Chapter 19: The Shimmer
—19 September 2023—
—8 am—
The frigid winds nipped at the skin with a quite frightening ferocity, like a ravenous parasite feasting on exposed flesh.
Muttering curses under their breath, everyone—the heirs—the boys, specifically—lamented at the capricious shift from a blissful, sun-drenched morning to that of howling winds and thunderous rain. The sudden change in weather smothered any lingering trace of joy, leaving behind nothing but complaining groans and utmost depression.
Standing a little distance away from their respective rides—helicopters—everyone was looking upward at the sky.
"I fucking hate this place!" Finn cried out loud.
"It's not that bad." The reply came from Arthur who was idly standing in the rain, his hair slightly drenched by it. His ashy-brown curtains still retained their shape, despite standing in the continuous downpour. "This is like a mere shower."
"For you, yes." Finn shot back. "I come from a nice sunny place. This much rain in two days is enough to give anyone depression."
"Do better then, I guess."
Finn bristled, but shook his head and pressed his fingers against his eyes as he calmed himself, knowing that it was Arthur's nature to get into people's heads. The weaker one's control over their own emotions got, the stronger Arthur's advantage got.
He seems to have come back to his senses. No gloom whatsoever. Arthur thought to himself. I guess that is how everything goes, right? We tend to forget people. Even those who are really near and dear to us.
The girls had already left early in the morning. Since most of the boys were partying until late at night—except Arthur—they woke up super late and not only missed out the last few hours of light, but also were now in a dilemma whether to leave in this precarious weather or not.
"Hey…you're not thinking of leaving in this weather, right?" Astrid spoke, raising her voice just enough so Arthur could hear it. Although since he was quite a little distance away, Finn and Dotun also heard her.
Arthur glanced in her direction and then walked towards the small shelter of the looming canopy of black metal that covered quite some space right over the main door that led inside to the castle. "I am. It's not that bad. It's not even a storm."
Astrid sighed and then peeked at the sky. "I know. But still— there are a few things I want to ask." She spoke, her impatience visible with a tangible ardour. "Now I feel bad for getting caught up with them and not accompanying you yesterday… you had something to tell me right?"
"It's nothing." Arthur replied, waving off his hand. "Nothing like the end of the world. So that can wait." Then glancing down at her arms which were tied in front of her in a respectful manner and the towel that draped over it, hung down, stopping just before her knees, he motioned his head in its direction. "Not going to dry me up?"
Astrid looked down before letting out a sigh. "You're like a grown up baby." She spoke, shaking her head before flipping the towel and wrapping it around his head. Pulling each side alternatively, she rubbed his hair dry, slowly and softly. "I feel too ashamed to even broach the subject of this whole ordeal…" her voice drifted away into a whimper, "...I got too excited and went off. I don't even know what came over me." She lamented, her grip over the towel's edges getting meek.
Arthur's features softened and then scrunched downwards. For some reason he felt guilty. Seeing her blame herself so much made his heart skip a beat. "It wasn't even your fault."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Astrid looked up, frowning.
A jolt went down Arthur's spine. "Uhhh, nothing. Forget about it." Arthur spoke, his tone oddly defensive. "Anyways, what I was saying was that it's fine to take some time off babysitting me." He spoke as Astrid looked down, her shoulders shaking as she swallowed a bubbling laughter.
"Thanks." She mumbled, giving the towel one final rub before pulling it and hanging it from her arm.
"Blergh." Sticking his tongue out, Michael walked from inside of the castle, his features scrunched in obvious disgust. "As if the hangover wasn't bad enough, I have to see this guy of all people getting all lovey dovey with a normie. Fuck me." His voice was even raspier, streaks of red running through the white of his eye as he wobbled sideways. His long hair covered his face entirely. He stopped, and then focused on Dotun and Finn standing together. "Oh hello there." He greeted as the two of them waved at him.
As if the reality of his situation had just dawned on him, he suddenly groaned. "You can't be serious… this fucking Albert. I know damn well he made me pair up with this freak."
Maintaining a smooth veneer of composure, Arthur shot back. "Travelling with you, let's say, doesn't exactly top my list of preferences either." He kept his tone level. "Particularly not with someone for whom a trifling few cans of beer seem to pose an insurmountable challenge, even after a generous twelve hours of sleep."
Arthur's words were like a sheathed sword, ridicule veiled under a layer of subtle courtesy. Sharp but hidden. The atmosphere crackled, like tiny crackers ready to explode.
"Wanna repeat that?"
Arthur raised his chin and looked down at him. "Given your sorry state, I'll deign to repeat myself just this once, out of kindness." He said, his voice laced with a patronising grace. "You're a bother. I would prefer to go on this mission solo than to be saddled with dead weight."
Michael's hand extended to the side, his palm glowing. "I'll atomise you, alright."
Arthur's lip curved into a sadistic sneer, his eyes glowing with a twisted delight. "I'd like to see you try."
His own dried hair started to stand up, crackling with static as small sparks of blue lightning jumped between his fingertips.
"Errrr, Arthur-" Astrid spoke from beside Arthur. "-I don't think this is a good idea."
Michael's eyes flicked from Arthur and Astrid and a smirk formed on it.
Astrid was also looking at Michael from the side of her eye. But it was only just one blink… one blink and Michael was standing right in front of her. Before his lips could move, Arthur's arm flicked like a whip, crackling with sparks of lightning.
The following moment, Michael was back in his place.
Once again, he wobbled to the side as he held his head. "Damn this headache." He cursed, clutching his snow white strands.
"E-Eh…?" Astrid seemed dumbfounded. It was for a mere seconds, but she could feel her insides scream in agony. Not due to physical pain. But rather instinctive. An instinctive fear of a prey against its predator. "W-What… happened?"
Arthur was standing beside her, his hand in front of her. "A little horseplay is all."
"Did you see what happened?" Dotun whispered to Finn.
"If you're talking about them almost blitzing our perception, then nay, I didn't." Finn retorted.
"Nah, not that." With an observant eye, Dotun lowered even down to whisper to Finn. "He just saved the girl. Isn't that strange?"
Finn frowned and then his eyes went wide, lightening up despite the black clouds totally overshadowing everything. "Now that you mention it… this doesn't seem like him at all."
"I was curious as well." They continued whispering. "Normally he would've let Michael hit whoever was there. I suppose, much like me, Michael has also grown suspicious of the girl."
"Suspicious?"
"Why does goddamn 'Arthur Olvasen', of all people, suddenly have a girl as his caretaker after all these years? And the same person is close enough to attend heirs' meetings. Only heirs and those whose families have worked for Syndicates for generations are allowed to confide in." Dotun explained, analysing the recent bizarre events. "Three years ago, he was not like this. But recently he has been giving her an active role."
"I mean, he has changed quite a lot from the time when we were kids. But back at the matter hand, doesn't this mean… the girl, Astrid must have a strong Arcan—"
"A very smart brain!" Dotun exclaimed with a glee. "I have to get her away from that dull rock!" He shone with excitement as Finn tried to calm him down. "You don't understand, do you know how she spoke of the two worlds like a patch? It's an established fact now. Earth, or rather collectively or originally, Eden, is expanding. To its original landmass. Won't the rise and fall in tectonic plates explain the recent increase in quakes and stuff?"
Finn ran his fingers into his head and then dishevelled them. "Too much for my brain honestly." He admitted. "But what she said does make the most sense."
"I know right?" Dotun raised his voice a little. "And he knows of it too. That's why he's keeping her close. No way in hell he suddenly had a change of heart and suddenly fell in love with someone."
Finn looked at Arthur who was talking to Astrid, completely disregarding Michael who was spewing non-stop insults. As he saw him, so vulnerable and showing his back to someone who could blow him to bits, Finn clucked, his tongue striking against the roof of his mouth. "Logically speaking, yes." Finn spoke as he averted his gaze from Arthur. "But I think he did develop a weakness after all."
"What makes you say that? Based on behavioural patterns and the isolated growth in his hometown, he—"
"Not everything has to be logical." Finn spoke with a side eye. "Look at the way he looks at her."
As the two of them turned their heads toward Arthur, they saw Arthur with a frown as he inspected Astrid with worry.
Dotun was a logical man. Things like sudden curves in something as human behaviour without any catalyst was something he could not wrap his head around. However, not finding any reasonable argument to present, he exhaled from his nose slowly, half-surrendering to whatever Finn was saying. Even though his mind screamed in denial.
As the tension crackled in the air, ready to spread like wildfire, a black miniature tornado manifested between Arthur and Michael, whipping up black embers before subsiding and revealing a man clad in purest of obsidian with jet black strands falling on his face and a pair of bone-chilling amethyst slit eyes. Albert.
The tip of his fingers were morphed into long claws, but a certain degree of respect remained as he bowed alternatively before Arthur and Michael. "You two are partners for this mission. Please, do not make this hard for me." The smile never left his face, however the weaponised Arcanum swelling underneath his skin and inside his main node burnt like hellfire, even though the intent of harm was absent. "Have I made myself clear, young masters?"
Arthur raised his arms. "Yep. No issues on my side."
Michael hesitated, his words hovering at the tip of his lips like wings of a bird on the brink of flight.
Just as he was about to speak, his lips snapped shut and his cheeks puffed out, as if his mouth was suddenly filled by something. With a gasp, he slammed his hands over his mouth and wheeled around, facing Finn and Dotun, his eyes wide with alarm.
"Hey mate, you okay?" Finn's voice dripped with worry as Dotun just stood there, exhaling a world-weary sigh.
"If I were you, I'd keep a healthy distance from—" Arthur's warning got cut off as Michael—who turned a shade of green—doubled over, turning the ground into a picture of his digestive discontent. "—orrrrrr just ignore what I was saying," Arthur added dryly, stepping back with a grimace that couldn't decide between disgust and amusement.
"Mate, what the fuc—" Finn's words twisted on his tongue, his expression contorting in barely suppressed disgust. Though the vomit was nowhere to be found, thanks to Finn's changing its axis of impact, the mere sight of Michael emptying his stomach sent a queasy feeling in his stomach.
Albert walked up to Michael and gripped him by both of his arms before making him stand up to his feet, giving him a tight jerk as he shook his head, trying to blink the dizziness away. His other hand appeared from the inside of his long robe as he took out a bottle of water and then respectfully presented a medicinal tablet.
Albert's slit eyes darted towards Dotun and Finn. "The weather is not dangerous. Rain or shine, it has been decided everyone has to leave. Immediately."
Arms tightly folded across his chest, Dotun interjected. "Sure, the odds might be slim, but it doesn't mean it's safe."
"It's exceptionally lower," Albert insisted, his emphasis on "exceptionally" leaving no room for doubt. "The Lords' decrees are the absolute law," he continued, his eyes gleaming. "My fidelity for Adam's off-springs is unwavering, without a sliver of doubt, but I am educated of the ranks. And if you choose to defy their orders even subtly," he added, his tone carrying a hint of warning, "I've been granted the authority to use force to ensure compliance. Should the need arise, of course." He smiled.
Arthur frowned. They must be really desperate if they're willing Albert to use force to send us. Moreover, they must be really preoccupied with their own thing, since none of them are accompanying us. What can it be? What can possibly supersede exploring parts of Eden? Given how dangerous it is. He wondered to himself.
"Alright, alright. Let's not linger around for much longer." Dotun suggested as he walked over to Albert and patted Michael's shoulder. "Get well soon, my friend." He said before nodding to Albert. Before he was about to leave the refuge of the protective canopy overhead, he turned his head towards Arthur. Or accurately speaking, Astrid. "Ehm, excuse me. May I have a word with you?"
Astrid blinked a few times and then looked at Arthur.
Shrugging, Arthur spoke up. "He's talking to you, not me."
"Eh-uhh, oh, yes, pardon my manners." She awkwardly fidgeted "Sure. How may I be of help?"
With a glint in his eyes and a serious expression on his face, Dotun placed his hand on his chest. "Will you accompany me in this endeavour of mine to research more about the Frontiers? I am sure your presence would be really propitious if you went with me instead of these other two brutes."
DAMN YOUUUUUUU!!!! Astrid screamed, internally, at Arthur. Since this was his fault to begin with. Instead of speaking it directly, he somehow made her talk in front of every heir. In that way, not only the other girls started approaching her but now Dotun, who was obsessed with Arcanum research, was also always looking for ways to get her help.
Although the Syndicates were always at each other's throats, preparation for anything that Eden might throw at them was the only thing keeping them under one roof.
"I am not sure if I can…" Astrid replied with a shallow bow. "...I can't possibly be of any help to someone as cognoscente as you. Although I am really flattered since you think so highly of me." She spoke with a practised ease, however, it was quite obvious that she was someone who did not prefer to talk much, or at least those she was not accustomed with.
Dotun seemed flummoxed at first. Then his face lit up. "Such modesty on top of being so deeply gifted." He spoke with clenched fists, as if the idea of her talent being wasted had shattered his heart. "It's such a pity you were born amongst Foulb—normal people." His eyes flicked towards Arthur. "I am sure she has free will, yes?"
Arthur raised his chin, and looked straight into his eyes. His hand grabbed the back of the collar of her long coat as he pulled her back towards himself slightly. "No, she does not." He replied as Astrid looked back at him with a surprised expression. Her mind was dispersed, and Arthur's words floated atop her ahead as she was more nonplussed by the sudden tug. An act that was not like the Arthur she knew. "She's my property. Just as much as you own your guardian's will to your whims, I hold her's."
Dotun scrutinised Arthur for a while, his playful demeanour vanishing. "Odd for you to be so expressive." He spoke, not in a mocking way, but in a tone of genuine curiosity. "And defensive. I was merely confirming." As he spoke again, Arthur's scowl eased out. "I know it's not my place to ask but you know how I can get in matters like this."
"I woke up with a bad mood is all." Arthur spoke, feeling half bad at the undeserved upbraiding while still holding on to Astrid who was now looking down at her feet. "And your dear friend just made it worse."
"This might sound prejudiced but I don't think it's Michael's fault today." He narrowed his blue-grey eyes. "You are not acting as yourself."
Arthur scratched the back of his neck and slowly let go of Astrid. "I guess."
A hand slapped at Dotun's back. "Come on, we are getting late. We have to leave, like right now. The forecast says it's gonna get even worse in an hour." Finn spoke and pulled Dotun before he could reply to Arthur. As the two ran towards their helicopter, Finn looked back and shook his head at Arthur.
"???"
"You are oddly cranky today." Astrid pulled his attention back to herself while looking away from Michael who was muttering an incoherent string of curses. "Is it the dreams again?"
"Mhmmm." Arthur hummed in response.
"Do you want me to seal them away for you again?" She asked, her fragile looking hand subtly coming to life with a dim glow.
"No, I think I will pass this time." Arthur replied.
"I mean, I have done it before for you. I don't think they're the same but whatever. You can rely on me to solve it."
Arthur contemplated her words for a while before replying. "I don't think sealing has any kind of effect on solving the issue at hand."
"Issue?" Astrid asked, growing wary of Michael with every moment he was regaining his sense of self.
"I keep having the same dream. With very little alterations." His voice was barely above a whisper. "This can't be a coincidence."
Astrid bit on her lower lip. "I think you are overthinking. They are just dreams. I know how bad they affect you but…"
"Dreams are not just chemical responses from the brain, Astrid." Arthur interjected her. "I mean they are, but I can feel it. It's the Gods. They are trying to whisper something to me in my sleep."
"I know you are religious but–" She was about to say something about Arthur overthinking and his reliance on religion or specific Gods a bit too much since she herself did not believe in Gods. However, with everything that was happening recently, she suddenly got rid of that thought. "–let's say it is that. Then what's the point in them being cryptic if they actually want to help?"
"Beats me, honestly." Raising his hand, he ruffled his hair with both his hands.. "I can't make sense of anything."
"Young Master Arthur." Albert interjected their whispering conversation.
"Hmm? Oh yeah." Arthur snapped out of his thoughts. "Where are we going again?"
"Korea. A frontier—the biggest one yet—has appeared in the far corner of Seoul. In the north, specifically, right between the intersection point of City of Paju and City of Uijeongbu." Albert explained, handing a file to Arthur. "The amount of Arcanum leaking out of the frontier has already caused enough panic since those who had negligible amounts of it succumbed to internal injuries."
Arthur raised a brow. "Internal injuries?"
Albert held his chin, thinking over it. "I am guessing it might have something to do with the primary node." He speculated. "When Earth was not stripped away from Eden, when someone shifted from an area with lower concentration to a higher concentration of Arcanum, it used to inflate their primary node in the heart, resulting in a natural increase in Arcanum capacity." As he was explaining, Michael wobbled his way towards them, keeping one ear at their conversation. "I am guessing the Arcanum is forcing its way into their dormant nodes, but after multiple aeons, I suppose biological changes were inevitable."
Arthur hummed in agreement.
"Whatever. The whole ordeal of our ancestors removing the knowledge of Arcanum aside from a few lineages was stupid in itself." Michael joined the conversation, his voice regaining the sharp, cruel edge to it as his hangover started to get better from the medicine Albert had given him.
"No disrespect intended, Young Master Michael, but humans have a penchant for disaster." Albert spoke with a look of bittersweet nostalgia. "The worst enemies of humans in the end are humans themselves."
Michael let out a scoff. "I would've argued with you but I have this debilitating urge to barf. So excuse me."
Saying that, Michael left the place as well and ran towards his helicopter.
"He definitely couldn't argue back, right?" Astrid asked with a giggle as Arthur smiled.
"I suppose so." Arthur moved his head sideways. "But he does have a point, of sorts."
Albert had a look of surprise on his face. "It's rare for you to smile, Young Master."
"Ehhhh? Really? He's always smiling though!"
Albert's eyes narrowed. "Ohh?" And then he smirked. "I suppose I shouldn't pry too much." He paused, before coughing deliberately and speaking again. "Although I'd say to be careful. Since the Arcanum amounts are so high, you and Young Master Michael have specifically been appointed. I wanted Miss Maria to accompany you as well, but well, I couldn't just let Miss Yuki go alone. I am sure you understand the importance of this."
"I do."
Reaching out into the inside of his pocket, Albert took out a shining object before slipping it into Arthur's coat. The object was small and heavy. Extremely heavy. Enough to make the long coat visibly sag down.
"In case of an emergency." Albert replied the question that was not asked but lingered regardless. "The terrain is unknown. While your Arcane Arts make you quite versatile in our world, I am not sure if the same could be said about the other side."
"OYYEEEE! Get your ass in here!" Michael shouted from the inside of the helicopter.
"Hmm. Thanks for that." Arthur replied, skipping over whatever Michael had just said and slipped his hands into his pockets, feeling the lustrous surface of the object. "We should leave now." Arthur spoke as Albert bowed down. Astrid nodded with a confident expression before giving Albert a shallow bow and running after Arthur.
***************************
–18 September 2023-
– 11:50 pm –
– New York –
Third Person
"You and I will be going for a walk." Shoving his hands into his pocket, Lawrence turns his back on Andrew. "Come along now, a meal is always savored best once you walk it off." Unusually deceiving of his build, the large man begins his brisque stroll.
Stepping into the open air, the streets were cloaked in the dark glow of the moonlight, the surroundings only staying aglow from the many streetlights littered throughout the entire city. Lawrence's stride was matched by the hesitant shuffle of Andrew, who fell several steps behind the other man.
"You're interesting to me in a lot of ways, boy." Lawrence remarked, his voice cutting through the nightly silence. "You have affluence and influence, and now your strength–although infantile–is steadily growing."
Andrew swallowed hard, still overly cautious of the one ahead of him. "My strength… you're aware that I've awakened to the effects of arcanum?"
Lawrence shot him a withering glance over his shoulder, his expression a mix of stupefied annoyance. "Do you seriously need to ask such a stupid question? To put it in terms that your foulborn ape brain can understand, you can innately sense something from me, yes?" Despite how feeble your arcanum is, I can just barely sense something inside of you."
They entered a stairwell and climbed upwards finding themselves in one of the abundant yet small parks in New York.
"It's also why you had such an… amusing reaction." Lawrence continued, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I released just a minuscule amount of my arcanum, but yet that was enough to completely overwhelm and overstimulate your senses. Since your body is now becoming attuned to arcanum, it is only natural for your body to develop an inherent capability to sense arcanum."
Andrew's mind raced with questions. He knew that the man before him held an immense wealth of knowledge, but yet he found himself at a loss for words, unsure of what he could ask.
"Speak, boy. I assume you're smart enough to not ask anything moronic."
"...Why are you telling me anything?" Andrew asked, his tone combined with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"I've told you before, you've grown interesting." Lawrence replied with a casual shrug. "A new toy, something fun to play with until I grow bored of you. As long as you remain on the path you are on, you may grow into someone similar to your older brother."
The mention of Logan sent a surge of conflicting emotions coursing through Andrew's being. Grief, sadness, but predominantly rage slipped through the cracks of his mask.
"Control your anger mutt." Lawrence snapped, his tone that of one disciplining a dog. "Your strained arcanum is not pleasant to feel against my back. I had nothing to do with his death, although I'd be lying to say that I wasn't interested in snuffing him out myself. I would've enjoyed seeing his power personally…"
Andrew took a deep breath, his fists clenched at his sides as he attempted to rein in his emotions. "Please pardon my earlier faults." He muttered through gritted teeth. "It was unbecoming of myself."
"Bah, at least you're quick to know your place. Just remember boy, I told you to control your anger, not quell it."
Andrew frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Lawrence's grin turned predatory, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Let's just say… that there exists a certain family that irritates me to no end." he drawled, his words dripping with tangible contempt. "Interestingly enough about them though, a couple of decades ago, this family appeared to save and hire a certain outsider brat that just happened to have an incredible untrained potential to arcanum."
Stroking his chin, as if he is in deep thought. "If memory recalls… he had golden blonde hair, and…" Lawrence then fixed his gaze on Andrew. "...Seemingly crimson red eyes."
Andrews's features harden, recognition dawning. "...Logan." he breathed.
Lawrence nonchalantly shrugs. "Who knows? Whoever that brat was, around a decade of loyal service later, he vanished. Disappeared. It'd seem that he had run away. This was an issue of concern, in accordance with our laws, any deserters pose a threat to the security and well-being of Arcanic Society."
With a sneer, he continues. "Anyone deemed to be a deserter is to either be apprehended and seized effective immediately or… executed."
"I see, I understand now." Andrew began to rub the bridge of his nose.
"Hold on, brat. I haven't quite finished yet. In standard procedure, the ones who are responsible for carrying out the sentencing are the traitor's initial patron family."
"Do you understand what I'm trying to hint at, boy? That's why I took time out of my very precious schedule to come to meet with you?" The much more imposing man took several steps forward, uncaring and callously breaking through the lesser man's personal space.
"Your anger, your hate, they belong to the ones that I detest. To the ones that are better off being completely blown to nothingness."
Andrew took a step back, feeling overwhelmed.
"Your precious Logan Ashford–don't you wish to avenge him? Shatter the spines of those who unjustifiably took his life? You are capable of doing so. You have the power to take your revenge against the ones who struck you unforgivably first."
A silent rage began to seep through the cracks of Andrew, his heart felt so very hollow, yet it thrummed with an energy never felt before.
The usual feigned glint of life in Andrew's eyes had all but faded. Replaced by something so very alien, yet familiar.
"Who are they?"
Lawrence smiled, genuinely for the first time in a while. He had succeeded in what he had initially come for after all.
"Their area of jurisdiction spans the entirety of Europe, they stand as the most powerful family in the continent, with many smaller factions under their sphere of influence. Their home, the country that they predominately reside in is Norway. They are…"
He deliberately pauses, assumingly for dramatic effect.
"The Olvasens."
***************************
—19 September 2023—
— 11 am—
Arthur Olvasen
After an hour long close seated flight by helicopter, we finally arrived at our first layover which was actually Stockholm, Sweden. After that we were taken to the airport, where a jet was already waiting for us.
Astrid hates Sweden, but in all honesty, it's just the usual banter between the Northern European countries. The bias expressed is kind of an inside joke. That aside, Astrid and Michael were both confused about why we had to take a jet from Stockholm, instead of directly from Oslo. And the reason is quite simple actually.
Since Oslo is inland and is surrounded by mountains, the visibility and weather factor there is much more unstable. This can be said for the whole country in general. Whereas Stockholm is situated on the eastern coast of Sweden, where the Baltic Sea can moderate the climate slightly.
Once we boarded the jet, the long and gruelling 8-hour journey from Stockholm to Seoul finally started. There won't be any more layovers, at least. That's a relief.
As I looked outside the window, I saw the fluffy white clouds underneath completely blanket the view of any landmass or sea underneath and the sun shone blindingly, casting an oddly comforting spell on me. It was warm, despite the air conditioning inside the jet.
Looking at the translucent reflection of myself in the window, I gazed back into my eyes which were so pale in colour that I had to focus to actually catch a glimpse of them.
Looking down, my skin seemed more akin to a dead person than a living, breathing one. Pale and cold, like a hardened layer of ice underneath the golden drapery of sunlight constantly filtering in from the window. Placing my head on the window, I continued to look outside.
It was bright. Really bright. It felt like I was in a foreign world. An alien.
I had never been to another country before. Or even any other city other than Bergen—where I was born, Oslo—where my father takes me for meetings and Hammerfest—where I found Astrid. Even the notion of going outside Norway before the whole process of merger accelerated seemed surreal. Perhaps amidst the incoming course of events, even my mother is not able to influence my movements anymore.
A thought settled into the back of my head, followed by the formation of a dry lump of saliva that lodged itself into the back of my throat. What if she wants me to think like this? What if she thinks she is powerless when actually she's the one who's giving me hope… again…
Removing my head from the support for a second, I slammed it back into it to get rid of these troubling thoughts. Perhaps overthinking is exactly what she wants…
I slammed my head again. Don't overthink overthinking… forget about it. Forget everything. Focus on the now. I repeatedly chanted to myself.
Of course when I slammed my head, it was the side, and not the window. I am not a dumbass.
"This is so cool~" Astrid enunciated, twirling around as she did before slipping into the seat right in front of me. "Hey, you didn't tell me your parents were this rich."
This again…
"They're not." I replied almost instantly, my voice coming out higher in pitch than usual, drowning the rhythmic hum of the turbine blades. A smile crept up her face at the change in my voice but she bit at her upper lip, trying hard to not laugh out loud.
Well, fuck me.
I coughed. "This is funded by the joint account of the Seven Syndicates." I continued anyway, without waiting for her to say anything.
"Still…" Her voice was whisked away as she looked around excitedly. Her fingers trailed along the burlwood counter with multiple glasses and bottles before slipping into the seat right in front of me that was separated by a white marbled table. "...you look pretty wired."
"Still?" I asked, mildly surprised. I think I have calmed down a lot.
Astrid tapped her little little finger and then the others in a rhythmic beat before stopping. The sunlight protruding from the windows cast a single, shard shaped ray on her left eye, illuminating the blue of her iris. "No, I mean, before this." She spoke, the shadow over the other half of her face darkening. "Do you want to talk about it? Your dream, or whatever's bothering you."
I took a deep breath and sunk back into the seat. Closing my eyes my mind wandered off into a distant valley, like the warm gust of a wind on a summer morning. I tried to focus.
The concentration subsumed every other thing happening around me. Like noise cancelling headphones filtering out any noise, I felt the same happening to me but to all of my senses. The hum of turbines faded into oblivion and Astrid's face turned hazy, the distinction between each feature blurring before contorting and mixing like a thick concoction of different colours.
The cold touch of the marbled table and the warm feel of the rays of sun slowly vanished, leaving me with a sense of nothingness.
And that small moment of not existing inside that particular place was interrupted as my senses expanded multiple kilometres away from where I was. Much lower. On solid ground.
Concentrate the force. I told myself.
As if answering to my effort, I was finally able to see. Amongst the tall skyscrapers that manifested like a 3D model inside my brain, I probed for something. Something extremely particular. The information about it was vague as I tried to follow it with whatever little wisps of imagination I had inside my mind.
My mind tried to wander back to Astrid who was waiting for a reply from me, however, I pushed it back. All the thoughts except the task of locating something tangible that could resonate with my Arcanum vanished from my mind. After what felt like mere seconds, I felt something. Something akin to a net-cloth—that was lathered in slime—mantling an entire city. Covering it like a dome, but sticking to it instead of maintaining a shape.
I tried to push against it. Brute-force my way in. But a wave of something… most likely a magnetic wave hit my consciousness like a truck.
And then, like a video being played in reverse, my focus returned and I found myself back into my seat. Astrid was looking intently at me. From the look on her face I could tell it had not been long. Although her legs were crossed and she was shaking her resting foot, it was still safe to assume I was not in trouble.
"It's nothing much." I tried to brush off her concern.
Her sapphire orbs peered deep into mine before arching her head to the side, making the side ponytail swish in tandem with her head movement. She had removed her coat and was now sitting in her cream coloured sweater. The corner of her eyes creased even more as her stare intensified.
Somebody, help!
"Staring isn't going to make me change my statement, just so you know it." I tried to clear the misunderstanding she seemed to be sheltering inside her head.
"I'm not staring for that reason!" After a prolonged moment of open-mouthed gawk, she eventually spoke, breaking the silence. "You can't expect to go Doctor Strange on me and then say it's nothing!"
Oh yeah… I forgot my physical body does get affected.
"Uhhh-" I tried to think of something. Perhaps my expression gave away the attempt at lying that Astrid's cheeks inflated as she pouted, inching a little closer at me. Giving up on trying to conjure up more lies, I exhaled, shaking my head. "That was an application of my Arcane Arts." I replied, and then without waiting for her to speak, I continued. "Is that enough?"
That last bit was totally unnecessary. I thought. Of course that would not be enough. After all that had happened until now, it would be strange if it was enough.
"Hahhhh!? Do you really think that is enough?!" Her thin fingers spread out on the table as she placed her hands on the table, albeit with quite some force. "You said you will tell me about everything! I need to know."
The words that came out of her mouth were much more crude than her time when she was around others. But she was not the one to blame. I had tried quite a lot to make her get accustomed to me. Be herself. Leaning on my hand, I smiled at her.
"Didn't you say you don't want to know?" I tried to tease. "Back in Bergen. The day when we were attacked."
Astrid's enthusiasm to squeeze information out of me calmed down a little as her eyes flicked from me to the ceiling, as if recollecting something. However, not even 2 seconds later, she let out a grumble. "Urgh, scratch that, I don't remember." She threw her arms over the table until it had completely covered the surface area and were now almost touching me. "Just tell me!"
Should I tease her more? But I suppose this won't count as teasing. The more I thought about it, the more I realised it sounds more like avoiding a question. If I did it repeatedly, she might stop asking. For good. It would be a good thing but that might harbour some kind of negativity inside her heart for me.
I couldn't let that happen.
"Fine, fine, calm down." I raised my arms in a placating manner.
Her eyes lit up as soon as I said that and she returned back to her original posture.
Letting a few moments pass peacefully and using them to gather my thoughts about every aspect that she could question, I steadied myself. "Hm, so where should I start?"
She was about to say something, evident from how quickly her lips parted and fluttered like the wings of a bird on its first flight. Her mind must be getting claustrophobic with so many thoughts and questions inhabiting her mind. "One thing at a time." I tried to ease the visible dilemma she was having. Realising what I meant, she extruded a shallow breath.
Once she had seemingly organised her thoughts, she spoke.
"Promise you won't mind me asking this." Instead of a question that I was expecting, she spoke something entirely else.
"I won't."
"You don't even know what I am about to say." She deadpanned at me.
"I don't. But you should know by now." Resting my temple on my knuckle, I smiled. "I won't mind."
"Okay." She readied herself. I could feel her chest rise. As if she was about to say something in one fell swoop. "What… are you?" She paused for a while in between but recovered pretty quickly.
However, as much amused I was by the whole scenario of her struggling to get a few words out, the question felt… oddly strange.
What was I?
I had no answer to that question. My memories of my childhood are hazy. Despite having a decent memory, I have forgotten most of the things from the time before I turned 11. And no matter how much this sudden loss of memories doesn't make sense, my body still remembers. The odd tremble I feel around my mother.
This feeling of loss, longing… an intense craving for love. Craving that I don't consciously feel but it lingers as a constant need. A need I don't think is necessary, yet it stays. Like a scar from a deep wound.
Everything. It feels foreign. Like a spectre inhibiting my body. It was odd. Very odd.
Am I even myself? The image I have of myself, is it really who I think I am or is even this forged?
I had no way to tell.
A spark ran across my mind, electrifying my senses and dulling them. Like a bulb slowly dimming before getting snuffed out, I felt the world go grey for a solid few seconds.
I licked my lip and then smacked my tongue against the roof of my mouth.
Now was not the time to think about those things.
"I don't…" I paused. I was being inconsiderate. I told her I was going to tell her if she asked. Even if she changed her mind, I had to keep my word. Wasn't this what I promised her on that stormy night? Swallowing a lump of saliva, I altered my initial answer. "I am me."
The hell am I even saying?
Astrid frowned, the skin right above her nose's base crinkling.
Expecting a snarky reply, I slipped back into my seat.
"That's good enough."
Much to my surprise, the reply was totally different than what I had expected.
"What's enough?"
As if holding a wand, she twirled it into circles before pointing the make-believe wand at me. "As long as you are my Arthur, I have nothing else to ask."
I felt my lip tremble. Suppressing the urge to grin, I looked out of the window. "Your Arthur?"
I was not looking at her. But if I did, I was sure I could see her getting all embarrassed. The reply never came. As I looked back, something white coloured crashed against my face.
"Don't twist my words… you know what I meant!" She was squealing, her hands over the pillow as she continued to suffocate me.
Dear Goddess Hestia. Protect me. Your believer is dying a death unbecoming of him!
As if she had heard my prayers, the force behind the pillow disappeared. Removing the pillow from my face, I saw up. She was looking the other way, her side pony facing me. Without looking at me, she talked. "I am still curious about your powers though."
Well, I guess, I should give her a quick rundown on it. I don't need to completely explain it now, do I?
—-----------------------
3rd person POV
(5:30 PM)
The sky over Seoul was already dark, the receding saffron claws of the sun nowhere in sight anymore.
The temperature was much more dry, and bearable.
The trio—Arthur, Michael and Astrid—were walking through the thick crowd of people in the opposite direction of them.
Arthur and Astrid had removed the extra pair of warm clothings over them as Arthur was now only wearing a white T-shirt with a grey straight-lined open overshirt on top, complimented well by the black pants and white shoes. A band of sorts, apparently made from an old, thin and worn out material was strapped to his left wrist.
Medium length ash-brown hair was styled in shaggy curtains as it lined the side of his face, and stopped just beneath his brows. He was walking in a straight line, without looking at people much, his mind unfocused.
Astrid was walking a step ahead of him—as it was instructed by Arthur himself—wearing a black round neck woollen dress that stopped at her waist and joined into the skirt that was a lighter shade of black. Her sleeves were oversized but narrowed down around her wrist. The skirt reached down, beneath her knees. She was wearing heeled leather boots that reached just below her knee as well, covering her legs completely. The heels made her stand only an inch shorter than Arthur.
She was frolicking around energetically, looking at the city with awe.
"Hehe, I have always wanted to come here." She spoke as more and more people walked past them. "Although not in this way, I am still very happy!" She continued to talk.
"Hmm." Arthur hummed mindlessly.
The northern part of the city was currently being evacuated after the Frontier had appeared, or more specifically, latched itself on Seoul's northern border. Although they were still some distance away from the frontier, a lot of people were walking away from this place, leaving the whole northern area as a whole.
The place was flooded by mostly military and police officers wearing bulletproof vests and laced with appropriate weapons. Although they stayed inside their armed cars and didn't come outside. A few small food vendors were the only ones to stay behind, in hopes of earning some extra money. Which was working seeing how the army personnel and some police officers depended on them for breakfast, lunch and dinner during their duty to overlook the proper evacuation.
"Wooh, it's not as cold." Michael commented, his voice rasp as ever, making Astrid almost jump at the sudden utterance. "But it's not as hot as you two are making it out to be." He continued, looking around. Michael was wearing a black sweater over a buttoned shirt. The white collars protruded out of the upper part of the sweater, revealing the upper two buttons undone and the edges of his shirt were also outside his short sweater.
With tight black pants that stopped before his ankles and black trainers, he seemed like a really charismatic model. His long white hair was tied back into the usual small bun with a small rubber and two locks framed the sides of his face. A long necklace coiled around his neck with a thin and long glass container at its end that dangled freely over his sweater.
It had a hexagonal shape and had a small chunk of something inside it. Like a rock and it was floating inside it.
"It's not cold at all." Arthur replied, blowing his hair away that were poking into his lashes.
"Of course the snow bug doesn't feel cold." Michael scoffed before adjusting his hair slightly. "But eh, it really isn't that much so I guess you are right."
"See? Not that hard to admit I am right." Arthur shot a glance at him.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." Raising his hands in a shrug he spoke. "Dingus."
"Hey, Arthur, look! It's a Pajeon vendor!" Astrid called out for him before crossing the street while avoiding bumping into the people.
Letting out a sigh, Arthur stopped. "If you want, you can go ahead. I will be right back."
Michael smirked. "Really considerate of your girlfriend, aren't ya? Even putting the mission in jeopardy."
Arthur deadpanned. "She's not my girlfriend. And stopping to eat something for a few minutes won't put the mission in jeopardy."
"Whatever helps you sleep better."
Seemingly irritated by his antics and unnecessary mockery at everything, Arthur turned around and walked over to Astrid. It was a small stall with a young girl as the seller and an old man—likely her grandpa—at the back, sitting in a chair as he overlooked the girl.
The girl was short with shoulder length dark brown hair and black-brown eyes. Her hair was styled in the typical bangs over her forehead. While she was talking happily to Astrid in English, Arthur approached her.
"You know about this dish?" He asked, looking at the small pan sizzling from the oil cooking the batter.
"Yep, I've seen it all on youtube." Astrid replied with a smile, her cheeks flushed from the heat of the smoke rising. "I am such a fan of Korean culture… oh my God, I still can't believe I am here!" She spoke with such an excited tone that made Arthur tilt his head.
"You are oddly excited."
"Of course! Now only if I could meet my idols. I can die in peace after that."
"They've already left the country most likely." Arthur spoke as Astrid turned and pouted.
"Take that back. Don't jinx it, please."
As they were talking, the sizzle intensified as the girl turned—what looked like a pancake made of scallions, seafood and kimchi—over.
"First time? Korea?" The girl asked, mustering up whatever foreign language she could speak while looking up at Arthur who was gawking at the foreign dish.
"Yeah." He replied, not removing his gaze from it. "Is it a Seoul delicacy or is it common throughout the Republic of Korea?"
"Uhhh—uhmmm…." The girl blinked repeatedly.
"What he's asking is if it's common food." Michael arrived from behind, standing at the same height as Arthur, as he spoke in fluent Korean.
"Ah, yes, it is. E-Especially in the north. Paju." The girl replied, awestruck as she gawked with an open mouth at Michael.
Looking away from her, he directed Arthur. "It's a common thing in here, she says."
"You can speak Korean?" Arthur raised a brow.
"Yeah, I had to learn 3 languages. So I picked it up 'cause I had a feel for it." He shrugged nonchalantly.
"He suddenly doesn't look like an idiosyncratically pretentious bastard anymore." Astrid commented from Arthur's side.
"I heard that, you mudblood!" Michael barked, pointing his finger at her.
"Whoops…." Hiding behind Arthur, she peeked over his shoulder. "...sorry."
#
No I am not sorry, at all! Her out loud and mental thoughts were in total conflict with each other. How dare he call me mudblood! Even though I can use magic!
"Tch." Michael clicked his tongue before flicking his hair backwards with an exaggerated expression.
Nope. He's still pretentious.
Turning their heads back, the girl had already placed six Pajeons on a plate, stacked over each other as she extended it towards Astrid. Taking out a few notes of local currency from his wallet, Arthur handed it to the girl who took it from his hand, but her eyes never left Michael.
Then, as soon as she received the money, she took out another disposable plate and placed two more pancakes on it and presented it to Michael.
Raising a brow, he looked down at her. "I didn't order this." He flicked his hand, as if dismissing a slave.
With a rosy tint still present on her face, she replied. "It's a gift. Since it's your first time here." She replied with a suppressed smile, biting down at her lower lip.
Smacking his lips, he took the plate from her and winked with a wide grin, making the girl blush even more. After that he engaged in a conversation with her.
The girl's name was Minji, and she was a highschool student. She was helping her grandpa with her stall right before they left the city. Since the northern part is bound to be 100% evacuated one day or the other, they had decided to linger around for as much as they could before leaving and earning some extra cash while they were at it.
"So, you are from America?"
She asked Michael, totally disregarding Astrid who was trying to get along with someone from Korea. Meanwhile Arthur was more focused on the food than whatever was happening around him.
"Yep." He replied, the sly smile never leaving his lips. His sharp golden orbs scrutinised her from head to toe as he licked his lips once more. "Have you ever thought of coming to America?" He continued. "This place is kinda shit anyways."
"It's not that bad…" She replied, stealing a glance back at her grandpa who was sitting in an uptight posture and looking at Michael with a wrinkled nose, as if frowning. "...but, it does sound good."
As he finished the food, he leaned down, placing his arm by the side of metal welded as a bar. "Then how about…"
Before he could talk, the plate in Arthur's hand fell down with a wet, mushy plop.
As Astrid and Michael both glanced in his direction, their eyes widened as trails of blood seeped out from Arthur's eyes.
Tears of blood.
Blinking rapidly, Arthur took out a piece of cloth from his pocket and wiped his eyes with it. There was no tremble in his hands, nor a rush of panic visible.
He stayed calm, however, a sense of confusion persisted.
The fabric soaked up the crimson trails trickling from his tear ducts, but instead of cleaning them, it just smeared the blood across his face, leaving a dried, red blotch mess across his pale skin.
"Arthur!" Dropping the plate in her hand, Astrid cupped Arthur's face as a few more streaks of red continued to flow down his eyes. "Hey, hey, what's happening??" She panicked, her fingers and palm glowing in a dim light as Arcanum flowed from her body in the form of small spherical motes via the physical touch.
Michael looked around and then locked his eyes with Arthur.
"Where?"
"The shimmer." Without betraying a single emotion, both Arthur and Michael kept impassive faces. "It's expanding from The Frontier." He spoke and then placed his hands over Astrid's.
Looking through his blood stained vision, he patted Astrid's head who had almost sealed away the blood spill from his eyes. "Don't worry about me." He spoke, wiping the tears rolling down her cheek.
"How?! What's this? What's happening?" She snapped, her eyes carrying multiple red streaks.
"There's interference." Michael commented from the side before sliding a piece of paper to the girl and prompting her to leave. Picking up the necessary things, she was already leaving with her grandfather.
"Interference?"
"Astrid, hear me out." Arthur grabbed Astrid's attention, tightly squeezing her delicate hands in his own. His eyes were focused, determined… and somewhat excited. For the first time in a very long time, Astrid could feel that he was alive. Truly alive. As his eyes brimmed with life, and her's with tears, she wiped them with the sleeve and nodded.
"Yes?"
"Stay here, ok?" She was about to open her mouth in denial, however, Arthur spoke again. "Seal the entrance to the Frontier."
Astrid gawked at him and then back at Michael who seemed to be getting more and more impatient with every passing moment. "What? There's so much wrong with this plan."
"Just do as I say."
"But that would trap you inside it as well." Astrid retorted, not budging from her standpoint.
"It won't." Arthur shook his head. "It's expanding. Merging back." He took a steady breath. "Whatever is inside that Frontier is messing with my powers. You need to seal it until we are done with the problem inside." He spoke and turned around immediately.
"No!" Astrid grabbed onto his arm. "You can't. I won't leave you alone. Not again."
"Oh for fuck's sake, come on now, ain't nobody got time for opera, damn it!" Michael barked.
"Can you please shut your mouth for one goddamn second??" Astrid snapped.
At the same moment a translucent shimmer, something like a slimy cloth started to extend outwards from the confined, sealed boundaries of the Frontier. For the first few seconds it continued to spread and wave, like a piece of dirty, repulsive cloth.
However, a mere blink later, the shimmer solidified and a crack ran all along it.
"It's about to break." Arthur mumbled underneath his breath.
"Oh, fuck me. This wasn't on the memorandum. As if that was not enough, now your slave is talking down to me." Michael grumbled, grabbing on to his necklace and was about to yank it out.
"No, stop. Don't use your Arcane Arts." Arthur flicked his gaze between Astrid and the continuously cracking shimmer overhead. The shimmer turned opaque, hazing the sight of the clear sky above. "There are too many people around."
"Damn it." Realising that there were too many people who could die in a collateral damage to his Arcane Arts, Michael let out a frustrated groan.
"Arthur, I am coming with you. I am not a baby." She insisted, holding Arthur firmly by his arm.
He glanced back at Michael who raised his shoulders in a shrug. "Your responsibility. I won't be saving her ass if she gets into trouble just so you know."
Shaking his head, Arthur shrugged off the thoughts that crowded his mind like rush-hour traffic. "Fine."
He mumbled and the three of them started to run towards The Frontier.
As they ran, they encountered a few more people, all of which were running in their opposite direction now.
The sound of a helicopter's blades whirring made them look up.
Beneath the canopy of multiple fighter jets, three helicopters were flying towards the Frontier. At the same time, the asphalt rumbled as tanks, heavy artillery and other vehicles started to also move in the same direction on the road leading to the North. People were scurrying—some screaming in fear and some shouting for their lost loved ones—to get as far away as possible from the area.
There was someone talking on the microphone. Shouting something in Korean. However, a minute later some kind of distorted jitter overwhelmed its mechanism and the voice was snuffed out, buried beneath a layer of disturbing static mixed with horrifying, garbled screams and vicious snarls.
"They're out already, Goddamn it!" Michael bolted forward. As his speed increased, the ground beneath him splintered underneath the raw force. The next moment, he shot forward like a bullet, leaving behind multiple small pits as every powerful step he took broke some of the road. Jumping upwards, he climbed up the roof of one of the houses and then continued to jump until he was atop a small building.
Before they knew, Michael was out of sight, hopping from one building to another.
Arthur stopped for a moment beside an alley and pulled Astrid by her hand. Pinning her against the wall and crashing his hand beside her head and using his other hand to hold the top of her head which was still trembling. "Listen to me, very carefully, Astrid." He spoke and the dull grey voids brightened up, turning a pallid shade of gold. "I want you to put all of your Arcanum into the seal that you would be putting on the entrance of the Frontier."
"But I am coming with yo—"
Before she formed the entire sentence, Arthur gripped her face, making her lips pout. She squinted her eyes from the force of his grip. "This is not the time for this." His tone was grave and the glow in his eyes flickered. "Everyone will die if you do not do it. Thousands of people. Do you want that?"
Still taken aback by the harshness in his demeanour, she merely shook her head.
"Whatever it is, it's interfering with my powers. I need to catch up with Michael. Once I do, I need you to hold the seal for as long as possible." He explained as he let go of her. "And if we are not back by the time it's done…" he paused and took his phone out. "...contact Maria."
Astrid breathed out a trembling breath. Putting her hand on his phone, she placed Arthur's other hand on his own. "That won't happen. I believe in you."
"It's not a matter of belief. I am suggesting the most logical thing."
"But it is, Arthur." Astrid's eyes were aglow. "It is. It is a matter of belief. Won't the seal I put require my belief in the Goddess?"
"It would require, yes, but for others." Arthur spoke as he slipped his phone into her hands anyways. "Your Arcane Arts bypass that necessity."
"But Arthu–"
Before she could talk, Arthur's entire form was enveloped by a net of lightning. A nimbus consisting of blue, red and purple lightning coiled like snakes around him before whisking his form away with a thunderclap. Looking down, there was nothing more than a giant dent of half-molten pavement.
A sigh escaped Astrid's lips. Biting back the negative emotions threatening to creep up inside her, she raised her head, avoiding the eyes from precipitating. As she sniffled and bit at her lip to get rid of the continuous tremble in her legs, she finally saw it.
The shimmer. Something Arthur and Michael had been talking about but she couldn't make sense of until now. Stretched across the night sky like an evil version of a rainbow. Like the rainbow had gone through decay and was then turned into a slime-like structure lathered over a thin piece of cloth.
I need to get going… Arthur is right. This isn't the time for my childish antics. She spoke to herself. He has done so much for me. It's time I make myself useful. With renewed optimism, she pumped her hands into fists and focused on the task at hand. Peeking from the alley, she made sure that all army vehicles were gone before sneakily following them. I will seal the entrance.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Reprobate
Reprobate I didn't seperate it in this chapter. Why?
I'd do what I want to. Hah!
┗|｀O′|┛
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone