CHAPTER 257

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I left Gaia's dimension, with a lot to think on.

For one, her level had disappeared, leaving only a name with a title behind. 

Confused by this change, I questioned her, unable to hold my desire to understand what had happened, to which she replied with a sly smile on her face, the following.

~Information of any kind is power Alex, and knowledge like power can be hidden quite easily, but remember, no matter what, there are three things that cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. All knowledge is reachable if you search hard enough.~

I left her home soon after, going back to my office, victorious, but worried.

Her warning, and power to alter what I was able to observe had given me a lot to consider.

"Did something happen?" The Ancient One asked, a look of concern dawning on her face.

"Not really, not yet at least," I replied, my hands clenched together in front of my face in worry. "I discovered a few problematic things, one, Gaia was able to alter what I saw, and before today, I thought that to be impossible, but considering a lot of things I have come to understand after my meeting with her, I am quite certain now, she's only the third individual to trick me so far."

The Ancient One narrowed her eyes in understanding, "Them."

"Yes," I nodded, "Normally, I wouldn't take that as a red flag, not entirely, that, however, changed. When I dissected how I felt around Gaia, I felt at home, welcomed, and happy, as if all my worries had been washed away by her mere presence. I was aware of my worries, yet, they didn't weigh on me, at all."

"Like Vest makes you feel," The Ancient One said, coming to the same conclusion I had come.

"Yes," I nodded once again, "With Vest, however, the feeling of tranquility is more intense. But fundamentally what I feel it's the same."

"That's indeed troubling," The Ancient One muttered.

"It gets worse," I replied, taking a deep breath, "Before leaving, she gave me some advice. Telling me to not trust those who I do not know, for they build their castles in lies born from the truth. Considering how close my circle of interactions is, that either means, you guys will betray me, or them." 

"Which leaves as the only logical option, them." The Ancient One concluded with a frown, before turning her gaze towards me, "How much do you trust Gaia?"

"Not a single bit," I replied, without a second thought, "Our relationship is strictly one out of business, we both made sure to clarify that, stating our alliance was one out of mutual benefit, she cares for Earth, and wants Knull dead, meaning that for the moment our interests align, which is why I am questioning a few things." I sighed.

"The girls are still with me," The Ancient One replied shortly.

"I know," I nodded, pondering what to do. 

"Castles built in lies born from the truth," The Ancient One said, as if trying each word out, trying to decipher something in them, "I find how she worded that out, curious."

"How so?" I asked.

"Well, if Vest and Adara are lying to you, they are using truths to do so, at least, according to Gaia's words," The Ancient One elaborated, "Meaning if our assumptions based on Gaia's warning are correct, they are tricking you with the truth. I find the entire concept confusing."

"Well, let's revise what we know about themselves," I replied, summoning a beer for me, and a cup of tea for her, "They can't tell me their names, they hide their power, they say they want to help me, but can't because it would destroy what they seek to preserve, they say they want to protect my daughters… I think that's about it."

"Not a lot to analyze there," The Ancient One replied, taking the cup of tea I had summoned for her.

If all I knew about them was a lie, that was also a truth… I got it, "They aren't lying."

"Would you please elaborate on that? I'm still on the part they were lying," The Ancient One said, her eyes on me.

"I think they might be sleeping agents," I replied, elaborating on my theory, "They aren't lying, because for them, what they say is the truth, until it isn't, which fits the entire… lies built on the truth."

"It fits," The Ancient One nodded after a brief moment of silence, "But sleeping agents for who?"

"To be honest, I doubt them to be working under someone else if our theory proves to be true," I replied.

"Self-alteration," The Ancient One replied, her eyes darkening, "Meaning they will remain friendly until their goal is met." 

"Yes," I nodded, my mind racing at the possibilities, "What their goal is, I'm not sure. But from what I could gather in our talk, it includes me somehow, meaning the trigger to snap them back to their old selves by completing their task, lies in me. At least one of them."

"That would also explain why they appear as friendly on your map," The Ancient One said, taking a sip of her tea.

I nodded, already aware of all those implications, my power was good, but it had certain limits, like the one presented to me right now. Statuses could change, one moment someone could be my ally and the next they could be my enemy, it was all a matter of perspective and moment.

"For now, we won't do anything about them," I said after a moment, giving the Ancient One a look, "I will however relocate the girls to a different location immediately, one that even if I die will ensure they live on."

My plan was simple, sending the girls back in time, effectively putting them out of everyone's grasp. It was my best bet, with so many factors playing a hand, I had no way to truly keep them safe.

Having them outside the present time, was, in theory, my best option.

It was a desperate move on my part, I knew that. But I truly had nothing else under my sleeve.

I had no moves to play, no strategies to use, nothing, I was cornered, having a threat in every possible direction.

"Why don't you make a pocket dimension?" The Ancient One said, "If you tie your dimension to a physical beacon, it becomes unreachable, lest you allow others to reach it."

"Like… Gaia.." I muttered, thinking over how her dimension had only become reachable after I had entered it, with the entire thing basically operating like my dungeons from a basic point of view.

With the only breach on my dungeons so far being The Beyonder, who was far, far beyond my level even now.

"Yes, the only reason we were able to enter her private realm was because she invited us," The Ancient One replied with a quick nod, "Otherwise, it would've been impossible to break in, at least in our current level of power. Now that I think about it, don't your dungeons operate like that?"

I laughed in joy, feeling a massive weight drop from my shoulders. "Oh god, I feel so stupid now. The answer was right there, but I never considered it." 

"To be fair, none of us did," The Ancient One replied, a small smile gracing her face, "I simply made the connection after visiting Gaia's realm."

"The only way to breach one of my dungeons is if the individual it's massively stronger than me," I nodded, "And, even then, what dungeon will they breach? I have well over five million dungeons running with my leveling Golems at the same time at any given time, it would take anyone trying to find them a long time."

"Five million," The Ancient One repeated in shock, "It takes an Elder God, a lot of power to sustain one realm, and you have five million realms. Just when I think I understand you."

"To be fair, those five million realms run a given course and then disappear, so, maybe that helps?" I offered.

"No, it doesn't." The Ancient One replied, giving me a deadpan expression.