Tages silently walked through the halls of the palace heading for the throne room. He passed by a group of guards that frantically rushed past him, they were on edge. It was likely those with usable Dichotomies in the city felt it when Jilk revealed himself. No one liked getting visited by a Personification, especially when they didn''t know it was coming.
He glanced out the window to the city below, it held a strange fusion of the designs of the Reborn cities further into Elysium and a more traditional style from the cities in the Barrens. A result of their place at the edge of Elysium. He watched as bits of ash kicked up by storms in the barrens drifted down outside, it was likely inert by the time it reached the city but some of it may be usable. He looked towards the dock where scant few ships were docked, traders from other cities unloading goods.
He turned his attention back to his task as he arrived at the door to the throne room, two guards were standing in front of it. As he approached they tensed up and held their breath, a result of the 10 Fearstone rings he wore. They made many others feel nauseous and sick, they would to him too if they didn''t help suppress his warring twin Dichotomies. He walked past the two guards without saying a word and entered the throne room.
It was a large room made of white marble reminiscent of the palaces of the great Reborn Lords, a red carpet ran from the main doors up to the throne where Lord Tikow sat. The throne itself was made of marble and designed to look like two great antlers attached at the base. Tikow sat in bright green clothes and wore a small crow atop his head, his body was strange to normal people though. As an Overlord, possessing Tyross and Arbeross Dichotomies, he held physical features reminiscent of his fear. He had 8 eyes laid out in 2 strange diamond shapes and from his back extended 8 great arachnid legs.
Tages approached till he was a dozen or so steps from the throne then bowed to Tikow.
"Rise old friend," Tikow said. "You have no need to bow to me,"
"I felt it only fair to give my respect," Tages said. "For the man who is paying me,"
"Do not worry about such things," Tikow said. "What news do you bring?"
"Your son''s Dichotomy has awakened," Tages said.
"Ah good," Tikow said. "What is it if i may ask? Anything good?"
"Yes quite good," Tages said, he couldn''t tell Tikow the truth just yet. "I believe it will be useful,"
"And where is he?" Tikow said. "I thought he''d come with you for this,"
"He had other business to attend to," Tages said. "Do not worry, he is safe,"
"Why do you always talk like that?" Tikow said. "Your making me worried,"
"There is nothing to worry about," Tages said. "You know i would tell you if there was danger,"
"I know," Tikow said.
Tikow sighed and looked out the great windows lining the throne room.
"Do you hear the news of our neighbors?" Tikow said. "They say some of the neighboring city-states have started skirmishing once more,"
"It is likely the peace forced upon them by the Personifications is ending," Tages said. "It would not have lasted forever,"
"I hoped it to last longer," Tikow said. "Without it the Empire may get a chance to expand into the region,"
"It would take many years before they could," Tages said. "They are focused on their proxy war in parts of the Barrens,"
"I know but I still worry," Tikow said. "About what will happen to this city,"
"It is unlikely there will be major conflict," Tages said. "The Reborn Lords don''t want more war in Elysium,"
"Your right Tages," Tikow sighed. "We''ll have many more years of peace to prepare. Is there anything else you needed,"You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"No," Tages said. "That is all i had to report,"
"Then I release you to go about your business," Tikow said. "Phemonoe wanted to speak to you, Oracle to Oracle business she said,"
"I shall go see her then," Tages said.
Tages bowed and left the throne room and headed for Phemonoe''s room. He wondered just what she needed?
It took him many minutes of walking before he arrived at her room, he knocked then entered a moment later. It was a large bedroom with a massive bed placed in the center of the wall opposite the door. Besides the bed very little decorated the room, one would never guess she was the wife of the lord.
Tages approached her and sat by a chair at the side of her bed. He looked at her, she looked sickly. Her skin clung to bone and her eyes were sunk in. She hadn''t recovered from having Arnimos and her twin warring Dichotomies had made it impossible for her to properly heal. He stared at her face, her petrified skin and grey eyes held far less life then they once did. Once he was seated she coughed lightly then spoke.
"Ah, Tages," Phemonoe said. "You came,"
"You asked for me," Tages said. "Of course I came, what did you need?"
"Did he... Finally Awaken it?" Phemonoe said.
"He did," Tages said. "He awoke them,"
"What are they?" Phemonoe asked.
Tages held his breath for a moment.
"They didn''t Imprint," Tages said.
"What does that mean?" Phemonoe said. "What does the Oracle of Dichotomy know of such things?"
"I know nothing," Tages said. "I have never seen true Pure Dichotomies,"
"I thought you knew everything about them," Phemonoe said. "Shows just how special my boy is,"
"Yes, he is special," Tages said. "But you shouldn''t be worrying about that, you need to heal. We could get you some Fearstone rings-"
Phemonoe looked at him staring in his grey eyes.
"No, Tages," Phemonoe said. "It won''t change anything by now, they''ve spent too long tearing each other apart,"
Tages looked at her, his Oracle''s eyes could see things no one else could. He watched as her Taniberas and Luxicon Dichotomies, Creation and Destruction, tried to annihilate each other.
"Your son needs you, Tikow needs you," Tages said. "I need you,"
"You''re all strong enough," Phemonoe said. "Besides I won''t die today, I just know its soon,"
"I could stop it," Tages said. "I could Destroy one your Dichotomies, free you from it,"
"No Tages, you can''t free me by Destroying," Phemonoe said. "I wouldn''t be who I was without these Dichotomies,"
"Why do you want to go, Phemonoe?" Tages said.
Phemonoe looked back at the ceiling and a small grin grew on her face.
"The centuries have weighed long on me, Tages," Phemonoe said. "I want here in peace, not in some terrible conflict,"
"What will you leave behind then?" Tages said. "Can you truly leave us... Me... all alone?"
"You''re strong Tages," Phemonoe said. "I know you blame yourself for not being able to save them but you did all you could, you were a child born in a camp,"
Phemonoe reached out a hand and put it on Tages head.
"You''ll survive Tages, I know you and all the others will," Phemonoe said. "You survived the camp you were born in, you''ll survive this,"
"And what of Tikow and Arnimos?" Tages said. "What will they do?"
"I know they will cry when I am gone," Phemonoe said. "But they are strong enough to make it, i know they''ll do great things,"
"They most certainly will," Tages said.
Tages looked to the ground as Phemonoe''s hand rested on his head.
"I brought the Personification to this city," Tages said.
"I know," Phemonoe said.
"I forced your son''s Dichotomies to awaken," Tages said.
"I know," Phemonoe said.
"Aren''t you going to ask why?" Tages said.
"If you did it," Phemonoe said. "Then there was good reason,"
Phemonoe removed her hand from Tages head.
"Now go out and get them ready for whatever''s coming," Phemonoe said.
Tages stood from her bedside and approached the door. He pushed it open and was about to step out then looked back at Phemonoe.
"Writer has his eyes on your son," Tages said. "That is why i did what i did,"
Phemonoe nodded silently, she knew even before he said anything.
Tages left the room and headed for his own, he needed some time alone to prepare for what''s to come.