"Len! Mom! Where are you, dammit! Len!"Lars searched high and lows for his family. He ran around Algedi trying to pick up any semblance of their presence. He went to MSC headquarters but stopped by the guards. He went back to their old home but found no one there. He even went to Brodie's apartment that he visited once but told by the landlord he had already moved out.Lars had no clue where to look. He was exhausted from all the running, panting and sweating. His muscles screamed at him to stop but he didn't listen. Lars wanted to fly but thankfully, he still had common sense to not reveal his Scion Force for the world to see. However, even if Lars wanted to fly, he was too spent for it."Len... Mom... "Lars' aimless search led him to a playground. It was late at night at the time, and the playground was completely dark. The night wind picked up and the swing's chains softly rattled. Lars took a seat on one of the swings, and he poured it all out in the darkness.That day
Lars watched the sunrise from his room window with a somber look. There was not a hint of joy or anything remotely light in his heart. He went back to bed and pulled the blanket over his head.Despite he was aching for it, Lars couldn't sleep. The bed was nice and soft, the room was warm and cold whenever it needed to be, and everything was of highest luxury in his new room in Calendula Residence's mansion. Still, the comfortable room failed to give Lars a good night sleep.Lars feared the nightmare. Staying awake was torturous enough for him as his brain kept retracing that day on Mt. Alnath and the news of his brother's disappearance. He remembered his whole life with Len. He remembered how Sophia looked under the sunlight and when she saved his life. He remembered he couldn't save them.For the past three days, Lars was still far from being alright. Since Sophia's funeral, he cried once in a while and his supposed rest only made him even more drained. His pillows often wet by
After showering, Lars stared at his reflection, something he avoided for a while. He was unchanged. No facial hair grew out of him despite how badly he wanted to someday. His hair had stopped growing and Lars wondered if he chops them off would they grow back, but he wasn't about to experiment on it. The physical stagnancy of becoming a Scion was still something Lars needed to adjust to.Lars put on Len's zebra - printed hoodie and finally went out of the comfort of his room. As he walked down the carpeted hallway, Lars appreciated the regal beauty of Calendula Residence. The main building was a five storied mansion, and the interior was modernized by luxurious aesthetic of suedes, velvets and gemstone ornaments.The mansion was enormous and Lars wouldn't dare to end up in a wrong room. He realized of the mansion's security from his first night here. The maids and butlers who prowled around the mansion was no ordinary folks. Lars sensed them as possessing great aura of arcane power
"Good morning!"Lars jerked and his eyes snapped open. Vayu stood on the side of his bed, smiling cheerfully and carrying a tray of foods with delightful aroma. Lars rubbed his eyes and groaned groggily. Morning light from the window gleamed the star necklace on his bare skin."Hey," Lars said between his yawns. "When did you got here?""Just now," Vayu said. "Let's dig in while it's still warm, shall we? I got here as fast as I could for these."Lars shook his head as he smiled and he scooted over so they could have their breakfast in bed. One bite on a tuna sandwich from the platter was enough to send a distinct spark of joy for Lars. He could recognize the crisp deliciousness of it from anywhere."Is this from... Angel's Snack?"Vayu widely smiled. "Auntie Quinn said hi."Lars felt a gripping pressure in his heart and his eyes turned glassy. The name and the flavor brought him back to simpler times when he still had Len by his side. It felt like such a long time ago fo
The assembly had begun. The Scions had disclosed everything to the Alliance. From the discovery of Sovereigns, alien material, and up to the battle of Mt. Alnath. Some gasps and murmurs were heard as they learned of the treachery. By the end of it, after Rachelia summarized everything, the chaotic chatter from mythfolks, djinns, depthdwellers and magi couldn't be contained anymore."How absolutely despicable!" Sir Ragdorius' booming voice echoed. "How could the Scions do this? How did any of this get by us?"The audience erupted to louder blend of noises. Lars' heart went faster as he looked around, expecting there might be a riot soon. Rachelia took the matter at hand by snapping her fingers. A faint wave spread out and the entire place was silenced, regardless of whether the audience still moved their mouths to speak. Soon enough, they stopped trying."Now can we please continue the discussion in an orderly manner? Thank you." Rachelia snapped her fingers again, and the audienc
In the span of a week since his capture, Len had been subjected to many things that no man should ever experience, regardless of their innocence. As the result, Len had become nothing more than just a hollow husk of what he once was. On his calmer hours, he just stared on the wall, wishing for death that was even too luxurious.When not being cruelly toyed with, Len was kept in a dungeon deep underground. He had no idea where he ended up and where they put his mother away. He was left in a narrow space where the only way out was from a hole on the ceiling, essentially an oubliette.The oubliette was extremely narrow, leaving Len with only few inches to move around. He could try to sit, but the stench of his cellmate would be even unbearable. Len's only company in his moments of dark tranquility was a messy stack of human skeleton. Its muscles, skin and organs had long liquefied into dark mushy red on the floor.Sometimes Len talked to himself, but mostly he was busy staring at ev
Lars tried to make as little sound as possible climbing up old creaky stairs. He didn't want to alert the arguing parents that he heard from the inside of apartment. The stairs led to a rooftop where Lars was presented with breathtaking sight of Rukbat region that looked like spangled with thousand stars.The buildings looked come to life with their colorful signs and lamps, lighting up the nightfall. However, contrasting the bright starry city, the sky was bleak with thick clouds hovered above, once in a while beating with thunder.Lars gazed at the dark clouds that slowly pushed to east by unseen wind, and wondered whether it was an ill omen. He quickly shook it off and held his star necklace, praying that he could successfully do his part on that decisive day."You're ready?"Lars turned to Wilhelmina who just arrived from neighboring rooftop. He gave her his best smile that could convey confidence. The maid in blue smiled back and nodded. They had been assigned on a team to
"Um... who are you people?"The little boy stood before the three intruding Scions with his head tilted. Lars stammered to answer and he just looked at his teammates who were just as dumbfounded. They had expected something more malicious confronting them instead of an innocent looking boy.Lars turned to Wilhelmina nervously. "We're... uhh... the new cleaning service.""Really? You look at me and that's what you - oh what the hell, yes we are, sweetie."Edwin nodded a bit too much and too fast. "That's right. Your dad gave us his key and told us to look after you and the apartment while he's busy.""Oh... okay," the boy said.Edwin crouched and talked to the boy as Lars and Wilhelmina went to the bedroom and gone through Arjan's stuff. They checked the wardrobe, nightstand, drawers, everywhere that that could possibly hide something important."What the hell is up with that kid? I can't sense him," Lars whispered."I have no idea. That can't be Mr. Ramamurthy's son. As
"Did we just... lost?"Mell's exasperated question snapped Lars back to the reality. He watched as the Grand Serpent's towering scales spread out in the distance, amidst the smokes of ruin. From them, silver colored monstrosities excused themselves into the world, causing destruction in their wake."No. We've won. We pushed him back, didn't we?" Lars said, desperately trying to sound cheerful."But at what cost?" Rachelia said in a tired whisper. Wilhelmina gave her a side hug."Let's just get out of here first, those things are coming," Vayu said.Everyone agreed to the suggestion and the Scions walked through the ruined Regulus that had been deformedly transformed into chaotic nature. There were trees grown in the middle of the street, with reptilian scale textures on their trunks and leaves. Gravity also arbitrarily nullified in some parts, leaving some debris and ashes floating."Is this all because of silverstream?" Lars asked as he touched a speck of floating dust.
The Grand Serpent spoke, and his voice was ethereally terrifying as Lars imagined him to have. His black scales resonated with silver glow that ran from his body to his head. The silverstream gathered around the Grand Serpent made Lars wary of any incoming attack. Lars thought perhaps that was when the Grand Serpent took the fight seriously.'You fought... well...'The Grand Serpent did not open his mouth, but the voice was definitely booming from him. Lars wasn't sure what to answer, so he let his Celestial Calibur did it for him. The sword streamed out a river of burning light. The slashing wave Lars emitted from it was blocked by the barrier again.This time, the barrier looked more defined and more silver. Rachelia's roses and Vayu's flames also didn't make a single dent on it. The Grand Serpent made a repeated sound of chaotic cacophony, which Lars could only interpret as a deriding laugh.Then, in the distance, they came. The Chimeras from all over La Shania Mirepa rushed
That morning, a blinding white star rose from the ruins of Regulus. The star burned so bright it took the full attention of a certain cosmically colossal creature. The star shone and dispersed the wild silver ashes in the skies. All eyes were on the star's ascension, watching it unfolded into bursting wings of light.Lars has transformed into a white armored angel with six divine wings hovering behind his back, connected by a golden halo. The armor was his own solidified Scion Force, sparkling in majestic grandeur of white and gold. A sword patterned crown rested on Lars' head, having the same royal pattern as his brilliantly burning Celestial Calibur.The Grand Serpent hissed, the loudest Lars ever heard so far. The storm of buildings turned ghastlier as some of them were caught on silver flames. Foul smell still permeated across the battlefield and Lars willed himself to not catch a whiff. By quick observation, he realized some parts of the Regulus has rainforests, mountains and
The white crystal resonated as if welcoming Lars and Len. The entire place was alight by swirling lights, and the air felt like they were in meadows. Though it was silent, the serenity and ambience of the place only reinforced the crystals' ethereal atmosphere. For a second, Lars thought he found a piece of heaven buried deep within the earth.Len let go as Lars made his steps forward. Lars walked to the majestic divine crystal before him and fell to his knees soon after. However, there was a relieved, happy smile on his face. He was finally to meet his savior and guardian deity in person."Hello, Alt'ma."'My Scion.'It was the same voice as Lars remembered, echoing and ethereal."I don't know if you've been watching or not, but... we are in very deep trouble."'So I've seen. Moreover, your body is defiled and I am slowly losing you.'"Yeah, it's because of those damn bombs." Lars then gasped. "O - oh, sorry for cursing in front of you."'Worry not, my Scion. It seems
In the darkness, Lars was trapped in a vicious cycle of fainting and waking up to a numbing pain. He groaned every time, making sure to himself that he was alive despite the severe agony. He also felt repeated sensation of being dragged, carried, or held. Each weren't in the nicest or careful ways as the grip always too tight and the stones always scraped too rough.What truly woke Lars up was the sight of a light. It wasn't his, but someone else's. It was purple and menacing under the dark, but Lars figured any light was a friend to face any darkness. He tried to raise his neck and felt like dying just for it. He wondered why being a Scion could still feel this much hurt.Deliriously, Lars called out to the tailed devil in the shadows. "Len...?"Len didn't turn nor answer. His gaze was fixated at an amulet where the purple glow came from. Lars was stunned for a while, thinking how that amulet somehow find its way home to its creator. He remembered leaving it on his bag at Regulu
The Grand Serpent watched the world laid before him in such a curious gaze. Lars was shuddering from the sheer size of that creature. His trembling hand found his star necklace, and its chain rattled alongside his tremors. He kept taking quick, deep breaths but they weren't as helpful as he hoped.Lars braved himself to look away, but the dread caught him by the throat to the point it was physically hurt to move his neck. He watched as the others were in shambles like he did. Mell was backing away as he looked up, stumbling to a few rubbles. Rachelia supported herself by her umbrella and Wilhelmina was on the ground next to her, leaning helplessly to the ruins of Regulus. As for who held Lars' hand, it turned out to be Vayu. Though Vayu was trembling, he didn't let his gaze broke away from the Grand Serpent."V - Vay..."Vayu's spiteful gaze was a thinly veiled look of fear, but at the very least Lars noticed a form of resistance from him. He realized for Vayu, it was probably li
"Len! Len, please snap out of it!" Lars exclaimed.Magnus laughed in the most obnoxious way possible to Lars' ears. "Don't even bother. He already knows. He just chooses to be here. After all, he is reborn as a new god and destined to bring us the promised world."Lars looked at Magnus and then to Len. He didn't want to believe the word of a man who had been lying to them for years, but those unflinching silver eyes deterred Lars quite a bit. Lars wanted to jump down but the synchronized aims from the Sovereigns' guns everywhere stopped him."Len, don't listen to anything he says! He's a monster! He lied to us the whole time.""Lars, please," Vayu said behind him. "If we don't do something, we're gonna be dead here."Lars wanted to scream and break things out of frustration, but he knew Vayu was right. Without turning, Lars nodded and Vayu took the cue. The reflecting threads spread into millions and slicing the Sovereigns in front of Vayu. Their fallen, mutilated bodies made
When Edwin didn't scream, everything was quiet. Too quiet. Lars was sitting in the other room with Tirana and Vorpaltinger, not wanting to see Rachelia's 'infamous' interrogation method. He sat on the couch, lost in deep thoughts of processing what he feels about the recent reveal about his friends.Vorpaltinger sat next to Lars and leaned back, resting on her wings. Lars gave her a fleeting smile before he spaced out again, and this time Vorpaltinger didn't let him."It might seem cruel to you, but The Mandate is important for all of us mythfolks to keep. It protects us from the world too, so... I completely understand why they did it."Lars blinked. "You heard that?""I heard everything. Blame my rabbit ears for that."Vorpaltinger raised her foot on top of the table and stretched. "The Scions... can be quite intimidating to say the least, but they do care. They just happen to understand what's important and the scope of their duties so they won't exert themselves unnecessa
Lars, Vayu, Mell, Rachelia, Tirana and Vorpaltinger had descended into the giant pit and exploring the corridors of Rasalhague Castle underground by then. Lars was starting to feel himself sweaty and greasy, and it wasn't because of the narrow, humid spaces they were traversing. He could feel himself deteriorating, both from inside and outside.Everywhere Lars looked, there was always something made of slitherite. The walls, ceiling panels, floor tiles, the doors, everything. It made Lars sick, literally and figuratively, and the feeling was shared with the rest of his Scion friends."God fucking damn it, I fucking hate this place," Mell breathed out, sweating."Yes, Mell. We've heard you the first fifteen times," Rachelia said.Vayu didn't say anything. Lars could see that friend of his was slightly falling apart as Vayu held his own hand to stop his fingers untangled like a candy wrapper. Lars reached out and held Vayu closer to him by his shoulder. Vayu just smiled in respon