Purpose

After clearing the Whiteriver Watchtower dungeon, we all returned to Master Croghan’s tower, hiding in the heart of the Akhronnan mountains. The path there was guarded by multiple ballistae hiding in the mountain range, as well by monsters hypnotized by the Master. Though reaching the place on foot was possible, it was difficult. Entering and leaving meant always going by griffin.

Once there, I went directly to the storage room. There I lied down and let myself have some rest. The Master went to his office, but Sybille followed me where I there to the storage room.

“Now we are home,” said Sybille. “Home! Sweet home…”

She was sweating and had bags in her eyes. She was exhausted. If even just injuring something that was human made the rebound effect leave her like this, I did not want to imagine what it would do to her if she had gone further.

“You should go rest,” I told her.

“I’m good!” she said. “I swear, I am good. Is it fine if I sit here?”

She was not good.

Nonetheless, as soon as I nodded, she walked over to my side and sat down. She let out a long groan of relief and let her head gently rest against my arm.

“Didn’t you tell me I should take better care of myself?” I asked her. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You should be in bed,” I said.

“I know, but this is more comfortable,” said Sybille.

“I am made of rocks, Sybille. I don’t think my arm is very comfortable.”

Sybille gave out a wide pout.

“There is more than just the physical, you know?” she said. “This is a wound of the soul, not the body, you see. In other words… just taking a nap with a friend will do wonders.”

She closed her eyes, letting her exhaustion ease over here, but I could not join her. I could only stare down at the ground.

“I cannot sleep,” I told her. “I cannot join you in this.”

Sybille opened her eyes.

“You can’t, can you?” she said. “You are right. It is my fault.”

“It is what was possible,” I responded. “There were not many options for me to survive long in this world. Between dying in the streets where I should have, or this, I choose this.”

“Still… we are now forcing you to do things like this. To fight monsters, to clear dungeons, and…”

She fell silent.

“That thing was a monster,” I told her. “It was human in the past, but now it was no different than a zombie. It would have hurt you if I didn’t stop it. The people of this world are peaceful, and I intend to protect them.”

That was what I told myself. In truth, I felt guilty. It was not like in the movies. In that moment, where I took away that life, just how far removed was I from being that same life? Monster, ReConstruct. Why was one good, and the other evil?

Sybille looked up to meet my gaze, looking at me with tearing eyes as she embraced my arm.

“Bastion,” she said, “you are a gentle soul. No one in this world can truly be called peaceful. We are forced to be. The rebound effect, the Divine Law... it makes us unable to hurt each other directly, but despite that, we have managed to find ways to wage war. That is not peace. It is all a lie. But you? You are different, Bastion. You are not a lie. You are peaceful because you want to be. This life… this life as a tool of war, it doesn’t suit you.”

“Sybille…”

I wanted to hug her. Embrace her. This body, however, would crush her. All I could do for her now was reach for her arm with the touch of my finger.

“I wish I could do more for you,” she said. “But right now… this is all I can do.”

She leaned into my shoulder again, pressing her body against mine as she closed her eyes.

“It is fine, Sybille,” I said. “This is what I am here to do, so, I will do it.”

“Bastion…” she said.

There was more she seemed to be wanting to say, but she wound up falling asleep. Exhaustion must have worn her down, after all.

“You should not be sleeping here,” I muttered.

I did as best I could to slide her into my arms and then carried her to her room. There, I put her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. She did not wake up.

I should get Master Croghan, I thought. Maybe there is something he can do about this rebound.

***

I knocked on door to the Master’s main workshop.

“Come on in,” he said, so I entered.

It was the highest room in the tower, and had a circular design filled with scattered stations, tools, diagrams, and books.

“Take a look at this, Number BS-8,” said the Master. “I am making you a new body! One that might just not be so weak against magic like you are… I cannot say it would be impervious, but it would be an improvement to not leave you so disoriented when facing a fireball. Behold, Number CS-1! What do you think?”

“That’s… great,” I said.

“Ah, the curiosity of my projects must not be what you are here for. Why are you here then, Number BS-8?”

From the looks of it, he was welding a new golem with magic. It had a stone body like mine but reinforced with metal linings. The Master continued working on his project as he talked to me.

“I am concerned about Sybille,” I told him. “Shouldn’t we be seeking medical care for her?”

“There is not much anyone can do about the rebound effect,” said the master. “It has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and no one has even come close to create any treatment. It is a spiritual effect, Number BS-8. No amount of physical treatment will help her.”

“What about magical treatment?”

“Bah! You mean to tamper with her soul? You are cruel, Number BS-8. You most of all should know how unpleasant that can be.”

“There must be something we can do.”

“Letting her rest, that is what we can do. Do not worry. I will have a maid keep her clean and fed while she recovers. I estimate she will be bedridden for the next few days, however. Foolish girl. Just when we had a new mission on the horizon.”

Another mission?

“What is this mission about?” I asked.

“We are taking down a fortress,” said Master Croghan. “The Akhronnan Kingdom is not pleased by the aggression from the Ranolkian Empire. The nobles, even in the midst of their petty squabbles, agree that we must strike back. As such, a counterattack will be made, focusing on the fortress at their border. Should it be secured, the Kingdom will gain control of a geographical chokepoint and defend better against further incursions.”

A fortress.

“This is not a dungeon, is it?” I asked.

“Correct, this is a literal fortress. Oh, you must have concerns. We will fly through griffin again to get there. As Sybille is unavailable, I will have to suffice in order to ride it. Very few mages can control griffins, and those that can are spread thin enough.”

“That is not my concerns. Where there is a fortress, there are soldiers.”

“Of course. And?”

“They are people.”

“Your point being?”

“Master Croghan, I will not fight people.”

Master Croghan stopped working on his project, then turned his incredulous gaze towards mine. He sighed.

“And just what do you think you are to refuse?” he said.

“I am me," I said, "and I will not do it.”

“Then, what about just breaking down a wall?”

“I assume doing so will let monsters through and kill people. No.”

Master Croghan picked up his staff and walked over to me.

“You are my creation. I can shut you down anytime, anywhere, for any reason I want. Do you want to die, Number BS-8?”

“I don’t,” I said. “But I still refuse.”

I clenched my fists together, ready for whatever was next.

Master Croghan cackled. He laughed with a voice cast like thunder across the room, echoing with dread and dismay.

“Very well,” said Master Croghan. “You do not have to do it.”

He smiled.

“Is that so?” I said. I did not trust that smile. Not one bit.

“Yes, truthfully,” said Master Croghan, locking gazes with me, and patting my arm.

“I thank you for your consideration, Master Croghan.”

“Do not worry about it,” he said, “you can rest easy… Joseph Kraft.”

My name.

He called me by my real name, that of my past life.

“How do you even know…” I muttered. “Croghan, you...”

In that moment, I felt as though my soul had been pulled down with a leash.

I fell down to my knees.

“You are not so foolish as to forget what you are, do you?” he said. “Come now, Number BS-8. Tell me what you are. Tell me, Joseph.”

My name again.

The lights in my eyes faded out. The green within them went dark, and in their stead, red lights surged.

“Tell me,” said Master Croghan. “What is your purpose, my strongest creation?”

He slid his hand across my cheek as he spoke.

The voice that came out from my mouth was one that went against my will.

“I…” I muttered. “I OBEY.”