Lost Blade

**Lost Blade** is the twenty-second episode of Reflection.

*OPIA prepares its march to Cialla as the gates conclude their assessment. In the lands once ruled by the God of Humanity, FLOW addresses its next threat. Meanwhile in the lowlands, a new threat quietly builds its castle.*

## Summary

Out in the Old World, the Golden Knight and Stephano discuss the nature of the few remaining plants that manage to grow in the wasteland. Vinter, who is nearby, eventually joins in on the conversation to discuss the nature of the Flametouched. Back at the Derelict, Laughter is testing his new abilities for the first time while Nectar supervises. After he successfully melds with a Flametouched and sees its memories, Nectar explains her intended goal with Laughter - to help find a way to create a world that lasts after the end of this current Cycle. Meanwhile, in Beleth, Sei continues to wander around the swamp. Famished for Flame, she considers eating a turtle, but decides not to.

At OPIA, Ridill and Treble get a call from Dr. Verona asking them to help clean up the premises after the Gate of Dreams's chaotic test. They meet up with Willow and go out to the garden, where they see Charybdis standing atop a car taken out of OPIA's new garage. They briefly discuss Charybdis's past and the results of his test before noticing Robin, who is feeling upset about her being immediately failed by Ace. The group cheers her up and asks if she wants to start working on improving by taking the ESP test, which she does. They go to the VR chamber, where they see the aftermath of Arg0s's VR training with his Gate. He gives each of his pupils a run-down of their strengths and weaknesses he observed. The Gates of Humanity and Gravity, plus Verona, Willow, and Ace, then play a game of virtual capture the flag, during which Ace and Basil briefly discuss Ace's current state of being. After the game, Ruth attempts to speak with Ace, but the conversation doesn't go anywhere and devolves into Ace insulting Ruth so she leaves him alone. The FLOW agents eligible to go on the mission then meet in the garden to be given their individual assignments.

Back in the Old World, Stephano and the Golden Knight find the remains of what was once a library, specifically to find a history book. While searching, they discuss their emotions about the second Coda they found in the vault. While Stephano is more neutral on the subject, the Golden Knight is deeply distressed by the seeming futility of trying to fight for a better world. They agree to keep working towards a new solution and leave the library. Back at OPIA, Basil, Cam, and Solace attempt to communicate with Collapse of the Living using a simulacrum. They discover that Collapse is unable to talk, and is deeply burdened by a strange "infection" that is forming chitin-like growths on the simulacrum. Basil is able to use her Empathetic ESP to glean portions of Collapse's feelings, and discovers that it wants help of some kind, but is unable to explain further. Lace asks Basil to sneak it out of OPIA and go to Cialla with her, which she does.

With training complete, FLOW heads out across the world, with most of its agents heading to Cialla to face off against the Court of Compulsion. They head into the country on several trucks. The first truck carries Ace, Arg0s, Ridill, Cast, and Breach. They briefly stop at a rest stop, where Breach speaks a little about their past before continuing on. The second truck carries Basil, Willow, Ruth, Treble, and Liam, who stop at a gas station that doubles as a diner. While getting food, they talk about the God of Humanity and Treble's opinions on him. Some time later, both groups reconvene at a Ciallan village, where they rest in an inn for the night. After falling asleep, Arg0s has a dream in which a horde of Ridill bodies drag him in to the Lake of Oblivion. Upon waking up, he notices that Singlehanded Savior's Feedback has flared up, and warped his forearm into a half-mechanical simulacrum arm rather than true flesh. He also begins to pick up electrical signals in his mind, learning that the Ciallan lowlands have suddenly gone on fire. He then recieves a message from Colt asking for help after discovering a large Demon in the woods. A message from Cam then comes in, who tells him that his tower is completely surrounded by Demons. Finally, Verona messages him to inform him that the Court of Compulsion has sent yet another army to besiege OPIA HQ. His Reflection's influence converts his fear into determination, and Arg0s begins to strategize.

At the same time, Sei has constructed a small shack for herself in the swamp by eating large amounts of mud and using the Flame she gathers from the mud to create construction materials. While resting in a massage chair, she is greeted by a group of Beleth hunters with appearances similar to Willow. She attempts to send them away, but they do not leave.

## Characters

### Player Characters

* Ace Galatine
* Basilisk Id
* Arg0s
* Willow Wisp
* Ridill Arondite

### FLOW

* Charybdis
* Genesis Aeon
* Liam
* Helena
* Robin
* Colt
* Pixie
* Justice
* Breach

### OPIA

* Dr. Verona
* Treble
* Solace
* Cam
* Mic
* Cast
* Serve

### Demonic Courts

* Laughter
* Golden Knight
* Vinter
* Stephano
* Nectar
* Sei Miscellany