-Kleis POV-
Being stolen from Bartholos was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. A significant part of my plan involved Cipher. The power of Trickery she wields is a major wildcard. The best example was when Anaxa and Cipher tricked Lygus into being trapped in the Vortex of Genesis. Despite being the scepter's administrator, Cipher could still trick Lygus.
My plan was missing one crucial element: tricking Lygus. I knew I'd eventually leave the scepter, but I was unsure for how long or how much time would pass outside. That's where Cipher came in. Together, we could concoct a deception to make Lygus believe Cipher and I were still inside. The only remaining question was where we could hide, and I already had a location in mind.
"So, what's the plan, Key-boy?" Cipher purred, leaning in. I had to suppress a shiver at her voice. The way Cipher spoke always affected me; catgirls being a particular weakness of mine. I coughed and took a step back, a move I immediately regretted as she stepped closer, her grin widening.
"First, I need to find Aedes Elysiae," I mused. Cipher's eyes gleamed with recognition at the name. When planning my escape from Amphoreus, I'd considered the Demiurge's core as a secure location for my physical body. However, my months in the grove had revealed a crucial limitation: I couldn't lucid dream my way into the thirteenth titan tomb, despite my best efforts.
For the longest time, I did not understand the reason behind my limitations. It felt as if an invisible barrier prevented me from delving deeper into the dreams of Amphoreus. It was only through persistent investigation that I caught a fleeting glimpse of the Station of the Demiurge at the very bottom of my lucid dreaming dive. Surrounding the Station was not only a vast quantity of Memoria but also twelve familiar symbols, which together acted as a formidable barrier.
It became immediately apparent what needed to be done. I had to locate and resonate with all the Coreflames scattered throughout Amphoreus. With this objective in mind, I resolved to establish a new location for my experiments, and Aedes Elysiae came to mind. The choice was simple for two primary reasons. Firstly, Oronyx, for reasons I couldn't fully comprehend but suspected involved time manipulation, was the protector of Aedes Elysiae. Secondly, Aedes Elysiae had long been abandoned, ensuring my presence there would go unnoticed, especially with Blank active.
"Aedes Elysiae, isn't that where savior boy is from?" Cipher inquired, tilting her head in apparent confusion. My own eyes widened in surprise, realizing Cipher was already acquainted with Phainon. The Wayfinder I had given her was intended for a different purpose: a means to explain the truth quickly when encountering past Chrysos Heirs, a scenario I expected given the path I was on.
"Don't look so surprised, Key-boy~" Cipher teased, stepping closer. "You think I wouldn't know Aglaea's new golden boy? Little Phainon is the talk of Okhema with how quickly he's rising through the ranks," she added with a laugh, her grin growing more mischievous. "Wanna know what else I heard?" she asked, her voice dropping conspiratorially as she closed the distance. I involuntarily took a step back, my movement halted by an unforgiving wall.
"A little birdie told me that Theoros was seen talking with Aglaea," Cipher revealed, her grin disappearing as her expression turned serious. "Something about him wanting you as his representative for the Chrysos Heirs."
My mind went blank for a moment as I tried to process her words. "Oh..." I finally managed, the weight of Lygus's earlier declaration settling back in. He had mentioned speaking with Aglaea, a detail that had somehow slipped my memory.
"Cipher, just where do you get all your information?" I asked, bewildered by the uncanny breadth of her knowledge. I realized then that this constant access to information was a defining, and frankly, unsettling characteristic of hers.
"How bold wanting to know a girl's secrets," Cipher said as she took a step back with a fake blush. "If you must know, Bartholos can split his body into many selves. How do you think he's everywhere?" Cipher said with a wink.
"Really?" I asked, not knowing that Bartholos even had an ability like that.
"Haha, no, but that's what everyone believes!" Cipher said with a laugh. Hearing Cipher laugh, I couldn't stop my laugh from coming out. Our two laughs echoed through Aidonia, our Elation being expressed.
Looking at Cipher, I thought about the future. What happens when we save Amphoreus? Unless we can protect the world, what stops Oswaldo Schneider from destroying our world in his twisted thoughts about Trailblazing? My Keyblade glinted, and I suddenly had an idea.
"Cipher, would you like your own Keyblade?" I asked, as I pointed to Eclipsed Radiance in her hand, offering her the choice.
Cipher's eyes glinted as she lifted my Keyblade, admiring the blade once more. I could tell Cipher wanted one; the fact she couldn't take her mind off it made that feeling stronger.
"Oh, my Key-boy offering such a gift. You say that to all the girls you know? What would Princess Homebody say~?" Cipher purred, her words laced with playful accusation.
My face flushed at the mention of Castorice. While the thought of gifting her a Keyblade was appealing, the reality was far more complicated. Castorice was too exposed, and with Lygus aware of our close relationship, it was an unacceptable risk. "I wish I could, but Lygus knows that Castorice and I are close," I admitted, shaking my head.
Cipher's eyes, previously alight with amusement, turned cold at the mention of Lygus. I pressed on, trying to deflect the tension. "You, on the other hand, Cipher, keep yourself hidden. Lygus pays no mind to you. You simulate the path of Elation; I don't think Lygus thinks much of you." I explained to Cipher.
Cipher snorted derisively at the insult, a reaction I expected with a wince. Before she could voice her retort, she raised a hand. "I understand, Kleis," she began, her voice tinged with weary resignation. "I am well aware of how people perceive me." She crossed her arms, the defiance in her posture palpable. Then, her tone shifted, dropping to a chilling whisper that sent a shiver down my spine. "That said, Lygus will regret his actions," she vowed, her eyes narrowing with predatory intensity.
Her demeanor underwent a swift transformation; the animosity melting away as quickly as it had appeared. "But about my own Key~?" she inquired, her playful tone making a surprising return.
"It would have to be in the future; I am far too weak to do it now. Only a Keyblade master or someone with that power can perform the ritual." I explained as Cipher slumped, her disappointment clear, though I found her animation rather endearing.
"But there's something I can do," I offered, a new plan forming in my mind. Focusing my intent on the concept of "awakening," I placed my hand on Cipher. I thought about the deep connections I shared with Blank and Pathstrider, and this solidified an idea to disrupt Lygus, a true wild card. My immediate goal was to grant Cipher 'Blank', providing a shield to cloak her from the scepter's detection. I felt my own Blank split, a portion of it giving birth to Cipher's newfound power. Once I sensed the power settling within her, I opened the connection to Pathstrider, forging a path for Cipher to travel.
Cipher stiffened, her eyes widening and dilating uncontrollably as I observed. For a tense moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then, with a sudden jolt, she snapped back to awareness, Eclipsed Radiance falling from her grasp. Her eyes locked onto mine, a frantic intensity burning within them. She grabbed my shoulders, her grip surprisingly strong, her knuckles white.
"Cipher, is something wro—" I started, concern etching my voice, but the sudden, overwhelming pressure of her lips swallowed my words against mine. My eyes shot open in shock as Cipher devoured my mouth, pushing me back against the icy wall. Cipher's kiss paralyzed me for a moment, leaving me unable to react. Then, instinctively, I threw my arms around her, returning the kiss. I lost all track of time; the world outside our embrace ceasing to exist. I only knew that Cipher's tongue felt uncannily like a cat's.
A sudden, echoing laugh abruptly shattered our passionate embrace. Our lips parted, startled by the sound that seemed to reverberate around us.
"AHAHAHA," the laughter boomed, filling the space with an almost tangible amusement. My eyes widened in alarm as I looked at Cipher, a chilling realization dawning upon me: I might have made a grave mistake. A wave of pure elation slammed against my mind, and I watched a predatory grin spread across Cipher's face. Without a moment's hesitation, I duplicated and gifted her a copy of Mental Barrier. Cipher's eyes widened in sudden clarity as she finally understood the implications of what had just transpired.
A booming, maniacal laugh abruptly fractured the air. "AHAHAHA Cipher, did I interrupt you!" A voice declared, and before us materialized a mask, the sole herald of its unseen owner. Without conscious thought, just a primal reaction, I summoned Eclipsed Radiance, slamming the blade teeth first into the mask. Cipher gasped, a mixture of shock and disbelief on his face as we both witnessed Aha's mask tumble over the precipice, swallowed by the vast, echoing depths below.
"Did you just?" Cipher's voice was laced with horror, a sentiment I mirrored.
"I think I did," I confessed, the gravity of my impulsive action settling upon me.
"Why?" Cipher's question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications, as we both stared into the abyss from which Aha had emerged.
"Honestly, I just reacted. I did the first thing I could think of," I explained, bracing myself for an inevitable reprisal. There was no conceivable way Aha would remain vanquished.
As if summoned by my very anticipation, a torrent of Aha masks, countless and unnerving, erupted from the depths. "AHAHAHA, Aha just wanted to say hello, and I got hit by a Keyblade. Aha has really lost face," the disembodied voice boomed, the words striking me with an unsettling familiarity. My mind went blank. Did he just mention a Keyblade?
"Oh, is the baby Keyblade wielder so surprised~ Aha knows all about the X-Blade," Aha taunted, his presence shifting, circling around Cipher and me, forcing our bodies closer together.
"Lord Aha, is there something you need?" Cipher inquired nervously, her eyes darting towards the myriad of masks that had now converged, their silent gazes fixed upon her.
"Cipher, I was so surprised to sense you in Droidhead's lost corpus!" Aha exclaimed, it's mask suddenly speeding up towards me, its gaze sharp and probing.
"Key-boy, Key-boy, do you think I can put this scepter in my brain?" Aha, suddenly blurted out the nonsensical question, catching me off guard. I couldn't suppress a frown. Although I could have responded, one thought dominated my mind.
"With what head?" Cipher and I asked in unison, our voices a perfect echo of each other. The synchronicity of our questions highlighted our shared bewilderment, and we exchanged surprised glances. Aha paused, the Aeon's mask contorting into an expression of genuine surprise.
"Aha, can do that?" I muttered, utterly confused by the interaction.
"Huh," Aha responded, a brief silence descending as he processed our query. "AHAHA, you're right. Aha has no head, Aha has lost face again." He erupted into another bout of disembodied laughter. "Key-boy, Key-boy, do you want Aha to save Amphoreus?" Aha's voice boomed again, the Aeon now hovering directly in front of my face.
"No," I answered without hesitation. It took me not a single second to formulate my rejection. "Amphoreus needs to be saved by the people of Amphoreus, not by any Aeon." With that, I slammed my forehead against Aha's mask, locking my gaze with the entity's unseen eyes.
Another Aha mask zoomed towards Cipher. "Cipher, Key-boy is being mean to Aha. Do you want my help? You can be a hero," Aha said, the Aeon seeming to whisper into Cipher's ears. Cipher stared into the mask before doing what I expected of her.
"Hahaha," Cipher laughed, pushing the mask away. "How sad that you have to ask Aha. Key-boy said it best: Our Elation will save Amphoreus," Cipher said as she leaned her head on my shoulder.
Aha was silent after our answers. For a moment, I feared Aha would turn the two of us into worms or something. It was then I heard it, "AHAHAHAHA, Aha has really lost face. Key-boy, Cipher, I'm so happy you said no. If you didn't, I would have destroyed Amphoreus! Key-boy, Cipher, I have a gift." Aha added not giving us the chance to refuse.
Suddenly, Cipher and I were slammed back as two masks flew onto our faces. "Oh, was that too hard~ I couldn't help it. Key-boy, Cipher, I WILL see you for the Phantasmoon games," Aha said as all the masks disappeared from us. I could still hear the faint laughs echoing throughout Aidonia.
Cipher and I could only stare at the sky, following the fading laughter, both of us just as confused. "What just happened?" I asked Cipher while lying on the ground. I had never thought that giving Cipher the chance to be an actual Pathstrider would cause all this. My mind thought back to what happened before Aha had appeared, and I stiffened.
"Cipher, what was that?" I asked her, referring to our kiss as I turned to face her.
Cipher's eyes widened as she blushed, looking away. "Ah I'm sorry, Kleis," she apologized, her ears folding inward. "Meeting the Elation sent all my impulses into overdrive."
My eyes met Cipher's hidden gaze as I took her hand. Her ears perked at my touch, and though I couldn't see her face, I felt her question. "I can't say I didn't enjoy the kiss myself," I admitted, feeling Cipher stiffen beside me. "Getting to know you better is something I'd welcome. We'll be seeing a lot more of each other, especially since we have that trip coming up together," I added, reminding Cipher of Aha's command.
"I just have to ask one question. What caused that impulse to kiss me?" I asked, curious what would cause Cipher to feel that.
"Ah, I guess I was so happy that someone asked for my help. You gave me the chance I've always wanted. Being a Hero is what I always wanted. You've given me the chance to be an actual hero, Kleis. Not sacrifice my life for no reason," Cipher said, her voice soft as she snuggled up to me, turning her masked face towards mine.
I was silent for a moment as I thought about what Cipher had said. "Are you sure that isn't gratitude?" I asked, curious if she wasn't confused by how she felt at the moment.
Cipher shrugged her shoulders against mine. "I don't know, Kleis, maybe it is, maybe it isn't. But you've given me so much despite not knowing me. You've given me new powers, a chance to be a hero, and I can tell you've been working so hard on your own," Cipher said, pushing herself against me and then flipping onto my lap. "I don't know what might happen, but know this, Key-boy. Until I figure out how I feel, Princess Homebody has some competition." Cipher said as she took her mask off, smiling at me. My eyes widened at Cipher's sudden actions. Cipher gave a laugh as she flipped off my lap and started walking away. Not knowing what to say, I pushed myself off the ground as I followed Cipher.
"Cipher—" I started to say, but was interrupted.
"Cifera," she said, looking at me. "You already know my name, and we've faced an Aeon together. After what we've been through, you can call me Cifera," Cipher said.
My eyes looked to Cipher, no, I corrected in my head. Cifera. My eyes looked to Cifera's eyes as I took off my mask, looking into her eyes, and gave a small smile.
"I guess I could do that," I said as the two of us started walking aimlessly, enjoying the moment. The gentle snowfall around us seemed to enchant the tranquil scene. Our peaceful interlude, however, was soon interrupted.
"Big Sister!" Bartholos yelled, suddenly appearing before us. "I finally found you! I tried to find you, but so many red masks were bullying me," he cried, his voice filled with distress. It turned out Aha had been tormenting Bartholos. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him, though not solely because of Aha's actions, but more so from the thought of what Cifera might do to him.
"Bartholos, did you have to ruin the moment!?" Cifera exclaimed, kicking the Spirithief away with surprising force. I winced as I saw her ears and tail perk up in unmistakable rage. With a sigh, I gently patted Cifera's head, and she froze for a moment before purring.
"Come on, Cifera, it's time to go," I said to the catgirl. "Can you take me back to the Grove of Epiphany?" I asked. Cifera let out a sigh, then grabbed her coin, tossing it into the air. Before I could even react, we were standing at the entrance to the Grove of Epiphany.
"Nice Teleslate, Key-boy," Cifera quipped, somehow now in possession of my phone. Watching her deftly type on my Teleslate, she tossed the device back to me. "I've added my information. I'll see you next time," she said. As Cifera reached for her coin to leave, I watched her pause. She cast a glance at me before giving me a quick peck on the cheek. With a mischievous smile, she said, "Remember, Kleis, never stop running. I will see you again," and then disappeared in a flash.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched her go. "What a sly girl," I said with a smile, turning to walk back to my room. It wasn't long before I reached my dorm. Stepping inside, I burst into laughter as I saw that my chest was back right where it was supposed to be. But I noticed that resting on top of it was a pendant, identical in design to the one Cifera wore around her neck.
My eyes widened as I picked up the pendant, my gaze fixed on it. As I spun the coin in my hand, I couldn't help but think about its significance. I knew how much this meant to Cifera; and a smile spread across my face. It seemed Cifera had defied her prophecy of death. "Okay, Cifera, I understand," I murmured, grasping her implied message. "Together, we will fight against fate," I declared, looking up at the night sky, wondering what lay ahead.
Chapter 12: What A Laugh End
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*Author's Note*
Did I do that? Yes, I did! Aha has infected me with elation today. For anyone wondering Kleis is both an Elation and Erudition Pathstrider. The reason simple to be an Elation Pathstrider it means to laugh at the end. When Aha climbed the Imaginary Tree he saw the void and felt despair. But he then saw a baby fall from that he laughed. He laughed so much he became a Aeon. To be an Elation Pathstrider is to laugh at the end to laugh at Nihility. To laugh when you know everything will disappear and fight against the Nihility. Kleis knows there will be a Aeon War. Knows that one day "Darkness will prevail as light expires," but he still can laugh. That's why he's an Elation Pathstrider.