Arthur POV

  I sank deeper within myself as I allowed the repressed memories and emotions of lives lived and lost flow over me as they bubbled up towards the surface of my awareness .

  Instead of fighting or trying to command that flood of memories I allowed it to completely overtake my senses. I could feel the soft caress of a loved one on my lisps, the sharp burning pain in my chest of battle. All of it, all those hundreds, no thousands or maybe even millions of lives I had experienced. Soon I felt like * was drowning , I tried to push air through my lungs only to feel nothing in return.

  Neoth had warned me and had me go through the rudimentary training of dealing with past memories, but I doubt he had to deal with so much in such a short time.

  A creeping sense dawned on me then. Would I be the same person walking out of this experience as the one that walked in? I was already surprised that I haven’t gone mad by now, but the sheer amount of emotional baggage and pain all condensed into a singular point.

  I saw flashing images. My hand holding the hands of someone, her hands soft in my own as I could feel the warmth and love radiating from just her touch. The burning of an entire world, everything I have ever known reduced to nothing but ash and dust. My hands bloody as I plunged my blade into my enemy.

  ‘What was that thing Neoth told me?’ I quickly tried to remember. Something about compartmentalizing similar emotions and experiences. Sorting them out to deal with them one at a time to not overburden my brain.

  Figuring I might as well try to deal with my emotions and memories. Blind rage was always a potent emotion in my arsenal so might as well start there. They were at least burning like little stars with fury so they were easy to locate and separate.

  I knew I was not prepared for such a task but I suppose this was all my fault. I had not only physically and verbally provoked Windsom but also directly threatened Kezess. The device Neoth and I had created was capable of holding the asuras off for now but it interfaced with the body as well as my soul. I needed some stable mind for such a task.

  It was then when I felt it. Perhaps it was the mention of Kezess but there was something. Some entity that was always deep within my very being. Like a deep sea creature that never sees sunlight due to the depths in which it lived.

  It had the same icy cold feeling as it quickly began to swim up to the surface. A similar feeling to the cold distant feeling that I experience whenever I fully activate King’s Gambit.

  Eventually it was upon me. In my disembodied state it took on the form of a dark mass as it began to attract and consume my more unpleasant memories from my past life. Every moment from my past as small particles, all drawn to this thing. I could mold and influence it somewhat, but it I had to guess it was probably because it was a deep rooted part of me. And as the being was given a visible form I could see why.

  The being dredged up from the deepest part of my soul, my repressed self that only surfaces in times of dire need or whenever I fully throw myself into the frozen grips of King’s Gambit.

  I was left staring at myself. A past incarnation, he closely resembled a fusion of my current looks with that of King Grey of old Earth.

  An ego created from my shattered past. The embodiment of the indifferent emotionless Grey persona that I use. The part of me that I originally wanted to discard, to turn a new leaf in life like what Sylvia had told me to do so many years ago. But had always came back to use as a shield or mask.

  “You still need me.” This Grey mask personified said to me. His face never changed from the passive almost dead look but I could feel the great rage and regret that bubbled just below that stone-like surface.

  I chose to engage in conversation. I doubt I would get anywhere in this exercise if I just ignored a crucial part of myself.

  “I’ve brought an asura lord to his knees without lifting a finger. I do not lack-“

  Grey interrupted me. His tone of voice clearly showed signs of annoyance. “You said it yourself, that wyrm is nothing but a messenger.” Since he was a portion of me given form each of his words spoken and unspoken all had deeper meaning that stabbed into me like a searing knife.

  “I am still a match for-“

  “But this time is different isn’t it? Kezess as well as Agrona both have a better grasp on your capabilities. You have revealed your cards top early and they will no doubt have countermeasures prepared for you. Not to mention your prescient abilities aren’t perfect. You still have blindspots.”

  Grey said as he pointed an accusing finger. It was true, while the gift the Djinn Emperor had given to me allowed me to view time in a three dimensional space, peering many different possible future pathways, some paths were unclear. Akin to looking through murky muddy water.

  “Oracles leave no trace in time.” Grey said as he fully voiced what I was theorizing.

  I couldn’t dent the truth in his words, or was it my words? I haven’t even fully regained the full strength of my prime yet. But in a straight fight I was still confident in my abilities to handle at least one of the two asura rulers. But the Djinn added a new variable as well as whatever Kezess or Agrona was cooking up to deal with me.

  And my visions were getting muddier by the day. Even the pathways I could clearly see weren’t in any way good. Dicathen survived sure, but at such a high cost.

  “Didn’t you say it yourself? No matter the price?” Grey hissed.

  “But wasn’t my promise to Sylvia, to live my life differently. To cherish my loved ones and to-“

  “And where did that bring you? You have fallen back on your old habits as soon as things got difficult. Right back to me.”

  Grey continued.

  “You fear that these visions of yours are locking you into a future you can’t bear to live in. I don’t necessarily blame you, all your visions so far have come true haven’t they?”

  “Then why did the Djinn Emperor fail? You said it yourself oracles don’t fully adhere to the rules of time. Why should I be shackled to a future I deny?” I said, even I could hear the desperation in my voice.

  “Don’t you think he gave you these gifts for a reason?” Grey reasoned. I thought for a moment before Grey spoke again.

  “Did you see the faces on the lesser’s faces?”

  I shook my head to free myself from that memory. After I Windsom left with a final threat to not step over the line I turned to see the faces. So many of them frozen in absolute fear, but among some of them I could see the face of fanaticism. I already knew of the growing religion around me as the godhead. And what more proof did they need now?

  Me toppling what they believe to be a higher being to their knees with mere words. I originally push off dealing with the cults for now, from the history lessons I had to take back on Earth suppressing fanatical believe only strengthened them. No, if I were to get rid of them it required careful and gentle correction that I simply didn’t have time for right now.

  “Why not use that power?” Grey asked. He almost dead looking gold eyes staring back at me, sending a shiver down my spine.

  ‘Was this a fraction of what others felt in my presence?’

  With a snap of Grey’s fingers the scenery around us shifted. Time and space seemed to stretch and distort as the space took on a familiar look.

  The ballroom of the Dicathen castle. Down to the very exact detail I could remember, fully recreated into a complete three dimensional image.

  Windsom, a once proud and regal asura was on his knees at my feet. Caught in a fruitless struggle to fight against my will. The stone floor beneath him cracked and shook under both of our powers.

  Grey shook into my ears. “You were so eager, so filled with unreleased hatred that it excited you to show your superiority over this dragon.”

  I had to realize that this “Grey” was just a part of myself given a form from my backlog of memories and residual emotions. I could hide very little from him, but neither could he hide very much from me.

  “I could have very easily killed him yes, if I wanted to he would have been minced meat the second he set foot in the castle. But that would have only-“

  Grey interjected, every single word he spoke felt like a burning iron on my mind.

  “What stopped you!? One less dragon to kill later and you and I both know Kezess won’t strike now. At least not in full force. Your visions have seen to that.”

  At his words it did make me wonder, was the oracle that foresaw the future or created the future they saw? The vision, the only clear one I could fully see. It was so…

  “Wasn’t that your oath for this life? No matter the price, no matter the sacrifice. You swore to drag your people to prosperity and salvation. And now you go back on your word and reject the role Fate has given you? I am the only reason we’ve even survived for so long!” Grey shouted, his words echoing around my skull.

  “Have you already forgotten. You were as good as dead in the Relictombs, your core shattered and your will to live almost extinguished. But what did you do? You returned to your origin, to your true self.”

  “You are not-“

  “Don’t you dare deny it. I was the one who dug us out of that hellhole you put yourself in!” Grey roared, now fully manifesting himself in front of me.

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  A moment of silence hung between us. It was a bit ridiculous to think that I was having such an argument with my own past self. But I suppose I am anything but normal. It felt as though there were multiple different versions of me living within this form, and that won’t be that far from the truth I guess.

  “Look at them.” Grey said as he gestured to the crowd around us.

  “Look at their faces, see how some see you as some kind of demon that you are.”

  I scanned the crowd, most of them were of fear. All shrunken back and silent, fearful that any sound they make would bring down my power on them. Some of the people had already collapsed from the pressure I exerted upon the asura.

  But there were a few faces that were contorted into that of

  “Religious ecstasy." Grey finished my thoughts.

  “You have given your people, your believers more than ample evidence to see you as a higher being.”

  “A mere cult.” I tried to ignore Grey, but he continued. I didn’t need worship, and being an idol would only be repeating what the asuras have done and increase the people’s dependency on me. I’d rather slowly disappear into the background after all of this was over to live out some semblance of a normal life.

  “Are you ignorant or just blind? Do you think you will ever be truly free? Don’t make me laugh, after all you have done you think you of all people deserve the quiet peaceful life?”

  I shook my head in rejection. “You are merely a collection of my past. I shall forge my own future, these visions, this prescient gift. I deny them.”

  Grey simply looked back at me with what seemed to be pity or disappointment.

  “I am a part of you. Try as you might I am you and you are me. We are inseparable, us together. Arthur and Grey, we make the whole.” Each of his words sent a shudder through my body.

  “You have seen your Fate, why try to run from it or deny it?” Grey accused.

  “The stream of time is murky. Time chaos surrounds not only the Djinn but also Ephetous as well as-“

  “All the more reason to discard your petty emotions is it not? You are challenging gods, there is no time for delicate feelings.”

  +Silence+ It was a futile effort but I was annoyed enough as it was. I used my will, hoping to create some peace among my inner turmoil.

  Grey only snorted at my effort. “You will has no effect on me, did you already forget. We are the parts of one whole. You may deny me now, but you will come around eventually.”

  “Even if the path Fate has in store for me is drenched in blood and tears? And that infinite division and subdivision that will be my end?” I muttered. The future felt like a prison of my own making.

  Perhaps ignorance was truly bliss. Every waking moment haunted by what will come, was there any way for me to salvage this? There was no guarantee even if I deny the use of this ability.

  “Anyways, you should be on your way now. Wouldn’t want to have Neoth waiting for too long. But Arthur.”

  Grey turned to fully face me. His features were a mirror to mine, a representation of my past standing before me.

  “No matter how long it takes you will come around eventually. And I will be waiting until then, Arthur Leywin.”

  My self was hurtled back out, I could feel and see glimpses of my past. Taking the form of small round motes, each containing a lifetime passed. I felt as if I was being catapulted up to the surface of the ocean, leaving behind the being that was once me behind. At least for now.

  My eyes snapped open, taking a moment to focus on Neoth standing before me. Dressed in his usual cloak and staff in hand. The hood of his cloak obscured most of his face but from what I could make out he had taken on the body of a middle aged man, still robust despite his age.

  “Any progress?” He asked, and from the way he spoke I could tell he was tired himself. No doubt the stress of finishing the device had been wearing him down as well.

  Sylvie appeared next to me. I could feel her gentle warmth as she carefully probed my mind. She wasn’t being invasive, instead it felt a bit reassuring after what I had been through.

  She took my hand in hers, she had grown much in such a short time. I thought as I closed my hand around hers. No doubt all the mana cores and exiliars she was consuming was hastening her natural growth, but I needed her to be strong and prepared for what was to come.

  After a moment of the gentle mental probing she smiled at me then at Neoth. “His mind is calmer than before.” She said as Regis joined her, shaking his head in agreement.

  “Better than nothing.” Regis added as he scratched his head with his hind legs.

  “Well, I am going to need you in a good headspace. Lest we blow up this whole continent.” Neoth added that last part under his breath.

  “Huh?” Regis stammered, his glowing white eyes wide.

  “Just a joke… hopefully. Come, we have wasted enough time.” Neoth said as he beckoned for us to follow him.

  Neoth led us down several flights of stairs, they extended so far down that Regis eventually gave up walking and just leapt into my core to save the trouble.

  We had been descending for at least twenty minutes now and even Sylvie was looking a bit hesitant. “How much longer?” She asked.

  Neoth only grunted in response. And after a few more minutes Sylvie spoke up again.

  “We can’t just teleport there because?”

  “The device is very sensitive, and the main reason why we had to build it so deep within the earth. So unless you want to completely ruin years of my work you should shut your dragon mouth.” Neoth snapped. Still clearly holding a disdain for dragons of any kind.

  ‘Still the same Neoth huh.’ Sylvie commented to which I could only agree. Although he has been getting a bit more tenable to work with. If I had to guess our shared trauma with these other memories and emotions was probably the reason why.

  After another additional ten minutes we eventually arrived into a large cavernous area. With a large pair of blackstone doors at the far end. Sylvie scrunched up her nose as we walked to the pair of doors.

  “The mana and aether here, it’s…” her voice trailed off. Regis materialized next to me as he finished her sentence.

  “It’s so empty here. Not even the slightest hint of ambient mana or aether.”

  “Like I said, delicacy is key here.” Neoth said as he clicked his staff onto the ground, sending out a tightly controlled pulse of aether. And with that the set of doors opened in response.

  “Tell your companions to control themselves.” Neoth said over his shoulder as he stepped into the other side.

  Looking at both Regis and Sylvie I took a deep breath in an effort to clear my mind. This device was a closely guarded secret, even my two companions knew little of it.

  “Let’s go then shall we.” I said with a smile. Regis and Sylvie took a moment to just stare back at me.

  “I am not the only one that thinks he has changed a bit am I?” Regis asked Sylvie.

  “Nope, you aren’t the only one.”

  I only smiled again. I knew I was using the mask of Grey as a shield for my actions and emotions. But in doing so I have forgotten what I was trying to do in my life. Perhaps the part of me that is now buried deep within my soul is right and I will eventually return to him. But not now, not when I have the reins of my own fate.

  “Come on, we can’t keep Neoth waiting and make him all grumpy can we?” I said as I took Sylvie by the hand and walked through the doors.

  The set of doors closed automatically behind us with a loud thud. Looking back, there were no guards or people to close it. And from the subtle runes etched onto them I could only guess it was some advanced Djinn technology.

  It took a few moments for our eyes to adjust to the different lighting but when they did.

  “Ladies and gentleman, I humbly present to you the Loom of Fate.” Neoth announced as he threw his arms out.

  It was a massive man made cavern. But to call it a mere cave would have been an insult to both Neoth and I’s efforts. It was huge, its size could have easily fit Xyrus city within its dimensions. And looking at it now it was akin to a city I suppose.

  Large power stations the size of buildings with mana and aether storage units took up most of the floor area. With a massive stepped pyramid at the center of the room, rising at least several hundred meters from the ground. Wires and tubbing snaked around the pyramid and up into the top which had been flattened to fit the control device. From the ceilings large towers constructed to redirect energy and to conceal the whole device were hung. With their fair share of wiring and cables to power them as well.

  It was like a scene out of one of the science fiction novels I had read back when I was a child on old Earth.

  “What in the world?” Sylvie gasped as she looked around in amazement.

  “The Loom of Fate? That was the best name you could have come up with?” Regis said, trying to mask his own surprise.

  “It was Grey’s idea alright.” Neoth retorted.

  Ignoring my companion’s words I began to ascend the steps of the pyramid to the top. Eventually Neoth and the others joined me as we walked up.

  Reaching the top I was met by a large cage made of pure blackstone, synthetized in such a way to actually repel aetheric disturbances. Within that cage was a chair with wires and cables snaking around and out of it.

  Even standing here I could feel the almost magnetic pull from the control device. It had been created by Neoth and I’s hands personally, specifically forged to react to only our mana and aether signature.

  With a shaky hand I opened the cage and stepped into it. The entire underground city seemed to hold its breath as the others all stood in silence. Even Regis kept his mouth shut, sensing from my own mind that this was an important moment.

  Even before sitting upon the chair I could feel it pulling for my aether, welcoming me, beckoning to me.

  I sat upon the chair and opened up my mind. Instantly my mouth turned into that of a scream but the sound never came. My senses, it felt as though my nerves were burning.

  My mind was assaulted as the device began to siphon off my aether to sustain itself. My mind’s vision flashed, I could feel and see… everything.

  The numerous aether arrays Neoth and I have placed all around Dicathen, they all came to life as I powered them all at once across the entire continent.

  The whole of Dicathen was at my fingertips. Every small movement, every rock, every drop of water. It was as though the entire continent had become a part of my body. I could sense everything.

  King’s Gambit activated on instinct to process the sheer load of information that was flooding through my head. The entire underground city shook as purple lightning rained down from the ceiling like the tendrils of some great sea beast looking for its next prey.

  The power stations and control devices were working overtime to contain it. I drove deeper and deeper into my very being. Trying to focus on a singular point in order to not go completely mad.

  When fully set up the Loom will become an extension of myself. Even when physically separate from it would draw upon my aether reserves to continually operate. The machine will need me as much as I need it, a symbiotic relationship of sorts.

  But for now I could feel warmth from my eyes and mouth. Reaching up to touch them my hands were covered in blood, my blood.

  “Papa!” I could make out Sylvie’s faint screams. I could hear them but my brain couldn’t process it.

  I could feel my entire body convulsing and spasming out. Aether was ripped from every pore of my body as the Loom hungrily devoured it to fully power it up.

  “Steady!” Neoth commanded as his staff was burning white. Despite being on the chair to control the device my vision was expanded. My sight could move around the entire underground city as if detached from my body.

  Sweat streamed down Neoth’s face as he was exerting his own mana and aether to stabilize me and the Loom.

  I arched my back, sending bolts of pain through my spine and chest. My mouth began forming words I didn’t know. Some unknown language long forgotten by any race. My mind began to spread out and contract at the same time.

  My vision expanded, encompassing everything. In one continuous moment I saw the whole infinite of creation, everything that has been and will be. And at the same time my mind shrunk in on itself. I could feel every single cell of my own body as I regressed further and further back.

  I saw my past play out a billion times, my future yet untold run through me at the same time. As I continued to mouth unknown words blood began to trickle down the sides of my mouth.

  My chest ached, my core burned like a star. It felt as though my entire body would explode.

  The only thought that filled my mind was that death would be a thousand, no a million times better than this.

  +No. I won’t end like this. Not now.+ I willed myself to live. That was what I did best, no? Beating the insurmountable odds and somehow surviving.

  With my new cellular awareness I urged forward. Commanding my own body to fight through the pain. My mind focused deeper and deeper. Neoth was right, if it hadn’t been for my little exercise with Grey early I would have been toast.

  I could feel myself. My body, my soul. In relation to this reality. The tiny motes of aether and mana that made up the universe and beyond it. The cells of my body, the aetheric energy that bound my soul.

  And then, I could see… him. Off in the distance, he was staring right back at me. His features were a mirror of mine but he clearly was different. He looked older somehow without any clear signs how.

  I could almost reach out and… touch him.

  My mind snapped back into my body. I was breathing heavily but I was sitting on the control device. My clothes were wet with a mix of my blood and sweat.

  Lifting my head I saw Neoth breathing heavily as well. He was hunched over using his staff as support. He stared back at me with a weak smile.

  “It worked eh?” He said between gasps.

  I could only manage a weak smile in return.

  “Papa!” Sylvie cried, she was being held back by Regis who was holding her by the back of her dress. She had tears streaming from both eyes.

  I slowly lifted myself from the device. My first few steps were wobbly and weak but I managed. Even separated from the Loom I could feel it drawing upon my aether. An invisible tether that bound me to the machine as it bound the machine to me.

  “You can let her go now.” Neoth said as he sank to his knees from exhaustion. As soon as Regis obliged Sylvie came running to me.

  Opening the cage I caught her in my arms as she cried. Shouting insults about how dumb I was and how I never told her anything.

  That last comment stung me a bit but still I was thankful to be alive for now.

  After we all caught our breath Neoth came up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

  “It did work right?” He asked, a bit apprehensive.

  I took a deep breath. Calling upon the Loom I could sense my aether through the arrays we have placed all over Dicathen. Creating a protective barrier around the entire continent. That would put a halt to any incursions from Ephetous for now, although the full purpose of the Loom was far larger than just that.

  But in the meantime it will continue to siphon my aether to sustain the barrier as well as heighten my senses across the entire continent.

  I nodded my head as I smiled. “Like a charm.”

  “Says the guy who was bleeding from the mouth and eyes.” Regis said, trying not to sound worried himself.

  “It worked didn’t it?” I said back as I stretched my back.

  With the Ephetous problem solved momentarily for now I could turn my attention upon Agrona and the Djinn.

  Looking back now the entire underground city was alive. My aether powered the whole thing as aether flowed through the machine like water. It would make a dent in my aether reserves but it will have to do for now.

  Turning back I began to walk down the stairway of the pyramid, gesturing for the rest to follow me.

  “Come on then, we have a war to win.”