13th Dawn

Mist: sobbing softly "How did this happen, my love? Who did this to you? Oh no… you're no longer breathing. Does that mean you're dead? You can't be dead… You can't leave me alone… Please, wake up, Aloka."

Some soft noises fill the room as Mist struggles to comprehend the loss. Her hands tremble as she holds Aloka's lifeless body.

Mist: eyes widening "Who could be here at this time?" Her gaze narrows, and she quietly looks toward the entrance "Ah… so it's you."

She turns toward the intruder, her eyes burning with fury.

Mist: voice cold and venomous "You've taken my beloved away from me. Just wait, Aloka. I swear I will get my revenge on you." With newfound resolve, she picks up Aloka's body and flies away.

The image of a dark figure drifted toward me, and with every passing second, I could hear a faint chant echoing in the air.

"THE WAGES OF KILLING AN ABOMINATION IS DEATH, THE WAGES OF KILLING AN ABOMINATION IS DEATH, THE WAGES OF KILLING AN ABOMINATION IS DEATH…"

The figure moved closer, and I realized it resembled Aloka, though his body was bloodied, his chest torn by my sword. Black mist started to crawl over my body, cold and suffocating. As it crept toward my heart, I could feel the energy draining from me, but before the mist could reach its destination, I was suddenly jolted awake.

I opened my eyes and felt an overwhelming emptiness. My body ached, but my mind still lingered on the nightmare. I felt hollow, as if something important had been ripped away from me. But after a few moments, that feeling faded, and I took a deep breath.

Inside my head, I whispered, "Hildegarde, are you awake yet?"

To my surprise, her voice came through, though it was laced with irritation.

Hildegarde: "What do you want this time, Jeremiah?"

I hesitated, then asked, "Do you know anything about the abominations?"

There was a long pause before she replied, her tone colder than before.

Hildegarde: "It... would be better to go to the Nightmare Archives if you want answers."

I sighed, feeling disappointment weigh on me.

Jeremiah: "I... I don't want to go to Yommir City. That place plunges my soul deeper into the darkness—the dying sun, the silver moon, the grey skies..."

Hildegarde: "Why the disappointment, Jeremiah? Unfortunately, I don't have the answers you're looking for."

Jeremiah: "That's not it. I just… I have to go. The nightmare I had before I woke up… it felt like a warning. It seemed to tell me that Aloka had some sort of connection to the abominations. Or was he one of them? What even are abominations? I have so many questions but no answers."

In another location, Mist entered a room holding Aloka's body, her grief palpable.

Person 1: "Whose body is that, Mist?"

Mist: "It's Aloka… he's dead."

Person 2: "How can that be? Who murdered him?"

Person 3: "That's a foolish question. Only a few have enough power to kill one of us."

Person 2: "Your statement could have been more polite."

Person 3: "Shut up, you imbecile."

Mist: cutting in "Sorry to interrupt your lovers' quarrel, but I will avenge Aloka. No one must approach him. He's my prey to hunt."

The door opened, and the room fell silent. Four figures knelt before a powerful presence.

Person 1: "Welcome, my lord."

Person 2: "Welcome."

Person 3: "Welcome, my liege."

Mist: "Welcome, my king."

The figure seated himself on a throne-like chair.

Person 5: sitting down, voice commanding "Mist, whose corpse is that?"

Mist: "It's… Aloka, my lord."

Person 5: gesturing for her to lay him down "Place him on the floor and step back."

Mist obeyed, carefully laying Aloka's body on the ground.

Person 5: using strange magic to examine the body "His soul was directly punctured. He was killed instantly. Do you know who did this?"

Mist: "Yes, my king. Someone returned to the location of the corpse when I went to fetch Aloka. A male."

Person 5: "I give you permission to kill him. As for why I'm here today—time is no longer on my side. You must hasten the search for Hildegarde. I entrusted this mission to Aloka, but now he's dead. There's a connection between Hildegarde and his killer. Find it."

Person 1: "What are your orders, my lord?"

Person 5: "Nothing for now. Mist, you are to find Aloka's killer and bring him here alive."

Mist: "Yes, my king."

Person 2: "What about me? What do I get?"

Person 3: snapping "Where's your respect?"

Person 5: dismissive "It's fine. Both of you may do as you like until Mist brings Aloka's murderer. That's all. You may leave."

The door opens, and the figures depart.

A voice echoed in the distance, low and anxious.

Random Animal: "Clock's ticking, boss. They will kill her at this rate."

Person 5: growling in frustration "Silence. I'm painfully aware. If only I could find that traitor Hildegarde and force her to spill what she knows."