Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 486: Tenets of Order

Chapter 486: Tenets of Order

"Because you are an Error." Ashtyx suddenly said, jolting Alex from his introspection. "Father must worry about what an anomaly like you would accomplish with such power at your fingertips. It could significantly ruin the tenets of Order and bring untold disaster upon us all."

Alex frowned. "Tenets of Order?"

"It is what allows this reality to persist." Ashtyx simply said, unwilling to give further details.

Alex couldn’t be sure if it was because he didn’t want to or perhaps it was because the information could kill him.

He wasn’t quick to forget what had happened to Aiden during their last encounter.

The aether was very much alive and would act should certain secrets be revealed to those unworthy.

"What if another person asked instead of me?... Perhaps someone like Elena, after all, she was born from your essence." Alex suggested to which Ashtyx replied.

"As long as it benefits you, I am not to act."

Alex clicked his tongue, unsure of why the aether was being so petty.

"I reckon that while I am in your possession, I will remain asleep. Only after someone else takes me away would I be able to awaken again."

"Damn it, but why?... There has to be a loophole, right?"

"The fact that you aren’t dead yet despite claiming two Branches is a loophole." Ashtyx intoned, causing Alex to go silent for a moment.

Unable to stay silent any longer, Douglas spoke up. "Does this mean you won’t be able to help us?"

Ashtyx went silent before slowly shaking his head. "That I was able to carry out one task for you is already the limit. I presume the same shall occur with the others. Only one of your requests would be fulfilled after which they shall enter dormancy as well. This is to avoid the scales of power from tilting heavily in one direction."

Despair took center stage on Douglas’s face though he was able to console himself that there was a plan B already in motion.

There was no way Emily would die, absolutely not.

Meanwhile, Alex seemed to be bothered by other things as he intoned. "How do I convince the aether that I’m not a threat?"

Ashtyx went silent for a moment, seemingly pondering the answer to his question before ultimately replying. "I don’t think you can do that so make good use of your identity as an Error, at least, until Eventide assimilates you completely. Perhaps at that time, you might be able to do so."

For some reason, the last part of Ashtyx’s sentence caused Alex’s heart to tighten as he couldn’t help but imagine what would happen at that time.

What if the assimilation erased his identity or memories of Earth?

That would mean no more home for him to return to... if he would even remember home in the first place.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Alex intoned. "Did you complete it, the space I’d asked for?"

"Unfortunately not. The scope of your request was deemed too much of an aid and so, it was prevented from taking shape."

Alex’s expression turned grim as he remarked. "So what now?"

"I doubt there would be a problem, Alexander. If truly, like me, my siblings would be forced into a slumber, there is no reason for you to worry about us turning this cavern into a land of horrors."

"That is hardly the issue." Alex intoned. "This cavern is not secure. The chances of some random bastard coming here to pick up a Branch is high."

That the Emperor was a baby didn’t mean he’d remain that way forever.

Actions had to be taken to prevent him from recovering the Godstone.

Ashtyx chuckled weakly. "If that is the case, you don’t have to worry. To my knowledge, you are the only fool mad enough to gather me and my siblings. As for Enoch, he would need a great deal of time to recover enough to come for me. I doubt he will pose a threat in the coming years."

Alex went silent, unsure if to take Ashtyx’s words as an insult or praise.

Regardless, noticing that Ashtyx’s golden radiance was slowly dimming with the doodle world slowly slipping to nighttime, he decided to ask his final question.

"You claim your Father’s residual Will is responsible for putting you to rest. Does that mean he is alive?... I’d thought he was gone." Alex intoned, calling back to his assumption that Nyx was the dark residual spirit of what was once the Absolute One.

Ashtyx paused before slowly responding. "Father may not be with us but his Will persists, driven by the desire to uphold Order."

For some reason, despite the answer being simple, Alex found that understanding it was a bit harder than expected.

He frowned and for a moment, considered asking for an in-depth explanation but then when the doodle light source above died out, replaced by an eerily close representation of the moon instead of the Nighteye, Alex decided it was time to leave.

"We’ll be taking our leave now," Alex remarked.

As he and Douglas turned to head away from Ashtyx, the golden child called out to Alex.

"Be careful of the dark." Ashtyx intoned, causing Alex to frown.

Seeing as the child had no plans of explaining further, Alex muttered a low thank you before stepping out of the doodle world.

Seconds passed as Ashtyx’s eyes slowly closed before he suddenly muttered.

"What exactly are you planning?"

***

Alex and Douglas once again found themselves in the cavern with the Godstone floating silently behind them.

"Are you feeling okay?" Alex inquired as he noticed Douglas’s somber demeanor.

Douglas nodded. "I think so."

"Don’t worry, this is why we have multiple plans. Even if one fails, we can always try out another."

"What if the Devil of Greed doesn’t accept to take the baby away?"

"Then we can consider running across the sea. In the first place, we are done in Ra’as. So don’t worry, everything is under control."

Taking a deep breath, Douglas replied, trying to be positive. "Alright then."

"Good, now come on, let’s go check on Emily."

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