“…At least let me complete my words,” Alnea mumbled, as he chased after Cecilia. And so did the other Star Seekers. It had been nearly ten days since they came to the Final World. Ten days since they first began exploring the forest. That was long enough to reach a tacit understanding with strangers, let alone with people whom they had shared life and death experiences for the past half year. Though they were still not accustomed to the strange forest, it could not hinder their cooperation.

  The moment that the Star Seekers heard Cecilia’s words, they understood what she was going to do. And since everyone was already standing according to their position in the team’s formation, they did not waste any time in following behind her, exploring the forest along their way. If just observing the forest could be termed as exploring, that is.

  Sticking to the objectives of their Final Trial, the Star Seekers just kept noting down everything they saw in their head, preferring not to act unless others forced them to. And as if heeding to their wishes, the dull, grey fog, blanketing the forest, easily gave way to their advance. Though the fog did suffer some chaos in the process, it was only for a few moments. Without the Star Seekers disturbing their rest, the part of the fog they left behind soon returned to its equilibrium, becoming the same dull grey fog it was before. Except, it was not exactly the same.

  For some reasons, as Alnea explored the fog with his Spirit, he could see that there was something wrong with the fog. Not the entirety of it. Just the part which they disturbed on their way. Then again, the fog itself was a part of the large system of the forest. It was one of the main reasons why the forest seemed alive, why it seemed to be breathing. Any disturbance within its equilibrium was bound to cause some changes… Was that what the trees had meant by guarding the balance of the forest? If so, how was he to do so? By standing in one place?

  Alnea sighed mentally, before noticing that he had been sighing a lot lately. Was that the price of growing up? Maybe. He did not like the feeling though. Besides, he had already decided that becoming a Guardian of the forest was not necessary for his goals. So, he gave up on his useless thoughts, Clearing them away from his Heart, as he continued with his exploration.

  The changes within the fog… Alnea had no intention of digging into the secrets of the forest. But he could not leave the safety of his team up to the forest’s whims either. If there was indeed something within the forest that could potentially harm the Star Seekers, it was his job as their Captain to make sure to take care of the troubles. And since the trees were not going to point out exactly what the troubles were, he decided to find them on his own. It was just that he did not have much to show for his efforts.

  He could tell that something within the fog changed as they passed through it, but he could not point out exactly what it was. Was it a little more restless? No, that was only because of the disturbance in its equilibrium. And it did not remain restless for long. Was it the fog’s composition then? No, that was not it either. The fog’s aura? The way that it appeared to be breathing? Or was it—

  “Three Purple Spotted Lynxes towards our right.”

  “Vestia—

  “Too late. They are already charging towards us.”

  “…These dumb cats,” Alnea mumbled, glancing at the cat trotting next to Cecilia. “Fran!”

  “On it,” Fran said, summoning a shield from his storage device, as he stepped past the team’s vanguard to take on the beasts charging towards them. In the next moment, before Cecilia could express her dissatisfaction, the beasts were already upon them, crashing against Fran’s shield and the barrier that Aren erected just in time, disorienting them for a moment. A moment enough for Alnea, Norren, and Cecilia to step forward and finish the cats before they could unleash their Innate Abilities.

  “Back in formation,” Alnea commanded, slipping his sword back into its sheath, just as he urged his Aspect to go back to their wells. “Cecilia—

  “I know,” Cecilia said, waiting for everyone to get back into their formation, before resuming their exploration. Meanwhile, Forne licked its lips in satisfaction. It even stretched out its limbs, as if getting ready to get some rest. Lazy cat. Though it could not be lazy for long. Once Cecilia began running, it had to run after her whether it liked it or not.

  Tearing his attention away from the cat, Alnea too resumed his exploration, stretching his senses to the depths of the forest, even if only in one direction. The dull, grey fog, changing ever so slightly with the intruders disturbing its rest, breaking its balance little by little, paving way for the dangers lurking beneath its surface, for the cold that came surging from the abyss—

  “Stop,” Alnea said, stopping in his tracks, signalling the rest of the Star Seekers to do the same.

  “What happened?” Cecilia said, staring at Alnea in confusion, only for him to wave his hand, and bring a finger to his lips.

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  “…Not now, Lia,” Alnea said, furrowing his brows, with his face turning a little pale. “Yuri, did you sense it?”

  “…I did.”

  “Sense what?”

  “…The forest—

  “No, it is not the forest,” Yuri said, shaking her head. And though her face was not as pale as his, it was just as solemn. “This change… It is something else… It is…”

  “…What are you two talking about?”

  “…Do you not think that the weather has suddenly become a little cold?” Vestia said, glancing towards the depths of the forest.

  “So?”

  “So, where is this cold coming from?”

  “…Maybe there has been a change in the weather outside of the forest.”

  “…Although such rapid changes in weather are not unheard of, they are usually followed by other signs. Like strong winds, cold showers, or even a storm. The only thing we can feel right now is the cold.”

  “…This is the Final World. Common sense cannot work here.”

  “Even if this is the Final World, it cannot ignore the law of casualty. There must be a reason for everything that happens…”

  “…What are you three talking about?”

  “…If only we knew,” Alnea mumbled, before gritting his teeth, and coming to a decision. “There is no time to explain. Zain and Ralph, put up a shield. Your strongest ones. Do not think about saving your Spirit Power. Everyone else, gather around, and prepare the Glyph Tokens I gave you. Be ready to use it at any moment.”

  “…Is it necessary—

  “We cannot take any chances,” Alnea said, shaking his head, as he glanced at his teammates. Zain and Ralph had already began conjuring their shields, one with his Glyphs and other with his Arcanas. To lessen their burden, he signalled everyone to come closer and stand in a small circle. Only when the two men had put up their shields, white and yellowish barriers, shaped like a dome, did he turn back towards the forest.

  “No matter what happens, no one leaves the shield until I say so.”

  “…I still do not think this is necessary,” Norren mumbled. “We are wasting—

  Before Norren could finish his words, a deafeningly loud sound thundered through the world, shaking everything around the Star Seekers. The trees, the fog, and even the ground itself seemed to shiver at the sound, as if afraid of what was about to come. And rightfully so. For in the very next moment, inky black cracks spread through the air, twisting whatever came in their path, be it the fog or the trees, banishing them from existence. Only the ground could resist the terror of the strange cracks.

  Still, even the mighty earth had to pay the price for defending against the black thunder. Or at least that was what Alnea thought the cracks looked like. Black Thunder of Chaos and Destruction. It would also explain the loud rumble that followed the cracks. Or the craters that the cracks left behind on the ground. Even the double shields that Zain and Ralph had put up could barely resist against the tendrils of the black thunder for a couple of moments, before shattering like sheets of fragile glass.

  “…Do you still think that the shields are not necessary?” Alnea said, as the Glyph Tokens that he had given to his teammates activated on their own, defending against the tendrils of destruction reaching out to them.

  “…I—

  “If everyone is back to their senses, then quickly conjure your shields before the Glyph Tokens I gave you shatter,” Alnea said, tearing his eyes away from Norren, glancing at the rest of his teammates with a solemn face. “We don’t know how long this… thunderstorm will last, or if we will be attacked by some wayward thunder once again. And I have no intention of leaving my life and death up to Fate.”

  Nodding in just as solemn a mood as his, everyone quickly began conjuring whatever defensive moves they could use, including Alnea. Although he did not have any defensive Arcanas and Glyphs, he did know quite a few of defensive Martial Styles. And not just of the Auxiliary Type. It had been nearly a year and a half since he became a Wanderer. A year and half since he began learning Martial Styles once again. That was long enough for him to learn Martial Styles of all the types that he had missed as a Seed, and fill up his missing foundations.

  Armour, Weapon, Summoning, Casting, and Auxiliary, the five types of Martial Styles according to the classic way of classification each had their own special features. Those of the Auxiliary type, for instance, allowed Wanderers to use their Aspects to boost themselves in different ways. Just as those of the Armour and Weapon type allowed Wanderers to use their Aspects in conjunction with their weapons and armours. Summoning and Casting type, on the other hand, allowed Wanderers to shape their Aspects in all kinds of form, including a shield.

  Of course, Alnea was still most proficient in Martial Style of the Auxiliary type, followed by those of the Weapon type. But that did not mean that he did not know Martial Styles of other types. He was just not proficient enough in those Martial Styles to use them in battles. Or maybe he just did not wish to use them. He liked using his sword, and moving his body around in battles. Though, at the moment, moving around was not going to help him against the black thunder.

  For the sake of his team’s safety, Alnea did not hesitate to close his eyes, and reach out to his Aspects, urging them to surge out of his body, and take the shape of a dome. And while he was at it, he did not forget to influence them with the Concept of Protect. He was proficient in neither, especially not when they were used together, but that did not stop him from trying.

  Even if that attempt was sloppy and ineffective, wasting most of his Spirit Power, he did not regret his actions. He was Alnea Oathkeeper, Captain of the Star Seekers. Ensuring the safety of his team was his responsibility, just as protecting Cecilia and Yuri was his Oath. And Vestia too, of course. She too had had become a part of his Heart. Maybe he should take an Oath to protect her too. Regardless, he was not going to let the black thunder, the Final World, have its way.