It had been a week since the incident on Griown, and Ryo had resumed his routine at Darkness Isle.
After the battles concluded, the gardeners escorted them back to their isles. Soren, the gardener of the Cleric Isle, had taken the rescued civilians to one of the refuge shelters, where others stayed for protection against further threats.
The aftermath was devastating. Many people were found dead or injured. The city, once home to around 20,000 residents, had suffered a tragic loss of approximately 800 lives, with about 30 more found injured. The body count was staggering.
A significant portion of the casualties were city guards, who bravely attempted to protect the city from the Order of Thorns. Unfortunately, they were overmatched, as the strength of the now abbreviated "ORT" equaled that of the city's finest defenders: the gardeners.
The damage could have been minimized had the gardeners been present during the beginning of the attack. However, they were not reprimanded since many were stationed far from the city and had rushed back to aid in the crisis. Some had not even responded to the call and had yet to return from their Pages. This was the first time the city had faced such a dire threat. The sole exception was Yuki Kuriyama, who had been in the city at the attack's onset, but she had been severely intoxicated. This was considered poor conduct for someone of her status, and she faced criticism not only from her fellow gardeners but also from the staff running the isles.
How the terrorists managed to infiltrate the city remained a mystery, but it was clear they had been there long before the attack. Sir Helianthus had dispatched a special group of spies to monitor anyone acting suspiciously.
Katsuro Acashi, the leader of Isles and the ruler of the city, had sensed a looming threat, which was why he tasked Helianthus with the investigation. Unfortunately, the attack occurred before they could identify the threat, and the Order of Thorns was not a well-known terrorist group in the Mirror Realm. The extent of the danger they posed was underestimated. They would implement additional measures to prevent such an incident from occurring again.
Within two weeks of the attack, the city was fully rebuilt. Damaged buildings were repaired, destroyed roads were restored, and life returned to normal as the civilians came back to their homes.
†
Ryo had fallen back into his routine on the isle. For the past two weeks, his days had been monotonous. He hadn't spoken to Mei since that day; she had been in a coma ever since. Doctors said it was likely due to the side effects of using her Apex, and her body was just regaining energy this way.
He remembered the moment she had woken up the other day—Svetlana had cried and hugged Mei tightly, as if letting go would make her disappear into thin air. It was a strange, yet touching sight. He thought Svetlana must have felt a lot of guilt for not being able to protect her friend in such a critical situation. Ryo was certain Mei had been on Svetlana's mind the whole time, and this emotional outburst was the result of that pent-up concern. For the first time, Ryo found himself judging someone he didn't know well as a truly good person. It wasn't easy to determine a person's character; people were complex, and good and evil weren't always clear-cut categories. Yet, Svetlana's actions up to that point had undeniably shown she was kind-hearted.
Of course, it didn't help that this same person had reprimanded Ryo earlier. He imagined Svetlana's view of him must have been the exact opposite. He couldn't blame her; he questioned whether she was unjustified in her comments. If he were in her shoes, he would also condemn himself for the choices he made. After all, he justified his decisions—thinking he was protecting those around him—but deep down, he realized his actions were also driven by self-preservation, a way to avert his gaze from uncomfortable truths.
The thought made him bite his lip in frustration as he watched the two of them.
Tadashi hadn't been present; he was busy training somewhere else on the isle. Since their return, he had thrown himself into training, likely disillusioned by the stark contrast of strength they had all witnessed. The recent events had lit a flame within him.
Even after Mei had woken up, Ryo hadn't spoken to her once. He had worried about her during those two weeks, but he couldn't bring himself to face her. She had encouraged him in the past when he was at his lowest, and he had promised himself to change, even if only little by little. However, when the moment came, he found himself reverting to the same old Ryo, which made him feel inadequate and pathetic. So, he stayed away.
But Mei, on the other hand, was puzzled not knowing why he would avoid her.
...
5 weeks till the Labyrinth of Lethe
Ryo had decided to wake up early today. Over the past three weeks, motivation for training or studying for the Labyrinth had eluded him, but he realized he couldn't mope around forever. If he was to survive the life-threatening dangers that awaited him in the Labyrinth of Lethe, he had to build strength. From that harrowing attack, he had learned one painful truth: he was woefully weak.
And because of that weakness, Koki had almost died. Ryo hadn't been helpful; instead, he had nearly gotten someone killed.
After the incident in the city, Ryo was sent to a vast castle-like building in the city's heart. There, he met Katsuro Acashi, the man in charge of the Isles and the city, which meant he oversaw all the Lilies and people who ran the establishment.
Sofia had told them what had happened while escorting them back to the Isles. They had encountered a strange man who had whispered Ryo away before he returned.
Many of the staff looked puzzled. Among them was Sir Helianthus, the head of Darkness Isle, as well as representatives from every other Isle. The setting felt almost like a trial; the atmosphere was thick with a sense of scrutiny. Ryo gulped as he sensed they were evaluating him.
"And Mr. Kobayashi, what purpose did the man in question have for kidnapping you?" Sir Helianthus asked.
"I don't know why he specifically took me; he didn't really answer when I asked him," Ryo replied.
He knew better than to reveal that the Order of Thorns had sought to recruit him. He could see weary glances transform into something more hostile or intimidating than what he was experiencing now. In the worst-case scenario, they could associate him with those terrorists, and he was uncertain what fate awaited him then.
I have to get out of this situation, even if it means weaving a few lies over the truth, he thought, steeling himself.
"Did he perhaps tell you why he was here?" Sir Helianthus pressed.
"He claimed he and his group, attacked this city because it supported the Grand Narrator. He referred to it as 'the Formless One,' if I remember correctly," Ryo answered.
He intentionally chose to withhold the fact that they had also approached him about joining their ranks.
Upon hearing this information, the attendees, including Helianthus, frowned in contemplation. It seemed unlikely that a religious dispute had prompted the attack. Rather, it suggested a direct issue with the Grand Narrator himself, not merely with those who supported him. Knowledge of this city was closely guarded; only a few nations across the continent were aware of its existence, and that information was reserved for high-ranking nobles who sought to win favor with the Grand Narrator.
So, how could the Order of Thorns know that people here supported him?
A sense of concern weighed heavily, but Sir Helianthus pressed on.
Have they caught on to me covering things up? No, that couldn't be it… could it?
Ryo's expression gave no hint of his inner turmoil as Sir Helianthus leaned forward.
"This man—who was he? Did he at least tell you his name?"
"He called himself Mortis Blakrose, leader of the Order of Thorns," Ryo replied.
The room fell silent as everyone exchanged puzzled glances. For the first time, Katsuro Acashi spoke up.
"That's odd; I think I've heard the name Blakrose before, but I can't quite place it," Acashi said.
Then they turned to Ryo, eager to hear what had happened when he vanished the second time. Though hesitant to reveal too much, Ryo shared that someone with a unique ability was responsible, but he struggled to recall details.
"I remember everything going dark. It felt like someone was messing with my mind, as if trapping me in some dream world, but I couldn't tell who," said Ryo.
This was a lie, but he sensed he must keep his knowledge of Vallia and Blakrose to himself; revealing it would spell trouble, especially given the comfort he'd found on this Isle.
"I see. So, there's nothing we can do about it now, is there? Still, I sense you're hiding something. We'll need to remain cautious. If I recall, unlike the rest of the Lilies summoned here, you arrived early elsewhere. That's concerning enough, but since it involves a Messenger, it may not matter for now," Sir Helianthus concluded, signaling the end of the meeting.
"However, it's not entirely impossible for you and your companions to be plotting something with that eccentric Messenger, although it's highly unlikely," Sir Helianthus remarked.
After that, Katsuro Acashi dismissed the brief meeting.
That went better than I expected. Maybe I was able to deceive them, Ryo thought, a conflicted expression crossing his face.
Since nearly all the gardeners had gathered, Ryo seized the opportunity to approach Soren Evergreen from the Cleric Isle. He wanted to inquire about Koki's condition.
"Mr. Evergreen, sir, I thought I'd take this chance to speak with you," Ryo said.
Soren glanced at Ryo for a moment, trying to place his face, before making a fist and hitting his palm in realization.
"Ah, young Kobayashi, now I remember!" Soren exclaimed.
"Young?"
Ryo couldn't shake the feeling that Soren looked barely in his thirties, hardly old enough to use such a term. Could he actually be older than he appeared? Ryo wondered.
"I wanted to ask about my friend—the one who was poisoned and is currently in a coma," Ryo said.
"Oh, the blonde boy? He's still very much in a coma. I did mention he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, but he has been improving. During the first week we brought him to the Cleric Isle for treatment, he had a pained expression on his face, even while unconscious, but that has eased since then. He doesn't look as pale as he did before."
"Thanks for letting me know. I'm glad to hear he's doing better," Ryo replied.
As he spoke, Ryo seemed to hesitate, his expression shifting as if he wanted to add something. Just as Soren was about to conclude their conversation, Ryo reached out and gently tapped Soren's shoulder.
"About what we discussed before: once we finish our page in the Labyrinth of Lethe, I'd like to return to the Desert of Zhark'nar in hopes of finding a cure for Koki."
Soren looked surprised, then let out a soft sigh before smiling at Ryo.
"I can see you care a great deal for your friend, to be willing to venture back into such a treacherous environment on his behalf." He adjusted his monocle firmly. "Very well, I will make the necessary arrangements. When you return, I will personally accompany you on your journey."
Ryo's expression brightened, tears welling up in his eyes, but he fought to maintain his composure.
"Thank you so much for doing this. I'm truly grateful for your help so far," Ryo said.
"You're welcome. Now, if you would please excuse me," Soren replied.
With that, Soren gently urged Ryo to allow him to take his leave. Ryo stepped back, heading toward his own isle,