AN ENIGMA

Streets paved in stone clacked with the sounds of countless footsteps as chatter doused silence dry. Skyfire Paradise woke up early and slept late, but it never truly rested. As more and more people poured in, the city expanded further, with some nearby villages being built in addition to it, housing mainly farmers. While the Kingdom itself thrived, its center – the massive Tower of white stone – was doused in strange, eerie atmosphere.

In one of the chambers, Thalia was currently tending still unconscious Parsia. Sitting on a chair, next to her a table filled with pills and potions to restore Mana, she still kept his body suspended midair inside a water-like bubble. Suddenly, the doors to the room creaked and she glanced sideways, spotting Lynne. He wore plain, white shirt and trousers, his long hair tied back into a ponytail. He walked slowly, closing the doors behind him, as he came up to Parsia and examined him, his expression not changing.

“… idiot.” he mumbled, sighing. “When do you think he’ll wake up?” he asked Thalia as he pulled a chair and sat next to her.

“A day… a month… who knows?” she said. “If you didn’t have any plans on fighting up above, why didn’t you come with us immediately?” she asked, knitting her brows slightly.

“… I needed to see what we’re up against,” Lynne said as he suddenly took out two bottles of Heavenly Ale, handing one over to Thalia. “And I didn’t think they’d be that strong. How have you been?”

“Ah, so you remembered to ask.”

“… sorry,” Lynne said, smiling apologetically. “I know I haven’t been the best of fiances.”

“… I’ve been fine,” Thalia said, sighing. “Took the time you decided to leave – again – to visit my Master.”

“Oh? Lady Ella?” Lynne mumbled, arching his brows. “How is she?”

“Devastated, mostly.”

“Why so?”

“Because a lot of my Sisters have died because of various battles.” Thalia said, causing Lynne’s face to distort into a frown.

“Shame.”

“Yeah. What about you? How did you suddenly get so strong?”

“… perks of having a Dragon as a friend, I suppose.” Lynne answered vaguely, evading her gaze as he focused onto Parsia.

“… I’ve heard you were planning on leaving for another journey.” Thalia said after a short silence.

“Ah, so Y’se talked with you, huh?” Lynne said, chuckling. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“… how long will this one take?”

“Who knows?” he said, shifting his gaze back onto her. “Do you hate me?”

“… hardly.”

“Hah, I wouldn’t blame you, you know?” Lynne said, taking a sip of Heavenly Ale as he chuckled. “But--”

“--but this is something you want to do, right?” Thalia said. “Spare me the excuses.”

“Want to? Hardly,” Lynne shook his head, his eyes taken over by a strange, almost melancholy gleam. “I don’t think anyone sane would want to throw themselves into a heart of a war between Gods and whatnots. But, in the end, I have to, Thalia.”

“Have to? It’s got nothing to do with you for fucks sake!!”

“…” Lynne looked at her oddly for a moment, his expression carrying a tinge of sorrow before he spoke. “Remember how Fen’er always chirped about her crucibles? Well, it seems I have found mine. For better or worse, I’ve became a part of that world Thalia.”

“… you know,” Thalia said as she laughed bitterly for a moment. “When I first met you, I never thought that, one day, I’d have to tell you to be less courageous. Or, better yet, not stupid. What can you change Lynne?! Who are you even fighting for?! You said it’s not for yourself. It’s definitely not for me. It’s not for this Kingdom of yours that you apparently loathe. So, why do you have to involve yourself further into the matters that don’t concern you?! And don’t tell me I wouldn’t understand, or I’ll gouge one of your fucking eyes out.”

“… I can’t.” Lynne said, smiling weakly.

“:.. you can’t tell me? Are you kidding me?”

“It always comes down to ‘yay’ or ‘nay’, doesn’t it?” Lynne mumbled, taking another sip. “Back when I was a kid, there was this homeless woman near one of the brothels I frequented. Day after day, she’d either get beaten, raped, tortured, or completely ignored. Yet, every morning when the sun would come up, there she was, still sitting on that same corner, still wearing the same, tired expression. So, one day, I asked her: why do you keep coming back? Why do you expose yourself willingly to all these things? She looked at me for a moment and said ‘Because I have to’. I thought her mad, of course, so I let it go. But, I was curious so, one day, I asked my dad whether he knew her. Turns out, she’s been coming there long before I was born. Before, that street used to be notorious. Countless men and women, young and old, beaten, murdered, raped, you name it. Then, suddenly, a woman appeared on that corner. When beaten, she didn’t scream. When raped, she didn’t fight back. Day after day, she’d come back. Until, one day, when I was fifteen, she was not there. She never came again. She died someplace, who knows where. Nameless. That street, that corner, those people before her… none of that had anything to do with her. I doubt she wanted all those atrocities to happen to her, yet, I have a strange feeling she felt she had to come there every morning. A voice, a calling that compelled her to endure all that for so long. I’m the same, Thalia.” Lynne paused for a moment, smiling toward her.

“… will you come back?” Thalia asked.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Lynne said.

“… you’re an ass, you know that?”

“I do.”

“Good.” she said, sighing. “What about this Kingdom of yours?”

“I’ll make arrangements.” Lynne said as he suddenly got up. “I’ll leave in two days’ time. Y’se will help you in the meantime with Parsia. I’ll also concoct some pills for later date. Be there for him,” Lynne said, turning around and looking at the two for a moment. “And beat some sense into his suicidal mind.”

“… I will.”

“I love you Thalia.” Lynne said as he left, closing the doors behind him without looking back.

Thalia stared at the chair as she smiled bitterly, picking up the bottle and gulping half of it in one go. Her disposition softened somewhat as she shook her head, suddenly glancing out the window.

“Why do you sound as though you’re saying a last goodbye?” she mumbled as the tears trickled down her cheeks slowly, her eyes growing bloodshot. Her sobs turned into silent cries as she buried her head into her arms.

Meanwhile, Lynne walked up the Tower toward a room where Stork and Ruela were currently at. As he arrived, he spotted Y’se sitting in front, a stack of parchments in her hands. When she noticed him, she smiled and put them down, slowly getting up.

“You look like shit.” she said.

“… yeah.” Lynne said, smiling. “Those two awake?”

“If they aren’t, I’m sure you can think of a trick or two make it happen.”

“Thanks. I’ll handle it from here.”

“Strange that you want to tackle both of them,” Y’se said. “Aren’t you just making it harder?”

“… don’t you know? I love challenges. Makes my blood boil.”

“Ah. I see.” Y’se said, smiling mysteriously.

“We’ll leave in two days’ time,” he said as he turned toward the doors. “Until then, go help Thalia with Parsia. Make sure he lives.”

“… one day, you’ll have to give me a peak inside that head of yours.” Y’se said. “I’d like to know how your thoughts operate.”

“One day, then. It’s a promise.” Lynne said, opening the doors. “See ya’.”

“Right.”

The first thing he spotted when he walked was a cage in the middle of the room. Steel bars surrounded it, runic characters running through them, glimmering faint cyan. Inside were two people, currently staring angrily at him. While both seemed exasperated and exhausted, their eyes brimmed with energy and unabated anger.

“Hello,” Lynne said, smiling, as he pulled up a chair and sat down directly in front of the cage. “From the looks of it you guys have recognized me. Nonetheless, I may as well introduce myself. Lynne Hyorn, the King of Skyfire Paradise.”

“Hyorn? Ha ha,” Stork suddenly laughed. “Don’t you know your entire Clan has been eradicated? You must be one of the lucky ones that survived.”

“Ah, I’m afraid that ‘eradication’ part might partially be my fault,” Lynne said calmly. “But, as interesting as I am – and, trust me, I am interesting – we’re not here to talk about me, but rather the two of you. Save for your names, I know next to nothing about you. You’re like an enigma, holding all the cards. Well, now’s the time to play them if you will.”

“And what? You’ll spare us?” Ruela scoffed coldly.

“Hardly,” Lynne said, chuckling. “At best, I’ll throw you into the Tower’s dungeon where you’ll spend the rest of your lives rotting. Ah, I suppose quick deaths would be better for you. And I can surely grant that. I just need answers.”

“Fuck off.” Stork said coldly.

“I want to know about Lady Ella. Or, well, in your case, Master Ella I suppose.” Lynne said, cutting straight to the chase. “Specifically, I want to know whether she sent you guys to obstruct my plans.”

“…”

“…”

“So she did,” Lynne said, sighing softly. “Odd, odd indeed. She must have known you five stood no chance, yet, she still sent you. If you were just some disposable pawns like the rest who tagged along, I’d understand. But, five of you were rather strong and could have definitely gotten stronger. So why, oh why… that is the question, no?” Lynne said, getting up and slowly walking around the cage. “Before Grath died – well, before I killed him, to be precise – I took a peak into his Soul.”

“YOU WHAT?!!” Stork suddenly roared angrily, veins bursting out of his forehead.

“Calm down, calm down. I just took a peak, ‘s all.” Lynne continued calmly, carefully examining the expressions of two; while Stork’s was beaming with anger and hatred, Ruela’s was much different. She was angry, too, but more than that she was horrified and shocked. “However hypocritical it may sound, I truly meant no harm. But, you see, it’s not without a reason that meddling with someone’s Soul is a taboo. Every time I do it, part of my own Soul is destroyed. Well, rather than destroyed, it just sort of disappears. And, I’d rather not meddle with you two in the same fashion.”

“YOU DEVIL!!” Stork shouted again, trying to get up onto his feet but to no avail. They were sitting directly on a formation that rendered their bodies nigh useless. “RELEASE ME, NOW!! FIGHT ME TO DEATH!!”

“What I saw,” Lynne continued, ignoring him. “Shocked me, really. Lady Ella, famed for only taking in women for disciples, had at least three guys under her wing. And, all three of you revered her to the point of creepiness. But, truth be told, I don’t care for your interpersonal relationships. For all I care, all five of you could have been only fuck toys, and it wouldn’t have mattered all the same. What I care for is information about her. See, we’re at war. And she, who is supposed to be on our side, is not. And, just now, I’ve learned she’s been sending a great deal of her Disciples into confrontations, which resulted in a lot of deaths, which mess even less strength for us.”

“Now, I’ve said what I needed to say.” Lynne finished as he sat back down onto the chair, coldly staring at the two. “It’s your choice. Tell me what I need to know, and we’ll figure everything else out. Refuse me and, well… although my Soul is wounded, and I’d rather avoid wounding it any further, I will do it all the same.”

“… go to hell,” Stork said in a rather calm voice. “Go on, take a look into my Soul. Brand yourself further. Heavens will smite you soon enough.”

“What about you, my dear?” Lynne continued ignoring Stork and turned to shaking Ruela. “Surely, you don’t want to have your Soul mangled apart by someone like me. Something so precious, something which defines you more than all else… how could you allow it?”

“I—I…”

“What are you hesitating for?!” Stork lashed out at her angrily. “Master gave us everything!! Will you really betray her in the end?!!”

“Now, now, betrayal is such a strong word,” Lynne said. “What Lady Ella is doing is betrayal. What you will be doing…” he said, leaning closer in. “Is rectifying that betrayal. If you tell me what I need to know… I’ll tell you who your High Fathers truly are. I’ll tell you why are they fighting so fervently. Why are they sending so many people to pointless deaths. I’ll let you know… what you fought for… for so long.”

“Don’t listen to him Ruela!! He’s lying!!” Stork’s voice finally carried a hint of panic, causing Lynne to smile.

“Lying? Why would I need to lie to the two of you?” Lynne said calmly. “In the end, you’re just two dead people. Nobody’s coming to save you. Whatever you learn will never leave your lips. I only wish to give you knowledge you no doubt sought for so long.”

“Shut up devil!! Stop talking!! Ruela, listen to me! You can’t betray the Master!”

“Come on, now,” Lynne said. “You want to know, don’t you? What is the purpose of all these battles? What did Grath, Hylana and Sorth die for, right? What their sacrifices meant, truly? I have all those answers, and much more. All I need… is for you to tell me about Lady Ella. That is all.”

“I-I’ll talk…” Ruela said weakly. “I-I’ll talk… j-just… just tell me… d-did, did they die… in vain?”

“RUELA!!”

“… no, they haven’t,” Lynne said, smiling satisfyingly. “They died for a purpose. If you want to know more… it’s time you told me what I need to know.”