The first step, Then the next

"If you run away now, I might let you off without a few broken bones."

The woman's smile stood unwavering in her domineering stance, even as she voiced her threat.

The boy who assaulted Clover struggled against whatever it was which limited his mobility, sticking his chest out in pride while refusing to yield.

Suddenly, his leg popped, then the bones around his knee prodded under his skin.

He didn't realize this at first, and weirdly enough, kept trying to resist the force acting against him using his legs as his greatest support. Although soon...

"Hey big brother! Your leg, it's..." the blonde haired boy almost yelled.

"Huh?"

Looking at his shin which was now only a push away from piercing through his flesh, the boy started howling as if just now feeling the pain in his knee.

He flopped on the ground, rolling back and forth while grabbing his shin and knee.

"My leg! My leg!"

He shouted these words over and over, crying out in a dramatic display of deep suffering which inadvertently made it seem alot shallower than it actually was.

The blonde haired boy held on to his brother's arm. "C'mon let's get outta here."

Forcefully stifling his cries while toughing out the pain, the boy hooked his arm over his brother's shoulders, hoisting himself from the concrete floor.

Without a second breath, he looked at Clover on the ground and said before running away.

"This isn't over you hear me."

He limped himself on the support of his brother, scurrying away as fast as his limb allowed.

...

The woman approached Clover on the ground, then eased his back on the wall.

"I never expected you to be here, Scarlett." Clover nearly grunted.

"Why didn't you defend yourself?" Scarlett asked, helping him stand on his feet. Her voice took a softer note on par with the concerned glimmer in her eyes.

"Haha." he struggled to even laugh. "Why didn't I defend myself you ask...?"

Opening his hand which held onto his abdomen, Clover revealed a small compressed ball of spherical air that dispersed amongst the wind as he cancelled a spell.

"...Because you beat me to it."

Scarlett sighed, there wasn't much else to say on the matter. It seemed that Clover already had the situation under control before she even came to his rescue.

A few breaths of time passed by before Scarlett's expression became solemn.

"We need to talk, but not here." she said.

Her deep, steady tone turned Clover's relaxed mood on it's head, he could more or less tell why she wanted to speak with him...in private, and the thought shot a stroke of excitement through his aching stomach.

...

...

...

...

...

In Scarlett's library, they both stood staring at each other.

Words were not exchanged, movements were not made, and the air stood still between them in a dead drop of unnoticeable pressure.

Without reason for announcement, Scarlett approached a nearby drawer, opened it with a key around her neck, then took out it's contents. Soon appearing once more before Clover with a wooden box held with both her hands.

"They're all here, within this box." she said.

He stared into Scarlett's arms, interested more in what the box contained, than the box itself.

But even so, there came a long lag in his reactions while his eyes swiped glances all over the box's dimensions.

An ordinary box, it might've been, but it was not...more like a mini treasure chest if anything else.

The dark golden-brown chatoyance of it's wood almost made the box seem rugged and ancient despite its smooth texture. And in contrast to the glassy shine which bounce off its surface, a single brush and whiff stood as proof it wasn't tainted with unnatural oil...even the very aroma it emitted brought forth a robust fresh-cut woody scent.

Apart from all that, one stunning feature remained—the marvelous curvy carvings which provided depth in its design...from the top of it's arched cover, to the corners of it's bottom frame. Truly a piece of art.

After satisfying his need to gawk more than he should, Clover gently and humbly received the treasure within his grasp. There was no need for words, he knew exactly what was contained within and wouldn't soil the mood with unnecessary banter.

"Thank you." he said, almost voicelessly.

"I'm sure...you know exactly what to do with this. But for the sake of clarity, I must tell you..." Scarlett dragged a nervous breath down her chest. Her fear derived strictly from the weight of what she would say next. "...It must only be used the moment before you're ready to enter Voris' realm."

Only a slow nod was given as a form of confirmation while Clover took another glance at the treasure-box, it was as his show of how serious this meant to him...and also to convey his own fears and concerns.

"This is only the first step. And I cannot allow you to do this on your own, both because this spell that you wish to cast is beyond your own abilities, and also because this plan of yours will bring you much unwanted trouble." Scarlett hinted at the fact his skills regarding magic is preliminary at best. But this only increase his trust towards her, which ultimately is a good thing...he needed to know he could trust her. Otherwise everything he'd done to this point was all for naught.

Clover gripped the wooden box in his hands tightly, afraid it would be snatched from his very possession if he didn't hold onto it with all his strength.

In his mind were flickers of fleeting thoughts, he neglected to speak. And barely, his breathing resounded. This was the first time...he'd ever felt a bit of power in his control, like he at least had some control over his fate.

Scarlett saw the sparks of fire in his eyes, felt the heat eminating from his body, and the restlessness in his soul as it caused his mind to establish focus.

In the midst of this, Scarlett could only state the obvious...

"Please, be patient."

Nothing...was what this didn't mean to Clover, he knew this himself after all. However, he couldn't help but feel anxious...not because fear started lumping at his core, but because he could feel every single tick...every single second...and every single thing which elevated his perception of time.

With this, the gears were set into motion and the hands of the clock started moving again. It was only just a matter of time...which meant that waiting was a part of it all.

'Hara...wait for me. I'm coming for you.'

...

...

...

Meanwhile, Edward's body moved upon shadows as he walked through halls, rooms, and more halls.

The look in his eyes portrayed a sense of urgency...or maybe it was hesitation, who knows?...But one thing was for certain, his legs never stopped moving as the purpose in them became apparent with every step he took.

Halls, upon halls, upon halls...It might have seemed endless if it weren't for the fact that the sound of his steps grew louder the more he reached wherever it is that he wanted to go.

His face blurred with how fast he was walking, and the ground shook when his feet made contact...over and over again.

A moment...another moment...time was slowly passing by.

He appeared to not care for anything, but one would know that was not true when they gased at the focus in his eyes.

BOOM!

His movements halted with the last right turn, and Infront of him...were two large grand doors which would've look like a heavy metal gate if only it were placed outside.

He pushed the doors aside with barely any of his strength despite standing three times his size.

Modesty, Decadence, Wonder, and Prestige...these words were now injustice in the chambers Edward stepped his foot in.

Snow white carpets made of silk and cotton layed out on the floor. A large chandelier placed at the centre of the ceiling lit the surroundings in sky-blue fluorescent lights. And a large bed spread with white sheets rested beside the far wall of the entrance.

How simplistic were the furniture and designs that even a child would develop an artistic taste. Yet, the complexity of their placement only made it simpler to accept the perfection.

But always...art was never perfect, which is why Edward spared them no attention even after walking into this room.

Although, it wasn't that he secretly worked as a hardcore art critic or that he had no taste for such a creative venture, no...that wasn't it. The main reason he stood stoic in this room made for heavenly beings, was because his purpose for being here took top priority...only for now though.

"Must you be so rude to barge into my chambers unannounced, Edward?" a gentle feminine voice spoke.

Noticed before, the large bed within this spacious room was being occupied by several women as they fooled around with each other in a manner only close sisters would.

But the one that opened her mouth to speak lied at the centre of them all...wearing white robes draped around her body, just like the rest of them.

"I apologize." Edward lowered his head. "I had no means of contacting you before my arrival."

The woman brushed her fingers on the abdomen of one of her companions, keeping her focus on Edward.

"You're required no forgiveness for this blunder. Although I do hope that you will knock next time." she kept fingering the bodies of the women surrounding her. "So, Central Guardian of the Gi Template, why do you choose to visit me at this time?"

Edward's face became stiff, yet his eyes refused to wander. The weight of his body started becoming a burden and the airways of his throat narrowed.

"I wish to ask a favour of you, Northern Veil Guardian of the Gi Template." he said.

"Oh, Is that so? Edward Flelen, the man who attained everything he has on his own, wishes for a favour? This is truly a rare sight indeed." Voris eased up from the bed. "Sisters, do you mind?"

The other women on the bed rose up to stand on the floor, leaving the room obediently without question or murmurs.

"Thank you." Edward said.

He knew Voris did this from consideration since she was aware that, regardless of however prideless he might be, he still had to uphold his honour...both as a great man, and as a Veil Guardian.

"Think nothing of it. And besides, I do like the idea of me being the first to lend a favour to our most beloved Central Veil Guardian." Voris smiled, still sitting on the edge of the bed with her hands stretched back behind her. "Now if you don't mind, I will only ask you one question before your request is heard."

Rubbing the hilt of his sword, Edward glanced at it before nodding at Voris which made her smile broaden a bit more.

"I could be wrong, but something tells me you haven't even lifted a finger to train that pupil of yours. So why is it that, in the first challenge of this Guardian Tournament conducted by the Duke of Deception himself, your pupil managed to break a Royal Grade deception spell merely moments after he was placed under it?" Voris got off the bed to stand. "Because last I heard, he didn't know how to use magic until recently."

Only able to process her question, Edward found himself pondering for answers...but when he found one, he swallowed it down before even having the chance to utter a single sound.

So in this situation, he only told what he knows to be true.

"You're right, I haven't trained him much less thought of the idea. And yes, he was indeed only able to use magic until about a week ago. But I don't know...I don't know how he could have done something like that. I thought maybe he had learned something from Scarlett which would have helped him in that challenge."

"I see..." Voris turned her side while walking a quarter-circle around Edward before turning back to him. "Well then, this favour you wish to ask of me. I want to hear it."