NEXUS

Markus listened attentively to the trio’s tale: from the moment they ventured into the Nest until the downfall of the Mangler. The bearded man remained quiet, even after the trio finished their story. Sam took a hurried look at Lucy and Rupert; both of them were also nervous about their Mentor’s lack of reaction.

After nearly three minutes of pure silence, Markus eventually spoke, “So, let me get this straight: The Crystal of Birth talked to you, and it also controlled the Mangler?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” Sam swiftly answered.

“You do realize that sounds a tad silly?” Markus replied with raised eyebrows.

“Silly, perhaps, but you wanted the truth. You taught us that no matter how improbable it is, or how ridiculous it sounds, the truth is the truth. Not even the forces in the heavens and the earth can change that fact.”

A tiny smile appeared on Markus’s face. “Using my own words against me, Edelweiss? That’s quite brave of you…or foolish.”

“I prefer the former, sir.”

“Hm,” Markus huffed. “I must admit, bringing down the Mangler was not an easy feat, especially by a group of reckless Fledglings. However, I’ll be lying if I say I’m fully disappointed by what happened. For three whole years, I watched all of you grow as a team – as a family. Together, you toiled; you endured – such is the way of the Faceless before you. For that, I consider your Apprenticeship a success.”

The trio looked at each other with relief, but Markus quickly cleared his throat, indicating he was not finished with his speech. “Regrettably, we have an issue – a big issue. Due to your rashness, this forest has been tainted with the Mangler’s innards. Now, I won’t mince words; the locals will be livid, and it’ll surely catch the Overlord’s attention.”

“Ah, of course,” Lucy scoffed.

“Just because you took down the Mangler, it does not absolve you from the aftermath. There will be a hearing, but because you are under my supervision, you aren’t required to participate.”

“So, what kind of punishment should we expect?” Sam asked.

“Aside from incarceration? You’ll either be subjected to an execution or the Culling.”

“The Culling? Isn’t that a bit excessive?” Lucy blurted out.

“I agree,” Markus concurred. “Which is why, for the time being, I want all of you to stay out of trouble. A single infraction might exacerbate your current situation, and that’s a scenario I prefer to avoid.”

“We can do that,” said Sam. “But let’s just say, hypothetically, that we were dragged into a scuffle against our will, does that affect our…situation?”

“Hypothetically?” said Markus, his eyes narrowed.

“What Sam meant to say is, despite your sound advice and our best efforts, trouble seems to find us,” Lucy interjected. “Now, am I saying we are cursed with bad luck? Maybe. With how things usually go, it is safe to assume that we’ll be caught up in something sooner or later.”

“I hope you are wrong, Miss Nightingale, but these past three years taught me that all of you are some kind of lightning rod for trouble. Just…promise me you’ll try your best?” Markus sighed.

The trio nodded their heads simultaneously.

“Good,” said Markus before pulling out a small glass orb. “I’m guessing you still remember what this is?”

“The Displacer,” Sam and Lucy answered at the same time.

“Correct,” Markus replied. “It’s been a long time since you set foot in the Tower of Nexus, so expect some changes here and there.”

“Oh, is Thomas still the Overlord?” Rupert asked after spending the past few minutes keeping to himself.

“Yes, Mr. Nightingale. Thomas is still the Overlord.”

“Ah, damn. I mean, great! That’s great.”

Lucy exhaled, slightly embarrassed by her brother’s tactless remark. Her reaction was noticed by Markus, who decided to give them a word of advice: “Thomas can be a bit abrasive, but you have to understand his position. He has to deal with a lot of things – the civilians, the Distorted, us – not everyone can handle them without breaking down.”

“Does that include his favourite adopted son?” Sam inquired.

“Jack Cindar is… a complicated man. But he shows great potential to be one of the best, and with the fact that he’s the son of Thomas’s good friend, it is unavoidable for the Overlord to be biased toward him.”

“Cindar is a bully, Markus,” Lucy chided. “I would have respected him more if he used his strength and intelligence for good – not that he needed my respect in the first place. If I remember correctly, he’s also doing his three-year Apprenticeship.”

“Which he will complete tomorrow,” Markus replied before gripping the Displacer until it turned dark green. He then threw the orb to the ground, and in the blink of an eye, a doorway of light manifested in front of him.

The trio marvelled at the sight of the Rift Gate; the portal the Faceless utilize to travel around the world. Aside from its watery surface, it emitted a soft humming akin to the sound of a beehive.

“Miss Strelitzia will be on the other side to greet you, for she is the Chamber of Convergence's new Chief,” said Markus.

“So, old man Dory finally decided to retire, huh?” Rupert replied jokingly.

“Dorian unfortunately passed away in his sleep last year.”

“Oh, that’s…sucks.”

“I’m guessing he asked you to keep his death a secret,” said Sam.

“He did,” Markus confirmed. “All you need to know is that he prayed you will find whatever it is you are looking for, and to never, ever give up in the face of adversity.”

“That sounded like him. So, he’s really gone, huh? I didn’t even thank him for everything he did,” Lucy muttered sadly.

“Knowing Dorian, I don’t think he wanted your thanks, Miss Nightingale,” said Markus. “He performed his duty without expecting anything in return – a sentiment that we should try to emulate as best as we can. Now, with that out of the way, the Tower of Nexus eagerly awaits your return.”

“What about its occupants? Aside from Marie, I don’t think the others will welcome us with open arms,” Sam said, smiling slyly.

“Despite what you believe, Mr. Edelweiss, there are actually a lot of people who see you and the Nightingales as equals. The Empyreans, in particular, are looking forward to meeting you. They said they want to settle some old debts with you?”

Lucy and Rupert burst out laughing; their reaction baffled Markus.

“So, that’s what they call it now?” Sam remarked.

“Mind filling me in? I’m not that well-versed in your history with the Empyreans.”

After regaining her composure, Lucy looked at Markus in the eyes and responded, “A few days before our Apprenticeship started, Sam and Jason were sparring against each other. The loser will spend a week volunteering as the Infirmary’s guinea pig. Thankfully, the match ended in a stalemate.”

“Is that what the young’uns do these days? I’m shocked all of you really couldn’t think of a different kind of punishment.”

“It sounded like a good idea in that moment,” Rupert replied, shrugging her shoulders.

Markus shook his head in disapproval. He was murmuring something, but his voice was too low for the trio to hear. “Please do me a favour: do not risk your lives for fun and frivolity. The Summer Solstice is approaching and with it, your Inauguration into the Faceless Order.”

“So, in short, we have to keep ourselves alive until then. Got it,” Rupert stated.

“That's not what I meant,” Markus countered. “God, why do I even bother. Just...just get out of my sight, please.”

The trio left their Mentor behind, making their way toward the Rift Gate.

“We should really stop teasing Markus like that. He has a lot on his plate right now, you know? Being the Lord of the Deathstalkers and stuff,” said Lucy.

“Nothing wrong with a friendly banter, especially after everything he put us through,” Sam replied with a mischievous smirk on his face. “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it at least for a little bit?”

Lucy kept her mouth shut, neither confirming nor denying Sam’s suspicion. Her gaze shifted to her brother, who was already standing in front of the shining portal.

“So, lady’s first?” said Rupert.

“You’re just saying that so you can push me into the Rift Gate,” Lucy complained.

“I’LL go first,” Sam intervened. “Then, Rupert, and lastly, Lucy. Any objections?”

The siblings glanced at each other, but none of them rejected the idea.

“Perfect,” said Sam before approaching the doorway of light. He felt a draft coming through the portal along with the faint scent of camellia. The pure white surface rippled as he shoved his right hand forward; a slight chill ran up his arm as if he was digging through a pile of snow. “Well, here goes.”

**********************************************

Sam felt his teeth chattering as he passed through the cold veil. The sensation was temporary, however, as he was blasted with a comforting warm air soon after. Moreover, the pervasive odour of the Distorted’s innards also disappeared, replaced with a fresh, soapy smell. Sam found himself standing in a large circular room; its walls were as white as snow, while its floor was covered with brown, herringbone tiling. Countless inscriptions, arranged in a spiral-like pattern, decorated the ceilings, written in a language only known to the Chief of the Chamber of the Convergence.

Then, he heard the siblings come through the Rift Gate; their loud voices instantly filled the room.

“That…was a weird feeling,” Rupert commented.

“Yeah, that’s one way to put it,” Lucy confirmed.

Before Sam could say anything, the wall in front of him split open, and a slim woman stepped into the room. Sporting a black turtleneck and blue bootcut jeans, the woman brushed her short, wavy brunette hair from her emerald green eyes.

“Our esteemed guests have finally made their appearance,” the woman said with a deep, silken voice. A mischievous, dimpled smile formed across her porcelain face, and the trio could not help but smile back at her.

“It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it, Marie?” said Sam. “We heard you’re the new Chief here.”

“Reluctantly appointed,” Marie replied before stopping in front of Lucy. She instantly pinched the younger Nightingale’s cheek, causing the latter to yelp. “You’re awfully thin, darling - all of you are. Have you been eating well?”

“Eating well is not exactly a priority when you’re out in the wilderness,” Lucy responded. “Can…can you please stop doing that?”

“And missed the chance to squeeze the cheeks of the cheekiest person in the Tower?” Marie giggled before releasing his hold on the distressed Nightingale. “By the way, I heard about the event in the Wailing Forest. Nice job.”

“News travels fast,” Sam sighed. “Who else has returned besides us?”

“A couple of groups, but sadly, all of them failed their Apprenticeship.”

“So, what’ll happen to them?” Sam further asked.

“That depends. Some might retake their Apprenticeship, but most will decide it wasn’t worth it and will request a way out.”

“The way out?” said Rupert with a confused expression.

“The Culling, darling. You’ve heard it before, right? Those subjected to the Culling will be stripped of their powers and subsequently returned to their home. They’ll spend the rest of their life as the Reprieved – those without special abilities.”

“Man, that sounds depressing,” Rupert remarked.

“Maybe, but there are those who will disagree with you. You see, dear, not all of us are built for a life of constant conflict and turmoil – and that is nothing to be ashamed of.” Marie then walked past the trio before casually waving her right hand. The Rift Gate instantly reduced into an orb of light, floating on the same level as her head.

“We heard about Dory,” Sam uttered. “We’re sorry-.”

“Ah, ah,” Marie cut Sam’s apology short. “Dorian will be turning in his grave if you say that. He never wanted you to see him in his moment of weakness, but rest assured, the three of you meant a lot to him.”

“He really said that? I find it hard to believe,” Rupert expressed his doubt.

“That’s because you were too busy pranking him to even notice,” said Sam, glaring at the elder Nightingale.

“It was ‘cause he talked so slow, and you know me, slow things make me sleepy.”

“Sure, if you say so,” Lucy sighed, rolling her eyes.

Marie chuckled, apparently amused by the trio’s interaction. “It’s a relief to see all of you still enjoying each other’s company. Oftentimes, the Apprenticeship can change a person – for better…or worse.”

“You sounded a bit sad at the end, Marie. Is something bothering you?” Sam asked.

“Just a rumour I heard. Do you remember a crude young man named Jack Cindar?”

“Well, his face is not exactly unforgettable,” Lucy huffed. “He’s returning tomorrow, right?”

“He is, but that is not the intriguing part. Two weeks ago, Cindar’s team was involved in a search and rescue operation. The mission was a success, but the cost was too great. All of Cindar’s companions perished in the tragedy when a tunnel collapsed on top of them.”

“However, do you think there’s more to that story?” Sam retorted.

“Of course, there’s more, dear. At first glance, it looked like an accident, but a further investigation proved otherwise. There was evidence of the tunnel being tampered with, but they weren’t enough to tie Cindar to the incident.”

“That’s convenient,” said Lucy. “I’m guessing the case will eventually be swept under the rug. Those poor souls, wasted because Cindar refuses to share the spotlight.”

“Which is why you need to be extra careful. Jack Cindar is a dangerous man even before his Apprenticeship.” Marie then looked over to Sam; her gaze was intense. “Especially you, Sam. Your feud with Cindar is quite legendary.”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a feud,” Sam grumbled.

“But, for Cindar, you are an obstacle to his path of glory. I’ve seen enough people who went down that road, and it didn’t end well for them.”

“I’ll…I’ll make sure to keep that in mind.”

“Good boy. .Now, do forgive me for keeping you here longer than I should. Welcome back to the Tower of Nexus, folks, and do enjoy your stay.

**********************************************

||| THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS: MARKUS |||

[Meanwhile…]

[The Wailing Forest]

Markus flipped through the sheets of paper; his expression unchanged. He tried to find anything that could explain the presence of the Mangler in the forest, but to his dismay, there was none – as if the monster appeared out of thin air. The Infestation might have been eradicated, but it won’t be long until another nest pops up and with it, more trouble.

“Curious. Very curious,” Markus murmured. All of a sudden, he saw some movement on the Mangler’s torso, followed by an arm bursting out of the creature’s chest. A figure in a yellow rubber suit climbed out, covered in burnt flesh and black slime. “Need some help, Pascal?”

“No need. Just…give me a moment,” the man in the yellow suit responded, his voice muffled by his headgear. “Quite a mess you apprentices made. The last time I’ve seen something like this was back in the Desert of Ashes. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“It’s a work in progress. So, did you find anything?”

The man named Pascal hopped off the Mangler’s body. He removed his tainted headgear, revealing a clean-shaven man with untidy, brown hair. “It is as you said. Pieces of the Crystal of Birth lodged inside the Mangler’s lungs, but I’m gonna need specialized equipment to take them out.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Is it, Markus? This is the fifth Distorted we discovered roaming outside its environment. If I were you, I would be deeply concerned.”

“Let me worry about that. You just focus on what you do best – treating the wounded and inventing new gadgets for the Order.”

“Better do it quick then, or the Infirmary will be flooded with the wounded. The public might not be aware of it now, but when they do – and they always do - it will be total chaos.”

“Your warning is duly noted,” Markus replied.

“It better be. I’ve buried enough friends and families in this lifetime, and gotta admit, my patience is running thin,” said Pascal before exhaling out loud.

“You and me both, my friend.”

||| THE END OF THE PATH OF CHANGELESSNESS |||