"Defeating trillions upon trillions of my soldiers wasn't impressive...But what scared me the most was that it didn't kill any of them."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The dungeon has really changed since Gatwick's previous visits.
It looked more modern and refined, with thick, heavy metal walls with runic symbols, specifically designed to hold the most powerful criminals.
However, could it really hold the leader of the Silver Thieves?
His entire attire was stripped from him, relegating him to a plain black gown to await his interrogation.
But Gatwick suspects they would decide the date of the trial because, unlike other criminal groups, the Thieves don't leave their victims alive.
Hanging around his neck was a heavy collar carved from gems, chained to the four corners of the room, successfully hindering all his abilities and tricks he might try to deploy.
The entire room was additionally flooded with exotic but unstable Grace called Taina, so if he tries to undergo Miracle, which involves turning raw Grace into a useful technique or ability, it might either;
1 - Destroy his entire Pathways, meaning he will never use Grace again
2 - Slowly deplete his Rhema till he dies a slow, agonising death
3 - Drop him into the Aether Nexus, the hyper-violent dimension where Taina originated from [Nobody knows where it is and how it functions]
4 - Cause his entire body to reject it and survive if lucky.
All these precautions were implemented to finally hold one of the most wanted criminals in the 3rd World.
But still, it didn't stop him in the slightest.
Gatwick meditated, trying his hardest to enter the Dream Realm. His entire body fell limp with his mind clawing into his subconsciousness.
Usually, entering the Dream Realm would have been easy. But this was a room specifically designed to contain him.
But, alas, it was successful.
But you would swiftly point out, "Does entering the Dream Realm suffice as a kind of Attribute or Ability, meaning it would be a Miracle?"
And for that, I congratulate you for using your brain.
He slowly descends into the dark parts of his mind. His body felt cold and static, his senses fading into nothingness, and his awareness stolen into this new world.
His brains struggled to enter the place where dreams are reality.
He slowly opened his eyes, his body feeling light as a feather but his head as heavy as steel.
Instead of being in his cage, he was in a dark expanse filled with moving shadows - His Dream Realm.
His remaining teammates ought to join him in this reality, but he already knew the challenge he and his comrades would have to face.
A chilling roar shook the entire reality, the shadows spreading thinner and Gatwick's thoughts almost getting lost.
Getting your thoughts lost in the Dream Realm is like losing a grain of sand in a desert.
The loud, haunting grunts of a beast grew nearer as lights flooded into the dark expanse.
Gatwick was given the unfortunate fate of seeing his adversary.
A large eyeball stared at the Silver thief, its silver pupil as bright as a small star. It was lodged inside a larger mouth that acted as its eyelids, with the lashes being venomous fangs that exuded a toxic miasma that almost made Gatwick throw up.
Beside it were 6 large, slaver arms that orbited the entity, each surrounded by a threatening aura of various elements - Water, Lightning, Light, Void, Forest, and Blizzard.
This was the Dream Catcher, a protocol invented by Ebony's witches to kill the target if the target attempts to enter the Dream Realm.
Gatwick instinctively held out his right hand, but he forgot he no longer had his gauntlet. He looked at his opponent with a calm demeanour and promptly frowned.
"I would offer you a cup of tea," Gatwick sighed. "But I'm not sure your mouth serves that purpose."
The Dream Catcher's arms all pointed at Gatwick, glowing a menacing colour before firing all its elements at a criminal.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Executioners stared at Caesar with disappointment as Chalybe and Kukri tried to explain the situation to the teachers who were alerted.
Fortunately, other students weren't present, as it would surely be embarrassing to Caesar.
The chains holding the young knight seemed to drain his energy at an alarming rate, but it also felt like it was giving him enough to just stay awake.
Even though he was terrified, he was also in awe.
Ebony's law executioners were genuinely beautiful to the lad. Instead of the standard Blue or White uniforms, Ebony designed theirs in gold and red, creating a beautiful attire for keeping your city safe.
Caesar could only make out the colours and not the uniform as a whole, but he knew it would look fabulous.
He forced his mind to remember his vision inside the Synagogue - Melios and Arthur Winter the first.
Caesar was fully aware that every time he died, he would gradually get worse at using Grace. It could be so bad that he might never use it again in any way.
"You know this was a genuine accident," Kukri argued.
"He heard the rules clearly and still placed himself in a situation that he might break them," An executioner rebutted.
Caesar also pondered why Pandorica was showing him all these visions. Perhaps it is her way of sharing information more efficiently.
But the biggest question was still unanswered - was it actually a vision, or did he actually go back to the past?
Of course, time travel isn't out of the ordinary, but what kind was it?
Were all the events and the actions that he did isolated in another timeline? Will every jump into the past and all his actions change the present and future in real time?
Or...
Has it already happened, and time is just catching up to him?
Was he actually Lucian, and did she know that a 14-year-old human was running around in her body?
Of course, no one would want that.
"Who owns the house?" Chalybe asked. "Can we speak to him?"
The Law executioner bit back a laugh. "He is right behind you."
Kukri, Chalybe and Caesar turned in that direction, and their jaws dropped.
Glistening under the suns was a dark green armour with multiple emeralds adorning it. But the more impressive thing was the person wearing the armour.
The knight had short blonde hair that caught the afternoon light like wheat in a field. His deep scarlet eyes were calm yet alert, with the unique feature being a scar that travelled down his left eye to his lips.
The law executioner rushed towards the knight, whose eyes widened when he saw the state of the burnt mansion.
"I'm terribly sorry for your mansion," The Law executioner bowed. "Knight Archer Christoper."
The knight clenched his fist in rage and slowly glanced at Caesar, who felt his threatening aura.
It was unique, like a wild animal preparing to kill its prey.
Archer stared back at the house, with his rage melting into sorrow.
"Was anyone in the Mansion, Hawkes?" Archer blurted. "When it was being burnt, were any servants or civilians injured?"
Hawkes, the executioner, pointed at Kukri.
"Princess Kukri froze the flame before it could spread to other houses," Hawkes sighed as he struggled to continue. "But Dino, GT, and Claire were severely burnt, and Drake, Qtec, Cannon, Starfelt and Bolyne fainted from the smoke. But the majority of your servants are safe."
Archer bit his lips and instantly appeared in front of Caesar. The knight squatted, staring the Paragon dead in the eyes.
"Are you happy?"
Caesar couldn't answer. The words were stuck in his throat as fear and embarrassment took over his body.
"I asked you a question. Are you happy for destroying my abode and harming my employees?"
Chalybe's hand grew cold as he approached the green knight.
"Sir Archer Christopher," Chalybe bowed. "My companion and I are deeply hurt by the destruction of your property and the damage to your servants. But Caesar wasn't the only one who damaged the house. I was also involved through..."
"Who set the house on fire?"
"Sir?" Chalybe coughed.
"Was it you who created the flame?"
Chalybe took a deep breath. "No, sir."
Archer scoffed, his deep scarlet eyes still fixated on Caesar. "Were you the one who failed to bring their technique under control?"
"But, Sir--"
"So it's a no," Archer snorted. "You children think you can do anything and get away with it because you are a cadet or your parents have deep pockets. Let me tell you something- I am deeply disappointed in you. I know who you are. Caesar Nova Percival and a member of the Paragon 14, my ass. You were the one who deployed the attack and failed to control it, and you are apparently a Paragon. Aren't you meant to be smart?"
"And you are apparently the leader, which is just amazing. If Lady Kukri didn't aid you, what would have happened? I will tell you, since you lost the ability to talk. More properties damaged, people harmed, lives may be lost - just because you wanted to have fun. Do you know how absurdly foolish and irresponsible that is?"
Caesar continued to stare at the knight, but his eyes were teary. He tried not to shed a single tear, but the first Knight he had ever met in Ebony was now disappointed in him.
What a way to start the journey.
Thank you, Pandorica, Caesar thought.
Archer turned towards Hawkes. "Put him in the detention centre and make him await punishment."
"What?" Caesar mumbled, finally able to form words.
Hawkes nodded, and his face began to glow. Suddenly, a feather tattoo appeared on his cheek, signifying that he was a witch.
When the Executioner touched the ground, a large circle formed under Caesar, glowing and pulsating with witchcraft. Before the paragon could register what was happening, he vanished, completely unaware of what punishment he might get.
Chalybe and Kukri stood there, shocked. The Prince and the Princess failed to rescue their companion.
But there was currently nothing they could do about it.
Chalybe stared at Archer, and his entire form seemed... familiar. His imposing form and godlike speed triggered a hazy memory as his brain tried to recall the face.
Kukri shifted closer to Chalybe as Archer stared at the two cadets.
"Burnice is going to kill me," Archer grumbled. "Both of you!!"
Chalybe and Kukri stood at attention as Hawkes handed a piece of paper to Archer.
"Leave now," Archer scoffed. "You aren't in trouble, so you can leave so I can figure out how to..."
"Where's Caesar?" Chalybe asked.
"Somewhere to face punishment for his recklessness," Archer frowned. "And for you, Prince Chalybe..."
Archer suddenly appeared beside Chalybe, the prince feeling powerless and minuscule.
But then the Memory finally appeared as Kukri grabbed a helm of Chalybe's cloth.
This knight was the same knight who severed Kukri's arm during the visit.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I hate dungeons so much you can't comprehend," York cried out.
"Good thing he successfully infiltrated the executioners and gave us fake cuffs with Taina."
Abbey sighed in relief.
"Canary finds dungeons very peaceful and calm." Canary stretched.
"Do you remember when he had to share a dungeon with 14 other criminals in Arrysia?"
Warwick giggled, and the whole group laughed.
Gatwick smiled while also stretching. "I am pleased to say that Operation DEAD ANIMAL is a success. Those children actually thought they defeated us."
The Silver Thieves laughed out loud.
"Especially that Caesar one," Abbey pointed out. "Speaking of Caesar, Gat, what races are known for their eyes flaring up in colour?"
Gatwick racked his brain as he struggled to recall the information. "Well, you have Neptunians, Thessalonians, Aether beings..."
"Dark elves?" Canary asked.
"Dark elves," Gatwick confirmed. "Why are you asking? Did we encounter anyone whose eyes glowed like that?"
Warwick's and Abbey's faces went blank with confusion.
"Nah, I'm joking," Gatwick said, smiling. "As I was doing my dramatic fall of defeat."
"Very dramatic, brother." Warwick giggled.
"Thank you so much, sister," Gatwick replied. "But the eyes are most likely caused by His Grace or another thing reacting with his adrenaline or dopamine."
Canary smiled. "And the least likely?"
Gatwick stared into the void of the Dream Realm. "He might be a hybrid of a lost race, or it's a genetic trait of a lost god that wants to eat reality as a whole and shit it out as its perfect world of chaos."
The thieves looked at their leader.
"You asked for least likely," Gatwick said. "I'm giving you least likely."
"But that's illogical," Canary chuckled.
"Nothing is actually illogical if you think about it hard enough," York added.
"Okay," Warwick screamed, getting her comrades' attention. "Since Gatwick is too distracted to do it..."
"My bad."
"Let's go over the game plan." Warwick cleared her throat. "Firstly, we have successfully been brought into Ebony. Now we have to escape, get Gatwick's gauntlet and initiate phase three."
Gatwick sighed. "I just can't wait to meet Caesar again. That child is crazy."
"They all are," York said, remembering Abyss' chilling laughter.
"You seem rather calm about all this," Warwick murmured. "Do we really need the gauntlet?"
"Yes, we don't." Gatwick paused, realising his plausible grammar error. "We don't need it, but I like it. Plus, what if we encounter a terrifying rival or knight?"
"Terrifying? You are already fucking terrifying by yourself, Gatwick." Warwick said, staring at the pile of dead Dream Catchers, all disposed of by Gatwick.