Volume I Chapter 5 Part III Birth of a Wish (II)

Suddenly, when Nova and Qoo’s blades were about to pierce their foes, an unusual and abrupt light-blue mana sphere materialized between Qoo and Regan, and Nova and Iri.

Yet, all four were unable to detect the sudden attack, as the mana spheres imploded a millisecond before violently exploding, throwing all four in opposite directions, knocking them off their balance and making them roll over the sand.

*TWEN-POW-PAAAAAAF!*

“Kh…” Nova rolled on the sand without dropping her katana while Regan stood back on his feet immediately after, slightly confused about what had just happened.

“Agh. First time seeing a sequence like-” Regan stopped as he saw a white phantasmal female silhouette resembling an Elin a few meters away from him.

Qoo and Iri by their side were also looking at this while standing up and regrouping at a side, while Nova and Regan did the same.

“What the hell?” Regan exclaimed, baffled at what he was seeing before him. He’d seen mana bodies before in the Nightmare Realm…but never this powerful. This Eidolon seemed like the source of the mana blast.

The explosion, fortunately, did not critically damage the four, or better said, the mana blast left them untouched; they were oblivious that they were protected by a magic shield the moment they noticed the mana blast, which absorbed the entire force and then vanished away as quickly as it was casted on them.

After a few seconds, the Eidolon just vanished in the air before either of the parties were able to react.

“This is too annoying!” Regan ranted, losing his patience.

“There is no time for that. Our orders were clear, brother.” Nova reminded firmly while cleaning the sand off her dress.

But suddenly, a powerful beam headed towards Nova and Regan from above and before either of them could react…

*BOOOM*

Nova and Regan just managed to lift their arms up to their head by pure reflex, and then noticed that Zelel was right in front of them, as she conjured a dark mana dome around them, protecting them from the deadly laser.

Zelel had a few cuts over her beige skin, but they soon regenerated at a very fast pace, repairing the damage, quickly displaying her untouched.

After defending Nova and Regan from the laser, she dispersed the dome and looked forward while the dust cloud scattered.

“Hehehehehehe, it was a wonderful dance, Zelel. But it is time to go. I cannot keep wasting my time with your useless existences.” Zelel and the others were able to hear Quote’s mocking voice.

Nova and Regan by their side were wary of their surroundings for any surprise attack, ready to defend themselves at any time. But Zelel just turned around and fluttered her wings.

“They are gone,” Zelel said calmly, with cold emotionless eyes while the dust cloud behind her dispersed, revealing that Quote, Qoo and Iri were no longer there.

““Our apologies, Our Highness. We’ve failed as your blades.”” Nova and Regan exclaimed with respect in practiced unison while bowing with a knee over the sand.

“You are free to take our lives as punishment for our incompetence,” Nova added straight away while unhooking her katana scabbard and then lifting it towards Zelel horizontally.

“Fufufufufufufu...we accomplished our mission, the Reapers were able to retrieve their friend’s corpse after all, we can persecute Quote later.” Zelel pointed out calmly, as Sayune’s corpse was no longer in the desert as the Reapers retrieved it during the battles while Nova kept handing her katana to Zelel.

“There is no need, Nova. But make sure to not fail me again, both you and your brother.” Zelel exclaimed emotionlessly to Nova.

Instantly after, Nova hooked her scabbard to her belt around her hilt and asked, awaiting her next orders along her brother, who had remained in silence all this time.

“What we must do now, My Highness?” Nova awaited their next orders, while still bowing.

“We will return to our Realm for now and prepare our next step. Fufufufufu...if what that Eidolon said is true, then we must continue our plan.” Zelel exclaimed, her gaze affixed to the blue sky with her hands behind her back.

It was so different to their usual landscape, so rich and beautiful…and so many new opportunities for her people.

“Fufufufu. I cannot wait to see what this realm can offer…” Zelel murmured to herself, as she took a long deep breath.

““It will be done, my Highness.”” Nova and Regan replied to Zelel as she witnessed the landscape, while they awaited their Highness’ signal to return to the Nightmare Realm.

Past, unknown location.

“Release me! Where am I?!” Mech cried upon awakening, while a High Elf and a Human wearing surgical attire dragged her by her arms down a large, white hallway which every now and then had a large, black ‘07’ written on the walls.

The last thing Mech could remember was that she was in the nearest forest of Pora Elinu, known as ‘Blessed Woods’, collecting some Vitalia Flowers to process the flower essence into a minor healing unguent to help aid wounded soldiers arriving from the battlefront during the War of the Races.

But while she was in her daily routine, she felt something strike her head, rendering her unconscious.

That’s all that she could remember till now.

No matter how much Mech yelled and cried, the High Elf and Human remained unfazed, as their cold hands kept dragging her by her arms till they arrived at a room and placed her on a surgical bed as they tied her arms and legs with metallic chains and left without uttering a single word.

“What’s this? What is happening?” Mech murmured to herself on the verge of tears, struggling to break free from the chains only to realize there is no escape.

She never knew that what was going to happen, was going to tear apart the feeble world she had always lived in.

She was chained to a cold bed within a surprisingly sanitized windowless white room.

Mech’s breathing was agitated and all her senses focused at their peak, but even her sharp senses could not sense anything, besides hearing her own breath and pounding heart.

“RELEASE ME! I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT RELEASE ME! Please...” Mech begged for mercy, but she received no response at all.

“PLEASE! PLEASE I BEG YOU!”

Suddenly, a human wearing surgical clothes entered the room with a syringe in hand, containing a transparent liquid.

“All will be well as long you cooperate with us.” The man stated, and he injected the liquid into Mech’s left arm without resistance and then left the room.

However, Mech kept shouting in despair, she could feel the ominous danger she was in from the human’s cold and empty words. Mech kept shouting and struggling to free herself till a heavy drowsiness flooded her mind, forcing her into a deep slumber.

…

…

“The test subject 879 has awoken.”

Mech heard a cold, distorted voice. Yet she found it difficult to even open her eyes, as her eyelids felt heavy, similar to the feeling after a long nap.

‘It is cold...wait...my clothes?’ Mech asked to herself, as she was unable to feel her clothes on her which meant she was naked on the bed, feeling the cold metallic shackles on her naked wrists and legs, immobilized by the chains.

‘How long have I slept?’ Mech thought while slowly opening her eyes, and when she managed to open them she saw...numerous surgical carts, numerous wooden boxes.

Then she lifted her gaze and saw several Humans and High Elves around her wearing surgical suits and surgical masks. She also saw numerous unknown surgical tools next to her bed.

Immediately, her breathing grew agitated from fear boiling within her Fragment of Life as her instinct felt the danger.

“Release me, please! What do you want to do with me?! Please!” Mech begged for answers as she leaked tears again.

“Command, the effect of the somniferous drug was not enough to start the intervention.” A human besides Mech spoke while placing a hand on his right ear.

Then she heard a muffled voice coming somewhere next to her, more precisely, from the Human right ear, he had a small black-green dispositive at it.

-“There is no time to induce her sleep again, proceed as planned.”-

“Understood. The tests on the subject 879 point that she have no mana fluctuations, but after further investigation, we have discovered that these are just blocked by biological problems.” The human exclaimed as he turned around and looked at Mech.

“That being said, we think that the subject 879 is viable for the Archangel Project: M.O.W program.” The Human kept speaking aloud as if he was recording his own voice somehow.

The Human eyes inspected Mech’s naked body coldly, as if she was a frog about to be dissected, lying on a cold, metallic table.

“Archangel Project? What’s that?! Just let me go! Please! Anyone! Please! Help me!” Mech yelled, as she slightly lifted her head and looked at the other Humans and High Elves within the room, but none even flinched for a second.

“The tests on the subject 879 seems optimal and ready for the intervention. We are going to apply the Stormcrow model: STRC-9B.” The Human exclaimed ignoring Mech, as the people within the room, upon hearing his words started to move around and make preparations.

“Be ready to connect the systems as soon as possible.” The Human ordered and then took a step toward Mech.

“Preparing bioreactors and artificial systems. STRC-9B systems will be ready in 5 minutes.” A High Elf replied back upon hearing the Human’s order, as the people inside the room started to move around, preparing every detail.

“Good. Prepare the instruments.” The Human said after turning his head back, ordering to some nurses behind him to get ready.

"I will proceed to start the surgical intervention now. Scalpel.” The same human added as the Human woman behind him handed the scalpel.

“Starting intervention.” The human exclaimed coldly as Mech watched the scalpel looming before her eyes.

“What, what are you doing?!” Mech cried in tears, but she wasn't even able to move a little, since the chains had tightened even more than before, nearly trapping her completely.

“We will start cutting the flesh.” The Human spoke coldly, as the others just looked at Mech and then the Human placed the scalpel between the clavicle and humerus.

“No...no don’t do it! Please! I beg you...I haven’t done anything to any of you...I was just looking for medicinal flowers to help my people!” Mech exclaimed frightened while crying.

The Human hesitated for a second upon looking at Mech’s indigo eyes trembling in despair fixing on the silver scalpel he had on his hand.

-“Proceed with the intervention, it is an order.”- Mech heard a male voice from the communication device again thanks to her sensitive fox ears.

The human turned around and placed his hand over his left ear and then spoke through the communication device while Mech kept silently crying.

“Sir, you said that we had retrieved this subject as a traitor, what she says-” But while the Human spoke, he was interrupted.

-”What she says has no value now, follow your orders, soldier.”-

“Yes, sir.” The Human replied and turned around again with the scalpel in his hand.

“Please!” Mech yelled in despair upon seeing the scalpel near her skin once again...the human took a long, deep breath and then exclaimed, ignoring Mech’s yells.

“Starting.” The human pressed the scalpel down without hesitation, cutting Mech’s flesh like butter.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Mech cried in pain as tears came out of her eyes involuntarily at the same time she was able to feel her warm blood going out of her body.

The latex gloves of the human were stained with blood immediately while the scalpel cut the skin, muscle, and tendons in just one swipe.

“AHHHHHHH!” Mech kept crying loudly, as the pain was so intense that she was unable to fall unconscious, while the Human kept cutting her flesh and at the same time the blood soaked the slim white sheets of the bed.

“Aghh...aghh...ahh…” Mech trembled, as her voice was slowly fading away, losing vitality after every long cry of pain while her vision blurred.

“The subject is unstable, inject adrenaline to keep her alive for five more minutes. We must do this quickly.” The Human ordered, as a male Amani approached and injected her with adrenaline.

Mech’s vision got back to normal instantly after, but the pain was still there, but she just could give some drowned cries of pains, as her voice was aphonic after her long cries of pain.

“I’ve reached the bone. Hand me the bone saw.” The Human ordered coldly and the nurse handed him the bone saw from behind.

Mech by her side, just yelled in mute cries of pain, opening her mouth and trembling while her bone was cut by the saw as her vision started to blur again.

“I will start the optics.” A High Elf exclaimed at Mech’s head was taken by two cold hands from behind as her wide open eyes saw the sharp edge of a silver scalpel.

“Agh.....please…s-stop...” Mech spoke weakly with the remaining strength she had left.

“Optics starting.” The High Elf exclaimed. Then Mech saw the blade of a scalpel near her left eye and then it stabbed her eye as Mech felt an indescribable, sharp pain

The blood lightly splattered the surgical suits of the Human and High Elf near Mech, as her eye was cut and painfully removed piece by piece.

Mech was just able to move her fingers and toes and clench her fists trying to endure the pain while giving deaf yells, as her voice ran out.

“…” Mech had her mouth trying to cry in pain but nothing came out.

“Her vitals are low!” Someone informed from behind.

“Inject more adrenaline!” The Human ordered.

But Mech’s body gave out as the ‘surgeons’ kept modifying her body while her mind and conscience faded away.

*** *** *** ***

Mech opened her indigo eyes; in contrast, her indigo eyes had lost their usual brightness of the past, and despite retaining their vividness, their vivid coruscant from her younger years, it was long ago gone since those tormentous days.

She always remembers those days when she closes her eyes to sleep or rest, experiencing nightmares that none should ever endure as they crawled within her mind every single day of her existence like vultures hovering over a dying prey.

From the window at the right side of the bed, the dim light of dawn seeped through the clean clear glass, gradually illuminating up Mech’s room.

Mech’s long, blonde hair was sprawled on the white pillow under her head as she lifted her left hand.

Suddenly...Mech heard a voice within her room, as in an instant her room was impregnated in mana membrane.

Instantly after, red flickering words appeared on Mech’s vision alerting her of intruders.

[ / / S Y S T E M : W A R N I N G / / ]

[Multiple Magic Signatures Detected...]

[...Non-Systematic Magic Signature Detected]

[Proposal. Activate AMS and SCM Systems]

‘An anti-vectorial mana sequence? This non-systematic sequence…impossible, this is only possible with a MoW unit-!’ Mech quickly thought, but she was soon interrupted by a familiar voice.

“You know what you must do, Mech.”

“All of us know what you just must do.”

“Shut up, Sayha 2.”

“Eh? So mean! I wanted to speak too!”

Without wasting a second, Mech lifted her torso along starting several magic sequences ready to attack the intruders; but she canceled her spells, upon seeing several Eidolons walking closer to her bed without any hostility.

[Cancelling Complex Integrated Systematic Sequences…]

“You…you are the ones I saw in Velika!” Mech exclaimed as the white sheets slid down off her body, revealing her light pink dress-like pajama.

There were several Eidolons, each of their bodies were made of white particles, forming an Elin body with a simple, dress-like pajama.

“Correct.” One of the Eidolons said as a few sat on Mech’s bed, while others stood next to the bed.

“Who are you exactly? How are you capable of using non-systematic magic?” Mech asked right away almost without thinking.

““We are unable to respond to your question.”” All the Eidolons replied in unison as Mech looked at them, left and right, confused.

‘What’s wrong with them?’ Mech thought upon hearing a robotic-like answer.

“Why are all of you here then? Can’t you answer that?” Mech changed her question, while she gave a deep breath, calming down her mind and body as the sudden apparition of the Eidolons took her in surprise.

“Affirmative. We are here to help you to take a decision. We know that in this very moment, you feel alone and abandoned.” The Eidolon in front of her bed spoke as the others remained in silence, looking at Mech as she clenched her fists along the sheets and then looked down.

Her ocher wolf ears twitched upon hearing the Eidolon’s words, they were correct. Despite trying to hide those feelings deep inside her fragment of life, she was unable to remain calm after hearing them saying it so easily.

“Who are you to say that?! I don’t know any of you to say me something like that! You don’t know how I feel! How lonely I feel!” Mech shouted as she closed her eyes, feeling a warm sensation on her fragment of life.

“Correction. You know us better than what you believe.” An Eidolon exclaimed as Mech looked at it baffled.

“We know your suffering and loneliness. That’s why we are here.” Another added as Mech gritted her teeth, for her these words were nothing more than that. Words. Empty words.

“You all know nothing about me! What do you want of me?! I don’t want to suffer anymore...I just want to...I want to…” Mech shouted as tears started to slid down her cheeks.

“You must accept what you are and move on.” The same Eidolon in front of her bed exclaimed, interrupting Mech words.

Mech kept herself in silence for a few seconds, clenching her sheets even tighter…

“I CANNOT ACCEPT HOW MANY PEOPLE I KILLED, YOU DON’T KNOW HOW PAINFUL IS EVERYDAY TO LIVE WITH THIS WEIGHT OVER MY SHOULDERS!” Mech shouted losing her composure.

“I CANNOT MOVE ON, I CAN’T! EVERY TIME I TRY, THEIR BLOODY FACES APPEAR IN FRONT OF ME!! I CAN’T!” Mech kept shouting as the Eidolons just looked at her in silence with a cold expression on their faces.

“I CAN’T I CAN’T I CAN’T! I JUST WANT TO-”

“What are you going to accomplish with that? The option you are choosing right now is common of a coward and you know it very well, Mech.” The Eidolon in front of her, known as Sayha 1 spoke calmly.

“The only way to reach peace in our fragment of life is to accept what you are and bring a better future for everyone. You must accept yourself and move on. The visions which Sayune gave you have a great importance for you and everyone.” Sayha 1 kept speaking as Mech looked at her while she was still crying.

Mech in that moment was completely touched by Sayha 1’s words, despite the fact that they were nearly cold, somehow her words managed to reach Mech’s fragment of life.

“Remember, you never going to be alone. If you ever feel alone again, we will be here again.” Sayha 1 said softly while looking at Mech, while the other Eidolons nodded.

“We trust in you, everyone trusts that you will choose correctly. I know you will.” Sayha 1 exclaimed before she and the other Eidolons along the magic membrane disappeared in half a second, leaving Mech alone once again.

…

…

Mech eyes were gazing at the emptiness while in her head Sayha 1’s words echoed repeatedly.

“I must...carry on...because... I am not alone” Mech muttered a few words thoughtfully, remembering Caut...Valentina...Korah...Nethaniel...Lyns...and now the Eidolons.

All of them had been supporting her during all this time in their own and particular ways. She was certainly not alone at all, she was just covering her own eyes because of her suffering, letting her suffering control her mind and blind her.

“If everyone trusts in me, is because I can do it...and I want to accomplish their expectations...I wish to accomplish them!” Mech exclaimed as the mana fluctuations around her started to focus on her.

“I must find the answers of all this, and then help everyone. I know there must be a reason that my mother gave me this gift before she died...there must be a reason.” Mech spoke to herself without hesitation, with a renewed determination.

As Mech spoke alone in the room, the mana fluctuations started to focus on her gradually, connecting with her magic body.

“I will find the answers to all this. I promise it to myself and to all who entrusted me.” Mech exclaimed placing her hands on her chest and then clutched them.

Then her eyes became gradually yellow, completely of a brilliant yellow. She finally accepted Sayune’s gift, the visions of the future.

Mech will soon understand the secrets behind her very own existence and the world she is living in…

All the possible futures started to show up before her eyes…

Simultaneously with the visions, Mech gave a small smile as tears filled her eyes and then these slid down her cheeks. Sayune’s gift wasn’t what she expected.

Kaiator outskirts.

From the heights of a snowy mountain, Quote, Qoo and Iri were looking from afar at Kaiator, which was a huge, metallic fortress city where there were the best blacksmiths of the whole realm while a harsh snowy blizzard was taking place.

A brilliant orange color was able to be seen from afar of the large forges surrounding the fortified city. Kaiator was not a simple fortified city, it was one of the greatest resistances back in the Argon War and the place where the Argons did their first violent contact with the dwellers of this realm.

During the Argon War, Kaiator never yielded no matter how many Argons tried to destroy it, where the fierce Amanis were the main defenders almost during the whole war. During this war, Kaiator quickly earned the title of ‘Hope forgers’, as every city of the provinces near Kaiator attack by the numerous Argons, crumbled down in just hours.

“Uhm?” Quote muttered as he turned his head back after feeling a short but powerful mana fluctuation and then returned her head to the front.

“Hehehehe…” Quote laughed silently for himself placing his hand on the back like a gentleman.

“Nothing has changed after all, Master. We did it exactly as planned.” Qoo exclaimed as their brown, long tunics fluttered by the snowy blizzard. Qoo and Iri also were able to feel that mana fluctuation coming from Mech, but for some reason remained in silence.

The three were unfazed by the freezing cold of the blizzard while standing on the cold snow of a rocky mountain.

“Indeed, both of you did it perfectly. Congratulations.” Quote said with his usual mocking tone.

“Then, this means that the ruptures are meaningless?” Iri asked in that regard.

“Hehe…extinction is absolute, Iri. This world is destined to perish no matter how hard these useless puppets resist.” Quote lectured in his usual mocking tone without a hint of hesitation.

“I see. Then Sayune’s theory was wrong.” Iri replied shortly as Qoo just gave a step closer to Iri, gently placing herself shoulder with shoulder with Iri, as if consoling her.

“What’s our next step then, Master?” Qoo asked respectfully as Iri remained in silence.

“We will wait, and observe from afar how this world brings its own destruction,” Quote said calmly, fixing his gaze at Kaiator.

““Understood, Master.”” Qoo and Iri replied in unison.

The blizzard then grew stronger and denser as the three kept staring at Kaiator in silence, unfazed by the harsh weather.

Credits to I4MD347H and LechnerPR for editing!