"Where's the food you promised me?" Elian asked with his mouth full of sourdough bread he'd devoured seconds ago, crumbs sticking to the corner of his lips.
Aven shot him a disgusting look like he'd just witnessed a bread being murdered in the most gruesome way.
"But… you're eating bread—"
"—That Crix gave me!" Elian mumbled around the crust and then downed the last gulp of water Crix had passed him out of pity.
They sat on the benches outside provided by the guild's knights whilst the Guild planned on how to take care of the black pieces that were saved.
Crix had claimed Elian lost a lot of weight for someone he'd last seen yesterday. Typical.
At least his walking gem was eating.
Crix elbowed him mid-laugh. "Oi, slow down. That bread's all good, not running away. By the way, I really am glad you're alive. After those damn twins broke your territory's dome and it got hijacked by some other pieces. If not for Charles, we wouldn't have been able to safely navigate our way till we found help without those flower blooms trying to chew us alive! I thought I'd never see your kawaii face again."
"Ugh. Stop talking like that."
Crix laughed, his arm hovering over Aven's shoulder before he pulled away. He cleared his throat, glancing back at Elian, "Oh, wait. Did you happen to find your sister?"
Elian's grin faltered as he swallowed hard.
"I believe she's here… maybe the Black Guild rescued her." He glanced at Aven. "You said you'd look for her here. Let's do that. I haven't caused you any trouble so far, have I?"
[Thank the stars for that.]
[Your Infamy stat has decreased!]
[The Constellation 'Timid Bride of the West' called you cute.]
Elian sighed. Is the drama still running on? Constellations and humans can affect his infamy stat. But now, compliments like that can reduce the stat? Or just another charade for the constellations.
However, Aven sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You and your faith in this place. The Black Guild barely lets me move around, and I'm a queen-class."
I wonder why. Elian tilted his head. "Then use your Queen privileges, Your Majesty. Pull a few strings. That's the least you can do for tying me to a fucking Leash! Better yet, I'd just scream her name or something."
Aven rolled his eyes. What a drama queen. "You think that's how it works? Everything has order here. You can't just scream like you do and expect results… I've already told the knights to search—"
[Says the person harboring a glitch away from his guild for his own self amusement.]
Elian swatted the system's message away.
But even as Aven said it, the noise outside was growing louder— boots shuffling, people calling out names only to be shushed by the Knights as the distinct hum of energy barriers were being tested.
Crix stood first, dusting off invisible dirt as his gaze lingered on the black dome. "They're letting in more survivors," his gaze darted to Tina who hadn't said a word ever since they were rescued. His eyes narrowed to the weird continuous rhythm of her shaking her left foot, before he averted his gaze away.
Elian's chest tightened. "Then she could also be with them."
The trio pushed their way back to the dome's entrance— the temporary sanctuary the Black Guild had set up after the last raid.
More feet shuffled in as raw desperate voices filled the air.
"Where's my brother?"
"Has anyone seen Mira?"
"Someone said the east sector was cleared! My mother is still there, please save her! Please, I beg you."
And above all that chaos of knights and rooks trying to calm the new crowds, Elian heard a faint hollow whisper of his name that sounded like—
"Elian!"
He turned sharply.
Hope surged through his throat, choking him a little. "Rin?"
But the voice got swallowed by the noise. "Rin!"
Elian's knee buckled, almost stumbling. But he quickly caught himself before he bolted towards the entrance as Aven shouted his name.
"Elian, wait—!"
Aven was already chasing after him, shoving through panicked survivors in an attempt to drag Elian by the collar, but Elian was faster. He searched the crowd again, whipping his head around to locate who called his name.
The voice sounded exactly like—
Suddenly, a deafening girl's scream pierced through the crowd.
More rumbling echoed under their feet. And in a minute…
The dome shuddered as a thin crack zigzagged from the top and slithered down. Elian froze, his eyes locked on the faint tremor that rippled across the black dome.
His system's floating screen blocked his vision.
[System Alert: Territory Infiltration Detected.]
[Enemy signatures verified: ?Not Registered¿]
[Warning — Dome breach will result in Class-wide death count.]
The sound was low at first. A hum. Then a dry creak, before it drifted down in lazy spirals that he could hear the vibration in his teeth until everything shattered… and the grid above them disabled.
[System Message!]
[Alert! Territory Breach! Keep Safe!]
A third floating screen appeared above Elian,
[Finally some action.]
[Hp: 260/260]
[Don't die here.]
As if I care! I heard Rin's voice! I know she's alive!
"Elian!" Aven caught up after him, grabbing his wrist. "What are you doing, are you insane?!"
The dome's broken. The dome's broken.
But people will die…
But Rin…
"Let. Go!" Elian's voice rasped. He jerked free, eyes locked on the black haze near the chaotic swarm of panicked black pieces, shouting Rin's name.
Aven stared at him in disbelief as he dragged his palm across his face and rubbed his temple. That fool! He never listens to what I have to say.
He sighed, now staring at a very sweaty and panicked Crix who had once clutched his pearls when the Black dome broke— which was now currently in repair.
Crix whined out loud, groaning as he clutched his head with both palms. The merchant just lost his walking diamond… again.
But what Aven refused to tell anyone was that… a few seconds before Elian suddenly scurried away, he had gotten a message that…
His voice was now barely a whisper, "your sister didn't make it," he sighed again, his eyes flickering to his System.
[Rin Talon died, caught in a fire outbreak in her apartment along with three other identified men.]
[Cause of fire: Unknown.]
Aven then signalled to Crix. "I don't know you well, but you are a quite knowledgeable Merchant. Please help with calming the lower classes. Everything will be alright.
Tina is panicking again," he tried to force a smile, "please do something to distract her before she comes running and calls me her hero. I'll get going."
Crix blinked twice, composing himself before he curtly nodded at Aven as he grabbed stunned Tina's wrist.
Tina winced, staring at him in disbelief. Her face etched in terror. "Unhand me. I'm n-not a damsel in distress! Aven will—"
"Well, Miss Tina, I got a system message directly from the Guild Master's assistant, Ian. The B-rank Tanks are currently taking care of the broken dome and the invaders. I also have to call out the training team, yada yada," Aven gritted his teeth in mild annoyance, "and look for that damn brat."
I've got a lot of questions for him. I tried peeking through his memories but it was all blank after he disappeared. I need to find why. A pawn like him triggering a game a King class could only access.
So Aven left, his dark coat disappearing into the smoky mist engulfed in terrifying screams.
However, Crix's grip on Tina tightened. She groaned, trying to tear herself away from him as she twisted her hand, but Crix yanked her back as she yelped, her eyes watery from the collision of dusts caused by massive, panicked stampedes.
"You," Crix stared at her coldly, his gaze burning. "You caused this, didn't you?"
Her breath hitched. "Let go of me, you bastard! What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Drop the act. Back when Elian's dome broke, it didn't shatter from the impact of the twins against Aven…"
He leaned in closer, his eyes flashing gold. [Using skill: Merchant Appraisal lvl5]
"What a strange divine variant you have there, Hanita. Whatever you think becomes reality, huh?" his voice went lower, ignoring the amount of people getting mauled by wolf-like monsters. "The crack patterns are the same when both domes broke. Who are you working for?"
Wait. Hanita?!
'Tina' shook her head, stepping back, his hand still clutching her wrist. "No, no— I didn't mean— I didn't!! I didn't kill them!" Her voice cracked, chest heaving. "I only wished they were dead! I swear! That brat— she was just— too happy— and I—"
The words clumped in her throat as her eyes widened in shock.
She froze, trembling. Her gaze darted past him, unfocused. "Why are my thoughts jumbled up? I didn't mean to say that. Aven, he—"
Crix's grip tightened. "You're suffering from Fits, aren't you? Ha. To think I've finally found one in all my merchant years. You are a White piece."
'Tina's' lips trembled. She tried to laugh, but it broke halfway, spilling into a sob. "No… no, I'm not—"
"Let go of me! I have no idea— Arghh!" her left hand flew to her head as she doubled over, tears staining her eyes.
Crix let go of her hand and she finally dropped to the ground. His eyes lingered on her tangled state. "Accidentally absorbing your doppelganger's memories. You're one of a kind."
Suddenly, his system panel popped up. Crix took a step back, examining how shocked others looked too.
It was evident this message was a general notification. However, murmurs filled the ground.
He too, took a look at the floating screen, his curiosity on Hanita vanished in an instant.
[The Game has reached Stage 2!]
[Immediate Effect Triggered.]
[New Mission: Kill The King.]
[Reward: World Promotion.]
[Punishment: Death.]