Chapter 1355: Taken Aback

Whisker stopped the group in front of a medium sized building.

It was in the midst of a seemingly endless row of commercial buildings. It was sleek, and its colour seemed to flicker and change with each passing second. Once green, then blue, then yellow.

’Those are... wills?’

He focused on the glowing sign board fixed on top of the buildings. Atticus couldn’t recognize the characters and words, but he could feel its intent.

’The Will Mirror.’ Atticus thought, before turning towards Whisker.

"This is the place? Are we going to find what we’re looking for here?"

"Relax my star actor." Whisker brushed a palm down his chest. "Relax. This is just a means to an end. We should find the location of what we’re looking for here."

"And where is here, huh? Lazy man." Ozeroth chimed in with an intense look.

Whisker smiled and simply pointed at the sign on top of the building.

"The Will Mirror."

He stepped forward and entered the building before Ozeroth could retort. Atticus sighed, glancing at his spirit and then guard.

"Stay alert. Clutch your will stone in your hand."

Kancilot nodded, serious. While Ozeroth mearly shrugged, as though unmoved. But Atticus could still see his fist tighten around his will stone.

They entered the building, and Atticus was immediately met with a space far too big considering the size of the building from the outside.

’Space expansion.’

The place was packed, not what he had been expecting. It was a large hall filled with numerous booth like pods around its walls. Atticus was reminded of the pods in the Will Hall library.

He caught sight of Whisker standing in front of a random pod, waving them over.

"What are we doing here, Whisker?" Atticus asked, more curious than impatient.

"A means to an end." Was all Whisker said as he opened the pod, gesturing for Atticus to enter.

He clenched the will stone in his arms and nodded to Whisker before stepping into the pod.

"Oh oh, wait." Whisker blocked Ozeroth who had been about to enter. "There’s only space for two people and you don’t know what we’re about to do, so..."

Atticus heard Ozeroth’s incredulous voice.

"What are we supposed to do while you’re inside there?"

"I don’t know." Whisker shrugged. "Just don’t jerk off."

Stifling a laugh, Whisker slipped into the pod before Ozeroth could pounce on him.

"You lied." Atticus said to Whisker, shaking his head. The pod was just like the building. It looked small on the outside but big inside.

Whisker cleared his throat. "A harmless lie." He said, "plus, we really don’t need his prideful ass right now. We’re about to meet someone important."

"You know he can read my thoughts, right?"

"Ah shit. You’re right. Almost forgot about that." Whisker winced. "Em, don’t let him read your thoughts? Do it for old Pounce."

"Tell me about who we’re going to meet."

Whisker countenance suddenly changed, tone serious. "The Archive."

The name, or title did nothing to move Atticus. Why should it? He’d never heard it in his life. However, Atticus felt a sudden shift.

The air turned heavy for a second then still. He felt a presence engulf the space. His eyes sharpened at the front of the pod, there a large screen lay.

It suddenly lit up, and a figure was displayed on the screen. Atticus’ eyes narrowed on the figure. He or it, was shrouded in a cloak of blinding white light. It looked divine.

"Hmm, what do we have here." The voice was deep and resonant, filled with curiosity. "A runaway prince and a rising star. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Atticus was a bit surprised the being knew him. He sure hadn’t met him before.

"It’s good to see you again, old man. I missed you."

The being didn’t turn his eyes away from him, and Atticus could swear he was smiling through the blinding white cloak.

"Pathetic lies all meant to sway me. Won’t work." The man shook his head. "My interest in you has waned. There’re more... interesting things now."

"Still a big pedophile, of course."

"You jest." The man finally turned away from Atticus and faced Whisker. "I just value... unique things is all."

"Of course of course. How did I forget?"

There was silence for a moment, and the man had turned his attention back to Atticus. Despite being displayed on the screen, his eyes were piercing and Atticus could feel it trying to peer into him.

"Why have you come?"

"Why else." Whisker raised an eyebrow. "For information."

"About the usual?"

"No." Whisker quickly shook his head as though wanting him to stop. "We’re searching for a Veinwood."

A breathless pause.

"Hmm. A Veinwood. Have you finally decided to give up on your unreachable goal?"

Whisker frowned. "You found it intriguing when I first told you."

"No, not intriguing. Amused." The man chuckled. "An ant who wants revenge against a god. How can I not encourage that then?"

"What about now."

"Like I said, I found something more... interesting to observe."

Whisker finally glanced over to Atticus and smiled. "The Veinwood." He repeated.

"It’ll cost you."

"We have money."

Atticus brought out a high grade will stone from his storage and placed it on Whisker’s outstretched hand.

The man looked at them, amused. "Oh please, you’ve brought me something more valuable. The prize will be settled if he can answer a question of mine. Simply a curiosity."

Whisker glanced at Atticus who nodded.

"What’s your question?"

"Ah, finally, he speaks." The man sounded delighted simply hearing Atticus’ voice.

"What is your goal?"

"The peak."

Atticus wasn’t sure if the man was stunned by the abruptness of his answer, or the answer itself. He didn’t speak for a few seconds.

But then, he chuckled, and burst into laughter the next moment.

"I thought the middle planes have gone stale! But this... this is rich! I haven’t laughed like this in a while."

As the man stopped laughing he fixed his eyes on Atticus whose expression hadn’t changed, despite the laughter.

"Do you know what stands at the peak, child. The sheer magnitude—"

"It doesn’t matter."

Once again, the Archive was taken aback. He was entertained, but it was unnerving that he wasn’t sure what this was.