Papercut

"I thought you could only get these from Apollo..."

Maka beads are created by gods like Apollo. He told us that as long as you want to go somewhere that exists, the Maka bead is a one-way trip. I put two in my pocket and threw the other on the ground as it broke and sent a cloud of smoke up, covering me and Logica. All I could see was black...

Everything...it was gone. It was like I was in an endless void, filled with blackness, robbed of everything, but then I saw a little glow a few feet away. I thought I was hallucinating, but I had thought wrong. What I had seen was a body and I was trying to make out who exactly it was, seeing as it looked rather feminine and then the shape came to me again; it was Logica.

"Logica, how are you...I have you next to me, frozen."

I looked next to me, only to find that her body had left my side.

"What?!"

"Ignorant child, power of that level doesn't affect a being as powerful as I."

"You're bluffing, this is some sort of elaborate trick, there's no way you're stronger than divine protection. Not even Hades or Olivia withstood the blast."

Logica held up her ashy palms as a projection hovered above them, it showed Olivia and Hades. The two had teleported before the explosion occurred. I could only assume that Olivia saw this possibility, but couldn't understand why she'd take Hades with her when she was going to ruin his sale altogether, possibly betraying him.

"So they escaped. It doesn't matter I'm not going to continue letting you sacrifice people for these experiments you've been conducting."

"OHOHOHOHOHOHO!"

Logica started to give off a maniacal laugh as if I didn't know what I was talking about.

"What's so funny exactly?!"

"Is that what you think this is, experiments!? Ignorant humans and their ignorant ways, what I'm after is the 'First One'."

"Wait...you don't mean 'THE' First One..right?"

She started to cackle again. I couldn't understand what she was saying, what could she want from The First One, he died long ago, so they said.

"All you humans are the same, you make up these tall tales about events without ever knowing what happened. I assume you believe the First One is dead?"

I gulped down my saliva.

"But..but he is, you're just trying to mess with me!"

"Oh, am I? You know of the soul transfer ritual right? A forbidden ritual that not even the gods and deities permit, not even Hades nor Apollo would dare attempt. By overwriting any normal power or gift received by the gods themselves, it transfers the spirit on one being into the receiver, gaining access to all of their memories, powers and potential altogether. This ritual has a one in a Googleplex chance of working and if failed, erases the existence of its user so much so that their ancestors feel the pain."

"Then why would you even attempt such a dangerous ritual?!"

"Simple. To obtain the power of The First One."

There's no way she could dream to harness his power, I've heard tales of The First One. He was the first person to ever have hybrid abilities, with his being lightning as far as I've been told. Apollo says The First One shook the solar system every time he called down lightning, he causes volcanoes to erupt and tsunamis to wipe away lands. His bolts sent the sun soaring through space until it reached the edge of the galaxy in a week, that's probably the reason Apollo had to create a new sun for us.

"You idiot, you'll die in the process of the ritual!"

"That's where you're wrong little girl, for I thought you were the child that possessed the power to change the story's script, but it seems I've been mistaken. I'll make it to where the story has it written for me to not fail. After our little blast, I saw into some of your memories and it seems that your friend, the daughter of Hades, possess this ability. Am I correct?"

"..."

I didn't say a word, I didn't want to lead her on or give her any hints but she hit the nail on the head. Olivia had all of the powers of Wildcard after she had absorbed her soul, which still baffles me to this day.

"You'll die trying to retrieve Olivia's soul, her Divine Protection won't allow it."

Your friend and I share a common goal, she'll remove her Divine Protection for me to get one step closer to The First One and I'll destroy everything for her, in return."

That sounded like some fairy-tale, some kind of dream. Apollo never told me you could disable your Divine Protection, but why would anyone ever want to?

"I-"

Logica had cut me off.

"I think I've wasted enough time with you, I'll be on to my heavier matters. Thanks, Amelia, this couldn't have been done without you."

She started to slowly fade, her body becoming transparent until she completely disappeared. I tried to scream, but couldn't, I couldn't breathe either. It felt as if I were suffocating, like I was underwater, drowning and then I woke up.

"Hugh..ugh!"

My upper body flung up from the ground, as I sprang forward awakening from my sleep. I looked around and I was lying in the middle of somewhere, I couldn't see all too well because my vision was a little blurred as if I'd been staring at a bright light for too long, but then I wiped my eye a little. My vision was a little better, but I was still trying to catch my breath.

"I..was asleep? Was that all a dream?"

I looked to my side to see that Logica was indeed not next to me, confirming my thoughts. She must've given up on capturing me when she found out I didn't have wildcard's power, she wants Olivia now. There's no way she's going to be trustworthy either, I just know that she's going to double-cross Olivia, she wants to take over her body for her to get a step closer to getting the power of The First One, but I still couldn't understand why she wanted his power at all. What was her endgame, what did she have planned? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good, but I remained true to my goal and it'll ultimately ruin hers. If I could change Olivia's perspective on the world, maybe she'll deny the offer of Logica. I have to bring Olivia back to reality, but first I need to find Noah and Carter, I knew I couldn't do this alone. Those are the only two I can look for in help, considering Aaron is God knows where.

I finally decided to look around and noticed I was on the borders on England, I was on the edge of the continent.

"Damn, I need to find Noah and Carter, I don't have enough time to waste. It's only a matter of time before Logica gets to Olivia, and knowing Olivia, she'll agree to this horrendous world they're trying to create. A world of nothingness, just an empty void filled with what used to be screams of the endless stars that lie in our world."

I had got an Idea at that moment, I had decided to try and talk with the ghost witch on purpose.

"Hey Ghost witch, ya there?!"

"..."

"I didn't wanna say it, but thanks for earlier, you kinda saved my skin back there."

She finally decided to stop being stubborn and speak back.

"I have a name you know."

" A name? Since when do ghosts have names?"

"It's Xenatra."

"Xenatra...Well, thanks Xenatra."

"Don't thank me, I was just doing what was in both of our best interests."

I ignored her rudeness.

"Do you know of any way that I can track someone down without a trace of them, I need one of your mysterious powers."

"You already have it."

"??"

"When I gave you access to a tenth of my power, you unfastened my sensory techniques I yielded as a seed. You should be able to sense to the emission of heat from other hybrids, humans or living things."

"Meaning?"

"Imagine you have a built-in thermographic camera into you, you can sense the thermal signatures of others whether they have heat or are completely robbed of it."

"But how will I know what Noah and Carter's signature feel like?"

"The one-tenth I gave to you subtly copies the thermal signatures of those you come around, making it easier to track those you've encountered before."

"THAT'S AMAZING!"

I was happy that Xenatra and I were getting along, I felt like she was just a friend whom I shared a body with, it was pretty neat. I then proceeded to close my eyes, I tried to sense every thermal signature in the country in England and then I felt something familiar. It was warm and cozy...It was Noah, and Carter was within his area. They were only a few thousand meters away and I could get there if I flew. Before I took off, Xanatra started talking to me again.

"Amelia, be prepared. You will soon have to prepare for a massive battle, this will determine the fate of your world and you are one of the main factors. You're not so much of a bad kid so I'll trust you with more of my power when I feel more comfortable, maybe when you decide you truly want to hone it."

I looked down and clenched my fist.

"I know. It's gonna be me and her right?"

"Right."

"Then I'm ready Xenatra. I'll learn to use your power and save this world from both Logica and Olivia. I'll protect you guys, I won't let everything end. On this, I swear!"

My wings began to glow before propulsing against the air, launching me through the wind. I finally knew what I wanted to do while the breeze swam through my hair, it was my destiny. Once I rendezvous with Noah and my brother I'll begin my training with Xenatra in order to stop Olivia and Logica. I was going to prepare for a final battle.

[Meanwhile at a discrete location, Olivia and Logica have decided to meet in secret]

"So, daughter of Hades, I see you've arrived."

"Yes. Did you manage to retrieve the body of The First One?"

"Oh, but of course. Now, going on with the deal, begin to remove your Divine Protection."

[Olivia's hand became engulfed in flames, before reaching into her abdomen, swiftly ripping the fruit from herself. This, in turn, erased her divine protection as the fruit evaporated into thin air."]

"I did it. Now, this is the part where we perform the ritual is it not?"

"Correct again, Daughter of Hades."

[Both Olivia and Logica bit their thumbs, causing blood to be shed. Olivia drew an "X" on her palm while Logica drew an "O" on her palm, before their two hands met. They then grasped one another's hand. The room began to glow before both of their bodies seemingly vanished but in actuality disappeared into spirits, before merging into one being, one entity.]

"Is...Is this it?"

[Both Olivia and Logica shared a body soul and mind, all singular, but a split personality until Logica began to speak]

"You stupid..insolent child. You fell right for my scheme."

"Hm?"

"I just wanted your power to change the story in order to obtain the power of the first one."

"I'm already aware."

"What?"

[The fused being reached her hand down her throat, ripping out half of her soul and crushing it causing it to disperse. This caused the half that contained Logica to be erased, but not her memories and abilities making for a new entity. A physical fusion between Logica and Olivia, but was only one's to control, Olivia seemingly took over the body. She looked down at the body of The First One and smirked]

"Step one completed."