Chapter 86: Till My Heart Stops Beating! (Part Two) (SPECIAL!)

Now you might expect this to be a mild off putting event, seeing as there was a notable troop presence. But after the heavy exhaustion committed by Krimm’s training regiment, everyone was simply annoyed.

At most, Florato just didn’t want the soldiers to be busting in and breaking her newly purchased theater. After all, she had put a lot of her cash to something she loved. She was, at best, annoyed.

But soon, they’d be incredibly off put.

By a secret that’d be revealed.

One that might jeopardize Vega’s life.

“Oh great, these fuckers again. Didn’t the sign say ‘not open’?” Florato hopped off the stage and went immediately up to the soldiers, who drew their spears and blades to point at the actress.

Sorbet quickly hid behind Krimm, who understood her fear immediately and prepared for any confrontation.

“It’s fine boys, let her pass. And we Oligarchs do not care for signs, lest they be celestial.” Oligarch Glatrix spoke up, making the troops split off so that the team could meet them.

The three Oligarchs were all ornamented with high military honors, medals and purple robes draped over their bodies. Unfortunately for Vega, Glatrix's victory at Uvi Jantok made him about five times more of an asshole.

“If this is about seeing what’s in the tower, ya aren’t getting in. We already made a deal-deal.” Vega joined Florato with a smug smile, and Glatrix was unhappy to be reminded of the deal.

With a strong rise of disgust, Glatrix almost was ready to explode, but a hand on his shoulder from Oligarch Ruto made that cease.

“Sorry citizens, but we are all… tired. Yes, tired. Thank you again for your service.” Ruto was in far better spirits and talked far kinder than Glatrix. Oligarch Roka hung on his back, too preoccupied with writing reports to give them a greeting.

“Appreciated. Now, can ya guys tell us what’s in the box-box?” Vega asked with a remarkable lack of subterfuge or care of secrecy.

Ah yes. THE BOX. The black box…

Now to be fair, Vega didn’t know anything about the box beyond that it was important. Oligarchs, Luisocles, all the way to Ani Arma had said it was important. But what was in it?

Everything was a mystery to her, and much like other questions about herself, she wanted answers. She didn’t want to be kept in the dark.

The Oligarchs hid the answer away when Krimm and Florato asked Oligarch Ruto before, so it had to be secret. And Vega was starting to get annoyed with the lack of transparency.

However, blatantly asking a state secret like it was ordinary gossip wasn’t the best game plan for getting an answer.

“Uhh…” Ruto, now at a loss of words, struggled to find a fix of the situation. He seemed ready to give an answer, but the way Vega just plainly asked threw him off.

Along with everyone else.

“Sir, umm, can you just whisper it or something? Sorbet proposed, asking from behind Krimm’s back. The sooner the Oligarchs were out of there, the better she’d start feeling.

“Oh my fucking god. Can you stop up? Stop talking?” After pinching the bridge of his nose, he pointed at Vega with anger.

“Pffh. Fine.” The scarecrow turned around and waited for the explanation. Climbing to Oligarch Ruto’s shoulder, Roka handed him a small slip of paper. Ruto looked back, making sure that it was correct and Roka nodded.

With one hand forward, the Oligarch gave it to the actress.

On the paper read…

“Inside the box… is a deadly virus.

A virus meant to kill Ani Arma.

More specifically, the Metallic Virus, a plague that targets nonliving matter like metal and wood.

Oligarch Graham had designed it, since it would destroy Ani Arma’s main asset… his armor.

If we do not get this box, Iozia is doomed…

Have a nice day!”

Florato, as you might expect, was soooooo fucking confused. Squinting down at the paper slip, she carried a look of utter contemplation.

“Why the fuck did you write ‘have a nice day’? Asking the correct question, Florato let her hands drop to her lap still holding onto the paper. Vega took the sheet and her face arrived at the same point.

“Bro… this is a secret and you write a nice day-day, what, nevermind!” Crushing the slip into a tiny paper ball, Vega tossed it at the forehead of Oligarch Roka. With it simply bouncing off his head, he snickered slightly at their reactions.

“What did you write?” Ruto turned his head to him, of which Roka’s laughter grew louder.

“Whatever, are we allowed to discuss this openly or-” Florato tried to drive the conversation to a more productive place, but was swiftly interrupted by Glatrix shushing Roka up. As soon as he was done, he turned to face the team.

“No. You aren’t allowed to discuss what was written in public spaces. Only in… private ones..” Through looking out a window on the upper floor, he saw the shadow of the second tower, still leaning on the Black wall. Making a clicking sound with his tongue, his face grew into a mysterious smile.

Vega didn’t like that smile one bit. He knew he was planning something, but not exactly what.

“Well, at least you all are working hard. You remember the plan we had for Jantok Sky?” Glatrix walked closer to Vega, looking at his fingernails, feigning ignorance.

“Oh yeah? The bank thing-thing…. What about it?” Crossing her arms, Vega stepped only a foot away from Glatrix. Sorbet went to go speak, but Krimm pushed her back, not wanting to spawn any further conflict.

“Ha-ppening. A fe-w mo-nths.” Roka spoke up, gesturing a few scrolls he was carrying. The fact that plenty of military operations and secrets were being carried by a single guy that wrote ‘have a good day’ on one of them didn’t make Vega and Florato any happier.

“If that’s all you guys needed to tell us, then…” Florato looked away feeling a sense of dread about what was to come. She gripped her own hand tight and looked away.

“That will be all. Keep up the good work!” With a genuine care in his voice, Oligarch Ruto bowed and went up and out of the theater. Ruto and Roka’s troops followed them out, but Glatrix lingered there.

He and Vega had gotten into a stare down, the other waiting for some action. Whether it be a blink, a punch, or words, they held a look of discontent on their faces. Slowly, thin darkness fell on their faces, from the clouds billowing outside.

“...just be ready… ready for the future…” With one last sentence, Oligarch Glatrix stepped slowly away, and exited out with his troops.

Uncrossing her arms and resting them on her hips, Vega closed her eyes, feeling a wave of relief. Sorbet joined her too, sighing and stopped hiding behind Krimm.

“You good?” Krimm patted her on the shoulder.

“Yeah… just, that fucking Glatrox or Glatrix guy is a real creep. Those other two are fine but him, gross.” Shivering for a moment, Sorbet relaxed.

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“We don’t have to deal with him for now. And you two!”

“Hmm? Oh right. The box.”

“Glad they finally told us. Spill the… uh… beans? Is that how the Iozians say it Sorbet?” Krimm frowned, unsure of that was the correct way to say that saying.

“I don’t know? I’ve been trapped in a palace most of my life.” All the ice cream lady could offer was a shrug.

“Far enough. But tell us!” Demanding with a mild excitement, Krimm motioned the two back to the stage.

The two looked at each other, unsure of who should tell it, if even here. But with an encouraging smile from Florato, Vega hopped back on the stage and began to speak.

“The box contains… a virus. The Metallic Virus which targets… nonliving matter. What-whatever that means. But, we need to get it since it’s Ani’s weak-weakness.” As Vega stopped speaking, she clutched her chest, wondering about the ‘nonliving’ part. If she were to come into contact with it, would she be hurt?

Would she be considered living?

“Huh… I’ve never heard of the Metallic Virus… do you guys know?” Rubbing her chin, Krimm immediately looked like she was piecing together a plan, but simply needed a little more info.

“I think I read it back in college?” Florato said while scratching her head.

“You went to college?” Sorbet asked with confusion.

“Yeah? How do you think I know Tripolian, music, and how to act?” Florato counted all her traits with her fingers, of which Sorbet shrugged again.

“Hush. What did they mean by nonliving matter? Like rocks or something?” Krimm walked closer to Vega, making her back up slightly.

“The paper said-said wood and metal. So I think stuff that doesn’t have sentience?” Vega proposed, but she hoped that it wouldn’t hurt her. That Virus seemed like the best shot they got.

“Is the virus racially motivated?” Sorbet asked all concerned.

“Well, it only targets wood and metal.” Florato confirmed it, but it still didn’t put their fears to rest.

“Does that mean it will hurt-hurt constructs?” Vega walked back and forth on the stage, hoping that it would grant her safety instead of doom.

“No-no?” Kaliba croaked out, only guessing. The bird hopped onto Vega’s head and sat down.

“Gods, these fucking Oligarchs make me want to kill myself!” Exclaiming out, Krimm’s words make everyone burst into laughter.

“Haha! Fair enough.” Vega moved past Krimm and back where she was a couple of minutes ago, fighting her.

The scarecrow had made a lot of progress these past couple months. She had to be a little proud that she was keeping up with Krimm more and more. Eventually, with her magical abilities, she might even surpass her.

But would that be enough? Would this training, this learning to be less reliant and hurting herself for others be enough?

Because thinking about the Metallic Virus made her worried. Sure, it wouldn’t target her friends and had been designed to best Ani Arma specifically.

But she was a creation of Ani’s. Would she be spared, would she be granted that kindness? Now that she had an answer for it, she felt a little scared. That she had been carrying something that might have killed her in her body.

Otherwise, did she have the guts enough to even go get it again? To break into a bank and steal it, just for the chance to beat Ani Arma.

Vega did not know.

“Heh, suicide is badass!” Sorbet said aloud, with Krimma and Florato laughing slightly at the bizarre sentence. Snapping her out of her stupor, Vega turned around, ready to face the music.

“Speaking of suicide, ya wouldn’t mind-mind stabbing me?” Vega asked with disturbing glee.

“…why?” Everyone asked with a collective disappointment.

“Because I need to build resistance. Maybe if I trigger a powerful enough emotional response, I could… get better at magic faster!” Vega hopped up in the air, almost giddy to start.

“…from stabbing?” Florato dropped her frown and spoke like a concerned mom.

“Yeah!” Vega pumped her fist into the air.

“That’s… I know you’re naive sometimes, but that isn’t how it works.” Going on her knee, Florato wrapped her arm over Vega’s shoulder.

“I get it, training is hard. But there’s no faster path to strength but good habits.” Wagging her finger at Vega, Krimm spoke with firm wisdom.

“That’s right. You don’t just get stabbed and suddenly become resistant to it.” Messing with Vega’s hair, Florato grew a kind but still worried smile.

“You don’t? Is that just a thing for scarecrows?” Sorbet whispered to Florato, also causing some worry.

“No Sorbet, no one becomes stronger just by being stabbed.” The actress answered, disappointed by Sorbet and Vega’s lack of common sense.

“Says you. I, as a former assassin, can say otherwise.” Krimm beat her armored chest with a fist, proud of her skills.

“Well ACTUALLY, with my-my background as a totally fucking nerd-nerd, I can-”

“Oh my god, hahaha! Shut up! Hahaha.” Krimm couldn’t help but to laugh at Vega’s mocking voice.

“My god Vega, you are too much.” Florato joined in, with a softer giggling.

Wiping out everyone’s air from their lungs, they all stood there catching their breaths. While the future was scary, they would have each to go with it.

“Alright…I think we’re done for the day.” Carrying some of the notes from her seat, Sorbet waved for everyone to leave. The dimming of the sun made the theater very dark, and the many candles had finally burned out.

Vega nearly hopped off the platform before noticing Florato hadn’t left yet.

“Hey, what are you doing?” The scarecrow asked, not understanding why she wasn’t going.

“I’ll be out in a bit. Just need to make sure everything is in order. You guys go on ahead.” Shooting a sweet smile, Florato waved Vega forward.

“And don’t forget what we talked about. Don’t rely on getting hurt. You have to protect yourself… okay?” There was a modicum of kindness in Krimm’s voice, which made Vega feel for her. With a slow nod, Vega rushed out of the theater.

Cracking her knuckles, the actress got to work closing up the theater. It took her half an hour to get it down, but ti was all worth it. She had yet to hire a guard to protect the place, but there wasn’t anything she’d lose here. Closing up the final curtain, Florato looked on at her own theater, happy that things had worked out this well for her.

Just as Florato was about to leave, she felt a hand grabbing her wrist. As she turned, she half expected it to be Vega asking for some advice.

But it was Krimm.

“Hey…” The fairy spoke, unable to look her in the eye.

“...yes Krimm? Is… something wrong?” Florato tilted her head as she asked, with the darkness of the coming night surrounding them. The only light that was there was a lone candle Florato used to navigate the dark halls of the theater.

“...I…I’m sorry.” As the words left her mouth, Krimm instinctually closed her eyes.

“What? Sorry for-?”

“Sorry for being an asshole. I’m… I know I’ve been treating you guys harshly… less as friends and more like co-workers or something.” Krimm held her arm, shyly remarking on her actions.

Florato’s eyes stood wide as she rested her hands on her chest. She didn’t think Krimm had this much vulnerability in her. Though she was wearing armor, had fought Vega viciously, and even bombed their boat, she didn’t appear as an assassin.

She looked like a hurt girl. One that had some things to go through.

“I just…I’m sorry. You guys have been so, so accommodating. Especially Sorbet, which just makes me feel bad whenever act like an asshole to her. I’m sorry. Just. I don’t know…” Krimm dropped her arm and bowed her body forward, with guilt falling out of her voice.

The actress didn’t know what to say. She only witnessed such emotional reflection from Vega, and while the scarecrow was far kinder and more stable, this coming from Krimm was unexpected.

Half of her wanted to reject her apology, that she should know better by now. That they were her friends instead of her subordinates.

But the other half, the one that nurtured Vega and the one that told her that she deserved more, wished to tell Krimm everything was okay. That she was trying, that she’s okay.

With the scar on Krimm’s face, Florato knew how much the fact that they prepared and prepared hard meant to her.

Hugging the fairy tight, the actress spoke sweetly and friendly to her.

“Thank you. I’m still hurt, but I forgive you.”

“...thank you… thank you my friend…”

Back in the tower, Vega was still awake, processing the final batch of papers. Planting the last stack on the desk, Vega leaned back and sighed. Over the course of the months, the many libraries of the tower had become cleared and translated. There was plenty of data to go over and summarize, but this was incredible.

There were dozens of Soul Gems, artifacts, gold and riches in the Lai Bank itself, let alone all of Iozia and Tripolia. Resting the back of her head in her arms, Vega could feel real progress.

“...ya are really doing it Vega… ya can really do it. Ya can beat him. Ya are more than what he says ya are… ya are more than what ya were built for.” Speaking the words absent mindedly, Vega laughed a little. She leaned forward in her chair and rested her head on the desk.

“All I need-need to do… is to care more about myself. Learn some magic. And everything will be good… and maybe talk to Skull Boy again. Or Skull… he’ll help me.” Getting up from her chair, Vega began to wander around the massive reaches of the tower, happy to think of it as home.

She belonged here because it was made for her, yes, but because she had made it her own. Vega had taken to painting on the many blanks walls, showing the adventures and peoples she had met across the way.

Eventually, after a full walk, she stopped on a particular painting. The one she had made of Ani Arma.

Then she heard it.

Well… she heard him…

“Nevermind the darkness… Nevermind the storm…” His voice echoed in the tower, traveling like a dark angel. For a bit, that’s all she could sense of him. His rhythm was like a claw gliding up the skin of a neck. The scarecrow turned to see him, in a vanta black stairwell, stepping down with authority.

“Nevermind… the blood red… moon…” He was singing. Ani Arma was singing. His wide, threatening shape was present even in the dark. His voice was proud, almost reminiscing on a pleasant memory. And the song… was a lullaby.

This wasn’t a dream. His shadows, his voice, it was all real and happening.

Ani was here. He was here and now.

“The night will be over soon….” Shining like a blade in moonlight, Ani stepped out into the light.

Vega backed up, aghast at what she was seeing. How? How was he here already? And what for… she was horrified to ask.

“That's what my father sang to me, when the nightmares grew hard. That's what I sang to my wife when she grew sick, poisoned by Iozia.” He raised his huge fist and uncurled it, revealing his metal fingers into sharpened knives, ready to cut Vega down.

Vega couldn’t speak, and she half wanted to run but something was keeping her there. A curiosity of what he’d say.

“…That’s the last song Ena sang… That is what I will sing to you, for you will suffer. Till your heart stops beating... A lullaby for your loss!”