As they arrived, the group was silent. It started as a simple silhouette but as they got closer, the structure became too large to ignore. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

White stone walls and iron gates that stood twice as tall as the height of a man. Patterns etched into the surface and through the gaps of the gate, they saw a long path that stretched inward to the mansion in the distance.

No guards stood at the entrance but who would dare break into a house like this?

"Boss... Are... Are you sure this is the right place?" Tobi asked hesitantly.

Noah didn’t answer immediately, he simply wanted up and rang the doorbell.

They couldn’t hear anything yet after a brief pause, all of them felt a chill.

Someone was looking at them from afar.

All of them held their breath except Feris.

There was... something about this stare that felt familiar.

Which was strange considering she never felt anything like it. But deep inside, it felt as though it was resonating with her on another level. A familiarity like seeing your own reflection.

Was the one behind this gaze also like her? Someone missing their other half?

With a soft creek, the gates started to open as the party looked at one another with concern.

But Noah pushed ahead as he had been here before.

They made their way through the garden with a frown. Though the aura may not be hostile, just approaching the area felt as though they were walking into danger.

A constant pressure surrounding them, making even just the act of breathing difficult.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at the front door. A butler was waiting for them.

"The lady is awaiting your presence inside." The butler bowed, opening the door for the group.

Once the party was in, he closed the door behind them before leading the group to the second floor where their client was waiting.

The closer they got, the stronger Feris’s feeling was.

Then, as they entered the room, they saw her.

A woman who stood facing the window that revealed the garden.

The first thing that stood out was her hair. A platinum blonde that reached past her shoulders and down towards her lower back. A blonde that gradually faded into that of a aqua blue.

Turning around, she revealed a graceful smile along with a pair of striking red eyes. A shade of crimson like that of ruby. And in the centre of her eyes, two star shaped pupils could be seen, illuminated by a strange gold.

Eyes that Feris had never seen before.

The woman wore a white dress that clung to tightly to her body.

Seeing the group enter, she maintained her calm before pausing after laying her eyes on Feris.

’How peculiar...’ She thought to herself.

"Please, take a seat. Glad I am to see that you’ve decided to accept my commission after all." She smiled, gesturing to the sofas as the group sat down.

Feris walked over next to Noah and sat down without a word. For these kinds of discussions, she didn’t say anything. She simply listened without input. Hence why the others joked that she was here as a mascot rather than as a member of the party.

A description Feris didn’t disagree with.

"Miss Ciel, to clarify on these matters, we will be given money and resources to pursue these crystals right?" Noah asked as Ciel chuckled and nodded her head.

"Indeed. I’m simply content with knowing the locations. Should you come across any crystal that can be removed from the site, by all means, you may keep them. I have no use for it." Ciel explained.

"I believe we have made a Law of Agreement to ensure that what I say is the truth and nothing but the truth."

Noah glanced down momentarily before turning back to her.

"Pardon my rudeness but... For someone of your strength, I don’t see why you would need to hire a band of people like us to find the site for you? Can’t you obtain that information with ease yourself?"

Ciel smiled and nodded her head.

"There is little I cannot get in this realm. After all, it’s no different to the garden behind me. What I wish to get, I simply need to pass down the order. I will put on some gloves and simply pluck it out." Ciel waved her finger.

The windows opened as a gust of wind carried a single flower to her.

Plucking it out of the air, Ciel brought it to her nose before throwing it out the window again.

"However... These crystals sites are a little different. You can think of those as my neighbour’s garden. I cannot exert my influence over it and that is why I must ask you or anyone else who is willing to take on this job. I will give you all the money you need to hire people for the job. Simply find these sites and report back." Ciel shrugged helplessly.

Noah nodded his head.

Like earlier, she was telling the truth.

Ciel cannot exert her influence over these crystals.

The party looked at one another before nodding.

"Alright. I believe last we talked, you mentioned have a lead for us."

Ciel flicked her finger and the butler stepped into the room.

"Please follow me. I will show you the information we have gathered thus far."

Watching the group leave the room, Ciel leaned against the table.

That girl Feris... She felt ’empty’. Not in the way that there’s nothing on the inside but rather the fact that a part of her soul was missing.

Incomplete.

’Could it be...’ Ciel thought about it for a moment before shaking her head. A ridiculous idea.

The likelihood of that happening was highly unlikely.

However, in the event that it does happen...

Ciel narrowed her eyes.

It might be best to take care of the girl before she becomes something else entirely.

###

Feris tugged at Noah’s sleeve after they left the room.

"Hm? What is it?" He glanced back as Feris pulled him in for a whisper.

"Ciel. She felt... similar..." Feris frowned.

"Similar?"

"Mnm. Like she’s also got a hole in her heart but... she filled it? I don’t know." Feris shook her head.

It was a feeling that’s hard to put into words. At least right now.

But if there’s anything she was sure about, it would be the fact that Ciel somehow managed to fill that void in her chest.

A secret that Feris wanted to know so that she could stop feeling ’empty’.

"Do you want me to ask her about it?"

Feris thought about it for a moment before rejecting the idea.

Even though she felt ’similar’ her gut feeling was warning her about the decision.

"Sorry, ignore what I said." Feris sighed.

###

A young girl pursed her lips as she watched tears fall from Feris’s eyes.

"Nyer... she’s having a nightmare again." She called out while Nyer glanced back.

"I’m aware. Right now, she’s in a nightmare of her own making. Reliving the days leading up to her coronation as a Realm Ruler. It is a nightmare she wishes to forget but can’t." He explained as the girl wanted to wipe the tears away but held herself back.

"Do you have those nightmares as well?" She asked as Nyer paused.

Thinking about it, he nodded his head.

"Yes. I too have nightmares that I wish to forget but cannot. It’s why I’m working towards a better world right now." He admitted as the girl tapped her chin.

Skipping over to Nyer, she tugged at his sleeve for him to lean down and patted his head.

"If you cry, I can help you wipe away the tears okay?" She smiled.

Seeing this smile, Nyer felt a pain on the inside before chuckling.

He picked her up and ruffled her hair.

"Don’t worry. It’s been a long time since I last cried. I don’t think you’ll get the chance to wipe away my tears ahaha." He joked.

"Isn’t that a good thing?"

Nyer shook his head.

"Depending on the reason behind tears, it serves as a proof of your humanity. My tears have long dried up so in a sense, you can say I can no longer prove my humanity."

Tears have already been shed. All that’s left for him is the burning rage that shimmers in his chest.

"I still have tears. Should I cry for you?"

". . ." Nyer closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Once I’ve done what I need to do, there will be no need for tears. And... It seems like we have an intruder. I didn’t think anyone would be able to find this place so soon." Nyer opened his eyes as a projection appeared in front of him.

A portal opening into the Void from the roots of the World Tree. An elven woman who’s come to investigate Feris’s whereabouts.

Setting the girl in his arms down, Nyer adjusted his cuffs.

"I will go deal with the intruder. Make sure Feris doesn’t wake up okay?" Nyer requested as the girl nodded.

Taking a step, his form disappeared as the girl was now left alone.

Walking over to Feris, she kneeled down while looking at the crying realm ruler.

Her lips trembled, muttering a single sentence over and over. Desperation and helplessness merged into one.

"Don’t... leave me alone..."

The girl exhaled slightly, holding back the urge to pet Feris on the head.

Even though her suffering was needed, it didn’t mean she enjoyed seeing Feris cry like this.

All she could do was sit next to her and keep her company.