Chapter 648: I’ll have to brainstorm

’Return where?’ Caius was about to ask because that part of the verdict hadn’t been clear when the spotlight on him shut off and the ground lurched violently, sending him to the ground.

It was still dark all around, but it was much easier to make out things, such as parts of his own body. At first Caius thought things were getting brighter but then he realized it was his eyes that were becoming capable of seeing in the dark. He could feel his magic return, along with his physical might and of course, the latest addition; the Blood Matrix.

"Heh," Caius let out a short laugh and then he laughed even more and lay flat on the ground.

With all the confidence he had mustered up in front of the Editors, he wasn’t actually as accepting of being erased as he might have seemed. He was incredibly relieved and glad to still be alive. Even if he had no idea where he currently was.

"An appropriate reaction," said Samantha’s voice, causing Caius to open his eyes and find her by his side, floating a few inches off the ground.

She had her ethereal glow around her again and only now that it was present did Caius really realize it had been missing when they were at the Archive in front of the Editors.

"Damn right," Caius said, "It would have been so terrible for it all to end there."

Samantha nodded in agreement but it was clear she wasn’t as relieved as Caius felt. Her expression was almost... troubled.

"What’s the matter?" Caius asked.

"My contract with the Archive has been reassessed," Samantha said.

"Already?" Caius said, surprised. It was only barely a minute since Merida delivered the verdict.

"Yeah, time can be very weird when the Archive is concerned. To you, we were sentenced maybe a couple of minutes ago but I’ve been in deliberation with the Editors for a couple of days.

I... didn’t really have much leverage. They had me dead to rights by all accounts. If it hadn’t been for your silver tongue, my work would have been erased.

So, thank you."

"Yeah well, I was just saving my own skin," Caius said with a wave of his hand like he didn’t want to be too praised.

Samantha smiled and then let out a breath.

"They have decided to take your words under advisement and treat this new canon as its own thing.

I remain the author due to how much the new canon derives from my original work but I am a lot more... restricted in my ability to make changes so I fear I won’t be a consistent help."

Caius shook his head.

"A terrible shame," he said.

"Is that Sarcasm I hear? Sarcasm because I haven’t been all that much help anyway?" Samantha asked with a smirk.

"Well," Caius said with a little shrug, "You said it not me."

"I couldn’t help you because then they’ll catch on much faster," Samantha said defensively.

"And now that they know, your hands are still tied," Caius said, "I get it."

"You don’t sound like you do," Samantha said.

"Sam, it’s fine," Caius said sincerely, "I’ve survived this far with little to no help, haven’t I?"

Samantha’s troubled expression was even more evident now.

"You’ve survived so far because the story hasn’t fought back against your changes," she said,

"Events and plots have been altered due to your actions and sometimes that has blindsided you but ultimately, with all the cards you hold, all the knowledge you have of my original work, you always hold the advantage."

"Yes," Caius said slowly, his brain already computing where this was headed and he didn’t think he liked it.

Samantha closed her eyes and continued.

"The Editors have determined that that is an unfair advantage for any one character to hold. Up to a certain point, you are almost omniscient. They can’t allow that. So the story must fight back.

And the Editors will give the story the weapons it needs to fight back."

Yeah, Caius didn’t like that.

Not one bit.

"The Editors are going to interfere with canon," Caius said in realization, "Just as they did with Brogan Kraxia and the Vampire Hunter faction that cursed Athenodora."

"Yes, but less sneaky than that. Those were ’tiny’ alterations they were using to feel out your true identity. Now they know. So what they’ll be doing now is probably going to be on a grander scale.

You should have seen Merida. She was practically gleaming. Her eyes just wild with no doubt worrying ideas."

"That can’t be fair," Caius tried to counter.

"Well, I must say, you did acquire the Blood Matrix. I wrote that with every intention of it being destroyed. It has too much potential to be in use.

With it, you’re one step closer to perfect immortality," Samantha said.

Caius chose to ignore how much it sounded like she was saying he was wrong for getting the Blood Matrix and focused on a different point.

"What’s to stop them from stripping me of the Blood Matrix now that they can freely make alterations?" He asked.

"To be clear, they are not free to make any alterations. Only alterations in reaction to the changes you have made and in a way that’ll affect you directly.

For instance; let’s say you know a threatening situation is on the horizon and then acquire power and tools tailored to handle that situation. The Editors can and likely will then make sure the story adapts in such a way that your prior knowledge and preparation are useless," Samantha said.

"That’s literally taking all I have," Caius grumbled.

Samantha continued.

"Also, they won’t be stripping you of anything so you don’t have to worry."

"How are you so sure?" Caius asked.

"Because, if a character is seemingly overpowered, you find new ways to challenge them. You don’t just strip them of their powers without cause. That’ll be taking the easy way out. It makes for a lame story."

"You think Merida or the other Editors care?" Caius asked.

"You should know better than I do. You’re the one who said Merida was intrigued by what you were doing," Samantha said.

"I was just saying whatever hoping it’d stick," Caius said with a nonchalant wave.

"No, you weren’t. You... have a unique ability to understand people. I don’t think that’s a trait I wrote into Caius. I think that’s all you, Kevin," Samantha said.

The two spent a minute in silence before Samantha let out a sigh.

"Anyway, the whole point of legitimizing this new canon is to treat it as a new story separate from [To Kill A Demon Lord...]. Your victories are yours and won’t be taken away without cause.

However, going forward, things won’t be so easy to acquire or achieve. They’ll likely throw a lot at you to see how you and the world around you will react all for their amusement. You should be prepared."

"So much doom and gloom," Caius said and shook his head.

"Oh, it’s not all bad," Samantha said and managed a smile,

"Despite my sanctions, I still hold creative authority over this new canon. The Editors can make alterations but they have to remain in line with the sensibilities of my writing. Now I get to dog every change they make as they used to do to me."

"Congratulations to you," Caius said without any sarcasm.

"Yeah, I was able to ensure it with the only leverage I had," Samantha said.

"You still had leverage?" Caius asked, incredulous.

Samantha beamed and nodded.

"Remember when I came to inform you the Editors were now paying attention to you?" Samantha said.

"Yeah," Caius said, "It was right before you vanished again."

"Well, I vanished because I was deep into research, trying to prepare for the inevitable finding out. Alas, it turned out that I broke a lot of rules by doing what I did so there wasn’t really anything I could use to defend myself.

I had given up.

But then, you gave that brilliant defense. The Archive sanctioned me, took a couple of years of royalties and all other stuff that sucked.

But because they were considering the alternative canon you proposed, my contract wasn’t nullified. And so long as the contract remained, despite the sanctions, my creative authority was preserved.

I used that to leverage terms in the new canon’s contract. In retaliation, they mounted even more sanctions on my [To Kill A Demon Lord...] contract but that’s fine.

As long as I get to protect this new canon, I’m fine with it whatever."

"That must have been very difficult for you," Caius said.

"Not more difficult than it would have been if I didn’t try to secure some kind of protection for you. Whatever became of you, it’d have been on me. I couldn’t possibly live with that," Samantha said earnestly.

The two were silent for a while as the proclamation simply hung there. And then Caius smiled.

"What’s the Title going to be?" He asked.

"Title of what?"

"Of the new canon. It can’t be [To Kill A Demon Lord...]. I think things have become far too different for that," Caius said.

Samantha let out a musing tone.

"You should choose," she said, "It’s your life. You should have the honor."

"Hmm, I’m drawing a blank right now, I’m afraid," Caius said, "I’ll have to brainstorm a bit."

Samantha smiled.

"Take all the time you need."