0930 Hours.
After making sure dear husband Mezil slept soundly, Lucidia had the Magi escort Sir Grillbz Grillenn to her temporary hospital ‘lab’. That’s where she performs all the necessary treatment.
She had him lie in the Intensive Recovery Pod, without the liquids.
Tests were run, and the results read…
“Sir Grillenn,” She said, “There’s a notable increase in your stats.”
The fire champion sat up. “…I’ve become stronger?…”
“Yes.”
He frowned. “…At my age?…”
“It surprised me too.” The woman referred back to the numbers. “But you have the aptitude. Perhaps a fragment of your monarch’s power now flows through your dust?”
Grillby sighed. “…Such a waste…”
“Query: why do you conclude so?”
“…I intend to return to my bar… There’s no need for such power there…”
In other words, he wishes to return to a normal life. It’s the dream for most warriors who tire of their adventures. Living life on the edge was unstable, dangerous, and lonely after all.
Furthermore, Lucidia’s faith taught her that people were meant for peace. The glorification of war and their trade was an evil illusion that hid much grieving bloodshed. It would be wonderful if everyone could just lay down their weapons in the name of harmony.
Yet there’s another harsh reality before her… Countless souls did value might above all else. As long they exist, so would the need to defend oneself.
It’s possible that her husband may never retire.
“Warning: news of your prowess at The Spire has reached far and wide. I know of several individuals who would do anything to duel one such as you. And not all of them are honourable.”
Lucidia continued, “Suggestion: Register as a part-time trainer. This will encourage potential duellists to set a formal appointment with a referee. We would then supply monetary compensation for your time, counting it as a paid service.”
A clear sense of reluctance hung on Sir Grillenn’s face. It wasn’t out of laziness or apathy. Rather, it’s the face of someone who was denied the chance to turn over a new leaf.
“…Thank you…” The man bowed his head. “…I’ll consider it…”
I’m not sure if you should be thanking me.
Again, I’m the bearer of bad news.
Lucidia pretended to analyze more test results. Her real focus was on the knight of fire, trying to discern his body language.
Sir Grillenn is more of a victim than a criminal. she thought, He followed his orders to the letter, ignorant of the outcome.
After proving his valiance in many ways, Lucidia’s heart had softened towards this bartender. She was rather ashamed that she had deemed his bar unfit for patronage.
Sure, the bar’s menu may be irritating to her husband’s bowels. But on second thought, it wouldn’t hurt as much as that dreaded Jungle Curry. Perhaps the good drinks may even offset the unhealthy meals. At least, that’s what she hoped.
………………………
It’s for the better that he doesn’t participate in the Ocean Battle. The water isn’t kind to his species anyway.
“Query,” said Lucidia. “Will you agree to some short physiotherapy? I want to analyze your movements.”
The mention of exercise snapped him out of his dourness. Grillby stretched his neck, arms, and hands.
“…Hmm. That would be a good idea… Something to distract myself…”
Looking at her, he then asked: “…What about Papyrus?… Sans?… Are they alright?…”
Should I tell him the truth? Or should I hide behind confidentiality? I’m not sure which would be worse on his heart.
I think I’d better strike a middle ground.
Lucidia answered, “I have a treatment plan prepared for Papyrus. If all goes well, he will return to a normal life without problems. As for Sans… there’s a chance that we cannot salvage his losses.”
“…What did he lose?…”
“All function and sensation in his right arm, which suffered the brunt of the explosion. My attempts to fix the issue showed no positive results as of yet. His chances of recovery grow slimmer with every failed attempt.”
Grillby huffed. “…Only an arm?… Lucky him…”
* * *
1400 Hours.
King Asgore and Queen Toriel, they were the last surviving Boss Monsters from the pre-Sealing days.
Lucidia tried her best to remain calm, but she couldn’t shake the tension. The ancients always had a different view. They had the life experience that most of the short-lived could only dream of.
The Grandmaster rested his hand on her shoulder.
“Relax, daughter,” he said. “I’m here with you for this session.”
“I know, Grandpa. But…”
The memories of being judged and scrutinized haunted her.
“Lucidia,” said the Grandmaster. “If the heat burns too hot, there’s no shame in retreat. The Dreemurrs will understand that not every detail is under your control.”
“Open your ears and hear their hearts, and things will go smooth. I know it’s easier said than done. Nevertheless I know you’re a capable one.”
She had no confidence, but she complied nonetheless.
They arrived at the ward at last. Lucidia steeled her resolve before she passed through the door.
The Dreemurrs expected their arrival. Queen Toriel sat in her hospital bed with a regal poise, ready to attend what political battle may come her way. It’s clear from her expression that she had set aside her motherly ways.
As for King Asgore… He still had a smile. It’s possible that he’s trying to blunt some of the tension coming from his wife.
The King’s eyes brightened. “Howdy, Red Sage, it’s so good to see you again after a thousand years. Or, would you prefer the title ‘Grandmaster’?”
Lucidia was taken aback by the extreme contrast. So was Toriel, it seemed.
“Asgore,” she said, “We’re about to begin a serious negotiation…”
Asgore replied, “All the more why each participant must feel welcome. We don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.”
The queen squinted at first, but then relented with a sigh. “I suppose. The population loves you for a reason.”
Did I observe a slight softening towards King Asgore? Interesting.
Lucidia performed a curtsy of introduction. “I am Lucidia of House Berendin, Chronographer and Tactician of the Magus Association.”
The Grandmaster placed a hand over his chest. “And I am Lord Mezil of House Berendin, Grandmaster of the Magus Association. It’s a pleasure to meet you, King Asgore and Queen Toriel.
Asgore smiled. “Relax. I may have been King in the past, but I did technically abdicate my post awhile back.”
Toriel shook her head. “It’s a bit too late for that. Remember, we took up our mantles again for Frisk’s trial.”
“W-well, there’s that. Nevertheless…” The great goat beckoned the two to come closer. “I want to take a proper look at the lady who helped us out so much.”
Lucidia’s first reaction was to hide behind her father’s robes. When she realised what she had done, she stepped right back out.
Both elders couldn’t contain their chuckling.
“Oh dear me,” said the Queen. “I’m happy to see that you two have such a close bond.”
Asgore asked: “Has she always been such a shy flower? I wouldn’t have known from her sheer professionalism in the Crimson Hall.”
The Grandmaster patted her on the back, saying: “Ah, I apologize. Old habits die hard, as the saying goes. Lucidia used to do this all the time.”
“That’s so adorable! From a cute child to a fine woman. You’re very blessed. Oh, did you know my son used to tend the garden with me?”
“That explains why Prince Asriel has such a green thumb! Your affinity with plants is quite a marvel.”
The two fathers continued to exchange stories about their children. Meanwhile, Lucidia wished that she could die right there and then; the embarrassment was almost unbearable.
Queen Toriel cleared her throat. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I think we should save the reminiscing for another day.”
“I concur,” Lucidia added. “I’ll get the chairs and distribute the papers.”
A job is a job. We have to get it done.
Once Lucidia and The Grandmaster sat down, the negotiations officially began. The Dreemurrs had already read the documents this morning. What they held right now mostly served as reference.
Lucidia began: “The War of the Red Victory sprang forth from the murder of Supreme Judge James Pashowar. Kisei Yuzukitsui -- one of our best -- had betrayed us in an effort to usurp the Keys of Fate.”
Toriel pushed up her reading glasses. “And that’s how Supreme Judge Mezil Thyme came to be.”
“Yes, indeed.” Lucidia nodded.
Asgore frowned. “What did this ‘Kisei’ want the Keys of Fate for anyway? Was it to control the world?”
The Chronographer clarified. “That is just one of the possible applications.”
“As you are aware, the union of power requires two: a human and a monster. Though human SOULS are plentiful, the eligible monster candidates has dwindled over time.”
“Because of this, many humans feel that the Surface’s monsters have unjustified supremacy. This brews both fear and envy. Therefore… they began to experiment with Determination to find a way to circumvent the union.”
“Humanity then discovered that it’s possible to compound groups of regular monsters by injecting them with Determination. The unfortunate individuals lose their integrity, melting into an uncontrollable mass of consciousness. …Strength without control.”
“The next step was stabilization. Again, Determination became a key component. Please allow us to demonstrate with a mockup.”
Lucidia conjured a magical bone and passed it over to her father.
The Grandmaster planted his Mark on the bone. The injection of Determination liquefied the bone into an osseous lump of clay.
He said: “Take shape according to my ‘Will’.” Upon that command, the lump solidified into a polished white orb.
“If this were to be done on an Amalgamate, it would transform into a Philosopher’s Stone. It now has the direction, control, and portability for anything the bearer wishes for. I’m sure you had heard of legends of turning lead to gold. Let’s say… it wasn’t unfounded.”
Both King and Queen stared at the orb, disturbed.
First to ask was the King: “What…? I’m not sure if I grasp the science.”
Lucidia answered, “In a union, both sides magnify each other to overcome their weaknesses. A human SOUL is powerful, but has miniscule output… whereas a monster SOUL utilizes energy with great efficiency, but lacks the reserves to make full use of its ability. The Philosopher’s Stone replicates this dynamic.”
Toriel asked, “Can this be done with any Mark?”
“Negative. A Mark must first overpower the collective. In turn, a Philosopher’s Stone is limited by the number of victims it can claim. The stronger the stone, the stronger the ‘will’ required to create it.”
“How…” The King cleared his throat, struggling to continue the difficult enquiries. “How many civilians does it take to match my power?”
She answered: “About a tenth of Ebott Town. However, trafficking that many monsters to exceed the bare minimum would raise the alarm of law enforcement. The most discreet method would be to build a mechanism that engulfs whole cities. And that’s what Kisei Yuzukitsui did.”
“There’s only one means by which to finish a Philosopher Stone of that scale: The Keys of Fate.”
“And…” said Toriel, “Despite Judge Thyme besting Kisei in direct combat, you were unable to prevent the worst-case scenario.”
My biggest regret…
Lucidia did her best to not give into the pain.
“Affirmative,” she said. “The Ocean Amalgamate now poses a risk to us all. Your nation included. We thereby seek your assistance in putting the souls of the many to rest. The terms and conditions were already given to you earlier.”
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“As outlined therein, The Magus Association… no. I -- Lucidia of House Berendin -- will select a handful of champions to end the Ocean Abomination.”
“First, Frisk Nokluirvanoic Wanderstar shall be Supreme Judge Mezil Thyme’s aid. They will oversee the operation together, and support the forces with their powers as necessary.”
“Second, Doctor Alphys and Doctor W. D. Gaster are required for the reconstruction of the Seraph System. Though destroyed, my analysis concludes that your Tactician’s device is key in turning the tides of battle.”
“Third, Captain Undyne, as our spearhead. Her new mastery of Determination shows great potential. In conjunction with her innate water-type advantage, it would be foolish to exclude her from the battle.”
“And the last piece… a union of souls. King Asgore -- the sole remaining combat-ready Boss Monster -- is to become the living vessel for Cenna Caraway. She will give her life for the cause.”
“In return for your participation, we shall grant The Dreemurr Nation full autonomy, equal to Lemuria.”
Toriel took off her reading glasses. She folded them on the table by her bedside and… pushed the papers away.
“We’re sorry Lady Lucidia,” said the monarch. “We reject your proposal.”
…I had a feeling that it would come to this.
But Grandpa isn’t acting yet… Perhaps it’s still too soon to turn the tables?
Lucidia asked: “Care to explain the reasons behind your objection?”
The Queen of Monsters thus began. Her spirit rose and her stance grounded.
She said, “An autonomous self-governing nation sounds splendid. But, The Magus Association will not be able to fulfil any of their promises. Most of your resources would be spent in the upcoming battle. And, judging from the recent ‘terrorist’ attack… you may not have as many allies as you’d like.”
“From what I had learned from the Red Sage himself, human alliances tend to dissolve the moment their larger goal ceases to exist. In the end, you will be vulnerable to any foe: Gungnir or otherwise.”
Lucidia chose not to respond. She had a good idea of how Toriel thinks: arguing for the sake of pride would only lose her respect. This woman values a level head.
It didn’t take long for the Queen to continue: “Judging from your silence, I take it that you acknowledge your flaws. Nevertheless with so much at stake, I do not wish to end our negotiations so soon. Here are my counter-proposals. Fulfil these, and The Dreemurr Nation will reconsider their participation.”
The Chronographer nodded. “Please do so.”
“To start: The Magus Association may not control or coerce Frisk in any way. I noticed that you’ve planned their life since a baby. As much as I understand the need to nurture such talent… I have learned from experience that being too strict does more harm than good.”
“Experience?” the Seer asked back.
“Yes.” There was a flash of grief on Queen Toriel’s face. “Every child that I had let go… died. So, I thought the best thing for Frisk would be to keep them under my watch, in the Ruins, for the rest of their lives. It is not much different from a prison.”
She does have a point…
“Your Majesty, I agree that Frisk should have a personal preference in their future studies. They may continue in their current monster syllabus if they wish. All we ask is that they maintain their duties as Crimson Keeper.”
Despite the leeway, Queen Toriel wasn’t happy. Lucidia wondered what she did wrong.
“Lady Lucidia,” she said. “You seem to be under the impression that I’m speaking about their education alone. I’m afraid that’s not the case. My second objection will make this clear.”
“The document states that ‘The Dreemurr Nation will support the Spring Mission efforts via supplying and approving all necessary personnel’. If we agree to this clause, it means that you will be handling all logistics. Am I correct?”
“Correct, Your Majesty,” Lucidia replied.
Toriel said, “Doing so will not command the love and loyalty you need. Perhaps Surface monsterkind had hardened enough to accept indirect command or mere policies. But, not us. We still follow the old ways, where the citizens elect and serve by their hearts.”
“Thereby, I say: let King Asgore become the fire of their furnace, and the whole of the Dreemurr Nation will fight for your cause. In return for our entire population, we request that you give pardon to our foolish mistakes of old. Sans Serif’s included.”
Can I really trust the population to handle a crisis this severe? They’ve been living under a literal rock for a thousand years.
But… more manpower isn’t a negative point. We might require other expertise...
Lucidia thus replied: “I shall consider the reinforcement proposal. As for the pardon, however, I’m afraid I cannot guarantee it at this moment. Even if we manage to secure such a clause, it will never extend to Sans Serif.”
Queen Toriel slammed her hand on the mattress.
“Preposterous!” the matriarch exclaimed. “You ask that much of us, and you still cannot give a full pardon?!”
Lucidia responded as calmly as she could. “The plea of ignorance extends only to the Underground times. Therefore, it applies to King Asgore Dreemurr, Doctor W. D. Gaster, Doctor Alphys, and Sir Grillbz Grillenn.”
“On the other hand, Sans Serif committed high treason on the Surface with full knowledge of the consequences. He will be trialled accordingly.”
Huffing, the Queen said: “Is this how you treat a messenger of truth? Frisk, my very own child, said that Sans had warned us all. Inevitable doom waits beyond the horizon, Tactician.”
“I do not believe that’s the only outcome,” Lucidia replied.
The other was unimpressed. “Hmph. I expected more than willful ignorance from you, Lady Lucidia. I certainly do not agree with Sans’ methods. But, I would never doubt his findings! This is a matter that drove the most laid-back man in my entire Kingdom to execute the most desperate of plans.”
“To make matters worse,” Toriel continued, “You demand Asgore to be on the front lines? With Frisk? And sacrifice Cenna? I will not let you send my whole family to their graves!”
Patience worn thin, Lucidia dropped the polite pretense. They want cruel logic? Then they will get it.
“Your Majesty,” the Seer said. Colder in tone. “You do not understand the scale of this impending apocalypse. It’s not something that could be avoided without sacrifices. Failure will end the world. Even if you barricade yourselves under the mountain again, your nation will not escape.”
“Escape? Sacrifices?” Toriel scoffed. “Irony is a bitter comedy, Lady Lucidia. You are trying to raise leverage on us, yet you yourself are helpless against the political machinations of public opinion and Gungnir threat.”
“Is this the limit to the Keys of Fate? Will Frisk be plunged into the same despair? As mother and Queen, I will do everything in my power to prevent Judge Thyme from dragging my child down into his personal abyss.”
Lucidia stood up from her seat. “Enough with the veiled insults against my husband!”
Now, after a long period of watchful silence, King Asgore sprung to action. He got out of bed and stood in between the two parties.
“Ladies, ladies. We’re getting too heated here. Please, let’s not hurt each other out of frustration. I know what you two are thinking. ‘It’s easy for you to say’. But, I am asking for peace because it’s anything but ‘easy’. This… could be our toughest decision yet.”
Though the silent tension remained, the flames diffused. Both Lucidia and Toriel took a step back.
The Grandmaster’s staff tapped against the ground. He stood up and approached the King.
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid we’re at an impasse. Though Queen Toriel brought up many valid points, my daughter’s words ring true as well. Neither proposals are satisfactory.”
King Asgore smiled. Although it’s slight, it’s sincere. “I’m sorry for putting you and your daughter through such a grilling. Red Sage, would you be so kind as to give us another night to ponder?”
“Certainly, old friend. These are weighted decisions, ones that cannot be made in haste. We shall make our leave now, Your Majesty.”
The King’s reputation for his gracious warmness lived up to the hearsay. He escorted them to the door in person, sending them off with the same hospitality as he would have given on his own grounds.
As for the Queen… she remained in her bed, conflicted.
In the hospital halls, and far away from the Dreemurrs, Lucidia sighed. “I have failed you again, Grandpa.”
“Daughter, you’re being too hard on yourself.” Said the Grandmaster. “Negotiations of this sort rarely succeed on the first try. Even someone like Queen Toriel got swept up in emotions.”
“The Council wouldn’t think so.” She lowered her head, staring at the ground in defeat. “Mother wouldn’t think so.”
And Toriel reminded Lucidia too much of her own past…
The father took her hand, holding it secure in his gloved grip. “We understand, dear. Your husband. Myself. Gaelic. And Cenna. We are all on your side. Plus I’m sure at least one of your new friends will support you too.”
Lucidia tilted her head. “Which new friends?”
“You have not realised that yet? Well, you’ll soon see. Come, the day wanes. We still have work to do.”
* * *
1940 Hours, evening.
Papyrus had somehow managed to secure a pen and some printing paper. The flower children were the first suspects.
Whatever it was, he had his brows scrunched hard.
It appears that Papyrus is working on something. I wonder what?
When he saw her, Papyrus perked up with his usual cheer. “FAIRY GODMOTHER, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO COOK AN ARATET WELCOMING FEAST?”
One blink. Two blinks. Then, Lucidia drew out the longest sigh of the day.
He started to look worried. “YOU… DON’T KNOW EITHER?”
“Please explain from the beginning as I apply your suppressors.”
Lucidia had him sit on a chair. The bed would be more comfortable, but she needed 360-degree access to his skull.
For now, she would just apply a normal Arcanagram. Any advanced implants will have to wait until she had access to her own ‘True Lab’.
First, the top…
Needle-thin osseous matter formed at her command, each of them packed to the brim with Lichborn programming. Since the current Arcanagram was meant to be temporary, a surface-level insertion should suffice. Papyrus won’t feel anything more than a slight tickle.
While she worked, Papyrus explained that he attempted to initiate diplomatic relations with Aiden of Aratet alone. It resulted in a cooking challenge that’s way out of his league.
Lucidia said, “You know that Aiden had set you up to fail, right?”
Papyrus whimpered. “I’M AWARE OF THAT NOW. I’M SO SORRY FOR MAKING THINGS WORSE.”
“Then, why do you still try?”
“OH, THAT’S SIMPLE. SO I CAN WIN HIM OVER FOR REAL! SURELY, HE WILL NOT THINK OF ME AS A SIMPLE SKELETON IF I CAN JAPE HIS JAPES. ALSO THERE’S NO WAY I COULD LEAVE FRISK ALONE!”
Lucidia chuckled. “Quite determined, aren’t you? That’s… not a bad thing.”
“DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING?” he asked. “EVEN A SMALL CLUE IS AWESOME.”
“Hmmm…” The woman mused out loud. “The Aratet welcoming feast is reserved only to those they trust. It’s not easy to earn that kind of respect if you’re an outsider.”
“HAS ANYONE TRIED TO RECORD IT?”
“They refuse to let anyone film the feast. Whatever information I have comes from written journals at least two hundred years old.”
“WHY ARE THEY SO SECRETIVE?”
Lucidia paused for a moment. Her heart was conflicted: would it be right for Papyrus to hear more about the Surface’s dark history?
His shine. It’s so bright. I don’t want him to lose it either. Sans Serif, your desire to shield your brother is a temptation in itself.
Yet, it’s wrong to keep him ignorant.
She resumed her work. “Other than agriculture, the Aratets worked as mercenaries. Bodyguards. Assassins. Their allegiance was not based solely on money. Rather, it’s based on one condition: the employee must never pry into the source of their power.”
“Nations rise and fall. Yet, the employment clause remained constant. The outside world rarely mattered to them.”
“POWER?” Papyrus asked back. “YOU SPEAK AS THOUGH THEY USE MAGIC.”
“…They do. You can say that they’re the most magical of all Gungnir. It’s often DEMON-based, but that doesn’t change the fact.”
He gasped. “T-T-THEN WHY DO THEY HATE MAGIC-KIND???”
“They treat their power as a sacred blessing of their gods, used only when the situation calls for it. There’s no fun and games with those abilities.”
“On the other hand, the Magi see magic as a science. Tools. Forces. A neutral part of nature, no different than the laws of physics. They see our lack of reverence as heresy. Monsters take it one step further as means to express their emotions. It can be for work. It can also be for pleasure. Games. Sport.”
Lucidia frowned. “Perhaps the Aratet had a grain of truth.”
“SUPERFLUOUS NONSENSE!” Papyrus protested. “MONSTERS ARE MADE OF MAGIC. HOW ELSE CAN WE SHOW OUR EMOTIONS? IT’S LIKE COMPLAINING ABOUT HUMANS PUNCHING!”
“Well… unregulated punching is indeed illegal in most places. You can kill a human in one strike if it hits the heart. Or the head.”
Papyrus raised his finger for a moment. Then, he lowered it. “…I HAVE UNDERESTIMATED THE BRUTALITY OF HUMAN MUSCLE ONCE MORE. PLEASE CONTINUE THE STORY, MISS LUCIDIA.”
Though reluctant at first, her Kindness swayed to his wishes. “Decades ago, their land fell into civil war. Their old government collapsed from corruption. Anarchy ruled the land, from there famine rose.”
“The Aratet became scapegoats due to their secretive ways. It didn’t help that many were once hired by the fallen government. Filled with hatred, the many tribes rallied the support of the powerful and ambushed the villages, causing the first in a wave of genocides.”
“ONCE WASN’T ENOUGH?” Papyrus’ voice wavered.
“No,” Lucidia replied in a straightforward manner. “Once the Aratet were scattered, the people turned against each other for other reasons: both simple and complex. It further devolved into a multi-part war. If my husband didn’t end it with the Keys of Fate, they might still be fighting today.”
The sweet soul tried to hold back his tears. Yet, she heard the sniffling of sorrow. “NO WONDER DAYTON WAS AFRAID OF EVERYONE…”
“His paranoia has its reasons. It’s… the same for us Surface monsters.”
Part one, done. Lucidia moved to the front. “Stay as still as you can, Papyrus.”
The second part involved the area around the eye sockets. The Lichborn had inherited a human’s sensitive eyes too; getting an accidental poking won’t be fun.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ACTUALLY?” It’s a question that would appear sooner or later.
“Seeking a replacement for your scarf,” she said, “You have experienced my secret weapon twice, and in both times you were administered magic-imbued accelerated healing. Despite our best efforts, you still sustained scars. Determination leaks out from places where it shouldn’t.”
“BUT… BUT…! I WANT TO BE A BADASS NINJA WITH MY MOM’S SCARF!!!”
The unexpected comical tangent tickled Lucidia’s funny bone, making her burst into a chortle. It’s even funnier now that she had watched enough ‘anime’ to understand his logic.
Once recomposed, Lucidia said: “Hmm, it would take a while for you to completely heal. You might have a chance to be a ‘badass ninja’, after all.”
“YES!!!” He’s so excited, he almost bounced off his chair.
“Please hold still. Otherwise you might get poked.” A different topic should keep him occupied. What could she ask…?
“Mind if I ask you a question? How much do you know about your Awakening? When did it first activate?”
“UM…” Fidgeting with his fingers, Papyrus explained: “WEIRD THINGS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I ZAPPED MYSELF WITH AN ELECTRIC TRAP. THEN I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MY EYE WENT CRAZY WHEN I WAS A BABY. SANS HAD TO SEAL IT, AND THAT CAUSED SOME WEIRD BACKFIRE TO MY NOGGIN. UNCLE GASTER WAS SO SORE ABOUT THAT INCIDENT.”
“You poor thing, suffering so many accidents. Please be more careful.”
It’s a wonder that his Eye didn’t shatter.
Let’s see… the Awakening lasts for exactly 168 hours. But, my intel states that his instability lasted only for ‘six days’. I always wondered why his particular period was so short. It turns out that he had spent one day Awakened as a child.
Lucidia kept silent until she set the last of the foundation. If all works well, she would improve on this draft as the cornerstone for a more permanent implant.
Now, to detail the refinements.
“This confirms my suspicion. Otherwise you wouldn’t have achieved Ascension with such ease.”
“IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE EASY?” he asked back. “MISS AUNT HAS ONE. MISTER MAGUS TOO. AND UNDYNE. AND GRILLBY. SANS HAD TO CHEAT, BUT HE REACHED THAT LEVEL TOO.”
“In a room full of geniuses, brilliance becomes mundane.” she noted, “Besides, Captain Undyne and Sir Grillenn didn’t achieve Ascension. Those power-ups were of a different nature.”
“OH.”
“To explain it in plain English, you were born without natural limits. Your Eye’s power outgrew your body unchecked. That’s why you had such an early Awakening.”
“If no action was taken, you would have died. Or become a vegetable: your mind lost in spacetime long before you could develop a grounded reference.”
“SANS… DID THE RIGHT THING AFTER ALL?”
Lucidia scrunched her brow. “‘Half’, I would say. He was a novice and he used a textbook template. If anything went wrong, he could have killed you instantly. On the other hand… Doctor Gaster might be tempted to use different, more experimental methods.”
“ONE PERSON HAD PRO SKILLS, AND ANOTHER HAD PRO DECISIONS.”
“And you needed both. Not one or the other.”
“WHAT ABOUT YOU?” asked Papyrus. “WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?”
“That’s a bit unfair since I have advanced equipment at my disposal. But, if I had a patient like you at current time… I would first redirect the excess Determination and magic to a burning device. It can be a machine or an Arcanagram. Then I would apply a slow-forming Seer’s Seal. By making the process more gradual, it would minimize the chances of a recoil.”
Papyrus’s face glowed in awe. “WOWIE! THAT SOUNDS BRILLIANT! YOU MUST HAVE HELPED MANY, MANY PEOPLE. I’M SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF FRIENDS!”
…Friends?
………………
Tears obscured Lucidia’s vision, forcing her to stop her work.
“OR YOU’RE LIKE THE OLD ME, UNKNOWN AND MISUNDERSTOOD?”
“No,” She muttered. “No… I am feared. Resented. Hated by my own people. You would too, if you know what I have done and how I had failed.”
The younger skeleton, as great as his name, held his fairy godmother’s hands with warm reassurance.
“IN A ROOM FULL OF CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINALS, DUBIOUS DIFFICULT CHOICES ARE MUNDANE. THE GREAT PAPYRUS WON’T HOLD ANYTHING AGAINST YOU.”
He tried to wriggle his brows, then remembered the unfinished treatment and didn’t want to ruin it.
“I’M SURE THIS ‘ALMIGHTY’ PERSON WON’T EITHER! I MEAN, SANS WAS AWFULLY RUDE. YET HE DIDN’T GET ZAPPED TO DUST!”
“SO. PLEASE DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. WHEN THIS CHAOS BLOWS OVER, I WILL SERVE YOU MY ULTIMATE SPECIALITY: THE REUNIONGHETTI, BEEF-MAYBE-EDITION! NYEH HEH HEH!”
What sweet simplicity you have. Have we made the matter of sin too complicated?
Could you change even the Gungnir’s heart, I wonder?
“YOU KNOW…” he said, “ABOUT THE OCEAN BATTLE… I’VE ALWAYS SEEN EVERYONE FIGHTING TOGETHER AS ONE. ME. YOU. SANS. FRISK. THE WHOLE TOWN. FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD!”
It raised an alarm. Did the scarf fail? If that was the case, it’s doubtful that her new handiwork would last long.
With worry in her tone, Lucidia asked, “Was it a vision?”
“NAH. JUST MY IMAGINATION. BUT WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF IT COMES TRUE?”
That was a relief. Lucidia forced herself to smile. Though her spirits weren’t fully lifted, she appreciated his efforts.
“As it stands, I’m not sure if that unity can ever come to fruition. It might be just a dream…”
“WELL,” Papyrus grinned. “IF I COULD BE A SCIENTIST IN A PARALLEL DIMENSION, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”
Papyrus oh Papyrus…
Ah, I shouldn’t be so pessimistic.
She then finished the last of her weavings. “There. You can take off your scarf now.”
The fabric was cold and damp from all that head sweat. What a clammy, icky texture.
“I… think I’ll have this laundered.”
Her personal phone started to ring.
Is it Mezzy? Perhaps it’s poor Anise getting overworked in a sub-functioning lab?
The number… was from Cenna. If that’s the case, it had something to do with Frisk. She excused herself from Papyrus and went to the corner to answer the call.
“Hello?”
On the other end of the line, Cenna chimed in: “Lucy. I recommend putting aside any mess-causing containers in your hand right now. Sure, you got your Blue but better safe than sorry.”
“I’m fine. What’s the problem? Has Frisk suffered critical injuries?”
“Nawh man Frisky is all frisky! They’re A.O.K. Eating just fine too. Just in need of a shower, really.”
“That’s excellent news. Then, why do you sound so alarmed?”
“Because Gael discovered The Six.”
More puzzlement. “Their corpses are in the morgue. What are you talking about?”
“Yeah but you see, their SOULS a.k.a Psychia are trapped in the Soul Eaters a.k.a Cheaters of Death a.k.a Ebott Goldenflowers soooooo… help, please? Like ASAP a.k.a right now???”
There might be no sleep for Lucidia tonight.