Soon, they arrived at the Central Relay-like area, the Arbiter’s tails wagging as if excited. It was jarring to see beings of calibers echelons above her in terms of raw strength act so human-like.

She wasn’t fooled though. The Arbiter was a being beyond the mind of human, and Galia was no longer one. It was weird for her to admit it, but she felt out of place. However, she steeled her resolve and stood shoulder to shoulder with these beings, wearing impassioned eyes.

“Caldera Industries on the other hand are motivated to feed me. We have a terribly long history with one another.”

“Sounds like you’ve fought.” Jury remarked as particles of light rose from the glowing inscriptions beneath.

Galia’s cosmic eyes narrowed as a mist of nostalgia enhanced the colors in her eyes. Suddenly, everything turned white as they were transported to the highest floor of the Main Branch. The place where Galia personally developed her products with the rawest form of the Warped Stone.

But before the light could dispel, Galia concluded tantalizingly.

“Would you believe me if I told you that half a century ago – I, a human with nothing to my name – brought down that juggernaut of an Atelier to their knees?

Hm. I didn’t think so.”

They arrived at the summit of the Main Branch, where the ceiling was replaced with the constellations of an oddly unfamiliar universe, with several planets labeled as ‘Mercury’, ‘Venus’, ‘Earth’, ‘Mars’, etc, with a diagram of a galaxy called the Milky Way where something called Sagittarius A resided.

That universe was the same one Frost once called home.

“History is often written by the victors. My legacy was martyred to bring forth a new era. One that united us more than ever before. My Hyperlinks changed everything. Behold, Beholder Jury. This is where I create aspects of my Warped Stone.

Feel free to create something of your own if you so wish. I will allow you to use my Workshop until you receive your own. Go on. The White Light Apparatus awaits your interaction.”

The object in question resided in the center of the room. It was an artefact that appeared like an arrangement of several pale spears like a bonfire. A Genesis Stone was held in between the spears, ready to become an Aspect of a technology.

This allowed for Active or Passive Skills to take form within a Genesis Stone, thus, becoming an Aspect of a given technology. This was grossly simplifying it.

Because the process was far more involved than anything she had ever submitted herself to.

And by the end of it, the resulting item came out appearing like a blob of molten white goop. She had failed, but this goop carried an incredibly unique property.

Namely, it served as a primitive product that allowed one to create a miniature, temporary Isolation Sphere. It was far from perfect and was due to be destroyed. However, Galia and the Arbiter, who were deeply intrigued by the prospect of Jury’s power, considered keeping it aside as one item for Jury to showcase at the Arbiter’ Council rather than destroying it like what was usually done to failures.

Because if this was what goop could do with Jury’s power…

… then one could only imagine what a perfected Aspect of her technology could do.

* * *

“The end of the year will be upon us soon. 351 PA. And here we believed Beholder Marionette would spark the beginning of a new era. How things change. Hm… What do you think, Galia?” The Arbiter spoke from within a dark void.

“It will be a noisy year, that is for certain.” Galia replied nonchalantly. “The coming of your Council will serve to lay the foundations of our resolutions for the 351st year, Post Advent of Civilization. Perhaps beyond.”

“Beyond for certain. A year is plenty long enough for the world to change. In 4 months, we saw the beginning and end of several inconveniences. Things are moving faster now. More than ever.” The Arbiter scrunched something before a faint ticking sound could be heard. “Unfortunately, Jury’s technology seems to attract unwanted guests. Elysia is going to be another factor moving forward.”

“So it seems. I’m still quite ill versed with this entity. But this ticking does bring me back.” Galia devilishly hummed. “No. Forgive me. I’ve been their acquaintance once.”

“You resisted it, I recall. ‘The Voice From Beyond the Void’. Elysia.”

“That I did. Her sweet temptations were irresistible. ‘Become the perfect you’. ‘Give in’. ‘You cannot change anything’. Aha. But I had ambitions. A world I still dream of. Where do you think I learned to speak with such a tantalizing tongue?”

“Perhaps that is why I latched onto you so quickly and nearly killed you for it.” The Arbiter laughed, as did Galia.

“Hmhm. I’m flattered. The Amalgam and Beholder Jury will instill radical change. Let’s hope this strengthens the Nexus, rather than breaks it. It would be problematic if we weren’t sewn together against a rising common enemy.”

“Your Apostle had become quite troublesome…” The Arbiter suddenly trailed off.

It was uncharacteristic of her, as if for a moment, she had drawn blanks. And after a long minute, the Arbiter concluded with:

“Galia. Your time has yet to come. I know your sins. As do you. At the end of it all, I will ask you if it was worth it.

I eagerly await your day of judgement.”