...' Sorry, can you explain everything again?'

Praise didn't respond, taking a deep breath. Iris could feel her disappointed gaze, even if she didn't have eyes.

'I guess you don't like history that much. In the past, The Abyss had a Vessel with a relic that was very similar to this one. The thing is how he got it.'

Iris massaged her chin, thinking about it.

'Coudn't the last vessel just transfer it?'

Not specifically to the current vessel, but rather as a chain. Maybe the relic was some sort of artifact that was passed down.

'No, she never passed it down, not because she couldn't, but because she didn't want to. She was that kind of person.'

Who was she? And why was Praise talking like she knew her so well? She got that Praise probably has met all the others God's vessels, but it was still weird.

'You know you're being pretty secretive, I won't understand things if you don't tell me the full picture.'

...

'The day will come when you will learn more... in a distant future. But for now, some things are better left unsaid. The past is hidden for a reason.'

...

...

Iris woke up to the sound of the rain around them. They had come back to the place they had left for the Withered. Yet, where was everyone? Did they not leave the Library yet?

...

Yet when she went back to check, they were nowhere to be seen.

'Right... this is weird.'

She couldn't find the others in the Withered nor the Infinite Library, but maybe they had already left to follow the Abyss.

'Yeah, maybe they sensed him inside the Withered. I just... have to find them... all alone.'

She looked around, the shadows surrounding her, and she knew how vulnerable she was, and her status wouldn't protect her. She knew that, after all, if it wasn't for Aether, she would have already been killed in this place.

...

'Aether! Maybe he will help me, he left the Library after I went to meet with the others.'

While it was a good plan, since Aether probably knew the place way better than she did, and plus, he knew how to get around the place faster. But the bad part was that she had to find him. Which was the same thing as trying to find the others.

'Guess I have to find them myself.'

...

She was careful, not rushing, and watching her every step, while with her teacher, she had seen many traps inside this place, so she had to be careful so she didn't fall in one. Plus, what if someone was hiding and waiting to kill her? She wouldn't rush things.

But because of how slow she was going, it was taking a while, and she was never going to catch up with the others. She was scared not to get killed, but if she continued like this, she was never going to find them.

She sighed, taking a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination.

'Alright, let's do this.'

...

But not four steps later, after crossing a dark alleyway, a figure jumped out from behind her and put a knife to her neck, threatening to slit her throat. Her eyes shook, regretting everything. She should never have agreed to come to this place.

...

"Wait a minute."

The figure turned her around, taking off its hood. She recognized its face; it was the girl that the others kept confusing with the Abyss.

She didn't know if she should be scared or happy that it was her. Maybe she wanted revenge, or maybe she was grateful for clearing things up two times now.

"Iris right?"

The girl said, putting her knife away, and giving her a reassuring smile.

"What are you doing here alone? It's dangerous."

Iris laughed nervously. She knew that better than all, since not only was she a target to those who wanted revenge on the Blue Rose, since she was the Princess, but she also didn't have anything to protect herself.

"I got lost, I was trying to find my brother and the others, but I'm not the best at navigating around this place."

The girl nodded, understanding her situation.

"I see, well, maybe my friends can help you find them."

Iris exhaled, relieved to hear those words. If she had the energy, she would have jumped with excitement.

"Who are your friends?"

...

"Their um... good people, I guess."

...

...

Iris blinked twice. Dumbfounded by what she was seeing, and here she thought that she was going to see some new people whom she didn't know. People who were capable and serious. She couldn't be more wrong.

'Not saying Aether isn't capable, but still.'

Aether waved at her, saluting Iris, while choking Riven.

"Aether! This isn't a way to meet a new person." She walked over to the two boys and separated them. They always did this, as if her life couldn't be harder than it already was. Why did she even join these two?

"Why are you always ruining the fun, Lyra? Plus, Riven and I already know Iris."

"I don't." Riven quickly intervened.

Aether tried to make him quiet, but Lyra had already heard him.

She sighed, turning back to Iris.

"I'm sorry for um... forget it. But we'll help you find the others. Right, guys?"

...

She poked Aether with her shoulder to make him respond.

"Hm? Oh yeah, sure. I already know where they are."

...

"Are you sure you know where they are... we've been going in a circle for some time now-"

Aether shushed her, confusing her.

"Trust, the, process."

She frowned, annoyed at having to walk in a circle without meaning, but when she was about to curse him, she heard some voices. Turning to Iris, whose eyes had lit up, as if she recognized the voices.

She quickly rushed to where the voices were, reuniting with the group.

As Avius saw her, he didn't waste a second getting to her.

"Iris, where were you! We were so worried. If something happened to you, your father would never forgive us, you know?"

Where was she? Where were they? They were the ones who had suddenly gone missing and made her have to wander around this place alone.

Avius sighed.

"Never mind, what matters is that you're safe. How did you even get here? It's not close to where we last saw each other, and I doubt you would get attacked if you just tried finding us alone."

As much as she wanted to take all the credit, she couldn't. She knew if it hadn't been for Aether and the others, she would have been dead. She really hoped that after this was over, she could find a way to take them into the Blue Rose. After all, she could tell they weren't bad people, and they had helped her more than she could have ever helped them.

"Oh, some friends helped me. There they are."

She pointed in their direction.

...

"Huh?"

But as she turned, there was no one there.

"I'm sorry to say this now, sir, but the Abyss was here not too long ago, but I lost him now."

Avius turned to him with an angry frown on his face.

"And why didn't you say anything!"

...

"Where did they go..."

Iris continued to stare, trying to find them, but it was as if they didn't exist in the first place. As if they had disappeared into the shadows.

...

...

"You know you're really wicked, you know. What if I didn't get to her first? Your plan of dividing Iris from the group would have failed. What did this even help you with? Huh?"

Lyra was not happy with him, and he could understand, and he knew that his plan had been very risky and unprofessional. But in the end, it all worked out.

Lyra had joined them after her first encounter with the mage and his people. She wasn't as enthusiastic as Riven was to hear his true identity, but she still joined them, wanting revenge, even after hearing who was really causing all that chaos.

"Time, that's what it got me. With them on my tail all the time, I needed a break, and at the same time, a way to keep them away from the Marketplace so Riven could work."

...

"So you separated them so they would try and find each other, knowing that they would only wander inside the Infinite Library, and outside the Marketplace..."

She sighed.

"Fine, I'll admit, it worked well in the end. But what now, their back to trying to find you, and I doubt your little trick will continue to work for long. Plus, you are low on essence, aren't you, even now, you're using your earring to manipulate the scout's memory so he doesn't see you're still around."

Aether laughed to himself, impressed by how observant the girl was.

"You're right. I'm quite tired." He yawned. "But you know what they say, no rest for the wicked. I can push myself a little longer, after all, I think it's time for the people to also take a part in this."

...

"The Blue Rose isn't welcomed in this place; it's time people realize this and take a stance."

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