Chapter 21: Tower of Stars: Behind the Mask of the Oracle

Very well. We will depart at once. Next stop, the skies about Palsifal Palace. Year 20,000 BC.

It's no good! The air currents are too violent. I'll be torn apart if I try to get any closer!

According to my readings, prolonged exposure to this black miasma will also be harmful to humans.

I'm drawing back!

What do we do now? There's no way we can get through by sheer force.

The Oracle...

Aldo? Did you say something?

The Oracle we met in the past clearly knew more about this. He might know how to stop the Dimensional Vortex.

I would rather not rely on that rogue's help... But I understand we have no other choice right now.

He'll probably still be at the castle. Let's go see what he has to say.

I'll let you down near the palace. The rest is up to you.

So you've come, Aldo. I had a feeling I'd be seeing you again.

You are the so-called Oracle who convinced His Majesty to attempt to interfere with history?

You could say that. It was a fine scheme. I find it vexing that it came to nothing. You're here to ask how to enter the Dimensional Vortex, correct? I may know a way. But first I'd like to tell you a little about myself.

Evidence suggests you are a scientist who traveled to this time from the future.

That's right... I am Chronos. It's good to see you again, Riica.

......

As you know, I discovered the damage Xeno Prisma was doing and started work on developing Geo. When the Xeno and Geo prototype cores reached maximum output they tore a hole in spacetime. That wormhole led here, to this time. To the distant past. To Antiquity. The prisma were likely drawn to the presence of their forebears, the elemental spirits. That was when it occurred to me. I could change history so Xeno Prisma never came to be...

Altering history, destroying the timeline I knew and everyone in it... It was not something I entered into lightly. But I knew the Xeno Prisma would continue to eat away at spacetime and cause the giant quake otherwise. In the end, I decided it was a necessary sacrifice to ensure the safety of our planet. When the day arrived for me to put my plan into action, I sent my family... I sent you through the wormhole.

Wait, but you're from Elzion, right? If you erased that timeline, wouldn't you disappear too?

Ah, are you also an Elzion resident, miss? I apologize for the wrong I did you before. You see, once my family and I became separated from our native timeline, we would remain even if it were erased. We'd never be able to return home, but at least we would escape the repercussions of changing history.

As to what happened when we entered the wormhole in the Xeno-Domain... That's a tale for another time. We have more pressing matters to attend to. Aldo, meet me at the Tower of Stars. I have something for you, along with important information about the Dimensional Vortex. However, I must insist you leave that remarkable vessel of yours behind. That ship is such a tangle of electrical synaptic signals, it could have all manner of detrimental effects on the tower.

Hey, wait!

......

Here we are again, Aldo.

What is this place?

A research facility, so to speak. Not unlike the Tower of Time. This is where I researched the elementals. I wanted to create a special alloy using both Geo Prisma and the fundamental power of the spirits. I made little progress all these years... But after the timequake, I was finally able to complete it. It was thanks to those fragments of the elementals scattered across the world. Utilizing them was the key.

There was a drawback, though. Some of the materials used in creating the alloy are highly radioactive. They have a half life of some 20,000 years. I've placed everything in a protective containment unit until it's safe to use. The years of working with such hazardous material has eaten away at my body. That is why I wear this mask. You, however, are able to travel through time. You could put my creation to good use.

Take it, Aldo. I entrust this Geo Metal to you, for the sake of the planet's future.

Graaaaaargh!

Nrgh!

Professor Chronos! King Palsifal... Why?!

It's over... Everything is over... My kingdom... My family... My life... Everything I hold dear is coming to an end...

Your Majesty, this isn't like you. Open your eyes!

Fool! I've never seen things so clearly as I do now. It is all of you who are willfully ignoring the truth. Everything will disappear like a dream upon waking. Ruin is the one beautiful truth left in this world. It's time you stopped struggling and bowed to the inevitable!

Professor Chronos...

Aldo, heed my words. 16 years ago you and I entered the tear in spacetime together. But a surge in temporal currents blew in out of nowhere. We were separated. When I came to, I found I had reached this time as planned, but I was alone. The rest of the family were buffeted by the winds of time and ended up in different eras. The wormhole had closed. There was nothing I could do to even try to find you. I was consumed by grief. I threw myself into my work, hoping it might ease my conscience.

...?!

I never dreamed my own son would be the one to stop me from changing history. The moment we met I knew it was you. I saw myself in you, and Madoka, too. I was overjoyed. I'm so glad I lived to see you grown into such a fine young man, Eden. But what about Cecile? Is she all right? You were both sent to the same time period, weren't you?

Yeah. We call her Feinne now, and she's fine. We spent our whole lives together.

I can't tell you what it means to me to hear that! I only wish we'd been able to meet under better circumstances... I'm sorry I didn't reveal myself sooner. I felt...I felt I didn't have the right to call myself your father anymore. I won't ask for forgiveness. I only hope you'll find a way to save this planet of ours.

You can count on it, Professor. I won't allow the world to end like this. I promise.

In the end, I'm glad you did interfere with my plans at the Tower of Time. You stopped me from doing something terrible, and that in turn pointed me to a new path. Thank you, Aldo... My associate, Galliard The 2nd, will tell you the rest... Now go... Forge ahead to a new future...and...take good care of Cecile...

Professor? Professor!

He's gone...

Are you okay, Aldo?

Yeah... I'll be fine.

That must be the biohuman that the professor mentioned, Galliard The 2nd. Do you have information pertaining to the Dimensional Vortex and how to enter it?

Here. Professor Chronos wanted you to have this. It is called a Primeval Gem. It will mitigate the effects of the miasma surrounding the Dimensional Vortex.

A Primeval Gem?

This thing'll calm down the air around the Dimensional Vortex long enough for us to get in, yeah?

How are we to use it, though?

Fastest way to find out is to try it. Let's get it back to the Riftbreaker.

Hey, Synth Hydra. We got a Primeval Gem. Apparently this can dispel the miasma that was giving you so much trouble before. Do you think you can figure out how to tap into its power?

Extracting energy from a new source should be no problem for me.

We're counting on you, Hydra.

Hmph. Looks like messing around with time and space has got you into trouble, eh Aldo?

You?!

Vares! You're still alive?

Fool, you can't kill me off that easily. Show some gratitude. I came through a tear in spacetime to deliver a special message to you. Aldo, your sister's true power is getting closer and closer to awakening.

What?!

Heheheh... You heard me. The birth of the savior of the beastfolk is nigh! The age of humanity is at an end.

You're out of your mind! None of us will let that happen!

Will Feinne choose our future or yours? Come to the Beast King's Castle and you'll find out.

Grrr... I'll tear you apart!

Pardon me, Vares, was it? Why would you come all the way here just to tell us that?

I've grown fond of you over our time together, just as a cat enjoys playing with a mouse. Watching you squirm with despair is the best entertainment I could ask for.

If you really care about your sister, I'd hurry to the castle if I were you. Keh heh... Gyahahahah!

Feinne...

It will take time for me to extract energy from the Primeval Gem. The Dimensional Vortex is off-limits until then.

Aldo, we can't just abandon your sister. That Geo Prisma inside of her is there to give us a future, not take it away. Professor Chronos said you're the world's last hope, right?

The Geo Prisma is likely some form of nano technology. The possible consequences of its use are unknown. More data is required.

This Beast King's Castle intrigues me. I would like to see it at least once.

Do as you will. We won't be able to storm the vortex for a while, anyway.

Thank you, everyone.

All right, let's find the castle and get Feinne back!

Our next destination is the Beast King's Castle, then? Even without tapping the gem's power, there are still plenty of places I can take you. Tell me when you're ready to head off. We will travel faster than the wind itself.