Eternal Elysium

'Ah, there goes my good impression.'

I winced at the sight of the blood webbing on the sword. At some point I could feel the sword tremble with excitement as it continued to drink the monster's blood.

'Does it like it that much?' For a second such thoughts filled my mind.

Hopefully it doesn't get addicted to this blood. I haven't fed the sword in four days but this reaction was stronger than what I had anticipated.

'I should avoid giving it human blood.'

If the crystal sword gets addicted to human blood, that will be the worst case possible for me.

Then, as if realizing something, I turned to look at Clonas.

His gaze remained steady and still at me but even then he remained vigilant. Surrounding him was lightning or maybe just light. I couldn't tell properly.

Finally my hand was freed from the sword's grip.

"Thank you for your… patience." I said, choosing my words carefully.

Clonas, with a dangerous glint in his eyes, stepped forward.

Then before I could react or even see the light bend forward, he swung his sword right at me.

An attack I couldn't possibly block or dodge.

I then saw it, or more like I felt it. The cold blade came closer, its sharp and ignited tip pointing at my heart, where once, the mark of stars had existed upon me, filling me with its gentle warmth.

However, that warmth has forever been lost. Now what was coming my way was already closer than one could see. The sharp tip of the blade finally landed on my chest and pierced through it before I could even blink.

"Wh—!?"

A cry escaped from my lips, but even that died down as my mind was unable to comprehend what happened and why it happened. The blade shimmering faint blue was light—and it phased through me seamlessly without a drop of blood going down. Like a bolt, the sword bent into curve moving away and pushing back to a presence I had failed to notice.

Then, hit by the attack, which came like a beam of sunlight, the monster perished before I could even see its appearance.

"Hmm, this one was stronger." At the same time the light vanished and showed the swamp again. In front was Clonas, still standing there with a calm and steady gaze; his words had been ordinary revealing his thoughts and intent.

However, I could only look at him in shock with my mouth left agape and eyes wide open. I could feel my hands tremble, my mind playing the image of the crystal blade going right through his heart.

"Now, why are you here? I have given orders that only I will push forward; the others are to defend." He said with a stern voice.

"And that sword—that's a strange artifact. Where did you even get this?" He raised his hand, pushing it forward right at the blade in my hand.

Then he paused, seeing the sword tremble and looked at me with his brows raised together.

The sword was not the only thing that trembled; my hands gripping the sword also trembled with a small speck of rage. Commander Clonas noticed this and stopped, probably taking this as the swamp's influence.

But I knew it was not the swamp's influence.

This was simply a rage coming from the fear of death.

Taking a deep breath, I looked again at Clonas's face.

'Ah, I am again feeling angry. This guy's first impression is even worse than mine.'

'Who stabs people through their chest without warning! I thought I was a goner for a second there, sigh.'

"I had come to meet you, Commander Clonas." I said, keeping my emotions in control. My will here worked perfectly for me to not lose focus and let emotions control me.

"To speak with you as well." I added after a brief pause.

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The changes in me were obvious as my demeanor shifted. Clonas also noticed this and a faint smile curled up his lips.

"And what is so important that you need to come here at this moment in time specifically? Ah, also you are...?" His eyes narrowed, noticing the star on my dress.

"Asher, Captain of the 11th Division. It's a newly formed division. Well, I am also part of Temple as well. Ah, also I am not trying to get your favor or anything. I am here for work, a very important job given to me."

I said, pressing directly on the matter of fact as his face frowned deeply. He looked rather troubled, even confused but then said with a calm voice, showing nothing but a pure look of surprise.

"Asher, hmm? Yes, I have heard of you. While I still don't understand the reason for you coming here, I can assure you that I know you are not here to get favors. Temple won't appoint someone like that as a captain. Not under the goddess's watch."

Clonas lowered his sword slowly, the faint blue light fading entirely now. His gaze drifted from the star insignia on my cloak to the crystal sword still trembling in my grip. I tightened my hold instinctively, feeling its hunger vibrate up my arm like a trapped wasp. The blade's surface still shimmered with absorbed monster blood, thin crimson threads dancing within the facets.

Sensing his gaze, I finally lifted the sword in his direction. Clonas again gave a surprised but not an unwelcome look; he looked rather pleased as his grey eyes twinkled with the interest of a child after seeing their favorite toy.

'I gave the same reaction on seeing this thing.' I gave a wry smile, understanding his feeling.

The sword hummed softly against my palm, its crystalline facets catching the swamp's sickly green light. Clonas leaned closer, his eyes looking only at the sword. "May I?" he asked, fingers hovering near the hilt.

I smiled and pulled the sword back.

"Maybe some other day."

Commander Clonas's face fell, disappointment visible through his eyes as he gave me a depressed look.

"For now, please answer some of my questions." I said, suppressing a laugh.

Clonas sighed dramatically, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "Are they really that important? We are in the middle of a war, you know," he muttered, though his eyes remained locked on the sword with undisguised fascination.

I nodded, matching his tone.

"It is important and right now is the best time to ask this... And the fight is almost over; you have killed most of the monsters. I can't see the swamp throwing more of them anymore."

Clonas pressed his lips tight, still not sure. Then spoke with a gentle voice.

"The swamp is like this only once every one or two months; the swamp throws monsters, creating them out of thin air. The only way to stop is to keep killing monsters until they stop coming."

"I see; that was, well, one of my questions that you answered. I have too many questions and also things I need to say; please bear with it a little longer."

Cloanas finally sighed and nodded with a dull expression before looking at the wall, surrounding which soldiers fought with unnatural vigor. Their war cries, while not as loud as before, still send tremors through the air.

"Ask," he muttered, looking my way.

"Is the swamp alive?"

"It is as alive as we are, if not more. My turn now, Captain Asher. Tell me, why did you come here?"

I hesitated for a split second before saying what's on my mind with a smirk.

"To create chaos… and to bring a rat out of its hiding place."

"Huh? That's not a real answer."

Clonas snorted, kicking aside a severed limb still twitching near his boot. The swamp air tasted thick with iron and decay—each breath coating my tongue. His gaze sharpened, scanning my face like a puzzle piece that didn't fit. "Chaos? Rats? Speak plainly, Captain."

Even though the words came out harsh, I could tell he was more amused than angry. In any case, he felt easier to talk with compared to Morgana and Alos. This made me a little less tense about pulling such bold and vague words.

"I will, really. But just let me get some answers first. I am not running away, am I?"

"You surely are not but your words don't look trustworthy, now do they?"

I let out a short laugh and asked my next question.

"Have you felt anything strange the last few days? Not because of the fake emotions this swamp, I think, created… but something different." I was coming closer to tell him about the plague, but still checking and verifying a little more was needed for my own satisfaction.

The temple has said to let the plague be found in a situation favorable to them. However, wasn't Clonas also part of the Temple? There was no need for me to blindly follow orders if they themselves can't give proper instruction.

Clonas, with a tired smile, looked down at the musky land.

"The swamp is not creating any mind attack; it just simply exists, and it happens. That's how it simply is… For your other question, I have no idea what you are speaking about."

'I don't think he is lying… but he is not saying the truth either.' I grumbled with a sigh.

"Last question, what is this swamp anyway?"

Clonas suddenly smirked, giving me a horrible feeling. Something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what.

"Ah, that's a rather simple question." He muttered and then, with a small pause, added. "The thing below us is a calamity."

I blinked, feeling my mind feel dizzy as I held it tightly.

"Another calamity…" I suddenly let out a dumbfounded voice.

Clonas's smile suddenly vanished as he licked his lips before asking in a dry voice.

"Um, Captain Asher. I think I heard wrong; did you just say another calamity?"

With a blank look on my face, I raised my head from my hands and tried to give the same smile to Clonas, which said a catastrophe was under me. However, I couldn't hide the dread creeping on my face.

"...A calamity is coming to kill everyone."