A Song of Wisdom: Interlude: The Speaker of the Dead

A Song of Wisdom: Interlude: The Speaker of the Dead

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Commissioned by Binge Reader.

Word Count: 2000

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A meeting I long expected finally arrived.

“There’s a difference between stupidity and cowardice, Sheridan Creighton. You should’ve run away instead of staying where I could find you.” The young woman that stood before me was not clad in the typical uniform she chose to wear. Instead, she was garbed in armored robes of pure white and her skin was covered in Woad tattoos. In the dim light of my office, the Reincarnation of Odin cast a light that hung upon her like a mantle of flame. “If you think I can be swayed with words at this moment, you’re only half right. You might be able to convince me to keep your organization somewhat intact instead of simply tearing it apart for the wolves to feast on.”

The situation was simple.

I’d angered a god that managed to defeat an Aspect by using someone that she cared for as a weapon. It was true that he was uninjured by the ordeal, and had fought to avenge his own friend, but that mattered very little. If I had not given him the means to located Ouroboros, if I had not spoken to him and urged him to fight against them, those that remain of Ouroboros would not know of him, see him as their primary foe, and, most importantly, put him in greater danger than he used to be before I acted.

I drew the ire of a god by putting in danger someone she cared for.

Retribution was to be expected.

“How brave and noble for a man who’d use children as living weapons. You have my eternal, everlasting respect, Sheridan Creighton.” One moment the Reincarnation of Odin stood before the door and the next she sat before me. Gungnir stayed aloft by her side. The spear-staff was a Divine weapon that was centuries old. It was different from its last recorded instance. Given Odin’s talents, it was likely deadlier and more powerful by whole orders of magnitude. “Is that what you’d hoped I say? Is that what you wanted to hear? Well, eat shit, impudent brat. You heard what I said. You get the chance to explain and if I like what I hear you get to keep a crippled version of your organization intact, while you and your family stay happy and whole.”

I have placated anger before, but it was the sort that was spontaneous and impulsive. What I confronted now was a simmering, quiet rage that left the mind whole and intact. That fact, combined with all her preparations, told me that this was no situation from which I could salvage. It was entirely the result of my lack of self-control around Li Song when Valerie had been hurt.

“It’s easy isn’t it? Nothing complex. You just have to convince someone less powerful and mighty than an Aspect, but with a fair amount of experience and caution.” The words lacked any profanity, but they were filled with spite nonetheless. Miyakuro Kita sat leaned upon her right prosthetic and left leg. A false smiled played upon her lips. It was filled with malice. “It should be easy for you, Sheridan Creighton. You’ve convinced so many others already, right? The whole world is yours to change as you wish. All you have to do is talk and explain yourself. You’ve never failed when it comes to talking, right?”

The Eye of Wisdom was not aglow within the Reincarnation of Odin’s skull, but I knew better than to think that it was not in play. CORE’s protections against such a powerful, Divine power were limited. A handful of individuals could be outfitted in such a manner and in combat it could be broken apart by mere fluctuations of power of Ultimate Class beings, if not properly stored away. I was not equipped with such protections, since I relied on staying afar from her to keep my secrets, but here I was bare for her to dissect as she wished.

“It’s not easy is it? Dealing with someone more powerful than you, skilled than you, and who you’ve been told to respect? Someone fucking with your head in full regalia while someone close to you has been harmed or threatened?” The parallels were obstinate and crude, but they reached me nonetheless. Li Song, who’d been taught by my daughter after his rescue, had been in a situation approximate to my own. Could I not call upon the resources and reputation that made me equal to a god… and use it as it was now when overcome by impulse? “You…you humans always try to reach for the stars while your asses are still stuck in the mud. Just a little power and all your rules stop applying to yourselves.”

Her eye met mine and I wondered if thinking nothing would do me any good.

“You’ve done everything Ouroboros set out to do, but to your benefit. Everything you’ve done is merely apply what evils you’ve found to your benefit, so that it’s good.” Each word that leaves her is filled with hatred and prejudice. I know that she sees me only in the darkest light. However, could I deny the words that leave her mouth, especially as, with a gesture, she calls upon images familiar to me? “You use Aspects by influencing their hearts and minds. You have child soldiers created in facilities you can deny exist. You let wars and conflict continue so that your own goals can be achieved.”

Li Song came into view, then Vorpal, and finally the Chimera. I could only deny the last. CORE could not defeat the Chimera. Uniting humanity was a necessary step to survival and saving as many lives.

No sooner did those thoughts occur to me did I realize that I’d fallen into a trap of my own making.

“That’s true. That’s very true. Then, how about Li Song? Was humanity’s survival integral to what you did to him? Were the soldiers made by Vorpal needed or a means to not rely upon the Fallen?” 

Would she have done differently?

The words left my mouth and I realized what I’d ignored willingly.

“No, but I’m a god. I am the Reincarnation of Odin. The sort of being you’re supposed to protect against… and you’d do as I do to protect what you hold dear.” Miyakuro Kita peered at me with one eye aflame with power, but I could only look upon the still eye that sat in her other socket and her missing limbs. “There comes a point, Sheridan Creighton, where humanity cannot reach the heights of its foes without becoming what it fights. Those who you fight are willing to use every end and every method for the sake of power… and you using them for the sake of protecting others does not make the same wrongs you do in their stead right.”

Then, what would she have humanity do? When there there were so many opponents, so many dangers, and threats that could crush all of it underfoot? What we could do without compromise, what we could do justly… it was going to get people killed. 

“So what?” The words were crass and utterly lacking in care. Very nearly, my patience broke and I almost attacked. Humanity was worth saving. So many died and many were dying still. Was Vorpal’s early methods wrong? Was urging Li Song to fight against Ouroboros wrong? Yes, but they still saved lives. “Those lives were bought with those of children and by my Song’s future suffering. Do you think the humanity you’ve protected and looked after will thank you for sacrificing those people for them? Do you think the deaths and suffering of strangers is worth it for your humanity and your children, Sheridan Creighton?”

Before I could even think about answering, the door burst open to admit my guards in full regalia.

But, Miyakuro Kita had already left.

Her earlier threat was empty.

But, as I could barely answer any question sent my way or even force myself to sit, she achieved her true aim.

I could hardly stand to consider myself acceptable.

Let alone CORE.

…

A Song of Wisdom: Homecoming.

…

You idly rub at your head, where Miyakuro had thrown her prosthetic at you, when you’d accidentally walked in on her as she changed 

“You can at least pretend to regret it, pervert!” Mhmm, yes. It’s difficult to act regretful of the moment, especially as Miyakuro’s blush and scowl hasn’t faded in the slightest since then. The very tips of her ears are red and she’d make for quite a cute reindeer with her nose. “I regret saving your life, you bastard. I should’ve left you on the beach to die. It’s a wonder how you remember to breathe, since so much of your brain is between your legs!”

You hum as you continue to help her clean up whatever she’s painted on herself for her latest experiment. Clad only in scant, tight female sportswear, you do your best to deftly rid her of her self-enchantments while keeping your hands and mind on the straight and narrow.

“D-do a better job or I’ll kick you out of my h-house!” Miyakuro is making your efforts very challenging by being cute, lithe, and pleasantly squishy all at once. It’s really impossible, but you make the effort. You inquire exactly what she’s asking you to do better at. Stop being perverse or clean her of her latest experiment. “Both! Idiot! Both! Pervert! Both! Perverse idiot!”

You laugh lightly before holding her close to you. Miyakuro is quite light. She would be even without her prosthetics. The lack thereof merely makes it more clear to you how petite she is. The Reincarnation of Odin can’t be this cute and small!

“You’re sick, Li! Amputation and lolis!? Get out of my house you damn degenerate!” Miyakuro struggles lamely within your grasp. She is weak and cannot escape you no matter how much she tries. Why… you can go as far as putting your chin on her cute head while you hold her against you and set her upon your lap! “I’m not going to be degraded into your sick fetish, you b-bastard! L-let go of me already!”

You laugh while holding your rescuer in your arms. If you were truly forcing her to do this, she’d teleport you into the atmosphere. Instead all your foul-mouthed housemate does is struggle in a futile manner in your arms. The truth of the matter is that she simply can’t allow herself to be held close without resisting due to her pride. 

But, that merely makes her cuter!

The gap moe is real!

Wait, can it be gap moe if she’s always cute!

“Take that back! Take it back this instant! I’m definitely not cute all the time, you bastard!” Miyakuro makes a claim, but effortlessly destroys it with her own hands. You are unconvinced. “I’m the Reincarnation of Odin! I at least have a a portion of my existence being not cute!”

Ah, but so because she used to be gruff and grumpy all the time before, the reserves of “moe” have been stored up and refined over time.

“I’m a vintage reserve of cuteness!? What the fuck!?”

You laugh as she turns an even deeper shade of red at your casual acceptance of her past and her current self.

You hold Miyakuro closer in your arms, her smooth back against your shirt, so that you feel her heartbeat. She is warm in a way that only she can be warm and the way her heart races within your chest is a sensation that you never tire of feeling against your own skin.

You’re sure that she’s partial to your own heartbeat too.

“Blergh. Spare me the romance. I only like you for your body and the moment someone better comes along I’m throwing you to the curb!” Miyakuro exclaims loudly, but nestles closer to you and eradicates the littlest of distance left between you and herself. “So, Li Song, you should be thankful I care about you so much now! Y-you don’t know when I’ll toss you away in the future!”

Confidently, you say that she’ll only throw you away if she thinks it’s better for you to be away from her.

And, you state with equal certainty, you’ll never be better without her.

Only less.

“...Li…”

That silences Miyakuro decisively… enough for you to know that she’s done something that you would disapprove of quite a fair bit.

But, you can wait after she’s paid in advance for forgiveness.

“P-pervert!”

You lightly laugh, tilt up her chin, and silence her lips with your own.

That was a lie.

You’re immeasurably in her debt for everything she’s done for you.

Whether you know it or not.