Carmine (Completed)

Chapter 28

"So you can't read the mind of someone from Elam?" I asked.

Five shook his head. "I could, but anyone with any amount of common sense would use a Sector Bloom to block me from trying. It would not be hard to make. Empaths like myself can block such interferences naturally."

Great, the more I dug the more I realized I was not safe.

I knew Valor said I should not, but I could not be blind to what happened. Knowledge was needed to know how to prevent my death the next time around, at least that.

Janilla and I were on the bed playing Boomon, while Five sat on the window sill looking out. The wind warmed and filled the room with specks of dust, but I rather warm air than suffering in this room. It was a good thing they had board games for us when we asked. Sitting in here was boring.

"You can hear my thoughts right now?" I asked.

"Yes, but I can hear others. The ability I have can be—noisy."

"I supposed hearing everyone's thoughts can be quite annoying."

"Very."

"Can you make those Sector Blooms for me?" Janilla asked. Guess she realized she was one of the others. I almost laughed. As long as my thoughts were not read indiscriminately with my permission I was fine with this arrangement. I moved my piece taking two of her black pieces.

"Metrologists can. I have no crafting skill. We could get one, but I have no knowledge of any witches in Tiam that might have one."

"So aren't you a Metrologist?"

"No, I am a Champion. I am only built for combat. I specifically have been built for subversion, insertion, and insurrection."

She took four of my pieces and I grunted. I rolled those words in my head. "Assassin?"

"Yes," he said.

Janilla took another piece. I groaned as I only had two pieces left.

"What do you mean by built?"

"I am an N.C., meaning New Core."

"I have been wondering what that meant. Valor called you that."

"I was made, not born. Made by the hands of my—last patron. Maiden Mother Billasoia. My only existence was to serve."

If they could make a living thing then I saw why they elevated themselves beyond the reach of their once human status to now being Gods over us. "So Valor was made as well?"

"No, he is M.C., Modified Core. He was born elsewhere taken in as a free proxy and worked as such. He is—known far and wide. My losing to him was not shameful."

Janilla took the rest of my pieces and I threw my arms up in ire at losing again. Janilla did a victory dance whirling her body with her arms in the air. I sighed and looked at Five's back. There was a desire to find out more about his history, but if he was made, would he have one?

"You still want to return back to Billasoia?" I asked.

"No."

Five told us that Billasoia, Erot’s daughter sent him.

Probably on her mother’s orders?

A series of knocks on the door caught me and Janilla's attention. Janilla got up and opened the door. A well-dressed man came in. He curtsied and announced, "The King desires your audience, Lady Carmine."

I nodded at Janilla and she ran off to get herself ready. I jumped off the bed. "Five?"

"Yes Mo—"

"Only in private, address me properly." I quickly asserted. The man did not react to that.