Lilith looked at the figure in front of "her". "He" was a being who had surpassed even true gods despite the fact it was just a marionette she still felt fearful.
"What's with the attitude? After all we are both in essence neighbours who have lost their hometown. Even if we come from different places, even if we come from different times and even if we arrived differently it doesn't change that fact."
Lilith listened to the man's words slightly reminiscing about the home she had long forgotten about.
"What do you want?"
The Fool made an annoyed expression.
"I pour my heart out to you and you don't even want to engage in some small talk." "He" pouted.
Lilith felt a mild annoyance as if she was dealing with an annoying co-worker.
"You haven't interacted with any gods since your arrival in this world and in fact actively hid. So why else would you show up now other than to get something?"
The Fool frowned.
"I hate that you're right but can you at least humour me? Amanises was so much more fun."
"I feel no kinship with you despite the fact I agree with your words."
"A shame. I thought we could have been friends."
"You of all people don't need friends."
"Quite untrue Lilith as anchors are what I need most right now. In order to accommodate extra characteristics and uniqueness, I will need anchors to prevent convergence."
"So you have come asking me to share."
"Can you not?"
"I can but what shall I gain out of it?"
"Simple, I will fight off the apocalypse."
"Are you saying if I don't you will leave everyone to die?"
"Not out of my own will mind you. Perhaps I will converge devouring more Sefirot and eventually accommodate the River of Eternal Darkness and City of Calamity creating the 4th pillar."
"So your threat is destroying everyone with you?"
"Yes."
"Fine, anything else?"
"I would like a little sanguine to join my club."
"Take your pick."
***
Emlyn White was suddenly released by Father Utravsky.
"The Earth mother has sent a revelation to release you on behalf of the sanguine ancestor, you will meet a duke to receive more instructions. And please stop trying to steal from blood banks. People need blood as well."
Emlyn was shocked. 'Has the ancestor finally recognised my worth?'
Emlyn met the sanguine duke who he quickly bowed to.
"The ancestor has given a revelation. I will now read it out to you, this is a great honour so please listen carefully."
"He" took out a scroll and unwrapped it to read the contents. Emlyn listened carefully making sure he wouldn't miss this revelation. The duke let out a cough before reading in a grandiose tone.
"Some clown has extorted me and now I have to make you join "his" little club."
'Truly magnificent, the ancestor truly had a way with words. "She" must have sent me to infiltrate the organisation of this evil god to assist "her".' Emlyn cried tears of joy. 'I won't let you down.'
"Emlyn you have the backing of the sanguine and am authorised to use our resources in trade and quoting the ancestor. 'Make that jester cry for being so poor.'"
"I won't let "her" down." Emlyn declared.
***
Lilith who had watched that entire meeting was rolling on the floor.
"Haha, a clown really knows how to recognise one of 'his' kind."
"She" sat back up.
'When was the last time I laughed like that or laughed at all? Maybe that meeting with that swindler was good for my humanity.'
***
Sherlock and Hela hid in the large wooden crate. It was another raid on an Indulgence faction hideout. Apollo wore a postman outfit and knocked on the door. A man wearing a mask opened the door.
"Hello sir, you have a package."
"Get the hell out I didn't order a package!"
"How rude, I am just doing my job."
"Get the hell out!"
The man pulled out a gun.
"How rude."
Apollo turned in to his wraith form and stuck his hand in to the guy's brain before turning tangible again. With his demigod physique he remained unharmed however the rude customer was instantly killed.
'Why won't this guy shut up! He's a disciple of silence now so why is he still talking? Does he just like talking that much?' Hela complained inwardly.
"Alright, get out the plan is ruined, let's just go in and shoot them."
***
Hela was picking out guts from her hair in the carriage as once the indulgence faction members realised they were losing used some sealed artifact to suicide bomb them.
"Here let me get that for you." Sherlock picked out some parts from the back of her head.
"Thanks." She replied.
Hela laid down and decided Sherlock was a good pillow.
"Hey do the bone softening thing."
'This woman.' Sherlock rolled his eyes. 'Well I needed to buy new pants anyway so what's a bit more blood?'
***
Emlyn chanted the honorific name he was given.
"Lord of the Mysteries, King of space-time, Beacon of destiny, Embodiment of Sefirah castle, Dominator of the Spirit World."
A great fog covered his vision as he was summoned to a meeting room. A figure covered in grey fog appeared 'he' was wearing cat pajamas and a night cap.
"I don't like that honorific name. But anyway thank you for showing up, meetings are on Monday 3pm Backlund time. Now select your code name."
"The Moon."
"As expected. Alright I'm going back to sleep."
***
Apollo waited at the docks staring at his pocket watch. As it reached 2 o'clock a figure wearing a gloomy black dress and carrying 4 blonde heads appeared.
"Hello, Miss Reinette."
"Greetings" "doctor"
"I have your payment."
He took out a briefcase and opened it revealing the contents.
"Good."
"She" took the brief case and jammed it down one of "her" heads throats. Apollo chuckled watching the scene.
"Alright" "what" "else" "do" "you" "want?"
"Ah, so you noticed."
Apollo tossed "her" a half-withered dark red heart.
"I need your assistance collecting the remaining temperance faction members as I am in need of anchors to accommodate more uniqueness's."
"Alright."
"She" disappeared into the spirit world.
***
Wishing the western continent thousands of voices rang out praising The Fool.
A man with pitch black eyes looked in to the River of Eternal Darkness.
"Sect master, there is a foreign presence within the continent, I suspect it has some relation to the fog that traps us. As an outsider are you aware of its source?"
The colourless River stirred as a woman's voice rang throughout the sect.
"A friend from the same hometown."
***
The followers of the Celestial Worthy looked to the sky. They carefully watched the fog which stirred with a thousand voices. They prayed towards the being who they thought was their master.
***
Within the Forsaken land of the Gods. The Fool's avatars spread the word of The Fool to the people who had lost all hope.
***
The Fool sat atop Sefirah castle hearing all the prayers and seeing the entire world. "He" was everywhere, a guardian who watched over everything.
The uniqueness was accommodated and "his" vision was clouded by a grey fog. "He" heard faint prayers that didn't originate from this world. "He" listened carefully, taking every second in.
"Klein, I hope you get better soon."
'Ha, Melissa, why are you talking like I'm sick? I'm perfectly fine right now. You should rest, having a good mental state is very important when advancing.'
"Klein, I'm not sure how you managed in the beyonder world. Everything is just so dangerous. But I guess I must do it to protect our family."
'Benson, don't worry your brother can handle everything. So just spend time with your family and try not to lose too much hair.'
"Mr Fool, the world is more peaceful now, however I can't help but feel scared as if you don't wake up in time we won't be able to stop the apocalypse without you."
'Audrey I'm working on it, don't worry. Spend some time with your family.'
"Mr Fool the others are worried however I know you will wake up on time and save everyone. I just want to know if there is a way to reassure them."
'Alger, just help them as you usually do. But you should also look after yourself.'
"Mr Fool, I am working hard to expand the church. I don't want to let people suffer without hope again so I will make sure you wake up."
'Thanks for always working hard, little sun. But Derrick, take a break every once in a while I will definitely return.'
"Mr Fool, I have been working to spread your word across the cosmos however there have been a few challenges. It seems like the Celestial Worthy really wasn't liked by others."
'Fors working so hard really isn't like you. I'm honestly impressed. Just procrastinate every once in a while like you used to.'
"Mr Fool, I have been working on various medications that have been improving the lives of many people. I think this will be greatly beneficial in creating anchors for you."
'Emlyn, focus on helping people over creating anchors, faith built on transactions isn't worth much. You should also go and collect some dolls again, it's a good way to maintain humanity.'
"Mr Fool, I have found many treasures while exploring the world and cosmos. I believe that some will be of great help when fighting the subordinates of the outer gods."
'Cattleya, you should spend some time watching the scenery of these places as well as who knows if their beauty will be lost one day.'
"Mr Fool, our cooperation with the Church of Eternal Darkness is going well. It is a bit awkward meeting some old co-workers after changing religions but I'll manage. I also met everyone in Tingen again, once you come back we should have a get together."
'Leonard that sounds great. I should also visit the captain's and old Neil's graves.'
"Mr Fool, the people are panicked due to the increased knowledge on beyonders and mysticism. We have tried our best to resolve the issue however many have even turned their backs to the gods."
'Xio, of course they are scared and uncertain. Gods have fallen and risen and the times have changed rapidly but as people always do they will adapt. So don't worry so much and go have some fun, after all, an angel of the church of the fool must engage in some tomfoolery.'Mr Fool, the temperance faction has been stabilised and has nearly hunted down all of the indulgence faction. This will hopefully reduce casualties in the next battle as we won't have to worry about indulgence faction members going berserk in a civilian population."
"Sharron, that's great. After you're done you should take a well deserved break."
"Mr Fool, I sometimes wonder what would happen if I never transmigrated. Though I do miss the pre-epoch I think if I were given the option to go back I wouldn't. I have made too many bonds here and have changed so much as a person that I wouldn't trade that for anything."
"Franca, your mindset is much better than mine. If I were given the opportunity I'm not 100% sure I wouldn't take it. But I know I have far too much responsibility in our time, so unless I can somehow pass that on to someone else I think I would stay. But then again I don't want to wish my fate on anyone."
"Klein, I hope you wake up soon. I wish we could have become co-workers in the university but we both have too much responsibility. You are a true guardian and that is certain. When I lose my memories once more I hope you will be there to remind me."
"Mr Azik, I wish that were the case as well. A life like that would certainly be happy and don't worry because I will be there when you need it."
"Klein, the discussion on who will become The Key of Light isn't really progressing and I'm honestly worried. Even though we still have time before we have to fight again I want to make sure we have time to be in our best condition."
'Will, we both know fate will eventually work itself out and you still have some time to enjoy your childhood so go eat some ice-cream and go play at the park.'
"Klein, I'm slightly worried about the temperance faction. When the Mother Tree of Desire returns I am worried that "she" may be able to influence them."
'Reinette, I don't think this is something we can solve right now. Our best bet is simply to keep them far away from "her". But I do hope you find a way to remove them from "her" influence. You have helped them a lot and I hope that your work will be complete one day.'
"Mr Fool, I often miss Earth. Is this what it felt like when you and the other transmigrators found out you could never return home? Well I guess you feel worse as I can return however it is simply risky but you have lost it forever. So I guess I shouldn't complain."
'Lumian you can complain all you want. Just because you haven't suffered as much as others doesn't mean your pain doesn't matter. In fact I would argue you have suffered more than pretty much anyone. So just keep on going forward as you always have.'
"Zhou, I sometimes think about giving up on the world. As I have been alone for so long, everyone I knew has died so I wonder why I'm still fighting. But because of that I'm glad you're here as I know I will have a friend waiting for me. So no matter how many years it will take I will wait for you to wake up and I will be there to help you fight off the will of the Celestial Worthy because that's what friends are for."
"Amanises, I sometimes feel like I have lost all my humanity and it isn't worth fighting anymore but when I realised there were people I need to fight for I know I must continue on, even if I lose myself in the process. You have helped me from the beginning and if all you are asking for in return is for me to continue being your friend I will make sure I am around till the end of the Universe and every one after that. So don't give up as I won't either."
"Uncle Klein, I heard your birthday is soon so I want to sing happy birthday to you."
The Fool listened to the little tune from his niece.
'Alice, when I come back I'll make sure to make up for all your birthdays that I have missed.'
The Fool leaned back in "his" chair and fell asleep.
'When I return I will make sure to sing happy birthday to everyone.'
Klein smiled faintly in his sleep.
***
Amanises and Lumian heard a faint voice carrying the thoughts of a friend. They looked to the cosmos and waved to their friend Klein.
"Get better soon."
Notes: