Futuristic Arterius Heart: Simulacrum

[Arkangel]

CHAPTER I. HOME

"find purpose and answers to which i could not."

ARTERIUS HEART: SIMULACRUM

 

[Arkangel]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 8

BARBATOS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

The first breath she took felt spontaneous. Of the seconds that had passed after her emergence from her slumber, Barbatos failed to recognize the ceiling above her face, and the lights were left dim to not blind her curious vision. It was comfortable, yet disruptive. An unknown pounding could be perceived from her chest, as what seemed to be her heart involuntarily pulsating from within, forcing her rapid breathing to take over her thoughts as she tightened her grip on her chest.

A minute passed, and she felt her chest no longer throb. Before she knew it, she was able to exhale and inhale without voluntary movement. She could see now see clearly—her vision no longer fuzzy, and she could now feel sensation around her palms.

The bed sheets were soft and clean. It had a lovely texture—its fabric perfect for her hands to caress to calm her loud heart from exploding. How truly addictive it was to play with the soft fabric. If only she knew anyone that could enjoy it with her.

Another second would pass until her vision noticed the objects that surrounded her bed.

Other beds with individuals. They shared no similar characteristics—each having their own unique attributes. Would they be able to wake up like how Barbatos was able to? Would they notice her, if they were to open their eternally sleeping eyes?

Her instincts, however, told her not to disrupt the unconscious dolls from their peaceful sleep. For reasons unknown to the white-haired simulacrum, she felt the need to leave the silver-light room at once. She would inspect the chamber until an exit was found, carrying her legs to follow through with her instinct's request, until she was finally able to lay her hands over the lock that had the security door locked shut.

An attempt was made to unlock the latch, only for it to prove itself to be immensely more difficult than Barbatos initially thought.

The ironclad door would simply not budge, no matter the honest efforts.

Barbatos looked behind herself to observe the silver room after her last failure, scouring for another possible exit—which she could not locate.

Instead, Barbatos would notice that her emergence was not unique to herself. After a moment's notice, she would hear sounds echoing throughout the silver chamber, as the other simulacrums began to make themselves known by rising from their bed.

She knew their names individually. Kimaris, Andras, Seere, and Ipos.

But... how was she able to know their names?

Barbatos awkwardly stared at her questionable siblings, until a phrase left her soft lips for the first time since the coming of her existence.

"G-Good morning—Kimaris, Andras, Seere, and uhm. . . Ipos." She then pointed at the exit behind her posture and asked a question for all who could comprehend her words. "Do you. . . know how to leave this place?"

 

[Khocolatte]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 66

KIMARIS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

Surrounding the area that was the space within Kimaris's mind was nothing, other than the gentle light upon her face— which grew progressively unsettling the longer she lay beneath its presence— and the high-pitched, buzzing static that rang in her ears. Her thoughts were empty, lacking substance to contemplate on, until a soft sound of shuffling footsteps came into hearing. The indigo-haired figure began to focus on the noise along her peripheral auditory field before her thoughts wandered into a realm of its own, ever so slightly straying from the path she tried to stay on. She had wondered who, or perhaps what, the footsteps belonged to, and then the thought of thinking came to mind, followed by an acknowledged awareness of such thought.

How interesting it is that the idea of consciousness and the consciousness of thought coincide with each other, in which one is necessary for the other to function, and both, to fuel cognition.

Getting restless of remaining dormant on her bed, Kimaris's upper and lower lashes, which delicately rest upon each other, slowly separate as she opens her eyes for what appears to be the first time in her life. She blinks several times to adjust her lenses to the atmosphere. Shifting her head to her left and her right out of curiosity, she discovers other forms beside her. Whether or not they are conscious is uncertain. Kimaris finds this rather eerie.

Soon enough, her feet find its way to the floor as she slips out of the bed, careful not to disturb any others, and attempts to follow the direction where the footsteps had come from. She notices the heavy movements in her body as she walks, and stops for a quick moment to stretch her limbs. It feels as if she had never used this body, yet for some reason, she had already mastered the way of walking.

After some time spent passing by a numerous amount of plain silver pathways, the amount of footsteps begin to increase, until they can be heard overlapping one another. Some others must have woken up by now. Perhaps, Kimaris thought, now would be a good time to convene with them, to get an idea of what was going on exactly— to understand why they were all put in the same empty room together. Eventually, she finds herself standing behind an anxious sentient being who was not much shorter than her, struggling to open a lock.

For some reason, although she had not yet seen her face, she was already able to identify the body before her.

Her name was Barbatos.

She had not any recollection of this figure, but strangely, the name had come to her as if she had remembered a long lost friend. It took only a few seconds later for Kimaris to notice the others that stood by her, and Barbatos's greeting only confirmed their presence. Looking at each of the light-haired individuals, the same phenomena occurred where she could recognize their names by their faces, despite having no memory of any of them.

Trying to seem level-headed and not awkward at all, Kimaris does her best to assume a formal tone to respond to Barbatos.

"Hello- er... Good morning, Barbatos," she replied. "No, I do not know how to get out of 'this place'. I was too busy focusing on the environment around me to look for an escape from here. Perhaps the others have an idea?"

 

[Larry]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 22

IPOS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

Just like that, Ipos too had found himself landed on his feet, forming something of a half-ovular shape around the rather fidgety Barbatos, a name that he knew, somehow, innately. Those first few waking moments, the rhythmic pumping of the heart, the immediate articulation of sight, the tactility of touch, the conception and thence the perception of thoughts; these things that were a merging together of both the instinctual and the perceptive self, Ipos found fascinating. The simulacrum knew that the other prone figures, enwrapped in a comfortable sheet and duvet, experienced the exact same thing. And as though they rose one-by-one, Ipos knew that there was some sort of unspoken bond that connected the five of them, for, if that were not the case, how did the names of these people recur to Ipos so lucidly?

It then so happened that Kimaris stepped up, wishing the silver-haired Barbatos a rather stuttery 'good morning', subsequently answering in the negative to her question before passing the proverbial buck on to the next person to speak up. And, it seems, that person would be Ipos.

"Well...ah, good morning to you two as well but no," Ipos said, a wry smile sneaking its way onto his face, "I haven't the slightest clue as to what could be done about the lock. But whoever set such a lock either wanted to keep us safely stuck in here, or wished to prevent something from getting out at us...OR they wanted to see how much of our initiative we would use to bring about our escape, if they wanted us to escape of course."

Ipos stood back for a moment, mentally chastising himself for saying something so unimaginably vacuous that it ought not to even have been said at all.

"Sorry about that," Ipos apologised, "That was probably a few precious moments you'll never get back."

Ipos shifted nervously on the spot.

"Andras, Seere, I suppose you two wouldn't have something that could potentially remedy this little situation of ours, would you?"

 

[voracity]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 70

SEERE

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

There was an odd, weightless, sensation that prickled at his skin. That was when he knew what it meant to be awake, to be able to feel, and to contain thoughts and memories that were free to wonder. Stirring from his slumber, prompted by this nameless external stimulus, his body made minute movements as consciousness came in full. There was a soft padding under his head - a pillow. His curiosity overwhelmed all else in that moment, as he gently pushed aside the blankets; who was it that tucked them all in - all 72 of them, his memory supplied for him - were they left to rest here with a 'goodnight' or 'farewell'?

He couldn't help but to immediately note that a heavy weight sat in his throat when he considered the latter possibility - what if this spark of life, of consciousness, was a mistake of some sort?

It was uncomfortable to dwell on such, and ultimately meaningless for Seere who doubted that he'd ever get to uncover the intentions of the one who chose to wake them up. With a shake of his head, he brought himself up to his feet, and joined the gathering at the sealed doors, turning to the peer at the others who were awake, others whose names were known to him - but there was a lack of significant memories attached to these names, and there was no sentiment to be felt when he wordlessly tested these names on his lips. His eyes lingered upon each of them, trying to find something ... anything, but it would seem that there was no lost memory to be recovered.

Only when Ipos called to him did his thoughts come to an end. Although he hadn't been the most present in their earlier exchange, Seere was quick to pick up on the dilemma before them, and stepped forward. "May I?" He softly requested to Barbatos, taking her place before the latch. His hands - silver, cold - prodded at the bolts and the smooth shell of the lock, as if committing them to memory, before trying to pull, just as Barbatos had before they had all woken up. If there was an advantage in being taller and possibly better built than the smaller simulacrum, it most certainly did NOT show at all, as the lock remained unfazed, and unmoved, by his attempts.

He took a step back with a troubled expression, and a audible exhale. When he turned back to them all, there was some invisible weight hanging over him that made him dip his head, unable and unwilling to raise it ... possibly guilt? "Sorry, I don't think ... There might be conditions we haven't met," he could only offer, "or perhaps we need more than a single unit at once to override the security protocols?"

 

[Clan Ize]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 63

ANDRAS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

Andras's feet touched the ground as she got up from her bed and looked around the room. The dimmed lights still being a bit of an annoyance but one that she could deal with for now. As she turned her heads to look at the other people their names seemed to pop up in her head as if it was an old friend who they had forgotten about. She tried to think of where she had seen them before but nothing came to mind in her memory, in fact she couldn't remember anything but this at all! It appeared that somehow she already knew these peoples names. When she remembered that there were other people in the room she turned around to look at the rest of the people, as her eyes landed on them she registered each of their names but similar to the people standing up had no memory of meeting them.


For a couple minutes Andras just watched the other people, their lifeless bodies not showing any movement at all. Why had the person who brought her into this world only chosen her and 4 other people? Was there supposed to be more? Did something happen? She was going to continue her thinking when Ipos called to her from across the room; upon hearing her name she turned around to face Kimaris, Ipos, Seere and Barbatos all in a somewhat semi - circle surrounding the door that they seemed to be trying to open. As she walked over to them she realized just how much taller and imposing both of the males were, but that didn't bother her that much considering none of them seemed to be able to open the door yet.

As she walked up to the door she tried to look for any clues or anything but to no avail at all, making sure to check every part of the door. Either her creator had some sort of system in place or he wanted them to break out with brute force. So, she walked over to Kimiras who seemed to be at least at a reasonable height she could talk with.

"How successful do you think we'd be if we used Seere as a ram. His arms might not be strong enough to open the door but perhaps if we ram is head into the door hard enough we could open it! That or my other idea is too look for a control panel but that would be no fun"

 

[Arkangel]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 8

BARBATOS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

This was rather troublesome. Finding a different exit was improbable, and to think that they would be stuck in the silver chamber until their last breaths... gave Barbatos unexplainable chills. The simulacrum would calm herself by rubbing her hands against one another, forming even the slightest of heat against her palms, an instinctive gesture that was inborn in her soul and memory.

She then studied the room inch by inch. As far as she could tell, the chamber was shaped like a dome, with no sharp corners—other than the locked exit that created a claustrophobic atmosphere. Near the curving wall were beds attached to hundreds of cords that all led towards a single machine—stationed at the direct center of the room, a technology of unknown origin that seemed to contain thousands of buttons and controls that were not part of the simulacrums' already installed memories.

Still, that gave Barbatos no additional ideas on how to exit this room without resorting to brute force.

Barbatos knew that Seere held an advantage when it came to strength, according to her consciousness. And if his attempts were futile, no individual or group could break the lock that was latched onto the exit. Andras' solution was... not exactly the most ideal effort, but perhaps this was what they would call sarcasm? Either way, it would be too perilous. And the last thing she wanted to see was one of her siblings get injured by something that could be prevented.

Inclined to explore all possible methods, Barbatos stepped closer towards the mysterious and intimidating machine, laying her hands on the cold surface to examine the object. But as expected, it was no use. Nothing about the machine was bringing any ideas, until she would find herself staring blankly at the piece of paper that was resting near what seemed to be the control panel.

"I-I found something!" Barbatos exclaimed, steering the attention of her siblings towards her area. Once they gathered around to view the paper that Barbatos was holding, she audibly read the notes for the others to hear.

"Find a purpose and answers to which I could not."

"Terra will not disappoint you with its rich history. Absorb its fables and inspire its future, for the sake of my aching heart."

"Do not waste your curiosity on my insignificant existence. A deserter of their moral code deserves no empathy, and forgiveness shall not be sought."

"Accomplish what you will with the dying sphere. I leave its fate to you. If salvation is your path, locate the grave of Heinrich Agrelius."

"By chance you desire destruction upon Terra, climb the Clocktower of Mephisto and destroy the Forefather's Codex."

— Your Primogenitor.

A second after her speech, her words seemed to have activated a response from the machine that had occupied the notes, its power returning as the room's dim lights suddenly became bright enough to temporarily blind the awake simulacrums. Within seconds, the machine's center cylinder began rising, revealing a glass capsule that held a single human heart—still pulsating and active due to the magic elixir inside the tube.

On the interface below where the notes once resided, a long list of data was present for the five simulacrums to read.

UNIT I. BAEL :⠀SUCCESSFUL
UNIT II. AGARES :⠀CORRUPTED
. . .
UNIT VIII. BARBATOS :⠀SUCCESSFUL
UNIT IX. PAIMON:⠀CORRUPTED
. . .
UNIT XXII. IPPOS :⠀SUCCESSFUL
UNIT XXIII. AIM :⠀CORRUPTED
. . .
UNIT LXIII. ANDRAS :⠀SUCCESSFUL
UNIT LXIV. FLAUROS :⠀CORRUPTED
. . .
UNIT LXVI. KIMARIS :⠀SUCCESSFUL
UNIT LXVII. AMDUSIAS :⠀CORRUPTED
. . .
UNIT LXX. SEERE :⠀SUCCESSFUL
UNIT LXXI. DANTALION :⠀CORRUPTED
UNIT LXXII. ANDROMALIUS :⠀CORRUPTED
. . .
Simulacrum Genesis Project Complete.
Disable the Liquidium Elixir to conclude the project and release all security objects within the procreation chamber.

The message was clear for all to understand. Disable the machine completely, and the door would automatically open to reveal the world outside—in exchange that they can end the remaining life imbued inside the heart.

The heart that belongs to their Primogenitor.

An issue in itself, there would no doubt be a debate whether or not this was the only method. However, it wouldn't be difficult to spot a possible 'error' in the interface.

According to the machine, Bael, the first of the simulacrum siblings, was listed among one of the successful simulacrums. Barbatos immediately clenched onto the notes and looked around the chamber, locating the bed that would've had occupied Bael's artificial body.

And before she knew it, a bed was left unoccupied.

 

[Khocolatte]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 66

KIMARIS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

It was somehow rather pleasing for Kimaris to discover the personalities and mannerisms of the other life forms that maintained a close distance to her, as appalling as their current situation was. She found it refreshing, even, to observe their movements and patterns of speech— to begin to acquaint herself with the beings before her, although she would find it immensely difficult to admit to express these emotions out loud.

Occasionally glancing at the immobile, ill-bodied simulacrums that remained attached to their beds, the unit gradually sought more comfort from those who were awake as they continued to search for a solution to disengage the incomprehensible contraption that was the lock. They truly seemed animated, life-like, as they brought emotions to thought through consideration or hesitation upon their actions. The fact that Kimaris— or any of the five, really— did not have to face such an intimidating and unfamiliar scene alone made her all the more grateful for each others' existence. On the other hand, she could only feel pity for the ones who were unable to arise from their slumber, a feeling that was accompanied by a sense of unease and disconnection.

... As for Andras's suggestion about the matter, Kimaris couldn't help but cackle at the idea; she desperately tried to stifle the bouts of air that dared to erupt from her lungs, and, when she failed to do so, sent herself into a wild cacophony of laughter. Of course, she wasn't laughing because she wanted to see her family-like companions injured, but the mention of such seemed so unexpected that it caught her by surprise. It felt like a natural gesture for her, to laugh, albeit it would probably not be something she would do very often.

By the time the seemingly unusually raucous simulacrum caught her breath, she noticed that the taller albino had made her way to the center of the room, where a metallic operational device lay. It was the machine that had connected itself to the beds of each unit. She hadn't been standing very far away when Barbatos had seen the peculiar note on the nearby surface and gathered everyone's attention.

The machine abruptly began to lighten the room— as if triggered by the words that were recited from the sheet of paper— and unveiled a human heart, to which they would all assume was the primogenitor's. The dark-haired figure gawked at the heart in awe, watching its pulse somehow continue to surge despite being disconnected from the rest of its veins and systems. Recognizing it as the organ that provided the rhythmic beats in their very bodies, Kimaris placed her hand on her own heart, wondering if it would beat at the same pace, before her eyes traveled downwards to read the various names along the machine's interface.

Immediately, the flashing blue text along the first line of names had caught Kimaris's attention. "Bael..." she murmured as she tried to dig into her memory, testing to see if her brain would have any recollection of, or at least bring a face to, the name. Strangely, nothing had come up, as far as she could tell.

Baffled by the current events, Kimaris turns her attention back to, quite literally, the heart of the machine. For some reason, she could not find it in herself to look away from it. She gave no mind to Bael, for all she could worry about was the organ that was encapsulated by the cylindrical device. In order to escape, they would have to destroy the item that created their very essence... the same item that served as the last of their creator's physical presence.

 

[Larry]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 22

IPOS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

Even though he maybe ought not to feel so comfortable in the room, the presence of the other four eased what budding anxiety was beginning to set in with Ipos. Like Kimaris, he too began to chuckle at Andras' suggestion, with the size disparity acting as something of a compliment. At the last minute, Ipos stifled whatever chortling was going to occur, aided as much by the plan of action as it was by the lingering effects of that anxiousness he was feeling when faced with the idea that they might not be able to escape from this place. In the aftermath, Barbatos made her way over to a console in the centre, where a series of cables linked the various prone figures, not unlike the quintet a while previous, to the installation. At that very moment, the silver-haired youth read aloud what appeared to be a series of quotes, belonging to someone simply called 'the Progenitor', but one maxim stood out to him.

"Terra will not disappoint you with its rich history. Absorb its fables and inspire its future, for the sake of my aching heart."

Only a few moments later was Ipos to feel the full weight of those words, whereupon Barbatos' speaking of those quotes, the control panel underwent something of a transformation where a glass cylinder opened, laying bare the heart of what the simulacrums though to be their Progenitor.

"That's...t-that's..." Ipos stuttered, keeping a distance yet feeling himself nearly compelled to move towards, "The Progenitor's heart...i-isn't it...?"

Viewing it up close, Ipos wondered to himself if, even now, the Progenitor's heart aches at the state of this place he called 'Terra'. Will we actually be able to make something of a future for this place, by learning about it's past, Ipos thought to himself, a melancholy expression making its way onto his features. At one point or another, this heart acted as one with the mind of the creator, whose thoughts eventually turned to the idea of constructing Ipos and his companions, animated or otherwise. Yet, if the message that flashed up on the console is to be believed, the only way in which they could escape from this chamber was if they stopped this beating heart, the last remnants of their Progenitor.

The thought was too cruel for Ipos to bear thinking.

"I understand that...it must be done," Ipos muttered with a degree of resignation, a slight tear threatening to burst through, "But...I can't bear to watch."

 

[voracity]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 70

SEERE

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

A sudden thought struck him, and he gave a quiet excuse, dismissing himself from the gathering just a few moments after Barbatos had silently turned away from the group herself. Although he heard the silver haired girl call to the rest of the units to where she was, he ignored the call. Reaching his bed, he determinedly pulled the blanket off the bed, brows furrowing when nothing was uncovered. Undeterred, he turned to his pillow next, lifting it in hopes that there was something that laid underneath. Only to be disappointed. Whoever it was that built them these beds, tucked them in and safeguarded them in here ... he refused to believe that they were simply meant to waste away here without a way out, who would go through such trouble and lengths only to have them wake and starve when they could simply have slept, blissfully unaware of their passing? Sadly, there was nothing to be found in the beds that had cradled them for who knows how long.

Turning to rejoin the group, Seere grunted as he was blinded with a sudden flash. As soon as he was able to perceive the world clearly again, he took long strides to reach the group as fast as he was able to without actually breaking out into a run. Recalling that Barbatos was the first to find and interact with the strange device, he hovered over her shoulder, eyes reading the note in her hands, lips moving silently as he read the message that had been left behind.

Realizing that there was no actual danger, he took a deep breath to calm himself, and lifted his head to peer up at what the others were marveling as well. "Why is it so small...?" quietly escaped from his lips, as he watched the heart beat continuously. For his creator, his Primogenitor, who he had no face or other name to refer to, who judged himself insignificant and devoid of forgiveness, who confessed their guilt. To have a Primogenitor who spoke seemingly so casually, so effortlessly, about the salvation and destruction of the whole world ... he expected ... well, perhaps every heart was simply that small, Seere concluded to himself.

His eyes turned to the monitor, the names, that were listed and marked. He barely got a good look before he heard Ipos's words that ignited a fierce displeasure within him. Clenching his hands into fists, and biting down on his lip, he turned to Ipos first, finding the unit close to tears - overwhelmed - and then the heart, which was no more than a memento without an actual body to host it, nor blood that required its functions. Whatever sentiment Ipos had with the Primogenitor's heart was lost on Seere, who was further confused by Ipos confessing his inability to watch its destruction. It displeased him - this ... selfishness, cowardice, to not watch. However, Seere could not completely understand this irritation, and therefore could not voice it. Unqualified to stay irritated at Ipos, he calmed.

"We can try to keep it," he tried to suggest to Ipos. "It won't work, and it won't beat anymore, but it isn't supposed to right now anyway. We can - you can take it with you. Maybe. If it doesn't get ... damaged."

Turning to the female units, who had seen the monitor and names, he pondered out loud, "there's still one that isn't with us: Bael. How did they escape without causing any damage? There might be another way out, without following these ... instructions, although..." He peered back at the monitor, "Disable the Liquidium Elixir to conclude the project ... it seems that it was always intended to end this way. Is there a button or lever that does it?"

 

[Arkangel]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 8

BARBATOS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

Barbatos narrowed her gaze towards the steel lever located below the control panel, the object tinted bright red to indicate its importance. It was among one of the thousands of confusing buttons that had decorated the curious machine, but no item stood out as much as the mentioned substance. The simulacrum laid her delicate hands on the machine's surface and felt its unusual isolated cold, trembling lightly at the strange feeling at her chest, as if it was begging to cry as a result of her foreseeable actions.

She felt no emotional attachment to her creator, nor did she feel sorrow for the Primogenitor's last words that were written on the notes. Yet, her hands would not obey its command to cease its trembling, as she felt her stomach churn as a sign of anxiety, almost as if she was afraid of being left behind by the person that had summoned her into this world—a complete anomaly that shouldn't have existed in the first place.

But with the bit of her leftover strength to conquer her fears, she firmly gripped onto the lever, biting her lips as she spoke to her fellow simulacrums. "It would be unfair to prolong our Primogenitor's torturing—or so I believe. His words bring confusion into my thoughts, but I know that his final wish would be to rest in peace after creating us with his last breath on this... world. It would be selfish of us to keep his remnants for our own sake—so, I vote that we grant their wish for a chance to rest." Barbatos earnestly reasoned.

The last sentence was accompanied by a single bead of tear, that had managed to escape her eyes. Despite believing that this would undoubtedly create a smile on the Primogenitor's face, she felt as if she was forced to enact murder on her own blood, an act that bore no comfortability in her fragile soul.

A sense of initiative activated within Barbatos' consciousness as she wiped the tears off her cheeks, not wanting to hear the possible objections that might come from her siblings. This was the correct path, undoubtedly. And she knew deep in her heart, that unless she was the one to pull the lever, she wouldn't be able to live with the regret of waiting for someone else to take her destined place. Responsibility, as one would call it. Barbatos felt strong connections with the noun.

"No—I am certain that this is what they would have wanted." She concluded, pulling the lever down to finalize the last sequence of the machine's purpose.

The elixir that had kept the Primogenitor's heart alive had been drained from the glass tube in mere seconds, the beating object having its last moments as it stared back into the artificial souls of the simulacrum, its activity becoming intermittent until the pulsation would eventually fade, becoming a part of the Primogenitor's long gone history.

Barbatos did not cry, nor did she shed any more tears than necessary. She merely bit her lips to avoid her erupting emotions to overcome the first steps of hardship that she had to endure—albeit, its actions involved simply pulling a lever that supported her strength. A sign that perhaps, the outside world would be not so kind to her if she saw this as the most difficult challenge that she had to endure so far.

She wanted to believe that this was the correct path. Despite Bael not being present which might indicate other possibilities, to go against her Primogenitor's clear wishes—was to go against her instinctive code that was built inside her conscience. Was she correct to assume that this was their desire? Certainly, Barbatos was not without flaws. Perfection was a word that could not be used to describe the silver-haired simulacrum, no matter what one would might say about her decision. She followed her heart, and that was it.

A minute would pass until the machine forced the blinding lights to become deem once more, as the security lock on the exit became loose for the simulacrums to access without difficulties.

 

[Larry]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 22

IPOS

Location: Home on the Unknown Continent of Terra

The unit gazed at the small figure of Barbatos, who, despite her own own certainty as to what the Progenitor wished for, was betrayed by the streaking of a single tear as it made its way down her face. Tears started to flood down the unit's face, perturbing the young man as to why he was crying so. He never knew the Progenitor, never spent any time with him yet, imaging what must have went through the Progenitor's mind as he sought to construct all of them, the attention, maybe even the affection, it was too much for Ipos. What a fool I must look like, Ipos thought to himself disparagingly, through wetted eyes, glancing at his fellow companions as the elixir that was animating the heart soon began to dissipate out of view.

"Forgive me," he said, his voice still choked with the effects of crying as he wiped frantically at his eyes, "That...I don't know why it hurt so much to see that happen."

Though it seemed that the silencing of the Progenitor's heart did as the instructions said it would do, namely the opening of the door. Yet, Ipos' mind remained on the Progenitor's heart. What were they do with it? To leave it where it was seemed cruel to the unit, so Seere's suggestion, about maybe taking it with them, was something that Ipos wholeheartedly endorsed, though there remained the question of what exactly they would house it in? There seemed to be nothing within the room, at least to a brief survey of it, that could safely contain the heart once they decide the leave. Ipos grimaced somewhat at the realisation, and seeking to abate whatever annoyance may emerage as a result, he paced over to the door, to see what the outside world looked like - the world that cost the beating of his Maker's heart.

As he pushes it open, alongside the inquisitive gazes of the other simulacrums, Ipos' eyes were agape at the sight.

 

[Arkangel]

ARTERIUS HEART - TRACK I - SALOMONIS REGIS

Credit: Pigsomedom

NEW LOCATION: "THE LIBRARY OF THE BEGINNING"

What laid dormant behind the ironclad gate was another room of different lights and design, its brilliance capturing the awe of many. Before the simulacrums was an enormous library with an entire collection of physical copies of books, all kept in fine conditions by whoever formerly managed this shrine of knowledge—until the invasion of nature.

But what had captured the attention of the escapees, wouldn't be the books that were kept neatly beside one another within the shelves. A harmonious sound would echo throughout their ears, the exquisite melody soothing their souls in return, calming their emotions like a mother's care. A quick observation around the library would reveal the performer of the tune—a ghost if one were to carefully examine its transparent body. A young soul no doubt, possibly holding the age of a single digit.

Lost in their own theatrical piece, the young boy continued to master the instrument as if the world revolved around their song—the calm wind complementing his stunning brilliance as they continued without an end in sight. How dramatic it was, to see even the birds dancing to his acoustic. A scenery that no soul would expect after leaving the strict blinding facility.

Examine the ghost and their equipment, one would find five particular books arranged on the music rack, for anyone to take. The ghost would heed no mind to their recent guests. No amount of noise, presence, or effort would stop the boy from performing his tunes. It was as if, he wanted the books to be taken from his vision—perhaps a message that he was desperately trying to relay to the closest listeners.

 

[pomme]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 52

ALLOCES

Location: The Library of the Beginning

Alloces was only somewhat sure that what was happening around her was not simply some cruel farce. Looking upon the dully shining chamber, the contents that it held, Alloces felt anything she was supposed to be experiencing fell short of her artificial heart. The Primogenitor... it almost hurt more being devoid of memories of her own creator than to see the heart's demise. Even if Barbatos had given them more than a second to react, Alloces was unsure she would've wished to intervene. Whatever task the Primogenitor had left for them had interested her from its very first words, but the topic of the heart was one that required more inquisition. Saying Alloces was heartless towards the event would be quite wrong. It elicited an unfamiliar tightness in her chest, though looking around at her companions, she thought it might be because of their reactions.

Barbatos, with her small figure, looked like she might collapse simply from her weeping. Ipos seemed as if he was shocked by the wetness on his own cheeks. Alloces was chastened by her own observations of the others. As the last of the elixir drained out of the chamber, it seemed that the simulacrum's heart lit for just a moment with something akin to grief. But it was a brief moment. She found comfort in the knowledge that the act was a result of her Maker's desires. From what little she knew, the Maker cared much more profoundly about their mission than such a heart. Perhaps it had been placed there as a test of the simulacrums' own resilience. Alloces would not be hurt by the heart's destruction so long as she remained assured it was insignificant.

With a small sniffle, Alloces turned to the door. If it was protected by this task that so harrowed her 'siblings', what could it possibly hold?

The sight behind the door was certainly unexpected. The light pouring from its opening stung her eyes. Her awe at the books was quickly eclipsed by overwhelming curiosity, her gaze jumping from place to place in an attempt to absorb the brilliant new sight. The nature that seemed to seep its way through the room's very soul was a sharp contrast to the sterile place they had just left. In her surprise, Alloces failed to notice perhaps the most interesting sight of all until his music drew her notice.

This boy, was he truly as transparent as he seemed? Were her eyes failing her? Alloces felt a poignancy at the sight. A sound reminiscent to a gasp left her lips, her hands clenching at her sides. She wanted to reach out to the pallid mirage, yet not to dispel it. Some measly part of her wished that if she touched the apparition, his skin would return to vibrancy and life. She had never before seen the boy, and yet she felt as if she had witnessed a robbery. Shaking her head softly, she pinched her nose. Such blind emotion was not something she wished upon herself.

Drawing another breath as if it were a ward against the apprehension she held, Alloces crossed the threshold into this new library. "Hello..?" Her voice still felt raw and new in her throat. As she drew closer to the boy, his music seemed to bring an odd wave of calmness over her. His figure remained motionless except for his diligent playing. She quickly glanced back at the others, hesitantly raising a hand. Alloces had no wish to disturb the playing, yet his presence was incredibly fascinating.

Slowly, she reached out and tapped the boy's shoulder. Her hand quickly jerked back when his figure remained stony. She was not sure why she had recoiled so. Alloces took a couple paces backwards, looking back at the others once more. From her distance, she examined the scene further. What perplexed her most was the array of books before the boy. She couldn't discern which, if any, he was reading from. Biting her cheek and casting her curiosity aside for just a moment, she gestured for the other simulacrums to join her.

 

[voracity]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 70

SEERE

Location: The Library of the Beginning

It felt like a senseless loss. This trade that was made for their freedom - how would they ever know if it was worth it, what consequences awaited them, and where they were forced to make this horrible decision, what of Bael who may have found another way ? Seere could barely even begin to put into words just what exactly had been lost to them right here.

For their incompetency, for their stupidity, for their cowardly obedience, Seere resolutely watched without tearing his gaze away as the liquid gave way, and the heart gave its last pump - murdered by their shared decision and actions. Whether it was the right choice or not, Seere determined that he could not allow himself the luxury of looking away. Barbatos had gone and done the hardest part, the least he could do as an accomplice to this sad scene was to sear it cleanly into his memory - the First Tragedy.

Comparing himself to Ipos and Barbatos, Seere envied their ability to shed their tears and express their sorrow, even if there was the possibility that they could not keenly understand it. They had all been awake for such a short amount of time, but have already shown a great capacity to be in tune with the concept of empathy, bonding with their Primogenitor and expressing grief for a figure who has only left his desires for them to fulfill. Seere ... to his shame, could only feel a tint of helpless anger as he regarded the now silent and non-functional machine. No matter what they now accomplished, with the Primogenitor truly and completely gone, how could they determine their efforts to be meaningful and significant? Moving towards the now silent machine, Seere bent his over as he tried a few buttons, but the screen would remain unresponsive, and no new information would come. There really was nothing more to be done nor to be found.

Before he could give himself away to the weight of defeat in his heart though, he heard Alloces from a distance - turning, he was first taken aback by the sheer vividness of the room beyond their chamber - bright, and full of life, two things distinctly not found in their chamber. It was a room that was meant to host people, to have them visit and remain; it was impossible not to look upon the scene and feel as if one were invited into a sanctuary. When Alloces signaled for them, Seere was the first to make his way over, with his long strides.

His head had been tilted, enraptured by the white birds that had found their way inside somehow, and for whatever reason ignored the simulacrums' intrusion to flit about as an accompaniment to the soulful piece performed by ...

"What ... is this?" He breathed, coming to a stop beside Alloces, regarding the intangible existence. Turning away from the specter, he cast his gaze over to the instrument instead and found confusion building up. Confident that the boy was in fact a being without any physical ability to interact with the world, Seere stepped closer to assess the piano.

"This is ... awful," he noted with a pinched expression, "the wood is all rotten or broken off, there's only three strings left inside and-" tilting his head to peer at the underside, he clicked his tongue, "there aren't even any pedals left. What the hell is this?" He muttered, as the music continued, somehow - but wherever it was coming from, it certainly did not come from the withered and aged instrument.

"...It shouldn't be possible," he said, reaching out to press upon the keys of the piano. When he retracted his hand, the key couldn't even spring back up, stuck in a position where it was pressed down. "Somehow ... the only thing that looks like it might work are the scores ..." he scoffed softly, disbelievingly, peering up at the 5 books that laid undisturbed, and in significantly better conditions, on the rack.

 

[Khocolatte]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 66

KIMARIS

Location: The Library of the Beginning

There it remained, the heart of the one known as Arterius, with nothing else to go on. There had only been but a name and a neatly scrawled poetic piece of paper left nearby, written in a tone that had implied a sense of honor and a code to abide by in order to carry on an ambiguous legacy. Kimaris did not know exactly what it was about the heart that caught her attention, nor did she understand why she could not bring herself to pull her attention away from it. It was only as beautiful as it was disturbing to see such an organ exposed, naked without the body of its wielder to protect it from harm, as it inorganically continued to beat without any means of exhaustion. Perhaps it was the mere presence of the organ that made her want to keep it alive, knowing that it belonged to someone rather important.

Her enchanted gaze gradually dissipated as she witnessed the operation of events that fell upon her eyes. The pulling of the lever had left the heart to succumb to its demise, and for a split second, Kimaris felt herself shut down in both body and mind as she watched its last movements come to an end. She felt heartbroken, as if a slight part of her had died, although she could not allow for the emotions of desperation and anguish to surface for the sake of the fragile-minded simulacrums. She had felt selfish enough for daring to compromise their freedom and consider eternal isolation in exchange for something that had long served its purpose.

Attempting to comfort herself, the simulacrum had remembered the sole function of the heart, which was to bring life to as many as was needed, even if it were just one sole figure. For Barbatos, Ipos, Alloces, Seere, and herself to have stayed alive after the heart had been destroyed, it meant that it had fulfilled its main task. For that, Kimaris had let out a small sigh, as to relieve the tension that accumulated in her throat.

Once again, the dark-haired figure snapped out of her thoughts as her attention had been called upon by another's beckoning. This time, it was Alloces, not Barbatos, who had led the group into the newfound space. As if a polar opposite to the room which they had just recently stepped out of, the library seemed to signify a stark contrast to the dull chamber. The melody that had seeped into the walls of the room felt harmonious rather than calming, creating a mellow feeling of discomfort and unease, similarly to the pale complexion and tidy appearance of a porcelain doll. Strangely enough, the music had complemented the tone of the room in its eccentric fashion, with a cylindrical wall filled to the brim with archaic texts, surrounded by large clumps of moss and a broken aviary machine that invaded the serene pools of water and green foliage.

The aura was magnificent, if not a little bit creepy. The song had carried wind to the birds, as if allowing their taking of flight as they encircled one another in accordant cadence... a pantomime of fluttering and flapping, perhaps, if one would call it that.

Kimaris then joined the crowd, crowding around the peculiar youth that sat by the instrument that appeared to produce the sound within the room. However, Seere, with his keen observations, had deduced that the music had not come from the piano at all.

She turned her head to the specter, analyzing him and taking note of his focused expression. His eyelids remain shut as he ran his fingers along the keys of the broken piano, attuned to the music, swaying his head along with the rhythm that accompanied his movements. Underneath the calm composure laid a feeling of emotional pain. Perhaps it was loneliness, or a sense of sorrow from being confined, just as the simulacrums were. She then turned towards the books that lay in front of him. It seems as if the boy had not paid attention to them at all, as if he had not needed them, for he had already remembered each note by heart. A thought suddenly crossed her mind.

"Do you perhaps wonder that, if we were to each take hold of one book, the music would suddenly stop?" She faced the ghost once more, suddenly afraid of what would happen if his music were to be stripped from him. Would he cry, or fume in frustration, or... would he disappear? Although she had suggested the idea herself, she became rather reluctant to figure out what would happen next.

 

[Larry]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 22

IPOS

Location: THE LIBRARY OF THE BEGINNING

Ipos wasn't sure if this new area could serve as a greater contrast to the banal, drab room they had awoken into. A library, its shelves filled to the brim with massive hardbacks and well-worn paperbacks, as well as a few straggling scrolls and other more obscure types of parchment, made Ipos think back on the words of the Maker, as he was wont to call him now. Maybe by reading through all these various items, Ipos thought to himself, his gaze scanning the vegetation-infested library, I might be able to make the Maker's last wish come through. Yet, as all the other filed into the room, the sound of a piano being broke his reverie, instead fixing his attention on the source of the music as it resounded throughout the room.

Yet, just as the music was something unusual for him to experience, the melodious, dulcet tones of the piano moving through the air, what was even more striking was the presence of a figure, a nigh-transparent boy who looked as though he were playing the instrument; Ipos would have continued in that line of thinking were it not for Seere's deductions who, rightly, pointed out that the foundered nature of the instrument wouldn't have allowed anyone to operate it, let alone make a sound from it's decayed features. But were the simulacrum to think that the child's incapacity to operate the machine was proof of his intactility, if Alloces reaction upon touching the boy was anything to go by, it seemed that the child wasn't as imperceptible as he so thought. It was also at this time that Kimaris made a trailing point, that maybe if they removed the five prominently-placed books from the rack on which they were placed, that maybe the song would stop playing. It wasn't plainly obvious were the quintet were to head from there on, and given their still emotional visages, something was needed in order to take their minds off what just occured, as painful as it still was for the simulacrum to process.

And thus, oddly enough, it was the cry-baby of the group that stepped forward.

"So, if I take one of these things," Ipos wondered, pointing to the book on the far right of the group, "Do you think it'll stop the song?"

But just as he was reaching for the book, he stopped himself. As Ipos watched the figure, so tranquil and undisturbed, he began to think twice about disturbing the youth. Perhaps the incident with the heart of the Maker was still weighing on his mind. Just as he hoping to try and put the experience with the Maker's heart behind him, the experience of having to put something out of place, which may result in something completely hypothetical, he finds himself stuttering and unable to do the thing he ought to do. Ipos bemoaned himself for not being able to do this simple task, and stepped out of the way for the other simulacrums to be the first, his head hanging low.

 

[Arkangel]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 8

BARBATOS

Location: THE LIBRARY OF THE BEGINNING

Barbatos wished for the melody to be eternal, never faltering—blessed by the beauty of nature. For reasons unbeknownst to the simulacrum, the tunes sounded humble and soothing, as if the boy was attempting to ease the minds of the children who had just woken up from their perpetual nightmare. The tone sounded familiar, and yet—it felt unique.

But she knew that this was no time to waste their precious time. Allowing themselves to be lost to the boy's endless performance, would only label them as fools. Though a question arose—what is the origin of this ghost, and the exact reasoning behind its existence? Perhaps, the entity was another one of their primogenitor's way of communicating with their creation after their sacrifice? If so, the books—nay, the assortment of codices was the only clue in front of them. With no hesitation, she helped herself with one of the five, randomly choosing the 'Ars Goetia'.

The codex held no seal to secure its content, thankfully. Though the physical quality of the item was left to be desired, its content remained very much unblemished and untouched.

PAGE 1.
paymonia: the continent of primordial solitude​

Paymonia's environment speaks no lies. Its beauty has withered long after the events of the Great Hysteria, and it shows. Nature has claimed most of what was left after the delirium, and all that was manmade shall find peace within Terra's earth. The last of its remaining civilization worships the God of Arboriculture. The destruction of nature is considered the ultimate sin, and the arson of trees is met with hostility only a bedlamite could carry out. A decision humanity should've made when we had the chance.

Nonetheless, the continent boasts powerful tales that had manifested from the Great Hysteria, such as the uprising of my dearest friend and mentor, Heinrich Agrelius. Her origin of birth marks this land as a significant part of humanity's fluctuating history. As the leader of the Agrelius Revolution before her death at the hands of the sullied, her beauty was enough to paint the world a thousand bright colors, bringing hope to our world like no other.

How unfortunate it was for her crusade to end without meeting a conclusion that we all had desired. As the fervent followers of her will, her comrades stood by her side to change the system from the mad extraterrestrials who desires for nothing but essence of our adversity and agony until the end of Terra, and yet, she was utterly defeated by the philosophy that she cursed since childhood. The world is unjust. My heart forever bleeds knowing that her dream turned into dust.

Paymonia was always alone surrounded by the silent sea. Isolated by the other continents after the fall of its former empire, it earned its epithet rightfully after murdering its own idol in cold blood. May it forever torment in its own ignorance.

Barbatos read the first page in her natural voice, as the music continued to play without showing signs of stopping. It looked like the boy had already found their peace, playing the aged instrument for the birds to chirp along with.

She had no real opinions of Heinrich Agrelius. The book did not go into detail about her supposed legend, leaving its details for the simulacrum to find during their adventure outside—which could begin the moment they exit the library, following the glowing limestone on the floor.

 

[pomme]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 52

ALLOCES

Location: The Library of the Beginning

Alloce's brow only furrowed farther at Seere's comments. Peering down at the instrument, she saw no reason to object to his claims. It did look battered, though in Alloce's eyes, it only made it blend in with the natural room more. She frowned at him as his words got angrier. Looking upon the simulacrum touch the instrument only sent yet another wave of unpleasant bitterness through her. But the second it rose, the peaceful tune washed it away. She didn't want it to stop.

She stepped aside as Kimaris joined the pair. Even with the omnipotent calming affect the tone had, Alloces felt somewhat uneasy—as if, the second she let her guard down, the music would pull her in and never let go. The girl's question was welcome. She returned her gaze once more to the books. Their covers gave no insights to what was within (at least, none that made much sense). Her concentration only deepened when Ipos echoed the remarks. She'd thought earlier that he simply wasn't reading from them... but clearly this boy, this creature, didn't follow any logic she was accustomed to.

Her breath hitched sharply in her chest when Ipos reached out. She wasn't sure why she felt so many different feelings towards such a simple action. The music seemed to reach into her soul in uncomfortable ways. But the trancelike hold it had over her snapped quickly when Ipos turned away like a chastised dog. Bitterness once again rose in her gut. She felt as if this whole predicament was tearing her apart in the most subtle ways.

The breath she held came out in a weak gasp when Barbatos strode up and grabbed one of the scores as if it was nothing. The bitterness bubbled into a thick shame. She barely dared to peer over Barbato's shoulders as she read. The information felt like a breath of fresh air. Even through the text and Barbato's flat tone, she could hear the emotion in the words. It was hard for her to think such emotion had come from the lifeless heart suspended in the chamber. For the Primogenitor to harbor such contempt, condemning a whole island for the sake of one woman, no matter how extraordinary... he must had revered her a great deal. She couldn't imagine such a deep emotion.

Alloces turned her chin downwards, grabbing one of the books and tucking it under her arm. Would it hold another tragedy? She could only hope it had more answers than Heinrich's story. Her gaze roamed through the landscape, catching on the dimly glowing limestone embedded into the ground. She stepped away from the group, the light casting a soft glow on her shoes. "I think the Primogenitor has left another instruction for us." She saw no other promising way out of the library. But why were they put in such a mazelike place? If it was truly a test of personal value, it was a roundabout and farcical one. Looking at the path ahead, at the unknown future, Alloces only felt like she was missing something crucial.

 

[Larry]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 22

IPOS

Location: THE LIBRARY OF THE BEGINNING

Ipos watched as Barbatos walked up to the music stand where the codices where placed, delicately took it into her hands and read out the contents therein. The story of Heinrich Agrelius, who, if Ipos believed rightly that the books were the work of the Maker, was someone special to the Progenitor, left him somewhat confused. The words, so full of anguish for this woman whom he clearly admired ,and yet so bitter towards the land that brought about her downfall and the ruination of this dream of hers. So great was the Maker's love for this woman and her cause that the failure of it caused him to curse Paymonia forever for the crime it had committed. As strange as he may have founded it, yet, upon further consideration, he thought about himself and the Maker: the difficulty of watching the Progenitor's heart stop was something he still found difficult to think on, even though it only occurred a while ago. If it were not for the fact that it was his companions who were there, with each, in their own way, sharing a similar feeling of grief over the action, Ipos too might have felt the same bitterness and anger towards those that ended the Maker's life, in the same way that the writer felt such strong feelings for Agrelius and Paymonia.

Just as the simulacrum finished another bout of introspection (something that he was becoming rather proficient at it), Alloces plucked another one of the tomes from the stand and placed it under her arm; from a quick glance, and by the look on her face, Ipos could tell that she had been reflecting on what had been spoken as well. It was only by his companion's pointing out that Ipos had noticed the luminescent grafted into the floor of the library, so enraptured had the simulacrum been not only with the music, at first glance, thought to be played by the ephemeral figure of the boy and then the words of weeping for Agrelius, spoken by Barbatos in a somewhat flat, but endearing tone.

"G-good eye Alloces," Ipos muttered out, not even bothering to try and appear as though he noticed the pathway earlier.

Having seen both Barbatos and Alloces take one of the books, Ipos, subduing any disquiet or nervousness he might have felt, sauntered up to the music stand, where the pallid figure of the boy ratcheting his fingers up and down the piano as though he were playing it. The simulacrum took one of the tomes into his hands, not daring to open it, feeling that it would be preferable for all of them to read what were written in their respective codices once they found their way out of the library. Yet, Ipos was trepidatious about the outside world, if what Barbatos read out was anything to go by. But if I have Alloces, Seere, Kimaris and Barbatos with
me, I doubt there's anything I can't handle, the simulacrum thought to himself heartily, causing a smile to burst onto Ipos' face.

With that encouraging thought in mind, Ipos started to follow after Alloces down the lit-up path.

 

[voracity]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 70

SEERE

Location: The Library of the Beginning

There was a small sting of embarassment as he realized he had misspoken. What laid undisturbed on the rack was not musical scores, but actual tomes. As Barbatos pried open one of the five, reading aloud what had been left in its pages, his foolishness was forgotten in favor of harvesting all new information.

He couldn't help but to recall the plea that had been left with them in their chamber. It was indecision that had plagued their Primogenitor, between saving the land that had been host to miracles and horrors alike, or striking to claim justice for those who had fallen; mercy for those who remained. It was clear that the words left behind in this message held nothing but helpless contempt. But he could not imagine that his laments were written only with anger and contempt to guide his hand. He written this - this entry, these books - for someone to find. He had ensured that the name Heinrich Agrelius would not be lost to time.

As his sibling units turned to follow their new discoveries, Seele broke from his contemplations to pluck one of the remaining books for himself. Only after he began inspecting the cover of the Ars Almadel did he realize his faux pas. Turning to Kimaris with a sheepish grin, and mouthing 'sorry' to the woman, he turned the book in his hands with a singlemindedness any scholar would approve of, looking for any clues on its exterior. It was spotless, untouched ... and if he may dare say, cherished.

He hoped dearly that there would be more stories, and names, to be found in its contents.

Just before Kimaris reached for the last, Seere turned his eye to their ghostly company. Although the spectre had been silent and utterly unminding of them thus far, he held a quiet fear that the boy would not approve of their ... theft? Who knows what magic maintained this room, and this music, and what awaited them when it came to an end.

Rolling his shoulders in an attempt to unravel the uneasiness he felt, he was quick to turn on his heel and walk after the glowing cues on the floor. He would feel better once they left the unnatural library and its host, surely.

"Let's hurry, Kimaris, Barbatos," he addressed the other two who hadn't followed Ipos and Alloces just yet.

 

[Khocolatte]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 66

KIMARIS

Location: The Library of the Beginning

Seeing as how the other simulacrums carefully plucked the tomes from the stand, Kimaris realized her words had been taken into effect. One by one the books were removed, albeit with some initial hesitance from Ipos. The rest seemed quite nonchalant, as if taking one of the books had been a natural task. The codices, according to the pages that Barbatos had read out loud, seemed to contain valuable information that would, without a doubt, become of great importance in their mission to discover the world that awaited their presence.

As Seere mouthed an apology to her before catching up with Alloces and Ipos, Kimaris simply nodded back, understanding that it was not his fault for her indecisiveness. Her inability to act had let her to this situation. Thus, like the rest of the group, she would have to put her emotions aside and take hold of the only book that remained: the Ars Notoria. Its cover had seemed worn-out and barren, only decorated with the letters that served as its title. The indigo-haired simulacrum turned once more to the childlike figure as if this would be the last time she would see him, and hoped he would not be in vain as he parted with the books... no, she knew that was not the case, for if it were, he would have stopped them long ago.

The child seemed quite content with the music he played, the tune seeping out from an unknown source. Perhaps it was his soul that the melody had come from. Kimaris bore a weak smile as she had finally understood the reason for his immediate existence, reaching for the book at last as she wished for the ghost to make peace with his music, much like the peace he was able to provide to the simulacrums when they had initially entered the room. Hopefully, with his last performance, he would receive closure from the world and move on.

After tucking the book under the arm like everyone else had, Kimaris then turned around to reconvene with the rest of the group—but not before tugging on Barbatos's sleeve, signaling the albino simulacrum to tag along.

"Come on Barbatos, let's go!" she said, linking arms with her as they traveled to the spot with the glowing limestone. It was strange to Kimaris for Barbatos to be the last to leave the area, as she would usually be the first, much like that of a natural-born leader.

I wonder what's been on her mind...

 

[Arkangel]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 8

BARBATOS

Location: THE LIBRARY OF THE BEGINNING

For reasons unbeknownst to Barbatos, she felt numbness take over her consciousness until Kimaris forced physical contact, abruptly waking her from the daydream. It was a strange occurrence, dozing off in the middle of nowhere for no reason in particular. She blankly stared at her book before Kimaris would wake her up, reading the texts over and over again until the page ran out of new words to spoon-feed the simulacrum, like an android that had lost its programming.

The moment she snapped back to reality, Barbatos blinked several times rapidly before noticing the change of events, staring back and forth from Kimaris' arm to Alloces' movement, trying to understand what had just occurred. After realizing that the group was prepared to leave the library and set food on another location, she shook her head, trying to forget what had just happened with her consciousness.

"Sorry about that, Kimaris. I'm just feeling a bit... dizzy, I guess. It's starting to get cloudy, we should get moving." Barbatos reminded the group, as the sky above occupied no more sunlight, the dark clouds pilfering the god rays that had given light to the library. A sign of heavy rain, the group would've thought. Perhaps they should find shelter that wasn't in the library, to avoid having to deal with soaked clothes.

Barbatos followed the glowing limestone after shaking herself back into sensibility, along with the group who had to begin speed walking to avoid the gradually coming rain. The stunning claps of thunder echoed throughout the skies, signaling the group to hurry towards the exit, which they were able to locate after a solid minute of guiding themselves with the clues left on the ground.

What they saw the moment they had opened the wooden gate, was nothing more than... perhaps, dissatisfying.

A world that had its beauty stolen by the malice of mankind.

 

[Arkangel]

ARTERIUS HEART - TRACK II - PAYMONIA

Credit: Astero

NEW LOCATION: "RUINS OF PAYMONIA"

A moment was given to the simulacrums before the thunderstorms took over the scenery, as the last seconds of sunlight adored the beauty of Paymonia's ruins. Its plain fields were invaded by nature along with the deserted architectures, similar to how the library had lost its grace by time. As sunlight ceased to exist over the ruins of Paymonia, rain began to trickle down more frequently as the simulacrums would feel their shoulders stained by droplets of liquid, alerting them to immediately find shelter.

If one were to scour for possible shelters, no solid ceilings would be located, as the library and the lab were stationed at the dead center of the grassy plains, accompanied by none but dead lonely trees. The closest to a shelter that could provide protection was the strange building that was barely clinging onto the mountain hillside, but the en route they would have to journey through was unideal. Perhaps, they could travel towards the river that was no more than a quarter of a kilometer away from their standing point.

Once they would reach the destination, the simulacrums would be met with a compilation of abandoned village buildings near the river.

 

[Larry]

SIMULACRUM KEY UNIT 22

IPOS

Location: RUINS OF PAYMONIA

If the room in which the simulacrums awakened was a place denuded of nature, and the library being an area in which it disturbed man's artifice, then the simulacrums had just stepped into nature's all-encompassing kingdom, stretching as far as the eye could see, remnants of buildings still dotting the landscape. Ipos was amazed by the scenery that had opened up to him, lead unto this vast expanse by Alloces, who walked at the head of the group along the limestone pavement, out of the library. Yet, as though it so happened that the weather would change upon their arrival, capriciously stealing away from them the warm embrace of the sun, thunder clouds began to form, precipitating the arrival of rain droplets that fell softly upon their clothing. The simulacrum was fascinated by the sensation, no doubt the first of numerous tactile experiences that he'd get to experience. After the experience of the Maker's heart being stopped, Ipos, though the experience was still on his mind, was glad to have found something to alleviate that sense of sadness that pervaded through him.

As though made salient by the droplets of rain that streaked down his clothing, Ipos spotted the outline of the river as it coursed its way through the landscape, engreened as it was by the lack of humanity's presence, bar the buildings that jutted out from the ground and towards the sky. Perhaps Ipos was too taken up in his own excitement about the space that now laid itself open before him; looking back at Barbatos, linked as she was by Kimaris, as well as looking upon the stern visage of both Seere and Alloces, the childish simulacrum felt his ridency was inappropriate for the situation they all faced at the moment. The discovery of the codices, the information they contained about Heinrich Agrelius, the ire the Progenitor felt for the world as a follower whose leader fell in struggle against it: these were quite the intense emotions for all the simulacrums to feel, having only awoken a short time ago. Maybe I should leave them alone for a bit, Ipos thought to himself, eyeing a collection of buildings next to the river, turgid as it was beginning to become as a result of taking in all the rain as well as run-off from the over-saturation of the land on both sides of its channel. Even if it was an imagined tensity on his part, Ipos felt best to leave his companions to themselves, diverging from the group as he walked at a reasonably pace towards the river.

Having walked for a minute or two, and as he neared the end of the river bank, Ipos noticed a pile of stones as well more artificial objects lying around, primarily broken glass, though a shard of blue-and-white porcelain was also there, having what appeared to be a floral design, though only the stem and a singular leaf were all that remained of what was one a complete object. Ipos took both a piece of the shattered glass and the sundered porcelain into his hands, mindful not to grip them too tightly, since he felt that, if his grasp were to loosen suddenly, he might end up cutting himself. As his gaze darted between the two of them, as though he were a surveyor of some kind, Ipos wondered to himself if they, the simulacrums, were anything like these pieces. Are we like this glass, even when fitted back together, is see-through all the same, the simulacrum philosophised, or are we like this pottery, only being made whole as we assemble all these strewn pieces of ourselves?

Ipos sat there for a moment, more than just a bit perturbed at the wonderings that wandered into his mind.

"I'll leave it to the other guys to think about things like that," he said, smirking at his uncharacteristic headiness.

"That's to say as though there was anything missing in the first place!" he beamed.

Having contemplated for a moment, Ipos returned to looking at the river, the cracked pieces still in his hand. He then, as though at the turn of a switch, fired the two pieces into the whirling river, the shards dipping below the water's surface, never to be seen again. Satisfied with the PLOP! of the glass and porcelain as they entered the water, even over the slowly increasing level of rain falling to the earth, the simulacrum looked over to the menagerie of stones to his side, ranging from the very small to ones that would cover his palm. Standing up, Ipos got the stones and fired them into the river in a variety of different manners and forms, resulting in a (as he surprised to see!) a skipping motion for the very smooth ones, with the larger stones, thrown overhand, producing a PLUNK! as the displaced water rose into the air. At first, the enthusiastic simulacrum didn't understand why he enjoyed this activity so much, yet, as he pondered on it a bit more, perhaps it had to do with this anxiety that he, and no doubt the others, felt at their situation.

Hopefully, just like all those stones, that anxiety will be washed away in a current, never rearing its ugly head again.