The world of Elysia was no stranger to Otherworlders. People who ca from different worlds would sotis find themselves in the world of Elysia. If they were lucky, they would be surrounded by the civilized inhabitants of the Nex galopolis, or spawn close to the one-hundred-ter walls that surrounded the complex.
But if they were unlucky like the vast majority of transmigrators, then they would appear in one of countless wastes. Sotis, in the backwaters of a broken Kingdom to live a slave and damned to never use their knowledge from their world, or as fodder for the more ravenous creatures.
Or one may find themselves at the Maw of the World. The gargantuan one-kiloter opening had swallowed many would-be Adventurers only to regurgitate them back as inhuman husks.
The world of Elysia was not the kind of place one would want to be transmigrated to from another world. Yet, this was where Frost found herself in one day. Her body had changed unexpectedly as she stood in the center of the Central Relay.
The Central Relay was the heart of the gastructure called the Nexus. It was the Axis Mundi of the world of Elysia and where only a select few were allowed to visit.
Frost did not know this of course. She had only just arrived here in this world, confused by both the sudden change in her surroundings and her body.
Thankfully, there was soone to offer her a hand. A tall man, whose white hair spilled over his shoulders like waterfall, glided towards her as though he were walking on ice. His sky-blue eyes carried a hint of gold.
"My na is Iscario, a Star of the Nexus, at your service."
"A what of the which? Hold on, just one second… Who… What do I look like to you?"
"A lady?"
Frost ntally winced at the cruel reality and sighed. She had no choice but to accept it. For now, at the very least, until she figured out what was happening.
"Fair enough. Can I ask where I am?"
"You're inside of the Nexus; among friends we call the Blessed."
A bold claim. Naturally, she was suspicious of this person. Sothing about their unchanging smile unnerved her. Every part of her body scread at her to run, but then, the unexpected happened.
That sa Star of the Nexus dropped to a knee and bowed.
"H-huh!? Hey, uh, you curious about my shoes?"
"You're the one." He breathed.
"The who?"
"The one Marked by Judgent. You're…" Iscario's eyes glistened as he gazed up into Frost's light-brown eyes.
Frost wasn't aware of what she was at the ti. Perhaps in another tiline, she would not have known until it was too late. The thought ca to her unexpectedly as she pondered on why such a figure would kneel to her.
Of course, she also was not aware of the status of a Star of the Nexus. The chatter of the Central Relay, which contained hundreds of people from humans to cat-eared girls, suddenly faded.
Iscario's shoulders trembled as he fought a ntal war. His eyes scrutinized Frost, but there was an equal reverence that slowly began to overco that scrutiny. Eventually, his head lowered further, and he called Frost by a na she was not familiar with.
"The Amalgam. A new Archetype has appeared before the Nexus."
Frost nearly uttered a witty remark. She didn't believe a word that left his mouth. Nor did she fully understand that she had appeared in another world. She thought this was a convention, and that this was no more than an elaborate prank done by her co-workers.
But as tears dripped from Iscario's chin, she finally realized the gravity of the situation.
"Hey, are you ok?"
These were her first words. She did not take pride in this strange title. Rather, she crouched down to his level and offered him a hand. This one act alone, which she did not know was rare in Elysia, caused Iscario to deepen his kneel.
"My… Mother has been waiting for you."
"I think you might have the wrong person."
"You are the one. But I believe you are also correct. You are not Ilya, after all. Utter to yourself Status. You will find you possess the Mark of Judgent. O' Amalgam… Welco to the Nexus."
Iscario had superimposed his sister over Frost's face. They were, in essence, the sa person. Though Frost did not know this yet. There was much she didn't know, yet Iscario did. He didn't inform her yet. It would be too early. Furthermore, he did not wish to intimidate the one person who he believed could help Ilya return to them.
Why did he believe this?
He had a recurring nightmare about the Amalgam. One where their first eting went very different. The eting in that nightmare had him use a CognitIO Scrambler to censor her Mark of Judgent before sending her to Grandis.
There, she would be kept within the Black Forest as a tortured prisoner, only to later be used as a vessel when they gained access to the Gate – the Advent of Attachnt – which would give Frost access to the Chamber of Souls which connected to every possible world.
That place was called Guf.
And through this, Frost would grant countless wishes, including his own, which would bring back his late sister – Ilya.
However, it never went his way. The Amalgam endured. No matter what he threw at her, it had only strengthened her. Not only that, but the Amalgam naturally possessed the sa thing that they sought.
The Light.
More than that, Frost also, by a miracle, returned Ilya without sacrificing countless souls. It was a monuntal effort built on both spite and moral righteousness. Iscario did not believe any of those nightmares were true. But it had stopped him from interacting with the likes of Lilith, Uriel, and various other mbers of the Broken Thorn and the Impuritas Groups.
… Additionally, he abstained from the wars and actively sabotaged Puritas from the inside. Of course, Uriel was the mastermind behind Puritas. He was but the prince, and he could do little against an Angel. Thus, when he lost Ilya to the hands of Uriel, he beca desperate.
The Amalgam's death would bring her back.
But how could he sacrifice this person who not only looked like Ilya, but carried that sa kindness?
This was why he wept.
* * *
Frost was skeptical. For starters, it could be an elaborate scam. She had seen people go as far as to dress up as mascots and hound people to pay up just for a picture. Or the infamous romance scams, where one would catfish a person online and then later ask for a paynt due to an ergency.
However, the inner nurse in Frost told her that this person needed her as much as she needed him as a guide. She sensed his desperation and gazed around the room to confirm the reality of the situation and firmly nodded.
"My na is Frost. I don't know what this Amalgam business is about. So let's start from there."
Suddenly, three short won in black two-piece suits approached them. They were led by what appeared to be the leader of these triplets. She wore a sly grin that only a mischievous child would wear.
"Heh. So this is our Ticket to Heaven. We'll take it from here." The wolfwoman, also known as Cer, folded her arms. "Not bad, not bad. A bit too short for soone who's supposed to be important."
"Practically a kid. Hah." The other, who had the shortest hair of the three, was called Ber. She nudged Cer, as if to say: "Get a load of this human~"
The last of the trio was Res. She was the sanest of the three, as well as the only one who could string more than two of her braincells together to form a coherent thought. She slapped the back of their heads before forcing them to bow before Frost.
"I sincerely apologize for these two. It's unbecoming of a Moon of the Nexus to humiliate an Archetype, especially coming off what happened in Paradise with – ahem – the Arbiter."
She reminded the two about the strength the Archetype of Judgent possessed, which had destroyed Marduk. This led to the total collapse of Scarlet Logic, leaving their subjects to roam the world, free from their shackles.
"Tch… Fucking suck up." (Cer)
"Res thinks she'll get bonus points for being a pet." (Ber)
Their faces smashed into the marble ground, forming craters.
"As I was saying, it's a pleasure to et you. I am Res, one of the Moons of the Nexus. Last mission comnced exactly 432 hours ago. Last Corrupted Subjugation was the Reentry Cube. Current mission: substitute as a Receptionist until further notice. Current ti elapsed: 241 hours."
"Like a shift?" Frost's casual question caused a fire to ignite in Cer's chest.
"Don't call it a damned shift–!"
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Ber's hand quickly covered her mouth.
"That's why you're our ticket to heaven."
"Mmm! Mmmmph! MMMMMM!"
"Like sis says, we stage a coup using you to infiltrate the Floor of Judgent. Hah. The rest is history." Ber grinned.
"Forgive them. They have a few loose screws after losing two hundred hours' worth of sleep." Res slamd their faces into the marble again.
Frost didn't know what was more impressive. The fact that their faces were completely unscathed, or that Res was strong enough to break marble in the first place. A wave of pressure radiated from each impact. They were undeniable evidence that this was not a stunt. Frost had witnessed countless impossibilities throughout her career as a nurse, and if she was being perfectly honest, this ranked quite low.
Her lips quivered. Then, she lurched forward and burst into a soft hearty laugh.
"What the hell. Lem see what I can do for you."
She didn't fully believe them, since she was not that naïve. But a part of her wanted to see where this would go.
Little did Frost know that this was rely the beginning of a transformative journey that would lead her to uniting the Nexus under one banner.
* * *
"Frost. Do you watch your step. The stairs are quite steep here."
"I'll be fine, thanks. Don't worry about . I'm more concerned about how you're able to glide down the stairs. Is that called a Skill?"
Iscario laughed at Frost's question.
"This is what we call an Ability. Ah, that reminds . Have the Moon sisters taught you about the ODSE yet? As diligent as the sisters of the Wise Black Wolf are, they can be rather…"
The long pause was enough to paint the triplets in a bad light. Frost had seen the mischief those three can cause. But she also noticed that Iscario was being playful, as if speaking to a sibling.
Their relationship was odd. Frost felt at ease with Iscario, since he was always present to guide her around the Nexus, no matter what the occasion was.
At tis, he would recount the history of the Nexus depending on which section they were walking through. He claid it was to inform the Amalgam, but Frost suspected he had a much simpler reason that she couldn't put a finger on.
Their little sister-big brother dynamic caused him to beco the defacto guardian of the Amalgam. Any ire or profanity thrown her way was t with extre prejudice. Frost often had to intervene to calm him down, which he would wear a saddened expression and lower his head. Onlookers would picture an owner scolding a dog that had partially torn up the couch.
It was Iscario's way of developing her as a leader, whilst ensuring that she was never in the face of harm. He also served as her hair specialist. How else did Iscario have such luscious locks?
"Lavender, crushed and turned into a foam. Add the oil of an orchid, and the soap shavings of Moonscale, and this will keep your hair nice and straight."
"Yeah? Good chance my cowlicks are gonna spring back up in an hour."
"Don't be silly, Frost." Iscario laughed as he lathered Frost's hair.
Once they were done, Frost's hair was styled into a straight cut. She peered into a handheld mirror and nodded at herself, captivated by her gaze.
"Not bad, not bad. Ilya must've been lucky."
"I do hope she believed that. Thank you."
"Ah, there it goes. One cowlick… two. Three… Does nothing work?"
"We could try resin."
"Are you joking or being serious with ?"
"Would I ever lie to you?"
"You realize I don't have the sa DEF stats as you. My scalp is coming straight off the mont I want to remove it." Frost tilted her head back against the salon chair and puffed her cheeks, trying to look intimidating.
Iscario twisted the tub of resin, and pointed at a fine print that read:
"It cos off with so water."
"Well why didn't you say so?"
Frost couldn't imagine a world where she was enemies with Iscario. How would they fight? Frost wasn't strong enough to strip bark from a tree. It'd be a one-sided affair. Plus, could soone who cared so deeply about their sister be evil?
She didn't think so. But if the circumstances were just a little different, then it was possible for Iscario to go astray. She never took her life for granted and promised to make the most of the gift she was given.
Because in another world, she would not have been so lucky.
* * *
At first, there was the issue of her being the Amalgam, as well as a being called the Captured Star. This made her incredibly vulnerable since she was nowhere near strong enough to face them on.
Furthermore, this truth was never supposed to be unveiled until Frost was strong enough to take control of her life, since there were countless enemies in Elysia that sought her power as the Captured Star.
However, Frost did not wish to fight.
An invitation was sent out to various Impuritas Groups in hopes of coming to understanding. Few, such as the Maestros of Flesh, Infecta Rot, nto Mori, and even the Librarians had decided to attend the Amalgam's Summit, which was held in a remote location called the Crystal Isles, just off the shores of the Caldera Region.
They were not yet aware of the Amalgam's ability to devour Souls, so they had sent in their leaders to confront the Amalgam. This included the likes of Leitmotif, Mozheart, an Avatar of Kratt, twin Authors of Existentia nad the Grimm Sisters and finally, Hypnos and Mori himself.
It went without saying that they were confident they would not co to any agreent with the Amalgam. As a result, they prepared an elaborate list of demands and threats, hoping to strongarm the Nexus in case the Summit did not go their way.
But against all odds, and after an eight hundred and thirty-nine-hour conference, they ca to a single conclusion.
The Amalgam could grant them what they wished.
Corruption was what they ultimately sought. The issue was that the Impuritas were created with a fatal flaw. They lacked Light to catalyze a Corruption. Frost had the power to grant them a speck of Light to grant them this one wish.
However, she would not allow them to Corrupt. Instead, she sold them on a different promise. An Ego Crystalization, which had been brought up by the Archetype of Ego. They were given an ultimatum.
They could either live in the shadow of their failures eternally as a Corrupted.
Or strive to beco that Star they so desperately wished to beco.
Impuritas were born from the collective impurities of humanity.
Attachnt ca from the surplus of anings placed upon objects that carried no inherent aning. For instance, a photograph's value ca from what mories they were associated with. Otherwise, it was no more than a aningless photograph. Or a doll that was considered family to a child who had no one to believe in.
In truth, this was closer to Obsession.
Much like how the nto Mori's Despair Affinity was closer to Nihilism. They were born from the simple fact that all things will end. Interestingly enough, they defied this, whereas the Chained Theocracy sought to celebrate death.
The Grimm Sisters rely wished to beco better authors for an unknown purpose.
Finally, the Maestros of Flesh ca to understand that music did not need to co from a singular instrunt, which at the ti were humans.
As for the other Impuritas Groups – they could not see eye to eye with the Nexus.
This ultimately led to an imminent war between the Nexus and its Lower Half.
Despite everything Frost had achieved, she was mostly hands off. She lived a life of relative comfort. But her calling and innate nature ant that she could not rest, because she was not satisfied with how the world worked.
But, if all else, she had brought as many enemies as possible to the side of the Nexus
That alone saved countless lives.
* * *
Frost was finally allowed to set foot out of the Nexus for her first adventure. Grandis was her target, and she appeared in a lovely place called the Village of Virt. It was here where she put her Healing magic to good use and cured the cataracts of the Village Elder and got to learn much about the culture of Grandis.
For so reason, she could not help but feel imnse sadness that night as she t with Iscario to head off to Paradise.
"They live right next to a Corrupted Zone. Will they be ok?"
"I assure you; they'll be safe." Iscario smiled.
Frost ventured off. Iscario was supposed to follow her, but he remained behind, staring absently at the Village of Virt. His hands clenched into balls, and a look of profound sorrow crept onto his face.
"… A mistake I would have made in another lifeti."
"What was that?" Frost called out cheerfully.
"Ah. It was nothing. I was comnting about the wind. That reminds . Have you heard about Serum S?"
"The speedy liquid?"
"Yes, that is the one. It has a long history. Not the type of tale to tell under a beautiful night. But, it is important for the Amalgam to be caught up with the history of the Nexus and the Ateliers."
Iscario treated Frost like a sister. He could not help it. Frost was, in essence, Ilya as they were both an incarnation of the Captured Star. What made Frost different was that she was also partly a being called Sinder, who had also carried mories of Adam – a Doctor from Earth long, long ago.
Hence, why Frost was called the Amalgam.
But the Amalgam was not the whole picture.
Because there was no other person – other than the mysterious girl the Pale Star Arbiter t along the Expanse – who was interconnected with the Source itself.
Light carried infinite possibilities. It was possible that in the future, Frost may even beco a being capable of granting wishes.
"To wish upon a star. Have you heard of this term, Amalgam? You said you ca from this place called Earth."
"Yup! We have that kind of phrase too."
"It has a very different aning here, I assure you. Two in fact. One is the childish wish one makes to those distant specks of light we call the stars. The other…"
"Hm? Don't trail off. I'm listening."
"… Cos from the Maw of the World, and the deepest parts of Elysia. Corruption is a broad term used for a transformation."
"Really? I thought Corruption just ans to Corrupt."
Iscario laughed, monts before he pulled out a mysterious pale object. It was a transparent egg with a compass in the center. Its arrow pointed to sowhere beneath them.
"I had a friend once who wished to understand what he saw when he peered into the Maw of the World. This was born from his dying wish."
"What is it?"
Iscario pocketed it and fondly smiled.
"His gift."
Frost wanted to inquire further about the strange object. It reminded her of the Warped Stone, only that it was much weaker. But before she could ask–
"Run! Run! There's a skewered beast inside of the black forest!"
–A child had cried out from inside of the Black Forest.
She spotted a girl with white hair. Her features were a chira of multiple creatures. She had avian ear flaps, charcoal claws that resembled a crow's talons, and the teeth of a shark. Her eyes also glowed gold. From a distance, one could mistake her as an Avian Cuckoo bird.
Frost didn't know it at the ti, but her encounter with this girl would change the course of her life forever.
Because in just five years–
* * *
*Beep!* *Beep!*
*Beep!* *Beep!*
A hand slamd the button of an alarm clock. Rays of the morning sun painted the room with a warm light. Hidden beneath the covers of a bed was a giant lump that shifted until a groggy head appeared.
"Tch… Just when it was getting good… I thank the Drear every night for these good dreams, but dammit… I want them to last a little longer too."
"Mnnn…? Frost?" Jury roused from beside Frost; her tail wrapped around her waist in several loops. "Bad dream?"
"… Good dream, actually."
Frost didn't tell Jury about the dream where she had seventy-nine children in the span of five years with her. She felt that if she did, Jury may beco too eager and try for one at this very mont.
At best, she'd have to delay her plans for today by several hours since Jury would not let her go.
"Had a dream about a different kind of life."
"Mm. What kind ? Were you back on Earth? I had a dream about Earth, actually!"
"Nothing special. What'd you see on Earth?"
"One big city with a Nexus like ours. They had all sorts of amazing Ateliers! They even had the Expanse right outside their walls!"
"Why do you sound so excited over that? It'd be the end of Earth as we know it."
"They were doing just fine! Looked really nice! It's just a dream, though." Jury pouted. "Not like I peered into another world."
"Yeah… True. It would be weird if there was a world where Iscario was the good guy, huh." Frost sighed, nuzzling against Jury's chest.
"Mnn." Jury pinched Frost's cheek. "Can you not talk about another person while we're in bed?"
"Heh. Jealous?"
A mistake. Before she could react, Jury's tail slithered to sowhere she would rather not say, and well…
* * *
… Thirty minutes later, Frost ca out of the room to greet a drowsy Joy.
"Malgam?" She pointed at Frost's trembling legs, which could barely support her weight.
"… It's nothing… Sweetheart…" She struggled to squeak out, her knees buckling together as her feet stood far apart.
"We had a quick wrestling match~ That's all!" Jury innocently humd. "Joy, why don't you go say hello to Nav for a bit? We're just going to finish up so important work."
"Gam!" Joy nodded, oblivious to Frost's rising dread.
She shot Jury a glare once Joy disappeared around the corner.
"J-Jury. Lem rest for a bit."
"Please, Frost! Please~ I had a dream that didn't have you in it! I need to recharge."
How could Frost say no to her? On one hand, Frost… was pillow princess, as much as she did not want to admit it. Being ssed up by Jury was, for a lack of a better word, incredible. On the other hand, she had co from a dream where she and Jury procreated enough to create an entire generation of Moons.
She needed that release.
"… Haaaah. Only if… You don't make a ss, alright?"
"Believe Frost." Jury splayed her fingers across Frost's stomach. Then, with her lips brushing Frost's ears, she whispered: "There won't be a single drop spilled~"
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