Chapter 677: Museum of Everything Gone
Argrave arrived at the top of the tree. He had been expecting some sort of vast field of golden leaves at the top, but instead, he found himself crawling through an open manhole. He rose up out of the sewer, looking around at the room he found himself in. In a few moments, he realized it was something like a museum. There were exhibits all around, many of which were directly related to his time here on Berendar and the world beyond it.
Argrave climbed up, coming to stand as he looked around further. There were antiquities from the Burnt Desert—miniature replicas of the metallic towers at Sethia and a recreation of the heart that had been created to replace his own. There was the Plague Jester’s scepter, and a small ring that Argrave knew once belonged to Induen. There was a scale from Vasquer’s body, a feathered hat from Relize, and a set of eyes clenched by a taxidermized bat.
The exhibits carried on, each of them highlighting some various aspect of his journey. He followed them down chronologically, paying attention as they became more and more recent. Finally, at the end, there was the final exhibit—it seemed to be the centerpiece, yet it was blocked away with yellow tape that read, ‘construction in progress’ in bold and bright letters. Beyond the yellow tape, there was a navy-blue curtain. From beneath the curtain, a gleaming golden light peeked out, dancing at the edge of the floor. He could see two orbs, each projecting a light that barely indicated their presence. Just beyond would be the suns, he was certain. He wasn’t clear on what to expect.
Argrave walked up to the unfinished exhibit, looking around. A door opened to his right, and from it came a cloud of smoke. Argrave braced, prepared to fight anything that might come. Moments after, Jaray walked out, shadowed by someone unrecognizable. Argrave narrowed his eyes as he looked at them, not entirely relaxing.
“What is this?” Argrave expressed his disdain openly.
“Congratulations on getting past the souls Gerechtigkeit sent after you,” Jaray commended. “I said that I’d be busy arranging a meeting with the Heralds. Well… I knew that you’d be coming here, given what you and Lorena intended. So, we came here in advance and waited. This is a fitting venue for conversation, I think,” he said, looking around at the place before his eyes narrowed at the ‘no smoking’ sign plastered on the wall. “Mostly.”
Argrave looked at the second figure warily, finally grasping things. “You’re a Herald?” He questioned. “How did you come here?”
“Piggybacking on a mortal soul, of course,” Jaray answered.
The man looked at Jaray, then at Argrave. “There is never a shortage of people willing and able to help us when we need it. Even those with undying souls.”