‘There is nothing more in this world that I hate more than bureaucracy…’ Jon thought himself, sighing as he listened to Delila and Regulus argue back and forth about allocating resources to the expansion of Springtown.

  Amadeus and Mael on either side him showing equally awkward expressions, both the Tribune Of Dusk And Destruction and the Spiritus Ensis Sanctus turning their heads towards him, hoping that he was sort this out. Despite Amadeus being the unofficial leader of Springtown, he hoped that Jon would sort this argument out allowing him to remain neutral in front of the other representatives.

  Amadeus would always side with Delila in such arguments as would Jon, if solely because Delila and himself were both humans.

  And also-.

  “All I am saying is that we should reduce our allocation of resources towards matters such as public maintenance and increase the expenditure of our next tournament in three months.” Regulus argued causing Delila to roll her eyes, scoffing at the Son Of Wolves And Hunger.

  “The only reason why you want to do that is because you intend on increasing the pool of available prizes for victors within their various competitions. The rewards we give out are already more than generous enough, matching even that of the optional task rewards the System gives us.”

  “Public maintenance is how we can afford to keep this Safe Zone from collapsing in on itself! Do you know just how many fights break out per week within Springtown? I’m sure you do because more than half of them are caused by you and your little gang of-.”

  Delila found herself being interrupted by a voice whom she did not expect to hear. Several other members of the Spring Council perking their heads up, hearing the Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation speak.

  “There is no point in increasing the expenditure of our quarterly tournaments if I just win again is there, Regulus?” Jon interjected, causing Maliq, Amadeus and Mael to all twitch from their seats, controlling their Fragments Of Mind so as to prevent emotions and thoughts from leaking out.

  The Son Of Wolves And Hunger narrowing his eyes, moving his attention away from Delila and towards the one person in the room who he did not expect to hear speak. His six-fingered hands gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, watching as Jon tapping one hand against the circular table all of them had gathered around.

  If the chair that Regulus was sitting upon was not a Knight Ranked spiritual item, it would have long since shattered.

  “Oh? Are you still saying that you will compete Jon, even after our new amendments to the tournament rules?” Regulus replied, his tone scathing and his Fragment Of Mind trembling in anger.

  Jon simply smiled, cradling his chin in one hand.

  “Oh course. What is there to be afraid of if you are my opponent Regulus? Assail alone is enough to guarantee me victory,” Jon declared, feeling the corners of his mouth curve upwards as he watched Regulus stand up and slam his hands on the table.

  His vision turning red as a wrathful anger overtook him.

  Whatever semblance of control he possessed over his Fragment Of Mind vanished with the wind, allowing his Wrath Mana Core to influence his flesh, mind and spirit. When combined with the Wolf Mana Core and Ghost Mana Core in his possession, it was no wonder the undyne was so famous for his bestial personality.

  “I don’t care whether you are the strongest Knight within Springtown. I’ll still kill anyone that-.”

  A wisp of lust natured spiritual energy flickered in the corner of his eye, dyeing the red-tinged corners of his field of view a luxurious and decadent pink. Regulus felt something stir from within his Fragment Of Union as a calming wave of clarity washed over his Fragment Of Mind and Fragment Of Spirit.

  His uneven breathing pattern smoothing out, embracing the longing effects of this haze of lust mana.

  Returning to his seat, Regulus allowed himself to close his eyes, relishing in the feeling of Raflea’s Fragment Of Pleasurable-Clarity. The dual-fragment pathway was one that he was beyond thankful that Raflea possessed, although knew that she had long formed it even before arriving within Springtown.

  “What Regulus meant to say… is that he is fine with how the budget for this quarter is currently being divided. He has no objections and no further comments on the matter.” The harmonious-sounding voice of the Decadent Princess Of Beautiful Luxuria echoed throughout the room.

  Her voice-mutation, which Jon could feel thirty-metres away with his eyes closed, increased the effectiveness of all her abilities with the Spell Trait. Born from a Fragment Of Voice integrated into a Beauty Mana Core, her Muse-Serenity Voice was amongst one of the more powerful mutations within the room.

  If Jon was being perfectly honest, it could have even potentially exceeded the value of Avahni’s Asherah-Shamrock Hair, if it were not for the uniqueness of the green-haired lutin herself.

  Raflea Leaf-Songbird was the lone nadian in the room. With pale, pink-coloured hair and soft blue eyes that seemed to outshine the morning sky, she was the manifestation of ideal beauty standards for the vast majority of Races within the room. Her skin was devoid of blemishes and freckles, giving it an almost milk-like smoothness to it.

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  Regulus nodded his head next to her.

  “Apologies for the outburst. It won’t happen again,” he muttered, causing Jon to glance at Amadeus, watching as the vermiton refused to meet his gaze.

  ‘Traitor,’ Jon thought to himself.

  The Decadent Princess Of Beautiful Luxuria beside the Son Of Wolves And Hunger turned her gaze towards the youthful looking human sitting opposite her across the room, tilting her head cutely, but with a smile that seemed far to practiced to be innocent.

  “Forgive Regulus, won’t you Jonathan? His Mana Cores have been quite irritable as of late, isn’t that right Regulus?” Raflea asked.

  The undyne just nodded, eyes closed as he relished in the effects of her Fragment Of Pleasurable-Clarity. His cheeks flushed ever-so-slightly pink, and his eyes hazed over, as though dreaming while he was awake.

  Jon, Delila, Maliq, Amadeus and even Mael could all feel the lust natured spiritual energy enveloped his mind and spirit, causing Maliq in particular to let out a distasteful click of his tongue.

  He did not dare to voice his opinion, not wanting to get dragged into this argument.

  There was not a shadow of doubt within his mind.

  The Decadent Princess Of Beautiful Luxuria was the most troublesome Knight within all of Springtown. More dangerous than the Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation. More cunning that the Administrator Of Thunder And Civilization. Slyer than the Right-Eye Of Life And Nightmares.

  And perhaps most dangerous of them all, more charming and charismatic than the Tribune Of Dusk And Destruction.

  She had Regulus wrapped so tightly around her finger that Jon was surprised it had not fallen off and died due to lack of blood flow. Raflea had more than a dozen other Knights, from an assortment of different Races as well under her command, each from various Guilds and Associations within Springtown.

  Her Fragment Of Mind overflowing with thoughts and light natured spiritual energy.

  “Jonathan… a little birdie told me that you possess a Memento Source Item? Is this true?” Raflea could not help but ask, tapping her chin with one finger.

  Jon could feel the lingering wisps of beauty natured spiritual energy float throughout the room, crashing against various imaginary mental constructs and pseudo-spiritual constructs. The wisps were not in any way shape or form damaging to his Sea Of Knowledge, but rather the opposite.

  Inviting. Tempting. Seductive.

  Jon heard Eis snort from within his Fragment Of Mind, shrugging his shoulders while leaning back in his chair.

  “Perhaps I do… Perhaps I don’t. Whose to say really?” He replied, neither confirming nor denying the allegation. Amadeus, Delila and Maliq had long since tried to pry that information from him each to no avail.

  There was not a single person within Springtown that did believed he did not have a Memento Source Item. Most suspected that it was some small, object that he could keep on his person, such as a ring or pendant. Given that Jon often wore Glaucus atop of Lethe during combat, perception-type abilities and eye-type abilities were unable to pierce through the Heretical Chalk Protection and divine the Memento Source Item that laid beneath.

  The only four people in this world that knew the true nature of his Shapeless Mask Of Thieving Lies was Avahni, Wilheim, Sariel and Shamael.

  And even then, none of them knew its exact effects.

  Merely the ingredients he used to form Lethe in the first place.

  Despite his half-hearted reply, Jon could not help but notice Raflea continue to smile, mimicking his earlier actions and tapping her fingers along the length of the Knight Ranked table in front of them.

  “Oh really? Then I don’t suppose a Fragment Of Facelessness, or a Lie Mana Core mean anything in particular then? Along with, what was it… a Mortal Ranked Smiling Mask?” She questioned, causing Jon to pause for half-a-moment before smiling and shaking his head.

  His Carcosa-Form Horrors lashing out at the wisps of beauty natured spiritual energy that gathered around his Sea Of Knowledge, shattering them with but its presence alone. Raflea feeling her eye twitch in response, having her ability effect shattered without preparing herself beforehand.

  His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, seeing Jon appear as relaxed and unfazed as always.

  “It doesn’t ring a bell,” was all he replied with, shrugging his shoulders while ignoring the stares from all the other members of the Spring Council. Maliq in particular, leaning forward in his seat to peer at his expression, hoping to catch a glimpse of truth behind his eyes.

  The Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation staring at the Decadent Princess Of Beautiful Luxuria before lifting his head and feeling the presence of a familiar approaching mutation. The speed that it was travelling at exceeded what was allowed within the walls of the Vanishing Time Palace and-.

  Eye natured spiritual energy flickered in the corner of his vision.

  Nestor; Strategos Of Time And Words, manifested himself in the space behind Delila. The clockwork-runic golem whispering something to his master and summoner, causing the Administrator Of Thunder And Civilization to outwardly frown, nodding her head grimly in response.

  Neither Maliq nor Amadeus on either side of her able to hear the conversation between Delila and Nestor. Both the vermiton and appaloscian peering at their friend with a worried expression on their face.

  Mael, Regulus, Raflea, Yumis; owner of the Flarestorm Express, and several other representatives from the other Races that dwelled within Springtown all turned their gazes towards Delila. The awkward tension in the room vanishing, replaced with a grim foreboding.

  “It seems… that we have a small problem on our hands.” Delila said, allowing the Strategos Of Time And Words the vanish into motes of eye natured spiritual energy.

  “As some of you are aware, one our neighbouring Safe Zones has recently suffered an attack of unknown origin. Thousands of Mortal-level and Knight-level insects have swarmed Saltstream Town killing dozens and injuring hundreds more. After further investigation it was revealed that these insects were a type of living construct, one manifested through an ability.”

  “The Explorers Guild, Creationist Guild and Merchant Guild have all sent personnel to assist in the defence and reconstruction of Saltstream Town. However…”

  Delila’s face contorted into one of annoyance, rubbing the bridge between her brows, feeling the beginning of a headache start to form.

  “Our scouts have confirmed the origins of the aforementioned swarm. The Lord known as the “Voracious Swarm Mother” has shifted the focus of her attention away from Saltstream Town and in the direction of our Safe Zone. Three members of the Explorers Guild are confirmed dead.”

  Amadeus furrowed his brows as Delila rested both her arms on the table in front of her.

  “Nestor estimates that we have five days before Sixth-Honoured Lord “Voracious Swarm Mother” arrives. Commissions to the Creationist Guild have all be put on hold and a focus on shield-type spiritual items and protection-type spiritual items have been pushed up to the top of the list.”

  “Travel via the Flarestorm Express, Solitude Express or the Windchasing Train has been temporarily suspended as has teleportation through the Boundless Heaven Gate.”

  “As if this moment, we prepare for war.”