Undisclosed File: Violet and Black
For the crimes of caring for the world he lived in, Justek now resides within this celestial prison.
Alone. With only the comfort of knowing his children resting behind him did not have to endure the weathering of their sanity via the flow of time.
But he did not face this uncertain wait with laughter or anger.
He sat and meditated, seeing to it that he paid close attention to his friend's final journey.
Despite his prior assertions it seemed Auris had judged a worthy candidate to take the place of his friend.
How laughable, but curious enough to warrant investigating.
So into the future he dove once more.
It didn't take far to see the boy and initial impressions painted him as a reflection of Sarajin in his youth…
And that felt off. By design even…
"Nngh…!" Justek winced as time and space distorted and scratched against his vision.
As he advanced further into the future he watched another boy be taken over by this purposeful mirror image.
He broke into a cold sweat and thrust his eyes open with a gasp, "What was that…?"
"Once more Justek Arcavira, you find yourself wandering within the fog of confusion."
Justek's blind gaze was guided towards the sultry, silky voice, teasing him with her air of mystique.
All he knew was that she floated before his cage, presenting herself as a mystery for him to solve one clue at a time.
"You are presented with intrusive thoughts, shattering the perception of security you thought you could hold dear."
"..." Staying calm, Justek addressed the mystery woman slowly, "How do you know of that cursed name I have conquered?"
"I know a great many things, my friend. Including the truth behind that changed vision of the future."
Justek flinched and then narrowed his eyes towards her, gleaming from the information she offered that she had to be no older in appearance than her mid-20s, but that trying to gauge her with the same value mentally would drag him deeper into the uncertain unknown.
"'Friend'?" He repeated that word with a gritty scoff, "No friend of mine would dare insult me with that cursed name."
"You position yourself as a man who conquered the reins, but are you not still bound to that cage?" He could hear the unfurling of a fan, hiding her smile and delicate, playful giggle, "But escape from the physical shackles of this world mean nothing. You must surpass the logic of your physical being, and embrace insanity on a conceptual level. Only once you do so…can you truly strike at the core of what wrongs this universe."
"...Your words…they speak to me at my most lowest point. Like a hymn of hope, telling me to stand once more."
"It feels almost like you rehearsed this song a thousand times."
The woman giggled once more, but this time, out of a growing sense of respect, "So you've already caught on to that much. Good. That will expedite the process."
Justek chuckled back, wondering to himself if this was a reflex of insanity, or simply him not remembering what it was like to feel a sense of relief…
"I must admit, you have hooked me in your grasp, strange woman. I will deny ever hearing that cursed name be uttered, if you offer yours in exchange."
"I had no intention of dancing around my anonymity, Justek. But I shall do you one better. For this brief, breathless moment, see the world as you deserve to see it, and be enraptured by my beauty."
One blink was all Justek was allotted, to see the draping blonde hair and silky violet and white dress of this phantasm.
Her skin was glowing, her eyes beholden to much knowledge and confidence that he found himself coveting.
She sat upon a gap in the world with many eyes peering through, and a parasol accompanied her shoulder.
With the stars at her back, she was a thing of beauty indeed, but more entwined with an air of mystery than anything comprehensible.
As Justek invited the pitch black sight once more, he did so with an intrigued smile. It had been so long since his brain had been challenged by what he could perceive.
"...You are not human."
"Astute observation. But I AM…Yukari Yakumo. You can trust in that much."
"Your assessment of yourself was too humble, I fear. Never has my eyes been captivated by such beauty. If these are chains that form in my heart, then they are one I welcome."
Yukari smiled, knowing what Justek would say next, "But my heart only belongs to one person, I'm afraid."
Yukari gestured her parasol towards the edge of the cage, making it feel as though she could reach his chest, "Then you'll do everything in your power to save them, won't you?"
Justek chuckled, "What do you expect me to do in this cage?"
"There's plenty you can accomplish. Your ability to perceive the flaws that fill this universe is the ace up your sleeve…Given proper guidance, anyways."
Justek voiced some doubt, "You know of the nature of my powers? Then why do you need ME exactly?"
"Do I appear so omnipotent? I am under the misfortune of not being so, but…! All I need to do is enough. So that the enemy of all creation, the one you saw as 'God', shall not bring about the end of us all with his invasive parasite."
"...The boy I saw in my changed vision." Justek pieced together.
"There is much discussion to be had about their nature, but we have all the time in the world to do so."
"Now hold on…" Justek eyed her with fervor, "I have not agreed to an alliance, let alone acknowledged your call for friendship."
"Hmm hmm," The phantasm giggled, "I am a charitable woman, where it suits my needs. Ask me for anything, and I shall provide."
"Fine then. If you wish to enlist my aid, then first appease my wrath."
"Point to where your enemy lies, Justek, and I shall guide your aim!" She encouraged him with aplomb.
Justek raised his finger towards the heavens and glared with enough intensity to make her sweat, "Tell me how to kill the 'higher-ups'."
Her smile continued to hold, recognizing the man's resolve with all her respect, "Then you wish to end this illusion entirely?"
"Very well. I shall enjoy these next two-thousand years with you again, my old friend."
END.
Author's Note:
Aftermath post for this part and the future of the series coming later.