The Inner Odyssey

Alden's intuition was not omnipotent, nor were its claims guaranteed. At least, it was not as accurate as magical foresight or other esoteric divination methods went. It was simply a hunch.

Born from observing his opponents, and the strange way they acted, right after their sister's shield had cracked.

…An observation, which in his opinion, was no less powerful.

Of course, their behaviour could simply be attributed to worry. After all, no one wanted to watch their sibling be hurt, especially not if they could prevent it. And, especially not if they were facing a power as sinister as decay.

But, Alden felt there was something else, something deeper at play here… like an undercurrent of self-preservation flowing beneath the veneer of familial rescue.

'Curious.'

His good eye gleamed as he stored that detail for later.

Right now, he had to move.

Alden blinked out of existence, just in time to evade the cloaked figure, and the staff-wielder's retaliatory strike. The Guildmaster, and eldest of the three, remained where she was, her enchanting gaze following him with ease.

Alden cursed slightly, before he panted, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple.

He shifted his gaze, watching as the youngest Noble struggled to fix the crack he had inflicted on her shield. Doubtless, there were remnants of decay which still lingered on the translucent barrier, causing her all sorts of trouble.

Alden grinned.

The hair on his neck suddenly bristled.

In his mind's eye, a ghostly figure severed him cleanly from shoulder to hip. Remaining calm - or as calm as one could be when sensing their imminent death -, the white-haired young man took a diagonal half-step back, allowing the cloaked figure's wicked blade to whistle past him.

Alden had no doubt she would have adjusted at the last second to ensure it wouldn't be fatal, but he still had no plans on being hit. That would only hamper his movement and almost guarantee his defeat.

So, Alden was intent on evading, like an annoying gnat.

Still shrouded by her invisibility, he sensed his opponent prepare to move, the smallest disturbance in the air betraying her intent. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have been able to discern such a thing. However, the Keeper's Art had done more than just grant him the ghostly figure in his head.

It had elevated his senses to such a degree that it almost bordered on precognition - the phantom in his mind's eye and ability to sense minute changes in the environment being a side effect.

That said, Rank did play a part, as it always did.

He guessed he most likely wouldn't have any time to react if a Master decided to hit him. Alden was barely dodging the attacks of those one rank above him, even with Morrigan's gift. Shaking off the unnecessary thought, he focused as his lips threatened to curl into a mad smile.

Suddenly, with a flick of his wrist, abyssal fire bloomed.

One moment it wasn't there, the next it was engulfing the cloaked figure in a dark, furious wave. The outline of her form became transparent, and Alden saw her hastily scramble back. Just as the pitch-black fire was about to fully consume her, a blue barrier suddenly formed, halting its assault.

The tenebrous flames roiled and seethed, a small crack running through the barrier's translucent expanse in return. That small crack slowly widened under the intense pressure, while the magical wall shone, imbued with more mana from the staff-wielder. The cloaked figure tried to move, but with a command, the flames followed her.

Her transparent outline appeared frustrated, and Alden couldn't help the sense of smugness that welled within him at the sight. Happy that he had neutralised the threat of the cloaked figure for the time being - although it was costing him quite a lot of mana -, the Keeper's Apprentice turned his attention towards the other two Sisters.

The staff-wielder's brows were furrowed in concentration, a bead of sweat sliding down the side of her face, while the Noble Queen's gaze locked on to him.

Alden exploded into action, a burst of pressurised mana propelling him beneath his feet. At the same time, he activated [Haste], allowing him to react faster while travelling at such a fast pace.

Alden swiftly changed direction, and then again once more, moving in a Z fashion.

His surroundings blurred.

However, his Mana Sight remained honed on the masked warrior. Deftly retrieving an item from his Dimensional Bracelet, Alden hurled it at the Noble Guildmaster, keeping well clear of her position.

A second later, it erupted, the tenebrous energy inside spilling out like a mushroom as it raced for the eldest Noble's figure. However, before it dealt any damage, a clean, white, horizontal slash lacerated through it.

Alden blinked, in awe.

He hadn't even seen her draw her blade!

Struggling to hide his shock, the white-haired young man closed in on the staff-wielder.

He had to eliminate her first.

She might be the youngest, and appear the weakest or gentlest, but she was no less important. In fact, in Alden's opinion, she was the pillar that held the group together, allowing the cloaked figure and masked warrior to freely express themselves.

They knew she had their back, so they could go all out.

…Not that they were showing it right now.

Alden shuddered at the thought of facing their full power.

Gritting his teeth, he circled the staff-wielder, appearing as a whirlwind as he built up more speed, before a tenebrous blade formed in his hand. Without wasting any more time, Alden roared and struck.

He imbued the attack with most of his remaining mana, the pitch-black energy eager to devour anything which barred its path.

The dark sword bit into the staff-wielder's barrier, hissing as it met resistance. His opponent gritted her teeth and sent him an annoyed look, her mana flaring to stop the decay blade's advance.

Unfortunately, for her, even though the mana of an Expert mage was more robust and durable, not to mention more quantitative and qualitative, the power of the abyss was not something she could stop.

Alden's sword slowly cut through her barrier, while she scrambled to halt its progress. Suddenly, the magical wall shattered in a rain of sparks, and before the white-haired young man could capitalise, a wave of utter dread suffocated him like a shackle.

Shifting his attention, Alden paled.

There, with his Mana Sense, he spied something which sent absolute terror through his heart.

…The Noble Queen had finally made her move.