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
Under the guise of cloudy night, a container truck went by on the interstate road towards Eschemali region. The road breached through the thick green canopy of the forest and passed a bridge over a large river. The rushing water flowed from a waterfall in the north, and the crags formation on its each sides resembled spreading wings of an angel.Tirana always smiled whenever she passed the Winged Waterfall. Though it was dark, she could always make out the wings from the shadows. She found it a highlight of her day whenever she had to go stock up her supplies in Eschemali."I heard the Earth Sculptor made that," Saracenia said."Really? Mell did it?" Tirana looked back on the waterfall. "I wouldn't guess he'd think of creating something that artistic."Saracenia chuckled for a bit. Her fingers lightly tapped on the steering wheel in the same rhythm with the mellow song from the radio. "The Scions shaped a lot of places in Mirepa, especially the earlier ones. The Earth Sculptor
The elevator reached the B89 floor, where it led Tirana and Claros - Vayu to an almost entirely different world altogether. They arrived on a blindingly bright hangar that was full of white or silver futuristic alien machines, manufacturing even more futuristic alien equipment left and right. Messy sounds of clanking, whirring and drilling were all over the place.Claros - Vayu twisted his nose at the strange, sterile smell. "The hell is all this?""It must be where they - oh my God."Tirana discreetly pointed to something big at the end of the massive hangar. It was an enormous, circular silver steel gate that was labeled VORTEX - 02. There were mountains of glimmering silver ores around it that Tirana absolutely certain was the same alien material that made the concealing brooches and containers. Upon closer look, Tirana also realized the entire wall and almost everything here was of the same origin."So that's why we can't sense what these slick bastards up to," Claros - Vay
With their consecutive victories on a single night over the Silver Sovereigns, the Scions and Tirana gathered again at Calendula Residence conference room. There were smiles and celebratory cheers, but not from Lars. He was still grappling at the idea that anything goes in their effort to achieve victory, including causing disasters and taking an innocent boy hostage."Let's get to it, shall we? Anybody wants to start what they found so far?" Rachelia said."Me first!" Mell shouted. "I have destroyed those fucking Sovereigns' factory. They're gone, down and dusted. Fuck yeah!""Yes, Mell. I am aware of that. Your earthquake made it to Channel 6's news this morning. Hopefully that's a suitable price to pay to slow down the Sovereigns. The Alchemist Guild's been riling me up about destroying their property.""They didn't know about Claros being a two - faced bastard?" Vayu asked."Not until I told them just earlier." Rachelia let out a tired sigh. "Anything else?"Tirana rais
After the discussion at the conference room, Lars was told by Rachelia to meet Octavia in the west wing of the mansion. He was not in a good mood all night and grumbled a little bit along the way. He still hated Rachelia's decision but at the same time, also acknowledged they learned something valuable out of it, so his moral dilemma remained.However, as soon Lars started to sense more of people in the west wing, he began to run. Lars ran so fast eventually he glided instead. Fresh tears on his eyes swept by the pushing wind as he picked up his speed."Mom!"Lars barged in to the room. There she was, his mother on the bed, smiling. They immediately locked in a tearful embrace and Lars wailed on his mother's shoulder. Relief washed over Lars as he found his mother alive and well. He quickly thought of giving proper thanks to whoever responsible bringing her back."Mom, I'm sorry! I... I'm - ""It's okay, Lars. I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for everything."Lars and his mother hu
"Walk faster, maggot!"Len's vision was hazy from all the beatings and blood that trickled to his left eye. Duncan was especially rough with him that day. Len had beaten up so badly he couldn't even stand anymore. He had to be dragged across the hallway, leaving a trail of blood as he did.While barely hanging on to his consciousness, Len wondered what was it that made Duncan this angry. He had realized for a while that despite how rough and dreadful his torments were, they had never made him lose a limb or severely damage his vital organs. And yet, that day Duncan really pushed the edge.Len had repeatedly fainted by the time he was brought to his destination. Duncan shoved him inside of a dark room and left him in the silence. Len wanted to move but his body was close to giving up. He felt the coldness of the floor on his cheek and found it strangely pleasant.However, Len knew he wasn't meant to just lie there forever. He was thrown somewhere he didn't know, and he knew he g
Within the vast property of Calendula Residence, there was a large hill with wide open clearing of nature's green carpet. At the moment, the place was filled with the sound of rumbling earth and stones breaking, courtesy of a Scion practicing his power over light.Lars cleaved through the stone statues with his Celestial Calibur. The stones shattered and reconstructed by Mell's command and foot tapping. Lars did his very best to destroy every last standing statue but Mell was just as relentless on recreating them."Keep it up, man. You're doing great!"Lars barely heard that from all the sound of statues breaking. He let his swordplay instinct took over and he made his moves as realistically as possible. He wanted to hone his swordfight techniques, stance and movement on land instead of keep resorting to flying.A statue appeared and about to land a blow to Lars. Lars swiftly dodged to the side and swung his sword upwards, decapitating the statue's hand and head. Despite how of
"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