Commander Tojido’s action set the fire in the hearts of many, and sow seeds of doubts in some. His previous action seemed brave but perhaps very misguided if one were to ponder it deeper. Guru Bram who saw what happened approached the Shield commander in disapproval.

“What were you thinking? You were not on the list to join the expedition! And leaving Black Moon like that?” Guru Bram said and exhaled his breath with anxiety.

“What has been done has been done. I can borrow some other greatsword from the treasury, so leaving Black Moon is completely fine. And do you want me to retract my statements? What good would that do to my reputation or the people’s faith in the expedition?” Commander Tojido snickered and replied.

“Yes, it’s not too late to do that. What you did was unwise, old friend. Your presence here is paramount to The Sanctuary’s safety,” Guru Bram replied while crossing his arms in disapproval.

“And I think my presence is also paramount in the expedition.” Commander Tojido put his hand on to his chest where the emblem of The Shield was, “I cannot stand by and let the expedition fail. What do you think would happen if the expedition doesn’t find the nectar? I wouldn’t have a Sanctuary to protect!” He said passionately.

“You think too much about your reputation, there are other important things to consider.” Guru Bram said while frowning.

“And you don’t think long-term enough! Have some goddamn faith will you!? The people are now on our side!” Commander Tojido pointed at the crowd that was cheering him on, “What do you think will happen if I didn’t step in just now? The P.O.B weakling scums will massacre more of our people and pandemonium will occur! The expedition teams will leave while The Sanctuary tears itself apart from the inside!” He bellowed.

“We believe in you, Commander Tojido!” The people shouted.

“You’ve changed since the serpent giant attack five years ago,” Guru Bram stared daggers at the commander.

“The people still praise me for that, but how many lives were lost that day? I will not allow any sort of failures like that to occur ever again,” The commander replied.

“And your solution for that is to leave The Sanctuary unguarded?”

“My solution is to not tolerate any mistake in the expedition that I will help oversee. And besides, my vice-commanders will stay, some of them I believe are more capable than me anyway. We of the previous generation should let the young be in charge once in a while, my old bones would be better used going out there and help. And don’t forget we have them,” Commander Tojido frowned at his last sentence.

Guru Bram raised his eyebrows. “You mean…? Are they still in operation?” He asked.

“They’ve never stopped. Anyway, we’re starting to touch on sensitive subjects. Let’s go upstairs if you want to continue arguing,” Commander Tojido motioned to his Shield soldiers, “Men! Take care of the injured and wounded. Get their testimonies as well on what those P.O.B bastards did,”

“Affirmative, Commander!” The Shield soldiers complied and started helping the citizens. Commander Tojido and Guru Bram took the elevator again and disappeared upstairs.

“That was a lot to take in,” Marika massaged her temple as if she caught a headache. Marika and Alain had left the scene of the protest and were now walking back to Rostav’s house.

“I’m sorry to destroy your idealistic picture of The Sanctuary,” Alain replied.

Marika shook her head, “I knew something like this was bound to happen. There’s no such thing as a perfect society. And besides, I’ve seen worse. I think you have it good as long as you don’t have mandatory-attendance public executions,” She smiled weakly in an attempt to cheer herself up.

Alain opened his eyes wide. “That bad?”

Marika nodded. “Ah, we arrived,” She said as they finally saw Rostav’s blacksmith shop and house.

The two of them could see Rostav working on repairing Alain’s bone armor with sets of tools on his side.

“You’re back, where were you?” The bearded bald blacksmith asked firmly. Rostav frowned as he noticed the two of them were wearing their giant-slaying outfit.

“Nevermind that, how did it go with Renald?” Alain slyly changed the topic right away as he answered the question with another question.

Rostav sighed. “I brought him to one of my friends who worked at the High Council’s office. After reviewing the evidence, getting statements from Renald, and even getting some testimonies from neighbors, they have decided to revoke his parents’ custody and make me his temporary guardian. We’ll still have some procedures to go through but he’s definitely free from his parents,” He explained.

Alain and Marika smiled brightly hearing that.

“That’s great! Does it mean he can do the nectar initiation test?” Marika asked.

Rostav nodded. “That’s right, the boy could not stop asking me about that ever since. We were waiting for the two of you to do it but since you’re here, we can go now if you want,” He said.

“We should, I want to know as well,” Alain said.

“Alright,” Rostav moved Alain’s armor to one of the shelves and closed up shop. “Renald! Let’s go!” He shouted to the back. Sounds of someone running hastily could be heard immediately.

“Are they back?” Renald appeared in a speedy manner. His eyes widened as he saw both Alain and Marika. “Can we go now!?” He said enthusiastically. His smile was like the radiant sun itself.

This is the first time I’ve seen the boy smile that brightly. Being freed from his parents’ influence must have made him extremely happy. Alain thought.

“Yes, let’s go” Rostav smiled back and the four of them left the chimney district.

The nectar initiation test was done at the Giantslayer guild, which was not that far from the industrial sector that Rostav’s smithy was in so it only took them a little while to reach the building. They all stepped inside and approached the receptionist. It was also mid-day so there were not that many Giantslayers around as many of them were outside hunting or practicing in preparation of the expedition in two days.

“How can I help you, today?” The female receptionist asked from behind the wooden counter.

“This boy wants to do the nectar initiation test,” Rostav said as he brought Renald forward.

“Are you his father? May I see the documents?”

Rostav handed some papers to the receptionist. She scanned through it and nodded.

“Renald Moonshade...the test will be five hundred Shelings.”

“It sure has gotten more expensive since a few years ago,” Rostav sighed and handed her the bills from his wallet.

“You know how the economy is, sir. “ She stamped on some documents and motioned her hands towards the back of the building. “Please take it to room 21 and show this paper to the staff over there,” She said.

Rostav nodded and took everyone to room twenty one. The room was larger than what the door would suggest. It was a wide room with very soft leather and fur cushion padding on the walls and floors.

“W-what are those for?” Renald said as he pointed at those cushions.

“If one fails the nectar initiation test, they are often in great pain and thrash around the room indiscriminately, those are to prevent that from hurting the person," Alain said and patted Renald’s head. “Whatever happens, you’re free now. You can be whatever you want even if you’re not a Giantslayer.” He said.

Renald frowned hearing that “I got this,” A fire burned in his eyes, the sheer determination was pushing him through. His dreams of adventuring outside were on the line.

The staff member handed Renald a vial of nectar. “Drink all of it at once, if you don’t feel any pain within thirty seconds, then you passed. If you fail, your test fees also include treatment at our med bay until you recover,” He said.

Renald nodded and looked at Rostav, “Thank you for paying for this. And thank you...for my parents.” He smiled warmly.

Rostav smiled back, “You got this, kid,” The old bearded man seemed proud and sentimental, he was perhaps reminded of his own late son as well as he saw this boy.

Renald then looked at Alain and Marika, “Thank you for being here with me, and good luck with the expedition, Alain,” He said.

“Go on, Renald.” Alain said and smiled.

Everyone took steps back until they were against the wall while Renald was still in the middle of the room. Renald took a deep breath and drank all the nectars in one gulp. Several seconds pass by without nothing happening.

“Did...I do it?” Renald asked cautiously.

“Do you feel something, kid?” Rostav asked.

“No...not yet,”

Suddenly, a jolt of pain washed over Renald’s body. His body contorted and screams of pain escaped his mouth involuntarily. He thrashed around the room and started hitting the walls and the floors, squirming around like a worm. He clawed the walls in a desperate attempt to escape something.

“Kid!” Rostav almost ran forward to Renald but the staff member caught his arm and shook his head.

"Let it happen until he falls unconscious," The staff member said.

“No!” Marika gasped and closed her mouth, she saw what was happening in horror.

Alain clenched his fist tight, his face drenched with melancholy mixed with anger.

I’m sorry, Renald. You won’t be a Giantslayer, Alain said in his mind.

Alain, Rostav, and Marika were now at the guild’s med bay where Renald was still squirming around his bed unconscious. His entire body was drenched with sweat and his pale skin turned red. Veins popped out like serpents coiling around his body. The three of them looked at Renald in sorrow and sadness.

“I...can’t help but feel I just destroyed a person’s dream,” Alain muttered. He was the one who encouraged Renald to stay and get the nectar initiation test so he felt directly responsible for what was currently happening.

“It’s not your fault, boy,” Rostav patted Alain’s back. “Don’t think about it too much, you’re going to risk your life in two days in the expedition so you don’t want that baggage inside your head, I’ll take care of him,” He said.

Alain reluctantly nodded. He knew that there was nothing they could do now, Renald was simply unfit to be a Giantslayer if he could not consume nectar.

“Marika...is coming as well to the expedition,” Alain said to change the topic slightly.

“You are?” Rostav turned to Marika who nodded as a response, “But you don’t have any documents, right?” He asked.

“No…”Marika replied, her face was tinged with sadness as well at Renald’s shattered aspiration.

“There’ll be hundreds of people in the expedition. I’m sure I can sneak her in somehow,” Alain said.

Rostav sighed. “That’s a dangerous game you’re playing, Alain. But I know I can’t stop you at this point.” He rummaged through his pouch and handed Alain a piece of paper, “Go to this address on the third floor. They're a friend of mine from the High Council and the one who helped Renald, maybe they could find a way to let Marika into the expedition. Tell them I sent you,” He said.

Alain took the paper but didn’t go anywhere, he looked at Renald’s squirming figure in pity.

“Go now, seeing this won’t do any good for your psyche. I’ll help Renald,” Rostav said and sighed, he then ignored Alain and focused his attention to the squirming boy.

Alain nodded and reluctantly exited the room with Marika as they headed to the third floor. They were completely silent on the way, perhaps each reflecting the event in their own heads. Marika’s thoughts were mostly pity for the boy who lost his dream in front of her, she remembered how passionate Renald was about Giantslayers when they were introducing each other outside of The Sanctuary.

Alain, however, felt anger. He was furious at how dirty the universe decided the boy’s fate, being powerless was not a death sentence anymore in this world, but it was certainly a sentence of becoming trapped in one place, unable to venture outside. Sure, the boy still had the giant Kashik at his command, but Alain was not sure if it would be safe for Renald to travel outside even with a giant’s protection.

The world is never fair, but this is too much. Alain was partly angry at himself for encouraging Renald that much, he felt as if he lied to Renald directly to his face. And now, the boy was going to live with those words of empty encouragement inside his head echoing endlessly.

They reached the third floor of The Sanctuary and for a moment, their grief was swept away, Alain had very rarely gone here as he had no business to and Marika’s eyes glimmered with curiosity at the sight.

The third floor was certainly very different from the first two floors below in this giant cabin that made up The Sanctuary. The first-floor was certainly impressive with magnificent wooden buildings that stretched into every corner of the room while the second floor was more modest as it had more residential buildings. But the design of this third-floor was way more intricate. Wood and stones were both used for the construction of these buildings and even some other materials were utilized such as leather and fur or even bones. And the buildings stretched high, some neared the ceiling above. The skyline was complex, some tall buildings were connected with one another using sky bridges and they created the illusion of arachnid webs if seen from afar.

It was supposed to be dark with no natural light source around, this floor seemed to be located at the attic of the cabin, but various lights powered by nectars were placed in every street to ensure illumination. It was rather wasteful with the current shortage, but the alternative would be complete darkness. The pedestrians were also more...serious to say the least. Various department higher-ups of different industries walked deliberately to their next destinations in a hurry without much of a thought about the surrounding environment. Their walking pace was noticeably faster than the people from lower floors.

And these department higher-ups wore more intricate clothing than normal people, some leathers were dyed and some even wore complex fabric. The P.O.B’s presence was also lesser than it was downstairs, Shield soldiers patrol the streets in an overwhelming number.

“This reminds me of some noble districts in The Domain,” Marika said with a wry smile.

“I can imagine. we don’t have a caste system, but the rich and powerful certainly choose their residence here rather than downstairs,” Alain replied.

"But still, those tall buildings are so unique. I've never seen those types of the design before. Our city layout was modeled after the ancient city before The Final Curse so they look more...classical to put it mildly, and they are usually constructed out of clay,"

Alain ignored her and started reading the piece of paper with the address.

“So where is the address?” Marika asked. She didn't mind him ignoring him as his mind was probably somewhere else. She felt bad that after seeing that tragedy with Renald, he was forced to be here to accommodate her selfish need to be in the expedition.

Alain shook his head and read the paper, “I’m not sure...I'll ask a Shield,” He walked to one of the Shield soldiers on guard with a white uniform and tapped her shoulder.

“How can I be of service, citizen?” The Shield soldier said.

“Are you able to give directions?” Alain asked.

“Certainly, citizen, “ She replied, “Where do you want to go?”

Alain gave the Shield soldier the paper and she started to scan the content. Suddenly, she motioned five other Shield soldiers to go near them and surround them.

“Please follow us, citizen,” The Shield soldier pocketed the paper instead of giving it back to Alain.

Alain and Marika looked around in caution as they quickly noticed that were surrounded. The two were completely confused by this treatment.

What is this? Alain exclaimed in his mind.

“Please follow us, citizen.”She repeated.

“I’m sure you can simply point us to the direction, is that right?” Alain bargained.

“We will not harm you, please follow us willingly.” The Shield soldiers then created a perimeter around them and pushed them to walk.

We have no escape route. And they're much stronger than us, Alain thought as he looked around him.

Alain and Marika shared eye contact, their first thought was that they had found out about Marika’s circumstances and wanted to arrest her. But the lowest-ranking members of the Shields were level two Giantslayers while the average was level three, they were elites that both of them could have no chance of taking on. And to add to that fact, they were specially trained in hand-to-hand combat as well. So the two of them were forced to follow their directions and walked in the middle of the circle.

They walked a few minutes until suddenly they turned into a dark alleyway. A lone door illuminated by a tiny nectar light could be seen, the sight of it contrasted with the hard-to-see environment. The rest of the Shield soldiers started to create a perimeter around the door and the alley entrance, while one of them opened the door and waited for Alain and Marika to enter.

“Are you not coming with us?” Alain asked the Shield soldier he gave the paper to.

“Please enter, citizen.” The soldier replied.

Is this a trap? But I also don't see a way out of this...Alain thought.

Alain sighed and looked at Marika, they both nodded and entered as they simply did not have a choice in the matter. The room was completely pitch black aside from three chairs, two next to each other while one was facing them. They were illuminated by some sort of spotlight from above. Marika was reminded of stage plays in theaters by how these chairs looked. Naturally, they decided to sit in the two chairs next to each other.

Suddenly, footsteps could be heard and from the shadows and on to the lone chair in front of them, a figure emerged. The figure was masculine and tall, they wore some sort of black robes but Alain knew this was not the same person he had met judging by the posture. The person wore a black mask and had long hair that went in front of their shoulder.

“I’m sorry to summon you here at a short notice, Alain, Marika,” A female voice could be heard from beneath the mask. It was certainly female, but it was not feminine but instead it was rather raspy and fierce. The voice commanded the entire atmosphere of the room and almost physically tugged Alain and Marika.

More like no notice at all. Alain interjected in his head. But why have Marika here as well? What do they want with her?

“Are you with the Swords?” Alain asked, he was feeling nervous as he was intimidated by her and the current circumstance of being trapped in a pitch-black room.

I'm sure there are more people watching us behind these shadows. He thought.

“Yes,” The person nodded. “My name is Malaina. And before we have our conversation, I must tell you a few things.” The mysterious person, Malaina, raised her right arm to prevent Alain and Marika from replying to her. Her voice and action were demanding, the two of them subconsciously complied and could not even utter any further words.

“First, I must apologize for the behavior of my colleague whom you encountered a few days ago, Alain. I had received reports that after saving you, which he was supposed to do, he attacked you unannounced under the guise of testing you. This was not our standard protocol and the aforementioned person had been reprimanded and punished for his actions,” Malaina explained.

That person was certainly not good at first impressions, Alain thought. He thought that if this was the first time he had met the Swords then perhaps he would not be as cautious as he was right now. But after their action in attacking him like that in their first meeting, he was highly suspicious of them.

“We will give you a formal apology and some compensation after this. But on to the second thing for now,“ Malaina put down her arm. “About Renald, the boy that just had his nectar initiation test, I will first say that he will be completely fine so you don’t have to worry about his well-being. And to why he failed, it’s related to his affinity with...the blue crystal as you say. You see, the boy is special, very special, “ Malaina said and crossed her legs.

Alain did not know why but he could sense that she was smiling underneath her mask.