Sin to Spectre

There was a silence in the room as those who were not acquainted with Alec inwardly thought that the boy was most likely like the others who wanted to use their Societype against them or for his own benefit.

They had long since been disillusioned with this world and how it treated them like they were the scum of the earth.

Countless times, they had their expectations betrayed again and again meant that they wouldn't take platitudes at face value, causing them to remain wary until they saw the true face of those they interacted with.

Most Sins maintained the mentality that if the world was against them, then they would retaliate in the way that they were expected to.

Then, to their disbelieving eyes, Dominique, who was the most obstinate of all the Sins in the sect, stepped forward. Dominique Falren ranked the highest in the Sin scale, whereby the prominent 'traits' of Sins displayed themselves fully and strongly within his personality and actions, did something that no one would expect.

Dominique dropped into a kneel where his hair shifted, revealing glittering and lively eyes that stunned the room yet again. There was a distinct flavour of fanaticism that leaked from his eyes. It was a far cry from his usual indifferent and blank eyes that they were shocked within an inch of their life.

The Sins that weren't in the know felt like they were losing their collective minds.

Just what was happening here?!

How could Dominique of all people be willing to submit to that wispy scrap of a child? Just what sorcery had the other cast over him? Some sort of hypnosis magic or something that befuddled the mind?

Still, there hadn't been any talk in the sect about someone possessing any of such magic.

Then, twelve other Sins stepped forward, including Yuki and Rosabel, kneeling in front of Alec as well.

They ignored the gazes that were practically burning into the back of their heads from their inexplicable actions towards the youngest ever child prodigy in the array profession.

They could practically feel the confusion and doubt that leaked off the other Sins in the room.

No matter how they looked at it, they just couldn't understand. What was happening right now?

Were they really awake and not just asleep?

Alec's eyes scanned over them. He was not surprised that the Sins he had the most contact with had submitted to his claim of leadership. He supposed that they thought it would be better for them to live under someone who they knew instead of someone they didn't.

He was, however, surprised when he saw Hayden Grayson, had joined the line of those kneeling. The boy with the purple hair and eyes was the same one that he had spotted previously when both of them were attempting admission into the Heavenly Ascension Sect.

Alec had not seen Hayden in the past three years, but when Alec looked directly at him, there was a faint feeling that he didn't know how to describe. Whether it was himself or if it was the [System's System] acting up, he didn't know.

Alec had not exchanged any words with the boy before, and he had actively looked for the other either.

Why was it that he had willingly joined the line of those willing to submit?

Studying his figure, Alec noted that the black collar that had been fitted onto the Sin previously was gone – all that was left behind was a pale line that was different from the rest of his skin tone.

Still, he didn't allow his thoughts and doubts to show on his face as he approached the still kneeling Dominique. Alec briefly put his thoughts aside for the time being.

He still didn't understand how Dominique's mind worked. Why did he stick to Alec so closely every time he brought the other food? He never reacted this way with anyone else, as far as Alec was aware of.

Then he dismissed his concerns. Dominique was now free to roam the sect wherever he wanted, so he supposed that the other would spread his wings and leave Alec alone now that he wasn't confined.

Alec lightly brushed fingers on the inside of Dominique's wrist, where the seal that he'd created for the Spectre's purpose, appeared on his skin. Alec had drawn this seal over and over again until it was ingrained in his muscle reflex. He could draw it half asleep, barely awake, or even completely asleep.

He had added his cipher to the seal, so it appeared like a stylized crescent moon splattered with red.

The seal appeared on Dominique's pale skin then disappeared within the next moment, causing the Sins who had been watching to blink and wonder if their eyes had stopped working.

Alec moved down the line, repeating the actions to each one who was kneeling.

The crescent seal appeared and disappeared within moments of it appearing on their skin, surprising the Sins. They thought that he would pull out a bunch of brushes and painstakingly draw each seal on, leaving them more time to think and observe him.

What they didn't know was that it was only array masters who had the Awakening Magitype that could do this.

As someone who had a Magitype that was deemed 'useless' by society, this was the one advantage they had over the others – but even then, this had been forgotten by society for a long time, only ever being referenced in the most obscure books left behind by the passages of time.

Truly, the Awakening Magitype was one that excelled mainly in the hands of an array crafter. He'd met every disciple in the array division, but not one of them had the Awakening Magitype, which disappointed him. When Alec had more power, he would see to it that the sect took in these previously 'useless' Magitypes and train them up.

By the time he reached Hayden, purple eyes met blue ones.

Hayden nodded at Alec, who nodded back. Brushing a seal onto the boy's wrist, Alec looked at the rest of the Sins, his smile no longer had the hard edge that he'd been maintaining before, reverting back to his normal gentle aura.

The remaining sins didn't know how to react – both to the one who had been displeased but authoritative before and now to the gentle one that appeared before them.

They hesitated before someone knelt as well, offering up his wrist.

If Alec was able to capture Dominique, Rosabel and the rest, then what chance did they have of fighting this off?

Not to mention, the boy was graciously giving them the appearance of choice for their own pride and ego.

At this point, they were better off submitting for now. They would be able to further gauge the boy later on.

When the first person knelt, the rest of them slowly started to kneel as well. They didn't know what would happen to them under this person's rule, but for now they were willing to, however reluctantly, obey him.

Alec quickly finished marking up the rest of the Sins, each one carrying a seal that hummed in the back of his mind.

He'd conveniently Awakened those seals that they carried on their skin.

Alec gestured for them to get up, pulling Dominique up.

"Shake hands with the person next to you," Alec said without any reason, confusing them. What they didn't notice was that the seal appeared on both Dominique and Alec's wrist when they touched.

It was clarified when their hands touched. The seals that had been placed on the inside of their wrists warmed lightly upon contact with someone else who contained the seal as well, appearing briefly while they made contact and disappearing after they let go.

Alec now explained the other functions that their seal contained.

"You should know about the Magnitude Seal that the sect has taken to using. The seal that I've placed on you has something similar, but because it is permanently etched to you, contains a larger space for you to take advantage of. Also, if anyone tugs harshly on the seal with their magic, that's a sign that you're in trouble or facing certain death.

This is where the other function of the seal comes in. Anyone who notices the tug on the seal should trigger the seal to teleport to that person's side if you aren't doing anything sensitive."

Alec studied the Sins' faces, who morphed from reluctance to grudging respect, then delivered the final part of his speech. "While the seal does contain what I call an Authority Seal, I will not use it against you should you remain reasonable."

He paused. "This is our base. No one without the seal can enter. You are to come here to report for missions. That is all. Dismissed."