Ordo ab chao - A GWH Story (LEVEL 4)

Ordo ab chao - Chapter 6

"The... truth." Tsukiko repeated slowly, letting the fact that there was a hidden truth sink in for a moment.

"Surely you must have guessed parts of it by now." Minori replied flatly. "Please, tell me what you've figured out on your own."

Ever since she had been given this mission, the soul had sensed something underneath the surface. She had never been clear on what it was; it just nagged her like a thorn in her side. It had been hard to notice it before, when her spiritual consciousness wasn't as developed. But back then, thanks to her being part of the band of mercenaries, she had assimilated their ideals and beliefs, and with them, their memories and burdens... the greatest of them all being about that specific individual. And now, those memories had been reawakened, giving Tsukiko clarity on what was really going on.

She would have to be quick, though. Her many reincarnations had made her strong, but not yet immortal. Being outside of the Riversphere after nearly touching it was always stressful for a soul like her, and being dragged out of it made the strain even worse.

"The Last Guardian... is Kitsune, is she not?"

"Kitsune... the name she used to be known by all those lives ago. It has been far too long since she existed as the mortal you used to know, but I suppose you can still say she is the same person... in a way." The Tale Dimension nodded.

"None of us stay the same on our path to immortality, lady Minori."

"Indeed. You are proof of this claim... although I wish you had moved more towards the right side." She lamented, adding sadness to her serious gaze.

But Tsukiko didn't have the luxury of time to touch on that subject. She continued speaking.

"Then, the rumors were true... Kit is still looking for allies. She put you up to this task, didn't she? To find me and shape me into a harbinger of order?"

"Yes and no." The young-looking girl answered almost immediately. "Her intentions were to hand the mission over to my Queen, Kanama, who would in turn pass it on to me."

Kanama... did she mean the mythical Tale Queen? That was her name? A more immature Tsu would have wondered eagerly if she was also real, in the same way she did when she first met the one before her. Times had changed, though, and the actual existence of such a being did not surprise the former Tale Caster, although she did feel the desire to meet her anyway. But again, no time for that.

"However, it is irrelevant." Minori went on. "In the end, all three of us agree that you were the one most suited to this task. Even though you two never met personally in that life, the Last Guardian saw potential in you, and thus, you were chosen. It is as simple as that."

No. Tsukiko said to herself. It's not that simple.

Her thoughts must have been read by her interlocutor somehow, because she raised her eyebrows. Tsu didn't care, though. This was all wrong.

"Kit and the Niji Army had several differences... but her intentions were consistent, at least. My sincerest apologies, milady, but I find it hard to believe she would ask us to stick to order after all the chaotic acts she committed to seal the Basts away. Plus, since they are beings of order, it would be counterproductive to her ultimate goal." She stated, shaking her head.

"Counterproductive? Do you not understand what the Last Guardian is trying to do?" Minori retorted, not once wavering in her calmness. "Bringing balance to the multiverse requires equal parts of order and chaos. Existence usually balances itself out, but sometimes it needs a little push; a helping hand. That is why she needs us."

"Just to bring order? Shouldn't we be moving towards balancing ourselves as well, if this is such an important matter?"

Tsukiko's reply came out with a hint of impatience. The immortal remained collected, although her eyes squinted upon hearing the change in her protégée's tone.

"Not necessarily. We have our designated roles, as do the many other spirits summoned by her. Some of them are supposed to be beings of chaos, but as one of the pillars of the multiverse, I must attain myself to order. That is my place in this world... and you are expected to stick to your duty, as well."

I know that...

But that was not what she had learned during her lives, especially not during her time with the Niji Army. Even as mere mortal beings, they were the masters of their own choices. It had been complicated to find the correct answers to what honor truly meant, but in the end, it was the struggle that really mattered; the journey against the concept of a predetermined fate. Had it all been a lie? Was this what immortality, no, spiritual maturity actually meant?

"Do you see now, Tsukiko?" Minori insisted. "Do you comprehend why I've asked you to stay close to order? Time and time again you end up straying to chaos, even if it's just a little bit. You absolutely must get rid of the speck of color if you are to fuse properly with a spirit of order like myself. Otherwise, we will not survive the grand event."

The soul did not say anything. It was confused; at a loss. What was the right thing to do, then? She wanted to live... but would she be able to comply, after all these trials?

The Tale Dimension suddenly interrupted her train of thought.

"You should return to the Riversphere. You've been out here long enough."

In her wandering, Tsu hadn't even noticed the strain her absence from the stream of life had put on her. She felt exhausted, and the soul parts that weren't completely consolidated were starting to peel off. An overwhelming urge to go back came over the spirit, overriding most of her other emotions, but before she could move, Minori flickered and reappeared right in front of her face.

Tsukiko had never been this close to this form of the dimension she so loved... Her eyes were beautiful. They were sad now, but they reflected the bright living sparks of every single inhabitant of that marvelous world of order...

"You do not have many incarnations left before you become a fully-fledged spirit. Please, I beg you... Do whatever it takes to be a perfect soulmate for me before it is too late. We need to endure, to live on together. Please..."

The message had been passed on, but Tsu was starting to feel extremely drowsy from a lack of that vital energy in the cosmic flow of souls. Her eyes began to close slowly and her mind began to clear as she started to drift back towards the Riversphere, losing sight of the precious pure gems that were the reflection of all Tales...