Muse smiled softly at the girls, adjusting a highly complex machine that had already hijacked the internal communications system of their craft for the benefit of those not present. Baruch was walking through the halls of their ship offering various snacks and drinks to the rest of The Count of Thirty.
Muse eventually settled and asked, “Would you like me to answer all of your questions or would you rather I simply answer the ones you ask?”
Hepta sat with barely contained anger, remembering what Ett had told her. Looking at the walls of this place, seeing the entirety of the cosmos laid out on its walls, strange relics and hidden schemes put in display cases like trophies, she couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Ett spoke firmly like a mother questioning an injured child, “Start from the beginning. What is this… Atelier?”
Muse spoke in a comforting tone, “It is @-Layer. And we are specific with that for a reason. While a very small difference to the ear, there is a significant difference in meaning to those with greater awareness such as myself and my brother. As for our origin,” she took a sip of tea and continued, “My brother and I didn’t join until he had already begun his quest, our involvement being a repayment of a favor to a friend. While all members know each other’s true names, we use code names to encode messages. And we use them for everything. Even his labels for all of you were code within code for your own protection, should you have chosen to help us.”
Zwei felt chilled by the idea, Cero grabbing her elbow reassuringly. Ett asked again, “That is interesting, but doesn’t answer my question. What is this quest he founded this group for?”
Muse smiled and nodded, “That is a question some in this group even still have, but the honest truth is a man obsessed with liberation. Freedom from what was and the chains that try to restrain the will of man. His goal is to liberate as many as he can from Fate and Death, fully aware of the potential consequences. In fact, he has sworn to take responsibility for them when they arise. Given he spent his entire life enslaved to the will of another, I cannot fault him.” She stood and walked over to one of the walls decorated with things that are but never were. “The irony of his goal of liberation is that he is shackling others to his goal. Manipulating them to his will, releasing them only when his purpose is done. Pure and noble or selfish and hypocritical. It doesn’t matter to him and won’t stop him.” She turned back for a moment to smile at them, “But once the Ziegfried has finished its journey, the chains holding his heart to this quest will be broken and he can truly live his ideals without hypocrisy. Unless fate should have other plans.”
Kuntaret chimed in, “He has more goals than simply that ship, but he does often refer to their progress in my updates like it is a clock. I just wish I knew the context.”
Muse nodded, “He has kept it to himself in fear, but I can tell you the path he is walking if you all wish to know. From there you would each make your own decision. Some fraught with tragedy and pain, others with adversity and conquest. While the mundane remains a choice for you all, you carry too much of your mother to ever consider it.”
Hepta shouted, “Don’t talk like you know us! We just met.”
Muse jolted and was quick with an apologetic tone, “My lack of manners isn’t from familiarity. My brother and I literally see the world different than you. It is by a grand design in the cosmos itself. The full story will come another time, but we are two of six. To put it simply, time is but an infinite thread, all possibilities woven. I am able to see where each road ends. Baruch can see each road that will be taken. Your friend asked us to aid him so he could be certain that each choice was taking him to his intended liberation for all, including himself.”
Shi asked coldly, “So you expect us to believe that he is some tragic misguided-“
Baruch shouted from the ship, “He knows his path well.”
Shi looked over her shoulder, pondering the words that were said. Muse spoke up again, “He has already reached a tragic end. This, as horrid and obsessive as it seems is, to him, more than just a low point. This is his penance, responsibility, and redemption. A man twisted by the injustices of the world into a monster now seeking to use what vicious anger remains protect instead of destroy. Himself and all others shackled to a fate beneath them.”
Zwei walked up to the displays, seeing a picture of some smiling adolescents, a red haired girl among them striking her eye. “Who is this?”
Muse said elegantly, “That is Queen. Before the event. What happened may have saved her life, but came with other obligations that he and Bishop have been trying to free her from since. They will discover how to break those chains, but her body cannot be salvaged. Not that I believe she minds.”
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Ett asked, “You said you could explain why he measures time with the Ziegfried?”
Muse nodded, “Indeed. There are events that must transpire for the liberation he envisions. The Fall of the Goddess, Shattering a Great Mind, The Dragon’s Ascent, and The Vow on the Throne. When these have all come to pass, he will finally break himself free from his past and truly be reborn.” Hepta scoffed quietly, muttering something under her breath which Muse laughed at and responded to, “No. You lot were not. My brother was aware of you and I have seen more than I care to say, but The Count of Thirty were released from their chains on a whim. One he didn’t fully understand himself, but had to come to pass. Tak’Nasi would never the mistakes she will if you all were never released.”
Kuntaret asked, “Can you explain each of these steps?”
Trinta shook her head, “I don’t know why we would want to know the future. What if we ruin the plan? What if we mess it up by asking?”
Muse laughed and shook her head, “My brother and I differ from our siblings in many ways. What you worry about would never come from us. All we say will not change what is to come. In fact, we wouldn’t be speaking at all if it was not what must occur.”
Ett narrowed her eyes, “Why are you so confident of that? Don’t we have free will? There is no way to stop us.”
“Because we aren’t making a decision for you, contrary to interpretation.” Baruch returned from his snack trip, seemingly annoyed, “My sister has finally be able to act on her attachments so excuse her daring.” He cleared his throat, “Free will does not mean you have infinite choices. All living things have a nature. A will, heart, and spirit. This propels them forward. Once propelled, unless an outside force changes things, beings will continue on this course. This itself limits the options. His quest, for example. He could abandon it at any time and open a coffee shop, ignoring the larger cosmos and leaving this life and his knowledge behind. But it isn’t in his nature. He will continue this quest until the final step. The same way, you have many options ahead of you, but your own will and determination will always prevent you from seeing or acting on the full scope of possibility. Our minds discern these natures and many other factors and allow us perfect clarity as to the road ahead.”
Hepta went to speak and he spoke for her, “No one can control me!”
“Of course I can’t, Daughter of Tak’Nasi. But I can see every possible move you will make for the next century and will always know before you do. I’m artificial like all of you, but built into the fabric of reality itself. That said, any questions about those events I ask you visit upon my sister. I don’t have the heart to share my part.”
Ett cleared her throat at the shock and nodded, watching Baruch leave the room. “Please, share what you can so we can make an educated decision moving forward.”
Muse nodded, “Of course. The Fall of the Goddess will happen when her domain becomes her fate at the hands of those who once worshipped her. Betrayal and defacement of her most holy abode. As it lay in ruins, scattered as trash, those lost shall be mourned as her servants finish their final sacrifice at her altar.
The Shattering of a Great Mind shall pass when all illusions are ripped away. A liberator will come, betrayed by one among the many. When all schemes have been laid bare, a great mind will rise within the chaos, but at the pinnacle of their power a lethal fault will break their genius. All that remains will be scars and ruins.
The Dragon’s Ascent will be swift, spreading chaos among order and uncertainty within the cosmos. His blade will show no restraint and his decisive action will destroy peace. As he rises into conflict and cuts away all doubts, his power will be recognized. Once his rulership is secured, the beginning of the end of the way things are shall begin.
A Vow made long ago upon the throne shall see itself fulfilled as a Phoenix is reborn. This renewal shall signal the new era in the darkest of moments. Then all that was shall be with what now is, and a new age of uncertainty and Hope shall unfold.”
She smiled and spoke less vaguely, “These are what must pass for his quest to complete, communicated as clearly as possible given the situation.”
Shi held her head, trying to puzzle it out while Zwei walked up to one of the cases. Shi clarified. “So, these sound like horrid things. A goddess being betrayed and a temple in ruins. A genius being broken and nothing being left. A dragon destroying peace and signaling the end times. The Darkest of moments.”
Zwei spoke with pain in her voice, “This is the sword.” She looked upon the lunar blade that had once entrapped her. She could feel it reaching out to her through the glass. Calling to her.
Muse nodded, “It is. Bishop worked hard to understand it. I informed him that when you all came it would leave with you. He made some arrangements and some modifications.” Baruch came out with a scabbard marked with odd markings in a spiral pattern down its length. There was an open padlock without a keyhole seemingly made of ruby at its mouth. He approached the case, opened it and slid the blade into it, locking the blade into it with the padlock. Handing it to Zwei, Baruch nodded once before walking away. Muse continued, “Any may carry it safely now. Since it will be some time before you are reunited with your mentor, Sabre will serve as their own form of training until then.”
Hepta demanded, “Why give us all this stuff? The info, supplies, the sword?”
Baruch sighed, “Because we are where you get them from. All of this is as it was meant to be. Cero took a few photos before Muse motioned them all to leave. Baruch explained, “Those who will join will return. The rest will go on their own ways. Return when your hearts have decided.”