11:52 PM - 31/12/2017
Lucas's Perspective:
Hmm… system, show stats.
「Oh? Now you wanna see your stats after barely not freezing to death? Sure, boss man, here you go—try not to cry when you see the numbers.」
I rolled my eyes. "Just show it."
A shimmering blue screen flickered into view in front of me, runes swirling around before neatly aligning into text.
Name: LucasClass: Supreme SorcererLevel: 25Age: 15
Attributes – 0 LeftStrength: 15Agility: 15Endurance: 17Perception: 15Intelligence: 15Mana: 23Divine Creation: 6
SkillsLight-Elemental MagicMana Control (Lv. 4)Divine Protection: FateDivine Protection of ChaosDivine Protection: Adaptive Venom SynthesisLightstep II: 175% Speed BoostVisionary Sight: Perfect Dark VisionDivine Protection: Poison NullificationDivine Protection: Grotesque SlaughtererDivine Protection: Anti-False RealityDivine Protection: Frostbite ResistanceDivine Protection: Automatic Body Heat ProductionDivine Protection: Cold Resistance
NotesHP: 1400/1400MP: 2000/2000
Mhm. I liked the new divine protections system. It looks clean. Balanced. Almost too balanced.
「Yeah, you're welcome, ninja. You were literally an icicle in that battle. I pulled these divine protections out of thin air, and now you're all thawed and toasty. You're welcome.」
"Exactly, system. We did it."
「'We?' Oh sure, yeah, we fought the frostcrawler. 'We' nearly got our soul turned into popsicles. 'We'—you know what, forget it.」
I grinned as I walked down the marble hallway toward the banquet hall.
The new year's celebration was in full swing—the Celebration Banquet, as they called it.
The hall itself looked stunning though. Crystalline chandeliers hung from the ceiling like floating stars, scattering light across walls carved from pure froststone. The air was crisp, cold enough to nip at your nose, but laced with warmth from dozens of floating mana lamps drifting lazily overhead.
The fairies were dressed in layers of shimmer—silks spun from mana threads, feathers glowing faintly in blues, silvers, and whites. Each one looked like a fragment of winter itself, moving gracefully through the glittering crowd.
I sighed. "Man… they really know how to throw a party. Meanwhile, I'm here in the same jacket and cape I almost froze in."
「Fashion's overrated, my guy. You've got that main character rizz going on anyway.」
"Thanks, I guess?"
I made my way through the hall, a few royal fairies bowing their heads slightly as I passed. The musicians in the corner played a slow, enchanting tune on crystal flutes. Everything smelled faintly of frozen lilies and mana wine.
Then, a young fairy girl with short silver hair approached me, her wings glowing faintly gold. She couldn't have been more than sixteen.
"Sir Lucas!" she called, smiling shyly. "Mother told us how much you helped! You saved the our labyrinth and us, didn't you?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Ah, yeah. Just did what I could. Would've been bad if I wasn't here."
Another older fairy joined, dressed in white and lavender robes, bowing low. "On behalf of the royal family, we thank you, Supreme Sorcerer. Our kin owe you a great debt."
I gave a modest grin. "Please, just Lucas is fine. No need for the fancy titles. I'm just glad everyone's alive."
「Liar. You love the fancy titles.」
'Shut up, system.'
「no u.」
I kept smiling for the crowd while the system laughed in my head. It was like having a gremlin for a best friend.
The fairies laughed softly at my casual tone, their crystalline wings fluttering. The warmth in their eyes, their gratitude—it felt… nice.
Too bad the two people I wanted to celebrate with most were passed out in their rooms. Kaiser and Celia.
'Probably cuddling or something,' I thought with a sigh. 'Lucky bastard.'
「You jealous?」
"Shut up."
「Confirmed: jealous.」
Bro I just wanted rest too. Not attend some party. I was tireeeeed
I ignored system and turned back to the group, sharing light conversation, smiling at their compliments.
Until I felt it—an icy chill running down my spine, familiar yet unwanted.
The crowd around me shifted as a soft light shimmered near the entrance.
Sylaphine.
The hall quieted, a sudden hush sweeping through the celebrating crowd as the doors opened with a soft chime of crystal hinges.
Sylaphine stepped in, every movement poised, every gesture a study in grace. Her golden tiara caught the floating lights and reflected them in faint halos above her forehead. Her long green hair flowed behind her like the gentle sweep of spring leaves in the wind, framing her face in perfect symmetry. White gloves stretched elegantly to her elbows, and on the chest of her pink, baby-doll dress sat a single green butterfly, almost glowing faintly as if aware of the attention it drew. The hem of her dress was adorned with white ribbons that swayed as she moved, and smaller green butterflies seemed to drift around her, giving the impression that she was accompanied by living magic itself.
Her emerald eyes scanned the hall, and wings remain calm, as if seeing every detail and every heart in the room. The fairies' reactions were immediate.
"Your beauty… it is unmatched, Queen Sylaphine!" a young fairy whispered, eyes wide.
"She's radiant! A true goddess among us!" another added, bowing deeply.
The crowd collectively murmured, their wings fluttering nervously in awe. Even the older fairies couldn't hide their admiration, heads lowering, hands pressed in reverence.
Dang. She is hot.
「That's it? That's all you got for her looks, bro? Really? Typical rizzler.」
"Quiet, system," I muttered under my breath.
"I am solo lever. I don't need love. I need levels. Goals before girls."
「TRUST. TRUST. TRUST.」 the system laughed in my head.
"Trust… bro," I said, shaking my head.
All the fairies immediately dropped to one knee as Sylaphine walked gracefully toward the side of the throne, where a massive depiction of a majestic creature loomed—a picture of Myriacron.
"Wait… Myriacron?" I whispered, eyes narrowing.
「…Why a primordial beast?」 the system muttered, tone sharp with curiosity.
I stayed quiet, observing, knowing this wasn't a time for jokes.
Sylaphine raised her hand slightly, a motion that caused even the faintest fluttering of wings to pause. Her voice, though soft, carried across the hall like wind over ice:
"Myriacron," she began, eyes glinting with solemn reverence, "was the one who bestowed upon our people these lands, this sanctuary, and the blessings of safety during the Great Crisis. The beast that rules the skies, whose wings carried hope when all else fell into despair… it is by its power that the Sylaris survived."
The fairies around the hall bowed lower, some whispering to each other in awe.
"His might, his presence… guides us still. And I," Sylaphine continued, voice firm and yet warm, "am his Avatar. I, Sylaphine Blossom, praise our lord for the gifts he has bestowed upon us fairies, upon us Sylaris, and upon all the creations of this world."
A wave of reverent gasps and murmurs rippled through the hall.
"The Guardian of the Sky," an elder fairy whispered, "the one who saved our ancestors… to think she channels its will."
"I… I always thought she was our queen, but…" a young fairy said, eyes wide. "She's… a living bridge to our god too."
Sylaphine's presence, combined with the reverence toward Myriacron, made her more than a ruler—she was a symbol, a divine link, and every fairy there could feel the gravity of that connection.
I blinked, staring at the towering mural of Myriacron — wings spread, scales etched like living emerald flame, eyes that looked down upon us all like judgment itself.
"System," I murmured quietly, my tone sharper now, "Myriacron is one of the beasts we have to defeat for the Miracle Cure quest, right?"
「That's true,」 the system replied, voice losing its usual teasing edge. 「But it's… strange. The fairies worship it. To them, it's a god. In reality, it's a beast — a primordial disaster that wiped out entire civilizations.」
A muscle in my jaw twitched. "Do a quick background check on it."
「On it.」
As the system began its analysis, the hall filled with the sound of soft prayer. Every fairy — from the youngest to the elders — had their eyes closed, hands together, glowing faintly with mana as they prayed toward the mural. The air shimmered with spiritual energy so dense it felt like the walls themselves were humming.
「Found it,」 the system said after a moment. 「The Primordial Beast Myriacron appeared thousands of years ago during the Age of Collapse. It destroyed the armies of demons, elves, and humans who tried to invade and enslave the fairies of the previous Fairy Labyrinth. It fought three entire races alone.」
"…So it protects them?"
「Yes. Myriacron is the reason the fairy race wasn't wiped out or sold into servitude. If what Sylaphine said is true… she really could be its Avatar.」
I frowned, lowering my gaze. "What does that mean, exactly?"
「Being an Avatar of a Primordial Beast means she'd possess fifty percent of its original power — or more, depending on the pact.」
My expression hardened. "Then how come I didn't see anything extraordinary when she fought beside us against the Frostcrawler? Even Kaiser had more impact — and Luke was out there breaking through with his elemental magic. Sylaphine… she healed a few people and then panicked the moment things got bad."
「I found that odd too,」 the system admitted.
「If she really is an Avatar, her power should be incomprehensible, enough to rewrite the outcome of that battle alone. Yet she displayed no such feat. I'm running a full scan on her energy patterns and every recorded event since our arrival in this realm.」
I exhaled, rubbing my neck. "Alright—"
But I couldn't finish. The system went quiet — and she approached.
Sylaphine glided through the crowd with the same commanding grace as before, the air subtly parting around her. Her green hair shimmered under the fairy lights as her eyes — those serene, ancient eyes — met mine.
"Ah, Lucas," she said softly, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "You've arrived. Are you enjoying the party?"
The fairies around us all lowered their heads in reverence as she stopped in front of me.
I forced a calm smile, hiding the storm of questions in my mind. "Yes, Your Majesty. The celebration's… beautiful."
I nodded politely, keeping my smile in place, though my inner thoughts were running wild.
Sylaphine's green eyes met mine, sharp but serene. She leaned lightly against the armrest of her throne, her golden tiara catching the lights above as if the room itself bowed to her presence.
"Oh?" she said softly, a melodic laugh threading through her words. "Referring to me as Your Majesty? Whatever happened to calling me by name directly?"
I cleared my throat, careful. "Uhh… I think it's better if we keep it formal."
Her laugh rang out again, light, almost teasing. "Oh? And what's this sudden change of heart, Lucas?"
"Well…" I hesitated, hands gripping the edge of the table, "you're an Avatar of the great Myriacron."
Her smile deepened, that ageless, knowing curve of her lips. "Ah… so my role has changed in your eyes merely after hearing that, has it? Come, take a seat. I'd like to hear why you think that way."
I forced myself to smile, sliding onto the table across from her. My posture was casual, but my system immediately chimed in.
「Good. Don't let the calm fool you. Ask her about some information.」
"Quiet," I muttered under my breath.
Sylaphine rested her delicate hand against her cheek, eyes locked on mine. "Now… tell me. Why do you think that way?"
I swallowed. "I heard Myriacron was… a beast. Killed humans, elves, demons… why is it worshipped here as a god?"
The room seemed to hush around us. Fairies went quiet, eyes wide, reverent, but her smile remained — albeit colder, sharper, more precise.
She leaned forward slightly, her voice even, smooth, yet imbued with authority.
"Lucas," she said, carefully enunciating, "Myriacron is not a god. It is a ruler, ancient and pure, beyond the comprehension of ordinary races. What you call a 'beast' destroyed those who sought to enslave my people. To them, it is divine because it brought salvation. Do you see the difference?"
I nodded, trying to match her calm, but my mind was firing off a hundred scenarios. "But… some people might try to hunt it, right? What then?"
Her emerald eyes sharpened, the aura around her thickening subtly, like the air itself knew she was speaking with the weight of history.
"Some people? Myriacron is strong enough to annihilate thousands, Lucas. A few mortals, a handful of hunters? They are nothing."
"So… about Myriacron," I started, keeping my tone neutral. "It saved your people from… other races, right? What else…?"
Sylaphine's gaze stayed unwavering, a faint nod. "Yes. Myriacron is indiscriminate in its judgment. Those who sought to enslave my people were annihilated. And yet, it did not turn on the innocent."
"Indiscriminate… right," I muttered under my breath.
「Bro, I am still running the analysis. Keep it up.」
Sylaphine leaned back slightly, the shadows of the hall flickering across her features. "Do you know why Myriacron chose to save my people, Lucas? It is not because of loyalty. It is because I am its avatar. Even the primordial forces adhere to an equilibrium, and my people's survival maintained it."
"Avatar… huh." I leaned in, letting my voice lower, carefully choosing words. "And… if something threatened it now? The balance, I mean? The beast itself?"
Her green eyes darkened, almost like liquid emerald steel. "Then it would act. And I, as its avatar, would act."
I blinked, processing the implication. "You'd… fight?"
Her expression was calm but absolute. "Of course. Even if the odds were minuscule, even if I alone were to stand against the threat, I would act. Myriacron's will is not negotiable, Lucas. And anyone foolish enough to interfere would face its judgment—and mine."
I could feel the weight in her words, and my heart sank a little. This wasn't some ceremonial title. She literally meant she would obliterate anyone who endangered the beast she was bound to. Even humans, even demons, even… well, anyone.
I tried to keep my face neutral. "So… you're saying there's no room for compromise? No… negotiation?"
"No," she said softly, her tone deceptively gentle. "Compromise is for mortals who fear consequences. Myriacron's law is absolute. Its protection is absolute. And I… I serve that law with my life, Lucas."
「Analysis Complete...」
I exhaled slowly. "And… what if someone tried to capture it? Or weaken it? I mean, theoretically…"
Sylaphine's lips curved faintly, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Theoretically, any who tried would perish. And I would ensure it. It is not about victory or defeat—it is about the principle. Myriacron's existence is not optional, and neither is its protection. That is the path I walk, and anyone who questions it will be eliminated."
I felt my stomach tighten.
Up until now, I thought Sylaphine was just a healing support or a clever queen. But no. Her devotion was absolute, obsessive in its way, and terrifying. Even the faintest threat to the primordial beast could make her a force beyond comprehension.
"And… the fairies," I asked slowly. "They… they worship it. Do they understand it, truly? Or are they just following your lead?"
"They understand only parts of it. They know Myriacron's deeds and their survival depends on it. But true understanding… that is rare, even among the eldest. Reverence is instinctive, but devotion… devotion comes from the heart. And it is my duty to guide that devotion, for their sake, and for the balance."
「You need to get out of here quickly...」
Why...?
I clenched my fists lightly under the table, trying to keep my tension locked away. "Right… so basically, anyone threatening Myriacron, or even testing it… you'd go all-out. No mercy."
"Correct," she said, voice serene but unyielding. "The law of the primordial is not negotiable. And as its avatar, I am the executioner of that law. Even if the universe itself opposed me, I would stand."
I nodded faintly, keeping my poker face. "Right… noted."
"That goes for the false ranker, Queen of Curses, and someone who gets stronger after every battle. Being you."
My eyes widened. For a moment, I swore even the air froze.
Then suddenly—everything actually did.
The wind stopped. The sounds of fairies turned to silence. My heartbeat… echoed, like I was trapped between worlds.
Sylaphine leaned forward, her elbows resting lightly on the invisible table of halted space, chin balanced on her lace-gloved hands. Her emerald eyes shimmered faintly.
"Ahh… your mana," she murmured, tilting her head. "It's really wonderful seeing it suppressed."
Wait—suppressed?
System…?
「Yo, what's good?」
My jaw clenched. Of all times to joke…
Sylaphine's smile faltered just slightly, then curved into something far more dangerous. She laughed softly—a low, melodic sound that felt too human for the monster sitting in front of me.
"Ahhh," she purred, her tone dipping. "It seems that system of yours bypasses space and time itself."
「Uhh, duh. I'm fourth-dimensional, baby. Don't hate the player, hate the physics.」
QUIET, SYSTEM. FIND A SOLUTION.
「Yeah sure, let me just rewrite the laws of reality real quick—」
Her grin widened, catching the flicker of panic in my eyes. "You think I wouldn't figure it out sooner?" she said, voice sharp but sultry. "I know you're going after our god. And you believe you three are enough."
"How do you know that…?"
She smiled like a cat playing with its food.
"The moment you three entered my forest," she said, "my Sylaris tried to break into your minds. You remember that little shimmer before they lost? Their failure wasn't my concern. Their connection was."
My stomach twisted. "What of it?"
"The moment they connected," Sylaphine said, leaning back, "I saw. A glimpse of your motives, your fears, your goals. Imagine my surprise, finding hunters creeping into my domain like thieves of fate."
"Impossible—you weren't even—"
"—Present?" she interrupted, smiling with razor precision. "I don't need to be. My domain extends far beyond the Forest of Wishes. Every fairy, every Sylaris that channels magic—I can see through their eyes, listen through their hearts. And when they touch you, I touch you."
Her last words felt cold.
For a second, I felt my heartbeat slow. My skin tingled. This wasn't intimidation—it was ownership.
System?
「Connectivity error detected. Cause: temporal interference. But analysis complete. Conclusion: Sylaphine was never fighting seriously. This was a performance. A deception.」
You're telling me she's been acting this whole time?
「Acting, holding back, monologuing—pick your poison.」
Sylaphine rose gracefully, every motion fluid like rippling water.
"A human capable of growing stronger after every battle," she said softly. "How… unique. Your companion Celia is a Queen of Curses, and though I refuse to acknowledge her rule—none of my fairies dare defy it either. I know her power."
I said nothing. I didn't trust my voice.
"I keep tabs on everything in Celestine and beyond," she continued, pacing slowly. "Every fairy whispers to me. Every curse hums through my roots. I knew the moment you slew the Frost Crawler… your mana surged, and your body warmed instantly. A defensive enchantment, perhaps? Hidden from sight, but not from an avatar of a god."
Her eyes met mine, glowing faintly now, almost pitying. "You can hide from mortals, Lucas. But you cannot hide from me."
I exhaled slowly, flexing my fingers, feeling mana coil inside my chest. My instincts screamed to move—but the space around me refused to bend.
System… plan B?
「Working on it. Might take a sec, boss.」
I swallowed hard.
"But I'll show you three mercy," Sylaphine said at last, her voice low, nearly tender. "You aren't worth being silenced."
Mercy, she called it. No, this was mockery upon us.
She turned slowly, the edges of her dress whispering against the frozen air. Her gaze fell toward the enormous window—overlooking the glowing labyrinth below. The living maze pulsed faintly with silver veins of mana, almost like it was breathing.
"Myriacron doesn't need my assistance to take three pathetic humans down."Her tone was calm. Cold. Almost… bored.
"However," she said, "those were my initial plans."
My jaw tensed. "What do you mean… initial?"
She turned slightly, half her face still bathed in the pale light of her domain. Then came that look—like the warmth drained from her entirely, leaving only something ancient and cruel.
"What your companion did to us," she whispered, "is unacceptable."
"She will pay," Sylaphine continued, each word colder than the last. "One way… or another."
My body moved on instinct. I stood up, ignoring the way space distorted around my legs—like walking through glass. The silence roared. The colors bent. Time itself seemed to hesitate.
System, I thought, keeping my eyes locked on Sylaphine. Can I take her in a fight?
「No.」
No hesitation. No sarcasm.That alone told me how serious this was.
When even the System wasn't joking, you knew you were in a life or death situation.
Sylaphine tilted her head slightly, her silver hair spilling forward as her eyes met mine again."You two were easy to read," she said softly. "However, that E-rank—" her lips curled faintly "—that one who holds back… is a mystery. A mind that can collapse illusion magic in an instant… unseen for the last six thousand years."
"You mean Kaiser…" I muttered.
She looked at me unamused.
"Even if he hides his strength," she said, "he is still weak. A magicless human with above-average physical ability and cunning mind. Insignificant."
Her words stabbed deeper than they should have. She said them not as insults—but as facts.
「Another one…」
I felt the smirk twitch on my lips. "Mhm," I murmured under my breath. "Another one underestimating him."
Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly—like she'd heard that.
"I've seen enough of him, Lucas. Fragility clings to his every step—one confrontation with true power and he crumbles. Do not mistake my curiosity for respect, or mercy for caution."
"As for you… you are peculiar in your own way. But peculiarity does not grant safety."
Then, with a small, knowing smile, she said, "You shall rest for now, Lucas. Leave the labyrinth at dawn. You'll need your strength…"
Her voice softened, but it wasn't comfort. It was a warning wrapped in silk.
"If you want to leave it alive."
And before I could respond, the world shattered. Space tore apart, time uncoiled, and gravity slammed back into me like a hammer.
I hit something soft—my bed.
I blinked. My room inside the labyrinth. The light from the moon filtering through the wooden lattice window. My heartbeat still racing like it wanted out of my chest.
Speechless.What… just happened?
The System's tone returned—low, steady, and for once, unnervingly serious.
「Her power matches the primordial beast… almost identically. She was holding back—to measure you three. She already knew about the hunt. She wasn't warning you, Lucas.」
I swallowed hard. "Then what was she doing?"
「Testing you.」
I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the faint silver light from the window cutting through the dark. My breath still felt uneven, but my heart had stopped trying to burst out of my chest. Then, slowly, a laugh slipped out of me.
"Hahhahaha…" I couldn't stop it. "Ahahahahhaha."
「That's the spirit.」
My smile returned, quiet but sharp.
The old me would've cowered in fear.Would've prayed for safety.Would've begged to go home.
But not now.
What I need isn't safety. It's power—true power.I'll grow stronger than her. Stronger than anyone.
I turned over on the bed, staring at the faint glimmer of mana dust hanging in the air. "As for us," I said softly, "tomorrow we'll leave. As fast as we can."
「You sound a bit too reassured that she won't do anything?」
I smirked, resting my arm over my forehead. "I think you can remember what she said previously, System."
「Ding ding ding,」 he chimed, almost proud. 「Your party has an intriguing E-rank. That isn't a threat at all. 'He is still weak'.」
"Exactly." I chuckled. "He made me clean his and Celia's dirty work, so I'll leave the rest to the mastermind."
I turned my head, eyes half-closed. "And I know he won't leave his best friend—little old me. He'll miss our Ludo matches, Uno matches, and all those stupid board games during our camp nights."
「Totally best friend」
"We're getting close to that level," I said, half-grinning.
「Mhm, that's true…」 the System paused, tone lowering,
「However, he has another driving factor.」
"…Elfie," I muttered.
「He won't let Sylaphine stop him, will he?」
I smiled faintly, that tired, knowing kind of smile. "We'll see tomorrow."
My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second. The fear that had been strangling me slowly faded into something else—resolve.
"I'm tired," I whispered.
And as sleep crept in, the last thought that crossed my mind wasn't of Sylaphine, or the labyrinth, or even Myriacron—It was of my future.
For once, I let go,
and the darkness felt… peaceful.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaiser's Perspective:
I slowly brushed my hand through Celia's white hair, feeling her safety against me.
She stirred in her sleep, whispering softly, "Kai…"
Her voice was barely a breath, fragile and peaceful.For a moment, I hesitated. My hand froze midair.
But time was running out.
Her grip around me was tight — she held on like she never wanted to let go.After a while, though, she relaxed, her breathing deepening into a calm rhythm.
I carefully unwrapped her arms from mine, whispering, "I'll be back. Promise."
A faint smile touched her lips, and I stood there for a second longer.
Then I left.
The corridor outside was silent, the faint glow of fairy lights dimming as if even they feared what was coming.
My expression was blank. Completely still.
When I entered my room, the sound of the lock clicking echoed louder than I expected.My satchel sat on the desk, exactly where I left it. Inside, the green shimmer of a high-grade elemental mana potion caught my eye.
I sat.
For a few seconds, I just stared at it, letting the silence stretch.
"It doesn't matter who stands in my way," I muttered quietly.
Elfie.
The name alone twisted something deep inside me.
She was the last piece of light I had left after Mother was gone. The only reason I still looked up at the stars with hopes.
And I failed her.
When it mattered most.
Because I was too weak.
My reflection in the potion's glass shifted — blue eyes dimming to black, like ink swallowing color.
Murderous intent leaked out, faint but suffocating.The room itself seemed to freeze under its weight.
"Cult of Nemesis. Primordial Beasts…" I whispered. "You'll wait your turns. One by one."
But first—Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I have to deal with an avatar of primordial times.
I clenched my fist, veins glowing faintly with a void-like hue.
Lucas. Celia. They have to leave safely. Even if it costs me everything again.
Especially Celia… after what she did.
Yeah, I heard all of it.Sleep? Not a chance. Not in this consciousness.
And Sylaphine… I knew from the start. The gentle queen act, the smiles, the divine aura—It was all a curtain.
A setup for execution.
Give us hope, then crush us when we finally look up.
But I'm not naive.And I sure as hell don't plan to lose.
I'll prevail.For Celia.For Lucas.
For Elfie.
My gaze lifted to the door, eyes dark and still bleeding faint traces of black mana.
Then came a voice — soft, distorted, echoing from nowhere."1507 / 1507. Seals locked."
I smiled faintly. "Hopefully," I whispered, "she'll bring me closer to death."
I stood, slinging the satchel over my shoulder, feeling the quiet pulse of the void within me stir awake.
"Then she'll see…" I said under my breath, the air trembling faintly.
"Who this E-rank truly is."