"Thanks for the save there!" Balan exclaimed with a smile.
People were sitting behind him in the sector. Each one had a different colored... thing. I didn't know what they were. They looked like cats honestly. I cocked my head, pursing my lips trying to figure out what those things were. They weren't spyrix since I couldn't feel any spirits dying.
"Balan, who are these people?" Jude asked.
"They're patients," He replied with a matter of fact voice. "Each one of them has a condition that makes it impossible to live a normal life, even with spyrix."
"Wait," Milla mumbled. "Does that mean the next generation of spyrixes you've been researching are..."
"Yep!" Balan cheered. "Those little creatures they're using are spyrites!"
"These creatures are spyrites?" Jude questioned.
"They're so cute!" Elize squealed. "But, they don't seem any more powerful than lesser spirits."
Balan chuckled. "Of course not! They're lesser spirit spirit spyrites after all! Wait a sec, are you telling me that you don't know how spyrites are created?"
"Do us a favor and assume we don't," Alvin told him.
"Well, you should ask one of the other engineers if you want the full spiel," Balan began. "But in simple terms, you've all seen spirit fossils, right? If one of you Reize Maxian folks pours mana into one, voila! A spyrite is born from it!"
"I guess there's multiple uses to those fossils, huh?" Leia remarked.
"The only catch is, you need a booster," Balan announced.
"Wait, did you just say booster?" Leia asked.
"Yep," Balan nodded. "If someone with a booster pumps mana into a spirit fossil, the calculatrics arte inside takes physical form. And that's how you make a spyrite!"
"How are they different from spyrixes?" Alvin questioned.
"It's a matter of arte precision," Balan addressed. "These spyrites can be as precise as the aspyrixes devices from back in the day. Spyrites don't consume spirits however. They're fueled by the mana stored inside the spirit fossil, after all."
"Oh Balan!" I ran up and wrapped my arms around his neck in a hug. "You've done it! All of you! You've figured out a way to use spirits without killing them!"
"Oh!" Balan gasped and then laughed. "A hug from the Lady of the night! How 'bout that?"
"She's my girlfriend so, I get hugs all the time," Alvin smirked.
"Girlfriend, huh?" Balan hummed as I ran to hug Alvin instead. "You're a lucky one, Alfred."
Alvin laughed and hugged me back. "I know."
"Balan," Jude interjected. "Could you tell us the exact spot where you found us?"
"Oh! Yes! I found you all collapsed at the end of Ruselle Highroad," Balan pointed at the end of the sector. "You can reach the highroad by following this passageway."
"Now Gaius will have to listen to us, right?" Leia asked Jude.
"No," Jude sighed. "It's too late. I don't know why I know this, but that was our last chance to convince him."
"Well, let's go check out the spot," I patted him on the back. "We'll go from there."
"Right," Jude nodded and we started off to the end of Ruselle Highroad.
"So Achlys," Well, I didn't expect Rowan to start the questions, especially that quickly. "Why did you feel the need to possess a human?"
"Well, I wanted to experience human emotions and feelings. I simply can't do that when I'm in spirit form," I answered him.
"So, everything you told me on our first date was a lie?" Alvin asked with a sigh.
"No," I shook my head. "In between doing things for the Chimeriad, I helped lesser spirits as well. I didn't lie to you about that. I have lived the life as a human many times before this, but just didn't get caught up with a group as much as I did with you guys."
"So, you can see with your eyes now?" Teepo asked, hovering in front of me.
I smiled. "Yes, I can. Although, I do enjoy absorbing other's aura's. It gives me some of whatever they are feeling. If they're feeling sad, they won't feel as sad if I share their aura with them."
"When you say you have lived the life as a human before this," Jude rubbed his chin. "Did you-"
"All these questions are giving me quite the headache," I giggled. "I found all of my bodies that I reside in, in danger as a baby. I wouldn't reside in a child that had a loving, caring home. I try to give the children I find the best life they can live."
"So, are you tethered with the human body?" Milla asked.
"Since I am the human technically, I don't need to actually tether with the body," I replied. "I reside in it. This brain is my own. I can't get out of this body unless someone knows the spirit arte to detach me from the body, or if the body dies from natural causes. If someone were to kill my body, I would be killed with it."
I started to trail behind the group to avoid anymore questions. They seem to have accepted the fact that I was a spirit possessing a human body, which I didn't think that Jude would even want to travel with me anymore because of how cruel it seems. Although, I don't think Alvin was too pleased with me. Pursing my lips, I glanced at his back. He seemed to be walking normally. Maybe a bit stiff, but nothing that said that he was upset or frustrated. I didn't want to invade his privacy by feeling his aura, so I let him be. He glanced back at me, our eyes meeting for a few seconds and then I immediately turned my head away, blushing furiously.
Alvin slowed a bit and took my hand in his. "I'm not mad or upset with you if that's what you're wondering."
"Huh?" I tilted my head up to look at him. Even though I had five inch heels on, I was still short.
"It's written all over your face that you're worried," He replied quietly.
"So, what are you feeling?" I asked, blinking a couple of times.
"Honestly," He sighed, starting to rub his thumb across the back of my hand. "A bit disappointed."
"Disappointed?" I looked up at him with furrowed eyebrows.
"Yeah," He mumbled. "You didn't want any more lies or secrets, and yet, you held one from me. I honestly understand why you did it, so I'm not mad or upset. However, you could have told me. You could have told me yesterday night when we were talking about... everything."
I looked away, disappointed in myself. "You're right," I told him. "You are absolutely right. I'm sorry."
Alvin squeezed my hand again and gave a small smile. "We can talk about this more thoroughly later. Let's catch up to the rest of them."
As we caught up to the others, they were staring at an unstable portal that was located on the edge of a cliff. It seemed like it was about to collapse. Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything about it. I didn't have that power. I looked around the cliff and sighed. No nature anywhere. None of my mana had stayed anywhere. It was sad.
"This is just great," I mumbled. "I'm a failure of a Great Spirit. I can't protect anyone."
"Achlys," Alvin whispered, taking a step towards me.
"I can't get Elympions back to Elympios and now I can't get Reize Maxians back to Reize Maxia!" I exclaimed, closing my eyes tightly and clenching my fists. "Maybe Gaius was right," I laughed. "What am I saying? Gaius is right. This whole mess is my fault. I'm to blame for everything."
"Jude!" Milla shouted but then WHACK!
I stumbled backwards and immediately took a hold of the left side of my face. That certainly took me by surprise. I touched my lip gently and looked at my hand. Blood. My lip and my cheek felt a little swollen, and I think a tooth broke. I could actually taste a bit of blood in my mouth as well.
"Wow, that was quite the punch," I admitted standing up straight, still holding my cheek.
"You have to stop this," Jude growled at me. "It's not your fault! This might look like a mess, but you were just fighting for the Elympions. You were right all along. Even Maxwell admitted that! You were doing it for humans and is that not what being a Great Spirit means? Protecting humans and spirits alike? You are the most important thing to these people and you're just going to give up because Gaius told you that this was your fault?"
I was really shocked at what Jude just said. Was I really starting to give up? "N-No. I'm not giving up."
"Listen," Jude sighed and started to heal my face. "This might look bad and even if I can't get back to Reize Maxia, I want to help Elympios. That would be easier if I was stuck in Elympios than in Reize Maxia, wouldn't it?"
"Y-Yes," I agreed. "But-"
"No," Jude shook his head. "I think I speak for everyone when I say that no one is to blame."
"Jude is right, Achlys," Rowan confirmed. "No one is to blame for this situation."
I put my fist to my chest and sighed. "Thank you."
"Well, we aren't getting through this, so we should go back to town and figure out another way," Leia suggested.
"Before we do," Jude started again. "If you plan on returning to Reize Maxia, then I think it's time we parted ways. As I said before, I want to find a way to help Elympios and Reize Maxia. I think the only way to stop Gaius is to fight him. I don't want the way you feel now to get in the way of your true feelings."
"I agree," Milla said. "If we can't be honest with ourselves about why we're fighting, then there's no point in fighting in the first place."
"In other words, you want us to make our own decision," Rowan surmised.
"It'll be a tough ride ahead," Alvin avowed. "I guess it only makes sense."
"Mind if I have some more time to think?" Leia pleaded. "At least until you're ready to leave?"
"Sure," Jude nodded. "Of course."
I crossed my arms over my chest, letting out a deep sigh. We weren't going to have the time to talk about all of this tonight. Although, I wanted to, it had to wait. There were more important things to worry about. If we came out of this alive, then we would have all the time in the world. Well, I hope.
As we walked into Trigleph, I started to the port. I needed to be alone with my thoughts. The port is the most peaceful place for me to meditate. Especially when it's dark out. There are little lights there and I could see most of the stars that are above Triglyph. I've never liked a port more than this one. Even with Reize Maxia's nature. Trigleph's was more homey to me.
"Achlys?" Milla questioned my direction.
"I think I need to be alone for a while," I told her simply.
I'm assuming they nodded because they all walked off. Even Alvin's aura faded away. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to follow me or not, but I didn't turn around to gesture to him to follow. I bet he needed to be alone too. We all did. I walked to the edge of the pier and looked out over the ocean. It was quiet, as usual. Just last night, Alvin and I were cuddling, simply talking about all sorts of shit. I actually fell asleep and Alvin had to carry me back to the apartment.
Then, I thought of Presa. I sighed and looked up to the sky, and I could have sworn I saw her in the stars. I looked back out over the ocean and twisted my face. I couldn't be like her for Alvin. I couldn't be Presa. I'm sure that he's not expecting me to be her in anyway... but I have this irrational fear of that happening. I could never be like her. She had this strength that I just... could never have.
This only made me think of Gaius and, of course, Muzét. I growled and with my blade, casted incineration wave over, and over again at the schism. Obviously, it didn't do anything. After a couple more times, I sheathed my sword and plopped myself on to the pier with my legs crossed. Of course I would join Jude and Milla. I had to fight Gaius. For Elympios. For Reize Maxia. For every human on the planet and for spirits everywhere.
Another update today since I'm not sure when the next time I can get an update up this week.
