Card Seven: Two of Pentacles

Cirrus wasn’t quite sure who the two newcomers were, but they’d successfully managed to calm down the fantastical healer, so he had no complaints. Judging by how they acted with him, they were most likely his companions of some sort, which meant he’d be needing to win them over as well. So he sat down after Feather, right across from him as the chaotic man gave him a flippant stare, clearly not expecting much. And so he took a deep breath to ground himself, before asking politely, “First, before we get started, may I have your name?”

“Hm. No. Get to the point and maybe I’ll give it to you,” the other man remarked carelessly, and Cirrus took that in stride as he forced his polite smile not to falter.

“Well, alright. Then, before I get to the point as you wish, may I ask how much you know about reality and how the Udimeia’s structure is formed?” he prompted, the blond’s blue eyes perking slightly with a proud grin.

“Of course! I know all about that.”

“Perfect. What do you know? Please tell me everything.”

“Haha, if you want,” the crazy man gave a smug smile while idly tracing his finger through the dirt, Cirrus finally managing to give his first genuine smile as well, finding this malleable side of the man that fed off praise to be much easier to handle. However, the blond’s smile suddenly turned a little sinister, and he leaned his arm on a knee to prop up his face with a small sigh. “Well, there’s a lot we can talk about with this subject… the general basics are that there’s countless different worlds, dimensions, and universes all connected together by the threads of law, otherwise known as reality’s strings. People can travel through these strings by focusing and aligning themselves with their essence, which is what allows people to teleport. People who can follow and use reality’s strings to travel through worlds are known as world hoppers.”

“Besides that, we could get into the science behind dimensions and universes as well, which are a completely different topic many people go their entire lives knowing nothing about,” he kept droning, voice rather monotone while he talked, as if he were just reciting facts from memory instead of talking about things he actually found interesting. “Inside reality as we know it, there are endless rings that stack up on top of each other to create the Udimeia, eventually inverting somewhere near the center where everything collapses into reality’s core and is pushed back out… though nothing can survive in that zone of space. Reality is both limitless and in a constant loop with itself. And, to add onto this, these rings that form everything we know are known as universes. Within universes, there are the worlds people live on, as well as sometimes extra pockets that could’ve been created naturally or manually depending on a person’s concepts or skill at manipulating reality’s strings, and these pocket areas are known as dimensions. However, they aren’t always stable, and the smallest things cause them to self-destruct and disappear, so it’s not uncommon for dimensions to break apart, destroying everything inside it and causing the people living there to be lost forever.”

“Each and every world within the endless universes within the endless Udimeia… each one is different and unique, filled with different kinds of people, different environments, and different lifestyles, and since I’m a world hopper myself, I know just how different those worlds can be. Sometimes humans aren’t even the dominant species on planets, and yet they still retain intelligence. It’s fascinating. And of course, what really needs to be studied is how these threads of law truly work. No one has been able to understand them or how they hold everything together the way they do, even though we’ve been studying them for over a millenia. Either way, they should really hurry up on that research right about now, because in the end, reality is only collapsing because the threads of law have been corrupted by unknown forces. When passing through worlds, you’re really traveling through what can be referred to as reality’s bridges, so if reality were to crumble, each world would slowly be affected and destroyed. It’s all connected, so if one planet is affected and you know it’s an apocalypse that spreads, I can guarantee you that it will spread to the rest of the Udimeia as well. So, honestly Cirrus, why haven’t you done anything about it yet? Isn’t that like your whole reason to live or whatever?” he spat with full disrespect, still drawing diagrams of the Udimeia’s shape and frame in the dirt, not even shooting the prince a look to give him any dignity. 

Ah, but… Cirrus couldn’t help but blink at him. That… that truly was everything, summed up so nicely. He wouldn’t need to explain anything at all. Which was a good thing, of course, as it made things easier… but it was also rather shameful, since even he did not understand the Udimeia’s workings to such an innate degree. But, well, he had to pretend that he did if he wanted to gain this man’s respect at all, so he kept his back straight and continued to smile. “That’s right. You summed everything up exceptionally, thank you for that. Honestly, you know far more than even most experts, so I’m surprised. It seems a bit to me like you know everything already,” he pointed out, testing the waters just a bit as the blond’s blue eyes finally flickered up to meet him.

“...well, let’s pretend I don’t know everything,” the blond spoke, Cirrus observing him and how carefully he chose his words. “I’ll admit I used to study this, just as a hobby of mine. But I was always under the impression it would be something for the chosen one to handle, not for someone like me. So tell me, where would I even play into this little scenario you’ve found yourself stuck in? If you can’t tell me anything substantial about why I am needed over the countless others in the endless Udimeia with as many concepts in the world as there are stars, then I’ll have no further business with you.”

Oh, well… hm, how conflicting. So, this man was so keen on not helping because… he did not think he was needed? Cirrus felt that didn’t quite add up. He was the most powerful healer the prince had ever met by far, he was certain of that, and there was no way the blond wasn’t aware of that himself. And yet he didn’t think he was… needed? If he didn’t think he was needed even with as much power as he possessed, then what could possibly make him feel any differently?

“Well, okay, I will do my best to convince you. Though I think I’ll just be repeating things you already know,” Cirrus tried to move on instead of dwelling on the contradiction, his tone still polite while Feather glared at him with the eyes of a hawk. Still, he merely cast his own to the ground, and carried on smoothly regardless. “Right now, as you mentioned, reality is breaking. No one knows exactly why, and the cause has yet to be found, but over the past four centuries, we’ve noticed where the roots of the problems are. Under further inspection, we’ve come to the conclusion that reality’s bridges are what’s being infected first, slowly turning black, crumbling, and losing their way in reality’s woven threads.”

“Usually, as I assume you know, anyone can world hop as long as they go to a waypoint that will take them there, and there are always four waypoints on each planet at the four poles. But as of late, several of those waypoints have been blackening over and closing. Once all four close, the apocalypse will start on that planet. Only worldhoppers like you and myself can get to those lost worlds now, and several other nightmarish things have been happening to them. Strange white monsters have been breaking through cracks in reality, coming from a place that can only be described as a dark realm we know nothing of. If we don’t do something to heal those cracks and restore the bridges of reality, all of the many worlds may crumble and be destroyed. So, I’m honestly at a bit of a loss here, because… of course, correct me if I’m wrong, but… you’re by far the strongest healer I have ever laid eyes on, no?” Cirrus questioned carefully, barely gathering the courage to look the blond in the eye once more, who was still staring at him intensely with those sky lights of his. 

Everyone seemed rather stiff at his comment, and he could sense his own subordinates finding the statement to be very uncomfortable as they continued to eye the said healer with distrust. He was being very quiet all of sudden, clearly thinking about something. It felt like his eyes were locked onto Cirrus’ in a duel, challenging him to back down and yield to his sheer intensity. But Cirrus was not about to let that happen. No, he had already come too far. And, well, Feather did know what he was talking about. 

A few decades ago, he’d once come across and investigated one of the decayed waypoints for himself, though it wasn’t within his power to fix it, so he’d just ignored the broken thing. It made him think, and he tapped his fingers against his cheek with a low hum, eyes half closed before he threw out a casual suggestion. “You know, I went to one of those destroyed waypoints. I’d heard about it when I was traveling by, and I was of course a little curious, so I decided to go check it out. But doesn’t it seem that the world is just reacting to how large everything is getting?” Feather pointed out, Cirrus’ thin brows furrowing as he took that in.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, think back to our earliest piece of history,” Feather elaborated, not seeming too bothered by how Cirrus’ group was staring at him strangely. It was of no matter to him. “It’s not remembered when it was unlocked, but one fateful day in a mythical time and place that’s known as the First World, humans unlocked the secret to immortality for the very first time. That was all well and good, but eventually, too many people became immortal, and the reality that held the First World together began to be overwhelmed, so it started to decay. It wasn’t until the immortals living there realized that all they had to do was get reality to expand and become larger were they finally able to live in peace again.”

“According to that ancient history, those people of the First World were the ones who created the threads of law to begin with. So why not we just do the same thing? The situations sound similar enough, don’t they?” Feather threw out there while holding his face and tapping his knee with his other hand, before tilting his chin up at Cirrus. “It sounds like our world might be getting too large, so reality is freaking out and trying to kill us so it can handle our presence like it used to. So we’ve just gotta get reality to expand again, and game over, we win. I don’t see why you need me for that. No matter how great I am, I’m just a healer,” Feather lied through his teeth, keeping careful note of the fact that Cirrus wasn’t using his concept of knowledge seeking to get away with lying. 

Though, honestly, he didn’t quite understand the weight of the stares he was getting, or why Cirrus looked so utterly taken aback as he tried to process everything Feather had said. Of course, it was all factually true and a very valid theory that he had already considered himself, but… that history this man had mentioned so easily wasn’t something just anybody would know about. The origin of the First World was a forgotten tale only passed down through the lines of inter-universal royalty. Of course, Jayce, Achitha, and Eve knew about it, as they’d been handpicked by Ruba to aid him in the prophecy, but… “Where in the world did you hear all of that?” Cirrus asked slowly, moving to unhook his eyepatch from around his ear, which only caused Feather to give a wry smile. Looks like he wouldn’t be able to lie anymore. He would have to be sneaky. 

“Why, that should be obvious. I heard it from your grandma. Ruba told me the story a few centuries ago, last time I saw her,” he grinned tauntingly, lifting himself up and onto his knees as he straightened his back, splaying his arms out in the air with a wide reach. “Your grandma even really liked me, she said she liked my spirit. Aren’t you jealous? Oohh, does that make you jealous? Hahah!!”

And Cirrus’ entire party was shocked by that drop of information, Cirrus even needing to go so far as to cross his fingers in front of his subordinates to indicate that the absurd statement had been the truth. It was so mesmerizing to think about that he couldn’t help but stare, tilting his head slightly to the side before he posed a hesitant question. “Um… have we met before, by chance? You talk as if you’re familiar with me.”

“Hm, no, we haven’t met in this life,” Feather retorted casually, Cirrus’ eyes squinting in response. 

“You can remember your past lives?”

“No, the past life theory was debunked a while ago. Once someone dies, they’re out forever,” Feather replied instead, Cirrus only becoming more confused the more he tried to figure him out.

“Then… how often have you met my grandma?”

“Hm. The last time I saw her was probably over four hundred years ago,” the strange man shrugged, leaning back down onto his arms while giving Cirrus a smile. “But still, I don’t think that’s relevant. You want my help to stop reality from cracking, is that right? Well, I’m nearly positive you don’t actually need me to do that. You’re just looking and scouting for power, but I only have one concept, so I don’t think I’ll be as much help as you’re thinking. Plus, it really doesn’t sound like my problem,” he huffed, Cirrus only becoming more dumbfounded the more they talked. 

“I saw that you only have one concept. But that concept is incredibly strong, sir. You must realize how powerful you are and how very useful you would be!”

“I’m the best healer in the world, so what?! You have more!! Don’t drag me into your issues just because you’re getting greedy!! What a pig!! I didn’t know the pushover prince of Lilino was also a greedy hog!!”

Oh, how insufferable! Cirrus finally felt like he was reaching his breaking point with all this. Nothing he said led anywhere, despite this man being an undeniable genius who knew far too much than he should. Achitha was in a similar state, jaw open so wide it was nearly hitting the ground with all the disrespect she’d been hearing. This was the absolute first time she had ever seen someone speak to Cirrus in this manner, was he absolutely insane?! Even if the prince she served had been deserving of such treatment, he was still the crown prince of the strongest alliance in the Udimeia, so getting on his bad side would be a death sentence to anyone! What about that was this man not comprehending? Even if he didn’t like Cirrus or had been wronged by him somehow in the past, this behavior would only get him killed!

Jayce felt like his brain wasn’t working anymore. This was far too much for someone of his temper. He felt like he was a ticking bomb, ready to explode the moment Cirrus gave him permission. Honestly, maybe he should go ahead and deck that mouthy brat right now, knock some rightful sense into him. No one talked to his best friend and leader that way, not if he was around to help it. Anyone who treated Cirrus like trash would automatically be trash to him as well, but because his prince didn’t want him to, he kept his mouth shut. 

Eve, on the other hand, felt she’d been listening respectfully for long enough, especially when the man in front of her was being the opposite. While Cirrus was left grappling with his words, she strode forward with full offense, hands balled up into tight fists at her sides while she towered over the sitting asshole. “Why are you treating reality’s collapse like it’s not your problem?! It’s everyone’s problem! If we can’t get things under control, reality as we know it could perish! We all could die! Without powerful healers at the forefronts of the wars with all these monsters we know so little about, do you really think someone of your caliber is not needed? Do the lives of others really mean so little to you?!” she yelled fiercely with a voice brimming full of passion, Feather turning to look at her with sudden respect. For whatever reason, he’d turned serious when Eve spoke her mind to him, clearly more tolerable of her presence while he gave a small, calm shake of his head. 

“No, it’s not that. If I thought reality was seriously in danger, I’d step in. I just don’t really think I need to right now,” he explained more honestly, Cirrus’ ears perking at those more sensible words while Eve only continued to give him a suspicious glare. “Look, Cirrus might be a pushover, but I know he’s pretty strong and he literally has a prophecy saying that he’s gonna be the one to stop this mess. So why do I need to get involved? I guess I can confidently say I’d be useful, but am I needed? I’d rather just do my own thing, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s not like reality’s gonna collapse tomorrow or anything. You’ve probably got another few centuries ahead of you to find a solution, and I don’t want to be tied to a responsibility for that long.”

His words were blunt and to the point, and Eve faltered the moment they reached her ears. She didn’t know what to think when his words were phrased like that. He was basically complimenting Cirrus and saying they already had it handled with plenty of time to figure things out, so this had to have been the least insulting thing he’d said all day to her prince. And yet, at the same time, the words gave Cirrus’ mind clarity and finally helped him regain himself. Suddenly, thanks to Eve, he knew exactly what he needed to say. “So what you’re telling us is that you’d willingly help if the world was actively in immense danger as we speak?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

“And have you actually checked to see how far gone reality is already?”

“...well, no, but—”

“You haven’t checked because it hasn’t affected you yet, right?” Cirrus confronted with a dangerously polite smile, Feather doing nothing but frowning at that on-point statement before reflexively straightening his back. “In other words, you’ve failed to consider all of the lives that have already been ruined, simply because you haven’t seen it yet with your own eyes. But you know, you don’t seem like a bad person to me, despite how self-absorbed you’re showing you are. Deep down, I think you're very empathetic and kindhearted when you hear of something bad that you can fix, right? That’s why you went out of your way to destroy a plague seed and heal an entire continent from devastation,” he smiled, Feather’s flustered stare hardening on him as he processed those ugly words.

“Tch, I didn’t do that because I’m kind. I just don’t like the idea of being sick, so I don’t want others to be sick, either,” he argued, and Cirrus’ smile softened ever so slightly when he heard that.

“Right? Being sick sucks. And I think you wanting to prevent people from having to go through that is very kind.”

…well, um. Feather didn’t really know how to argue that. He could feel his freedom getting stripped away from him by force with these flattering words from this flowery man, and he hated the fact that it was working. He really hadn’t considered how badly reality was breaking before. It’d never popped up in his face, so he’d decided not to care about it and let Cirrus handle it, as the prophesied one who was supposed to. But if people really were already in danger, he didn’t exactly like thinking about that… the idea of having your freedom torn away by black cracks in the skin of reality and nightmarish monsters out for blood was… something he hadn’t yet considered, and he hated how guilty that made him feel.

“...mm, fine. Take me to a sight where reality is collapsing and show me how bad it is, then. I’ll decide what I think after I see it for myself,” he conceded at last, Cirrus’ smile turning far more great as his amber eye gazed at him sweetly, as if he were proud of Feather for coming to this conclusion.

“Alright. I’ll take you to the first spot where a crack in reality broke out, so you can see the aftermath. I’ll let you know that the entire planet has been destroyed and can no longer support life.”

“Psh. How long ago did that even happen?” the powerful healer only huffed in return, before he noticed the way Cirrus’ eyes dropped, as if he were remembering something very sad.

“It actually wasn’t a very good day for me regardless of reality’s first crack. Or for anyone, I think,” he admitted quietly, his smile taking on a rather miserable feature. “No matter who I talk to, no one has anything good to say about it. On that day, the first crack in reality appeared, and it was also the day my late fiancée, Princess Arcadia, endured a painful death succumbing to her disease…” he trailed off, smile turning even more bitter while Feather’s mind slowed down. 

“...the day that girl died?”

“Oh? Did you meet her, too?” Cirrus looked up, catching his dark expression while Kya and Leocadies both shared a look of concern amongst themselves. 

And Feather’s mind truly felt like it was being taken over. The day Princess Arcadia died. The day reality’s first crack appeared. It also happened to be the day he’d achieved the concept of anything and ran away from his noble origins. If what Cirrus said was true, and that day was actually the start of the first apocalypse… and thinking back to Ruba’s fable, about how reality began caving in because of all the immortals overwhelming it… could it be that this was all his fault? He had managed to unlock the concept of anything on that very day, making it one of the most memorable of his life he would never forget. He’d accomplished what no one else could, and earned a concept so powerful and so lethal no one else in the entire Udimeia had ever been able to harness it. Had that… had him harnessing that power… been what caused reality’s first crack? Had he been the cause of all that misfortune? If he told Cirrus he’d been the one who had killed Princess Arcadia, what would the man have to say?

He wasn’t sure if Leocadies and Kya were piecing things together like he was, but he made sure to keep his expression clear as he rolled over many different words and sentences in his mind. Ahh, but he needed to answer the pushover prince’s question, too…

“No, I haven’t met her in this life,” he answered vaguely, his response to that type of question not changing. It was the most direct of an answer he was willing to give. After all, Feather didn’t like responsibility, and he didn’t like the idea of doing a chore that had nothing to do with him… but if he really had been the one to break reality, he didn’t have a choice but to help clean it up. Even still, he’d take the secret to his grave. He’d help, of course, if that was really the truth… but Cirrus didn’t have to know what was really motivating him. He didn’t want to deal with that.

After all, it wasn’t like he was willing to give up the concept of anything just to restore reality… all he was willing to do was help find a way to expand, just like in the legend, to save it. So, confirming that within himself, he gave another sly smile and rolled his head over his shoulders, popping his neck before he finally relented. “Fine, I’ll help, just because this seems interesting. I’d like to know more about that day as well… although I hope you know that I will not be viewing myself like I’m your subordinate, and I will not treat you as if you’re my prince. If that’s okay, I’ll join you. Oh, and I guess you can have my name. You can call me Feather.”

Cirrus’ eyes immediately brightened at such a reveal, having not expected easy compliance before he gave another bright smile, happy to hear it. “Alright, sure, that’s fine with me. It’s nice to meet you, Feather. If you give me the rest of the day to focus, I’ll be able to teleport us to the destruction zone I told you about where we saw reality’s first crack over four hundred years ago. All of the monsters were purged, so even though it’s no longer a liveable area, it should not be dangerous.”

“Ahh, I see… guess it was a bad day to be a local,” Feather shrugged, the joke flippant and disrespectful, and yet Cirrus no longer faltered. This was the day a prince who carried responsibility willingly and with selfless determination started working with a selfish and chaotic trickster who was running away from all of his origins, burdens, and responsibilities… their companions didn’t know what to make of this, and of course, Cirrus and Feather were thinking completely opposite things. Cirrus was just glad he’d managed to recruit that strange, chaotic, and knowledgeable ally his grandmother had spoken of, and Feather was just desperately hoping his theory was wrong and that he hadn’t been the one who’d caused reality to snap, which would truly make the Udimeia’s destruction his problem… but their adventures were just beginning, and their differences were just now striking each other for the very first time… where would they go, and in the end, would either of them find the answers they were looking for?