Chapter 276: Ève the Fae

Sorry for the delay, some chapters are harder to write than others.
Enjoy!

*

A rift tore open in the bunker, and Priam smiled as he caught Sphinx in his arms.

“PRIAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!” she squealed, her voice filled with excitement.

Just as expected, the child was unharmed. A weight lifted from Priam's heart.

"Welcome home, Sphinx," he said, gently stroking her head.

"You came for me!"

"Did you ever doubt it?"

"Not for a second!"

Priam’s smile stiffened as an oddly striking woman stepped through the rift. Humanoid in form, her features were unmistakably alien, with rose gold eyes scanning the bunker, alive with curiosity.

[Identification]
[Ève ? - Tier 0 - Baroness] - Memory of the Fae.
She’s the greatest rival, and absolutely didn’t write this herself!

Behind her, a clone carried the gifts of Sumstreh, while further back, the Fallen glared at Priam with murderous intent.

“It’s not over,” the Fallen growled.

“Of course not. We’ll settle this in five months.”

Hearing the authority in Priam’s voice, Sphinx closed the rift with a flick of her hand.

“Are we really gonna wait five months to kill him?” the child asked.

“If Arnold doesn’t get to him first,” Priam joked. His quest was active again, but he couldn’t secure a second Token and another promise of bloodline purification. However, Priam wasn’t about to let the ultimate prize slip into his rival’s hands. He gave himself until the second Reunion to deliver the fatal blow to Sumstreh.

“Bastard will know about Arnold being a trap,” warned Kazuki.

“Of course. But it’s a bait too tempting to ignore,” Ève chimed in with a grin.

"That's what I'm counting on. You’re looking well, Ève."

“I can’t complain—”

“Code Total Recall—Ève!”

Priam’s heart lurched. Jasmine looked panicked, and her sub-system was desynchronized from his. Was Ève trying to tamper with his memory? It was ridiculous—they had been friends since their arrival in Elysium. Yet, the possibility was too serious to ignore.

His mist-cloak solidified into an icy shackle around Ève’s wrist as his add-on scanned for inconsistencies. The fae’s eyes gleamed and..

*

“ARGH!” A woman’s scream cut through the air.

Priam blinked as his memory synced back with Jasmine’s. He had lost the last five seconds in a haze. A droplet of blood hit the floor, pulling his attention to the right. Suspended a meter off the ground, impaled by Kazuki’s spear, Ève coughed up blood.

The hoplite’s pupils had transformed into miniature spears. Guided by instinct, he was impervious to the fae's manipulations. As his add-on copied the hidden memory from Jasmine’s sub-system, Priam remembered everything. Ève was far from being his friend.

“It hurts,” Ève muttered, her golden eyes flaring. A sphere of light erupted from her, violently blasting Kazuki away. Freed from the spear, Ève fell to the ground, her ghastly wound closing as if it were nothing but a bad memory.

The bitch! Priam seethed, recognizing the mythical shield he had entrusted to the clone in case Sumstreh tried using Sphinx as leverage.

His hand clenched around Promesse, the weapon humming in sync with his anger. The frosty air that escaped his mouth, though giving him a feral appearance, was mundane. The ambient heat had been absorbed by his skill, cooling the air enough for his breath to condense naturally.

Priam stood ready to strike Ève the moment her shield faltered.

“I surrender,” she announced, her protective bubble vanishing. In an instant, the tip of Kazuki’s spear was at her throat. Ève, completely unphased, stuck her tongue out. She’s mad.

He clenched his teeth as he saw the hoplite halt his attack. Kazuki’s instincts had decided the Fae wasn’t a threat anymore. It’ll be up to me to finish this.

A small but firm paw landed on his hand, stopping him as he raised Promesse. Sphinx didn’t want him to strike.

“Why?” Priam asked, baffled.

“She’s dumb... but she’s my friend.”

Surprise was quickly overtaken by a storm of rage. Priam looked up, glaring at Ève, who smiled.

“I swear on my Potential that I didn’t alter her memories or force Sphinx to say those words,” Ève said. “I’m not stupid enough to rack up bad karma with a sphinx.”

The absence of coercion calmed Priam, but confusion flooded back.

“Why defend her?” he asked Sphinx, ignoring the Fae. “She’s the reason you were locked up!”

And that I nearly became a mindless slave. Priam kept those words to himself; they felt hollow. Without realizing it, he had purged some of his hatred for the clone after defeating her. His competitive nature struggled to maintain hatred for those he had bested; the emotion quickly lost its intensity.

“It wasn’t her fault,” Sphinx murmured. “It was the clone’s.”

Priam’s gaze shifted to the clone, who had set down Sumstreh’s gifts in a corner and now seemed uncertain about what to do next.

"...What do you mean?"

“I could explain,” Ève offered with a smirk. “But could you lower that pointy stick first?”

“No.”

Until he was sure that Sphinx wasn’t affected by Stockholm syndrome, Priam would remain on guard. The fae studied him for a few moments before turning to Sphinx, who merely shrugged.

“I told you messing with people's memories was rude.”

“I forgot…” Ève sighed, then addressed Priam like she was speaking to a child. “You seem to have a partial understanding of how my clones work. I read an unknown individual’s experiences and then synchronize our memories; I have no control over them and don’t always agree with their actions.”

“Yet you share the same goal.”

“Experiences shape a person. Their personality gets drowned and reforged by millennia of memories. My Task becomes theirs, but their nature means we can have differing opinions on how to achieve it.”

The revelation took Priam’s breath away. If Ève was telling the truth, he was in mortal danger—[He Who Eludes Death] wouldn’t help him restore his ego if it was shattered. His add-on could manipulate his memory, but against an expert like Ève, that didn’t mean much.

Facing a fate worse than death, his hearts raced, and he considered drastic measures. Should he trigger a nuke to eliminate the enemy? That would condemn Kazuki and Sphinx, but he could resurrect them later.

“You fear for your ego, not your life,” Ève observed, narrowing her eyes. “I sense you’re about to do something stupid if I don’t calm you down.” She raised her hands. “I swear on my Potential I won’t touch your memory or your friends’ memories for the rest of the day—unless you invite me to.”

Her clone echoed the oath, and Priam exhaled, finally breathing again.

“Better?” Ève grinned.

Priam found himself wanting to wipe the smile off her face. The clone’s pragmatism grated on him less than the madness of the original. He made an effort to control himself.

Lvl Up: [Emotional discipline] lvl 12
WILL +3

“Memory manipulation’s a sickening crime,” Kazuki stated, regaining control of his instincts. “If you mess with my memory again, you’ll die.”

“You’re all so violent… I’m not your enemy.”

“You attacked us,” Priam growled.

“I just tweaked your memories so we could be friends. You attacked me!” Ève huffed, chewing on her nails in mock outrage.

Priam’s fists clenched. Her ridiculous antics grated on his nerves. “Are you kidding me?”

“Not at all! That’s how fae make friends.”

Priam groaned. The cultural divide was so vast, he didn’t even try to bridge it.

“She didn’t mean any harm,” Sphinx pleaded. The two seemed to have bonded during their weeks of captivity.

“Maybe, but I hate when people mess with my mind... and steal my stuff. That mythical shield wasn’t yours.”

“I’m not a thief.” Ève tossed something to Priam. He caught it mid-air and was surprised to find a golden cube. “That wasn’t the real shield. I just manifested your memory of it.”

Her esoteric abilities were unsettling, but there was worse.

“You saw my memories from the erased timeline.” Priam’s jaw tightened. If she talks to Arnold...

“Yup, piece of cake. Your memories are strangely clear compared to most.”

Priam’s frown deepened. Against someone like Ève, [Ultimate Sensory Memory] was a security flaw. I need to lock down my memories...

[Added to agenda.]

A heavy silence fell until Sphinx’s stomach growled.

“...Is it snack time?” she asked.

“More like breakfast,” Priam mused, patting her head.

“Can we invite Ève to eat with us?” 

“I’d love to, but the First doesn’t like me,” Ève pointed out.

“Why?” Sphinx’s eyes widened in surprise.

Priam hesitated. He had hated the clone so much that some of his animosity spilled over to the original. Moreover, the fae’s flippant attitude only reinforced his dislike.

“I don’t trust people who mess with my memories, and her insolence irritates me.”

“For a fae, I’m actually pretty well-behaved,” Ève quipped.

Priam ignored her, turning instead to Sphinx. “Why do you like her?”

“She helped me hide from Sumstreh many times. Without her…” The girl shivered, and Priam pulled her close.

“I see. What about the clone?”

“She can die,” Sphinx and Ève said in unison.

Priam blinked, surprised. Ève just shrugged. “If the death of a clone can appease one of my rivals, it’s worth it. Besides, I’m not very happy with what she did to Sphinx.”

“She was trying to save you.”

“It might’ve been good for the Task, but I still don’t like it.”

“A bit hypocritical coming from her creator,” Kazuki pointed out. “You’re partly responsible for her actions.”

“I’m often hypocritical,” Ève smiled, giving a thumbs up. The hoplite didn’t return her smile.

“You’ve got nothing to say while we’re talking about your death?” Priam asked the clone, who was busy inspecting her nails.

“If my death helps the Task move forward, I’m fine with it. I’m one of the weaker clones anyway. Not that important.”

Her detachment finally got on Priam’s nerves. Of all people, he knew how terrifying death could be.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he said after a few seconds of thought.

*

The young Aelbes stumbled into her tent, barely making it to her bed. By the time she woke up, the clone would be gone. Only a confused tribeswoman would remain, her mind free from the alterations Ève had made. Priam considered severing their spiritual connection but decided to hold off. Sphinx trusted the fae’s word, but he didn’t.

“Will she get her ego back?”

“Mostly,” Ève yawned. “I erased the memories of the past few weeks, but experiences leave scars on both the soul and the mind.”

“Can’t you fix that?”

“I’ve always been pretty bad at mind magic.”

Priam had a thought for the clone who had forced his meeting with Sumstreh. Because of her, he had almost become a slave to the Fallen, and Sphinx had been imprisoned for weeks. He still remembered the terrible anger and the vow of revenge he had made.

Today, the clone was dead—one less name on his kill list. If her body wasn't rotting at the bottom of a pit, her ego had been erased. Better yet, an innocent person had regained her life and freedom. This was a principle dear to Priam, and for this reason, he was happy with the outcome.

A golden gaze scrutinized him, reminding Priam that the hardest part was yet to come. Your turn, Eve.

Silence settled. As the three rivals observed each other, tension rose. Sphinx squirmed in Priam’s arms, sensing the unease.

“May I kill her?” Jasmine asked casually.

Priam hesitated. Ève was partially responsible for her clones' actions, and her magic was monstrous. The real question wasn’t whether she deserved death but if she was a threat to Oasis and its people. And if she was, could they even take her down?

“You’ve got other clones, right?” he asked bluntly.

“Plenty!”

“Where are they?” Kazuki asked. None of the others had tried to help the original escape.

“They’ve reached other tribes,” Ève revealed, “but the strongest ones headed towards Knaya.”

“Without you?”

“I’m not essential to the Task.”

She was willing to die for her cause, Priam mused. That was worrisome because fanatics were always dangerous.

“Why Knaya?” Kazuki pressed.

The fae grinned, flashing sharp canines. “Not everyone can just hack their way through monsters to level up their skills. Besides, I miss civilization.”

“The road to the Empire is long and deadly,” Kazuki pointed out.

“With Tyr and Kala, it’s a walk in the park.” Ève smirked at the puzzled looks from her rivals. “The Judge and the Beast.”

“The two missing rivals...”

“That explains why we haven’t detected any movement from them,” Kazuki said. “However, it doesn’t tell us what to do with you.”

Ève gave a playful bow. “I’ll help you decide: I’m leaving soon. Someone’s remembering me.”

Her figure began to blur around the edges.

The shadow at her feet trembled, but Priam held off giving the execution order. If Ève could sift through his memory for a mythical shield, she had surely found much worse. He wouldn’t trade his friends’ lives for a rival on the run.

“I’ll bring you a gift next time. A little thank-you for saving me.”

“No need,” Priam replied coldly. “Best gift you could give is making sure there’s no next time.”

Ève burst into laughter. “You’re as mean as a fae!”

The fae's silhouette lost its colors.

“By the way, you never told us what your Task is.”

The fae smiled. “You wanna know?”

Priam saw the ambient aether freeze. Depending on his response, something would happen. Something horrible.

“No.”

“Too bad.”

Ève dissolved like a dream at dawn, her eyes vanishing last, taking her madness with them. All that remained was a golden fingernail.

*

“This is amazing! More!”

Blueberry refilled Sphinx’s bowl, and she immediately started scarfing down the food. Her head practically disappeared into the sauce, forcing her to hold her breath.

Not to be outdone, a baby wyrm chirped and leapt into the stew pot.

Sphinx was winning the race—she had already eaten the equivalent of two deer—but Moonie wasn’t far behind. Priam had no idea how their bodies stored all that food.

“Lost in thought, son?”

Priam glanced up to see his father holding a plate of vegetarian food.

“I was wondering when my father changed his diet,” he joked.

“Ymir says it’s good for digestion, so I’m giving it a shot. But don’t change the subject. What’s bothering you?”

“Not much,” Priam shrugged. “Sphinx is back, and I kept my promise—Ève’s clone is gone. I’d be perfectly happy if I hadn’t let a fae loose.”

“A fae?”

“A weird creature.”

“Malicious?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Priam sighed, staring at his hand.

[Identification]
[Memory of a Fae - Tier 0 - Rare] - Allows the user to glimpse into a fae's past. This memory contains a lesson on how to protect one's memory. Smells faintly of feet.

The nail was magical and would save Priam a lot of Potential points. Eve was a calamity for those she manipulated, but she had been careful not to antagonize him.

“You’re overthinking this,” Kazuki said, sitting beside him. “Ève would have found another way out with or without you. In some ways, she’s scarier than Arnold.”

“Still, I wish I had…” Priam paused.

“Killed her?” Kazuki finished.

“I don't know. Maybe. She deserves it, right?”

“She chall diih!” Jasmine grumbled through a mouthful of food.

“The clone’s family would say yes, and Sphinx would say no,” Kazuki replied. “I think we have better things to do than deal with her.”

Priam’s eyes widened. “Shit, I’m sorry! I’ve been wasting time thinking about Ève while you’re about to face your Tribulations. How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good. The intel you shared through the mental bridge was… enlightening.”

Kazuki’s gaze became distant, and Priam realized his friend had more pressing concerns than a far-off rival. He needed support.

Priam downed his bowl in seconds and got up. “How about some sparring before your Tribulations?” he asked, extending a hand to his rival. “If you really try, you might even scratch me.”

The taunt made Kazuki smile. The hoplite accepted Priam’s hand and grabbed his new spear. “I hope you’ve improved in the last twenty-four hours.”

“I held my own against a Tier 4,” Priam boasted.

“By cheating.”

“Still counts.”

The two rivals grinned. Their enemies were far away, and for now, they had time to grow. 

*

Status:

PHYSICAL:
Strength 782
Constitution 1 179
Agility 930
Vitality 1 130
Perception 823

MENTAL:
Vivacity (D) 599
Dexterity 684
Memory 859
Willpower 1 172 (+4)
Charisma 767

META:
Meta-affinity 923
Meta-focus 444
Meta-endurance 804
Meta-perception 443
Meta-chance 379
Meta-authority 258

Potential: 12 297 (+2)
Tier 0

Sun point: 393 (+115)

[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRIMED

Concepts:

• Breath (T0): 100% / Dormant

• Fire (T0): 100% / Unity

• Pyro (T1): 95% / Symphony

• Mist (T1): 100% / Symphony

Bloodlines:

• Phoenix: 1%

• Dragon: <1%

Rewards standing: 

• Fusion Token - Epic skill

• Evolution Token - Legendary skill

• Affinity Token - Tier 1 (30%)

• Alien Concept fragment (7th Terror)

• Bloodline Purification (+1%)

• Talent Token - Seraph Rarity (Upgrade)

[Tribulation]: Five Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Time: 152 days 2 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds.

Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 600 / 6 attributes > 900 / 1 attribute > 1 200