The Mission of Eresheb

After leaving the moving castle, Eresheb had only one thought in mind. Yet, a shadow of hesitation crept over her. It was not the fear of confrontation itself but rather the fear of seeing that indifferent gaze of Ariane upon her once again. An invisible wall, an impenetrable barrier, seemed to stand between her and her resolve.

"So, XI Alpha, how have things been in my absence?"

Her voice echoed in the damp basement of a discreet tavern, a place where the stench of stale wine and smoke lingered in the air. A few weak candles cast flickering shadows on the stone walls.

At the center of the room, a middle-aged man was playing cards, surrounded by drinking companions. This man was XI Alpha. Like Eresheb, he was one of Ariane's creations, a piece on the grand chessboard she carefully manipulated. However, unlike her, he had forgotten the tool necessary to complete their mission.