Date: January 1, 2018 | Time: 11:15 AM
Location: Requiem Guild Hall – Main Lobby
Perspective: Celia
The descent back down the stairs felt longer than the climb. My chest felt hollow, the weight of Sophia's words about Arius settling into my bones like lead.
I stared at the back of her head, my thoughts a messy, uncoordinated blur.
I only love Kaiser. Everyone else is just an obstacle or a tool. So why did hearing that a boy I barely remembered is dead make me feel like I'm standing on the edge of a cliff?
It shouldn't matter. It doesn't make sense. But the emptiness is there, cold and persistent.
"Celia?" Sophia stopped at the base of the stairs, turning to look at me.
"I—I have to go talk to someone elsewhere for a bit. We should meet up later, okay? And don't… don't overthink things, okay?"
I managed a stiff nod. My eyes had returned to their usual flat black.
"Right. See you later."
She gave me a small, encouraging smile before disappearing into the crowd of the guild hall. I watched her go for a moment, then exhaled a long, shaky breath.
I needed to release this tension. Arius is gone. It's a fact. Processing it won't bring him back, and dwelling on it won't help Kaiser.
I turned my attention to the reception counter. Lucas was leaning against it with an air of unearned authority, looking as though he owned the entire building.
"Oh, you're finally back," Lucas drawled, looking me up and down. "Took you long enough. I thought the two of you had started a knitting circle up there."
"Shut up, Lucas," I said, my mood lifting slightly at the familiar annoyance. "Did you register the party yet?"
"Register? Me?" Lucas scoffed, crossing his arms. "I'm an elite solo leveler, Jenny. I don't do 'free labor' or paperwork. If you want a party so bad, register it yourself. I'm just here for the presence."
I felt a vein throb in my temple. "The presence? We need this to move forward! Just sign the paper, you lazy clown!"
"A clown? I'm the leader of this operation! You're just the one with the scary eyes."
"I'll give you scary eyes if you don't pick up that pen!"
"Make me, short-stack. I'm not signing anything until I see a contract that guarantees me me the most aura."
"You're the worst! I hope your hair falls out!"
"And I hope your ribbon gets a knot you can't untie!"
I growled, turning away from him to face the man behind the counter. Marcus, the receptionist, looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole. He was pale, sweating slightly, and his hands were trembling as he held a stack of parchment.
"U-um, excuse me," Marcus stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "Miss? I—I'm sorry to interrupt the… discussion, but I actually can't finalize the party registration without a signature from every member. It's guild policy."
I froze. Then I slowly turned my head back to Lucas. He was smirking. A wide, arrogant, rage-inducing smirk.
"You… you didn't sign it on purpose," I hissed. "You just wanted me to do the talking while you stood there like a decorative statue."
"Worked, didn't it?" Lucas chuckled.
I snatched the pen from the counter, scribbling my name—Celia—viciously next to Lucas's already present, perfectly legible signature. The clown had signed it before I even got down there.
He just wanted to bait me.
"You really are the worst," I muttered, sticking my tongue out at him.
"Anything for some entertainment sissy," he replied, entirely unfazed.
I turned back to the stairs just as a familiar figure appeared at the landing. My heart gave a light, involuntary skip.
Kaiser was walking down, his expression calm. I found myself smiling before he even reached the bottom.
Kaiser glanced at the parchment on the counter, then at Lucas. "Finished with the registration?"
Lucas leaned back, wearing a look of exaggerated boredom. "I don't do free labor. I left the 'Jenny' signature for the girl."
"Is that so?" Kaiser pulled the parchment toward him, scanning the names. "I suppose that makes sense. You've always been better at being an alpha than a functioning member of society."
Lucas's smirk twitched. "At least I'm an alpha. You're just the background character of this group, Kaiser."
"Actually," Kaiser said, "if you were an alpha, you'd be the kind pigeons find particularly useful. As for me, the background is less stressful."
He's not falling for Lucas's ragebait.
"Oh, I get it," Lucas snapped, his competitive streak finally flaring. "You think you're the mysterious member, don't you? The mysterious brooding type who doesn't need friends."
Kaiser paused, looking Lucas dead in the eye. "Mysteryou? Me? No, Lucas. That implies I'm trying to be edgy. I don't have the time to be a lone wolf like you."
Lucas opened his mouth to retort, then closed it, looking genuinely offended.
Marcus, the receptionist, cleared his throat nervously, his eyes darting between the three of us. "U-um, sir? If you're the final member, I just need your signature here to finalize the 'Independent Party' status for 'Gang'."
Kaiser didn't reach for the pen. "No."
"No?" I asked, taking a step toward him. "Kaiser, what do you mean 'no'? We need three people for the charter Sylvia talked about. If you don't sign, we're just two unranked members"
"Exactly," Kaiser said, his gaze remaining neutral. "I won't be joining the party."
"Are you serious?" Lucas asked, his voice losing its playful edge. "This isn't one of your weird jokes, is it? We're in the middle of a guild hall. We need the party status to even touch the Avalon quests."
"You two need the party status," Kaiser corrected him. "If I join, my E-rank will drag the party average down. The Kingdom won't see two talented unranked individuals; they'll see an E-rank and his hangers-on. It'll make the Tier-3 negotiation impossible."
"That's just an assumption," I countered, my voice rising slightly.
He's trying to distance himself. Why? Is it because of what Sylvia said? Does he think he's protecting me by staying away?
"We can overcome the rank. We've done harder things! I don't care about the average. I care about us being together."
"It's not just about the average, Celia," Kaiser said.
"I'd just hold you back. My presence creates... complications. You and Lucas are a more 'Dangerous' duo for Sylvia's political games. You can clear the bulk of the quests while I handle things elsewhere."
"Handle things elsewhere?" Lucas barked. "Doing what? Catching rats while we do the heavy lifting? You're the strategist! We're a gang!"
"I've already made my decision," Kaiser said, turning away from the counter.
"Kaiser, stop," I said, my hand subconsciously reaching for the red ribbon in my hair. I felt desperate, the emptiness from Arius's news swirling with the fear of Kaiser leaving.
"You can't just walk away from the registration..."
Kaiser stopped and looked back over his shoulder. The light from the Vitreous Veins in the floor cast a blue hue over his face, making him look distant—untouchable.
"I'm going to join a stranger's party," he said.
The silence that followed was absolute..
A random party? He'd rather be with strangers than with me?
"What do you mean, Kaiser?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "You're actually serious? You're going to ditch us to go play mercenary for some group of nobodies?"
"Think logically," Kaiser said, his voice as steady as it was cold.
"You and Jenny can get 40 quests done on your own. You're both fast, efficient, and—let's be honest—deadly. While you handle that, I'll do 10 quests as a mercenary for another party. Temporarily."
"So it's only temporary?" Lucas checked, the tension in his shoulders easing just a fraction.
"Yes. I'll clear the 10 quests, then leave their group to join yours. That way, we all contribute to the 50-quest quota. Plus, if I build an independent reputation, it looks better to the Kingdom than having you two carry me through every battle. I'll focus on the safer E and D-rank work that fits my current status."
Kaiser turned toward Marcus, the sweating receptionist. "What kind of work can 'Jenny' and Lucas take?"
Marcus wiped his brow, flipping through a ledger. "U-um, given their background with Cursed and Celestial magic respectively, even as unranked members, they are eligible for C to A-rank quests. The guild handles high-potential individuals differently."
"See?" Kaiser looked back at us. "It makes more sense this way. You two can grind those high-tier quests and build the party's name, while I grind out what's available for me. We optimize the time we have."
Lucas let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I'd still prefer if you were with us, but… I guess if it means we become an official party at the end, I can live with it."
Kaiser offered a small, rare smile. "It's best for the party. You two can grow by fighting together. Plus..." He looked at Lucas.
"I trust you to keep your sister safe."
Lucas smirked, extending a hand. "Yeah. Bet on that."
They shared a quick bro-fist, a moment of understanding that usually would have made me smile. But I couldn't. I stood there, my eyes cold, staring at Kaiser.
The thought of him being surrounded by other people—other women—while I was stuck with Lucas was almost unbearable.
He's leaving me alone. He's putting distance between us again.
Kaiser seemed to sense the shift in my emotions. He leaned down, his face coming close to mine until our eyes met.
"Don't be sad, Lia," he said quietly. "I'll join up with you two later, okay?"
"Promise?" I asked. My fingers traced the Ring of Empty Chaos on my hand, seeking the comfort of the cobalt swirl that represented him.
"Promise."
Marcus cleared his throat, holding a quill over the final registration documents. "I'll finalize the party then. What should the name be?"
"Do you want to keep the placeholder 'Gang'?"
"We should be 'The Sovereigns'," Lucas suggested, trying to look regal.
"How about 'The Eternals'?" Kaiser offered with a dry tone.
I looked at the counter, then at Kaiser.
If he wanted me to grow, I would grow. I would become so powerful that the world would never dare to threaten him again. I would climb so high that even the Kingdom would have to look up to see me. This wasn't just a quest list; it was my path to becoming the only person he would ever need.
"We'll be called Ascension," I stated.
I will protect him. I will become the shadow that shields his light, and by the time he joins us, he will never have to fear facing a strong opponent again.
Because I will have already destroyed them.
"Ascension," Lucas repeated. He smirked, leaning back against the polished basalt counter.
"I like it. It sounds grand, powerful, and most importantly—it fits my aesthetic perfectly."
"It fits," Kaiser agreed, though a playful glint flickered in his eyes as he looked at Lucas.
"Though I'm surprised you didn't hold out for something more suited to your 'lone wolf' persona. Maybe 'The Solitary Howler'?"
"AUUUUU!"
Lucas's smirk flattened instantly. "A lone wolf? Really? You're still on that? At least I don't spend my free time brooding in corners like some sort of professional cave-dweller."
Kaiser paused, his hand hovering over his coat pocket. A flicker of genuine surprise crossed his face before he smoothed it over with a dry sigh. "C'mon, man. Don't bring that up now. That was years ago."
I watched them, my fingers subconsciously brushing the Ring of Empty Chaos on my hand.
Cave-dweller? Lone wolf? These aren't just insults—they're relics from a past I wasn't part of. Asura Academy. The weight in my chest shifted from sadness to a sharp, analytical curiosity.
I need to learn more. I need to talk to Sophia properly. I need to know every version of Kaiser that existed before me.
Still, seeing them joke didn't erase the cold reality. Kaiser isn't in the party. Even if it's tactical, even if it's temporary, the distance feels like a physical ache.
Marcus scribbled the name onto the official parchment with a shaky hand, his quill scratching loudly in the sudden silence of our transition.
"Alright... 'Party Ascension' is finalized. You are authorized to begin questing starting tomorrow morning." He looked up at Kaiser, adjusting his spectacles.
"And as for you, sir... should I begin looking for a local party that needs a temporary mercenary?"
Kaiser nodded, offering Marcus a relaxed thumbs-up. "Please. I liked your energy earlier, Marcus. I trust you to find me something that isn't too... harsh."
The receptionist actually beamed, seemingly heartened by the praise from the man who had essentially love-bombed him into submission ten minutes prior. "I'll have a list of suitable parties ready by tomorrow, sir! Leave it to me."
"Good. I have some errands to run anyway," Kaiser said, turning toward the door.
"I need to look for some new weapons. My daggers have seen better days; the edges are getting notched. I'll head to the market place after I grab my gear from the inn."
Lucas pushed off the counter. "Just do us a favor and don't con anyone too badly, alright? I'd rather not have to bail you out of jail on our first day."
"I'll try my best," Kaiser replied with a wave. He looked at us both, his gaze lingering on me for a fraction of a second longer. "Take care, you two."
I watched him go, his silhouette disappearing into the bright afternoon light flooding through the guild entrance.
"Well," Lucas said, clapping his hands together.
"We don't have official work today, but we still need to eat. And since we're all dirt poor, I'm going to go find a 'get-rich-quick' scheme to manage dinner and lunch."
I blinked, pulling myself out of my thoughts. "Seriously? You're going to go scam people for a meal?"
Lucas smirked, already swaggering toward the exit. "I prefer the term 'creative financing.' What are you going to do?"
I sighed, shaking my head.
I can't let Kai go... but I can't follow him like today. I need to process this. But I… still feel so jealous....
"I have some business of my own," I told him, adjusting my red ribbon. "I'll check out the town a bit. You can do your 'scheming' alone."
Lucas reached out his hand for a high-five. I smacked it—as we shared a brief, begrudging look of solidarity.
"Let's meet up later," he said, turning and jogging toward the lower tiers of the city.
I walked out of the building slowly, the cool air hitting my face. I looked up at the sky, the vast expanse of Sylvaris stretching out before me.
I started walking toward the direction of our inn.
Sophia said she didn't kiss him. She said it was fake. But Kaiser had a "girlfriend" before me. He had a life, a history, a past that I can't touch. He told me our kiss back near the Soulmate Village was special, but he never answered if it was his first. He hid it. He hid her.
Elfie. The pink-haired bitch from the forest. The one Sylvia mentioned. The one who had his smiles and his time while I was nothing but a forced angel.
My heart hammered against my ribs, a violent, possessive rhythm.
I gripped the Ring of Empty Chaos, my thumb dragging over the cobalt swirl.
You're mine, Kaiser. You're mine. I don't care who had you before. I don't care who touched you.
I'll find her. I'll find that pink-haired ghost and I'll erase her so completely that even the concept of her will vanish from your mind. No bitch can live. Nobody can have you. Not before me, not after me. You are my heart. You are my soul.
And if I have to burn the world to keep you to myself, I'll strike the first match.
Don't blame me, Kai. Your love made me crazy.
WE'LL BE TOGETHER. FOREVER. WE'LL NEVER EVER BE APART. OH KAI... YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MINE YOU ARE.
I'M YOUR HEART.
I'M YOUR CELIA.
I'M YOURS I'M YOURS I'M YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE MINE MINE.
I looked down at the ring, the shadow metal shimmering. I'm going to make sure of it.
I'm going to make sure you never need anyone else ever again.