Lumiere Industries

"Confident guy aren't ya? Well then how about this: Do you see my Scythe over there?" he pointed to a large scythe leaning beside the wall near where I stood.

"If you win, I'll give it to you. And to seal the deal, I will even provide you with an elixir to heal the injuries you sustained over the fight, regardless if you win or lose." The boy looked very pleased with himself as he spoke.

"Let me inspect the Scythe first," I requested.

"Sure thing," he replied, handing the weapon over to me. "Its name is 'Shadowcleaver'. Treat it with care, lest I'll make you regret it later."

As I took the Scythe in my hands, I couldn't help but be impressed by its craftsmanship.

The blade was made of a dark, gleaming metal that seemed to shimmer in the light, while the shaft was crafted from a smooth, polished wood that felt solid and sturdy in my grip.

The blade itself was shaped like a crescent moon, with jagged edges that seemed to glint with a faint, eerie glow. Intricate etchings pulsed through the length of the blade, seeming to move along with its motion.

I ran my fingers along the etchings, marveling at the level of detail and precision.

There was no doubt that this was a deadly weapon, one that could easily cleave through flesh and bone. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of wielding it in battle.

"What metal is the blade made from exactly?" I inquired. Although my knowledge of metallurgy wasn't extensive, I need to know about the properties and characteristics of whatever material the blade is forged out of.

"It's made from a mixture of mithril and orichalcum alloy," the boy responded with a smirk on his face. " The mithril gives it a sharp edge that can cut through almost anything, while the orichalcum adds to its weight and strength. So what do you say, you accept the deal or not?"

"I acc-"

"No he will not accept that." came a sudden interruption from behind.

It was Adeline with a very upset look on her face.

"Are you out of your fucking mind Tristan? You will not challenge a first-year, especially not my brother just so he can join our faction! She glared daggers at him.

"How is it my bad? The kid was about to accept the challenge and you too want him by our side." Tristan retorted back.

"Yes, I want him by our side, but not through these ways. He's F-Rank and you are D-rank god dammit!" she shouted at Tristan, her eyes blazing with fury "If you dare to mess with him again I will personally rip off every inch of your body and feed it to the dogs."

Tristan gave a shrug before turning away but not before giving me a quick nod at me, indicating that he received the tiny piece of paper I tossed to him just now.

The moment Adeline was walking towards us, I scribbled the information when the duel will be on paper behind my back. I'm glad he is at least somewhat intelligent and caught on quickly.

In 10 days, we will fight on a designated dueling ground in the academy.

I don't mind if Adeline finds out, as long as he fulfills his end of the bargain before she rips him to shreds, if she was serious with her threat, that is.

Immediately after Adeline shooed Tristan away, she turned around to me. Her expression softened ever so slightly.

"Noah, what has gotten into you? Why would you come here and willingly duel against someone so much stronger than you?" She sighed. "I know you want to prove yourself to the world but this is not the way to go about it."

" If you are eager to fight, pick someone from your own class but please do not fight as recklessly as you did back in Orion's Ring. It left me in tears to see you so badly hurt. Don't make me cry again. Promise me."

She placed a hand on top of mine and squeezed tightly.

"Promise me Noah. Please."

"Sister, understand that danger is lurking everywhere. This isn't a meaningless game of proving something to myself but a way to survive. Although I can't promise you my safety, I can at least try to minimize the risks involved."

Her brow furrowed for a second but then slowly relaxed.

"Alright, Noah. I suppose that's enough for now. You know, I noticed that since not long ago, you started to have a way with words. Are you perhaps finally studying as I told you?"

Oh, she finally caught on that I behave differently from the former Noah but interpreted it wrongly.

"Yes sister, I am indeed diligently studying." I lied.

"Good. I knew you had it in you. If you need anything ever, let me know ok?" She smiled.

"That's the reason why I came here in the first place sister." I said.

"What do you need? Oh, is it about a new weapon? Is that why you wanted to duel him? I'm sure if I use my saving and ask Father very kindly, I can provide you with something top-notch."

"Thank you, sister. But no, it's not about a weapon this time. I wanted to ask you if you know any places where I've been hanging around before venturing off to the Eldritch Fissures."

"Places where you hang around? The only one that comes to my mind is the one abandoned Mana factory near the outskirts of the city. I think it was called Lumiere Industries. Though you never actually told me what you were doing there. Why do you visit such an odd place anyway?" Answered Adeline with a confused look.

"I was just trying to study these factories from up close. Don't worry about it." I answered to ease her curiosity.

Lumiere Industries... that does ring a bell. Before shutting down, they produced valuable masks, amulets, rings, and pendants made from rare minerals found deep within the earth. It's rumored they even owned rare mana commodities.

Since it is abandoned, there is a good chance that Isabella's sister might actually be held captive there.

"Thanks Adeline. I better get going now." I said.

"Bye, Noah. See you later." She waved goodbye to me.

Returning to my classroom, I saw Isabella patiently waiting outside the door. As soon as she spotted me, she rushed over to question me.

"So? Tell me finally where my sister is. I swear I will uphold my end of the bargain afterward." She stated with a firm tone.

"Lumiere Industries. Your sister is most likely there." I bluntly replied.

"Most likely? How can you not know where my sister is exactly?!" Isabella snapped.

"Well, it's complicated. I will head there now to confirm it so wait a day and you can probably see her again." I said.

"Wait? No, I'm tagging along you!" She declared.

I had the feeling I couldn't convince her otherwise, so I just nodded and headed out of the building with her. Having a helping hand wouldn't hurt anyway.

As we walked towards the outskirts of the city, Isabella kept glancing over at me, as if she was unsure whether to trust me or not.

I could understand her apprehension. After all, the former Noah's deeds weren't exactly known for being honorable.

The number of people steadily decreased with every step we took toward the factory.

We passed by several small houses and eventually reached the main road leading to the factory. A few stray dogs wandered through the streets, barking loudly at each other.

The factory itself was a massive structure, its once gleaming walls now covered in vines and rust. The entrance gate was left ajar, creaking with every gust of wind.

Making our way inside, the smell of mold and mildew filled the air. The factory floor was empty and eerily quiet, except for the occasional sound of a rodent scurrying across the floorboards.

"Zoe? Zoe are you in here?" Called out Isabella.

After a moment of silence, a loud, reverberating noise echoed from within that seemed to fill the empty space with an ominous tone.

Small chuckles followed soon after. And they couldn't all stem from a single source either. There were too many voices laughing together.

Isabella's desperation to find her sister had clouded her judgment, and she charged into the factory without any regard for her own safety.

Her footsteps echoed loudly, reverberating through the cavernous space and alerting anyone within earshot.

"She sure is a perfect bait..." I commented, carefully following her.

However, a small reflection in the remaining sunlight caught my eye, and I stopped in my tracks. It was a glint of delicate metal, hidden behind a stack of crates.

It was a mask.

And what a mask it was. It was a porcelain white, with intricate etchings and designs that seemed to dance and swirl around the eyes and mouth.

The eyes were covered in dark, smoky lenses, making it impossible to see the wearer's eyes.

The mask seemed to radiate an eerie energy, giving it an unsettlingly smooth yet flawless appearance.

It was as if it was alive, with a malevolent presence that seemed to permeate the air around it.

This is perfect. A perfect cover for the execution of perfect art.