Chapter 36 : Present

Lincoln approached the fountain with Ketsukii following closely behind. The man stood there, an enigmatic figure amidst the bustling energy of Berm Square. His hair was a striking contrast, half gray and half brown, and he appeared to be a few inches shorter than Lincoln. What caught Lincoln's attention most, however, was that the man seemed to be completely blind.

As they neared him, the man turned his head slightly in their direction, as if sensing their presence. His milky, unseeing eyes gave no indication that he saw them with any conventional sense. Instead, Lincoln sensed that this man's abilities might be more extraordinary than he initially thought.

"It would seem I wasn't wrong for waiting." the man said, his voice calm and composed.

"You've been expecting me?" Lincoln asked, his curiosity piqued. 

The man smiled faintly, though his sightless eyes gave no indication of the expression. "I gambled on whether you'd even come here."

Ketsukii exchanged a quick glance with Lincoln, both intrigued and relatively perplexed by what the man said. Lincoln decided to engage in a bit of small talk while they were in a public place.

"So, how did you know we were coming?" Lincoln inquired.

The man chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "All I can say for now is that I've seen you arrive on Earth. I'll explain everything once we get someplace else."

Lincoln nodded, accepting the cryptic response for the moment. It was clear that this man was no ordinary individual.

"I'm Lincoln, and this is Ketsukii," Lincoln said, extending a hand in greeting. 

The man shook Lincoln's hand with a firm grip. "You can call me Gustav," he replied.

"Gustav, it's a pleasure to meet you," Lincoln said with a friendly smile.

Gustav turned slightly, gesturing for them to follow him. "If you don't mind, let's move to a more discreet location. We have much to discuss."

He led them away from the bustling square and into a nearby building. It was an unassuming structure, and the room they entered was empty, with no signs of surveillance equipment.

The man retrieved a small, orb-shaped device from his pocket and released it onto the ground. The moment it made contact, a circular blue portal materialized before them, crackling with energy and emitting eerie noises that filled the room.

Lincoln and Ketsukii exchanged surprised glances. It was an unexpected turn of events, but they were both eager to learn more.

Gustav nodded, gesturing for them to enter the portal. "This way," he said, and they stepped through.

In an instant, they found themselves in a dimly lit cave, surrounded by towering, rocky walls. The only sources of light were a few torches mounted on the far corners of the cave, casting flickering shadows across the uneven ground.

As Lincoln's eyes adjusted to the dimness, he spotted a tall man with jet-black hair and strikingly bright blue eyes that looked like that of a human, but Lincoln felt that this man wasn't one. Recognition flickered in Lincoln's mind. He had seen this man before, though the circumstances eluded him momentarily.

The man approached Lincoln with a warm smile and extended his hand. "We meet again, Crimson Wielder."

Lincoln shook the man's hand, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. "You can call me Lincoln," he replied.

The man nodded. "My name is Carzen."

Lincoln's memory clicked into place. Carzen was the name of the man who had brought Crescent to the duel with him a couple of months ago. He was from the teleporters guild like Aytrex. It was an unexpected encounter, and Lincoln couldn't help but wonder why Carzen was here, of all places, and where exactly they had ended up.

"Where are we?" Lincoln asked, his voice filled with awe and caution.

"The place you were looking for," Gustav replied calmly, his tone revealing a deep sense of reverence.

"Don't tell me this is..." Lincoln began but couldn't bring himself to complete the sentence.

"The tomb of King Obsune," Gustav finished for him, his voice carrying immense respect for the ancient ruler despite being a human.

Lincoln's eyes widened, and he was at a loss for words. The significance of their location was overwhelming. He glanced at Ketsukii, who wore an expression of confusion and shock. 

"How did you find it?" Lincoln finally managed to ask, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Gustav chuckled, the sound slightly raspy, as if from a lifetime of secrets. "Oh no, I wasn't looking. I just came across it."

Lincoln's expression turned pensive. The revelation that Gustav had discovered one of the most elusive locations—one that had remained a mystery even to Alvans—through sheer luck left him intrigued. Initially lacking any leads to this concealed place, Lincoln couldn't help but feel a mixture of wonder and curiosity.

"Can you tell me more about who you are?" Lincoln asked sincerely, eager to understand the enigmatic individual before him.

"I came from the same place you've come from," the man began, his voice carrying the weight of a shared history.

"The Organization, right? I know," Lincoln acknowledged, recognizing the grim connection.

"Indeed, but not in the way you think. I actually came before you," the man revealed, his tone tinged with the bitterness of his past.

"What? I thought no one survived before me," Lincoln exclaimed, his curiosity piqued.

"No one but me," Gustav affirmed, his words heavy. "You see, I was a highly ranked criminal in Germany, one of the many that the Organization used as their lab rats. Except I survived the transfusion, thought there was no point. I could've, probably should've just died; that was the state I was in. So I was then left to die after some research."

Lincoln absorbed the revelation, realizing the extent of the arcane man's suffering. "What is your ability then?" he asked, sensing that there was more to the story.

"I can see everything," Gustav explained, his voice tinged with a mixture of regret and resignation. "Within limitations, of course. It came at the cost of my memories, like you, but later on, also my eyesight." 

His blindness now made sense.

"So that's how those scientists knew that my powers would come at the cost of my memories," Lincoln mused, the puzzle pieces falling into place.

Gustav nodded, his expression hidden behind his blindness. "Yes, they learned from their experiments on me."

Lincoln felt a sense of kinship with Gustav, both survivors of a dark chapter in their shared history. "How did you find this place?" Lincoln asked.

"I was looking for shelter from the hot sun. I stumbled upon this cave. I don't think it was a coincidence because I can remember feeling pulled to it," Gustav explained. "After many days of being here, I've spoken to Obsune. Of course, it was already determined that I was not worthy to be his vessel, so I served as a gatekeeper. That's when I met Carzen here." He gestured to Carzen, who had been silently observing the conversation. "He's been on Earth for a very long time, much before you even gained your powers. He, along with many other Alvans scattered across the planet, protect it and safeguard Obsune's tomb."

Lincoln glanced at Carzen, his eyes reflecting his curiosity for the enigmatic figure. 

As Lincoln absorbed the weight of this newfound knowledge. The intricate connection between Alvanian and Earth, a bond forged over centuries, fascinated him. It was clear that the conflict between the Tyrants and the Guardians was merely a recent chapter in a much broader narrative—one that had been unfolding for generations.

ModCytron, the enigmatic meteor that had once seemed to be at the center of everything, now appeared as just a small piece of the grand puzzle connecting the two worlds. The revelation left Lincoln awestruck, hungry to delve deeper into the mysteries that surrounded him.

But right now, Lincoln's primary objective remains unchanged.

"If you're the gatekeeper, then are you able to let me talk to Obsune?" Lincoln inquired, breaking the momentary silence that hung in the air. Ketsukii shifted his gaze between Lincoln and Gustav, curious about the unfolding conversation. The gatekeeper, with a demeanor that held both wisdom and solemnity, turned his back to Lincoln, his eyes fixed upon the imposing wall at the end of the cavern.

"Indeed, I possess that capability," Gustav replied, his voice carrying the weight of ages. "Yet, whether Obsune deems it fitting to converse with you is beyond my control."

Lincoln nodded in understanding. "I know."

Gustav's response was a solemn nod. But then, a change swept over the atmosphere. The air became charged with an intensity that sent shivers down Lincoln's spine. The gatekeeper turned towards him, his gaze unyielding, even without visible pupils. His voice surged in volume, commanding attention and obedience.

"Leave."

It became evident that Gustav's commanding tone wasn't directed at Lincoln. It was intended for someone else, an unseen presence that had been watching, from the future, through Lincoln's eyes, hidden in the shadows.

In an instant, the surroundings underwent a dramatic transformation. The familiar cave, Lincoln, and Ketsukii dissolved, and a surreal sensation washed over her. 

Her eyes fluttered open, greeted by the disorienting sound of ringing in her ears. Liquid surrounded her, and her heart raced with confusion and fear as the fluid-filled capsule she occupied began to drain. The capsule's door opened, revealing a worried Hayden standing nearby.

"Crystal?!" Hayden's voice called out, filled with concern. Crystal remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of questions and apprehension as she attempted to grapple with what just happened. 

Who really was this Gustav?