In Histis, Layana City, Havanuheta Province. After that night's incident, the seven operatives sent by the NightField organization secluded themselves inside a remote building that served as one of their safe houses.
That historical event had left their minds functioning on multiple levels, flooded with an overwhelming amount of information from thousands of years ago.
Their leader, Andreas Nesta, reported the incident to his superior, a captain.
Why didn't he report such an important matter to his immediate superior? Andreas did not want to take such a great risk. Instead, he chose to contact the captain because she was someone he knew well and regarded as an older sister.
The captain's response, after listening to each of their complaints over the public telephone, swept away the wave of tension that had gripped their minds, especially Leonard Horowitz's.
It was difficult for him to think clearly after both his body and soul had become the puppet of a legendary figure from thousands of years ago.
Herman Chiquato.
Ever since the death of the Supreme Leader of the United Republic of Moonses, the world had stood on the brink of crisis. Although Leonard Horowitz's body and soul had not disappeared after Herman was killed by the six leaders, he had been left speechless because the history they had always known was a lie.
It had always been taught that humans with brown eyes had slaughtered every other eye-colored race. The conspiracy claimed that the massacre was connected to the world's nine supreme leaders and the non-human races.
All of it was false, and Leonard Horowitz had learned the truth without paying any price. He was certain that if he tried to spread the real history, many people would oppose him, and he had already accepted that risk when he gathered everyone together.
"I told you not to move," Xirus said worriedly. "You were affected by that man's ability, so you..."
"Quiet!" Leonard said weakly, his unsteady steps carrying him to the long sofa before he sat down with slumped shoulders.
Everyone's eyes turned toward him, confused and suspicious because Leonard had never behaved like this before.
Questions about what had happened that night crossed each of their minds.
Yet no answers came, because Andreas Nesta, Xirus Ziman, and Antonius Padanas had all been thrown into a particularly dark era from two and a half centuries ago.
Watching their comrades become trapped within a history forged by supernatural power, the remaining three, Senlock, Vivian Keisenn, and Cyla Cansey, mourned the fate that had befallen them.
Although they had apologized the following day, the guilt of abandoning their four companions at that place still lingered heavily in their hearts, even now that they had reunited.
"You three don't have to keep blaming yourselves. Leave it to us. We've already accepted the reality of the situation." Leonard looked at each of them in turn, noticing how exhausted and dispirited they were.
'It may sound ridiculous, but the burden in my heart and that feeling of emptiness aren't nearly as crushing as they were last night. What truly bothers us now is this: where is that man, and where did that group of fugitives disappear to?'
Leonard realized that when they emerged from that "Fairy Tale," they had not returned to the same location but had instead been scattered randomly.
From the place where the battle and the Fairy Tale had begun in Histis, the Fairy Tale had transported the four of them to downtown Layana, specifically Kanku.
The three of them nodded in unison. Their minds gradually calmed, their sitting posture relaxed, and a faint glimmer of hope returned to their eyes.
Leonard smiled faintly after noticing that. This time, he could tell the story freely and hoped they would not dismiss it as nonsense.
"There's something important I need to tell you," he said after careful consideration.
Leonard raised an eyebrow.
"Should we close the door and the windows first?" Andreas almost rose from his seat, waiting only for Leonard's approval.
"Good idea." Leonard nodded slowly.
Andreas hurried to do so, taking about a minute before returning to the single sofa beside Leonard's right.
The lantern illuminating the room flickered gently as the afternoon breeze slipped in through the ventilation.
The room fell silent. Leonard remained quiet for quite some time as he carefully arranged his words.
'I'll just say it.'
Casting aside his worries, he let out a sigh and said quietly, "I entered the body of the ruler of the Najasma Continent from centuries ago."
Antonius calmly interrupted, "Isn't that the continent where much of the land is barren desert, now ruled by several leaders?"
Leonard looked carefully at Antonius, who was seated on a mahogany chair five meters in front of him.
He nodded and continued without hesitation, "That's right. After Herman Chiquato's death, the Najasma Continent lost its leader within two months of his passing."
Leonard revisited that moment. As the rulers of the world's three continents, BlackLand, Chynoria, and Najasma, were cornered one after another, they formed a temporary alliance against six rulers every bit as ruthless as themselves.
That unexpected battle had nearly been won by Herman Chiquato through his cunning manipulation of the battlefield. By speaking words that were both inspiring and devastating to the first Empress of the Sheak Empire, Herman Chiquato managed to seize control of the situation for a time.
After the battle subsided, a magnificent structure surrounded by towering bulls like a heavenly garden became the meeting place where strategies for the ongoing war were discussed.
More importantly, that "Fairy Tale" skipped over the crucial words Herman Chiquato had spoken while controlling the battlefield and instead brought Leonard Horowitz directly to the climactic final moments, where the forty-six-year-old Herman Chiquato fought four rulers from the continents and the Thousand Islands all by himself.
They wielded objects imbued with supernatural power, artifacts Herman himself had no idea they possessed. Cornered and gravely wounded, Herman Chiquato pressed both of his dusty, calloused hands against the blood soaking the expensive garments befitting a ruler.
The four rulers shouted confidently, certain their target could never escape the vast mountain range. Beyond the mountains, reserve soldiers already lay in wait, ready to kill Herman Chiquato at any moment.
Herman fell silent at those words, realizing death would soon come for him. For several minutes, he heard nothing except his own breathing and heartbeat. The world around him seemed to slow. His reactions dulled, and simply rising from behind the tree trunk where he had taken cover required enough strength to take only two steps.
Unwilling to let the pain gradually consume his thoughts, and knowing death was approaching, a cunning idea crossed his mind.
He decided to charge straight at his enemies and drag at least one of them into death as punishment for the unforgivable crimes they had committed throughout their lives.
Just as he was about to act on that plan, Herman Chiquato suddenly appeared directly behind his pursuers while hurling a string of curses at them.
"You greedy fools! You'll never catch me, even if you gang up on me again."
Consumed by rage at the taunt and the sharp grin accompanying it, one of the men, a pot-bellied figure whose bloated body was the result of plunder and oppression, charged at him while screaming for his life.
Herman Chiquato calmly spread both arms wide, awaiting the attack with a serious gaze and a broad smile that intimidated his enemies.
The pot-bellied man produced an object, the very object that had intrigued Herman since the beginning of the battle.
'Whatever that supernatural power is, I'll still defeat you. Now then... aim it at this hand of mine. I've been waiting for this all along...'
Even with no escape left, Herman remained perfectly composed as his enemy rushed toward him at a moderate speed while pulling out a staff made of rattan.
Before the pot-bellied man could reach him, Herman drew his arms inward and flung his cloak wide open, wearing an expression of complete resignation.
For a brief moment, his eyes caught the sparks flickering from the man's staff.
"Forgive your foolish husband... Alicia."
Herman raised his head, staring straight ahead as the staff infused with magic floated directly before him.
Boom!
That was not the effect of the magic staff.
It was the explosion of a suicide bomb.
Herman sacrificed himself by detonating sticks of dynamite sewn into his clothing. He knew the explosion required a detonator, and because one of his enemies possessed one, his improvised plan succeeded.
Herman Chiquato died instantly, leaving behind a heavy, oppressive silence that lingered throughout the forest for several minutes.
The four world leaders emerged from the trees after successfully eliminating one of the three figures who threatened their sinister plans.
Herman Chiquato's plan had failed because he had been unable to take even one of them down with him.
Even so, he accepted his fate, hoping the gods would not punish him when his soul finally met "Her."
The memory faded, leaving only Leonard Horowitz's thoughts once again.
Not wishing to prolong the meeting, he decided to get straight to the point.
"The history we know," Leonard said, glancing at Cyla and Antonius, both of whom possessed golden-yellow eyes, "is fabricated."
None of them moved. Their minds froze for a moment as they struggled to process what he had just said.
"What do you mean? The history we learned as children..." Cyla glanced at Vivian, who was sitting beside her. "...is fake?"
"Yes." Leonard nodded confidently. He knew the information was accurate.
After all, although the "Fable" created by the Puppeteer's ability was shaped by the Receiver who possessed it, the Fable itself could manifest as reality, even if the "story" originated from another world.
How could Leonard be so certain that their history was false? Simply because "she" had already discussed the matter with the captain Andreas had contacted regarding this serious incident.
"The Star World truly exists, and the continent of Karanda did not originate from this world. Records once existed, although those books disappeared long ago. Many dismissed them as myths because there was no concrete evidence. But if you look at the facts, why are the women there taller than most men? It's because that continent did not originate here."
"Then where did that continent come from?" Andreas asked, carefully studying his friend's expression.
Leonard paused to take a deep breath before answering quietly,
"From the stars that fill the sky, where humanity adapted into beings known as 'Sosreca.'"
The conversation continued until it reached its most crucial point.
"One more thing. The Arum Archipelago, which suddenly appeared near the continent of Chynoria, is connected to Karanda. And Herman Chiquato's death is directly linked to Karanda's appearance exactly one hour after he died."
"How much do you actually know, Horowitz?" Xirus stared intently at his friend.
Leonard tried to smile.
"That's everything I know. It's obvious that the war was no longer a war between humans. Long after the death of the first Empress of the Sheak Empire, it triggered a chain of dark events that reshaped the world on a global scale. As for anything beyond that, I'm sorry. Everything I've told you is all I learned while playing my role within that 'story.'"
"So," Xirus said, rubbing his chin, "are you all thinking the same thing I am?"
"Yes. It's painfully obvious."
They murmured almost simultaneously, their thoughts turning toward finding a Puppeteer Receivers named Loki Wesborn.
Could they really do that?
What would they do after meeting that man?
Where was he, and why did Loki Wesborn always appear at the perfect moment only to disappear during the moments that mattered most?