8. Godframe

Godframes. Humanity’s most potent weapons against the Ashen. Weapons of unknown origin, wielded by the strongest of the Awakened.

And Lucas is supposed to be a Bearer?

Lucas slowed his breathing to calm his emotions. “So, what’s the plan?” he asked.

“As I said. To commit treason,” the Director said very casually.

“…Right. Of course,” Lucas said. He almost forgot that Mrs. Livia nor the Director hadn’t yet addressed that part. So he listened patiently.

“SPECTRA will look for Godframe Hades for you, as well as find more information about Hades being the King of the Underworld. This will involve tracking information, as well as finding people and experts who may have some obscure knowledge with Greek mythology. But as it will be done without the League’s knowledge, it will be composed of trusted people who already knows about your Mark – the Hummingbird Unit,” said the Director.

Mildred, Soren, Lucy, Adelia, and even Cale all nodded in response.

“Except for you, of course,” said Director.

Lucas frowned and waited for the Director to explain further. But there was no more of that further explanation. And he hated how the Director always assumed operatives to immediately understand what he may have implied. Aren’t the intelligence community supposed to be about being very specific with details?

So, he was left to battle with the idea that his friends were risking their lives for him while he was left to do… nothing?

“Haven’t we already established that you will tell me every––” said Lucas.

The Director interrupted him. “We’ve only established that you are owed an explanation. We’ve never established a change of plans.”

Before Lucas could respond, Soren, who had been quiet for a while, spoke up.

Soren must have noticed his expression. “Don’t get it wrong, Lucas. We’re not only doing this for you. If a 13th Godframe does exist, that’s a game changer in our war both against Lewisia and the Ashen,” he said. “You also mentioned about your Mark being a beacon, no?”

“That’s right. That’s what Hades said.”

Soren nodded. “Our mission also involves finding out whatever that means.”

Lucy was eating a cup of ice cream. She’s been eating that pretty much the whole time. Where did that even come from? “I don’t know about him. But I’m doing it for fun,” she said with a shrug.

Mildred told them to shush.

Cale remained quiet as always, but his eyes remained as observant as ever. Nothing almost escapes those eyes.

“I understand what you’re saying, Soren. But,” Lucas said as he directed his attention back to the Director. “While it’s indeed not through my own efforts that I gained this Mark and the power that comes with it. The fact remains that I’m already a Class III. So, it eludes me why I’m supposed to remain idle,” he said.

“It’s, I admit, quite the convoluted plan. I doubt you would understand,” the Director said. “I only ask for your trust and understanding. In the future, all shall be revealed. But not now.”

Lucas clicked his tongue. You’re not ready. You won’t understand. “Then allow me to understand,” he insisted. “What could be so complicated after all I’ve already heard? If it’s a plan that risks my friends’ lives for me, then please, allow myself this burden. You seek my trust, then this is the least I could ask of you in return.”

“…Fine,” the Director said after a long while. “First, no one said anything about you remaining idle. But as I said, for the time being, you will do as you’ve always done. Complete your missions and train.”

Lucas shook his head. “I understand. But, why? Why am I not supposed to join them?”

“You will be a bait,” replied the Director.

“A bait?”

“Your new Mask. Avernus.”

“…Right?”

The Director sighed and expanded on whatever he meant. “Let us speak casually.”

“I would prefer that,” Lucas replied.

“We’re killing two birds with one stone. First, contrary to your expectations, 37 will not be promoted, because that'll raise many questions. Avernus is a new entity, because there’s just no way for us to explain to the world how you skyrocketed to Class III in such a short amount of time. We could allow that to happen, but that would require us revealing your Mark, and I do not believe this is the best time to do so.”

“And what happens to 37?” Lucas asked.

“He will die in a year, because 37 and Avernus, at some point, needs to have existed at the same time.”

Lucas nodded. “To avert any suspicion.”

“Aye. But you don’t have to worry about the specifics.”

“Right… and that’s ironically convenient too,” Lucas said. It should be easy to create a new identity in the form of Avernus, because the identities of both Primes and SPECTRAs are hidden anyway, including to top bureaucrats and government officials.

And they cannot say anything to change this, because the system simply works–– SPECTRA have always remained a pillar of the League. Both domestic and foreign.

So, no one knows that 37 is Lucas Hale, and no one knows that Lucas Hale is a Prime. As far as the public and the government are aware, Lucas Hale is just an average boy who happens to be the son of Dr. Alana Hale.

As for the more specific details on how SPECTRA kept their identities hidden, Lucas never had to worry about that.

“And the second–– bird?” Lucas asked.

“The assassins. They know about the Ring of Avernus, and we still have to find them, somehow. We need to find out what they know about it, and if they know more than we do. There’s a reason they risked stealing it in the first place,” the Director said. “And, by donning the same name as the ring, and showing off your unusual abilities…”

“They will look into me,” Lucas completed his sentence. “But how do I know when or if they’re doing that?”

The Director shook his head. “You won’t. It’ll be my job to figure that out. When they investigate you, there are bound to be movements, and it’ll be my task to track down those movements–– may they be simple curiosities from the curious. All you have to do is do as you always have had. Follow your orders, participate in missions, and use your powers to the fullest. To earn your keep.”

Lucas hummed. “So, no need to hide it? But since we’ll be faking 37’s death to hide the fact that SPECTRA has a new Class III. Isn’t this a bit contradictory?”

“We’re not hiding your powers. We are hiding as to whom it belongs to. It’s about minimizing the complications so we can take more risks,” said the Director. “Thus, to hide your abilities would be the most foolish path to take.”

“Because it will be impossible to do so,” Lucas said as he furrowed his eyebrow. But he still didn’t fully understand.

Cale must have noticed Lucas’ confusion, and elbowed him. “What he’s saying is there is no point with having power if you’re not using it to the fullest. So, we create a situation where you could use it without holding back.”

At those words, Lucas realized the nuances. “You’re saying because I’m bound to slip, it’s better not to hide it at all.”

Cale nodded. “This is why you’re not joining us. Because when you do, you will draw attention to yourself and the team – potentially compromising the integrity of the mission,” he said, before looking at the Director.

"That's why even you looked surprised earlier," Lucas said, realizing Cale also understood just now that donning the name of Avernus means acting as bait, and not because the Director cannot afford to give Lucas his answers.

Cale nodded. He may not speak much, but when he does, he doesn’t hold anything back. Even toward the Director or Mrs. Livia. “You may be Marked, but as long as you’re with SPECTRA? You have a job to do. And the Director somehow needs to find a way for you to be useful.”

If there is one person who could make the Director look so offended right now, that would be Cale.

But Cale disregarded the Director’s brief stare and shifted his attention back to Lucas. “Remember, Lucas. The Director is a dirty person and puts his agenda above everything. The same as with Master Livia, even if she thinks her morals are above everyone else.”

Lucas felt afraid for Cale when he looked at the Director, who stopped moving his pen to meet Cale’s eyes. Mrs. Livia also quirked an eyebrow at Cale.

Cale did not budge from their combined glares, while the rest of the Hummingbird Unit tried not to laugh.

When Mrs. Livia and the Director exchanged glances, Mrs. Livia shrugged. “He’s not wrong, Director,” she said with a laugh.

“I suppose he’s not,” said the Director.

Cale looked back to Lucas. “But dirty people are what we need if we’re dealing with other dirty people.”

The Director locked his jaw. “...You don’t have to say it twice, Cale.”

Lucas took a deep breath and just nodded. “I understand… But what about the Order?” He wanted to hunt them down.

At his question, the Director abruptly halted, and Lucas swore his eyes sharpened with bloodlust. “They’ll be quiet for a while. But it won’t be long. I have a way of drawing them out from where they hide,” he said as the atmosphere in the room turned chilly and suffocating.

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Not even Mildred, the other Class III among them, could hide her discomfort.

But the atmosphere immediately returned to normal, with the Director acting as if nothing had happened at all. “But you won’t have to worry about that for some time. You’ll all know when the time comes. That should be everything for this discussion.”

Mildred raised her voice. “Wait! Since Lucas is now a Class III, aren’t you going to give him another Blink and Mist, and five Upgrade Stones for his Primal too?”

Ah, Mildred, you’re a hero, but even Lucas understood that would be impossible.

The Director quipped, “I’m not going to go through the arduous paperwork of explaining to the League why I’m using SPECTRA’s budget to acquire military-grade spells. It’s impossible at the moment with all the potential complications it could result to. It’s best to avoid the League asking more questions than necessary. But–– he gets a raise.”

Mildred clicked her tongue. “As if that’s enough,” she muttered under her breath. “80K of annual pay? I swear to God, we need a union.”

The Director shrugged. “Good luck with that.”

Mildred shifted her attention to Mrs. Livia this time. “How about you, Master Livia? You’re a Circle III, can you really not just make him some?”

Mrs. Livia looked appalled. “Just make some? I do not have the knowledge nor the resources to create those. The ones you’ve all been provided was imported, and even acquiring those took a lot of effort in part of the League. What you’re asking me to do is to summon two nukes out of thin air. Well, maybe not that bad, but you get the gist of it.”

Mildred rolled her eyes. “Geez. It was a joke!”

“It’s fine, Mildred. I’ll find a way,” said Lucas as he tossed Mildred a wrapped lollipop. Strawberry. She likes those. “It’s not like we’re not allowed to accept missions outside SPECTRA anyway.”

It’s actually one of their privileges. SPECTRAs can accept missions at the Awakened Society outside of work hours. And they have the special privilege of being able to hide their identities.

It’s become this way because of a past incident when an agent was forced to use his full powers to save his party from a complete wipeout. But this resulted in that agent’s family getting killed by those who held grudges against him.

But with all their privileges, comes with a cost, such as SPECTRA being aware of an agent’s every movement. There’s a reason why the agency is so strict that they would resort to as far as destroying an agent’s soul core if they betray the League.

***

After some more discussion concerning the logistics of Hummingbird’s mission, everyone stood up, just bidding Lucas farewell and promising to meet up later on.

When they left, only Lucas and the Director remained.

As Lucas sat still on the couch, he wondered why he himself didn’t leave yet. Was there something else he wanted to tell the Director?

Thankfully, the Director didn’t seem to mind, satisfied with working in the silence; the room filled with only but the scribbling of his pen.

After a long while, Lucas finally spoke. “Director. Actually, what happened wa––”

The Director cut him off. “You seek punishment, but punishment is for the guilty,” he said. “What are you guilty of?”

“I. I… uh…,” Lucas stuttered. He’s guilty of a lot. It was wrong when he abandoned his team for his family. He’s supposed to prioritize SPECTRA above all else for the sake of everyone. But he didn’t.

Then again, he knew he would do the same thing even if he knew what the outcome would be – failure.

“Actions have consequences. But you received none of it,” said the Director as he stood up and placed some paperwork on a cabinet. “So you are finding a way to punish yourself. To kill yourself. That’s why you didn’t retreat, no?”

Those words silenced Lucas as he tried to piece together the puzzle of the conflicting emotions within him. They boiled, turning his stomach and burning his throat.

But, why? Why did he feel so guilty? He should feel relieved that he got off without any punishment at all, and that the rest of his team understood his decisions. But that made that feeling of guilt even worse.

“You’ve already been assigned a counsellor, if that’s what you seek.”

Lucas shook his head. “…No. That wouldn’t be necessary,” he said.

“Well, you’re required to do so. At least once every two weeks.”

“Right,” Lucas said. “But it’s just that…”

“That?”

Lucas fell silent. He didn’t know nor did he understand what he wanted to say. What to express. He didn’t know how to articulate what he felt.

But he felt as if the Director sensed this. And perhaps it was because of that feeling that Lucas remained in the office, even if he truly didn’t understand why.

The Director slammed shut a cabinet, putting Lucas out of his reverie. “Did you know? There is a punishment worse than anything men could ever come up with. A prison. Do you know what that is?”

Lucas silently shook his head.

“Guilt, Lucas. It will slowly eat you up,” the Director replied. “So if you seek solace, I can provide you none of it. Only you can search for a way out.”

“…Did you ever break free of it?”

The Director remained standing for a while at the question, only staring at a parchment of paper, but his back was facing Lucas, hiding whatever expression he may have had on his face. “No,” he said, before going back to his seat to work some more. “You just have to live with it.”

“I understand,” Lucas said.

“Do you know why SPECTRA exists, Lucas?”

Lucas sensed it was rhetorical, so he did not respond.

“If we are merely but a collection of the finest Awakened in the League, then our role is redundant.

No, we exist to hunt the deeper scourge that gnaws at our society–– humanity itself.

While some see us, the Awakened, as mere tools; discarded when we lose ourselves to the whispers of the aether. The same is true for the other side of the coin.

There are those among us who see the non-Awakened as lesser forms of life, taking perverse pleasure in their slaughter, intoxicated by the power they wield.

And there are Awakened, too, who have lost themselves entirely, consumed by madness and twisted by the aether into something far more sinister from who they once were.

Our duty, Lucas, is to hunt them down. We are tasked to kill our fellow men for something as mundane as preventing a societal collapse. We exist to kill the Awakened.

After all, what is the point of fighting the Ashen, striving for a brighter future and the promise of peace, if within our ranks lie those who corrupt and decay humanity from within? …That includes Muriel.”

After a very long while of silence amid the same old, but ironically calming scribbling of a pen, Lucas nodded and stood up to face the door. “Thank you, Director.”

“Lucas.”

“Sir?”

“We are killers, yes. But if you think yourself a monster, understand that only good people feel guilty when they caused no harm to others. And only monsters could find grand justifications to kill others.”

Lucas closed his eyes at that; those words not giving him any comfort at all.

***

Two years later. Friday. March 18, 2349. 5:53 AM… Capital city of the League – the Dominion of Noah.

Lucas walked between rows upon rows of gravestones basking in crimson under the rising sun. A cemetery, where the chirping and fluttering birds sing an endless song of tribute to the fallen.

Two years passed by quickly. But really. Nothing much of great importance occurred.

After all, he’s not living in a movie, where he could rush right to revenge when a tragedy occurs. He’s not that special. He’s not a protagonist.

So, all he could do was improve. And wait.

He became known as Avernus, a newly minted Named Mask. That means a lot of questions from the public.

They asked about his Black Fire, which looked like the stacking of two Elemental Auras–– which is true.

Only that, as far as everyone is aware, this is impossible.

But SPECTRA’s official explanation didn’t stray much from the truth. It’s just that instead of Aura Stacking, Avernus has a shadow spell that allows him to infuse the Shadow element into his Fire Aura.

Thankfully, the public accepted this explanation.

Not that SPECTRA was worried about the public, because only the Director and the Hummingbird Unit knew about the truth. No, the Director was more worried about what the other five nations may do, and what the League itself may do.

Anyway, as for the Order of Lewisia, they indeed, have been quiet for a while. Minimal activities. Almost nothing at all. When they did show up, it was a hit and a run.

So, most of his activities didn’t change much from what he did when he was 37. He still trained and completed missions. Perhaps the only thing that changed was that, as a Named, he was able to travel abroad to help with some national and international co-operative missions.

From his exploits, he’d even gained quite a fanbase. But that’s normal for Class IIIs, SPECTRA or not. They’re like celebrities. After all, among the approximately 400,000 Awakened in the world, there are only less than 4,000 Class IIIs in existence.

Meanwhile, for the Hummingbird Unit, the last time he heard a few months ago, they were abroad in Europa at the Holy Athuran Empire. Apparently, they found a lead related to Godframe Hades.

Ah, it’s been a while since he’s seen them.

“There it is,” he said. It didn’t take him long to reach his destination, before three gravestones.

Alana Hale. A loving mother.

Micah Hale. A loving brother.

Adrian Hale. A loving father.

Lucas smiled as he knelt. Upon the broken framed photograph against Micah’s gravestone, did his eyes linger for a moment.

It was the only surviving item from their house.

The other half of it was burned, with only the face of him and his mother he could see.

While so, he remembered that day. They were at the park, and he thought the image, frozen in time, would forever be with him.

Alas. Nothing lasts forever.

Lucas traced his fingers over the edges of the photograph. As he looked at it for one last time, tears once more threatened to fall.

But, even if he so wished to force it, he had no more tears to cry.

He let go of the photograph, allowing it to fall upon the ground, before gazing at the sky.

He closed his eyes, the breeze caressing his cheek, imagining as if it were his mother’s touch.

***

On his way to the exit, he stopped on his tracks, feeling as if he’s being observed.

But nobody was around, except for a woman in the distance, holding back her tears as she knelt before a gravestone.

Weird, he thought, until he heard a familiar voice.

“A world where mothers outlive their own children, fated to forever grieve.”

Lucas looked at the direction of the voice. There stood a beautiful woman donning a navy suit and a black overcoat. She had a long red hair.

It was Mrs. Livia. She was looking at the woman.

As always, I didn’t even notice her, thought Lucas. “Do you know her?” he asked.

“Walk with me,” she said as they began to walk to the exit gate. “But yes. Her son was an Awakened who perished two years ago.”

Lucas spared the woman a final glance as they left the vicinity.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? A world where children has become soldiers in a war they should not even be a part of. A world wherein safety can never be assured, and a world where even the supposed places of safety... are not safe at all.”

Lucas has always found it odd that Mrs. Livia was not a fan of children fighting the Ashen. For the last 300 years, since the coming of the Ashen, that has been the status quo.

“It’s been a while, Mrs. Livia. How have you been?” asked Lucas, changing the subject.

“I’ve been well. Thank you,” Mrs. Livia smiled. “Anyway, what level are you now?”

“Levelled up only twice. So, only 53,” said Lucas, bummed out about the fact as he also recalled Hades’ final words to him: This is just the beginning. To truly unravel the mysteries of the Almar, you must rise and grow. When the time comes, we will speak again. But… perhaps, to rush is not so bad. After all, evil does not wait.

He didn’t know why, but this urge that he needed to hurry up never disappeared.

“Don’t look too disappointed. To level up twice in two years is still a very fast progress even for a Prime,” Mrs. Livia said.

That’s true. There’s a reason there are only about 4,000 Awakened in the world who are Class III and above. It takes an insane amount of time to level up just by absorbing the aether in the surroundings, or by using only aether stones. There’s a cooldown when someone uses aether stones.

The best way to level up is still to absorb an aether core. Just one Aether Core I can level up a Class I several times, and there is no cooldown between the uses.

But…

“It’s unfortunate that we can only absorb the aether core of an Ashen of a corresponding level or above,” Lucas said, trying to make small talk. He can’t grind levels by slaying Grade I or Grade II Ashen, because Class IIIs can only absorb aether cores that are also Grade III or higher.

Not that there are a lack of Grade IIIs. They’re just too risky to take on solo even for Lucas, and there are about 700 Class IIIs in the League competing to kill them.

Even if he manages to kill one, there’s only a 50% chance they would even drop a core, and the party who killed an Ashen together would have to decide who would take that loot. And aether cores are not always of a good quality too.

A Low Aether Core III won’t even level him up, but a Medium quality would. In comparison, a High quality would level him up several times.

“The universe always finds a way to find balance,” said Mrs. Livia.

Lucas sighed. “Right… So. What prompted Master Livia herself to come and find me?”

“You have a new mission.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, wondering why it was supposed to be her telling him this rather than a handler or the Director.

“It’s an official mission between the Consortium and SPECTRA. And since it’s a cooperative mission, it is only proper that I tell you of it–– personally,” she said as she halted on her steps, nodding to a man in a black suit who opened the door of a black car waiting beyond the open gate.

However, Lucas knew that she could have just emailed him or something. There should be something more for her to deliver the news in-person. “Interesting,” said Lucas. “No treason this time?”

Mrs. Livia chuckled for a moment. “Not this time.”

“So?”

“Lewisia infiltrated MY academy. We don’t know who and how many,” she said, albeit a bit too casually, as if she wasn’t even bothered by the fact.

Lucas frowned.. How could he not?

He wouldn’t be surprised if the government would be the one to be infiltrated. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if SPECTRA itself was infiltrated.

But an Awakened academy? “Why?”

Mrs. Livia gestured to the car. “I’ll give you a ride and we can go get some coffee somewhere.”

“Your treat?”

“…Sure.”

~END OF INTRODUCTORY ARC

~UPCOMING ARC – Noah Awakened Academy