『One step at a time. Slow and steady…』
Penelope's reassuring murmurs echoed deafly through Aaron's mind as he wobbled and stumbled towards the bathroom door.
Each step felt like he was pressed down by weights threatening to drag him to the floor, where he would lie forever.
To Aaron, such a feeling was surprisingly common with a worrying amount of experience at almost dying or actually dying.
It was these crushing reminders of his weakness that spurred him forward towards the sacred abode known as the toilet, where he finished his business and made his way outside his room.
The hallways were empty with an eerie sense of quiet that left the blond boy concerned; however, the sound of voices further ahead kept him moving.
Flowery designs covered the walls with dim yellow lights above, flickering ever so slightly as he continued forward.
It wasn't a long walk, fifteen meters give or take; however, with the state of his body, it felt as if he had run a marathon, forcing him to pause and lean against a hard doorframe.
His back cracked and groaned as he stretched outward, with the voices exuding from inside the room pittering out as if in acknowledgement of Aaron's presence.
Alright… Let's see what we're dealing with here…
As the thoughts ran through his mind, he raised his hand to knock on the entryway, but it pulled open before he could even try.
"Mister Angel!"
The sight of a small girl, around his hip height, bouncing up and down excitedly with her multi-colored eyes glistening in the light made a thin smile draw across his lips.
In a chair propped up against the furthest wall, Ezra watched joyfully as his sister, whose physical appearance was spotless, clung to the blond-haired boy enthusiastically.
It was a moment where Aaron could finally breathe a sigh of relief, accepting the truth that he had kept his promise and saved Abigail.
Patting her head softly, he pulled her away while stumbling over towards the bed and collapsing.
"I'm not an angel. Don't trust everything you read in the newspaper."
His exhausted reply brought a fit of laughter from the girl as she ran over to her brother, grabbing an object right out of his hands.
"Look! I got Ezzie to join!"
With a massive smile across her face, she jumped atop the bed, holding a small bronze object above the blond boy's head, allowing him to read the inscription carefully.
Temporary Recruit, Ezra Flock. Exam date, September 8th.
Furrowing his brow in surprise, Aaron nearly popped up, further injuring himself in the process.
"Y-You're taking the exam too?"
A happy giggle from Abby resounded through the room as Ezra moved his chair into the viewpoint of the blond-haired boy's sprawled-out state.
"Yep. Can't be no thug forever. It ain't suit me, right?"
His face was contorted into a flat expression contrary to his sarcastic comment, leaving a pang of emotion inside Aaron's heart.
It's because of me… He would've never had the chance to…
Pausing to sniffle, the sudden feeling of the black-haired girl grabbing his arm and shaking it startled him.
"N-No don't cry!"
Not properly understanding the boy's emotions, the young girl could only try to brighten his mood; however, Ezra just scoffed, punching his chest lightly.
"Don't punch him!"
A shout from Abigail garnered a laugh from both of the fifteen-year-olds as she tried to tend to his non-existent exterior wounds.
After a few minutes of the useless medical care, and her desire to go talk to Cam in the cafeteria below, the two boys were left alone to talk.
"You really okay with starting the exam today? That Marshal might've told you that you have to, but she can't force you to do nothin'!"
Ezra's enthusiastic and reassuring words echoed through the room as Aaron just shook his head.
"No choice. If I fail to become a hunter, then it's over."
There was a heavy silence as the black-haired boy comprehended what he had just said.
"What do you mean…?"
A frown had etched its way onto the previously happy face, with even the slang he usually spoke with fading away.
"It's a secret. One that I bet my life on. And one aspect of that bet was my cooperation to become a hunter."
His words were laced with shame as he withheld the truth from someone who had shown him the darkest of his own secrets.
"I think I understand. Alright… You should probably head down to the office now before the exam."
With a solemn nod between the two, Ezra stood up from his chair, walking towards the door, only to stop and turn around.
"May the sea guide you well."
And then, turning the handle, the boy exited the room, leaving Aaron only to dwell on his final words.
The history of the Flock family flashed through his mind, reminding the blond boy why, instead of the normal praise of the gods, he had opted for the sea.
Slowly pulling himself up from the clutches of the mattress, he whispered out a phrase quiet enough that he could barely hear it himself.
"May the sea guide you as well, Ezra."
…
Only a few kilometers from where Aaron hobbled towards the Hunters' Guild office, a silver-haired figure climbed the treacherous cliffs to the east of the city.
"Ruining a man's business. What a show…"
Even his sociopathic tendencies couldn't find a dark light at the end of the tunnel, as his hands pushed him upward against the harsh terrain.
Myths and legends of an ancient god that slept within the mountain range were common folktales for the children of the island; however, Stein thought nothing of them.
For why should he?
They were ancient mythos for a reason, leaving him scoffing at the very notion of such a being existing.
That was until he reached a small ledge jutting out near the peak of the tallest mountain in the range.
Instead of snowy rock, what awaited him was mossy, white-blue brick that stretched deep into a dark cave.
There was no human presence in the area, so his confusion only deepened as heavy, clattering footsteps echoed out from the hole.
Withdrawing his pistol from his waist, he aimed steadily in the direction of the opening, preparing to fire relentlessly.
The sound of steps stopped right before the light brightened the cave, allowing the figure to stay clad in shadows as it spoke.
"A blessing of Fortuna. How timely."
His voice was deep and powerful, draining the strength from Stein's limbs as he felt the energy granted to him by the Lamp of Luck vanish in an instant.
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!
Five shots rang out like thunder, perfectly pinpointed at the shadowy figure, striking its skull, heart, arms, and groin in one round.
Pulling a dagger from his shoes, he tossed it straight into where he guessed the person's eye would be, expecting them to collapse in seconds.
However, that didn't happen.
Instead, a chuckle that threatened to flatten the mountain itself rang out, sending Stein's brain into a flurry of agony.
For the first time in his life, the silver-haired lunatic felt true fear.
This wasn't as simple as the fight against the blond boy, nor was it even at the level of the Sea Kings.
It was something older, and most certainly something evil.
And with that realization, he gently moved himself into a respectful kneel, bowing his head to the higher lifeform ahead of him.
His actions garnered an amused response from the shadowed man, causing him to tense as it spoke.
"Wise of you to understand your place. Quite the skill you have, though… If I weren't immune to all earthly elements, you would've really torn through me."
He paused and, with a slow, ground-shaking step forward, the powerful being's face was illuminated by light.
Red and black antlers stuck high into the sky, with the jet black haired man giving off such an incredible aura that it nearly crushed the kneeling man to dust.
Stein's firm lips contorted into a ghastly smile as he nearly laughed aloud at the pure perfection of the creature standing before him.
"My hellish lord, I am Stein Brevmore. Please allow me to help you in your goals, no matter the cost. It is my life's dream—"
The silver-haired man was cut off with a deafening pop as the air around him froze, constricting his throat.
"Only speak when spoken to. I am not as forgiving as the Halfling lurking inside me. Yet, I applaud your gall for even being able to beg."
His footsteps continued forward as he approached the slowly suffocating man whose face was contorted with sick pleasure and glee.
"You are demented. How interesting… Alright then, Brevmore. You will assist me immediately. If I deem you worthy, then I have a perfect position for you."
There was not an ounce of pity in the devil's voice as he looked down at the struggling man, watching him nod and speak through the pain.
"W-What… i-is… t-the… t-task… y-you… r-require…?"
Blood dripped from his lips; however, his resolve towards the horned man before him drew a smile to the creature's face.
"Impressive, to even survive my force. Now for your task. It's simple and efficient. All you must accomplish is to destroy the seal on Crescent Moon's End."
Silence enveloped the ledge as the immense force was finally lifted from Stein's shoulders, and he awaited more information.
"I will send someone to accompany you once you arrive. However, until then, perhaps you have some insights into my research?"
With a wave of his hand, the horned devil gestured towards the cave where he had just exited, allowing the light of day to enter, illuminating the walls.
Ruined slabs of rock were covered with murals and designs carved by ancient civilizations and left to age with history.
Each one depicted a creature rising from the ocean and devouring the planet itself in one colossal bite.
It was something straight out of a fairytale, yet what stood out to the man the most was one particular sea terror in the very center.
The runes carved around it seemed to be drawn with a crimson-like substance, one that he could only assume to be blood.
In one magnificent scene, a humanoid creature clad in sharp spikes of ice, who bore multiple heads, stood above the world.
It was as if its very presence froze the seas solid, enveloped the sky in an endless snowstorm, and sank the land into the sea.
Throughout his many years of living, the man could barely read ancient scripture; however, the only rune he could decipher drove pure joy into his heart.
Nidhogg.