355. Assurance of the 6th Apostle

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.Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com

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.

“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.