Chapter 20 – Awaken, White Mage
As the weary hero and the visitor from a distant start continued their conversation, a pensive expression crept upon the replica's face.
"You know… I think that's enough pondering for one day, wouldn't you say? Enough talking about lofty concepts and terrible things far beyond this world."
"You have a point..." X conceded. "After all, I came here to get a little peace and quiet. To rest my mind for a bit."
"That's not exactly what the Radiant Shards were crafted for, but you wouldn't be the first to use them that way." the presence said with a knowing smile. "Just make sure you don't overdo it… and don't shut out the people around you."
"Perish the thought." X said, unnerved by the notion. "I've spent far too much time without them."
"Good. But I think there's one more thing you should hear before you go."
"Oh?"
"Usul earned the moniker Omnis by mastering countless arts." the presence elaborated. "But rather than the destructive might of the black mage, the firepower of the machinist or even the protective abilities of the paladin, I think what you need the most right now is to hone your ability to put back together that which was broken. Those who were broken."
"Put back together… those who were broken?"
"How about I tell you one of my favorite stories?" the presence offered with an enigmatic smile. "How my original took it upon himself to learn the healing arts… and in the process mended the heart of a young girl who still mourned the loss of her mother."
"I think I'd like that..." X said, eager to forget the unsettling vision he had witnessed before.
As the story unraveled, X found himself enthralled. The presence inside the Shard could have simply shown everything directly through his original's memories, but instead used a combination of words and images, stopping here and there to add some comments with the benefit of hindsight.
An indeterminate amount of time later, when the story finally finished, X felt a tranquil sense of fulfillment.
"Could… someone like me ever fully develop those abilities?" X eventually asked with a mixture of curiosity and carefully restrained excitement.
"You have already touched upon this power before, even if you were doing it on instinct." the presence said. "Being organic or synthetic is irrelevant here. Now imagine the good you can do if you learn to do it more consistently."
"I definitely think this world needs less fighting and more healing right now." X mused. "And I want to be part of putting it back together."
"You have the will, and you have already cracked the shell." the presence said with a smile. "Many people aren't even aware the shell exists at all. You've even reached the point where you can consciously call upon that power at will. What do you say we take it a step further?"
"What exactly do you have in mind?" X asked.
"The other arts will likely come to you later." the presence said. "You have the talent and the purity of heart. But for now, what do you say we focus on your priority?"
With a negligible effort of will, X summoned the increasingly familiar white radiance to his right hand and gazed upon it. There was something about the strange space that made the power easier to manifest.
"Yes..." X said, feeling a little giddy as the promise of new possibilities danced across his mind. "I definitely think I'd like that."
"I thought you would. Now listen closely. Since you have already done this before, I think the next step is to give you a little more direction. We can fry your brain with complicated theory later. For now, close your eyes and focus on the sound of my voice."
X did as instructed, a little taken aback by the subtle change in the presence's tone. From experienced wanderer with a subtle snarky streak, he had effortlessly switched to the role of teacher in the blink of an eye.
The presence paused and spoke again, more solemnly.
"Think about all the things in this world that give it meaning. Keep all the lives dwelling within it in your heart. Are you following so far?"
X simply nodded. Images of his past danced across his mind. Old friends, long gone, the ones who had still endured, the new ones currently by his side.
"Good. Hold your affection for the world close and use it to ignite your light. This is the most potent fuel you'll ever find."
X stood in place, digging deep for the memories he cherished the most. Then the images shifted, and he saw once again the picture of his siblings he had found in the old news archive, and then, at the end of it all, a memory of Alia, smiling, as if waiting for him.
"And now…" the presence continued, pacing around him. "Hear. Think. Feel. Awaken."
With his eyes still closed, X focused on the presence's words, trying to discern their true significance. Eventually though, he felt a shift, and his mind stopped trying to process the situation and simply let go. A soothing, familiar warmth blossomed on his chest and spread across his incorporeal form, and when he opened his eyes again they momentarily lit up with the same white light.
"It's no wonder you tapped into this power by accident." the presence fondly remarked, standing in front of him. "Endured so much for the sake of others. You have to be one of the most loving people I have ever met."
"I think… I'm getting the hang of this." X hesitantly said. "When you think about it… or rather, when you stop thinking about it… it's almost… ridiculously simple."
"Then get out there and continue to change your world…" the presence said with a smile, placing both hands on X's shoulders. "Warrior of Light. White mage."
By the time X finally awakened from his trance-like state and returned to his body, it was already dark outside. The radiance had subsided again, but the reassuring warmth in his chest lingered.
"Where's Zero?" he wondered.
Finding the silence of the shack rather uncomfortable, he decided to step outside.
The contrast between the cold wind on his face and the warmth of his dwelling renewed his gratitude to Ciel and Lune for allowing him to once again experience the simple comforts of life. The tunic and matching ensemble were soft, warm. The scents wafting through the air reminded him that several families were in the process of cooking their dinners. Despite the change in seasons, he realized that a few were still gathered in the empty plot near the center of the settlement that had become an unofficial meeting and group meal site, warming themselves by a fire.
Finding himself in a sentimental mood, X realized the last thing he wanted was to be alone at a time like that.
"Axl just comes and goes whenever he feels like it… but knowing Zero, I have a pretty good idea of where he is."
And so, he made his way to Ciel's house. A few minutes later, he found Axl, still in a typical green uniform, peeking through one of the kitchen windows and apparently trying to contain his laughter.
"What's so funny?" X asked, quirking an eyebrow. "And why are you just standing there peeking like a creeper?"
"Hey buddy!" Axl said with a smile, looking over his shoulder. "I was getting worried about you turning into a shut in. Not good for people our age."
"As for the what and why of it..." Axl added. "Not gonna spoil it. Just go inside and see for yourself."
Intrigued, X, finding the front door unlocked, did exactly that.
As he stepped into the living room, he saw Cial and Alouette sitting on the couch. The small Reploid girl was apparently entertaining herself with an ancient Rubik's Cube, the sight of which caught X by surprise. Meanwhile, the former Head Administrator was watching her with a perplexed look on her face.
"I didn't even think they still made those." X remarked as he stepped closer.
"Mother found it among her old things." Cial explained. "It looks like Alouette took a liking to it."
"Figuring things out makes my brain tingle." Alouette chimed in with a gleeful smile. "Why do you think I like school so much?"
"I can relate." X said, finding her enthusiasm endearing.
It was then that X noticed a peculiar smell in the air, seemingly coming from the kitchen.
"What's cooking?" he asked, finding it vaguely familiar.
"I'm not sure I want to know..." Cial said, exhaling sharply. "Some of those spices make me want to sneeze."
Intrigued, X headed to the kitchen, where he was greeted by an unexpected sight.
Relieved of the coat of his uniform, with his usual absurdly long ponytail tied behind his back like one would tie a hostage, Zero was stirring the contents of a cooking pot with a ladle as they simmered over an electric stove plate. The sight of his old friend – the revered warrior and former Maverick Hunter commander, trying to prepare a meal like an ordinary person – was equal parts surprising and soothing.
"This is new..." X remarked with a smile. "And by the smell, I think I recognize the recipe too."
Zero froze in place, visibly embarrassed to be caught in such an act for some reason.
"What?" he asked rather awkwardly.
"What, what?" X retorted with a shrug.
"I wanted to try something different." Zero said, before stirring the contents of the cooking pot again.
"What, you thought I was going to make fun of you?" X asked with a scoff.
"It did cross my mind." Zero said, still a little self-conscious.
"We're three hundred year old bachelors." X pointed out. "Nothing wrong with knowing your way around a house, and it's far from the first time you've tried your hand at cooking."
"In fact..." X added, stepping closer. "I'd say it suits you."
He had seen Zero in similar situations in the distant past. Seeing him like that once again was reassuring. He seemed to have fully embraced his new life and allowed himself to find peace. X still had unfinished matters to settle, but for that evening the sight of his old friend looking so contented was enough.
"There are more ways of looking after other people than just cutting crazy robots down." Zero grumbled, as if trying to justify himself.
"You'll get no argument from me." X retorted with a shrug.
"Well, now that we're not putting out fires all over the place, we actually have some time to try other things." Zero noted.
"That's true." X said with a nod. "After all, one of the reasons why we settled for movie nights back in the day was because of how hard it was to make any kind of plans that involved traveling or extended breaks… before something else happened."
"Unfortunately the world doesn't have a pause button." Zero mused. "Thankfully, we don't need one. Not anymore."
With that, he filled the ladle with some soup and presented it to X.
"Your timing is perfect, actually." Zero said. "I need your opinion."
The smell of the crimson broth was odd, but not unpleasant. As he tried it, X finally realized why it felt familiar. The recipe, which a long departed colleague had shared with them a lifetime prior, had been a point of contention among some of the Hunters due to the smell, but others would swear by it after having tasted it for the first time.
The taste was rich but not overpowering, stirring memories of friends long gone and the triumphs and tribulations of younger days, before everything had changed once again.
"Not exactly the same…" X said, taking the time to savor it. "But very close. Messer would be proud. I guess that puts to rest any concerns about your memory."
"All the important stuff is back." Zero said with a nod. "Tiny details, I can always recall later. I think I overused some of the spices though. "Couldn't find some others in time, so I had to improvise."
"Not bad for a first attempt." X said encouragingly. "But what gave you the idea right now?"
"Second." Zero corrected. "The first… well..."
With that, he cast a glance at a bucket in a corner of the kitchen, where a rather unappealing half-burnt mess was pooled.
"Uh… we should probably dump that somewhere before it starts stinking up the place." X thought.
"As for the reason why… well." Zero explained. "I thought I'd do something nice for Ciel while she's getting her strength back."
"Her strength back?" X asked with a concerned frown. "Did something happen to her?"
"Nothing serious. Just a cold creeping on her."
"Oh." X said, his concern abating. "But in that case, do you think she should eat spicy food? Might upset her stomach."
"I guess it slipped my mind..." Zero admitted. "But I wanted to do something for her and we don't have ingredients for chicken soup lying around."
With that, Zero filled up a bowl and held it with both hands, taking in the scent.
"Worth a try, no?"
With that, he carefully carried it to Ciel's room, closely followed by X. As they neared the doorway, Lune came out of it and quickly stepped out of the way.
"You really are fully of surprises." she remarked with a smile.
"You've been looking after Ciel for hours." Zero noted. "There's still plenty left in the kitchen, so help yourself if you want."
"How is she, by the way?" X asked.
"She's not as fragile as she looks." Lune said. "But I do appreciate the concern. I think for now I'll take Zero's suggestion."
As she headed the way they had come, the Hunter pair stepped into the room. Ciel looked considerably better, but was still spending most of her time in bed, trying to get as much rest as she could in order to go back to work as soon as possible… and to avoid worrying those around her.
"It's funny..." X remarked. "For centuries doctors and scientists have tried to wipe out the common cold. Every time they think they've done it, it comes back with a vengeance."
Zero found the presence of mind to crack a joke at the remark.
"Kind of like us, wouldn't you say?"
"Oh please." Ciel scoffed. "Who'd want to get rid of you?"
She seemed strangely giddy, which caught X by surprise. Noticing his reaction, she smiled, looking a little embarrassed.
"Sorry in advance if I say anything outrageous." she said rather sheepishly. "The fever is down for now but I'm still… not quite myself."
"Actually, there's something I want to talk to you about..." X said, his hand lighting up slightly.
"I figured you'd want to help with this as soon as you found out." Ciel said, still smiling. "But there's no need."
"Are… are you sure?" X asked, caught by surprise.
"I'll be back to my usual self in a couple more days." she said with a nod. "But I can understand your urge to help and I appreciate the thought. I just think your effort would be better spent on someone who needs it more."
"You've got a point." X conceded, before glancing at Zero with a knowing smile. "Besides, I can see you're in good hands."
"There's… something different about you today." she remarked.
"I guess I finally decided to do a little more research into this whole Warrior of Light business." X explained. "What did he call this? White mage?"
"What's that supposed to be?" Zero asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Apparently some sort of healer." X elaborated. "I've healed people before, but I was acting on instinct most of the time. Now that I have a better understanding of it all, I think I can help the people around me in new ways."
"That's so like you." Zero said. "Well then, let us know how that goes. I'm not sold on this stuff just yet, but I can imagine how happy something like that would make you."
"I'd ask around if I were you." Ciel suggested. "The winter isn't here in full force just yet, but the very young and the very old could be struggling."
"I'll do that." X said with a nod. "In the meantime, make sure you get plenty of rest and save your strength."
X and Zero lingered a while longer, enough to see Ciel taste the soup. Holding the bowl with both hands, she tentatively took a sip from the bowl and blinked.
"Oh my..." she said, feeling a rush of warmth through her stomach and chest in equal measure. "I could get used to this."
"I try not to spoil you too much..." Zero said. "But you know I'm not the type to just sit around and wait for things to get better."
In a matter of minutes, the contents of the bowl were gone and Ciel was once again resting her head on her pillow. Recognizing the telltale signs of post-meal drowsiness, the Hunter pair excused themselves.
As they left the house, they found Axl standing outside waiting for them, silently smiling at the sight of them.
"What? No nurse or butler jokes?" Zero asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Oh please." Axl said in mock outrage. "I'm a troll, not a jerk. Besides, she's already looking much better."
"You could have gone inside to check on her too." Zero pointed out rather bluntly.
"I could, but I'm not so good at this kind of thing." Axl said dismissively. "I'm more of the cracking jokes and pulling pranks type."
"You're a terrible liar." Zero scoffed.
"Fine..." Axl huffed. "Maybe I wanted to give you two some space. Happy?"
"You could just have said so from the beginning." Zero countered, while X just watched the exchange with an amused smirk.
"You know I'm not very good at that lovey dovey stuff." Axl protested.
"Palette would disagree." Zero pointed out.
"Low blow bro." Axl said with a wince, feeling a pang of regret at the mention of the name.
"I get it." X said with a sympathetic nod. "You're not ready to move on just yet."
"Oh come on!" Axl protested in mock outrage. "I've got a reputation as a carefree clown to uphold."
"A reputation only you seem to care about upholding." X pointed out. "Come on Axl. You've kept prodding us to be honest with ourselves. Why won't you do the same more often?"
"I suppose you've got a point." Axl conceded with a sigh, the look on his face briefly revealing the sadness he tried to conceal with his antics. "She really did a number on me."
"I suppose I should be proud I held myself together long enough to see the three of us back together." Axl added, flashing not his usual trademark smile, but a more subdued one.
"You know you can talk to us." X said.
"Yeah, I know." Axl conceded with a nod. "I just don't want any of us to leave anything else on hold or waste any more chances at being happy. Why do you think I give you so much crap about Alia?"
"I'm not giving up." X said. "I still haven't found anything yet but that just means I have to keep looking. Now that I have the time for it, I'm not giving up until I've found her."
"Good." Axl said with a nod. "So… got any more leads?"
"I think it's time I went back to the old Hunter HQ." X pondered. "Whatever is left of it. Alia was stationed far from there, but finding a list of the actual outpost locations would help a lot. Not even we knew them all."
"What about the Megalopolis angle?" Zero asked.
"I still suspect those two are somewhere in what's left of the old city." X pondered. "Which would mean deep underground, buried under tons of rock, concrete and who knows what else… unless my father had some kind of emergency shelter somewhere else."
"I want to help, but I can't exactly leave now." Zero said with a regretful look on his face. "Not while Ciel is still sick."
"You are helping." X reassured him. "No matter how long this takes, I know I still have a home to come back to."
"You know it." Zero said with a confident smile. "So don't worry too much about it. Do what you need to do. When things around here are sorted, I'll tag along too."
"From what I saw in those old files..." Axl recalled, turning to X. "Your old man probably saw something like the first Cataclysm coming. In fact, since he already looked like his age was catching up to him or his health was crapping out in some of those recordings, it's a sure bet he had some kind of plan for the others."
"Assuming they did survive." Cial chimed in, catching up with them. "But I would like to be optimistic as well."
"Before you ask, she's getting there." she added, turning to Zero. "Sleeping again for now, but Mother is keeping an eye on her."
Zero eyed the girl nearly identical to Ciel. Despite the progress they had made in coaxing her out of her shell, they definitely still had some work in that area.
"I still can't quite figure you out." Zero said, studying her face.
"That makes two of us." she admitted with an unreadable expression. "You turned my world on its head too, even if you did not know I existed at all."
"In fact..." she added, her eyes betraying another hint of what was going through her mind. "I dare say you have accomplished quite a feat in getting even someone like me excited about the future."
"Huh?" Zero muttered.
"For a long time, I did what I thought needed to be done." she elaborated. "Though I ultimately ended up losing faith in a doomed endeavor and helping tear it down. You three, with strength and kindness, are slowly accomplishing what that fake and his heavy handed methods never could."
The former Head Administrator sighed.
"People follow you without question. Most of the time you barely even have to say anything. Your presence and example are enough."
"Well well..." Axl said with a goofy grin. "Not gonna start falling for us, are you?"
"Oh please." she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "A brat like you?"
"If you say so." he teased. "We'll see."
In response, she simply flashed her open palm.
"I noticed you haven't said anything about my bros though." Axl teased.
"That is because they are not fools like you." she countered, back to her usual icy tone. "But even if I cared about such notions – which I do not – it is best not to mix things."
"Not to mention your sis and Alia would be up in arms." Axl said with a chuckle.
"Enough." Cial grumbled. "I have had enough of your nonsense for today."
"He does enjoy pushing people's buttons." Zero remarked with a sigh.
"For their own good." Axl retorted with his usual shameless grin. "Sometimes people need a little prodding to move on with their lives. I don't mind playing mosquito if that helps."
"Take care that you do not get swatted." Cial warned, leering at him.
"I'll live." Axl said in an infuriatingly carefree tone. "After all, I've gotta stick around until I get you and the Sea Dragon to laugh."
"By making a nuisance of yourself?" Cial scoffed. "Interesting notion."
"If it's stupid but it works..." Axl countered. "Besides, I like your mom. She's a nice lady who went through a lot of crap too."
"Now don't you start getting ideas you..." Cial hissed, her facade cracking again and revealing genuine annoyance.
"You've got a dirty mind." Axl retorted, once again grinning. "If Alouette can go around adopting people why can't I do the same?"
"For starters, you're nowhere near cute enough." Zero teased.
"I can be." Axl insisted, his grin growing more exaggerated.
Meanwhile, X just watched and tried not to laugh.
Feeling another impending headache, Cial sighed and shook her head.
"You two are far more patient than I am, if you have endured him for so long."
"You know Axl just says dumb things to rile people up." Zero said with a shrug. "Best not to pay too much attention."
"You know what?" Axl said, before taking a deep breath and his expression turning serious as he stared directly at Cial. "Fine. Time to lay some truth."
Surprised, Cial quirked an eyebrow.
"Sometimes people need a little push to be honest with themselves and each other." Axl said. "Sometimes they need a little prodding to help them face their feelings or open up to others."
"What, are you trying to be some kind of therapist?" Cial asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Hell no!" Axl protested. "I couldn't sit in an office all day. But I'm pretty good at reading people… and sometimes they take a little riling up before they show how they really feel."
"Besides..." he added, taking a step closer to Cial. "If it gets people like you and Leviathan to move on with their lives and actually be happy, then I'll gladly play the part of the clown and let you get mad at me."
"You really are a fool." Cial retorted with a strange look on her face. "Have you ever considered that perhaps being honest with people instead of putting up this stupid act might be more beneficial for everyone involved?"
"Says the Ice Queen who was skulking around in a mask." Axl pointed out.
"I moved past it." Cial retorted. "Perhaps you should start practicing what you preach."
"I suppose." Axl conceded. "You want some honesty then? Fine. These two are like family to me. By extension, that means your sis, your mom and you are too."
Cial did not have a barbed reply for that.
"Why…?" she tried to ask.
"Don't need a reason." Axl said with a shrug. "But if you need one, well… your mom and sis are some of the kindest people I've ever met. You're not so bad yourself."
"You barely even know me." Cial said, rolling her eyes.
"Better than you think." Axl countered. "I lived in Neo Arcadia for a time, remember? I worked with your mom in the Resistance and made sure Ciel stayed safe when I was around. And yes, I know you better than you think. Enough to know you're not the horrible person you believed to be."
Cial blinked and stayed silent.
"The same goes for the Sea Dragon and her brothers." Axl continued. "People make bad choices sometimes. It's just a matter of owning up to them and moving on. I'm glad that whole mess ended without having to scrap them too."
X froze for a moment. Axl's choice of words evoked their share of unpleasant memories.
"We did leave quite the trail of bodies in our wake..." X recalled. "Friends we couldn't save… and Reploids who insisted on following Sigma's madness willingly or lost their minds completely. Most of the time, we had no choice."
"I can agree on the former." Zero said. "But the others? You gave them every chance to back down and they still wouldn't stop. Stopping them saved lives. No point feeling guilty about it."
"You do have a point." X conceded. "I've thought about it countless times and always reached the same conclusion. If they'd had their way, humanity would be extinct and Reploids would either have followed them or ended up as mindless drones."
"I'm glad to see all that time I spent trying to talk some sense into you wasn't wasted." Zero said, his expression softening. "None of us here particularly enjoy doing that, but we need to be able to live with it. There were times back in the day when you looked like you were about to fall apart."
"Don't remind me..." X said, looking ashamed of himself. "This wasn't the first time I left you to clean up my mess."
"Don't be ridiculous." Zero scoffed. "We all need a break sometimes. You tried your best to hold things together without me. I'm just glad that after all this time you finally learned you can't try to carry everything on your shoulders."
"I'm just glad I didn't do anything irreversible." X said with a soft smile. "Having you two back along with all these new faces… It makes me feel more alive than in the last couple of centuries."
"But enough of this heavy stuff." Axl said, reverting to his usual demeanor as he stared at his old friends. "You're getting better. We all are. That's all I need for now."
"I suppose there's more to him than meets the eye..." Cial mused, watching Axl's shift in demeanor. "Even if he is a fool."
"Anyway..." Zero chimed in, eager to change the subject. "When are you going on your next search, X?"
"I'm not sure yet." X said. "I still need to do some planning… and there's something else I want to look into before leaving."
"You mean what we talked about inside?" Zero asked.
X simply nodded.
"Meaning?" Cial asked.
"I received some guidance from the personality inside the Radiant Shard." X explained. "I'm ready to put this power to the test by using it to help the sick and injured."
"Wait what?" Cial asked, clearly out of the loop.
"Didn't Ciel tell you about the AI or whatever that is living inside the rock that fell from the sky?" Axl asked. "Didn't X?"
"They mentioned some of it, yes." Cial confirmed. "Nothing about X going around performing more miracles."
"Oh boy..." Axl remarked, glancing at X. "You know that's gonna blow your legend even more out of proportion."
"Yes..." X said with resignation. "But my embarrassment is a small price to pay if I can actually help people."
"In that case… I have a request." Cial said.
X glanced at her, letting her speak.
"When you go about it… I would like to observe." she hesitantly elaborated.
"I have no objections." X said. "But why?"
"I would like to understand this a little better." Cial explained. "Both how it works and why it affects me the way it does."
"If I had to guess, I'd say it's because your heart hasn't mended yet, Ice Queen." Axl said without a hint of levity.
"Perhaps..." she mused, surprised by the insightful remark and unwilling to argue any further.
Another day passed, and eventually came the time for another planning meeting.
"Don't worry." Lune said reassuringly as she stood next to Ciel's bed. "We'll fill you in on everything once you're back to full strength. In the meantime, try to rest. Alouette will be keeping an eye on things here."
"Funny..." Ciel mused, looking and feeling considerably better. "She's growing up so fast… and now she's the one looking after me. How the tables have turned."
"The love and kindness you've shown her are showing." Lune remarked with a smile. "Your caring nature has definitely rubbed off on her."
As if on cue, Alouette stepped into the room.
"No trying to sneak in work while the others are away, you hear me?" the small Reploid girl playfully scolded, wagging her finger, much to Ciel and Lune's amusement.
"You know me all too well." Ciel said with a smile. "But don't worry. I'll behave."
Around half an hour later, in the building that had become an unofficial town hall of sorts…
"Why do I have this nagging feeling that I'm forgetting something?" Lune wondered.
To her surprise, she spotted two figures in the back of the room, recognizing them instantly despite the plain clothes. One clad in a one piece black outfit, the other a green one, Phantom and Harpuia were quietly sitting there, watching the proceedings. She might not have recognized them, if not for their distinctive faces and for the fact that even out of armor they still insisted on wearing their usual colors.
"How did they…?"
Confused, she cast a glance at X.
"I invited them." X explained. "To be honest, I'm surprised they accepted."
"Fair enough..." Lune said. "If there's anyone they will listen to, it's you."
She then glanced at Cerveau.
"Is the projector ready?"
"Simple enough compared to some of the other stuff we've been setting up." the Chief Engineer said, before suppressing a shudder. "Just don't ask me to fix printers. Those things are the spawn of hell."
"I'm guessing there's a story behind that?" she asked, surprised by the normally mild-mannered Reploid's remark.
Cerveau just grumbled something unintelligible and nodded, before turning in the holographic projector mounted on a table at the center of the room. Moments later, a head and shoulders projection of Thaddeus appeared.
"Is this thing on?" his voice asked through the speakers. "Ah, good. Can you hear me?"
"Sound is good." Cerveau confirmed. "And on your end?"
"All good. A pity I couldn't attend in person, but this Neo Alexandria business is probably going to keep me busy for a very long time."
Cial was surprised to see how different the man looked after their previous encounter. The tattered labcoat was gone, replaced by a blue wool sweater. He seemed to have trimmed his hair as well, making him look more like a gentle fatherly type than a half-crazed wanderer. The biggest difference, however, was in his body language and posture, as well as his gaze. He was standing straighter, with a gleam in his eyes much like the one Lune would get in the laboratory. With a renewed sense of purpose and a great burden off his back, he almost seemed a little younger.
"Well, make sure you take breaks now and again." Lune chimed in. "And do remember to visit. You're two steps away from a Trans Server terminal."
"Will do." he said with a nod. "Now then..."
The former scientist's face then turned to face X.
"I know exactly who you are, though we've never met in person." Thaddeus said. "I'm glad to know that you're back with us."
"I know who you are too." X said with a nod. "Lune and the girls made sure of that. I'm glad we can count on you as well."
"I will try not to disappoint then." Thaddeus said with a nod.
"Now that everyone is here..." X said, going through the notes Cial had prepared for him. "What's the first order of business?"
"With the completion of the extra reservoir, the irrigation system is officially finished for now." Cerveau informed. "We are looking into a possible greenhouse later, but for now we're shifting our focus to housing."
"As you've probably seen on the way here, the development plans continue." a young human girl wearing an old-fashioned yellow hardhat added, before reaching for a remote control.
A large flat screen set against the back wall lit up, displaying a map of the growing settlement. "All the main streets are thoroughly paved and the power grid and water pipes are set up in a way that will allow easy expansion later on."
"The water flowing through the area is exceptionally pure, but as precautionary measures a filtering system and reservoirs were among the first priorities." she elaborated further, pointing to a few spots on the map. "All some distance from each other and with safeguards against possible contamination."
"Looks like things are well sorted." Thaddeus noted.
"Yes." the girl confirmed. "Furthermore, thanks to a combination of solar panels and Dr. Ciel's energy production system, estimates indicate that the current generators would be enough for a settlement five times the present size."
"Promising news, Miss..." X said. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."
"Anya Garamond, sir." she introduced herself with a nod. "A proud graduate of the Class of Fifty with training in civil engineering."
"Another of Ciel's former classmates then." X realized. "It sounds like there are more of them left than she thought."
"With my father gone, it falls to my grandfather and I to carry on the work." Anya said rather solemnly. "But he's in poor health, so I made the journey alone."
"We're still trying to determine how many made it through all of this." Thaddeus explained. "Still, I'm glad Anselm's girl is one of them."
He paused for a moment, scratched his chin and then the holographic projection of his face stared directly at Cial.
"I know your sister is sick, but how long are you planning to keep wearing that silly mask?" Thaddeus asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Caught by surprise, Cial stammered.
"W-What?"
Lune tried to discreetly gesture at him to change the subject, but he failed to notice. In the back of the room, Phantom and Harpuia exchanged awkward glances.
"The others did mention you were under the weather, but you've been showing up with that thing for the meetings for a while, from what I hear. Are you all right, Cial?"
The former Head Administrator froze in place, unsure how the other Resistance members and civilians would react. Underneath the mask, her composure cracked and she tried not to panic as she prepared to deal with what might happen next. Her mind simply blanked out.
"Crap..." Lune thought. "I completely forgot to tell him about this. Good thing I planned ahead."
Cial was then surprised by the reactions of those present, or rather, the complete lack thereof. The discussion continued, albeit a little more awkwardly, but no one made mention of the accidental revelation.
"What…?"
The rest of the meeting practically flew by. After its conclusion, once most of the others had dispersed...
"Dear..." Lune said with a smile, placing a hand on Cial's shoulder. "All of your sister's friends already knew who you are. Especially the ones who have been attending the meetings."
"Why..." Cial grumbled, planting the palm of her hand on her face and silently wishing for a hole to hide in. "Why did nobody say anything then?!"
"And ruin the dramatic tension of the big reveal?" Axl jokingly asked. "For shame!"
"Seriously though..." X added. "It was Ciel's idea."
"A laugh at my expense?" Cial grumbled.
"No." Ciel clarified, shaking her head as she stepped into view in one of her usual pink dresses, with a matching scarf draped around her neck. "Just trying to make you as comfortable as possible, given the circumstances. But for the first time since the incident, we got to see the real you out in the open, not just in private."
"What are you doing out of bed?" Cial scolded.
"Don't worry, if you catch it too we'll-"
"I don't care about that." Cial retorted. "You should be resting, you dummy."
"Ironic." Sage mused.
"She would need a mask in order to show her true self." Phantom added with a nod. "That does sound like her."
For her part, Cial wasn't sure if she should be happy for the acceptance, or actually find a hole to hide in.
"Honestly, I think it's for the best." X said with a smile. "As you've seen just now, people aren't going to treat you like a boogeyman. Ponder that for now. I need to go look into something."
Meanwhile, not far from them, Anya was leaning with her back against the wall, watching the scene unfold with a smirk.
"Anya." X called out.
She turned her head towards him and nodded.
"Yes?"
"Where exactly is your grandfather living these days?"
"A smaller settlement up north. Why?"
"You mentioned he's been in poor health, right?"
"Yes." she confirmed with a sigh. "Age catching up with him, I suppose."
"I see..."
"I know what you're thinking." Cial intervened. "You said you would let me study it, remember?"
"Study what?" Anya asked.
"A story for another time." Cial said.
"Well, since you're here, let me say this much." Anya said, before taking a deep breath.
"I'm glad both of you made it out of Neo Arcadia in one piece..." she said. "And that you pulled that stick out of your ass."
"W-What?" Cial stammered.
"You were always a far better student than many of us." Anya recalled. "But your one track mind… Some of us used to wonder if you weren't just a robot copy of Ciel."
"Did you come all the way here just to-" Cial grumbled.
"If you'll let me finish..." Anya interrupted. "Some of the others may disagree, but I never thought of you as a bad person, even after some of the things I heard. I'm glad we got to meet again. You're looking much better. Just try to spend a little more time in the sun."
Cial did not have an answer for that.
"And you." Anya added, turning to Ciel. "I'm glad you've found some peace… and such a handsome piece of-"
"Let's not go there..." Ciel muttered, feeling a rush of heat to her cheeks.
"There you are!" Zero called out from behind her. Behind him, Alouette was wagging a finger at her.
"Sneaking out already Big Sis?" the small Reploid girl playfully scolded.
Still watching from a distance, Harpuia quirked an eyebrow while Phantom remained expressionless.
"S-Sorry for making you worry." Ciel said, caught off guard. "But I had the feeling I'd be needed here."
Anya simply grinned as Zero stepped closer.
"If you're going to walk around like that, at least put a coat on." he scolded, taking off the green one that was part of his Resistance uniform and draping it over her shoulders. "Do you want to get worse again?"
"Not… one… word..." Ciel grumbled, feeling a renewed embarrassment as X, Anya, Cial and Lune watched.
"Come on." Alouette said, grabbing Ciel's hand. "Back to bed with you!"
With that, she marched Ciel back home, while Zero tried to suppress a laugh and Lune silently smiled.
"We will speak later." Phantom said as Ciel walked past him and Harpuia.
Later that day...
After a trip through the Trans Server network and a bit of a hike, X stood in front of a one floor house seemingly built out of concrete, seemingly of recent construction. While Cial stood watch a good distance behind, wearing her cloak and breathing mask again, he approached the door and knocked.
"Abel Garamond?" he called out.
"W-What?" an older man's voice answered, seemingly just awakened. "Who's there?"
"I need to speak to you for a moment." X said, lowering the hood of his tunic over his head.
The shuffling of feet echoed inside for a few moments, before the door opened ever-so-slightly.
"Who are you?" the man asked, peeking through the crack with tired gray eyes.
"A friend of Lune, Thaddeus and Anya." X said, not wanting to reveal his identity just yet. "Mind if I come in so we can speak without the door getting in the way?"
"Fine..." the man grumbled. "But make it quick. Finally got some shut eye after nearly a day."
The door opened completely, and X found himself facing a man somewhere in his late fifties, with scruffy black hair already graying at the sides. He was wearing rather old-fashioned gray pajamas and matching slippers. His build was thin, and his calloused hands spoke of many hours of manual labor. His skinny face looked pale and with obvious signs of fatigue. His gray eyes, however, still had an intensity that the years had not worn down.
"I understand you've been in poor health." X said. "I came from Area Zero to try something that may help."
"You came all the way here just for that?" the man asked, a little suspicious.
"It's a long story, but if you're willing to give it a try, I think I can help."
"Fine..." the man grumbled. "I'm tired of sitting around like a bum while my granddaughter is out there working."
"Hold still please." X said, as he called upon the burning in his heart and his open hand became engulfed in white light. "I don't have much experience doing this yet."
"What…?" the man muttered.
The light flowed out freely, cursing through the man's body in a brief flash. Once it subsided, there was already a change. Color returned to his face, and he stood more steadily, visibly invigorated.
"What did you just do?" the man asked incredulously.
"How are you feeling?" X asked.
"I… haven't felt this good in years! What was that?"
"It's a long story..." X said hesitantly. "I have to go. For now though, I would really appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone else."
"I don't know why you'd ask that, but it's the least I could do." the man hesitantly said. "Thanks. Could you just tell me who you are..."
Then the man froze in place, staring at X as realization set in.
"Of course… Lune told me how happy she was to get that outfit ready in time. X… But since when can you do that?"
"I'm still trying to figure out all the details myself." X admitted, flashing a smile underneath the hood. "For now, I'm just glad you're feeling better. We'll talk again later."
As he made his way back with Cial, X felt a very familiar kind of warmth in his chest. The same kind he would normally feel when he had just finished saving a life back in his Hunter days, or when he got to do something for others in general. More than fighting or getting to be called a hero, knowing that he had just been able to make someone's life a little better was what he considered one of the best feelings in life, right along spending time with those close to him and the memory of Alia's smile and voice.
With his heart full, he headed to the nearest Trans Server terminal with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. Cial kept up with his pace, her mind racing as it tried to process what she had just witnessed.
"I could get used to this… white mage thing." X thought, glancing at his hand.
The scene from the original Usul's memories briefly flashed through his mind, but instead of feeling uneasy again, X remained serene and focused. The image of the menacing winged being wrapped in radiance and the strange weapon reminiscent of Ragnarok's cannon no longer unsettled him as much.
"Keep your Tetractys Grammaton." he thought with a confident smile. "This is all I need."
Once they arrived back at the settlement, Cial stared at him again.
"Such a simple gesture..." she mused. "A small kindness, but still a miracle in its right. I wonder how it would feel to be able to do something..."
"Like becoming light..." X tried to describe. "Getting to see the smiles around me and being able to change things with my own hands… That makes it all I've endured worth it."
"You..." Cial muttered. "Once, I couldn't conceive the notion of people like you actually existing. I thought your legend a gross exaggeration at best and propaganda at worst… until I got to meet you in person."
"And what do you think now?" X asked, genuinely curious.
"I think I understand you a little better now." she summed it up. "I can definitely see why this strange power would choose you of all people."
"This warmth… calls out to me..." she thought with a sigh.
"Are you all right?" X asked.
"Just a little light-headed." Cial said. "It's been… a long day."
"I'll see you later then." he said with an earnest smile.
Satisfied with his efforts for the day, X went home.
That night, his sleep was tranquil and exceptionally restful as he dreamed of endless adventure in distant, fantastical lands, his mind giving new forms to familiar faces.
In his dream, X saw himself in his blue tunic, striding across a dusty road in arid lands. By his side, he saw Zero in what looked like red traditional Far Eastern robes, carrying an ornate sword of the same style resting in a green scabbard. On the other side, walking alongside them, he saw the twin sisters, wearing elegant scholarly dresses, one pink and one blue, each of them carrying a large old-fashioned tome. Croire was perched on Cial's shoulder, while Ciel was accompanied by some sort of green birdlike creature fluttering behind her. Axl, of all things, was wearing a strange, rather gaudy orange tunic with matching trousers and boots and a crimson feather on his hair. In his hand was a strange weapon, looking like a hybrid between a longbow and a harp.
In a summer day's afternoon, occasionally punctuated by gusts of wind blowing across the landscape, the air shimmered under the heat. A flock of small birds flew overhead.
It was then that X spotted four figures farther ahead on the road, seemingly waiting for them. Then, as he stepped closer, he recognized them.
Fefnir was sporting a sleeveless crimson vest, exposing a well toned chest, with matching shorts and thick leather boots. Next to him, Leviathan stood, wearing a strange blue suit of plate armor with a dragon motif that covered her from head to toe, leaving only her mouth exposed. In one of her hands, covered by gauntlets with claws, she was holding a long lance matching the armor. Phantom, clad in stereotypical ninja garb, simply stood there, nodding ever-so-slightly in acknowledgment. Most surprising of all, Harpuia seemed to have swapped his usual green armor for ornate emerald scholarly robes and an old-fashioned set of glasses and a rapier with an overly elaborate golden hilt.
"You are late." Phantom said, in an unusually curt tone.
"Actually, you are just in time." Leviathan said, flashing a smile underneath the strange helmet. "We were about ready to start."