They… they were memories.
I stared up. Looking around me in horror, and awe.
Memories of what?
Who?
Other beasts?
People?
■■■■■
Static began to flood my hearing.
'N-no! Not yet!'
…
My eye opens slowly. I could feel my mind in a bit of a haze.
"Mnn…" I look down and rub my hand on my face.
'How long was I asleep for? Feels like I just closed my eyes.'
I finish rubbing my eye and I look back up.
I see Ayra staring off into nothing, and Hale's awake.
"H-Hale!" I smile as I whisper.
Ayra turns her head to me, so does Hale.
He greets me back with a nod, "Hey… Lady Ayra here told me the situation."
I stare at him for a moment.
'Lady Ayra?'
I look at her, "Oh… yeah she's a part of Astor."
Hale keeps his smile and nods, but I could see the color draining from his face, "Yep. She is, indeed. Indeed she is."
I wait for him to continue.
But, he closes his eyes and lets out a sigh, "But, she told me something called the 'Devourer', you called it, destroyed Tenna…?"
I blink.
'Huh?'
"Y-yeah, it was the Devourer, you told me it was… the dark rank stray named Cronus…?" I stammer out something, trying to get Hale to confirm that he also knew of it.
Yet-
"Enough." Ayra cuts us off.
I turn to her.
She pinches the bridge of her nose with her finger and thumb with a small sigh.
"This could only mean that a new dark rank has emerged."
My eye widens, "N-no! I'm telling you that it's one that has been around for a long time…!"
Her eyes open, the emerald glint glaring at me from her iris.
I close my mouth and stare back at her, trying not to get anxious.
"Then why do neither of us know of this 'Devourer'? I know I said I'd believe you, but you can't just tell us of a new dark rank beast and act like we should have heard of it already."
That was it. I shut my mouth and looked down.
"I don't… I don't know."
Hale speaks up, "So it was the god then. Trinity."
I blink and turn to him.
'He still remembers Trinity…!'
That was a relief, at least.
"Trinity destroyed Tenna, perhaps he used a guise, or some form of mimicry to make us believe it was a dark rank…"
I look over Hale's expression. He seems to become more and more sure of himself as he nods slowly.
Even Ayra chimes in, "That does seem believable." with a small nod.
I open my mouth to respond, but it died in my throat.
"I… guess I was wrong." I sit back in the cushion.
…
A bit more time passed as late evening was starting to fall. The outer horizons a light pink while it gives way to a darker blue color above, not quite night yet.
Ayra tilts her head to the window that opens to Chandler.
"We're here." Chandler speaks through the box. He clears his throat as the carriage soon comes to a stop.
I raise my eyebrow, looking at Ayra as she opens the door. She waves her hand and points at Hale to come with as well, then steps out.
I follow behind her.
Taking a step down from the small stair, and off the carriage, I hop down.
I turn around to see Hale do the same, and we all exit it.
Then, turning to my left, I see Gate City.
"Woah…" I couldn't help but whisper to myself.
I wish I could see the full view of it, but what I saw anyways was nothing short of incredible.
Blue sparks shot through the air, falling toward a stone circle with strange symbols carved into them. Sparks entering and exiting the circle. Beneath the circle in the sky was a large structure. Nothing short of a castle. It held a dark blue colored roof, and was made up of mostly stone. I could see lights shining out from the windows.
More buildings were like it as well, some had rocks that hoisted beams toward the massive stone circle in the center. They flickered in small intervals, but almost always at least one was active.
Despite it being later in the evening, the city just before us on the ground was also still bustling with life. Traders, and shoppers continuing into the night, more lights were on in separate buildings, too. I saw a few other people go by in armor and visible weapons on their backs or waists. They head toward a larger building to the right, where a smaller stone circle was also located above it.
"Gate City. I've been here quite a lot, but it's still quite pretty at night. Boring during the day, though." Ayra comments.
Her hair contrasts really well with the glowing blue from the rest of the city, actually…
I blink and look away, "So… what now?"
She looks back and gives me a wry smile, "I have to take you two in."
I stare at her.
Hale stares at her.
I look at Hale.
Hale looks at me.
We both look back at Ayra.
"Huh?"
—
The next morning comes pretty quickly. Everything that happened last night comes to me in a daze.
Ayra said she had to put us in some sort of containment, but not exactly like prison.
I lean up out of bed with a bit of a groan.
The room I'm in is… really fancy, though.
Soft, black cushions on a couch, a large desk with a little candle right by it. The walls and floor are made of stone bricks, and it's quite cold down here.
It makes me smile a bit to myself, since I love how it feels.
I stand up with a deep breath and look at the bed I slept on. White sheets and a fluffy pillow. My room is even large enough for me to walk circles in the center!
How marvelous!
I remember heading down some stairs to get into this room from the large building we entered. It was the castle-like structure with the large stones I saw floating above it.
'I wonder what infusions cause that to occur… or just raw mana, that could be true as well.'
The room had two doors, the one I entered through with a small window about level with my head, and another one to its right…
"Hmm."
I turn around to the little nightstand that sits by the bed and pick up the silk, quickly pulling it up to my left eye and wrapping it around my head.
Then, I walk back to the door I hadn't entered yet and gently hold the handle. The handle doesn't turn or anything, but it seems to just be there to have a grip on the door.
I push slowly… as I do so, a light flicks up from a yellow-looking mark on the ceiling.
My eye widened at what greeted me.
'A-A bathroom!'
Wooden floor, a soft rug that lied next to a glass box, a large mirror, and even a big sink, too!
I found myself stunned as I quickly step in.
…
After finishing my business in the bathroom, I walk out with a towel around the back of my neck and a little smile on my lips.
"I feel… wonderful…"
There was even a closet in there, it held a bunch of monochromatic clothes of varying clothes.
I just picked a white blouse and some black trousers.
I had no idea they made pants in this color, too.
Nice.
I put my silk back on and glance at myself in the mirror on the desk.
I look healthier already.
Last night I was still covered in dirt, grime, and dried blood. But now?
I look presentable.
I point two fingers at my reflection.
Maybe I don't-
"Heh… hehehe!" A giggle sounds from behind me. I froze instinctively.
A voice much higher in pitch than Hale's a tone much more feminine than a man's.
'Oh.. no.'
I swallow as I turn around and see Ayra covering her mouth with her gloved hand, giggling as she stares at me.
I whipped my hands back down to my side and gave her an expressionless look, but I could definitely feel the color of my face disappearing.
"Do you look at yourself in the mirror a lot? Hehehe…" She continues laughing to herself.
She soon calms down and wipes one of her fingers on her eyes.
She's wearing a bright red gown with frills that start at her skirt. Underneath the skirt were some black heels that clack against the stone floor with each step. Her gloves were a pretty white, kind of like my shirt.
She certainly dressed for something proper, it seems.
She takes a deep breath but still wears a little smile on her face.
"Alright, Fault, follow me. I need to show why you and your friend were brought here."
Her smile fades as she glances over me again, "Duke Lynel wishes to speak with you, separately."