Black walked out of Grimmauld Place, making an excuse.
In the middle of the day, people were everywhere, walking hastily to reach a place where they were probably not even needed.
Black became a part of them, casually becoming a face in their midst.
Then, after a while, seeing an empty bench, he sat down.
Petyr's figure blurred into existence next to him, wearing his embroidered rich velvet doublet in shades of plum and rose. The Book's Characters didn't age, but he looked older somehow, his eyes carrying the same ancientness as Black's.
"It's the same bench, isn't it?" Littlefinger commented.
Different timeline.
But, yes.
Same.
Kai had found himself seated on this bench after being teleported by the Primordial Tower for the first part of his three-part Main Mission related to Daenerys Targaryen's dragon eggs.
Then, he had called upon Petyr Baelish to ask for his comments on the Mission.
Over thirteen hundred years ago… fourteen, if Black counted the time he had spent Outside of the World… that was indeed a long time, he noticed.
Before that time, Kai had needed Petyr Baelish's counsel.
Now, with the Ad Infinitum and Lucky Intuitions serving him, and with his Luck actively conspiring against Fate, he didn't need Petyr Baelish's counsel or Cersei's biting remarks.
Yet, they had remained with him — all this time — knowing him, learning him, and understanding him.
"It's not like you to reminisce, my lord," Petyr said, carrying a small smile at the corner of his lips. "And if you do want to reminisce, I am sure Cersei can do a better job of making you remember the more… pleasurable things… in bed."
Black scoffed. "Not without asking for a child," he joked.
Littlefinger chuckled at that. "Women," he said, looking at the crowd passing by them. "Just when you think you have given them everything, they want more. Often, that starts with an urge to have a family."
"Can you feel, though?" Black asked, turning to look toward the Character. "Can you feel this urge… life?"
Littlefinger's smile flickered.
He lifted his hands and looked at them, knowing what kind of existence he was.
"What is real and unreal is nothing but a matter of perspective, my lord," Petyr said, the smile returning to his lips. "If I believe I am real, and all other Petyrs in the infinite worlds across the Multiverse are false, then I am the real one; the one and only."
Those were the exact words Kai had said to Cersei.
It seemed Petyr had taken them to heart as well.
Black nodded, respecting that illusion.
He brought his gaze back to the world in front of him—a world drenched in pure redness, the Notifications screaming in his ears as they BEEPED, the System demanding he open them and face the doom.
"Was it worth it?" Petyr asked.
Black closed his eyes in reply.
Suddenly, despite being seated next to him, Petyr had a feeling that… Black had vanished.
It was like he wasn't looking at a person anymore—a person much more real and truer than his own existence—but… a tree.
Ancient. Aged. Alive.
Slowly, Black opened his eyes, and the feeling inside Petyr's heart dissipated, leaving behind a tremor—an echo.
"I am close…" Black said, taking a deep breath. "I can feel it, Petyr. I am… very close."
"Is that why you worry about the appearance of this doom at this moment?" Petyr asked, his face gaining an unnatural seriousness. "You… think it's not a coincidence."
Black's dark, calm eyes narrowed.
"Perhaps…" he said, agreeing with Petyr. "Perhaps it is a coincidence. But… I know many coincidences that my enemies have experienced because of me… without me even lifting a finger… and then suffered the consequences. Even if it's a coincidence, we must not take it as one."
And, with that, Black finally let the redness burst.
…
[
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Contestant Kai D. Stormborn: You are formally charged with breaching the Legacy of Contestants.
CHARGE SPECIFICATION:
Violation of the Night of Truce protocol, resulting in the unauthorized termination of participating Contestants by Contestant Red.
…
MANDATORY SUMMONS:
You are hereby ordered to appear and present your defense before the Joint Council of Celestials of the Empires.
…
MISSED COMMUNICATION LOG NOTICES:
— One hundred (100) communications from Contestant Shadow Origin.
— Ten (10) communications from Contestant Purple Mist.
— One (1) communication from Contestant &$$&#$*$.
…
CITATION FOR CONTEMPT:
You have failed to comply with ten (10) consecutive mandatory summons issued by the Joint Council of Celestials.
…
NOTICE OF FORMAL INQUISITION:
Due to the severity of the charges and repeated failure to appear, the Joint Council of Celestials has authorized a formal trial to adjudicate the allegations leveled against you.
Pursuant to the governing statutes of the Primordial Tower (Jurisdictions: R'lyeh and Stormborn Empires), an independent Inquisition shall be convened. A tribunal of impartial Inquisitors has been randomly selected by the Systems to preside over this matter.
You are legally advised to prepare and present your case to this tribunal.
By statutory decree, the verdict rendered by the assigned Inquisitors shall be absolute and binding, superseding any personal jurisdiction or opinions of the respective Empires or the Council of Celestials.
The Inquisitors appointed to your tribunal are:
…
]
…
Black looked at the names.
Petyr Baelish looked at the names.
Then, they both looked at each other, lacking any emotion.
"I thought the Night of Truce wasn't an official matter administered by the Systems," Littlefinger said. "But the way the Notification condemns you of breaching the Legacy of Contestants…"
"The Notification is only displaying the words," Black guessed, his heart beating loud and fast. "But they belong to someone else. Someone who has the privilege to move the Systems on this matter."
"I see…" Petyr said, holding his chin, trying his best not to look at the three names anymore. "Why, though? Why not just kill you? The accusation is most certainly serious enough for them to ignore these procedures, right? If this someone can move the Systems — can move the Council of Celestials on the 19th Floor — then certainly…"
Black lifted his hand and then pointed at the System again.
"Because…" he said, reminding Littlefinger, "… I am a Celestial, too."