GLITCH

Backstory and Conviction

PLATINUM CITY

December 2

7:47 am

"Is something wrong ma'am?"

"Oh no, nothing at all. I'm just astonished to know that a certain someone has accomplished another feat. That Rylai, she never ceases to amaze me."

Ferni and one of her close aides were taking their breakfast when she got a mail from the Maiden's Gloss City, a city within an island next to the Island of Flare. However, aside from the Glitches, the AGA is also in a bind about other various negative activities done by bandits, terrorists, and of course the newly-known Fallen. But then again, there's this traveling lady, someone that said "I want to travel around the world first, but if it's not possible to cover all in a year, I'll just continue my journey to the continent instead".

Remembering it made Ferni lets a snicker pasted on her face.

"Just remembering Rylai's grandmother has made her became someone bearing an inevitable fate. I wonder if ever her ancestor is fully aware of what things are geared up right now. However, all I can do is to nurture her well and make her someone capable of using her ancestor's sword. To be able to defeat me in my own league even in my Divine Release is an amazing job done by a person possessing no mana", Ferni thought.

…

I, Ferni, am a divine being called "Valkyrie". I'm a person fitting to be someone guarding the goddess I swore to protect. I'm not a glitch—the Valkyries staging on earth after manifesting are mere imitations. I'm clearly one of the real ones, the one who resides in a plane separated from the mortal world, the Heavenly Plane. It is home to various gods and goddesses worshipped by all people.

But then a day came when a mortal was able to come inside the sacred grounds, asking for help on how to destroy Crimson—the source of all disruption in the land of mortals and someone with power second only to the now dormant Chaos.

She managed to win the hearts of the deities, and thus they accepted her as someone who can help them cull the evil all of them worked so hard on suppressing against.

I, as someone who guards a goddess during that time, was tasked to train her and drill all the skills I know to her. In about a year, she managed to surpass me—that's how frightening her skills are. I used my [Divine Arts] against her, but to no avail. My defeat was splendidly done—half of it is her innate talent in combat and intellect combined, half is due to her sword. I've never seen that kind of sword before—a sword refined to a godly degree.

The sword was bestowed with a name—"Onslaught".

And that sword alone is the one that defeated all vile beings that mortal came across.

Rylai's grandmother, no matter how magically powerless she is, was able to bend the standard logic of everyone—she compensated her lacking features with her sword, and that alone shook Crimson down to his very core.

"I will never let evil prosper!"

"Hah! You who possess no power, dares to defy me?"

"It's not the power that counts, but determination and skills! I alone shall bend the logic of the world the people believe upon!"

Such are the exchange of words between Crimson and a mortal fearless enough to point her sword to a superior evil being.

This is the last stand of the mortal and her party—Ferni included—against Vile Crimson.

…

"Did you enjoy the treat?"

"Yes ma'am. That café truly lives up to its reputation."

"I know right?"

And here she is—one of the board members of AGA. But above all else, her priority number one is to look upon Rylai's growth. This is something she and the deities agreed upon, and a goddess herself even volunteered to become her guardian. As for now, Ferni knew that the Heavenly Plane is no longer a sacred ground, and the deities staying there are good as dead. However, as destruction befalls upon the earth, they're able to bless the humans with their last ounce of their divine powers to help them wipe out Chaos' residues out of the map—this is the origin of Glitches and Mantles.

Ferni is proud of her mortal friend's granddaughter for having a splendid growth.

"You'll need it for the terrible destiny that lies ahead."

"Hmm…? Did you say something ma'am?"

"Oh, no…nothing at all. Let's pick up the pace shall we? We might be late for today's meeting."

The two of them walked in a hurry. But Ferni is still deep in thought while snickering.

"I envisioned that you'll be burdened like your grandmother. Show me your resolve if that happens, Rylai Lux— or perhaps should I refer you as 'Chiara Seiiki'?"

•••

MAIDEN'S SHROUD CITY

8:47 am

In a dimly-lighted room, someone—separated from the eye of her people with a thick curtain—laid herself on a comfy sofa, sighing as she heard the report from one of her informants.

"Is that true Hellus?"

"Yes ma'am, an individual named Rylai was able to snuff out and destroyed Delt's hideout in Maiden's Gloss City and wiped out his entire crew in there."

The lady has heard of that name before.

Rylai Lux, the one who killed Cassiopeia and fend off Dubes, surviving. The lady rendered it as pure luck. Cassiopeia herself is one of the best magicians in the Fallen, second only to her. Dubes, on the other hand, is the most relentless physical fighter in their group.

She did remember Dube's during the last meeting she attended. She didn't attend the meeting as always, using a doll to serve as a surveillance of some sorts.

"That pipsqueak might be on a journey for something. I don't care about that anyway. But the fact that she was able to defeat and even kill Cassiopeia is something I can't possibly overlook. That girl is shrouded in mystery—she even has some connections with one of the only four true Phantasms on Earth."

Just saying the word Phantasm is a throbbing moment for those who can hear it. To the Fallen however, the Phantasms are the ones who can deal with them equally, but they are neutral in nature. For one of them to react and help someone escape however is a rare occasion. The Phantasms aren't people that help people, so she sees it as an act on a whim, or an act that repays a favor (since they don't themselves to owe something from someone). But in the end, Phantasms can't kill the ones with the Fallen Blood Crystal in their possession, and so are the Fallen to the Phantasms.

But then, an anomaly appeared out of nowhere and was able to literally kill one of them, not letting them get resurrected with the power of the crystal. That is Rylai Lux, a normal person who wields a Mantle and someone who bents the standard logic known by man, Fallen or not.

"What would be your orders ma'am?"

"Nothing. Now, where is Dert?"

Delt is one of the Fallen too. Aside from his scummy attitude and pathetic face, the lady can't think of anything that would fit to describe him.

"Yes. Dert is now hiding somewhere beyond our reach."

"Tch. That bastard, is he trying to evade from Rylai Lux's wrath? I know that she's against us Fallen, but that doesn't mean that I'm truly one of them. I hope she wouldn't lump me together with those fools who loves to wreck around. I'm a pacifist after all."

The only reason she became a Fallen is because of a critical error of judgment she made before.

And she herself proclaimed on the last meeting that she would stray herself from the Fallen, stay neutral and won't indulge herself in the Fallen's evil regimen. The others just shrugged at her proclamation and promised her that they won't include the island in their schemes— and if in the future she changes her mind, she can come back again. But then Delt broke the rule, so she is now anxious, trying to re-calibrate her strategy to not to be seen as someone on the side of evil.

She did try to remove the crystal embedded on her chest but whenever she tries, she was antagonized by pain insane enough to make her scream.

"I clearly don't want this."

"I know ma'am, but I assure you that we'll be able to return you back to normal. I swear."

"Thank you Hellus. I know you and the others are doing your best."

The only problem she has now is how to explain to Rylai that she isn't on the bad side.

She pictured the events wherein Rylai, Cassiopeia and Dubes met in separate occasions. Both of them were war freaks—Cassiopeia offended Rylai by assaulting Crystal City, meanwhile Dubes—as she knew his attitude—would bash anyone he deemed as enemy.

"I hope that everything goes well. Hellus, as soon as that Rylai steps her foot in the city, I want you to escort her to the café I usually go. I want to talk to her in person."

"But my lady--"

"No buts. Don't worry Hellus. As far as I'm concerned, Rylai wouldn't engage in combat unless you provoke her, and so far, I am the one who govern this island. That alone would let her see that I'm not a tyrant."

She may be trying to keep her cool, but deep down she is feeling unwell.

"Well, if it comes to that, I will allow myself to be slain", is what she thought.

As the ruler of the Island of the Maiden, she, Licht Maiden, upholds her ironclad rule to not to be swayed by the Fallen anymore.