176. Taking Ara

Ara was a Blessed Conductor much to their surprise. A Conductor were those that were able to conjure a magical symphony for mostly support. Where potions helped the individual, and where other Professions allowed to buff people en masse, Conductors could do this on a grand scale.

They were frequently used in wars. A marching band had a practical use in this world, aside from morale.

The first person Frost questioned was the Navigator.

In her defense, the Blessed could not read the stats of other Blessed or the Corrupted, which made it very easy to mistake them. Although, Frost still had to wonder just what made them suspect this woman of being a Corrupted in the first place.

“We don’t suspect them of being Mimicry! It’s – Wait, please let me find the information! I’m sorry! I’m still – I’m still getting used to this!” The Navigator did not appear to know the reason for Ara’s captivity.

She was a temporary Navigator for this facility, and like Frost, they were only here for 5 days. The appointed Navigator had apparently fallen ill due to being exposed to a certain glowing object and was expected to make a recovery in 5 days.

Frost remained inside of the containment unit with Ara as the others trickled in, wondering what was taking her so long. In that instant, the sound of broken chains blared like an alarm. No more than two people were supposed to interact with Ara for whatever reason.

“Should we be worried?” Jury questioned.

“It’s fine! That’s only the 1st Seal. Ara’s not listed as anything super dangerous. She’s just suspected for… Wishes?”

“Can you explain? And Ara, relax. These people are with me. They’re friends.” Frost assured the warry woman, who swung her conducting wand like a brandished weapon. “We’re going to bring you out.”

“They think I have something to do with that rock that grants wishes! I didn’t do anything wrong! I just – Look at me! Does it look like I wanted to become this!?” Ara complained all of a sudden as they heard several Workers position themselves outside.

“Don’t tell me you’re talking about that rumor…” Res grumbled, suspicious of this person’s claims.

“What rumor?” Jury wondered.

“The wishing one!” Ara exclaimed.

“The Piece of the Fallen Star. Another rumored Advent. They say it can grant wishes, but from what I’m hearing, it doesn’t sound like it does that correctly.” Res explained as the rattling of chains suddenly subsided. “Do you think they believe you, Frost?”

“That she’s not a Corrupted? I’m sure they’re just as confused about this. It’ll take some convincing. I am not about to let someone innocent get caught up in this.” Frost said, suddenly approaching the defensive Ara. “But it sounds like you know something about this.” Frost politely interrogated Ara, realizing that she may have a legitimate reason for being here.

“Nah – No – C’mon! Me!? I was just working my shop then one day, there was a bright flash of light and I turned into this!” She began drumming her chest. “Flesh lumps! Smaller body! Longer hair! I’m a Conductor dammit! What are you blaming me for, you damned Piano!”

Ara was furious that the blame suddenly shifted onto her. This was not Frost’s intention, but the fact that she did have her body transform in some way meant that something was indeed strange, and plausible grounds for being a Corrupted.

Maybe she was indeed Mimicry. Although, she highly doubted it. Mimicry could not form complex sentences like her, and the Navigator even confirmed this.

Frost took her by the arms and shook her lightly, urging her to elaborate. Blushing again, Ara stared off and mumbled.

“Like I said, I didn’t choose to turn into this. I don’t know what happened! Why won’t anyone believe me!? I was sitting there trying to whisk up a new composition when this happened!” She argued with tears in her eyes. “I’ve been here for two days already! The first day I couldn’t even use the bathroom until I discharged everything! Do you know what it’s like to be made less than human!? Do you know how embarrassing… how humiliating it is!?”

Frost instantly sympathized with her, realizing that she was indeed the victim of circumstances rather than an evil Corrupted. They still did not know much. Only that her wish was granted, and her body had transformed, which was why she was being kept here.

Looking around the containment unit, she realized that there weren’t any beds. It was just an empty steel compartment. This sudden realization boiled her blood to no end as she spoke to the Navigator in a slow, low-pitched voice.

“Navigator. And the Overseer. You can both hear me, right?”

“Correct… I-I found out that she had an interaction with the Piece of the Fallen Star. That’s why she’s –!”

“Are there any known issues with it? Dangers? Why is she classified as G?” Frost wanted an entire explanation. Knowing how powerful Frost was, the Navigator gulped and scrambled to find something before the Overseer spoke.

“G for aggression. It’s strong enough to kill several Workers if it really wanted to. We do not know if it was wished into existence by the phenomenon we’re seeking. There is little we can do to stop you, Black Dove. But please be aware that we will take all precautions seriously. To you it may be obvious, but to us, we only know for certain after tragedy strikes.”

Frost deeply sighed, pulling Ara towards the group as she casted [Cleanse] and other forms of healing magic just in case. It was not like she didn’t understand. They were non-Blessed, and the smallest of mistakes could cost them their lives.

Still, it did not change that they had sealed away an innocent person. If Frost hadn’t arrived, then how long would she have been kept here for? This was what infuriated her the most.

“You didn’t give her a proper designation number, so you knew there was a chance she was just a normal human.” Frost began, defending Ara.

“Half-breed.” Ara corrected. “Bit of Insectid in me. Don’t ask me how.”

This caused the triplets to surround her, scrutinizing her in every detail to figure out just what part of her was Insectid.

“Half-breed.” Frost added. “And you couldn’t even offer a bed?”

“I would have starved actually! Yeah. Yeah! Starved! Thirsted! Tell ‘em! Funny how they’ll listen to you but not me!” Ara exclaimed.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Jury whispered consolingly.

“Well… At least you care.” Ara rubbed the back of her head, striking an awkward pose.

“I’m so sorry. Protocols –”

“Protocols are not an excuse. I get you’re wary because of the Corrupted. I can forgive that. But I cannot forgive what would have happened if we didn’t intervene.”

“By what authority? How do you possibly know more than we do? Black Dove. It is a product of the Piece of the Fallen Star. All traces must be kept for investigation for its whereabouts.” The Overseer explained.

“From the top, you’ve misidentified several Corrupted. I’m willing to share which ones in exchange for complete custody of Ara. As a Color, you know a G Classed Corrupted will not be able to harm us. Moreover, you’re forgetting that we are here to provide security. Let us take Ara into our own hands directly.”

Frost began laying down the terms, speaking to the air with as much patience as she could feasibly muster.

“We do not even have to stay here. I’m only here to wait for a Retrofitter to visit. In truth, we can leave right now and there wouldn’t be anything you could do stop us.” Truth be told, Frost did not need the Coat of Prejudice repaired right away.

While it was a quality of life to have, she could simply resume dealing with the real issues on the surface than waiting around for a piece of apparel to be repaired.

She was not going to allow herself to be pushed aside just because she didn’t want to sour relationships with ImpulseWorks. Frost recalled the various times where she was left like a deer in headlights and regretted them from the bottom of her heart.

If she was going to enact change in the Ateliers, then she needed to begin now.

“I’d rather we come to an agreement than to leave by force. The Eclipse stationed in H5 will not help you. You have no healers on site besides me. You have no one that will deal with the threats in the next 5 days. And for what? For a single person? Think this carefully, Overseer.” Frost threatened to abandon the Site.

Understanding the horrors that would follow, the Overseer reluctantly agreed. It was not like they could easily call for help with the Hyperlinks destroyed. Yes, even the internal Hyperlinks kept within the Sites here in Brandar were destroyed.

“… This is why we stopped hiring out Adventurers. Troublemakers. Fine. Have it your way. Please, enlighten us, Black Dove, of your so-called knowledge.” The Overseer could not hide his annoyance. Frost had too much sway over them.

Frankly, she didn’t like manipulating people. But if push came to shove, then what other choice did she have?

Violence? That was reserved for the special few.

Business with the Ateliers operated differently from everything else. It was highly volatile, and she could only imagine what it would be like trying to lay down the terms in the face of all the Beholders.

“Thank you, Overseer. You too, Navigator. You made the right choice.” Frost assured.

“I really, really hope so.” The Navigator was at a loss for words. She didn’t know how to react at all.

“And Ara. You didn’t explain what you meant by change. You look just like a human to us, so what’s wrong?” Frost put her back into the limelight, trying to figure out what had made ImpulseWorks so infatuated by her. “Hey. Hellen. Does that name ring a bell?”

“Aunt!? You know her! She has a little kid, right!? Alice!” Ara shouted, trying to convince them that she was indeed related to them. “We’re family! I run her shop! But then this happened and now she’s probably looking for me!”

“Wait, wait – You run her shop? With her nephew?” Frost questioned as the triplets and Ignis couldn’t seem to understand what this all meant. As for Jury, she was also aware that only Hellen’s nephew manned her shop.

Then they were smacked in the face with another revelation.

“I’m her nephew! This is what I’m talking about! You think I, Ara the Conductor, wished to become like this!?” Ara slapped her voluptuous chest again.

Somehow, due to the powers of the mysterious Piece of the Fallen Star, Hellen’s nephew had become her niece. This person was gender changed just like her. And unlike Frost, she did not take it easily. Rather, it felt like she had the most appropriate reaction towards an unwanted transformation.

Things couldn’t get more confusing.

But this did confirm the existence of the Third Advent, the Piece of the Fallen Star, since ImpulseWorks were actively seeking it.