Transcendence: Black Horizons Book II

[Sarrin 100]

Golden Hours Part – Start

 

Chapter Seventeen: Proof of Life

 

Before the we used magic, before light and dark.

We used the power within ourselves.

 

   Gil vanished instantly with a gust of air, reappearing just in front of his opponent. Shoving his fist into his, it connected but Leo didn't move an inch.

 

Leo smirked as Gil felt the push of wind wrapped around his fist. The wind pushed him back and Gil disappeared once more. Appearing behind him Gil followed up with another blocked kick, he kept this up punching and kicking, popping in and out of sight.

 

Starting to show signs of strain, Leo held his ground never letting Gil make contact. His hits had gotten harder and the wind barriers becoming so strong you could almost see the bursts of air twisting. He was noticing this wasn't the same person he fought before.

 

A dome of air wrapped around the boy, expanding outward. Gil was caught in the gust spinning back in the air. Leo reached out grabbing at the air, he had him.

 

Gil froze in midair, his body smashed into the ceiling and was forced down crashing into the floor.

 

Staggering to his feet Gil gritted his teeth seeing Leo's punch. Their fists collided with a burst of wind that everyone felt.

 

Leo jumped back when Gil gave a smirk of his own.

 

Standing straight Gil looked at his own palm then back to Leo. Black and white energy surged from where he stood and the space around him. The energy wrapping around his fists as Gil rushed his opponent, unloading a barrage of blows Leo could barely handle.

 

Starting to avoid some of the hits, Gil knew he was starting to overwhelm him. One hit finally connecting with Leo's chest, the air was knocked out of him in a ragged cough, he flew back into the wall before slumping over.

 

Leo, gasping for breath, rose back to his feet. “What? No clever words?”

 

Gil darted towards him plowing his fist into the wall, Leo had side stepped him throwing a wind wrapped punch of his own.

 

His fist slammed to halt meeting an instant forming barrier of the same energy wrapped around Gil's hands.

 

Time seemed to slow as Leo bounced off the shield, his own force coming back on him, losing his balance and starting to fall.

 

A deadly grin formed under Gil's now glowing eyes. With one more swing he connected with Leo's face, sending him bouncing across the floor like a skipping stone until he met the wall.

 

Gil stood ready as Leo struggled to get up. He couldn't do it, falling back to the floor.

 

Gil spat, the energy leaving him. Walking off already he lit a cigarette. “And don't you firetrucking forget it.”

 

“Tell me Gilgamesh, how does it feel to beat up a child?” Carmicheal laughed to himself.

 

Taking the cigarette out of his mouth he ashed it on the steps. “We can always go next.” Smoke leaving his lips with every word. Gil slammed the door behind him in an effort to prove what he would call being done with their shit.

 

Carmicheal stated clapping. “Pick yourself up Leo it's time for the next bout.” Waving to Agatha.

 

She conjured a symbolence and the damages were undone. “Owen Elcruz, Matthew Desoto you're up.” Both of them perked up quickly looking at one another.

 

Leo passed the pair making his way up the stairs. Sliding down the wall next to Vwiess he sat on the platform. “I'ma wee bit beat Vwiessy wake me if it gets fun yeah?” He mumbled as the masked man watched the boys below.

 

“So we just go at it?” Owen asked.

 

Matthew shrugged. “Careful Blondy, your green is showing.”

 

“Start.”

 

Matthew almost took a step forward before he saw Owen, he was already in the air in front of him. Leaping back Owen's fist crashed into the floor, using his hand he spun while swinging his legs. Blocking with both his forearms Matthew skidded back.

 

“And he was worried.” Haleigh smirked.

 

“You read his file I take it.” Agatha inquired.

 

“Owen Elcruz, he's certainly no magi but he's still a feykin.” She watched the boys brawl. “He has all of the physical perks of being one but what he lacks in other places he excels in that. Strength, speed, endurance, stamina and with Anima who knows what he could do.”

 

“But his opponent is no pushover himself.”

 

Matthew stood his ground as Owen ran circles around him. Moving faster with each passing second it was almost hard to see him until he attacked. Four consecutive hits landed and Matthew could hardly block any of them.

 

“Alright.” Matthews eyes lit up with a deep green. “Play time's over.” Slamming his open hand on the floor a symbolence took form. It distorted the room until everyone watching appeared to be standing in midair watching a landscape of multicolored hills dropping off in all directions to a white abyss.

 

Haleigh folded her arms leaning back on the wall she couldn't see. “Illusion magic.”

 

“Yes distortion happens to be that boys particular specialty.” Agatha confirmed.

 

Matthew rose up from the pink grass, floating in the air above four spears appearing two floting on each side of him. “Bow to me.”

 

“What?” Owen hadn't expected him to say something like that. “Wait didn't we say no weapons?” He looked to the spectators who said nothing.

 

“I have seen the top of the mountain.” The spears aimed for him. “And you will worship me as though I were a god.”

 

“Is this a complex or do you just do this?”

 

“I like to show off.” His spears rained down on Owen as he dodged each of them. Six more appeared and Owen kept running, each time he thought he was safe more spears came his way.

 

“Pay attention.” Yin called out to him.

 

Owen just barley escaped another spear being distracted by her. “What?”

 

She felt a set of eyes burning a hole into her head until she saw Carmicheal smiling at her, his eyes weren't even open. “Let that be your last outburst Ms. Sakura.”

 

She shivered a bit. “Yes sir.”

 

Owen kept running but he couldn't stay mobile forever, seeing a spear stabbed into the ground just ahead he had an idea. “Two can play at this.” He slid grabbing for the spears pole ready to launch it back at Matthew, but there was a problem, his hand had passed right through it.

 

Then it clicked. Spears rained down on him forming a cloud of dust, it settled and Owen smirked completely unscathed. He walked through the planted weapons to the space Matthew had been standing. Owen looked at the grass before kicking the air as hard as he could.

 

The illusion shattered as Matthew lost contact with the symbolence, landing on his back.

 

Owen started to stretch, taking this as his win. “I think that does it right?”

 

“Ugh.” Yin covered her eyes knowing what came next.

 

Matthew's body started to disintegrate. “What the?” Owen felt a hand on pull on his shoulder, turning him around until he saw two things, Matthews grinning face and his approaching fist.

 

Owen took the hit hard falling straight to the floor and out cold.

 

Shaking his sore hand out Matthew straightened his clothes. “Yeah Blondy, that'll do it.”

 

“Should have put money on that.” Agatha nudged Haleigh.

 

She laughed a bit. “Want to?”

 

“No, but we're gonna be here a bit so how about a drink?”

 

“Oh Agatha I thought you'd never ask.”

 

“Good job, both of you.” Carmicheal congratulated them. “Matthew take Owen to his room please, and take his sister with him.”

 

“Yes sir.” Matt hoisted the boys arm over his shoulder. “C'mon.” He started up the stairs seeing that the little girl had already opened the door for him.

 

Agatha fixed the rooms damages again. “Next up is, Yin Sakura and.” Not waiting to here who her opponent was, Yin had already swung herself over the railing. “Eager aren't we. Leon Wynguard you're up to.”

 

They all looked to the boy sleeping in the corner, Vwiess had stepped in front of him seeming to be asking something without speaking. Carmicheal nodded and it was all he needed.

 

Vwiess swung over the rail too, his weighted clothes making his landing much louder. He approached the girl until about twenty paces separated them.

 

A featureless mask save for one slot for the left eye, hood up on his thick coat that almost reached his boots and a large gauntlet fitted to his hand. Intimidating was the best word to describe him, Yin thought.

 

She bowed to him but he did not do the same.

 

“Start.”

 

Any thought of taking him head on left her mind the second he let her feel the weight of his presence. The sensation had sent her into a state of shock like panic, a bead of sweat already running down her cheek.

 

Yeah, she thought, definitely intimidating.

 

“This is off to a great start.” Haleigh passed the bottle. “Yin Sakura, what do we have on her?”

 

“Age eighteen, magi, advanced combat and.. oh.”

 

“Oh?”

 

She took a sip from the wine before passing it back. “She's telepathic.”

 

“Oh, well that's definitely interesting.”

 

Yin's eyes lit a dim white, meeting hers with Vwiess's one blue eye. Staggering back she started holding her head. “What was that?”

 

Don't do it. A voice called in her mind, her own voice. Don't look inside, it's better if you don't look. Her own body was warning her. There's nothing for you there.

 

“I don't understand.” She mumbled. “You didn't have any thoughts. How can you not have thoughts?” Yin asked him.

 

Her eyes lit up as she tried again. Stop. Still nothing, her head pounding as if she had hit a wall, again Yin tried. Don't. Nothing, the painful throbbing in her temples growing worse.

 

Vwiess never moved an inch, only watching and waiting. Yin gritted her teeth refusing to accept defeat this way. She tried once more, her eyes glowing fiercly, this time with everything she had.

 

Digging through the nothing, through the pain she endured that hell until the faintest of something came to her.

 

Vwiess's finger twitched.

 

No voice was heard, only a forming of word in her mind.

 

You have made a mistake.

 

Yin's head swung back as she stumbled to one knee. “Just..” She was out of breath, her vision blurring and the world around spinning. “Tell me..” Yin collapsed. “Who are you?” The words to faint for anyone else to hear. She lost consciousness.

 

Haleigh drank more. “Well that wasn't anything special.”

 

“Probably a poor match up.” Agatha added.

 

Vwiess carried the girl in one arm, leaping back up to the platform. He placed the girl next to Leo before returning to the same spot he had been standing before.

 

“Agatha who's next?”

 

She choked while drinking from the bottle starting a fit of coughing, Agatha handed the bottle and her papers over to Haleigh, proceeding to cough behind her.

 

Haleigh tried to shuffle through the papers with one hand, dropping a few in the process.

 

Almost smiling Sophie watched from the farthest corner of the overhanging platform.

 

“Sophira Roads and Hunter Vwiess.”

 

Her eyes widened just a bit when the masked man looked at her. Something about it pissed her off, but lately that was everything right?

 

“You know what? Never mind, let's take a brake as it would seem some of us need one.” He strolled back into his office, the doors closing behind him.

 

The first thing you needed to know was that Haleigh and Agatha were both already drunk, they were laughing, and most importantly no one enjoyed it.

 

 

“So why aren't you watching the fights?” Tyler asked leaning up against the door, clearly trying to look cool.

 

“The same reason you and you're sister aren't, it doesn't interest me.” Terra replied, sprawled out on her bed staring off at the ceiling.

 

“I'm a little interested.” He tried to think of something else to say. “Wouldn't you want to the people you're gonna work with in action?”

 

“Not really, I'll see it anyway once we're in action, assuming I can just stand their and watch.” She smiled.

 

“OK so what are you interested in?” He asked wanting to know more about her. “You haven't really said anything about yourself.”

 

Terra gave him a sly look. “Some people would think there a reason for things like that.”

 

“I mean I imagine there's a reason, it's kinda why I asked.” Smiling back at her.

 

“Look you're cute I'll give you that, but there's a lot more going on here and I'm definitely not where it starts.” She said flatly.

 

“Yeah you're right, I didn't mean anything by it.” He said apologetically opening the door.

 

Terra sat up. “Wait what are you doing?”

 

“Oh I was gonna.. do something?” At that moment he thought he was an idiot.

 

“I didn't say you had to go.”

 

Tyler shut the door by sheer reflex. “Oh.”

 

 

“Hey wait up.” Matthew called to Sophie as she was entering her room. “I was actually wondering something so just hear me out here.”

 

Sophie eyed him down. “What?”

 

“I don't have any prowess in fire, but you've literally trained with the best so I was wondering if you could give me some pointers in like fighting and other things” He started to pull his shirt up showing her the seal on his side.

 

“I barely know anything about seals, and my fighting style has leaves much to be desired.”

 

“Yeah but-”

 

“Neither of those things will help you with Anima, at least I don't think so.” She tried to think back on her only experience with it, the memories still lacking and coated in haze. “I can't help you.” Sophie went into her room, shutting the door behind her.

 

“Well now what?” Matthew thought aloud. “I guess I could ask Haleigh directly, no that would never work.”

 

“Would you be willing to learn from an old hermit?” A deep voice spoke to him with a thick Russian accent.

 

Matthew turned to find Holamark standing behind him. This was the first time he had actually spoken to the man let alone hear him actually speak. “You'd train me?”

 

“Da.”

 

“Train me in what?

 

“In what else? I am Mentor of Will, I will train you in Anima.”

 

 

“Oh Gilgamesh.” Collin called after knocking didn't work. “I know your place is gone but that doesn't mean you have to sulk in there.” He waited for a response that didn't come. “Alright I'm coming in.” Reaching for the knob a small black symbolence appeared on the surface, Collin was to smart to touch it. “That's stupid.”

 

“What are you doing?” Someone asked.

 

To Collin's surprise it was the young girl Fora, sniffing the air he knew the smell. “Ah a little Udyir has graced me with her presence.”

 

“Um no? You're in the hallway I was just-”

 

“No time for that.” Taking her by the hand. “You'll be fighting soon and if I'm not mistaken you have no teacher.

 

She started to pull back not knowing where he was taking her. “What why?”

 

“Why?” Collin had to think on it himself. “I simply have nothing better to do.”

 

 

“So about what Gilgamesh said earlier.” Having regained her compsure, Agatha and Haleigh still remained in the main room, both of the leaning on the platforms railing.

 

“What did he say?”

 

“The warlock is dead and the demigod is back, what does that mean?”

 

Haleigh smiled to herself, reliving some of her oldest memories. “How much do you know about Babylon?” The woman had spent a lot of time with the man in her youth.

 

“Let's see, Armagus Gilgamesh, son of Nebchadnezzar, became an epic hero passing his legacy onto his only son Gilgamesh Thanatos, and then that's pretty much it.”

 

“So you don't know anything about his mother then.”

 

“No I've never read anything about it.”

 

“True his father was called the King of Heroes the man was still human, all be it a powerful one at that. It was Gil's mother that made him what he is, she was a creature with no parents aside from chaos itself. I've only ever heard him speak a name once, Nyx.”

 

“And this Nyx is a god of some kind? I always knew that man was no warlock.”

 

“I'm not sure but she scares Gil.” She started drinking again. “And that scares the hell out of me.”

 

 

 

Chapter Eighteen: Major Arcana

 

 

    “For the next match up,” Many of them had gathered back in the giant room, aside from Owen and Yin who were still out and Clair who was still resting. “Fora Esteed and Maggie Barret.”

 

Sophie stopped having already started down the stairs. “Wait a minute, what about my match?” She hated the look Carmicheal had given her, almost like he was looking down on her.

 

“It's been canceled, your opponent is right for this kind of arrangement.” Agatha answered her.

 

“You think I cant handle it?”

 

“No I don't, do you have a problem with my decision?” Carmicheal finally spoke, still giving her the same look.

 

“Like hell I do. I deserve a chance as much as anyone else here to prove myself.” She wouldn't look away from him. “I'll fight you if that's what it takes.”

 

Vwiess jumped down to the floor below, Sophie looked over to him their eyes meeting.

 

“Looks like you have your answer.” Carmicheal waved her off the air of him completely changing as if he didn't care. “Don't waste it.” It flashed back for only a second.

 

Sophie stopped just a few feet away from him, she could already feel the weight of his presence, her fists clenched feeling the nails digging into her palms. Now or never right? She thought to herself, show them everything you have.

 

“Start.”

 

Neither of them moved, but not out a fear or any form of hesitation, they were both seeing who was foolish enough to make the first move and more importantly who would be smart enough to pull it off. Absolute discretion and a single step out of place could cost.

 

Sophie knew she couldn't afford to make any mistakes, not against this person. He definitely looked big but Sophie knew it was just the clothes, subtracting the boots he wasn't even much taller than her. She wasn't intimidated in the slightest but after a while she started thinking he was waiting for her.

 

A trap, it had to be. Fine, she thought taking in a deep breath and closing her eyes. They lit up as she opened them, bright but not fierce, however they didn't need to be there was a dark calm in them, as if she were the storm and her eyes were as such.

 

One light shimmered to life, floating aimlessly in the air, then another and more. Dozens of lights floated around them like countless fireflies all lit up at once.

 

“She's talented.” Agatha commented.

 

“No, she's sloppy.”

 

Drifting towards Vwiess was one of the many lights, Sophie did her best to keep her smile inside. Just before it got any closer the orb exploded but it wasn't close enough to do anything but blow hot air on his coat.

 

Vwiess's eye lit up and what looked like sparks of black electricity set of the rest of the bombs in and immaculate display of lightning and fire.

 

Smoke vastly covered the lower floor, Sophie used the to hide her movements. She ran around him coming up from behind jumping into a kick. She thought she was hidden, she thought wrong as evidence of Vwiess blocking her with his forarm.

 

Bouncing off his arm an explosion went off in between them. Vwiess's gauntlet reached through the blaze grabbing hold of her leg, he swung her over his head bringing her down to the floor with force. He spun throwing her off into the wall, she caught her self before she hit then landed on the floor.

 

Haleigh hiccuped. “And she's cocky to.”

 

Agatha looked at her oddly. “Are you mad at her or something?”

 

“Or something.” She had started dozing off on the railing until she felt Agatha's fingertips jabbing her side. “I'm up.”

 

Sophie brushed herself off staring Vwiess down. The man hadn't moved a single inch from where he was standing. “Well?” She asked him. “Come on.”

 

They rushed at one another, both of their fists connecting. Sophie winced from the pain of hitting his gauntlet but she couldn't let that faze her. She went for a kick and he folded his arm blocking it. Vwiess brought up his knee just narrowly missing her face. Another explosion went off between them but neither moved back, both still trying to hit the other.

 

A black line started creeping up Sophie's neck and then her cheek, it wiped around like a trial of fire. She started hitting harder and faster but Vwiess had no problem keeping up in fact she was even starting to feel like he was toying with her.

 

Vwiess grazed her temple with his gauntlet still blocking and avoiding her attacks. She didn't let up as blood trailed down her cheek, Sophie let her anger out through her expression and another blast of fire exploded between them. There was one more, then another again and more just piling on top of them.

 

She almost couldn't believe how resilient he was. Her hair stood on edge and she could feel the rise of energy around. Sophie moved her head at the last second as a blast of lighting shot right by her, She jumped back knowing the distance was needed.

 

Vwiess returned to the same spot but now there were signs of electricity randomly surging of him. The black light gathered in his palm as he raised it reaching out for her. Shooting off in every direction the main bolt raced to her. This one was bigger and more importantly faster, she wasn't dodging this.

 

Orange flames clung to her hand as she caught the lightning, the unyielding force beginning to push her back. “I can take this!” She struggled. The connection exploded into a cloud of oddly colored smoke pushing Sophira back.

 

Gritting her teeth, Sophie sprinted forward through the clearing smoke, both of her hands clad in fire. Kicking off the ground she reached out as a roaring inferno shot down on Vwiess like a flame thrower. It splashed away from him like water coming off a glass dome, his barrier held off the blaze, electricity started coming from him again.

 

“I don't think so.” The fire wrapped around the invisible ball with Vwiess inside. She stopped crossing her arms to shield herself as it blew up in a violent tempest.

 

The impact pushed passed her with great force and heat, Sophie watched breathlessly while the fire kept going. Clearly exhausted the black line on her face disappeared, she fell to one knee holding herself up with her hand on the floor.

 

With a mighty swing of his arm Vwiess cleared the blaze, revealing himself in the craters center. Completely unscathed, still standing in the exact same place. His eye lit up.

 

“That's enough.” Carmicheal spoke out, catching everyone off guard.

 

The light in Vwiess's blue eye dimmed, he turned slowly making for the stairs.

 

“But wait who won?” Sophie asked him.

 

He gave her that look again. “If this was about winning then you would be sorely disappointed. Agatha.”

 

“Sir.” She fixed the floor.

 

Pouting to herself Sophie made for the stairs. “I'll show you disappointment.” She mumbled.

 

“The next match is still the same.”

 

Fora and Maggie went down the stairs together.

 

“Don't be nervous.” Maggie spoke softly.

 

Fora laughed. “I'm not.”

 

“Oh.” She blushed. “I was talking to myself.”

 

“Start.”
 

 

Owen's eyes took a moment to adjust. “My head.” He sat up feeling the side of his head finding a painful bump under his hair. “Ow.”

 

A small hand slapped his. It was Jess's.

 

“Right I know, don't touch.” He took her hands. “Guess I didn't do so well.” His sister gave him a look while tilting her head.

 

“You can say that again.” Yin had been leaning up against the wall, Owen only just now realizing she was there. He was staring to think she must have been sneaky like that.

 

He started blushing. “So how did your fight go?”

 

Yin put on the biggest grin. “I went down without throwing a single punch.”

 

He couldn't help but laugh. “Yeah that's way better.”

 

“Hey at least I know when someones behind me.”

 

Owen ignored her comment, patting his sisters head. “So who's fighting now?”

 

“I'm not sure, haven't gone out there yet.”

 

He laughed a bit. “So you came here first huh?”

 

Yin responded with a dirty look. “Real smooth guy.”

 

 

Catching her breath, Maggie backed away from her opponent. “Hitting you is like hitting a wall.” She shook her hands out. “You smell like an Udyir, guess that explains the tough skin.” Maggie smiled giving Fora the sense she was actually complementing her.

 

“Looks like you've got good senses.”

 

“What kind of animal do you turn into? Or am I about to find out?”

 

Fora waved off her words. “Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not quite old enough for anything like that.”

 

“That's to bad.” She pouted. “I've never seen an Udyir transform before.” Maggie reached out to Fora. “I guess I should wrap this up then.”

 

“What?” Instantly on her guard.

 

Maggie swung her arm through the air calling a swarm of expanding dark clouds from where she stood. The nimbus blanketed the rooms entirety making it hard to see anything.

 

There was a flash of light with the sound of thunder, followed by a scream. The clouds cleared just as quickly as they had formed.

 

Fora's body shook while she struggled to stay upright, her clothes were ripped and burned at the shoulder. Already bleeding, she grunted seeming to be enduring waves of pain. “W-what did you do to me?” Fora asked before collapsing on the ground.

 

Making her way over Maggie. “I've got you.” Pulling the girls arm over her shoulder she made for the stairs. “I'll take care of it don't mind me.” Climbing the steps she left with her.

 

“Well that was certainly something.” Haleigh commented.

 

“I'll say.” Leo whispered to himself.

 

Carmicheal's office opened as he made his way inside. “The next round resumes in the morning, rest up.” The doors shut behind him.
 

 

“Hello my favorite sister.” Tyler entered Stephanie's room finding her on the bed working on a laptop.

 

“I'm your only sister, you seem chipper.” Working on something as usual she only half paid attention to him.

 

“Oh you know a little of this a little of that and some making out in between.” Tyler was lost in thought.

 

“I don't remember asking anything but what are you going on about?”

 

“I just made out with that elven girl Terra.”

 

“Great needed that in my life, I'm busy can you go away or something?”

 

“Rude.” Tyler tried to peak at her screen, she waved him off. “What are you working on anyway?”

 

“I'm learning.”

 

“Learning what?”

 

“I'll let you know when I've learned it.”

 

“Well maybe we could..”

 

“I'm really busy Tyler can we do this later maybe?”

 

He didn't like it but he wasn't about to let her know that. “Yeah, later works.” Tyler left, his sister still working.

 

 

“Gil?” Sophie knocked already seeing that she couldn't touch the door knob. “Agatha says we can use weapons in the next round, I was thinking since you're good with swords you could give me a few pointers.” If Gil said anything she didn't hear it. “Are you asleep? Gil?” She knocked again and the door opened just a crack.

 

“Why don't you ask Haleigh, she's good with small thin blades like yours.” He sounded tired, or maybe depressed. Sophie could tell something was off with him.

 

“Actually,” She flashed back to her conversation with Haleigh. “I'm not her student anymore, she kinda fired me.” Sophie tried to laugh it off nervously.

 

Gil didn't respond for a moment. “I didn't expect that.” The door opened more letting her in. “I'm kinda going through some things so let's do this in here.”

 

“Oh okay.” She didn't know what they could do in that small room but questioning Gilgamesh was always a poor choice. He closed the door a flash of light appearing underneath.
 

 

Sophie's eyes widened. “Where are we?” A vast landscape of dirt covered hills, an enormous broken stone crossroads and several broken arches above it. As far as she could see swords had been planted across the entire place, each of them unique and filled with power.

 

“Welcome to my own private hell. This is where my Gate of Babylon leads, its true form. A desolate wasteland forsaken by hope.”

 

 

 

Chapter Nineteen: Hallowed

 

 

    “Show me again.” Collin peeled an apple as he sat across from Fora in her room.

 

“Can we just take a break.” She started winding her arm with a wince. “I'm still really sore.”

 

“Work through the pain.” He continued peeling. “Builds character.”

 

“I feel like you say that about everything.” Fora held up a card. “OK.” The card lit up gold and so did the tattoos on her arm, it floated into the air and expanded in size. Flickering the light faded and the playing card fell to the floor.

 

Collin tossed her the apple. “Good job, it's important to be able to sustain it without draining yourself.” He pulled out another for himself and started peeling it with his knife.

 

“Energy is required to make just about anything happen, from the most complex magic even down to the simple act of breathing. Think of it like a battery once you expend enough energy to make something you should be able to use less to keep it going.”

 

“So I've been wondering something, what's your role in all of this? There's a whole bunch of people here not even related to Elipses there's even humans running around and no one seems to care. It's all just really confusing.”

 

“I can't really speak of what I wasn't around for but I can tell you that I'm a tool of war.”

 

“Tool of war?”

 

“I'm not the only one here either, Calus, your fellow Udyir, is one then there's Gilgamesh and Holamark.” He paused. “Well Gilgamesh is kind of a gray area, reinventing himself every so often andhe's done a little more than involve himself in Elipses affairs, same goes for Haleigh.” Collin started eating.

 

“Was that supposed to explain anything?”

 

“I'm getting to that.” He spoke with his mouth still full. “When you get to a certain point in your pursuit of power, living long enough definitely helps, but when you get to where I'm at you realize there are times when the world may need you. However it may not always be for the right cause.” The expression he wore became serious. “You have to choose what you're willing to fight for, you need to commit to it wholeheartedly. Do you understand what I mean?” Collin took another bite.

 

Fora followed his every word, thinking before speaking. “So without affiliations you hide your strength until literal war brakes out?”

 

“War hasn't always been the reason, but I have fought Elipses before during one of their several conflicts with Yggdrasil.”

 

“You fought for Bevelle?”

 

Moving back some of his blue hair Collin showed her the point of one of his ears. “I'm half elven and feykin.”

 

“Wait I thought one of your parents was a demon? Aren't you a warlock like that guy Gilgamesh?”

 

He couldn't contain his burst of laughter. “Not necessarily lets just say I have a rather extensive family tree and a lot of work went into making yours truly.” Putting his thumb on his chest.

 

“As for Gilgamesh that boy is about as far from a warlock as I am to a dog. Seen that guys family tree, whole different story there and not a pleasant one mind you. Guy has got skeletons.” Pretending to shiver a bit with a smile.

 

Fora definitely like him for her teacher, at least he was entertaining. “So how did the whole tool of war thing start?”

 

“Gilgamesh did it actually, a long time ago when he was a different person.” He looked somberly at the ceiling.

 

“Has he changed a lot since then?” She thought about the man she barley knew.

 

“I wouldn't say he changed, Gilgamesh has given up a lot of himself to succeed in his endeavors and even live to be here today. His is a life I couldn't bring myself to wish on anyone.”

 

She hadn't seen him act this way yet, like the cheer had left him. “You sound like you knew him well.”

 

“Well I was in love with the guy but that never amounted to anything, trouble has a habit of finding him often so it was probably for the best.”

 

“Wait you're gay?” She was completely taken by surprise.

 

“What? No.” Collin replied quickly. “You'll find love comes in an overwhelming abundance of variety, it's better not to be small minded enough to label such things.” Finishing the apple he tossed Fora the remaining core. “Now turn it into that.” Collin pointed to his extravagant red chair that he brought himself.

 

“Ok, but why?”

 

He winked at her. “Because no entrance is complete without a nice chair.”

 

“So that's why you have it?”

 

“Yes now less questions and more bending matter.”
 

 

Light parted around Gilgamesh as he returned to the scarred battleground, walking in out of thin air.

 

“I'm assuming the next match started?”

 

“Yin just lost to Leo.” He lit a cigarette before slicking back his hair with his hand. “You're supposed to be meditating so I don't know why you're talking.”

 

Sophie sat cross legged, one sword in her lap and five more planted in the ground behind her. Gil had told her to meditate until their true natures showed themselves to her. “I'm already done.”

 

“Then tell me,” He ashed on the ground. “What is a weapons true nature?”

 

Holding up the sword to him with both hands. “This is Cusha.” Then she pointed to each one behind her. “That's Mechon, Djinn-ma, Talisbar, Veronics and Xerxes.” She rose planting the blade called Cusha with the others. “A weapons true nature is its name.”

 

“Inanimate objects absorb and control the power exuded around them, weapons experience this same anomaly. In order to give something substance it must be granted an identity.” He pulled a random blade from nearby out of the ground. “Names are apart of the soul, they are what we use to confirm ourselves among other things. Draw your sword.”

 

Sophie pulled out the rapier blade Phi had given her. The weight it wasn't carried hadn't been consistent with the size, as if there was something more to it.

 

“That sword was with you at the moment that should have been your end, it was witness to the death of someone close to you, and most notably you wielded that same sword when Anima awakened inside of you.” He touched the blades razor edge. “You haven't had it long but I feel it's malevolent nature, it's unyielding desire to kill for you. This weapon has already declared you as it's master now you must give it substance. I want you to name it.”

 

Nothing came to mind at first, how did someone even go about naming a sword she wondered. The others before had given their names, what if this one could do the same? Sophie sat back down placing the rapier across her lap.

 

“Remember what it was like to hold it with your life, you may not have realized this but you place your entire being along with your future inside that sword. See it for what it is, know it as not only an extension of yourself but a partner that you trust with your life.”

 

Closing her eyes Sophie let her mind wander. Thinking back to Phi, to her father and to the hazy fight between her and Gil. The moment she was stabbed, then her father dying in her arms, that insane rush of power, overwhelming grief.

 

“Consider this a flower.” Words formed within her. “One for your grave.” Phi's words but then more echoed past them, voiceless and forcegully moving something deep inside of her.

 

“Never to meet again.” She saw Jeremiah's lifeless face, then others; her mother, father, “Abandoned.” Isaac's and Caleb's. “Consider this a flower.” Sophie was back with Phi in the library, with him throwing her a small thin saber. Catching it she didn't look to Phi, this time she looked at the sword. “One for your grave.”

 

An image came to her, one of an unmarked tombstone and the rapier stabbed into the grass in front of it, both surrounded by a bed of red petaled flora.

 

Sophira opened her eyes a with a look of ambivalent calm. “I once read that flowers have a language all their own.” Holding up the blade she noticed it somehow felt lighter now. “Manjushage, it means red spider lily.”

 

“Why?” He stomped out the cigarette.

 

“That's the only flower I'd want on my grave.”

 

 

“Fancy footwork there, betcha your a right handful out in the open.” Leo held out his hand to the defeated Yin.

 

“Ugh my head, again.”

 

“Sorry bout droppin you like that, had to make it official and all .” He had been referring to when he had lifted her to the ceiling and pulled her back down a moment ago. “You blacked out there for a spell, feelin top side now?”

 

“Yeah I'll be OK, you're no joke though.” She said scratching at her head.

 

Leo laughed waving her off. “Oh I'm nothin special just a few fancy tricks and a twist of the wrist.”

 

“Clear the floor please.” Carmicheal grew bored watching the talk.

 

“Your not gonna watch the next fight?” Agatha asked as Haleigh started off.

 

Haleigh paused trying to think of an excuse. “Nope.” She didn't.

 

Leaving the main room Haleigh continued down the hallway, passing the rooms as she went. Stopping in her tracks catching the merest mentions of her name behind a door.

 

“My fire just isn't as strong as Haleigh.” It was Sophie's vioce.

 

“Don't compare yourself to her.” Gil was there to. “If you really want to know I can tell you what separates the two of you.”

 

She didn't need to hear the rest so she moved on. “Carmicheal can you hear me?” Haleigh called out to him with her mind.

 

“I'm kinda busy right now.” His voice echoed.

 

Knowing he was just standing there watching she continued. “If Elipses is disbanded then Yggdrasil has most definitely been added to the list of problems we have to deal with.”

 

“Yes that the void and one other obstacle may be in our future.”

 

“That being?”

 

“I encountered something in San Francisco. It's beginning to look like the Amori are resurfacing.”

 

Haleigh didn't respond collapsing onto her bed from her new found exhaustion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you guys enjoy these three chapters/36 pages, irl I'm waaaay busy so haven't had much internet time.

Enjoy these three chapters for me, I'll put two more up soonish, I haven't forgotten about you guys.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Duude, I finally caught up, and OMG, it's all so breathtaking! I'm really loving this arc so far! And out of all the Anima candidates, Vweiss is the most badass of them all, hands down! The dude intimidates with his mere presence!

 

Also, loving the whole dynamic between Sophie and Gil!

 

I can't wait for more! ^_^

 

(I really hope my internet gets fixed soon, cuz I'm behind on updates for my story! )

Edited April 21, 2017 by The Transcendent Key

[Sarrin 100]

Chapter title time~

 

 

Chapter Twenty: Namsesake

Chapter Twenty One: With Eyes Unclouded

Chapter Twenty Two: After

Chapter Twenty Three: Last Order

Chaprer Twenty Four: Summer of Love

 

 

 

Enjoy~

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Chapter title time~

 

 

Chapter Twenty: Namsesake

Chapter Twenty One: With Eyes Unclouded

Chapter Twenty Two: After

Chapter Twenty Three: Last Order

Chaprer Twenty Four: Summer of Love

 

 

 

Enjoy~

 

Ooh, these are interesting chapter titles! I can't wait to see what's in store! I wonder what "Summer Of Love" will entail? Perhaps a history with one of the story's couples!? Intriguing!

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Twenty: Namesake

 

 

   “Caleb what have you done?”

 

“Just die already!”

 

“Go ahead and run, it's all you've ever been good at.”

 

“No one else will ever have to live like this, no one else will have to feel this pain.”

 

“I promised I'd protect her.”

 

“This is what I wanted.”

 

“Listen.”

 

“So many fragile lights, going out one by one.”

 

Tears ran down Stephanie's face, causality passing through her mind and the glass egg resting in her lap.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“None of this ends until I say it does.”

 

“I went to far.”

 

“You're a fool.”

 

“Smile for me, come on one last time.”

 

“Keep going, you have to.”

 

“Listen to me, I want you to promise me.”

 

“I accept this.”

 

“Without you there's just me. I can save you, I can save all of them. My life is worth that much.”

 

“Listen.”

 

“I'm not Sarrin, I am-”

 

“Do you hear it?”

 

“These little moments.”

 

“Don't cry.”

 

“Listen.”

 

“I reject this reality.”

 

“Fate calls to us all, will you listen?”

 

 

“You don't seem to talk anymore.” Sarrin spoke once again watching Ragnarock swirl in the depths.

 

Foxface stood far behind him saying nothing in return.

 

“Is it you? Could it be?” He never looked away from the swirling light and dark. “I remember before, what it was like to be that person.”

 

Foxface didn't speak.

 

“What about you? Can you remember what it was like to be him? Or maybe, just maybe, this is what you always were.”

 

 

A door opened into a room that accommodated one vast table and over a dozen chair. Malchior entered as the only four people waaiting inside rose and bowed.

 

“Be seated.” He joined them, sitting at the head of the table. “Where is Collin Fairwealth?”

 

“Sir, we cannot reach or locate him.” One of them answered. “It might be that he has chosen another side in this conflict.”

 

“Then let's begin the meeting, as my generals and members of the war council it's time we discuss what we are to do about the current affairs.” He started on a chalice of wine. “War is coming, let us be the first to strike.”

 

 

“Sophira Roads and Maggie Barret.”

 

Both girls were eager to get started as they swung over the platform railing almost in unison. Their feet clapped onto the metal floor, the landings echo hadn't even passed before the two of them started.

 

Crossing their legs they blocked each others kicks. Moving like twins, every twitch and step, fists collided and then their legs again. It didn't take long for Sophie to gain the sensation that she was fighting a mirror, as that thought formed Maggie smiled at her almost as if she were mimicking her thoughts as well.

 

They separated, catching their breath. “Not much for originality.” Sophie noted.

 

“Originality is overrated.” Maggie held out her hand the hazel eyes glowing orange, a flame flicked to life above her palm. “After all imitation is the best form of flattery.” Eyes changing to blue the fire disappeared and was replaced by visible black static.

 

“She's worthy of being called a prodigy .” Agatha spoke.

 

Carmicheal didn't agree. “Unique and skilled, but she has no real talents or powers, just that.”

 

“But what's the difference, she can use that power consistently.”

 

“Consider what would happen if she acquired an ability she couldn't control? The fact stands she is powerful but that power is never going to be her own and as a result she will never be able to master it.”

 

Sophie was back on her with two quick jabs, the girl moved her head between knocking them of course with her hands, eyes a dim gray now. This was Yin's trick, Sophie recognized it, she flipped over Maggie turning into a kick after she landed just behind her.

 

Blocking with her forearm Maggie's eyes lit up orange with Sophie's. Two explosions went off, Maggie being the only one to jump back to safety.

 

As the blaze cleared Sophie was seen making a knowing smirk. “Can't learn everything can you?” She rushed in her eyes beginning to light.

 

“You'd be surprised,” Maggie's eyes became a fierce emerald. “To know what I've learned.” Bellowing gales boomed from her stopping Sophira in her tacks. Now Leo's wind was her ally twisting around her like a translucent tornado.

 

With the fear of being lifted into the air fading as time passed Sophie assumed she couldn't do that either, at least not yet anyway. Moving forward the force increased and a whip of air passed by her cheek, a cut formed shortly after. Rushing in now wouldn't be wise.

 

“Looks like you can't touch me.” Maggie boasted.

 

She was right getting cut up forcing her way through wouldn't help anything. “You're right I can't, but maybe someone else can.” Flashing back to Gil and the scarred battlefield littered by swords.

 

“You are the bone of your sword.” He lit something but it wasn't a cigarette.

 

“When you call upon your weapon, whether you do it in your mind or aloud, visually doing so in some manner serves a purpose. Drawing your weapon isn't merely an act, swords especially are proud in nature. They like to show off so to speak.”

 

Sniffing at the air Sophie caught the sent of something nostalgic. “Is that aura root?”

 

A thick cloud of smoke left Gil's lips his eyes already appearing to glaze over. “You know that's pot right?”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

Sophira smiled for just a moment at the memory, with a breath she grabbed the sheath of the rapier tied to her hip, the other taking hold of the hilt.

 

“I am the bone of my sword.” Exhaling as she prepared for the moment. “Cry out, Manjushage!” The weapon exploded from its sheath surrounding her in a glorious bloom of orange fire.

 

Sophie noticed two things, the first being that the blade itself had changed glowing bright like a red hot poker. The second though was that the fire had not come from her but the blade itself.

 

This was a different fight now, both of them felt that especially Sophie. “Come and have a go, if you think you're hard enough.” An old accent coming out under the level of her excitement.

 

“So we're getting dramatic.” Maggie's eyes lit a new color one Sophie hadn't seen yet. They were black as night.

 

This set off an instant reaction from Carmicheal, his own amber eyes lighting up. “Agatha barrier now!” He could more than feel the power inside her.

 

Agatha responded helping him form a translucent dome of pale light around the floor below.

 

“I don't know if I am even capable of what were doing here.” Maggie's voice felt odd like there was something more behind it, as if the force she was using had a will of its own. “But this is as close as I can get, just a fake imitation and words that have no meaning to me.”

 

Sophie readied herself and the blade. “That suits me just fine.”

 

A different air came of her now it was darker than Leo's, beyond ominous in nature. “For want and need, heed my call for I am worthy.” The black wind halted as she raised her head again to look at Sophie, there was no life in those eyes. “Anima.”

 

“What? She can verbally call Anima?”

 

“Focus Agatha.” Carmicheal replied keeping up the barrier.

 

Just before it began Maggie said something inaudible.

 

Sporadically forming lights flashed in and out of life around her body, their forces whipping around her clothes and hair. They all spun around her body until there was nothing left to see but a smaller dome of light encased within the larger one Agatha and Carmicheal had put above them. It expanded rapidly as it tore through the metal floor with violent force, swallowing Sophie whole without a second thought.

 

Both domes had now become one as the barrier struggled to contain Maggie's power.

 

Carmicheal's expression grew feral as cracks began to form in the barriers surface.

 

“This isn't going to hold!” Agatha bit her lip.

 

“Everyone get out of this room now!” Carmicheal barked to the others.

 

“No.” Sophie's called out from the obstructions. “I want this to be seen.” Fire devoured the energy inside, then the barrier burst being replaced by the same orange flames. As the blaze spun out of life two figures could be seen, Sophie standing her ground and Maggie collapsing onto it.

 

Agatha didn't understand. “Wait, what just happened?”

 

Carmicheal himself, having regain a sense of calm, lit a cigarette. “My best guess is she was either overwhelmed by her or simply ran out of oxygen while the fire gorged itself on all of it.”

 

“Astounding.” Agatha looked down in awe.

 

“Is it really that surprising?” Gil added his two cents. “Even stars themselves are great balls of fire among other things of course.” He winked at Sophie knowingly. “I knew that sword would take you back to that kind of power.” This last bit he said just for himself.

 

Sophie walked over reaching for Maggie's. “Wait don't touch her!” Carmicheal was the first to notice.

 

Flying back Sophie crashed into the wall as a black pulse erupted from the girl. Slumped over Maggie's body rose to its feet, she looked to be unconscious.

 

The two of them darted forward yet the instant they were to collide Vwiess had appeared between them. He grabbed both girls by the arm and proceeded to spin before releasing them to gravity.

 

 

Yggdrasil is steeped in tradition and rules, technology was something they couldn't abide by as advancements with this kind of society are both rapid and revolutionary. If you look back far enough you'll even find that they had more than a hand in the world of mankind with persecution and extreme prejudice in the realm of science and technology by means of religious intervention.

 

Some say that the day the first gun was made the age of steel had come to an end. As advancements progressed despite relentless interference people soon learned there was no real difference between the weapons, sure you can shoot a man in the head but can you not also impale the same man in the same way with a blade?

 

Moving fast enough to slice a bullet in half as it races through the air is not unheard of let alone impossible, we do live in a world of beings who can truly transcend the bounds of limitations and power.

 

However just because Yggdrasil went about their goals in the wrong way doesn't mean there wasn't originally a purpose for it, after all what counts for a true god and where is the line that should never be crossed?

 

Haleigh had wandered deep into Olmhold through a tunnel with pipes lining the walls. What she had found at the end did all but affirm the previous question.

 

“You should not have come to this place.”

 

A voice she didn't recognize spoke from behind her, Haleigh turned on her heel but something had stopped her from moving any further than that.

 

“You will forget everything you saw here.”

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty One: With Eyes Unclouded

 

 

   “Haleigh, mind if I come in?” Gil opened the door peeking inside to see her asleep on the bed. “Good thing I brought this.” He entered uncapping a bottle of whiskey. Haleigh's sleeping face crinkled when the bottle was put up to her nose, she sprung to life unexpectedly into a panicked look with a set of ragged breaths.

 

“Woah hey watch the bottle.” Gil pulled back from her, sniffing the whiskey himself. “It's strong but it's not that strong. You alright? You're looking a bit paler than usual.”

 

“How long was I asleep?” She held her throbbing head with one hand. “I feel like I just had a nightmare.”

 

“Do you remember it?” He took a sip passing the bottle to her. “Like what it was about at least?”

 

She knew he was asking if it was about Jeremiah. “It was like I went somewhere and what I saw,” She paused and drank. “I think it made me so mad.” When she handed the bottle back Gil had been handing her something he had been smoking. “Gil I don't want that.”

 

He drank and passed it back smoking alone. “You know Haleigh the answer isn't always at the bottom of the bottle.”

 

“You brought the bottle.” She started to laugh.

 

“Good you're looking better already.”

 

Haleigh drank more. “Yeah whatever.” He could have sworn she blushed for just a second.

 

“Sophie's really something isn't she?”

 

“Please tell me you didn't come here just to tell me that.”

 

“Why did you stop teaching her?” Gil knew she wouldn't answer right away.

 

“When I started to learn about the ways of this world my father gave me his prized twin daggers. He said, You are not to raise those blades until you know them by name, what he meant was literal. They were sitting in my lap so getting up wasn't an option.” A plume of smoke left him. “I sat there starring out into the vast desert for eight days before I was done, I couldn't even stand after that.” Gil laughed.

 

“What was the name?” Haleigh loved his stories, ever since she was a little girl whenever he started she would hang on every word.

 

“Innes and Veti, they belonged to my great grandfather.” Gil shuttered as he drank, recalling the blades he once held. “They had bloody live and at six years old I witnessed it all.”

 

“What happened to them?” She asked having never heard of them until now.

 

“When I was-” He cut off there. “Looters probably nabbed them when Babylon was being destroyed.”

 

“Well that's a pleasant ending.”

 

“Took Sophie forty minutes to learn six names, then I had her name her own blade. She's almost to incredible.”

 

“You're wasting your time teaching her.”

 

“Are you dense? How can you have trained her for so long and not seen that boundless potential? When we fought it was like, I don't know it was almost euphoric, like something out of legends.”

 

“That's exactly why you're wasting your time. She doesn't have the slightest inkling of what she's capable of and it has taken me years to learn that what she needs isn't more training or discipline.” She looked into the half empty bottle thinking about how similar they were. “No what she has is something only she can bring out, Sophie isn't able to accept what she's is capable of but she's starting to.”

 

“Isn't that a good thing though? I don't see any reason in not helping her along and why should I? Don't we need all the, no pun intended, fire power we can get right now?”

 

“None of us have fought a war.”

 

“Bullshit!” Gil barked realizing he had and calming himself down. “You fought in the Aesir Candidacy, that's a hell on its own.”

 

She couldn't say anything to that, taking the rolled up paper out of his hand to smoke it herself.

 

“I didn't give you Negalanthia's heart so you could bow out at the last minute. You have to do your part Scarlet, I'll be counting on you the most.”

 

“I know.” She touched her hand to her chest recalling on her memories. “If Nyx kills you it means I'll die to.”

 

“I may be an eternal, but just keep in mind that even we won't live forever.”

 

 

“There will be no more fighting.” Carmicheal spoke to everyone with Curtis and Agatha beside him, even Clair Bayona showed up, the only people not present were Skuld, Verdandi and one of her assistants.

 

Agatha began ruffling through her papers unaware of what he was talking about. “Sir there was supposed to be four more matches.”

 

“I've seen enough I'm beginning to understand how we should proceed. Terra would you be so kind as to come up here please?”

 

She was caught off guard by his request but as she assumed what he wanted her eyes narrowed. “Yes.” Terra climbed the stairs playing out the next few minutes in her head a thousand times over, looking to Tyler only then wondering how he'd react.

 

“Well go on.” He smiled. “It's what you came here to do yes?”

 

She took a breath, he was right it was time. “My name is Terra Godfreed I am the second heir to the Arch Diearchy King Thelonius Godfreed of Bevelle.”

 

“Here we go.” Haleigh nudged Gil both of them already knowing who she was and why she had come.

 

“Over a month ago my father met with the council and abandoned the earth and placed blame on the young man named Caleb Harris and Elipses as a whole. He believed this was a plot to seize power from the throne and has closed off not only Yggdrasil from the world but has sealed Nava's chambers under the pretense of protection.”

 

Several of them reacted differently.

 

“Elipses as result has been declared disbanded and each member is supposed to lay down arms and surrender. I convinced my father not to abandon the earth entirely and to allow me to come here to prove the truth, however this is a rouse, I may have convinced my father to not abandon this planet but in doing so I spoke out against him. As we speak my brother is most likely preparing Yggdrasil's armies to wipe you all out and I have no doubt that because of my actions I will share the same fate. I've come here to help fix this world though I haven't been here long I can see why it must be saved and I will risk my life to do what I can.”

 

Haleigh laughed a bit. “I didn't expect a speech, think she had it prepared?”

 

“Nope she seems pretty smart.” Gil added.

 

Curtis stepped forward to speak. “I have personally asked Terra to assist serve as my personal representative and would appreciate it if you do not condemn her merely due to her lineage. She is a valuable asset and a key member of our team.”

 

“I have a question!” Haleigh raised her hand. “Can you tell me if this is some kind of ploy to take you fathers throne and your brothers birthright? And if it was would you actually answer the previous question honestly?”

 

Terra wasn't fazed by this in the slightest. “I wouldn't be so conceited, and as for the second question, no I wouldn't.”

 

“That's pretty brazen to say when asking for our trust.” Tyler spoke out having realized this was his place to speak. “I serve as Verdandi's representative and I have not been made aware of this has she? What of Skuld?”

 

“As Urd I lead the Aesir to begin with, however I have informed Skuld but your master is more than preoccupied right now which is why you are here. This was meant to inform you if you did not follow.” That was probably the first time any of them had ever heard Curtis speak crassly. “The Aesir are to convene tonight so that we may begin mobilizing our, in lack of a better word, forces.”

 

“Yes that brings us to this next part.” Carmicheal spoke up. “We were Elipses but now that has ended, I'm sure many of you have questions about what this means. We lived by a creed one the was meant to protect balance and order but that time has passed and that creed is no more.”

 

The way he spoke captivated most of them and those it hadn't couldn't deny that at one time his words and the way he spoke them hadn't moved them in some way. Of course he was a leader a man of true power and substance, in his mind anyway.

 

We defend balance no more and we will no longer uphold the order of Yggdrasil or rather Bevelle. Instead we will now serve as the balancce itself. From today forward Elipses and all that it was is dead, today as the last lights willing to defend this world we are Last Order. Let the name serve as the last will and testament of Elipses's legacy, which will be to reclaim the earth as ours and to put a stop to those who seek to abuse the power of the Abyss. This begins tomorrow after the Aesir convene. Dismissed!”

 

Kicking their heels together all of them saluted Carmicheal as he entered his office.

 

 

“The Eternal Lands have started to appear in the Lanes Between, after Babylon and Nyx came back they followed.”

 

“Good then we will go there and do what we must.”

 

“What of Elipses? We haven't exactly dealt with them.” Alastair pointed out.

 

“Let them come. Let them send their guardians of hopes, their last lights, so that those left watching will see them fall. I'll send the swarm, I'll send the horde, such as the world has never seen. I'll send my scourge and I'll send my sword. Never mind how high the cost may grow, this will still be, I will never let this world or those people go.” Sarrin rhymed as he smiled at Ragnarok and threw a book he had been reading down to it.

 

“Now go Alastair, bring an end to the Predication.”

 

 

“So it's true then?” Skuld asked. “The Eternal Lands are appearing?”

 

“Yes there's no doubt about it.” Verdandi confirmed. “Yggdrasil has become so weak places it has been connected to and lost for millennia are appearing again. Their existence only proves the lack this worlds own.”

 

“Wait your telling me the earths actual existence is fading?”

 

“It's not just that signs are showing all over the place, stars are going out natural disasters are on an all time high and it looks like the sun itself has started getting smaller. In short this whole reality we live in might be falling apart but I can't for the life of me understand how its actually happening.”

 

“It must be Sarrin.”

 

“I'm not so sure about that. The man can't be doing much from the void and he certainly isn't on the earth, no something else is causing this, maybe this is what happens when balance reaches this crucial of a tipping point.”

 

“Then the matter is settled. Our enemy seeks out Yggdrasil's roots and now these special places containing them have emerged. We will send Last Order and provide all the assistance we can. I will die before I let everything turn to dust.”

 

“Now for the next matter.” Skuld started. “I'm tired of not knowing where our voids heart is, this mess is only going to start all over again if we can't put him back where he belongs. “I want to find Caleb Harris as soon as possible.”

 

 

“What is this?” a small child asked.

 

“These people will some day be your family and friends, the ones who will depend on you the most.”

 

“I don't know them, this is just another reality that may not even come to pass.”

 

“Not just yet but one day,” The two stood in the place beyond what was, could be, have been and all time and place in between, looking into another place and its inhabitants from an unreachable space. “You will become that person right there.”

 

“Who is he?”

 

“His name is-”

 

 

 

Enjoy, there's only one more chapter left of the Golden Hours ark!

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Ooh, how riveting and exciting! The end-world vibes are definitely strong, and a particular sense of dread can be felt! Dang, and that match between Sophie and Maggie was literally explosive! And The Last Order...it sounds like such a badass name for a group! The last guardians of the light willing to fight for the world...that's just so badass! 

 

AND SARRIN, YAY! I HAD WANTED TO SEE HIM AGAIN!

 

Sarrin is truly an awesome entity! Great work, I can't wait for more!

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Twenty Two: After

 

Time is merely an illusion. What could it be like I wonder to be so fractured you couldn't even remember who you were or the fact that you watched all of this unfold and now have no recollection of how to stop it.

 

   Opening her eyes Sophie parted her hands and a small orb of light formed.

 

“Good, good how does it feel.”

 

The strain was enough never mind the weight. “It's heavy, like it's pulling me in.” Flickering out it disappeared. “Crap.”

 

“It's fine the important thing is to know that you can't let your power control you, you must command it as you do your sword.”

 

“I never knew this place had a roof.” She looked out to the mountainous landscape that surrounded them and the setting sun just on the horizon. Beautiful to behold and exactly what she felt she needed right now.

 

“If I had known about it I would've been up here everyday, Carmicheal must have opened it up like his office.”

 

“But today's our last day here at least for a while. Once tomorrow comes well be going to wherever Carmicheal and the Aesir send us.”

 

“Hmm.” He looked at her, so concerned about what happened next always worried about others more than herself, bottling up her hopes and fears so others could depend and rely on her. “You're really something you know that?”

 

“Where did that come from?” She blushed slightly.

 

“It's true, sometimes I see you and it just takes my breath away.”

 

“What the hell are you saying? I know for a fact you've met plenty of people far more superior than me.”

 

“I'm not talking about strength or power, just don't ever change Sophie, never let that fire in you burn out.” Nausea joined the butterflies filled his stomach. Gil took this as a good sign as it was something he hadn't experienced in a long time. “I know we've both been through a lot, I know you don't want to leave Olmhold right now, and we're about to be really busy so I was wondering.” He started scratching at the back of his head.

 

“What is it?” Sophie had grown curious as to what had made him seem so flustered.

 

If he was going to say something it might as well be now, he told himself, you've done this over a thousand times over just man up already damnit. “Sophira I was wondering if when all of this is said and done and we've saved the world blah blah.” Smooth Gilgamesh you're doing just great, he insulted himself with sarcasm. “Anyway I guess what I'm trying to say here is, I have feelings for you. When this is over would you like to go on a date with me?”

 

To say Sophie's face turned red would be nothing short of an understatement. With just a few words it now felt as though her entire world had been shaken. She looked at him staring back at her wondering how they had gotten to this point, about everything that's happened between them.

 

It was like she was seeing him as a completely different person in the twilight. What would happen if she said no? Did she want to say no? Thinking of the fact that she had to ask herself these questions must have meant something to her, she thought. What did Gil mean to her and what did she mean to him?

 

Caleb pooped into her mind for the briefest of moments, they had kissed once but she couldn't say she was anywhere near being in love with the guy who had disappeared over two months ago.

 

If she told him yes would it make him happy? Probably, she thought, he wouldn't have asked if that weren't the case. Oh my god I have no idea what to do here, speaking in her mind. She thought back on all of the memories she could call upon of the two of them, parties, doing nothing together, fighting, endless nights of work and research, the good times and the bad.

 

They had known each other for so long what would happen if that relationship broke? Could she stand to lose Gil forever? That question stirred something inside, Gil was undoubtedly precious to her, Sophie cared for him deeply but she never thought of him as a brother just the greatest friend and partner she'd ever had. Maybe there was a part of her that felt the way he did, but was that enough? Could this little moment really matter after everything was over?

 

Noticing the gears burning in her head Gil thought he would try something he called a bolder approach. He put his hand on her cheek and the thoughts came to a grinding halt. They kissed.

 

Moments passed like seconds until Sophie put her hand on his chest, gently pushing him back and turning her head. “Gil I..”

 

“So this is where you two went.” Matthew had come out from the stairwell and he wasn't alone, Fora, Maggie and Yin were with him to.

 

They saw her hand on Gil's chest. “Or are we interrupting something?” Fora asked.

 

“No.” Gil spoke in unison with Sophie as she stepped back from him, the two of them looking at each other and then away.

 

“Well anyway it's our last night here so I thought we could celebrate.” Matthew grinned pulling out a fancy bottle.

 

Gil snatched it out of his hands. “And are you even old enough to be drinking this?” He examined the finely crafted glass and label. “Whoa where did you find this?”

 

Matthew tried to swipe it back but Gil was to quick for that. “I snuck into Carmicheal's office and nabbed it, almost got caught to.”

 

“You should have been caught, I'd cry if someone stole this from me.” Gil opened it taking a wiff. “Oh beauty.”

 

“Where's Owen?” Sophie asked.

 

“I'm here.” He came up the stairs with little Jessica's hand in his. “Stairs wear her out took me a minute.”

 

Gil kept sniffing. “OK but no one tell Haleigh and Collin they'll just drink it all.”

 

“We heard that.” Haleigh spoke out. The pair joined them. “Wow you all seem to be getting along nicely.”

 

“More than that I'd say, its summer love is in the air after all.” Collin added.

 

“Don't go forgettin about us now.” Leo came out pulling Vwiess by the sleeve.

 

“Well most of us are here,” Sophie brimmed. “Let's celebrate.”

 

As time passed they grew louder and the air livelier. Some of them hadn't felt this way in sometime.

 

“-and then I said, I'm just a wee little git how am I supposed to get all the way up there?” Leo laughed at his own joke with the rest of them.

 

“Well this bottle's kicked.” Gil sat it down beside him digging into his pockets. “But I've got just the thing.” He pulled out a tightly rolled piece of paper.

 

“No.” Haleigh and Sophie spoke at the same time laughing at each other.

 

“Glad to see you two are getting along again.” Gil mumbled to himself lighting it. He breathed out the smoke. “So no one?”

 

Sophie thought on it. “Sure why not apparently I've already done this before.”

 

“Then here you go M'lady.”Gil handed it off to her.

 

“I'll take next.” Collin added.

 

“I wouldn't mind given a try.” Leo raised his hand and Haleigh smacked it down.

 

“The hell you will, seventeen and,” Haleigh paused. “How did you even end up as Carmicheals personal guard?”

 

“It's all in the talent.” He grinned widely.

 

“What about you Vwiess?”

 

“Oh he probably won't answer you, it's nothin personal he's just not much for the talkin and all.” Leo defended him.

 

“Hunter.” He spoke unexpectedly.

 

“What?” Haleigh asked unsure of what he had said.

 

“My name. Hunter.” He answered from behind the mask.

 

“Woah that's somethin you don't see everyday. Only Carmicheal has gotten him to talk before.” It was just a few words but enough to impress him.

 

“I thought Hunter was your title.”

 

“It is.” Was all he replied.

 

“Then Hunter it is.” Haleigh pat him on the shoulder. “Happy to have you with us Hunter.”

 

He nodded instead of speaking this time.

 

“Look at the sun.” Owen pointed out. It was going to set soon and the whole world around them had been bathed in a golden hue of light. “It's so pretty.”

 

“Yeah you're a man.” Matthew laughed until Yin punched him.

 

“You're right.” Sophie agreed with Owen. “It really is pretty.” A slight memory came to her, one of her brother. “You know I think Isaac told me something about this once, he said Caleb knew a term for it when it came to taking his pictures.” She couldn't remember what it was, the answer resting on the tip of her tongue.

 

“It's called the Golden Hour.” Catching everyone off guard they all turned to find Stephanie with her back leaning on the doors frame. “Caleb loved this time of day.”

 

“Who's Caleb?” Maggie asked.

 

“He was one of us but he's missing now, has been for over two months.” Gil spoke not wanting any one to say anything else about him. “He was a good person I hope he's safe, wherever he is.”

 

Haleigh watched the sun set, feeling its last waves of warmth on her face. “I want you all to enjoy this. It might be the last time you can experience a serene and peaceful moment like this, at least for a while.”

 

Together each of them watched the sunset, none knowing what tomorrow or even the day after could bring. Only that now in this moment they stood united by something greater than themselves and that was enough for them.

 

 

Golden Hours Part – End

 

 

Eternal Lands Part – Start

 

Chapter Twenty Three: Last Order

 

 

   “You bend and refract light and heat, fire can't be to far off from you to begin with.” Sophie explained to Matthew who had asked for her advice again, she was in a better mood to give it now.

 

“Great more training.” Matthew groaned.

 

“Listen up.” Carmicheal's office opened and he emerged with Agatha by his side, they were accompanied by all three Aesir as well. “Today marks the day we start winning this war.”

 

“We have discovered that distorted parts of reality have started intertwining with our world.” Verdandi began with two screens appearing before them. One of a vast desert and the other of the ocean. “These places once existed closely to our reality and as a result hold some of Yggdrasil's most precious roots. If you've noticed the root locations have been in overly populated areas such as major cities, this is because of the simple dynamic principle that life flocks and gathers in places where life energy is most present. These places however aren't the same case, we believe this is because these roots are so vital to Yggdrasil they can't be at risk of outside intervention.”

 

The screen of the ocean grew larger. “This is the Sea of Stone,” Verdandi enlarged the second screen. “This is the Eternal Desert. We are referring to these places as the Eternal Lands, why? Simple, within their pocketed dimensions the exact size of theses places is seemingly indefinite, as in these places may share a similar quality with both the Lanes Between and the Void. Getting lost here is not something you want happening to you. True that many people do return from falling into places like this it's not uncommon that you will wander there until you draw your last breath.” She concluded.

 

“It is our firm belief that the man calling himself Sarrin is fully intent on going to these places to destroy Yggdrasil's roots, if he succeeds then in all likely hood we may lose this worlds connection to the Tree of Life.” Curtis addressed them now. “We don't know what battles may come to scar the earth so the Aesir will be gathering the inhabitants of this world to a safer location, this will include humans and anyone of any kind. Life is fading from this place and we aim to keep it out of the reaches of death. Mankind will subsequently be brought into the fold of the world outside of itself, this will drastically alter their path as a species but it is my personal feelings that tell me they will not survive this ordeal with out help.”

 

Skuld stepped forward. “We will be sending most of you to these Eternal Lands. There we hope to put an end to this plot once and for all, this means you will be fighting and make no mistake the odds are stacked against you. This may be the greatest ordeal some of you have ever faced and it saddens me to say that powerful you have proven yourselves to be there is not a doubt in my mind that some of you may not return. It is imperative that you survive, the world needs you people and we don't need to be losing any more of you.”

 

“Once we have brought Sarrin and his forces down we will then deal with the earth and Yggdrasil's armies. However it is vital that we put things to an end in the Eternal Lands, we have no real way of entering the Void let alone traversing it so this may in fact be our only option left.” Carmicheal continued. “If we should fail in this endeavor than the only course of action left to us will be to storm the Tree of Life when the Sarrin's forces come for it. This option is the least favorable to us and more than twice as dangerous as in by that time there's no telling how many armies we'll be fighting at once. So I order you now, do not fail this mission.” Agatha handed him some papers. “You will now be getting your team assignments.”

 

“Team Alpha you will be going to the Eternal Desert, your members are as followed: Haleigh Valestani will be leader, Leon Wynguard second in command, Matthew Desoto, Owen Elcruz and Yin Sakura.”

 

“Team Omega is heading to the Sea of Stone: Hunter Vwiess as team lead, Clair Bayona as second, Sophira Roads, Maggie Barret and Fora Esteed.

 

“Team Theta is in charge of defending the home front and will be ready to deploy should a need arise while Team's Alpha and Omega are gone. The members will be: Myself, Agatha, Noel, Calus Shadowalker, Holomark, Terra Godfreed and Gilgamesh Thanatos.”

 

“I'm gonna have to stop you right there, there is no way in hell I'm staying here, deploy me with one of the teams I'm one of the best assets you got.”

 

“Which is precisely why you need to be here if something goes wrong.”

 

“Sir.” Clair spoke out. “He can take my placement, I don't know much about traversing different dimensions let alone navigating them, I will be much more beneficial should something go wrong in the reality I do know how to fight in.”

 

A moment passed as Carmicheal deliberated on this. “Fine Gilgamesh will be made second of Team Omega.”

 

Verdandi dismissed her screens. “I have assigned both teams leaving one of my representatives, they will keep an eye on you and report back to us so we may keep up to date as developments progress. Tyler Harris will be assigned to Team Omega and Stephanie Harris will be watching Team Alpha.”

 

“That is all, your team leads have already been given your itineraries. That is all, dismissed.”

 

 

“You would think growing up with Tyler you'd have developed some tact.” Verdandi waltzed into her domain.

 

The console and all the screens Stephanie was working on disappeared without leaving a trace. “Grave consequences have come to those who have made dire mistakes, but yours will live on as one of the most detrimentally stupid this world has ever seen.”

 

“I've done what I felt necessary.”

 

“Absolutely not,” She snapped. “You've destroyed yourself and that abomination now exists in our world. No ones ignorant enough to wonder why mankind doesn't have access to Anima let alone any form of true power. Humans possess limitless potential if they had Anima then they would single handedly destroy everything.”

 

“That kind of power only belongs to gods right?

 

“No I fought my way to Verdandi so no one else could have that power and I'll be damned if you're going to use my power to create that atrocity. I'm locking it away somewhere nothing will ever find.”

 

Stephanie smiled down at the egg in her lap. “Try.”

 

Eyes wide Verdandi had enough of this girl. “You impudent little-” She slapped Stephanie across the face only to discover her hand passed right through her. “What have you done?”

 

“I've partitioned off a piece of your domain and claimed it as my own.”

 

“How dare you.”

 

“Don't misunderstand me this has nothing to do with you and I will uphold the duties placed upon me.”

 

The Predication's eyes narrowed as she attempted to contain her wrath.

 

“However I have my own objectives and I will carry them out from the safety of my domain, I can't let anyone interfere.” Her image started to fade. “See you around, Phoebe.” She was gone.

 

The whited out world of Verdandi's domain past away from her until she was back in her home. “That girl.” She scowled. “I can't believe the gall she has using me like that.”

 

“Good help is so hard to find these days is it not?”

 

Chills made their way down Verdandi's spine as an all to familiar voice and figure strode out of thin air.

 

Alastair tilted his head to the side giving her a sly grin. “Humans can be so unreliable.”

 

This was by any means a bad situation, Verdandi knew this as she sat at a wooden desk. “Perhaps I can offer you a drink, I'd say make yourself comfortable but it would seem that you have already taken that liberty.”

 

“I don't need anything like that.”

 

“Then could you inform me of how you got here?” She poured herself a one.

 

“You'd be surprised to know what we're capable of now. By now you should already know why I'm here.”

 

Verdandi looked him over before downing the beverage and rising from her seat. “Then I'd suppose we should be getting to the point.” The domain returned as Verdandi pulled two hand guns out of the air.

 

“Let's.” Alastair drew his broadsword, the grin leaving his face as this was no fight to take lightly.

 

 

“Gil we're going to-” Sophie started.

 

“Can't talk making a thing.” He mumbled as he broke up pieces of some green plant into a hollowed out cigar, their group had gathered on the roof as day had yet to break.

 

It had a pungent odder that she wasn't happy she liked. “Where do you get all of that stuff? Its like you never run out.”

 

Gil began rolling it together. “I make most of it.”

 

“Where your garden?” Sophie laughed.

 

“I have a garden actually, well had. Not to sure how I'm going to be able to find it again, but no I don't grow this I just make it.” He said simply.

 

“How though? I don't know of anyone who can make plants just grow.”

 

“You'd be surprised, but like I said I don't grow it I make it.” Gil thought on it more. “I want it so my will manifests it for me, in a way you could almost say I'm grossly misusing the properties of Anima.”

 

She was stunned for a moment. “You're doing that with Anima?”

 

“I do everything with Anima, even my magic and symbolences merely serve as amplifiers, granted that's what they're suited for to begin with.” He began making another one. “Look.”

 

In the palm of his hand little bunches of green materialized. “Someone else would explain it by saying I'm doing something like reconfiguring matter in a way to accomplish this but to tell you the truth I'm just a natural when it comes down to Anima, each atom just sings to me. Don't get me wrong I went through a lot of training to do stuff like this, I just happen to have a knack for it.”

 

“I never knew that about you.”

 

Gil smiled at her. “Well now you do, don't be afraid to want to know more about me I'm happy to tell you about myself.”

 

“Oh.” Sophie didn't quite know how to respond to him.

 

“What did you need?”

 

“We're finding out where our first stop is.”

 

Gil looked up at the others gathered around Hunter. “Well? What's the plan?”

 

He looked over to him up from papers in his hands. “The Udyir village of Elllum.”

 

He licked the cigar as he rolled it. “An Udyir village? Why there?”

 

Sophie answered him. “It's supposed to have mentions of the Sea of Stone in its history, apparently no one actually knows how to get to the Eternal Lands.”

 

“I guess I shouldn't be surprised even I've never heard of them.”

 

“That's odd I would have thought you'd at least know something about it.”

 

“I've lived a long time but I had plenty of things to keep me occupied.” Gil rose up waving his hand as a portal answered. “Ellum, can't say I've been there either but I think I know where it should be. Why did it have to be an Udyir village this time of year?”

 

“What's wrong with that?” She asked as the others joined them.

 

“It's the Summer of Love right?” Fora replied, being an Udyir herself.

 

“Yep that would be it.” Gil walked into the portal as they started to follow.

 

 

Boom two more chapters just cuz~

Enjoy the next ark!

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

GAHHHH, SOPHIE AND GIL KISSED! FJASLKDJFALSKDJFLASDJFLASKDJFLKASDJFAKSLJDFLASKDFJLK THE HYPE IS REAL!!!!

 

I was sensing some vibes between them, and everything they were going through was just too heart-wrenching and heartwarming to not be something more! But I never expected a kiss! At least, not yet! Gahhh, two of my favorite characters are lovey dovey for each other!!!! X_X

 

Oh wow, and in essence, Stephanie is now a hologram to everyone else! Dang, that girl is really determined to carry out her goals! And Hunter Vweiss is just way too badass! Great work, man!

[Sarrin 100]

Deleted 

Edited January 5, 2019 by Sarrin

[Sarrin 100]

Chapter Twenty Four: Summer of Love

 

 

Rushing lights passed by them as they arrived in a dense forest with trees reaching high into the sky and blocking out most of the sunlight. It wasn't dark by any means more of a serene dim.

 

“Where are we?”

 

“One of the Americas I think.”

 

“Isn't that like an entire hemisphere? Wait you had no idea where you were going?”

 

Hunter began walking ahead on his own.

 

“Hang on a second this is Udyir territory we can't just go waltzing in, they most likely knew we were here once we passed whatever wardings they have.” Gil stopped him a whip of air passing by both their heads. “Hello there.” He turned around already knowing this wasn't going well.

 

Maggie saw Gil's grim expression towards her, she looked down and understood why. An arrow was now sticking out of her chest. “Guys..” She collapsed.

 

“It's poison, no one move!” Gil held up his arms nodding for the others to to the same. “We are what remains of Elipses, we do not seek to harm you our purpose is strictly for information.”

 

Silence rang deafeningly through the woods.

 

“There is no cause for further violence you have already hurt one of us and we have not retaliated.”

 

“Bevelle disbanded Elipses.” It was a woman's voice accompanied by an arrow in an uncomfortably nearby tree. “Still want to stick to that claim?”

 

“We are under the same command structure with a different name and outside of Bevelle's control.”

 

“What of the Udyir girl with you, did you take her to find this place?”

 

“No I'm here of my own will.” Fora spoke out realizing it wasn't entirely true and that whoever was listening could tell. “We were ordered to come here for information nothing else.”

 

Another arrow shot into a tree high above them, this one had a rope tied to the end heading deep into the forest. A woman slid down the rope using her bow, she dropped down in front of them into a roll, coming up on one knee and an arrow ready to fire. “Your names, what are they.”

 

Looking to one another unsure of how to proceed.

 

“Now.”

 

Sophie stepped up. “I am Sophira Roads, That is Fora Esteed, Hunter Vwiess and Gilgamesh Thanatos. The girl you shot is Maggie Barret and I would greatly appreciate it if you fixed her.” Violence brimmed as an undertone of her voice.

 

“You would bring a Hunter and the abomination to this place?”

 

“Hey.” That comment wounded Gil.

 

“We are going to a dangerous place after here, they are leading our team.” Sophie answered.

 

The woman looked over to the two of them. “Does a little girl always do the talking for you?”

 

“My friend.” Sophie scowled. “Now.”

 

She eyed them down seeming to still be debating on whether or not to shoot them. “I am Tabith.” She stood tossing a corked vile to Sophie. “I serve as guardian to the protected species in this place.”

 

Lifting up Maggie's head, Sophie pulled out the viles cork with her teeth then proceeded to pour it between the girls lips. A slight cough came from her but she remained asleep, the color starting to return to her face.

 

“She'll wake in a few hours.” Tabith started off in the direction she came pointing off into the woods. “Keep straight that way and you will find the village, I'll be watching so don't try anything you'll regret.”

 

“I'll show you some regret.” Sophie grumbled as she lifted Maggie into her arms.

 

Hunter approached her holding out his arms. “My responsibility.”

 

“Oh, alright.” She handed her off to him.

 

Fora legs shook but she hid it from the others. “Was it just me or was she kinda terrifying?”

 

“That was nothing.” Gil laughed as they proceeded forward. “Last guardian we ran into had a giant scythe and pitch wolves.”

 

“Have you never met one before?” Sophie asked.

 

“No I wasn't raised in a village, my grandmother was apart of Elipses and my parents practiced Animism.”

 

“Animism?”

 

Gil spoke up. “She means her parents chose to stay as animals and were unable to raise her because she couldn't choose to become one herself.”

 

“Woah that's kinda harsh.” She added. “Your parents just left you?”

 

“No not at all, I saw them a few times throughout my life it was just sometimes they knew me sometimes they didn't.” Fora pulled up her only sleeved arm, rolling it back. “I got mad at my mom once and it was one of those times.” Scars in the shape of teeth marks were littered about on her arm.

 

“I'm sorry, I'm not to sure what to say.”

 

“You don't say anything, in all honesty once I get a pair of fangs or claws of my own I'll be paying them a visit one day.”

 

“Going to live like they do?”

 

“No I don't think so, honestly I'm more worried it'll turn into a fight. I don't exactly know much about what being an animal is like other than what my grandmother was like. Enough about me, a little birdy told me you are half human.”

 

Sophie hesitated to answer. “Yup that's me, only one in the world.” Relief came over her when she started to see what looked like the entrance of the village.

 

An Arch of branches and vines littered with flowers stood before them. Beyond it lie nothing but more of the great forest.

 

“It's a glamour.” Gil stopped to light something in his mouth.

 

Hunter walked out of sight without them, passing through the illusion.

 

Attempting to follow him Fora put her arm through.

 

“Stop.” Sophie caught her by surprise. “We don't have permission to enter.”

 

“But I'm Udyir?”

 

“That doesn't matter I'm not watching anyone else get shot.”

 

“Well said Sophie.” Gil commented.

 

She smiled just a bit. “Shut up Gil.”

 

Fora was growing impatient. “So are we just going to wait here for what?”

 

“Discretion is a better part of valor.” A plume of smoke left him.

 

“That doesn't mean anything.”

 

“Sure it does.”

 

“Yeah? Explain it.”

 

Gil coughed completely of guard for that as Sophie laughed at the both of them. “What's so funny?”

 

She had to force herself to stop at least enough to speak. “The two of you could be siblings.”

 

The pair looked at one another attempting to find any similarities. “I don't see it.” Fora broke first.

 

“I do.” Gil smoked. “In the bitchy naivete, had a lot of it when I was young.”

 

“What is that supposed to mean?” She glared.

 

Gil narrowed his eyes in a dark playfulness. “What indeed. I wonder how our other group is doing.”

 

Sophie was almost glad to see Hunter emerge, Maggie no longer in his arms. “Is she OK?”

 

“Resting.” He replied.

 

“Can we go in?” Fora asked.

 

Hunter nodded and they started forward. “Wait.” He spoke without looking at them. “I will stay here.”

 

“Why?” Gil kept smoking.

 

“It is loud inside.”

 

From looking at Hunter to one another they shrugged and proceeded without him. Quickly finding out what he meant.

 

“I'm waiting with Hunter.” Gil turned around feeling Sophies iron grip on his shoulder.

 

“There is no way in hell you are leaving me in this place.”

 

Fora jumped high into the air cheering. “This place is awesome!”

 

Music rang loudly from every direction, people danced in the dirt roads and between all of the wooden homes. Colorful lights and lanterns flashed randomly, the festival was chaotic with no order in sight.

 

 

“I have a question for you Leo.” Haleigh moved through the brush of the forest with her arms.

 

“Is it why haven't you cleared a path for us with fire yet?” Matthew asked after a branch smacked him in the face.

 

“That being?” Leo answered.

 

“Why is Vwiess in charge of their group and you're not for ours, aside from you being you you seem capable.”

 

“Simple, You and Vwiessy are much higher on the food chain than yours truly.”

 

“OK, next question. Why does Carmicheal suddenly feel like not having around his personal guard?” She half expected Leo not to answer right away or even at all for that matter, that wasn't the case for either.

 

“Carmicheal is never without his personal guard.”

 

“What?”

 

“Damnit Yin.” Matther griped as a branch she had moved hit him. “Can we please clear a path?”

 

“Harming nature serves no purpose to us right now.” Leo answered.

 

“What's that mean? It's in our way.”

 

Giving a sigh Haleigh pinched the space between her eye brows. “It means I'm not going to burn it and he's not going to blow it down. Besides,” She pulled a load of branches aside revealing a clearing to them. “We're already here.” A looming cave lay just ahead past a small patch of tamed grass and tiny wild flowers.

 

“Had to be an ominous cave.” Owen spoke out.

 

Leo grinned at him. “What were you expecting?”

 

“I don't know something more desert like?”

 

Haleigh tried looking into the cavern. “This is where Verdandi first noticed the disturbances and that lead her to the Eternal Desert so here we are.” It was to dark she would have to go inside.

 

“Definitely hot enough to be a desert.” Yin griped wiping the sweat from her brow. “Just had to be South Africa.”

 

“Shh.” Haleigh quieted them. “Hear that?”

 

They moved closer to her listening for the cave, something was moving around inside. It sounded similar to liquid and then there was a pop.

 

“For some reason I really don't want to go in there now.”

 

“You don't have to.” Haleigh replied. “The three of you are staying here while Leo and I check it out.”

 

Both of them proceeded further into the cavern. “See that?” Haleigh noticed a green glow up ahead.

 

“Yeah.”

 

They went ahead until they had arrived at the source, along the ceiling and walls the path ahead was coated in bright green fluid. Bubbles rose and descended from it, popping anytime they made contact with something or each other.

 

Reaching out with her glamoured arm one of the bubbles passed through it, the heat under the disguise set it off. The smallest remnant landed just between her feet causing the ground to sizzle and erode. Haleigh glared at it until she saw Leo trying to touch one. “Don't it's-”

 

Leo looked to her as his finger popped the bubble, the glove on his hand instantly began to burn away. “For the love of.” He ripped what was left of it off his hand and into the slime, none of it sank before it burned to nothing. Seeing his hand now covered in burns Leo griped to himself.

 

“Maybe we don't have to pass it, I wonder if we can enter from here?” Haleigh waved her arm and the air in front of her distorted, it trailed off past the ooze and further in. “That answers that question.”

 

“Nobody said it'd be easy.” Leo tore the bandages around his hand with his teeth. “Lets try this.” Gusts of wind whipped around him before rushing ahead of them with force. Other than blowing bubbles deeper in it had no effect.

 

“Well there's no point in trying to burn it.” Haleigh puzzled. “Can't see where it ends and there's no telling how deep it goes.”

 

“This place shouldn't exist in mankind's world.”

 

“Effects from the distortions?”

 

“Knowing why its here isn't going to help us.”

 

An idea formed in her mind. “Maybe it can.” She kept thinking. “What if we help the process along until the entrance connects outside?”

 

“That sounds like a horrible idea and we should do it, one problem though.” Leo held up his hand. “I can do wind and portals.”

 

She smiled. “Good thing we brought someone versed in distorting reality, come on lets get out of here.” Haleigh took one last glance at the path ahead, it felt ominous almost alive in a sense.

 

 

“Have you ever seen a whisp?” Gil asked Sophie as they watched the festivities together.

 

Thinking on it for a moment. “Can't say that I have, I've certainly heard of them though. What brought that up?”

 

“They were really pretty, like beyond that even, a whisp is captivating.” He lit a cigarette. “I only had the pleasure of meeting one once when I was young. The way they moved and acted, I'm not even certain they're aware of the impact they can have, but such awesome destruction can often be beautiful.” Smoke left his lips.

 

“Gil?”

 

“That guy Aeolus supposedly mastered those creatures, tamed him to his will. Honestly I can't say what kind of power someone like that could hold, in a way it almost terrifies me.”

 

“Aeolus became Sarrin though didn't he?”

 

“Maybe that's what power like his can do to you, it makes sense for the perfect vessel to be almost omniscient. Whisps are spoken of as folklore but it's a fact that myself and others have witnessed them, so let me ask you this; What ever happened to the whisps?”

 

“If they were real then there's no way he just took them all, right?”

 

“I feel if we ever do make it to the void we might just find them and their bending of fate steadily guiding all of this.”

 

“That's to much to think about.”

 

“You're exactly right which is why I'm going to over think it like everything else in my head.” Gil sunk low until he was sitting on the dirt. “We really don't know anything.”

 

Sophie pat him on the head. “One thing at a time Gil, we find the Sea of Stone then worry about Sarrin.”

 

“Yeah whatever.” He flicked away the cigarette already pulling out another. “Fora's certainly taking her time.” Gil rose brushing the dirt off himself.

 

Sophie had been entranced by the tantalizing colors of lights. “She's with her people, probably enjoying herself. Hey why aren't feykin protected species and more over why aren't I one?”

 

“Feykin are similar to Stags and Homunculi, Bevelle keeps its thumb firmly on top of them.” Pulling out his phone Gil frowned when he looked at the screen. “Remember when these things worked?” He took out something else and lit it. “You are part of the protected species, Isaac's in there to. Our society noticed the minglings of humans and feykin, it happened late into our world in my opinion but there was no doubt they needed to be taken care of. So Bevelle put them all in one spot and left them to the slaughter.”

 

“You're rambling.”

 

Smoke lingered around him. “I do that. I'm going to check on Hunter.” Gil strode off mumbling nonsense to himself, smoking more as he side stepped through the dancers. One of them walked past him out of the group, a young girl with short black hair and glasses, she covered in sweat.

 

Sophie noticed something as she approached, the tattoos all over her body where different from the other Udyir, unique in a way. She sat down beside her still catching her breath. “I haven't partied this much in years.”

 

Sophie giggled. “You definitely look it.”

 

“Probably smell like it to.” The girl laughed. “I'm sorry I just plopped myself here I saw your boyfriend leave and figure why not? I'm Emily by the way.” Holding out her hand to Sophie.

 

She shook it. “I'm-”

 

“Sophira, I know.” Emily smiled at her. “You could say I'm one of your biggest fans.”

 

“Oh.” Sophie blushed, slightly confused. “I didn't know I had much of a reputation and just so you know Gil isn't my boyfriend.”

 

“Not yet anyway, don't be so modest, you could say a lot of people have been waiting for you.” Emily's eyes narrowed as she talked in a way that made Sophie feel as if she knew things about her. It was something Sophie quickly knew she didn't like.

 

“I'm nothing impressive in my opinion, I'm just now leaning in the last few months that there are more than plenty of things I can't do.” She watched the dancers as her mind wandered to unpleasant places.

 

“You couldn't save your father.” Her expression became different, in a bad way. “People die and the world moves on.”

 

“What.” Sophie bounced back from her thoughts, her face cringed up as anger grew within. “Where do you get off saying that?” Standing up while clenching her fists at her sides. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

 

Seemingly unfazed by her outburst Emily looked back to the dancing, the lights reflecting off her glasses hiding the eyes behind in colors. “I'm just someones whose stories been told and believe me when I say it did not end well. Emily smiled as she said this. “I love this world and its stories. I'm not the only one, for some stories like yours are what people live for.”

 

Beyond confused Sophie's face now held a look of disbelief.

 

“Sit back down I have a story for you, a tale of truth and fire.”

 

 

“That's weird.” Gil mumbled. “It should be here right?” Having made his way back o the entrance they came through not the village only to find that now it had been no where to be seen. “I already don't like this.” He continued to smoke whilst talking to himself. Ba'ala formed beneath and swallowed him whole emerging once more above one of the nearby wooden rooftops. “Well nothing to do now but watch.” He sat down smoking more of his cigar.

 

Off in the distance he saw the two girls, Fora dancing in the lights and sound, Sophie speaking to another girl Gil didn't recognize. He smiled upon seeing how uncomfortable Sophie looked. “You have to open up to the rest of the world at some point.” In the depths of his mind he wasn't sure if those words were meant just for her sake. “Right. Once this is over I'll figure out these lost memories, I give a damn about this world right Samuel? It's time to know who Thanatos really is, what he wants for the world.”

 

The most random of thoughts came to him, images of static you would see on a screen. “The universe is always speaking.”

 

 

“Probability is weird, sometimes certain doors just open in a certain order and the crazy junk just, I don't know happens I guess.”

 

Sophie cringed. “You're not good at this whole story thing are you?”

 

“Look you know about causality right? There's like these factors and we all have them, constants and variables that exist and intermingle across what we perceive as time, reality, dimensions. Before our reality existed there were countless more and there were these two, I don't know what you'd call them, assholes? They had like one job but half the time the were to busy firetrucking it up along with everything and everyone around them.” Emily griped as if it bothered her. “Honestly the only time they actually did their job was when their own lives were at stake.”

 

“I don't know what any of this has to do with me or anything at all for that matter.”

 

“We don't have a lot of time, just be patient one way or another I'll get to it.” Talking as if nothing mattered. “Before there was time,” Her tone grew grim. “Before there was anything, there was nothing and before there was nothing, there were monsters.”

 

 

Among a seemingly endless void of white, nothing moved nothing lived and nothing existed save for a single orb larger than life itself, this place was time before time. Filled to the brim in darkness with infinite lights strewn throughout its own infinity, it was life itself. The cradle to hold all that would ever.

 

Two black forms floated aimlessly in the grand distance, small almost looking as if they were cloud like children, one with red eyes and another with a pair similar to the orbs likeness yet blue in their own way. Neither of them had names, they were beyond names.

 

A day came when the red eyed child thought of the great sphere, its formless arms waved reaching out for it.

 

“We can't touch.” Words called out from the other child. “All said not to touch, only watch.”

 

“All is gone.”

 

“No he's not, don't say that!” This upset the blue eyed child as it looked to the universe. “He's that now, isn't he?”

 

The red eyes narrowed. “What if he's not? What if that's just what's left?” Captivated by its magnitude and beauty, the being began drifting closer to it. “I have to know what's inside.”

 

“You can't.” It followed. “I don't want to be left alone here.”

 

“You don't have to be alone, you can come with me.” He turned holding out his arm to the other boy, the both of them still drifting in the white. “We can exist and live, we can even have names if we want.”

 

The blue eyed boy hesitated drawing himself away from him. “I'm scared, All told us not to.”

 

“As I in this moment make this promise, we are like twins and so long as we walk this path I shall protect you.” A string of familiar words given to them long ago. “We shall go together.”

 

 

Hunter's head turned slightly as the sounds of the forest continued.

 

In the distance branches braking could be heard and even farther off three arrows sank into a tree. Their feathery ends were dripping red to the ground below.

 

Moments passed as the hidden life of night went on, footsteps soon joined it with the crunching of dead leaves underfoot. A figure walked out of the cover of darkness into a patch of moonlight, he wore a fox like mask and hooded coat, dragging something along the ground staining the way he came.

 

Foxface threw the severed arm off into the wood to be claimed by nature. “Hey runt.”

 

Hunter didn't respond, standing there silent as if nothing had happened.

 

“Yeah, we need to talk.” Foxface grabbed the edge of his mask, removing it from his face.

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty Five: Default

 

 

“It's funny that you're going to the Sea of Stone.”

 

“How do you know that?” Sophie wasn't enjoying her company.

 

“There was this girl, Seagul.” Emily went on. “There's these people that just exist no matter when or where they are, kind of like her. You remind me a lot of that person, the eyes and hair are different but you can't hide that spirit. She single handedly rewrote her realities history once, she was incredible but that was beyond lifetimes ago in a place long gone.”

 

Something about what she said struck her in such a way Sophie could feel herself pushing down unknown emotions. “How do you know all of this?”

 

“At a certain point you stop learning things and you discover that you just know them. Have you noticed that even though things such as demons and voidkin represent destruction incarnate in our world yet all of the problems stem outside of those species? It's as if they were placed their as the center of focus yet while groups such as Judgements Order, Elipses, Bevelle, Amori have been ripping the lives around them by the seams. There where so many Udyir at one point, enough to inhabit every forest in Avalon as well as the earth. Bevelle launched war with every race in our era, they were so connected with Nava and always lived within her tree, no one would ever dare to harm them or the tree of life and with this advantage Yggdrasil controlled the worlds and how they progressed. Advanced magics, technologies, science, by the time there was anyone willing to stand against them once more Bevelle formed Elipses which at the time were exclusively ranked by the legendary feykin magi, it was decades before non magi feykin were permitted let alone other species. But at that time long ago, Bevelle used Elipses to eradicate several races and diminish the rest to near extinction.”

 

“Please stop.” Sophira felt pains growing in her stomach, feelings caused by the heartless words.

 

“Elipses was eventually given stations throughout and the frim grip of Bevelle grew ever tighter. Eventually a new race of half-breed feykin where brought into the world and in responce Bevelle created a species of their own, a new type of demon they called Amori. These beings filled the ranks of Judgements Order as Skuld helped to create them as his own personal force. After that Skuld knew not to trust Yggdrasil especially after the cleansing.”

 

“Just shut up already, OK?”

 

“Calm down Seagul.”

 

“I'm not-” Sophie noticed the music had stopped as a grandiose explosion filled the sky with color. Fireworks danced in the air taking the night.

 

“Not yet anyway.” Sophie couldn't hear her. “It's to bad you came this late, maybe it had to be this way after all we've done this before right?” Emily watched the fireworks with a new light forming within her, a grace of clarity. “Looks like my festival is over.”

 

“Emily I want some real answers.” When Sophie looked over to her she discovered that the young girl was gone.

 

 

“Stephanie I just sent you something I want you to look over.” Tyler spoke to the screen above his wrist.

 

She took less than a second. “Have you told them yet?”

 

“No I'm kind of letting it play out, I tried to contact Phoebe but I haven't been able to reach her. No real surprise there but have you heard from her?”

 

Stephanie appeared to be working on something while speaking with him. “No I haven't seen her.”

 

“I see, well how are the others doing?”

 

“They've already located the source of the Eternal Desert's distortions, it looks like they are just waiting to enter.”

 

After the signs of an awkward silence forming Tyler broke it. “Well what are you up to?”

 

“Goodbye Tyler.” Stephanie's face was replaced by static on a portion of his screen.

 

“Nice talking to you to.”

 

 

“Do you understand now?”

 

Hunter stayed quiet.

 

“I don't like this world, it isn't right for this mess. Ours should be a more grandiose stage, like the precipice of an all consuming end.”

 

“You are not.” He finally chose to say something.

 

“No, not just yet but I have seen it. The path is clear to me, in a sense I'm already becoming aware of myself. What of you?”

 

“You are not,” Hunter continued. “To go any further.”

 

“Are you even paying attention to what I'm saying?”

 

“Show me that you are not a threat.”

 

Foxface placed his mask back over his face. “We're done here.” A portal formed behind him as he turned towards it. “Next time I won't be in a chatting mood.”

 

 

“That was definitely weird.” Fora noted as she and Maggie approached Sophie.

 

“Huh?” Sophie asked confused only just noticing the two of them. “What happened?”

 

Maggie looked at her oddly. “That girl you were just talking to just disappeared all of a sudden.”

 

Gil joined them after making his way through the crowd still watching the fireworks. “So you all saw that to right?”

 

“Yeah it was odd.” Fora mentioned. “One second she was there and the next just gone.”

 

“It didn't look like magic either, almost like she just wasn't there anymore.” Maggie added. “What was she saying to you?”

 

“What? It wasn't important.” Sophie still seemed flustered. “Just another cryptic speech, I feel like I hear them all the time.”

 

“Personal we get it but it's still weird.” Gil thought for a moment pulling out a cigarette. A sudden realization dawned upon his face and he dropped the cigarette to the ground.

 

It was quiet enough for him to think, hauntingly quiet. The lanterns had all gone out, not a trace of life remained or even the village for that matter. A dead clearing with untamed grass and just a few plies of decayed would remained. This foreboding place held but one remnant of a long forgotten presence in the form of a monolith, only barely claimed by vines growing from where it was rooted. It towered high appearing like a large reflective sword with no hilt and crude jagged edges. Upon its ebony surface were etched words scrawled across the relic.

 

“I want to leave now.” Gil growled.

 

Fora couldn't take her eyes off of the monolith. Still processing all of what had just happened along with the rest of them.

 

“Right now.”

 

Braking from the group Sophie made for the enormous object, she had been just close enough to make it out and seeing it now proved her certain. A name was written at the bottom of the text;

 

– Ellum Village Chief, Emily

 

 

Complicated people litter the world, everything they experience and learn, their unique lives, even down to the way they process a thought. A thousand travels are but one journey, no one knew this better than Haleigh, an inevitable end awaits all things and with enough time you can even feel its whisper. “How are you doing Matthew?”

 

“Well it's hard to visualize stuff with my brain place when you keep asking me, so not well.” He replied flippantly. “I have no idea what I'm dealing with here, this kind of distortion, I've never seen anything like it. Holamark's teachings don't even compare, it's like alive or something.”

 

“Alive?”

 

“In the way it moves, I'm not entirely sure I can make it spread or what will happen if I do.”

 

“Can't you just add more of itself to itself?”

 

“I would hope you knew this was a science, can't just do something I don't understand.”

 

“Just do what you can.” She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “I'll come back to check on you in a bit.”

 

“Will do.” Matthew waved her off.

 

Several paces away the remainder of the group had gathered around a small campfire in the clearing. Night had claimed the hot forest and the songs played to the stars.

 

“I don't think I've ever seen this many before.” Owen spoke out.

 

Yin was the first to respond. “The stars?”

 

“It's whatcha get stickin to the cities to much, all that light ruins the night and all.” Leo went on chewing at a roll of bread. “Even the big blue looks so much grander without all the buildings.”

 

“Are you saying humans make the world appear duller?”

 

“I'm not sure that's what he meant.” Haleigh added sitting with them. “Humans aren't really any different from any other form of life, mankind lack things like magic and Anima, yet their potential has surpassed that of the Aesir.”

 

“Yeah but they spend nearly all of their time fighting with themselves and competing in every advancement from culture to technology, they're almost meant to be their own end.”

 

“Are we and the other races separated from mankind really so different?” Leo inferred. “Don't you know we're all just playing the same game. Time is an illusion something conceived by fools who feared their own death.”

 

“Feykin, Udyir, nothing in our reality has ever been known to live indefinitely, but there is a difference in being immortal, forever young, invincible. Even the Aesir can be killed, Nava is reborn, until just recently Curtis and Gilgamesh here the oldest people I have ever met. Try asking one of them and they can't tell you who was born first. Time was different back them and the world a much darker place, by the time they met they were both on the road to who they are today. Now however we have someone like Sarrin, and no one knew Ludious Alcross and Alastair Harknet where anything close to being as old as they are. Ages like theirs happen in special circumstances and everything we've come to know about this void exploration team they were all apart of lead us to know that the man who became Sarrin was the only member to survive.”

 

“Wait what?” Yin's eyes widened, Leo was the only one not to show a reaction.

 

“Gilgamesh had a human like father but there isn't a trace of mankind in his DNA and Curdis Wells has severed as Urd of Origin longer than any other who held the position. Sarrin has been noted to appear in our world since the first void conflict maybe even before that, however how can Aeolus Pride, the same man who defeated Sarrin, become him? It just doesn't make any sense how does a person just become another person? I've only seen one other case to even suggest a similarity, that was Caleb Harris.”

 

“He was the one who supposedly started all of this right?” Owen asked.

 

Haleigh went on without acknowledging the question and instead asked one of her own. “Have any of you ever heard of a fractured being?” She didn't give them time to respond. “I wasn't sure but at one point I think Gil became one of those people, he's different now but if you spend enough time with him it always seems like parts of his life and himself are just missing. Some say people develop these voids in their hearts but Gil has many of them and a vice for each one.”

 

“Fractured being? What does that mean exactly?”

 

“It means a piece of themselves has been separated, and it doesn't matter how close these pieces are or even if they reside in the same form, that person, that existence will be forever changed into something else entirely.”

 

Owen was the only one with the nerve to ask. “Can someone go back? From being fractured I mean?”

 

“Ask Gilgamesh, or better yet ask the Urd of Origin.” Haleigh's eyes narrowed. “He might have killed his own son, how more broken can you be after that?” Crackling from the fire filled the silence as small embers rose up into the night.

 

 

My home will soon be taken from me, I have seen the force that threatens us and I now know we are doomed to perish. Events are in works that I cannot possibly understand, after months of learning I have discovered only two things.

 

The first being that the Sea of Stone is important and must be kept secret for some reason, so with this will I leave you it's location. The beast at our door is beyond myth and legend, it is not of our world yet to know it is impossible for the moment, as you see the mortal flesh posses a hindrance.

 

Beyond this place in a time long forgotten an ancient land from a time before this one came to our land. This stone is the key, yet be warned that the Sea of Stone is one of many places soaked in the blood of creation, entering, leaving, these acts are beyond any power we can possibly conceive.

 

For beings of our existence the price to enter is but one toll, a single life.

 

My home will soon be taken from me and what remains of my people have moved on. I have given my life to this great sword so someone may come to show me they deserve this door.

 

Ellum Village Chief, Emily

 

“This is madness.” Gil was utterly stunned. “A constant stream of nonsense a every damn turn, people are gonna just keep dying aren't they.”

 

“Gil?” Sophie could barely form the word. “What does this mean?”

 

Gritting his teeth he thought to himself. “Tyler you better be watching, because if we're to late..”

 

 

Static filled Tyler's screen his panic filling the dense white void. “Where the hell are you Stephanie? C'mon pick up, pick up, pick up. Damnit, what about Phoebe?” Just more static. “For firetrucks sake, what do I do?”

 

Useless was the best word he had for it, in fact what had he really done since that day? Following Verdandi and her orders? What was he doing? “Tiffany! I know you can probably hear me and I do not care what you are doing right now, this is important and your the only person left to help so if you would be so kind, get your ass over here.” A moment of silence passed. “Please tell me I am not talking to myself.” Tyler slumped back in his chair pinching the space between his eyes.

 

“How can I assist you Mr. Harris.” Tiffany's voice nearly brought tears to his eyes.

 

“Tiffany I'm so glad you're here listen we need to.” He couldn't speak once he looked at her. Ripped clothes, bloodstains, broken glasses, her hair was a mess and a gash over one of her eyes had forced it closed. “What in whoever made this mess's name happened to you?”

 

“You sounded urgent Tyler.” She didn't answer him. “I'm busy.”

 

“Oh right, I have to get in contact with Haleigh Valestani's group, as soon as right now.” He returned to the console. “Gilgamesh I need you guys to stay there don't move an inch I'll contact you as soon as I can, something weird is going on I'm getting in contact with Haleigh's group now.”

 

“You're patched through.” Tiffany closed the screen she was working on and another appeared in front of Tyler.

 

“Haleigh don't.” A piercing tone screeched from the screen. Tyler's covered his ears. “What the hell is this?” The screen closed as a smaller one with numbers and text showed up. “Distortions are causing some kind of really big word interference?”

 

“Tyler what's about to happen?”

 

“I think someone is going to die.”

 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

DANG, THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!

 

This is awesome, I was wondering when you'd post chapters again! These two were awesome, and I particularly liked Emily! The way she was talking about everything, and how the world is messed up and how the very powers that be have destroyed the world more than the Voidkin and other beings themselves is quite similar to the reality we live in! Humanity is its own worst enemy, after all! And I just love the dense and lush world building you keep developing for this story, the world around these characters feels so alive and full of depth! Very impressive work, man! I can't wait for what happens next!

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Twenty Six: Lost Paths

 

 

   “And I said the world shall be buried, in ash and snow, rain and lightning, rifts, destruction all for that moment. And it was. This is but one path, a set of choices leading to countless outcomes.”

 

“Who made the sun, the sky, the trees, even the air you breath? Was it not I? I was nothing and yet I was born from everything there ever was. There was always darkness and light until I snuffed its remnants out of existence, all became nothing once more just as I.”

 

“In time I learned that to be nothing meant to want nothing, to feel nothing, to know nothing. But these things were not me, I was just like them in the end the only thing I lacked was a name. To create meant to exist and I had taken that right from them so was it not mine? I took one of their names and birthed a new world for myself. It was there in that place I began and the cycle moved once more.”

 

“All became nothing, did that not make me All?”

 

“I remember it so clearly, the final encounter. After I devoured Scarlet the Will of Change fled and I followed, I knew where she would lead me, this to I had planned for. The moment the cycle changed All had been reborn and without me it was incomplete and weak, mine for the taking.”

 

The voice and the form to whom it belonged to changed to that of an elderly yet muscular mans littered in scars.

 

“Now I will take another name.”

 

 

“Hunter stop!” Gil darted forward praying he wouldn't be to late.

 

The man had moved passed the group placing hand on it setting it aglow in response. Blinding light flooded by them in a white dome and as it dissipated they were gone.

 

Sophie watched Emily appear before Hunter. She smiled saying something she was unable to hear.

 

 

A deafening scream caught Leo and the others of guard. It took less than a second for Haleigh to see. “Matthew!”

 

Wires made of light had wrapped around his head and legs. “Help me!” The cavern entrance had become a portal of blinding light this had been the source of his bindings. His fingertips dragged through the dirt as Matthew was pulled.

 

Haleigh and Leo lunged forward, she stopped short after Leo was shocked back by white static. Yin caught Leo as Owen soared through the air punching the invisible barrier, static clung around his arm forcing a cry of pain. Gritting his teeth Owen dug into it with both his feet bringing only more pain but enough standing force to use the other fist to free himself.

 

“Enough.” Haleigh spoke as her eyes lit up. A violent torrent of red fire burst from her outstretched palm, the sheer force pushing her hair back.

 

“Wait what are you doing?” Owen yelled barely keeping himself up.

 

The flames whipped over and through the barrier, passed Matthew straight to the source. Haleigh swung her arm and it all blew out, the boy was free from the wires gasping on the ground, she approached however the instant she took the first step towards him a shutter had moved through the air.

 

She looked up to the portal as a wire had shot through her shoulder, then another through Owens, the Leo and Yin. The stabbing pain and static had paralyzed them somehow.

 

“Matthew!” Haleigh tried reaching out to no avail.

 

Wires wrapped around him once more. “Haleigh please!” He called out being pulled to the threshold, his legs where the first to go through.

 

A single tear ran down Haleighs cheek when she saw his face, screaming out in unknowable pain. “Don't let me-” Matthew was dragged through in one final motion, all that remained had been an ephemeral patch of wafting red in the white.

 

The wires in their shoulders withdrew, Haleigh sank to her knees screaming out inaudibly through the devouring light around them.

 

 

Ripples formed on a dark surface as a droplet of dim light fell in. Under the liquid surface a pair of eyes opened, haunting shades of blue and purple with others, the likeness of the universe the little lights and shades even moved as if revealing the infinity within.

 

They soon closed leaving only a word behind with no voice behind it.

 

“Listen.”

 

 

“Hello Tyler.” Stephanie's image appeared on one of the screens above the console, she noticed Tiffany as well as her appearance. “Hello Tiffany, has something happened?” The pair looked to be speaking before she had interrupted.

 

“What did you do Steph.” It as more of an accusation than a question, his eye wide brimming in contained rage. “You saw what was happening, where were you?”

 

Unsure of how to respond not knowing what they were thinking.

 

“Don't play silent with me, Tiffany's told me about your talk with Verdandi and that damned egg of yours.” Tyler barked. “Just what the hell have you done Stephanie?”

 

“I made a decision, I lead them down a path I foresaw.”

 

“So it was you who blocked us out.” His fists tightened at his sides. “You wanted them to open the doors, what did it cost? What's happened to them?”

 

“Yours is safe, you should be able to see them soon.” She spoke so casually as if having done nothing wrong. “Mine has suffered only one fatality, things are going well so far.”

 

His face cringed as Tyler's rage seeped through. “How can you say that? What is wrong with you?”

 

“Nothing is.. Tyler you do not understand, certain things have to happen certain ways. I have to open these doors regardless of what may be behind them.”

 

“I should have noticed it before.”

 

She looked at him oddly.

 

“Something's been different about you for a while now, you've changed. At first it was this place right? I knew you were good at using it but then you got better, that's when you changed yourself right? Then you made that egg or whatever it is and now it's like you've become this other person.”

 

It hadn't come as much of a surprise to her, Tyler was smarter than he knew, she knew this as undeniable fact. Was he right though?

 

“It was Caleb wasn't it? Seeing the way he changed and then losing him all over again, it broke you didn't it?”

 

“I am not broken.” She spoke defiantly. “I'm stronger than I've ever felt in my life.”

 

“Liar.”

 

“What?”

 

“If all of that is true than answer me one thing. Why are you crying?”

 

Stephanie immediately touched her face feeling tears coming form only one of her eyes. An expression of anger took form and the screen closed.

 

Exhaling deeply Tyler felt the full weight of his exhaustion. “Alright Tiffany, we have work to do.” He knew he couldn't rest now or even at all for that matter.

 

 

The metal bottoms of Malchior's boots clanged against the welded walk way. He came to a stop at a curved railing, another man stopped just behind him. “Your report General Atlas.”

 

“The fleet is prepped and ready to launch on schedule, awaiting your orders sire.”

 

“My sister was right about one thing, we shouldn't abandon the earth. No in fact now is the perfect time for us to seize it for ourselves and expand our great nation of Bevelle. Launch now.”

 

“Sire!” Atlas saluted his prince before barking his orders. “By order of your next king, Launch all ships!”

 

A grand set of hanger doors opened flooding it with bellowing gusts. The floor around them opened up as the platform they stood upon rose. An airship of megalithic scale soared out from Yggdrasil accompanied by several fleets of high speed crafts resembling zeppelins.

 

Swirling distortions in the air ahead formed a great dark vortex with two revolving symbolence's in front of it. As the bow touched the first it passed through disappearing as it proceeded.

 

Malchior held out his arms in the wind blowing his hair and jacket around. “For the glory of Bevelle! Do you hear it? With this I become legend!”

 

 

Standing at the crossroads which severed as the entrance to his true home, Curtis took all of it in. From the leafless trees to the mountains on the horizon and the dirt under his shoes, as if for the last time.

 

He had no idea when he'd be coming back.

 

“I'm sorry to deceive you all once more.” Placing his hat atop his balding head. “I'm sorry I must leave you all as well, I'm sure you will be needing my assistance now more than ever. You wouldn't understand but I fear there is much more going on now than simply the Fall and the coming of Ragnarok.”

 

A dark portal opened, the edges riddled in unstable distortions.

 

“It is with this in mind that I will convene with as many versions of my self as possible, if I am truly one of the mythical fractured beings that it is through this I will be able to discern the truth behind all.”

 

The Urd of Origin stepped through leaving only his final words behind for no one to hear. “I accept this.”

 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Gahhh, so much going on, so much tension, so much chaos!!! Gahh, I love it!

 

Good God, and Curtis being a fractured...no doubt he's going to try to delve into the truth behind everything, but a lot of chaos is about to go down! And I can't believe Stephanie! She's grown so cold, almost robotic! It's scary, really! I can see why even Skuld was alarmed back when she decided to go this route!  And that bit at the beginning about All was very interesting! I wonder how he ties into all this!

 

Great chapter, man! This feels like an amazing anime! You truly have extraordinary storytelling skills!

Edited June 26, 2017 by The Transcendent Key

[Sarrin 100]

Chapter Twenty Seven: Lands of Hurt

 

“To you I say.” A figure formed in the vast rush of lights. “Good day lost lights.” Sarrin appeared to them floating in place ahead of them as the light passed around. “Gilgamesh, Haleigh, it is good to see you once more.”

 

Haleigh looked to where he had and Gil did the same, they saw nothing. The only people around where the ones they had entered with and Sarrin. The pair understood however, he was speaking to both groups simultaneously, time and space separated them with unknowable distance, something like that didn't matter to someone like him.

 

“Whose life did you throw away to come here and put on this act?” Haleigh growled.

 

Sarrin almost smiled. “No ones, I am of this world, or rather these lands are of me to an extent. I have been to these places many times, I have seen what was before the desert, I have seen the sea before the stone. I have seen all and so much more than you will ever know.”

 

“Yeah well,” Gil spat. “Why don't you come down here?” He grinned disturbingly while showing his teeth. “I'll show you a whole knew world of carnage.”

 

“Wait Gil.” Sophira stepped in front of him holding out her arm to stop him. “I have been waiting for this moment so I can asking you something.” I have my orders, She thought the words, I'm going to kill you Sophira, prepare yourself. “Why did you want me dead, why did you have Phi Honnes kill me?”

 

Sarrin was silent watching the young girl with her defiant face, it almost reminded him of something from a time long forgotten. “I have no idea what you are talking about. You will all be arriving soon, I look forward to see what your wills are truly worth. These are lands of deep loss, great battles have been fought there. Will yours be one of them I wonder.” Light passed through his fading form.

 

“Farewell lost sheep, you are far from the flock and night fast approaches, the sun has set so now the dark will take hold. Walk with me, we shall go together.”

 

 

Cold and rough surfaces greeted them as they dropped out of the air onto blue stone. For endless miles it stretched, bending and warping, frozen waves and sharp segments littered about.

 

With unyielding heat it went on forever.

 

Gil kicked at the ground, it felt wrong. “I hate all of this.”

 

“Can we just talk about what just happened?” Maggie asked.

 

Each of them looked to one another before answering her in unison. “No.”

 

 

Tying up her hair Haleigh felt the sweat forming on her forehead, the raging heat they arrived to had been accompanied by an endless ocean of shifting sands.

 

Owen's face showed he was still in shock. “Where is Matthew?”

 

“He's gone.” Haleigh held her hand out over the stable sand, ripples of heat formed between until the sand had been changed into glass. “At least that works, lets get moving we can't stay in this heat.” With a wave the patch extended into a short path.

 

“If its the heat that's got you then I can keep us..”

 

“No,” She cut Leo off. “The sands are unstable, we don't need any freak sandstorms.” The way he looked at her confused her.

 

“You just had to say something.” Leo shook his head with his hand over his face.

 

Haleigh saw how the rest of them where looking past her. “What?” Once she turned to see for herself Haleigh quickly noticed the sky in the distance was gone and had been replaced with a looming wall of thick brown clouds.

 

 

“Look they've made it.” A soft voice spoke to nothing. “It won't be long now, soon they'll know about you and him, and then maybe they learn about her and all the others to.” It continued excitedly.

 

What are you? Voiceless words formed.

 

“If they learn about him then they can stop all of this, but that won't happen right? A new cycle has been born and this one just keep entering the same iteration. You keep taking your time and they all fight among themselves never seeing the true depths until they've drowned.”

 

What are you?

 

“That boy gave his life even though it wasn't his to begin with, you got the ending you wanted a long time ago, is that it? Is that why you won't help them now? Don't you know you'll go there eventually? You already have, you remember right?”

 

What are you?

 

“I wonder what he would have done if I spoke to him instead. I'm what's calling out to you all, will you listen to me?”

 

I know you. You're Her aren't you?

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Gahhh, Sarrin! I always love when he shows up! His presence is powerful and eerie! I wonder what awaits everyone should they come upon him! That is, if they survive their journey!

 

And I wonder who Her is...?

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Twenty Eight: Sea of Stone

 

 

Apparently day time in this barren world, there was no actual source of light to be seen. The infinite landscape stretched out in all directions, a lingering question laid in each of their minds, none of them felt prepared to ask it, but no one knew where to begin.

 

Thinking she was the only one who saw it, for the slightest fraction of a second Sophie watched the entire world around her be replaced by visual static. Her mind had almost drifted off.

 

“What the hell was that?” Gil mumbled. He watched carefully eyes narrowed. “Five seconds in and already it.” Cutting himself off with a fit of coughing, Gil reacted by taking in a deeper breath only to end up coughing more. “The air is.” Unable to stop Gil's eyes lit up, he stood up straight as a wave of air burst from where he stood. “It's toxic run!”

 

Being the worst plan he'd ever thought of in his opinion, where were they to run? He could probably keep himself alive long enough without breathing but what of the others? Think Gilgamesh, He searched for the answer yet at every glance it was just more of the same, pillars, tunnels and sharp formations of stone. This place was here before the roots so it has to lead somewhere right?

 

In that moment Hunter passed him taking lead of the group. “What?” Gil focused in on the man, Hey tall and brooding, you know where you're going by chance?

 

Hunter spoke out to all of them. “Not much farther now.” Something had shifted in the tone of his voice becoming lighter somehow. Gil couldn't ignore this for some reason, could the mask be distorting it?

 

Having gone unnoticed by the others, Sophie could only imagine they were feeling the same way she was. The borders of her sight had began darkening she was light headed and unsure of how much father she could run without taking a breath. Fora had seemed to be managing but Maggie had already started falling behind. Just then a though occurred to her, where could they go wouldn't the air going to be the same either way?

 

Gil watched Hunter make a sharp right before vanishing into thin air, he did the same and the others watching him disappear as well. Fora followed through the invisible path as Sophie stopped looking back at Maggie, she had a way to catch up.

 

An odd thought entered her mind, what if she attacked her and then what if she left her there to die? It'd be easy right, No one would doubt whatever story she'd come up with. The smile that formed on Sophie's face felt wrong, so wrong that she was able to snap herself out of the thoughts grasp. Why had that entered her mind, could it have been this place?

 

Maggie had passed by, entering without her. Clenching her fist at her side Sophie moved onward, a pit in her stomach already taking shape.

 

For an instance you could have called it euphoric, this was the sensation she felt as she passed through the portal. Waves of feelings she didn't understand greeted her in place of her comrades who were nowhere to be seen.

 

However Sophie wasn't alone. Behind her was a stone slab etched with red markings, the walls were the same blue stone and a set of steps led to what seemed to be an open room with a hooded woman in a long black coat. She made down each step with a watchful eye on the woman who hadn't moved an inch.

 

As she descended her face came more into view, at first it was her chin and then a small smile that stopped Sophie in her tracks. “Don't stop.” She spoke in a familiar voice. “You're already late.”

 

Sophie continued unaware of what was making her do so. “Wait I-” Unable to speak once the rest of the woman's face had been revealed. Blond hair and a set of piercing blue eyes but her face, her voice. She knew her name before she even spoke it. “Seagul.”

 

Her smile grew ever so slightly as she looked back at Sophie with glee and what seemed to be sadness. “Hello there.” A tear started down one of her cheeks. “My little lookalike.”

 

“I don't understand.” She tried to back away finding she couldn't. “How can you be here? No wait how can I know you, why do you have my, who are you.” A sharp pain went through her temple as static filled thoughts ripped through her mind. “My head.” She cried out as it persisted.

 

“Can you remember it?”

 

Sophie's breathing became labored, these weren't thoughts, they were memories.

 

“Do you remember what it was like now?” Seagul asked. “Can you remember what it was like to die?”

 

Her knees buckled and she screamed as loud as she could, crying with labored breaths between each.

 

“You have to look past it, the truth is there.”

 

The memory played out, it seemed that she was speaking to someone in a panic, a woman, but her face image was distorted. “That thing! He ate Scarlet!” Then there was static, it went back to her death as Sophie screamed more.

 

“Please,” She begged. “No more.”

 

“I don't like this world.” Seagul spoke as the hold on Sophie left her. “All of you.” Looking at the girl with disdain. “Make for poor others.”

 

“Sophie?” He looked into her eyes. “Hello?” She looked zoned out, almost bored. “Earth to Sophie? Well okay this probably isn't earth but snap the hell out of it already.” Gil shook at her shoulder until she started blinking.

 

“What? Gil?” She seemed stunned.

 

“Yeah who did you think it was?” The same exact room as before only this time there was no Seagul. A single path lead futher in past the open room and behind them laid the same steps and stone slab.

 

“Guys where's Hunter?” Fora asked almost cowering behind Maggie. “I don't like it here everything feels wrong and there's all these noises.”

 

Everyone gave her the same look for the same reason, not one of them heard a thing. “What do you hear?” Gil tried to listen.

 

“You don't hear it? It's like whispering but there's so many of them.”

 

His eyes grew wide. “What are these voices saying to you Fora?”

 

“I'm not sure, they're to quiet to make out and they're all talking at the same time.”

 

“We proceed forward,” Hunter had appeared in the rooms center before he moved on ahead. “They're here.” Going on until out of sight.

 

“Let's follow him.” She felt herself speak without realizing.

 

“Follow who?” Maggie asked looking out to the empty room. “There's no one else here and no where for us to go, I feel like Hunter led us to nothing.”

 

Fora perked up. “Wait what are you talking about there's a path to the left right there.” She pointed to a blank wall.

 

“No that's wrong.” Sophie interjected. “The path is straight ahead, didn't you see Hunter just go through?” Confusion settled more inside her as it did the others.

 

“We didn't see Hunter,” Maggie replied. “He wasn't there.”

 

“But I?” She thought on it, had Sophie been seeing things? It most certainly wouldn't be the first time.

 

Gil exhaled, finally joining the conversation. “So we're all seeing different things, I for instance did not see Hunter in fact I don't see any paths either.” His eyes lit up red, becoming active as the tings of symbols spun. The world he saw changed, colors and contracts becoming inverted like a negative rendering of the world. Several distortions large enough to pass through lined the walls. “It looks like there's much more than two ways,” He tried looking further in. “Everything beyond here is nothing, where could they lead I wonder.” Gil asked himself.

 

“Hunter went that way.” Sophie looked ahead to the only path she saw, remembering his words as she unknowingly took a step forward. Unable to understand why she felt compelled to move forward. “I'm going.” With another step Sophie broke into a full sprint.

 

“Wait Sophie don't!” They watched as she disappeared through the wall, Gil's words never reaching her. “Damnit.” He stomped on the stone. “Alright no one goes anywhere.”

 

“Um Gil?” Softly speaking, Maggie was unaware of how he could react.

 

The man began to light a cigarette, exhaling smoke with a sigh before speaking. “And Fora's gone.” Gil ashed on the floor before taking another drag. “For firetrucks sake.”

 

“Ding ding, ding ding.” Chills ran down Gil's and Maggie's spine as a childlike voice rang out. “Ding ding, ding ding.” Gilgamesh watched at a small hooded figure emerge from one of the distortions, the coat dragging on the floor.

 

“Well hello there.” A light and cheery voice full of youth, pulling back her hood revealed medium length blond hair and a set of large blue eyes. “How are you today?”

 

“Absolutely not.” He bit down on the cigarette's filter.

 

Maggie could barely speak. “Gil why is there a creepy little girl here?”

 

“Hey that's rude.” She scowled. “I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about me like I weren't standing right here in front of you.”

 

“No.” Gil barked. “You do not speak.” Eyes lighting up trying to see something that he knew wasn't there. “Just what the hell are you?”

 

“I am Seagul.” The young Seagul smiled widely. “I'm what you'd call a constant.”

 

Sprinting in the dark, Fora's special eyes could barely make out the seemingly endless path. “I have to get out.” She covered her ears as she ran. “You said it was this way.” The whispering voices now booming. “Why can't you all just take a turn talking?”

 

Fora slowed, her nose picking up a strange sent. Stopping with her hand over her mouth and nose. “Is that blood? Why am I smelling it?” She gasped. “There's something else, something old.”

 

Her hands shook and her body with them, fear was taking hold curling herself up on the floor. “I don't understand.” The temples of Fora's head throbbed. “I'm so scared.” Her body was heating up and the tattoos lit dimly.

 

Fora's body became enveloped in an orb of light that rose up just a few feet from the stone ground, it popped like a bubble and a small creature covered in fur dropped down landing on four tiny paws.

 

Two large ears covered in hair stuck out, she could feel them twitching, a tail resting on the ground and the realization that the world had nearly tripled in size. What happened to me? She thought, unable to use her voice. Did I change? Why now? Her nose poked up sniffing at the air. Why am I so small? Fora looked over what she could see of herself, gray fur, a frail body dainty paws and her tail wasn't really that long.

 

Perhaps she was a cat now she thought, closing her eyes and wagging her tail the sudden urge for a nap coming on.

 

After a long yawn Fora concluded she wasn't a cat, the snout made her certain. Could she be some kind of small dog, possibly a fox? This would be much easier if I could see my face.

 

The creature yelped echoing off the walls, then again and once more, each at a different pitch. Definitely a fox. She closed her eyes again wagging her tail, Fora found she enjoyed having it. Let's see, a small fox, gray fur, come on you know this, The last part she yelped excitedly. Fennec! Jumping around. Oh this is perfect, a bit on the small side sure, but now I'm adorable. She stopped instantly. Wait, why did I think that?

 

Just then her ears perked up, hearing something in the distance. “Come along now.”

 

Fora didn't understand why but she felt compelled to follow the voice. The Fennec fox raced off, its tiny paws barely making a sound off the stone.

 

 

“-and then there was that one time Seagul went back in time, but she went back through Asix's timeline. I can't imagine what could have compelled her to do such a thing, let alone you know the whole actually doing it. Then there was all that weird stuff with all of you switching eyes.”

 

“You talk to much.” Ripples formed on the dark surface as a pair of eyes opened up underneath. “I fought my battles, I fought his battles, I'm done fighting. My story is over”

 

Silence followed for some time.

 

“So you have no will left.”

 

The eyes which depicted the universe closed once more. “Have it your way.”

 

 

Chapter Twenty Nine: Eternal Desert

 

 

“I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

 

“What are you saying?” Owen couldn't make it out.

 

Haleigh sighed not finishing the thought. “Just hollow words, it doesn't matter now.” The bellowing storm advanced in the distance as it devoured the sky little by little. “Yup I have nothing for this.”

 

Pulling a double take Leo looked to Haleigh. “I'm sorry to say this but that's not good enough.”

 

“Look around us.” She held out her arms. “Where can we go, tell me. If you've got a better suggestion I'm more than happy to hear it.”

 

Seeming off to him Leo discerned only one course of action. He smacked her across the face. “We are all going to die at some point but right now you are the only person who can lead us from the inevitability.”

 

Stunned by the red on her cheek Haleigh touched it with her fingertips feeling the heat. She didn't know what to say, he was right she needed to handle this, it was her job. “No one else dies, is that understood.” Her order rang out.

 

Each of them nodded in reply. “Right then.” Haleigh hesitated as she reached for her sword, mumbling something to herself. “My mind and my gun.” Instead she reached for something strapped to the back of her waist. A silver handgun with a long barrel, faded words scratched into the sides, one of them clearly read Jeremiah. “No more bullshit.”

 

Haleigh aimed her gun closing one eye whilst the other lit. With just a twitch of her finger the gun fired off flinging her arm upward from the recoil. A red flaring bullet soared off towards the storm, punching its way through with a giant hole. The empty space of air exploded into a wave of crimson catching all of the surrounding debris.

 

An epic tempest of crimson budges roaring out across the desert. “Why is it so loud!?” Owen couldn't hear himself even covering his ears.

 

“Are you trying to catch the air on fire!?” Leo yelled at her as loud as he could.

 

Rolling her eyes Haleigh mumbled to herself acting bored. “You wanted me to do something.” Still hearing the inferno there was no telling how far it went. “We should probably not go that way.”

 

“You think?” Yin screamed being caught off guard by the voice behind her. She recognized it immediately seeing that it was Matthew.

 

“C'mon it's this way.”

 

Haleigh watched with them as the boy and another man standing beside him flashed out of existence, none of them spoke a word. It was like she was hearing glass chatter in her mind, there was no way it was possible. Sophie had told her what she did with his body, the man she saw standing beside Matthew seconds ago couldn't have been Jeremiah.

 

“I would just like to be the first to say that.”

 

“Shut it Irish brat.” Haleigh cut him off.

 

Leo put his arms behind his head wearing a scowl. “Yes ma'am.”

 

It was an awkward moment to say the least but Yin felt she had to ask. “Well, do we follow?” Not expecting an immediate response but Haleigh went forward stopping short just past her.

 

Her arm disappeared when she reached out. “Invisible door thing, yay.” Sounding annoyed she sighed. “Yeah sure let's just get the psychological torture session over with, do it like every week now.” Haleigh put the rest of herself through.

 

Yin looked to Leo as he did the same, both of them shrugged before the followed. “This is a bad idea right?” She asked rhetorically.

 

“No, no, it's definitely worse.”

 

Descending down a narrow hall of steps Haleigh ran her hand against the sandstone wall, she looked back to see a stone slab in place of where she came from. “Leo? Yin?” Haleigh continued alone until she reach an empty room leading to nowhere.

 

Hesitating unsure if she should play in to the delusions. “Matthew?”

 

“You're a horrible leader.” His voice came from behind her.

 

“Yup.”

 

“You let me die.” Now he was beside her.

 

“I'm not doing this.”

 

“Why didn't you save me.” Now in front of her seeming to appear from place to place.

 

“You know I can set you on fire with my mind yeah?”

 

“Would you?” Her gasp was caused by the familiarity of another voice behind her. Haleigh turned to find Jeremiah facing away from her, he had been looking up the stairs. “It's only just started and you have no idea how far behind you've left us.”

 

“Can you,” She was having trouble forcing herself to feel nothing. “Just tell me where I'm going, Where is the root?”

 

“Don't you feel it?” It was Matthew this time.

 

“There is only one constant here.” Jeremiah this time, they were speaking in tandem.

 

“Look within yourself.”

 

“See what you've already seen.”

 

“Remember what you already know.” They spoke in segments forming only one sentence.

 

“Sophie could do it.”

 

“What?” Haleigh snapped facing both of them. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

 

“Shouldn't it?”

 

“Didn't you feel inferior to her?”

 

“Weren't you angry that I died for her and left you behind?”

 

Clenching her fists at her sides. “Shut up.”

 

“Careful Haleigh.”

 

“You're letting it get to you.”

 

“Just show yourself already.” Haleigh barked. “I don't know what you are but I know there's only one of you.”

 

They both smirked before speaking in unison. “You're wrong about one thing.” Their forms warped and twisted together into a singly shape. “You know exactly who I am.” An image settled calling Haleigh's sanity into question, she hoped what she saw now was nothing more than a mirror.

 

“What you need to know now isn't the current you, but the me that made it this far.”

 

 

Flashing lights passed by the rows of windows in a blur and the hum of the train running along the tracks came off like white noise. Handles on straps swung gently back and fourth as the passengers stared blankly ahead from their seats.

 

Two boys and three girls each of them oddly dressed for a ride on a bullet train.

 

Static rang from the intercom speakers as a raspy voice spoke. “Next stop Belac City. Next stop Belac City.”

 

 

“Sarrin what is it you want with this world? Are you truly going to play it's game?”

 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

FJASLDKFJASLKDJFALKSDFJAKLJF 

 

Good God!!!! Good God!!! These chapters are filled with so much suspense, I'm about to lose my mind like these poor characters!  Dang...Sarrin surely is enjoying playing mind tricks on everyone! Everything's a confusion, and Sophie even had malicious thoughts enter her mind about killing Maggie! That's messed up! But well, they are in Sarrin's domain now, so it's only a matter of time before they snap!

 

Great job on these chapters, man, as always!

[Sarrin 100]

deleted 

Edited January 5, 2019 by Sarrin

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Little inside scoop you should see the things the eternal desert and sea of stone have done to sarrin and asix

 

GAHHHH, I NEED MORE!!!

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Thirty: Circles

 

 

“Verdandi?”

 

“No sir.”

 

“And Urd?”

 

“No sir.”

 

“Skuld?”

 

“Missing as well.”

 

Carmicheal leaned back with the chair resting his legs on the desk. “So no contact with either groups for two weeks, who the hell knows what those two kids are doing. Well we wanted an age without the need of gods, this is what we get right?”

 

“Sir,” Agatha adjusted her glasses. “You're being rather candid about this so I'll just be frank here; We are going to be in an even more impossible situation if this operation fails.” She stopped there awaiting a response of some sort.

 

“Well?” He gestured for her to go on. “I'm listening.”

 

“I don't believe Bevelle intends to wait for all of us to wind up at their front door, they're irrational and war hungry and bound to do something catastrophic. As an added bonus we've been the scapegoat in their eyes for this entire mess.”

 

“So you think Bevelle is going to take action?”

 

“No, my honest opinion is they already have and are most likely on the earth as we speak, looking for this place.”

 

“Take a look at this.” Carmicheal tossed her a set of papers. “That's a report from Collin, I sent him and Holamark out and that would be what they found.”

 

She didn't need to see much of it to understand. “This is?”

 

“Several abandoned branches have been quite literally wiped off of the map, nearby cities, abandoned and not, all empty craters now. You're absolutely right Agatha, they are here and they're coming for us.”

 

Agatha understood he must have some kind of plan in the works. “What are your orders sir?”

 

“Make the preparations, I don't want to lose any of my work. We'll have the others hold them off if it comes down to it. If Bevelle wants the earth so badly they can have it.”

 

“But sir.” She couldn't ignore what he was suggesting. “What about our current objectives? Are you planning to sacrifice all them?”

 

“No Agatha, I said they could have it, I didn't say they could keep it. I plan to use every piece I have on this board.”

 

 

“Oh I remember that fight, so you were on that side of it.” Collin passed a rolled cigar as the two of them killed time.

 

Calus took it taking a long drag before speaking again. “It's a shame we didn't meet, would have been an interesting match.” He took another hit before passing it back.

 

“You know it's not to late for things like that.” Giving a sly smile through the smokey air. “After all we're all looking for that one fight.”

 

“Ever think this is all just pointless?”

 

“Life? Well yeah I mean it's definitely possible.”

 

“No I'm talking about all of this going on right now.”

 

Collin thought on it for a brief moment. “Why do you think it's pointless?”

 

“Given the current state of affairs, any loyalty we had towards Elipses should have vanished the instant they defied Yggdrasil, even more so when they became this Last Order. Changing the name isn't going to change the fact that we have also picked not only the losing side in this fight but the one Bevelle is pointing its cannons at.”

 

“But we all knew Elipses was an eternal underdog, I'm sure that's why we're all here in one way or another.”

 

“And where are our enemies? I don't doubt what they have witnessed or lost, but aside from that Foxface child and a few Voidkin, nothing has happened and now the majority of our group has been gone for weeks with no word.”

 

“Sarrin.” Collin said the name thinking of what it could mean. “I wonder what a person with his power could be like, poetic maybe, perhaps reserved or even eccentric?”

 

“Are you trying to analyze him, don't you need to at least know about the person on some level to do that?”

 

“Not true, I've seen plenty of detectives do it with criminal masterminds.” The look Calus gave him told Collin he wasn't fooling anyone. “On TV.” He said giving in.

 

“From my understanding it's getting into the minds attempting to think the way they think, and we're not trying to find the man, he's in the void, a place we can't just go to. So how do we stop something we can't touch?”

 

“Does it feel like we've changed topics?”

 

“I don't think so in a way,” Calus took another drag. “This has that effect however.”

 

“So is that what you meant by pointless?”

 

“Sort of, I guess you could say that if a person like him actually existed, how could we stop him? How would you?” He passed it.

 

Taking a deep hit Collin spoke as the smoke left him. “I wouldn't take such a risk, I don't have a death wish.” Calus waited knowing he had more. “But if I was somehow stuck in such an impossible situation with a supposed mad man bent on destroying all of existence, I'd most likely say something I would think as poetic and epic but probably stupid and then I'd trap us both in a collapsing rift between realities.”

 

“So your first thought is suicide?”

 

“You have a better one?”

 

Calus chuckled causing him to cough out smoke. “I'm not the type to ask a question just so I can give my own unwanted answer.” He cleared his throat passing the cigar. “But I don't think you're wrong, I just can't shake the feeling that you couldn't finish it with that.”

 

“How do you mean?”

 

“I've developed a theory about our supposed foe, what if what we're dealing with isn't certain people becoming an omnipresent-like being but is instead already one acting through others.”

 

“What?”

 

“Aeolus Pride and Caleb Harris.”

 

“Show your work.”

 

“How could Aeolus Pride fight Sarrin and later become him? There's the popular theory with his involvement with Nell but what if that was only a side note in the real story? Who was the person who became the first Sarrin? There's certainly no record of someone like that existing and we haven't been told of anything like that since we got involved. What if Sarrin has been acting through specific individuals based on some overly complex criteria? How do you stop someone like that, more importantly how can someone like that exist to begin with and not be well known in our world? Even if this being had no true physical form of its own, with that kind of power it could find much better means to interfere with this world rather than taking on a vessel.”

 

“This is thought out, is this what you do when you spend all that time not talking?”

 

“I've been told more times than I know to think before I speak.”

 

“So is there more to this crazy theory?”

 

“Yes, what if there was also another party involved? Aoelus Pride and Caleb Harris are two children literally drowning in unanswered questions, this is where that criteria comes in. It's common knowledge the Aesir can't have children of their own and we all know why but yet this Aeolus is supposedly the Urd of Origin's own son, tell me how that works.”

 

“What about Caleb Harris?”

 

“Well clearly if he was the Voids heart he's not serving that purpose anymore, so if Pride becomes the eventual Sarrin and does something to not only remove Caleb from the equation but also make it so that he would appear at some point in this day and age.”

 

“Please go on.”

 

“What if this other party is the true mastermind? What if this Sarrin is some sort of weapon or a kind of means to an end? Either way it's all just theoretical, aside from all of the what if's it wouldn't matter either way, this Sarrin has to be dealt with there's no denying that.”

 

“Wow you kinda died off on the end there, was expecting this big finish and everything like some sort of epic foreshadowing prelude.”

 

Calus let out another laugh. “It's all a work in progress, I learn as I go.”

 

“You're definitely smart,” Collin commented. “I take back my offer from earlier, I don't think I should ever fight someone as forward thinking as you.”

 

“Probably not, I'd have no one to smoke with.” The pair coughed and laughed together, smoke in the air wafting over everything.

 

“You know a lot of people are going to die right?”

 

“Should be interesting at least.”

 

 

“Um Tiffany?” Tyler had felt he waited long enough to say something. She continued typing away on the console speaking to low and fast for him to hear let alone understand. “Tiffany you're bleeding all over that.”

 

“Oh.” She stopped. “Verdandi won't like this.” Tiffany observed the stains while trying to clean herself off with her sleeves. “Tyler can you take it from here?”

 

“What? No, I have no idea what we're even doing.” Tyler had been building this up. “Where the hell are the Aesir? We have no idea what's going on in the Eternal Lands and on top of that we have those giant ass ships flying through the skies punching even more holes into the freaking planet. Stephanie's gone and we have no contact outside of this domain which so happens to be the only safe place we have.”

 

“Is there a point you're trying to make here?”

 

“Several in fact the first being why you've been bleeding out, times moving slower for us in here but can't you heal or something?”

 

“That's a point? It sounds more like a question.”

 

“What about Verdandi, you were with her right?”

 

“We were separated.”

 

“You've said that, I want to know what happened before that.”

 

“I cannot answer that question.”

 

“Can't or won't?” He was reaching a limit.

 

“Does something like that even matter?”

 

Tyler slammed his fist down on the console. “Of course it matters, I've still got a missing brother, the world is falling apart and my sister has literally gone insane, where the hell are the Aesir that started this damn mess?” Breathing heavily after the outburst, it had been clear he was holding that in. “We can't stay in here forever Tiffany, we can barely do anything as it is.”

 

“I cannot leave, I must wait for Verdandi to mend my body.”

 

“What? Can you not heal on your own?”

 

“To an extent yes but these aren't simple injuries, my organs are in shreds and I'm missing an eye. If I leave the safety of this domain I'll most likely die.”

 

“Super freaking tastic, what's happening now? We just sit and wait while people we know die?”

 

“Tyler Harris.”

 

“What?” His exhaustion was growing notably.

 

“You know enough to know that before this is over a lot more people are going to die.”

 

“Just shut up Tiffany,” He sank into his chair holding his head in his hands. “Just shut the hell up.”

 

“If you think you can just keep going without the rest of the world you're wrong Tyler, at some point you're going to have to accept this.”

 

“Easy for you to say, you don't even have a soul suffer with.”

 

“Can you honestly say that I don't, or could you honestly tell me you do? What is a soul to you?”

 

Tyler hesitated unsure of how anyone would respond to that. Caleb came to mind for some reason, knowing him he'd probably say something really deep and embarrassing to prove his point, but what could he say for himself? What would the Tyler Harris in these passing moments say to affirm his own existence.

 

 

Terra watched the mountainous horizon as legions of clouds disappeared behind them. Breathing in the overwhelmingly dense air, it was more than a feeling, a warning.

 

Within her brief life only one person had ever made her feel this uneasy. The winds blowing through her hair didn't hide the grim expression on Terra's face. Only one person in her life had ever brought her fear, someone she'd known since the day of her birth.

 

She held back her locks with one hand, never taking her eyes off the looming horizons. “I'm waiting for you, brother.”

 

 

Okay, so I guess I'm lost again. I've learned a lot now but there's still so much I don't understand. Not a constant just another variable. How many versions of myself are there now? Where does all of this end and I begin? If Aeolus doesn't exist inside me then who gave me his memories, didn't I learn to fight with them?

 

So where am I now? I was Caleb right, but that wasn't the whole story. Before Caleb there was someone else, the person I was before I was him. Where was it, that place where I watched the world I wasn't apart of? Am I back there again? No, this is different, I'm apart of something different, that person made it this way. So, who am I now?

 

Oh I see, I'm apart of this person now. What is he like I wonder, can I talk to him, is that possible? No I shouldn't interfere, it's not my place anymore. For now this is my world.

 

If I existed before and after all of this then did that make me omnipresent? Is what I see in real time, it couldn't be all of these moments are jumbled up. Do I need to line up the fractured pieces of us? Would that be interfering?

 

Okay, say I am Caleb or at least what's left of the person who was called that. Wasn't I supposed to become Sarrin? Is that what all of this is? Is this what I'm apart of now?

 

It shouldn't feel this way though. Sarrin felt different from this. There's something else here right? It's that person, the one that isn't a version of myself.

 

So if all of this isn't Sarrin, is it just me? Is that person just watching the same things I am? Why? So where is this, who am I and who is that? What is the cycle? I think I need a moment. I need to listen.

 

Okay, so I guess I'm lost again.

 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

GAHHHH THAT PART AT THE END!!!!! CALEB'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS MELDED WITH THAT OF SARRIN'S!!! 

 

God, but is he too far gone? Is there a chance he'll never show up again? Wow, what intensity!

 

I also loved that conversation between Calus and Collin, I thought it was a well developed conversation, how the two of them were exchanging notes on how they'd handle things in the current situation! I especially loved how Calus began analyzing bit by bit of his theory, it was just awesome! Great work with this chapter, man!

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Thirty One:  Rewrite

 

Chapter Thirty Two:  Accelerando

 

Chapter Thirty Three:  All Animato

 

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

 

Chapter Thirty One:  Rewrite

 

Chapter Thirty Two:  Accelerando

 

Chapter Thirty Three:  All Animato

 

 

Ooh, Chapter Titles, sweet! Thirty One's title in particular intrigues me! Rewrite, huh...? Hmm, I wonder what it could mean...?

[Sarrin 100]

 

Chapter Thirty One: Rewrite

 

 

“Yup, that was about what I expected.” A man spoke as he walked through what appeared to be a wafting rift in some universe.

 

His eyes looked over each of the moving stars, almost wondering what stories this new reality had to tell. “Who'd have thought being dead would be so, boring.”

 

White hair and red eyes, his hands stuffed deep into his open coats pockets, a red collared button up underneath, black slacks and boots. “I can feel it.” He watched ahead continuing his stride seeing a distant light, the destination. “The cycle, this new world. From just here I can see it, countless iterations and realities of this loop in time.”

 

“Is this Asix? Two of them, and Sarrin as well.” He smiled. “Just imitations, but this is a new cycle. Something forced these imitations to exist in an attempt to bring us back.” The grin he wore grew wider. “None of that matters, nothing matches the genuine article.” Sarrin took each stride excitedly.

 

“I wonder what vessel I will take, and what kind will he? Asix, it's been so long since the cycle ended, now we have a new world to witness our great and terrible works. No that's wrong, it hasn't been long, that time doesn't exist now. This is all so, new.”

 

Now he scowled seeming to be upset. “These versions of our fragments are mediocre at best, disappointing but no matter there either my real fight is with you, isn't it Asix?”

 

“For now I'll simply watch and when all of the pieces line up that will be my moment, until then I'll choose you young man. You should feel honored, I'm going to make you a legend.”

 

“And as for you, I'm going to enjoy watching you fall, faker.”

 

 

“Tell me a story.”

 

“Did you know there was once a people known as Anima? They possessed great power, beyond understanding. A world like theirs should have destroyed themselves but they didn't, in fact theirs was the most peaceful reality to have ever existed.”

 

“However that was the problem, their power could be given in a way and it would be an understatement to say they were gravely sought after. Their power required a sort of relationship, a partnership. Noble causes, fruitless wars, even the greatest battles there ever was. Eventually this power was abused beyond recognition and the Anima were wiped out, but they didn't disappear.”

 

“Their great power lived on through those worthy enough to wield it, constants and variables if you would.”

 

“None of that makes any sense. That was a terrible story.”

 

“If I told you the whole story from to start until now we'd be here for generations.”

 

“You have plenty of time, we're constants after all.”

 

“I never was one for storytelling.”

 

“That's because you're boring, all that greatness went into making the two most boring people ever.”

 

“Two?”

 

“Yes, at least that thing's interesting.”

 

“So you want to be entertained, you might have made a mistake by asking me.”

 

“Don't sell yourself short, I know exactly what you're capable of.”

 

 

“I'm Stephanie, this is what I wanted. What I do, I do with no regrets. I know I am on the right path, after all of this is over we can go back to the way it was.” The girl worked tirelessly, not knowing just how long she had been able to go without rest or food or contact with another person.

 

Stephanie kept working, speaking to herself from time to time. The egg gently humming in her lap and a red line trailing down from her eye.

 

“I'll find you, even if I end up having to fight in this war myself.”

 

A gasp escaped her as a screen flashed to life in front of the others. Stephanie was stunned only for a moment, red tears now coming from both of her eyes.

 

“Caleb, it's you. I found you.”

 

 

“Lord Malchior, if I may speak freely.” A man dressed in multicolored robes and armor halted on the metal platform a few paces from the prince. Gales passed by as the ship sailed above the clouds with its fleet.

 

“You may Atlas.” Malchior looked out to the horizon, almost praying to find a fight on the opposite end of the encroaching mountains.

 

“Sir,” The man called Atlas straightened. “The men are tired and we have been operating for several days straight. Dozens of requests have been made to let the crew rest and allow the engines time to cool.”

 

Malchior held onto the railing taking a step back while leaning on it. “I see, and the crew intends to rest once the fleet has stopped yes?” Never taking his eyes off the setting sun.

 

“I would imagine so sir.”

 

“And what of you General Atlas? Do you wish to rest?”

 

“No sir, as long as we are in this land I will not rest, it is my duty to ensure this fleets absolute saftey.”

 

“Well said General, I'm afraid however that I am going to have deny one of your requests. The fleet will not yield until we have located Olmhold Fortress and from this moment forward that is an order. Our enemies are out there and finding them is paramount.”

 

Atlas bowed his head. “Yes, your grace, of course.”

 

“The crews sleeping quarters,” Malchior had come across an idea. “They are located on the top and bottom of this ship if I am not mistaken.”

 

“Yes sir.”'

 

“Then I have two more orders for you; those wanting to rest may do so, however they may only do so in the sleeping quarters in the bottom of the ship.”

 

“Yes sir, and the second?”

 

“Yes, you will keep this to yourself are we clear?” He didn't wait for a response. “Once the sleeping quarters have been occupied I want you to seal the exits tight. After that, I want you to disconnect that segment from the main ship and let it fall to the ground.”

 

The pupils in Atlas's eyes shrunk, this was the only sign of a reaction he let show. “Yes, as you wish your grace.” He started off trying to stomach the moment.

 

“Oh and one other thing,” Malchior added whimsically. “Raise the fleet by another two thousand feet, the cold should keep the crew alert. I won't have it be said that I am not understanding.”

 

“Yes sir, truly your generosity knows no bounds.” Atlas dismissed himself leaving the prince to his world gazing, both of them made sure their disgust went unnoticed.

 

 

At some point in everyone's life you'll look up to the night sky.

You'll see something far off, unreachable, something that could compel you to feel small, insignificant and there's a chance that those distant lights have gone out long ago and now only their lingering sentiments remain.

The universe is a vast, possibly infinite place, one day even those walls will crumble.

So much more to be seen, experienced, learned, just waiting there for life to touch and use to connect to one another.

Wonder lies within great power, destruction and creation each has their own beauty, peace can exist there.

 

“You just have to be willing to see it. And most importantly, you have to be devoted to fighting for it.”

 

Chapter Thirty Two: Accelerando

 

 

“Maggie we need to get out of this place.” Gil held out his arm stepping back while trying to push her, but she wasn't there. “Maggie? Damnit.” He glared at the smiling girl. “Where is she?”

 

The young Seagul pretended to think about it. “Well by now everyone's been filtered out, in a sense.”

 

“The hell does that even mean?”

 

“Not anyone one can just be here, this place will reject you if you don't belong. Luckily enough there's another place to go so no ones going to be just dropped out of existence or anything like that, not anymore at least.”

 

With the casual manner of her speech Gil felt his temper boiling over. “The Eternal Desert? You sent them all there?”

 

“No and I didn't send anyone anywhere, also the other two are still here, somewhere.”

 

Gil's eyes lit up. “You're outliving your usefulness.”

 

“Oh scary, you shouldn't talk down to your betters, but I'm not stopping you. Go on, go after them.”

 

There was no point in waiting or wondering if it was a trap, Gil took one step forward. “But before you do,” He went no further. “Perhaps you shouldn't, we wouldn't want to get in their way right? This is all importantly beyond you.”

 

“That supposed to mean something to me?”

 

“Well let's not beat around the subject; you're special sure, a cut above the rest even, but you couldn't take any of this seriously even if it was your own life on the line.”

 

“My life?”

 

“This isn't the place for you and that's not a bad thing,” She wore a bemused grin. “After all, the universe is just too big to care about something so small.”

 

“Whose life is on the line?” Gil snapped back, never liking his own words to be used against him.

 

“Whose? Well if we're splitting hairs then it would be easier to tell you whose lives aren't on the line.”

 

His face grew feral for an instant but then was replaced by a calm. “Whatever, I'm going.” Gil strode past the young girl. “Enjoy being a creepy brat.” He left her with those words, disappearing down the path Sophie had taken.

 

Seagul stood there alone for a moment before her form gradually became translucent. “Enjoy the truth, if it doesn't brake you that is.” With that said she was gone. “Hurry up you,” Her formless words sounded sad as she spoke them to the one person she knew would never hear her. “They're going to need you now more than ever.”

 

 

“And then there was the time Sterben took your arm off,”

 

“Just stop talking already.” With nowhere to go Haleigh had laid down on the floor looking up to the blank sandstone ceiling while her double recanted her low moments. “If this is all that's happening I want a drink.”

 

“That right there is your first problem, you need a vice for everything. Do you know how much power you have, and what do you do with it? Drown it in the bottom of a bottle.” She went on not expecting a response. “You're not even half of the person I lived up to be, it's pathetic, borderline sickening. It's no wonder you tried to disappear into some replacement family, now look at you with no one and nothing, again.”

 

Haleigh could feel her nails beginning to dig into the palms of her hands.

 

“There are things going on much bigger than you and your unyielding supply of issues, yet you refuse to be apart of them because somewhere in that thick skull of yours you've decided that you just don't measure up and that's that. You witness works of beings desperate enough to call themselves gods and don't even attempt to surpass them. Get a clue, you think you're strong, well you not. Think you're brave? Please you're a coward. You think you know power? You don't even know the meaning of the word.”

 

“Care to test that theory?” Haleigh used her hands to leap to her feet. “I'll gladly punch that face.”

 

“And now you want to fight yourself, hopeless, pathetic. You will never accomplish anything and there's no saving you.” The doppel waved her arm through the air as a path opened up behind Haleigh. “Get going, you're in a hurry right? The Gallows are just beyond there.”

 

“About time.” She grumbled to herself already walking off. “Well it's been, well bye.”

 

She watched Haleigh disappear down the darkened path, twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers as she scowled at no one. “Screw constants this sucks.” Huffing to herself as the image unsettled. “You'll help her stand up, won't you Sarrin?”

 

 

“Hunter?” Sophie called out for what felt like the thousandth time.

 

Beyond the unlit corridor everything had opened up and become more cave like, a wet floor and a dripping ceiling, broken metal structures littered about protruding from the walls and ground.

 

“Hunter?” Again no response other than her own carrying voice. “OK, this isn't bad just have to keep going.”

 

In the nearby distance, she could hear something aside from the droplets of water.

 

A sort of scuffling and what sounded like metal against metal. Sophie didn't think about what it could be only knowing that anything was better than wandering around in the damp and creepy place. Her footsteps splashed through the puddles as the noises she heard grew somewhat closer.

 

Making a hard right after what looked to be the bow of an enormous ship covered with scars, Sophie saw another narrow darkened path where the sounds where coming from.

 

Voices carried down the small space, reverberating off the walls to her ears, it was all too distorted to make out completely. “Not there yet.”

 

Unsure of where the light in theses room had been coming from Sophie could finally see what was happening in the distance as she ran. The next room not only looked different but was from what she had seen up until now. It wasn't just familiar she knew it, gray stone walls, wet floor and what looked to be roots protruding from the ceiling and walls. This was Yggdrasil's root.

 

Two boys fighting it out in the open space, the large coat and gauntlet had given Hunter away while the other wore a fox like mask, the pair bounced to and away from one another, clashing blades in between.

 

“Hunter?” Sophie skidded to a stop. “What are you..” He leapt back landing just in front of her with his arm held out.

 

“Don't this isn't for you.” Were the words he gave.

 

She stood there attempting to process them as she looked at the young cloaked man wearing the fox mask. A crack had formed between the masks fake ears and had settled on the left side of the snout.

 

“Get out of here.” The tone of his voice had been different almost like the same softness from before had returned.

 

Foxface burst out into a fit of laughter, stumbling to stay one his feet from them strain, he took another moment to compose himself before speaking. “Oh this is just great, the incarnations of those two, myself? This is better than anything I could have possibly imagined, and the three of us back together again?” Foxface swung his blade through the air, holding out his arms. “Priceless.”

 

“What does that mean?” Sophie didn't fully understand anything he was saying.

 

“Now Sophie!” Hunter snapped.

 

“Mean? Nothing, he's ridiculous and you're a joke.” He looked up to the ceiling letting his arms fall to his sides. “I'm not going to get anything done with the sorry shape you two are in. Honestly what's the point anymore? Didn't this end already? Aren't you both tired of this mess? Why bother picking it back up eons later?”

 

“Who are you?”

 

“Sophie!”

 

“Shut up Hunter!” She silenced him. “You know don't you? Who is that person?” He wouldn't look at her, this fact infuriated Sophie to the core. “Damnit Hunter say something!”

 

Hunter took a step forward whipping his blade through the air in Foxface's direction. Nothing happened for a moment until Sophie heard the sound of the masks final crack.

 

The two halves seemed to push away from one another slightly before falling away from his bangs and face. Sophie's body shuttered and her lips quivered, attempting to say something she couldn't yet force out. His hair was longer than before, covering some of his face and a red eye had taken the place of one of his own, but there wasn't a doubt in her mind, Sophie recognized him instantly. “Isaac?”

 

“Well I suppose this isn't entirely right to begin with,” He casually went on, pointing his carved blade at Hunter. “You're no Caleb, that's for damn sure.”

 

I don't get it, Her pupils changed size, Sophie broke out into a cold sweat. What am I seeing right now? Is my mind or maybe this place still messing with my me? What's about to happen? Why is Isaac here, he's on our side right? Am I about to fight my brother? Is he going to attack me? The clutter of thoughts were impossible to keep track of, let alone stay sane through. What am I even doing here right now? Hunter kept a close eye on her as if he could see the instability within.

 

Isaac shook his head with a grin, shrugging his shoulders. “Give me a break, it can't be that big of a surprise. For starters I wasn't exactly hiding my voice, abilities or weapons, on top of that the mask was decorative.” He stomped on one of the halves, smashing it to pieces. “I'm surprised it lasted this long, though I guess I could say the same about the two of you.” Wearing a sly grin.

 

Feeling her hands shaking she grabbed her arm to steady them. “Damnit..” Sophie cursed herself. How much longer was she going to let all of this get to her?

 

“But then again none of this really matters right now anyway, in fact you could probably say none of this matters at all.”

 

“What are you going to do?” Sophie asked herself. When was she finally going to stand up and do something?

 

“And in the end-”

 

She cut him off. “Isaac!” The outburst almost appeared to catch him off guard.

 

“Well isn't this nice, we're finally getting a reaction.”

 

“Is this all some joke to you?” Sophie snapped.

 

It was a short moment before Isaac said anything, watching her and thinking to himself. “Well yeah, kinda.”

 

She felt her nails digging in, her teeth clenching and brow furrowing. “Do you have any idea what's happened? To me? Caleb, Haleigh, everyone? Are you with them now? Have you sided with the same people who murdered your father?”

 

Isaac didn't speak right away but his smile had be replaced with a scowl. “Don't assume things, you wouldn't understand.” The words he spoke remained calm however now they held an unsightly edge. “Someone like you could never understand.”

 

This was more than enough to push her past thinking straight, never mind calmly. How should she be expected to react in this kind of situation, how would anyone, how would he? “Someone like me? I'm not sure if you know anything about me.”

 

“Likewise.”

 

Her face cringed in sheer annoyance for a brief moment. “So this is you now? Just constant comebacks, nothing matters and you're going to do whatever you want?”

 

Looking up Isaac seemed to be thinking about it to himself. “Yeah, actually that sounds nice, I guess I'll do that for now. Until our time is up that is, can't just stay this way forever.” Isaac looked back at both of them smiling like was nothing was wrong. “Change is coming for all of us.”

 

“I'm sick of all this cryptic bullshit.”

 

He waved her off not caring about what she had to say. “Like I said none of this matters right now and our time is up. They're coming and personally,” Isaac wore a devilish grin. “I'm dying to see how this plays out.” With a snap of his fingers a portal opened behind him and Isaac started to step back into it.

 

“Isaac wait!” Sophie sprinted towards her brother feeling herself being yanked back by her arm. Hunter had a firm grip on her with no sign of letting go. “What are you doing? Let me go already!”

 

“I can't.” Was all he said.

 

“Don't bother Soph.” She looked back to Isaac. “You couldn't keep up with me anyway.”

 

“Isaac wait!” Sophie pulled away with all she could to no avail. “Don't just run off on your own! We're supposed to stay together!”

 

Isaac looked at her one last time before disappearing with the portal.

 

She stopped pulling away eventually standing still while staring at the ground. “You, me and Caleb.” Speaking softly. “It was supposed to be the three of us.” Her knees sank as she settled on the floor, Hunter finally releasing her arm. “How did things get so screwed up?”

 

 

For however long Haleigh had followed the path at a certain point she noticed the change in the environment. “Alright now we're getting somewhere.”

 

Running her hands along the wet stone as she proceeded. “If this is the root then that means I'm getting close.” Given her last experience in a place like this she expected not to be alone for much longer. “Who will come visit me today?” She asked herself sounding unnaturally cheery, even hearing how odd it was to herself. “I guess it won't matter either way if I lose my freaking mind wandering around in places like these.”

 

Haleigh thought back to the incident in San Fransisco, her memories, Carmicheal's words. “Alistair, Phi, Ludious, Sarrin, who else could there be? Caleb and Isaac? Who knows where those two have been.”

 

She thought more as she walked, about how she had gotten here. The other her brought it out, but Haleigh would never had admitted it. “What would you say? If you were in my place would it be different?”

 

Of course she could only act this way now that she was alone. “Would mom and dad.. If they were still alive then that would mean Gil never raised me, not that he remembers most of that. Would I have tried to become an Aesir without him there to?”

 

Haleigh gripped her fake arm tightly. “Would it still be there, would Jeremiah still be here.” A gasp escaped her, realizing what it meant. “But then, we would have never met, and those children,” Her resolve returned, picking up the pace. “My children. Right, this is for them, there's no time to be feeling sorry for myself anymore.” She broke out into a full sprint. “This is my fight, no this is my will.”

 

Down the path's end Haleigh came out into a large open room, just like the one from before. “Isn't that right?” She paused appearing confused. “Oh, that's unexpected. I never dreamed it'd be you.”

 

There was a much taller man before her now, his eyes were a deep crimson just a few shades darker than her own. His manner of dress was odd to say the least, wearing a tight fitting shirt and a jacket about six sizes to small.

 

“Hello Scarlet what a pretty face you've grown into, before you say anything I've gotten a new name since last we met. From today onward you will know me as Amori, Silver August Amori.”

 

An unsettling chill made its way through the air, Haleigh understood just from his introduction that this was not the same man she had become familiar with in her youth. “So will you be my opponent?” She took a single step forward, readying herself. “Or maybe you'd like to give me a drawn out speech on the pointlessness of our endeavors?”

 

“Nothing of the such.” August replied bored. “Much like you I'm here to finish what someone else started and after that I could really care less about what happens next,” He gave her a look that sent chills. “We're all just killing time until that moment, right?” Approaching as the same feeling in the air grew stronger. “Now if you wouldn't mind I'd like to talk about the Raging Behemoth. Tell me Scarlet, how is the current version of Gilgamesh these days?”

 

“You have got to be shitting me, forty years and that's what you want to know?” Haleigh laughed to herself, putting her palm to her forehead. “I for one love the new look by the way, really brings out your idiocy.”

 

“Of course, you're right, we really should just skip the formalities. So then tell me this instead Scarlet,” August stopped just inches from her. “Would you like to see how quickly this will end?”

 

She didn't back down or even hesitate, not a single sign of weakness. “Absolutely.”

 

August smiled back at her showing his sharpened teeth. “The end.”

 

Haleigh felt her feet sink into the floor. “What?!” Blackness had begun to swallow her legs in an expanding pit. “How could you have, but Sarrin isn't even here?”

 

The pair sank deeper into the void, unable to break free. “Guess I win this time Scarlet.”

 

Haleigh gritted her teeth letting out some kind of growl. “Don't you bet on it.” Grabbing his collar as she sunk down to her chest. “I'm done playing games, I don't care how long it takes me. The Amori, Bevelle, Sarrin, Nyx, every single one of you have no future left.” There was no way to free herself so she reached for her pendant only to discover it wasn't around her neck.

 

“Looking for this right?” He held it out just beyond her reach. “Can't have you just running off.”

 

“Mark my words,” Haleigh sank down to her neck. “You're all going to burn for this.” The darkness swallowed them whole as the pit encompassed it all. Nothing remained, or rather now nothing was all there was.

 

 

Dripping water from the ceiling echoed faintly off the stone walls.

 

Sophie stood up immediately slapping Hunter however he caught her wrist just inches from his mask. “Why did you stop me? You had no right.”

 

He remained silent, still holding her arm.

 

“Now you're not talking?” She looked into his one visible blue eye, half open, unblinking, uncaring. “Let go of me.” Sophie pulled her arm free, stepping back. “That look in your eye, I know people like you. Always following some noble cause, person or order. I hate people like..”

 

Sophie was completely aware of how she sounded, who she sounded like. Taking a deep breath Sophie let it go, it felt wrong, different, new. “I'm sorry, going after him would have been reckless.” She knew he might not say anything. “Let's just get going alright?”

 

An uncomfortable sensation ran along Sophie's spine as they both heard the slow clap and low chuckle.

 

“We're all exactly where we need to be.”Alastair's hauntingly familiar voice was nothing short of terrifying. “Hello kids, should we play another game?”

 

To Be Continued In Book III – ETIO FALL

 

 

"And with this we have only just begun"  -A

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Gahhhh this was just way too awesome! What is all this madness about the version of Sarrin being a fake? And a divine confrontation eons in preparation? AND GOOD LORD, ISSAC! HIS RETURN SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE! What a twist!

 

Dang, all of this is leading to insanely crazy things, and I can safely say I enjoyed this book very much! I can't wait for Etio Fall!