700
Suah sat alone in the depths of the dark castle.
Suddenly, the door behind him was thrown open, and light streamed in, illuminating the masonry at his feet, its cracks stained with blood.
"Suah, your days of sitting on a Sequence One characteristic and doing nothing are coming to an end."
Richard strode in and held out his hand.
"Give me the Abomination Beyonder characteristic."
Suah snorted and slowly rose from his stone chair, turning around as the seat gradually vanished as though weathering away. He narrowed his eyes at Richard, at Tolzna, and at Baranka behind him, who looked as though he had been forcibly abducted. The corners of his mouth rose with considerable restraint.
"If you want it, you'll have to take it yourself."
Richard smiled without answering, seemingly in a state of temperance himself. "You know I've wanted to become a Sequence One for a long time."
The Chained God began looking at the walls and ceiling around him. Religious murals traced in gold dust were still faintly visible upon them-the epic tale of how he had chosen Reinette Tinekerr as his Believer, then helped that child's father establish the Highland Kingdom step by step.
It all still seemed like yesterday, yet everything had changed.
"How long have you wanted to become stronger?" Suah asked.
Richard shook his head. "I don't know. It feels like I've been trying to find ways to grow stronger for as long as I can remember, ever since I became a Beyonder."
"Are they exchanging some sort of code?" Baranka could not help whispering.
The Chained God shrugged.
"Someone is identifying those nobles who want to flee..."
Above the Gray Fog, Klein listened to Miss Justice's prayer and sank into thought.
He could not yet determine who was behind the