144. What is a Star to a Beholder?

144. What is a Star to a Beholder?

“Y-You’ve realized it now! Smile while you can, Amalgam! Have you broken down after realizing that it’s over –!?” The Bloody Herring was then suddenly silenced by a gentlemanly voice.

“Oh~! The Director was a few seconds off with the prediction. I suppose adlibbing the script should be fine.” The spoken voice undoubtably belonged to Magus.

Slits along her cocoon opened, revealing the golden-suited magician who stood there with his diamond cane in hand. Beside him was her precious companion, Snap and the Little Frost who sat atop its head with a brimming smile.

They had somehow found themselves within a treasury of some kind. The cylindrical room housed countless stacks of coins that acted as pillars to support the grand, dome-like ceiling. It was a world of endless riches and gold.

Her Corrupted Zone had also carried over to what she assumed was the Golden Index. The ceiling was quickly covered by various stars and a night sky that awed Magus, Snap, and the Little Frost.

The Bloody Herring was left confused. Who were these people? Or better yet, where exactly were they? Frost read him like an open book as Magus then added:

“Ahem! A fish will arrive at the end of a stream, he said. Such nonsensical directions! My Amalgam friend!” Magus bowed, paying his deepest respect to a familiar face. “It sounds like you’re having the time of your life in there! Lots of hope shared with your company, there, I presume!?”

Frost didn’t know how to respond. She only dragged the body of the Bloody Herring into view as the sound of knuckles meeting flesh played once again.

“Right!? T-That’s not the sound of you punching someone, is it!?” Magus exclaimed in shock.

“Brrr. Brrrrr. Brrrrrr. Bzzzzt!” Snap waved its hand left and right, somehow managing to get its message across to Magus.

“Ah…! Well, my condolences fish-man!” Magus tipped his top hat and promptly departed. “Hope itself will be taking its leave now! Have at it my friend! I shall pretend I saw nothing!”

“Hope…?” The Bloody Herring managed to utter. He was about to laugh, but in the absence of Magus arrived a certain figure that instantly caused his complexion to go completely pale.

“Hehe… Oh… It’s occupied. I’d hate to prematurely hatch this egg.”

Carpalis visage entered their vision as the Touch of Golds slowly peeled away, allowing them to now rest on the red carpets of this esteemed treasury. Her presence introduced an overwhelming pressure that caused Frost to lock up in place, like she was now within the maw of an even greater monster than herself.

“Ahahaha… hah… Don’t mind me. Keep talking. Imagine I’m not here. I’m used to it. Hehe. You should know already, right Mr. Fisher? You look like you need a hand~”

“… What’s the matter? You’re so pale? What happened to your talk about killing Carpalis?” Frost growled, hoisting him up high as Carpalis giggled, as if flattered. “You spoke so fucking mighty in front of me, but why can’t you do the same in front of Carpalis? Betraying her wasn’t enough for you. So you betrayed Leitmotif hoping to kill me. Then what?”

The Herring trembled uncontrollably; his attention focused entirely on Carpalis. None of Frost’s words reached him.

“I guarantee that a coward like you wouldn’t have followed through with whatever plan you had. Look at you tremble. You said that hope can only exist in the presence of another’s despair?” Frost tormented him, drawing her mouth close enough to snap a piece of its neck clean off. “I think I understand that now.”

“… Oww…” Carpalis tilted her head. “He’s a pain in the neck. Hehe, get it? Sorry. Frost. You certainly don’t know how to pull back your punches. I’ve been treated as plenty of things in my life…. A punching bag makes the majority of it. Heh.”

Frost, realizing that she had also been hurting Carpalis this entire time, instantly healed the Bloody Herring. But she never allowed him to leave her grasp. No matter how many times he attacked with [Beaten Desires] or [Aspirating Aspirations] he was already marked for death.

“Remorseful Amalgam~ Have you come to release your catch back into my sea? Hehe… I can see it in your eyes. Mr. Fisher must have been a slippery catch.” Carpalis outwardly took it all so casually.

If Frost was in her shoes and was pitted before a betrayer, then she would have destroyed them where they stood. It became impossible to tell just what ran through Carpalis’ mind.

But there was certainly an air of impending death surrounding her.

“T-This seed… Leitmotif’s seed… The seed he took from that Star… It-It should make me strong enough… A true aspiring star like myself t-to…” The Bloody Herring clutched at his chest, gaining some form of strength to gaze back into Carpalis’ pitch-black eyes.

He nearly frothed at the mouth, as if consumed by them.

“Liars speak in the same tongue. An Aspiring Star? To take down a Beholder? Hehehe… Oh Mr. Fisher. You would think that a liar would be able to tell other liars apart.” Carpalis did not belittle him.

Rather, she pitied him. Her tone was motherly, almost forgiving.

Then, Carpalis extended a hand to the Bloody Herring.

“You wish to become a star. Beautiful, are they not?” She uttered, never looking up to see the stars. “But an aspiring star will always keep looking up. You wish to take on a Beholder? Hehe. Good choice. I am the weakest. I wonder who set you up to kill me with that Big Red Heart of yours~”

Suddenly, the surroundings began to shift as Carpalis’ body instantly slid away as if the world around them was stretching in every conceivable direction.

“Fear not Frost~ I am aware of the blessing… or could it be a curse? I wonder. Hehe… That immortality I place upon them because I keep a fragment of their soul has been very… very painful for me.”

Suddenly, one of the golden fingers that were wrapped tightly around her waist pried open with a deafening, metallic screech.

//////// ////////

|| The Dealer of Hands ||

The stars disappeared. They were swallowed by a great nothing as Carpalis’ figure slowly began to grow in this ever-expanding world.

Frost instinctively gulped.

Nav… I think I now know another reason why the Beholders are forbidden from interacting with the world.

“I have arrived at the same conclusion. Carpalis possesses a zone of influence similar to the Corrupted Zone. But it is not a Corrupted Zone per say.”

Still… It was enough to cancel out my own. Just… Just how powerful are the Beholders?

“Jury will one day reach this level of proficiency. Let’s not forget that the Arbiter is even stronger.”

Man… This world keeps on getting crazier. Shit… How – How big is she going to get!?

“Stars, Mr. Fisher… Are above Moons. Do you think you are above a Moon?” Carpalis genuinely asked as another finger pried itself away.

Each finger was easily the size of a building, and Carpalis had already amassed a size that rivalled the largest mountains known on Earth. The fever dream struck Frost with total awe as the woman pried another finger from her waist.

Her innards rumbled beneath her stomach. They squirmed like worms as blood pooled into her spotless dress from unseen wounds. Her crushed waist expanded like an inflating balloon and returned to normal.

“Hehe… Pardon my stomach. My old friend… still hasn’t gotten over me. I try to keep it all contained but she’s been taking more and more of my family… I wonder if hurting me makes her happy.” Her voice carried a resounding echo as if she were an omnipotent being.

When the fourth finger released the flooring suddenly disappeared. They were suspended in only darkness as countless stars populated the air separating them from Capralis. These stars were not painted like Frost’s Asterism.

It was as though a miniature universe was born as she gazed down at them gently from her elevated superposition.

“Do you know what a Beholder is? People must look up to see the stars. Stars and Moons look up, down, left, and right. Not necessarily always up. It is all just a matter of perspective out there~” Finally, her thumb latched off her waist and the Faustian Bargain arched over her like the tail of a scorpion.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Carpalis’ scale was akin to that of a nearby planet. The scale was so incomprehensibly large that Frost’s mind blanked multiple times at the mere attempt of fathoming it.

“But a Beholder must look down to see the Stars and Moons. There is mockery, and then there is ignorance. Do you think you can tell me the truth this one last time?” She asked.

“… Help me… Help me… Help… Me…” His mind was shattered beyond repair.

“Hmm… You are so…” Carpalis’ form disappeared entirely the moment her figure took as step forward, then, she reappeared right before them with like it was all just a magic trick.

She was right. It was all just a matter of perspective.

Carpalis adored the look in Frost’s eyes and giggled as her Faustian Bargain perched high above the Bloody Herring’s head.

His time had finally arrived.

“… Honest. Hehe…” She gently wrapped his body with her Faustian Bargain and lifted him high amongst the stars he so desperately wished to reach.

“… My soul… My… Not my soul! NOT MY SOUL! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO –!”

“Let me give you…” Carpalis gently began in an utter.

“AMALGAM! PLEASE! YOU – YOU SAVED THE LIVES OF ALL THOSE INNOCENT SOULS! WHAT ABOUT MINE!? WHAT ABOUT MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!?”

The Golden Hand creaked as it slowly contracted, first crushing his ribs as he flailed his arms all around him in hopes of freeing himself. Not a single drop of blood spilled as he then began smashing his head against the wrist of the Golden Hand, mangling his face as despair quickly settled in.

“AMAGLAM!? Amalgam…? C-Carpalis – I CAN TELL YOU EVERYTHING! I CAN SHOW YOU WHICH ATELIER HAS BETRAYED THE NEXUS! I – I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE RINGMASTER –! AAAAGHHHGHG AAAAAAAAAH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

“…a hand then.” These were the last words he ever heard.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Because a second later –

|| Dealt Hand – Bust ||

– He was crushed to death by the Golden Hand; his soul syphoned by Carpalis as a faint light travelled along the golden strands to her body where it happily disappeared.

A waterfall of blood spilled from the inconceivable heights, eventually becoming a fine mist as his body collapsed before them after seconds of silence. Frost did not think twice and instantly pounced on the body with her Touch of Golds.

As promised, she had erased him from existence.

Both physically and metaphysically.

As soon as it was all over her heightened emotions subsided.

There was nothing left to fight anymore.

Nothing to worry about other than to help her friends return. Her body nearly collapsed as her mind flickered like a strobe light.

The toll of it all came crashing down and her body could no longer hold it together.

Carpalis clutched onto her shoulders before she could tumble forward, using both her left hand and the Faustian Bargain. It was kind of warm despite its all-metal construction.

“Thank you…” Frost weakly muttered, her Corrupted appearance dissolving as the world returned to normal. “Agh… Sorry. My body won’t listen to me anymore.”

“Hehe. I’m used to people leaning on me all the time.” Carpalis said, allowing Frost to nestle against her shoulder as her Golden Hand slowly reattached itself against her waist. It crushed her bones and organs, and yet Carpalis didn’t bat an eye. “It’s been some time, hasn’t it?”

“… long enough that I’ve started to miss this place… Hey… How did you know we were going to be here?” Frost had to wonder as she felt something fuzzy nuzzle up against her arm.

It was Snap. It placed his head against Frost’s arm, trying to comfort her as the Little Frost explored her tattered apparel with a saddened emote floating above her head.

“That would be the doing of our ahem friend, the Director. The weasel left us a script a week back detailing an inference of fate.” Magus said, tapping away at the floor as he spoke with slight disgust at having to mention the Director by name.

His card-like face then revealed a giant spinning water wheel, depicting the wheel of fate tarot card as he cleared his throat and took an esteemed posture.

“I believe he mentioned that he’d pull as many strings for you as necessary. According to him, and I cannot stress that enough, those pesky Gears were unable to track you on their Fate Mechanism. Quite the mouthful, but he is a helpful fellow!” Magus explained. “That was quite the appearance my friend! Marvelous! Magnificent! It’d shower you with a thousand Star cards but…”

His tone then sharply shifted as he took off his hat and bowed at her.

“…I wouldn’t want to tire you even more Welcome back, dear friend.”

Frost smiled at him, her eyes groggy as she appreciated the concern. Carpalis allowed her to rest upon her shoulder, all the while Snap had her sit on its head.

Carpalis explained that they had been missing for a little over a month now. They only had so much information to work on regarding their disappearance. It also didn’t help that Snap and the Little Frost couldn’t communicate with them at all, aside from Magus who only knew very simple gestures.

As for how the Minor Hyperlink took them here of all places?

“Someone snuck in a counterfeit coin into our Casino. We’re still searching for the perpetrator… hehe.” Carplis uttered, causing Frost to groan.

Cer… That coin Sana gave her…

“It worked out in the end.”

I guess that’s one way to look at it. Haaah…

It baffled her how time was influenced by the Corrupted Zones. First the Black Forest, and then the Heart of Ours. Not to mention that they both operated very differently from the real world’s own time.

Maybe Jury might know something… Jury… Ah! Wait, I have to go back and get them. I wonder if they’re already finished.

“They’re waiting for you. I’ve let them know to gather at the ruined auditorium. Your Spatial Distortion Ability will allow them to return.”

Good… Haah. That’s a relief.

Multiple trains of thought still ran wildly in her mind as she tried to find the strength to stand, but the fuzziness of Snap and the warmth of Carpalis made her want to sleep right then and there. Of course, she possessed the will to resist such temptations and eventually stood on both feet.

“… Is it ok if I open a Spatial Distortion here? A lot of people… are going to be coming through. Er… Carpalis –”

“Another Archetype has mentioned that would be a possibility...” She glanced over at Magus who nodded back. “So we’ve made facilities available to receive them immediately. Hehe… never underestimate hope… and my love for a growing family.”

Frost couldn’t find enough words to thank her. Carpalis was willing to house every single displaced person from the Derma Layer. Her kindness was something else, and she could no longer see this Beholder as anything other than a friend now.

If the Impuritas hated her, then that was all the more reason to trust her.

“Hey… I’m sorry.” Frost ended up uttering out of habit.

“You can be very cute, I’ve found… Amalgam. Hmm. Does your chest feel heavy? Your shoulders are stiff. Stand straight for me… ahaha… Hm?” Carpalis neatly wiped Frost’s face for her and tamed the protruding cowlicks.

Then, she placed a hand onto Frost’s head.

“In times like this… When I was once in your place… no three? Five? Twenty? How many times has it been…? Haha… But do you know what I wish someone said to me every time I reached the end of a grueling journey?” Carpalis suddenly treated her like a child. Frost was certainly one given the disparity between their ages.

She had to wonder just what Carpalis was going to say. The silence was oddly comforting, as was her hand. Somehow, the weakness in her body numbed as she patiently waited for her to speak.

Carpalis gently patted her head and uttered:

“Good job… You made it. You did your best.”

Her words were simple.

So simple that anyone could have said to her.

But Frost found herself slumping forward again. The burden in her chest suddenly disappeared as her shoulders drooped. Her eyes swelled as her throat suddenly clogged up. Why did being praised… make her feel so happy?

Was it the acknowledgement? The sincerity? Or maybe she was just happy that someone understood that despite how she looked, she was also deeply burdned by everything that had happened.

Frost had only been in this world for so long. Despite everything she’s been through; getting used to it all was a tall order. The tears tumbled down her cheeks uncontrollably as she tried to avert her gaze, searching for somewhere to look at as Snap instantly wrapped itself around her.

The Little Frost clutched onto her waist and bawled her eyes out.

She was happy that she could finally cry.

“… A… Ahh…. Ahhh… H…haa… Agh… *Sniff*… A-ah…” Her voice was muffled by Snap’s fuzz. The last time she had to let it all out was all the way back in the Black Forest. She promised herself that she wouldn’t break down again, but Frost, in the end, was still… mostly human.

“Happiness and hope come in many forms. Despair can come from a buildup of bottled emotions. They must be periodically relinquished. That’s what makes us very alive. I learned that the hard way both personally, and from a close friend of mine. Frost. Someone’s heaven must never be the source of another’s torment. They are my words to live by, and another Beholder’s up there.” Carpalis didn’t speak in her usual creepy, drawn-out voice.

It was normal. Motherly. Gentle and beautiful.

Frost didn’t know how long she cried for, or how long she stayed there cuddled with Snap and the Little Frost. As soon as her composure returned, she mustered enough strength to create the Spatial Distortion.

Everything was finally arriving at a closure.

* * *