[Book 6: The Frenzied Tide]

The Human God’s parting statement and swift departure afterwards left many in the audience stunned. His words seemed to carry many statements, but what Gaius found odd was the fact that no one around him seemed to blame Scorpio for the Human God’s words.

Gaius finally understood what the Human God stood for in the nations outside of Ark City. His declaration of destroying the East could never be linked towards Scorpio’s tacit cooperation with the ruling authorities of the Eastern Territories. For one, few knew that Paragon Sasori was Scorpio in disguise, and more importantly, people apparently perceived the Human God as being above the act of petty revenge and struggle. It was to the point that there was little need to check his words, or that of any of the great gods in myth.

The fact that he’d openly taken responsibility for his actions helped that impression further. More importantly, however, was his last few words. Even through the screen, Gaius had the feeling that the great god was somehow trying to tell him something.

A shiver ran down his spine as the screen shifted to focus on Scorpio again, who looked back at the screen and nodded at it. In response, static filled the screen as its feed was cut off, and the artefact itself stopped operating a few seconds later. Gaius stood up, an empty platter in hand, and began to make for the exit, with the others following behind.

None of them spoke while on the way back. Isabelle was in deep thought, and when the boy spared Nakama the occasional glance, it was evident that she too had her own thoughts about the whole thing. Gaius was curious about the opinions his little sister had, but it wasn’t a good idea to speak out publicly right now.

A formless weight slipped off Gaius’ shoulders as they stepped into the doors of Sundown Residence, and he loosened his stiff muscles by stretching his arms after tossing the plater in his hand onto a nearby table.

“Well,” said Gaius, “that was…rather unexpected.”

“Which part?” Nexus asked. “The fact that the Human God didn’t smite Scorpio the moment they met, or the declaration of annihilating the Eastern Territories next January?”

“Everything, actually.” Gaius bobbed his head lightly, and watched as Isabelle ushered Nakama into the interior of the house to wash up. “From Scorpio’s self-admission to the Human God’s public acknowledgement that he himself engineered the Second Extermination. After all the smoke and mirrors…I didn’t expect him to be that upfront about it. I mean, he sealed off part of Scorpio’s memory and all too.”

“Like I said, it was probably to ensure that Scorpio stayed the perfect warrior,” said Nexus. “And…Scorpio couldn’t have been the only one to voice his doubts out. When he confronted the Human God, Anren must have sealed off his memory at that juncture…and he didn’t seem that unfamiliar with the sealing process either.”

“Scorpio probably would have carried this entire show out in a more hostile manner if he found out that his memory was sealed off in his right arm,” said Gaius. “Poor guy didn’t even have a clue.”

“So, Master Gaius, what do you intend to do now?” Nexus asked. “With that three-month deadline — a literal one — hanging above the heads of the Eastern Territories. Are we going to return to the Library?”

“And cut short Nakama’s education?” Gaius shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’ll never hear the end of it either. You’re able to return us to the Library anytime, right? We’ll stick around until the last few days, if the East hasn’t reached an agreement with Conrah by then. After all, negotiations are well underway.”

“I’m quite sure that this declaration has given the God of Water some leverage, however,” Nexus replied. “He’ll probably ask for more concessions, or be more difficult in negotiations in general. The East might lose Feng-Lang to the Lifespring too.”

“That’s not really my business,” Gaius replied. After a check that the door was locked, he walked into the living room. The two girls, as usual, were washing up, which freed Gaius to steal some of the ice-cream lying around. Nexus, who had also sensed this opportunity, hummed lightly as the boy entered the basement, where Sundown’s treasure vault was, and walked towards a wooden cabinet.

Cold air gushed out of the cabinet as the boy opened it. It was one of the many lifestyle artefacts Isabelle had brought months ago, and in days where ice-cream from Dai-Yukimono was purchased in bulk, this cabinet was filled up.

“Ah,” Gaius let out a small cry. “Looks like we forgot to drop by the ice-cream shop just now.”

“I’ll be surprised if you lot still remembered to nab some ice-cream after that declaration,” Nexus replied. It jumped into the cabinet — its actual name the Cooler — and hugged a popsicle wrapped in paper, dragging it towards Gaius. The sculpture was only slightly taller than its newfound dessert, and the sight of Nexus dragging the ice-cream was one to behold.

At its beckoning, Gaius placed it back onto his shoulder. “If you get it on my clothes, I’ll juggle you for ten minutes.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The two returned to the living room. At one corner was a motionless silver knife, but Gaius paid it no heed as he sat down on a chair. His mind raced as he savoured the cold sweetness, which served to blunt the dismay he felt whenever he replayed the Preserver’s final words. It wasn’t an emotion he wanted to display to Nexus, or anyone for that matter, but the Human God’s threat against what Gaius now viewed as a home of sorts had stoked a plethora of feelings within the boy.

A red haze threatened to overwhelm his state of mind, but the boy managed to keep the irrational temper that was rising within him. Chewing off a giant chunk of ice-cream, the boy crumpled the wrapper in his left hand into a ball, immersing himself into the frigidness of his snack.

His breathing returned to normal. He could feel the Terminus on his body more keenly than ever, a soothing influence on his turbulent psyche. Yes. I’ll carve a way through. As always. I…am the master of my fate and no one, god or otherwise, will take that away from me.