Initially, Aether didn’t understand what was written on the Ebon stone, but he could more or less make out a few words that stood out amidst the chaos.
“Drench in…” Aether muttered under his breath, his brows furrowing as he tried to decipher the cryptic symbols. “What does that even mean?”
His frown deepened when he squinted at the next set of symbols, “H… Head of… what?” he said aloud, his voice tinged with frustration. He could vaguely interpret the meaning as ‘head,’ but the lingering question gnawed at him—whose head?
A chill crept down his spine as his eyes shifted toward the cube where Aqualina and Celestia remained trapped inside.
Aether’s expression turned grave… With a sense of urgency, he grabbed the stack of pages he had ‘retrieved’ from the mysterious old mansion, spreading them out in front of him. Every word he could make sense of might be a lifeline.
“Come on, come on…” he mumbled, his fingers trembling as he flipped through the fragile sheets, desperately trying to string together the missing and unknown words.
He was like searching puzzle letters to fix the meaning!
His focus intensified as he painstakingly pieced together the ancient symbols. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he wrestled with their hidden meanings.
“Drenched in Empty…?” he repeated, his voice low, as though testing the words’ weight. “Empty? Nothing? Hmm… nothingness. Okay! Wait!” His eyes darted back to the Ebon stone, its surface ominously encased in a thick, black, sticky liquid.
He narrowed his eyes, his lips barely moving as he murmured, “Void’s Cradle… that must mean… Drenched in Eternal Nothingness?”
!~Ding~!
[Forbidden Language: 45%↑]
“Alright… and then Head of… Head of…Hmm…” He paused, rubbing his temples as a sharp pain started to throb in his head, “Tough… no, wait… secure it? hmm.. No, that’s not quite right…” he groaned, frustration etched into his features. Yet he couldn’t stop; he needed to know what this meant.
Why was the Master dragging Aqualina into such a nightmare?
“Tough… Secure…” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, his eyes widened slightly. “Strongest?”
“Strongest’s Head?” he murmured, the phrase lingering in the air like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
!~Ding~!
[Forbidden Language: 50%↑]
Aether flinched, his heart racing, “What does it mean? Strongest’s Head? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Strongest? Who? What?” His voice cracked slightly as his words trailed off, but then a sudden clarity struck him… Something clicked in the depths of his mind.
“Sovereign’s Head?” he whispered, the words barely escaping his lips.
Chucckkkk!
The sound of flesh being pierced cut through the area, and Aether’s body froze. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the source of the sound, dread curling in his stomach like a viper.
His blood ran cold. A small knife protruded from Isadora’s neck, the blade gleaming wickedly in the dim light…. Behind her stood a figure clutching the weapon with a twisted grin plastered across their face.
“Alaric?” Aether’s voice broke, disbelief flooding his senses. For the first time, he felt as though his mind was betraying him.
He knew Alaric… The man was insufferable—a conceited pest who prided himself on his unyielding arrogance. But even in his wildest imagination, Aether had never envisioned Alaric plunging a knife into the back of someone he had served loyally for centuries.
“What the…” Jack’s voice rang out, equally filled with shock. He stared, wide-eyed, at the scene unfolding before him. Then, as though regaining composure, he sneered. “I always knew you’d side with us, but damn, man! Killing someone you’ve loved for centuries, even ignoring your own wife for the same woman… that takes guts!” Jack wiped his bloodied hand nonchalantly on his coat, his smile dripping with malice.
“PRINCIPAL!!!!!” Lia screamed, her voice trembling with raw rage. She lunged forward, but Morgana, her aunt, grabbed her tightly, pulling her back. Morgana’s eyes darted around the area as she took cautious steps away from the scene, her instincts warning her that the situation had spiralled beyond control…. She needed to leave now!
Drip…
Blood dripped from Isadora’s neck, pooling at her feet. Her eyes fluttered weakly as she turned her head, locking onto Alaric. A small, guilty smile played on his lips as he whispered, “I’m sorry… This was the only way I could save you,” before pulling the knife from her neck.
Puffff
A spray of blood erupted from the wound, painting the air crimson. Isadora clutched her neck, her trembling hands stained red as she coughed violently. “Y-you…” she choked, her voice gurgling as blood filled her mouth. “Why?”
Alaric’s smile faltered. His voice was barely audible. “This is the only way… to save you…”
“DORA!!!” Aether roared, taking a step forward, but Isadora raised a shaking hand, halting him in his tracks… Aether froze, ‘What is she doing!!’ he gritted his teeth.
Through bloodshot eyes, the Principal glared at Alaric, her voice hoarse but laced with venom. “I see… N-now everything… everything makes sense… Y-you… from the very beginning… You were the one who gave them access, weren’t you?”
Alaric, who had worn a mask of guilt, suddenly smirked. “Did you just figure that out?” he sneered. “Yes, from the start, I’ve been working with them—and only them.”
During the Capture the Flag event, there was no way anyone could have breached the academy’s defences, especially in the training area where something critical was happening. It should have been impossible. Even the tampered live video feed… Isadora had dismissed it at the time, chalking it up to students receiving their core professors’ help to cheat…. But now, the truth was blindingly clear.
Alaric was the one who had tricked Kaelen (That hoodie figure when Aether eavesdropped) using him as an unwitting pawn inside the game.
Alaric was the one who had covered up Kennedy’s disgusting behaviours, all to secure the artifact he sought.
Alaric was the one who meticulously destroyed any evidence connected to the Arcane Hunter Organization.
He had been the one who carefully manipulated the Principal, ensuring she avoided interactions with Jack and his associates…..
And worst of all, Alaric was the one who had orchestrated the plan to kidnap Aqualina!
The Principal’s eyes glistened with a mix of pain and disbelief. Her voice trembled as she managed to utter, “I… I really thought of you—”
“As your friend, right?” Alaric interrupted, his tone dripping with bitterness and disgust.
“Yes, we were friends, but I wanted more than just friendship… And yet, you never allowed me to get close enough.
You always kept your distance, using me like a puppet. Do you have any idea how it feels? Always wagging my tail for you like a pathetic dog, craving scraps of your attention?” His voice rose, laden with frustration and an anger that seemed to have festered for years.
“B-But I never asked yo—” she started weakly, but Alaric cut her off with a sharp laugh.
“Yes, you didn’t ask me to stay with you,” he spat, his gaze piercing into hers, “But that fucking feeling inside me? It never went away… It stuck as if you bewitched me…
The love, The Longing, The Pain….
I’ve always loved you, Isadora Pinkheart…. And I always will…. Eternally,” he finished, his voice softening, a tinge of pain and longing evident beneath the layers of his frustration.
Isadora stared blankly at him, blood trickling steadily from her neck. Her voice was faint, disbelieving, “Love? Y-you’re still saying that? Even after this?”
Alaric’s eyes darted away, unable to meet hers directly. His voice wavered as he muttered,
“Before love… duty comes first. You know how much I wanted to protect you. But when they said your death was the key to ending this insane game…” His lips trembled as he clenched them, his hands shaking. “I… I didn’t have any other choice. This… this was the only way. My hands are tied… this is the only way… The only way of Salvation” His tone was one of reluctant desperation, as though he were trying to convince himself as much as her.
Aether, who had been silently watching, “What the fuck is that motherfucker rambling about?” he gritted out through clenched teeth.
The Principal’s power still held him immobilized, and the tension in his body was palpable. He wanted nothing more than to rush forward, to stop this madness but if he moved now, the Principal was already on the brink of death and might push her further… Just as he was about to shout, his ears caught something…
“It’s finally happening… She is coming,” the Master said, his voice tinged with a strange, almost reverent excitement.
Aether frowned, his eyes narrowing as he turned to the Master. It was the first time he’d heard him speak with such a tone. “She’s coming? Who?” he wondered aloud. Then he noticed something strange.
The surroundings had fallen unnaturally silent…. Even the bubbling, sticky black liquid that had been oozing and pulsating moments ago was now deathly still.
Aether’s frown deepened. His unease grew, his instincts screaming that something was horribly wrong. His attention snapped back to the Principal just in time to see…
A thin vertical line appeared down the length of her body, as though an invisible blade had sliced her in two.
Chucckkcckkk!
And then, from her chest, a slender white finger pierced outward.
Sssshhhhhhhh!
The atmosphere shifted violently as the air seemed to be sucked inward. Slowly, agonizingly, the white finger pressed outward, pulling the torn flesh apart… as though unzipping her body!
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It was horrifying, and yet Aether couldn’t look away.
The tearing sound grew louder, more visceral.
TRRRRRRRR!!!
The Principal’s body split open completely, the sickening sound of flesh ripping filling the room.
Step… Step…
The sound of heels clicking against the ground echoed.
“Hmmm…” A sultry, melodic hum resonated through the air.
It was intoxicating… Aether felt himself being drawn in, his mind clouding with an inexplicable allure. Even Alaric and Jack seemed bewitched, their eyes wide and fixed on the source of the sound.
!~Ding~!
[Bewitchment Cleansed]
Aether shook his head violently, his vision clearing just in time to see…
A woman stood in the aftermath of the carnage, exuding an aura that was both celestial and perilous… Her long, pinkish-silver hair flowed like molten moonlight, framing a face that was otherworldly. Her glowing pink heart-shaped eyes burned with an intense, hypnotic light.
Fox-like ears twitched atop her head, their movements both elegant and unnervingly precise.
She wore a jet-black gown that clung to her flawless figure, its intricate lace and shimmering fabric striking a delicate balance between elegance and seduction…. Pink symbols pulsed faintly along her flowing cape, matching the vibrant pink streaks that glowed within her feathered tail.
Sleek gloves adorned her delicate hands, and thigh-high boots added to her commanding presence.
She was the epitome of beauty and danger—a being who radiated power and seduction in equal measure.
The Master’s voice broke the heavy silence, filled with amusement, “Isadora Pinkheart… Finally, you’ve revealed yourself.”