A fortress shaped like a layered wedding cake rose to the heights of the pale Isolation Sphere. The base was so large that Divas Pass could easily fit inside. The layers gradually became smaller and tighter the higher it went.

A total of four layers were built solely by Jury’s imagination. The Workshop spaces were magical but required tremendous amounts of Nex to create material from nothing. Although, the truth was that what existed here and what was built by imagination could not be brought beyond the Workshop.

Complex machinery and instruments were also unable to form here aside from the White Light Apparatus. It was an artificial scape sculpted by Jury’s will, existing solely within the boundaries of the Nexus. It was the one flaw of the Workshop, but it hardly outweighed the benefits.

It operated similarly to CogitO’s Reality Manifesters, except it could create micro worlds such as this. Or a state of mind if one really thought about it.

The structure was enormous, boasting gothic-styled architecture reminiscent of Grandis, but held the same beautiful elegance as the baroque-styled buildings of the Nex Megalopolis. The blend of themes worked surprisingly well, like the black and white-bricked marble stone that made up the majority of the structure.

Towering spires could be found all across the rims of each layer, their sharpened tips piercing the skies. An ethereal-blue glow emanated from each window and entrance of the construct. The clouds obscured everything beyond the third layer.

Moons and workers from Caldera Industries could be seen scaling the walls, installing pale, angular cannons reminiscent of a downscaled version of Jury’s Retrocaustality – Smite. As an Aspect it was considerably weaker, and unfortunately due to its immense power it could not be made any smaller.

Each of those cannons were pushed around in the sky like a volleyball. Anti-gravity instruments allowed for those colossal fifteen-meter weapons to move with ease.

Clearly, Jury was working tremendously hard in the background. An invasion here would be costly, so these weapons would provide much needed defense in the event that the Moons were deployed elsewhere.

The weapons were long with a hollow barrel. Blue streaks blinked as they were infused with Jury’s Beholder powers. A Nex Depleter – an object that allowed Nex to be pushed into an object capable of accepting it – was also installed alongside these weapons.

Oboros Infinitas had their hand in their endeavor too.

Frost was reminded of the walls of the old world. Inspiration was undoubtedly taken from there. Her legs eventually took her to the entrance of Time Reverberation’s Head Quarters; its doors appearing as the merge between the mouth of a grand cathedral and a castle.

There were no guards on standby, as only approved personnel could even dream of entering this Workshop in the first place. The tall doors were wide open, revealing an indoor town similar to the Common Hub.

Black-bricked pathways sprawled the entirety of the first floor. The buildings served as the pillars that held the ceiling, bearing multiple floors where a warm light could be seen shining from within. Black-iron lanterns emitted colorful glows that changed in color periodically, some depending on conditions.

For example, the ones located at the entrance turned a gentle green as she stepped into this mostly vacant world. One day this entire thing would be filled to the brim with personnel, but for now, only the bare necessities were present.

The layout was also similar to the Common Hub, with key locations being the Reception of Time Reverberation at center of the first floor; stations where Greater Healers were left ready to heal Moons as they came in from training; homes for all personnel that did not reside in the Floor of Amalgamation; and finally, amneties such as a mess hall where those who could cook manned it when possible.

Greater Healers could be found wandering the floors, alongside the Hora Therapeutics Moons. As cold as the Moons were, they would always smile and hang around with the healers, some hand in hand like couples as they sat on benches or followed an indoor stream that led to a botanical garden.

Greater Healers wore darker blue versions of the healer’s light blue robes and had golden streaks on their shoulders and backs that depicted their proficiency. A colored armband also told their specializations, such as white being for normal healing, and light blue being for [Cleanse].

It was a system Frost kept from Inflow Direct. There was no point in fixing something that wasn’t broken. Besides, she thought it looked cool too and that’s what mattered the most to her.

Pleasantries were thrown in her direction as she made her way towards the central Reception. It was an open structure with a ring-like table. In the center were a handful of Receptionists wearing white suits with blue feathers clipped to their hair like an accessory.

Because this floor belonged to Hora Therapeutics, the Moons here also donned white suits or dresses depending on what they wanted. Unsurprisingly, suits were overwhelmingly popular. Ber wanted to advocate for people who felt constrained by the suits. Unfortunately, that number was minuscule.

They wore a blue feather in their breast pockets, and their ties were the blue hands of a clock. This was Hora Therapeutics’ uniform of choice, although for Moons this varied depending on their Atelier Item.

The color scheme was therefore more important.

“Welcome!” A blue-haired man happily greeted, bowing deeply in utter reverence. “To the Floor of the Head?”

“Please. I will be staying for a while. Send a Moon on my behalf should someone need me.” Frost ordered with a firm tone as she stepped onto the pale tiles where the Reception resided.

“As you wish. The Dream Weaver is expecting you.” He bid her farewell.

This was a miniature version of the Central Relay, useable only within the Time Reverberation’s Head Quarters. Each floor had its own to allow Blessed to ascend or descend at will. Frost looked at the transparent prompt before her, confirming her teleportation to the top floor.

 

< Teleporting to the Floor of the Head >

 

< Yes | No >

< Confirm? >

 

***

 

The second floor belonged to the Minu Auditors, and the third to the Seci Response Arm. A Reception was found on every floor, with less personnel manning the upper ones. A sibling duo were stationed at the Seci Response Arm, and at the Floor of the Head –

“Amalggggggggam~ Greetings! Shall I take your coat, your shoes, or are you comfortable in that flesh?” A motherly voice exclaimed the moment her vision returned.

– An Exalted took the reins.

A graceful entity wearing an oversized Victorian-era maid outfit greeted her with open arms.

Many open arms in fact. The woman was an Aquatid with emerald eyes and a body made almost entirely out of tentacles. Her dress hid this fact, and she wore long sleeves to hide her multiple arms that hoisted a giant fur mantle above Frost, ready to place it over her shoulders.

Her body above her chest was human, but everything underneath was completely alien.

“Are you cold? Do you need a back rub? Foot rub? Perhaps refreshment?” She took out various objects from underneath her giant, frilly skirt, ready to please Frost at the drop of a command.

“No thank you.” Frost adamantly refused, taken aback by this woman’s clinginess. She didn’t show it of course, but a part of her was a bit weirded out. “I’m here for the White Light Apparatus.”

“Of course!” The woman exclaimed, tossing the objects aside as she rapidly led the way, gliding across the floor as she left moist stains along the red carpet. “This way, Amalgam! Or Frost, as Jury calls you~! It’s ok if I call you that too, yes?”

“As long as it stays between us.” Frost smiled, causing the woman’s face to light up.

“I’m elated to hear that~! Call me Weave!”

This woman was one of the few level 200 Exalted, possessing the Blessing of the Nexus as well as the respect of all the Beholders. Frost had only just recently been introduced to this woman – the Dream Weaver – by Galia.

 

 

A unique name for certain, and with a history of serving the Nexus for as long as anyone could remember.

In fact, she was around at the time that the War in Heaven occurred. Ancient couldn’t begin to describe her age, and yet she appeared in only her early thirties. She was tall, standing at a staggering two meters in height with her lower body a full meter in width.

As it turned out, she was the one who taught the Beholders how to use the White Light Apparatus. Creation was her calling, but she was unfortunately unable to create Aspects herself as an Exalted. Therefore, she became a teacher amongst the Beholders; a singular instance where an Exalted exceeded the ranks of the Beholders by wisdom alone.

For that reason, Frost had the Stars bring her into the Nexus. There was little need for her in an era where her knowledge was second nature, but Frost wanted to learn from the original. She didn’t know exactly what the Stars said, but for some reason, this woman was awfully happy to be around her.

Probably because I’m the Amalgam, huh.

Contrary to the theme of the previous floors, this place was mostly made of walnut wood. The dark browns and the reflective floors excluded a blend of royalty and class, as opposed to the sacred white halls of the Nexus that have, admittedly, become boring.

They followed the trail of a never-ending red carpet as light bled through the windowpanes, casting their shadows along the tall walls.

“This is our second time meeting! I thought it was over for me after the first.” She said sheepishly.

“It was just a brief introduction.” Their first meeting wasn’t anything substantial as the woman made it out to be.

Maybe to her it seemed that way, but in reality it was just a simple ‘Hello, I’m the Amalgam. The Head of the Nexus. You work for me now. Any questions?’.

Did I scare her? Nah, that can’t be. She doesn’t look scared of me at all. More than that, she’s one of the first people to speak casually to me. I’m kind of thankful for that.

“I heard good things of you from Galia and Jury. You’ve been working close with Jury in my absence, correct?”

“Ahhh! The Angel! She has a gift you know! She can learn anything she sees! I’ve never had a student like her before!” Weave gushed, her many hands cupping her cheeks as she threw her head side to side.

“That’s Jury for you. As expected of her.” Frost couldn’t be prouder.

“I’m just sad she wouldn’t let me touch her tail! Oh well. Maybe next time.”

“Depending on the results, I can get a Demi-human wolf that wouldn’t mind you touching their tail.” If Cer dared to cause trouble again… then this person would be her torturer.

“Oh would you? I like Demi-humans, but wolves… They like to bite. I prefer simpler things~ Miss Frost –”

“Just Frost.”

“Right! Frost – You must have questions for me. I’m glad you aren’t bombarding me right away because that’s usually how things go with Exalted of our tier. Coming in with a focused, purpose-driven mind is the first step to getting an Aspect right, so good job!”

“Ahaha. You flatter me.” The uneasiness quickly washed away, and Frost soon found herself enjoying the company of this person. Hearing someone praise her so casually was a good feeling.

Suddenly, as they reached an archway leading into a pale, pristine room – Weave stopped in her tracks and looked over at Frost with soft eyes.

“I didn’t mean that as flattery. The stench of the Beholders is lost on you. We Exalted are only allowed so high up because we fill a specific niche.”

Her emerald eyes dug for something deep within Frost, discerning something that not even she understood.

“It would be nice if they looked at me as you and Jury do.” She moved to the side, welcoming Frost to enter the space first. “To think that the Head would be so different from the Beholders. It’s a nice thing to have nowadays~ This way, Amalgam. Please, you first.

Let me help you weave that dream of yours on the White Light Apparatus!”