Embrace the Ether 48 If You Lie, You Lose

"Very well," Androma nodded as he followed beside Roch, the two of them traveling unimpeded toward the docking pad atop the tower, where a small yet intricately designed ship slowly lowered down, landing softly.

Roch walked past everyone with an uncaring expression glued onto his face, only slowing down once he crossed paths with Deus and Droh. He turned his head toward them as he exclaimed, "Hello again, child. Last time we met, I seemed to have mistaken you for Androma here… forgive me for that, you see Androma has perfected the transmogrification technique, allowing him to even replicate someone down to the soul."

Androma let out a chuckle, "It's not all powerful like you make it out to be… it's got quite the weakness to it since the energy I can replicate is just that… a replication. An illusion, basically."

"Indeed so," Roch returned his glance toward Deus as he went on, "When I first saw you, I felt a familiar power… and only the trusted leaders of Direfell or a clan master should've possessed that power, even fragmented such as your own."

Deus could only barely follow along as he listened to his reasoning. He remembered firmly that moment when Roch first saw him, drawing him in and even offering him a place amongst his subordinates. It was odd and unpredicted, that was for sure. All this time he didn't know why, though, but now it started to make sense.

Roch had mistaken him for Androma, and once he determined he wasn't, that only drew his interest even more so, as he possessed some sort of connection to the Mir.

"The offer still stands, just so you know…" Roch chortled out, "Well if you survive this next bit, that is."

"Next bit?" Deus repeated in question as he had been caught off guard.

"Indeed. I wasn't the only one to come here aboard my ship, I was simply the first to arrive. Speaking of, Androma, go and greet our guest, inform him that Orion has been dealt with and that the child he had been asking about is safely within my grasp."

Androma bowed as he paced off, showing respect toward Roch, a man who was both his mentor and his friend. Evelien and Reinout followed behind him, as they were afraid to be left alone with the military captain for too long. They felt like he'd be able to draw out every little dark secret they held, even more so than their master.

"Deus… and the little faun Droh, is it? You'll come with me as I debrief you. Especially you, Droh." Roch's glance turned hostile as he glared down upon the young faun, causing the confused Droh to shiver and shake, even more so than he had with Rol'an.

"You won't hurt him." A surprising voice stuttered out, almost as if it was afraid of even speaking. The source being Deus, as he stepped in between Roch and Droh, knowing he was just as vulnerable as the little faun, but acting regardless.

"Oh? I won't?" The captain snickered as his head tilted to the side to match Deus's glare. "Don't worry about him, I have no interest in a broken toy. I just need to know what he knows, and if he simply tells me, that'll be the end of it."

"I see," Deus exhaled as the tension sank away. He turned to face Droh as he explained, "Droh, go with him and tell him what you told me… about you and Roland. If you're honest, you'll be fine. I'll be waiting for you to come back to me, so I won't let them leave without you."

"Ri-right…" Droh choked out as he put his faith in Deus.

It was fitting that he named Deus as such, as that name represents the strongest source of power that exists. A foundation for Droh to stand on, to be lifted up and protected. A guardian, one which his own father had previously endeavored to find, to no avail.

"You," Roch pointed toward a group of soldiers who stood off to the side, "Take him to an interrogation room but don't mistreat him. I'll be joining him soon. I have several questions for him, but he's not a prisoner."

Roch looked at Deus with a curled smile, "There, see? Is that enough for you, killer?"

All Deus could do was cautiously comply, as he knew he held no real power in this discussion. Roch had given him a favor, but if he pushed too far it wouldn't end well for anyone involved.

"Droh, go." Deus beckoned him away as he chanced a glance at the military captain who watched everything unfold. The soldiers led Droh away and down through one of the hallways, leaving everyone's line of sight.

"Now it's our turn," Roch stated suddenly as he twisted his head to face the landed ship. In a hushed tone, he advised, "I'm warning you now, kid. You may be able to fool around with me, but don't even think of negotiating with that person."

"That person?" Deus murmured out as he waited for Roch to continue.

"The person who accompanied me aboard my ship… the old monster who woke up from some damp laboratory to come here. Be warned, he's come for one person. You."

"Me?" Deus stammered out, "Why me? I… I haven't done anything to attract that sort of attention."

"Did you seriously just lie to me, and so wildly and carelessly? I stood behind you when that woman Evelien pushed you into talking… I heard you talking about your little 'hypothetical' from before, and I've seen the reports. A burst of Mir was unleashed within Direfell a few days prior, and all my men found was a contorted corpse… barely even human anymore."

Hearing this, Deus could only hold his breath as a terrifying chill clouded his everything, causing him to shiver. "I…"

"No, don't talk… he can hear you. I'm simply warning you… don't lie to him, unless you want to simply stop existing. He's such an old beast that even my Lord refers to him respectfully, allowing him free rein of this operation."

Roch exhaled as he turned toward Deus, lightly punching at his chest to shake him up. "Alright, look. You're not as completely screwed as you think… truth be told, I fully believe you will benefit from all of this, just don't lie. He's going to take you to a separate room, like that Droh fellow from before, and question you."

"I don't know what he'll ask, but I can assure you… he knows more than you think. He probably already knows the answer, he's just waiting for you to confirm everything. If you lie, you lose."

Roch twitched as his eyes sat closed, seemingly meditating.

Almost an entire minute past before his eyes burst open again, his face stern and collected. "Well kid, it seems he'll see you now. Follow me."

Roch led him down a hallway as they both entered a different interrogation room from Droh. The room was plain and simple, with only a single metal table and two rustic steel chairs, one at each side.

The walls were smooth and barren, and only a single heavy door was available for an exit.

The only thing of concern that sat in the room was a single cloaked figure, having already taken one of the chairs as a seat. The back of his black robe was all that Deus could see as his appearance was hidden from view.

The man was relatively small, much more so than Deus had been expecting. Standing, he'd most likely only make it up to five and a half feet in height, yet even Roch lowered his head as he guided Deus to his own seat.

A chilled voice spoke out, "Thank you, mister military captain, for your cooperation. This won't take long, so please, enjoy yourself while you wait."

"Of course," Roch replied, "I have a faun to question next door, so I'll be busy with gathering intel. Remember what I told you, Deus." That was the last thing Roch said to him as he left, slowly pulling the heavy metal door shut, leaving only those two remaining within the small dark room.

Several seconds past in silence as Deus could hear his own heart beating. Suddenly, a voice spoke out, shattering the silence.

"What did it feel like to kill someone using your Mir? Explain it to me." This voice was ragged and cold, barely any more than a whisper. However, it was the most terrifying question Deus had ever heard, as he fully understood how overwhelmed and outclassed he was. Every little secret, he felt this cloaked elder had seen through it all.

Chapter end