Universe's End

"May I ask you something?" Irene asked, hands folded over her lap.

"You just did."

"Not… not what I meant," Irene sighed, her eye twitching. "E.O.N. above, you really haven't changed one bit. If anything, you're worse now."

"Responsibility kills creativity," Rory said, winking at the woman.

"I… you know what, ignoring that. This other founder-"

"Zoey," Rory said.

"The Vanguard," Irene corrected, the thought of referring to another founder so casually too much for her to swallow. "How deep does our alliance go?"

"Ehh, are you asking me to predict the future?" Rory tapped his chin as he thought for a while. "She is my friend."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What else?"

"Is there anything else to say? She's a friend, not an underling, an employee, or my boss. Just my friend. You cooperate with friends, and sometimes you fight with friends. I'm not in charge of what she wishes to do. Anyway, for the near future, she is with us, if that makes you feel any better."

Irene frowned but remained silent.

"If you're worried about the other founders, for now let's worry about immediate concerns, ehh?"

"How can you be so lackadaisical?" Irene blurted, before scowling at herself.

"You want my advice, something I only really learned and digested over the last few decades of being nearly alone?"

"What's that?"

"If you force something, you will only drag yourself down. Challenge yourself, but don't undermine your own path. Most will fail ever to challenge themselves. Heck, I'd bet it's why you've grown as fast as you have, even without being a combatant; every day is a fresh new challenge for you, that deep down you refuse to admit you relish."

Irene faltered for a single instant, her eyes betraying the truth that Rory was spot on.

"Just keep doing what you feel the desire to do. Once you become too bogged down in what you 'need' to do, you will find your steps that much heavier."

Feeling rather proud of himself for his moment of wisdom, Rory turned around, preparing to leave, when Irene called out.

"Mr. Rory?"

"Yes?" Rory asked, turning back around.

"Viviann… You should be aware of what happened, correct?"

"A mistake, on two levels." Rory sighed. "She made a gamble that wasn't as well thought out as she assumed, and I never considered the reaction I took."

"But do you know what happened after?"

"She died," Rory said plainly.

"No, after."

"Excuse me?" Rory frowned, fully crossing his arms. "What do you mean by ' after?"

"Well, it might be easier to show you." Flicking her wrist, a tome suddenly dropped onto the desk in front of her.

"Isn't that my tome of inscriptions?" Rory asked, recognizing the book.

"Yes, but not the same as you left it. It was used as the catalyst for the ritual attempt at drawing from your significance as the Architect. Like playing tug-of-war against an adult as a kid, she didn't have the 'weight' to resist when you pulled back. So, what do you suppose happened?"

"I assume I gained what was hers," Rory answered, not feeling remotely pleased about that reality.

"No, while you likely gained some ascension energy for…. Her demise, as you would a monster, the collective essence of her being was instead infused within the very catalyst she attempted to use, and, well... Perhaps give it an examine."

Curious, Rory did exactly as Irene suggested, examining the old tome.