Seizure 18.4

Teleporting out, I stopped in my room, grabbing the hardened comm-unit off the desk and putting it over an ear, spreading my costume out into pure white full-plate to cover me completely, but leaving enough openings for me to use. Another Mark moved me to the empty bay I was going to use to grow Toybox's next shipment of metals. It was large enough for this, and out of the way, which I needed.

Part of me wanted to not go. This was the Protectorate's mistake. This was Cauldron's show, and, while we might be at a tenuous piece, the phrase 'never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake' existed for a reason. However, this wasn't going to lead to losses in the corrupt upper echelons, and acceptable losses in the rank and file willing to listen to said leaders, this wasn't going to be a complete annihilation, of a scale never seen before. While I was willing to sit back and let some people that'd done nothing for me die, people that'd work against me, try to kill me if Cauldron said so, this was. . . different.

There could be no recruitment, no opening people's eyes to their leader's lies, no flipping people to the side of good if they were all dead.

"I assume you're going personally?" Quinn's voice came in through my ear.

"What makes you think that?" I asked dryly, closing my eyes, and focusing. Orichalcum came from me, in twisting tendrils as I lifted into the air, growing outwards more, and more, and more, until I was once more in iron, or in this case orichalcum, giant form.

"You've already used that form previously. They'll know it's you," Overwatch observed, not judging, not accusing, only offering advice.

Extending even more metal, having experimented with what I could get away with, hundreds of tendrils emerged from the 'Giant's' back. Twisting them together I made one pair of wings, then two, then four, then six. "I know I've named myself after an obscure Roman god, but do you think others would think it's me if I'm an angel?"

The lawyer sighed, informing me, "Seraphim have six wings, not twelve, and your metal body is very distinctive." Combing the threads until I had the proper number of fake limbs, I twisted them down in cascades to simulate feathers. I infused myself with Light, from Purity's power, the golden-white material glowing so brightly they couldn't be looked at directly. "No, I would not confuse you with Vejovis," Quinn admitted.

It was good, but it wasn't good enough. Pulling on Personal Density Manipulation, I turned it up to full, but, while normally the colors of my body would become more vivid as the power activated, the gold-tinged white Light became indescribably more, to the point that it almost seemed unnatural.

Extending a glowing metallic hand, I created a sword from solidified sun. It almost looked like burning blood, a deep red which almost brought to mind hellfire, and I dismissed it. Instead, I reached out, the floor rippling as I grew a twelve-foot-long sword of Force-enhancing swirled orichalcum. Holding onto it, I infused it with Light as well, giving it a few practice swings. Nodding, I formed a spear, with a swirled orichalcum tip, but the shaft was the silver-platinum-tungsten mix that should create mithral, but I still hadn't figured it out. Last step was to make a few spikes from my body, taking a moment to Mark them for battlefield movement, and then I was ready.

"How long did that take?" I asked, wishing I could move faster, but needing to prepare.

"Six minutes. Losses are mounting," the technopath noted.

"And if I could've shown up as me, they wouldn't've had to die," I shot back. "I'm gonna start Striding, I'm going to need you to guide me in."

"Understood," Quinn replied, as I brought up Area Teleportation, feeling the fabric of the world, and my place in it. With the Marks I'd left using Mouse's power serving to help me orient myself, I was able to shift my position in space, lifting it up, and moving Southwest.

The world twisted and I found myself over a bustling city, not the dark, damaged husk covered with a golden dome. "Damn, where am I?"

"Houston, you overshot."

I sighed, "I really need to train this power more. Okay, I don't know where Houston actually is, other than Texas. Which way, and how far?"

Quinn, likely looking at a map, directed, "North-Northwest, two thirds of the distance you travelled."

That. . . wasn't as helpful as he probably thought it was, but I gave it another shot, feeling out the area for another city, the fabric of everything just a little different based on the landscape. Shifting again, I found another populated metropolis below me.

"Atlanta, go halfway between here and Brockton Bay," my vizier supplied, and I shifted again, to another city, "Baltimore, opposite direction, just a little."

Rather than try again, I transitioned upwards, though Strider's power had a very clear ceiling. Regardless, it was enough for me to see the golden dome in the distance, and, with a visual on my target, it was easy to transition above it.

Okay, time to go, I thought, starting to infuse the spear in my left hand with Momentum, seeing the spinning ring of the shield generator. Opening my wings wide, I pushed Light from them, forcing myself down faster as I tried to figure out how to start this fight.

I reached out with Sound Control, just in case I messed this entire thing up and had to stop a blast-wave. Feeling it out, I could reach inside the shield, but it felt. . . slippery. More than that, I needed something to get the Simurgh's attention. It wouldn't be able to see me, but maybe knowing there was something it couldn't see would help distract it long enough to hit the feathered fucker.

"Overwatch," I called, cutting off the flow of momentum into my spear and shaping it to fly true. "I need you to play the Hallelujah Chorus. I'll retransmit it outwards."

"Which one?" he asked, not missing a beat. "The Tabernacle choir's rendition?"

I thought about it for half a second, as a bright flash of light caught my eye, Legend blitzing the hell out the Simurgh, and reminding me why I liked the man: he just did not give up. If only he didn't follow the lead of amoral control-freaks. "All of the ones that sync up, all at once. Start in three seconds."

Trying to figure out how to throw the spear so I wouldn't hit someone by accident, in case I over-penetrated, suddenly the fighters were gathered, in rows, floating in the air before the Simurgh. Thanks for the clear target, Ziz, I couldn't help but think, slamming down a silence effect over everything, as a song started to come in through my ear. Relaying the song to everything in range, I hurled the spear, which accelerated away from me the second I lost contact with it, hitting the shield generator, exploding, and kept going.

Shit! I thought, as it hit the ground, disintegrating a building in an instant and going off like a bomb, reaching out and stilling it. The process wasn't instantaneous, and I was glad that all of the surviving Parahumans, several hundred, it looked like, were all several blocks away, as the force of the blast was lowered more, and more, and more, until it was nothing more than a breeze, with not enough energy to count as 'sound' any longer.

"̴̛͔̞̦̗̫͗̀̈́̓̓͠W̸̯̗̭̲̺̰͕̅͌͒͋͊͆̚͠ȟ̸̢̙͈̣͍̜̰̄͒͒̓̆̀͌̕͜ơ̴̩̜̟̥̘̠͓̠͔̐͑̆̀̊̚͝͝'̶̢̜̙̗̺̲͂̐͆̎̕ṡ̸̰͔̫̤̮̹͔̘̰̽͘ ̸̨͓̪̫͍̬̜̃̎͐͛͝T̶̛̪̱̮͇̪̓̍̇̇́͛h̸̢̗͍͉̳̠̟́̀͐̈́̐ͅë̴̢͙̭̣̟̌̉͘r̵̤̩̤͇̪̺̠͈̥̃͛͊̎́͘͘͝e̶͔̞̦͖̭̊̿?̸̨͚̦͈͓̯̜̇̃͋̈́̆́̍̈̈ͅͅ"̵̨̱͈͈̲̓̒ Ziz shrieked, the effect not carrying any sound at all, but almost on the edge of perception, as it looked left and right, eyes wide and unseeing.

From above I came down on it, firing off Marked darts in every direction, I led with my Light-infused Orichalcum sword as, with Flight and Light from my wings pushing me down, I struck the Simurgh, severing a wing completely.

I knew she hid her core in one of them, and I had time.

The Endbringer's white face was shocked as I slowed my descent, free and grabbing its outstretched arm. With my Density maxed, I threw the Faux-angel with ease. As she hit, sending a cloud of dust and debris up into the air, I followed, growing another Orichalcum spear from the giant's hand, filled with Light, which I slammed into one of her main wings, stomping a foot onto the Simurgh's stomach, burning her as I struck down with my sword, cutting through it with a bit of difficulty, but between the force of the blow, and the corrosive Light that suffused my blade, it was removed.

Not that one either, I thought, as she shrieked again. "̴̙̀Ì̸̲͚t̸̨̟͂͝ ̵̜̽̒ï̴̗ṡ̸̞̙̔ ̶̛͒ͅŷ̷̠o̸̧͓̅͆u̸͔͊͂!̵͚̗̎̇ ̴̥͔͂͝F̵͜͝r̶͚̀̌o̸̥̥͠m̸̦̈́̋ ̸̱̜̾͝b̸̯̣̈́̑ĕ̶̡͙͗f̴̞͑͠o̴͝ͅr̶̥̘̈́́e̶̼̪͗̓!̴͙̈́"̶̖̈́̚

Feeling the way she talked, something about it just clicked with me, and I understood, responding in kind, "̨͙̃Y̹̐͝e̹͗͡a̲̒͜h̭̓͜,̗ͩ͘ i̭̋͡t͆ ĩ͈͞s̷̗ͮ.̛͇̄ Ŷ̦͞o͓ͨ́u̧͓ͩ g̰̚͢i̧̼̅v̛͖͗ï̘͡n̴͓̐g̹ͪ́ ü̫͞p̗ͫ͜,̲̉͘ o̵̩ͪr͎ͮ́ ǎ̸̹r̡͕̐e̢̲̾ w͎ͪ͜ë d̴̗ͤǫ̱͗i̶̙̊n̹̽͟g̟ͦ̀ t̯͒͢h̦ͧ͜ị̴ͯs͇̐͡ t̛̞ͩh̤ͨ̀ė̛͉ ẖ̸̏a̞ͩ͞ŗ̤̑d̶̬̂ w̻͂͝ä͎́͝y̬ͪ͞?̷͉̚"ͦ

Unsurprisingly, Ziz chose the hard way, thrashing about wildly. However, she did catch my leg, knocking me backwards and off of her. The Simurgh was as strong as I was, even with all my powers, despite being half my size, but, given what she was, the fact that we were anywhere close to even meant she'd already lost.

Without me holding her down she quickly took to the air, a blackened hand-mark around her forearm, and the black tread of my boot writ large across her abdomen, as she turned to face where she'd hit me, even as I floated backwards, ripping my spear out of the ground.

It'd cracked a little, but I filled those in, though I wondered what, exactly that'd done to the spun Orichalcum head. Well, worked last time, I thought, as I started to pour more and more momentum into the weapon.

The giant albino woman's face screwed up hatefully, and blasts of telekinetic force were hurled downwards blindly in my general direction. Some of them were outlined in the dust but other were carefully hidden in empty air as she fired seemingly at random, enough that they were nearly invisible, and were easily lost track of in the swirling dust from all of the other attacks.

However, I wasn't just watching her visually, from the giant's chest, I was watching the air itself, knowing the patterns of its movements as well as I knew my own body, and Ziz formed the blasts in front of her before firing them out, to try and catch me in a net of attacks.

"̶̨̲͖ͫ̆͑ͤ̅͘͠ͅW̶͔̝̝̥͉ͩ͠h͕́͗̒̍̈́͞a̵̡͍̤̬̓̉͘̕͞ṭ̛̗̘͚ͫ̈͑̈́̓̕͠ ̧̺̑̚͝a̛͙͇̳̳̮͆ͩ͟͠r͔͖̙̔̒̆͠e̸̷̢̫͍͈̓ͪ͟͠ ̨̘͔̮̰̫̌̈̚͜y̛͕͚ͣ̆͢͜oͦͭ̀͏͏͏̢̛̬̤̞͇ú̵̶͎ͨ͌̌ͤ̀͘?̢̭̤͋͞͝͝ ̸̷͙̟̎̄͞͡W̴͇̙̲̽ͬhͧ͟y̸̼̙̾ͥ͘̕͠ ̴̡̝̤̻̫̦͗̌̆̈ą̸̦͇ͥ͆̅ͩ̈́ŗ̟͔̿ͫ̃e͂͑͏̤ ̵̧͎̇ͧͭ̀ẏ͑͂̿͏̺̣̳̣o̷̱͓̙̹͑́͘͞ų̶̛̜͗ͬ͒͜ ̵̡̱̟̹̤͑͜͟͠d̴͓̤̻͇̉ͫoͬ̓͊i̛̛̟̓͝ņ̶̢͖̞̟̀̕g͓̫̋̀͟͝ ̄̌̄̉ţ̵̢̨̡͙͙͇̇̓ḣ̨į̮͖͙̟͒̈́̓͞ͅs̵̥̜̿?̴̵̧̗̙̪̙͈́̃̐͠ ̷͎̩ͧͬ̒͘T̛̳̝̚͘͜͝hͨ͏̷̴̢̻͖̝ẻ̢͞ ͫͩͮͧ͋͏̶̸̱͘C̢͆ͫ̏͒̑͞͏̢̻̝͚͚̘͟y̺͇̤͇ͥ̌̚͢͝ċ̶̡̧̳̪̏̀͜l̡̉͠ę͙͎̠͉͊̎̚-̴̦̪̃̎̔͑ͦ"̮̘̼̹̈́̀̕̕͟ she tried to demand, but I cut her off.

"̅F͉̌́u̚͏̱c͖̏͟k̙̇͞ t̬̊͞h̛͉ͤē̼͘ W͈̾͢a̟̓́ȓ̰͢ŗ͎̈i̦͂͝ȍ̢̖rͫ͏̙,ͧ͏̣ a̻͛͞n͌ḍ͛͘ f̨̪̚u̟ͯ́c̦̚͠k̴̻̊ h͛͏͈i͙͑͟s̷̞̔ C̛̫ͯÿ̴̫́c̿͏̞l̨̜̈e̷͔͆.̗͂͞ T̹̈́͝h̜̉͠i͙ͮ͞nͥ͞ͅk̢͓̄e̢͓̔r͔ͦ͞'͇́͢s̴̬ͬ d͚ͫ͘e̴̼ͩaͥ͏̤d̘́͡.̧̞͆ T̸͙̚ḫ́͞i̜͐͜s̤̈̕ i̹͐͜sͯ p̼̉͘o̢̳ͥi̧͍ͧn̼̂͞t̝͒̕l̵̯̅ë͙͝s̸̜̅s̡̤ͩ!̨̹͊"̚͏̲ I replied. "̞̑̕W̧͖ͪh͓ͥ͝a̴͎ͭt̺ͮ͜ á̸͖r͆eͯ y̴̮ͪo̵̥ͯu̥̓́ e̛̮͒v͈ͯ̀e̛̬͐n̞̄͡ t̮͛͘r͚ͥ́y͈ͫ͞į͎ͨn̐͏͚g̶͓̍ ṫ͔́ǫ̺̊ d̔͏͖o̱̾̕?̡̳͂"̔ Maybe it was stupid, trying to talk to a fucking Endbringer, but if Tattletale could make it work, and turn them against Scion, so could I. Hell, at least I knew I couldn't trust them, so if they turned on me, I could be prepared.

Rather than respond, the Simurgh unleashed a barrage of attacks, but, without her precognition to aid her, she sucked. The attacks were easy to dodge, though they tightened more and more, until I realized what she was doing. Clever Girl, I thought, the attacks making an ever-shrinking net, the complete misses meant to keep me from escaping, but the lack of any counter-attack, or even of a deflected shot, meant she had no directionality.

A tight shotgun blast of kinetic force sped down at me in an inescapable salvo, and the Simurgh smirked, and I had to admit, it was smart. With the way we were fighting, there was no way I could escape it without getting hit.

So I moved to a Mark.

Teleporting over to the golden dart buried in the concrete I watched the attack hit, Ziz's smirk turning to confusion as she looked closely at the ruined street, then around, looking. . . oddly human as she did so.

I was broken out of my musings as Momentum Infusion stopped, telling me the twenty-foot-long spear was as full of potential energy as I could make it. I shaped it, spiraling it long and thin, pulling it as tight as I could, and far past what the spear's metal could handle, but I didn't want it intact.

Preparing Aero- and Acoustokinesis for the backlash, I hurled it at the Endbringer. Just like when I fought the giant Deep One, the damaged Orichalcum exploded, but on a scale completely unlike that previous attack. Instead of spreading out, like a bomb, the infused Momentum turned the spear's fragments into an impossibly fast stream of Light-infused shrapnel, a solid beam that tore the Simurgh's largest wing off as if it weren't even there, leaving only a stub, the attack over-penetrating so much it barely moved her.

My air and sound control powers weren't even needed, the starting energy so aligned there was no blowback whatsoever, though by the time it reached the upper atmosphere it'd lost enough cohesion that it shoved everything back on its path off of earth, and I winced, hoping I hadn't taken out any satellites with that attack.

Thankfully, Ziz had had enough, the Endbringer's expression blank as, without another word, she started lifting up into the air, turning her back to me and flying away. Reaching out to the Marks nearby, I grew them outwards, leaving Golden, six-pointed stars instead of the Marked Dart that I preferred to use, erasing another way of tracking what I just did back to the Penumbral Defenders.

Looking around, there were some injured, but they'd asked Vejovis not to come, so fuck 'em. Seeing Legend in the distance, staring at me, I nodded the construct's head, before turning back to the Simurgh. Spreading my wings wide, my song ended, the battle over in a few short minutes, and took off, not bothering to dampen the backblast of displaced air as I followed after the Simurgh, growing another orichalcum tipped pseudo-mithral spear, which I infused with Light.

Not having blasted the stuff around willy-nilly, I'd barely touched my reserves, and could easily spend it to take off after the Endbringer. Normally, a fifteen-foot target in a pitch-black sky would be hard to spot, but I didn't just see her, I saw her power, thousands of twisting tendrils seemingly made of Platinum & Light. All I needed to do, was head to the nexus.

Spending more Light, I streaked after her even as she slowed, probably thinking herself safe. Picking the third largest wing, it slowly flapped as I approached, and, in an instant, I sliced through it, calling out to her, "̶͚ͤD̛̟́ĭ̢̟d̦̃͟ I̧̙ͧ s̢̩̏a̮̽̕y̴̬ͤ w̨̥̓e̢͖ͥ w͍ͮ́ẻ͉͟ṟͮ͢ē̢̳ d͚ͦ͟oͦn̡͓̎e̟͛̕?̨̫͑"̢̤̐

"ͥL̛̻̉e̐͏a̴̸̦̤̍̽v̶̥̣̊e̷̯͇̅̃ ́̉m̛̱̯̈́ͦ͐͢ę͈̟̼̾̀ ̪̣̾͠͝a͈ͬ͜͞l͓̠͉̍͠ô̴͖ͤ̾́͠n̷ͥ͏̼ȇ̤̱͎͞͝!͛̄"̪̹ͬ̔̒̀͢ She cried, sending out wide, weak waves of force, and while the air was thin here, there was still more than enough to use for my own ends. A hardened wall of air met her attack, in a dozen different places, and she followed them all up in an instant with more blasts, as I flew to the side, easily dodging them.

"̡̬̈́L̸̮͂ĭ͚́ḱ͏͍e̟͆͠ y̴̼̐o̼ͬ͢ư͇ͬ l͚̾͡e̶̝͋f̵̗͐ţ͓̿ t͕͒͠ȟ̵̲e̷͎͐ p̨̰͐ê̳̕o̡̘͊p̴̞̏l̖͐͠ȅ͏͖ y̅͟ͅȍ̠͢u̫͆͠ k̩ͣ͠ĭ͖͘l̴̤̃l̦ͣ͜e̷̯̿d̬̾͠ a̬̅͜l̎͏͕õ̸̪n͎̎̕e̲̓̕?̶̖̄"̧̣ͫ I asked, pushing Momentum into my spear, as I darted forward, slicing another wing off, forming a hard buffer of air to hit and bounce off of, as the Simurgh turned and fired another telekinetic blast in the way I had been moving. "̶̬̊T̨̯̊ḛ̴͊l͔ͥ͟l̘̂͡ m̛̘̆e̴͙͛ w̤͐̀h͕ͨ͜y̶̰ͬ.̵̹ͧ W̢̫̏hͨ͟ͅyͥ ä̴͉r̘ͧ͡e̵̥ͩ y̬̅͡ơ͈̆u̸ͫͅ d̶̪̾o̖̓͝ǐ͉͜n̬ͬ̀g̽ ţ̭͗ḥ̸ͥỉ͕͠ṣ̡̏?̷̺ͦ W̪̐͞h͊͏̞y̘͆͠ a̝ͤ̕t̷̜̾t͔̍͡a̶̦ͫc̶ͥͅk̺̓͠ p͚̅͜ë̴̙ō̬͟p̿͏ͅl̳̅̕ě̛̜?͋"͚ͬ͢

She didn't answer.

Spear charged, I dropped down, making sure my firing line was clear, and, with a single throw, carved off two wings at once. "̟̿͡O̙̿͠ŕ̲͝ I̮ͮ̕ c̡͓̿a̺ͦ͘n̸̤͆ ǰ̼͢u͒͝ͅş̱̽t̛̫ͩ ķ̼͆e͛͏̭e̸̞̅p̸̪̈́ t̥̑͘ȁ̴̮k̪͊͘i̘̐͟n̴̖ͧg̸͔̋ ṗ͍͝i̙ͩ͜e̴̠͋c̴̣ͩe̴̻ͮșͦ͝ ǫ̺̇f̶͇̉f̻ͦ̀,̶͖͋ y̥ͬ̕ơ̯̆u̲͑͞r͙ͭ͢ c͈̅͡h̛̰̚ŏ͙͡i̶̲ͭc̴̯̀é̜͘.̶̰͒"͇̎͜

"̣͍͕ͥ̐́̌́̚͜͡Ị̌͜͞t̴͉͍͇̎̾ͫ́͡ ̶̸̨̘̦̰̜̓͘į̘̲̮̂̍͋ṣ̶̖̱̬̱̏ͦ̀ ̷̊̀͞ţ̴̸̹̾ͪ̊͂̀͟h̶̸̶͍̮̀͛̌ẻ̴͓̰̹̔͂͟͜ ̳ͯ͟͟C͗͒͞ỵ̘̬͕̈ͬͫ͘͠c̨̭̍ͥͩ͡l̡͕̠͇̫͛͐̐ȅ̷̘̫͓̮́̓̋̈͠.ͨͦ̍ ̈̔̑̀͏͜͏̮̺̩͘ͅWͪ͒̀͜eͯͬ ̡ͫ̄͒́͏̶̙͟m̷̴̝̭͚̅́̀uͤͣͥͥs̛̥͙̩͈͋̚͠t̂̿͋ ̶̨̧̰̦̭͕̯̽͐̽͠k̨̛̳̠̻̦̆̋̏̋̀́e̶̗͖̙̥̹͌̑̏͠͡e̝͌ͤ̊͟p̭͕̮͉͙̈́͝ ̬̳̘̎͑ͮ̈͠͠͠t̋ͥ̿͏̮h̟̩̽̃̊̀e̔͗̀ͧ͏͙ ̷̶͇̲̬̣͒͝b̶̛̺̓̉̽ͫͧ͞a̵̧͇̱̹͗̀ͤ̈̀̕͜l̺̦̿͂̀ͥ̕͢a̵̷͍̽̏͋̀̚͞n̢̯̠̤̬̎̒ͪ̆͡ç͇̦̘̼̈́̀̕͘͜e̢͉̭͍̩̩͂̎͟͞,̢͇̥̂̑͞"̡̖̬̹̿̿̕ she insisted, not attacking back, holding up its hands in a fairly universal sign of surrender.

That gave me pause, and I slowly drifted to the side, just in case this was a delaying tactic, creating and charging another spear. "̴̘̇D͎̏͝i̼̍͠d͎͊̕n͇ͩ̀'̩͑͘t̻̋͜ y̎͏͙o̷̚ͅủ̸͙ l̼̊͠î͕́ş̤ͨt͇̀́eͪ͏͙nͦ?̛͙ͤ T̩̿͟ȟ̵͎ĕ̳͠ C̗̾͢y̦͒͟c̐l͉͊͠e̢̖ͫ į̹ͦs̰ͥ͡ b̮͑̀r̦̔͘ŏ̷͎k̷̜̇e̲̎̕n͚ͮ͠.̢̥̾ T̢̝͐h̤̚͢e͌͟ͅr̥͂̀e͓̊͠ i̵̭̒s̸̮̍ n̞̓̀o̷̘ͮ b̮̎͢ḁ̛ͨl̶͎̊a̶̙ͪn̞͑͟c̡̳ͣe͚͌̀.̨̥̒ H̨̥ͤe̴̹̾l̡͎̊ḽ̎͡,̸̖̓ i͇͒͠n̶̹ͥ a̢̹̎ ḓ̆͘ǐ̴̘f̫́͘f͖ͬ͢e̛͓̐r̛ͤͅȩ̼̐n̹̏̕t̋ f̮͆͟ǘ̘̕t͍̚͢u̓͏̦r̵̗̐e̵̞̅,̼̎̀ y̸̞̽ö́u̷͓͐ w͚̃̀o̙͊͠u̡͔ͤl͖ͨ͠d̨̘ͬ h̢̪ͮe̡̤̓l͆p̶͍̑ t̸̝͆h̸̥ͫé̛̠-̖ͣ͡"̨̝̑I started to say, cutting myself off, as the word I wanted next was. . . hard to pull. I knew what I meant to say, but the word was just. . . wrong. I pushed on, regardless. "͐͏̞Y̫̅͢o̩ͧ̕ű̩͟ w̛͕̉ơ͍͊ů͓̀l̨̗ͯḑ̤̏ h̫͌̀ḙ̛ͣl̦ͫ͠p̨͉̌ ṯ̈́́h̶͇ͥẹ̅́ ḧ̬͘o̸̲͌s͈̑͠t̷̖͑s͔ͮ͘ k̩̋͜i͈͂͜l̞̆͡ĺ͏̺ t͈̾́h̷̹ͤè̶̠ W̧͇̽a̫ͫ͜r̨̭ͯȓ̻͜i͂͟ͅŏ̟̀r̉.̷̘ͮ W̌h̼͂͜ỵ́͡ d̹̏͢o͉̾̀ y͓͂͠o̰͌͞u̢̪͑ k̤͋̀i̷͖͂l͈͐͝l̳ͭ͠ t̋͜ͅh̴̟͑e̢͙̿m̩ͨ͘ n̸͔̆o̳ͮ̀w̼͒͟?̣̄͟"̧͉͒

The Simurgh, which had been looking around, stilled. "̔̈̀͝P̨ͪ͒ͤ̒ͣ̃̏͐̈͡͝l̷̷̷̛̜̀̚̕͜͜ą̶ͫ̌ͥ̓͑̾ͮͤ̔͘͢͏̡̯̗̜̠͈̠̻̝̬͡ņ̸ͩ̀́͞͏̧̛͈̯ ̳̘̯͉͇̟̘̖̈̄̀ͦ͟͡͡͝î̸̴̸̶̖̥͖̞ͣ̊͒͜͢͟͞͠s̅̾̂̈ͥ ̶̶̤̥͚͈̝̞ͨ̋ͬͣͬ͂͌͢͢͡͝ͅģ̸̶̠̅̓̒̾̅͝o̵͊ͪ̇̄̋ͦ̐̋́n̸̡͍̹̗̾ͯͬ̑͟͜͝ęͥ͏.̶̸̴̨̘̳̋͂̍̌̏͌̚̕͜͝ ̴̷̡͓̗̞̮̪̬̭̝̿̏͒ͥ̍̒͟͟͝͝ Aͯ̽͋ͣ̍͋d̵̸̡͈̼̖̜͈̞̞̜̟̊̄̈̋̒͑́͘͘͠m̵̧̩̦̘̦̼̣̓̑́̔̑͝i̷ͭ͛͆͊͏̵̨̺̣̰̞͟ņ̷̴̛ͯ̑̿͐̿̽̏̋̾̀̕͏̨̰͉̙̺̝̝̥͚͙i̧͎͔̱̐ͫͮ͜ṣ̵̴̴̢̢̛͔ͩ̾̀̕ţ̢̧̛̣͖̙̙̙̗͍̪͔͑̑ͥ́͆ͥͨ́͟͟͠ȑ͌̇͗̕͞ä̷̢̡̰̲̹̺̲̠͖̖́͛̽̈́͢ṯ̮͕̞͈ͤ̀̓̓͌ͤ̅̑͡͞o̽ͤͣ̒̑͋ͨ͑r̷̴͕̤̯̘̣̓̓̏ͨ̓͒ͫ̈̒͜͜͡ ̖̗̥͍̥ͯͩ͆͛ͦ͆ͥ́͘͢i̵̡̨͔̹̦͕̜̻̓ͬ̀́̀͘̕͞s̵̵̛̥͍̫̼̝̖ͨ͊͗̌͋̾́͟͝ ̢͈͙̖̲̦̽ͤ͋̉ōͯ̀̋̓ͯ̊u͑ͣ͊̉̊̏̚͏̴̴̥̱̰́ͅt̑͛̒̍̽ͮ͌͏̢̡̧̡͎̲̦̹͖̳̬͓̕͘͝ ̡̡̮̮͖̂̕͘͟o̷̸̗̭͈̼̻̩̬̰ͯͪ̈̍̊̋͆̍́̀́͜͢͟f̅̿̐̎ͦ̊́͡͏͏̕͏̯̣̲͚̞ ͙͈̟͇̜̘͔̱͓͂̈͆̋̇͗ͬ̚͘r̥͙̦̍̂̓͂ͨ̅̑͞eͦ̄ͧ́͟͠͏͍̺͎̞͜͠͠a͙̘̮͈̭͓̲̟͙͛̀̆̀c̷̸̢̧̬͖͙͍͇̘͚̲͑͆̄̈́̀́́̚͜͟ḥ̶̴̞͖̯̜͔͔͓ͧ͑̌̿̆̊.̑ͨͪ̌̊͢ ̴̧͍̝̳̥͈̅̃̏ͬͭͤ͒̒̀́̕͡ F̶͉̩̞͈͍̫̤͓ͧ̈́͊̄̽ͦ̎̏̍͘͟͜͝i̷̢̧̨̺̼̼̯ͮ̉̉̓̐͝g̷̶̢͇͚̭̦͎͕̽ͦ̑̂̂̔ͤ͛̌̕͜͟͞͝h̰̗͖̗̠͈̹̆̃̀͆͂ͣͨͯ̆͞͠ͅt͖͍̹͖͛̈̀ͨͮ͗͢ ̷̴̳̼̮̠͍͕͓ͦͩͥ̓̕͢͜͟͞͡ͅo̵̸̡̊̅̍ͦ̋̈́̇ͦͭ͘͘͞͏͇̩͍̘ư̶̧̻̞͉̻͇̩̞͖̒͂͌͂ͭr̨̪͎̰̤͚͉͎̅́̒̎̈́̈ͭ̚̕͡ ̎͏̶̡̛͈M͎̤̙̩̙̥̲͉̐ͬ͌̌ͩ͛͟ͅa̸̶̧̲̱̞͚̯̫̜ͤ͐͐ͩͥ̆ͥ͛ͦş̸̛ͫͬ͊̅̈ͥͮ̀͘͝͏̪̯t̶̢̡̧̤͖͔͓͇̪̼̱ͮ̈́ͫͬ̆̎ͨ̋͠eͨ̍̾̃ͧ̆͒ŗ̨̳̰ͩ́̇̈̌̀̕͞?̴̵̢̢̛̛̊̈́ͭ̌͆͏̧̫ ̪̦ͬͨ̋͂́̀̚W̛̯͋͐̐͒ͯ͢͠͝i̵̡̢͎̦̱̫͕̣͍̓͒ͮͩͥ̍̀́͘͠n̋̀͜͢͞͏͇̞̘͓̞̤̗,̸̱͚͖ͭͭ͑̊̈͌̈́ͫ͘͟͝͞ ̷̜̐ͣ̊͆̀͘͢͝͞͠͡o̧̙̺̔̀̐ͦ̌̈́̂̂͜r̶̷̸̴̨̧̬͉̖̙̀́ͦͬ͌͑͜ ̧̻͕̯̖̺͔̈ͥ͗͞d̷͍̗̠̻̿͑̓ͅĩ̓ͬ͆͆ͭ̄̏͏̵̵̵̧̪͟͞͡ȩ̰̪͖̠̦͙̙͍̟̍͊ͤ͒̃ͩ̋͘͞.̶̡̳̥̮̠̙̬̣͉̽̾́ͦ͗̂ͪ̀̕̕͝͠ͅ ͂̓̐̓̓ͣ̇̉̾͟ C̷̷̶̢̛̤̫̖͓̞͍͍̜̣͋̅̀̓͑ͤ̇͌̕̕a̵̶͕̜͓͙̜̪̿̕n͑̂̌ͤ̈ ̨͍̹̙̿̄̿ͥ͊ͯ̔͜y̸̦͕͙̖̗̣̘͋̈̾ͥ͌̇o̿ͩ͆ͤ̌͑u̵̷̡͙̺̓ͪ͂̓̀̕͢͡ ̸̴̼̼̣̭͉̘͇̠̓̃̉͐̾̉͝w̛͖̫̩̄͗̈́ͣ̂͂ͫ͗ͦ̀ḯ̟̼͂ͫ͋ͣ͑́n̵̷̢̛̛̦̦̻̲͕̩̭̝̓́̚͢͝ͅ?̛ͭͦ͘͘͘͘͢"̛͍̳͙̣͊̋͊ͪ

That. . . was a good point. "̱ͨ͜C͚̑̕a͎ͤ̕n̛̼ͧ y̙̽͝o̯ͤ̀ų̼̇ s͕̈́͘e̢͎͗e͑ t̸̝̓ḣ̙̀e̾͏̙ W̭ͯ͡a̶͓̋r̬͋͞ȓ̷̪i̹ͨ͝o̢̹ͭr̡͙̿?̡̭̔ Ş̝́e̸̮̿ȇ͕̀ ẇ̭͟h̷͎͛a̿t͚͑͜ į̗ͪt̴̙ͩ ẅ͕͠i̽ļ͙͌l͙ͧ͞ d̢͎̎ơ̺ͣ?̵͇͆"̻̐͢ I asked in turn.

"̶̡̧̛̖͇̦̝ͪ͐ͯͥ͆́́Ṡ̷̶̶͙̮̣͎͔͒̌̄̓͂͌̅̀͡e̴̓̋̈͑̊ͤ̌͆͜͢͏̀͟e̡͌ͬ̀ͪ͆͑ͬ̀͡͏̶̸͕͞͝,̴̏ͨ̐̈ͮͯ̍ ͔͉̤̙͎͕͊̃̌̀̿͗͒́͢͡b̊ͤ͑̒ͩ̈̑͝͏̦ü̴̸̻͔̜̟̠̾̑̐̔̏̍̔͠t͚͕̩̖̜̠̺ͧ̌ͪ̇̄͊̚̚͜ ̸̹̦̟̐ͦͤ̅̊́͜͜͝ǹ̸̷̴̴̥̞̦̐́ǫ̩̮̳̗̖͈̘͓ͥ̎p̵̷̧̛̩̹̫̤̞͉̆ͧ͘͡͞lͯ̔ͤͣ̉̃͂͑͏̣̰̙̭̀͘aͯ̿ͧ́̃̌̇͝͏̵̦̭̙n͗̒̽͏̥͉̰͎͠.̖̺̖̘̬̎ͯͦ̆̅̌̃ͦ̀͝ͅ ̵̶̧̨͎̣̟̰̫̲̗͕͗͛͗͘̕͞͞ P̶̧̌̋ͪ̀̋͘͜r̡̅͗̏̌͜u̴͂ͬ̄̎̀n̛̂̋̃̋̍ͤ͞͏̶͚͉̹͔̝̲͜e̸̸̖̹ͯͧ̍͊ͭ̕͢͜͠,̴̂̈́͠͞ ̡̡̣̳̲̈́̏̒̀͟b̂ͮ͒͌͌̈́̊ͬù̶̴̢̳͖̪̯͙̪̤̯͒͐̊͌̀́͟͜ţ̷̵̴̡̛̩̥̹͌ͅ ̳͙͉͖̘͉͙ͭ̊̾̕n̸̴̗̭̬̱̣̭ͦ̽̀oͭ͒ͭ͝t̒͗̈͐͂́̓͏̶̪̙̞̣͖̩͎̻͠ ̵ͦ͐ͫ̏͗ͤ͂p̤̅̿͂̕͟l̷͆̔̀͊̆̉ͨ͢͟͜͞͠͏͉͝ͅå̻̖̻̟̗̱͈͛̓́͜n̷̢̨̗̘̣̒͒̇ͧͣ̐̋͘̕ţ͌̍ͧ̀̕̕̕ .̷̬͎̝̆̏͋͂́ͮͅ ̵̵̡̺̪̥͙̺̇͛ͤ́̕͡͝S̒͢͟͏̵̀͏̱̺͓̟͞h̴̸̨̨̛̖̦̐͌̀͟͠e̙̞̯̦̮̣̤̺̅ͬ̃ͬ͂ͬ͢͡pͬͭͦ͘a̖̩̬̳̩̩͇̜̬͌̔͐̎͑̌ͥͭ͝r̽ḋ̷͇̙͉̔͐ͩ̌̃ͦ̇́,̴̵̸̧̛̛̭̞̦̽̀̚͠ ̂̎ͨ̆͛ͯͥ̂͢͝ḇ͓̫̹̃̈́ͩ̃ͥ͘͟͢͠͡͝u̴̷͎̬̦̗̺̣̼̹ͬ̀ͣ͘͟͞t̛̳̹̥̗ͦ ̴̸̜̗̫̻̳͔̤̽ͬ͂ͪ̋̿̀͘̕͢͞n̫͈̫̲͔̭͑͌̔͝͝o̸̵̢͉͉ͭ͒̀͘͞͝t̓͐͆͏̧̨͉̜͓̻̗̕͢͞ ̸̶̴̛̿ͫa̢̛̦̲̗͌̀ͤ̏́̕͜͢͜͝r̸̨̛̭̖͕̺ͨ͊͢͡͠r̡̢̨̬̰̪̬̹ͨͦ̓͒ͫͭ̕a̢͔̱͈͇̟͖͍ͤ̂ͪ́͟͟͝͝ņ̴̶̙̤͕͔̔ͮ̊ͥ͊̓̀̀͘ģ̸͖͚̫̠̤̂ͬͤ̈̐ͤ͌̆̀͜ȩ̧̽̊ͭ̿̆͡͏̴̷̯͞,̷̴̶̛̄̃͠͞"̒ͮ̓̋̃̔̈́͝ ̧̹̦̱̌͛ͫ̓́͂́̕͜͜͢͝͠ she told me, holding her hands up, before bringing her wrists together. ̢̨̧̹͖͈̄̽͘"̂ͫͥ̽͗͜Ì̸̷̛̞̣̘͋ͪ͋ͭ͘͜ͅ.̧͇̗͙̮̥̿ͭ͂͑͐͘̕͝ ̵̷̡̪ͮ̿̿̾͛͝A̗̩ͯ͊̔̂͋͢m̸̠̲̱ͨ͡.̧̯͙̓ͫͤ͡ ̘͓̤ͧ͢͡͡S̷̗̮̝̘̰ͬ́͝ḩ̵̡͈̘̖̺̪̑̕͝a̡̪̭͉ͮ̎̓͜͜͡͡ç̧̰ͪ͂̅k̸̸̰̰͕͚̚͜l̢͓̜͍̅͝e̸͎̟͕̤͖̅̍̔͂̄́͡d̙̥̯͖̏ͥ͊ͬ̏̍̀͢͠ͅ.̴̷̸̞͗͘"̘̋ͩ͊ͥ͟ She pulled them apart, spreading them wide. ̵̢̨̥̘̟̾ͧ̋ͤ͛ͅ"̺̹͉̮̙͐̋͟͜͢͞Y̸̓ͤ͑̽ͮ͜o̢͖̬̬͇̗̔̏̈̀u̴̝ͯ͘̕.̵̢̡̼̦̙̣͆̀͌ͦͤ͘ ́ͣ͢͝A̸̳̞̖̘͐̂́́̕͡r̷̳̂̉e̛̫̜̗͓ͨ̌͘.̨͖̝̪̠̺̓ͨ̊͂ ̶̷̵̒͌̅̀F̵̷̨͍̬ͮ͜ŕ̊́͏͏̷̩͖ḙ̵̱̂ͪ̿̆͠ę̸̴̪̣̭ͦͦ̃ͥ̀ͅ.̴̡̇̓͆ͮ͝"̵̟͙͍͔ͣ͋̀͝͞\

Well, that. . . explained things. But, I had to ask, "̺ͩ͟A̸͔͗n̸͍̓d͍͂͘ y̦̎͘ò̤̀û͙̕ h̛̲͐a̸͈̾d̘̍́ t͙ͨ͡ô̬̕ ḓͪ́ö͚̀ t̨̞̀h͍̑̀a̤ͭ̕t̨̲̂ b̧͈̎y͐͏̻ k̘̿͘i̵͔ͮl̴͓̿ḻ͐͢ī͙͢nͭgͦ t̲͐͜h̴̺ͣě̷ͅṁ̫͘ ȋ̷̼n̪ͥ͢ dͮ͏̝r̟̆͞ő̹̕v̶̱ͥĕ͓͜s̙̋͝,̢͓ͤ a̵̹ͥn̤ͧ͡d̴̟ͩ m̞̓͟ȧ̡̭k̜̓̀i̵͓͛n̛̬͒g̳̓̕ h̵̹̊o̲̽͟s̵̙̆t̵̚ͅs̘̏͢ t̡͇̊i̗̾͜m̷̗̈́e̛͙̔ b̉͏͕o̶̫͂m̧̠̆b͔͐͘ṡ̴̹?̨͈ͧ"̢̘̿

The albino woman shrugged, becoming more human-like the longer we talked. "̷̧̧̛͕̹͖̰̬ͧ̓T̨̢̡̰̋͜h͉̟̿ͤ̆ͣ̍͘͟e̿ͮ̿̐ͣ͏̧̡͚̳̳͘͠͞ͅ ͨͣ̒̇̓̕͏̵̷̸̝̺͕́C̾́̇̽̍ͬ͑y̴̡̡̛̟͋̽̅͢ç̸̛̤̣͚̝̭̝̠͛͆ͣ͟͝l̷̴̡̠͎̋͂͂ͤ͜͡eͥ ģ̵̨̛̩͍͖̱̲̩̀ͥ̽ͯ̅̉̔͝͠ͅį͈̫̬̿v̴̧̧̆͜͜͏̗͙̩͡ȩ̸̷͉͕̖̯̟͇̤̒̓̓͟s͚̱͌̑͊͂̃̎͢ ̷̵̷̊̽̈͋̃̿ͥ̕͠l̸̶̫̰̔ͪ̅̕͡͞͝į̵̸̧̥̰̣͔̽̒̋̍̎́͘͠m̶̵̶̢̲ͩ̈́͟͟i̩̞͓̠͕̮ͬ͊̓͋̍̐͢͜͜t̢̢̋ͯ͋̇ͣͣ̃e̸͖̓ͨ͊̀̽̀͡͝dͤ͛̎̑̎͏̵̱̟ ̶̰̻̦̻̇̾̃͑̓w̶̜̩̠̼̬̦͍͆̂î́͞͞͠͏͕̤͚̜̦n̸̢̟̼̒ͩ̾͑́̃ͣ̕͡͞͡͠d̶̸̶̸̨̠͆͘͠o̞͎̞̐ͪ͗̇͟ẇ̴̡̀͛̓͘s̷̵̡̠̼̫͊ͦ̃́͢͝.͛̿̏͏̸̝̥̳̯͚̭ͅ ̶̸̸̸̵̛̗ͥ̈̔̌̄̄͘ I̯͋͢ͅt͚̫̗̘ͭ̏͑ͬ͂͠ ͛͂ͥ̑͌͋į̉̐̅̔̚͏̼s̢͍̘̤̝̮ͯ͌͟͡ ̶̊̀͌͏͍̕t̨̧̡̫̬̩͎̱͛͠ͅḩ̣ͭ͌̈ę̴̛̥̩̣͓̗̓̋̕͡ ̷̸̡̡̛̎͐͆͛́ͅṁ̧͈̀͘͡o̡͍̍̕͟͢͞͝ş̶̢̤͎͈͖̳̗̑ͫ̒͢͟͢͞t̷̢̧̪̲ͪ̀̕͘ ̡̨̬͈̖́̾ͦ͞e̵͚͆̇̀̀͞͠͠f̶̸̷̡̮̜͇͓̟̭̳ͯ̌̿́͢͜f̡̮̿͒̊ͬ͝͝ȉ̸͕͘͜c̷̴̢̨̝͖̭̖̉͠͠i̶ͮ̅̾͒ͬ̀̕͟ͅḙ̡̧͉̾͜͜͡n̸̴͙͗ͦͥ̋̀̀͜t̶̡͈͕̙ͨ̐̈́͝ ͛̏̎̇̆̔͟m̶̶̄̕͡͝͏̵͔̫̤̬̫̺̠ę̷̸̳̞͇̜̞͂͐́͝t̶̴̴̸̢͕͇̱͂h̵̷̸̡̲̪̙̩̦ͮ͗̆͌̈́͂͢͟͝ö̻̝̙́̓̅ͨ͟͜d̪̉́ͤ͛͋ͩͮ́͜.̴̸̗̏͘"̷̵̡̧̤ͪͫͣ͜͟͡

You and Contessa, I thought, which, given both let their powers determine their morality. . . fit, in an odd way. "̫ͧ͟Ǻ̹ņ̬̅d̘͗̕ t̪͒͘ö̫͠d̵͚ͦa̿͏̠ŷ̰͜?͇̾́"̡͙̾ I asked.

The sound the Simurgh made wasn't words, but, a. . . pattern, interlocking events, in ways I couldn't understand, only glimpsing snippets. Of Nilbog overrunning his limitations, pushed into doing so by a hero who was to die today, but now lived. Of someone who had triggered, but, seeing what happened today, would join the Protectorate, who hated themselves and would only convince themselves that they wouldn't be turned away because of the losses they suffered today, and had a power that could help against Scion, but now, they wouldn't. Of a retired vigilante who, galvanized by the death of his son at the hands of the Simurgh, would once again fight, and would be in the right spot to stop a small-time Villain, so they'd go to prison instead of the Birdcage, develop their powers, come back, and take over the same town, killing another villain who, if not stopped, would create a device that would destroy the entire city by accident, when the local Protectorate tried to stop them, but now, he'd stay peaceful, and a million would die. Of thousands more knock-on effects, some good, some bad, never really helping, but pushing things just so, to keep the low boil of this world going.

The low boil that Cauldron thought they were responsible for.

But while it swamped me, it wasn't too much, and, I rode the data wave, trying to clutch the parts that were most important as it passed me by. "̲ͫ̀Ą͉̈n̎ḏ̌͝ t̷̪̚h̖ͤ͡eͭ͏̺ o͓ͮ̀t̰̄͟h̍͘ͅe̢̯ͭṙ͓͜s̢̭̐.̦ͩ͘ D̶͈̋o͓̔̀ t̸̰̽ḧ̠́͘ê̡̞y̯͋̕ s̝͗̕ë͚͢r̉́ͅv̪̔́ḛ̶̐ ṭ̿́h̯͐͢eͫ͏̫ s͈̀͞â̼͞m̧̯̋ę̪̅ p̟ͨ͘u̸͔ͦȓ͉͡p̛̤̋o̷̖ͭs̶̼͒ȩ͎̒?̵̻͊"̓͘

"͕͙̍͑͟N̷̘̱͍̆o̢̘͎̞ͤͪ͆̕͜.̅̒ͧ͏̨̞͙ ̨̹̿ͮ̄Tͯ̒̃ḩ̤ͮͣ̿ë͉̺͍́̐̕͟ẙ̶̯̌ ̶̦̥̹̒ͮͪi̧̪̙ͬ̆̇n̶̲̟̓͂t̸̷̩̏͌͆͡ę̴̷̫ͣ̍̚n̰̏ͮͧ͜s̉̎i̡̥̞̋͘͠f̛̔̎̌y̆͏̴̮͚̕.̷̝͉̻́̀ ̷̖̞̄I̵̡̛̻̪ͭͥ ̖̍̕c̛̻̣ͨ͐a̴̦̥͚͆̒̀l͊̒͝m̙͉̃͠,̛ͮ̾ͩ"̧̛͕̠͊̔ͨ the Simurgh stated, and I had to laugh at the idea that the most terrifying of the three Endbringers being, in its own, fucked up way, the nice one. "̷̣ͥ͜W̶͔̿̌͜h̫̿́͝a̰̒́̕t̶͉̤ͤ ͉̲̋̀a͍̽́ŗ̰̈e̡̹ͩ ̶̛̰̒ͫy̶͇̬ͪo̳̮ͯ͟u̫̜̾͘͡?̤̂̈́͜"̳͛́͟ it asked once again.

Knowing I was treading dangerously close to 'Are you a god?' territory, I decided to be. . . creative.

"̡̬̋I̮̐͝ ả̖͝m̵̫ͭ tͦĥ͏̻e͕̅͢ cͭ͏͚h̞͆͘o̝ͦ͝s̄͏̦e̴͓̚n̠ͤ͘ ò͇̕f̻̐̕ ṱ̓́h͍͆͠e̷͚̚ Ę̪ͣn͕̂͠t̸͖͆i̦͊͟tͩẙ̺͜,͚͒́ A̿b̵͇̍ạ̴ͫd̸̥̃d̶̖̄ȯ̢̤n̲̉͡.̘ͦ̕ B͗͏̲ö̮́͠r̫͛̕ṉ̄͘e͒ b͇͒́y̻͑͟ i̊ṭ͗͡,̧̰̄ a̹ͬ́n͎̔́d͉ͦ͜ h͈͐͘eͨ͏̬r̶͍͌è̷̥ t̢̙̓ò̦͝ s̋t͍̾́ơ̩̌p̹̀͟ t̫̄͞h̴͉̎e̲̐́ É̖͞n̗̎͡t̴̘̋i͔͐͠t̩̋́y̭͆͢,̵̯̀ W̐͏͉á̶̖r̶͉̍ṛ̸̍iͧ͏͚o̙̓̕r̨͖͐ b̵̙̈́e̴̥̾f̸̜ͪo͚̐͞r̥͒͢e̤̎͘,̫̒̕ i̡̩̒n̨̗͛ í̸͎t͓̀͘s̝̏͜ b̻̌̀ļ͖͑i̡̠͆n̸̝̒d̢̘̉ r̵̘̚a̺ͥ͞g̴̠͑e͙͌͠,̣̀͝ i̷̺ͪt̶̥͒ d͕̓͞e̷͉͂sͨ͏͈t̥̓̕r͗͏͔o͖ͩ͡y̟ͦ͝ŝ͏̝ tͤ͏̘h̭͂͜ę̪ͤ v̲̍͞ḙ̐͟r̠ͨ̕y͎͋͢ t̛̝ͪh̵̜ͬi͇̿́n̴̹͆g̫ͨ͝ i̸͔ͫt̐s̖ͬ͞ r̆͟ͅa̴̪̍c̛̰̍ė͉͞ s̟͆͘e̲̊͢ė͚͟k͕ͣ͘s̛̘̐.̘̑̀"͈̎͞

I waited with baited breath, to see how that would turn out, before it, ever so subtly, smiled.

"ͥ͏̠T͎̂͝h̋e͓̐̀n͖̉͝ w͎̚̕è̸̤ a̷͎̋ŗ͎ͧe̛̯ͯ a̞ͨ̕ḽ̸͑i͓̍́g̛̖͑ǹ̮͟e̙͊͢dͧ.̛̬̐ D͖̈́͝e͇ͩ́s̟͐͟ţ͇̔ŕ͚͢õ̸͔y̡̮͐ m͔̏͡y͌̀ͅ t̘̔͟o̟͗͞ṗm͍͆́o̟ͫ̕s̴͚̔t͙̚͝ ẅ̼́̕i̧̟͊n̮͒͞g͇ͪ͘,ͬ͏͖ E̖ͤ͟l̝̊͟ď̸͈e͕ͤ͞ṟ̚͞ B͇̀͜r̵̻ͧo̷̠ͤţ̹̔h͕̑͝e̢̥̒r̭̂͘,̹͊͘ ä̱̀s̡̝̃ I͉͆́ f̰͌͢l̛̬̊e̷̮͊e̯ͦ́,̷̣ͯ ṭ̊́o͓ͫ́ c̹ͨ̀o̙̿͞n̟ͤ̀t̓͏͓į̰ͦn̵̪̈́ū̶͇e̙̿͜ t̥ͦ͜o̓ h̨͔̓i̼ͮ͢d͚̂͝e̾͏ͅ ą̞ͣm͇̅͡ō̼͠n̟͊͜g̡̣͐ t̟ͣ͠h̳̏͝ę͑ͅ h̨̦̿o̭̽̕s͖̿́t̰̓͝s̷̰̉.̍̀ͅ E̢͔ͯǹ͖͘ĕ̩̕r̵̤͂g͊y̲ͭ́ aͪ͏͎ñ͇͘d̘̑͘ F̻͐͞l͈ͥ̕ų͉́í̺̕d̠̈͘ w̻̍͟i̵͎ͤĺ̶̙l̨̫̿ w͑͏͍ơ͈ͣr̡͓ͫk̛̟̿ a̜̚͜g̢͚̐a͛͏̩ì̪͟n̶͎͑š̩͟t́͘ͅ ỳ̼͢ȍ̝͘ù͉͝.͎ͪ͟ T̵͔ͯẖ̃̕ȩ̮͆ W͕̅͠ą͈̊r̵͚͑r̨̘͑i̘ͭ͜o͇͗͟r̵̲ͣ a̭ͯ͢l̖͛͢r̟ͩ͜è̀ͅa̵̺̅d̛̮̊y̸̜̆ s̶͚̚ṳ̵͌sͧp̩ͤ́ē̵̗c̨͎ͮṯ̡̓s̘̚͠.̹̐̀ W̻͂͞h̨̹ͣe̸͙ͫň̟̕ t̰ͨ̀h͔͊́e̶͓͌ t̛̤̀i̘̅͟m̳̈́͞e̚͏͈ c͖̊͡o̴̲̚m̷̳̑ĕ̡̺s̷̜̄.̻͗͢ W̢ͧͅh̸̬ͭe͎͆͡n̢̩̈́ ẏ̤͘o̘ͯ͠u͙ͨ͠ a̧͕ͫr̾͏̣e̾ rͨ͏̺e̲̔́a̶̰͒ḋ̷̙y̦ͥ͟.̢̗̚ W̵̥̌ȅ͏̦ w͋͢ͅi̧͍͒ḷ̶ͮl̛̺ͩ s̟̊͘t͑͜ͅr͙͑͜i̵̩͌k̵̜͑e̱ͥ̀.̵̦̀"̢̣͑

And with that, the Simurgh turned and fled, as fast as she could. Following her direction, I let my charged spear fly, carving off the top wing, barely missing her head, before, once out of the atmosphere, she sped up even faster, to the point that even I could not keep up with her. I considered reappearing on the other side of the moon, as I still had questions but this. . . this had been enlightening, in many ways.

Spreading my wings wide, I released a corona of Light, and disappeared, teleporting back to the loading bay, and slowly retracting the metal, gradually releasing the Light still infusing me in a way that, while bright, wouldn't go off like a bomb. Eventually I was left in my original armor, which I shifted back to my normal clothing, and an almost comically oversized sword, which I just left on the floor.

Teleporting back to the meeting room, it was still full, the entire PD turning to stare silently at me. "Problem's handled. I'm going to bed. Good night everyone." And then I left, reappearing in my room, more tired than I'd felt in a long time, but. . . oddly hopeful.

Though, one thing did pull at my thoughts, as I fell asleep.

Why was the Simurgh so sure that I wasn't human?