With a focused burst of energy, she unleashed Shatter upon the remaining half, shattering it like the first. Deactivating Shatter, she triggered Accelerate-Mind and Convert, converting StreamBreath into breathable air within her Aegis-Veil while maintaining Might, Mass-Shift, and Mind-Hand. Instead of increasing her weight with Mass-Shift, she reduced it, manipulating Mind-Hand to lift her body inches above the ground. Slowly, she ascended, reaching a height of dozens of feet.
Joy surged through her as she floated, the blue sky turning a vibrant golden yellow. Never had she dreamed of flight, of being free from the laws that once bound her. Gently increasing her altitude, she used Mind-Hand to guide her movements, playfully exploring the sky. Below, the familiar landscape unfolded, now beheld from a perspective of freedom and exhilaration.
The euphoria lasted only a few minutes before Logos' words echoed in her mind. Prompting the Acuity Rune, a tingling sensation spread across her neck. With unprecedented clarity, she felt the heat of her own body, the rapid pulse of blood through her veins, the individual beads of sweat leaving her skin. She tasted the air as it filled her lungs, a strange warmth tingling her mouth and nose with every exhale. Her control over her muscles intensified, her sense of balance and direction reaching unimaginable levels.
Acuity heightened all her senses, allowing her to see, hear, and smell even the farthest points within her reach. Though it increased sensitivity to pain, she felt relief in the ability to choose which senses to enhance.
Directing her body upwards, she triggered the Stride-Flash Rune, a surge of power coursing through her left forearm. With a blur, she vanished, reappearing higher in the sky. Stride-Flash propelled her at incredible speeds, accelerating her body towards a predefined destination within her perception. It was like being a bullet, hurtling towards a target, yet with the ability to control her point of arrival through precise calculations. However, this power depended on the Rider's prowess and the absence of hindering forces. With Aegis-Veil active, gravity had no hold on her, allowing her to reach a speed of thirty miles per second. The risks of such velocity were clear, even the smallest object posing a lethal threat. Hence, maintaining Aegis-Veil during Stride-Flash was crucial for protection against unforeseen dangers.
The combined effects of Acuity and Accelerate-Mind were essential to cope with the increased speed and reflexes. Accelerate-Mind heightened her perception, allowing her to adapt to the rapidly changing environment during Stride-Flash, granting almost perfect mastery over her body and reactions.
As the sky returned to its azure hue, she deactivated Aegis-Veil, floating peacefully with Mind-Hand. "Find me," Logos had said, not "Catch me." Elara believed she understood his intent – to locate him while he remained stationary. Focusing her gaze on the Akashic Records miles below, she zoomed in with Acuity, seeing it as clearly as if she hovered just above it. Rotating her body, she scanned her surroundings.
Nevertheless, Logos was nowhere to be seen.
A chilling realization struck her at the absence of any other living creatures. Habit had ticked her; only she and Logos existed in this space. Closing her eyes, she relied on her hearing, and then triggered Shatter, firing a spherical projectile towards the west, targeting a familiar cluster of trees. Just before impact, Logos materialized, evading the explosion and leaping towards her with a blur. He hovered parallel to her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well done," he said.
A surge of satisfaction filled Elara. Her hunch was right – Logos had not disappeared, but rather manipulated her perception with Phantasm, camouflaging himself within a projected image of a tree. While sight was useless, she had heard his heartbeat, leading her to his location.
"Now that you found me," Logos paused, "you have to catch me." He vanished with a leap northward.
Activating Aegis-Veil, Elara pursued him. Logos had a head start, but she maintained pace, zooming in on his trail with Acuity. He continued northward, a straight trajectory with no deviations. As they moved further from the Akashic Records, the presence of StreamBreath diminished. Elara began absorbing it from her BlackStone earring, unaware of how distant the Way-Shear had become.
Logos, too, drew StreamBreath from her earring, it being within his reach.
Suddenly, he disappeared, dissolving into the blue sky. Elara knew he was employing the same tactic as before, but this time, sound offered no clues due to their active Aegis-Veils. As she pondered alternative methods, dozens of Logos silhouettes materialized, multiplying rapidly until hundreds surrounded her from all directions. A distraction, she realized, until bead-sized Shatter projectiles rained down upon her.
Surprise hit her, but she remained composed. The projectiles bounced harmlessly off her Aegis-Veil, exploding without slowing her momentum. Logos' actions spurred her to seek a more efficient way to locate him. Activating the Aura-Sight Rune, her right eye glowed, as did her Sigil, emitting synchronized bat-like sonic waves. Her vision split, revealing a stark white space with StreamBreath appearing as a black haze. The projections vanished, replaced by the real Logos, a black figure against the white, absorbing StreamBreath from her BlackStone. He was ahead, flying at half his initial speed, firing Shatter projectiles without looking back.
Elara knew every Rider emanated a unique StreamBreath Pulsation, a signature energy reading detectable through Aura-Sight. These "Signatures" were used for identification, leading to the designation "CallSign." Aura-Sight also allowed detection of StreamBreath traces and residues, functioning like a sonar. The moment her sonic waves connected with Logos, she pinpointed his location and StreamBreath Pulsation, perceiving his true form and active Runes despite any illusions. Paradoxically, Aura-Sight's efficiency increased with a racing heart and diminished with a calm one. Deactivating Sigil and Runes rendered a Rider's StreamBreath Pulsation undetectable.
Increasing her speed, she caught up to Logos within moments. As she prepared to strike him with an Aegis-Weave spike, he leaped and vanished. Before she could react, he reappeared above her, having triggered Revert and Might. His fist pierced her Aegis-Veil, shattering her spine with merciless force. She plummeted like a meteorite, creating a crater upon impact.
Rubble and dust filled the crater as confusion and fear clouded her mind. Blood filled her mouth, and she lost all sense of direction. For a brief moment, her vision turned white, then crimson. A surge of relief washed over her as Aegis-Veil reactivated just before impact, protecting her body. She lay there, paralyzed and struggling to breathe, the sound of splintering bones echoing in her mind.
Logos descended, standing silently over her.
Despair and terror gripped her, but the sight of his feet triggered both Sigil and Mend-Flesh. Her breathing normalized as her body rapidly healed, bones mending, damaged tissue regenerating. She could feel the trauma fading away.
Moments later, she rose to her feet, staring coldly at Logos, rage simmering beneath a strange sense of relief. He had not used a Soul-Sever, nor damaged her heart or brain. She was lucky.
Maintaining Mend-Flesh, she activated Aegis-Veil, Accelerate-Mind, Acuity, Stride-Flash, Might, and Revert, vanishing from Logos's sight. Reappearing behind him, she prepared to retaliate, but he anticipated her move, countering her attack and locking her arm under his armpit. He head-butted her repeatedly, shattering her nose, then swiftly maneuvered her to the ground, breaking her arm in the process. Using Mass-Shift and Mind-Hand, he pinned her helplessly.
The speed and precision of his actions left her reeling.
Elara screamed in frustration and pain. As her blood stained the ground, Mend-Flesh began its work, healing her injuries. She recognized her lack of preparedness. Deactivating all Runes, she waited, the space turning white once more.
Logos released her neck but maintained his grip on her arm. He twisted it further and sat on her back.
"GET OFF ME!" she screamed, instinctively trying to rise, but his weight and Mind-Hand held her down. Realizing it was futile, she resorted to curses.
"It's peculiar how Riders believe they can fight a mental representation and still lose," Logos sighed.
"I understand, just get off me!"
"Glad you do," he replied, remaining seated.
"GET OFF!"
"First, tell me about the Restore Rune," he interrupted, projecting the symbol before her eyes.
"It's like Mend-Flesh, but for others," she answered, glaring at him. "It appears on the lower right forearm and allows us to scan bodies, seeing through skin and bone, observing organs like the heart and blood flow. It has the same limitations as Mend-Flesh. NOW GET OFF ME."
"Good. I recommend you avoid its horrific effects."
"Huh?"
He stood and walked away. As soon as she was free from Mind-Hand, she rose and glared at his back.
"Safeguard my earring," he said without turning.
"Can't do it, Null-Field, remember?" she smirked.
The Akashic Records and Way-Shear materialized behind Logos, who remained unfazed.
"Dirt bag," she muttered, activating her Primal Rune and drawing StreamBreath from the Way-Shear. The Void-Split and Forge-Void Runes appeared on her wrist. Raising her right fist, she created a black circle, throwing the earring into it. It vanished as if swallowed by a pond. Deactivating the Runes, the circle disappeared.
"Now, give it back."
Logos raised his palm and tilted his head, silently requesting her to trigger the Mind-Lace Rune. She complied, and he activated Sense-Share, sharing his vision. She saw the earring as he increased pressure, shattering the BlackStone into dust.
"BlackStone is delicate," he stated. "Guard it well, and guard it close."
Elara nodded, deactivating Mind-Lace and Sense-Share.
Silence descended as she awaited his next move. He tilted his head, and she realized she had used all but one Rune.
Homesickness tugged at her heart as she gazed upon the Way-Shear, a mere figment of her mind. She could never return home. It was her choice, her path. Steeling her resolve, she turned to Logos.
"Answer my previous query," she demanded, projecting the image of an unfamiliar Rune.
"Thûl Classified," Logos replied. "But... if you make a trade, I can offer a hint."
"Deal. What memory do you need?" Images flashed through her mind, memories of a specific life experience. The Akashic Records had made their selection. "You can have it," she conceded. The memory vanished, leaving only the awareness of the trade.
"Riders can seal Transcendent Objects into Runes," Logos explained. "Heretic's Rune allows it. It's the reason for its existence."
"Heretic's Rune? I thought it was the Heretic's Rune."
"Now you know more," he smirked, turning and walking forward. "Imagine someone who knows nothing, wandering this bleak space. Ignorant of everything except basic perception, unaware of even their own identity. They stumble upon a rock. To us, it is a rock, but to them, it is an enigma. They examine it, touch it, listen to it, taste it, and even talk to it. Through this process, they discover their nature and, in turn, something about themselves. This is how thoughts are born. They name it to distinguish it, believing they have captured its essence."
"But I thought Transcendent Objects existed within the Akashic Records! Are you saying they depend on us?"
"Yes and no. Some do, some don't."
"Are you avoiding my question?"
"This is just an analogy about the naming process," Logos explained. "Consider yourself fortunate to have me guide your understanding. That someone has no such luxury."
"Jerk!"
"Now, imagine we collectively rename 'rock' to 'Karmic.' The concept, the physical form, remains unchanged. What you should seek when capturing a Transcendent Object with this Rune is its true essence. You need to grasp its absolute, unaltered truth, casting out your interpretations. Only then can you reach it, hold it, and shape reality with it."
Images flooded her mind – a colossal tree with infinitely extending branches, bearing countless unique fruits. She understood: the tree represented the Akashic Records, the fruits the Transcendent Objects within. Capturing one was like plucking a fruit; the tree remained, but that specific fruit was gone forever, hers alone.
"As long as there is thought, there will be Transcendent Objects," she whispered. "And vice versa."
"There is hope for you yet," Logos chuckled.
The image faded, replaced by information about the Heretic's Rune. She saw that capturing a Transcendent Object required unique, unarchived information, worthy of a Thûl trade or higher. This information had to remain secret, or it would lose its value. A price, a condition, had to be paid, varying in severity depending on the Object. Once sealed, no other Object could occupy that Rune, and it remained bound to the holder's soul until death.
"Once more, you know a little more," Logos added.
Elara nodded, her mind racing with new thoughts.
"Remember, you can always return using Akashic-Key," he said. "And never forget the cost of overusing Runes."
She nodded again, the thoughts growing stronger.
"One last thing," Logos said, stopping. "Runes are more efficient when combined. But creativity surpasses knowledge. Strive to survive."
Elara stopped beside him, a sense of finality in the air.
"Wait!" she blurted. "Before you go, tell me one thing. You speak of the Akashic Records like it's sentient!"
"Terminus Classified."
"Then answer this! Can you lie?"
He turned his head, a grin flashing across his face before he faded into nothingness.
The white space dissolved, and she was back in the glass hall, surrounded by the survivors of the Fuse. They were on their knees, and her legs felt weak. She collapsed as a splitting headache intensified.
"Ah! My head!" she cried out, her voice lost in the chorus of groans. Pressing her hand to her head, she saw BlueArrow, the she who connected them to the Akashic Records, rushing towards her, followed by LingeringSight and MarkDispose.
BlueArrow knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her voice was muffled, but Elara eventually discerned her words.
"What was Logos like? Tell me!"
"Why are you asking me this? Don't you already know?"
"Information from the Akashic Records downloads directly into our minds after the trade," the Abyssal explained. "Logos rarely reveals himself. When he does, only the one involved knows what transpired. Even I, who connected you, neither saw nor heard him. I only felt your interaction."
"Tell us what you saw, little girl," LingeringSight urged.
"Go on!" MarkDispose added.
Elara hesitated, and then smirked. "He's a JERK."