Those traces Viola found were fake.
Eliana stood before a tall building under construction near a remote part of the city. Dark clouds filled the sky, threatening to unleash a snowstorm. Silence surrounded her instead of people.
An experienced Hunter could immediately tell the difference. Therefore, they were specifically left for Viola.
She stepped inside and climbed one staircase after another. The structure was just short of paint, glass panes, and doors to complete.
However, someone got careless and failed to hide their actual traces. Which led me here…
"Where is everyone?" she whispered to herself, observing her surroundings with a confused frown. "Did the workers take a day off? It's not a holiday, is it?"
And when she reached the top floor, she found her answer.
There are multiple traces…each one belonging to a Slave of the Void.
Several construction workers were lying unconscious near all four walls of a large room. Eliana immediately checked one and discovered a peculiar void aura. "They aren't simply knocked down." Each one reeked of the same aura. "Magic was used."
What are they up to? Why these workers? Why this city?
Eliana walked up to a window and looked outside. A familiar location appearing far beyond the horizon. Her eyes widen in horror.
And why…does every trace point to the school?
"That'll have to wait." She crouched beside a worker nearest to her and placed a hand on their chest. "I must save them first." Her palm glowed a faint golden when she closed her eyes, as if saying a prayer. It glowed for a whole minute before she opened her eyes and got back up.
It's no use. I must deal with the source—
"Oh my, what do we have here?"
Eliana immediately unsheathed her katana and turned in the direction of the voice. An unfamiliar figure in dark red clothes came down the rooftop stairs.
"An intruder? How did you even find this place?"
A black-haired girl with scarlet-red eyes.
"Maybe if you actually bothered hiding your footsteps," Eliana said as they walked around in circles, "rather than creating fake ones nobody would fall for."
"Me? Impossible!" She frowned. "Must've been Gideon. He's too overconfident for his own good!"
Gideon? Is that the boy Viola suspects? Then that confirms multiple Slaves are involved.
"Did you use magic on them? Eliana asked. "And why? What are you planning?"
"You really thought I'd tell you?" She laughed aloud. "How naive! Are you new to this?"
They stopped. Eliana's white blade turned blue and glowed faintly, while the Slave's hands were covered in void like a creeper's, and grew long claws.
"However, before we begin," the girl continued, "I could, at least, tell you my name. Number Two of the Ten Scarlets, Lilith!"
The Scarlet dashed forward to meet Eliana head-on, but she had already disappeared.
"Just Two?"
Eliana stood behind her, facing away. Lilith turned around to find her weapon no longer glowing or blue. "Huh? You're doubting my rank?!"
She turned, and Lilith caught her grinning. "Of course," she said. "After all, you're so slow that even your body has yet to register what happened."
"What are you—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Lilith fell backwards to the floor. A pool of crimson-red instantly formed below her. She tried to get up, but none of her limbs responded. It took her longer than Eliana expected to realise that her limbs weren't attached to her anymore.
"W-When did you even—"
"You're lucky I didn't go for your heart," Eliana growled, walking forward until the tip of her blade was inches away from Lilith's neck. "I need you alive. So, why don't you start by telling me what your lot is up to?"
"I-I could just heal up, you know?!" She raised her voice. "It won't matter how much pain you inflict if you can't even kill me! You're too naive—"
"That wasn't me being naive." Eliana glared down, sending shivers down every remaining nerve in the Scarlet's body. "That was a warning."
Lilith's breath hitched when the blade inched lower and hovered just above her chest.
"And what gave you the idea that I won't just dispose of you?" Eliana continued. "I could just ask someone else. There are multiple of you, right?"
"W-Wait! I-I'll talk!" She panted rapidly. "That…Thing…just told me to prepare dessert! I-I don't know anything else!"
The abnormal creeper? But it's still a creeper…why would a Scarlet listen to it?
"Trust me! I don't know anything else! They didn't involve me in their—"
"So I don't need you anymore."
The blade inched closer. "W-WAIT!"
"Good riddance—"
Something moved out of the corner of her eye, and Eliana immediately turned to her right. A feminine figure stood as tall as her, wearing a plain, pitch-black dress with a hood over her head and loose, oversized sleeves that concealed her entire arms.
Is this—
Eliana only saw her side profile before a sudden force struck her side, sending her flying to the other room through the wall. Luckily, magic reinforcement prevented any damage. However, by the time she ran back to the large room, not only the Scarlet and the Thing, but all the workers disappeared too.
Was that really the abnormal creeper? It looked awfully similar to the one from back then…
"They couldn't have gone far!" She dashed towards the window and searched outside. "No traces? Tsk! They're no longer playing risky." Clenching her fists, she turned to the stairs. "But I'm not giving up so easily—"
A golden pigeon entered through a window and flew in circles around her. She stopped and lifted her arm to let it sit on her hand. It appeared panicked.
"Huh? Viola?"
Her eyes widened in horror.
"She's fighting a Scarlet? All alone?!"
…
He's too strong. I can't even get close!
Gideon remained in a single spot, grinning and laughing as Viola was bombarded with one knife after another. From ahead, from above, from behind, and every possible direction except the floor, the projectiles would seek her out like missiles. And it didn't matter if she avoided one; it would just turn around and continue. She had to destroy each one with magic.
"Is it overwhelming?" he mocked. "I haven't even tried to kill you!"
This is NOTHING like an enchanted creeper!
"How will you deal with the Crimsons?" He snickered. "Why are you even Hunter?"
"ENOUGH!"
Viola clapped her hands violently, sending a burst of violet energy outward in every direction, destroying every knife around her. The ground cracked below her as she disappeared from her spot, instantly closing the distance and launching a punch from behind him.
"Violet Style: Basic Art—"
A delayed force projectile was shot from where she was before.
"Dual—"
"Just Basic?"
Sending a knife to block the projectile, Gideon swiftly turned around to grab her fist. Summoning another knife in his free hand, he stabbed Viola's arm multiple times before letting her stumble backwards. She shrieked in pain but kept her footing.
"Do you really think that will be enough?" He frowned, slightly raising his voice. "Where's that move from yesterday?"
Blood dripped from three different spots in her dominant arm, but she had little time to worry about them and fought through the pain. She could barely even tighten her fist.
"Or can you not use it without losing yourself?" he continued. "What a disappointment! Considering how much He fears you, I had high expectations."
Draven…fears me?
"How dare you use such a meagre technique against me?!" he growled, scarlet-red eyes glowing brighter. "Let me show you what happens when you don't take your battles seriously!"
"I can't possibly get more serious than this!"
"Keep lying to yourself."
Huh?!
Viola turned around to find the source of the voice. "Who said that—"
"PAY ATTENTION!"
She reverted her gaze to Gideon and found several knives floating before him, all aimed at her. They converged into a circle with very little space between each other, forming a shape large enough to partially conceal him.
He's using a technique, and the only way to counter it is to use my own! But will Basic Art be enough, especially with a wounded arm?
"Try dodging this!" he shouted.
I don't have a choice, do I? A Refined Art is certain defeat! There's only one option here…
"Void Manifestation: His Terror!"
They chanted in unison.
"Violet Style: Basic Art!"
The knives marched forward slightly slower than Viola was used to, but they covered the tight space and left no room to slip through. Her fist glowed brighter than before, holding it steady as Gideon's technique closed in.
"Death Parade!"
"Outburst!"
Viola punched at the epicentre of the knives with a single inch of distance between her fist and the blade. The world stopped for a moment, as if wanting to capture this moment. Violet energy burst outward in a large explosion, disintegrating every projectile before they could even touch her.
I did it…
When the dust settled, she found Gideon still standing in the same spot, frowning in confusion. However, sharp pain struck her every limb from recoil. She hissed but kept her focus.
I've already expended too much magic to deal with his knives earlier; this was bound to happen!
"Using a Basic Art to counter my move," he growled, "I suppose, I judged you too early."
It won't matter when he can unleash countless more of those. I can't win this…
"It confuses me." He pointed at the stab wounds in her arm. "Why haven't you healed yet?"
Huh? Does he not know that we're still…human—
"Aren't you the Eleventh?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.
She gasped sharply enough to hurt. "W-What…?"
"He wouldn't lie to me, would He?"
Gideon continued pondering for a whole minute before snapping his fingers, as if an idea came to mind. Grinning widely, he summoned another knife in his hand.
"Well, there is a way to find out!"
He disappeared in an instant, and Viola was struck on her side, pushing her towards the wall on her right. "Hold this!" Reappearing before her, he shoved the blade through her palm and pinned it to the concrete behind. She yelled in pain and tried to pull it off with her other hand, but he held it with his.
"Let's see your heart heal this!"
Shaping another knife in his free palm, he jammed it in her chest and blood splattered everywhere. Her breath hitched, and she closed her eyes.
Huh?
Feeling her heart still racing, she opened her eyes again to gaze down, only to find black blood dripping from his amputated arm. Looking at his face, he appeared just as confused. The knife pinning her turned to dust, and she punched him away with it into the opposite wall.
This aura…!
Before she could even take a step forward, she faintly sensed the same aura she felt at the park earlier. The space around them shook as reality tore open several feet away on her right, creating a pathway that worked similarly to the magical trees that the Hunters used. Peering into it, Viola could only see the black void.
Whoever was in that park…is currently behind this portal!
Instead of attacking her, Gideon scowled at the opening, shouting, "Who gave you the authority to stop me—"
They both felt the chills running down their spines and their skin crawl as the same aura intensified.
"U-Understood," he continued in a lowered tone, looking down, "I…I'll leave her alone…" Clenching his fists, he reluctantly walked towards the portal, but stopped at the last second to give her one last glare.
"I'll get you next time," he growled, before disappearing into the void. "Come prepared!"
Viola ran after him, only to be stopped by something invisible. "What?!" Even so, she forced herself till she was a foot or two away from touching it. However, the ground shook again as the opening closed itself, and the view before her returned to normal. She stumbled forward and fell to the floor with a thud once the restraints were off.
"W-Who could it have been?" She got back up with a whine and looked around to no longer find any lingering void auras. "And why was he so afraid of it? It can't be Draven…can it?"
"Viola!" A familiar voice called her from behind.
"Eliana?" She turned to the voice and saw her friend running towards her in a panic. "What are you doing here?"
"I warned you not to fight them, especially all alone!" Eliana pulled her into a hug. "Are you okay?"
"He was threatening to kill everyone…I couldn't—" Her eyes widened in horror when she looked at her hands and saw no wounds. "I…I think I-I'm okay. He got bored…and left."
"You're lucky, then." Eliana pulled away. "Did you find anything else?"
"Aside from learning the difference between a creeper and a Slave?" She thought for a second. "No, nothing new, unfortunately."
"I…have." Eliana clenched her fists and turned away to leave the alleyway. "Let's head back to the station. It's not safe to talk here."
Viola followed behind, and their walk continued in silence with both sides lost in their own thoughts and their own worries. Time flew by, and they reached their destination quicker than anticipated.
An hour remained before the fated sunset.
"Viola," she called out the moment they entered the station, near the very same bench from earlier, "about this thing I found yesterday…"
Eliana turned around to reveal a familiar lily in her hand. Viola's expression widened softly.
"Who gave you this?" the brown-haired asked in a stern tone.
"Some random girl I met…why?" Viola eyed it closely, making sure it was the correct one. "I thought I lost it in battle yesterday—"
"Did this random girl happen to wear a blindfold?"
She gasped. "H-How did you know?"
"Here." Eliana handed her the flower. "Try crushing it."
"W-Why?" She took the flower in her palm and closed it. "I'd feel bad—"
No matter how much she squeezed it or tried to pull off its petals, the lily kept its shape.
"B-But it's a normal lily…she plucked it from the school garden!"
"It's faint, but…there are traces of void in this," Eliana explained. "It fell out yesterday when I carried you here. And, upon picking it up, something felt odd. Its existence was just…wrong. I had to send it back to the mansion for Aurelia to analyse it. And the results came a while earlier. Whoever gave you that flower is not to be trusted, Viola."
"You went back to the mansion just for this?"
"No, Aurelia assigned me one of her golden pigeons since I was away for a long while." She clapped her hands twice, and golden light flashed before them, shaping into a pigeon resting on her shoulder. "This way, I can report my progress to her." Smiling, she brushed her fingers softly along its neck, and it leaned into her touch.
"That's…oddly cute."
"I had it watch over you earlier. Despite every warning, I know you're the last person to walk away from saving others." She chuckled, and the pigeon disappeared in another golden flash. "Wait…did you say the school garden? As in…the school we used to attend?"
"Y-Yes…?" Viola gulped.
"Their plans involve using that place." Brown eyes widened in horror. "And you…showed them there?"
"W-What?! I-I didn't know!" Viola stepped back. "And are you sure she's an accomplice? She was nice to me the whole time! Sure, she made a weird statement every now and then, but…she seemed genuinely interested in being my friend…and she made me forget about this whole ordeal, even if temporarily…" Her breath hitched, and she lowered her face, fighting back tears.
"You're the only kindness I've discovered here."
"And you're telling me…it was all an act?"
"Aurelia remembers…each and every significant enemy." Eliana sighed deeply. "Enough to tell them apart by even the faintest of traces left behind. The Witch, The Lilac, and the one you met…The Puppeteer."
She slipped out a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it, handing it over to Viola. "This is the letter she sent after analysing the flower," she said. "Read that paragraph at the end."
Viola looked at her, then the letter, before gingerly taking it and reading the little blurb at the end, where the title was highlighted in bold, like a warning.
The Puppeteer.
First appearance dated almost two centuries ago. Operates from the shadows and often befriends new Hunters while pretending to be a plain, simple girl. Tempts them with something they need, before ending them discreetly. Always wears a blindfold, likely to avoid getting caught, and is extremely proficient in hiding her presence.
Highly dangerous. Must be eliminated as soon as possible.
"B-But why?" Her hands trembled as the memories she made with Rosaline a day prior flashed before her eyes. "Why would she do this? W-What's the point?"
"We're no longer dealing with humans, Viola." Eliana placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "These aren't school bullies. They're monsters who only care to satisfy their own twisted needs."
"I…I still don't believe it." She dropped the paper and lifted her head with a determined look. "I must confirm it for myself."
"But Viola—"
"The school rooftop," she interjected, "Rosaline will be there at sunset. And she has invited me. I will confront her myself. Alone."
"That's too dangerous!"
"I believe you, Eliana." Viola walked forward and stepped on the tracks. "But I want to believe her, too. Maybe she is this…Puppeteer. Maybe you're right…"
"You consider me…a friend?"
"I just need to see it with my own eyes. I must see for myself that she isn't just an ordinary girl about to be caught up in this mess, all because she looks similar." She turned around and gazed at Eliana. "How do we know that someone else didn't tamper with the flower while I was unconscious, just to frame her?"
"But…Aurelia said—"
"You know very well how little I trust her." She looked away, folding her arms. "Even someone like her can make a mistake."
"And what if she's right?" Eliana walked up to her. "What if the one making the mistake…is you?"
"You've got my back, don't you?" Viola smiled at her. "Just how I had yours back then."
"I don't know…" Eliana sighed and gazed at the cloudy sky. "This is too risky. Had it been a Scarlet, I wouldn't worry. But The Puppeteer herself…or possibly someone worse…I don't know if I can win that fight."
"Who said you had to win?" She chuckled. "We just have to hold them long enough for the rest to arrive."
Eliana blinked and turned to her. "How did you…"
"Why are you surprised? It was in the letter." She winked. "I may have read a little more than you told me to."
Eliana.
Please do not engage her on your own. Emily will return soon, and I will send her the moment she does. The rest are busy, but I've sent a message to at least one of them. He will join you eventually.
But if you must, hold on for as long as you can.
Aurelia.
"I may not agree with her completely," Viola added, "but I know very well that she won't leave us alone. We're fighting the same enemy, after all."
"Alright, you win." Eliana laughed softly. "I'll let you have your confrontation. And I'll wait just slightly further away, far enough for anyone malicious to not detect me, so they drop their guard, thinking you're all alone."
"Then how will you know if things go south on my end?"
"The pigeon." She smiled. "It is completely hidden to safely watch over you, and fast enough to alert me the moment you face trouble."
"That's assuring." Viola smiled back. "When do I get mine?"
"Maybe start by trusting its creator." Eliana giggled.
"Oh, so never?" They laughed along as the snow gently embraced them.
Thirty minutes were left until dusk.
"Right! One other thing!" Viola said. "You never told me what your magic was!"
"Now? Really?"
"There's still some time, Eliana. And perhaps…I could use that knowledge to better perform magic myself."
Thirty minutes until Viola would be given a choice.
"After all, we use the same weapons, don't we?"
A choice to leave everything behind.