[Arc 3:The Ruined Pages]

  (A sudden shift. An event replaying many years ago.)

  A cheerful girl waved at Revir, her smile energetic.

  "Here!" she said happily.

  Revir sighed, low on energy, and decided to follow her.

  "What exactly made you so excited about?" he grumbled, clearly in no mood for talking.

  "Look, look!" she pointed at a majestic Library. "Do you think this is where we'll be studying next year?"

  "You're sure this is what you want?"

  "What do you mean by that?" the girl asked.

  "I mean, you only want to study here because of the journey some random guy told us about, right?" he snorted in disbelief. "Honestly, I'm surprised you believe his story."

  "Of course I would believe it!" She pouted. "There's an outside world out there, and I want to show the other people, especially Margias, about our existence!"

  "What an impossible dream. I can't believe you want to follow his path instead of finding your own," Revir said, annoyed and exhausted.

  "Well, it's not like I have a dream of my own anyway. I guess it wouldn't hurt to experience it myself," the girl replied, her eyes full of hope. "And you're going to follow me, right?"

  (The light sharpens, snapping the scene back to the present.)

  Revir mumbled in his sleep, tossing on the heap of cargo, still trapped in the forgotten past. Just as they arrived at the docks, Aria shook him awake.

  Revir, feeling groggy, blinked and looked around.

  "We're in the Cruise sector, right?"

  "Yeah. Now, get your butt off that cargo," Aria commanded.

  "Alright, alright," he muttered, climbing down. The driver didn't wait. He drove off as soon as they were all unloaded.

  "So, where are the others?" Revir asked, walking onto the main road alongside Aria. The crowds thinned rapidly as the air grew heavy, signaling a downpour.

  "Four of them already searching for a shelter. So they went ahead and order a room at inn." Aria explained.

  A booth selling food caught their attention. They decided to get some for the rest of the group.

  As they arrived at the inn, they found Saria reading a novel on the bed while Noire was attempting to decipher a massive map detailing the cruise routes and nearby islands.

  "Hmm? Where's Rein and Carol?" Revir asked, placing the food bag on a table.

  "They said they had some business somewhere. Didn't give me the full context," Noire replied, without looking up.

  Aria leaned in, curious about Saria's novel, making Saria fluster and try to hide the cover.

  "Is that so?" Revir said, tossing one of the items he bought to Noire.

  "What's this?"

  "A cheese bun. The most popular food around here. They were cheap, so I grabbed some for everyone."

  Noire ripped open the plastic, took a bite, and his eyes widened in surprise at the delicious taste. "I need to buy a few more of these later. Where can I find that booth?"

  "You really love that food, huh?" Revir teased Noire. "Well, I'll tell you later."

  The rain appeared with sudden force, washing against the closed window of the room. Down below, the crowds immediately pulled out their umbrellas, hurrying to find cover.

  "So, why are we here again?" Rein asked, peeking behind the crumbling wall alongside Carol.

  "Watching a nun. Who knows if she's secretly working for the Royal Church?" Carol muttered.

  "Royal Church? Why would you be wary of them? It's not like they've done anything wrong."

  She sighed in disappointment. "You Holders really think they're a virtuous organization, huh?"

  Rein looked confused by Carol's statement.

  A nun with long blonde hair, looking around cautiously, entered the abandoned church. Carol and Rein followed, shifting into a camouflage state.

  The nun stopped in the main hall, looking sadly at a few neglected coffins. "I'm sorry that everyone neglected all of you. May your spirits always find peace in heaven."

  The nun prayed for their well being. A warm, significant light shone from her hands, a light so pure that it drastically altered the behavior of even violent creatures.

  However, as she was praying, a few undead Wraiths appeared, rising from the ground. They were drawn to the light, which is a direct counter to their existence.

  The nun noticed their presence behind her and smiled with hope. The Wraiths slowly disintegrated in pain as the light was too strong for them to endure.

  Rein and Carol, camouflaged and hiding behind a prayer chair, were astonished by the nun's power.

  When the nun was done, she looked up and called out. "Whoever you are, please don't hide away from me. I know you've been watching it all along."

  With concern, Rein and Carol cancelled their spells, facing the nun directly.

  She smiled genuinely, looking at both of them. "Now, can you two explain yourselves?"

  "Explain what?" Carol said, unwilling to cooperate.

  "Quite a rebellious girl, aren't you?" The nun said, looking at Carol with a hint of sympathy.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  "It can't be helped. I didn't had a time for reflection lately. Sorry, Nun." Carol shrugged dismissively.

  "Hana."

  "Huh?"

  "My name is Hana Kril. I'm the former Nun of the Royal Church."

  "Hmph, I knew it." Carol said, smiling proudly.

  Then, Rein took the lead. "Why is a former Nun like you are here, Miss Hana?"

  "My, 'Miss,' huh? I must be showing my age to this generation," she said with a gentle smile. "But first, you have to answer my previous question."

  "Carol."

  She sighed. "As long as she answers our questions." She cleared her throat. "When we arrived at this cruise port, I saw your figure acting cautiously. It triggered my suspicion, so I followed you here. I called Rein to come along with me."

  "Is that so? I suppose I wasn't wary enough of my surroundings."

  "Now, it's your turn."

  Hana giggled. "Gladly." The rain outside intensified. "This Cruise sector is in danger. A monster breakdown is going to occur beneath us anytime soon." A sudden flash of lightning showered beneath the sky, showing a danger closing by.

  "Monster breakdown? But there's no dungeon here." Carol said, confusion mixing with concern.

  "True. But crime around the cruise area has recently increased to a worrying state. Criminals have been dumping their victims here, causing the angry spirits to turn into Wraiths. Luckily, they haven't met the conditions to become Zarikh yet."

  "Is that why a former Nun from the Royal Church arrived?" Carol pressed for answers.

  "That's right. But I'd prefer if you don't talk about anything related to that church, okay?" Hana said, clenching her hands in frustration. "That organization is no longer the one I knew. It's become a corruption of politics."

  Rein and Carol fell silent, feeling sympathy for Hana who had clearly faced her own serious challenges.

  "Do you have a place to stay tonight?" Rein asked, concerned. "You'll catch a cold out here."

  Hana smiled in relief. "Thanks for your concern. Yes, I do have a place, but it's far from here-closer to the next border, in fact."

  "That's too far!" Carol said in disbelief.

  Hana only giggled at Carol’s outburst. "The way you talk really reminds me of a friend of mine, you know?"

  "Really? Is that supposed to be compliment or just a joke?" Carol asked, shrugged.

  "Of course it was a compliment. That behavior is the reason why I still can act to this day. A direct motivation of mine to keep going."

  A sudden, chilling cry of Wraiths could be heard echoing from below the ground.

  "Okay, I guess we have to go now," Rein said, his tone turning serious. "Miss Hana, do you want to follow us?"

  "Follow you? Are you sure a former Nun of the Royal Church should follow a group of students?"

  "Please don't say something like that." Carol hissed, clearly embarrassed.

  "Sorry, it's a bad habit. You truly resemble her too much that I can't stop teasing you."

  Rein sighed at Carol's reaction. "You really can't stop embarrassing yourself, can you?"

  After a brief, wet run, they managed to arrive at the inn. The group hurried into the inn room where Aria and Noire were already asleep. Hana, however, widened her eyes in shock when she saw Saria, still awake and reading her novel.

  "I-is that really you, my dear, Saria...?" Hana said, trembling with a mix of relief and fear.

  Hearing that familiar voice, Saria stopped reading. Her hands trembled in terror as she slowly turned toward Hana. Tears instantly streamed down her face, a wash of sadness and happiness.

  She immediately stood up from the bed and rushed forward, hugging Hana like a child clinging to her mother. "I... I'm so glad you're okay... Miss Hana..." Saria managed to choke out, sobbing messily.

  Hana gently rubbed Saria’s back, assuring her. "I'm sorry for leaving you behind... You've endured it well, I presume."

  "Yeah..." Saria slowly pulled back from the embrace, wiping the tears from her eyes. "But I'm just glad... that I can still see you alive and well."

  "Poor girl..." Hana said, feeling guilt as she gently gave Saria a headpat.

  "You two know each other? But I thought all members of the Royal Church were terrible to Saria," Carol said, shocked.

  "Ah, no wonder you were suspicious of me. You did this for Saria's sake, didn't you?" Hana said, smiling at Carol.

  "Well, she did tell me the bad side of the Royal Church, especially Pope Zen," Carol explained, giving the full context. "Knowing you wear a nun's clothes, topped with the exact emblem, I couldn't help but see what that messed up church was up to."

  Hana, hearing her statement, immediately gave Carol a headpat as well.

  "Wha... What are you...!" Carol gasped, flushing in disbelief and embarrassment at the unexpected warmth.

  "I'm glad that Saria has good friends like you. It seems I was worried for nothing."

  Just then, the loud cries from the Wraiths became terrifyingly close. Every citizen awoke from their sleep, immediately closed their windows in fear. The tension around the cruise section rose sharply; the monster breakdown was about to begin.

  "Here they come," Hana said, her expression hardening.

  Aria and Noire also woke up from their sleep, shocked but quickly reading the room and assessing their current situation.

  "So, what are we going to do, Miss Hana?" Carol asked, desperate to help exterminate the Wraiths.

  "Okay, do you all know how to use the Vergus spell?"

  Everyone nodded, even Saria, which surprised Hana. She responded with her usual smile toward Saria.

  "Good." Hana opened the window, ready to jump. "Since Wraiths are immune to elements, a spell related to the spirit is our only reliable way to deal with them."

  "D-do you have a Vergus spell too, Miss Hana...?" Saria asked.

  "Oh, I do, Saria. But it's nothing special." She then immediately jumped out the window and landed softly on the wet ground. "Come on! We have a business to do here!"

  With a shared look, the group followed, landing safely beside her.

  The shrieking grew louder as the group rushed toward the abandoned church, only to find the path blocked by Wraiths surging up from the wet ground. With no choice left, they sought an alternate route.

  "Here we are," Hana said, peering down at the huge tunnel beneath the bridge. The tunnel served as the cruise's channel, a grim place where criminals tossed their victims other than the abandoned church. "Don't forget to use the Vergus spell as soon as we're inside. We're going to have a lot of cleanup to do here."

  The group nodded at Hana's suggestion.

  As their footsteps echoed through the tunnel, they were instantly surrounded by Wraiths. One Wraith screamed in sorrow and lunged against Hana, but she remained unwavering. In fact, she only gave a sympathetic expression.

  "May your soul find peace in heaven," she murmured, pulling out her wand. "Vergus: Astraea." Her wand morphed, transforming into the Neraca, the Scales of Judgment. It made her purification spell radiate across a massive area.

  The surrounding Wraiths vanished into thin air, giving the group a clear path forward.

  "S-seems like your power still surprises me, Miss Hana," Saria said, both surprised and relieved. "Even after you were exiled by the Royal Church many years ago."

  She only giggled. "Oh, Saria. Didn't I already tell you? I'm not that powerful compared to my prime. I just do what I can as a proper Nun to deliver justice and peace."

  "I-I see..."

  Afterward, they continued deeper into the tunnel.

  Outside the tunnel, a lone man was watching the group intensely, his focus entirely on Revir.

  "Heh, that kid. Here I thought he didn't want to return just because of his delusional dream," the man said, smoke curling from his mouth as he finished a cigarette. "Well, time to see what he's up to."

  He tossed the butt and followed the group into the darkness.