Going Back

Klaus could wait for the ancient ship to be repaired and then fly to the Night Temple with his new companions, but the unease gnawed at him.

It should have taken them mere hours. Free the weirdo, take the damned knife, and leave.

So why weren't they back?

No, this was on him. He left the "Reflection of Sun," his so-called "Myth of Isles," on Reckoning Island precisely where Mordret's reflection was trapped. Bait for some unfortunate fool to break the seal.

And someone did.

Klaus had made a contract with Mordret, after all. A simple exchange: Mordret would feed him information about Valor, giving Klaus a better chance to orchestrate his father's demise and banish Asterion to the moon. In return, Klaus would come to Mordret's aid when needed.

An absolute contract. He couldn't disobey even if he wanted to. Their souls were bound by a Transcendent Memory he once possessed.

That Memory was gone now, but the contract remained. Destroying the tool didn't undo the consequences—breaking a sword didn't heal the wound it inflicted.

And now, he was paying for it.

Klaus didn't particularly care whether Sunless lived or died. He barely knew him. But Cassia… that was another matter entirely.

After so long apart, he missed her. The blind Oracle was one of the few people he cared about, truly. He fancied her lot, and even then, he often felt the urge to shake her for her recklessness. She was definitely thinking that because of her visions, she was in control but Klaus himself was in constant clash against fate. His entire existence rejecting everything that tried to control and influence him. That is exact reason why visions aren't that reliable when he was involved.

He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to analyze the situation instead of stewing in irritation.

First, the fact that they were still inside meant Cormac wasn't there. If that lunatic had been present, they'd already be dead and all hope was lost.

Second, because he had practically spoon-fed Sunless and Cassia information about the Night Temple, the Ivory Knife, and the Nightmare Seed… well, he could only hope she wasn't being her usual reckless self. Cassia had an irritating habit of getting into trouble, and he wasn't in the mood to drag her out of another mess.

A contract was a contract. Oaths had no face, no mercy. And Klaus… Klaus knew exactly what had happened.

Mordret was free.

Two days ago, he felt the contract's restrictions vanish. Just like that, gone. Which meant Mordret had found his way out and he completed his part of deal.

That was why Klaus had rushed to the Fire Keepers, resorting to violence the moment someone so much as hesitated to give him answers.

So, what now?

Traveling to the Night Temple would take time. More than he liked. He could wait for the ship or fly there himself. But before he made any decisions, he needed to confirm one thing.

Were Cassia and Sunless still alive?

There was only one way to know for sure.

Time to visit the Waking World.

Klaus strolled over to where Kai and Effie were sitting, a smirk playing on his lips. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he plopped down beside them.

"Well, time to go back… to the waking world."

Kai frowned, leaning back with a questioning look. The young archer was undeniably handsome—his auburn hair falling over his forehead in careless waves, green eyes sharp yet oddly captivating.

Klaus studied him for a moment before grinning. Effie, sensing something strange, glanced between them. Her confusion turned to stunned disbelief when Klaus casually said,

"Well, if I were a girl, I'd definitely give my ass to you."

Kai nearly choked on his own breath. His face twisted in horror, words failing him. His face paled, then turned a deep shade of red as his brain struggled to process what he had just heard. His mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again. What—? Why? Was this guy okay? Did he need help? What the hell was wrong with this guy? There was no way he was mentally unstable... right? Then why would he say something like that?!

Effie, meanwhile, nodded sagely, patting Klaus on the shoulder as if bestowing wisdom upon a younger sibling.

"No shame in that," she mused. "Bottling up feelings only does harm."

Kai had never been more confused in his life. Was this some kind of elaborate joke? A prank? A test of endurance? He glanced between them, completely lost.

Klaus and Effie burst into laughter at his expression, their amusement echoing in the quiet space. Still shaking his head, Klaus leaned back, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with a flick of his fingers.

"Anyway," he exhaled a slow breath of smoke, "we're heading back to check on Cassia and Sunny. The ship's still under repairs, so we've got time to see if they're… y'know, dead or not."

The atmosphere shifted. The weight of reality settled over them. Effie and Kai exchanged glances before nodding solemnly.

Klaus, however, clapped his hands together and got to his feet with a bright, almost mischievous smile.

"So, you guys ready?"

Kai and Effie frowned, eyeing him warily. "Ready for what?"

Klaus fluttered his eyelashes innocently before grabbing them both.

And suddenly—

Before they could react, the world around them blurred into chaos. Space twisted, and in an instant, they were flung into an endless series of rapid teleportations, blinking through different locations in dizzying succession.

The Sanctuary of Noctis stood isolated on its own tiny island, an anomaly in the chaotic depths of the Crushing. Unlike the ever-shifting landscape around it, the island never rose, never fell—always floating at the same stable height, untouched by the violent forces of the abyss.

When they finally landed, it was with an unceremonious crash onto the soil of the Sanctuary of Noctis. Kai and Effie barely had a moment to breathe before doubling over, groaning in agony as nausea overtook them.

Klaus, however, stood unaffected, grinning down at them. "Ahhh, this never gets old. Nourish the lands my little sunshines and rainbows."

Effie shot him a murderous glare. Kai, despite still feeling like the ground was shifting beneath him, was more fascinated than angry.

"You can teleport?" he wheezed. "That's… actually really useful. Gravity and teleportation?"

Klaus shook his head, smirking. "Nah. My ability is lightning and wind. I can create gales, coat my weapons in electricity, or use wind for mobility. Those stuff? Memories."

To demonstrate, he held out his hands—lightning crackled in his right palm while a small tornado swirled in his left.

He wasn't entirely lying, after all. Kai's flaw allowed him to detect lies, but Klaus knew how to dance around the truth. Devoured abilities were his to use, technically. If he lost them, it would be by his own choice. And since he mentioned 'Memories' without specifying, Kai wouldn't be able to tell what was truly his and what wasn't.

Kai seemed satisfied with the explanation, nodding before glancing toward the Gateway. After all, there are lot of strange memories with bizzare powers and asking everything in details felt awkward, considering they know him for a two days, only.

Klaus had been here two days ago—as Kate, altering his appearance to anchor himself to the citadel. But now, since the anchoring was complete, disguises weren't necessary.

A presence stirred behind him.

From the air itself, an ethereal woman emerged, wrapping her arms around him in a ghostly embrace.

She was intangible, unseen by most. Only those with incredible perception—or Saints—could even begin to notice her. She wore a veil of darkness, her face hidden beneath its shadow. A dress of pure black silk flowed around her, scattered with shimmering, star-like jewels.

Miseria.

She cast her gaze across the sanctuary, distorting the perception of those around them. The people in the citadel wouldn't see Klaus at all, wouldn't notice him. That was why he didn't need to be Kate anymore.

When someone anchored themselves to a citadel, they were placed under a Saint's supervision. In Klaus's case, that Saint was Tyris. That was why he had disguised himself back then—Tyris would've noticed if someone was tampering with her senses. Miseria was an Ascended Devil. But Tyris was a Transcendent Warrior, and not just any Transcendent but one of the strongest in world.

Klaus stepped into the sanctuary's inner sanctum.

It was a tranquil place—an open park with a crystal-clear pool at its center. A stone path led to a small island in the middle, where an altar stood beneath the shade of an ancient tree.

Water poured from the altar in a steady, endless stream, feeding the pool below. No one knew where it came from, or why the altar produced it. They only knew that the water was pure, cold, and safe to drink.

Klaus, Kai, and Effie stepped forward, touching the altar in unison.

Kai exhaled. "We meet up at the academy."

In a flash of light, they vanished.

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You can check out Icarus's status, his memories and spirits in auxiliary chapters if you feel confused or forget some things.

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