> The elder smiled and sat down at the crowded dinner table where all of team Artorias rested, all but one short girl who was sitting firmly at the fireplace heating herself up, she and a peculiar, beaming ashen-purple haired child.

They had long eaten dinner already, and it was finally time to discuss. Raveena, the rather gorgeous daughter of the elder had long left them in private, after they were done dining together of course.

They were all hesitant about eating the food, it was not that it looked like an inedible sludge, in fact, it looked very delectable. However, what worried them was the possibility of poison. But, after checking it over with the poison detector the school had given them, they found it to be more than edible.

Indeed, the food was in fact delicious.

Unlike the outside world, the house itself was rather warm. The construction did not look very insolating, which was a surprise yet not something completely unbelievable.

"Elder, I would like to thank you once again for your hospitality." Artorias lowered his head to the smiling elder.

> His gaze looked over towards the candle in the middle of the table before it shifted towards the flickering fireplace where his granddaughter and the freezing Hikari were playing.

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"Oh how fun! I'd be happy to play with you cutie!"

Moby could also not help but chuckle, he had not seen Hikari have such genuine fun in a very long time. Her innocence was mirrored very well in that child.

"Elder, we would like to ask you… Are you aware of where lies the highest peak on this planet?"

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"Vordran castle?"

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"Wait… Is that the reason for that massive cathedral? Was that lord of yours the man in the statue?"

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"You keep referring to this king of yours as "king," or "his majesty," does he not have a name?"

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There was a moment of pause as Artorias took time to ponder over the elder's words, but that was when the little granddaughter of his approached him jumping up and down almost as though she was over-dosing on sugar.

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"I'm really sorry little one, but I need to stay here with the rest of my team…"

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"Bye Meryl! Have fun honey bun!" Hikari waved her off as she saw her run out the door, closing it as she left.

"Elder, where is she going to play?" Hikari turned around and asked her first question ever since they arrived.

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"Oh! That sounds really fun! I hope she enjoys herself!"

>

"Elder," Artorias once again spoke, not after taking a heavy breath, almost like it was out of frustration. "You claim that only the chosen few can be granted audience of this nameless king. Our mission requires us to get to the top of this planet. Is there a way we could be granted an audience?"

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"Huh? How can you be so sure? He's the almighty lord! How would we be so easily accepted by simply knocking on his door and asking nicely? This isn't some children's fairytale. If that's the case then why don't all of you just go visit the king whenever you want?"

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"DO YOU THINK WE ARE JUST A BUNCH OF FOOLS!?" Artorias snapped, slamming his hands on the table in a fit of rage, splitting it all in two.

> His smile grew even brighter.

"WHY DO YOU KEEP SMILING! IS IT WHAT I THINK IT IS!! THIS IS HERESY! HOW DID THE HEATHENS EVEN DO THIS!?!?"

"Artorias calm down! What's gotten into you?" Elizabeth tried to suppress Artorias's sudden rage, however, it was all to no avail.

"Let go of me now!!"

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"Act like a normal person! Or is this truly the work of heretics? Are you doing this willingly or are you under influence? Shall you need to be condemned or freed!?"

> He put on the worst fake frown conceivable, one twitchy and very unstable.

That was when suddenly, the front door to the house was sprung wide open, allowing the howling wind to enter. And, from the door entered Meryl, one of her hands leaning back as though she was dragging something, something with a clear, distinct, foul stench.

> She spoke in an upbeat tone, unknown stains of blue on her mouth.

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> She nodded vigorously. >

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> She chuckled at her grandpa's goofy face.

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> Her smile grew larger as she looked back at what she had in hand, as she slowly dragged it in front of her bare, blue-stained feet.

And, as soon as what she had came into full view, their dull eyes grew wide, and their pupils dilated to the size of pees, especially Hikari who could not help but watch in horror.

In her hand was something deformed, a monstrosity fleeting on the precipice of beyond recognition.

It was a corpse… One of a child, dyed in blue from head to toe, blood dripping out of every pore. The body itself had various members missing… Missing with clear bite marks left on each missing limb, almost as if entire chunks were bitten off, leaving a mangled mess that showed visible bone. The face itself was not left out either… It lacked no eyes, ears, mouth, and barely any skin. It was almost as if that was the main course.

Yet, despite the clear, repugnant disfigurement, part of them knew exactly who it was, yet did not want to believe it… However, their suspicions were soon after confirmed by the small little girl herself.

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> She licked the lingering blood from her mouth.

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