The Price of Integrity

Josh knelt on the ground as despair filled his heart. He knew that there was no way for him to defeat Xal, they are in completely different leagues. He wanted to save Lana, but there was no way for him to do so. He felt utterly helpless.

Xal got close to Josh, looked him in the eyes, and said, "So? How is integrity treating you?"

Josh stared at Xal with eyes filled with burning anger. The avatar of the {Mountain Guardian} appeared behind him as he delivered a swift punch toward Xal. However, it did not even touch the shadow of Xal.

"You are a demon!" Josh's mother cried.

"I'm not. I'm the hero who killed the rampaging Josh who killed his family," Xal said with a terrifying smile.

"Bastard!" Lana's mother shouted.

"Don't patronize me. That's how the world works. The powerful write the history," Xal added before he walked near Lana. "Decide, Josh."

"Argh!" Lana miserably cried after Xal attacked her.

"LANA!" Josh shouted. Tears are already falling from his eyes. He seemed like a deranged person, ignorant of what he should do."

"Josh...don't," Lana said in her dying voice. Josh stared at her with eyes of pity and lament. He could not help but blame himself for all that happened. 'If only I bowed my head,' he thought. Just then, his eyes opened wide after seeing the smile on Lana's face.

"You don't have to decide. Keep your integrity." These were her last words. She filled her heart with Arcane and let it explode. Blood showered all over the vicinity, painting the despairing faces of the victims.

"LANA!!!!" Josh cried his lungs out.

"Alas, I wanted to see more despair, but that b*tch killed herself," Xal sighed in disappointment.

Josh's mind is already on the brink of collapsing, he could not be bothered by anything else going on.

"You have gone insane already. Alas, there is no fun in prolonging this," Xal commented before he waved his hand. Orange Runes appeared around them before transforming into burning flames that burned the remaining people alive.

The gruesome scene was done under the brilliance of the morning light. There was an eerie moment that lingered as Xal soaked the atmosphere with an inhale. Suddenly, he turned vigilant as he heard leaves ruffle.

"Who is there?" he asked while shooting a beam of Arcane toward the source of the noise; however, he hit nothing.

...

"That is the end of my article, sir," a youth with cleanly cut short black hair said. He was about 6 ft and was wearing a black suit that complemented his blue eyes nicely.

"You were able to record this, correct?" the old man behind the desk asked.

"Yes, sir."

"That's nice. I have some personal questions before I accept you. Do you have a family?"

"I lost all of them when I was young," he said without breaking his formal expression.

"Will you be fine if the job requires you to stay within the office for years?"

"Absolutely, sir."

"Follow me," the old man said before leading the youth to the door on his left. After entering the room, a beautiful library greeted the youth.

The old man drew yellow Runes in the air which seemed to awaken the room. A part of the floor slowly opened, revealing a staircase that led underground. The youth obediently followed the man without asking any questions.

Finally, they reached a dark room. The entrance they came in shut before the Runes inside the room glowed, lighting the place. In the middle, there was a crystal ball with a violet Rune inside.

The old man drew the corresponding violet Rune which triggered the crystal ball. "Good morning, Keynote Journalist," the old man politely said.

The youth's eyes opened wide. His originally formal, serious, and nonchalant expression was changed to an excited gaze. 'I cannot believe it! The Keynote Journalists!' he cheered in his thoughts.

"Good morning, scout. Is this your entry?" a distorted voice came out of the crystal ball.

"Yes, he is."

"Noted. Leave. You know the drill," the voice dismissed.

"Laigiel, I will leave you here. Good luck," the old man said with a proud smile.

"Thank you so much, sir!" Laigiel said with an elated voice.

Just then, the space beside Laigiel cracked revealing the void of space. Laigiel felt an intense feeling inside of him. It felt natural but it sent chills down his back. He could not help but fear the space crack.

"Enter the space crack, kid," the voice from the crystal ball said.

Just then, the fear inside Laigiel intensified. He did not know why, but there was something in that void that terrified him. However, he swallowed his fear and stepped forward. In the blink of an eye, he found himself inside a white room. There was nothing inside but four edges with white seats.

There was a lady sitting north. She had long silver hair that paired with her shallow silver eyes. She was wearing a pure white dress, making her dream-like. She had a calm and shallow demeanor which made her seem to not exist.

West was a man and a lady. The man had brown hair and deep dark eyes, wearing a common outfit that made him seem poor. However, he was joyfully chatting with the lady until he stopped after seeing Laigiel. The lady he was with had shoulder-lengthed amber hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a below-the-knee black skirt and a white long-sleeve shirt. Their spirited conversation was interrupted by Laigiel's arrival.

South was a girl wearing a white lab gown on a ragged black t-shirt and a pair of old black pants. Her long black hair was messily tied up and her eyes chose not to leave the book he was reading. She was wearing rectangular glasses that faintly hid her black eyes.

East was a red-haired man with a scar on his right cheek. His brown eyes were sharply staring at Lagiel as he sat there with one leg up the chair. He was wearing a silver chain necklace and an open coat that revealed his muscular body. On the other end of the East chair was a lady with long wavy blond hair and golden eyes. She was wearing exquisite clothing. Her gown was embroidered with beautiful Runes, revealing how expensive it is.

'Well, this is a nice blend of people but where the hell am I?' Laigiel thought.