- Location
- Ontario, Canada
"Whatever you do," Shurelia cautioned the entire force, "do not damage the Orgel. You will obliterate this tower, this planet, and quite possibly the entirety of the universe."
Ar Tonelico : From Discord to Harmony
- Thread starter Sapphire
- Start date
Is this the kind of thing you need to do in order to gain the attention of EXA_PICO itself
That alone would probably squish most of the Solar System anyway.Is this the kind of thing you need to do in order to gain the attention of EXA_PICO itself
Yeah, Baughn and I were of the opinion that it was more likely that the most extreme case laid out in theory probably shouldn't be possible to occur in actual reality, as it goes against among other things the statistical likelihood of the matter. So I guess the actual attention of EXA_PICO would be the likely alternative.
Though I guess @Sapphire has been poking some what extensively around information on the Ar Tonelico universe if they know that.
Though I guess @Sapphire has been poking some what extensively around information on the Ar Tonelico universe if they know that.
Chapter 3
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Chapter 3 - Lessons
A vicious, howling wind snatched at my clothing, tearing the hood from my head as I sat down on the edge of the precipice. Cautiously I stretched my legs out into the abyss, allowing them to dangle freely in the air.
The small AI flinched, precariously balanced on my shoulder. Somehow, her holographic body actually had a physical form. The giant tower guardian hosting her hologram snorted, lying in the shadow of an immense redwood amongst the trees to our backs. "Hey… you know what I said earlier about being more careful because of the whole 'administrator' thing? That… includes hanging body parts out over a bottomless abyss, you know!"
I smiled playfully, swinging my legs as a light feathering of puffy white clouds scudded by. The sun was already low on the horizon, the sky shot with tenuous streaks of dusky gold. "I think after living through that last fall, I could take this one, too. I just need some trees to break my landing!"
Sentinel laughed sarcastically—a dry, bitter sound. "Hah. Hah. Hah. No, you couldn't handle this one. Trust me. You'd be dead the second you hit the clouds."
"Oh…" I gingerly pulled away from the ledge.
A long moment of silence passed. Thin stalks of grass rustled in the wind, tickling my bare knees. The air smelled wonderful—tasty and fresh.
Finally the AI spoke, biting her lip hesitantly. "There's… a lot of things you don't know. I don't understand why, that's not the way things were supposed to happen… but that's the way it is, and we're just gonna have to deal with it."
"Supposed to happen…?"
"You were supposed to know stuff!" the AI wailed in exasperation, throwing her arms up. "That's what they said, at least… but I mean, you also weren't supposed to just sleep for three quarters of a millennium, so… we can count having you at all among our blessings, I guess. Point is," she glared in my direction, "you need to learn how to be an administrator. I can help you with some of that, by teaching you. I don't particularly enjoy that sort of thing, but ultimately it's in both of our best interests."
"…If you don't like it, then why are you helping me?"
Sentinel gave me an incredulous look. "Uh… I get to continue existing? How's that for a motive? The tower's on the brink of collapse, after all. I'd have to be the dumbest AI ever not to seize the opportunity to save it!"
So that's all I am, then… a means to an end. "Okay…" I whispered, subdued. My eyes stung.
The AI pressed a tiny flickering hand against my cheek. "Hey," she said encouragingly. "This is for your benefit, too. After all, if the tower ends up collapsing you'll die as well."
"That… doesn't make me feel any better at all…"
"In fairness, it wasn't meant to." Sentinel folded her arms. "It is the truth, though, and the sooner we bring you up to speed the better. We should begin." She nodded towards the horizon, where the sun was just starting to kiss the tops of the clouds on its descent. "We don't have much time left in the day, and there's much to talk about."
The tiny figure alighted on the grass before my crossed legs, standing on the edge of the precipice. "You, the tower, the world—and the universe itself even—all arise from a single source, the root of everything. That 'everything' is waves. The study of such is called wave theory, sound science, phonetics… really, you can pick your poison. So let's start there."
"Why do I get the feeling that this is gonna go way over my head?" I murmured wearily, heart sinking. Even so, I felt something stirring within—a faint twinge of recognition. I was meant to know this. Somehow, I was certain of that.
"I'm gonna try and keep this simple, both for the sake of your understanding and for my own sanity. You don't need to be a physicist to get a loose handle on things—though to be fair, you'll probably end up as knowledgeable as one by the time you're properly set up as Tower Administrator, but I digress.
"Like I said before," she began. "Everything—and I mean everything—is made up of waves, even solid matter. To dumb it down immensely, there are two types… I mean, there is a third type, and a fourth type, and a fifth type, and so on… but that's beside the point! Two types, the most common ones—detail waves and hymmno waves. Each of those in turn has two subtypes—static and dynamic. The different wave types make up every element, breath of energy, and component in our universe." The AI raised an eyebrow. "You with me so far?"
"Detail waves and hymmno waves, static and dynamic," I repeated, a grimace plastered on my face. Absentmindedly I rubbed my forehead, feeling a faint yet painful pressure from within.
"There just might be hope for you yet!" The AI playfully ribbed, ignoring my mild discomfort. "I'm gonna move on to what each wave type does, then. It's actually pretty simple!
"Static detail waves—or static D-waves, for short—comprise most of the physical matter on this planet," she explained, scrounging up a tiny stone among the blades of grass. "The strength and direction of the wave's frequencies decides what state it is—be it solid, liquid, or gas. Static D-waves are generally characterized by remaining in their current state unless acted on by another wave. So, for example—" the AI lifted the pebble once more, "—this is made up of static D-waves in a solid form. If you were to apply a dynamic D-wave in the form of heat to it, then it'd turn into molten rock—or more accurately, the individual elements making up the rock would turn to liquid. Effectively, you'd have changed the wave state from solid to liquid." She cast the pebble out into open sky. "Understand?"
"Yes…" I replied fuzzily, listening as best I could. I flinched suddenly—the pressure seemed to have increased. Headache…
Sentinel continued at my confirmation. "The next type is called the dynamic D-wave, and it's here where things start getting weird, so hold onto your butt. Dynamic waves are special because of their fluid state; they can change. This wave type is the origin of all forms of energy—whether that be heat, electricity, gravity, or other more… obscure forms. The cool part, though, is because of the nature of waves, they can be replicated and used for other purposes."
She laughed suddenly. "The simple people of the past called it magic—well, they still do, so I guess that doesn't really say much in the end. It's the generation and manipulation of the waves that make up the world's energy and matter, via means originating with the psyche."
"Wait, wait, wait!" I exclaimed, the pain momentarily forgotten. "Magic? For real? Like… literal magic? Shooting fireballs and bolts of lightning?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, I'm screwing with you because it's in my best interest to feed you fantasies and nonsense. It's more or less exactly what you're thinking. It's a simple matter of manipulating waves to form the desired energy or matter type."
I gave her an inquisitive look. "How…?"
"Well," the AI replied, "how do you think one would manipulate the waves that make up everything in the universe? Through song, of course! That's why we call it song magic; though in reality, that name is more or less historical. All pre-scientific use of magic was through song, but… basically, it's a lot more complicated than that.
"However, song magic can only be reasonably performed when in range of a symphonic amplification tower. Without a tower, unless you had a ton of people singing together, very little would actually happen." She pointed up at the massive spire that loomed overhead, blotting out a full third of the sky. "There are only three amplification towers in the whole world. This is one of them—Asciydria Tower."
"Oh…" Another sharp pain impacted into my forehead, as if something was trying to burst free of the skull. I gingerly rubbed at it, wincing.
This time, Sentinel noticed. "Hey, administrator, this really isn't that complicated. These are only the very basics, and I haven't even gotten to H-waves yet!"
"It hurts…"
She frowned, her pudgy face resolving with alertness. Her brusque, dismissive manner seemed to fall away. "Hurts? What hurts?"
"Head…" I moaned, rocking back and forth with a hand plastered on my temple.
"Maybe we should stop here for now, then." The AI gained a look of discomfort. "I'm sure it's nothing… it's only because this is your first day. It's a lot to take in all at once." She couldn't manage to hide the uneasy skepticism in her voice.
"You know something… don't you…?" I accused weakly.
The AI shook her head slightly, brow creased in a frown. "Just a suspicion. I'd need to take a look inside your skull to confirm, but I don't have the means to do so." She lifted up into the air, hologram flickering as she moved closer towards the frightening tower guardian. "Here, hop on."
I winced in pain as I stood, splotches of color dancing before my eyes. My vision swam, the sensation of intense vertigo piling on top of the other ailments. "Back to the… um, Silvaplate…?"
"Nope!" she said brightly. "I might actually be able to get you some help elsewhere. It's a nice place too, I promise!"
"…So anyway," she continued, unfazed, despite my delirious state, "the other wave type I wanted to discuss is something called the hymmno-wave—or H-wave—which divides into static and dynamic… and this is where things get really weird. I suppose you could call it life energy—It's the soul, the consciousness. In particular, yours. Static H-waves are what allow certain artificial lifeforms to flourish—among other things—because of their characteristics; they make excellent processing architecture for minds. Without static H-waves, you would not exist."
"Mmh…" I murmured drowsily, enjoying the sensation of cool metal pressed against my cheek. The enormous machine beneath my body rocked back and forth, stomping through the murky forest. A roof of pine boughs passed overhead, low enough that if I had been sitting upright, I would've gotten a face full of needles and sap.
"Where are we going…?" I blinked slowly, eyes bleary. We seemed to be heading down into a valley lined with rocky cliffs, the terrain angling into a downward slope. A thin mountain stream rushed down the middle of the channel, vanishing into the depths of the forest at the base of the incline.
"It's a place called Mist's Reach," the AI replied vaguely. "Trust me, you'd rather see it for yourself than have me explain it.
"In light of that, let's wrap this up quickly; you flat-out lack the ability to forget, so there shouldn't be any problems with continuing. The final wave type we're gonna discuss—er, one-sidedly discuss—is called the dynamic H-wave. This wave type makes up the thoughts, impulses, and emotions currently flowing through your mind. Once you're done with them, they turn into static H-waves to be archived away. Also it's this wave type that allows people to manipulate magic, so remember it!"
The AI paused for the briefest of moments, looking over my condition. "We'll go over it in more detail in the future when I'll actually have you trying it out for real. For now, this is a sort of… brief summary? Just to have you dipping your toes in.
"Song magic can be shaped through several means, neither of which are mutually exclusive. The primary and most powerful means is the use of dynamic H-waves—your impulses and emotions—to create and shape matter and energy via conversion and manipulation of dynamic D-waves. The secondary means would be the vocalization of specific words that invoke emotions and waves. Though, that method is flawed in that it pales in strength compared to the raw power of one's emotions." The AI snickered, shaking her head. "I suppose that's the irony there! Song magic doesn't even need song to be manifested anymore. How weird is that?
"To sum up what it actually does, song magic is used for the output of specific wave forms—like fire, lightning, solid matter, almost anything you can think of. That's the gist of it, at least. Those are the basics; you'll get more adept with the stuff as you grow."
She peered back at me in a concerned manner, her hologram hanging in the air above the tower guardian's gigantic head. "Administrator, don't fall asleep. Right now, sleeping is the worst possible thing to do; you might not wake up, and then nothing will stop the tower coming down around our ears. We're almost there. It's just a little further."
"Still here…" I slurred, the pressure in my head having shifted into a dull shroud that blanketed my mental faculties. The throbbing pain was still there, but it felt more muted and distant. The tips of my fingers and toes felt numb.
The air seemed to change suddenly, the scent of pine needles and detritus vanishing as we cleared the forest; the scent of smoke now assailed my nostrils, joined with the pleasant aroma of cooked meat and burning cedar wood. An eerie wail filled the air, birthed from the wind whistling off the rocky cliffs.
"Made it!" Sentinel announced triumphantly. "This is Mist's Reach."
Half a kilometer ahead, a narrow canyon—perhaps fifty meters in width—threaded between two enormous mountain peaks, the twin sentinels illuminated by the fiery light of the setting sun. Crystalline sheets of ice glittered along their snow-capped summits.
A raging, frothing river churned along the canyon floor, having carved out the geological formation over the long eons. The churning water was marred by countless shards of jagged rock, rising up from the foaming rapids like the teeth of some monstrous creature. All along the canyon walls, stubborn and tenuous scraps of vegetation clung to the loose rocks. Proud redwoods and ancient cedars sat along the cliff edges, their roots partially exposed to the open air. A number of small waterfalls tumbled into the gap, feeding the raging river that flowed through the gorge. Mist seemed to cling to the canyon walls, thanks to the abundance of moving water.
But it wasn't the natural scenery that drew my wide-eyed attention—it was the buildings.
Made from sawn logs stacked together, a great number of structures lined the gorge. Several of them even clung to the cliff faces themselves, anchored deep into crevices in the rock. Other, smaller structures were mounted to the trees themselves, nestled amongst the high branches or simply girding the wide trunks. With high, sloped roofs, countless stone chimneys that belched smoke, and warm flickering lights emanating through their recessed glass windows, the cozy and rustic lodgings painted the towering spire at my back in sharp contrast.
Each structure was connected by a network of rope and wooden bridges; it was a stunning design choice, basing a settlement in such a precarious location. Long bundles of rope draped down into the churning river below, expansive fishing nets trailing downstream. Thin streaks of silver—salmon—flitted within the pockets of mesh.
I blinked lazily, captivated by the quaint alpine village. The distant murmur of indiscriminate speech filled the air, interspaced with the sound of heavy footsteps on wooden planks, the clanging of steel, and the ceaseless rush of water. "Pretty…"
"Isn't it?" Sentinel remarked warmly. "Mist's Reach is the only organized human settlement left on the tower. It's home to… uh, four hundred people last I checked, but that was centuries ago. It's been awhile since I last came here…" With a sudden lurch, the machine advanced, padding along the knifelike cliff edge.
"W—wait!" I stammered, the buildings drawing closer. "Humans? You mean… more people?"
"That's right," she replied with a laugh, vaulting over a fence into a small field. A dozen four-legged animals clad in fluffy white coats fled to the far end of the pasture, bleating with fear as the enormous machine passed through. "And uh… fair warning… they're gonna be fascinated with you."
I groaned with distress, struggling to clear the veil that strangled my thoughts and movements. My extremities felt numb and detached, vision contracting to a tunnel. It felt as if the world was growing distant—like I was slowly being drawn out of my own body.
"Sentinel…? I don't… feel so good…"
"I know," she said softly. "This visit isn't just a social call to the local village; I actually have a purpose for coming here that concerns your condition. We'll talk about that in the future, though." The AI grinned maliciously as a multitude of distant voices broke out—shouts of fear and amazement as we stepped onto a narrow rocky path. Gravel crunched beneath the tower guardian's hooves. The narrow street was lined with wooden buildings and trees, and ended at a sturdy wooden bridge that spanned the chasm. "For now, it's time for the meet and greet!"
I yelped, spilling from my perch as the gigantic machine tilted, dislodging its passenger. The AI's aim was well and true—I landed face-first in a pile of hay.
"C'mon!" Sentinel said brusquely, taking a few steps forward as I squirmed about, sputtering with a faceful of dry stalks. "Looks like they're gathering."
I pushed myself upright on shaky legs, my skirt skewed and my shirt in disarray. The white hood of my cloak had flipped up, hanging low over my eyes. I hate you… I hate you so much…
And then, as if a switch had been flicked, the feeling of disconnect vanished. The returning sensation elicited a gasp of relief from my lips, and I immediately seized the opportunity to fix my clothing, a flat glare plastered on my delicate features.
"Hey," Sentinel whispered, lightly cuffing me with the tower guardian's stubby tail. "Remember your first impressions."
I huffed, lifting my head—and froze.
Many pairs of curious eyes had locked on my face.
Several dozen people had clustered together at the end of the pathway before the bridge, watching with fear and curiosity. Ranging from elderly folks to little children, each man and woman wore hard and world-weary expressions, clad in dull clothing made from handmade textiles and furs. It was a startling contrast to my own appearance—my manufactured clothing made from clean white fabric, smooth and unblemished skin, hair that shone like starlight. The fact that most of them towered over me didn't help matters. I felt wholly out of place.
"Are you… Sentinel?" a male voice asked. Someone stepped from the crowd—an elderly man. Short, stocky, and tanned, the powerfully-built man had the figure of one who had spent the entirety of his life outdoors, chopping wood and hunting wild game. Stray wisps of gray hair stubbornly clung to his balding head. His dull charcoal eyes nonetheless glittered with furtiveness and intelligence, set into a weathered and chipped face that had seen and experienced much.
The machine stepped forward; I nervously latched onto its rear leg, half-hidden from the crowd.
"That's me," the AI confirmed softly. She inclined her head in a polite gesture. "Are you the current leader of Mist's Reach? We have… urgent matters to discuss."
The man shook his head wearily. "I am the village chief. My name is Cael. But… have you any idea how long it's been? I only know about you thanks to my grandfather's stories! It's been centuries since you were last seen…"
Sentinel snorted with amusement. "Should try looking to the skies sometime, then." Driving her point home, a squadron of tower guardians rocketed overhead, the treetops surging from the wash of engine exhaust. With a fading rumble, the airborne machines vanished as quickly as they came. "I had nothing left to say after Sphilar Prism was destroyed. Since that day, I've been keeping to myself."
"I… see," Cael grunted. "Has there been any word from Lyra Village? I fear the worst…"
The AI looked desolated. "I don't know. I haven't personally entered that section of the tower in hundreds of years—it's too dangerous, even for me."
"So he still guards that place, then," the village chief muttered bleakly, stroking the thick stubble on his chin with sausage-like fingers. "It's as I feared."
Looking past the enormous machine, his face eyes locked on me. The man's face brightened. "But where are my manners? I see you have a little companion!" Stepping closer, he knelt down to stare eye-to-eye with me. I squirmed with discomfort, tightly gripping the tower guardian's metallic leg. "Tell me, who is this young lady?" Several of the villagers in the background muttered amongst each other, exchanging fascinated looks.
Sentinel released a barking laugh. "'Young lady,' huh? I'll wager she's a lot older than you."
His face whitened. "You don't mean that's…"
"I mean exactly that."
I caught several snippets of conversation as the tower guardian advanced, dragging me closer to the gaggle of human settlers.
"Mommy, why does that girl have white hair?"
"Is that really her? I thought she no longer existed!"
"She's a lot… smaller than I thought she'd be…"
"She's just a kid! No older than my little Mitri…"
I gulped nervously, butterflies flitting about in my stomach. Clearly these people had expectations of me that I hadn't even the vaguest understanding of. At this point, it was likely—no, probable that these people actually knew more about me than I did. I'm doomed.
"That's right!" Sentinel declared, smiling broadly. "This is Tower Administrator Sylphira."
Scattered applause and half-hearted cheers broke out amongst the villagers, the crowd parting to allow us passage. I pressed my body as tightly as I could to the tower guardian's metallic limb, as if I could disappear inside it.
"I have no idea what's happening…" I frantically whispered to the overeager AI as we passed through the crowd, coming to a halt before the wooden bridge. Cael was hot on our heels.
"Just… stay cool." The machine snorted, rotating its head so that one glowing blue eye could peer back. "Stick with the village chief, do what he says, impress him a little! I'll meet up with you on the other side of the bridge; I need to have words with him, after all."
"Wait! Don't leave me alo—" I protested weakly, but it was no use. The tower guardian surged forward, its four powerful legs suddenly exploding with blue-tinted flames. Sentinel's body rocketed into the air on four pillars of smoke, crossing the canyon with ease. The throaty roar of rocket engines echoed along the gorge. I could only gape, my lips parted.
"…Now that's something you don't see every day," Cael muttered. A moment later, he turned to stare down into my eyes. A wide smile was plastered on his grizzled features. "Nonetheless, administrator, I'd like to formally welcome you to Mist's Reach!" He bowed low, a ragged cloak drooping from his wide shoulders. "I do hope that you understand when I say that your presence wasn't expected, otherwise we would have prepared a ceremony in your honor."
"It… it's okay…" I sputtered, nervously hugging myself in an attempt to appear as small as possible. I could sense dozens of eyes boring into the back of my head while I conversed with the grizzled man. "I really don't deserve one…"
"Nonsense!" he boomed jovially, ushering me onto the bridge that spanned the gorge. My boots clunked on the sturdy wood planks. I peered down and blanched, immediately regretting my decision to look. "It's not every day that a deity visits your humble town. We're all honored by your presence."
I don't… I mean… what? A deity?
Note to self: Ask Sentinel what the heck I am, because something got lost in translation.
"Administrator?" Cael asked hesitantly.
I jolted out of my reverie. "O—oh. Sorry." I bit my lip, twitching with discomfort. "Can you please just… call me Sylphira?" 'Administrator' sounds so weird, and I don't even know what it means!
"Lady Sylphira," he pledged decisively.
"No…" I stammered. "Just… regular Sylphira. No titles or anything needed…"
A look of acute confusion crossed his face. "…As you wish."
We finished the crossing in mutual silence.
"You've arrived just in time for dinner," Cael remarked warmly as we stepped back onto solid ground on the far side of the gorge. "My wife, Serafi, is a wonderful cook."
The architecture drew my interest. There were many more buildings on this side of the divide, the rustic homes nestled between coniferous trees and enormous boulders. A few buildings even carved directly through the trunks of large redwoods, incorporating the plants themselves into their living quarters. All the buildings seemed to be spaced in a circle about a clearing; a small body of crystal clear water lay at its center. The few remaining shafts of light from the setting sun shone through the thin canopy overhead.
"About time!" Sentinel huffed, the ground trembling as her gigantic tower guardian reappeared. Several of our followers flinched, retreating in light of the reappearance of the intimidating machine. It felt like we were at the head of a parade, followed by the gawking group of villagers.
"Now what…" I murmured uneasily.
The older man gave me a sideways glance. "Please, come to my home. I'll put aside one of the guest rooms for your use, and then we'll dine." His eyes blessedly closed. "I can smell it even now…"
"O…kay…" As we passed the small pool of water, I took a quick peek in; it seemed to be bottomless, a straight shaft that vanished into the earth. Despite the clear water, I couldn't even see the bottom; it was shrouded in darkness. Sinkhole… spooky.
Suddenly Cael came to a halt. "This is my home."
A large two-story structure sat nestled up against a sheer rock face—yet another precipice that the land seemed to be marred with, as if a great cataclysm had taken place a long time ago. With a steep roof, the house seemed designed to withstand the harsh elements that doubtlessly came hand and hand with living among the mountains. Warm light emanated from windows recessed into the wall, and an ornately-carved doorway beckoned from the porch.
Sentinel stared incredulously at the building. "There's no way I'm gonna fit in there."
"There's a stable for animals next door," the man pointed out. You can wait there until I have our guest of honor settled in." He patted me on the shoulder; I shied away from his touch.
The AI snorted. "Fine. Don't keep me waiting too long, though—it's urgent." She gave me a long look as her enormous drone turned away, shaking the ground with every step as it headed down a side path to a squat, flat-topped building hidden amongst the trees. The indistinct sound of many different animals emanated from the stable.
"Now that that's done…" Cael turned to me with a wide smile. "Please, Lady Syl—uh, Sylphira. Follow me." He easily hefted himself onto the front porch, planks squealing beneath his feet. With a meaty hand and in a gesture unbefitting to his stature, he delicately opened the door, holding it open politely. Warmth spilled from the open portal.
I tentatively followed him up. Now that we were set to pass into the relative safely of the chief's home, the crowd finally began to dissipate, returning to their own lodgings in preparation for nightfall. The sky had already turned indigo, the last vestiges of fiery orange falling away. The brightest stars had already become visible, shining brightly from their cradles in the sky.
Strange house… strange man… but unlike Sentinel, he's really nice! And he hasn't really given me any reason to distrust him… yet. I gulped, hesitantly crossing the threshold.
Never before had I seen a home that looked so cozy. The center of the lodging was dominated by a wide cylindrical hearth, its stone chimney vanishing into the high, vaulted ceiling. The interior seemed to be made up of one main room comprised of a living space, dining area, and kitchen. Multiple doorways branched off on either side, doubtlessly leading to storage areas, bedrooms, and perhaps a bathroom. Much of the floor space was occupied with various pieces of handmade furniture, from tables to chairs to padded sofas. A number of potted ferns and complex wood carvings helped bring the home to life. The hearth's light barely reached the far corners of the room; tiny candles helped to null the shadows.
The door slammed shut behind me as the village chief entered; I jumped in surprise at the sudden, unexpected bang.
I spotted a flurry of movement at the back of the room. "Hi there, Cael!" a woman's voice proclaimed from the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready."
Cael smiled. "That's my wife, Serafi."
"Oh, a visitor!" A slim, middle-aged woman hurried over, clad in an airy green dress and a stained apron. She peered at me, her fierce features tightly focused on my own. Her brown eyes were brimming with curiosity. Long tresses of graying hair fell down to her narrow shoulders. "Goodness, look at you!" she cooed, kneeling down to inspect her visitor. I gasped, shyly drawing back as she reached for my cheeks.
Seemingly recovering her composure, Serafi retreated. 'Who's this young lady, Cael?" she questioned. "Is she from Lyra Village?"
The village chief shook his head solemnly. "No. She is, in fact, the Tower Administrator."
Serafi released a loud gasp, eyes wide. "I thought… I thought she was dead!"
"That's what everyone says…" I grumbled, thinking back to the AI's casual remarks.
Cael shifted with discomfort. "Honey, I'll be back shortly. She wants to talk."
"The… the tower guardian controller?" the woman asked tentatively, casting a nervous glance in my direction.
"No need to be obscure," the village chief chided, tenderly taking her hand. "The administrator knows what Sentinel is."
I frowned, interjecting. "I know what Sentinel is…? What, an AI?"
Serafi looked flustered, hanging her head. "I'm sorry, administrator… I didn't know."
I was totally, utterly, and completely lost. What's going on here?
"That aside," Cael said, "I'm going to the stables. Honey, would you mind showing Sylphira to a room? I'm not sure how long she'll be staying; I intend to ask our… other guest."
"What about dinner?!" she exclaimed hotly as he opened the front door. "It's your favorite!"
"I won't be long; this should hopefully take mere minutes. Thank you, honey." The door closed with an audible thump.
I sighed, crestfallen. At this rate, I'm never gonna learn anything about who and what I am…
Serafi gently laid a hand on my shoulder. "Uh… excuse me? Administrator?"
"…Yes? Also, please just… call me Sylphira. It feels really weird to be called that."
"Is it… is it really true that you're the Tower Administrator?" she queried apprehensively.
I shrugged helplessly. "…I guess."
"Wow…" the woman whispered, awed. She shook out of her daze, bowing low. "…Anyway! Please, come with me! I'll show you to one of the guest rooms. We always keep them ready for use because of how often we get visitors."
I allowed the woman to lead me along, ending up at one of the doorways that lined the sides of the main room. She politely pushed the wooden door open, and I timidly entered.
The bedroom was a far cry from the sterile chamber in the Silvaplate where I'd first woken up. It was warmly lit thanks to the abundance of candles, and a large window that faced eastward doubtlessly allowed in plenty of sunlight at dawn, giving an excellent view of the rest of Mist's Reach. Adding to the breathtaking view, Asciydria Tower was clearly visible on the horizon, its incomprehensible bulk blotting out a vast portion of the twilit sky. From here, I could almost make out the upper sections of the spire, its silhouette having resolved in sharp detail.
A plush bed swathed in patchwork quilted blankets, a desk-and-chair combo, a nightstand, and a dresser comprised the furniture in the tiny bedroom. Carved with wood and polished until it shone, I couldn't help but be impressed with the level of craftsmanship. It was something that persisted throughout the village; for the carpenters who built it, this settlement was clearly a labor of love. The floor was hidden beneath a thick shag carpet that felt springy to walk on.
"I'm glad that you like it!" Serafi smiled happily, seeing my reaction. "Cael and I pride ourselves on how well we treat our guests." She turned around to leave. "We've having dinner soon… would you like me to set you a spot at the table?"
"Um…" I sputtered, overwhelmed. It smells really good…
My timidity, unfortunately, got the better of me. "No… it's okay. I brought my own food." I exaggeratedly rolled my shoulder, drawing attention to the small bag that hung from it.
"Well, just yell if you need anything!" With a muted click, the door sealed, leaving me to my thoughts.
My bag tumbled to the floor, thumping softly on the carpet. I allowed myself to tumble face-first onto the quilted bed, relieved that the long, stressful, and confusing day was beginning to wind down.
But… I peered wistfully out the window; the stable was easily visible from my vantage point. I really want to know what they're talking about… maybe it's about what's wrong with me?
It was then that I spotted the hinges and the latch. The window could be opened. The drop to the forest floor on the other side was miniscule at best, and climbing back in would be a cinch.
I took a moment to ponder. Should I… or shouldn't I?
…If it's about me… then I'd really like to know. Maybe I can find out what's going on here.
It was mere seconds before I'd smoothly opened the window, my knees buckling as I hit the ground; luckily, the overgrown vegetation made for a nice cushion. With all post-haste, I quickly made my way to the flat-topped building, pushing the side of my head up against the thin wooden walls. I fought to focus my hearing, eyes narrowing.
"—happened to it?! I thought the whole village was built around it!"
"It was…" Cael grunted. "But, a tremor several months ago made the caves collapse. It appears that the entire complex was flattened in the rockfall, and my fellow villagers have neither the will nor reason to excavate it again. I doubt that any computer systems survived."
Sentinel hissed with annoyance, mirrored with a low, synthesized growl from her tower guardian. "…Dammit. I was really banking on that."
Apprehension entered the chief's voice. "If you don't mind me asking, what's this all about? Does it have anything to do with why the administrator awoke?"
"I doubt it," she said quickly—almost too quickly. "But I'd just like to be certain." The AI turned away, each footfall making the building shake like a leaf. "I could check the wreckage of Sphilar Prism… no, no, it's almost completely devoid of data; pretty much every system was fried. Maybe the S.P.U.…"
"How long are you planning to stay?" Cael interrupted. "Perhaps we can help each other."
"Not long—a week, tops. After that, we have to start climbing."
"Climbing the tower…?" Cael said incredulously. "Whyever for? It's beyond hazardous up there! There's a reason that our village is established out here and not in the interior of that derelict. You should know that better than anyone."
"My business is mine and mine alone," she said dryly.
He grunted. "So be it." His footstep began to fade into the distance… then halted. "One more thing… what caused the tremor? Do you know?"
Sentinel released a sigh. "I do… it's the Plasma Bell. Some of its internal lift generators have apparently been malfunctioning for the last few decades—fluctuating power levels and such. I'll move it up in priority and look into it in more detail when I can free up some repair drones. For now, there should be no immediate danger."
"…That's something, at least. Thank you."
Sensing that the conversation was winding down, I seized the momentary lull and fled, silently clambering back into the house like a master thief. Though the exchange had been both short and vague, it had given me plenty to think about.
Sphilar Prism… Sphilar Prism… she mentioned that name before. Maybe it has something to do with my awakening?
Whatever that thing is, it's clearly important—connected to me or not.
Rooting through my pack, I extracted a silvery foil packet; it squished beneath my fingers, filled with some kind of malleable food. Ripping off the top, I was greeted by a slate-colored and sludgy paste. "Ew!" Dammit… I wish I'd said yes to that dinner offer.
Well… I made my bed. I guess I have to lie in it. Bottoms up… I reluctantly tipped the package, allowing the globules of 'food' to freely enter my body. Tears sprang to my eyes, such was the horror of what I'd just put in my mouth. Choking down the slimy paste, I resolved to seize the offer for free meals from this day onwards. Never again… My belly voiced its agreement with an unhappy grumble, the first full day of my existence drawing to a close.
Tomorrow's another day.
KEYWORD // SPHILAR=PRISM_SH_ASCIYDRIA.
FILE(S) DETECTED!
TRANSFERRING…
TRANSFERRING…
COMPLETE.
…
AUDIO_PLAYBACK // 24/08/3560_15:37:02
LOCATION_INFO // APEX_ASCIYDRIA.map
…
Bubbling water—the fluid that surrounds my comatose body. The faint metallic chirps of machinery, the dull whine of computer systems… and a multitude of footsteps.
Suddenly, a voice. Someone I don't recognize. A woman, commanding authority.
"It's time to try again. Everyone has been transferred to Sphilar Prism, and Creationsphere is ready."
Another voice, another person I don't recognize—a man. He speaks with confidence; he knows his way around these machines. "Again, I have to ask… Are you certain that you want to do this, Iylia? Is it moral to desecrate a deity from the old world like this? And beyond that, what about the potential hardware problems? The new simulations look promising, but we still haven't fully eliminated the power fluctuations… and it's highly possible that the ad hoc modifications to the Orgel won't hold up for much longer."
"She's not a deity," the woman retorted. A dull impact echoed on the exterior of my pod. "She's a corpse on life support. Were she alive now, she would support us. It would be her duty to do so."
"Besides," a third voice added, "we've come too far to stop now! We've worked for decades, and it all leads up to this moment."
"As you say," the man muttered. "I can only hope that this works."
TRIPOLAR RESONANCE INCUBATOR ACCESSED…
NEW FILES DETECTED! CONTINUE Y/N?
UPDATING…
UPDATING…
UPDATE INSTALLED. ADMINISTRATOR CLEARANCES ACCESSED…
WARNING! ORGEL_ASCIYDRIA POWER LOSS DETECTED!
"It's working," the second voice breathed. "It's working! The power is coming through!"
"Then we shall begin the fifty-seventh attempt," the first woman said solemnly. "For a new world, free of discord and strife."
"For a new world, free of discord and strife," dozens of voices repeated in perfect sync.
"Let us begin."
EXEC_CREATIONSPHERE/.
A distant song rose on the air, muted through the thick walls of the transparent cylinder. Countless voices, singing in a language that was tantalizingly-familiar—to the point where I could actually understand the words. They sang of hope, of determination, for the purpose of creating a new world where true peace could be wrought.
A shrill alarm sounded. ERROR. FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTED INSI— The siren was suddenly squelched with the snip of a wire.
"It's… it's working!" the man announced, his fingers drumming nervously on the side of the tube. "I can't believe it… just like you said, it's replacing the old hardware! For the first time…!"
NEW HARDWARE DETECTED. GENERATING NEW ARCHITECTURE…
8%…
21%…
36%…
WARNING! ORGEL_ASCIYDRIA POWER FLOW UNSTABLE. PRISMS 5 THROUGH 18 OUT OF ALIGNMENT. REQUIRES IMMEDIATE CALIBRATION.
"We've got a problem!" the elderly man—he sounded like an engineer—hollered. "The Orgel modifications need more calibrating, the power's coming too fast! I knew this would happen…"
"Keep… going…" the woman growled, momentarily interrupting her lyrics. "If we go back down there to modify it again, we'll be slaughtered—just like last time. Do you really think that the AI will be willing to help us now, after what we've done? And who knows how much more time it will take to devise a new, working procedure? Yet another century? Only a little more…"
52%…
ULTRA-HIGH VOLTAGE EMERGENCY DISCHARGE SYSTEM PRIMED.
"Iylia…! Shut it down!"
"Keep… pushing…"
65%…
78%…
WARNING! ULTRA-HIGH VOLTAGE EMERGENCY DISCHARGE SYSTEM OVERLOAD—SYSTEM OFFLINE. POWER SURGE IMMINENT.
"We've almost… got i—"
The sound of distant explosions, the crackle of lighting, resounding through the air like the pounding of drums. The shriek of alarms, the hiss of a shower of sparks. The fluid around my body seemed to tremble.
"IYLIA!" the man screamed, his shoes scuffing on the steel floor.
And then a multitude of splashes, as if dozens of buckets of water had emptied on the floor simultaneously.
An eerie, unearthly silence followed.
…
DAMAGE REPORT // MULTIPLE SYSTEMS DESTROYED.
SPHILAR=PRISM_SH_ASCIYDRIA // OFFLINE.
SH_ASCIYDRIA // OFFLINE.
β-6D_ASCIYDRIA // OFFLINE. RESTORATION IMPOSSIBLE.
SH_ASCIYDRIA ARCHITECTURE // FATALITIES : 100%.
ALL NONCRITICAL SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN.
"No…" the man breathed, falling to his knees with a muffled thump as the thrum of machinery faded into nothingness. "No, no…"
SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE. ERROR. HARDWARE INCOMPLETE.
SYLPHIRA_ANSUL_ASCIYDRIA FUNCTIONALITY AT 81%. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTART Y/N?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTART Y/N?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTART Y/N?
…
I awoke with a muffled cry, drenched in an icy layer of sweat. A thick, quilted blanket weighed down on me—I cast it aside, swinging my legs out over the edge of the soft bed. My bare feet brushed against the polished bed frame, my limbs too short to touch the floor.
The room was nearly pitch-black, barely illuminated only thanks to silver shafts of moonlight that flowed in through my room's singular window, as well as a small candle in the corner of the room that burned stubbornly in the darkness. I'd elected to leave one alight; I couldn't bear being alone in the dark, especially after what had happened before in the forest. A light wind brushed up against the shutters; they rattled quietly.
I held my head in my hands. The feeling of disconnect was back, though I was more troubled by what I had heard prior—in my dream.
What… what was that?! Was that a nightmare? Or was it a memory…?
…I think I need some fresh air. Maybe that'll make this scary feeling go away.
As silently as I could, I hopped onto my feet. Fabric rustled on my narrow shoulders, the borrowed nightgown hugging my slim frame in a comforting fashion.
It wasn't hard to sneak out; Cael and Serafi both seemed to be heavy sleepers. And so, it wasn't long before I was out the front door and stumbling down a pathway that ran along the cliff edge, sticking as close as I could to a line of flickering paper lanterns. I jumped at every rustle of foliage, one hand shakily wrapped around a flashlight and the other tightly gripping the enormous knife I'd found the previous day.
I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for, but I simply had to get away from it all. The day had been utterly overwhelming and draining for my newborn mind.
I live up in the sky, on a tower that reaches all the way up to outer space, with a crazy AI… also there's magic, and I'm apparently a deity. And to top it off, the world is gonna end in a few years. Why is everything so crazy…?
It wasn't long before I came across a small pond, the pool of water shimmering in the light of the moon; tonight, however, a different moon hung in the sky. Small and shining with a warm golden hue, it almost looked like a dimmer counterpart to the sun.
I squatted down in the grass next to the pond, allowing one bare foot to trail lazily in the cool water. Reeds brushed against the back of my neck, the soft chirp of crickets filling the night air.
A squeak of surprise shot out of my mouth when a small nibbling sensation suddenly came from my foot—but thanks to closer inspection with the beam of my flashlight, I realized that it was nothing more than a small fish, eager for a midnight snack. It gazed up at me with wide eyes, its gaping mouth opening and closing. It seemed fixated on the cone of light.
I smiled, relieved. "Hi there, little guy…"
"Geez, administrator, how'd you know I was back here?" a voice called out of the darkness. I leapt into the air with a strangled yelp, tumbling into a bush. "Also, I'm not really a 'little guy,' but you do you." Sentinel's dry voice emanated from the thicket.
The AI released an amused snicker, watching me flounder about in the leaves. "Oh! You were talking to the fish. In that case, BOO!<
"You're the worst…" I moaned, scrambling to my feet.
"I know. I embrace it, though!" she said lightheartedly, her holographic body drifting from the treeline. A small hovering drone hosted her projection; I recognized its ringed body from the previous night. It was one of the tower guardians that had saved my life. "Anyway, what are you doing out here? I figured that you wouldn't be so eager to head out at night, considering what happened last time."
"Couldn't sleep," I grumbled silently, brushing leaves off my nightgown.
"Any particular reason why?" A tinge of concern had entered her voice.
I faltered. I wonder… can I trust her? What if she's keeping my condition quiet because it's in her best interests? There's definitely something else going on here… I shivered at the recollection of the fragmented memory.
"No," I lied. "I just couldn't sleep."
The AI nodded tenderly. "Okay. Let's get you back to bed, then. Round Two versus the pillow?"
"Okay…" I allowed the small holographic figure to latch onto my finger. Together, we began the short walk back to Mist's Reach.
I couldn't manage to force the memory out of my head. It played over and over, like a nightmarish record. It was evident, though, that something terrible had happened on that day two hundred years ago—something that I couldn't yet comprehend.
A vicious, howling wind snatched at my clothing, tearing the hood from my head as I sat down on the edge of the precipice. Cautiously I stretched my legs out into the abyss, allowing them to dangle freely in the air.
The small AI flinched, precariously balanced on my shoulder. Somehow, her holographic body actually had a physical form. The giant tower guardian hosting her hologram snorted, lying in the shadow of an immense redwood amongst the trees to our backs. "Hey… you know what I said earlier about being more careful because of the whole 'administrator' thing? That… includes hanging body parts out over a bottomless abyss, you know!"
I smiled playfully, swinging my legs as a light feathering of puffy white clouds scudded by. The sun was already low on the horizon, the sky shot with tenuous streaks of dusky gold. "I think after living through that last fall, I could take this one, too. I just need some trees to break my landing!"
Sentinel laughed sarcastically—a dry, bitter sound. "Hah. Hah. Hah. No, you couldn't handle this one. Trust me. You'd be dead the second you hit the clouds."
"Oh…" I gingerly pulled away from the ledge.
A long moment of silence passed. Thin stalks of grass rustled in the wind, tickling my bare knees. The air smelled wonderful—tasty and fresh.
Finally the AI spoke, biting her lip hesitantly. "There's… a lot of things you don't know. I don't understand why, that's not the way things were supposed to happen… but that's the way it is, and we're just gonna have to deal with it."
"Supposed to happen…?"
"You were supposed to know stuff!" the AI wailed in exasperation, throwing her arms up. "That's what they said, at least… but I mean, you also weren't supposed to just sleep for three quarters of a millennium, so… we can count having you at all among our blessings, I guess. Point is," she glared in my direction, "you need to learn how to be an administrator. I can help you with some of that, by teaching you. I don't particularly enjoy that sort of thing, but ultimately it's in both of our best interests."
"…If you don't like it, then why are you helping me?"
Sentinel gave me an incredulous look. "Uh… I get to continue existing? How's that for a motive? The tower's on the brink of collapse, after all. I'd have to be the dumbest AI ever not to seize the opportunity to save it!"
So that's all I am, then… a means to an end. "Okay…" I whispered, subdued. My eyes stung.
The AI pressed a tiny flickering hand against my cheek. "Hey," she said encouragingly. "This is for your benefit, too. After all, if the tower ends up collapsing you'll die as well."
"That… doesn't make me feel any better at all…"
"In fairness, it wasn't meant to." Sentinel folded her arms. "It is the truth, though, and the sooner we bring you up to speed the better. We should begin." She nodded towards the horizon, where the sun was just starting to kiss the tops of the clouds on its descent. "We don't have much time left in the day, and there's much to talk about."
The tiny figure alighted on the grass before my crossed legs, standing on the edge of the precipice. "You, the tower, the world—and the universe itself even—all arise from a single source, the root of everything. That 'everything' is waves. The study of such is called wave theory, sound science, phonetics… really, you can pick your poison. So let's start there."
"Why do I get the feeling that this is gonna go way over my head?" I murmured wearily, heart sinking. Even so, I felt something stirring within—a faint twinge of recognition. I was meant to know this. Somehow, I was certain of that.
"I'm gonna try and keep this simple, both for the sake of your understanding and for my own sanity. You don't need to be a physicist to get a loose handle on things—though to be fair, you'll probably end up as knowledgeable as one by the time you're properly set up as Tower Administrator, but I digress.
"Like I said before," she began. "Everything—and I mean everything—is made up of waves, even solid matter. To dumb it down immensely, there are two types… I mean, there is a third type, and a fourth type, and a fifth type, and so on… but that's beside the point! Two types, the most common ones—detail waves and hymmno waves. Each of those in turn has two subtypes—static and dynamic. The different wave types make up every element, breath of energy, and component in our universe." The AI raised an eyebrow. "You with me so far?"
"Detail waves and hymmno waves, static and dynamic," I repeated, a grimace plastered on my face. Absentmindedly I rubbed my forehead, feeling a faint yet painful pressure from within.
"There just might be hope for you yet!" The AI playfully ribbed, ignoring my mild discomfort. "I'm gonna move on to what each wave type does, then. It's actually pretty simple!
"Static detail waves—or static D-waves, for short—comprise most of the physical matter on this planet," she explained, scrounging up a tiny stone among the blades of grass. "The strength and direction of the wave's frequencies decides what state it is—be it solid, liquid, or gas. Static D-waves are generally characterized by remaining in their current state unless acted on by another wave. So, for example—" the AI lifted the pebble once more, "—this is made up of static D-waves in a solid form. If you were to apply a dynamic D-wave in the form of heat to it, then it'd turn into molten rock—or more accurately, the individual elements making up the rock would turn to liquid. Effectively, you'd have changed the wave state from solid to liquid." She cast the pebble out into open sky. "Understand?"
"Yes…" I replied fuzzily, listening as best I could. I flinched suddenly—the pressure seemed to have increased. Headache…
Sentinel continued at my confirmation. "The next type is called the dynamic D-wave, and it's here where things start getting weird, so hold onto your butt. Dynamic waves are special because of their fluid state; they can change. This wave type is the origin of all forms of energy—whether that be heat, electricity, gravity, or other more… obscure forms. The cool part, though, is because of the nature of waves, they can be replicated and used for other purposes."
She laughed suddenly. "The simple people of the past called it magic—well, they still do, so I guess that doesn't really say much in the end. It's the generation and manipulation of the waves that make up the world's energy and matter, via means originating with the psyche."
"Wait, wait, wait!" I exclaimed, the pain momentarily forgotten. "Magic? For real? Like… literal magic? Shooting fireballs and bolts of lightning?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, I'm screwing with you because it's in my best interest to feed you fantasies and nonsense. It's more or less exactly what you're thinking. It's a simple matter of manipulating waves to form the desired energy or matter type."
I gave her an inquisitive look. "How…?"
"Well," the AI replied, "how do you think one would manipulate the waves that make up everything in the universe? Through song, of course! That's why we call it song magic; though in reality, that name is more or less historical. All pre-scientific use of magic was through song, but… basically, it's a lot more complicated than that.
"However, song magic can only be reasonably performed when in range of a symphonic amplification tower. Without a tower, unless you had a ton of people singing together, very little would actually happen." She pointed up at the massive spire that loomed overhead, blotting out a full third of the sky. "There are only three amplification towers in the whole world. This is one of them—Asciydria Tower."
"Oh…" Another sharp pain impacted into my forehead, as if something was trying to burst free of the skull. I gingerly rubbed at it, wincing.
This time, Sentinel noticed. "Hey, administrator, this really isn't that complicated. These are only the very basics, and I haven't even gotten to H-waves yet!"
"It hurts…"
She frowned, her pudgy face resolving with alertness. Her brusque, dismissive manner seemed to fall away. "Hurts? What hurts?"
"Head…" I moaned, rocking back and forth with a hand plastered on my temple.
"Maybe we should stop here for now, then." The AI gained a look of discomfort. "I'm sure it's nothing… it's only because this is your first day. It's a lot to take in all at once." She couldn't manage to hide the uneasy skepticism in her voice.
"You know something… don't you…?" I accused weakly.
The AI shook her head slightly, brow creased in a frown. "Just a suspicion. I'd need to take a look inside your skull to confirm, but I don't have the means to do so." She lifted up into the air, hologram flickering as she moved closer towards the frightening tower guardian. "Here, hop on."
I winced in pain as I stood, splotches of color dancing before my eyes. My vision swam, the sensation of intense vertigo piling on top of the other ailments. "Back to the… um, Silvaplate…?"
"Nope!" she said brightly. "I might actually be able to get you some help elsewhere. It's a nice place too, I promise!"
"…So anyway," she continued, unfazed, despite my delirious state, "the other wave type I wanted to discuss is something called the hymmno-wave—or H-wave—which divides into static and dynamic… and this is where things get really weird. I suppose you could call it life energy—It's the soul, the consciousness. In particular, yours. Static H-waves are what allow certain artificial lifeforms to flourish—among other things—because of their characteristics; they make excellent processing architecture for minds. Without static H-waves, you would not exist."
"Mmh…" I murmured drowsily, enjoying the sensation of cool metal pressed against my cheek. The enormous machine beneath my body rocked back and forth, stomping through the murky forest. A roof of pine boughs passed overhead, low enough that if I had been sitting upright, I would've gotten a face full of needles and sap.
"Where are we going…?" I blinked slowly, eyes bleary. We seemed to be heading down into a valley lined with rocky cliffs, the terrain angling into a downward slope. A thin mountain stream rushed down the middle of the channel, vanishing into the depths of the forest at the base of the incline.
"It's a place called Mist's Reach," the AI replied vaguely. "Trust me, you'd rather see it for yourself than have me explain it.
"In light of that, let's wrap this up quickly; you flat-out lack the ability to forget, so there shouldn't be any problems with continuing. The final wave type we're gonna discuss—er, one-sidedly discuss—is called the dynamic H-wave. This wave type makes up the thoughts, impulses, and emotions currently flowing through your mind. Once you're done with them, they turn into static H-waves to be archived away. Also it's this wave type that allows people to manipulate magic, so remember it!"
The AI paused for the briefest of moments, looking over my condition. "We'll go over it in more detail in the future when I'll actually have you trying it out for real. For now, this is a sort of… brief summary? Just to have you dipping your toes in.
"Song magic can be shaped through several means, neither of which are mutually exclusive. The primary and most powerful means is the use of dynamic H-waves—your impulses and emotions—to create and shape matter and energy via conversion and manipulation of dynamic D-waves. The secondary means would be the vocalization of specific words that invoke emotions and waves. Though, that method is flawed in that it pales in strength compared to the raw power of one's emotions." The AI snickered, shaking her head. "I suppose that's the irony there! Song magic doesn't even need song to be manifested anymore. How weird is that?
"To sum up what it actually does, song magic is used for the output of specific wave forms—like fire, lightning, solid matter, almost anything you can think of. That's the gist of it, at least. Those are the basics; you'll get more adept with the stuff as you grow."
She peered back at me in a concerned manner, her hologram hanging in the air above the tower guardian's gigantic head. "Administrator, don't fall asleep. Right now, sleeping is the worst possible thing to do; you might not wake up, and then nothing will stop the tower coming down around our ears. We're almost there. It's just a little further."
"Still here…" I slurred, the pressure in my head having shifted into a dull shroud that blanketed my mental faculties. The throbbing pain was still there, but it felt more muted and distant. The tips of my fingers and toes felt numb.
The air seemed to change suddenly, the scent of pine needles and detritus vanishing as we cleared the forest; the scent of smoke now assailed my nostrils, joined with the pleasant aroma of cooked meat and burning cedar wood. An eerie wail filled the air, birthed from the wind whistling off the rocky cliffs.
"Made it!" Sentinel announced triumphantly. "This is Mist's Reach."
Half a kilometer ahead, a narrow canyon—perhaps fifty meters in width—threaded between two enormous mountain peaks, the twin sentinels illuminated by the fiery light of the setting sun. Crystalline sheets of ice glittered along their snow-capped summits.
A raging, frothing river churned along the canyon floor, having carved out the geological formation over the long eons. The churning water was marred by countless shards of jagged rock, rising up from the foaming rapids like the teeth of some monstrous creature. All along the canyon walls, stubborn and tenuous scraps of vegetation clung to the loose rocks. Proud redwoods and ancient cedars sat along the cliff edges, their roots partially exposed to the open air. A number of small waterfalls tumbled into the gap, feeding the raging river that flowed through the gorge. Mist seemed to cling to the canyon walls, thanks to the abundance of moving water.
But it wasn't the natural scenery that drew my wide-eyed attention—it was the buildings.
Made from sawn logs stacked together, a great number of structures lined the gorge. Several of them even clung to the cliff faces themselves, anchored deep into crevices in the rock. Other, smaller structures were mounted to the trees themselves, nestled amongst the high branches or simply girding the wide trunks. With high, sloped roofs, countless stone chimneys that belched smoke, and warm flickering lights emanating through their recessed glass windows, the cozy and rustic lodgings painted the towering spire at my back in sharp contrast.
Each structure was connected by a network of rope and wooden bridges; it was a stunning design choice, basing a settlement in such a precarious location. Long bundles of rope draped down into the churning river below, expansive fishing nets trailing downstream. Thin streaks of silver—salmon—flitted within the pockets of mesh.
I blinked lazily, captivated by the quaint alpine village. The distant murmur of indiscriminate speech filled the air, interspaced with the sound of heavy footsteps on wooden planks, the clanging of steel, and the ceaseless rush of water. "Pretty…"
"Isn't it?" Sentinel remarked warmly. "Mist's Reach is the only organized human settlement left on the tower. It's home to… uh, four hundred people last I checked, but that was centuries ago. It's been awhile since I last came here…" With a sudden lurch, the machine advanced, padding along the knifelike cliff edge.
"W—wait!" I stammered, the buildings drawing closer. "Humans? You mean… more people?"
"That's right," she replied with a laugh, vaulting over a fence into a small field. A dozen four-legged animals clad in fluffy white coats fled to the far end of the pasture, bleating with fear as the enormous machine passed through. "And uh… fair warning… they're gonna be fascinated with you."
I groaned with distress, struggling to clear the veil that strangled my thoughts and movements. My extremities felt numb and detached, vision contracting to a tunnel. It felt as if the world was growing distant—like I was slowly being drawn out of my own body.
"Sentinel…? I don't… feel so good…"
"I know," she said softly. "This visit isn't just a social call to the local village; I actually have a purpose for coming here that concerns your condition. We'll talk about that in the future, though." The AI grinned maliciously as a multitude of distant voices broke out—shouts of fear and amazement as we stepped onto a narrow rocky path. Gravel crunched beneath the tower guardian's hooves. The narrow street was lined with wooden buildings and trees, and ended at a sturdy wooden bridge that spanned the chasm. "For now, it's time for the meet and greet!"
I yelped, spilling from my perch as the gigantic machine tilted, dislodging its passenger. The AI's aim was well and true—I landed face-first in a pile of hay.
"C'mon!" Sentinel said brusquely, taking a few steps forward as I squirmed about, sputtering with a faceful of dry stalks. "Looks like they're gathering."
I pushed myself upright on shaky legs, my skirt skewed and my shirt in disarray. The white hood of my cloak had flipped up, hanging low over my eyes. I hate you… I hate you so much…
And then, as if a switch had been flicked, the feeling of disconnect vanished. The returning sensation elicited a gasp of relief from my lips, and I immediately seized the opportunity to fix my clothing, a flat glare plastered on my delicate features.
"Hey," Sentinel whispered, lightly cuffing me with the tower guardian's stubby tail. "Remember your first impressions."
I huffed, lifting my head—and froze.
Many pairs of curious eyes had locked on my face.
Several dozen people had clustered together at the end of the pathway before the bridge, watching with fear and curiosity. Ranging from elderly folks to little children, each man and woman wore hard and world-weary expressions, clad in dull clothing made from handmade textiles and furs. It was a startling contrast to my own appearance—my manufactured clothing made from clean white fabric, smooth and unblemished skin, hair that shone like starlight. The fact that most of them towered over me didn't help matters. I felt wholly out of place.
"Are you… Sentinel?" a male voice asked. Someone stepped from the crowd—an elderly man. Short, stocky, and tanned, the powerfully-built man had the figure of one who had spent the entirety of his life outdoors, chopping wood and hunting wild game. Stray wisps of gray hair stubbornly clung to his balding head. His dull charcoal eyes nonetheless glittered with furtiveness and intelligence, set into a weathered and chipped face that had seen and experienced much.
The machine stepped forward; I nervously latched onto its rear leg, half-hidden from the crowd.
"That's me," the AI confirmed softly. She inclined her head in a polite gesture. "Are you the current leader of Mist's Reach? We have… urgent matters to discuss."
The man shook his head wearily. "I am the village chief. My name is Cael. But… have you any idea how long it's been? I only know about you thanks to my grandfather's stories! It's been centuries since you were last seen…"
Sentinel snorted with amusement. "Should try looking to the skies sometime, then." Driving her point home, a squadron of tower guardians rocketed overhead, the treetops surging from the wash of engine exhaust. With a fading rumble, the airborne machines vanished as quickly as they came. "I had nothing left to say after Sphilar Prism was destroyed. Since that day, I've been keeping to myself."
"I… see," Cael grunted. "Has there been any word from Lyra Village? I fear the worst…"
The AI looked desolated. "I don't know. I haven't personally entered that section of the tower in hundreds of years—it's too dangerous, even for me."
"So he still guards that place, then," the village chief muttered bleakly, stroking the thick stubble on his chin with sausage-like fingers. "It's as I feared."
Looking past the enormous machine, his face eyes locked on me. The man's face brightened. "But where are my manners? I see you have a little companion!" Stepping closer, he knelt down to stare eye-to-eye with me. I squirmed with discomfort, tightly gripping the tower guardian's metallic leg. "Tell me, who is this young lady?" Several of the villagers in the background muttered amongst each other, exchanging fascinated looks.
Sentinel released a barking laugh. "'Young lady,' huh? I'll wager she's a lot older than you."
His face whitened. "You don't mean that's…"
"I mean exactly that."
I caught several snippets of conversation as the tower guardian advanced, dragging me closer to the gaggle of human settlers.
"Mommy, why does that girl have white hair?"
"Is that really her? I thought she no longer existed!"
"She's a lot… smaller than I thought she'd be…"
"She's just a kid! No older than my little Mitri…"
I gulped nervously, butterflies flitting about in my stomach. Clearly these people had expectations of me that I hadn't even the vaguest understanding of. At this point, it was likely—no, probable that these people actually knew more about me than I did. I'm doomed.
"That's right!" Sentinel declared, smiling broadly. "This is Tower Administrator Sylphira."
Scattered applause and half-hearted cheers broke out amongst the villagers, the crowd parting to allow us passage. I pressed my body as tightly as I could to the tower guardian's metallic limb, as if I could disappear inside it.
"I have no idea what's happening…" I frantically whispered to the overeager AI as we passed through the crowd, coming to a halt before the wooden bridge. Cael was hot on our heels.
"Just… stay cool." The machine snorted, rotating its head so that one glowing blue eye could peer back. "Stick with the village chief, do what he says, impress him a little! I'll meet up with you on the other side of the bridge; I need to have words with him, after all."
"Wait! Don't leave me alo—" I protested weakly, but it was no use. The tower guardian surged forward, its four powerful legs suddenly exploding with blue-tinted flames. Sentinel's body rocketed into the air on four pillars of smoke, crossing the canyon with ease. The throaty roar of rocket engines echoed along the gorge. I could only gape, my lips parted.
"…Now that's something you don't see every day," Cael muttered. A moment later, he turned to stare down into my eyes. A wide smile was plastered on his grizzled features. "Nonetheless, administrator, I'd like to formally welcome you to Mist's Reach!" He bowed low, a ragged cloak drooping from his wide shoulders. "I do hope that you understand when I say that your presence wasn't expected, otherwise we would have prepared a ceremony in your honor."
"It… it's okay…" I sputtered, nervously hugging myself in an attempt to appear as small as possible. I could sense dozens of eyes boring into the back of my head while I conversed with the grizzled man. "I really don't deserve one…"
"Nonsense!" he boomed jovially, ushering me onto the bridge that spanned the gorge. My boots clunked on the sturdy wood planks. I peered down and blanched, immediately regretting my decision to look. "It's not every day that a deity visits your humble town. We're all honored by your presence."
I don't… I mean… what? A deity?
Note to self: Ask Sentinel what the heck I am, because something got lost in translation.
"Administrator?" Cael asked hesitantly.
I jolted out of my reverie. "O—oh. Sorry." I bit my lip, twitching with discomfort. "Can you please just… call me Sylphira?" 'Administrator' sounds so weird, and I don't even know what it means!
"Lady Sylphira," he pledged decisively.
"No…" I stammered. "Just… regular Sylphira. No titles or anything needed…"
A look of acute confusion crossed his face. "…As you wish."
We finished the crossing in mutual silence.
"You've arrived just in time for dinner," Cael remarked warmly as we stepped back onto solid ground on the far side of the gorge. "My wife, Serafi, is a wonderful cook."
The architecture drew my interest. There were many more buildings on this side of the divide, the rustic homes nestled between coniferous trees and enormous boulders. A few buildings even carved directly through the trunks of large redwoods, incorporating the plants themselves into their living quarters. All the buildings seemed to be spaced in a circle about a clearing; a small body of crystal clear water lay at its center. The few remaining shafts of light from the setting sun shone through the thin canopy overhead.
"About time!" Sentinel huffed, the ground trembling as her gigantic tower guardian reappeared. Several of our followers flinched, retreating in light of the reappearance of the intimidating machine. It felt like we were at the head of a parade, followed by the gawking group of villagers.
"Now what…" I murmured uneasily.
The older man gave me a sideways glance. "Please, come to my home. I'll put aside one of the guest rooms for your use, and then we'll dine." His eyes blessedly closed. "I can smell it even now…"
"O…kay…" As we passed the small pool of water, I took a quick peek in; it seemed to be bottomless, a straight shaft that vanished into the earth. Despite the clear water, I couldn't even see the bottom; it was shrouded in darkness. Sinkhole… spooky.
Suddenly Cael came to a halt. "This is my home."
A large two-story structure sat nestled up against a sheer rock face—yet another precipice that the land seemed to be marred with, as if a great cataclysm had taken place a long time ago. With a steep roof, the house seemed designed to withstand the harsh elements that doubtlessly came hand and hand with living among the mountains. Warm light emanated from windows recessed into the wall, and an ornately-carved doorway beckoned from the porch.
Sentinel stared incredulously at the building. "There's no way I'm gonna fit in there."
"There's a stable for animals next door," the man pointed out. You can wait there until I have our guest of honor settled in." He patted me on the shoulder; I shied away from his touch.
The AI snorted. "Fine. Don't keep me waiting too long, though—it's urgent." She gave me a long look as her enormous drone turned away, shaking the ground with every step as it headed down a side path to a squat, flat-topped building hidden amongst the trees. The indistinct sound of many different animals emanated from the stable.
"Now that that's done…" Cael turned to me with a wide smile. "Please, Lady Syl—uh, Sylphira. Follow me." He easily hefted himself onto the front porch, planks squealing beneath his feet. With a meaty hand and in a gesture unbefitting to his stature, he delicately opened the door, holding it open politely. Warmth spilled from the open portal.
I tentatively followed him up. Now that we were set to pass into the relative safely of the chief's home, the crowd finally began to dissipate, returning to their own lodgings in preparation for nightfall. The sky had already turned indigo, the last vestiges of fiery orange falling away. The brightest stars had already become visible, shining brightly from their cradles in the sky.
Strange house… strange man… but unlike Sentinel, he's really nice! And he hasn't really given me any reason to distrust him… yet. I gulped, hesitantly crossing the threshold.
Never before had I seen a home that looked so cozy. The center of the lodging was dominated by a wide cylindrical hearth, its stone chimney vanishing into the high, vaulted ceiling. The interior seemed to be made up of one main room comprised of a living space, dining area, and kitchen. Multiple doorways branched off on either side, doubtlessly leading to storage areas, bedrooms, and perhaps a bathroom. Much of the floor space was occupied with various pieces of handmade furniture, from tables to chairs to padded sofas. A number of potted ferns and complex wood carvings helped bring the home to life. The hearth's light barely reached the far corners of the room; tiny candles helped to null the shadows.
The door slammed shut behind me as the village chief entered; I jumped in surprise at the sudden, unexpected bang.
I spotted a flurry of movement at the back of the room. "Hi there, Cael!" a woman's voice proclaimed from the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready."
Cael smiled. "That's my wife, Serafi."
"Oh, a visitor!" A slim, middle-aged woman hurried over, clad in an airy green dress and a stained apron. She peered at me, her fierce features tightly focused on my own. Her brown eyes were brimming with curiosity. Long tresses of graying hair fell down to her narrow shoulders. "Goodness, look at you!" she cooed, kneeling down to inspect her visitor. I gasped, shyly drawing back as she reached for my cheeks.
Seemingly recovering her composure, Serafi retreated. 'Who's this young lady, Cael?" she questioned. "Is she from Lyra Village?"
The village chief shook his head solemnly. "No. She is, in fact, the Tower Administrator."
Serafi released a loud gasp, eyes wide. "I thought… I thought she was dead!"
"That's what everyone says…" I grumbled, thinking back to the AI's casual remarks.
Cael shifted with discomfort. "Honey, I'll be back shortly. She wants to talk."
"The… the tower guardian controller?" the woman asked tentatively, casting a nervous glance in my direction.
"No need to be obscure," the village chief chided, tenderly taking her hand. "The administrator knows what Sentinel is."
I frowned, interjecting. "I know what Sentinel is…? What, an AI?"
Serafi looked flustered, hanging her head. "I'm sorry, administrator… I didn't know."
I was totally, utterly, and completely lost. What's going on here?
"That aside," Cael said, "I'm going to the stables. Honey, would you mind showing Sylphira to a room? I'm not sure how long she'll be staying; I intend to ask our… other guest."
"What about dinner?!" she exclaimed hotly as he opened the front door. "It's your favorite!"
"I won't be long; this should hopefully take mere minutes. Thank you, honey." The door closed with an audible thump.
I sighed, crestfallen. At this rate, I'm never gonna learn anything about who and what I am…
Serafi gently laid a hand on my shoulder. "Uh… excuse me? Administrator?"
"…Yes? Also, please just… call me Sylphira. It feels really weird to be called that."
"Is it… is it really true that you're the Tower Administrator?" she queried apprehensively.
I shrugged helplessly. "…I guess."
"Wow…" the woman whispered, awed. She shook out of her daze, bowing low. "…Anyway! Please, come with me! I'll show you to one of the guest rooms. We always keep them ready for use because of how often we get visitors."
I allowed the woman to lead me along, ending up at one of the doorways that lined the sides of the main room. She politely pushed the wooden door open, and I timidly entered.
The bedroom was a far cry from the sterile chamber in the Silvaplate where I'd first woken up. It was warmly lit thanks to the abundance of candles, and a large window that faced eastward doubtlessly allowed in plenty of sunlight at dawn, giving an excellent view of the rest of Mist's Reach. Adding to the breathtaking view, Asciydria Tower was clearly visible on the horizon, its incomprehensible bulk blotting out a vast portion of the twilit sky. From here, I could almost make out the upper sections of the spire, its silhouette having resolved in sharp detail.
A plush bed swathed in patchwork quilted blankets, a desk-and-chair combo, a nightstand, and a dresser comprised the furniture in the tiny bedroom. Carved with wood and polished until it shone, I couldn't help but be impressed with the level of craftsmanship. It was something that persisted throughout the village; for the carpenters who built it, this settlement was clearly a labor of love. The floor was hidden beneath a thick shag carpet that felt springy to walk on.
"I'm glad that you like it!" Serafi smiled happily, seeing my reaction. "Cael and I pride ourselves on how well we treat our guests." She turned around to leave. "We've having dinner soon… would you like me to set you a spot at the table?"
"Um…" I sputtered, overwhelmed. It smells really good…
My timidity, unfortunately, got the better of me. "No… it's okay. I brought my own food." I exaggeratedly rolled my shoulder, drawing attention to the small bag that hung from it.
"Well, just yell if you need anything!" With a muted click, the door sealed, leaving me to my thoughts.
My bag tumbled to the floor, thumping softly on the carpet. I allowed myself to tumble face-first onto the quilted bed, relieved that the long, stressful, and confusing day was beginning to wind down.
But… I peered wistfully out the window; the stable was easily visible from my vantage point. I really want to know what they're talking about… maybe it's about what's wrong with me?
It was then that I spotted the hinges and the latch. The window could be opened. The drop to the forest floor on the other side was miniscule at best, and climbing back in would be a cinch.
I took a moment to ponder. Should I… or shouldn't I?
…If it's about me… then I'd really like to know. Maybe I can find out what's going on here.
It was mere seconds before I'd smoothly opened the window, my knees buckling as I hit the ground; luckily, the overgrown vegetation made for a nice cushion. With all post-haste, I quickly made my way to the flat-topped building, pushing the side of my head up against the thin wooden walls. I fought to focus my hearing, eyes narrowing.
"—happened to it?! I thought the whole village was built around it!"
"It was…" Cael grunted. "But, a tremor several months ago made the caves collapse. It appears that the entire complex was flattened in the rockfall, and my fellow villagers have neither the will nor reason to excavate it again. I doubt that any computer systems survived."
Sentinel hissed with annoyance, mirrored with a low, synthesized growl from her tower guardian. "…Dammit. I was really banking on that."
Apprehension entered the chief's voice. "If you don't mind me asking, what's this all about? Does it have anything to do with why the administrator awoke?"
"I doubt it," she said quickly—almost too quickly. "But I'd just like to be certain." The AI turned away, each footfall making the building shake like a leaf. "I could check the wreckage of Sphilar Prism… no, no, it's almost completely devoid of data; pretty much every system was fried. Maybe the S.P.U.…"
"How long are you planning to stay?" Cael interrupted. "Perhaps we can help each other."
"Not long—a week, tops. After that, we have to start climbing."
"Climbing the tower…?" Cael said incredulously. "Whyever for? It's beyond hazardous up there! There's a reason that our village is established out here and not in the interior of that derelict. You should know that better than anyone."
"My business is mine and mine alone," she said dryly.
He grunted. "So be it." His footstep began to fade into the distance… then halted. "One more thing… what caused the tremor? Do you know?"
Sentinel released a sigh. "I do… it's the Plasma Bell. Some of its internal lift generators have apparently been malfunctioning for the last few decades—fluctuating power levels and such. I'll move it up in priority and look into it in more detail when I can free up some repair drones. For now, there should be no immediate danger."
"…That's something, at least. Thank you."
Sensing that the conversation was winding down, I seized the momentary lull and fled, silently clambering back into the house like a master thief. Though the exchange had been both short and vague, it had given me plenty to think about.
Sphilar Prism… Sphilar Prism… she mentioned that name before. Maybe it has something to do with my awakening?
Whatever that thing is, it's clearly important—connected to me or not.
Rooting through my pack, I extracted a silvery foil packet; it squished beneath my fingers, filled with some kind of malleable food. Ripping off the top, I was greeted by a slate-colored and sludgy paste. "Ew!" Dammit… I wish I'd said yes to that dinner offer.
Well… I made my bed. I guess I have to lie in it. Bottoms up… I reluctantly tipped the package, allowing the globules of 'food' to freely enter my body. Tears sprang to my eyes, such was the horror of what I'd just put in my mouth. Choking down the slimy paste, I resolved to seize the offer for free meals from this day onwards. Never again… My belly voiced its agreement with an unhappy grumble, the first full day of my existence drawing to a close.
Tomorrow's another day.
KEYWORD // SPHILAR=PRISM_SH_ASCIYDRIA.
FILE(S) DETECTED!
TRANSFERRING…
TRANSFERRING…
COMPLETE.
…
AUDIO_PLAYBACK // 24/08/3560_15:37:02
LOCATION_INFO // APEX_ASCIYDRIA.map
…
Bubbling water—the fluid that surrounds my comatose body. The faint metallic chirps of machinery, the dull whine of computer systems… and a multitude of footsteps.
Suddenly, a voice. Someone I don't recognize. A woman, commanding authority.
"It's time to try again. Everyone has been transferred to Sphilar Prism, and Creationsphere is ready."
Another voice, another person I don't recognize—a man. He speaks with confidence; he knows his way around these machines. "Again, I have to ask… Are you certain that you want to do this, Iylia? Is it moral to desecrate a deity from the old world like this? And beyond that, what about the potential hardware problems? The new simulations look promising, but we still haven't fully eliminated the power fluctuations… and it's highly possible that the ad hoc modifications to the Orgel won't hold up for much longer."
"She's not a deity," the woman retorted. A dull impact echoed on the exterior of my pod. "She's a corpse on life support. Were she alive now, she would support us. It would be her duty to do so."
"Besides," a third voice added, "we've come too far to stop now! We've worked for decades, and it all leads up to this moment."
"As you say," the man muttered. "I can only hope that this works."
TRIPOLAR RESONANCE INCUBATOR ACCESSED…
NEW FILES DETECTED! CONTINUE Y/N?
UPDATING…
UPDATING…
UPDATE INSTALLED. ADMINISTRATOR CLEARANCES ACCESSED…
WARNING! ORGEL_ASCIYDRIA POWER LOSS DETECTED!
"It's working," the second voice breathed. "It's working! The power is coming through!"
"Then we shall begin the fifty-seventh attempt," the first woman said solemnly. "For a new world, free of discord and strife."
"For a new world, free of discord and strife," dozens of voices repeated in perfect sync.
"Let us begin."
EXEC_CREATIONSPHERE/.
A distant song rose on the air, muted through the thick walls of the transparent cylinder. Countless voices, singing in a language that was tantalizingly-familiar—to the point where I could actually understand the words. They sang of hope, of determination, for the purpose of creating a new world where true peace could be wrought.
A shrill alarm sounded. ERROR. FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTED INSI— The siren was suddenly squelched with the snip of a wire.
"It's… it's working!" the man announced, his fingers drumming nervously on the side of the tube. "I can't believe it… just like you said, it's replacing the old hardware! For the first time…!"
NEW HARDWARE DETECTED. GENERATING NEW ARCHITECTURE…
8%…
21%…
36%…
WARNING! ORGEL_ASCIYDRIA POWER FLOW UNSTABLE. PRISMS 5 THROUGH 18 OUT OF ALIGNMENT. REQUIRES IMMEDIATE CALIBRATION.
"We've got a problem!" the elderly man—he sounded like an engineer—hollered. "The Orgel modifications need more calibrating, the power's coming too fast! I knew this would happen…"
"Keep… going…" the woman growled, momentarily interrupting her lyrics. "If we go back down there to modify it again, we'll be slaughtered—just like last time. Do you really think that the AI will be willing to help us now, after what we've done? And who knows how much more time it will take to devise a new, working procedure? Yet another century? Only a little more…"
52%…
ULTRA-HIGH VOLTAGE EMERGENCY DISCHARGE SYSTEM PRIMED.
"Iylia…! Shut it down!"
"Keep… pushing…"
65%…
78%…
WARNING! ULTRA-HIGH VOLTAGE EMERGENCY DISCHARGE SYSTEM OVERLOAD—SYSTEM OFFLINE. POWER SURGE IMMINENT.
"We've almost… got i—"
The sound of distant explosions, the crackle of lighting, resounding through the air like the pounding of drums. The shriek of alarms, the hiss of a shower of sparks. The fluid around my body seemed to tremble.
"IYLIA!" the man screamed, his shoes scuffing on the steel floor.
And then a multitude of splashes, as if dozens of buckets of water had emptied on the floor simultaneously.
An eerie, unearthly silence followed.
…
DAMAGE REPORT // MULTIPLE SYSTEMS DESTROYED.
SPHILAR=PRISM_SH_ASCIYDRIA // OFFLINE.
SH_ASCIYDRIA // OFFLINE.
β-6D_ASCIYDRIA // OFFLINE. RESTORATION IMPOSSIBLE.
SH_ASCIYDRIA ARCHITECTURE // FATALITIES : 100%.
ALL NONCRITICAL SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN.
"No…" the man breathed, falling to his knees with a muffled thump as the thrum of machinery faded into nothingness. "No, no…"
SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE. ERROR. HARDWARE INCOMPLETE.
SYLPHIRA_ANSUL_ASCIYDRIA FUNCTIONALITY AT 81%. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTART Y/N?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTART Y/N?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESTART Y/N?
…
I awoke with a muffled cry, drenched in an icy layer of sweat. A thick, quilted blanket weighed down on me—I cast it aside, swinging my legs out over the edge of the soft bed. My bare feet brushed against the polished bed frame, my limbs too short to touch the floor.
The room was nearly pitch-black, barely illuminated only thanks to silver shafts of moonlight that flowed in through my room's singular window, as well as a small candle in the corner of the room that burned stubbornly in the darkness. I'd elected to leave one alight; I couldn't bear being alone in the dark, especially after what had happened before in the forest. A light wind brushed up against the shutters; they rattled quietly.
I held my head in my hands. The feeling of disconnect was back, though I was more troubled by what I had heard prior—in my dream.
What… what was that?! Was that a nightmare? Or was it a memory…?
…I think I need some fresh air. Maybe that'll make this scary feeling go away.
As silently as I could, I hopped onto my feet. Fabric rustled on my narrow shoulders, the borrowed nightgown hugging my slim frame in a comforting fashion.
It wasn't hard to sneak out; Cael and Serafi both seemed to be heavy sleepers. And so, it wasn't long before I was out the front door and stumbling down a pathway that ran along the cliff edge, sticking as close as I could to a line of flickering paper lanterns. I jumped at every rustle of foliage, one hand shakily wrapped around a flashlight and the other tightly gripping the enormous knife I'd found the previous day.
I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for, but I simply had to get away from it all. The day had been utterly overwhelming and draining for my newborn mind.
I live up in the sky, on a tower that reaches all the way up to outer space, with a crazy AI… also there's magic, and I'm apparently a deity. And to top it off, the world is gonna end in a few years. Why is everything so crazy…?
It wasn't long before I came across a small pond, the pool of water shimmering in the light of the moon; tonight, however, a different moon hung in the sky. Small and shining with a warm golden hue, it almost looked like a dimmer counterpart to the sun.
I squatted down in the grass next to the pond, allowing one bare foot to trail lazily in the cool water. Reeds brushed against the back of my neck, the soft chirp of crickets filling the night air.
A squeak of surprise shot out of my mouth when a small nibbling sensation suddenly came from my foot—but thanks to closer inspection with the beam of my flashlight, I realized that it was nothing more than a small fish, eager for a midnight snack. It gazed up at me with wide eyes, its gaping mouth opening and closing. It seemed fixated on the cone of light.
I smiled, relieved. "Hi there, little guy…"
"Geez, administrator, how'd you know I was back here?" a voice called out of the darkness. I leapt into the air with a strangled yelp, tumbling into a bush. "Also, I'm not really a 'little guy,' but you do you." Sentinel's dry voice emanated from the thicket.
The AI released an amused snicker, watching me flounder about in the leaves. "Oh! You were talking to the fish. In that case, BOO!<
"You're the worst…" I moaned, scrambling to my feet.
"I know. I embrace it, though!" she said lightheartedly, her holographic body drifting from the treeline. A small hovering drone hosted her projection; I recognized its ringed body from the previous night. It was one of the tower guardians that had saved my life. "Anyway, what are you doing out here? I figured that you wouldn't be so eager to head out at night, considering what happened last time."
"Couldn't sleep," I grumbled silently, brushing leaves off my nightgown.
"Any particular reason why?" A tinge of concern had entered her voice.
I faltered. I wonder… can I trust her? What if she's keeping my condition quiet because it's in her best interests? There's definitely something else going on here… I shivered at the recollection of the fragmented memory.
"No," I lied. "I just couldn't sleep."
The AI nodded tenderly. "Okay. Let's get you back to bed, then. Round Two versus the pillow?"
"Okay…" I allowed the small holographic figure to latch onto my finger. Together, we began the short walk back to Mist's Reach.
I couldn't manage to force the memory out of my head. It played over and over, like a nightmarish record. It was evident, though, that something terrible had happened on that day two hundred years ago—something that I couldn't yet comprehend.
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- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Whew... sorry for the delay on that. Midterms really threw a wrench in the machinery, but I'm back on track! Hopefully I won't have to deal with a delay like that again.
So there's chapter 3 up. I'd just like to note that I've gone back and done some revisions to the story, concerning the tower layout and the administrator herself. Nothing that changes the story in a severe way, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of it, right?
If you'd like details on that, check out the top post; I added a new section to cover revisions to existing chapters, making it nice and easy to see everything at once.
So there's chapter 3 up. I'd just like to note that I've gone back and done some revisions to the story, concerning the tower layout and the administrator herself. Nothing that changes the story in a severe way, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of it, right?
If you'd like details on that, check out the top post; I added a new section to cover revisions to existing chapters, making it nice and easy to see everything at once.
Khona Moshr
Pink Flamingo Cabal Healer(they/them)
- Location
- Alabama
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I have to say it was a pretty good chapter even with the infodump at the beginning.
And I think the change to Sylphira's age can work wonderful with showing how much she has change from the her awakening to when ever her journey is completed
This seems to be going interesting places! I'd comment more if I weren't on my phone, but I'm eagerly awaiting more!
I do think the change works in principle, I'll have to reread though.
I do think the change works in principle, I'll have to reread though.
The new chapter is nice, and I was kinda assuming that the long delay was due to things being reworked with input from our loremasters.
I did notice though that one, very blatant thing is missing from the "Intentional Canon-breakers" section of the front page. That being, "There is a fourth Tower (and second Orgel)".
I did notice though that one, very blatant thing is missing from the "Intentional Canon-breakers" section of the front page. That being, "There is a fourth Tower (and second Orgel)".
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Hehe, point taken. Added.
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
I don't know about being called a "loremaster"; I'm better at thinking up consistent worlds than at remembering canon.
It does seem to have worked out, though. What do you think of Sylphira's new look? The idea is to inspire protectiveness, so she's meant to be pretty childish... Well, you'll see more of that in the next chapter.
Well, I don't actually know who has been helping out with the story lately, and there were posts from aquagon earlier, so...........
The new look is an interesting angle, and it does fit with her lack of knowledge and experience. Assuming that they put the proper type of Cellophane in her for her to actually change over time, it is a nice way to show character development.
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
Oh, we also confirmed it with Aquagon, the *real* loremaster. It's just that in this case there was nothing to do.
As for the rest, I think I'll let Sapphire speak for herself. You make a good point, though there was more to it than that.
Surprisingly after changes, the story was clean enough Lore wise that Aquagon didn't have anything particular to say about the chapter. I'd kind of expected there would be something still... Well it's nice when there are no issues though. 
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- Location
- Ontario, Canada
It's been a while, hasn't it?
Foremost, I'd like to apologize for vanishing off the face of the earth like that for a few months. Real life stuff, medical issues, and a breakup really played havoc with my ability to write. But I'm here, I'm back, and I'm as committed as ever to seeing this work all the way to its ultimate conclusion.
Today, I'm gonna release Chapter 4.1. The second part, Chapter 4.2, will come tomorrow. The reason for this is because Chapter 4 ended up becoming a bloated monstrosity of almost 20 000 words on its own, because of all the events and dialogue. So unfortunately, I've had to split it up like this. Again, though, the other half of Chapter 4 will come tomorrow, so don't worry! I have a backlog of additional chapters, too, so expect those in the near future. Thank you very much for your patience, and as always, enjoy!
Foremost, I'd like to apologize for vanishing off the face of the earth like that for a few months. Real life stuff, medical issues, and a breakup really played havoc with my ability to write. But I'm here, I'm back, and I'm as committed as ever to seeing this work all the way to its ultimate conclusion.
Today, I'm gonna release Chapter 4.1. The second part, Chapter 4.2, will come tomorrow. The reason for this is because Chapter 4 ended up becoming a bloated monstrosity of almost 20 000 words on its own, because of all the events and dialogue. So unfortunately, I've had to split it up like this. Again, though, the other half of Chapter 4 will come tomorrow, so don't worry! I have a backlog of additional chapters, too, so expect those in the near future. Thank you very much for your patience, and as always, enjoy!
Chapter 4.1
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Chapter 4.1 - Origin
Where… am I?
I came to in a strange place, in an unfamiliar room. A weighty blanket pressed down on my thin frame. The air that caressed my face was cool, smelling of wood shavings and smoke.
Yawning, I lifted myself into a sitting position on the plush bed, blearily shaking my head. White locks of hair fell into my eyes. My stomach rumbled loudly, clearly still upset from what I'd fed it last night.
Oh… it wasn't a dream, then. I warily gazed around the room. Warm sunlight streamed in through the large window off to one side, tinged green thanks to the bunches of leaves and needles that hovered beyond the glass. Numerous bird calls sounded through the portal, as if announcing my awakening to the world. A folded pile of clothing sat on the wooden dresser, a single piece of paper precariously perched on top.
Curious, I hopped out of bed, bouncing on the thick shag carpet. It felt wonderful between my toes. Stepping over, I wrapped two fingers around the sheet of paper, poring over the written contents. Short and succinct, the note held only a few lines of small and meticulous text, ink having been stamped into the paper with machine-like precision.
Administrator,
Due to an unplanned, in-depth inspection of the plasma bell, all my processes will be occupied for the first half of the day so I won't be around. I'll be back at noon, so please be ready to leave then. We're gonna continue right along with bringing you up to speed.
Also, I have thousands of eyes. Did you seriously think that I wouldn't know you were listening in on us last night? I understand that you're curious, and it wasn't my intention to sow the seeds of distrust. Which is why today's topic will be changed; we'll talk about who and what you are. So… look forward to it, I guess.
Remember, don't do anything stupid. You're not well.
Sentinel
I winced, realizing that I hadn't been fooling anyone. Mentally, I slapped myself. Dummy.
A hesitant knocking emanated from the door, making me start. Serafi's voice sounded through the thick wooden slab. "Admi—Sylphira? Are you awake?"
Quickly glancing down at my body, I noted my undressed state with no small amount of panic. "Y—yes, but… I'm not decent yet!"
"Oh, alright dear. I just wanted to tell you that It's time for breakfast!" the woman called. "Would you like me to set you a spot?"
Remember last night's dinner? Do it. I shuddered. "Yes, please…"
"Okay! Come on out when you're ready," Serafi responded cheerfully. Her footsteps receded as she headed into another part of the house.
Okay, breakfast soon… let's see what's what. Casting the note to one side, I rifled through the small stack of clothing, finding clean undergarments and a simple white summer dress. Dressing quickly, I swapped my underwear out and slipped on the light and airy garment.
Fully clothed, I peered into a mirror mounted on the wall. The knee-length summer dress hugged my rail-thin body, white as the clouds and unadorned; it was a simple yet appealing look. I gave an experimental twirl, watching my reflection in the mirror as the dress fanned out.
I smiled, my mirror image's face lighting up. Cute…
Throwing my cloak overtop, slinging my bag over one shoulder, and slipping into my boots, I tentatively stepped from the cozy bedroom into the open central space of the home. I sighed with bliss; the pleasant aroma of cooked food filled the house.
"Great timing!" Serafi called from the kitchen, sashaying about. "I'm just bringing it to the table."
As if summoned, Cael blearily stumbled from a side room, yawning loudly. Making a beeline straight for the dining area, he dropped into the wooden chair at the head of the table without a word. It released a creak of protest, the stocky man's weight clearly taxing the piece of furniture's limits. Lovingly, his wife deposited a steaming mug of coffee in front of him. Like a mechanical construct, the village chief began to slowly chug at the hot liquid.
I sat off to one side, knees demurely pressed together and shoulders hunched to make myself as small as possible. I felt like an out-of-place stranger… par for the course.
The woman kindly set a carved wooden plate in front of my nose, followed by a simple metal fork and knife. She did the same for Cael and herself. Moments later, she brought over a steaming platter of food, setting it down. Mumbling incoherently and still half-asleep, Cael dug in. The woman sat down at his side, helping herself.
I peered in curiosity at the miniature buffet. A veritable feast of bacon strips, a variety of eggs—ranging in style from over-easy to omelettes, filled with contents I couldn't identify—and fruits of all sizes and colors were set out, making my taste buds water. It was the complete opposite of the vile paste I'd choked down the previous night. A tall glass of apple juice was set in front of me.
"Thank you!" I dug in with enthusiasm, apprehensively looking forward to the day ahead.
My hunger satiated in a way that pleased my unhappy stomach—and at Serafi's insistent urging—I found myself using the remainder of the morning to explore the village, shying away from the adults. It was difficult to do so; I had unwillingly become the hottest celebrity of Mist's Reach overnight, and it was reflected in the incessant train of villagers who both asked for and offered blessings and gifts. And of course, there were those who were simply curious as to the tower's state or the circumstances of my awakening. Shrugging helplessly, I had no answers to give them.
The children, however, seemed a lot more lax… if still difficult to talk to. Most rushed around alongside the adults, carrying out menial tasks and chores. They didn't have time for the oddity that had come to their little corner of the world. The ones that were too young for chores were terrified of me, and so I found myself wandering Mist's Reach on my own.
I sighed, resting on a bench in what I'd learned was the town square. I watched villagers bustle about, the yell of shopkeepers hawking wares and the sharp crack of mallets on steel echoing throughout the village. People hurried back and forth, hoisting barrels, crates, and bundles of firewood. Despite the rather small population, the human settlement was a beehive of activity.
I hopped to my feet, glancing over at Cael's home which lay off to one side. For a moment I debated heading back inside, eager for something to do.
I'm bored. I wonder if Serafi has any books…?
The crunch of rapidly-approaching footsteps on gravel drew my attention. "Um… excuse me…" a soft voice asked. "Are you that admis… adnin… administrator person?"
The unknown figure drew my questioning gaze. The voice belonged to a child—a young girl, roughly the same age as me. The first thing that drew my gaze were her sparkling green eyes, vibrant as a summer's field. They drew attention to her soft face, her pale complexion marred with a smattering of freckles across the nose and cheeks. Long, chestnut-brown hair that hung loose fell down to the small of her back, wafting in the wind.
Slightly larger in stature than myself, she peered down into my eyes with childlike curiosity. Unable to maintain my gaze with the stranger, I turned my eyes downward, timidly staring at the gravel between my boots. I felt self-conscious; she was a lot prettier than me.
"Well, are you?" the preteen girl pressed. She drew closer, her own boots crunching on the ground.
"Y—yes…" I stuttered, backing away a couple steps. Here was someone my age who wanted to talk, and yet, I was too shy to take advantage of it. Unlike when I'd met Cael, I didn't have the benefit of a scary but reassuring AI watching my back this time.
"Oh." She shifted with discomfort, the tension palpable. "My name's Mitri!"
I froze for a long moment, breath caught in my throat. "…Sylphira. That's my name…"
Silence. I felt like turning around and running away.
"That's a cute dress!" The words spilled from Mitri's lips. I was acutely aware of the fact that her own clothes were far less impressive, drab and faded. The sole splash of color on her garb was from an ornate piece of jewelry that hung from her neck, decorated with a few polished beads of rock and wood and speckled with tiny fragments of rainbow crystal.
"Thank… you…"
More silence.
The girl sighed. "Um… listen…" Advancing suddenly, she placed a hand on my arm; I recoiled from her touch as if her fingers were acid. "Sorry! It's okay, though. You don't need to be scared! Do you wanna play?"
"Play…?"
"Yeah!" Mitri announced brightly, breaking the tension. "All the other kids are busy doing chores. Papa would be mad if he knew that I was skipping mine, but he can't complain if I'm making the visitor feel welcome!"
"Oh…"
"Here," she said firmly, tugging on my hand. "Come with me! This way!"
And that was how I found myself being led around Mist's Reach—somewhat unwillingly so—by the girl. She was the polar opposite of Sentinel, lacking the brusque and sarcastic manner of my AI companion. And unlike Cael, she didn't have an interest in me for what seemed like solely business reasons. I quickly found myself overwhelmed with the one-sided chatter from my overeager 'guide'… though it wasn't long before I found myself joining in, too.
"Why're you so pale, anyway?" Mitri wondered, hurrying across a rickety bridge towards the village's outskirts. I followed behind, panting with exhaustion; my atrophied muscles made it hard to keep up. "Is it cause you're sick? Hurt, maybe? There's a bandage here…" She turned and reached for the gauze wrapped around my forearm.
"S—stop that!" I cried, backing away and protectively clutching my arm. "Don't touch that! Don't ever touch that!"
"Oh… sorry," the girl uttered awkwardly. "Is it cause it hurts? I broke my arm last year, and I couldn't do anything for weeks!"
"It's… not like that." I nursed my arm, feeling the subtle indentation of the socket that pushed deep into my body.
"Ooh, I get it." Mitri nodded sagely, continuing the march across the divide. I was hot on her heels. "It's goddess stuff, I bet."
"Wha…?"
"That's what my mama said last night!" she replied. "At dinner, she said you were a goddess, but I thought she was lying. You don't look like one…"
"What do goddesses look like?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Mitri bit her lip, slowing her pace. "It was in one of my picture books from when I was little. There were three of them… some of them had really cool armor, and they all had pretty wings! You don't look like that at all."
"Mmh…" I hung my head. "I… I don't think I am. I don't feel like one, either… but I can't remember. What does it even feel like to be a goddess, anyway?"
She gave me a wide-eyed stare. "You can't remember? What do you mean? Do you have amme… anme… amnesia?"
I shook my head vigorously, boots sinking in the earthy soil on the far side of the bridge. The air turned cool, a vibrant green canopy forming overhead that blotted out the sun's light. "I was… asleep for a really long time. I don't know how long, but I only just woke up yesterday, and the first thing I remember is wondering if I had a family and where it was. I don't know if I even had any memories to forget in the first place, though…"
"I get it." Mitri turned to me with a wide smile. "You should come over to my house for dinner tonight! You can meet my mama and papa—maybe you'll like them?"
It's not the same… "Where are we going, anyway…?" I changed the subject, peering around with curiosity. We'd left the village behind, the rooftops at our backs disappearing amongst the gargantuan moss-covered tree trunks. Lush ferns rustled underfoot as we pushed deeper into the forest.
"Almost there, Sif!" she announced with a smile.
"…Sif?"
"I'm gonna call you that from now on," the girl replied, wrinkling her nose. "It's cute! …And it's a lot easier to say. Anyway, I wanted you to meet my friends!"
"F—friends?" I stuttered weakly, falling behind her. "More… more people?"
"Don't worry!" Mitri cooed, pushing through a particularly-dense patch of undergrowth The trees ahead began to part, marking the presence of a small and hidden glade. "You don't need to be shy or scared or anything. They're really nice!"
Stepping through the bushes, I tentatively entered the tiny clearing.
The empty space in the forest was dimly lit with a green hue, sparse shafts of sunlight filtering down through the leafy canopy overhead. Much of the foliage had been cleared away at some point, exposing a wide patch of dirt interspaced with countless footprints and drag marks. A circle of blackened stones—a fire pit—sat dead center in the glade, overflowing with dusty clumps of ash and charcoal. An old building lay at the far side of the clearing, its wooden walls engulfed under a blanket of moss. An empty doorway gaped like a maw on the facing wall, revealing only shadows within.
Two unknown figures relaxed on roughly-hewn log benches that had been dragged before the fire pit, garbed in the same kind of handmade clothing that the rest of the villagers wore. One was a nerdy-looking preteen girl who appeared to be the same age as Mitri and I, scribbling in a notebook. Her dark brown hair was arranged in a cute bob, and her hazel eyes were hidden behind thick wood-rimmed glasses. The girl peered over in our direction, blinking like an owl. "Mitri, what kept you?" Her bespectacled gaze locked on me. "Wait, who's that?"
The other stranger spoke up—a boy with dark skin and lean muscles, perhaps fourteen years old. With midnight-black hair, a gaunt face, and eyes that burned like coal, I got the vague sense that he was the rebellious type. After all, he was here and not working back at the village. "What, weren't you paying attention last night? Or were you locked away in your room again?"
He confidently strode over, looming head and shoulders above me. I shrank, withering under his intense, self-assured stare.
"What's up?" He stuck his hand out, jabbing it toward me. "I'm Ayden." The boy thumbed backwards at his companion, who was fumbling with her notebook. "The nerd over there is Triha."
"I'm not a nerd, you dick!" the other girl cried indignantly, lobbing a small pebble at the boy. He casually dodged it with practised ease, as if Triha had angrily lobbed things at him many times before.
I tentatively shook his hand, my hand and voice shaking. "I'm… Sylphira…"
"You're kinda jumpy, aren't you?" Ayden snorted. "And yeah, so I've heard. People won't stop talking about who you are." He cast a brief gaze through the canopy overhead; the enormous plates that orbited around the tower's midsection were just barely visible, spinning silently in the empty sky. "So you're the 'boss' of that run-down firetrap, huh? Never would've guessed at first glance." His voice took on a sinister tone. "Y'know… a couple months back, I got to go into that place with dad and a couple others—for salvaging stuff. Metal and the like." The boy grinned evilly. "It was real dark in there… winding maze-like tunnels, razor-sharp heaps of scrap, tons of high drops… oh, and things scurrying around in the darkness. Probably just animals… but who knows? Maybe they were monsters."
"W—what…?"
"Ayden, stop scaring her!" Triha chided, approaching with her notebook tucked into an armpit. She moved with a lopsided walk—a limp. "Why've you gotta do this to every girl you meet?"
"He doesn't scare me." Mitri rushed to the boy's side, latching onto his arm.
He lowered his head, nuzzling the smaller girl. "Hey, Mitri. How're you doing? How's your dad?"
She blushed, averting her eyes in a shy manner. "I'm okay… and papa just got out of the clinic this morning. The healer said that he's all better!"
"That's a relief. Glad to hear it." Ayden shrugged her off, seemingly reluctant to let go. "Anyway, what did you want to do today? Goof off again?" His visage soured with distaste. "Not like there's much else to do around here, after all."
"Oh! Yeah, that's right," Mitri said, flustered. "Wanna play Last Man Down again?"
"Sure, why not?" the boy shrugged. "It's almost lunch break, so maybe we can get some of the other kids to join in this time. Oh yeah, and I call dibs on being the Dai for today." He ducked into the decrepit shack for the briefest of moments, coming back with an armload of small bean bags. He casually tossed one into the air, the grains inside rattling about.
"Last Man Down…? I queried with a soft, shaky voice. "What's that…?"
"You'll seeeee," Triha sang, hurrying off into the woods—presumably getting a head start on whatever I'd found myself roped into.
"Don't worry," Mitri smiled kindly, wrapping an arm around my slender frame. "We're on the same team. I'll stick with you and show you how it's done!"
"Okay, go!"
Mitri and I dashed across the street, silently slipping into a narrow alleyway like a pair of ghosts. We weaved around half-rotted barrels and heaps of detritus, staying out of sight. My small hands were wrapped around a thick branch as long as my arm, nearly identical to the one Mitri held. I was acutely aware of the fact that more children had joined in, the little game now comprising more than twenty 'players' each vying to be the last survivor. It had me nervous.
The other girl breathlessly explained the game while we ran. "It's really easy!" she said in a patronizing way. "Ayden and I got the idea from a storybook we read when we were little kids—about some big war or something hundreds of years ago. There's one person—Ayden—who gets to be the 'Dai.' That means he has to chase all of us! We're all 'Sens,' so we have to run away from him and not get caught.
"Ayden's got all those bean bags… he has to throw them at people to knock them out of the game. If he hits someone, then they lose and have to go back to the 'tower'—the town square—to wait until the next round."
"How do you… win?" I panted, struggling to keep pace with the nimble girl. My cloak trailed behind me, flapping in the wind.
"It's easy!" she said airily, vaulting over a stack of flat crates. I clambered over them with effort, stumbling as I regained my footing. "You can use these sticks to try and knock his bean bags out of the air before they hit you. That's how you survive! The last person standing is the winner and beats the Dai. Oh yeah, and watch out, cause Ayden likes to throw two, one after the other. It's really hard to block both with only one stick, cause they come at you so fast. If the first one doesn't get you, the second one will for sure!"
"So, um… what is a Dai?" Sen is probably Sentinel… right?
Mitri slowed to allow me to catch up, shrugging impassively. "It's been a really long time since I read the book… but I remember it being a kind of monster that lived in the tower a long time ago."
"Oh…"
"Stop!" she hissed, screeching to a halt at the exit to the alleyway. Bright sunlight shone ahead, a cool wind whistling down the narrow channel… joined by the trampling of a multitude of tiny feet.
Three screaming kids sprinted by at full tilt, each carrying sticks of their own. They were closely followed by a withering hail of bean bags. Ayden's silhouette flashed by a moment later, the boy bellowing with determination. I couldn't help but giggle at the strange sight.
Mitri waited tensely, hunched low. "Okay, it's safe, go!" We rushed out into the open, turning in the opposite direction. The girl ducked and weaved around astonished villagers going about their daily routines; I stayed off to one side, running through the grass that lined the pathway.
A triumphant roar burst out at my back, and I barely ducked in time to avoid a pair of incoming bean bags. They thudded against a lamppost up ahead, rattling the wooden fixture.
"FOUND YOU!" Ayden crowed, giving chase. A burgeoning satchel stuffed with bean bags hung from a bandolier strung across his chest. Not stopping to aim, the boy cocked his arm and prepared to throw.
"Sif, run!" Mitri cried with equal measures horror and childlike glee.
I saw the sack's incoming profile, lobbed with a powerful overhand toss. Clumsily lifting my branch, I feebly swung at it… and missed. The bean bag hit me square in the forehead, immediately followed by a second—knocking me onto my backside. "Ow!"
"You're out!" Ayden gave me a playful tap on the shoulder as he sped past, in hot pursuit of his next target.
"Poop…" I pouted. With my head hanging low, I headed back to the town square, finding at least a dozen other equally-glum kids. They sat around, snacking on early lunches or lazily kicking their feet in the pool of crystal clear water that sat at the center of the town. Shyness getting the better of me, I took up position on an out-of-the-way bench at the far side of the square, eagerly waiting for the next round to start.
It was mere minutes before the last few holdouts fell, dejectedly shuffling into the center of the village. Mitri and Ayden were the last to arrive, grins plastered across both of their faces.
"I won!" Mitri announced happily.
"Only because Ayden always goes easy on her…" Triha grumbled, pushing up her glasses with a disapproving sniff.
"Let's go again!" the other girl cried, latching onto my forearm and dragging me back into the fray.
It went the exact same way during the second round… and the third round… and the fourth round. Sometimes I was eliminated early, other times I was one of the last. Sometimes Mitri would be the first to go, sometimes I would. But the result was ultimately remained the same; I couldn't properly protect myself from Ayden's skillful bean bag marksmanship. He was too fast, and I was too woefully sluggish and weak.
Until I began to realize something.
It came to me like a flash of lightning when I was backed up against a wall, Ayden advancing with an amused smirk set on his face. As he prepared to throw, I felt a profound sensation of deja vu—the way he planted his feet in the soil with a spray of dirt, the motion of the boy's shoulder hitching as he cocked his arm, the position in which his wrist bent when he released the first bag. Sent back to the town square for the umpteenth time, I had the opportunity to think on it… and it was no small shock when it finally hit me.
Sentinel…! Yesterday she said that I flat-out lacked the ability to forget—word for word. The more I thought on it, sifting through memories, the more astonished I felt. I quickly concluded that not only could I recall the entirety of the AI's complex lesson on wave theory—without even a single syllable out of place—I could also remember every sensation I'd felt during the conversation, from sight to smell and everything in between. I was able to clearly reminisce on the scent of the evening air, of the exact color of the twilit sky, and even the complex patterns engraved in the bark of every tree trunk we passed. It was mind-boggling to truly comprehend—I really did lack the ability to forget. Not even the smallest detail of any given memory was allowed to escape, etched into my mind with stunning clarity. I couldn't deny being pleasantly surprised, yet there was still the 'how' and 'why.' Why was I like this in the first place?
I… I might be able to use this to win, though. My brow furrowed. Now that I understood that my memories could never fade, I was able to quickly and easily sift through all the cases of Ayden striking me with his double throw. I could mentally visualize every muscle twitch, every sharp breath, every movement of his eyes in an instant. And thanks to that, I was able to divine a pattern. He had a method, one that required him to throw the same way each and every time. Of course there were always minute variations, subtle shifts in the muscle, but I could learn how to deal with those. If I could get the chance to practice it a few times, to learn how to compensate for his variations, then I would be able to deflect his throws—through prediction.
I smiled happily, squirming with anticipation. Scuffing through a nearby patch of vegetation, I extracted a second branch, wrapping my free hand around it. Using two at once just might allow me to protect myself better! If I can get used to it, that is… Spinning experimentally, I swung both branches together in a wide arc.
I can do this.
The first few tries were embarrassing failures; often ending with the older boy walking away in a fit of laughter, mocking my insistence on using two unwieldy branches at once.
Yet I remained determined. It wasn't long before the next round started, and once again I found Mitri looking out for me. "Don't worry, Sif!" she bubbled while we scurried out of the town square, Ayden loudly counting down behind us. "You'll get it eventually." The girl stared skeptically at the extra branch clutched in my other hand. "But he's right, though… you should just stick to one. It's less complicated!"
Maybe… I cautiously followed the larger girl, listening for the sound of pursuing footsteps. We made our way through the back pathways, keeping out of sight. Every once in awhile we'd come across and startle another villager going about their business, rushing past them at top speed.
It wasn't long before the harsh pounding of footfalls on compressed soil tailed us.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Ayden roared, opening up with a pair of airborne bean bags. I narrowly ducked with milliseconds to spare; Mitri yelled in anguish, struck in the small of her back.
"Run, Sif!" the girl cried pitifully, sinking to her knees to one side of the pathway. It cleared the way for my own panicked flight. Adrenalin surged through my veins, heart thudding heavily in my ears.
I cast a frightened glance back. The older boy wore a determined glare, screeching to a halt with a spray of dirt. This time… this time for sure! One…
One arm lifted, fingers grasping the first of the two projectiles. Two…
His wrist flicked, releasing the object. The boy's arm dropped, splayed fingers reaching for the second. Three. Here it comes!
Time seemed to move in slow motion as I brought all my focus to bear on the incoming projectile. I'd managed to reach a state of exceptional and unnatural clarity, allowing me to focus on any particular thing and mentally pick it apart, learning all of its characteristics in real-world milliseconds.
Calculations flashed through my mind's eye, intimidatingly complex but somehow known to me. Um, speed… velocity… distance. Angle of approach. Rotation. External forces. Wave variations located—solution found.
The first bean bag grew in size, approaching quickly. I slowed and rotated, bringing up my branch as fast as I was able. I pulled it diagonally across my chest, straining… and deflected the projectile. It slammed into the wall of a house to my side with a muffled thump, tumbling inert into a patch of grass. The second quickly followed in turn, redirected with a swing of my second stick.
How did I…
Ayden gaped, mirroring my own confusion. "What the…" His glare grew in ferocity. "…Lucky." He threw again; I deflected both again with ease, having finally figured out a working formula to block—even though I didn't understand how I'd done so.
"Sif…" Mitri breathed from further down the alleyway, floored by my sudden show of competence.
"Go after someone else already!" I shot back desperately, taking his dumbfounded hesitation as an opportunity to flee. Darting down a side alley, I quickly lost the older boy; he was unable to catch up in time. I grinned the whole way, tightly gripping both sticks. That was awesome!
Eventually he got me; though it was because he caught me off guard, using an unpractised and lopsided throw that I was unable to compensate for. Even so, I smiled all the way back to the town square. He can't use the same tactic twice… cause I can just remember it, calculate its variables, and use that against him! Knowing that, I was able to hold my head high as I sat back down on my bench, letting both sticks tumble to the ground.
>This is all a little bit beneath you, isn't it?< an unknown voice quipped in the confines of my mind. >If you're quite done abusing your eidetic memory and faster thought processing to mess with the local kids, head down to the canyon and follow the pathway to the west. It's time.<
I stiffened, grabbing my ears. What was that?!
The mysterious entity sighed. >C'mon, administrator. You've already done this before, remember? You called out to me for help when you fell off the tower two days ago.<
What the… Wait. Is that Sentinel…? But how is she—
>It's a no-brainer, you know!< the AI called out in a singsong manner, the tone somehow coming through despite its heavily distorted and synthesized state. >You're the administrator, after all. Isn't it natural that you'd have a permanent communications channel opened with the tower guardian controller? How else do you expect to order them around?<
How do I… Recalling the situation I'd found myself in two days ago, I struggled to bring up the fragment of memory where I'd inadvertently cried out to the AI for help. Mmh… on that day, it felt like I was tugging on some kind of ghostly thread.
>…Administrator, are you gonna talk or what?<
>I'M HERE.< My attempted call burst over our connection, soaring out into the ether. It was grating, metallic, and barely sounded like my own soft and lilting voice.
The AI winced. >…Okay. You need to refine your telepathy, but at least you can do it. Tell you what, just come meet me at the place I mentioned. Be ready to travel.<
>OKAY.< The connection evaporated.
I hopped to my feet, glancing around. It looked like the game had just about ended; children had begun to wander off, heading back to work or to their homes. Even Mitri was nowhere to be seen.
I guess it's as good as any time to leave, then… Shrugging, I headed over to the yawning chasm that lay only a short distance away from the square. As I reached the edge of the divide, I noted a narrow wooden pathway that dropped below the lip of the gorge, winding along the rock. Numerous houses lay alongside it, anchored to the cliff face. That must be the path.
"Sif!" a familiar voice cried.
I turned around with mute curiosity to see a panting Mitri, hunched over with her hands on her knees. "Oh… hi."
She gulped, swallowing air. "Where… where are you going?"
I silently pointed along the cliff trail. "Sentinel wanted to meet me, sooo… I have to go."
"Oh…" Her voice was tinged with sadness. "It was really fun to play with you…!"
I nodded vigorously, clasping my hands together. "Yeah… it was."
She nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Um… listen! When you're all done, do you wanna come over to my house for dinner? Maybe you can sleep over, too."
My body locked up with sudden, paralyzing fear. A strangled sound emerged from my throat.
"Please, Sif," the girl soothed. "You don't need to be afraid! I really like you, okay? You're nice, and you're fun, and you don't act like a stuffy goddess at all!"
I felt my cheeks flush at the warm praise. Mustering all my determination, I forced down my timidity. "…Okay. I will!"
"Yay!" she clapped with glee. "You're staying at the chief's house, right? I'll come find you there tonight before dinner!" Burgeoning with energy, Mitri spun around and ran off, disappearing amongst the houses and trees before I could say anything further.
I bowed my head silently, grateful to finally have a friend. "Thank you…"
It was in that moment that my perspective of the world seemed to shift ever-so-slightly. For the most fleeting of moments, the sensation of vertigo rushed through my body. My vision flashed, the world going dark before returning to normal with stunning radiance.
I blinked with confusion, unsure of what exactly had just happened. Everything felt… exactly the same as before. Didn't it?
Um… weird…
I absentmindedly tugged at the shoulder straps of my dress, which hung from my slender frame like a tent. With my oversized boots loosely flopping about, I continued my brief trek through the human settlement.
"Sentinel, where are you?" I wondered aloud while romping down the pathway that wound along the canyon wall; the churning water surged beneath the wooden planks at my feet. Many of the buildings down here were places of industry—fish processing facilities, storage rooms, and the odd home for grizzled workers and antisocial hermits. Soon enough, I arrived at an oddity—a heap of rock spilling from a doorway that led deep into the sheer cliff face. In contrast to the rest of the village—judging by the look of the door—the underground building was made of steel, worn and rusted from exposure to the elements.
I paused, laying a palm on the rugged stone. I wonder… is this the 'complex' that Sentinel and Cael were talking about the other day? The one that was flattened in the rockfall and had something to do with my origin or my awakening…
My brow furrowed, as if I could learn more by the sheer will of concentration. However, the rocks remained unyielding. I sighed, backing off. Maybe Cael will tell me if I ask him later?
Words resolved in my mind, vanishing as fast as they'd arrived. The Seed Laboratory Complex; an isolated and neutral location where the tower's finest researchers and engineers toiled day and night to study the processes required to create a—
I stumbled as a sudden burst of white noise rippled through my mind.
W—what?! The sudden shock elicited a harsh gasp on my part, eyes wide with fear as my vision contracted to a tunnel. The world seemed to fade into white noise, the sounds of the village growing ever distant. Everything felt numb; I couldn't even cry out.
It was happening again.
No, no, no… go away go away go away!!
And then it was gone in an instant. I fell onto my hands and knees, sucking air. My heart continued to flutter wildly in uncertain panic. My gut writhed in silent agony and I vomited, losing what was left of my breakfast between the cedar planks. Utterly spent, I went limp, breathing shallowly.
My body curled into a ball out of sheer reflex. Why… I released a dry, wheezing cough, my stomach incessantly performing backflips like a champion gymnast.
I clambered to my feet, gripping the rock wall to steady myself; I didn't trust my own legs. My eyes were blurry with tears.
Why… why is this happening to me?!
A sudden flash of realization—a recollection of my dream, the fragmented memories during my centuries-long sleep… of what I was perhaps meant to see.
SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE. ERROR. HARDWARE INCOMPLETE.
SYLPHIRA_ANSUL_ASCIYDRIA FUNCTIONALITY AT 81%.
…I'm broken…
My dark thoughts were put on hold as a muted rumble rose on the winds. I turned my curious eyes to the clear blue sky, more than willing to divert my attention from the unsettling issue at hand.
A white speck that gleamed in the light of the midday sun plunged from distant heights, rapidly growing in size as it drew closer. The object was preceded by a low roar, intensifying with every passing second.
I gaped, my back pressing up against the rock wall as a blur passed overhead, followed by a powerful rush of air that snatched at my hair and clothing. The throaty roar of powerful engines left me deafened. The treetops surged under the wash of engines as the indistinct shape came about, circling over the village before coming to a halt in midair over the canyon. It waited, motionless, hovering before my eyes like a mirage.
It was an aircraft, about twenty-five meters in length and easily dwarfing the horned tower guardian that Sentinel had utilized the previous day. Floating on unseen thrusters, the vehicle vaguely resembled the ringed drone that she had sent for me on that first night, except on a much larger scale. The midsection of the aircraft's streamlined and elongated fuselage flared outwards horizontally into a pair of struts, connecting to an oval-shaped ring that girded the vehicle. Two oversized engines were mounted on opposite ends of the assembly, tipped with enormous intakes and tapering back into thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzles. The craft's fuselage was covered in polished white metallic plates and bristled with stubby fins, its front end bulging out into an inline cockpit with a bubble canopy. Two massive rotary gun barrels protruded from the aircraft's chin, bestowing it with an intensely intimidating profile.
The unidentified vehicle gradually shed altitude, drawing up right next to the wooden pathway that clung to the rock face. I could have reached out with one hand and touched it, the strange aircraft was so close. The glass canopy split open, inaudible against the roar of twin engines, and a telescopic ladder descended from a concealed access hatch.
>HI, ADMINISTRATOR!< Sentinel blared over the din, her synthesized voice drowning out everything—including the sounds from her own vehicle.
"Um…! Sentinel!" I cried, frightened. "I need to tell—"
The planks shook beneath my feet as the aircraft pressed closer. >WHAT?! SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU! THIS THING IS A LITTLE LOUD!<
"You're not funny!" I yelled back, cupping my hands around my mouth.
>SAYS YOU!< The vehicle bobbed in the closest manageable approximation of a playful shrug. >GET IN ALREADY! WE'VE GOT PLACES TO GO!<
I tentatively approached, hobbling over on unsteady legs. Viewing the swaying ladder that extended out over the gorge, I balked.
The AI huffed impatiently, sidling up as close as she was able to. The walkway creaked in distress, its timbers compressed between the cliff face and the encroaching aircraft. Whimpering in muffled panic, I scampered across the ladder, diving into the relatively safe cockpit.
The cabin was much roomier than I expected. Two sturdy-looking seats covered with belts and straps were arranged in front of a dashboard studded with countless dials, gauges, and buttons. A number of ghostly holographic surfaces hung in front of the windshield, each displaying incomprehensible measurements and calculations. A joystick rose up from the floor in front of each seat.
I shuffled forward, gingerly clambering over the controls. Peering behind the seats, I discovered that the cabin was even larger than I'd thought, burrowing deep into the aircraft's fuselage. I supposed that thanks to the layout with the engines located separate from the main body, it allowed plenty of room for other features. I caught a quick glimpse of a flimsy bunk recessed into the wall, a tiny closet-sized bathroom, and even what appeared to be a simple galley and eating area. The cockpit hatch at my back slammed shut with a muffled thump, making me start. A hiss sounded through the cabin as it pressurized, cool air rushing in. The deafening rumble of engines seemed to fade away.
It was then that it occurred to me. "This… isn't a tower guardian, is it?"
"Impressed?"
I whirled around at the sudden disembodied voice that echoed through the cockpit—Sentinel's voice. "How're you—"
"You're right," the AI interrupted, resolving in the air before my eyes. She gently sat down on the dashboard, holographic body shimmering. "This thing—one of my SC-12 Altos—isn't a tower guardian… it's a long story, actually. Maybe someday I'll tell you."
"…Uh-huh." I skeptically folded my arms, planting myself down in the pilot's seat. The formfitting structure was surprisingly soft and warm, even with the multitude of straps digging into my spine.
"Anywa—" The AI froze, turning her gaze on me. She blinked slowly, confusion written all over her face. "Uh…"
I quizzically peered up at her. "Um… w—what is it?"
"…Interesting." She quizzically scratched her head. "Administrator, have you happened to check a mirror lately? You really should."
I mirrored her confusion. "What do you mean…?"
Sentinel shook her head wearily. "…Never mind. I'll clue you in later. At least that aspect of your body is fully functional."
"Oh… okay…" It wasn't long before I recalled the issue at hand. "Sentinel! I… I have to tell you something…"
"What is it, administrator?" she questioned, her gray eyes flaring up with interest and concern. "Wait… is that puke on your chin?"
The confession spilled from my trembling lips. I recalled the fragmented memories seen in my dream, as well as the new attack that had only just struck, leaving me curled up and vomiting on the deck. By the end of it, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I was frightened.
The AI nodded grimly. "…I see. That's not what I expected, and to be honest some of it is a mystery to me. For example, what exactly is this 'foreign object,' and where is it located? Is it located in the tower's systems? Directly inserted into the Apex's hardware, perhaps? Though, in any case…" The cockpit shook like a leaf, a muffled roar of engines igniting beyond the glass bubble. The breath caught in my throat as the large aircraft lunged forward like a hungry predator, ascending into the skies. Through the cockpit glass, I caught a brief glimpse of flabbergasted onlookers, watching from the pathways and cliffs… and then we were gone, Mist's Reach dwindling away into the distance. The boundless sky lay ahead as Sentinel angled out towards the abyss, speeding away from the tower and its surrounding field of floating islands.
Where are we going? I idly wondered.
"You should know," the AI quipped, "that it wasn't a dream. What you saw was a recording from the tower itself. I'm betting that you drew something out from it while sleeping—a remnant of a time long past. The event in particular that you saw actually happened more than two centuries ago." Her face darkened. "I can barely remember it anymore… but I know that it wasn't a great day."
"You can't… remember…?"
"That's right…" Sentinel said, staring desolately at the cabin floor. "It's how I was made. Every century or so, I have to carry out a pretty thorough memory purge." She tapped her forehead, grinning wryly. "It's to stop my mind from becoming too sluggish and bloated… and also as a programmed restriction to stop me from going all power-mad and destroying all humans. I have no actual say in the matter on whether I do it or not. It happens forcibly."
"So… every hundred years, you become a whole new person?"
The AI shrugged. The cabin shook violently as the aircraft shattered the sound barrier, still accelerating away from the spire. "It depends how you define what a 'whole new person' is, I guess. I maintain my sense of self and I have vague memories from before my wipes, so I like to think that I'm still the same as I was when I was born seven centuries ago.
"I'm actually a little envious of you, you know. You don't have any memory restrictions like I do! You could go on and on for millennia and never ever forget a single thing!"
My eyes widened. "Wha…?!"
"Oh…" the AI mouthed, nodding sagely. "You don't know that either, huh…"
"Don't know what?"
Sentinel gave me an odd look. "Administrator, you're immortal."
I found myself with a lack of words. Not even the barest of thoughts flitted through my mind. All I could do was stare wide-eyed at the small figure that had broached the topic as casually as if she'd been discussing the weather. I hauntingly stared down at the bandages on my arm, sensing the grooved edges of the marking beneath.
Immortality… telepathy… whatever the heck I did in the game with Mitri and Ayden… and my arm thing…
"Sentinel…" I whispered frantically. "What am I?!"
She remained silent. The shadows changed as Sentinel brought the aircraft about in a wide circle, coming to a sudden and jarring halt with an ease of the throttle. We hung motionless in the sky, the Alto's engines remarkably holding the vehicle steady as a rock.
The AI gestured out through the windshield dead ahead. "Your answer's right there. That's what you are, administrator."
Asciydria Tower loomed on the horizon, fully visible in its entirety for the first time. Its white flanks gleamed in the brilliant sunlight, the spire's monolithic bulk cutting an imposing silhouette amongst the endless sea of clouds. I couldn't help but feel a strange and misplaced pang of loneliness and homesickness upon seeing it so far away.
Even seen from afar, the spire was beyond massive. Its bloated midsection blotted out vast swaths of cloud-speckled sky, its features blurry thanks to the incredible distance. Above the tower's flared superstructure lay the once-hidden upper third, no longer beyond my eyesight thanks to this new angle. Narrow and knifelike, it rose up like a swordsman's blade, cutting through the wind. A small notch about halfway up buried deep into the leading edge of the sail-shaped formation. Apex, the same artificial voice from before hissed from the depths of my subconsciousness. Core. Control nexus. Birthplace… I shook my head rapidly, clearing the foreign sensation.
My eyes continued to rove all over the gargantuan structure with vested interest. I noted a vast, cylindrical enclosure at the base of the spire's upper section, slowly rotating and emitting a withering glare through a vent at its center. Above it lay a pair of glittering discs that shone with multicolored light from all across the spectrum. I clearly remembered being captivated by them when I'd first woken up.
Panning my eyes ever upward, I finally caught a glimpse of the tower's tapered pinnacle, the terminus of all things and reaching beyond the edge of Ar Ciel's atmosphere. It was mind-boggling to wrap my head around it. It truly was an incredible feat of engineering, and not for the first time I wondered who had built it—and why.
But what's the base…? I brought my gaze downward this time, slipping past the scattered field of floating landmasses. I lingered on them for the barest of moments—noting the cascading waterfalls that plunged into the clouds and the multitude of tiny, shattered fragments of drifting rock at the outer reaches—before continuing on.
Below the Isles of Aria lay a massive, bell-shaped structure, enclosed in a sort of free-floating frame. The curved and blackened metal seemed to crackle with raw energy, the air around it shimmering with radiated heat. The base of the component emitted a raw blue luminescence, occasionally flaring up with flashes of colorless light.
Further down, the clouds began to encroach on the tower in a sinister fashion, hiding whatever lay below from my eyes. But even so, I was able to make out… something. Some other object, almost completely hidden amongst the fog. Clouds circled it like a churning whirlpool, and flashes of blinding white light ignited through gaps in the mist. It was a strange feeling; even though I didn't know what the unknown tower component was, I couldn't help but feel a trill of fear and apprehension.
"That, administrator," the AI stated calmly, "is Asciydria Tower in its entirety. It's impressive, sure; but when you've been climbing the damn thing for centuries, the novelty starts to wear off a little.
"Now, my question is… does seeing that invoke any thoughts or feelings within you?" she pressed. "Any repressed memories, popping back in?"
But… but that doesn't… I hung my head. "I don't understand… That doesn't have anything to do with what I asked, it's just a really big building!"
"Want me to crack a window so you can get a better view?" Sentinel asked dryly.
"…No thanks."
"Smart choice!" the AI announced airly. "We're beyond the range of the Ion Corridor now. Opening a window now would suck all the air out!"
"…"
She winced, her poorly-timed joke falling flat. "…Okay. No more jokes…" I was shoved back in my seat with another sudden burst of acceleration, the tower rapidly growing in size.
"Whoa! Sentinel?! Where are we going?"
"I took you out here to see the rest of your physical body," the AI stated cryptically, orienting the aircraft so that it plunged towards the waiting Isles of Aria. "Now that you have, we're going to our original destination—Sphilar Prism. Or at least… what remains of it."
Where… am I?
I came to in a strange place, in an unfamiliar room. A weighty blanket pressed down on my thin frame. The air that caressed my face was cool, smelling of wood shavings and smoke.
Yawning, I lifted myself into a sitting position on the plush bed, blearily shaking my head. White locks of hair fell into my eyes. My stomach rumbled loudly, clearly still upset from what I'd fed it last night.
Oh… it wasn't a dream, then. I warily gazed around the room. Warm sunlight streamed in through the large window off to one side, tinged green thanks to the bunches of leaves and needles that hovered beyond the glass. Numerous bird calls sounded through the portal, as if announcing my awakening to the world. A folded pile of clothing sat on the wooden dresser, a single piece of paper precariously perched on top.
Curious, I hopped out of bed, bouncing on the thick shag carpet. It felt wonderful between my toes. Stepping over, I wrapped two fingers around the sheet of paper, poring over the written contents. Short and succinct, the note held only a few lines of small and meticulous text, ink having been stamped into the paper with machine-like precision.
Administrator,
Due to an unplanned, in-depth inspection of the plasma bell, all my processes will be occupied for the first half of the day so I won't be around. I'll be back at noon, so please be ready to leave then. We're gonna continue right along with bringing you up to speed.
Also, I have thousands of eyes. Did you seriously think that I wouldn't know you were listening in on us last night? I understand that you're curious, and it wasn't my intention to sow the seeds of distrust. Which is why today's topic will be changed; we'll talk about who and what you are. So… look forward to it, I guess.
Remember, don't do anything stupid. You're not well.
Sentinel
I winced, realizing that I hadn't been fooling anyone. Mentally, I slapped myself. Dummy.
A hesitant knocking emanated from the door, making me start. Serafi's voice sounded through the thick wooden slab. "Admi—Sylphira? Are you awake?"
Quickly glancing down at my body, I noted my undressed state with no small amount of panic. "Y—yes, but… I'm not decent yet!"
"Oh, alright dear. I just wanted to tell you that It's time for breakfast!" the woman called. "Would you like me to set you a spot?"
Remember last night's dinner? Do it. I shuddered. "Yes, please…"
"Okay! Come on out when you're ready," Serafi responded cheerfully. Her footsteps receded as she headed into another part of the house.
Okay, breakfast soon… let's see what's what. Casting the note to one side, I rifled through the small stack of clothing, finding clean undergarments and a simple white summer dress. Dressing quickly, I swapped my underwear out and slipped on the light and airy garment.
Fully clothed, I peered into a mirror mounted on the wall. The knee-length summer dress hugged my rail-thin body, white as the clouds and unadorned; it was a simple yet appealing look. I gave an experimental twirl, watching my reflection in the mirror as the dress fanned out.
I smiled, my mirror image's face lighting up. Cute…
Throwing my cloak overtop, slinging my bag over one shoulder, and slipping into my boots, I tentatively stepped from the cozy bedroom into the open central space of the home. I sighed with bliss; the pleasant aroma of cooked food filled the house.
"Great timing!" Serafi called from the kitchen, sashaying about. "I'm just bringing it to the table."
As if summoned, Cael blearily stumbled from a side room, yawning loudly. Making a beeline straight for the dining area, he dropped into the wooden chair at the head of the table without a word. It released a creak of protest, the stocky man's weight clearly taxing the piece of furniture's limits. Lovingly, his wife deposited a steaming mug of coffee in front of him. Like a mechanical construct, the village chief began to slowly chug at the hot liquid.
I sat off to one side, knees demurely pressed together and shoulders hunched to make myself as small as possible. I felt like an out-of-place stranger… par for the course.
The woman kindly set a carved wooden plate in front of my nose, followed by a simple metal fork and knife. She did the same for Cael and herself. Moments later, she brought over a steaming platter of food, setting it down. Mumbling incoherently and still half-asleep, Cael dug in. The woman sat down at his side, helping herself.
I peered in curiosity at the miniature buffet. A veritable feast of bacon strips, a variety of eggs—ranging in style from over-easy to omelettes, filled with contents I couldn't identify—and fruits of all sizes and colors were set out, making my taste buds water. It was the complete opposite of the vile paste I'd choked down the previous night. A tall glass of apple juice was set in front of me.
"Thank you!" I dug in with enthusiasm, apprehensively looking forward to the day ahead.
My hunger satiated in a way that pleased my unhappy stomach—and at Serafi's insistent urging—I found myself using the remainder of the morning to explore the village, shying away from the adults. It was difficult to do so; I had unwillingly become the hottest celebrity of Mist's Reach overnight, and it was reflected in the incessant train of villagers who both asked for and offered blessings and gifts. And of course, there were those who were simply curious as to the tower's state or the circumstances of my awakening. Shrugging helplessly, I had no answers to give them.
The children, however, seemed a lot more lax… if still difficult to talk to. Most rushed around alongside the adults, carrying out menial tasks and chores. They didn't have time for the oddity that had come to their little corner of the world. The ones that were too young for chores were terrified of me, and so I found myself wandering Mist's Reach on my own.
I sighed, resting on a bench in what I'd learned was the town square. I watched villagers bustle about, the yell of shopkeepers hawking wares and the sharp crack of mallets on steel echoing throughout the village. People hurried back and forth, hoisting barrels, crates, and bundles of firewood. Despite the rather small population, the human settlement was a beehive of activity.
I hopped to my feet, glancing over at Cael's home which lay off to one side. For a moment I debated heading back inside, eager for something to do.
I'm bored. I wonder if Serafi has any books…?
The crunch of rapidly-approaching footsteps on gravel drew my attention. "Um… excuse me…" a soft voice asked. "Are you that admis… adnin… administrator person?"
The unknown figure drew my questioning gaze. The voice belonged to a child—a young girl, roughly the same age as me. The first thing that drew my gaze were her sparkling green eyes, vibrant as a summer's field. They drew attention to her soft face, her pale complexion marred with a smattering of freckles across the nose and cheeks. Long, chestnut-brown hair that hung loose fell down to the small of her back, wafting in the wind.
Slightly larger in stature than myself, she peered down into my eyes with childlike curiosity. Unable to maintain my gaze with the stranger, I turned my eyes downward, timidly staring at the gravel between my boots. I felt self-conscious; she was a lot prettier than me.
"Well, are you?" the preteen girl pressed. She drew closer, her own boots crunching on the ground.
"Y—yes…" I stuttered, backing away a couple steps. Here was someone my age who wanted to talk, and yet, I was too shy to take advantage of it. Unlike when I'd met Cael, I didn't have the benefit of a scary but reassuring AI watching my back this time.
"Oh." She shifted with discomfort, the tension palpable. "My name's Mitri!"
I froze for a long moment, breath caught in my throat. "…Sylphira. That's my name…"
Silence. I felt like turning around and running away.
"That's a cute dress!" The words spilled from Mitri's lips. I was acutely aware of the fact that her own clothes were far less impressive, drab and faded. The sole splash of color on her garb was from an ornate piece of jewelry that hung from her neck, decorated with a few polished beads of rock and wood and speckled with tiny fragments of rainbow crystal.
"Thank… you…"
More silence.
The girl sighed. "Um… listen…" Advancing suddenly, she placed a hand on my arm; I recoiled from her touch as if her fingers were acid. "Sorry! It's okay, though. You don't need to be scared! Do you wanna play?"
"Play…?"
"Yeah!" Mitri announced brightly, breaking the tension. "All the other kids are busy doing chores. Papa would be mad if he knew that I was skipping mine, but he can't complain if I'm making the visitor feel welcome!"
"Oh…"
"Here," she said firmly, tugging on my hand. "Come with me! This way!"
And that was how I found myself being led around Mist's Reach—somewhat unwillingly so—by the girl. She was the polar opposite of Sentinel, lacking the brusque and sarcastic manner of my AI companion. And unlike Cael, she didn't have an interest in me for what seemed like solely business reasons. I quickly found myself overwhelmed with the one-sided chatter from my overeager 'guide'… though it wasn't long before I found myself joining in, too.
"Why're you so pale, anyway?" Mitri wondered, hurrying across a rickety bridge towards the village's outskirts. I followed behind, panting with exhaustion; my atrophied muscles made it hard to keep up. "Is it cause you're sick? Hurt, maybe? There's a bandage here…" She turned and reached for the gauze wrapped around my forearm.
"S—stop that!" I cried, backing away and protectively clutching my arm. "Don't touch that! Don't ever touch that!"
"Oh… sorry," the girl uttered awkwardly. "Is it cause it hurts? I broke my arm last year, and I couldn't do anything for weeks!"
"It's… not like that." I nursed my arm, feeling the subtle indentation of the socket that pushed deep into my body.
"Ooh, I get it." Mitri nodded sagely, continuing the march across the divide. I was hot on her heels. "It's goddess stuff, I bet."
"Wha…?"
"That's what my mama said last night!" she replied. "At dinner, she said you were a goddess, but I thought she was lying. You don't look like one…"
"What do goddesses look like?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Mitri bit her lip, slowing her pace. "It was in one of my picture books from when I was little. There were three of them… some of them had really cool armor, and they all had pretty wings! You don't look like that at all."
"Mmh…" I hung my head. "I… I don't think I am. I don't feel like one, either… but I can't remember. What does it even feel like to be a goddess, anyway?"
She gave me a wide-eyed stare. "You can't remember? What do you mean? Do you have amme… anme… amnesia?"
I shook my head vigorously, boots sinking in the earthy soil on the far side of the bridge. The air turned cool, a vibrant green canopy forming overhead that blotted out the sun's light. "I was… asleep for a really long time. I don't know how long, but I only just woke up yesterday, and the first thing I remember is wondering if I had a family and where it was. I don't know if I even had any memories to forget in the first place, though…"
"I get it." Mitri turned to me with a wide smile. "You should come over to my house for dinner tonight! You can meet my mama and papa—maybe you'll like them?"
It's not the same… "Where are we going, anyway…?" I changed the subject, peering around with curiosity. We'd left the village behind, the rooftops at our backs disappearing amongst the gargantuan moss-covered tree trunks. Lush ferns rustled underfoot as we pushed deeper into the forest.
"Almost there, Sif!" she announced with a smile.
"…Sif?"
"I'm gonna call you that from now on," the girl replied, wrinkling her nose. "It's cute! …And it's a lot easier to say. Anyway, I wanted you to meet my friends!"
"F—friends?" I stuttered weakly, falling behind her. "More… more people?"
"Don't worry!" Mitri cooed, pushing through a particularly-dense patch of undergrowth The trees ahead began to part, marking the presence of a small and hidden glade. "You don't need to be shy or scared or anything. They're really nice!"
Stepping through the bushes, I tentatively entered the tiny clearing.
The empty space in the forest was dimly lit with a green hue, sparse shafts of sunlight filtering down through the leafy canopy overhead. Much of the foliage had been cleared away at some point, exposing a wide patch of dirt interspaced with countless footprints and drag marks. A circle of blackened stones—a fire pit—sat dead center in the glade, overflowing with dusty clumps of ash and charcoal. An old building lay at the far side of the clearing, its wooden walls engulfed under a blanket of moss. An empty doorway gaped like a maw on the facing wall, revealing only shadows within.
Two unknown figures relaxed on roughly-hewn log benches that had been dragged before the fire pit, garbed in the same kind of handmade clothing that the rest of the villagers wore. One was a nerdy-looking preteen girl who appeared to be the same age as Mitri and I, scribbling in a notebook. Her dark brown hair was arranged in a cute bob, and her hazel eyes were hidden behind thick wood-rimmed glasses. The girl peered over in our direction, blinking like an owl. "Mitri, what kept you?" Her bespectacled gaze locked on me. "Wait, who's that?"
The other stranger spoke up—a boy with dark skin and lean muscles, perhaps fourteen years old. With midnight-black hair, a gaunt face, and eyes that burned like coal, I got the vague sense that he was the rebellious type. After all, he was here and not working back at the village. "What, weren't you paying attention last night? Or were you locked away in your room again?"
He confidently strode over, looming head and shoulders above me. I shrank, withering under his intense, self-assured stare.
"What's up?" He stuck his hand out, jabbing it toward me. "I'm Ayden." The boy thumbed backwards at his companion, who was fumbling with her notebook. "The nerd over there is Triha."
"I'm not a nerd, you dick!" the other girl cried indignantly, lobbing a small pebble at the boy. He casually dodged it with practised ease, as if Triha had angrily lobbed things at him many times before.
I tentatively shook his hand, my hand and voice shaking. "I'm… Sylphira…"
"You're kinda jumpy, aren't you?" Ayden snorted. "And yeah, so I've heard. People won't stop talking about who you are." He cast a brief gaze through the canopy overhead; the enormous plates that orbited around the tower's midsection were just barely visible, spinning silently in the empty sky. "So you're the 'boss' of that run-down firetrap, huh? Never would've guessed at first glance." His voice took on a sinister tone. "Y'know… a couple months back, I got to go into that place with dad and a couple others—for salvaging stuff. Metal and the like." The boy grinned evilly. "It was real dark in there… winding maze-like tunnels, razor-sharp heaps of scrap, tons of high drops… oh, and things scurrying around in the darkness. Probably just animals… but who knows? Maybe they were monsters."
"W—what…?"
"Ayden, stop scaring her!" Triha chided, approaching with her notebook tucked into an armpit. She moved with a lopsided walk—a limp. "Why've you gotta do this to every girl you meet?"
"He doesn't scare me." Mitri rushed to the boy's side, latching onto his arm.
He lowered his head, nuzzling the smaller girl. "Hey, Mitri. How're you doing? How's your dad?"
She blushed, averting her eyes in a shy manner. "I'm okay… and papa just got out of the clinic this morning. The healer said that he's all better!"
"That's a relief. Glad to hear it." Ayden shrugged her off, seemingly reluctant to let go. "Anyway, what did you want to do today? Goof off again?" His visage soured with distaste. "Not like there's much else to do around here, after all."
"Oh! Yeah, that's right," Mitri said, flustered. "Wanna play Last Man Down again?"
"Sure, why not?" the boy shrugged. "It's almost lunch break, so maybe we can get some of the other kids to join in this time. Oh yeah, and I call dibs on being the Dai for today." He ducked into the decrepit shack for the briefest of moments, coming back with an armload of small bean bags. He casually tossed one into the air, the grains inside rattling about.
"Last Man Down…? I queried with a soft, shaky voice. "What's that…?"
"You'll seeeee," Triha sang, hurrying off into the woods—presumably getting a head start on whatever I'd found myself roped into.
"Don't worry," Mitri smiled kindly, wrapping an arm around my slender frame. "We're on the same team. I'll stick with you and show you how it's done!"
"Okay, go!"
Mitri and I dashed across the street, silently slipping into a narrow alleyway like a pair of ghosts. We weaved around half-rotted barrels and heaps of detritus, staying out of sight. My small hands were wrapped around a thick branch as long as my arm, nearly identical to the one Mitri held. I was acutely aware of the fact that more children had joined in, the little game now comprising more than twenty 'players' each vying to be the last survivor. It had me nervous.
The other girl breathlessly explained the game while we ran. "It's really easy!" she said in a patronizing way. "Ayden and I got the idea from a storybook we read when we were little kids—about some big war or something hundreds of years ago. There's one person—Ayden—who gets to be the 'Dai.' That means he has to chase all of us! We're all 'Sens,' so we have to run away from him and not get caught.
"Ayden's got all those bean bags… he has to throw them at people to knock them out of the game. If he hits someone, then they lose and have to go back to the 'tower'—the town square—to wait until the next round."
"How do you… win?" I panted, struggling to keep pace with the nimble girl. My cloak trailed behind me, flapping in the wind.
"It's easy!" she said airily, vaulting over a stack of flat crates. I clambered over them with effort, stumbling as I regained my footing. "You can use these sticks to try and knock his bean bags out of the air before they hit you. That's how you survive! The last person standing is the winner and beats the Dai. Oh yeah, and watch out, cause Ayden likes to throw two, one after the other. It's really hard to block both with only one stick, cause they come at you so fast. If the first one doesn't get you, the second one will for sure!"
"So, um… what is a Dai?" Sen is probably Sentinel… right?
Mitri slowed to allow me to catch up, shrugging impassively. "It's been a really long time since I read the book… but I remember it being a kind of monster that lived in the tower a long time ago."
"Oh…"
"Stop!" she hissed, screeching to a halt at the exit to the alleyway. Bright sunlight shone ahead, a cool wind whistling down the narrow channel… joined by the trampling of a multitude of tiny feet.
Three screaming kids sprinted by at full tilt, each carrying sticks of their own. They were closely followed by a withering hail of bean bags. Ayden's silhouette flashed by a moment later, the boy bellowing with determination. I couldn't help but giggle at the strange sight.
Mitri waited tensely, hunched low. "Okay, it's safe, go!" We rushed out into the open, turning in the opposite direction. The girl ducked and weaved around astonished villagers going about their daily routines; I stayed off to one side, running through the grass that lined the pathway.
A triumphant roar burst out at my back, and I barely ducked in time to avoid a pair of incoming bean bags. They thudded against a lamppost up ahead, rattling the wooden fixture.
"FOUND YOU!" Ayden crowed, giving chase. A burgeoning satchel stuffed with bean bags hung from a bandolier strung across his chest. Not stopping to aim, the boy cocked his arm and prepared to throw.
"Sif, run!" Mitri cried with equal measures horror and childlike glee.
I saw the sack's incoming profile, lobbed with a powerful overhand toss. Clumsily lifting my branch, I feebly swung at it… and missed. The bean bag hit me square in the forehead, immediately followed by a second—knocking me onto my backside. "Ow!"
"You're out!" Ayden gave me a playful tap on the shoulder as he sped past, in hot pursuit of his next target.
"Poop…" I pouted. With my head hanging low, I headed back to the town square, finding at least a dozen other equally-glum kids. They sat around, snacking on early lunches or lazily kicking their feet in the pool of crystal clear water that sat at the center of the town. Shyness getting the better of me, I took up position on an out-of-the-way bench at the far side of the square, eagerly waiting for the next round to start.
It was mere minutes before the last few holdouts fell, dejectedly shuffling into the center of the village. Mitri and Ayden were the last to arrive, grins plastered across both of their faces.
"I won!" Mitri announced happily.
"Only because Ayden always goes easy on her…" Triha grumbled, pushing up her glasses with a disapproving sniff.
"Let's go again!" the other girl cried, latching onto my forearm and dragging me back into the fray.
It went the exact same way during the second round… and the third round… and the fourth round. Sometimes I was eliminated early, other times I was one of the last. Sometimes Mitri would be the first to go, sometimes I would. But the result was ultimately remained the same; I couldn't properly protect myself from Ayden's skillful bean bag marksmanship. He was too fast, and I was too woefully sluggish and weak.
Until I began to realize something.
It came to me like a flash of lightning when I was backed up against a wall, Ayden advancing with an amused smirk set on his face. As he prepared to throw, I felt a profound sensation of deja vu—the way he planted his feet in the soil with a spray of dirt, the motion of the boy's shoulder hitching as he cocked his arm, the position in which his wrist bent when he released the first bag. Sent back to the town square for the umpteenth time, I had the opportunity to think on it… and it was no small shock when it finally hit me.
Sentinel…! Yesterday she said that I flat-out lacked the ability to forget—word for word. The more I thought on it, sifting through memories, the more astonished I felt. I quickly concluded that not only could I recall the entirety of the AI's complex lesson on wave theory—without even a single syllable out of place—I could also remember every sensation I'd felt during the conversation, from sight to smell and everything in between. I was able to clearly reminisce on the scent of the evening air, of the exact color of the twilit sky, and even the complex patterns engraved in the bark of every tree trunk we passed. It was mind-boggling to truly comprehend—I really did lack the ability to forget. Not even the smallest detail of any given memory was allowed to escape, etched into my mind with stunning clarity. I couldn't deny being pleasantly surprised, yet there was still the 'how' and 'why.' Why was I like this in the first place?
I… I might be able to use this to win, though. My brow furrowed. Now that I understood that my memories could never fade, I was able to quickly and easily sift through all the cases of Ayden striking me with his double throw. I could mentally visualize every muscle twitch, every sharp breath, every movement of his eyes in an instant. And thanks to that, I was able to divine a pattern. He had a method, one that required him to throw the same way each and every time. Of course there were always minute variations, subtle shifts in the muscle, but I could learn how to deal with those. If I could get the chance to practice it a few times, to learn how to compensate for his variations, then I would be able to deflect his throws—through prediction.
I smiled happily, squirming with anticipation. Scuffing through a nearby patch of vegetation, I extracted a second branch, wrapping my free hand around it. Using two at once just might allow me to protect myself better! If I can get used to it, that is… Spinning experimentally, I swung both branches together in a wide arc.
I can do this.
The first few tries were embarrassing failures; often ending with the older boy walking away in a fit of laughter, mocking my insistence on using two unwieldy branches at once.
Yet I remained determined. It wasn't long before the next round started, and once again I found Mitri looking out for me. "Don't worry, Sif!" she bubbled while we scurried out of the town square, Ayden loudly counting down behind us. "You'll get it eventually." The girl stared skeptically at the extra branch clutched in my other hand. "But he's right, though… you should just stick to one. It's less complicated!"
Maybe… I cautiously followed the larger girl, listening for the sound of pursuing footsteps. We made our way through the back pathways, keeping out of sight. Every once in awhile we'd come across and startle another villager going about their business, rushing past them at top speed.
It wasn't long before the harsh pounding of footfalls on compressed soil tailed us.
"THERE YOU ARE!" Ayden roared, opening up with a pair of airborne bean bags. I narrowly ducked with milliseconds to spare; Mitri yelled in anguish, struck in the small of her back.
"Run, Sif!" the girl cried pitifully, sinking to her knees to one side of the pathway. It cleared the way for my own panicked flight. Adrenalin surged through my veins, heart thudding heavily in my ears.
I cast a frightened glance back. The older boy wore a determined glare, screeching to a halt with a spray of dirt. This time… this time for sure! One…
One arm lifted, fingers grasping the first of the two projectiles. Two…
His wrist flicked, releasing the object. The boy's arm dropped, splayed fingers reaching for the second. Three. Here it comes!
Time seemed to move in slow motion as I brought all my focus to bear on the incoming projectile. I'd managed to reach a state of exceptional and unnatural clarity, allowing me to focus on any particular thing and mentally pick it apart, learning all of its characteristics in real-world milliseconds.
Calculations flashed through my mind's eye, intimidatingly complex but somehow known to me. Um, speed… velocity… distance. Angle of approach. Rotation. External forces. Wave variations located—solution found.
The first bean bag grew in size, approaching quickly. I slowed and rotated, bringing up my branch as fast as I was able. I pulled it diagonally across my chest, straining… and deflected the projectile. It slammed into the wall of a house to my side with a muffled thump, tumbling inert into a patch of grass. The second quickly followed in turn, redirected with a swing of my second stick.
How did I…
Ayden gaped, mirroring my own confusion. "What the…" His glare grew in ferocity. "…Lucky." He threw again; I deflected both again with ease, having finally figured out a working formula to block—even though I didn't understand how I'd done so.
"Sif…" Mitri breathed from further down the alleyway, floored by my sudden show of competence.
"Go after someone else already!" I shot back desperately, taking his dumbfounded hesitation as an opportunity to flee. Darting down a side alley, I quickly lost the older boy; he was unable to catch up in time. I grinned the whole way, tightly gripping both sticks. That was awesome!
Eventually he got me; though it was because he caught me off guard, using an unpractised and lopsided throw that I was unable to compensate for. Even so, I smiled all the way back to the town square. He can't use the same tactic twice… cause I can just remember it, calculate its variables, and use that against him! Knowing that, I was able to hold my head high as I sat back down on my bench, letting both sticks tumble to the ground.
>This is all a little bit beneath you, isn't it?< an unknown voice quipped in the confines of my mind. >If you're quite done abusing your eidetic memory and faster thought processing to mess with the local kids, head down to the canyon and follow the pathway to the west. It's time.<
I stiffened, grabbing my ears. What was that?!
The mysterious entity sighed. >C'mon, administrator. You've already done this before, remember? You called out to me for help when you fell off the tower two days ago.<
What the… Wait. Is that Sentinel…? But how is she—
>It's a no-brainer, you know!< the AI called out in a singsong manner, the tone somehow coming through despite its heavily distorted and synthesized state. >You're the administrator, after all. Isn't it natural that you'd have a permanent communications channel opened with the tower guardian controller? How else do you expect to order them around?<
How do I… Recalling the situation I'd found myself in two days ago, I struggled to bring up the fragment of memory where I'd inadvertently cried out to the AI for help. Mmh… on that day, it felt like I was tugging on some kind of ghostly thread.
>…Administrator, are you gonna talk or what?<
>I'M HERE.< My attempted call burst over our connection, soaring out into the ether. It was grating, metallic, and barely sounded like my own soft and lilting voice.
The AI winced. >…Okay. You need to refine your telepathy, but at least you can do it. Tell you what, just come meet me at the place I mentioned. Be ready to travel.<
>OKAY.< The connection evaporated.
I hopped to my feet, glancing around. It looked like the game had just about ended; children had begun to wander off, heading back to work or to their homes. Even Mitri was nowhere to be seen.
I guess it's as good as any time to leave, then… Shrugging, I headed over to the yawning chasm that lay only a short distance away from the square. As I reached the edge of the divide, I noted a narrow wooden pathway that dropped below the lip of the gorge, winding along the rock. Numerous houses lay alongside it, anchored to the cliff face. That must be the path.
"Sif!" a familiar voice cried.
I turned around with mute curiosity to see a panting Mitri, hunched over with her hands on her knees. "Oh… hi."
She gulped, swallowing air. "Where… where are you going?"
I silently pointed along the cliff trail. "Sentinel wanted to meet me, sooo… I have to go."
"Oh…" Her voice was tinged with sadness. "It was really fun to play with you…!"
I nodded vigorously, clasping my hands together. "Yeah… it was."
She nervously rubbed the back of her neck. "Um… listen! When you're all done, do you wanna come over to my house for dinner? Maybe you can sleep over, too."
My body locked up with sudden, paralyzing fear. A strangled sound emerged from my throat.
"Please, Sif," the girl soothed. "You don't need to be afraid! I really like you, okay? You're nice, and you're fun, and you don't act like a stuffy goddess at all!"
I felt my cheeks flush at the warm praise. Mustering all my determination, I forced down my timidity. "…Okay. I will!"
"Yay!" she clapped with glee. "You're staying at the chief's house, right? I'll come find you there tonight before dinner!" Burgeoning with energy, Mitri spun around and ran off, disappearing amongst the houses and trees before I could say anything further.
I bowed my head silently, grateful to finally have a friend. "Thank you…"
It was in that moment that my perspective of the world seemed to shift ever-so-slightly. For the most fleeting of moments, the sensation of vertigo rushed through my body. My vision flashed, the world going dark before returning to normal with stunning radiance.
I blinked with confusion, unsure of what exactly had just happened. Everything felt… exactly the same as before. Didn't it?
Um… weird…
I absentmindedly tugged at the shoulder straps of my dress, which hung from my slender frame like a tent. With my oversized boots loosely flopping about, I continued my brief trek through the human settlement.
"Sentinel, where are you?" I wondered aloud while romping down the pathway that wound along the canyon wall; the churning water surged beneath the wooden planks at my feet. Many of the buildings down here were places of industry—fish processing facilities, storage rooms, and the odd home for grizzled workers and antisocial hermits. Soon enough, I arrived at an oddity—a heap of rock spilling from a doorway that led deep into the sheer cliff face. In contrast to the rest of the village—judging by the look of the door—the underground building was made of steel, worn and rusted from exposure to the elements.
I paused, laying a palm on the rugged stone. I wonder… is this the 'complex' that Sentinel and Cael were talking about the other day? The one that was flattened in the rockfall and had something to do with my origin or my awakening…
My brow furrowed, as if I could learn more by the sheer will of concentration. However, the rocks remained unyielding. I sighed, backing off. Maybe Cael will tell me if I ask him later?
Words resolved in my mind, vanishing as fast as they'd arrived. The Seed Laboratory Complex; an isolated and neutral location where the tower's finest researchers and engineers toiled day and night to study the processes required to create a—
I stumbled as a sudden burst of white noise rippled through my mind.
W—what?! The sudden shock elicited a harsh gasp on my part, eyes wide with fear as my vision contracted to a tunnel. The world seemed to fade into white noise, the sounds of the village growing ever distant. Everything felt numb; I couldn't even cry out.
It was happening again.
No, no, no… go away go away go away!!
And then it was gone in an instant. I fell onto my hands and knees, sucking air. My heart continued to flutter wildly in uncertain panic. My gut writhed in silent agony and I vomited, losing what was left of my breakfast between the cedar planks. Utterly spent, I went limp, breathing shallowly.
My body curled into a ball out of sheer reflex. Why… I released a dry, wheezing cough, my stomach incessantly performing backflips like a champion gymnast.
I clambered to my feet, gripping the rock wall to steady myself; I didn't trust my own legs. My eyes were blurry with tears.
Why… why is this happening to me?!
A sudden flash of realization—a recollection of my dream, the fragmented memories during my centuries-long sleep… of what I was perhaps meant to see.
SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE. ERROR. HARDWARE INCOMPLETE.
SYLPHIRA_ANSUL_ASCIYDRIA FUNCTIONALITY AT 81%.
…I'm broken…
My dark thoughts were put on hold as a muted rumble rose on the winds. I turned my curious eyes to the clear blue sky, more than willing to divert my attention from the unsettling issue at hand.
A white speck that gleamed in the light of the midday sun plunged from distant heights, rapidly growing in size as it drew closer. The object was preceded by a low roar, intensifying with every passing second.
I gaped, my back pressing up against the rock wall as a blur passed overhead, followed by a powerful rush of air that snatched at my hair and clothing. The throaty roar of powerful engines left me deafened. The treetops surged under the wash of engines as the indistinct shape came about, circling over the village before coming to a halt in midair over the canyon. It waited, motionless, hovering before my eyes like a mirage.
It was an aircraft, about twenty-five meters in length and easily dwarfing the horned tower guardian that Sentinel had utilized the previous day. Floating on unseen thrusters, the vehicle vaguely resembled the ringed drone that she had sent for me on that first night, except on a much larger scale. The midsection of the aircraft's streamlined and elongated fuselage flared outwards horizontally into a pair of struts, connecting to an oval-shaped ring that girded the vehicle. Two oversized engines were mounted on opposite ends of the assembly, tipped with enormous intakes and tapering back into thrust-vectoring exhaust nozzles. The craft's fuselage was covered in polished white metallic plates and bristled with stubby fins, its front end bulging out into an inline cockpit with a bubble canopy. Two massive rotary gun barrels protruded from the aircraft's chin, bestowing it with an intensely intimidating profile.
The unidentified vehicle gradually shed altitude, drawing up right next to the wooden pathway that clung to the rock face. I could have reached out with one hand and touched it, the strange aircraft was so close. The glass canopy split open, inaudible against the roar of twin engines, and a telescopic ladder descended from a concealed access hatch.
>HI, ADMINISTRATOR!< Sentinel blared over the din, her synthesized voice drowning out everything—including the sounds from her own vehicle.
"Um…! Sentinel!" I cried, frightened. "I need to tell—"
The planks shook beneath my feet as the aircraft pressed closer. >WHAT?! SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU! THIS THING IS A LITTLE LOUD!<
"You're not funny!" I yelled back, cupping my hands around my mouth.
>SAYS YOU!< The vehicle bobbed in the closest manageable approximation of a playful shrug. >GET IN ALREADY! WE'VE GOT PLACES TO GO!<
I tentatively approached, hobbling over on unsteady legs. Viewing the swaying ladder that extended out over the gorge, I balked.
The AI huffed impatiently, sidling up as close as she was able to. The walkway creaked in distress, its timbers compressed between the cliff face and the encroaching aircraft. Whimpering in muffled panic, I scampered across the ladder, diving into the relatively safe cockpit.
The cabin was much roomier than I expected. Two sturdy-looking seats covered with belts and straps were arranged in front of a dashboard studded with countless dials, gauges, and buttons. A number of ghostly holographic surfaces hung in front of the windshield, each displaying incomprehensible measurements and calculations. A joystick rose up from the floor in front of each seat.
I shuffled forward, gingerly clambering over the controls. Peering behind the seats, I discovered that the cabin was even larger than I'd thought, burrowing deep into the aircraft's fuselage. I supposed that thanks to the layout with the engines located separate from the main body, it allowed plenty of room for other features. I caught a quick glimpse of a flimsy bunk recessed into the wall, a tiny closet-sized bathroom, and even what appeared to be a simple galley and eating area. The cockpit hatch at my back slammed shut with a muffled thump, making me start. A hiss sounded through the cabin as it pressurized, cool air rushing in. The deafening rumble of engines seemed to fade away.
It was then that it occurred to me. "This… isn't a tower guardian, is it?"
"Impressed?"
I whirled around at the sudden disembodied voice that echoed through the cockpit—Sentinel's voice. "How're you—"
"You're right," the AI interrupted, resolving in the air before my eyes. She gently sat down on the dashboard, holographic body shimmering. "This thing—one of my SC-12 Altos—isn't a tower guardian… it's a long story, actually. Maybe someday I'll tell you."
"…Uh-huh." I skeptically folded my arms, planting myself down in the pilot's seat. The formfitting structure was surprisingly soft and warm, even with the multitude of straps digging into my spine.
"Anywa—" The AI froze, turning her gaze on me. She blinked slowly, confusion written all over her face. "Uh…"
I quizzically peered up at her. "Um… w—what is it?"
"…Interesting." She quizzically scratched her head. "Administrator, have you happened to check a mirror lately? You really should."
I mirrored her confusion. "What do you mean…?"
Sentinel shook her head wearily. "…Never mind. I'll clue you in later. At least that aspect of your body is fully functional."
"Oh… okay…" It wasn't long before I recalled the issue at hand. "Sentinel! I… I have to tell you something…"
"What is it, administrator?" she questioned, her gray eyes flaring up with interest and concern. "Wait… is that puke on your chin?"
The confession spilled from my trembling lips. I recalled the fragmented memories seen in my dream, as well as the new attack that had only just struck, leaving me curled up and vomiting on the deck. By the end of it, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I was frightened.
The AI nodded grimly. "…I see. That's not what I expected, and to be honest some of it is a mystery to me. For example, what exactly is this 'foreign object,' and where is it located? Is it located in the tower's systems? Directly inserted into the Apex's hardware, perhaps? Though, in any case…" The cockpit shook like a leaf, a muffled roar of engines igniting beyond the glass bubble. The breath caught in my throat as the large aircraft lunged forward like a hungry predator, ascending into the skies. Through the cockpit glass, I caught a brief glimpse of flabbergasted onlookers, watching from the pathways and cliffs… and then we were gone, Mist's Reach dwindling away into the distance. The boundless sky lay ahead as Sentinel angled out towards the abyss, speeding away from the tower and its surrounding field of floating islands.
Where are we going? I idly wondered.
"You should know," the AI quipped, "that it wasn't a dream. What you saw was a recording from the tower itself. I'm betting that you drew something out from it while sleeping—a remnant of a time long past. The event in particular that you saw actually happened more than two centuries ago." Her face darkened. "I can barely remember it anymore… but I know that it wasn't a great day."
"You can't… remember…?"
"That's right…" Sentinel said, staring desolately at the cabin floor. "It's how I was made. Every century or so, I have to carry out a pretty thorough memory purge." She tapped her forehead, grinning wryly. "It's to stop my mind from becoming too sluggish and bloated… and also as a programmed restriction to stop me from going all power-mad and destroying all humans. I have no actual say in the matter on whether I do it or not. It happens forcibly."
"So… every hundred years, you become a whole new person?"
The AI shrugged. The cabin shook violently as the aircraft shattered the sound barrier, still accelerating away from the spire. "It depends how you define what a 'whole new person' is, I guess. I maintain my sense of self and I have vague memories from before my wipes, so I like to think that I'm still the same as I was when I was born seven centuries ago.
"I'm actually a little envious of you, you know. You don't have any memory restrictions like I do! You could go on and on for millennia and never ever forget a single thing!"
My eyes widened. "Wha…?!"
"Oh…" the AI mouthed, nodding sagely. "You don't know that either, huh…"
"Don't know what?"
Sentinel gave me an odd look. "Administrator, you're immortal."
I found myself with a lack of words. Not even the barest of thoughts flitted through my mind. All I could do was stare wide-eyed at the small figure that had broached the topic as casually as if she'd been discussing the weather. I hauntingly stared down at the bandages on my arm, sensing the grooved edges of the marking beneath.
Immortality… telepathy… whatever the heck I did in the game with Mitri and Ayden… and my arm thing…
"Sentinel…" I whispered frantically. "What am I?!"
She remained silent. The shadows changed as Sentinel brought the aircraft about in a wide circle, coming to a sudden and jarring halt with an ease of the throttle. We hung motionless in the sky, the Alto's engines remarkably holding the vehicle steady as a rock.
The AI gestured out through the windshield dead ahead. "Your answer's right there. That's what you are, administrator."
Asciydria Tower loomed on the horizon, fully visible in its entirety for the first time. Its white flanks gleamed in the brilliant sunlight, the spire's monolithic bulk cutting an imposing silhouette amongst the endless sea of clouds. I couldn't help but feel a strange and misplaced pang of loneliness and homesickness upon seeing it so far away.
Even seen from afar, the spire was beyond massive. Its bloated midsection blotted out vast swaths of cloud-speckled sky, its features blurry thanks to the incredible distance. Above the tower's flared superstructure lay the once-hidden upper third, no longer beyond my eyesight thanks to this new angle. Narrow and knifelike, it rose up like a swordsman's blade, cutting through the wind. A small notch about halfway up buried deep into the leading edge of the sail-shaped formation. Apex, the same artificial voice from before hissed from the depths of my subconsciousness. Core. Control nexus. Birthplace… I shook my head rapidly, clearing the foreign sensation.
My eyes continued to rove all over the gargantuan structure with vested interest. I noted a vast, cylindrical enclosure at the base of the spire's upper section, slowly rotating and emitting a withering glare through a vent at its center. Above it lay a pair of glittering discs that shone with multicolored light from all across the spectrum. I clearly remembered being captivated by them when I'd first woken up.
Panning my eyes ever upward, I finally caught a glimpse of the tower's tapered pinnacle, the terminus of all things and reaching beyond the edge of Ar Ciel's atmosphere. It was mind-boggling to wrap my head around it. It truly was an incredible feat of engineering, and not for the first time I wondered who had built it—and why.
But what's the base…? I brought my gaze downward this time, slipping past the scattered field of floating landmasses. I lingered on them for the barest of moments—noting the cascading waterfalls that plunged into the clouds and the multitude of tiny, shattered fragments of drifting rock at the outer reaches—before continuing on.
Below the Isles of Aria lay a massive, bell-shaped structure, enclosed in a sort of free-floating frame. The curved and blackened metal seemed to crackle with raw energy, the air around it shimmering with radiated heat. The base of the component emitted a raw blue luminescence, occasionally flaring up with flashes of colorless light.
Further down, the clouds began to encroach on the tower in a sinister fashion, hiding whatever lay below from my eyes. But even so, I was able to make out… something. Some other object, almost completely hidden amongst the fog. Clouds circled it like a churning whirlpool, and flashes of blinding white light ignited through gaps in the mist. It was a strange feeling; even though I didn't know what the unknown tower component was, I couldn't help but feel a trill of fear and apprehension.
"That, administrator," the AI stated calmly, "is Asciydria Tower in its entirety. It's impressive, sure; but when you've been climbing the damn thing for centuries, the novelty starts to wear off a little.
"Now, my question is… does seeing that invoke any thoughts or feelings within you?" she pressed. "Any repressed memories, popping back in?"
But… but that doesn't… I hung my head. "I don't understand… That doesn't have anything to do with what I asked, it's just a really big building!"
"Want me to crack a window so you can get a better view?" Sentinel asked dryly.
"…No thanks."
"Smart choice!" the AI announced airly. "We're beyond the range of the Ion Corridor now. Opening a window now would suck all the air out!"
"…"
She winced, her poorly-timed joke falling flat. "…Okay. No more jokes…" I was shoved back in my seat with another sudden burst of acceleration, the tower rapidly growing in size.
"Whoa! Sentinel?! Where are we going?"
"I took you out here to see the rest of your physical body," the AI stated cryptically, orienting the aircraft so that it plunged towards the waiting Isles of Aria. "Now that you have, we're going to our original destination—Sphilar Prism. Or at least… what remains of it."
Sorry to hear that you had to deal with that stuff. Hopefully everything's resolved now.
And with perfect timing. Starting less than a week from now, I'll have almost no internet access whatsoever for almost three weeks (during which time I plan to finally play through the Relocalization of Ar Tonelico 2 and the translation of Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, among other things), and it would be rather intimidating to come back and find 40k words of new chapters for a single fic.
You misspelled "Adrenaline".
So I guess she'd like Tyria in that respect.
As for the chapter as a whole, I really liked how you used the game with the kids to let her discover some of her abilities for herself.
It's good to see Sapphire back to updating this story again for me as well, there really aren't enough stories for Ar Tonelico. And I kind of liked how this showed a bit of how people are living on this tower and the hints towards their past history.
Chapter 4.2
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
Chapter 4.2 - Origin
I gaped up at the monolithic shape before me, too stunned to clamber out of the cockpit even though the hatch had already opened and the ladder had extended. "What is this place…? Why are we here?"
Almost as tall as the mountain that lay behind it, an enormous metallic structure rose out of the coniferous forest, its pinnacle hidden in the wispy clouds overhead. It was narrow, thin, and extraordinarily tall—almost three kilometers in height. It was as if a giant warrior had come to rest here, planting his sword in the ground before departing. Constructed with equal portions of bleached white plating and jet-black hardened steel, the construct was marred with vicious burn marks and craters. Large fragments of debris lay strewn across the woods, a forest of twisted metal even rising from the shallows of a nearby mountain lake. It was evident that whatever had happened here was sudden, violent, and messy, spreading wreckage across the island.
The AI's hologram drifted to my side, demurely planting herself on my shoulder. She peered off to one side, gaze drawn by a huge block of pockmarked steel that lay on the far side of the clearing; the forest was littered with the remains of the immense structure. "It's a mass grave," she said sorrowfully, a solemn look in her gray eyes. "This place—the wreckage of Sphilar Prism—was where thousands of souls were stored at one time… right up until it exploded and plunged all the way down here, ending the lives of all who lived within it. And we're here so I can pick it apart and examine it for clues."
Driving her point home, the air was suddenly filled with a low hum. Turning my face to the skies, I was stunned to see thin black clouds rapidly moving in—an immense swarm of tower guardians, bearing down on the wrecked construct. There must have been thousands of them.
"Whoa…" I shook my head, getting back on track. "Wait, so people lived in it?" I thought for a moment, my brow furrowing. "It had a city inside?"
Sentinel shook her head, laughing without a hint of humor. "Nothing like that… Sphilar Prism was a tower component known as an SH server—a complex computing and processing system, once hosting thousands of artificial minds at once."
"Artificial minds? Like you?" I questioned, clambering down to the mossy ground.
"No," she uttered forebodingly. "Like you."
"What?! But I'm not…" I denied it frantically, feeling the blood rush to my face. "I'm not a robot! I can't be! I eat, I sleep, I breathe, and I bleed!"
"To be fair, it's worth noting that you don't actually need to eat or sleep," the AI replied, blinking slowly. "Up 'till now, you've just been doing it out of simple reflex. Funny thing, right?"
"But… but…" I stumbled, feeling weak in the knees.
"I know that might sound crazy," she added, "but you are in fact a robot—or rather, in your case the term 'gynoid' would be more specific. Granted, you're a really well-made machine—resembling a human almost down to the cellular level, cybernetic parts notwithstanding—but a machine nonetheless.""
"No, no…" I fell to my hands and knees, gasping. "No way…"
Suddenly, flashes of memory. Snippets of conversation, fragments from the distant past. All collecting in this moment to show me what I'd actually known all along, buried beneath layers of confusion and denial.
…SYLPHIRA_ANSUL_ASCIYDRIA FUNCTIONALITY AT 81%…
…abusing your eidetic memory and faster thought processing to mess with the…
…Isn't it natural that you'd have a permanent communications channel opened with the tower guardian controller?…
I swallowed hard, understanding at last. …She's right.
My palms slipped on the damp moss, leaving me lying facedown on the forest floor. I wrapped a hand tightly around the socket on my forearm, curling up into the fetal position. "I… it feels like I can't breathe…"
"I know," she said reassuringly, patting me on the wrist. "It'll be okay. That's why we're here, so you can learn what you really are, with no more secrets or unknowns. And eventually, you'll have the strength and knowledge to save the tower from its coming ruin."
She tapped her lip, thinking. "Now… how do I start this off?"
I remained silent, listlessly staring down at the port on my arm.
"Ah! I got it." The AI snapped her fingers. "You see, administrator, a long time ago—in the old world of Ar Ciel—there were two human alliances known as Sol Ciel and Sol Cluster, each separated from the other by a vast ocean. There are more regions and alliances than those two, and each one was made up of its own smaller nations, but those two big ones are the most relevant for our purposes."
Sentinel's pudgy face hardened. "Asciydria Tower stands in southeast Sol Cluster, in a region that was once called the Aria Peninsula. Both you and I were created here too. National pride aside though, I can't condone the actions of our government—because humans are humans, and humans are literally the worst."
For one moment, I cast aside my own self-doubt and grief. That's not true! I've seen it…
I thought of Mitri, of Ayden, of Triha, of Cael and Serafi too. All of the villagers whom I'd only just met, yet had shown me—a complete stranger—extraordinary kindness and goodwill. I couldn't see the villagers of Mist's Reach as anything other than warm and kindhearted. I knew in my heart that Sentinel was wrong.
"So yeah, of course we were at war with Sol Ciel. Now, you might be wondering how this relates to you," she said with a raised eyebrow. "The thing is, it wasn't exactly a normal war… at least, not at the start. It started as a simple cold war that went on for centuries and reached a breaking point."
"Cold war…?"
"The most cynical humans would have called it a dick-measuring contest," the AI quipped. "It was a centuries-long state of political tension between Sol Ciel and Sol Cluster, known as the Thousand-Year War, brought to a head by the construction of the first of the amplification towers. It spawned an arms race and an outbreak of espionage and subterfuge and general deviousness—all to decide which nation would dominate the globe for the next few years until another competitor inevitably rose up. You, me, and Asciydria Tower were among the results from said arms race though, so I guess it wasn't all bad!"
"So," I gathered, "Asciydria was the first tower? You said there were… um, three, right?"
The AI grinned, shaking her head. "If you'd said that in Sol Ciel seven hundred years ago, you'd have been stabbed by a disgruntled passerby pretty damn fast. No, we were the second tower to pop up. The first—and largest—was a Sol Ciel installation known as Ar Tonelico. And there's actually four towers, not three… but one of them's technically not an amplifica—y'know what, I'm getting off topic." She grimaced, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You want to know exactly what you are?"
I nodded hesitantly.
"You're an artificial lifeform called a Reyvateil—a Reyvateil Origin. Your race was created by humanity hundreds of years ago during some of their forays into AI development, for the express purpose of wielding song magic through H-waves in unfathomably powerful ways—ways that your human creators would never be able to match. You're one of the first of your kind, actually! You're also the only Origin to be created by the Sol Cluster alliance, so hey, claim to fame there.
"Your body itself—though resembling that of a human—is made up of a malleable nanotech-based fluid compound shaped into a physical form, studded with cybernetic parts here and there. Also, your soul isn't even located inside your body. It's stored—" the AI pointed to the north, where the monolithic bulk of Asciydria Tower lay, "—inside that. Within an SH server, just like Sphilar Prism. You actually have your own personal one near the top of the spire because of your prestigious status as Tower Administrator. Lucky you."
Sentinel raised an eyebrow. "You want to know why everyone—including me—calls you an administrator, though? It's because that's your reason for being. You were built, not born, and it was for the purpose of being fused with the tower—to maintain it, control it, and use it in a way that no other being on Ar Ciel can. In fact, your tower connection is so powerful that the structure itself could be considered an extension of your body. Effectively, you are Asciydria Tower."
I remained silent, utterly overwhelmed by the reality-crushing spiel. If what Sentinel had said was true, then this body… this wasn't even really me. I was merely software, stored in the tower's systems, only able to interact with the world via manipulating a robotic proxy.
The AI patted my wrist affectionately. "Now, I know that's a lot to take in, and there's a lot more to it than that. But you're a newborn—body and soul—and because of that, I understand that you won't be able to do everything right away. Not to mention, I completely lack the ability to even comprehend what it feels like to literally be the tower, so some of this stuff you'll only be able to learn on your own. But… I have faith that you can, given time."
Hundreds of years… immortality… newborn? "Sentinel… how old am I…?"
She shrugged, releasing her grip on my arm and setting down on the wide-brimmed leaf of a nearby fern. "I dunno, what do you think counts as your true age? If you mean mental, then you're only a couple days old—fragmented memories notwithstanding. If you mean physical, then you're—" she closed her eyes, her face scrunching up in concentration, "—740 years old, your physical body's construction having been completed in the year 3030. You're actually coming up on your 741st anniversary, interestingly enough, so happy almost-birthday!"
"No way…" I breathed, staring wide-eyed off into space.
"Though I should add an addendum to that immortality statement," The AI quickly added. "Though it's true that old age will never claim you and you'll regenerate from wounds quickly, you can still die in a multitude of fun and interesting ways. If your head experienced catastrophic trauma—due to the presence of your triangular nuclear loop, your body's power source—or if you got disconnected from your SH server—which would be like having your soul ripped from you, so don't try that at home—to name a few examples. And your immortality only lasts as long as the tower does, too! If Asciydria were to collapse, you would die instantly."
It… can't be true… "I… I don't believe it. If I'm really that old, why do I look and feel like a little kid?! I look just like the other kids in Mist's Reach!"
"That's easy," Sentinel replied with an eyeroll. "Remember what I said about your body being made up of a malleable fluid compound? Keyword there being 'malleable.' It can change its state when being acted upon by specific wave types and frequencies. That's because of a component in your body known as an SD-cellophane. It dictates your mental and physical growth, ensuring that your psyche and body always match. It does so by comparing your mental self-image to that of your body's specifications. If there's an anomaly then your body will change, increasing or regressing in age to accommodate your mental state.
"In fact…" the AI turned her head to one side, drawing up a small holographic reflective display, "…I want you to take a look in this mirror now. You can see the effects in action yourself."
"Um…?" I leaned into the mirror, blinking slowly. I wasn't sure what I was expected to find. Squinting, I peered into the small display.
I gasped, eyes widening. What?!
I had changed. My face had become even softer and pudgier, cheeks now puffing out slightly as if I were holding my breath. My eyes seemed to have enlarged somewhat—or perhaps it was because everything else on my face had shrank. For the first time today I examined my hands, noting with wonder that the slender digits had grown stubbier, fatter. There was no doubt in my mind that I no longer appeared to be twelve years old—not even close.
"See?" the AI said plaintively. "You look like you're only about… eight or nine human years old now, perhaps even less. Your body has regressed in age to match your psyche, probably because you were interacting with those children. I knew that spending time with the humans was a bad idea…"
I flexed my fingers, utterly shellshocked. I couldn't believe it. "This can't be real…"
"I can assure you that it is," Sentinel replied. "Your physical state is fluid and dynamic, subject to changing under the proper conditions. Keep in mind; while you can regress in age, you can also go in the other direction too."
My head snapped up. "Wait… I can grow older… just by imagining myself as someone older?"
She shook her head. "It's not that simple. You'll only change if you can truly see yourself as having matured. It's not enough to have an impulse; you have to believe it, through and through. That's not something you can fake.
"Well," the AI shrugged, "that's what you are." She watched me carefully. "What do you think?"
"I… I need a moment…" I stammered, weakly clambering to my feet. I had been blasted with revelation after revelation, shattering what I thought I'd known until there was nothing left.
Sentinel nodded, rising up off her leafy seat. "I understand, administrator. I'll remain here; I still have to finish checking out this derelict, and I need this Alto's advanced sensor package for it. I've only got a couple of these things on hand, after all. The rest got trapped in Section B when the prome wall reactiva—" She fell silent, perhaps realizing that I wasn't focusing my attention on her anymore. "Anyway, just let me know when you get back."
"Okay…" I wandered off into the forest alone, plenty weighing on my mind.
I stared unhappily into the depths of the bubbling forest stream, sunlight glittering off its glassy surface. My reflection stared back—snow-white hair in disarray and strewn with leaves, alabaster skin pitted with scrapes from encroaching branches, and startlingly-blue eyes that had lost much of their vibrant light.
I pinched a cheek, rolling the soft flesh between my slender fingers. Machine…
It was difficult… no, impossible to believe that it was artificial, designed and assembled in some long-forgotten lab. But what Sentinel had said all fit, and it matched up with what little I'd managed to learn on my own. I was forced to face the harsh reality. A hollow pit in my gut made its presence abundantly clear.
I swatted at the mirror-like surface, averting my eyes.
Does it really even make a difference? a more rational part of my mind challenged. You're still you. Nothing's changed; all you've done is learn something new. Is that really such a bad thing?
I hung my head, listening to the sound of the birds amongst the trees. I… I dunno… What about my new friends? Won't they be scared and hate me…?
Probably not, my other side was quick to point out. They already know you're not exactly an average girl. Heck, look at your reflection! You don't even look normal, and they were still just as kind and willing to play with you! You'll be fine. They'll understand.
You're… you're right. I'm right. I exhaled with relief, drawing back from the water's edge. It's hard to accept, and I'm not okay with it just yet… but I think I can learn to live with this.
Revitalized, I made the short trek back through the woods, taking far greater care to avoid hurting myself this time. Upon wandering into the clearing where I'd previously left the small AI, I marveled at how the scrapes across my arms and face had already faded away. It was a little disconcerting with how quickly it happened.
I peered around quizzically. Sentinel was gone, as was the aircraft that had carried me here. The glade was empty.
"Um… Sentinel?" I called out, my soft voice projecting out into the trees. Only silence answered my query.
Hmm… My brow furrowed. >SENTINEL? ARE YOU THERE?<
>Oh!< The familiar silhouette of the Alto descended from on high, arriving in under a minute. As the airborne vehicle touched down, a startled Sentinel reappeared, smoothing out her navy blue robe with tiny hands. "Administrator, you're back. Have you thought about your… uh, thing? How do you feel?"
"I've decided," I declared hesitantly, approaching the aircraft, "that while it kinda freaks me out… I can get used to it. At least, I hope so…"
She smiled kindly, holographic face lighting up with warmth. "Glad to hear it." Her visage soured moments later. "I've finished scanning the wreckage… again… and just like I thought, there isn't any relevant data. Looks like we're still in the dark."
"About what's wrong with me…?"
"That's right," Sentinel said grimly, nodding. "I suspect that it's a kind of connection issue, but the real issue with that is that it could be anything. Perhaps your SH server is damaged—which is highly possible, considering Sphilar Prism used to orbit the tower at that altitude until it exploded. Maybe it's your body's power source—the triangular nuclear loop. Maybe it's your shoddy and rushed construction that resulted in a damaged mental state… or maybe it's your soul itself." She shrugged helplessly. "I… I don't know."
Shoddy and rushed construction… "Isn't there anything you can do?" I pleaded, desperate.
The Alto's canopy popped open with a muted hiss, telescopic ladder extending down before my eyes. "No. I don't have the hardware needed to do advanced medical procedures—especially not on you of all people. Even that little room in the silvaplate where you woke up was just a storage room that I'd cleaned up, modified, and sterilized in the space of a few hours."
"Oh…" I clambered up into the cockpit, dejected. It didn't seem as roomy anymore.
"Don't give up, administrator!" Sentinel said encouragingly, taking her place on the pilot's console. "We'll figure something out eventually. The most advanced medical facilities were located higher up on the spire, and you can bet your butt that we'll look into those when we can." My stomach dropped to my toes as the aircraft's nose lifted, the vehicle ascending above the treetops. The forlorn ruins of Sphilar Prism slid out of sight, engulfed by cloud. "For now, though… let's get you back to Mist's Reach."
A warm yet timid smile tugged at my lips. "Mitri wanted me to sleep over tonight…"
The AI flinched; the Alto's engines faltered for the barest of moments. "…Be careful, administrator. You don't know it, but you're walking on a dangerous path. Don't make a mistake and trust the humans. You will get burned."
"But… but they're really nice!"
"The humans are kind to you because they're aware that at full power, you could kill them all with a flick of your pinkie finger," the AI countered, her voice having iced over. "They don't call you a deity for nothing. It's out of ignorance and fear, nothing more."
"You're wrong," I muttered. "I felt it… felt them…"
"I'm just… warning you, administrator," Sentinel said quietly, eyes downturned. Locks of jet-black hair had fallen into her face. "Be careful around the humans. Watch your back and all that—even around the small ones. I can tell you that no matter how much faith you have in them, no matter what you do for them… they will stab you in the back in a heartbeat if it offers them an advantage." She lifted her head, eyes blazing with indescribable rage… and what I thought was the brief shining of tears. "I say that from personal experience."
Feeling like I'd witnessed a side of the AI that I wasn't meant to, I relented. "…Are you gonna stop me, then? Not let me go?"
Sentinel huffed loudly. "No. Even though I don't like it, ultimately you're my administrator. In light of that, I defer to you." She crossed her arms, eyeing me expectantly.
"Oh…" I took a sidelong gaze out the curved window, lazily watching the multitude of islands slip by like chunks of driftwood on the ocean. The gargantuan main shaft of the spire took up position dead center, shrouded amongst the mists. "I'm… I'm gonna go to Mitri's."
"Understood," she said stonily, a flash of annoyance crossing her face. "I'll leave you to your… stuff, then." Her hologram vanished into the dashboard with a smear of dissipating particles, leaving me alone in the cabin.
Silence permeated the cockpit for an uncomfortably-long amount of time. The twin peaks of Mist's Reach loomed ahead, only separated by a thin line of rainclouds.
"By the way, administrator…" The AI's voice came in through an intercom, broken up by bursts of static.
I peered up at the tiny speaker. "Mmh?"
"When was the last time you had a bath or shower?" she asked innocently. "You need to be nice and clean for your little… uh, visit tonight."
"Not… since I woke up…"
"That's fine," she said slyly. "We can take care of that right now. We're in range of the Ion Corridor now, so this should be okay…" The AI backed off on the throttle, the thrum of engines dying down.
Wait… what's happening? The aircraft began to shed altitude, and the cockpit tilted as my artificial pilot brought the vehicle about to a new heading—directly towards the cluster of rainclouds, which were in the midst of unleashing their deluge on the woods below.
I froze in my seat, realizing what she was planning. "You… you wouldn't."
The cockpit hatch unsealed with an audible click, spelling out my fate.
"Administrator, it's BATHTIME!< the AI gleefully announced despite my horrified reaction. I felt my stomach lurch as the engines suddenly surged to life, the Alto nimbly rocketing straight into the wall of gray clouds.
"NOOOO!" I shrieked as a sudden torrent of rainwater rushed in through the open canopy, leaving me waterlogged in seconds. It left me sputtering, wet clumps of hair stuck to my face.
The ordeal lasted no more than five seconds, the agile vehicle soaring out of the squall on the other side moments later. The floor beneath me shook as the aircraft's belly split open, landing gear unfolding while it descended towards the human village as if nothing had happened.
>HOW'S THAT?< Sentinel cackled in her electronic voice through the intercom, the Alto coming to a sudden and jarring halt as it set down at the edge of the settlement.
"You're a jerk!" I screeched angrily, scrambling out from the cockpit. The outer hull was slick with rainwater; I slipped on the way down, landing on my backside in a convenient cluster of ferns. Indignantly bundling up as best I could in my soaked dress and cloak, I stalked back towards the village, Cael's house visible amongst the trees. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.
"Sylphira!" Serafi called out, her voice penetrating through the wooden door to my room. "Mitri's waiting at the door! Are you ready to go, dear?"
"Um… just a minute, please!" I hollered back, indecisive over what to wear.
Serafi had been confused as to why I'd shown up on her front porch looking much more youthful—as well as utterly soaked to the bone. I didn't respond, grumbling all the while as I headed for the guest room. After toweling off and grabbing a bite to eat, I'd begun to prepare to head off with my new friend for the night. I now stood over the pile of clothes that the AI had originally left me, uncertain.
Mmh… I pored over the vast selection of colored textiles. I think… I really like white. I pushed aside the majority of the pile, resolute in my decision.
I ended up taking a clean and simple turtleneck, the thick fabric bleached the same color as my hair. Just a tad too large, the garment's long sleeves came down to my knuckles. A dark gray pleated skirt girded my hips, and my legs were clad with a matching pair of wonderfully soft thigh-high socks. A clean bandage was wrapped around my forearm, and a different pair of flat boots that matched my new dimensions went on my feet.
I tentatively left my room behind, heading for the entrance to Serafi's home where the two waited for me.
"Oh, dear," Serafi cooed, smiling warmly. "You look absolutely adorable!"
"Yeah! It's really cute, Sif!" Mitri chimed in. "You look totally different in that. The sweater makes you so cute and adorable, like a little kid!"
I was a little too fearful at the moment to explain my sudden metamorphosis to the eager girl. I wished I still had my hooded cloak with me, for I wanted nothing more than to hide beneath it. I settled for the turtleneck's high collar, timidly burying my face in the warm material.
"No need to be shy, dear." The older woman gave me a gentle push, ushering me out the door. "Go, have fun. I'll see you tomorrow!" She nodded kindly to Mitri. "Say hi to your mother for me."
"Will do!" The larger girl's hand locked tightly around my slender wrist. "C'mon, Sif! This way!" She dragged me out into the street, eagerly leading me through the village.
It wasn't long before we'd arrived at her home, and it was quite unlike Cael's and Serafi's. Though the design was different, it was every bit as impressive as the building where I was staying… perhaps even moreso.
Built at the roots of a massive redwood that must have been at least a hundred meters tall, the alpine lodging appeared to be mostly recessed into the plant's enormous girth. Several windows recessed into the trunk emanated warm light, and smoke billowed from a small chimney that emerged from the tree at a slanted angle. A meticulously-maintained garden brimming with delicate purple flowers and lush ferns that were arranged around scattered rocks and trees lined the pathway that led up to the home's front porch, which was one of the few parts of the lodging not hidden inside the tree. Countless blocks of firewood spilled from a shed around the side, and a number of intimidating lumber axes hung from hooks in the structure's interior.
"It's nice, right?" Mitri asked in a pleased manner, seeing my dazzled expression. "Papa's one of the best loggers in town, so we got one of the nicest houses to boot!" She released my hand, sprinting to the front door and throwing it open. "Over here slowpoke, I'll show you around! Mama's gonna be home, but papa's probably still out working."
I tentatively followed her in, gulping nervously. More people to meet…
Finding myself in a candlelit foyer, I glanced around with interest. An overwhelming amount of potted plants of all kind filled the corridor, many fed by a rigged-up system of water pipes and sprinklers that hung from the wooden ceiling. I could see even more further in; it was like an indoor jungle. The air smelled earthy; no surprise, what with all the plants.
"Mama, I'm hoooome!" Mitri called out at the top of her lungs.
"What does your mommy do, anyway…?" I asked, floored with the vast array of botany on display.
"She's an herbalist," the other girl explained, kicking off her boots. "Sometimes she helps out the village doctor, too! She's great at making medicines…" her nose wrinkled, "…even if they do taste really gross. Also, you shouldn't say 'mommy.' That's baby talk!"
"Oh…" I stared at the floor, embarrassed.
A woman rounded the corner, stepping into the entryway from the depths of the house. The first thing I noticed was her clothing. Garbed in a heavy robe with a stained apron tied around the front, as well as a plethora of gardening tools that hung from a narrow belt around her waist, she projected the image of a woman who spent all her time gardening or working outdoors. Her chestnut-brown hair was cropped short, held back with a simple hairband. Her weathered and angular face, once possessing great beauty, now held only crow's feet and deeply etched laugh lines from one who spent the majority of her life smiling. She seemed oh-so friendly; I couldn't help but like her at first glance.
The woman waved, her hands encased in thin leather gloves that were caked with soil. "Hey, kiddo. Did you bring your little fr—wait." Her forest-green eyes widened with recognition. "This is your new friend?! She's a bit smaller than I remembered…
"
A flash of recollection. Oh! She was one of the people who saw when I arrived with Sentinel… I timidly moved behind Mitri, remembering my embarrassing introduction to the woman and her fellow humans—being tossed into a pile of hay at the AI's hands.
A gloved hand snaked its way into mine, vigorously shaking it. "Pleased to meet you! My name's Evecia. Evecia Perric." She released her grip, leaving brown stains on my palm.
My nose wrinkled in silent disgust while I shook the dusting of soil from my hand. "I'm Sylphira… or, um, Sif I guess."
"Mhm," she hummed, withdrawing back into the foliage deeper in the house. "C'mon in! I'll fix you two up something, just after I finish trimming these last few shoots…" The woman's voice trailed off, the plants drawing her full attention.
Mitri led me out of the foyer, towards a stairway hewn through the tree's innards. "Mama's gonna be busy for awhile yet, I think. A lot of people have been getting sick lately and need her herbs. C'mon, I'll show you my room!"
I followed the girl up the winding steps, passing through at least two levels before reaching a small chamber. Layers of cool green fabric covered the rough wooden walls, and sunlight poured in through a wide set of windows and doors on the far side of the room. It led out to a small balcony, adorned with small potted plants and what looked like a hastily-built telescope made from scrap metal.
The room itself was scattered with plush furniture that varied from forest-green to sky-blue. A double bed sat in the middle of the chamber, pushed up against a wall. A full quarter of the room was lined with bookshelves, most of which were buried under heaps of decaying paper and ancient pieces of literature. I felt naturally drawn to them. Lots of books…
"Um, by the way, Sif…" the taller girl wrung her hands hesitantly. "Did something happen to you? I thought it was just your new top at first, but… you're a lot smaller! And your face changed, too!"
My eyes wavered, drawn away from the endless tiers of literature. "I… I…" I took a shaky breath. "M—Mitri… you know that I'm not a human like you, right…?"
"Well, duh!" she exclaimed. "You're a goddess! That's what mama and the village chief said."
I hung my head shamefully. "T—they're wrong… Sentinel told me. She said that I was a… was a machine." I shamefully spat the last word out. Scrunching up my face, I braced for the worst.
A long period of silence passed. My heart had stopped, frozen while it waited for the girl's reply.
"That's so cool!" she bubbled excitedly, grasping my hand. "Is that why all those stories talk about you being able to control the tower? And that's why you're friends with that AI person? And that's why your appearance changed, too!" Her eyes glowed. "Can you do it again? Make yourself look different? You should totally make your hair purple! Oh, or maybe green!"
"Um…" I stammered weakly, not expecting the response I got. "I… don't think… I can control it like that. It's, um… subconscious stuff."
"Awww…" The girl sighed dejectedly, leaning back. "But still, that's really awesome!"
I exhaled with relief, slumping back. "I—I was so scared that you wouldn't like me anymore…"
She patted me affectionately on the head. "Don't ever feel like that, Sif. You're my friend, okay? As long as you are, then I don't care if you're weird or anything. …Actually, can I call you 'little sister Sif?' You look like you could be now!"
I folded my arms across my chest. "Please don't…" I mumbled, cheeks burning. My eyes searched around the room, frantically looking for anything to change the topic. "Where'd you get all these books from, anyway?"
She shrugged. "Most of them are Triha's, but she doesn't have enough room to keep them at her home. Some of them are gifts from Ayden's papa. He goes off on an expedition into the tower once every year, and brings them back for me. He's really brave! Everyone else is too scared to go inside. All the rest are things that other villagers made a really long time ago, back when a lot more people lived here."
I took a half-step closer to the wall of books. "Can I look at them…? Please?"
The girl flopped down on her bed, bouncing around. "Sure, I guess. Just don't break anything, 'kay?"
"Okay! Thank you!" I eagerly hurried over to the shelves, the pleasant aroma of ink and paper swirling through the air. "Oh, um… Mitri? Where's that one with the goddess stuff you were talking about?"
Mitri's nose wrinkled. "Um… I think it's at the top left of the next shelf over? It's been a really long time since I looked at it. It's got a green cover, if that helps."
The last term was surprisingly descriptive; most of the 'books' barely even qualified as such, most being nothing more than bundles of loose and mismatched papers bound together. Those with covers were leather-bound in faded gray and brown hues. Color was few and far between, and thanks to that it wasn't long before I had the book in my hands—after pleading for the taller girl to get it for me, as I was now too short to reach the uppermost shelf. My recent age regression had taken a significant amount of my height with it.
I ran my fingertips across the cover, feeling the runes etched into it. Mmmh… Remnants of the Old World : Origins… Cool! …Even though it looks like this cover comes from another book.
The leather binding creaked as the book split open, a small puff of dust rising from the yellowed pages. It wasn't exactly a proper book per say; the pages appeared to have come from many different sources, and many were even written by hand. A number of complicated diagrams and more than a few interesting photos filled the sheets of aging parchment.
I peered at a nondescript passage on a random page.
…ideal for the intersection of the time axis as well as the individual consciousness field. This convergence exists in the 50-20000 Hz range—the FFT Spectrum. From this, it can be determined that…
A frown crossed my face. "This… isn't really a storybook like you said…"
"It's got plenty of stories!" Mitri piped up. "You just have to find them, that's all!" She rose from her bed. "Here, I'll show you something. It's right near the start if the book."
The girl snatched the book from my hands, flipping back a few dozen pages before handing it back. "Here. This is the picture I was talking about."
I peered closely at the page… and gasped.
Three figures stared at me from a large illustration on the faded parchment, each one with a face that was absent of joy. All three were clad in various forms of armor and sleek, futuristic clothing, and seemed to carry themselves with an air of austerity and resolve. And just like the older girl had said, each one sported a pair of ghostly wings.
The Origins of Ar Ciel
The de-facto mothers of the Reyvateil race, created by the great Sol Ciel alliance. Seen from left to right; Reyvateil-Origin Shurelia (the first, born in 3031, administrator of Ar Tonelico Tower), Reyvateil-Origin Frelia (the second, born in 3032, administrator of Metafalss Tower), Reyvateil-Origin Tyria (the third, born in 3033, future administrator of Harvestasha Tower).
In-depth descriptions and declassified specifications of each individual construct can be seen in article 4 on page 17.
My brow furrowed. Wait. It says that this 'Shurelia' is the first. But… but Sentinel said that I was born in 3030, which would make me the first! Where am I in this, then…? Is this thing wrong, or was Sentinel just messing with me?
I sighed, resting the book on the shelf. …Honestly, I wouldn't put it past her.
"It's neat, right? See what I mean, though? You don't look anything like them! And you're not even in there! That's why I thought mama was just joking around when she told me."
"…Uh huh." I carefully hoisted the bundle of pages once more. "Um, Mitri… can I keep looking at this? Please?"
"Mhm! Go right ahead!" The girl pushed up against the heap of pillows piled at the headboard. "Can you grab me something too? It's on the… bottom middle shelf, I think. It's got a yellow cover with a diamond pattern."
I dutifully retrieved the piece of literature, pressing it into her hands before dropping onto the covers at her side. Mitri smiled kindly, cracking the well-worn binding open to a page indicated with a small bookmark.
We lay like that for a time, reading together, the silence infrequently broken with inane chatter between us. I would ask questions about certain passages, and she would respond as best she could. On her side, she would occasionally share a piece of what she was reading, eliciting gasps of surprise or breaths of laughter on my part. From what I was able to piece together, Mitri was reading a novel that was based around the comedic adventures of a cowardly knight and his courageous slavegirl companion.
Between those moments, I sought vainly for keywords in the slapped-together encyclopedia on Origins—any mention at all of Sylphira, Asciydria Tower, or Sol Cluster. Unfortunately such cases were few and far between, only referencing Sol Cluster as 'the entity we fought in the war.'
Though at long last, I finally found a small paragraph—a footnote at the end of a fragmented chapter that described each Origin in detail.
While it's true that each amplification tower—relay or host server—hosts an Origin as its Tower Administrator, there is one sole exception. That exception is, of course, Asciydria Tower, well-known for its pivotal point in the years leading up to the end of the war and Seven Bloodstains. While the Sol Cluster military did have a highly-classified program that chased our progress in the development of humanlike artificial intelligence, no living Reyvateil-Origin prototypes were ever successfully produced. The program was eventually forcefully terminated in 3034, and its executive staff were sentenced to death or life in prison for their espionage and war crimes.
I hesitantly traced a slender finger across the lettering. Terminated…
Also, I've never heard this term before. "Hey, Mitri… do you know what Seven Bloodstains is?"
She shrugged, mystified. "Never heard of it."
"Awww…"
"Hey, kids!" a voice called up from the stairwell. "Dinner's ready! C'mon down!"
"Yay!" Mitri shot bolt upright, looking oddly suspicious. Her hands were held behind her back, concealing… something. "Before we go down, Sif… I've got a present for you."
"A—a present?"
"Mhm!" With an exaggerated flourish, the older girl drew out a large plush teddy bear. Stepping forward, she slipped the stuffed animal into my confused arms. Its soft and brown fur tickled my chin.
I gave the teddy an odd stare, my lips parted slightly. Candlelight glinted off its coal-black button eyes, a tiny smile stitched onto its furry face. The large toy had clearly seen lots of use and love, small lines of stitches and even a couple patches of beige fabric spaced across its chubby body.
Cute…
Then I shook my head quickly, jostling the teddy in my arms. "But… is this really for me…? I can't take it! It's yours, and I don't have anything to give back…"
Mitri softly patted me on the head, pushing several strands of snow-white hair into my eyes. "It's just a present, Sif. Every little kid needs a teddy, no matter who or what they are! And it's okay. Cuddles—that's his name—is only one of my toys… and I kinda outgrew him a long time ago."
"Oh…" I squeezed the plush animal experimentally, then redoubled my grip. I hugged it tightly, pressing my face into the top of its fuzzy head. "I—I love him, Mitri! He's so cute, thank you so much…!"
She patted me on the head again. "You're welcome… little sister Sif."
"…Please don't…" I mumbled, my voice muffled behind the bear's fuzzy ears.
Mitri laughed joyfully, grasping my wrist. "Anyway, let's go! It's dinnertime!"
The taller girl hastily dragged me through the motions, leaving my head spinning. But soon enough I was seated at a squat dinner table, flanked on both sides by exotic potted plants, with a well-used wooden plate laid out in front of me. Cuddles, my new teddy bear, sat on the floor beside my chair. Mitri sat at my side, eagerly tapping away at a table leg with her foot. "I can't wait! I wonder what we're having…"
"I come bearing answers!" The girl's mother entered the scene, setting down an enormous steaming pot. "Oh, and food too, I suppose." She slapped Mitri's eager hand away. "Now, now, kiddo. You know the rules—guests first!"
She grumbled, nursing the back of her hand while Evecia scooped a large helping of brown goop onto my plate. Despite the food's unappealing appearance, it smelled delicious. I timidly slipped a spoonful into my mouth and found myself pleasantly surprised. Mmmh… it's really tasty!
"Aww…" Mitri groaned as if she'd been personally insulted. "We're having pork and beans again?"
Evecia frowned, seating herself. "I could've sworn that pork was one of your favorites."
"Yeah, but not when we have it three days in a row!"
She rolled her eyes. "Your father's apparently had a long day again, and this has always been his favorite. I thought that it'd be a nice gesture is all."
Mitri's eyes lit up. "Is papa coming home soon, then?"
"That's right. Webb stopped by about ten minutes ago to let me know." The older woman brought her gaze to bear on me. "What do you think, sweetie? Do you like it?"
"It's really good!" I bubbled, having already cleared the plate.
She smiled kindly, reaching for the ladle. "Well, have as much as you like. I can always whip up a second batch if we run out."
"Thank you!"
It wasn't long before the front door slammed, just as I'd started on my third helping. Mitri, who had been sorrowfully dragging her spoon back and forth, leapt up from the table and shot into the foyer in the blink of an eye. "Papa! Papa, you're home!"
"Hey there, Mitri," a gravelly voice rumbled, the unknown figure kicking off his boots. "How was your day? Did you get everything done like I asked?"
She shuffled her feet nervously. "Um… kinda… Listen, I brought someone home!"
The man—whom I assumed was her father—sighed with exasperation. "…I see."
And so it was in short order that I was introduced to Mitri's father, a giant of a man whose head almost brushed the ceiling of his home. Though his large stature had greatly intimidated me at first, his easygoing manner and sense of humor quickly won me over. I warmed up to him further at the dinner table, the meal having quickly been replaced with a board game that had the four of us crying out with glee in one moment, and angrily swearing vengeance to the other in the next. Several minutes of cleanup later, Mitri and I were ushered off to bed.
Mitri's father had ruffled my hair before I turned in. "You're a good kid, Sif—not really what I was expecting, but a good kid. And thanks for playing with Mitri. She and Ayden have always been together, but… well, let's just say that he's not exactly the best influence on her." His eyes had darkened then, and I could picture his hands tightening around a blunt object of some kind… or perhaps the boy's neck.
"Thank you, sir!" I said shyly, blushing at the praise.
The man laughed heartily, placing a hand on my shoulder in a surprisingly gentle way. "Sif, please call me Chrisphar… or just Chris. I'm not nearly old enough yet to be called 'sir.'" He gave a friendly wink, ushering me to bed.
And then, it was time to sleep. The two of us clambered in on opposite sides, digging under the blankets. Chrisphar extinguished the candle lights with a puff, giving Mitri a kiss on the brow and myself another pat on the head before stepping out of the room.
I shifted under the covers, wrapping my arms tightly around my teddy bear. "Um… Mitri?"
"Mmh?" Her voice emanated from the darkness.
I tapped my fingers together nervously. "Thank you… for being nice to me…"
She sidled up to me, giving a light squeeze. "Goodnight, Sif."
"Goodnight, Mitri…"
KEYWORD // TERMINATED
FILE(S) DETECTED!
TRANSFERRING…
TRANSFERRING…
COMPLETE.
…
AUDIO_PLAYBACK // 17/04/3034_21:59:41
LOCATION_INFO // APEX_ASCIYDRIA.map
…
Back in my memories from the past. Bubbling liquid filled my ears… audio sensors… however exactly I was hearing this. Panicked footsteps and frantic whispers filled the space beyond the confines of my sleep pod.
"They're coming up!" a panicked man announced. "They've already breached the outer dividing wall of Section A! Sir, what do we do?!"
"Stay focused!" a voice that conveyed authority barked. "The general said that an evac craft was inbound from the secondary site. So just stay cool, make sure all the data is scrubbed, and then we'll be out of here before they make it up here."
The second man was silent for a moment. "…But just in case," he added, "make sure that everyone's prepared for a worst-case scenario."
"I hear that." The loud click of well-oiled metal sounded from the first man's position. It was the sound of a pistol's cocking mechanism. A multitude of identical sounds followed it from all around the Apex.
Something heavy and metallic tapped on the exterior of my pod. "What about the prototype, anyway?" a third voice questioned. "Should we terminate it?"
The second man released a shaky breath. "I'd hoped to avoid this… but she cannot fall into Sol Ciel's hands. You're right."
"After all these years, all these resources…" someone just outside murmured. "It's a shame that it's going to all go to waste. How much did this thing cost to produce, anyway?"
"...That's classified. Just get over here and do it before I do something I'll regret."
Another voice expelled a harsh laugh. "Seriously? You're gonna ask Layne to do it? Has he even fired a weapon before?"
"…Once or twice," Layne sheepishly admitted.
The second voice sighed with immense regret. "…Fine. I'll do it. She's my creation, anyway. I suppose it's only right if I'm the one to send her out from this world. Layne, come take over my terminal. Make sure that all the data and schematics get wiped."
"Right." The two men exchanged positions.
The second man—whom I realized to be my creator, the closest thing I had to a father—pressed his pistol against the glass, the dull sound echoing through the dense liquid. "I'm sorry, Sylphira. I'm so sorry…"
The sound of hissing sparks and muffled voices interrupted his action.
WARNING! UNAUTHORIZED PERSON(S) DETECTED ON APEX_ASCIYDRIA.map. SENTINEL_aiCORE SUCCESSFULLY ALERTED. ERROR. NO RESPONSE.
"Shit!" Layne exclaimed. "They're already outside the hatch! It must be an infiltration team!"
My creator drew back. "I… We knew it could happen. There's nothing for it; destroy the terminals as quickly as you can." He paused. "It's been an honor working with you, gentlemen."
"You can surrender if you like. I'm not going down without a fight," the first voice growled. "Not after what these Sol Ciel bastards did to Syestine. My brother's family lived there!"
"You're going to get us killed," my creator said plaintively.
"We're already dead anyway!" the first man shot back. "Do you seriously think that they'll let us live after what we did to create this little pet project? Those guys over at Project REYVATEIL are probably getting off on the thought of all of us strung up for stealing their data. Doubly so when they learn that we beat them to the punch and finished one before they did."
"This isn't an argument. Drop the gun," he snarled.
"Byrne, what the fuck are you doing?!" Layne exclaimed, aghast. "Don't do it!"
A single gunshot rang out, a deafening bang that made the liquid around me tremble. A heavy weight splashed against the surface of my pod, the unknown entity releasing several dying gasps before falling silent forever more.
FATALITY DETECTED. IDENTIFIED // DEVIN HADREN, CLEARANCE LEVEL ALPHA.
"Holy shit, Bryne… you shot him!"
A sudden explosion accompanied by a screech of twisted metal filled the Apex.
"ELEMIA SPEC OPS!" a new voice boomed, muffled behind a thick face shield. "DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND STEP AWAY FROM THE CONSOLES!"
"…Can we blink?" Layne queried nervously, his pistol clunking as it hit the floor.
"YOU IN THE GLASSES," the soldier thundered. "DROP THE GUN. NOW!"
"I'll… I'll make you bastards pay!" Byrne snarled.
More gunshots rang out. Byrne gasped as a dozen bullets drilled into his body, dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes. All fell silent.
FATALITY DETECTED. IDENTIFIED // BRYNE ALBY, CLEARANCE LEVEL BETA.
"Bagged one," another soldier laughed. "No wounded on our side, sir."
The owner of the loud voice sighed. "Roger that. Reporting one—no, two fatalities to HQ. Units One through Eight, handcuff the rest and get them out of here. Units Nine through Sixteen, secure the terminals and incubators. Check them for explosives first."
"Yes, sir," the men and women chorused, quickly fanning out across the Apex. Many curse words came from the scientists and researchers as they were bound and hustled from the place where they had once worked.
Footsteps drew up to my own sleeping space. The unknown figure peeled the corpse of my creator off, likely to get a better view. "What… the… hell…" he breathed, revulsion in his voice. "Unit Nine!"
"Sir, what is it?" a woman jogged over, her body armor rattling about.
"Take a look in there." He moved off to one side.
"Ugh!" she exclaimed, disgusted. "They actually built one? Successfully?"
"I don't think so," the man pointed out. "Take a look at the biometrics. This thing has no brain activity. It's not alive."
The woman sighed with relief. "Good. It's horrifying to think about what nasty surprises Sol Cluster might stick into a living machine like this. I can't even imagine…"
"Indeed. Now," he murmured, "the question is… what are we supposed to do about it? There was nothing remotely involving this in the briefing. The possibility wasn't even considered."
"Should we terminate it, sir?" she asked eagerly. "I can slap a charge onto the pod and blow this thing back to hell."
"No," he exclaimed vehemently. "This thing—as monstrous as it may be—is worth far more than what everyone in our unit would make in our lifetimes combined. The top brass would have our heads if we just destroyed it."
The woman was hesitant. "So… what should we do, sir?"
"…We might be able to use it."
All sound faded away, leaving the void of unconsciousness free to swallow me up once more.
…
I awoke gasping for air, every muscle in my body on fire. My stomach felt like it had been turned inside out, dumping acid into my veins.
"No…" I croaked weakly, feeling the rising bile. "Not… not again…!"
I leapt out of Mitri's bed, blinded by the darkness for a moment. Breaking into a hobble, I made my way towards the bathroom, vainly struggling to keep my dinner held back. I failed on the way down the stairs, scraping my knees as I landed in the fetal position in a puddle of fresh vomit. Tears quickly followed, and soon enough I was weeping freely, shivering. Why… why does this keep...
"Sif? Is that you?" A voice whispered from the shadows that clung to the base of the stairwell. It was Evecia, my friend's mother. "Are you okay?"
I lacked the energy to even reply, remaining motionless on the lacquered wooden floor.
Footsteps quickly approached, the woman's ghostly nightgown emerging from the darkness accompanied by the dim light of a candle. "Oh, sweetie…" she soothed, kneeling down. "C'mon, I'll get you to the bathroom."
"I'm so sorry…" I sobbed. My vision still swam. "I couldn't make it…"
"It's okay." She easily lifted my small frame in her arms. "I had to mop up soon anyway. It's been getting filthy in here!"
The older woman carried me through the winding passages of the tree home, finally reaching a small chamber—the bathroom. A large bowl recessed in the floor across the room beckoned, and I stumbled over to it, promptly dry-heaving into the basin. Evecia's hand sympathetically lowered onto my back, rubbing it gently. "There, there. Just get it all out of your system."
After a few more heaving gasps, my stomach calmed down. The darkening veil that had been descending over my vision fled in an instant. I let out an involuntary gasp of relief, falling slack into Evecia's waiting arms.
She propped me up against the wall. "Sweetie, I'm gonna head down to the kitchen and get you a small cup of ginger ale. Do you think you can hang on for a few minutes while I crack open the cask?"
"I woke everyone up… I'm sorry…"
Evecia patted my head affectionately. "You didn't wake up anyone. I was tending to the nocturnal plants, and Mitri inherited Chris's 'heavy sleeper' tendencies. I'd bet anything that the two of them didn't even stir."
"Okay…" I sniffed. "I'll hang on… thank you…"
It only felt like moments had gone by when the older woman returned with a mug in one hand and a woolen blanket in the other. She gently pushed the drink into my waiting hands, accompanied by a warm smile. "How're you feeling?"
I wiped a couple tears from my eyes, peering into the depths of the cup. "I feel… better."
"That's good." Evecia lowered onto the floor at my side, sharing the blanket while I sipped at the drink. It was cool and soothing, with a hint of fizz. I could feel heat returning to my extremities, the shaking quelled.
"Have you been having these before, sweetie? These… 'fits?'" the woman questioned. "I've been a herbalist for many years, and I've seen more ailments than most. I can spot the flu, food poisoning, and a whole list of other illnesses, but I've never seen anyone get sick like that and just go numb… limp..."
"Since I woke up on top of the tower…"
"I see." She squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "I can't claim to know what it might be. While I've treated my fair share of maladies, I'm not the village's best healer… and I doubt that he'd know what was wrong, either. Your… kind… hasn't been seen for centuries, after all. It might be best to ask your AI friend."
"She's not my friend," I grumbled, taking another sip.
"Maybe not, sweetie. But you're gonna have to deal with her at some point, right?" the woman countered, sidling up until the side of my head was pressed against her bosom. "Just know that the people of Mist's Reach are on your side. And whatever happens, you'll always have a place to come home to."
"Thank… you…" That means a lot more to me than she thinks.
"You're welcome." With the sound of shifting fabric, she stood up, extending her surprisingly smooth palm towards me. "Ready to go back to bed? Don't forget to change into a clean nightgown first. I'll help you wash it tomorrow."
I nodded shyly, slipping my smaller hand into hers. "Okay…" I know she's only someone I've just met… and I'm only a stranger to her, but… she's so very nice to me. And sure, she's definitely not my mommy. I don't know her very well. It'd be crazy to think of her like that after only a day, right…?
But… but maybe someday, I can.
And so, life for the next few days went on peacefully. Sentinel remained distant, leaving me to my own devices without any interruptions. Perhaps it was her willingly paying penance for her nasty prank… or more likely, she simply had no need of me yet. Either way was fine with me.
I stayed with Mitri and her family, seldom leaving their company save for the nights I spent at Cael's home. Cuddles, the teddy bear that Mitri had given me, kept me company during my nights alone in the tiny guest room. It made me feel at ease, as if a small part of her family was always with me.
I felt like I had a place to call my own here, a place where my alleged 'deity' status didn't matter. I wasn't a figure of worship, I was just a normal kid. And… it made me happy. Indeed, even the frequency of my attacks seemed to lessen, the periods between growing longer and longer. It felt like they were finally leaving me be, stability beginning to flourish in my mindscape at last.
I no longer wanted to leave. With my new friends in Mist's Reach, I could live quietly, contently, and in peace. And in short order, Sentinel's vague warning of the world's end had slipped from my thoughts like grains of sand between my fingers.
But, like all good things, the peace wouldn't last.
>WAKEY WAKEY, ADMINISTRATOR!< a voice screamed into my ear.
With a shriek of surprise, I shot bolt upright in bed at a speed normally reserved for things like stellar phenomena and bolts of lightning. In milliseconds, my mind had sharpened to full wakefulness. I shook the sleep dust from my eyes while frantically searching for the source of the outburst.
Sentinel's small form hovered above me, a playful grin locked on her pudgy face. She clutched an oversized megaphone, the shimmering holographic device aimed straight at my head. A tiny arachnid tower guardian clung to the bedpost, the source of the AI's projected form.
I gave the AI a dirty look, huffing with annoyance. Extending my arm upwards, I reached for the tiny machine. My index finger slid in front of the tiny lens of the drone's projector system, cutting off her hologram.
>I WILL NOT BE SILEEEENCED!< Sentinel screeched defiantly as she flickered and faded into oblivion. The tower guardian scurried away, slipping out under the door.
I slipped from the covers, grumbling. What does she want now? It's been days…
A loud yawn escaped my lips. I'd had another attack during the night, robbing me of much of my sleep. Even though the attacks were lessening, it still hadn't been much fun. Giving my teddy bear one great big wake-up hug, I slipped out of bed. Padding barefoot across the dimly-lit guest room, I retrieved a set of clothes; my old white summer dress paired with simple sandals. Now dressed and ready to go, I crept from the chief's house and off into the village.
I bet she wants to meet up at the same place.
It was still early; the sun hadn't even risen yet, the sky only just beginning to brighten. Only a few villagers were up and about, most of them lumberjacks or hunters off to earn their keep. I smiled as I walked, enjoying the cool air that kissed my bare shoulders.
Suddenly, searing pain—razor-sharp, white-hot steel in my leg. I fell down onto one knee with a cry of agony and shock at the sudden sensation. It felt like I had been stabbed.
I rubbed at the affected site with silent confusion. There was no visible trauma, no tenderness or solid mass. The pain didn't even seem to have a real source, aside from existing somewhere inside my leg.
I hope it's not because I pulled a muscle or something… Getting to my feet, I continued along as best I could—now walking with a slight limp. The pain still persisted, though the intensity had dulled somewhat… but it was now accompanied by the faint prickling sensation of pins and needles.
>SENTINEL?< I groused, >WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?< Thanks to the rude awakening and the pain that now plagued me, I'd been put in a foul mood… and I wasn't ready to forgive the AI for the nasty little prank she'd pulled on me in the Alto.
>Finally,< she huffed in response. >I've been nice and let you have your fun with your little friends for the past few days. Now we seriously need to get to work.< The distant rumble of engines—the hallmark of an incoming aircraft—accompanied her words.
>WHY SHOULD I?<
>…Because otherwise we'll all die? Isn't it obvious?< she responded blankly.
I remained silent, reaching the edge of the gorge that ran through the center of the village. The sky had begun to light up with streaks of dusty gold and fiery orange, the sun slowly rising—though it would be hours before its life-giving rays would kiss Mist's Reach, the village hidden behind the tower's enormous bulk.
>…Wait. You're limping. Are you… are you in pain?< she queried in a worried tone.
I rubbed at the affected site, reminded of it. >SO WHat if I am?<
In an instant, a small tower guardian was at my side, having dropped from the clouds above. The AI's holographic body leapt out, grabbing at my arm with complete disregard for personal boundaries. "Where? Where does it hurt? What does it feel like?!"
"Leg… I think," I snapped, shaking her off. "Just feels like pins and needles now… so what?" Sentinel's panicked state was a little worrisome; I'd never seen her like this before.
Her gray eyes locked onto mine. "That's a symptom… of phantom limb pain. That means two things simultaneously. One… it means that your tower connection is finally starting to manifest."
She wore a grave expression. "Two… it means that something is very, very wrong with the tower."
I gaped up at the monolithic shape before me, too stunned to clamber out of the cockpit even though the hatch had already opened and the ladder had extended. "What is this place…? Why are we here?"
Almost as tall as the mountain that lay behind it, an enormous metallic structure rose out of the coniferous forest, its pinnacle hidden in the wispy clouds overhead. It was narrow, thin, and extraordinarily tall—almost three kilometers in height. It was as if a giant warrior had come to rest here, planting his sword in the ground before departing. Constructed with equal portions of bleached white plating and jet-black hardened steel, the construct was marred with vicious burn marks and craters. Large fragments of debris lay strewn across the woods, a forest of twisted metal even rising from the shallows of a nearby mountain lake. It was evident that whatever had happened here was sudden, violent, and messy, spreading wreckage across the island.
The AI's hologram drifted to my side, demurely planting herself on my shoulder. She peered off to one side, gaze drawn by a huge block of pockmarked steel that lay on the far side of the clearing; the forest was littered with the remains of the immense structure. "It's a mass grave," she said sorrowfully, a solemn look in her gray eyes. "This place—the wreckage of Sphilar Prism—was where thousands of souls were stored at one time… right up until it exploded and plunged all the way down here, ending the lives of all who lived within it. And we're here so I can pick it apart and examine it for clues."
Driving her point home, the air was suddenly filled with a low hum. Turning my face to the skies, I was stunned to see thin black clouds rapidly moving in—an immense swarm of tower guardians, bearing down on the wrecked construct. There must have been thousands of them.
"Whoa…" I shook my head, getting back on track. "Wait, so people lived in it?" I thought for a moment, my brow furrowing. "It had a city inside?"
Sentinel shook her head, laughing without a hint of humor. "Nothing like that… Sphilar Prism was a tower component known as an SH server—a complex computing and processing system, once hosting thousands of artificial minds at once."
"Artificial minds? Like you?" I questioned, clambering down to the mossy ground.
"No," she uttered forebodingly. "Like you."
"What?! But I'm not…" I denied it frantically, feeling the blood rush to my face. "I'm not a robot! I can't be! I eat, I sleep, I breathe, and I bleed!"
"To be fair, it's worth noting that you don't actually need to eat or sleep," the AI replied, blinking slowly. "Up 'till now, you've just been doing it out of simple reflex. Funny thing, right?"
"But… but…" I stumbled, feeling weak in the knees.
"I know that might sound crazy," she added, "but you are in fact a robot—or rather, in your case the term 'gynoid' would be more specific. Granted, you're a really well-made machine—resembling a human almost down to the cellular level, cybernetic parts notwithstanding—but a machine nonetheless.""
"No, no…" I fell to my hands and knees, gasping. "No way…"
Suddenly, flashes of memory. Snippets of conversation, fragments from the distant past. All collecting in this moment to show me what I'd actually known all along, buried beneath layers of confusion and denial.
…SYLPHIRA_ANSUL_ASCIYDRIA FUNCTIONALITY AT 81%…
…abusing your eidetic memory and faster thought processing to mess with the…
…Isn't it natural that you'd have a permanent communications channel opened with the tower guardian controller?…
I swallowed hard, understanding at last. …She's right.
My palms slipped on the damp moss, leaving me lying facedown on the forest floor. I wrapped a hand tightly around the socket on my forearm, curling up into the fetal position. "I… it feels like I can't breathe…"
"I know," she said reassuringly, patting me on the wrist. "It'll be okay. That's why we're here, so you can learn what you really are, with no more secrets or unknowns. And eventually, you'll have the strength and knowledge to save the tower from its coming ruin."
She tapped her lip, thinking. "Now… how do I start this off?"
I remained silent, listlessly staring down at the port on my arm.
"Ah! I got it." The AI snapped her fingers. "You see, administrator, a long time ago—in the old world of Ar Ciel—there were two human alliances known as Sol Ciel and Sol Cluster, each separated from the other by a vast ocean. There are more regions and alliances than those two, and each one was made up of its own smaller nations, but those two big ones are the most relevant for our purposes."
Sentinel's pudgy face hardened. "Asciydria Tower stands in southeast Sol Cluster, in a region that was once called the Aria Peninsula. Both you and I were created here too. National pride aside though, I can't condone the actions of our government—because humans are humans, and humans are literally the worst."
For one moment, I cast aside my own self-doubt and grief. That's not true! I've seen it…
I thought of Mitri, of Ayden, of Triha, of Cael and Serafi too. All of the villagers whom I'd only just met, yet had shown me—a complete stranger—extraordinary kindness and goodwill. I couldn't see the villagers of Mist's Reach as anything other than warm and kindhearted. I knew in my heart that Sentinel was wrong.
"So yeah, of course we were at war with Sol Ciel. Now, you might be wondering how this relates to you," she said with a raised eyebrow. "The thing is, it wasn't exactly a normal war… at least, not at the start. It started as a simple cold war that went on for centuries and reached a breaking point."
"Cold war…?"
"The most cynical humans would have called it a dick-measuring contest," the AI quipped. "It was a centuries-long state of political tension between Sol Ciel and Sol Cluster, known as the Thousand-Year War, brought to a head by the construction of the first of the amplification towers. It spawned an arms race and an outbreak of espionage and subterfuge and general deviousness—all to decide which nation would dominate the globe for the next few years until another competitor inevitably rose up. You, me, and Asciydria Tower were among the results from said arms race though, so I guess it wasn't all bad!"
"So," I gathered, "Asciydria was the first tower? You said there were… um, three, right?"
The AI grinned, shaking her head. "If you'd said that in Sol Ciel seven hundred years ago, you'd have been stabbed by a disgruntled passerby pretty damn fast. No, we were the second tower to pop up. The first—and largest—was a Sol Ciel installation known as Ar Tonelico. And there's actually four towers, not three… but one of them's technically not an amplifica—y'know what, I'm getting off topic." She grimaced, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You want to know exactly what you are?"
I nodded hesitantly.
"You're an artificial lifeform called a Reyvateil—a Reyvateil Origin. Your race was created by humanity hundreds of years ago during some of their forays into AI development, for the express purpose of wielding song magic through H-waves in unfathomably powerful ways—ways that your human creators would never be able to match. You're one of the first of your kind, actually! You're also the only Origin to be created by the Sol Cluster alliance, so hey, claim to fame there.
"Your body itself—though resembling that of a human—is made up of a malleable nanotech-based fluid compound shaped into a physical form, studded with cybernetic parts here and there. Also, your soul isn't even located inside your body. It's stored—" the AI pointed to the north, where the monolithic bulk of Asciydria Tower lay, "—inside that. Within an SH server, just like Sphilar Prism. You actually have your own personal one near the top of the spire because of your prestigious status as Tower Administrator. Lucky you."
Sentinel raised an eyebrow. "You want to know why everyone—including me—calls you an administrator, though? It's because that's your reason for being. You were built, not born, and it was for the purpose of being fused with the tower—to maintain it, control it, and use it in a way that no other being on Ar Ciel can. In fact, your tower connection is so powerful that the structure itself could be considered an extension of your body. Effectively, you are Asciydria Tower."
I remained silent, utterly overwhelmed by the reality-crushing spiel. If what Sentinel had said was true, then this body… this wasn't even really me. I was merely software, stored in the tower's systems, only able to interact with the world via manipulating a robotic proxy.
The AI patted my wrist affectionately. "Now, I know that's a lot to take in, and there's a lot more to it than that. But you're a newborn—body and soul—and because of that, I understand that you won't be able to do everything right away. Not to mention, I completely lack the ability to even comprehend what it feels like to literally be the tower, so some of this stuff you'll only be able to learn on your own. But… I have faith that you can, given time."
Hundreds of years… immortality… newborn? "Sentinel… how old am I…?"
She shrugged, releasing her grip on my arm and setting down on the wide-brimmed leaf of a nearby fern. "I dunno, what do you think counts as your true age? If you mean mental, then you're only a couple days old—fragmented memories notwithstanding. If you mean physical, then you're—" she closed her eyes, her face scrunching up in concentration, "—740 years old, your physical body's construction having been completed in the year 3030. You're actually coming up on your 741st anniversary, interestingly enough, so happy almost-birthday!"
"No way…" I breathed, staring wide-eyed off into space.
"Though I should add an addendum to that immortality statement," The AI quickly added. "Though it's true that old age will never claim you and you'll regenerate from wounds quickly, you can still die in a multitude of fun and interesting ways. If your head experienced catastrophic trauma—due to the presence of your triangular nuclear loop, your body's power source—or if you got disconnected from your SH server—which would be like having your soul ripped from you, so don't try that at home—to name a few examples. And your immortality only lasts as long as the tower does, too! If Asciydria were to collapse, you would die instantly."
It… can't be true… "I… I don't believe it. If I'm really that old, why do I look and feel like a little kid?! I look just like the other kids in Mist's Reach!"
"That's easy," Sentinel replied with an eyeroll. "Remember what I said about your body being made up of a malleable fluid compound? Keyword there being 'malleable.' It can change its state when being acted upon by specific wave types and frequencies. That's because of a component in your body known as an SD-cellophane. It dictates your mental and physical growth, ensuring that your psyche and body always match. It does so by comparing your mental self-image to that of your body's specifications. If there's an anomaly then your body will change, increasing or regressing in age to accommodate your mental state.
"In fact…" the AI turned her head to one side, drawing up a small holographic reflective display, "…I want you to take a look in this mirror now. You can see the effects in action yourself."
"Um…?" I leaned into the mirror, blinking slowly. I wasn't sure what I was expected to find. Squinting, I peered into the small display.
I gasped, eyes widening. What?!
I had changed. My face had become even softer and pudgier, cheeks now puffing out slightly as if I were holding my breath. My eyes seemed to have enlarged somewhat—or perhaps it was because everything else on my face had shrank. For the first time today I examined my hands, noting with wonder that the slender digits had grown stubbier, fatter. There was no doubt in my mind that I no longer appeared to be twelve years old—not even close.
"See?" the AI said plaintively. "You look like you're only about… eight or nine human years old now, perhaps even less. Your body has regressed in age to match your psyche, probably because you were interacting with those children. I knew that spending time with the humans was a bad idea…"
I flexed my fingers, utterly shellshocked. I couldn't believe it. "This can't be real…"
"I can assure you that it is," Sentinel replied. "Your physical state is fluid and dynamic, subject to changing under the proper conditions. Keep in mind; while you can regress in age, you can also go in the other direction too."
My head snapped up. "Wait… I can grow older… just by imagining myself as someone older?"
She shook her head. "It's not that simple. You'll only change if you can truly see yourself as having matured. It's not enough to have an impulse; you have to believe it, through and through. That's not something you can fake.
"Well," the AI shrugged, "that's what you are." She watched me carefully. "What do you think?"
"I… I need a moment…" I stammered, weakly clambering to my feet. I had been blasted with revelation after revelation, shattering what I thought I'd known until there was nothing left.
Sentinel nodded, rising up off her leafy seat. "I understand, administrator. I'll remain here; I still have to finish checking out this derelict, and I need this Alto's advanced sensor package for it. I've only got a couple of these things on hand, after all. The rest got trapped in Section B when the prome wall reactiva—" She fell silent, perhaps realizing that I wasn't focusing my attention on her anymore. "Anyway, just let me know when you get back."
"Okay…" I wandered off into the forest alone, plenty weighing on my mind.
I stared unhappily into the depths of the bubbling forest stream, sunlight glittering off its glassy surface. My reflection stared back—snow-white hair in disarray and strewn with leaves, alabaster skin pitted with scrapes from encroaching branches, and startlingly-blue eyes that had lost much of their vibrant light.
I pinched a cheek, rolling the soft flesh between my slender fingers. Machine…
It was difficult… no, impossible to believe that it was artificial, designed and assembled in some long-forgotten lab. But what Sentinel had said all fit, and it matched up with what little I'd managed to learn on my own. I was forced to face the harsh reality. A hollow pit in my gut made its presence abundantly clear.
I swatted at the mirror-like surface, averting my eyes.
Does it really even make a difference? a more rational part of my mind challenged. You're still you. Nothing's changed; all you've done is learn something new. Is that really such a bad thing?
I hung my head, listening to the sound of the birds amongst the trees. I… I dunno… What about my new friends? Won't they be scared and hate me…?
Probably not, my other side was quick to point out. They already know you're not exactly an average girl. Heck, look at your reflection! You don't even look normal, and they were still just as kind and willing to play with you! You'll be fine. They'll understand.
You're… you're right. I'm right. I exhaled with relief, drawing back from the water's edge. It's hard to accept, and I'm not okay with it just yet… but I think I can learn to live with this.
Revitalized, I made the short trek back through the woods, taking far greater care to avoid hurting myself this time. Upon wandering into the clearing where I'd previously left the small AI, I marveled at how the scrapes across my arms and face had already faded away. It was a little disconcerting with how quickly it happened.
I peered around quizzically. Sentinel was gone, as was the aircraft that had carried me here. The glade was empty.
"Um… Sentinel?" I called out, my soft voice projecting out into the trees. Only silence answered my query.
Hmm… My brow furrowed. >SENTINEL? ARE YOU THERE?<
>Oh!< The familiar silhouette of the Alto descended from on high, arriving in under a minute. As the airborne vehicle touched down, a startled Sentinel reappeared, smoothing out her navy blue robe with tiny hands. "Administrator, you're back. Have you thought about your… uh, thing? How do you feel?"
"I've decided," I declared hesitantly, approaching the aircraft, "that while it kinda freaks me out… I can get used to it. At least, I hope so…"
She smiled kindly, holographic face lighting up with warmth. "Glad to hear it." Her visage soured moments later. "I've finished scanning the wreckage… again… and just like I thought, there isn't any relevant data. Looks like we're still in the dark."
"About what's wrong with me…?"
"That's right," Sentinel said grimly, nodding. "I suspect that it's a kind of connection issue, but the real issue with that is that it could be anything. Perhaps your SH server is damaged—which is highly possible, considering Sphilar Prism used to orbit the tower at that altitude until it exploded. Maybe it's your body's power source—the triangular nuclear loop. Maybe it's your shoddy and rushed construction that resulted in a damaged mental state… or maybe it's your soul itself." She shrugged helplessly. "I… I don't know."
Shoddy and rushed construction… "Isn't there anything you can do?" I pleaded, desperate.
The Alto's canopy popped open with a muted hiss, telescopic ladder extending down before my eyes. "No. I don't have the hardware needed to do advanced medical procedures—especially not on you of all people. Even that little room in the silvaplate where you woke up was just a storage room that I'd cleaned up, modified, and sterilized in the space of a few hours."
"Oh…" I clambered up into the cockpit, dejected. It didn't seem as roomy anymore.
"Don't give up, administrator!" Sentinel said encouragingly, taking her place on the pilot's console. "We'll figure something out eventually. The most advanced medical facilities were located higher up on the spire, and you can bet your butt that we'll look into those when we can." My stomach dropped to my toes as the aircraft's nose lifted, the vehicle ascending above the treetops. The forlorn ruins of Sphilar Prism slid out of sight, engulfed by cloud. "For now, though… let's get you back to Mist's Reach."
A warm yet timid smile tugged at my lips. "Mitri wanted me to sleep over tonight…"
The AI flinched; the Alto's engines faltered for the barest of moments. "…Be careful, administrator. You don't know it, but you're walking on a dangerous path. Don't make a mistake and trust the humans. You will get burned."
"But… but they're really nice!"
"The humans are kind to you because they're aware that at full power, you could kill them all with a flick of your pinkie finger," the AI countered, her voice having iced over. "They don't call you a deity for nothing. It's out of ignorance and fear, nothing more."
"You're wrong," I muttered. "I felt it… felt them…"
"I'm just… warning you, administrator," Sentinel said quietly, eyes downturned. Locks of jet-black hair had fallen into her face. "Be careful around the humans. Watch your back and all that—even around the small ones. I can tell you that no matter how much faith you have in them, no matter what you do for them… they will stab you in the back in a heartbeat if it offers them an advantage." She lifted her head, eyes blazing with indescribable rage… and what I thought was the brief shining of tears. "I say that from personal experience."
Feeling like I'd witnessed a side of the AI that I wasn't meant to, I relented. "…Are you gonna stop me, then? Not let me go?"
Sentinel huffed loudly. "No. Even though I don't like it, ultimately you're my administrator. In light of that, I defer to you." She crossed her arms, eyeing me expectantly.
"Oh…" I took a sidelong gaze out the curved window, lazily watching the multitude of islands slip by like chunks of driftwood on the ocean. The gargantuan main shaft of the spire took up position dead center, shrouded amongst the mists. "I'm… I'm gonna go to Mitri's."
"Understood," she said stonily, a flash of annoyance crossing her face. "I'll leave you to your… stuff, then." Her hologram vanished into the dashboard with a smear of dissipating particles, leaving me alone in the cabin.
Silence permeated the cockpit for an uncomfortably-long amount of time. The twin peaks of Mist's Reach loomed ahead, only separated by a thin line of rainclouds.
"By the way, administrator…" The AI's voice came in through an intercom, broken up by bursts of static.
I peered up at the tiny speaker. "Mmh?"
"When was the last time you had a bath or shower?" she asked innocently. "You need to be nice and clean for your little… uh, visit tonight."
"Not… since I woke up…"
"That's fine," she said slyly. "We can take care of that right now. We're in range of the Ion Corridor now, so this should be okay…" The AI backed off on the throttle, the thrum of engines dying down.
Wait… what's happening? The aircraft began to shed altitude, and the cockpit tilted as my artificial pilot brought the vehicle about to a new heading—directly towards the cluster of rainclouds, which were in the midst of unleashing their deluge on the woods below.
I froze in my seat, realizing what she was planning. "You… you wouldn't."
The cockpit hatch unsealed with an audible click, spelling out my fate.
"Administrator, it's BATHTIME!< the AI gleefully announced despite my horrified reaction. I felt my stomach lurch as the engines suddenly surged to life, the Alto nimbly rocketing straight into the wall of gray clouds.
"NOOOO!" I shrieked as a sudden torrent of rainwater rushed in through the open canopy, leaving me waterlogged in seconds. It left me sputtering, wet clumps of hair stuck to my face.
The ordeal lasted no more than five seconds, the agile vehicle soaring out of the squall on the other side moments later. The floor beneath me shook as the aircraft's belly split open, landing gear unfolding while it descended towards the human village as if nothing had happened.
>HOW'S THAT?< Sentinel cackled in her electronic voice through the intercom, the Alto coming to a sudden and jarring halt as it set down at the edge of the settlement.
"You're a jerk!" I screeched angrily, scrambling out from the cockpit. The outer hull was slick with rainwater; I slipped on the way down, landing on my backside in a convenient cluster of ferns. Indignantly bundling up as best I could in my soaked dress and cloak, I stalked back towards the village, Cael's house visible amongst the trees. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.
"Sylphira!" Serafi called out, her voice penetrating through the wooden door to my room. "Mitri's waiting at the door! Are you ready to go, dear?"
"Um… just a minute, please!" I hollered back, indecisive over what to wear.
Serafi had been confused as to why I'd shown up on her front porch looking much more youthful—as well as utterly soaked to the bone. I didn't respond, grumbling all the while as I headed for the guest room. After toweling off and grabbing a bite to eat, I'd begun to prepare to head off with my new friend for the night. I now stood over the pile of clothes that the AI had originally left me, uncertain.
Mmh… I pored over the vast selection of colored textiles. I think… I really like white. I pushed aside the majority of the pile, resolute in my decision.
I ended up taking a clean and simple turtleneck, the thick fabric bleached the same color as my hair. Just a tad too large, the garment's long sleeves came down to my knuckles. A dark gray pleated skirt girded my hips, and my legs were clad with a matching pair of wonderfully soft thigh-high socks. A clean bandage was wrapped around my forearm, and a different pair of flat boots that matched my new dimensions went on my feet.
I tentatively left my room behind, heading for the entrance to Serafi's home where the two waited for me.
"Oh, dear," Serafi cooed, smiling warmly. "You look absolutely adorable!"
"Yeah! It's really cute, Sif!" Mitri chimed in. "You look totally different in that. The sweater makes you so cute and adorable, like a little kid!"
I was a little too fearful at the moment to explain my sudden metamorphosis to the eager girl. I wished I still had my hooded cloak with me, for I wanted nothing more than to hide beneath it. I settled for the turtleneck's high collar, timidly burying my face in the warm material.
"No need to be shy, dear." The older woman gave me a gentle push, ushering me out the door. "Go, have fun. I'll see you tomorrow!" She nodded kindly to Mitri. "Say hi to your mother for me."
"Will do!" The larger girl's hand locked tightly around my slender wrist. "C'mon, Sif! This way!" She dragged me out into the street, eagerly leading me through the village.
It wasn't long before we'd arrived at her home, and it was quite unlike Cael's and Serafi's. Though the design was different, it was every bit as impressive as the building where I was staying… perhaps even moreso.
Built at the roots of a massive redwood that must have been at least a hundred meters tall, the alpine lodging appeared to be mostly recessed into the plant's enormous girth. Several windows recessed into the trunk emanated warm light, and smoke billowed from a small chimney that emerged from the tree at a slanted angle. A meticulously-maintained garden brimming with delicate purple flowers and lush ferns that were arranged around scattered rocks and trees lined the pathway that led up to the home's front porch, which was one of the few parts of the lodging not hidden inside the tree. Countless blocks of firewood spilled from a shed around the side, and a number of intimidating lumber axes hung from hooks in the structure's interior.
"It's nice, right?" Mitri asked in a pleased manner, seeing my dazzled expression. "Papa's one of the best loggers in town, so we got one of the nicest houses to boot!" She released my hand, sprinting to the front door and throwing it open. "Over here slowpoke, I'll show you around! Mama's gonna be home, but papa's probably still out working."
I tentatively followed her in, gulping nervously. More people to meet…
Finding myself in a candlelit foyer, I glanced around with interest. An overwhelming amount of potted plants of all kind filled the corridor, many fed by a rigged-up system of water pipes and sprinklers that hung from the wooden ceiling. I could see even more further in; it was like an indoor jungle. The air smelled earthy; no surprise, what with all the plants.
"Mama, I'm hoooome!" Mitri called out at the top of her lungs.
"What does your mommy do, anyway…?" I asked, floored with the vast array of botany on display.
"She's an herbalist," the other girl explained, kicking off her boots. "Sometimes she helps out the village doctor, too! She's great at making medicines…" her nose wrinkled, "…even if they do taste really gross. Also, you shouldn't say 'mommy.' That's baby talk!"
"Oh…" I stared at the floor, embarrassed.
A woman rounded the corner, stepping into the entryway from the depths of the house. The first thing I noticed was her clothing. Garbed in a heavy robe with a stained apron tied around the front, as well as a plethora of gardening tools that hung from a narrow belt around her waist, she projected the image of a woman who spent all her time gardening or working outdoors. Her chestnut-brown hair was cropped short, held back with a simple hairband. Her weathered and angular face, once possessing great beauty, now held only crow's feet and deeply etched laugh lines from one who spent the majority of her life smiling. She seemed oh-so friendly; I couldn't help but like her at first glance.
The woman waved, her hands encased in thin leather gloves that were caked with soil. "Hey, kiddo. Did you bring your little fr—wait." Her forest-green eyes widened with recognition. "This is your new friend?! She's a bit smaller than I remembered…
"
A flash of recollection. Oh! She was one of the people who saw when I arrived with Sentinel… I timidly moved behind Mitri, remembering my embarrassing introduction to the woman and her fellow humans—being tossed into a pile of hay at the AI's hands.
A gloved hand snaked its way into mine, vigorously shaking it. "Pleased to meet you! My name's Evecia. Evecia Perric." She released her grip, leaving brown stains on my palm.
My nose wrinkled in silent disgust while I shook the dusting of soil from my hand. "I'm Sylphira… or, um, Sif I guess."
"Mhm," she hummed, withdrawing back into the foliage deeper in the house. "C'mon in! I'll fix you two up something, just after I finish trimming these last few shoots…" The woman's voice trailed off, the plants drawing her full attention.
Mitri led me out of the foyer, towards a stairway hewn through the tree's innards. "Mama's gonna be busy for awhile yet, I think. A lot of people have been getting sick lately and need her herbs. C'mon, I'll show you my room!"
I followed the girl up the winding steps, passing through at least two levels before reaching a small chamber. Layers of cool green fabric covered the rough wooden walls, and sunlight poured in through a wide set of windows and doors on the far side of the room. It led out to a small balcony, adorned with small potted plants and what looked like a hastily-built telescope made from scrap metal.
The room itself was scattered with plush furniture that varied from forest-green to sky-blue. A double bed sat in the middle of the chamber, pushed up against a wall. A full quarter of the room was lined with bookshelves, most of which were buried under heaps of decaying paper and ancient pieces of literature. I felt naturally drawn to them. Lots of books…
"Um, by the way, Sif…" the taller girl wrung her hands hesitantly. "Did something happen to you? I thought it was just your new top at first, but… you're a lot smaller! And your face changed, too!"
My eyes wavered, drawn away from the endless tiers of literature. "I… I…" I took a shaky breath. "M—Mitri… you know that I'm not a human like you, right…?"
"Well, duh!" she exclaimed. "You're a goddess! That's what mama and the village chief said."
I hung my head shamefully. "T—they're wrong… Sentinel told me. She said that I was a… was a machine." I shamefully spat the last word out. Scrunching up my face, I braced for the worst.
A long period of silence passed. My heart had stopped, frozen while it waited for the girl's reply.
"That's so cool!" she bubbled excitedly, grasping my hand. "Is that why all those stories talk about you being able to control the tower? And that's why you're friends with that AI person? And that's why your appearance changed, too!" Her eyes glowed. "Can you do it again? Make yourself look different? You should totally make your hair purple! Oh, or maybe green!"
"Um…" I stammered weakly, not expecting the response I got. "I… don't think… I can control it like that. It's, um… subconscious stuff."
"Awww…" The girl sighed dejectedly, leaning back. "But still, that's really awesome!"
I exhaled with relief, slumping back. "I—I was so scared that you wouldn't like me anymore…"
She patted me affectionately on the head. "Don't ever feel like that, Sif. You're my friend, okay? As long as you are, then I don't care if you're weird or anything. …Actually, can I call you 'little sister Sif?' You look like you could be now!"
I folded my arms across my chest. "Please don't…" I mumbled, cheeks burning. My eyes searched around the room, frantically looking for anything to change the topic. "Where'd you get all these books from, anyway?"
She shrugged. "Most of them are Triha's, but she doesn't have enough room to keep them at her home. Some of them are gifts from Ayden's papa. He goes off on an expedition into the tower once every year, and brings them back for me. He's really brave! Everyone else is too scared to go inside. All the rest are things that other villagers made a really long time ago, back when a lot more people lived here."
I took a half-step closer to the wall of books. "Can I look at them…? Please?"
The girl flopped down on her bed, bouncing around. "Sure, I guess. Just don't break anything, 'kay?"
"Okay! Thank you!" I eagerly hurried over to the shelves, the pleasant aroma of ink and paper swirling through the air. "Oh, um… Mitri? Where's that one with the goddess stuff you were talking about?"
Mitri's nose wrinkled. "Um… I think it's at the top left of the next shelf over? It's been a really long time since I looked at it. It's got a green cover, if that helps."
The last term was surprisingly descriptive; most of the 'books' barely even qualified as such, most being nothing more than bundles of loose and mismatched papers bound together. Those with covers were leather-bound in faded gray and brown hues. Color was few and far between, and thanks to that it wasn't long before I had the book in my hands—after pleading for the taller girl to get it for me, as I was now too short to reach the uppermost shelf. My recent age regression had taken a significant amount of my height with it.
I ran my fingertips across the cover, feeling the runes etched into it. Mmmh… Remnants of the Old World : Origins… Cool! …Even though it looks like this cover comes from another book.
The leather binding creaked as the book split open, a small puff of dust rising from the yellowed pages. It wasn't exactly a proper book per say; the pages appeared to have come from many different sources, and many were even written by hand. A number of complicated diagrams and more than a few interesting photos filled the sheets of aging parchment.
I peered at a nondescript passage on a random page.
…ideal for the intersection of the time axis as well as the individual consciousness field. This convergence exists in the 50-20000 Hz range—the FFT Spectrum. From this, it can be determined that…
A frown crossed my face. "This… isn't really a storybook like you said…"
"It's got plenty of stories!" Mitri piped up. "You just have to find them, that's all!" She rose from her bed. "Here, I'll show you something. It's right near the start if the book."
The girl snatched the book from my hands, flipping back a few dozen pages before handing it back. "Here. This is the picture I was talking about."
I peered closely at the page… and gasped.
Three figures stared at me from a large illustration on the faded parchment, each one with a face that was absent of joy. All three were clad in various forms of armor and sleek, futuristic clothing, and seemed to carry themselves with an air of austerity and resolve. And just like the older girl had said, each one sported a pair of ghostly wings.
The Origins of Ar Ciel
The de-facto mothers of the Reyvateil race, created by the great Sol Ciel alliance. Seen from left to right; Reyvateil-Origin Shurelia (the first, born in 3031, administrator of Ar Tonelico Tower), Reyvateil-Origin Frelia (the second, born in 3032, administrator of Metafalss Tower), Reyvateil-Origin Tyria (the third, born in 3033, future administrator of Harvestasha Tower).
In-depth descriptions and declassified specifications of each individual construct can be seen in article 4 on page 17.
My brow furrowed. Wait. It says that this 'Shurelia' is the first. But… but Sentinel said that I was born in 3030, which would make me the first! Where am I in this, then…? Is this thing wrong, or was Sentinel just messing with me?
I sighed, resting the book on the shelf. …Honestly, I wouldn't put it past her.
"It's neat, right? See what I mean, though? You don't look anything like them! And you're not even in there! That's why I thought mama was just joking around when she told me."
"…Uh huh." I carefully hoisted the bundle of pages once more. "Um, Mitri… can I keep looking at this? Please?"
"Mhm! Go right ahead!" The girl pushed up against the heap of pillows piled at the headboard. "Can you grab me something too? It's on the… bottom middle shelf, I think. It's got a yellow cover with a diamond pattern."
I dutifully retrieved the piece of literature, pressing it into her hands before dropping onto the covers at her side. Mitri smiled kindly, cracking the well-worn binding open to a page indicated with a small bookmark.
We lay like that for a time, reading together, the silence infrequently broken with inane chatter between us. I would ask questions about certain passages, and she would respond as best she could. On her side, she would occasionally share a piece of what she was reading, eliciting gasps of surprise or breaths of laughter on my part. From what I was able to piece together, Mitri was reading a novel that was based around the comedic adventures of a cowardly knight and his courageous slavegirl companion.
Between those moments, I sought vainly for keywords in the slapped-together encyclopedia on Origins—any mention at all of Sylphira, Asciydria Tower, or Sol Cluster. Unfortunately such cases were few and far between, only referencing Sol Cluster as 'the entity we fought in the war.'
Though at long last, I finally found a small paragraph—a footnote at the end of a fragmented chapter that described each Origin in detail.
While it's true that each amplification tower—relay or host server—hosts an Origin as its Tower Administrator, there is one sole exception. That exception is, of course, Asciydria Tower, well-known for its pivotal point in the years leading up to the end of the war and Seven Bloodstains. While the Sol Cluster military did have a highly-classified program that chased our progress in the development of humanlike artificial intelligence, no living Reyvateil-Origin prototypes were ever successfully produced. The program was eventually forcefully terminated in 3034, and its executive staff were sentenced to death or life in prison for their espionage and war crimes.
I hesitantly traced a slender finger across the lettering. Terminated…
Also, I've never heard this term before. "Hey, Mitri… do you know what Seven Bloodstains is?"
She shrugged, mystified. "Never heard of it."
"Awww…"
"Hey, kids!" a voice called up from the stairwell. "Dinner's ready! C'mon down!"
"Yay!" Mitri shot bolt upright, looking oddly suspicious. Her hands were held behind her back, concealing… something. "Before we go down, Sif… I've got a present for you."
"A—a present?"
"Mhm!" With an exaggerated flourish, the older girl drew out a large plush teddy bear. Stepping forward, she slipped the stuffed animal into my confused arms. Its soft and brown fur tickled my chin.
I gave the teddy an odd stare, my lips parted slightly. Candlelight glinted off its coal-black button eyes, a tiny smile stitched onto its furry face. The large toy had clearly seen lots of use and love, small lines of stitches and even a couple patches of beige fabric spaced across its chubby body.
Cute…
Then I shook my head quickly, jostling the teddy in my arms. "But… is this really for me…? I can't take it! It's yours, and I don't have anything to give back…"
Mitri softly patted me on the head, pushing several strands of snow-white hair into my eyes. "It's just a present, Sif. Every little kid needs a teddy, no matter who or what they are! And it's okay. Cuddles—that's his name—is only one of my toys… and I kinda outgrew him a long time ago."
"Oh…" I squeezed the plush animal experimentally, then redoubled my grip. I hugged it tightly, pressing my face into the top of its fuzzy head. "I—I love him, Mitri! He's so cute, thank you so much…!"
She patted me on the head again. "You're welcome… little sister Sif."
"…Please don't…" I mumbled, my voice muffled behind the bear's fuzzy ears.
Mitri laughed joyfully, grasping my wrist. "Anyway, let's go! It's dinnertime!"
The taller girl hastily dragged me through the motions, leaving my head spinning. But soon enough I was seated at a squat dinner table, flanked on both sides by exotic potted plants, with a well-used wooden plate laid out in front of me. Cuddles, my new teddy bear, sat on the floor beside my chair. Mitri sat at my side, eagerly tapping away at a table leg with her foot. "I can't wait! I wonder what we're having…"
"I come bearing answers!" The girl's mother entered the scene, setting down an enormous steaming pot. "Oh, and food too, I suppose." She slapped Mitri's eager hand away. "Now, now, kiddo. You know the rules—guests first!"
She grumbled, nursing the back of her hand while Evecia scooped a large helping of brown goop onto my plate. Despite the food's unappealing appearance, it smelled delicious. I timidly slipped a spoonful into my mouth and found myself pleasantly surprised. Mmmh… it's really tasty!
"Aww…" Mitri groaned as if she'd been personally insulted. "We're having pork and beans again?"
Evecia frowned, seating herself. "I could've sworn that pork was one of your favorites."
"Yeah, but not when we have it three days in a row!"
She rolled her eyes. "Your father's apparently had a long day again, and this has always been his favorite. I thought that it'd be a nice gesture is all."
Mitri's eyes lit up. "Is papa coming home soon, then?"
"That's right. Webb stopped by about ten minutes ago to let me know." The older woman brought her gaze to bear on me. "What do you think, sweetie? Do you like it?"
"It's really good!" I bubbled, having already cleared the plate.
She smiled kindly, reaching for the ladle. "Well, have as much as you like. I can always whip up a second batch if we run out."
"Thank you!"
It wasn't long before the front door slammed, just as I'd started on my third helping. Mitri, who had been sorrowfully dragging her spoon back and forth, leapt up from the table and shot into the foyer in the blink of an eye. "Papa! Papa, you're home!"
"Hey there, Mitri," a gravelly voice rumbled, the unknown figure kicking off his boots. "How was your day? Did you get everything done like I asked?"
She shuffled her feet nervously. "Um… kinda… Listen, I brought someone home!"
The man—whom I assumed was her father—sighed with exasperation. "…I see."
And so it was in short order that I was introduced to Mitri's father, a giant of a man whose head almost brushed the ceiling of his home. Though his large stature had greatly intimidated me at first, his easygoing manner and sense of humor quickly won me over. I warmed up to him further at the dinner table, the meal having quickly been replaced with a board game that had the four of us crying out with glee in one moment, and angrily swearing vengeance to the other in the next. Several minutes of cleanup later, Mitri and I were ushered off to bed.
Mitri's father had ruffled my hair before I turned in. "You're a good kid, Sif—not really what I was expecting, but a good kid. And thanks for playing with Mitri. She and Ayden have always been together, but… well, let's just say that he's not exactly the best influence on her." His eyes had darkened then, and I could picture his hands tightening around a blunt object of some kind… or perhaps the boy's neck.
"Thank you, sir!" I said shyly, blushing at the praise.
The man laughed heartily, placing a hand on my shoulder in a surprisingly gentle way. "Sif, please call me Chrisphar… or just Chris. I'm not nearly old enough yet to be called 'sir.'" He gave a friendly wink, ushering me to bed.
And then, it was time to sleep. The two of us clambered in on opposite sides, digging under the blankets. Chrisphar extinguished the candle lights with a puff, giving Mitri a kiss on the brow and myself another pat on the head before stepping out of the room.
I shifted under the covers, wrapping my arms tightly around my teddy bear. "Um… Mitri?"
"Mmh?" Her voice emanated from the darkness.
I tapped my fingers together nervously. "Thank you… for being nice to me…"
She sidled up to me, giving a light squeeze. "Goodnight, Sif."
"Goodnight, Mitri…"
KEYWORD // TERMINATED
FILE(S) DETECTED!
TRANSFERRING…
TRANSFERRING…
COMPLETE.
…
AUDIO_PLAYBACK // 17/04/3034_21:59:41
LOCATION_INFO // APEX_ASCIYDRIA.map
…
Back in my memories from the past. Bubbling liquid filled my ears… audio sensors… however exactly I was hearing this. Panicked footsteps and frantic whispers filled the space beyond the confines of my sleep pod.
"They're coming up!" a panicked man announced. "They've already breached the outer dividing wall of Section A! Sir, what do we do?!"
"Stay focused!" a voice that conveyed authority barked. "The general said that an evac craft was inbound from the secondary site. So just stay cool, make sure all the data is scrubbed, and then we'll be out of here before they make it up here."
The second man was silent for a moment. "…But just in case," he added, "make sure that everyone's prepared for a worst-case scenario."
"I hear that." The loud click of well-oiled metal sounded from the first man's position. It was the sound of a pistol's cocking mechanism. A multitude of identical sounds followed it from all around the Apex.
Something heavy and metallic tapped on the exterior of my pod. "What about the prototype, anyway?" a third voice questioned. "Should we terminate it?"
The second man released a shaky breath. "I'd hoped to avoid this… but she cannot fall into Sol Ciel's hands. You're right."
"After all these years, all these resources…" someone just outside murmured. "It's a shame that it's going to all go to waste. How much did this thing cost to produce, anyway?"
"...That's classified. Just get over here and do it before I do something I'll regret."
Another voice expelled a harsh laugh. "Seriously? You're gonna ask Layne to do it? Has he even fired a weapon before?"
"…Once or twice," Layne sheepishly admitted.
The second voice sighed with immense regret. "…Fine. I'll do it. She's my creation, anyway. I suppose it's only right if I'm the one to send her out from this world. Layne, come take over my terminal. Make sure that all the data and schematics get wiped."
"Right." The two men exchanged positions.
The second man—whom I realized to be my creator, the closest thing I had to a father—pressed his pistol against the glass, the dull sound echoing through the dense liquid. "I'm sorry, Sylphira. I'm so sorry…"
The sound of hissing sparks and muffled voices interrupted his action.
WARNING! UNAUTHORIZED PERSON(S) DETECTED ON APEX_ASCIYDRIA.map. SENTINEL_aiCORE SUCCESSFULLY ALERTED. ERROR. NO RESPONSE.
"Shit!" Layne exclaimed. "They're already outside the hatch! It must be an infiltration team!"
My creator drew back. "I… We knew it could happen. There's nothing for it; destroy the terminals as quickly as you can." He paused. "It's been an honor working with you, gentlemen."
"You can surrender if you like. I'm not going down without a fight," the first voice growled. "Not after what these Sol Ciel bastards did to Syestine. My brother's family lived there!"
"You're going to get us killed," my creator said plaintively.
"We're already dead anyway!" the first man shot back. "Do you seriously think that they'll let us live after what we did to create this little pet project? Those guys over at Project REYVATEIL are probably getting off on the thought of all of us strung up for stealing their data. Doubly so when they learn that we beat them to the punch and finished one before they did."
"This isn't an argument. Drop the gun," he snarled.
"Byrne, what the fuck are you doing?!" Layne exclaimed, aghast. "Don't do it!"
A single gunshot rang out, a deafening bang that made the liquid around me tremble. A heavy weight splashed against the surface of my pod, the unknown entity releasing several dying gasps before falling silent forever more.
FATALITY DETECTED. IDENTIFIED // DEVIN HADREN, CLEARANCE LEVEL ALPHA.
"Holy shit, Bryne… you shot him!"
A sudden explosion accompanied by a screech of twisted metal filled the Apex.
"ELEMIA SPEC OPS!" a new voice boomed, muffled behind a thick face shield. "DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND STEP AWAY FROM THE CONSOLES!"
"…Can we blink?" Layne queried nervously, his pistol clunking as it hit the floor.
"YOU IN THE GLASSES," the soldier thundered. "DROP THE GUN. NOW!"
"I'll… I'll make you bastards pay!" Byrne snarled.
More gunshots rang out. Byrne gasped as a dozen bullets drilled into his body, dropping to the floor like a sack of potatoes. All fell silent.
FATALITY DETECTED. IDENTIFIED // BRYNE ALBY, CLEARANCE LEVEL BETA.
"Bagged one," another soldier laughed. "No wounded on our side, sir."
The owner of the loud voice sighed. "Roger that. Reporting one—no, two fatalities to HQ. Units One through Eight, handcuff the rest and get them out of here. Units Nine through Sixteen, secure the terminals and incubators. Check them for explosives first."
"Yes, sir," the men and women chorused, quickly fanning out across the Apex. Many curse words came from the scientists and researchers as they were bound and hustled from the place where they had once worked.
Footsteps drew up to my own sleeping space. The unknown figure peeled the corpse of my creator off, likely to get a better view. "What… the… hell…" he breathed, revulsion in his voice. "Unit Nine!"
"Sir, what is it?" a woman jogged over, her body armor rattling about.
"Take a look in there." He moved off to one side.
"Ugh!" she exclaimed, disgusted. "They actually built one? Successfully?"
"I don't think so," the man pointed out. "Take a look at the biometrics. This thing has no brain activity. It's not alive."
The woman sighed with relief. "Good. It's horrifying to think about what nasty surprises Sol Cluster might stick into a living machine like this. I can't even imagine…"
"Indeed. Now," he murmured, "the question is… what are we supposed to do about it? There was nothing remotely involving this in the briefing. The possibility wasn't even considered."
"Should we terminate it, sir?" she asked eagerly. "I can slap a charge onto the pod and blow this thing back to hell."
"No," he exclaimed vehemently. "This thing—as monstrous as it may be—is worth far more than what everyone in our unit would make in our lifetimes combined. The top brass would have our heads if we just destroyed it."
The woman was hesitant. "So… what should we do, sir?"
"…We might be able to use it."
All sound faded away, leaving the void of unconsciousness free to swallow me up once more.
…
I awoke gasping for air, every muscle in my body on fire. My stomach felt like it had been turned inside out, dumping acid into my veins.
"No…" I croaked weakly, feeling the rising bile. "Not… not again…!"
I leapt out of Mitri's bed, blinded by the darkness for a moment. Breaking into a hobble, I made my way towards the bathroom, vainly struggling to keep my dinner held back. I failed on the way down the stairs, scraping my knees as I landed in the fetal position in a puddle of fresh vomit. Tears quickly followed, and soon enough I was weeping freely, shivering. Why… why does this keep...
"Sif? Is that you?" A voice whispered from the shadows that clung to the base of the stairwell. It was Evecia, my friend's mother. "Are you okay?"
I lacked the energy to even reply, remaining motionless on the lacquered wooden floor.
Footsteps quickly approached, the woman's ghostly nightgown emerging from the darkness accompanied by the dim light of a candle. "Oh, sweetie…" she soothed, kneeling down. "C'mon, I'll get you to the bathroom."
"I'm so sorry…" I sobbed. My vision still swam. "I couldn't make it…"
"It's okay." She easily lifted my small frame in her arms. "I had to mop up soon anyway. It's been getting filthy in here!"
The older woman carried me through the winding passages of the tree home, finally reaching a small chamber—the bathroom. A large bowl recessed in the floor across the room beckoned, and I stumbled over to it, promptly dry-heaving into the basin. Evecia's hand sympathetically lowered onto my back, rubbing it gently. "There, there. Just get it all out of your system."
After a few more heaving gasps, my stomach calmed down. The darkening veil that had been descending over my vision fled in an instant. I let out an involuntary gasp of relief, falling slack into Evecia's waiting arms.
She propped me up against the wall. "Sweetie, I'm gonna head down to the kitchen and get you a small cup of ginger ale. Do you think you can hang on for a few minutes while I crack open the cask?"
"I woke everyone up… I'm sorry…"
Evecia patted my head affectionately. "You didn't wake up anyone. I was tending to the nocturnal plants, and Mitri inherited Chris's 'heavy sleeper' tendencies. I'd bet anything that the two of them didn't even stir."
"Okay…" I sniffed. "I'll hang on… thank you…"
It only felt like moments had gone by when the older woman returned with a mug in one hand and a woolen blanket in the other. She gently pushed the drink into my waiting hands, accompanied by a warm smile. "How're you feeling?"
I wiped a couple tears from my eyes, peering into the depths of the cup. "I feel… better."
"That's good." Evecia lowered onto the floor at my side, sharing the blanket while I sipped at the drink. It was cool and soothing, with a hint of fizz. I could feel heat returning to my extremities, the shaking quelled.
"Have you been having these before, sweetie? These… 'fits?'" the woman questioned. "I've been a herbalist for many years, and I've seen more ailments than most. I can spot the flu, food poisoning, and a whole list of other illnesses, but I've never seen anyone get sick like that and just go numb… limp..."
"Since I woke up on top of the tower…"
"I see." She squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "I can't claim to know what it might be. While I've treated my fair share of maladies, I'm not the village's best healer… and I doubt that he'd know what was wrong, either. Your… kind… hasn't been seen for centuries, after all. It might be best to ask your AI friend."
"She's not my friend," I grumbled, taking another sip.
"Maybe not, sweetie. But you're gonna have to deal with her at some point, right?" the woman countered, sidling up until the side of my head was pressed against her bosom. "Just know that the people of Mist's Reach are on your side. And whatever happens, you'll always have a place to come home to."
"Thank… you…" That means a lot more to me than she thinks.
"You're welcome." With the sound of shifting fabric, she stood up, extending her surprisingly smooth palm towards me. "Ready to go back to bed? Don't forget to change into a clean nightgown first. I'll help you wash it tomorrow."
I nodded shyly, slipping my smaller hand into hers. "Okay…" I know she's only someone I've just met… and I'm only a stranger to her, but… she's so very nice to me. And sure, she's definitely not my mommy. I don't know her very well. It'd be crazy to think of her like that after only a day, right…?
But… but maybe someday, I can.
And so, life for the next few days went on peacefully. Sentinel remained distant, leaving me to my own devices without any interruptions. Perhaps it was her willingly paying penance for her nasty prank… or more likely, she simply had no need of me yet. Either way was fine with me.
I stayed with Mitri and her family, seldom leaving their company save for the nights I spent at Cael's home. Cuddles, the teddy bear that Mitri had given me, kept me company during my nights alone in the tiny guest room. It made me feel at ease, as if a small part of her family was always with me.
I felt like I had a place to call my own here, a place where my alleged 'deity' status didn't matter. I wasn't a figure of worship, I was just a normal kid. And… it made me happy. Indeed, even the frequency of my attacks seemed to lessen, the periods between growing longer and longer. It felt like they were finally leaving me be, stability beginning to flourish in my mindscape at last.
I no longer wanted to leave. With my new friends in Mist's Reach, I could live quietly, contently, and in peace. And in short order, Sentinel's vague warning of the world's end had slipped from my thoughts like grains of sand between my fingers.
But, like all good things, the peace wouldn't last.
>WAKEY WAKEY, ADMINISTRATOR!< a voice screamed into my ear.
With a shriek of surprise, I shot bolt upright in bed at a speed normally reserved for things like stellar phenomena and bolts of lightning. In milliseconds, my mind had sharpened to full wakefulness. I shook the sleep dust from my eyes while frantically searching for the source of the outburst.
Sentinel's small form hovered above me, a playful grin locked on her pudgy face. She clutched an oversized megaphone, the shimmering holographic device aimed straight at my head. A tiny arachnid tower guardian clung to the bedpost, the source of the AI's projected form.
I gave the AI a dirty look, huffing with annoyance. Extending my arm upwards, I reached for the tiny machine. My index finger slid in front of the tiny lens of the drone's projector system, cutting off her hologram.
>I WILL NOT BE SILEEEENCED!< Sentinel screeched defiantly as she flickered and faded into oblivion. The tower guardian scurried away, slipping out under the door.
I slipped from the covers, grumbling. What does she want now? It's been days…
A loud yawn escaped my lips. I'd had another attack during the night, robbing me of much of my sleep. Even though the attacks were lessening, it still hadn't been much fun. Giving my teddy bear one great big wake-up hug, I slipped out of bed. Padding barefoot across the dimly-lit guest room, I retrieved a set of clothes; my old white summer dress paired with simple sandals. Now dressed and ready to go, I crept from the chief's house and off into the village.
I bet she wants to meet up at the same place.
It was still early; the sun hadn't even risen yet, the sky only just beginning to brighten. Only a few villagers were up and about, most of them lumberjacks or hunters off to earn their keep. I smiled as I walked, enjoying the cool air that kissed my bare shoulders.
Suddenly, searing pain—razor-sharp, white-hot steel in my leg. I fell down onto one knee with a cry of agony and shock at the sudden sensation. It felt like I had been stabbed.
I rubbed at the affected site with silent confusion. There was no visible trauma, no tenderness or solid mass. The pain didn't even seem to have a real source, aside from existing somewhere inside my leg.
I hope it's not because I pulled a muscle or something… Getting to my feet, I continued along as best I could—now walking with a slight limp. The pain still persisted, though the intensity had dulled somewhat… but it was now accompanied by the faint prickling sensation of pins and needles.
>SENTINEL?< I groused, >WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?< Thanks to the rude awakening and the pain that now plagued me, I'd been put in a foul mood… and I wasn't ready to forgive the AI for the nasty little prank she'd pulled on me in the Alto.
>Finally,< she huffed in response. >I've been nice and let you have your fun with your little friends for the past few days. Now we seriously need to get to work.< The distant rumble of engines—the hallmark of an incoming aircraft—accompanied her words.
>WHY SHOULD I?<
>…Because otherwise we'll all die? Isn't it obvious?< she responded blankly.
I remained silent, reaching the edge of the gorge that ran through the center of the village. The sky had begun to light up with streaks of dusty gold and fiery orange, the sun slowly rising—though it would be hours before its life-giving rays would kiss Mist's Reach, the village hidden behind the tower's enormous bulk.
>…Wait. You're limping. Are you… are you in pain?< she queried in a worried tone.
I rubbed at the affected site, reminded of it. >SO WHat if I am?<
In an instant, a small tower guardian was at my side, having dropped from the clouds above. The AI's holographic body leapt out, grabbing at my arm with complete disregard for personal boundaries. "Where? Where does it hurt? What does it feel like?!"
"Leg… I think," I snapped, shaking her off. "Just feels like pins and needles now… so what?" Sentinel's panicked state was a little worrisome; I'd never seen her like this before.
Her gray eyes locked onto mine. "That's a symptom… of phantom limb pain. That means two things simultaneously. One… it means that your tower connection is finally starting to manifest."
She wore a grave expression. "Two… it means that something is very, very wrong with the tower."
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It's to bad her peaceful times got interrupted like that. Just woke up and before you know it problems start cropping up. I mean sure, it was noted things weren't good, but that's one heck of a way to come in to the world. Immediately being responsible for an entire mega-tower of immense proportions which clearly has 'some' problems.
Yayifications! Glad to have this back!
That's bad. No other Reyvateils whatsoever in the entire Tower. No wonder living conditions are so low tech!
A new type of cellophane, different from the HD-cellophane of Shurelia and Tyria and the D-cellophane of Frelia and Betas? Interesting.
Curious to see the implications of that.
Big deal, Sentinel. That just means that everything about this Tower is perfectly normal.
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Ah, now that you mention it, that does kind of make sense.
I guess things would be different if there were some Reyvateils about. One kind of wonders if there's any Song magic in use at all now.
Probably the only Song Magic in use is the passive stuff that's a function of the Tower itself, like all the weather control and anti-gravity tech. And I'm not even sure if that counts as Song Magic.
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
The creation of a new type of cellophane was an unfortunate necessity, as none of the currently-existing ones fit the bill for what I needed. D-cellophanes didn't exist yet in the time period when Sylphira was created, and while an HD-cellophane would be viable, it has one fatal drawback that makes it utterly useless for the protagonist of a story. The personality of one using an HD-cellophane—like Shurelia and Tyria—is fixed, not malleable. They physically cannot undergo character development, and I found that unacceptable since I really wanted to make Sylphira's growth from a helpless child to a fearless and competent Tower Administrator a big central feature of the story.
Naturally, the SD-cellophane does have a drawback, and you've seen it in this chapter. It allows her mental and physical states to change, yes... but it has Sylphira's malleability turned up to eleven. You saw how her body regressed from twelve years old to eight years old at the drop of a coin, simply because she was getting closer to the children of Mist's Reach and they were rubbing off on her. And it can go the other way, too.
On that note, I should probably add this to canon-breakers!