The Arks 111 The Ark Of Mixed Feelings

"Sorry mate, but I have no intention to kill the Umbras. They are Mages like us. I'm sure there's something wrong. A reason as to why they were rampaging through Earth," thought Mavislin as she focused on the task on hand.

"Because the Umbras should have been good and dead for a few years. I was the one who killed them. To rid them, once and for all from the clutches of... "

On the other side, the Earl felt something was amiss. How could Baldwin have given them the wrong information? He was the one who established the alliance of the underworld society. He made them swore to always reveal the truth. And now, he's committing the exact opposite oath. He'd even tried to use a young girl to spread the wrong words out.

It doesn't add up. The entire thing didn't make sense. Unless...

As for Baron Tuazon, he was also confused, but not for the same reason as the Earl. Why were the Umbras sparing people? And they feed off from Memories, so why take only the Mages? Shouldn't humans have memories as well?

More importantly, how could the Marquess have mobilized his a.s.sa.s.sins? He had reported to the rest of the Kings as well as the Arks. The Earl did not know about the report and neither did Mavislin.

Gab looked frantic as he tried to find out how the Marquess was able to launch an attack. Or h.e.l.l, even send a letter. He'd seen it with his own eyes. The event.

On another area, the swarms of Shadows licked dangerously near. The Valkyrie swiftly released her wings and flew away from the darkness.

"I don't know what you might be thinking. But I can guarantee that you need more effort if you want to take me down," smirked the Valkyrie as she flew up into the night sky.

The Shadows could only follow her up the highest building before stopping. It seemed to pause for a bit before sliding back onto the ground level. The area was still and silent, allowing the duo to continuously dodged each other's attacks.

The Valkyrie tried to get away but was close enough for the Umbra to give a small poke.

"s.h.i.+ne! Light of the Valkyries!" she chanted.

A huge beam of light appeared and shot out from her index finger and into the shadow. It dispersed, allowing the Valkyrie to soar to greater heights.

"I know of your planning, your trickery. You gave Baldwin and every one the wrong impressions."

The Shadow paused its rampage. It then collapsed in on itself, creating a dark puddle of void in front of the flying Valkyrie.

"Why did you tell the Universe a fake story?" asked Mavislin, going closer to the puddle.

The puddle seemed to shake violently before it spat out a lump of darkness onto the ground. Mavislin backed away with caution. The lump wriggled and shook. Slowly, it formed into a shape of a being. Though caked with glowing purple smoke, Mavislin could tell who she was looking at.

"So you've peeked into my memories, huh?" asked Mavislin, smiling.

The being was a small little girl, significantly shorter than Mavislin. She had dark brown, shoulder-length hair. A relatively big, red side lily sat on the top, left side of her hair. She wore a purple kimono golden linings and a black obi.

"Don't think you can use that person in front of me to your advantage. I've long past her death," said Mavislin, pointing towards the smoky figure.

"She held no meaning for you?" asked the Umbra, in a distorted voice.

The figure looked up, towards the Valkyrie. Her face, which was covered by smoke earlier, was now visible. Her eyes were bigger than any other beings. Mavislin stared into the child's violet orbs. Her pale skin was the same as how the Valkyrie had remembered.

"What was on Valokia, stays buried and lost on that planet. If it is still floating there," replied the Valkyrie.

The figure merely stood still as Mavislin came closer.

"So being your family member will not harbor any emotion within you?" asked the figure.

"Kikuri has been long dead. The figure standing in front of me is not my little sister, but an imposter."

"You've got no mercy on kids."

"Says the same Umbra that has been mutilating kids."

The Umbra backed away, with terror in its eyes. It then bit its lip in anger.

"How could you..."

"Mages who were adults were not remembered and disappeared completely. But those mutilated were children of Mages or child Mages. At first, I thought they were human children, but it was clear that they belonged to the ex group of Mages. The Congregation's long gone, but its archives are not lost."