"I have been expecting you." The lady suddenly spoke, jolting the trio from their thoughts.
Alex, the first to regain his composure, intoned. "What?"
"Alexander Regulus, Anastasia Aizagora, Ulysses Nester... I beca aware of you the mont you left Ra’as on your voyage to this continent."
The trio exchanged looks after which Alex stepped forward and said. "So that ans you know why we are here."
"The emblem you carry gave that information. You are here for the Fountain."
At that mont, She turned and for the first ti, the trio had the privilege of laying eyes upon the human form of the Goddess of Automation.
She wasn’t as beautiful as Nadia or Elena, giving off a tomboyish charm similar to Natasha.
Alex instinctively had a feeling She might take a liking to Natasha given the uncanny features they shared, from the low-cut hair to the slightly muscular arms.
If not for Her moniker, which carried the title of Goddess, and Her feminine voice, one would be forgiven for thinking that She was a young lad.
Regardless, She was the Goddess of Automation, not the Goddess of Beauty, so naturally, She would decide on a form more suited to Her Authority.
"Can you lead us to it?" Alex inquired. "The fountain, I an."
"I could but I am curious to know what a mortal man like you is doing hunting down the Branches of the Absolute One. Do you not fear madness?"
"I doubt that is any of your concern." Alex calmly said, not about to appear servile before the Goddess.
She paused, regarding him for a mont before a smile appeared at the corners of Her lips.
"Then perhaps we can talk about sothing that does concern ."
Alex furrowed his brow as he watched Her turn back and pick up the blueprint she had been reading before their arrival.
"Before I begin, you have my condolences. Your sister was an intriguing fellow."
"..." Alex froze, his gaze turning cold as he questioned. "What are you talking about?"
"Emily Regulus." The Goddess muttered. "I had beco aware of her from the mont she conceived the dream of creating a steam engine removed from my construct."
"You spied on her."
"Indeed, I did. I will not deny that at the beginning of her bold project, I even interfered, ssing things up for her but the more I pushed, the stronger she erged. At a certain point, I entertained the thought of killing her, alas, fate had other plans for her, saving her before the flas consud her."
Alex froze, his thoughts moving at breakneck speed as he recalled a certain matter from so ti ago.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Why go after a powerless girl?" Alex asked, barely keeping himself calm.
The Goddess paused, taking a mont to consider before replying. "Because I am a jealous god. Her work dared to challenge my efforts. What did she think of herself?"
Gritting his teeth, Alex intoned. "Well, she’s dead now, so you should be happy."
"Indeed, I should be. Unfortunately, you went ahead and completed her experint. I do wonder if what I have offered humanity is not enough that your kind would seek more, seek to be removed from ."
"So what now?"
"In truth, I remain undecided. Since I learned of your arrival in the Boundary, I have been pondering what to do with you. Do I kill you?... Turn you into an Automaton?... Or perhaps, imprison you just like that old man."
Silence followed as the Goddess looked down at the blueprint in her palm.
It was at that mont that Alex realized that the blueprint was the sa one he had drawn up and perfected using Emily’s mories.
Truly, the Goddess had been watching.
Fear gripped his heart as anger boiled his insides, leaving him undecided on how to act.
"Ah." The Goddess suddenly muttered. "How about you beco my Apostle?"
"I decline."
"Don’t be so quick. Since my birth, I have only ever had one Apostle and they died after I beca a Demigod. It would be an honor for you to take up the mantle, serving as my mouthpiece to the rest of humanity."
"And why do you think I’d accept such a proposal?"
"It is not a request, Alexander. Either way, you will not be leaving this city."
"You can’t imprison us!" Ana suddenly spoke up, unable to keep silent any longer.
At this point, whatever marvel she felt towards the Goddess had evaporated, replaced by apparent disgust that such a powerful being was so... human, succumbing to terrible emotions.
The Goddess smiled. "Of course I can."
Following them, several brass rods erupted from the ground, forming cages that trapped the trio.
Alex imdiately snapped as Ana sought to transform into her dragon form.
However, the Goddess unleashed her Authority and they both froze, unable to act.
"Consider this my final act of rcy, Alexander. I will give you ti to decide your fate."
Gritting his teeth, Alex questioned. "Why are you doing this?"
"Initially, I thought with your sister’s death, no one else would be able to threaten but your blueprints. They tell that you know a lot more than you are letting on."
"I don’t plan on making anything else."
"It doesn’t matter. I have such plans and your presence shall help save ti in making them a reality."
With a smile on her lips, the Goddess turned away and returned to the table before placing the blueprint on it.
"A rather intriguing design."
A mont later, the brass cages descended, quickly leaving the City of Tomorrow into a cavernous city forged of iron and echoing with the sounds of constant hamring.
Their cages didn’t go all the way down though, instead hanging by brass chains that hovered over a flowing lava stream below.
As a sweltering heat assaulted them, causing them to be quickly covered in perspiration, Ulysses inquired. "Alex, what now?"
Alex clicked his tongue, allowing himself to digest everything that had happened before he replied. "I don’t know."
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