Jason returned to the physical world, his eyebrows digging downward as an angered expression erupted on his face.
He returned his hand, his furious eyes planted on Agnus, who stood there emotionless.
"JASON! WHAT THE FU-"
Before he could continue, Jason directed the anger swelling in his aura and blanketed Alex in it, causing him to drop to the floor immediately. "Not the time. I will be leaving with Agnus for now. Sorry to end it like this, I'll explain at another time."
Alex wheezed as the atmosphere yielded to Jason's will, his breathing transitioning from haggard breaths to pained coughs as the world around him slowly reverted to normal, as Jason retracted his intent.
"Why?" Agnus spoke out, questioning Jason.
Jason stared back.
They stared at eachother.
"Someone has done acts against you that I cannot ignore."
That was all Agnus heard before his vision went dark, falling forward as Jason caught him in his arms.
"What are you doing?!" Alex called out, teetering as he stood back up on his feet.
Jason didn't look back; he began walking away. "To fix him."
In the blink of an eye, Jason disappeared from existence with Agnus unconscious in his arms.
—
[Random Bar in the capital of Holland, Planet Hoam]
Ryan sat at a wooden bar, blissfully taking sips of aged liquor that burned his throat as it coursed down into his stomach. "Ahhhh, you know how good it is to find liquor that does something at my stage? It's a fuckin' dream."
The bartender giggled, "Just for you, mister." She replied with a playful wink, causing a different type of... Sensation to brew just below his stomach. He reciprocated with a smirk and held eye contact as she walked off, taking a brief glance at her buttocks before enjoying more of his drink.
His previous black hair contained strands of silver, as the signs of aging were becoming apparent.
Just a decade ago, he was an assistant to the late pillar, Kolan. Now, he was a pillar himself. Duties were treacherous, the inner politics dangerous, yet it was nights like these that gave him the will to keep going.
A moment where he can enjoy himself in the delights he loves and earn his rest.
Unfortunately, his rest was going to be cut short.
His pocket buzzed, and his gleeful mood was instantly replaced by the stern mindset belonging to a powerful figure among the Heretics.
Glass clanked as he set his cup down and reached into his pocket, withdrawing his communicator and reading the message displayed to him.
[BCBOEPOFE.CBSSBDLT - - - X 5]
[Sender: KBTPO]
His expression stiffened as the sudden urgency pricked his instincts, and he quickly stood up and fanned his coat. Three coins materialized from a dimensional space and fell on the counter, and he quickly rushed out.
A crystal conjured in his hand, and he easily crushed it, the sphere dissolving into a million shards of light before it all disappeared.
And so did he.
—
Jason sat on a wooden log, a blazing fire waning in front of him. Motionlessly staring at it, emotions ate at his mind as he thought about the implications, the mysterious dangers behind the runes implanted onto Agnus's soul.
FWWWWWSH!
A ripple of mana alerted his senses, but he was quickly calmed at the sight of Ryan standing with a worried expression. Ryan quickly scanned over the area and released his grip on his sword before pacing over to Jason.
His eyes fell upon Agnus, who sat calmly still.
Shooting a brief glance, Jason looked at Agnus before looking back to Ryan and sighing. "Sit down, it'll be a long talk.
Ryan remained still before stepping over the log in front of him and taking a seat next to Jason.
The two remained in a comfortable silence for a long period of time, the various emotions weighing on their mind.
For Jason; Fear. Anger.
For Ryan; Concern.
Eventually, Jason spoke out loud, attracting both Ryan's and Agnus's attention.
"Ten soul runes. Eight emotions, then the rune of oblivion and stillment."
Ryan's pupils immediately dilated as his eyes flicked over to Jason, furrowed eyebrows expressing his emotions.
"Who?"
The answer was not needed, as he already knew it was the boy. Agnus sensed a gaze, and he turned his head.
Ryan was examining him, small tendrils of mana connecting into Agnus's stomach from his own abdomen. "Jesus fuck, Jason," Ryan muttered as he withdrew his mana, his focus affixed on the boy. He memorized his appearance: White hair, pure-black irises, and pale skin.
A chuckle left his lips as he was left in a state of disbelief. "Y'know, man, he looks a LOT like Lorus." Followed by another chuckle, albeit quieter. His hand brushed his own face.
Jason didn't respond, letting the silence connect the dots.
Ryan sat quietly, before his finger moved from his eye that was looking directly at Agnus. His breath was caught in his throat, "Is that...?"
His words did not need to be answered, for he already knew the answer. Time stilled as Ryan's mind went into overdrive while he burrowed his face into his hand.
"Who did it?" Ryan questioned with a sharp voice.
"That's what I don't know. But if I have to say? His father. We all know he was powerful and a Runemaster. But what I don't understand is why."
Agnus lifted his head, and Ryan flicked his eyes over at the subtle act. "Yeah, he did."
The world went silent as both Jason and Ryan remained motionless, before an array of questions that they never even thought of were brought to light. "Wait, wait, rewind. You KNOW he did?" Ryan hollered as he stood up.
Agnus remained silent, his abyss-like eyes focused on Ryan. He nodded his head before speaking, "Yeah. We talk every once in a while. He told me to keep it a secret unless it's a few certain people."
"Who?"
"The First, Ninth Pillars, Assistant Ryan, Assistant Kenley, and Emperor Jason." Agnus reached into his back pocket, pulling out a small gem, barely the size of a fingernail. "A recorder." Ryan recognized it immediately.
Agnus crushed it, and a life-sized replica of the Twelfth Pillar churned to life in the air, his figure covered in a blue hue that wavered unsteadily.
"Never tell this secret to anyone, besides The First and Ninth Pillars, both of their assistants, and Jason, the Emperor. They are the only ones who deserve to know the truth. They have been wronged, and that courtesy falls upon my shoulders. And tell them exactly as I say. Including this next passage."
His words paused, as both Ryan and Jason had emotions brewing within their hearts.
The feeling of betrayal.
The feeling of sorrow.
"It was all a scheme. I was meant to be a double agent, a spy within the revered ranks. However, the secrets I knew were too much to trust. They cut contact with me immediately, and had an implanted spy send an anonymous tip to the high-ranking officers of the Revered that I was a spy, and I was hunted. Still am, infact.
The Vice-Sect master, Third Pillar, Second Pillar, and Tenth Pillar are not to be trusted.
Once they even have a slight suspicion that you know the truth, they will try to assassinate you, as they are going to do with Agnus when he goes to the academy.
Before I left, they peered into his soul. They know the potential he holds. I installed the Rune of Stillment as a measure to hopefully diminish their urge to kill my son, as he would grow too strong to ignore very quickly. However, they have shown me that they will kill him, regardless.
As for the runes responsible for suppressing his emotions; That was not in my hands. That was their doing.
I trust you to protect my son.
Jason. I will help you do anything to help you avenge Lorus. His death was orchestrated, as he knew the truth. Why would the Revered send both of their Paragons to Fortress Kupali? It was a needless choice to do it. But they did it nonetheless. Because they knew Lorus would be there.
The First Pillar was killed by The Second Pillar himself, as I watched it happen. I couldn't act. If I did, it'd blow my cover. Although now that I knew they were plotting against me, I should've done something. I'm sorry, Ryan. I knew he meant a lot to you, I should've realized that instantly and killed the Second Pillar myself, but I didn't."
Ryan broke down immediately, tears slipping from the corners of his eyes as the words reached his ears. Kalon wasn't a mere friend; He was his father figure. He helped him discover his purpose in life and helped him through so many things. He was young, merely in his twenties, and now he was nearing his forties, and the loss of Kalon never left his heart.
"I want my son to live. And to do that, I need him to be strong. The academy is too dense in population and in size to be monitored 24/7, and I won't say that all of the professors there are exactly on our side.
Jason.
Train him.
Make him into a warrior who surpasses you and your sworn brother, Lorus.
If it is not you delivering justice, it will be his nephew who will strike down the ones who did us wrong.
I altered his muscles and bones and bestowed him the flexibility that no one has ever seen. I trained him myself; however, my swordsmanship cannot compare to yours.
I trust you both.
Please, protect my son. Lead him forward. Be his pathfinder. I will forever be in your debt."
The hologram flickered, its light paling into a faint shimmer before dissolving into the night air.
They simply stared where it had once been, their thoughts falling behind their emotions.
The rest of the night was spent in an odd silence, the invisible thread connecting Ryan and Jason strengthening; Not of brotherhood, but the ties of revenge.
Beyond the depths of sorrow that tinged the waves of emotion swelling to life within them, a silent rage seethed, and it would never settle until justice was enacted.