Chaos Falls and Shadows Wait

Erart looked at Alex, his expression stern.

"You're not from here, are you?" Erart asked.

Alex's eyes widened, thinking his deepest secret of being from another world had just been exposed. "Huh?"

Of course, a Core Mechanism was a part of the soul. If Erart were to indeed look through it, he'd find out about Alex's secret. 

But Alex didn't realize that earlier, and now due to his recklessness, he was now left in a rough spot. 

Erart spoke once more, his voice firm. "You're a follower of the Primordial Chaos?"

"What… The Primordial Chaos?" Alex grew even more confused. 

Primordial Chaos? What the hell even was that supposed to mean? Was this some ancient religion? A title? Or... was Erart just bluffing for a reaction?

Not only had his secret been exposed now, he was said to be a follower of something he never heard of in the entire time he spent in this world. 

Primordials were a rank above Sovereigns, which meant they were at least a dozen times stronger.

However, Alex knew none of the Primordials. Not even their names. 

Alex drew a sharp breath, trying to compose himself. He can't make it seem too obvious. Perhaps, he could still play it off. 

"I've encountered followers of the Primordials before. I do not resent them… But they carry a presence that is unsettling. I'll ask once more, are you from this country? Or were you sent by the Primordial Chaos?" Erart asked as his brows started to furrow slightly.

The nurses were carefully glancing every second at Alex and Erart. Alex only took notice before he answered Erart:

"I'm just another adventurer from Alos. I don't know what you meant by these questions, but I can reassure you I follow no Primordial."

Erart nodded, he was obviously very uncertain, but he had to believe Alex. 

Alex was now a part of the Princess' team, which meant he was under the Princess directly. That made his status higher than Erart. 

Knowing the social hierarchy in Aeloria, Alex knew Erart was in no position to do anything. 

But, he could still make a report about Alex. Therefore Alex still had to seem less suspicious.

"Well, alright. The Primordial Chaos is another being that is said to fight for Albrac. As you know the rising tensions with Albrac, we all must be wary. Don't take this personally." 

Alex sighed. He was somewhat relaxed, after knowing his secret was after all not exposed. 

Erart had just thought Alex was a spy sent from Albrac under the Primordial Chaos. 

Alex narrowed his eyes as he gazed back at Erart, "But why would you think that right after inspecting my Core?"

Erart took a few moments to gather his thoughts. Finally, he replied:

"Your entire Core was shaped chaotically, it was extraordinary in the worst way."

Alex slightly frowned, 'You didn't have to say that last part…' 

Erart continued, "Not only that, it seems otherworldly. I can't imagine how you got such a unique Core."

Alex nodded, his Core was a mystery to him as well. 

He didn't know how to get one right after going into this world. It was a miracle he even became a Blank with a Concept. 

At that moment, Alex remembered the whole reason why he came here. He didn't come for interrogations and such, he just wanted to learn more of his ability. 

"Would it be possible if you tell me more about how I could use it or even the slightest information would be most appreciated."

Erart stopped talking, he rubbed two fingers over his chin, thinking about what he had seen back when he'd gone into Alex's Core. 

"Like I said, it was truly extraordinary. Your Core isn't linear. It's layered, like veils of… multiple souls stacked on top of the other."

"Souls? What does that even mean?" asked Alex, worried.

Erart shrugged, he had no idea what he'd seen. It's no surprise he told Alex his Core is chaotic.

If that were to be true, did that mean Alex had multiple souls in one body? Or perhaps it was limited to his Core? Either way, it was something to be handled very carefully.

"The deeper you reach, the more unstable —and powerful— it becomes." He paused, then continued, "I assume Seven Layers represent the Seven Realms, it would only make sense then. But that's just an assumption. Your Concept is special as well, if you know how to use it, you could easily be stronger than you think." 

His Concept, Zero, was the one he couldn't find information of. After he'd become literate, he started getting books in order to learn more.

Every book had information about every Concept, but Zero was the only one that was a blank page. 

He had learned of all Concepts, such as Zivko's Logic, or Anna's Freedom. 

"Is that it?" asked Alex. 

Erart replied, a smile back on his face. He chuckled, "You seem disappointed. I'll let you know when I cross into a person's Core, it doesn't give me vivid descriptions…"

His lips slowly lowered, turning into a frown. "Be careful, Alex. This kingdom eats whatever it doesn't understand."

Alex nodded in response. While it was very sudden of Erart, Alex quickly understood the meaning behind it.

As far as he'd seen, the world had no justice whatsoever.

The Kingdom, aswell, was as cruel as any country could be. The rulers were cowards that feared their positions and status might be stripped off them, letting their fear overtake their judgements. Therefore, they ended up with the stupidest decisions.

Now, it will catch up to them. They were going to fall, and so will the entirety of Aeloria.

Alex narrowed his eyes slightly, brushing off the pointless thoughts.

He stood up from his seat, ready to leave. But then, he quickly remembered one last thing. 

His lips slowly curled up, as he said these words to Erart:

"Do you mind telling me where I can see the rest of the members of Princess Aurora's team?"

***

Alex was standing next to a small, young child. Perhaps she was around ten years old.

Clara Alysan was a frail child that had been appointed to guide Alex to Cecilia, Astra Belvoir, and the other members of the group. 

But, Alex was told she wasn't the average child. Her appearance could be… Quite decisive. 

He looked down at the girl, who was walking with him to the Princess' Personal Guard.

The girl looked up, her ruby eyes locked onto Alex's. 

"Why are you staring at me?" asked Clara, with a disgusted expression.

Alex slowly turned his head forward in another direction, realizing what the little girl meant. "I'm not staring."

Clara chuckled, she then suddenly raised her hand—palm open, gesturing for Alex to stop walking. 

Alex raised a brow. They were in the middle of the large hallway, no room anywhere near them. 

He thought, 'Weird.' 

Alex then looked near Clara, not directly at her, but at the ground. 

"Why did we stop?" 

Clara gazed forward with an unreadable face. She slowly raised a finger over her mouth, shushing Alex. 

Alex's eyes twitched, 'Is this girl okay!?' 

Suddenly, Alex's vision turned into a scene of grey and white with a loud bang, that came out of nowhere.

'Ow! My ears!'

As soon as that happened, Alex felt his feet going through the concrete floor.

'Huh?'

Before having the chance to do anything, he fell through it, raising one arm towards Clara, desperate.

Clara gazed down at him. He was going to shout to the little girl, but it was too late. 

As he fell through the concrete ground, his world flashed white. His ears started ringing from the sudden burst and his head started to feel like it was going to be split in two.