-- Aster --

"Violet? What the fuck?"

There Violet was staring with those emerald eyes, staring at me in absolute bewilderment. I felt the exact same, wondering how she even could make it through the limit. Anyone who would enter it would be either pushed back or...actually, I didn't know what would happen to a normal person. I was constantly absorbing the power, but I had learned to do that. Would the power just force its way into someone or would breathing the air be enough?

None of that explained how Violet was here, then I noticed behind her and off to the side was a jeep, and Edelweiss inside looking both confused and pissed. Looking at the shell of the vehicle I noticed some interesting plating that looked to be repelling the power. Keeping the people inside safe. That would have been nice.

I shook myself from my musings turning back to Violet, "Violet what are you doing here?"

"Aster, I should be asking you that." Violet started concerned, "How the fuck did you even get here? There is a literal duck ton of monsters in the way?"

"And Titans." I pointed out cheekily.

"And Titans. That just raises more questions!" Violet's voice rose in confusion and annoyance. I could see where she was coming from. I looked like I was dying. I could barely walk, and the last time she saw me they were leaving me behind a barrier with armed guards made to literally keep me in. By all accounts, I should not have been able to so much as leave the compound. Let alone make it through the massive sea of monsters.

I was in no mood to explain I had so much to do, and Violet being here wouldn't help. If anything it would hinder."It's simple...I escaped."

"How?" I could see her disbelief radiate off her, though it had nothing to latch onto, just a small cloud of it drifting off into the barrier. Huh didn't know it would do something like that. I was learning more and more about belief.

"I had a friend get me beyond the barrier," I explained.

Gears were turning behind Violet's eyes before I could see something I said didn't add up. "Friend you've only been in the compound, who the rot have you talked to?"

I laughed, "Tricksters." She was right by all accounts I shouldn't have actually had time to talk to anyone, but a few hours was apparently enough.

"Aster. Seriously?" There was pleading and surprise in her voice. I was actually shocked. I had never heard Violet actually concerned for me. She was usually just loud angry and annoyed, at me all the time.

My voice softened, and I attempted to explain, "I am. They helped me get out, I met them when we first got here, the hours before we were captured." Remembering the captivity I looked behind Violet and glared at Edelweiss,, before turning back, "Now what are you doing here? I thought you were killing titans?"

Her eyes narrowed, "How do you know that?"

"I saw you walk out of its ear. Gross by the way."

"How did you see that?"

"Flew over," I answered shortly. Starting to get tired of this.

"You know what." Violet tossed her hands in the air and took a step toward me. Or tried I watched her foot wobble, as she caught he balance, "Whatever."

"You don't believe me so you?" I said sadly. It would have been nice if someone believed me for once.

"No." She answered bluntly, "And we need to get out of here before your face melts."

"Face melts?" Is that what happens to low levels?

"That's what they said." She answered before reluctantly admitting, "And I'm starting to feel it myself."

"Yeah, the power around us will do that." I started to realize I hadn't bled off my excess and seeing Violet stumble slightly reminded me. "Oh, and thanks for reminding me."

I began to bleed off the insane amount of power into a construct, of the car Edelweiss was in. It was nice to have a reference. After doing it so long today, it did even take a second thought of concentration, becoming second nature as I summoned and molded the power. As it bled off I could feel the pressure building inside me lessen and I felt like I could take a breath.

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"What the fuck? You escape and just make giant toys. What is the point of this?" I think I broke Violet. "Whoa." Violet suddenly stumbles forward, before catching herself."

"Yeah I wouldn't get closer I'm actually right next to the barrier and it's pretty intense. I just need a few minutes to end the wave."

"Aster what... What is going on with you?" Violet stuttered out concerned.

"Just doing what I need to."

"We. We. Need to get you out of here."

"No, you need to leave. The power is leaking into you." I said pointing her to the car, "I need to finish this." I said tiredly.

"Finish what?"

"Saving the world and this might be the only place I can do it." I stopped. Did I really want to save the world? No, but this really wouldn't. "Actually, it's more like spiting it."

"Aster your not making sense."

"Did you know, I can see your disbelief?" I asked her seriously, as small clouds floated away from her, some finally touching me. Trying to constrict, and enhance the damage the power was doing to me. So strong was her belief that I should be dieing right now, because of it.

Violet's eyes narrowed, in confusion.

I flared my power pushing the belief away before it could do anything to me, "Yeah. These eyes can. See you so much. For intense I can see spells before they manifest. Flows of power, and recently belief and disbelief. It's kind of hard to describe but it flows off of everyone I like to think of it as blue. And it seems to affect the world around them in subtle ways. I know the last few days have made me seem like an idiot."

"Aster..." Her voice softened sounding hurt.

"No, no it's true and after this week no one will believe I'm anything but useless. And in this amount of power, I don't believe your recording. So no one but us will know what is about to happen. Though I may not survive."

"Aster if you die here you won't come back." She sounded panicked now.

"Really, well that actually makes sense." There was a very good chance this would kill me, but if it worked I would lay the groundwork for another. I couldn't let this continue knowing what I know. "But back to belief." I started.

"Aster, we don't think you're incompetent." She interrupted.

"Yes, you do I can fucking see it!" I shouted anger rising, Violet taking a step back in surprise. What did she know? What did any of them know? It has been only two years and the things I learned. I had to force myself to calm down, "Anyway it changes the world to suit the narrative. If you don't believe me just think of your WORDS and how they work.

Violet remained silent but I could see her think, and when her eyes widened,

"There I can see it in your eyes. Starting to get it."

It was then I started to ramble. I seem to do that when I think I'm not coming back, but who wouldn't.

"Rot I'm tired. So tired." I said looking over to Violet. I could see my words hit her hard, and she was fading in the power. It was a testament to her she could even still stand. "I wish you would just understand me." I knew the next words she wouldn't understand, the filter completely changing it. Maybe some would get through, but I didn't expect it to. "Ha, how could you? I've finally realized it the filter reads intent. So I can't give you all anything." That's when I started to layout the things I learned, just to say it.

"Like did you know the quest is fake? You even have the real one. But it's filtered so only those who pass the fake quest can read it. Oh, and keepers. Not sure about other level thirties." I saw Violet looking on confused, not saying a word. That's how I knew the filter was working, there was no way she wouldn't have a comment.

"Oh yeah, you heard me right other level thirties. I hit level thirty a few days after saving you all. I had to otherwise I would have been killed permanently. Did you know that? I was fighting for my life. And do you want to know why? I pissed off some piece of the shit old keeper. Yes, keepers are real and still mind-blowing right. Well, how about this. I know this because I had just been accepted as a Keeper. Shocking right?" Looking over Violet was looking at me like I was crazy. I was becoming slightly unhinged, I think. "Even if this wasn't all filtered out I doubt you would believe me at all." I felt a mad laugh escape my lips, "Here let me give you the secret to level thirty. I bet you are super curious. I know this entire city is, well here you go. Experience isn't enough. You need to learn to absorb power from outside of you, and you need a lot of it. Blight, I absorbed so much power my body was literally melting away right next to a crystal. Probably similar to what was supposed to happen here. So if you survive congratulations you might level a few times. Just get to a crystal fast." If she didn't I don't think she would survive at all, even leaving the powered zone. I had to give her something.

"You don't care. You can't hear me, and the filter is probably making me sound like nothing but white noise." The mania leaving my voice I was only feeling tired. Violet looked like she was about to say something but I didn't want to hear it. "I'm tired, Violet. So tired, and still have so much to do. If I survive, I'm going beyond the barrier. Yes, it's a barrier, separating us from the real strong monsters. I need to go. If I die I don't think il come back, though I might not come back from this. But, Don't worry I will."

"I" Violet started.

"When you see Bay, James and Rowan tell them I died. It might be a few years before I'm back." I stopped, wondering why I was being mysterious, I don't even know what was waiting for me next. "Or you know what fuck it tell them the truth. I'll be back. I don't need to be mysterious. I'll be back as soon as I can, might be a year or two though."

The world stilled, I turned and pushed into the barrier itself, I felt a torrent of power that threatened to burn me to ash. "Funny, if someone got a crystal right here, people could easily reach level thirty." With one final look at Violet, "I'll see you soon Violet." I FELL away.