#nihility

He pointed at the source, "you."

You stood up, already catching the glance of the other students.

"The Aeon if Nihity doesn't see a worth in doing anything, as they don't interact with Aeons," you began. "Is this exclusive to Aeons, or are... lesser beings included?"

Snickers of students hearing the question filled the room. The answer itself is already in the question. 'IX doesn't care enough to see aeons, why would it see mortals?'

"The Aeon of Nihility's existence will always be a mystery, but to answer your question based on the current information," he placed the chalk on the table.

"IX wouldn't go out of its way to search for anything. It views the universe as a worthless space."

Then you did what everyone here wouldn't. Before he could finish the answer, you spoke. No fear nor overconfidence in the tone. "Then, if a person one day, with no affiliations to other Aeons, interact with IX, can there be a different result?"

Veritas tilts his head. It's not every day a student made him curious.

"Aeons have always acted by their own will and desires, due to IX's lack of either," he leaned on the lecture table. "I'm afraid it's hard to give a direct answer."

"...five points, stay behind the lecture after this."

...As all the students left, you were left in your seat alone. Murmurs from the other students fell deaf to either of your ears.

Before you could utter a word, Veritas shuts you down.

"Genius Society Member, [name]. Specialize in divination and Quantum energy."

Veritas cocked his head. If the unnerving plaster mask weren't on his head, then he would've been staring you down.

You... smiled, "i didn't even say hello, doctor."

"There's no need to, but why are you here?" Veritas remarked. You stared into the empty eyeless head. You wonder how he sees with that thing.

"Is there a true reason for anything, Doctor?" You shrugged, meeting his glare. "...but if it will satisfy you, I was here when I heard Doctor Veritas Ratio is teaching a class."

Veritas raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "You never went to this school, nor do I know anything that might interest you here. I don't see a reason why you would be here."

Veritas stared at you, trying to catch any micro-expressions or signs. Only to find... nothing. As if, there was no motivation to begin with.

A chuckle escaped your mouth, "I'm not going to question how you know that, but..."

Veritas sees you shoving your hand in your pocket, pulling out an employee ID, with the word 'lecturer' on it. "We'll be working together now, Doctor."

It took a few seconds, Veritas had questions in his mind. Genius Society Members, they can be just as foolish or an enigma. Some are Geniuses who he respected, most are beings who has a God complex with a morality only an insane person can understand.

With being a Genius, also come with the reputation. That's how he knew you. As a researcher, of course.

An unknown long-living Genius, records of your research and creations aren't hard to find, making your fame inevitable among scholars. A Genius with smarts, morals, and the... unpredictability.

"Whilst it is an honor to be working with you," his emphasis on the word 'honor' brings out chills. "Aren't you missing?"

He could see your smile faltering, reverting back to the more neutral state.

'Genius Society Member No. 94, [name]. Specialize in Divinations and Quantum research. Works; The Matrix of Prescience, the Theory of the Quantum Sea, etc. Last seen; 30 years ago. Best assumption, Polka Kakamond.'

He knew you, and he knew why you shouldn't be here.

"Well," you couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, and shrugging. "Now I'm back from that hiatus, and working here. Nothing wrong with that."

Veritas couldn't help but have that gut feeling that something is wrong, his deductions are rarely wrong. But he couldn't think of anything.

Your existence, prescence, and the lack of personal goals now; it's all an enigma.

Veritas could only sigh, Genius Society members are always like this anyway. "... Please don't impersonate yourself as my student, unless you actually enroll or want to do the assignments I'll give you."

Seeing his 'interrogation' end, you gave him a smile. "Noted, Doctor."

...and that's how it began.

If someone asked him, who is the most foolish person in the campus. First, he would list the names of some of the students of the intelligentsia guild. Second, he would say you.

He came to the conclusion after a couple of months of having you as a co-worker.

The first sign, he remembered it was raining that day. He had finished class but stuck standing by the doorway. The path between some buildings wasn't connected by a corridor, and his umbrella was in his office.

"What are you doing?"

A voice called beside him. Veritas' eyes drifted to them, hidden behind the mask. "Standing here for absolutely no reason-- what else do you think I'm doing?"

He saw you shrugged, before taking off your coat. "Wanna use my umbrella?"

Veritas gave a confused expression, which unfortunately didn't show due to his cover. His eyes looked at you from head to toe. Not even spotting an umbrella anywhere. "Is your mind growing dull?" he asked rhetorically.

He then saw you making a gesture with your hand, "get down," you told him.

He was going to say no, but seeing as you're new and seem to be at least different from the other lecturers. Veritas wanted to see what you would do.

As he bent down, he felt something covering his head and shoulder, and your body pushing itself closer to him. Right then and there his wrist was grabbed, and Veritas felt his mood sullened in an instant.

Unfortunately, before his body could react, you pulled him with unexpected strength and went out the door.

He could feel water hitting his body that wasn't covered by the coat. Wetting his clothes in the process, but seeing as they were in the middle of a pouring rain in campus, Veritas couldn't just stop either.

It didn't take long for them to reach the office building, and yet his back was drenched. Veritas instantly glared at you, "you utter fool!"

A laugh escaped you, taking back the coat that was now drenched also before bundling it up and twisting it to release all the water. "What? It's a shortcut."

Before he could start going off the deep end, he saw you start to run off. Seemingly knowing that he was going to scold you, "well, gotta go. Bye!"

To save the details. He had spare clothes in his office, but ever since then he made a mental note to stay away from the deranged co-worker each time it rains. Or even any time at all.

The second sign, is how each time there was an overlap when you didn't have a class and he did. You always managed to sneak yourself in and attend his classroom. He couldn't even count the amount of times he kicked you out mid lecture with his fingers anymore.

It became well known that a certain divination lecturer from another department always had the time to attend one of another lecturer's classes when they were free.

What didn't help you to stay hidden is that 80% of Veritas' class had already dropped out. Making you stand out more.

His hand worked on the board with his chalk, as if on a trance. To the people who only like to watch, it almost seemed poetic; entrancing the viewers. For his students, it was like hell. Right as he hit the end with a dot, Veritas asked; "is there any question?"

As usual, when he turned his head, he saw your arms raised high whilst the others cowered low.

"Anyone else besides the braindead one?" He sighed, only to see you tense your muscles even more to raise it higher.

Finally, he points his chalk at you, instantly propping the other to stand up. "In the calculations for the problem 2BAC, if it were used in a situation for a planet victimized by, just a random example, Dr. Primitive's experiments. What would happen then?"

As Veritas listened to your words, he even had to look back on the board. Shocking the other students, which probably became campus gossip for a day. But he answered, "The result would be that some lucky planets may be able to evolve back to normalcy, but in a real situation; the probability needs to be extremely high," he answered professionally, "does that satisfy you?"

Veritas dislikes your attitude. He didn't like how you always crossed the boundary that he had to feel sane.

But at the same time, even if his words are bitter sometimes and even insulting; he respects you. An intelligent person who still held their own mystery. Perhaps the way you boldly and proudly annoy him may affect his respect. For the better or not, that's for time to tell.

"No," you answered, "...if you wanna satisfy me, we should get dinner after this."

Nevermind, he hates this co-worker of his.

There were more moments, but he spared himself the time to think back on it. It's the first time he's ever been on the fence between distaste and like. Maybe the closest person would be the gambler from the IPC.

Veritas's eyes then drift towards you, each pen stroke coming from you made him lose another minute in his life.

"Is it necessary to come by my office to grade your own class's works?" he sighed, no longer hiding his face behind the alabaster sculpture in front of you.

A low chuckle escaped your lips, "No, but it's easier for my legs."

The statement made Veritas let out another exasperated sigh. "For the last time, you wouldn't be having this much exercise if you just stay in your class instead of visiting mine," he pointed out, but as usual, you didn't bat an eye to his protests.

He glared at you for a few seconds before sighing. Hearing his exhasperation made you smile.

Veritas didn't even know why he's doing this, why he's putting up with you. Someone... who wasn't even a part of his life until a few months ago. He shook his head, finding it a waste of brain cells to think about it.

After a few minutes of silence, a slam of the book made him look at your direction with annoyance. 'So loud...'

"Let's go eat," you announced with a smile, standing up from the couch as it creaked from the loss of pressure.

Veritas brows furrowed for a moment, then he answered. "No."

Even if he said that, you managed to drag him to a noodle shop near the university. Veritas squints at the sight as you take your order with a smile, his eyes drifting to the molten red broth. It was even slightly bubbling from how hot it is.

The genius took a deep breath before shaking his head in pure exhasperation.

"So, how's your universe project?" you asked, taking a spoon with a handful of noodles on it.

"Still a work in progress, Screwllum and I are still sorting the algorithm," he answered, "but that doesn't concern you."

A laugh escaped your lips as you took a big bite of the food. Veritas squints for a moment, seeing as steam was coming out of your mouth, but you held no care. "C'mon, when are you going to warm up to me, Doc?"

Veritas rolled his eyes with the usual amount of sassiness that you grew accustomed to.

"Actually, if you don't mind," you started, turning your chair to the doctor. "I want to offer a collaboration with your project."

The offer wasn't out of nowhere, seeing as you've asked him to work with you multiple times. But he raised an eyebrow in inquiry, letting you continue.

"I've been getting interested in Emanators again. And, with my experience, i could add a new variable regarding Emanators in your project, if you don't mind. I would like a collaboration between us," you suggested.

Veritas noticed you cocking your head, your lips curved into a smile as you look at him. That genuine smile then falters, turning into a coy one as you shrugged. "Of course, if you don't want to. I can ask your buddy."

He scoffed before pointing out, "have you even met Screwllum?"

"Hey, don't doubt my connections!" you point at him, with noodles still in your mouth.

Veritas didn't bother wasting air to bicker again. But in his mind, he started to consider.

The genius sighed at his own answer.

"So this is the behind the scenes!"

Veritas's eyes drifted to your figure. Walking on nothing in the middle of space, as different stations are around the area. Floating holograms of texts accompanying you both.

He saw you glide your hand through all the blessings, recognizing a few of the frames. Then to the Aeons data, before squinting in confusion. "You don't have Finality?"

Veritas walked over to you, closing the window. "Focus on your work, we're here to do research not play around," he reminded. Veritas saw you rolled your eyes, and he had the patiebce of a saint not to throw a chalk at you.

You looked over the code of the Simulated Universe before a smirk crept its way to your lips, "let me guess, you want me to help finish up the interactions between paths?"

The other nodded, "With you 'experience', it should be easy," he glanced at your figure, seeing you already dissecting the code that Herta first proudly made. He placed down the guide that Herta made, still unopened and collecting dust. ".... if you have any questions, say it."

Within the next few weeks, you started working on the Simulated Universe project alongside Veritas. This meant he had to see you more and more, something that was already too much even on campus.

He had told the geniuses that he's having additional help, especially regarding Herta's request on themselves meeting an Aeon, and they didn't pry much.

"Is it okay if I launch the code now?" he heard you ask.

Veritas didn't look up from his work. He didn't say anything, but something about the body language made you think it was like a nod, and a pat on the head if you're that delusional.

The said code is for a new curio relating to Nous. You didn't think much of it before releasing it off for it to be tested by the Trailblazer. It wasn’t supposed to be significant, just some side work.

Right as you swiped the curio code to be released, suddenly the whole space started to shake. Confusion overwhelmed you two, and Veritas looked pissed than before.

"What did you just do--?!"

A glowing red blasted out of nowhere. Veritas felt an overwhelming sting in his head before looking up at THEM.

"YOU"

A floating mechanical head appeared in front of you both. Gazing down as if they were insignificant ants. Veritas felt his ear stinging as THEIR voice entered his ears. He knew this was a sinulation, but this is a glitch none of the geniuses have seen.

Before he could analyze the error further, you had shut down the code in an instant.

His golden irises moved onto your figure, a rare look of concern on his face. For a moment, he caught a glimpse of fear in your eyes before dissapearing. Veritas adjusted his glasses and walked to your side.

His presence made you escape from your thoughts. "Sorry, i didn't mean to stop it. That was valuable research."

"Fool, go home," he says simply. "You're not in the right mind," his tone is commanding, but you swore you could hear him purposely softening it.

There was a moment when you wanted to argue back, but after consideration, it seems futile. Veritas saw you nod, then leave the space.

There was always a disconnect between you and the other geniuses. Veritas never mentioned your name explicitly either, just saying how a friend would help with their Divergent Universe project.

....Both you and the scholar stared at the code in front of you, only waiting for it to be relaunched. Veritas glanced at your side profile and at your coat, seeing uncertainty in your eyes.

At least, until a breakthrough in Nous happened.

Herta was interested and wanted to come over in an instant, but Screwllum insisted on heading there first. Ruan Mei was interested, but she had her own business.

"Do you doubt our creation?" He asked out of nowhere.

"No," you answered with confidence, "Just thinking, how accurate would THEY be. Aside from your friend's testing as Akivili, I've never seen tests about the Aeons meeting people."

Even with the confident posture, he could feel something was off. But Veritas couldn't pry further as the sound of the entrance opening caught his attention.

He looked back at the code one last time before turning to greet the new person. "Don't cloud your judgment with foolish worries," he sighed before snatching the coat on your back. "And don't wear that. It clearly says my name embedded on it."

He didn't hear your retort that it's cold, only at the figure of a mechanical man who just entered.

"Dr. Veritas Ratio, it's a pleasure to see each other once more," Screwllum greeted before spotting you.

He took a few moments calibrating as if surprised. "When Dr. Ratio had said he invited a friend, you were not within my expectations, old friend," his tone seemed welcoming. If he had lips, then Screwllum would be smiling. "It's a great relief to know you're safe."

You raised an empty cup off coffee to greet him, "Screwllum! Let's see the old head together."

Veritas raised an eyebrow at the word Screwllum had used. Safe. But let it go as they have a more important topic to discuss. He walked over to your side at the launch button, his eyes glancing at yours. As your gaze connected, he saw your smirk and immediately got the temptation to throw chalk again.

"Let's just start this," he sighed before crossing his arms. Hearing the cue, you pressed the launch button.

The room began to shake again, but this time, everyone had anticipated it. It didn't come as a surprise when the red glow appeared once more.

The large head loomed over you both. Even if it's a simulation, an overwhelming feeling of being small enveloped all three of you. This time, it was like savoring the moment than panicking.

Veritas looked up at the God, as if making sure that this was fake. He analyzed the being's physical presence, realizing that Nous' eye seems to be staring at you only.

"LEAVE. YOU'RE NOT WELCOME."

A look of confusion came over Veritas and Screwllum. Even if yesterday had been instantly shut down, using simulated universe's laws; the beings here would see them as normal pathstriders.

Before any of you could react, a stinging pain hits all of your heads, even causing a mechanical error sound from Screwllum

...right before all three of you were kicked out of the simulated universe.

The galaxy like space that all of you were accustomed to returned. There was a silence before Screwllum broke it.

"I have two temporary conclusions, it seems either one of us is not welcomed by the simulated Aeon, or the Simulated Universe glitched due to having three users instead of the previous record of two," Screwllum's gaze dropped onto you, followed by Veritas not long after.

Feeling the eyes, you let out a cough. "Maybe when I went missing, THEY thought I had done something wrong. I'm not quite sure either," your answer left holes, but Screwllum didn't ask anymore.

Veritas on the other hand, was left unsatisfied.

"What happened between you and THEM?"

The boldness of the question even made you flinch. Veritas notied it, but saw you still focused on your work even with the looming question.

Screwllum left not long after the glitch since he had something else to do. Leaving both of you alone together as usual. Even so, the air felt thicker than usual, and the silence wasn't helping it.

"I don't know either. But like i said, when I went missing, something probably happened that made THEM mad," you answered, but Veritas could spot the unusual raise in your tone. After a few seconds of your silence, Veritas sighed before he turned back to his own work.

....but there was this unusual tug in as he knew you lied. Veritas tapped his foot on the floor repeatedly as the seconds passed, waiting for you to speak up again but finding a longer silence.

In the end, he stood up from the chair, walking towards you.

"Foolish accident comes from the lack of ability to ask for help, and fools ignore their past mistakes," he stated. Veritas turned your chair around, looking right at you. "What happened in that 40 years?"

He saw your eyes stare back at his sharp ones, yours a bit more widened than usual. The way it shifted from his face to away, then back to him. His body leaned over yours. It's supposed to be suffocating, accusing. Yet, it didn't feel that way.

He saw the way your throat shifted as you gulp, only to choke out an answer.

"I just... had problems with the wrong person," you answered before staring back at his eyes with the usual confidence, before patting his shoulder. "Don't worry so much, doc."

Veritas' eye twitched for a moment at your answer. Both of you stayed in that position for a little longer before Veritas eventually scoffs, straightening his posture again.

"I need a cleanse of mind. Don't sleep in here, and don't be late for the intelligentsia guild meeting tomorrow morning," he reminded, turning back to take care of his belongings. Veritas still felt unsatisfied with your answers, but it didn't feel right if he forced out the answer like an interrogation.

As Veritas' figure left the space, you find yourself looking where he usually works on his projects. A smile crept its way to your lips as you grabbed his coat.

Tomorrow morning, Veritas didn't find enjoyment from the usual meeting. But he did find a surprise in his office.

It wasn't uncommon that students or other staff would give him gifts, especially on that February date. But he never cared nor reciprocated any of it. After remembering that, Veritas then stared at his desk to see an arrangements of ducks from the size of an eraser to as big as his palm.

Along with that is a note written with a glitter pen. 'I'm keeping your coat'