Extra's Curse: Servants Of Will

However one thing that Selpe felt stood in contrast with both the theories — if the world beyond the right broad window was nothing but an illusion, then why did she feel the cold breeze when she was close to it? And if it was a world where no one could go except a perfect person, then what if she broke through the window and reached there? Of course, for that she needed brutal strength which she didn't acquire yet, being a Sanctified at the level of a Master. However it didn't mean that she couldn't or wouldn't.

The edge of her lips twitched, but no words came out. She pulled the curtains back to their original place, and as she was about to walk, her phone buzzed — someone was calling her.

She brought her mobile phone from her trouser pocket, and the phone's screen read: Sacre De Steelheart. She was one of the Sanctified too, her recently made friend and the third strongest Sanctified, bearing a rank of S with the title "The Queen of Concealment."

Selpe bit her lip, as they were assigned to a mission by the King himself in the White Mountains. However, she couldn't understand the meaning — were not the Sanctified supposed to protect the King day and night? But how come they had to do missions? Yes, of course there were 8 Sanctified now, including her, so it perhaps was not necessary that all the Sanctified would be sticking around the King. And the thing that she still had not seen or met the King himself, which she quite yearned for.

She picked up the call.

"Uhmm. Yeah, I will be there in minutes…" As she cut the call, she wanted to call Ibaan, but she convinced herself that after coming back from the mission she would be talking to him. So she threw the phone on the bed and walked to the wardrobe to wear the Sanctified uniform.

Opening it, she picked the piled clothes in her hand and put them on the bed.

…

As she looked into the mirror, she slid the black gloves onto her hands and gave a warm smile. A high-collared, fitted jacket crossed by a wide sash, held in place by silver chains and a metal dragon on her shoulder, shaped her figure. Red gem-like buttons lined the chest, and long layered tails—one black and one red—fell almost to the ground. Her pants were tight, decorated with chains and small metal pieces.

And finally, humming softly, she walked to the door, pulled on her tall lace-up boots, and stepped out of her room in the lower chamber.

Sacre had told her to come to the Chamber of Sanctified. The chamber was where all the Sanctified held their discussions.

After knocking thrice, she opened the chamber door and stepped inside, letting the gazes of the three Sanctified land on her. There were only four Sanctified assigned to the mission. Of course, the Lord of the Plague was there too. Despite being the strongest, he was still assigned to the mission, and it was quite absurd—shouldn't the Lord of the Plague, Brahmi De Forge, be stationed around the King, guarding him from every evil gaze? But things here were the opposite. He was sitting in the chamber, ready for the journey ahead.

They had to finish the mission before January of the next year, because the tournament of the School of Thought and Perseverance was coming. And just thinking about that made a cold shiver run down Selpe's spine. If the mission was expected to take almost three months, then it would surely be harsh and dangerous. And that was the least amount of time it might need.

But what truly shook her heart was Autumn of the Mist's warning about the coming war between the unknown beings and the Dead Eye of the Fallens—one side standing against humanity, the other fighting for them.

The unknown beings sought to destroy humans. Yet the Dead Eye of the Fallens, who was also an unknown being, stood on humanity's side.

How ironic it would be for humans: to face death from a race they never understood, but still be protected by one of those same beings. And he wasn't alone either. She remembered Autumn of the Mist's final clear words—she would support "Dead Eye of the Fallen." As if the two shared a mutual purpose. A feeling similar to what Selpe felt toward Ibaan, a strange sense of familiarity she couldn't explain.

The cat that had been resting on the red-haired woman's shoulder climbed down and hopped onto Selpe's and Nima's shoulders one after another. Sacre had taken Nima with her until Selpe returned after changing.

Sacre smiled. "Oh, here you are. We were waiting for you."

Selpe gave a small smile back. "Oh, thanks—"

But Brahmi De Forge cut her off before she could finish. He placed his hands on his thighs and stood up with a tired sigh. "Alright, then. We shall proceed."

"…"

Sacre looked at everyone's faces. All of them were blank, without any reaction. Of course they knew who the Lord of Plague was, so none of them dared to object. They understood their place, and they understood the Lord's.

Selpe understood it too, but she still disliked it. She had her pride. She knew her rank and she knew his, yet she bit her lip and forced herself to stay calm.

'Last time, Selpe. First and last.'

Next to Sacre sat another S-ranked Sanctified in the same uniform—Zaino De Shepard. He had short black hair and a small beard.

Beside him was Shaan De Weather, also an S-ranked Sanctified. All Sanctified were usually S-rank, but as reality goes, there is always one exception. And that exception was Selpe. Among all of them, she was the only A-rank Sanctified, which made her the rarest of the group. Being a Sanctified at A-rank was one of the greatest things a person could achieve, and she had earned it.

She was proud of herself, and she had every right to be. It was her life, her thoughts, her feelings. She was the daughter of one of the finest men in the world, and she would never forget her father's lessons.

Pushing her wandering thoughts away, she followed the others out of the chamber. They were all heading toward the exit of the great tower.

Sacre walked beside her, telling Selpe that she would explain the mission details on the way. But Selpe already knew where the White Mountains were.

They were in the south, near the last village of the State of Heaven, right at the border that split the two nations—the State of Heaven and the State of Rage. These two had just come out of a harsh war. The State of Heaven had won through smart tactics without using any special weapons. But the world stayed tense. Wars never stop forever. Everyone knew another one could break out soon, bringing trouble again to the people on both sides.

The White Mountains lived up to their name. They were covered in snow, like a white cloth draped over every peak. They stretched along the whole border, though there were a few gaps where people from both nations could see each other from far away.

"So, I'll tell you about the mission," Sacre said softly, leaning close to Selpe's ear. "In the White Mountains, we need to deal with a few people… and one thing. And that 'thing' is probably something you wouldn't expect."

***

Ibaan sighed as he closed the system and finally decided to head for the tower, ready to face the lord of these beast-monster creatures and rise higher in his mark.

But he had also realized that till now he hadn't faced a single creature like the one he saw the very first moment he entered the world beyond the walls—the one that vanished into the fabric of reality without leaving a trace.

Summoning the Utopian Duke, Ibaan jumped down from the branch to the ground.

He then started walking toward the tower that stretched into the sky far away from him. It was still almost half a kilometre away, and honestly, he was a bit tired of all this. Facing those filthy creatures again and using Menace Fist again—anyone would get tired. Be honest with yourself: if you were in Ibaan's place, you would have probably given up long ago.

But Ibaan… Ibaan had no choice. He was a servant to his own will. He could not give up, not with his teacher's lessons carved into him. How could he give up when he was a disciple of a nemesis of angels, the Bloodlist? He would persist—he had to. There was no other path for him.

He did not have to lose to his tiredness or himself. Even though he had already lost to his own will, becoming its servant, he would rise too. Yes, he would.

And at the same time the Demonic Crimson eye, in the west finally sank down…