"Mr. Alden, I believe you should see this."
CPAA's voice broke my concentration as I cast Repair on more machines I didn't understand. Lights flickered, colored strings connected, and the metal plate protecting the device's interior closed.
I wiped the sweat from my brow with the sleeve of my robes, feeling a pang of fatigue after using the same spell so many times. It wasn't one that demanded much energy, but when cast in abundance, it was bound to leave me exhausted at some point.
Beside me, a floating, semi-transparent bluish rectangle appeared out of nowhere, making me recoil in surprise. Judging by the light emanating from its eye, the small machine beside me was its origin.
An image flickered on the mysterious display before stabilizing: Buldrokkas'tee and Warfarin walking through the snow, shouting my name as they looked around at the mountaintop.
"ALDEN!"
"WHERE ARE YOU?!"
I frowned, extending a finger towards what I was witnessing, seeing myself pass through it like an illusion, but without dissipating.
"Could you take me to them?"
"Certainly!"
I followed the strange mechanical being, traversing the silvery corridors now illuminated by rows of rectangular lights emanating from the ceiling, crossing a door that opened upwards when someone approached, and stepping into an elevator that ascended without chains or visible mechanisms, allowing me to analyze the extent of this place.
It all began with CPAA wanting me to repair something called a "generator," which I can only describe as two rotating wheels lying on their sides with a mass of unknown power pulsing a deep red at their center.
This allowed doors to other locations to open, and for me to fix the "repair units," beings similar to the one accompanying me now, only in greater numbers and varying in size.
It was impressive to see the iron spiders running like a shimmering sea, entering every crack and crevice, making muffled sounds echo through the passages while sparks glittered in the darkness.
Then came the "drones," a kind of flying circular shield that made an irritating buzzing sound, transporting cargo with a manner of energy that enveloped whatever they wanted to carry.
Right now I could see a swarm of them in the distance, depositing raw material onto a "conveyor belt," carrying the ores toward a large spherical machine with a bright opening in front of it. What came out the other side I couldn't see from here.
Eventually, the elevator stopped on the main level, the door opened, and we walked down another corridor identical to the previous one, except for the rooms on either side of its length, many of them revealing that people used to live here.
Most of these rooms weren't a priority, so they were still filled with rusty beds and wardrobes and decaying furniture, almost turned to dust, filthy mattresses, worn-out rags that were once clothes and other personal belongings, abandoned and dusty kitchens reeking of rot, bathrooms I didn't dare enter, and the so-called "entertainment rooms."
Unfortunately, there were no libraries; most knowledge was "digitized," whatever that means, and the few books I restored were in an unknown language. I recognized the letters and could guess that the words on the cover were the story's title and author, but I didn't know the exact pronunciation.
"Dhe Rovvit by J.J.R. Doltien."
That's how they came out of my lips, clearly the incorrect pronunciation that embarrassed me to say. Fortunately, CPAA didn't seem to mind. There were others like Rovvy Rick and Ron Quirrote too.
A personal diary or something similar would have been more useful for understanding the history of the local inhabitants, but due to the lack of such a thing, I'll have to wait for the repairs to be finished so that the machine beside me can reveal what I wanted to know.
Besides that, I contented myself with a small painting inside a wooden frame protected by glass, a "photograph," which, after having its process explained to me, diminished some of my admiration for the object. Honestly, I expected to have found the lost art of a great master painter of realism, not something anyone could do.
After being restored, it revealed a masked individual in a black coat alongside several men and women dressed in white, one of them strangely similar to the spirit I encountered after the catastrophe.
I abandoned these thoughts as I approached the entrance to the place, still hidden by the illusion of a rock. I crossed it without problems, finding the Wendigo and the Vampire a few meters away.
"HEY, OVER HERE!"
They both turned immediately upon hearing my voice. I nodded to confirm my location, watching them both close the distance in a hurried step. In the meantime, I thought about how I should explain the great discovery to everyone.
-XXXXXX-
"A place created by the invaders from the sky… I… I never imagined I would see something like this."
"I-I agree, there are so many strange things here…"
Buldrokkas'tee and Warfarin stared in amazement, eyes wide and mouths agape, at the now pristine surroundings, filled with machinery beyond our comprehension. The most I had ever seen in the past were the iron, coal, fire, and steam-powered constructions of the Old Iron King in the Brume Tower, so I had a similar reaction to theirs when the environment came to life.
"I am the Conscious Planetary Analysis Automaton! C.P.A.A. for short! The administrator of this research facility, by order of elimination! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Both turned to the spider-legged sphere, which used one of its limbs to offer a polite wave. Neither returned the gesture; the Wendigo remained silent, and Warfarin rubbed her temples, murmuring something in ancient Kazdelian.
"Listen, I know this is difficult to understand, but…"
I took a step forward, trying to clarify what had happened, but Warfarin interrupted me, showing me the palm of her hand.
"No, I don't want to know! The less I know, the better! Fewer questions to answer when everything eventually gets out of control and fewer headaches in my life! You did this to learn more about Originium, didn't you? If that's the case, then I understand, but from now on, I want to participate in your research! I'm tired of just observing without doing anything!"
Doing anything? Is that how she feels? She's practically my teacher, helping me live on Terra. I wouldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for her. Don't I pay her enough? Is she dissatisfied with the training? Tired of all the dangers we faced during the journey? We spent so much time together and even started a business, so why…
It was like a lightning bolt struck me; I let go of that train of thought, remembering the previous events that led us here.
Ohhhh. Now I understand… Alden, you fool! You know so much about her, but she knows nothing about you, except your name, memory loss, and various half-truths. I ignore things from my world surfacing on Terra or invent flimsy excuses while others' doubts pile up.
All this started happening after you arrived! How long do you intend to lie? Until everything crumbles in your head and everyone realizes you betrayed the trust placed on your shoulders?
I think… I think I should be more open with her from now on. Not about being a walking corpse, I don't know how she would react to that, but about everything else. Damn it! I'm still terrible at dealing with people and feelings!
"O-okay, when we get back to the capital, I'll tell you everything you want to know."
I offered a trembling smile, a mixture of hesitation and shame. She crossed her arms and gave me a scathing look through half-closed eyes before answering.
"You'll also give me a few liters of your blood!"
"Liters?"
"Don't you like to brag about being a strong man?! A few liters shouldn't mean anything to you!"
It really didn't, but I didn't dare comment. I just nodded dejectedly.
"Okay."
"You'll also take me out to dinner when we get back to the capital! To make up for all this mess and the awful soup you cooked the night before we left!"
It wasn't soup, it was supposed to be cooked rice. I can cook all sorts of consumables, but not a simple meal. My disappointment in myself couldn't be greater.
"Alright, I'll choose a good place."
As if by magic, her expression changed immediately, offering me a mischievous smile and a pat on my chest after she closed the distance with long strides.
"And wear something different, you use the same clothes almost every day."
That's because Kazdelian's clothes don't increase my defenses and resistances.
"Leave it to me, I already have something in mind."
"Great, use this as a lesson in how to treat a lady."
A laugh escaped my lips, with my vampire companion doing the same more subtly. However, with that little interaction over, Buldrokkas'tee approached with slow, heavy steps, his form covering my body in his shadow.
We stared at each other in silence for a few seconds, his red eyes fixed on mine before he broke the silence with a tired sigh.
"Unlike Warfarin, I want as many answers and details as possible. Keep no secrets. The rest of the expedition doesn't need to know, but I'll have to report everything to the king when we return to the capital."
"I understand, but what do you think of this, CPAA?"
The machine had been silent until now, making strange noises interrupted by the next words.
"I suppose I can collaborate, and if possible, make a deal with the local ruler. Terra has changed since the last time I left, so it would be advantageous to update myself on its situation and avoid conflicts with the population."
"Perfect, but before we continue, here is your halberd."
The Wendigo extended his hand, returning the halberd I had lent him. I nodded with a satisfied smile, holding the weapon's handle but failing to remove it from his grip. I frowned, pulling harder, but Buldrokkas'tee pulled in the opposite direction, speaking in a friendly tone.
"I'd like to thank you for your help during the fight."
"You're welcome."
I replied in the same tone, pulling the halberd again, only for it to return to the Wendigo.
"If I may say so, it's a great weapon. I didn't imagine it would be able to cut the metallic bird so easily."
"What can I say? I only use the best quality equipment."
Gradually, the gentleness in our voices faded, as did the gleam in our eyes, replaced by irritation, and soon we found ourselves in a small tug-of-war to the point where our arms trembled.
However, with a frustrated grimace and clenched teeth, I finally managed to wrest my weapon from his grip with a final pull, putting it in my bag before he could grab it again. However, I couldn't help but notice his dejected posture afterward.
"Listen, if you want a better weapon, I can upgrade your trident…"
Immediately, his mood improved, his posture straightening, but I had to put an end to it before his hopes grew too high.
"…For a price."
In the blink of an eye, he returned to his previous position.
"Seriously? You'll charge your friend?"
"You speak as if you can't afford it. I know how powerful your family is in the capital and in Kazdel."
We stared at each other in silence, but the sarcasm on my face couldn't have been more visible.
"Right, but I hope you don't overcharge me just because I have money."
"I wouldn't dream of it, but if you were another nobleman, though…"
Unfortunately, he didn't laugh at my joke and narrowed his eyes with unpleasant intentions behind his gaze. Fine, I shouldn't imply in front of someone like him that I'm willing to overcharge the nobility to get money.
"I'm just kidding, I don't care that much about the money, but I won't be able to keep a business going if I do everything for free."
No matter how hard I tried to show it was just a joke, he didn't budge an inch, clearly not believing me.
"Hm… Now how about we return before the rest of the expedition comes looking for us?"
I agreed, but there was the question of how CPAA would take care of this place being so far away, and the little being responded by summoning one of his smaller versions, asking me to take it with me, as he was able to communicate and interact with the world through it.
A curious ability that I didn't ask for more details about only because I needed to leave. But before that, I made sure to remind him of our agreement and what would happen if he tried anything against us or Kazdel.
With that done, I put the smaller CPAA in my bag and then we left the place through the main entrance, walking through the deep snow and icy wind until we reached the hole of the altar chamber, now empty, with a few curious observers on the bridge leading to the entrance.
Buldrokkas'tee and Warfarin said that after the fog cleared, people fled to the lower levels in search of help while the expedition members returned to the inn, all for safety reasons. I'm glad everyone's unharmed, but now we had another challenge ahead of us: descending the infernal staircase. But this time, nobody asked to be carried in my bottomless bag.
-An Hour and a Half Later-
After another tiring and tedious walk, we found ourselves in front of the inn, everyone else waiting for us. Those who had accompanied us had faces filled with fear, while those who remained in the city were confused, except for Tis'adel and Ephram, who had just descended the staircase leading to the upper floor, walking arm in arm with satisfied smiles, stopping like frightened animals upon witnessing our situation.
"So, what did we miss?"
ALTERNATIVE SCENE: CURSE YOU BAYLE!
-TALLOS II-
Warfarin sighed for the umpteenth time in her office, a dark metaphorical cloud forming above her head as she referred to one of her creations by the name of the Operator it was based on.
Their faces and mannerisms might be similar, even the old memories were still there, but each of the Reconveners was their own being, though she couldn't help but let something slip from time to time.
It was embarrassing how some of them stared at her after being called by a different name, but she had to accept the fact that they weren't the same people from centuries ago.
Slowly, her eyes drifted to the framed photo on her desk, containing her, Alden, and several vampire children possessing a mixture of both their characteristics: some with golden, slit eyes, others with red eyes, even heterochromia; some with white hair, others with red hair, a mix of both; sharp fangs, whether from the vampire or draconic side, and more.
The photo was old; everyone there was already a grown adult in both senses of the word, having inherited their father's height, leading strangers who didn't know them to think she was the youngest sister in the family instead of the mother surrounded by her giant children. Now each had their own life, most living on Terra and some on Tallos II.
A sad laugh escaped her lips, accompanied by a melancholic smile. Then her eyes drifted to the golden ring on her finger, occasionally gleaming due to its enchantment, the function of which she still hadn't discovered.
Her stubborn husband refused to reveal it, saying only that it would be useful in an emergency, an emergency that never happened, not even after so many centuries, not even when he found himself dragged back to his world by forces beyond his control, forced to end his journey.
Time passed, yes, losing him was hard for everyone, and as much as she was ashamed to admit it, for a moment she considered creating a Reconvener of him using the data from his death to Oripathy, but in the end, it wouldn't be the same person.
Who knows? Maybe one day they would meet again and…
CRASH!
Something crashed through the ceiling of her office, creating a cloud of dust and debris, falling to the floor with a thunderous thud and tremor that shook the room, making her jump and grab her staff, years of combat experience returning in a second when faced with a dangerous situation.
"COUGH! COUGH!"
Her weapon gleamed with arts as she heard the individual's cough and saw its dark outline rising from the dust. However, her mouth opened in disbelief and her body trembled like a leaf as she saw her beloved in front of her, smiling as if nothing had happened.
However, before they could have their much-desired reunion, a deafening roar made the entire facility tremble, and the terrified screams of the workers echoed in the distance.
"Sorry, dear, but I need to take care of something first!"
She didn't even notice the quick kiss on her cheek before Alden leaped out the nearest window, shattering the glass and running away. Seconds later, she snapped out of her stupor as if struck by lightning, shaking her head and making an incoherent noise before approaching the window, considering jumping before realizing the deadly height, for her at least.
Clicking her tongue, she left her office, crossing the corridors filled with panic, desperate people running in all directions while security guards tried to maintain order.
Occasionally, a tremor threatened to knock everyone down after a few steps, and dark clouds turned day into night, now illuminated by the blinding red lightning that ripped across the sky.
As she approached the main entrance, the roars and tremors grew louder, and as soon as she crossed the threshold, she came face to face with the Endministrator, Perlica, Laevatain, Pogranichnik, and Chen, all in combat stances, but with faces contorted in horror.
There were no catastrophes on Tallos II, but the swirling clouds of storms and red lightning converging on a single point in the sky could only be described as one, and below it, at the center of it all, was a monster, a dragon with dark scales and a mangled body, its wings torn and bones exposed, yet alive, its head a mass of twisted horns accompanied by a pair of large red eyes and rows of fangs as sharp as swords.
And before such a monster stood Alden, and a man in a large hat wearing rags and wielding a gigantic bow, screaming like a madman.
"CURSE YOU, BAYLE! I HEREBY VOW! YOU WILL RUE THIS DAY! BEHOLD, A TRUE DRAKE WARRIOR! AND I, IGON! YOUR FEARS MADE FLESH! SOLID OF SCALE YOU MIGHT BE, FOUL DRAGON… BUT I WILL RIDDLE WITH HOLES YOUR ROTTEN HIDE! WITH A HAIL OF HARPOONS! WITH EVERY LAST DROP OF MY BEING!"
Igon then placed a literal harpoon on his bow, unleashing a war cry with all his might, filled with hatred and fury against the beast before him, which responded in kind, releasing an animalistic roar, causing the land to split open and fire to erupt from its deep fissures, and raising the exposed bone of its wounded wing, channeling a lightning bolt that fell from the sky, creating its own colossal weapon enveloped in the power of dragons.
The inhabitants of Tallos II could only watch as the apocalyptic battle began, for Bayle the Dread had arrived in their world.
END OF SCENE