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"The Land's Aberrations! Finally!" Silver said before swiftly reading on.

"The Land's Aberrations are abnormalities across the lands that can happen due to a variety of different reasons. However, they usually occur due to the Gods warping an area and its passage of time."

"Certain ruins have been preserved because of the Land's Aberrations, and the legends of many kings and queens, dynasties and royal bloodlines, have been remembered due to this. The Great Monarch of Artistry, Majesty Golsan, is also the individual who fully preserves these areas, making sure that they are never tarnished by the influence of evil."

Ariadne whispered, "Woah… they're like… ruins? Then, won't this mean that we might be exploring ruins for our first mission from a Mercenary Troupe?"

"…Yeah… isn't this a little too risky, then?"

Ariadne shook her head. "Never too risky for us! Besides, we can't just sit around all day. Since father's somehow gotten even worse, we'll be starving to death soon enough."

Silver nodded his head and sighed subconsciously. To think that he was once a valiant knight of Count Lindsey's Knight Order. He didn't even think that his father would go if Count Lindsey called for him again. It seemed he had lost almost all his honour as a knight.

"…Then, let's go back. I think we have a good chance of being accepted to the Mercenary Troupe, anyway." Silver said.

***

After they went back to Cat's Cradle Street, they revealed the information that they gathered from their short trip to the Old Slums, but the man only listened attentively, gave his name, "Rasher," and then swiftly shut the door on the two of them again.

They waited for a while until they were sure that he wasn't coming back, before leaving to go back home. As they walked through a street, while the skies slowly began to resemble the midday atmosphere, Silver spoke.

"I guess we didn't get accepted, huh? I thought he would've accepted us, especially seeing as how we're quite desperate to get some quick money…"

Ariadne huffed. "Yeah, but we still do have some other options, so let's not lose all hope yet!"

Afterwards, they walked and walked, proceeding along the streets, until they finally found themselves back at the door of their house. The two of them worked together to unlock and open the door with the spare house key as quietly as they could, before closing it behind them.

"…Phew."

Thankfully for them, their father hadn't woken up from his spot on the couch. It seemed he had entered a deep sleep, similar to how he quietly slumbered like a dead man after the two of them prayed over his possessed body.

Soon after, they both swiftly headed up to their rooms and got busy on their separate things. Ariadne did some sketching and painting and also read quite a lot of an etiquette guide that she stole from the old library and placed by her side without anyone looking.

Meanwhile, Silver, without anything else to do but read or paint, which he had temporarily gotten tired of, just went to sleep, drifting into that kaleidoscope of abstract thoughts and wonders…

And then, he dreamt, and he slumbered. Under the darkness of his eyelids, he saw an entirely different world, littered with luminaries and signs that represented everything and nothing at the same time. Silver's eyes were closed, and he could see nothing, and yet, he could also see the abstract forms of everything in existence.

And then, as he dreamt, he suddenly felt as if the dream had become real. And then, a voice spoke.

"…Isn't it wonderful? The dreams of humans, forged from the tapestry of the Gods, the Loom of Fate. Our "Prewritten Destiny", hidden between the stars."

"The Gods interfere when it is needed, and watch when it is needed also. They are the truest beholders." The darkness around Silver faded before his very eyes, as the voice declared these words, and was replaced by a sea of shadows and souls.

"Is this… is this the Middle Realms?!" 

A mere moment later, a voice responded from the deepest depths of the sea of souls and spirits.

"No… this place is far from the land of the dead. It is an illusory realm, formed from mysticism, and the inner entrapments of your very mind."

"…Who are you?" Silver asked, looking all around and trying to find anything else other than the darkness that enveloped him. "Why can't I see anything? What exactly is this place? Is this not a dream?"

"Be calm, and listen clearly, as I have told you already. First off, I am Soul Gazer, of the Underworld Court. A member of a secret organization, which far surpasses the confines of the very town you live in."

"I have infiltrated your dream, and manipulated its unseeable walls, to truly see whether you have obtained something divine. Fortunately, it seems I have been proved correct."

"The traces left upon you are enough to tell that the Gods have gazed upon you once and that alone is sufficient. You will surely make waves in worldly events, both big and small..."

Silver wondered what nonsense exactly the voice that murmured was talking about. Divine wisdom? Traces of the Gods? What did that truly mean, since it was clear that those words had hidden meanings to them?

"…Listen, boy!" The voice commanded, earning Silver's full attention. "You… will become an abundance of fortune eventually. But, before you do, you must pass a period of destructiveness. It is best if you become acquainted with the matters of mysticism. And, your best bet would be to learn the ways of a Fatespinner for the time being."

"What…? What are you talking about?!"

"…So, you still have gotten a grasp on things. That is to be expected, but I can't help but feel… unamused."

"We shall meet again, in person, the next time we meet. But, at that time, I expect you to be able to hold out conversation and understand what I mean in full. Understood?"

Silver felt compelled to nod his head, but refrained. He only asked a simple question, the only question he thought could be answered by this strange voice. "Who… are you, exactly?"

"…I am someone who has been watching for too long. I am someone who will be your grand entrance into the true, bizzare world. Take this chance, boy. Step through, and see the world through the lens of a man with open eyes."

"You will understand everything by the time we next meet."

The dream disappeared in an instant, and Silver woke up in a flash, soaked in sweat, with a ray of moonlight drifting over his pale face and body. He rose from under his blanket and rubbed his face, still assuming that this was a dream, until he slapped himself in the face, and reassured himself that it wasn't.

"…What… what the hell was that?"