Julie followed Cerilla through the imposing doors, which at first glance appeared to be crafted from an otherworldly wood that gleamed like no other material Julie had ever encountered.
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"Stop gazing off into the cosmos," Cerilla snapped, looking back with irritation.
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"Uh, yeah, sorry," Julie replied, quickly falling into step behind Cerilla as she pushed open the door.
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As they stepped inside, Cerilla and Julie found themselves in a spacious chamber, dominated by a towering tree with a massive trunk. Julie's gaze remained fixated on this extraordinary tree, its leaves shifting from orange to red, then to green.
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"Do you find it intriguing?" Cerilla asked with a sly smile, glancing back at Julie's astonished expression.
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"What is it?" Julie inquired.
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"It's a Krebluce," Cerilla responded.
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Julie looked at Cerilla, slightly puzzled. "A Krebluce?"
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"A tree of wisdom," Cerilla elucidated. "A tree that has witnessed a thousand Cycles and has accrued the wisdom of the ages."
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Julie turned her attention back to the tree, unable to find words to express her awe.
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"To partake in the sap of a Krebluce is to imbibe a fraction of its wisdom," Cerilla explained as she strolled past the tree. "It stands as a symbol of profound knowledge and enlightenment," she added, her hands tucked in her pockets. "But now, enough sightseeing; follow me," she commanded.
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Julie, however, lingered a while longer before she eventually turned and hurried after Cerilla.
Cerilla led Julie through a passageway, the walls of which were decorated with murals of strange beings and places.
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Julie focused on the painting, her eyes scanning the intricate details. Familiar creatures, which had been a constant presence throughout her life, soared through the sky, perched on people's shoulders, or lingered just at the edge of one's vision. She recognized them from her everyday existence, a comforting and reassuring sight.
Yet, her gaze inevitably drifted to the other creatures depicted on the canvas. These were beings she had only encountered in her dreams, mysterious and nightmarish figures that had always managed to terrify her, leaving her sleepless and uneasy.
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Unwilling to dwell on those unsettling images any longer, Julie turned her gaze away from the painting, seeking refuge from the unnerving creatures it depicted.
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As they progressed through the passageway, Julie and Cerilla found themselves standing in front of an imposing desk, its surface vast and nearly unbroken, save for a small opening in the middle. Two individuals occupied positions on either side of the desk.
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To the right was a man with impeccably styled light brown hair, and to the left was a woman with long, pristine white hair pulled back into a ponytail. Both of them wore matching black button-down suits with a black tie adorned by subtle blue lines. On the right side of their chest, they sported a small silver badge bearing the Roman numeral for three.
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Cerilla confidently approached the woman on the left, who welcomed her with a warm and almost sisterly smile.
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"Cerilla," the woman greeted her, her voice carrying an air of familiarity. "Good to see that you're keeping yourself busy," she remarked, a hint of affection in her tone.
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"Shut up," Cerilla retorted with irritation as she exchanged an exasperated glance with the woman.
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"As rude as usual," the woman replied, her expression conveying a hint of disappointment. She then shifted her focus to Julie, her demeanor changing as she offered a warm and welcoming smile.
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"And who might you be?" she inquired with genuine curiosity, her voice friendly and inviting.
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Julie met the woman's warm and inquisitive gaze, her initial guard beginning to ease.
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"Julie," she replied, her tone less standoffish.
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"Well, Julie, my name is Isabella Grayson," she introduced herself, extending a hand in a friendly gesture. "And this is Samuel Anderson," she continued, gesturing toward the man seated to her right.
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"Yea, yea... now that we're done with introductions, can we finally get down to business?" Cerilla inquired with a tinge of irritation.
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"When you say business, I assume you mean the reason you brought this young girl here," Isabella remarked.
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"She's one of us," Cerilla declared, her arms crossed.
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Isabella's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my. A half-breed, are you sure?"
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Cerilla nodded in response. "Pretty sure."
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"I would assume that she's here for registration then?" Isabella surmised.
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Cerilla nodded her head. "Yea..." she muttered, her eyes narrowing. "Can we get it over with already?"
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"Very well," Isabella conceded. "I will be your facilitator for today," she explained. "And Samuel here will be handling the paperwork." She said to Julie.
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"Step this way." Samuel beckoned, waving Julie over.
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Julie walked to the counter where Samuel sat, waiting patiently.
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"You'll need to fill these out," Samuel instructed as he passed Julie a clipboard with three forms and a pen.
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Julie furrowed her brow, her curiosity piqued as she flipped through the three papers.
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"These are your rights and responsibilities, guaranteed and demanded by the Luminal Accords," Samuel explained with a friendly smile.
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"Rights and responsibilities?" Julie questioned, her confusion evident. "Luminal Accords? What the hell are you talking about?" She was clearly bewildered by this unfamiliar terminology.
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Samuel let out a soft sigh. "Please let me explain."
"The Luminal Accords are a set of laws governing the rights and responsibilities of all races that exist in the world of spirits," he explained.
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"It is the absolute law created by the Eldean Council, a council comprised of individuals from a myriad of other races, all to insure that all who walk under the light are treated equally and justly," he added.
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"So this... Eldean Council created these accords to protect all the people living in the world of spirits," Julie remarked.
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"Correct," Samuel nodded in affirmation.
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"And to summarize these papers, the first outlines your rights and the protections extended to you," Samuel elucidated. "Let me clarify a few key points... You'll be under the safeguard of our organization, and therefore, you and your family will have the privilege to seek refuge in any of our facilities located across the world."
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"You will also have access to limited magical resources that will be of aid to you whenever you need them," he added.
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"Finally, and most importantly, you'll have the right to pursue the truth, to learn more about the world of spirits and its denizens, without having to fear for your safety." Samuel explained. "These are just some of the few things our organization offers."
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Julie fell silent, her mind working to process the overwhelming information she had just been presented with.
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"However, with great rights come great responsibilities," Samuel cautioned. "The second paper is to signify your commitment and obligation to abide by the Luminal Accords and its stipulations." He glanced at the first page.
Samuel continued, "The third document involves your agreement to allow us to use magical means on you when deemed necessary." He explained.
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"What?" Julie asked, not liking the sound of the last term and condition.
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"Worry not..." Samuel said lifting his hand up in defense. "The Magical means I'm talking about are things like healing, or aiding you in times of need, nothing that would hurt you. This is simply to insure that all members of the organization are able to rely on each other for support. Think of it like being part of a family, and this document is the equivalent of our pact, our oath of trust and loyalty."
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Julie listened closely, considering the new information.
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"Any other questions?" Samuel asked.
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Julie persisted with her questions. "This organization you're talking about, what is it?"
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Samuel clarified, "We are known as Vanishing Point, and our organization is the guardians of the widow." Samual said pushing the papers forward. "So tell me will you sign?"
***
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Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
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