A Talk with Loki

(General POV)

"You see, my master...he's a Transcendental."

Loki was the very first to react to these words as she fully opened her red eyes in astonishment. She then frowned and slammed her hands on the bed as the others exchanged confused looks with each other.

"What did you just say?!" Loki exclaimed, all hints of her usual childishness gone and replaced by utter seriousness that caught the attention of all her children. Even Lyze was surprised at this complete 180 turn of her personality.

Loki glared at him, pressing and probably challenging him to say more. Lyze was a bit unnerved.

"I said my master is a Transcendental. And I speak truth Loki, you'd be able to tell if I'm not." Lyze said slowly as he didn't break gaze with her.

Loki hissed in worry and looked away from all of them. "Damn it, you're not lying at all."

"Loki, is everything alright?" Finn asked. "What's a Transcendental?"

"Out." Loki said.

"Huh?"

"I said out. The three of you, get out of here. And make sure nobody else is on this floor as well. I want to have a private conversation with Lyze here."

The executives shared looks with each other.

"Loki-" Finn began but was immediately cut off.

"Now!" Loki said firmly as she gave them all a hard stare.

They bowed their heads in compliance and made for the door, pausing to give nods to Lyze as he returned them. The door closed behind them and the two remaining occupants in the room waited as they heard the patter of their feet disappear. Loki turned back to Lyze.

"Now Lyze, tell me honestly. Do you truly understand the meaning of that word? It is not one you can just suddenly blurt out like that."

"I can assure you that I know exactly what that word is. And judging by your reaction, I'm assuming you also have the same definition in mind."

"Of course I do!" Loki waved her arms around. "You mortals are able to afford the privilege of blissful ignorance. Most of you have no idea what lies out there beyond the reaches of this reality....And yet somehow, you do."

Lyze relaxed his brows as he smiled.

"I'm sure you know how though, don't you Loki?"

She kissed her teeth and sighed, folding her arms.

"Of course. But to think I was housing an apostle of a Transcendental in my Familia, and yet I had no idea." Loki looked back at him, with all the seriousness of an adult. "Does your master have any sort of...intentions with our world?"

"Forgive me if this sounds like an insult, but your entire multiverse has no value in his eyes. He just put me here so he can watch my life like a show, to gain a form of entertainment from it."

"He put you here?" Loki said. "Were you not born in this world?"

"I was." Lyze tilted his head. "The body I have right now was at least."

Loki leaned into his face eagerly and with a sense of urgency as well.

"Wait, so you're a soul from the Beyond!"

"That's right. That's why the Falna behaves so weirdly with me, because this world is not my origin."

Loki pursed her lips. "It would also explain why you're progressing so fast as well. Your foreign soul would act like a sort of leech, drawing far more Excelia than it should because it is not accustomed to the ways of our world."

"What do you mean?"

"(sigh). Lyzie, every time I do a status update on you, there is so much Excelia inside, it's a wonder that your body just doesn't break down from the amount of life force that you absorb. What's more, it's almost NEVER normal Excelia. It's of the high quality kind which you only get from monster rexes. I don't have to tell you this, but it really has been puzzling me lately."

"Yeah, I would be too." Lyze stroked his chin. "That is strange though. I can't think of a reason why that would be the case, unless it's due to my foreign soul like you said."

"Forget about that." Loki said as she grabbed his shoulders. "Lyze, if you understand what a Transcendental is, then surely you know what sort of position that a mere affiliation with one will put you in."

"Having an affiliation with an entity that exists outside of the laws of all omniverses, while living in pretty much a dust-ball of a world with 'gods' that exist pretty much only in the third dimension? I suppose, but I was counting on you to tell me the specifics."

"You'll be in great danger!" Loki bonked him on the head, which he did not feel at all. Lok shook her hand as it went numb. "Just the fact that you're an otherworlder is enough of a incentive for the other gods to come chasing you down. But actually being the student of a freaking Transcendental of all things! There are some who will not like that particularly well."

"Can you give me any examples of who?" Lyze asked.

Loki sighed and shook her head.

"Lyzie, you don't seem to realize exactly what kind of a situation your relationship with your master puts you in. Being his student elevates you to a position that even WE can't touch, even if you're a mortal." Loki looked at him. "In this world, the ones who like to lead everyone around are the Primordials...and let me tell you, Ouranos is perhaps one of the most shrewd of them. YOU will be considered a threat to him."

Lyze deadpanned. "Or to his authority more like. But seriously, why? What would be the consequences if he finds out?"

"I wouldn't imagine anything drastic. Not even Ouranos would want to draw the ire of your master, if he truly is a Transcendental. But Ouranos would certainly want to sabotage you and stop you from ascending to your full power. Or he would try to get you on his side. I still will not count out anything fatal though. Ouranos has done some rash and fatal things in the past."

"How would he do that? He doesn't have a Familia anymore."

Loki looked a little bit more sad as she said the next line.

"He would have you transferred over to another Familia that is more under his control and in line with his own objectives. He and I don't see eye to eye all the time. Our agendas are completely different. Freya's Familia isn't considered the top in Orario just because she has the strongest adventurers you know."

"...You're insinuating that he would try to put me there aren't you?"

"Would you move there?"

"...I appreciate everything you've done for me Loki. I really do. But I have goals that I MUST achieve. I cannot afford to be barred from the dungeon at any cost. Whether it's the Freya Familia or any other that falls in line with Ouranos's interests, I will move there to reach my objectives."

"I figured." Loki mumbled.

Lyze stared at her sympathetically.

"So...you're not going to tell anybody?"

Loki sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

"You've put me in a difficult position Lyze. A secret like this cannot be kept under wraps, yet if I spill the beans now, I will lose you to the schemes of the higher ups. And you're too young for that kind of life. But if I keep it to myself and it comes out into the open later, then the situation will turn out the same...and perhaps a penalty will be incurred upon me. And something even worse will happen to you."

Silence settled between the two for a while as she continued looking at the ceiling while he watched her carefully.

"There is another secret I've been keeping Loki. It will probably be the tipping point for your decision if it helps."

"Oh I know what it is, Lyzie."

...

"What?"

Loki looked back at him. "Remember your very first status update, when we first saw your 'Xenia Khaos' skill?"

"Yes."

"Back then I said that Xenia could mean a whole lot of things like friend, hospitality and things like that, right?"

"Yes."

"Well there is also another meaning to it." Loki folded her arms. "Host. Back then I only had suspicions, but as time has gone on, they've only been proven true."

"How so?"

"Because every time I open your Falna, I can FEEL a different presence in you Lyze. At first it just confused me. It was like something just out of my sight, so I couldn't see it properly. But I knew it was there. You are a host, a conduit of a greater entity, aren't you?"

"Yes. To a fifth dimensional one."

Loki rubbed her forehead.

"And what can this entity do?"

"Chaos. It's called Chaos, and as for it's power...well it can create entire worlds instantly just by imagining them. That's when it's using its true power."

"And it just keeps piling on." Loki sighed. "Well, we've got time. Why don't you start from the beginning then?"

And so Lyze relayed his story to her, omitting the parts about the Danmachi anime and Seven Deadly Sins as well as the origin of Chaos. He told her of his death and his meeting with Nekros, how he was forcibly reincarnated into the body he was currently occupying. How Nekros had rescued him from the Dungeon when Lyze fell into the sewage tunnels. How he spent three years training in Valaron and learning to adapt and how to live with the entity inside him.

How he could not remove his blindfold until his body became durable enough to hold Chaos properly and exactly how his powers worked at the moment. He then told her of his mother back in his original world and how he sought to use Chaos's reality altering powers to find his way back home. He told her of how the dungeon somehow seemed to be aware of his abnormal nature somewhat and how it seemed to be targeting him in particular.

When she asked him to clarify, he told her about his encounter with Claw in the dungeon and how the creature was supposed to be from fictional lore in his old world yet had somehow appeared in this one. Loki grew especially concerned at this but remained silent, not wishing to discuss it with Lyze and chose instead to continue listening to him. When he finally finished telling her about his battle with Ottar, all Loki could do was sit and gawp. This was a situation so deeply messy, it wasn't even funny.

And it seemed Freya was already on the move as well. Loki was well aware of that woman's powers and deduced that perhaps Freya already knew some of the truths Lyze revealed today, hence why she wanted to speak to him alone.

"I can't think why though." Lyze said.

"I would assume she intends to perhaps use this as leverage against you, if she does know about 'Chaos' somewhat." Loki said. "But then again, as dastardly as it sounds, Freya isn't that kind of person. She doesn't like being predictable and easy to read. So the simple answer in this case might not be the correct one."

"I don't like it any more even if that is true."

"Yes. If I were you, I'd use this opportunity to try and strike a deal with her."

"Why?"

"If Freya has taken an interest in you, she'd probably prefer if nor long-lasting harm came to you. Revealing your secret is certainly one of the things that would do that. Otherwise she would have done it already."

"And what if the price is that I abandon you?"

"...You should take your safety into account Lyzie. Besides, you wouldn't be able to change immediately anyway. You'd have to wait 11 more months before you can change, so I still have time with you."

"Are you really willing to protect my secrets Loki?"

"Of course I am."

"But why?"

"Because you are my child first and foremost. Forget everything else, that is all the reason I need to safeguard you until you can take care of it yourself."

Lyze smiled. "Thank you Loki. You know, I like this version of you more than your usual self."

"Don't push your luck." Loki ruffled his hair, bringing his attention to the cowlick that had reappeared. But Lyze was not bothered to remove it this time, it was futile endeavour anyway.

"I really did choose the right Familia. But it goes without saying that the others can't know of this yet. It's why I only told you."

"Then why did you say it out loud?"

"I was counting on you to know what it meant and for you to tell them where to take it if they wanted to press me. If you tell them to leave me alone, then they will do it."

"You make a fair point." Lok chewed her lip. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"What was your name? Your old name?"

"Turner. Alexander Turner."

"Alexander...Turner." Loki said the foreign name carefully. "It sounds...nice."

"It was a nice name. A lot better than Lyzof Keele."

"I agree, somehow. Fine. I'll tell them to not get involved, but you better make sure you keep everything you've told me close to your chest okay?"

"Why are you so faithful and optimistic Loki? Sheltering me with my secrets could cost you a lot."

Loki gave him a mysterious look. "I don't know if you're aware Lyze...in fact, I don't think I need to tell you. All I need to say that as long as your master is a Transcendental, I have nothing much to fear for the rest of my children."

"What does that mean?"

"You'll understand someday. I have a feeling that day might be soon as well."

"There you go, being cryptic again."

"Hey! You've kept secrets like this for a month now. I think I can keep a few to myself as well."

"Fair logic. No less irritating." Lyze paused before smiling. "So...want to meet Chaos?"

Loki paused and stared at him carefully before nodding slowly. Lyze smiled and unwound the blindfold. Once they were fully off, he tilted his head upwards to meet her face to face, breathing deeply as nervousness overflowed his heart.

And then he opened his eyes.

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Heads up, the next few chapters are going to trigger a lot of people. Heck, I'm the author and I got triggered! But have faith in me 🙏.

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