In a large Hall, hundreds of people were gathered.
The hall was illuminated by crystalline chandeliers way above, giving a gentle glow to the hall.
The walls were decorated by paintings, the floors were made of polished marbles, large windows lined at intervals that exhibited a magnificent garden beyond.
If only there was some music and bit more decoration, it might have looked like an banquet hall.
Unfortunately, the guest weren't the best audience for a banquet. They had the mask and all for a masquerade but not the personality of a banquet, as they stood in one place like a stone statue. Simply surveying and waiting for the gathering's agenda to start.
'Quite haughting' Sky commented in his mind.
So many people yet not even a single whisper of voice. This feels like a gathering of introverts, practicing to avoid conversation.
But...why does it feel like he is being avoided explicitly?
He could sense multiple gazes scrutinizing him intensely. Like an exotic species in a zoo.
Why him though? He knows he have some blood on himself but Aeon literally is dreached in it. He practically got a new uniform in red, sticking out like a sore thumb.
So what if they looked like two psychopaths walking in on a important board meeting.
Sigh
Sky mused inwardly, waiting for the gathering to begin.
Having nothing better to do, he observed others.
The group that approached them earlier was standing in middle, still together. It was expected, afterall they are a group.
Few impatiently tapped their shoes on the marble floor.
The one near him was especially stiff, perhaps from nervousness.
Some stood still perfectly, as if cosplaying a stone statue.
Few daring ones, approached others for conversations. Though they were too far away to risk evesdropping on.
Actually, one of them was approaching him. Truly daring.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, but perhaps you both should consider changing into new robes? Especially...that good sir. Oh do forgive me if it's a madam."
They bowed politely. From their way of speaking, it can be deduced that they were a nobleman. So a 'he'. Their build wasn't small either.
Sky responded in a quite but solemn voice,
"We don't have any spare, though indeed this fit is rather inappropriate for this occasion."
Someone thought it would be funny making noice in enemy territory. My bad that I didn't account for it.
The nobleman chuckled softly,
"I got few spares if you don't mind." He offered.
Sky looked at the noble man sceptically.
"Then please do." He accepted.
"Ah, then please..." The noble man extended his right arm which had the storage ring.
As sky was about to extend his, the lights went out. The hall was immediately drenched in darkness, only the light of ocean blue void through the windows gently illuminated it. But it was no where near enough to completely make everything visible, just barely enough to make out object's shape.
A singular spotlight shone upon the Stairs, upon which stood a figure in midnight Black robes with 2 circles mask.
A Higher up has Appeared.
They had both of their arms folded behind their back, standing up straight. They spoke in a loud and energetic tone, reaching every corner of the room. The air hummed to their voice.
"Good Evening ladies and gentlemen, I am your MC for tonight's occasion. It's a pleasure to stand in front of you all." He bowed deeply.
"The Cycle has began, I see that everyone successfully survived the 1st Trial. A round of applause!" He clapped, others followed their lead, clapping aswell. Soon, thunderous waves of claps filled the room.
Sky and Aeon followed the lead, clapping aswell. Sky simply assumed the claps are for him, after Aeon he worked the hardest.
After the thunderous round of applause, he continued,
"We, the Golden Order, have many obstacles in our way. But! Order. Never. Falters! No matter the Trials, No matter who stands in our way, No matter which one of us falls. We will prosper and reach the End!"
They suddenly went quite,
"You may worry about your own life, it's only natural. Worry not! The Divine Overseers watches over us all! Their grace will protect the worthy."
Reverence dripped like honey from the MC's mouth. They really do treat their Overseer like gods.
"As for the unworthy....." The voice of the speaker slowly bubbled up,
"Let's begin the first ceremony of this cycle! The name is....dum~ dum~ dum~!"
He raised one of his hands,
"Who's the Mole!"
Snap! They snapped their fingers.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
"No-!"
"I swear I am no-!"
Screams erupted behind as new spot lights danced behind him.
Figures in black robes moved swiftly, beheading those under spotlight.
"No. 423 was a mole from Authority. No.792 was not a mole but was marked by observers, he let his identity be known like an idiot." The speaker commented on each death.
"Why why why! My family has served Order for nearly hundred generations! This is not fair! I demand a retrial! I am not a mole!" Someone dropped down on the floor, clutching their severed limb.
Their mask fell of from their face, revealing a girl in her mid twenties.
"I demand a retrial! Overseer shall hear my plea! My family had contributed great service to order, you can't betray us like that!" She screemed out.
The MC cocked his head a bit and spoke playfully,
"Hm? What do we have here~"
Snap! He snapped his fingers, halting the onslaught of black figures.
He slowly walked down the stairs, towards the women.
"Kensaro household had indeed been of great service to Golden order..." He raised a finger.
"...But it has long overstayed it's use. How long will you cling to that pathetic old, worn out pride of yours. You lack the necessary qualities you once were chosen for."
He came face to face,
"If it weren't for you to start deviating towards the authority and Principalities, we might have sparred you."
Snap!
Her head rolled, the speaker continued on his recounting.
He walked towards sky and his associates.
"Ah~ we got special guests! Everyone! Look here!"
Spotlight shone to the right of sky, on the nervous guy from before.
"No.052 is very loyal guy. Too loyal perhaps."
He walked towards 052.
"We value your personal life and all but.... something are not meant to be shared. Especially Order related."
"I-I d-din't tell anyone except my w-wife!" 052 blurted out. The MC exaggerately sighed.
"Haaa~... that's exactly the problem at hand. You told an outsider about your relation to Golden Order."
They wrapped their arms around 052, acting like old buddies.
"There are so many people out for Order, we hide our identity to protect ourselves and the order."
"Sinner's Observers are watching and hearing everything everywhere. Damn Tricksters are out their tricking us. Mytlogist can disguise as any one of us, replacing the ones we knew yesterday. Why do you think we hide? why do you even the Hertical Inquestors while being strong still choose to hide?"
"History time! One time, like a millennia or two ago, we let such things slide. The consequences? those damn Reckoning Resonators brought 2nd Reckoning on our system after studying it. They found flaws even we didn't knew at the time!"
He patted the trembling 052 gently,
"Scared? Hm..be more scared. If you don't understand history, let's give an live example."
He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers again.
Snap!
Instantly, multiple head fell down in an sync. The nobleman sky chatted to earlier was one of them.
"Do you know who they were? We call them living puppets. Those who had their will stripped by a mind Weaver, becoming puppets. Worse part? They think and act like humans but are long dead mentally. Their identity was found out, so a mind Weaver caught them. It read their memories and stripped them of their will."
They leaned closer to 052 and wispered,
"Your wife may have her dream read or memories stolen by such beings. Maybe she was set up so you willing reveal information to them. Fortunately that was not the case, she was a loving wife."
052 stopped trembling and moved his head towards the MC.
"Join her in afterlife."
The MC broke his neck, 052 fell to ground like a sack of meat.
The MC moved past Sky but was suddenly stopped when sky called out.
"Wait....can I check the ring of that person, I want to take the spare robes he mentioned earlier."
The MC stopped and scrutinized sky and Aeon's appearance. They crouched down to inspect the ring.
"It's bugged." MC answered.
Sky silently looked away,
"How disappointing."