TBATE: Let The Truth Be Known {Completed}

Chapter 37: Core After Core

A/N: Holy shit, guys. Thank you all so much for 25k reads! I didn't think we'd be this far, much less in less than 50 chapters. I'm grateful for you all who come back whenever a new chapter drops. Seeing the people comment almost immediately makes me immensely happy. Thank you all once again. 

Naz out!

ARTHUR LEYWIN

As my aetheric blade soundlessly pierces through Xena's heart, I can't help but feel like an executioner killing an innocent victim. A false convict. Her eyes lull back in resignation as the last few strands of life desperately cling to her mortal form. The eerie smile of genuine joy at the prospect of a joyous return to her family and friends in whatever afterlife she envisions helps settle my stomach a little, but I still can't shake the feeling that I've committed a grave sin. Even if that sin was committed in the interest of respecting a person's final wishes.

As I lay her now lifeless body on the ground, I can't help but sympathize with the poor woman who had nothing left to live for. Her loved ones passed over two centuries ago, and yet she had to sit here and endure the pain of having absolutely no one left. Xena was a strong woman. Stronger than I was as King Grey. Her resolve to pass on after fulfilling her goal and not remain in a world that had no need for her anymore struck a chord within me that remains from my time on Earth. I hope she can find solace in her afterlife.

"Be well, Xena, on your final journey back to your friends and family. May you rest in unrivaled peace after so long," I murmur as I close her eyelids and give her a few minutes to pass on.

A few steps ring out in this chamber beneath the obsidian tower as Cecilia walks over to me to confirm the deed is done. "Is it over, Arthur?"

"It is. It was much harder than I anticipated, but I can't deny a woman of her resolve's last wishes. If you're ready, I have the artifact." I answer as I hold out a small crystalline lattice in the shape of a sphere.

"I'm as ready as I could be. We've already come this far. I still just wish she had something tethering her to this world, but I guess that's the harsh reality she was dealt," Cecilia says as she crosses Xena's arms over her chest, the blood still saturating her clothes.

In the time it took Xena and I to convince Cecilia that this was the best way, I had Regis develop a prompt for what I could ask the aether to create that would be able to tether Cecilia's consciousness to something and be bound to a lifeless body. His idea was to use a vivum edict to 'trap' Cecilia's soul within this lattice of aetheric gem to them be wrapped over Xena's core. The unfortunate part is that I'll have to do the 'surgery' myself. Xena and I already came to the conclusion as to whether she was okay with it, but it didn't mean I was okay with mutilating a corpse.

'You're essentially doing the job of a mortician. Plus you cleared the idea with Crawn and he said it should work as intended. Worst case, you have Cecilia's consciousness contained in that lattice and you have to find another body. This was a perfect opportunity,' Regis assures.

I know you're right, but it feels wrong nonetheless.

"Okay then, Cecilia, could you take a seat against that wall so I can begin?" I ask. She complies as she slumps down and twiddles her thumbs in anxiety. It's apparent that the weight of the situation is getting to her. Someone died so that she could live.

"Hey, Art. Is this really okay?" Cecilia asks.

"I spoke with Xena at length about it. If this wasn't something she wanted, she would have said so. She was a willful woman. Don't mistake her generosity for naivete," I reassure.

Cecilia only nods and pulls her knees to her chest as she continues to contemplate.

'Take it slow there, princess. The relic should work, but don't rush into anything. I don't want to have to deal with you moping because something went wrong here,' Regis selfishly advises.