Hearing Joy's story made me grateful for my life. Mona was obsessed but not to this degree. I look at him again. He is sitting beside me, swaying his legs back and forth.
The high rise building is a nice place to brood over things. But it's getting late so I should go home. Maybe I can ask Mona about Joy too.
"How about you come with me? My wife is a creator as well. Maybe she can help you."
"Thank you for your offer. Then I will be intruding upon you." (Joy)
I teleport us back to my home.
"Welcome home." (Ariel)
"I'm back, Ariel. I have a guest with me."
Joy nods his head.
She didn't seem all that surprised so I guess everyone was anticipating it.
We all gather in the living room. Joy is next to me at the table while everyone is across us.
Mona looks a bit surprised upon seeing Joy.
"Everyone, this is Joy. More specifically, a fragment of the creator known as Joy."
"Greetings everyone. In no circumstances I would have liked to meet you like this but the situation is grim. So I apologize to all of you in advance." (Joy)
He took a step back an prostrated himself before us.
"You don't need to do all that. Besides, I have met you once before." (Mona)
I guess him prostrating before us puts us in a spot.
"Still, what happened to THE JOY? Why are you separated from your real body?" (Mona)
I explain the situation to them. It would be faster that way.
"So, she has got a hold of you?" (Mona)
"Yes. And to make matters worse, my main body has totally surrendered to her. Considering everything we have been through, I really want to start over with her. But neither of us are willing to listen." (Joy)
"Why not get Constant to help you?"
I should have asked this before. He mentioned that Constant is his friend. He could have asked him for help.
"Asking Constant would be counterproductive. He would make fun of me first. He didn't make fun of me last time but this time for sure. He'll be like,
"If it isn't Mr. Logical. Finally spring has come for my extremely logical and reasonable, realist person." I can't stand that." (Joy)
I can only give a wry smile. I never had a friend like that. My relationships were fleeting. None really lasted long.
"I can't ask Eternity because he has traumatic memories of HER. She kinda presented herself in a bad way before Eternity. So he's out of the equation. Only one person comes to mind but I can't risk it." (Joy)
I look at Mona to check if she knows who the last person is.
"I don't know. Constant, Joy, Eternity are one of the oldest creators. My world wasn't even born when Joy hid himself. I have only heard about Joy from my creator so I don't know who the last person is." (Mona)
Yup, they are ancient.
"Let me ask you, do you resent your life?"
"No. Of course she has given me a lot of troubles. She messed up my life completely. But I don't hate her. There was a trend back in my world. She was broken and I was broken.
I didn't say I can fix her. We just made each other worse. I still love her and will love her. But the way she is going on, it will endanger everyone. My main body is merging with her. If that happens, she will start attacking other worlds to consume them.
The entire existence will be at risk if we don't stop her. I don't know how others view her but to me, she was just an awkward girl who didn't know how to express her feelings." (Joy)
His expression tells me that he isn't lying. That's a genuine expression.
"But then, why did she go berserk?" (Shizuka)
Always the reasonable one, I can depend on Shizuka.
"I couldn't stop her. I should have scolded her when she was going off the rails. I failed and got caught up. As a result everything happened. I just need to locate where she is. Leave the rest to me. I will do everything in my power to stop her from destroying the existence." (Joy)
His main body must have the majority of his powers.
"Well, my powers were a bit different. Of course I have the same powers as every creator but I also have one ability which is specifically mine. No creator other than the ancient ones, similar to me, has that. It's a bit confusing to explain but I can manipulate anyone. If she gets her hands on that, it would spell the doom of every world." (Joy)
Mona seems skeptical.
"It's fair for you to be skeptical. But that is the truth. I can manipulate all of you, you will not resist it, nor know that you are being manipulated. It's akin to a mental suggestion but way too subtle. Only Constant, Eternity and a few of our ranks can resist it. Which is why I always stayed away from the action." (Joy)
For now let's not dwell on it. Creators are weird as expected. The question is, how to find her.
I can ask for Seina's help. That's it. Where is he?
I contact Seina. He said that he is in Clive's world.
"Joy, how about we go and meet Seina? He is with Clive, Keith and Indrajeet."
"Indra is with them too! Maybe I shouldn't go!" (Joy)
"It's decided we're going. Do you all want to come?"
No one really rejected the idea. Mona called themselves the peanut gallery. They will be watching the show from afar.
So we are off to Clive's Free World.
The first thing I saw was Indrajeet standing before me. He was staring at Joy who is next to me.
I look around and see the peanut gallery making their way to the ladies. That feels like a social gathering.
I see Clive, Seina and Keith approaching us as well.
"It really is you, father." (Indrajeet)
"A part of me but yes, it is me, Indra." (Joy)
He pats Indrajeet on his head.
Everyone is here. But Clive tells us something we didn't know.
"So she came here to tell you guys about me and her. That's so like her." (Joy)
I don't exactly who that person was but I have heard of her from Keith. She is supposed to be Constant's partner.
"I think I have an idea of what Constant is trying to achieve." (Joy)
"You do?" (Clive)
Just like everyone else, Clive is also curious about Constant. It's natural for him to be intrigued if someone says that.
"A few creators stand above the rest. Constant is definitely one of them but he isn't alone. I am also one of them. And there are a few others who stay hidden from everyone.
Constant is dragging all of us out. This war that Azathoth started was nothing but a ploy of Constant.
Constant fed Azathoth some half baked ideas and knowing the impulsive and reckless behavior of Azathoth, he was sure of this. It actually played out the way Constant wanted.
Eternity is cooperating with you guys is he not?" (Joy)
He said and asked Seina. Seina understood something.
"He is. I always found it weird how easily Eternity came to help us when he had no need for do so." (Seina)
"Constant took me out too. The rest are easier than one. That one is a fickle person. So Constant wants to clear up the saturation of creators and drag the isolated one out of his cave." (Joy)
"But father, who is that?" (Indrajeet)
"Another of our friends from our world. He has a rather special ability. Just like how I can control anything and anyone through subtle mental suggestions, he too has an ability that defies everything.
Constant is playing a risky game. If even one of the steps goes south, we are all dead. Be it a creator or an entire system, that one will erase everything. That includes even Constant.
He has started a death game and we are his hostages. If that one even senses the intentions of Constant, we are gone." (Joy)
He dropped a huge bomb on us. I think we all are making the same face. Everyone except Joy is sweating. There's no lies in his words. We have to meet with Constant to get some answers before it's too late.