Quest of Automata King

King's New Form

Mui looked to the cave that has been burried with rock and stone, and then to the talking book in front of him. He rub his eyes, making sure that he is still awake and at some point still alive.

Who knew if he actualy did not manage to survive that slide and now have turned into ghost? Well, at least right now he can touch and feel with his skin, but that book is still a different story.

“Is this distance fine? You finally got your privacy back? Ok then. Let’s do some breathing excercise to make you feel better. Breathe iiiiin... Breathe ouuuuut...” For some reason Mui following that floating book’s instruction.

“Alright! One heck of a cool fella ain’t you? I can see we will understand each other better after some little excercise!” said that book. It floating toward Mui, then it encircle and observe him.

“Um...” Mui tried to talk, but before he is able to, that book cut him right away.

“Hmmh!? That horn! That tail! Curly hair and dark skin! Hohoho! I know what you are, i really do!” said that book, it sound excited for some reason. “You must be a beastmen with characteristic of goat and sheep right? Your skull must be very thick! Hey, tell me! Do you really bashing your head against other males to attract females? Because those are kinda dumb, not gonna lie.”

He keeps on babbling stuff about sheep, goat, and beastmens. Leaving Mui dumbfounded to not only the fact that this book can talk, but also an oddly lively one.

“E...Excuse me!” shout Mui trying to get his attention.”

“However, do you know what other thing that are more weird? You’re right! The Dwarves! Their heights are traded by muscle mass and the strength of their grip. In other words, they are natural fighter of the universe! Have you fight against Dwarves before? Well I have, almost lost my foot that time. Ha ha ha!”

“E-Excuse me! Please, hold on a moment!” shout Mui.

“Ooh! Finally in the mood to talk eh? I thought i will be the one that have to fill this entire night with speech! Now, please do speak, curious boy.” It is floating a little bit away, as if relaxing it’s unavailable body to listening.

“I... I want to make sure first. Are you really a magic book, or something else?” said Mui, that book then floating closer to him, it’s eyes on the cover starring blankly at him, making Mui a little bit startled.

The book does not say anthing though, so Mui reach out his hand, and then using his index finger to touch the cover. He did it once and then taking it off again, as if testing the temperature of a water.

And then, he did it once again for the second and three time.

“That’s it?” asked the book.

“Huh?” said Mui like a dumb person.

“Don’t huh me!? Aren’t you’re the confused one? You wanted to check if I am real aren’t you? Then go ahead! Open the pages! Check if I’m floating by wire and check the underside to make sure that I’m not invincible weirdo with book as his head!” shout it angrily.

Again, Mui startled. He follow his suggestion, beginning from how that thing is floating. Mui move his hand on the top, under, and sides of the book. Find that there are nothing that suspending him midair.

Next is the cover, he finally grabbed it with both his hand, and then touching the side of the book. The cover feel like strings that are sewn into hard cover of the book.

“Well, this is a little bit ticklish,” said the book. Mui then moved to the part that he curious most, the eye.

“Wait, wait what are you doing?” said it seeing Mui’s hand closer to him. “Ouch! Ouch! Hey stop it! Don’t your parent teach you to not poking someone in the eye!?” shout it angrily.

“I’m sorry, I thought you will not feel hurt.” Replied Mui.

“These are real eyes and not decoration, damn it!” grunt him, but he still let Mui to continue the inspection.

After the cover, Mui moved to the paper side. The only problem is the belt that locking the content of the book.

“It won’t open,” said Mui.

“Yeah, too bad that inside of this book is not something that could easily read by a stranger.” Said it. The book then floating away, signaling the end Mui’s inspection.

“...Who are you?” Mui finally asked the most important person.

“Before that I want to ask you kid, What year is it?” the book reply with another question, making Mui showing a little bit dissatisfied look.

“Year? Um... It is 785 Longinus year, spring season,” replied Mui. He usually forgot about year or seasons they are in, but after intense learning in the academy, he can learn how much weeks left for spring turn into summer.

“I see, that is pretty long time.” Said the book, making Mui even more confused. But for a second, Mui realized what he almost forget. The name of the book.

“Wait a moment... Goettia... Is that your name?”

Doesn’t answer, that book floating closer to Mui. The word ‘Goettia’ on the top of the cover letting out red glow.

“Finally using some of your brain huh? Have to admit that you’re kinda slow,” mock Goettia.

“By Goettia... You don’t mean the Devil King, right?”

“Come on! Stop with your ‘expect to the worst’ mentality! Yes! That is me! I’am the Devil king that 12 years ago waging war on the entire world!” shout it angrily.

Mui takes a step back. “Wait, 12 years? I thought the war ended two years earlier,” said Mui.

“Huh...” Goettia floating backward, he let out a sigh althought the book have no mouth.

“Well, can’t say they are wrong,” Goettia floating here and there, remembering the time that have pass. “The other year is me running around, while coordinating the counter-attack plan that keep failing. While the other one... Is how I got this form.”

Mui turn his face to the ruin, and then back to Goettia.

“Um... But how did you able to get here? You’re a Devil right? And this place is Foumoda territory. It is almost months away,” said Mui.

“...” Goettia does not answer. His pupil is starring at Mui blankly, as if there is something on his mind.

“Who knows? The last thing I remember is dark and damp place. Red light in front of me, and sound of banging door behind. After that, my consciousness is fading, and I become one with mana,” said Goettia.

“Become one with mana?” replied Mui, he does not understand a single thing that Goettia is saying.

“Nah! Forget it kid! It’s too early for you to understand!” Goettia suddenly shift it’s expression into laughter. It fly closer to Mui, once again invading his personal space.

“Thanks to you kid, I already know what time is it and where I’am,” said Goettia. “But actually, there is something else that I extremely need right now...”

Mui gulp his saliva. He think that this might be the red flag between them. His mind wandering what does a magical floating book want. Is it blood? Sacrifice? Or is it might be his body?

He thinks as he take step back, preparing to run.

“You see, for ease of movement in this world, I will need a certain... Host.”

“I’ve guessed it!” think Mui. He imagined that his body will be invaded by worms and bugs. He turn his body and prepare to run, but gust of wind suddenly blowing toward his face.

“Let’s not be hasty ok? I don’t want to spend another hours looking for person that compatible and want to work together. When I said ‘being a host’ is not something dangerous,” Goettia suddenly appeared in front of Mui when the wind stopped.

“Let’s keep it simple. The most important requirement for me to turn into magical object is to ‘serve’ a person. Based from the power when I still alive, you can say that I will be powerful,” explain Goettia, which does not make sense for Mui.

“Imagine it boy, there must be something you wanted to do right? Think about your pain, think about your desire. I’ll help you to fulfill your desire, and you will help to fulfill mine. We scratch each other back.”

Mui does not answer right away. Through the corner of his eye, Mui looked at him cautiously.

“What about you Goettia?” suddenly he ask. “What is your desire?”

“My desire is simple,” said Goettia right away. “Triumphant win of Beruka! The start of new era where automatas become the primary force of the world! Only by that, we can advance this society and proceed to the new world!”

Said Goettia. It looked to the kid, as if demanding his answer.

“What about you, kid?”

Mui got quiet. His memory rewind to the situation this afternoon. Not to mention, about the incident that happened to him at the train station. Mui also remember his fellow Devils wherever he goes.

Insults, humiliation, and discrimination were thrown around no matter where he go. If Goettia’s wish come true, it may be enough to erase all of that trouble inflicted to him.

But then, something passing through his mind.

If the previous thoughts are filled with anger, this one is filled with curiosity instead. Not only that, but also sadness.

“Don’t act like you know anything about me.”

Mui remember those words, coming from the girl with short white hair and eyes as blue as gemstone. What does that mean? If she did not want to, why didn’t she asked for the help? Why would she let herself suffer for the people he don’t like and hurting her?

Maybe, those are something that only nobles could understand.

“So? How about the deal?” asked Goettia.

Mui looked at him with a new expression. This time, is a stern face, the face of someone who have make his decision.