Cyber Chronicles 2: Prime Voyage

Chapter 35: Present

Lincoln approached the fountain with Ketsukii following closely behind. The man stood there, an enigmatic figure amidst the bustling energy of Berm Square. His hair was a striking contrast, half gray and half brown, and he appeared to be a few inches shorter than Lincoln. What caught Lincoln's attention most, however, was that the man seemed to be completely blind.

As they neared him, the man turned his head slightly in their direction, as if sensing their presence. His milky, unseeing eyes gave no indication that he saw them with any conventional sense. Instead, Lincoln sensed that this man's abilities might be more extraordinary than he initially thought.

"It would seem I wasn't wrong for waiting." the man said, his voice calm and composed.

"You've been expecting me?" Lincoln asked, his curiosity piqued. 

The man smiled faintly, though his sightless eyes gave no indication of the expression. "I gambled on whether you'd even come here."

Ketsukii exchanged a quick glance with Lincoln, both intrigued and relatively perplexed by what the man said. Lincoln decided to engage in a bit of small talk while they were in a public place.

"So, how did you know we were coming?" Lincoln inquired.

The man chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "All I can say for now is that I've seen you arrive on Earth. I'll explain everything once we get someplace else."

Lincoln nodded, accepting the cryptic response for the moment. It was clear that this man was no ordinary individual.

"I'm Lincoln, and this is Ketsukii," Lincoln said, extending a hand in greeting. 

The man shook Lincoln's hand with a firm grip. "You can call me Gustav," he replied.

"Gustav, it's a pleasure to meet you," Lincoln said with a friendly smile.

Gustav turned slightly, gesturing for them to follow him. "If you don't mind, let's move to a more discreet location. We have much to discuss."

He led them away from the bustling square and into a nearby building. It was an unassuming structure, and the room they entered was empty, with no signs of surveillance equipment.

The man retrieved a small, orb-shaped device from his pocket and released it onto the ground. The moment it made contact, a circular blue portal materialized before them, crackling with energy and emitting eerie noises that filled the room.

Lincoln and Ketsukii exchanged surprised glances. It was an unexpected turn of events, but they were both eager to learn more.

Gustav nodded, gesturing for them to enter the portal. "This way," he said, and they stepped through.

In an instant, they found themselves in a dimly lit cave, surrounded by towering, rocky walls. The only sources of light were a few torches mounted on the far corners of the cave, casting flickering shadows across the uneven ground.

As Lincoln's eyes adjusted to the dimness, he spotted a tall man with jet-black hair and strikingly bright blue eyes that looked like that of a human, but Lincoln felt that this man wasn't one. Recognition flickered in Lincoln's mind. He had seen this man before, though the circumstances eluded him momentarily.

The man approached Lincoln with a warm smile and extended his hand. "We meet again, Crimson Wielder."

Lincoln shook the man's hand, the pieces of the puzzle slowly falling into place. "You can call me Lincoln," he replied.

The man nodded. "My name is Carzen."

Lincoln's memory clicked into place. Carzen was the name of the man who had brought Crescent to the duel with him a couple of months ago. He was from the teleporters guild like Aytrex. It was an unexpected encounter, and Lincoln couldn't help but wonder why Carzen was here, of all places, and where exactly they had ended up.