Food was such a human concept.
A good meal was craved by so many people, and humans seemed to love the concept of cooking and then eating. Even a machine like him could tell when passion was poured into a product, and it was always obvious when someone didn't actually care to try.
Despite being a robot, Adam Hawker loved food.
It reminded him of a time before he was the Deus Ex Machina. A time when the world was a little simpler. A time when he didn't weave fate and destiny on a page.
"I must say, you've outdone yourself yet again, Rose." Adam's knife sliced into the steak, and he speared a chunk of meat through with his fork, letting out a satisfied hum as the flavor exploded on his tongue.
"Why did you prevent Mordred from slaying him?" Rosette cut straight to the point, not bothering to entertain Adam's antics.
The Deus Ex Machina stopped mid-cut and looked up at the Princess of Nevermore. For once, he wasn't in his office, and he wasn't writing the tales the world wasn't ready for yet. Unlike most days, he found himself in Rosette's room, one that was twisted into a dark palace that was equally as cold as the abyss.
The room was filled with paintings of heroes long forgotten by history, and suits of armor stood proudly along the wall, holding real weapons that had been used on battlefields fought ages ago. A table was in the center, and Adam was seated at one end, a fine glass of wine and an exquisitely cooked steak placed before him.
Rosette was seated at the other end of the table, dressed in fine black silk, and she hadn't yet touched her food, which squirmed and tried to beg but was unable to speak due to the gag in its mouth.
Adam took another bite of his food and a sip from his wine before finally answering her question. "We shouldn't eat and talk. Why don't you finish your food?"
Rosette stared Adam in the eyes and then, without speaking, she reached out and grabbed her food by its hair. It fought hard and screamed more but couldn't do anything since its hands and feet were bound. She forced her meal's head up and opened her mouth, revealing rows of fanged teeth, and her food finally stopped moving and making noise once she tore into its throat.
The only sound that filled the room for several heartbeats was Rosette drinking her meal dry. When she finally drained every last drop of blood, the vampire moved her head away and licked her lips. Her face was stained scarlet, and with inhuman strength, she tossed the corpse away from her, sending it flying across the room.
Some of the statues groaned to life and began to walk forward. They bowed to her before picking up the discarded trash and carrying it away, where it would be given to Emperor Monarch for him to do with as he pleased.
Adam clicked his tongue and sounded a bit disapproving. "Bloom won't be happy with you killing another one of our lesser nobles. That was the fifth one this month."
"Bloom is lucky if I allow her to worship the ground I walk on." Rosette gently began to clean her mouth with a napkin. "My hunger is far more important than her sick blood ritual. Besides, I know she's been killing the nobles as well and collecting their heads." When she was done, she glared back at Adam. "Now speak. Why did you prevent Mordred from killing one of the seven? Three had all gathered in one spot. He could have killed not just them but at least a few captains before the Holy Saint or the Dragon Slayer got involved."
"The Holy Saint would have come out right away." Adam shook his head. "Perhaps if I had been at full strength, I would have been fine with letting such an event play out, but even I took a beating after fighting two captains at once. I can perform miracles, but I am not a god. Weaving letters of fate takes a toll. I'm in a trance-like state and allow my will to influence the events I want to happen, creating a script. The issue is that the more detailed the script is and the more characters are in it, the more draining it is, and a script has to be believable. Writing something like "Mordred kills all the captains, the Holy Saint, the Dragon Slayer, the king, and the being residing on the sun" isn't something I could do with the mana I have. The harder something is to fathom, the less likely I am to control it. Case in point, the last script I created involved the Inheritor of the Core, and it should have resulted in her death, but because other characters, such as the Captains and two other Inheritors, got involved in the script, things fell apart. If Mordred were to try right now, he'd likely die before killing even a single Inheritor."
"The rest of us could have backed him up, or we could have done it without a script," Rosette said plainly.
"We could have tried, but what's the rush?" Adam casually began to cut into his steak once more. "We don't have anything that forces us into a fast outcome, and as I told Mordred, if wiping them all out is the overall plan, then ensuring that all of them are together at the best time suits us the most, does it not?"
"Yes, but if we sit by and allow the Inheritors to do as they please, then that risks the remaining six members awakening their gifts. They could grow too strong and join forces." Rosette pointed out. "That was why we all agreed to wipe them out one at a time. Your stalling act won't work for several of the other members as well. I know Rage and the Lord of Threads want to kill or claim an Inheritor for themselves ASAP. So, tell me, Author of Fate, what is it that you're really seeking to do."
Adam finished off his steak and began to wipe his mouth, ensuring his chin was clean. When he was done, his eyes drifted down to stare at the black metallic hands that held his napkin.
"Don't you know fate can be a tricky thing? It rarely goes the way anyone expects or desires. Of course, I alone am the expectation." Adam raised his fork and pointed it at the vampire. "Besides, I'm not saying that we don't do anything. I do think there is something we should do before we take the remaining six Inheritors out."
"And what's that?" Rosette demanded as she folded her arms. "What could be more important than taking our number one enemy out and gathering the pieces Mordred desires?"
Adam twirled the fork and then lifted his steak knife. He sliced into his wine glass, splitting it into six chunks, and then he cut his plate up into eight shards. With the fork, he began to move the pieces lining up the eight in front of the six.
"On paper, it does seem logical that our side is bound to win. After all, there are eight of us and six of them. Even when their numbers were at seven, we had the advantage, but it isn't actually that simple." Adam grabbed some of his napkins and tossed them into the air. His knife moved blindingly fast, and thousands of chunks of shredded napkin dropped onto the side of the six. "At least four members work closely with the Esteria guilds, and another member has the backing of the entire Rossum nation. It is we who are actually outnumbered."
"We have soldiers as well," Rosette countered.
"That we do, but we lack numbers that are equal to the combined forces of foes." Adam drew a line across the table. "I told you, my ability to control fate can only get so far. I simply can not write a story that fits all of us and all of them in it at once. Now that we've alerted the kingdom, they'll be aware of us, and it's only a matter of time until they guard some of their valuable pieces. This doesn't even take into account the fact that they have the Captains, the Holy Saint, and, if we factor Rossum into the equation, the Spirit Hound Medora. Our best forces come from mutants, monsters, the brainwashed, and Emperor Monarch's silly little Spell Swords."
"It isn't impossible for us to win." Rosette shook her head. "We don't need to kill the Guilds or big players, just the Inheritors."
"Yes, but then once we get the pieces we need, we still must be stronger to defeat all other factions alone." With his knife, Adam began to circle the eight pieces. "Outnumbered and outgunned, you can bet that these groups won't settle for us killing some of theirs without taking from us. Currently, our best blessing is that Rossum and Esteria despise one another still, and so the two forces haven't teamed up yet. Once Monarch kills the Inheritor in Rossum, our army will be bolstered greatly, and we'll gain several new pawns, which will enhance our chances, but we will need more if we're to defeat the other five."
"What is it that you think we should do?" Rosette raised an eyebrow.
"It's simple." Adam smashed his fist into the table, shattering it in two. "My power only stops me from writing out a guaranteed win because creating such an outcome isn't realistic, but what if we gained a force of power so great it trumped all others? Something that went beyond all eight captains, the Holy Saint, the six Inheritors, and every nation in the world! A power so strong that we'd be ensured a victory? Writing out the win for us then wouldn't seem like such an impossible task, for it would be all but guaranteed."
"What power is that great?" Rosette asked, stunned by Adam's display.
Adam threw his arms up, and his smile grew. "Why, none other than the weapon King Sylas used to fight the ancient heroes to a standstill! He battled Sigurd, Han Yuan, the Loudest Thunder, the Ebony Knight, and even Haru all at once! And sure, he lost, but who wouldn't lose when faced with a team of that size! If we had such a weapon today, then I know that not a single being on this planet or even in the solar system could stand in our way! The power of Z.E.U.S., the greatest Titan ever built!"
Rosette blinked and processed his words. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," Adam smirked.
Rosette sighed and stood up. "And here I thought you had an actual plan. The three great Titans are just a myth. If they actually existed, Gallenth would be even greater than it already is and would have no need of holding back. P.O.S.E.I.D.O.N., H.A.D.E.S., and especially Z.E.U.S. aren't around anymore. If such weapons were real, then they've long been destroyed by Haru."
Adam chuckled. "You have so little imagination, dear Rosette. I can assure you, they're real, and Z.E.U.S. is indeed just as powerful as the legends foretold. If we had it, I'd easily be able to write a tale in which we wipe out every nation at once. Sadly, even I must admit that the suit is no longer around. The Titan was destroyed by Haru, and with the death of the mad tyrant, it can not be fixed."
"So then why bring it up-"
"Because it can be fixed if Sylas is no longer dead."
"You- You want to revive that madman?"
Adam just tapped the side of his head. "I want that madman to fix our weapon. We'll let the remaining Inheritors live. Allow them to grow and think that they're safe, and then, when the time is right, Z.E.U.S. will ravage the land. This is a story that will end in our victory."
"I can't tell if you're a genius or a fool." Rosette sighed. "I see why you kept such a nugget of info to yourself. Mordred won't like this plan."
"Mordred won't be around for much longer." Adam chuckled. "Chapter two is just about to begin. I say we make this an interesting one." His eye glanced over to the door that led out of Rosette's room. "A lot of interesting characters."
From outside the manor, Huli stalked away, going through waves of darkness that twisted and folded, spitting her out, until she stood before Farkiss. "We have an issue." The kitsune hissed.
"What is it?" Farkiss folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Adam wants to let the six stay put. He doesn't want anyone to go after them."
"What?" Farkiss's eyes filled with rage. "No! Not until we get revenge on that brat!" The image of Davi flowed through his mind. "It took weeks for our Cores to regrow our bodies! I won't stand for that bastard mocking us!"
"What do we do?" Huli bit her lip, and her fox tail began to erratically swipe around the room. "We're not part of the eight. We're nothing more than their pawns. Monsters for them to aim at the enemy."
Farkiss suddenly got an idea, and a grin spread across his face. "Who says we need the eight? What if one of us is the one to kill an Inheritor, and we claim what comes out of them? Think of the power we would gain."
"You're saying we should kill the black-haired boy?" Huli frowned but then thought about it. Her smile grew. "Sure. That isn't a bad idea. Let's kill that human, and then we'll feast on his heart together."
Chapter two was about to begin. So many characters were going to take the center stage.
***
"I can't believe you!" Sieg kicked the door to the medical ward down and ran inside, followed closely by Ken.
"What did I do?" Ken glared at him.
"I gave you one job! Keep that woman away from my brother! And what did you do? You let her teleport away with him!"
"How was I supposed to know that she would do that?" Ken rolled her eyes. "Also, if it was really that important, why didn't you tell the captain or Olivia or anyone else? What's up with her? You didn't even tell me a lot."
"That's because-" Sieg stopped and frowned. "It's because… Because…"
'Remember. We'll keep this a secret. Don't reveal too much. Otherwise, the memories I helped you suppress will come flooding back, and your cover could be blown.'
Sieg groaned and grabbed his head as a migraine formed. He recalled a talk he had a while back with a mage. He couldn't recall their face or even the sound of their voice fully, but he knew they were the memory mage who helped him slip past the king's intrusion.
"It's complicated, okay."
"That doesn't answer my question at all…" Ken wanted to say more but was stopped when a white flash filled the medical ward. When it cleared, Davi's bed had returned, as did Davi and Olivia, though the two Phoenix Flight members looked a little uncomfortable and had slightly flushed faces.
Evelyn floated next to the bed and lazily stretched, letting out a yawn. "Well, that was fun." She teased, and for some reason, Davi and Olivia couldn't look her in the eye. "I should get going." She began to float away but stopped when she saw Sieg. Her smirk grew, as did his glare, but neither said a word as she left.
Sieg waited till she was gone, and then he ran to Davi's side and grabbed his brother by the shoulder. "Davi! Are you okay?"
Davi nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. Better than okay, actually. My spirit is all healed up."
"Huh?"
Olivia's blush grew worse.
"Nothing." Davi shook his head and threw the cover off of him. He stood up, and his glare was suddenly directed at the many medical staff members. "More importantly, why haven't they been treated?" He then pointed toward the mutants that had all been shoved into a corner. "Heal them. Now."
The room had gone dead silent, and it was only broken by Ken, who began to laugh. "Yep. He's back. And I think he's about to get us banned from ever returning to this base."
Meanwhile, outside of the medical ward, Evelyn floated through the halls and only stopped when she reached her target.
"So, were you able to wake him up?" Tori asked.
"Yep! Our little Knight is back on his feet."
"Good." Tori let out a sigh of relief. "I was getting worried that I'd have to find a new target."
"Worry no more. In fact, I have good news." Evelyn landed next to Tori and leaned in to whisper to the woman. "It's time."
Tori frowned and eyed Evelyn up. "Time for what?"
"Time for you to make your move, silly." Evelyn purred, and for a moment her throat began to glow, and those golden eyes Tori was known for shifted into a familiar blue.
"M-My move?"
"Yes. I told them I had changed the plan, but that was just for Davi's sake and also to throw a bit of suspicion off my back. This way is still the fastest and the safest to create my perfect little Knight." Evelyn stroked Tori's chin. "All you need to do is kill Olivia Lot, and I know the perfect place to do it and the perfect time. How would you like to take the center stage and be the main character of the next chapter?"
The plan was still on. Olivia Lot was to die in the arms of Davi, bringing forth the Dragon of Roads, and with his death, Davi would become the being he was destined to be.
The Knight of Lunar would be born.
"Here's the plan." And Evelyn began to whisper into Tori's ear; the woman's eyes were now stuck in a lovely state of blue.
Chapter two was bound to be a good one.