Treatise Of A Failed Knight

"Such tragedy…" Ciel mumbles as the two of us walk side by side, heading towards the entrance/exit of the Vey'lithar Sanctuary.

"To think that's how you became a Leviathan… It's so horrid."

I smile, shrugging casually at her words.

"It's alright. I've long come to terms with it. How about you?"

Ciel pauses for a moment, but eventually speaks. "We have a special rite where the old Leviathan undergoes Apotheosis in front of the chosen maiden. This causes the latter to become a witness, and the old Leviathan likely dies or runs mad from the deviation."

"You have never had a single success?"

"We have… on rare occasions." Ciel smiles at me. "During that period, we would have two Leviathans. But the first would already be old before undergoing Apotheosis, and since becoming a Disciple does not grant additional lifespan, death comes not too long after."

"I see…"

So this is the culture of these people.

Passing on the torch from one Vey'lithar to the next.

"As a Leviathan, I am burdened with the responsibility of my people. I constantly monitor this Sanctuary with Clairvoyance, and every day, I use Prophecy to peer into the future for the sake of my people. I also constantly solve mysterious cases using Vision."

"Isn't it exhausting? Being the only Leviathan here?"

"It is. But having more than one will require more Special Resources to curb Deficiency and maintain existence, which will adversely affect the ecosystem in the Sanctuary. The Special Resources are largely consumed by our Magivores, and taking more for Potions will surely be to their detriment. Because of this, one Leviathan is the limit."

"I understand…" A small nod comes from me. "You're really virtuous… working so hard for your people. But have you ever thought about what it is that you would want to do besides this?"

Ciel laughs, shrugging at my question.

"This is what I want to do. My desire is for my people to be safe and free from all worries."

"I… see…"

Selfless people like this exist.

Their purpose for living is tied to the well-being of others.

I am not one of such people.

My selfishness prevents me from living for others, especially after how I spent my previous life.

"It isn't all bad, though. Other than the special powers of a Seeker, being a Leviathan has its perks." Ciel tries to lighten up the mood, once again flashing her charming smile.

"Yeah. Like Aego Sight, right?"

"You mean Existential Resonance? Yeah… there's that."

"Oh?" I laugh, itching my head awkwardly. "So that's what it's called?"

"But apart from that, there's lifespan. All Leviathans have a total lifespan of a hundred years, no matter the race. Which means I actually possess twice as much lifespan as my fellow Vey'lithars."

"T-that… I didn't know that."

"I imagine there's much you don't know, but now isn't the time to discuss. You should return to your people. I wouldn't want to delay you."

I nod, maintaining a sincere smile directed at her. "Thanks, once again… for everything. You constantly used your Clairvoyance to ensure my people on the outside were safe, and you also showed me so many amazing things during this period."

"The sex was also great." She laughs aloud.

"True."

We talk a little more, both casually and affectionately, until we reach the boundary.

Then, Ciel hugs me.

"Take care of yourself, Javier."

"You too."

I remain in her embrace for a while, even tempted to nibble on her hair. But I overcame the desire and pulled away after some time.

"Farewell."

"Yes."

After nodding and flashing her one final smile, I walk out of the barrier and return to the outside world. My body feels light, and my heart is constantly merry.

I have just experienced a most wonderful thing these past three nights, and vigor fills me to its entirety. Throughout this period, while I haven't been able to reach out to the Academy Staff, they constantly checked up on me and updated me on the activities.

Everything seems to be going well.

'Now that I'm out of the Sanctuary, I should be able to reach out to them without difficulty. I already know everyone's location thanks to Ciel's Prophecy, so I should have no problem rendezvousing with them.' With that thought on my mind, I whistle loudly and casually begin my journey down the mountain.

Completely unaware of the horrors about to unfold.

**************

"I have an urgent announcement to make to everyone."

Ciel stands before over two hundred thousand Vey'lithars, her voice solemn and her tone firm.

The warmth she used to have on her face is no more, instead replaced by a cold and calculating demeanor—one that only has a sliver of kindness hidden inside.

The Vey'lithars watch her expectantly.

Their innocent eyes are filled with trust, and their expressions show deep admiration towards her.

This innocence… it is what she swore to protect.

No matter what!

"Due to the incredible danger that Javier and the Nowe'arns on this mountain pose, I have decided to eliminate all of them while framing it as a Magivore Beast Tide."

Gasps fill the air.

Most of these people already know who Javier is, and many have even gotten acquainted with him these past few days. He had become a topic of discussion among many circles, even gaining the status of a mini celebrity in their eyes.

No Vey'lithar present had seen a Nowe'arn in person before Javier showed up.

He was fascinating.

He was also friendly, kind, understanding, and many other positive things. He certainly didn't strike them as an enemy.

In fact, many of the Vey'lithars who intercepted him when he first arrived had even gone to apologize to him after seeing him in a new light. They certainly didn't think that Ciel had already intended to eliminate him.

More than that, they didn't know there were other Nowe'arns lurking nearby.

"Allow me to explain."

Ciel sighs deeply, her body remaining still.

"Javier Aditi is a Professor, and the Academy he works at organized an excursion to this place. Over a thousand students, a dozen professors like him, and a hundred guards currently roam this mountain. Now, Javier has no ill intentions toward us, but I can't help but find all of this to be an odd coincidence."

"You mean they could be using this Excursion as a smokescreen to actually look for our Sanctuary?" One of the Vey'lithars comments, and Ciel nods.

"Even if that is the case, we can't take any chances. Even with Javier. He is a Nowe'arn and a Leviathan, two things that cannot be trusted in this world, especially by us. Even if he has no problem with us now, he has seen our wealth and the abundance that flows in this Sanctuary. I can't be assured that he won't seek to plunder this place if it brings him benefits."

"J-Javier would do that?!" Another shrieks in disbelief.

Ciel sighs aloud.

"Outsiders do not think as we do. To them, Magivores are no different from disposable resources. During our discussions, I was able to glean certain recipes he uses in his Potions, and many of them require the parts of Magivores as ingredients. He certainly does not adhere to our ways, which means if push comes to shove… he might turn against us. If the Randalorion Kingdom is already under his control, it won't be hard to storm this place and take everything for himself, using them to further his agenda. I do not think of him as evil, at least not right now, but we cannot trust him… we cannot trust anyone outside."

"I… I see…"

"Ciel is right. Ciel is always right about these things."

"S-so what should we do?"

Ciel quickly raises a hand, quickly stopping the murmurs and panic that had rapidly begun to spread among her audience.

"I have already begun to make preparations. From the moment I knew Javier Aditi would come here, I started to set things in place. For one, his communication device. I told him he would only be able to listen to messages from the outside world but couldn't communicate; however, this was a lie. He could not communicate with them at all, but I made him think he could, so I could feed him whatever information I thought was convenient. For the past few days, I have slowly been misdirecting him, and now he is likely heading in the opposite direction from where his people are currently trapped. Of course, now that he is out of the Sanctuary, it's only a matter of time before he realizes the truth and that I tricked him, but that's also within my expectations."

Ciel has planned everything perfectly.

She intentionally made herself seem cooperative, gaining all kinds of details from Javier about the others who came with him on this Excursion. These served as clues for Clairvoyance, allowing her to monitor them in real time and coordinate her efforts perfectly.

Everything helped her to set up a perfect trap that would end up serving as their execution.

"But what about Javier? Isn't he a Leviathan? He could ruin everything."

Ciel, however, shakes her head.

"He belongs to the Leaper Pathway, and that Pathway only has two main Conceptions available to the Leviathan—Tracing and Jumping." She begins to explain. "Tracing allows the Leviathan to instantly travel to a location that they have been in, and Jumping allows the Leviathan to travel to the past. With a higher Rank and sufficient interference power, a Leaper could also travel to the future, and they could even use Tracing to transport themselves to a location that they will be in, but Javier has not reached such a stage. His existential definition is even less than mine, which means he hasn't reached the peak of Rank 1, and even then, he wouldn't be able to use these powers optimally unless he was at least Rank 2."

Everyone is stunned in silence.

But Ciel isn't finished.

"Even if he uses his Conceptions, he has been here for three days. The Conception limit for Rank 1 is the Day Layer, which means he cannot travel to any place he has been in beyond a day. Even if he were to travel to the past, he would still be in the Sanctuary, and I would be able to tell since the past me can still see the future with Prophecy. Any attempt he makes to ruin my plan would have already been foreseen by me."

"S-so, you can see the future… and you're sure everything works out?"

Ciel sighs and shakes her head.

"I have exhausted myself these past few days with the constant use of my Conceptions, especially since I had to constantly monitor his allies outside. It has become draining, and I can barely even see a few minutes into the past or future. It will take me some time to recover my Interference Power, but I am certain that all my preparations should be sufficient to trap him."

"Ciel is right!"

"You made the right choice, Ciel."

"Better safe than sorry!"

"As much as I like Javier, for the sake of our future… we have to eliminate all threats."

"It is all for the Sanctuary!"

As all of them nod in agreement, Ciel's smile broadens.

However, it is a bitter one.

'I truly am sorry, Javier. I didn't mean to scheme against you like this, but I am sure you would never understand things from our point of view. After those countless years of subjugation and the humiliation our ancestors suffered… we were finally able to find a haven. I cannot risk that haven being exposed or destroyed by outsiders.'

Whether it is the Randalorion Kingdom secretly searching for the Vey'lithar Sanctuary while using this Excursion as an excuse, or Javier's future betrayal, or none of the above.

As long as the possibility exists, they must be rooted out!

"Javier may return here through Tracing as a way to stop my plan or attack us, so I would like you all to evacuate this place… at least in the meantime. Once the threat that is Javier is completely settled, we will return and live our lives in harmony once more."

They all nod and cheer.

No one has any doubt about Ciel's plans, considering her Seeker status.

Scheming against the world.

Watching the past and future from the present.

Seeing all that exists with perfect cognition, and not losing in the battle of wits.

That is who a Seeker is.

That is Ciel.

'No matter how hard you struggle, you can't win, Javier. Of the five Pathways that have been recorded in our history, you clearly belong to the Leaper Category. Unlike me, you aren't at the peak of Rank 1. You can travel at most twelve to twenty hours into the past, and maybe an hour into the future. Even if you use Tracing, you will only be able to return to this Sanctuary and not your people. Only Rank 2 and above Leviathans can use Tracing to go to where they will eventually be, so you will never be able to reach your allies in time. I imagine they will all be dead before you reach them, and so much time would have passed that you won't be able to use Tracing to return to the Sanctuary, nor will you be able to travel to the past and stop me. You will likely try to have your revenge after seeing the carnage, and I understand. But… you won't be able to win against our protectors. I still have my Trump Card as well. This is Checkmate.'

Honestly, Ciel has analyzed everything perfectly.

As a Seeker, she not only sees what happens in the future, but also the past. Of course, the further into the future it is, the harder it will be for her to clearly perceive. At Rank 1, she is also only able to see the futures and pasts related to her.

Only through Clairvoyance can she possibly observe others, and even then, it would be immensely difficult to achieve.

Thankfully, Javier offered her as many clues as she wanted, not knowing it was to his detriment.

'Once everyone evacuates, I will wait here… for you.'

Ciel's eyes flash with cruel light.

'Will you make it back here, or will you die in the struggle you are about to experience?'

Even now, she doesn't know.

But she is certain that everything will go according to plan.

Unfortunately for Ciel, although her planning was perfect, she had missed one crucial detail.

Javier is not a Leaper.

Rather, he belongs to the sixth, most obscure Pathway.

He is a Harbinger.