You know, I kind of knew it, like at the back of my mind, but actually seeing it in practice... stirs up complicated emotions. Most mages really do like it when thing goes boom. Elisa was not an exception. I'm not going to be able to forget that reaction anytime soon. Nor do I want to? Also, note to self, if the sun just so happens to explode due to a villain's dastardly plan, she's suspect number one. By a long shot.

I start to laugh to myself. Picturing Erysis as her trusty henchman is probably the funniest hypothetical I have ever imagined. And while I'm on that topic, I would be an amazing henchman. You've got the stealth, the disguises, the surveillance, and most importantly, all the niche gadgets a respectable villain could ever need. Now, what's the name of our evil organization? And what kind of uniforms are we—

A knock on my door pulls me out of my meandering musings. I trudge over to see who's my unexpected visitor.

"Hey," Nexen says.

"Oh... Hi."

"Didn't know it was me?"

"Yeah... Didn't Erysis—"

"Right. She did. Mind if I come in?"

"No. Please."

I welcome him in. We awkwardly stand around for a moment, until I motion to my table.

As we sit down, and a privacy barrier springs to life, Nexen begins, "I'm just going to get right on and say it. What you did hurt me. A lot. Ery has been very insistent on explaining why you did what you did. And while I've begrudgingly agreed after she wore me down, that does not invalidate my feelings." I nod and try to reply, but a raised hand interrupts me. I let Nexen continue. "Was... Was any of it real? If we were actually friends, would you have acted the same way? Who is the real you?"

"I ask myself the same thing every single day. And we are friends, Nexen. At least, I still want to be your friend."

"How do I know you aren't pretending again? How do I know you aren't playing another character in one of your many plans?"

"Right back at you."

"That... Alright, got me there." We sit silently for a moment. Eventually, Nexen speaks up again. "Have you delved any..."

"No."

"Will you?"

"I don't know."

"Don't kill yourself, please. Ery would be really sad."

"You haven't told her?"

Nexen cracks a smile, the first one I've seen from him in a while. "You're still alive, aren't you?"

I chuckle. "Good point. I'll try not to."

"Definitely try... Or, I might be sad, too." He sighs deeply, looking into my eyes. "I'm sorry about how I reacted. That's not what I think now. It probably wasn't what I thought then, either. It just came out."

"It's okay."

"Have you told Ery's new best friend?"

I cringe, actual fear flashing on my face. "No. With Elisa, she wouldn't kill me, I'd just wish I was dead."

Nexen nods knowingly. "Ery blabbed about your chat. I take it, it's complicated?"

"Understatement of the century."

He exhales some air in amusement, smiling in truth. "I get it," he says. "Yeah. Ery was right. Same old Lucius. Sorry. Mr. Lucius."

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"There's the door."

We both start laughing, the absurdity of the situation making it even funnier for some reason.

"Want something to drink?" I ask.

Nexen thinks for a moment. Then he replies, "I've inadvertently become an expert on Earth beverages these days, so isn't it a shame that I haven't tried any?" A selection of epic proportions blankets my table. "Gotta admit, that is pretty cool." He picks up one of the glass bottles and takes a sip. "Fizzy."

"How long are you going to act coy," I say. Then I mockingly croon out, "I know what you really want."

He conceals his reaction with another sip. "...She wouldn't share." A tablet materializes in front of him. "Thanks."

"No premium package?"

Nexen shakes his head, his mood flicking to somber for a moment. "I'm sorry. Not yet." Then his mood goes back to uplifted. He says, smiling a little goofily, "Show me the armor."

"What armor?"

"I have to see it."

"No idea what you mean."

"We both have dirt on the other. Let's not reach a point where we start slinging."

Nexen and I stare at one another. Will the first to draw win or lose? Our eyes narrow, scrutinizing the opponent carefully. A finger twitches.

But then, I sigh out, throwing in the towel. "Still work in progress. That's all you're getting."

My friend nods in utmost satisfaction. "Good enough. Are you getting a new sword?"

I breathe in sharply. "Thanks for reminding me." My poor baby...

"Oh. Sorry. But are you?"

"Not yet. I have some plans for that, too."

"You better include me." I smile and nod. "What's, uh, what's it like? Not having magic."

I take a moment to answer, trying to remember what it felt like, when I craved power for my own vanity, when I achieved my hollow goal. "Empty," the word leaves my mouth without my input. With a sigh, I add, "But I'm pretty sure that was a uniquely personal notion. How does it feel not being able to control ships the size of planets? Probably similar to that."

"Uh... What now?"

"You know, spaceships." I mime a flying ship with my hand.

"Yeah, I deduced that part. This planet?"

"Eh, probably a little bigger."

Nexen blinks a few times at me. "Why would you ever need a ship that big?"

I shrug. "Space dungeons? Alien lifeforms with less than stellar intentions? Extradimensional incursions? Lots of good reasons."

He takes a deep breath. "Are there space dungeons?"

"Not right now, but you never know."

"Extradimensional incursion sounds like words strung together, but seeing as you are one of those invaders... How many ships do you have?"

"Don't worry about it."

"You know saying something like that makes people worry more, right?"

"Everyone needs a hobby."

"Of course you do." He shakes his head, taking a sip from a new drink. Then his eyes gain a sparkle. "Are there aliens?"

"No."

"Nothing?"

"That's actually a new part of the Meta Universe Theory—Trademarked—that I've been developing. Have you heard of it?"

I get a flat stare back. "Every. Single. Night. ...Ery adds the 'trademarked' each time just to annoy me, too. I'm guessing there's only one place that has life? Both here and in your universe." Nexen takes a sip from another drink. "Seems weird, but so does the alternative."

"Still just a theory, though. I can't say with certainty that there wasn't life out there, or that there isn't here."

"How much have you explored?"

I grin at him. "Almost coming up to a percent. Give me a few thousand years more, and I might get to a nice round one."

"Ah." Realization creeps up on his face. "Big."

"Big, indeed. Big and empty."

After a bottle is drained—I take note of the beverage for later—Nexen says, "Slightly weird question, but I've been curious. Did Earth smell any different?"

I think for a moment, then reply, "Maybe? Couldn't say. While it was still... I wasn't yet able to utilize organic shells, nor did I care to give myself the requisite senses."

Nexen looks sad at my answer. Sad for me. "Sorry for the downer of a question."

I shrug. Then trying to lighten the mood again, I ask one myself, sharply changing the topic, "How's your magic been, by the way?"

While starting to distractedly study the label of yet another drink, Nexen replies, "I've seen some improvements but nothing close to Ery. Thank you for that. And I mean it sincerely. This has been the happiest I've ever seen her in a long time. Almost makes me jealous." He smiles softly in reminiscence. "Almost." He finally selects his next beverage and partakes. Not a hit. "Probably an acquired taste..." I shake my head. It was vastly popular. "Well..." Nexen quickly picks out another. "Did you suggest the arrangement to the Archmage?"

"No suggestion was needed. My timer was perfectly calibrated."

"Huh? Timer?"

"The 'bestie' timer."

Nexen chuckles. "Is she still mad at me?"

"What? No. Not at all."

"Terrible," he says. "It's a wonder how you haven't been caught yet."

"Not the first time I've heard that."

"Color me surprised... Oh well, as long as Ery's happy."

"There is one surefire way for you to get in Elisa's good graces again."

"What's that?"

"A block of your time every week for some cross-cultural exchange. Very scientific and proper."

Nexen shakes his head, already knowing what the cross-cultural exchange will entail. "Fine."

"Give me a moment... Ah, there we are. Yup, you have just been forgiven. Congratulations."

His face turns bewildered. "What?" Then he exhales some air in mild amusement. "Are all oldies this easy?"

"Ouch. ...And yes."

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