“Now then, how on Garea am I going to get back?”

As a soft breeze passes me by, I’m sitting on a patch of grass, trying to make sense of my current situation. I do not know how much time has passed. I do not know what happened when I collapsed on the stone floor, only to “wake up” to see foliage everywhere. I’m no longer in a battle-worn hall but a dense wood filled with tall, thin trees.

At first, I thought I was teleported to the forest at the base of Rever Point, however the topography is nothing like the Vivian Forest or Tiel Woods. Rather, I feel strangely comfortable looking at these trees.

The second confusing thing is I can’t see the sun at all, and yet it is as bright as day. I’m starting to think I’ve teleported to some secret greenhouse aboard this fortress, although I don’t see any mana circuits at all.

“Did I get dropped from a magic circle on the roof? I guess I should scope the area by climbing these-Huh!?”

… No way. This sensation. I was scratching my skull, but beneath the fabric it almost felt like…

I raise my gloved hands and grasp my clay mask. As I pull it off, I can feel dozens of strand-like protrusions catch onto the cloth around the back of head. I then place my hand on my face… and feel something soft. My fingers also have a slight elasticity to the touch. Nervously, I turn my head toward the hanging mirror… and find a familiar stranger from another lifetime.

“I-I’m… human again? No, this doesn’t make any sense! What the bloody hell is going on here!?”

“Dear me, Enbos. I don’t remember teaching you such improper language.”

Instantly, every bone – and muscle – in my body jolts upon hearing that jovial tone. I turn around, and to my utter shock, I’m greeted by the familiar sight of a wooden cottage in the woods, along with its familiar resident waiting outside the door.

Auburn hair tied back with a white ribbon. Hazel eyes set on a lightly freckled face.

I find myself staggering past her wooden fence as I’m entranced by every detail.

“H-helena?”

“…”

“… No, you’re not her! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?”

As I roar with unbridled rage, my surrounding suddenly disintegrates, leaving nothing but myself and the imposter standing atop an empty void. I’m stunned by the abrupt shift, but just as quickly, the trees, ground, cottage and sky suddenly return. The fake looks about without a shred of surprise.

“W-what just happened?”

“You just happened. You lost control of your emotions for a moment, and it reflected in your inner mind.”

“Inner- Wait, are you saying this is all in my head, like I’m dreaming?”

“Hm, not exactly, but it’s the closest comparison, so sure.”

“How is that even possible? Shouldn’t it be impossible for an undead to sleep?”

“*Giggle* If that were true, I would have lost myself thousands of years ago.”

“…”

“… You can probably guess who I am, but let’s continue this conversation inside. Anyhow, could you please put your sword away?”

“Huh?”

I look down, and sure enough, I’m already holding Bloodletter even though I don’t remember drawing. Actually, didn’t I lose that arm recently?

Looking back up, I’m already inside the cottage, standing beside the table that I spent so many hours behind. Everything is exactly as I remember, even the melted candle sticks Helena and I used to test . For one horrifying moment, I turn towards the distant bed, and almost sigh in relief. I watch closely as the imitation brews some herbal tea before offering me a cup. She then sits on the other side and leans forward, her hands holding up her serene face.

“After all this time, I can finally, finally talk with you, Enbos. Honestly, I wanted to sooner, but your was far too powerful. All I could do was pray that you hear my voice and invite me into your inner world.”

“*Sigh* More like you accelerated the development of my , used that guise to force yourself in, then trapped me in my own mind,” I say as I pull back the seat.

“My agency is far more limited than you think. Nothing in this world is from my memories, but yours. If you want to return to the real world, all you have to do is walk through that door and I wouldn’t be able to do a thing to stop you,” it says as it points behind me.

I turn around to find the front door of the cottage. After a moment of concentration, a completely disembodied fire escape appears alongside it. I face my guest who is wearing a smile I’ve seen a thousand times.

“As always, you learn quick.”

“I’ve been deluding HUD elements ever since I landed in this world.”

“Not very healthy, I must say, but let’s put that aside. Shall we begin the lesso-”

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop using her face and her voice when you talk to me. You’re getting on my nerves.”

“Hm, that might be a tad difficult, although you can certainly change my appearance as you please. Mind you, if you don’t have a firm enough image, my appearance might end up merging with another. I may grow fur, sprout pointed ears, or sound-”

“Okay, okay, I’ll live with it. Let me ask you again: who the hell are you?”

“I am known by many aliases, Enbos. Teacher, saviour, destroyer, monster… elder lich.”

“…”

“Please, you don’t have to be so wary. If you must call me something, then Iranorah would be fine.”

“Then, “Ghost”, what did you want from me?”

“T-that’s very straightforward of you, Enbos.”

“I have a bunch of friends risking their lives out there, so don’t waste my time.”

“There is no need to be hasty. After all, time passes dozens of times faster here than in the outside world. Just like that movie you really enjoy.”

“… You’ve read all my memories?”

“Sadly Enbos, while your mind may be protected from manipulation, it’s basically an open book.”

“*Sigh* So it’s not something you wish to learn from me. So, what do you want me to do?”

Her eyes flick down as she maintains her faint smile. I don’t press her and watch as she gazes out the window.

“Want, you say? For thousands of years, I’ve existed as the shattered fragments of a disfigured soul. I am neither the age-old lich nor the city-destroying nightmare. I’m not even a spirit in the loosest of sense of the word, as I can only manifest my consciousness through another. The desire I have now may just be a warped reflection, but seeing the world around you, knowing what Tascus intends for it… I don’t want my failures to bring any more suffering. I want the path I’ve laid to lead a better future, for everyone.”

“…”

“… Forgive me, Enbos. I know I am asking too much of you, but you’re the only one I can turn to.”

“Iranorah, I’ve seen the live map on your terminals, and there were no life signatures other than that of the cultists. You’ve slept and stirred over thousands of years, and I tell you now, a thousand more have passed since you last woke. I’m sorry but the people you have safeguarded are long gone. There is nothing left to protect, even if I take… your…”

My voice trails off as I notice the slight smirk on her lips. I can’t shake the nostalgic feeling that I’ve missed something incredibly obvious.

“You numbskull. Did you really think this place belonged to deer-headed people?”

“!”

Dual wielding Horizon’s Edge in one hand and a spear of concentrated holy magic in the other, I stay close to Caetus and unleash a relentless assault. He casts directly above us, but we both remain steadfast and continue to clash under a barrage of needles. My glaive latches onto one of the bone protrusions on his staff, and I force it to the ground as I thrust my other weapon to his nonchalant face. However, my shatters inches from his eye, its integrity ruined by the .

“.”

Contaminated by his mana, the ground beneath us erupts as I’m forced to jump back. A colossal obelisk adorned with heretical runes has been formed in its place. Caetus is about to activate his spell, when suddenly, he notices the ice crystal I hid beneath the ground during our last parry. He leaps off the obelisk just as I cast , which expands into a mass of icicles.

“Hm, 0.4 seconds to full size. At least thirty metres in diameter. I must say, you have come a long way since you were my squire, Maximillian,” says Caetus as he deflects my charge.

“You are no longer my teacher, and you are certainly no Iudico of the Cleansing Swords.”

“*Chuckle* How true. I am above such things now-”

“!”

I close the distance and attack him with a series of complex techniques like a flowing stream. However, the priory’s refined movements are now a liability, with Caetus anticipating every move. I attempt to launch a feint instead, however he immediately realises my trick and exploits the opening. I pull back in time to lock my weapon against his in a test of strength.

“Ngh! Above an inquisitor… of the Path? What greater meaning to life could there… be than serving as God’s unblemished eyes!?” I roar. However, as the words leave my mouth, I remember they are not my own. “Tell me, Caetus… since when did you lose sight of your Path?”

“I never did, Maximillian. I’ve only been stirred from my sloth through fire and sacrifice.”

“Fire… and sacrifice? What do you-”

“...”

“I see. You never recovered from the Cleansing of Aegror, did you, Caetus?”

“On the contrary, Maximillian, I was reborn. The day I burnt my hometown to the ground was the day I took my first step on the one, true Path. For all my life, I’ve dedicated myself to God and carried out His will with all my being. And where did it lead? A tale spun about “ghouls” and knights that nobody believes? The realisation that my extended family perished for naught, all because a saint-born feared the plague brewing in his lands No, my child. It was not cruel misfortune but a sign-”

“!”

I fire my skill at close proximity, but not before Caetus teleports to the top of the room. He conjures and bombards my position, forcing me to dash back multiple times. His barrage stops, but not without a dozen more lances orbiting around him. I immediately prepare a , however neither us makes a move as I continue to charge Horizon’s Edge.

"I still don't understand, Caetus. The saint-born was punished, reforms were introduced, and the names of all the fallen, both healthy and ill, were redeemed by his Holiness himself. You oversaw those changes and continued to serve the Path dutifully for years."

“Indeed I did Maximillian, but that was only because I was incapable of understanding His grand design at the time. I struggled to find meaning in the pious lives that I’ve culled, and day-by-day, my powers waned. But then, in my darkest moment, I had an epiphany.”

“I see. You consoled yourself with the inane thought that their deaths were meaningful in and of itself.”

“*Chuckle* In a manner of speaking, yes. The moment I realised the Church’s teachings were incomplete, I started to see truth in the very heresy we swore to destroy. That said, their teachings were disjointed, confused, and provided only glimpses of His divine will. That’s when I realised God had placed me in the unique position of unifying these disparate elements. Thus was the advent of the Order of the New Dawn.”

As he recounts his treasonous words, I can’t help but feel deeply disturbed by the wholehearted glee upon his weathered face. It’s an expression I have seen a hundred of times, and for every one of those hundred times, I now question if he has always been the monster before me. It would be a cold comfort if he had abandoned his principles, but the tragedy is, I’m not so sure.

“I see, Tascus. I see you are too far gone for me to ever understand. In the end, your guilt consumed your psyche and now you find solace in a self-centred delusion that has enslaved thousands of others. The Caetus I knew is already gone. I just didn’t realise he was dead long before you faked it.”

“Dear me. I am not one prone to madness, Maximillian. As a former inquisitor, I have always been predisposed to seek the truth. If you wish to see proof of the Path’s and Maleosis’ shared roots, then all you need to do is ask.”

All of a sudden, Tascus launches all his at once, but not toward me. Instead, he concentrates his attack on the battered wall, creating an opening into the next room. I immediately throw my at him but to no avail. He’s already teleported into the other room.

I pursue Tascus and enter the dark space, with only the light from the entrance vaguely revealing my surroundings. It’s a massive open area, even larger than the hall from before, with rows of stone pillars to my left and right.

Tascus is nowhere in sight. He’s deactivated his blessing and hidden his presence in this darkened room. I summon a dozen as I tread deeper into his domain. The intricate details etched on the marble columns draw my eye, and as I pass my orb over it…

“What… What is the meaning of this?”

The murals, etched in the millennia old stone, show that of a congregation… of people. Human people. All praying toward a cloaked figure, with antlers, bearing a symbol of the Path.

“… A striking resemblance, isn’t it?”

“Tch!”

“Three thousand years ago,” echoes Tascus from an indeterminate source, “demonkind washed across the land. Their evil corrupted the people’s minds and God was forced to bring down His almighty hammer. Some interpretations claim God spared humanity because they we were still pure of heart. Others say the Apocalypse was a sacred trial that only mankind was able to pass, thus proving our divine right. From everything I have found, the evidence overwhelming supports the latter.”

“T-the Great Ark. The cradle of modern civilisation.”

“Indeed.”

“You… You’ve desecrated this holy place!”

“Desecrated? My son, we tried to restore this sacred sanctuary. The dark magic that sustains this miraculous space was a part of the ark from the very beginning. The Path shuns the dark arts, and yet it’s the very magic that proved our worth before God.”

“Even if your words are true, it justifies nothing of your homicidal acts and inhuman methods. Dimensional magic and necromancy are two entirely different-”

“Maximillian, in the stories about the Great Ark, there was always a “Watchful Light” that held up the great shelter and watched over the people as they weathered the calamity. Now, knowing that this space is sustained by dark magic, what other millennia-old being can you think of that is capable of such a feat?”

“… Impossible…”

“… y-you were the one who guided humanity through the Apocalypse!?”

“Indeed.”

“But what- No, why- I mean…”

“*Giggle* Pick one of the five Ws, Enbos, or perhaps “how”.”

“… How did you pull it off?”

“Hmm. It would be disingenuous to say I built the facilities or orchestrated the master plan, but everything depended on my unique skill, . They were desperate times, Enbos… and not everybody could be saved. My already powerful abilities were augmented by my transformation, allowing me to apply “settings” to every subspace. To protect the survivors from the ravages of time, I placed everybody in a modified temporal zone so that the decades may pass as years.”

“Y-you’re saying some pretty ridiculous stuff right now.”

“I suppose… but despite my best efforts, the effects of the Apocalypse lasted beyond my wildest predictions. Dozens of generations had already passed. I could no longer sustain the budding population within these confined walls. In the end, I had to stop the program prematurely and release the people across the land.”

“I see…”

I stand up and walk over to the secret room with the world atlas. Taking note of the crystals, I trace their positions on the map above while adding details from Takashi’s notes and Maximillian’s maps. Sure enough, the crystals are pointing to the three capitals on the continent of Aren, knowing Tiel was Reinsol’s former seat of power.

“They developed into their own countries.”

“Indeed. The World Stream was far from healed at the time, and even now, mana flows are weaker than in the past. The tools we prepared for reconstruction became useless, and of course, that included long distance communications. Humanity had to rebuild with their own strength, within their own communities.”

“Still weaker now? It’s no wonder Lili’s people didn’t claim the world at the same time as- Wait, that doesn’t make any sense. You had control over this place, right? Couldn’t you have continued to guide civilisation until-”

“…”

“… You were nearing your limits, weren’t you?”

Whether I startled her or not, Iranorah knocks over a pile of berries as she was reaching for it. After a moment’s pause, she continues the conversation while staring at the scattered red fruit.

“Even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t have dared stand before them, Enbos.”

“Why? Because you were a lich?”

“That, but also for a far simpler reason,” she says as she begins reassembling the berries that still remain.

She then returns her attention to me while taking a sip of tea.

“… I was the one who ended the world.”

“… C-come again?”

“It’s true. In our plight, I unleashed a calamity more devastating than anything the corruption could have wrought. The sin is mine, and yet, humanity had no choice but to rely on my abilities. For the sake of my surviving kinsmen and as ultimate penance, I assumed the mantle of the undead king and accepted the name Iranorah – “Watched in the Light”.”

“So, it really was man-made… what exactly was the Apocalypse?”

“I-I’m sorry, Enbos, but I refuse to say. The world ill needs another Apocalypse, or another elder lich. Both magics should be lost to the vestiges of time. That’s why during the few instances I made myself known, I only ever appeared fully garbed and masked, to avoid being worshiped for my bloodstained form. Sadly, you can already see the consequences of when they do.”

"… The deer is a symbol of kindness, spirituality and freedom..."

I see. So that is where the association came from, although it probably represented something else in her time. She says she assumed the position out of guilt, and yet I can’t help but sense a well of genuine compassion. Looking at all the sleeper coffins in the next room, I can scarcely imagine a more protracted or tortuous death sentence. A thousand years of thankless solitude, all while knowing that in the end… Wait a second.

“Your last appearance was not on the eve of the new world, but a thousand years later in the ruins of Tiel. You must have prepared something to “safely retire”, so… what happened?”

“… There were arrangements for my disposal once my task done. Before the hunger took hold of me, I entered a sleeper coffin that would teleport to the bottom of an oceanic trench. The weight of the sea would hold me down as the last remnants of my soul consumes itself.”

“…”

“However, when the teleportation took place… I was interrupted.”

“Interrupted? Was the mana stream to your burial spot damaged after thousands of years?”

“I do not know. When I regained consciousness, I was in a cave surrounded by cloaked mages engaged in prayer. I don’t remember much after as I was immediately consumed by my endless hunger. Like a child drowning in a flowing river, I bobbed in and out of the water gasping for air, with each and every breath tasting of blood. However, all throughout that nightmare, I could feel its influence weighing down on my soul.”

“… Maleosis.”

“… The Almighty One. The Shepherd of Souls. Our Divine Lord. Though He is always by our side, His name has changed and diverged throughout the ages. But on these walls, you can see the archaic forms of runes that the Word, and our faith, still use to this day.”

“!”

I strike down an object that is hovering in the dark. However, it turns out to be a communication orb that’s been projecting Tascus voice. I can barely discern half a dozen more floating just out of sight, obfuscating his true position.

“Nevertheless, not all His teachings were imparted through the ages. Their duty fulfilled, the Watchful Light returned to their slumber and humanity claimed the new world. However, in the ensuing millennia, society had already forgotten necromancy’s importance in their lives.”

“But they did not forget His divine grace. Whether such taboos faded into obscurity or your flimsy theory needs revising, God deemed there was no place for the dark arts in the new world,” I respond as I track all the communication orbs and pinpoint the scattered voices.

“Or so you say, but the Path of Eden was in decline as well.”

“What?”

“Maximillian, during my time as hierarch, my followers excavated many ruins from the lost city of Tiel. Across a hundred sites, there were no religious facilities. No items of prayer. Nothing to insinuate the worship of the Path in the very heart of the former kingdom. In fact, looking at ancient maps, the Lysium Theocracy was at risk of being absorbed by its larger neighbour, and the Graland Empire was but a motley of feuding lords. It was a dark age for both our faiths.”

As I trace one of the echoes, I’m led to an enormous landscape painting, two-thirds black and one-third white. Above the painting, there is a carving of a sword hanging over it. Through the cracked, dark paint, I can discern a mass of grey silhouettes with white eyes, shaped like humanoid beasts- no, demi-humans walking towards the white section of the painting. Notably, there are normal humans mixed in the crowd as well. A red moon hangs ominously over the black section, and directly underneath, the demi-humans begin changing into monstrous forms with red eyes. As the procession continues, they revert to humanoid forms while retaining their red eyes. A wall of human spearmen fends off the demi-humans at the border while their kin, still white-eyed, march onto a radiant mountain.

… No, that’s not quite right. There are a few red-eyed humans in the mix as well.

“Only the most pious were admitted, and yet in a mere millennium, we almost lost our divine right. Had history run its course, our kind would have also become a pagan race and God’s judgement would have descended upon the world once more.”

“Is that how you see the destruction of Tiel? That God unleashed the Undead Ravager as a form of mercy?” I say, happening upon a tattered carpet leading to a lit altar at the end.

“*Chuckle* I’m glad you understand. With the fall of Tiel and the Path’s proclaimed victory, the Theocracy gained immeasurable influence while the Kingdom had to rebuild further in the east. More importantly, the visage of the elder lich, the Watchful Light, was ingrained in survivors for generations, leading to a myriad of brotherhoods that rediscovered His name.”

“You forget, that terrible “visage” ultimately fell to the Church’s might,” I say as I approach Tascus, who is standing before a stained-glass mural of a golden-haired lady smiting a demon. “The ravager was slain, not celebrated by the people, and that is the way things should be. Even if I fail, I see no reason why history won’t repeat itself.”

“Ah, but that’s the thing, dear child,” says Tascus as the candlelight reflects off his cold smile, “there was never an expedition force that felled the undead ravager in the first place.”

As she recounts her tale, she gazes at the flickering lights from the fireplace. I then realise the flames are making very specific shapes, of humanoid pygmies falling before a misshapen blob. As the pygmies are consumed, the blob becomes a giant with curved horns. Suddenly, it tears out its own heart before extinguishing itself in an instant, leaving a protruding piece of charcoal with a bright ember on the end.

“You have my sympathies, Iranorah.”

“I’m touched, Enbos, but as I’ve said before, I am but a fragment. The city-destroying lich who cried for death is no more.”

“… In any case, I guess that explains why Maleosis’ mark was on your core. It looks like a failed attempt to control you.”

“No. The mark did exactly as Maleosis intended.”

“What do you- No, before that, I have to know for my own sanity: what the hell is Maleosis? What is this “prophecy” that the cultists keep banging on about? Is Maleosis really more than an incorporeal being spawned from the World Stream?”

“I’m sorry, Enbos. I don’t know who or what Maleosis truly is, nor anything about this prophecy that haunts you so.”

“I-I see.”

“However, what I do know is the entity existed long before my time. It is a perennial phantom from ages past, always whispered in the darkest corners of society. But that doesn’t mean Maleosis is eternal. The Apocalypse decimated not only the living, but also the World Stream itself. The natural index of magic was reformed and old names of power became obsolete, with some never finding a replacement. With few followers, Maleosis dwindled in influence and almost disappeared from the collective consciousness…”

“… until it used you to regain its strength.”

“Yes, although I fear the implications were further reaching than that. You see, Enbos, dark magic casters originally called upon the spirit of darkness to invoke their spells, but the Apocalypse destabilised the association between the greater spirits and their domains. While Maleosis was similarly weakened, I fear the entity was also empowered in some respects.”

“So, you’re saying the destruction of Tiel left such a strong impression that Maleosis supplanted the spirit of darkness in the collective consciousness?”

“Exactly, Enbos. Maleosis has basically been elevated to a greater spirit, except it’s demonstrably self-aware. It is more prevalent now than it has ever been in three thousand years, and I fear that if Tascus were to succeed…”

“*Huff, huff*…”

“Good grief, my child, your stubbornness will be the death of you. I know you are almost finished with Horizon’s Edge, but I suggest you cast if you still want the strength to swing it.”

Begrudging, I take his advice while keeping an eye from fifty paces away. My situation is dire, to say the least. The entire area and over a dozen pillars have been destroyed in our recent clash, leaving plenty of contaminated debris under his control. Even if I wasn’t limiting my use of magic, I wouldn’t be his equal in his current state. However, what troubles me most is not his combat ability but his seeming indifference to Horizon’s Edge despite knowing its true power.

“Such bloodlust. Surely you know by now you stand no chance. I could have killed you several moves earlier.”

“Hmph. Your charity does not change the fact you are a menace to the Church and society.”

“*Sigh* Your allegiance should be to the Path, not the institution that has failed to realise it. And society? My child, do you honestly think my goal is to march onto the Lysium Theocracy and tear down the Grand Cathedral? My war is one for hearts and minds, and I will do so by showing the people a better future under Him.”

“Your “god” is not a benevolent one, Tascus. You say you believe in Eden, and yet the society you desire will always need a population to act as quarry. How can that be an Eden for all?”

“My child, which do you suppose draws more power from a ritual? A hapless farmer plucked from their field, or a willing adherent of the same build and health? In His world, only the pious would offer themselves, freely. Maleosis does not indulge in our suffering, Maximillian. He hears your prayers just as He hears mine. Life and death are inseparable concepts, and yet you worship Him for one and not for the other. The true Path to Eden is one that embraces both aspects, and what more is necromancy than a microcosm of His greatest gift: rebirth?”

“Rebirth? You turn innocent lives into weapons!”

“We turn them into instruments of His divine will, just like you and I. After all, what greater meaning could there be than serving as God’s divine implement?”

“And yet your “god” still demands a toll from its tool. Isn’t that right, Apostle?”

“… I fail to understand.”

“You can’t hide it from me, Tascus. Ever since you were my mentor, I’ve never taken to your use of theatrics, but I know you always employ it to mislead or obscure. You didn’t lure me here to give me a history lesson: you needed time after using your blessing. Am I right?”

“… Even if that were the case, I could have provided a more engaging distraction, like a hundred undead or a thousand traps. But no, Maximillian. I sincerely wanted to show you the truth of this world. After all, how can I convince the masses if I can’t even convince my own brother? If there is anyone that can understand my ideals, it would be another Cleansing Blade.”

“…”

“You’ve seen the Church’s darkness, Maximillian; you put your faith in the upper echelons to convey God’s will, and yet they are deaf. You’ve walked the path of prior; for seven years, you have acted as God’s steel made manifest, and yet His blade draws more than heretic blood. You need not decide tonight. The Ascension need. Not. Be. Tonight. Just give me a chance to explain, and we may even find a middle path. So, what do you say?”

As delusional as Tascus may be, it pains me to hear Caetus’ sincerity in his words. However, in spite all that, I don’t even hesitate for a second as I activate Horizon’s Edge and illuminate this vast space. His weathered face falls under the searing light, but it’s quickly replaced with a steely brow as he teleports his ceremonial mask back over his head.

“I have my own vision, Tascus. Michael died believing in it while the rest of my brethren are pushing me on. I will not betray them or the Path.”

“You still have a chance, Maximillian. However, if I cannot convince you with words, then I shall do so with miracles. After all, for His chosen apostles, Maleosis bestows two gifts.”

The sun is setting outside and our cups of tea have lost all steam. Iranorah is watching me quietly, and although I’ve already asked so many questions, I still feel unsatisfied.

No, it’s because I already know she can’t tell me what I really want to hear. I came here wanting to find out more about myself and the prophecy, only to find this place has almost nothing to do with either. Really, I have no idea whether I should be laughing or crying that I managed to stick myself in the middle of this history-changing mess. I just feel… pathetic.

“… everything is ultimately according to His grand designs. I pray you will awaken to God’s truth in time, brother.”

“Balderdash. The lot of it…”

“I know I haven’t been entirely forthcoming, but please believe me, Enbos,” misunderstands Iranorah.

“*Sigh* No, Iranorah, I trust you. Rather, I know you are telling the truth thanks to that.”

I point towards her left wrist. She looks down and only now notices the silver chain adorned in glowing gems, which has been there since she introduced herself.

“A Chain of Sincerity. You do realise it won’t work here like it does in the real world, right?”

“True, but I needed it to reinforce my mental image that you will tell the truth. You said it yourself. I can change anything I want, and you’re only simulating a form of consciousness by using my soul and my memory of Helena as a template. Although you can always keep quiet, if I were to ask something sensitive, like… “did everybody involved in the Apocalypse event get sacrificed to turn you into an elder lich”, or “was all information regarding the Apocalypse withheld from other countries”, you wouldn’t be able to lie, right?”

Iranorah doesn’t say a thing, but her silence confirms my budding suspicions. Her ancient society was by no means a moral one. After all, she accepted the tortuous duty to protect her kinsmen, who were more or less held hostage. From what I have seen, no demi-human race has come close to the preparation humanity has. She said she made predictions, which means her country suppressed the data or even mislead the other nations. Heck, I don’t even know if demonkind was to blame in the first place. For all I know, it could be some ancient human supremist plot, although she did mention a “corruption”. I could keep pressing her for answers, however…

“Just so we’re clear, I don’t care what you did in the past and I have more important things to worry about in the present. As a Worldfarer, I’m probably the last person to admonish you for your crimes against this humanity.”

“…”

“I want to stop the cultists as well, but honestly, I’ll only help if we stand a fighting chance against Tascus. Because as I am now, he can probably flatten me with a mana-charged pinkie. So, what’s your plan?”

“You leave.”

“… Huh?”

“That is all. I can rearrange the rooms and lead your friends and the captives to safety, although there will be no saving Maximillian and his men. Tascus has everything he needs to become a superior lich, but before he does, I will imprison him here for as long as I can. He will eventually find a way out, but when he does… you will be there to vanquish him.”

“Y-you want to buy me time?”

“Yes, Enbos. I will provide you some of my belongings to further your development, but if it’s you, I know you will find the strength to prevail.”

“But why!? You have no idea what I will do, or what I may become! I could hide on the other side of the continent for all you know.”

“Then I’ve at least saved my beloved pupil at the end of this long nightmare.”

“… I think that’s the Helena side of you creeping in.”

“Maybe, but without the core, my spiritual fragments won’t last long at all. This is the best I can do, and you’re the only one I can ask… But honestly, Tyler, I could have done with far worse,” she says with a warm smile as she opens the fire escape.

However, I remain in place and stare at her in awe, as I finally remember the last thing I had come to this place to find.

“How, Iranorah?”

“How what?”

“How have you retained your humanity for so long? Even ignoring your current incarnation, you served as a doomed guardian for the sake of your brethren, and even stopped yourself as an undead ravager to spare more lives. After thousands upon thousands of years… how do you defy the darkness that defines our very core?”

“… I see. So, that’s what it is,” says Iranorah as she closes the door. “You still misunderstand what it fundamentally means to be an undead.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“What I’m saying is your earthly attachments are more than a series of dark impulses. Hmmm, I could try to explain in detail but I think a more practical lesson is in order. Do you mind handing me the leashes, just for a moment?”

She extends her hand, and after a moment of apprehension, I reach out to take it. Instantly, the cottage disappears and our surroundings are covered in snow. As I try to make sense of what she is doing, she lets go and urges me to walk ahead. I haphazardly take the lead, although my steps feel strangely nostalgic. She follows closely and doesn’t say a thing. The silent trek continues for several more minutes, but before I can ask for the point…

“I must say, I didn’t know you hunt this far in the woods.”

“Eh? What are you-”

“Yes. Do you see this plant here? It’s called the Ursa Fence.”

“Ohhh, I get it now. You’re trying to recreate the moment when-”

GROARRR!

As if on cue, a large shadow looms over me as I turn to find a Blue Bear just about to swat me. It’s a lot closer than I remember, but then again, what’s also changed… is that I now know dark magic.

“.”

I stab the explosive tip into its stomach and obliterate the Blue Bear from the waist up. I’ve never blown one up before, which is probably why it’s turned into a pile of snow.

“Now then, let’s move onto-”

“I must say, I didn’t know you hunt this far in the woods.”

“Eh?”

She points behind me and I turn to find the Blue Bear is back from the dead. It charges at me but I equip the Winter Troll’s soul and cave its skull in. However, Iranorah repeats the line again, and another Blue Bear spawns from behind a tree.

“What are you playing at!? Is this some kind of training simulation?” I say as I set the latest one on fire.

“You can leave anytime you want. I’m sure you could figure out the answer on your own someday, but while you’re asking, I won’t stop until you realise the truth.”

“*Sigh* Fine then,” I say as I draw Bloodletter. “Time for a little R-and-R.”