x
Peace and tranquility, the flowers bloom on a large lawn in the garden. This is the garden of the Empyrean where is not disturbed by the world. At least, under the guardianship of several generations, this zone has become the ideal land of tranquility in the world.
The historical throne is still standing on it. Although it is full of cracks and moss, it is still safely located here as a symbol of faith. The Empyrean here is taking a nap, reconnecting and detecting the world with the flow of the earthpulse. This is rather time-consuming and delicate work, so for the past few months, the re-awaken empyrean has been unable to do other things.
Then the thunder in far away has shocked everything surrounding it, including the sleeping dragon in his courtyard. The silver dragon awoke from his temporary sleep and raised his neck, gazed at the distant view from his place, there is a place burning--Tewks village.
“That must be bad for the people there.” Maotelus then prays and blesses for the people there to last their lives a little bit longer in the fire, but he does no more since he is an Empyrean, he can’t interfere too much.
Later, rain washes away the remaining fire and blood in the burnt village, it must be the tears of the Empyrean.
In the Artorius’s Throne, awaken Maotelus is sitting there worrying about many things.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafvtOWDhDm
Everything is fine on earth, apparently, but he can’t sense the two who have his blessing in recent. Even by the fact that Velvet is in the spot where quite near to Maotelus as she is now in the burning Tewks village, he can’t sense her presence. Something powerful enough to block Maotelus’s sensibility.
Should he leave the Throne to find them? There is something more he cared about.
At first, he thought his friends just leave for a while, now he realized it is not like this.
It is already 2 months after Sorey, Velvet and he awakens, but someone who should awaken with Velvet is missing, and she is carrying a piece of an ancient artifact.
He thought she is angry with the mission he just gave to her, so she doesn't show up, but it is strange that he finds no trace of her.
What’s more, he detected a hole in the earthpulse, a new hole, and he has no idea who caused it.
“Hey, Laphicet~ Here I come to visit you~” When the Empyrean is still pondering, someone called him. This place is rare to have a visitor as he knew after awakening from the slumbering.
Laphicet, the seraph name which only his old friends and Sorey will know. The calling of the old name reminds Maotelus the old memory with Velvet and her companion, and it indicates an old friend come.
He crooked his neck to look down, a seraph visit him with an old friend of him, and he just recognized the seraph is Magilou.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfm2ZdSM0q
Both Magilou and Bienfu come here to visit their great old friend Laphicet.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNJyR7of2I
Mayvin is not here since Magilou told him to rest in the hostel, while she has her way to get the Armatus formula.
“Hi, Magilou, Bienfu.” Maotelus smiled as he sees his old friend there.
“Have you been well since awaken?”
“Yes.”
“Very well, Because of many things, I can't come to visit you immediately just after you awake," Magilou said.
"It is fine."
"I heard you have seen Velvet already," Bienfu said.
"Right. We talked about many things." Maotelus smiled.
"I bet it must be an affectionate confession of love." Magilou teased.
"Hmm. Not really."
"Oh, come on, how many years have you waited? How could you not confess your love?" Magilou urged Maotelus to confess like some annoying aunt.
"I have told my true name to her finally." Sometimes a word is more than anything, the true name is equal to the confession of trust or says - love.
"But the whole world knows your true name, boy." Magilou taunted.
"......I just want her to live and see the world I protected first before I confess again." Maotelus noticed Velvet's mental state is not right by the time she came with Sorey, so he told her to live at that time.
It indeed works on Velvet, making Velvet tried to live longer, as the word from an important person to her, as the chain hooking her onto the new world.
Maybe it is selfish to hold someone doesn't want to live, it is selfish for an Empyrean to do it. However, Maotelus never denies he is selfish.
"Again?" Bienfu doubted.
"Oh, you mean the confession in our final battle to Artorius." Magilou laughed, she thinks the boy got family-zoned at that time despite Velvet answered 'I love you too'.
"Well, what's the problem!" Maotelus complained.
"Nothing b haha…..let get into the right topic. I am here to ask for things about your request 700 years ago. I suppose it is completed, right?” ‘Magilou’ asked, entering the topic she comes here for.
“............Yes, but……….”
“But?”
“The piece of the ancient artifact is missing with one of the guardians missing too.” Maotelus honestly told Seraph Magilou the situation.
“Oops. But there is still a guardian left there.”
“Yeah, that one is a normin, he can hide well. He is the reason why the seal is still working.”
“Now, we just need to bring the pieces together once more to attain power.”
“Hmm…...well….I have no idea what are you two talking about???” Bienfu asked at last when he can’t find a position in the conversation.
“Oh, Sorry Bienfu. We are talking things planned 700 years ago and you were not there.” Maotelus explained kindly.
“And what is it?”
“The handling of Armatus of Void Element. Once used by our strong enemy.” Magilou stated.
“.....Artorius.” Bienfu surprised and he noticed that there indeed no trial of Void in the world when the technique is existing.
“Yeah, things developed slowly in the time I am sleeping, but now the technique is renewed with my power in it to strengthen purification,” Maotelus said.
“But none of it will work without the ancient artifact……….geez…..I expect I can just get the formula of armatus there.” Magilou sighed.
“Actually, I have separated the armatus formula from the armatus and let the normin guardian protect it.”
“Oh? Then the ancient artifact is not important, is it?”
“No, it is a precious ancient emblem of hope, too sacred to be ignored or replaced, just like the guardian carrying it,” Maotelus added.
“It is really some accidents happened, but I think she will be fine in last since she was a Shepherd who walked through lots of mess.”
“Yes, I have my trust in her too. Why would you need the Armatus formula by the way?”
“A long story, but I have plenty of time for a friend. Now! Finally some showtime for the great master mage who traveled the whole world and laughed at the dragon! Where should I start to tell for a naughty boy sleeping so long? But he can cast a spell to make everything doesn’t matter! Answer! The spell makes pointless concern go away! The symbol of the membership of Magilou Menagerie!”
“Magikazam!” Maotelus laughed.
Then Magilou just tells all the situations in the world when he was in slumber and describes the recent mysterious movement causing the seraphim disappearing, she also described the world development with the guild she is related while explaining the reason of needing the Armatus formula. Of course, she won’t forget to mention the day she was tracing after Sorey and Velvet until the Scarlet Night. She is more and less, still a storyteller. She will tell the story, and it is the cast on the stage who decide what to do next, even to an Empyrean. Maotelus gladly hears the stories and also expresses his concerns to Magilou.
“I see. Thank you. Magilou.” listening to all stories from Magilou, Maotelus is determined to take action.
“By the way, my seraph name is Ophelia.”
“You don’t mention it this late, do you?”
“Magikazam!”
“Very well, I will try to find the Velvet and Sorey, also the missing guardian again with a scan to the earth covered in my domain,” Maotelus stated his plan to search the missing people.
“What if you can’t find them?”
“Then, I will go find them.”
“This may break the oath.”
“I don’t care.”
“Wow, you are just like someone.”
After all, the kid decided to become an Empyrean out of his great will of selfishness, he can just decide to abandon the position out of the same thing. Knowing the plan of Maotelus, Magilou smiled and say nothing. She will respect his decision and continue s her mission to attain the Armatus formula from the secret site of Maotelus. Oh, yeah, she just received another request from Maotelus as to investigate the new hole in the earthpulse.
Hell that the Empyrean like to order his old friend for things. A headstrong Empyrean indeed.
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??? POV
Unknown the flow of time since then, is it one week? One month? One year? Or one hundred years? No dialogue, no food, at most only vultures flying from time to time. Countless times the day and night exchanging, the wind and rain crushing the land with strength, time became meaningless to me. I was still tied to the cross when I woke up.
It’s a miracle, I am still alive, but the surrounding turned into a wasteland, and there are sporadic fires igniting. Probably a fire broke out.
What happened in the middle of my coma, I have no way of knowing. The last thing I remember was that the burning sky was burned out then the night sky stained with bloody color fall.
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Ah ha, Scarlet Night, so the village head has calculated the time to do the sacrifice. In tales, this night14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EgU4p9YKv
is when the mana is overfilling, many ceremonies are carried out this night, like the living sacrifices tonight are also to calm down the disaster that occurred in the village.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1JcEh70G9
However, for the existence of a kind have long regarded as evil, I will not believe. It must be a folk superstitious ritual, and there is no practical effect other than adding resentment. Yet, the sacrifice is my mother and me.
I don’t want to die! It is not my fault!
Why should my family be treated like this, why do they treat me like this?! It’s just because I failed once. It’s just because of my outlook. All this is clearly the fault of the village chief. It’s too unreasonable!
The fire under the cross is still burning, and there is a burning scent on the side----mother!!14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrPNVpJw2Q
When I looked to mother, I found her expression very peaceful and prayed like a devout believer.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK16s2SLTV2
Is she still believed that the father who does not exist will come to save you?! I can’t believe it!!
I couldn't help but look at my mother turned ashes gradually, but I still haven't died.
“What?! He is still alive!”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0KMcd46Do
“So indeed he is an evil being! Add oil and woods!”
Damn, why don't you all die? I have always been so hard to help you all!! Everything is given to you, how can I let my life be also taken?
I can't die like this!
I was tied to the cross on the torture platform, and I looked at the high-hanging red moon, thinking strongly about not wanting to die and with resentment against everyone.
Suddenly a thunder came, and together with me, it swallowed up and burnt down the things of the ten miles.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ046VpaNFqy
--------------------------------14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlCmvTDoO4
My obsession came true. It is not the wrath of God, but the thunder that is born of my anger. I have this feeling.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTpkYWHpb0
Then I smelled the burnt smell, not from the other, but the burnt scent of myself.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysSYVlYLk1
I am still burning, the anger in my heart is still burning, even if the whole village and my mother died, I became the only survivor in the village, and still burning, I hate like I am not myself anymore. All of this is because of this corrupt world. I feel resentful of this corrupt and ignorant system and thought in the world, so I want to destroy it.
But I was still locked on the cross, because only my cross is made of iron, and it is engraved with some pattern like a curse.
This time came a footstep. Who came to this barren wasteland?
"Ah, the smell of the good fragrance, is anyone grilling meat?" A man in a big robe and a big hood came in the distance. It was dressed like a sage, but his first sentence has made me hate him.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7xaApdh5W
"Oh, what a pity, it’s a person."14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAHkXzAKRw
I widened my eyes and wanted to express my dissatisfaction. If I was not tied, I think I just hit him right away.
"Hey, you can see me... No, you are not an ordinary person... This hair with a gradual change in color is not a hair color that humans have.............Oh, red eyes, red hair with a hint of black, you are really like me... eyes and face are very beautiful, just like that person." This mysterious man praised himself indirectly while commenting on my appearance. Then he started taking off his hat and revealing his appearance -- it makes me not want to admit it, but his appearance is just like me.
"Could it be that you are my son?" He said he laughed himself, impossible.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl2RFkjTWE
“Do you know____?”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSRZZsspdw
I heard the mother's name from his mouth. I desperately wanted to make a sound, but only a hoarse voice. After all, I have not used the vocal cord for a long time, I can't speak smoothly.
“Looks like it is that. Anyway, come to ‘Heaven’ with me, then we can start to communicate.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQonNowUfEy
Then I was brought to a new place.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhRrn4yOu7
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Sorey Pov
Dim and mystery present in the ruins, which enhance me to discover for more unknown, but the dim and unknown here cannot ignite my spirit of discovery. I hardly like this place, here, where cold and darkness maybe somehow sensed in the air. I started to get used to prison life, nothing change.
Also, the insufficient light in the cell just cause me easily fall into sleep, sometime, I may see Tartarus’s memory like just now.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQRrwuAIzM
Just from the piece of memory, I realize his hatred a little bit, still, I will not agree with him.
Likely that the last person he just met at the end of this memory piece is a seraph as he hinted that normal people can’t see him. However, Tartarus is likely a seraph too, the difference is that he can be perceived by normal people. How could it be possible?
When I assume Tartarus is a seraph, he is likely the worst one I have met with such a mindset.
I found the cruelty of Tartarus from several times of conversation, he despised human being. However, the strange thing is that he didn’t do anything to me harmfully. Every day, the foods that not as bad as the prison meal are supplied. Sometimes, I will be brought on a bed with unknown techniques, then some mechanical arm starts to work, something is taken from me, but it is harmless, like blood and hair.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBOApBAMgY
I have no idea of his intention.
Today, he talks to me again, I will always have the chance to talk to him, maybe his despise to human lead him the behavior to tease. Even though, I want to convince him to change his mind. After all, that is the only thing I am able to do now.
“Where is Edna?” Before anything to go discussion, I wanted to see whether Edna is safe, she is involved because of me. Getting caught by the person behind the whole thing, I doubt the safety of Edna, I asked despite being afraid of bad news.
“The foolish seraph with you?”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH2CgAMWV1
“.....Edna is not foolish!.” I lowered my temper while hearing his insult to Edna but still I shouted my opinion.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmMF05B1Id
“You are as cheerful as ever. She is safe, trapped, like you.” He snickered. I feel like I should not trust him, but I have no choice now.
“You didn't ask about you another friend. Should I even call you two friends?” Tartarus teased. It is pretty strange to me, does he mean there is my other friend in his hand.
“ She is trying so hard, so hard that I am going to laugh. Human is indeed foolish creature, conscious or unconscious, they will repeat the history.”
“....Tartarus. I still believe in the world that human may live with seraphim harmoniously.” I have a bad feeling from his words, I don't ask about it but just respond to his view on human. Unknowing the times I said this, I insisted on my belief. Especially when the situation in the world is allowing my dream to happen.
“Pupp. You may continue the dream, but it is impossible with malevolence existing in the world.”Tartarus smirked.
“No, they are moving towards the dream, there are shops collaborating with seraphim, the belief is also boosted and distributed widely. To communicate with the seraphim is not a dream anymore.”
“So what? Malevolence still exists in the world. So long as human remains selfish, malevolence never disappears. The overflow of malevolence will turn seraphim into dragons.”
“Which is why some seraphim cast their blessing domain to towns and cities, to lower the malevolence level, and the Shepherd also purifies the malevolence.
“There will not be an end, and there is plenty of time that the malevolence overflood in the world.”
“Stills, for a certain period, human lived with seraphim harmoniously.”
“....You are annoying, I should keep it straight. I hate you dirty human and the seraphim who have trusted with humans. Unsightly as garbage, I will hope to never see the dream come true. Thus I cursed them to fallen in the darkness and have the self-destruction.” he said with the wood cracking sound appeared the same time. There is nowhere a flame burning woods, I wonder where is it come from.
“Why are you hating human and seraphim so much?”
“Reason? Why do I need a reason for cleaning?” Still, he doesn’t answer my question directly.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TzRE45IDU
“........Is it because they burn you and your mum as sacrifices?”
“.....So you have seen my memory.” Somehow, I felt his anger within the sentence. Every time I try to relate the conversation with the memory I saw, he will be irritated. It is something he doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Yes, it just happened every time I sleep.”
“I bet this is the thing cause it.” He grabbed away the memory fragment from my pocket and crushed it by his fingers. Looks like he is unhappy for others peeking inside his memory that much.
“You human is the failure. With the ugly nature of competition and selfish, it will be soon to the world an end. I should doom you human species before any of the human events bring the end of the world. You human should not exist!” He continued with his ‘reason’ of hatred, while I can hear human cries appeared weakly. I doubt that he like saying words with his own sound effect, this is unnecessary.
However, I noticed that the slightly laughed while hearing the human crying. That’s a thing to ensure that we are too different in everything and we won’t be able to fully understand each other. Since I never find hearing human crying is an enjoyable experience.
“Not every human like this, there is one who loves peace. I believe human will learn to correct their mistakes.” Although I believe I won’t be able to change his thought this easily, communication is the only thing I am able to do now.
“When they noticed the problem, it is too late. The kind people will be destroyed by the plans of evils and the evil remain, then there is no point to keep the species.” He stated his extreme mindset while having the “sound effect” of cries and some blurred voice of a female, it is a voice in a ‘shorter distance’, unlike the human cries from far away.
“I believe all men born good.”
“That’s your wishful thinking. Human is toxic to the world, they are sinful, they release malevolence all the time.” I heard the background noise of wood cracking and sound of collapse slowly faded away.
“.......and why would you hate seraphim as well? You seem to be a seraph too.”He is the kind of person that not allowing anyone to argue against him, an unreasonable person. What should I do to avoid confront then? I think Edna may be a wise advisor to me in the situation, now I just throw another question.
“ Oh? Pretty smart by human standard, but don't confuse those idiotic seraphim with me! They are now just as same as human, the toxin of the world that obstruct me.”
“Even if you are actually the same species to them….”
“Why would that be strange? Hatred grows among human too, causing the repeating war.”
“Then you are as same as a human.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm6iL958j3
“What the hell are you talking about?! One more chance for you to say it again now.”
“You hate like a human, carry emotion and also the destructing urge.”
“I see you want a death then I will give you.” He is anger at my opinion and postured like ready to attack me.
“....What’s the next spot.” his action is stopped by a familiar voice.
“Ah, almost forget, that’s lucky for you, Ex-Shepherd.” He left and I relaxed.
Seems that I couldn't change his mind by saying no matter how persuasive, he has a firm hatred towards human and seraphim, and he truly wants to bring doom to human and seraphim. I must stop him, even if the only way to stop him is….killing.
He went a bit far to have the talk but his voice still reaches my ears.
“..As you like, keep destroying towns and cities until nothing left.” Tartarus answered the voice.
“Won’t you worry I do something else outside?” the female responded. Her voice sounds calm but decadent, like the sound of Velvet.
“I knew what you have done, I heard it through the collar, but that is useless. No matter what you have done, doom will come.” He snickered.
“......How may I know Sorey and Edna are safe?” she mentioned my name, I wonder if she is related to me, I wonder if it is Velvet there.
“Velvet? Are you there?” I hoped to transmit my voice to reach the female wherever she is.
“.....Sorey?” Though it is a weak voice to Velvet, she still catches Sorey’s voice.
“You hear? He is here, so cheerful. Don’t worry, I will keep them SAFE as I promised.” He teased.
“...Tch........You better do that.” the female said with frustration, but somehow relaxed.
“Keep up with your partner, if necessary, you may as well turn her into a dragon, my Hound.” Then the communication message cut, and all background noise disappeared. The background noise must be the notice at Velvet’s side, I guess I become a chip to Tartarus, but I still don’t realize his plan.
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Velvet pov(time just after Sorey pov)
The man cut out the communication, great that I at least hear that Sorey is safe now.
The doom of Tewks is followed by his teasing at the weak and foolish nature of human. He promised to keep Sorey and Edna safe, but that is never a promise to me. He only promised not to harm their life doesn't mean he won't do a thing to them. Enemy’s word is never trustworthy. If anything I want, I want to devour him, but I am only human, and I doubt that I can do a thing when every single of my actions is recorded. I am frustrated that I didn’t know my action are recorded and sent to him and I don’t like to hear if there are more functions carrying on the metal collar.
I wonder how long will I have to be called by “hound”, the thought turned ridiculous when I am restricted by the metal collar like a dog.
Soon as I tried to relax, I tensed up my muscles again as I feel sight from my back. I quickly turn my head, shout “Who is there?”
However, no one responds to me. I think I may sense wrongly from the tiredness.
“...Why did you save people?” I quickly turn my head again as I sensed my shoulder caught by someone, then I find it is the female seraph.
“.....Why would you care?”
“......I don’t know….Seeing that your body is smoked and full of wounds, I just feel worried.” The seraph sounded like a little more emotional than before.
There are almost tears out of her eyes, like the face to pray, the same eyes as Eleanor when she takes compassion on the others. It was the reason I didn’t kill her the first time we encounter in a fight. I knew she truly possessed a kind heart. I hated to see her sympathetic eyes to me. I know it won’t pave a way to forgiveness, cause every sin I carved is everlasting no matter how long it passes, and now I carved a new one.
“Don’t….give me that look.” This will make me think that you are pitying me when she is just another seraph without free will. She looks like Eleanor, that makes everything worse, she is the last person I need to pity me.
“..........” Now she is showing doubt to my words, like someone who has a soul. Can I expect there is actually a possibility that her free will is recovering? However, she has just done some cruel act like burning down the whole village in a second.
“.......You don’t have to worry, it is nothing.” I stated calmly, ignoring all wound on my body. I feel no pain but hot.
“.....But.” The Eleanor-like seraph insisted.
“Nothing.” I insisted back.
The seraph starts to act a bit like Eleanor, I try to hold any wrong expectation to her in my consciousness. Eleanor is kind-hearted like Laphicet, she is strong, that’s why she was qualified to be the pact former of Laphicet. I will be always grateful that they stayed at my side when I fell into darkness. However, I should assure myself not to get it wrong, the seraph is not my friend, there is no one on my side now, she is only a tool, Eleanor is dead.
“Then tell me why you are doing this when it is opposite to the mission.” The seraph asked reason in another way, this sentence is longer than any sentence she said before, which make her be more lively in my impression.
“.........It is not opposed to the mission, the human is a living source of malevolence, so it is necessary to keep them alive.” I simply made up a reasonable reason to suit my villain role.
“If that so, you may let me help you.”
“If you turn into a dragon, you will only be troublesome.” To me, a seraph became dragon will be an uncontrollable disaster and cannot sustainably be used in the following destruction.
“......ok”
“...........I thought you lost your free will, but it seems different?”
“...I just feel like…..awaken from a long dream…...and I feel like I knew you, a long time ago.”
“....That’s none of my business.”14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQTaBfOFjG
I stated with my consciousness slowly faded out with the rising temperature.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoRtl9xfNn
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“(Everything feels strange, why am I here? What did I just do?)” There are so many questions to the female seraph now.
The woman in front of her just gave her a very strange but familiar feeling.
‘Your name's...Eleanor, right? If I defeat you, you'll be his vessel and follow my orders until the day you die.’ Deep inside her memory, someone said such a sentence.
Eleanor…..the same name the woman called her once when they met.
“(Have we met before?)”
The female seraph ponders and shuts her mouth with a sad look, but she soon turns into shock and stops pondering as she saw Velvet fainted in front of her.
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A.N.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lfjq0B1ds
Nearly the whole chapter is a chatting chapter.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLClN1xEAEG
A long chat to Tartarus to reveal his vision with some memory pieces I managed to plug in the chapters, but it still doesn’t do any good to Tartarus’s personality, he is just a typical villain with an extreme mindset which normally no one agree on that I think……..(I can’t make myself to like him so I can’t make the readers to like him either…but I will at least try to give him the reason of hatred)14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Hdb3LQQd
The ‘sound effect’ of Tartarus is actually the background noise recording from the event in the previous chapter, sorry that if I didn’t make it clear enough.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGydKOIGLP
Also, anyone guessed the seraph is Eleanor?......right, you may totally pretend she is Eleanor, although things don’t work like this in the official. I will make extra chapters to explain how I make the setting fit in the official setting.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw5uMD9EKb
