Meanwhile, in a land far to the west.

  In a hideout of the Church of Madness.

  A tall man sat silently in his room, staring at his reflection in the mirror opposite him.

  He let out a deep sigh.

  The sound echoed long and high through the room before it eventually faded into silence.

  A mission awaited him.

  He knew he would have to leave soon.

  But his sigh wasn’t because of the task ahead.

  It was more about the charade he had to maintain during the mission.

  Suddenly, a sense of urgency overcame him.

  This was it.

  The moment he had been waiting for.

  The moment he feared.

  It was time to leave.

  His mission was to begin after one final discussion with his boss.

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  With a heavy motion, he stood and shuffled toward the door, the barrier between the tranquility of his room and the merciless world outside.

  But he did not fear that world.

  No.

  He loved it.

  It was made for him, a dream among dreams, and yet ...

  He wasn’t allowed to enjoy it.

  He sighed once more and exited the room.

  As he made his way through the hideout’s corridors, he reflected on his situation.

  It felt as though he was seated at a banquet table with all the people of the world.

  While everyone else drank wine and feasted on fine meats, he was given only water and bread.

  In those moments, he felt betrayed by them.

  And he wondered if it wouldn’t be better to strike out on his own.

  At that thought, a distinct clattering echoed through the corridors, drawing closer to him.

  For a moment, unease washed over him, knowing full well to whom that sound belonged.

  But the unease passed as he reminded himself that he had nothing to fear.

  That individual couldn’t harm him.

  He was safe.

  Soon, he saw the figure approaching.

  It was massive.

  Almost twice his height, and he stood at 2.18 meters tall.

  The figure shuffled past him, swathed in layers of straitjackets that concealed its form.

  On its feet were heavy metal shoes, and its ankles were shackled with iron balls of immense weight.

  Its eyes were obscured by a black cloth made of a special material, and the rest of its face was clamped by a leather muzzle crafted from the hide of a creature that had long since vanished from Ea.

  Despite all these restraints, the giant moved as though exhausted, searching for another place to sleep.

  He knew this was indeed the case.

  And he knew exactly who this giant was.

  But now was not the time to dwell on it.

  He had a task to attend to.

  Moments later, he arrived before his boss.

  He knelt and listened intently as his mission was outlined.

  It was an important task.

  Its success or failure could alter the future of the entire world.

  Though, in a way, so could all his missions.

  And so, he set off to fulfill this one as well.