What was I made for?

With a final, twisting motion, Autumna slammed the scythe into his throat. Sparks erupted where metal met metal, and the robot staggered, whirring violently, gears grinding against impossible force.

He crashed to the floor, systems sparking, servos screaming in overload. Exidus’ optics flickered, his body convulsing, but Autumna stepped over him with careful grace.

She crouched, tilting her head toward Juno. “Thank you,” she whispered, almost sweetly. “You… essentially drew him out for me. All for nothing, all for me.”

Juno’s stomach twisted. “You…” he rasped, but she didn’t wait for him to finish.

With a flick of her wrist, she reached into Exidus’ chest cavity. Metal plates shivered, popped open, and there it was — the core. Diamond-shaped, pulsing faintly like it had a heartbeat. Light seemed to bend around it, responding to her presence.

“This,” she said, fingertips brushing the object, “is what those who understand its true purpose call it an Existential Helix.”

She glared at Cassians mauled body, “Some of you know it as Eddy.”

“It is… a device with the ability to bestow the power of ascension, designed by something far above us, to grant power of godlyhood to anyone it deems worthy, these beings chosen are known as Exos.”

The moment lasted less than a heartbeat. Her lips curved into a cruel smile as she pressed forward.

Her lips curved in a wicked smile. “This robot was made to contain it. To guard it. I don’t know how your scientists even managed it… even without you, Haruto.”

Juno took a step back, voice trembling. “Then… what… what about me?”

With a final, twisting motion, Autumna slammed the scythe into his throat. Sparks erupted where metal met metal, and the robot staggered, whirring violently, gears grinding against impossible force.

He crashed to the floor, systems sparking screaming in overload. It’s body convulsing, but Autumna stepped over him with careful grace.

She crouched, tilting her head toward Juno. “Thank you,” she whispered, almost sweetly. “You… essentially drew him out for me. All for nothing, all for me.”

Juno’s stomach twisted. “You…” he rasped, but she didn’t wait for him to finish.

With a flick of her wrist, she reached into Exidus’ chest cavity. Metal plates shivered, popped open, and there it was — the core. Diamond-shaped, pulsing faintly like it had a heartbeat. Light seemed to bend around it, responding to her presence.

“This,” she said, fingertips brushing the object, “is what those who understand its true purpose call it an Existential Helix.”

She glared at Cassians mauled body, “Some of you know it as Eddy.”

“It is… a device with the ability to bestow ascension, designed by something far above us, to grant power of godlyhood to anyone it deems worthy, these beings chosen are known as Exos.”

Her lips curved in a wicked smile. “This robot was made to contain it. To guard it. I don’t know how your scientists even managed it… even without you, Haruto.”

Juno took a step back, voice trembling. “Then… what… what about me?”

Autumna turned her head toward him slowly. For a heartbeat, her face softened—not in kindness, but in a kind of pity so sharp it hurt to look at.

“You…” she said quietly, “weren’t supposed to exist at all.”

The words hung in the ruined lab, heavier than the scent of scorched metal.

Juno’s throat went dry. “What are you talking about?”

The petals across her arms unfurled like a thousand small eyes opening at once.

“This place you call Orati, is the result of your worlds unbecoming.”

“You think you were sent to another world,” Autumna murmured, her thumb brushing the pulsing edges of the core, “but you weren’t. You were sent forward. You were sent into the future.”

Her golden eye narrowed, and a smile curved slow across her face.

“Everyone you ever loved? Everyone you remember?” She tilted her head. “Gone. Long dead. Buried beneath centuries.”

“Going back is impossible, I made you come to this place solely so you could lure the device here, and I could use it at its full potential. With it I can have equal power as them.”

Rilke looked at Juno for answers, none of the things she was saying made sense to her, but the look on his face made it clear that something was wrong.

“What are you going back to?” Autumna teased. “Your brother? A life that gave you nothing in return? They never wanted you. But I do. With this I can destroy this world and make you a new one.”

Something fell from Juno’s fingers — the photograph, slipping into the still air, turning once before landing softly on the broken floor.

Autumna’s gaze followed it down, staring. Then she looked up at him, her golden eye burning like a sun.

“Come with me,” she whispered. “And I’ll show you what you were really made for.”