Conflicting Ideals

Nico entered the vast building that served as Kido's workshop, stomach still angrily demanding food. After his brief encounter with Sunless, Cassia, and Caster, though, there were other things on his mind, and he still had someone to visit.

Artisans bustled about the main floor of the building, mostly tending to the crops or attempting some strange test with either their Aspects or latent knowledge. There were other workshops in the castle where they gathered, and it was just breakfast now, so only a select few were here.

The [Song of Steel] whistled quietly on his wrists as the wind from outside released a final gust, and the door snapped shut behind him.

Several workers stole peaks at him. He beckoned the closest one, voice cutting the quiet atmosphere easily.

"Take me to Kido."

The Artisan — a male with shaggy black hair, hands stained a deep purple color from some makeshift dye, garments muddied by the same substance — nodded politely.

There was a touch of reverence in his voice when he said:

"Follow me, Sir Nico."

Pausing his project, he led the lieutenant through the wide main room. They reached a staircase in the back, ascending to the second floor, and the third after that. Several rooms decorated the corridor, each with shabby doors that looked worn from overuse. They passed them all, then ended up before a suspiciously opulent one at the end.

The Artisan shot him a hesitant look. He wrang his dirtied hands in irritation.

"She's just inside."

After trying to brush the dye off his hands one more time, he disappeared back down the hallway and stairwell.

Nico lidded his eyes momentarily.

Over the months since his last conversation with Seishan, he had thought long about how, exactly, to grasp the loyalty of the two lieutenants, Kido and Gemma. He wasn't a master of manipulation or a treacherous liar, and certainly not one capable enough to twist them against the Bright Lord after all this time.

However, he figured himself able for one reason: Kido already harbored displeasure against the Bright Lord, and Gemma was indifferent to him.

He just needed her trustworthy enough to send to his sister without worrying she'd betray him.

'How to do that, indeed.'

His current attempts at negotiations hadn't gone too well. Nephis — Changing Star — had quite easily seen through his kindness, realizing all he wanted was for her to work under him. Maybe she hadn't decided to throw him aside just yet, but it was of no matter. He had failed to sway her initially.

And he couldn't reveal too many of his cards.

'Too arrogant... Perhaps so.'

He rubbed his forehead tiredly. Phantom pain from his wounded spirit assaulted him. All this negotiation stuff wasn't his expertise..

Still, he had a job to do, so he knocked on the door, then pushed it open after a muffed reply beckoned him in.

It was bright. The ceiling was replaced by a sunroof made of several panes of glass, and there were a myriad small plants — these ones merely decorative — sitting on shelves and in the corners. A large, quaint bed was at the back wall of the room, with an assortment of lanterns and tools sitting on shelves next to it. It felt like a mix between a greenhouse and bedroom.

Kido, her long hair tied into a ponytail with a piece of string, was scrutinizing one of the mopeyer plants in the corner.

"You know, I just can't figure out what's wrong with this one," she sighed. "It just refuses to grow right, and even with my Aspect I can't push it in the right direction."

He stood silently, fingers trailing along a shelf's edge.

"Just dispose of it."

Her lips curled upwards, head tilted towards him as she strode over.

"How inspiring of you to say," she chuckled. "Anyways, what are you here for, Nico? It's been a while. I was starting to wonder if you'd died out there."

Nico gazed upwards at the bleak, gray sky revealed through the sunroof. He certainly had come close to dying. The mere act of initiating his Innate Ability had cost him dearly.

'Not yet, it seems.'

His hand dropped to his side. Something darker churned ominously under his calm features like a rising tide, and his Specter retreated within his Soul Sea, allowing him better clarity. Painful clarity.

"Kido, do you despise the Bright Lord?"

There it was.

Panic.

Her heartbeat quickened, expression hardened, and steps stuttered mid-stride. Ice griped her heart like it did for all Sleepers of the Forgotten Shore when put into dangerous situations. And that was exactly what it was to her. A question like that was tantamount to treason against Gunlaug, and what was more dangerous than that?

Either he was sending a warning, and by extension the Bright Lord was, or he was contemplating his own viscous ideas. 

Somehow, both seemed out of Nico's nature.

She clenched her fists and stared at the calm young man. His shimmering, azure eyes were still directed at the sky above.

"No, I don't... Have you fallen in with the people of the outer settlement after spending so much time there? That's... uncharacteristic of you, Nico. We have our duties to uphold here."

His brows furrowed.

"Do we? But what of the duties we have outside of here?"

Kido stayed silent for a moment, as if expecting him to go on, then sighed languidly.

"So what if we do? What's the point of contemplating such questions? You know as well as I how unattainable the gateway is. A Fallen Terror does not die to Sleepers."

His attention shifted down to her, and a shiver spread across her spine. After all, she frequently endured the miserable sensation of his Dormant Ability. It was as if it was prowling through her — stalking, searching, listening. Now, she felt it again. What was it he was analyzing? What was he trying to see?

She didn't know, but it almost felt like he was reading through her right now.

"...You're so scared."

Her thoughts stuttered.

His voice echoed solemnly:

"Everyone is so scared. The Spell sends less of us here now. We will all be long gone before there are more to replace the coming casualties, and yet we stay here, still, in fear of... One. One Sleeper."

He shrugged, and Kido warily watched him over her shoulder.

"Even with his Echo, and even with his strength, he is but one. The strongest? Perhaps. But the weakest, too, for he has given up in his ambition. There's no longer a reason to follow him."

His lips curled down, almost as if he was sharing in her growing displeasure.

"So... I'll kill him."

For a heartbeat nothing moved. Then, Kido scoffed incredulously:

"Will you? You're a fool if you think you can kill him. If you think any of us can, for that matter!"

His eyes narrowed. Instead of responding, he asked instead:

"You think so?"

Kido glared at him.

"I'll tell you why I think not," he continued. "Nephis of the Immortal Flame is here — the Changing Star. A person capable enough to earn a True Name in her First Trial. Someone like that... will be powerful. If not us to kill him first, then she will. And if not her, then the Forgotten Shore will."

She stepped forward, shaking off her earlier panic. He had well and truly lost his mind, hadn't he?

"Yeah? Then why are you here?"

"To prevent bloodshed," he replied, gesturing behind him with a hand. "To create order. After the Bright Lord is gone, there will still need to be one ruler. Not vying factions each killing the other for ownership."

The clouds above thickened, and the room became shrouded by a deeper shadow.

Kido's jaw worked, opening as she prepared to shout something, then closing tiredly. She exhaled. Her posture slumped.

There was no danger here, just twisted dreams, so what point was there arguing? This was clearly a plea for help. One to convince her to join his side and attempt a useless coup.

Instead, she muttered:

"That'd be great, Nico. Truly. But, it's just not possible. Gunlaug... he's indominable. Even if someone — the daughter of Immortal Flame, for instance — was strong to best him, he has a fully saturated core and years upon years on experience. Not to mention his armor. What Sleeper can crack open a Transcendent?"

A silent decision echoed in Kido's mind. She would not be convinced. She would not lose the life she'd built for this.

Something like pity nestled in her chest as she looked away. Despite Nico's fanciful ideas, she still considered him somewhat of a... friend? Acquaintance? Either way, she had no urge or incentive to betray him. Everyone — even a man burdened by an emotionless Flaw — still seemed to yearn for better times. Well, he hadn't been here long, anyways. He would learn faster than most.

"I won't turn you over, so just go," she said alas. "Come back when you're able to work. We'll forget about the whole thing."

He stared at her for a moment. His face was still, but also unmistakably irritated. The downcast lighting seemed to drag that calculating gaze of his further.

Stepping backwards, he motioned for the exit, stopping in the doorframe for a moment to say:

"Nine months. You'll realize then."

With those last words, he disappeared, swallowed by the shadows of the corridor.