Psychographics

Chapter 7:Sharpened Pencils are Perfect Knives

Abandoned Housing Facility, North of Prontera East Gate 10:30 PM

Red Viele'au Sylenfeit, the bearer of The Criteria for the current generation of humanity, stood in bewilderment as his former comrade from the Rogue Guild, Grey Emyll Foxx, turned translucent in front of him. Though Grey's features were still noticeable, a thick foggy aura surrounded him.

Then it hit Red. "Wh-what did you just say?" the Stalker said to Grey, his voice cracking. "Y-you're the one responsible for the murder of the Payon Elite Guards?"

"Of course, you slowpoke…" Grey answered sarcastically. "Haven't you made the connection yet? Look at me closely, Red… take a good and long look. What do you see? Hmm?" he went on.

"You… you can't be…"

"I am The Blur."

"No…"

Cold sweat filled the Stalker's body. In front of him now stood the only being responsible for the Elite Guards' gruesome deaths. The Blur. Grey was the thinking monster that only attacks its targets at daybreak with a single, swift killing strike. Over the years, the Stalker's former comrade had gained a reputation… and created his own urban legend.

"How… how long have you been doing this?" Red asked Grey, his breathing getting shallow. "How many people… innocent civilians… no… families… have you broken to the core?"

"Innocent you say?" Grey replied mockingly. "No one is righteous in this world, Red… no, not a single one remains! Even your old man in Morroc isn't as righteous as you believe he is!"

"Did you kill all those people just..."

"Just for fun? Yes."

"You're crazy."

"No. I'm bored."

Silence existed once again between The Blur and the Stalker bearing The Criteria. Red Viele'au Sylenfeit, who now thinks that this conversation was all for naught, decided to draw his trusted weapon and pointed it towards Grey's direction.

Amused by the Stalker's actions, Grey held out the Seal of Morroc even closer to Red. As the Seal continued to glow with purple light, the sigil embedded on it was flashing on and off over and over. The Blur then went even closer to Red, making the Seal come in contact with the Stalker's weapon.

"What are you doing?" Red questioned in a rough, unsettled voice.

"I'm going to make a deal with you…" The Blur answered.

"A deal? Who in their right mind would?"

"If you were some else, you've been dead the moment you saw me. I'm just being lenient, Red."

"I don't need you and your leniency! The next thing you'll say is that you pity me, and I'm not even that low to be pitied upon… especially by you!"

"Pity? That's a laugh… I never felt pity for anyone. If I did, I wouldn't be able to slit their throats and hang them upside down with their hearts in their mouth…"

"How can you… how can you even describe your actions? You're despicable… a plague! You have no idea what life is and how precious it is to everyone!"

"Life? Nothing is permanent in this mortal plane. Life is but a blink of an eye to the gods, and it isn't important at all…"

"Then why kill in the first place?"

"I already told you. I'm bored."

"That's a lame excuse. If you're really bored, then you should have killed everyone instantly."

"That would be a waste for the remaining days I have in me."

"You think of life as a toy?"

"Of course I do. The gods are also the same! They kill people because they can create people too."

"That's not the point."

"You can be easily replaced with anyone, Red. Anyone. It just turned out that you were able to contain The Criteria inside you."

"Stop saying that!"

"Why? Do you really think you're special? Haha… I wouldn't be surprised. You were always considered as the best Stalker in the guild… no wonder it all got in your head…"

"Stop playing around, you sick fuck!"

"Haha… you keep on saying that… but you can't even do anything. All you have is nothingness. You think you can save the world from this war, don't you?

"Of course I do… and I will… even if I have to kill you right now."

"Then why not just kill me outright? You're wasting my time, you know?"

"I am not trained to kill my enemies immediately… I am trained to make them suffer first until they beg to be killed."

"Then our method of living is different. I kill people immediately because they'll scream when I cut them piece by piece. I hate noisy people… like you."

"Let's see you pull a killing strike on me."

"Is that a challenge? But I already told you…"

"You told nothing to me at all!"

"Listen, squirt. I'm going to strike a deal with you… so you better listen to the terms and conditions before you even speak another word."

"Yeah right, who would—"

"I will kill Gin right in front of you… and slice her womb open. Then I'll rip your offspring's heart out of his feeble body."

Unable to reply to The Blur's threat, Red took a step backwards, his weapon still pointing towards the Seal of Morroc. He was now sweating heavily.

"Scared? I was just joking, my friend." Grey told the trembling Stalker.

"You…." Red replied… his voice almost inaudible. "You wouldn't…"

"Aww… you caught me. Well then, you just have to stop me. I hope you're prepared to see your only family murdered right in front of you."

Grey moved even closer towards Red, so close their lips almost touched. He then showed Red the Seal again, and made a sick expression that cannot be described to be human at all. Within a second, The Blur's hand which was holding the seal embedded the solid orb within the Stalker's left breast.

"Aarghhh! Ahhhkkk….. errghhh…." Red gasped, chocking from The Blur's sudden assault. "Damn it… I was careless…"

"I'll be leaving now, since I know your wife's whereabouts… and when I find her, I'll kill her just as how I described it earlier! You got that? So stop me while you can." The Blur said, taunting the Stalker.

"You… you can't possibly know…"

"I have friends too, you know… though they occasionally appear on midnight."

"The Midnight Messenger told you—"

With another sick grin, Grey Emyll Foxx, also known in Midgard as the urban legend that kills people on daybreak… The Blur, immediately jumped to the nearest platform and ran away towards the West Gate's direction, leaving broken rooftops in its wake. The sound shattered glass and falling lumber can be heard within the perimeter where the Blur just passed by.

Left alone in agony, Red Viele'au Sylenfeit clutched his chest, as the Seal of Morroc was now residing within his heart. He gasped for air as he attempted to stand up and follow The Blur before it could kill his family… and the rest of the world with it.

Bathed in the moonlight, Red noticed the marks in his left arm grew blacker by the second, entirely engulfing half of his upper left body. The Seal's power was eating at him with tremendous speed, and the pain it caused made him scream at the top of his lungs. Staggering, Red tried to stand up with all his remaining energy. Breathing heavily, he steadied himself, and strengthened his resolve.

"I must stop him." Red said under his breath. "Lord Marcus can be taken care off after I kill Grey."

Jumping towards another platform, Red Viele'au Sylenfeit, now literally holding the Seal of Morroc within him, ran as fast as he could to follow The Blur… before everything he held dear be lost forever.

The sound of crumbling buildings can be heard as Red followed The Blur's path.

Payon Castle, 10:32 PM

Ignoring the commotion from the Prince's personal quarters, Yi Chen, the Royal Butler went towards the Royal Art Room, even after hearing the screaming Prince from behind the quarter's walls.

As he arrived in the Royal Reception hall, Yi Chen motioned for a castle guard and inquired about the whereabouts of his son.

"Have you seen him?" he asked the guard.

"Umm… I saw him enter the Royal Art Room about half an hour ago…"

"That would be enough. Thank you."

"My pleasure, Sir."

Taking a left turn, the Royal Butler soon arrived at the Royal Art Room.

"Sei? Sei, are you here?" said the white haired Butler of the Prince, as he scanned the room. This was the only place where his son would stay whenever he was busy doing chores for the Prince. The room was spacious and brightly lit. Focusing his gaze upon the figure located in the far right end of the room, he called out again.

"Sei…"

The young boy, who was around sixteen, turned his head slowly towards the source of the disturbance. He had long white hair, unlike the short one of his father, and had light-green eyes. He was wearing the trappings of the Royal Painter, but his expression was far from being satisfied. He was surrounded by dozens of giant canvasses, all containing the art he made out of rage. According to his father, the Butler… he really disliked painting and the other arts.

"What is it, honored father?" asked the boy, gloom visible in his emerald-colored eyes. "I'm kind off… busy, you see…" he tried to explain.

"Thinking about HER, again?" inquired his father. "But I already told you she's…"

"I don't care if she's engaged!" the boy snapped back in anger. "I don't care at all! I love her, and I'll take her for myself!"

"Sei… you must understand… that the decision for that engagement was totally unanimous… and your feelings for HER is totally out of the question."

"But… I love her, father! What part of that could you not understand?"

"You always say that…"

"I love her, with all my heart and soul!"

"But does she love you?"

The Royal Painter fell silent. His father was right SHE didn't love him at all. The feelings he had for her was totally one sided. She only cared for that muscle-bound wimp of a High Wizard. If he had expressed his feelings for her earlier, she could have…

"Please… leave me for now, Father…" Sei requested weakly. "I wish to be alone. I'll express my pain in this painting…"

"Very well…" the Royal Butler replied. "I just hope you face the reality of the situation and act like a man…"

There was no reply heard from the Royal Painter. Turning around, the Royal Butler went for the door and shut it tight, preventing any noise from escaping the soundproof room. Sitting at his chair, Sei, the Royal painter commissioned by the Prince, whose paintings adorn the walls of the long and spacious corridor on the way to the royalty's personal quarters… began to mix his dyes.

"I'll take you from him, no matter what…" he scowled as he started painting. "I'll make sure you end up with me… even if I have to kill him."

Splash. Splash. As Sei painted with rage, a single name echoed in his mind… the one name he'll ever hate for taking the girl he loves.

"I'm going to kill you, Malchuz. I'll kill you, for sure."

Morroc Castle Terrace, 146km from Prontera Castle, 10:33 PM

After the Midnight Messenger relayed the events of the near future to Lord Marcus and left for another destination, the seventy-something Lord continued to watch the moonlit night with his dark, ebony eyes. He heaved a sigh, releasing his stress a bit.

"The plan has always been in motion… ever since the Midnight Messenger revealed my future when I was still young…" he told himself, shrugging with assurance of victory.

"Without his help, I wonder where I could have gone, though… everyone I managed to be enemies with all crumbled and died according to plan." He continued.

"Even during the time that I have to use my best students as bearers of the Criteria… oh, how they screamed for their pathetic lives… it's a good thing that Red—"

The Lord's thoughts were interrupted by a soldier's sudden entrance. The soldier was panting heavily, obviously exhausted from the trip upwards the terrace.

"What is it, soldier?" the Lord inquired. "Is anything the matter?"

"Yes, Sir! The scouts have spotted two individuals just outside the Southern Morroc Gate!"

"Do you have any idea who they are? Were there any other details?"

"Yes, Sir! It was a young male accompanied by a taller female!"

"What did they look like?"

"They… they looked like a member of royalty… from Prontera."

"Is that so? That's quite… intriguing."

"Huff… huff… that would… that would be all, Sir."

"Anyway, soldier... are you tired? Do you want to rest for a while?"

"If I could use a quick break, yes…"

"Then close your eyes for a while…"

"Ok, if you say so, Sir."

Placing his right hand over the soldier's helmet, the Lord gently caressed the outline of the screws that held it together. His hand then went down towards the soldier's ear, subsequently gripping the soldier's ear and jaw.

Opening his eyes, the soldier realized the situation he was in… a little too late.

The sound of a broken cranium echoed along the walls of the corridor leading to the terrace. Lying on the floor was a soldier. His skull was open and bleeding extensively after being banged on the solid stone wall.

"I have no use for Pronteran spies…" the Lord mumbled to himself, then proceeded to call the attention of the Castle Guards to clean up the mess.

"I wonder… who could those two visitors be?…" the Lord thought. "I knew that nobles would not risk themselves by staying outside… but this is…"

"Sir! A giant explosion was spotted in our scope! It seemed to have taken place within the vicinity of Commander Hyatt's garrison!" a soldier alerted the Lord.

Prontera West Gate Street, 10:35 PM

General Kier staggered while trying to find leverage. His knees grew weak from the previous fight with the Stalker-Mage. He had almost died from silence and paralysis, but he was utterly surprised that the Midnight Messenger came by and cured him of his injuries. The misty being however, somehow forgot to restore his strength.

Standing next to a wall along the streets, he secretly wished to end his agony. Being a Sura after all, was a difficult and nerve-wracking job. One must be able to contain the immense strength and fury given by the Holy Spheres.

Trying to sleep, the General squatted down and leaned back against the wall, while his head looking upwards. The night sky was so peaceful… as if a war wasn't happening at the South Gate of Prontera, were the frontlines were. Everything was so clear…the moon, the stars…

And then, the ground shook tremendously.

Though capable of producing such a massive shock comparable to an earthquake, the General trembled at the sheer force that managed to knock him down to the ground.

Earlier, he was able to hear the sound of broken glass and falling timber, as well as the sound of crumbling houses on the other side of the street. He couldn't investigate immediately, for his energy was totally drained.

But this time, having able to rest for a little after the fight with the Stalker-Mage, the General felt energy surge through him as he saw what was happening right in front of him. It was something he had never expected.

Ahead in the distance, within the walls of Commander Hyatt's garrison, was a giant column of light sending out a massive shockwave that crumbled the nearby houses and facilities to dust. The garrison, however, was able to withstand the gigantic explosion, a testament to Commander Hyatt's defense plans. The gigantic white pillar was still shining, and spheres of light, comparable to his own, were floating above the pillar.

The spheres where of three colors… red, blue, and yellow.

Seconds, later, after what seemed like hours, the spheres were jolting out massive amounts of energy.

"Is… this… how the world would end?" the General questioned to himself. "Then I can't stop like this!"

Getting up and running towards the direction of the gigantic explosion, a smile once again grew on his face. The instant rush of adrenalin excited the hell out of him.

"If that's the work of that monkey, then I'm impressed…" the General remarked, comparing the Stalker-Mage's multiple bolt attack earlier to the gigantic sphere-powered explosion. "Who knows what he's been up to… but either way, the Commander's life is in danger!"

The general ran as fast as he could, destroying the obstacles composed of falling debris coming from the shockwaves. His excitement grew more and more as he neared the Commander's garrison.

Another second later, the three colored spheres jolted a giant thunderbolt in a single direction.

Downwards.

Omake (Bonus)

Two years ago, in Aldebaran

"Hey, Cornelia…" Malchuz waved to his friend. "I want you to meet someone…"

"Who is it? I hope it isn't someone I already know…" the purple-haired smith answered, while sitting on a Ranger's lap. "Where is this person, then?"

"Well, to be accurate… this person is a SHE…" the manly-built High Wizard answered. "I met her in Payon last month, you see…"

"Fascinating…" Hyatt groaned. "Let's see… you managed to grope this one too, right?"

"Heavens, no!" Malchuz protested in response. "Why do you always think that I grope women?"

"Because you like soft things. And women's parts are soft." the smith and the ranger replied together.

"But that's..." Malchuz tried to counter.

"Anyway!~" Cornelia interrupted, her face showing curiosity.

"What is it?" the ranger replied, used to Cornelia's sudden outbursts. "Did anything catch your attention?"

"Yeah… sort off…" Cornelia answered shyly, her face blushing. "I was wondering what happened back there in West Geffen Bridge…"

"You mean during the Fabre Festival?" Malchuz inquired further. "Are you talking about the game that the Genetics and Sorcerers were playing that day?"

"Uhm… y-yeah…" Cornelia answered, while burying her face in Hyatt's chest.

"Care to explain, my friend?" Hyatt requested calmly. "Cornelia seems… quite excited about THAT GAME."

"Well, before I name it, I'll explain how the game works." Malchuz started, his face glowing with delight. "Now…this is how all THAT FUN happens…"

"First, the Genetic summons a Flora on a grid drawn across the bridge. They can summon it anywhere on the grid. The Flora gathers enough solar energy to and gives the Geneticist's backpack enough energy to summon another kind of Flora. Then, the Sorcerer on the other side mind controls a nearby undead from Glast Heim and sends it to the Flora, so it can eat it and the Genetic's backpack, which is filled with energy." Malchuz explained in minimal detail.

"So the purpose of the Flora is to…" Cornelia asked.

"…To kill the attacking undead to help the Genetic that summoned it." Malchuz answered. "Not only that, the Genetic can summon other types such as Geographers, Mandragoras, Dryads, Hydras and Marine Spheres, to add fun and variety. The Sorcerer can also summon various other undead creatures, though they couldn't use the restricted ones such as Dark Illusions, for the public's safety."

"Sounds… interesting." Hyatt remarked. "I could watch them play that game over in Prontera…"

"Yeah… it'll be fun." Cornelia agreed.

"I told you so… you just don't trust me when I AM KNOWLEDGABLE on games like that…" Malchuz replied; his voice obviously frustrated.

"Anyway..." the smith began to ask again.

"Yes, Cornelia?" Malchuz replied.

"What is THAT GAME called? I've been dying to watch it again!" Cornelia asked eagerly, her face covered with a beautiful smile. "What's its name?" Sighing heavily, as if preparing for a great spell, Malchuz finally decided to reveal the name of the game that drove its players to craziness once they started playing it. The people who found this game interesting became geeks… just like those kids who played Duel Monsters of Midgard.

"Plants vs. Zombies." Malchuz revealed finally. For a second, Cornelia drooled.