Finding Purpose

Chapter IX

There was a short silence, when Chaos responded again. "I see."

He took a deep breath. "Doesn't she have the right to know?"

I felt my eyebrows rise in confusion. The right to know about what? My anger had started to disappear, but right now, I felt it boiling under my surface. I already knew everything I was supposed to know. And if I didn't.. well, don't blame me if things were starting to get out of hand. There's nothing that will stop me from saving my father.

Suddenly Chaos returned to the Message, a solemn look on his face.

"Alright Ayme. I will make you an offer. I will.."

"What did my father tell you?" I interrupted him.

"Ayme.."

"I want to know."

Chaos shook his head. "I can't tell you. I don't have the right. That's up to your father."

"Please!" I begged him.

"No." Chaos answered absolutely. He narrowed his eyes before speaking again. "And that's final. Now.. I suggest you will listen carefully to me, or I won't hesitate to refuse you excess to End's Realm."

My mouth clapped shut. There was nothing I could do to get him to tell me. I even had to submit to him to get what I wanted. On the outside, it may look like I agreed with him, but on the inside I was shaking.

"I can take you to End's Realm. I will get you to the Gate, but from there on, I can't help you any further. It will be up to you to receive the antidote for the poison."

"Good enough," Eve muttered.

"But you all know that I don't do anything for free. I will take you to the Gate, but in return, I want you to prove me that you are worthy of my help."

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Ann asked him.

Chaos crossed his arms and leaned back against his desk. "You will each come to Universa, where you will be receiving a test. Pass it, and I will help you. Fail and I will send you back without hesitating."

"That's it?" I asked him dumbfounded. "All we need to do is pass some stupid test and you'll help us?" Chaos frowned, his lips turning into a flat line. "I highly doubt you will pass it if you think it will be that easy, Ayme Jackson."

I heard Eve swallow, trying to get his nerves under control, and I honestly felt like doing it myself. From what he just said, things will not be going easy.

"So will you accept my offer?" Chaos asked us.

Did I really want this? I thought. Was I really going to risk my father's life by trying to pass a test from the Creator himself?

"I'm in," I answered.

"Me too," Eve replied.

"Same for me," Ann said.

Chaos nodded. "Good." He turned to Archimeda. "You do know what I'm asking from you right now, don't you?"

Archimeda groaned. "I can't believe I actually spent my precious time on building a Gate to a place where I went once."

"Can you open it?" Chaos asked.

"You're kidding, right?" Archimeda replied. "I'm the one who build it. Of course I can open it." She walked away, muttering under her breath. "Stupid Primordial. Thinking I'm not capable of doing so.."

Chaos turned to us again. "Follow Archimeda. I will see you in a few minutes."

He swiped through the Iris Message, destroying the only way of possible communication.

"What are Chaos and Archimeda talking about? Did she really build a Gate?" I asked Eva.

She looked at me, crossing her arms. "A few years ago, Chaos and Archimeda had an encounter with each other, and Archimeda needed a way to get to Universa. In a matter of days, she built the Gate to Chaos' Planet, only to go there once. It's not unusual when she starts complaining how she could have used her time better for a different Project."

"Is it safe?" Ann asked.

"Is it safe? Really?" Archimeda said behind us, caring a small device in her hands.

"Of course it's safe. I designed it. I built it for the Moon Goddess sake."

She placed the device on the ground, attaching some wires and pressing a few buttons. All of a sudden, a soft glowing screen shines from it, buzzing softly. "Walk straight through it, keep walking, and in a matter of seconds you'll be standing before the entrance to Universa."

I watched the screen for a moment, before turning to Evalyn.

"Thanks for everything," I said hugging her.

Eva hugged me back. "You're welcome. I hope it turns out well for you, Ayme."

I nodded, not knowing what I should reply to that. Ann and Eve did the same, giving their thanks to Eva as well.

I eyed Archimeda a bit, watching her grin at me. "I don't suppose you're one to accept a thanks, right?"

To my surprise she laughed, her voice now softer. She motioned to the room she was standing in. "It's my job. I don't want to be thanked for the work I do. It just.. doesn't feel right."

"Well, just.." I tried. "Thanks anyway."

Meda laughed again. "It's fine. Now go."

I turned to the screen, Ann and Eve standing beside me.

"So..," Eve said, laughing nervously. "Who's going first?"

Ann shrugged. "Got nothing to lose," she said, walking into the screen, disappearing from view.

"You want to go next?" Eve tried, when I shook my head.

He swallowed and took a deep breath, before walking into the light.

I looked aside of me, watching Eva and Meda still standing there.

"Thank you," I said.

"Good luck," Eva replied.

"Yeah," I muttered, "I'm going to need it."

And I walked in.