Page 3505

“What’s the cause, then?” said Zeff.

‘Well, first of all, let me make one thing clear. Hector Goffe is not the astero here. The astero is Hector Goffe and Garovel together. That is one point that I think our people sometimes overlook or don’t realize. The reason asteros are so rare in the first place is because it’s not just one, singular madman coming into the world. God knows we have more than enough of those. No, it requires TWO madmen who find a kind of... perfect and terrible harmony with one another.’

“That’s an interesting way of putting it,” said Octavia. “So you are saying we should be just as mindful of this Garovel as well, then?”

‘Yes. That is, in my opinion, the true cause behind all asteros. The relationship between reaper and servant. They both have to be of precisely the right--or wrong--mindset. It doesn’t work if either one of them is normal. The reaper has too much power in the relationship, especially early on, for the servant to be the only deciding factor.’

Octavia smacked her lips. “Honestly, though, what is truly considered ‘normal,’ anyway? Isn’t that too muddy of a concept to work from?”

‘In this context? Normal means having a properly functioning sense of self-preservation.’

“Ah. Well, that makes things a little clearer, then...”

‘I can virtually guarantee you that Garovel places little to no value upon his own life. Otherwise, he never would have allowed his servant to get involved in so much danger at such a young age. And he certainly would not have allowed HIMSELF to get involved, either. Others might call him courageous--and be correct, depending on the circumstances--but to my mind, that is probably just the tip of the iceberg. And... seeing the growth that Hector has exhibited in the short time we’ve know him... mrgh. They hide it well, but nonetheless, I am still made quite fearful of the true DEPTH of recklessness that must have brought the two of them this far.’

A brief silence arrived.

“I can certainly respect your point of view and even share in it,” said Octavia, “but at the same time... isn’t that a bit hypocritical, coming from a bunch of Rainlords?”

‘I don’t think so,’ said Axiolis. ‘If anything, I’d argue that makes us MORE qualified to say that, not less.’

She gave a faint laugh. “Right, because if WE think someone is crazy, then they must be truly mad. Is that it?”

‘More or less. But also, I think it helps explain why our kin have become so enraptured with them so quickly. In many ways, they exemplify the pride and spirit of our people. It is a most... ancient feeling in us, I think. Instinctual. Essential. Tribal, even.’

Page 3504

It didn’t take long for Axiolis to show up, nor did it take long for Octavia to start laying into him.

“Axiolis, you old secret-keeper! What’s the matter with you?! How have you not been talking Zeff’s ear off about this whole astero situation with our new friend?! I know you must have some rather strong opinions about it, and yet Zeff tells me you’ve said ‘surprisingly little’ about the matter! Explain yourself!”

‘I’m glad to see you so spirited, Octavia.’

“Oh, thank you, darling. You know me. Can’t keep me down for long.”

‘Heh.’

“Now answer my damn questions.”

But apparently, the reaper was not going to be rushed. He took his time as he circled around the two of them, perhaps mulling over his next words. ‘...Could you ask something more specific? What exactly is it that you want me to tell you?’

“Hmph. Well, to begin with, how about the precedent for this whole thing? You must have seen countless asteros over the course of your life. Have you ever encountered a more extreme case than this one?”

‘...Not more extreme, no. But comparable, at least.’

Zeff perked up at that. “You never mentioned that.”

‘Mm. While I can understand your fascination with the subject, I am also... not so interested in discussing them anymore, myself.’

Octavia seemed to lose most of her fire. “Why?”

The reaper paused for a silent sigh. ‘Because never have I known their stories to progress happily. And their endings...’ Axiolis just shook his piscine head.

Zeff and Octavia were both quiet.

‘It is in their very nature, of course,’ said Ax. ‘Their shocking growth is due to their turbulent and terrible lives. But the world is vast, and eventually... well, eventually, what luck they have--if any--finally runs out.’

“You’re afraid, then,” said Octavia.

‘Absolutely, I am.’

Hmm. Zeff had to pick him up on that. “The rain fears not the torch, Ax.”

‘True. But it is not for myself or any of us that I am afraid, Zeff. Hector and Garovel are not of the rain.’

That was a fair point, Zeff supposed.

Octavia spoke next. “What else can you tell us about asteros? Is there some other... common denominator between them all? Besides their troubled lives, I mean?”

‘Oh, indeed. In fact, I would say that their troubled lives are--especially in the most extreme cases like this one--not merely a product of misfortune. In medical terms, one might call their lives... symptoms of the problem, not the cause.’

Page 3503

She took a few more moments to regain her composure. “...What is with that look on your face, huh? Am I amusing you, hmm?”

“I won’t deny it. In fact, I might just have to thank Hector for letting me see a new side of the ever-calm Lady of the Red Lake.”

“Zeff... are you telling me the truth? This is not some twisted joke to get a rise out of me? Because if it is, then I will be relieved but still quite unhappy. I’ve never known you to lie for fun.”

“It’s no lie,” said Zeff. “I’ve been training him extensively. In retrospect, his prowess was already impressive from the start, but there were still obvious gaps in his knowledge. Now, though...?”

“Now, what? He’s changed that much in so short a time?”

“Yes and no. He’s reached a point where it is difficult for me to gauge his true strength. Primarily because he has an annoying habit of holding back during training.”

“That’s not proof, then,” said Octavia. “He could’ve been playing ignorant in the beginning. And the reason he holds back now is because he is still trying to conceal his true strength from you. Which would be wise of him.”

Zeff chortled. “If he was pretending from the start, then he is an incredible actor. He even managed to fake having pathetically weak soul power.”

“Ah...”

“Yes.”

“I’ve... heard that’s possible, too,” said Octavia, though she sounded like even she didn’t believe it.

“Well, regardless, you can come to your own conclusions when you meet him yourself.”

She paused to exhale. “An astero to such an extreme degree...”

Her tone was making him curious. “I said he’s the most powerful one I’ve ever seen, but what about you? How many asteros have you encountered in your life, Octavia?”

She took her time answering that one. “A fair few, I suppose. I’d guess maybe... two or three per decade. But what you’re describing is... it’s almost unheard of.”

He stuck on that. “Almost?”

She shook her head. “I’m sure the reapers would know more. You must have discussed this matter with Axiolis by now, surely, no?”

“Of course.”

“And what did he have to say?”

“Now that I’m thinking about it... surprisingly little. But it has also been a while since we talked about it, so perhaps I should bring it up again.”

“Ugh.”

“We have been quite busy, you know.”

“You bring him over here, right now, young man. I want to talk to him.”

Zeff snickered. “Okay.” That was one order he was happy to follow. Listening to Octavia Redwater chew out one of the oldest reapers on the planet sounded like quite a good time to him.