Chapter Text
The jig was up. Sampo Koski's cover was discovered by the Astral Express (all thanks to Pompom), Gepard was mad at him, and he was imprisoned in Xianzhou for 5 months (better than spending years in it)
Now, Seele stared at them in curiousity. A burning gaze of someone who's confused and left behind.
"What is going on?" She was the first one to speak.
Caelus waved his phone "I texted Gepard, I said I found the criminal he wants to catch"
"Not that! I mean- What is up with this??" Her hands presenting Sampo Koski's awkward standing position and Gepard Landau's flushing face- avoiding Sampo's gaze and just sitting in a stool like he was a kid caught cheating in an exam.
"No idea, Seele" Caelus shrugged.
"Well, you put them together, you should know what's up"
"Want to tell you, but Sampo literally forbids me to do so. I'm under a businessman's restriction" To question what is that, Seele just gave the trailblazer a frowning look.
"Since when did Sampo's threat matter? Just say it"
The trailblazer sighs "You have no idea how huge it is to disobey Sampo" His voice hitting an octave lower than usual, it sounded serious but Seele can't take it seriously. Sampo's threats are nothing but an empty can. He can't harm a bug even if he wants too.
"You don't wanna tell me, huh? I mean it's obvious there's something going on with them. Bronya and I took a bet on it" She says while crossing her arms and looking at the scene.
"Wow, who wins then?"
"Was Sampo the one who confessed?" The trailblazer shook his head and sat in a nearby chair.
"As if he would"
"Then I win" Seele confidently announced.
"To be fair, none of them confessed yet"
"Really?"
The trailblazer nodded in exhaustion "Yeah, they're not together yet and I'm already acting as some weird mediator between the two of them"
.
"So! Gepard, what business do I owe you?" Gepard stared at Koski's eyes, pure contempt and worry painted his face. A mixture of both in which he couldn't suppress.
"Why... Why did you disappear so suddenly?" Sampo had a wide smile upon seeing his distressed state. It lights more fire inside Gepard "Do you think this is a laughing matter?" His voice wrenched and ghastly.
"Of course not, Dear Geppie!"
"Do not call me that" Words stern and cold, Sampo's soften as he realized his stance.
"I apologize, Gepard, I was simply caught by another set of guards and... you know? I got locked up for months! Nothing to worry about-"
"You locked up? Out of people, you?" Oh no.. "That sounds like a reason more than anything" He says while throwing accusatory looks on Sampo.
"Actually-" The trailblazer tried explaining but Gepard cut through his words.
"Trailblazer, don't cover for him" It made Caelus gulp and stay put in his seat.
Sampo sighed and brushed his hair backwards "Dear Captain, I was actually locked up! Believe it or not, Caelus here brought me to a place where I was exiled in..."
"Non-sense, an Aeon who can't escape a prison? Who are you kidding, Koski?"
"Aeon?" Seele's voice echoed in the room "Hey, you're kidding when you addressed Koski as an Aeon... right, Captain?" Seele nervously muttered.
The three stared at Seele in silence. Despite not saying any words, Seele's smile began to drop.
Horrified, Seele stared at Sampo "You're an Aeon?"
Sampo couldn't deny nor do anything, he was caught red-handed. He didn't want to lie as well. Although Sampo masked it well, he grew fond of Seele's presence.
"Miss Seele, It seems like I owe you an apology!" He beamed, but Seele's terrified and confused state couldn't take his words.
"How are you an Aeon? You're Sampo Koski! Deny it! You are a thief, you belong here in Belobog. Deny it Koski! Say you aren't one, you can't be one" Sampo held Seele's wrist, he gave Seele a solemn look and smiled.
"That I can't do, Miss Seele." Seele's eyes just widened and her fists lowered. She sat in a nearby chair, feeling her knees lose its balance. She stared at the floor, thinking about the sudden revelation.
Gepard crossed his arms and furrowed his brows "You see, Koski? You made all of us care for your well-being...I just... What are we to you, Sampo?" Sampo stood frozen in his spot. He knew mingling with humans means he would be part of their lives. But, he didn't know he'ld get exposed and... this will happen.
"What else? You guys are my clients" Sampo spoke without looking at Gepard nor Seele, his back facing to all of them "I tend, I comply, and give you what you need to reach Elation"
Gepard can no longer look at Koski "That's it? A mere customer to entertain?"
Sampo gave them a mischievous smile, he turned to face them and spread his arms wide open "Of course" He beamed "Not" his voice went lower "I retired remember! I chose this planet for a reason, Gepard. Don't underestimate me! It's my nature to do that as an Aeon. But it's Sampo Koski's will why I bonded with you, people! None of it is fake, I am here to experience mortality. And isn't this a fun way to do it?"
Gepard expressed his distress in this situation by heaving a heavy sigh.
"I see, you've confused me with... your standing in the universe, I was too caught up with my emotions that I accused you of something so heartless. I apologize"
"Well, I might be an Aeon, but I am not heartless, Gepard. Well- I used to be driven by elation but now that I have removed alot of my power I can control my mind like before- the point is, worry not, friend! I treasure everything I have at the moment... I'll never give this up for anything"
(He'll also not gonna let you down and desert you)
.
The IPC made its way to Belobog. The fight against reclaiming the land increased tensions. Both are believers of the Amber Lord yet Jarilo-VI wants to stand as its own planet. How brave, right?
Sampo Koski can help, surely. If it's about business, Sampo's dial is open and free but lately he has been too busy catering to someone...
"You don't have to do this everyday, you know?" Gepard says as he watches Sampo water the plants he has on his window.
"I must, how else would you forgive me if I don't this?"
Gepard just rose one of his brows and rolled his eyes "You think watering my plants will somehow increase my favorability towards you?"
"Yeah?? I did hear you worrying about them dying if Pela doesn't water them. So, you must hold deep connection towards these plants"
"You read my thoughts?"
"Oops?" Gepard held his forehead.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to do-"
"Gepard???" Gepard's eyes shaken hearing Serval on his front door, his eyes wandered on Sampo.
Sampo just stared at him, confused and glanced at the door "Your sister is at the door, I should answer it"
"No! Go hide!"
"Me? Hide? Why should I?" Sampo complained as Gepard pushes him out of the window "This is a crime, Captain! An attempted murder! Stop pushing me!"
"Gepard? Are you okay??" Gepard sweats as Serval continued knocking
"Koski, just get out!" he yelled-whispered.
"No way! I am not done watering Juan!"
"Who in Qlipoth is Juan?!"
"Gepard??" Serval started calling his phone.
"Stop being stubborn, Koski, just get out!" Sampo had an irritated look
"For what reason?! Why are you acting guilty? Is your sister not aware of our relationship?" A faint blush painted on his cheeks. Gepard pushed Sampo with all his might. Seeing how Sampo disappeared, Gepard held his chest and coughed before opening the door.
"Hey sis!"
.
Sampo can't believe he just got thrown out of Gepard's apartment.
A groan escapes his lips.
He could have shape shifted into an item or animal but no, Gepard just needed to do that. The worst part is, he can, Gepard knows there wouldn't be any consequences even if he does.
Befriending a mortal is way too hard.
Anyways, Sampo teleported somewhere in Rivet town. He just panicked and mistakenly landed himself here.
"Oh, Sampo!" The trailblazer waves at him "What are you doing here?" He asks.
Sampo just shrugged and sighed "Got kicked out by Gepard, how about you?"
"I saw weird sisters nearby, when I investigated, it turns out they are long dead" Caelus says raising papers, probably letters of the said sisters.
"Spooky"
"Why were you kicked out though?"
"Gepard haven't told his sister about our relationship"
"Since when did you guys have a relationship?"
"After I revealed I'm the most amazing, super fantastic, great entity, holy Aeon, Aha" The trailblazer had a deadpan expression on his face "Fine, I jest! Well it's not that kind of relationship, Trailblazer, it's us being friends"
"Oh... why hide it though?"
"Probably because he's the Captain of the Silvermane Guards?? and I, Sampo Koski, am the most wanted merchant in Belobog??"
"That makes sense"
"Indeed, anyways, where's your train's next stop?" Caelus tapped his chin and hummed
"Penacony"
Oh.
Penacony, huh...
Sampo can't say, with the obvious tension present in Jarilo-VI and the IPC. Penacony sounds like the place he needed. Giovanni has spoken to him about this. He said Sparkle, a masked fool, pinned the destination in her map and decided to venture her search for Elation there.
She also happens to be the fool Sampo has trusted to keep his mask.
"Sounds fun! A sleep after all the mess in Jarilo-VI and Luofu sounds like a good vacation"
.
Sampo has seen enough of the problems Jarilo-VI has been facing. Now is the time to act, if not, it might endanger them all. Being one with the IPC means being a resource factory for that group. Benefits they say? It's nothing but a facade to preserve their own well being. They don't care about the other planets, they just care for the IPC itself.
"Seele, I might be gone for a month or two" Seele gave him a tense gaze
"Where the hell are you going?" Sampo gave out an unsettling smile.
"I'm visiting an old friend"
.
Seele hated this.
To think Sampo Koski is an Aeon in disguise? She knew Koski's existence was off since day one. But to think he's something larger than everyone? Seele can't wrap her mind around it.
She wants to tell Bronya but Koski decided to play Aeon and bounded her in this businessman restriction just like what he did to the trailblazer.
He's seriously infuriating.
To think he just sends himself off as if it isn't a big deal? Especially in the surge of Jarilo-VI's problem with the IPC? Just what is Sampo planning?
"You better not stir anything, Koski"
Koski just gave her once last glance and smirked "My, you wound me, dear friend..." Then he disappeared.
.
A month or two he says?
He's been gone for three.
"Captain Gepard seems to be restless these days..." Oh Bronya, forever nice and thoughtful. Seele sighs and just shrugged.
"Might be connected to Sampo's disappearance, he always worries the hell out of Gepard. Can you give me a permit to murder Koski?" Half serious, half joke.
Bronya glared at her "Seele, even as a joke, you mustn't say that. Where is Mr. Koski? Do you know his whereabouts?" Seele clicked her tongue and laid comfortably in the available sofa.
"Guy is on another planet, don't know exactly where. He told me he'ld be gone for two months, it's his third month"
"Which means he might be in danger" Bronya pondered with that thought. Seele can't help but scoff.
"Bronya, Sampo and trouble don't clash together, they go hand and hand. If you're worried about Sampo getting into trouble, worry for the people around him instead"