"A life from the king's soul?" Noctis repeated the words to sure what he heard as well as me.

"Yes, The life of the king's soul would purify us and send us above. Once accepted, our lives are free from the dark. However, no king from this day has completed our promise." Keta said as the group looked wearily of Keta's words. No would know the promise except maybe one person.

"Was King Regis aware of your promise? If so, didn't he have everything to complete it?" Ignis said in curiosity

"Yes, King Regis was aware of our kind. However, he couldn't complete our promise." Keta answered as Noctis looked shaken, his expression looked upset for not knowing about the Grand Masters and asked,

"Why didn't the King tell me?"

"I don't know. Every King should be aware of our presence but the last king to aware of us was from 2000 years ago."

"Hold on, what?!" Prompto said as he was in shock as well as Iris

"2000 years?" Iris said in shock as if she couldn't believe it either.

"The last king to know your kind was 2000 years ago? Why?" Noctis asked again

"2000 years ago there was a traitor."

"A traitor? What did they do?" Gladiolus asked

"...They took from the tree of life and opened the paradox of the forbidden. Ended the world and the gods were angered. However, the world was reborn into the image of the sacrifice for their life ended with the paradox of the forbidden. The world was renamed to Eos."

"Say what?" Noctis and Prompto said in union

"You mean to tell us that this world is a rebirth from the old one? Impossible." Ignis commented

"Heh. You think you know your history? Oh, sad but yet, I'm happy. No human should remember the horror that was placed upon the world. Only one remembers."

"Who remembers?" Iris asked in curiosity

"This girl named Alice."

No spoke. What could they say? What could I say? Did I survive the horror from 2000 years? How?

"I must go, time is wasting away. You the young king must complete our promise."

"How do I do that?" Noctis quickly asked

"You will know when the time comes. This girl will be your guide and key. Be wary of your choice and the traitor." Keta said with the final words as she disappeared to nowhere, I gained back control of my body and blinked my eyes a few times. I say everyone in shock or fear and said,

"Why are you guys giving me that look? It's creepy."

"Alice, do...you remember anything?" Prompto hesitated to ask and I answered,

"No, why? I was feeling really sleepy."

"Not even a little?" Iris asked

"No, what is going on? Why are you guys scared??" I asked foreign stupidy for now but inside I was livid that Keta had the nerve to control me. 

"Miss Alice, Keta told us information about the Grand Masters." Ignis said as I gave him a look of 'crap', I looked away from everyone and he continued,

"It's said that the Grand Masters protect those without power and they had a promise with our king. Were you aware of this?"

Flashback

The last time Cor and Alice talked when the boys made camp.

"Immortal, you promised me information on Medusa. Now talk." I said in a whisper while talking on my phone as I was still awake tonight around midnight, the boys were asleep and I managed to sneak away.

"I'm already here. Walk forward and you will find me." He replied and hung up. I cursed in silent as my feet lead me forward, a good distance away from waking the boys and my eyes found Immortal walking towards me. We stopped and looked at each other with malice.

"Immortal."

"Death Knight."

I growled in the response of my title but wasn't ashamed.

"Medusa."

"Medusa is a powerful scientist with knowledge of how to create the machine army and somehow knows the Caelum bloodline. She has been very curious about the family history for a while now." Cor said as he sat down on the log, I followed his actions and asked,

"I know that. Do you know her history?"

"...No."

"What do you mean no?" 

"I mean no, Death Knight. She one of two things: destroy her history of the person, she was before all this or she is hiding it where only she knows." Cor said as I tsked him, my gaze turned cold and my anger building. I had little information on Medusa and so did Cor.

"I have a grid world in case you were curious," I said in curiosity of what his reaction would be

"I know, Death Knight."

"You know? How?" I quickly asked him

"...You're not the only one with a grid world and I'm not talking about the Giver." He said

"Who else?"

"You'll find out soon enough. How are your spirits, Death Knight?"

"...I feel normal but lately..."

"Lately?" He said

"Lately, I have been having nightmares. Machines don't dream yet I do. I feel like I'm there and it's my reality. When I wake up, I don't want to sleep yet my mind wants to go back to that disturbing world."

"What world did you see?"

"It looked to be a war zone with many weapons on the ground facing down then I'm fighting two dark shadows and I shout at the sky saying 'I denied all of you'."

Cor became silent as my eyes saw his wary expression, he sighed and answered,

"It sounds like the Horror of the Grand Masters."

"The Horror of the Grand Masters?"

"Yeah. King Regis told me once of a story. The Grand Masters protect Insomnia while the King governs the people. They were partners or guardians to protect. In exchange for the Grand Master's protection, the king gave his soul as a gift. Another gift came from above calling it the Paradox of the Forbibben. To ascend above and grant the King the power from the One. This partnership has lasted for generations until he came. The Fallen Grand Master ignored his duty and opened the Paradox of the Forbidden, both parties were punished. Worse than death. This event was called 'The Horror of the Grand Masters'."

"Worse than death?" I asked

"Yeah, worse than death, kid," Cor said

Flashback end

"...Cor told me of the promise but.." I paused

"But?" Gladiolus said

"I've seen it," I said as everyone gasped, I turned my gaze back to everyone and continued,

"Since we have the time, I can tell you what you dying to know. The Grand Masters are protectors of Insomnia. While they protect the city, the King of Insomnia governs the people. You can say that both parties formed a partnership over time."

"I see, so the Grand Masters job is to protect the city from harm," Ignis said as I nodded

"Wait, what does that mean for you, Alice? You didn't know you were a Grand Master until a few days ago." Gladiolus asked

"Yes, when the first spirit came to me at the tomb. I felt the memories of the promise that the Kings of Insomnia formed over the years with the Grand Master." I said

"So, you can see the spirit's memories? Creepy." Prompto commented

"Thanks, chatterbox." I dryly

"I don't understand. Why would the Grand Masters show themselves now, Alice?" Noctis asked

"...They were probably waiting for a King to complete their promise, goth. They take their promise seriously when I saw their memories."

"Can you ask the spirits about how to complete the promise, Alice?"

"I tried to ask but all those two are saying is that the time will right and we will know. To be honest, I had enough of their cryptic shit." I said in frustration and Noctis mumbled 'yeah'

"At least we know now what the Grand Masters are and they trying to help us. For now, let's continue to gather more information and ask Cor next time we see him." Ignis said the plan and we all agreed. We didn't know much about the Grand Masters and we should play it by ear.

"Oh, I kept hearing that Lady Lunafreya was in town," Iris said as Noctis and the rest of the boys were shocked to hear that. "But she left right away as far as I know but at least she is okay."

"That is good to hear," Noctis said as he liked relieved to hear someone is at least alive. What did Lunafreya mean to him truly? Childhood friends?

"Yeah well, have a good night you guys," Iris said as she got up, she left the room to us and Noctis looked at me.

"What now, goth?"

"Alice, you promised to tell me." He said as I looked at him confused and remembered our promise. Shit.

"Fine, I'm not doing well for the first time ever." I blurted out

"Not doing well? Is it because the spirits are inside you, Miss Alice? Are they restless?" Ignis asked in concerned about my health

"No, physical I'm fine but not mentally," I said in a quiet voice

"Not mentally kid? What's going on with you?" Gladiolus said

"Lately, I have been dreaming about a place."

"A place?" Prompto asked

"Yeah, it's so bare with weapons facing down with no one there but me. I keep shouting 'I denied' then.."

"Then?" Noctis pressed

"Then I see the world turning into darkness and that's it when I wake up. Funny thing is that my mental state thinks that is the real world for me; not here." I said my hands shake not in frustration but in...fear. I was finally losing my damn mind and powers. I'm hardly machine now but a hybrid of sorts. I couldn't tell them that; who can I tell?

"Ignis, are the spirits harming her inside?" Noctis asked

"Hmmm, that is difficult to say. I don't have knowledge in possession of a spirit that lives in a body but I would suggest we find someone knows that knowledge and see how we can help Miss Alice." Ignis said as the boys agreed, I am shocked and said,

"It's my problem; none of you should worry about it. It's unnatural action." I said

"Kid, people worry about others you know. We were worried about what the spirits inside you even though Cor said not to worry about it." Gladiolus said in a hard tone as if scolding a child

"Yeah, Alice, your part of our team and it's our job to help our team member." Prompto chimed in

"Miss Alice, I do worry about your recent actions wearing you down ever since the first spirit. I'm happy to help you." Ignis added

"Alice, don't worry." Noctis said as he came to me, he sat next to me and took my hand "We are going to help you even if you don't want it. Besides, who else is going to tell about eating vegetables?"

"Four-eyes and Tattoo man will. I don't trust Prompto." I stated as Gladiolus laughed hard and Ignis chuckled at my words. Prompto looked ashamed as we all decided to get some rest for it was a long day and I couldn't help but feel lighter now. Since their odd speech somehow filled something...warm inside me. Is my stomach hungry? Is it called...relief and hope?

Whew!! Finally done! Thank you all for being patient and hope you like it!