The sudden heat dissipated as soon as the sands of Echolon changed into secure, uneven levels of dolomite. No pain, no temperature, just the naked truth of the target's core in the realm of nothingness. The realm that nullified skills, leaving the bare universe as the playground.
It was comforting as ever. The soft fog latched onto his EXA, forming layers of clouds as far as the eye could see. No immediate presence was seen by his naked eye. What he had expected of a flaunting exo in the middle of the vast space was nowhere to be seen. The walk was unfeeling.
The realm was lulling him with the metronome drip of natural water. His claws were loose, his robe billowing gently. Even his tail was swaying contentedly.
This was his true calling. A space without time, without duties.
His exo reflected the shade of blue from the shaded sky of the void. The odd discrepancies didn't go unnoticed. A wall of corten lay beneath the fog. The familiar wall that now merged with the mountains of cold sand. With his ascended steps, the realm adapted to his will. What was a mountain of minerals, now carved a path to a sudden cave.
Lucaen was walking by the side, tracing the walls that covered his horizon. A subtle sharpening of his claws. The cave revealed a spacious, empty place with gypsum pillars supporting the cave's ceiling.
That was when his gaze rested on the rays of light that highlighted the crumbled statue. The foundation was in one piece, and so were the legs. The higher the statue goes, the more severe it is. Leaving only half of the wings intact, as the other remained as props beneath. While the head was unseen.
The statue itself resembled someone painfully similar.
Aurelius..
An ore shifted. Catching Lucaen's attention as it shifted deeper into the darkness, angling itself towards the crumbling exo. Isolated, out of anyone's way.
"Aury.."
Slowly, his gaze adjusted, revealing a bundle of metal wings. It reacted subtly, clutching his own feathers at the name.
Lucaen crouched down, trying to get a glimpse of him inside.
"Why?"
"Why did you choose this path?"
His growing wings shrank tighter, reacting to the question with his face hidden from facing the world at such a young age. His miniature talons dragged along the dolomite, leaving faint trails. He was primal. Connected to his exo on a deeper level as a means to survive.
He folded his wings away, not fully tucked, flared in a rather wary way.
"Luc, I am nothing."
Lucaen's body dropped. His joints readjusted real time the moment it buckled.
That voice, the exact voice that lulled me years ago.
He forced himself a step away. This space, this realm, is cruel. Can he long for the exo in front of him? This exact fragile little thing that saved him?
"I know."
"You regret everything, don't you?"
Lucaen flinched, his fists clenching and unclenching.
You, you have it wrong.
"—Had left me to die..."
If you had known my desires, would you have seen me as your brother?
"All of this wouldn't have happened."
"...Right?"
No,
That's not it, Aury.
"I didn't want you to know this side of me."
I want all of you.
"But hey, you used your skill." He scoffed.
"What can I do, wielder of Maat?" The small stature altered itself to what he knew him to be. Shaping himself to suit the mold of General Aurelius Everhart.
With a deliberate tilt of his head, Aurelius looked down on Lucaen.
"I hate you from the deepest of my existence, Luc." It was firm. A statement of absolute. As if it's the truth carved into his being.
Despite the foretelling, Lucaen's left arm shot forward, snatching Aurelius' synchronization port. You don't get to say that. His system flickered momentarily, restless. It doesn't feel good. It never felt good. His tail was coiling tightly around his own hind.
[Deception Detected]
Please... restrain yourself, Lucaen. There's nothing more than he wanted, other than being one with him. Merge with his rhythm where his solace is placed. He brought Aurelius' arm to his eye level, raising it in between them.
He has to sync back.
To me.
[Target's Rhythm Incompatible]
Aurelius' exo convulsed slightly from the failed attempt. "Why did you come to Echolon—"
"Who am I without you?" Lucaen confessed bitterly.
"If you wish to die. Can you, at once, think about me who relies on you?"
"What do you mean?" Aurelius brought his head low, looking at him directly.
Lucaen tightened the hold. His exo was thicker, a little too thick than the last time he had synced with Aurelius. "Why should I live when my reason wishes not to?"
If you wish me to beg...
I will, Aury.
Just give me a reason to make you see.
"Aury, it is not me who is blinded."
"I'm not an idiot, Luc." He deflected immediately.
"This is just a step to get the helminths killed, is it not?"
"You never say these things."
"So who are you?" Aurelius' right talons sought to prevent Lucaen's claws from digging into his synchronization port.
"Don't play a cruel joke on me, Lucaen."
"Are you saying what we had was all pretense?"
"Lucaen."
"All these years, you pretended?"
"You went along. For what?"
His wings were stiff. The alula jutted out sharply. "Was all of this... a lie?"
Lucaen let out a huff of annoyance, yet didn't pull his claws away. Not when he was getting himself used to this Enclavian exo.
"I wanted you to stay, hence I kept being your foil."
"Pathetic, I know."
"And I would do it again."
"You don't understand. What you mean to me, Aury."
"I couldn't let you go. Not when you synced with me after my judgment of our parents."
"Don't look at the other side."
"If you wish to retire, Tevar will always take you."
"I'll handle your leave, the paperwork."
"We can go live in the Theron's mansion like we used to."
Aurelius slowly untangled his grip, contemplating the vulnerability of the exo in front of him. "Is that so.." He angled his head to Lucaen's muzzle.
"You anchored me to this world." Lucaen breathed.
"Then, come with me." Aurelius challenged, watching for any slight hesitation.
"Choose me over Elysium."
He cocked his head away, his usual flippant attitude returning. "Not now, though."
"I've yet to tidy the place." He sighed, his matte exo seemingly replaced by the polished exterior he always had.
"There's no way that there's a better home than what the Theron could offer."
He searched Aurelius' face; a graze of mana intervention was felt between Aurelius' and his own. It was unmistakable, Aurelius was weaving their rhythms back. To Elysium.
[Target's Rhythm Incompatible]
He winced slightly as he held his own port. "Luc, check your rhythm."
"I can't pinpoint Elysium's rhythm in my Codex."
"It has to be some interference." He pressed, urging Lucaen's claws.
Lucaen glanced to his own, revealing his port to the fog.
[System Resyncing...]
[Synchronization Failed]
[Rhythm Renewal Null]
"This realm doesn't interfere with your life, correct?"
"Yes,"
"Source of rhythms won't be distorted, not in this realm."
Aurelius' wings slumped imperceptibly as he tried to justify his own doubts. "I'm sure nothing happened. Maybe because we're in Echolon."
[False Statement Detected]
"False." Lucaen turned to the natural light that remained as soothing as ever.
"There's no way."
"The rhythms are infinite. A reliable source, no?"
[False Statement Detected]
"It's false again."
"Don't tell me you're on a fixed desynchronization."
"You can't sync. You're an Enclavian powered." It was a stubborn acceptance from Lucaen's side.
Aurelius faced him, eyeing his reaction. Gauging his stability. "Lucaen."
"Don't take this lightly." He yanked Lucaen's robe to his chest.
[Synchronization Failed]
"If you're going to die, why bother saving me?!" Aurelius' talons were digging into his chest plate. He was cold here. Aurelius, the man he was, was rather cool to touch.
"Never mind, I'm sure we can fix it. We just need to go to the HQ, kill the helminths, and override the Optic, right?"
[False Statement Detected]
"Stop your weaving." Lucaen let out a low growl.
Shifting himself away to rid of Aurelius' threatening hold. "Are you not afraid of the infections from your failed attempts!"
"Lu—" Aurelius was shaken—the way he'd gripped him, his tone. It was obvious. A small part of Lucaen relished his anxiousness.
"Aury." Lucaen shook his head, letting his left arm go pliant by his side.
"Come back. That's all that matters."
"No, no, we don't have time for these. Let's—let's leave. Leave this realm."
"Come on, Lucaen."
"Lucaen. We have to go."