316. What the Beholders Know

As if it wasn’t cramped enough, now everyone huddled around the tiny coffee table like the greatest game of poker was about to go down. The Arbiter insisted that they all stayed inside. After all, everyone present was in their inner circle in one way or another.

4 Archetypes, 2 Beholders, 3 Moons, a candidate Moon, 2 Alter Frosts, and a giant fuzz ball that sat in the corner of the room, minding its own business. Those that gathered here were people of high esteem. The triplets, which were once considered the most disposable Moons, were irreplaceable and stood at the pinnacle of all other Moons.

Galia couldn’t help but to slyly grin at the sight of them again, prompting Cer to grumble: “Here we go again. That coffee addict.”

Galia prepared a cup of coffee and pancakes for everyone in the room. All tables of the café were pushed into one massive island, each person, including the Alter Frost taking a seat after the Arbiter kindly gestured for them to join.

She stirred several freshly brewed batches of coffee for all, passing them around gently with a neutral smile that seemed to perpetually mock those beneath her. For a Beholder that could teleport items at will, she restricted herself to using her body.

Galia then responded to Cer as she took her seat beside the Arbiter.

“Coffee is the lifeblood of a good society. The ritual to awaken the mind when it crawls to a halt. I like to call it the ‘liquid key’. Wouldn’t you agree, Res?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Res sighed, irritated that Galia even mentioned her, although, her tail wagged slightly like a slow windscreen wiper at the sound of her voice. “I don’t report to you anymore. But for the sake of my professionalism: Cer, Ber, Res. Moons. Classified Mission to retrieve the Amalgam within a 4-month period is complete.”

“I expected nothing less.” Galia praised, causing Ber’s ears to twitch. “I could sing praises all day and night. But I don’t need to be the one who acknowledges your growth. Such a thing is apparent by the fact that you can sit down on the same table as me.”

“Just like the old times.” Ber stated.

“When you were only misguided pups.” Galia hummed matter of factly.

Out of everyone present, Cer, Ber and Res received special pancakes that were cut into a silhouette of themselves. Cream, colorful fruit, and honey filled in the details, creating a treat that promised to be as delicious as it looked.

Cer grumbled again before looking over at Frost, holding the plate beside her head as if to say: “I bet you think I’m tasty now.”

Res understandably pinched her thigh from under the table, keeping her composure to a maximum in the presence of the Arbiter. Ber was the same, although, just like Cer, they wielded a defiant aura for they had the Amalgam on their side.

Would it kill them to have some manners?

Frost mentally sighed, watching Nav pour as much sugar as there was coffee. Nav appeared perplexed by something as she took long sips, probably to savor the taste.

Galia and the triplets sound like another complicated relationship. They never really hated her in the first place, but I didn’t think they’d be happy to see her again.

After everyone became accustomed, and as Snap ate its fair share of pancakes through its fur, order arrived at the table like a bolt of lightning. All 7 tails shot up behind the Arbiter. They formed a pale throne befitting only the most exalted being.

Conversations turned to murmurs. Then, the murmurs died down as the Arbiter silently asked for her turn to speak.

Now that things were in order, the Arbiter and Galia turned their attention to Jury.

And she asked only one question.

“What is your name?”

Death held its scythe around the throats of everyone in the room all of a sudden. Budding wings sprouted from the back of the Arbiter as her golden eyes shone like the haloes of an Angel. Galia pulled a mysterious two-trayed scale from a place that was not a Dimensional Storage as far as Frost could tell.

The object was made of the same materials as the Genesis Stones, with golden inscriptions carved like the veins of a plant. They rolled towards the top, branching out to form leaves. The two-trayed scale closely resembled a miniature tree.

Frost stared quizzically at it. She had seen that thing before. Maybe the object, but the patterns of the tree. Neither in her past life, or on Earth as well. She flicked through the archives of her mind, sifting through thousands of pages as Jury powered through the Arbiter’s pressure, answering with absolute honesty.

“Jury.”

The blade of impending death allowed the room to collective exhale. The hairs of the triplets stood on all ends as they were reminded of the Arbiter’s authority. The object in Galia’s hand tilted to the right, emitting a blue flame.

The same kind Frost saw in the hearts of others when they carried goodhearted intentions.

“It praises. The Justitia Scale pronounces you as truthful. I had no doubts.” Galia applauded unenthusiastically. “There is no need to read the truths and lies along your ribs.”

“I’m relieved. Jury. That’s a wonderful name.” The Arbiter complemented, snaking a tail towards Jury’s where they poked at each other like the playful paws of a kitten. “I do adore this one. And here I believed I would come to hate you. It has been long enough where I’ve grown to long the kind Elysia.”

“If you don’t mind me asking something.” Frost suddenly spoke to Galia directly, putting the item away.

“I’d be honored.”

“What is your book?”

“Paradise Restored.” Galia immediately answered. “As for its contents, they pertain to an idea and tales I’ve long forgotten. But it formed the foundation of my technology. The Warped Stone.”

“A scientific technology with a theological background makes her rather special, wouldn’t you agree?” The Arbiter hummed, stirring her coffee with a tail. “Regardless, her tech is one with the Nexus. As is Beholder Umbra’s. Of all the Beholders, I can assure you that they are the ones you can trust the most, aside from Carpalis.”

Discerning what was truth or false was impossible for Frost. Her Coat of Prejudice had suffered yet another catastrophic blow and was in need of repairs. However, if the Arbiter of all people was vouching for them, then there must have been a good reason for.

But Frost was not here to make friends with the Beholders. They were beings beyond normal people. Treating them like ‘friends’ would only lead to disappointment. At worst, betrayal. She needed to approach things at a rigid angle.

These people were nothing like Carpalis.

She was certain of it.

Still, it did not change that they had a common case at the surface.

Frost nodded after allowing her train of thought to run circles in her head.

“I will decide who I can trust or not. I’ve seen the things you Beholders have done to people. The things you failed to follow through with.” She directly referenced the retreat of Justica Arms against Scarlet Logic. “It’s not a matter of where we can trust each other or not. It’s a matter of whether we can come to an agreement on what we see and believe in.”

Frost’s tone rivalled the Arbiter’s. If the Arbiter’s pressure was death’s scythe, then Frost’s was its maw. Her eyes were consumed by a golden flame as the Nexus suddenly quaked, resonating with her heightening emotions.

“Therefore, I will ask you only once: Are you an enemy?”

“I am only on the side that declares universal righteousness. The safety of the Nexus and the lost are my priority.” Galia confirmed. “We’ve all slaughtered many for good causes. I know you understand that not everything is done willingly.”

“I’m aware.”

Galia did not elaborate further. Instead, she allowed the Arbiter to take over again.

“Bonds are not easily formed at these heights. But imagine us as two birds, each with one wing. We will require each other’s help. I simply wish to protect all from Elysia’s Corrupting touch… and to find my Price of Paradise.”

“I just want the best for people. No one should have to suffer like they do. We have all this power, but there’s so little that’s being done… People can become Corrupted. How the hell is this cycle supposed to stop?”

“You will find that there is no easy fix for the mess we have made. But I assure you, I too have been making strides to fix this. Caldera Industries is heavily in my debt.” Galia took pride in this, flaunting it as an achievement. “We require tremendous amounts of Nex. A single lapsed day without it can degrade a Beholder’s mind. It’s no secret that people can become Corrupted. Even Moons can. Why else do you think the Eclipses exist? To merely assassinate Atelier personnel?” Galia rose from her seat, the Arbiter following suit, marking their imminent journey through the Nexus.

Her revelation brought many to begin questioning just how much the Beholders truly knew, and how much had been tucked away from the world.

Galia continued.

“They exist to eliminate symptomatic Moons before they breakdown. It’s the reality we face. Serum G has become standard procedure over the years, no thanks to the Corruption now being able to bypass the Blessing of the Nexus.”

And finally, the Arbiter concluded:

“Did you know that those who would become Corrupted become Blessed?”