The Hunt and The Golden Alcede

All words followed by ** will be referenced at the start of every chapter.

**Teacher Deirdre: Referencing the woman in demure blue robes from Chapter 10: Grand Figures From The Outside World, <Dame Deirdre>

**Bernadette: The Head Mistress's name.

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June 21, 1941

9:48 A.M.

The Tenth Floor, Hall of the Archive

Behind arrays and layers of fabric that served as veils, stone-like figures sat still as marble statues as if they were awaiting a command.

Occasionally from behind the fifth quarter, a figure would cough and exhale smoke from their smoking pipe—the Fifth.

They wheezed and murmured words under their breath about how difficult it was to obtain the smoking pipes nowadays, and the stray things they had witnessed over the course of their day.

The Fifth spoke to themself in a low voice—whispering but not entirely so, almost as if they were used to behaving in such a manner.

As always, the figure from the seventh quarter mimicked the Fifth's antics and tauntingly said whilst cackling, their laugh grating to the ears, "You haven't even dropped dead yet, but you're already acting like a crazy bastard who's one foot in the grave!"

Kek! Kek!

"Cut the bullshit, Seventh," The Fifth spewed back in response.

Following this, the sound of prayer beads grinding against flesh sounded from behind the white curtains that veiled the fifth quarter.

The Seventh laughed even louder at this, "Oh dear me, how frightening!"

Black vines covered in decay and rot slowly crept out from behind the red veils that cloaked the seventh quarter.

The vines danced playfully in the air for a moment, it appeared taunting to all those who watched.

"Are you sick of living?" The sound of the prayer beads crackling became louder, and the smog behind the fifth quarters thickened.

Though, before the tension could worsen any further, a dry weathered cough from behind the second quarter interrupted.

"You two, enough."

"Tch, I was just playing around," The Seventh said. The vines slowly crept back behind the veils, leaving behind black residue and dirt in the place where the vines once were.

This time, the Fifth remained silent and put out their smoking pipe.

As the silence lingered in the air, the thick veils to the fourth quarter trembled; a faint glow of light illuminated the exquisite black cobra sigil branded onto the fabrics and the slender yet giant figure of the Fourth.

"Why did you summon us, Second?"

From the start of their discourse, the Fourth had been watching the tension arise. Only when the Second had awoken from their slumber did the Fourth bother to speak—even then, their voice was jarring and rough as if the speaker couldn't bother to put up a polite front.

The Second coughed again and weakly answered, "The Sixth has gone missing."

Heads swiveled around and faced the empty sixth quarter, however, the Third remained still as if they had been informed of the news beforehand.

"Missing?" The Fifth asked, appalled, "Has that old hag gone senile? They dared to ditch a mission from the First?"

The Second shook his head and quickly shot down the Fifth's accusations, "That doesn't appear to be the case."

"Then? I doubt that slimy old shrew is dead—their soul lamp hasn't been extinguished, have they gone off the rails?"

Before the Second could answer, the Fourth interrupted. The sound of flesh and scales thumping against stone and marble accompanied his monotone voice as he spoke, "Third, speak—what do you know of this matter?"

"Straight to the point as always. We searched for the Sixth in the Scarlet Sea, but we haven't found any traces. We suspect that the Sixth has either fallen prey to either 'The Hunt,' or the ravenous Sea itself," The Third said, their fingers running through their hair.

"What?" The Fourth froze.

At the mention of The Hunt, the Seventh sat up straight. "Didn't they die off two epochs ago? Her Ladyship, she-"

"Not exactly. It's also likely that the Sixth may have been captured by those from The Golden Alcede; they are firm believers of the doctrine of Egalitarianism after all."

The Fifth sighed and shook their prayer beads, mumbling prayers under their breath. Though the Third didn't confirm the current state of the Sixth, it was evident what they were implying.

To be caught by The Golden Alcede, death was the only outcome.

"The Third is correct," The Second murmured, their voice guttural.

From behind the thin veils to the second quarter, the Second's form warped and became one of a shapely young woman.

"What are your thoughts on this, First? Or, would you prefer to be called Head Mistress?" The Second genially asked, their voice no longer like an older gentleman's, but rather seductive and feminine.

Laughter echoed throughout the spacious hall, and the veils to the first quarter opened.

"Either is fine. As for the Second- no, Candela's disappearance, more investigation will have to be conducted. Though, this matter will have to be delayed as a branch of The Golden Alcede is arriving today-"

The Seventh leaped up from where they sat and interrupted the Head Mistress's words, their body distorting into an unseemly blob of flesh behind the many veils as they shrieked.

Their playful demeanor was no more, leaving behind only the truest and ugliest persona of the Seventh.

"What?! The Golden—First! We have hidden ourselves for eons, this is preposterous! You are inviting the enemy to our territory! You are betraying the Sixth's trust! You…!"

"Calm down," The Head Mistress said, her eyes crinkling, "I assure you, the Sixth is alive and unharmed as of this moment."

"As of this moment?! Regardless, you should be looking for the Sixth; as the First, your role- you should be-!"

"I've heard from my little birds that amongst the seeds that have been gathered by the Sisters, one has found a remnant of The Hunt—a young child no older than eight."

"…What?" The Seventh froze. All breathing halted, and the Third opened their eyes upon hearing this.

Slowly, a large smile spread across the Head Mistress's face as she spoke, "That child's name is Ines."

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1:24 P.M.

"Do you think we might… you know, get adopted?"

"Well… maybe?" Another girl giggled, then she said in a huff, "Perhaps we won't! Perhaps we will! Though we did fail the latest exam, I doubt teacher Deirdre** would recommend us."

"…You have a fair point."

"I always do!"

In the crowd of chattering and excited adolescents, Ines' silence and crestfallen expression were as odd as a one-eyed elephant dancing on top of a spinning ball.

Next to her, Charlotte occasionally spoke to the other children before nudging Ines, her face taut from consternation as she wanted the younger girl to join the conversation and socialize.

"Ines, what do you think?" Charlotte asked.

"…"

However, despite her efforts, Ines remained silent, her eyes blank.

After several fruitless attempts, Charlotte sighed and no longer tried to pull Ines into her conversations. Her eyes briefly lingered on the younger girl's bruised knuckles and palm, and she interlocked their hands.

'…!'

At the sudden warmth, Ines was brought out of her reverie.

Ever since she had left Preceptor Amadeus's office, Ines had become unresponsive.

After months of "counseling" with the Preceptor, she had thought that she had left the past behind.

She no longer feared the things she used to, nor did she skip dinner anymore—but it was all for naught.

Before Ines' thoughts could stray once more, her attention was momentarily caught by the towering walls that encircled the mountain.

'Come to think of it, how did I get on this mountain?' Ines pondered.

She squinted her eyes, her attention fixed on the sole entrenching gate that acted as both an entrance and exit on the mountain.

How weird, it was the first time Ines had looked at the gates, but it felt oddly familiar. The gravel roads that encompassed the grassy hills, and the stone walls with odd patterns and intricate designs—it was like she had seen them before.

'But where?' She frowned.

"Ines!" Charlotte whispered, her eyes twinkling. Her sudden words shook her out of her trance, and as she looked up, Ines was faced with faces of astonishment from all those around her.

Turning her attention forward where all eyes were fixated, a grandiose black-coated carriage embellished in gold that was being pulled by six massive stallions with coats dark as coal appeared by the gate.

The carriage soon made its way up the hill that led to the mountaintop where they were settled. Many children were awed by the stallions, while some swooned over the luxury of the carriage itself.

However, Ines' attention was elsewhere. On the side of the carriage, there was a large golden insignia of a sun and a large staff.

It was nothing fancy compared to the ornate and elaborate insignias she had seen in the past—rather, it was somewhat simplistic, but it held an odd sort of charm.

In a matter of minutes, the carriage had made its way onto the mountaintop.

Ines watched unblinkingly as Sisters rushed out to greet the servants in torrents. The Sisters behaved like hounds who had caught a whiff of fresh blood, their hands rushing frantically to be at the servants' feet.

As more and more Sisters rushed out, Ines could spot a couple of familiar faces in the crowd, Sister Edith for one.

As the Sisters helped the servants carry their master's luggage elsewhere, Madams she had never seen and those whom she knew began appearing.

'…Is that Madam Clémence?' Ines' eyes twitched in disbelief.

For even that Madam to appear, certainly, this guest who showed interest in her had to be of great status.

After all the luggage had been unpacked, an older gentleman stepped out from the side of the carriage.

He wore a black leather coat that appeared rather plain alongside a black tophat. For a moment, he spoke with a servant donned in an attire that resembled the color of the carriage.

'Was that it?' Ines raised a single eyebrow at this. Her sponsor was a mere nobleman?

Even the guests from the other lands such as Preceptor Amadeus, Dame Deirdre, and the rest didn't get this sort of salutation.

'Surely, there has to be something-'

At that moment, the older gentleman looked up and met Ines' stare.

His eyes were frigid and unfeeling, but in a split second, his gaze became friendly like an elderly man greeting their grandchild whom they hadn't seen in years.

Goosebumps appeared on her arms, and Ines' expression froze.

However, he soon looked away and raised his arm, waving. A polite smile spread on his lips as he said, "Good afternoon, Madam **Bernadette."