Tio let out a heavy sigh, his gaze shifting toward the port just as the jail crumbled into ruin. The sound of splintering wood and collapsing stone filled the air as criminals poured out, making a break for the docks. Panic and chaos swelled as they rushed toward the ship that had already begun its departure, its sails catching the wind as it drifted into open waters.
His throat tightened as he watched flames suddenly erupt across Azura Port, licking hungrily at the buildings. Smoke billowed into the sky, casting an eerie mist over the water. The fire spread quickly, consuming everything in its path, the heat radiating even from a distance.
Amidst the destruction, the criminals only grinned, their expressions twisted with satisfaction as they turned and walked away away from the burning wreckage—free men once more.
Celestia stepped out of her room, her boots barely making a sound against the floor as she moved down the dimly lit corridor of the ship. The scent of salt and burning wood lingered in the air.
Her steps slowed as she reached a door with Rosaline's name carved into it. She raised her hand and knocking lightly.
"Can I come in for a moment?" she asked softly.
Inside, Rosaline glanced up from where she sat, her violet eyes flickering toward the door.
"Come in… I guess." Rosaline's voice was quiet, almost hesitant, before silence stretched between them.
Celestia pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it behind her with a soft click. The dim lantern light flickered, casting long shadows across the small cabin. She took a seat in the chair across the room, her emerald eyes settling on Rosaline, who sat hunched on the bed, her hands clenched into fists.
"What happened to make you come down here?" Celestia asked, her tone even yet laced with curiosity.
Rosaline let out a bitter chuckle, shaking her head before finally looking up. Her violet eyes, usually sharp with determination, were clouded with despair.
"Azura Port is gone." She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "We were saved by some unknown man, and now—every criminal we worked so hard to capture is free. And Lox?" She let out a hollow sigh. "Lox isn't even a group anymore. If I had to guess, we might have ten members left—if even that many."
Her voice cracked as she turned her gaze fully toward Celestia, tears welling at the corners of her eyes before silently spilling down her cheeks, landing on the fabric of her blankets.
"I let everyone down… I let myself down too," she admitted, gripping the edge of the bed as if trying to hold herself together. "I thought I planned for everything. I thought I had it all under control. But I was wrong." Her shoulders trembled, frustration and grief intertwining in her words.
Celestia watched as Rosaline's composure cracked, the weight of her losses pressing down on her. Silence filled the room for a long moment before Celestia finally spoke, her voice softer than usual.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Rosaline." She leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes holding a rare gentleness. "You gave everything to this cause, to justice. You dedicated your life to stopping criminals, to making the world safer. You didn't let anyone down, you did your best."
Rosaline exhaled shakily, her shoulders trembling as she wiped at the tears slipping down her cheeks.
Celestia rose from her seat and walked over, lowering herself beside Rosaline. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. At first, Rosaline stiffened, unaccustomed to the closeness, but after a few seconds, she relaxed, leaning into Celestia's hold.
[Manipulation] activated.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, laced with something almost hypnotic. "But tell me, Rosaline… have you ever stopped to think about the other side of it all?" She felt Rosaline tense slightly in her arms, but she continued, her tone steady, soothing. "The criminals you captured… every single one of them had families, people they loved, people who relied on them. And you took that away."
Rosaline's breath hitched, her body locking up. Celestia pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, her emerald eyes darkening ever so slightly.
"You were wrong for that, Rosaline. So deeply wrong. And that… that isn't justice."
Rosaline's lips parted as if to protest, but nothing came out. Doubt flickered in her violet eyes, the foundation of her beliefs beginning to waver.
Celestia's fingers brushed a tear from Rosaline's cheek, her touch deceptively gentle. "I don't want to just stop crime. I want to erase the need for it entirely. I want to build a world where no one has to steal to survive. Where no child loses their parents to violence. A world without chaos… without suffering."
Rosaline swallowed hard, her brows furrowing. "A world… without crime?"
Celestia nodded, letting her voice drip with conviction. "Yes. True peace. But to do that… we have to change the way we see justice. It's not about punishing criminals. It's about reshaping the world so crime is no longer necessary."
Rosaline was silent, staring at Celestia as the seeds of doubt burrowed deep.
Celestia placed a hand on Rosaline's trembling shoulder, her touch warm yet heavy, her presence all-encompassing. "Justice? No, Rosaline. You weren't delivering justice. You were delivering pain. You were taking from others the same way something was taken from you. And that cycle? It never ends. Not unless someone steps in and breaks it."
She let out a slow, deliberate sigh, her emerald gaze locking onto Rosaline's violet eyes, watching, waiting for the shift. "That's why I don't believe in justice. It's flawed. It's fickle. You followed it blindly, and look where it left you—alone, broken, and questioning everything. But I… I want something different. I want to build a world where crime doesn't exist, not because people fear punishment, but because there's no need for it. No suffering. No desperation. No cruelty. A world where no child cries themselves to sleep after losing everything."
Celestia cupped Rosaline's cheek, her thumb ghosting over her skin as she spoke, each word like a poisoned lullaby sinking into Rosaline's very soul. "You don't have to bear this weight anymore. You don't have to keep lying to yourself. You were wrong, Rosaline. So deeply, terribly wrong. But that's okay. Because now… you can be part of something greater."
Rosaline listened, her mind drowning in Celestia's words, the weight of doubt pressing heavier on her soul. Every belief she once held—justice, righteousness, her very purpose—crumbled under the slow, insidious erosion of Celestia's voice. The warmth of her touch, the quiet conviction in her tone, the undeniable logic behind every word—everything lured her deeper, wrapping around her like chains.
Her breath hitched as [Manipulation] took a greater hold. Her violet eyes flickered, darkening before shifting back, a war waging within. But Celestia's words were undeniable, her truth absolute.
And then, the hesitation vanished. Rosaline looked up, her gaze meeting Celestia's with newfound clarity—no, devotion. "Let me be a part of it," she said, her voice steady, no longer uncertain. "Let me help you create this world. I want to be by your side, Celestia."
A slow, satisfied smile stretched across Celestia's lips as she reached out, pulling Rosaline back into her embrace. "Of course," she whispered, her voice dripping with warmth, with promise, as her fingers combed through Rosaline's hair in a soothing motion. "You were meant to be here, with me. We'll change everything… together."
A soft chuckle left her lips as her grin widened, unseen by Rosaline, her eyes gleaming with a hidden, dark delight.
After a few moments of holding Rosaline close, Celestia finally pulled away, her fingers lingering for just a second longer before she rose to her feet. She cast one last glance at Rosaline.
Satisfied, Celestia turned and strode toward the door. The moment it shut behind her, her warm, comforting expression twisted into something far colder. A quiet, amused laugh slipped past her lips, the sound almost lost to the creaking of the ship.
"Another piece has fallen into place."
Her boots echoed against the floor as she ascended the stairs to the deck, the breeze cool against her skin.
"Do we need to stop anywhere along the way, or can we head straight to Sylvaria?" Celestia asked as she approached Tio.
Tio glanced up from his notes. "The members of Lox already briefed me on everything aboard. We've got enough food and water for at least forty more people for the next year. No need to stop anywhere for supplies."
He paused, then added, "Unless you have a specific place you want to stop along the way?"
Celestia shook her head. "Not really. But could you tell me more about the places we'll be passing by on our way to Sylvaria? I never really studied the map in detail since I didn't originally plan on heading this way."
Tio exhaled, and without another word, he bent down and pulled up a wooden floor panel. He retrieved a well-worn map from beneath it and carefully spread it across the floor, tracing the route with his finger.
"We're currently here, just leaving Nyxterra, heading Northwest," he began, pointing to a spot on the map. "There are a few islands we could pass along the way. The first one is kinda close, known for its famous drinks—Myor. It's a popular stop for travelers."
Tio moved his finger farther across the map. "The second island is about five months from here. It's the only one on this side of the world that has a deadly toxin, known as Tyranor's Waste. The area is so dangerous that it's been erased from most maps."
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "Tyranor? Another island?"
"Yes," Tio replied, his voice dropping slightly as if the very name carried a weight of foreboding. "Tyranor is a place where no life can survive—not even the hardiest of creatures. It's a cursed land, and it's widely avoided. About four hundred years ago, there was a scientist—his name was lost to history—who went mad with his experiments. They're not sure if it was a fatal mistake or an act of insanity, but he released countless vials of volatile toxins into the earth. Those toxins seeped into the soil, creating a wasteland where life couldn't grow. They say it'll take over a thousand years for anything to thrive there again."
Tio paused, staring at the map with a distant look in his eyes. "But honestly, no one knows the full truth. Some of it could be myth, but the map we have is one of the last that still shows both Tyranor and Tyranor's Waste."
Celestia listened intently, a slight frown playing on her lips. "That's... interesting. A land where nothing can live."
He straightened, rolling the map back up. "We won't be passing anywhere near Tyranor, but it's still unsettling knowing it's out there."
Celestia stood up, her expression unreadable as she walked away.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Hidden Quest Complete
Task: Manipulate someone in joining you.
Rewards:
+1 level - [Manipulation]
+1 level - [Dragon's Gaze]
+1 [Fear Immunity]
EXP: 153
Celestia gazed at the system notification, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of her lips. "At least it's still working… that's a relief," she muttered to herself, feeling a surge of power as she opened the system to see the full details.
━━━『 Villainous System 』━━━
Name: Celestia Solara
Age: 18
Elements: Dragon-Tempest, Water
Level: 3
EXP: 1,058/1,850
Bounty: 100 Silver
Fear Rating: 10
Skills:
[Manipulation] – Level 10
[Tempest Arts] – Level 6
[Dragon's Gaze] – Level 5
[Blossom's Elegance] – Level 1
[Blossom's Breath]– Level 2
Page 1/2. [Page 2]
Curiosity piqued, Celestia clicked the second page to investigate the extra Fear Immunity.
Page 2:
[Passives]
Fear Immunity [2/20]
"I see... so I need to obtain 20 points or whatever in order to fully unlock it as an immunity?" Celestia mused softly. Celestia dismissed the system and made her way over to the other members of Lox who had boarded the ship.