IX - Thalamoid

Saitori, Oreic, and Isrina took Shien's body and arrived at the secret underground base where Mivangeline's body was. The UICA was building an army to strike the Federation when the time was right. Oreic gathered Vulpi survivors along with Elysia and Enshiron's bodies away from Fanghui and Hernamidos' rampage. In the meantime, Saitori and her spies searched for evidence to prove the UICA's innocence to Altair.

"So, Maika created Code Fuchsia. I should've known it was my former sister-in-arms," Saitori studied the evidence. "Looks like we have a score to settle."

With Saitori and Oreic busy, Isrina sat with her unconscious son in a bedroom. She thought about finding Shien a lovely wife and living to see her grandchildren. And importantly, the end of Hernamidos, her husband's murderer, the killer of Niangs, their generational curse. Isrina and the other Niangs tried to stop Hernamidos, but nobody succeeded. Not even her husband, Jinhai.

"Am I a good mother for Shien?" Isrina pondered. "How can I find happiness for my son?"

Remember my name well, dear friend. My name is Iagen.

"Iagen," Isrina called.

Yes, you have remembered my name well. The phantom Vulpi named Iagen sat next to her.

"You said it was possible to secure Shien's future with your magic?"

Indeed, I did, dear friend of mine. Iagen snapped his finger, letting the bedroom spiral into an illusion.

Isrina saw the backyard with Naku and Kaku's birdhouse. While the chickadee family fed their chicks, Shien skipped across the ground with joy, calling his wife. He held hands with a beautiful woman, who called the names of Shien's children. The little sons and daughters who shared Shien's face rolled on the grass to chase the robins.

The mother wept with joy until the illusion faded, reverting to the bedroom. She did her best to remember the face and names of Shien's future wife and children, but she couldn't.

My dear friend. It's all possible. Let me teach you my magic, and we'll not only secure Shien's future, but end Hernamidos to ensure his safety! You'll no longer question your value as a mother.

Isrina sighed. "Show me. What sort of magic do you offer?"

The Vulpi blinked his pale red pentagram eyes as his face melted to speak with his deformed fangs. I offer the Ouroboros Fang, the Waltz of the Damned.

***

"Shien?" Mivangeline ran across Tetrachrome City. "Where are you?"

As the commander looked for Shien, the android NPCs passed by. They asked what they should do with Phoenicia gone.

"I need you all to calculate the Dynastiotron wartrain's schedule! We're planning to board it to hitch a ride to attack the next boss and save Phoenicia!"

"Yes, Commander!" The androids saluted before studying the wartrain's schedule in their data archives.

Mivangeline saw Shien crying beside a lake.

"Shien," The commander sat with him. "Are you alright? I'm sure Elysia didn't mean those things."

The martial artist turned to his crush. "Mivange, you know I like you, right?"

"Y-yes, it's obvious."

Shien sniffed. "Do you like me too? Or am I too small to love?"

Mivangeline looked at Shien with her deep blue eyes. "Shien, I think you're lovely."

Shien couldn't help but smile with joyful tears. "Mivange, I've always wanted to hear a pretty girl say that to me. Sorry, I know that sounds ridiculous."

Mivangeline pulled her brown hair back. "S-Shien, if I may ask, why do you feel insecure about your height?"

Shien brushed his blue martial arts robe that had a chickadee embroidery. "I used to date girls back in school, but they only saw me based on how short I was."

"S-Shien, that's horrible. I'm sorry," Mivangeline hugged him. "Listen, you're a very special man. Didn't you help me find my confidence?"

The martial artist nodded.

"I think God placed you here with me for that reason. Did you know that the boys I dated rejected me because I was too quiet and boring?"

"Seriously? How could they? You're so pretty!"

Mivangeline laughed.

"I want to tell you. My parents wanted me to be a Christian singer, but my peers thought I shouldn't sing because singing in public was my biggest weakness."

"Oh, what happened then?" Shien wiped his tears and sat upright to listen.

"Well, Mom and Dad told me to keep going despite what others thought. I didn't understand it at first. But it was the same deal when Saitori sent the message, ordering me to lead the players."

Shien listened with interest.

"But I realized it was because my parents and Saitori knew God had a great purpose for my voice, even when others didn't believe in me because of how introverted I was."

"Shien, I understand how it feels when you said girls couldn't see how amazing you are beyond your height. But Shien, I want you to know that God loves you and has great plans for you! For God uses the things the world sees as foolish to shame the wise."

"Wow," Shien felt touched by the message. "I-I don't know how God works that well, but this is the first time someone told me how much God loves me instead of how much I need to do to earn God's favor."

"That's the spirit of religion, the belief we need to earn God's favor by ridiculous, impossible rituals and works. There's no such thing as earning God's favor. We're all sinners and can never atone for every mistake. That's why God sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross to bear our punishment, so that we may be forgiven. Jesus, the Messiah, already paid our price."

"So that's who Jesus is!"

Mivangeline smiled at him. "I'm glad that God used you to help me find my confidence just in time for me to share God's truth with you!"

Shien and Mivangeline laughed, holding hands. They felt a sudden revelation. For the Holy Spirit was upon them, giving them eyes to see that they were meant for each other as soulmates.

The two accidentally tripped into the lake, but splashed water at each other with joy they'd never experienced before. The two lay beside the lake, drying themselves with towels as they watched the sunset.

"The androids are calculating the wartrain's schedule," Mivangeline swiped her menu to change into a dry blouse and battle skirt.

"Cool!" Shien changed into a dry martial arts robe. "Let's check on Enshiron and Elysia."

Mivangeline walked with Shien until he stopped.

"What's wrong?" The commander asked.

Shien looked around with enlarged eyes. "I-I sense someone. A user of the Avian Form? That's impossible! Only Mom and I use that martial art!"

"Avian Form: Great Titmouse Strike!" A dark shadow jumped above Mivangeline, aiming three fingers at her head.

"Avian Form: Shoebill Thunderforce!" Shien punched the palm strike off to protect Mivangeline. "Avian Form: Parotia's Guillotine!"

Shien jumped after the shadow, aiming a beheading kick at the neck. The hooded figure barely blocked the deadly move with her elbow. Shien and the figure landed on the ground face-to-face.

The Avian Form user was a droid woman with a curved stature. She had magenta eyes shaped like lightning bolts and wore a mechanical respirator. The droid girl wore a hood over her head and a purple martial arts robe with a purple martin swallow embroidery.

"Isrina taught you well," The droid hissed.

"Who are you?" Shien swiveled his elbows into position as Mivangeline hid behind him. "How do you know the Avian Form? You know my mom?"

"Oh, who am I? My name is Thalamoid. I'm the daughter of Isrina and Jinhai. Their true child!"

Shien gasped. "But I never had siblings. Mom never told me about you!"

Thalamoid crouched, snarling like a tiger.

"Well, that's because she rejected me! I was the center of Isrina and Jinhai's love until you had to be born! But all that will change when I kill you and show Isrina I'm her offspring, not you!"

"You're sick! You can't be born of my mother if you're a droid!"

"No! I'm real! You're the faker! Isrina and Jinhai loved me, but you took their love from me! Avian Form: Roadrunner Blitz!" The droid martial artist bashed her head into Shien with super speed.

"Avian Form: Flamingo's Talon!" Shien kicked Thalamoid's hard head with his two feet. "Avian Form: Ostrich Buster!"

Shien stood on his hands, repeatedly kicking Thalamoid like a machine gun.

"Avian Form: Woodpecker Beak Strikes!" Thalamoid blocked with beak-shaped palms. "You're a curse! You went into my life and ruined everything! Isrina doesn't remember me because of you!"

"You're insane!" Shien curled his index finger as Thalamoid did the same.

"Avian Form: Hummingbird's Tongue!" Both Avian Form users smashed their index fingers into each other in a draw.

They are so fast! I can't keep up with them! Mivangeline watched Shien and Thalamoid brawling with blinding rolling punches in awe. Shien is amazing to know the Avian Form. I wonder if I could learn it too.

"Avian Form: Wryneck Scythe!" Shien and Thalamoid slashed against each other with sword-like palm strikes. "Avian Form: Puffin's Foot!"

The martial artists swiped at each other's feet, attempting to trip one another as they dueled with palm strikes. Both were equally talented in maintaining their balance. Shien held his ground as Thalamoid screamed delusions that she was Isrina's child.

"Isrina and Jinhai should've felt grateful for me. An efficient, independent child who doesn't require food and water! But no! They decided to pop you into life! A smelly little brat with needs!"

"But you're a droid! Can't you understand that?"

"Stop calling me a droid! I'm real!"

"It's true! Isrina gave birth to me, but a human can't possibly give birth-"

"Shut up! You little rat!" Thalamoid aimed a downswing kick at Shien's head. "Avian Form: Kingfisher's Axe!"

"Don't deny the truth, Thalamoid! Avian Form: Chickadee's Touch!" Shien stunned her leg with two fingers. "Avian Form: Bowerbird Crusher!"

Shien grappled Thalamoid's paralyzed leg, twisting it to dismantle it into gears and parts. Thalamoid shrieked in pain as her HP dropped into the red zone.

"How dare you!" The droid woman roared. "You thieving cat! As long as I live, I'll be your worst nightmare! Isrina will recognize me again!"

"Well, it doesn't change the fact that I beat you. Does it?" Shien scoffed. "You don't scare me."

"Don't mock me! I went easy on you! This doesn't count. I'll beat you for sure next time!"

The droid glared at Shien and Mivangeline, swiping a menu tab to log off with Maika's programming. Thalamoid's body faded with a warning.

"I'm just one of Empress Maika's agents. I'll be back to settle our score, Shien. But don't think you and your little girlfriend are safe! Maika created a special NPC agent to destroy your pathetic party. The great Machine Queen is coming. She will deal with you! All of you!"