Code Lyoko: Revolutions and Evolutions

Chapter 63

AN: This chapter could not have come to be without the help of God. I was literally so frustrated with a whole bunch of things in addition to trying to find my muse. And so, after a good portion of time had passed with all the ranting, raving, teeth-gnashing, I am elated and proud to say that God has taken the wheel on this one, having completed a majority of this chapter in one afternoon. Personally, I couldn't be happier with the results.

Also, I do have a nod to Team Four Star for the Hellsing Abridged quote. It felt so pertinent to the situation, it was too good to pass up. I own no rights, and all right belong to the holders therein.

So, I hope you all enjoy this work, I hope you review, and above all, enjoy. I hope to see you all next chapter.

Love,

Pagliacci-11

Sylvia pressed her hand against the scanner, and soon a light hum emanated from within, signaling her allowance for entry. The door opened, and Sylvia entered the beautiful halls. The neutral tone of the surrounding light, which shined from small nearby pedestals, was soothing. So very much it reminded her of home, her past, and, most importantly, her pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

The room's energy was a vast improvement over what she'd come to call 'the veil of shadow.' The veil of shadow, while powerful, Sylvia had learned, was immensely corrupting. But at the same time, this observation was only possible through her own maturation and growth. The veil had proven itself to be a most formidable tool and weapon against those who Sylvia had first raised arms. But even though it had breathtaking potential and, in her hands, was a viable form of power, Sylvia knew that to have the veil's energy, to persist in its uses, would only ensure her destruction.

That was why Sylvia dedicated herself to understanding what she would, in time, call the energy equation. For her, the entire world was that of energy, ebbs, and flows, good and evil, the dictation of each was derived solely from the caster's intent. Equally, this reason was why she never truly feared death. For Sylvia, the body was merely the envelope. There was more to her method of madness in her actions with the body than it would have appeared.

The energy equation was what she was after, the very signature of the soul. From this attempt and her own failure therein, Sylvia more than had confirmation of her former suspicions, and from that, she knew the intrinsic values of the world she now occupied. Equally, knowing this, Sylvia knew the world's sad truth, for it was a simple law of exchange. But equally, underlying all the functioning of things on earth, its interactions, and all therein, it all boiled down to individual choice once more.

This underlying factor of choice, this simple premise, was what unified the universe. The choices of all were respected. That was the one constant, at least on a societal level. Sylvia equally, had made her own choice. She had left the ways of the darker uses of energy;. In contrast, energy could be used for attack; Sylvia believed that the powers of that made of the veil of shadow could be truly harnessed to master the body's healing, its mending as opposed to just its destruction.

From this, Sylvia had dedicated herself to studying these energies and seeing just what she could do to emphasize the preservation of life. The answer was simple, she had to choose to seek out this knowledge for it was always there, but it had to be sought out.

In many ways, Sylvia had grown in ways that her teammates would never see. She had more than learned to value others' choices, even the dissenting views of her teammates. Equally, she had learned from the tragic case of one of her favorite characters of literature, Javert. It wasn't that Javert was inherently wrong. But like Sylvia, he had been far too much of an absolutist; even Sylvia could see that. There was no issue of loving law and order; what was dangerous was when you disallowed any avenue of change. When you became so black and white, lacking in compassion, you become little more than a machine. This inherent indifference, a lack of compassion, regardless of time or actions, grieved Sylvia most about Javert. Equally, it was for this same reason that Sylvia never would allow North-Gate to function without a human component of oversight.