Read Online Aeon Legion: Labyrinth by J.P. Beaubien - Free Book Online Page B

the
Archives.”
    The man rubbed his chin before
he smiled. “I understand.” He turned to leave.
    “And don't try to time
travel there yourself,” the gatekeeper added. “The Sybil will
precog your attempt and you will find yourself thrown into a dark
cell in Tartarus.”
    The man frowned, but walked
off without protest.
    Another man approached. This
one wore a strange bright yellow garb with edges of gold. He had
several others with him dressed in less impressive clothes. Each
carried an ornate box. Terra assumed these were servants.
    One of the servants approached
“All hail Emperor Seres of the golden lands,” he said in a lofty
voice. “He has come to this pearl city to purchase a shieldwatch.”
    The gatekeeper continued to
read without reaction, save for a yawn.
    The servant frowned, but the
Emperor did not react to the slight.
    “Where must we go to
purchase a shieldwatch?” the servant asked.
    “We don't sell
shieldwatches,” the gatekeeper said.
    The servant scowled and was
about to speak when the Emperor stepped forward. He had a servant
open one of the cases. Gold and jewels filled the box to the brim.
“Perhaps the guard needs a gift so we may pass?” Emperor Seres
said in a deep voice.
    The gatekeeper regarded the
gold and then the Emperor with a flat look. He sighed. “You don't
get it do you?”
    Emperor Seres frowned. “I am
bribing you to do your job.”
    The gatekeeper scowled. “My
job is to keep people like you out. Besides, no amount of gold or any
other treasure is worth a shieldwatch.”
    Alya rubbed her forehead as
the exchange continued to go nowhere. “I always get in the
shortest, but slowest line. Now how am I going to get through without
too many questions being asked? A mask? No. They would check under
it. Cut my hair? No. That didn't work last time.”
    Several silver haired soldiers
passed. Unlike Alya, their uniforms were a dark gray color with a
crescent moon patch on their upper arms. All carried aeon edges.
    Alya snarled, gripping the
hilt of her aeon edge as the soldiers passed.
    Terra tensed, but the soldiers
ignored them.
    One
soldier approached the gatekeeper. “Got another delivery for Time
King Endymion.
Private collection this time,” He then touched the face of his
shieldwatch before dragging the small holographic disc to the
gatekeeper.
    The gatekeeper glanced at the
holo before nodding. He then returned to reading his own hologram.
“Go ahead.”
    Emperor Seres gestured to the
armed entourage. “You let them through!”
    The gatekeeper sighed. “They
work for Endymion. You don't.”
    One soldier stopped and stared
at Alya.
    Alya kept her hand on the hilt
of her aeon edge while regarding the soldier with narrowed eyes.
    The soldier then shook his
head. “No. Can't be her. She'd never wait in line.”
    Another soldier looked to his
gawking comrade. “See something?”
    “No,” he said, turning to
go. “Just a Silverwind lookalike.”
    Once the soldiers passed, Alya
relaxed.
    Terra felt her tension return.
She worried Alya may have lied to her, assuming this person was Alya.
    The Emperor straightened his
garb. “I will bring my armies to this city if I am not allowed
through.”
    “Now I'm scared,” the
gatekeeper said in monotone. He sighed after seeing the lengthening
line. When he saw Alya, his eyes went wide. He shot up before
standing at attention. “Centurion Silverwind! I am so sorry, I
didn't see you there!”
    Seres frowned as he looked
over the line, trying to see who the gatekeeper had spotted.
    Alya pinched the upper part of
her nose and sighed. “Well. I suppose it can't be helped,” she
said before motioning for Terra to follow.
    “How may I assist you?”
the gatekeeper said, still saluting with a fist over his chest.
    “At ease,” Alya said. “No
need to be so formal.”
    “It's my honor,” the
gatekeeper said as he relaxed. “Centurion, you may go right on
through. No need to bother yourself with checking in.”
    “I know,