Where Reverence Began

Five Years Ago...

"Azto," there came that low, unperturbed voice ringing down to the back of my mind that brought my spine close to a shiver at the very first moment I heard it. "I told you, I dislike alcohols."

It might not sound much, but I knew for a fact that it was a subtle warning, one that I am familiar with the most. I simply smiled, taking the glass filled with red wine on her table, the dim light of the room reflecting her beautiful image upon it. My hand gripped around the glass lightly, lifting the edge of it against my lips as I observed her with great willingness.

Her once long black hair was now cut off short that reached just below her neck. Her pale blue eyes shinning as though they were beacons that took over all the sights one may look at. She grew taller, more sturdier--but at first glance, she seemed so frail and weak that she would fall in a single push. That is not the case, of course. Every single flesh in this organization knows how bad it would be to pick a fight with the woman who is greatly feared by most.

"I wonder why." I said, leaning over the table where she was working as I put the empty glass back, crossing my arms. "Low alcohol tolerance?"

She did not answer, her gaze solely focused on the big rectangular map below. It made me shrug knowing she wouldn't truly pay attention to any of my ramblings. So I moved behind her, fingers tapping my chin as my eyes carefully traced the lines she had been drawing since earlier. At first it appeared as if she was merely playing around with how she put the lines that connected to each other, as well as big random circles she would draw at intersections.

"Ah!" I snapped my fingers in realization. "Are you by any chance figuring out the World's Organization's main location?"

"We already know it's somewhere down in Magnus." She answered, not exactly minding my presence either way. "I'm running out of time." She whispered to herself, clenching the pen she was holding.

"If you will it, your followers will move." I said, knowing how much she wanted all this to end already."

"That's precisely the problem." She stood up, pushing her chair behind. "If I make my move now," she pointed at a middle of the huge circle on the eastern side of the map. "Magnus would just run."

I nodded. "You have a point. The World's Organization have a habit of acting all aggressive when they only meant to divert their enemies to something else so they could remain one or two steps ahead." I sighed. "That's the reason why our sacred organization could never win against them. But!" I shook my head dejectedly. "If we wait for them to create an opening, it would take us decades of years. That's how meticulous Magnus is."

"I'm running out of time, Azto." She glanced over at the southern part of the map with a frown. "The world's already crumbling down. Half of the entire south had already become a wasteland."

What she meant by wasteland is that half of the whole southern territory of the world already had too much energy to the point nature could not filter it anymore. This dangerous energy is similar to her nether energy in which only she in this whole entire world, can manipulate and bathe in without ever being affected by it.

Normally, being able to control both pure and dark is impossible for already controlling dark has huge chances of killing or taking over the holder. Nether energy is even more dangerous for it can literally leave something into nothing once fully unleashed, something this girl in front of me had long realized but was too contented with what she already has enough to meet her full potential.

This unfiltered energy could harm all aspects of life, drowning both pure and dark energy in which if an ordinary person with either too little or zero energy levels, could die in an instant. But that isn't what she's worried about. Because not only living things can die when being under the influence of this heavy and dangerous energy, as well as lands and oceans. In other words, everything that this type of energy touches, disappears--leaving behind a trail of vast lands filled with dusts and pouring ashes.

We know so because for decades, our organization was brought to life in order to study these events and the possibility of it happening. At first, this nether energy was only so little that it was hardly even noticeable enough to be considered as a threat. But as times went by, the world has accumulated too much abundant energy to the point it already eats away bits by bits of what brings this world into life: energy.

It was said that long before gods and other deities even existed, there were the Progenitors who witness the rebirth and destruction of worlds after another. There are plenty of other dimensions out there that people who know nothing can only imagine. Pure energy is what majority of the everday people have, and dark energy was born out it because of the too much accumulated negative emotions in a person.

Then there's this different type of energy that only Progenitors are said to have. Philosophers and other discoverers theorized that this certain type of energy is similar to the massive power of energy used to create this world and all life in it. Of course, governments and other realists think people who study these things are crazy for nobody truly ever believed there are other people even higher than gods. Some people in the past think it was a declaration of war against their chosen religion that they banned any studies regarding it.

And lastly there's the nether energy. This nether energy is capable of eating up this 'certain type of energy' used to create this world and all lives in it. And what would happen if this nether energy completely eradicates the energy that built all lives in this world? Death. There would be nothing but destruction and chaos all around and nether energy will never stop spreading until no living thing is left on the surface of this world.

That's what Ke'ala Feyree is trying to prevent. She does not care about the lives of people, she cares about the world itself. She cannot allow the world to crumble away because it was a responsibility given to her even before she was brought into existence as a human.

We have been keeping an eye on her for so long now that we knew she would rather do everything on her own along with her aids. At least that's what we thought until the day arrived where Caelesti of the Unknown herself walked straight into our hideout like she knew where to find it completely.

She must have had realized how incompetent and weak her so-called 'aids' are. They cannot bring this girl into a figure of great power. They do no realize the extent of her abilities. She must have been tired from playing 'family' and 'friends' with them after that well-liked demon of hers betrayed her so easily. The thought makes me laugh. How dare those weak things reduce my Mistress to this kind of vulnerability?

Ke'ala Feyree must not show weakness. She is strong. She is different. She is the definition of power itself. And it should remain that way. She must kill if she sees it necessary and she must have everything if she is meant to take it all. We, her followers in this sacred organization, are merely her pawns. Even the Master acknowledges her power.

Unlike her aids who she cannot bear to see in pain, we are her pieces she can sacrifice or throw out if she wishes for it. Because we are strong, something like emotions will not break our objective: that is to unlock the mystery that clouds the creation of all lives in this world. And only she can take us to that discovery, only she can reach the answers our organization has long seek. For the sake of that objective, we will gladly offer her our lives.

I smiled, kneeling right in front of her as I lifted her hand up against my lips. "We will act as you will it, Mistress. Our sacred Grimhouse will follow without fail."

"Then let's start here." She grabbed the map from the table, flaunting it near my face.

"The Romaine Kingdom?" I tilted my head in wonder, looking right at where her finger pointed. "That's a country situated exactly where the wasteland would spread next."

"Precisely."

I matched her height as I stood, crossing my arms. "One country disappearing compared to previous dozens already swallowed by the wasteland won't make a difference." I watched her expression, except that I found nothing but calmness in her pale blue eyes. "If you're hoping to save that Kingdom, it's no use."

"What if I do save it?" She stepped closer. "Are you saying you won't do as I say?"

I smiled. "Of course not. I will do as you will."

"Rest assured, Azto. I'm going there for a different purpose. However, if saving that Kingdom is what's required in order to achieve that purpose, then so be it."

"And what is this purpose?"

"The World's Organization," she frowned, gazing over the door. "I'm going to destroy them...no matter how much I sacrifice in exchange for it."

"You're powerful, Ke'ala. Can't you just walk over there and run rampant?"

She scoffed. "You're exaggerating. Even if I do go there and make a mess, they would just escape or who knows?" She smiled. "They might even be able to kill me."

"That will never happen. I or the entire organization of Grimhouse, will never let anything happen to you. Such is the law since the day you became a Grim." I said so respectfully.

"I appreciate the thought." She waved her fingers, opening the door with the sheer force of her energy. "But it's unnecessary. You merely have to do as you're told."

I followed behind her as she strode past the doorway, arms gently flung on her side. People who have seen us walked over had stopped for a short moment to bow. Servants in our sacred organization each wear black veils over their heads to prevents anyone else from knowing their identity. They might have came from the different parts of the world or whatever background they might have, none of those matter the moment they swore their lives for the sake of the Grimhouse.

Grimhouse is a cult that has been existing for more than a hundred of years now. We do not spread, we only grow in numbers as years pass. We have no branches designated on several parts of the world unlike other groups do, we live securely in secrecy that only a number of people know of us. In the first place, it was our organization which spread the rumors that uttering the name "Grimhouse" would bring them death in order to help us hide.

For years, our sacred hive has been slaughtering lives from nations to nations to help alleviate the spread of the nether energy turning everything into wasteland. It's because too much mana has caused the build-up of nether and the only way to slow down its growth is to erase mana sources which is destroying an entire place filled with abundant of energy.

However, the nether energy has completely spread to the point even an annihilation of a whole country can't slow it down. Thus, we need Ke'ala, the only being capable of manipulating this dangerous mana, to filter this energy--in other words, to return the world to what it once was--a world without the existence of nether. The Grimhouse Four, the leaders of this organization, wanted to have this girl when the First Grim, the Master--met her back in Siegber.

But Ke'ala was far from being able to do what she does now back then. She was weak in a sense that she refused to do everything with anyone else and would rather create her personal aides rather than take in an army. She was too kind for her own sake--kind in a totally twisted way of course.

She is twisted but she isn't cruel. She is corrupted but she isn't evil. And she was still a child regardless of her appearance. She still is now. That's why just like the rest of the Grims who have their own, I was assigned to be her personal attendant. It was more of like a way to track down her activities. After all, she could choose to die any moment now if she herself wishes for it so.

I took the initiative to open the double wooden doors for her, revealing another massive room surrounded by tall architecture of walls. The floor was fixed in a way similar to a black and white chessboard. There was a giant glass wall hovered in front, serving as the only thing giving enlightenment of the room as rays of light past through it. An old woman was stationed before it, her standing figure casting a shadow beside. She was wearing a black gown with a veil above her head.

The said woman bowed, her right hand touching her chest as she did. "May the Power glorify our sacred Sect."

Ke'ala waved her hand in dismissal. "Where are the rest?"

"The apprentices are running late, First Mistress."

"I see." She sighed, walking towards the window. "Leave. I'll wait for them."

The woman nodded, quietly striding out of the room. I clenched my fists in annoyance as the old woman shut the door behind her. I should have expected this from the start. Those disrespectful apprentices.

"I'll teach them a lesson--"

"Attendants cannot harm a Grim's apprentice," Ke'ala interrupted, her calm gaze focused on the scenery before her. "Isn't that one of the rules? My two months here didn't just involve planning, Azto. Finishing a rulebook or two isn't a bother at all."

"I can't, unless you say so." I clarified.

"And I'm telling you that you can't."

"They're clearly disrespecting you, Ke'ala."

"I can always change their emotions in a heartbeat and you are aware of that."

"But why don't you?"

She smiled so vibrantly. "Isn't it more fun this way? Still, if it continues to go on like this, I might just not like it." But her face soon faltered into a serious one, and I knew then how dangerous those simple gazes mean. "After all, I have no need for those who can't do what I want them to."

"The apprentices may not like you, but they are aware of their positions in this Sect. They will follow you as required of the Law."

"That's reassuring." She says that, but the serious expression behind her eyes told me something different.

"I shall prepare your tea, Mistress. Why don't you take a seat--"

"Unnecessary." She turned her head to the door, and it was then the light began to shift in a way as if it was meant as a spotlight just for her.

Like she was expecting them, the giant double doors was pushed open in a manner as if they're quite upset about the fact they had to be here. Looking at them made me frown silently, I never truly did like them. As I had mentioned, there are four Grims that run this entire Sect. The First Master--Clerix--being the major authority followed by the Second, Third, and Fourth. Each Grims have their own apprentices they can pass on their titles, and they are also ranked in a way similar to their own Masters and Mistresses.

However, ever since Ke'ala came in this Sect after leaving her aides two months ago, Master Clerix made a sudden announcement of retiring, passing along his title to Ke'ala Feyree whom the entire organization hasn't even met beforehand. Of course, we knew the previous First Master had an apprentice named Ke'ala but we never did see her personally. That was why we were surprised when Master Clerix gave her his authority just like that even when the latter hasn't even been here for a week around that time.

I was quite confused myself that I had asked the previous Master to be her attendant, given I was his beforehand. He never did truly need me for anything, but he believed Ke'ala would need my assistance that he eagerly agreed. Although retired Grims' attendants should follow after their masters into retiring themselves, I was an exception.

"Hmm. So this is the woman the First Master brought in?" The Second Master's Apprentice, Mercel von Ecríz arrogantly said with a contemptuous smirk on his face.

A fine man clad in a rich black suit, neat blonde hair pushed behind, almost white jaded skin, and round brown eyes looking so challenged at Ke'ala. It was right to say he was observing her after all, it was the first they had met one another. They did offer to meet her at first, but the current First Mistress would always turn down the appointments because she'd rather spend her time planning things out than play their ranking games. Though I can't say the same for sure now.

This young man had come from a long line of Grimhouse attendants serving the Grims. For generations, his parents or the ones before them had always been serving under the will of the Second Mistress that when he was born, he was already promised with a life of being an apprentice. This became an honour that he grew proud of so it isn't a surprise seeing his dislike for someone who just became a Grim, the First at that, all of the sudden.

"It's the first time all of us have met each other, no?" Ke'ala gently smiled, not expecting them at all to return it.

"Because you always turn down our gathering invitations." The Third's Apprentice replied, her own impassive expression fading into annoyance as proved by her shaking fist. Eventually, she lifted her hand up, allowing a small fire to exude from it. "Are you mocking us, First Mistress?" She questioned rather sarcastically.

She wore rather simple compared to the noble man beside her, plain shirt coated with a front leather plate serving as a clothed armour which extended down to her knees. She wore another leather choker around her neck, the long scar on the left side of her cheek visible. A cloth of hood atop her long brown hair almost touching the elbows and dark eyes as if waiting for Ke'ala to do something first regarding her provocation.

Unlike Apprentice Mercel, the Third Master's Apprentice, Seraphina Cyllaz, is but a plain commoner adopted in by the Sect after her own Master saw massive potential in her. She had been wandering the streets in one of the Eastern countries, her hometown was destroyed by our organization but instead of killing her, the Third Master simply brought her in.

She managed to climb up the ranks and finally became an apprentice because of sheer hardwork and skills. Her accomplishments and success had bore ego as well as pride within herself that she most likely didn't want to believe someone completely unknown was able to become the First Mistress of the Grimhouse without having to see for herself what my Mistress is capable of.

"Oh?" Ke'ala had her eyebrow lift at the sight. "And what does your little fire intend to do, Little Miss Apprentice?"

If I hadn't known better, I would even say Ke'ala is rather amused by their reactions upon seeing her and simply wanted to have fun. That is not primarily the case, of course. The First Grim did not call them here for a simple meet and greet, she was looking forward on knowing what these apprentices are capable or if they can successfully do what she asks of them.

"I won't be an apprentice for too long." She declared. "But I guess if I do thrash you up, Master would finally let me have his title." Upon saying that, the small fire on her hand had intensified that it engulfed her entire left arm.

"How bold." Mercel von Ecríz commented with a scowl on his face, directing it at the younger woman beside him. "This is the problem with uneducated commoners. They do not know how to keep formalities at all."

"Huh? What're ya muttering there, bastard?" This time, it was Seraphina Cyllaz' turn to smirk. "If you got a problem with that, you should run to your precious mother and let her solve all your problems for you, like usual."

"One more word and I shall have you punished for your imprudent behaviour, Miss Commoner."

"Try me, rich guy."

"You--!"

"If this is going to be another scene of your endless banter, I would prefer to be excused than bear to witness such waste of time." The soft and mellow voice belonged to none other than the Fourth Master's Apprentice, Grisela de Veend.

A slender girl with long white hair, beautiful lilac eyes, and a figure of great discipline and respect--despite how she's being viewed as such by the entire Sect, there's nothing in her that made her really special unlike the rest of the Apprentices. Her talent for magic is average and so is her mana capacity. Her physical prowess is majorly lacking compared to others that it could even be argues she's the weakest apprentice to have walked through these halls.

However, just like how she would conduct herself now, her face would always remain the same--unmoving and still like the way she's standing right there so quietly, only choosing to meddle at times like this. She especially disliked boisterous people as she enjoyed her personal space and valued silence more than anything.

Grisela de Veend came from a family of a fallean noble house many decades ago but instead of renewing their last names, they kept it in hope that they could accumulate enough power to be accepted as part of Néo Evgenés, or called the Era of New Noble. They began to work for the Sect as chancellors tasked with intelligent works or gathering information. After three decades of working here, one of their kin finally became an apprentice.

Her ordinary constitution wasn't the reason she was chosen as the Fourth's Apprentice. She didn't particularly work hard to become one, but she didn't slack off either. She's just capable of doing any tasks given to her, however hard or beyond they may be from her ability.

She can do so little magic that she would probably be defeated by some servant out there. Although the Fourth's reason for making her an apprentice hasn't been revealed yet, there has been nothing outstanding about her--as of now. Perhaps she was chosen because out of anyone in this Sect, she's the most normal. The Fourth Master had always been that irrational.

The remaining two immediately looked away from Miss Grisela, eventually setting their banter aside. Well, the Fourth's Apprentice may be lacking in any physical and energy-based aspect, they at least respect her intellect.

Suddenly, Miss Seraphina spoke, her fire had long already been put out. "So? We aren't just here for the sake of greeting each other, right? What do you want?"

Ke'ala glanced upon, as if admiring the crystal sculptures attached unto the walls, with chains connected which were hanging from the ceiling. "How would you kill a monster?"

"Simple." The young man from the noble Ecríz House smirked. "Become one yourself."

"Tsk. It's a rhetorical question." The Third's Apprentice promptly replied. "I just have to gauge all of its insides out after plunging my fist to its heart."

"...I suppose I would spend time with it learning its weaknesses before using those to kill it."

"Hmm." The woman who questioned them did not seem too amazed by their questions, her gaze still focused on the sculptures above. "Realistic but lacking. Straightforward but irrational. Logical but careless." Ke'ala closed her eyes. "I see. So that's how it is."

"What are you talking about?" Miss Seraphina asked, greatly bothered as it seemed.

"How would you kill a deathless monster?" Ke'ala said, ignoring the Apprentice's question, which made the latter glare at her.

However, nobody answered her question, they were in deep thoughts yet nobody truly knew the right answer. Ke'ala laughed with great interest, taking her steps forward down the stairs, carefully surrounding the three with mischief in her eyes. For someone who had been staying with her for quite a while now, I somehow just couldn't figure out what she's thinking.

"What's this all about? Why can't you just say whatever it is?"

"Oh Miss Seraphina," The First Grim said almost mockingly, leaning closer to the said girl younger than her at most for two years. "That impatience will get you killed someday."

"Not if I can help it."

"You can't, can you? None of you have any idea how. It did sound impossible after all." Ke'ala lifted her finger, pointing it at the girl's chest. "But it's quite easy though. You just have to carve your name unto its heart, corrupt it, then--" Ke'ala set her lips beside the girl's right ear and slowly whispered, "--you make it human. That way, it wouldn't have to sound so impossible, would it?"

Miss Seraphina pushed the Grim away, raising her hand forward, fire surging through her skin once more in warning. "We all have no time for your creepiness."

That action didn't make Ke'ala's smile falter. "My, how rude. But understandable, as it appears you do not want a heartfelt conversation."

Mr. Mercel stepped forward. "The Sect has no need for such, I believe."

"Of course. No need to be so hostile though. Your hostilities are reeking it's honestly intoxicating."

"You want us for something, do you not?" Miss Grisela spoke. "Please do not beat around the bush and be direct."

"Since you asked so nicely..." Ke'ala trailed off, raising her hand beside her head.

All of the sudden, the three Apprentices were blown away several steps back. They were able to regain their balance, but their faces showed signs of surprise enough not to care about the small cuts on their bodies because of the powerful impact. Even I had to immediately cover up my body with a layer of energy, protecting myself from harm. The rest were just too caught off guard to bother.

Before anyone could say something, a huge figure suddenly appeared beside Ke'ala. It formed out of nowhere, the air slowly crumbled around it--turning into dusts that eventually formed into hooves. More dusts gathered up, like they were fragments of an incomplete puzzle, twisting and turning until every part of its body were completed. We all stared in amazement, my body shivering at the sight of it.

It has a human figure, except that it looked absolutely like a monster, similar to what Ke'ala had let out when she was in Magnus before she sank half of it. To be able to see it this close...it has no face for there was that huge hole on the middle, a pair of black wings and hooves in a form of human. Its size was at least three times the size of a normal person, but I don't think that it was its final size considering the reports I had personally gathered.

Mr. Mercel stepped, blocking the two of his fellow apprentices. "You cannot harm the Grims' Apprentices." He warned.

"Meet my child--the Seraph of Vengeance, Archnaél." Upon her words, the said monster tilted its head, as if observing us. "And harm? No. You're misunderstanding the situation. You have to forgive him, he doesn't really know how to hold back his power whenever he appears, as you can see. He's still quite innocent about how the world works."

"What is the purpose of you bringing such monster out?" Miss Seraphina had asked, projecting energy to herself and the other female beside which immediately healed their small cuts.

Ke'ala merely smiled. "We're having a field trip."

What Ke'ala had meant by those words was that she wanted them to follow her somewhere. The other Grims approved of her taking their apprentices too easily, they were quite ecstatic of the thought actually that in no more than a day, we had already prepared enough for the five of us to travel--six, including the monster. The reason she had Archnaél follow her around was so that the monster could learn, she didn't want to tell him every single order herself for the latter to follow after all.

The Seraph's mana is massive. Enough that it could even rival those of the Grims, and considering it was Ke'ala who brought it to existence means she used her own spiritual energy to fill the monster up. It had always amazed me how abundant this young woman's mana is, but that apparently isn't enough for her to defeat her enemies. She said she needed more power, and I could only wonder what that is.

Archnaél transformed its size into a height similar to an average human, covering his body in a long white cloak with emblem of the Grimhouse hovering behind. It had taken us almost an hour to leave the Sect's headquarters, it was too huge that there were too many doors and halls to pass through. While we were simply used to it, I found it quite funny seeing Ke'ala frown every minute we made the turns.

I was worried she might decide to blow up the entire building so she could just find the exit, but I realize she wasn't really that impulsive no matter how annoyed she was. She is an impatient one, but she can still see through the process no matter how long she would have to wait. It made me smile knowing I had discovered another side about her today.

"Why aren't we riding one of those luxurious transportation most higher ups use in the Sect?" Miss Seraphina asked, frowning.

We had been walking for a few hours now, the forest extending beyond our sights could lead. While the road wasn't that difficult to travel on, the problem was the heat of the afternoon sun burning the air around us. The reason we were walking was that because Ke'ala said it would be an experience. While her Archnaél was carrying our luggages on its back, they were mostly just foods and drinks Ke'ala had asked me to get.

"Or at the very least, ride horses." Mr. Ecríz stated.

The young mad had tightened the hat above his head, and it might have prevented the heat from going after his face but the sunlight would still manage to seep underneath the hot-looking suit he currently has on. Miss Seraphina smirked at the sight, walking faster that matched Archnaél in front before hitting the man's shoulder. I could only shook my head at the two. Miss Grisela, too, wasn't gaining anything from this excursion.

Despite the silk umbrella she had been carrying, the long white sleeveless dress she changed herself into highlighted her jaded skin. She was never the kind to exert effort on something like this, but she knew she had to do it that she came. First Mistress Ke'ala didn't actually force them, but they might have thought it would have still seemed more like they weren't given any choice.

"Where are we going anyway? Grisela doesn't have the stamina for this."

"Patience, Miss Seraphina." I said instead. "Mistress Ke'ala knows of what she's doing."

"Oh? So the attendant finally speaks? Here I thought you can't unless your Mistress orders you to." She smirked.

I only shook my head in dismay, before noticing we have already diverted from the main road. Ke'ala had been leading us, though we do not know where she's going or what she needs the Apprentices for. The walk kept its pace, not too slow yet not too fast. I could almost assume Ke'ala is enjoying this. Until we stumbled upon a large wooden gate, there were people carrying weapons and the moment they saw us, they halted.

"Mistress, this place..." We stopped, guards blocking our path.

"Clerix was right. This place is just as abundant. Can you all feel that?" She raised her arms on both sides, the air in turmoil like a boiling water. "This place is rich in energy, yet it's such a pity these people in this small town don't feel it."

"Who goes there?!" One guard demanded.

"I have been studying the geography of the areas around the Sect. It was not a coincidence you have been moving from a place to another before settling in the outskirts a few years back."

"What do you mean?" Mr. Ecríz wondered.

"There's a city on the far off west side of the Sect, a village on the east, and a town here in the north. All these lands have equal massive amount of energy, and it had only been a couple of months since their energy have become active. Too active that any sensitive people would feel the air vibrate, the ground underneath trembling--and once the wasteland on the south spreads to the Romaine Kingdom, all these energies would explode."

"And why is that?" The Third's Apprentice questioned.

"Because such abundant mana would be attracted to the nether energy slowly spreading." Miss Grisela answered.

"Correct." Ke'ala confirmrd. "They are... excited, I suppose. Like magnets attracted to each other the more the other is nearby. That wouldn't have been the case if majority of the people in these three lands can manipulate this mana. But they're ordinary, people who can't do even the basic of energy manipulation. And because of that, the spiritual energy cannot be regulated and instead attracted to the nearing nether."

"What do you propose we do?" I said. "If the energy does explode, it would leave these three lands in total destruction."

"Hey! We're asking you!" Other guard yelled, his wooden spear now raised.

"My main objective is to destroy the Grimoire which I am certain the World's Organization has. They hide the Grimoire very well to the point they do not want to use it otherwise its location would be discovered. But that's what I'm after. Its location so I could destroy it. In order to do that, I have to push the World's Organization to a corner where they are left with no choice but to reveal the Book's power."

"Are they deaf or something?! Call the rest of the guards. We're apprehending them!" The man continued.

"To do that, I have to destroy that organization myself, which happens to be your Sect's main purpose of existence."

"And how does those things connect to what we're doing here?" Miss Seraphina crossed her arms.

"I'm rebuilding the Etherion Tower. I need these three specific places, as well as the Romaine Kingdom in the south."

"To filter the energy?"

"No." Ke'ala smirked. "The nether energy is spreading, it won't be long until Romaine would become a wasteland, then the outskirts where the Sect is, and eventually these three lands."

"Then what would you use four giant towers for?"

I caught the sight of Miss Grisela's eyes widening. "When you mean push the World's Organization to a corner... you're not talking about storing the spreading nether energy and direct it to Magnus, do you?"

"My, you catch on easy. You saved me a lot of trouble saying so."

"However, where would you get so many lacrimas? And not to mention four Etherion Towers... those things extend high up the skies. Where would you get manpower to do something like that?"

"Rest assured, Grisela. I'm not going to let you nor anyone in the Sect, do the construction. I already have the Orcs take care of that part."

"Orcs?!" Mr. Mercel exclaimed in surprise. "And where in the world did you find the Orcs? The lacrimas? They cannot absorb nether energy."

"You get flustered so easily, young man." Ke'ala chuckled. "And who said I'm using lacrimas when the Orcs have the source of black tourmalines?"

"Even tourmalines... where did you find those rare gems?" I asked, a bit curious now.

"And you even have the Orcs, who is said to hate humans and have been hiding themselves for ages, agree to your plans." Miss Grisela stated.

"Over there! Proceed with caution." One guard appeared, together with ten more behind him running towards us.

"They have no choice, you see." Ke'ala smiled, her expression getting more sinister. "They have to do it, whether they like it or not." She stepped forward, meeting the guards.

Ke'ala continued her steps without any care, the guards suddenly halting on their tracks with their expressions turning that of...anger, hatred--their spears suddenly turned to their subordinates. And it didn't take any more than a second before their weapons clashed with each other, screaming in rage as one man stabbed another, the other crushing one's body. The ground then became a puddle, the guards fighting against one another that they continued assaulting even the dead.

We followed the First Mistress, her footprints marked in blood as the guards ignored us, their attentions solely fixed on their own opponents. With one wave of a powerful energy, the wooden gate suddenly was blown away by Archnaél flapping his huge wings open. We were all surprised to see what the town had become, people killing one another like animals bearing their fangs.

Ke'ala spared not a single soul, children killing the old, men and women attacking even animals--and infants crying out loud before their heads were crushed to nothing by their parents. Miss Grisela moved back, clutching her stomach as she looked away from the scene. Mr. Ecríz could only frown, his face showing obvious disgust. But that wasn't the case for Miss Seraphina, judging by her clenched fists, she was obviously furious.

"Are you out of your mind?!" She grabbed Ke'ala cloak forcefully with a scowl.

"Hmm? What's this? Your Sect had been annihilating people more than I probably could ever my whole life, and you seem like you do not approve of this method."

"We kill only when it's necessary and never to this extent! You're clearly misunderstanding our sacred Sect! We annihilate people to rid of any abundant energy, but these people here clearly don't even have any mana!"

Ke'ala's face turned serious, pushing the young lady away, her eyes devoid of any emotion. "I need them out of this place, and they aren't going to just listen. Why waste my time?"

"You could just use your ability to alter emotions, and you are ignoring that fact." Mr. Mercel said, just as angry.

"I'm not ignoring anything, dear Apprentices. Stop being such hypocrites. You've never killed anyone, have you? Why do you think your Grims agreed to let me take you? You have to learn, and what's a better way than to see it yourself firsthand?"

"This is not what the Grimhouse had taught me since birth. Do not taint our morales with your deceptions. We kill only when it is necessary, we are not to allowed to take lives that do not coincide with our purpose."

"Oh Mercel...how noble of you." She turned her head to the bloodbath. "Archnaél, these people are too slow. Do it yourself." She ordered her Seraph as if mocking the Second's Apprentice.

Archnaél wasted no time, a huge sword appearing on his hand as he flew right above the town, his sword raided that pointed downwards. The sword then twirled around, multiplying into several parts as they one by one hit the people beneath. I could only sigh. What Mr. Mercel said was the truth, it was completely unnecessary for Ke'ala to kill them all as she could have just altered all their emotions to make them believe her words and leave this town empty.

However, Mistress Ke'ala was never the kind to do something so... boring. But I had already caught on to what my Mistress is planning. Though I can't say I agree with her methods, I will follow her regardless. What she may be doing appear... twisted, but it is all merely a show. A show that none of these apprentices have yet to realize. I wonder why Ke'ala always make herself appear evil, why she always make others hate her. I can only wonder.

A boy stumbled over a plank of wood, his arm had been severed that no matter how much he cries, nobody would save him. Ke'ala waved her hand, frowning as she severed a leg. But the boy was still alive, perhaps because of the running adrenaline. Mistress sighed, looking at Grisela.

"Why don't you take your first kill?" She suggested.

"I will not take an innocent life as my first." The lady answered.

"Pity. But that morale is unnecessary. The kid is already dying, you'd be doing him mercy by ending his life now. Plus, I'm sure you're already starting to realize something."

Miss Grisela closed her eyes, taking Ke'ala's offer by walking towards the crying boy. Miss Seraphina had tried to stop her, but the Fourth's Apprentice only shook her off, her fave determined. Taking a dagger fallen to the ground, Grisela took the blade and with a deep sigh, she plunged the dagger to the boy's back, eventually stabbing its heart. Her eyes widened, frowning before looking at Ke'ala's direction.

"... why? Why even deceive us?" She questioned, the other two Apprentices confused.

"You're smart enough to figure that part out, aren't you?" Ke'ala could only shrug, a smile on her lips. "Now, why don't you four get out of here and deal with the remaining ones in east and west?"

"What? You want us to do the same?!" Miss Seraphina yelled.

"No. I'm letting you do whatever you deem is right. You can push them out. You can threaten them. You won't even have to kill. Just make sure not a single person is left on the vicinity, otherwise I'd have to deal with them myself. You wouldn't want that, I'm sure."

"You're--" Mr. Mercel couldn't continue what he was trying to say when Archnaél suddenly jumped in front all of us, his sword parrying an incoming wave of energy.

"Now this is worrisome." Ke'ala muttered. "Leave. Now." Her voice was stern, clearly an order.

"Leave? Matapos ang ginawa mo sa lugar na ito?" One man suddenly descended, floating through the air, speaking his own language.

White hair, with golden dusts hovering around him. His stance was calm, as if he didn't really care about what had this place resulted into. He only wore a black scarf surrounding his neck that even covered his mouth, making his tone sounded muffled. He didn't seem from this country, considering his accent just now. With a silent thud, he landed on the ground, his wooden pole stuck beside him.

It was only then he eyed us, his focus lingering more on Ke'ala, his eyes showing hints of surprise even. He motioned his pole around his hand, creating a momentum of air that should have had pushed us backwards if it hadn't been for Archnaél spinning his sword in the same manner to deflect the enemy's momentum. The monster clearly is learning, making Ke'ala nod, pleased.

"You'll have to forgive me for that." Ke'ala replied from the man's past comment.

"Forgive you? You would have to make me."

"Seems like it cannot be avoided then." Ke'ala finally released her own energy, she had been using Archnael's since earlier.

She took another step, the ground breaking underneath her as her energy level continued to rise that even the air around her was breaking apart. She tilted her head to the side, then to another, stretching them with her eyes closed. Deep pale blue eyes met us all when she opened them, they were glowing. But not in the way that would make her look so enthralling. They were murderous, and she seemed like she was looking at her enemy with every movements planned ahead.

"I will not repeat myself. You four, leave. Archnaél, come with Azto." Her words sounded like an echo, vibrating through thick layer of energy wrapping around her.

The five of us said nothing more and ran back to where we entered. Feeling a turmoil above us, I summoned my sword and deflected the incoming lightning by slashing it, causing it to hit the house meters beside in an instant. Fire engulfed the building, creating a blockage of smoke that made us harder to locate as we find the exit. I turned my head around, seeing pieces of the blocked scene on the gaps through the smoke.

The man's energy has been rising as well, his eyes glowing in white as he shot another lightning at Ke'ala's direction. The latter simply moved her hand up, as if moving the attack somewhere else. Ke'ala laughed, avoiding the man's wooden pole. They may seem like just sparring, but the energy surrounding the two could kill anyone near the vicinity. Not only that, their mana hadn't stopped rising ever since they first released them, as if competing on who would run out first.

"I must say, you're quite impressive, Caelesti of the Unknown." The man stated.

He wasted no time for the opening, immediately flying behind Ke'ala with his pole almost stabbing the Mistress. Turning around, she caught the weapon as it went passed beside her stomach, grabbing it forcefully before slamming the pole away, the power too much that even the man was blown meters back.

"A Candidate then." Ke'ala said, realizing who her enemy finally is.

It worried me for it never really did cross my mind we would stumble upon a Candidate here. Ke'ala is powerful, but these Candidates are just as powerful as well. And one of the reason she joined the Sect was to move her plans discreetly without her enemies knowing she's still alive after their last battle in Magnus. But a Candidate being here might just destroy her plans if he were to return to their Organization and tell them where Ke'ala is. She had just found a perfect spot to continue her objectives, she wouldn't let herself lose now.

"Albertus, the Illusionist, top eleven Candidate. Pleasure to finally meet the infamous Caelesti of the Unknown." I heard him, then there was another clash, bones breaking.

"Call me that once more and I will carve my real name on your dead body."

Before I could even hear anything else, I was pulled away by Miss Seraphina. The five of us continued to run away from the town, the dead guards from earlier vanishing into golden dusts. We moved through the forest, and even here we could still hear the explosions and trembles of the earth from where we left.

Making sure we were away, we stopped in the middle of clearing. I glanced over the sky, and the earlier town was covered in smoke. I closed my eyes, piecing the puzzles together. It was then I realized why the Candidate is here.

"What was that?!" Miss Seraphina shouted, taking my attention.

I straightened myself. "Calm down, Miss. The Mistress will handle the aggressor without fail."

"Are we just going to ignore the fact that those things were--"

"An illusion." Miss Grisela interrupted her other female colleague. "I felt nothing inside when I killed that kid. It was like stabbing an air with blood rushing out when there clearly wasn't anything there."

"Still...what if they weren't illusions?" Mr. Ecríz made his point.

"The moment she felt the energy," she continued. "She must have known something was wrong. She took the chance to alter their emotions, and that was where she found out they were but products of stored energy. She was testing us throughout all that process, when she made a conclusion we weren't ready, she wanted us to leave."

"So she knew someone was behind all that. If we had noticed it first, she would have had made us fight that weird man, is that it?" Miss Seraphina clenched her fists.

"That is because nobody must know Caelesti of the Unknown is still alive. She joined the Sect so she could hide by doing her movements in pretence that it was all the Sect." I replied.

"What is that woman? Her energy... it's impossible for a person to have that kind of amount."

"That's because you haven't seen the rest of the world yet, Mr. Ecríz." I sighed. "There are many monsters out there, some with human hearts, some without even one."

"Can she even defeat that man--" Grisela stopped herself, noticing movements behind us.

"Oh please." Ke'ala suddenly showed herself up, and it hadn't even been thirty minutes when we left her there. "Alberta, whatever his name was--he wasn't even a threat."

She says that, but her body is covered in blood. Her white cloak now stained in red, the side of her face had the same colour lining like scratches. She wiped her face, oy then we realized that blood wasn't hers. How was she even able to defeat a Candidate on that short period of time? What did she do? I have a strange feeling she had something else completely planned in her mind.

"That finished rather quickly." She muttered, smiling again as she licked a small dripping blood from the corner of her lips. "Now, shall we proceed?"

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AN: I got too busy lately, especially so this month and the previous. Things haven't been looking great in my case, that's why the updates sometimes come after every two weeks at weekend. That won't last, of course. I will make sure to get back to my usual schedule, since I'd really love to finish this book soon.

Though here's a long update for you. Happy reading!

PS: February 13. I won't say who since you'd figure it out if you're somehow still reading this, but Happy Birthday!