"This place was founded after the collasp of a kingdoms lost monarch from interference of not undertakers. In since then, those lost from wars to escaped from mishandled hosts." The host of the crown, this king of crowns soon speaks lengthy of enough history to make trust to this exchange, "I am the keeper of this duty and find your action to protect the crowns admiring. Clearly you suffered the same fate as others had." He stops of a time sealing area. The crowns phantom lifted and made the enrty through the crystal seal. She walks in willingly, not nosy about the way the room seals behind them.
"It should be OK now." The crown soften. She looked at other creature crowns aligned the walls, tables and some on pillows. There a sealed few with clothus bindings, clearly tortured souls. Plenty injured but healing. There is only relaxing here. Calm and watching. She lowered in kneeling to all these many crowns.
"This soul is broken one. It can hear us all." Among the crowns lifted a wise one, "A good soul whom has pained." Brushed her shoulder, "You know truth. You know history. They call you an outsider... but you never were." She felt that ach in her deeply. That simple truth was so on point, "There There. It's fine with us."
"The eldest crown speaks honest words at her and she has completely accepted that truth. This girl is a strong fragile soul." The crown informs his host.
"It should be OK." She softly spoken, that isn't an undertaker voice. Her arms lowered into shadows and up with lifted many crowns. So many. Most soulless ones that she couldn't help in time. Plenty others that move themselves to settle among for safety and rest. The recent obtained ones lifted from shadows with their own furniture. She stays at bow as they thank her. Plenty blessing her with shadow marks.
"She's a good dove." She finds her head crowned with a blacken one, "She has the qualities and she owns the lands I seek settling." It purrs and is petting her.
"Nightmares crown." She being pulled to get off the floor and being posed about as a doll, "should it be OK?" The host asked.
"She is part nightmare, sigil access states she is the lord land owner of the time sand dunes. Her soul know the edge of time itself. I suspect even... beyond. So a nightmare crown befits a monster soul like her."
"The a deal strikes." Her voice taken by the black thorn crown, "This body is perfect for those hassling little ones." She isn't in control of how it poses to puppet her, "You are right. That could be interesting." She twirls about with claws dancing, embedding lost soul shards to crowns with broken souls. She was completely focused at healing the souls here. Her fake mock mask slips and shattered at the floor. She rather was diligent at repairing the crowns.
"Soul repair. Just as good as the god of death himself." The wise one nods, "Keep this one as a high shadow. It's kingdom is of dream worlds, thus no physical location for undertakers. But this doesn't mean she be without servants. She will be of service for repairing souls, tomes and care of us crowns." This was softly repeated to the current king host that accepted this. She was repairing the clothus tainted crowns, even if they were fighting her. It was entertaining to all to watch her. Plenty a creature became healthy after her work. Plenty respecting her as a dark healer.
"Lady Marionette." She was at last touch of repairing something, and was soon allowed her own freedom once more. She hide back claws and plasters a fake face to hide her real one's. She courtesy to the king, "Do you have the book of crowns?" The tome segment that details these souls. She stares blankly with softly searching her reaches of tomes. She indeed obtained the tome that was no keeper. She doesn't bring it out, but agrees of having it. She hears them all with talking about this fact. She finds the tome come about its own will, desires to choose a crown as its keeper. She tested all of them, being fair. She meets gaze of the eldest crown and it was the tomes chosen. She gifts this book to the crown.
"Just you are of your own will. The tomes too. It had no keeper. You are now the keeper. Not me." The crown embedded into the tome and became an active object. She felt several title leave her following the tome, but this happens often. She exchanged soul shards, loosing nicknamed in the process. She lowered exhausted of the work, laying at the floor with needing a break. Her crown petting her. Moves her to a little sheltered spot, looking after her in return.
"She was a living human without finished time." The tome of crowns speaks up among fellow members. The king leaves now, locking her here. They treasured her with clothing her up in her sleep, and softly she was posed on a throne chair. She befits her status as a nightmare creature mimic of an undertaker. No hiding her nature anymore, away gone was all those things that prevents comfortability as herself. Fusion with the crown, the soul of the crown shares into her body. Not minding her own powdered soul and not overwhelming her.
"Welcome to the chamber of crowns. Here they test you if your worthy. I did warn you that the test wasn't conducted by us." She awakened up from the nap, and steps evading direct sight. She hovered just barely at reach. She felt the aura and intentions. She acted protective to a thing not welcomed.
"You are not welcome." She binds this being and held them still, a knife posed at the throat, "Living." She felt her actions made many of the afraid crowns be braver. She damned sense over this human and soon understood how this human came about here. She posed their hand at the crowns and this relaxed them enough, "Sorry little human. The distrust of living folks has been a recent case. Plenty a Trickster had tried. But you aren't one yet, not even related to those that caused." She draw away and thus human partner soon checked over, "Mage human... not bad. A Glader or a off cut. Either way." She softly eases to be visible, "A interesting bunch you brought, your majesty. You had almost frightened some."
"Lady Marionette, you're work with repairing them is of quality beyond god smiths." The monarch spoken as the crowns mouth peice, "It has been a pleasure hiring your services. I do hope the reward has been of plenty compensation." She courtesy in reply, "Beloved Ace, you wouldn't happen to have the information the previous left." She left hand passed over the note, "And as someone in the know, can we trust this human?"
"Mages can cause organ malfunctions without meaning to. Their use of energy could withdraw from us, not meaning to. They can also over fill too. Human bodies can handle that strain. Undertakers can not. Not without modification but undertaker of mage use is possible. The runic language will have to be forbidden script. Thus not a divine caster." She stares at them, "Gladers protect the island and the human society of themselves. Depending on the current human events, mages are hidden or empower government stability during stress. The living lands are destabilised enough as it is." She eased since her staring was uncomfortable for them, "It depends on this humans choose of who he ties to. Seers are your tome threat. Fallowns are your monster chasers. Red hands are always on some wayward mission to enact repairs. Plenty branches to occupy their distraction." She tilts with seeing a dreamer attached to the human. It informs her of things, "I see. A good soul then." She nods, "This Glader has good intentions. But he befalls a terrible situation soon. Maybe you should ask a red hand some aid."
"Red hands are criminals." The few around discontent with a snap phrase.
"Depends on who you seek among them." She shook, "The red scythe may be blood hands but he does it protecting his family. The young grim reaper is a learning fool. Criminal maybe, but death isn't angry of the grims actions. Death in fact pities them. Humans caught between clothus affairs."
"And are you a hand?" Defending themselves.
"I am a nightmare for many. I am a tome keeper and protecting the tomes from them idiots is one my souls wishes. I am my own side. I wish I could protect my family but they walk away from my abyss. Thus I must watch afar and ponder greater universe matters." She has noticed that they understand her. She had even tilted in pondering that it translations of her meaning got to them.
"Abyss... you are a owner of an abyss. That explains why the crown took you." The monarch nodding, "Human connections. Even your handling of tomes makes sense of the skills you had to repair these crowns."
She was pulled around to the many crowns of the room. Plenty wanting her attention, speak of things or request to move them around. Since object can't be moved themselves. This gave space for the group of visitors to be left to their intention. She was being hired for even more tasks outside of this crown Hall, as they know she will be leaving with them. From checking in what their lands they left servants running, being taken as a secert service shadow. She was requested to be an acting merchant for resources they needed. Plainly to do a few threat removal tasks. Pest control really. They grant her the needed approvals, arm cloth indicators and coat of alliances to prove she is a resident of these undertaker kingdoms. She kneels to the crown keeper while she waited for group to finish.
"I have formated and updated your name inside the tomes. This adjustment will allow you ease to alter between human, nightmare and undertaker. You already have the set up in sigil for such practical things." She felt this too, as now she was suddenly breathing as a human should, "You need to return to the human world. Going with them. Support the crown as its shadow."
"I pledge cooperation and support to the crown." She smoothly voices, having now kneel to the newly crowned monarch of the room, "King Shock." The snap gaze of her knowing the nickname of the king.
"She can hear me. She is my shadow." The crown explains to host, "Yet this abnormal soul has history beyond your ideas. Ignore her." She stands and slips hidden to shadows of the undertakers here.
"Like any true spy, disappeared without a trace." The monarch chuckles, "This all that can be offered." He guides all to leave this treasury and seals the room with care.
"Shadow Ace, you must guide the human and his partner back to the human world." The newly crown monarch voiced of his crowns intent.
"As you wish." She appeared and studies the two, "You came through the Mage towers gate way. Taking the sigil back will be a lot. His not geared for such travels." She pulled spare hunter kit from storage and began lacing up the leathers over the kid. His partner took over from her, as she provided more parts. She sigil rank checked him. Now he suited his status.
"At what cost was these gifted?" His partner warns.
"Clearly you are of use to the crown. Especially for him to be a living status. Call this armour charity. A survivor helping another. I might turn out to be just as young as him. Escaped from a terrible situation." Her expression are clear and all the more now was she so human. She was even hurt behind her eyes of business.
"The beach house raid?" She shivered a little and now they both looked at each other. She holds her arms and just poses left hand to guide. Following the black figures directions. They cross backrooms and over a guild counter. She was altered to a human girl once arriving to the mage tower. Stood alone as she sees them catch up to her. She dressed the day she was kidnapped in the Seer estate, with traces of dust and blood about her. Cloaked in a god followers protection. She stares at the floor taking in the energy of the living world and how a sudden rush of agents happy to see the kid and surprised of seeing her.
"Eliza?" Her shoulders grappled and they lower to look at her. She slowly stares up with facing her family, "How did you?" There a long freeze, "Are you the owner of the strange quid bike?"
They make sure the kid was taken away to be interviewed and make sure his health is checked over. She pulled to be sorted the same but not in sharing word to the Glader.
"I took it form being left to rust away in sea salt." She voiced, "I did some modifications so I didn't have to refuel it." That was enough for this moment. It was her get away from the slaughter location. She clearly wasn't treated welcomed by the cult, with rope marks around her torso and arms. They aren't going to question what she did to survive and there a clear unstable factor about her overall. She was given some time to relax, to clean up and eat a proper meal. She sent her mask to enact those small jobs the crowns has asked of her. She was soon walking through the towers many exchange points and shops. Being a merchant of her dark title, spending a whole week being followed by agents watching her for her deal.
"Miss Fallown," she was putting her backpack down at her feet as she was about to sit at a coffee shop. Today she looking fresh, well rested and full of life. She still stress and clearly coping with internal troubles. Yet she stable enough for a proper talk.
"Kyle asked me to talk to you about something. He said you have ties with dark things."
"If you know how dark the void goes, then I will be watching back." She retorted and eased sitting down, "Be it Damned and others. I work with such sensitive things. I am a tome Keeper." This agent is someone her soul has history, in having now seated across each other. She can taste his souls sorrow and the attachment of a tome from somewhere else. Josh? Yes... that was him. This is still him? She studies again.
"You figured me out." She smiles warm, "No one normal smiles at folks like me."
"So your the Ender of your time access, as are several I cross before. I don't know where my partner is. Nor where the title went, but things have reset. It will not be long for me to be face to face with such fate. If omens doesn't stop me." She fiddles with the god charm necklace of Ace's. It's the only item she wears as a human that is supernatural phenomenon, "My name is Eliza Seer Fallown. It's a pleasure to be crossing you again. I am a merchant of strange things. Broken is what I want. I find you enders seek advice, a listener that understands or aid in tome repairs. I don't answer questions. When I do, you misunderstood the answer before."
Josh in his agent uniform huffed relaxed now. Letting his expression be his natural stressed over thinking ways. She minds not that his mask had even appeared with putting drinks between them. Left hand accepting the coffee and softly posed of waiting for him to figure out his words.
"What is this place? If we talking the big picture." He finally slips these words from his tongue.
"A gathering of broken spaces, sewn into a tome. The fragments several ruined compendium. Layers of human worlds sharing but distant of each. Where the stable holding realms are the afterlife surrounding the human worlds. The gates are holes through human worlds, be it different tome spaces. So one fell to a corpse apocalypse. Several are unaware of each other and continued in ignorance. As are most gods. Then you have the fraying ones like my tome space, barely anything left when it fell to clothus corruption. It restarted to erase the clothus work. Only broken like me know that." She now sips the drink calm.
"So a vast conjoined half job fix." He sounded hurt.
"I wasn't allowed to do anything more for it. This is how the universe wants to be. Try as I did to beg to repair it. It throw me out and many other erased events. Now we are content with what we have. I am not to change it. This is what is. Strange laws and all. It works well enough. New tomes are flooded in and removed all the time. This place is a sort of dumping ground of spare scraps. I have been protecting it from the outside layers. That's my role. If the clothus want this place, it be over my broken way. I would say corpse but I can act beyond flesh and when I am no a scrap of soul left." Josh spat his drink and coughed, "Sorry." She provided a clean napkin and he moped up well enough.
"I understand now." He is afraid but at the same time, he was all the more in relief. Had even excused himself to smile warmly as she does. He looked around the cafe of people and things, "Can we exchange? The normal no souls or names. The usual rules." She makes sure to gesture this and he returned the needed replies. They got down to business. Exchange materials, repaired tome pages and a jar of souls. Plenty of meat, liquids and scraps. Things he collected as an Ender on accident from erased moments of time. They talked of the up coming world events this universe will be repeating and barging on what twist of change could mean. It concluded to easing to human matters and what he actually was here as an agent to do. Interview her about the Seer beach estate and her connection of why she was hostage there. He keeps things smooth in knowing she been through the kidnapping many a time. How changed her life event is from previous starts.
"No more candles of extreme danger." He finished this, "I will make good of my report and see you around." She waved away.
"What did I just witness?" Josh's master... Marcus Glader. The ender that won ownership of Josh's title while being a separate tome ender.
"Mark. I am not surprised. What are you scheming now?" She invited the mask to take from Joshs spot, "Remember that I refuse any deals with you. Your the bastard that helped have my soul sold off to clothus. I have you to blame for the defamation many gods like Death. I have you to curse for pushing my partner to murder me." Mark hissed but she closed those lips with left hand, "Don't make me drool. I have debate eating your soul many a time." She eased back, "Ender, what service will you seek of me? Or you just nosing about the slaves business."
"You answered what I needed." Mark leaves with failed attempts of soul chaining her. Failed to enslave her. Failed many curses and threat of her life for the duration of sitting here. He knows she just some link to other Enders and she is status above himself. That she just another creep for exchanging forbidden goods. He figured out that her name is in a tome that he fears the ender owner.
"How did you escape?" She finds herself facing her biological Father.
"Its a pleasure to feel fresh. Not rot from a rope in the basement." She blocked him using all magic, and right then. Stolen his title and duty as the Index of this universe keeping. Stepping him down from the family business. He was so distracted from the energy drain of spell casting that he isn't feeling the way the tomes being taken away. She got up from her seat and collected her bag.
"You're not leaving." He commands and she thought a little. She slowly just leans on her seat and passed a dirty hated look at him, "Don't you dare." He hissed and puts hands at her collar. Pushed her back to the seat, "I know your name. Don't make me use it."
"Oh, go ahead freak. Try and own something you sold. Try as you attempt to tame this that you thrown away." This sort of hot air was passed at each other as while. Plenty of people around are watching this event.
"Eliza! I didn't come here to play nice. I came to take away you tome since you so irresponsible to keep it." She huffed not surprised that he seen the tome of broken but she suspects his clueless of the history. He thinks she did all that damage. But the tome of broken was always that way. A misunderstanding. One his not going to listen to a brat like her to explain things.
"Stealing souls from the pages and making them into trapped beings that can't enact their own freedom will is a low blow. You accusing me of a crime that I didn't enact willingly. Nor did you even read the tome segment chapter before reaching that assumption."
He tried casting judgement chains over her, but these rusted into weak bonds. He tried a fate binding but this was refused by the goddess. He tried a clothus method but she isn't touching his hand. She had made several clear cutting gestures that enact over his clothus accusing.
"The tome of broken. I wasn't expecting a tome so filthy, tainted of curse and kept in a vat of blood." She rolls eyes that his even more an idea then she praised before. Getting up again. She snaps her fingers with time pause for them both.
"I cast judgement of your souls crime." She enacted and he collapsed on the floor beneath her feet, "Comfortable of the sins you gave me?" She lowers to his eye level, "Thank you. Thank you for what you gave me."
The chains release as enlightened for her, no more will the guilt and sin of his faults be her to bare or fell fault for. Deep down, it is his act to break her soul and sell her to clothus that lead to now. For a first in a long time for this universe, the chains are being used the way their were intended for. Mislabelled as sins in chain. It is embodiment of soul desire; regardless of the outcomes this soul desire is. This is the forgiveness angels redeem to lift higher. The power demons crave from humans. She isn't happy of her relationship to her biological father but she gained all she can form him. All he taught to her, indirectly or directly. He was freedom by the enlightened chains, since he got all he will from the soul corridor between them.
"I will continue being shoved away and forgotten. You got the other children to care about. They need you more then me. I am ok without you." She crossed the time stop crystal that caps them privately. She sees on exit that he wasn't there anymore. He must have used the time she gave for something else. Proving that indeed, she is meaningless to him. She mixed among the crowds and was back to life as a human. Getting by with a mage job or huntress work. Being the shadow to the crest crown under the alleince. Plenty peace and normal human complexity.