I sat alone in my room; it had been exactly seven hours since my disappointing battle with Julius. I hadn't the faintest clue as to why such a powerful warrior would ever seal this power. Although I was deeply displeased with his lackluster entertainment, something inside of me tugged at my heart, pulling me towards curiosity and sorrow regarding Julius.
I doubted Julius could have developed such an interesting personality without seeing all the horrors this accursed world had to offer. While I had been killed, tortured, maimed, and had my mind shattered, I was nothing compared to the ones who have spent millennia on this land's soil.
Right now, I sit idly on my bed thinking deeply about what my next action should be. Artoria's advice had been playing throughout my mind for a second, my mind conflicted on my next actions.
What consequences would my help bring? Absolute destruction? Death?
These questions kept running through my mind despite being sat here for a couple of hours, I still hadn't made up my mind.
But deep down, I had already decided on my actions. Lilia was someone I counted as a friend, the first person that I had met in Kathoros. What kind of person would I become if I just abandoned my friend?
Seeing her look of insurmountable despair when Helios almost sliced her in two brought the utmost of my rage and sorrow into my heart. If I forsake Lilia, would I ever feel such potent emotions ever again?
My worst fear in this land wasn't dying again or being tortured. It was losing my identity, my personality. I would allow my body to be taken, but never my mind.
Standing up, my mind fixed on the correct decision, I headed out of my room. Walking down the empty halls, I went towards the center of the palace where all the servants were situated.
It took me a couple of minutes to reach the center. When I did eventually find the servants, they were all clumped around Ickni's throne room, a bloody stain on the door.
"Another execution?" I muttered.
The servants' eyes all drew upon me, their eyes as dull and lifeless as usual. I couldn't stand the sight, but I needed information. I'd just have to bear it.
"Divine String, Evernight. It's a pleasure to see you in good health," said one of the older servants.
They all bowed their heads to me, holding the position until I raised my arm. I swiftly released them from courtesies.
Ickni's servants weren't trained in combat, and their hierarchy wasn't set by their overlord. They had free rein to appoint a leader, but they had an extremely high turnover since there were at least a couple of deaths a week.
Their hierarchy was based on survival and age. The elderly man standing in front of me with a hollow smile was this week's leader. It was quite admirable to survive the later years of a two-winged angel's lifespan in the custody of Ickni.
500 years in servitude and not a single scratch, what a repulsive man.
"Servant, I'd like to speak to you in a private office. I have some pressing matters to discuss with you." I declared.
"My name is Rupert, Divine String, Evernight. I'll happily discuss anything that needs discussing here."
"Oh, Servant? Do you really think I won't kill you for that disrespect? I may be wingless, but do you really want to try your chances against a Divine String?"
The man's attitude was as repulsive as I'd suspected. The elderly of England were much like this, stuck in the past, fixed on their false ideals of being superior to the young or different.
Despite my threat, the man's attitude wasn't budging. He was swiftly becoming annoying. I wasn't averse to killing the only dead if it furthered my efforts in finding and freeing Lilia, then so be it.
"My name is Rupert. I have survived the Custodian for a reason. You won't sway my mind into fear. If you have something to say, then speak," spat the Servant.
My eyebrow slightly twitched at his words.
"Servants at the end of death don't have names. I'll forgive your disrespect once more. Come with me."
The servant stepped back slightly.
"If you have anything to discuss, then I'll happily hear you out right here. But—"
I didn't want to hear anymore from the insolent pest. I summoned a shortsword of light in my right arm, slashing at the servant's throat, aiming to behead him. But my sword only met the disappointing embrace of air.
"Hm?"
I brought the shortsword back, inspecting it slightly; there was not a drop of blood on its surface. The target had expertly dodged out of the way, leaping backwards to avoid my blow.
"I see why you've survived for this long. Well done." I said sarcastically.
The servant had apparently gotten the thought that he was superior just because of one measly dodge, his fist swiftly approaching my face. He moved at impressive speeds, but unfortunately, he was still too slow.
I caught his fist effortlessly, the servant's face twisted with surprise, trying to pry himself from my grip.
"Unhand me, wingless!"
"Servant, your days are over. How much does it pain you to know that your death didn't come from Ickni but a filthy wingless instead?"
With one fluid motion, I slit the servant's throat, his eyes splintering with agony before falling limp on the floor. His old bones are unable to process the shock.
"How pathetic…" I sneered.
I motioned to some of the servants to clear up this mess, drawing my gaze to a younger servant standing directly next to Ickni's throne room. Those closest to Ickni's throne room were always blessed with more knowledge than the Servants of Order; the only problem was that their knowledge came with the heavy weight of an executioner's noose.
"You, your name."
"Sebastian, Divine String, Evernight."
A squad of servants quickly received Rupert's corpse, dragging him to a backroom, most likely a morgue, from where many bodies are brought in there a week.
Sebastian's eyes didn't falter in the slightest; he had been hardened by the grueling trials of Ickni's wicked mind.
"Come with me."
Unlike Rupert, Sebastian followed my commands, following me to a small office disconnected from the ears of servants. Just as I closed the door, I grasped Sebastian's sacred band; his eyes widened, and his eyes sank into panic.
"No. Don't touch it, she'll kill me. I don't want to die, please, sir! I've been good, I'm not a problem!" pleaded Sebastian.
His defenses immediately crumbled as I threatened Ickni's gaze, his face sinking into the deepest pit of despair.
Tugging on his sacred band, I expanded my light over its surface, my divinity binding to its core, creating a void in Ickni's surveillance network. I'd seen Artoria do something similar to her own band; this was my first time attempting such a depiction.
"Don't worry, I've blocked out Ickni's gaze. You are free to speak your mind."
Sebastian's gaze slowly turned to his band as I let go, his movement riddled with hesitation. A wild shake running throughout his whole body.
"But… She always knows," muttered Sebastian.
"It'll be okay, Sebastian. I just need you to answer a single question, then you can go back to being a dutiful little servant, okay?"
"Are you sure she can't hear us?"
"Of course, I'd never lie to you."
Unfortunately for Sebastian, I wasn't exactly confident that my barrier had been effective, although I couldn't say that I cared if she could or not. Sebastian was just the closest way to achieve what I wanted; I didn't care for someone who was already considered dead.
"Do you know where Lilia is being kept?"
"Yes. But I'm allowed to tell you, I was explicitly told not to."
"But she can't hear you. Do you really want Lilia to be executed for something she didn't do?"
"I'm not allowed to have an opinion on matters concerning the Custodian."
Sebastian's eyes hung low; he was practically itching to leave.
"Do you really want Ickni's terror to continue? If you don't tell me, then you doom all of your friends and coworkers to the putrid embrace of death. Do you really wish death on your friends?"
"What… No, of course not. I never, but I still can't tell you."
"You speak falsehoods if you don't tell me, then you are damning everyone you know to death. Don't you want to be free from Ickni's clutches, or are you that weak?"
"I'm not weak. I've survived for this long because I'm not weak."
"If you are strong, then you must fight for what you believe in. If you choose servitude any longer, then you are no longer strong but a leech. Tell me, Sebastian, are you a leech or an angel?"
"I'm an angel. Strong…"
"Then speak the words that will spell Ickni's downfall, tell me where Lilia is," I ordered, my voice growing deeper and more authoritative.
"Three floors above the throne room, they've locked down the whole floor. You won't be able to get up undetected through the stairs. She's in the backmost room, go up through the window. It's the only way."
"I thank you, Sebastian. I'll ensure your safety."
I swiftly left the room, removing my light from Sebastian's band, allowing Ickni to once again glance upon him. I couldn't promise anything in reality, but a small part of me wished for Sebastian even if it was fleeting.
Sebastian returned to his original position, not daring to meet the others' eyes. I headed for the garden of the palace, where I'd be able to find a good position to climb up to Lilia's room.