Chapter 5: Whispers from the Dark
The El gang huddled around the guess room of the castle a big room with chairs and couch around a table and a fireplace burning providing the only source of light, this give the room a foreboding feel into it as shadows dance behind them. They would be discussing and reporting what they find, everyone is present except for Raven who just happens to arrive.
"Sorry I'm late, lost my way" He said scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. They couldn't blame him it's already night time and the halls are difficult to navigate in the dark not like the lamps hanging on the walls are helping at all.
Dinner already ended, everyone other than Elsword was accounted for which a cause for concern for them. Cain informed them that he wasn't feeling well so he couldn't join them for dinner, Aria went straight to his room after that.
They wanted to check up on him but Cain denied them saying that 'it's nothing to worry about' which made them even more worried and at the same time suspicious at the drone.
Cain didn't budge so they held their meeting at the guess room as per planned.
"I did a scan of the room, no surveillance detected" Add reported his left eye faintly glowing.
Elesis nodded and cleared her throat "Right let's get started. What do we know so far?"
"Everyone received a letter inviting them to the castle including me" Lu started "for everyone to come including me who was in the demon world this is the start of the many mysteries".
It was odd that everyone managed to make time visiting even Lu and Ciel which was difficult to get a hold to.
"Banthus became captain of the guard" Aisha said, though a minor detail for Elsword to trust security to a bandit lord defeats the purpose of security especially since its Banthus.
"We got a beating from Leo" Chung said raising a bandaged hand to his face.
"The 'knights of El' beings born from the crystal calling Elsword their father/creator" Rena recounted their meeting with Aria and Maria and the latter's explanation of their nature and not much else.
"a stranger leaving the castle two weeks ago, some kind of winged monster flying around the castle, a strange mist covering the area at night which we didn't see since it was dark, Aisha suddenly unable to use magic back at the gate" Raven counted with his fingers the many other unanswered anomalies and rumors.
"And Elsword he…he changed a lot" Ara reminded them sadly.
Everyone went quite; perhaps the biggest mystery is Elsword the lord himself. He was cheerful, honest, and straight forward, he was stubborn and even be hot-headed and sometimes an idiot but all of these are a part of him what makes him 'him'.
But now he's more withdrawn hold up in his castle not even going out. A far cry from what he was before every time they see him they die a little, always showing them that fake smile the moment they arrived at the castle.
The injury on his leg which make limp is due to an accident or so he say. He created Cain and Hyperion nasod drones with technology beyond his knowledge with technology that surpass both Eve and Add, even 'birthed' the knights of EL for whatever purpose or method but the biggest change of all is his demeanor.
He's secretive, hiding something and dodging questions even Cain is preventing them from either seeing him or when they started questioning changing the subject or outright ignoring them, even his 'children' don't know much the happenings of their own home though there much more of an enigma themselves or rather know something but refuse to tell them especially Leo who is outright hostile towards them.
Elesis snap out of her somber trance and break the silence "Now, did anyone find something?"
No one answered Elesis expect that much, Rena raised her hand and Elesis prompted her to go on.
"I and Ara went to find Aria in the garden asking her again about the rumors. Again she said she didn't know any of it".
Ara continued "Though she did mentioned someone else lived with them in the castle".
"Did she give a name?" Elesis asked and the girl shook her head.
"They just pass each other on the way out, when she asked Elsword who that person was he just replied that he was a 'friend'. He only stayed for some time".
The grand master strokes her chin "anything else about him she mentioned?"
Ara hummed in thought "He have black hair and wields a spear with a rune on the spear head, probably Elsword gave it to him".
Elesis nodded in thanks "Anything else worth reporting?"
Raven step into view "There's a large workshop on the west wing of the castle. Fire knights beating iron and making more suits of armor and weapons, possibly to make more of their own" he pinch his chin "don't know where the ore is coming but there's a lot of them".
This is quite alarming. There making more of them and for whatever purpose they don't know, it's like Elsword is getting ready for a war".
Chung scoff "Better things to do with all those" he commented offhandedly and Elesis shot him a glare. Remembering there previous encounter with the lion she don't want to bring up the issue again.
"I checked the library to see what I could find" Aisha's turn to report next "the resources there are extensive but there are some information that are restricted".
"I too found something interesting in the library" Lu continued "it have a lot of books but most prominent are tomes, scrolls, books, and scrip regarding magic and the ancient and forbidden kind".
Aisha groaned "many of those are outlawed, lost ancient magic or outright destroyed by the magic council, and Elsword have all of them stored there. We have to leave after realizing it; the nasods there are getting more suspicious".
"They were closing in on us" Ciel interject "If we didn't leave we would have cause a scene".
Add was somewhat annoyed. Everyone managed to get something out of the day for what it's worth while He and Eve found nothing "Majority of the rooms is empty" he finally said "lots of drones patrolling empty halls too".
Elesis sighed after hearing the report from the last group. Nothing, they learned nothing so far and only added more questions and confirmations of their current worries.
She looked up to see Eve staring blankly to the fireplace the fire dancing on her eyes. She was quite all this time not providing any input she called the nasod queen.
"Is there something wrong Eve" this grabbed her attention as she jerked up in attention.
"Oh…uh" it's like she have something to say, no matter what it is she wants to hear it and anything even the most outlandish at this point with nothing being learned or moving forward their investigation.
"There's this one room…" She said hesitantly.
"Again?" Add said huffing n annoyance "We checked every room Eve and there's absolutely nothing, all of them".
"This door is different!" she raised her voice and Elesis urged her to continue. This might be what they need to get to the bottom of this.
"I'm not sure if this is just an error but something is calling for me to that room"
"I didn't hear anything when we check, must be an error".
"I know what I heard" she insisted "there's something there I just know it".
"Can you take us there" Elesis grabbing her sword. Eve wasn't the lying type or her scanners wrong but if this is something worth investigating it's better than ending the day with nothing.
The El gang navigates the halls with Eve at the fore; there walk briskly their hearts pumping to know what this door holds. The hall is deadly silent as always which only heighten their senses more.
They stop in front of a forgettable door as plain as the rest, everyone formed a semicircle in front of it.
"This is it" Eve said".
"You sure this is the right door? I can't tell the difference to the others" Chung asked.
"This is it…I feel it".
Add felt that this little incursion is going nowhere and stepped near the door standing beside Eve "Listen Eve there's nothing here, I think I speak for everyone that were all exhausted. Let's start over tomorrow maybe Cain would let us see Elsword".
"But I really felt it! Something is behind this door" Add sighed knowing he won't win arguing would put it to rest.
Add placed his hand on the knob "Look, see? It's loc-"he suddenly stop and looked at the door know he's holding.
"…Its open" Eve pushed the boy away and forcefully barged into the room with everyone right behind her, and what they found surprised Eve especially.
It's empty.
Nothing but dust, curtained window and darkness. Nothing.
"I don't understand" Eve said unconvinced and walked around the room trying to find something to ease herself.
"There's nothing here…"
Everyone look on in concern as Eve continued to pace around the empty room. The stress must be getting to her as everyone, even though she's a nasod she can experience distress but it seems the moment she steps in the manor it's heavier than most.
"I swear…something's here I know it" as she continue little by little she's losing hope until Elesis put a hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe we got the wrong room?"
"This is the right room I'm sure!" she defended; she thought she looks like a mad nasod now.
"You must be tired, let's rest for now" Elesis said softly and Eve relented.
They returned to their rooms slightly disappointed to themselves, they could have done more but every turn they were opposed with no way of fighting back, Cain and Leo especially.
Eve lay in her bed replaying on her mind the dire warning she knew she heard and what transpired in that room.
She began to doubt herself maybe it was an error or the pressure taking its toll on her logical cogitation but still it couldn't shake off or ignore her unease.
Deciding that maybe a good night sleep will sort her out she began to shut down to rest but instructed her nasod companions Moby and Remy as well as Oberon, Ophelia and Ferdinand to remain alert taking shifts.
It's not like she worry for her security but she couldn't be too careful and sure her friends thought of the same, keeping them active in case something happen. She also instructs them to scan and sweep the area and maybe pick something up.
A part of her hoped that what she heard is true but also wanted to be false 'death' she remembered the voice say it send shivers to her being.
Tomorrow she vowed to get Elsword to talk, she's if she asked then he would answer Cain would deny her then. With a plan in mind she went to sleep to make time go faster.
Chug woke up in cold sweat, gasping and darting his eyes left and right with silver shooter in his right hand hidden under his pillow.
He stayed that way for a few minutes seeing nothing threatening he lit an oil lamp on the desk beside the bed, put his silver shooter down and covered his face with his hands.
By the hour his getting more and more paranoid and doubly suspicious of his surroundings. He felt ashamed having such thoughts, he under his friends roof Elsword, nothing would harm him here or at least he originally thought.
There are too many secrets, too many things left in the dark that keeps him awake in such nights giving him terrors when he sleep, he suspect he's losing it due to the stress like Eve.
"I need to calm down" He said to himself.
A noise came from the door that made him alert again, he couldn't identify what it was but it's distant like ringing.
Cautiously he approached the door and placed his ear on it, the noise become much clearer and distinct or rather chaotic as sounds of wood splintering and metal banging and the shriek of cleaved flesh can be heard.
Chung fell back as he continues to hear sounds of battle coming through the door but what hit him were the shouts and grunts of pain and exertion.
"There are too many demons!"
"We can't hold!"
"Where's the king!? The king of Hamel!"
"He's nowhere, he abandoned us!"
"The king! Where's the king!?"
"My Leg!"
Chung sat there on the floor agape as he listen to the voice beyond pleading for either help or mercy from their enemies but what hit him the most is their futile call for their king; the king of Hamel.
Memories of past battles played in his mind remembering the conflict against the demons from his home, there was much bloodshed. Many lives lost though every battle they won its pyrrhic one at best, too many lives just for an inch of land.
The terror filled voices of the men fighting alongside him echo in his head as they face off monsters larger than them even the lesser ones, they fought for friend, home, family and he's their leader their king. A king that have nothing to show for, who inherit a kingdom in ruins by the last king's hand, his father's hands.
It was duty but he could not stop feeling remorseful that the lives of many destroyed by that one choice his father made and anger at his father to plague his beloved home and people to this fate and anger at himself for being weak, weak to protect them all.
Getting up quickly and donning his armor and hefting his destroyer not out of duty but out of guilt and shame. He loved his father he still does but the weight that was placed on him is too much to bear that condemned them all.
He hesitated when he reached the door staring at the knob intently. This must be a dream there's no way a battle is going on outside. He bet when he opened the door only the dark corridor would greet him, he must be going mad that made him laugh hysterically.
Is this the sins of the past, of his father haunting him now? It was a cruel joke as he strained to control his laughter, faces of the slain flash before his eyes and they screams of despair and wailing of mothers and children split the night.
The king drop to his knees weeping and laughing in equal measure, he really lost his head dropping his destroyer hitting the wooden floor, with both hands covered his head wishing for it all to stop.
"…Power…"
"You need power"
A voice dark and brooding said from beyond the door and Chung raised his head.
"Power…to protect…and to destroy".
Yes. Power is what he need, to protect his people and home and absolution for his father to salvage his honor and legacy as a great king. And for that to happen he needs power.
The door opened by itself slowly revealing not the dark of Elsword's halls but a large grey stoned room, a raised platform at the center of the room with a black coffin with the heraldry of a burning heart at the top of the platform…and that of Hamel.
The coffin is sealed with thick chains excrete a dark menace that both draws him to it and at the same time warning him not to.
"Power"
The dark voice said again and like bait Chung raised and step into the room, the door behind him slammed shut and disappeared which Chung didn't notice.
The voice repeats its temptations luring him closer to the coffin and every step he take the coffin shook and budge violently like something trap inside wanting to escape.
But Chung blinded by the voices promise step ever closer. The chains give way snapping and breaking and the wood of the coffin crack and splintered.
The king of Hamel is now face to face with the coffin and from a small crack a red eye gaze at him angrily.
"You want power?" a deep grumbling voice from the coffin said.
"…yes" was his answer "no matter what it takes I need power to protect".
"Protect?" the coffin scoff in disgust.
A scaled black arm burst form the side of the coffin and chocked him lifting him slightly in the air.
Chung struggle gasping for breath but the clawed hand wrapped his neck tightly, his conciseness fading.
"Power to destroy"
Chug woke up in cold sweat, gasping and darting his eyes left and right with silver shooter in his left hand hidden under his pillow.
The oil lamp was lit which was strange since he blow it out when he sleep but that isn't what occupied his mind right now.
It was a dream! Nothing but a nightmare, It was so real the feeling and the sound he let himself breath in relief.
He looked down to his person and gasp in shock and fear. He's wearing his armor, grabbing the candle to light the room further to find his destroyer not at the stand where he left it along with his armor but just by the door.
Grabbing his silver shooter he step on something when he got out of the bed to find his second silver shooter on the floor, darting back at the nightstand where he put it when he abruptly woke up his 'first' silver shooter since he made two.
He sat on the bad and a hand on his head. Another illusion? A dream? A nightmare? A trick? He no longer knows.
There was a commotion going on outside his room and dread to think what it is, picking up the silver shooter on the floor and slinging his destroyer on his back he opened to door to find…
"Eun are you awake?"
Ara nudges at the curled fox sleeping beside her. Call it being childish but the girl couldn't sleep not with all the things happening around her lurking in the dark halls, Eun laugh at the girl but indulged her but she too felt unease about the place.
"What is it Ara? Something bothering you?" the fox said rousing from her sleep.
"I can't sleep a lot of things in my mind right now" the girl confesses.
Eun wrapped her with her tail comforting her "Tell me what's wrong. Better to let it all out".
"It's just that we still haven't found my brother after all this time. I wonder if I will be able to meet him again, if he's still alive" Ara sobbed thinking the fate of his brother.
"Hush child, we will find him I swear don't give up hope" Eun said encouragingly.
Ara sighs feeling a bit foolish "Thank you Eun, It's silly of me to think like that".
"I'm with you every step of the way" she said and Ara smiles but quickly dropped it and rubbed her arm with her left hand.
Eun raised a brow "Something else on your mind?"
Ara shook her head "thinking about…Elsword" she said her voice low but the fox have sharp hearing and grins teasingly.
"Have you now~" the girl picked up quickly what she was implying. She raised her hands shaking them vigorously in denial her face flushed.
The fox laughed for her host's embarrassment earning her a pout from the girl, slowly her expression become dark and Eun stopped laughing.
"Elsword he…reminds me a lot of my brother. I was really happy to see him again but he seems so…distant, like he's going away for good".
Eun pressed herself near her comforting the girl "…everything will be alright".
Ara returns the gesture. She wasn't sure what to think about all of this, she lost her family and her last remaining family member was corrupted by demons. She found a new family her friends the El search party, and now before her she's going to lose one of them.
On the corner of her eye Ara spotted something from the window, a light and a sound of what seems to be burning and a smell of smoke.
"Ara?" Eun called unaware of the burning smoke.
She pushed her away and went to the window as the fox spirit watched her worryingly.
Ara couldn't see well, the glass obstructing it; she opened the window and a strong wind rushed forth. Protecting her eyes once she opened them she is no longer in her room but in a middle of a burning village.
The houses burn billowing black smoke to the sky and around her the charcoal ground where burning figures lay there bodies tangled and bend at impossible angles, she covered her mouth and nose with her hand as the smell of burning human's assault her senses.
In front of her a mound of tangled and ruin corpses and on top of it is a man white long hair and horns coming from her head, black skin and red eyes wielding a spear, Ara knew who this person.
"Brother!" she cried out.
Aren pointed the spear towards her. The spear was elegant to say the least; it was fashioned as an eastern dragon the waving serpentine body acts as the pole and from the dragon's mouth a wide curved blade.
"Ara" he said lowly still pointing her with the dragon spear "I can't let you have this"
The girl don't understand what he's saying, she don't know exactly what's going on.
"Bro-""Demon!"
Ara turned around to find someone staring at her brother with hated eyes; he's lanky and has various cuts all over his body and bleeding from a wound on his head wearing raged clothing. He was shaking a lot but not out of fear towards the demon on top of the corpse pile but anger.
"Monster!" he yelled at Aren "Traitor!"
The man throws insults and condemnation towards her brother which hurts her a lot, she knew he was simply controlled and didn't know what he was doing.
"A disgrace to your family!"
"Stop!" she yelled at the man.
"He was being controlled!" she reasoned.
"You!" he screamed pointing a finger at her accusingly.
"You should have allowed them to kill him! You betrayed your family! Your honor!"
"A traitor to her people!" Ara turned around to find more people raising form the ground in a similar state of the man.
More and more of them appeared and surround her.
"She's on their side!"
"Just like her brother a traitor!"
"A disgrace!"
"Demon lover!"
They all point their finger at her condemning her like her brother as they spit insults and venom.
"Stop!" she plead "You're all wrong".
Someone from the ground throws a stone at her head. her hand graze at it to find blood cascading down her face, soon more rocks are being thrown at her prompting her to kneel on the ground to cover herself from the barrage.
"Traitor!"
"Coward!"
Naïve!"
"Foolish!"
The crowd continued to throw more and more rocks and insults in equal measure, as the girl sob her tears running down like a waterfall bearing the pain and sharp words.
"Brother!" she cried hoping that he would help her, put Aren simply stood on top of the pile looking down on her with uncaring eyes.
"Kill her!" someone yelled and the crowd stops.
Looking around her they slowly picked up discarded wood and other implements intention cleared.
Just like a pack of wolves they inch towards her with red bulging eyes and froth from their mouths.
"Stop! Don't come near!" fear griped her heart, looking back to her brother still unmoving from his perch.
"No" she whispered.
There already before her.
"No"
They raised their clubs high towards the sky and like lightning from an angry god strike her.
"NOOOO!"
"ARA!"
Ara jerked up in cold sweat, Eun looking at her in worry.
"It's alright now" the fox comforted her "It's just a nightmare".
'A nightmare?' Ara thought 'it was so real'.
"Ara your bleeding!" her companion said in alarm.
She touch her head to find blood from a wound she don't know where she got, then the nightmare she just had flashed backed at her in vivid detail and began trembling. She embraced Eun to steady herself.
"Eun…my brother…the villagers, it was terrible!" She said in between sobs.
The fox wraps her tail around her "I don't know what's happening but it's not good".
There was a loud thud outside that hade them jump, sounds like a commotion is going on outside. Ara was still afraid but she knew staying around won't solve anything, she needs to get to the bottom of this and apologize to Elsword for the things she would do to do that later.
Fixing herself quickly and picking up her spear she stands before the door.
"Let's go Eun".
"Don't push yourself Ara".
Taking a deep breath she opened the door to find…
The El gang found themselves outside their rooms, confusion and wariness on their faces trying to comprehend what's going on.
Add is visible annoyed and was the first to break the silence "Ok can someone explain what's going on?"
"Did anyone of you experience something, a nightmare or heard a voice?" Eve inquired her expression serious and eyes sharp as she scans them for their condition.
They looked at each other unsure.
Chung grit his teeth debating whether to tell them as did Ara.
"I think I heard someone called me outside" Rena said.
"I felt a very powerful force passed outside only to find everyone outside their rooms" Aisha said looking down the dark hall to find what she was referring to.
"I felt the same as well" Lu said and Ciel nodded in confirmation.
"That's strange I didn't felt anything" Rena wondered.
"Dynamo didn't find anything and I kept him active all night".
Eve shook her head to Add "Moby and Remy detected a signal deep under the castle that's when I just step out of my room".
"This is getting out of hand" Raven running a hand through his hair agitated.
"Everyone's lively tonight~"
They jumped in fright to find Elsword standing there holding a candle for light, they didn't detect his presence at all.
"Everyone having trouble sleeping? I know I am" he laughs to relieve the tension but it has the opposite effect.
"What are still doing this late at night" Elesis asked. Everyone is on edge and Elsword being here is just suspicious but still being the big sister she is she's still worry for him.
"I was going to take a nightly stroll outside by the garden, care to join me?"
They steal a glance to each other, this seems a good opportunity since everyone is up and can't get back to sleep right away, they agreed to his offer and Elsword couldn't help but grin.
They walked through the dark halls in silence except Elsword who was whistling a tone, the halls is deadly quiet and his whistling echoed to the darkness just creep them out.
"Could you stop that? It's annoying!" Add complained but Elsword just ignored him continued to whistle merrily.
They reached the garden but it was different, they expected fireflies light the garden like stars on the night sky like last night but instead the garden is shrouded in shadow like stepping in the dark forest.
But it was not the gloomy garden that made them gasp in fright but the night itself. The moon was shining eerily like the eye of the storm looking down on them as clouds spin around it like a vortex, beyond the walls of the castle mist shroud the world beyond. It was like there trap in another world.
They catch up on Elsword on the pavilion; the roof is open for them to watch the sky or rather the 'eye' to look down on them. Once they sit around the table the atmosphere turned to an awkward one.
This was there chance to speak to him with no Cain or Leo around but none of them spoke glancing at each other they were hoping that Elesis would at least strike a conversation instead they sat there quietly with tight lips not knowing what to do or say.
The moon above is still glaring down at them as the clouds continue to spin endlessly and the heavy atmosphere of the dead silent garden forbids sound like some predator waiting in ambush, given the eerie quiet and the mist beyond the wall is any indication a creature hiding in the brush is most likely.
Elsword was unaffected by any of this looking around to find his friends hesitating over something which he does not know for, he tap the table making them jump and tense up. Then he comes to a realization and mentally laugh at himself for it, there's no other explanation since there here under his roof and went here due to his invite.
There shy; some host he turn out to be.
"Seriously you guys need to relax" he said smiling though it didn't lessen their unease, thinking quickly he summoned a drone out of nowhere carrying on a tray a bottle and some glasses.
"What about something to drink?" he picked up the bottle and poured a glass sliding it to Raven.
He picked up and inspected the drink offered to him "You drink?"
Elsword poured himself a glass and took a sip "Please don't tell Cain. I shouldn't be drinking this late at night".
"For once I agree on Cain" Elsword said slightly disappointed that his brother started drinking; he's already old enough but still.
They politely refuse the offer making the lord furrow his brow in thought, he never held a gathering before but since there his friends he decide to take the straightforward approach.
Sighting he put his glasses down on the table and from his pocket took out a cigar lighting it with his fire magic. He draws a lung full of smoke and sighed feeling his body finally loosing up.
"I know there's something bothering you guys and I won't know till any of you tells me what it is" he said being completely serious now.
'The fact that you're smoking' they all mentally say in chorus but that's not important right now.
Elsword puff his cigar "If it's about those whispers then you can tell me".
Eve perked up when he mentioned 'whispers'.
"What do you mean about whispers?"
The lord scratches the back of his head "Ah, how should I explain this?"
He put his cigar down on an ashtray the drone provided and cross his arms.
"You all heard the rumors and I guess you all came here to investigate. So let me shed some light about the subject.
They leaned forward giving him there full attention.
"This may sound unbelievable but right now we no longer in Elrios".
"Then where are we then?" Add questioned "My scans indicates otherwise".
"It's complicated" he waved dismissively annoying the white hair boy "were in another world or rather a different plane of existence".
"A pocket dimension?" Eve guess but Elsword shook his head.
"Close but now quite, were still in Elrios but at the same time we don't exist there anymore, neither here or there or anywhere. We are in a plane between existence and non-existence, right underneath the fabric of reality and just above the immaterial".
Pretty soon there started scratching their heads trying to comprehend what he just said.
"So where are we exactly?" Add crossing his arms annoyed.
Elsword sighed "suffice to say were cut off from the world, take it as you will" he said emptying his glass to wet his throat.
"The mist serves as a barrier of sorts but where by no means safe, the walls are inscribed by runes negating any form of magic".
"So that's why I can't use my magic back then!" Aisha exclaimed.
"So what's threatening us?" Chung asked curious.
"Nothing" Elsword answered making them hit their heads on the table, puffing his cigar he spoke again "though there are those whispers".
The king raised his head "What whispers?"
"The whisperers don't have physical bodies" he puffs from his cigar again "But they do have a wicked way to give you night terrors, El knows how many sleepless nights I had because of them".
"Are they dangerous" Ara said stroking her head wound from before".
"Depends" he said drinking from his glass "By the way Ara I hope yours wasn't that serious".
The said girl sank from her chair "Well…I was hit by a rock thrown at me".
Elsword nodded understandably "I won't ask why".
"Then why separate the castle from the outside every night" Rena said making Elsword laugh.
"I won't tell" he said winking while he raises his glass to his mouth "It's a secret~".
"You're hiding something from us. Aren't you?" Eve sounding hurt that he doesn't trust them the way he did before.
He froze in his seat slowly putting his glass down and entwining his hands on the table sighting sadly and ashamed "…Many".
They stared at him that he might say something else but nothing came. He grabbed his glasses and stood up "I'll be going now".
He limps his way back to the manor, he turned around to his friends "It's almost midnight; the whispers would be stronger and far darker. I'm curious what they will show you next".
After saying his piece he returned to the manor letting the dark swallow him whole, the rest of them stayed where they were processing what he just said.
The nasod queen Eve was the first one to speak 'Let's return to that one room" she suggested "I think I know now what I'm looking for".
"Why bother?" Add flop to the table "I don't think any of you realize this by now but we don't have anything to work with and He's not going to tell us anything" he huffed "Let's call it off and go home".
"What makes you say that!?" Eve stand up and yelled at him.
He just ignored her and turned his head to their de-facto leader asking for a response.
"I'm not going anywhere" Elesis said sternly making Add click his tongue.
"Did you found out anything Eve?" Rena said to the nasod, Eve become thoughtful.
"It's only a guess but I think we need to be there before midnight".
"It's settled then" Raven stood up "Better than nothing, let's go".
"Just like that?" Add protested.
"None of us would be able to sleep quietly like this" Chung said.
"Besides you hate it when you don't know something right?"
Add stood from his seat and thrust his hands to his pocket "Whatever, let's just get it over with".
They were sitting on the floor of that one room in a circle with a lantern in the middle as the only light source they have.
The single flame dance in its glass cage flickering and the shadows of the assembled group dance along with it.
"It's almost time" Eve declared checking the clock.
They waited patiently for the minute to tick by, every one of them have mixed feelings regarding this. First was fear; fear of what they may learn of what the whispers would tell.
"Are you sure about this Eve?" Rena spoke up.
"Yes I'm sure" she replied checking the clock, the hands both stop at twelve.
Bracing themselves for whatever happens next, they waited for a few minutes and nothing happens, the clock already past twelve.
Add huffed "Well this is a-"He was unable to finish his sentence when the lamp suddenly went out.
They stood up from their spot and strained their senses in high alert. They didn't sense anything or rather they couldn't sense anything at all. They could not see anything given the dark, hear anything nor could they sense each other's presence even, Add couldn't control his dynamos staying dormant even his nasod eye is not working, Eve is in the same situation and even Lu couldn't sense Ciel at all.
It's like there in a void, isolated from each other as the darkness cloud not only their senses but also their minds and composure, Panic and fear gripping their hearts.
Then slowly the floor started to emit an eerie bluish light, before them a blue flame where the lamp should be flickers and weaves. It was alluring drawing their attention. From the blue flame a small being emerged it was a scrawny thing like an imp with red eyes it's body is void black and have a blue glowing outline like the floor.
"A whisperer?" Aisha said observing the being before them.
From the darkness more whispers emerge around them. The first whisperer was in all fours slowly approaches Elesis, as it draws closer it slowly raise to walk on its hind legs and finally standing upright in front of her with an impassive gaze.
Elesis stare at the whisperer don't know what to do. Should she ask it a question? She doesn't know their nature and she assumed they won't give a straight answer. Then she remembers her brothers words before he left earlier.
"What will you show us?"
The whisperer opened its mouth but suddenly a screen appeared playing static. The whisperers around them shot their heads at it and scattered in fear slinking back to the darkness.
More static screens appeared around them replacing the other worldly glow of the floor as the light source, then out of the darkness tubes and wires slither like snakes covering the floor.
The screens pulled back to light the other parts of the room revealing to be bigger than the room they thought there in confirming that this is something the whisperers are showing.
The static screens surround a large core like structure, it have a spherical capsule suspended between metal stalks of wires and cables, light pass through the cables and into the capsule and in turn sent it back out, the closest thing Add can compare it is to a brain sending and receiving information. It intrigues him but at the same time the first time of his life it frightens him. This brain is more biological than mechanical just like the real thing. They call him insane but even he won't go that far.
There was a loud hissing sound as the capsule opens covering the floor with a cold fog revealing a pair of red eyes full of hate and spite staring back at them.
They didn't move nor make a sound petrified by the hateful gaze. Then a loud thud shook the room spurring them to action not to fall over, they turned around to find the source to see a large gate.
The gate is as large as the castles but made entirely out of metal, barred shut with beams of metal, some affixed from the ground, chains cover the face of the heavy metal gate as well as magical runes and sigils as well as seals. The loud banging continues getting more and more violent as time pass by.
It was like a battering ram forcing to break the gate to open, another violent bang and the defense wanes chains snap, beams of metal who steadfastly holding the gate keeping whatever it is at bay bend, runes flicker and flash as the last remnants of its magic expended and seals burn turning to ash.
The gate is ajar allowing what the gate holding to see through, black smoke envelopes the battered gate and blood runs through the floor from the other side, an aura of dread and malice pulse from it that even the ground trembles and blackens and the air retreating from it.
The last and only defense left keeping it from entering the other side fully is chains coiled around bars and a padlock. It seems it could break any moment but impossibly the lock holds.
"Do you want to know?" the pair of red eyes said to them.
"What He's hiding?" another loud bang from the gate indicating the point.
Eve glared at it "What are you?" she demanded only for it to laugh.
"Seris…" Raven muttered taking a step forward toward the gate.
Elesis quickly grabs him by the shoulder and shook him "Raven what's gotten into you?"
"Seris" He answered "I heard her…calling me behind the gate…" he began to tremble holding his head with his nasod claw drawing blood "I can hear her…telling me to open the door…I know she's gone but…" tears streaming as painful memories flood his mind "Make it stop" he pleaded.
"Mom" Add said looking at the gate in a daze, he shook himself holding his head "Wh-what is this!?" he yelled, losing his strength he kneels on the ground looking down furiously as tears fell from his human eye and blood from his bionic one.
Only Elesis and Eve were unaffected as the rest of their friends broke down in pain and in tears. It was some kind of mental attack using their memories and pushing their emotions to their very limit.
All the while red eyes laugh at the show before him in delight.
Elesis grits her teeth fully intends on attacking the red eye being only for the room to quickly be flooded of blood coming from the gate, the room is getting filled quickly remembering that the rest of her friends are vulnerable she tried to weave through the current but there's something grabbing her feat rendering her immobile.
She tried to break free but it was too late there drowning and still unable to float to the surface despite the poor lighting she look down to see what's keeping her to find skeletons dragging her down, each and every one from the pits of their eye sockets a burning hatred towards her and the rest of the El search party.
She don't know who these poor souls are but gave up as her lungs ran out of oxygen submitting herself to unconsciousness with nothing but the mocking laughter of the red eye being to comfort her.
Elesis woke up a start found herself in the same room last night, the light from the windows indicates morning but it didn't ease her remembering the 'nightmare' the whisperers have shown.
Looking around to find the rest of the gang waking up all bearing the scars of their experience, eyes red and clothes wet from their tears, Add's clothes stains red with the blood from his eyes while Raven bleeding from the head due to his claw. Rena quickly went to his side to aid him.
"What the heck…did we just saw?" Chung said still shaken from it all.
"And what were that thing and that gate?" Add refer to the brain like contraption and the sealed gate they just witness.
Before anyone can say anything else the floor suddenly collapse revealing stairs leading down the manor.
Eve was the first to respond "Let's go".
"Wait a minute" Elesis held the nasod back "We don't know what's down there".
"All the more reason to go".
"I know you're worried about Him, what He's hiding and what we just saw. But we need to be smart about this and not get ourselves killed"
Eve relented and looked down dejectedly "I'm sorry".
"We still need to go down there" Lu recovering point down to the stairs leading below.
Ciel put a hand on her shoulder "I don't think anyone is ready to go down there Lu, not after that".
Raven staggered back up still holding his head "I'm fine…we need to get going".
Add cross his arms "whatever that was it seems we need to go down there to figure things out".
Getting back there bearings they won't let this opportunity slip them by despite the dangers they braved down the stairs, they reached the bottom before a set of double doors.
Tentatively Elesis grabbed the knob and opened the door and they all filed in.
The room is of course as dark as the rest of the castle, the floor is metal and a cold fog clings to it chilling their legs.
"Ahh!" Ara cried dropping to the cold metal floor.
"Ara what's wrong!?" Elesis tried to find the girl but the fog was making it difficult.
The girl stand back up "I'm fine just trip over something".
They cleared the fog to reveal a cables and other wiring "Think it leads to somewhere?" Chung said.
"Let's find out" Elesis leads the group to where the cables lead.
Going deeper into the room they can't see the entrance where they came anymore, the floor as well glows faintly blue, the entire room was very familiar.
"I have a bad feeling about this" Aisha said.
"Over there" Rena pointed in front of the group something of a shape, getting closer and the fog thinning until their before and immediately recognize it. It was the brain from their vision.
"Huh, not that we found that thing what do we supposed to do with it" Add asked feeling very uncomfortable to be near it.
Eve approached the machine "Perhaps I could interface with it".
When she touched it the machine went to life, screens starting to appear playing static and gears below the machine shifts and turns, the capsule hiss slowly opening.
They draw their weapons and braced themselves, if their vision was any indication whatever inside the capsule is not friendly with them.
Once the capsule fully opens something float out of it descending drowsily just above the floor.
The thing groans sounding exhausted "My lord…it's too early in the morning, bother C-"the being opened its red glaring eyes and scans the individuals before it.
It chuckled at first then it laughs loudly echoing the room full of glee.
They all recognize that laugh as well just last night, laughing not of happiness and joy but full of malice and savage delight, but most of all its red eyes piercing their souls wishing for their demise.
"I-I wasn't E-expecting guests!" it said between fits of laughter.
"What are you?" Eve said wearily.
"Oh! Where are my manners?"
A flash of bright light making them cover their eyes, opening once again to see the room, it was full of wiring and cables crisscrossing the floor around the capsule towards a large computer. A workbench with machine parts and tools and nasod bodies hanging on the ceiling like puppets and dolls.
"Welcome, welcome please makes yourselves comfortable and welcome to my lord Elsword's laboratory" the nasod drone cheered with a merry voice.
The drone have red sharp eyes that reminds them of Cain, they almost took it was him but it was not there just similar, but only this one is somehow…off. Instead of the sharp ridges and angular body this one is smoother, sleeker with a curved chassis; it was akin to a lamb. Despite the somehow innocent design its eyes full of emotion which is odd for a nasod speaks of something else.
"You all must already meet Cain, he is my twin. My name is Abel" the drone introduce giving a haughty bow almost mocking them.
"A pleasure to be your acquaintance"
The gang sits around a modular table that Abel sets up for them brewing tea for everyone.
To say there tense is an understatement, if their vision from the whisperers are to believe then Abel is tied with the gate as well as many other things.
Abel carries a tray to the table with a kettle of freshly brewed tea "Finest tea of Elrios grows from the garden of Eden" he announced.
"So…Abel" Elesis was about to question the drone.
"Would you like biscuits as well?" The drone flew off before Elesis could say anything, Abel return soon after with a tray full of assorted snacks of crackers, cookies, some muffins, cake and chocolates as well.
"Here take as much as you like~"
"Ah, uh yes thank you, anyway".
"Some sugar for your tea?" Abel offered.
"Oh, no thank you" Elesis declined.
"As I was"
"Aha! I know" Abel flew off again and returned with a jar full of viscous yellow substance.
"Honey from the bee colonies, Mary has a hobby of taking care living things even insects, sweet child, oh! But don't get near them they sting anyone that isn't Mary or Elsword!"
Now Elesis is starting to get annoyed, it's like he's doing it on purpose.
"Abel" Eve called.
"Yes my Queen" Abel bowed as expected the nasods Elsword have highly revered Eve speaking with the same awe like the rest.
"What do you do here exactly?" she asked looking around Elsword's lab.
"My brother Cain serves as my lord's aid, Hyperion controls information and communication. I on the other hand stay here assisting my lord conduct his research regarding advance technology and application as well as improving already existing ones".
"What kind of technology?"
Abel seems to shrug "Not as different than your own my Queen"
"Pardon?" Eve raised an eyebrow.
"The computer here are connected to Altera's core" Abel flew around the large brain like super computer "This core is an exact replica of Altera's core and everything that passes through Altera then my lord will know of it".
Add slams his hands on the table "So your spying on us!?" he exclaimed accusingly.
Abel jolt back imitating being struck "of course not! My lord has nothing but good intentions; you insult me by accusing my lord of espionage!"
"That brat! Thinks he can just mess around my database and peek on my work!"
This time Abel's seems to glow brighter "Still your tongue Grenore"
Add froze "How did you?"
The drones gaze made him silent, whatever information they have it won't do him good to go against them just yet, he drops down back to his seat in defeat".
"It's your own fault, really the cyber security of Altera is non-existent but I assure you none of it will get out".
Eve didn't comment about the core, if Elsword asked then she would allow him access on Altera's mainframe, she just didn't like that fact he did so secretly.
"How come Elsword didn't introduce us to you?" Rena said making Abel glance at the side.
"None of you should be here, I'm one of my lords many secrets. This Lab and Me you all must not know but here you all are" he shook his head "If Elsword finds out about this then all of you should find a new friend" he turned to face Elesis "and get a new brother".
They never thought what they did was such grave, the consequences were a bit of an exaggeration but Abel is dead serious about it and no one said a word.
"But in a way…I'm glad you're all here".
"How so?" Ara said "If what we did is wrong should we apologize to him? I'm sure he would understand".
"My lord he…He's not himself".
Now they're getting somewhere, they already knew something is wrong with him but no one is telling them anything, if they can get Abel to talk then…
"Oh but we must continue this another time" A screen emerged from the ceiling showing Elsword sitting on the head of the dining table eating breakfast alone with a sad look on his features, the table was full of food like a feast but only he was there.
"My Lord Elsword even woke up early this morning to make breakfast as a form of apology last night. But alas none of you came even came looking for you himself in your rooms, some friends" He said the last part underhandedly "if none of you show your faces right away he might think you're giving him the cold shoulder!".
"Why didn't you tell us sooner!?" Rena screams at the nasod.
"Good luck explaining yourselves to him~ Oh! And remember not to tell that you found this place or met me. Just look at him he's already down as is! Ahahahaha!".
They bolted out of the door leaving Abel behind. Now alone he chuckle to himself darkly
From a secret door Cain entered the room, he turns to the door where the El search party exited and returned his sight to his twin.
"Just what are your planning to do with them Abel?"
Abel laughed "Oh nothing, just every ounce of my spite. There the perfect tools for the task".
"There not pawns brother" Cain shook disapprovingly "There Elsword's friends".
Abel spat at the word 'friends' "No there not pawns but knights, bishops, rooks, and a Queen".
"If Elsword finds out there will be a reckoning".
The lamb simply nodded not giving any serious thought.
"I'm serious, he don't want this to happen".
"Oh? Then you're alright to see him dead?" Abel taunted.
"How dare you! Of course not I would rather send this world to oblivion!"
"Then there's nothing to worry" He went to Cain's side "All is expendable even them, come brother this is for HIS sake and HIS goals".
Cain breaks away from him "I will have no part of this scheme of yours brother".
"Then watch closely brother, this is only the first act and there are many more to come~".
The twin nasods separates, Cain returning to his duties above while Abel continued his research in the lab all the while monitoring them dash through the halls.
"The worlds a stage and all are its actors, come El search party and dance to my tune, follow the scrip that I penned and do your roles. All are expendable" His laugh echoes through the lab.
This is only just the beginning.
I confess I think I did this chapter half-heatedly or is it just me? took a while too.