To Kill Sky Asterio

"Now, tell me, why you want to kill him-" I was cut off by quick footsteps running down steps.

"WAIT! HEY! What are you doing?!" Ruby yelled out to me, catching up to my side.

"Just seeing Cole's intentions before I reveal Sky Asterio's location. Why?" I played stupid with Ruby, and she seemed to catch on, turning to Cole as well. Then, he began.

"A long time ago, Sky Asterio killed my family and I. We used to be apart of a group that he established, and then Sky went haywire and killed his family, killed me, and a ton of other people. Recently, like you said Dani, I was recruited into the group known as Quake to hunt him down and serve justice. We heard that he could conflict with Eirikr, our Overlord, and we wish to shoot down that challenge." Cole said.

He just dumped too much information... Eirikr? Why does that name sound so familiar...?

If Illya and Sky knew about the threat of Quake... could they have known about Eirikr? Why didn't they tell me about it?

"Eirikr...? I thought he was off-world... do you have contact with him?" Ruby decided to ask Cole.

"Me? Not small-fry like me... but Fico has contact with him. That's his right-hand man, that Fico. I praise her every day and wish to be like her. I hope that by killing Sky Asterio myself, I can ascend to that level." Cole answered again.

"But, I don't understand. Why does he need to die? Sure, my motivation to kill him is still the same, but I wonder what yours is..." I lied to Cole, and he smiled, looking down at the ground.

"Why does he need to die...? Come on, are you really asking that question?" He asked me. Had I screwed-up somewhere?

"In every legend, in every story, in every myth, there is always that person who is the villain. A person hated by the community to bring everybody together. To Quake, and to the people on Earth, I'm sure that villain has been, and always will be Sky Asterio, and I want to be the Hero who stopped him. His wrongdoings are eternal, and will never be fixed, no matter what he does." Cole mentioned.

He casually lied about his old position on Earth, admitting that his entire presence here has been one big lie. I was bothered by this, obviously... but maybe I can get more out of him. More of what Sky and Illya have been hiding from me.

"Sky's powerful? Do you think my Eye of Providence can beat him?" I asked Cole.

"With that puny thing? Hell no. That was one of his tools. Last I saw of Sky, he was able to level cities... maybe even countries with a wave of his hand. His power was immeasurable, and a person like me couldn't compete. You? There's no way you'd survive." Cole said.

What the hell... level countries? That's too powerful... even for him... what do I not know about him?

"Your confidence... are you saying you could beat him right now? Is that why you want to kill him?" I asked Cole. Depending on his answer, I would change my overarching lie. This has all been one trick to measure Cole's abilities to see if I could take him. Worst case scenario, I could become the Goddess of Wrath for a short period of time to kill him. All that matters is his next answer.

"How do I put this... have you ever heard about The Deity. The person named Illya Asterio?" Cole asked me, to which I nodded my head.

"As long as Sky isn't twice her level of strength, I can win, since that's where I used to be." He told me.

My heart dropped.

This person... how can he be twice as powerful as Illya? How can that even be measured?! No... he's lying, he has to be.

Strand activity in his body is surging at the moment. They're contained because of the cage, sure, but it was like he was trying to shift his body temperature... was that a lie? I can't be sure... all of this is too unsettling... I couldn't find the words to ask him another question...

"Then, why the hell are you here? Why did you want to come to my city if you want to see Sky Asterio?" Ruby asked for me.

"I was told that this is one of the major cities in Antarctica that have Ships that can travel between The Isles, like The Charred, The Pinnacle, and The Sanctuary. I'm searching here, and Fico is searching in another." Cole admitted.

I don't know the name of those Isles... could those be the names of the Isles? The Isle was never really called that...?

Plus... Cole thinks Sky is here? What else does he know?

"Sorry to break it to you, but Sky Asterio isn't here. I oversee all inhabitants that walk into this Isle with Faith's help, and nobody like that man has come here. Your search has been in vain." Ruby said.

She openly admitted that she doesn't have Sky... I wondered what changed her mind.

"Then, if you'll excuse me, can you let me out? I have a mission to fulfill. You seem like a pretty work-heavy girl, Ruby, I assume you know the troubles of missions?" Cole asked her.

"Sure, but I must ask you one more thing... if we do offer you the location of Sky Asterio, what can you promise me in return?" Ruby asked Cole. Was she doing a business deal with him?

"What can I offer you? Don't be ridiculous, Ruby. The only thing I have for you is this jacket. It can regulate body temperature for people with strands in their bodies, but I assume that it won't be of any use to you, considering you don't have any strands in your body." Cole said.

His eye turned black, just like mine does.

No way... NO WAY...

Does he have... The Eye of Providence?

"You know, Miss Dani, I do notice your strands too, and I have for a while. I must wonder, what are you hiding? Your volume of strands is quite surprising... in fact, I think you have just a little less than mine." Cole said.

"Just a lucky gift at birth." I said flatly, engaging my best straight face at Cole.

"I used to think people were born with gifts too. Then, I discovered hard work and luck. That's all power is, anyway. But, it's interesting. You know, my ability that you see in my eye can't tell intentions, but it can see strands like yours can. I heard it was the right eye of that Deity, Providence. She was in The First Trial, right? I wonder, what have you been doing that involved you traveling to The First Trial?" Cole asked me, and I froze again.

He knows... too much...