The moon hung high above Eldross.
Its pale silver light spilled through the open window of the small rented room, illuminating the quiet space with a gentle glow. The city outside had grown quieter with the passing hours, though faint sounds still drifted up from the distant streets—footsteps, muffled laughter, the occasional creak of wagon wheels.
Inside the room, however, everything was calm.
Reider sat alone near the window, leaning back in a wooden chair with his arms folded across his chest. The moonlight cast long shadows across the floor, tracing the sharp lines of his posture.
His expression was thoughtful.
Too thoughtful.
His golden eyes stared out into the night sky, though it was clear he wasn't really looking at the city.
His mind was somewhere else entirely.
So many things had happened in such a short amount of time.
The demons occupying Eldross.
Lilith and Kraggor.
The strange encounter earlier in the alley.
The conversation with Sylva.
And then there was Mei.
The memory of her quiet confession replayed in his thoughts.
I'm a god.
Even now, the words felt surreal.
Reider sighed softly and leaned his head back against the chair.
"Thinking too much again," he muttered to himself.
Right on cue—
Creak.
The door slowly opened.
Reider didn't turn around immediately, but he already knew who it was.
A familiar presence entered the room.
Vael stepped inside, the door closing softly behind her. She leaned casually against the frame for a moment, her arms folded as she studied him.
"You look like you're thinking too hard again."
Reider smirked faintly.
"Thinking isn't a bad thing."
Vael pushed herself off the doorframe and walked further into the room.
"True," she admitted.
Then her smirk grew.
"But you overthinking? That's dangerous."
Reider finally turned his head toward her, raising one eyebrow.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Vael didn't answer right away.
Instead, she stepped closer and extended her hand toward him.
"I have something for you."
Reider glanced down.
Resting in her palm was… a stick.
A small black stick.
It was smooth, about the length of a short baton, and looked incredibly ordinary.
Reider stared at it for a moment.
Then slowly looked back up at her.
"A stick?"
His expression was completely unimpressed.
"You're giving me a stick?"
Vael rolled her eyes so hard it was almost impressive.
Before he could say anything else—
Flick!
Her finger snapped against his forehead.
"Ow."
"Not just any stick, idiot," she said.
"Watch."
She took the stick back and ran her finger lightly along its surface.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then—
Vwoooom.
A faint hum vibrated through the air.
Thin glowing lines suddenly appeared along the stick's surface, forming intricate patterns that pulsed softly with energy.
Reider leaned forward slightly.
The patterns brightened.
And in the next instant—
Shiiing!
The stick transformed.
The simple black baton expanded and reshaped itself, metal flowing like liquid as it stretched into the form of a sleek longsword.
The blade gleamed darkly in the moonlight.
Reider blinked once.
"Huh."
He leaned forward further.
"Not bad."
Vael smirked proudly.
"Oh, we're not done yet."
With a casual flick of her wrist, the weapon changed again.
The blade elongated and narrowed—
Shrrk!
Now it was a spear.
Then the spear collapsed inward—
Shink!
A dagger.
Then the dagger folded in on itself once more—
Returning to the simple black stick.
Vael tossed it toward him.
Fwip.
Reider caught it effortlessly.
The moment it landed in his hand, he immediately began testing it—spinning the baton between his fingers and shifting its weight.
The balance was perfect.
"Alright," he admitted.
"I'll admit that's impressive."
Vael placed a hand on her hip, clearly pleased.
"It's called Eidolon."
Reider stopped spinning it and looked at her.
"It responds directly to your will," she continued.
"You don't need chants or spells."
She tapped the side of her head.
"Just think about the weapon you want."
Reider's eyes flicked down to the stick.
His mind focused for a moment.
The baton vibrated lightly—
Then—
Whoooosh—THUD.
A massive battle-axe materialized in his grip.
The weight of it settled heavily into his hands.
Reider raised an eyebrow.
"That's… useful."
Vael stepped closer.
A smirk crept onto her face.
"The best part?"
She reached out and pressed her finger lightly against his chest.
"It bonds to its wielder permanently."
Before Reider could ask what she meant—
Her hand suddenly grabbed his forearm.
And a bright glow erupted between them.
Bzzzt!
Magic surged across his skin.
Reider winced slightly as a strange tingling sensation spread through his arm.
He watched as glowing lines traced themselves across his forearm, slowly forming a swirling black spiral.
When the light faded, the mark remained.
Reider flexed his hand.
"Huh."
He rotated his wrist experimentally.
"Feels… weird."
Vael stepped back, clearly satisfied with her work.
"Now you don't need to carry it."
She pointed at the mark.
"Just summon it whenever you want."
Reider raised his arm slightly.
His focus sharpened.
The mark glowed.
Vwoooom!
And suddenly Eidolon appeared in his hand again.
Reider's eyes lit up slightly.
He began experimenting immediately.
The weapon shifted form again and again.
Dagger.
Sword.
Staff.
Bow.
Shrrk! Shing! Fwoosh!
Each transformation was seamless.
Vael leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, watching with a smug expression.
"Told you it was better than just a stick."
Reider gave her a sideways glance.
"Fine."
"I'll admit it."
He flipped the weapon into a short blade.
"This is actually useful."
Vael's grin widened.
"You can thank me later."
Reider rolled his eyes.
"Sure."
"Thanks for the stick."
Thump!
Vael punched his arm lightly.
"It's Eidolon!"
"Not 'stick'!"
Reider shrugged.
"Eidolon the stick."
"Got it."
Vael glared at him.
Though there was clear amusement in her eyes.
"I should've given it to someone with respect."
Reider simply smirked.
Then he flipped the weapon once more before letting it vanish.
Vwip.
The weapon dissolved into light and disappeared back into the mark on his arm.
Reider leaned back in his chair again.
"It's growing on me."
Vael sighed dramatically.
"You're impossible."
Reider grinned.
"But you wouldn't want me any other way."
Hours later.
The inn had fallen silent.
The moon now sat high overhead, casting long silver beams through the open window.
Inside the room, the bed was occupied.
Vael, Mei, and Eryndra slept peacefully together beneath the blankets.
Their quiet breathing filled the room.
Occasionally someone shifted slightly.
Rustle.
But none of them woke.
Across the room, however—
Reider stood by the window.
He hadn't moved in quite some time.
His arms were folded again, his eyes reflecting the pale moonlight.
The wind outside whispered softly against the building.
Then—
Something changed.
The air shifted.
It was subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
But Reider felt it instantly.
His eyes narrowed.
The world around him began to blur.
Reality itself seemed to bend.
WOOOM…
A deep vibration echoed through the air.
Before Reider could react—
FWOOOSH!
Everything vanished.
White.
Endless white.
Reider blinked slowly.
The familiar void stretched infinitely in every direction.
He sighed.
"…Again?"
A shadow moved ahead of him.
The figure stepped forward from the blank expanse.
It was him.
Or rather—
Someone who looked like him.
Older.
Calmer.
Sharper.
Future Reider.
"You're getting better at sensing it," the older version said calmly.
Reider crossed his arms.
"You again."
He tilted his head slightly.
"This some kind of lesson?"
Future Reider chuckled quietly.
"Everything is a lesson."
He smirked faintly.
"Whether you learn from it or not is up to you."
Reider scoffed.
"That's vague as hell."
He stepped closer.
"Mind being a little more useful?"
Future Reider's expression grew more serious.
"You're in Eldross now."
His voice lowered slightly.
"The pieces are moving."
"And soon…"
His eyes sharpened.
"You'll have to make choices you won't be able to take back."
Reider studied him carefully.
"So what?"
"You're here to warn me again?"
Future Reider shook his head slowly.
"No."
"I'm here to remind you."
He stepped closer.
"That not everything you see is what it seems."
Reider frowned.
"Cryptic."
"Try again."
Future Reider rubbed his temples.
Clearly annoyed.
"Alright."
"There's someone watching."
Reider's eyes sharpened.
"Someone beyond what you understand."
Future Reider hesitated briefly.
"And when the time comes…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"She will reach out."
Reider froze.
"She?"
Future Reider immediately shook his head.
"Not yet."
"You're not ready."
Reider's frustration finally showed.
"You keep saying that."
He stepped forward.
"How am I supposed to get ready if nobody tells me anything?"
Future Reider smirked faintly.
"By figuring it out yourself."
"That's what I did."
Reider clenched his jaw.
"And what if I screw it up?"
Future Reider looked at him quietly.
Then his voice softened slightly.
"Then you'll learn."
"Just like I did."
Reider looked away.
His thoughts racing.
The void began humming again.
Future Reider's body slowly started fading into light.
"Hummmmm…"
Reider looked up sharply.
"Wait."
"The 'she' you mentioned—"
Future Reider smirked.
"You'll know her when the time is right."
He paused.
"Just…"
His voice grew quiet.
"Don't make the same mistake I did."
And then—
WHOOOSH!
The void shattered.
Reider gasped.
He was back in the inn.
His hands gripped the windowsill tightly as he steadied himself.
His breathing slowed.
"Someone's watching…?"
Behind him, Vael shifted slightly in her sleep.
But she didn't wake.
Reider glanced back at the bed.
Vael.
Eryndra.
Mei.
His gaze lingered on Mei a moment longer.
I'm a god.
The words echoed again.
Reider turned back to the window.
His expression unreadable.
His eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight.
"I need to figure this out…"
"…before it's too late."
Outside, the moon hung large and ominous over Eldross.
Inside the room, everything appeared calm.
Peaceful.
But inside Reider's mind—
A storm was brewing.
And that night…
He never slept.