Immediately following Kalvin's proposal, a deep silence descended upon the chamber. Only the gentle hum of the Blue Mist was audible.
Antoni surveyed Kalvin with his deep red eyes. A slight smile played on the corner of his lips as he calmly stated, "Responsibility, coupled with an adequate reward, is enough for an experienced hunter. I accept the task, but with one condition—I retain the freedom of my investigation, and you keep your word."
Lily looked down at the glass vial in her hand. The vial's blue liquid seemed to dispel her inner anxiety and instill some courage. She looked at Kalvin, overcoming her characteristic hesitation, and said in a firm voice, "I also accept this responsibility. If the purity within me can help find these ancient rituals, then I am prepared to do it."
Kalvin nodded serenely. "I expected your answer. You are both chosen, and the purpose of the Blue Mist is never thwarted." Kalvin's shadowy form shifted slightly, and his voice deepened, as if he were revealing the Mist's deepest secrets. "Listen, Antoni and Lily. The 'Clockwork Heart' is not merely components or rituals. It is a force tied to time, capable of creation and destruction. As you begin to collect its elements, you will not just be fighting monsters—your own inner darkness will awaken. Remember: Antoni, let your mind be engrossed in the pursuit, and Lily, let your purity guide you. If you do not trust one another, the Artifact will fail, and its destructive consequences will consume you both."
With that dreadful warning, Kalvin tapped the armrest of his throne once more—this time louder, causing an explosion within the Mist.
The surrounding Blue Mist suddenly swirled around them like a storm. Everything was engulfed in an intense blue light, dazzling the eyes. From within the storm, some mist settled upon both their hands, forming a four-pointed star-shaped symbol. It was similar to Alik's symbol, the only difference being that Alik's symbol was on his chest, while Lily's and Antoni's symbols were on their hands. The symbol was A stylized four-pointed star, sharp and stark, pierces a perfectly circular aureole.
The central star is rendered in deep, unyielding shadow, its four triangular points meeting at the center to form a precise, inwardly curving diamond shape, reminiscent of a celestial compass rose or a concentrated nexus of arcane power. Its cardinal points stretch outwards, thin and needle-sharp, as if marking the absolute North, South, East, and West of an enchanted realm. This dark core is framed by a delicate, thin circle of light—a ring of ethereal silver or forged starlight that barely contains the potent darkness within, creating an emblem that speaks of balanced opposition: the eternal conflict between the void and the celestial sphere, or perhaps a sigil used by an ancient order dedicated to navigating the most treacherous, star-crossed paths. It is the mark of a Seeker or a Wanderer who treads the liminal spaces between worlds.
This is the Ethereal Tear Mark or The Silver-Blue Tear Mark. Moments after the symbol formed on Antoni and Lily's hands, the blue mist storm subsided.
The intense blue light around them gradually faded. As the turmoil of the storm subsided, Antoni and Lily saw the dense layer of Blue Mist resting calmly on the chamber floor again, as if nothing had happened. But now, the sharp, four-pointed star symbol—the 'Ethereal Tear Mark' or 'Silver-Blue Tear Mark'—was glowing on both their hands.
Antoni turned his palm to examine the symbol. The faint circle of silvery-blue light around the deep, shadowed star seemed like a commitment to a new challenge for his hunter self. His red eyes now held a cold conviction instead of doubt. Kalvin's warning was not just an obstacle to him, but an indication of an even greater reward.
Lily, in her characteristic gentleness, was somewhat bewildered. The presence of that ancient, mysterious symbol on the soft skin of her hand brought her face to face with an unknown feeling. The symbol felt like a physical signature of the vow she had made to reach the depths of the Blue Mist with her inner purity. She was not terrified, but imbued with a sacred sense of duty.
Kalvin, motionless on his throne, seemed to have merged with the Blue Mist itself. His voice was quieter now, almost a whisper—but its power remained unchanged.
"I have already given you your reward, and that is a good relationship with me." Upon hearing this, Antoni was completely astonished. He thought to himself, The being standing before me is no ordinary being. He holds power almost like a god. If he is a god, then this is an incredible offer that can never be refused. And even if he is not a god, his majestic power will still greatly assist me in the future. Lily was also surprised to hear the words and blurted out, "What! A chance to have a good connection with you!" She quickly covered her mouth with both hands and thought, A chance to have a good relationship with such a powerful being. She, too, began to think along the same lines as Antoni.
Kalvin continued, "Now, putting aside the remaining matters. I will summon both of you here onto this blue mist every three days after 2 PM. You will report the progress of your investigations to me here. After that, you can exchange items amongst yourselves here for money or information. Antoni and Lily listened attentively to Kalvin. Kalvin added, "Yes, one more thing. There is another person working for me: his name is Alik. I hope you will get along with him."
Antoni and Lily answered positively. Kalvin said, "Alright, now I will send you back to where you were." Hearing this, a wave of happiness seemed to wash over Lily's gentle heart. It was as if she had been waiting a long time to hear this.
Kalvin tapped his majestic throne once. This caused the blue mist to spread out like a shockwave. And at that moment, Antoni and Lily realized that the blue mist in front of them was slowly disappearing. They both returned to their former states. Lily sat on her bed and Antoni stood on the edge of the cliff, pondering what had just happened to them. Everything seemed to have occurred and ended in a flash...