At that moment, the colors around them shifted again, and Ouroboros, the Angel of Fate, appeared in the living room.
"Yo, Big Snake, you got here quick!" Medici greeted Ouroboros with a wave.
Ouroboros nodded in response, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Azik.
A silvery-white shadow emerged behind him... a serpent biting its own tail. The serpent spun counterclockwise once, and Azik's wounds rapidly vanished, his clothes mended as if new.
"Done." Ouroboros said, the silvery shadow fading.
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Azik said quickly, grateful.
Ouroboros nodded, his eyes drifting to the half-eaten lunch on the table, curiosity flickering. He looked at Medici. "Medici, what are you eating?"
"You didn't notice? These are dishes from the Lord's home. Bet you've never tried them!" Medici said, his grin smug.
Ouroboros paused, a hint of longing in his eyes. After a few seconds of thought, he glanced at Alaric, saying nothing yet conveying everything.
"Don't worry, since you came to help, I won't let you go hungry." Alaric said with a chuckle, flashing Ouroboros an OK gesture before turning to Azik. "Azik, you probably haven't eaten lunch either, right? I'll whip something up for both of you. Any dietary restrictions?"
"Nothing spicy." Ouroboros said slowly, pausing before adding, "Or have plenty of water ready."
"I'm good with anything." Azik said, shaking his head.
"Got it!" Alaric nodded, heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Soon, the group, now five strong, gathered around the table again.
After everyone was full, Alaric didn't rush to clean up. Instead, he poured himself a cup of tea and looked at Azik. "Azik, about today... do you want to get back at them?"
Azik, holding a cup of tea, froze. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I'm not looking for revenge, but I do want to know what the Loen royalty is up to."
"They're likely preparing for the Black Emperor's apotheosis ritual." Alaric said, cutting to the chase.
"The Black Emperor… I have some recollection." Azik said, pressing his forehead as if in pain, fragments of memory surfacing.
"Apotheosis ritual?" Klein, caught off guard by the revelation, frowned. "So, the Hand of Order from the Augustus family is trying to switch to the Black Emperor Pathway and ascend to Sequence 0?"
He'd learned enough from Alaric recently to know the Hand of Order was Sequence 1 of the Arbiter Pathway.
"Not quite. To become the Black Emperor, one must first be an emperor, and the Hand of Order doesn't qualify." Alaric said, shaking his head. "It's probably King George III who's aiming for it."
Klein blinked, stunned. "George III is Sequence 1?"
"Don't know, but probably not." Alaric said, sipping his tea. "I'm not entirely clear on the details, but they're definitely scheming to push George III to Sequence 0."
"Can that even work?" Klein asked, voicing a critical question.
"Hard to say. There's a chance. Theoretically, even an ordinary person chugging a Sequence 0 potion could ascend." Alaric said with a laugh, then grew serious. "And that's why the Loen royalty is trafficking people... to build the mausoleum needed for the ritual."
He paused, looking at Klein. "Remember when we first got to Backlund, and I said something big was coming?"
Klein nodded, realization dawning. "So, the big event you meant wasn't reform but this apotheosis ritual?"
"More precisely, it's the Loen royalty's efforts to cover it up." Alaric corrected. "The Churches won't let the Augustus family slip their control. Even if they'd tolerate a Black Emperor's rise for the sake of the apocalypse, it'd only be when there's no other choice. Until then, the Augustus family will do everything to hide it."
"In fact, if no one intervenes, Loen's headed for a catastrophe. Tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, will die to cover up the disappearances caused by the Augustus family's actions."
"How could they do this?!" Klein's brow furrowed, unable to fathom the Loen royalty's cruelty.
Even when he'd first arrived in Backlund and learned of an impending event tied to Loen's history, Klein had assumed it was something like a royal rebellion. The reality was far more horrific.
"That's why we need reform. With a tyrant like this on the throne, the world's doomed." Alaric said, less angry than Klein. He turned to Azik. "So, Azik, want to join our cause?"
"You want to stop a tyrant from ascending to godhood, right? Join us, give the Augustus family a little surprise, and get some payback."
"What cause?" Azik felt out of step with the times. Hesitating, he looked at Alaric. "Jack, you're… different from before."
"Just switched from naive saint to cunning strategist." Alaric said with a candid grin, then added apologetically, "Sorry, Mr. Azik. I wasn't as innocent as I seemed. It was a front to protect myself. I'm sorry for deceiving you."
Azik paused, surprised yet understanding. He studied Alaric, then sighed, offering a gentle smile. "It's fine. Protecting yourself isn't wrong. I know you're a good kid at heart, and that's enough."
Medici, nearby, made a face like he'd bitten a lemon.
"You're a true saint, Azik!" Alaric said, ignoring Medici's reaction and grinning. "So, will you join our cause?"
***
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