Mimir was still annoyed at Gabriel. Gabriel tried to explain,"Look, I asked him why he had to do it. He didn't give me a straight answer. He also specifically told me not to tell you."
Mimir's tension eased, though his concern grew."Don't tell me…"
He looked at Gabriel with worried eyes. Gabriel sighed,"Hah… yes. He made a Kar'Azal pact with me."(He presented the full-circle incantation, half blue and half orange. Gauge looked at it curiously.)
Mimir rose from his desk."Where is he now?"
Gabriel also stood and responded,"He is being healed in the reverse prism as we speak."
Mimir rushed toward the staircases."We need to know what is happening in Lucia right now. Without knowledge of the future, it will be far harder to maintain balance than it already is."
Gauge and the others followed. Gauge asked Var,"Why didn't we have the same suspicion? Why didn't he seek a god's help? Why did he open up to us in the first place?"
As they walked forward, Var answered,"There is one more person we haven't talked to—someone who can answer that."
Gauge questioned, trying to keep up the pace,"And who is that?"
Var replied calmly as they ascended the stairs,"Lucius Marcus."
Moments later, Gabriel's Lab
Everyone reached the lab, waiting for the fusion to finish. Mimir asked hastily,"How much longer will it take?"
Gabriel looked at his holographic monitor."According to the predictions, not more than a few minutes…"
Swusssss. Steam rose from the Anti-prism. The fast whirring slowly faded. The prism slowed and finally stopped. The sliding doors opened with a zwssss.
Inside stood a man, naked, his physique like that of a god. Long hair combed behind his ears. Eyes as gray as the ashes of Xerith.Enter: Lucian Marcus of Lucia.
He walked out, then collapsed to his knees. Gauge supported him, helping him into a chair. Lucian regained consciousness, looked at Mimir, and spoke with sorrowful eyes."My lord, I have failed you. Our city is lost to darkness. Our people are no longer allowed to observe the stars. Instead of giving my life in battle, I chose to run."
He sobbed. Mimir looked at him with pity."Why wouldn't you inform me of this? I would have uprooted that bastard from the throne with my bare hands!"
Still exhausted, Lucian replied,"I could not. That demon made a failsafe before sending me. He forced me to forge a Kar'Azal pact with every one of my people. If you were to involve yourself in any of this, everyone would die. Even now, I cannot tell you what he is doing to us."
Thud. Mimir punched the wall. It cracked from the mere tap of his fist."Who is this demon? How is he so clever? Does he think he is smarter than the God of Knowledge?"
Gabriel brought a blanket to cover Lucian, who was shivering in the cold. Lucian continued,"I had nowhere else to go. No one to fight such a powerful demon on my behalf. So I did what he asked of me. But now, thanks to these gentlemen, I see through his lies. Gauge, Var, and Xerxes agreed to help me. At least, that is what I remember from my time as Aero. But I myself… I have become useless."
Gabriel placed a hand on Lucian's shoulder."Says who?"
He pressed a strange, glowing-blue device to Lucian's chest, then lifted a controller and pressed a button. Fzzzzz. Lucian split into Aero and the Golden Champion once again. Everyone was shocked. Mimir frowned at Gabriel. Gabriel added,"Relax, everyone. You haven't seen everything yet."
He pressed another button, and both forms reverted back into Lucian. Gauge's eyes widened."That's cool. Almost like a power-up."
Mimir now turned his gaze to Gauge. He walked close and placed his hands on both of Gauge's shoulders."I don't know what you'll do. But I want my ci—"
Gauge shoved Mimir's hands away and cut him off boldly,"I will save Lucia. But not because you ordered me—because Lucian asked me."
A heavy silence fell.
Zwoshhh. A purple, eerie aura spread through the room. Mimir's eyes glowed violet. His voice thundered, threatening,"YOU DARE CUT ME OFF, MORTAL? I SHALL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW."
Gauge did not back down. He summoned magma. Swshhh. Vapors rose from his body as he answered coldly,"You think you scare me?"
Gabriel and Lucian rushed to restrain Mimir, pleading. Var held back Gauge. Lucian begged,"Gauge is the last hope Lucia has, my lord. Please show mercy!"
But Mimir was more stunned than angered. Never before had a mortal stood against him. He cooled himself and turned away."Do what you must. But remember—this is no child's play. The fate of the universe depends on your actions."
Then he thought to himself: This is no ordinary boy. I may have to kill him later. But if a demon could defeat Lucian, it is no ordinary one. He might still prove useful.
Gabriel wiped sweat from his forehead and sighed,"Alright, let's not linger anymore. We must reach my Ziphon-Jet at the space research center. From there, we can blast off to the Moon of Orryphis."
Everyone agreed. They left the lab.
Marketplace, Rafter
Gauge looked unusually worried. Var noticed and asked,"Hey, are you still thinking about the scroll thing? It might have been an accident."
Gauge came back to his senses and replied,"What? No, no. It's just that… Kar'Azal. The name sounds so familiar, like I've heard it before. But I have no clear memory of it."
Gabriel intervened,"Then it must be a subconscious memory."
Everyone turned to him. He noticed and continued,"It means you might not have actively heard it. Maybe you heard it in your sleep, or passing by when two people mentioned it. Or even when you were a baby. Subconscious memory is stronger than ordinary memory, but less distinct."
As Gabriel was explaining—Thud. Someone crashed into Gauge. The person was shrouded in a tattered cloth. Gauge's first instinct was to apologize,"I'm sorr—"
But the mysterious figure rushed off. Xerxes helped Gauge up and asked,"Are you okay?"
Gauge rubbed his head and responded,"Yeah… but that woman… I've seen her somewhere!"
Gabriel replied, excited,"There you go—an example!"
Everyone else looked at him in annoyance. Gabriel grew awkward.
Suddenly, Gauge heard a woman's voice shouting,"Gauge!… GAAUGEE!! Help me!"
Gauge spun around, startled. Who could know his name in such a crowded place?
Lucian shouted,"Hey! That stranger who crashed into you—she's running off with your dagger!"
Gauge turned and saw that the one calling for help was Feryx. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee, arms braced against the ground, one leg extended, the other coiled for launch. He charged his legs and blasted off in pursuit of the fleeing stranger.
Var yells,
"WAIT!!!"
Next Chapter – The Death Contract