Overflowing Cup

Knock Knock

"Who is it?"

Elijah, who calmly knocked on the door knew that there was a chance he would be rejected. It is the very beginning of the morning, a morning slightly thrown off by the loss of a small percentage of light due to the mana barrier. 'Yeesh, this guy is surely in a mood…'

"Elijah, can I come in?"

"Sure."

Questions he wanted to ask were already lined up like the bullets in a magazine. However, Elijah suspected Novius was depressed from something he had no idea about. The distance forcibly created from Elijah temporarily leaving the party had made an impact, but Elijah believed there was more. "I can tell something is off about you, and as your friend, I want to help. What is wrong?"

Novius stood up from his couch that he was sitting on while slightly leaning forward using his elbows as leverage. "So many things are wrong. And to tell the truth, I can't even tell you…"

"What do you mean you can't tell me?"

"I literally can't get the words out of my mouth?!" Novius turned around to show Elijah the turmoil and tears dripping down his face. His five foot body slouched to one knee and stared into the patterned carpet. "It's you isn't it…"

Elijah felt small tears begin to bubble in the corners of his eyes from pure empathy.

"There are things I want to say, but can't. There are things I want to do, but can't. Every time I realize these things, I instantly forget and lose track of where I was. At first I never even noticed it, but now, it is clear. I know I am forgetting things that I constantly remember while forgetting them once again. It is a cycle of pure torture that I can't feel or remember, and that is torture by itself!"

Elijah stared in silence as he watched Novius circle the room in confusion and frustration. Theoretically, if a mind spell that affected every person within the kingdom was real, and prevented people from wanting to ever leave without staying close and returning was true, then why would the spell on Novius dwindle like it obviously is? "Do you want to leave the kingdom?"

"Y-yes! That's it! Ah, I've already forgotten… Elijah, do you know what is happening?" Novius went from a gleeful face to a solemn face in an instant.

"Do you believe there is life outside the walls, human life?"

"Yes, I do! There has to be more life. The kingdom is overflowing. The only option is to expand. Wait, wh–"

"Stop! Don't talk and calm your mind!"

Novius was confused by Elijah's quest, but followed suit. The couch was rather soft and groped by Novius' hand as he sat down. Unnecessary motions were made before he finally calmed down and sat still.

Elijah went in for a hug between bros. "Novius. You are going to be okay. You are strong, and have a mind made for changing the kingdom. Keep doing what you are doing, and to give you something busy to do, I need you to make me an invisible suit whenever you have time. I need it as soon as possible for something very important. Can I trust you?" 

Novius was only slightly dazed, and did not bother asking for his reasons. The truth is that Novius had already created a few copies of the suit of invisibility, but kept his innovations a secret due to the last time Elijah had used his invention. After agreeing, Elijah quickly ran out of the room while feeling the pendant around his neck in the easiest spot to remember.

"Amaris, come to the Weltor's. Second floor, open window."

…

A rock was continuously thrown up into the air while catching it with a swift sideways motion of either hand. This rock was found in The Catacombs and had a rather interesting shape, but with erosion, it became infinitely smooth on all sides. A flat and smooth rock that perfectly fit in the hand of Elijah. 

What had just happened within Novius' bedroom gave him an eerie feeling. A feeling of foreboding. A mind spell of some sort had practically just been confirmed with this experience even without definitive evidence. However, Elijah was left with even more questions. Who created it? Does the creator know of the irregularities or anomalies? What is the reason for the mind spell existing? Does the King know?

A soft knock was heard on the window of Elijah's bedroom.

"Are you gonna help me up kid?" Hanging from the ledge of the window was Amaris. His black coat covered his strong arms that could easily pull him to safety, but the guy was a jokester at heart.

"What?! Are you serious?"

"Haha, no." Amaris did a complete muscle up and landed in front of the window. "So, what happened?"

Before Elijah began talking, he assured that what he was about to say is just a hunch, a theory that seems very possible only because of one person. During his explanation, Amaris simply stared at Elijah with calm and indifferent eyes.

"I understand. This is quite the situation. We are only finding this out because of Novius, and since we have no way of finding out why Novius is now becoming like us, we need a new angle to investigate this from. However, I don't want you thinking about this, focus on the tournament."

While Elijah did not enjoy the sound of that, he understood that Amaris would likely employ his own people, people who had entered this Kingdom with Amaris, and maybe even people born here that are completely unaware of the secrets this kingdom holds. A benefactor who doesn't reveal the end goal to the people who would be afraid if they knew.

Downstairs within the kitchen of the Weltor estate, was Elijah refilling a glass of water. His eyes were blank as he lost his train of thought, and the only thing that snapped him out of the zone was an overflowing glass of water.

'How coincidental… Novius, and now you.'

A quick stretching routine took place on the rooftop of the estate. Within the confines of an open greenhouse was Elijah reminiscing in the floristry and purified air. The castle was in clear view. Its rounded and cornered base with at least five floors acted as supports for the four windowless castle towers that stood at the highest point in the entire kingdom. With each one at a different height, it gave the castle a sophisticated look. The simplicity of the stone and pigmented wood is beginning to sour Elijah's mood.

"If I really left the kingdom, how would I survive? How would I get past the beasts that are way above my level? How would I obtain food? I can't be ignorant and think I can easily survive…" Ideally Elijah thought if he reached the dark orange core stage, his ability to take care of himself would dramatically increase. 

Elijah laid on the cold stone rooftop with his arms crossed behind his head, and his right leg crossed over his left. The moon was visible in the sky, as well as a shadow zooming past it every couple of minutes. "Also, I have to be aware of the beasts flying in the sky… I can see you. The moonlight isn't covered by the clouds anymore."