Chapter 71
"Should we ship them back to NRC then big brother?" Ortho asked as he looked over the new troublemaker trio.
"I'd like to but Ortho c'mere a sec." Idia whispered as he pulled him off to the side.
"It's better to have everyone go through the River Lethe at the same time to minimize cognitive dissonance. Besides consider what would happen if we did send them back now? We wouldn't want them getting the teachers to other students involved before the River Lethe is ready to run. TL:DR I say we keep them here until the other troublemakers test are over." Idia summarized in a whispered.
"You make s good point. I'd also like to gather data on how Rook's group found this island. I'll access our systems and find a safe place for them to stay. Looks like we've got a free room in training facility right here in the Hecate sector. I'll bring them there and draw up the paperwork they'll need to sign a few things." Ortho whispered back.
"Great thanks I've gotta get back to HQ, and finish up the rest of the tests. We put subject F's investigation on hold yesterday so that's gonna take some time too." Idia sighed.
"Grim really is special huh? Hang in there Idia." Ortho encouraged with a smile.
The two walking back up to the group who had been guarded by a trooper.
"Okay Rook Hunt, Epel Felmir and Odette Thropp, we've got lots of questions for all of you would you please come with me?" Ortho asked.
"Oui, but might we be allowed to at least glimpse Vil and the others first? I would feel so much better if I saw they were well." Rook asked.
"No contract with the subjects is admitted until the tests are complete, sorry. I'll make sure you get to see each other once we're done through so please just be patient." Ortho answered.
"I see very well I suppose I should be grateful you're letting us stay at all." Rook sighed.
"So uh, I'm going back to HQ now. As for this new banner of troublemakers don't get any more funny ideas. Just behave and do as Ortho says, later." Idia said turning away from the group with the trooper.
"Idia wait!" Rook called out.
"What? Was there something?" Idia groaned as he turned around.
"You're forgetting Vil's skincare products. Could you please make certain he gets them?" Rook asked as he held out the bag.
"K, I'll pass them along as soon as all the test are done." Idia sighed as he took the bag.
"Merci Roi De Sa Chambre." Rook smiled at him.
"Could you at least try to read the room? Ugh, you're so exhausting." Idia groaned then left in a black flying chariot with the Trooper.
"Whoa what was that thing he took off in? It was super rad." Epel gasped.
"That was a Styx made technomantic vehicle, we call them chariots. Most of the island residents don't live in the Ancient City here on the seabed level. They reside in the residential block of Oceanus which is the outer wall covering the island. We've got maglev trains and elevators, but flying machines are still the most efficient way to get around." Ortho explained as he lead the group towards the training room.
"Right, the outer wall it just looks like sky up there but I guess we are underwater. It's wild seeing the sky at the bottom of the ocean." Epel said as he looked up stopping.
"Humans receive remarkable physical and mental benefits from natural light. So we use all kinds of advanced technologies to emulate life on land as much as possible. In addition to the inner wall's artificial sky, we also have different weather and seasons there are forests and rivers too." Ortho explained.
"Well I'll be." Epel muttered.
"What marvelous technology I can hardly believe we're on the ocean floor myself." Rook praised with a flair.
"I know right? It's much more pleasant down here than it is on land." Ortho giggled.
"Speaking of marvelous I can't help but marvel at the beautiful architecture around us. Those columns are very distinctive they remind me of the ones in the ruins in the Kingdom of Heroes." Rook commented.
"From what I understand the island of woe use to be part of the Kingdom of Heroes way back when. The buildings here in this ancient city are vestiges of that time." Ortho informed them.
"My word so these buildings are historic relics? They've been preserved remarkably well." Rook gasped.
"What's the giant pillar in the middle?" Epel asked pointing at it.
"That connects to Oceanus Gate the entrance you came in through, it's Styx's HQ. The column goes down through the island and then waaay deeper." Epel explained.
"Define way deeper and is that where Grim and the others are?" Odette asked as looked up and down the giant column.
"There are a bunch of Phantoms buried beneath that pillar. They're currently asleep and froze but still don't go wandering over there just because you're curious. You wouldn't want to end up like me." Ortho sighed.
"Monsieur Marionette? What's the matter?" Rook asked looking concerned.
"Nothing, point is there are many dangerous areas on this island so don't wandering about like tourist. Now let's get going. Follow me." Ortho said leading the group again.
Ortho lead them to a training room and handed them each a tablet. "Thank you for signing the NDAs, and I appreciate you telling me about how you got here and what your motives were. Admittedly your story is so peculiar that I question whether this data would be useful for disaster prevention." Ortho confessed.
"Oh really? I thought our motives were perfectly reasonable." Rook shrugged.
"One of you came to deliver skincare to a subject, one was just mad about losing a fight, and one of you wanted to speak with a subject. Human behave in such incomprehensible, I mean unpredictable ways, but what really surprises me is how you got here, Rook Hunt's signature spell. As soon as you gave me this info I immediately understood why you asked to see Vil and the others. You were going to use your signature spell on the, so you could find their location weren't you?" Ortho asked.
"You hit the nail right on the head." Rook chuckled.
"I knew it! Idia was right you can't take your eyes off NRC students for a second." Ortho cheered gleefully.
"Had Styx been doing something terrible to them I was fully prepared to take drastic measures but now you've given me a proper explanation Ortho. I knew the medical mages on Sage's island had treated them after their overblots but I feel much better knowing Styx is giving them special exams and blot treatments." Rook confessed.
"Actually I'm curious about something, why did Styx abduct them like that? If you weren't going to do anything bad you could've just explained things before taking them." Epel said.
"I'm sorry about that most of the time our subjects aren't exactly the type you can reason with. So we prioritize securing the target first to minimize damage all around. Then we conduct our investigation the part's non-negotiable. Overblot mages are essentially minsters incapable or reason just a mass of hunger and delusion. They're dangerous creatures that will do anything to get what they want." Ortho explained.
Rook, Epel and Odette looked shocked at him.
"Plus consider how many people have overblotted in such a short time frame it's practically unheard of. Styx had to cover their bases. Fortunately we've now been able to verify that they've all returned to normal, but we had to be prepared for the worst. There hasn't been a single death among the overblots or the people around them. You guys are really lucky." Ortho continued.
"I suppose you're right we have all been truly fortunate. Sometimes I have nightmares about the day Vil overbloted and wake up in a cold sweat. I thought I was watching him, more closely than any of his 5 mil magicam followers and from a closer vantage point than any mirror. But what did I truly see when I stood at his side?" Rook confessed.
"Oh Rook." Epel whispered placing a hand on his shoulder as Odette reached for Rook's hand.
"I apologize, there is no use crying over spilled milk besides we can't say his overblot would've been averted if I'd simply reached out to him. It would be the height of arrogance to claim I could've been his savior. Vil's anger and despair are his alone. The same can be said for the others." Rook said as he glanced at both of them.
"If you understand that then why did you come here Rook Hunt?" Ortho asked.
"So that I could tell myself 'I did what I could'." Rook answered as he looked up at Ortho.
"What do you mean by that?" Ortho asked looking confused.
"I didn't do this for anyone else I was following my own aesthetic principles." Rook confessed with a smile.
"You really are odd." Ortho giggled.
'If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black.' Odette as she and the other chuckled.
"I've acquired some fascinating data today, thanks. Anyway I should get back to HQ now. I've scheduled your lunch and dinner for 12pm and 7 pm respectively if you wish to change your dining schedule please use the intercom by the door to call a tech. Just speak to the screen to activate the virtual assistant. We've got lots of games and movies too. Feel free to browse them if you get bored." Ortho said as he handed Epel a remote.
"Whoa cool this movie list is huge and it's got a bunch of new releases on it." Epel exclaimed as he turned on the large tv and began to school through the list.
'Feels kinda weird getting the royal treatment. I hope they finish the test soon but it doesn't sound like it if they're going to feed us dinner.' Odette thought.
"Merci, you've been most gracious host, Ortho." Rook said.
"Just sit tight until we've finished with everyone's exams." Ortho said then left the them in the room. 'I did what I could huh? I wonder what I can do for Idia.' Ortho thought as he glanced over his shoulder at the closed door.
Thanks for reading and sticking around. I hope you enjoyed it. I promise the next chapter will have our Diasomnia boys