Page 302 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“A book I stumbled upon,” she replies vaguely. “It described artifacts similar to those you are talking about and their power.”

“Is that so?” I quirk a brow. “And what did that book say?”

“Any liquid drank from the Chalice gives the user the ability to physically withstand any injury for a short period of time. But I do not see how that would allow them to exit their realm.”

Once more, I find myself suspicious of her knowledge. How would a book describing ancient Aperite artifacts be in Anthropa? Who wrote it? When? For what purpose?

Nothing makes sense the more I think of it.

They’re hiding something from me and I don’t know what.

I don’t detect any spiritual energy from her just like I did not detect any from Mine. But that doesn’t mean anything considering anyone with great spiritual energy can hide theirs.

“Because the barrier Lispera created corrodes all matter that crosses on either side of it. In theory, by using the Chalice, a Son of Tenebreis is able to pass through the barrier without damage to his physical body,” I explain. “Commander Azerius theorizedthat after the effects of the Chalice wore off, the barrier would still affect the body unless he returned back to Tartareia.”

“This Commander Azerius seems to know a great deal,” Rità notes.

I nod begrudgingly. “He is in charge of protecting Aperion and by and large the entire universe. He should know everything.”

We might be enemies now, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Azerius is the best at his job.

“Let’s postulate that this is true and the Sons of Tenebreis are using the Chalice to travel outside of Tartareia. Why would they be doing these experiments to get to Aperion?”

“They might be trying to find a way to permanently free themselves,” his mother adds. “That’s always been the goal.”

“Yes and no. We believe they are, of course, trying to free themselves. But there is something else that we’re suspecting.”

Both Mine and Rità look at me expectantly.

“Together, all fourteen artifacts might be able to free the Seven from Tartarstasis.”

They both blink and share a concerned look.

“Might?”

“The chances are very high.”

Rità squeezes her eyes shut.

“And if that happens, that greed demon we met? There are going to be legions of those and other sin demons, unleashed in every single realm.”

“Oh dear, that sounds rather bad,” Rità murmurs.

“Say that again, Mom,” Mine adds in a dry voice. “None of this happened before,” he mutters in a low, barely audible voice.

“You keep saying that. What do you mean it didn’t happen before?”

“The Seven have been in Tartarstasis for a long time, no?”

I nod.

“So we don’t know how the universe would look like if they were set free. That’s what I meant.”

“Oh. Yes, it would be very bad.”

“Perhaps we should leave this grim topic for another time and finish eating?” his mother interjects. “I must leave shortly.”

“Of course,” Mine says with a smile.

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