Shinso—momentarailly startled—collected himself and ran a hand through his hair. “I knew I agreed to protect him, and he ended up… almost dead, but I had to go on that expedition with Humphrey to retrieve those potion ingredients. If I could see the future for some reason, I would have rushed right to his side.”

  “Yes. Fate isn’t a flowing river, but a raging ocean. You couldn’t control what happened due to fate, but I offer you a proposition."

  “A proposition?” Shinso inquired.

  “Walk with me,” The Umbridge said as their cat-body leaped off of the bed, patting over to the door leading to the hallway.

  “Sorry, but I’m deathly tired. It’s too much to explain.” Shinso remained lying down in bed, burying his head into the soft pillows.

  The cat gazed at Shinso with its crimson eyes for a moment before speaking once more. “A proposition of knowledge, Hitoshi Shinso. Clifton is dangerous, and its ruler is even more dangerous.”

  “Dangerous? How?” Shinso felt his heart begin to race.

  “I take it you’re somewhat acquainted with Isaac’s pathway—the Apocalypse pathway?”

  Shinso nodded. “Somewhat, but from what I know, the Pollinators and the church aren’t familiar with it. I don’t believe anyone really knows it exists.”

  “That’s because it’s ancient and deadly. The leader of Clifton is a demi-god of the Apocalypse pathway. Meanwhile, Isaac’s only an Order 8 of the same pathway.”

  “A… demi-god?” Shinso’s brows furrowed in unfamiliarity.

  “A demi-god, anyone on Order 4 of their pathway. After Order 4, the order’s become irrelevant, as you’d either become an Angel or a Hand of God—or a Hand of Evil depending on who you worship.

  “Speaking of such, the leader, Kael, worships an evil existence, and seeks for His resurrection."

  When The Umbridge finished speaking, Shinso felt an intangible chill course through his mind. He looked at the black cat beside the door and nodded slowly.

  “Are you aware of Isaac’s whereabouts?” Shinso inquired.

  “He’s been… struggling,” The Umbridge continued, looking out the window, up at the crimson moon faintly obscured by clouds.

  “Every attempt at defiance of the leaders' will, an attempt to go back home, led to punishment. Now, Isaac’s steeped too low, and he’s locked underneath the village.”

  “Is he being hurt or tortured?” Shinso’s fists clenched. In the corner of the room, the Sword of Justice seemed to twitch, orange and azure flames sparking along the shiny blade.

  “Kael seems like the type to torture; he’d want to break his will and have him fully turned to his side.”

  Shinso abruptly stood up from the bed, eyeing the sword in the corner. “Is Kael really that powerful?”

  “He’s hundreds—if not thousands of years old. What are you, fifteen or sixteen at most? You’re also too inexperienced to compete in any form of combat; I saw your performance against Losalzo.”

  “You weren’t even there, what makes you think I did that bad?”

  The cat’s eyes flickered faintly with crimson as it continued to look at Shinso. Being a Spiritual Creature, someone like The Umbridge wouldn't have much trouble extracting the corresponding knowledge surrounding the situation.

  “That’s not important. I know with absolute certainty you’d never be able to defeat Kael. Even if all of the Pollinators, your friends, and yourself were to attempt an attack, your company wouldn't last a minute.

  “It’s best if you trust matters in the hands of the vulpurs you’re seeking assistance from. They harbor connections to Kael and his allies, so they wouldn’t have much trouble seeking him out.”

  “You made it sound like Kael really wants to keep Isaac by his side. I’m not entirely sure those vulpurs would be able to convince Kael no matter how close they are.” Shinso folded his arms across his chest.

  “If they don’t bring him to you, then you will have to go to Clifton; that’s what Kael’s been thinking."

  “That’s luring me into a trap, damnit. Tell this Kael I don’t want to go to Clifton if it means falling under his ritual or something."

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The black cat sauntered back over to the bed, leaping onto the sheets and curling up. “It will be among my deeds.”

  The crimson in the cat's eyes gradually dissipated, glazing over with the usual yellow. The cat—now in regular form—looked at Shinso and let out a low meow.

  …

  Everyone else in the safehouse had fallen asleep, save for Crylla, Ice Eyes, and Kael. They all sat at a rounded wooden table, playing a game of Hadesdeck. Everyone had their powdered drinks. Ice Eyes’s gaze swept across the cards that had been laid out, noticing how the intricacies of the game had finally reared their ugly head.

  Before he could make a rational play, Kael’s voice cut through the quiet, buzzing air. “I heard Seraphis is finally electing their new archbishop."

  Everyone at the table looked up from their decks.

  “It only took a few weeks, heh. They’ve already been thrown into chaos,” Crylla replied.

  Kael’s voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned in close. His eyes dropped to the table below as he smirked.

  “I know that boy is listening beneath us, so I’ll say it now.

  “The recent murder of the archbishop of the Mother Nature Church was quite a success. He was framed in rightful order, brought under my tutelage, and now… contemplating his choices as we speak.”

  Crylla, with her crimson hair tied above her head, frowned. “You’re giving him such information?”

  Kael’s boots stomped in intervals of three. They were tapping on a rusty filtration system—a hole that twisted and turned under the safehouse, allowing any and all sound to enter the underground holding chambers.

  “The citizens of Clifton already treat him as an enemy; I believe Emperor Katsuki wouldn’t hold it any differently.”

  …

  Tap, tap, tap.

  The noise echoed through the small and dark chamber, reverberating off the stone falls. The floors seemed to vibrate under my bare, exposed soles in a staccato rhythm. It was painful against my skin—everything was painful except drawing short bursts of air.

  I took in and drew out air only when I knew it wouldn’t make my chest ache. It felt like I had run a mile in the cold weather, as the chamber was also bitterly cold. At this rate, I’d risk hypothermia or a deadly cold-related injury.

  My eyes were half-opened, a feeble exemplification of the strength I had left at the moment. My arms—held in place by heavy locks and restraints—burned and ached as if someone had pressed scolding metal to my shoulders and joints, branding them with a crude taunt. I had been listening to everything Kael had been saying about his current plans, but I found myself too tired to be angry. I felt too tired to do anything—I had failed everybody.

  “It’s a burden, isn’t it? This helplessness you feel within yourself.”

  My head snapped up the moment I heard that voice. I saw a figure, a painfully familiar face. But instead of the usual reactions of fear and pain I’d have when seeing anybody, I felt like breaking down. I saw him—Shinso; he was standing in the center of the room.

  “You consumed that potion for power, swore to have that power and use it for good and protect your loved ones, but it only ended up in chaos and conflict.”

  I watched, my heart racing as Shinso clenched his right fist. Orange and blue flames collided and clashed together, forming a sword with intricate patterns. He held the blade up to show me, rotating the blade at an angle so the flat end faced my direction. I saw my reflection—I looked horrifying. My skin had turned pitch-black, and a pair of crimson eyes blazed where my regular ones once were.

  I looked like a demon, the same demon my father took the form of to torment me.

  Shinso’s gaze suddenly furrowed, his bushy purple brows arching inwards. He frowned, sighing softly as he raised the blade up, the entire surface of the metallic weapon igniting with blue and orange flames.

  “Nothing but a monster is shown before me.”

  The moment Shinso slashed down, my body jerked so hard I swore I tore a muscle. I was still in the dark underground chamber, but my form yielded no abnormal traits; I was still alone. Above me, the tap, tap, tap of Kael’s boot against the tunnel continued. When I leaned forward to stretch, I was caught off-guard the moment I collapsed to the dirt floor, landing face-first in a plate of food.

  Someone had undid my restraints.

  I looked down at my hands, which were welted and scarred.

  Click.

  The door clicked and opened in front of me. I watched a man, his blonde hair and blue eyes flashing faintly as he entered the room.

  It was Cosette!

  The man kneeled in front of me, sighing under his breath as he assessed my condition. “What on earth did Kael do to you?”

  “Are you… Are you here to help me?” I asked, palpably confused and disoriented at the moment.

  Earlier today, Kael had sought his attention in torturing and castrating Paxton for his assault of a young girl, so I had little to no clue on why he’d be here in such a generous position.

  “I was the one who undid your restraints, am I not?”

  “I was knocked out… I didn’t know you did that,” I replied.

  “Well…” Cosette reached down, picking up my mangled body and heaving it over his shoulder. “I don’t like Kael, at all.”

  “You don’t? You just worked with him in torturing Paxton…” I said in a hoarse voice.

  Cosette fell silent as he shed his jacket and shirt, handing it to me. "He’s only occupied Clifton for a month, and it’s already been flipped onto its head. When they first showed up, I already began to notice abnormalities.”

  I took the clothing he offered me, putting it on. After I was fully clothed now, I felt an instant relief course over me—much-needed relief.

  “I-I was told… nobody knew this place existed except for Kael and his close allies.”

  Cosette chuckled to himself. “Perhaps I wouldn’t have had a harder time finding you if I didn’t use snowballs as a weapon.”

  I recalled our quick snowball fight in the woods a few days ago, smiling faintly.

  “It was painful…” Cosette continued.

  “Huh?”

  He looked at me, his azure eyes softening with emotion. “I never wanted to tell you those things in the woods. Violence, even if it’s small, is still so terrible. I only obey Kael because I know death is the other option. He has everyone in a chokehold; he knows who you are before you even glance his way.

  “I put on a serious performance as Paxton had his jewels removed, pretending like I wasn’t completely revolted. I’m surprised Kael didn’t notice anything about me… He seems powerful.”

  “Trust me, I knew your true intentions from the moment I first spoke with you.” Kael’s voice sounded down the hallway.

  He stood in the darkness, crimson eyes flashing as he smiled.