Beyond Existence

The Deep

Ryan's party arrived in Adel after six hours by carriage. The city's grandeur immediately overwhelmed them. Massive fortified walls, full-amored and armed knights at every corner, and the stone-paved roads gave the city a sense of power and security. The bustling center was alive with movement; merchants, nobles, and citizens all going about their business. If Hars was a star in the night sky, then Adel, the seat of the Rouclier household, was the bright moon that illuminated the entire sky.
"Wow! Hars doesn't even compare!" Ale exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Even the capital falls short. The Roucliers are really incredible," Ryan added, glancing around in admiration. Then, his face hardened as he looked at Daniel. "Listen, be careful not to cause trouble here. Escaping won't be as easy as Hars." His voice carried a firm warning. Daniel replied with a nod.
As they approached the gates, they found themselves slowed by a long queue. The gate sentries were conducting thorough searches on everyone entering the city, particularly focusing on immigrants and travelers.
Suddenly, one of the knights at the gate called out. "Sir Gideon, over here!" A portion of the knights immediately rushed toward a nearby carriage, following the lead of their commander, Sir Gideon.
Gideon, a tall and imposing figure, approached. "What's going on?" he asked.
One of the knights pointed to a brown-haired man sitting in the carriage, a wrapped sword laid beside him. "This man here seems suspicious, sir. He refuses to comply with our rules."
The man being questioned was none other than Red, in disguise. He gritted his teeth in frustration. "Damn it, this bastard's making a scene just because I didn't give him a few coins," he muttered under his breath.
From the shadows of the carriage, Mellios whispered. "You should've just paid him. If they blow your cover, we'll be in trouble."
Gideon's voice rang out, cutting through their hushed conversation. "Get down and comply this instant!"
Reluctantly, Red stepped down from the carriage. "I assure you, commander, I've done nothing wrong," he said smoothly.
Gideon's eyes narrowed. "We'll decide that. Search him!"
The knights moved quickly, patting Red down and checking his belongings. Fortunately for him, he had sold off the white dust in a city they passed through earlier, and his disguise remained undetected.
"Good thing I had Novick send his best work," Red thought, feeling a wave of relief as the search came up empty.
Gideon turned to the knight who had called him over. "So, what exactly is the problem? Could this be another one of your stunts?" His voice dripped with irritation.
The knight pointed at the wrapped sword. "I-It's the sword, sir. W-we can't see what's under the cloth. It could be hiding something illegal." he stuttered.
With an exasperated sigh, Gideon smacked the knight on the head, knocking him off balance. "A sword? That's your reason?" He shook his head, then turned to Red. "Apologies for the inconvenience," he said before leading the other knights back to their posts.
Back in the queue, Ryan's party had noticed the delay at the entrance. "Is it just me, or is this queue barely moving?" Ryan muttered.
"I'll check," Eric said, closing his eyes to concentrate. After a few moments, he opened his eyes. "Looks like the delay is over. The knights are returning to the entrance. We should be moving soon."
As Eric predicted, the queue began to shuffle forward again. Unbeknownst to both parties, Ryan's group and Red's were only meters apart, completely oblivious to each other's presence.
Once they were past the gates, Chrome spoke up. "Our destination is the Roucliers' estate. It might be better if you drop me and Daniel off at a tavern. If Daniel loses control there, forget escaping, we'd be lucky to survive."
"Stop using Daniel as an excuse. You just don't want to deal with the nobles," Eric teased, smirking.
Ryan chuckled lightly before adding, "I understand your concern, but we're all going together. From the looks of Adel, the Roucliers don't seem as bad as other nobles."
"All nobles are the same," Chrome grumbled, though he eventually relented.
Ciare, who had been quietly observing the exchange, chimed in. "So what happens if the 'wild kid' does lose control? You can't just assume everything will go smoothly."
Ryan's smiled at the question. "That won't happen, as long as no harm comes to Ale."
The group looked at Ryan in confusion, clearly waiting for an explanation.
Ryan sighed and folded his arms. "Daniel's current condition is a result of him ingesting Ale's blood. He's protective of her on instinct because of it. Millian told me something like this might happen."
"Why didn't I know about this?" Ale asked, slightly surprised.
"We weren't sure at the time, so there was no point in worrying you," Ryan replied, shrugging.
"If that's the case, we should be fine, but I'd still plan for the unexpected if I were you," Ciare warned.
They reached the Roucliers' estate and were dropped off at the grand entrance. The gates were impressive, with a large elephant symbol at the center, flanked by two armored guards.
Ryan approached the guards, instructing the others to wait behind. After a few minutes, he waved the group over. They were thoroughly searched, and their weapons were confiscated before they were allowed to enter the estate.
"That was even more strict than the gates," Chrome complained as they walked down the well-paved path inside.
Ciare scoffed. "Strict? You should be thankful they let you in at all, especially given the current situation."
Ryan furrowed his brow. "Current situation? What do you mean by that?"
"It's not exactly public knowledge, but let's just say things are a little… sensitive at the moment." Ciare was about to elaborate when a familiar voice interrupted her.
"Yo! Haven't seen y'all in ages!"
The group instantly recognized the speaker's accent and scarred face. It was Hunt, waving them over with a grin.
"Yer early," Hunt said, guiding them further into the estate.
As they walked, Ryan asked, "So, where's Roy?"
"The captain ain't here. Got some business to deal with back at the capital." he replied.
Eric let out a deep, relief breath, while Ryan only smiled, almost as if he'd been expecting that answer. "Alright. So, what did you find?" he asked, getting back on track.
Before Hunt could answer, his eyes landed on Ciare. "Who's the chick? She a new recruit?"
Ciare's expression tightened. "Chick?"
Ryan smirked. "Not quite. Let's just say we're friends with benefits, though her part of the bargain is still unclear."
Ciare rolled her eyes. "If you're talking about what happened here two months ago, don't worry. I'm already informed of it."
Hunt raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. "Fair enough."
He opened the door to his quarters, and the group settled inside. "Now, where should I start…" Hunt mused, scratching his head.
"How about I help with that?" Ciare interrupted, sounding eager. "I'll start with the story of the Immortal King."
Chrome's eyes lit up in recognition. "The Immortal King? I've heard about that! My granny used to tell me stories when I was a kid."
However, Ryan, Ale, and Eric seemed clueless.
Hunt leaned back in his chair. "Yea. That's a good start."
Ciare nodded, taking a deep breath. "Long ago…"
Long before the rise of the Arth Kingdom, there was the Qatarnia Empire. Formed at the end of the Three States Era, a period of conflict that spanned five centuries, the empire was born from the ambition of one man, Adlat I Qatar. Through cunning and sheer might, Adlat I united the fractured states of Logia, creating an empire that would stand as a beacon of strength and power for centuries to come.
Adlat I's legendary success was not only due to his strategic brilliance but also because he wielded an ancient and powerful relic, the Eye of Zelja. This relic, said to grant its possessor their deepest desires, became the foundation of his reign. With the Eye of Zelja, Adlat I ascended to divine status, earning the title "The Immortal King". Under his rule, the Qatarnia Empire flourished. Its armies swept across continents, conquering kingdoms and duchies, its influence spreading far beyond its borders.
For three hundred years, the Immortal King reigned, his empire expanding as Qatarnia dreamed of dominating the entire world. However, when Adlat I finally met his end, the empire's golden age began to crumble. Without his leadership and the power of the Eye of Zelja, Qatarnia began its slow but inevitable decline.
Over the next four hundred and thirty-six years, the empire fell into disarray. Corruption took root as officials and rulers alike abused their power. Tyrannical sovereigns ruled with greed and cruelty, sowing the seeds of unrest. Internal conflicts weakened the empire from within, while external forces saw an opportunity to strike. But the true death blow came from an event no one could have foreseen, the sudden, mysterious sinking of Arth, Qatarnia's capital. The location came to be known as "The Deep."
The catastrophe that swallowed the capital also claimed most of the empire's nobility and relics, and more devastatingly, the Eye of Zelja. With the heart of the empire lost, chaos reigned. The remaining territories revolted, and neighboring forces began their invasions. In less than a decade, the once-great Qatarnia Empire was split into fragments, its lands carved up by internal factions and foreign conquerors.
From the ashes of Qatarnia, new nations arose. Some were swallowed by neighboring empires, while others fought to preserve their independence. Among the survivors were the remnants of Qatarnia's royal lineage and noble houses. They gathered what strength they had left and formed what is now known as the Arth Kingdom, moving forward into the era of the Five Great Kingdoms.
"Now I remember," Ale said, wiping a teardrop from her eye. "It's one of the bedtime stories Fild used to tell me and Daniel."
A nostalgic smile spread across Chrome's lips. "Just like I remembered," he said softly.
"That was a nice story, but what does it have to do with the current situation?" Ryan asked, his eyes narrowing.
"The Deep... is it the one at the Bay of Adel?" Eric chimed in, a curious edge to his voice.
Ciare pouted playfully. "Just a 'nice story'? You're no fun." She glanced at Eric. "But yeah, you got it right, rude kid. The Deep is the Bay of Adel. And two months ago, something emerged from its center. The remains of the sunken capital."
Ryan's eyes widened as his mind raced to piece it all together. "Then that means..."
"Yea," Hunt interrupted, his tone serious. "The Eye of Zelja and other lost treasures of an ancient empire might be down there."
The weight of the revelation settled over the room like a thick fog. This wasn't just a rumor, it was the kind of secret that could ignite a national war. And the fact that a broker like Ciare knew about it meant the information was already spreading.
Ryan's mind spun. The Eye of Zelja, a relic that could grant all wishes. If he could find it, Daniel's condition could be cured, and tracking down Barol Gurahan would become trivial. But a nagging thought interrupted his hopeful train of thought.
"If it's such an important matter, would we even be allowed to explore it, let alone possess anything from there?" Ryan asked cautiously, voicing his growing doubts.
"Possess? In your dreams."
The voice came from behind them, sharp and commanding. The group turned to see a young man in his twenties with green hair and piercing blue eyes, dressed in fine attire that signaled his high status. Behind him stood a knight, radiating authority. They all knew who he was.
Instantly, the group bowed their heads. Whether they had seen him from afar or met him before, they recognized Owen Arthurs the third prince of Arth kingdom, accompanied by his trusted knight, Sir Lucas Rouclier.
Owen's glare was fixed on Ryan. "To think you'd dare have ideas on the royal family's treasures. Such insolence will never be forgiven." he said, anger simmering in his voice.
In a room with dim lighting, two figures knelt, their hands tied and blindfolded. Before them sat a figure on a throne-like chair, cross-legged. Flanking the throne was a hulking man, standing about eight feet tall, his sheer presence radiating menace.
"Remove the blindfolds!" the giant man barked, his voice deep and rumbling, fitting his towering, fearsome appearance.
The blindfolds were pulled off from behind, revealing Red and Mellios. Both blinked as their eyes adjusted to the dim light.
"Oh," Red said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I believed the Soul Eater was a man, but what do we have here?" He fixed his gaze on the figure seated in the chair. His eyes settled on a young woman, her black hair cascading down her shoulders, her lower lip pierced, a silver ring hanging from it. She had an unsettling, confident smile.
"That's because I'm not him," she said, her voice cool and dripping with amusement. She paused, her smirk growing wider. "I'm the heir to the dark throne, the Soul Maker."