Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)-Chapter 1087. The Star of Fates

The Director

< I am a Star. An Archetype now, but a Star in essence. It would be more accurate to say that my counterpart is my old self, however weakened it is. My old namesake was the Celest Star Weaver, Fate. A Star whose origins come from the very concept of purpose, which manifests through the roles and namesake of ‘Fate’ >

His tone changed again. He suddenly monologued like he was narrating an epitaph. His whimsical personality had long since disappeared. One had to wonder if this was part of the show or, was the real him.

If it was not, then which personality was the real him?

The Director

< Stars are born in a process not unlike the Corrupted. Corrupted carry an emotional weight tied to lived and fantastic experiences. Stars are born from the Collective Unconsciousness but lack that base part of humanity. Hence, they are beings of pure purpose >

Indeed. Stars came from a place Beyond the Veil where the Collective Unconsciousness resided. It was the same place where the Rivers originally flowed. Corrupted were tied to the Affinities, which were eleven aspects of humanity with its sins and virtues. Stars did not have this, for they were not born from Nex which carried Qliphoth, emotions and human experiences.

Instead, the Director revealed that he was born as a concept.

Fate, manifested in three ways.

The Director

< Fate, or the Moirai as it is manifested. Whichever you prefer. Whichever Act X has agreed upon with my counterpart. I have not the slightest as to what their arrangements are like. I can only interpret and alter the Commandments sent through the strings which originate from the inner machinery of the Fate Mechanism. I’ve yet to reach that far into that Kingdom >

“I’m confused. The Star can make Commandments? But so can the Fate Mechanism? How does that work? Aren’t they conflicting? I know I’m asking a lot at once, but… Beholder Marionette is working with the Fate Mechanism, right?”

Frost understood the pipeline of Act X’s Scripts working as:

Fate Mechanism, to Beholder Marionette as interpreted, to those who weave the Scripts using her strings, to then the commands given to its recipients. The existence of another higher power only caused her to raise a brow. Was Marionette not working in favor of the Fate Mechanism?

The Director corrected her.

The Director

< The Fate Mechanism is an instrument that counts down to certain events. The nature of these events is lost to me. We are only aware that it attempts to mold the world to ensure the Tenth Act occurs. Amalgam, Marionette and my counterpart are but one way to interpret it. The Sect of Gears syphons the Fate Mechanism’ cog work to spin their instruments, thusly manifesting predictions >

No matter the Living Loom, or the type of interpretation, it would be accounted for by the Fate Mechanism. Every Living Loom connected to it fueled the Fate Mechanism further, however, even with Act X and the Sect of Gears it was not enough to power it fully as he explained.

The Director

< I have noticed that the Fate Mechanism has become rather active since the Awakening of Cer and the birth of the Sparks. I could not tell you why, but the Fate Mechanism has responded positively to their existence >

“So the Star Sigil uses the Fate Mechanism to create new Actors? It uses an Advent’s power?”

The Director

< That it does. The Sect of Gears take a different approach. Rather than invoking the Advent, they spread themselves via an infection called the Geared Disease. The ‘Actors’ can be seen as a plague of its own. Another Living Loom calls its followers Pilgrims >

Act X has competition. Tch. Any attempt to rectify them might backfire on us. I hate that I’m strongarmed. It won’t change that Marionette will get what’s coming to her.

Another question popped into her mind.

“How do you still know so little about your counterpart, despite being up there?”

If they both resided within the Fate Mechanism, or at least operated with it, then how come the Director was ignorant of his counterpart’s arrangement with Act X?

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The Director

< Because they reside yet higher. Higher, and higher than I can dream to reach. Amalgam. What will you do to Act X now that you are aware of the existence of a Star? >

“For one, it doesn’t sound like I can get to it. But Marionette has the Gift inside of her anyway. Second, I’m going to beat some sense into her until the twins are free. Fate shouldn’t be tangible in the first place. And third, I’m gonna find a way to power the Fate Mechanism so we won’t have to worry about people ignoring their Scripts. The twins did nothing wrong. I doubt it warrants severing them for good. So tell me something. Is that what your counterpart wants, or what Act X wants?”

Frost’s feathers had been constantly rustling, indicating that he had only been speaking the truth. However, it stopped when he tried to utter something. Then, it rustled again as he finally confessed.

The Director

< My counterpart is responsible. I imagine Beholder Marionette can also be held responsible. She is, after all, the Beholder in tune with what is a broken version of my old self. She wishes for nothing but for the will of the Fate Mechanism to be enacted, no matter the cost. Likewise, my old self believed in the absolute nature of fate. That it cannot be changed or interpreted >

Frost heard what she sensed was a glimpse of the Director’s true self. It was a quiet voice that knew it had little sway in the grand scheme of things. That he knew he could only interfere with the Commandments given by the Fate Mechanism, be it to Act X or the Sect of Gears.

Yet without him, Frost imagined that the Scripts would be far more literal than up to interpretation. In that light, he, if anything, had made the lives of the Actors much more tolerable.

“The right to ad lib. That’s your way of seeing fate.” Frost finally broke into a faint smile. “You have your past demons to deal with. You really are an Archetype.”

The Director

< Ahem… >

His voice choked. Frost prepared to comfort him in case he was on the verge of breaking. However, she could not have predicted his next persona.

The Director

< How marvelous my Malgam friend! To be so welcomed by your arms brings oh such many tears to my eyes! I could cry! (wipes a tear) >

Jury’s face soured.

“He ruined the moment.”

“Haaaaaaah. You missed an ‘A’.”

The Director

< Doesn’t your daughter– >

“Frost, I really, really don’t like this guy.” Jury growled. “Malgam is exclusively for Joy. Frost might be lenient to you because you’re an Archetype, but I won’t forget what Act X put our daughter through.”

Her fury took Frost aback. She was offered a glimpse of Jury’s paternal instinct. Frost shared the same sentiment, only that she was better at hiding it now whereas Jury became surprisingly in touch with her other volatile emotions.

“It’s not his fault.” Frost assured. “Joy’s doing fine. Believe me.”

“But what if she’s afraid of me now?”

“She won’t be. You’re the Jury she knows and loves~ Joy wouldn’t hate you because of an incident couldn’t control, right Nav?”

She brushed her cheek against Jury’s forehead and then gave her a quick peck on the lips. Suddenly, she realized she had been swirling Jury’s hair into spools around her finger the entire time.

“… Weird.” Jury’s eyes locked onto hers, then fell onto Frost’s chest. “… Is this how you feel sometimes?”

“Hm? Like what?” Frost tilted her head.

“Like, you know. Wanting to be pampered?”

“… I am not like that.” Frost turned away, her face flushed. “… Well, most of the time. Unless it’s with you. And the others. Why, you like having your hair being played with?”

“No, I like this big version of you. Being held like this isn’t so bad~” She giggled and shoved her face between Frost’s chest.

“Finally, I’m the one in control.” Frost gave her a playful grin. “Oh yeah, Nav? Were you waiting for us to finish flirting?”

Nav

< I have terrible news >

Jury nearly threw herself out of Frost’s arms, but she quickly lulled back into them when Nav followed her message with:

Nav

< Terribly good news. Joy can’t wait to see you again >

“Phew… I love you Joy~ Tell her I said that.” Jury hummed.

Nav

< She said ‘see you in hell’ >

“!?!?!?!?!?” Jury’s ears flapped randomly as her tail formed a giant question mark.

Nav

< Because she’s eager to go to paradise with you when this is over >

“O-Oh…” Jury rapidly blinked, lowering herself back into Frost’s hold once again. “She… Is that Joy saying that?”

Nav

< I can confirm it, because she’s talking to me right now about how irritating it is having to talk to you >

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????”

Nav

< Because she’d rather talk to you in person whilst wrapped by your fluffy tail >

Frost ended up laughing, realizing what Nav was doing. It was her way of cheering Jury up… even if it was borderline psychological torture.

“Nav, do you realize how it sounds when you phrase it like that?” Frost sighed.

“Nav… How mean. You wouldn’t like it if I did that to you.”

Nav

< You wouldn’t >

“And you’d be right!” Jury faintly smiled.

A small island appeared on the horizon. The Mother Black Bird cawed, and Jury relayed that they must be close.

Finally, their long trial within the Audition was coming to an end. Silence wrapped them in a warm embrace as they watched the island grow. Frost could faintly see the outlines of several people, and her eyes instantly lit up. She shared the scenery with Jury, her thumb brushing over her lover’s wedding ring, and another still playing with her hair.

A faint, tiny message appeared in the corner of their eye. Typically, a prompt appeared in the center of their vision.

But this was pushed to the side.

Nav

< Yes. Because you have a warm-blooded heart >

And then, another prompt appeared in the center.

Act 5

< Acceptance of the trial undertaken. A role worn. A role rejected. They made their choice. The path is theirs to walk >

The Director

< Pay it no mind. The Audition is over. You will shortly be arriving at the Grand Stage. Friends, be prepared for an audience worthy of the Grand Stage >