Chapter 305: A Galaxy Unexplored (1/2)
Althea sighed while letting go of my hand, ”I really don't want to be a part of the politics if you don't mind.”
I whispered back, ”Eh, neither do I. Go attend to some urgent errand. I'll let them know you couldn't attend.”
She phased away, escaping the evening while I remained trapped in it. It wasn't the end of the world, however, and Obolis smiled at me with his distinguished bearing and numerous scars, ”It's wonderful to see you again, Daniel. I brought extra company for the event, as your absolving from this war is worthy of celebration.”
Obolis's eyes passed over the stacks of merchandise, hunger lacing his expression, ”As are your spoils of said war. They are impressive.” His face stayed set on the gear while his eyes met mine, ”Just as well, I'll assume that Althea was needed elsewhere?”
Obolis heard our conversation from across the room, so he helped us with delivering our excuse. I took the opportunity,
”Of course. We just got the ceasefire handled today, after all.”
The newcomers reached us, and I gave Obolis a handshake, the albony ruler remembering the gesture from before. Turning towards the two albony behind him, I raised a palm to them, ”It's good to see you, Victoria and Alastair.”
Alastair went to reply, raising a hand. His voice cracked, extinguishing his efforts to speak. On the other hand, Victoria mimicked the gesture made by Obolis, stepping up with excitement, ”It's great to see you as well, Daniel.”
We shook hands, and she held my hand a little too long while smiling a bit too wide as well. It was a predatory glance, one I didn't like being viewed from. Looking for a way out of the situation, I found a group of around twelve albony stepping in behind the Emperor. Each of these royals peered around with closed gestures and wary glimpses.
They stared at me like I were a hungry eldritch waiting to eat them. Taking charge of my first impression, I spread out my arms,
”I know this is a relatively humble place to have a celebration in, but we've just ended the war earlier today. Feel free to glance at what we've gained and speak about it. Don't touch it, or else I can't guarantee you won't end up fighting one of the guardians I posted here.”
The supergolems peered at the incoming crowd with their unblinking, crystal eyes. I clasped my hands, ”They'll show you something if you want to look at it, and I'll be talking to everyone at some point during this evening. Refreshments and food are over there, so without any more of a wait, enjoy yourselves.”
Relieved by my lack of hostility, the royals stepped in with their heaviness leaving them. I peered at Obolis, the only member near eye level with me, ”You want to inspect the goods here?”
He raised his hands as fists, his giddiness subdued but apparent, ”Oh, was I that transparent? Do excuse me, but yes, I'd love to.”
We walked over towards the pile of goods, and Obolis marveled, ”This is more than I'd have imagined you'd gain from a ceasefire. Being a military force must come with its perks?”
I nodded, ”It does. How's your side of the war front going?”
Obolis's shoulders rose a bit, and he gave me a friendly nudge on the shoulder, ”Better now, thanks to your efforts. Tearing down Elysium's system left its mark, even if it was short-lived. They were rendered utterly confused and senseless without any communication. A few of their pocketed defenses were torn apart during that time.”
Even as he spoke of something else, I dwelled on how he treated his planets' subservient species. I frowned, ”That's good.”
My armor shifted with my expression, letting people read my face despite the covering over it. Sensing my unease, he placed a hand on my shoulder, ”I understand your agitation. I've seen the footage as well. I'm certain you're feeling somewhat responsible for the partial glassing, but think nothing of it. Elysium is to blame, and you merely defended yourself. Those deaths lie in the hands of Elysium's incompetent leadership.”
I shook off the feeling to retort, 'Your leadership isn't much better.' Rolling my shoulders, I took a breath before letting my animosity go. Now wasn't the time and place for it, and I'd bring these issues back up in full force after killing Plazia and getting my reward for it. Changing the subject, I gestured to the row of obelisks,
”Any opinions on these?”
Obolis leaned over, pointing at one, ”May I?”
”Of course.”
I kept my eyes peeled on Obolis as he turned the dark obelisk in his hand, the red lights glimmering. He sighed, ”Hm, quite a piece. Would you take it for a few cipheric pieces of my own?”
I reached out a hand, and Obolis tossed the obelisk to me. The dark sphere opened up a red status panel in my vision. Every word, sentence, and phrase worded itself exclusively in the cipher. This could be instrumental for learning more advanced pieces of the ancient language, so I let out a sharp breath while stating,
”No.”
Obolis shrugged with a knowing grin, ”I can't be blamed for trying. Now, I've no idea what that's for, but it's ancient. So ancient that it likely precurses even Schema. By my estimation, some civilization uprooted itself in the advent of this advanced technology. That parallels the remnants' fall. Gah, isn't it fascinating? I'd love to give it to a few of my exiled guildmembers and see what they'd make of it.”
”Exiled guildmembers?”
He waved a hand, ”Not everyone who's attuned to the cipher may rise high enough in Schema's system to study it. I give these exiled members protection and the opportunity to study the cipher at their leisure. They compensate me with their discoveries and becoming exiled.”
”Huh. Why not work with the eldritch instead?”
Obolis let out a sigh of frustration, ”I've tried, but the Overseer has refused me any permit for such a situation. Speaking of forbidden access, I know you work with Amara and Hod. How did you gain that kind of access to study with them? Of course, only answer if you're willing to share?”
I glanced at Amara, who stood by the food. She sliced it apart with her hair strands until it was a fine mush. She scarfed down the mushed bones and liquefied flesh like a vacuum cleaner right after. While I didn't know much about her, Althea mentioned how she was an apprentice to a Builder.
Considering how volatile a position that must've been, it amazed me how Amara made it this far. She bore a weight from those unspoken experiences that gave her a scornful and desperate disposition. Only recently did she open up, and mainly from the armor I gave her. Even with that mysterious nature of hers, I trusted her because of her mission on Gypsum. She hadn't let me down yet.
Schema would never offer that kind faith in her, but the AI allowed her to be a part of my guild. If I had to guess why, it was because of how pivotal she was for my success. Those accomplishments resulted in more eldritch being killed than just her death alone. Like me, Amara amounted to an investment, and Schema wanted the full benefits of his gamble now that it was paying off.
Once it quit giving, he'd likely have her killed. If he'd be able to by then.
I raised my eyebrows, ”We're a part of his risk-reward strategy, I'd guess. I know my region's Overseer owed me for killing Yawm too, and he might've given her access. She's still an unknown. Anyone here could kill her for experience if they wanted to.”
Obolis let out a hearty laugh before covering his mouth, ”And what? Have you barreling after them? There are worse consequences than Schema's bounties and Breakers. You are among them.”
”Eh, thanks. I'd probably just smash them to death, though.”
Obolis winced, ”Yes, you could, but most have seen how you fight by now. It's monstrous, more like an animal or machine than a sentient. With only slight alterations, your capacity for torture would be legendary.” He coughed into a hand, ”If you would lower yourself to such a practice.”
I did have the skill, though I never intended on leveling it. The Emperor straightened himself out, ”Now, enough pleasantries. There was a matter I needed to discuss with you before I perused this gathering of rarities.”
”Ah, Plazia-Ruhl, right?”
”That's correct. I know you've been rooted in this conflict since its inception, and that has given you minimal leeway. I've offered my understanding, and I will continue to do so. But, due to this truce-”
”I have time on my hands, right?”
”You've understood my meaning. When can I anticipate your assassination of Plazia?”
”I'll be leaving tomorrow for it. It probably won't take long.”
Obolis's eyes widened, ”Hah, excellent. That's simply superb. I was frightened you'd call off the arrangement at this rate, considering the sheer amount of expansion you'll be mounting in the meantime. I'd have forgiven you for it as well. I, too, feel the desire to conquer, though for different reasons.”
Being pooled together with the Emperor didn't sit right with me, but I chose not to fight it out here. I crossed my arms, keeping the subject off comparisons,
”I'd be lying if I said I never considered stopping our deal, but I don't think Plazia should be that difficult to get rid of, considering he's stayed small enough on the ahcorus's homeworld to keep it from becoming fringed.”
”That's a reasonable point, but never underestimate a Ruhl. They are spoken of in ballads across most worlds as the destroyers of planets.”
I tapped one of my forearms with a knuckle, letting out a metallic ring, ”I never would. My first dungeon boss kill was from a Ruhl.”
Obolis blinked, ”Now that's a surprise. Where and why would Schema not warn you of that? Perhaps you could speak more of it?”
”I'll just say this - Ruhl's are the real deal. Either way, their intelligence is what makes them deadly, not their combat potential. Considering my abilities, I don't think Plazia will be able to outsmart the sheer power difference. It's like me trying to outsmart Eonoth. Positioning and strategy can only compensate so much.”
Obolis's eyes grew dark, ”I'd remind you that is precisely what Elysium has done, according to the reports from Helios.”
”That's what Elysium would like to think, but I don't know if you can outsmart an Old One. To me, they appear to have precognizance, meaning they hold all the chips and cards in their hands at all times. If they hand you some chips, it's because they know they'll win them back.”
I grimaced, ”That means no matter how you interact with them, it's to their benefit and not your own. That's why everyone who serves an Old One ends up becoming a corrupted abomination. That's why even though I'm not a genius, I'm still smart enough to know when to avoid a losing situation.”
One of Obolis's eyebrows raised, ”Are you scared of them?”
”Pshh, scared? No, I'm terrified.”
”Perhaps there is wisdom in that. According to my recounts of historical tellings, encounters with the Old Ones are relatively mixed. Some gain glory unbounded while others are washed into depths of unspeakable gloom. You've seen Yawm's descent and what he became, but you've never seen the full extent of an avatar's rise. They are remarkable.”
I winced, remembering how I was technically an avatar for Etorhma. Obolis misread my expression, ”That isn't to say your own advancement isn't comparable. It's simply to point out that there are others like you, anomalies who defy the rules and constraints that others are subject to.”