Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 9: Causa Proxima, Part 3
Xavier's eyes blinked one, two, three times, before then picking up the dropped fork and spoon. The two cutlery he placed on the edge of the table, his eyes then focused on looking at the princess. “Looks like I misheard,” he said with a racing heart. “What did you ask?”
An amused smile found its place on Artemys lips. “That should be a very interesting, priceless expression. Maybe, if I decide to pursue the world of painting, I will make your expression as my best work.”
Artemys can be amused, but Xavier isn't. He found nothing amusing here. Artemys said something heavy, and a little scary. He couldn't imagine it happening. Therefore, Xavier really hoped that he had misheard—or, Artemys just spoke.
“It looks like you are in a position of denial,” Artemys said as she raised her hand asking for a new knife and fork from the waiter beside her. “To respond more clearly to your words, I will say more precisely: I am pregnant, Xavier. Jenny told me that last night.”
“...Ha..mil in the sense of being pregnant? That means...the process of life is taking place in your womb?”
“True, pregnant in the sense of pregnant—although actually pregnant only has one meaning.” Artemys placed the two cutlery he received into Xavier's hands. “In nine months a few days, you will become a father,” he continued with a wailing smile. “You're surprised?”
“If there's a bigger word than surprise, that's what I'm currently feeling. Oh, Mommy!” Xavier was completely shocked. “How is this? What am I supposed to do?”
“Xavier, who is pregnant here I am. Who will give birth to me. Why are you more worried than me?”
“Artemys, how can you ask that? You're pregnant, pregnant! You are pregnant! You'll have a child.”
Artemys let out a long breath. “You are still quite young, and even two years younger than me; no wonder this news is too heavy for you, even more so we are not married. Ah, this could be called a scandal, eh?” The princess was comforted by her own words, before then shook her head slowly and instructed the two maids to clear the table. “Let's go to a more soothing place,” he continued later, pulling Xavier away.
Xavier had no energy to resist; he allowed himself to take Artemys to a calming place. His mind was filled with things. And most of all he lost energy, he realized that Nueva was the grandfather of the boy. If he ends up killing her, it means that he erased the existence of a grandfather from the child's world.
Xavier was born without ever meeting his grandfather/grandmother; it puts pressure on him. And more detailed, Xavier couldn't imagine himself answering “I killed him” when the boy asked about his grandfather. He really can't imagine it.
...—A Cave in the Outback Warebeast Great Kingdom—...
The cave is dim. The light source is only glowing stones. There is no other light source. Not even a candle. The cave is pure in its natural condition. There is absolutely no sign indicating that he was ever touched. At the very least, it was an impression that welcomed anyone who entered the cave.
However, Neix is not a member of “whoever” it is. This cave was the first place he started his experiments in producing imitation Phoenix. He decided to make this place his most secret hideout after getting some followers. Since this was his most secret place, Neix did not tell anyone. Including Crow. Other than Zegyus who was now following behind him, he had never brought a single follower here.
“What is this place, Mr Neix?” Zegyus who was usually too lazy to ask, this time he couldn't help but ask as they entered the only passageway in gua—it's a short passageway that had its end curled into another passageway whose position was downward.
“This is my secret hideout; I keep precious things here.” Neix responded while pressing against one of the glowing stones on the hall wall, causing the part of the wall beside him to suddenly be pushed back, giving another unthinkable access. “There's something I want to show you here,” he added seboro down the stairs that have been seen.
Zegyus nodded in understanding, following Neix faithfully until they arrived before a vacuum tube within which floated a round object the size of a fist. The round thing was like a precious crystal, and it flashed a multicolored light. And most obviously, the crystal ball was storing so much energy—saking its abundance, Zegyus could not feel its base.
Zegyus nodded, putting his palm on the surface of the tube. And suddenly Zegyus's eyes widened. “This! I felt hundreds of souls screaming from da—!”
Zegyus' sentence was cut off, his eyes wide with an expression of disbelief. Slowly he glanced towards the pain sensation that appeared on his body. A hand he found had pierced through his back until it barged out of his chest. Zegyus could see his heart in the hand that had pierced him.
“Tu-Tuan Neix, ka-you Zegyus could not finish his words; his body stiffened suddenly as his soul was suddenly pulled by the crystal ball. And before he could do anything, his soul—a soul divided into three hemispheres, each of which is equal to an ordinary soul—has first drawn a crystal ball perfectly. However, the deep disappointment in the expression of his body was not deceptive at all.
“I'm sorry, Zegyus.” Regret was clearly heard in Neix's voice. “I know you're really loyal to me. However, I have no other choice. I need your soul to perfect this god crystal. In order to obtain Vermyna, I must be the strongest; vermyna could not possibly be willing to match up with a weak individual, even though I was completely qualified from her. To get Vermyna, even this world will be destroyed if necessary.”
...—Cornnas, Emeralnas— Province...
“What is your mind calm?” artemys asked, gently stroking Xavier's thigh-bound head—they were behind the palace, under a dense leafy tree surrounded by flowers. “Are you able to think clearly?”
Xavier did not answer that question. His face, which had originally looked at the leaves hanging from the branches of the tree, now turned toward Artemys flat stomach. “I can sleep here forever, and I won't mind,” Xavier's response, his face he buried into the flat belly wrapped in that soft cloth.
“I'm glad to hear that, and I certainly won't get tired of spoiling you. However, we need to continue our conversation.”
“Can I beg the world to stop its time forever, so that this moment will be eternal?”
A soft laugh flowed out from the second crevice of Artemys seductive lips. The laughter sounded like a melody in Xavier's ears. Artemys rarely laughed, very rarely. Hearing him laugh like this, Xavier had no need to ask if Artemys was enjoying this moment.
“You can,” Artemys response after her laughter subsides, “but I doubt the world will grant it.”
Well, Xavier can't deny that. The world never sided with anyone. Time will go on until the world ends on its own.
“So, what do you think of being a father?” Artemys came back to the basic question. He did hide his curiosity, but Xavier could tell that Artemys really wanted to find out.
“Hm...because you became his mother, I don't think that's a bad thing.” Xavier let his lips curl, but quickly the arch disappeared. “But, really, I don't know how to.”
“I'm glad to hear it. About how to go ahead, we can learn over time.” Artemys paused for a moment, then lowered his head to just above Xavier's head. “We're going to have a wedding in secret next week; I want everything to go on without many who know—not my family, except Achilles. Don't you mind that?”
Xavier doesn't say no, and a kiss lands fondly on his head.