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Chapter 59 (2 of 2) The Formless of the House of Wordless Observers.
🕑 Added 2024-01-19 12:56:00 +0000 UTC“No!”
Lucille gazed dully at her bond as he crossed his arms in front of him in an ‘X’ and shook his head. “No way in hell. I’m not coming.”
She sighed. “Scytale-”
“No matter what you say, I’m not coming!” he exclaimed. “You said you had unfinished business to resolve, and I pointed out that it doesn’t include me. That’s it. End of story. I’m staying out of this.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I’m not even meeting him. It will be another few months-”
“Nope, don’t care, not listening!” Scytale interrupted, sticking his fingers in his ears. “Lalala, I can’t heaaar youuuuuu!”
Lucy’s expression twitched as she crossed her arms. Pinching her nose bridge, she decided to change the topic. “Fine then. But I planned on getting the rest of Saufren Lestial’s skills while I’m out. You’re not curious?”
A slight grimace appeared on Scytale’s face as he kept his fingers in his ears. It was clear he was contemplating dropping the ‘not listening’ act or not. Eventually, he lowered them and gave her a wary look. “You’ll do that first?”
She nodded. “I will. And then I’ll start my plan.”
He frowned. “I don’t want to be a part of it.”
Lucille raised an eyebrow at him. “Scytale, have you even met one of them before?”
The snake hesitated. “I… uh, well… isn’t their whole thing that even if I had, I wouldn’t know it?”
She smirked and placed her hands on her hips. “Yes. So I don’t understand why you’re reacting so badly.”
He scratched his neck and looked away. “Let’s just say the whole idea of visiting one of, if not the most ancient organisation among the realms, and the most famous that even the Mystical Realm has myths about them dating back before the System, to organise a deal, sits wrong with me.”
Lucy cocked an eyebrow, staying silent as she studied her bond. Then she grinned. “Oh, I see what this is. You’re scared.”
He glared at her. “I’m not.”
Her grin grew wider and she turned around, walking away from him. “You don’t need to be so afraid. I never planned on taking you inside with me.”
The serpent in human form hesitated. “You didn’t?”
She glanced back with an eyebrow raised. “Do you believe you have anything useful to add during the negotiation?”
“…probably not.”
“Then there’s your answer.” She pulled out her pocket watch to check the time and then put it away. “We need to get going. The sooner the negotiation begins, the sooner I can get this done, and I’ll be much less restricted to staying at the Headquarters.”
Scytale sighed and followed her. “I guess we should just get this over with.”
They soon left the Commission, getting into the carriage Lucy had asked for. They were taken to the tall Obelisk and Lucy quickly opened up the Complete Authorisation: Skill Selection – Rare once they were in. In her hand were three small white tokens, the Rare skill books she had retrieved from the Founder’s vault.
Lucille opened up the introductory descriptions of the skills and shared them with Scytale.
[Available Secondary Skill: Elemental Integrity Verification]
Desc: This secondary skill was created by the first Archmage Saufren Lestial to identify the mana ratios around him and calculate the changes in the elements.
Info: Accepting this skill grants the ability Integrity Identifier.]
[Available Secondary Skill: Environmental Analysis Var. 3]
Desc: This secondary skill was created by the first Archmage Saufren Lestial to analyse the materials and natural treasures in his surroundings. This skill does not function as an Inspection skill, however, but only provides chemical and physical property information.
Info: Accepting this skill grants the abilities Ecological Perception and Effectual Estimation: Environment.]
[Available Secondary Skill: Chaotic Usurpation Perspective]
Desc: This secondary skill was created by the first Archmage Saufren Lestial to detect the unstable energies around him and see the overlap of the spiritual realm and the physical realms. Plane source mana and other energy types are more easily identified using this skill.
Info: Accepting this skill grants the ability Disruption Detection.]
Scytale, in his shrunken serpent form on Lucy’s shoulders, tilted his head at the screens. “I don’t know, Lucy… all of these seem like something you can do with your spiritual energy anyway. Like, seeing the spiritual realm? What help is that going to give you?”
She nodded. “I’m aware that most of these skills will be redundant for me… if I was using them as standalone skills.” She gestured to the screen. “But I’m using these for my Essence Transmutation Conduit. I can’t create the Influence I need until the much higher Ranks, so what I’m doing is collecting the skills with the Influence needed to upgrade my main skill in the right direction.”
“So then… what are you planning to do with these?”
Lucille crossed her arms, a slight smile on her face. “Scytale, I don’t think I’ll be able to create a Domain for a long time.”
He turned his head to stare at her. “You… argh, of course, there would be a massive catch to the System taking on all the load and improving an already OP Origin Skill! No, this is bad! A Domain can make or break a fight! Without being able to change the environment to your advantage, you-”
“Which is why I’m going to make all my main skills Domain-like skills.”
“-and if someone uses a Domain skill on you, it might negate your Field of Transmutational Master- wait, what?”
Lucille smirked and pointed to Apophis and Ouroboros. “We established that with my two blades, I’ll end up being someone who excels at area-of-effect damage. I can do more if I wanted, but you know I’m not the type of person to be a support mage.” She gestured to the screen again. “But my Essence Transmutation Conduit already gives me control over internal and external mana within a certain radius. If I can go further to control the environment and battlefield around me… then I can improve my chances of success.” Lucy raised an eyebrow at her bond. “I’m someone who uses what's around me to my advantage, remember? My skillset relies on manipulation.”
Scytale flicked his tail. “But where would you ever find skills that can change environments like Domains? A Domain is when you force your Origin Skill’s characteristics onto the world around you. Someone needs to have a very good understanding of their Origin Skill, which is why you won’t be able to create a Domain.” He glanced at her. “You’d need to have a complete understanding of the System itself to use your System Origin Skill.”
Then Scytale turned his head back to the screen and hissed. “Actually, how unfair is that! You should sue the System for that restriction! It even took control of your Origin Skill, how ridiculous.”
Lucy just hummed. Scytale narrowed his eyes at her. “Why are you not angry about this? Don’t tell me you know something I don’t?”
Lucille drew out her hum with a smirk. He narrowed his eyes further until she grinned. “Well, let’s just say that the reason why I intend on making all my skills area-of-effect-based is because that might end up being very similar to how my future Domain works.” She looked at the screen and held her chin thoughtfully. “After all, I can only think of one reason why the System emphasised that line of all things…”
Scytale was clearly still confused, but she shook her head and pointed to the screen again. “Never mind. Essentially, I believe I should adjust my skills now to work with my Origin Skill in the future. To return to your question about how I’ll make my main skills similar to Origin Skill Domains…” Lucille tilted her head at him. “Have you ever seen a Sorcerer use their Elemental Embodiment?”
He thought for a moment. “Is that the thing where they end up looking half like their contracted spirit and summon their Spirit King’s spirit realm territory to the physical realms? Once or twice. I fought with a Fire Sorcerer and felt like I got teleported to the Demon Realm for a second.”
“And that’s what I need to study,” Lucy said, pointing at him. “Spirit Magic. Something every mage and wizard in the past has failed to replicate, but I might have a chance. If I can gain a spirit – and potentially demonic – magic comprehension skill like Prodigious Archmage’s First Steps…” She paused as a thought came to her. “Or evolve Prodigious Archmage with a spirit-related skill, then I’ll understand how their magic works. And then I can find skills with the Influence to reproduce the feat of environmental alteration.”
She internally sighed as Scytale went a bit cross-eyed, clearly struggling to understand her. “It seems this is too complicated for you.”
“Uh… no, well… I understood a bit…” He gestured to the screen with his snout. “If you need spirit skills… can you just go kill a spirit with Apophis to get it?” He let out a low hissing laugh. “Hey, we even have a spirit at home for you to try it on! When we get back, I’ll go find Ashale’viaf and-”
She whacked his head. “No.” Lucy looked back at the screen. “Firstly, that would make me a murderer, and secondly, I want a high-rarity spirit skill to see if it evolves Prodigious Archmage’s First Steps. I don’t want to gamble on Rebirth from Death for that.”
“So you’ll use one of the vault’s skill books?”
“Potentially. Or the rewards from the Stages.” She closed the screens before her. “But I’ll select these skills and consider how to best use them with my main skill before taking that step.”
[Gained Secondary Skill: Elemental Integrity Verification]
[Gained Secondary Skill: Environmental Analysis Var. 3]
[Gained Secondary Skill: Chaotic Usurpation Perspective]
Lucy then placed Scytale down and crossed her arms. “There’s another situation for us to deal with, however.” Reaching into her dimensional bag, she withdrew a token. This one, unlike the other tokens, which were small enough to rest on the ends of her fingers, could fit in her palm. It wasn’t white, but instead a tarnished bronze. Engravings of an ancient language were written around the edges, too small to read, but recognisable to Lucille as the language of the Kingdom of Synadis they found in the Dungeon. On her palm was the Ancient-rarity skill book containing the skill they received as a reward: The Successor of the Kingdom of Jewels.
Lucille smiled and raised an eyebrow at her bond. “Do you want to use yours?”
He eyed the skill book token, hesitating. “An Ancient skill… look, it’s probably super powerful, but what good will a skill about jewels do for me? The Dungeon formed in a base of earth elementalists. My affinities are light and illusion.”
She nodded. “And you wouldn’t want to have difficulty gaining other lower rarity skills because this skill was made with some of them.” Lucy looked down at the skill book token. “As for me… hmm…”
Scytale moved closer and lifted his head to nudge the token. “It’s probably fine for you to get it, though. You can deconstruct it for Influence and feed all the stuff you don’t want to Ouroboros.”
“Yes.” Lucille considered it, wondering what to do. “It likely won’t be useful for me now, but when I get my third main skill…” She looked down at the token and then closed her hand around it. “I’ll make the smart decision and check the System’s introductory description for it.”
Scytale nodded. “Oh, yeah, do that first.”
Bringing up the Skill Selection – Ancient screen, she impressed her will upon it and it shattered to reform into a flickering grey-white screen of Complete Authorisation: Skill Selection – Ancient.
Using her spiritual energy to filter for the right one, she selected it.
[Unavailable Secondary Skill: The Successor of the Kingdom of Jewels]
Desc: This secondary skill was rewarded to the two discoverers of the Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis. Drawing upon the ancient renown of the earth elementalists who lived in the building, this skill allows the user to have a supreme comprehension of the innate properties of any crystalline material, and regardless of their elemental affinity, precious stones respond to their every will.
Info: Accepting this skill grants the abilities Crystal Consonance, Mana Preservation, Gemstone Generation and Mineral Malleability]
Lucy carefully read the description and nodded to herself. “I’ve made my decision. I won’t accept this skill yet.”
Scytale tilted his head. “Yet?”
“Yet.” She picked him up and put him back on her shoulders, ready to leave the Obelisk. “Without a crafter class, main skill, or any intention to begin devoting my time to crafting right now, this skill has no use for me. It would only be useful to those with the earth affinity who wish to specialise in crystal-type abilities, or for crafters.”
“Yup, guess that sorts itself out then. I don’t want that skill. You can take my skill book and do what you want with it.”
Lucy smirked. “Maybe I’ll give it to Sedric as a present.”
“Except that! I’m not giving anything to that guy for free!” Then Scytale paused and lowered his head to give her a look. “Why is a present the first thing that comes to mind? You’re not the type to give anything away for free either unless it’s for a special reason.”
Lucille grinned at him. “Well, you see, I was thinking of a birthday present. I asked Sedric when he would be turning twenty-two, and found out a very interesting detail. It turns out that he was born on April the 1st.”
Then she paused and held her chin, saying one last thing before they left. “Vincent’s birthday will be coming up before then, however. He was born on February the 28th.”
…
In his human form, a snake with gold eyes gazed warily at the small building they were standing in front of. It was a normal-looking café, with two stories and a shopfront. It was on the corner of a main road full of shops, and people walked past it without directing a single glance at it. The paintwork was bright and tasteful, but not especially noteworthy among the many shops on the road. It looked just like any other café or restaurant, another place where someone was making a living by running it.
The only thing of note was the sign out the front saying ‘Open’, and the one next to it indicating the operating times, with the shop closing at 4:00. Scytale turned to look at the dark-haired woman next to him.
“Here?”
“Yup,” she replied, a calm smile on her face as she watched the place.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“This place?!”
“Scytale, I believe I have told you twice already, that yes, this is where I will find them.”
He stared at the building and then turned back to her. “You sure?”
Lucy cocked an eyebrow at him. “Doesn’t fit your understanding of ‘a secret gathering point for what is probably the oldest assassin and information guild in existence’?”
He crossed his arms and gazed at the building with a strange expression. “There’s not enough black.”
Lucille shook her head wryly. “An underworld organisation as long-lived as them isn’t going to put up as blatant a sign as that to say, ‘We’re an underworld organisation’.”
“But then where’s the undead?” Scytale asked with confusion.
She smirked and stepped forward. “Oh, they’re around. But they won’t stay near us living who can detect them.” Lucy gave her bond a small wave. “Just stay outside in the alleyway or similar. I don’t know how long I’ll be, but if it’s dark and I still haven’t come out, then go tell Vincent.”
“I really don’t like this…” he muttered. He sighed and walked over to the alleyway to lean against a wall with his arms crossed, prepared to wait for her to leave.
Lucille took one last glance at the building and hummed as she opened the door with a smile, a bell ringing to inform those within of her entrance. A few people sitting at tables looked up, probably because she arrived only five minutes before the closing time. She sat down at one of the small circular tables and opened the menu curiously.
A minute later, a man in his mid-30s came up to her, wearing a black bowtie and white shirt. It seemed like he was the owner because there was nobody else behind the counter, and no one else was dressed like him. With an annoyed look, he placed a hand on the table and sighed.
“Is there something you would like to order?” he asked wearily. “If there is, please let it be simple. I wanted to close up shop on time today.”
She raised her eyes and observed him. With lustreless dark hair tied in a ponytail behind his head, a dark beard, dark eyes, and unnaturally pale skin, he looked unusual. But he could pass for human… which he did. Currently. Maybe when the lights in the room were off he’d have a harder time hiding it. As would all the people in the room.
“Some fireberry tea, please,” she said with a smile. “It’s been getting cooler.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fireberry tea, sure. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll continue preparing to close.”
Lucy eyed him curiously as he walked back over to the counter.
I wonder if his organisation has a customer service department. It would be amusing to see what would happen if I filed a complaint.
He soon came back with her tea, which she enjoyed quietly as the sun lowered on the horizon outside. Customers began leaving, and soon it was just him and her. He walked up to the door to switch the sign to ‘Closed’ and walked up to her with a frown on his face.
“It’s past four. We’re closed.”
“Is that so?” She smiled at him and then looked out the window.
He narrowed his eyes. “I see you’ve finished your tea already.”
She didn’t say anything and just tapped her white-gloved hands against the table.
The café owner scowled and placed his hands on the table. “Look here, Miss. The café is closed. It’s time for you to leave. There’s nothing more here for you to do.”
She blinked and looked back at him. “But what about the meeting?”
His dark expression didn’t change. “I don’t know what you’re playing at now, but there’s no meeting here. Nothing is happening after four.”
Lucille widened her eyes. “You mean to tell me that the House of Wordless Observers doesn’t have a secret meeting at their rendezvous point in the middle of the night?”
The tense silence was almost palpable as they gazed at each other, him leaning against the table, and her sitting in her chair with one leg crossed over the other, her calm smile still present. Then, slowly, he straightened back up and crossed his arms.
“It appears I’ve made a mistake,” he said quietly. “The moment I noticed you looking at this building I should’ve moved.”
“On the contrary, the real mistake would've been making a move then,” Lucy replied casually. “After all, you only would’ve drawn attention to this hidden location, Nares Raislef…” Then she narrowed her eyes and smirked. “Or should I say, Kozza-”
Five ice-cold metal tips pressed against her neck before she could finish her sentence. She let her smile widen and didn’t glance at the blades pointed at her neck as she finished, “-zan.”
‘Kozzazan’ gazed at her without expression. Then he spoke, “You guys. Step back.”
The black-dressed men and women, the former ‘customers’ of the café Lucy had seen, all exchanged hesitant looks. “But Sir-”
“I said step back!” Kozzazan shouted, his eyes still fixed on Lucy.
As the other people slowly retreated, Lucille nodded and put a gloved hand up to her ascot to fix its position. “Your boss is much smarter than you. Or maybe he just has a better memory?” She tilted her head with an amused smile. “Surely it’s not so easy to forget me. It’s only been five months since I arrived. Unless the Formless of the House of Wordless Observers doesn’t know who I am?” She let out a short laugh. “No, that would be ridiculous.”
“Lucille Adrienne Goldcroft.”
Everyone in the room looked at Kozzazan as he said her name, frowning. “The new Head of the Aurelian Commission. You arrived in the Beast Realm on the 2nd of July in the Violet Luminosity Jungle region, where you spent a few days before heading to the Supreme enclave of the Truth-Seizing Serpents. There you bonded with Scytale, a hybrid magical beast of the serpent and bird subraces.”
Kozzazan frowned further and began to pace a little as Lucy stayed sitting at her table, her fingers intertwined as she rested them on her knee.
“You came to the Aurelian Commission with the Founder’s token of inheritance in the first week of September. During your brief time as Aurelian Commission Head, you employed the thirteenth grandson of Count Evisenhardt as your aide, made connections with the Citadel of Fate’s Prophetess, hired a crafter with Legendary rarity, and had a private meeting with the Emperor and Archduke during the end-of-year banquet.”
Kozzazan suddenly stopped and turned back to Lucy, staring at her. “And you know of the House of Wordless Observers. That could be explained by Ravimoux, but…” He came closer and narrowed his eyes. “You know my real name.”
Lucille didn’t say anything for a moment as she smiled at him. Then she clasped her hands together near her face. “You know me very well. I’m impressed. I bet you might even know where I went at the end of September.”
The man didn’t say anything and only frowned further.
Lucy spread her arms and shrugged, her cane held in one hand. “Well, I hope his tale has revealed to you all why you can’t get rid of me. The Formless and the House of Wordless Observers excel at removing victims silently.” She grinned and tilted her head. “I didn’t arrive here silently. I left documents detailing my plans and told people where I was going and what I’d do. You’ll be leaving traces if you kill me now… which is the one thing your lord has ordered you not to do.”
The room fell silent again as the black-cloaked people exchanged looks. Lucille took the opportunity to observe their outfits in more detail.
Their faces – while Lucy knew who they were due to her spiritual perception – were hidden by the cowls of their pitch-black cloaks, and nothing about their figures could be seen save for their heights. Whether they were male or female, young or old, nothing was identifiable. Their cloaks appeared to be made of a thick dark mist that curled and coiled around their booted feet, fading into the shadows. It was thick and didn’t have the same appearance as dark mana. The scent of something bitter and cold filled the air, and their presence felt wrong somehow like it was averse to her very nature.
Lucille knew that the sensation she felt was death mana.
Kozzazan suddenly stepped forward. He looked at the figures hidden within their dark hoods. “Everyone, leave.”
The figures exchanged looks but bowed and backed away. Their forms disappeared into mist, and soon even that was gone.
With a grunt, Kozzazan pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down in it. He crossed his arms and gazed at her. “What do you want? If you want to kill yourself then there are easier ways to do it than trying to blackmail the House. I could even kill you now if you want.”
Lucille shook her head. “I’m not suicidal. And I don’t intend on blackmailing the House.”
He frowned and plunged his hand into a white circle in mid-air, withdrawing a metal flask. He uncapped it and gulped the contents down, wiping his mouth once he was done. After that, Kozzazan sat up and gestured to her. “I’ve told you what I know about you, so isn’t it fairer if you tell me what you know about me?”
She smiled and leaned forward, propping her chin up on the table. “Kozzazan, three hundred years old and someone who has been a member of the Court’s Formless for two hundred and fifty years. You formed as a shade, the lowest level member of the death race, but showed the talent to advance. When you were a hundred you became a phantom, and when you reach five hundred, you will likely achieve becoming a wraith.”
She sat back and shrugged. “I know you’ve worked here for twenty years, using your abilities to prevent passers-by from noticing or finding interest in your ‘café’, the place where all Formless assigned to this plane meet up. Unfortunately, those who know there is something special about the place are immune to that taboo spell.” Lucille gestured to herself. “Like me.”
Kozzazan eyed her warily. “That’s it?”
Lucy smiled. “Do you want me to know more about you?”
“Ha.” He shook his head. The man, or phantom as he truly was, fell silent, a contemplative look on his face as he furrowed his brows. Eventually, he sighed and returned his dark gaze to her. “If you don’t want to try to blackmail the House with knowledge of this location, what is it that you want?”
In response, Lucille took out a bound folder from her dimensional bag. She placed it on the table, pointing at it with one gloved finger. “That,” she began, a smirk on her face, “Is my proposition for the House of Wordless Observers. I want to ask the Formless to help me set up an internal affairs department within my Faction, one that will allow me to investigate the nobles under my leadership without their knowledge.”
Kozzazan picked up the folder and flicked through it. He gave her a sceptical look. “You said you didn’t want to blackmail the House. Why do you think we’ll agree?”
Lucille fell silent, her face expressionless. When she spoke again, her voice was solemn. “The Malediction Society.”
Kozzazan looked up with wide eyes. “How…”
“Every century, an organisation that uses Heretic items will always form,” Lucy interrupted, her expression still serious. “As is the role your lord decided you would play, the ‘Wordless Observers’ must stay out of the politics of the Empire in exchange for being able to do whatever it takes to ensure the races aren’t destroyed by the unknown horrors.”
She pointed at the folder he was holding. “The House always ends up eradicating any Heretic organisation before they end up causing too much devastation to the stability of the Tower. But this time, Olden found the iteration of the organisation, ‘Malediction Society’, first.” She crossed her arms with a slight frown on her face. “Directly acting against Malediction Society will go against the agreement the House made with the first Emperor of the Eternal Empire after the System assimilated the realm due to their connections to Olden. I want to work with the House of Wordless Observers to destroy the Malediction Society.”
Kozzazan’s expression became tense, and he put the folder down to rub his temples. He looked up again. “Do you have something against the Malediction Society?”
Lucille’s expression went cold. “Do I need a reason to detest those who treat humans and even the other races as their objects? The Malediction Society forces their debtors into inescapable contracts where they must fuse with Heretic items and become ‘Hosts’, living weapons of mass destruction.” Her face darkened. “Besides the fact that leaving the power in their hands is too dangerous, the existence of high-rarity Heretic items that have consumed the strength of their Hosts will end up disastrous for the realms. Malediction Society needs to be erased.”
Kozzazan furrowed his brows again but leaned back in his chair as he studied her. They waited like that for quite a few minutes, with her gazing calmly at him, and him watching her carefully. The sun continued to set outside the shop, the light steadily growing a deeper orange by the moment. As time ticked by, Lucy’s expression didn’t change, and neither did Kozzazan’s. Then he sighed and stood up from the chair.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said. He stood up at walked to a corner of the room, pacing around. Kozzazan closed his eyes as thick black death mana coiled around him, the bitter scent returning.
Lucille studied him with anticipation as his brows twitched, a concentrated look forming on his face. When he opened his eyes again, they were pitch black, the corneas dark.
“The Court will send an envoy to meet with you,” Kozzazan announced, his voice low and uncanny.
Lucy stared at him, wondering if she heard him correctly. She gripped her cane.
“Ugh.” Then the dark-haired phantom shook his head. “I hate channelling.” He sat back down on the chair and took a swig of his flask once more. Then he gestured to her with it. “You heard that. You don’t need me anymore. One of the top – probably Vessel – will come to meet you.”
Lucille opened her mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again. She coughed and then stood up. “Do you know when they’ll visit me?”
“Whenever and wherever you wish,” he replied, shrugging.
She nodded. “If it is possible then, I’d like to arrange a meeting with the envoy for tomorrow evening, at the Aurelian Commission, around five.”
Kozzazan gave her a wave. “I’ll tell them.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Now, are you going to leave?”
Lucy smiled and placed a fist against her chest to give him the Empire’s salute. She lowered her head. “Thank you for your time, Kozzazan of the Formless. If we be in your lord’s favour then may we meet again.”
He rolled his eyes. “I hope we don’t.” He stood up and began walking over to the counter. Kozzazan glanced back. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Lucille Goldcroft. It would’ve been safer for you to pretend you don’t know anything.”
Lucille studied him for a second and then smiled. She gave him a wide shrug. “I don’t like taking the safe path. And… I have a debt I want to repay. I’ll end up being involved with the House of Wordless Observers eventually.”
He frowned at her but turned away. “Those who are involved with us don’t have a happy end.” Kozzazan walked through a doorway that opened up to stairs to the second story, clearly ending the conversation.
Lucy looked around once more, shook her head, and then walked towards the door. She stepped out, the bell ringing behind her, and glanced at the alleyway where Scytale was waiting. Instead of going to him right away, she turned around and looked at the café she had come from.
There was nothing. Or in fact, it appeared like a normal two-story home set on the corner of a street. No café was there, only a door and two windows on the upper story. The building was dark and uninviting.
It’s true that I never knew Kozzazan. He was just a name on a piece of paper that that person had given me. He told me that it was useless now, so I could read it if I wished.
But… the Court wants to contact me so soon? I expected it to take some time before one of the ninety-nine would show direct interest in me. And Vessel…
She turned away and began walking to where her bond was.
He’s the Court’s method of congregating in the other realms. Their conduit for communication. The entire Court will be present to listen to my plans.
She took a breath and released it.
It will be another month and a half before I meet him. And then I’ll repay my debt. After that, we’ll go our separate ways, with only our connections to the House of Wordless Observers.
As she approached, Scytale looked up and saw her. He stopped leaning against the wall and walked towards her. “Is everything all good?”
Lucille nodded and changed direction to walk towards their carriage. “An envoy will be sent to the Commission tomorrow evening, where I’ll negotiate with them.”
He shot her a look. “You’ll have a pretty full day tomorrow, won’t you?”
Lucy just gave him a wry smile.
…
-A day later-
She gazed up at the colossal structure of blue and white stone, sky-blue wards made of Aether forming a protective dome across the sky. Straightening up her gloves nervously, Lucille placed a foot on the first step.
It was the 15th of February, and the day she would once again meet Archduke Stolas Septamere Eterial… the incognito Demon Emperor and the one existence bound so thoroughly to the System that he would never be able to defy its will: the Authorizer.
