193. Nav’s Wish

193. Nav’s Wish

Farewells were exchanged, and everyone was prepared to depart. Before this, Frost had privately spoken to Kissaria regarding the Oboros Infinitas. To her surprise, she knew of the name but not their purpose. They were an Atelier that apparently did not exist in any records, and all attempts to uncover them usually resulted in the curious seeker’s disappearance.

But she did have one tidbit of knowledge. The Oboros Infinitas was an esoteric existence and were highly tied with Justica Arms. Where Justica Arms were the judiciary, the Oboros Infinitas acted as the executioner.

“Lament. Lament. Lament. What do you think atonement entails, Amalgam? What must a person endure before they can be cleansed of their sins? Galia asked me this directly after the 11th Apostle waged war with the Scarlet Logic. Jury, was it? She wears something like them, and the 2nd Apostle. Both can be hard to differentiate. You’re much like the 1st and Galia herself in that feathered getup. Expect trouble if you plan to move through the City of Spades.”

Visiting the City of Spades was one of their objectives. It was the turf of Scarlet Logic and where the lawless slums of the Nex Megalopolis festered. But before this, there was a location she wanted to visit in H10.

The Justica Arms 6th Branch. She recalled the offer of the Peace Flock Captain when she saved their lives at that small, walled-off town. ImpulseWorks barely had the manpower to aid them and the Golden Index if a war broke out. 95% of all personnel were strictly assigned to the Sites.

Of all the Ateliers the Justica Arms would likely believe that the Scarlet Logic dabbled with the traitor of the Nexus: Iscario, and the Impurities of the world. But before that, they needed to drop Ara off at Hellen’s music store.

It was also here where Frost asked if the Artificing Goggles were easily replicable.

“Not even money can buy ‘em. Like Act X strings. Ever wondered why people don’t wear suits of armor? Because I’ll tell you, their fabric is stronger than any metal you’ll ever find. Depends on the quality of the Act X strings as well. Fabric and strings are intense. Gotta sell your soul to get the best of the best. Even I can’t lay my hands on one.”

Finally, Frost inquired about her Atelier Item. She didn’t know what it did exactly since Nav wouldn’t respond to her. After much investigation, Kissaria concluded that it was similar to the deep dives the Unit Managers did to figure out more about the Corrupted.

Except that Frost’s could only be used on targets with heightened emotions.

Frost wondered if this could be used to intercept people before they became Corrupted, or used as a means to calm people down. Maybe it could even be used on the Corrupted themselves.

The purpose remained a mystery. She already had enough abilities and skills that influenced one’s heart. How these would all come together would remain unknown until the situation finally called for it.

* * *

Frost’s group was the first to leave F-H5. A vibrant sun greeted them above as they stepped out from the elevator, only to have it disappear entirely. It was noon, and they made it clear how much they missed the vast expanses of Brandar’s secluded plains.

Ara began shaking everyone’s hands, thankful for their help. Her only woe now was her gender change. The triplets did not know how to express their emotions. On one hand they despised ImpulseWorks for housing the Corrupted without their knowledge, and on the other, they understood why they did it.

But above all else –

“The Stuffed Teddy Bear is still out there. Useless. We should’ve killed it instead of listening to that crap about wanting a Suppression.” Res hissed.

< But I want to call this ‘sensation’ my desire to exist >

< Therefore, Frost... I wish to taste the sweetness of mortality >

< I don’t even know what you look like >

< Is it a sin for a machine to yearn? >

“If that’s a sin, then let’s be wrong to the end. It’s ok Nav. We’ll be with you at every step of the way.” Frost said, happy to hear its voice again.

“It’s normal. That means you’re just like us. Living in your own way. And we’ll be there at the end to catch you if you fall.” Jury spoke fondly of her dear friend.

“... Do you want to hear what we look like?” Ignis sweetly offered.

“Brrrr~!” Snap said ‘if a Corrupted like me was allowed to ‘live’ then why can’t a machine?’

“It’s ok!” Even the Archivist managed to chime in.

No matter the adversity they faced, or how insurmountable or impossible things may be, Frost believed that so long as they pursued this wish, then it would come true. Because unlike many others, she had wings herself.

Frost, the Black Dove...

And if she didn’t, then all she had to do was eat something that did.