Chirp, Chirp…
The sound of birds chirping echoed across the horizon, blending with the vibrant, bright sky.
The lush greenery surrounding Victor painted a serene picture as he stood in the middle of a vast garden. His eyes wandered over the various types of flowers and fruits that flourished under the bright sky without a sun, each one more magnificent than the last.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Jack said with a sly smirk as he glanced at Victor, clearly amused by his reaction.
Victor nodded, his face reflecting his awe.
His mind, however, was racing, ‘That door… could it be some sort of “Anywhere Door” or something like that?’ he thought, a hint of amusement playing on his lips, ‘Looks like I still have a lot to learn. This world keeps getting stranger,’ he mused inwardly before turning back to Jack and nodding, “Yeah, I have to admit, this is impressive. Are we still in the academy?”
Jack simply smiled, his lips curling into a secretive grin. He didn’t answer directly but instead gestured for Victor to follow him further into the garden.
In the distance, a round table stood, arranged with six empty chairs around it, like something out of a council meeting.
Victor followed as Jack spoke again. “There are certain things you need to understand, Victor… Before I can explain everything, you need to grasp the reality of what’s going on here… You are a chosen one for this!!”
Victor just nodded, keeping his expression neutral.
Once they reached the table, Jack casually sat in one of the chairs, motioning for Victor to take a seat beside him. As Victor sat down, Jack’s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a strange intensity. Continue your adventure at empire
“First things first,” Jack began, “Let me tell you about this organization.”
“Our mission here,” Jack continued, leaning forward, “is to stop what we call ‘The Beginning.'”
“The Beginning?” Victor repeated, his brow furrowing, “What exactly does that mean?”
Jack’s smirk deepened, “Ah, I see the Principal hasn’t told you nearly enough to earn your trust. Typical.”
Victor shrugged, not really surprised. “Well, it’s not like you trust me either, right?” he shot back with a hint of sarcasm.
Jack chuckled, “Touché,” he said, nodding in approval, “But you’re not wrong. Trust is earned. However, what I’m about to tell you is crucial. Our organization’s sole purpose is to stop The Beginning—the complete destruction of everything.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed, “Destruction of everything? What do you mean by that?” he asked, his voice more serious now.
Jack’s playful demeanour shifted to something far graver. “Do you know that Mother and Arcane are not the same entity?”
Victor blinked, taken aback by the question. “No,” he admitted, shaking his head. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
Jack chuckled darkly. “I figured your master didn’t trust you with the full story. Well, let me enlighten you, Victor. Mother and Arcane are ancient entities, and they’ve been at war for longer than any of us can comprehend. No one knows the exact reason behind their conflict, but one thing is certain—we are all just pawns in their cosmic game.”
Victor’s mind reeled as he tried to process the revelation. “And what does that have to do with The Beginning?”
Jack’s smirk returned, but it was colder this time. “You see, The Beginning refers to a new era of existence. And you understand what that means, right? “
Victor’s frown deepened as realization dawned on him, “So, The Beginning… it’s the destruction of the past era, isn’t it?”
Jack nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving Victor’s. “Exactly. The only way to start something new is to first erase what came before….
When it starts, everyone in these worlds will fight for survival. Those who rise above the rest will be the ones to carry on into the next era, to usher in the New Beginning.”
“I… see…” Victor said quietly, “And killing the Chosen Ones… how does that fit into all of this?”
Jack leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. “It’s because they’re the ones destined to lead the destruction. They are the key to The Beginning. If they survive and clear all the trials, they will become the foundation of the new era.”
Victor’s eyes widened slightly, “So… the fight for the Sovereign is all about this?”
Jack chuckled softly, nodding. “Exactly. The Sovereign will be the one to reign over the new era. That’s why we need to eliminate them before any of them can complete the trials. If even one of them succeeds, it’s over. The new era will begin, and everything we know will be erased.”
Victor leaned back in his chair, ‘Is what he’s saying true, Log?’ he asked inwardly.
[Yes]
The confirmation made Victor’s heart skip a beat, ‘So that’s why Aqualina said a nightmare was coming…’ he thought to himself, the pieces of the puzzle finally clicking into place.
But a frown creased his forehead as another question nagged at him. “And what about the Principal? Was she involved in leading the destruction and starting the new beginning in her era?”
He had read countless ancient texts in the Elven library, and there had been no mention of any such catastrophic events tied to past Sovereigns.
As Jack was about to respond, when,
“For that answer, you must first sign the contract, child.”
A cold, mechanical voice suddenly silenced him.
Victor’s eyes snapped toward the empty chair at the head of the table, where a flickering hologram materialized.
Though the figure was indistinct, shrouded in static, it bore the unmistakable outline of a human. Its form shifted, like an old television caught between channels, yet its presence was palpable.
“Master!” Jack immediately stood, a hint of reverence colouring his usually confident demeanour. His face broke into a small smile, but there was tension beneath it.
This was clearly not someone he wanted to displease!
The hologram acknowledged Jack with a brief nod before its attention shifted to Victor. Jack leaned in closer to Victor, whispering urgently, “Stand up! It’s the Master of the Organization!”
Victor gave Jack a sidelong glance, noticing the anxiety in his expression, ‘He is scared of that guy… interesting’
Victor sitting casually faced the hologram directly, “A contract?” Victor asked.
“V-Victor!!” Jack hissed through clenched teeth, his face paling as sweat began to bead on his forehead. “I-I apologize, Master! He—”
“It’s fine, Jack,” the mechanical voice interrupted, eerily calm. The hologram turned back to Victor, its static form shifting slightly.
“I see why Isa took an interest in you. You’re an arrogant young man… but you know how to stand your ground. You don’t cower or grovel. Hmmm… intriguing.
A rare body type too, something we haven’t seen before” There was a pause before the figure added, “Very well… here is the contract.”
Before Victor, a glowing parchment materialized, hovering just inches from his hand.
Its text shimmered, detailing several clauses: absolute secrecy, no betrayal, and no revealing anything discussed within these walls. The terms weren’t overly complex, but they were binding in every sense of the word.
The hologram spoke again, its voice echoing with a subtle menace, “If you choose not to join, you are free to leave. But we will wipe your memories of everything that transpired here, and of anything related to us. No one is forced to join, but understand that this organization is shrouded in secrecy for a reason.”
Victor raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Wiping memories?” he murmured.
Jack smirked at Victor’s reaction, “Surprised, huh? Memory-wiping abilities are rare, even among bloodlines. But our Master? The one who found those wielders? Master the reason we can enforce it…. Isn’t Master great? Greater than an old hag who running an academy and crying over the death of a few students!!”
Victor wasn’t surprised for the reason Jack thought. Sure, the idea of wiping memories was unsettling, but that wasn’t what caused his shock.
No, this was the explanation for something far more personal—something that had been nagging at him for a long time.
Suddenly, the pieces fit together.
Kaelen! He had never remembered who had helped him during the contest. Aether had questioned him multiple times, even using Liora, but Kaelen always claimed he couldn’t remember anything.
Now Victor understood why.
He turned his attention back to the contract. After a brief moment of contemplation, he signed it without hesitation.
Ssssshhh…
The parchment glowed briefly before disintegrating into shimmering particles, which then seeped into Victor’s body. It felt as though they were merging with his very soul, binding him to the organization.
Yet,
!~Ding~!
[Contract Invalid!]
[Cannot be formed due to your contract with #######]
Victor’s lips curved into an inward grin. ‘Sweet,’ he thought.
“Now,” Victor said, his voice steady, “tell me. The Beginning—it happens every few thousand years, doesn’t it? Every time a new set of chosen ones appears. Or is this time… different?”
The Hologram instead answering it declared in a solemn tone, “Welcome to the Arcane Hunters, Victor.”
Suddenly, the remaining empty chairs around the table lit up, and one by one, more holograms appeared.
