I Guard The Book That Slays Gods

Soon, Raiden and Snow entered the final corridor of the Chaos Armada wall. Surprisingly, this passage had a cozy atmosphere, with lamps guiding their way and walls carved to mimic a ship's interior instead of housing rooms. Silence enveloped them as their footsteps echoed through the hollow space.

"We are going to meet Captain Kimberly." Snow's words echoed through the passage. "She will most likely ask us about the vice captain's whereabouts."

She turned to Raiden, who walked with his hands tucked into his pockets and an aether cigarette resting between his lips, his eyes gently darting around as Ash rested on his shoulder.

"I'd like you to say you've met him if that happens," she added.

"Who is the vice captain anyway?" Raiden asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"My master… he's on an important mission right now."

Raiden's eyebrow arched in confusion. "Is it a personal mission? One that the captain can't know about?"

Snow gave him a gentle nod, and Raiden smirked. He hadn't known people could leave Drake's Shell for personal reasons. If that was the case, he would use it to his advantage.

His expression shifted to a rehearsed, dark look. "I won't do it."

Snow turned to him, her expression calm and gentle as she adjusted the jacket over her shoulders. "You want to strike a deal, don't you?" She sighed, her eyes darting to the floor. "What do you want?"

"You catch on fast…" Raiden said with obvious appreciation.

"I told you already, you're literally like my master." She shook her head. "Actually, thinking about it, you two are the same person in different bodies."

Raiden rested his chin on his hand. "Really? I can't wait to meet him then."

They stepped into a massive walkway that branched left and right, making their previous path seem like a narrow corridor. Pillars lined the edge before them, and beyond stretched greenery that extended about three miles into the distance. Raiden squinted in confusion as Snow turned right. How had they managed to cultivate so many plants and forests in this place?

"We'll be reaching the Captain soon. What are your demands?" Snow asked, barely glancing in Raiden's direction.

Her words snapped Raiden out of his daze as he turned to her. "Oh, about that…" He removed the aether from his lips. "Three things."

Snow turned to him. "Go on…"

"I want you to teach me how to use dark flames, teach me any tricks you've got up your sleeve to get stronger and build mana reserves, and allow me to go out on a personal mission." He wore a soft smile, holding up three fingers.

Snow paused and stared at Raiden, her dark eyes gazing directly at his soul through his golden eyes. After a brief moment, she extended her hand for a shake. "Fine."

Raiden stared for a moment, searching for any faltering in her emotions, any sign of hidden intentions, but found none. After a short while, he placed his hand in hers, sealing their agreement.

"Now, let's get to the Captain," Snow said, beginning to lead the way. Raiden followed in an instant.

Before long, they began running into several golden doors on their right, but none of them caught Raiden's attention like the figure who appeared three doors away. The figure had silver-grey hair with a white turban wrapped around his head, and his appearance spoke of elegance and confidence.

Raiden narrowed his eyes as he stared. "Is that Chrono?" He muttered.

The figure turned to him, tilted his head a little, and then wore a soft smile.

"You know him?" Snow asked. They both paused, and Raiden gave her a subtle nod.

Chrono walked toward Raiden. "So this is where you've been," he said playfully. "You need to hurry, pretty boy. Time is running."

He stopped before Snow and leaned in slightly toward her. "I already told you there are others after the pages as well." Snow leaned back, pushing him away.

Chrono brushed off his shirt. "You haven't changed at all, have you?" he asked Snow. She replied with an annoyed sneer.

"Get back before I leave you behind," he added, then began walking away as he waved at Raiden over his shoulder.

Raiden stared as he walked away, confusion and curiosity warring within him. He wondered what Chrono was doing at Drake's Shell, and more importantly, it seemed like he and Snow knew each other.

"Let me guess… the personal mission you spoke of is the twenty-eight pages," Snow said as they both watched Chrono walk away.

"Is that what your master is also after?" Raiden asked, turning to her.

"Yes and no." She turned to Raiden. "Be careful with Chrono," she said, then began walking. Raiden followed in an instant.

"Who is Chrono anyway?"

Snow tilted her head slightly upward toward the white ceiling. "He's the vice captain of the Arsenal Armada, and his team, the Apex Circle, protects their lands at Dark City."

Raiden finally began understanding the armadas' roles and what they meant by territories. The entire Kingdom of Noor belonged to Drake's Shell—they indeed sailed the desert. Perhaps Lunar City, where they'd been kidnapped, also belonged to the armada. He slapped his forehead in disbelief. Of course, it belonged to the armada; that's where they got kidnapped.

Snow's fists clenched tightly, her face twitching with irritation. "Both Dark City and Lunar City, but that bitch used his influence with Drake to get them from us."

Raiden's expression darkened with confusion. "Wait, what? Drake is a person?"

Snow turned to him with obvious disappointment. "Of course, who did you think that Drake's Shell belonged to?"

Raiden's mouth parted in concern at how oblivious he had been. It never crossed his mind, not once, that the entire place had a ruler.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I thought it was just a title."

Snow blinked at him repeatedly, her disappointment still unquenched. "So, who did you think the dark aura surrounding the desert belonged to?"

Raiden paused, his mouth opening even further as his heartbeat grew uneven. "That belonged to one person?" He gulped. "I thought it belonged to all the corrupt crest bearers in here."

Snow shook her head as she approached the first door. She knocked as Raiden walked up beside her.

"Come in," a voice announced.

Snow opened the door to reveal a woman, about twenty years old, with long grey hair that glowed with a blue aura. She had a white towel wrapped around her chest and was drying her hair. She stood between four green Victorian couches, with a desk stuffed with dozens of papers behind her.

They both walked in and closed the door behind them. The moment Captain Kimberly turned to face them, her blue eyes meeting theirs, she somehow tripped and fell to the ground, her towel flying through the air.

Raiden barely got a glimpse before Snow covered his eyes.

"Don't watch. The Captain can be very clumsy sometimes." She sighed. "All the time, to be precise."

Raiden started giggling. He didn't know why, but he found everything amusing.