The Old Scholar

Stepping back into her the plane of the living, Leilani was filled with a new resolve that tempered her maternal rage that was swirling in her heart. She was now calm, cool and collected as she decided on her next course of action. She looked down at the unconscious female Aspirant she had spared due to the fact she had doubt in her mind when she was reading it. She flicked her wrist and the Aspirant gained consciousness, breathing heavily as her eyes darted around trying to grasp what the hell just happened. 

{!} 

When she saw Leilani looking down at her with a cold gaze, she let out a scared yelp as she then backed away further into the ruined grand staircase, even continuing to try and get away, her legs kicking away as her back struck the burnt-out ruins behind her. 

"Silence, and stop moving if you want me to let you live" Leilani ordered her as she slipped on some black leather gloves into each of her hands before adjusting her coat

"Please! Don't kill me! I have a family I am trying to support!" The young aspirant cried as tears began flowing down her face, her lips trembling and her body quaking in fear as she continued to stare at the cold-hearted woman before her 

"Mhmm. I plan to, that is, if you are willing to cooperate" Leilani said as she took a step closer to her before crouching down, her eyes boring into the soul of the scared Aspirant

"Yes! I am willing! Just please don't kill me....." The young Aspirant replied a she tried to swallow the fear building up in her throat 

"Good. Now, just stay still" Leilani said as she stretched out her hand towards the head of the Aspirant 

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About 10 minutes later, Leilani stood in the middle of the rain, her body relaxed and her mind thinking clearly. She glanced back at the now unconscious Aspirant whose memories she had just reread and she was conflicted in her heart for letting her live, but since she showed promise, it was worth seeing how far it would go. Her name was Ferrin Alsana, a young peasant girl from the Kingdom of Caliban. Although she was smart, she could barely find work that could provide for herself and her family, specifically her elderly mother and sickly sister, she had joined the Order of Sigismund after they had offered her amazing payments that could give her the financial need she needed. Although she was part of the order for some time, she had failed to rise in the ranks for only one reason, her doubt of the order from time to time. 

"Hmmm, unfortunate circumstances, unfortunate life events" Leilani mumbled as she glanced at her before relaxing in the rain, standing still as the water flowed down her like a natural shower 

"Ughhh....what the hell?" Ferrin groaned as she sat up, clutching her head as it was stinging with pain 

"Good to see you recover so quickly. I guess you know what is at stake now?" Leilani asked as she turned to her 

"I do, will you uphold your end of the bargain?" Ferrin asked as she looked up at the menacing woman standing in the rain 

"I always do, and yours will be the same, just as long as you will uphold yours" The Dean said as the rain poured down her face 

"I understand" 

"Good. And don't worry about dying, if you fail, I will take care of your family, but I think you would like to join them no?" 

Ferrin nodded her head at the woman's words, she now had a job to do, a job she was given earlier and one that could save her and her family if she was able to complete it. She had known this woman for only a short amount of time but her heart told her to do as she was instructed or it would not end well for many people, including herself. But she was sure of one thing, she was damned sure to complete the task given to her come hell or high water, all for the chance of her family having a better life. 

"Alright, just to make sure we are on the same page. Recount the orders I gave you. Now" 

"I am to head back to Cobalt Castle and report to my superiors and King Holland that Scribe Salos and my fellow Aspirant were viscously attacked by some scholars, we killed them but not before Salos and my compatriot died at their hands" Ferrin answered 

"Next" 

"Then I am to present them a box that I was able to take of the corpse of one of the scholars which have markings of the First Scholar Malcolm and gift it to King Holland" She continued 

"Good. What are you to do while all of this is happening?" 

"Try not to looks suspicious or scared" 

"Nice. Right, here, take this" Leilani said as she took out a small chest the size of a palm and tossed it over to Ferrin

The young woman caught the box and looked at it, it had intricate carvings and the symbol of Malcolm as the lock of the chest, an eagle with a shield behind it. Ferrin shook the small thing and heard something jingling and jangling inside it, she was unsure of what it was and was really curious about it despite her fear. 

"What is this?" She asked as she looked up at Leilani who had a cruel smile on her face 

"That is Pandora's Box. Don't open it, let them do it" Leilani answered her 

"Pandora's Box? What does that mean?" 

"Nothing that concerns you, just know that you must not open it, but let King Holland do it instead" Leilani answered her as she cast a spell that ensured the box would not open for Ferrin or anyone else but its intended target 

"I see...I understand" The former Aspirant said as she nodded and placed the box inside her satchel 

"Good. Good. Tell them that it can only be opened by a Merbert just to ensure that no one else will be tempted to open it, now go. I shall see you soon" 

Ferrin nodded as she got up and began sprinting away through the rain, making her way to Cobalt Castle which was the massive imposing castle in the center of Cobalt City. The spires of the mighty building were even visible from where they stood, and as the rain poured down harder, lightning and thunder filled the skies with their deadly roars, making Leilani smile with a menacing feeling. 

"Right then. Let's see if they are going to be like little old Pandora..." Leilani muttered under her breath before she began cackling, with the sky unleashing more thunder and lightning to mask her madness 

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Ferrin walked through the downpour coming down across the city, moving through alleyways and passing by people who were busy minding their own business, some were running as they had no umbrellas while others simply stood under the cover of nearby cafes and shops, buying themselves treats or refreshments before just lounging about waiting for the dreadful downpour to stop. 

The young former Aspirant however did not stop. Ferrin continued until she reached the massive front gate of Cobalt Castle, its imposing size which towered over the city feeling like a massive giant she had stood before when she stopped to get checked into the place. 

"State your name and business?" A guard asked, his silver plate armor and helmet masking his face and giving off an intimidating sight, next to him was a Mechanical Golem that was looking her up and down as well 

"I am Aspirant Ferrin of the Order of Sigismund. I am to report to King Holland and High Scholar Taurus inside the castle" Ferrin replied, as she shifted her cloak to prevent the rainwater from getting on her face 

"Alright, I will send word to them, you should head inside before this blasted storm gets worse" The guard said as he opened up the small side gate for her to go through 

"Much appreciated" Ferrin replied before she slipped through and kept sprinting up the large steps leading into the main chamber of the castle 

As she reached the large double doors that led into the throne room of the castle, she looked upon them, the twin iron door that separated the roaring storm happening outside and the warm and dry interior where the people she was supposed to meet resided in. She steeled herself as memories of her family flashed through her mind, she clutched her satchel tight and felt around it just to make sure that the small chest was still there. 

"Come on Ferrin. Do it for them" She mumbled as she then pushed open the doors that creaked loudly as she entered the throne room 

Stepping inside, she was greeted by the sight of a large gathering standing before a set of thrones that was a few steps above everything else and in front of a set of glass windows that showcased the storm going on outside, with the occasional flashes of penetrating the already well-lit room thanks to the magi-crystal lanters. The people gathered before the throne all wore different clothing, Suits and dresses, all of them fine tailored and making the men and women wearing them appear sharp, sophisticated, and smart. Then there were other members of the Order of Sigismund standing with them, their blue suits with golden accents and white interiors separating them from the rest of the gathered crowd. 

Then, there were the people who sat atop the pair of thrones at the top of the stairs. The first was a beautiful woman on the left who was in her late thirties. She had a beautiful set of auburn hair that was tied in a braid that rested upon the left side of her chest, resting gently upon her large well-endowed bosom, her turquoise eyes were watching Ferrin as she entered. She worse a silver dress with a sharp silver crown that had a ruby embedded into the center of it all, this was Queen Darisn and was the wife of the man who sat beside her, King Holland. 

Holland himself was also a handsome man, he too was in his late thirties and he had a very striking and intimidating look on his face thanks to the scar that ran down his right cheek to his lip. He had a set of jet-black hair which was spiky and short that rested standing on the top of his head, her had a mustache shaped like a horseshoe that extended into a goatee that covered his chin and ran down along his jawline, he wore a royal suit of red and black with a crimson cape with gold accents resting on his back, separating him from the chair. His crimson eyes were staring at Ferrin as he entered, with one hand on his chin while his other was tapping the armrest of his chair impatiently. 

Finally, there was someone standing beside King Holland. It was Ferrin's superior, the enigmatic, beautiful, voluptuous, curvaceous and well-endowed 6'3 tall (190.5 cm) High Scholar Taurus. Despite the name, Taurus was a woman, a kitsune woman to be exact and she was the acting High Scholar of the Order of Sigismund stationed on Dravitarius. Underneath her grey greatcoat was a set of blue robes with golden accents as per standard of the Order and her fur was a mix of silver and red, her amber-colored eyes were sharp and portrayed the immense knowledge hidden away in Taurus' mind from the long life she had lived so far. 

"Aspirant Ferrin" Taurus stated, her cold and indifferent voice booming across the room as she watched her enter 

"My Lady. I have come with grave news" Ferrin said as she approached the group, keeping her head down and daring not to make eye contact with any one of them

"Oh? How grave?" The kitsune asked as she crossed her arms 

"Scribe Salos and my Aspirant partner were ambushed and killed while we were looking around the burned ruins of the Capital Library by a bunch of so-called 'Scholars' Salos lost his head while my fellow Aspirant took a sword through the chest" Ferrin answered 

"Those damnable RATS!" Holland cried as he slammed his fists into the armrests of his chair 

"How did they manage to get back into the city?! What the hell?!" Darisn added in shock 

"Those vile scholars! How dare they rear their head here after His Majesty had kicked him out!" One of the nobles shouted

"So, how are you still alive?" Taurus asked as she took a step down from the throne platform 

"They gave their lives to save me, and I was barely able to send them running into the rain, I was able to strike down one however" 

"I see. Was there anything important that this so-called 'Scholar' was carrying?" 

Ferrin presented the small box she took out from her satchel to Taurus who looked upon it with a raised eyebrow. She gently swiped it from the Aspirant's hands and then tried to open it with her own, surprised that her immense strength didn't even budge the damn thing, she even pressed the eagle's chest several times to no avail. Some of the nobles saw this and began murmuring amongst themselves, spewing backhanded words of encouragement towards the High Scholar who was clearly struggling against such a small box, leaving many of them amused. 

"Is this some sort of sick joke Aspirant?" Taurus asked with a low growl as she looked upon the woman who handed her the device gifting her shame 

"I do not know My Lady! I...Wait! The scholar said that only a Merbert could open that box before he died" Ferrin replied, acting as if she had just remembered an important detail 

"Hmm? Only a Merbert?" Taurus muttered as she then glanced over at Holland who was already looking down at her 

"A missing artifact perhaps?" King Holland muttered as he rose from his chair, watching Taurus walk back up to the same platform as him 

"Only one way to find out, here you go Your Highness" Taurus replied as she handed the small box to him 

Holland inspected the box as he held it in his hand, his crimson eyes trying to take in all the details of the chestnut-colored object in his hand. It truly was a small chest, it was something that would have held some jewelry and the like, the latch that kept the thing closed was undoubtedly Malcolm's symbol as it was a black eagle over a black shield. He had a frown as he looked at the sigil and wondered whatever was being held within its grasp. But there was a gnawing feeling at the back of his neck telling him not to push through with opening up the box before him, but he pushed that thought aside as he stared at the sigil of Malcolm, the anger and want to take down this supposed 'essential' figure down a peg steeling his resolve.

"Are you going to open it dear?" Darisn asked him as she saw him hesitate for a moment 

"Just thought that it was amusing that the sigil of the box is the one of Malcolm. Seems poetic that we finally have proof of something that only a Merbert can open, thus providing us claim that he stole from out family" Holland answered her as he glanced back at her 

"Tell me, what was this artifact called?" He added as he turned to Ferrin who flinched at his sight 

"They called it 'Pandora's Box' Your Highness" Ferrin answered him 

"Pandora's Box? What a peculiar name" Holland replied as he inspected the thing further 

{!} 

Then, as he was inspecting the thing, there was an audible click as his thumb pressed on the chest of the eagle which opened up the small chest. Holland looked surprised as he did it, it was entirely on accident and his eyes went wide as the box held nothing inside. There was nothing but the empty black interior. 

"What?!" He roared as he threw the thing onto the floor by his feet, the sound of the small thing crashing making an unusually loud bang that reverberated across the room

All eyes turned to Ferrin, with Taurus narrowing her eyes and a shared scowl forming on all of their faces as they undoubtedly wanted answers from the young Aspirant who had brought them this sick joke by the looks of it. Taurus was about to shout at her but was cut off when Ferrin began sprinting for the door after her eyes turned to the box. The surprise action left the kitsune speechless and as she raised her right arm to conjure a spell that would have killed her, a black blur shot out from the ground that severed her hand from her arm. 

The action was so fast that she barely registered it until some noble from the crowd began screaming after they heard the hand plop onto the ground. She looked down and her eyes widened as she saw her severed hand, with everyone else sharing the same shock as all eyes turned onto the severed limb. The High Scholar then began screaming as she felt the immense pain emanating from her now bleeding arm, falling to her knees in pain. 

Then there were more screams coming from Darisn as she saw the box was now spilling out matte-black shadows that were slowly stretching across the floor, forcing everyone to back away as it flowed like a liquid. Then, the air in the chamber suddenly felt weird as their screams suddenly became cut off from the outside as a sound barrier was placed around the throne room, their eyes wide as they no longer could make any audible sound that could reach outside with the only thing coming into the room besides their screaming was the constant pouring rain outside. Many nobles began racing for the main door just like Ferrin did but the shadows spilling onto the floor lashed out and grabbed them by their ankles and pulled them down. Their bodies struck the floor and they let out screams as they were dragged back to the main crowd who were desperately firing spell after spell at the shadows of the floor which unfortunately did nothing to impede the tendrils from bringing their fellow nobles back to them. 

{!} 

Suddenly, the shadows sprouted more tendrils that involved the 17 poor souls who were dragged back, impaling them all over which made them shriek and cry out for help that everyone else in the room was unable to provide. Their lips trembled as they saw these former allies now rise up as large and lanky figures made entirely of black shadows. Their bodies now unrecognizable as they twisted and contorted into different shapes, with the only constant being the two bright white eyes and large white smiles plastered on their faces.

Then there was a single entity that was different from the rest, instead of all black, this entity was all white, standing tall and proper amidst the shadows that were all hunching over, this entity was also feminine in looks, its large black eyes and large black smile plastered on its face that topped it all off. It turned to Holland back on the throne who was shaking in fear before it flicked its wrist and the box flew into its hand before disappearing into its body. 

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Someone opened up my box. Naughty. Naughty" It said as the smile on its face got wider and a pair of white feathery wings sprouted from its back

A/N: New Chapter. Enjoy! Hehehehe