【Story】11th Seal Chapter 1

Ch. 1　The Revived Past

Part 1

“The Omen of Infection”

???: He… is about to awaken… I need to return… and suppress this desperate madness with every bit of my will…
Enoch: I have something else to ask—
???: Go, child, keep going forward and wake up the machinas. Release everything before I am swallowed…
Enoch: Wait— It’s gone!

As Enoch regained his consciousness, he saw a familiar body lying feebly on the ground. A horrible premonition dawned on him, he could feel his blood coursing to his feet. He rushed forward, only to find Glauox’s translucent body.
Enoch: Glauox, what happened?! Your body is so cold…

Enoch came to the tower to save humankind and put an end to the perennial war. During his journey, he encountered Glauox the Owl and they proceeded together. Overcoming countless challenges, they broke the seals and entered Heaven through the tip of the tower.

However, Enoch discovered that Khaos, the lord of all Gods, had been using the Enochian Tower to extract elements of the continent. Even though Enoch had managed to stop Khaos’ schemes, the sudden restoration of the extracted elements caused the turbulence of elements and the chaotic flow of time.

Enoch had strived to fix the past, but the turbulence was still present. To rearrange the elements, Enoch embarked on a journey to the unsealed Mech City with Glauox, Delta the machina, and Sonata the elf. After encountering Shamash, the eldus who was turned into a machina, they were dragged into the tides of time again.

By rectifying the puzzling history, Enoch and Glauox eventually defeated the twisted power. As Enoch discovered the origin of all creations and entered the monotonal world of consciousness, he witnessed history and unveiled his true identity. 
Enoch: “I am the child of Enkidu the eldus and Elpis the earthling… The origin of destruction is inside me…”
???: The child chosen by destiny, your choice can change the world. Are you longing for hope or despair?
Enoch: … Whatever happens, my wish has never changed. I want to put an end to this perpetual war, and bring peace back to this land at all costs.
???: … Enoch, even in the face of the absurd truth, you’re still holding on to your beliefs and pursuing miracles… 
Enoch: Huh? You are— Woah!

The speaker suddenly spoke in a way that Enoch found familiar. Before he could find out who the person was, an intense quake interrupted him. The tremble was stronger than before, and the entire space was shrouded in peculiar, purple mist. 

???: He… is about to awaken… I need to return… and suppress this desperate madness with every bit of my will…
Enoch: I have something else to ask—
???: Go, child, keep going forward and wake up the machinas. Release everything before I am swallowed…
Enoch: Wait— It’s gone!

As soon as the patch of light was gone, everything was purple in color and even started the crack as if the world would tumble. 

Enoch: It’s too dangerous to stay here any longer, I need to find the exit at once… Ah! There it is!

A beam of white light was flashing at the other end of the cloudiness, in which there was a vortex that Enoch knew very well – he traveled in time and space through that vortex. As the purple phantom approached, Enoch had no more time to think. He could only run, but the invader attempted to stop him from leaving with its violet tentacles.  

Enoch: “I have to go back! To the world where my family and friends are!”

With his firm resolution, Enoch won. He jumped into the vortex before the tentacles grabbed him, his consciousness fused into the borderless void, transcending time and space and to return to where he was— before the gate of Mech City, where he confronted Shamash. 

Enoch: Hmm… my head aches… my body feels heavy… Huh? 

As Enoch regained his consciousness, he saw a familiar body lying feebly on the ground. A horrible premonition dawned on him, he could feel his blood coursing to his feet. He rushed forward, only to find Glauox’s translucent body.
Enoch: Glauox, what happened?! Your body is so cold…

Lying in Enoch’s arms, Glauox was on the verge of passing out. But as soon as he heard Enoch, he made a great effort to open his eyes. With difficulty, he spoke to Enoch in a faint voice. 
Glauox: So… here comes the day… My time here is up…
Enoch: No! Nonsense! You’ll be fine!
Glauox: When I was fixing the historical event of Zeus’ being killed… I was attacked by Cronus. After that, I started to feel that the power within me was gradually fading.. I knew very well that my body would decay someday.
Enoch: No… no… don’t! Glauox!

Enoch’s heart was emptied. Boggled by thousands of memories, Enoch recalled his first encounter with Glauox…

Part 2

“Keeping Each Other Company”

Enoch: Ugh… it hurts… Where is this?

Rubbing the swollen spot at the back of his head, Enoch stood up as he looked around. It was an unfamiliar corridor lit up by shimmering stones on the wall. Enoch was the only person there. 
Enoch: Hmm… Guess I’m still in the Enochian Tower, everyone must still be around… Ingrid! Hong Ai! Mephibo… Can you hear me?
Enoch: Not a sound… Hmm, what was the vortex?

Enoch had to take over the magic agency of his mother Tawil as soon as he graduated from the Magic Academy. After completing various kinds of commissions, Enoch and his agents finally reached the tower with which Enoch shared his name, hoping to reach the top of the tower to seek help from the gods and stop the invasion of the demons.

But as soon as they set foot in the tower, all of them were sucked into a vortex and teleported to different corners in the tower. The team was separated.
Enoch: I’m the principal of the magic agency, how can I give up so easily! I gotta go and look for them now!

Enoch pulled himself together and strode forward staunchly, but his courage vanished at the moment he saw what was at the other end of the corridor: it was the cave of Gnomes in which hundreds of them were glaring at Enoch in the identical posture.
Gnome: Gee gee!
Enoch: Woah—!

As experienced as Enoch was in confronting monsters, he couldn’t help screaming and fleeing the corridor when hundreds of Gnomes howled at him in rage. The Gnomes didn’t let him go so easily and chased after him angrily.
Enoch: “I…I can’t run forever. How do I get rid of them… Oh right!”

Enoch stopped and pulled a card out of his waist, pouring energy inside with his wand.
Enoch: Reveal yourself, Heroic Spirits from the past!
Gnome: Gee?
Enoch: Huh? Why… Why is it not working?
Gnome: Gee gee!
Enoch: Woah—!

Failed in summoning the Heroic Spirits, Enoch could only keep on running. Unfortunately, the Gnomes were better runners than he had thought. Soon, Enoch seemed exhausted and couldn’t run much longer.
Enoch: Huh, huh…Hmm? Something is moving over there… Ugh!

A dark shadow which was flying at high speed bumped right into Enoch’s face.
???: Darn it! Who’s in my way?
Enoch: Pfff, I was going to say that, you stupid owl!
Glauox: I ain’t no owl! I’m Glauox, the Omniscient Oracle!
Enoch: Who cares if you’re some sort of oracle, just stay out of my way!
Glauox: What’s with that attitude! How dare a human mage like you be so arrogant to me! I won’t allow it!

Being too caught up in their fight, Enoch and Glauox completely forgot about the enemies that were coming from both directions. Before they knew it, they had been besieged.  
Gnome: Gee gee!
Werewolf: Roar!
Enoch: So… are you being chased too?
Glauox: You too? Looks like we’ll have to die together—
Enoch: No way! There’re so many things I haven’t done. There must be some way out!

While Enoch raised his wand to form a magic barrier, the pocket near his waist was unhidden, exposing a small corner of a card. Glauox’s eyes widened in surprise.    
Glauox: Hey! The cards in your pocket… Are they cards of the Heroic Spirits?
Enoch: I think they are… but how did you know?
Glauox: Save it for later! Now focus on summoning the Heroic Spirits with the cards, we can definitely get out of this!
Enoch: I tried but failed for some reason—
Glauox: Stupid guy, you must’ve done it the wrong way. Quick! I’ll show you how.

Although Glauox’s attitude was indeed displeasing, Enoch recognized that it was more important to stay alive. Suppressing his anger, he summoned the Heroic Spirits following Glauox’s instructions. 

Enoch: I… I did it!
Glauox: Don’t be so happy just yet, direct them and start attacking!

Under Glauox’s supervision, Enoch commanded the Heroic Spirits successfully. The gnomes and werewolves knew the tide was turned. They gave up attacking and took their companions away, leaving Enoch and Glauox in the dark corridor.

Enoch: Phew, we’re finally safe.
Glauox: Human, you look skinny, but you’re quite powerful.
Enoch: Don’t call me human, call me Enoch.
Glauox: Oh? You share your name with the tower. Looks like you’re not here by coincidence. It’s your fate.
Enoch: I don’t know about fate, but I’m here for a mission… Why are you here, then?
Glauox: I… I have no idea… I’ve lost all of my memories. The only thing I remember… is that someone asked me to go to the top of the tower, where I’ll find all the answers and truths that I had been looking for. 
Enoch: We have the same destination… Do you want to climb the tower with me?
Glauox: Hmm… it’s not a bad idea. With my wisdom and your power, we can definitely solve the mysteries of this tower. I’ll come with you.

And so, Enoch and Glauox accompanied each other and embarked on a journey to the top of the tower…

Part 3

“Thanks for Your Company”

Enoch: Glauox, stay awake! There must be some ways to save you with magic!

Enoch assembled elements in his hands for Glauox’s treatment, but Glauox stopped him with his wings.

Glauox: Never…nevermind, I know I’m doomed… Thank you for reminding me of my mission during our journey. I was born to protect humans. Sorry, Enoch, I have to stop here. You’ll have to continue your journey alone.
Enoch: I can’t do this alone!
Glauox: Don’t worry, you’ll be fine… You’ve progressed so much since we first met, I guarantee you… And you have your friends from the magic agency, they’ll definitely find you…
Enoch: No… no way! We’ve been through so much to finally get here, how could you give up so easily! You haven’t found your answer anyway!
Glauox: Answer… I’ve found it. You are my answer… Only you will be able to make his wish come true, right, Stolas?

The brightness in Glauox’s eyes were fading, his energy of life drained. Enoch was perfectly aware of these, but there was nothing he could do to stop them. He held Glauox’s wings tightly. 
Enoch: Have you… regained your memories?
Glauox: Ah… My body was created by the demon who had longed to live peacefully with humans. A selfless soul was implanted in me, and I came here to find someone who could protect all creatures in the world… Enoch.
Enoch: I’m here.
Glauox: Please make my dream come true and create a peaceful world, where everyone lives happily together.
Enoch: … I will, I promise you.
Glauox: Thank you… Though our time together was short, we had some amazing adventures. I’m so glad to have met you…
Enoch: Yes, thank you for keeping me company. I won’t forget the time that we spent together… I’ll remember them forever…

A faint smile flickered across Glauox’s face as the last beam of light in his eyes faded. His transparent body turned into spots of light, which had flown around Enoch before they fully disappeared. 

He tried to grab them, but his effort was in vain. Feeling the emptiness on his palm, Enoch burst into tears. His whimpers sounded more heart-breaking than loud sobs…