To think that there would be a day that he would watch his daughter play with god.
Sure, this was rely a mory of his daughter and the golden boy was just an aspect of the Absolute One but still... Alex was forced to take a seat as he sought to accept the surreal sight for what it was.
He watched Ashtyx, with the innocence of a child, chase after Mary Jane who seed quite excited to have a friend her age as she ran around trying to avoid being captured.
Alex glanced to the side to find Isabella asleep for so inexplicable reason.
Perhaps he subconsciously decided to allow it to avoid the questions that would be sure to pop up.
In any case, Ashtyx soon captured Mary Jane with the latter stepping on his foot, causing him to let out a yelp after which she rushed into her father’s embrace.
Alex was waiting with arms wide open.
As he hugged MJ, he watched as Ashtyx approached, his lips curled at the edges in satisfaction.
"This was indeed most exciting." He remarked with a nod.
Alex replied. "Glad to know you enjoyed yourself."
"Oh, I did. Perhaps, at the sa ti tomorrow?" Ashtyx proposed.
Alex shook his head. "I can’t co here too often."
"Fine then, once a week."
"Hmm."
"Oh co on, don’t be so stuck up. Alright, if you agree, you get to ask one thing of ."
"Two things," Alex remarked.
"One." Ashtyx insisted.
Alex shook his head. "Two."
Usually, he wouldn’t have engaged in such banter considering the other person could easily send him hurtling into another dinsion but with Ashtyx enamored with the role of playing a child, he doubted there would be a reason to worry as long as he stayed within reasonable limits.
Ashtyx pouted before sticking his tongue out. "Bully."
"It’s not bullying, especially since I offer sothing valuable. If you think that what is being offered is worth only one thing then I have no choice but to comply."
Ashtyx scrutinized him montarily while pondering on how to respond.
With silence persisting for a bit longer, Alex busied himself with stroking MJ’s hair while waiting for an answer.
Soon enough, Ashtyx spoke up. "Fine then, two things but don’t think I would accept if you ask for too much."
"Understandable. I wouldn’t dare." Alex replied with a brilliant smile.
Ashtyx harrumphed as he crossed his hands and looked away while tapping his left foot on the ground, waiting for Alex to make his request.
"Firstly, I need your help in creating a dinsion that only I would be able to access. I would have asked Elena but I don’t think she has the capability, at least not yet."
"What kind of dinsion?"
"One that Branches can be kept in to avoid situations like the Labyrinth and the Light Stealers."
Ashtyx frowned. "You still plan to go ahead with the quest?"
"You said it yourself, didn’t you?... It’s only if I can complete it that I’ll get a chance to return ho. I don’t have a choice." Alex remarked, earning a sidelong glance from Ashtyx.
Pursing his lips, Ashtyx intoned. "Fine then, I’ll create a dinsion but I won’t be in it."
"Hmm."
"What?... The Light Stealers was a conscious effort, if I don’t want it, they won’t erge."
"Pinkie promise?" Alex inquired, putting his hand out.
Ashtyx thought for a while before reaching to lock pinky fingers with Alex.
"Alright then." Satisfied with that, Alex added. "Secondly, I’d like to know the location of the other Branches."
"No way." Ashtyx candidly remarked, sticking to its childish persona as it spoke, resulting in a rather cute showing.
Of course, Alex noted the serious undertone of his words.
"Why?"
"Because I don’t want to."
Taking a deep breath, Alex took a mont to gather his thoughts.
This was his best opportunity to get more information about the location of the other Branches apart from the Fountain and the Midnight Pearl.
"Do I get a chance to change my second request?" Alex finally asked after he was done thinking.
Ashtyx pursed his lips before nodding rather begrudgingly.
It would seem he really wanted to be a part of this mory.
"That’s good," Alex remarked. "In that case, since you can’t tell the location of the other Branches, I’d like to know of another way I could learn about their locations."
Ashtyx turned to et his gaze, clearly unhappy that Alex would remain so persistent.
Regardless, it let out a sigh before replying. "You could get so answers from the Fountain. But you should be prepared to give it sothing of equivalent value else you’d be rejected."
Alex’s expression turned grim as he pondered on what exactly would he give to a Branch of the Absolute that would be considered equal in value to the knowledge he wished to obtain.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to cross that bridge when he got there.
For now, it was enough that he had an alternative ans to obtain knowledge of the locations of the other Branches.
With that sorted, he rose to his feet. "Nice doing business with you."
Ashtyx stuck his tongue out before disappearing. "Sa ti next week." His voice echoed just as his figure completely vanished from sight.
Alex let out a sigh.
To think that he now had to babysit an aspect of god.
Things just kept getting better and better.
In any case, there was hardly anything he could do considering the circumstances.
At least, he got sothing out of the exchange.
Using that to console himself, he decided to wake up, taking one last look at his beloved and their child before closing his eyes and letting out a breath.
When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the bed in his room, his eyes transfixed on the ceiling above.
In an attempt to sit up, Alex suddenly fell back down, overwheld by a deep sense of fatigue that left him confused.
Hadn’t he just gotten so rest?... So why was he so tired?
The fatigue didn’t seem to be a physical one after a bit of introspection causing him to look inward and then he saw it.
His pneuma had undergone a notable growth after he’d completed his Trial as a Scholar but at this mont, that growth was all but gone almost like it had regressed.
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