Chapter 8: The Philosophy of Lapsus

  Ronen paused. “Why become a mercenary?” He had never truly contemplated it. To him, the path had always seemed as natural as breathing—a fact of life that required no justification. Yet, in that fleeting heartbeat, an image from earlier that evening crashed into his mind: riding alongside Wolf, craning his neck to look up at the Cenotaph of the Fallen Legends, its obsidian surface bathed in the blood-red light of the dying sun. It stood as a silent testament to countless heroes swallowed by history. A strange, unnameable tremor stirred in the depths of his soul.

  Perhaps he wasn't without an answer; he simply hadn't looked it in the eye yet.

  Seeing Mary's expression—a fragile mix of nerves and anticipation, as if she feared her question had been an intrusion—the heavy phantom of the monument vanished like morning mist.

  Ronen deliberately straightened his back, pressing a hand to his chest in a mock-solemn gesture. He pitched his voice into the grand, boisterous tone of a traveling bard:

  "To become a hero whose name shakes the heavens, of course! And the mercenary life is the finest springboard to legend!"

  Mary blinked, her mind seemingly failing to process the surge of information. "A... hero?"

  "Pfft—" Ronen couldn't hold the pose. At the sight of her stunned face, his grand facade crumbled into a grin, and he waved a hand dismissively. "I'm joking. Don't take me seriously. And you don't need to keep calling me 'Sir.' We're the same age—just call me Ronen."

  He leaned back into the plush chair, his voice turning grounded and sincere. "Honestly, it's not that complicated. My parents were mercenaries; I was born and raised in the warband. For kids like us, picking up a blade and following the old man's trail is as natural as the turning of the seasons."

  He watched the distant, swaying silhouettes of the dancers, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "But I'm starting to realize I actually love this life. Seeing the world, meeting different clients, crossing paths with all sorts of folk... every mission tempers your steel and your will." He paused, his voice low but carrying a distinct weight of resolve. "Maybe... the part about being a hero wasn't entirely a joke. If I survive enough battles and build a name, maybe one day I'll actually touch the edge of 'heroism.' Maybe my name will become a thread in someone else's legend."

  "A hero's... story..." Mary whispered, a faint, hidden longing flickering in her eyes. She looked down, tracing the rim of her glass before recalling herself. She looked up, her tone brightening as she sought to keep the conversation alive. "Speaking of clients... this Lapsus Merchant Circle is a very interesting organization."

  "Oh?" Ronen arched an eyebrow. He was curious, but seasoned by Wolf's lessons: Rule One: Never pry into a client's secrets if you want to keep your head. Rule Two: Master every scrap of intel if you want to keep your life. Information available to an apprentice like Mary likely wasn't a state secret, so listening wouldn't hurt.

  "How so?" he asked, masking his caution with casual interest.

  "The Lapsus Circle is one of the most elite merchant guilds in the Empire," Mary said. As she spoke of things she knew, her timidness evaporated, her eyes clear and bright under the chandeliers. "Their reach extends into every industry. Countless cartels operate under their umbrella; even this hotel is but a tiny, insignificant speck of their holdings."

  "I gathered as much from Lady Alice," Ronen nodded with pragmatic mercenary wit. "You seem to know them well. But from where I stand, I care less about how big they are and more about whether they're just as 'big' when it comes to paying the bill."

  Mary muffled a giggle at his bluntness. "You can rest easy there. The Lapsus Circle's credit is legendary. I've never heard of them defaulting on a contract."

  "Good," Ronen shrugged, relaxing. "That's my bread and butter." He shifted back to the point. "But you said they were 'interesting.' Surely it's not just because of their vaults. What's the catch?"

  "That's the best part!"

  Perhaps the 'Starry Dream' was finally working its magic, for Mary's excitement was palpable. She leaned in toward Ronen, her voice hushed but intense. "The Lapsus Circle is unique because they hold a core philosophy that borders on a faith. A world-view entirely their own."

  "A faith? Like a cult?" Ronen's interest was fully piqued.

  "Close! You could see it that way," Mary nodded vigorously. "Before coming here, I did some reading. Lapsus members believe that everything in the universe operates on 'Causality.' They don't believe in accidents or coincidences. Every event we see is the inevitable result of countless prior causes."

  She paused, letting the weight of the concept sink in. "They believe in the existence of an all-knowing 'Wise One.' An entity capable of perceiving the essence and laws of all things. One who can see the slightest shift in the wind, hear the faintest cry from across the world... one who knows everything."

  Her voice rose with a trace of awe. "In other words, if such a Wise One exists, they could look at every 'Cause' in the present and calculate every inevitable 'Effect' of the future!"

  "That is how Lapsus sees the world. To them, the present is a precise tapestry woven from the past. Like... like constructing a complex spell. Every rune, every thread of mana, dictates the final form of the magic."

  "Their ultimate goal is to find this all-knowing Wise One, or... to draw closer to that state of omniscience through the pursuit of knowledge. That's why their members worship wisdom above all else. 'Omniscience' is the North Star of their entire organization."

  "Omniscience..." Ronen muttered the word, a heavy, abstract concept that made his brow furrow. He was about to ask a question when a voice cut through his thoughts.

  "Mary! I've been looking everywhere for you! Oh? And the mercenary boy is here too?"

  The voice was clear, melodic, and laced with playfulness. Ronen turned, and his gaze was instantly seized by the pink-haired girl walking toward them.

  It was no wonder he hadn't spotted her earlier. Zoe had shed her uniform robes for an ivory-white satin gown. The dress looked as though it were fashioned from moonlight, clinging to her developing silhouette. Enchanted threads woven into the fabric shimmered as she moved, shifting from the pale pink of a budding rose to the silver of a falling star. She looked as though she had draped the night sky over her shoulders.

  Beside her, Mary, still in her plain grey robes, looked like a faint shadow, further accentuating Zoe's radiant glow.

  Ronen stared, momentarily stunned, until Zoe stood before him with a smug, knowing smile. She waved a slender white finger in front of his eyes. "What's the matter? Away for an hour and you've forgotten me already?"

  "...No," Ronen recovered, averting his eyes in slight embarrassment. "I was just thinking... we're heading to the Northern wastes tomorrow. Isn't that dress a bit... cold?"

  Zoe rolled her eyes with a theatrical groan. "Oh, little brother, you are so boring! Where is your sense of romance?"

  She sat down naturally beside Mary, snatching the half-empty 'Starry Dream' from the startled girl's hand and draining the blue liquid with practiced grace. She wiped her lips and leaned closer to Ronen, her eyes gleaming with ambition.

  "I've been doing some scouting. This inn is the prime social hub for the nobles and moguls of Glory City. You think I'd miss a chance like this to build connections?"

  She leaned in further, a faint scent of blooming orchids enveloping him. "Anyway, what were you two gossiping about? You looked quite cozy."

  "We were talking about the Lapsus Merchant Circle," Mary said softly, shrinking back into her timid shell. "About their pursuit of 'Omniscience.'"

  Zoe pouted, her face a mask of disappointment. "Ugh, that cryptic nonsense? How dull." Her bright eyes locked back onto Ronen.

  "Little brother," she cooed, her voice dropping to an enticing whisper. "I've heard something actually interesting. Some young nobles told me that there's a whole other world beneath this glittering pub. A place called the 'Nightless City' right under our feet. That's where the real excitement—and the danger—is hidden."

  She suddenly adopted a look of mock-distress, hugging her arms as if shivering, though her eyes danced with excitement. "But I hear it's a den of vipers down there. Terrible, scary people. It sounds... so frightening..."

  The act lasted a second before she burst into a giggle, her thirst for adventure plain to see.

  "So, little brother?" she leaned in, her voice a siren's call. "How about it? Want to be a bodyguard for the night? Come explore the depths with us?"