Garden Of The Abyss

Beatrice explained, "It's a once in a decade festival that occurs all across Mastorn, celebrating the heroes that founded it. Each city throws sleepless parades for the weeklong festival, and people from all around the world come to participate."

"...What's that got to do with anything, then? I don't think any of us are exactly looking to party with Mastorn," Sora interjected.

Donatien, adjusting his glasses, added in, "Can't you use what little brain matter is in your head to discern that for yourself?"

"Say what?" Sora raised one of his vermilion eyebrows at the glasses-wearing man.

"I don't believe I stuttered," Donatien held his words firmly.

Before they could continue into what would result in a perpetually growing back-and-forth of insults, Beatrice answered the vermilion-haired man's question, "...It's by far our greatest opportunity at reaching King Held."

The…king? He thought, surprised by these words.

Those words alone silenced any doubt from those in the room, all watching the sage intently now for her to continue.

"I see, that has grasped your attention, hasn't it?" She smiled a bit before continuing, "It's indeed true; the Festival of Heroes is the most vulnerable time a ruler of Mastorn can be in."

"Why's that, exactly?" Tristan questioned, sitting beside Brahmi and Natalia.

"During the time of the festival, the king visits each city, though it goes without saying he will be escorted by the King's Blades," Beatrice informed them, "However, during the "Gauntlet of Triumph", the gladiatorial event of the festival, our most opportune time to strike will come."

There weren't any questions now, only intent gazes with closely-listening ears that waited for the sage to continue.

"He will be sitting there, in the same place, for that entire day…" Beatrice explained, "A better chance will not come."

"Doesn't sound too bad," Fai said, moving his hand a bit as he shrugged, "You're making it sound dire."

"If it were this simple to deal with King Held, we would not be in this situation, I assure you," Beatice turned her cosmic gaze to the man momentarily, "None of this matters while "Gaol" is still operating within the capital."

"Gaol?" He spoke out, not recognizing the name used.

It seemed a few of them knew the name, but more didn't, however, Beatrice promptly gave an answer:

"..."Gaol" is in a way, the greatest asset belonging to Mastorn. He is a man born with an innate ability that sits on the threshold of godhood–"absolute sight". With his unique eyes, he can see each and every ongoing within the entirety of Mastorn as if omnipresent. Beyond that, he can extend this sight by lending his eyes to scouts, and even peek briefly into the threads of destinies yet to pass. If you're curious as to how the Argonauts tend to find us, it's Gaol to give credit to."

Sora scratched his head, "It's all because of him. He's a real pass in the ass, that guy."

Pushing his glasses up as he looked intently at the platinum-haired woman, Donatien spoke, "Are you saying that this will also be our chance to erase Gaol from the equation?"

"So he's like a super "security system" for all of Mastorn? Sounds troublesome…" He said.

Kazuya, having stayed silent the entire time, chuckled just a bit at that comparison.

"If Gaol is really this flawless trump card of Mastorn, then what're we supposed to do in the first place?" Fai asked.

"Yeah…won't he see our attack coming?" Iris added in, standing beside Ren.

Beatrice closed one eye with a slight smile, "That's why we'll deal with him ahead of time. This is the reason I've called you all here—it is time to prepare for our first assault on Mastorn, before the Festival of Heroes."

"Wait, the festival isn't what we're getting ready for?" Brahmi asked.

Beatrice shook her head lightly, looking directly at the snowy-haired young man.

"Ren."

"…Yeah?"

"Your ability: "Heaven-Earth Disconnect", you call it? That foresight it gives you makes you the only one among us capable of combating Gaol's absolute sight," the sage told him.

He rubbed his head a bit as now all eyes were on him, matching Beatrice's gaze, "So you're pretty much telling me it's my job to handle this guy?"

I'm not opposed to something like this. I'm actually kind of excited, honestly. I've wanted this–progress towards overturning Mastorn, he thought.

"Wait, Mother—!" Iris called out to contest this idea, but was stopped as he raised his hand, "Ren…?"

Beatrice confirmed this idea with a nod, "Of course, you won't be going into Mastorn alone, however—only a select few will be allowed to go with you. Specifically, those whose appearances aren't known to Mastorn."

Donatien interjected, "That crosses out practically all of us," the man looked begrudged to admit.

"It's no issue," Beatrice assured, "Even if it were not the case, the number of those undergoing this mission would be the same. It must be a small number, less you wish to draw the gaze of Gaol."

"And this mission…it's important to overturning the current rule of Mastorn?" He asked.

"Without removing Gaol, there will be no chance of striking down King Held," Batrice told him.

"I'm not against doing this, but, I have to know–what's the risk of dying on this mission?"

His question was the most paramount of all.

If there was one lesson he learned through the two years he took away from the forefront of it all, it was that his life wasn't just an asset to be used.

Beatrice looked at him before answering, "It goes without saying that a trip into the capital of Mastorn, targeting one of their most valued persons…is one that comes with a possibility of lethality," she continued, "However, with the allies at your side, and the strength you possess, with the knowledge I have–this can be done without any casualties, quite easily, if you execute this well."

As vague as ever, he thought.

"So…who's coming?" He asked, looking at Beatrice.

The room fell silent as the Sage took a moment to respond, leaving her pale hands on the lap of her all-black dress.

"Accompanying you will be: Iris, Kazuya, Noah, Brahmi, and Tristan."

Those who had their names called raised their glances, though it seemed they could already tell by the fact they weren't actively wanted by Mastorn.

"Kazuya? Are you sure he's ready for something like this?" Tristan asked, sitting forward as his colorless locks shifted.

The graphite-haired delinquent, with his coat still hanging on his shoulders like a cape, spoke up for himself, "I am."

Tristan looked at him for a moment as if trying to find the answer, but Kazuya's words were aided.

"I can attest to him," Fai added with a smirk, "Little bastard's gotten strong."

He frankly didn't know how to feel about the group he was assigned with, but he was at least glad to have Iris with him—or, somewhat.

"I'd like the rest of you to stay diligent and aim for peak position come the festival in three months," Beatrice said, "Those undertaking the Gaol mission, let us meet again tomorrow once I receive word from our inside helper."

With those words, the Sage dispelled the room, allowing everybody to return to their normal business, but it wasn't quite that easy with the stress and excitement of the mission to come looming over.

They stayed at the Outlander guild sector for a bit, sitting at the lounge as Sora and Fai didn't waste any time resuming their workout routine.

"Iris…You don't have to come, you know?" He muttered to her.

"I'm going," Iris adamantly told him, holding his hand as their rings met.

He let out a small sigh, "Well, I can't say I didn't expect a lack of stubbornness from you. Honestly, I wonder where you're getting it from?"

Iris pouted playfully a bit before laughing with him, "Alright, enough of that! You said Akshay was bringing the rest of the guild members today, right? We should probably head back then–it'd be bad if we showed up after them."

"Yeah, that'd definitely be a pretty crappy first impression, wouldn't it? I can't tell whether I'm excited or sad about the place not being so quiet anymore," he said, walking along with her as they strolled towards the exit of the Outlander sector.

"Again, you make it sound like we've been there for a long time," Iris laughed.

Caught again in that same thought, he sighed out comically before smiling, leaving the guild sector after waving off to Sora and Fai.

"Still, a mission like this…" Iris muttered as soon as they passed through the doors.

"I know," he nodded with a slight smile, "It's pretty scary, isn't it? I haven't been back to Mastorn since…well, yeah," his smile faded, "All this time, meeting other Argonauts, the Victorious Seven, and hearing stories…it's a pretty intimidating place."

"Yeah…"

"That doesn't change anything, though," he told her, keeping hold of her hand with a smile returning across his lips, "This is what has to happen. If we want to live out our lives in this world, Mastorn has to be stopped–King Held has to be stopped. It just so happens that the burden falls on our shoulders."