Ethereal Paradigm 13 Phantom Deity

-Charles Hart

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"Let's take this someplace else."

Celes having said that, I found myself in a dire and baffling scenario whilst sauntering from stairs to stairs towards an ambient rooftop, where love stories in most entertainment series begin. Yet, the atmosphere of this one, however, spelled a different type of beginning, and I am certain that I am not gonna like it.

The moment we arrived, she then placed her paper bag-wrapped food in one of the benches.

"You're not gonna eat?" I asked.

"I will, after I confirm something." hehe, of course. Then out of the initiative, I sat on the bench while Celes was acting rather defensive a meter or two away.

"So what are we talking about again?"

"Proceeding to the main point. Lacrimosa. You're her Herrscher aren't you?"

Yeah, this is what we were talking about. Truth be told, the first moment, Celes mentioned Lacrimosa's name, confusion mingled in my insides and yet I felt the need to be composed and to stay calm rather than to reveal superficial parts of me, even now.

"Ahhh. What? Lacrimosa? Is that supposed to be a video game character?... And Herrscher? Is that supposed to be rank or something?" I sarcastically asked sitting on the bench with a composure like that of a dead fish.

"Hmmm. That insignia in your right hand? That's the symbol of your contract with her am I correct?" She instantly nullified my sarcasm.

"Insignia?" I get the feeling that she is about the clock-like tattoo in my right hand, but why give it a very austere sobriquet?

More importantly, how? I don't recall showing this to anyone and it is impossible for anyone to coincidentally see as I had covered it with a wrist band blending flawlessly with my uniform, and why does she have knowledge of a contract between me and that Goddess?

Wait, now that I remember it, Lacrimosa spoke of the need to stay stealthy from these "others" being the reason why she had to weaken her powers a bit. Is there something that the talkative goddess is hiding from me?

Calm down. First, I need to give her a proper answer without giving further strife.

"It's just a wrist band. You just need to get your eyes checked, and even if I did have one, It should only be for my appreciation for art, nothing more and less."

"Oh, doesn't that make you more suspicious? Why would you even need a wrist band worn under your long sleeve uniform? There's no use protecting that part from a little bit of sunray. "

As Celes bombarded me with questions in which some I have no answer, I feel like I am being drawn to bottomless quicksand without any means of escape or diversion. This has gotten troublesome that it's becoming a pain.

"Hey look, I don't know what you're talking about. Period." I then got up from the bench and turned around to walk away and to stop my further submersion on the quicksand of questions, but was stopped...

"Still will deny it. You leave me no choice then? "she replied with a very serious expression in her face.

I was a little oblivious as to what was happening and as the questions began to bother me, even more, there was nothing that I could hear except for the thumping of my heart as it drowned to the feeling of anticipation of what happens next. Yet, something bought me back to my natural senses triggered by this unnatural turn of event, as she began to take off her outer upper uniform undoing the buttons one by one leaving this white almost see-through polo shirt. Well, it's a demented one for a plot twist.

"Hey, where's your dignity? I might fantasize about this later you know that. It's an instinct for us boys"

"What? More like instincts of a perverted rascal!", she replied as she tossed her recently worn uniform away. I can feel the surprise she felt as I began to say those things that only retards can spout while I was acting mature, gentle and approachable prior. Not gonna lie though, she was somewhat cuter than I expected. She was flustered and her cheeks were going all pink in color.

"Well, Just know that never in a million years would I cover my eyes from sight like this", like an expert rascal whose thoughts have been nothing more but profiles of perversion, I added.

It's a joke. Why would I be interested to see her in her inner uniform? It may be a bit late but I would like to remind that I have high standards given how that goddess implanted to me this image of surreal perfection.

Suddenly, my hand began to ache, at the part where the symbol of the contract was placed. It was reacting to something giving me this burning sensation and severe pain, that I had no knowledge of the possibility, but one thing is sure, that this girl taking off her uniform has something to do about it.

Celes, as she tied her long jet-black hair with a rubber band she had in one of her pockets slowly showed this large crimson tattoo at the basal part of her neck which is in the shape of a lotus flower. It did not surprise me why she had a tattoo, but what strikes me is that the design of the tattoo is pretty much like mine as if it is in the same theme induced by the same artist, and why is the pain gradually getting worse as the tattoo is getting clearer insight?

As the shape of the lotus symbol became clearer, the burning sensation in my arms began to be greater. Sweat and an ill expression ran through my face and it was only a matter of seconds before I will probably lose my calm composure.

"SO YOU ARE ONE OF THEM," she said, as it was becoming more palpable that I am in a state of pang.

"What? Them?" Celes yet again added to my subsisting myriad of questions in the queue.

"Don't act clueless, Jaiden, the moment I first took a glimpse of you at that classroom I knew there was many that you are hiding and that, you underestimated me"

"G-ghh, what are you pertaining to?"

"Oh cease the despicable response. Acting all innocent. The moment your insignia reacted with mine as I showed it, you began to feel this intense burn am I right? That suggests nothing more but that you are an enemy "

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, no use speaking with you, an enemy is an enemy and must be obliterated at all cost"

Having said that, with me in front clueless, she closed her eyes and made hand gestures as if she was praying and a dark-purple atmosphere began to surround us with an intent to kill me. The lotus symbol at her neck began to glow in lilac and then the wind became vividly active and dark clouds began to hover above us

"Donne naissance à une étoile dansante à travers moi comme le chaos" she chanted and then appeared the unexpected.

Something that eastern animation call as "magical circle", although it was somewhat triangular made its appearance in Celes' side, and from there gushed forth a sword, silver in color and was shining in its might. Celes took hold of the sword and pointed at me.

"French? Isn't she German?" No, what's more, concerning right now is what is she doing? How? How can something like this even be possible! The chanting paradigm, Lacrimosa also did the same when summoning the flame spirit "Ignitress" years back. As much as I knew my, only deities have this kind of power. No wait, the goddess herself did not mention anything about whether a human with powers would be implausible. Lacrimosa, there's something that you're not telling me, I'm sure of that now...

" From the void you are, and to the void, you shall return. Aetherial lumina!" Celes loudly conveyed.

And then, a great purple light emanated from the silver sword enveloped me whole.

"Am I gonna die?"As the light continued to envelop me, I can start to feel like I'm being melted away, like I'm slowly turning into thin air that will soon cease to exist.

"No, not yet." I can't let my life end this vile...It is not like I wanted to live more or anything, I just want my death to be somewhat grandeur, and to let myself turn to sub-atomic smithereens by this scorching light opposes the path that I wish to take.

I then remembered how Lacrimosa said, I can call her anytime from her realm if EVER I got myself into trouble and this is certainly a pinch. Wait, did she expect something like this would eventually happen?

I know there was one thing I know I could do. Fend off the extraordinary with the extravagant.

"Lacrimosa"

Without further thoughts, I called upon her name. Then it was, that I felt her presence immediately and the contract's symbol, which Celes pointed to as the "Insignia" in my hand, began to burst forth this flame-like darkness which was nostalgic as years already came and go from the first time I encountered something in its likeness.

From the darkness formed a gigantic gate adorned in gold and was symmetrical and rather obscure in design. The gate opened, and then Lacrimosa, whose eyes were gleaming in bright onyx and whose ebony wings were displayed elegantly made her quit none-ubiquitous entrance with an array of sable feathers as if it was of a raven's, falling in a myriad demeanor.

"Troubled now on the first day aren't you? My Monochrome? ...You're quite the delinquent"

"What happened to give limits of power utilization?. Taking that aside, I know you're hiding something from me."

"My my. I don't recall saying that I'm not hiding something from you. Besides, I'm not under an honesty treaty or whatsoever."

"Hmmm."

"Well, first of all, I surely can't let an essential element in my canvas die", she then snapped her fingers and split the violet light that has been scorching me in both sides using the darkness that had been gushing forth from the named insignia. It was not split it would be more fit to say that the flame-like plague started to swallow the light. And then there's this large explosion in both black and mauve from the collision of opposing powers and there was thick mist everywhere.

The moment the environment cleared, there Celes was, and standing next to her was a mysterious figure, a tall man in a black suit and had a fancy mask on that's for certain occasions of the nobles of old. From my perspective, he was like the main actor in Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera who just escaped from the theaters except that his mask is even more heinous and elegant. Next to her is Celes, like Christine Daae, except she had a sword and currently fits her title of "Prima Donna". Still, that man, I know something's off from him...I mean, the majority is just not right here.

"You finally showed yourself, goddess of disambiguation," Celes said while gallantly holding the "some-sort of the magical sword".
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"Arara! Pardon. that our first meeting would be like this "Miss I-dunno-who-you-are", but please do settle down. " Lacrimosa said with her usual tone that if I were to describe, whimsical yet elegant (simply put, a carbon copy of Luvisan's from the Fate series). Still, why use "ara ara"? Is she somewhat a hikikomori anime-loving goddess?

She then casually descended, as her wings were slowly metamorphosing to a black robe that perfectly matched with her unblemished white, and godly suite.

"How are you doing there Deus Ex ?" Lacrimosa faced the mysterious man standing right of Celes.

"Deus ex? " I asked.

"Yeah, He's a deity who had his title obtained by destroying the strongholds of Tartarus by a one-man show, whilst hiding his true appearance somewhere safe - in that, he was called "Deus Ex Machin The God in a Machine" who is called by the majority as the Phantom Deity, also the guardian of the holy relic "Trancy ". Cool isn't he?" The goddess replied.

Huh? Holy relic? Is that supposed to be the sword that Celes is holding? And wait...That man is a deity? Why is she with Celes?

"I never thought you would go to such extent there Deus! Giving of a sacred relic that you are only designated to guard. " Lacrimosa added.

"Hmmm. It's quite remarkable how you remember that much about me, who you once called as an underpaid museum security guard. Indeed, it had been a long time Lacrimosa, and as you have already known, utilization of holy Relics are not entirely forbidden in the game" Responded the deity.

So I presume Lacrimosa is also rude in their realm. I don't know why the hell she had this "Goddess of disambiguation" title, but I think "Goddess of Lenience and Nonchalance" would suit her better.

"Oh, you still remember that? Teehee! As expected of a strategic deity, but I think it's high time we forget that... Uhmm, as much nonchalant as I am, I never really knew that giving your relic is not banned. By the way, you got yourself a stoic girl here, I'm quite impressed"

"Yours is quite remarkable as well, although it's quite unexpected for you to choose someone from the ordinary class." Replied the deity.

"Oh ordinary? There's more from where THAT came from"

Lacrimosa said while pinpointing that "THAT" was me. It was like she was promoting some byproduct ready to be shipped to somewhere. Still, I found it too insignificant to be cared about. If someone here was worth considering as nothing more but "THAT" it's her being an annoying deity. But what I can't seem to ignore is how Deus Ex called me an "ordinary class" borne. Is it possible for a deity to respect our right to privacy and let us live the way we want despite their prowess to intervene?

"Now, to the main point. Thank you for introducing me to your Herrscher in my behalf. I am indeed Deus Ex Machina, the Phantom Deity who hides his true countenance, also the guardian of the holy relic known as "Trancy" of which you see now in the hands of my Herrscher, Celes. I have you know that it's a pleasure meeting you young man"

"Same here sir" I replied. More importantly, Celes is his Herrscher? What does that even mean? Why doesn't anything make sense? It's utterly questionable by default.

"Too bad though. Our first meeting would be our last" the Phantom Deity said, while it was clear that Celes was ready to dive into battle mode, wielding her sword with valiance.

"What? Last? What does he mean? Hey, Lacrimosa what does he mean by that ? ", thoughts like that came flying to me, which I unintentionally spoke aloud.

"Exactly as it is. You will be meeting your maker today. Still, I regret, that this was not your fault. It was the foolishness of your deity that will lead you to your deathbed.", the so-called phantom deity replied.

Yet, upon hearing that, the Goddess Lacrimosa goes "My my" while giggles are escaping continuously from her mouth. It was as if she was ridiculing the opposing side.

"Teheee~. I can see you never changed there Deus Ex. So quick to judge and hasty in making decisions. You are nothing but an empty cog machine. Unable to think independently. ", Lacrimosa answered...with a serious demeanor that I only saw once, it was when she asked me to let my brother's death a little uneasy. It was nostalgic, but it reminded me...that this situation is not a stage for comedy.

The atmosphere was becoming so intense and I wouldn't be surprised if something more brutal is to occur. Yet here I am, uninformed, to which I presume to be the most basic things.

Herrscher?

Insignia?

Holy relic?

Why is another deity here?

Still, questions are to be answered.

Secrets are still bound to be unveiled.

Until that happens...

I can't let it end yet.

Fortunately, I have grown tired of asking for death. He is a cheat. He comes to those who don't want him but hides from those who pray for his coming. Why am I saying this? I have no idea.

Chapter end