Onyx shaded clouds began to roll in as Q stood there shocked. To him this was his first time meeting Mikiyu-Mi. However, they clearly knew each other before he lost his memory. Obviously she is lying about me dying. Otherwise I wouldn't be here talking to her. Why would she lie about something so easily debunked though? What really happened to make her face look so tormented? The wind started to pick up, and the hair on the back of his neck became stiff. Her eyes showed no intent to deceive him; she approached him slowly. Anxiety set in. He had absolutely no reason to trust this stranger and yet every ounce of his soul knew she spoke the truth. A whisper escaped his lips.
"Nine Months ago?"
This was the amount of time that had passed since the elf siblings nursed Q back to health. Mikiyu-Mi nodded, avoiding eye contact with him. The area around them was eerily quiet. She continued to walk towards Q, the ground squishing beneath her.
"Are you ready to accept the truth?"
Q looked to the sky wondering how could this be possible?
"I still don't believe you."
Naturally that was a lie. To admit it out loud would shatter his current reality. He may have been brought to a fantastical world but he never heard of someone coming back from the dead.
"I worried you might say such a harsh thing. I have nothing to gain from lying Quincy. Remember, it was you who came to me looking for answers when I tried to leave. I have a nullshard we can use to view your suppressed memories if you are serious about this."
Reaching into her hoodie pocket she pulled out a translucent stone. Nullshards are commonly used in Gaea to send messages or store information. It wasn't uncommon to use a nullshard to prove whether or not someone was truly guilty of a crime.
"Ah, that makes sense. You do have a point about having no reason to lie. I can give you the Posch to cover the cost of the nullshard. Consider it a fee for information if you'd like." Mikiyu-Mi for the first time cracked a smile. Her face lit up in such a way that it made Q feel at ease. This feels so familiar. Who was she to me?
Mikiyu-Mi, now in front of Q, held out her hand presenting the nullshard. "It's nice to know even without your memories you're not one to take handouts without doing something in return. I guess one's true character cannot be altered. That's something I've always loved ab…"
She quickly put her hood up and covered her mouth. Steam started to gush out of her head from blushing. Ah. Crap, she's really cute. Wait, that's not important right now. He knew what she was going to say but he wanted confirmation. Figuring the nullshard would give him the answers he wanted, he reached out his hand to ask her for it. "I don't have the ability to transmit information to and from nullshards. Can I rely on you to perform the pact?"
Mikiyu-Mi, pulling herself together, turned back around to face him. Her face became very serious. "Of course, but if I'm being frank, I prefer to use them for watching Idols like Lyra The Lemming or Yima Yii."
"I…I didn't take you for an Idol enthusiast." Mikiyu-Mi shifted back and forth, blushing. I slipped up again. I can't expect him to remember anything right now. She thought to herself. She gave Q a little shove as she shouted at him, "What's so strange about an innocent maiden entertaining herself by watching Idols?"
Q burst out laughing by her choice of words. He hasn't met anyone in this world with a similar sense of humor. Innocent maiden, huh? Reminds me of something I would say. Q's voice became very whimsical as he poked fun at Mikiyu-Mi.
"Hahaha. Yeah I suppose not, but calling yourself an innocent maiden is a bit of a stretch, no?"
Mikiyu-Mi's smile grew even bigger than before. She seemed truly happy with how events were unfolding. She handed Q the shard before she spoke. "You truly haven't changed a bit Quincy. You are still just as kind and funny as when I lost you."
"See you say that, but I still don't have any memories to compare myself to. Plus, why would a cutie like you ever want to find me in the first place? I mean I'm sure you've seen my hair, skin and eyes. I'm not exactly normal."
Mikiyu-Mi's ears started to glow like embers. She began to stutter as she avoided the question. "Y-y-you think I'm c-c-cute?"
Caught off guard by her forward reaction, Q cleared his throat and pointed to the Nullshard. He was all for avoiding dealing with emotions right now. However, in this moment he couldn't rest until he knew what she was hiding about his past. Choosing to disregard her last comment he pressed on.
"I think we should get this over with. It seems like a storm might be rolling in."
Mikiyu-Mi nodded in agreement. Bending down she took out some parchment and a writing utensil from her hoodie pocket. Q, curious, asked her about it.
"How much can you store in that thing?" Shaking her head she pointed at the parchment signaling him to get ready. After murmuring some words and scribbling some basic directions she stood back up. The scroll began to glow faintly, almost as though it were waiting for something.
"Nevermind that for now. It's time to perform the pact Quincy." Q hesitated. Once I do this there is no going back. I'll make sure to have conditions in place protecting me from her in case she is up to something. He nodded and then joined her on the ground. The process for pact magic was fortunately straightforward. Each party taking part in a pact needed to join their mana into an object mutually agreed upon. One's innate mana when channeled can only show the caster's true intentions. This process makes it near impossible for one to attempt deceiving someone else during the pact. Both of them channeled their mana into the parchment setting their own conditions. Afterwards they both checked it over and neither Q nor Mikiyu-Mi had an issue with what was written. For the final touches they both opened their gates to place their signatures on the contract. Mikiyu-Mi looked at Q.
"Quincy before we do this I only ask you one thing. Promise me that no matter what you see after this, you won't hate me."
Q shook his head. Still unsure of the nature of his relationship with Mikiyu-Mi. He chose to express his confusion to her. "I guess I don't understand. One minute you want me to stay away, but now you don't want me to hate you."
Mikiyu-Mi looked away from Q again. Her face had the look of pain she had not had too long ago. The wind was now lightly pushing her braids and the air started to smell like rain.
"I'm sure you have hurt someone so bad before that you tried to avoid them at all costs right?"
Q now realizing what was going on simply nodded. They both stayed silent for a little while. He didn't see but Mikiyu-Mi started to hold her chest. There isn't anything I can say to the Quincy before me. He is still very much the same but I doubt he will find forgiveness for me. Trembling Mikiyu-Mi cleared her throat.
"Ok, here we go Quincy. I'm casting the spell now. I invoke our pact, bring to me the memories of this lost soul. May you find your home in our offering! Fulfill the conditions set by our mana. Pact of Memories!"
Q's eyes began to feel like lead. Slowly he started to fade out of consciousness. The last thing he could hear before going under was the sound of Mikiyu-Mi's voice.
"Don't let ******** take you. I'll be… I… Quin…"
Everything went black. It was the perfect dark. Q could neither hear nor see anything. A small light appeared in the distance slowly coming closer. Little by little he began hearing things.
"Promise me you'll never leave me Quincy. I need your word!"
"I promise."
The voices ran through his Q's mind like a wildfire. What is this? His mind was flooded with foreign thoughts, and images presumably from his past.
"I don't want to be alone ever again Q!"
"Well if you put it like that, I guess you're stuck with me. If that's going to be the case, I give you special permission to call me Quincy."
His brain was reeling. The pain he felt in that moment was too immense. Why would I give someone my actual name? I've always hated that name but was too lazy to come up with a new one when I came to this world, so I just went by Q. I'm sure my brother in my home world would get a kick out of that. What is all this though?
Before he could finish the thought, he was interrupted by the feeling of breaking bones. Multiple voices were screeching and what felt like the weight of the world was pushing down on him. Each picture that flew through his mind solidified his fears. She was telling the truth. I definitely died. Oh fuck, I died. I died. I died. I died. I died.
His mind began going numb; he could barely hear cries for help in the distance. He began to feel himself falling through a void at breakneck speeds. Suddenly, he was floating over a field looking down at what appeared to be a slaughter. Hundreds of bodies were sprawled across the land turning the blades of grass red. They looked like warriors from Jasmine's Cradle. Their distinct holy armour and banners were a dead giveaway. Where the fuck is this? He heard the cry for help again. This time he was able to locate it. Mikiyu-Mi was bent over a lifeless body.
"Someone help him!"
That's…me. Terrified at the reality, Q tried to approach his corpse. Instead, an unseen force sent him flying backwards. Everything was spinning out of control. When it finally stopped he was running through a treeline approaching hundreds of soldiers circling a few people. Mikiyu-Mi was one of them. As he tried to fight his way through the masses, each of the people with Mikyu-Mimi began dying, one by one. He knew he wouldn't make it there in time. He sent multiple enemies flying with water magic. Wave upon wave of enemy fell to his spells and glaive. No matter how many foes slain, more came to take their place. His chest was so tight it felt like he was being constricted by a hydra. I have to save her.
Panicking, he lost control of his magic causing him to miss his next target. Before he knew it something hard hit the back of his head and everything went black. All the voices and images returned to his mind. This must be what chaos feels like. Even his thoughts were drowned out by the sheer volume of information going through his mind. He could feel his gate closing.
"Do you want power?" Booming, the voice cleared everything from his mind. Still struggling from the surge of stimulation he clumsily fumbled over his question.
"W-what did you say?" Q was kneeling in a field surrounded by dead bodies. Clenching what appeared to be a woman bloodied in his arms. His eyes widened as he looked down at a lifeless Mikiyu-Mi. I don't understand. His control slipped away as he watched the past play out before him.
"Do you seek power, human?" Grasping the lifeless body before him, his anger grew as he shouted back at the voice.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I couldn't save her!"
His voice cracked as tears rolled down his face. Nothing matters anymore. It should have been me. The broken Q sat there on his knees continuing to cradle the deceased Mikiyu-Mi. His gaze locked on her face. She still looks like an angel. His sanity kept slipping as his tears fell on her corpse. The unknown voice spoke again.
"You still can, for a price." The voice gave way to a massive figure cloaked in shadows. He couldn't make out any distinguishing features. Just by being near it was enough for the entire atmosphere to alter. Q was immediately forced into the ground. Unable to breathe properly he tried his best to respond.
"I'll pay anything! Just bring her back to me!" Q was no fool. In his homeworld making a deal with Kinshi was never wise. He knew that what appeared before him was far worse than a Kinshi. However, Q simply did not care. He only wanted one thing and that was for the love of his life to return to the living. If this entity could grant him that wish, he would do anything.
"Anything?" He could not see the monstrosity before him clearly, but he knew it was smiling at his misfortune. Merely waiting for Q to reaffirm his will.
"Anything… Just please save Miki!"
"Hmmm…" The figure took a moment before speaking. Q knew it would ask for something terrible, but he didn't care. No price was too steep to see her alive again.
"...I feel a kinship with you, human. Your greed knows no bounds. I've watched you struggle to obtain riches. I've seen you kill for what you desire. I doubt I am required to say more regarding your...achievements. Take a look around you human. These corpses are your doing. You are no paragon. Your hand has taken hundreds of lives. For what? A slim chance to protect the husk in your arms. Snuffing out life for the sake of someone you love is truly an act of greed."
Exhausted, Q's voice cracked as he screamed at the monster. "I don't care about anyone else! Everything has been taken from me twice now! Can you save her or not?"
"Of course I can. My name is ********, greed incarnate. An Aeon with untold power. With you I could..."
The titanic figure's voice faded into obscurity. Q's ears had a terrible ring to them, and as he opened his eyes the light blinded him. Hearing the rain pitter patter on something he tried to move his head but it was on something soft. Deciding not to move he looked back up. Above him was a familiar face with a soothing smile. She had been holding his head in her lap waiting for him to awaken. He couldn't help but feel a mix of familiar emotions upon seeing her eyes gazing back into his.
"Miki?"
Even though she was smiling a single tear fell from her left eye. She leaned down to whisper. "I've missed you Quincy."
***
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Thank you for reading this chapter of my Light Novel "Alldust: Chronos!" you can find the full version for purchase on Amazon by searching its name or Eon Tempest. I will upload chapters of my work from time to time but I'd appreciate you supporting my work with a review! Thank you!