264. When Angels Cry

264. When Angels Cry

“Those things? No one knows where they came from. But they have the power to create whatever you want. All 12 Bodies have miracles and technologies created by them, called the Pillars of the World. Arms are just much smaller versions. Things changed drastically in the city when a big chunk fell from the sky.” Elysia said as the Archivist flickered through pages to find this information but found nothing at all.

So instead, she jotted them down both on paper, and in mind.

Another was the meaning of ‘Elysia’. And the name of this world.

“We’ve just called it the City or the world. It doesn’t have a name. I’m sure it was erased at some point to keep things ambiguous. Detaching people from loving your home is one way to get them to ruin it… Elysia has no deeper meaning to it. I’m just me. Hmm… Kind of weak compared to the other Angels, but I’m at least close to you, so that’s all that matters! Even after 26 years since you found me, I’ve always, always been grateful.”

She clutched her heart as they approached the Pillar of the World, their surroundings steadily decaying as ruins of an ancient past emerged. At that moment, Elysia stopped in her tracks abruptly, her toes perfectly aligned as if pressed against an invisible barrier.

“Eh? Y-You’re not following? Is this part of the dream over?” The Archivist questioned, tugging Frost’s sleeves.

“Why can’t you come any closer?”

“There’s a certain 7 tailed Angel that’ll kill me if I do. It’s a compromise I made with her. Angels don’t tend to talk with you because she’d rather we never crossed paths to begin with. Something about me being a glutton, and probably eating something I shouldn’t.” She said jokingly, but therein also laid the truth.

“Angels. Demons. Faux Angels… no one’s allowed to set foot into here. Besides that Angel.”

“The Arbiter...” The Archivist uttered as Frost nodded in agreement before he approached Elysia.

They were of equal height, so it was somewhat surreal for him. But nevertheless, he asked Elysia his one final question.

“Are we lovers?” He asked casually, causing Jury’s eyes to lightening up like lanterns. It was clear that she was enthralled by the question, her hands trembling lightly, and her tail coiling around her leg with delight.

But it suddenly fizzled into solemn dejection.

“Not lovers. But close… I’m surprised you asked. Ha… hahaha… Urgh… I’m sorry. You just –” Elysia suddenly clutched onto her face, covering her eyes as Frost tried to reach out for her.

But his hand phased through her.

“Remind me… of when you didn’t have to fight so hard. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, _____. Everyone. I should never have come here. I wish I could just turn back time. Or just let things end the way they did. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry… I’m sorry.” She lamented, tears silently running down her wrists.

The image of Elysia Corrupted. She went through 7 distinct phases, each one becoming more and more distorted. Her hair became unkempt, her golden eyes had lost their luster. Her tail had become infested with black patches of fur, the tip festering like a wound infected by fungus, and her wings completely absent.

Her hair carried black streaks, like the reversal of how Frost grew white streaks after manifesting the One Thousand Eyed Bird. Frost attempted to embrace the awful image of Elysia. Even if it wasn’t tangible, he still wished to comfort this aberration of his memories.

“… I don’t know what ended up happening, but I’m sure you suffered more than anyone can imagine. Ely… Jury. One day, you’ll remember all of this. I hope you’ll be able to face it. At least then, you’ll have people by your side. Because here… I can tell that no one was for you.” Frost, upon wrapping his arms around the ghost, felt a certain ticking emit from her chest.

This was absolutely Jury.

And combined with the quote of the birds and the shell, this also meant that the voice he had been hearing with each subsequent State must have been hers. But was it an echo? A reverberation from the past or future, like Jury’s retrocausality? Or, was it from something else.

When the scenery changed, Elysia disappeared as they found themselves in a chute far larger than anything they had ever seen. A single catwalk made from creaky metal connected one side to the other with zero supporting structure.

It was one long, precarious walk.

Nothing existed either up or down. Darkness prevailed. But at the same time, Frost could not help but feel an eerie sense of familiarity as he mustered the courage to take the first step across the rickety bridge.

“If my memories are like a book, then this would be the next chapter, right?”

“M-Mhm.” The Archivist timidly followed, stiff and unable to peer down the chasm. “This place is under the Pillar of the World. Ruins?”

“Seems like it. Access is restricted here as well. No Angels allowed… That brings me to wonder how exactly they keep it guarded in the first place. Something tells me Elysia disobeyed her only rule.” Frost said as they stepped forth into this dark chapter of Frost’s memories. “… The Aberrations of Elysia. They might not be Aberrations of the world itself. But of Elysia –

– The past Jury.”