- Rena: Oh! Does anyone know the status of the Abyss? Has it hardened enough to pass?
- Elesis: It will take sometime until it completely hardens. It wasn't as bad as that time when I checked it with Aren, but my legs would still sink.
- Ain: Did something happen?
- Eve: Aren tried to test the ground to see if it completely hardened. Instead, it reacted like quicksand and he sank. It could have ended badly.
- Stirbargen: Hahaha, it was pretty funny. I thought Ran came back from the depths of the Abyss to drag you all with him!
- Elesis: Chung tried to rescue him but he started sinking faster. It was almost like he was being sucked in.
- Chung: Haha... I didn't think about the weight of the armor.
- Lu: Thanks to that, the Erises had to work twice as hard. Sigh... The Land of Steel is right around the corner, and yet we're no closer to reaching it.
- Ciel: Relax, Lu. I'm sure we'll be able to go across soon.
- Elsword: Oof!... I mean, it makes sense that a crevice like that doesn't fill up instantly.
- Aisha: But it appeared instantly. Why can't it fill up instantly as well?
- Aisha: Oh, Elsword! Watch out. You might get hurt.
- Elsword: Sorry! I never saw a weapon like this before, so I got curious.
- Clamor: Oh...! It seems those who are professionally trained instinctively know how to utilize their body, even when it's their first time using the weapon. This must be what they call a difference in experience!
- Noah: Haha, you're very good considering it's your first time.
- Aisha: Amazing. Who would have thought that this sickle is what altered my magic?
- Noah: I'm sorry for the trouble he caused.
- Aisha: Don’t sweat it. I was really surprised when I found out you had a talking weapon, though. I've heard of demonic, or ego weapons, but this is the first time I've seen one in person.
- Noah: I heard you spent a lot of time investigating different ruins, Aisha, and you still haven't seen one before? It must be really rare then.
- Ain: How interesting. I thought a weapon capable of magic would be coveted by everyone. If I'm not mistaken, Nasods were invented to seek out such convenience, weren't they?
- Aisha: That's because they're unbelievably hard to make. It's considered a great achievement even for an experienced magician to successfully create one in their life time.
- Aisha: First, the weapon itself has to be made with material that can easily conduct magic. That alone costs a hefty amount.
- Ciel: Aha, you mean the kind of minerals Dwarves go nuts over?
- Aisha: Yes, and the magician themselves have to have good understanding of weapons and battle. Not to mention, creating an ego is a difficult, dangerous task.
- Aisha: Due to the dangerous nature involved with the process, it was forbidden multiple times through out history to create ego weapons. Since, ego weapons are also most likely to turn into demonic weapons.
- Noah: Really...?
- Clamor: True...
- Noah: Anyway, I'm glad all the misunderstanding cleared up. I wanted to tell you earlier, but Clamor insisted I needed to keep it a secret.
- Chung: The reason why he didn't wanted to say anything... Does it have anything to do with the Order?
- Clamor: Hm... Not exactly. It's my own insecurities. I'm glad you don't have any prejudice against ego weapons...
- Clamor: Though maybe I would have been more helpful if I actually was one...
- Clamor: Regardless, I'm just an ordinary person whose soul happened to be bound to a weapon. I'm not particularly proficient in battle magic, nor do I have experience in using them against other people.
- Clamor: That's why, I thought it would be better for both you and Noah to keep it a secret.
- Clamor: So, I would rather if you all don't acknowledge my presence. I believe that's best for everyone involved.
- Aisha: So that's how you felt...
- Noah: Hmph, for someone who wanted to be kept a secret, you did everything in your power to announce your presence.
- Aisha: Haha! I'm really grateful for your help in the Abyss. I was startled, but I would feel much better if you continue to support us like that.
- Rena: I agree. We can all be taken off guard no matter how strong we are, so you'd be like... a card up our sleeves!
- Noah: Yes... He did say something like that.
- Noah: Um... Aisha... Did you hear anything about the relationship between the Landar family and the Order?
- Aisha: No... I thought about what you said, but I can't think of anything. Well, there is this one thing...
- Aisha: I used to travel with my grandfather, but had to part ways when something came up that he had to take care of.
- Aisha: I never heard why he had to leave. Just assumed it must be important if he had to take care of it himself.
- Aisha: And maybe, that something is somehow related to the Order... Or, that's what I think anyway.
- Noah: I see... How strange. And none of you heard of the Order before?
- Aisha: I did hear that such an organization existed long ago during Elrian Kingdom era in my lessons. Though I didn't know they were still around.
- Rena: Come to think of it... I wonder when the Order began their activity? We always assumed it was the Large El and the restoration of Elrianode.
- Rena: But according to Aren, the Order was active way before then.
- Laby: Laby would have loved to be there, too... What did Aren say?
- Rena: He told us about a strange incident he experienced when he was the Royal Guard Captain.
- Ara: Aren decided to make rounds when he heard about someone suspicious wandering around the alleyway.
- Ara: And found someone fully covered in robes, precariously holding on to the wall.
- Ara: He thought the person could be a patient and tried talking to them, but the robbed figure screamed and turned into a hideous monster right before his eyes.
- Eve: ... It's likely something similar, if not identical, to what we witnessed in Elrianode.
- Chung: But it's different from Elrianode. It happened at the center of the capital...
- Chung: I can only imagine the shock felt by the people witnessing such an event.
- Ara: Aren thought it was odd, and wanted to investigate further... But he didn't have the authority.
- Noah: Wait... You mean there was no proper investigation? I don't understand...
- Ciel: What you think is common sense manifests differently when power is involved.
- Noah: But... This isn't something to be brushed aside...!
- Rose: Let me explain with an example. Here I am, holding a weapon. If I let go, this weapon will fall to the ground.
- Rose: But as long as I hold on to it, it will not fall, because the force I am applying to this weapon is greater than the force pulling the weapon to the ground.
- Ciel: I heard that the Northern Empire was in a state of unrest. I suppose this incident was also exploited in some way.
- Elesis: Even the smallest mistake can be used against you. Or swept under the rug so you can pretend it never happened.
- Ciel: If it's something that can be exploited, even a minor offense like stealing a piece of bread can be blown out of proportion and become something punishable by death.
- Ciel: It happens all across Elrios. If I'm not mistaken, even Velder went through several rebellions due to social unrest.
- Ara: The request for investigation was denied, and the case left Aren's hands with the order of nondisclosure.
- Ara: The monsters body was also moved to an unknown location, and after a few days, everyone acted like the incident never happened.
- Ara: Ever since, my brother couldn't trust anyone.
- Ara: No matter how much one values the delicate struggle for power, how can anyone prioritize that over human life? What if the negligence today leads to a casualty tomorrow?
- Ara: Who will be responsible then, when something similar happens again...
- Eun: .......
- Eun: Your brother believed that the tragedies he brought about stemmed from his weakness. But that is not the case.
- Eun: What happened was the result of a conviction that was shattered and rebuilt again and again until it formed a sharp edge.
- Eun: But destiny is a fickle thing. A path paved with good intentions may still lead you down a fiery path. Especially when you hold a weapon that can very easily turn against you.
- Ara: ... I only hope our own path, doesn't end the same way.
- Eve: What happened in Northern Empire indicates that the Order was active before the restoration of Elrianode.
- Elesis: Aren seemed to think that the Order had something to do with the demon invasion as well. I personally think that's a bit of a stretch...
- Elesis: But he was directly involved in it, so maybe he noticed a connection we didn't see.
- Elsword: Well, the Order's headquarters is in the Demon Realm, right? Then let's go and find out.
- Noah: That... sounds dangerous.
- Elsword: That's how the Order will think of US.
- Aisha: Oh, stop it you! Ever since we made it out of the Abyss, your confidence has been through the roof!
- Aisha: Oh, Noah. I almost forgot... Thank you, for helping the Landar family.
- Noah: Oh, it's... It's nothing. Anyone else would have done the same...
- Aisha: Haha, no need to be shy. What you have done is definitely worth the gratitude.
- Aisha: The Titania that I remember... I actually haven't met her since I was little, but I heard a lot through my relatives.
- Aisha: That she's hard working, cautious, and leaves a good impression.
- Aisha: But like a book, I suppose you cannot judge them by the cover...
- Noah: .......
- Diana: Yoohoo! Hey, come check this out!
- Diana: There are letters addressed to you.
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