Strings of Law

Gilan had no idea how long he had been unconscious.

In his hazy state, he seemed to hear the voices of Azure Stork and Crimson Sparrow, along with the noisy shouts of a crowd.

"What happened to Mr. Gilan...?"

Franco's mature male voice reached him, but it lacked its usual steadiness and instead carried considerable anxiety.

"Mr. Gilan! Mr. Gilan?!"

There was also Aurora's urgent call, tinged with tears.

"Wake up, please..."

Gilan felt himself being shaken—violently shaken.

He wanted to open his eyes, but overwhelming exhaustion and drowsiness kept washing over him, wave after wave, drowning him.

He wanted to speak, but his lips weighed a thousand tons and would not obey him at all. It was as though cement had sealed his mouth shut, blocking even his throat.

Gradually, he could no longer feel his body.

He only felt his consciousness sinking ever deeper.

As if he had plunged into a bottomless, silent, icy-black sea.

The clamorous sounds by his ears echoed, then steadily receded, until everything fell completely silent.

Who knew how much more time passed.

Gilan felt gazes sweeping over him. The sensation of being watched was familiar.

The higher beings...

Hour-Gods, Apostles, and Ascendants had turned their eyes upon him.

There was approval, goodwill, admiration, and keen interest—as well as confusion, hatred, indifference, and chilling murderous intent.

They were numerous and varied, each different from the next.

From some distant place, a young girl's clear laughter rang out:

"Ahahaha, how interesting, isn't it, Mary?"

"It certainly is interesting, Maria."

Another nearly identical young female voice followed, though her tone was steadier and more mature.

Then, the two voices merged into one and solemnly declared:

"We witnessed your feat and heard your roar, Mr. Gilan Iros."

"With a mortal body, you stopped an Apostle's ascension."

"We