I stare at Veyta and Glant as they stare into each other’s giant eyes. Glant finally looks away, and speaks up. “That could have gone better.” Veyta leans in to comfort Glant, but stops herself. “It’s okay Glant, we were just super outmatched, besides, we got his attention when everyone else couldn’t, and we both actually hit him more than once, I think that’s pretty good!” Glant looks at Veyta, then looks away again, folding his arms and pouting. “Yeah, but we didn’t win...”

Demi - “Come on Glant, does winning really matter that much?”

Glant looks at me, his arms still crossed. “Shuttup, I wanted to win...” Veyta looks at me, and smiles with her eye closed.. “Don’t worry, he’s just a sore loser, sometimes he got so angry I would have to let him win at Chess.” Glant’s expression turns to full anger, and he looks at Veyta. “I-I’m not a sore los- SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Veyta gets a nervous smile, and she holds her hands up to block Glant’s punch. It has no effect.

Demi - “Do you resort to violence when you’re angry, Glant?”

Veyta looks at me again, and opens her one eye. “Yes, but he wouldn’t ever hurt anyone, he’s just a little unhappy.” Glant gets angrier, and stomps around for a moment, then shouts at Veyta again, revealing his large mouth from his scarf. “FUCK OFF VEYTA!” Veyta just smiles and stands up, then walks off. “Alright then, see ya’ later then.”

Glant’s anger completely subsides in an instant, and he almost looks worried. “W-Wait, don’t go!” Veyta stops then giggles, and walks back over. “Okay then.” Glant walks over and hugs her, that pouty expression back on his face. “I’m sorry...” Veyta just holds Glant and speaks. “It’s okay, I know you don’t mean to be rude.”

Demi - “Is he usually like this?”

Veyta shakes her head slowly. “No, as I said, he’s just unhappy Mr. Arigold zapped me, and he couldn’t do anything.” Glant looks at the floor, and sits up again. “I’ll beat him up together for that...” Veyta smiles and places her hand on Glant’s shoulder, Glant simply looks at her. “I will beat him up, you’ll annihilate him with your amazing magic.” Glant begins to look happier, and he raises his fists. “Yeah, you’re right! Let’s go train together Veyta!” Veyta nods and they run out of my Room, smiling together.

I guess they didn’t need my help after all, I’m just glad they’re happy.

That was the last group for the Arigold Emotional Counseling, we should get back to work.

Hey, we should increase our Mana Storage, so we can extend our Mana Zone Range, we couldn’t do anything during that fight.

Good point, I’ll get to that later, we need to see how the tunnel systems are going, we’ve been in here for a while.

Alright then.

I exit the Room I had dug out through a special opening that connects my Lake to the AEC Room. I look around, and I can see Calvin, and Celscy sitting together, resting. I connect to them.

Demi - “Hey, you guys look pretty exhausted, how’s the excavation going?”

Calvin opens his left eye, and looks at me. “We’ve just finished the last one, Demitallis-Genesis.” Celscy is also looking at me, but she’s also pretty tired.

Demi - “Wow, you both really are amazing, this is all going by so fast.”

Calvin grins, and closes his eyes. “Yes, freedom from that.. Thing... I think I will return to my slumber, Demitallis-Genesis, thank you for the words of praise.” Calvin and Celscy both return to the aforementioned slumber, and I leave them alone.

I try calling Flarenzerva, and she just about connects, teaching her Telepathy has really helped, we can combine our ranges to link up at further ranges.

Demi - “How’s it going on your side Flare, is the Tunnel ready?”

Flar - “Yes, I’ve just about finished preparing the drop zone for Vexalan, we’re right under Miss Lian.”

Demi - “Great job, I’ll go ask Magnimeld about the Tunnel System, you get Vexalan ready.”

Flar - “You got it Cap’n!”

We disconnect, and I find Magnimeld. He’s been sitting there watching over the tunnel entrances, his hat has melted on his body, and lost its original shape, at least it fits him better. Let’s connect.

Demi - “Hey, Magny, how’s the tunneling been?”

Magnimeld doesn’t respond verbally, but instead approaches me, and bounces happily.

Demi - “Should I take this as the Castle Exits are finished too?”

Magnimeld stops bouncing, and looks over at the other Children who are resting, they just give us a thumbs up.

Demi - “Thanks for keeping everything in order, Buddy.”

Magnimeld glows brightly, as I disconnect from him, trying to convey his glee.

I guess this means one thing: Everyone is ready.

It’s been a few days, but we’re finally here.

Yep, let’s wait on Vexalan.

And on that beat, Vexalan enters the Egress, and lands in front of me. “I’m ready! Where’s the tunnel?!” She looks around aggressively. I connect to her.

Demi - “Calm down soldier, it’s right behind you, you just go get Lian, and we’ll be waiting for you.”

I disconnect from Vexalan as she runs off.

- √C -

I dart through the tunnel, using my lightning to enhance my speed. I find Flare at the end of the Tunnel, and she looks at me. “Be ready to catch her!” Flare fires a beam of Fire she’s been charging up all day at the ceiling. Lian falls from the ceiling, I catch her in my Arms, she looks at me. “I told you I would come back for you!” She clings to me with her arms, and finally says something. “Yes, I had complete trust in you, but we have to be quick, Arigold is already on his way here.” She stares at me, as I stare back at her. “R-Right.” Flare clings to my shoulder, as I dart off at full speed.

I return to the Main Room, and I shout. “WE’RE READY!” I find Demitallis sitting on Calvin’s Back, he must be sharing his Mana once more.

Demi - “Everyone else is too, let’s go!”

Everyone stares at me with relief, and surprise at the new Girl, until she speaks up. “The Third Tunnel, that’s the best choice, we must escape through that one.” Everyone stares at her, they’re surprised she knew the Plan. “Demitallis, your first name was Charlotte, you’re the leader, you need to convince them to start moving.” Charlotte- What’s- I can’t- I stare at Lian as Demi uses her Telepathy Relay.

Demi - “Lianlovloragram, we have some things to talk about when we get out of here.”

Demi - “Let’s get moving everyone, Third Tunnel it is!”

What does this girl know?! Everyone darts through the Tunnel, they’re quick, but I’m quicker. I bolt past everyone, surprising all of them, that I can move at this speed, while holding someone like this.

“What the hell is going on, Lian, what did you do?!” I shout at her, as she looks back at me, and speaks up. “You’ve dropped your Facade, Vexalan.” What the- How did- “What... What are you?” I drop the aggression, and she continues to stare at me with that unnerving expression. “I am Lianlovloragram, and I’m a user of the HDR. I’m the oldest living creature on this planet, I’ve simulated and predicted every event that has ever happened, yes, even Demitallis. Though, my Body is weak, and I couldn’t beat Arigold, so now I’m using you guys to achieve that goal.” You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, this can’t be real. I laugh, as I start talking. “You’re joking right? This can’t be real.”

She just stares at me, and continues. “It is. Your name is Vexalan-Genesis, you’re the most powerful Child from Genesis Facility, not that you’re physically, or magically impressive, but that you can convince, and manipulate any of your siblings, to do what you want. In your spare time you also like to practice your Singing. You’re far from the best, but you should have more faith in your Skills.” I’m having trouble processing this... “Okay, so you are for real, but what does that even mean?” Lian grins at me. “It means you and your whole Family have already escaped. Just do as I tell you to, and everything will be fine.” I nod, and I get to the end of the Tunnel, there’s a Mana Crystal at the end. I charge lightning in my mouth, and fire off my Rumble Round.

“WRAH!!!”

The Rumble Round rips through the air, and strikes everything in front of me. The Crystal creates a massive explosion, and I can see the light once more.

“Did you really think you could escape, Lianlovloragram?”

Arigold stands there, staring at us, Karmi’s Deity in hand. No, this isn’t fair, we trusted her- what- this is- this is all my fault. I fall to my knees, as tears stream down my face. “I’ve already won Arigold, go home. Did you really think I would have chosen this Exit, if I knew it wasn’t the best one?” Wait, what? I stare at Lian as Arigold speaks once more. “You chose this path because you knew I would be here, you decided that I would be the easiest out of everyone to convince.” Lian just stares at him, unnerving, the weakest Girl vs the Strongest Man. “I chose you, because I knew you would be the only one I could convince. You’d best get going while you still have time. I wouldn’t have broken out now, if this wasn’t the perfect time. So run off little boy, return home while you still have time, you still have a chance.” My eyes helplessly flick between Arigold to Lianlovloragram, I can’t believe what I am seeing. Arigold speaks up one last time. “I will be back for you, Vexalan, there is no escape.” Arigold bashes his Weapon against the Air, and it cracks, it’s like he’s breaking reality. As the pieces fall down, he walks through the new opening, and disappears. The broken air repairs itself, and the opening is gone. “What... What just happened?” I say, as I try to stand up. “I told you, this was the best choice. The Golden Kingdom is massive, Vexalan. Of course they had Soldiers posted at the exits of each Tunnel.”

So that’s how it is, we would have never escaped... “It wasn’t a bad plan, but you need to remember that you’re still children, and you didn’t even have that much information. Besides, in the end, it still worked, did it not?” ... “That’s right, it did, it did work! Thank you, Lian...” She just nods to me.

But out of nowhere, I found myself laughing, I couldn’t stop myself. Lian is staring at me, is she surprised? She starts laughing too. We were laughing, laughing at how ridiculous this all was, at how ridiculous, dangerous, and amazing all of this was.

We were stuck here laughing until Demitallis and everyone else got back to us.

- √B -

“My Son, is something wrong?” My Father stares at me worriedly. “They’ve escaped...” I say, as my senses flare up again. “I can feel it, they’ve broken out of my range, I must retrieve them.” My Father tries to say something, but I’m already gone before I hear anything. I run around the castle, and activate my Illusion Sense. There’s illusions everywhere, they’ve been busy. I cast a Counter Spell to remove all of the illusions, and I find the underground pathways. They’ve been VERY busy...

Wait, they made an opening all the way to... I sense the Children running through one of the large passages they made, one of them just bolted past the others. Then so be it.

I smash my hand against the Air, and activate my Space Magic, it creates seams in the air, and reality quivers under my power. I walk through the new opening, and I find myself in front of the exit of the Escape Tunnel.

After a while, it explodes open, and Vexalan jumps out, carrying Lianlov, this time I make sure they’re within range of my Voice. “Did you really think you could escape, Lianlovloragram?”

After the briefest conversation, I’ve decided to leave, I have far more important things I have to take care of anyways...

- √A -

We find ourselves at the exit, looking around we find Vexalan and Lian giggling together.

Demi - “You ran off without us, did everything go well?”

“Yeah, we’ve escaped, we’re free.” Tears flow from Vexalan’s face, she looks so happy. “Let’s move everyone, we can set up camp at night!” Lian says, still smiling. Vexalan calls out happily to Celscy. “Celscy, come here!” And on that beat, Celscy runs over, and lowers herself. Vexalan picks up Lian, carrying her onto Celscy’s back.

We finally set off into the Forest, everyone together. After about a day of walking, we’re at a comfortable distance from The Golden Kingdom. It wasn’t too eventful, we fought strange creatures here and there, but nobody got particularly hurt. Kind of hard to beat 20,000 People, even if they are Children.

We’ve set up Camp, and everyone’s staying as close together as they can. I think it’s time I finally asked them.

Demi - “I... I’ve been meaning to ask, what do all of you plan to do? I don’t expect you to have the same dream as me, to go on fun adventures, that wouldn’t be realistic. So what does everyone plan to do?”

Everyone’s silent, they’re all looking at me in my Large Bowl.

Velo - “What, everyone wants to stay together, right? If anyone wishes to leave, please speak up!”

Wait, what?

Nobody speaks up. Not one of them. My Telepathy had never known such deafening silence.

Demi - “What- There are 20,000 of us, we can’t all want to stay together, can we?!”

Calv - “Demitallis-Genesis, everyone has dreams and desires of their own.”

Cels - “We’re still intelligent, and living creatures, just like you.”

Flar - “But we also love each other, and besides...”

Velo - “Can’t we achieve our dreams with you?”

Demi - “What are you- I don’t get it...”

Vexa - “Demitallis, you’re our precious little sister, and the last gift Mother has left for us, nobody is going to give you up, so you’re stuck with us.”

Veyt - “It might be clingy, it might be creepy, but we love you.”

Glan - “And there’s nothing you can do to stop us, so please, just accept us.”

Zolt - “Let’s go on epic adventures together!”

Arib - “Let’s grow up together!”

Ster - “It’ll be way better together!”

( Steriya, she was in Chapter 1 Root C, she’ll get more development soon. )

Tall - “Let’s have fun together!”

( Talliope. )

Magn - “Can’t we stay with you, little sister?”

Lexi - “When... When Mother died, she had left me with these words: ‘There is nothing left I can give you, Lexis, so please, do for them what your Mother couldn’t, find their happiness once more, and take care of everyone, for me.’ That is exactly what I plan to do.“

...

A cacophony of voices ring out in my head, but they’re perfected, I can make out each and every one of them. They’re all pleading with me, to stay with them, so they can stay with me.

Why? Why?! What is driving this desire?!

Demi - “You...”

Everyone continues to plead, they can’t hear me...

Demi - “YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ME!!!”

Everything was silent, I had shouted at them too loudly, I must have hurt them again, not just Veloura, but all of them, I should be ashamed... You all deserve better than me...

Lexi - “Why does that matter?”

Demi - “What?”

Lexi - “Why does it matter, that we don’t know you? What does that change?”

Demi - “But...”

Lexi - “We love you Demi, if we have to know you, then let’s get to know each other. Hi, I’m Lexis-Cordial-Genesis, I’m your older brother from Genesis Haven.”

Velo - “Hello, Demitallis, I’m Velouravan-Genesis, I’m your big sister from Genesis Haven, just like Lex.”

Calv - “I am Calvinaz-Genesis, meeting you, Demitallis-Genesis, is the greatest honor that has ever been bestowed upon me.”

Flar - “I’m Flarenzerva-Genesis, I’m a Blitz Fairy, I’m your older sister from Genesis-Haven.”

Cels - “I’m Celscinaga-Genesis, I’m your older sister, Demitallis-Genesis, and I would follow you through Hell and back, if it meant we could live together.”

Vexa - “I am Vexalan-Genesis, I’m your older sister, I’m from Genesis Haven, we should hang out together some time.”

Zolt - “Demi! I’m your amazing older brother Zoltin-Genesis, I would brave anything for you!”

Ster - “I’m your older sister Steriya-Genesis, let’s find a path we can all take, Demitallis!”

Magn - “I’m your older brother Magnimeld-Genesis! Let’s forge our own future!”

Arib - “I’m your older sister Aribora-Genesis, Demitallis, we’ll grow up together.”

Glan - “I am your older brother Glantinazor-Genesis, let’s make the ultimate Trio!”

Veyt - “I’m your older sister Veytatasm-Genesis, we’ll go anywhere with you!”

Tall - “Hey... I’m Talliope-Harlequin-Genesis, let’s play the ultimate Prankster’s Gambit, you, me, and everyone else. We’ll have an amazing adventure, and we’ll see a world where everyone can laugh, where everyone can be happy, even him.”

Lexi - “So, who are you?”

End of Chapter: 11√ABC “Who are you?”

Thank you.