“Don’t know huh? Kekekekeke, well I don’t blame you.” Zeaxar got up and turned around “Wait” he was about to leave but I began speaking “There is something else you might want to know” he stopped and glanced back “And what is that?”. I turned and sat on the bed side “I don’t know how to fully explain it myself…Did Alexius explain champions to you?“ he raised an eyebrow “Yes he did, do you believe it?” I pressed my right arm onto my chest “Yes…now I fully do…What I…what Matthew was…he was also a champion…chosen by the being that is chaos to gather the others and use their power to regain it’s power back. The Cerberus project mistakenly stopped that by eliminating it’s champion as he awakened, but they failed at something. Matthew’s soul never left the body for some reason…My…Kyle’s soul merged with Matthew’s and strained the body…when I binded my spirits to the aethers it was Matthew’s soul that shattered and was used…imagine if you glue together two pieces of anything, if you were to try and break it…it’s obvious where it would break first. The time I had been taken into my soul realm…the soul fragments didn’t gain a consciousness…they already had one…that time my…Kyle’s soul had taken in to Matthew’s memories becoming him…the soul fragments representing Matthew…wanted their body back…Back at the coliseum…the two souls bound together completely…it makes sense to me now…I don’t know which is prevailing so I still don’t know who I am but…Chaos wanted to decide that itself…” Zeaxar sighed “I somehow understand your jibber jabber but what do you mean decide that itself?”. I rose from the bed and stood up “Chaos contacted me as I slept…It asked me to sever Kyle’s soul from Matthew’s body…” I stumbled a step forward ”it wanted to take over the body itself…Three others blocked it from doing so…Zeaxar…we are playing a game made by Gods…” he narrowed his eyes and held his gaze “A Gods’ game huh?...my kind has had enough of those…”. I clenched my fists “We both have had enough of those…but these aren’t fakes like the Atlantians…the power I and Alexius have is real…Did he tell you? Ell is also one…I don’t know which but…”

He continued my sentence “That makes three…Chaos…Corruption and another…so that leaves two still unknown…” I nodded “Not just that but also the priests…each champion has a priest…and we only know of one which I killed…that one also mentioned that the void…the void was the previous champion of corruption…” his eyes widened as he spoke “A champion can gain that much power?...” he lowered his head and seemingly was deep in thought. “It’s a good thing I’m…well almost as good at negotiating as you…” he smirked “I would rather divide the power of you three through different outfits but…if what you said is true then…” he sighed “Matthew, Kyle who ever the hell you want to call yourself. Your platoon leadership role is from now on removed, you will lead a new squad that is to be formed under my direct supervision similar to the Elite squad. Come to my office in two hours, you have that long to figure yourself out”. He turned and disappeared, the elite squad did the same except for the one I knew to be Leya “Matt…” I looked away from her “You don’t need to say anything…just leave me alone. Where are my spirits?” she looked at the ground and raised her right arm, two spiralling shadows exited her palm and rushed towards me. The shadows took form and both Ember and Wayne appeared rushing to me, Ember landed on my left shoulder and surrounded my neck like a scarf while Wayne tried to grab onto my arm but fell to the floor. They both turned and hissed at her “They were too problematic to calm down so I…never mind…” she turned and also disappeared. I sighed and rested my back to the wall as I thought things through “Master…what happened? Are they to be seen as hostile?” Wayne spoke as he climbed up my left leg and shirt to reach my head “No…no they aren’t…not yet anyway…Did you two hear what we said?” I glanced at Ember and she nodded “We never thought…it’s all so strange…your soul always felt strange…but all this…it’s insane…” Ember rested her head on my left shoulder after she was finished speaking. “Yeah…it is…and I don’t know what to do…it’s all so…crazy…Zeaxar wants me to lead a squad now…but I don’t know if I have it in me to…I don’t even know if my decisions are my own anymore…” my mind felt foggy and dread filled my gut.

In the end I decided I should eat something and went for the door, I left Wayne and Ember on the bed resting. When I opened it though I found the last person I expected waiting for me (“I almost forgot about her…”) I closed the door behind me. I didn’t speak but just stared at the princess wearing our uniform as she stood there clenching her fists “What is the meaning of this…” she was glaring at me but I could sense the fear prevailing over her anger, “Meaning? You’re an asset and was used as such, there is no other meaning behind it. You are a hostage to be kept by us until your kind proves itself to us, simple as that” her anger became more apparent as she began to grit her teeth “Then why this?...why not just cage me up somewhere…your horned boss told me…why must I…Why must I bed you?...is this what your kind sees as spoils or war?...!” she shouted but her statement only confused me “Bed me? What do you mean? I never…” she stepped forward and slapped me “Take responsibility at least! My brother told me! You forced his hand! Zeaxar made the arrangements and forced my brother as emperor to tell my people…I don’t have a choice anymore…” she fell on her knees “The shame if you deny…I will never be able…to look anyone in the eye again…” her red hair lost its red glow and its true black colour revealed itself. Here I stood with a girl on her knees and crying in front of me, I never felt more like a villain than I did now. (“Zeaxar…you bastard…”) I knew his ploy…but I was too confused…too much hatred at everything had built inside me and I didn’t have it in me “I’m sorry” I knelt down and was about to lay my right hand on her shoulder but stopped myself, “This was…a misunderstanding…I never wanted your life in that way” she stopped crying and looked up “Can it not be revoked?...what is the backlash if it is?”. She wiped her eyes with her arms “I’ve…already been marked…” she lowered her shirt and showed me runes on her left shoulder “These… the ritual…it is a mark of shame if the ritual is not completed…I will never be able to find a male if it does…neither will I be able to have children…that monster…Zeaxar…laughed when we told him …” she clenched her fists.

“Then…I don’t know…I…I don’t know…” I honestly didn’t know anymore, I clenched my fists as inwardly I swore I’d make Zeaxar pay for this “Why even face me? Don’t you hate me for what I did? Your parents…Your people…” I stood up and looked down at her “Isn’t the shame of spending your life alone better than being forced onto me?”. She looked up at me with tears still in her eyes “That…” she shook her head “I understand… my brother told me…I don’t hate you…you killed them but…saved the others…I understand…I don’t like it…but I understand…it was their fault…father…and mother…they did it to themselves… I don’t blame you…” she unsteadily stood up but kept her face down “I’m sorry… this problem… my problem… you shoulder enough… ” she turned around and began to run. I stood there staring as she made a turn (“How much longer am I going to just stand around dammit?”) I clenched my fists as I saw tears still falling down her cheeks, “Wayne” my form shifted to mist as I sprinted forward and stopped in front of her. She bumped into my chest and was about to fall forwards but I held her by the shoulder “Ah..So…sorry…huh?” she looked up at my face and looked confused “No… I’m sorry… This is my fault. Even though you were there you cannot be blamed for that being’s games, I cannot hold you responsible for what they told you and hid from you”. She began to tremble “But… You not remember?... I caught you… I was also… I believed the priest too… I saw humans as lesser too…” she clenched her fists around my shirt “We put them in cages… made them fight… kill each other… I also deserve… this…” she pulled back and looked at her hands. I don’t know what it was, for the first time in my life I felt guilty “No… I deserve so much worse… ” I pulled her back and held her to my chest “I’m sorry for what they forced you to do, if I can I will find a way to remove the curse they put on you…Don’t blame yourself for what you had no control over” she didn’t push back but just stood there with her face in my coat while I ruffled her hair “Back then… I wasn’t fully myself… but I still saw it… you looked away… when I fought the beast… you looked away… Why?”.

“Because… I saw it a lot before… beasts killing humans… humans killing humans… beasts killing beasts… I was the female child… I wasn’t expected to rule… so I became a huntress… but I never liked it… fighting… killing… I don’t… ” she grabbed onto the shoulder that held her mark, “Then that is enough for me. I don’t hold you responsible and you shouldn’t either, if you truly don’t hate me then let me help you… I may not look like it but I have knowledge on magic and runes. I may be able to remove it”. She looked up “You can?” I nodded “You hungry? Let’s go eat while you tell me what you know about it? Sound good?” she nodded again and I pulled away “This way” I began walking and took her to the cafeteria, “Wait a minute” I released my aura to detect people inside. I chose the one with least people inside “Alright, in here” I went inside and chose the table furthest from everyone else who seemed to have grouped up around each other and were talking. “Here you go, we’ll talk here” I was close to starving, I sat down and ordered multiple sandwiches which I then proceeded to devour “Um…” I looked up from the food and saw her blushing while staring at the crystal in front of her “Oh…tap the crystal like this and a menu will appear…Ahh…you probably don’t know what any of it is…here let me” I tapped her crystal and chose some tuna sandwiches for her “These should do, they are called sandwiches. These ones are filled with tuna, a water creature from my world” she stared at the eight sandwiches in front of her and slowly grabbed one with both hands. She looked up at me as I ate my last one then back down at hers and took a bite “It’s…good…” she slowly continued to eat. I tapped the crystal and made the plate disappear “So… what can you tell me about those runes?...the mark” I ordered some water while waiting for her to explain, “It’s…multi-layered…the first layer…timed for three days…if time runs out…” she blushed and looked downwards “I will be sealed…the second layer…if forcefully removed it…umm…it…” she seemed to be having trouble explaining “Spreads…another appears somewhere else…the third layer is a barrier…to stop damage…” she stopped eating and looked at me. I sighed for what felt like the thousandth time today “That’s…complicated…a sealing charm…a copying curse and a barrier…”.

Removal of a barrier was simple enough but the sealing charm would require close to perfect mana manipulation and added with the copy curse it sounded impossible “Can I see it again?” she nodded and raised her shoulder while lowering the collar for me to see it, the runes were an oval shape with four circles inside it. The top circle held five runes in a star shape, the left circle held a single rune, the right circle held six runes under each other in rows of two while the bottom circle was hidden as it continued onto her breast. I stared at the mark which made her cheeks go slightly blueish, something I figured was her blushing “It’s not impossible but… it won’t be easy… your people won’t accept to remove it for you?” she shook her head “It is a dishonour for a female to be marked then denied by the male…they will tell to not have marked in the first place…”. I placed my hands together and rested my chin on top of it “What is required to deactivate it?” I stared down at my cup, “To…you know…for the marked to…and the male…to…” I got tired of her embarrassment “For the male and female to have sex? Is that even possible with our racial differences?” she stopped blushing and stared at me “I don’t know…”. (“Maybe she can help…dammit I have no other choice do I?...”) I stood up “I know someone who could help but we’ll have to go to my world to meet with her, you have three days but one will be enough to reach her. What do you want to do?” she rose from her chair as well and nodded “I’ll come….” She responded but her eyes diverted to look at something behind me “What?” I suddenly felt someone approaching but I didn’t turn around. A couple moments later I felt a hand on my left shoulder “Hey kid” I turned to see Carlos “You alright? I heard what happened, sounds like you’ve had a tough time.” He gestured at the others who were looking in our direction, some even saluting “Just know that what you did, we know what it feels like and we’re with you” I then noticed that every one of them was human “If you ever need anybody to talk with or just hang out with, you’re not alone”. This hit me like a truck and I immediately turned away “Yeah…thank you…”.

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Risa Xioqu’s POV

When I went to face him I was confused and angry, I didn’t hate him but I thought he hated me. When he told me he didn’t…the relief I felt was unlike anything I ever did, now here he stood…the one my brother calls monster…tears falling down his face at this show of comradery. “Risa, let’s go” he called out to me and headed for the door, “Ah…y..yes..” I followed him out and through multiple corridors but he didn’t say a word and I didn’t feel courageous enough to mention anything. We reached a door and he turned to look at me “Don’t say anything just wait out here” he immediately turned back around and opened the door by placing his palm to something on the wall and then entered, from where I stood I could see a large table with a single person sitting by it. The woman had short black hair and looked very busy and tired. “Anderson? What is it? Zeaxar has me up to my neck with reports today…” she turned away from what she was doing and face him “I request three days of leave, I wish to return to earth for private reasons” he stood straight like a soldier, she sat back “You know Zeaxar is awaiting you in his office within an hour right?” she smirked “How fast can you get ready to leave?” he glanced back at me “Ten minutes, back to my room and then to the docking bay” the woman nodded and went for something on the table “Kasey, prepare your ship. Two with maybe baggage, take them back to HQ.” she spoke into a device and a male voice answered back “Will do, at dock 11 in five minutes” she then put the device back at glanced at me “You know he’s gonna be pissed right?” she went back to something on the table. Matthew turned to leave “Yeah…he will be” he walked out and closed the door behind him the same way he opened it “Let’s go, I have some things and others to pick up” I glanced at the door and then at him “Is it not good for us to leave?...you don’t have to…” he sighed and went back to ruffling my hair “Don’t worry about it, come on” he walked past me and down the corridor. (“You’re strange…”) I swallowed my doubts and followed him back to the first room he came out from, “We’re picking up my contracted spirits” he opened the door and a small winged creature crashed into his face “MASTER! HELP!!” the creature slapped his face multiple times as it tried to get a hold of his hair.

“Wha..! Wayne what the hell are you doing!? Stop!” he grabbed the creature by its wings and held it up in front of him “What’s going on?” he glared at the one called Wayne, “Ember is… Ember is… ” a white serpent with red markings slithered out of the room “Oh sstop your whining. It’sss for your own good”. “Ember what is going on?” he glanced down at the serpent as it climbed up his leg and onto his left arm “I’m just trying to help him learn how to fly in his new body” the black winged one was released from one wing and grabbed fully onto Matthew’s right hand “She threw me at walls! Multiple times!” it worked its way over his raised arm and then climbed up onto his head. Matthew shook his head “Yeah….what ever…Anyway we’re heading back to earth, Ember, Wayne this is princess Risa..Xi..” he stopped himself and I figured it was my family name “Xi-oh-qi-u…nice to meet you” the two creatures stared at me momentarily but then turned back to their master “Why are we going back there?” Wayne slumped down and let its wings go limp “We’re visiting someone you two never met, after our first contract was nullified a guardian was chosen for me. We’re going to meet her and ask for her help in removing some runes for Risa”. He closed the door by tapping the wall and turned to me “Risa, these are Ember and Wayne my spirits and lifelong companions. They are like brother and sister to me” the creatures looked at me again but still seemed uninterested “Don’t mind them right now, they’ve just went through evolution. I’m surprised they’ve stayed awake this whole time” as he said that I noticed Wayne was already asleep while Ember had encircled Matthew’s neck fully. “Ah…okay…” I figured they were his familiars and most likely held their own power, “What is this person like?...your guardian…” he gestured me to follow him as I asked the question. “What’s she like?...hhmm…Picture a big bulky ape with bulging muscles and short temper…now give it a big mechanical hammer…” we walked down another couple corridors till he spoke again “I call her mum out of respect…but really there is no blood between us…she took care of me and that much I owe her for but…Well, you’ll find out when you meet her…” he suddenly stopped as I followed him which ended up in me getting too close to the serpent for my comfort, although it didn’t react to me at all.

Down the corridor he was staring down was a single door, next to it a human man stood with his back to the wall. The man was old and wore a white suit kind of priest like but fully buttoned on the front and with tighter sleeves, he looked towards us which allowed me to see his expression. “Not him again…” Matthew sounded annoyed but kept on moving towards the man so I followed him, “Kyle…” the old man spoke but was stopped by Matthew “That is not my name old man, what do you want? Have you finally said your prayers and decided to end it?” the old man didn’t react to Matthew’s pressure and stared at him momentarily “There is…something else you should know…Matthew…” the old man stood away from the wall and began walking away “You weren’t the only survivor of the Cerberus program” he stopped when he arrived next to Matthew and closed his eyes. “Wha…” Matthew grabbed the man by his collar and slammed him to the wall while raising him a couple feet in the air “What do you mean by that?!” I could feel his mana’s pressure as if it was my own, his emotions came out unhindered and fully mirrored into his pressure “How many? Where are they?!”. The old man shook his head “I don’t know…believe me I don’t…Zeaxar…this whole leave you’re taking is something he preplanned…you fell right for it…this is off record and I wasn’t supposed to tell you but…while you are there…please….find them…Zeaxar wanted you to go back home and clear your mind from everything but…I know you enough…” he put up a weak smile “You’d have found out sooner or later…I trust that sooner is better for all of us..” Matthew slowly put the man down but didn’t let go of him until he spoke one last time “I will find them…I will free them…And take them as far away from you and the government as possible…”. He let go and stomped through the door, I stood there in a daze for a second or two but then followed behind him without closing the door as I didn’t know how. Something these people called a ship was there to receive us, I marvelled at their technology but made sure to not slack behind him and entered the thing “Sup, going on vacation huh kid?” a rugged man waited inside but Matthew just sat down “If you value your position here…Fly…Now” the man didn’t respond but instead rushed into the next room of the ship and disappeared out of my sight.

I sat down next to Matthew and put the belt like mechanism around me like he did, I glanced at his expression and decided conversation wasn’t the best idea right now (“What did that man mean? He wasn’t the only survivor? What is a Cerberus program?”). “You must be confused huh?...” he spoke when I expected him to stay quiet which surprised me a bit, I wasn’t sure how to answer “The Cerberus project…it was a human experiment where…” the ground began to rumble ”magic and our technology’s best were combined… with human subjects as the… medium to hold it all… Children… trained… tortured… broken… injected and bound… Kids… made machines for war… I was told I was the only survivor… I never trusted them and in the end I checked myself… but I found nothing… someone lied… something is out of place… “ I felt a change in the air inside the room ”I’m sorry Risa but after we’re done with releasing your mark… I might have to stay at earth longer than previously intended…” I glanced at his expression and all I saw was sadness. “It’s okay…I won’t mind waiting… when this mark is removed…I’ll wait… find them you will right?” I tried to give a genuine smile, he momentarily glanced at me and nodded “Yeah… I will find them…”. We stayed quiet for the rest of the time, I wasn’t sure how these “ships” worked but after what seemed like only ten minutes I felt the ground shake again and the door open. “We’re here, let’s go” He helped me remove the belt and I followed him out of the ship, I was surprised to see the room we stood in now as it was many times larger and held hundreds of ships instead of the five in the first one. “Where are we?..” I looked over the many ships and their occupants “We’re in Etyria, the world that is connected to yours and mine. My race comes from a single world while all the others you may have noticed are from here, this specifically is the E.A’s main headquarters. The safest place known to us, the edge of technology and known magic.” What he spoke of was grand but he had no sign of enthusiasm in his voice at all, “Normally we’d have to go through the civilian tunnel to earth but since Zeaxar elevated me to squad leader recently…” he tapped something on his wrist and writing appeared in mid-air above it “I have clearance to use the officer tunnels government issued to the company…For once…his scheming has proven useful to me..” he seemed to be talking more to himself than to me now.

We stopped by the door “You’re not a registered member so you’re going to hold on to me for teleportation” he grabbed my shoulder with his left arm and waited, “Oh…right…” I stepped closer to him until my arm was touching his body. He tapped the writing on the wall and particles of mana surrounded us, suddenly we were in a completely different room “Wha…” I gasped at the room. The room wasn’t very large but what was impressive was what lay within, as if reality was distorting one of the walls swirled and twirled on itself “I.D please” a woman walked up to us with a flat crystal clear plate in her arms. Matthew raised his arm and pressed his palm to the plate “Your departure is recorded squad leader, should I set a time limit?” he shook his head “No, return time is unknown” the woman nodded and then glanced at me momentarily before returning to the desk she came from. “This way” he motioned for me to move, I was kind of glued to his clothes gasping at the swirl of mana in front of me “Y..yeah…” I stayed clenched to him as we stepped towards the wall “This is a tunnel, it’s literally a hole in reality that takes to another. This one specifically takes to Earth, to the company’s branch there” I stared into the swirling tunnel as he guided me into it. Reality bended and swirled as gravity lost it’s grip on my body.

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Author; Next arc we’ll be taking a look at what Earth is now within the story, there will be a lot of progression for the mc… Remember to rate and maybe comment ;D!

Edited by; Birse