Chapter 756: Her Face

Arthur had once met those astral beings when he revived Ai by recreating her body. At that time, her soul almost joined the astral sea when he brought it back under the eyes of countless astral beings. Those ancient creatures were each as big as Earth and its solar system, so he was lucky not to be annihilated.

"However, those voices seem to be undirected toward me," muttered Arthur as he stared at the gate. "Is it possible that this gate serves as two-ways communication to grant astral blessings?"

The idea bothered Arthur because he would never go and beg another being for strength. He had enough gods and celestial giants throwing their weight around for him to add another one. However, if he could communicate with them, he might know the secrets of Nameless.

"Still too soon," muttered Arthur before he sat in an inconspicuous place, hiding thoroughly and waiting. The first one to pass was a man clad in armor, followed by another. All of them were alive and well, despite having many wounds.

Arthur opened the file while he was hidden from many. In the instructions, he found that the dead ones are thrown outside once the trial ends. It will be that few seconds that he can take someone else's identity.

During his waiting time, Arthur combed through the profiles to pick someone without a family or a gang. In addition, he wanted his disguise to be unproblematic. Finally, after waiting another hour, the trial ended, and most of the corpses were thrown out.

Arthur rushed forward and found the body of one of his ideal candidates before swapping it with his own after changing his appearance. The process went unnoticed since there were over fifty contestants.

"This one is still alive!" shouted one of the knights after Arthur rose from the ground. "You there, show me the astral blessing."

Arthur was prepared for this and showed him the glowing tattoo he created using his [Disguise-IV] rune. It used illusions and cellular manipulation to give Arthur the appearance he wanted.

"Another Great Blessing!" shouted the man excitedly before he jotted down Arthur's alias. "Ishmael Rainquil, I see. You can join the next wagon to head back toward Helios."

Arthur nodded and walked toward the wagon. As he was about to climb into it, a commotion occurred next to the gate. A woman was shouting and asking about someone, but the man who registered Arthur told her that the count was complete.

'She is…. Layla Mantra,' realized Arthur as he stared at the woman. She seemed distressed over finding someone, making Arthur think about walking toward her and seeing what was happening. However, before he did, someone beat him to it. Lyle walked toward Layla and dismissed the man.

Arthur glanced at the two brothers bickering before boarding the carriage that took him toward Helios. Whatever was going on between the two, Arthur couldn't care. However, after the astral gate disappeared, Arthur had the same feeling as two days ago. Coming from the direction of the gates was none other than the power of creation.

***

Inside the Light Chambers of Helios, where the knights resided, Arthur stood inside the office of the current Vice-Commander, Lyle Mantra. He was browsing through the books before Lyle returned with his badge.

"You are now officially a Holy Knight," said Lyle before handing him the badge. "And this badge will make you my assistant from now. You will accompany me to the palace during the next ceremonial promotion."

"That might be too hasty," said Arthur as he looked through the books. "People will get suspicious."

"If you show them something powerful, no one will complain," said Lyle. Someone knocked on the door at that moment, and a servant spoke from behind it.

"Sir, a woman is here to see you. She has a Great Blessing and says that she passed the trial grounds. Should I guide her here?"

"There is no need," said Lyle before he sighed and rose. "I will guide her myself. Can you hide for now?" whispered Lyle to Arthur, who nodded and wrote his rune. Then, Lyle left the room.

After a few minutes, Lyle returned with another woman, who seemed furious. Arthur watched quietly as the woman accused Lyle of changing, her eyes full of tears.

It seems that Night, also known as Layla Mantra, wanted to become a Holy Knight to gain her grandfather a pardon for his crimes of going against the emperor. However, Lyle refuses to let her because Zonas wants to stop Lyle's plan.

The woman left, heartbroken, while Lyle sat in his cold office alone. Arthur watched her go, feeling familiar energy coming from her. He thought it wouldn't be long before the two ran into each other.

***

Layla left the Holy Grounds, feeling helpless and furious. Zonas Mantra was not related to her through blood, but he was her savior. Lyle was his real grandson, but she couldn't understand why she was the only one trying to save him from imprisonment.

'You've remained oblivious, wasting time on silly adventures with those scum. As for me, I worked every day to reach this place. You don't get to come here and tell me what I am and not. I know who I am and what I want.'

It was the first time she saw Lyle showing emotions after Anne's death. Although he blamed her for not doing anything, what could she possibly do to fix what happened all those years ago?

Layla returned to the inn and found Ai staring out of the window. She was looking in the direction of the Holy Ground, her eyes lost in the ancient buildings of Helios.

"Is something wrong?" asked Ai without looking away from the window. "You seem shaken, so I'm guessing the plan failed."

"It did," affirmed Layla before walking toward the bed and diving right into it. "My foster brother is the one who wants my grandfather behind bars, and I have no idea why. Grandpa Zonas taught him everything, and Lyle worshiped him."

"When did the change happen?" asked Ai as she turned toward her.

"My grandfather used to be the Knights Commander and the close hand of the king," said Layla. "However, after refusing to assassinate Arthur Silvera, he was cast aside as a traitor. He was forbidden from leaving Helios until the emperor decided what to do with him."

"And how did that lead to arrest?"

"Lyle was the one behind it," said Layla as she balled her hand into a fist. "That bastard went to the emperor and confessed about my grandfather's disloyalty and wanted to be the one arresting him. That promoted him into a Vice-Commander."

"Sometimes, things aren't what they seem on the surface," said Ai as she walked toward the bed and lay next to her. Layla turned her head and stared at the healer, whose face was still veiled. "His reasons for changing are unknown, but you must believe in the man you once knew."

"How can I believe in someone who keeps proving that he's not the man I once knew?" asked Layla as she closed her eyes. Tears gathered in them, falling on the bed. "It seems nothing has been the same ever since that day."

Ai caressed her cheeks, wiping away the tears from her face. Then, Layla could feel something touching her forehead, and she opened her eyes to see Ai pressing hers against her head.

"Life will never stay the same, so it will never be always bad."

Layla wanted to say that no one could know that, but she wanted to believe in her words. Thus, she closed her eyes and allowed her exhaustion to carry her to sleep.

It was late at night when she woke up, and Ai was gone from beside her. Layla rose and noticed that the woman was back to sitting beside the window, staring at the Holy Grounds. Her veil was on the table beside her, revealing her face. However, she couldn't see it from this angle.

Layla moved enough to let Ai know she was awake, and the woman flinched before reaching out toward her veil. At that moment, a glistering tear fell from her face, but Layla could not see it in the dark room.

"Wait," said Layla, and Ai froze. "Can I see you?" she asked, knowing that it might push the healer away from her. "I promise that things will not change even if I do."

"…what makes you desire such a thing?"

"A curiosity to know," said Layla as she edged toward the end of the bed. "I want to see the face of the only person on my side."

Ai was quiet before she nodded. Then, Layla left the bed and walked toward the window, standing beside Ai, who was facing it. She could see half of her face from this angle, and the healer turned to show her the rest.

Layla was prepared for anything, but not this. She imagined what a person so sweet would have for a face, but seeing the wounds the world gave her was too cruel.

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