Cataclysm War | Epilogue: Ancient Designs (First Draft)

“What do you think?” a calm male voice asked, standing on air in a wrapped layer of inverted light high above the [Kingdom of Avalon].

“He is dangerous,” a female voice replied, equally invisible to prying eyes at his side. “But he is also entertaining.”

“The Rite showed us potential, not prophecy,” the first voice stated in the same steady, wholly relaxed manner. “We cannot take action based purely on conjecture. There are too many variables manifesting around him. The System has taken a direct hand.”

“That is why he is dangerous,” the second voice said firmly. “Why is the System acting? It has always left matters of Integration to us, and never intruded upon the Integration process before.”

The question was met with thoughtful silence as the pair stared out over the bustling City and toward the vast lands of [Continent 3] around it. No immediate answer was forthcoming, but the second of the pair did not press, instead remaining studiously silent as her companion pondered.

Finally, an indeterminate amount of time later, the first voice spoke once more.

“The breaches are growing more common,” the male voice stated finally, their words faintly underscored by a kernel of worry. “Worse than I have seen in millennia.”

“You are worried about them? That’s why you insisted on that Quest?”

“Yes,” the first voice confirmed, tone still mild. “Our higher objective demands total focus. We cannot permit the Mandate to be compromised. Integration was only ever a means to an end. If he finds the Key, we may yet harness him for the Mandate.”

“It is a risk,” the second voice muttered, female tones echoing with ancient worry. “If we are not appropriately prepared, we risk disjointing the equilibrium in this Sector of the Nexus.”

“The equilibrium is already gone,” the male voice said with mirthless amusement. “It died when [Planet 16] was consumed.”

“An outlier, not a precedent,” the second voice insisted, though their words sounded uncertain. “We cannot believe that to be a portent, any more than the Rite.”

“So you concur with me,” the first voice said in satisfaction. “Good. Then we will maintain our primary function and let things play out. The Calamity beasts will be a fitting crucible, and the Quest will tell us his intention. We can reevaluate thereafter.”

“Giving him that power could prove disastrous,” the second voice said with a last bastion of concern. “If you are wrong—”

“We will simply enact a contingency if I am,” the first voice said firmly, cutting off the second. “If I am not, however, then we have gained a potent blade against the Great Enemy.”

“Is that why you influenced Talrinar?” the second voice asked, sighing in resignation. “To create the precedent for this?”

“An insurance policy,” the first replied without worry. “A contingency, if you prefer it be called that. The Mandate must be protected. [Planet 16] was an anomaly, but a second instance would become a pattern. There is a reason the System is acting, I believe it must be due to [Planet 16].”

“I see,” the second voice said with quiet acceptance. “Ultimately, this is your call to make, but I caution you against being blinded by your curiosity. Your interference already aroused your Censure once before.”

“And I have repented for that ever since,” the first voice said resolutely. “You do not need to worry. The Mandate is and always will be my focus. This is merely another means to ensuring its security. We have a ready-made and willing sword. We may as well wield it.”

“You and swords,” the second voice said wearily, and then began to fade. “I will go along with this for now. I believe you know what you are doing, but if that is proven otherwise, I will not hesitate to withdraw my support.”

“I appreciate your faith,” the first said gratefully. “It will be vindicated, I assure you.”

The second chuckled mirthlessly and let out a sigh.

“You have always been too fond of Cultivators, but I cannot blame you for the lingering attachment. It still is not clear why you were assigned to this Integration. The others thought it to be a conflict of interest.”

“The System is more aware of things than we are, it always has been,” the first voice replied steadily. “We are but its Agents, not its Masters. Some of our compatriots forget that, to their detriment. If the System has acted, then it has judged him itself, and we can only trust in its calculation.”

“You put too much stock into the calculus,” the second voice murmured.

“I would argue none of you put enough stock,” the first contested.

“That aligns with your mindset, but we remain unconvinced. Very well, though. You have earned a measure of trust, even if it is a thin rope. I will carry this torch for you, but I expect you to stay true to your word. If there is Deviance toward threatening the Mandate, you know I will not retain my support.”

“A chance is all I can ask for,” the male voice said in understanding concession. “The seeds of it were sown eons past.”

“Ah yes, your grand experiment,” the female voice said with audible skepticism.

“He will show its fruition,” the first voice said with concrete belief, “you will see.”

Silence followed their words, and then a single sentence was offered before the second took their leave.

“I hope you are right… Merlin.”