False Gods

Book IX: Aegis

Chapter LXX

     Acacia left aboard the Monoceros, after all, the BCC didn't need it anymore.

     On the way back, T-Elos' core crystal began glowing, indicating she was ready to be resonated with again.

     "Can I request that you resonate with T-Elos as soon as possible?" KOS-MOS questioned.

      Acacia seemed kind of surprised, she hadn't known KOS-MOS to make requests like that before.

      "You're worried about her, huh?" Acacia said aloud. "Yeah, bring her here."

      KOS-MOS brought over T-Elos' core crystal and Acacia touched her core crystal.

      A bright light filled the ship and T-Elos emerged from her core crystal.

     "So you will keep your promise?" T-Elos asked immediately.

      Acacia was taken aback, blades weren't supposed to remember anything between resonations.

      "O-Of course," she eventually responded.

      T-Elos seemed confused, "Is there a problem?"

      Acacia shook her head, she decided it didn't matter if T-Elos remembered or not, it didn't affect her promise.

      "None at all, T-Elos."

     It was a relatively quiet ride on the way back, but KOS-MOS seemed reluctant to leave T-Elos' side, and T-Elos didn't seem to mind. It was... nice.

      Eventually, they did arrive in Leftheria. The sun had finally come up and the water surrounding the island was glistening beautifully.

     Acacia hadn't slept at all since she left, and her exhaustion was catching up to her, however she forcefully ignored it.

     Gabriel and Rafi ran out to meet the ship, weapons in hand.

     Acacia lowered the hatch and began walking down, KOS-MOS and T-Elos behind her.

     "Acacia?!" Gabriel said in shock at seeing Adonis' ship.

     "What T-Elos doing here?" Rafi questioned on top of that.

      Acacia stumbled a little bit, and summoned her blade, tossing it to Gabriel.

     "My sister is gone, take that blade and get rid of it. I never want... to... see i..t... again...," Acacia said as she passed out entirely.

     KOS-MOS caught her. "Signs of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustions are present, rest is the appropriate response."

     "KOS-MOS what happened?" Gabriel asked as she carried Acacia into Nia's old house.

     "Violet and Acacia settled their differences," T-Elos interjected, as KOS-MOS wasn't listening. "While I can't pretend to completely understand it, she's going to need some rest, at least a day."

     "And you're her blade now?" Gabriel continued.

     "Correct, any further questions?"

     Gabriel shook his head. "Welcome to the team."

     "Thank you," T-Elos replied, and then she went to go rest with KOS-MOS and Acacia.

...................................

     "So you finally completed yourself?"

     "Where am I?" Acacia asked, looking around.

     She was surrounded by nothing, where was she? However, she could see someone in front of her.

     "Good morning, my driver," Malos greeted.

     "You!" Acacia exclaimed. "Why did you leave willingly?!"

     He chuckled. "Five hundred years ago I decided humans couldn't change, and that they'd always find ways to kill each other if it meant someone gained power. I decided then that humans were worthless, and deserved to die. This whole creation was nothing short of awful, from humans to blades to even me, and I was just given hope that I could recreate this world."

     "History says another Aegis recreated you, how do you remember your past life?"

     "Call it the Conduit's will if you want! Not that you actually understand what that is," he replied with a smirk. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't think you're a bad driver, you're definitely a marked improvement over my last one. However, even with a handful of good drivers who genuinely care and love the world, they are overshadowed by an overwhelming drive of people unwilling to break their own molds and fight with the good. Instead, they put on blinders and play with their own lives while the world around them burns to ash, and I'm more than willing to turn up the heat."

     "I don't understand," Acacia said. "If humans are so willing to follow, wouldn't it be better to give them an example to follow?"

     "That can only last for so long," Malos responded as he shook his head. "It's not fair to blades, who have to go along with whatever the humans decide is right or wrong at the time of their awakening."

     Acacia sighed. "I don't believe you're wrong, and I don't even think your motives are inherently evil. However, I will find you, and I will beat you."

     Malos chuckled at this statement. "Take tomorrow and rest, I'll wait for you. After you're ready, have Azurda take you to the World Tree. Tell him 'Where Aion is', he'll know what that means. If you really think you can beat me, I won't stop you. However, know that I fully intend to fight until either you or I die."

     She nodded. "Ok, but please wait for me."

     He smiled, "I'm looking forward to it."

Readability Level: 11-12th Grade
Time Taken: 1 Hour