-Kleis POV-
I sat by the crackling fire, its warmth a stark contrast to the chilling realization that had dawned on me. Under the impossibly vast expanse of the cosmos, the Kremnoans were lost in revelry. It had been ten full days since the battle against Nightmare Nikador. Their joyful shouts and rhythmic dances were a surreal spectacle, a vibrant tapestry woven against a star-dusted sky. It was a stroke of luck that this entire scene was merely a dream. Otherwise, the sheer absurdity of the gaping, jagged hole ripped through the celestial computer, revealing the inky blackness beyond, would surely have shattered the delicate fabric of this simulation.
My fingers, trembling slightly, twirled the ornate goblet of wine. The ruby liquid sloshed, catching the firelight and casting dancing shadows on my tense features. A nervous tic pulsed at the corner of my eye. One of my most persistent drawbacks, a flaw that seemed to cling to me across realities, was my abysmal tolerance for alcohol. I was, to put it mildly, a complete lightweight. "Which is surprisingly accurate to my past life," I mused aloud, the words an indistinct murmur lost in the distant music of the Kremnoan celebration. The thought, however, offered little comfort as I gazed into the wine, a potent symbol of both my current predicament and my enduring weaknesses.
Before I could keep thinking about taking a sip, Gnaeus took my goblet from my hands. "What's wrong, Deliverer is such a small amount of wine too much for you?" Gnaeus mocked me as he drained the goblet of wine. Before I could even say anything, Gnaeus handed me another goblet from which I smelled a familiar fruity aroma emanating from the cup.
With a hesitant breath, I took a sip. The moment the cool liquid touched my tongue, a jolt of recognition, sharp and distinct, shot through me. My eyes widened in surprise, a familiar yet unexpected flavor unfolding on my palate.
"Is this pomegranate juice?" I inquired, my voice tinged with disbelief, turning to Gnaeus. The question hung in the air, a silent query about the very presence of such a refined beverage in this desolate place. I marveled at where he could have possibly bought it, especially at a time like this.
A satisfied sigh escaped me as I drained the goblet, its rich, tangy sweetness a welcome balm. The familiar taste was more than just a drink; it was a memory, a whisper from a distant, more vibrant past. I understood then, with newfound clarity, why Mydei might prefer this over the often-bitter complexities of wine. This simple, unadulterated fruit offered a moment of pure, unburdened pleasure, a stark contrast to the anxieties that had brought us to this point.
Gnaeus took a seat next to me, the two of us staring at the flames, both of us stranded in our thoughts. I couldn't help but think of the consequences from Lan empowering the Coreflame. With the Coreflame now empowered by the Hunt, there's no doubt that Lygus would notice the aftermath of my actions. While I couldn't see what Amphoreus looked like from the outside, I knew Amphoreus now had a new ring representing the Hunt.
The problem was that I didn't know how my actions affected reality. Would Gnaeus be a crazed titan or be his normal self? Is Castrum Kremnos still abandoned, or is the city now thriving and no longer worried about a mad god? Is Gnaeus still the demigod of Strife, or is Mydei now the holder of Strife? And most importantly, what does this mean for the Flame Chase journey? I had so many questions, but no answers. I took a glance at Gnaeus, wondering what was going through his thoughts.
"What's our next move, Gnaeus?" I asked, eager to hear his thoughts on what lay ahead. Though masked, I sensed his frown of contemplation. I couldn't fault him. I had no clear direction either. My only strategy thus far was to draw the attention of all the stars. Perhaps by capturing the notice of all the Aeons, I could postpone the Amphoreus experiment. If eternal recurrence was still imminent, but we could begin the cycle at ninety percent instead of ninety-nine, that would be a significant improvement.
Delaying the experiment by ninety percent at the onset of the eternal recurrence would grant us much-needed breathing room and leeway for error. I couldn't assume things would remain constant; this was no game. While I was aware of the existence of the script, who could say I was even in the correct timeline? For all I knew, I could be in one of the Exotales. What guarantee was there that the Astra Express would even arrive at Amphoreus to begin with?
'No,' I thought, dismissing the idea. I guarantee the Astra Express will come to Amphoreus. 'If I have to force the Express crew to come here, I will,' I thought, knowing that to save everyone, I'd have to do things I didn't want to.
Staring into the flames, I made a silent promise. 'If I must follow Otto Apocalypse's path and manipulate the universe, I will.' I swore it to myself and to all the friends I've made in this life. If I have to kidnap Pom-Pom to get the Express crew to follow me, I can't leave anything to chance. I just hope I don't get a black hole in the face.
A force hit my head, sending me to the ground, which interrupted my planning. Looking up with a pained expression, I saw Gnaeus with his fist still raised. It was obvious he was my attacker. "Was there a reason for that?" I asked, gasping as I clutched my throbbing head.
Gnaeus snorted as he drank his wine. "You had a rather sinister look on your face. I felt the need to check if it was really you," he said, which made me deadpan. I wanted to disagree, but knowing my face was the same as Otto's, the expression I made wouldn't surprise him.
The air in the familiar, yet ephemeral, space hung heavy with unspoken farewells. Gnaeus' voice, tinged with a wistful resignation, cut through the quiet. "Deliverer, this will be your last night here?"
The question landed like a stone in the stillness, and I couldn't suppress a frown. A heavy sigh escaped me, a physical manifestation of the conflicting emotions warring within. My heart ached with the longing to remain, to linger in this place that had become a sanctuary, a crucible for growth. Yet, the undeniable truth gnawed at me: this was not my time, and this reality, however vivid, was but a fleeting dream.
As if sensing the turmoil that swirled within me, Chirithy materialized on my lap. His soft fur was a balm to my soul, and I instinctively reached out, my fingers finding their familiar place as I stroked him. His gentle presence was a silent acknowledgment of the impending departure, a quiet companionship in this moment of bittersweet transition. The rhythmic motion of my hand against his fur was a small, grounding ritual, a last anchor in the dreamscape before it dissolved into the waking world.
"Yes, Gnaeus, I must return to my time. There are people who depend on my presence there," I stated, a sigh escaping my lips. My expression then shifted to one of grave concern. "Lygus will undoubtedly detect our actions, Gnaeus. With the Reignbow Arbiter (Lan) bestowing their blessing upon the Coreflame, the Scepter will surely alert Lygus to our interference." As I spoke these words, I observed Gnaeus's fist clench, a sign of his rising fury. This is a critical juncture, and the ramifications of our actions are far-reaching. The Scepter, will undoubtedly sense the Hunt.
In the roaring heart of the Colosseum, a pivotal moment unfolded. Gnaeus stood before the assembled Kremnoan populace, his voice resonating with unwavering resolve. "Deliverer," he proclaimed, his powerful words echoing with the weight of command, "make Lygus experience the wrath of every Kremnoan!"
This solemn declaration ignited a firestorm of emotion within the colosseum. As if a single entity, every Kremnoan present erupted in a unified cry, a potent expression of shared grievance and unwavering determination. The collective sound, a visceral wave of defiance and fury, surged outwards, its echoes reverberating through the very foundations of Castrum Kremnos. This was not merely a speech; it was the resounding call to arms, the galvanizing moment that united the Kremnoan people under a singular, unyielding purpose: to unleash their collective fury upon Lygus. The air thrummed with the palpable energy of a people united, ready to face any adversary, their resolve hardened by a shared destiny.
Gnaeus extended his hand to me, and without hesitation I grasped his hand. The short time I spent in Castrum Kremnos was possibly the most exciting that I had in this life and before. I frowned as I felt my hand contact something other than Gnaeus's hand. As I let go of Gnaeus's hand, I could see in my palm was the miniature version Coreflame of Strife.
"Gnaeus, what is this?" I exclaimed, my voice a mixture of bewilderment and apprehension as I held up the small, intricate object. It was a miniature version of the Coreflame. "Gnaeus, I cannot possibly take this," I insisted, my hands pushing the Coreflame back towards him. Each attempt to relinquish it was met with a polite but firm refusal. Gnaeus, his expression unreadable, simply would not take the Coreflame back, leaving me in possession of something I felt utterly unequipped to handle.
"Deliverer," Gnaeus declared, his arms resolutely crossed, his gaze fixed and unwavering, "I have no use for this Coreflame, not in this dream world. My task is complete. I have given the Chrysos Heirs of your era a chance for a tomorrow that I will not partake in."
The words hung heavy in the air. I felt a surge of protest rise within me, a desperate need to understand his definitive stance, to plead for his involvement. However, the sheer gravity of Gnaeus's expression, the absolute certainty etched upon his features, quelled the words before they could form. It was a conviction that seemed deeply ingrained, a resolve that mere entreaty could not sway.
Adding to the palpable tension of the moment, every Kremnoan present mirrored Gnaeus's posture. They stood with crossed arms and set faces showing identical, unwavering seriousness. The collective stoicism of their people amplified Gnaeus's pronouncement, creating an unyielding wall against any further argument. In that hushed, dreamlike space, their unified stillness spoke louder than any shouted dissent.
Seeing the utterly unanimous reaction of every Kremnoan present, my initial protest died in my throat, replaced by a wave of stunned disbelief. "Really," I stammered, the words catching on a lump of emotion, "you all here trust me that much?" The sincerity in their eyes, the unwavering faith radiating from the assembled crowd, was overwhelming. They looked to me not as a stranger, but as a beacon of hope, a protector worthy of their complete confidence.
This trust, so freely given, settled a heavy but determined weight upon my shoulders. If their faith in me was so absolute, then the path forward, though perilous, was clear. "If that's the case," I declared, my voice gaining strength and a hint of a resolute smirk playing on my lips, "then I have no choice but to accept this burden. I will take this Coreflame and fight against the Destruction. I will face Nanook." With that, I raised the radiant Coreflame high above my head, its light blazing, a symbol of both the Kremnoans' trust and my own newfound resolve.
The Kremnoans all let a cheer at my declaration. As the cheers went on, my Keyblade suddenly appeared, to my confusion. The entire world change a clear blue sky as the Coreflame of Strife glowed as it floated into the sky. My eyes widened in recognition as I knew what this was. With no resistance, I pointed my keyblade into the sky as the symbol of Amphoreus appeared under my feet. Light gathered at the tip of my Keyblade as s thin beam shot out, connecting with the Coreflame. As the beam connected, a giant keyhole appeared behind the Coreflame.
I could hear a click echo throughout Castrum Kremnos as I gave a smile. "I get it now," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, the realization dawning on me with startling clarity. My eyes widened because left behind the keyhole was a small, crimson object. 'A Gummi Block?' I whispered, the unexpected sight sending a jolt of surprise through me. Thoughts swirled in my head, a tempest of theories and future possibilities, each more intriguing than the last, as I carefully reached out to retrieve the Gummi Block.
"Deliverer, what was that?" Gnaeus exclaimed, and despite not being able to see his face, I could tell his eyes were wide. I smiled at Gnaeus's reaction; I couldn't blame him, what had just happened was amazing.
"That, my friend, was a new path forward," I declared, pointing my Keyblade to create a gate back to reality. "Gnaeus, I'll see you tomorrow. Let's go, Chirithy!" I said.
2:22
1:19 / 2:23
With my palm pressed firmly against the gate, I couldn't help but break into a wide, unrestrained smile. The reason for my elation was wonderfully simple: I had finally, finally learned the true name of my Keyblade. For so long, it had extended my will, a silent, powerful partner in my journey, but its identity remained shrouded in mystery. Now, after the arduous task of opening a new path, a connection had formed, allowing me to sense its name resonating within me at last.
It had taken what felt like an eternity, a journey far longer than I had expected. Yet, as the ancient saying goes, better late than never. The name that echoed through my very soul was "Eclipsed Radiance." It resonated not just in my mind, but throughout my entire being, a harmonious vibration that felt both alien and intimately familiar.
Why my Keyblade bore such a name, I couldn't yet comprehend. The imagery it conjured of light obscured, of a beauty that blazed even in shadow–felt laden with a meaning I was yet to uncover. But I knew, with an unshakeable certainty, that this name was not arbitrary. My Keyblade was called Eclipsed Radiance for a reason, a purpose that lay just beyond my current understanding. The "why" of it remained a tantalizing mystery, a puzzle piece for a future I was now eager to face.
With a renewed sense of purpose and a name finally etched into my heart, I started the gate's activation. A familiar sensation washed over me, a gentle pull that signaled my departure from the dream world of Castrum Kremnos, carrying the weight and wonder of my newfound revelation.
The sensation of my body returning to reality was a gentle ebb, and I stood in a familiar place. A smile, involuntary and warm, spread across my face. "Hello Mei, it's good to see you again," I said, my voice filled with relief as I stood before her once more.
But this was not the Raiden Bōsenmori Mei I had previously encountered. The Mei I remembered had eyes as blank as the void itself, an unsettling emptiness that had chilled me. The Mei in front of me now, however, possessed eyes that now had a vibrant spark of life, a warmth that mirrored the smile now stretched wide across my face. There was a depth and expressiveness in her gaze that I found comforting, a stark and welcome contrast to the vacant stare I expected.
"It's good to see you again, Kleis," Mei said with a smile, her voice warm, a stark contrast to our last encounter. "Let's pick up where we left off."
"That sounds wonderful, Mei! I hope you're ready, because I have a lot to tell you," I said with a smile, eager to see her reaction to my journey so far.
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-Gnaeus POV-
A smile I couldn't contain spread across my face. Never in my long life had I smiled like this. Learning that my actions had brought about a true dawn to Amphoreus filled my heart with joy. When I learned the truth from the Deliverer, I had been so consumed by rage that it felt like all my efforts had been in vain.
Discovering that I only fueled the Destruction (Nanook) and that my choices and actions were predetermined shocked me. I never in my over hundreds year of life had I been so angry. II wanted to rage to do what Khaslana will do and attack the Core of the scepter. But to learn that Amphoreus has more than one Deliverer was enough to stay my hand.
I no longer had any worries, knowing Amphoreus was in Kleis's safe hands. It was a simple matter to identify the young boy as being from Cerces's grove, as Kleis, who wore the simple robes from the Grove of Epiphany, was hardly dressed for combat. I had been hesitant to believe the boy until he shared his memories. But now that I knew the truth lay beyond this Scepter, I knew what I had to do.
"Kremnoans!" My voice, amplified by the very stone of our ancestral halls, boomed and reverberated throughout Castrum Kremnos, a clarion call that demanded every soul within our walls to stand at attention. And they did. Every Kremnoan, from the youngest recruit to the most seasoned elder, straightened as one, their eyes fixed upon me, their leader.
"For far too long," I declared, my voice ringing with a righteous fury, "have we unknowing served the Destruction, the shadow that calls itself Nanook. No more! To arms, men and women! It is time we strike at the Ruin Author, not in servitude, but in the hallowed name of the HUNT!"
These words, spoken from the very depths of my heart, were more than a declaration of war; they were a renunciation of a twisted destiny. Today, I vowed, I would no longer allow the insidious influence of that cursed Scepter to dictate our actions. Today, we would cast off the chains of deception and embark on a righteous crusade to hunt the Destruction.
As the echoes of my decree subsided, I heard it: the resounding roar of my Kremnoans, a thunderous chorus of agreement that washed over me, fueling my resolve. Throughout Castrum Kremnos, the rhythmic pounding of countless footsteps began, a symphony of preparation as men and women, galvanized by my words, readied themselves for this new and vital war.
A fierce, triumphant grin spread across my face. I could already visualize the shock, the impotent rage, that would contort the features of Lygus. His carefully laid plans, his intricate machinations designed to ensnare and corrupt, would crumble to ash before the unyielding spirit of the Kremnoans, ignited by the true purpose of the Hunt. The age of shadows is over. The age of the Hunt has begun!
"Deliverer, prove my faith is not in vain," I murmured, heading home to prepare for war. I know Kleis will bring a new Dawn to Amphoreus. But unlike the Trailblazer who walked the path in the light, Kleis is different.
That look on his sinister face I saw; I knew he didn't truly belong to the light. No, that boy walked the PATH OF TWLIGHT. I knew Kleis would walk this path yo bring about Amphoreus a new dawn. Even if it meant placing the entire world in the palm of his hand.
"I wish you eternal victory, Kleis," I said, the words echoing in the quiet of my own thoughts as I walked the familiar path home. My mind was already racing, replaying the events of the dream and planning a plan to counter Lygus's insidious machinations. Although my help in this realm was limited, Chirithy ignited a spark of inspiration. "To think," I mused aloud, a slight smirk playing on my lips, "that the Deliverer partner was so devious." The memory of Chirithy's whispered suggestion, a clever stratagem born from observing the smallest of details, brought a grim satisfaction. To think that a simple smile keychain, an object so trivial to most, could hold such critical importance in the grand scheme of things. This small, overlooked item was now the key, the unexpected lynchpin in unraveling Lygus's carefully constructed plot.
The cool night air settled around me as I gazed upwards; the vast expanse of the star-filled sky was a breathtaking spectacle. Each twinkling point of light seemed to whisper secrets of the universe, and in their silent brilliance, I held onto a hope that things would indeed change. A change that would ripple through existence, a change that would bring about a reckoning.
A shiver, not entirely from the cold, traced its way down my spine as a particular thought solidified in my mind. Lygus, you will dread the day when all three Deliverers finally meet. I couldn't help but allow a smirk to play on my lips, a reflection of the quiet certainty that bloomed within me. I knew, with an unwavering conviction, that the promised day would one day come, when the three Deliverers, finally united, would stand as one.
This was not merely a dream, but a destiny unfolding, a future etched in the celestial tapestry above.
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-Lygus POV-
I slammed my hand down on the console in front of me in rage. "How is it possible that the hunt could sense the Scepter?" I demanded, furious. "It should be impossible for that to happen. With all the safeguards up, no path should resonate from the scepter."
The only path the scepter should allow to be sensed is the Destruction. Anything else would be impossible, yet here we are. The Hunt somehow observed the Scepter δ-me13, according to my readings. I can already see that the Amphoreus experiment will have to be delayed.
I scanned the data before me and realized Lord Gnaeus is emitting massive amounts of energy aligned with the Hunt. I narrowed my eyes at the screen, surprised that Lord Gnaeus had somehow gained the attention of the Reignbow Arbiter. That should be impossible, especially considering his current state; he shouldn't even be capable of coherent thought.
It would be impossible for Lord Gnaeus to know anything beyond Amphoreus… Unless an outside source informed him. I reviewed the data logs recorded by the scepter and found an anomaly. It wasn't a coincidence that the Erudition glanced at Scepter δ-me13.
For the first time in ages, I felt a pang of foolishness. I realized then that I'd been mistaken. Lord Anaxagoras wasn't the one to capture the Erudition's interest. Could it be one of my peers, a fellow genius, who had somehow gained knowledge of Scepter δ-me13? It would require time, but I had to reach out to my other selves and verify the whereabouts of every genius in this generation.
Another thought occurred to me… had someone within the Grove gained knowledge from beyond Amphoreus? The idea was far-fetched, yet not entirely impossible. I knew it was possible for data beings to gain sentience. But how would they gain knowledge from the outside? I narrowed my eyes. "Could one of those pesky Memokeepers have snuck in and informed someone?" I mused aloud, considering the various possibilities.
As I scanned every data log within the Scepter, a familiar spark of curiosity ignited within me. I have long harbored a deep aversion to this feeling, as it invariably conjures echoes of bygone eras and the precarious situations they entailed. Nevertheless, I found myself utterly unable to suppress it. For the first time in a long period, I met with something that defied all my established parameters and classifications — something genuinely unknown.
Chapter Six: Allies, Friends, and Enemies End
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Thanks for your patience! As promised, here's another chapter. I'll see about uploading another chapter of "Key in Amphoreus" soon. This chapter was all about setting up future conflicts, hinting at upcoming plans, and finally reuniting with Mei. The reason for their meeting is that after each visit to the dream worlds, Kleis passes through Nihility, and Mei can now sense him, so she met him on his way back to reality.