold in the hut. Erold yawned and said: "I'm exhausted, I'm going to sleep." Luce replied, yawning: "Me too." Erold lay on the floor and slept. Meanwhile, Luce stood looking at Erold, examining him with his eyes. Erold felt something approaching him. He turned to find Luce pointing at his palm and saying: "I caught the mosquito." He crushed it with his hands and lay back to sleep.
In the evening of the next day, Erold and Luce were strolling among the crowds in their finest appearance. Luce wore a long coat of charcoal black fabric, velvet at the collar, under it an ivory silk shirt, surrounded by an elegant and tightly tied scarf. His dark trousers merged into high, slim leather boots, but the most mysterious touch was his dark leather gloves. His appearance screamed wealth and reserve.
As for Erold, he preferred a less formal outfit, suited for his constant readiness for combat. He wore a short jacket of heavy linen in dark gray over a bright white shirt. He wore a wide leather belt that hid his sword under the jacket, with thick trousers and low-heeled leather combat boots. He looked strong and elegant, yet he was disdainful of what he was wearing.
Erold shouted as he whispered to Luce: "What are these outfits, Luce?" Luce replied mockingly: "These are the clothes of the rich, Erold. Haven't you worn them before?" Erold laughed and said: "Who do you think I am? I lived in a royal palace in my youth!" Luce laughed and said: "So what happened to you? You don't have the manners of those who lived in palaces." Arthur came out and said in a mocking voice: "Tell him at least I wasn't kicked out of it. He'll shut up then." Erold suppressed a laugh, and Luce wondered with a strange expression: "What's funny?" Erold said nothing, and in his mind said: Shut up, Arthur, you'll expose us.
Erold and Luce entered a large hall with decorations and a stage in the middle. Erold said in shock: "My God! How are we going to find him in this place?" Luce examined the place with his eyes and said: "On the contrary, this place is closed. Any fluctuations in the air, you will find him easily." Erold changed his mind quickly as if thinking: "You're right, Luce. You're truly smart." Luce smiled: "Thanks for the compliment."
People began entering. Erold saw people of high society, in luxurious clothes and jewelry. He said: "Well, if I were still that thief, this would be the most important heist of my life." Erold remembered Lionheart and said: "Thank you for changing me, Erold, and taking the name 'Little Tiger' from me."
Among the crowd, a blonde girl in a luxurious blue dress and a necklace with an emerald in the center entered. She tripped and shrieked. Luce caught her and said: "Are you alright, lady?" She looked at Luce's handsome features.
In his charcoal black suit, Luce looked cursedly charming. His calm features, balancing between bone sharpness and softness, shone under the hall lights. His coppery-blonde hair fell in light waves, and his blue eyes radiated a sharp and reserved intelligence, as if they saw more than the hall revealed. The slight smile drawn on his lips was devoid of warmth but irresistibly attractive and reassuring. He embodied royal elegance and refinement.
The lady, in Luce's arms and unaware of what she was saying, said: "Monica." Luce replied astutely: "I think your name is Monica, so it's a pleasure to meet you, Monica." Monica, enchanted by Luce, asked: "That's right, and you?" He replied, bowing and holding her hands: "My name is Luce." Luce lifted her up so she stood. Monica said in daze: "My God! A beautiful name! Lord Luce?" Luce said politely: "No need to say 'Lord,' you can call me Luce."
Erold stood watching this scene and said internally: Damn, he really looks like these royals, but Luce is truly polite, as if he had been raised more than once. How I'd love to see where he grew up!
Monica replied gently: "Then no need to call me 'lady,' just call me Monica." Luce said with a gentle smile: "Alright, Monica." Monica heard someone calling her among the attendees and said: "I must go, my family is calling. Can we meet after the concert, Luce?" Luce replied politely: "I would like that, Monica, but I might not finish the concert, so..." Monica grabbed his hands and said: "Please!" Luce with a polite smile: "Alright." Monica jumped with joy and said: "See you after the concert, Luce!" She headed to her family.
Erold said mockingly: "Ooh, someone has a date here." Luce said calmly: "What's wrong with that? Besides, it's not a date." Erold said mockingly: "I believe you, I believe you. And how will you do that? Have you forgotten why we are here?" Luce smiled indifferently to say: "After we catch that thief, I will go." Erold smiled looking at Luce's calmness, then approached him and bumped his shoulder lightly and quietly, saying: "Come on, the concert is about to start."
Erold and Luce headed to their assigned noble seats. The hall was packed with attendees, and the candlelight reflected on gold and jewelry filled the place with a stifling warmth, despite there being no ceiling for the place. A person stepped up amidst the crowd's applause to sing in an exquisite voice like hymns, accompanied by majestic string instruments filling the hall with melodies emanating from the depth of history.
Erold expressed his boredom with a low "hiss" and whispered to Luce while pulling his shirt collar: "What is this annoying music? It makes me want to kill myself." Luce did not answer. Erold looked at him in surprise to find Luce's eyes wide, and clear tears falling from his eyes onto his cold cheeks without a sound. Drowned in the ecstasy of art, as if he saw in the performance a reflection of a cosmic tragedy.
Erold felt a light breeze pass by him, touching the tip of his ear like a whisper. He tracked with his eyes the source of the breeze among the crowd, to find an old person in luxurious clothes skillfully hiding his hand under his coat. With unbelievable lightness, he stole a massive necklace from a lady sitting near him, taking advantage of everyone's focus on the show.
The show ended. Luce stood up and applauded warmly, his eyes still drowned in emotional tears, his lips whispering an unclear word (Perfection).
The man began stealing from everyone around him, and the thief rushed out. Erold whispered sharply: "Found him! Come on, Luce! The game has started, we must move!" But Luce did not hear him. His senses were drowned in the echo of the show. Erold took off at great speed, ignoring Luce. He drew his partially hidden sword. He moved with fast but silent steps, following the trail of the old thief who fled quickly out of the hall.
The old man came out walking quietly. Erold came out of the hall with lightness, the old man found him, and Erold said: "I found you!" Erold followed him. The man was walking in the city with Erold behind him until the old man sensed him. Arthur said: "You idiot, he sensed you!" Erold smiled mischievously: "I want him to sense me, so the thief will run quickly."
Before Erold could say "Now!", the old man started running at great speed, saying: "Damn, he was following me. Is he one of the guards?" He found Erold matching him in speed, saying: "Won't you stop?" The old man was terrified. He created reverse air around his body to speed himself up, and pushed air behind him to slow down whoever was behind him. The old man ran with extreme speed. Erold was amazed and said: "He's truly smart! Why didn't he use his intelligence for something honorable?"
Dante said inside Erold in a deep voice: "Not everyone has an opportunity like yours, boy." Erold said, trying to resist the air: "Whoa! Stop, Mr. 'Kill Yourself'! Shut your mouth and stay where you are." Dante ignored him, closed his eyes, and said: "What a clutz you are."
The thief reached an alley panting, looking at the ground and saying: "Damn, I must get out of here. They will catch me! Damn, it's truly the last time I do this!" He heard a voice saying to him: "You are here." He was terrified and raised his eyes to see something scary.
Standing at the end of the narrow alley was a person wearing an elegant charcoal black suit, folded at the sleeves to reveal a bright white shirt. The suit seemed to absorb every light in the place, making the person appear blacker than shadow itself. Dark red stains were lightly scattered on the collar. But the most terrifying part was his face. His face was completely white, smooth, and devoid of any features. Just a void, like a human mask not yet sculpted. His hair was a mixture of blonde and black, combed with extreme care, increasing the contradiction of his scary appearance with his excessive elegance. The thief felt a bone-chilling coldness, not from the air, but from the absolute void staring at him from this smooth face. This entity, with its horrifying elegance and featureless face, seemed to embody Silence.
The thief said in a confused voice: "What are you and what do you want?" The person replied calmly: "I am looking at what I want." The person was looking at him as if telling him: "I want your life." The thief was terrified, and turned quickly to escape, but quickly that person grabbed his hand and said to him in a quiet, deep voice: "Why the hurry, sir?" The thief punched him in the face, but the thief's hand was broken. The person said: "What a pity, we don't have time for this."
Erold was running quickly between the city houses, saying: "Where did that bastard escape to?" While searching, he passed by the alley quickly, but glimpsed something that made his face turn to stone. He returned to the alley to see something that made the hair on his arms stand up. Luce appeared running and shouting: "Erold, I apologize, I was immersed in the show... did you find him?"
He found Erold silent from shock. Luce grabbed his shoulder and said: "What's wrong?" Luce looked into the alley to find the thief returned to his true form: a young man of twenty-seven years, with brown hair, hung at the end of the alley. Blood covered his face, his jaw was broken, and his hands were cut off and placed on his back, forming the shape of angel wings. And there was something shining in his chest. Luce approached to find the jewelry stuffed inside his heart. Shocked, Luce said: "Whoever killed him knew him or was watching him. As Mr. Lorn said, he disappeared from the kingdom; I think he stopped stealing because he felt remorse, but his heart was greedy, so he placed the jewels in his heart. Whoever did this, in his eyes, this is justice—this is what he deserves!"
Erold stood in shock from what he saw and said: "How.... could he do this?" Luce grabbed Erold's shoulder to say sorrowfully: "Yes, my friend, this world is truly ugly."
Mr. Lorn arrived quickly: "Luce, did you catch him?" Erold turned with a featureless face to Lorn, saying: "Are you the one who did this to him?" Mr. Lorn wondered: "What....?" Erold shouted angrily: "Are you the one who did this to him? Do you have a hand in this?" Mr. Lorn approached to look at the thief, was shocked, and said: "What bastard did this to him?" Erold shouted and said: "You wanted to kill him!" Lorn shouted defending himself: "You are confused now; I wanted to kill him, not to mutilate his body! And how could I do this?"
Mr. Lorn called the soldiers and said: "Take him down and bury him, and if anyone knows him... forget about it. I don't think if he has a family they would want to see him like this." Mr. Lorn went to Erold and Luce to say with great sadness: "I swear I will find out who did this to him." Luce said calmly: "And how will you know who killed him if you were unable to catch who stole?" Mr. Lorn, bowing: "I swear to you I will." Erold lifted Mr. Lorn and said: "I hope you will do this. Come on, Luce, we must leave." Luce replied: "Alright."
Erold and Luce headed to that hut. Erold said in a confused voice: "How could someone do this?" Luce said calmly: "This world has people with many beliefs. Many may see what happened as a crime, some see it as a realization of justice, and a few see it as pure art of justice." Erold shouted: "What justice is this to mutilate a dead person?" Luce thought: "Whoever did this honored the one killed, and from what is expected, this is his style of honoring." Erold grew angry: "Nonsense! He's a lunatic!" Luce replied, laughing: "You're right, buddy. So, after I possess perfection, I will aspire to make this world perfect as well. Don't worry, Erold."
Luce offered his fist and said: "Come on, Erold, come on, my friend, let's make this world better." Erold extended his fist and said: "Of course, buddy, we will make it better."