Noah’s fingers slowly turned the radiant Living Origin Key of Existence in his grasp, the crimson-gold X pulsing like it held a heart of its own. Each flicker of its glow sent faint tremors across the fabric of the surrounding Frequency, reacting not to his will... but to her presence.
And she, Sigrid Ivano, was just now wiping Phoenix grease from the corner of her mouth with the sleeve of her tattered robe, entirely unconcerned with the artifact floating between them.
Behind Noah, Master Hannibal’s voice rang out, sharp and cold.
"Tell we aren’t all standing still while an outsider holds sothing like that in his hands."
...!
The air quivered.
Dozens of Primarchs froze mid-breath.
Master Etheopa’s gaze sharpened with silent reprimand, but before she could speak, a warm chuckle cut through the rising tension.
"Haha, what outsider?" Master Shen swirled his gourd lazily, taking a long sip before floating down between them. "Am I also an outsider? I was invited here by you all a few hundred thousand years ago."
He motioned lightly toward Noah, still twirling the glowing key.
"This fearless Young Paradox ca by invitation. As of this mont, only the Sunfolds know what’s going on here. Perhaps..." Shen’s smile faded slightly, voice cooling. "...we should be a bit more discreet."
...!
A subtle wave of tension rolled outward from his words.
Master Etheopa raised a single hand.
The Chains of Fate coiled through the air, and a pulse of controlled brilliance spread out as dozens and hundreds of Fold Dwellers began to vanish from the region.
All beings at and beneath the rank of Resplendent Monad were swept away like sand beneath rising tide.
And then, silence.
Only Primarchs remained.
Only Masters of Existence.
Their gazes all turned to the quiet epicenter- Noah and Sigrid.
She looked around at the sudden stillness, and then turned toward Noah with a nervous smile.
She signed quickly, cheeks slightly flushed from the rush of food.
[Thank you!]
He offered a soft nod.
She handed him back the golden tray politely, still chewing the last of the Phoenix thigh before her eyes trailed upward, toward the radiant X still spinning in his grasp.
Her head tilted, curious.
[What is that?]
Noah’s smile lingered.
"This," he said gently, "ca out of the little marking on your forehead."
Her mouth dropped open in surprise, and she imdiately lifted both hands to her brow. Her fingers brushed over the etched triangular Rune embedded between her eyes.
[Really?]
Then her gaze dropped to her arms, and then her thighs and stomach beneath her loose robe. Dozens of intricate, symtrical runes, all pulsating faintly, spiraled around her limbs and torso like glorious inscriptions.
She looked up at Noah.
Then to Master Shen.
Then to the dozens of terrifying entities floating around them.
[What are these markings?] she signed quickly, her expression warping into confusion. [You don’t have them. They don’t either...]
The air was deathly silent.
But her signs were smooth. Graceful. Cautious, but intelligent.
Noah’s voice was light as he twirled the Living Origin Key between his fingers. "The runes are likely unique to you," he said. "And they’re of great interest to the beings around us."
She frowned.
Her gaze drifted back to her arms, to the strange symbols glowing softly beneath pale skin. She sighed and signed again.
[But I don’t rember anything relating to them either. I don’t rember anything about myself...]
A pause.
She looked up again- eyes curious, almost nervous.
Then she signed slowly.
[Are you... also interested in my markings?]
Noah blinked.
[You can look at the other ones if you want...]
She paused.
[...so long as you give more food like what I just had!]
...!
A quiet beat passed.
Her expression was serious. Earnest. As though she’d just negotiated the fairest trade in all of existence.
Noah smiled.
It was sharp, amused, and faintly tyrannical.
"Alright," he said softly. "It’s a deal."
"..."
Across the field of gold and white, dozens of beings- Primarchs and Masters of Existence alike...watched in stunned silence.
Was that it?
This girl had just bargained away the runes etched across her very body, inscriptions that had just produced a key potentially overturning everything they knew about the Origin Wonder of the Veiled Sunfolds...
For food?
Kalysta’s lips parted in disbelief.
Master Etheopa’s brow furrowed, barely concealing her frustration.
Even Master Shen raised his brows and drank.
Only Noah remained calm.
Sigrid clenched her small hand into a fist, holding it up beside her like a tiny victory trophy. She smiled in a way that was far too proud for what amounted to a trade of unknown wonders for food, then took a small step forward and tugged lightly on Noah’s robe.
Her expression was still cautious, but her eyes had a glimr of trust too at this mont.
[Can you also... protect if any of them try to rush at again?]
The signs were timid at first, then firr as if solidifying her thoughts mid-motion. Her gaze darted toward the spot where Master Hannibal had stood before being flung across the Frequency like a ragdoll.
Noah turned to her, the faintest of a smile curling at his lips.
"I can do my best," he said calmly, his tone edged with promise. "But I might need you to wave your hands every now and then to help ."
Sigrid blinked, genuinely confused for a mont.
[Wave my hands?]
Noah just smiled wider.
She narrowed her eyes, but eventually nodded in solemn agreent- as though she were entering into a pact far more serious than she understood.
Behind them, Master Etheopa finally exhaled a long, restrained sigh. She drifted forward, her presence regal and controlled as always, though the gleam in her eyes betrayed her rising curiosity.
"We are not your enemies," she said, her voice smooth but pointed. "We secured you when you ca crashing into our Folds. That Key..." Her eyes flicked toward the glowing crimson-gold X in Noah’s hand, "...is of imnse interest to us. Such things do not appear without reason."
She floated a few feet closer, her gaze never leaving Sigrid’s form.
"They may lead you to reclaiming your identity and mories if we follow it. If we follow that key, and..."
Sigrid’s expression sharpened with attention.
Master Etheopa’s gaze shifted slightly, to her arms, her legs, her chest. The runic markings that glimred faintly across her pale skin beneath the tattered white robe.
"...and," Master Etheopa continued slowly, "Any other Keys that may still be hidden."
...!
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