I'm glad that so many of my readers enjoyed the 6-chapter update. I've been trying to keep up with the story, giving enough chapters to make up for each month that I miss. However, as I usually say, I don't hold myself to an update schedule so that I don't burnout.
Now, to the heart of my beginning author's note.
I managed to free up some time, so I've decided to host another Livestream on Youtube. It'll be Friday, October 22, 2021. It'll be at 1PM EST. I'll post the link on my Facebook page since doesn't allow you to highlight text on published chapters.
Now, I know that the appointed time may be inconvenient for some readers who may have questions. So, if there are enough requests, I'm willing to do another livestream on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The stream for Saturday may start between 10 or 11AM if not 1PM.
So, if you or someone you know has questions for me or just wants to hang out and hear me ramble on, then come join the livestream.
Chapter 71: Key to the Past
As expected, Merlin had already been waiting for the three, the entrance to his cave opening immediately for Issei, Vali, and Adelaide upon arrival.
"I guess you know why we're here?" Issei sat down at his table.
"I actually don't. Something blocked me from seeing you three. I just kept a pot of tea on in case you ever came knocking." Merlin poured said tea into cups for the trio.
"We need your help. We're looking for a way to get to the Original Galaxy."
Merlin nearly spilled his tea.
"I can't say I follow." He pretended as if nothing happened.
"We were told that we can undo some problems by going to the Original Galaxy. The answers we're looking for are there. Not once, did any of us come across records and information that could lead us to it. I figure you heard about our situation."
Merlin merely nodded.
"Yes, you three are on the run, with the Alliance chasing you down for treason. That much, I saw. Who told you this?"
Issei weighed whether he needed to tell Merlin of Viatorus. They needed information badly, but did Merlin need to know about Viatorus? Was he also still his ally?
"Someone we met told us." Adelaide answered for him.
"I see. As you know, Arthurian legend, my era, came eons after the age of the gods. People started looking toward each other rather than above. I don't know where the entrance is. However, I do know of a place that might have what you're looking for: Atlantis."
"Atlantis? I thought that was just some fairy tale, even for our world." Vali was skeptical of such a place actually existing.
"I assure you; Atlantis was very real. Atlantis existed before all societies. Before the age of gods and modern science, Atlantis was the ultimate utopia. The secret for it came from the knowledge that Atlantis had. Through their use of advanced magitech and the greatest seer magic, Atlantis could predict and evade all coming crises."
"Then why isn't it around anymore?"
"There're events that not even Atlantis could've escaped. The promise of knowledge and power led to a collapse in their society. Everyone wanted something for themselves, and others wanted what others had. The power to predict the future eventually destroyed Atlantis in a civil war that scattered their continents and people to the winds, laying the groundwork that would give rise to man's first recordings of civilization."
"How do we find it?"
"Atlantis has keys that survived the test of time. There are four. You must find them and they will guide you to where Atlantis' remains are. Atlantean technology is beyond anything this world currently has."
"How did it survive the destruction of the original galaxy? I thought everything was destroyed." Adelaide asked.
"That seemed to be the case, but my suspicions have been answered with your arrival. It would seem that instead of this galaxy being a replacement for the original, it's merely an imitation that was created elsewhere. We were just moved over to it after the original galaxy was rendered uninhabitable." Merlin surmised.
"How do we find these keys? What do they even look like?"
Merlin brought a metal box to the table.
"I did not merely dawdle when I was away from Camelot. I went on journeys to expand my knowledge."
Merlin waved his hand over the box, undoing all the magical locks and spells on it. He revealed a gold object of metal with glowing sea-green lines running across its form.
"How?" Vali asked.
"I scrounged whatever knowledge I could find and searched every nook and cranny in this world. By chance, I was able to find that key after a great battle that I spectated. In fact, it was a battle between you and one of the Aviturs." Merling looked at Issei.
"But I don't remember fighting an Avitur as Galahad."
"No, I bore witness to the fight that took your life before you reincarnated as Galahad. From that battle at sea, this key was uncovered. I studied it and its origins after I chanced upon it. I knew that no one could be allowed access to it." Merlin's face began to sadden, shame creeping across it.
"That's why you weren't there at the battle of Camlann or the events that led to it. You were hiding and protecting this key."
"I'm not proud and offer no excuse. I could not allow anyone to get a hold of it. I'd intended to disappear from the world to guard this key. That was why I approached Nimue, to see if she would share this eternal fate with me. You can tell how that went."
"Is Atlantis so dangerous that you were willing to be forgotten to protect one of its keys?"
"Yes. The power of the Novella Caelum is great, but the power of Atlantean technology is just as dangerous. Imagine if the enemy were to obtain any weapons from that era. That's why I was content to remain within this cave. Now, with your predicament, I reluctantly give this key to you." Merlin pushed the box to the three.
"You're no longer aligned with any power and if the Abyss has tasked you with a mission, then mayhap, your mission will prove pivotal to this world."
Adelaide held up the key, which caused it to gently glow in her hands.
"The light on that key will glow and point you in the proper direction of the next key, glowing brighter when you're on the right path."
"Thank you, Merlin."
As the three got up to leave, Merlin's expression became deadly serious.
"Do not allow anyone to have that key. Once your mission is done, either make it so that no one else can find it or destroy it. I'm sure you three can understand that what's happening now, happened in the past. If we destroy ourselves again, there's no coming back."
Merlin only got a silent nod before they left.
As they returned to their ship, which was named the Bastion, they hooked up the First Atlantean Key to the computer.
"Computer, chart a course that follows the signal that this key's projecting."
"Course plotted. Estimated travel time: one day. Beginning travel."
The three then sat down, spending more time to think. The new norm had become Vali and Adelaide switching between looking at one another and avoiding eye contact.
It didn't need to be said that things were still awkward between the two. Just when they were starting to warm up to each other, the bridge they were building was broken. Blows were traded, accusations were made. They weren't going to pretend as if nothing had happened either.
It forced them to reexamine everything, even if they'd forgiven each other.
Issei seemed to be indifferent, his mind occupied with trying to find a solution to all this.
"So, the map's showing that the Second Key is in the Gobi Desert. We're heading back to Asia." Vali was annoyed at the goose chase.
"Luckily, there's not as much pantheon presence in Mongolia and China, so we'll have an easier time sneaking around."
Issei thought to the piece of enchanted metal that Viatorus gave him. He had it safely stowed away from all other eyes and knowledge. He genuinely hoped that it could help him when the time came.
"You two should go bathe and rest. I'm keeping watch and I've got some reading to do."
Vali and Adelaide didn't argue. Ever since they'd gotten on the ship, they hadn't been able to rest properly. Their minds had been too preoccupied about all that had happened and what they needed to do.
It was another blessing that the bath on the ship was meant for a crew, divided by gender. In fact, the ship was meant to accommodate a whole crew, only, it was also possible for only one person to man the ship. It was preposterous but the ship seemed to disagree.
Vali and Adelaide kept their distance from each other as they showered before entering the bath. It was so silent that even thin air was louder than them.
Both parties felt some guilt. Vali denounced Adelaide and attacked her twice now. The second time hadn't been Adelaide's fault, Vali knew this and that's what made her feel bad. As for Adelaide, she had been so passive that she'd nearly killed two good people. She never even resisted Enki's machinations because she'd been so avoidant of giving a chance for her actions to be used against her.
Even though both sides understood the other's reasoning, it wasn't going to be put past them all in an instant.
The Mess Hall was like a traditional one anyone could find on a ship. That wasn't to say that it wasn't crispy clean, pristine, and adequately spaced. They went into the Kitchens hoping to find food.
Vali opened cupboards and Adelaide opened fridges to find only metallic cylinders and slim foil bars. Condiments and non-perishable sauces were obvious and easy to find but there were no ingredients or food.
Vali looked at one bar.
"Beef Bourguignon. Please activate with magic or place in pot and heat up." She read the top of it.
This was ridiculous. Was this some sort of sci-fi/fantasy concept? Vali poured some mana into it after putting it into a pot, causing the bar to glow as it turned into particles, reforming into her favorite dish. Her jaw dropped at the ease of preparing this food and the literal instant it took.
With the same idea, Adelaide opened a canister from the fridge and tipped it over a cup, causing coffee to pour out into her mug.
Just what kind of crazy world did Viatorus come from?
After quietly marveling at the magitech ingenuity, Vali remembered that Issei needed to eat. She recalled the look in his eye. It was the same one he'd get when he'd get lost in thought and more often than not, it had negative effects on him.
Rexis had once told her about what he was like during his time hunting Aviturs. He'd go days without eating, focusing only on his task.
She heated up some food for him and brought it back to the Control Room.
"I got you something to eat."
Issei gave her a quiet thank you before looking back at the screen.
Much to Vali's fear, what he was watching confirmed her suspicions.
"As of today, Issei Hyoudou, Vali Lucifeln, and Adelaide Motoié are wanted fugitives. If they're sighted, please report them to your local authorities."
Another screen was showing that they were wanted fugitives in the supernatural realm. Issei clenched his fist in frustration. Everything they'd done, everything they'd believed in was headed down the drain. The very people he'd died to protect had turned on him. The masses were none the wiser to all this. Issei groaned in frustration.
He felt Bahamut's anger swelling within, piling on more to his anxiety.
The frustration he felt linked with rage, reminding him of the previous day's events. He didn't dare voice his feelings at that moment when he lashed out at the Alliance Headquarters.
A part of him had felt…satisfied. When he looked over the smoke and fire, a part of him felt some sort of satisfaction at striking back at the Alliance. He couldn't deny that he was enraged at having failed to see past all the sugarcoated words of the Alliance. Even so, he knew he took no pleasure in the suffering of others.
It left him wondering if it was Bahamut who felt this way or if he was changing for the worse.
Vali put her hand over his, snapping him out of his thoughts. Issei jumped.
"You haven't eaten since we got on this ship. Here." Vali put a full plate in front of him.
Issei stared at it. He had no appetite with all that was going on.
"I know you're anxious, but you need your rest and strength. If we're going to figure this all out, you need to be at your best."
Issei sighed in defeat, putting some food in his mouth.
Adelaide was about to enter the room, only to recede the thought. She'd done enough already. She retired to her room on the ship, laying down to sleep. Almost instantly, she fell to the lure of rest.
In her dreams, Adelaide found herself peering across her home in Boston. It wasn't the one she'd spirited Issei off to. It was the home she'd lived in as a little girl. A two-story house with a nice garden and white fences. She felt nostalgia wash over her.
(Higurashi OST: You. Play Song)
She opened the door to the house, revealing her parents and grandparents. She couldn't help but smile back at them.
"Come on, you're late. It's time for lunch."
Her mother took her by the hand, leading her to the dinner table. Adelaide knew this all to be false but a part of her wanted to indulge in it. She so rarely had these chances when her family was alive.
"It's been so long since we talked, dear." Her grandmother gently brushed her hair.
Adelaide didn't respond, savoring the moment. Even if this was a dream, there was no reason to reject it.
"We've been waiting for you. We made all your favorites." Her father smiled just as her mother saw to her infant brother.
Adelaide had imagined what he'd look like if he hadn't died along with her parents and grandparents.
"I told you he hates mashed peas, Louis. All done were his first words." Her mother wiped the baby food of the baby's mouth.
"Fine, we'll get carrot puree next time, Melissa." Adelaide's Father, Louis shrugged.
"Sorry we're late!" The door burst open to reveal Adelaide's Aunt Monica and Uncle Joel.
"Since your mom can't bake to save her life, I brought my treacle tart." Monica set the dessert on the table.
"You have doctors for a sister and brother-in-law and you bring a dessert full of carbs, fats, and sugar?" Melissa facepalmed.
"Don't be so stuffy. Adelaide's as skinny as a twig and your son keeps spitting out his food. That's why I was the fun one and you're the boring one." Monica merely huffed as she winked at Adelaide.
"Come on, sit down and let's eat. Your mother and I have been waiting all day. Besides, we've got more important things." Adelaide's grandfather, Abe, spoke up, clinking his mug against the table.
"We want to hear all about your life."
Adelaide looked around at her family. A tear fell down her face. A part of her was so happy and another was so sad. She was happy because she got to see them all again after so many years alone. The sorrow came from the fact that this was to never happen in real life. Her entire family was dead. She'd have no family vacations, birthdays, and holidays to celebrate with them. All she had, were visits to their graves.
As she was about to speak, something out the window caught her eye. It was the Sun. It was glowing brighter and brighter. At first, she paid no heed until it began to blind her.
(Higurashi OST: You. End Song)
"What's wrong, honey?" Her father asked, as if nothing was wrong.
The light outside the window grew brighter until a burst of radiance went off like a bomb, washing out her sight with white. When Adelaide opened her eyes, a beast with eight wings of light was already in front of her, it's maw open to devour her.
"Ah!" She yelped as the beast snapped its jaws shut over her.
Adelaide wasn't released from sleep. Her vision went black before she awoke. She was in her bed but standing by her side was Issei and Vali.
"Thank goodness…" Adelaide breathed a sigh of relief.
"I knew it."
"Huh?" Adelaide was puzzled by Vali's cold statement.
"You lied to us, Adelaide. You're still part Avitur. The part of you that's Vetrazin is still alive. You betrayed us."
Adelaide felt her heart shredded into mincemeat when she saw the look Issei gave her. It was cold yet hateful. It was such a simple action but it was so profound. Not once had he ever looked at her that way before. Adelaide felt her world collapsing as she realized where this was going.
"No, I didn't lie!"
"Get out of our sight, monster." Issei's words were seething with venom and hate.
"Wait, don't leave me alone!" Adelaide shrieked as the two backed away.
"Adelaide!"
Said young woman was shaken awake from her fetal position in bed. She woke up gasping, sweat trickling down her face. She looked around and found that she was still in her room on the ship. She felt her face and indeed, it felt real. Or, was it still a part of the nightmare?
Adelaide flinched when she felt Issei's warm hand on her face.
"You had a nightmare, didn't you?" Issei had been passing by when he heard her small sobs and sad words.
Adelaide held his hand, recognizing the warm touch. This was so contrasting to the cold Issei from her dream.
"Yeah." She nodded.
Issei brought her into an embrace.
"What was it about?"
"Rejection. Issei, I don't know anything about myself anymore. Am I who I think I am? Am I tricking all of you but I don't know it?"
Adelaide found it so hard to let go of what had happened. Her mind refused to leave it be.
"Adelaide, we both know what it means to betray and be betrayed. We can only focus on making up for it, even if only to rid ourselves of self-imposed guilt. You don't have to keep doubting yourself anymore. I trust you and if something were wrong, I don't think Viatorus would've let us walk away. Don't worry, I won't leave you alone." Issei gently kissed her on the forehead, hoping to give whatever comfort he could.
Adelaide sat quietly before nodding, trying to take his words to heart.
"I'll be here till you fall asleep." He gently held her hand as she laid her head back on her pillow.
For that night, Adelaide found that no more nightmares dared come for her. When she was finally sound asleep, Issei gently let go of her hand before seeing to Vali. Her room was next to Adelaide's, which imposed its own uncertainties to Issei.
(Doctor Who - A Secret He Will Take to His Grave. Play Song.)
He cracked open her door to find her sitting at her desk, staring at a photo of their friends and family. Issei felt a pang of guilt for having dragged her into this spiral of events. He knew she missed them terribly. The Vali Team were like siblings to her.
As of now, Rizevim's condition was unknown and their relationship with others was possibly forever tarnished. Issei wanted to say something to try and better the situation but found no words. Some boyfriend he was.
Vali then noticed his presence but even so, she didn't turn around.
He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"What's troubling you?"
Now that they were together, Vali no longer felt the need to hide when he asked her these things.
"Are they okay? I can't stop asking myself that question." Vali's hands trembled.
"If Wukong, Odin, and Buddha are there, they're probably okay. I know everything's sketchy now, but I feel like we can trust those three."
"But how are our friends and family. The last time I saw Grandpa, nobody knew if he'd live."
Indeed, Rizevim was in critical condition. His heart was touched by light magic, which was deadly to devils. Even worse, it was from the power of an Avitur.
"My grandfather was always there for me. Every time I fell down, he picked me back up. If I wanted something, he was always there to help me get it. Now, I'm so far away and I can't do a thing to help him." Vali's quaking fingers held onto Issei's arms.
"I'm so scared, Issei." She looked up at him with complete distress.
"I don't know what to do or what to expect anymore. What we're going to do, what we might learn…" She trailed off.
"I don't want to lose anyone but I feel like things will never be the way they were. Everyone already hates us. Our friends might be enslaved or turned against us. Everyone we left behind is vulnerable. Most of all…" Vali bent over in her chair, only Issei's arms kept her in place.
"What if you die again?"
"What?" Issei was flabbergasted by the sudden fear. What brought this on?
"When these things happen, you always die sooner or later." Vali's voice shrank.
"Vali, I already promised you…" Issei gently cupped her face.
"I'm not going to die. I'll fight with everything I can to get back to you. So lay your fears to rest. We'll figure something out."
That pacified Vali to an extent as she buried her face into his chest. When she was finally too tired to stay awake, Issei laid her to sleep in her bed.
He walked out to the deck to reflect. The two young women hadn't shown it, but recent events had been gnawing away at them. Vali was terrified of losing everything she held dear and Adelaide was terrified of losing herself and being alone.
"Sometimes, the only remedy is time, Issei. You've lived a good portion of the past rushing. I think this is a good lesson for you." Rexis spoke out loud.
"A lesson?"
"Yes. You can't interfere in everything. Sometimes, people will solve their own problems. It's when they get lost that we can step in. Otherwise, let them work their way forward."
(Doctor Who - A Secret He Will Take to His Grave. End Song.)
In the sands of the Gobi Desert, the Second Key was buried. The ship was unable to pinpoint the exact location, stopping to a dead halt in the air.
"What's going on?" Vali walked to the bridge.
"Ship's lost. We've arrived at where we're supposed to be but the signal stops here. There's something interfering with the ship's radar. We're gonna have to keep searching the old-fashioned way."
They spent a good hour trekking through the sands, with Issei holding the First Key to point the way. The walk felt endless, which wasn't helped by the silence between the three.
"You three are no fun." Rexis spoke up, making Vali and Adelaide jump.
"I forget he's here." Vali mumbled.
"Be careful. Even if Viatorus gave you those marks to conceal your presence, you shouldn't let yourselves get spotted."
"Merlin said he's been guarding this secret since he found out. What if he's not the only one that knows?"
"Then we do whatever we need to do when we get to that bridge. Even if he isn't the only one, there's still the fact that he was able to keep the First Key for so long." Issei responded.
For another hour, they walked, only to be met by a deterrent.
"Sandstorm." Vali pointed into the distance.
Adelaide used her magic to create a barrier with her [Rejection Zone]. As the sand came barreling at them, it parted as it came in touch with her magic. The three continued onward, walking against the harrowing gales and endless sand.
"Reminds me of old times." Rexis chuckled.
"Yes, it does." Issei had to admit, these were familiar circumstances to him.
When the sixth hour had passed on their walk, Issei was growing annoyed. With how far they'd traveled, surely, they'd have arrived. Most of all, the First Key would've changed directions in his hand. Instead, it merely kept pointing forward.
"Something's off. It's already been six hours, but we've got no signs of changing directions." Issei stopped, dropping his bag.
"Maybe we haven't traveled far enough?" Vali wondered.
"We still should've gotten closer. Merlin said the key glows brighter the closer we get to the other keys." Adelaide, thankfully, refreshed their memories.
"There's gotta be some kind of trick." Issei turned around.
True to his suspicions, the First Key did not change directions nor did it glow brighter.
"Don't tell me we were fooled." Issei cursed.
"Let's take a moment to rest, then." Vali sighed. She'd been noticing that Issei was getting easier to annoy as of late. Maybe a few minutes of rest would help him wind down.
After some swigs of their canteens, Vali then felt an urge.
"Are you okay?" Issei noticed the redness of her face.
She looked around, hoping that there would be some big rocks for privacy. Much to her horror, there wasn't an obstruction for miles.
"Yes, I'm fine." Vali cleared her throat before using some magic to create a bright wall that Issei couldn't see through.
"Don't you dare look this way." Vali pointed into the distance in which she'd made the wall.
"What're you doing?" Issei raised a brow in confusion.
"It's my business!" Vali waltzed away, redder than an apple.
Adelaide then also realized her urges when her mind wandered to what Vali was doing.
"R-Right, me too."
Issei was left standing alone in the sand before it all dawned on him.
"Oh…"
"Y'know, sometimes you're just as dense as iron."
After the girls had finished what they were doing, they noticed something. Vali had spent the entire time pondering and recalled some details from the past.
"What's on your mind?" Albion asked.
"Have you ever noticed that the scenery hasn't been that different since we started walking? The sand dunes haven't changed much and no matter how far we go, we're not making real progress. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that's how travel and distance work in reality."
"Maybe. Or maybe it's all that's been happening that's been stressing you out."
"My intuition's telling me different. My grandpa always said that sometimes, the most obvious and dumb ideas might be the right answer because you don't see it coming."
"Seeing as how nothing's been happening, I'd say it's worth a shot. It works for Issei sometimes."
Vali walked to get her brain juices flowing, only to finally notice another detail she'd ignored. The ground was awfully soft. It wasn't just because of the sand. It felt as if the foundations of the sand were fresh.
"Hey, Issei!" Vali called over to him.
"What's up?"
"I think we found something." Vali stepped further away, testing the ground.
"The grounds soft, kinda like the sand hasn't had time to bind together." Adelaide hopped.
Issei was tempted to ask her to keep jumping for obvious reasons that appealed to his perversion.
'And you said you weren't much of a perv, you sicko.' Rexis would squint and glare if he could.
"Then let's get a better look."
With her [Rejection Zone], Adelaide pushed the sand away, only for more sand to be underneath.
"Nothing happened." Issei deadpanned.
He took out the key again, seeing which way it would go. Like before, it only pointed forward.
"The walk continues." Issei turned around.
That was when Vali had an idea.
"Let me see that." She plucked the floating key from his hands and pointed the head downward. It didn't change position, merely pointing downward.
To further test her idea, Vali pointed the Key the opposite way, only for it to turn, pointing back towards the ground as it floated in her palm.
"Looks like you two were right, after all."
Vali plunged the key into the ground, giving Adelaide a nod to go ahead. With another blast of [Rejection Zone], the sand parted, revealing a massive stone slab.
"It was hidden in plain sight and the key to solving it…" Vali groaned.
"Was to be random." Adelaide finished, rubbing her temples.
"I don't know if this is stupid or smart." Issei was miffed that something so simple was the answer.
"I'd say it's in between. Sometimes, hiding things in plain sight is the most difficult formula for a puzzle. Now, stop groaning and get to work." Rexis couldn't help but chuckle.
"How? Stab the key into the ground?" Vali started walking around.
"Yep. Start looking. Ask Issei to make you magnifying glasses."
"For the spirit of an ancient king, he's kinda…" Adelaide trailed off.
"Not what you'd expect, I know. He's got wifi in my head, so he's been tapping into pop culture."
"Albion, can you do that?" Now, Vali just had to know.
"Nope. My prison isn't any fun."
"I have a hotspot you can use." Rexis chortled.
Regardless, Issei broke up the rhythm so they could continue the search. When he turned around to look for a spot to insert the key, he found Adelaide bending over, giving him a view of her very luscious rear.
'Any sane person in their right mind wouldn't hang onto their v-card with her.'
'Well, excuse me for having principles.'
'Take it from me, Issei. If you've got those urges and they've got those urges, don't ignore them if you're both ready.'
'And how do I know when I'm ready?'
'When you decide that that's what you want and won't regret it. Of course, that's all up to you to decide but I'm just putting in my two cents. That and I don't want you to end up on Maury. So, be celibate until you've become mature enough to be responsible for your own actions.'
Issei knew that Adelaide and to a lesser extent, Vali wanted to progress their relationship. When he saw the ingredients that Adelaide bought the night the Cult of Bahamut made their move, he knew she wanted sex.
'Man, that just invited a whole new plethora of thoughts I didn't want.' Issei groaned.
If he did it with one, what would the other say? If he did it with both, then wouldn't that make him a sleaze ball?
'OH MY GOD, YOU'RE SO ANNOYING WITH ALL THIS GOING-IN-CIRCLES NONSENSE. JUST TAKE THE ADVICE OF THAT OLD MAN ON THE NEWS CHANNEL!' Rexis groaned loudly.
'I'M DOING MY BEST, DAMN IT!' Issei screamed internally.
"Issei, what's going on?"
Adelaide and Vali stared at him, unsure if he was hallucinating.
"N-Nothing. Just talking to Rexis."
"We've found the keyhole." Vali pointed at said crevice.
Issei pointed the key at the keyhole. Moments passed and nothing happened as he stood there silently, posing.
"Issei, crickets are chirping…in the desert." Vali continued to blankly stare at him.
"W-What're you waiting for?" Adelaide snapped him out of his delusions.
"He thought a gigantic key sword would appear in his hands and shoot a laser at it." Rexis voice his fantasy.
"Kill all of my dreams, why don't you?" Issei walked over and inserted the key, turning it.
The stone tablet split, spiraling open as stairs appeared. The Trio walked down on-guard.
Now on magical ground, the First Key began to properly guide them, pointing continuously downward.
The three eventually arrived in front of a massive stone door. On it, was a carving of a sun and moon. There were no crevices for the key, leaving the three to wonder what to do.
Issei walked up with the key, which glowed, causing the door to open. The room was dark but was lit to life when the First Key passed the threshold.
The room was unbelievably large but that wasn't even significant. At the end of the room was a statue. It resembled a monk or Buddhist, even sitting in the common meditation pose.
In its hands was a glowing orange sphere that radiated in resonance with the First Key.
As Issei got close, the Statue came to life. Its eyes shined a bright orange as it began moving. The Statue had two arms that held swords as another pair held onto the orange orb. It looked at the trio, as if scanning them.
(Metroid Prime OST: Thardus. Play Song.)
Without provocation, it attacked with its swords. Issei defended with a shield from his Sacred Gear, only to be swatted into a wall.
The Statue swung around, knocking both Adelaide and Vali aside as well.
Adelaide rebounded one of its attacks with [Rejection Zone], but it swung at her with its other sword, knocking her back before she could dodge.
Vali threw orbs of mana at it, but she only succeeded in breaking off layers of its shell.
"This thing's from the Old Era. This is gonna be a pain in the ass." Adelaide brushed off her clothes.
"Any ideas?"
"Get rid of its swords first. These golems have a focal point that keeps them running like an object or an internal part. We need to find it and destroy it." Adelaide attacked its right weapon.
Issei and Vali focused their attacks at the other sword, causing the Statue's hand to release the weapon. Issei then turned his attention to the other sword, blasting at it with all he had, shattering its hand.
Unexpectedly, the Statue gripped the falling sword with its other hand and flung it at Issei, who was able to shoot it down midair as Vali swept out one of its legs. That wasn't enough to deter it, as it swung its weapon at her.
"[Transcendence]" Vali teleported out of the way just as Adelaide pushed its weapon out of its grip with [Rejection Zone] circles, protecting her twin from getting hit.
"Smash its head!"
Vali and Issei met fists as they punched both sides of its head, shattering it.
The Statue fell, shaking the entire room with a conclusive thud.
"Not as tough as I expected." Vali sighed in relief.
"Then why is it still moving?" Adelaide groaned.
The Statue's stone body began to reform, each pebble piecing itself back together. The Statue got back up, swinging wildly at the three.
"No choice. Make it so that there's not a single speck of dust left." Vali backflipped, dodging a slash of the Statue's sword.
The Statue charged again, this time, it threw its swords at everyone. When Adelaide rejected one of its swords, it rebounded back at the orb in the Statue's hand. The Statue shuddered and staggered back as it hit.
That caught Vali's attention. She volleyed more spheres of mana at the orb. The Statue ducked and weaved, holding it closer to its chest. The Statue swatted them aside with a kick. Adelaide saw her chance and tackled its standing leg, knocking it off its feet again.
With another bombardment of mana, Vali failed to connect an attack as the Statue rolled away. Issei cut off its attempt to stand back up, punching it in the head.
"[Division Slicer]" Vali waved her hand through the air, severing the Statue's arm before it could crush Adelaide from above.
As soon as it hit the ground, the arm tried to reattach itself.
"Stop it!" Adelaide knocked it aside as Issei obliterated the remains of the Statue's body.
"As long as that orb is touching a piece of the statue, it's gonna keep rebuilding itself." Adelaide used her magic to force the Statue's hand open.
Issei and Vali ripped of its stone fingers before Vali took the orb out of its palm, causing it to turn to dust.
(Metroid Prime OST: Thardus. End Song.)
With the fight over, the trio were clueless as to how to open the orb. There were no openings and no clues.
Vali held the First Key up to the orb, causing both to resonate with the same glowing frequency.
"Worth a shot." Issei slammed the First Key onto the orb, shattering it to reveal a key of the same design as the First, only glowing orange instead.
"Well, that's two keys down, two more to go." Issei sighed.
The three ran back to their ship, wanting to get away as soon as possible to avoid any detection.
"Thanks…for earlier." Vali acknowledged Adelaide's help in protecting her.
"Same." Adelaide merely nodded with a small smile before walking past her.
Issei ran right over to the Computer to chart their next course.
"Course plotted for Denmark. Estimated travel time with current settings: 17 hours."
"Do we really have to move this slowly?" Vali knew there were risks with traveling faster, but they were using so much time traveling slowly.
"We've got the whole Alliance looking for us in the mortal and supernatural realms. Instead of a few pair of eyes looking for us, we've got all eyes looking for us. We'd best play it safe. I really don't think we can take on all the major religions by ourselves." Issei had already optimized their travel speed to be as fast as allowed but even he knew they were moving too slowly.
"At least we have time to plan." Vali admitted defeat as she sat down at a table, looking over their collected data.
"Hey, Vali, you're good with magical theory and theoretical application right?" Adelaide called over to her.
"Kinda. Why?"
"Think you could make a formula to bolster our cloaking? I've been reading the manual and it says that if we interface with the ship's magic reactor, we can program it to do extra things if we properly apply spells to it." Adelaide held up a manual that was thick enough to kill with.
"Well, I can try, sure." Vali walked over to the ship's reactor.
The Engine Room's reactor was a massive crystal contained in a clear cylinder with metal tubes connected to it, spreading across the ship to deliver power.
"I've been putting my own magic into it but I think it'd be better if an expert does it." Adelaide pointed at the numerous stacks of magic circles on a nearby table.
"So, this is what you've been doing since we got on this ship?"
"I wasn't really doing much, so I figured I might as well try." Adelaide shrugged.
Vali had to admit that her views of her had soured since the whole sleeper agent fiasco. Now that she was aware of how much work Adelaide had been putting into protecting the team, she felt a little bad.
"Listen, about how things have been, I'm sorry. I know I've been treating you like air since things calmed down."
"I'm sorry too."
"We both made mistakes."
"I also think we kinda jumped the gun too."
"Yeah."
Adelaide decided to ask the question that had been secretly bothering her all this time.
"Why were you so ready to accept sharing Issei?"
Vali looked away, thinking to form her answer.
"I guess it was because I didn't want to complicate things."
"Huh?"
"Issei's been through a lot. This was something I'd spent a long time thinking about."
"You knew him the longest in this life. You had every right to put your foot down. You're also the one he loves first and the most."
"Right now, I wouldn't say most." Vali sat down, sipping some coffee.
"He prioritized your happiness over his own and refused to die until he was sure you'd be happy."
Vali agreed, the memory of Issei's logs still in her head.
"True. The reason why I was so ready to accept polygamy is because I live in a world that's okay with it. There are people left and right who are expected to have multiple husbands or wives. Some do it because of lust. Others do it because it's in case the bloodline is endangered. There're only a handful who do it out of love. Even fewer work out." Vali could only chuckle at the crazy idea.
"Then why?"
(Fate/Prototype OST: Knight of Sky Silver ~ Strings Version. Play Song.)
"Issei's gone through too much. You know just as well as I do that his life isn't something to envy. He's the last of his bloodline in this life and he died already, all by the age of 17, along with the weight of the world's future. Then, there's compounding it all with his past lives."
"So, it's because you didn't want to burden Issei with us fighting over him?"
"Yes. I've seen the way he looks at you. I don't know if it's because he's grown to love you or it's because you're more like Aria than I am, but his feelings for you aren't weak or unfounded. I won't complicate his life because I won't tolerate sharing him. I've always prepared myself for a future where my future husband might have other women who love him. Do I want him to myself? Yes, very much so. But the reality is that he doesn't love me only." Vali smiled softly to herself.
Adelaide took a seat, soaking in Vali's inner thoughts.
"Issei's a complicated person. He'll always prioritize others over himself but at the same time, he's so bullheaded about his self-worth. Issei had an inferiority complex when he was still human. That played a role in why he was ready to die. Now that he has a second life, I refuse to let something like that happen again. I want Issei to finally understand that people love him."
"Then your acceptance was another step toward it?" Adelaide started to feel a certain chill.
Did Vali have more manipulativeness to her personality?
"No. I also know how much you love him. The look you give him is the same look I give him. You and I are connected and I can sense how deep it goes for you. The main reason why I accepted sharing him with you was because I won't disregard your feelings as well as not wanting to trouble Issei. Marital spats and affairs can be bloody. Entire bloodlines died out because of them." Vali replied with all the majesty of a queen.
Adelaide slowly began to understand why so many admired her. Vali could be indecisive at times but when she made up her mind, she allowed nothing to chance.
"I want Issei to be happy above all and I want to be with him. If it means allowing others to love him and for him to love them back, then I'll accept that. There's not much else to it."
The two then locked eyes.
"However, I want you to think very deeply on one thing." Vali's expression hardened.
"Are your feelings truly your own or is it because Aria's memories influence you and you're just saying that's how you feel so that you don't conflict with yourself? Cards have been put on the table, Adelaide. You've been honest about your Avitur past but are you honest with yourself about your love? Think on it." Vali didn't give Adelaide the chance to respond, walking away to fortify their cloaking.
Clearly, she wanted Adelaide to be honest with herself and stop looking at herself with any bias. Did Adelaide truly love Issei or was it Aria loving Ardjis?
(Fate/Prototype OST: Knight of Sky Silver ~ Strings Version. End Song.)
And that's the end of Chapter 71. As I mentioned earlier, I'll be sure to post the link to the Youtube Livestream on Friday, October 22, 2021. I'll try to post the link before 1PM. If you have any questions, then be sure to come by and hang out.
As for Chapter 72, it's currently being edited and possibly being rewritten, depending on how Chapter 73 is written. So, it's possible that Chapter 72 could be published on Thursday, October 21, 2021.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and enjoy the rest of your day/night.
