GLITCH

Another Phase, another Scheme

CITY GATE, CRYSTAL CITY

Thursday, November 18, 2500

2:03pm

"Are you ready to go?" Miss Ferni, who's wearing a pinkish white suit and skirt, asked Sven as she saw him walking towards her. I accompanied him of course, silently watching another phase of Sven's life after the tragic death of her grandmother.

It's been two days after that incident. I killed Cassiopeia, but then all of us, including the Silver Crux, weren't able to protect and save Granny, who kicked the bucket after saving us. Since I passed out after the fierce battle, I don't know what happened to the Silver Crux, but I've heard from Sven that they went away and aimed to get stronger by training once more. To me, it seems reasonable, since even with their prowess, they could hardly hold a candle to Vlad or Cassiopeia.

Deep inside me, I feel frustrated not just to Cassiopeia's doing, but also to myself. Even though I have a Mantle strong enough to overwhelm enemies, and my gadgets that can outcast any forms of Glitches, I wasn't able to protect the life of my friend's grandmother. I never would've thought that the infamous character development via death of a close person happened to me.

And right now, I'm pretty sure that this feeling of frustration within me is pretty shallow compared to Sven's.

Yesterday, after I woke up from fatigue, we received a call from Miss Ferni and asked about the incident that happened in Crystal City. Sven isn't fine at all of course, and just stayed silent so I did the reporting. Miss Ferni understood and gave her condolences to Sven, which nodded in response. But just when she's about to end the call, Sven pleaded Miss Ferni to train him. I could see that he's desperate to get stronger. As a friend, I'll support him all the way. But more than that, I'm worried about his well-being.

Back to the present, Sven, who wears a hooded long-sleeved shirt, pants and a pair of sneakers which are all jet black in color (geez, what's with that outfit; is he inviting heat stroke or something?), nodded at Miss Ferni's question.

"I see", said Miss Ferni with a bitter smile on her face. "I shall train you even after all of the bones in your body c***k or turn to dust", she continued with a remark that her training regimen could even make a person wish for death.

"I don't mind", Sven responded. "If it's something that I must endure to attain greater heights when it comes to strength…" he said with a grim expression visible on his face.

Sven…

"Now then", Miss Ferni turns her attention to me. "Where would you go now?" she asked.

"I'll immerse myself into something Miss Ferni", I said in a low voice. "There's something that I noticed during that fight, and I need the answers or else I can't remove my uneasiness away."

Yes, there's something that I had noticed, or rather, something that piques my interest. It's about artificial Glitches. As of how they're able to do it, I can't comprehend even with my knowledge. Perhaps that Fallen Blood Crystal, a crystal which is also embedded on Cassiopeia's chest, is somehow involved in this. Of course, looking at this on various angles, I came to a conclusion that that incident two days ago is just a mere grain of a bigger scheme incoming anytime and wreak havoc upon these lands.

"Rylai…"

Sven cuts into our conversation and told me to not overdo it.

The only thing that I could respond in that moment is a sigh and a service smile.

"I could say the same to you. Now if you'll excuse me", I turned my back and walks away as I waved goodbye to Miss Ferni and Sven. I wish you luck Sven.

Wait a minute…

…come to think of it, where is Sven's grandfather?

•••

GRAVEYARD HILLS, outside Crystal City

6:01pm

Within the graveyard -- located few meters away from the city -- a shady person wearing nothing but pure absolute shadow, as if the darkness itself conceals his appearance, approached Lucy Fleming's grave and looked at it as if he has his life plummeted on the ground.

"To see you die first rather than me, this is truly a sorrowful moment for me", he said as he puts a bouquet of flowers on her grave. Even with his face concealed, his emotion can easily be figured out by his voice.

"If only this curse of mine were to be removed, I would've been at your side, protecting you. But then, your husband and I were searching for clues about the whereabouts of the organization who gives the funding for that cult, so we have to travel around the world. I could see that you put your outmost effort in protecting the citizens of our beloved city. Please look over us sister", he said with a sorrowful tone.

He did a deep sigh and then remembered someone who piqued his interest.

The man is there during the fight that removed his sister's life. He was able to witness, from afar that is, a person so peculiar; without using any of those unworldly powers, she was able to hold a candle to an enemy that even the famous party can't beat; a person that could even thwart the evil itself. A unique, currently a glass cannon-like individual appeared before his eyes.

"Now then, about that little lady who managed to kill that fiend…she's interesting. I would love to help her figure out her untapped potential. But since this Mantle of mine disrupts all forms of life within a certain radius, I can only watch her from afar", the man said to himself as he walks away.

He vanished without a trace as the moon shines the brightest, as if it shares the feelings of sorrow of the man who visited his sister's grave.