Indeed.

Frost had lost a single Light. It had been taken by Cer to crystalize new Skills.

I see. So the Nexus is the enabler. Or rather, a powerful Light is. Sort of like how say, Elysia or I can manipulate those with lesser Light, only that this takes the shape of a person’s soul: if the flavor text for Professions is anything to go by.

Professions reflected a person’s soul. They could not be changed, just as how the soul could not be altered: only destroyed. It brought upon a theory Frost conjured in the heat of the moment.

If it’s a matter of Light, then wouldn’t that mean I’ll be able to choose what Skills people gain one day?

Possible, yes

But do you believe you know more about a person than they do themselves?

It was a dilemma Frost figured she’d have to face in the future. Closer than she thought too, given how rapidly she was accumulating Light.

“I’m still ‘The Head’ right now.” Frost murmured beneath her breath. “Pulling that off would put me even higher. At that point, what would people be calling me?”

Her voice lacked pride, reverence, or awe that would accompany a person who saw the prospects of their future. Her life ahead was as gilded as any. A deity in every sense of the word was Frost’s future.

But that was only if she looked at it from a narrow perspective. Frost had enough eyes and experience to know the tragedy that befell those with tunnel vision.

“Frost.”

A hand clasped hers.

It was Jury.

“I’ll at least still be calling you Frost.” She kissed the back of her palm, displaying her love before the Rogue Moons who had no idea Jury was her lover.

Then again, Joy looked like a cross between them, so it should have been obvious from the start.

Still… The fact that the Head of the Nexus had a lover was further proof that she was not draconic like the Beholders that sought to claim the Nexus before her.

Cer took out a heart-shaped pendant made of a radiant blue gem. It was a gift from one of the Healers (potential lovers). Inside was an image of that very same Healer.

“I miss them.” Her voice was uncharacteristically sincere.

Could a Moon long for love?

Was that possible?

Were they allowed to?

They were. Frost’s presence assured them of this. The Vermilion Moons also had this freedom. Their only restriction was that they could not attend to the Nexus until they properly atoned.

Frost wasn’t that cruel to her Moons. She was considerate of their circumstances. Besides, unlike the Blood Moons, they had been working to atone for the Nexus for over a century.

Blood Moons indulged in bloodshed. They were cruel and barbaric, driven by the need to inflict their suffering onto others to satisfy their wrath.

This was why she wasn’t as lenient with them.

Finally, they approached the other side of the bridge, and it opened into two pathways. One led to the portal which would bring them to the Gigaforge beneath Atlas. The other would take Frost straight to Knalzark.

Cer then brought out another pendant.

And another. She carried a total of five pendants, one belonging to a White Dove, a Black Wing, a Sanguine Healer, a Scarlet Healer and finally, a Blood Angel.

Since pendants had two images on each hinge, one side had the portrait of the Healer, and the other was a scandalous close up of a specific area of their chests.

“I require a recharge as soon as I return.” Cer brought them all to her chest like she was mourning the dead.

Horus’ impression of Cer only increased from there forth. She seemed to nod in agreement, but then placed a finger on her lip as if to say: “I’ve had better.”

“No place for a Repenter to wind down.” Horus sighed. “At these moments I wouldn’t mind giving my Soul if it means I can die repeatedly: for days on end: in the hands of rambunctious Elves.”

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Frost sighed as she cupped Joy’s ears just in time, all the while Jury cupped the Fragment’s. Their ears wiggled in unison.

“I’ll head in alone.” Frost announced, brushing Joy’s hair aside. “I have a feeling Knalzark will want it that way. Jury, Cer, Morgause. Even you, Horus. Take care of my Moons, and most of all, take care of them.”

She turned and brushed her gaze upon the hundreds of Homunculi.

They didn’t know what was going on. To Frost, they were no different from when she found Deiman. Homuncili didn’t have much Light compared to regular people, nor did it seem like they had many motor functions.

Fewer had the ability to brush their hair aside from their blank faces. There was an air of unease, but mostly indifference. They had accepted that whatever happens was unstoppable.

Frost had seen it in their memories. It wasn’t a mere generational breakdown of the mind, but a physical one as well. Their bones were fragile, and their nerves barely alerted them of pain.

“Amalgam… Head… What shall we call you?” A Rogue Moon spoke up.

She flinched when Frost shifted her eyes onto her, like she would be cut into two vertical halves on the spot. But Frost’s eyes were gentle. After calming down, she could not help but feel like Frost was staring at her like how a mother would to a child.

“I prefer Amalgam. But Head is fine too. I don’t mind if you call me by name. Everyone does. But my Stars might take offense to it. Don’t mind them.”

“Then, Amalgam, is there a point in helping us? We wronged the Nexus. We… killed many Moons that day. So many lives were lost by our hands.”

“You did. That’s why you’re not entirely free. However, how long ago was the War in Heaven?”

“Nearly two centuries ago.”

“Is that not enough time for a person to sincerely change? Two human lifespans would have passed. Horrific crimes would have been taken to their graves. But you still remember what you did after all this time, when the world has long forgotten.”

Frost gracefully approached them. She placed a hand on each of their heads as though to bless them.

“How can you be so sure that we’re… useful?”

“I don’t judge based on use. If I were purely utilitarian, then I would not have prioritized their safety.” Frost motioned to the Homunculi. “Besides, the color of your heart is satisfactory. But if you insist, Justica Arms can provide an assessment. They will judge you based on your sins. What becomes of you will be decided by the verdict. I of course, will attend and judge you adequately.”

They were satisfied with this compromise.

This alone was further proof that the Rogue Moons were not entirely evil.

They were just broken.

Frost left for the opening.

“I’ll see you soon Jury.”

And Nav. Please get the Bookkeepers to present a report to my desk.

What is it that you seek?

I want to know how many Moons, Stars and Beholders were condemned. We don’t want any surprised. Moreover, we’ll know how many Moons we can hire, and how many Beholders we can take the original Gifts of.

The head of the Beholder by her hip felt warmer.

First: We’ll claim Infusion S as our own.

* * *

LEVEL : 429LIGHT : 30 (May not go lower than 1)The Amalgam

TEMPERED : Third State NAME : FrostHP : 84,000,000MP : 1,200,000

AGI : 105RESIST : 1,320AGE : 1ATT : 30,000MAG ATT : 30,000

O : 298D : 39ORIGIN : ArchetypeATT DEF : 35,000MAG DEF : 35,000

S : 291E : 100

BEHOLDER SKILLS

Amplification

ACTIVE SKILLS

OFFENSIVE

Punch V | MASTERY: Omnipresent Maw

Double Punch IV [2/10]

Goodnight I [2/10]

Armor Piercing III [4/10]

Magnitude III [3/10]

Obliterate II [4/10]

Inferno IV [1/10]

Liquid Fire III [2/10]

Thermal Propagation III [9/10]

Cinder’s Light [1/10]

Superheat [1/10]

Plasma Cutter [3/10]

Summon Apparition: Mimicry [2/10]

Voracity [2/10]

DEFENSE

Solemn Counter IV [1/10]

Light Barrier [4/10]

Protection Ward [4/10]

SUPPORT

Grand Healing V | MASTERY: Black Dove’s Commitment

Cure Disease IV [2/10]

Prolonged Stasis V | MASTERY: Black Dove’s Roost

Area Heal IV [1/10]

Cleanse V | MASTERY: Purify

Corporeal Restoration IV [8/10]

Inspiration! II [3/10]

Accelerate Wound [0/10]

Lifeforce Steal [0/10]

Mana Disruption [2/10]

Blasphemous Heal [2/10]

Bloody Exchange [1/10]

Blood Lettering [1/10]

EXPLORATION

Appraise Object IV [8/10]

Home Cook IV [7/10]

Non-Euclidian Interpretation I [7/10]

Analyze Target [5/10]