That same night in Dormou, near the western end of the barrier.

A mix of snarls, gritting teeth and unfettered salivation consumed the area as the man walked in between the feral lot without the slightest concern. His eyes gleamed as they studied the very vague outline of the barrier that prevented them from continuing forward. Yet, not a single wrinkle in his brow nor even a twitch from his continuous smile came forth. He didn’t see any issue at all as he pulled out a small, pearl white and oddly-shaped orb from thin air.

“[Grave’s Faceless Die], roll.”

The small orb lifted slightly from his right hand, spinning for three seconds and then landed at the center of his palm. As it did, a two-digit number was outline and bloomed in black. His smile grew to his ears as he then lifted his left hand, slightly away from the barrier. It responded within a fraction of a second later, as a small series of cracks took shape over it. A hole gaped open.

“Aha! How quaint. To think she wouldn’t even attempt to change its formula. You’re making this a bit too easy for me! Now, you lot may do as you please. Go out and have a bit of fun, will ya~”

A scattered array of exuberant growls chimed in response to the man’s words. Simple-minded and feral beasts seemingly understood his suggestion as they then began to flood through the hole in the barrier. The man watched on in eager anticipation for his turn. And less than a minute later, two bells rang in the distance. He then walked through the hole with a skip in his steps. An amused tone greeted an empty audience as he then spoke.

“Now, I guess it’s just about time for my meet and greet? I wonder if you’re already waiting for me too, huh, Princess? I’d certainly hope so! Anything less than a red carpet and open doors wouldn’t be worth the visit at all! So, are you willing to show it to me firsthand? Hm? The ol’ unrestrained cruelty and all-seeing eyes of the Elven?”

❖

Shortly earlier, in Marna’s room.

I sat in silence at the edge of my bed, as I could feel a disruption in my barrier from afar. The sound of my clattering armor seemed to be the only noise in the room as my body trembled slightly. My eyes remained fixated on Cruubi’s frame as it hopped around on my lap, yet my mind and focus were held hostage elsewhere. On that imminent event soon to pass.

It’s finally time, isn’t it? Go figure, I’m already shaking. I really am all talk during times like these, aren’t I?

“I just...this won’t be a mistake, right? It’s something I have to do, but... No, it’s not something I have to do, but I’d be a fool not to attempt it. Especially after finding out about that. There’s no telling what change she may bring about in the future...”

I lifted Cruubi into the air with both hands as its small eyes seemed to connect with my own. I immediately felt sick. I would be putting Albel’s named familiar into harm’s way for the sake of my own understanding. An unforeseen entity pitted against a divine vision. A rather unfortunate, but required risk.

“Don’t worry. I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens to you, little one. I promise you that.”

“Chirp!!”

“Mm. Let’s just...hope that it doesn’t reach such a point to begin with, right? I wonder if Sir Albel will be disappointed—!!”

A sudden set of bells, with differing tones, rang in the distance to signify their arrival. That immediately told me that we were still within the predestined route. It implied that a hoard of charmed Grey Grimms, away from their natural territories, and their magical beasts were currently invading. The time had finally arrived in full. I pulled my hands close to my face, gently kissing the top of Cruubi’s head.

“[Planar Veil], my blessing to you. It should disallow any chances of being noticed and targeted. With that being said, be sure to still keep some distance away when the time arrives in order to remain safe, okay?”

“Chirp! Chirp!”

I smiled at Cruubi’s enthusiastic singing as a knock then came at my door. Without even a second toward waiting for my reply, the door opened. Vaalyun stood with a solemn expression and eyes on me, greeting me with a stern and simple nod. There were no words needed from this point on between us. I placed Cruubi on my left shoulder and headed for the doorway.

❖

A disruptive ambience now strangled the entirety of Dormou as small skirmishes were taking place all over the city. The faint echoes from the battles made their way into the empty halls of the Elven Castle. And with it, a set of footsteps nonchalantly pranced throughout the halls in a seemingly jubilant stroll. Along his path; not a single soul in his sights. Just a poorly lit walkway, one guided by the faint light of the magic lanterns that adorned the walls.

“Hm~ An empty manor, is it? That’s quite the bold move to choose, Princess.”

He didn’t actually believe those words in the slightest as he spoke them aloud. There was a faint interference in the air, one that rattled his senses and attempted to mislead him into believing everyone had retreated already. It was subtle, but not so much that he couldn’t recognize that something was afoot. His train of thought? He would play the fool if it meant a more thrilling experience ahead of him. And with a few aimless turns, his first visitor arrived.

“A hooded maid. Now, now. You can’t go and tempt me with something of this level, thinking I’d actually bite under normal circumstances. You’re selling me short! But you know what? I am quite the team player, so just this once. I’ll give you a freebie~”

With his eyes on the hooded maid in the enshrouded distance, it happened within a split second. Seemingly, without even a weapon in hand, he closed the distance and began to strike at the maid.

“Hm~”

It was immediately deflected as he was shoved back and a newly formed gap came between the two of them. The maid was now holding a sharply curved and silver knife in her right hand, at a downward angle as it protected her chest.

“You’ve got quite the strength to block that attack with something as lowly as a kukri. But I wonder if that’s what this is, hm? Testing the waters, I presume? Don’t go making your Sword do all the work for ya, Princess! I know you’re here too!”

His voice echoed throughout the thin hallway, and with it, his indirect request was accepted as two sets of footsteps turned the corner and joined the hooded maid. An Elven guard, holding a shield with a sword attached to his back, and a pink-haired woman—donned in blue-steel armor whilst wearing a wreath crown.

“There’s no need for you to shout, human—no, one of the current Effigies of Isluna. State your business. Certainly, you didn’t come all this way to just stage a monster invasion, did you? You have nothing to gain from simply antagonizing the Elven either.”

“Now, don’t go being like that, Princess. Let’s take our time and talk things out a bit. I personally love to beat around the bush, y’know? And don’t you go and forget; the trip here was quite long too.”

With his hands raised to the back of his head, his posture was relaxed—friendly even. A mix of a gleeful and laid-back tone.

“And those few pests through your barrier is nothing more than just a gift of greetings! One that both sides can receive a bit of enjoyment from.”

“Attacking my people for the sake of your amusement? Humans truly do have a peculiar and malignant taste in their choice of entertainment."

“Declared by the people of schemes! Don’t feign innocence when it was your own that allowed for this to happen in the first place. Greed is universal and unbiased! It can even take form in one whom seeks knowledge with disregard to the consequences! This is just karma toward that sinful act, is it not?”

A squint in her golden glare, as she seemed to latch onto the man’s implication.

“My own? I see, so the deaths of those two lies with you, is that it? And this is a form of retaliation to that surveillance? You seem to have a rather extreme definition of karma, Effigy of Isluna.”

“Ahaha! Extremes, extremes. For the current ruler of Dormou to speak those words so carelessly—you're brimming brilliantly in a callous aura yourself, Princess. You’re speaking in a way that undermines your position, clearly projecting your ignorance. Or is that all just intentional, hm?”

“...”

“Biting one’s tongue is an answer, in and of itself! That desire to contribute to the Princess’ knowledge led them to their swift and pointless deaths. Yet, here their ruler is, simply belittling their status with a more playful tongue instead. You’re no different than I am, Princess. You just attempt to try and remain on that righteous end, you hypocrite.”

“Silence.”

The air itself trembled in reaction to her voice as an intangible vibration rippled across each end of the hallway. And for the first time in a long while, even the man far across from her flinched slightly. Amid the poorly lit hallway, her eyes gleamed a beautiful golden hue as she peered in his direction with unfiltered enmity.

“Effigy of Isluna, Kamui. You have quite the talkative tongue for an intruder, don’t you? Yet, all I took from that was your admission to killing two of my own without hesitation. If that’s the case, then we too shall show you no mercy. Vaalyun. Amara.”

“Understood!”

“As you command, Lady Marna.”

Both Vaalyun and Amara now situated themselves directly in front of Marna, readying their entirety for the incoming confrontation. Yet, before they could move any further, a laugh erupted across from them.

“Ahahahahahahaha!!”

The light-brown haired man, Kamui, was now holding his sides, tears forming in his eyes as his laughter caused the two others to remain where they stood in questioning caution. The whiteness in his teeth eerily contrasted with the darkened backdrop as he directed his now smiling face toward the three before him. His eyes too gleamed, in a bluish-white.

“Aha! I see, I see. So, these two really are the Sword and Shield of the First Princess, huh? Or wait, would you rather I called you the ‘Oracle of the Aevum’ instead, hm?”

“...”

“Ahaha! Not a peep! Did you seriously think that a bit of covering would truly deceive any higher forms, especially my eyes? Only a blithering fool would rely on just [Investigate]. You see, manipulation and deception are my specialty, Princess~ Yes, yes. I’m sure plenty of lessers have been fooled with that talent too, but sorry, lass—you can’t fool the 20th's [True Discernment]!”

“Vaalyun!! Amara!!”

As Marna shouted their names in a fit of fury and transient fluster to Kamui’s words, the destined clash between the two sides finally commenced.