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Akhenamen quickly realised he didn’t have access to beds. Yes. Akhenaten, the Aspect of the End, did not have a single way to make a bed. An army to annihilate a small country back on Earth? That he could! But the bed was clearly too much.
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He had completely forgotten Cygilites needed neither sleep, food, nor drink. Neither did he. Liquid silver couldn’t be used to make any real furniture. Even his future memories, which had blueprints for weapons and machines that would make every god go to war for them, didn’t have a single bed.
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He was currently thinking about what to do, watching the System’s newest announcement. Yes. A global announcement.
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[GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT] : [The Cygilites, creations of the Protheans, once trapped beneath the vestiges of forgotten memories, have now returned. Answering the call of their new ruler: Akhenamen, The Unseen Truth. They are now marching, following their ancient war machines toward Cygislax.]
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Akhenamen had heard the roar caused by the awakening of his people. His speech should have reached the currently sentient and still awake Cygilites, to give them hope once more! Not to wake up every freaking Cygilites! He was NOT ready!
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Not just that, but he now had Authorities-level Hyperfauna Machines, engines built for war, crossing the continent to head back to Cygislax. Each is bigger than the other! He knew from his memories that Oleron was big enough to easily house those beings without being cramped. Zenthia was really far bigger than Earth. The main problem, however, was the reaction of the gods and nations of Zenthia.
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Fear and mistrust are slowly turning into aggression. The Cygilites might have obeyed his demands of peace, returning to Cygislax to be granted a new purpose, but there were still tens of thousands of Cygilites heading back, crossing occupied territories.
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“It seems I cannot hold back from forming alliances now. The Hyperfauna Machines should arrive in a few days. The others could take weeks with Zenthia’s size.”
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“You underestimate our people, my Hierarch.”
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“Ascylla? What do you mean?”
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“All the Cygilites still alive are at least Ancestors. The weaker ones died long ago, either from adventurers, expeditions, or even attacking armies. We once were billions. Compared to today, we have fallen very low. Our people will be safe. They have Ancestors, Beyonders, and Thrones heading toward Cygislax.”
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“And the gods' interference is unlikely. If they wanted to or could intervene, they would have done so the moment the Hyperfauna Machines awakened.”
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“I suppose that is true. Then we need to prepare for their arrivals. And for the coming wars.”
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“With Zenthia, my Hierarch? I.. our people have awoken because you promise peace. Do not bring war to them once more.”
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Hearing Ascylla’s words, Akhenamen smiled. It was indeed quite hypocritical of him to claim he would bring them peace when he knew Oleron would become the centerpiece of some of the worst conflicts on Zenthia. But it wouldn’t be for five years until the first abyssal spawn put their feet on Zenthia.
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“I know Ascylla. For the next five years, we shall have peace. But there will be a time when our home is threatened. We must be ready for that time. I will never seek war. But I will be sure to be ready for it.”
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Ascylla nodded at her Hierarch’s explanation. Her tail shifted, slapping the silvery ground gently.
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“Valencia wishes to speak with you. She wants to hurry their departure. She has seen the announcement and wishes to make sure the Emperor doesn’t do something stupid under the Radical Faction’s influence.”
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“I will go see her. I need to speak to Sofya anyway.”
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He swiftly exited his empty personal room. Which he would have to transform into a laboratory soon. He had not forgotten his Bio-Phytomycologist, and he very much intended to start properly studying and researching this field.
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He had no memories of his future self ever bothering to do more about this job. A mistake in his opinion. But maybe that was because his previous selves had decided that the job didn’t bring them enough benefits? No matter, it didn’t hurt to try.
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For now, he could still afford to make mistakes, and as he had always told his children, you learn from your mistakes. But to improve, you have to make them first. He started to use his new Aspect.
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Feeling the space around Valencia, he shattered and ended the distance between them. Instantly appearing in front of her alongside some broken pieces of reality floating around him, looking like a green shard of glass.
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“Valencia.”
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“Akhenamen. You already know why I asked to see you. The awakening of your kind is gonna spark great instability throughout all of Zenthia. I doubt any nation would truly declare war, but I advise you to be ready.”
“Thank you, Valencia. You, Aelion, and Moira are welcome to stay as long as you need, but if you need to go, I will not hold you back.”
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“Thank you, Akhenamen. We’ll be leaving right away then.”
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Valencia turned around as she waved Aelion and Moira closer. Sofya tagged along to join the two Transcendants. She had healed enough that she shouldn’t be in any more danger for now.
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“We need to hurry to the Imperial Palace right away. We’re going now.”
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“Very well, grandma!”
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“Yes, Lady Valencia.”
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“Will you be with us, Sofya?”
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Sofya was surprised at Aelion’s proposal, taking a look at Akhenamen. As if asking for his opinion on the matter.
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“Your life is your own, Sofya. If you wish to follow them, I will not stop you. But I did swear to your mother to protect you and bring you back in five months.”
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“I didn’t forget, Sir. You saved my life, and I still have a debt to you. I won’t be making problems for you. I shall stay here! I mean… Cygislax! The Cygislax! I just can’t pass up the opportunity to enter and explore it!”
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Akhenamen nodded, gently petting her shoulder. Secretly glad and relieved his protege wouldn’t leave him just yet. It would have been an awkward conversation with her mom for sure.
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“We’re going then. Goodbye, Akhenamen.”
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He nodded, watching the three figures leave, the two teens saying their goodbyes to Sofya, but only politely thanked the Cygilite as they climbed on the bloodline constructs summoned by Valencia, a massive golden hydra as the beast started to leave.
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“Don’t think I forgot your promise, Akhenamen! In one year, we shall travel all over Zenthia!”
Valencia’s feral smirk was back, the previous seriousness already gone as she roared a reminder of the promise they had shared around a cup of ale. Making Akhenamen laugh softly. He even saw Suk’kulkan wave at him.
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He and the Prothean had quite a few discussions throughout their travels. They would often talk. And quite often the conversation would actually turn into Suk’kulkan sharing her knowledge of biology with him when she learned he was a Bio-Phytomycologist. A very niche subject even amongst Protheans, apparently.
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It helped develop his skills in [Bio-Golems Creation]. He hadn’t advanced in rank, but he felt he had a few good ideas on how to upgrade the current process in his head. Other than that, the Prothean had stayed pretty distant after their initial conversation. They just didn’t have that much to share together. At least nothing the other was willing to reveal.
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[Fate’s Chosen interaction ended.]
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[Roleplay analysis in progress…]
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[...]
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[...]
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[Results: Roleplay failed. Your entrance and showcase of power were great, but you acted too casually and revealed far too many things to the Fate’s Chosen. You failed to show yourself as [The Awakened Transcendent].]
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[Uncommon reward reduced to Common]
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“Damn it…that’s my very first failure. No matter. I will have other opportunities, but I will have to be more careful to be as distant and secretive as possible with other Fate Chosen from now on.”
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But this was actually a pretty good reminder. He could fail and make mistakes. He had done one. Now he had to make sure he would never make that same mistake again.
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“Sofya. Why don’t I give you a tour of Cygislax? We still have a few things to do in Oleron before we can leave. And with my people awakening, I must stay here until they all return. After that, we shall be able to travel once more.”
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“YES! Thank you! And don’t worry! Travelling is great… but exploring Cygislax and interacting with the returning Cygilites?! I can’ t miss that for the world!”
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Akhenamen nodded as he and Sofya turned around, floating slightly above the floor as he brought Sofya toward the center of Cygislax, the massive wall of silver parting ways to let them pass.
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Through those two weeks, Akhenamen would be busy. First, he had to make his laboratory. See what his new [Territory] tab was about, even help Sofya gain some proper traits and some levels. His new memories had given him a few interesting ways to do both.