Chương 5: Where The Crows Call Home
Beyond the veil of shadows lies another world, a realm separate from Eden, where humans and beast men dwell. This world, a sanctuary and fortress for the knights, stood in stark contrast to the mortal lands. Its perpetual night carried an air of mystery and danger, like a painting come to life from an eternal Halloween dream.
At its center rose the academy, a spiraling monolith of gothic architecture. Its towers reached into an abyssal void, and its sprawling wings seemed to stretch endlessly through the expansive darkness. Around it, a small town nestled close, its cobbled streets lit by dim lanterns that cast long, flickering shadows. The town was inhabited solely by loyal beasts of the Shadow Mother, their forms strange and otherworldly, yet familiar enough to blend seamlessly into the eerie atmosphere.
The knights themselves mirrored the town's dark beauty. Clad in Victorian-era clothing, their attire matched the haunted elegance of their surroundings. Tonight, as the fog wove itself through the streets, Sin wandered alone, his thoughts heavy with what lay ahead.
Sin pulled his cloak tighter against the cool air, his boots echoing faintly against the cobblestones. His mind replayed the scene from earlier—the girl who had seen him, the two boys he'd left behind.
"That girl," he muttered to himself, his voice low and edged with worry. "She saw me… and those two boys. They've definitely been awakened. I've gotta handle this by tomorrow before it spirals out of control."
His path took him into the heart of the market, where small booths lined the narrow streets, their owners creatures of all shapes and sizes. Sin approached one such booth, its counter cluttered with trinkets and scraps of metal. He tapped the surface lightly.
"Ey, Gizmo," he called, his tone curt but familiar.
From behind a stack of gears and goggles, a small beastman spun around in his chair. His oversized goggles perched fashionably atop his head, and his wiry frame seemed barely large enough to support his exuberant energy.
"Ah! You must be one of Leo's boys!" Gizmo exclaimed, his grin revealing sharp teeth. Though they had never met before, the camaraderie between them felt instant.
Sin nodded, his hood casting a shadow over his face. "I need information," he said, getting straight to the point. "There's an item I'm looking for—a piercing green crystal. It's said to return memories to the point before awakening. I need it. Fast."
Gizmo's expression shifted, his enthusiasm dimming slightly. He glanced around nervously, ensuring no one was within earshot before leaning in.
"It's a bit far," he began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "If you take the train north out of Leipzig, you'll reach a city called Kazan. Dangerous place. Teeming with Galco and horrors you can't imagine."
Gizmo rifled through a pile of papers, muttering under his breath until he found what he needed. He scribbled an address onto a scrap of parchment and folded it neatly before handing it to Sin.
"This is my friend's address," he explained. "She'll take you to my stash. But be careful, my friend. Kazan's not kind to strangers."
Sin took the paper, their eyes meeting in mutual understanding. With a nod, he turned and made his way back toward the looming silhouette of the academy.
The gates swung open for Sin as he approached, the iron creaking softly in the still air. As he stepped through, his attire shifted seamlessly from his mission cloak to the academy's standard uniform. The black sweater fit snugly over his white shirt and tie, and polished shoes clicked against the floor. The spiked bracelet on his wrist—a gift from Nina—stood out as the only touch of rebellion.
"Guess it's time to find the band room," he muttered, adjusting his collar.
The academy's twisting hallways stretched endlessly, their gothic arches dimly lit by flickering sconces. Other knights passed by, their uniforms customized with punk and gothic flourishes. The air buzzed with subdued energy, the kind that hinted at tension just below the surface.
Sin eventually reached the door to the band room, its brass handle cool under his hand. He pushed it open to find Nina inside, her telekinesis effortlessly assembling pieces of furniture. Her long, curly red hair glinted faintly in the dim light, and her scowl softened briefly as she noticed him.
For a moment, their eyes met, a silent exchange passing between them. Sin's gaze flicked over her uniform.
"Never seen you in a skirt," he remarked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he moved to help unpack a box.
Nina's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp. "Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
Sin's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. "Yeah. You look good." The words slipped out casually, but their weight lingered in the air.
Nina rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath as she focused on the task at hand. Yet a faint blush crept up her cheeks as she moved closer to him, her telekinesis guiding pieces of a sofa into place.
Sin watched her for a moment, envy prickling at him. His new powers remained largely unused, a fact that gnawed at him. His gaze fell on his electric guitar, and an idea sparked in his mind.
"Zip! Zap! Ziggle!" he chanted dramatically, reaching into a portal of crackling purple energy.
Nina turned, one hand covering her mouth as she stifled a laugh. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked, her amusement barely concealed.
Sin pulled his hand back, revealing an AMP and a set of cursed headphones. His smirk widened. "The Shadow Mother said I'd like this one especially," he said, plugging the headphones into the guitar. Purple lightning danced across the instrument, illuminating the room with each note.
He struck a quick riff, and bolts of energy crackled through the air. Nina yelped as a stray spark frizzled her hair, her expression shifting to one of pure rage.
"Do you have any idea how long it takes to maintain my hair?!" she shouted, stomping her foot.
Sin winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… my bad. At least the voltage wasn't that high, right?"
Nina glared at him, her silence more menacing than any retort. But as the tension lingered, a burst of laughter erupted from the doorway.
Simon, Ivy, Naro, and Nora spilled into the room, their energy infectious. Simon shot finger guns at everyone in sight.
"Pew! Pew! Pew! Let's play some PTV! I've been waiting all day!" he exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement.
Ivy smirked, her gaze darting between Nina and Sin. "Looks like our lead guitarists are ready," she teased, her tone laced with mischief.
Nora pointed at Nina, her lips quirking into a grin. "What's up with the crazy hairdo?"
"Do. Not. Ask," Nina snapped, her tone brooking no argument.
The room erupted into laughter, the tension dissolving as the group began setting up. Sin worked quietly, a small smile tugging at his lips as he glanced at Nina. Despite the chaos, there was something comforting about this moment—a brief reprieve from the darkness beyond.
Later that night, after a long stretch of scurrying through mission after mission, Sin found himself restless. Despite the Shadow Mother's bestowed powers, his new abilities remained unused. He couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment, a gnawing sense that he was falling short of his potential.
While Nina battled the final beast of the night, her scythe carving through the air with deadly precision, Sin's mind wandered to the three kids from earlier. His thoughts grew heavier with each passing moment until an idea struck him. A convenient excuse formed on his lips.
"I've gotta finish something up at the academy!" he shouted abruptly.
Nina, mid-swing, froze for a fraction of a second, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "What?" she barked, her tone incredulous, though she didn't bother to look back at him.
Not waiting for further questions, Sin stepped into the shadows and disappeared. Moments later, he emerged at the edge of Leipzig, the train station looming before him under the pale glow of gaslights. The chill of the night air carried the faint scent of coal and oil as Sin kept to the darker corners, avoiding the gaze of station staff.
A porter walked by, his gaze briefly landing on the cloaked boy. Though suspicious, the man muttered a perfunctory "Safe travels," more out of habit than concern. He didn't stop to question Sin—after all, he wasn't paid enough to care.
Sin boarded the train silently, slipping into a shadowy seat near the back. The rhythmic clatter of the engine soon filled the air, and with a jolt, the train began its ascent toward Kazan.
Back at the academy, the band members had yet to notice Sin's absence. Simon, lounging on a sofa with his guitar in hand, strummed a few chords lazily. "Bet Sin's off flirting with girls again," he joked, his tone light but teasing.
Nina's head snapped toward him, her fiery temper flaring instantly. "You have no idea what you're talking about!" she snapped, smacking the back of his head with a sharp thwack.
Simon yelped, rubbing the sore spot. "Alright, alright! Geez, it was a joke!" he muttered, retreating toward the dorms before Nina's wrath could escalate further.
As he stepped into his room, he found Naro already sprawled across his bed, snoring softly. Simon shook his head with a chuckle before collapsing onto his own mattress. "Finally," he murmured, letting sleep take him after a day of endless night.
Meanwhile, the train rattled along its tracks, cutting through the darkness like a blade. Sin gazed out the window, the landscape outside shifting from misty forests to barren plains. The journey felt interminable, yet his resolve remained firm.
When the train finally screeched to a halt, Sin rose from his seat and stepped onto the platform. The air was different here—heavier, tinged with an unplaceable tension. The conductor's voice crackled through the intercom, his tone flat and unenthusiastic.
"Welcome to Kazan, land of the heroes."
The phrase lingered in Sin's mind as he descended onto the cobblestone streets. "Land of the heroes?" he muttered to himself, his brow furrowing. The conductor's delivery carried an air of cynicism, as though the moniker was more a mockery than a badge of honor.
Kazan itself was a city caught between splendor and decay. Its towering spires reached skyward, their intricate designs hinting at a once-glorious past. Yet the streets below were cracked and uneven, littered with remnants of battles long since fought. The faint glow of lanterns illuminated shadows that seemed to stretch too far, their shapes almost alive.
Sin adjusted his hood, his sharp eyes scanning the area. He could feel it—a weight in the air, an unspoken threat lurking beneath the surface. As he made his way through the eerily quiet streets, a sense of foreboding settled in his chest. Whatever awaited him in Kazan, it was far from ordinary.
Back at the academy, Nina sat alone in the band room, absently plucking the strings of her bass. Her mind wandered, replaying the way Sin had left so abruptly. Though she'd never admit it, a faint twinge of worry gnawed at her. Where had he gone? And why?
"Damn fool," she muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the neck of the instrument. Despite her frustration, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
As the night deepened, the academy grew quiet, its halls cloaked in shadow. Yet, for Nina and the others, a restless energy hung in the air—a tension that promised the coming of something they weren't prepared to face.
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