Nighttime in BoneHaven.
Tension was high as ever with members of Parliament going ahead to implement laws preventing people from leaving their homes after a certain period.
The Royal Blues were charged to ensure that no one went against the bill passed and so far, no one was crazy enough to go against it.
It was all in a bid to prevent more unfortunate incidents from taking place.
However, how useful it was in keeping the city safe was yet to be seen and with each passing day, it seemed as though BoneHaven was slowly losing the vibrance it once had.
The cemetery located close to Evergarden forest which was where the Catacombs were was currently quite rowdy with Ambrose, Natasha, and a certain dragon, alongside Arnold and a few Enforcers, gathered to bury a certain person.
Wrapping her body in linen, two Enforcers picked it up and placed it in a wooden casket before placing the lid over it, and with the help of two others, they lifted the casket and placed it in a hole dug beforehand.
"I hadn’t bothered to check," Ana remarked with a solemn expression as she stood alongside other Enforcers as they buried Madeline’s body.
Although she was a spy and she had potentially doomed BoneHaven, the D.O.D was still decent enough to ensure a funeral for her.
Partly because they wanted to get rid of the body and mostly because ghouls were a thing in Eventide.
Leaving a dead body with lingering regrets without burying its body would undoubtedly lead to that human coming back as a ghoul.
"Quickly cover it up."
Ana watched the entire proceedings with a complicated expression.
"Am I slacking off, Arnold?"
Arnold, dressed in a black suit, stood beside Ana and comforted her as he replied. "My lady, you are not one to arbitrarily look at the destinies of people, after all, we both know the strain it can cause if you overdo it and in any case, you don’t read the destinies of Enforcers. It’s not something you’d change because of this incident."
"Thank you, Arnold. I’m just worried."
"About what, my lady?" Arnold raised a brow
"I lied to Alex that I was patrolling while reading people’s fate," Ana muttered.
"That..." Arnold remained speechless momentarily unsure of what to say.
On one hand, Anastasia looked like she didn’t care much about the burial while also worrying about what Alex would think about her cover-ups while on the other hand, he was well aware this wasn’t the time or place for such a discussion.
However, he understood that it was Anastasia’s way to cope.
She had lived for 1200 years.
Someone like her watched humans die so many times that to protect herself from running mad from the constant death and being left alone, Anastasia was forced to create an eccentric persona to cope.
Sighing inwardly in his heart, Arnold couldn’t help but feel pained that he could do nothing to help his lady.
Anastasia, completely oblivious to what Arnold was thinking about, pouted at his sudden silence before suddenly exclaiming.
"What!... Say something!"
"W...well, my lady, I’m sure he won’t mind a small white lie."
Ana sighed and drooped her shoulders in defeat.
Whatever happens, let it.
There was nothing she could do about it.
Ambrose sighed as he watched the Watchers present use cement to cover up the hole before approaching Ana.
"Lady Ana." He bowed.
Anastasia revealed a wry smile. "Basar stole an S-Grade Relic."
"Yes, he did." Ambrose restrained the frustration he felt as he added. "So far we have no idea what he wants to use it for."
Ana revealed a thoughtful gaze before nodding. "Based on what I have seen and read, it’s a summoning ritual."
"We think so as well," Ambrose remarked. "12 murders committed systematically and in a ritualistic fashion, siphoning their life essence and pneuma yet the Royal Blue never said anything.
"It’s safe to assume that Basar has infiltrated several establishments to achieve his goals."
Anastasia clicked her tongue. "I can’t find him. It’s annoying that for once, I can’t brute force my way through a problem."
"The plan to destroy the barrier in the tunnels with Quillion is almost complete. Once it’s done..." Ambrose trailed off as the sound of a trumpet echoed.
"What was that?" An enforcer asked as he glanced about.
Everyone in the cemetery heard it, including Anastasia who frowned upon hearing the sound.
Natasha’s expression also seemed out of place as she spread out her spirituality but gained nothing.
Not too long after, the trumpet was heard again.
Without hesitation, Anastasia planted her feet on the ground and launched herself into the air before transforming into her true form.
A gigantic winged dragon with a shadow that bloated out the night sky.
The terrifying aura emanated was enough to send tingles down the spine of anyone in its presence.
Moving quickly, Anastasia headed for the location where the trumpet was being blown.
It didn’t take long for her to arrive.
Standing in a park in the central district, a man covered up in bandages and wearing a brown coat stood at the center of the park, holding a strange device that looked like a cross between the trumpet and the harp.
Pulling the string, a powerful wave of aether surged through the air, enveloping BoneHaven.
Anastasia stood before the bandaged man as she questioned. "What are you trying to do?"
"... Isn’t it easy to tell?" The man calmly replied as he glanced up to meet Anastasia’s fierce gaze.
"Using a Relic to summon a monster into the mortal world... Are you trying to destroy Eventide?"
The man paused in his actions, seemingly in thought but when he spoke, it was clear his mind had been made long ago. "Eventide is a corrupt world, with so much sin hiding at every corner. All I wish to do is to purify and create a beautiful world and make it whole again."
"Millions will die..."
The man didn’t mince his words as he remarked. "Then let them... only those with a pure heart will remain. So tell me, Lady Anastasia... are you pure of heart?"