CHAPTER 509

DARK APATHY

Ion overlooked the vast stretch of land in the process of recovery laid in front of the gates of the City of Sun. Though nearly a whole month had passed, save for the majority the corpses, not much has changed. Stench still remained, as ever strong, the green was yet to grow, the rivers and rapids yet to regain their vigor.

He sighed heavily, turning around and walking down the walled stairs of the tower, reaching the far edge of the city where the stream of people continued going in and out of the city. However stomach-churning it may be, the mess outside created a fair number of jobs -- and people were quite willing to earn something without having to put their life on the line.

The streets were laid out perpendicularly, tall rises cutting in-between them, districts clearly established. Moving past the wall-bordering one -- which mainly consisted of administrative buildings in charge of processing newcomers and trade coming in -- he increased his pace and dashed through the residential, merchant and academy districts on his way over to the center, the gem of the city, a massive, stone-encased palace.

On his way over, he was greeted by plenty, familiar and unfamiliar alike. The slow process of recovery had begun, with a resemblance of kindling life returning to the eyes of those who’ve witnessed the battle firsthand. Some have even returned to their posts, resuming their lives.

The construction of the massive mausoleum hanging high above the palace’s domed ceiling was still underway; by Ion’s estimates, it should be completed within a week, just in time for the planned mass-pyres. It was a well-adorned sort, built out of the white, marble stone, tall and wide, a platform in front of it spreading for over twelve miles in circumference. While the bodies would be burned on the platform, their belongings would be kept in the mausoleum itself. Too many were dead to bury all, and too many to even burn at the same time; Ion wagered that they’d have to switch the bodies at the very least a hundred times to go through them all.

He made his way directly into the palace, its upper floor cast in wide hallways lit by hanging gems and adorned by various canvases, over toward the right wing where he was summoned. As far as he knew, it was a makeshift summoning of the Council; though they didn’t know the purpose, when the Emperor made the call, every soul called answered regardless of whether they could.

By the time he entered the wide hall upheld by stone pillars of dull brown and a wide, red carpet beneath, the room was already occupied by good twenty people. Among them were two Dragons who sat in solemn silence, nestled in the corner of the rectangular table, as well as some Gods, of which Ion only recognized Tim.

Spotting a more familiar face after nodding a greet, he moved over toward Lucky, Lyn, Ty, Alison and Rebecca, a stately, self-proclaimed bard who somehow managed to make her way up and earn herself a spot in the Council before reaching even forty. She was a somewhat short, plump woman of dry, brown hair and similarly-colored eyes, but her physical appearance hardly diminished the countenance with which she presented herself.

Seeing him approach, the four women smiled lightly, with only Rebecca and Alison offering a slight bow, while Ty turned to a salute. Despite being a Shadow, in the wartime, he was also Ion’s subordinate in the army.

“I really didn’t think you’d show up,” Lucky said, taking a sip of the wine. Uncharacteristically for her, she donned upon herself a rather gallant dress of white, further pronouncing her tanned skin. “Figured you’d be cooped up in some room somewhere, brooding.”

“Ay, I had all the intention to,” Ion smiled back. “But I was told the great Death herself had graced the world with a coquettish appearance of a girl, and no matter how broody I felt, I couldn’t miss that.”

“Oh, piss on your eyes,” Lucky rolled her eyes. “Blame Alison.”

“Blame?” Ion arched his brow. “I think all of the council will fall in love with Ally even more than they already are.”

“Hush,” Alison joined in, a faint blush hanging on her cheeks. “Don’t tease her. She looks beautiful.”

“She really does,” Ion nodded, stroking his beard. “Were she not taken, I might even try courting her. Despite the thorns.”

“You? Courting a woman?” Lucky looked at him dubiously. “The world might as well end at that point, for it had seen everything.”

“Ah, don’t look at me like that,” Ion shook. “Very few women out there are willing to fall asleep in a cold bed nine-tenths of days in a year. Should you find one, please, do let me know.”

“Just chase after one of your Generals or something,” Ty added from the side, stuffing his face full of fish. “You’ve got that cute redhead. What’s her name? Sally? Sarr? Sylo? Ah, S-something. She already spends like nine-tenths of her life by your side. I imagine it wouldn’t feel all that different.”

“Aye, though I imagine her husband and her four kids might take an issue with that,” Ion smiled wryly, shaking his head. “What about you Ty? Still hellbent on pursuing your pure love?”

“Ah, no, I’ve decided to give up,” Ty sighed in lament, glancing at Lucky and Alison. “A man must know when to seek, and when to retreat, and when to concede. I’ve lost.”

“It was never even a battle, lad.” Rebecca added with a chuckle, playing with a goblet of wine.

“Oi, shut it, bard,” Ty growled. “It was totally a battle, alright?! Tell them L’! Tell them it was a battle! For the love of god tell them it was a battle!”

“Aye, aye, it was a battle,” Lucky sighed, shaking her head. “Damn kid.”

“Last I heard,” Rebecca said from the side once more. “You switched your eye onto young Lyn. So, the question is, have you really, really given up? By all accounts, Lyn is a spitting image of Lucky.”

“... alright, leave the poor lad alone,” Ion coughed, stifling a laugh, as he watched Ty’s face billow into red fumes, staring daggers at the young, laughing bard. “Does anyone know why did he summon the Council?”

“A number of things, I imagine,” Lucky replied. “The pyres, the war, the future, and probably to form a search party for Ella.”

“Still no word?” Ty asked, his expression serious.

“No.” Lucky shook her head.

“It’s been almost a month,” Alison sighed. “I’m not worried something might have happened to her, but still... where did she go that even Lino can’t locate her?”

“Will he take volunteers?” Ion quizzed.

“Why? You signing up?” Lucky asked back.

“Of course,” he nodded. “Things should settle here for a long while. If I can help somehow, I naturally will.”

“I imagine most of us will,” Ty said. “The question is who will he choose. Have any of you even seen him in the last month?”

“Nope,” Lucky replied. “I mostly get information from Hannah.”

“He’ll be fine,” Ion said. “He always has.”

“Hm,” Lucky nodded, glancing toward the doors that were flung open at that moment, new people arriving, Eggor and Cae among them. Both had dark circles beneath their eyes, their hairs disheveled, bodies tepid. Noticing their small group, the two headed over, bidding farewell to the people they arrived with.

“... wait,” Cae said, frowning and rubbing his eyes. “Am I really that sleepy that I’m seeing L’ in a dress? Dad... I need to take a nap. Come on, punch me in the face.”

“Oh, shut up, you little shit,” Lucky chuckled, ruffling the young boy’s hair gently for a moment. “What’s wrong with wearing a dress?”

“Nothing.” he replied. “You look pretty.”

“Oh? Wow, would you look at that -- Cae said something nice. You must really be sleepy.”

“When was the last time you slept, you two?” Alison asked worriedly, walking over to the two of them and inspecting them. “This can’t do. You’ll tire yourself out to death.”

“We’ll be fine,” Eggor shrugged. “Don’t worry too much, Ally.”

“Humph, what do you mean don’t worry? Of course I’ll worry! We all worry! But you have to take care of yourselves first, alright?” one by one, the remaining members of the Council began streaming in, until nearly all the seats of the massive hall were full.

“...” Eggor remained silent, sighing inwardly and looking away, toward the topmost chair, the most decorated one. He hadn’t seen Lino either in over a month, not since he departed for war. As with almost everyone else, he’d ‘seen’ him through Hannah. Poor girl, he thought, she’d been running here and there like a headless chicken for a month now...

The doors flung open once more as the chatter ceased, all eyes veering away toward the entrance where two figures appeared. Hannah wore her usual, folding dress of gold and crimson, her red hair tied with white ribbons. However, hardly an eye had the mind to look at her beyond the figure to her left.

Lino didn’t wear his usual, hemp clothes, but was instead clad in his Heaven-cast armor, the Edge and the Slayer both tucked into flamboyant scabbards strapped to his belt. A cape of black fluttered behind his back, joined with his long hair tied into a ponytail. Metallic sounds of his boots beating the floor resonated across the hall as the sole music, his pace rapid. One after another, everyone lowered their heads, shaking involuntarily; the look in his eyes froze them, inside and out, his Will barely contained within him, seemingly ready to burst at any moment. Had they not known any better, they’d have assumed he was preparing for a life-or-death battle.

He sat onto the chair slowly, leveling his eyes over everyone in the audience, none of which dared reply -- not even Lucky, Eggor, Alison, Cae and the rest.

Hannah glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, sighing afterward and sitting by his side, retreating backward into her chair, seemingly removing herself from the gathering.

“... the Pyres will happen three days from now,” he said in a stern, apathetic tone. “If they don’t, all in charge will be permanently removed from their positions, and have majority of their wealth confiscated.”

“...” everyone remained silent, holding their breaths.

“Ion,” he turned toward the man toward the back who shuddered all of a sudden, still not daring to look up. “Mobilize all of our forces. Within a week, charge onto the Holy Continent and annihilate all resistance. If they surrender, leave them alone. If they don’t, kill them all.”

“Y-y-yes...”

“Lucky,” upon having her name called, she took a deep breath and finally looked up, meeting his eyes. Her soul nearly froze in that moment, a cry of terror nearly breaking out of her lungs. “You have two weeks to find where Dangwe is hiding. Where his every base is. Report to me directly.”

“... yes.” she replied lowly.

“Hannah will be in charge of organizing the search party,” he said, getting up, walking back toward the entrance. “Her word is mine.”

Minutes would pass after he left before the atmosphere in the hall would relax somewhat and people began breathing again. All looked at one another warily, their eyes burning with questions none dared ask.

“... just ignore it and do as he asked,” Hannah said, getting up as well. “If you can’t, let me know. Nothing will happen to you, don’t worry.”

She walked out as well, increasing her pace to catch up to him. She found him standing on one of the open balconies of the palace, seemingly waiting for her. As she stepped out onto the balcony, she felt her soul ripped out of her body, her mind thrown into a completely different world -- a world of stately white and dark, two suns burning in the high-skies above her, and a figure sitting at the center of them. He looked at her with a playful smile, one entirely void of the frigidity from just a few moments ago.

“I can’t sustain this much longer,” he said, walking over to her and pushing his forehead against hers, hugging the back of her head. “I’m sorry I was kind of a dick these past few weeks.”

“... kind of a?” Hannah replied, smiling. “You were a major dick, dick. Finally ready to clue me in?”

“I can’t,” he shook his head. “Not yet. It’s too dangerous.”

“What’s too dangerous, Lino?” she asked, frowning and pulling away.

“... I’m not too sure myself,” he sighed after a short pause. “I always thought my final obstacle was here... but... I don’t know. The Primal Chaos inside of me... it almost seems it has come alive, Hannah. It’s acting restless, churning and churning, firing off at my mind, alarming, warning me of something. For now, play along. Distance yourself from me. I’ll probably do some... questionable things in the near future, but you can’t try and stop me. I promise it will make sense soon.”

“Does it even make sense to you?” she asked, shaking her head. “Don’t be so coy,” she added, smiling dubiously and turning around. “You’re not the only one with a Writ, Lino. And Astrum is hardly the shy one when it comes to sharing. When it happens, I’ll be there. Playing along.”