The following morning, Henry adhered to the familiar rhythm of a soldier's life, engaging in relentless training before embarking on patrol through the labyrinthine alleys of Aerion. Upon returning to the barracks, his body weary from the day's exertions, a fellow soldier informed him of a summons to the Estath Cathedral for an important discussion. "So, this is the day." Henry mused inwardly, a disquieting premonition slithering into the recesses of his mind.

  "Yes, I will go immediately." he replied to the messenger, quickly exchanging his dust-covered uniform for more presentable attire before following the soldier towards the cathedral.

  Within the grand hall of the cathedral, a scene of solemnity tinged with palpable tension unfolded before Henry. Five individuals were already seated behind a long, intricately carved oak table. Archbishop Ralph occupied the central position, his expression benevolent yet carrying an air of profound gravity. Flanking him on either side were four others, all clad in stark black fabric, further adorned with long black cloaks draped across their shoulders, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

  Henry was directed to a smaller table situated below and facing the other five. The arrangement struck him as more akin to standing before a tribunal than a routine inquiry. He felt more like a defendant attempting to plead his case against a harsh sentence rather than a soldier answering his superiors' questions. "Whatever," Henry thought with an inward shrug, striving to maintain an outward composure. "Just let this be over soon."

  "Greetings, Soldier Henry Strike," the man seated at the left end of the table, appearing to be in his late thirties with a stern countenance and piercing eyes, spoke, breaking the heavy silence. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ragley, a member of the Zephyros Bureau of Investigation. Seated with me are, from left to right, Mister Cole, Mister Dash, Archbishop Ralph, and Miss Brena." Ragley introduced each individual in turn, his voice firm and authoritative.

  Archbishop Ralph, sensing the underlying tension etched upon Henry's face, offered a gentle reassurance. "I know you, Henry. We harbor no doubts regarding your abilities or your loyalty. But I trust you understand the nature of our work. This is a mandatory procedure when a soldier exhibits…unusual characteristics. It is a measure taken to ensure your safety, as well as the security of all of Zephyros."

  "I understand that this is the required protocol," Henry replied, his voice striving for an even calmness. "I am fully prepared to cooperate with this examination to demonstrate my unwavering loyalty to Zephyros."

  Miss Brena, the woman seated at the far right, appearing to be between twenty-five and twenty-eight years of age, wore a delicate pair of gold-rimmed spectacles perched upon her elegant, high-bridged nose. Her beautiful face betrayed no particular emotion. She carried no writing implements, merely listening intently to the exchange, one hand propping up her chin, the other resting idly on the edge of the table.

  Cole and Dash, the two men seated to Ragley's left, swiftly perused thick stacks of documents laid out before them, occasionally jotting down additional notes. Prelate Dash, positioned between Cole and Archbishop Ralph, simply clasped his hands together on the table before him, his expression pensive.

  Ragley, after making a few notations on the paper before him, fixed his gaze upon Henry and continued, "We have noted certain…anomalous indicators concerning you since the mission at Lake Loknezt. Could you recount for us precisely what transpired after you were attacked by the aquatic beast?"

  "I was struck by an Aqua Pump attack, forced against the lake wall, and propelled into a submerged cavern adjacent to Lake Loknezt," Henry began, recounting the events in meticulous detail. "At that point, my sole focus was activating the air bubble stone to quickly locate breathable air. I did come into contact with a stream of unusually bright water, but I paid it little heed as my priority was to escape that place as swiftly as possible. After reaching the shore, I was near exhaustion and collapsed near a small pond, after which I was discovered by the rescue team, as you are aware."

  "That is the entirety of the sequence?" Cole interjected, his tone sharp and probing. "Nothing else unusual? Or perhaps you omitted any details?"

  Henry hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking. "I do recall, during the time I was submerged, hearing a strange voice speaking of the year nine hundred and ninety-nine being the end of days, that great beings would descend, and the history of the world of Tehra would be forever changed." He recounted only the information relevant to Zephyros, deliberately omitting any mention of the Sanctuary.

  "What was the nature of this voice? How did you hear it? Have you heard this voice again since that day?" Dash swiftly pressed.

  "It sounded unlike a human voice, more like the vocalization of another type of being attempting to communicate with us," Henry described vaguely. "I only vaguely perceived it as a white orb of light, without any distinct form." He continued to speak of the image of Will, but avoided delving into the specifics of their conversation. "Subsequently, I heard the voice once more. This time, I understood that the end of days in nine hundred and ninety-nine was an Apocalypse, unavoidable." Henry lowered his head, attempting to convey distress and helplessness. "But that is all I know. I am merely a low-ranking soldier; what could I possibly do? Even if the world ends, it is not my concern. I am, at most, a guard, maintaining order, caring for my family. That is all that is required of me." Henry's voice grew choked, filled with feigned emotion.

  "Why did you not report these occurrences to your superiors or Archbishop Ralph sooner?" Ragley continued his relentless questioning, his gaze never leaving Henry's face.

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  "Because at that time, I was only just recovering my strength, and I was uncertain about what I had heard," Henry explained. "If I had spread such information as mere rumor, my offense would have been far greater. After my promotion and the subsequent increase in my aetheric reserves, I was also informed that I would be undergoing an investigation and interrogation. Therefore, revealing such information at that point would have been even more dangerous, as the belief that the end of days in nine hundred and ninety-nine was true would have caused even greater panic."

  Henry paused briefly, composing his emotions before continuing in a clear and resolute tone, "You yourselves have been monitoring and investigating me for some time now. You are undoubtedly aware that I have not mentioned this before. This is the first time I have spoken of what I heard. It is my earnest desire that this crucial information be brought to the attention of those in higher authority who can properly assess its significance. That is why I chose this interrogation to reveal everything."

  Archbishop Ralph remained silent, his kind eyes still reflecting a certain trust in the young soldier. Ragley turned and spoke quietly to Brena beside him, seemingly verifying some piece of information. Afterwards, he looked back at Henry and said in a measured tone, "I commend your perceptiveness, your ability to think thoroughly and comprehensively. We wish to examine your memories and your physical being to ensure there are no…unusual residual effects. We trust you will cooperate fully."

  "As before," Henry replied resolutely. "I am fully prepared to assist with your investigation. This is a testament to my loyalty and integrity towards Zephyros."

  "Excellent," Ragley praised. "I have always held faith in the good character of the soldiers of Zephyros."

  "But…there is something I wish to discuss privately with you, sir." Henry suddenly hesitated, a hint of awkwardness in his gaze.

  Ragley moved down to Henry's position, leaning in as Henry rose slightly and whispered into the Ranker's ear. Ragley's stern face softened, and a sympathetic smile spread across his lips. He gave Henry a light pat on the shoulder and said, "Hahaha, you needn't worry about that. We have our own rules and boundaries."

  Henry was led into a more secluded chamber, where only Archbishop Ralph, Ragley, and Miss Brena remained. He lay down on a simple cot. Brena sat above him, gently pressing two fingers to his temples. "Just relax." her voice was as soothing as a lullaby. "This is merely a standard examination procedure. Rest for a moment, and you will be fine upon waking."

  Henry felt his eyelids grow heavy and slowly close, the world around him fading into a silent darkness. A short while later, Archbishop Ralph gently shook him awake, smiling warmly. "A brief midday slumber is most beneficial for one's health. Do you feel more refreshed?"

  "Indeed, my body feels much more at ease." Henry replied with a cheerful smile. "Perhaps I will make it a habit to rest like this during midday in the future."

  "Everything is concluded." Archbishop Ralph said, patting Henry on the shoulder. "Please follow these two gentlemen outside. If anything feels amiss, do not hesitate to inform me."

  "Thank you, Your Eminence. Thank you for your justness." Henry said, turning to Ragley and Brena.

  Once Henry had been led out by Cole and Dash, Ragley turned to Brena. "Are you certain that everything he said was the truth?"

  "I employed truth-detection magic based on emotional resonance." Brena replied in a professional tone. "Everything he stated during the interrogation was factual. It was likely just a chance encounter. I also examined his memories just now; everything aligns and there are no contradictions with his statements. However, there are numerous vague and unclear memory fragments."

  Brena adjusted her spectacles on the bridge of her nose and continued her analysis, "I am uncertain whether this is due to the injury affecting his mental state or if what he experienced was too mystical and profound, exceeding his mind's comprehension and capacity to process. There is another possibility, but it is highly improbable."

  "What possibility?" Ragley asked, surprised.

  "That a mage of demigod-level power has sealed his memories. But the crucial point is that both memory examination and sealing require direct physical contact." Brena offered a bold hypothesis.

  "Indeed, that is highly improbable." Cole remarked, reviewing his notes. "We have maintained continuous surveillance over the past few days, and he has had no contact with anyone unusual. His activities have been entirely routine."

  "What leads you to believe it would have to be demigod-level?" Dash directly questioned Brena, his expression skeptical.

  "I utilized advanced Zephyros memory probing magic." Brena explained. "If it were Rank 6 or below, there would undoubtedly be residual traces of the sealing. His mind is remarkably clean, leading to the conclusion that he is either entirely innocent or has a demigod assisting him."

  "I believe that the sheer volume of terrifying information contained within those mystical pronouncements overwhelmed his mind, causing it to be unable to process and retain those memories clearly, resulting in such fragmented recollections." Ragley offered his own conjecture, attempting to find a more plausible explanation.

  "I continue to hold faith in the integrity of this young soldier." Archbishop Ralph finally spoke, his voice filled with unwavering trust.

  "He has a romantic partner, a very close relationship, and frequents this cathedral, correct?" Ragley turned to the Archbishop.

  "Indeed, that young woman is Sophia, a member of Henry's squad. Are you investigating this as well?" Archbishop Ralph asked, slightly surprised.

  "Not exactly, this was merely a noted aside." Ragley chuckled lightly. "Earlier, he asked me for a personal favor. If his memories were to be examined, to perhaps gloss over the intimate moments he shared with her, out of shyness and a desire to maintain his image in her eyes." Ragley laughed heartily at the young soldier's endearing embarrassment.

  "I followed your instructions, sir." Brena replied, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "I also have no desire to intrude upon the private lives of others."

  "Hahaha, is not the love of youth always so intense? Even in such a situation, his thoughts turn to his beloved. Quite the interesting young man." Ragley said with an amused tone. "Truly, if he continues to develop well, I would very much like to have him work under my command. Integrity, loyalty, intelligence – who wouldn't want such a person in their service?"

  "Henry and Sophia, both only twenty-two and already having found love for their lives, how truly admirable." Brena murmured to herself, her gaze falling downwards as she gently rubbed a small magic-stone-adorned crucifix hanging from her neck, seemingly lost in distant thought.