Pallez's avatar teased the new couple a bit more before presenting his gift: a Sequence 5 Marauder Pathway characteristic and several high-level charms.
Others followed suit, offering gifts that, while not extravagant, carried heartfelt sentiments.
Alaric joined in, giving the couple a modest gift. He then sent his "alternate account" To rest while his "main account" left with Groselle's Travels.
…
"Is this the book you mentioned?"
Medici's gaze settled on the book Alaric brought back. Accustomed to Alaric returning with significant finds, he studied it briefly before remarking, "Doesn't look like much."
"That's normal. If itsබIf it was obviously special, it wouldn't have been lost for so long," Alaric said with a smile, turning to Medici. "I'm going to explore its true secrets. Want to come along?"
Alaric was genuinely eager to uncover the mysteries of Groselle's Travels.
For instance, the Dragon of Imagination's resurrection method via the Quill of Alzuhod bore similarities to The Ancient Sun God's revival through Adam and the True Creator. But The Ancient Sun God's revival had a major flaw, splitting into two. Alaric was curious if the Dragon of Imagination's method had the same flaw... or if it was free of such defects, which could be invaluable.
Medici glanced at him, not refusing. "Sure. I'm curious about what secrets it holds too."
Even without Alaric's invitation, Medici would've insisted on joining... partly out of curiosity, partly to protect Alaric, who was, in his normal state, just an ordinary angel.
"The book…" The Will of the City of Calamity, perched on Medici's shoulder, stared at it for a few seconds, looking thoughtful.
Alaric shot it a glance, suddenly saying, "What, sensing some of the Primordial One's power?"
The Dragon of Imagination had faced the same issue of the Primordial One's revival within it. It wouldn't be surprising if its resurrection contingency bore traces of Him.
Who knew if the dragon's sealed negative persona was mixed with the Primordial One's?
"There's a hint, but it's not quite the same," The Will of the City of Calamity admitted, nodding. Having learned not to be stubborn or snarky, it answered Alaric obediently.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, then smiled. With a flip of his hand, the key to the book world appeared in his palm.
"Whether it is or not, we'll find out."
Medici had no objections, and the Will of the City of Calamity had no say.
Thus, the book world, recently visited, welcomed new guests.
Unlike the original story, where the snowy landscape transformed into an ancient city after the tale's end, Alaric's intervention had preserved the King of the North, maintaining the world's frozen state.
Alaric and Medici landed right where the sealed King of the North stood.
"Caly, feel anything special about it?" Alaric asked, glancing at the cat on Medici's shoulder.
The Will of the City of Calamity hopped onto the dragon, circling its frozen form before stopping at its head. Looking at Alaric, it said, "You took something, didn't you?"
"Of course!" Alaric didn't deny it, nodding as he approached the dragon, holding its icy blue scale. Infusing it with Nyarlathotep's power, a white glow burst forth, and the world seemed to flicker out of existence before reassembling.
No longer a snowy wasteland, it became a city with a gray-white foundation, grand and vast, clearly built for creatures as large as dragons.
"Liveseyd, the City of Miracles," Medici said, raising an eyebrow at the somewhat familiar sight.
Alaric surveyed the dragon city, then commented, "Seems the Dragon of Imagination's taste was better than Adam's. This city's far more striking than the Corpse Cathedral."
Medici glanced at him, not arguing, and nodded. "One of the dragon's few commendable traits."
The Will of the City of Calamity, listening to their critique of the dragon's aesthetics, was at a loss for words. After gazing at the city, it said, "I sense the Chaos Sea's power. Something tainted by it is sealed here."
Alaric, unsurprised, glanced at it and smiled. "That would be the Dragon of Imagination's second persona. Let's hope it's not mixed with the Primordial One's. I'd rather not meet Him."
The Will of the City of Calamity shook its fur, silent. It, too, had no desire to face the Primordial One, even just a fragment of His will.
"Let's find out," Medici said, striding toward the city, following the Chaos Sea's taint.
They soon reached a grand hall.
"…Nasty power," Medici muttered, instantly sensing the hall's peculiar nature.
Indeed, this was the Hall of Truth, where thoughts were vocalized. But the remnant power of the Dragon of Imagination wasn't strong enough to read Medici, an King of Angel bolstered by the City of Calamity, unless he was caught off guard.
Alaric, curious, waited for his thoughts to be exposed, unbothered by the idea. After a moment of silence, he looked disappointed. "Lame. Being high Sequence takes the fun out of this."
"Get over yourself. Don't you know what you are?" Medici shot him a sardonic glance.
As for the Will of the City of Calamity, a Sefirot even as an avatar, it was impervious to the dragon's remnant power... likely even the dragon itself.
"Boring. High Sequences ruin this place," Alaric grumbled, deciding to trick Klein and the others into coming next time. He looked deeper into the hall and, as expected, spotted a bronze door etched with countless mystical runes, clearly sealing something. Unlike in the original story, it was firmly shut.
***
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