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1089. The End of The Audition
🕑 Added 2025-10-14 01:14:09 +0000 UTCRaoul was taken aback.
That was a Mother Black Bird, a powerful Phenom of Contempt and one of the few creatures that surpassed the level 140 limit. Their beaks were known to crush metal armor like the shell of a peanut, and their talons could send a claw-like aberration that could level an entire street.
They were also documented to be the cause of various freak storms across Emvita over a hundred years ago, thanks to their powerful wingbeats. A squad of Black Birds was enough to level an ill-prepared town. But as terrifying as these creatures were, they were also responsible for the sharp decline of the Anid Nests across Emvita.
Raoul had personally faced one long ago, before she became a Star. She could not imagine anything short of a Radiant Ranked party or a Color to take just one down. Moons of course could blink in their direction and destroy one, but they were hardly representative of the everyman.
“CAW!”
“Sorry, I won’t be able to stay here.” Frost understood what that pleading call meant, and she stroked its face. “Your kind lives in Emvita, right? Maybe we’ll see each other again.”
“CAAAAW!”
Jury’s ears flapped and she translated the Black Bird. Translating animals was an inherent Ability of the Elves. Avian races were also capable of this with avian-like creatures. Given Jury had the ears of an Avian, one can assume she also possessed this Ability.
“Her children will be headed there once they’re old enough to take care of themselves. Are they also yours, Frost?”
“Just who do you think I am?” Frost blurted out. “I woke up in her nest. It makes me their sibling if anything. And that’s me being generous.”
“They’ll remember you. Who knows, maybe we’ll have friends in high places when we reach Emvita~”
“Would be nice to not have an enemy for once. Just don’t go teaching your chicks to eat people.” Frost lightly tapped on the head of the bird.
Raoul shook her head. It was bad move on Frost’s part. Surely, with her precognition, she would have known that this was going to anger the Mother Black Bird. They were vile and had excellent memory. Because of this, they were also seen as animals representing revenge – a similar motif of the Black Wings.
The bird raised its beak and pecked Frost’s head. The devastating blow was enough to cause the twins to shift off balance, as though they were shoved by an invisible hand. Frost only smiled at the bird, and she tapped its head again moments before, and to Raoul’s surprise, the bird nuzzled against her.
“Don’t go doing that to regular people either. They can’t survive a peck to the head. Do it slowly. Like this.” Frost demonstrated by bringing its beak to Joy’s head. “Lightly. Joy, do you want it to pat you?”
“Gam!” She eagerly nodded.
Frost’s method of interacting with people and creatures alike was nothing like Raoul had ever seen before. One moment Frost was a voice of reason. Another as a weapon of vengeance. And at times, another person living their life in a world of sorrows with her own baggage. Then, there was the Frost who lent an ear solely to listen to souls who had no outlet, and those who felt lost.
She was envious. Not because of the life she lived, but because Frost was never discouraged. Corruption was the ultimate change and a line that could never be returned. And yet, this person could enact the impossible. To her, Corruption was a transitory thing than a permanent change. To the world, it was the worst fate imaginable.
Raoul saw the beauty in Corruption. Because it was stable. It preserved… It retained.
But she couldn’t be so sure anymore.
“Raoul, you want a try?” Frost asked from out of the blue.
“Hah?”
She was an adult. Beyond that even. She could be considered ancient, wiser than most, with a mind that seldom indulged in childish pleasures such as a headpat. A cigarette was the only pleasure she needed, and even that did little but sate an old habit born from despair.
“Do what you want.”
“Not an answer, but I’ll take that as a no. Orth. Thras. Her hair’s in the way. Why don’t you push it aside for her?”
“Raoul.” (Orth).
“Your hair’s too long.” (Thras).
“Are you going to be like this forever?” (Orth).
“Is it disgusting? Does it make it easier for you two? Whatever body I’m left with is mine. I never cared much about it. Hell. It might be better to be like this. Maybe I’ll end up getting swept off my feet like the stories Ara reads.”
The twins shook their head.
“Raoul is Raoul.” Orth assured.
“Doesn’t matter the shape.” Thras nodded.
“You’re either foolish or your eyes are too clouded to realize what I am. My body will return. This is the body of the everyman. It’s not bad being on the receiving end of aid for once.”
She never remembered a hand that was held out to her that wasn’t her mother’s. Eventually, that same hand became the one that tried to keep her away from her sisters. Every hand that reached for her wanted something in exchange. Those solemn, silent promises of an equal exchange were severed in the tens of thousands to protect what was hers.
The Solemn Paw.
*
Their reunion was kept brief. Frost kept in constant contact with Nav and the Director. They’d be sent to the Grand Stage in a few minutes. Parts of the world on the horizon began to fizzle into gossamer fibers.
They were due to meet with Act X directly once they exited the Audition.
“From the Audition onto the Stage.” Frost murmured to herself. “And straight into another play. What are their numbers looking like?”
The Director
< Innumerable. Act X will not allow the twins to go unhanded. Friend, will you sever them? >
“I sincerely don’t want to kill anyone. It’s looking unlikely that I’ll be able to enforce it. Whatever transpires on the Grand Stage will weaken Act X whether we like it or not. On the bright side, we’ll have a solid foothold in their Atelier. At worst I’ll be returning to the Nexus with a new Aspect of Technology.”
Frost was certain they would not fail.
The Director
< A word of advice? Target the limbs. Most of Act X are of Insectid make. They are hardly in danger should you even pluck every limb off >
“I was thinking Overhealing and Serum L – Lacrimal will work too, but then, they can always cut off the excess mass and free each other.” Frost considered having Jury synthesize Serum L for this fight, but they didn’t have any on them currently. “Spread the word Nav.”
Nav
< Ber and her Seci Response team are aware. She promises to minimize the casualties >
The Director
< The bigger issue will not be Act X’s personnel per say. They have Corrupted under their control. Then, there will be the Anids >
“A tri-pronged attack doesn’t sound too bad.” Frost murmured. “We’ve dealt with a multi-fronted war before. My concern lies with Marionette herself. If possible, I’d like to see her immediately.”
The others were gathering around her as the horizon shrunk. Pale strands fell from the skies and latched onto the ground beside them. They wove a protective veil that dispelled whatever was devouring the world afar.
The Director
< Marionette will be expecting you >
“Good. It’ll be up to her whether she lets me through without putting a fight.”
The Director
< I believe her intention is to allow you to pass, but Act X’s messages are not instantaneous. I am optimistic that you, my good friend, will sort it out peacefully with our dear Beholder >
“Ideally, I don’t want to fight a Beholder.”
Frost wasn’t confident in her ability to win against a Beholder one on one. She was at a much higher level now, and her Blessing granted her an inherent advantage against any foe.
But a Beholder was still a Beholder.
However, if Marionette could not come to a compromise for the twins, then who is to say that she would not if the Fate Mechanism required her to turn her back against the Nexus?
Hence, Frost needed to assert herself. If she had to fight Beholder Marionette – which she did not wish – then so be it. Frost kept the counterfeit Serum S close to the entrance of her [Dimensional Storage].
[Shortform Warp] was fast enough as is. Frost decided against consuming it now since she was uncertain whether Act X would be aware of this or not. They couldn’t track her or predict her future.
However, she was in their territory. The [Web of Moirai] let one predict the future so long as one was within its web. Keeping it in a location cut off from here meant it could not be predicted.
I’ll use it when I need it. No idea what the Nex cost will be like, but [Nex Refinement] should keep it manageable. The twins are as important to Raoul as they are to the triplets. They’ve lost enough friends. Besides, the twins were among the first people I met when I arrived in this world.
The horizon shrunk until the world became a blank canvas. The group watched as their surroundings fizzled away to nothingness. Motes of their bodies steadily drifted away, starting from their legs.
I will not keep losing people.
Her vow was transmitted to the others. Res, Jury and Joy carried a similar sentiment. They had witnessed enough death and destruction to finally be in a position to learn from the past and pave way for a better future.
They faded away, their particles carried upwards by an invisible draft. Raoul was last left standing with the twins.
“Raoul. Did you cut or take the string?” The question came from Orth.
Surprised, Raoul shook her head and answered: “Neither. What did you two choose?”
Orth looked over at Thras. Their bodies had disappeared from the chin down. She’d soon have no mouth left to reply.
“We…”
Just as her mouth opened, her tongue fizzled away. No answer came from the two, and they were all raptured into the azure light.
Comments
Syringe
Thank you for reading!
BobpleTheGreat
Thanks for the chapter!
