[POV: Abraxes]
It's the day before we arrive in Ασία. The cell is quiet. The silence only broken by our hurried eating. The rations for the day have just arrived. Still double what they once were. But I am not one to complain about it.
It has made surviving just that little bit easier. Hunger no longer being such an overwhelming sensation. My body has adapted well to the change. Growing and filling out in a way I have never been before.
It will be essential, I think. For we will be entering a war soon. Where food is scarce, and our survival is but a chance. That is what makes our cell so quiet today. Because the Enforcers are sadistic bastards.
They're weak, so they lash out at us. We are society's punching bags, and all know it. They've walked past our cell various times now. Knocking on our door. Reminding us of tomorrow. They know we are suffering. They are revelling it.
It makes me burn angry inside. But I am not the only one. Cain—my new brother sworn through blood—has been staring at the door all day. I have seen his fingers twitch. There is a mad gleam in his eyes. He is tempted to destroy the thing. To give the Enforcers a painful death.
His pride is vast. His pride will be the death of him. I mourn him, for I know that day will be upon us eventually. But today, is not that day. He is now my brother, and I will not allow him to meet his end just yet.
I hear two Enforcers approaching. At first, I think it is more of the usual. The singing and laughing and giggling over our upcoming deaths. But then I hear a third set of feet approaching. They sound familiar, but they are slightly off.
I know who it is before they are even here.
The cell door creaks, as the wheel on its centre is turned. The chains rattle and shake in their movement. My food is gone in record time. Almost inhaled. I down the water sitting in a small plastic cup, and stand.
"Do not attack them. I will be gone but I will be back." I tell Cain who is wearily watching the door. He is tense, and he only grows tenser at my words. I realise he is worried for me. It almost brings a smile to my face.
Bonds of brotherhood are taken seriously in the Plumeria, after all. We have grown in two different wombs. We are made from two different seeds. We come from two different clans. But we are now brothers. Sworn in blood and united by dream. We are each other's only family.
"Kill any who try to do you harm." He tells me in response, and I nod my understanding.
The door finally opens, and I am greeted by two unknown Enforcers and the familiar face of Nero.
"My friend! It is a wonder to see you." He greets me with open arms. Spreading them as if he was going to give me a hug. It is theatrical. But it tells me this is not truly Nero speaking. "Come along now! You and I have much to discuss."
I step past the two glaring Enforcers. I can not tell if they are either Zinc or Copper. But it does not matter. I give Cain a look behind my shoulder. A final warning for him to behave. He gives me a grim nod in return.
To him, this is the real Nero I am being taken by. Cain does not know about the mystery who controls him. I can only imagine what he thinks will happen to me. I feel guilty for lying to him. But this is a secret that cannot be told lightly.
I hear the cell door behind me close. Its chains rattling through the corridor with an echo. But neither of the two Enforcers follow us. Nero throws me a smile over his shoulder. Before he is leading me.
I do not bother with learning the path. But soon enough, we are walking up a set of familiar stairs. I reduce my enhanced senses. The world looks unnatural to me like this. All the little details I am used to seeing, vanishing before me.
But it is necessary if I do not want to go blind. We step out into the cool outside a moment later. It must be freezing for anyone else. But for me, it is comfortable. Almost warm. The wind brushes over my exposed skin, and it feels like numerous featherlight kisses are gracing me.
We do not go far. Just a little out of the way of the main entrance and before a locked door.
"Why did you bring me here?" I initiate the conversation. I am tense as I look around us. Whilst Nero, or the one controlling him, looks entirely relaxed. Though his face has gone back to that same blank mask from before.
"I thought you'd enjoy the fresh air." He shrugs, pulling a lighter and a pack of cigarettes out of his pockets. "Want one?" He offers me, shaking the pack in my direction.
I wordlessly deny. Shaking my head at him. "Whilst appreciated. I would like the real reason for this surprise visit."
He takes a large puff of the cigarette in his hands. A small groan leaving his lips. It is more akin to a moan and makes me feel uncomfortable. If I hear it again, I might be tempted to jump into the sea below me.
"Fine. Spoil my fun. I wanted to see if your prepared for Ασία."
"Not entirely. But I doubt any Mercury on this ship is." I tell him truthfully. I don't bother asking why the mystery cares. I know they see me as some future symbol of change. Though I am thoroughly doubtful of their claims.
"Well then, it's a good thing that you have me, isn't it?" He smirks, his lips curving around the cigarette. I am left puzzled until he pulls a key out of his pocket.
He throws it at me a second later. I fumble with it until its securely in my hand. He smirks at me, amused, before nodding at the locked door behind me. I am hesitant. This could be a trap. I pull on the lightning within me.
The world around me slows. Faster than Nero can react. I have unlocked the door and pulled it open, scanning its confines. The lightning within me fizzles away and I am left confused once again.
"A new Impetus Talent?" He asks from behind me. His brow is raised as he takes another long drag from the cigarette. I do not answer his question.
Instead, I point at the small, darkened room before me. "Why are there five bound and unconscious people in here?"
He smirks at me again. "How else are you going to take their Talents for yourself? One is an Aureate and the others are Silvers. You would never get a chance to steal their abilities if I didn't do this."
"…You kidnapped an Aureate?"
"I didn't kidnap her, kid. That's a terrible way to describe this. It's more like…I temporarily relocated her." I watch as he nods to himself, seemingly proud of his words. I wonder if he realizes how insane he sounds.
"What if she finds out about this?"
"She won't," He finishes the cigarette, only to pull a second one out. "I've wiped her memory. Even if she did remember, she wouldn't have the time to focus on you or me. Her time is limited. The patriarch of House Fotismós—Lysander Achlys—has initiated a blood feud."
My anxiety suddenly spikes. "Rowans father?"
"Don't worry. You're technically dead and only known as the Jackal to the Aureate's." He tells me, breathing some smoke out. "Nero is an arrogant bastard and that works in our favour."
I find myself surprisingly reassured by his words. It is still insane. But it benefits me with seemingly no risk. So, I don't complain as I step into the room and briefly place my hand over each of their heads.
My Eidos burns with the use of my Impetus Talent. A brief whisper sounding by my ear each time. I open my runes to inspect each of them, starting with the silvers.
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[Lunas Lover]
[Innate Ability]: [The ability to accelerate your body's natural healing under the moon's light]
[I]: [The ability to accelerate the regeneration of your sacral essence under the moon's light]
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[Bathing in Sorrow]
[I]: [The ability to increase your body's healing properties through the ingestion of blood]
[===]
'Two healing Talents. Though I think one will be used more than the other.' I thought with narrowed eyes. Whilst useful, drinking blood was not something I wanted to be seen doing. I'd be looked upon with more disgust than I already do.
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[A Thousand Cuts]
[I]: [The ability to sharpen any weapon you are holding]
[===]
A limited but useful Talent. With Ασία supposedly swarming with higher ranked Fallen Spawn. Having the ability to cut through their tougher hide was a great boon.
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[Green Rise]
[I]: [The ability to control the shadows of others]
[===]
[Merge] Available]
[Do you wish to [Merge]-[Impetus Talents]: [Dark Needle] + [Green Rise]?]
[===]
I try and keep my mind as clear as possible. Whilst the one controlling Nero knows of my ability to Assimilate other Talents and Affinities. My ability to Merge them is an unknown. It is a trump card I intend to keep hidden.
I succeed only partially. I hear Nero's body shift behind me. My mind is clouded with anything and everything I can think off. I am even screaming in my mind. It is enough to distract the mystery. I take the chance to accept the Merge.
My soul isn't fully healed yet. So, the Merging of two Impetus Talents nearly drops me to the floor from the pain. But I force myself to remain standing. Gritting my teeth to stop the building scream within me from leaving.
I've already aroused suspicion by filling my mind with random thoughts and screams. Showing any indication of pain would only make the mystery behind me all the more curious. An entire minute passes. Before the burning sensation running through me comes to a stop.
It takes all that I have, to remain standing. I feel my body trembling. I try and steady myself with a breath. I do not doubt that the one controlling Nero, knows something has happened. But I keep my thoughts clouded as I look upon the new runes.
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[Dark Rise]
[I]: [The ability to connect your shadow to others and put them under your control]
[===]
A powerful Talent. I can't help but make a similarity between it and the one controlling Nero's body. It will be useful in the future, I decide.
Finally, I ease my mind of the countless thoughts plaguing my mind. It is difficult to do so, and leaves me mentally tired, but it seems to have worked. I hope it has worked. The ability to Assimilate other Talents is powerful.
Being able to Merge them together to create something stronger is beyond comprehension. It has to stay hidden. Both to grant me an advantage, and to protect me. Envy and greed are some of man's greatest weaknesses, after all.
"You okay in there?" I hear Nero ask.
"Yes. I was just reminded of something troubling." I lie through my teeth. It is obvious and I know they can tell. But I do not bother explaining.
'Time for the Aureate's Talent.'
[===]
[Impetus Talent]-[King Crimson]
[I]: [The ability to open and close slits across your body]
[===]
I blink at the description. And then I blink again. Finally, I ask; "Are you sure this is an Aureate? I thought they were meant to have Talents that transcend all others."
Nero is standing in the doorway now. Looking down at the gilded woman with some amusement. He turns to me when he speaks.
"Saher Au Centuri is an Aureate. Believe me, she can trace her origins back to some of the most influential Enlighted from the First Generation…I simply never expected her first Impetus Talent to be something so useless."
"What can she do? What Grade is she?" I ask, wondering why the mystery would believe her Talent could benefit me.
"She's a Centurion. Nearly has all five of her Axion Cores filled. As for what she can do…" He took a drag of his cigarette, a smirk playing on his lips. "…Her blood is flammable. As soon as it comes into any contact with oxygen—Boom! Combustion—I know that she can manipulate the flames and enhance her body with it."
'I see. The first Axion Talent is made to allow for ease of access to the blood.' I think, beginning to understand how the Talent works. I can see the potential it has. It can become strong. But right now, it is not just limited. It is useless.
"It's a dud. But that's not why I brought her here. Check her Bloodlines, they're the important ones." Nero tells me, throwing his third—or is it the fourth? —cigarette away.
I scroll through my Eidos. My runes are glowing as I reach the two new additions.
[===]
[Bloodline of The Sunsinger]
[I]: [The ability to absorb sunlight into your body]
[==]
[Bloodline of The Eternal Sentinel]
[I]-[The ability to cover your eyes with a protective layer of scales]
[===]
"Huh…"
"Only one of these is useful to me." I tell him with a narrowed glare. I allow the scales to cover my eyes. My vision goes blurry for only a moment, before I enhance my sight. I see everything in finer detail again. My sight is now protected from the light, and I won't go blind, but…
"Your sclera are entirely black now." Nero tells me helpfully.
…But it will be obvious that I am using a different Talent. I sigh, carefully deactivating both of the Talents. It is a good thing, that I am not planning to hide my Chimeric abilities.
"If I am to be honest with you. I expected far more from such legendary Enlightened." I don't bother responding. Whilst I did get a good amount of Impetus Talents from this. Only four of them would be truly useful to me.
"Come on. Don't just ignore me. I know how curious you are." Nero says walking out of the room. I follow after him, wrestling with my stubbornness to admit the truth.
I sigh in acceptance when I remember the one controlling Nero can hear my thoughts. He looks amused with me.
"Fine. Tell me."