<<Beginning of Ezirok Arc>>

"Lapse"

Reality seemed to slow to a halt for all but Seika. With unparalleled ease, she lifted two fingers and halted Gramek's attack as if it were a falling twig. Even color itself seemed to fade from the world as her surroundings transitioned to grayscale, then black. 

The glow of her own ember aura rivaled the blood red crackling of energy that rose from Gramek's body.

"Now it's just the two of us. One on one, just how I like my fights... oh right, you probably can't even process what's happening right now"

She paused.

"Well then, let's just finish this"

In her own eyes, she was simply striking Gramek with a few, fairly paced punches, with nothing too special added on top. To the perceptive eyes of seasoned warriors watching from the outside, her movements seemed to be a relentless barrage of countless blows that occured in no more than a few seconds. And to the eyes of the average human, Seika's movements couldn't even be registered into processing, with her image seeming to flicker a just tiny bit before the fight was over.

Seika's lapse ended, Gramek's body no longer being suspended in place as he fell over, now riddled with cracks, fractures, and breaks that not even his core was spared from. 

"Any last words?"

Seika gave a menacing glare while cracking her knuckles.

"Yeah, you shouldn't have gone easy"

A voice echoed in Seika's mind, one that she could never have forgetten.

"Recall"

"Ezirok..!"

She whipped her body around as she scanned the clearing and what was visible beyond the trees, yet found nothing that the voice could've came from. By the time she turned back, Gramek's body had concentrated back inside of its core, jetting upwards into the sky in the same manner he originally arrived. 

"Tch... so it's true..."

The creaking and splintering of wooden boards immediately caught her attention, sending her body into high alert in an instant. 

A familiar voice called out to her.

"...Seika?"

Seika recognized the voice, yet her body remained on guard until she turned around and confirmed the voice's identity with her own eyes.

"Yukiko! So I was right to assume it was your voice. Whatcha doing out here? Wasn't your mission to investigate the Ezirok Clan off in Borealis?"

"About that... I took it upon myself to change the plans. I've confirmed our worst suspicions: Ezirok is still alive and is the driving force behind the Ezirok Clan's actions. That corrupted you just defeated, his name is Gramek and he acts as Ezirok's right hand man. In a way, they're pursuing the same strategy as us, sending out reconnaissance into enemy territory"

"So that's why I sensed something familiar... More importantly, what was that technique at the end? A retreat with that level of speed and assurance... even Ezirok never demonstrated such a power 7 years ago"

"He's grown stronger. Or rather, he's developed new abilities. His so called 'clan' isn't the type in the familial sense, it goes beyond that, actually. His soldiers, they were made from cultivating fragments directly removed from his own core. And it's not just Gramek either, there's hundreds more of them, albeit slightly weaker than the one you just fought"

"Well if they're all weaker then what's the cause for worry? Even if they do attack again, we'd easily wipe them out, no?"

"That's the thing... since they were all formed from Ezirok's core, they can use his abilities to some extent, so they're only going to get stronger from here. You saw how that sword looked, right?"

"Yeah, you're right... Harvest... it's a devestating ability, that's for sure. But even so, Ezirok can't possibly be fully healed, right? So what's even the chances of him moving now?"

"There's no 'if' and there's no 'chances'. I confirmed it for myself. They're moving within the next two weeks-"

"-TWO WEEKS?! There's no way he'd be healed by now! What's the reason?! What could possibly make him act now??"

"Everything I've told you so far is just one of three major pieces of information I'm returning to Synoria to report. As for the other two: The first is that the barrier zone closest to Synoria Outlook has been destroyed-"

"DESTROYED?! But that's against the pact-"

Seika fell silent.

"Who was responsible for it. What territory are they from?"

"We don't know, but the main issue is whatever the corrupteds have been keeping back there is now free to enter our world. You've seen those kinds of barriers with your own eyes as well... whether they were designed to keep outsiders out or to keep dangers within... whoever it was that broke it will most likely end up being one of the most important pieces in the upcoming battles"

"Interesting... now then, what about that third piece of information?"

"Ah, that... Our herald has been killed"

"What?"

"Ezirok himself said it. That's why they're moving in two weeks. The Ezirok Clan will invade Synoria as a collective, where Ezirok himself will grow in strength using Harvest, then they'll move to Arelium to claim the largest shard in Orientalis' possession"

"Wait wait wait. Our herald. As in, the Seraphim? Didn't it wield the Heavenly Lance?"

"I believe the two events I mentioned most recently are connected. Only a being strong enough to shatter one of those barrier zones could have the power to even challenge a herald, and vice versa"

"Hmm... so I assume after you relay this to Yukito, our next goal will be to find this person and get them on our side?"

"Yes, and all within the next two weeks before Ezirok strikes"

"Got it"

"By the way, what're you doing out here? My mission was to investigate the Ezirok Clan, so what's yours?"

Seika was somewhat visibly irritated by Yukiko's seemingly mocking tone. 

"Does she really think I'm doing nothing to help and am just travelling for fun?"

"I'll have you know I received a mission directly from your brother as well. In fact, it was my duty to investigate a disturbance around here"

"I still don't know what the disturbance was supposed to be, but I've definitely seen a lot out of the ordinary", she added under her breath.

"Well then, I should be getting on my way now. I can't delay relaying this information any longer"

Seika nodded and walked over to where Kaito had passed out on the ground. She lifted his body over her back and looked back towards Yukiko.

"I've gotta head back to town to take care of this kid's wounds. There's a certain person I need to repay a debt to anyways"

"I see. Then I guess we'll be meeting back at Synoria?"

Seika glanced behind Yukiko.

"You're getting back in that?"

She gestured at the pile of wood that once was Yukiko's cart.

"Damn... I guess we're heading in the same direction then"

The two rejoined with the main road and continued in silence.

"Well, this is awkward... c'mon, say something to break the silence"

"I never thought you'd be the type to take in an apprentice"

Seika immediately grew flustered.

"Tch, what kinda person do you take me for?!"