Legend of Mautau: Angelorum Lux

Ch 21: He of the Infinite

        The doors to the deck slid open, and together Grey and Alexander stepped out, making their way slowly along the deck. The ship’s deck was a basically the top of the ship, a large, flat open space with a railing around it. Pulling away from Alexander, Grey said, “I think I’ll be able to stand on my own for a bit.” He walked away from Alexander to the edge of the ship, holding onto the railing as he looked off into the distance. Standing there staring out into the windy skies, they took in the spectacular view for a moment. Finally, Grey said, “Well, are you gonna tell me what this is all about?” Taking a deep breath, Alexander said, “Grey, do you yet believe the story I told you and Amy on the way to Abnoct a couple weeks ago?” Grey nodded, saying, “Yeah. It was a bit hard to swallow, but I eventually figured it wasn’t like you to say something like that as a joke, especially the part about being Alastor’s brother. Also, back in Abnoct, Zero said something similar. He said I was supposed to be the heir to the legacy of a being revered as a God. I still don’t really understand exactly what that meant, but I’m pretty sure it’s connected with the story you told us. Do you have any idea what he meant?” Alexander nodded and said, “To be honest, that’s precisely why I asked you out here. Grey, the truth is…” Alexander seemed to be struggling to find the right words, but then he simply said, “Grey, you were not born in this world.” 

        Grey turned to look at Alexander, his eyes wide, and stammered, “Wh-wha…?” Staring back at him, looking as serious as possible, Alexander continued, “Grey, you are a half human with both human and halman blood. Halmans are a race of non-humans who took a different evolutionary path than humanity. It’s why I had to ask Amy’s mother for assistance in curing you of your illness eight years ago, though it was her father who was of most help. Your body, while you look human, is slightly different. You have slightly more acute senses, a different heart rate, and your body tissues heal much faster. Both I and the town doctor couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you, as you had a disease normal humans are not affected by.” In disbelief, Grey replied, “How the hell can you expect… me to believe that?!” Grinning in spite of himself, Alexander said, “Oh that pales in comparison to what I must ask you to believe now. Grey, when you think about how everyone keeps saying you have such incredible potential as an energist, about how Altera Veritas is so eager to control you, about the fact that I, a member of Angelorum Lux, have been watching over you all this time… Don’t you ever wonder why?” Grey simply nodded, still trying to make sense of all this. Pressing on, Alexander said, “You remember there were three members of Angelorum Lux, correct? Yet you have only met two, Serius the Unbound and myself, Gabriel the Immortal. Don’t you wonder what happened to the third, Amanus of the Infinite?”

        Stuffing his hands in his pockets as a cold breeze stung his hands, Grey said, “Well now that you mention it…” With a grave look, Alexander said, “Amanus died after he battled with Alastor and the Nameless One. He used the power of Origin’s gift, the blade known as Deus Amictus, to seal their strength long enough for us to devise a method with which he could be forever contained. Yet thirty years ago, the seals we created after that battle malfunctioned somehow. The Cataclysm of Noctivagus. With the seals malfunctioning, they were weakened and their absorption of EDE greatly reduced, allowing this world to become saturated with EDE. Alastor must have struggled against the seal for over a decade before he finally broke free. That is why eighteen years ago, Origin seems to have decided that it was time that the mantle of He of the Infinite was passed down to another in order to protect the worlds.” Grey was staring at him in utter disbelief now, and slowly he said, “No way… There’s no way…” Shaking his head, Alexander said, “No Grey, it’s quite true. You are the one. He of the Infinite, the Herald of Origin’s Will.”