Utterly disappointed, Lucian frowned.
He was familiar with the term 'Mummy' before. To this day, there has been an ongoing study of ages—was the Old World more terrifying than the current age after the Cataclysm?
In Lucian's humble opinion, by quite a margin, he believed the Old World was more dangerous. His reason for thinking so was the history of the Old World he had read about.
Apparently, in the days of old, there was a treacherous sea beast that resided deep in a lake called the Loch Ness monster, and creatures from outer space that would descend and kidnap cows and sometimes even humans.
The Old World predated the Tower of Desire; hence, humanity hadn't received the blessing of Talents yet.
The humans of the Old World must have been resilient and tenacious to survive in the face of so many horrifying existences. As for the current age, post-Cataclysm, the world still harboured dangers. Ascenders that gave up on ascending the tower, choosing the life of Rogues, and remnant creatures that still roamed the earth because of the Cataclysm, and many more horrors Lucian wasn't truly aware of.
Mummies were dead kings that rose from their tombs wrapped in weary bandages; like most of the monsters of the Old World, they resented humans.
Those zombie-like kings were much more intimidating than the serpentine bandages flowing in the air in front of him.
"Just how will it be beneficial to me? It doesn't even want me to approach the sword," said Lucian, standing a distance from the blade.
Zipping up the katana bag, Lady Kuro explained, "The linen bandages can restrict an opponent's movements, but yours too if you happen to lose focus during a battle. Combining that with the katana makes for an excellent combination. Even though you're not Gifted yet, it should be able to hold off your enemies for a few crucial seconds."
Lucian appreciated her explanation; he garnered some understanding of the lower-grade sacred relic: Mummy's home and how it could be effective in a fight.
"I see," he said, thinking of the irascible wrap in a new light.
Lady Kuro threw the black bag at him and added wholeheartedly, "May the Sun guide your blade and protect you on your journey."
"By the twin goddesses." Lucian and Aurora said in return, whilst performing hand gestures to the goddesses.
With the mission set in stone, no more needed to be discussed. It sounded simple: Travel to Boneyard, rescue Stussy, and retrieve information from Skirk regarding the Rogue that Aurora was hunting.
Easier said than done, but when was something easy in Stonekeep?
Glistening stars shone like bright lights in the backdrop of the night sky as Lucian and Aurora exited the Dragon's Den. Except for the speeding motor cars of a drag race happening in the distance, the streets were surprisingly desolate, likely due to the wild gunfight at the bar.
"They'll be expecting us if we move now," Aurora advised. "Boneyard is only about two hours away on motor car… Yeah, we'll strike them at dusk. Get some rest now, Luci, because your training starts in the morning."
With a yawn, Lucian added, a tad puzzled, "Training? Sure, I lack technique with a sword, but swinging a katana should be straightforward for me. I've practiced kendo before."
Aurora sighed before facing the other direction.
"No, remember our deal?" She turned her head and shot him a warm smile, "I'll make an excellent Ascender out of you."
Lucian watched her vanish into sparks of gold before he could even formulate a reply.
'So cool…' He silently admired in his heart, but then his eyebrows creased, 'Wait, Miss Aurora didn't even tell me where I should meet her in the morning?!'
*****
That same night. Boneyard, the hideout of the Skull gang. Main chamber.
"Are you an imbecile!" An infuriated man wearing a deer skull over his head raged as he smashed a bottle of fine liquor into the wall. "I gave you a simple request: enter that blasted pub, kidnap Kuro and leave. Simple as that! And yet, you brought me her underling. Is this some joke?"
Restrained by men donning skull masks, Stussy watched in awe as Skirk, the leader of the Skull gang, lashed out on August. It was a sight for sore eyes to witness the person who kidnapped her get scolded like a mere child.
Thinking of an excuse, August explained, "She didn't deny me when I called her Lady Kuro. I'm just a blind person, Skirk, what else could I have done?"
Skirk's sigh was audible as he shifted his gaze towards the retrained Stussy. The deer mask's darkness obscured his eyes, yet Stussy shuddered beneath his oppressive gaze, overwhelmed by it.
He called a guard over with the gesture of his hand and added in a heavy voice:
"Have for Xaio Mei to heal her wounds and lock her up in one of the lower cells after. We'll have to deviate from the plan."
After bowing his head, the guard ordered the skull-masked captors to lift Stussy off the ground, but before they could take her to another room. From the corner of her eye, Stussy watched someone walk by, carrying a strange lantern carved from obsidian.
It had jagged edges, and what was most unusual about it was that the dark lantern carried eyeballs that flowed within it like fish. Stussy couldn't make out the figure as if a cloak of pure darkness shrouded him.
"Deviate from the plan?" He asked jokingly, and once he spoke, everyone in the room seemed to be on edge as he continued, "On the contrary, Skirk, the plan is proceeding as intended—Just as 'He' foresaw it."
Stussy raised a brow in confusion; the twin goddesses were the only deities that were referred to by esteemed honorifics such as "She" and "Her", but before she could question his bizarre statement any further, she was forcefully pulled out of the mysterious sanctum by the guard.
The last thing she saw before one of the Skull gang members threw a bag over her head was one of the swirling eyeballs in the jagged lantern glancing at her. An eye like molten copper, which glowed faintly in the lantern's darkness, pierced her with a feeling she could only describe as yearning.
*****
The following morning.
Hecter's Multifarious Motel. Room 12B.
Lucian's occupation as a barkeeper meant he often missed most mornings, as he would be hard at work late into the night. He was not used to waking up to the rising sun.
After taking care of himself and doing his usual out-of-bed routines, Lucian donned a dark blue windbreaker and black pants of a comfortable size. It was still the middle of autumn, and the morning air was rather harsh; therefore, he dressed for warmth.
After hoisting the katana bag over his back and tying his shoelaces, Lucian headed for the door, but paused at the small picture frames he had of his family on his desk.
Gifts that Director Moren had given to him before Lucian left the Red Cross orphanage. A forlorn expression slowly appeared on his face as he looked at the pictures of his parents. The orphanage director gave him a short description of them for him to remember.
His brown-haired father was a charismatic businessman who invested in the major guilds through his various business ventures—gaining respect amongst influential leaders across the cities of Ascendia.
His hazel-eyed mother was a historian and a researcher, to say the least; she led a group that studied artifacts and relics of the Old World. She contributed to research about the Old World's geography and natural structures, including its vast differences.
They discovered that there were several continents back then, as opposed to the singular one there was now: The land of beginnings, Ascendia.
Director Moren had told him his parents were remarkable people, and he believed so.
Lucian glanced at his favourite portrait; it was damaged and torn, but it was the only one that showed his whole family together with him.
His mother, his father, and a younger girl that he believed was his little sister, but the side she was in was long torn and damaged.
Glancing at all of them—a future that'll never exist again, Lucian smiled and said wholeheartedly:
"Mom, Dad, even you, little sis… I've decided. I'm going to give it another chance. Please continue to watch over me. This time… I promise. This time, I'll awaken my Desire and become a full-fledged Ascender."
The portraits of his family didn't respond—they never did, but their smiles were more than enough to ignite a fire deep within him.
He left his room after lighting the essence candles in front of the portraits. The candle evoked the floral scent of roses, his mother's favourite flower.