It had been over a thousand years since Mobet Zoroast last saw his family's old man. Yet, that didn't mean he'd forgotten the memories tied to Pallez. In this frozen, snow-covered world, aside from his companions, those memories were the only true possessions Mobet had... proof that "Mobet Zoroast" Had once lived in a vast world, not born a resident of this strange book realm.
Sometimes, Mobet wondered if forgetting his past would turn him into one of the book's native shadows, a mere puppet. But he never truly believed he'd escape this world and return to the Zoroast family.
At first, he had held onto that hope. He'd even imagined how he'd introduce his companions to Pallez if the old man came to rescue him. After all, Mobet had some confidence in himself. As a genius of the Zoroast family with the potential to become a demigod, he was among the more favored descendants in Pallez's eyes. With Pallez's personality, there was no way he'd abandon a missing descendant like Mobet.
But even the strongest confidence eroded over centuries. When newcomers arrived in the book's world and Frunziar revealed that the Fourth Epoch had long ended, the Solomon Empire had fallen, and no one had heard of the Zoroast family, Mobet realized he might never return home.
Perhaps one day the frost dragon's story would conclude, allowing them to leave this strange world. But even then, they'd only step into another unfamiliar reality. And deep down, Mobet harbored a lingering fear. As a Sequence 5, he couldn't possibly have lived over a thousand years. His survival was solely due to the book's peculiar nature. If the story ended and he returned to the outside world, would he die instantly from an exhausted lifespan?
Mobet wasn't the only one to consider this. None of his companions were fools. Even the jovial, straightforward giant Groselle had his sharp moments. Yet no one voiced it aloud. They all wanted to return, unwilling to be buried in this bizarre book world, even if leaving meant death.
Mobet felt the same way.
His only regret was that the Zoroast family was gone. Otherwise, he'd have written a letter for Pallez, asking a future visitor to deliver it, sharing his thousand years of experiences in the book world, complaining about Siatas's fiery temper, and requesting Pallez to look into the current state of the elves.
Mobet knew Pallez's keen insight would pick up on the unspoken feelings he harbored despite Siatas's countless beatings. The old man might call him spineless, but Mobet was sure Pallez, ever soft-hearted toward his descendants, would investigate the elves for Siatas's sake, allowing her to return to her roots.
What Mobet never expected was that, on a day when he'd long given up hope, he'd see someone resembling Pallez appear in the book's world.
Was it real? Or was someone pretending?
As Mobet approached the bustling group, his heart raced faster. Stopping a few meters away, he studied the strangers, organizing his thoughts to speak. But then his body stiffened.
In that moment, all seven or eight strangers simultaneously pulled monocles from their pockets and placed them over their left eyes.
Mobet froze, his heart pounding as an ancient fear resurfaced.
Amon!
It had to be Amon!
No Zoroast family member was unaware of Amon. That bizarre family was practically the Zoroasts' sworn enemy. As a promising young member, Mobet knew secrets even ordinary family members didn't: every Amon might be the Angel of Time himself.
For a Zoroast encountering Amon, the outcome was almost always death.
In that instant, Mobet's mind raced to the fall of the Solomon Empire, the decline of the Zoroasts, and Amon's terrifying power. Despair gripped him. He couldn't tell if Amon was using Pallez's form for a prank or had already consumed and replaced the old man.
"Run! Siatas, run!"
Mobet didn't know how he overcame his fear to shout those words. His voice trembled, but he stepped forward, placing himself in front of Siatas.
He knew a Sequence 5 like him couldn't stop an angel, and Siatas would struggle to escape. But he had to do this.
It was all he could do.
"Mobet…" Unlike Mobet's instinctive reaction, Siatas, from an era before Amon's existence, didn't know who Amon was. But she knew Mobet. She saw his fear and his resolve... the determination to stand firm despite knowing death was likely.
In an instant, she understood. The strangers were formidable enemies, ones that filled Mobet with despair.
Given their strength, they could hold their own against a true Sequence 4. So, these foes were at least Sequence 3... possibly even angels.
As a former attendant to the Elf Queen Cohinem, Siatas was no stranger to power. She knew Sequence 2 and above were beings she couldn't oppose, capable of killing her with a glance.
Reason told her to flee, but before logic could take hold, Siatas grabbed Mobet, pulling him behind her. She drew her bow, and with a flash of lightning, an arrow flew from her string.
"Siatas, you…" Mobet's eyes widened in shock.
***
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