Eni didn’t even have time to blink before Nick vanished into thin air, leaving behind nothing but the scent of ozone and a lingering sense of bewilderment. She lunged after him, hoping to catch the crazed father and demand answers to her mounting questions, but as she reached the edge of the training zone, she found only a deserted pier.

  There, at the very edge, sitting with his legs dangling over the abyss, was a white-haired elf. His figure seemed fragile and almost weightless against the backdrop of the sunset sky. Eni scanned the area one last time, looking for Nick’s pink eye, but realizing he had truly slipped away, she cautiously approached the stranger.

  "Um... hello?" she ventured uncertainly.

  The elf flinched, his shoulders tensing. He rose slowly and offered a bow that looked nothing like the elegant gestures of Vee or Iva. He placed one hand on his hip, the other on his chest, and leaning slightly to the side, spoke in a soft, melodic voice:

  "Greetings, warrior."

  To put it mildly, Eni was floored. Such refined politeness in this madhouse felt alien. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she decided to take the lead.

  "What’s your name? I’m... Eni."

  "Insip," he replied, a bitter, almost pained smile touching his lips. "From the word insipid—or simply, a fool."

  Eni raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Why don’t you change it if it... makes you feel that way? You’re an Archon, aren’t you? You’ve got powers, magic..."

  Insip merely waved a hand, gazing into the distance. "I am a fool. I have made many terrible mistakes." He reached his hands toward the sky, a gesture so filled with despair that Eni felt a shiver of unease. "This is my curse. The price for my deeds."

  "Excuse me? Are you okay?" Eni took a step closer, trying to get a better look at his face.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The elf sat back down on the edge of the pier, staring at the boundless sea beneath his feet. "I committed a grave sin by stepping onto a terrifying path. And even with an infinite number of chances... I am miserable. This is my punishment."

  Eni was completely lost. The Voice had described Insip as a jester, a mindless idiot who barely grasped what he was doing. But this guy in front of her... he was literally drowning in his own reflection.

  "I... I don’t understand what you’re talking about," she admitted honestly.

  Insip turned and looked her straight in the eyes. For a moment, Eni felt as if she were staring into a void full of regrets. But the elf quickly looked away, as if his conscience were scorching him from the inside.

  "You’re acting strange," Eni noted.

  Insip laughed bitterly. "Yes, I am pathetic... But thank you for trying to care, Eni. It means a lot to me."

  Eni sat on the edge of the pier as well and began swinging her legs, trying to get this odd Archon to open up. "So... what happened? Maybe I can help somehow?"

  Insip let out a bitter snort. "You are too kind, just like all the Archons..." He fell silent for a few seconds. "But I am glad you are all alive."

  Eni started to simmer. She loathed this endless self-flagellation. She jumped up and stated firmly:

  "Can you just say what happened normally? I’m actually worried here!"

  Insip flinched and turned away even further, almost burying his face in his knees. "Forgive me, it’s all my fault..."

  Eni couldn't take it anymore. Without a second thought, she simply shoved him into the water.

  Splash!

  A few seconds later, Insip surfaced, gasping for air and spitting out water. "Why... would you do that?.." he managed, looking at her in total bewilderment.

  Eni burst into ringing laughter. The sight of a world-class criminal soaked to the bone was too comical. Insip fell silent, then simply teleported back onto the pier—bone dry, but looking like a kicked puppy. Despite being a head taller than Eni, he seemed small in that moment. He began nervously stroking his own arm.

  "Because of me, all my friends died..." he began in a whisper. "I killed them all. I killed my love and..."

  "But Nick definitely wouldn't take maniacs into the Coalition," Eni interrupted. "Well, excluding Doc and those twin brothers. I’ll even ask him myself!"

  She turned to leave, but Insip suddenly grabbed her hand. "Wait! He... he doesn't know about it!" he cried out, then, as if burned by fire, he yanked his hand back and stared at the floor. "I-I’m sorry..."

  Eni sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. She extended her hand, offering a handshake. "You’re very weird, and I don’t think many people here are friends with you. So... it’s better to have one rowdy friend than none. I know exactly what it’s like to be lonely."

  Insip froze. He took a step back, falling into a self-defensive posture. "I... I..."

  "I don't give a damn what happened to you!" Eni started poking her index finger at him. "But if you keep whining like this, you’re just going to lose your mind."

  Insip suddenly thawed. He seized Eni’s hand with both of his palms and said with unexpected tenderness: "I am so happy that we are friends again, Eni."

  Eni, who couldn't stand such mushy displays, immediately yanked her hand back and began wiping it on the hem of her uniform with a look of disgust. Insip turned away, his shoulders shaking—he was barely suppressing a laugh. Eni, satisfied that she had at least momentarily pulled the elf out of his depression, headed for the exit.

  "Bye. I hope... we meet again."

  When she had walked quite a distance away, Insip’s shout reached her back:

  "I’m here often, look for me here! And Nick is in the cafeteria, drinking milk!"

  Without turning around, Eni gave a thumbs-up and dissolved into the blue radiance of the Obelisk.