The Seeker | Volume 2

Ling now stood on the rocky surface of the moon in the dream-projection. He stared at the earth which sat indifferent in the endless expanse of the cosmos. Suddenly, numerous pairs of eyes that seemed forged from the cosmos shot out of the darkness of the cosmos, all watching the earth with interest.

In a massive green explosion, the earth was turned into a heap of rock in the cosmos, gravity working to hold the newly broken pieces together. In the midst of the chaos sat a figure clad in green armor, had green hair and matching green eyes that sat ablaze with fiery energy.

The pairs of eyes soon lit up as numerous illusory doors opened from the cosmos. Out walked figures that seemed to be completely composed of starlight, and the essence of the cosmos etched within their bodies. Before Ling could see what was about to unfold a clawing force dragged him back into the real world.

"Did you see?" Palsy asked, gripping Ling's collar. Ling took a deep breath. He wasn't shaken by the events that had just played out, instead he was rather more interested in the situation that was unfolding.

"I did see, I saw the end of the world. But something piqued my interest when I saw numerous doors open in the cosmos, and figures walked out as if wanting to fight the man who just destroyed the world." Ling explained as he remembered that he just saw. 

The wooden doll who sat in the jail cell turned illusory and disappeared in a fit of purple and black energy. Ling and Palsy watched in interest and a little trepidation. "If this sigil was inside of Isaiah Walls cell previously, maybe he saw it and went insane? Maybe that boy didn't know all the facts and he didn't escape. Maybe he's the flesh blob that's currently in the room with us." 

Palsy seemed to agree with Ling's statement. The possibility that he didn't escape but instead saw the scene and went mad was a probable event, but they would obviously need more proof before they could come to that conclusion. "It's a possibility." Palsy said in a calm voice as he hoisted his coat over his shoulder. 

Suddenly, they both felt a rush of cold and burdening energy rush through their bodies. The flesh blob on the floor seemed to twitch as if it had a reaction to it too. "Did you feel that?" Ling asked as his eyes widened slightly. Palsy nodded quickly as he turned towards the officer, who looked more confused out of anything.

"I didn't feel anything, maybe you should get some rest, gentlemen. You did have a supernatural encounter today and you're probably exhausted." He said as he led the 2 out of the cell and back into the foyer. When the officer shut the door he smirked, taking off his monocle. 

He put on a pair of rounded glasses and smirked.

…

When I had to quickly bid Dexter farewell for the day and give him his payment I saw that Aaron's mailbox was left half open when I visited it, and there was something sticking out. I took it out and saw that it was a neatly folded letter wrapped in a burgundy cloth. 

Dear Mr. Daniels, 

It would be of my sheer curiosity to ask what exactly you would want back in exchange for your retrieval of the cards? 

Anthony Debois.

Mr. Debois remembered to send me the letter earlier today! I went inside and entered the base. When I saw everyone they gave me worried and curious glances. Cattleya, who was now dressed in classic linen wear which was quite popular in Seraphis Kingdom, spoke up in almost motherly concern.

"Where have you been? We all felt this strange rush of energy and I'm worried you must have been affected by it too." She said, her brows knit with tight concern. I paused for a few moments as I adjusted the notched collar of my tunic. "I didn't feel anything. I went out because a divination told me to go to a particular address. This morning me and Aizawa went to the historical society where I posted an advertisement for a "material exchange committee."

Cattleya sighed suddenly and stood up. She then approached me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Who was the man?" She asked. "His name was Anthony Debois, but I'd call him Mr. Debois to avoid complications." 

"He was my first customer…" I said as I reached into my pocket hoping to take out the photo of the Cards of Replication, but I realized I burnt them during my divination. "Mr. Debois needed something called a Card of Divination. After my attempted divination I was drawn to a house on the outskirts of the kingdom."

I didn't want to tell them about my encounter and exchange with De-Taylel, but I figured Cattleya's strong spirit calling would pry it out of me eventually. After I told her this her eyes widened. "Anthony Debois?" she asked, her voice suddenly filled with an overwhelming concern.

"Is something wrong?" I asked. She paused for a few moments before looking back at me, her blue eyes glazing over with a deep sense of worry. "Dear, he's a serial killer. If he wants the Cards of Replication he obviously wouldn't want them for a good cause." 

I felt only 2 things following her dire explanation. I was worried and morbidly confused at the same time. How could a serial killer openly enter Aaron's house, be a prominent historian and be able to wander the streets without anyone calling him out or arresting him?

"Then how was I able to talk to him without any repercussions? Why didn't my intuition warn me of this?" I felt a chill rush through my body. "I don't know, but earlier today we all felt a cold rush through our bodies, and a strange, overwhelming sense of dread…perhaps it was him?" Cattleya responded.

Maybe I should tell them about De-Taylel. If Anthony, who was only an Order 6 was able to cause a chill run through everyone, I could only think to imagine how powerful De-Taylel was. Perhaps it wasn't Anthony. I couldn't think of a feasible reason for a sudden chill to engulf everyone, and due to the powerful sense of dread that Cattleya described, it was most likely everyone sensing De-Taylels's temporary awakening. 

"I don't think it was him, Cattleya," I said seriously. I gently grabbed her by the hand and led her into her room. As if she knew what I was about to say, she closed the door and turned back towards me. "If you're bringing me here I assume this is a much more serious matter?" 

I nodded as I pulled out the chair by Cattleya's desk, looking at her the whole time. "It is. Today I had an encounter with a powerful Lord of Angels…De-Taylel." 

Upon hearing this name, Cattleya's eyes widened. I could see a faint flicker of curiosity and fear in her eyes as she leaned in a little closer to probe me. "De-Taylel? The Angel of Inevitability who perished in the previous epoch?" I nodded.

"How could you accomplish such a thing?" She then asked, pushing her glasses further up the bridge of her nose. "Have you heard of the Sleepless Foundation?" 

"I'm familiar, I've only read about them through history. Their leader was De-Taylel, and "he" went mad trying to harness the Tyrant authority and it took the rest of the angels to take "him" down during the last transcendence war."

"Accommodate the Tyrant authority? That was one of the Routeways I saw on the slate of Order 9 characteristics De-Taylel showed me earlier." I thought to myself. "That means "he" used either one of the two slates that Raymond described to get stronger and rise through the Orders. But I don't know if he became a true god of the Destruction Routeway." 

After my thought I spoke up. "Do you know if "he" achieved godhood?" Cattleya sighed softly as she grabbed a book and opened it. On the page she flipped through there was a drawing of De-Taylel. At the bottom was the same sigil that blocked the scene of Ian's corpse: the Sleepless Foundation symbol.

"They were powerful in the Third Epoch, and during the first transcendence war they were originally a branch of the Church of Azoth; another powerful organization during the time." Cattleya explained as she flipped pages.

"Azoth is one of the entities you mentioned. The one who got sealed away in the previous epoch." I said. Cattleya nodded. "He" was always a bit of a troublemaker throughout history. The first remnants of "his" spirit can date back to the Second Epoch when "he" possessed one of the first rulers of the now founded Shotun empire; the ancient Himura Empire."

I suddenly changed the topic. "Are you aware of what exactly the Sleepless Foundation did as an organization?" 

Cattleya shook her head. "Those parts are often left for history to tell us. Scholars often went mad trying to explore its ruins. Maybe surmise it's De-Taylel's spirit killing those who dare to dwell into his life. I'm honestly surprised how you were able to survive an encounter with him and escape without a scratch."