355. Assurance of the 6th Apostle

“So many people… They all came from the City of Spades. A-Are these people…?” Anna looked up to Frost, seeking confirmation.

Bartholow answered for her instead.

“From S3, S4, and partially S5. The Associations worked quickly when they heard the proposal of a large monetary reward thanks to woman from a now liquidated organization. I heard good things about our ‘Black Dove’.”

“How is she? Is she ok?” Frost asked as they carefully moved through the crowds, watching people in uniforms bearing many insignias from the associated, distant buildings help those in need.

Some out of the kindness of their heart, but many more because they were being paid to do so. Not that it was a problem to begin with. People should be rewarded for their efforts; Frost believed.

She became sentimental. Angered, but calm. These were the ones that were spared by her flames, and the ones who remembered her as a Hero.

Many more, however, would know her as a murderer.

“The woman remains in Armistice Point by her own will. Currently, the area serves as a major contract center for our organized friends. The situation is being handled and monitored closely by the Golden Index. Fantastic people. But – hmhm – you already knew that. Which is why you answered to Carpalis’ call so quickly.”

“Carpalis is about the only Beholder I can completely trust. Galia’s not cleared for me yet.” Frost coldly stated.

“May I ask where I stand?”

“On the same line as Galia.”

“I shall take that as a good sign.” Bartholow pleasantly smiled.

He brought them up to speed on the situation. He never commented on the two, already catching wind of them being higher beings born from the blood of the Nexus must like Frost.

It was apparent that he had a mountain’s worth of work to get through regarding the situation, so Frost didn’t want him to feel compelled to tour her around.

She only needed to be pointed towards Carpalis’ direction. Still, he escorted them.

Justicers, who once lined the walls of the 6th Branch, blessed the crowd with their presence. Crime was virtually non-existent. All conflicts were prevented long before they could begin, because who in their right mind would argue in the face of the towering, two and a half meter tall warriors donned in elaborate steel.

After minutes of navigating through the crowd, and as Anna charted the world in her mind with Nav’s helpful, mental voice, they approached the edge.

During this time Frost offered to heal those along the way, greeting them with unmatched kindness.

Their shock of seeing a black-haired healer never failed to amuse her, as usual. It brought her back to simpler times when they were just in Grandis and at the borders of Brandar. Back then she knew little of the world and where she stood.

She tended to children, to fathers, to the elderly – Those who lost their limbs watched as they regrew by a mere touch of this black-haired Angel. Her miracles were akin to the Perched and the Mothers of Inflow Direct; the highest ranking healers, who were known to bring back limbs in mere seconds.

Frosts was not instant like theirs, hinting that she had yet to reach her limit. It was a positive sensation. Like a small spark of electricity in her chest. Thankful, teary faces came by to thank her with all their heart.

An old woman took her hands and brought them to her forehead, weeping as her sight returned to her. Bartholow only smiled in response. He was a prominent figure here as no stranger to being called and greeted by faces who recognized him not because he was a Star, but rather, because of what he did.

Frost didn’t want to make the same mistake she did with L.S to Bartholow and seeing the content smiles caused her to loudly sigh as they parted from the crowd.

“Haaaaaaaaah.”

“Frost?” Anna jolted to the unexpected hiss.

“I see. So that’s the equivalent of a machine releasing steam.” Nav nodded to herself.

“Have I overstepped a boundary?” Bartholow hummed.

“No. It’s nothing.” Frost looked up into the man’s sealed eyes all of a sudden as they came to a complete stop. “Bartholow. What do you benefit from helping these people?”

Her tone turned colder than ice. The breeze ceased all of a sudden as a still, stagnant air surrounded them. Anna instinctually took a step back, sensing an ember of animosity in Frost’s words.

The reason why she asked was because she suspected that there was an ulterior motive. Her golden eyes burned themselves into the Star’s soul, his body remaining still as he instinctually understood that he was in the presence of a being that could eliminate him in the blink of an eye.

But more than that, she was an entity only a Star like himself would respect and bow down to, for she was the Amalgam; the Archetype associated with the Nexus they worshipped.

He then answered:

“A selfish prospect, added with the hope that some may come to join us in the future.”

Frost reiterated as her gaze sharpened: “Why do you help them?”

“It’s not a mystery. Like you, I, and our glorious Beholder Galia, we all come from backgrounds of injustice. I received many lashes in my life simply trying to do what I believed was ‘right’. We are only here because there is unfairness. We only judge because who else will take upon that throne?”

His words were carefully crafted. It was impossible to tell if these were genuine or jargon to appease her but judging from what she saw and his character long ago, it was safe to assume that he was sincere.

There were just too many rules imposed by the Ateliers upon one another.

The fact that they were allowed to do this on ImpulseWork’s territory was a good sign. Some change had already taken place, but she was no idiot to believe that it came from the goodness of their hearts.

“I also have selfish reasons on why I want to protect people like them. Right now, I hope you understand that it’s difficult for me to come to trust you. However…” Frost then offered her hand to the man, a smile forming on her face. “… I applaud your efforts. Without your help, there wouldn’t be this many survivors. Maybe none at all. I caught sight of your personnel inside there, as well as bands of Adventurers. At the very least I know you’re the kind of person who keeps their word.”

Frost spoke with a political tongue, hinting a bit of kindness which humored Bartholow.

“You flatter me. I only do what I must, so long as it’s allowed. We’re under immense scrutiny after the betrayal of the 12th Branch, after all. Hmhm~ You’ve gotten sterner since the last time we met. But also more relaxed, I must say! Wonderful. You seem happier.”

“I’m glad that it appears that way. You don’t seem too bad yourself either.”

“It’s a different tale on the outside.” Bartholow uttered as Frost pointed her nose in a certain direction.

“Carpalis is where exactly?”

Bartholow then pointed towards a wall of building. Amongst the beautiful, baroque structures was one particular building that rose with many towering spires, built with purple and gold bricks, appearing more like a royal palace than a gathering place for Adventurers.

“The Guild of H10. She came by to say ‘hi’ with several Underbosses and a funny man with a card for a head. I’m impressed you knew the general location. Quite frightening.”

“It’s true. She can sense all Beholders, Stars and Moons within an approximate 3,000-kilometer range. There is no use in hiding.” Nav boldly lied, uttering her first words to the man with unwavering eyes.

“A-Ah. I-Is that so? I shall keep that in mind.” A bead of sweat ran down the man’s forehead.

Nav? Frost mentally asked.

“I am stating what may be a power of yours in the future. Call it a calculative prediction.” Nav unapologetically claimed.

Uh-huh. That’d be nice, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Frost mentally sighed.

“Joking aside – I assume you can feel it.”

Precisely.

The reason why Frost stared off in that direction was because she could feel a presence lurking there. It was the same sensation she felt when she resonated with the Nexus. If she squinted hard enough, she felt like she could translate the sensation into a tugging string; the exact same one that connected her with the Alter Frosts.

Something similar likely resided there, and as she parted ways with Bartholow and thanked him for his hard work, they strolled along the pale, bricked landscape where many Adventurers wandered back and forth at a brisk pace.

But before they left, Anna turned to the man and with a determined heart of courage, shouted:

“P-Pleasure to meet you!”

The man stopped momentarily, twisting his head over his shoulder to smile at her.

“The pleasure was mine, however brief it was, oh Archivist and blue-haired friend.”

“H-Huh!?” Anna cried, surprised that someone managed to recognize her.

“Blue-haired friend…” Nav touched her hair.

“Was it obvious?” Frost called out to him.

“It was only a guess! Hmhm~ Her reaction confirms it. We were always only aware of three Archetypes of the Nexus until recently. Your companions are not here, which led me to assume I was in the presence of multiple Archetypes. You all do carry a rather distinguishable presence, may I add!”

Bartholow went into unnecessary detail, finally returning to the 6th Branch after uttering one last thing:

“You should be more careful. The light of a Star cannot intercept the dark as readily as Moons. Now, it is impossible for us to roam freely with the presence of the Genesis Stones. How we clean this up is all up to those in the sky. We Stars are unfortunately not amongst them.”

“U-Um – Thank you!” Anna cried, uncertain whether to wave or not.

Her awkwardness was cute.

We’ve all been there, Anna.

They resumed their journey, and Frost couldn’t help but wonder if the inquiring Corrupted was the source of the ticklish resonance in her chest.

There was only one way to find out.