I Guard The Book That Slays Gods

Snow folded herself cross-legged on the floor while Raiden crouched at her side.

"This worked because of the room." Her eyes darted around. "Every corrupt crest bearer's weakness is absolute white."

She gestured toward the door to where the insane crest bearers were kept. "That's why we keep them here. So they die easily."

Raiden gave her a confused expression. She was talking like she was exempt. "But you have a corrupt crest too. What about that?"

She smiled. "Well, I have a master. I formed a contract with the very person you remind me of, and contracts prevent insanity. The oath doesn't allow it."

She tilted her head upward. "That's why corrupt crest bearers flock here voluntarily. They'd rather be bought as slaves than face certain death."

Raiden propped his hand on the floor behind him, tilting his head up. He felt neither happy nor sad, just glad Soul and Speed had contracted with him. But one question nagged at him—he'd leave this world eventually, so what would happen to them?

"What happens if your master dies?"

Snow smirked. "Knowing him, he's less likely to die before me." Her smirk faded, and her voice went quiet. "But if he does die, I'll have a few days before I go insane like the rest."

Raiden took a deep breath as sympathy for Soul and Speed hit him. Vengeance for his brother still came first, but he respected them. Losing them would hurt.

He sighed. "What reminds you of your master when you look at me?"

Silence stretched between them. Raiden waited for Snow to answer.

When she finally spoke, her voice echoed through the walls. "Have you heard of Dhrathopia?"

Raiden gave her a subtle look, though it was too brief for Snow to notice.

"It was said only dragons existed in Dhrathopia, but it turned out every magical creature lives there."

Raiden glanced at her. "How did you know that?"

"I didn't. My master told me, and I believed he'd been there himself."

Raiden's body shot upright. The first time he'd heard of them was through Aeris, if his memories served him right, and she'd said no one had been there. They didn't even know exactly where it was.

"How?"

Snow smirked, "Something he called the Curtain Effect, I think."

"What's that?"

"I don't think I would have the right words for it," she said, rising to her feet, "but look at it as a curtain dividing our world and theirs."

"He returned with one of the seven primordial dragons, and he has a transformation similar to yours." She smiled, eyes closed. "He used to have similar issues to yours."

Raiden lowered himself to the floor once more. This truth would have been crucial information almost a month ago, but now, everything felt like a heap of gunk.

"Prepare yourself. Your first battle is in a few hours." She walked to the entrance door and placed her hand on the handle. "There will be someone who can buy your freedom if you want to leave, but if you stay, I can help you rise in the ranks. Let me know."

Raiden watched Snow leave, then stared up at the white ceiling, his eyes darting back and forth. At first, he'd planned to buy his way out and escape, but now, climbing the ranks seemed appealing—at least he wouldn't be treated like a slave. Still, he knew that positions like captain, lieutenant, or navigator would bring their own complications.

"I don't want anything to bind me to this place," he muttered and let out a sigh. "Regardless, I need to be on the same page as Noelle before making any decisions."

He remained silent for a moment, his mind retracing everything that had happened. Before, he would have doubted Snow's kindness, but with his new ability to detect lies, he knew she'd been truthful with him. Even so, he was certain that wasn't the whole story.

He sprang to his feet and brushed the dust off his clothes. A faint smile crossed his face. He had a fight to the death ahead of him, and if he survived, he'd decide what to do next.

He made his way out of the room and opened the door to find a corridor lined with eight white doors, identical to his own hallway. The left end was blocked, and the right led to a wall.

At the exit, he collided with someone, almost knocking them down. He hurried to help, and the sleepy reaction immediately told him it was Anya. Her blue aura pulsed lazily as her shoulders drooped, her jacket sliding down further while she rubbed her eyes.

"Are you okay, Anya?" Raiden reached for her hand to help her up.

"Is that you, Raven?" she asked lazily, lifting her head slightly. Their eyes met, and Raiden smiled softly as she extended her hand toward him. He gently pulled her up.

"Captain Snow sent me to find you," she said, turning toward the barrier in the center of the wall where a crowd had formed. "You're up next."

Raiden's expression fell immediately. "But I thought I had a few more hours?"

She turned to Raiden and shrugged. Raiden's expression softened when he saw the reluctance in Anya's eyes.

He was going to fight regardless, so the sooner the better.

He took a deep breath and braced himself. "Well, I'm ready."

Anya led the way as Raiden followed, but something felt off about her. "Hey, Anya."

She stopped and turned back. "You're a blue crest bearer, a number four at that. Where's your familiar?"

Anya's expression became even more sluggish, as though mentioning her familiar pained her. She tugged at her red tie, loosening it, and brilliant white light burst from beneath her shirt. Raiden threw up his hands to block the glare.

"Light fairy," she said simply, covering the creature again.

An awkward smile crossed Raiden's face as he finally understood why she hid her fairy.

"Let's go," she said, and they started pushing through the crowd toward the barrier.

When they reached the barrier, Raiden's eyes widened. Two fighters with black and gray auras were battling, and blood from the gray-auraed combatant had splattered across the entire barrier, painting it crimson.

"Your opponent is someone called Bald," Anya said. Chills ran through Raiden's body, and he swallowed hard to push down his uneasiness.

"Navigator Jojo recommended him."

Raiden's heart skipped a beat as he scanned the crowd for Jojo, but the navigator was nowhere to be seen.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. He knew how powerful Jojo was, so if he'd recommended Bald, then Raiden was in serious trouble.