The large door swung open, a resounding sound echoing throughout the room. As it swung open, a new world appeared before our eyes. The Pathways of World—a mystical dimension that bridges the physical and non-physical realms—appeared as a boundless, dark void filled with glowing paths, geometric walkways, and floating archways.
A man dressed in a brown and black tunic, leather accents, and a black cloak covering his entire body—walked along one of the paths, step by step, traversing this void without the slightest fear.
Until finally, he stopped in his tracks, silent and not continuing his journey.
He then spoke.
"...I discovered something quite shocking if described in detail. However, I'm not sure you're serious about it, Your Highness."
"What are you talking about?" a woman's voice began to fill the void, her voice firm. "I will always respect those who have information and choose to speak, even if the information I receive may not be what I want to hear."
After that, from the void, a slender woman appeared, wearing a black dress with a thigh-high slit that matched the void. The dress consisted of a lacy black blouse with a flowing collar and a black bow tie with a blue jewel in the center.
Her back was turned to the man, before her long purple hair swayed as she turned to face him.
"So, what did you find? Why weren't you with Takechi?"
The man lowered his head and neck, his right hand clasped to his chest. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I couldn't help Takechi because the Captain of the Knightley Queen held him in a magical prison that no magic could break through."
"And you decided not to help him? How pathetic."
"Forgive me, Your Highness."
The woman before him let out a long sigh that echoed throughout the void. "Haah…" She then asked the man, or subordinate, about what she had discovered.
"So, what did you find, Dimsk?"
"Two artifacts, the Gauntlet of Rebirth and the Bracelet of Arise, are now in the hands of the two Seraphim, and the rest—"
His words were interrupted when the woman also joined in and interrupted him. "Wait a minute. Why is the Gauntlet of Rebirth in the hands of the two Seraphim? It should be in your possession, shouldn't it?"
The woman's aura seemed to threaten her subordinate, but he tried to remain calm. He then answered her question hesitantly.
"...Takechi asked me to hand over the Gauntlet of Rebirth to him on your instructions. He said that killing them or the Seraphim who interfere with our plans would be easier, since they are after the same thing."
This statement put the woman in a bad mood. He sensed a strong murderous intent emanating from his queen. Her dark aura grew sharper, more erratic, and more abstract.
"..."
The woman remained silent, but it was as if she were attacking his heart and mind. The man looked up, seeing her sinister golden gaze, making him feel small.
"..?!"
The man realized, his answer had angered his queen.
"...Choose two of these."
"Huh?"
"Live…" she said, her right hand forming a wooden hilt with a guard shaped like a small bat's wing, before a long, iron blade with black markings running down the blade emerged. "…Or die."
"I don't want to fight you, Your Highness Noya…" the man said fearfully.
"…I've heard that many times before," replied the woman, her Highness. She stared at him with a sharp gaze but a sweet smile. "Relax, this won't last long…"
Dimsk could only resign himself to his current situation. His eyes widened. Meanwhile, Noya's sword swung freely toward him.
SWING
Dimsk closed his eyes, but after a few seconds, he felt nothing. Believing his queen had forgiven him, he slowly opened them—seeing that the tip of the sword hadn't touched his head at all, merely halting in midair.
"…?"
"I won't waste my time teaching you a lesson." Queen Noya said. "Now, tell me what you got besides Takechi's pathetic excuse."
Dimsk breathed a sigh of relief, his life spared. He immediately answered calmly and honestly. "...I have found the location of the fourth artifact, the Staff of Miracles."
"Oh. You found it? Where?"
"The Staff of Miracles is right beneath the city of Awania Sudo."
"Oh, that's wonderful..."
"Thank you, Your— Ack!" His words were cut off as the blade pierced his heart, piercing his chest, drawing fresh blood that flowed down the blade.
"...Your Highness? Why...?" Dimsk said softly.
"I know you're lying to me, Dimsk," Noya replied, in a cold tone.
"..." Dimsk fell silent, feeling an excruciating pain in his chest. "I-I'm serious..."
"No," Noya replied curtly, stabbing Dimsk in the heart. "The Staff of Miracle is located right in Storm Queen City. It's securely guarded, and those assigned there are the Seraphim. You wouldn't even be able to reach their place."
"..."
"Pathetic..." Noya said coldly, his sinister gaze piercing Dimsk's very soul. She then drew her sword swiftly, causing Dimsk's body to fall and lie helpless before him.
THUD
Blood flowed freely and even fell into the void. Dimsk's body became one with the void, disappearing without a trace in a short time.
Noya turned around and spoke.
"...The four rare artifacts are now available. It's only a matter of time until the remaining three are found... by them."
Then his lips curled into a sly grin.
⟨⟩ ⟨⟩ ⟨⟩
Back to the real world.
— 3 Emi 418 HC (Horizon Calendar).
That morning, as the sun was almost fully risen—Infori and Flynn's departure day had arrived. The two of them were walking along the path of Storm Road, intending to leave Storm Road and head to Storm Queen City.
Previously, their departure had always been delayed by issues that needed to be addressed first, especially since Flynn was a captain on the Knightley Queen.
Infori invited Flynn to talk and ask him something.
"Hey, Flynn," Infori called out. Flynn turned to him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nathan seems late, should we wait for him?"
"Hmm..." Flynn thought for a moment, then stopped in his tracks, simultaneously with Infori. "That's up to you. He's a civilian who accidentally got involved with you... So I'll leave it to you."
"Huh?"
Then, a man's voice called out to them both. "Hey, wait!" The two of them immediately responded by turning their heads toward the source of the voice. They saw Nathan, who was running toward them in a hurry.
"There he is," Infori said. Then he waved his hand. "Hey, come here!"
Nathan, who had arrived, stopped, his breathing labored, his body bent over as he regained his composure.
"You've been taking so long. I thought you were still fast asleep, we almost left you," Infori said.
Nathan looked up at Infori. "You guys are too fast, I didn't know you were leaving so early!"
"Huh? Didn't we tell you we were leaving early yesterday?" Flynn asked.
"Oh, is that so? I don't remember you saying that?" Nathan replied. He tried to recall, but he couldn't find anything related to this.
"Okay, let's continue our journey. Better fast and sure than slow and uncertain, right? Haha," Infori said.
"Okay," Flynn and Nathan replied.
Then, they continued on their journey, which would be quite long.
They didn't know what lay ahead, but they were likely prepared. Lilith and Iris were also preparing their belongings in their inn room in the plaza.
Lilith stared intently at the Gauntlet of Rebirth and Bracelet of Arise, which she had stored in her large bag.
"…"
She made up her mind.
(I will definitely secure the remaining rare artifacts...! I won't do the same thing...!)
Everything would begin now, but for now, it would end at Storm Road.