Sky Garden

A deserted rocky land expands as far as the eye can see. Glistening like ice, the black glassy surface seems slippery at a first glance, but the solid ground gives off a different vibe. Razor-sharp edges that always seem to be ready to take pieces of flesh, and spearlike tips thirsty for fresh blood.

In the background, the dense grey clouds that form randomly obstruct the dark sky, which blends with the layout, while crimson rays struggle to shine through and highlight the blood on the ground.

Enormous mountains rise like talons from the cold ground and pierce through the cover of the cotton clouds. The storms brewing in the distance can give any onlooker an eerie sensation as the vein-like thunders get closer.

A young man with messy brown hair and glowing purple eyes stands on the lifeless, crystalized land among a field of blood-red flowers that emerge from countless scattered bones.

As the raging skies roar approaches, the young man raises his palm, aiming at the distance in front of him. A silent incantation engulfs the surrounding area in a sea of flames moments before the cries of the world start raining down.

Behind him stands an old man with long whiskers that contrast the ground they touch. His old face muscles tense from holding his grin for too long. His body trembles with excitement, as if he's about to dance. With his scrawny hand, he holds onto the wooden cane that supports him.

The old man steps forward and pats young Nox on the shoulder. Their words are not audible to the audience watching the globe, but they can imagine what is being said. With that, fog covers the crystal ball of the Oracle, turning it white.

Caressing his black beard, the bald God voices. "Sir, we should eliminate that demon at once!"

The others remain silent and simply nod.

As for the burly man, he looks at the glass globe and ponders while trying to regain his composure from the earlier outburst. From time to time, he would peek toward the golden-haired Oracle trying to gauge her intentions, only to be met with a warm smile.

Her blue eyes follow the intimidating man's reactions and demeanor. Not much time passes when her soft voice tickles their ears. "What are your thoughts on Reboot now?"

After some thought, his hoarse voice overpowers hers. "It's not so easy, Oracle, and the consequences of such spell are severe!"

Minerva, confused, looks at Morgana.

"Fu Fu! If we cast Reboot, everyone involved will lose all power for a month. Think of it as the cool-down period. The spell is powerful, but it leaves us open to attacks from outside forces."

The Elven Goddess nods and looks at the burly man. "I wonder what decision Captain Rok will make!"

"Fu Fu! I believe he already decided earlier!"

Minerva stands up and walks towards the Oracle and Captain Rok. She takes an elegant bow and utters. "Excuse me!"

She walks out of the dining room and follows the long corridor towards the exit. She finds herself in the gardens of the floating palace. It's a place in the center of the castle, filled with greenery and a tapestry of colors.

A fitting location for the Goddess of the Elves. She takes it all in as she walks at a steady pace in the Garden Kiosk's direction. A paved path with glistening pebbles like a river of diamonds, whereas left and right, there are thick green bushes to decorate it and red roses to add a fragrant finishing touch.

Green grass with a variety of hues covers most of the garden like a carefully sewed cloth. Scattered trees provide shade to the resting benches beneath them.

Her facial expression changes to that of a smile on its own as she walks deeper into the garden. Her footsteps are light. From time to time, like a little girl, she will chase a butterfly that tries to fly to the next flower, and she will run away from a bee for no reason.

Her playtime ends when she's at the Garden Kiosk. A wooden structure with climbing white flowers at the sides, appearing like curtains. Inside it, a round table with specially welded metallic feet and a wooden top, and as for chairs, they used white carved stones.

Back at the castle, inside the dining room, the conversation reached a stalemate. Captain Rok and Oracle still argue whether they should use Reboot while the other Gods grow tired and sit silently at the long table. Morgana returns to her earlier pass time. She even gets some of them to cheer for her, mostly out of pity, which irritates her.

Meanwhile, on the ground below, some distance from Rodena Town, a fast-approaching young man wipes his tears while an angry expression gets painted on his face.

On one hand, there is a dagger with the blade facing outwards while on the move. His purple-black clothes make it easier for him to hide in the background. Even though he's running, a falling leaf that touches the ground makes more noise than him.

Moments later, he arrives in front of the Town. Not a single drop of sweat on his face, even though he was running the entire time. He's not out of breath, nor is he panting. Instead, he stands firm, staring at the walls of Rodena. The celebrations from inside reach his ears as his irritation heightens.

He clicks his tongue and dusts off his clothes. After taking a few deep breaths, he walks inside and looks around. His head remains motionless, but his eyes go from one end to the other, observing and registering everything.

Upon getting closer to the center of Rodena, it becomes louder. More people get gathered, drinking and cheering with one another, dancing around a sleeping young man who seems to be immune to the noise surrounding him.

They fill the area to the brim with people, which barely leaves them any space. They walk and bump into each other. The only time some raise their voice for something like this is when they spill a drink. Other than that, they happily go about their celebrations.

The young man who entered the Town just now notices him lying on the ground, without a care in the world. His frustration is immense as veins pop on his neck and forehead. Blood vessels burst from his anger, making his eyes red.

He reaffirms his grip on the hilt of the dagger and stares at his target. With one foot in front of the other, he approaches the sleeping young man without being noticed. He stealthily makes his advancement without bumping into anyone.

Like a dancer, he avoids the streams of random people crushing on one another. He evades left and right, all the while getting closer to Nox.

It doesn't take him long to stand in front of his target and point his dagger at him. The sharp edge glistens from the streetlights, with a variety of reflections appearing on the shiny blade. The surrounding people, besides a slight irritation from the sudden burst of light, ignore it.

He's about to strike Nox, and a grin forms on his mouth. The curved blade on the dagger descents and is about to pierce the sleeping young man when a burst of wind strikes the blade, knocking the attacker's hand to the side.

The sudden force from the wind grabs the attention of the people. Their celebration reaches an abrupt end as they direct their anger towards the unfamiliar person among them.

The half-elf companion of Nox sends out another wind skill, forcing the attacker a few steps back. Her worried face, in an instant, turns angry. "Who are you?"

"None of your business half-blood!"

He gets into a fighting position and vanishes without a trace. Mirena still feels his breathing on her nape, sending goosebumps to her entire body. She can still sense the grin formed on his face.

The surrounding area's temperature drops, creating a chilling atmosphere. Everyone present, including Mirena, exhales cold smokes out of their mouths.

Mirena looks around while sticking close to Nox in order to protect him. What she didn't expect, is the icy blade of the attacker pressing against her throat. His voice was calm and his tone chilling towards her. "Stay out of my way!"