‘Thinking’
“Talking”
[Attack]
Act 5 (Part 7) — Shadows of the Author and the Unknown’s Hand
[ Location: Blue Star System – Herta Space Station: Primary Meeting Room ]
[ POV: Kiana Kaslana ]
After two quiet minutes, I slowly lifted my head from Mei’s chest.
My eyes were raw and red from crying.
Taking a few deep, steadying breaths, I leaned back as Kyubey hopped off my head, sitting quietly on the table.
Every eye in the room was fixed on me, filled with heavy, uncharacteristic concern.
Mei handed me a glass of warm water, her hands trembling slightly as she cupped mine.
“Kiana…
are you alright?
What happened so suddenly?
We ran diagnostic scans, but we couldn’t find a single anomaly in your body.”
“No external Path energy was detected interacting with your neural network,” Screwllum confirmed softly.
Stephen looked down at his terminal, reviewing the local telemetry.
“Our sensors only picked up a massive, sudden surge in your brain’s memory retrieval pathways.”
“And there were no hostile ambient energy spikes either,” Herta added, her usual aloofness completely gone.
Hearing the genuine worry in their voices, I managed a weak, reassuring smile toward Mei before taking a small sip of water.
“I’m alright now…
it was most likely an episode triggered by my locked memories,” I murmured, my voice raspy.
“The names Stephen mentioned for…
our hypothetical children…
Siegfried and Cecilia…
they acted as a direct catalyst.
I didn’t recover anything concrete, just…
the silhouettes of a man and a woman.”
My chest tightened as I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Both of them…
died in a horrific way, sacrificing themselves to shield someone else.”
I tried to force my mind back toward those blurred silhouettes, desperate to catch a glimpse of their faces.
Instantly, a sharp, white-hot spike of pain shot through my temples.
I winced, though the recoil wasn’t as violent as before.
Mei reached out, her cool fingers gently brushing against my cheek to wipe away a stray tear.
Her gaze was so tender, so overflowing with unspoken affection, that a quiet part of me wished this moment would never end.
I gave my head a tiny shake.
‘Focus, Kiana…
now isn’t the time to lose yourself.’
“Trying to force my way past the lock triggers a severe psychic recoil,” I explained, leaning into Mei’s touch for a brief second before straightening up.
“Whoever sealed those memories locked them behind an absolute security protocol.”
The room nodded in grim understanding.
Taking a breath, I summoned Void Archives.
“Void Archives, project your avatar into the meeting room immediately.”
Space flickered, and the shimmering golden projection of Void Archives materialized beside the table, sweeping her white cloak back.
“How may I assist you, Madam Kiana?”
“Pull up all records regarding the names ‘Cecilia’ and ‘Siegfried’ from the central archive,” I commanded sharply.
“Additionally, run a timestamp audit on the origin of my memory loss.”
Void Archives’ usual playful, smug demeanor vanished instantly.
Her expression turned completely flat and serious.
“The files pertaining to Mr.
Siegfried and Mrs.
Cecilia are locked.
Access denied: administrative clearance conditions have not been met.”
I narrowed my eyes, my voice dropping an octave.
“Why am I denied access to my own past?
I am the administrator.
Who holds master override authority over my records?”
Void Archives met my glare without flinching.
Only one entity possesses higher administrative clearance than you, Miss Kiana: Dr.
, my original creator.
You are currently unprepared for the truth behind those files.”
A heavy silence descended over the room.
Herta, Stephen, and Screwllum stared at the projection in quiet shock, stunned by the sheer rigidity of the AI’s rejection.
‘Dr.
MEI…?’ My mind raced, cold sweat forming at the back of my neck.
‘It can’t be…
if she set these locks in the Previous Era, does that mean we’re trapped in an active time loop?’
“Bypass the detailed combat and fatality logs,” I ordered, suppressing the tremor in my voice.
“Provide me with the barebones telemetry: full names and baseline relationships.
As your current operational Admin, I command you.”
I paused, looking directly into his golden projection.
“And give me the operational status regarding the Time Loop.”
At the mention of a ‘Time Loop,’ everyone in the room snapped to attention, their eyes widening.
Void Archives let out a long, simulated sigh.
“Full names logged: Cecilia Schariac and Siegfried Kaslana.
Status: Legally wedded couple.
Their exact familial relationship to you remains classified under Protocol-Zero.
As for the Time Loop…
the cycle has officially concluded.
You are currently existing within a linear, unscripted timeline.”
Mei leaned forward, her eyes sharp.
“How many iteration cycles occurred before the loop collapsed?”
“Answer her,” I added coldly.
Void Archives shook her head.
“That information is restricted until full memory restoration is achieved.” She paused, her golden eyes flickering with a strange, unreadable light.
“However, as per pre-programmed instructions…
you will naturally receive the partial unsealed profiles of Mr.
Siegfried and Mrs.
Cecilia next week.
Not today.”
“Whose instructions?” I demanded, my fists clenching on the tabletop.
“I am forbidden from uttering His true name directly,” Void Archives replied quietly.
“However…
you know Him as the Author.”
Every drop of color drained from my face.
Mei’s eyes widened in alarm at my reaction, reaching out to grab my hand.
“Kiana?
What is it?”
“You…
you don’t mean that Author, do you?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Screwllum stepped forward, his mechanical monocle focusing on me.
“Miss Kiana…
who is this ‘Author’?”
Void Archives completely ignored Screwllum, keeping her eyes locked on mine.
“Yes, Miss Kiana.
I am referring to Him.”
“Give me His physical description,” I demanded, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“Now.”
Void Archives inclined her head.
“He possesses golden hair and a golden beard, and wears a silver cross around His neck.”
The moment the description left his lips, a wave of pure, unadulterated fury washed over me.
“Fuck!” I slammed my fist onto the table, shattering the silence.
“Fuck!
If that bastard is pulling the strings behind this curtain, then all the others are involved too!”
The entire room stared at me in stunned, dead silence.
Seeing the usually cheerful, confident Member #85 launch into a swearing rant was completely unheard of.
“So…” I muttered, rubbing my temples as a cold realization settled in.
“I need to prepare for a war that goes beyond the Aeons.”
Stephen blinked, looking thoroughly bewildered.
“Kiana…
what do you mean by ‘a war beyond the Aeons’?”
I looked up, meeting his eyes with a somber, heavy expression.
“Remember when I told you about the entities existing outside the Imaginary Tree?
He is one of them.
Let’s drop the subject for now…
none of you currently possess the power to disrupt or alter their grand designs anyway.”
A heavy, solemn quiet settled over the room as the Geniuses absorbed the terrifying weight of that truth a stark reminder of their own limitations in the face of true cosmic architects.
I took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering coldness, and forced a familiar, bright smile back onto my face.
“Alright!
Let me pull myself together.
Let’s get back to discussing the Soul Gems!”
[ Location: Unknown Domain – Beyond the Imaginary Tree ]
[ POV: Unknown ]
In a realm woven from pure, kaleidoscopic light, a young woman sat comfortably on an elegant sofa floating above the void.
She wore a pristine white kimono, her unique eyes shifting through a rainbow spectrum of colors as she watched multiple floating holographic screens displaying countless branching realities.
Her gaze locked onto a specific window the primary meeting room of the Herta Space Station.
A gentle, amused smile touched her lips.
“Well, well…
it looks like little Finality has finally awakened.”
Reaching out through an ancient conceptual link, she established a private communication line.
A smooth, fond voice echoed through the connection.
“Hello, Mother.
Is this an urgent operational directive, or are we having our usual bonding catch-up?”
The woman chuckled softly, her rainbow eyes shimmering.
“Hello, my dear.
I actually have a small favor to ask of you.”
A soft, affectionate sigh came from the other end.
“What sort of work?
Please tell me it isn’t as ridiculous as your last assignment.”
“Nothing too drastic,” she smiled, swirling a finger in the air.
“Little Finality has awakened from her long slumber.
You should drop by and check on her when you have a moment.”
The voice on the other end softened instantly, rich with genuine warmth.
“Oh?
She’s finally awake after all this time?
That is wonderful news…
I haven’t seen my little sister in so long.
Tell me…
has Origin awakened as well?”
The woman’s smile faltered slightly, a touch of gentle sympathy entering her tone.
“Unfortunately, no.
Origin remains asleep for now.”
A quiet, disappointed silence hung over the line for a moment.
“I see…
so Origin hasn’t returned yet.” The voice quickly regained its warmth.
“In that case, I’ll start preparing.
Once Finality recovers her true memories, I’ll give her a proper welcome back.
I’ll talk to you later, Mother.
Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie,” the woman replied softly.
“And don’t forget to bring my daughters-in-law along when you visit!”
She severed the connection, leaning back against the plush cushions of the sofa as she looked down at the floating screen, a brilliant, radiant grin spreading across her face.
“The grand stage is set,” she whispered into the endless void.
“Now…
how will you play your hand, little Finality?”