Contrary to the chaos outside, my inner world was almost serene. It was much different here from the destroyed landscape I saw in Franz von Urtica. The grass and moss beneath my feet, the forest surrounding me. And above it all, a towering tree covering the whole sky.
The whole place was verdant and full of a mystical feeling; the trees were tall, easily hundred meters tall, yet they seemed to hang low due to the wisteria flowers growing everywhere the eye could reach. Those flowers appeared to be made of my deep blue and purple crystals that would gleam with the light from above, reflecting it to create the ethereal atmosphere present around.
And the source of light itself was also contributing to the mythical atmosphere in my inner world, not coming from any false sun or moon, but the stars that seemed to grow on the giant tree whose canopy covered the whole sky. Every time a leaf would fall from it, it would shimmer with the starlight until it touched the ground, where it would disappear.
I started to walk through this place, admiring the surroundings while feeling the power present in the air. My inner world was not a normal mental scape because of the Azure Dream; to be precise, the Azure Dream was my inner world. It was the foundation of this place, reflecting the changes and characteristics of me.
A short while later, I entered a clearing in the middle of the forest, where an elegant gazebo stood quietly. I entered under its roof, sitting opposite a familiar figure.
-"Do you know the meaning of the wisteria flowers?"-He started the conversation with a nonsensical question.
-"Never had time to learn this."-I shook my head.
-"Wisteria flowers generally represent longevity and a devoted love, but the colors present in the forest also had their meanings. Blue wisteria represents wisdom and tranquility, while purple ones are a sign of nobility and spirituality."-He admired the crystal petals in his hand.
-"I've learned."
-"You did, that's why I appreciate you so much."-He nodded and smiled slightly.-"I will teach you everything I know."
-"Why?"
-"Because this was the purpose behind my leaving my Voice behind when I ventured into that place. I couldn't be sure what awaited me, so I planned for a worthy inheritor to appear. Sadly, whatever I had seen there changed me beyond what I could recognize. He all but destroyed the original Voice; if not for the fanatics who tried all they could to bring him back, you wouldn't be face to face with me."
I looked at the figure in front of me, doubt still in my eyes.
-"Why won't I just take over your body? Seeing your mental space, I understand that this would be futile. But even then, I still has duty to uphold. Whatever is beyond that place is, it's dangerous. I will bestow on you all my and his knowledge, and you will help him deal with whatever awaits there."-He was a rational person, putting his meaning before life.
-"I agree."
-"Then let's begin."
While the intense tutoring was happening in my inner world, the situation outside stabilized enough for everyone to gather and discuss next steps. At first, some people were concerned about my state, but after my Knights and Fremont assured them that everything was all right.
-"So, you know this would happen."-Some noble accused us.
-"Yes."-Lemuen admitted directly.-"But we already provided that information to the Empress. Making preparations of our own was out of necessity as we were already targeted before."
-"Don't waste time on assigning blame now. We need to resolve the situation as quickly as possible."-Viviana assumed command at the moment, as we planned.-"Can I ask our Lateran guests for assistance in resolving the incident?"
-"Yes. We will act according to your arrangements, but our safety is the priority."-Lemuen told her.
-"That's reasonable. What is the status of other Spires in the city?"
-"Miss."-One of the nobles present responded.-"There are few that fell into Echoes hands, while most were reclaimed, the Spire of the Kurfürst of the Sturmland is still occupied."
-"What about Fath... Lord Werner von Hochberg?"
-"There are no signs of him."
-"He cooperated with us at the beginning of the chaos, but after his Spire was attacked, we lost contact."-Lemuen spoke up, continuing the act.
-"Then..."-But as they were to continue making arrangements, a wave of power sprang from the rift in the skies, breaking through the barrier.
Fremont and Laqeramaline quickly activated the formation, preventing it from affecting more people, but some were already taken into the rift. Viviana quickly controlled the situation, reinforcing the barrier with Fremont's assistance. With hands full of their own issues, they couldn't worry about those who were taken away.
In my inner world, the previously untouched cleaning had changed beyond recognition. The grass was replaced by an amphitheater made from obsidian-like stone, its pitch-black surface glistening with the starlight above, making it look like a dark night sky. In the center of this construction, where the gazebo previously stood, there was now a stage filled with various instruments. At the edge, rows of organ pipes could be seen, acting as the background for the whole stage.
I stood on the rostrum, my eyes closed as I made the instruments play to my will. Various songs and melodies sounded one after another, some from Lands Between, some from my dreams, some from Leithanien and Laterano. I lost the sense of time long ago, my mind occupied purely by the techniques I was learning.
Behind me, the figure of the Voice observed my every action, pointing out mistakes from time to time. I was too occupied to notice the change that took place in his form. He was no longer some Art construct; now he changed into being like a Promulgator, a Reconvener.
-"It would seem you'll be my neighbor from now on."-Promulgator smiled as she appeared next to him.
-"Indeed."-His voice no longer sounded around, but appeared in the minds of others like Promulgator's; his physical form disappeared at some point.-"To think that I would be able to achieve both of my purposes, gain an inheritor, and continue my existence."
-"But I'm a little envious that you got a while stage for yourself while I can only live in the wilds."
-"Haha, maybe when he truly gains control over your power, will you get a nice place like me?"-He appeared more cheerful, no longer a tyrannical Witch King, just the Voice of his past, Otto Dietmar Gustav von Urtica, the one and only Herkunftshorn.
-"Let's hope so."-Promulgator turned her attention to me on the stage.-"How long will he need?"
-"The time here is different than outside... It's hard to say. He grasped the Art, but he couldn't understand the meaning."-He sighed under his breath.-"He can perfectly recreate the melody, but the feelings are lacking."
-"Both of us know what is beyond that canopy."
-"True. Maybe it's too much to expect him to freely unleash his heart."
Two of them looked at the great tree above them, focusing on the foliage as if seeing through it. And they indeed did. Beyond layers of leaves lay a seemingly endless space of dark clouds, raining down on the world below. No matter how much it was suppressed, the reality will never conform.
Those who were swallowed by the rift appeared in the realm beyond the sky, the Kargereich. Being randomly thrown into this winding labyrinth of a space, they quickly moved deeper into the labyrinth, trying to regroup. Some time later, they were able to find a safe spot to rest.
-"Everyone present?"-Kal'tsit looked at her Operators.
-"Yes, no one is injured.-Ace responded to her.
-"Good. What about you?"-She turned to my Knights.
-"No problems."-Margaret responded to her.-"We already tried to contact our allies outside. While communication is impossible, they should be aware of your location."
-"Great. What's your plan of action?"
-"Wait for more information about this space. Walking in blind would be too dangerous."
-"Don't you worry about your Son?"-Kal'tsit looked at the calm Knights.
-"Son doesn't need our protection."
-"Is that so? Well, whatever."
-"There is an anomaly."-Aefanyl warned everyone.
They looked where he pointed, discovering that the space was rapidly morphing, and soon another group appeared by their side.
-"Good that he taught me that Art."-Fremont nodded in satisfaction.
-"We truly owe Son for this."-Empress Lieselotte sighed slightly, already thinking about troubles to come.
-"Heh, don't feel thankful to him, I feel that there is much more to this than we know."
-"Empress Hildegard, please watch your words. Holy Son isn't someone who can be slandered casually."-Patrizion, leading Apostolic Knights, warned the Empress.
-"It would seem that everyone is here."-Lemuen smiled after looking around.-"Then let's not waste time."
-"The formation outside can last a few hours, but it's better to deal with everything quickly."-Fremont backed her up.
-"Friends from Laterano and Rhodes Island, I hope you can lend us a hand."-Empress Lieselotte looked at everyone present.
Kal'tsit nodded in agreement, while my Knights stood by Lemuen's side, she was the Lateran representative in my absence.
-"Let's move out then."-Empress Hildegard started walking into the buildings towering before them.
-"Empress, can we get some information about what this place is?"-Kal'tsit asked while they moved.
-"We also don't have much information about this place. This should be a result of one of the Witch King's experiments."
-"That man researched something he called Realm, but I never would expect him to achieve such success. While unstable, this place is a complete world. But that corruption, I don't think it's his doing."-Fremont's face was serious when he spoke.-"Be careful, don't let yourself be influenced."
Everyone nodded.
They moved through the historical streets of old Zwillingstürme. The absence of any life, sound, or even the most minuscule wind, made this place appear eerie, if not outright scary. But such a situation didn't last long.
Cellinia's ears suddenly stood up, her eyes focusing on one of the buildings. She grasped her sword, ready to act at any moment. Her actions were noticed by others, but before they could ask what was going on, she disappeared from that spot. Next moment, the sounds of flesh being cleaved appeared from the side.
Cellinia reappeared on the second floor of the building near where they were, around her fresh corpses of the Witch King's followers, each killed with one swift slash of her sword. She looked around to find any information that might be helpful, but she stopped after lifting one of the masks the corpses wore. She immediately garbed this body and returned to the rest of the group, throwing it before them.
Her actions made others, especially the Rhodes Island Operators, look at her again, no longer subconsciously considering her a young girl favored by some noble Son, but rather a veteran of the battlefield like them.
Fremont looked at the body, observing its face, or rather what was there instead of it. There was only blackness, an abyss-like void covering all the features a person should possess. Their bodies were also abnormal, from the sword wound on the chest, only a oil like substance flowed out, no blood or anything similar.
-"Those are the loyalists that disappeared all those years ago."-Empress Hildegard pointed at some markings on the clothes.
-"Were."-Fremont corrected her.-"What you see here is a monster."
-"This doesn't change much."-Empress Lieselotte spoke after a moment.-"They would be an enemy no matter what they are."
-"I'm just afraid that whatever is happening here is no longer just a matter of Echoes and Witch King."
-"And you'd be right, young Lich King."-Promulgator's voice sounded in their minds, causing everyone who hadn't met her to be on alert.-"What you see here is not just some monster, it's an enemy of this world. I hope that The Dame can confirm my words."
Kal'tsit was genuinely surprised, but as the matter at hand was more important, she left the questions for later.
-"I can confirm it."-She nodded.
-"Same beings are what plague the Icefields. No matter what you do, never let them enter the real world."
-"That person is?"-Empress Lieselotte asked.
-"A friend of Holy Son. She can be considered a mentor."-Lemuen explained briefly.
-"Your Son has quite the range of friends."-Empress Hildegard commented, still suspecting my true motives.
-"As a Sankta who can invite Sarkaz Banshee as a companion to an official occasion, do you expect him to be isolated?"-Fremont sneered.
-"I must give it to that guy; he has charisma that makes it easy to get to know him, for better or worse."-Kal'tsit also stood on my side.
Empress Hildegard ignored them.
-"The question now was, how does the Witch King fit into this greater scheme of things?"-Empress Lieselotte changed the subject.
-"His change back then was connected to his research; it might be that he got influenced by that thing?"-Fremont suggested.-"Him wearing a mask in the later part of his life also supports this idea."
-"But why would he hide everything in this space then?"-Ace asked the key question.
-"This isn't the time nor the place to discuss that."-Shining spoke up suddenly, the black flame appearing in her hands.-"Enemies are coming, be alert."
She and Margaret moved forward to act as the vanguards, with Apostolic Knights taking positions further back. Cellinia didn't take any spot in the formation, preparing to rush into enemy lines. Other people present also joined in their preferred spots, preparing for the combat.
Soon, figures emerged from the allies and buildings, moving toward them. While some appeared to be mindless zombies, only moving forward with strange, stiff motions. But some were in much better state, even preparing to cast Arts from a distance.
Seeing that, Margaret struck the ground with her spear, golden light enveloping her and everyone, giving protection from all magic. Cellinia also acted, teleporting behind the enemy line, focusing on the Casters to prevent any unnecessary damage to others.
Shining focused solely on the minions, her flames easily killing the approaching monsters, but black fire proved unable to destroy their bodies. This made Shining realize that the danger those being posed was far greater than what she thought.
Thanks to the rather smooth cooperation, they quickly dealt with the first wave of the enemies, but seeing that more monsters were approaching, the decision was made to push forward. So while they repelled wave after wave, they made their way into the central Spire of the city. While there were some hiccups on the way, there was no serious problem.
All the injuries were quickly healed. Shining and Kal'tsit were two of the best healers on Terra, and even bringing back people from the brink of death would be possible if they cooperated. There was no time or space to rest, so everyone just gathered their breath and entered the Witch King's Spire. Whatever awaited inside, they would have to deal with it directly.