- Michael -

We made our way through the bustling plaza and pushed past the crowds of people occupying the walkways. There were numerous stores with signs that lit up the night sky, most of which were advertising clothing and home appliances. We broke through the horde at the entrance way and walked through a split avenue leading deeper into the shopping district.

“So where we going first?” I reached into my satchel to make sure everything was there.

Emi looked up pondering my question. “Well… Let’s just walk around and look at the different stores first.”

We stood shoulder-to-shoulder strolling down the flagstone path.

“Oh yeah Mikey, why’d you want to come with us?” Emi just seemed curious while Julia peeked over at me suspiciously.

“Ahh yeah, I just wanted to look around a bit, maybe buy something here and there.” I scratched my neck nervously. “You know like manga and stuff.”

Julia sighed. “If you keep slacking off you’ll never get better at magic.”

“Heh, you may be surprised but I get most of my fighting expertise from fantasy novels.”

“Pfft, that’s why you always look like you’re trying to be some kind of anime protagonist?”

“I don’t even watch anime! You’re the weeb!”

“Yeah, sorry to break it to you, but your fighting style consists of flailing a sword around like a toddler.”

“Guys, let’s not fight,” Emi says hesitantly.

Julia took a deep breath. “Why do you even fight with a sword if you don’t even have one?”

I paused briefly before answering. “Actually, I don’t know. Edward trained me with it but never got me one.”

“Come on Michael, you can’t just borrow someone’s sword every time you fight.”

“Hey hey, it’s fine! We can just go buy one right now.” Emi patted the air with her hands, panic permeating her face.

We both looked at her, and back at each other, before breaking out in laughter.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

I wiped the tears from my eyes and responded with a smile, “You don’t have to worry so much Emi. This idiot argues with me all the time.”

“Look who's talking.” Julia shot back. “Come on, let’s go take a look inside one of the shops.”

We entered a nearby GameStart and Emi browsed around excitedly, looking at the newest editions of Nature’s Beauty and Cuddle Bugs. I discreetly shuffled over to the action & adventure section and peeked at the games displayed on the shelf.

“You look so suspicious right now.”

I turned my head and saw Julia staring at me with her hands on her hips.

“Hey officer, I’m a completely law abiding citizen.”

She rolled her eyes and walked over. “Are those games even fun?”

“Why else would I play them?”

She picked up a game called The Legend of the Artifact: The Third Tome and looked at the cover, before flipping it over and inspecting the back.

“Looks interesting right? I remember playing the first game. The storyline was expansive and the Relic creation was really-“ I realized I was ranting and stopped myself, “You get the point.”

Julia read the synopsis carefully and studied the cover once more. She eventually decided to take it and aggressively pushed the disk case into my chest.

“Why do I have to hold it?”

She walked away silently, inspecting a few games and figures on the way.

After a few long minutes, Emi and Julia returned from the aisles with small stacks of games in their hands.

“Tada~!” Emi presented her spoils of war, while Julia simply stacked them on my hands.

“Hey, I’m not your porter.”

She glanced at me. “What’s the big deal? You just gotta hold them. A small price to pay to be my attendant.” Julia smiled smugly at me then continued to the line.

I frowned, “You better actually play these.”

After checking out our items, we left the store and looked for the next one.

“Why’d you want us to wear our uniforms?” I tugged at the tie strangling my neck.

“To get us a discount. Students from the academy are given certain benefits and privileges just for going to the school.”

After a few turns, we ran into a large establishment labelled “Julian’s Armament Supply” in big letters. The tall glass panes revealed a shiny assortment of steel weapons and armors.

As a sword fanatic, I could barely contain my excitement with the merchandise.

“You guys going in?” I chirped.

They both noticed my excitement and Emi broke out in irrepressible laughter.

Julia covered her mouth, giggling under her breath. “You look like a kid going into his favorite candy store.”

My cheeks went red with embarrassment “Well, I like this kinda stuff okay?”

“Sorry sorry, we’ll let you enjoy the ride. We’ll just look around a bit.” She grabbed Emi’s hand and they scurried down the street. “We’ll meet you at the entrance at 21:00!”

I waved at them as they walked past the corner. Turning back to the store, I took a long breath, grabbed the door handle, and stepped into the shop.

I was met with a gust of comfortably warm yet invigoratingly cool air. The soft tune of jazz swept over the room, soothing my heart and energizing my body. The gilded cases of weapons and masterfully ornate walls accentuated the royal but calming atmosphere of the store.

I walked through the pathways, looking at the different swords and accessories put on display. Not seeing what I wanted, I approached the receptionist standing at the desk. The well dressed man met my gaze softly and stepped up to the counter.

“How may I help you?”

“I-I was looking to buy a sword with an integrated artifact.”

“We have those further in the store. Would you like to see them?”

“Yes.”

“Right this way then.” He gestured with his arm and started walking down the hall adjacent to the desk. I just had to trip over my words. Why do I suck so much at talking to people?

He led me through the wide hallway that contained multiple doors on its sides. We took a left at the end and continued walking till we reached a set of wooden double doors. He opened them with both arms and gestured for me to step through.

This room was much larger than the previous one, storing hundreds of weapons and armors all installed with vibrant gems and inscripted artifacts. The large overhead lights illuminated the room with a dazzling light. I followed the guide down to the section where rows of blades rested under the glass of the display cases.

“This is where we keep the short-ranged Relic Arms. Please take a look.”

I strolled down the aisle, studying the variety of weapons laid out before me. There was a shortsword with a semi curved edge resembling a falchion, with a large red gem embedded into the serrated golden blade. It was definitely appealing, but the length restrictions and the flashiness didn’t really suit me. The next sword in line was a nodachi. The thin curved blade was a cool blue with small purple diamonds decorating the blade's edge. The hilt finished off with a black rope handle, tied in an intricate pattern allowing a steady grip on the sword. While I liked the detailed design of the weapon, the sheer size of the blade didn’t fit well with my high mobility fighting style.

I continued down the line, appraising the different sword types and styles. After brooding between a certain cutlass and bastard sword, a weapon at the end of the selection piqued my interest. I walked up to it and took a closer look at the weapon. I was entranced by the sleek yet impressionable structure of the curved sword. The blacksteel finish reflected a dull sheen and the deep blue crystal centered on the flat of the blade contained a galaxy of colors.

The man caught my gaze and approached me. “Are you interested in this arm? It’s a Blacksteel Scimitar with an integrated Soul shard.”

“What type?” The fact that this artifact required a blacksteel catalyst spoke levels of its might.

The man smiled proudly, “A Guardian Behemoth’s”

My jaw went slack at his words. It took top class raid teams to subjugate a Guardian Behemoth, not to mention the different monsters you’d have to clear on the way up. I touched the glass and marveled at the masterpiece that sat inside.

“Can I try holding this sword?”

A flash of worry showed on his face, but after a quick glance at my uniform he abided. “Of course.”

He pressed a button on his datacard and the glass parted, ejecting the sword from the center. I leaned in and slowly lifted the product with both hands. It had a good weight to it that wasn’t too overbearing. I grasped the handle and held it in front of me.

“To think I would find such a good weapon here. This store must be…” My sentence trailed off after I realized something. The whole time I was in this store, I saw nobody else in here. With such a luxuriously large business and with this much quality merchandise, you’d think this place would be clamoring with activity. So why was nobody else besides me here?

I turned to question the receptionist who guided me here, but to my pleasant surprise he was nowhere to be seen. I immediately kneaded vector strings around my body, ready to defend myself at a moment's notice.

But nothing came. The room remained silent, and I stood there listening to the soft thumping in my chest. My eyes darted around, watching the countless doorways and motionless suits of armor. Suddenly, the Relic Arm in my hand began to glow in response to my Essence. The gemstone in the center went from a deep blue to a fluorescent golden color. The light blinded me as I attempted to release the weapon from my hand. A wave of nausea grappled my head and a deep, grating voice rang out in my thoughts.

Have you… returned?

I clawed at my chest as a mysterious force pulled at my soul, threatening to rip it out of my body. I crumbled to the ground, no longer able to tolerate the excruciating pain that seized my entire being. Euphoric relief flooded within me as the torturous feeling slowly dissipated from my senses. I opened my eyes to a pitch dark space surrounding me. The weapons and armor were gone, as well as the room itself. It seemed as if I was transported to another place altogether.

What the hell just happened? I just picked up that sword and next thing I know I’m in a dungeon? I analyzed my surroundings and identified the small enclosure around me, which had an open doorway in front leading into another space. I slowly rose from the stone floor and walked over to the opening, placing my hand on its lining. There were intricate symbols and characters engraved into the jagged stone brick walls. I strained my eyes to make them out, but the meaning of the carvings was beyond me. I stepped out of the small square room and entered a long corridor. The path was as wide if not wider than the previous room, with torches of blue fire irradiating the walls just enough to see. The walls climbed high above my head, ending only where my sight could not reach.

“Of all the times to not have a weapon.” I muttered. With no other paths in sight, I began walking through the colossal passageway. It stretched almost fifty meters ahead of me, revealing a large gate waiting in the distance. I marched cautiously on the imprinted concrete as my destination grew closer.

The short journey went without interruption, and I approached the arching gate that towered 8 meters over my head. A large pair of stone wings hugged the surface of the door, and a hideous face with long horns protruding from its head harbored a singular horizontal handle.

“Totally not ominous at all.”

I reluctantly stuck my hand into the canine’s mouth and grabbed the golden handle within. Upon making contact with it, the eyes of the stone carving glowed red and hundreds of pieces within the door seemed to shift and fall into place. I held nervously onto the handle that actually seemed to be a lever, and my worst nightmare happened right before my eyes.

“No! Fuck!”

The previously inanimate Cerberus on the stone gate clamped down on my arm and began to slowly pull me in. I was dragged helplessly towards the gap as I struggled to break free and my body quickly slipped into and squeezed through the funnel. After the strange sensation of sliding through solid stone, I found myself on the other side of the gate, inside a large rectangular room about the size of the outside hallway. The far half of the room’s floor was raised and there were partitioning columns following the edge of the platform. Behind the pillars was what appeared to be a young woman, hanging from the chains on her wrists.

I didn’t know how to react to the strange series of events. First I was teleported by a relic, then I was dragged into a wall by a statue, and now I’m in a dungeon with a suspicious chained lady?

“H-hey… you alright?” I said quietly to the motionless woman.

What am I saying? You alright? She’s fucking chained up!

I almost assumed she was dead when her thin arms twitched. The long chains hanging from the walls clattered against each other. I stood there silently, waiting for her to respond. The dim moonlight poured down from the tall windows in the back and casted a sinister shadow in front of the woman. When she eventually spoke, her voice was raspy and inhuman.

“Have you returned… my liege?” Her words echoed eerily through the cathedral. I remained silent and watched her slowly raise her chin, revealing her face. Her skin was pale and her cheeks were sunken. Her pure blue eyes held a deep curiosity, as well as great sorrow.

“A… mortal?” She paused and studied me closely, her glassy eyes boring into my very soul.

“Aldaroth’s benison is heavy. Should he hath marked thou, thou might not but be chosen for ascendancy.”

The haggard woman remained still and seemed to be deliberating something. “The king hath long since masterless me. May thou receive mine benison, if thou are his apostle.”

At these words, the dim light from the windows began to brighten, and a blinding light began to envelope the room.

“Until we meet again…”

“Wait! Who is-”

I felt my focus on the scene begin to blur and everything returned to darkness.

“Kid! You alright!”

I opened my eyes groggily and found myself back in the weapon store. But after looking around, I discovered that the store looked completely different than before.

“Thank the gods. You passed out so quickly I thought you had a heart attack.”

Even the guide from before was gone, replaced by a muscular old man. He wore a fur coat over a shabby cloth vest, with a strap running diagonally down his chest. I peered at the weapons hanging on the wooden walls and the entrance way standing just a few meters away from me.

I exhaled and stood up. “What happened?”

The man rubbed his head. “Well, we were talkin’ about this Relic Arm when you went and collapsed.”

The sword!

“What happened to it! The Relic Arm?”

He looked at me with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. “It’s sittin’ right there.” I whipped my head over to where he pointed and sure enough, the sleek black sword lay on the floor beside me. The gemstone returned to it’s deep blue color with no sign of its recent outburst.

“Damn that Ricky! Told me it was dysfunctional, not a fuckin’ shock baton.” The man went behind the counter before returning with a plain cloth. He wrapped the sword and placed it in a box.

He peaked at me and put the container on the counter. “For what it’s worth, you can have it if you still want it. Ain’t sellin’ here anyway.” The man grabbed a bottle of beer off the counter and strolled into the backroom. I was shocked by how casual he was about giving away a Relic Arm, but quickly snatched the package before he changed his mind.

I took the wrapped sword out of the box and shoved the end into my satchel. Exiting the store, I looked around before dashing down the street towards the district gate. It was almost time for me to rendezvous with Julia and Emi.

What was that? Was it all in my head? Who was that woman? I had too many questions, and no definite answers. But as I thought over everything that occurred, I was sure of one thing.

Everything’s being set in motion.

My insides began to flutter and I grinned anxiously. “Shit’s getting serious.”

On the long way to the gate I noticed that yet again, there was nobody in the area. With the dome shifting into midnight, the daytime shops were closing and the last of the people were filling out. Nightly businesses were opening and it was the start of the after hours time for indulgent activities and midnight ventures.

But somehow, the air felt eerily still and a foreboding chill ran down my back. An unfounded queasiness built in my lungs and I was compelled forward by a sudden premonition. Something was wrong. Though I could not place it, the rapid beating in my chest would not stop. I sprinted down the sidewalk with all my might, tripping over my feet as I went. I turned the corner where my friends would be waiting. And there, in that same plaza we had arrived, I found the source of my incessant worries.

Burn marks and pools of blood dotted the area. A girl sat near the edge of an alley, her clothes in tatters. It looked like there had been a struggle and her arm bled heavily, sending streams of blood past her trembling fingers, injuries splattered all over her body.

The plaza was dead silent, with only the lampposts illuminating the pitch dark night. She turned towards me, and tears were streaming down her bruised cheeks.

“...Julia?” I called out.

“Michael, they…” She sobbed and covered her face with her hand, slamming the ground in frustration.

“They took Emilia.”