Rise of the Godking - Chapter 167

Chapter 167 - Awakening

Daneel woke up to the most painful headache he had ever had the bad luck of experiencing in the long life he had led after transmigrating from Earth.

The burning sensation was present all over his head, both inside and outside, as if an army of smiths had taken up the job of using their hammers to mold him into a being whose entire existence was pain, pain, and pain. For the first time in a very long time, he asked the system to dull his senses, and it was only in the blissful calm that followed that he was able to draw the first unburdened breath since his awakening.

It told him a lot. It told him that he was surrounded by people whose bodies were caked with sweat, blood, and grime, and that he was in an open place as he could also smell the scents he had detected before being driven to madness. The moment he remembered this, he instantly knew what had happened and with resignation, he asked the system, "The Will made me lose my temper again, didn't it? It wasn't supposed to happen again, but I guess this was a special occasion… well, show me everything that happened. And, oh, take control of my body so that I show no outward reaction."

The last had been an afterthought, but the moment his vision changed, he felt really glad that he had done it. If he hadn't given that command, his brow would have been filled with so much sweat that everyone present would have understood what his inner emotions were.

Panic, shock, fear… he flitted between different states like a frenetic bird as he saw what had happened. When he witnessed the images between the communication crystals that offered a glimpse of his glorious feats of strength and power back in Angaria, though, he felt a faint swelling of pride, but it was instantly replaced by fear as he wondered whether he had lit a signal fire that would lead all the prominent individuals on the Mainland straight to him.

The moment the elf stepped in, he experienced an overload of emotions that led to a strange blankness with which he watched the revealed of the pointy-eared beings true identity. When he saw the way he had acknowledged Mors's, or rather, Prince Moridin's identity as a fellow member of the sort of royalty that could only be obtained by experience, he let out a resigned sigh, wondering how he was going to get out of this situation.

He had always known that there was something fishy about the elf's tale, as the man always possessed means far beyond what someone he claimed to be should be capable of. That didn't mean that he knew what a Forn Elf of the High Reaches should be capable of, and even though he had hinted, himself, about his background in court, both of them had just assumed that he must be someone of minor standing.

Daneel had no idea about the significance of what the man had rattled off, but its importance seemed obvious. He wished that he could pick Alex's mind to find out more, but he knew the moment he opened his eyes, he would have to explain himself.

"Everyone, please wait outside. I must talk to him. He should get up soon, don't worry, he'll be fine."

As if summoned by his thoughts, the elf's singsong voice floated into his ears. Mors sounded tired, but his tone still held a certain timbre, a sense of command that he had managed to hide until now, but was apparently not bothering to do anymore now that everyone knew who he was.

He had phrased it as a request, but everyone walked out in barely a few seconds. The sound of a chair being dragged was heard, and a moment later, the elf sat somewhere near him before leaning back and letting out a tired sigh.

Daneel put all other thoughts aside and started to study his options. A few seconds later, though, he understood that they were very, very limited.

There was only one thing he could do, and although it was a trick he had used many times, it pained him to deploy it now, against someone who had saved his life and the lives of all those on this island by doing what he had just done. The other alternative was to tell the truth, but as he really couldn't judge what someone of such high standing would do when faced with an individual who had arrived to take control of the place he called home, Daneel scrapped this idea and hardened his heart.

Before giving the command, an idea appeared to him at the last second that was the very essence of who he was. It was bold, and it was designed to make use of this sordid situation to fix a lot of things.

The only problem was that if he went through with it, he would be betraying his friend even more. For some time, he was dead-set against it, but the moment he matched the titles of the elf with what he had seen, it became obvious that not using this chance might just guarantee the failure of all his plans, and all that he needed to do.

That could not happen. Thinking of the millions of souls waiting for him, he made a decision.

After a few moments, the familiar, but still unpleasant sensation of forgetting something he should be able to remember arrived. It passed soon, though, and after that, Daneel blinked, causing the chair to creak again as the elf bent forward.

Confusion spread across his face, as all he remembered was that moment when his vision had entirely gone red. After that, it was all a blank patch.

The rest of his memories also felt new, almost. He was just the son of the ex-Master of this land, and sometimes, he managed to show intelligence of the sort that many could only dream about whenever it is needed. His face seemed to give the elf all the answers he needed. With a grave expression, Mors shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, but matters are too serious for me to take anything by face value. You don't remember anything, but something has happened that calls into question everything you've told me, and everything I thought I knew about you. It pains me to do this…but I don't have any choice. Close your eyes, and cooperate."

Those last five words were uttered with the weight and bearing of an emperor talking to an uncooperative subject. All of who he was bent to its well, intent on doing everything it asked, and although a small part of him tried to protest, it was silenced quickly.

This voice of protest grew louder when he felt a foreign presence entered his mind. Daneel, himself, tried to smother it, but soon, he found himself disliking the intruder in his mind even though he wanted to follow the command he had been given.

This dislike fuelled his resistance, and the foreign presence was met with a wall that was flimsy, but which held strong. It retreated, but before Daneel could heave a sigh filled with equal parts of relief and scorn directed at himself as he had disobeyed the magnificent being he was talking to, Mors spoke.

"I forgot about your breakthroughs. Well, it seems I have to do it in a different way, but this has to happen. Listen…"

With a face filled with disbelief, Daneel listened to a blow-by-blow of everything that had happened. By the end, his jaw was loose and he was convinced that he was hearing things.

Mors's dead serious face told him that this wasn't true. Letting out a deep breath, the elf continued to say, "Now, I must enter your mind to see whether you have anything to do with that being. If you do, my duties dictate that I must take you to the High Court. If you don't…we can see what can be done. But first, this must happen. Please…trust me. As one of the Forn, I give you my word: you will not be harmed."

What he saw in Mors' eyes made Daneel understand a lot more than what he gleaned from the elf's eyes. The word of the Forn could be trusted, without a doubt, and this was his friend, so after a second, Daneel nodded.

Mors visibly relaxed when he saw this. With a small smile finally coming on his face, he said, "I'll finish up quickly. Just close your eyes, and when you feel me, do not resist. Let down your defenses, and everything will be all right."

Daneel nodded again. When that foreign presence arrived once more, he forcefully swept aside everything and let the elf have free reign.

Slowly, that presence moved inward, deeper, stretching cautiously here and there, making his mind tingle uncomfortably. When it reached the deepest part where his memories lay, it found no opposition and finally threw itself into the task it had come for.

That was when it happened. Consciousnesses were always weak when on missions like these. In such cases, risk went both ways.

Hence, the moment Mors' consciousness relaxed, the system pounced, and a message was heard in his ears while all his memories returned.

[Target is firmly under control. Backup defenses have been detected.. Following primary directive: erasing specific memories pertaining to what was seen during host's period of lost control.]