CHAPTER 1369: ORIGINS (2)

[I don’t know if I can accept that.]

You don’t have to accept it right now. But drowning in what you were or weren’t—that’s not going to help anyone. Not you, not me, not the people counting on us.

A long pause followed. Erik waited, knowing it... she needed time to process.

[Maybe you’re right,] she said. [It’s just that... learning all of this at once... It was easier for me to think of myself as something not human. But knowing I actually was a human, that I had a daughter... but being unable to remember when she was born, when she brought her first boyfriend home... I don’t remember who her father is... my parents...]

I get it. Finding out your entire existence started as someone else’s brain would mess with anyone.

Erik ran a hand through his hair.

But here’s the thing—you’re still you. Whatever Ella May Hayes was, whatever you did, that’s not who you are now, and you made up for it by helping me.

He paused. Think about what you have done since dad found you. You kept me alive, made me stronger, and through you, we made all around us stronger. We saved Liberty Watch; we saved Frant; we cleared an innocent man, Becker, and saved countless people and gave powers to others. That matters more than any origin story. This matters more than the creation of thaids because we still have a chance to change everything. We have a chance to actually get out of this whole mess on top.

[You really believe that?]

I do. ⁣

Erik meant it.

Look at me. I started as a nobody with a useless power. Now I’m... whatever the hell I am. Origins don’t define us. What we do with what we have does.

Another pause, shorter this time, went on.

[Thank you, Erik. I... I needed to hear that.]

Any time. He glanced at the terminal. Listen, those coordinates your daughter mentioned—the lab where you were created. Do you want to go there? Maybe we can find something that might help you remember. Or at least give you some closure.

[You would do that?]

Of course. After everything you’ve done for me, it’s the least I can do.

[Then yes. I’d like to see it. Even if there’s nothing left, I want to try.]

Erik nodded and turned away from the terminal. He made his way through the facility’s corridors, his footsteps echoing off the walls. Near the entrance, he spotted Amber checking her weapons.

She looked up as he approached. "Erik? Where are you going?"

"Hey..." There was a complicated look on his face. He didn’t know if telling everything to Amber was the right thing... After all, it was Ella’s past he had to talk about, and he didn’t know if she was willing to share it.

[Don’t worry. I was there every single day you were together, even your first time...]

That made Erik shiver. Now that he thought about that, the biological supercomputer, having been a human and having a human mentality, meant that he basically slept with Mira, Amber, and Emily while a granny watched them.

[Now you are embarrassed?]

How could I not?

He paused.

So, is it ok for me to tell her?

[Yes. Amber is as much your lover as she is for me, in a sense.]

That’s a weird way to think, Granny.

[How mean...]

Erik turned to her.

"It turns out the biological supercomputer is more than just an AI. She’s... it’s complicated."

"She...?"

Erik explained what they’d discovered—Dr. Hayes, the transformation, the coordinates. Amber listened without interrupting, her expression growing more serious with each detail, but also embarrassed since she had Erik’s same thoughts.

When he recounted everything, she nodded. "So you’re going to find this old lab? The one where your father found i—her?"

"Yeah. She deserves to know if there’s anything left. Any memories, any piece of her past."

Amber holstered her weapon. "That’s good of you, Erik. After everything she’s done for you—for all of us, really—she deserves this chance." She paused. "You want backup?"

The system said something to Erik, and then he established a mental link with Amber.

[Thanks,] Ella said, leaving her startled.

Syst—Ella?

The system made the equivalent of a mental chuckle. [Why yes, dearie, that’s me. I hope I didn’t startle you too much!]

Y—you did a—actually! She paused. It’s weird... You don’t sound... feminine...

[Well, thanks!]

I’m not trying to be mean!

Then Erik interjected.

"I’ll take some Chimaeric Demons. Don’t want to leave you short-handed here, but I need some way to recharge during travel since I will fly there."

"Fly?! It’s too dangerous!"

"After having fought the first division commander?"

"You had essence flow with you!" Amber said.

"And that’s why I’m bringing some clones with me."

Amber sighed. "Those mountains are crawling with thaids." Amber stepped closer. "Be careful out there. The syst—Ella—she’s been keeping you alive this long. Don’t let her down now."

"I won’t."

[Don’t worry,] Ella said. [I will keep him alive, at least until he runs out of entertainment value. Though I must say, watching him sleep has been... enlightening. Who knew someone so tough could cuddle a pillow so adorably?]

Erik ignored her, but Amber smiled.

"Be careful out there!"

Erik left the building and called for ten of his clones. The Chimaeric Demons appeared within minutes.

They activated Essence flow, increasing their mana regeneration tenfold. It wasn’t the same as getting instant max mana each second, but it was still much better than having their normal replenishing rate.

The power flowed into Erik, multiplying his regeneration. The clones shapeshifted into large birds.

They took to the skies with Erik leading the formation as they headed northwest toward the Lorogia Mountain range. The journey proved anything but peaceful.

A flock of flying thaids attacked them twenty minutes into the flight. It was obvious that was going to happen since flying thaids were everywhere, and in the open sky there was no tree hiding them from view.

Though the mana regeneration allowed Erik to make stronger than usual attacks, since he didn’t have to conserve his strength as usual and could pour more mana into his attacks.

The thaids died soon after.