In a secluded grove of trees, Delilah’s small limbs moved in sharp cuts as she practiced her newly developed Skills in secret. Despite her young age, Delilah continued to go through the motions of activating the Skill, experiencing the physical movement of her Ashen Chop with her body. Her determination was made evident by her perseverance, alone with the trees and the shadows.

Minutes turned to hours, but she continued to practice, as she had done every day for almost four weeks. Truly, she was the child of Donnyton’s best and brightest. From a young age, both Dozer and Annie had instilled in their daughter the need to accumulate practice. They allowed her to have some personal time because they understood that variety and exposure were also important for children, but to those two people who had grown strong under the System, they would never let their daughter miss the importance of practice.

It all began with repetition

Delilah’s eyes were serious as she thought of that infuriating boy who had ruthlessly thrashed her only a month ago. The scene remained vivid in her mind without blurring in the least; his presence was why Delilah didn’t dare slacken. Even now, she was unsure if this amount of work would be enough to make up for the difference in their abilities. The three Skills she had learned from the mysterious woman’s voice did not seem incredibly powerful. Although Ashen Chop displayed clear attack power, Ashen Mantle and Voice of the Hopeless were much more confusing Skills.

From the moment that she saw the last two Skills, Delilah had a bad feeling in the pit of her chest.

Which was why she so desperately practiced Ashen Chop. Because when Delilah had originally complained to the voice, the voice had just laughed and told her that Delilah herself had chosen those Skills and there was nothing that the voice could do.

So Delilah practiced, burning with the desire to grow strong.

Of course, she wasn’t really practicing secretly. She was the sort of direct child that was easy to fool and would advertise her thoughts with her every move. Floating in the air above Delilah’s grove of trees were two shadowy forms. Both were silent, absorbed in the passivity of watching the girl below struggle and sweat.

Both of the watchers saw a different ghost around that girl’s form. Just as much as they were looking at the present, these two were looking into the past.

Gradually, Alta could sense the amusement beginning to radiate outward from the form of Lucretia next to her. Alta pressed her lips together and strangled her annoyance as soon as it was born. But this only seemed to further amuse Lucretia; it seemed her suppression of the annoyance had been noticed. Finally, Alta could stand it no longer. “What is it? Why are you so smug?”

“It’s nothing,” Lucretia said lightly, barely able to restrain her laughter.

Alta sent a spike of her influence as a member of the Alpha Cosmos’ pantheon to prod Lucretia in the side. This only seemed to fuel Lucretia’s mirth, and soon loud laughter spilled out of Lucretia’s mouth to spill over the surrounding area. Alta hastily mobilized more of her influence as a member of the Pantheon to dampen the noise so they wouldn’t draw attention.

Delilah paused in her training and looked around in confusion. But without any further noises to clue her into what happened, she quickly shrugged and returned to her task.

“I wish I could grind your sweet ass up and bake you into a pie,” Alta grimaced.

“Oh, Alta, you know what it is,” Lucretia said with a winning smile. “I’m just glad you finally found someone who can inherit your domineering images so perfectly. But also…”

Seeing the hesitation on Lucretia's face, Alta snorted. “What? Surprised she hasn’t become a walking death machine? Hmph, well she’s still quite young. Nothing is set in stone yet. That’s the next step in my grand plan.”

Lucretia smiled again, but it was a much softer smile than her previous one. Then both women turned back to the young girl below and watched her stubbornly practice.

*****

That’s it, they are finally firing me, Elmer Arrietti thought with a long sigh. The worst part about it was that the day’s training had left him with a pounding headache. After enduring this hellish training for two months and improving at a snail’s pace, they’ve finally realized the truth that I could have told them a long time ago: I’m not cut out for this job. Damnit, I should have just directly turned in my resignation the first week in the Dungeon…

...But then I guess I would have had to just stay here in the Dungeon and twiddle my thumbs… that would have been incredibly awkward… And even if I don’t have the power to lead the police force, I have at least learned that I can be a certain kind of leader… Had I not been here to talk with him, I bet that Fenlin would have quit from the force already. He has not thrived underneath the instruction of Ajax…

Elmer’s heavy footsteps echoed strangely in the quiet night. Now that the Riders were ranging farther afield to hunt, the area around their base was quite peaceful. At least it’s a good thing that the job market in Kharon is relatively robust. Heh, a fifty-one-year-old like me, passing out my resume…

I might have more time to try dating… but who will want to date a man without a job…?

Elmer continued to mutter to himself as he trudged toward the large building that had been erected at the base of the Ghosthound’s mountain. It was the main building in which the Dungeon group did work relating to the Kharon Academy, and it also seemed that it would soon be the location of his ‘execution’. Everyone had taken to calling it the workshop.

Eventually, he arrived at the entrance and could delay no longer. Elmer hurriedly brushed nonexistent particles off of his shoulders and faced the large double doors into the workshop. He took several breaths in and out, preparing himself mentally for whatever was waiting for him within.

“No matter what happens,” Elmer swore to himself. “My time as Commissioner-”

The doors in front of him opened, interrupting the heavy moment. Helen poked her head out and glared at Elmer in annoyance. “Commissioner, why are you making us wait? Get in here. We have much to discuss.”

“Ah? Oh, well then…” Elmer blinked and then lowered his head as he followed Helen through into the interior. Perhaps because he hadn’t ever been inside the workshop before, Elmer’s attention was immediately pulled in every direction. Strangely glowing, Engraved contraptions sat on top of heavy stone dais in the middle of the workshop. Along the walls were huge, hand-drawn sketches and plans of Kharon Academy. To Elmer’s right was an area that looked more like a warehouse than a workshop. Fully one half of the building was filled with towering piles of materials.

Helen walked to the left, entering into the area for which the building was named. Workbenches, hammers, forges, stills, glowing edifices, altars, pools of mysterious liquid, and messy piles of paper became a haphazard labyrinth in front of them.

She continued forward past several tables bearing casually strewn brass instruments, heading toward the far corner. During their journey, they passed the familiar form of Sam, who was bent over a table and scribbling furiously. Even from a distance of about ten meters, the image of obsession that surrounded Sam was potent. Before Elmer could get a good look at the messy scrawl on the paper in front of the man, they cut along a side path and suddenly a large pile of metal ingots blocked Sam’s figure from view.

So even the great Sam is worked to the bone by the Ghosthound, Elmer reflected. Considering all the free time that he would soon have, Elmer realized that perhaps losing this job wouldn’t be so bad.

Eventually, Helen brought Elmer to a small alcove in the very back of the workshop. Already waiting there were Ajax and a boy, that Elmer recognized, named Nathan. Both smiled as Elmer walked into the room.

“I’m sure you can guess why we brought you here, Commissioner,” Helen began with her signature bluntness. Immediately, the vague friendliness that was in Elmer’s heart was plunged into cold water.

Elmer sighed. “I mean… yes. Based on the people assembled… I think I have a pretty clear idea of what is going on. And honestly… I have been expecting this conversation for a while. I’m not… unaware of my situation.”

“Eh? Really?” Helen blinked in surprise, which in turn caused Elmer to be slightly thrown by her reaction. He didn’t think that he had ever seen Helen caught off guard before. Even when she was fighting the Ghosthound. Then Helen released a light laugh. “Not as humble as you appear to be, eh? Well, that’s a good thing. Images require certainty.”

“That does make things much easier though,” Nathan said with a sigh. “Do you know how many times I’ve had to do my job basically without any support from the individual in question? Making the arrangements as a third party complicates things immensely; no one knows the images and themes that make up your Skills better than you.”

Even Ajax seemed somewhat pleased by Elmer’s response. “Heh, good. The more quickly I can get back to training, the better.”

Abruptly, Elmer Arrietti became aware that something very strange was going on around him. The words they were saying… did not sound at all like the sort of things you would say when someone was being let go.

Just as Elmer was clearing his throat to test the waters with a vague question, Nathan spoke again. “I mean if you are all ready, we can start the planning immediately. Do you have any ideas?”

Ideas…? Elmer narrowed his eyes. Now even his confusion was hesitating. Was he perhaps right and they were now asking for his input in training the next Commissioner…? It was somewhat emasculating to train the next generation… but hohoho, this just went to show that he did possess some value for the Order Ducis. “...hum… ideas… well, those sorts of things are somewhat hard to put into words… and I am not really a man of words. I think… doing it personally would be best.”

Nathan’s eyes widened. “You want… you want to make your own Class entirely by yourself? Without anyone else's input? I mean, it is possible, but… I suppose I can provide you with the energy...”

“Eh? Well, this…” Elmer Arrietti began to sweat. Wait, what had Nathan just said?!?

*****

One by one, Clarissa, Ed Dugg, Ajax, and Sam wandered out of the dining hall on the pretext of going for a stroll. Then, when they were sure that none of the Riders or police force had followed them, they turned sharply away from Ghosthound’s peak and loped through the darkness.

A few miles away in an unassuming stretch of forest there was a cleverly disguised cabin. Inside was a table and four chairs. On the table was twelve columns of chips, three white, three green, three red, three black.

As they arrived, each individual stretched to loosen their muscles and took a seat. Ed Dugg began to professionally shuffle the deck. Sam brought a sheaf of papers with him that he stared at and muttered.

Clarrisa sorted the chips into four piles. Then she smiled around at the other people in the cabin. “Why not make things interesting tonight? The buy-in will be… one favor, to be accomplished while still within the Dungeon.”

Everyone nodded with serious expressions.