Chapter 6 - Departure
I woke with a start, dazzled by the light that assailed me. It painted a stark contrast to the murky interior of the plasma bell that I had adapted to over the long hours spent trapped inside. Night had come, and Sentinel had urged that I sleep.
I blinked rapidly, my eyes quickly adjusting to the new brightness levels. I found myself still buckled into the Alto's pilot seat, with a thermal blanket that I hadn't touched draped over my frame. Casting my drowsy eyes beyond the cockpit glass, all I saw were puffy white clouds that trailed past below us. The sky was blue as a robin's egg and crystal clear. It was so peaceful, as if yesterday's disaster had never happened.
"Oh!" a startled Sentinel exclaimed, her hologram quickly resolving in a seated position along the dashboard. "Administrator, you're awake! Good morning… but you know that there's a working bunk in the rear compartment, right?"
"Morning…" I yawned loudly, the silver blanket crinkling in tune with my movements. "D—did… we… make it out of the plasma bell…?"
The AI nodded. "Yes. We exited only minutes ago, actually. I'm taking us back to Mist's Reach." A shadow suddenly fell over the cabin, and Sentinel's face darkened to match. "Take a look up there, administrator. You should see this firsthand."
I craned my neck, awed and humbled by what met my gaze.
For the first time, I saw the Isles of Aria from below. The blackened rocky undersides of the landmasses bristled with gigantic stalactites, some hundreds of meters long and a rare few gargantuan hulks that must have been several kilometers in length. Wispy tendrils of water flowed freely from vast fissures in the rock—rock that seemed to be studded with luminous veins of ore. It was bizarre, seeing the islands from this new perspective.
Then I winced, realizing how many pockets of empty space existed where islands had once lain. It was obvious that the Isles of Aria had been altered forever more by the cataclysm, and would never be the same again.
"That's what we lost," Sentinel uttered gravely. "We can't let this happen again, administrator."
I could only shake my head helplessly. "So many are gone…"
"We're closing in on Mist's Reach now," she reported. "Taking us up." G-forces pushed me back in my seat, the Alto's nose lifting with a throaty roar of powerful turbines. The landmasses overhead grew rapidly in size as we drew closer, aiming to cut through a narrow gap between the island that held Mist's Reach and a neighboring chunk of rock.
The AI directed her attention to a holographic display. "Looks like there's a light feathering of cloud over the island. Shouldn't be a problem; cutting through it."
"Hey!" I cried angrily. "About that—"
"No rain clouds this time," she said solemnly, averting her eyes. "That's a promise."
"Good," I huffed indignantly, folding my arms. "Why would you do that to me, anyway? I thought I was your boss!"
"I… I…" Sentinel stammered, downcast. "My programming would've stopped me if what I did had any chance of harming you… and I used to play jokes like that on my original creators all the time. At least, I think I did. I can't ex—GDRN15002=COURSE_CORREC—actly remember though…" Her voice trailed off, eyes widening with horror.
I must have mirrored her slack-jawed expression,. "Um… Sentinel… what was that?"
The AI quickly shook her head, fists tightly clenched. A scarlet flush had quickly spread across her cheeks. "…Nothing. I'm fine. You didn't see that." She quickly glanced out the window, face brightening. "…There's Mist's Reach. Stand by for landing." Her hologram vanished.
Suddenly, I didn't feel so comfortable being inside the aircraft she was piloting. 'I won't notice.' That's what she said, I thought to myself. Back in the plasma bell, when I asked if she was gonna degrade.
Was she lying…?
Sentinel interrupted my thoughts with a low whistle. "The humans had a rougher time up here than I'd previously thought. Their island lost a substantial amount of mass."
The landmass that held Mist's Reach looked like it had been caught in the jaws of a massive creature. Large, bite-shaped chunks had been chewed away at the island's perimeter, leaving splintered trees and exposed roots dangling out over the abyss. A significant amount of the island's forest had been flattened, and the twin peaks that flanked the human settlement had been stripped of their snow-capped summits. It looked like the tremors had triggered several avalanches, burying the mountain's foothills under a carpet of white. A large island that had formerly been directly adjacent to Mist's Reach was noticeably absent.
I gulped at the sight of all the devastation, thinking of Mitri and the others. I really hope that everyone's okay…
"Landing," my companion uttered shortly. "Stand by." We circled low over the village, treetops and chimneys flashing by. To my great relief, I realized that Mist's Reach had seemingly escaped the worst of it; only a few buildings had suffered superficial damage at best, though many of the bridges that crossed the chasm at the village's center had collapsed into the raging river below. I picked out Cael's and Mitri's houses from above, delighted to see them undamaged.
"Touching down in five… four… three… two… one." I released an involuntary shriek as the Alto belly-flopped into the dirt, hard. A sharp wail of alarms filled the cabin, the cockpit doused in blood-red emergency lights. Leather straps bit into my shoulder blades, and I felt the hull buckle beneath my feet. Something heavy and metallic snapped in twain with a sharp report, the aircraft's fuselage groaning with structural overstress.
I gasped, going limp in my harness until the motion ceased. "Sentinel, what did you do?!"
"…I landed," the AI said matter-of-factly after a long delay, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she'd just crippled her own aircraft. "I reduced speed, cut the engines, and transmitted the execution code to the aircraft's VTOL thrusters and land… ing… gear…" She fell silent. Her hologram appeared on the dashboard, gazing around dully with eyes that I knew couldn't actually see. In reality, the AI could only view the world through camera lenses.
Sentinel was quiet for a long moment before speaking in a very small voice. "…Administrator? I forgot… how to encrypt and send the execution code…"
"Maybe… maybe you shouldn't fly anything right now," I suggested weakly, loosening the straps that held me securely in place. "Just until you get this sorted out, I mean…"
"…Fine," she gave in begrudgingly, springing the cockpit hatch that led to the outside. My nostrils flared as I drew in a breath of fresh air for the first time since yesterday. "Heat signatures are approaching, administrator. It looks like the humans have come to greet you on your… uh, triumphant return."
"Oh!" I exclaimed with delight, eager to see my friends again. I had to know that they were unharmed. I quickly disembarked from the crippled aircraft, swinging my legs out over the cabin lip and landing in the dirt. Casting a hesitant glance behind me, I confirmed that the Alto would never fly again. The ring assembly that circled the craft's midsection had broken clean off, taking the twin jet turbines with it. The aircraft's fuselage, particularly the belly, was mangled and almost completely unrecognizable to its prior streamlined and graceful appearance.
The crunch of shoes on gravel ahead drew my full attention.
"Mitri!" I exclaimed joyfully, scurrying over with arms spread wide. "You're okay!"
I drew to a halt, taken aback. The taller girl hadn't so much as budged an inch, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground between her toes. Long strands of chestnut-brown hair hid her face. Evecia stood at her side, the older woman looking like she'd aged twenty years in a day. Cael and Serafi stood behind the pair, the village chief with betrayal locked in his eyes, and sorrow in his wife's. No one said so much as a word.
I felt Sentinel's presence brush the far reaches of my mind. >Administrator…< she cautioned.
Tentatively reaching out with one hand, I pressed forward. "Um… Mitri? Are you okay…?"
She lifted her head. The girl's face was flushed, and her eyes were puffy and red. Her hair and clothing were in disarray, and her irises shone with tears. "Sif…" she sniffed, taking a shaky step towards me.
I cautiously approached in kind. "Mitri…? What's wrong?" I glanced helplessly to Evecia for answers, but she remained as inert as a statue.
"Sif…" She took another step. The girl almost seemed to be dead on her feet, struggling simply to maintain her balance.
"Mitri?"
She ground to a halt. Now that she was only a few steps away, I could see the tremors that wracked her body. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, trembling hands balled into fists.
"…Sif!" The girl ran at me, arms outstretched. Before I could blink, I found myself ensnared tightly in the taller girl's arms, her face buried in my shoulder. The floodgates burst open all at once, Mitri weeping freely. My body muffled the sounds of her sobs.
"Mitri…" I breathed, wrapping my arms around her. "What happened here?"
"Papa…" she hiccuped, redoubling her grip. She sank to her knees, pulling me to the ground with her. "Papa!" she wailed in anguish, pressing herself into my body.
"What happened?" Sentinel asked gruffly from behind me, directed to the three adults.
Evecia shook her head in a daze, completely and utterly drained. She looked like she was dead on her feet. "He… Chris was on the neighboring island… out working, when the tremors hit…"
"He fell…" Mitri sobbed quietly, inaudible to all but myself. "Papa… he—he's gone… he's gone forever!" She keened pitifully, grasping me tightly.
It felt like I had been punched in the gut. I'd have collapsed on my own if Mitri hadn't already pulled me to the ground.
I'd known him. It had only been for a week, and Chris was gone for the majority of that… but even so, we'd bonded. I couldn't deny that I liked him.
He had invited me to join the games with the rest of the family around the dining table, as if I was his own daughter. He'd put me to bed alongside Mitri to read us bedtime stories. He'd taken me fishing, showing me how to bait a hook and how to reel it in properly. In such a short amount of time, he had showered me with so much love and kindness. The world seemed grayer than before.
"I'm sorry," I breathed, consoling the sobbing girl even as my own eyes blurred with tears. "Mitri, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"…and so we consign the souls of our lost friends to the water, allowing the ebbs and tides to take them where they may."
Water lapped quietly at my bare feet, the dim light of flames dancing against my closed eyelids. The air was still, the overwhelming silence only broken by the keening of the villagers as they lay the souls of the dead to rest.
I swallowed hard, feeling sick to my stomach. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes to watch.
A funeral procession with over a hundred attendees had descended a winding rocky path that led to a small gravel beach at the bottom of the gorge. The waterfalls feeding the winding river had been temporarily sealed via sluice gates, extinguishing the rapids that once raged and churned along the canyon floor. Now the water was almost completely still, the clear surface only broken by luminous shafts of moonlight and the shimmering specks of stars.
A multitude of ceramic bowls were reverently released into the river, the tiny makeshift boats alit with small candles that burned fiercely. Each basin was filled with trinkets and keepsakes from friends and loved ones.
Twenty-three luminous boats—one for each villager that had been swallowed up by the sky when the island adjacent to Mist's Reach had collapsed. Dozens of unrequited romances, lifelong friendships, family bonds… all reduced to nothing more than echoes in the dark.
Cael continued his speech in a world-weary voice, lines etched deeply into his rugged face. "Life… is hard, painful. Year in and year out, we struggle ceaselessly for our right to survive, to eke out a place for ourselves in this unfriendly world. Do not grieve for ones lost, for their fight has ended. They can rest in peace, now and forever."
The boats, eased along by an invisible current, wound their way across the river's glassy surface. They picked their way between jagged shards of wood and trailing strands of rope—the remains of the bridges that had fallen.
The village chief spread his arms wide, turning his eyes towards the violet moon overhead. "Horus, please accept the return of your children's souls, and guide them to their final infinity… wherever that may be." He murmured a final inaudible prayer, falling silent as the boats drifted out of sight.
I stared glumly at the water, listening to the villagers weep. I felt twisted up inside. Could I have prevented this…?
>This wasn't your fault,< Sentinel reassured gently over the link that we shared. >If you hadn't acted when you did, the results would have been far, far worse.<
>Mmh…< I glanced to the left, peering at Mitri. The taller girl stood at my side, shaking like a leaf. I was worried about her. In the hours since I'd returned to the devastated human settlement, she hadn't so much as said a word. Evecia stood further away; she'd at least provided me with a warm and crushing hug, whispering that she was relieved I was okay. I could see the hurt and pain in her eyes, though.
>Administrator?< the AI questioned hesitantly. >I know this is a tough time, but we need to prepare. As you know, the clock is ticking. When do you want to leave? We could set out right now… if you were willing, that is.<
>I'm not leaving until I talk with my friends,< I said firmly, folding my arms. >I can't just leave them. Not like this!<
>…Fine. Be careful though, administrator.<
I shifted nervously, feeling several eyes boring into the back of my head. I will. Steeling myself, I turned to face my best friend. "Mitri."
Her eyes, still shining with tears, locked on mine. "S—Sif…?"
I rushed forward, hugging her tightly. "Mitri…" I murmured softly. "I have to go… I have to go with Sentinel, to a faraway place, to make sure that this never happens again. Understand?"
The girl sniffed, wiping at her nose with a wrist. "Y—you're lea—"
"You're leaving?!" a voice exclaimed, aghast. "But you… but you were supposed to…"
It was Cael. Aside from the prayer he led, he'd been as silent as a statue for the duration of the ceremony. The village chief now stared at me open-mouthed, horror and betrayal locked in his eyes.
"I… I have to," I stammered, all too aware of the fact that I was surrounded on all sides. "If I don't, then this is just gonna happen again and it'll be even worse! I… I have to stop it!"
"Just like how you stopped this?" he shot back angrily. He was clearly fighting himself, struggling with some internal conflict.
I backed up, hands raised defensively while frantically appealing to reason. "No… not like that… I don't have any memories, I don't know how to fix it yet!" My heels kissed the cold and mirror-like surface of the river at my back.
"You're the administrator!" he thundered, taking a step forward. "The deity of this world! You know everything! I just need to know, what did we do to deserve this?!" A chorus of angry murmurs rose from the crowd at his back and sides. "Were our prayers not enough? Did we not believe strongly enough? Why?!"
Serafi placed a restraining hand on her husband's shoulder. "Cael, please, stop this. She's just a child!"
He swatted her hand away. "You saw how she grew younger in the space of a few hours only a few days ago! Having seen that, how could you possibly think that she's merely a child? Her true form could be anything. You know that."
"Alright everyone, just take a breath and calm the hell down," a familiar voice uttered sourly.
Sentinel fell from above, coming up short before my eyes. The small AI gave me a relieved glance before turning her burning gaze against the humans at her front. Oddly enough, I couldn't seem to pick out the source of her projected holographic form.
"Cael," she said in an annoyed fashion. "You need to stop. The administrator woke up with no memories or abilities of any kind. How could you humans possibly expect her to be able to fulfill that role from the start without training or guidance? That's why we have to go—and if we don't go, then you'll all die."
"Was that a threat?" he growled, taking another step. "And the administrator is a deity! Lack of knowledge means nothing to an entity with access to unlimited information." Dozens of eyes glared balefully at the two of us. I glanced to Mitri and Evecia for support, but they both remained motionless with downturned gazes.
The AI sighed. "You're misunderstanding me. The tower is entering the final phase of its life. It won't endure for much longer—months, at most. Once it collapses, there'll be nothing left of your little village, nothing to show that you were ever here. Is that what you want?"
"You knew?! You mean… you knew that something like this would happen?!" a woman in the crowd exclaimed fearfully.
Sentinel pinched the bridge of her nose, irritated. "…Yes and no," she admitted reluctantly. "Outside factors notwithstanding—" she cast a knowing glance in my direction, "—it was only a matter of time until something like this happened, though I had no way of knowing that your village would be affected. As for the ultimate collapse of the spire, well, I saw no point in burdening you with the knowledge that it will all inevitably end." She smiled grimly. "I'm a lot of things, but I'm not pointlessly cruel."
I made a small sound of disagreement, objecting to that notion. Because getting me soaked in that raincloud for no reason totally wasn't that…
"Nonetheless," Cael interrupted my thoughts, "through inaction, omission, and sheer negligence, you, the Tower Administrator, allowed twenty-three lives to come to an end—those who were our friends and family." His gaze cut into me like a scalpel. "I think that the two of you should leave."
"B—but… but what happened here was out of our control!" I sputtered in anguish, tears in my eyes. "We tried!"
A frenzied chorus of boos and hisses rose up in response to my protest. I could feel my heart breaking as the new friends that I had happily made distanced themselves from me.
I didn't see the incoming rock until it was too late.
Sentinel did, moving lightning-fast with a speed that was only fitting for a computerized mind. Her holographic body bulged and distorted upon impact, rippling like water as the heavy stone bounced off and fell to the ground.
"You will NOT harm her,< the AI snarled, glowering fearlessly at the enraged crowd of humans. I saw more villagers scooping up additional stones, inspired by the rebellious act.
>This is why I hate humans,< Sentinel grumbled, her brow furrowing. >Ruled by emotions and lacking rationality when they need it most. Administrator?< She cast a sharp glance in my direction.
"Y—yes…?" I whimpered, frantically searching for Mitri, Evecia, and Serafi for support. However, they had vanished amongst the angry mob. All I saw was rage and betrayal amongst the sea of faces.
>Stay behind me. Oh, and watch your head.<
The incoming howl of retrorockets drowned out the roaring crowd of people.
I was promptly knocked onto my backside with a yelp as something enormous slammed into the riverbank, spraying pebbles and icy water in every direction. The entity stood up on four legs, accompanied by the harsh whirr of servos and the snapping of gargantuan jaws. I released an involuntary gasp, recognizing the entity for what it was—Sentinel's largest tower guardian.
The machine towered above the hushed mob, glaring balefully at the now-fearful humans with sunken, glowing eyes. The horn on its elongated snout ignited with energy, tendrils of blue light writhing across the wickedly-sharp metal barb. The monstrosity grinned wickedly, the light of the flames dancing across its pearly white teeth. Each incisor was as large as my head.
>Stay back or you die,< the AI coldly addressed her audience. I quickly latched onto the machine's rear leg, feeling the thrum of machinery beneath its metal skin.
The line of humans broke and ran. Some hurled themselves into the river in a panic, making their way to the relative safety of the narrow bank on the other side of the gorge. Others pressed themselves into fissures in the cliff face, melting into the shadows. The remainder flung down their torches and ran, scrambling up the rocky path that led back to the village.
She snorted. >Good riddance. Administrator, stay close to me. It's too dark to navigate the islands right now, especially after the events of yesterday. The stone pathways between them will have likely shifted, so my mapping data will be useless. We should head back to the Alto and wait for morning.<
"Okay…" I sniffed, feeling desolated. Even though they'd tried to attack me, all I could feel was sorrow and regret to the human settlers that I'd come to care about.
>I'm sorry,< Sentinel said gently, the machine craning its head around to lay one massive eye on me. >I did warn you…<
"I know…" I wiped at my nose with a forearm. "Let's… let's just go…"
>Acknowledged.< The tower guardian snapped its jaws once. >Is the path back up to Mist's Reach clear? Can you see any humans waiting up there?<
I squinted into the gloom, blinking away my tears. "Um… I don't see anyone…"
>Then let's go.< With a crunch of gravel, we started the long climb back up the canyon wall. The ground trembled with every single one of the machine's heavy footfalls, joined by the sound of splintering rocks. I stepped tentatively along, wary of the thought that the path could give way under the tower guardian—and me by extension—at any time.
Miraculously, we safely made it to the top without encountering a soul. I nervously glanced about, fully aware of the fact that neither of us were wanted here anymore. The machine rolled its massive shoulders, presumably signifying that I was to climb up onto its back, and I obliged—though I had to be careful to avoid impaling myself on the spikes that lined the tower guardian's flanks.
Riding on the machine, we quickly made our way to the outskirts of the deserted settlement. The crippled wreckage of the Alto loomed ahead, resolving from the murky shadows amongst the gigantic tree trunks.
I should have felt relief, but all I could think about were my friends.
The cockpit slid open with a hiss, and I hurriedly dove in—to safety.
Dim lights flared up around the cabin, and the dashboard illuminated with Sentinel's solemn face. "You'll be safe here for tonight," she reassured. "This thing isn't flight-capable anymore, but the symphonic power receiver is still intact and most of the hull plates are still holding together." The AI smiled sympathetically. "You should get some sleep. No sense just sitting and sulking. What's done is done."
I nodded weakly, feeling the tears coming back now that the adrenalin was gone from my system. "But… what if they come back? What if they come for us in the nigh—"
"I'll keep watch outside with the AGRA-NX," she interrupted, pointing out at the machine beyond the canopy. It sat on its hindquarters, gazing out into the darkness with a silent glare. "At first light, we should begin to make our way back to the silvaplate. Some more tower guardians will meet up with us there, and we'll begin the climb immediately. There's no sense hanging around here anymore—not when our time is slowly running out."
"Okay…" I made my way deeper into the cabin, pushing my way into the rear compartment. Shedding my sandals, I promptly hopped into the single bunk recessed into the bulkhead. The bed was clearly designed for adult humans, as I felt dwarfed in it with my small stature. A hidden compartment in the wall popped open, revealing a small pillow and a thin cotton blanket. Sentinel killed the lights for me, and I wriggled back and forth with the provided bedding in an attempt to get comfortable.
Laying alone there in the dark, mind unoccupied, I was forced to confront the day's demons.
I want my teddy…
"Don't cry, administrator," the AI hushed. "We both did our best. Nothing else could've been done, and what happened… happened, I suppose." She was silent before adding something else in an almost inaudible whisper. "…You did fine."
The sentiment did little to reassure me. It took far too long for me to slip into an uneasy, fitful sleep… and even then, I was plagued ceaselessly by the vision of twenty-three candlelit boats, slipping off to infinity.
I'm sorry…
"Administrator? It's time to go."
I jerked awake, blinking groggily. My eyes burned and my head pounded like a drum. A yawn immediately escaped my throat. I'd barely slept at all. "Oh… Sentinel…"
The AI resolved before my eyes. With a wry grin, she snatched the blanket from my inert form. "Wakey wakey! Don't worry, no megaphones this time. Today, we finally get to work!"
I released another loud yawn, wriggling about. "Um… did anything happen last night…? While I was sleeping?"
Sentinel laughed balefully, drifting from my field of vision. "Funny you should ask, actually! Two groups of men tried to sneak in during the night. Though of course, as soon as they saw my big drone sitting outside, they ran off screaming." She giggled softly. "I'm pretty sure that the AGRA-NX's olfactory sensors caught the scent of literal poop in their pants. This whole thing may be a complete mess—especially that one guy's underwear—but occasionally you'll get little sparks of warmth that just make you feel great."
"Speak for yourself…" I pushed myself into an upright position, feeling so lost. Lifting an arm, I raggedly dragged a hand through my mussed-up hair.
"I know." She quickly reappeared, patting me on the shoulder. "It's better this way. You'll see."
I sniffed with disagreement, though I recognized what the AI was doing. She was trying to cheer me up. "Let's just… go, then."
The AI nodded quickly. "No complaints here. The sooner we get going, the better off we'll ultimately be. It's almost a complete certainty that the tower will start to rapidly break down as its collapse approaches. We don't wanna be caught in that."
I gazed quizzically around the cramped space, slipping into my sandals and absentmindedly stowing away the bedding. "What's gonna happen to this ship, anyway?"
Sentinel released a tired exhale. "Now that our names mean mud around here, and without anyone or anything to defend it… the humans will probably kill the Alto's systems and strip it for parts. Until that happens, though, we'll have eyes and ears down here no matter how far we travel."
"That's too bad…" I made my way up to the cockpit, giving the pilot's seat a loving pat before springing the canopy hatch and heading outside. I blinked like an owl in the morning sun, not used to the sudden radiance of the outdoors. Like a vast choir, a deafening chorus of bird calls echoed between the tree trunks, filtering through the viridian canopy overhead.
Heavy footsteps approached from behind, accompanied by a shower of loose branches and leaves. "Looks like it's all quiet for now. The village is in mourning now, so they won't impede us while we slip out."
I cast a reluctant glance at the wooden buildings visible through the trees, feeling a sharp pang of loneliness. For perhaps the millionth time, I fought down the urge to go running back to Cael's home. I knew now that it could only end badly.
With a miserable sigh, I turned to mount up on Sentinel's AGRA-NX tower guardian. I understood full well that I might never see this place again. But still, I didn't turn back to give one final, wistful look.
"Sif, wait…!"
I whipped back around. "Mitri?!"
"Spare meeeee…" Sentinel pleaded silently.
A flash of color emerged from the trees. It was none other than my best friend… and Evecia, Serafi, Ayden, Triha, and several other children whom I all recognized from around the village. All were clad in gloomy black articles of clothing. Mitri carried a familiar, fluffy shape in her arms—Cuddles, my stuffed teddy.
"You came!" I exclaimed happily.
I immediately found myself crushed under the weight of multiple bodies, subjected to a punishing group hug. It was a one-hit-kill; I dazedly tumbled onto the mossy ground, having lost my footing amongst the tangle of legs.
"Ow!"
"Mama, you're sitting on me…"
Triha released a deafening shriek. "Ayden, get your foot out of my face!"
"Why don't you get your face out of my foot… nerd?"
Whack! "Stop calling me that!"
"Geez, you didn't have to hit me!" the boy exclaimed angrily, sporting a bruise on his chin.
"Children, please," Serafi chastised, brushing the dirt from her apron as she rose to her feet. "Remember why we came here. Not all of us can afford to stay here long."
"What are you all doing here?" Sentinel asked stiffly.
Evecia knelt before me, grasping my hands tightly. "Those assholes can think what they like! We couldn't just let you go off on your journey without saying goodbye and wishing you luck."
"But…" I sniffed, "what about—"
The woman closed her eyes, a solitary tear trickling down her cheek. "…It wasn't your fault, sweetie. A lot of people around here buy into that, but I don't. I don't blame you. You wouldn't let this happen intentionally." Mitri nodded eagerly, wiping her eyes.
"What Evecia's trying to say, dear," Serafi added, reassuringly placing a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, "is that those of us who actually know you are on your side." She stared at the mossy carpet beneath her sandaled feet, distraught. "Cael… truly believed in you. Ever since I married him, he'd had a special place in his heart and mind for the legend of the Tower Administrator. He built up… impossible expectations, ones that you likely won't be able to live up to for a long time."
Leaning over, the older woman gave me a gentle pat on the head. "To summarize it… those who only knew you as the administrator you aren't were disillusioned with what happened. They lost their faith. But those of us who saw you as the child you are believe in you. We who came today know that you're not ready yet… but when you eventually are, you'll make things right."
Evecia opened her eyes, nodding sadly. "Serafi's right, kiddo. What happened was an accident. It couldn't have been prevented… it was just a stupid accident."
I was silent for a moment. I took a careful glance at the AI before speaking once more. "…It wasn't an accident. There was a monster in there—something called an 'Other.' It was one of the things responsible for the plasma bell's malfunction… and what led to some of the islands falling."
Sentinel's mechanical head whipped around with an audible crack.
>She deserves to know what her husband died for!< I argued in private.
>Fine,< the AI grumbled.
"What's an Other?" Mitri timidly asked.
"Good question," Sentinel said mildly.
I quickly recounted the events that had passed within the murky depths of the plasma bell. The children listened with rapt attention. Their eyes lit up with fear when I described the twisted monstrosity that had emerged from the mists. At Sentinel's urging, I left out the part about the strange, invisible entity that had spoken to me.
"That's so creepy!" Triha exclaimed as my retelling drew to a close.
Evecia and Serafi exchanged knowing glances. "Serafi, do you think it's…?" the younger of the two women breathed.
"It must be. It's the same name," Serafi agreed, nodding her head.
I peered up at the two in curiosity. "Um… do you know something?"
Serafi nodded subtly. "It's one of the old village tales, retelling the horrible events during a time period from more than five hundred years ago—known as 'Daylight's End.'"
"My dad already told me this story before," Ayden bragged, puffing up his chest.
"I remember this one…" Mitri mumbled, latching onto my arm. I tilted my head, leaning on her shoulder. Even despite all that had happened, her presence was gratifying and a welcome relief.
"Long ago," Serafi recounted, "our ancestors were distraught, without hope. The world had only recently been destroyed, Ar Ciel's surface having been consumed by the Sea of Death. Contact with other pockets of—"
>Sea of Death?< I questioned in private.
>…I'll tell you about it later. Long story short, it's what we call the layer of toxic clouds that covers the planet's surface.<
"—dwindling humans across the globe was sparse at best, and communications between them grew lesser with each passing decade," the woman continued.
"And so," she uttered in a solemn tone, "the wisest of us made the decision to leave. To depart the dying Ar Ciel, and search for a new home amongst the stars."
I gasped. "Wha…? Just… leaving all this behind?!"
>She's right on the money,< Sentinel confirmed. >In fact, that is Asciydria Tower's reason for being. The spire's current primary function is to act as a facility for the construction, supplying, and launch of colony-size spacecraft.<
>Wow… how did they launch them?<
I could almost picture the AI grinning. >It's simple but awesome. The majority of Section B's superstructure is actually part of one enormous launch system, taking up the bulk of the tower's mass, as well as the subsystems required to run it—power generators, shock absorbers, stabilizers, and much more.
>That launch system is called the space gun. It's a gigantic railgun that utilizes electromagnetic energy to accelerate payloads to incredible velocities… velocities high enough to escape Ar Ciel's atmosphere.<
I frowned, casting a hesitant glance at the spire's ivory bulk through gaps in the trees. >A… a giant gun? I don't see anything like that on the tower…<
>All components of it save for the barrel are deeply integrated with the tower itself. The aforementioned barrel gets retracted into a large enclosure when not in use,< the AI explained. >When the space gun's barrel is fully extended, it tops out at almost thirty kilometers in length. It's quite a sight to see!<
>I can imagine…< I replied weakly.
"That's right." Serafi picked up right where she'd left off before the private mini-conversation with my artificial friend. "However, that's when things went terribly wrong."
>As they tend to do,< Sentinel added dryly.
>How about joining the conversation like a normal person,< I huffed.
>Do I look like a normal person to you?<
The older woman shook her head wearily. "No one's really sure what triggered it; or if someone knew, it wasn't included in the tale for whatever reason. Nevertheless, what we do know is that before they could flee, the tower was attacked."
"This sounds oddly familiar…" Sentinel mused silently, now speaking out loud. I briefly cast a curious glance in her direction.
Right… she has that thing with her memories…
Serafi leaned in closer, her tone growing icy cold. "On the morning of the exodus, something rose up from the Sea to meet our ancestors—nightmarish monstrosities, sculpted with twisted flesh and driven by a ravenous and insatiable hunger.
"We called them Other—hostile creatures with mysterious origins, crude and bestial yet seemingly directed by an intelligent guiding hand.
"They broke across the floating continent of Aria like an ocean wave, completely unstoppable. Neither blade nor gun could stop the endless deluge, and no shelter could provide refuge for long. The situation deteriorated so quickly that our ancestors were forced to completely abandon the outside world, fleeing to the deepest reaches of the tower. Only there could they tenuously cling to life, safe from the creatures that clawed at the outer walls."
"You're a lot better at telling this tale than I am, Serafi," Evecia tiredly admitted, sitting down on a nearby boulder. She looked exhausted, both mentally and physically.
The chief's wife gave a polite nod to the younger woman. "Our ancestors were forced to cower in the blackness for years, wracked by tremors from the outside. Sickness and famine were rampant amongst the survivors, and many broke under the terrible living conditions." She lowered her head desolately "There was no light, no hope…"
The woman's face brightened. "But finally, after seven years of darkness, the Other retreated! After the better part of a decade spent trapped indoors, our ancestors finally saw the sun again."
>I knew it!< the AI exclaimed. >This is the first occurrence that I told you about when we were stuck inside the plasma bell, administrator. You know, the one from five hundred years ago that resulted in the deaths of thousands and the shattering of the floating continent of Aria.<
>Oh… I see.< "They just… left…?" I posed curiously, once more bringing my attention to bear on the two women and their young audience. "Why would those things just run away after all that?"
"It was the Reyvateils," Evecia replied, a ghost of a smile crossing her face. "They saved us back then, marching against the creatures at the tower walls. Under the withering power of their song, the Other were driven back… though it was done at great cost."
Her volume sharply dropped, forcing me to lean closer. "They were led by a woman named Iylia…" I couldn't help but notice the reverence in her voice when she uttered that name.
>Iylia… I knew that name once…< Sentinel breathed.
"Indeed…" Serafi agreed. "Not only had most of our ancestors vanished—along with much of our technology and culture, which died with them—but the tower had also been badly damaged and the floating continent of Aria was shattered into fragments, leaving it as merely a shadow of its former glory. We now call those remnants the Isles of Aria, to pay tribute to what once was. It was around that time when Mist's Reach was founded by Cael's ancestors."
"Okay," Sentinel hastily interrupted, drawing all eyes to the gargantuan machine that set next to the crashed Alto a short distance away. Her hologram sprung forth, making its way to my side. "Can we break this up? We have a long way to travel, and not much time. Every second wasted is another step towards the death of this world." She cast an analytical eye over my chest, making my skin prickle. It felt like she was undressing me with her piercing gaze. "Administrator… if I were you, I'd advise losing the dress. It's… uh, not exactly suitable wear for what we're gonna do. You should find something more robust."
"Um… robust?"
"I mean pants!" the AI screeched, rolling her eyes. "You can't seriously think that a tattered dress and sandals are proper wear for a journey like this?"
"Tattered…?" I cast a horrified glance down, aghast. Amidst all the commotion over the last two days, I hadn't even noticed that I hadn't changed even once. The dress I wore was frayed and filthy, stained with dirt and grease. The pale skin of my exposed midriff was visible through small tears in the fabric.
"Shield your eyes, kids," Evecia remarked dryly.
"Ack…!" I dropped to my knees, covering myself as best I could. In panic, I realized that all my clothing was still in—
"Gotcha covered, Sif," Ayden grunted, dragging an enormous burlap sack through the mossy dirt. "Mitri had a feeling that you'd want these back."
My clothes! Scrambling to my feet and stammering out a quick thank-you, I snatched the large sack from the older boy's hands, burying my exposed upper body in its depths.
"You might not wanna do that out in the open," Sentinel pointed out amusedly. The ground trembled as the massive tower guardian stomped over, shoving me aside and catching the bag in its teeth. "I'm taking this heap of clothes behind that big tree," she said, dragging it out of my grasp in spite of my words of protest. "Don't come back until you're wearing something functional, got it? Come back with a dress or skirt, and we'll be making the journey naked."
"Says the person wearing the robe…" Grumbling with frustration, I scrambled after the hulking machine, the air filled with stifled laughter from the humans at my back.
"H—how's this…?"
I stepped out from behind the enormous tree trunk, arms crossed nervously. My new garments rustled softly as a gentle breeze drifted through the clearing, shaking the leaves overhead.
Sentinel was the first to look, sharply raising her holographic head. I was rewarded with a terse yet approving nod. "Much, much better, administrator."
My new attire was a total one-eighty from my usual feminine style. A heavy cable-knit sweater, the wool dyed a stark white, shrouded my torso. Unlike my former turtleneck, this one was specifically designed to handle the punishing elements for long periods of time. A thin windproof shell covered it, formed with panels of black and white synthetic material. Above the double layer sat my favorite hooded cloak, the thick white fabric trailing from my shoulders. I nervously tugged at the clasp, making sure it was secured in place.
I'd forgone the usual skirt, my lower body clad in heavy and baggy charcoal-gray cargo pants that bristled with pockets and zippers. My survival knife dangled from a belt loop on my hip, hidden from sight. I dropped down on one knee, making sure my boots were properly laced up. There had only been one pair to choose from, a mid-calf pair of hiking boots molded from blackened leather. Clambering back to my feet, I shuffled towards Mitri and the other humans.
"You look ready for anything, dear," Serafi smiled. "That attire will serve you well."
"Yeah…" Mitri mumbled, clutching her mother's hand for support. Evecia nodded tiredly in kind, wearing a faint smile despite the dark circles that clung to her eyes.
"Skirts are stupid anyway," Ayden added, leaning up against a large boulder.
"I will literally kill you, Ayden," Triha whispered, resting against a tree and taking the weight off her weaker leg.
I wrinkled my nose in disagreement with the boy. "So… what now…?"
"Now we leave," Sentinel declared decisively in a receding voice, the AGRA-NX stomping away. "It's time to start this journey already, so say your goodbyes quickly."
I flinched, tightening my hands into fists.
I might never return to this place. Or worse… I'd return, only to find out that this place had been swallowed up by the sky. If I wasn't fast enough, or strong enough.
A hand lowered onto my shoulder, gently turning me around. I gazed up into Serafi's kind eyes. "Well then, dear… it's time."
I'm not ready to say goodbye…
I pushed forward, embracing the one who had housed me since I came to the human village. "T—thank you…" I whispered, tears rolling down my face. "Thank you so much for giving me a place to sleep, a place to eat… and for believing in me, too. Even though I let all of you down…"
"Oh, Sylphira…" The older woman's arms encircled me, compassionately returning the hug. "You were no trouble at all," Serafi whispered kindly. "You were no disappointment. You're still learning, and I know in my heart that you'll make things right. And," she confessed, shamefully averting her eyes, "I always wanted to have a child…"
"Oh…" I squeezed her tightly one final time.
She smiled warmly, drawing back. "Make Cael and the others to believe in you again. I know you can."
"I… I will!" I exclaimed, determined not to let her down.
Then I turned to face the rest. Mitri… Evecia… Ayden, Triha, and the few other children who had come to say goodbye.
Wait… I blinked uncertainly, seeing Mitri and Evecia in the process of strapping on rucksacks. Several of the children had brought a small number of foodstuffs, and were in the midst of passing them off to the two human females. "Um… what's going on…?"
"We're coming with you, kiddo," Evecia declared. Her face hardened with determination.
"What?! Back it up." Sentinel shot back over, clearly displeased. "You shouldn't come with us. You won't be able to survive at the extreme altitudes we'll travel to… and unlike the administrator, you're humans. You need to eat, drink, and sleep! You need time and intensive care for injuries to heal." The AI gestured towards me. "She doesn't."
"Just to the base of the tower, then," the woman fiercely pushed back. "Then we'll turn around and come right back here."
>Administrator, please don't…< Sentinel begged in private.
"What about your home?" I questioned, hanging my head. "Won't they notice you're gone? You'll get in trouble because of me…"
Mitri slipped her larger hand into mine, giving me a start.
"No, we won't." Evecia replied. "It's custom in Mist's Reach for the family of the deceased to perform a mourning ritual. In fact, it's not uncommon for a grieving family to not be seen outside their home for days. No one will question our absence. And… it'll be good for the two of us to get out of there." A tear trickled down her cheek. "I… can't be in that house. Not right now, not anytime soon. I can't stand it, sleeping in the empty bed that Chris built… the one we used to share…"
"Mama…" Mitri whispered, grasping her mother's hand.
"You can come!" I assured them sincerely, overjoyed that I wouldn't have to make the journey back to the tower alone. "Please… I really want you to come…"
>…Dammit,< the AI grumbled.
"…Fine," Sentinel relented. Her gigantic tower guardian stomped back over, making leaves tumble from the canopy in a torrential downpour. "Climb on up. It should take us only a few hours to make it to the silvaplate. Once there, we'll go our separate ways." She sounded all too eager for that parting moment. I wasn't.
I gently guided Mitri over to the AGRA-NX; the girl appeared overwhelmed by grief from her loss and fright due to the terrifying appearance of the machine she was to ride. Evecia wordlessly followed, her feet dragging in the dirt.
The tramp of footsteps quickly followed, and multiple arms wrapped around me. I yelped, shocked by the sudden contact.
The other children hugged me tightly, Serafi smiling kindly in the back. I felt crushed under the weight of my friends, and deafened by their endless goodbyes.
"Good luck, Sif!"
"Sif, we'll miss you!"
"Be careful, okay…? When you get back, let's play more Last Man Down!"
"Can you bring back souvenirs with you?" one hopeful child pleaded.
I giggled softly, reluctantly pulling away. "I will! And thank you… thank you, everyone!"
"Let's go already!" Sentinel thundered impatiently. Her tower guardian snorted with displeasure, making several of the children scamper back in silent terror.
>Sentinel, don't be a jerk…< I chided, clutching Cuddles in my arms as I clambered up the machine's flanks.
She drifted closer while I made myself comfortable on the machine's back, staring at me incredulously. "…You are not taking that bear."
I gasped, hugging Cuddles protectively. "But… but he's mine! And I love him!"
"You're the Tower Administrator! You're supposed to become a competent badass, not a thumb-sucking, teddy-hugging baby!" the AI whined.
"Leave Sif alone…" Mitri mumbled.
She sighed loudly. "Whatever. Let's just go." Mitri gasped as the machine rose to its full, intimidating height. It huffed, its enormous armored feet pulverizing rocks and roots beneath it as it struggled to rotate in the clearing. Its elongated horn dropped, revealing a gap in the trees—a trail.
"Safe travels, dear!" Serafi called out. "Come back to us, safe and sound!" Screaming children joined in for a final farewell.
"See you soon, Mitri! Keep your chin up!" Ayden yelled, waving both arms. I could see the tender concern etched into his forehead, the hardened lines around his mouth and the mist shining in his eyes. It was in that moment that I realized that even though he was cold, abrasive, rude… even though he cast an unpleasant shadow, he clearly cared deeply about Mitri. He would do anything for her.
"Goodbye, everyone!" I cried back, steeling myself for the long road ahead. "I'll… I'll keep you all safe! Nothing like this will ever happen again!"
"BYE, SIF!"
>Let's get out of here,< Sentinel uttered coldly, displeased with the human company that she was stuck with for now.
The AGRA-NX accelerated with a sudden burst of speed, wind meeting my face like a chisel. Trees rushed by, sunlight glittering through gaps in the leaves, and the smell of smoke and fish slowly faded from the air as we left Mist's Reach behind.
I tugged at the strange plant, which was anchored firmly in the ground. It didn't seem like it was going to give. "Are you… ngh! …sure this thing is edible?"
Sentinel spoke sarcastically, rolling her holographic eyes. "It's a potato. Of course it's edible! This, and other plants like it, grow all across the Isles of Aria. In its original state, after all, the continent was used as a testbed for hydroponics, various crop breeds, and the viability of creating a functioning biosphere from scratch."
"For the space launch…?" I questioned, gritting my teeth while I yanked on the stubborn plant.
"That's right." The AI turned her gaze towards Mitri and Evecia, who were digging through some underbrush on the far side of the windswept field of grass. "What the heck are you two doing squatting in the bushes, anyway?! You're supposed to be looking for food, not relieving yourselves!"
The three of us had temporarily put the trek to the silvaplate on hold, stopping to gather provisions. Some of it would go to Mitri and Evecia, who would need to make the long trek back to Mist's Reach. The rest would go to me. Though I apparently didn't need to eat to survive, it was a routine that I was vehement about maintaining. Evecia had also stressed the importance of carrying foodstuffs for the sake of trade. Many vagrants and travelers wandered the lower sections of the spire… and while Mist's Reach was by far the largest human settlement on Asciydria, it wasn't the only one.
"There!" Evecia announced triumphantly. She rose to her feet, holding an armful of small speckled mushrooms. Mitri followed closely with a smaller amount. "They don't call me a herbalist for nothing, you know. No one knows more about plants and fungi than I do. And," she pointed at an inconsequential patch of flowers at the tower guardian's feet, "there's also a spot of glacier-lilies right there. You can eat the bulbs raw. And some burdock over there… Sif, I'll show you how to grind this up for usage in just a minute."
"…Oh," Sentinel uttered lamely, clearly out of her element. "…Carry on, then."
The stubborn plant finally gave. I released a cry of shock as I tumbled backwards, clumps of dirt and potatoes sailing through the air.
>Are you sure these will work…?< I whispered. Heavy shadows slid across my face as I clumsily crept through the underbrush. The dense coniferous forest was alive with bird calls and the chirping cries of insects. The scent of cedar and pine filled my nostrils. A pouch filled with long metal darts hung from my hip.
>Sure they will,< the AI replied. >I use these flechettes as munitions for some of my more mobile tower guardians. All you need to do is throw the thing with enough force, and I'll manipulate its flight via internal gyroscopes and a tiny thruster assembly. Eventually you'll be able to hit targets yourself, but I'll act as a sort of aim assist for now.<
>Wait!< I hissed, waving a hand in the air. >I think I hear something…< I hunkered down in a large crop of ferns, arm cocked with a silver dart pinched between my fingers.
A small furry creature lazily scurried by, its chubby belly dragging in the leaves of the underbrush. With a wide, rodent-like body and squat legs, it shuffled across the forest floor, nose twitching. A large, fluffy, and prehensile tail followed behind it, strangely wrapped around a spherical stone.
I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, realizing that the creature vaguely resembled my teddy bear on some level. Sorry, little guy… but Evecia said that you're an invasive species, you taste delicious, and there's a whole bunch of you.
I inhaled deeply, zeroing in on the small animal… and threw.
The dart flew silently, straight and true… and thunked harmlessly into a nearby tree stump. The small rodent cast a terrified glance in my direction and scampered off, its treasured stone tumbling to the forest floor as if forgotten.
>REALLY?< Sentinel hissed, irritated. >A guided dart, and you still managed to miss?!<
>You're the one supposed to be guiding it…< I retorted, almost relieved that I'd missed.
I failed several more subsequent hunting attempts, my potential dinner fleeing into the underbrush each time. But at last, after a solid hour of watching my throwing arm become more and more accurate, growing more proficient with every throw…
>Hey, I got it!< I exclaimed, hopping to my feet. I scrambled over to the small animal that now sported a large silvery dart through its torso. Peering down at the carcass, I gingerly poked it with a finger. >Um… what am I supposed to do with it now…?<
>She just says to bring it back to her camp once you've hunted a few more, and she'll teach you how to skin and clean them. Oh, and Evecia says that it's called a 'nyo,' a small woodland creature originally native to Sol Ciel. Looks like it's a long way from home.<
I prodded the smooth and polished rock that had fallen from the creature's grasp. >What's with these rock things, anyway?<
>It's hardly important,< the AI grumbled after a moment. >Anyway, Evecia says—again—that the males present them to females as a sort of offering. It's their species' mating ritual.<
>Ah…< My curiosity sated, I resumed my hunt for more of the fluffy critters.
Whip! …Thunk!
Whip! …Thunk!
Whip! …Thunk!
Three darts later, I found myself with three more potential meals. >I'm a master at this!< I exclaimed happily, pleased with how quickly I'd advanced. The same technique that I'd used to effortlessly deflect Ayden's bean bags in Last Man Down was invaluable for my hunt.
>Not really,< Sentinel sighed. >You're just a master at aimbotting.<
I stared into the campfire in a daze, traumatized by the act that I'd just carried out. A few scattered flecks of blood stood out sharply on the white sleeves of my sweater—reminders of the animal that I'd just butchered out there in the dark, beyond the edge of the clearing where the metallic odor of blood wouldn't reach us.
Sentinel had angrily insisted that we should press onwards towards the tower, parting ways with the two humans before dusk. However, Evecia had been firmly insistent.
"Some of these provisions need time to dry and cure," she'd argued, digging in her heels. "We can smoke some of it overnight; it'll help stop it from spoiling. At first light, then you can leave." I'd vehemently agreed with the woman, uneasy and sad at the idea of leaving Mitri and Evecia behind. I wanted more time with them. I didn't want to leave them alone, not after what had happened.
"There," Evecia announced, striding back into the warm circle of light with blood spattered across her apron. She cast her crimson-dyed gloves aside, flexing her fingers. "The offal is buried. I'm sorry that I had to run you through the cleaning process… but you're gonna have to do it by yourself when you're on your own up there."
Mitri sidled closer along the collapsed log that was my seat, reassuringly wrapping an arm around my narrow shoulders. "Sif, are you okay…? Was it really that bad to watch?"
I should be the one asking you that. Your daddy died yesterday, and here I am being comforted by you… You're so much stronger than me.
I swallowed hard, blinking quickly. "I'm okay…"
If she were in my position, as Tower Administrator, how much better would she do? Would she have been able to save all those people…?
My eyes landed on the girl's mother, who was whistling while she ground up herbs in a wooden mortar and pestle. Evecia is handling it well, too. How can the two of them keep it together like this? Are they strong, or am I just weak?
The deafening crackle of thunder echoing off the islands jolted me out of my self-doubting trace. I jumped, crying out in fear. There wasn't a single cloud in the inky, star-studded sky.
A shadow passed over Evecia's face. "Don't worry, kiddo. It's just the Sea of Death… sounds like another lightning storm raging beneath the clouds."
"Ah…" I released my death grip on Mitri's arm, breathing an apology.
It was then that I remembered my query to the AI this morning.
"Evecia… what's the Sea of Death?"
She shook her head tiredly, crushing the herbs with renewed vigour. "I'm sorry, kiddo… history's never been my strong suit—you'd have to ask Serafi about that—and I'm not in the right mind for stories today. I have to keep doing this. Tending plants, cutting fungi, cleaning meat…"
Her eyes brightened with tears in the light of the flames. "As long as I can keep my hands busy, I can avoid thinking about him, and I can keep it together for just a little while longer…" I noticed for the first time that her hands were trembling.
I hopped to my feet, quickly stepping around the campfire to give the woman a hug. She sniffled into my shoulder, giving me a light squeeze. "Thanks… but don't worry about me. You've got a long journey ahead of you, and intuition tells me that it won't be easy." She cast her gaze upwards, towards the monolithic shadow overhead that dominated the night sky. "You know… when I was a little girl, I wanted to run away from home. I wanted to leave Mist's Reach, to climb that tower, to reach the summit. I bet you can see the whole world from up there." Evecia shook her head, grinning ruefully. "Even now, that curiosity hasn't faded one bit. Even though logic says that it's too dangerous, that a human can't possibly make it up there."
Her eyes lowered, coming to rest on me. "But… maybe after you've completed your journey, when it's safe again… maybe I can. Maybe we can." She reached out to one side, pulling Mitri close. The girl snuggled into her mother's arms, wiping her eyes. "Just the three of us. Wandering from camp to camp, never anchored down in one place—a new horizon every morning. The open road is a compelling thing… and maybe it's just what I need to deal with losing Chris."
I gave the two humans a small smile. "I'd like that…"
Though concern had wormed into the back of my mind. I'm a Tower Administrator… does that mean that I'm gonna have a bunch of scary obligations when I fix everything? If I have to maintain the tower, the machines, maybe even mess with communications and boss people around… then will I even be free anymore? To stay with my friends?
"On the topic of your question, administrator, I can give you a good late-night campfire story about that." Sentinel's disembodied voice echoed through the night air. With a sudden light show of particles that radiated across the color spectrum, Sentinel's holographic avatar materialized. She pulled up her hood, setting down on my shoulder and smoothing out her robe. I peered to one side, closely observing the small AI.
Looks like she's got a favorite spot now…
Mitri wrinkled her nose, squinting at the tiny luminous figure. "Sen… tinel…?"
The AI huffed, obviously less than pleased at the humans' presence. "…Yes. Me. Now, settle down and listen up, cause I'm not repeating myself."
She blinked slowly, her holographic form shimmering ever-so-slightly like a mountain stream. I could only guess that she was digging through long-forgotten files, separating them from what few personal memories remained attached.
"More than seven centuries ago, there existed two factions locked in an endless war—Sol Ciel and Sol Cluster." Her eyes sharply flashed in my direction, causing me to recall the civil war she'd briefly mentioned several days ago—the war that had come to a head because of the construction of the first tower.
"Now, let's briefly go back to Sol Ciel's tower, Ar Tonelico. On paper, it was to be a hub of invention and innovation, advancing the fields of science, religion, and phonetics. It was to better humanity and its newly-created child race, the Reyvateils. It was, essentially, poised to bring about a new golden age to Ar Ciel." She shook her head, face twisting into a bitter smile. "Fate, however, had different ideas.
"As I said the other day, Sol Ciel's and Sol Cluster's cold war finally broke out in extreme violence—in the year of 3031. That was 739 years ago."
"That's… so long ago!" Mitri gasped. "Do you really remember all this stuff, Sentinel?"
The AI gave an approving sniff as if she had been personally insulted. "Of course not. My software is designed to partially erase my memory cache every few decades so I don't advance too far beyond my confines. All I have left from that era are a few foggy recollections."
"Oh…"
"Anyway," Sentinel growled, "moving on. War finally broke out between us—Sol Cluster—and Sol Ciel because of… well, us. Asciydria Tower as a whole, to be specific."
"Us?!" I sputtered, unbelieving. "What could we have done wrong…?"
"We exist, that's what we did. By all rights, Asciydria Tower should not have been built."
"What do you mean…?"
The AI wrung her hands, glancing from side to side as if she were afraid of strangers listening in. "Weeeell… let's just say the modus operandi of our military was a bit shady, to put it lightly. Sol Ciel has always been leagues ahead of us in terms of tech. We had to find a way to keep up with them, lest they crush us under their boots like bugs. Subterfuge was the order of the day."
Evecia snorted disapprovingly, folding her arms across her chest. "So you stole their stuff, huh? That's real classy."
Sentinel shrugged indifferently. "Alright, human. What would you do if an immensely powerful and implacable foe was coming for you? Roll over and die? Beg and grovel on your knees? No. Our military did what they had to do, and that included the infiltration of the Ar Tonelico construction site and the primary research facility for Project REYVATEIL."
"Well, that explains why they hate our guts in old texts," the woman muttered.
The AI placed one tiny finger on my nose. "So, administrator… you, me, the tower itself… none of this would exist if it weren't for Sol Cluster-loyalist spies that had been planted into Sol Ciel's ranks. Asciydria's core systems are patterned off those of Ar Tonelico's. You yourself are a modified version of the prototype Origin that was being constructed by El Elemia's finest and brightest scientists."
I stared at the dirt between my boots, distraught. Is that really all I am…? Not only am I a machine, but I'm just an illicit copy of some other one?
"Granted," the AI added darkly, "while it led to the creation of you and me… the retribution from Sol Ciel was swift and without mercy. El Elemia, the region that held the leadership of the Sol Ciel alliance, was furious that their blueprints had been stolen and copied. Not only that, they were terrified over the implications of what we'd done."
"Terrified…?"
The AI gestured through the trees, pointing at the murky silhouette of the spire. "At the base of the tower, engulfed by the Sea of Death, lies an orb of light." I nodded understandingly, recalling the mesmerizing glow from when I'd seen the tower from a great distance.
"That orb is nothing more than a powerful hardlight shield… though what it contains is far more important. It protects a vital tower component known as the Orgel. It's a source of energy that supplies ninety-eight percent of the symphonic power on Asciydria." She gave a wry smile. "Even I don't know exactly what it is… and apparently neither did the engineers. No one knows what would happen if an Orgel happened to be destroyed… but it likely wouldn't be good. Ar Tonelico is entirely powered by an Orgel alone; yes, it outputs that much raw energy. So, you can see why Sol Ciel would be in such a panic that two of these things now exist… and one of them was in the hands of their enemies."
I gasped, stunned at the prospect of something like that—even as large as it was—having the potential to power a structure that stretched all the way to outer space without assistance. The haunting image of that light shining from the swirling clouds etched itself deeper into my mind, and I found myself afraid of it. What are you?
"It was at that time that Ar Tonelico Tower became a superweapon."
My head snapped up, surprised. "What?"
Sentinel shook her head wearily. "When you've got a structure that outputs unquantifiable amounts of energy, with the ability to shape said energy into whatever form you desire, and combine that with humanity's tendency to weaponize anything they can get their hands on… you get a superweapon just waiting to happen. Leave it to humans to corrupt something so full of hope and promise."
"They wanted to kill us…?" Mitri asked feebly, grasping onto her mother's hand.
"You bet they did. Originally they'd just wanted to establish a watchtower in a relatively-neutral region of central Sol Cluster, to keep a sharp eye on us. But after they learned that we had duplicated their Orgel, they shifted into a full war footing. We were ready, though. The military established countermeasures across our borders that would disrupt incoming streams of symphonic power." Her shoulders slumped. "Unfortunately, the humans over in Sol Ciel were a lot smarter than I likely gave them credit for at the time."
"How so?" Serafi questioned, looking quite irritated at Sentinel's continuous slagging of humanity.
"Because they figured out how to fire through the planet," the AI shot back. "Ar Tonelico was to be fired underground, completely bypassing our defenses. The stream of energy would pass through the crust and mantle of Ar Ciel, then strike Sol Cluster from below."
Very sneaky… I thought to myself.
"The top brass of El Elemia had only wanted to create a small earthquake at first, as a sort of warning shot to scare us into surrendering," she explained. "They targeted a remote spot in central Sol Cluster, as far away from Asciydria Tower as physically possible." The AI grinned. "Even though they were doing it because of Asciydria, the fact that we were also sitting on a device that could do who-knows-what if it were damaged made us completely untouchable."
Her face took on a pained look. "That said… that's where everything went horribly wrong."
"What do you mean…?"
"When Ar Tonelico released its stream of energy into Ar Ciel, something happened that Ar Tonelico's engineers never anticipated; the blast of symphonic power resonated within Ar Ciel's mantle. This resonance amplified the stream of energy, to horrifying levels.
"That release of energy was only supposed to cause a minor seismic event in the central Sol Cluster region of Syestine. Instead, the planetary crust beneath the small country erupted like a supervolcano, showering Sol Cluster with a rain of molten rock, ash, and plasma. It hit with so much raw power that the continent was almost completely annihilated, turning the landscape into a crater-filled wasteland not unlike the surface of one of our moons."
Mitri gasped in horror, a reaction that I mirrored perfectly. "That's… that's so horrible! What happened to all the people?"
"Only a few million people on the continent survived the immense devastation," Sentinel uttered, forlorn. "Sol Cluster's military and government was essentially eradicated, and so everything fell apart.
"But, as bad as all that sounded… things got worse. Much worse."
"I doubt things could get too much worse after all that," Evecia said dryly, feeding another log into the campfire.
"You'd be surprised. What if I told you that the immense stream of energy Ar Tonelico released into the planet cracked Ar Ciel's very core?"
"You're kidding…" Evecia breathed, eyes widening.
My lips parted slightly, recalling the AI's ominous warning that felt like it had been given a lifetime ago. I I thought that she was just trying to scare me, to get me moving faster! But if the core is really broken… then this planet could really be on the path to destruction.
I pulled my teddy bear closer, hugging it tightly. Sentinel really was telling the truth, wasn't she…
I felt my chest tighten, worry filling my heart. Though I wasn't fearful for my own life; I was scared for Mitri and Evecia, Serafi, and all the others. The humans, who had already lost so much… would lose everything.
"I'm deadly serious. When Ar Ciel's core cracked, things quickly began to spiral out of control. An act of violence bringing wanton devastation… it was a disaster that put us on the path that could only end with doomsday.
"Within the first few days of the eruption, the planet's magnetic field collapsed, quickly followed by the ozone layer. Because of that, there was little besides the atmosphere itself to stop the cosmic radiation that flooded in. Ar Ciel's climate, forever ruined, began to spawn new weather patterns and superstorms of terrifying strength." The AI shifted with discomfort, drifting off my shoulder. "The earthquakes and tsunamis that followed are actually part of one of the only memories I have left from that time period."
She gave a sad smile, staring into the light of the roaring flames. "I remember the ocean, clouds drifting across its shimmering surface. It looked like it had flowed from an artist's brush, all the different streaks of blues and greens… Anyway, Asciydria Tower is located on a narrow and mountainous peninsula in southeastern Sol Cluster. And when you're so high up in the sky, you can ignore the mountains and forests below and feel like you're alone in the middle of an endless and silent sea…" Sentinel sighed wistfully, folding her arms against her chest. "It's rare moments like that when I can really feel… free."
Then she shook her head, drawing back from what must have been a tantalizing memory—the sight of the open water, something that had been gone for centuries. "Thinking back… it was beautiful. I couldn't appreciate it at the time, because I hadn't quite reached sapience yet.
"I remember that fateful morning, when the sun was still low in the sky and the sea looked like it was aflame," she said, pausing for dramatic effect. "The first tremor from the eruption hit shortly after dawn. It was like… a war horn summoning the ocean's fury, to be poetic. The incoming tidal wave, over five hundred meters tall, looked like a vast mountain range on the horizon. I simply watched as it dashed against the shoreline, wiping out forests and coastal towns. And it was like that all across the globe. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning storms, wildfires… if you can name it, it probably erased a city from existence at some point. And let's not even mention the cloak of dust and ash that spread across the sky, blotting out the sun and plunging Ar Ciel into a volcanic winter. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide died in the space of only a few years."
Mitri yawned loudly, slumping into Evecia's lap. The woman petted her daughter's hair affectionately, still raptly listening to the AI's story. "So you've really seen it all, huh?"
The AI snorted. "Not exactly. I've always been limited to the tower's broadcasting range, which isn't nearly as vast as I'd like. And with the way my memories fragment, there isn't much I can even recall from the old world. Heck, seventy-eight percent of this conversation was solely comprised of historical records that I drew up from the archives!"
"So…" I questioned with a muted voice, noting that Mitri had dozed off and was snoring softly. "We were okay because of how far away we are?"
"No," Sentinel replied. "The entire world was devastated thanks to the eruption, which became known as 'Seven Bloodstains' due to the seven enormous craters created by the explosion. We only managed to survive thanks to the ion corridor." She gestured up into the void above, towards where those eight spinning plates would normally be orbiting the spire. "If it weren't for the spire's ion corridor providing climate control, all life here would've died long ago. The corridor protects all of us from extreme weather conditions and cosmic radiation."
"I get it…" I mumbled, remembering the name of the event from Mitri's book. "So that's what created the Sea of Death, then?"
The AI laughed harshly, looking rather sinister in the red light of the dying flames. "God, no! We're only just getting started. Seven Bloodstains was just the appetizer to the main course, which came nine years later—the Grathnode Inferia. That was the moment when the old world died, leaving nothing but the towers behind."
I cast a hesitant glance at Mitri and Evecia. The girl was fast asleep, and her mother looked like she wasn't far behind. "Um, actually… can we put this off till tomorrow or something? They're both falling asleep…" Though I was eager to hear more, I didn't want to leave my friends out of it.
Sentinel sighed, throwing up her arms. "…Fine, I guess we'll have plenty of time to talk while we travel. I could try and reason with you and bring up how you don't need to sleep like they do, but you'll just ignore it anyway. Do whatever you want." Her hologram vanished.
Evecia rose, cradling a slumbering Mitri in her arms. "Sif, you don't have to go to sleep with us. Sentinel was right… and you've gotta learn to get along with her. You're gonna be stuck with her for awhile, after all."
"Don't remind me…" I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Please…"
"If it's not too much trouble… could you open up Mitri's rucksack and get out her bedroll? Then I'll tuck the both of you in." She cracked a warm smile. "I originally sewed our bedrolls together with adults in mind, so the both of you will fit in no problem."
"Oh… okay!" I scrambled over the fallen log that had been my seat, fumbling around in the darkness for the pair of rucksacks left at the foot of a large boulder. A makeshift tarp fluttered overhead with a light breeze. Evecia had taken the plant-woven sheet earlier and lashed it to some trees above our planned sleeping area in case of rain.
Finding the rucksack, I gingerly extracted the animal-skin sleeping pouch and spread it out on a cushion of ferns. Evecia nodded her approval, kneeling down to tuck her daughter in.
"What about you…?" I questioned, moving closer.
"Don't worry about me," she said with a sad smile. "I'll turn in a bit later. I need to make sure the fire's all rigged up to smoke the provisions properly, and I need a moment to be alone with my thoughts."
"Ah…"
Stripping off my cloak, sweater, and setting aside my hiking boots, I carefully slipped into the surprisingly-warm pouch at Mitri's side. The fur lining was tremendously warm despite the chill of the night.
Startle, I found a fuzzy object being pressed into my shoulder. "Don't forget this, kiddo." I glanced up, surprised to see Cuddles being held by the woman. She smiled, gently pushing the teddy bear into my arms. "Sleep well. See you in the morning."
"Are you… gonna be okay?" I queried while hugging my teddy, still aware of her recent loss.
"I will… I just need time."
"Okay…" I bit my lip. "Um, I have a random question…"
She ruffled my hair and planted a kiss on Mitri's forehead. "What is it, Sif?"
"Who was Ilyia? She sounded kinda important to you, the way you said her name this morning…"
Evecia nodded slowly. "Ilyia was a Reyvateil… and she was my ancestor." She stood up, stretching her arms. "The blood of Asciydria's singers of old runs strong in my family line."
I pressed my nose into the fur lining of the bedroll, frowning. I didn't even know Reyvateils and humans could do stuff like that…! "What happened to her, though?"
The woman closed her eyes. "She… died like the rest when Sphilar Prism exploded."
"Oh…" I bit my lip. "I know a little bit about it thanks to Sentinel, but… why did Sphilar Prism explode? And why was it so important?"
Evecia shrugged, getting back to her feet. "I don't know, Sif, and that's the truth. It happened two centuries ago. We have our chronicles of the event, but not a soul knows why it happened." A rueful smile crossed her face. "I suppose that anyone who could've given you the answer died with Sphilar Prism."
"Mmh…" Seven Bloodstains, Grathnode Inferia, Daylight's end… the Other. The remnants of Sphilar Prism. That buried lab back at Mist's Reach. Sentinel's past, the humans' stories, my own fragmented memories… There's so many puzzle pieces, and so many different stories! And none of them fit… at least, not yet.
"Anyway…" the woman stretched, glancing back to the campfire. "Goodnight, Mitri and Sif."
"Goodnight, Evecia…!"
I listened to the sound of retreating footsteps, her silhouette fading into the night. Pushing my face into the warmth of the bedroll and holding my teddy closely, I readied myself for sleep.
Then Mitri released a muffled sob. Then another. Then another still. She tossed and turned, evidently roiling with some kind of nightmare. "Papa…" she mumbled, tears streaming from her closed eyelids. "Papa…! Come back…"
I reached out, gently patting the weeping girl's back. It'll be okay, Mitri… it'll be okay. I'll protect you this time. All of you.
I could have sworn I heard similar sobs coming from Evecia while she maintained the fire, and much later as she set up her own bedroll and drifted into an uneasy slumber of her own. But I wasn't completely certain.
"So… this is it, huh?" Evecia asked, staring apprehensively into the yawning doorway up ahead. Choked with heavy shadows, It led deep into the spire's innards. That enormous pipe organ echoed in the vast distance once more; I remembered the haunting sound from when I'd first woken up at Sentinel's makeshift med bay.
"Indeed it is." Sentinel's AGRA-NX stepped past me, approaching the portal. Crossing the threshold, the machine lowered onto its knees, its lights dimming as the hulking drone powered down into some kind of standby mode.
"Now what…?" I shifted nervously, tugging at my cloak. It was the moment I dreaded—having to say goodbye.
She tapped her wrist, humming lightly. "Now, we wait for the rest of the party to show up."
"Who what now?" I peered up at the AI, perplexed.
"Just wait."
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Something emerged from the shadows of the doorway on heavy footfalls, its indistinct form lumbering towards us. Mitri leapt back, stifling a cry of fear.
The newcomer vaguely resembled an AGRA-NX, if it were two thirds the size and stripped of its metal skin and bladed spines. Somewhat stockier and more powerfully-built in the shoulders, the tower guardian's back bristled with heavy kevlar bags strapped to its chassis. Its head was nothing more than a hexagonal frame packed with cameras, sensors, and bundles of complex wiring.
"The Type-14 light cargo transporter," Sentinel uttered proudly, her tiny figure appearing in the morning air. "This thing will take us most of the way up Asciydria. It comes equipped with two Type-1 airborne sentry units, but I'm keeping those grounded for now, for… obvious reasons. The AGRA-NX will take the lead to act as a deterrent to any potential threats during the ascent." She gave the three of us an odd look. "…Well?! Start loading it up already! Time is short, y'know! I keep saying that, and no one ever listens…"
"Right…" Evecia grunted, dragging along the palette of provisions that we had spent so much time gathering and preparing. It was composed of various herbs, meats, mushrooms, and a wide selection of fruits and vegetables.
The three of us laboured for over an hour, following the AI's guidance as she gruffly educated us on how to properly store our provisions. She had repeatedly stressed the importance of even weight distribution across the Type-14's frame, and enlightened Evecia to the presence of an internal refrigerated cargo storage space located in the unit's rear. The woman had made great use of the small compartment, storing plenty of meat and other perishables within.
Mitri and I had hurried into the tower, down the corridor that led to the storage room where I had first awoken with Sentinel. Not stopping to explore, and without so much of a word between us, we grabbed several of the molded plastic crates and brought them back out into the sunlight.
At last, the Type-14 was prepped. Most of its cargo space was now filled up with a wide range of supplies, such as foodstuffs, clothing, camping equipment, tools, medical supplies, and even a few spare parts for the three types of machines that would accompany me on my journey.
"Stop!" Sentinel announced loudly, raising both hands. The three of us froze. the empty crate I had been carrying slipped from my arms, tumbling into the grass.
She rubbed her hands together, eyes gleaming with delight. "We're ready."
Oh… My heart constricted. I knew what came next, what I had been mentally preparing for. I had to say goodbye to my best friend, to one of the few people who made me feel like a normal girl. I turned to face her, shivering. "Mitri…"
The older girl sniffed loudly, setting down her crate. "I know…"
I stumbled forward, bonking my head on her shoulder as I embraced her tightly. I hiccuped, my vision going blurry with tears. "G—good… goodbye…"
Evecia's warmth pressed into my back, the older woman hugging the two of us simultaneously. Feeling weak, I sank to my knees. The two humans dropped down too, refusing to let me go.
"I… I d—don't wanna s—say goodbye…" I sobbed, fighting back tears. I nestled into Mitri's chest, wrapping my arms tightly around her as if she were my teddy. "I don't wanna go…"
"You have to, Sif." Mitri choked out a sob of her own, and I realized that she was crying too. "Remember what you were gonna do…! It's your job, right? It's what you were born for."
"You can do it, kiddo," Evecia soothed, warming my limbs with her closeness. "I know you can. I look at you and I see an inner fire lurking just beneath the surface. You're stronger than you know, and you can do this. At least, that's what I believe. We're all here for you. We believe in you. And we'll be waiting for when you return."
"Okay…" I sniffed, reluctantly breaking off from the group hug. Feeling dizzy, I sought to calm myself down and still my shaking legs. Reenergized, I rose to my feet.
Mitri rose to meet me, giving me a sad but encouraging smile. "Sif… I want you to take this, okay?" She reached back to the nape of her neck, unfastening the necklace that she always wore. Removing it, she gingerly held it out in one hand.
Evecia gasped, covering her mouth. "Mitri…! Your father made that for y—"
"I know, mama!" the girl said fiercely, glaring at her mother with steel in her eyes. "I still wanna give it to her. And that's because," she turned to face me again, "Sif's gonna make sure that he didn't die for nothing. She's gonna keep his memory alive. So… I want her to have it…!"
I gingerly plucked the piece of jewelry from Mitri's hand. The black string was adorned with several beads made from carved cedar and polished marble. Additionally, each bead seemed to be studded with tiny flecks of rainbow light—some kind of crystal shards embedded into the piece. A large fractal crystal acted as the pendant, shining with every color across the spectrum.
"It's beautiful…" I breathed, tethering the piece around my own neck. "Thank you, Mitri… Thank you so much! And I promise… I promise that I'll make you proud!" I cast my eyes to Evecia, nodding firmly. "I'll keep you safe. I'll keep all of you safe! I… and I won't let something like that happen ever again. I promise."
"I believe you…" Evecia murmured, bowing her head. Mitri nodded warmly, giving my hand a lingering squeeze before letting go.
Heavy footsteps shook the earth as the Type-14 stomped past, heading for the doorway that led into the bowel of Asciydria. The AGRA-NX was active once more, peering at me with glowing eyes. That machine still gave me the creeps.
"It's time, administrator."
"Yeah…"
Rolling my shoulders, I hoisted my rucksack. The contents inside rattled around, bumping into my spine. Despite the weight, the pack felt lighter than air. I was ready for whatever might happen.
I inhaled through my nose, catching the scent of pine needles on the wind. I took in a couple more, savoring the clean air, for I knew that there wouldn't be much of that to be found within the darkness of the spire.
I took a lasting gaze at the scenery that I had fallen in love with, taking the greatest care to imprint every centimeter of it into my mind. I took in the nearby lake that lay across the meadow, its mirror-like surface shining with a picturesque reflection of the sky and the clouds that filled it. I gazed longingly at the distant mountain peaks, several of the snow-capped summits noticeably absent. A reminder of what I was unable to do, and what I couldn't allow to happen again. And I stared at what remained of the Perric family, who stood together at the center of the grassy field. A perfect snapshot of everything that I was leaving behind.
…Yeah. I'll do it. I'll save everyone. No more fear.
Lost in the moment, I gazed back at Mitri and Evecia. My lower lip trembled. I didn't want the moment to end.
But I knew it had to.
I had to be strong.
I clenched my fists, turning away. Without any further delays, I hurried over to the AI and her waiting machines.
Goodbye…
Together, Sentinel and I crossed the threshold into the spire, leaving the Isles of Aria behind.
