Faustus traversed his streets in disguise. His mind pondered why he was there. The memory of Sid sat in front of his view. It was like he was intoxicated by the magical aura Sid left... 'No, that was not Sid'.

A kid bumped into him. His mind cleared for only a second. A glimpse of a girl in rags brought an image to mind. A smile struggled to form on his face. 'That can't be. She is dead.' His eyes furrowed, and a frowned appeared. The little girl exuded a faint aura of magic. He blinked. It was gone. Then, so was she.

He rubbed his head. He couldn't believe what he was seeing or remembering. So much had happened, and yet so little to remedy himself.

He returned to his home to rest.

That was also cut short when his guards came with a message: "He insists on news of dire importance."

Reluctant as he was, Faustus allowed the audience just to get it over with.

~~

After a year of waiting, Ethas finally decided to continue his pursuit of the girl. He entered Petos with Hope and Rekēr. Rekēr concealed herself with a hooded robe. They got onto a ship and headed to Tradewind. There, they inconspicuously looked around. Day in and day out, they got nothing.

Due to the forewarning the girl gave, the people of Tradewind began to become alerted with Rekēr's attire. Even if the people didn't mind her obsidian skin, she would have literally stood out from her height. As whispers spread, Ethas knew he stayed long enough. He fled to another city.

During his travel, he had to make camp midway for the night. Rekēr roamed around as the humans slept. Suddenly, a door appeared and out stepped Breloq.

"If it weren't for your golden hair, I wouldn't be able to distinguish you from the shadows," Breloq stated.

Rekēr did not answer. As Breloq was about to leave, Rekēr chained the door. Breloq mused with intrigue. He conjured more doors to escape. Rekēr locked all of them.

Rekēr then asked Pathalias if they could create a bond between a human and the deities. Pathalias stated they could and proceeded to ask why. Rekēr told them to 'bound' Breloq to a human. There was an odd silence from all of them. Pathalias gave a thought about it. Then, Hope walked in to check up on Rekēr, who pointed at her as the target of binding. To humor the others, Pathalias bound them together.

Just as Hope was about to speak, her body jerked towards Breloq, and his did the same.

"What did you do?" Breloq inquired Pathalias.

"For a little fun and control," a choir of female voices stated.

"Unbind me this instance!"

"Not just yet."

Rekēr intervened, asking Pathalias to break the bond. Instantaneously, Breloq summoned his doors to flee. When he entered, he popped out just beside Hope. She got startled.

Breloq fumed at Pathalias. Pathalias denied the accusations. Seconds later, Rekēr confessed it was her doing. Only she could unlock the hidden bond. Breloq retaliated. Rekēr restrained his every move. He broke free after a couple of seconds. The fight continued for a while before Hope left the scene, pulling Breloq after some distance.

The next day, Ethas was introduced to the grouchy new member. He couldn't control the wide smile that crept on his face. Everything seemed to be in his favor. The gods had chosen him on his quest for magic eradication. Or so, that was what he believed.

They took rest in the city that was run by Olsa. Lucky for Breloq and Rekēr, Falsolum took refuge here. It was able to alter the memories of the people so that in their minds, the two were normal humans. That was if anything went awry.

Everything seemed to go well for Ethas. Then, the talk of magic triggered him. At first, the talk was about their admiration for the deities, which he didn't mind. Afterward, it turned into the desire to wield them. Not wanting to create a commotion, Ethas decided to leave. He told the others to stay while he went to the capital city.

He went straight to Faustus. After some waiting, Ethas finally got permission to meet.

His plans had begun.

Faustus stared at the peculiar fellow. He saw the aura that hung around him. He kept silent. As Ethas talked, the mist seemed to float towards Faustus. Faustus eyed the tendrils that made their way near his head. Then,

"Stop!" Faustus commanded as he parrie the possible danger. His hands wafted through the unknown. "How dare you use magic on me!"

The guards in the room readied their weapons.

Ethas's eyes opened wide. It was not a response he was expecting. He tried to deny the accusation. Faustus revealed his ability. Ethas then revealed his. He compelled the guards to leave the room. Faustus was amused and nonetheless became more cautious.

Ethas suppressed his persuasive magic as he continued to explain his situation. Faustus saw the magical aura resisting to branch out at him.

Ethas suggested a ball. An event was to be held at the castle, and everyone was invited. All they needed was the proper attire.

He was sure an event at the capital would reach all the ears throughout the land. This would then lure in a full range of people, including magic users, and hopefully, the girl.

~~

Sebastian had to beg his father to return to Nia. The visit that day was magical. Love at first sight with the girl named Aurora. Urus allowed. And they visited the capital every now and then. And every time Sebastian met Aurora, they fell deeper in love.

Then, the news of the dance arrived. Posters were placed around the city. Aurora asked Sebastian to be her partner to the ball. He shyly accepted.

On the day of the event, Sebastian stopped by a ring shop. He stared at their mesmerizing glimmer. Aurora snapped him out of it. The shopkeeper teased about the couple in the hope that they would buy a ring.

Aurora dragged Sebastian away. She then ran ahead. Sebastian picked up his pace to keep close. As he ran, his eyes caught a glimpse of a girl in a red Victorian dress between the alleys. Aurora shouted at him to hurry since they were still quite far from the castle.

Once at the entrance, they were led to the ballroom. There, they ate and danced and met new people.

About an hour or two later, Aurora took Sebastian out to get fresh air. They snuck around the place and found themselves in the courtyard. It was filled with flowers. Aurora sat on the grass and took a deep breath. They took their rest.

~~

While the party was happening, some nobles and disguised royalties had entered the castle. They detested Olsa and Faustus. When they heard of the ball, they had to use that as a distraction and infiltrate. They planned to assassinate Faustus. Lucky for Faustus, he overheard the guards conspiring with plans. So, he used the crowded event to sneak away to his mother.

He arrived at midnight. He snuck into her room. She was not there. So, he tried the throne room. Her body lay still on the floor. He went to check. She was stone cold and tinted black and blue. Poison...

"Welcome!" A sinister voice came from behind Faustus. Faustus turned to see the intruder. A man with long blond hair and green eyes stood before him. "You are just in time!" With the motion of his fingers, guards rushed in and surrounded Faustus. The man stepped out of the room and closed the doors. That was the sign to execute Faustus.

The guards lunged at Faustus with their spears and swords. Faustus tried his best to dodge and parry. He requested them to stop. He ordered them to leave... He demanded theit deaths...

A few minutes later, Faustus was drained of energy. Cuts and blood decorated his skin. Sweat stung his wounds and eyes. With a final plunge of a blade through his heart, he cursed his very existence and his inability to stop his mother.

He died with a spear through his body. The polearm gave him support to stay kneeling upright. His eyes were wide open. Slowly, his vision was blinded by a thick magical aura... then black.

As the guards were about to dispose of his body, a deep authoritative voice came from him:

"I decree that your life shall be taken by your own hands!"

Compelled by an unknown force, the guards took their own lives with their own blades.

Blood soaked the floor and around the corpse of Faustus. The blood crawled up and wrapped his entire body. Parts of it condensed and formed a royal attire, including a golden crown. He stood. His feet stumbled, for he felt taller than usual. He had no idea how he was moving. He just knew he had to escape.

Just then, the mysterious, blond man reentered the room, thinking the act was done. Instantly, he saw the dead bodies and an unfamiliar royal figure in the middle of the room. He asked who that was.

Faustus laughed, believing that the man had gone crazy after seeing the failed result of their attempt. When Faustus was about to answer to tease the man, Faustus gave another name that was not his: "Lexakreign." He was taken aback at those words. His mind began to race. There were thoughts that were not his. His memories played. The intruding thoughts confirmed yet denied them. Faustus was not himself. He was Lexakreign... or rather Lexakreign was him...?

The converging and diverging thoughts gave him a headache. Without a second to think, he ordered the blond man to give Olsa a proper burial. Like the guards, the man had no control over his own body and did as he was told.

Noticing this power was similar to Ethas, Lexakreign went into despair as the memories tormented him. Not only that, he realized he became someone or something akin to Sid. Lexakreign rampaged around the room, turning it inside out.

Falsolum came in as a white veil, concealing his eyes. It tried its best to block the human memories so that the deity's will could enact.

~~

Meanwhile, Ethas, Hope, Rekēr and Breloq stood outside the ballroom, readying themselves. Ethas used his words to filter out the magic user from the non-users. And like he had anticipated, the girl he saw in Petos arrived. He hid himself until she entered. When she did, they began to close the doors.

From down the hall, Aurora told them to stop as she was not in yet. Hope wanted to ignore her, but Ethas convinced her otherwise. Aurora gave her thanks before entering.

The doors clicked shut. As Rekēr placed an unbreakable lock onto it, the door rattled from the attempt of the people inside, prying it open. Then, she and Breloq crafted a cylindrical container with Rune etchings on it while the guests inside were yelling to leave. Hope was beginning to doubt the plan.

Sebastian hollered from the hall, asking what they were doing. He ran to the screams inside the ballroom. He tried the doors. They were well shut. The screams continued.

Then, silence.

The doors gave way and flung open. Sebastian stumbled into an empty room. He grabbed Hope and shouted, asking where the people went. She shook at the sight. She had no idea. Ethas was smiling from ear to ear. His plan was a success, and it was greater than what he imagined. When Sebastian changed his target to Ethas, Ethas fell to the floor unconscious. When Sebastian checked him, he was dead. Confused and conflicted, Hope begged Breloq to take her away from the place.

Sebastian turned to the only being left, Rekēr. He inquired her. She kept silent. He physically let out his anger and raged onto her. She was indifferent to the impacts.

"This is the key to finding what you want," Rekēr finally answered. She handed him the cylindrical container. Before leaving, she warned him that opening it would also release danger.

Sebastian examined the item. The words and markings were all unknown to him.

Soon enough, the castle guards came and arrested him for the mass disappearance and death of Ethas. The item was confiscated.

°¡~\~¡°

As the days passed, Breloq happened to enter the city of Olsa. There, he planned to entertain the royal Olsa, unknowingly that she had died.

So, instead, he met Lexakreign with the white veil. Breloq mocked his appearance as he requested Falsolum to remove itself. Falsolum was hesitant but did so anyway.

Instantly, Lexakreign went hysterical at the sight of Breloq. Memories of Sid filled his mind. The mockery he made when his was jailed repeatedly. The odd friendship they had that was broken unilaterally.

In character, Breloq made a remark: "Free from the mundane body, yet all you've done is move from one cage to another."

Lexakreign stopped himself. The condescending joke calmed him with nostalgia. With a smile on his face, he dipped back into insanity as he roared continuously, "Shut up!"

Breloq felt his throat closed for a second. His lips were sealed closed with thread. There was no pain. He created a zipper over his mouth and unzipped it. He was able to breathe, but his voice was no longer there.

Falsolum returned and blocked off Lexakreign. Everything was silent once more.

Rekēr entered. She examined Breloq. With a swipe of her finger, she created an isolated box within his throat and mouth. Breloq now had an abysmal void beyond his lips. Rekēr told him to try speaking. He did, and his voice came back, though it sounded a little different.

Breloq returned to Hope. Rekēr followed. Hope was traumatized. The sight of Rekēr triggered her.

Rekēr talked to Breloq as they stood away from Hope. Rekēr asked if Breloq had tried to travel to another world. The notion intrigued him. He never did think outside the box, or rather the world. It was definitely a challenge.

He concentrated. He thought about how it would work. Using doors to traverse this world was by instinct. Never once did he have to think where to go.

Minutes later, there was a spark. He took it before it faded and erected a door. He held out his hand to Hope, offering a travel for from this place.

Hope accepted.