Sunny froze, trying not to move a muscle. His face grew pale and solemn.
"W—what is going on? Master Welthe?"
The woman stared at his back, the blade of a slender saber pressed against Cassie's throat. She remained silent, as though unwilling to answer. However, Pierce spoke in her stead, a dark grin appearing on his lips:
"Don't worry… we'll tell you shortly."
With that, he commanded two Echoes to step forward. One was holding a large wooden box, its surface engraved with a complicated weave of a beautiful, but disorienting pattern. The other was holding a folded piece of black cloth.
Pierce carefully took the box, then placed it on the floor in front of him and closed his eyes for a moment. A loud click resounded from inside, and its lid rose by a few millimeters. He didn't touch it, though.
Instead, the fearsome Master sighed and took the folded cloth.
Sunny stared at the wooden box with a bit of apprehension.
"What is that thing?"