Summit’s Blight was cruel. It was unforgiving. It was bitterly cold. Nomad wasn’t, even as the temperatures continued to plummet. The mountains showed mercy this day, sparing him a flood of rain. Of upmost concern was keeping the package dry, for in Nomad’s arms and under Idol’s Cloak was a folded container. Its contents were to be kept hidden.

A righteous Griffon silently swerved through the clouds above and dropped its rider. Nobody descended soft on his feet, enduring the fall with quiet, smooth precision. “Deer!”

Nomad turned, his eyes widening at the sight. Utterly shocked, he tumbled to the floor, his box being cushioned by the coat. Unfortunately, his landing wasn’t as charitable. “What!? Impossible! A-A Delphic lives?” His vision folded in on itself, and he began choking. This meltdown lasted only a moment before Nobody sauntered over and heaved him up, laughing at the display of weakness.

“Get on your feet, Deer. Enough of this. As much as I’m tempted to slay you here and now, I’ll keep those urges to myself.”

Nomad broke out of his grip, now refreshed, his bearings acquired anew. “Can it really be? A Delphic? I’d heard of a Grimm Tactician waging war with the red forest. I’m just shocked to learn it’s all true. Too often are tales of madmen and legends little more than fodder for the fireplace.”

“Indeed. A similar story came upon myself- word of a cloaked deer tearing down massive spider-grimm in the sorrowful Summit’s Blight. And now, I stand in the presence of that Cursed Faunus. Is that an issue?” He placed a hand on the handle of his blade and advanced.

“No.” Nomad wasn’t concerned with his own safety, that much could be deduced from the way he quickly shifted to protect the box, whatever may be inside. Nobody was tuned into this fact. “Not yet, anyway. And I was not alone when Galathyn perished. But enough talk about that terrible night. Tell me your name.”

“You first.”

“No.” Nomad stood slightly taller than the newcomer, and became pitiless in his wording.

“Then I am Nobody.”

“Well then, tell me this. What brings a Delphic, who had previously been attracting a fair bit of attention on the outskirts of Vale, to Summit’s Blight?” Nomad sought to steal whatever scraps of information he could from Nobody while their introductions were still fresh, their relationship in its infancy.

“That bane is not carried by you. Those are reasons kept only for me. You don’t own these mountains… But then, if that’s true, why are you here? What are you looking for?” Nobody asked.

“You’re watching me. You’re watching everyone. You have insatiable hunger for knowledge, and an unbearable love of secrecy. It seems not even this place is exempt from enemy ears. There are intruders everywhere. First the legends of Vale, then the forces of Caligula. After that, she sends in the Seer. And now, you.”

Nobody adjusted his hat and began preaching to the skies. “One of those is not like the others. I’ll keep you guessing which one. But I’m impressed. You’ve noticed the ‘Seer’ of the Moth. That’s the only noteworthy contender here besides you and the White Fang. And, it’s the reason I left Forever Fall- to keep under her radar.”

“The Moth. Is that what you call her?”

“With pleasure. And it beckons.” Nobody’s smile stretched further than usual.

“Who beckons?”

“The Moth beckons.” He sneered. “And if they get their way, Remnant will fall. Nothing will be left.”

Nomad looked back at the cardboard crate, sadness seeping past his usually suppressive visage. “All that matters… Is what I have lost.”

“…Hahaha! You and I are one and the same in that regard. I hope you have eyes in the back of your head, because danger is lurking. There is much to fear, including me. The next time we meet, I’d hate to find you dead.”

“Not like it would change anything.” Nomad grumbled, watching Nobody call his Griffon and casually dip off the edge of a notable cliff. The Delphic caught his monstrous flying counterpart, and returned to the clouds above. Picking up the box and reflecting on his situation, Nomad couldn’t help but appreciate his surroundings. Leaving Summit’s Blight was a task few could accomplish with such ease, and now the sun shone through whatever mist lingered, foliage eating up what was previously barren rock.

Upon the crag, alongside the ocean, the monument titled “Zenith” awaited. A mournful prayer came with Nomad’s return here, and past the bridge the house welcomed him back, offering a refuge that could never be found otherwise.

This time, not a soul waited inside. He ensured his privacy by locking the double doors, sealing him inside a foyer with assorted furniture. There was indeed a second floor, though it didn’t seem to captivate him quite like the table he set his parcel down on. Finally, a moment of respite. Nomad balanced Idol’s Cloak on the back of a dining chair and unfurled the ribbon around the package to reveal a cake.

“Happy birthday. I, aha, I got you a cake.” The lack of any real person alongside Nomad didn’t stop him from talking. “A good friend of mine made it. I made sure it was your favorite, see? Purple! Haha… It was nothing. Only the best for you. You deserve it.”

Crickets filled in the awkward periods of silence when no response was awarded.

“How’ve you been? I’ve been doing well, just really busy these days. How about I cut you a piece? I was never any good at cutting these, but maybe I could give it a try… Aha! There you go!” He took a seat, and placed a hefty serving on a nearby plate. “Can’t bake the cake, can’t serve the cake. I’m sure you remember, the only thing I ever could create was the Sweet Regale. It was always her favorite. She was the one who invented it. Next time, I’ll make some for you. But a cake is the best for birthdays, and I was scared of messing everything up.”

Waves lapped against the Zenith, the cliff that upheld this mansion that so clearly acted as a hideout and tactical retreat for the faunus within. More comforting was the echo of those waves. Magnificent.

“I know, me? Scared? It’s unusual. But you know, everyone gets scared sometimes. She had a fair few run-ins with fear herself. If only she were here, now…” Nomad sighed, cutting himself a slice of cake. Without much left to say, he waited, snacking on the treat.

“I miss you. I wish things could be different. Every day, I wish. I’m sorry, it’s just been difficult. But I’m going to make everything right, okay? I know I say that every time, but… I promise this time. We’re close to fixing this.”

This portrait, of a faunus speaking to himself in the presence of a delicious cake, continued for quite some time. It would not be until sunrise that he moved from that position, and barely had the sun just taken its slumber. When it came to wasting time, though, Nomad’s once-allies were a step up. They hadn’t the slightest clue how long they’d been trapped in Terra Insanire. Doubtless, they’d witnessed sundown at least twice.

“C’mon! You’ve gotta let me come with you! I won’t be in trouble as long as Royal and Merlin stay with me.” Selene begged.

“And what if they don’t?” He noticed Merlin’s disapproval, and clarified his implications. “Or can’t? We’ve been here too long. Whatever conflict Alecto started, it’s swung into full motion, and I can’t see it stopping anytime soon. There’s no telling what plots she or Beleth have constructed to eliminate each other. I get the unnerving feeling that even now, there is duplicity writhing about. Alecto’s barely said a word since the incident, and Nadia’s covered her tracks expertly again. You haven’t seen either, have you?”

“A-All I care about is making sure everyone makes it out in one piece.” Selene danced around the issue, Lucifer too occupied with the convoluted synopsis to detect the lie. “And I’m getting tired of sleeping inside your armor. It barely fits, and I know you want me to wear it to keep me warm, but what about you? It’s too cold. I can’t stop you from staying up all night, but I’d prefer it not happen in this weather! I can manage with just your cape. Please, let me help you fix this.”

“It can’t be done. Your safety is of upmost importance. Have you really forgotten our mission so soon?”

“N-No! Of course not. Enough. We need to stop this, or Grimm will find us. At least we’re not in Summit’s Blight. I can’t see any of us surviving overnight there.”

“On that, we can agree. Even if both are huge, the Blight is probably edging us out at this point, what with its manmade bridges, caves, and unending ravines. Forever Fall and the Emerald Forest cannot yet begin to compare to the peril offered there. And then, there’s the rain. Frankly, I’m surprised there isn’t another Kingdom settled there.” Lucifer paused, then began to see the situation from a militaristic perspective. Not surprising in the slightest. “Maybe that’s what that idiot, Caligula, is after. The mud, along with all the other obstacles, would provide plenty of natural defenses, and the perfect battlefield. Tactics would be a joy to see there, if I wasn’t always the one fighting.”

“Uh huh. Anything to keep from helping me, huh?” Alecto sighed, undetectable, watching in whatever darkness beat out the moonlight. “Very well. I’ll do what I must, with or without you.”

Without revealing her eavesdropping, and periodically looking over her shoulder to make sure it wasn’t being used against her by Nadia, Alecto resumed her search of Terra Insanire. Beleth wasn’t in the Meridian, or the surface. Nor was he at the exit. The most Alecto had seen of Team Blazer so far was Rade. Overtime, news of the lost Rhinestone spread, thanks to him. The sly fellow bound from traveler to traveler, updating everyone before returning to the watchful splinter group consisting of Selene, Nadia, Zara, and himself. But since then, he’d vanished.

“Ay! Ally!” Troy stopped her. Overtime, his habit of randomly appearing with his shop had grown bothersome, like an itch that never subsided. It only became worse with time.

“Ugh. Not this, again.”

“What are you doing at this late hour? Rarely do loyal customers need dust so direly that they’d come to me! Aren’t there bazaars back in wherever-it-is you’re from?”

“They don’t have bazaars. We have stores. This isn’t the Stone Age, and that’s coming from a historian. Lastly, you came to me.”

“Bad night, tonight?” Troy spun a bushel of juggling balls on one finger. “What happened?”

Alecto rested her hands in her face. “I already told you, six times. I figured out that Beleth was a Delphic. And so, he must be exiled from Remnant, one way or another. That was some couple moon-falls ago.”

“It was? How am I just now figuring out about this?”

“Look, I need to do this. Haven’t you taken the hint? How many times do I have to tell you? Leave. Me. Alone.”

Troy first appeared shocked, genuinely hurt. But that quickly devolved into a relentless smirk. “I see. Girl needs a bit of privacy, does she? I can do plenty to blow minds, but I can’t read ‘em.”

With his departure, silence was thrilling. But she couldn’t stop moving. Dedication was all that coerced through her now, the sentiment of taking bitterly unmerciful revenge a source of gentle comfort. There was, however, a strange peace that reeked with melancholy regret. Mostly this eerie feeling came upon Alecto when she crossed past a dormant lake, the shattered moon reflecting to eclipse her silhouette.

Beleth once again ruined everything for her. Through her paranoia, or rage, within the water-formed mirror each of her friends materialized before her, ending with the Delphic. Petrified, she stomped the pool, doing away with the spirits through calamitous ripples.

“For what you’ve done. For lying to me- I will exact Keraseer Justice upon thee.” She vowed, wiping her face down with the water that previously tormented her. “Gah! What the!?”

Frantic hands pulled her away, and forced her into a stupendous tree. Only under the branches could Alecto see her pursuer, the ambient glow of red emanating from her mask’s slits doing most of the work in that respect.

It was Lexy. “You’re responsible for all of this! If you hadn’t overreacted, we’d still have the Beryl Rhinestone! Why? Why did you attack Beleth?! Only I can do that!”

Alecto struggled not to roll her eyes, but she did break away. “He’s a Delphic. The most vile, villainous trash Remnant’s had to endure save for Grimm themselves.”

“You’re unbelievable. I’m stuck here, isolated, trying to talk sense into someone only concerned with killing their friends. The only way anyone’s been able to even eat is bartering with that travelling merchant, Troy. And yes, barter. Because nobody brought any lien. I’ve already lost half my rings! And I’m tired of sleeping on the freezing floor. This is all your fault, you know?”

“My fault? Beleth is to blame. Don’t lecture me. What I want to know is why you defended him.”

“He’s my teammate and best friend! How could I not? It’s true, I knew he was a Delphic. Everyone on Team Blazer did. But evidently we had every reason to hide it. Just look at you now. He trusted us. Believed in us. He desperately wished he could trust you too. Just give him a chance. Then, we can find the Rhinestone and get out of here together.”

“Nonsense. Where’s Beleth?” With all the talk of revenge and deception, it was only natural Grimm would arrive in person. Ursas were a rarity, especially here, but this must’ve been an unwelcome oddity. The creature was especially well equipped. Alecto estimated it to be exceptionally old in having garnered this much size and armor.

The two companions quickly aligned motives as soon as the Ursa charged, pointless as it was. For a third sword-toting bringer of order lurked out of sight. A golden sword, not unlike Alecto’s prized contingency, was thrust into the Grimm from behind. With one slick move, it was severed into several pieces. Lexy looked past the rapidly disintegrating remains. What sort of warrior could effortlessly cut down something that brutishly powerful?

Evaporation broke into a wall of black smoke, which certainly helped the theatrics, but it required this newcomer to step forward. Suddenly realizing that whoever this was had the strength to do what would’ve taken the two of them a great deal to achieve, curiosity melded into terror.

“Lower your weapons, Huntresses.” The voice was that of an angel, and its owner stepped forward to reveal herself as a gallant knight, cloaked from head to toe in vibrant armor. “My name is Eleanor. I am merely an ally.”

Lexy looked over, becoming even more confused when Alecto didn’t share her bewilderment.

“I-It cannot be! Do my eyes risk such cruel tricks on me? Lady Eleanor?” Alecto dropped her sword, and trudged forward.

“That armor? And your Aura?” Eleanor seemed equally shocked, accepting the oncoming hug. “A Keraseer? Lady Tisiphone?”

“N-No. This is Alecto.” She seemed to recognize that name, and tried her hardest to grant it little attention.

“Lady Alecto!? My goodness! May Lady Clotho forgive me, time holds little meaning with age. Last I saw you, you were but this tall.” She held her palm at about half her own height. “Has it really been that long? Ah, pardon me. I shouldn’t pester you with such questions- all that’s important is that you’re here.”

“I-It’s a pleasure, Lady Eleanor. Much longer, and I would’ve forgotten what you looked like. Much has changed since we last met.” They once again held each other close.

“I know.”

“This is lovely and all but would you mind, ‘Lady’ Alecto, explaining who this is? Guess you know each other?” Lexy deduced.

“Allow me.” Her new accomplice obliged to introduce herself in full. “I’m your sentinel. I am an overseer of our world. I live to keep you, as well as all mankind, safe from the creatures of Grimm. I have known Lady Alecto’s family bloodline since my birth, and have treasured every Keraseer for generations.”

“How? You can’t be that old.”

“Remnant is full of surprises.”

Lexy shrugged. “So your main thing is killing Grimm? Isn’t that every Huntress, or Huntsman?”

“…Perhaps. But it had not always been this way. I was once elected champion, of the horde that is humanity. They have a choice to make on their path, but I’m afraid that as a Silver-Eyed Warrior, it is both my privilege and duty to rid Remnant of Grimm till my last breath. Such was the will of Lady Clotho, and her coven.”

“Silver eyes? Silver eyes, yeah?” Lexy was beginning to think she was the victim of some sort of bad punchline. “…Who cares about silver eyes? I’ve got green eyes. Where’s my trophy?”

Eleanor understood this ignorance. It seemed as though this wasn’t the first time someone questioned what was considered a mundane attribute, and display of vanity. “I am shackled by an oath not to tell. But, as a friend of Lady Alecto, maybe she could impart the history of silver eyes. I hope she’s been brushing up on Kingdom Lore.”

“S-She’s not my friend anymore.” Lexy huffed, remembering her current circumstances.

“You’re kidding. Why is that?”

Alecto stepped in. “She’s just angry with me because I attacked a Delphic. Beleth, he calls himself. ”

“Hey!” Lexy stomped, her hair flickering with righteous flames. “It’s supposed to be a secret!”

“A Delphic!?” Eleanor’s voice flared, quivering not with fear or apprehension, but the apex of disdain. “You killed him right? Those aberrations deserve nothing less than painful extermination on sight. Not even torture is worth the risk of their survival.”

“Finally, someone who has their head screwed on correctly.” Alecto nodded.

Lexy’s composure faltered at being outnumbered. “Stop! There’s nothing wrong with him! You can’t turn on him because of something so trivial!”

“Except that you attacked Lucifer for no reason, and made him drop the Rhinestone. Congratulations, air-head.”

“I walked in and saw him fighting Beleth. I find it hard to believe that my Team Leader attacked first. Yours explodes at the smallest of inconveniences. He’s like a broken alarm clock that won’t stop beeping.”

Eleanor’s dissatisfaction with the situation, even as an outsider, couldn’t be hidden. “Such a shame to see sisters turn on each other. To watch two once dearly acquainted colleagues at one other’s necks is a sad affair. Humans shouldn’t kill themselves.”

“I don’t know much about you, but you’re clearly a capable fighter. No doubt, you’ve had your hands full with those pesky ‘humans.’ Admit it, you’ve fought someone before.”

“Never someone who wasn’t a sister of the Coven. I am not permitted to meddle in affairs nary concerning Grimm. I will never draw my blade on a human nor faunus. If anything, I was originally here for the preservation of Remnant. There is a faunus in red doing terrible things, and I must halt his plans, or something unspeakable will happen. Though, I thank Lady Alecto for her share of knowledge. I did not come here knowing of this Delphic, but now, I am only here to slay it.”

“You’ll never beat him!” Lexy said. “He has a pure heart, no matter what you two say! You won’t fight humans? Better walk away now, then, because I will perish before I let him die!”

“Not. Likely.” These words sent a wave a dread across the channel, partly due to the mystery of who said it. Eleanor, Alecto, and Lexy all looked over at the first sign of a sleuth. Heavy, rubbery footsteps signaled an approach.

Boreas? Impossible. Entry or exit was out of the question, so long as the Rhinestone was missing. Lexy rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing right, whilst Alecto spoke for her. “Boreas! Why are you here? How are you here? You don’t have the stone, do you?”

“So it was lost.” He sounded more quaint than distraught. “Sorry to disappoint, but it eludes even me. But not to worry, I am here to help.”

“But how did you-”

“I know, I know. How’d I get here? I figured there was something amiss when Team Lance and Blazer went missing on the same night, and obviously the Rhinestone had something to do with it. There was a small, but serviceable amount of energy from the Rhinestone lingering on my equipment. I had to use the last of it stored inside, and almost nothing came of it. Let me clarify. Within the confines of reality, there is now no method of leaving or entering Terra Insanire. That’s why I brought this!” He hauled a rocket-propelled locker off of his shoulder, embedding it into the ground.

“What’s the point?” Lexy berated him. “You could’ve come here with assistance! All we need is an army of extra eyes to help us look!”

“I am here to find the Rhinestone. Nobody knows it better than me, and there’s nearly a semester of research and notes to back that up. A band of ‘helpers’ would only slow me down. Besides, think. I had to move fast, and bringing more people into this labyrinth without any contingency in the event we truly cannot find the stone is be a great way to kill us. All of us.”

There were no faults in his plan that Alecto or Lexy could see yet. Patting his hand against the metal tube made for carrying weapons, he continued. “I’ve done all I can. With this, it’ll be easy for one of us to leave, just this once. Maybe they can think of something on the outside, but I’m the best choice for actually finding the instrument of our departure.”

“Lady Alecto? You’re stuck here?” Eleanor began to understand, although not quite fully.

“I-I’ll explain everything. Just follow me.” She sought to recite the events of the past few days without the interruptions of Lexy, and left both her and Boreas behind.

“If I may.” He stalled. “Who do I have the pleasure of meeting this afternoon? My name is Boreas. I am the leader of Team Burnt, and a good friend of Alecto.”

“Eleanor.” She was beyond shaking hands, and Boreas wasn’t legendary enough to solicit kneeling. Thus, she simply waved. “My purpose is to travel these lands, and rid them of Grimm. It fills me with unyielding happiness to find others pursuing the same path. Just seeing Lady Alecto has uplifted my spirits for the next hundred moons. Like you, I share a special bond with her.”

“Thank you, Lady Eleanor.” Alecto had a hint of rekindled joy somewhere in the recesses of that statement. Though, her quick departure with Eleanor diminished any hope of her giving up the battle against Beleth.

“’Lady’ Alecto? Just as I theorized.” Boreas turned to Lexy. “Without question, there is a fair bit about her past that’s been kept from us. That reeks of royalty, does it not? Though, there are few equipped with plating and weaponry that shines so bright, so that’s not really a surprise, is it?”

“Huh. I always just assumed she found that outfit, or maybe she made it at whatever Academy accepted her. Pretty arrogant if that’s the case, though. Eleanor’s a different story. There’s something… off about that duo.”

“I’m inclined to agree. Now, would you mind updating me on what’s going on?”

Lexy did as asked by Boreas, meanwhile a similar conversation took place between the new partnerships of knights. But that recap was far less forgiving of Beleth, with plenty of hyperbole and the perfect amount of teeth clenching. “…And now, we’re imprisoned here.”

“I see. So, you all know of the Beryl Rhinestone? Impressive. I should’ve expected nothing less from a Keraseer. It is crucial we get it back, not only for your wellbeing, but for everyone. That’s part of why I’m here, actually. Items of that sort are wicked.”

“Thank you. But I’m a bit confused about one thing. If I had the stone this entire time, how did you get in here? Maybe how you entered is how we exit! Do you have something that can open the door?”

“Nothing that simple, I’m afraid. I may have explained this to you once before, when you were but a child, but we both know those days are long past. My magic is potent, but limited. All members of Clotho’s Coven are allowed to rest one night of the month, when the moon finishes its cycle. Nothing more. That alone gives us the strength to fight until the next new moon. And when the moon- the mark of darkness, is born anew, no matter where I rest, I will wake up in my home- the Heart of the Coven.” Eleanor stood at a vantage point where the shattered orb was easily seen enveloping a large portion of the sky. “Now you understand, yes? I came here with hopes of finding the Rhinestone, but if I cannot, I will be taken to my bed in a month’s time. Less, even. If you’ll recall from Kingdom Lore, this privilege is complementary to all members of Clotho’s Coven. I have her Majesty to thank, and I often do.”

“Huh. Yeah, that must’ve slipped my mind at some point. There’s lots to keep track of, as you know. So let me get this straight. You, as well as any Coven devotee, have a way out of here. I bet Summit’s Blight isn’t any problem for you, either. But how did you make it here in the first place?”

“I climbed, believe it or not. There was an opening in a cove.”

“That must be the Meridian! Me and Team Lance have been there many times. Did it have a sweet view?” Eleanor nodded. “Alright! But how? Climbing up is impossible, we’ve tried. The walls are too slippery, and there’s no footholds.”

“I suppose I could reveal my tricks, to celebrate our coming together. The secret’s in my blade.” She held it out.

“Woah! I almost forgot! That’s the ancient sword Tormentyst!” Alecto went pale at witnessing the famed artifact in person, only fragmented memories of it previously lingering since their last reunion. “That’s so awesome! Selene would love this, even if she can’t use it.”

“Few can. Few are allowed. But you’re always welcome to try. See that big tree? Take a swing.”

“Yay!” Alecto jittered with excitement. Savoring the feel of the handle, appreciating its perfect artistry and metal work, she was given goosebumps. Her attack didn’t do much, but it still administered a deep slice that would’ve put any Grimm into critical condition.

“Perfect form! And a respectable cut, too. Most are not even fit to scratch it. Can’t say I’m surprised, but here’s where the twist comes.” Eleanor retrieved Tormentyst and gave a half-hearted swing that was more like a limp putt in comparison to what Alecto had wrought with every ounce of her courage and confidence on full display as this sword was something very few ever had a chance to even glimpse. The tree was halved. “Poor thing. It had so much life left to live.”

“Wow! How’d you do that?” Alecto clapped.

“I didn’t. Tormentyst did. Bestowed by Lady Clotho, it gauges how pure a soul its bearer holds, and will adjust accordingly. For most humans, it acts as little more than a club. For silver-eyed warriors, it’s even more effective. Then comes you, a Keraseer. And at the end, members of the Coven can use it to its full potential.”

“Oh, I get it! You climbed up by stabbing Tormentyst into the mountain, then using it as needed. If anyone else tried it, the metal would just bounce off… How about you climb down, then come back, and let us tag along one-by-one?”

Eleanor took a seat on the severed log, then used it as a makeshift bed. Ordinarily, such a display of vulnerability wouldn’t have even crossed her mind, but not with Alecto around. “It would require an inhuman amount of endurance. Which I have. But also, it’s significantly more taxing to climb down than it is up, and it would take too much time. Scaling into Terra Insanire alone just once took me but three nights and four days. I must find the Rhinestone before the new moon, or the faunus in red will prevail. Remnant depends on it.”

“I’m not sure I follow.” Alecto admitted. “There’s only one ‘faunus in red’ that I know of, and he’s from Kingdom Lore. But as far as I can tell, we’ve already encountered him.”

“You have!?”

“Well, yeah. He calls himself Nomad. He’s got Idol’s Cloak, and horns. Rather, antlers. And he wears bandages. That sounds a lot of like Kyradin Bael to me. Although, he did drop the crimson motif. But even if it’s not him, what could he be doing that’s so bad? He’s all over Kingdom Lore for a reason. A good reason.”

“I… I cannot say. I’m sorry, Lady Alecto. Not even a Keraseer is to know. If you were older, perhaps I’d consider it. But the state of affairs is about to plunge into chaos, and when the world comes crumbling in around me, I must be alone. Forget I said anything.”

Alecto joined her on the splintery substitute for a bench. “If you insist. I won’t pester you about it, and in return, I get to keep Tormentyst for a week.”

“How about we trade? I get the Keraseer Heirloom.” Eleanor laughed, hitting Alecto in the arm for show.

“No way! It’s an heirloom for a reason!” Giggles were shared for a few fleeting seconds. “Hey, Lady Eleanor?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for returning. I didn’t even know you were still alive. It’s been difficult ever since, you know…” She wrapped both her arms around Eleanor. “On top of that, I’ve had a really bad last couple days. I really needed a pick-me-up.”

“Oh. Don’t mention it. You have any idea how long it’s been since I had a chance to laugh alongside my sisters? This is a gift. It wouldn’t be possible without you.”

Together they waited, trying to spot the tiny vibrations of the moon, the twinkle of every star cluster catching their attention for but a moment.

“So, I guess we should get started on killing that Delphic, huh? Do you have any plan?” Eleanor said. When paired together, the two’s immense hatred of Grimm shot down any chance of ending the conflict between Beacon’s teams.

“No. But that reminds me of something. Besides Beleth, there was another Delphic in Forever Fall by the name of Nobody. I tried to kill him, my whole team did. He… He ran away! The wimp left before we could finish him off. But we’ll get him next time! He used a sword.”

“Don’t go near him.” Eleanor quickly interrupted.

“What? Why?”

“If he uses a sword, then he is a warrior from my past. Listen. Even as a Delphic, respect that he is more powerful than you, and he is. He won’t hesitate to slay a Keraseer. Leave him to me.”

“But he did hesitate. That’s what’s so infuriating-”

A grinning intruder with robes joined the conversation uninvited. “Can it truly be? Or have I finally gone wacky? Eleanor? You’re trapped here with me too, at long last?”

“You know her?”

“Troy!?” Eleanor backed away. “How? I thought you were dead!”

He stretched, snickering. “Well, truth be told, I thought so as well. Things had gotten a tad hectic with that Wraith, but we made it. That’s what counts. What about the rest of Clotho’s Coven. About time they sent in the cleanup crew. I know it’s only been a week or so, but I miss ‘em already.”

“A week? What are you talking about? I lost you a long time ago!” She ran up and clenched his shoulders.

“Don’t be ridiculous! I know it felt like awhile, but I was banished here some five days ago! Or six. Too long in my book. About time they sent in the cleanup crew. I know it’s only been a week or so.” He repeated himself again.

“He does that a lot.” Alecto eased Eleanor’s confusion.

“You’re wrong, Troy. It’s been eons since we lost to the Wraith. You’ve been stuck here for hundreds of years.”

Troy’s smile dropped. It seemed as though for once he was gearing up to see his situation for what it was. But nothing could break through. “Hahahaha! You always did know how to pull my leg! What a joker! You ought to teach Mania those tricks, get her to ease up a little bit. ‘Hundreds of years!’ Genius!” He galloped away, cheerily filling Terra Insanire with inane laughter.

Alecto crossed her arms. “You knew him hundreds of years ago? How? Guy’s nuts, not the sort I’d expect to extrapolate immortality. I never saw him in any lore books.”

“He isn’t immortal. He should be dead… How is it that he’s managed to stay so young? Something’s snapped inside him ever since our final battle together, that much I can be certain of. But nothing else changed. He looks the same.”

“I’d like some answers, too. Troy can teleport, along with his dumb little tent of goods. You would know more than me. What is the Wraith, and did it beat him? Does it have anything to do with you?”

Eleanor balanced her helm on one of her hands, then walked away. “I-I’d rather not talk about it. This much I promise, there’s basically nothing you know that I don’t concerning him. His survival must have something to do with this place” She regretfully said.

“Once we kill Beleth and make it out of here, we can study it! Boreas probably has a bookshelf full of information on Terra Insanire!” She cupped her hands to make sure her words were carried far. Then, awkwardly, she looked around and chased after Eleanor.

Now that they’d left the scene, things became quiet. Boreas and Lexy had retreated underground. Alecto and Eleanor had begun plotting the downfall of the recently discovered Delphic in their ranks. The last faction of pacifists trying their best to quell the conflict couldn’t make nearly as much ground, considering the startling trend of invading Purifiers.

“What is he doing here!?” Nadia hissed. She, Zara, and Rade were all hiding under a blanket of leaves crafted from the Meridian. Ahead, three Servants of Servus Portum stomped in sync, creating a cacophony of chrome clicks.

Rade squinted. “Looks like a trio of red-eyed peasants to me. Just look at those strides, they are proud of who they are!”

“Shh! Those are the clones of Aamon! They’re from Servus Portum!”

“Portum!” He slammed his fist down, almost giving away their position. He then ranted while transcribing the name of the mimics in the Fear Index. “That’s that horrible city threatening to engulf Mellow Crest, isn’t it? They’ve caused the Baroness enough trouble as is! Let me at him!”

Nadia stopped him from charging in. “Wait! How do you know about that? You’ve never been to Mellow Crest or Servus Portum.”

“I’ve had my fair share of trips there in the past. Crest, I mean. I like to keep track of their affairs. It’s sort of a personal matter, you see.”

“Rade, use unconventional attacks! You can destroy them really easily, but they learn from their encounters. Try to leave one of them alive! We can interrogate him!” Zara piped up.

Nadia seized up at the barbarity of Rade’s assassinations, somewhat impressed with his ability to sulk in the gloom unseen. “Why? What makes you think he’ll talk?”

“When I was in Servus Portum, one of those clones tried to negotiate with me. He claimed he was on our side.”

“And you believed him?”

“We’re about to find out if he was fibbing.” Zara was satisfied at seeing Rade deal with the Purifiers without the use of his trademark choreography or pitchfork. Two of them were disabled by smashing their heads together from behind. The last was spared as she requested, but Rade couldn’t help twisting both metal arms off like an action figure. A knee to the head made sure Aamon’s goon was alive, but unable to fight. “Good work!”

“Ah, many thanks! Would’ve loved to use my semblance. These dupes deserve it for giving Mellow Crest such grief. But alas, they haven’t pushed my buttons to that point.”

“Aren’t these cyborgs, though? And what even is your semblance?” Nadia didn’t switch off her own ability until she was done speaking.

“You don’t want to know.” Zara answered.

“How about we strike a deal? Tell me your fears, and I won’t use them against you! You can either take your enigma to the grave, or we can die in equilibrium! Which one scares you most?”

“Lucifer told me not to tell you. Bring it up with him.” She passed the blame.

He spat in disgust. “A shame! If he knew my semblance, he’d know how important it was to be prepared ahead of time! Then again, if I ever used it against him, I better be ready for war. Better not count my chickens before they hatch. And I have experience in that regard. You’ve heard of egging houses, I presume?”

“Does this story have a point?” Zara herded them towards the still conscious Aamon.

“Sure, you could learn something. I don’t think throwing eggs at homes is that funny, though. No, instead, you freeze the egg. Aim for the windows! Then, an hour later, once the egg thaws, the landowner will have a real tongue twister lickin’ their brain! Broken window, a dent in the wall, and an egg nearby! They’ll be so confused!”

“So you’re the one who broke our window!” Nadia gasped. “Lucifer’s gonna kill you when he finds out about this!”

“Put that on hold. We have work to do.” Zara pulled Aamon onto his knees. She was pleased to see, his eyes were still glowing. “What should we ask him?”

“What’s he doing in Terra Insanire?” Nadia suggested.

“What are you doing in Terra-”

“We are here to purify these lands, for the glory of Supreme Leader Caligula.”

“What is your plan?” Zara expected him to dodge the question. But he was able to regain a small amount of credibility in an honest answer.

“I was assigned with examining what had caused a recent spike of activity in this quadrant, but more specifically I was to gather intelligence on the following: Lucifer and Selene Virtus, Alecto Keraseer, Nadia Flora, and Zara Tir. Additionally, an agent of Caligula named Horace has been showing signs of artifice in these mountains.”

Nadia shook her head. “He can’t be trusted. Why would he release that information? Clearly, he intends to lead us astray. Isn’t that right?”

“Incorrect.”

“Then why? Why is it that, every time we corner one of you, you squeal so easily?” Zara said.

“When Aamom ‘AA0001’ was constructed by General Victor, under the supervision of Supreme Leader Caligula, he was denied the ability to lie. Aamon only speaks the truth, he knows no lies. And therefore, the same applies to us Purifiers.”

“So, none of you can lie? Why does Caligula hunt us?”

“I… cannot anticipate.” Over the course of the statement, Aamon’s voice drooped until his eyes were extinguished of their avid glow.

“Wait! How did you get here? How did you make it into Terra Insanire?” She shouted. He was already dead. “Damn! He could’ve known our way out of here. Stupid piece of junk!” She stomped its head repeatedly, tiring herself out.

“Ugh. This is getting old. I’m sick of all this yelling, and fighting.” Nadia wrapped her hood around her body, shivering. “We’re going to miss the dance at this rate. I wish it could just end. I want to go home. To Beacon. I miss our beds. I miss all the playing and joking with Team Lance. I miss Ella.”

“Don’t give up. I’ve never seen you cry, and I better not now. If you lose hope, Nadia, that’s immediate spell-defeat for everyone here. Even now, your smile is what motivates us.” Boreas made everyone but Rade jolt back with his surprise introduction. His large hand locked the recently questioned Aamon’s head into a vice grip. He dragged it up, and began preaching to it. “What do you think, machine? Nothing but an empty husk, now.” He chucked it facedown into a puddle.

“Boreas!” Zara blinked to make sure she was seeing right. “Y-You guys can see that, right? I’m not going crazy?”

“This real enough for you?” He had hauled the rocket-propelled locker all the way here, and caused tremors in the earth when he slammed it down. “Long story. I’m here to help. Where’s Selene? With this locker, one of us has a one way ticket out of here, and I’d say she’s the prime candidate.”

Nadia dismissed her own desires to escape this nightmare, looking out for the wellbeing of someone not only blessed to travel Terra Insanire, but blessed with the pursuit of a bloodthirsty knight. “No! We should send Beleth! If either he or Alecto leave, that’ll solve half our problems. Alecto will never go for it. If anything, she’d like to prolong our entrapment to stay in the ring with him.”

“I vote that Merlin leaves!” Rade somersaulted over. “Poor thing must be terrified! To first be cursed to live the life of an animal, then be enslaved by a princess! The humanity!”

“No! I’m leaving.” Zara shut down all dissent. “There is a task I must complete back in the kingdoms. This is my chance to set things right.” She focused on the three corpses of Aamon.

“You? What could you need to do that triumphs our safety?” Nadia whined.

“Don’t be mistaken. I will try my hardest to find answers. Boreas, you were smart to come in person and allow one of us to leave. Your efforts are best spent here, with the Rhinestone’s location. But trust me, Nadia. I need to do this.”

“O-Okay. I trust you.”

“Thank you. I have unfinished business in Remnant.”

“Remnant? So not just Vale?” Boreas noted when she traded stares with the metal bodies already being consumed by shrubbery. He did the same with her hooks. “What are you really after?”

“I promise, when it’s all said and done, I’ll make everything clear.” Zara shook his hand. “Now, will you help me with this locker, or not? Take me to Augustus Correctional Facility.”

“I’m afraid we’ll need to wait for the weather to recede before I can do that. If I had to guess without any instruments, which I will, I’d say we’ll be golden by morning.”

Entry No. 4 complete.

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