The wall, or whatever it was, was back up by the time they got back.
The sigils swirled before them in patterns of blue. This time, Viole recognized that they did not sit flatly or smoothly on the ground but rather climbed up walls and through buildings.
Ruard laid a hand on his shoulder. Viole caught his eye and the message of "stay put for now" as the young man walked forward. "So, what now?" He couldn't help but ask Taeyang.
"Back to the Emporium."
"And?"
"And then we'll do what we did before." She smirked at him, "Both us and you."
That made him stop cold.
"How?"
"You'll find out."
…
After stepping out of the darkness into the light of the Hill, Viole found the street mostly empty.
The lantern-lights were still strung up but there were no people in sight, and the stalls themselves were gone
"Is the festival over? I didn't realize we were gone for so long."
"No, they just up and went to another part of the city. The Celebration lasts all night and moves from one part of the city to another."
Viole toed a half-eaten chocolate-covered apple on a stick on the ground – just one of the many trash that littered the Hill in the festival's wake, "The city is going wrecked in the morning."
"Meh." Viole looked up at Ruard. "At least it means that we won't have to worry about being spotted on the way back. Let's go."
Once more, Viole found himself following along after the duo. Though brighter it was no less cold out, the chill in the ruffled his form as the young boy hiked up the Hill. It was only when he found himself walking alone did Viole stop and look behind him.
They were both climbing the Hill much more slowly than he had. Taeyang a bit farther ahead than Ruard who was visibly struggling. It seemed strange to Viole – was it really that difficult? One would think that a simple application of shinsoo would suffice.
"What was that about?"
"The Hill didn't want us to go up."
What?
"What Ruard means is that Ulipus Hill was designed so defenders could easily descend and attackers struggle to move – at least if you start at the base that is."
"If that's the case than why was I unaffected?"
A silence came over everyone as the two looked at him.
Oh.
…
Dr. Lasco was waiting for them when they arrived back at his store.
Well, specifically, he was waiting outside by a back entrance and was waving them frantically inside.
Despite his urgency there wasn't really a rush, there wasn't anyone nearby. Even if someone further down below were to look up to the crest of the Hill all they would see were the buildings huddled on it like a crown. The Emporium just one of many.
Viole was patted on his back as he entered, but then Lasco stepped away from the doorway to give Taeyang and Ruard a wide berth. "Well, it was, ah, an experience meeting you all. I was forced to clear out some space in my storage area, so you can all be on your way."
"That eager to see us go, old man?" A rare smile cut across Ruard's face – it wasn't a nice one. "We can always find someone else to be of use if you are no longer able to be."
The man's face paled – taking on the same hue as his sideburns.
Ruard walked past him without a word, Taeyang bowed her head in apology as she did the same but Viole stopped.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Lasco said after a moment. "Yeah, I am. Death threats seem normal when dealing with you people." Horror struck across his face, "I mean no offense!" He sputtered, "I just meant – I"
"Calm down, it's alright."
And he did, eventually. His breaths slowing down. "I really am sorry about this."
"Don't worry about it."
He smiled in response, "You know, you seem like a pretty good kid." The I don't know why you are with these people went unsaid. For the best in the end. If the elderly man had another slip up, he would probably have a heart attack. "I think I calmed down just by talking to you. Had my nerves up with the pressure."
"Pressure?"
"You know, I was told that a VIP was coming and if anything happened to him I would be held responsible." Lasco jutted his thumb over his shoulder at the door that Ruard and Taeyang had left through. "He seems pretty laidback, but he has a vicious streak, don't he?"
Viole didn't answer as he stared at the man. Lasco's smile faltered. "Did I – "
"No! No. He's a slippery one, that one. Ha. I guess, yeah, I guess I'll be heading off."
Viole began to move.
"Okay. See you – Okay."
Viole moved faster.
…
"Had a good talk?"
"I hope you weren't stupid and told him something you shouldn't have."
Ruard leaned against one of the walls, arms crossed. Meanwhile, Taeyang sat on the bare mattress one leg crossing the other. The room itself looked much different than before. A good half of the clutter was gone; not shoved into a corner of the room but gone. It left a ring of space around the bed.
"So, what now?"
"Now," Taeyang said, standing up, "You take a nap."
She gestured down to the bed.
"What?"
"I did say that we would do what we did before."
"But how? Jiggu isn't here."
"Like this."
Taeyang threw off the blond wig – letting it thump to the floor. The skullcap went with it a moment later. Her hair, black fire that undulated in the light, was fully released. It looked like a halo around her skull and she ran her fingers through it and sighed.
"Much better."
Before Viole could ask what should he do next, Taeyang held two fingers up, and trapped between them was a single string.
"Get on the bed, Viole."
As he did, he watched as the strand lengthened, widened, and flattened. It took on a new texture too – looking soft to the touch like cloth; like …
"A blindfold?"
"Yep. Put it on and lay back and you'll fall asleep in no time."
"Is this a Family thing?"
"Basically."
He stretched out a hand and Taeyang dropped it into his palm. It felt as soft as it looked. He could feel an energy, a sort of heat, in it before wordlessly tying it around his head. He laid down.
"So, how is this – "
All was black.
...
"Welcome back".
…
Viole woke up slowly; cracking open his eyes to a brightly lit room. He suspected he was back in the compound. The room itself was bare. The hue radiated out functionality and practicality. It was not painted a pure white, but it's light tan served just as well. It was also sparsely furnished – there was only a corner dresser with a lamp on top it, a tall mirror, the bed itself and a closet…
That had his disguise hanging on the back of the closed door.
Viole glanced down to find himself dressed in a black nightgown. He ran a finger over the collar and felt it's smooth and soft texture. How? Well, first thing first, he best find some other clothes to change into and see was around.
Getting up from the bed, Viole strolled across the room to the closet. The nightgown seemed to glide with him. He kind of regretted that he would need to change out of it, actually. It was comfy
He opened the closet. He stared.
Viole was faced with one outfit, and one outfit alone, waiting for him within the closet's depth. Black as well like the gown, but looked closer to the robes that he wore as his disguise.
It was only as he pulled it out did he see the red spots.
The black holes in the middle of them bore into him.
…
Viole walked out, the robes swirling about his ankles. It was harder than it looked to stay balanced in it. The hallway outside his room began to slowly fill up. Instantly, Viole could feel eyes upon him. Mercenaries gave him a large berth when they passed by him, but it was only as a Devoted came into sight and gave him a deep bow, did he come to a complete halt.
The white clad figure vanished out of sight.
"What's going on?"
"It's what you're wearing."
Hwa Ryun sat on an open windowsill, back to the courtyard, legs crossed, and hands folded neatly in her lap. Viole glanced up to her face and froze. He felt like he was underwater – not drowning per se, but looking at the world through a muted lens.
She was not smiling when she hopped down – circling him with slow, steady strides. It took him a moment to realize she was looking at the robe, staring at the spots.
"…Is there something wrong?"
The frown shifted slightly – not her usual smirksmile but still an upturn of her lips.
"Not with you."
"I see." He didn't. "Then do you have an issue with these clothes?"
"Do you know what those insignias mean, Viole?"
Though it was a quintessential Hwa Ryun answer he was still thrown off.
"They are the sign of the Slayer. They show that you're a Candidate."
"Then why are you angry? You're the one who handed me over to FUG."
"I'm not really. I'm mad at what will follow."
What? He wondered as she finally stopped pacing. She leaned forward, her lone eye homed in on his. Her next words held the weight of certainty.
"Things will speed up. Do not tell them you are a Candidate."
"Them?"
And now the smirksmile was back in full force.
"So, where are you heading Viole?"
To be honest, he hadn't had a destination before but now…
"I think I should talk to Ha Jinsung."
Her smile widened.
"He's in the Main Hall."
…
While functional one of the things Viole noticed was that as he neared the throne room his surroundings became more and more opulent. Armored statues lined the walls, porcelain vases on small tables in between them, and a plush red carpet lay underfoot. He had to wonder who this originally belonged to. It couldn't have been the "Bandit King", could it?
The long hallway finally reached its end. Twin giant doors waited him on the other end. He flung them open.
Viole stepped through and froze once more.
Ha Jinsung wasn't waiting on the other side.
Luslec Mirchea Grace was.
Viole felt a pressure all around him, as if Grace was commanding him to knell just by being there. Just by lounging on that throne. But before Viole could Grace spoke up, the Ranker's voice resonating.
"Ah, just the one I wanted to see."
"…your Grace?" Was it a coincidence that he addressed him like a Devoted would or was that just the normal reaction?
"I have a mission for you."
...
A/N: Alright, that's it for the "standard" chapters. Following this the story goes into an "arc". It makes use of images, music and invisible text. You can find the other chapters on the site Spacebattles, specifically by Googling In the Dark (Tower of God)
Hope you enjoy!