After reading the letter, I set it aside and continued to look through the basket he had given to me. Other items included a small comb, a pair of soft pajamas, and a small wooden box filled with countless miscellaneous powders. Some of them were crimson in color, while others were green, blue, and yellow. While I wasn't entirely sure of their purpose, I figured Kael would give some further context in his letter.

  I took out one of the powders, a dark-red one that shimmered in the dim lighting, unscrewing the cap and bringing it to my nose. The moment it entered my nostrils, my pupils dilated, and the colors of the room began to expand and contract like a pulsating life form. A sudden, nauseating wave of dizziness crashed over me, causing me to stumble back and collapse to the ground.

  At this moment, a buzzing sensation filled my stomach, and the current sensations I was feeling abruptly ceased; everything returned to normal in the blink of an eye.

  At the bottom of the wooden case, I saw another note curled up, positioned under the bottles of powder. When I read the contents, I learned that these were actually hallucinogens, stimulants, and depressants in a powdery form.

  Why would Kael trust me with drugs?

  Feeling a surge of hesitancy, I put the wooden case aside, tucking it back into the basket. I then looked at the other items, taking out a small leather book with a dark-brown cover. It was worn, almost dirty to an extent. I slowly opened it, peering inside at the contents. The first thing I saw on the first page was another letter from Kael, to be delivered to an unknown recipient:

  Your curiosity got the better of you, I see. Within the confines of this journal I wrote, contains countless bits and pieces of knowledge relating to history, the world, countless different cultures, and even potion ingredients and knowledge corresponding to the Apocalypse pathway. I, a demi-god of six hundred and fifty years, have cultivated a myriad of tidbits relating to what this pathway actually is.

  The only people who will ever read this will be of the Apocalypse pathway, most likely advancing alongside me, perhaps? What truly is important is the knowledge within the pages. In this world, knowledge is the reaper of the soul if not cultivated correctly. Every once in a while, you could say 'curiosity killed the Seeker.'

  A sudden, cold chill washed over me, making me habitually close the book and push it aside. After a few seconds of collecting my breath I looked back at the book, noticing a small piece of paper sticking out through the pages.

  Upon closer inspection, I read more instructions.

  Wave up before the rooster sounds, before the sun graces the fields and ears. Feel the earth beneath your feet when none are around, establish that firm connection with it. Notice the world around you, how the plants and trees begin with quiver and shake, how the birds part from the trees. Anything is possible when you're a Seeker; the world is a tapestry waiting for your image!

  After reading all of this, I sighed softly, falling back onto the soft bed. It was somewhat dark in the room, except for the dim lamps in the corner. The room smelt of cedar, wood, and flames. After digging through the bag for a short while longer, I found a convenient hair-tie, making me able to tie my messy black hair into a low ponytail behind my head.

  I slowly changed into the pajamas and crawled into bed, sinking into the sheets. Below me, the main area had fallen silent; everyone had most likely retreated to their own personal quarters. I drew a long breath, pulling the blankets up to my shoulders, fending off the cold of the room.

  My gaze eventually found its way to the ceiling, watching the kerosene-powered lamps flicker every so often. Every so often they'd power off, shrouding the room in darkness. This happened on and off for about twenty minutes before I finally stood up, trodding over barefoot and turning the lamps off for good.

  "It seems like you have trouble sleeping." A voice sounded behind me.

  I turned around, catching sight of the six-foot figure clad in illusory dark robes, looking directly at me with their wormhole-like eyes—the Umbridge.

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  I nodded in response. "It's difficult, it really is."

  Making my way to the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face and gazed at my reflection. Aside from the horns on my head, I looked like an entirely new person. My hair, previously brown and medium-length, was black, long, and tied behind my head. My eyes, previously contained behind a pair of glasses, now lay bare with brown contact lenses.

  Even my clothing had changed completely. My previous black vest and coat was replaced with a common shirt, a hat to protect my eyes from the sun, and some baggy pants that tickled my ankles when I walked. Even my shoes, previously polished and pristine, were replaced with jaggad, used ankle boots. Leaving Seraphis Kingdom —my friends—had changed me completely.

  "I don't see why Kael made me do all of this." I felt my heart ache, looking back at the enigmatic figure in the doorway.

  The Umbridge remained silent, looking towards the window. "You seemed awfully compliant with whatever he said, child. You never disagreed, never argued, you simply nodded your head like an obedient dog... Why?"

  Hearing this, I didn't know what to say. The entire room seemed to fall into a deathly silence, ebbing and pulsing with the revelation. I clenched my fists, walking over to the window and drawing the curtains, shrouding the room in darkness.

  "He called me dumpster-boy; only my father called me that. He knows his form, he knows his voice... that bastard knows more about me than I know about myself... It's terrifying to resist him. H-he's a demi-god—"

  At this moment, an illusory tendril of dark energy extended from the Umbridge, pressing to my mouth. It slowly moved up and down, caressing the flesh of my cheeks. The figure spoke up, their voice low and collected.

  "Power isn't a status, it's merely what makes people think they have it. A king may have the power of a deity, but recklessness is the fault of the soul. You have power within you, the power to make the good decisions, the power to do what you deem is correct. You want to go back, then you shall fight against heaven and earth if you are to achieve your goal."

  "But..." I looked at the crimson moon in the sky, my lips parting slightly. As the Umbridge's words seeped into my mind, they gradually filled me with warmth.

  I couldn't help but chuckle self-depracatingly. "I'll move tomorrow; I'm tired right now."

  ...

  The throne room doors opened with a loud thud, startling even Emperor Katsuki himself. The emperor was clad in more casual attire, no longer donning his usual blackish-orange armor. He watched in silence as Kael harshly dragged a body into the throne room—a lanky man with short brown hair. Emperor Katsuki leaned forward, arching an eyebrow.

  "What is the meaning of this?" He bellowed.

  Kael didn't reply, tossing forth the bloodied, beaten men before his throne. His clothes were tattered, silken robes now torn to shreds, revealing his skin which was mottled with cuts and bruises. His nose, previously sharp, was broken and covered in blood. Both of his eyes were black, looking up at the emperor with palpable fear and a sense of pleading.

  Kael clasped his hands together as he walked forward, gazing at Emperor Katsuki with a smile. "Back when I served your mother when she sat where you now sit, she referred to me as 'invaluable.' Now, I do the same deeds I did for her..."

  He reached down, grabbing Ambassador Charles by his neck, fingernails digging into the mottled flesh. "Finding the rats that crawl around, eating away and fighting for chaos."

  "What do you mean?" Emperor Katsuki's tone was left without question.

  The elven man's grip on Charles's neck tightened, turning the patch of skin a grizzly red. "The letters he's been sending, perhaps?"

  Kael's other free hand expanded, crimson-colored flames condensing to form a piece of paper. "This letter was addressed to you last week. I believe you've already read it; it discusses the bountiful number of carrots within the kingdom.

  "When in reality, carrots aren't a commonality, but an anamoly."

  Ambassador Charles suddenly opened his mouth, sputtering out words and jumbled phrases not even he could decipher. Kael's brows furrowed as he abruptly reached into Charles's mouth, grabbing a hold of the tender, pulsating mass of his tongue, and ripping it out clean. The organ flew from his mouth, landing on Emperor Katsuki's lap.

  The emperor quickly tossed it aside in disgust, face slightly pale as he called out for Demetruis—his servent—to dispose of it.

  Charles let out a silent scream, a feeble attempt to make any kind of noise, but his lack of tongue prevented much of anything. Tears, warm and salty, streamed down his face as he tried to move, but Kael's grip on him had him locked in an invisible cage.

  "He's been feeding you lies, attempting to diminish the necessity amongst the kingdoms. Charles here assumed you were stupid enough to believe it, when I've been giving you all the information you need in reality."

  Emperor Katsuki fell silent, clasping his hands together. His cold, cynical gaze fell to the writhing, struggling, and bloodied man showcased to him like a macabre trophy, an obtrusion of his advisors' will and dedicated to an ultimate purpose. Only after a few tense, heavy seconds did he give the command.

  "A fraud is a fraud, take him to the basement and execute him."

  Kael nodded, turning around and dragging the man away. Before he left the chamber, he turned back to look at the emperor, smiling.

  "I shall prepare the Vulpurs I sent here; they'll be the new advisors... and people willing to actually help us."

  Emperor Katsuki nodded, watching as the door closed, only to be opened moments later as Deemtruis, clad in servant's attire, scuttled into the room, wincing as he picked up the discarded tongue and disposed of it with a metal bucket. His tail and ears twitched as he mumbled under his breath, face green as he scurried out of the throne room.

  "What happened? I heard lots of commotion down here." Hazel, clad in a nightgown, made her way into the throne room.

  The emperor sighed softly, eyebrows knotted downwards into a signature scowl. "My inner circle has been faulty, allowing a traitor to enter our scene. I dispatched Kael to get rid of him; he'll also be training the next group to help with Seraphis Kingdom; they're all very adept with various fields of knowledge."

  "Oh..."

  Hazel fell silent, not knowing what to say. "Father's condition has been slowly deteriorating the longer and longer we stall. He's been complaining about night terrors, awful fits of coughing, and... visions."

  "Visions?" Emperor Katsuki's voice softened.

  "Of my mother, Ochako."

  Without any hesitation, Emperor Katsuki shot from his throne, making his way to the door. "I'm paying him a visit; go back to your quarters."