Chapter Seven – Breakthrough

Later that day, after classes had finished, and Class VII had all returned to the Third Dormitory for the night, Cyrus found his concentration broken when he heard a knock upon his bedroom door.

"Enter," Cyrus commanded, sounding not unlike his sister, Aurelia.

"You know, you could stand to be a little nicer, considering I'm doing you a favour," Alisa muttered as she entered Cyrus' room.

"Perhaps, but using several words when using only one achieves the same outcome is far more expedient," Cyrus responded as he looked at Alisa, who was scowling at him. "Thank you for coming."

"That's a start, I suppose. Now, what exactly am I supposed to be helping you with?" Alisa asked as she walked over and stood next to Cyrus, who stood up and offered Alisa the seat he had just vacated.

"This. I want you to look at it and tell me everything you can about it," Cyrus stated as he allowed Alisa to look at the papers that were sprawled out on his desk.

Alisa silently read over all the documents; the documents that Cyrus had taken from the train Lechter had helped Group B to derail back in Parm. Cyrus knew Alisa was bound to ask him where he got the documents, but he wasn't ready to tell her everything just yet.

"Where in Aidios' name did you get these?" Alisa gasped as she understood what she was looking at.

"That's not important. Tell me everything you know about this project. The Reinford Group must have some knowledge of it, considering there are blueprints stamped by the Institute," Cyrus demanded.

"Well, from the technical documents, it sounds like 'Anzu' is an acronym for this object. 'Armoured Navigational Zoning Unit'… Hmm…" Alisa muttered.

"A 'Navigational Zoning Unit'? Thanatos give me strength; are you suggesting that the Institute, ZCF, and the Epstein Foundation are working together to create a machine that is meant to help the Remiferians with cartography?" Cyrus scoffed. "Why would a map-maker need reactive armour? More importantly, why would it need reactive armour made of an Orbal resistant metal?"

"Well, I suppose, if applied in a military setting, the Remiferians could use this machine to scout the battlefield, which puts it at risk from enemy fire?" Alisa suggested.

"No, Remiferia is almost like a demilitarised country. If anything, they tend to send their Defence Force to help with medical aid and peacekeeping. Something doesn't add up here… Whatever the Institute are planning with ZCF and Epstein, it's far different than a map-maker. This thing; it is supposed to be a weapon. Look here; someone from the Institute made a detailed report about its ability in a combat scenario," Cyrus pointed to a ream of paper.

"Hmm, you're right… But this doesn't make sense; this report says it has the combative capabilities to be able to single-handedly steamroll half of the Armoured Divisions within the Imperial Army before its munition reserves are depleted. There's no way such a thing is possible," Alisa muttered.

"What makes you say that?" Cyrus asked.

"Well, the Reinford Group only just released their newest line of armoured tanks for the Imperial Army in the last couple of years; the T-18 'Achtzehn' Battle Tank. The fact they were able to create a counter to such a thing in such short time is… Concerning, to say the least," Alisa responded.

"I think we're missing the bigger picture here. This project is being spearheaded by three different technology groups, all across Zemuria. We've already established that this was supposed to go to Remiferia, and it has the Institute's fingerprints all over it. Why would an Erebonian research group create a weapon that can fight against their own tanks – new ones, I might add – if it's meant for another country? Another country that has zero interest in military force, no less," Cyrus muttered. "Tell me, does the word 'Blackstone' mean anything to you?"

"Where did you hear that word?" Alisa whispered, looking at Cyrus with wide eyes.

"Ah, so it does mean something to you… What do you know about it?" Cyrus pressed.

"Well… I overheard Mother mention it in a meeting with the Director of one of Reinford's Industrial Factories. I didn't hear the whole thing, but all I remember is 'Blackstone was a big step forward for us. I need you to find out who facilitated its inception, and how they were able to keep it under wraps for so long'… It's not a word-for-word recollection, but you get the idea,"

Alisa shrugged.

"Hmm… No, we're missing something here… Reinford is the biggest industrial company in Erebonia; them designing a weapon for another country to use against their own army isn't just strange; it's fucking absurd. Do you know who it was your mother was speaking to?" Cyrus muttered as he turned to Alisa.

"No… It was a closed-door meeting, and if Mother found out I was there… Well, I'd probably be in more trouble for that than I will be for running away from home to come to Thors. All I know is that there are four major development divisions within the Reinford Group; it could have been any one of them," Alisa explained.

"It never is just that easy, is it?" Cyrus sighed. "Ok, that's all I need, thank you," Cyrus stated as he gathered up all the paperwork.

"Wait, that's it? What are you going to do with this information?" Alisa asked, feeling uneasy.

"At the moment, nothing. Until I know who your mother was talking to, all of this is merely out loud thinking," Cyrus responded with a shrug of his own.

"You're not planning on selling this information to someone, are you?" Alisa muttered.

"Oh-ho, certainly not. Stealing and selling technical documents like these are highly illegal. Despite how these documents came into my possession in the first place, I'd never sell them. But that doesn't mean I'm going to return them either," Cyrus laughed.

"Why not? You said it yourself; stealing and selling technical documents are illegal," Alisa repeated Cyrus's words.

"True, and let's say the Erebonian Government did catch wind of these documents and arrest me for having them, your mother, and anyone else who has so much as breathed the same air as anyone working on Project Anzu will be sent to prison, wouldn't they?" Cyrus responded, causing Alisa to tense up.

Cyrus was right, and Alisa knew it. She knew, from eavesdropping on that meeting her mother had where the word 'Blackstone' had been mentioned, that her mother was complicit in stealing something from someone which allowed Project Anzu to be born. That alone carried a heavy prison sentence, but what if her mother knew more about Blackstone and Anzu than Alisa had originally thought? If her mother was complicit in helping to create a weapon for another nation, that would be tantamount to treason, and the penalty for treason in Erebonia was death.

"What can I do?" Alisa asked suddenly.

"Excuse me?" Cyrus looked at Alisa incredulously.

"There was a reason you brought this to me, and me alone. Whether it was to gain leverage over me by threating to have my mother imprisoned or executed, or if it was simply to find out more about the weapons the Reinford Group made for the Red Constellation; you had a reason to involve me in this, and if I'm involved then I want to know what I can do to make sure this doesn't get my mother killed," Alisa stated, glaring at Cyrus.

"Right now, nothing. You digging around Roer or anywhere else, or even so much as mentioning Anzu or Blackstone is likely going to get people killed, your mother included. So, for now, I don't expect you to do anything. However…" Cyrus muttered as he reached into his back pocket on his jeans and pulled something out of it, which he proffered to Alisa.

"However…?" Alisa responded, hoping to get Cyrus to carry on.

"However, I will give you this. Consider it a token of our new found friendship," Cyrus stated as he dropped something into Alisa's open palm.

"Wh-what the hell is this?!" Alisa cried, going bright red.

The object Cyrus had dropped into Alisa's hand was a ring. A finely crafted ring that looked like it was made of platinum, and had a sizeable lapis lazuli cut into it. The size of the gem was just right for the ring, giving it an elegant, yet dazzling look to it.

"That is a ring, Alisa," Cyrus deadpanned.

"I-I know that! Why are you giving me a ring?!" Alisa cried, her face heating up by the second.

"Don't go reading into it; it's not like I'm proposing or anything. That ring is known as the Ring of the Azure Dragon," Cyrus explained.

"The Azure Dragon?" Alisa muttered, looking at the ring. It didn't look too special.

"Yes, it's named after an old Liberlian folk tale that tells of the founding of the Royal Family of Liberl. The story goes that the first King of Liberl was visited in his dreams by a dragon as blue as the sky, and told him that so long as his actions were just and true, the dragon would keep his family safe from harm by watching over them from the skies above, invisible to all but the King and his family. In other words, it's a ring that is supposed to protect you when you most need it to," Cyrus clarified as he watched Alisa turn the ring over in her fingers as he spoke.

"Looks like an ordinary ring to me," Alisa commented.

"It's just a story on how it got its name, Alisa. No need to take it so literally," Cyrus sighed. "Look, just accept it as a token of our friendship. I know we didn't exactly get off to the best start, and after finding out who you really are… Well, let's just say I was wrong to say the things I did to you, and for that, I am sorry. I was hoping, through this, we could start over."

"Why? What's caused all of this?" Alisa asked, feeling dumbstruck.

"Nothing, really. Just that when I was in Parm, I received some advice that was basically saying it's better to co-operate and get along with your allies, rather than compete against them," Cyrus explained, paraphrasing what Gallart had said to him.

"Hmm, interesting you said that, because we received similar advice in Celdic. Well, Rean and I did, but that's not the point," Alisa murmured.

"Ah, yes… I did notice you two were far more amicable toward each other… Well, before Rean went on to suggest he'd fuck his own sister," Cyrus muttered, letting out a snort of laughter.

"Ugh, don't remind me… I think I dodged a bullet there," Alisa mumbled.

"Oh? What makes you say that? Heh, did you have a crush on Rean or something?" Cyrus asked in a teasing manner.

"N-No! I just… Shut up!" Alisa cried, going red. "Just because we're friends now doesn't mean you get to know about my romantic life!"

"Heh, don't worry about that; I have zero interest in who you want to bed. But, it's good to know you already consider us friends," Cyrus laughed.

"Well, if you're willing to make an effort, then I will too," Alisa nodded as she put the ring of the Azure Dragon on her right hand.

"Oh… It's not supposed to go on there. You need to put it on this finger," Cyrus muttered, pointing to his ring finger.

"What, why? I don't want people thinking I'm engaged to you!" Alisa gasped.

"Why the hell would they assume we're engaged?" Cyrus groaned. "First you all assumed Ferris was my fiancée, then when I told Sara about Sister Rosaria, you all assumed I was dating her, only for that to change into some of you thinking I was dating my actual sister. So, no, I think you and I being a thing will be the absolute last thing on people's minds, but do as you please, I suppose."

"I suppose it would help ward off unwanted advances from some of the other students. Sometimes I can feel their eyes on me and it makes me feel dirty," Alisa shuddered.

"Yeah, can't say I'm surprised. You and Emma can definitely catch the attention of most of the guys at Thors, and even some of the guys in Trista. Size is everything, after all," Cyrus muttered, pointing to Alisa's chest.

"Can you not comment on the size of my breasts so casually?!" Alisa cried, turning away from Cyrus in embarrassment.

"Eh, it is what it is. There's nothing wrong with them, but you can't really do anything about them either. At least you aren't letting them spill out all over the place like a common prostitute," Cyrus shrugged.

"Can we stop talking about my breasts now, please?!" Alisa yelled.

"Yes, yes… My apologies, I figured being blunt about them was better than trying to dance around it. Either way, as long as you keep that ring on you, you'll always be protected," Cyrus stated, pointing to the ring that Alisa had put on her ring finger.

"Oh, so you had it blessed by the Church? Ohh, did Sister Rosaria do it?" Alisa asked.

"No, the Black Sect don't do blessing rituals. Although Sister Rosaria can do them," Cyrus responded.

"So, what are you going to do about this Project Anzu?" Alisa queried, changing the subject.

"Nothing I can really do at this moment in time. If there's a combat report, then they're already past the planning stages and already making headway into prototypes and development." Cyrus muttered. 'There's a good chance ZCF will be sending more parts to Remiferia when they find out the last shipment never made it to its destination though, and that is a problem I cannot address alone.'

"Well, I guess I can help you out again when you have a more concrete plan on how to proceed. Until then… I'm tired. I'm going to bed," Alisa yawned as she stood up and left Cyrus' room. "Goodnight."

"Yeah, night," Cyrus muttered.

The rest of the week had gone by without any incident, and while others in Class VII had commented on the ring Alisa had started wearing, she played it off that it was a ring belonging to her grandmother, and she decided it would be a nice idea to wear it in her memory. Fortunately, the rest of Class VII had bought Alisa's story, and pressed no further, although Laura and Emma had commented on how beautiful the ring was, and how Alisa's grandmother was a very lucky woman to have been given such a treasure.

Cyrus, meanwhile, had responded to the letter Sister Rosaria had written to him, and was expecting her imminent arrival to Trista. While the Septian Church would normally hold Sunday Mass at the Heimdallr Cathedral each week, the Black Sect do not operate within the church on Sundays; an agreement between the Septian Church of Aidios and the Black Sect of Thanatos stipulated that Sundays were a day reserved purely for the worship of the prime deity of the Church.

It was now Saturday night, and all of Class VII had been discussing the visit Sister Rosaria would be paying to Cyrus the following day. A member of the Black Sect scarcely left the confines of the cathedral they were assigned to, meaning getting to see and speak to one of them was a rarity in and of itself, so the majority of Class VII were somewhat excited to meet this mysterious Sister.

"I have to admit, this meeting tomorrow between Cyrus and Sister Rosaria has piqued my interest. I've never met a member of the Black Sect; I thought they were just a myth," Laura commented as she sat in the communal space of the Third Dormitory.

"Eh, they're not that interesting. Instead of worshipping Aidios, they worship Thanatos. Not all that different," Fie muttered, feigning disinterest.

"Elliot, you've met Sister Rosaria before, haven't you? What's she like?" Emma asked, hoping to get an idea of this mystery woman.

"Uhh, well… Like Cyrus said, she comes across as really scary and almost evil looking. If the Black Sect have a standard when it comes to the demeanour of their agents, then Sister Rosaria definitely meets it; her gaze alone is enough to chill even the hardest of men… My dad learned that the hard way when he first met her," Elliot responded.

"Hmph, what nonsense. A simple nun can't be that frightening," Jusis scoffed, flicking through a book on the opposite side of the room.

"From the sounds of it, she's anything but a 'simple nun', Jusis," Rean commented.

"Rean's right. If you want an idea of who a 'simple nun' is, you'd be better off looking at Sister Ornella right here in Trista," Elliot stated. "Sister Rosaria is… Well, I guess you'll find out when you meet her tomorrow."

"Are you guys still yammering on about Rosaria?" Cyrus asked as he descended the staircase.

"We are merely curious to know what she's like, given what you and Elliot have told us, she seems like a very… Colourful individual," Laura responded.

"Well, she wears all black for a start, so colour isn't exactly one of her defining characteristics. Yes, that was a joke; I knew exactly what you meant, before anyone says anything," Cyrus sighed.

"Why is she coming to visit you anyway? Black Sect members hardly ever leave their assigned cathedrals. It must be something important," Elliot queried.

"Yeah, you could say that… Some of the church's sacred relics were stolen from a caravan heading back to Arteria a few weeks ago. The Holy City dispatched Templars to investigate, but turned up nothing. Then, the day before we were due to set out for our Field Studies, the cathedral in Heimdallr received intel from the Black Sect's 'Nightingales'; a sort of Special Forces of the Black Sect. They're similar to the Septian Templars, but fewer in number, and undergo more rigorous and elite training to turn them into a deadly combat branch of the Church. They answer to the Black Archbishop, but will also respond to any call-to-arms the Pope issues. Basically, the Nightingales discovered that the caravan was attacked on the Erebonian border by thieves, who stole the sacred relics and took them back into the Empire," Cyrus explained.

"Okaaaay, but what does Sister Rosaria want from you?" Alisa asked.

"She didn't say; all her letter said was that the Nightingales have confirmed with absolute certainty that the sacred relics never left the Empire, but one of the stolen relics was an item that came from Thanatos himself, which would explain why the Nightingales were dispatched to investigate to begin with," Cyrus said with a shrug.

"So, in other words, the only reason the Black Sect are even involved is because something of theirs got stolen too?" Rean mused.

"The Black Sect owe no favours to the Septian Church. A lot of the priests and nuns shun members of the Black Sect, and treat them like they are lesser beings for worshipping a 'false deity'. For the most part, the Pope, and the Black Archbishop are able to contain any problems their respective clergy have with one another," Cyrus clarified, stressing the segregation that still exists amongst the members of the Church.

"I didn't realise there was such a divide between the two factions," Laura said with a frown.

"Well, think of it like the clashing we have in Erebonia between the Noble Alliance and the Reformist Faction," Cyrus stated. "Both factions blame one another for the problems they have, whilst trying to strip away power from both parties in equal measure; the Church is no different, but whereas His Majesty does not involve himself in such affairs unless absolutely necessary, both the Pope and the Black Archbishop crack down on such dissent between the two groups with a mutual approach to totalitarian authority. While the lower ranks might appear to be in disarray with any infighting caused by the two factions, its leadership remains a united front that doesn't favour their own followers over the other."

"Sounds like those fools within the Reformist Faction could learn a thing or two about humility from the church then," Jusis muttered.

"Both groups could stand to learn from the leadership of the Church, Jusis," Cyrus pointed out. "It's no secret that both your father, and Duke Cayenne have been spearheading many different ways to essentially overthrow the central government, whilst Chancellor Osborne and Governor Regnitz have been using Imperial resources to try and crush the Nobility under heel in an attempt to bring them into line."

"Hmph, sounds like you don't support the Noble Alliance's efforts in trying to keep the Nobility alive within the Empire," Jusis muttered, putting down his book and scowling at Cyrus.

"On the contrary; I completely support the Noble Alliance's attempts to fight for the right to keep the Nobility an established part of the Empire, as it's been that way for more than a millennium, but I disagree with how they're doing it," Cyrus responded, returning Jusis' scowl with a hard stare.

"You… You support the Noble Alliance?" Laura asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Yes? Why wouldn't I? The Le Guin Family is one of the longest established Noble Houses of the Lamare Province, dating back to the founder of our family, who coincidentally, was also called Cyrus; Cyrus 'The Great' Le Guin, conqueror of Lamare… At least that's how the stories go, but our family has always been at the side of the Cayenne family, even during the War of the Lions, where we regretfully chose to try and install Prince Orthros to the Imperial Throne," Cyrus muttered.

"Your family fought alongside the False Emperor?" Emma asked.

"That's right; it wasn't our finest hour truth be told, but Deveraux Le Guin was promised the Dukedom of Lamare should Prince Orthros become Emperor, so… My family tries their best to avoid acknowledging him as a part of the family, so if you like living, don't mention the name 'Deveraux Le Guin' around anyone from my family," Cyrus stated, letting a half-laugh slip out of his mouth. "But back to the point; do you not support the Noble Alliance, Laura?"

"Not really, no… Father has been pressured many times by Duke Albarea to align himself, and the Arseid Family, with the Noble Alliance, but he always refuses… Were it not for his title of Radiant Blademaster, I strongly believe Duke Albarea would have sent his armies to crush my father and force Legram to join the Alliance," Laura explained.

"Heh, I'm surprised they haven't tried getting Aurelia to convince him to join the Alliance… Huh, that's actually not a bad idea," Cyrus muttered as he tapped his chin in thought.

"You will do no such thing, Cyrus. The Arseid Family has no interest in getting involved with the Alliance's fight with the Government; the people of Legram are happy with us remaining neutral, and I will not allow you to interfere," Laura warned, glaring at Cyrus.

"Heh, don't worry. Aurelia wouldn't do something just because I asked her to; you should know that by now," Cyrus laughed.

"Hold on, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact you back the Noble Alliance, when you seem like the least 'Noble' of Nobles," Rean mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean, Schwarzer?" Cyrus muttered, glaring at Rean.

"N-no… I didn't mean it like that. What I meant was that while you are a Noble, you don't really parade around and act like you're better than everyone else because of it," Rean explained quickly, waving his hands in panic.

"Hmph, mainly because Aurelia would try to kick the shit out of me if I did. But, no, I don't believe that the Nobility should be using their status as Nobles to lord over people, or that how someone being born into a Marquisdom over a Barony means they're better than the person who was born into the latter, but I do believe that the Nobility should remain a part of Erebonia's culture. Being proud of one's lineage is one thing, but using said lineage to make out that you're somehow a better person is bullshit I don't subscribe to," Cyrus stated.

"Then would it not be better to remain neutral, like Laura's family?" Rean asked.

"No, because neutrality is for cowards and fools. It's almost like having a foot in either camp, so that you can pick sides when the conflict ends," Jusis huffed as he stood up.

"Alright, before you guys decide to kill each other over how you feel about the Nobility, I'm leaving. I have better things to do with my time," Cyrus sighed as he left the Third Dormitory.

As the cool night air hit Cyrus' face, he sighed with relief; happy to be out of the dormitory and free of the stifling conversation about the Nobility and his backing of the Noble Alliance. He knew the topic of 'Noble Alliance vs. Reformist Faction' was starting to come to the forefront of most Erebonians in the present, and with the tabloids using their own media to push their own opinions onto the people, the citizens of Erebonia were slowly dividing themselves into either the Noble Alliance or Reformist Faction camps, whilst the number of people choosing to remain neutral was dwindling by the week.

After taking a moment to stretch, Cyrus walked into Trista and found the little town still awake, with quite a few people still wandering about. He spotted some children in the park, playing with a black cat who did not look even remotely interested in the attention it was getting.

Cyrus decided to take a seat in the park and take a moment to distract himself from Erebonia's political battles as he looked up into the sky at the moon. With Sister Rosaria's visit just a few hours away, Cyrus' thoughts drifted to the time he had come across Sister Rosaria, when she was in dire need of help.

Heimdallr, December 8th S.1202

The sound of snow crunching underfoot filled the air as a seventeen-year-old Cyrus walked down the street of Erebonia's capital; next to him was a person who had been instrumental in Cyrus' growth since the Red Constellation attack just four years prior.

"Why the hell are we here, Teacher? I thought we had business in Crossbell after returning from Calvard?" Cyrus sighed; his breath visible in the cold winter air.

"No, child, you had business in Crossbell, but I'm sure you could put that off for a while longer. I think your business will happily wait for you," Cyrus' teacher smirked as they looked at him. "Besides, I thought you'd like to return home for a bit. It has been a couple of years, hasn't it?"

"Ordis is my home; we've been back to Erebonia a few times since I left Ordis three years ago. Although, I am surprised you knew when to come back for me in Calvard. A year to the day is quite impressive," Cyrus responded.

"You should be proud of yourself, child. Even they didn't think you'd learn everything that you needed to within an entire year… And you even managed to find time to do some 'extra-curricular activities' in an attempt to find out more about the Jägers who attacked you and your mother," the Teacher nodded.

"Yeah, but it didn't turn out like I had hoped, and now I have a target on my back thanks to my efforts," Cyrus sighed.

"Your efforts were not in vain, Cyrus. You helped that young woman out of a very precarious situation, and now she's happy. Besides, you and I both know that whoever or whatever comes for you, the training you have received from everyone, myself included, will be more than enough to keep you safe," the Teacher stated.

"I suppose… That being said, are you not disappointed? You spent the better part of a year on your travels while I was away, and you found nothing. Surely, that is wasted time on your part, Teacher?" Cyrus asked.

"Not quite. I established that Crossbell was a dead-end, but I already knew that anyway. After we're done here, I'm taking you to Saint Arkh. I'm confident we'll find what I'm looking for there," the Teacher nodded.

As Cyrus and his teacher turned a corner, Cyrus found himself staring at a young girl, running down the street screaming for help. Her clothes, a full black nun's habit, were torn, and she was covered in blood. From the look of the young girl, the blood wasn't her own. Cyrus could see the fear in her eyes and knew she was running from something deadly.

'…Cyrus? …Cyrus?'

Cyrus opened his eyes and saw the face of Sariffa looking down at him. It was her voice he had heard that broke him out of his stupor.

"Sariffa? What are you doing here at this hour?" Cyrus asked, sitting up straight and looking at the Florald house's Head Maid.

"Master Cyrus, I need to speak with you about the young Lady," Sariffa stated with a look of concern.

"Ferris? Is everything ok?" Cyrus asked, suddenly becoming serious.

"I am unsure, Master… She's not been herself as of late, becoming more and more reserved. I'm starting to grow concerned, and I'm wondering if I should contact Lady Ophelia and let her know about her daughter," Sariffa stated.

"Don't trouble Auntie Ophelia with this. All she'll do is make things worse by kicking the door of the First Dormitory down and demand an explanation," Cyrus sighed. "Let me go and speak to Ferris myself. If her mannerisms warrant Auntie Ophelia knowing, then I will call her myself personally."

"Very good, Master. I leave the young Lady in your capable hands. She'll be in her room at present. I hope you are right and there's nothing to be concerned about," Sariffa bowed to Cyrus as he stood up and made his way to the First Dormitory.

Cyrus entered the First Dormitory and was met with silence as the residents looked at him with confusion.

"Uhh… Can I help you?" Lambert asked, standing up.

"No, I'm here to see Ferris. Where is her room?" Cyrus demanded.

"Ah, she's your cousin, right? Her room is on the third floor; Room 305," Theresia pointed in the direction of the stairs.

"Thank you," Cyrus muttered as he strode up the staircase, taking two steps at a time.

"Damn, he's in a hurry. Wonder what's so important that he'd come by this late in the evening?" Lambert muttered as he sat back down opposite Edel.

"I wonder if it has anything to do with those rumours I've been hearing," Edel muttered, looking at the playing cards in her hand.

"Oh? What rumours would they be, Edel?" Friedel asked as she put her cards down on the table.

"A Straight Flush?! Thanatos has indeed cursed me this day…I'm sorry, Whitcomb. Looks like I won't be able to buy that ivory comb for you now…" Lambert muttered as he threw a wad of cash over towards Friedel.

Meanwhile, Cyrus had found Ferris' room easily enough, thanks to the directions of Theresia, and banged on the door with considerable force.

"Ferris?! Are you in there?!" Cyrus shouted, his voice carrying all the way back down to the common area downstairs.

"Cyrus? What the heck are you doing?!" Ferris cried as she opened the door in a panic. Cyrus immediately noticed her eyes were bloodshot.

"What's wrong with your eyes? You've been crying, haven't you?" Cyrus asked as he was pulled into Ferris' room.

"Hey, don't skirt around my question with one of your own. Why are you here?" Ferris snapped, rubbing her eyes.

"Sariffa came to me and told me she had concerns about your behaviour as of late. She said you've become more withdrawn and isolated. Well, 'reserved' is what she actually said, but I know what she meant," Cyrus stated, which caused Ferris to scowl.

"Ugh, I told her to let it be…" Ferris grumbled.

"What's going on? Do I need to call Auntie Ophelia and get her to speak to you?" Cyrus asked.

"A-Absolutely not! You will do no such thing! I can handle things just fine by myself, and Sariffa had no right to approach you with any concerns she might have!" Ferris shouted.

Cyrus already knew Ferris was hiding something. She had only spoken to him in such a way once before, and that was…

"Ferris… Are you being harassed?" Cyrus asked quietly.

"Huh?! Certainly not! Who would dare try to harass me, Ferris Lysithea Florald-Le Guin?!" Ferris blustered.

"Ferris… The last time you used your full name like that was when you swore revenge on Oscar and his friends after they trampled your flower garden back home when we were children. If I remember correctly, he only did that because he couldn't take out his anger on me for embarrassing him in front of his family in that little sparring match we had. So, I'll ask again; what in Aidios' name is going on?" Cyrus asked, fully aware of his cousin's outbursts.

"I told you it's nothing! Now, please, leave me to my thoughts. I am quite busy at the moment," Ferris stated as she stomped over to her door and opened it. "Goodnight, Cyrus."

Cyrus said nothing as he looked at Ferris, who was trembling and looking down at the floor. Sighing, he did as Ferris bade him and left her room, but not before putting a hand on her head and gently tussling her hair.

Cyrus only ever did this when he knew Ferris needed his support. It was a silent agreement between the two cousins that said Cyrus would always be there for Ferris when she needed him.

Ferris' response to this was to slam the door behind Cyrus as he left her room, resulting in her collapsing to the floor, crying silently.

"I imagine you heard all that?" Cyrus muttered as he met Sariffa at the staircase.

"I daresay half of Trista heard all of it, Master," Sariffa stated, bowing to Cyrus as he approached her.

"Contact your father. Tell him I want to know what that little pissant Oscar is up to. If this is anything like when we were children, then he's found a way to slither under Ferris' skin and upset her," Cyrus commanded.

"You think the Dragonia boy is to blame?" Sariffa asked, raising her head at Cyrus slightly.

"I can't be sure, but the last time she was like this, he was the culprit. I know he hasn't been to Trista, otherwise I would have heard about it, but… Something is definitely going on," Cyrus stated.

"Hmm… That does give way to something rather interesting I found about a week ago," Sariffa started.

"What was it?" Cyrus asked, turning to look at the young maid.

"Lady Ferris received a letter from an unknown sender, and it was around that time her mood changed," Sariffa explained.

"A letter? Do you know where it came from?" Cyrus pressed.

"That's what was peculiar about it, Master… It was as if it had been hand delivered to her here," Sariffa said, making Cyrus take a step back.

"Hand delivered? You mean it was sent from someone in town?" Cyrus asked.

"That is my assumption, yes. The young Lady tried to dispose of it after receiving it, but I decided it warranted keeping, based on her reaction to its contents; would you like for me to procure it for you, so you may read the contents for it yourself? Sariffa suggested.

"Yes, please. Thank you, Sariffa," Cyrus sighed, relieved that Sariffa had managed to preserve the letter so he could see it for himself.

"Very good. Please, go wait downstairs and I shall go and collect the letter from my belongings," Sariffa bowed as she headed towards the maid's quarters.

Cyrus made his way downstairs and into the common area where some of the other Nobles were still gathered. They all watched as Cyrus reached the bottom of the staircase and walked across the room and took a seat in one of the empty chairs, his red jacket standing out amidst an ocean of white.

"Is Ferris ok?" Edel asked as she saw Cyrus' agitated look.

"She will be. Of that, I am certain," Cyrus sighed.

"Hmph, and just what in Aidios' name are you doing here?" Patrick scoffed as he entered the room from the kitchen.

"That's enough, Patrick. Cyrus is a Noble too; he has just as much of a right to be here as you do," Theresia snapped.

"What utter nonsense. More to the point, who do you think you are; the mere daughter of a lowly Baron speaking to the son of Sutherland's ruler in such a manner?" Patrick glared, which angered Theresia.

"What did you say?!" Theresia shouted, standing up and knocking her chair over.

"Bah, let the little shitbag be, Theresia. Remember that you are the only child of Baron Caroline, whereas he is the third son of Marquis Hyarms. You will have land and a title passed on to you eventually. He'd be lucky if Ryan or Alex give him a small goat farm to lord over," Cyrus muttered, gently waving a hand downward in an attempt to encourage Theresia to sit.

"By Thanatos, it's only been two months and I'm already sick of his attitude," Theresia growled as she picked up her chair and sat down. "Last year was so much better."

"You dare speak to your betters like that?" Patrick shouted, raising a hand in an attempt to strike Cyrus, who had a bored look on his face.

The strike from Patrick never came, as his hand had been grabbed by none other than Vincent Florald. An act which took most of the Nobles present by surprise.

"Now, now, dear Patrick. It would not do to strike my beloved cousin; especially when you hold yourself in such high regard. Attempting to strike Cyrus would be a most grievous error on your part, I must say," Vincent calmly stated.

"Hmph, I suppose you are right. It would not do for a Noble of my standing to touch those who are beneath me, even if it is to discipline them," Patrick preened, flicking away a few strands of hair from his face.

"Oho! No, I'm afraid you have misunderstood me, young sir," Vincent laughed. "Striking my cousin would be a most grievous error on your part because that look on his face means he would kill you without even a moment's hesitation."

At Vincent's bold declaration, everyone turned to look at Cyrus, who still had the same bored expression on his face; his head resting in his right hand with his index finger and thumb on the side of his face, his gaze staring through Patrick and Vincent and off into the distance. He only ever had that look whenever he was confronted by someone weaker than him and knew they posed absolutely zero threat to him or his safety.

"Ah, that's right; I've seen that look before," Friedel spoke calmly.

"You… You have?" Lambert blinked, waiting for Friedel to continue.

"Yes, it's the same look Aurelia Le Guin had on her face when she was surrounded by half a dozen Jägers a couple of years ago. She knew they posed no challenge to her," Friedel explained.

"So, what happened? To the Jägers, I mean," Theresia asked.

"Oh, Aurelia cut them in half with one strike," Friedel stated calmly, with an unnerving smile on her face.

"Yeesh, if Patrick doesn't back down now, then at least we can tell his father he died bravely. Stupidly, but bravely," Theresia shrugged, looking at Patrick, waiting for him to make the next move.

"Hmph, you aren't even worth my time and effort. Return to your own dormitory with the rest of the rats you scurry around with," Patrick huffed as he stomped away.

Cyrus hadn't moved throughout the exchange of words from the moment Patrick had tried to hit him. He didn't even blink. He simply sat there, uninterested by the bravado Patrick was trying to display. As Patrick walked off, however, Cyrus decided to tune back in to his surroundings and give Patrick a middle finger; the same bored expression still on his face.

"He really is just like his sister, isn't he?" Edel whispered with a small smile.

"I must admit, his sheer indifference to Patrick was both respectable and chilling," Lambert muttered.

"Cyrus, are you ok? I was surprised to hear you had come to pay your fellow Nobles a visit," Vincent declared as he swanned over and sat next to Cyrus' seat.

"I was here to see your sister, Vinnie. Something is troubling her," Cyrus stated, turning to look at Vincent.

"Hm, yes… Sariffa did bring that to my attention a few days ago. I have been trying to keep an eye on her, but… Well, you know how little Ferrie gets when she's upset," Vincent shrugged.

"Your concern for your sister is palpable, Vinnie…" Cyrus muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Master Cyrus… I have found what you seek," Sariffa declared, standing behind the chair Cyrus was sat in.

"Whoa! Where the hell did she come from?!" Theresia cried.

"Thank you," Cyrus raised a hand up behind him and waited for Sariffa to place the letter in his hand.

As Cyrus took the letter to inspect it, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The envelope was plain, there was only Ferris' name on it, and the writing didn't look familiar to Cyrus. The only thing that struck him as odd was the fact the penmanship of the lettering on the envelope was very tidy.

The words were written perfectly in cursive, with an almost calligraphic flair to it. If Cyrus had to guess, the letter was written by someone with a high level of education and intellect. The envelope itself was made from thick paper, but the letter inside was made from vellum. Clearly, the individual who had sent this was also considerably wealthy. Cyrus opened the letter and read the contents.

Dear Miss Florald,

You do not know me, or who I represent, but I know who you are, and who your family is. Let me start by saying that your family has caused me and my associates no shortage of grief. Specifically your cousin, Cyrus. The nature of his transgressions are not important, but what is important is how the aforementioned transgressions will be rectified.

By now, you are most likely wondering 'What does this have to do with me?' and I do not blame your for any confusion you might have, so allow me to elucidate to you why it is now your problem as well.

As far as things stand, my associates and have decided to punish Cyrus by targeting the one thing he cares most about; his family. As you are the weakest link in the chain that is the Le Guin and Florald families, we have decided that you are going to be the tool in which our justice gets dealt out. Which is why I am writing to you. We, as a whole, have decided that you will do our bidding until such time as we decide the scales have been rebalanced.

I believe this goes without saying, but you are not to speak to anyone about this, unless you wish the punishment to be deferred to your mother and father. You do not speak to Cyrus, not to your brother, Vincent, or even the maid that dutifully serves you and your family about this. You are to alienate yourself from your friends and family, if you wish to see this punishment through.

Await further instructions,

C.

"Master Cyrus?" Sariffa whispered.

"Sariffa… Take this letter to your father; tell him I want it scrutinised right down to the very ink used to write this filth," Cyrus commanded as he stood up and handed the letter to Sariffa. "Whoever this 'C' is; he's made a big mistake targeting my family."

The following morning, the Third Dormitory was abuzz with excitement; today was finally the day Class VII got to meet Cyrus' mysterious ally from the Septian Church's Black Sect; Sister Rosaria. Throughout breakfast, all the members of Class VII discussed was the mysterious nun, and since Elliot and Machias were the only two residents of Heimdallr, they were the ones who had been grilled the most, due to Cyrus responding to everyone's questions with a simple 'you'll find out when she arrives'.

It was just after ten o'clock in the morning when Crow came bursting in to the Third Dormitory, looking incredibly excited, and all the members of Class VII, with the exception of Cyrus, Jusis, and Fie who weren't present, looked at Crow with confusion.

"Yo, guys! There's a really hot babe wandering around Trista; I think she's looking for someone," Crow exclaimed. "She's causing a huge stir, because she looks like a nun, but she's also like one of them sexy gothic alt babes!"

"Can you be any more sexist and perverted?" Alisa huffed, glaring at Crow.

"Sure; I could explain how her butt is better than yours, and how her boobies are sexier, despite being smaller," Crow smirked, knowing he'd managed to strike a nerve.

Alisa's face went bright red and she looked like she was about to scream at Crow, but was stopped by Laura, who interrupted and responded to Crow's immature comment.

"Sexism aside, I do believe that woman you're talking about would be Sister Rosaria; she's here to see Cyrus," Laura stated.

"What? Aww, man… That guy's been holding out on me…" Crow groaned, dropping his head in anguish.

"Gaius, would you please go find Sister Rosaria and bring her here?" Sara asked, dropping an empty beer bottle on the floor with a dull thud.

"Of course," Gaius nodded as he walked off to search for the woman.

"Where is Cyrus? I thought he'd have been the one to greet her in Trista?" Rean asked.

"I haven't seen him since breakfast. I wonder what he's doing?" Elliot mumbled, looking up at the staircase, hoping to see Cyrus appear.

While Class VII were busying themselves getting ready to meet Sister Rosaria, Cyrus was in his room, busy with another conversation. He was aware Rosaria had arrived in Trista, but the individual he was talking to had demanded a conversation.

"Just what is it you hope to achieve from this?" the individual asked.

"Assets. No more, no less. Rosaria is already indebted to me for helping her in Heimdallr almost eighteen months ago. Helping her once again can only be of a benefit to me," Cyrus shrugged as he looked over his shoulder and out his window to where he could see a gathering of people in the park, surrounding Rosaria, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Gaius approaching the group too.

"Nonsense. The Black Sect do not owe people favours. That child might feel the need to enter herself into indentured servitude for what you did, but the Church? The very thought of them bending their knee to you is laughable at best," the individual growled.

"I never said I wanted the Church to bow to me; I'm not so arrogant or blind to believe such an outcome is possible. As far as I'm concerned, Rosaria knows people, and those connections will be helpful to me and achieving my aims," Cyrus responded quietly.

"You mean with this 'C' nonsense?" the individual asked.

"Of course you heard about that… Yes, you're right. The Black Sect have agents all across Zemuria. If she reaches out to some people here and there, she might be able to help me find out more about this 'C' and why he's decided to threaten Ferris," Cyrus stated.

"You're playing a dangerous game, boy… The Black Sect are not to be toyed with; they have more power that you might think," the individual warned.

"I'm well aware of your feelings about my dealings with Rosaria. I know you greatly respect the Black Sect, and Thanatos. I also know you see Rosaria's actions as treason against the Sect, but her help in the past has been invaluable. You remember Saint-Arkh, don't you?" Cyrus asked with a small smirk.

"You need to stop bringing that up. I told you that both you and that teacher of yours were out of your depth there. The fact you managed to get away without so much as a scratch was nothing short of a blessing from Thanatos himself," the individual growled.

"Now who's being arrogant?" Cyrus laughed dryly.

"Hmph, call it what you want, but you and I both know you and that teacher of yours were lucky that day. To think that you'd been able to walk out of Marquis Hyarms' territory without being arrested too… Though, I suppose dying would have been the same as a life sentence… Speaking of dying, you can sense it, can't you?" the individual asked.

"I can, yes… You can thank that 'teacher of mine' for helping me become so aware of my surroundings," Cyrus muttered.

"Yes, that year in Calvard was very helpful, wasn't it? To think, all it took was a single year. Even the Rakshasa would be impressed… If she knew, of course," the individual chortled.

"Y'know something, it's weird that you never refer to Aurelia by her given name. It's always 'the Rakshasa', or 'the General'… Why is that?" Cyrus asked.

"You know better than to question how I address people… And if you know me as well as you think you do, then you should already know the answer to that…" the individual responded sharply.

"Heh, to think there's a being in all of Erebonia who doesn't respect my sister enough to use her name…" Cyrus muttered. "Alas, that is not important. I have to go see Rosaria, and find out what it is she wants from me."

Cyrus said no more to the individual as he put his ARCUS Unit in his back pocket and walked down the stairs to meet Rosaria.

Whilst Cyrus was busy tending to his conversation, Gaius had gone and gathered Sister Rosaria and brought her back to the Third Dormitory. The moment the rest of Class VII had met Rosaria, they understood why Elliot had referred to her as the 'Ice Queen'.

Rosaria's dark purple eyes had a chilling look of indifference permanently etched into them. She hadn't even spoken yet, and everyone present could already feel the temperature in the room plummeting.

Her dark purple hair was long enough that it reached the small of her back and had a wild, dishevelled look to it, with most of her fringe covering her left eye. Her clothes were also unsettling to the members of Class VII who were present too. Crow's decision to use the worth 'goth' wasn't too far off the mark. Her clothes were all black, and her hands and arms were covered by thin lace gloves that were also black, and the ripped stockings she had on added to the overall gothic look. However, it was her silver headband that caught everyone's attention; it looked like a crown of thorns.

"Uhh, hello… Sister Rosaria, was it? I'm Rean Schwarzer. It's nice to meet you," Rean mumbled as he approached Rosaria, whos' expression remained unchanged.

"Hmph, sure," Rosaria muttered, her voice chilling Rean and the others to the bone.

"Yikes, I can see why people are scared of her," Alisa whispered to Elliot, who nodded vehemently.

"What?" Rosaria hissed, glaring at Alisa, who let out a small cry of fear.

"Now, now… Play nice, Rosaria," Cyrus' voice called out from the top of the staircase, which made Rosaria's disposition change dramatically.

The moment Rosaria had heard Cyrus' voice, the look of cold indifference melted away and was replaced by a look of excitement and adoration. As she looked up and saw Cyrus, her eyes widened considerably.

"Saviour!" Rosaria cried out with joy.

"Rosaria. How are you, my darling?" Cyrus laughed as he approached Rosaria and gave her a tight hug, which she returned fervently.

"Sa…Saviour?" Rean whispered.

"Darling?!" Alisa cried, going red.

"Umm, am I missing something here? This doesn't strike me as an Erebonian custom," Gaius whispered.

"Uhh, nope… It's definitely not. Even I'm confused by this; it's like they're both different people," Elliot responded.

"Ooh, this just got exciting…" Sara chuckled.

"How are things at the church? I hope everything is alright there," Cyrus asked as he released Rosaria.

"Things are fine. However, I have more pressing concerns at present," Rosaria responded, her demeanour shifting back to chilling once again.

"Is this chick bipolar or something?" Crow asked, suddenly appearing next to Rean.

"Whoa! Where the heck did you come from?" Rean gasped, his heart skipping a beat.

"I wanted to see why this hot babe is meeting with the boring 'Mr. One Dimensional' Cyrus," Crow shrugged. "Needless to say, I'm at a loss."

Upon hearing Crow's nickname for Cyrus, Rosaria turned around and glared at Crow, who felt a chill run down his spine. Everyone could see Crow stiffen slightly at the glare.

"Rosaria, darling… Ignore him; Crow is just an idiot. Tell me why you're here," Cyrus stated gently, cupping her cheeks in his hands and turning her gaze back towards himself.

"Hmph, right… Like I said in my letter, some thieves stole several sacred relics from the Church a while ago; chief among them was a relic said to have belonged to the Lord of Space and Time himself; the Chalice of Beginnings," Rosaria began.

The moment the words 'Chalice of Beginnings' left Rosaria's lips, Emma stiffened considerably. She had heard of that name before, and knew exactly what kind of legend the relic referred to. Fortunately for her, no-one had noticed her response, and quickly calmed herself down and relaxed again.

"Right, and the Black Archbishop dispatched the Nightingales to find it?" Cyrus asked.

"Yes. His Excellency was furious when he found out the Chalice had been stolen, and when the Templars turned up nothing, he wasted no time sending our best agents to conduct their own investigation. Whoever the thieves were, they knew the Chalice was important to the Back Sect. The reason I contacted you was because of this the cathedral in Heimdallr received about ten days ago," Rosaria stated as she pulled a piece of paper out of her bag and handed it to Cyrus.

"We have that which you seek. If you wish to see it returned, you are to bring five billion Mira to the Heimdallr Cathedral by the end of the month. Failure to comply will result in you never getting your treasures back," Cyrus read aloud.

"Five billion?!" Crow whistled. "That's a hell of a payday."

"Rosaria… Please don't tell me you contacted me because you want me to pay the ransom," Cyrus whispered, looking at Rosaria with a dark state.

"No, not at all, Saviour… His Excellency tasked me with finding someone with the 'appropriate skills' to deal with these thieves and recover the Chalice. I knew you were the right person for the job, given your talents and how you helped me in the past," Rosaria explained.

"Do I even want to know what the 'appropriate skills' are that she's talking about?" Alisa mumbled.

"Probably not, but I think you and I both know what she means," Emma whispered, feeling uneasy.

"You know I helped you then because it was convenient to me, right? Had my teacher not allowed me to help, I would have simply kept on walking," Cyrus stated.

"Yes, I am aware, and I make sure to thank Lord Thanatos every day for your kindness," Rosaria responded, bowing to Cyrus.

"Shit, this is one hell of a rollercoaster… Just kiss already!" Crow shouted, giving Cyrus a thumbs up, and received a middle finger in response.

"Very well… The end of the month is today, isn't it? So, what do you need from me?" Cyrus asked.

"Come to Heimdallr with me and reclaim the Chalice. Of course, I don't expect you to do it all by yourself. Here…" Rosaria responded as she put a gloved hand into her bag and pulled out a large wrapped item.

"What's this?" Cyrus asked as he undid the string and let the item unfurl.

What was in Cyrus' hands was a long white robe. It was made from thick fabric and had intricate designs woven into the robe itself. A crimson sash was attached to the waist, which tied the whole thing together when worn.

"That, Saviour, is a Sentinel's robe," Rosaria stated proudly.

"A Sentinel? What's that?" Rean asked.

"A Sentinel is an agent of the Black Sect; a Nightingale of immense power and respect. Even amongst the Templars and the members of the Church, a Sentinel is treated with absolute reverence," Gaius stated, which seemed to impress Rosaria, although her face didn't show it.

"The Nord is correct. Sentinels are our most powerful warriors. Their robes are woven out of silk harvested from Dragon's Tears; a plant that only grows around the Septium Veins that run all across the continent. The Church believe the plant is a gift from Aidios, but the Black Sect know better. Lord Thanatos planted those flowers a millennia ago, knowing it would aid us in the future," Rosaria stated, making her disdain for the Church and Aidios abundantly clear.

"Ok, but what makes their robes so special?" Sara asked, making her presence known as she finished off the last bottle in her box of beer.

"Dragon Silk is known for its ability to absorb latent Septium energy from the air. Those who wear these robes find it much easier to cast Arts. You'll be like that Bracer guy who's good at quickly casting Arts," Rosaria explained, looking at Cyrus.

"Oh, that 'Zero Artisan' guy. What's his name again? Toby? Torval?" Cyrus muttered.

"Toval Randonneur. Heh, I haven't seen that lovesick puppy in years," Sara giggled.

"Right… Well, shall we head out? If we're lucky we'll get to the Cathedral by midday," Cyrus stated as he tucked the robe under his arm.

"Actually, we can be there in about five seconds," Rosaria responded.

"That's impossible… Nothing can get you to Heimdallr that fast. Not even the Reinford Company's fastest airship," Laura stated.

"Tch, typical smooth brains…" Rosaria grumbled as she pulled a small, blue crystal out of her pocket and turned towards Class VII. "This is a Warp Crystal; another gift from the Lord of Space and Time. By shattering it, I can teleport to anywhere I so desire, with whomever I desire. All I need to do is clearly visualise where I'm going."

"Hold on, you're telling me that with one of those crystals, you can travel anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds?" Machias scoffed, speaking for the first time since Rosaria arrived.

"What is it with Aidios worshippers and their inability to listen?" Rosaria scowled. "Listen to me carefully; I can only travel to a place I am able to clearly visualise; if I've never been there, then I can't use the crystal."

"What happens if you do try to use it and go to a place you've never been?" Laura asked.

"You get ripped to pieces in a singularity," Rosaria stated coldly.

"Bullshit…" Alisa muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Have you ever seen a human get torn to pieces by a singularity, Blondie?" Rosaria hissed, making Alisa shake her head. "Well, I have, and it's not something you ever forget… Were it not for the Saviour, I wouldn't be here now."

"Rosaria, darling, don't start dwelling on that. I need your mind to be clear so we can use that crystal, ok?" Cyrus whispered, gently placing a hand on Rosaria's shoulder.

"Ok… I'm ready when you are," Rosaria whispered.

"On your call," Cyrus stated with a nod.

Rosaria closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and immediately threw the crystal on the ground and watched it explode with a flash of blue light. The members of Class VII who were present all had to close their own eyes as the flash was blinding. After a few seconds, the light vanished, and when everyone opened their eyes, the found Cyrus and Rosaria were gone, a wisp of blue smoke wafting up from where they had been standing.

"Holy crap, that was pretty cool," Crow nodded.

"I guess it's true what they say about the Church; they do have possession of some items that hold magical power," Gaius whispered, stroking his chin in thought.

"Uhh… Guys…? Where's Emma?" Alisa asked as she looked around the room and couldn't find Emma.