This Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between the undersigned parties:

  Party A: Golgheim Vast, hereinafter referred to as the "Protector,"

  Party B: Tokyo Twice, hereinafter referred to as the "Subject."

  WHEREAS, the Protector acknowledges the importance of safeguarding the "Path" of the Subject, referred to as "Tokyo Twice's Path," which represents a specific course, area, or undertaking associated with the Subject’s interests, or activities, but does not represent the Subject’s well being;

  WHEREAS, the Protector agrees to uphold the preservation, defense, and protection of said Path;

  …

  [Blackmail] – Dissemination of memoranda on coffee production capability in the Aris subterranean ecosystem

  [Blackmail] – Dissemination of memoranda on the historical records of the 15-seat council of Aris

  *Karma clause* [Uninterrupted Recourse] – As the rights of the Subject have been sold to Margaret Twice of [Pendulum Associates], the system will not interfere in a proportionate response if [Pendulum Associates] seeks renumeration for failed compliance.

  [Blackmail] – Dissemination of memoranda on strategic desynchronization of system protocols

  …

  – Elara Twice, Contract with Golgheim Vast

  Chapter 43 – Eris is Undead

  Toki knelt on the cliffside. The city below her lay in ruins – it had only been days. As she watched, a piece of burnt paper drifted by, reminding her of the aeso that so often danced in the sunlight in her pondside room.

  "Obie," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I don't know how to break this cage. I don't know if I can."

  Her eyes stung. Images of her friends and younger siblings flashed through her mind, their faces now lost to the chaos. Toki's hand clenched into a fist, her nails digging into her palm. A building below groaned, its foundation giving way. Toki barely flinched as it collapsed, sending up a plume of dust and debris.

  "How did it come to this?" she asked the empty air. "One minute I'm telling stories to the Twice kids, the next..." She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

  A hysterical laugh bubbled up from her chest, quickly turning into a choked sob. Toki hugged herself tightly.

  "Oh, Obie," she whispered. " What am I supposed to do now?"

  Toki's gaze fell upon the dragon core, its yellow crystalline surface glinting dully in the fading light. With trembling hands, she picked it up, feeling its weight - both physical and metaphorical - in her palms.

  "If I only have one choice," she murmured, her thoughts drifting to Edgar's vibrant feathers and nervous smile, "I'll choose to save Edgar, right? The world is already gone, and everything I care about..."

  Her voice trailed off as she considered the implications. Saving Edgar would make her different from Golgheim… "But the survivors in the dragon mountain, the monkeys," Toki whispered, her brow furrowing. "Those ridiculous, infuriating creatures. Would it really be so easy to abandon them?"

  She closed her eyes, torn.

  A sudden noise behind her shattered her gloom. Without thinking, Toki spun around, pocketing the dragon core. She simultaneously unleashed [Lessons]. The dark, ethereal appendage shot out from the ground.

  The shadow claw connected with its target, and a grunt of pain echoed through the air. Toki's eyes widened as she recognized the figure stumbling backward.

  "Alaric?" she gasped, her shadow claw dissipating as quickly as it had appeared. She quickly wiped away her tears.

  Her uncle hit the ground with a thud, his usually impeccable attire now covered in soot and debris. He stared at her, a mixture of surprise and admiration in his eyes.

  "Toki," he wheezed, struggling to catch his breath. "I... I didn't know you could do that."

  Toki's initial shock gave way to relief, then suspicion. She took a step back, edging closer to the cliff, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "What are you doing here?"

  Alaric pushed himself up, wincing slightly. "The worst has happened, Toki. The Twice estate... it's gone… Oh gods, we feared the worst when we couldn't find you. I've been searching ever since."

  “Are they… all…?”

  “No, some are safe in the forest, others relocated with the rest of the people.”

  A bitter laugh escaped Toki's lips. " I left because I couldn't trust any of you. Why should I trust you now?"

  Her uncle's face fell, a flicker of hurt crossing his features. "Tokyo, please. I know we've never been close, but-" Alaric held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I've been working with… worked with Elara. There's information I need to give you. You disappeared before I could relay it."

  Toki's eyebrows shot up at the mention of Elara's name. She watched as Alaric's gaze darted around, taking in the destruction surrounding what used to be Golgheim's estate.

  "What happened here?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

  Toki swallowed hard, the memory of her argument with Golgheim still fresh and painful. "Golgheim and I... we had a disagreement," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I doubt I'll see him again. Allie Ring’s on its own now."

  As the words left her mouth, Toki felt the weight of them settle on her shoulders. She was truly alone now, wasn't she? Family in the wind, no mentor, just her and the choices that lay ahead. The dragon core in her pocket seemed to pulse.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Alaric's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing as he processed Toki's words. "You were unable to get him to submit," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

  Toki's head snapped up, her eyes widening. Those words... they echoed Elara's letter with eerie precision. A chill ran down her spine, and she found herself taking an involuntary step forward.

  "How did you-" she began, but Alaric cut her off with a sharp gesture.

  "We need to talk," he said, his voice low and urgent. "In private, so the system can't listen. You need to use your authority, Tokyo."

  She was barely holding herself together, but curiosity and a desperate need for answers overrode her hesitation.

  "Fine," she said, her voice cracking slightly. Toki brought out her flame and chanted, “Within this flame, we hide the heart of truth, so no other flame shall wander," she continued, her voice steadier. "Beneath this cloak of pretense, let each word spoken here illuminate our path.”

  Alaric glanced around once more before sitting down on a chunk of displaced earth. He motioned for Toki to join him, and after a moment's hesitation, she did.

  "The Twice clan," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "most of them are hidden deep inside the planet…” He waited to gauge her reaction. “We're all just pawns, Toki. You, me, even Elara. Trapped in this cage of a planet for something our ancestors decided.”

  “So they are down there in Bastion, huh.”

  “So you knew of Mabu’Aris? Elara... she wanted nothing to do with whatever is going on down there. She just wanted to find your mother. Many of us wanted to leave this place, but the planet's… Golgheim’s restrictions wouldn't allow us to leave. Tell me, are you aware of the dealings of the primes?"

  A humorless laugh escaped Toki's lips. "I'm aware. I've got two votes now. I'm the prime speaker." The words tasted bitter on her tongue.

  Her uncle was shocked, but then a look of pity crossed his face. "Well it's meaningless, Toki. This is what Elara ensured I warn you about. When Bastion sank, the council split. Those votes you hold? They're just a carefully crafted illusion. How Elara learned of this, I have no clue. She just said that they are watching." He paused before continuing. “She said that there were ten more votes hidden underground… I really do wonder ho—"

  As Alaric continued to hypothesize about the hidden factions, the true powers behind Bastion, Toki felt her world tilting on its axis once more. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile this new information with everything she thought she knew. The missing council votes I saw earlier. Is that why we can’t start a world trial? But then why does Golgheim kill off the primes?

  "So, what?" she finally interrupted, her voice tinged with desperation. "We're all just puppets to the hidden Twice family underground?"

  Alaric sighed, his gaze drifting to the destruction around them. "I doubt it is just Twice. Even Golgheim wouldn’t have been able to tell you the details," he said softly, "he couldn’t even protect Elara. Her gut was uncanny - she counted on the hidden council forcing his hand."

  “Counted on it? Why?”

  “For us. For you. For a chance to reunite you with your mother. To make up for being unable to save Oberon. Too many reasons to count.”

  “For the contract she made?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Alaric, do you know what is in the contract?”

  “No. That, she wouldn’t tell even Copper or Eris.”

  Toki's hand unconsciously moved to her pocket, feeling the weight of the dragon core. She thought of Golgheim, of Elara, of all the choices that had led her to this moment. Is this what the contract was for? No. There has to be more to it.

  Toki's eyes narrowed, "Why didn't you just tell me all this before? " Alaric shook his head, his rigid posture softening slightly. "I... I didn’t know before, Toki. There are secrets even I wasn’t privy to… until the end. The biggest secret of all might be why we keep so many in the first place."

  A bitter chuckle escaped Toki's lips. Toki recalled her flame and was met with an urgent message.

  Interesting. Toki paused for a second to think it over. Chad’s crew is still the best shot at finding answers down below. I just can’t let them know I have no leverage now. She approved the envoy admission request.

  Her uncle's brow furrowed, concern etching lines into his face. "I was worried sick when I lost sight of you at The Forgeworks. I was glad to see you were okay the morning after."

  "Okay?" Toki echoed, gesturing at the devastation around them. "I'm not sure that word applies to anyone right now." She paused, a thought striking her like lightning. "The Forgeworks feels like a lifetime ago." Her voice dropped, heavy with dread. "Alaric, what happened to Alabaster Ring?"

  Alaric's gaze drifted back to the destruction sprawling before them, his eyes glazing over with a haunted look. Toki felt her stomach twist, bracing for the worst.

  "Eris is dead," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

  The words hung in the air. “I know.”

  "Elder Marrow and Elder Pamela," Alaric continued, a hint of frustration creeping into his tone, "they're traditionalists, siding with the Twice faction in Bastion. They always stood against us, believe we're doing our duty on the surface, no matter the cost. They don't even know the full extent of the secrets, yet their conviction is unshakeable."

  “They killed her?”

  Alaric's jaw clenched. "Not quite. Elder Copper, Elara’s ally... he killed Eris. My mother. She no longer had Elara's protection, and..." He trailed off, his rigid posture crumbling slightly. "She had done terrible things, Toki. All in the name of creating a future. Only Elara prevented Copper from acting. They all wanted to break free of this planet, but mother’s methods... they… strayed too far. The damn dynasty."

  The dynasty? Toki felt a pang of sympathy and suddenly regret. "I'm sorry, Alaric. I know Eris meant a lot to you."

  She reached out, hesitating for a moment before placing a hand on his arm. The gesture felt awkward, but sincere. As she watched her uncle struggle with his grief, Toki reflected on her own and couldn't help but wonder how many more losses they would all have to endure before this nightmare ended.

  Toki trembled, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked, "If I had stayed there... would it have mattered?"

  Alaric shook his head, his expression softening as he looked at his niece. "Silly girl, Eris unleashed an undead invasion on her death. She’s a lich now…. And she’s responsible for that. Not you." He pointed at the city, then turned to her, studying her face. "I suspect you've gone through quite an ordeal yourself."

  "An ordeal," she repeated, tasting the bitter irony on her tongue. A humorless chuckle escaped her lips. "You could say that." She lifted her eyes to meet Alaric's, a sardonic smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Did you know that the universe has a twisted sense of humor? It does. It's the kind that makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time until you're not sure which one you're doing anymore."

  Alaric's brow furrowed, his rigid demeanor softening further. "Toki, what happened?"

  She closed her eyes, memories of the past few days flashing behind her eyelids like a macabre slideshow. The weight of all she had learned, all she had lost, pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She let it out. She told her uncle the entire story.

  Upon hearing the tale, Alaric didn’t know how to respond. He simply reached out, hesitating before placing a hand on her shoulder. The touch was awkward as well but comforting in its own way. "I'm sorry, Toki. I wish... I wish things had been different.

  Toki looked up towards the giant Amithus and noticed two faint dots slowly getting bigger.