Solonar gazes at the moon and smirks. He starts walking toward the center of the island and says aloud to Caitlyn,
"I wouldn't follow them if I were you, but I can tell you one thing… be careful of those who wield black marks…"
Behind one of the walls, a hidden figure with glistening violet eyes turns to flee—only to be met by Solonar, who wears a smug look as he whispers,
"So you sensed the same thing I did? Didn't you, Seph…"
A boy with pink hair, violet eyes, and light skin, wearing the school's uniform and a number badge marked 429, lets out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, it's just you. I was just here to watch the fight… What could you have sensed that would make you think someone of my rank could sense it too?"
Solonar, slightly annoyed, replies,
"Don't play dumb with me, Seph. We both know you're the most sensitive person when it comes to this kind of thing."
Seph sighs and says,
"Fine, fine, you win. I felt an unusual presence… So I came to check it out, but when I got too close, my head started pounding—way worse than the time I first met you. I nearly lost consciousness."
Solonar responds,
"I felt the presence too, but not as strongly as you. My body reacted when it landed on the island… Who would've thought that she might be a true heir, just like me…"
Seph answers, a confident look in his eyes,
"She is no true heir… True Heirs are individuals handpicked by the respective gods of one of the twenty-nine original Pathways. They're beings meant to ascend to godhood… What I felt from her was more akin to those marked by Sin."
Solonar grabs hold of Seph and says,
"We both know that can't be the case. After all, the defining trait of those who are marked by Sin are those accursed black marks—each of them representing one of the seven sins. But there is an issue we aren't discussing… I checked her mark. It didn't bear any of the energy of one of the twenty-nine, but it was gold and purple. It resembled a starry sky, and yet its power felt more akin to that of a deep sea. Her power might be water-related. Could she be related to the Sea Pathway in some way? Someone like a branch member of the Sea God's family could have bestowed power onto her?"
Seph's eyes widen.
"That might be the case… or it could have been something more ancient than even the gods of old. But that's a topic for another day… What we must discuss right away is… the other presence I sensed on the island…"
Solonar sighs and reaches into his pocket for black gloves. As he puts them on, he says with a sinister look,
"Shall we get to work then?"
Seph nods as his eyes begin to glow, and cherry blossoms begin to fall around the island. Seph and Solonar ride upon them to the outskirts. A beautiful coral reef illuminates the vast seas below. On the beach, a man sitting on his knees can be seen. His short gray hair and lightless eyes are overshadowed by the black mark on his neck that resembles an anchor—glowing a chilling violet as scales begin to form on his skin.
Solonar and Seph look down from above as Solonar says in a tired tone,
"It's a pre-stage. Looks like it hasn't advanced that far… We can kill him quickly and get it over with. Signal the Headmaster that I'll be bringing in a Sin Marked in fresh condition this time…"
Seph sighs.
"Solonar, you do know that 'fresh' doesn't mean 'burnt to a crisp,' right?"
Solonar laughs as he jumps off.
"Don't worry—he'll be cooked medium rare…"
Blazing wings resembling those of a phoenix fall from the sky. Caitlyn, on her way back home, gazes at the sight with awe and excitement.
"I'm gonna be just as strong as these guys… and someday, I will hunt all of the monsters on the island and make my way to the top."