“How do you miss her?”

The voice on the other end of the golden octopus prepared the expected response, "The same way you missed her. Foliage of threats everywhere and multiple crisis combines with the lethal fog which clouds our [Clairvoyance]."

Rem sighed as he watched the sinking sunset.

“The foresight nerf is really doing us in,” Rem complaint as he gazed at the charred black ruin of the town beneath the cliff he stood. He clenched the bouquet of flower tighter. “Anything new?”

"Oh, Ehto finishes tuning your new gun. Central have achieved 100% synchronization with the frame. Want me to go over with your new partner? We want to keep the final addition a surprise for you."

“Go ahead, Satholia,” said Rem.

"Your new Arcana, Central, has currently assimilated its two forms. The first was the long-range Annihilator Sniper Rifle."

The core in Rem’s hand transformed into a silver sniper-rifle with a metallic finish that gleam wickedly in the sunlight. The frame barely possessed any moving part aside from the ejector magazine and adjustable stock. Instead, groves ebbed with light flowed across the gun frame like a blood vessel carrying pure energy. The innovative electronic telescopic camera linked to Rem’s visor function as the weapon sight.

"A light-weight frame weighting 3.34 Kg, length of 200 cm and worked with both 7.62 Aria Steel tipped explosive rounds loaded with alchemically treated gunpowder and Arcane-hardened protection-piercing Aerodynamic jacket. The gun worked with combination of Electromagnet and Central’s ability to generate and manipulated psychokinetic energy. Bullet fired with this gun will be psychokinetically amped with [Tenshou] and Central. You can use it to fire Psychokinetic attack using no physical bullet. I have to say Melody and Ehto are quite proud of this number."

“Excellent for long-range take down,” Rem mused and asked a question. “Effective Range?”

"5 KM. Impossible range for anyone without your Skills to use."

“What about the second mode?” Rem asked.

"You will love this, dear."

In Rem’s hand, Central morphed into handcanon. The frame was rectangular with the bulk-up part for cartridge housing. Rem whistled. The gun was a smoother, more streamline version of the CHORUS he was used to, and felt twice as smooth.

Satholia began explaining, "This little baby is named Central Magnum. 35 cm length and 2.5 Kg in weight. The frame is an Aluminum-alloy treated with Dragon-blood, glided by alchemically synthesize polymer mixed with essence arduously created from Cytortia’s little garden. The model boasts absurd durability and toughness in proportion to its weight. However, I recommend you check the cartridge."

Rem unlocked the cartridge with a press of a button and tilted the gun to reveal five bullets — red, yellow, white, blue and green — in the cylinder.

"You may notice that this cannon has no firing mechanism. It operates solely on your contractee’s psychokinetic ability. You could say the Central Magnum is the less of a gun and a multipurpose magic wand make specially for you. The bullet acts as a psychokinetic energy catalyst used by Central—it is a shorthand for firing mode. Melody said it was inspired by the Arcane you used to wield before mastering Tenshou. The red bullet contained a Cytortia synthesized volcano stone adapted from the formula from the Holy Blues Cytortia made for Venistalis. It is designed for pyrokinetic."

“I recall using that and dropping it a few months ago,” Rem said, amused. “I barely progress with it in those mental years.”

"But you still remember the basic. The red bullet fires an Esper equivalent of a napalm bomb. The yellow is the similar formula geared toward electricity. It deploys a psychoelectric blast capable of short-circuiting any circuitry both man-made and biological — highly effective for shutting down Vehicle. The white bullet is a Holy-base flavor for wide-scale exorcism. Think of it as Esper’s Turn Undead package into a gun."

Rem asked, “What about blue and green?”

"Different flavor of similar branch. The blue is specialized magic scramble utilizing similar mechanism to Hikma’s Symphony Blade. The green is your original. The psychokinetic flavor of telekinetic rupture pack into firing mode."

“Stun-mod and non-lethal, huh,” Rem snapped the cartridge. “Doing well in their Central?”

Stuffy, but quite comfortable.

Rem smiled, but once a shadow of a familiar man crept upon the shadow of his eyes, those smile quickly faded. There amongst the ruin, the man he didn't expect to meet but fitting to be here appeared.

What a mother of all coincidence.

…

Rem walked toward the man standing amongst the charred Corinthian column and blacked ground burned by fire. The man didn’t look threatening. He wore a blue duster and faded trouser with heavy combat boot. Rem noticed his originally red-hair had turned blue, unsurprising given his power and expertise in Mana.

Sameal Wayward

The former-Captain of the Venistalis sensed Rem’s presence.

“Is this an interception or coincidence?” He asked.

“Totally coincidental.”

Wayward wasn’t amused, “With your mastery over [Clairvoyance], I doubt it.”

Rem mustered a dry-laugh, “Omniscience is running out this day. Don’t be surprised if the Holy Church gets their ass kick by the vampire.”

Wayward turned toward the man, “Something happens to [Clairvoyance] as a whole.”

Rem shrugged and placed a flower on a broken column of marble.

“To have your strongest ability crippled must be hard,” Wayward sympathized,

“It just meant the blind-spot is mounting. How about you?" Rem asked. "Is life on the highest rung of wanted poster fun?”

Wayward reminiscence fondly, “It easier than my childhood. There are some upsides like getting to punch several S-ranker, and nearly killing a geriatric old fool behind the Empire. Then there are inconvenience like smuggling myself here under the radar.”

“Got to like that wanted poster.”

“Indeed,” Wayward nodded in agreement. “That is a pretty mean looking wanted poster. How about you? Averting any crisis lately?”

“Few and far between. Most require delicate touch that should be kept from fire as much as possible as the one here.”

Wayward and Rem stared into each other eyes.

“Wayward, tell me you are here on a vacation, or maybe it is the anniversary visit to your burnt childhood home,” Rem sternly said.

“That brought you here?” Wayward gazed at the flower bouquet Rem placed on the broken column. “Sentimentality?”

“The proper word is respect and remembrance.”

Wayward flashed a softer smile, “You are a good man, Samadi. It is ashamed I already fallen from that altar.”

Rem’s gaze sharpened.

“What are you doing in Centuria, Wayward?”

“Thank to you, I chase the clue about. My sources said Eurytheus might have the information about the Leviathan.”

Rem looked annoyed, “Please tell me you aren’t planning to attack them?”

Wayward shrugged, “Well, I will just walk up to the main camp and asked for an audience. Relax. I am not the type who pick fight.”

Rem snorted derisively, “Stuart Hex would like to disagree with that statement.”

“There is a difference between picking a fight and being challenged. The first is stupidity. The second is a matter of pride.”

“You talk like Eurytheus won’t drop the anvil on you. Sure, he will fail to do anything, but if you show yourself on the battlefield, the Divine Fist will leap in,” Rem pointed out.

“And you talk like the Divine fist can even threaten both of us in the slightest,” Wayward stated.

The two men stared at each other. Each of them has a mission they must accomplish and for the sake of efficiency they needed the other to stand down. Air fluttered as two will clashed. The earth cracked and split as two telekinetic forces shattered the ground, etching a literal line on the weary ground.

Rem recognized that power and activated his observation skill in response.

The knight of Dawn growled. Once again, Wayward proved why he ranked among the greatest combat threat that Dawn never successfully overcame.

…

Samael Wayward

Blue Fire God

Stat

Str: 8500 [S]

End: 9000 [S]

Mag: 12600 [S*2]

Wis: 1900 [A]

Dex: 8600 [S]

Skill

Active

Speed-reading [B]

Tenshou [S]

Magic Circuit Construction [A]

Physiological Foresight [A]

Passive

Poison Resistance (B)

Determination of Juggernaut (S)

Martial Art (S)

Worldly Enlightenment [S]

The Fire Bird [S]; Pyro Lorde [S], Pyro Genesis [S], Pyro Gift [S]

Body of Paragon [S]

…

The Stat card in front of him was the incarnation of the word bullshit. Wayward’s raw power surpassed every single member of the dawn, and Rem got an inkling that the monster standing in front of him could buff himself even further. Rem’s analysis Skill, the [Wisdom Eye], spun as it tried to decipher what he was up against.

[Body of Paragon] was Wayward’s physical condition, baptized under fire and full mastery of his blacksmithing background. His flesh was like a dynamite of kinetic energy. Anything less than a legendary weapon would crumble upon receiving the reactionary force upon collision. Those physical mights were backed by the END and STR that were only shy of Melody. Speaking of strength, Rem gave up hand-to-hand confrontation straight away. No jackpot D20 roll could ease the disparity of S-rank Martial Art.

Even range combat might not yield wanted result. [Magical Circuit Construction] indicated a true understanding of Spell-casting mechanism. Wayward probably learned that from reaching full comprehension of his runic studies. Sure, True Magic overpowered Spell-caster, but using power from Mana to do work wasn’t a joke. Spell might be piss-poor imitation of Arcane, but imitation still hurt in the master's hand. [The Fire Bird] was probably something similar to Orwell’s Adamakles.

Adamakles. It was Orwell Mehest’s creation. The Horizon Dawn labelled it an artificial True Magic capable of manifesting in combat. In Venistalis, Orwell matched Hikma’s blow to blow with such power.

Then there is another common point between him and Wayward on the Venn diagram; [Tenshou]. The very power to manipulate the existential connection of the multiverse. Rem gritted his teeth. Yes, Rem was the undisputed master of the Arcane, several magnitudes in proficiency above Wayward. The former crash of telekinetic might confirm everything. Samael Wayward was strong, but still rough. His telekinesis was like jackhammer compared to Rem’s blade-like stroke and his telepathic experience was a novice, but Wayward was still better than a general practitioner like Hikma. Rough as it was, giving Wayward [Tenshou] was like giving dragon a interstellar-cannon.

Rem calculated the odds. Strong as Wayward was the disparity between had closed since the last encounter. Rem wasn’t a newbie anymore.

…

Remus Breaker

Heavenly Knight

Stat

Str: 3730 [A*2]

End: 3500 [A*2]

Mag: 7600 [S]

Wis: 11050 [S*2]

Dex: 4350 [A*2]

Skill

Active

Wisdom Eye [S]

Arrival of Dream [N/A]

Tenshou [SS]

Contract (Central) [SS]

Origin Encroachment [S]

Passive

Garden World Origin [S]

Territory [A]

Reality Breaker [EX]

The Way of Optimism [N/A]

Clairvoyance [A]

Enlightened Trajectory [SS]

…

“You don’t look like you want a fight,” Wayward commented. “To be honest. I believe you are a little stronger compare to our last meeting.”

“Look at yourself first,” Rem grimaced. “Honesty time, my chance of victory is around 28%.”

Wayward unfolded his fist. An image of a fiery blue bird ignited into existence behind him. Flames licked across the ground, lighting the path of azure fires that dyed the air blight blue and caused the temperature to hike toward the terrifying hight. Small blue ember rose from the ground, painting a surreal image under the sky as forces of oppression pressed down like an anchor.

Rem drew his new magnum. The Origin of the night skies and poppies cracked reality like glass. Poppies flew across the air as boundless power which filled every atom was released from the garden of Rem’s Mana Core. The one-man encroachment to humanity’s commonsense stopped the propagation of heat, repelled the pressure of Wayward and snuffed out the azure flames. The poppies surrounded Rem like a shroud, preparing to channel the true might of [Tenshou].

The two men stared, waiting for another to attack their defense.

Luckily, the worst didn’t happen.

“This is a ruin of your childhood home,” Rem spoke. “Should we move somewhere else?”

“You ask the wrong question kid,” Wayward grimaced. “Way to ruin the mood.”

The flames faded and the invading mental retreated. The enormous stress lifted from the world. The two men expected to clash someday, but there was a time and place for everything.

“I doubt you only came here to pay respect,” Wayward said. “What is your game plan?”

Rem mentally debated on what he should say next, “I am here to get the clue about the Feas.”

Wayward winced, “Those buggers? You shouldn't worry about it. The seal in the north is still holding. Aside from some minor straggler that escaped from the isolation field, the Fair Folk are simply an old wives’ tale for scaring children.”

Wayward saw Rem’s posture still stiff. He understood the sentiment. His sister-figure often told stories of the faes kidnapping children to make paints. It used to scare him as children. Time and bloods had dulled the fear, but the very knowledge of those monsters existing beyond the Northern wall of light still sent a discomfort down his spine.

“Let me guess. You somehow the seal wouldn’t hold.”

“Wayward, the reason I am here is that I know nothing about the seal. Sure, there is urban myth and legend about the crusader and the sacrifice of the fairies to seal away the Unseelie. But I need to ask the person who actually been there.”

Wayward tried to shove the subject aside. The prospect of the fairy made him nervous, “Shouldn’t you be concerned with those Dukes?”

“I have plan to deal with them. I simply need all the pieces to fall into place. Truth to be told, I want to offer you a part in my plan. I promise you will have Eurystheus within next month. Hell, you can even take all three of them down because they will be in the same place. What I don’t have a plan for is the off chance the old wives’ tale turns into reality and something worse than the Unseelie broke through the wall. You know who I am here to see, Wayward.”

Wayward clenched his fist. His voice hardened with resistance, “Samadi, you know very well I cannot let you walk in there that easily. Anyone with mediocrum of amibition will swarm here the moment they realize she is alive.”

“That why I have to meet her and stop the fairy before she is forced to make a move,” Rem raised his voice in return. “You have two gambles to make here, Wayward. Gambles that I will break everything I stand for and sell her rights to the world or bets on the possibility that the wall of light will never break and the fairy will never return. There option to physically stop me also exists. However, the fact we both stand down meant we know better than to start the conflict next to her door.”

The two men glared at each other for a long beat.

Wayward unclenched his fist.

“I need to meet your sisters’ caretaker,” Rem asked. “Take me to Vivian, please.”