heartgear

The Timer

Added 2025-06-06 16:00:20 +0000 UTC

“P-please. I've made a deal. People will die."

"What deal? Who will die?"

L twitches her head away, the ghostly after-images of his eyes dancing in her peripheral vision. If she gives him everything, she loses her leverage.

"Someone I care for. And I’ll tell you everything if you let me save him - "

“One moment.” Helios settles the reliquary on her head, balancing it carefully. A glassy smile dances across his face. “You have as long as you can keep this balanced to convince me, false Lyra.”

"W-what?" L stammers. Helios wags a finger.

"Careful, it's already slipping."

She shifts, breaking out in a cold sweat. The weight of the book is already crushing her antennae. "Helios, I know you're not stupid, i-if you keep me f-from doing this you'll never KNOW - "

“You truly don’t know how to play, do you?” Helios shakes his head. "Let me help. What's your real name?"

"...L." She rasps. "I...sold the r-rest."

His smile sharpens. "Now that does sound like an interesting story…"

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Excerpt from Imago Ch24: The Obsidian Door

Back straight, head up!