I moved to the side and ignored the commotion coming from the next building over. The noise irritated me enough that I almost put on my mask just so I could openly snarl.
Sleep had fled my body the night before, and insomnia ensured it stayed away.
Now, I marched my way to the clothing shop in the early morning light. It might have been peaceful and even relaxing, but the memory poking at the edges of my thoughts tainted what little joy I might have felt.
Might need the mask anyway. There''s no point glaring at Noira.
Thankfully, I made the final turn to the seamstress'' building and gently knocked on the door before entering the shop.
The lights were dim, and only a sparse amount of the glow orbs lit up the room. The dim orbs cast the room in an eerie light with mannequins and long dresses looming from above.
Shuffling noises came from the back, so I walked over to one of the chairs in the corner and sat down, resting my head on the table.
At some point, a light tapping on my shoulder made me look up, and I blinked slowly at the elf in front of me. She held out a cup of steaming golden liquid.
"Uhm, try some of this. It''s infused with some plants used in stamina potions. I don''t know how you like your drinks, so I just made it the way I drink it," she said. In a much quieter voice, she whispered. "If that''s okay."
I took a long sip of the drink, and I sipped again. The almost hot chocolate-tasting liquid warmed me on its way down, and I could feel the heat spreading throughout my body. The mental fog cleared away, and I nodded appreciatively before setting the cup down.
"Sorry about that. Rough night. Good morning. Hope it''s not too early," I said.
"Oh no, it''s fine." She sat down with her own cup and sipped. "I like to wake up early. Watching the sunrise is one of the perks of living in Solara."
It really was.
In the early morning, the sunrise had been one of the most beautiful things to experience. With the manor being so high up, it made the view all the more extraordinary.
For a time, we sat in silence and enjoyed the drink. Not talking felt good; the longer I sat and sipped, the better my body felt. Each new intake of the golden liquid reinvigorated me.
"Thank you, I needed that."
She nodded. "No problem.
Taking the empty cups, she gave a light bow and disappeared behind the back. When she returned, she carried an armful of packages wrapped in black sheets.
Clearing a table, she set the stacks down and organized them into four piles. She picked up the first from the largest pile and pulled off the black fabric to reveal a dark blue pullover hoodie. A coiling dragon snaked around the body amidst a torrent of thunderclouds and lightning. The details were highly intricate, looking almost painted on.
"Whoa! That''s amazing," I exclaimed, running my hand over the fabric.
It''s so soft, too. Damn,
"You had a few drawings of creatures in the notebook. I hope it''s okay I used them for the designs," she asked.
The hesitancy and fear in her voice made my jaw drop. "What? Why would I hate this? This is so fucking cool!"
She looked relieved, yet she rubbed at the wristband covering her wrist.
I shook my head and took the hoodie. Sliding it over my head, I marveled at the feel of the fabric and how almost nonexistent it weighed as it settled on my body.
Turning around, I used the mirror to admire the design on the back. Moving felt like I wore an illusion and it seemed to catch the light in just the right way, lighting up the dragon''s silhouette.
Noira looked happy, and she smiled when I grinned at her. She held out her hand, and I slid the hoodie off, handing it over.
The next hoodies were just as impressive. One was a mixture of reds and orange, sporting Zharia in gold, green, and blue.
Another, this one with a zipper, had dark green and beautiful vines wrapping around my arms and the left side of my chest.
Magnus'' hoodie had white and black stripes, with what looked like reflective crystals replicated in the fabric.
Erebus'' hoodie was all black with strands of white covering the limbs and back. On the hood, eight purple eyes almost glowed against the black fabric that made it.
The pants matched but were way less decorated. Opting instead for a more reserved look, they complimented the torso-wear perfectly.
Pulling the waistband up, I did a series of stretching exercises and enjoyed the way the chino joggers fit.
"Seriously, these are great," I said while lifting my knee up to my chest. "What material did you use?"
"It took a bit, but I managed to secure several bolts of gendron silk. They''re tier two monsters who produce this super-resistant silk thread that when cured in an alchemy bath, becomes extra soft while still retaining its toughness. It may not look like it, but it should stop basic blades from cutting or tearing it open. There''s not much cushioning though, so I enchanted it with self-repair, blunt-force resistance, and a minor cleaning enchantment. Give it an hour, and it should be good as new."
Her voice held pride and a slight smugness as she explained the enchantments.
Excited, I tapped the last two shirt-looking pieces still covered up. "These are the leather jackets?"
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Mhmm. Most of the money went into these two. There''s a creature we call a pseudo-hydra. It has fast regeneration and can regrow its severed heads at least once per head. They''re mana-resistant and extremely annoying to kill, but on the plus side, the leather retains many of those properties even after death."
Carefully unwrapping the item, I held the bomber jacket up and rubbed my thumb over the smooth black leather. It lacked a collar, but the black hoodie underneath solved that problem.
Throwing up the hood, I summoned my mask and donned it. After a bit of refining, I got the ink to form two swirling eyes along with what looked like large spider fangs over the sharp-toothed, jagged grin.
It looked edgy, and I felt like a hacker and parkour expert all in one.
I turned and held out my arms akimbo. "What do you think?"
She lowered her head and squeezed down on her bracelet. "It looks good. The mask... It''s a nice touch."
I lowered my arms. "Is something wrong?"
She took a step back, and once she did, she looked up, her mouth parted, a surprised expression on her face.
"No, sorry. It''s fine," she whispered.
Removing my hood and mask, I leaned back on the desk behind me. "Is this better?"
A nod.
So it was the mask?
"What about the last jacket? Last time, you mentioned needing a special kind of metal to slip between the lining?"
A look of relief crossed her face, and she gave a tight smile before revealing the last jacket.
Unlike the last one, this was dark maroon instead of all black. The biker jacket extended down to just slightly below my waist, and I tugged at the collar, popping it up.
"I inserted thin sheets of dwestrum throughout it; the only area without the sheets is around the neck. Same enchantments as the rest," she said after clearing her throat.
"The red collar and inner lining are pretty cool. I like the swirl design on the inside." When I turned around, she looked like she wanted to say something, so I waited.
Eventually, she pulled out what looked like a stamp. It had a lacquered dark-wood handle and a black metal stamp on the end. I didn''t see the design but did notice the rune etched onto the handle and metal.
"I didn''t want to assume, but if you liked the design, do you mind if I include my signature?"
"Like a designed logo placed somewhere?"
She nodded.
I shrugged. "Sure. Where do you want to place it?"
Reaching over, she flattened out the end of the right corner of each hoodie and then smoothed out the upper calf for the pants.
"Would this be fine?"
"Go ahead."
I felt mana flow through the metal, a negligible amount, but the rune on the metal lit up, and I saw it secrete a black substance speckled with bright white dots.
She pressed the stamp down, and it came away, leaving a perfectly inked symbol.
A raven surrounded by thread?
The process repeated for each article of clothing, and after she finished, she tucked the tool back into her pocket.
"Thank you," she said while lowering her head.
I bowed in turn. "Thank you for bringing life to my designs. If anybody asks, I''ll point them your way."
A blush spread across her cheeks, and she cleared her throat. She muttered another thanks and pulled out a small sack of coins. When she tried to hand it over, I closed her fist and pushed her hand back towards her.
"But-"
"Keep it. In fact, here." I summoned a smaller pouch I had prepared and shoved the ten extra gold into her hands while backing away.
With a wave, I slipped my mask back on and formed a wide grin before closing the door behind me. Once I confirmed she wouldn''t chase after me in protest, I chuckled and began walking down the street.
The new threads drew a lot of stares, and only too late did I realize that the amazing design Noira worked into the fabric looked even more eye-catching than the peacocks strutting in the square.
At least it isn''t gaudy.
I took another ten steps before a man rushed over. He sported a dark green robe-coat combo and black pants with strange pointy shoes.
"Sir! What a marvelous design!" he reached for my arm, and I nearly summoned my spear. Thankfully, my glare made him freeze and lower his grasping fingers. "Please, who made this? What is this called?"
His words drew even more stares, and in the corner of my eye, I saw a lady tug on her partner''s sleeve, pointing my way.
Instead of responding, I lifted up the edge of the hoodie, showing the stamped emblem. His face scrunched up, and he turned to whisper into the ears of another man who shook his head.
"Do you recognize that mark?"
"No. Never seen it before. Is it somebody new?"
"Maybe-"
I didn''t stick around and began moving away from the crowd. As a few people started to approach, I slipped between a large fellow and ducked around another, speedily getting away from the attention.
By the time I made it out of the square and into the area with more normally acting people, I relaxed my shoulders and tugged on the jacket.
I walked another fifteen minutes before I spotted Sereza leaning against a familiar building.
When she caught sight of me, she whistled. "That''s certainly a look."
"Hey, don''t like it?"
"No, no," she said, holding up her hands. "It looks great. It''s just weird seeing you dress in something so fancy. I''m more used to the half-shredded, rugged adventurer look, that''s all. Seriously, it looks great. I don''t recognize the style at all."
"I can show you the designs later if you want. She went above and beyond what I originally thought, so I can''t claim any credit for these."
"Hmm. I''ll have to commission something. The jacket is especially nice."
I stuck out my tongue. "I knew you would like it."
We moved to the hidden entrance and headed inside. Once inside, I heard the clang of metal hitting metal. Moving deeper, we came to the workshop where Daergo wielded a hammer, striking another blow against a glowing piece of metal.
To the left, Ernor placed his hands into the furnace and released a stream of fire. Inside, I saw a small bucket.
We waited until Daergo pulled the goggles off his head and dipped the glowing sword back into the furnace before turning to face us.
"Sereza, Cyrus! Woah, fancypants," Daergo shouted.
Ernor turned around and whistled similarly to Sereza. "Beautiful design. The craftsman must have been skilled."
"Indeed. How''s it going?"
Daergo''s happy expression turned sour, and a grim look crossed Ernor''s face.
Sereza crossed her arms. "What''s wrong?"
"Lezka hasn''t returned home yet. That damn fool did something stupid, I know it," Daergo huffed, and flames spewed out. "Not the first time, but it''s been a while. I''ll beat him grey when he returns!"
I glanced over to Sereza, who shook her head and sighed.
"I''ll ask around."
"Thank you," he said solemnly. He shook his head and clapped his hands, rubbing them together to create sparks. "Bring the majestic spirit out. Her throne is ready!"
Zharia appeared and landed on my shoulder. Ernor went to the back of the room and retrieved something from underneath a workbench.
A thin white sheet covered the object, so when Ernor presented it, Zharia leaned forward and trilled in annoyance.
Daergo laughed and pulled the sheet off, revealing what looked like a metal bird''s nest. It had thin strands of metal making up its base and carving into beautiful arches on the sides. In the middle, a raised egg-shaped cone pulsed in time with the other chunks of orange crystal embedded around the nest.
Zharia hopped off my shoulder and landed in the middle, inspecting it. After a long pause, she burst into flames, and a small spark of fire lit up beneath her feet, disappearing into the orange disc below her talons.
The nest shifted, and the thin strands spun into a different configuration with six raised points, each holding a single crystal at its tip.
Bright golden flames lit up like beacons before the circular disc sucked them in, creating a swirling vortex of golden fire around the center egg.
Zharia trilled happily, and I leaned down to inspect the enchantments carved on the bottom.
"Well, do you like it?"
She snuggled in and lowered herself into the warm disc surrounded by flames. It used surprisingly little mana, but I could feel that the flames it produced were not the same as those Zharia made.
"Well, it looks like we have a satisfied customer!" Daergo exclaimed.
He clapped me on the back and nodded sagely at the little phoenix.
Sereza poked me in the side. "Why the weird look?"
I smirked. "I''m just thinking that Sturmrorex is going to be insanely jealous. I guess I need to find a storm dungeon filled with zappy crystals now."
Chapter 19: Making An Entrance
I stared at the mirror and tried to smile. The result was pathetic.
Yeah, not working.
Thankfully, I didn''t have to smile if I didn''t want to. I slipped on my mask, and it magically locked in place. The usual pattern of three shifting eyes and a fanged grin appeared.
The ink shifted colors from oily black to brilliant gold to match the crimson hoodie and pants set.
There.
There was no need to smile, and nobody would suspect the mask was anything but a well-made object. Deciding to leave the hood down, I combed my silver hair and clipped on the small black-gem earring that Eodyne had gifted me.
Looks good.
With my clothes set, I opened the door and exited the large bathroom. The Igas and Eodyne were there to greet me.
Igas wore a shirt for once, a white polo with a collar. Tiny glittering snowflakes caught the light across the fabric. His pants were simple and black, as were his usual boots.
"Honestly? It''s weird not seeing your nipples," I said as he saw me staring.
With a grumble, he rubbed at his chest and pouted. "Celanae threatened to imprison me if I didn''t put something on."
"And you look handsome as ever. You even kept your boots," Celanae retorted.
I whistled softly. She had a lilac dress that billowed around her legs. Beautiful crystals shined out from underneath the folds and shimmered with a dull purple glow. And around her shoulders, a snazzy dark purple leather jacket covered her back.
My eyes narrowed. "That''s a familiar jacket."
She blushed. "The one Noira made for you looked nice, and I had one made in its design. Hope that''s okay."
I shrugged. "It looks great. It''s just weird to see old-world fashion on you."
"Well..." she grinned. "I''m not the only one who had Noira rush out an outfit. Luckily, she already knew our sizes."
She didn''t say who and nudged Igas towards the hallway. With an amused smirk, I followed, and we headed downstairs.
"Oh, that''s what you mean."
Eodyne and Isaac turned. They sported black leather jackets and black hoodies with black pants. Eodyne, at least, had dark grey clouds designed onto her hoodie, while Isaac wore different shades of black with faint black streaks thrown into the pants.
"Copycats," I yelled at the two.
"You''ve been holding out on us! These are super comfortable!" Isaac shouted.
Eodyne smiled. "These are breathable and do not sacrifice movement. I''ll have more made soon."
Shaking my head, I joined the rest of the group at the foot of the stairs. "You know, this is common wear where I''m from. Not fancy like a suit or a dress."
Isaac scowled, his eyes flickering across my mask before harumphing. "Suits are boring."
"And a dress is hard to fight in," Eodyne added.
"Never mind then," I relented. "Where''s Teddy?"
"Right here!" Teddy called out from the dining room. "Mother and Father are waiting outside."
"I don''t have a good feeling about this," Isaac said suspiciously.
"Yeah, well, you already knew that. Oh, Cyrus, you''re going with your mask? It looks good with the red."
"Thanks. Should I be worried?"
His smile dropped, and his face turned somber. "Yes."
Forcing the sigh to stay inside my body, I joined Isaac and Eodyne''s doomed march towards the front door. The butler held it open and waved us out.
We finally figured out what Teddy''s parents were doing once we saw the monstrosity taking up space in front of the gate.
"Come aboard! The Vessel is waiting!" Nathan declared as he hung off the golden sailcloth.
Anastasia swung a golden sword shining with brilliant white light that cut through the night. "Board the ship! We''ve got a party to crash!"
It took a few blinks for me to process what I saw. Eventually, I shook my head and approached the giant ship.
Nathan and Anastasia looked crazy with their blindfolds and gilded clothes. Anastasia''s dress twinkled with golden light against the white fabric. Her head sported a halo of gold needles that illuminated her hair. Nathan wore a sleek black suit with streams of flowing water serving as a collar, cufflinks, and a belt.
"Permission to come aboard, captain?" I shouted up.
"Permission granted!" Anastasia roared.
I chuckled and leapt up. I easily covered the distance needed to get my feet onto the deck and joined Teddy''s mom near the helm.
The others used their movement skills to board the strange ship, and once everyone was on, Nathan''s mana flared like a beacon. Water rushed from beneath his feet and poured down the ship''s sides.
With a lurch, the ship lifted, supported by the wave of water that began carrying us across the mountain.
This is crazy.
Anastasia used her mana to shine down a pillar of light across the deck, putting us under a massive spotlight that followed the ship''s movements.
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"That bastard brother of mine will never know what hit him!" she declared.
"How is that possible, Auntie?! He''ll see us long before we reach the manor!" Isaac roared over the crashing wave.
"You think this is all we got to offer? You doubt us so easily, nephew? Hunny! Release banner time!" she yelled back.
"On it, dear!" Nathan answered.
He snapped his fingers and conjured a fist of water that snaked out and caught a series of brightly colored bulbs. Like a whip, it launched the bulbs into the sky.
With a cackle, he whipped more into the air. "Step one, complete!"
Silent explosions rocketed across the sky, giving birth to bright, colorful lights reminiscent of fireworks. The lights expanded into a banner, forming a single sentence. Those already gawking at the ship whipped their heads around, mouths agape.
The Lightcrests have arrived? Rather simple.
Teddy looked dead inside. In contrast, Celanae and Igas clapped excitedly. Eodyne joined Teddy in the pseudo-catatonic expression, and Isaac sank to his knees.
I leaned forward and whispered. "I''m starting to think they really don''t like your parents."
He glared at me before shuffling away. "No, no they don''t. I can already picture the death letters my siblings will send."
"You got siblings?"
If looks could kill, Isaac would have impaled me to the hilt. "Yes."
With a chuckle, I began clapping with the elf and oni.
This is kinda fun.
Nathan skillfully manipulated the wave beneath us to park us perfectly between two open carriages. The drivers of the carriages stared with open jaws and twitching eyes, trying to keep their mounts from being spooked.
The spotlight above us began to shift in color until it became a rainbow of light that exploded around us.
Anastasia sheathed her sword and fixed her hair before hooking her arm into her husband''s.
"Everyone, please exit the vehicle safely. It''s best to get in before the room gets too crowded."
Together, they hopped down and landed on the manicured grass. The poor gate greeter flinched at the sight of the two but managed to keep his cool long enough to bow deeply.
We all hopped off one by one, and I felt the stares of over a dozen people, loudly whispering and pointing.
The gate greeter rose from his bow and tapped the pin on his suit''s collar. I felt mana flare up, and he opened his mouth. "The Lady and Sir Lightcrest have arrived! Joining them is their son and party!"
Those who hadn''t already turned and were gawking now did so. For the most part, the people''s reactions were of mild interest, while a few made surprised "oohs." However, two people near the entrance of the manor looked outraged.
Interestingly enough, they had the same bright blonde hair as Isaac.
A mana pulse came from my right, and I saw the shadows underneath Isaac''s feet writhe before snapping back into place.
"Let''s go," he said through gritted teeth.
We walked past the gate, studiously ignoring the crowd. Nobody, not even Teddy''s parents, spared a glance at the people staring.
The double doors were wide open, so we entered. But something happened when Isaac stepped through the threshold.
Ding! Ding! Dong!
A series of bells played, and a rush of mana blanketed the area. The room brightened, focusing on one point: Isaac.
Lit up from below, a blinding light illuminated his form amidst the group. Isaac responded by snuffing out the light with his shadows as he sunk deeper into his hood.
The people inside broke out into loud whispers and stared at the man.
As one, the rest of Broken Tower stepped into place and surrounded him, blocking the crowd''s view. Those closest involuntarily took a step back, sweat dripping down their faces.
I watched several people recoil, finally noticing the fear they showed towards Teddy''s parents.
"Pardon us, we''re in a hurry," Anastasia declared, her voice cold.
The crowd shuffled away, parting to let us through unfettered.
Eventually, we made our way into a grand hall where several staff members helped guests with food and drinks.
Nathan turned around and clapped his hands. "No doubt, the rats will be scurrying behind the walls. Try to enjoy the evening while you can."
Anastasia squeezed Isaac''s shoulder and smiled. "I''m sorry that our family is still scum. But remember, just say the word, and we''ll beat them up for you."
Isaac laughed dryly and nodded. "Thank you, Auntie, Uncle."
She removed her hand and linked arms with her husband, strutting away. Where they walked, people rushed to get out of their path. The poor butler by the door squirmed as the duo moved straight for him.
"Again, I really have to ask. How did you turn out normal?"
I expected something humorous, but when I looked over, Teddy had a dark expression. "They''re pissed off. That offer to beat them up was entirely serious."
"What would happen if they did?"
"Considering their recent gains? The Dawneborns would lose. But that fight would mean the other families would call for a meeting. And Uncle Allaron would have to step in."
"He''d be pressured to act, but knowing Teddy''s parents, they wouldn''t care. They''d simply cut ties to the kingdom and declare their own severance before moving to a different kingdom," Celanae added.
"And if they did that, Uncle B would step in. And he''d be forced to defend both sides'' interests," Isaac said.
With a shrug, I turned around and headed for the food table. "Sounds like a pain in the ass. I''m glad I''m not a noble."
Celanae frowned, but Igas chuckled and joined me. "Me too. Much easier to be an adventurer."
For the next hour, I hung around the food tables, sampling every hors d''oeuvre they had to offer. The staff kept a polite smile, but as I loaded up a plate with an absurd amount of food, the facade cracked just a tad.
I wasn''t the only masked person in attendance; several couples or even small groups sported intricate masks. But my outfit, combined with the strangeness of me shoving food through the mask, brought a lot of attention.
Eventually, a polite tapping made me turn around. A beautiful woman with green hair and in a dark black dress greeted me. On her face was a beaked mask, but even with her hair done up in a bun, I recognized the sharp horns and scorpion tail.
Her blazing orange orbs stared from underneath the mask.
"You look stunning," I greeted.
Her tail tensed, but she kept a polite smile underneath. "If I could wear my adventuring clothes, I would. And you look stylish yourself. Looks good on you."
I bowed politely. "Thank you. Did you just arrive?"
She shook her head. "No, about half an hour ago. I was forced into a conversation with one of the bigger Felkin families. They want to meet you."
"Oh? Sure. I don''t know when the main event is going to start, so we can do it now.
Her shoulders visibly relaxed, and it felt more genuine when she smiled. "Probably after another hour. Right now is socializing time. Some of the ass-kissers haven''t even arrived yet."
"Sounds dumb. But I guess being fashionably late isn''t surprising. Anyone I should know about?"
"Just some of the other major nobles. Two families, about as big as the Dawneborns. The Ajestellas and the Brighthearts. I know the Lumos are busy with a major expedition so they won''t be attending, but that''s it. I''m not that connected."
"Again, it all means nothing to me, so point them out if you can."
She stared at the plate of food while shaking her head. "Why are you here exactly?"
"The others were going, so I figured, why not?"
For a second, it looked like she wanted to grab a plate of her own, but she shook her head and waved towards the far hall.
Oh, she''s being real polite tonight. I guess I can play along.
I kept drawing in more looks, and I''m sure people noticed the pair of horns on our heads. Most of the crowd was made up of humans and elves. While beastkins of all shapes and sizes were scattered throughout the crowd, none had horns like ours.
After politely waiting for a rather large beastkin to lumber out of the way, she led me down a long hallway and up a short flight of stairs.
We bypassed a room filled with a dozen ladies, all holding a glass , before coming to a stop at a closed room.
"Anything crazy?"
"No, but the family you''re about to meet can come off a little strong."
I separated from her and shoved my hands into my hoodie pockets. "Explain, please."
"They''re children of pride."
Ahh... that''d make sense.
Sereza straightened her shoulders and raised her chin. Around her wrist, I caught a glimpse of the thin black bracelet poking out from underneath her gloves.
With more rigidity from the felkin than I ever thought possible, she pushed open the door and slipped inside.
I followed and found myself standing in a darkened parlor room. The room''s back wall sported rows and rows of books, while the left contained a fully stocked bar. On the right, a wide table covered in trays laden with food took up the space.
In the middle of the room were three large couches and two chairs with a wide, short table in between.
Four pairs of eyes turned and watched as I entered. Four sets of colored orbs bore into my mask.
One large Felkin, almost as muscular as Igas, stood up and crossed his arms.
"So we finally get to meet the new blood."
Chapter 20: Meeting of Demons
The guy looked like a tank, a wall of meat sporting rich ochre skin and thick bull-like horns. He had cropped hair, short and spiky, while his eyes glowed a dark yellow muddled with brown. Surprisingly enough, he had no tail.
He crossed his arms and stared. A woman, who looked similar but with lighter shades of amber and pointy, dagger-like horns and an equally sharp tail, tapped the armrest of the couch.
The last two had shades of entirely different skin. On one side, a dark blue Felkin man, distinguished by four short horns and glowing white eyes, his long white hair flowing down to a shark-like tail. Beside him sat a woman with pale skin, her long green hair framing a face with backward-curled ram-like horns and piercing green eyes. Her tail, subtle, coiled around her waist.
They all wore fancy clothing but were different from the nobles downstairs. Rather, they had plain dresses tailored to their bodies and well-made tunics that caught their muscles at the right angles.
Sereza very lightly tapped me with her tail.
"I suppose I am. Are you the pride-spawn Sereza told me about?"
The man''s eyes narrowed, and the woman sitting beside him, her lips twitched upward.
The other two didn''t react.
A roar of laughter rumbled out of the man''s broad chest. "It''s nice to know you have a backbone! I''ve met several who would balk at my appearance, but you sling an insult the first we hear you speak!"
I didn''t know it was an insult, but okay.
He stopped laughing and grinned but kept his arms crossed.
"Why the mask? We''re curious to meet the new Felkin. It''s been several years since we had another join our ranks."
I glanced at Sereza, but she remained silent.
"Is this room private?"
"Myleen?"
The Felkin woman on the couch stopped her tapping. "The room is secure; as far as I know, there are no enchantments for scrying or recording. No active ones, at least."
"Well, there''s your answer."
With a shrug, I reached up, removed my mask, and slipped it into my hoodie pocket.
Myleen sat forward, tapping her chin, while the two on the couch turned their heads.
The brute standing up looked at me suspiciously.
"Is there a problem?"
Myleen spoke first. "I can''t tell what kind of mana you use. There are no obvious markers."
"No tail either," remarked the other Felkin woman.
The other man stayed silent, and the brute uncrossed his arms. "Could have a really short tail."
I spun around. "Sadly, no, no tail yet."
A look of pity adorned the shark-tailed Felkin''s face. "Unfortunate. I''m sure your next evolution will get you one."
Deciding that I was done standing, I walked over to the empty couch and sat down. Sereza joined me with a slightly amused expression.
"I''m Cyrus. Pleasure to meet you."
The brute grinned again, as did Myleen. "You know Myleen''s name. I''m Fuldro. The one with the fishtail is Julgaern, and my other beautiful sister is Ilyena."
"Brother. Take a seat; your pride is showing," Julgaern said.
Fuldro scowled but sat down, and I didn''t miss the strange inflection in Julgaern''s voice.
Julgaern leaned forward, his white orbs staring intensely into mine. "Sereza has mentioned fairly little about you. We all had a bet placed on what kind of child you are. Care to enlighten us?"
I ignored the almost demanding tone and sat back. "What do you think?"
"You dress rather fancy; I went with greed."
"Envy," Ilyena chimed in.
"Pride," Fuldro declared.
There was a slight pause, and we all turned to Myleen, waiting. Eventually, she stopped her tapping and smiled. "I think you are a child of wrath."
Fuldro snorted. "He seems like one of us. Weren''t you also guessing pride before?"
She clicked her tongue. "Maybe. But I don''t think so."
They all stared, and I smiled before nodding to Myleen. "You''d be correct."
Looks of disbelief crossed Ilyena and Fuldro''s faces while Myleen showed her fangs. Only Julgaern showed restraint.
"So all we are missing are sloth and gluttony. Interesting," Julgaern muttered.
"Beyond what inner demons we all carry, what exactly is it that you guys do?"
Fuldro preened as if he had been waiting for me to ask that particular question. "I''m an adventurer like Sereza, but I work with a company as part of the vanguard team."
Is he... flexing for me?
His muscles bulged, especially his arms, and I noticed Fuldro subtly posing.
"And the rest of you?"
Myleen rolled her eyes at her brother. "I work with Ilyena at the castle. We tend the gardens."
I must have looked confused because Julgaern snorted.
"It''s an honor to work with the royal family. Though demons like Sereza and my brother would find it beyond stifling." Beside me, Sereza stiffened, and he smiled. "Please, Sereza. The others already know you''d rather tear that dress off your body and put on blood-stained leather. Stop pretending to be what you''re not. Your father isn''t here."
Sereza''s tail lightly thumped the couch, and she lowered her hands into her lap. "But gossip loves to travel in such company."
She had an edge to her voice that carried across the room.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Julgaern''s tail loudly smacked the back of his couch, causing Ilyena to scowl. "Maybe, but we can be silent for this night. It would be rude to the newcomer."
Yeah, I don''t like you, buddy.
"What about you? The others have mentioned what they do; only you left," I asked, staring directly into his eyes.
He slowly lost the grin. "I have other duties, but I too, work at the castle."
"Yeah, I''d find it stifling as well. I''m just a simple adventurer."
Sereza''s lips briefly jerked upward before she squeezed her fingers together.
Julgaern stared, as did Myleen, but Fuldro beamed.
"Another adventurer? Interesting! Now I''m really curious about what kind of skills you use."
"And I''m curious about what you do. You said a company; what is that exactly?"
"You don''t know what a company is?" he asked suspiciously.
"I haven''t really been an adventurer for long. I''m still learning what terms you guys use here."
"Right," he blinked. "A company is part of the guild. Instead of being as small as a singular team, a company is made up of several teams. I''m a member of Skyscales, part of team three."
"What''s the point of being in the company?"
"Benefits of having a bigger backing. And when it comes to the guild, we''re recognized as an official group. It helps us in terms of reserving slots for rifts and dungeons."
It was a lot more thought out than I had imagined. A company didn''t sound bad; it made sense that teams would group up for some of the bigger rift expeditions.
The Felkins stared, each one watching me with a different expression. The lack of a mask on my face made me a little uncomfortable, but I grabbed one of the fruit tarts on the plate and tossed it into my mouth.
Julgaern frowned disapprovingly, but only him. Fuldro stared at my plate, and I offered it to the big man. He happily took it and began snacking. Myleen rolled her eyes once more while Ilyena pouted. Eventually, Fuldro handed over what looked like a small pie that made her grin.
Myleen cleared her throat. "Have you met anyone else in the city? Or are we your first?"
"He met Daergo, Ernor, and Metza. Lezka was absent," Sereza answered.
Ilyena lowered the half-eaten mini pie. "Is the boy in trouble again?"
Sereza sighed. "I don''t think so, but he hasn''t been seen for a couple of days now."
"He''ll be fine. I was just as adventurous at his age," Fuldro said.
"More like stubborn and reckless," Myleen countered.
I sat back and listened to them banter, feeling strangely out of place between them. And Julgaern kept staring, making no attempts to hide it.
After nearly half an hour of politely answering questions, Julgaern clapped his hands, and we all turned to stare.
"I''ve got to go meet with an associate. It was a pleasure meeting you, Cyrus. Welcome to Solunaria," he said before standing up.
He gave Ilyena a quick hug and promptly left the room. Myleen glared at his exit while Ilyena pursed her lips.
He said Solunaria...
"I apologize for his staring. He can be a bit rude at times," Myleen apologized.
I waved her off. "No worries. I''m rather used to it if I''m being honest. Besides, you should have seen how we got to the manor."
"Got to the... Wait, people kept gossiping about the ship outside. Was that you guys?" Sereza asked.
"Yep. Teddy''s parents are crazy. Apparently, we had to arrive in style."
She shook her head. "From what people said, it was certainly eye-catching. So that''s what his family is like. I want to meet them."
"You should. They''re a blast."
"Teddy? Do you mean Theodore Lightcrest? You''re friends with the Lightcrests?" Myleen asked.
"Uh, I''m friends with their son. I''ve been traveling with his team for the last few months."
She was about to ask another question, but Fuldro interrupted by tossing aside the cookie he was about to eat. It landed on Myleen''s lap, and she glared daggers at the brute.
"You know Broken Tower? Really? What are they like?" he demanded.
I blinked and looked up. "They''re normal? The rogue is a little ornery, but outside of that, they''re alright."
The big Felkin nearly vibrated. "Normal?! They''re famous!"
Really?
"They are?" I shrugged. "I guess there was the one time they had a few reactions, but I didn''t really pay attention at the time."
"I..." he regained control of himself and smoothed out his tunic. "Excuse me. The company would murder me if I didn''t try to talk to them."
Fuldro hopped off the couch and swiftly left, leaving me alone with the women.
Ilyena stood up and took the recently vacated spot to pick at the snack plate. "At least he''s passionate about something. I''ll never understand the need to put oneself into danger like that. At least at the castle, I get to make beauty flourish."
"I have to agree. No offense to you two."
Sereza waved her off. "I enjoy what I do. And I can''t wait to get back to it."
The other Felkin leaned forward and patted her knee before sitting back. "You know the rules of the world. Become strong enough that nobody can tell you no."
"Not the worst saying. So, I know why I''m here at the party, and I kinda know why Sereza is too. What about you two?"
"Appearances for the family, and beyond that, a small day to relax. Whatever the Dawnbornes have planned to reveal soon, it''ll be big enough to affect the noble houses."
"They''ve been tight-lipped for a few months now. I believe it was after a return from a big rift expedition. Several noble houses participated in the clearing of three special rifts that appear once every century," Ilyena added.
"This sort of thing happens often?" I asked.
"No," Ilyena shook her head. "So whatever they managed to loot inside, it has the royal family interested."
Maybe it''ll be something amazing.
-----------
Eventually, I left with Sereza as she had to say hello to several people. I could tell she wanted to do anything but. The dead-inside look in her eyes told me all I needed to know about how she would spend the next hour or two.
Without company, I decided to wander around until I found a familiar rogue storm out of an adjacent room. His face was stormy, and the shadows beneath him clawed at the air.
When he turned to leave, he came to a stop right before me, and his eyes widened in surprise just as a female voice called out.
"Isaac! We are not done talking!"
His eyes grew furious, but I slung an arm around his shoulders before he could turn around.
"Isaac! There you are! The others are looking for you! Come on, let''s go," I shouted over the bustle of the party.
From the room came two people, the same two people at the door when we arrived.
"Wh-" Isaac started.
"Hey, seriously, you know Eodyne; she gets rather prickly if we keep her waiting too long!"
I had my mask back on my face, so I easily watched the man and woman stare directly at our backs as I led Isaac away. The rogue stayed silent, but I could feel how tense he was underneath my hand.
The two didn''t chase after us, but the man stepped in front of the woman and forced her back inside the room.
Once we entered a relatively emptier hallway, I released Isaac and leaned against the wall.
"I won''t pry, but if you know where the others are, that''d be cool."
His mana calmed down, and his shadow returned to normal. After inhaling for several seconds and releasing just as long, he slumped against the wall. "I know Celanae and Eodyne are in the gardens. I don''t know where everybody else is."
"Alright. Wanna head to the gardens then?" He stared, and I raised my eyebrow. "What?"
"Thank... you. You didn''t have to do that."
I scoffed. "Yeah, that''s dragonshit. Seriously, let''s go. I can only handle your awkwardness for so long."
His jaw clicked, and he rubbed his temples. "Follow me."
He led us through the manor in record time. I watched his back as we moved, but he finally lost the last of his tension right before we exited into the lush garden.
Instead of leading us deeper into the mini hedge maze, he had us round the corner and then stopped. He pointed up, and I saw a small nook built into the stonework.
"Can you climb up on your own?" he asked.
"Probably."
He said nothing and sank into the shadows. The wall was pretty easy to scale. The physical boost my passive skill gave me let me quickly climb to the top, where I found Celanae, Isaac, and Eodyne waiting.
I began pulling myself up and felt a rush of air help push me past the last foot. After dusting myself off, I pulled myself deeper into the overhang and joined them.
Celanae activated a skill, and an amethyst barrier appeared, blocking us off.
"So this is where we''re hiding. What''s up with that?" I asked.
"I enjoy the peace and silence," Eodyne whispered.
"There''s a limit to how many people I am willing to politely put up with when they couldn''t care less about me or my interests and rather my name and position," Celanae muttered.
She quickly glanced my way when she realized what she had said, but I shrugged it off and summoned a small pillow and some snacks. Eodyne sat up and pilfered the steaming fries while I slowly spread out my legs and settled in.
"Teddy and Igas?"
"Teddy is the socialite, so he''s in his element down there. His parents disappeared, probably planning for whatever part C is. And Igas..."
Isaac blew out his tongue. "Don''t mistake the oaf''s usual silence. He''s probably down there talking to some of the noble folk and trying to get more donations for the orphanages."
"Wait, what? Since when did Igas care about orphans? And does this world not have state, uh, kingdom-run programs?" I asked between bites.
"The orphanage is well taken care of, but Igas came from an orphan background. He spends much of his time in the capital, between there and getting more donations sent so they can have a better life. Sometimes, he gets kids sponsored with skills and sends them to apprenticeship programs."
Hot damn. That''s hard to picture.
"Huh. Maybe in the future, once I''m all rich and loaded with loot, I''ll help out. Sounds like a good cause."
"He''d love that. And we''re not that rich."
I waved her off. "Semantics. Potato-putahto. Anyone want to try some screaming elixirs?"
"What?"
"Me."
"Sure."
At least there''s some fun to be had at this party.
Chapter 21: Grand Announcement
I stood inside the crowded main hall with Broken Tower and watched as another individual subtly bounced off Celanae''s barrier.
Teddy''s parents were still nowhere to be found, but we managed to meet before the staff announced that everyone should gather.
The ceiling was an endless expanse of fluffy white clouds and beautiful rays of sunlight. It reminded me of Uzu''s inn. The enchantments must have been extensive to span the entire hall, but considering this was a noble family and given the size of the manor, I doubted they struggled to pay for it.
Giant paintings filled with intricate art were also animated along the walls, moving through a continuous scene that never seemed to loop.
I am starting to get wizarding school vibes.
It took another dozen minutes for the crowd to settle into place, and then the lights of the room changed, including the once bright sky.
A series of chimes rang through the hall, and the last of the gossipers quieted.
A series of golden panels appeared, hovering midair. They erupted in bright, golden light that shone down onto the center staircase. Two figures stood poised, their outfits matching in brilliant gold and white.
Isaac''s knuckles were stark white, and I could hear his jaw grinding.
Teddy placed a hand on his shoulders. "Calm. If it''s any consolation, I think my parents are going to do something crazy."
He stopped grinding his teeth, but his fists stayed clenched. "It is, somewhat. I still want to punch his face in."
"Give it another couple of years. We''ll help."
Teddy was entirely serious. Isaac searched his eyes and then nodded. "Fine."
"People of Solara. I hope you all have enjoyed the party tonight," the man started, his voice filling the room. "A big thank you to the wondrous Dancers of Maecal! Without their amazing showmanship, I''m sure this room would be twice as empty."
Laughs, some polite, others genuine, and more that showed how obvious a lie that statement was.
"I''ll give that bastard one thing," Igas huffed. "He has the charisma befitting his station."
"And to the servants and staff who helped facilitate a smooth party for everyone in attendance. I also thank you for your service."
There was a brief pause, and then one of the floating panels shifted. The light changed intensity, softening while it moved to follow three people walking in from the left to stand beside the man.
"As many of you know, the Dawnbornes, along with house Ajestella and house Brightheart, joined together for an extended rift expedition." The man with tanned skin and hair that looked like fire waved with the woman who had eyes of glittering stars. The third did not move, but the speaker continued. "The expedition was long and fraught with danger. A few lives were lost, and even though it is to be expected, we still mourn their deaths."
A lull blanketed the crowd, and beyond those who stayed silent, waiting on the man''s every breath¡ªthey played up the anguish they felt over the nameless individuals.
Disgusting.
The speaker sucked in a deep breath and let his shoulders stiffen as he raised his chin. "But, from their sacrifice and the sacrifice of the expedition''s time and blood, we have returned triumphant!"
The crowd broke out into applause. It was funny being inside the literal bubble. None of us smiled while the sea of people outside looked like they were seeing their heroes for the first time.
"I didn''t need to know, but this is your dad, right? Good public speaker, seems like a manipulative bastard," I whispered.
Celanae chuckled but did so without smiling or removing her eyes from Isaac''s dad. "Oh, he is. Since Isaac was a child and long before that."
Isaac''s father stepped to the side and motioned for the third man, the one who wasn''t named, forward. He wore opulent robes, white in color with streaks of glittering silver and golden runes that shimmered in waves along the material.
Once he got within the blinding spotlight, all the lights became almost red. The robe lit up, and the crowd broke out into a real applause, one filled with cheers.
"Who''s Mr. Opulent?"
Teddy frowned. "Our cousin. The crown prince."
Isaac''s father dipped his head, but not low. "Rifts are famous for their rewards, both from the Grand Weave and from the guarded treasures inside. We have returned not only with most of our people, but we''ve returned laden with treasure and rewards. And now, with Prince Rudehn here to represent the royal family, we of the expedition team are honored to bestow our greatest find of the expedition."
The woman, who I assumed was Isaac''s mother, waved her hands, and a marble table appeared. People''s eyes were glued to the empty table, and even those who kept a serious expression throughout the speech were now honed in.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
With a small, unheard exchange between her and the prince, she snapped her fingers, and a pure black box, about the size of a man''s head, appeared.
Isaac''s father extended his arm. "Prince Rudehn. On behalf of our noble families, on behalf of our expedition teams. We present to the royal family not one... but two evolution stones!"
The crowd erupted at the statement while some of the more serious people''s faces and jaws dropped.
I blinked. "This whole thing was just to announce their generosity in presenting a couple of pretty crystals?"
Broken Tower erupted into giggles.
Eodyne lightly smacked my shoulder while Isaac broke into a real fit of laughter. Luckily, the crowd''s cheering and the subtle swirl of wind mana under Eodyne''s control kept our noise inside the barrier. A couple of people glared at us, but they quickly looked away to watch the prince nod and shake the hands of each noble representative.
Isaac''s father stepped back, and the prince took his place while the tile underneath lit up with the barest amount of light.
"The royal family is honored to receive such a prize. On behalf of my family to yours, we shall remember this favor sincerely."
More clapping ensued, polite this time and with a lesser fervor. But the noise was still loud enough to fill the room with a deafening staccato.
The chest disappeared with a subtle sweep of the prince''s hand, and then he stepped back to let Daddy Dawnborne retake his position.
"That is not all. As I''ve mentioned, the expedition was a great success! Now we''ve come to share that success with you, the people of Solara."
Isaac''s father gently tapped the banister, and a virtual banner appeared in midair.
Apparently, light manipulation is the go-to marketing skill.
A list of items and brief descriptions appeared. They stayed on-screen for three seconds before fading away and being replaced by a new item.
There was an impressive amount of variety. Potions, skills, materials, enchanted weapons, and armor flashed along the banner, continuing without a single item sharing the same description as the ones previously.
"We have decided to host a Grand Auction! Slated for a week''s time, this auction will be open to all citizens of Solara, where everyone can bid and buy the spoils of a tier two grand rift!"
Another eruption of cheers hollered out, and I sent mana into my ring, deafening the sound to a dull thunder. Beside me, the rest of the team had frowning faces and serious eyes.
"Why are we sour about this? Isn''t this good for the people?" I asked.
Teddy nodded hesitantly. "It is good, but he''s not done speaking."
I turned to face the stage and waited.
Isaac''s father did not disappoint as he raised a hand to silence the crowd.
"But that is not all. In an effort to uplift the people of our great kingdom, we will be hosting a tournament using Orlo''s Dueling Pit. The top contestants of the tournament will get to select top prizes that we specifically held in reserve from the auction. These items will be valued in the hundreds of gold, and slots will be reserved for a special rift accessible only to the royal family! The king has granted us permission, and now the top three teams shall gain the opportunity of a lifetime!"
The manor shook with the stomping of people''s feet. I fed more mana into the ring and focused on the vibration beneath my feet.
"So that''s why he gathered everyone. How generous," Isaac spat.
"I still don''t really see an issue with this?" I said.
"Again, not really an issue," Teddy answered. "The city capital will be busy in the next two weeks as word comes in and people begin rushing over. What''s left unsaid is the private auction that will be hosted after the tournament is over. It''s common, and all the big families will be participating. All this generosity means that the Dawnborne, Brighthearts, and Ajestella will help elevate themselves, publicity-wise. This is in preparation for the House Council in a few months."
"And that is?"
"Every few years, the noble houses get together and elect a head that lasts for eight years. They''ll represent the noble faction in all decisions and have a higher say in voting power."
"Don''t forget to mention that the tournament is a good way to scout for people to join the houses and become retainers, guards, or part of their expeditionary teams," Isaac muttered. "It''s a means to pad their ranks."
Isaac''s father raised another hand, and the crowd silenced itself. "The tournament will be held a week after the auction. The details will be given after the auction is over. So those who are finished should stick around if they want to find out. Now, I''m sure it has lit the forges inside many young hearts. So I say drink and dance! Be merry! For today we shall celebrate the boon to our kingdom, and tomorrow we wi-"
Eeeerggkh!
A loud keening made most people slam their hands over their ears as a deep rumble shook the manor. Several cried out in alarm, but then I felt it.
It was a wave of mana that rose up like a tsunami, threatening to sweep people under its tide. Backing the wave, the blazing heat of the midday sun shone above its waters.
Some dropped to their knees, and others froze like statues, shivering in place.
Teddy sighed and slumped forward while Isaac almost beamed with delight.
"Is that?"
"Yes," he grinned. "Yes, it is."
The bow of a large ship sailed through the air, held up by a wave of crashing water. The ship knocked aside floating lights and other decorations, blocking out the beautiful skyline above.
I glanced back to the stage and found all four nobles and the prince staring. The Brightheart noble looked amused while the Ajestella scowled with narrowed eyes. The crown prince kept his face neutral, and both Dawnbornes looked ready to murder.
Atop the ship, manning the helm, stood Anastasia in full splendor, the light of her dress competing with the spotlights in their brilliance. Her sword was out, wreathed in golden light that left trails in its wake. She swung in wide arcs while cackling like a witch.
Nathan stood with his arms crossed at the tip, his proud suit covered in waves of colored water, forming an elegantly designed robe over his body. His beard and hair were covered in seafoam, and he, too, laughed like thunder.
"Behold you unsuspecting mortals! We have arrived bearing even greater news for the royal family!"
Judging from everyone''s reaction, Anastasia''s voice must have threatened to shatter a few eardrums.
The wave spread so wide it blocked out the ceiling entirely. The ship came to a slow stop near the top of the stairs, and Nathan jumped down with a crash. The stairs vibrated but held, as if the man weighed like a meteor.
He ignored the nobles and the robotic prince to turn around and hold out his hand. The water extended to create a staircase that Anastasia strode down.
"Sister..." the growl reverberated through the room, and Isaac''s mother tugged on his sleeve to get him to step off the enchanted tile.
Nathan stepped to the side but kept his fingers locked with his wife.
"Brother! So good to see you again. I hope you don''t mind the mess. After all, you did just receive a large windfall of treasure. Surely, the repairs are nothing for the great family!" Anastasia said.
Even without the tile, her voice stretched across the silent crowd.
The man shook his face one of carefully controlled outrage. "Anastasia... why are you here?"
"Actually, we''re not here for you at all!" Nathan said happily.
The man snapped his head toward Nathan and nearly bared his teeth. "Then why?!"
Anastasia pointed a finger toward the prince, who raised an eyebrow. "We''re here for him!"
Chapter 22: They Have What?!
In a rush, she bowled him aside, and Nathan stepped over his head, dragging his water robe across his face.
A loud sputtering could be heard echoing across the walls, and the crowd stared with slack jaws.
Rudehn blinked a few times but stayed in place while the two nobles from the other houses stepped away. I didn''t blame them. Anastasia still had her sword, and she had it swinging wildly in their direction.
Isaac was nearly on his knees from laughter while the others tried to stifle or hide it behind their hands.
When Rudehn spoke, it also echoed loudly, the pin on his immaculate robe shining with a crimson light. "And what exactly do the Lightcrests want with me?"
"Well, not you in particular. In truth, this is for your father, my apologies. But hello to you too, young man. Looking stiff as ever!"
His eye twitched, but he kept an indifferent smile plastered on. "You want contact with my father through me?"
Anastasia snorted. "Oh no, we already got his attention. We''re just being polite.
She waved and then looked upward as a glowing gold crystal began to form. It grew to about the size of a man''s head and gave off a cool blue light.
I could taste something from the mana it gave off, but I couldn''t identify it. What I did know was that it stirred the demon inside its cage.
It made me want to summon Magnus, swallow it whole, and erase it from existence.
Everyone turned to look, and every noble''s eyes widened in surprise¡ªespecially the prince''s.
They all bowed, and Isaac''s father scrambled to stand up and join them. Nathan and Anastasia joined in, but their bow was more superficial than the others.
The crystal flashed, and a calm and clear voice rang out in time with the pulses. "Anastasia, Nathan. You''ve gotten the crown''s attention. State your reasoning."
Nathan raised his hand, and an orb of water shot out from his robe, engulfing the crystal.
The nobles backed away in disbelief while Rudehn openly gaped.
For a moment, it looked like the crystal tried to rush out of the orb, but Nathan tugged, and it slowly dragged through the air until it stopped at the man''s eye level.
"Ho-how did you..." Isaac''s father stuttered.
Anastasia turned around and addressed the crowd, her sword planted into the ground with a quick, clean stab through the tile.
"Dear people of Solunaria. We''ve come to make a couple of announcements to you, the people, the crown, and its houses."
Nathan stepped up to join her, and they shared a look before smiling wide and reaching behind their heads.
"We, too, have returned from an expedition, your majesty. And we''ve returned with gains of our own. Most notably is our official declaration to the kingdom that we''ve achieved the third ascension," Nathan shouted.
The blindfolds fell away and were swept up into his robe. The people on the ground floor nearly dropped, and even the nobles on the platform began to sink under the sudden pressure the two exuded.
With a snap, the orb released the crystal, but it stayed inert. The duo didn''t care. Instead, they kept posing like bodybuilders and models, trying to show off.
"I think your parents came back even more insane than before," Igas cheered.
"They might have," Teddy muttered.
I kept an eye on Isaac, but he looked like a satisfied cat, sitting plump with his prize.
Finally, the crystal flared to life and held a seriousness that wasn''t present before.
"The kingdom welcomes the addition of new monarchs," it announced. The colors turned into a deeper blue, almost cobalt in the shade. "Anastasia, Nathan. We will need to talk. Privately. And soon."
They kept grinning, and Nathan raised his hands to conjure a flat plane of solid water. Anastasia held her hand over the conjured table and made a familiar chest appear.
"And, but you see, that is not the only announcement we are here to make," they said together. "We''ve come show the kingdom just how generous we are!"
"What have you done..."
They reached down and flipped the lid open, revealing the three evolution stones in their full glory.
If the crowd could stand, I''m sure they would have, but only a select number of individuals managed to keep their wits and not spend time shaking in place near the floor.
The crystal went silent once more. Behind the two, everyone on the platform stared. Isaac''s father''s eyes grew furious, his sclera and pupils disappearing behind an inner light that lit up from within.
"It seems we really must have that talk," the crystal said after a minute. "For now, can you reign in your aura? The people have been sufficiently cowed. No need to continue crushing their faces into the floor."
At this, the duo looked sheepish. Instead of replying, Nathan spat out the blindfolds, and they recovered their eyes.
A collective intake of fresh air echoed throughout the room, and a few people collapsed entirely.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
I wonder if Sereza is okay. She''ll probably have a million questions.
"I shall take my leave. Please be considerate and refrain from deepening my migraine."
Anastasia held up her sword and tapped the crystal by bonking it on one of the tips. "I didn''t say we were done. That''s all window dressing. We have one more thing to present. And this one will require lots of talking, between the crown and us."
The crystal flashed, but no words came out. The king''s deep voice remained absent, and the duo broke out into laughter.
Nathan wiped away a tear, but he did so on his robe, so his face looked wetter than before. He eventually held up his hand and presented a silver chest wrapped with ethereal-looking chains made of shadows.
The king remained silent even as Anastasia summoned a small black-metal cube and slowly pushed it into the strange lock. Shadows swallowed the metal, and a loud click reeled the chains back into the lock.
With deliberate slowness they both took one side of the lid and pulled up, revealing.... nothing.
From my position, I couldn''t see inside the chest, but there was a raised shelf with nothing on it.
Then, Anastasia waved her hand over the thing and revealed what looked like a single marble made of pink glass. People were back on their knees, and some struggled to breathe.
Around me, the others weathered the effects better than the average folk, but I didn''t understand why they had faces of pure disbelief.
"What''s going on?"
Isaac glared and made choking motions at me. "Screw you and your weird resistances! Aaagh! That stone... that''s an ascendence marble."
I motioned for him to continue, but he flipped me the bird and crossed his arms while looking away.
Celanae summoned her journal and was already making an entry.
"That crystal..." she said through gritted teeth. "It''s more rare than any evolution stone. Depending on the tier, it will fully ascend you up to the tier of the marble once consumed, provided you have your skill slots filled out."
"Damn them, they held back that surprise," Igas growled.
"This will change a lot of things by next year," Teddy added.
I can see how. Damn, that thing would be handy. I wonder if I can loot one of them.
A second king''s crystal formed, followed by a third, fourth, and fifth crystal. They connected and extended their points like a messed-up pentagram.
They surrounded the two, and Nathan quickly sucked in the chests before a flash of blue light whisked the crystals and the duo away.
People began to breathe easily again, but not before they looked at the platform where Isaac''s father raged with shining fists made of light.
He snapped his head toward the Rudehn, and then the ship slowly sank to the ground as the magic water began to disappear.
Panicked bodies began to scramble out of the way, and luckily, the ship managed to come to rest on the ground without harming a soul.
Gossip roared through the crowd, and I stretched my arms and popped my back. "Well, I think they successfully managed to upstage your family, Isaac."
"Yes, they did!" he laughed.
Less like a pleased cat and more like a gleeful gremlin, he practically hopped in place.
"Right. I''m going to raid the snack table, find Sereza, and then head back to the house. Anyone in?"
Teddy glanced toward the ship and then dragged a hand down his face. "Yeah, I''m in. Let''s fill our supplies."
Isaac was the first to run off, gliding through like a hummingbird as he escaped into the side hall.
I guess we follow him.
With one last glance toward the platform, I didn''t miss the longing look on the prince''s face as he stared at where the shadow chest had been.
----------
Serena glared for the hundredth, and I sighed. "Okay, seriously, I didn''t know they were going to do that. I only vaguely knew they had plans for something."
"Don''t think I didn''t miss how completely unbothered you were standing there. Do you even realize how much you stood out? The other felkins asked me a hundred questions, especially Fuldro," Sereza accused. "Also, I think Myleen likes you."
"She seems intense. Maybe I should meet the other felkins first, know which tails I''m stepping on before I do anything drastic."
With a shake of her head, she turned and waved. "I''ll see you in a couple of days. I already know I''ll be busy with the tournament and auction announcement. Not to mention the insanity Teddy''s parents inflicted."
"Bye!"
When she disappeared down the road, I turned and entered the opened gate. Everyone else was already inside, so I walked into the manor without the usual chimes.
No butler again. He probably has the night off.
I debated returning to my room, but I decided more practice with the tentacle spear would be better time spent. Plus, I could burn off some of the calories from all the snacking.
Without missing a beat, I flexed my abs. After chuckling to myself, I made my way throughout the house and down the stairs.
The training hall was empty, so I closed the door behind me and tore off the hoodie. It was nice, but unneeded.
I approached the mirror in the corner and stared at the rainbow tattoo on my chest. The tattoo brightened with a flex of will, glaring back at me. After a second, I dimmed it and rubbed at the spot, my fingers coming away clean.
My smile dimmed, and I shut them, letting the flash of images from the memory play in my head.
It played out until I got to the moment I looked away from Sam''s face, only for it to boot me out with what sounded like a faint ding of a bell.
Sighing, I summoned my spear and moved to the center of the room.
Before starting, I began to summon my familiars, and they appeared, each taking a second to comfort me in their own way before moving to the far wall so they could watch.
"Everyone doing okay? I have some snacks for you all whenever you want."
"Yes!" Sturmrorex and Zharia roared.
Magnus yawned and tapped the floor while ¨¢ine nodded once.
I laughed, walked out of the center ring, and conjured food in little bowls. ¨¢ine got a thimble of tart fruit juice while Zharia lit her weird coal-like snack on fire. Magnus got to eat some shiny crystals I pilfered off a decorated pillow, and Sturmrorex had fun eating meat that tasted like metal.
"Okay. Now it''s time for me to train. Enjoy!"
Returning to the center, I got into a low stance and gripped my spear toward the side of my chest.
Before I could thrust, I felt my familiars react in surprise and begin charging up their skills, only for Zharia to trill out.
"Grandpa?!"
"Hello to you too, little one. Is everything okay?" Cal asked as Zharia flew up to land on his shoulder.
He reached up and stroked her feathers while ¨¢ine joined the other. Only Sturmrorex and Magnus hesitated.
I watched as Cal floated over, extended his arm for Sturmrorex to wrap around, and then bent down to pick up Magnus.
The little cub looked up and snuggled into his chest, dipping his head behind his paws.
"Cal?" I asked as he floated back toward the center of the room.
He looked up and searched my face. "Something happened. Can I search your memories?"
I tensed but nodded.
He briefly closed his eyes, and my familiars looked up, concerned.
A wave of energy blanketed the room, and the enchantment runes began to flicker. With a sigh, Cal breathed in and the energy stopped. The runes flashed for a dozen seconds before fading and returning to normal.
"You haven''t talked to the others."
"I haven''t," I admitted.
"Cyrus..." he shook his head. "Please do. That memory, you already guess at what it is."
I didn''t respond, and he sighed for the second time.
"Why are you here, Cal? Don''t get me wrong, it''s nice to see you. But I thought you were in hiding? Everything okay?"
He stroked Sturmrorex''s scales, and the damn dragonling purred through the thought-speech.
"I''m still hiding, do not worry. My mana signature is being obfuscated by Ysanna''s. If any gods check, they''ll know she visited you. Surprising, but not overly so, considering you wear her necklace."
"Okay? Not sure I like the idea of gods randomly trying to check up on me, but alright. You okay then?"
He smiled. "I am. You''re not, but that''s for another time. I''m unfortunately here to break some rules that you may be able to benefit from."
I tucked my spear into my armpit and crossed my arms. "What''s up?"
"I need you to leave the city."
Chapter 23: Emergency Exit
"You need me to leave?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yes, I do."
"Okaay. Where?"
"Helio."
"Helio? That one city?"
"Exactly," Cal said as he stroked Sturmrorex''s scales. "I need my Scion to visit the... local populace."
I narrowed my eyes. "Okay. Should I be concerned?"
He said nothing and continued to lazily float around the room while giving attention to my familiars.
"Cal?"
"Being a god has many duties and troubles. But in truth, it all depends on the kind of god you are. My domain is special, and I take great pride in that. I am, however, still limited in some regards. And right now, I need you to trust me."
I summoned Chomperz, who appeared and ate my spear. He then waited as Cal floated closer and gently bumped his head into his. Chomperz rushed back inside my chest without another sound.
Cal''s frown dipped deeper, but he didn''t say much.
"I still don''t know what your domain is. A certain someone pointedly stopped another goddess from spilling."
He stopped in place. "And hopefully, you will continue not needing to know. It''s... Cyrus, it''d be better if you didn''t, not yet."
The god looked ridiculous with all my familiars snuggling into him as he floated midair. His suit was made of silver streaked with pink iridescent scales, and his long red hair had part of it in a ponytail that moved with an unseen wind.
I looked into his flaming orbs and smiled. "Alright. I''ll head out now then."
"That easy?" his face blossomed into a smile. "Thank you."
He gently handed me my familiars, who each waved goodbye before jumping into my chest and returning to my soulspace.
With one last wave from Cal himself, I blinked and he was gone. I stared at the ceiling of the now-empty room and stretched.
Welp, So much for relaxing for the next couple of weeks.
------------
"So you''re leaving. Just like that?" Celanae asked with her arms crossed.
"Yep. Cal asked, so I gotta go." I replied.
"Would you sit down for a second and explain?"
"That''s really all there is to it. I don''t have any reason why or know what''s up, just that he very specifically said he needed his Scion to go there."
"That''s frustratingly vague," she huffed.
"Isn''t it common for a god or goddess to just tell their followers to do something? It can''t be that uncommon, no?"
She raised a finger, and a slab of purple crystal appeared before my nose. I turned to look, and her eyes narrowed to dangerous points.
"We both know that for you, it is uncommon."
True, but I don''t exactly see the issue here.
"So what exactly is the problem?"
"Cal isn''t... he''s not some god of agriculture asking you to help bless a field. If he''s asking you to do something, then it''s serious."
I nodded. "Yeah, I figured."
"Cyrus!"
A sigh left my lips, and I leaned against her barrier. "It could be dangerous; I expect it to be. That doesn''t mean I''m not going. And I have zero information on what to expect. I can''t plan for something with nothing."
"You have the rest of us. You have a city filled with crafters and more that could provide something in case of emergency."
I smiled. "It''s not like I wouldn''t have asked you guys to come, but I wouldn''t force an issue. Also, I''m very tight on gold. Spent it all on snazzy magical clothes."
If looks could kill, I might have been severely wounded by the way Celanae stared at me.
She huffed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Then where are you going?"
"To try finding someone to send a message to Sereza and see if she wanted to come with?"
She snapped, and her barrier disappeared, causing me to nearly slip backward. "There are messenger children in every district. Let''s go; we''ll grab one and collect the others."
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"I''m serious. You don''t have to go. I know this was meant to be a vacation of sorts for you all."
"I''ll resist from bashing you on the head."
Celanae led the way out while quickly pulling out clothes from her dimensional storage and swapping them for her dress as we made our way toward the door.
This will be interesting.
------------------
Isaac looked... less than pleased. Igas continued to be indifferent while Eodyne and Teddy seemed deep in thought.
We quickly rounded them up and sent word out to Sereza. But it had already been over an hour, and she hadn''t shown up at the mansion.
Damn, I thought she''d want to go.
Teddy looked up from his brooding, his mouth set in a firm line. "I don''t like that a god would tell you where to go. And he said he broke some rules doing so?"
"So he said, I didn''t sense anything wrong."
"That''s not comforting," Eodyne spoke.
"I don''t really know or care about the rules, so whatever is the issue, we''ll figure it out."
Teddy turned to Isaac. "Can you go to the transportation guild? Find the fastest service?"
He nodded and sank into the floor.
"We''ll wait for him to come back. For now, we should all prepare and get ready," Teddy turned to face me. "If Sereza doesn''t arrive by the time we set off, we''ll have to leave her behind."
"Understood," I replied.
"Good. I''ll look through the stuff in the armory. There should be enough looted potions that''ll help."
Everyone left to get ready while I stayed sitting in the chair. Everything I owned was inside Chomperz, so I didn''t have anything to grab. And while I was curious about what Teddy would find, he''d tell me the relevant information once we were on our way.
It was touching that they all immediately decided they were coming along. I figured they would, but if any of them decided not to, I wouldn''t have been surprised.
Thumping from behind made me roll my head and see Arturous pad his way over. His giant frame managed to squeeze through the extended archway, and he stopped near my head.
I looked up, reached both hands to the side of his massive snout, and played with his jowls. "You doing okay, Arturous? All I see you do is slumber around and munch on fish."
He growled and lowered his head until his wet nose stamped my forehead.
I laughed into his fur and watched as lines of glowing light lit up some of his golden fur. "Hey, at least one of us is getting some well-deserved rest. What do you say, though? Ready for some action?"
His jaw came loose, and I stared into the abyss as he swallowed my head. His teeth never actually bit down, and his giant tongue almost broke my nose, and I snorted.
He spat me back out, and I used his fur to wipe the drool off my head.
"Fine, I get it. I''ll feed you a whole roasted carcass when we get back. Cooked and seasoned all for you."
In response, he slid to his belly and rested his massive head on the armchair, letting me have easy access to scratch his head.
I summoned my familiars, and they all took up various positions along his head and snuggled in.
The rest lasted almost an hour before Teddy returned to the room to find us chilling. When I opened my eye he shook his head and crossed his arms.
"Is it time already?" I asked.
"Yes. Isaac is with the driver. We''ll be in Helio in two days."
"That''s fast."
"It''s an expensive service, but that''s not an issue. They''re wind-aspected terror birds. Stubbornly strong, and have a mean streak to anyone who isn''t their bonded caretaker. But they can run for days on end, even at tier two, and they have a natural air manipulation that lets them run fast."
I patted the giant bear''s head, and he lumbered to his feet while my familiars returned. Teddy offered a hand, and he pulled me up.
"Anything good from the armory?"
"I got a potion of resistance for just about everything. As well as several higher tier health, stamina, and mana restorations."
"No sign of Sereza?"
He shook his head. "Isaac went looking for her, but he couldn''t find her. Sorry."
"It''s fine. Let''s go."
Everyone else was already outside. When we exited the mansion and saw the open gate, I had to stop.
I see why they''re called terror birds; holy shit, they''re huge.
They stood ten feet tall, their powerful legs looking like pillars with long talons gripping the earth. They sported royal blue feathers with varying shades of silver and white streaking the tips.
One of the birds'' head swiveled without moving its neck and I blinked as I stared at triangle-shaped eyes. It squawked, and Teddy winced.
It took me a second to realize that my ring must have deafened the sound.
The driver didn''t have a face. Every inch of his body was covered up in a black suit with a black skin-tight mask covering his head. The golden gloves he wore gripped the reins, and he sat staring ahead, ignoring the passengers.
The carriage attached to the massive birds was equally large, big enough to fit Arturous with some room to spare.
"I know these birds are huge, but uh... can it handle Arturous'' weight?"
"The carriage is heavily enchanted. It uses materials found in tier three rifts so it won''t be a problem."
We made our way out the gate, and I stared up at the bird and the motionless rider before turning to watch Arturous climb into the back of the cabin without issues. The wheels didn''t even dip, and the birds didn''t fuss.
Shrugging, I waved to Celanae and stepped inside the spacious cabin. Couches lined the walls, and there were even tables on which we could rest things. There were no visible light sources, but the interior glowed a soft blue.
Igas rested on the back couch near Artutous with his back facing the door, and Eodyne watched me like a hawk on the side.
Once we were all piled in, the door shut automatically, and Celanae tapped the wall beside her twice. "We''re ready."
I wouldn''t have known we already started moving if it weren''t for the glass windows.
That''s really smooth. This is better than any car I''ve ever been in.
I watched the city scroll by. People stared, and several pointed at the wagon as it zoomed by. The driver navigated the city with ease, as we never once stopped and only slowed down once we got near the more heavily populated streets.
Isaac appeared from Teddy''s shadow and collapsed onto a nearby couch. "Couldn''t find her."
"That''s fi-" I was interrupted by a fierce knocking.
It came from the door.
Celanae stood and stared as another series of sharp knocks pounded against the wood. She rushed over, and when she slid the door a crack, a cloud of green smoke spilled through.
Celanae backed up as Sereza reformed and flopped to the ground. Her chest rose rapidly as she audibly panted with her hair covering her face.
"Sereza?" Celanae asked.
"Here! I''m... here. Your carriage is too fast... couldn''t catch up," she sputtered.
Isaac glared from the couch and sunk below the table.
I summoned ¨¢ine, and she flew over and gently tapped Sereza''s horns. Sereza puffed and blew the hair out of her face while looking up at the little fairy who booped her nose.
As her breathing relaxed, Sereza sat up. "That''s a crazy letter, super vague. Why are we rushing to Helio? Do you know how hard it was to get people to focus on things other than the party and Teddy''s parents?"
Celanae shook her head and summed up a pile of books while Sereza took in the group.
I grinned and leaned back, resting my head on the cushion behind me. "Not a fucking clue."
Chapter 24: Trouble in Helio
The following two days were ones of calm and boredom. It felt like the rain before a storm¡ªdrowsy, slow, and with no real idea of what was to come.
We only had to stop so I could use the bathroom, which was a bit of an issue when Sereza didn''t understand why we were stopping.
It took some skirting around the questions, but she accepted it, and Teddy gathered us together. He pulled out a crate that let off a series of clinks as it settled onto the table.
When he opened it up, several stacks of potions were neatly laid out.
"Everyone gets three mana, two stamina, and two health. There are elemental resistances of every kind, so we each get one, along with emergency rations that''ll instantly make you feel full," he explained.
I reached out for a vial of purple liquid. "I think Orsk gave these out during my first rift. Sleeper''s Debt, right?"
"What''s Sleeper''s Debt?" Sereza asked.
"They stave off sleep, but you pay it back twofold when the effect ends, or you decide to sleep. I remember it knocking me out. Tastes like crap."
Teddy nodded. "Just in case. These are for emergency use, but you never know. They are also sometimes used to counteract passive sleep effects. They really only work if the effect is truly passive, but it''s better than nothing."
After distributing the potions, he pulled out a much smaller box, one made of ornate bone with several security runes covering the lid. Mana concentrated around the actual lock in the middle, and I tasted fire.
Teddy summoned a small key and inserted it into the lock. The key lit up with blazing heat and then melted into the lock before a pop echoed out.
He popped the lid and revealed a set of seven rings. They were made of solid silver with a single line of black running through the middle.
"How did you know to grab seven?"
"If Sereza hadn''t shown up, then we''d have an extra."
"I didn''t take any of the real enchanted stuff since the tier difference would stress our mana channels. These are tier two. They''ll be a problem if you have to wear these for an extended period, but it''s powered by its own mana battery inlaid in the metal."
I took it on and slid it over my pinky. With a thread of mana, it resized and shrunk down to fit perfectly. There was no noticeable effect, so I lowered my hand and watched the others put them on. Only Sereza reacted, and she winced.
"What do they do?"
"It''s a single-charge protection ring. It''ll block major damage once before the enchantment fizzles out. You''ll know when it happens because the ring will crack in two."
Nifty. I hope we never need it.
"Once we''re at the gate, we need to meet with Elanor. After her, it''ll be the guildmaster. Do you know if... Cal will contact you again?"
"No," I said, shrugging. "Not a clue, but maybe we''ll know what''s wrong once we reach the city."
"Hopefully. We should arrive soon."
"Yeah, about that, what''s up with the creepy masked driver? Is it a person or what?"
"They''re a person. All special carriage drivers from the company we hired from are dressed like that. No face, no voice, no smell, nothing identifiable. They are simply meant to deliver you to your location."
We split up for the last hour, but the light in the cabin changed to a sharper purple.
Teddy stood up and summoned the rest of his gear. "We''ll be approaching the gate within the next ten minutes. Everyone, ready up."
I wore my new clothes but kept my spear inside my inventory. Everyone else quickly suited up, and Sereza put on her new bandolier.
She nodded, her face serious.
The cabin came to a stop, but Teddy frowned and peered out the window. "Something''s wrong."
Celanae tapped the wall. "Is there a problem? Why are we not at the gates?"
A voice so neutral I couldn''t guess the speaker''s gender resonated throughout the cabin walls. "This is as far as I can take you. Per the instructions given, I will wait here for three days and nights. If passengers fail to board the cabin during that time, I will return to Solara."
She frowned. "That is unusual. What prompted this set of instructions?"
Silence.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
For over a minute, the driver stayed silent. Celanae tapped the walls again, but the lights dimmed to a bright pink. "There have been conflicting reports regarding Helio. The company knows of Broken Tower''s reputation. If you can return, the company will compensate for your time. The ride here and back will be free of charge regardless of information found."
"What reports? Do you know what we''re walking into?"
"No." The lights dimmed until it was nearly pitch black in the cabin. "Please exit the cabin."
Isaac began pulling out his dagger, but Teddy shook his head and grabbed his wrist. The rogue scowled and pulled his mask over his face while jerking his arm free.
One by one, we exited, and Arturous leapt off the back. The city gates looked fine; there weren''t missing parts or fires burning along the walls.
"Something''s wrong," Eodyne said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"No guards are patrolling the top. There are no guards at the gate''s entrance. Elanor would never allow this, and neither would her father."
"Isaac, Eodyne, go. Don''t enter the city, not yet," Teddy ordered.
Isaac sunk into the shadows, and Eodyne rushed like a lightning bolt onto a nearby branch. From there, she zipped into the sky, and I watched her soar past the forest canopy.
When we walked toward the front of the cabin, the driver sat motionless as ever while the birds had nestled down, making their large legs disappear beneath their feathers.
Still creepy.
We set off in a jog and waited for the two to return. As we neared the gate, Isaac reappeared and shook his head. His daggers were out, but he kept them lowered.
"I can''t find anyone around the entrances," Isaac commented. "There''s literally nobody, and the other two gates are closed."
Eodyne dropped in from overhead and landed on a nearby branch. "Nobody''s on the walls. I didn''t get close enough to see inside the city."
"I guess this is what Cal meant."
"I don''t like it," Igas huffed.
The gate we approached had the massive doors shut, but the smaller doors that people passed through were open wide. I tried to sense for any oddities in the surrounding area with my mana sense, but everything felt normal.
We assumed battle formation, and Teddy entered first. He motioned for everyone to follow when nothing happened, and we walked inside.
People filled the streets, going about their day. Mothers and fathers spent time with their kids while people moved from building to building, either shopping or entering to eat.
No blood, no gore, no screaming, nor chains¡ªthey all looked perfectly happy.
"I''m... confused."
"As am I," Teddy growled.
We moved slowly, and nobody noticed nor cared that we were dressed for combat. It wasn''t an unusual sight, not as far as the last time we entered the city, but not a single person glanced our way.
It made me feel unseen, and a slight chill slid down my spine.
"Elanor should be near the center. Her father should be stationed there in his office."
All of us agreed to leave the citizens alone for now. They ignored us, so we continued our way through the streets. All around, people thrived and seemed perfectly fine. I watched their movements, but nothing looked off.
Every conversation sounded real, and people made appropriate and varied reactions. If they were stiff puppets, I''d have felt less concerned over the fact that even when they walked within a couple of feet of us, their eyes glided past as if we were invisible.
It took us less than half an hour to reach the center square. Teddy pointed out a tall, undecorated building, and we approached the door.
On three, he pushed it open and held up his shield. Again, nothing happened.
There were guards who talked and chatted with each other, but not a single person noticed our entrance.
"Isaac, find Elanor."
Isaac disappeared, and we stayed near the entrance.
Sereza leaned close to my ear. "This is crazy. You sure you have no idea what''s happening here?"
"If I did, I would have explained it long before we neared the city gates," I whispered back. "Seriously, I''m just as creeped out as you are."
Isaac''s head popped out of the ground. "Through the second door, second hallway, third room on the left. She didn''t react to my appearance and ignored me when I disturbed the stack of papers on her desk. She did react to the papers being a mess, though."
"Got it, let''s go," Teddy answered.
One guard stood in front of the door we needed to enter, so Eodyne knocked over a drink on the table next to him. The guard hastily went to clean up the spill, and we slipped on through.
Elanor''s door was open, and Isaac waited with his back to the wall. He jerked a thumb inside, and we entered her room and shut the door.
Elanor looked the same sans the pointy grey iron. She dressed not like a guard but in everyday wear with her hair done up in a ponytail. She furiously scribbled on a piece of parchment with a pen. The only piece of metal armor that remained was two long bracers that covered her wrists and arms up to her elbows.
"Nothing. I''ve even yelled her name."
"Celanae, secure the room. Eodyne cut all noise. Igas, get ready in case she attacks. Isaac, prepare to disable her. Cyrus, summon ¨¢ine and Magnus. If she uses a skill, try to take the hit; we don''t want to disturb the others."
"And me?" Sereza called out.
"You have paralytics?" Teddy asked. She nodded. "Then we''ll use that to subdue her."
Mana blossomed in my chest, and I let the current flow into my skills. ¨¢ine appeared and landed on my shoulder while Magnus sat on my feet.
Teddy approached and used his mace to poke her papers. A thin silver chain slammed down, trapping the corner of the page, while she looked up and glared at us.
No, not us. She''s glaring in our general direction. Does she think it''s the wind?
"Stupid draft. Darston should have fixed it already," she muttered.
Elanor sat back in her chair and chewed on her pen while continuing to glare past us. Teddy slowly and gently knocked on the desk, but she didn''t react.
"Engaging."
He lightly tapped her leg, and Elanor blasted out of her chair. Teddy raised his shield and crouched. While everyone got into position, mana began to flare.
She brushed at her leg and ignored us as she leaned down to examine her thigh.
Reaching out, Teddy gripped her shoulder, and her metal vambraces shot out with metal spikes. A purple barrier appeared and blocked one side, while Teddy''s shield handled the other.
"Who¡ªTeddy?" Elanor demanded. "When did you get here?"
"Drop the skill, Elanor. We''ll immobilize you if you don''t."
She looked down and saw the barrier and then looked up to see the rest of us standing ready. Her eyes darted around the room.
Isaac moved, and Igas began to emit a chill, but then she leaned away and crossed her arms. "There better be a good reason for why you''ve sneaked in here and cornered me."
Teddy lowered his shield but continued to keep his body tense. "Elanor... we didn''t sneak in here. You didn''t notice us."
She scowled. "What do you mean?"
"Something is wrong within the city. None of your men are guarding the walls or gates. All three gates except the eastern entrance are closed, and only the access door is open."
"That''s impossible. I''d never let tha¡ª"
Bang!
Chapter 25: Breaking the Illusion
Metal reverberated as a gauntleted fist smashed into one of Celanae''s barriers. The guardsman behind it grew twice in size and charged like a mad bull. Instead of crashing into her barriers for a second time, she snapped, and the amethyst wall disappeared as the man rushed into the room.
I held out my spear, aiming for his legs, and willed it to bend. As he stepped forward, my spear wrapped around his ankle, and the guard fell face-first. He skidded along the ground for several feet, and Igas stomped on his back. Metal bent as the man cried out.
"Careful! He can adjust his size," Elanor shouted.
The guardsman smashed a fist onto the ground and then shrunk. He quickly slipped out of his chestpiece and launched himself at Elanor.
She didn''t flinch as Teddy met the jump with his shield. Once more, the man crumpled to the ground. Four barriers encased his sides, and Igas gently stabbed his sword into his legs, freezing them solid.
Despite all this, the guardsman foamed at the mouth and clawed at the ground. His stare never left Elanor as she watched him with crossed arms.
"Look at his eyes."
I couldn''t see from this angle, but Teddy nodded. "Isaac. More incoming?"
Isaac reappeared from under my shadow, and he shook his head. "No. The others are acting normal. This guy was the closest."
"Proximity reaction to waking up Elanor?" Celanae asked.
"Looks like it. Cyrus, can you try to expel this? My aura is too slow," Teddy said.
Mana rushed in, and ¨¢ine appeared in front of me. She hovered over as Teddy gripped the man''s head and forced it to the floor.
I finally got sight of the man''s eyes; they were black as the void.
¨¢ine landed on the man, and he squirmed to break free. He didn''t grow or shrink, so ¨¢ine began injecting mana into his skull.
As she forced her skill to activate, I closed my eyes and sunk into the memories, letting me feel what ¨¢ine felt.
Cold, insidious. Slither through. Sift the mind, bend the will.
"There''s this disgusting mana inside his head; it''s centered around the back of his neck," I called out.
Teddy adjusted and yanked the man''s collar down. "I see it; looks like a poorly healed hole, about a coin wide."
The mana rampaging inside his head felt like heavy chains that constantly squeezed down as ¨¢ine''s mana attacked its links. It brought a sweet taste to my mouth, akin to apples.
It makes me want to vomit.
If it had been just apples, it would have been fine, but the constant movement of the flowing mana felt like it tried to force its way into my throat and through my brain.
Thankfully, whatever it was that held sway in his head, ¨¢ine had plenty of mana to work with. She didn''t brute force her way through but guided the mana to target each link''s weak point and erode the chains, locking up his thoughts.
The mana fought back, but ¨¢ine held firm, and in one last rush, she snapped the mana into pieces that rapidly faded away under the tide of healing energy.
"Teddy."
"I see it."
I opened my eyes and watched as the wound on the guardsman''s neck bulged out.
"Disgusting," Sereza muttered.
The flesh bubbled until it ripped open, and blood seeped down the guardsman''s neck. In a rush, a shrill screech rang through the room as a small, tentacled creature squeezed its way out and slapped its tentacles along the back of his shirt.
It made it less than a foot before its screech died, and it began to shrivel into a blackened husk. As the last of its tentacles froze, it flaked away and poofed into dust that stained the guardsman''s shirt.
¨¢ine repaired the damage and undid his frozen legs while at it. Skin repaired itself and became healthy and whole.
Everyone in the room had grim faces as we stared at the blackened mess that mixed with the guardsman''s blood.
Teddy released his head, and I felt his aura activate.
After a few seconds, the guardsman began to stir, and he released a groan. He clutched his head in his hands and twisted away from the light.
"Ouggwh."
"Ashton. Do you hear me?" Elanor asked, her voice steel as she kneeled beside the man.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
"Captain? Ow! What happened?" Ashton asked through clenched teeth.
"Give it a minute; you should start feeling better," Teddy instructed.
"I... okay."
Elanor didn''t wait and instead turned to the fairy. "Check my neck. If it''s there, I want you to remove it."
"Go on. But wait for the others to immobilize her if she has one."
¨¢ine nodded and flew around to Elanor''s back. She landed on her shoulder but shook her head.
"Nothing," ¨¢ine said.
Elanor let out a sigh, and her shoulders dropped. "Good. Ashton, do you recognize where you are?"
Ashton looked up, and his eyes widened as he took in the rest of us. "We''re in your office, ma''am."
"What was the last thing you remember?"
His face scrunched up as he switched between staring at his captain and the rest of the room. "I finished listening to Felwin''s terrible jokes and wanted to come see you about switching shifts. My youngest will be celebrating their eleventh next week, and I wanted to take the day off."
"Has anyone you know been acting weirdly at any point these past few weeks?" Elanor pressed.
His face scrunched, and he shook his head. "No weirder than usual, ma''am. Things have been surprisingly peaceful."
"I see."
"Captain? May I ask a question?"
Her eyes flicked down to meet his. "Proceed."
"What''s going on?"
Instead of answering, she looked to Teddy, who sighed.
"We don''t know. We were given vague instructions to come to Helio. When we arrived, the gates were closed, and only one had a service entrance open. The city looks normal, but nobody noticed our presence. You''re the first person we came into contact with."
"Elanor, where''s Commander Graves? We''ll need him."
Elanor looked up, her piercing blue eyes narrowing. "My father is in Solara. An emergency missive called him away."
"When was this?"
"A month ago," she said as she stood up. "There might be other tier threes in the city, but the others were adventurers who were pulled away for some guild expedition shortly after you left."
"This is a mental effect, right? Is this the same creature as the last time we were here? The one that made the guard attack Arturous?"
"As far as reports go, the sightings stopped, and there were no further suspicious outbursts. We assumed the monster was killed off or moved somewhere else."
"We need to go to the adventurer''s guild," Teddy said.
"Ashton!"
The guardsman stood up and saluted. "Yes, ma''am!"
"Grab the rest of your gear and follow me." She turned to face me. "You, felkin. Will you help remove the control from my men?"
"Ask ¨¢ine. I''m just the mana battery."
To my surprise, the captain held out her hands, and ¨¢ine hopped in. Lifting her so that they both met eye to eye, she bowed her head. "Will you help me save my men?"
¨¢ine reached out a hand and booped her nose. She raised her head and stared.
"That means yes."
"Good."
¨¢ine hopped off and flew to my shoulder. "How are we doing this? Do we discreetly search for who has the same mark as he did?"
"Let''s assume anyone with one of those creatures inside them will react the same way," Celanae replied.
"Creature? Mam?" Ashton asked hesitantly.
She ignored him and moved to the wardrobe in the back corner. When she opened it, her silver armor caught the light, and she lifted the metal chestplate and pauldrons off the stand.
The armor moved like liquid and melted around her body while silver chains grew from the shoulders and wrapped themselves around her arms. More chains sprouted from her lower back, forming a belt around her waist.
Last to go on were knee-high metal boots that tightened like a second skin over her calves. With her armor donned, she slid open a drawer built into the bottom shelf and pulled out a sword.
A single chain branched off and wrapped around her weapon, securing it in place around her hip.
"I''m ready. Let us proceed."
Elanor led the way back into the main room while busting down the sideroom doors. More guards hid inside and we noted who was doing what as we began to systematically clear the building.
It took nearly half an hour, but we found over three dozen guards total. There were smaller guard buildings throughout the city, small outposts near the walls where they usually stayed, so it wasn''t the full guard force.
Most of the guardsmen had the back of their necks covered, so it was nearly impossible to tell who had the parasite. Of the ones who did have their neck exposed, all but one were clean.
Not good numbers, we''re in for a fight.
We reconvened in Elanor''s office. The captain tapped her desk as Teddy and Celanae formulated a strategy.
"We don''t know if this will pull people from outside. Ashton was in the hallway when Elanor woke up, so the range may not be long-reaching," Celanae explained.
"We can funnel them in pairs or one by one. Since they react to things around them while ignoring us, we can test the range and free the rest afterward," Teddy added.
"How much mana did ¨¢ine use?" Eodyne asked.
"Less than ten percent."
"Good. It shouldn''t take long to clear out the building."
"We can begin then?" Elanor spoke up.
"Yes," Celanae nodded. "We can begin."
"Sereza and Igas, you begin leading people apart. Try to get only two near the hallway, then lead one toward this room. Eodyne, focus on blocking out noise, while Isaac guards the perimeter. Celanae and Elanor will immobilize the guards, and Cyrus and I will get the mind parasite out."
Everyone nodded, and we got into position. I didn''t have much of a role, but I was to watch and learn what I could. If ¨¢ine could cut down on the mana consumption, we''d be able to get through more guards before we needed to rest.
It took less than two minutes, and the first batch of guards was in place. Sereza slowly led the first guard toward the room by constantly dropping small objects in his path.
It''s like leading a puppy with treats. This is ridiculous.
The first guard entered.
"Careful, he has a close-range fire burst," Elanor instructed.
Celanae created barriers behind him while Elanor''s chains snaked through the air. Sereza counted to three and then tapped his shoulder.
We waited, but the guard only turned in her direction and stared past her. After a second, he shrugged and began to walk out of the room.
Sereza then gripped his shoulder, and the man exploded into action. A wave of flames erupted outwards, and Magnus stepped forward. Like a vacuum, the flames brushed against his crystal fur and began to suck into the cub''s body.
The guardsman didn''t wait, and his hands lit up with orange flames as he charged at Sereza. Before he could make it more than two steps, iron chains slapped around his waist and tugged him backward.
They began to wrap up his body and dragged him to the ground, where Celanae then sectioned him off with her barriers, leaving only a small patch of skin above his nose exposed.
Teddy and ¨¢ine began the process, and I closed my eyes to watch the battle.
Like the last time, chains constricted, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up as it tried to invade my senses. ¨¢ine ignored it and forced her way in, engulfing the chains with her mana, as Teddy injected his aura to suppress the mental effect.
I resisted the urge to spit and gripped my spear.
Just what did you send us into, Cal?
Chapter 26: Missing Rabbit
Magnus stepped forward and bit down on the struggling woman''s neck. Mana slipped through his teeth, and he started sucking it in. She began to fight it, but the woman stilled as ¨¢ine slid her skill into place. Teddy eased up, and I tried to process two information streams simultaneously.
¨¢ine loosened the grip and undid the parasite''s hooks while Magnus sucked away its strength. Together, they freed the woman from the mind control, and the creature turned to ash before it could fully exit her neck.
Two guards moved forward and helped drag her to the other side of the room, where they set up a makeshift cot.
The poor woman, disorientated from a headache that came after, had to suffer through a torrent of water that hosed the black dust off her body. She sputtered and tried to stand up, but her arms gave out, and she collapsed while another guard came in and sucked the water away and gelled it into an orb above her palm.
The black dust was separated and then stored, perfectly dry, in a glass container enchanted with runes.
It took nearly three hours, but this was the last guard inside the building. By now, everything operated smoothly, and the system in place ensured that nobody got hurt and was efficiently processed to bring in the next victim.
The awakening hadn''t been kind to everyone, but Elanor guided them all into action. Gear was donned, teams were made, and she issued her orders. From scouting reports, the entire city was affected by the parasites.
The infrastructure was relatively unharmed, and nothing was destroyed or broken beyond repair. The first issue made clear was the fact that not everyone was present. Over forty civilians were nowhere to be found.
"Wh-what''s happening? Why are you blasting me?!" the freshly freed guard yelled out.
"Ileena. Focus. Porter will fill you in. Stand up and listen to his instructions," Elanor commanded.
"Captain?" the guardswoman sounded confused, but she still stood and saluted the woman. "Yes, mam!"
As they left, I scooped up my familiars and collapsed to the floor, letting my mana settle as it retreated into my chest.
Damn, even with all the mana I gained recently, I''m still running low.
A guard approached and handed me a cup filled with steaming tea. I accepted and thanked her while closing my eyes and inhaling the strong brew.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It''s uh called dirty tea. It has root extracts from plants that help restore stamina and mana. I don''t know its real name, sorry," the guardsman replied.
I shook my head and looked her directly in the eyes. "No. Thank you."
"Thank you. For removing this thing from us. If you need more, just ask."
The guard left, and I sipped at the tart-smelling drink. Warm liquid filled my chest, and I shut my eyes.
Not bad.
"How you holding up?" Teddy asked as he sat down beside me.
"Can you tell I''m dangerously close to manashock? Running really low, but it''s fine." I exhaled. "She''s the last one?"
"Yes. Once you recover, we''ll head over to the adventurer''s guild. Our first goal is to free the guild master and whoever else is tier two and up. We''ll decide what to do afterward."
I gave him a thumbs-up and sipped more of the tea. ¨¢ine scooted to my hand and dipped her arm into the beverage while Magnus rolled onto his back.
"Master... need to release."
"Give me a minute. I''ll ask for the one guard to help drain it."
Magnus grumbled, but he still purred under my fingers.
I sipped the last of the tea and set ¨¢ine inside so she could soak up the rest. Opening my eyes, I found Elanor tapping her desk.
"Hey, the guy who could create the mana stones? I need him."
"Ashton. Find Gedol," she ordered.
"Yes, mam!"
The rest of Broken Tower settled in, and Magnus managed to dump the last batch of mana into the mana stones. It was a strange skill for a guard, but it functioned like Magnus''s skill. He created mana batteries out of stone that lasted for a couple of hours, depending on the mana stored inside. Apparently, he used to be an adventurer and would use the skill like a bomb to remotely detonate them when he slingshotted the stones at monsters.
Intuitive, but I preferred my cub.
Half an hour passed, and we got up and joined the others in the main hall. Serena waved, and I summoned a round of freshly cooked fries for everyone.
"Let''s go, eat while walking. Elanor has already sent an emergency missive to the capital; cleansers should start arriving by tomorrow at the latest."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Any sign of the monsters from before?" Celanae asked.
Isaac and Eodyne shook their heads. "Nothing. I scouted the walls, but the closest creature was a bird foraging for berries."
"Only a singular bird?"
"Yeah. Just one. I left it alone in case Isaac wanted to capture it."
"What side?" Isaac asked.
"East, near the road, facing the gate."
Isaac disappeared, and Celanae bit her lip. "Highly unlikely it''s a coincidence."
"Most likely a spy."
"I hate intelligent monsters. Such a pain in the ass." Igas grumbled.
"Yeah, well, it wouldn''t be the first time."
Igas snorted. "Won''t be the last either."
------------------
We entered the guild building and found it... empty.
Unlike every other establishment inside the city, the entire building lacked people going about their day. Citizens could be seen outside talking and chatting as they moved from one place to the next, but this building, in particular, remained void of life.
"Isaac and the guards found nothing wrong?" Celanae asked.
"No. The guildhall, the side rooms, it''s entirely empty."
"Then why are we here?" Sereza cut in.
"Because as good as they are, they don''t have Magnus''s skillset. You mentioned that in the rift, you could detect dimensional spaces; if we find one, we''ll have a lead. If not, then we''re back to zero."
"Magnus didn''t sense it until it was right next to us. So we''ll have to search every room," I said.
The main hall looked clean, the tables had their chairs on top, and the front desk looked perfectly organized with each pen and piece of paper stacked neatly away under the desk.
"Split up, Sereza, Celanae, join Cyrus. I''ll take Igas, Eodyne, and Isaac. If it attacks, don''t hesitate."
We formed two groups of three and went downstairs while Teddy''s group took up.
Before we stepped into the stairwell, I held up a hand and channeled mana into Resplendent Inferno and Storm King''s Tempest.
Sturmrorex appeared without the added special effects and looped around my neck while Zharia gripped my shoulder.
"Ready."
Magnus took point, and we waited as he sniffed the first door on the right. He shook his head, and I opened it on three.
Empty.
The room had some crates and boxes stacked near the far wall, but that was all.
Each room we came upon, we''d repeat the process to no avail.
"Last room. I can''t tell if I prefer something being in there or not," Sereza commented.
I snorted. "Same."
Celanae raised her staff, and I counted to three.
Three...
Two...
One...
I turned the knob and pulled and brandished my spear.
Sereza slumped. "Damn... empty again."
We examined the inside, and I saw a large desk in the corner. Sereza and Celanae split up and scoured the wardrobe and tables stacked with items.
The desk in the back called to me, and I skimmed the surface, seeing official-looking documents.
A lot of it looked like approval papers and inventory management, so I ignored them and started rifling through the drawers.
I opened the last drawer, and a surprisingly pink notebook came into view. Colourful doodles covered its surface, and two giant initials took up the most space on the cover.
P must stand for Panasia.
I flipped the first page and found it blank.
Okay, I am strangely disappointed.
I skipped to the next and found a personal entry that detailed the guildmaster''s arrival in Helio.
It was clearly her journal, so I skipped to the last entry and found it half-written. A long trail of ink dipped from the last written letter to the bottom corner.
"Hey, Celanae. Take a look at this. I think the guildmaster kept a journal," I called out. I flipped to a few pages back. "Each entry is three days apart."
"Let me see," she said.
She took the journal and began scanning the pages, flipping to a new entry every minute. As she kept reading her frown deepened.
"Does it explain anything?"
"Not really," she sighed as she closed the journal. "She documents the increased discord and anger flare-ups. They continue to increase until a proper investigation was set, Apparently there was a long pause where nothing happened, the creature supposedly vanished."
"That''s obviously not true. I guess it really is intelligent? Smart enough to stop and ambush the city once they thought the threat was gone."
"That''s terrifying, to be honest. If it''s a monster, it''s either a new species or there is a breach somewhere spewing out monsters," Sereza added.
"Like a dungeon break? I vaguely remember reading about that."
"Possibly. Dungeon monsters never last long enough; their bodies can''t handle the lack of dungeon mana and die off. If it was a breach from a rift or a dungeon break, it wouldn''t explain how they managed to keep the city enthralled for this long," Celanae explained.
"There''s no way for a monster to adapt and live?"
She pursed her lips and tapped the desk. "There shouldn''t be, but it''s not impossible. Until we know more, it''ll be useless to dive down that rabbit hole."
Zharia simmered on my shoulder, and I reached up to soothe her as feathers lit up with brilliant golden fire. "What''s wrong?"
"Don''t like mind control... bad memories," Zharia chirped.
Memories flashed of cuddling a hurt little phoenix in the aftermath of a blood demon''s rage.
"You''re right; bad memories indeed."
Sturmrorex tightened around my neck, and I rubbed between his horns.
"Something wrong?" Celanae asked.
"Sorry, I''m good. If there''s nothing down here, should we head back up and meet with the others?"
Celanae looked at me suspiciously, worry on her face but she nodded and made the journal vanish. "Yes, let''s hope they found something."
Magnus did one last sweep around the room, and while he did pick up some mana from a few enchantments, none of it was dimensional-related.
As we neared the stairs leading up, Isaac appeared halfway out of the wall and pointed toward me. "We have something for Magnus to check out. Did you find anything down here?"
"Celanae shook her head. "Some diary entries, but nothing that changes anything. Still no clue what happened to Panasia or all the adventurers."
It was hard to tell by the mask he wore, but Isaac was angry.
"Hurry up here, then. There''s some dried blood," he said before disappearing.
The three of us shared a look, and I shrugged and continued to head toward the stairs.
It''d be nice to get some answers finally.
We met up with Igas and Isaac at the top of the steps; they led us to Teddy, who scraped some blood off the floor. The stain was nearly black, with only hints of brown showing through the lamp nearby.
"It''s old," Teddy said as he rubbed the particles between his gauntleted fingers. "More than a day, at least."
Celanae bent down and started examining the blood stain while I kept my focus on Magnus, who started sniffing around.
He approached the bloodstain and wrinkled his nose, but when Celanae glanced over he shook his head.
Magnus continued and slid between Teddy''s legs to enter the open room.
He got about halfway into the room and stopped. His fur rose and crystallized as he started to growl.
"Here!"
Teddy and Igas activated their skills while Isaac and Eodyne got into position. Celanae moved beside me and held out her staff as she focused on the tiger cub.
Teddy conjured a timer in the air, and I raised my spear as Sereza''s daggers started to drip acid.
Three...
Two...
One...
"Ready, Magnus."
Space twisted and fractured in a rush of energy that forced the others back.
Magnus swallowed the spatial mana with a mental roar, and the room expanded in an explosion of sounds.
Chapter 27: Inside the Bedroom
Teddy stepped forward, but Igas lagged behind. I felt something scratch at the insides of my mind until Magnus roared, and I felt the effects lessen.
"Huddle up!" Teddy ordered.
We shuffled together, and I pushed myself toward the outside of the group; whatever it was that made the others stumble like drunks, it affected me far less than it did them.
Teddy began to glow as golden light expanded from his back and surrounded us. His aura further reduced the strange feeling.
Should have done this earlier.
I pulled out my mask and slapped it on.
The enchantments took hold, and I looked past Teddy and found the room had grown twice its length. Before, it looked like a simple bedroom housing a twin-sized bed and a lone desk and chair combo on the back wall.
Now, the room had stretched past the edge, and the table and chair sat smack in the center.
"That''s Panasia!" Celanae yelled over the screaming.
"What is that thing?" Sereza muttered.
Near the far wall, deep into the expanded space, the half-beasktin woman clawed at the ground with her head bent back.
Long, red claws gripped the sides of her head while slimy tentacles wrapped around her cheeks, pulling her upward.
Panasia groaned in anguish as another tentacle slid past her chin and tightened around her throat.
It looks like Eraztis... fuck can''t remember the name.
"Teddy! It''s mental effects; that''s a mind eater!"
He didn''t turn but nodded and pushed even more mana into his aura. The light expanded, and Isaac stepped behind Igas, partially enshrouding himself with his shadow.
He grunted. "Can''t enter the shadows; the space is weird."
The cherry-red mind eater screeched and forced Sereza to her knees. It removed one of its hands from Panasia''s head and held it up. Suddenly, the table and chair lifted into the air and rocketed toward us.
Celanae slammed her staff downward, and a thick barrier appeared in time to block the debris as wood splintered and cracked against the crystal wall.
Eodyne pulled back the string of her bow, and an electric arrow started to crackle into existence. Her muscles tensed and then released as the arrow zipped across the room.
"Enough!" yelled a feminine voice.
The arrow slowed and came to a stop a foot away from the monster''s head.
"Eodyne?" Teddy yelled.
"Trying!" she replied.
Eodyne scowled and held out her arm. The arrow struggled forward and made it a few more inches before a mana wave cracked Celanae''s barrier.
"It''s strong," Celanae grunted.
"Celanae, Magnus absorbed some of the mana," I whispered.
"Damn."
Teddy pushed forward, and Celanae shattered the current barrier to replace it with a new one, further out.
"Magnus, can you aim behind the monster?"
"Yes!" he shouted.
"Do it in seven seconds."
"Guys," I whispered. "Magnus is attacking in three seconds."
Eodyne continued to push the arrow forward while Igas bent low and raised his greatsword. Serena joined him with her daggers, and Magnus opened his jaw as another wave of energy created spiderweb lines in Celanae''s barrier.
Celanae cut off her skill, and Magnus unleashed a beam of mana that drilled toward the monster. The mindeater ducked behind Panasia while its tentacles tightened around her neck.
The beam continued and hit the wall.
After a second, the mana pulsed, and the wall crumpled. The pressure abated, and Sereza sent a fan of spectral daggers that sliced through the air while Igas launched himself forward using pillars beneath his feet.
Panasia choked as the mindeater pulled away from her head and dragged her up. "Stop!"
Sereza''s daggers broke apart into green motes while the mindeater raised its other hand and froze Igas like Eodyne''s arrow.
In a screech that caused the others to flinch, it clapped. Igas jerked toward the middle where Eodyne''s arrow exploded upon contact.
"Aaagh!" Eodyne yelled.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Igas twitched, and smoke rose into the air as the ice around his ribs began to melt into a puddle beneath him.
Teddy charged and raised his shield, ducking his head below.
"Zharia, Stumrorex! Now!"
Zharia chased Teddy while Sturmrorex''s horns lit up. A bolt of blinding electricity shot forward, reaching the mindeater before Igas dropped to the floor.
It whipped its head around, and the bolt shot into Panasia''s chest. I clenched my teeth and watched Teddy come to a sliding stop.
Eodyne clutched her skull while Isaac stayed back and stomped. His leg began to sink into the floor at an agonizingly slow pace.
"Sereza. We have to overwhelm it. You go right, I go left!"
"Zharia, stop!"
Zharia leaned forward as she flapped her wings to halt her momentum but continued to float across the room and squish into Teddy''s back.
"Master!" she cried.
"Zharia!"
Mana raced from the lake in my chest and spiraled into the channels for Spirit Lord''s Invocation. Magnus lost his form and shot into my sternum.
"Celanae! Launch me!"
She summoned two barriers, one below and one behind it, creating a wall for me to kick off of. As I jumped, the barrier extended forcing me across the room.
Sturmrorex lit up around my neck, and he diverted the wind around my body.
Igas stood up; Teddy activated a skill and made it within arm''s reach before another pulse crushed him to the floor with Zharia stuck to his shoulder.
I reached out with Magnus'' skill and began absorbing the mana, but it burned inside my channels, and I tasted copper on my tongue.
It traveled down my arms and into my claws as I continued to absorb it. Like gaining the attention of a titan, the mindeater swiped his hand away from Teddy and onto me. The force crushed me into the crystal but Celanae kept it moving.
With trembling arms, I extended them forward and activated the mana stored within. For a second, and only a second, the force collided, halting the resistance keeping me back.
Like a spear, I smashed into the mindeater and dragged him to the ground. A tentacle snatched my wrist and slammed it to the floor. I kicked and cut through tough flesh. The claws on my feet couldn''t penetrate, but I managed to break its attention and free my arm.
Both hands dug into his scalp; my thumb slid into its eyesocket and pressed down. Sturmrorex shot out and sank his teeth into one of the tentacles. Electricity left his scales and began to fill the slimy flesh.
Before I could send energy into the mindeater''s skull, the world froze.
Oh fu-
My vision shattered as the blastwave sent me tumbling away. As my shoulder smashed into stone, something broke, and I swallowed a scream.
"Master!" Zharia cried.
Blinking away the stars, I forced my chin up and saw Teddy and Igas mid-swing as Isaac thumped the ground with his tendrils.
The mindeater floated off the floor, Panasia dangling underneath him, still wrapped in its tentacles.
"Sleep!" rumbled the voice.
It penetrated my eardrums and wormed its way into my thoughts.
Memories flashed too quickly for me to make sense. Like hitting the skip button on a video, it flickered from one moment to the next until it stopped on the image of a mirror.
Rage shattered it to pieces, but a new image appeared of a young woman smiling from across the room.
Stop!
The demon inside clawed its way through the bars and tore the memory away.
My vision returned, and I met the mindeater''s eyes.
"Give in."
A painting... two smiling faces... Mo-
NO!
Chime bells cleared the memory away, and I sank to the floor. I tried to breathe, but it felt like sucking through a straw. Something sharp bit my ear, and I swatted it away. Again, it bit down, and I grabbed it, feeling smooth scales beneath my fingers.
What?
"Master! Focus!" Sturmrorex pleaded.
I snapped my head up and raised my hand. Zharia gripped Teddy''s shoulder and sent flames toward the mindeater, but they didn''t reach.
Fuck you.
Swiping downward, five lines of near-invisible energy screeched through the air. The mindeater forced Igas in the way, but the attack exploded against his armor and shot him toward the monster.
Ice extended out of his vambrace and sliced a line through its leg before hitting the wall.
Crunch!
Teddy and Isaac dropped just as three green daggers sank into the mindeater''s left arm.
I jumped forward, grabbed my spear, and sent mana through its shaft as I flopped closer. The tip bent around the mindeater''s ankle before stabbing the blade into its leg.
Mana flowed into the weapon, and I heard sizzling followed by a sharp scent of burning flesh.
Again, the mindeater raised its arm. The spectral daggers crumbled into pieces. My face smashed into the floor. Blood escaped my lips as I tried absorbing the mana restraining us.
"Submit!"
I didn''t let the memories play; I jammed a claw into my ear and sucked the mana away.
It stared down, and I jerked my arm, trying to pull it off balance, but another shockwave pushed it away and forced the spear out of my arms.
"Submit!"
My spear floated up and then angled toward me.
Fuck!
It came down and met a crystal barrier that cracked and then shattered. Another barrier appeared, and Celanae groaned.
Slam! Crack! Slam! Crack!
Something hit my ribs, and I began to roll, but as I did, my body jerked to a stop.
Bones splintered, caught between two forces, and I clawed at the stone, trying to gasp for air.
"Subm-"
"Shut the fuck up!" came a new, exhausted voice.
Thick fingers intertwined with the dull-red tentacles and yanked. The monster''s skull met a rippling fist that sucked the air out of the room and popped my ears.
The force stopped, as did Celanae''s barrier, and I looked in time to watch another meaty smack crunch the mindeater''s face.
Panasia wrapped a large hand over its eyes and stood up, dragging the mindeater with it.
Slam!
Knuckles met slimy flesh again and again.
Panasia''s arms rippled as her fur began to sharpen into needles. When she punched for a fourth time, blood leaked from the myriad of small holes dotting its skin.
Reaching around, she crushed it close to her chest while further entwining her fingers with the face tentacles.
She pulled.
The monster screamed, words desperately clawed at my ears, and a voice in my head begged her to stop.
Panasia didn''t care.
A tentacle began to rip, and then another. Raising her head, I felt mana rush into her mouth and watched two blades of howling wind elongate where her teeth would be.
Like a rabid dog, she bit down and started to chew while tugging at both ends.
Violet blood dripped. And the tentacle snapped.
Before the mindeater could sink to the floor, she dug her fingers into its throat and squeezed.
She raised it to meet her eyes. It slapped at her with nubs, but she bit into its cheek and ripped its cheek off. As she spit, the wind picked up, and something snapped, ringing through the howling air.
The body dropped to the floor, and she stared at the separated skull.
"Guildmaster?" Teddy asked.
The head slipped from her fingers and bounced off the ground before landing facedown next to the rest of its corpse.
Panasia crumbled, and Teddy rushed to brace her as she fell.
"Cyrus, ¨¢ine."
I winced as my lungs struggled to breathe past the crushed rib.
"On it..." I gasped.
Teddy glanced over and gave me a sympathetic smile.
Sturmrorex nuzzled my cheek before sliding beneath my collar and slipping back into my soul space.
¨¢ine appeared as his replacement, and my arm gave out, but a hand stopped the floor from cushioning my face.
Sereza waved with her free hand and I shut my eyes to groan.
Chapter 28: Healing Tax
After sending my familiars back into my soulspace, I had ¨¢ine patch everyone up before moving on to Panasia. Unconscious, letting ¨¢ine''s mana enter her body was easy, but that''s where it struggled to heal the guildmaster.
With my eyes closed, I watched through ¨¢ine''s memories in near real-time as she tried to move her mana through Panasia''s flesh. It naturally resisted a good portion of her mana while the rest was absorbed like a sponge. By the time the skill took effect and began repairing the guildmaster''s body, it was like siphoning water through a straw.
Outwardly, I assumed a meditative pose and sank into my soul space, watching the skill wisp suck in mana from my mana pool.
This is going to hurt.
I focused on the vortex and expanded it, forcing more mana into wisp. ¨¢ine''s discomfort was a near physical thing in the soulspace, but the little fairy kept silent, and I felt her approval.
It sucked, knowing I was inflicting damage, but ¨¢ine wanted it done.
As mana began to fray and slip back into the pool I wrapped mental hands around the stream and held it together.
Time held no meaning, and I continued smoothing the strands of the vortex. Seventy-five percent approached, and I sent a query to ¨¢ine; she wanted to continue, so I briefly let go and pictured my inventory.
A mana potion appeared in my palm in the physical world, and I chugged before setting it aside.
¨¢ine improved the longer she continued, but the fraction of a percent of improvement didn''t mean much with how much mana we were wasting.
At around sixty percent, mana fatigue began to settle in, and I actively saw parts of the soulspace freeze up with a layer of crystal glass distorting the image.
Gritting my teeth, I ignored it and pushed more strands together, condensing the vacuum until it flowed at a constant pressure.
Once I neared the last quarter, a tapping brought me out of my concentration. The strands unraveled, and the suction came to a halt.
Opening my eyes, I saw Celanae offering me a blanket. It felt heavenly as it steamed from coming into contact with my body.
"Thank you," I whispered.
She frowned and sat back. "You know this isn''t normal, right? Mana shock shouldn''t actually be freezing your body like this. Not at your tier, at least. Seriously, the amount of mana you have is insane."
I grinned. "You know why; you saw the perk."
"And that perk is a cheat! That''s a perk rewarded from tier three rifts; you shouldn''t have it," Isaac grumbled.
Enjoying the distraction for what it was, I glanced over to ¨¢ine, who flew over and landed on my shoulder to snuggle under the blanket fold.
"Thank you, ¨¢ine. Good job."
¨¢ine reached out a hand, and I let her boop my nose before turning away and staring at Teddy, who sat beside Panasia. He had his eyes closed and his aura centered, sending out pulses that occasionally shook the air.
Panasia looked bloody but healed. Judging by her relaxed face, she seemed peaceful as she slept in a small puddle of violet goop.
"Not awake yet?"
"Not yet, but there''s a good chance she''s been fighting the creature off for a while. You did well healing what you could, but I suspect she''s beyond exhausted."
"Gotcha. That thing... what tier do we think it was?"
"Most likely tier three or high end of two," Eodyne said from behind us.
I turned and watched her sit before she glanced over and offered me a flask. Reaching out, I took the flask and uncapped it, sniffing.
"Gaora juice?" I asked after taking a sip.
I never expect the salt.
"Yes. Your pronunciation is off. It''s not Gao-rah, it''s gaoo-ruh." I repeated with the proper pronunciation, and she smiled. "Perfect."
Igas joined the growing circle and frowned. "I just realized... if you," he stopped and looked at Sereza, who was standing nearby. "Can speak the language of the storm plains. Then that means you understand us every time we use it to speak around you."
It took a second, but the others all widened their eyes. Eodyne, in particular, stared at me like she had seen a ghost.
Unable to resist, I grinned and showed my fangs. "That''d be correct. Not a bad skill to have for a ''God-touched" hmm?"
It was amusing seeing Eodyne''s eye explode with lightning inside her irises. Her lips lightly parted, and I shrugged.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
She looked away while the others seemed apologetic, well... except for Isaac. He just glared.
"Am I missing something?" Sereza cut in, disrupting the awkward tension.
I chuckled and shook my head. "No. I''ll tell you sometime. It''s just a small joke I''ve been playing."
"Right," she said skeptically. "So what now, and how come the room hasn''t returned to normal?"
"It will soon. Without Cyrus disrupting the mana, it''ll run out and untether now that its creator is dead. I advise staying near the center to prevent anything weird."
She nodded and sat down beside me. "Are you going to loot it?"
"Yeah, once my mana returns. If this is anything like the mega-cultist, it''ll take a lot," I said.
"Do you think you''ll get anything good?"
"No clue. I hope so. Getting tired of all the alchemy materials."
We sat there for another half hour before rumbling began to shake the far wall. We huddled in together, and Teddy gently lifted Panasia toward the center.
The room distorted, and for a brief second, the void appeared before the room shrunk. I closed my eyes once the wall started rushing at us, and after the vibrations stopped, I opened them to see a perfectly normal-sized room.
"Still asleep?" Celanae called out.
Teddy looked down. "Yes. Igas, help me move her to the bed."
While they grabbed Panasia by her shoulders and feet, I scooched over the severed head and used my spear to shift it closer. It made a disgusting squelch that made everyone cringe.
¨¢ine peeked out from underneath the blanket and shook her fist before slipping back inside. The burst of faux-fury made me chuckle, and I sent mana into The Dead Will Provide.
The spider appeared and landed on my open palm.
If Erebus cared, he didn''t show it.
Gently lowering him to the squid head, Erebus crawled to the center and then pushed in slowly. He encountered resistance for the first time and took longer than usual to dive into the shadow plane.
While he started activating his skill, I chugged another mana potion and felt the cool liquid churn in my gut.
Celanae moved near my left and held out her journal, a pen hovering just above the page. "I''m ready."
Erebus began to exit, and I extended my hand, letting him crawl into my palm as the loot orb detached and he held it up.
Letting the spider adjust, I gently squeezed and channeled mana into the shadowy thread. It slowly came undone, and a small jar about half the size of my palm dropped into my hand.
I held it up to the light and saw a chunk of grey floating through purple liquid.
"Is that a piece of brain?" Sereza asked as she peeked over my shoulder.
"Maybe?" I admitted.
Celanae was furiously making a new entry into her journal, so I held it up and turned it accordingly so she could get all the angles she needed for the sketch.
After she set her pen down, she frowned as I uncapped the jar and lightly shook its contents. "We should get it identified first."
I sniffed and pulled back as a sharp, acrid scent burnt the interior of my nostrils. "Oh, that''s foul."
"Eat it," Isaac cheered.
I flipped him the bird and recapped the jat as Celanae added another line to her page.
"Are we keeping the head?"
"I''ll grab it," Teddy said. "It''s best we have something to show the cleansers when they arrive."
I tossed the dripping head to him, and he briefly caught it before making it disappear into his dimensional storage.
"Isaac, inform Elanor that we found the guildmaster," he ordered.
"On it," he replied before sinking into the ground.
Teddy stretched and glanced toward the bed where Panasia slumbered away. "I''m going down and check up on Arturous. Eodyne, inform me when Isaac returns or if she wakes up."
Eodyne nodded, and Teddy walked out. One glance at the bed made me stretch and join him.
I wonder if Artu likes raisins.
---------------
Arturous roared and headbutted me lightly on the arm. I laughed and offered him an entire glazed ham I stole from the Dawnborne party.
"Mmmngh," Teddy mumbled.
I dug some of Arturous'' fur out of the way and revealed the pinned man''s mouth. "What was that?"
"I can smell the honeycrestle glaze. Did you really take their ham?"
"Yes, yes I did," I said as I tore off a piece before it entered the bear''s mouth. "Nobody was eating after your parents and the king."
Teddy slid himself out from underneath Arturous and dusted off his chestplate. "Alright, enough playing around. Elanor should be arriving soon; from there, we''ll figure out what we want to do."
I swallowed the ham chunk and summoned a flask of juice to wash it down; I tossed it to Teddy and stood up. "We bunker down and wait for the cleansers to find the source, yeah?"
"Yes. If more of those Mindeaters, as you called them, exist in hidden pockets throughout the city, we are in trouble."
"Are we? Despite how chaotic that was, it wasn''t that dangerous, all things considered. We managed to defeat it with our numbers."
"Cyrus, you really need to consider how ridiculous it is that you can stay relatively normal in the presence of a creature several tiers higher," he admonished. "And you''re mistaken about that fight. That thing had been exhausted for a while, trying to do whatever it wanted to do with Panasia. With her weighing it down, it obviously didn''t wield its full strength against us."
"Without her in the way, we would have been more aggressive in defeating it. It may be challenging, but we could overwhelm it."
"None of us, not even you with your frankly, cheat-like skills, could handle the full force of a tier three mind-manipulator. And what happens if it controls one of us? Isaac would be a menace; Celanae could separate us, cut us in half even."
I sighed and accepted the empty flask. "Understood." A pulse of mana came from behind us, and I spun around, spear lashing out.
Isaac stopped my attack with a tentacle and slowly rose from the ground, his eyes hard. "Again, it''s dragonshit that you can detect me."
I pulled back, and he crossed his arms. "Stop trying to sneak up on me."
"Isaac," Teddy commanded. We both turned to look, surprised at the sharp tone. "We''re in a danger site, with hidden monsters. Not the time for games."
It looked like Isaac would lash out, his snarl showing as he pulled down his mask, but the man turned away. "Understood. Elanor is five minutes out."
Teddy relaxed his shoulders, and Isaac continued to pout, but the tension was gone.
The door creaked, and we turned to see Sereza peek her head out. She examined us for a second before shaking her head. "The guildmaster is awake. Celanae told me to fetch you."
Isaac sank into the ground, and Teddy rubbed the back of his neck.
"Thank you," Teddy said.
She nodded and held the door open.
Teddy patted Arturous'' head and walked inside, heading for the stairway up. And Sereza raised her eyebrow.
"You coming?" she asked as she lightly tugged on the door''s handle.
I gave Arturous a hug and snuck him a final piece of honey candy. "Yeah, let''s go see what Panasia has to say. Maybe she can tell us what happened."
"I hope so. This city is starting to creep me out."
I glanced behind me and saw a pair of young elves pointing at the guild building while having an animated discussion about their hopes and dreams, all the while ignoring the massive bear and felkins standing near the entrance.
"Yeah, me too," I muttered.
Chapter 29: Temple Emergency
As I entered the room, I heard Panasia shout.
"So there you are! I''ve been waiting for you!"
I blinked and found myself wrapped in a hug that easily carried me off the floor. I stiffened and heard air block out whatever it was the half-beastkin guildmaster said as she spun me around.
Eventually, I tapped her arm, and she released me, dropping me to the floor. "H-hello to you too. Should you be up?"
She slapped a hand on my back that sent me sprawling. "Nonsense. Thanks to you and Teddy, I''m more than capable of moving around."
I pushed up and repressed the anger that swelled. It demanded I get revenge, but I slapped it away and pushed it back into its cage.
She can literally break my bones with a high-five. And you''re angry over this? Fuck off.
It growled, but I ignored it and stood up. Sereza watched me; her eyes narrowed while the others focused on the guildmaster.
"Me first. Where''s the rest of the guild? I don''t sense anyone inside the building. I saw people outside, so is the city still running?" Panasia asked.
Teddy sat on the edge of the bed and shook his head. "No. We don''t know where anyone else is; you''re the only one we know of inside the building. There may be more hidden pockets storing them, but you were the only one we found."
"Hidden pocket... Annoying," she growled.
"And the city is currently under some kind of mass mental manipulation. They can''t see or acknowledge us unless we disturb them, but they go about their day as if everything is fine."
"No noticeable burst of aggression?"
"None."
Panasia tapped the air, and I heard a light tapping as the air around her fingertips seemed to harden. "It''s already second Wuld? The last date I can recall was first Telsas."
"First Telsas," Celanae asked as she pulled out a journal. She began scribbling an entry and shut it. "That means you were trapped for at least a week. It matches the last date in your journal."
"You have my journal?" Panasia asked, surprise coloring her voice.
In response, Celanae summoned the pink journal and tossed it over. Panasia caught it and made it disappear in a single motion before glaring at the elf.
Celanae ignored the glare. "What''s the last thing you remember?"
Panasia frowned. "The sound of a little kid crying for help. I figured it was one of the receptionist''s children. Slow day, nobody does anything on Wuld. So I headed up, thinking they must have gotten hurt."
"And then?"
She shook her head. "Then nothing. Just the vague memory of pure rage and chewing off the face of some sea creature as I punched its brains out."
"You remember nothing else? Anything at all?" Isaac asked accusatorily.
"Hey!" Panasia roared. "I may be weakened, but I can still take you on, pipsqueak. I said what I said."
Isaac began to move, but Igas swung his sword into his path, forcing him back.
Teddy nodded at the oni and crossed his arms. "Elanor is coming. She didn''t have a creature controlling her, but the rest of her men had parasites in their necks."
"Anything recognizable?"
Celanae shook her head. "No. Looks like a standard burrower, went toward their spinal cord, and used mental manipulation; how did you describe it, Cyrus?"
"Like chains holding it down, constricting their thoughts," I answered.
"Damn... Damn!" Panasia shouted, the wind picking up around her as the fur on her ears bristled. "I knew something was off when they recalled Richard."
"Richard?" Sereza asked.
"Richard Graves. Elanor''s father and the only publicly known tier three in Helio," Teddy explained.
"Got it."
"Was there a reason to suspect an issue?" Celanae asked, steering the question back on track.
"Yeah. The Grey Warden never leaves his pillar. Richard would only leave Helio if the crown called for him. Speaking of which, why are you guys here? And when did you get here? Last I learned from the guild was that you guys were part of something massive for the bi-decade rift."
I kept my face a mask of calm and deliberately ignored the glance the others threw my way.
"Unimportant, but we got here today. We were in the capital before we got a... warning to come here," Celanae said slowly.
Panasia narrowed her eyes. "And who exactly warned you to come here... Celanae."
"I can''t say."
Mana flared to life, and the others squirmed. I felt mana bite at my skin, but whatever pressure forced the rest to grit their teeth, I couldn''t feel it.
Sereza, in particular, looked ready to fall.
"Cut it out. I don''t care what tier you are, but if it weren''t for us, you would be a mindless slave. So stop," I warned, sending mana through my channels.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Panasia turned to face me, wind whipping at her tattered clothes. I remained still.
She shook her head and grinned. From the looks on the others'' faces, Panasia had reeled in the pressure. "Interesting. I really want to take a look at your status sheet. You shouldn''t be standing."
The switch from near bloodlust to the hunger that donned her face had me uncomfortable, but it wasn''t the craziest thing around here.
"My God warned me. Take that answer however you want to, but that''s all you''ll find out."
Her eyes shined with green light. "And why has your god informed you but not the rest? Just who are they?"
I kept silent and met her stare with my own.
"Fine," she relented.
Panasia crashed to the floor and smashed her head backward, creating a loud thump.
Teddy let out his aura skill, and the guildmaster closed her eyes.
"Not as recovered as I would like."
Before Teddy could offer her a hand up, a thunder of footsteps came rushing from down the hall. Eodyne rushed out, bow drawn.
But a second later, she stepped back into the room and stared at Panasia who looked up with a raised eyebrow.
"Elanor''s men are at the end of the hallway, weapons drawn," Eodyne said coolly.
"Oops?" Panasia offered.
--------
Elanor pinched the bridge of her nose. "Guildmaster. Now is not the time for games."
"I already apologized, guard captain," Panasia argued.
I could see Elanor''s frustration take form in the bubbling of her armor. The chains around her waist and arms tightened and loosened, back and forth, as she glared from underneath her hand.
"It''s fine. Are you capable of accompanying us?"
Panasia opened her mouth and stuck out her chest but then deflated under the quesitoning gaze. "Aye. I am still recovering. Physically, I am fine, but my mana channels are a wreck. I can accompany, but I am not at full strength."
Elanor looked cold, her steely eyes calculating. She dipped her head. "Let''s go. Broken Tower, felkins. We have a situation with one of my men."
"They discovered something?" Teddy asked, stepping forward.
"Yes."
We followed Elanor and her guards, three squads of four each, toward the northern district. We passed a familiar square and came to a stop at a building I only barely remember.
"There''s a problem with the church?" Celanae asked.
"Yes. A pair went inside to scout the building for people. Two went in, one came out. The other was lost."
"I thought every squad had a minimum of three guards. Why was there only two?"
"Because out of all buildings, the church should have been the safest. They were meant to go in and out, no longer than three minutes."
"The church should be untouched..." Celanae muttered.
"And yet it isn''t. So either the gods have abandoned this church, or there is a problem," Eodyne jutted in.
She didn''t glance my way but I felt the spike in her mana pointed in my direction. The squad of guards didn''t notice, nor did Elanor, though she looked suspiciously at Eodyne''s back.
Teddy stepped forward and turned around to address the group. "I hate to say it, but should we leave it alone and wait for tomorrow?"
Elanor froze. "I have a duty to my men. If you don''t accompany me, then we''ll proceed without you."
Isaac smirked. "The cold blade has a heart? That''s a little out of place for you, Captain."
Isaac...
Before the guards could explode, Panasia briefly raised her hand, suppressing them as they all collectively hitched in their breathing.
"Calm. Something affecting the church should be addressed as soon as possible. The last thing we need to do is to anger the gods."
"Fine, but sending in every one would be a mistake. There''s only so much room in the temple, and we can''t risk losing everyone if something happens."
Elanor''s guards bristled while a few older ones kept their faces neutral.
The guard captain herself crossed her arms. "I trust my men, but perhaps you are right. Squad eight and four, you''ll guard the building''s perimeter. Be on the lookout for anything approaching or leaving. Squad three, you''re with me."
"Should we take those potions now?" Sereza whispered.
Teddy nodded. "Yeah. If there''s something as strong as the creature from before, we could use all the help we can get."
As one, we pulled out our potions and downed them while Elanor and her guards frowned.
"Right. Will you be taking the lead?"
Teddy responded by pulling out his shield and mace while activating several aura skills. The effects of his aura washed over the group and extended to Elanor and her squad.
"Battle formation, Cyrus, be on the lookout for spatial pockets. If Magnus discovers anything, let us know no matter what."
"Got it," I replied, getting into position.
I kept Magnus by my feet and Sturmrorex and ¨¢ine on my shoulder and neck. Spear out, potion drunk, the effects running through my body as a slight tingle across the base of my neck; we were ready.
Teddy and Igas entered, followed by Isaac darting to one side while Sereza approached the other. She had her tail poised and ready and daggers dripping with venom.
Eodyne entered next, and I moved forward with Celanae at the rear. As soon as we stepped in, I felt a blanket of mana wash over my senses.
Magnus bristled, and his fur crystallized, but there was confusion in his head that trickled through the soul link.
"Magnus? Anything?"
"No, Master. It''s not mana."
That made me pause. The energy felt familiar, but not entirely. It was foreign and unknown, but Magnus was right.
It wasn''t truly mana.
"Guys, what are you feeling? Describe it."
Celanae gripped her staff and raised her hand. "Heavy pressure, not the same as Teddy''s parents, but similar with less strength. It feels like a light brush against your skin. Why?"
"Magnus says it''s not mana; I agree. I don''t have those symptoms either, but I recognize it; I''m just not sure why.
Isaac summoned a clone and sent it further into the empty grand hall. "That''s not helpful."
"It''s all I got, take it or leave it," I retorted, closing my eyes to briefly sift through my memories.
I found nothing.
"Enough. Heads up, Elanor! There''s a foreign aura encompassing the interior of the hall."
She marched in with her squad, her sword drawn and her armor sprouting three thick chains from her back. Her squad reacted differently, but they reported the same feeling as Celanae described.
"Proceeding, did your guard tell you where they went first?" Teddy called out.
"Yes. Hall of Divinity, followed by the sleeping quarters," Elanor answered.
Teddy took several more steps into the empty grand hall, and when nothing happened, he motioned people forward.
"Anything from your clone?"
"No," Isaac replied. "The divinity room is just as empty. Statues and murals look untouched. There''s not even dust."
"Proceeding."
As one large group, we pushed into the far hall and continued unimpeded. Once Teddy stepped into the large room on the other side, again, nothing happened.
Except Magnus roared in my head and backed up into my leg. He didn''t need to say it because I could already feel it, and by the others'' reactions, so could they.
"Something''s not right; it''s increased," Celanae whispered.
"Magnus, can you try absorbing the energy?"
He tried, and I felt him activate his skill, the crystal along his body opening its pores to pull in the energy, but nothing came. It continued to push against his body, lightly pressing down, but nothing he could absorb or perceive as harmful.
"Magnus has nothing. Can''t even absorb the energy."
One by one, we joined Teddy, and as I got closer to the room, I began seeing the intricate artwork towering over the floor, each statue of the divinities taking up its own pedestal and section of flooring.
The one directly revealed once I stepped in was empty, simply a floating orb with wisps coming off its sides. Unlike the stone statues, it was made of black metal that shifted different hues.
Strange god.
As soon as Elanor and her guards stepped in, I briefly closed my eyes to check through Magnus'' senses, but he roared, as did Sturmrorex.
¨¢ine gently tapped my cheek, and I opened my eyes to find the room empty, save for two people.
I turned my head and found Broken Tower, as well as Sereza and Elanor and her squad, absent from the room. Letting my mana rush into my spear, I held it forward and pointed it at the man in robes sitting under the floating sphere.
His snow-white beard and kind eyes were offset by the iridescent tattoos running up and down his arms. He moved his hands to his lap and met my eyes.
"This one greets the Scion of Calstrax," he solemnly chanted. After dipping his head, he raised it and smiled. "It''s an honor to meet you, Cyrus."
Chapter 30: Sit and Have Some Tea
"How do you know my name," I asked, mana continuing to run through my weapon.
Acrid venom began to swell at its tip, and I was ready to rush in.
"So that''s your voice, interesting. Confident, cautious... yet no fear," he replied.
"Don''t ignore my question."
His smile widened.
"If I didn''t know Calstrax''s origin, I''d have taken you for a different kind of demon," he continued. I didn''t answer and moved forward, but he held up a hand. "You can put the spear away; I mean you no harm, and I have done nothing to the rest of your group. I promise."
"You realize how impossible that is to believe when an entire city is under mind control," I countered.
He laughed, a deep-belly kind of laugh that filled the room. The tattoos shifted around and displayed runic symbols lit in soft gold.
"Fair enough. I understand the healthy paranoia. But if it helps, I doubt Calstrax would send his scion to something he thought you couldn''t handle. Even now, as he desperately awaits your return, he has full confidence you will come out of this stronger than before."
"You speak of him so personally... and how do you know what he''s doing?"
I found the disarming presence the man held with his voice alarming, but my familiars didn''t move, and Magnus sensed nothing wrong.
But still, this wasn''t normal, and I had to be careful.
"Understandable to be curious. In truth, I wish I had a good answer to give you. I suspect you are not a stranger to being a keeper of knowledge you should not know."
I continued to lower my spear but kept it in his general direction. "Maybe."
He tapped his head, his finger turning near emerald thanks to the shifting runes. "There''s your answer. I have a good feeling, and it''s usually never wrong. Too many years living on this world, you got to learn to trust in yourself after all."
Time to be direct.
As he spoke, the energy continued to brush at my mind, and I finally figured out why it was familiar. It was a feeling I rarely felt, but I had enough exposure to it to recognize it.
"Are you a god?" I asked plainly, keeping my tone neutral.
Again, he rumbled with laughter, his tattoos turning soft pink. "Oh no, not at all. I have no desire to be such a being. If I did, how would I get to hug my beautiful great-great-great-grandchildren?"
"Then what are you?"
His tattoos dimmed and became nearly black. "Just a humble servant trying to ensure he does his duties. Nothing more."
My eyes narrowed. "I get the distinct feeling that your words are not entirely true."
"Perhaps. But it''s all a matter of perspective," he countered. "Sure, to a mortal, someone at tier four is a demigod; true power. And they wouldn''t be wrong. But to the upper realms? You are a child not yet matured¡ªrather, you''ve only taken the first step."
Huh.
"Perspective,"
"Indeed," he cheered. He clapped his hands and motioned at the spot beside him. "Come join; we have some time, and it''d be rather annoying having to raise my voice for so long. Would you like some refreshments?"
I slowed the mana flow rushing into my spear, and I very carefully approached the man underneath the floating orb. When he didn''t react, I sat down on the short steps and placed my spear on my lap, my hand still gripped around its shaft.
"I''m fine. Not really in the mood."
"Ah, well. I figured I''d be polite," he said.
Before he could open his mouth to speak again, I decided to gain some control of the conversation and spoke first.
"What''s with the floating orb? I know the rest are gods and goddesses, but I can''t figure the orb out."
He looked up. "Not a god, it''s to represent the soul. All powers, all colors, mortal and divine. It''s more beautiful during sunset, I promise."
"I''ll have to take your word for it... So what exactly am I here for?"
He lowered his head and stroked his bushy white beard. "Hmm, well I suppose the first thing I can do is give you my name. I am Albrus Fentrel, Grand Priest of the Divines."
His words took on an otherworldly air, and the runes shifted to display long scripts running down the entire length of his arms and up to his shoulders, disappearing under his tunic.
The cream-colored robe shimmered as if lit by an invisible light that focused on the man''s body before fading away in an explosion of light.
From the look on Albrus'' face, it was all for show.
He coughed into his fist. "Ehem. Now that the honorary is out of the way. Just call me Albrus. Think of me as the head liaison for all the divinities here in Inoria. My job is to handle the middle ground between mortals and divines."
I nodded. "Nice to meet you. I''m Cyrus, but you already know that."
He had a twinkle in his eye I didn''t recognize, but as his tattoo flared up and changed into swirling circles with geometric shapes, his brilliant-blue pupils searched my face.
"Indeed. I''ve had the pleasure of learning about some of your exploits. I am glad to see Lady Ysanna and Lady Zolnja re-enter the Weave. And I must say, young man, you are doing very well."
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Unsure of how to take the compliment, I decided to ignore it, while my familiars snuggled closer. "So again, why am I here? It''s nice to meet you, but this isn''t the best time to do so."
"Ah yes, I should explain. You are here, really, to do one thing. And that''s to make a choice."
I lost my polite smile. "I''d rather not."
He looked like a sympathetic grandfather at my words. And even reached out a hand to pat my leg. I nearly jerked back, and Magnus growled at his fingers until he removed them.
"I cannot claim to understand, but I know a thing or two about the burden of choice. So let me cut to the chase, Cyrus," he said slowly. "You are to choose between putting your life in danger and going through what will probably be tremendous pain or simply waiting."
"That''s it?"
"That''s it," he repeated.
"Any other details? Is there a reward for simply waiting?"
"Not really. A lack of pain, I guess. That could count as a reward in and of itself."
"What are you talking about exactly?"
By now, my apprehension was diminishing as he continued to remain non-hostile. The empty room weirded me out, but it wasn''t exactly the strangest thing to happen in my life so far.
"Ahh, let''s see... Do you know about Calstrax''s domain?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Chaos, or something related."
"Hmm," he said, frowning. "Well, that''ll do for now. It is vastly understated and missing a lot of context, but Calstrax fulfills a very special role for the divinities of Inoria. So he can interact with this matter by informing his scion, even when the other gods cannot."
"Makes sense."
"Good. So, let me be clear on this. The issue Helio is facing at this time is due to the remnants of a dead god. One that has placed special rules amongst the pantheons and blocked out interference. That means no god can spy on what is happening in or around this city. They are blind and forcefully silenced."
I stroked Sturmrorex''s scales. "And what does this have to do with the choice?"
"Technically, you already set in motion for the city to be saved. All you have to do is wait."
It took a second, but I figured out what he meant easily enough.
"You mean the Cleansors. They''ll arrive soon."
"Exactly," he beamed. "If you want, you can wait it out, no matter what happens, and the city will be fine. Some may die, others may be hurt, but overall, it''ll survive."
"And if I choose not to wait?" I asked between clenched teeth.
"Then you get rewarded, and you save the day. But. And that''s a big but. You may die, you can get hurt, and you can fail and get others hurt."
How is this a choice? This is bullshit.
I didn''t answer and instead stayed silent, watching the man''s tattoo shift and move. Albrus quietly hummed a tune that tickled my ears. It was... relaxing.
"What would you choose?"
"Hmm. I''m pretty averse to pain, so it would be problematic to choose option two," he said as he clasped his hands and stared at the ceiling. "Then again, knowing you can do something but choose not to is pretty difficult."
I raised my eyebrow. It was surprising that he was willing to entertain the question at all. I expected a cryptic riddle of an answer than ended with a quesiton rather than answer anything.
"I didn''t expect an answer."
He chuckled. "Ahh, I lived a long life. It''s shorter than the cosmos but certainly longer than most mortals. You tend to pick up a thing or two. It helps that my generation of children and their children have always asked me for life advice."
I stayed silent, memorizing the runes or trying to. For a while, I examined the room, committing the different faces of the gods to memory.
Most looked like people, even if they came in different shapes and sizes. A few were rather drastic, being elemental in nature or having forms that were too bestial to call human-like.
After a while, I just sighed and looked over to find Albrus sipping at a steaming mug. He reached over and held out another mug, one just as fresh.
Taking it, I inhaled deep the earthly aroma and sipped once.
It tasted good.
"Thank you."
"No problem, child. I have a cup every day. It''s good for calming the nerves."
Drinking another mouthful, I raised it to give ¨¢ine a try, but she didn''t care for it.
"Can you tell me more about what exactly is going on?"
Albrus slowly shook his head. "I can''t go into specific details. It''s unfortunate, but the rules are the rules."
"The rules are convoluted."
"Very," he agreed. "I know that once I stop protecting you, it''ll be up to you to decide. The moment of your choice will make itself known. I''m sure."
That''s a lot of trust to put into something.
I drank the last of the tea, and Sturmrorex washed the cup with a quick blast of water mist. After handing the cup back to him, I noticed his cup was still full despite having watched him sip away for the last minute.
Standing up, I stretched and grabbed Magnus from the floor, lifting him and activating Spirit Lord''s Invocation.
After transforming, I spun my spear and began to channel mana, letting the tip coat itself in the venom.
"Do you have the ability to see into the future, Albrus?"
Albrus set his mug down and looked up with piercing blue eyes with no pupils. "An unreliable one, yes. Alas, the future is not one to view lightly. The Grand Weave does not like meddling."
His voice had a strange tone, but he never lost the kind aura that radiated from his soft smile and gentle eyes.
"Care to tell my future?"
He smirked. "Only if you''re willing to bend down for this old man."
I hesitated, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. Lowering my head, he unclasped his hands and motioned me closer. I leaned even more forward until my head was only slightly above his.
Albrus placed one hand on each cheek, startling me, but I resisted the urge to pull away. He tapped lightly with his fingers and poked at my cheekbones with his thumb.
"Master... weird man," Magnus mewed.
"I know..."
As a strange mana began to coat his hand, the tattoos on his arms slipped down and pooled at the back of his palm. They glowed every color of the rainbow and constantly changed with every blink.
"Ah, such a tricky fate to untangle. The Weave has sewn you deep into its tapestry, so much material saved for later. Big plans, a blessing and a curse, I''m afraid."
I kept silent and closed my eyes to avoid looking into Albrus'' eyes.
The mana ramped up, and a bubble built itself inside my chest. As more mana poured into Albrus'' fingers, and onto my skin, the urge to burp or giggle rose until I tried to swallow it down.
DING! DING! DING!
A rush of wind blew my hair into my eyes, and I pulled back, blinking away the strands.
Albrus was collapsed onto the floor and he planted his hand onto the ground, trying to push up.
Reaching down, I clasped his wrist and shoulder and helped slide him into a sitting position before backing away once he was stable.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
Albrus panted and chuckled, a mirthless thing that didn''t elicit the same smile as before. "Ah, I did not realize you have met an Arbiter. That skill of yours sure is potent... my apologies, Cyrus. I am fine."
A weight left my shoulder as I stood up, and I blinked in surprise as ¨¢ine flew before Albrus. The old man raised a hand, and ¨¢ine landed on his palm.
"Yes, little one?" Albrus asked.
¨¢ine reached up and booped his nose and kept her hand there. I felt her skill activate through the link, and she channeled mana into his nose.
Albrus blinked and shut one eye as ¨¢ine placed her other arm over his eyelid. More mana left her body, but eventually, Albrus carefully held her away.
"¨¢ine?" I asked.
"Oh, little one. I appreciate the kind gesture, but this is not something you can repair. No god can. It''s my penance for the honor of seeing the tapestry. Save your mana; you may need it."
She crossed her arms and booped his nose again before flying back onto my shoulder and resuming her usual position.
Albrus looked up and sighed. "You''re a kind soul, Cyrus¡ªa strong yet kind soul. Your familiars speak well of you; their love for you as their master says it all. Never lose that. Ever."
I frowned. "Never."
"Good," he said, standing up. His skin lit up with lines of pure white that rotated in a set of seven rings per arm. His forehead gained three more lines that became diamonds that stretched like arrows. "I saw only one moment in time of your future. Just one."
I waited.
He clapped his hands and came away with a staff of gnarled wood topped with a single sphere that constantly changed shape. "When you are presented with the choice between Mercy and Vindication; choose neither, for you will never be satisfied. Oh, and yes, the strange pink goo goes great on pancakes."
The last sentence was said with a full-belly laugh that filled the room, and a rush of air forced me to close my eyes.
As I opened them, the sound of shouting could be heard, and a blade rushed at my face. I raised my spear, and the jolt of the impact rushed down my arms.
"Cyrus!"
Chapter 31: Say what?!
As the sword met my spear, I willed it to wrap around the blade. I pulled, and the guardsman who swung the blade came tumbling forward.
Like a viper, Sturmrorex zipped out and sank his teeth into his shoulder, releasing a burst of electricity from his mouth.
The guard tried to flinch away, but the living tazer zapped him motionless and kept the skill activated long enough for him to sink to the ground.
As Sturmrorex released his bite, a silver dagger pierced the man''s leg, followed by another into his arm.
I turned and found Sereza evading the swings of another two guards.
"Aine, heal, stay low," I ordered.
I launched forward, and Sereza jumped up as two stone spikes rose from the ground to impale her. When a third sprouted from the ceiling, she became a cloud of poison mist, and I jumped in front of her.
A fan of blue leaves sliced into my cheek while I blocked the rest with my arms. The kinetic damage transferred through the crystal and down the hairs before entering the receptacle inside my chest.
The crystal along my forearm cracked, and a final leaf managed to sneak through and embed itself into my ribs.
My clothes managed to blunt the blow, but I felt a sharp sting that blossomed into a burning itch. The foreign mana tried to stab deep, and I forced it under control, knocking the leaf aside.
The two guards didn''t stop and instead pointed their blades my way.
I crouched and extended my arm, stabbing my spear into the first guard''s leg, tripping him. While the second guard raised her arm, I used my free hand to release the acquired kinetic energy and send five nearly invisible lines crashing against her leg.
The guardswoman''s legs were blown backward, sending her face first into the temple floor.
Like a ghost, Sereza reappeared and stabbed her tail into the first guard while throwing three daggers into the second.
They both struggled to rise, aiming to stand up, but the felkin rogue used the pommel of her blades and gave both a meaty smack into their temples.
Down they went, and she dropped to the floor. Her tail slid out of the guardsman''s armpit while she panted heavily, her head bent low.
I turned and checked on the guard behind us to make sure there wouldn''t be a surprise attack, but he lay sprawled on the ground at an awkward angle.
"Cyrus... where the fuck have you... been," Sereza sputtered.
I summoned a stamina potion and unstoppered the bottle, hovering it over her mouth. She didn''t even bother taking it and instead opened wide.
Shrugging, I poured it in and let her swallow before pouring the rest. She shuddered and shook her head but nodded thankfully.
"How long have I been gone?" I asked, tossing the bottle aside.
After a deep exhale, she stood up and began removing the daggers from the guards. "Not long, maybe fifteen minutes."
I watched her safely remove each dagger and clean the blood and poison off. Her hair was a mess, and her jacket sported a few holes that weren''t there before.
Looking around, the room looked untouched, except for the remnant stone spikes. Even then, they too disappeared and crumbled to dust, leaving the room clean and unmarred by the battle.
"Sorry, I got to meet someone important. Kind old dude, apparently wanted to chat and inform me of my choice."
She paused, her tail going still. When she looked back, I nearly snorted from the look of outrage and disbelief on her face.
"You did what?"
"Had some tea, a good talk, that''s all."
"I would stab you if I could."
Sticking my tongue out, I rolled the guardswoman over and inspected her face. Her eyes were wide awake, and she could still breathe, even if her face seemed frozen in pain.
Black eyes, mind controlled. That explains a lot.
Reaching down, I lifted her head and jammed my thumb through her neck, keeping the rest of my claws on her head.
¨¢ine flew over, having healed Sereza of her injuries by the time I knelt. She landed on her head and placed both hands down.
"Ready guys?" I asked my familiars.
¨¢ine nodded, and I felt Magnus agree. Sturmrorex uncoiled and placed his hand atop the woman despite having nothing to do with the process.
I raised an eyebrow, and he raised his head high.
"A good leader participates. Even if only in spirit."
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Sereza came up and stood over him. "Really, Little Monarch? Then cheer them on."
"Please don''t. Do so in your head, but I need to concentrate."
"Don''t worry, Master. I shall mute the link!" he whispered through the thought-speech.
I shut my eyes and felt for the slippery chains. They weren''t hard to find, and I began absorbing the mana while ¨¢ine attacked from the front. Her mana slipped through the links and attacked its weakest point while I slowed it down and ate away at its strength.
It squirmed, tightening its hold, but that was fine. I didn''t need it to move¡ª¨¢ine would have an easier time if it buckled down.
It took a solid minute before I opened my eyes and pushed the guardswoman''s head down. Using my claw, I slid through her flesh and poked around, glad that she was unconscious of this.
"No parasite?" Sereza asked.
"Doesn''t look like it. Wait, there," I said. I removed my finger and held up a small black bead no larger than ricegrain. "Too new, perhaps? Not enough time to grow."
"You removed it faster than the other time. Was the mana different?"
Briefly closing my eyes, I ran through my and ¨¢ine''s memory and nodded. "Looks like it. It seemed far weaker, and there were fewer links around her mind. Still a powerful little bugger. Scary."
"Fuck, I really don''t want that inside me."
I looked down.
The guardswoman''s eyes had returned to a normal dark blue. Her eyes bounced, jerking my way but not quite managing to look in my direction.
"I guess I''ll remove the paralysis now. Better to test one guard than accidentally have all three attack again."
Sereza leaned down. "Let me save your mana."
She ran her fingers over the knife holes. When she pulled away, green goop and some congealed blood flowed out of the wounds before collapsing to the floor in a small puddle.
"There, give it a second," she said.
We backed away, and Sturmrorex charged his lightning while Sereza gripped her daggers.
The guardswoman''s breathing returned to a more even pace, and her arms twitched until they swung up. She pushed herself off the ground and clutched at her head.
She opened her mouth to speak... and screamed.
Sereza stepped forward and slapped a hand over her mouth while staring bewildered at me. The woman began to thrash, but Sereza held on while I got on my knees to grab her arms. She was damn strong, but I forced them down, and something wet hit my face.
Looking up, I found tears streaking down her cheeks as her deep-blue eyes welled with tears.
Sereza stared and I stared back, equally confused.
"Hey, I''m going to let go now. Can you promise not to scream?" Sereza asked hesitantly.
The guardswoman nodded, and Sereza let go. For a second, her mouth hung open, and I tensed. Thankfully, the woman continued to silently sob into her hands while Sereza backed away, joining me in the awkward staring.
"Master... why... why is the human crying?" Sturmrorex asked.
"I don''t know. Give her a minute."
"Hey," I said. The guardswoman looked up, and I tried to smile. "I don''t know what''s happening, but can you explain why you''re crying? Was it the pain?"
Her demeanor cracked, and a look of rage flashed across her face. Another bout of tears ruined the fury, and she wiped them away. "No. No, it wasn''t the pain. I''m sorry. Thank you for saving me. And I''m sorry for attacking you..."
"Okay, so what''s wrong?" Sereza added.
"I... I was conscious. I could feel my body move, but I couldn''t do anything about it. It... It..."
Sereza leaned down and hugged her. She returned it by crying into her shoulder, but if Sereza cared, she didn''t protest.
I turned my back on the pair and headed for the nearest guard, looking into his eyes.
Raising his head onto my lap, I placed two fingers into his neck, and my familiars got into position. "Hey, if you can hear me, I''ll free you. But you need to not scream. We can''t make any loud noises right now; we don''t know what''s going on."
I paused, waiting a full five seconds before closing my eyes and repeating the process.
Now that we knew the links were twice as flimsy as before, breaking the parasite-baby''s control over the guardsman''s mind was relatively easy.
Pulling away, I cut the bead out and crushed it, knocking the dust aside. ¨¢ine healed the injury, and Sereza came over to remove the poison.
Together, we watched the young man''s face droop, and he scrunched his eyes. A single tear slipped free and coated his cheek, but he put on a weak smile when he opened them.
"Thank you, adventurers. Thank you."
As he sat up, he held out his arm, and the guardswoman joined him. We left the two to hug it out while we got into position over the third guard.
I repeated the same lines and cleansed him of the parasite. He didn''t flinch, his eyes growing cloudy, a piercing grey glow lighting up from within his pupil.
When he spoke, it came off as anger, the sort of calm rage you watch out for, before it turned into something explosive.
"Thank you," he said.
He stood, picked up his sword, and slid it back into his sheath. He ignored his fellow guards and examined the room.
"Have you found Captain Elanor?"
Sereza shook her head. "I ran into the three of you, and you chased me down the hallway. After that, I spent several minutes avoiding your attacks until Cyrus showed up.
The guardsman whipped his head around, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "And where did you come from? I recall you appearing out of nowhere and my body reacting.
Sturmrorex lit up with a tempest around his scales, his horns flashing a blinding blue. "Try it, and I turn you to dust!"
I placed a hand on his back and commanded him to calm down while keeping my gaze on the guardsman''s hand. "That is something above your pay grade. But I''m not an enemy. Otherwise, I would have kept the parasite inside your neck."
"If you so much as draw that blade, I''ll pump you full with paralytics," Sereza warned.
The guardsman''s eyes flickered between us before he held up both hands. "My apologies."
Sturmrorex tightened his body around my neck, and I stopped the mana flow running through my spear.
"So, now that they are free. What happened exactly? I know where I went, but how did you all get separated?"
Sereza sheathed her daggers, glancing toward the guards before shaking her head. "Don''t know. One moment, we were all standing together, and then the world contracted. I assume we''re now inside an expanded pocket dimension, but that''s it. I came to inside a small dark hallway and explored. Next thing I knew, three guards were chasing me, sending skills flying. Then you appeared, and here we are."
"Right well, apparently the divine is blocked from Helio and its surroundings. And there''s something else, but..." I started.
Sereza frowned and then sighed. "What you just said is extremely concerning, but I think we can trust them."
I didn''t feel the same, but withholding information would be stupid.
I turned to the guardsman. "What''s your name?"
"Orlun," he replied.
"Right, Orlun. If Elanor commanded you not to speak a word about me or what you may learn to anyone, including your friends and family, would you comply?"
He straightened his shoulders and raised his chin. "In a heartbeat."
That remains to be seen.
Sighing, I went to run a hand through my hair, but the crystal covering blocked my attempt, creating a faint ringing.
Shaking it off, I crossed my arms. "Fine. I''ll make sure she does that when we''re done.... Just a heads up, but apparently, there''s some kind of remnant of a dead god creating all these problems. I don''t know what that means, so don''t ask."
Sereza deeply exhaled and closed her eyes while the guardsman stopped to stare. Even the the two guards, still hugging on the floor, separated and looked at me with open jaws.
Oh come on, it''s not that crazy.
Chapter 32: Unwelcomed Hello
"Cyrus, seriously..." Sereza complained as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I shouldn''t have ignored all the warning signs when I met you."
"Hey, you chose to come along. I wrote ''Danger'' in big letters when I explained it. Don''t blame me for this."
"A vaguely worded letter saying your god has asked you to do something is not enough¡ªnot even mentioning that your god directly asked you for something. Don''t think I don''t know what that implies!"
"Right..." Orlun muttered. His face looked paler than before, his complexion turning pasty as he firmly gripped the pommel of his sword.
"Are the three of you good to go? I want to find the others before it''s too late. There''s a good chance Broken Tower is still in control."
"Oh yeah, potions. That''s probably why we''re fine. Fuck, that means the captain might have a parasite," Sereza cursed.
"Aleena, Rello, get up." Orlun ordered.
They both stood up and separated. To my surprise, the look of grief on Aleena''s face was absent. In its place, righteous fury. Mana pulsed from around her hands, and she white-knuckled the handle of her sword.
Rello looked tense but calm enough to silently pat Aleena on the shoulder and join Orlun where he stood.
They reminded me of Warren, Marcus, and Nadia. It was a strangely nice feeling to see them stand together.
Orlun turned to me. "What are your orders, sir?"
Aaaand it''s gone.
"Hold up," I said, raising a hand. "Why are you asking me for orders?"
Orlun looked confused and glanced toward Sereza, who was no help, as she raised an eyebrow and smirked my way.
"I mean... it''s the most logical choice? You know what''s going on. And you are the only one who can cure us of the parasites... so."
It took every muscle in my face not to scowl. Instead of replying right away, I summoned my mask and donned it, letting the ink swirls become bright red and assume the usual three-eyed appearance.
With the mask on, I dropped the neutral expression and glared. Outwardly, I kept my voice neutral. "Fine. We need to find the others and explore this place. If we can find the entrance and test if we can leave, that would be ideal. If not, we find whoever is around here."
"Yes sir!" all three guards replied.
I felt a vein on my neck begin to form.
"What exactly can you guys do? I know the stone spikes and blue leaves, but that''s it."
Orlun spoke first. "I am, unfortunately, basic in my kit. Double Slash, Charge, Honed Edge, and Quick Guard."
That''s... alright.
"I only have the blue leaves like you mentioned and Stumbling Roots," Aleena answered next.
Crowd control is welcomed. Good.
I turned to the last guard, Rello. "And you?"
"Stone spikes, Crushing Fist, Heavy Boots, and Heavy Edge," Rello listed.
Sereza glanced over and smiled.
"What?" I asked.
"The mask may hide it, but at least uncross your arms. You''re acting like a noble brat."
I looked down; she was right; I was crossing my arms.
"I''m not. It''s a little polarizing. I forgot what it''s like to be around ordinary people."
She snorted. "I don''t want to hear it. Your skills are still insane."
"Okay, fine. I concede. I guess it''ll be smarter for me to play range support. Orlun, Rello can you take lead, while me and Aleena proceed from behind. Sereza you know best where to place yourself."
She flashed a toothy grin and unhooked one of the vials in her bandolier. The top had a small opening for her blade to slide right through, and when she pulled it out, it was surprisingly dry.
"I don''t remember that being a part of the blade''s description."
"It''s not. It''s my skill; I can store poison inside the blade itself. They''ll replace the Spectral Daggers usual effects. Stronger paralytic; will need it if we don''t want to hurt the others."
"Sounds good. Everyone ready?"
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The guards got into position almost immediately. And Sereza shrugged while hovering off to the side just slightly behind Aleena and to the left.
We exited the room and found ourselves in a long hallway.
Sereza pointed to the fourth door on the right. "I came from there, tiny room, nothing in it."
We stopped briefly once we made it near the first pair of doors. Orlun and Rello made a count with their fingers and rushed forward, splitting apart to face different directions.
I waited, ready to do something, but Orlun shook his head. ''Empty,'' he mouthed.
Rello lowered his sword, but when he turned, he looked unsure. Orlun approached from behind and cocked his head.
"Uh, sir. You might want to check this out," Orlun muttered.
Rage slipped a swipe between its bars at the word sir, and for a brief second, I wanted to slap someone.
I stopped myself and crammed it into an even smaller cage.
Quit it.
"What''s wrong?" I asked.
"Uh, just look."
Orlun stepped aside, and I finally saw what he wanted me to see.
It was a wall of flesh, pale-reddish skin that pulsed with faint light.
"Not again..." Sereza muttered.
I summoned an empty cup and held it out. "Throwing it in three. Prepare to run."
The guards got in position, and Sereza brought her daggers up.
On three, I tossed the cup with enough force to easily sail through the air and smack into the flesh wall.
It bounced.
As the cup clacked against the floor, the wall lit up with brighter light but faded away after two pulses. The cup looked unharmed, and the spot on the wall where the small ceramic had come into contact seemed perfectly fine.
"No reaction. At least that''s something."
"Should I cut it?"
I debated the merits of experimenting on the weird wall, but I shook my head in the end. "Nah. Let''s leave the room alone and focus on finding the others first."
We continued down the next pair of doorways and were met with more blank rooms. They each held nothing within, lacking furniture and decorations you''d typically find in a temple.
"Okay, this is weird. I don''t like the flesh walls," Sereza complained as she lowered her daggers.
Sereza backed away but... there was something there. I felt it, a weird want inside my stomach. It wasn''t hunger, but I felt hungry.
"Stop, get into positions."
The moment I said those words, a sense of pressure blanketed me from the right. It caressed my ear and blew a breath along my skin.
Trusting my instinct, I lashed a spear toward Rello''s head, who stared wide-eyed as he flinched.
Blood splattered onto the back of his head, causing a sizzling sound to erupt with the smell of burnt hair. Rello grunted in alarm and dove to the ground while Sereza sent out a fan of spectral daggers into the invisible target.
All but one hit and painted the outline of a wide creature whose form began to waver into existence. Orlun activated a skill and rushed forward, swinging his blade wide.
Something knocked his blade aside, but a second phantom blade cut deep and sent another splash of caustic blood onto the floor.
The blade was blue rather than green and looked like a perfect replica of Orlun''s sword.
Suddenly, a loud screech made the others flinch. I ignored the sound and pushed, plunging my blade through¡ªup to the shaft.
"Sturmrorex!"
My familiar snaked down my arm and unleashed a continuous discharge of electricity through his horns. With Sturmorex''s power surging through the enemy''s body, it began to flicker into existence, revealing an elongated mass of speckles of grey-white hide.
Rello flipped over and slammed his fist against the ground, sending a large spike of stone to shoot forward and impale the creature''s torso.
Orlun was there once more, his blade blazing with a cerulean edge. Sturmrorex released his skill as he slashed upward, carving a line up to the creature''s shoulder. As he stepped back, a phantom blade appeared, nearly severed the thing in half.
I pulled out my spear and sent mana into its shaft to finish it. With a single plunge, the creature screeched again, but I twisted and jerked my weapon through its head.
I stepped back as blood began to sizzle against the floor and flicked my spear free of the blood coating it.
The creature was something grotesque. Dry, rubbery skin formed a wide pillar that ended in a pointed cone-shaped head with four sets of eyes. They reminded me of reptile eyes, each with a second layer of film covering them. Instead of hands, its forearms bent downward to form a pair of bone-like blades similar to a praying mantis.
I expected the corpse to fall and splash into the growing puddle beneath it, but when it merely leaned forward, limplessly, I cocked my head and finally noticed the four thick tubes connecting it to the wall.
"Everyone okay?" I called out.
"We... are. Damn you and your mask!" Sereza managed between coughs.
I turned and saw everyone else was covering their faces while standing in the hall away from the room''s entrance.
"Sturmrorex, can you try to push the smoke out."
Sturmrorex rose into the air, and I willingly sent mana through the link. He sucked it up and blasted a gust of wind that blew the smoke toward the hall. Sadly, he couldn''t control the air entirely, and some spilled out to where the others were.
"Cyrus!"
"Give it a moment!"
It took another minute, but the room was cleared enough that they all rushed in and near the corpse and examined it.
"I''ve never seen a creature like this before..." Aleena muttered.
"Do you think all the empty rooms have one?"
I thought back to the strange feeling I had and shook my head. "I don''t think so. I only received a warning for this room."
The others stepped back as I approached the tubes and ran my claws through them. Crystal claws parted the rubbery flesh with some difficulties, but I eventually managed. The tube dripped a grainy black substance that collected on the floor, but unlike the blood, it wasn''t caustic.
"Sereza, got a spare knife?"
She pulled out one of the daggers from her belt and flipped it over, presenting the handle.
I accepted the blade and made quick work of the remaining tubes. With the tubes no longer supporting it, the corpse dropped to the floor and flattened like a deflated dodgeball.
I wiped the dagger with a clean cloth from my inventory and handed it back.
"Got a lead on something?" she asked.
I bit my lip and turned to the guards. "You promise not to say a word? I don''t care who asks or whatever their reason is."
All three saluted.
I shifted ¨¢ine around and adjusted Sturmrorex, who resettled around my neck. Extending my hand, I let mana flow into my skill and caught my familiar as he appeared.
"Are you sure it''s worth the mana?" Sereza asked.
"I got a funny feeling."
She shrugged and waved to Erebus, who waved back. Gently, I lowered the spider onto the deflated corpse, and he sank into the shadows, his white chitin disappearing into the black threads.
As he activated his skill, I subtly glanced at the guards without turning my head and saw them intensely staring at where Erebus used to be.
Aleena had a question on her face, while Rello and Orlun looked mostly curious.
There has to be a better way to hide this in the future. I can''t keep revealing Erebus to everyone.
Erebus drained a good chunk of his mana, and I placed my hand beside where he emerged. Erebus popped out and hopped on, presenting the orb to me.
"Is that..."
"Oh, he has a looting skill.
"A looting familiar?"
I contained my sigh and squeezed down on the orb.
Chapter 33: Tempests Fury
A glass jar appeared, containing a brackish liquid with an unidentifiable grey mass inside.
Bingo.
I presented it to Erebus, who inspected the glass by tapping it. He nodded and crawled up my arm to return to my soulspace.
"Yeah, it looks like my new perks are working correctly."
Sereza made a face while the guards stepped closer and peered at the jar.
"What is it?" Orlun asked.
Beneath my mask, I grinned, but I kept the outward appearance neutral. Sereza glanced over and shook her head.
Sadly, I contained my mischievousness and looked around the room. I couldn''t sense anything dangerous, so I summoned Chomperz, who appeared and scared the guards. He quickly swallowed the jar and left before the others could ask questions.
"As much as I want to satisfy my curiosity, I''ll wait until we''re done."
"Are we to continue?" Orlun asked.
"Give it a minute. I want to confirm one last hunch."
The expanded space, the strange walls that led to nothing, and a random creature hitched to a wall; if we were still in the normal world, I had a lot of questions for Cal.
It took a moment, but the corpse began to melt, its deflated body losing the last of its form and becoming a puddle of rainbow goop.
As it sank into the floor, I watched the others for their reactions, and Sereza was the first to widen her eyes.
"That explains a lot," she said.
"But there was no portal. How did we enter a dungeon?" Orlun said.
I crossed my arms and stared at the remaining flesh wall. The tubes had shrunken into the wall, leaving it smooth.
"No clue. Let''s hope there aren''t too many floors."
We exited the room and entered the hallway, coming toward the end where we would have to take a turn.
"At least there''s one good thing about being in a dungeon," Sereza offered.
I raised an eyebrow. "That is?"
"Safe zones."
"Only if this dungeon works like normal and safe zones are actually safe."
She stuck out her tongue, and we got into position.
We turned the corner with Rello and Orlun rushing ahead, and he held up his hand and signaled that it was safe to proceed.
It was another hallway, but there were no side rooms. Instead, it opened into a large hall near the middle and seemed to continue into another one near the end.
My perks didn''t whisper a warning, but I tried to feel around and activate my mana.
Nothing happened.
"Hey, look closer. Can you see the distortion in the air?" Aleena whispered.
I narrowed my eyes and didn''t see what she was talking about, even with my eyesight being perfect.
Shaking my head, I turned to the guardswoman. "No. Can you describe it?"
She nodded. "I have a perception passive. Eagle Eye. It looks like the air is waving? Like reality is bending around something. Small, about the size of my fist."
"Chances are I''ll feel it with my mana sense when we''re close. Might be a hidden monster or another space."
"Dungeons shouldn''t have dimensional pockets inside them... Everything is broken," Sereza complained.
She glanced toward me, and it was my turn to stick out my tongue; then I realized why she didn''t react and made my mask replicate the gesture.
"Form up. We''ll continue until I feel the distortion."
"If we don''t?"
"Then we prepare for a fight like usual."
This time, Rello took the lead. The idea was to create a massive spike in case anything charged at us. Sereza followed next, her having the mobility required to move past. And Orlun guarded the rear, sandwiching Aleena and me in the middle.
We moved ten feet, then twenty. We were halfway to the distortion, and I could finally see it myself. It was subtle, very subtle. Each bend in the air only occurred after a long delay followed by a brief burst of erratic twisting that strained my eyes.
It didn''t hurt; I was long used to the distortion of dimensional space. But it wasn''t pleasant to look at.
Ten more steps, and we stopped.
I closed my eyes and inhaled.
There.
"Yeah, I can feel the spatial mana. I can try popping it."
"Should we enter the room or bunker down in the hallway?" Orlun asked.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
He looked at me like a soldier ready to receive his orders, and the flare-up of annoyance squirmed free from its binding.
Thankfully, my mask hid my grimace. "Let''s get close, but not enter the room. Rello, make a few spikes wide enough if you can. Aleena, can you conjure the vines?"
She shook her head. "I need a target."
Damn. Welp, work with what you got.
Rello conjured his spikes, and Sereza crouched low behind one. Orlun had his sword out, and I saw the blue sheen on the edge of his blade as well as his feet.
My familiers were ready, and my spear was positioned between the spikes.
"Starting."
I reached out my hand and felt for the mana. It was like a constant pulse that brushed along my fingers. When I activated Magnus'' skill, the crystal covering my arms reacted like a sponge, greedily trying to soak it in.
"Here we go, Magnus."
He sent the thought of a roar bouncing between my ears, and I smirked.
The first thread of mana sank into my palm, and I wrapped my hand around it, pulling¡ªdevouring the spatial distortion.
It was mine.
The mana rushed in, and I felt the pulses sputter, the constant song rising into a sharp pop that rang in my ears.
In a blink, the world expanded. The tunnel stretched, widening by several feet and extending past my vision.
Before I could think, Orlun slashed diagonally and stepped in front, deflecting a bright flash. His body jerked, and he crashed to one knee while Sturmrorex released his lightning bolt and sent it between the rocks.
Sereza sprang into action and sent a fan of daggers while removing one of the steel ones from her belt and chucked it.
"Enough with your lies!" came a familiar voice.
Was tha-
A strong gust of wind sent me into Aleena, and I began rapidly absorbing the aggressive mana in the air.
Before I could breathe, the bolts of azure blue zipped across my vision, and Sturmrorex rose to meet it. He commanded the lightning and tried to take control, but I felt him strain.
The mana inside the bolts was stronger than him. He took a bite out of its power, and I held up both arms in a crossblock.
One pierced into the crystal covering and burned my flesh beneath. The second deflected off my forearm and dissipated into the wall.
The third pushed into my shoulder, but Sturmrorex bit down and redirected the flow to the ceiling.
"Damnit! Eodyne, stop!"
"Stop using their voices. I''ll cull you like the rest!" Eodyne retorted, her voice reverbing through the air like a hum that filled your ears.
"Rello, try to pin her down. Sereza, we need to stop her."
Rello slammed his hand down and slid it forward.
Another gust of wind pushed me back in response, and I raised my claws.
Mana surged from the receptacle and rushed down my arms. I slashed the air, and five transparent lines whistled across the spike barrier.
Sereza stood up and released a barrage of yellow daggers. They zipped, but she ducked and cursed.
"She has a wind barrier up. I can''t penetrate it."
"Eodyne! It''s not an illusion!"
"Silence."
I expected another gust, but instead, I felt something leave¡ªa different feeling akin to a vacuum pulling at my clothes.
A faint pop rang through the hallway, and the temperature changed.
"Sturmrorex."
He uncoiled from my neck and flew before me, away from the others. It was tight, but he started spinning as if chasing his tail. The pulling effect stopped, and my lungs sucked in air.
Eodyne said something in her own language, but the fierce wind distorted the sound too much for me to make out.
"Rello, spike. Aleena, vines."
I sent ¨¢ine to Orlun, who stayed crouched, but he raised his sword and nodded.
This is going to hurt.
I stood up and peeked out from behind the spike.
Fuck.
There was a massive arrow, large enough to impale me all the way through, strung onto her bow. Eodyne looked like a storm goddess, with her hair whipping behind her. Her eyes were a brilliant blue, and she snarled with blindingly-white teeth.
"Eodyne! Stop!"
Mana rushed out of her body, and a flash of pure white burned my retinas. I ducked down, but it wasn''t enough.
The stone behind me became shrapnel that shredded my back and cut lines into my flesh. I activated Magnus'' skill and felt the mana skip over me.
She held dominion of the air.
And my perk screamed its warning. The hairs exposed under the back of my neck stood up. I smelled ozone.
A massive spear pushed into my back. A barrier appeared as the emergency protection item activated, absorbing the damage. I tried to slip away. But then a second spear slid into place.
It sank its claws deep into my tissue and boiled my blood even as Sturmrorex roared in outrage inside my mind.
The force was too much. I could barely control my fingers as they seized my spear with a death grip.
The electricity surged through my neck and up my jaw, where my tongue danced across my teeth.
Just as the hellfire inside my back rose to the surface, a second burst of energy slammed into it from behind. I felt my ribs chip as the power knocked it out of the way. Plasma tore through me, penetrating all the way through¡ªthe screaming missile crashing into the ground in an explosion of purple light.
I began to collapse, but Sturmrorex slingshotted around my neck and dragged me backward. There were no words exchanged as I crushed him beneath me, and his scales cushioned my fall.
The heat that seeped through my muscles and continued to electrify my blood was sucked away like a whirlpool into my core.
I opened my jaw and let it surge into my neck.
I tasted burnt copper and rusted iron.
Like a cannonball pushing its way out of my throat, I released the absorbed energy and screamed my fury.
A beam of bright purple zipped through the hallway and bounced off the walls.
Eodyne dodged and jumped out of the way, landing on the ceiling, but the bolt followed. She continued to move, blurring through my vision as tears began to cloud my sight.
I blinked them away, willing them to stop.
The deadly game of high-speed tag continued as I struggled to follow the chase. But Eodyne stopped in a corner and held out her hand.
She caught the purple javelin and began to spin, zipping across the wall like a top from right to left as the javelin dug furrows into the stone. She tumbled through the air and landed with her back hitting the ground.
As she lifted into the air, a massive stone spike cut across her hip and toward her shoulder, pinning her down.
Vines rose from the base of the spike, wrapping around her arms and legs, and tugged tight across her body.
Orlun charged forward, the mana beneath his boots launching him across the room like a battering ram, but before he could reach Eodyne, she opened her mouth and shot a ball of compressed air into his chest. He smashed into the far wall and whipped his helmet into the stone.
It didn''t matter.
Sereza appeared. Her arms whipped forward and deposited two daggers through her shoulders. Another dagger stabbed into her thigh, but that was all she managed as Eodyne released a burst of electricity around her body.
The vines burned, and she kicked her leg free.
She wordlessly hopped up, jumped, and spun, winding her arm to the side and smashing the stone spike.
Shrapnel hit Sereza, and she went down, but so did Eodyne.
She collapsed to the floor and squirmed.
This time, the vines wrapped around her wrists and wrenched them backward, connecting her hands to her feet. Even as she raised her chin and began to open her mouth, a stone spike grew over her head, pinning her face to the ground with no wiggle room.
Sereza flicked a lazy dagger through the air, and it stabbed into her neck.
"That should do it..." she wheezed.
I felt a charge through the air and tried extending my arm, but Sturmrorex moved out from beneath me and shot to where Eodyne lay. Like a viper, he bit down and absorbed her mana, calming it inside his body.
"I''ll do this over and over! Do not make me regret exchanging our spark, Child of Grounded Sky!"
"Mmmng."
Sereza walked up and pulled out a new knife along with a different bottle from her bandolier. She quickly coated the blade, pushed it into Eodyne''s arm, and jumped back.
Eodyne tried to move and summon wind to her side, but Sturmrorex dispelled her hold.
"Enough!" he roared.
He needn''t have bothered¡ªEodyne collapsed, and I felt her mana dim.
"Now it''s enough... Fuck! Cyrus!"
"Uunnghh," I moaned.
Chapter 34: Good to Have You Back
While ¨¢ine patched me up, I had to quickly scoop up my insides and shove them back in. It hurt like hell, but it saved my familiar mana, which was sorely needed.
Orlun and Rello swept the room while Aleena and Sereza stood guard over Eodyne. She was asleep, but none of us knew if she had a special kind of resistance to sedatives.
And if a monster attacked? They''d be there to defend her while she lay vulnerable on the floor.
"Cyrus. I''ve seen you get messed up pretty bad already, but are you good?" Sereza called out from where she stood.
I raised my hand and gave her the middle finger. "Yes."
"I don''t know what that means, but I''m pretty sure I get it!"
"Is the room clear?"
"Clear, sir!" Orlun shouted.
I tried not to move and withheld my sigh as ¨¢ine mentally glared at me from where she had her hands on my insides, healing the hole in my chest.
As she did that, I looked up and stared into Sturmrorex''s eyes. He stared into mine with bright blue that crackled with light.
"Master..." he began.
I shook my head. "No. Don''t start. You did amazing."
"But I-"
"No. I mean it. You saved my life and prevented a lot more. Seriously. Learn to take praise when it''s well deserved. I get hurt; it happens all the time. That won''t change either. You did good. Thank you."
He withered under my lecture, but I reached a finger out and booped his nose.
"I understand..."
"Good. I''ll trust you for now and forever. And in the future? When you''re big enough to part the heavens with a single roar? I''ll accept your apology then, and only if it''s appropriate."
That cheered him up, and he slithered around my head and lightly touched his nose to mine.
It took over a dozen minutes for ¨¢ine to stabilize me enough that I could stand. I let her continue to heal me on my shoulder while I used my foot to flip my spear into my hand.
As I approached Eodyne, I searched for mana in the area, but nothing was left outside except the remnants of electricity near the corners and wind scattered around the room.
"We can check for a parasite or mental effect while she''s asleep. But just in case, be prepared to subdue her. I don''t want to go through that again."
"Yes, sir!" Aleena replied.
Sereza simply got into position and held several knives in each hand.
¨¢ine hopped down and landed on her neck while Sturmrorex hovered near her head.
They weren''t taking any chances.
She activated her healing skill and rested my own on her neck and head while lightly digging my claws into her skin. I searched and pulled for the foreign mana but had to step away when there was none.
"I don''t think she''s under any sort of effect. Maybe it was dispelled once we knocked her out?" I said after opening my eyes.
Sereza lowered her hands. "Do we wake her then? I can extract the poison."
Don''t make me regret this, Eodyne.
"Yeah, let''s do it. If she attacks again, we knock her out. If she becomes mobile, we''re fucked."
The guards surrounded Eodyne on all sides while I guarded the front. Sereza leaned down and held out her fang, using her claws to cut a thin line next to her shoulder. From there, dark-yellow ooze began to seep out, and she pulled her hand back, dragging the ooze as she did.
I gave ¨¢ine the go-ahead, and she sent quick bursts of mana into her skull, letting it seep into her brain. As she sent a third wave into her body, she jumped back and flew to my shoulder, grabbing my hair as leverage.
Eodyne''s breathing started slow, and then I felt the air in the room swirl toward her. For a moment, I let the mana crash into the crystal covering my arms, but it calmed as the air stilled.
"Mmnngh..." Eodyne moaned.
"Hey, Eodyne. Are we good, or will we need to restrain you again?"
Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
She stopped and slowly lifted her head off the floor. When she met my eyes, I waved, as did my familiars.
"Cyrus? Wait... no. Is this another trick?"
"No. I''m real; so are the others."
"How do I trust you?"
"We could''ve killed you. We didn''t, obviously. And close your eyes, do you feel that?" I asked. ¨¢ine sent another pulse into her head, and she visibly relaxed underneath her touch. "Good. There''s only one her. Believe me now?"
"I do... fuck. Cyrus. I''m so sorry."
She raised her head and met my eyes. Hers were dark storm clouds that raged inside the swirling grey irises. Eodyne genuinely looked disturbed, but I shrugged.
"It''s whatever. Just another day as an adventurer, eh?"
"Cyrus..."
"Listen, not you, too. Just get up. We need to find the others, and you need to explain why you thought we were fakes."
The others backed off, and she quickly examined herself and all the tears in her needed hoodie. The magic had already stitched one of the tears together, repairing itself.
I looked down and saw the same was true for my clothes, especially where the shrapnel had torn away some of the material.
Already paying for itself.
Eodyne jumped up and stretched before turning to face me. "After you disappeared, we were all teleported into this place. At first, I found Isaac, but then he tried to stab me. I was cautious and found Igas, but when I activated my skill, the thing tried to cut me down. It seems like the creatures learned it wouldn''t work using our team, so it began using the faces of my family."
She spoke the last words with a cold anger that bled through her speech. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and sensed the gathering mana around us.
"We''re in a dungeon if you can''t tell. I have a lot to explain... Usual shenanigans, so nothing too crazy."
I felt the glares from the others even as I ignored them to make my mask smile.
"Cyrus..."
"Right," I sighed. "So here''s what happened after we entered that room."
------
I whistled to myself as Eodyne cursed up a storm. She didn''t bother using the common language and spoke her native tongue.
Truth be told, it was pretty colorful.
It took her a hot minute, but she calmed down and only mildly looked like she wanted to strangle me.
"I''m ready. Let''s find the others," she said.
With Eodyne with us, I had Sturmrorex join her shoulder. He wrapped himself around her torso, and at first, Eodyne spent time readjusting until they both worked it out. How he rested on her would do little to impede her range of motion or movement.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I am great! Her mana is delicious!" Sturmrorex roared back.
I smirked and noticed Eodyne had a strange look on her face. She hid it well; the tilt of her lips was subtle, and her eyes were about two shades lighter.
"Eodyne? What''s up?"
She lowered her head and stroked Sturmrorex''s scales, electricity dancing between her fingertips. "Many in my village would consider this a great honor. I am proud to add this story to my tale."
I smiled, and we continued down the hall. As far as Eodyne remembered it, it was empty for the next three turns; her decision to pick one direction and stick with it meant all we had to do was backtrack to where she woke up.
As she led us there, I would stop at the doors and wait for my perk to warn me. It stayed silent, so I kept my senses alert, constantly checking for hints of spatial energy.
It wasn''t until the second hallway, and we passed the last set of rooms, that I felt a blip at the furthest corner. I had Sturmrorex lightly tug at Eodyne''s neck and raised my spear.
Eodyne turned, and I motioned inside the room we just passed. She nodded and got into position, and began to activate her mana.
Rello and Orlun rushed into place while I struggled to find the blip.
As soon as I did, I felt the air brush my skin as something clashed with Orlun''s blade, sending him back.
He held his ground, and a spike snapped up, puncturing into the hidden monster with a wet squelch. Speckled blue blood coated the temple floor and sizzled away as Eodyne unleashed her arrow.
The electricity zipped through the air and burrowed inside the exposed flesh from the spike. A blobby, four-limbed beast revealed itself as I pulled mana from the creature, and its body began to flicker into view.
Another rain of arrows bombarded the monster''s head. It pulled its thick limb away from Orlun''s sword, which quickly slashed upward with the reprieve. The limb hit the ground, separated from its owner, while the monster reeled back.
Its body broke the spike and shook violently, releasing a deep growl.
Eodyne was ruthless.
Arrow after arrow pelted the monster''s head, a few zipping towards the hole in its chest. I smelled burnt hair and flesh, the cooking meat underneath the monster''s flesh beginning to glow from the power rushing into it.
It stopped, paralyzed from the constant shocks, and then I noticed it.
As quickly as possible, I grabbed Sereza''s arm and yanked her toward me, who yelped as we dived behind Rello.
As we crouched low behind the guardsman''s back, Eodyne launched one last arrow that streaked violet as it flashed across the hall and right into the monster''s eye.
I heard the eruption before I felt the air explode around us, blue blood fountaining across the ground. Orlun and Rello recoiled as their fronts were coated, and I saw that Eodyne had created a wind barrier around her and Aleena.
As our human shield began to wipe the blood off his face, I stood up and held out a hand for Sereza.
"Thanks," she said as she took it. "Quick thinking."
"No problem."
"Thanks, sir... for the warning," Rello groaned.
"Stay still," Eodyne commanded.
Orlun and Rello froze as a sharp mana pulse came from Eodyne''s hands. A strong gale encompassed the two and whipped the blood away and back into the room, where it coated the far wall.
When she lowered her hands, they were clean and with freshly blown hair.
"Th-thanks..." Orlun stuttered.
I ignored the blinking guards and moved to the monster''s corpse, still stuck to the wall.
With the invisibility gone, I could see its full form. It looked like a strange mix between a boar and a wolf. Four overly muscular arms ended in sharp claws while holding up a protruding belly with a limp furry tail at the end.
The head looked like a pig''s while displaying a long tongue and sharp teeth. Grey skin stretched across a bumpy skull, easily larger than my own.
Its guts were spewed across the stone, and a massive hole had ripped up past its ribcage toward the base of the skull.
The meat and blood continued to sizzle as smoke rose from the wound.
For a moment, I considered looting it, but I lowered my hand and turned around.
Sereza raised an eyebrow and I shook my head.
"Not worth the mana cost. We already know it''s a dungeon," I said.
"You looted the first one?" Eodyne asked.
"Yeah, gross organ in a jar again. I''ll eat it after we''re out."
The guards had a look of horror on their faces while Eodyne and Sereza both nodded.
"Good, just make sure Celenae gets a good sketch first. Preferably after we get it identified."
Chapter 35: Dungeon Assault
We came to a stop. Eodyne stood with her arms crossed and glared at the doorway.
"Well, at least we can confirm we''re on the top floor," I offered.
"Annoying. If I turned around, I could have found sanctuary," Eodyne growled.
"We don''t know that for sure. This isn''t normal; the safe zone might not work as usual," Sereza countered.
"Let''s get going. Whether it works or not, we can''t stay."
The stairway down was made of marbled stone just like the rest, but the walls sported the same creepy flesh-covering as the rooms in the temple. I kept my senses out, and Eodyne even maintained a wind barrier.
When we came to a stop halfway through, the stairs evened out into a relatively small room, just large enough for us to all fit if we moved closer together.
"As far as safe zones go, this sucks," I complained. I adjusted my spear and paused for half a second to get enough breathing room. "Zero reason for a dungeon to create something so small."
"Easier to defend," Sereza countered.
"Most safe zones should be safe, no? The only time I have been in a dungeon, and the safe zone didn''t work was back in Edolus."
"That one doesn''t count. The blood plague infected the monsters, and the dungeon was overloaded with the remnants of rift energy," Eodyne said.
"What?" Sereza asked. "Blood plague? And why is a rift affecting a dungeon? Cyrus, what did you do?"
I stuck out my tongue, and we cut the banter as we exited the stairwell and went back into the dungeon proper. The second floor looked relatively the same, but there was an immediately noticeable difference between it and the first floor.
Rello and Orlun guarded the front, slowly marching through the hallway. They came to a stop around the first doorway, blocked off by a long curtain sheet. The white silk dipped to the floor and spilled out onto the tile.
"Anything?" Orlun asked.
I shook my head.
They opened it together and braced themselves, but the curtain revealed a wall of grey rubber about a foot deep.
The lack of a room was off-putting, but we moved on and repeated the process with the same result. Eventually, we made a turn, and that''s when I stopped.
It was brief, barely a flicker, but I caught something from further ahead with my mana sense.
"Eodyne, I felt something, but it felt very faint."
She nodded, and we proceeded to the end of the hall, where we turned a corner and found another curtained archway.
Orlun used his sword to move it aside, but as he did, we stopped, and he held up a hand. With a sudden swing, he sliced the curtain near the top, and the fabric collapsed to the floor, where it began to slip backward.
What?
It fell off the edge and into what looked like a massive pit.
The expected hallway was gone, and in its place was an extended cavern, with floating islands of tile illuminated in soft golden light.
Again, I felt the flicker of mana, but it disappeared too fast for me to get a lock on its type.
"This doesn''t feel right," I said while peeking through Orlun''s legs.
From my position, there looked to be nine islands in total. Two for each direction and one larger island in the middle, they shared an equal distance apart, long enough that you''d need a running jump to make it across.
"If Celanae or Igas was here, we could bridge it without problems. Does anyone think they''ll have trouble jumping the gaps?" Eodyne asked. Aleena raised her hand, as did Rello. "Alright, Cyrus, are you okay?"
"I''ll be fine. Which direction are we going first?"
"Do you sense anything?"
I shook my head. "No. I felt the blip again, but it disappeared further in."
"Annoying, but we''ll make do."
Orlun made the first leap as he activated his movement skill and charged through the air. He landed on the first island and shot to his feet, reading to jump back.
After a few test stomps, he waved his hand, and Aleena stepped up next. Eodyne controlled the wind around her and I felt a strong gust generate around her legs. When she jumped, she seemed to glide through the air until she reached the island and landed with a stumble.
The island didn''t move, but Orlun jumped over to the next one.
Next was Rello and Eodyne, who helped shuttle them to the center island.
As Sereza stepped up, I felt the blip, this time closer. I grabbed her arm, and she froze. Together we waited, but the mana had already faded.
"I don''t like this. It feels like we''re being stalked," I muttered.
"No different than usual then?" Sereza joked.
"Nah. I think we''re good. But be prepared."
"Right. I don''t think I can survive fighting a space monster."
She jumped high, and I watched her body burst apart, transforming into a cloud of green smoke that bent toward the first island. As she neared the island, she regained her form and landed cleanly on both feet.
She gave the go-ahead, and I inhaled and bolted. As I neared the edge, I kicked off and sailed through the air. I leaned forward rolled across the tiles. My knees slid on the marble, and a hand grabbed me by the back of my hoodie and hauled me back.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
I blinked and realized that I was dangerously close to the edge. Through the connection, my familiars expressed their discomfort.
"Sorry, sorry. Shouldn''t have rolled."
¨¢ine landed on my shoulder and tugged at a strand of hair. I leaned my head and gently bopped her with my cheek, and she sat down on my shoulder while spinning my hair around her hand.
Alright, message received. No more stunts.
Sereza huffed. "Got a death wish?"
"Not particularly, but my history says otherwise."
"Cyrus," Eodyne shouted. "Just tank the impact. ¨¢ine can repair you."
I sighed and stood up but stopped when the blip appeared. Twisting to the left, I felt it move, and I continued to spin, trying to follow it.
"Cyrus?"
I ignored the question and traced the blip over to the far-right edge of the island and looked down. The blip disappeared, but I caught something more before it faded.
It felt cold and hard to grasp. Just as I thought I recognized it, the dungeon absorbed the mana, and I clawed at the air.
"Annoying, but whatever it is went down there. Be extra careful making jumps," I called out.
"Let''s gather at the center first," Eodyne responded.
Sereza patted my shoulder and leaped up, clearing the second island and the last, leaving me the last one left.
I centered myself and kicked off, repeating the same maneuver. This time I stuck the landing, and bent my knees rather than rolled forward.
Sereza flashed a thumbs-up, and I paused in case the foreign mana returned.
It didn''t, so I cleared the last jump and landed on the central island, joining the others.
As I stood up, I closed my eyes, but again, there were no signs of the mana blip.
"We''re good. I can''t sense anything."
"Okay. We need to pick a direction."
I opened my eyes and scanned the cavern. We were dead center. The walls were black marble, and the ambient light was dim--fitting for the dark abyss below.
The abyss itself looks like it went on for forever.
Two entrances, the north and the east entrance, had curtains covering their doorway. The west had its entrance open, the long hallway lit up with blue-flame torches.
Eodyne extended her arm, and I felt mana swirl into her hands as she pulled back, forming her signature bow. The arrow condensed into a compact azure bolt that whistled as she released.
The arrow zipped through the cavern and crashed into the ceiling above the north doorway. The mana exploded, and the silk sheet caught fire, turning to ash within seconds, revealing a hallway lit with white-flame torches.
Eodyne repeated her actions for the last hallway, revealing the green-flame torches behind it.
As she lowered her hands, a stormy expression clouded her face.
"Whatcha thinking?" I asked.
"Dungeons can be tricky. Those torches could signify elemental differences or the type of rooms to expect. It''s a guessing game, and we don''t have the luxury of information," she responded.
She spun around and observed each hallway, even going so far as to shoot an arrow down them. There wasn''t a single reaction, not even from the torches, as she purposely sent an arrow into the wall of the white-flame hallway.
Nothing. We gained nothing.
By now, we had stood around the central island for over a dozen minutes. We had to make a choice, so I closed my eyes and tried to see if my senses would tell me anything, but after a minute straight, I gave up and reopened them.
Out of all the hallways, the white-flame looked the least eerie.
"That one," I said, pointing to the north exit. "If we have to choose, I vote for that one."
"Reasoning?"
"White sounds better than green. Green makes me think poison, and while Sereza could survive that, we wouldn''t."
Eodyne looked everyone in the eye and rolled her neck. "Fine. It''s as good a reasoning as any."
She boosted Rello first, and as they entered the tunnel, they stopped near the entrance, giving it appropriate time for a trap to activate.
But thirty seconds passed, and they relaxed.
Next was Orlun, who cleared the way himself. Eodyne came back to help Aleena, but as soon as they touched the other side, a rumbling shook the entire room, and I crouched down, grabbing onto Sereza''s jacket.
We braced ourselves as the island began to rumble.
"Cyrus! Sereza!" Eodyne shouted through the cacophony of noise.
I tried to stand up, but then the island began to spin away from the tunnel, forcing us to scramble toward the other side.
¨¢ine clutched onto my shirt, and I held out a hand to stabilize her. "Sereza, we''ve got to jump!"
She opened her mouth, but the island jerked to a halt, sending us both to our knees.
Damnit!
Pushing to my feet, I dragged Sereza with me in time to feel a rush of mana from the hallway behind the others.
"Eodyne, incoming!"
She turned around, but a jet of air forced them back. Aleena grasped for something to hold onto, but a second gust pushed her off the edge, and she started to fall.
Eodyne grunted and jumped down, slamming her palm against Aleena''s back, who screamed as she rocketed upward. Her arms cushioned the impact, but she hit the roof and landed inside the tunnel, where Orlun grabbed her, and Rello summoned a spike to use as a brace.
Eodyne landed on the first island out and then leaped again.
She was coming, but as I shuffled closer to the edge, my foot slipped, and I slammed my elbows onto the tile. When I looked down, I saw that my leg had fallen through.
Sereza grabbed onto my shoulders and hauled me up, but the section of tiles around her cracked and came apart, jostling her to the side.
I gritted my teeth and reached a hand up for Eodyne, rushing at us, but a chill ran down my spine as the wind whispered in my ear.
"Stop!" I roared.
Eodyne came to a halt just as a blue fireball zipped across the cavern. It exploded against the far wall with a flash of light.
Sereza tugged on my arm. "Cyrus, push yourself out!"
My leg twisted, and something jagged tore a line through my calf. Ignoring the pain, I pulled my leg out of the hole and joined Sereza on the last section of uncracked tile.
Eodyne tried to move forward, but mana flared to life, and a barrage of fireballs zipped through the air. She activated her skills, and a wall of wind intercepted five of the six projectiles while the sixth veered across the barrier and exploded at Sereza''s feet.
She held on, and I sucked in the sharp mana with my hand, letting it rush into my core. The flames spread, but the explosion never came as I forced the mana down.
Crack! Crack!
The island titlted nearly ninety degrees, and someone screamed as we started to fall. I forced my hand into the hole my leg had created and struggled to hold on.
Fuck...
My other hand wrapped around Sereza''s waist as she dangled below me.
"Sereza!" I called out, unable to look down as another flash of light assaulted me.
"Here! I''m activating my skill!" she replied.
Another rush of mana came from the blue-flame tunnel, and I dug my claw into her shoulder.
"Don''t! Too dangerous!"
I shut my eyes as the flashes continued.
Sereza grunted. "Eodyne? Some help?"
She didn''t respond, but I felt her mana signature swerve to the left.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
My claws dug into the tile, but I continued to fall as the island finally broke free from the pillar holding it up.
Fuck!
I used the last of my strength to push with my boots and kick-off, trying to launch myself up. Sereza dug her claws into my side, piercing my jacket as I did.
The fall made me look up, and the sense of danger rose to an icepick digging into the back of my neck.
"Eodyne!"
She appeared like a bolt of lightning, her form sparking as she reached a hand down.
My fingers grazed hers, and she caught my index, but a blue fireball smashed into her side, knocking her away.
Her eyes were saucer plates as the force knocked her to the left.
"Master!" Sturmrorex roared.
He slipped from Eodyne''s shoulder and snaked around my arm, his scales squeezing tight.
A chunk of island clipped my shoulder and knocked the breath out of my lungs.
"Sereza. Skill!"
I expected her body to burst apart, but as we continued to slip further into the abyss, I looked down and found the felkin smiling with blood dripping down her chin.
"Nope," she grinned.
A chuckle nearly escaped my throat, but the blip appeared behind her. My foot lashed out, nearly smacking into her knee. She pulled back and revealed a black tentacle attached to her hip.
More tentacles continued to sprout until the blip pulsed with ice-like mana.
A fifth tentacle squeezed my arms together, constricting Sturmrorex into my chest, and I heard a familiar voice whisper words into my ear.
"This is going to hurt."
A black hoodie and mask covered his head, but I could recognize the golden locks peeking out from anywhere.
Swirling eyes reminiscent of the void met mine as we sank deep into the abyss.
Chapter 36: Unwanted Information
Mana brushed along my arms, and I reacted instinctively. The shadow-aspected mana rushed through the crystal and entered my core, settling with the taste of cold dust on my tongue.
I cut the absorption once I felt Isaac ramp up his mana usage, and a shell of black wrapped us in its embrace. As we continued to fall, the chill sharpened into something beyond surface level.
The feeling was familiar, albeit uncommon. But my breath was restricted, and something pierced the shadow fabric and slid an ice-cold blade into my thigh.
Isaac squeezed tight, and even though I couldn''t see through the shadows, his form lit up like a beacon.
Another blade cut strands off the back of my head, followed by something gnawing at my back.
Something yanked us upward, and air returned to my lungs as the restriction lessened. Isaac''s tentacles pulled back, and I flopped to the floor, unable to brace myself as my chin hit the tile.
A strong urge to cough had me hack up something wet and slimy. As I hurled, a blob of black spilled from my mouth and smoked the moment it came in contact with the ground.
"Is... Isaac. What the... fuck," I sputtered between breaths.
I turned my head to the side and saw Sereza curled up in a fetal position, her breathing erratic. Isaac was to her right, holding both daggers up as he stared at the ground beside him.
What''s going on?
As Sereza cracked open an eye, Isaac stabbed downward just in time. A large purple-black maw clamped down on the blade.
"Fuck off!" Isaac shouted.
A tentacle sprouted from his back and bludgeoned the creature''s skull. A roar that rattled my head came from its mouth, and more of its body rose up, revealing sleek, wet flesh.
Isaac''s arm blossomed with shadowy mana, and he jammed his second blade into its eye, twisting as it reeled back. Before it could move, two more tentacles punched its skull and wrapped itself around its snout.
He stood up and hauled the creature out of the shadows, exposing a fish-like body attached to a wolf''s skull. It struggled in his grip, and he stabbed continuously, punching through its skin like a sewing machine.
In, out. In and then out. Black, smoky liquid seeped from its numerous wounds, draining the creature dry. By the final stab, the creature had shriveled like a prune, less than half its original size.
With a final jerk, he tore his blade free and stabbed again, this time in the side of its neck. With deliberate slowness, he parted the flesh, and the blade exited the other side.
The wolf skull thudded against the floor, and Isaac''s tentacles coiled before launching the body against the wall.
As the body hit the stone with a meaty schlap, he dropped to his knees and panted. His arms hung down, his blades clattering against the tile.
"I... fuck that sucked. Cyrus. Fu-cking heal her before she goes into shock. She can''t... handle the mana."
I looked away and found Sereza growing increasingly pale. Spiderwebs of black veins sprouted from her arms and pulsed.
My body ached with injuries, but I clawed myself closer and slapped my claws onto her arm, where the crystal cut into her skin.
It was enough contact, and I absorbed the mana. I could recognize it now for shadow mana. And let it fill my receptacle until her breathing slowed and her body stopped shaking.
Her eyes relaxed, and she groaned. "That. Fucking sucked."
I kept absorbing until I excised the entirety of the foreign mana before I pulled back and rolled onto my back.
Sturmrorex shivered as he slithered up my arm and toward my neck. ¨¢ine flew out from underneath my hoodie, and she hopped onto my chest. Her tiny hands reached for my nose, and I welcomed the healing mana as it began to repair my wounds.
"Thank you, ¨¢ine," I said. Sturmrorex rubbed my cheek with his horns, and I lazily pushed them away before rubbing his snout. "I''m glad you''re safe."
Sturmrorex kept quiet, and I ignored the concern, bleeding through the link. For a couple of minutes, ¨¢ine did her thing as I caressed my familiar''s scales.
Eventually, ¨¢ine hopped off and flew onto Sereza''s back, who was still lying face first. ¨¢ine activated her skill, and Sereza groaned for a second time.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Isaac stood up, only to roll to the side as a sharp black spike nearly as tall as him jutted from the ground. I sat up and extended my arms, but Isaac crouched and waited.
The spike receded, and a tense silence filled the room before Isaac snorted.
"Somehow, not surprised that felkins are tasty," he joked.
My concern fizzled away, and I flipped him the bird. "Where the fuck are we?"
He stood from his crouch and dusted himself off. "No idea. The shadow realm spat us out, but where I don''t know."
I rubbed my temples. "You were the blip, weren''t you? If you saw me, Eodyne, and Sereza, why not reveal yourself."
"Because," he said in a cold tone. "I had no idea if you were real. I already met fake versions of the others, and they tried to stab me in the back."
"And you saved us thinking we were real; why?"
"The dungeon hasn''t tried to kill itself before," he grunted. He glared at me and whispered just loud enough for me to hear. "And your stupid mind is already trying to kill me."
"What about my mind?"
"Nothing."
He walked over and held out a hand. I accepted the help up and popped my back as I leaned forward. Exhaling, I scanned the small, empty room and closed my eyes.
Outside of Isaac and Sereza, the room was dead, mana-wise.
"Welp, looks like we''re safe for now. Unless more of those things want to take a bite out of us."
Isaac shook his head. "We should be good. The dungeon fixed the hole; it''d take a leviathan to breach it. And we didn''t dive that deep."
"Shadow users. You''re all insane," Sereza complained as she stood up.
¨¢ine hopped off her shoulder and onto Isaac, pushing a brief wave of healing energy before she returned to her spot on my shoulder.
"You think Eodyne will be okay? I didn''t see what happened after the island fell," I said.
"She''s fine. It''d take a lot more for her to go down. And she has Elanor''s guards if she runs into anything," Isaac replied.
I checked my spear as well as my clothes. My jacket and hoodie sported a long tear at the back, but the enchantments weaved into the clothes were already at work repairing the damage.
Isaac crossed his arms and glared. "So where the fuck did you go, Cyrus?"
My eye twitched, and I took a deep breath before explaining all that had happened for the third time. Isaac began to raise his hands, looking suspiciously like he wanted to choke me out.
"Cyrus..." he growled.
I cocked my head. "Yeah? Something wrong?"
It looked like he took every ounce of willpower to lower his hands. Instead, a tendril lashed at the ground before receding into his back. He straightened up and slotted his daggers into their sheaths before turning around.
"We really need to talk about this more when we get out of here. Your god can eat shit."
My eyes narrowed. "Careful. I give him access to my memories every time he visits."
Isaac froze, and shadows began to pool around his feet before he cut his mana off. He cleared his throat and continued walking. "I was joking! I promise!"
I didn''t hide the grin peeking at the corner of my lips.
The room had a metal door that Isaac slowly opened. Sereza and I prepared our weapons, but it opened to reveal a dark hallway with no side tunnels or entrances, just another wall at the end with a second metal door waiting.
Starting to think this is a labyrinth kind of dungeon.
This time, when the shadows pooled at Isaac''s feet, they elongated into the shape of a man. His clone rose from his shadow and sprouted two shadowy tentacles near its neck.
Isaac leaned against the door as the clone marched down the hall and performed a series of jumps and stomps, among other loud noises.
Sereza raised an eyebrow. "Uh, looks like it''s safe?"
The clone reached for the metal door and placed a hand on the knob. Nothing happened; he yanked it open to reveal a blinding blue light.
The light pushed the clone back, but as it stood straight and stepped through the doorway.
Isaac pulled down his mask and frowned. "This place is too damn weird."
I shrugged and began walking. The clone turned around and crossed its arms, but I ignored it and observed the doorway as more details came into view.
The clone turned with me, and I heard footsteps behind us, but I only had eyes for what was inside the door.
Large crystals filled the space, bathed in glowing blue¡ªsome the size of Arturous. The middle sported a massive crevasse that sloshed with the sounds of water, but as I leaned forward, I smelled chemicals. It was bitter and clinical, reminding me of antiseptic.
Isaac''s clone took the first step inside and approached the edge, so I joined it and stared down.
Black sludge bubbled underneath, opening into a black lake. Crystal clusters sprouted from the sides, and a large pillar jutted out of the center, its material surprisingly clear despite the filth covering it.
I felt a hunger draw me in, the insides of my stomach rumbling.
"Cyrus?" Sereza asked.
I shut my eyes and let the feeling filter through, the pull coming from the center of my chest. It felt connected to something, so I dived into my soulspace.
I searched, staring up at the ceiling of my inner world, but I couldn''t find anything obvious. Again, the hunger came, and I searched around.
A skill wisp floated from the lake and hovered near my shoulder, the distinct Chomp echoing throughout the realm.
"Do you know what''s up?"
Chomperz chomped again and lazily floated off, leaving me alone once more.
As I opened my eyes, I stepped away from the edge and found Isaac jumping onto a section of crystals.
"What are you doing?" I called out.
"I thought I saw movement. Be prepared."
I raised my spear and channeled mana into the shaft. Venom sprouted from its tip, and I stood nearby, waiting.
Sereza was redipping her daggers into her vials when Isaac leaped to a patch of crystals about ten feet off the ground. He jumped repeatedly, transvering around the circular chamber until he stopped atop a large crystal embedded into the wall.
He used his tentacles to anchor himself on nearby rocks before he scaled the sides and leaned down.
I couldn''t see anything special about the crystal, the blue gem giving off bright light from within like the rest.
Yet, Isaac used his sleeve to rub at the crystal. The crystal itself looked clear, so I didn''t understand why he wa-
A spike of mana pulsed out, and I readied my own, letting it rush into my throat.
Isaac slammed his fist against the crystal. "Those fuckers!"
"What''s wrong?"
He leaned to the side, exposing the front of the crystal to Sereza and me.
Oh...
It was hard to see through the glow, but a man''s head shined through the glass.
"Damn," Sereza whispered.
Chapter 37: Peering Through the Looking Glass
"Calm down. What if they''re fakes the dungeon created?" I argued.
"You really think that?" Isaac snarled.
"No. But there''s always a possibility."
"You and I know both know that''s about as likely as you not fucking up a rift!"
"Isaac!"
His eyes widened and he looked away, sliding the mask back over his face. "Sorry. Sereza, you heard nothing."
Her eyes narrowed, but she shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. "There''s a lot to unpack after this. But later. Do you think someone is inside every crystal?"
We spent the next five minutes going around the room checking.
Every single crystal deposit had a prisoner. Their faces were unknown to me, and they all had closed eyes, but there were enough people to fill a small village.
Isaac dropped from the wall and retracted his tentacles. His face was hidden behind his mask, but I could see the thunderous expression in his eyes.
He stalked over to the edge and stared down at the bubbling pool of muck. "Let''s go; we need to find the others."
Sereza shared a worried glance, and I awkwardly shrugged. There wasn''t anything else we could do.
We walked to the otherside of the cavern, Isaac''s clone leading the way. The metal door led to a winding path that took us up a flight of stairs. I was curious, but I turned around and examined the stairwell as we reached the top.
"Not a transition between floors. No safe zone."
"Not everything in a dungeon is dungeon-related. We don''t even know what is part of the dungeon and isn''t." Isaac added.
Fair enough.
Another long hallway with nothing beyond the door at the end greeted us. This time, when Isaac''s clone reached for the handle, I raised my spear and slammed it against the door.
Isaac and his clone turned around and crossed their arms. "What?"
Mana. A lot of it.
"Something''s inside. Can''t you feel it?"
Isaac uncrossed his arms and shut his eyes. He opened them a few seconds later and pulled out his daggers.
"Yeah. Be prepared."
Isaac''s clone reached for the door and opened it wide.
We stepped back, ready to dodge or get out of the way, but instead, mana washed over us in waves. It felt thick, heavy enough to slow the other''s movements.
I felt it, but not entirely, my body seemingly resistant to the mana.
"Sereza. This reminds you of something?"
"Feels like ether," she panted.
Isaac resisted better than the other folks; his daggers raised high as he followed his clone''s movements.
I stepped in front of Sereza and tried absorbing some of the ambient mana, but the crystal coating my body refused.
She stood up straight, but her legs moved as if she had walked through molasses. I reached into my hoodie, slipped my necklace off my head, and slid it over hers.
"Wha-?"
Once Zolnja''s amulet was properly settled around her neck, she breathed in, entirely unbothered by the previous pressure.
"Oh, that''s nice. Thank you," she grinned.
"No problem."
She shook her head. "Again, whatever your resistances are, it''s insane."
We followed Isaac into the new room that was smaller but still larger than the usual temple rooms we encountered.
Another pool created a moat around the central crystal that expanded up to the ceiling. But instead of bubbling black tar, it was bright pink fluid with glittering stars underneath the surface.
It was pretty.
Sereza grunted, and she gripped her daggers tight. "Even with the necklace, I can almost taste it."
Isaac glanced back, noting my stare. "Fuck you."
"Thanks?" I scoffed. "You''re not exactly on your knees right now. Got a hidden perk up your sleeve?"
"Maybe. Feel anything?"
I did. The air around me had been slowly caressing my skin and leaving sharp, cold lines against the back of my neck.
"Yeah, danger. Notice how there are no other crystals? It has to be that," I said as I pointed toward the crystal obelisk at the center.
The rest of the room had walls lined with the same glittery substance, looking like salt coating the dark marble.
There was something else: a strange reaction in my gut. Whatever it was, it pulled me toward the central obelisk.
I stepped closer, relying on the amplified mana sense to position me near the east side. Physically, nothing looked out of place. The tile and moat were perfectly circular.
Isaac had stepped close but nowhere near the edge; instead, his clone trodded his way around the moat and toward the other side. From my position, I could see a large metal door, this one reinforced with chains that led into the rock.
"You guys okay?" I asked my familiars.
"Yes."
"Of course!"
Even as they said that, they clung to me tightly, Sturmrorex, in particular, constricting around my throat.
I continued to examine the surroundings, even feeling the floor with my hand. As I did, the sharpness against my neck intensified and tugged my head.
Isaac''s clone had reached the chained door and extended a hand toward the lock.
"Isaac, stop! Whatever it is, it''s activating my perk."
The clone froze and turned with its arms crossed. Isaac copied its actions and stared.
I sighed. "I don''t know. But I''m getting a strong sense of danger if you continue."
"You really got nothing? Nothing at all?"
"No," I said as I eyed the obelisk. "But maybe there''s a lead."
"What are you doing," Sereza asked.
"We either go back or go forward. The door seems like a death trap, and there''s nothing behind us. So what about the crystal?"
"At least let me be ready to grab you."
I agreed and waited for the others to get into position. Sereza waited behind me, her daggers up and her tail poised.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.Isaac had his tendrils resting on the ground. They weren''t the strongest appendages but should be enough to catch me if I fell. Sereza was ready to help pull me back in case I slipped.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready," Isaac agreed.
"Ready," Sereza added.
My legs tensed, and I secured my familiars, with ¨¢ine slipping into my hood. Sturmrorex summoned wind around my feet, copying Eodyne. Though he had far less power behind it, he made my steps feel light as I sprinted toward the edge.
The moment I was within a step away from plunging into the etherous mana, I kicked off, leaping into the air. The ground came fast, and I braced myself by extending my arms. My body jolted as I slid forward and stopped just shy of touching the obelisk.
Now that I stood next to it only inches apart¡ªseparating me from the obelisk¡ªI felt the pull intensely. The feeling demanded I get even closer, a churning in my chest rising.
Quit it.
My body didn''t care and continued to bang against the bars for attention. As I stood up, knocking inside my chest made me stand still and wait. I gave permission, and Chomperz appeared.
He hovered above my shoulder and stared at the obelisk. When he turned his head, I saw the red in his eyes shining bright.
"Chomperz?"
He turned around and chomped at the air before lowering onto my shoulder, where he gripped on.
That''s unusual.
"Master. Look up," Sturmrorex whispered.
I did and saw nothing amiss. The crystal continued to shine with soft light. Its pink glass was smooth and perfectly rounded.
As I stared, Chomperz vibrated, his body creating a buzzing in my ear.
"Woah, what the fuck?" I exclaimed.
"What''s happening?" Sereza called out.
I reached a hand to grab Chomperz, but the vibrations stopped, and he chomped the air.
"You okay?"
Chomp!
"Alright, if you say so."
"Cyrus?" Sereza asked again.
"Sorry, he seems fine, but something about the crystal is making him react. I think it..."
"Think what?" Isaac demanded.
I shook my head and extended my hand, my claws reaching the crystal. My claw touched, and I closed my eyes, shutting off external stimuli.
The mana shifted, its sluggish movements crashing against the crystal covering. The fur underneath reacted but resisted.
No.
I forced the crystal to absorb¡ªwilling Magnus'' skill to work. When pink mana entered my veins, lightning shoot up my arm. It felt like a swarm of insects crawling across my skin.
Yeah, the feeling was familiar, similar to when I touched the ether crystal.
The mana around my fingers began to erode, its solidity slowly drifting apart like particles of sand.
I kept my hand there, squeezing the mana through my veins. Before I could close my eyes, Sturmrorex constricted around my throat, and something bit down on my ear.
I raised my free hand and felt Chomperz''s maw digging into my earlobe.
Taking the warning for what it was, I pulled back, and he released his bite.
"Feel like answering now?" Isaac glowered.
"It definitely feels like ether, but something is different. If it was ether, I doubt I could absorb it."
"How much did you absorb?"
I checked and shook my head. "Maybe a drop. It''s a shit ton of mana."
"Shouldn''t be able to absorb it anyway. Is Chomperz fine?"
Chomperz stared transfixed at the spot where I touched the crystal. His head tracked even as I shifted positions.
"Chompz?"
He raised his stubby arm and pointed.
Does he want me to touch it again?
The spot was just too tall for me to get a good look, but luckily, I had the means to fix that. Closing my eyes, I envisioned the vault that was Chomperz''s stomach and selected a crate I knew was solid enough to hold me.
Instead of appearing near my hand, Chomperz leaned down and spat the crate at my feet, rattling the heavy box filled with drinks.
I hopped up and ignored the snicker from Isaac behind me.
As I stood, I peered at the spot and found it different from the surrounding area. The crystal was clear but cloudy on the inside, the bright pink light it gave off easily filling in the space¡ªthat wasn''t true for the two-inch wide circle.
The circle shined with the clarity of a glass pane that exposed swirling blue clouds deeper within. I stared, narrowing my eyes, and leaned forward.
As I did, Chomperz dug his claws into my jacket, and I felt the pull in my chest intensify. I wanted... No. I needed to see what was inside.
Before I pressed my face to the crystal, I requested ¨¢ine, who placed both hands on the base of my neck. Healing mana flooded my body and into my head, but nothing changed. The pull was still there, clawing at my thoughts.
"Be prepared. Something is pulling at me, and I don''t think it''s mental compulsion. ¨¢ine''s mana detected nothing."
"I''ll impale you if I have to," Isaac chirped.
"I have the paralytics ready," Sereza confirmed.
Leaning forward slowly, I moved my face close enough until my horns clinked against the surface. After adjusting, I heard the clink of my crystal halo hitting the obelisk and ignored it, further peering deeper even as the crystal helmet prevented me from truly touching.
Relaxing my shoulders, I tensed my core and willed the mana to flood my head. It slowly passed through the pores like thick sludge, and I could see the vibrant pink energy zap my skin.
The mana slid down to my neck, where it continued to flow along the fibers and push its way through my chest. Once the first drop hit the receptacle, I felt full but continued pulling.
As I forced a third drop with the skill, brilliant blue light flashed against my retinas, and I blinked, ready to pull away.
Except, I couldn''t move my neck.
Chapter 38: A Trip Through Nothing
This isn''t good.
"Master!" Sturmrorex roared.
In the back of my head, Magnus'' anger bled through, the feeling empowering the chaotic gremlin rattling its cage.
I used my fangs to pierce my lip, blood coating my tongue. The pain startled Wrath, and I knocked it aside, regaining control.
Things may have been worrying, but it would not control me.
"I''m fine," I said, pausing. "Maybe. Anything happening that I can''t see?"
"No."
"Okay, calm down, let me focus."
Sturmrorex''s scales tingled as a wave of electricity expanded down his body. He didn''t filter the frustration from the link.
I sighed and looked up, peering into the glass as the blue expanded. Something inside drew my attention to a fine point, just out of sight.
A strand of mana pelted the glass, a needle''s width. I tried to lean away, but when I shifted my shoulders, I realized it was the crystal helmet that was stuck.
Just let go!
Nope. Nothing worked. I tried sliding my claws between the space, but there wasn''t any.
Clink! Clink! Clank!
I flinched as a pair of mana threads rattled against the crystal, followed by a larger thread the size of my thumb.
"Cyrus?" Sereza asked.
"Stuck and busy. Something''s happening inside the obelisk," I replied.
Clink! Clink! Clank! Clank!
Gotcha!
I pulled with Magnus'' skill as the last impact tried to force its way out. Instead of dispersing back into the roiling cloud of blue, the mana stayed glued to the crystal surface and tried to dig through.
After watching the mana pulse out of the crystalline structure, I confirmed my theory.
The obelisk was permeable to the mana, but most of its power was contained with each pulse. It filtered through what felt like tiny passageways, diffusing and losing strength before it breached the surface.
But not this time. I forced it to stay together. My skill sucked it in, keeping its form intact. When I pulled, it complied¡ªalmost eagerly.
"Master..." ¨¢ine whispered in my head.
Only a little more, a final push.
Clink! Clink! CLANK!
Once more, mana threads pelted the obelisk from within, but the mana slipped through the pathway that was being created and joined with the one pressed against the surface.
It breached, and my skill devoured. Uncaring of the electricity clawing at my skin, I exerted my will and forced it down the pathways.
Mana swirled in my receptacle. A storm brewed from within, enveloping the other energy types inside. They fell prey to it, assimilating under its power as more streamed in from the crystal.
It overwhelmed my senses. Bugs crawled down my limbs, lightning raised each hair on my body, and a fierce cold pried my mana channels open. I tried to fight back and cut off the skill, but it wouldn''t listen.
"Master!"
Sturmrorex bit my neck, injecting electricity into my muscles, but the flood of etherous mana tore it apart, forcing it away.
Something smacked against the obelisk, but I couldn''t open my eyes, my attention glued to the rising storm.
"Master." Sturmrorex whimpered.
Up my throat, it continued, and it tried to condense.
No!
I slammed a mental fist against it, forcing the flow to continue. For the first time in forever, I gave in and let the gremlin out of its cage. It latched onto the mana stream with glee.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Hot and cold, hellfire and ice made warred inside my mouth. Until finally, Wrath gave in and crushed the thread. It stomped and stomped until the mana was forced back. Like a cascade of dominoes, the mana channel lost its support, and my manapool forced the stream to reverse.
Behind me, firm hands gripped my shoulder, and cold tendrils snaked around my waist and forehead. They pulled, and I slammed both arms onto the obelisk. I pushed, and the mana rushed into the receptacle, but a sharp crack rang out in my mind.
Oh fuck.
One moment, I was pushing against the obelisk, trying to separate. The next, I could only clench my fists as the receptacle shattered, the mana rampaging through my body.
Channels widened in agonizing pain. I screamed, in my head or out loud; I was unsure.
Just as mana continued to spin and consume my insides. A soft chime rang from my soul.
Ding!
And then an unmistakable¡ªbut loud enough to drown out the misery¡ªchomp blanketed my ears.
CHOMP!
It may have been my imagination, but I heard laughter as the world fell away and dropped me into a black void.
------
My eyes fluttered open, and I tried to smack the bug crawling on my face. As my hand met skin, I paused and pinched my cheek.
Slowly, I ran my hand up to my head, where I felt my horns but a lack of a crystal ring spinning behind them. Just in case, I leaned forward and patted my skull.
I lowered my hand to my shoulders, felt around, and moved to my neck and finally to my stomach. In an instant, I sat up, searching for my spirits. Around me, endless darkness filled my vision with only a soft pink light illuminating a few inches past my skin.
They weren''t there, so I closed my eyes and tried to dive into my soulspace. I slipped into a deep meditation and found myself on the central island situated within the lake.
Something was wrong.
The lake lay still, the fog frozen in place. I searched for the skill wisps but found nothing, even as I willed myself around the dimension.
Panic set in, but I forced myself to breathe and calmed down. Not even the gremlin acted up.
I left my soulspace and blinked at the the wall of nothingness. It didn''t hurt my eyes like the void, so I hesitantly swiped at the air.
No reaction.
"Hello?" I called out.
Nothing.
Extending my arm, I examined how the soft glow interacted with the shade. When the constant flow pushed away from my skin and met the edges of the darkness, it pushed it away, knocking it aside.
In a constant battle for space, I closed my eyes and tried to feel what the energy was, but it was absent from my senses outside of visual perception.
Lowering my arm, I tried pulling mana from my pool, but it wouldn''t budge. The lake remained frozen even after I closed my eyes and observed the process in the soulspace.
So, nothing''s working, and everything is gone. I can''t be dead... I think.
Going out by being stuck against a crystal obelisk would be one of the dumbest ways to go. If anything, I''d find a way to haunt Cal for forever.
I lowered my arm and got to my feet. I jumped and felt practically weightless but grounded in a way that wherever I stepped, something solid met my action.
Without a way to go, I began walking.
Time felt strange, I tried to count, but after ten seconds, I''d lose my place, and it would suddenly feel like an hour had passed. The longer I walked, boredom began to set in.
Eventually, I jumped and leaped, adding variety to my movements. Closer to moonwalking than acrobatics, I continued until I noticed something had changed.
I held up my hand, observing the pink glow intensify, pushing the darkness back even further.
For a time, I examined my body. The light had brightened in general and not just around my hands. Again, I tried to call my mana or view the energy with my mana sense, but it remained hidden.
With nothing else to do, I continued.
On and on it went. I thought I was going in a circle at one point, so I doubled back. Something in my head nagged at me, and I turned around after a few minutes of backtracking.
Slowly, the glow brightened, and I saw the energy react. It stopped pushing at its confines and began sloping upwards.
I stopped once the light made actual cones rise from my head and up to the dark ceiling. From there I jumped, deciding that forward was the new up. Strange at first, I continued my journey until, finally, something happened.
CHOMP!
I waited and shifted to a closer spot where the light from my mana flickered.
CHOMP!
Ahead of me, about three inches to the right, I felt a pull from my chest demand I get closer.
CHOMP!
As the sound echoed in the grand nothingness, I punched forward and plunged my hand into the darkness, repelling it and revealing a piece of the void.
A headache built as I stared at the scar in reality. But the sound was too familiar for me to care, and I plunged my claws into the crack, dragging my hand downward.
The void expanded like a zipper splitting apart, revealing a familiar face. I smiled and extended my arm.
Instead of floating through the hole, Chomperz bit my fingers, clamping my hand in his mouth. He pulled, and I let him drag me forward, bringing me onto his side.
Like a vacuum, it sucked me in and deposited me onto solid ground. It felt cool to the touch, my hands creating claw marks as I scrambled to sit up.
Chomp.
"Yes, Chomperz?"
Chomp!
I looked up, and he landed on my face. He wrapped his arms around my temple and tugged up as his wings flapped behind him.
When I tried to pull him off, his maw crunched my nose and chewed.
After lowering my hand, he stopped chewing and tugged me forward.
"Chomperz, seriously. What''s going on?" I asked, trying to poke him from a different angle.
He sank a fang into my knuckle--pain shot up my hand, and I reached up to poke his forehead.
His tongue slid my finger around until he opened his mouth and chomped.
I poked his nose. "Fine, fine. Stop biting me."
I let him guide me further in, completely unable to see. I tried to peer through the corners of my eyes, but Chomperz squeezed himself closer, completely covering my sight.
Eventually, he released me and leaned away, removing his jaw from around my finger. Now that my sight was no longer obstructed, I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the light. The once soft glow about a foot out had extended into intense light that filled the space.
Blindingly bright, the pink bordered on white as my eyelids fought to stay open.
It took a second, but I managed and finally looked up to see what Chomperz was leading me to.
Out of all the things he could have shown me. I honestly wasn''t expecting it to be so... tiny.
"Hey! I''m not tiny!"
Chapter 39: Deal with a Dungeon
I crossed my arms. "Keep reading my thoughts; this talk won''t be friendly."
The tiny figure floated to hover just above my nose. Her eyes darted between mine and Chomperz, who sat on my shoulder.
She looked like... a fairy, almost like ¨¢ine. Unlike the little green sprite, she sported skin made of obsidian crystal and hair equally as crystalline and dark. Behind her, instead of insect wings, flapped floating amalgamations of shadows and pink glitter¡ªthey resembled wings in all but name.
Thankfully, she sported clothes made of pink glass that sparkled with a rainbow tint as she subtly adjusted midair.
She leaned forward, nearly pressing her face into mine. "And what are you going to do about it?"
I didn''t have to do anything. Chomperz did it for me.
He opened his mouth and lunged, clamping onto the fairy''s nose.
The fairy screamed and windmilled, her arms desperately flailing as Chomperz refused to let go. "Aaagh! Get him off! Get him off!"
I grabbed chomperz, who let go only to chomp again, tearing a small hole into her dress. Her mouth dropped as she grabbed the mist. The shadows and pink glitter flowed into place, restoring the hole, but not before she glared at the dragonling.
Her tongue began moving, but not before my hand blocked her view. "You done trying to intimidate me?"
It was funny; I truly felt no fear. Something in my gut told me as much, in the same way, I knew instinctively how to react to the forest guardians when I first met them.
And this fairy, this place, and strange situation?
I felt perfectly safe.
The fairy lowered my hand with surprising strength, her dress flowing around my palm to force it to the side, revealing a narrowed-eyed tiny woman.
"You attempt to steal my essence again, I''ll make it hurt."
I quirked an eyebrow. "Nice bluff. You sure you can follow through?"
Her mouth snapped shut. "Hrmmph."
She spun around and floated away, not far but enough to be out of reach. When she pivoted about, she examined me, her eyes roaming across every inch of exposed skin.
"Bold of you to talk to me that way."
I bowed my head, which produced an audible gasp from the small being. "It''s an honor to meet you. I am Cyrus."
When I raised my head, the fairy looked flustered, light pink coloring her cheeks¡ªstanding out in stark contrast against her dark skin.
"It''s an... honor to meet you too!" she huffed. She rose into the air, hovering above my head to look down. "It''s not every day to meet a soul marked by the Weave itself."
I raised my head. "Not wanting to be rude, but what exactly are you? And where are we?"
The fairy froze midair, her arms akimbo and her wings static. "Do... do you not know who I am?"
"Can''t say I do," I said while shaking my head. "I tried to connect to the crystal obelisk and was sucked in here. Next thing I know, I''m in limbo."
"But... H-how?" she started. Her hair started to float upwards, and the shadowy mesh that made up her wings elongated into several spikes along the edges. "You''re a Keeper! That''s impossible!"
Her voice carried through the space, filling the entire room as if speaking with a distortion delayed by half of a half second.
I raised my hands and lowered my head slightly. "How about you tell me your name and explain what this place is?"
I suspected I was in some dimensional space the same way Albrus separated me. And the longer I stayed in this unfamiliar place, disconnected from reality, the more certain I became.
Crystal clacked on crystal and created a melodic chime as she vibrated. When he finally stopped, she flew closer, her hands grasping at the air.
"I am Xenatralaxusvelus Aurendaleuvwempak! Assistant Fairy to the Dungeon Core Weldrammornorpelus! Custodian of Temrus Temple! How. Do. You. Not. Know. Who. I. Am?!"
That''s a lot of syllables...
"I don''t. Sorry. This whole situation is whacky. I''m only here because my dad told me to investigate the city. Next thing we know, mind eaters, crazy dungeon, and a warning about some fragment of a dead god."
If she was going to be confusing, I could be too. But I watched her face, seeing how she internalized everything I said.
She lowered to eye level and crossed her legs, sitting on nothing. "I see."
It was a drastic change from the fury she displayed a moment before. And I didn''t miss the information she dropped about dungeon cores having fairy assistants. This must be part of why Cal told me to keep mum.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"So where are we, Xena?"
She glared, probably at the shortening of her name. "We''re trapped. Inside a prison that used to be our dimensional space."
"You and Weldrammornorpelus?"
"Yes."
So all dungeon cores existed inside a pocket, outside of reality. But that didn''t explain the obelisk.
"The room my friends and I were in was large, had a moat filled with pink mana, and a crystal pillar extended up to the ceiling on the central island. It felt like ether."
"Because it is. Diluted and less dense due to it being dungeon-aspected mana. But it''s ether. And you found the core chamber," she explained. Then her eyes hardened. "You shouldn''t be able to, the space is cut off from the rest of the dungeon."
Black eyes glared into mine, and I stared back.
"How much do you know about what''s going on? And why can''t I use my mana? Why is my soulspace frozen, but Chomperz is here."
Xena opened her mouth but Chomperz chomped at the air. She tried to speak again, but once more, Chomperz disrupted her.
She puffed her cheeks. "Fine. I won''t tell him. You''ll have to figure that out yourself. As far what I know. Nothing. I''m blind in here."
"How do you know I''m a Keeper? Or whatever you called it."
"Are you joking?" Xena searched my face but shook her head. "You''re not. Wow. Whoever is your parent, they did a poor job preparing you. Shoddy work for a god."
It wasn''t the first time some unknown entity seemed to know things about me. But I had to ask.
"How do you know any of this?"
She placed a finger on my chest, prodding my sternum. "You''re hiding some things. I can see the work of something above my paygrade obfuscating parts of your soul. But right now? You''re entirely exposed."
I looked down and splayed my fingers, watching the light interact with the void. The glow looked familiar, and the mention of a soul connected a few pieces.
"Am I showing my soul somehow?"
"Correct! You''re not actually here; you''re talking to me through soul projection."
Despite not having a body, I felt a migraine creeping behind my eyes.
"Why..." I asked out loud. Xena frowned and looked up, but I waved my hand. "Forget it. Where''s your core?"
"He''s asleep," Xena growled. Her wings expanded and formed blades at the end, sharpening into fine points. "That asshole! Used its influence to force him into a coma, taking control of the dungeon in his absense."
"The dead god?"
"Yes!"
I wanted to get this over with and return to Solara.
"How do we wake him? And how do we get rid of the foreign divinity."
Xena stayed silent, her body drifting on an unseen breeze as she glowered at something in the distance.
I waited. And when that didn''t work, I waved a hand in front of her face. She kicked it away and shook her fist.
"Quit it!"
"Well?"
"I don''t know," she whispered.
"What?"
"I said I don''t know!"
I felt like banging my head against a wall.
"What do you mean you don''t know? How? Why?!"
"Dungeon cores are not supposed to be invaded by dead gods!"
Uggghh.
Pain poked at my earlobe, and I swatted Chomperz away.
"What?"
Chomp!
"That tells me nothing."
He used his stubby paw to grip my cheekbone and push it to the side. I turned to face him, meeting his eyes as he pressed his snout closer.
I stared at the spinning rings, the bright crimson drawing me in.
Chomperz opened his mouth and chomped!
Right.
Chomperz backed away and resettled on my shoulder.
"There has to be something we can do. I refuse to be stuck here."
Xena crossed her arms, but she didn''t refute my words. Instead, she stared at my chest.
I had an urge to cover myself, but I doubted it would have done anything to prevent her from seeing my soul.
When she uncrossed her arms, I expected another speech, but she floated back to my sternum and placed her finger against my hoodie.
"Lift up your clothes."
I quirked an eyebrow but complied.
My tattoo was there, glowing in bright prismatic colors that contrasted with the muteness of the void. With a flex, the tattoo''s glow intensified, and I felt something scratch at my senses.
For the first time since waking up in this limbo space, I felt mana flare to life. Like sparks in the dead of night, they caught your attention.
Huh.
Xena reached her hand closer but stopped just before touching my skin. She withdrew her arm and floated up to meet my eyes.
"You''re the spawn of a chaos god?"
"Uh. Yeah," I confirmed.
Her dress and wings became a tornado, black dust and glittering shards catching the prismatic glow of my tattoo. "Then I have a plan.
She smiled when she said those words and revealed rows of shark-like teeth instead of molars.
Those were never good words.
-------
"No."
"What do you mean no? It''s the only way!"
I rubbed at my temples, trying to desperately massage the stress away.
"I''m not going to become a dungeon core. What part of ''refuse to be stuck here'' is hard to understand?"
Xena pried my fingers away and gripped tight. "You won''t! We''re only doing this to wake my partner up. When we''re done, we unbind. Simple!"
I nearly hissed, displaying my fangs threateningly.
The conversation had been going on for what felt like forever. Back and forth, her plan seemed crazy.
Not that I was one to talk. Crazy plans were not unusual. But still! I refused to risk becoming some disembodied soul.
"How can you be sure?"
She thumped my forehead with tiny fists. "This! Use your knowledge. You''re a Keeper!"
I let the anger go, forcing it deep inside my gut where it could sit pretty. After closing my eyes, I let my thoughts wander.
Bits of knowledge and information that seemed like I knew it, but I definitely didn''t raced by. Eventually, I focused on the aspect of bonding, and I finally got an answer.
It was the first time I had ever pulled information so directly.
She''s right. We can unbind. But it will leave its mark.
Chomp!
I glared, but gave in. "Right. Not like that''s anything new."
"I can still hear you."
"Do you want me to agree or not?" I retorted.
Xena slammed both hands over her mouth and backed away.
"No. Fuck. Fine. Here, what do you need me to do?"
I extended my arm and held out my hand. Xena landed on my palm and smiled as she twirled with her arms up.
"Great! Hold me to your stomach and will the chaos outward. I''ll guide the contract!" I started pushing her away. "Temporary! Temporary Contract! You''re interesting, but not Weldrammornorpelus."
I hesitantly brought her closer and let her place both palms against my chest. Flexing the tattoo''s power, the rainbow light intensified, shifting hues rapidly.
Something grabbed hold; it was far stronger than I had expected, feeling like the might of a giant pulling on a rope. Xena rocked her head back, her eyes fluttering, showcasing the sea of rainbow stars behind her eyelids.
The power churned and rushed into her body, swirling in multiple directions like threads being split.
Finally, a rush of power so heavy it felt like molten lead rushed inside my chest and forced its way into my mana pool.
I closed my eyes and watched a deluge of pink goop tinged with glittering shadow cascade like a waterfall inside the soulspace.
In the real world, I watched Xena''s wings change, and an obsidian halo formed above her head. Opening her eyes, she stared with chromatic sclera and a glowing-red, upside-down triquetra in place of her irises.
"Oh. This feels good."
Chapter 40: Get to Looting!
The rush of power that surged through my body hit me all at once. My chest became a balloon as it welled with new energy.
"What''s happening?"
Xena floated close, her hands grabbing my cheek. "You bonded with a Dungeon Fairy. The dungeon mana should be filling you. I''ll help guide it so it doesn''t change your mana channels."
"Th-thanks," I ground out. "Isn''t this supposed to be temporary?"
"It is; that''s why I won''t let it change you."
It took an eternity, but the energy shifted and formed something inside my gut. It felt solid, but Xena shunted the energy toward the new vessel.
"There. Stabilized."
"Now what?" I said as I stood up straight.
Chomperz looked down, peering at my stomach, but I ignored him and focused on Xena, who was running her hands along the spinning crown.
"You''re a Reborn. The marks inside your body... How are you alive? Why are you only tier zero?"
"Luck, mostly. And I''m working on it."
Xena snorted and lowered her hands to examine the changes to her wings. "Fine. You''re finally living up to your title. Now, we need to break out of here."
"And how do we do that?"
I lifted my shirt and rubbed the skin underneath; my stomach radiated a piercing cold that penetrated my fingers.
The fairy clapped her hands, and I felt power shift around, leaving my stomach and extending toward the fairy. She took the energy and landed on the ground, where she placed her palm.
As she rose into the air, bright pink energy spilled out that formed into a black pillar. She stopped once it became a few inches above my head and pulled away.
"We can''t do anything without a control node. Now, extend your hand and prepare for the headache. You''re not Weldrammornorpelus, so we''ll go slow."
Xena was entirely serious despite the spitfire attitude she showed earlier. Her eyes never blinked, and she stared with crossed arms.
I''m going to murder Cal for this.
I extended my arm, and my mana exploded outward and latched onto my wrist. It sank into my bones and created a vibration that nearly dislocated my shoulder as I wrapped my fingers around the pillar.
There was a feeling. I closed my eyes and quickly opened them as a million things assaulted my senses.
As I blinked away the tears, Xena hovered closer and landed on my shoulder. She extended her right arm while placing her left directly against my neck.
"Slower," she grumbled. "Pathetic fleshy bodies are so inconvenient. You should ascend when we get out of here."
"Trying," I said flatly.
"Stop wasting time! I can feel the energy. It''s begging to be used; let''s get our revenge already!"
Somehow, I didn''t think she meant me in the ''our revenge.''
I complied, and my vision shifted into something more. It was like my mana senses but on steroids. From all around us, I felt the room''s dimensions, its walls ever-shifting but static.
That''s a lot smaller than I thought. Weird.
"I''m cutting off the unimportant senses so you can focus. Try to feel the energy inside the node," Xena interrupted.
"How many senses would that be?"
"More than twenty-three. Now focus."
Finding the pillar was easy. It was a star amidst a sea of nothing. Focusing on it and only it was nearly impossible. Beside me, Xena growled her frustrations.
"Sorry, but this is difficult."
"Bah. You''re like a newborn core! Just follow your instincts!"
Chomp!
Suddenly, parts of my vision were cut off, and I found the pillar come into focus, the image clear as day.
"Chomperz?"
"That''s... you shouldn''t be able to do that. But whatever, as long as it works!"
"Okay, pillar. What now?"
"Push your sight into it; enter the node."
Easier said than done. It took another couple of minutes before my vision changed. The void fell away, and new senses bloomed into my thoughts. I tasted everything and nothing.
"Aaagh! Sorry."
The taste of crystals and magenta disappeared from my tongue, and I focused on the room below.
Below... wasn''t entirely accurate to describe what I saw.
It was as if I could see from seven angles, the top, the bottom, the center, and every corner. I recognized the pink obelisk and the ether pool around it. Hammering away with her daggers was Sereza, who tried to chip the obelisk. Isaac looked furious, shadows whipping around him and smacking the ground.
He said something, but I felt knowledge pop up rather than hearing or seeing it.
"Is he saying something? And where is my body?"
"Most likely in the pillar. You must have temporarily melded with it. And he is, one sec. Your flesh body is so inefficient!"
"Thanks."
"It wasn''t a compliment. How can you stand having all these fragile organs control your thoughts in such a tangled mess? Horrible."
I fought a sigh and waited for Xena to finish.
Suddenly, I could hear Isaac trying to talk to Sereza, who was busy grunting.
"We have to go. He''s an annoying bastard; I''m sure he''ll appear when we clear the dungeon," Isaac shouted.
"And. I. Say. No," she said between thrusts. "He''s your friend and got sucked into the ether crystal. There has to be a way to get him out!"
"Maybe, but we can''t do anything about it. Best bet would be to get out of here and contact his god."
"And if he dies before that? What happens next? His god takes vengeance on all of our family lines?"
Isaac snorted. "That''s not that much of a threat for me."
"Piss off. Why are you calm?"
Isaac jumped onto the island where Sereza was hacking away and caught her wrists with his tendrils. "Because you don''t know half the crazy shit he gets himself into. I barely do. We need to go. The others could be fighting."
She lowered her weapons. "Fine. But where? There''s no way out."
"We''ll have to shadewalk. I got a health potion, and without Cyrus, we should be able to slip through without alerting the monsters."
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Xena?" I asked
"So that''s how you got here. Will need to set up defenses when this is done."
"Okay. Great. What are we looking for?"
"Ignore them; move your focus to the joining room. It''s the main mana chamber."
"Uh, big room, lots of crystals, and a deep moat?"
"Yes!"
"Uh, is the moat supposed to be filled with bubbling tar?"
"Tar? What, no! Show me!"
After the third try, I managed to shift my perspective into the hallway and then out into the first room. Once my vision cleared up and I got access to the room, Xena erupted like a volcano.
No... That''s thought-speech bleed through. Must be like the soul link.
"Th-that, aaagh! I''ll kill it. Murder it. Make it suffer through a million years of hell!"
"I thought so... Is the ether corrupted?"
"Yes! It''s destroyed centuries of mana! We worked hard on that! How dare it!"
"Stop yelling in my head. It''s hard to focus."
In a more physical sense, Xena squeezed my neck, pinching it tight. When she let go, the rage was there, but as a simmer rather than the explosive fire that threatened to incinerate all.
"We found bodies inside the crystal. Is that your doing?"
"Bodies? Show me."
I did, and once again understood what being a crystal felt like; it was strangely nice, if restraining.
Xena grunted, and the feeling disappeared. I sensed her examining the crystal with the man encased within.
"That''s not us. No. Squidface must have done this. We should get rid of this before it can be used it for nefarious purposes."
"Woah. Wait a minute. What do you mean get rid of this?"
"If we focus the ether, we can dissolve the body. Can''t farm what''s not there."
"Nope. Hard no."
"Why?"
"Are they alive?"
"Well, yeah. They''re under an illusion."
"Then no, we''re not getting rid of him. That''s messed up."
"I don''t understand. Wait. Are they your friends?"
"No. But I''m not erasing him just because. Can''t we just disconnect him?"
"Weird mortals and their weird morals," she grumbled. "Focus on the energy in this room and extend it outward toward the crystal. Visualize him being removed from the crystal, and I''ll handle the next part."
Despite knowing it was ether, the mana answered my call easily. She wasn''t kidding when she said it was begging to be used. I heard a crack, and the crystal began to shatter. Before the first piece fell, the man''s body disappeared.
"Hey! What did you do to him?"
"Calm down. I put him in a safe room. Speaking of which, we should do the same for your friends."
I moved the view back to the obelisk room, where Isaac was explaining how the shadow realm worked.
"Same as before?"
"No, they''re conscious and would actively resist our attempts. We can try brute forcing it, but you don''t know how, and I''m already juggling a lot. Here, try creating a coin."
"A coin?"
"Yes. Dungeon loot. Make a coin. Think about its shape and size, color, and so on. I''ll handle the mana weaving."
I pictured a gold coin, the same kind we used in Solunaria. However, instead of the minting on the back, I replaced it with myself, giving a thumbs-up.
And just like that, mana rippled from my core, and a single gold coin appeared. Xena''s control slipped again, and my brain nearly fractured once the information streams flooded my thoughts.
When I finally regained control, I was no longer seeing through the pillar and, instead, on the ground, panting as silver leaked from my nose.
"What the hell... Xena."
The fairy was also on the ground. Slowly, she pushed herself to a sitting position and rubbed her head.
"Damn flesh prison! The backlash of trying to comprehend the loot creation filtered through the connection. Do yourself a favor and get a mental passive!"
I groaned and stood up on shaky legs. "Noted. Fuck. Did we do it?"
Chomperz landed on my shoulder and pointed to the pillar.
I poked his snout, but he failed to dodge it. I offered a hand to Xena, who hopped on. Once she was back in place on my shoulder, she assumed position.
"Yes. Good choice on using your likeness. That should stall them. But we''ll need something else if we want to move them. And unless you can upgrade yourself, it''s going to hurt."
What''s new?
Chomp!
"Aah." This time, he bit my ear, and I stared. "What?"
Chomperz did something, and I felt the energy in my stomach shift around a smidge.
"You are going to help again? Good."
"That true, Chomperz?"
Chomp!
Okay then. Let''s get this over with. I bet they''re losing their minds.
We reconnected, the energy settling in place as it pulled from my stomach. This time, it burned for a dozen seconds before Chomperz did something and shifted the energy around.
As the visual of the obelisk chamber returned, I found Sereza arguing with Isaac as he scrutinized the coin.
Like a puzzle piece clicked in my head, sound came online, and I heard the tail end of Sereza speaking.
"-old you so. That''s definitely him."
"Cyrus," Isaac said out loud. He looked toward the ceiling. "If you''re fucking with us, I''m going to have Arturous shit in your bed!"
Sereza crossed her arms. "That''s the best you can come up with? And doesn''t Arturous love Cyrus?"
"That''s because he''s a cheating bastard who sneaks him entire racks of ribs."
"Xena?"
"Think of a scroll. Repeat the message you want to be delivered in your head. If we can do this, we can move on to the next step."
"And that''ll be?"
Her feelings bled through again, but I knew it was intentional. If before she was a volcano ready to erupt, this time, she was electricity incarnate.
"Reclaiming our dungeon!"
Chapter 41: Creation Recreation
This time, I pictured a scroll of simple velum, the parchment tan in color but flexible instead of old and dry. For fun, I envisioned the words to be written out of ink that varied in color with each new word. To round it off, I had it rolled up inside a hollow tusk of a boar.
"Hmmm. The colors are tacky, but I appreciate the attention to detail. In the future, you should think about becoming a dungeon core.
"Thanks for the compliment? I think?"
Like before, Xena used the energy swirling around and concentrated it into a weave of magic too brilliant for my brain to comprehend. Her careful control slipped and opened the floodgates. My mind crumpled under the sensory overload, but thankfully, it ended once Xena reclaimed control.
I swam through the memories of what just happened and tried to internalize them in the back of my mind. Barely anything stuck, but I saw snippets of runic patterns meshed together to form a weave.
That''s insane how much is going into this. Is this what Erebus does every time he loots?
In the obelisk chamber, Sereza and Isaac froze as they stared at the boar tusk rolling on the ground. Carefully, Isaac extended a tendril out of his clone, and the clone removed the scroll from its case.
They both squeezed together to read the scroll as the clone held it out for them to examine. Isaac''s face scrunched within seconds while Sereza raised an eyebrow.
"So... let me get this straight. You can hear. You are maybe okay. And no, you can''t really tell us what''s going on. Besides the lowering our guards and allowing you to teleport us thing. Is this right?"
Isaac growled. "How do we know it''s you?"
"Xena? I''m making another scroll. Smaller this time."
"Go for it. I''m getting adjusted to your mana signature.
This time, another scroll appeared, but it had no casing and unraveled as it hit the ground.
My mind reeled from the mental assault, but true to her word, it was less than before¡ªthe throbbing subsiding a whole thirty seconds quicker.
Isaac looked at the new scroll and promptly stabbed it with a tendril, ripping it to shreds before Sereza could get a good peek.
"What it say?" she asked.
"Nothing," he grumbled. He looked to the ceiling and glared. "Fine, it''s you. Haa haa, at least Brelten is a tier three using his ultimate form. How many times have Eodyne or Igas whooped your ass?"
Sereza looked at him weirdly but shook her head. "Cyrus. If you''re safe, then I''m ready. But I have a million questions."
There was a long pause followed by Sereza staring at Isaac, who glared at the ceiling.
"Isaac?"
"I don''t like this. Why are we getting put somewhere safe and you''re not? And what about the others? Can you guarantee their safety?"
"Xena?" I asked as I turned my attention away from the chamber.
"We''ll search for them once these two are out of the chamber room."
This time, I created another object, one small enough that the sensory assault lasted less than a dozen seconds.
It plopped with a clink on the tile and rolled to a stop next to Isaac''s boot. He bent down and picked it up. This time, he pocketed it without a word and held his arms akimbo.
"Fine. If they get hurt, I swear I''ll beat you blue. Don''t fuck up."
Xena nudged me in the physical sense, and I extended the energy around their legs; Sereza didn''t seem to react much, but Isaac did, and one of his tendrils spasmed as he clenched his fists.
With a faint pop, they disappeared, leaving me recoiling as the pain throbbed along my skull.
"That one hurt."
"They are ascenders, not like the man in the crystal. And they were conscious. Even with their guard lowered, it''s difficult to truly lower one''s defense. Adventurers are always alert in the dungeon, even in safe zones."
That made sense, and judging from how Isaac reacted to the energy encasing him, he fought his instincts to let the teleport go through.
As I refocused on the chamber, I noticed the scroll and its horn casing were gone. I didn''t see one of the others take it, but they must have. So, at least we had something to remember this ordeal by.
"Hey. We''re making dungeon loot. Is this draining a reserve of some sort?"
"Yes, but what you made is so small it''s not much. If we created something more complex, you might see a dip in the ether pool."
"Could I create a skill stone then? Or something enchanted?"
Stolen story; please report.
"Do you want your brain to melt?"
I winced. "That bad?"
"My entire being is modified for this task. The knowledge of creating skill stones is both instinctual and something earned after countless centuries. You can try, but you''ll experience soul damage so severe you would die a true death within moments."
That... doesn''t sound good.
"And enchanted items?"
"Less difficult, but you need to understand enchantments well enough to apply them."
"So no to both. Fine. Next step?"
"Disconnect from the node," Xena said as she tapped my cheek.
I did, and clutched my head as the headache I had been pushing back hit me full force.
"Oww."
Xena shook her head. "Flesh prison."
I massaged my temples and ignored Xena as I watched Chomperz. He stumbled on my shoulder before grasping a strand of my hair.
"You okay?"
He nodded, so I shrugged and stretched. It didn''t help, but the act was soothing.
"There are more people in the crystal chamber. We''ll need to get them out, right?"
"Yes. Would be faster if you let me erase them," Xena grumbled. "We can do that before finding your friends. After we safely remove the brain farms the creature should show itself once it gets cut off."
"Do you not know where it is?"
Xena sent another spike of pure rage that mellowed as she punched the air. A wave of energy burst from her hand like a shockwave that crashed into the void wall before dispersing.
"No. It has its own pocket inside the dungeon. And I can''t search for it until everyone is gone. Don''t want to risk it bonding with a host."
"And if it already did?"
Xena hopped into the air and pushed a finger against my nose. "Then we purge them and free their soul."
I shook my head. "We have cleansers of some kind on their way for Helio. I''m not going to kill any of my friends if they can be saved."
Her rage bled into mine, and the beastie inside finally snapped a few bars free. What I sent through the link floored the fairy, and Xena sank to the ground.
Before she fell, I caught her and held her up, letting the anger consume my thoughts until my fingers started to tighten around her.
I cut it off like a switch and pushed it back into its containment, resealing the mental prison.
It was only after Chomperz bit my ear that I realized I was still squeezing Xena. She didn''t seem to care about the physical pressure and merely pushed my fingers free.
"You... are unstable."
A dry chuckle escaped my lips, and Chomperz let go of my earlobe. "Maybe. Not the first time I''ve been told that."
She resumed her spot on my shoulder and turned her head away. "Fine. We don''t purge them. But I won''t be held responsible if something goes wrong. I only want our dungeon back. Everything else matters little."
I nodded. "Fair enough. Let''s get on with it then?"
She got into position, and I closed my eyes and let the node pull me in.
Once more the obelisk chamber came into view and I switched us over to the crystal chamber. One by one, each crystal embedded into the wall was freed of its prisoner.
By the time we finished, the pain had ramped up and yet hurt less. Eventually Xena tugged on my hair and I returned to my body before collapsing to the floor.
Pressure squeezed my chest, and restricted my lungs. My heart pumped a million miles a minute, and my brain felt like mush.
Chomperz landed in front of me and poked my eyelids. I batted him away, but he did it again. The red ring inside his eyes had a new addition, a single chromatic speck rotating slowly along the circle.
"What''s... that?"
He pointed to the node and then Xena, who was observing me from afar.
I frowned. "Is the connection doing something to us?"
He nodded.
"Is it bad?"
There was a long pause, but he eventually shook his head.
"So not good, but not bad?"
Another headshake. What does he mean?
Chomperz raised a paw and held out a thumb. He turned it to the side and lightly wiggled it upward.
"Oh. So kinda good, but it''s nearly borderline?"
His nod confirmed it, and he flew to join Xena in the air. The dungeon fairy observed him before floating toward me after I stood up.
"I''m keeping a tight control on our bond. But we don''t want to stay like this for longer than needed, or he''s right. You''re body will change and it might not be for the better."
Again, I shrugged. "It really can''t be any crazier than what I''m already doing. Eldritch abyss thingy, crystal bones, divine essence. What''s another to the list?"
Xena paused and slowly turned her head. I stuck out my tongue, and she jerked her head away. "Right. Maybe you are not as boring as I thought."
I tapped the crown spinning above her head. "Yeah. Boring. I wish that was the case."
"Just focus," she sighed. "If it hasn''t noticed the mortals missing, it will soon. We better find your friends while you can!"
Why is she excited all of a sudden?
She already had her arm out and looked dead ahead, furiously focusing on the node and nothing else.
Oh, I bet she wants to see what her dungeon looks like.
I closed my eyes and sank into the node. This time, Xena shifted the energy into a complex pattern that pulled me upward. It felt like swimming in the void, a vast nothingness that was broken up by bits of light in the distance.
"Here we go!"
The new room came into view, and I sorted through the blurry lines.
We were in a hallway, an unfamiliar one with blue crystal lights jutting out of the walls at odd angles.
Xena tisked, and disgust dripped through the link. "Sloppy design. This is awful!"
"Hey, focus on that later. How do we find people?"
"Fine. Let me adjust the output; you should feel a pulse of essence separate from the rest of the dungeon."
The taste of dust and magenta hit me at the same time.
"Oops. There we go!"
I felt a beacon of mana several rooms away. The mana signature felt familiar, the taste of ice and the feeling of deep chill brushing my thoughts. Accompanying the mana, blanketed beneath it; the slick clink of chains and the taste of iron crept in.
Chomp!
I smiled and started moving.
Through the hall and past several rooms, a lone man stood atop a block of ice, his massive greatsword mere inches away from a very frozen and completely encased guard captain.
Igas dripped blood onto the tile, while his right arm looked mangled. Heavy bruises and lacerations crisscrossed the exposed skin beneath the broken remnants of his ice armour.
With a twist, he pulled his blade free and collapsed to the floor, where he groaned and sucked in deep breaths through his teeth.
Found you.
I asked Xena a question, and she took a minute to listen to my explanation.
"That''ll work. But it won''t be very good."
Fine by me.
Even as another raging migraine built, I shut the pain out and focused on creating the mixture as well as the glass vial.
Finally, the creation process was completed, and Xena removed the extra senses as the potion landed just above the ice block.
Igas'' sword was up, and he started pulling more ice across his body before he stopped and frowned at the health potion.
"What the fuck?" he muttered.
He slowly reached for it, and the connection with the node shattered as I collapsed to the floor for the third time.
Chapter 42: Saving the Others
"Xena. This. Sucks." She opened her mouth, and I placed my finger on her face, silencing her. "I know, weak fleshy mind."
It took less time to recover, so we quickly got into position and reconnected to the node. The room came into view, and I noticed that Igas had drunk the potion. His wounds were no longer bleeding, and some minor cuts had faded.
But he continued to pant and clutch his mangled arm, that the tier one potion had definitely not healed.
He stared at the empty potion vial and slowly nudged it away. Then he sat back and waited, silently staring at the same spot where it had appeared.
"Xena. Think we can make another? What about one more powerful?" I asked.
In the physical, I felt the fairy drum way too heavy fists against my cheek, nearly pulling me out of the connection.
"Be grateful. Spawning items cost mana. We already wasted some. We''ll need more for the asshole messing up our dungeon!"
I sighed. "It takes that much to create a potion?"
Xena grumbled, but I waited.
Eventually, she stomped her foot. "No! Bah. But wasting resources for adventurers is wrong!"
"Isn''t that your whole goal?"
I felt the anger spew forth.
"How dare-"
"Okay! Okay! Just, he''s hurt and I can''t heal him. If we can create a potion for him that''ll work better than the tier one that''d be great."
"Last one," she growled. "The pain will be immense. And you are delaying our revenge!"
The process was simultaneously easier and more complex than before. The base imprint of creating the health potion settled into place, and my previous experience guided me. But the requirements to upgrade the potion''s tier had me reeling. Even before the item solidified into existence, I nearly crashed, and the connection wavered.
Xena took over, reinforcing the mana as she pulled from my body. Chomperz helped, his willpower adjusting the rebellious strands into place.
Finally, the potion plopped atop the iceblock containing Elanor, and the connection snapped. The headache came, but it faded just as quickly.
As I helped Xena up, she stared at my stomach with a strange expression.
"Xena? What''s wrong?"
She shook her head. "Strange. Your body has adapted."
"Felt plenty painful to me."
"No," she argued. "You should be nearly unconscious. But you are not. Strange. Flesh prisons don''t work like that."
Okaaay.
When we saw Igas again, his arm looked much better, and he breathed steadily. This time, he held the potion against the light and frowned. He placed it down and nudged it out of the way while examining the room.
I created a scroll similar to the one I gave Isaac and Sereza. It explained that the potions were from me, and yes, I was safe. All he needed to do next was release Elanor and allow us to teleport the both of them.
The scroll knocked the potion vials down, but he ignored them and unfurled the scroll before scanning it. After he reached the bottom, his eyes shut, and he sighed.
"Cyrus... I have questions when we are done," Igas said.
As he spoke, he stood up and placed a hand atop Elanor''s prison. The ice melted away, and he caught her head before she hit the floor. He then lifted her into a bridal carry and stared at the ceiling.
"I''m ready."
Xena beamed them out of the room, and I turned my attention away from the maze-like dungeon corridors. With the fairy''s help, we shifted to another spot, a hallway lined with chromatic torches lining the walls and ceiling.
"This is awful! Too many colors! WHY?!"
I ignored her rant and pushed through the hallways. The torches changed color, reducing the variation to two and eventually one. Now that the torches were all white, I turned around and zipped the other way.
Eventually, I found my target and forced myself into a room with the highest concentration of mana I could feel. The dungeon sense expanded on what I usually used, reminding me of blips on a radar. I knew six people were in the room even though my vision hadn''t yet adjusted.
When the room did come into view, I blanched at the state of the people within. Rello and Orlun desperately fought off a pair of massive creatures that took up the entire half of the room with their wide bodies.
Like the creatures we encountered before, they resembled a mix of tentacles and chitin, with several appendages sprouting from their sides. Tubes of grey flesh connected them to the walls, but their bodies were so wide that each tube was thicker than Igas.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
While the guardsman battled against flaming limbs that burned with chromatic fire, Celanae stood several meters away, casting barrier after barrier to block the attacks of the other monster.
Teddy was there, but he stayed crouched next to a bleeding Aleena, who had a massive gash bisecting her front. It cut deep, exposing bone from her hip to her shoulder while she leaked blood from her eyes and mouth.
The skin around her flesh leaked brown ooze from crispy skin that flaked away with every convulsion. Her eyes were unfocused, and she stared into the distance while Teddy kept his eyes closed and both hands pressed against her chest.
His hands were the only thing keeping her body together.
Celanae wasn''t just fighting on her front; she conjured crystal barriers that staved off a limb before shattering. The crystal would then reform into a thin plane of glass that sliced through the rubbery flesh before fading into motes of purple light.
Despite her efforts, the monster visibly regrew more limbs in an endless assault. And she wasn''t just defending her side. Occasionally, a barrier would appear next to the guardsman, blocking a tentacle from impaling the men.
"Xena! Health potion now! Tier two, I don''t give a shit how much it hurts!"
Thankfully, she didn''t protest as the mana connected to the node and energy stretched into threads. She weaved faster than before, but the senses she kept on lock bombarded my own.
In the physical, I crashed to the floor but left my arm extended. The connection to the room began to fade.
"Keeper! Focus!"
I growled and felt Wrath bend its bars wide. It escaped its prison and slipped into my thoughts, diminishing my concentration. But instead of rebelling at the fairy''s commands, I felt the connection strengthen.
Anger surged through my veins, and I honed it to maintain stability even as my body spasmed.
Chomperz had tried to help, but I felt his leathery wing resting against my cheek. His arms twitched, and his chest shuddered, but that only enhanced the demon inside.
Before long, we finished the creation process, and Xena slipped to the floor. I ignored it and slammed my attention into the room, just in time to see Teddy pour the potion into Aleena''s wounds.
Blood bubbled, and threads of blood restitched itself together. Teddy helped by pressing her skin together. As Aleena took a deep breath and sputtered, he rushed toward Celanae.
She didn''t flinch at his approach and dropped a barrier as he jumped and held out his shield. The smooth glass flashed in a dazzling array of light as Teddy channeled a concentrated beam of white light behind it. It spread across the field, leaving the monster stunned.
He stepped closer as Celanae conjured a barrier beneath his feet; a single leap launched him into the air like a missile that smashed into the monster. His mace took on a golden glow, and he swung after bashing its head aside. Eyes popped and splattered.
The pufferfish-like mace grew spikes that tore chunks of flesh away. But after the first swing, a golden copy formed. Massive spikes ripped furrows into the rubbery flesh, sprouting fountains of sizzling blood.
Another barrier appeared, and he jumped while it shot to the side, carrying him into the other monster. While Teddy rapidly assaulted the creature with the help of the guards, Celanae stepped up and raised her staff.
Mana swirled around her arm and into the crystal embedded in the head. As she slammed it against the stone, a thin barrier, like paper, came into existence, bisecting the creature''s shoulder.
It roared. The monster used the remaining tentacles on its right side to smash it to pieces. Before it could retaliate against the elf, the shards became sawblades that rushed toward the monster''s neck.
The monster died as the shards erased its head from the jawline down to its collarbone. It slumped to the floor in a geyser of caustic blood that Celanae diverted with a well-placed barrier.
As she turned her attention away, I saw the last of Teddy''s fight. Rello pierced a massive tentacle with a spike that held it down while Orlun dashed forward. His blade glowed blue, and he sliced downward, cutting halfway through. The ethereal copy followed, relieved the monster of its final tentacle, and Teddy finally stepped in.
He channeled mana into his weapon, the stonelike head glowing with golden light. Without hesitating, he swung and bashed the air.
But it didn''t matter if he missed; that wasn''t the goal.
The golden copy came into existence above the monster''s head. The monster roared and snapped at the skill, but with a crunch, Teddy bisected it while splattering goop across the floor.
More barriers appeared that stopped the black tar from spreading before it ate away the stone.
Orlun and Rello crashed to their asses as Teddy flicked off monster chunks. Celanae joined him and patted his back. The two grinned at each other before Teddy shook his head.
He looked to the ceiling and opened his mouth, but rumbling shook the room. The distant wall shook as it sank into the floor, revealing a gore-smattered Eodyne and Arturous. The big lug padded through and happily smothered Teddy with his tongue.
Smoke wafted into the air, and she dismissed her bow. Behind her, I caught the fried corpses of an equally large beast, this one bipedal with tubes stretching across the room.
It wasn''t as large as the ones in the current room, but four pairs of arms had scythe-like blades at the ends. Its albino skin continued to twitch even though its front was nothing more than a blackened crisp.
Eodyne shared the same grin, and they reunited.
With the battle over, I finally allowed myself to breathe. Xena had rejoined me at some point, but Chomperz stayed where he was, his wings covering my nose.
I broke the connection and scooped up the dragonling. As I brought him closer to inspect for damage, he gently nibbled on my finger and flapped his wings. He rolled to his stomach and stood up on shaky legs.
"Chompz? You okay?"
He shook his head and then nodded.
"So and so?"
He nodded.
I sighed with relief and brought him into a hug. He squirmed out of my grasp and poked my cheek. I chuckled and sat up steadily so I didn''t knock Xena off.
"Bring back the connection."
I complied and found Teddy pointing to Aleena, who a stone-faced Rello was hugging. Orlun stood, but he kept a hand on both their shoulders.
They really do remind me of the trio. Damn.
It brought bittersweet memories, and I pushed it aside. Surprisingly, the gremlin retreated into its cage after the fight ended. I was tempted to examine why, but I focused on the conversation between Teddy, Celanae, and Eodyne.
Teddy held up the empty potion bottle and shook it. "I''m telling you, it has to be Cyrus."
My eye twitched.
"I don''t disagree; it''s just..." Celanae sighed. "You know what? Nevermind. It''s definitely Cyrus."
"It better be him," Eodyne grumbled.
She clenched her fists and stared at the empty vial.
"This doesn''t explain how he would have delivered a tier-two health potion. But... I guess nothing is off the table with him," Celanae added.
Okay. Enough with the slander.
With near instinct at this point, a very bright, neon-pink scroll appeared. To my disappointment, Celanae conjured a barrier and trapped the scroll inside a cube before it could land on Teddy''s head.
The trio stared at the rolled-up paper covered in unicorn stickers for a minute straight before Celanae dropped her skill. Eodyne caught the scroll and unfurled it for the others to see.
I waited, a stupid grin on my face as Xena stood with her arms crossed.
Eodyne lowered the scroll and made it disappear, probably into her dimensional storage.
She looked to the ceiling and glared. "Cyrus. Are you implying I''m getting fat?"
Oops.
Chapter 43: Final Preparations
I created another scroll, and this time, Eodyne snatched it mid-fall. This one had the word ''NO'' in big red letters. The scroll disappeared as she nodded at Celanae.
Oh right. Of course, Celanae would want to study the scrolls later.
"Cyrus, have you seen Panasia? She''s the only one left," Teddy asked.
Another scroll dropped, a repeat of the last. Teddy frowned.
"Are you sure you want to transport us? We can help," Celanae said.
It was tempting. Celanae and Teddy''s fight reminded me just how powerful they were. It was hard to take measure, but Broken Tower had a reputation. They stood as peak adventurers, prodigies who have grown faster than most given the relatively short time adventuring.
Xena tapped my cheek.
This time, I created the scroll within a heartbeat. I recognized the patterns as Xena weaved the mana, and I guided the thread. I could feel her surprise, but I pushed it away and watched their reactions to the latest scroll.
It disappeared into Celanae''s storage, and they moved to stand next to the guard trio. Aleena looked rough, but she stayed stoic at the news.
Orlun saluted the ceiling, and I groaned, but they huddled together, and one by one, Xena transported them out.
"Last one. Are we ready?"
"Yes. Should be easiest. Tier three have specific signatures in their aura. Constantly disrupting the dungeon mana," Xena said with a hint of vitriol.
I pulled us away from the room, and Xena moved us around. This time, I could almost envision the dungeon space as she brought us downward.
Up wasn''t always up, and down wasn''t always down. When Xena moved us to the left, we''d sometimes move upwards into a new floor or pocket of rooms.
"Is it always like this? Aren''t dungeons physically there?"
Anger flared, but Xena kept the search while she raged internally.
"No, not always," she growled. "Older dungeons dimensionally expand¡ªsome more than others¡ªwhile the younger dungeons prefer physical expansion. But this? The asshole has ruined our dungeon! It''s fractured! Broken!"
She locked on to Panasia''s signature. We dived in, moving down while actually shifting toward the northwest. Mana pushed back as the room came into view, a sharp sting against my brain.
"Aaah."
"Tier three fight in a tier two space. I''ll numb the sense, push us in."
I did, and mayhem exploded across my vision. I could barely keep up. Panasia zipped across the room like a whirlwind and battered the Mindeater''s barriers. When one shattered, she shot forward like a bullet and punched.
A tornado drilled into the forcefield, glowing bright red as the mana collided. Punches, kicks, headbutts¡ªshe was the wind itself, her form blurring from physical to elemental.
She wasn''t alone against the mindeater in front of her. To the sides of the room, shredded meat and gallons of blood coated the far walls and floor, the remains of several monsters the same size as the ones Teddy and Celanae fought.
And a top one mound, another mind eater clutched a bony limb as his legs whipped around. Each thrust of Panasia''s leg sent black blades that burst apart against its defenses.
She fought two on one and pushed them back. But as I watched the fight, I noticed blood seep from her nose and a large gash along her side. The wind instantly tore it away, hiding the injury.
"Is there any way we can help her?"
"Distractions."
I wracked my brain and watched Panasia stutter mid-kick. She gritted her teeth and sank. The mind eaters attacked as a giant tentacle pulled her down while blood streamed out of her eyes.
Fuck.
I gave the mental instructions and began to guide the pattern. Xena stepped in and converted the energy, letting me complete the creation process. As the main mind eater extended his arm, a glass vial smacked against his skull.
It shattered and spilled water down his front.
It wasn''t an attack, but it was all Panasia needed as black blades of compressed air shredded the tentacle. She rushed forward and punched through a glowing barrier before kicking out. Her foot came to a stop inches away from the downed mind eater''s face.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
But she grinned, and the mind eater exploded. Its entire upper torso became giblets that coated the ground.
She dashed away before the remaining mind eater slammed her into the wall.
No, you don''t.
Vial after vial pelted the back of its head. Each one shattering and coating him in water. After the fifth one, the vial froze midair and was flung aside.
Xena gave me the next idea, and soon, the vials started to appear in different spots: some above its shoulder, others on top of its head, and two that managed to roll against its feet.
As the harmless assault continued, it failed to activate its skill, and Panasia removed its head with a well-placed kick. She caught it and sank blade-like fangs into its skull before tearing off chunks of brain matter.
She dropped to the ground and placed her palm against the mind eater''s body. Mana gathered and shredded the corpse.
Blood continued to drip off her chin, and she spat to the side while staring at one of the vials that survived. She nudged it with her foot and shattered it with ease.
Water seeped out, and she snorted.
"Whoever or whatever did this, thank you. But maybe choose something other than water. Acid works best."
A scroll appeared, and she read it before tossing it aside.
"Fine. Thank you. But I had it handled. It was only a matter of time before I squashed the bastard."
"Typical tier three. Unappreciative of the dungeon."
"Health potion time. You ready?"
"Hmmph."
The health potion plopped to the ground, and I caught her ripping the cork off before the mental strain severed the connection.
I rolled over and brought Chomperz and Xena to my chest. We spent time recovering in silence. Chomperz nibbled on my fingers as I released him. He hovered in the air, but I caught the jerkiness of his wings.
"You''re not recovered yet, are you?"
He ignored me and turned toward the node.
"I''m serious. Is this hurting you?"
Eventually, he shook his head and pointed to the miniature obelisk.
"Fine, but we''ll discuss this later. If I need to stop using your skill, I will. I''m sure Teddy and the others can find a cheap storage ring."
"Enough prattling. Connect. We''re almost done."
I shifted the fairy to my shoulder and waited for Chomperz to assume the position. When I sent energy toward the node, it pulled me in. Without direction from Xena or me, the temple room came into view.
Panasia strode around the room, ripped off monster heads, and lobbed them at the wall. They splatted and burst into chunks as a wind blade minced the flesh.
I was about to summon another scroll, but the temple shook. The room vibrated from all angles, and I had to pull away.
That was a mistake.
If one room with a dozen screens was bad, the entire dungeon twisting around caused cognitive overload.
"Focus! It''s finally awake!"
I struggled to watch, but the dungeon began to fold and bend. The outer hallways collapsed, pulling in the connected room.
Chomperz tried to help, but his head slump against my neck. Xena screamed, and I joined her.
The destruction of the rooms felt like a puzzle box being pushed together. Like punches to the gut. The hallways burned my veins and stabbed my brainmatter.
Through teary eyes, a room came into existence near the center. It connected to Panasia''s room, anchoring itself like a parasite.
Mana pulsed and stretched, a single thread thicker than my arm hurled through the void and punctured my chest. I screamed and tried to pull away, but the thread wound around my shoulder and pulled me against the node.
"You who has resisted. Usurper. Fool. Give in, be CONSUMED!"
The chains carved my skin and pressed against my throat. Compulsion, control. It bent me to its will and sucked the breath out of my lungs. The hooks dug in deep and scraped my mind, worming its way to the center. Weak! Pathetic! GIVE IN! The chains pulled taut and tore my soul apart.
A crimson symbol shined like the sun and burned the chains away. The energy purged me of its filth, and I grasped the hooks and ripped them free. The energy forced my soul together, and chime bells tolled.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
I tore from the memory and hurled. Nothing came out, but I continued to dryheave until something tugged my ear. I glared at Xena, but she extended her hand to the node. She closed her eyes; the fury on her face shined underneath her skin like lava. The obsidian crown floating above her head grew spikes. Mana rushed and blanketed us.
Chomperz recovered and raised his head, "Chomp!"
I grasped the node, but I didn''t connect. My lungs struggled for air but I steadied myself and forced the mana to comply.
When the mental image of the dungeon revealed itself, I found more threads floating free. They glided through the void like a wave of tentacles.
"We don''t hold back. Use all the mana we have left. Push yourself into the room; I''ll guide the form. Do not waver. You shall fight. Fail, and we die. Understand?" Xena commanded.
"Yes. I''m ready."
She didn''t reply. Her body burned against my skin as she reinforced the shroud around us. The energy thickened, feeling like the world''s warmest blanket. My consciousness began to fade. Like streams, I separated and flowed into the node.
Panasia huddled in a corner. Her hand tore a chunk from the wall, and she used it as a brace.
"Starting!"
Reality became two and split into three. Three threads turned into four, and my thoughts slipped away.
Chomp!
I snapped together and banished the mindfog. The threads shuddered as I directed them toward myself, pulling from the ether flowing into the void.
"What are you doing?!"
"Trust me!" I yelled as I jerked the threads closer.
Information trickled through, and instincts guided my hand. Xena roared, and the threads slammed into my chest. They dug through my core, and I sank into my soul space.
The soul wisps were there, my familiars racing toward me. I held out a hand and stopped them, watching their forms flicker. Xena weaved the threads, and all but two wisps remained inside my soul space.
Inside, I regained control, even as it felt like a titan tried to squeeze my soul. Chomperz''s skillwisp hovered beside my shoulder, and I grinned as he pulled from the edges. The lifeless skillwisp condensed into a ball of fog that stopped before me.
I extended my arm and guided the threads to break through. They slipped inside, taking the form of kaiju-sized tendrils. As it pushed through the sea of energy that hovered above the lake of mana, my soulspace pulsed.
Energy became fire. An inferno blazed inside my soul.
Agony wracked my body, and the lake slammed against the walls. The tendrils heeded my command and spiraled toward me like a drill.
Now!
I raised the skillwisp and grasped the tendrils with my other hand, it tried to dig into my avatar''s skin, but I forced it away.
Chomperz floated forward and added his strength as I pushed the tendrils away.
They slipped past my fingers and touched the edges of the skillwisp. With a thunderous roar, burning red energy consumed the sky, and the skill connected.
My body broke apart, and I let the skill''s effect transform my body.
Chapter 44: Dungeon Battle! (Part One)
The skill demanded form, but as I tried to provide it, it refused. I shirked its denial and forced it to comply, letting my intentions guide me.
But again, it refused.
Why?!
And the skill answered.
Thoughts that weren''t my own melded with mine, creating a whirlwind of memories¡ªcores, adventurers, the joy of creation, the misery of loss. And then came the chains, the anger and revulsion. They cascaded through my own, creating a single thought that dominated the others.
Create the vessel!
My skill pushed against me and nudged my will. It guided me, asked me questions, and evoked emotions that dwarfed the gremlin inside its cage.
I needed a form to take control, but it couldn''t be my own. That was the nature of the bond I borrowed power from. My soul empowered Xena, but her skills were bound to law.
Then, I will create me.
It started with my legs. They formed normally, perfect copies of my real ones¡ªbut it wasn''t enough; I needed more. The other consciousness inside my head bent them backward, creating digitigrade limbs.
Next came the torso. I broadened the shoulders, and Xena widened the ribs. We narrowed the waist but reinforced the bones.
And my head... I formed myself but knew it was wrong. It wasn''t enough. I created the skull and extended the jaw. She sharpened the teeth and created more when there wasn''t enough. My tongue elongated and sharpened. To top it off, my horns grew from my forehead and continued until they curved high like blades. There were no facial features, just skin made of energy and a maw fit for nightmares.
But we weren''t done.
This time, neither I nor Xena controlled the process. Instead, the gremlin pushed us aside and took over.
My arms extended past my legs and formed claws longer than my hands. From my tailbone, bones formed and reinforced themselves with sinew. The whip-like appendage ended with a dangerous scimitar that sliced through the nonexistent space.
The vessel was ready.
I pushed inside and inserted myself into the suit. My consciousness expanded, and I instinctively understood how to move. My tail lashed the ground, and I sliced through the temple stone as if it were made of butter.
My skin pushed away the darkness and lit up the room. Its form was ethereal rather than physical. It connected to my bones and entwined around my core. The core wasn''t just a metaphor but a physical object bound in place by pink threads.
"Not yet. Still incomplete." Xena''s voice bled through.
I didn''t understand. I felt whole; I felt right. What was I missing?
From my back, an intense heat built and exploded near my shoulder blades. I arched my spine and observed the wings made of obsidian.
Shadowy substance seeped out, creating a wet mist.
And around my head, the obsidian crystal sprouted from my skull and separated into a floating halo.
"Now we are complete."
I wasn''t wasn''t constricted to what I physically saw. It was as if my mana sense had evolved into finer detail, relaying a bubble of information that extended ten feet out.
And I saw the red triquetra in my eyes, its symbol upside down and blazing with energy.
I flexed my fingers and compressed the air.
This is amazing.
But then, a stabbing pain exploded from my chest, and I desperately grasped my core. It pulsed a wave of agony that faded as the energy settled. With my new senses, I could tell that a thread had snapped.
"What''s happening?" I demanded.
"Rejection. This is too much for your soul; it can''t handle the pressure. You''re not ready to bond with a dungeon fairy. But you have. And now we are on limited time. If we do not separate before the threads are destroyed, your soul will shatter."
No. I refused to let that happen. I had too much to do.
My tail cracked the ground in an explosion of marble. "Where are we?"
I looked around, and my eyes widened. In the corner, the remains of a tentacled monster were crushed under a fountain of rubble. A single hand burst through the stone and exploded with mana.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The wind whipped at my skin, but I barely felt it. Panasia dropped to the floor as she saw me. Her legs tensed, and mana exploded from the balls of her feet.
She rocketed toward my face, a single punch extended with a black blade of compressed air. I raised my hand, and a barrier formed.
"Panasia! Stop!"
The guildmaster ignored me and kicked my hand away. It pushed my arm back, but I instinctively caught her with my tail. Before she could react, knowledge flowed through my head, and the energy that made up my skin formed into threads. The threads twisted into a pattern and a crystal dome.
She sank like a rock, looking like a bug frozen in amber.
The crystal cracked, but hellfire burned my gut, and I hunched over.
"Panasia! Stop! It''s me, Cyrus!"
A whirlwind of blank shredded the crystal and ground it to dust, but the guildmaster didn''t attack. She stared at me with narrowed eyes and a glowing ball of mana building atop her palms.
"How the fuck are you that felkin? Prove it to me!"
This time, I created a scroll, which dropped to the ground and unraveled under her feet. She read the messages and gaped.
"What in Ammanas'' tits did you do to yourself?"
I grunted and forced myself up. It wasn''t straight; my new form had a natural hunch, but I easily towered over the guildmaster.
"Lots to explain, not enough time. The enemy has woken up. We have to fight," I said.
My voice came out like a screaming cacophony, and Panasia covered her ears and shook her head.
"Don''t speak. It''s like you''re talking to me inside my mind, but not. It fucking hurts!"
I grunted and stayed silent.
"What about now?" I asked telepathically. "Is this too loud?"
Panasia glared. "No, it''s not. But I dislike you being able to enter my thoughts like that."
"Doesn''t matter. Limited time. I can''t maintain this form for long. Are you ready?"
This time, she grinned with murder in her eyes. "Oh yeah. Thanks for the potion. I''m not entirely healed, but it''ll do."
I wrapped my tail around her, mindful of the blade-like tip, and closed my eyes. Xena''s instructions bled through the link, and I connected my mana to her as she formed the threads. With a thought, we shifted deeper into the dungeon.
Our feet touched the ground, and I released Panasia. She rubbed her head and backed away.
"That was unpleasant. Do you need me to kick down the door?" she complained as she pointed toward the chained door.
We were back in the ether obelisk room. In the collapse of the dungeon, only a couple of rooms survived. One was a seperated space that contained the saved people and my friends.
The other was the obelisk room and the sealed one connected to it.
The chains on the massive doorway stood out as glowing red in my eyesight. Runes that weren''t there before blazed with pink fire.
"Xena?"
"Of course, it''s in there. Whatever you do, do not break the core!"
"What''s in there?"
"It''s the core room, the most protected room in the entire dungeon. That''s where Weldrammornorpelus is. Don''t hurt him!"
"I won''t. How do we open the door?"
"Place your hand on the chains and channel your mana."
I did as she directed, feeling the mana spiral outward and sink into the metal. The runes slowly burst until the metal links shattered and dropped to the floor.
"Ready?" I asked Panasia.
Her body became a tornado, her limbs covered in black streaks that rapidly circled around her muscles.
"I am!"
I pushed the doors apart and was met with a crushing presence that sought to squish me beneath its will.
"Submit!" a foreign voice demanded
I pushed it away and flared my mana. The bubble of awareness around my body sharpened into a spike and impaled the mental chain that wrapped around my neck.
I did the same for Panasia, and she rushed into the room like a bullet. My legs bent, and I jumped, turning into a living missile that caught up to the guildmaster as my wings fanned out.
A massive tentacle smashed me into the far wall. Panasia dodged, but her body froze in midair and a force flung her into the ceiling.
I used my claws to shred the tentacle, but it retracted and regrew the chunks of flesh.
Damn regeneration. Where the hell is the enemy?
It was a massive chamber made of pitch-black marble with a gold pyramid toward the back. Above the pyramid rested a core the size of a bus, its golden glass pulsed with black chains.
In the center, a mindeater with red skin raised its hand. Along its arms, thicker black tentacles connected to a pulsating mass embedded into the wall.
That''s... a brain. What the fuck?
"I am the instrument of my god''s will. I demand you submit!"
I grasped the mental intrusion and shattered the ghostly chains that shot from the mindeater''s palm.
Panasia burst from the ceiling and launched several kicks that became wind scythes. They whistled as they cut through the air, but the mindeater waved its arm, and a stone wall snapped into existence.
"Destroy it!"
The fire raged through my core, and the threads began to snap, but I jumped. A stone wall appeared before me, but my tail punched forward.
The wall crumbled, and I continued my ascent, but the mindeater shifted his focus and bore down on me with golden eyes.
"Halt!"
I froze midair and could feel my mana erupt, pushing back. But the mindeater raised a second hand. It balled its fingers into a fist, and Panasia screamed behind me.
"No!" I roared.
My mana weaved into threads, and Xena let her fury rage. It chucked away the squirming chains, and I snapped my arm forward. A massive spike of obsidian shot out, and I regained control of my body.
I landed and looked up; the spike had stopped an inch away. My tail smashed aside another wall that tried to crush me as the spike shattered.
Fine. If it wanted to play, then, so be it.
Threads formed a pattern, and spike after spike appeared. They shot out, even as my core cracked. I dropped to my knees and pushed myself up. My wings flapped, carrying me into the air.
I didn''t stop, the crystal forming and rocketing toward the monster.
It knocked them aside with mental fists. A wave of tentacles protected it. Crystal sliced through rubbery flesh and shattered into shrapnel. The flesh regenerated and the mindeater clapped.
Danger!
The warning stabbed into my spine, and I whipped around. I crouched and threw my arms over my face.
Flames rolled across my body, and pushed me into the wall. Stone crumbled, and my fingers broke. A second explosion pressed me deeper.
My arm snapped.
I roared as a tentacle smashed me into the floor.
I shredded it with my claws and bit with serrated teeth. Pink flames surged forth and burned the meat away, leaving behind black dust that coated the floor.
A wall appeared and my tail hacked it apart.
"Fuck you!"
But my body spasmed, and my vision split into two. I couldn''t move even as a mass of tentacles converged above and spiked downward.
Fu-
A tornado shredded the meat apart, and Panasia hit the floor, bouncing once, twice as she coughed up blood.
Her eyes met mine, and she grinned with a bloody smile. "Get up."
Chapter 45: Dungeon Battle! (Part Two)
I shot to my feet and used my tail to launch her toward the entrance. A metal cube the size of a tree knocked me away. I punched through it and sliced into the metal, ripping the halves apart.
No more games.
"Why? Why follow the whims of a dead god?" I shouted.
The tentacles attached to the wall lifted into the air, each holding a stone spike capped with silver.
The mindeater paused, its squirming chains floating behind it like Medusa''s hair.
"Why do you resist?" it asked.
"Because I value my friends. And you are kidnapping people."
"What are you doing? Why are you talking to it?!" Xena roared.
"Stalling. Keep weaving the thread; I have an idea."
As I stood up, I condensed my mana and hid it beneath my skin. To do so, I carved out the meat inside my chest and created a hollow space for it to fill.
There was no way for the mindeater to know. I kept it contained within, without letting a drop of power seep through.
"If I promised safety to your friends, would you leave?"
I stopped.
"Just like that? You''d let us leave?"
More chains formed, burning red within my senses. They held power, enough to scratch at my skin despite the distance between us.
I guess I''m not the only one building an attack.
"I sense the mark of your god. I seek not war. Leave, take your slaves, and begone," it said. The voice came down like an avalanche, filling the room. Its eyes flashed gold, and the tentacles capped with silver began to convert to metal. "But I sense the fairy within you. That is unacceptable! Leave her behind."
"Xena? Are we ready?"
"Not yet! Do you understand how much you are asking?! Stall!" Xena ordered.
I clenched my fists and stared at the mindeater. Like an eldritch god, it looked down from atop the pyramid. The brain behind it pulsed, and more of the tentacles converted to metal.
"You understand that to trust you is impossible. The moment I sever the bond, I''ll be too weak to attack."
The mindeater conjured a ball of condensed mana. It flashed between orange and blue. The mana raged and hissed as it fought against itself.
"You will give me the fairy. God-marked or not. To resist is death."
I couldn''t rely on Xena to form the patterns. My core continued to surge with pain, but I balled my fists and thumped the floor with my tail.
"Then we are at an impasse. I cannot trust you, and you will not let me go."
"Then you must die." it boomed.
I jumped and spun out of the way as the tentacles speared the ground. My tail cut sliced the silver and carved deeply through two but bounced off the third. A hail of stones and ice rained and forced me to the land.
My feet carried me across the room, and I outpaced the attack. I smashed through another wall but the rubbled reversed and pushed me down.
The bomb fell, zipping toward me.
No!
I crossed my arms and blasted my mana outward. It forced the telekinesis to end, and I escaped as the ball cracked along the floor.
The shockwave sent me flying. I smashed into the far wall, but something cushioned my back. I turned to see Panasia clutching the door for support. Her arm dropped, and I traced the currents of air swirling with dust.
She tried to smile but slumped forward. I leaped and grabbed her body, tucking her underneath my arm. Fire tore through my defenses, and Xena grunted.
Rage.
Fury clawed itself free and threw the guildmaster into the other room before I slammed the doors shut. It guided my actions, and I envisioned the chains, the runes burned into memory.
Spectral metal formed then solidified, a wave of protective mana creating a barrier.
"Time?" I asked as I dodged between tentacles and sliced through them.
"One minute!" Xena answered.
"I don''t have a minute!"
"Shut up!"
I stepped to the side, and my tail swung forward. It cut through the tentacle, and I grasped the cut end as it retracted.
My jaw cracked open, and I willed the free mana leaking from my core into my throat. As the tentacle stopped and tried to fling me off, I released and sank toward the pyramid.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Like before, the mindeater extended its arm, and I froze midfall. But I released the control of my mana and willed it to burn.
A torrent of pink flames spiraled downward, engulfing the monster. As the mindeater lost control, I crashed atop the steps and dug in my claws.
The world rumbled.
"ENOUGH!"
The command shackled my body, and chains constricted around my limbs and throat. Hooks dug into my head. They crawled their way through my skull.
I couldn''t move. Even as my rage surged and bucked against the compulsion.
My body seized and lifted into the air, bringing me inches away from the smoking haze atop the golden steps.
The force wrenched my neck upwards, and my eyes widened. The fire had done its job. Black flakes drifted down, the left side of the brain a shriveled, crispy mess.
"Defiler! Cretin! I will tear your soul to shreds and feed you to my god! The divinity within shall be nutrients to empower his growth!" the mindeater thundered. The smoke was blown away in a wave, revealing a partially charred squidman. "Die! Die! Die!"
I kicked, my foot lashing out and smashing into a barrier. It shattered, but the mind eater grabbed my leg and pulled.
Crystal bones shattered, and my leg was ripped apart.
He crushed my foot into a paste that splattered the steps.
It hurt! Pain blossomed, and my limb spasmed as it tried to kick free from the monster''s grip. I snapped, desperately trying to bite its head.
"Reduced to a snarling fleshling. May you serve my god well."
I spewed flames, but stone blocked my attack. The stone turned cherry red. More appeared even as I struggled and crushed my head between the material.
The ghostly chains scrambled my thoughts and squeezed.
I''m going to explode!
I refused! My teeth ground the stone, and I broke free. Claws slashed forward and dug through flesh. A fountain of golden blood spewed from the stump.
Snap!
My mouth snapped shut, and I swallowed the severed arm, its meat sliding into my stomach, where the core broke it apart into a wave of energy.
The mindeater glared, its posture uncaring of the missing arm.
No! Fuck you!
How dare it not cower before me! I was going to rip him limb from limb!
"Sleep," he commanded.
The rest of the chains that had gathered behind him wrapped around me. My arms were broken and forced together, my legs twisted as my tail was bent around them. I flapped my wings, but I couldn''t move.
Darkness encroached on my vision, and Xena roared something unintelligible. The last thing I saw was malevolent eyes that burned with golden fire.
----
I gasped for air as a hand clapped me on the back. My breath hitched, and I continued to cough as I slowly took in my surroundings.
Pews lined the room. Blank faces stared forward. Only one did not; Sam looked at me with worry in her eyes.
"I. Wh-what is going on?" I demanded.
Sam glided across the room, her footsteps silent. She bent down and met my eyes, a sad smile on her face.
"Are you okay, Cy?" she asked softly. "You don''t have to do this, they''ll understand."
What are you talking about? Why am I here? I have to stop-
I pushed Sam away and searched for my spear or claws, but all I had were my fists.
The woman who clapped my back backed away, a hand to her face.
No.
I shook my head. That wasn''t Sam''s mom.
"You," I spat toward the false Sam. "I''ll kill you if you keep using that face."
Sam looked hurt, and genuine concern flashed across her face. It took every instinct I had not to apologize. That wasn''t Sam. I knew it wasn''t.
The creature pretending to be Sam stopped and closed her mouth. "How did you free yourself so quickly? Was it the memories? There was so little. It was hard to construct a proper dream."
The voice was no longer Sam''s. Instead, a cold, ancient being spoke with her mouth but not her voice.
"Sam would never call me Cy here. Not something this important."
Not-Sam bent her head, bones snapping. The sound echoed across the silent room. "I see. I am weak then. It will take some time before I regain my former prowess. Such sloppy actions. It is unbecoming of me."
A hand grasped my shoulder, and I spun, sweeping their leg. Without thinking, I smashed my fist into their face, and the puppet pretending to be Sam''s mom deflated like a popped balloon.
"Very well. Let us begin by extracting your memories," Not-Sam said in a monotone voice.
In a flash, the people in the room vanished. The pews were next, leaving a bare floor and the easel toward the back.
The creature floated next to the painting. And I grit my teeth. Rage bubbled, but it felt lacking. Something suppressed my anger and forced me to stare.
"It is interesting to see such a shattered mind. There are walls that even I cannot penetrate. Thankfully, you left a hole for me to slide through."
I tried to move but I managed four steps before my foot stuck to the floor.
"What are you getting out of this?"
"Emotions, memories, power. You exhibit such strong feelings of anger. It is delicious. But now, I am curious. Why this memory? Why do you refuse to look at the painting? You''re radiating deep rage with a hint of something else. What is it?"
I kept my mouth shut, and the creature stopped. Not-Sam twisted their head, bending well past what a human should be capable of.
"I see. Misery. Sorrow. Were these people important to you? More than the owner of this body. Yet you will not look. Maybe I should make you?"
"No!" I screamed, but it was too late.
A force grabbed my legs and slid them forward. I shut my eyes and looked away, but a firm hand grasped my chin and forced my head straight.
"Look. Show me those emotions you repress." Not-Sam commanded.
No!
"I said, look."
Strong fingers peeled my eyelids open, but the world began to shake. Pieces fell away, and the void stared back.
"Ignore that. Look forward."
Against my will, I slowly looked up.
No. Don''t...
Two faces came into view¡ªsmiling, happy faces.
Stop!
I took in their smile, the man''s happy blue eyes, and the woman''s calm brown.
The world continued to crumble around us until only an island remained. Chime bells tolled in the distance, but the creature snapped their fingers, and a golden bubble blocked the sound.
"LOOK!"
I screamed, but nothing came out. My teeth bit into my tongue, the spongey flesh scraped away, and I spat blood.
I refused!
But I couldn''t stop. They wouldn''t let me.
The faces, I knew them. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
"So that''s who they are¡ªexquisite agony. What would happen if I erased this memory? Burned it away? How would that make you feel?" Not Sam continued.
I slumped to the floor and struggled to breathe. My lungs refused to work. A sob wracked my chest, yet I felt cold and still.
"More. Give me more."
Ding!
The barrier shattered, and I slammed the creature to the floor. Sam''s eyes stared in surprise, but I grew claws and ripped her face to shreds. Fire trailed down my limbs, and flesh melted away as I continued to punch and punch!
Her hand wrapped around my neck and pushed me off, but I slammed my tail through her stomach, impaling her to the floor.
"Even now, you can fight back? Then it is time I show you pain!"
Memories flashed, happy times, sad times. Numerous scenes and different people. I recognized them all. Sam''s uncle, her brothers. Happy times after the funeral, the first time I openly cried into her mom''s arms.
I remember my first beer with her dad and the Christmas we spent together, when her brothers baked me a cake. All cherished memories that flooded my mind.
One by one, they burned. The memories shattered and crumbled to dust before my eyes. With them, I felt each loss, a hole in my soul.
"I SAID NO!"
Before the creature could react, I reached forward and shoved my hand through her chest. I grabbed the energy calling to me, an intense hunger demanding consumption.
"Stooop!"
No.
I ripped the energy out and stared at the fragile marble filled with divine power. The void consumed the last of the island, and I slipped free, Sam''s corpse turning to dust.
Before I fell, I tossed the marble into my mouth and swallowed.
"NOOOOO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
Chapter 46: Dungeon Battle (Part Three)
I looked down and tried to move, but my body was surrounded by disgusting black flesh. It jerked, and a hole ruptured on the side, spewing gold gunk across the pyramid.
The mindeater flew upwards and grabbed my head. "What have you done! What have you done!"
I punched my tongue through its throat, and chains tried to tear me asunder. But I retracted my tongue and forced them closer while freeing my arms.
"You tried to eat me. So I devoured your god instead. Get fucked," I taunted.
A shard of ice cut my tongue in half, and I tore my body free. I kicked the mindeater into the deflating brain.
The mana threads Xena had been condensing split apart, and I created the object even as my vision shrunk to pinpoints.
A profound wrongness cracked my core, but I didn''t care.
I weaved the last of the energy into a barrier in front of me and encased myself in crystal. Another stream of mana shot out and impacted the core, coating it in layers of protective material, until my mana ran dry.
I hefted the metal sphere and lobbed it.
He caught it, but I laughed as I sent a single spark beneath the bomb''s plating.
The world turned white.
----
I came to and brushed the dust aside.
Everything hurt.
My mana channels were lava, and my skin was sandpaper. I tried to sit up, but I couldn''t move.
"Thhhnnng"
Can''t speak either. Damn. Can I move my head?
Pain shot through my spine, but I managed to shift an inch. I found Xena''s frail form unmoving atop a pile of rocks.
I can''t tell if she''s alive. Her wings are gone...
If I couldn''t move in the physical, then I had another option.
I shut my eyes and sank into a meditative state. The world fell away, and the pain muted as I took in my soulspace.
To say it was damaged would be an understatement. The island I stood on had massive cracks disrupting the runes embedded into the obsidian. The lake was dried up, and for the first time, I saw a bottom.
A brief chill shot down my spine.
The energy floating above was nothing more than sparse clouds that lost cohesion the longer I stared.
Really fucked up this time.
Yet, in the center, a golden marble floated above. I teleported myself next to it and stared. The very sight of it gave me a pounding headache that.
I looked away and saw a swarm of skillwisps race toward me. They surrounded and tackled me, bunching together as they pushed into my chest.
Only Chomperz stayed away, but that didn''t stop me from reaching out and wrapping the spirits in a hug.
"Hey, everyone. I''m sorry for earlier, but there wasn''t a lot of time."
They each responded. Some, like Zharia and Sturmrorex, were angry. ¨¢ine, Magnus, and even Erebus showed concern.
Time lost meaning as I stood there, hugging my familiars tight. The painful memories while inside the god''s illusion, dream? Whatever it was, I remembered them visibly.
Out of all the memories burned away, I felt like a fool for clinging so desperately to the one displaying the faces. Even now, the happy couple haunted me.
Chomp!
I looked up and wiped the tears onto my hoodie. "Yeah, buddy?"
His skill wisp floated closer and tapped through my head. He then tapped the golden marble and jerked his paw away. I nearly lunged for him, but he backed away until I stopped.
He slowly floated upward and reached for my head. As he touched my avatar''s skin. A jolt of electricity zapped my brain and brought a cooling sensation.
The memory of the two faces became blurry, and a chest locked the painting away. When I thought about it, the chest appeared, and it began to open, but I quickly slammed it shut and shook my head.
"Thank you,"
Chomp!
I sighed and slowly released my familiars. Only ¨¢ine stayed, and I let her settle onto my palm. "I''m going to try summoning you. I know my mana channels are ruined, but ignore my pain, okay? First things first. Heal Xena, then me. Make sure she''s alive."
¨¢ine tried to protest, but I had already exited the soulspace. My spirits crowd together, their emotions bleeding through even unsummoned.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
I tried to call my mana, but I realized why it didn''t work after I stopped seizing.
Fuck. Forgot the no mana. Going to have to wait.
Mana slowly tricked up, but with a wince, I noticed it bleed away, my channels unable to contain it all.
What should have taken me minutes stretched into an hour.
With nothing to do, I thought of how people would react when I told them the story. Besides Teddy, the others would probably be pissed off.
I doubted they would have agreed to be sequestered away in a safe space if they knew what I fought. Truth be told, I could probably have used their help. But I wasn''t willing to risk their lives.
Even Panasia nearly died after the double explosions.
I owe her a drink. I hope she likes Bera''s brew.
Another half hour passed, and I finally had enough to summon ¨¢ine. The mana churned; what little regeneration I had from my perk was too minimal to matter. But still, I forced the mana to connect even as a scream tore from my throat.
¨¢ine popped into existence and slapped my cheek with a burst of healing. She flew to Xena and began pumping mana into her back, but after a minute, she backed away and hopped onto my chest.
"Is she alive?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed my familiar''s mana. The flowers and fresh grass calmed me. Warmth filled my body, and I only now realized I had been shivering. I just couldn''t feel the effects of the mana shock.
A loud pop burst behind me just as my flesh started to restitch. ¨¢ine launched into the air, her fists ready, but then she stopped and floated out of view.
"¨¢ine? Who''s there?"
"I believe I owe you an apology, Cyrus," came a familiar voice.
I strained my neck but was casually picked up and sat on a couch with pillows supporting my arms and a table supporting my leg.
"If I''m being honest? I only half regret listening to you," I said.
Cal sat down on the opposite couch. He looked worried, angry¨Cannoyed even.
"I don''t blame you," he spoke softly. "This was not predicted."
I tried to laugh, but needles serrated my guts.
"Oww. Yeah, well, I don''t think planning things is easy for me."
Cal shared a weak smile. "True enough. But here, eat this."
He waved his hand, and a funky plate of cookies appeared. The cream was made of stars, and the cookies looked like clouds.
I slowly reached for one, which floated off the plate and into my hands. "Thanks,"
Cal chuckled and watched me chew on the cookie.
It tasted surprisingly bitter. But something tickled the back of my throat and slid into my chest. I frowned and dived into my soulspace.
Before my eyes, the cracks along the island began to repair themselves while the world regained some of its lost color.
I exited the soulspace and stared at the plate of cookies. Without asking, another popped up, and I chomped down happily.
As I reached for it, a can of cola appeared, and the tab popped open with a satisfying fizzz. I downed two more before I felt full. I finished the last of the soda and tossed it behind me.
"Why the bitterness?" I asked as I burped.
"I''ve tried everything, but they stay bitter. No matter what combination of medicinal herbs and sugar, the taste never changes."
I raised an eyebrow. "Never asked, but you cook?"
"You have to have something to keep yourself sane. Immortality is a curse as much as it is a blessing. It''s easier when you spend time half awake. But grounded to a world like this? You need a hobby."
"Makes sense. So, uh, why are you here? I didn''t know you could come into Helio. The whole fragment of a dead god and all."
¨¢ine booped my nose and hopped onto the table before transferring to Cal''s lap. He conjured a strange bowl-chair where she sat and relaxed while dipping her hand into a bowl''s worth of juice.
I snorted at my familiar''s antics and tipped over. The soft cushions welcomed my face, and I adjusted them so I could still stare at Cal''s.
He looked upset again.
"You swallowed the fragment, which means I can visit you, even inside a dungeon. Loopholes. But the other gods will arrive in a couple of hours.
"That''s not a lot of time."
"No, it isn''t," he scowled. "But the kingdom''s cleansers will arrive soon enough."
"So what''s up?"
He released a long, full-body sigh. "You were supposed to enter the dungeon, fight with Broken Tower, and fight a tier three monster. The guild master should have helped, and Broken Tower is easily strong enough to handle a tier three themselves. But the godshard taking control of the dungeon core and trapped its fairy? That was unplanned."
I took in the information and shrugged. "You said to be silent before. I still don''t see what the big deal is."
"Cyrus... How do you think people will react knowing that dungeons are not only alive but they are being constantly watched while inside? That a dungeoncore exists and if they really wanted too, there are ways to reach it. What will happen when people access the kind of power a dungeon can control? The amount of ether stored inside?"
Oooh. Yeah, I guess that''d be pretty bad.
"Moving past those implications, I am glad you are alive. It is my fault for underappreciating how chaotic your fate is. And now that you''ve discovered this secret, I am here to ask you a favor. I cannot force it, but I-"
"Done. I won''t say a word. I trust you, Cal; you didn''t even need to ask."
He cracked a smile and exhaled. "Thank you. But unfortunately, that is not the only favor."
My eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"You met Albrus, yes? I sensed his presence before the city was shut off from divine sight."
"Kind old man, shared some tea, had some awesome tattoos? Yeah, I met him."
"And he told you about a choice?"
This time, I stared. Hard.
Cal waved me off. "I know Albrus, and I expected him to contact you eventually. Besides, your memory already told me as much. As scattered as it is..."
"He said I had to make a choice," I said carefully. "I thought I already did the moment I decided to fight the mindeater and his bastard of a god."
"Unfortunately not." He snapped his fingers, and the charred remains of the mindeater floated over. Its entire surface area was nothing but crispy black skin. "The real choice, is this."
"The corpse?"
He replaced the cookies and laid the mindeater atop the table.
"It''s still alive."
I moved without thinking and aimed my claws at its throat. Cal''s hand easily stopped me and gently pushed me back onto the couch.
"Cal!"
"Calm, Cyrus. You''ll want to listen to the favor and the offer," he replied.
My eye twitched but I settled in. If I didn''t trust the god, I shouldn''t have shared my memories amongst other things.
It better be worth it, though. That fucker traumatized me enough.
"I''m listening."
"To cut a story short, Eraztis has asked me to ask you to spare the mindeater. As well as give up the divine fragment."
I breathed in and exhaled.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because, believe it or not. Mindeaters are exceedingly rare. It''s Eraztis'' original species. He can tell you himself, but the Weave dislikes their creation and are usually snuffed out if never born in the first place."
"That''s... Why?"
Cal shrugged. "We don''t know. We think it has something to do with their tendencies to hop between dimensions. Eraztis is the sole survivor of his kind, and even his memories were wiped regarding his creation. So he wants you to preserve this one."
"And what do I get in return?"
"As a reward? A favor owed to me and you from Eraztis. The safety of the city. And a skillstone of your choosing."
"No."
"What?"
"One skillstone isn''t enough. Fuck that. Also, asking me to give up divinity is a lot. I may not know what to do with it, but I''m not stupid."
Instead of being angry, Cal grinned from ear to ear. With a snap, another pop rang out and a new figure joined the opposing couch as Cal shuffled over to make room.
Eraztis folded his hands, his purple robe puffing up until he adjusted. When he finished, he stared at the mind eater on the table and then met my eyes.
"I''m ready to discuss the terms of our deal," Eraztis said, his buttery-smoothed voice filled my ears.
Chapter 47: A Deal With Divinity
I took in the other god. His tentacles were just as neon-yellow as I remembered. Surprisingly, I noticed that I had missed a few details. Being a disembodied soul must have skewed my memories at the time.
When Eraztis shifted into the couch cushion, swirling lines that blended into his skin moved in patterns. When he adjusted his hands, the lines extended a few millimeters past his fingers.
And his eyes. There were sigils hidden in the void, like stars.
Definitely didn''t notice them before.
"Well?" Eraztis asked. "I believe you have rejected my terms. What do you desire?"
I held up a finger and walked around the couch. I bent down, gently lifting Xena off the rubble and placing her atop a cushion.
Eraztis stared and then strangled Cal.
I watched the two topple the couch and roll around. Cal had a tail, but Eraztis had more face tentacles. And it looked like a divine slap fight mixed with soft-core B.D.S.M.
I blinked, and the two were back on the couch as if nothing happened. Cal straightened his tie, and Eraztis continued to stare.
"That was?" I asked.
"Annoyance," Eraztis answered as he snapped his fingers, and Xena disappeared. "I shouldn''t be surprised, but I am. Calstrax, try to hide something like that from me again, and I''ll rip off your tail."
Cal stuck out his tongue and looked away.
"Why did she matter? Didn''t you already know about her? Weren''t you watching the fight or something?"
"I was not, and neither did I know that she was hiding along your person. Your passive is ridicuously annoying, but it makes sense considering who gave it to you."
"Can you tell me who?"
"No," he stated cooly. "I prefer living."
I looked at Cal. "Can you hear me?"
"I can, are you wanting to ask if its okay to mention that you bonded with the fairy?" Cal replied.
"Pretty much. Can''t be worse than anything I''ve done so far."
"Which is a statement in of itself. Go ahead. Give me a second to prepare the camera."
Eraztis'' face tentacles undulated. "You are communicating something."
"Maybe, but ignore that. So I got a question about the fairy. Where did you put her, and why does it matter if I knew about her? If I''m correct in my thinking."
"Because you shouldn''t. It''s a secret well-kept by all pantheons on Inoria. And since Cal would eat my tentacles before I messed with your mind, I can at least minimize the contact between the two of you. I understand that is hard, considering she was with you and we were sitting inside the core room of a dungeon. But I can try."
I nodded along and slowly smiled. Eraztis tentacles grew increasingly agitated.
"So, there''s a problem with your assumption."
"And that''d be?"
"She wasn''t with me."
Eraztis stopped and leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
"Right, so... she wasn''t with me."
"Explain," he demanded.
I tapped my chest. "For the fight, and because we were bonded, I used the dungeon mana to activate my Spirit Lord''s Invocation and transformed. She wasn''t hiding somewhere; she was inside me. I didn''t create all the barriers and the bomb myself."
Click!
This time, I didn''t even see it. One second, the pair was there, and Cal snapped a photo with a modern disposable camera you''d see back on Earth, and the next, the pair was gone.
I felt the explosions rather than seeing them. Even standing up, I could barely tell something was happening inside the massive dust cloud beyond the barrier that had appeared.
I settled in and picked up ¨¢ine''s unspilled throne/drink device and helped her settle in.
"You think they''re having fun?" I asked ¨¢ine as she slipped her hand into the juice.
"Yes," she replied.
We waited for nearly a dozen minutes before they appeared back on the couch. Cal''s hair was half shaved off, and his tie was cut in half below the knot. Eraztis had singed robes and sported a few missing tentacles.
"Did you have fun?" I asked the both of them.
They both glared at each other, and Cal cleared his throat.
"We did. Don''t worry about it."
And they call me weird.
Eraztis summoned a dirty notebook with a ghostly chain and lock. He tossed it over, and I caught it.
"That is a book that can only be opened by you once bound. It has infinite pages. Inside the first couple of pages are runes, both modern and ancient. I included the knowledge of how to learn the runic alphabet along with how to create and imbue your own runes. I locked it behind a tier wall, but I doubt that matters to you."
I stared at the journal with wide eyes. "Why are you giving me this? I haven''t agreed to any deal yet."
"This is outside the deal. I want you to share your status with me. Your skill and the rules regarding the privacy of other gods chosen are in effect. If you share them with me, there''ll be no problem."
It was an easy answer.
"Sure, here," I said as I willed my status screen to the god.
I felt pressure along my skin and looked up to see Cal whistling away while Eraztis glared at him with ''I''m going to choke you'' hands grasping an imaginary neck.
"Cyrus," Cal coughed. "Maybe you should look at your new perk. Apparently, bonding with Xena left a more permanent mark."
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
I frowned and pulled it up.
STATUS
Name: Cyrus
Race: Reborn (Felkin)
Age: ??
Tier: 0
Active Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (¨¢ine )
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)
-
(T:0 R:9) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit Lord''s Invocation
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Storm King''s Tempest (Sturmrorex)
Passive Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Etherious Blood
-
(T:0 R:9) Sovereign-Threaded Soul
-
(T:0 R:9) Chaotic Resonance
-
(T:0 R:4) Spirit''s Lord''s Echo
Perks:
Legacy of the Obsidian Crown
Scion of Calstrax
Demonic Blood
Child of Mana
Dread Guardian''s Apology
Crystal Synthesis
Devourer of the Deep
Whisper of the Tempest
False Dungeon Core
False Dungeon Core: Your soul has adapted to the complex energy and immense pressure of being a temporary dungeon core.
-
Dungeons are home, and you may learn to take more than what is given to others.
-
Effects unknown.
-
Discover your limits
I closed my eyes, and relaxed against the soft cushions.
As far as names went, it was alright. Devourer of the Deep sounded like I was the next doomsday apocalypse.
"You should probably open your eyes. Eraztis is serious here," came Cal''s polite voice.
"Is it bad?"
"I don''t think so. But for the record, neither he nor I have ever seen that perk. I''m sure the Grand Weave has assigned it to someone somewhere in the universe, but not to our knowledge."
When I opened my eyes, Eraztis stood still, like an unmoving statue, as he sank into the cushions. Cal shrugged, and I caved first.
"Would you like to see my memories? Can I do that?"
Cal frowned, but he nodded.
"If you give permission, Eraztis can. But Eraztis. You dig deeper than you''re supposed to, and we''ll fight for real."
"I won''t betray the trust given," he stated.
Eraztis stretched his arm, the tentacle appendage extending across the table, with the still unconscious and crispy mindeater lying on top.
As his tentacle touched my head, he pulled it back and covered his face with his claws.
"Why? I knew I should have denied your request when you barged into the rebirth process. Give the being of chaos to the chaos god. Utterly foolish." Eraztis huffed and sat up. "I implore you not to explore the limits of your new perk, but I can''t really ask you that. I trust that Calstrax has warned you not to divulge this information, so I''ll punish him if something happens."
I blinked. "Okay?"
He pointed to the almost-corpse. "State your terms, I want to return to my void."
"First," I said, holding up a finger. "Can you extract the divine fragment? Will that hurt me?"
"Your body is merely holding it, not assimilating its power. And there will be mild discomfort, nothing more."
"Huh."
"And furthermore. You say that giving up the fragment is worth a lot. While true, you can''t absorb it in your current state. Doing so would tear your soul apart, let alone your skill."
I lost the politeness I had been showing to the god.
"My skill has a name. Use it."
"Chomperz then. He won''t be able to take in another. And you have no means of carrying it around without worry."
"Why do you want it? Why shouldn''t I give it to Cal?"
Cal smiled, but he kept silent as Eraztis grumbled.
"I want it because whoever this god was, he has knowledge of my species. I believe Calstrax has explained some. What you didn''t know was that this divine fragment is not from here. True to our nature, it invaded and slipped through. It appeared in a dungeon and tried to jump into another portal which brought this dungeon to Helio."
"So, I give up the fragment because it''ll be easier and you''re interested enough. Got it. Next question. The favour. Make it two favors for Cal. I wouldn''t know what to do with one. And he can probably use it better than I can."
"Cyrus, you don''t ha-" Cal started.
"No. That''s a requirement. Is that acceptable?"
"Against every sane fiber in my being, yes."
Cal backed off and beamed at me. He looked positively glowing and more than proud.
"Cal brought up a choice, and you mentioned the safety of the city. How, why?"
Eraztis pointed to the mindeater. "Without the god, he is their sole influence. I will take him away, and the other mindeaters around the city. The cleansers are coming, but once this one wakes up or dies, those hidden inside Helio will go berserk. Some will die in the clash, and others will be lost before the cleansers arrive. I am doing you a kindness."
In response, I summoned the athame into my hand. Without hesitation, I stabbed it downward, but the blade met a solid force that pushed me aside.
"Surprising," Eraztis murmured. You struck me as someone who cares for people. Was I wrong?"
I spun the dagger around and glared. "You''re not. But I try not to be responsible for people. I did my part, done my duty. I refuse to be beholden to others. I''m nobody''s hero."
"You speak only half-truth. Very well. Point made. What do you want as compensation?"
"A perk. If Ysanna and Zolnja can grant one, I figured you can as well."
"I will not make you a chosen."
I shrugged. "I''m already Cal''s scion. I''m good on that front. If all you give me is some form of mental resistance, then I''m happy."
Eraztis was silent for a while. I waited patiently. I knew it wasn''t easy for a god to give up power. And from what I know of Cal and the storm princess'' experience, it cost something, no matter how small the perk.
"Should I be worried?" I asked Cal.
"No, I think you''re fine. He doesn''t want to show it, but he is interested in you. Even if he has issues with me and my brand of divinity, he''s smart enough to know what you represent and what has already happened. Don''t be surprised if the perk is more than something minor," he responded.
Eventually, Eraztis summoned a floating box. It looked ancient and alien. The runes enchanted throughout the metal material brought pain to my eyes. I looked away out of politeness, even though I wanted to study the patterns hidden within the engraved tentacles.
"I will give you two skillstones. One will be a suitable replacement for what you would have gotten if you looted the mindeater. The second is my choice and one you will trust me on. By my honor as a god and my friendship with Calstrax, I swear it will be to your benefit." Eraztis said solemnly. "But you will not leave this place without absorbing both. These skillstones are for you and you alone."
"If he did sabotage you, I''d find something fun to chew on," Cal growled.
Eraztis ignored him and opened the chest. Inside rested a swirling vortex with glittering stars. He reached in, and his hand shrank as it dipped into the cosmic milk inside. He pulled his hand out and presented two skillstones.
They were incredibly clear. One looked like a swirling vortex of pink stars. Twinkling purple lights flashed in and out and shifted as Eraztis spun the crystal around.
The second stone was clear, completely clear. There weren''t even specks or a hint of color. The entirely transparent stone disappeared in the air, and I only caught the distortion when the glass caught the light at odd angles.
"I''m granting you two favors, skillstones, and the single perk in exchange for the mindeater''s life and the divine fragment. Do we have a deal, Cyrus?" Eraztis asked.
I stared at the skillstones and paused. The choice was made long before Eraztis came here. I was always going to play nice unless his intentions were to hurt me or mine.
But there was somethings I had to know.
"The dungeon. What will happen to it? And Xena, and Wedra?"
"The dungeon will stay; a new section will open inside the temple. In more mortal terms, it would be considered prime real estate. The pair will quickly regrow their ether reserves and continue to expand. I do ask that you avoid the dungeon in the future, for obvious reasons and others."
I paused for a time. Testing the words on my tongue as I mulled over my final requirement. The gods waited; neither moved to rush me.
"There''s one last request." I said.
Eraztis'' face tentacles slapped the air as he stared.
"I want information on Sam. If she''s alive, I want to know. If she isn''t... I still want to know. Do that, and we have a deal."
Cal frowned, but it wasn''t anger and more of an expression of sadness that I decided to ignore as I kept my focus trained on the other god.
"It could take awhile. Divination is not my domain."
"I don''t care how long it takes."
"Then yes. I can perform such a task."
"Alright then," I said. I held out my hand and grinned, showing my fangs. "We have a deal."
Chapter 48: Goodbye Helio
Eraztis disappeared, and I snuggled into the couch while a fluffy blanket floated down and covered me. ¨¢ine found a spot underneath my chin and wormed herself into a comfortable position.
The god had taken his monster, along with the divinity. Surprisingly, the extraction process was no worse than some awkward stomach cramping as I threw up the marble.
He also extracted the memory of the bomb I made. Apparently, science was good for something, though the memory was gone for ''the safety of the world.'' I thought it was ridiculous, considering there were beings who could level cities, but oh well.
The comfort drew me in, but I pushed through and opened my eyes. Cal watched me with a lazy smile.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked.
"It feels good to relax." I answered. "I know the world is fucking me over and whatnot, but it could ease the throttle."
"Do you ever regret-"
"Nope. Not for a second."
"You sure? It''s not going to get easy."
"We''ve had a conversation like this before. Easy or not, I''ll just have to get to a point where it is. That''s the beauty of power, right?"
"Not for someone like you," he sighed.
"Meh."
"Fine. Are you going to look at your new skills? Do you want to know what they were originally called?"
I shrugged. "Not really. Doesn''t matter what they used to be. And besides. Right now I''m relaxing while I can and I''m going to enjoy it."
To punctuate my point I briefly pulled up my status sheet before closing it after taking in the new names.
STATUS
Name: Cyrus
Race: Reborn (Felkin)
Age: ??
Tier: 0
Active Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (¨¢ine)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)
-
(T:0 R:9) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit Lord''s Invocation
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Storm King''s Tempest (Sturmrorex)
-
(T:0 R:0) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (N/A)
Passive Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Etherious Blood
-
(T:0 R:9) Sovereign-Threaded Soul
-
(T:0 R:9) Chaotic Resonance
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit''s Lord''s Echo
-
(T:0 R:0) Split-Mind Cultivation
Perks:
Legacy of the Obsidian Crown
Scion of Calstrax
Demonic Blood
Child of Mana
Dread Guardian''s Apology
Crystal Synthesis
Devourer of the Deep
Whisper of the Tempest
False Dungeon Core
Unleashed Soul
Cal smiled annoyingly and pointed to the door. "You do know a certain guildmaster is locked outside and conscious. She might think you''re dead. Not to mention the others waiting for you."
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
I sighed and turned around, planting my face into the soft cushions. "Whatever. They''ll live."
"I see..." Cal chuckled. Then, in a more serious tone, Cal spoke softly: "Cyrus. May I make a suggestion?"
"Mhmm."
"When you get out of here, the kingdom will want to present you with a reward. I suggest keeping your involvement hidden and have the Lightcrests handle it. Teddy''s parents can weasel just about anything from the king right now. And I have some advice regarding the reward."
I closed my eyes and imagined the crowd of people and their ever-growing list of questions. Cal was right. I didn''t want that at all, and I knew Broken Tower would keep its silence. The same would be true for Sereza and Elanor''s people if she ordered it.
Bleeding the king for a reward sounds funny. Too bad I''m not a sycophant. I''m sure my popularity would climb to the top of the list.
"Noted. Thank you. What''s the suggestion?"
"Out of all your summons, Magnus is the only defensive one. That is fine, for now. You should have another defensive summon."
"Another defensive summon? Are you sure?"
Cal groaned. "Cyrus, your Legacy is crazy. But Zharia, Sturmrorex, and even Erebus can be your damage dealers. Magnus is your ultimate defense, and ¨¢ine is the support. A bruiser tank will round out that role. That and I suggest you look for a support type skill to support your familiars. There are several aura skills that can accomplish the job."
"Got it."
"Good. I have to go, which means I''m taking the couch. But you can have your beanbag back?"
Despite my body protesting, I slowly stood up and cradled ¨¢ine in my hood. I nodded, and the couch disappeared, replaced by the familiar beanbag with little wizards casting spells.
Before I sat down, I stepped closer to Cal and wrapped him in a blanket-covered hug. He hugged me back and squeezed my shoulders.
"I hope you do something cool with those favors," I whispered.
"I will, I promise," he whispered back.
"Hopefully, the next time I see you, I''ll have my own tail."
He laughed and swished his bushy foxtail. "Hopefully, you won''t be suffering. I saw the picture in your memories, Cyrus. You can''t keep it locked up forever."
I gave a defeated smile. "You''re right. But that''s future-me problems. Right now? A nice nap."
Cal laughed, and as I blinked, he was gone. I plopped onto the beanbag and settled into the impossibly cozy chair.
Too many thoughts whirled inside my mind, and I didn''t have a solution for any of them. Instead of napping right away, I stared at the demolished pyramid and the empty pedestal where Weldrammornorpelus resided before Eraztis teleported him out.
Too bad, too; a chat with the guy sounded interesting. But in the end, I was happy that he and Xena were back together. And if what Eraztis said was true, the pair would have some interesting new things to add to their dungeon.
I hope she doesn''t somehow recreate me. People getting pissed off at fighting clone versions of me sounds like a bad idea.
Too many thoughts, too little time. I closed my eyes and made sure ¨¢ine was comfortable. According to Eraztis, I had at least another two hours before the dungeon would kick me out.
Out of everything I thought possible, an adventurer-be-gone feature was not on the list.
Bang!
I groaned and didn''t even need to turn around.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The doors slammed open, and a tempest tugged at my clothes. My beanbag stayed, and a small barrier appeared that blocked out the noise and wind.
Panasia crashed to the ground. Her eyes were mad as she whipped her head around and searched for the enemy. When she saw me, I waved and summoned the crate of Bera''s brew. I cracked it open with my foot and gestured for her to sit.
It wasn''t surprising that a fluffy pillow large enough for two of Igas appeared. She used the wind to pick up a bottle and snap it to her opened palm. Without looking, she sliced the top off and took a swig.
"Aaaagh! By the gods! It really is Viper''s Kiss."
"Try not to get too drunk. We have two hours before we leave," I warned.
She took another swig and set the bottle down before burning her gaze through my head. "There are so many questions."
"I''ll answer what I''m allowed, but I want a nap, so you''ll have to make it quick."
She eyed the bottle by her feet, a frown creasing her cheeks. "Only if I can have another bottle to keep. Bera hasn''t sold these in years."
"Fine. What''s your first question?"
Panasia switched position so that she lay down with one arm supporting her head. She took another sip before speaking.
"Did we win?"
A chuckle rang through the silent room, and I closed my eyes.
"We did."
------
While Panasia was the first to go, I cracked open an eye and poked my skin. Mushy static covered my limbs, and I quickly stored the crate and beanbag.
I sensed them before they appeared, and I turned around and waved at the floating fairy and dungeon core. Xena''s wings and eyes were back to normal, and the horns and crown were gone, too. But a hint of red spun inside her eyes.
The golden dungeon core floated below her, holding Xena up as she dangled her feet off its edge.
"One final goodbye?"
"Yes. I wanted to thank you for the help, even if your plan was insane! Eraztis himself erased my memories! That''s not normal," Xena complained.
"It is for the best... Thank you again, Cyrus. I am glad to live another day," came a new voice.
"No problem. I hope you enjoy the upgrade. Just promise no clones. No matter what!"
"We promise!" they said together.
Xena grinned and opened her mouth to most likely say something snide, but ¨¢ine popped her head out of my hood and hopped onto my shoulders.
Weldrammornorpelus floated forward after an enthusiastic slap from his companion.
¨¢ine hopped on, and the two fairies stared. Xena flapped her wings, and ¨¢ine did the same.
Eventually, ¨¢ine booped her nose and hopped back onto my shoulder while the dungeon core backed away.
"You have chosen a good master. Keep him alive," Xena nodded at my shoulder.
¨¢ine grasped onto my hair, and I shook my head.
"Goodbye, you two. Have fun cleaning up the place."
The golden light inside Weldrammornorpelus flashed brilliantly, and my vision turned black. My body stretched in four directions before I touched the floor and found myself inside the temple.
Everyone else was already there, including a massive crowd. Elanor and her guards yelled for order while Broken Tower and Sereza approached.
I held up my hands. "Not talking now. Let''s get back to the carriage."
"But-" Celanae started.
"Nope! To the carriage."
"What about-" Isaac tried.
I pointed to Panasia, who waved, and I started pushing through the crowd. There were a lot of people, so it took a while, but I broke through and stopped next to Elanor, who stared at me with saucer plates.
A quick whisper in her ear rewarded me with a nod, and I walked down the hallway. The others followed, and I stepped into the light and smelled the fresh air.
If only people weren''t screaming.
For lack of better words, people were freaking out. Several calmer individuals tried to rally together, but apparently, enough individuals realized something was wrong.
I didn''t envy them, but I also didn''t care.
I marched out of the city with the others in tow. They followed me toward the giant carriage pulled by mega-ostriches.
The driver stared and looked down when I waved.
"You have returned... Is there news?"
"How about you let us inside, and we''ll explain along the way," I countered.
They nodded, and I stepped into the carriage. I threw myself into the corner and summoned the beanbag.
I settled in and waved goodbye to ¨¢ine while people filled the cabin. The back slid open, and Arturous shambled through. Once everyone was inside, Celanae tapped the walls and turned to face me.
She already had a new notebook, marked with big red ink on the cover spelling out the word ''Danger.''
"Uh, Celanae?" I asked and pointed to the notebook. "Why does it say that?"
She pointed her pen like a knife and waved it around. "Do I really need to explain that?"
"Guess not. But you know there''s not much to tell."
"Cyrus, I. Will. Cut. You!" Isaac said as he brandished his daggers.
"Fine. Sit down, take some food, and shut up for a bit. There will be no questions until the end, and yes, that means you, Celenae."
Her eyes narrowed to points, but she reluctantly nodded as I began summoning pouches of steaming fries. Isaac glared, and I rolled my eyes, then pulled out a crate of alcohol¡ªsans Viper''s Kiss.
"So. It all started with a kind old dude with some pretty interesting tattoos."
Chapter 49: Epilogue (Cal PoV): A Talk
Cal slipped through the dimensions and focused on Eraztis'' domain. The god noticed his intrusion but welcomed him anyway.
Good.
If Eraztis wanted, he could have pushed back, but at least he was willing to talk to him. There was too much to discuss, and now that the boy was safe with the others, Cal would answer.
The dimensional fabric gave way, and Cal stepped into the god''s domain. Cold and ethereal, the great void filled with endless stars greeted his sight. Below him, a sea of bobbing souls flowed deeper into the void throne upon which Eraztis sat.
Cal willed himself forward, appearing in the space beside the god. Unlike the throne made of stars and shaped by the void itself, a plush couch¡ªthe kind you''d find back on Earth¡ªformed next to the throne, and he sat down.
Eraztis sighed, a garbling noise that pierced the thrum of souls underneath.
"I knew I made a mistake when you barged in," Eraztis spoke first.
"Hey now. I didn''t barge in. You left the door open."
Eraztis ignored him and continued, "I played along, even though I knew it''d be trouble. It was stupid. It was idiosyncratic of me. I should have obliterated my mind and reset. I should do that now."
Cal dropped his smile. "You couldn''t have denied me if you wanted to. Not without upsetting the Weave. We both know that."
Eraztis slammed his fist on nothing but the realm shook and a nearby star exploded into brilliant shards of light. "It''d be worth it. I gave chaos incarnate to the god of chaos. This world is doomed."
Instead of answering, Cal summoned a platter filled with sandwiches. He reached for a random one and bit into the purple crust.
Eraztis watched, silent and unmoving. Cal used his tail to flick a blue one that smelled like moonlight and bananas.
"Take a bite and stop being a grouch. Just be glad I''m his god and not someone else. I know Cyrus; he''d have sworn to burn the world down if someone like Zuldraea tried to guide him."
"And you expect him not to burn the world to ash?" Eraztis grumbled as he shoved the sandwich into his beak.
Cal finished his with some lemonade and shrugged. "He might. It could happen, I wont lie about it. But I don''t think that will happen. Not if I can help it."
He was proud of the boy. And from every moment he has survived in the new life he was thrusted in, has only made that pride deepen.
Cyrus survived. He saved the people he cared about and then some. And despite his protests, he wasn''t callous enough to not act.
He was a good son.
"No," Eraztis said, jarring Cal out of his thoughts. "But when he dies, you will. And you wont have the Weave justifying your actions. Not this time."
That made Cal pause, and he cocked his head at the other god.
"I thought you said you''re not invested?"
A long silence filled the space. It stretched for eons, even if only seconds had passed. Cal finished the sandwiches and noted which were successful and which were failures.
I can''t feed him the Starcrusher jam¡ªtoo much soul-death.
"I am... content."
He blinked and slowly turned. "Content? Truly?"
Eraztis raised his claws, and the river below expanded. He thrust into nothing, plucked a soul out of the stream, and held it up. It was soft blue, without a hint of metal, a weak and fragile soul.
"Even one as simple as this has lived numerous lives, each one mundane and boring. But a life with a story, history that weaved itself into the Weave," Eraztis said softly. He dropped the soul and plucked out another, one of violet red and tinged with copper. History, life, each rebirth another chance to change their fate. We are not them."
"Correction," Cal cut in. "You are not them. I was not born a god."
Eraztis glared, but Cal shrugged.
"You were never mortal. Do not commiserate a fate you never shared."
Again, Cal shrugged. "Fair. So why then?"
The red soul dropped back into the river, and Eraztis sent them further away. New stars aligned the void, but he wasn''t finished. Again, the surroundings shifted until they were in a deep pocket of black and empty space.
A pink soul appeared in recreation, marked by silver stripes that ran like rings around the soul orb.
Cyrus'' soul, an illusion of it.
"My realm is to facilitate the cycle and continue the thread that adds to the tapestry. I am but a cog, one who plays his role. Even you share ties to the Weave you could never shirk," Eraztis continued. He stood up and floated around the soul, examining it. "But I am happy to live through each life, to know I am doing my part."
This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"Crushing is how I''d describe it. To so easily accept one''s chains. I refuse," Cal responded, heat filling his voice.
Eraztis stopped and stared. "Maybe so. But my existence is not filled with as much sorrow as yours. And I prefer it that way."
"Eraztis..."
"Stop, I know. I will not mention your previous children. But know that young Cyrus worries me. He has drawn the Weave''s attention more than any of the others. So I ask you, old friend. Will you set the world to ash when he dies?"
They knew the answer. It was plain to the other god what Cal would do. Mercy only goes so far. And another loss would break him. And even if Eraztis thought himself stronger than Cal, the divine did not operate on the same scale as the mortals.
Tier five shouldn''t be as strong as tier six. But a chaos god existed to break all rules. And Calstrax...
Eraztis shook his head.
"I am now invested in the boy''s safety just as you are. And when he ascends, I will be there to help mitigate the threat he represents," Eraztis said. But he pointed a clawed finger at the smiling god. "I like you, old friend, but I would be among the first to toss you both into the void to become another world''s problems."
"I''ll accept that."
"Good. Now, do you know why I brought up souls?"
"Because it''s your domain?" Cal teased.
A star hit his face and exploded upon impact. Its core burnt his suit to tatters, leaving a frowning Cal behind as the void sucked the explosion away.
"No. Now pay attention to a detail you were too weak to miss."
He pointed to the soul and expanded it, holding it up for Cal to see. Cal examined it, already well versed with the current state of Cyrus'' soul, noticing the lack of influence that marked this version.
In truth, Cal hadn''t studied the boy''s soul when they first met. Too afraid of scaring him away, he dared not subject him to such scrutiny.
"I fail to see whatever it is you want to show me," Cal eventually said as he backed off.
The soul shrunk back to the size of a human''s head.
"Calstrax. He shares no bleed in coloration. His soul is pink, not white, tinged with red."
Cal froze. "No. But the silver."
"Perfect rings. Yes. But they are clean, blended without bleed."
"That..."
But Cal stopped. He knew why Eraztis showed him these details. He knew what the god wanted him to understand.
And he did. He may not have known he was an original soul, but it didn''t surprise him, and Eraztis picked up on that lack.
In an instant, Eraztis appeared before him. Runes scattered like the numerous stars that made up his realm. Each node of power anchored them to the realm¡ªclosing them off from the rest of reality.
Once the space had been sealed, Cal felt weakened, his entire being being subjected to the rules of Eraztis'' domain. His form blurred, and fur sprouted from his hands. But a second later, the pressure dissapeared, and he stabalized.
Bracelets made of solidified reality formed around Eraztis'' wrists, and the god grasped the chains that sprouted from it, locking him into place.
"Speak true; we are hidden. But not for long. It is not of my nature to still the flow," Eraztis commanded.
For a time, he debated, refusing to answer his friend''s questions. But Cal already knew that the other god had truly sacrificed a chunk of his power to help the boy.
At the least, he would speak candidly,
"Earth is magicless. No mana, no qi. Its a planet that has evolved with technology, and ascended far enough to leave their planet and land on their moon," Cal started.
"And?" Eraztis demanded.
"And... its planet is divided. Many kingdoms have come and gone, and in their wake, mythos and divinity spread as it want. The same patterns of creation, each told in different flavors for the mortals to feel better about themselves."
"And?" he demanded again, his voice strained.
Cal paused and inhaled, a superfluous action to the immortal. Eraztis glared but kept silent until he spoke.
"Reality bled through: dragons, elves, magic, and wizards. Even demons and seraphim have their stories."
"By the Weave, I will rip off your paw," Eraztis growled, his voice rumbling through the void.
"Earth..." Cal said slowly as he met Eraztis eyes. "Hosts an origin shard."
The runes exploded, and Eraztis screamed as the fabric pulled his limbs. Cal reached out and injected his power, expanding his domain into his. Chaos swirled, the flames of annihilation severing reality''s ownership. It twisted the fabric, and he burned it away.
As the chains became ash that turned into supernovas, the shackles burst into streaks of light that faded from view. He reached out and summoned his couch, lowering his friend onto his throne.
Even when reality tried to retaliate against the loss, he snapped his fingers, expanded the flames across the fabric, and bit down. The conceptual maw shook and tore it to shreds, further separating them until it retreated.
With reality conceding the space, Cal collapsed beside Eraztis and massaged his temples.
It took too much, he wasn''t recovered enough to challenge reality, but it had to be done. He summoned another pitcher of lemonade and chugged it down before handing it over.
Eraztis held it up and scrutinized the pitcher. "What''s in it?"
"Way too much sugar and some fresh lemons from a kingdom called Mexico."
The other god tapped the pitcher, and a stream of the pink liquid floated into his beak. His tentacles retracted, but he kept drinking before tossing the pitcher aside where a blackhole sucked it in.
"There was nothing magical about it."
"Nope. But it is refreshing, no?" Cal chuckled.
"You expanded my dimension. Why?"
"An apology gift. For the dread I''ve inflected."
Eraztis sat up. "You! You!... Aaagh!"
Cal accepted the anger, even as his friend''s emotions sent spasms across his body. He''d handle it for what he revealed, and he reached over and tapped Eraztis'' chest.
The pain and exhaustion doubled, but he endured.
"Better?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"About as much as I can handle right now."
For another eon, they relaxed, the energy slowly returning, albeit faster for one than the other.
This time, Cal spoke first.
"Earth has undergone its sleep. The shell has formed," he revealed.
"That means we have at least a decade before-"
He stopped his friend and conjured an illusion of Earth. Around the once beautiful planet of green and blue, was a shell of pink ether so dense it created miles of space between it and the void. He spun the image lazily, revealing the egg that came during the second stage of integration for new planets.
"The origin shard changes things. Look underneath near a kingdom they call Australia. Its landmarks were wiped away, and it is now three times its original size."
His friend leaned close, which was another useless effort, considering that his friend owned the realm around them. He could see all, no matter where he looked.
Eventually, Eraztis sat back and looked far more strung out than before. "We don''t have much time. The pantheons will find out; there''ll be a rush to expand into new space. It''ll be the God Wars all over again."
Cal shook his head. "Except the new gods will be stronger than most. Especially them."
Eraztis stared, his tentacles wriggling in tension, a nervous tick Cal recognized.
"What gods? How much of the Origin is present?"
The image of Earth disappeared. In its place, dozens upon dozens of stone tablets appeared, each depicting a grand carving of a god being worshipped by mortals.
"All of them, old friend. The entire pantheon is present."
Silence. It dragged on for eternity before a bubble of light stretched from the Soul Keeper''s body.
Eraztis slowly stood up and floated upwards until he was lightyears apart. Yet the scream echoed in Cal''s ears, and the stars around them exploded until darkness remained.
Cal gave in and laughed. Eraztis'' words filled the realm.
"Fuck you, Cal!"
Chapter One (Book Four Start): Aftermath Return
We arrived at the Lightcrest mansion to the crushing embrace of Teddy''s parents. They must have sensed something was amiss because they led us inside without banter and forced us to sit in the dining hall.
As Anastasia and Nathan disappeared into the kitchen, I turned to Sereza.
"Surprised you''re staying. Don''t you need to report to your father?" I asked.
She glared at me and shook her head. "He can wait. Cyrus, I have so many questions you refused to answer."
"Correction, I am bound by a promise not to reveal certain things. And you keep asking questions about those things."
Celenae tried to devour me through her stare. "You were asleep for an entire day, and when you woke up, you told us a vague, information-redacted story about somehow fusing with the dungeon and defeating a sentient dungeon monster trying to revive their dead god. Also, you spoke about trading the divinity for some skillstones and new perks. You have explained nothing."
"What even are your new skill-" Isaac demanded before Igas clamped a hand over his mouth.
I nodded toward the oni. "Thank you."
Sereza banged her fist on the table. "At least explain how you became a scion! Like how? When did you meet a god, and are they a god for felkins? I haven''t heard of this Calstrax."
The others in the room became nervous, a funny reaction considering Cal wouldn''t touch them. Isaac especially looked subdued even after Igas removed his meaty hand.
"Luck. Well, unlucky if you want to frame it from a certain angle. And as for felkins... I don''t think so? He is well was a felkin at one point. I''m not entirely sure on that front, I suspect he''s a lot more than what he is now. Oh, and he''s not my god, not the same way a priest has a god. He''s more like my adoptive parent. Cool guy, I call him dad."
Bang!
I raised my eyebrow as Sereza groaned and gently banged her head again.
The others looked over in sympathy, and I felt a growing sense of accusation, especially from Isaac, who looked over as if to say, ''See? Look at what you did.''
"I''m feeling attacked here. All I did was tell you who my dad was."
"At least you''re not a demigod. That''d be too much," Sereza finally relented.
Hmmm. I''m not sure about that. Dad didn''t give birth to me, but he did give me his blood?
Sereza''s jaw dropped, and she pointed an accusing finger before a polite coughing from behind us alerted us to Teddy''s parents. They walked in while balancing several silver platters. Within seconds, the table was laden with steaming food and desserts. To the side, Nathan summoned a cooler filled with drinks before he activated a skill and filled it with ice-cold water.
"We''ve already received word about Helio. It looks like you were busy the past few days. Eat, drink, and relax. You can discuss things after," Anastasia declared.
Nobody argued, and soon enough, we all chowed down. Even though I wasn''t hungry, I stuffed myself full and picked up a surprisingly bubbly drink that reminded me of orange soda.
Sereza didn''t know, so she didn''t outwardly express it, but I could feel the other''s gazes burning into me. I had acquired two new skills, and Celenae was especially interested.
I sighed and finally decided to address the changes in my status sheet. It appeared, and I read the changes along with their descriptions.
STATUS
Name: Cyrus
Race: Reborn (Felkin)
Age: ??
Tier: 0
Active Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (¨¢ine)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)
-
(T:0 R:9) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit Lord''s Invocation
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Storm King''s Tempest (Sturmrorex)
-
(T:0 R:0) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (N/A)
Passive Skills:
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
-
(T:0 R:9) Etherious Blood
-
(T:0 R:9) Sovereign-Threaded Soul
-
(T:0 R:9) Chaotic Resonance
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit''s Lord''s Echo
-
(T:0 R:1) Split-Mind Cultivation
Perks:
Legacy of the Obsidian Crown
Scion of Calstrax
Demonic Blood
Child of Mana
Dread Guardian''s Apology
Crystal Synthesis
Devourer of the Deep
Whisper of the Tempest
False Dungeon Core
Unleashed Soul
Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (N/A)(Currently no spirit contracted)
-
Summon a bonded familiar. The familiar is a psionic based being.
-
Summons can remain inside the body in a passive state. While active, they reserve an amount of your mana pool.
-
All Summons have their own mana pool and regeneration but may tap into their summoner''s mana when they run out.
Split-Mind Cultivation:
-
Split your cognitive functions, allowing subconscious activity in the background without interfering with conscious thought.
-
Gain the ability to meditate and widen cultivation base passively.
Unleashed Soul
-
A gift, favor, and investment from the Caretaker of Rebirth
-
The soul has constraints, limits that are slowly ground away through the constant cycle of rebirth; these limits bind you no longer.
-
Your soul can grow and expand. And through hardship comes refinement.
I breathed in and let the stress fall away¡ªor at least I tried and only marginally succeeded.
Looks like I passively gained a level. Good.
When I set my drink down, the room quieted. Everyone turned, even Teddy''s parents, who still had their blindfolds on.
Without speaking, I mentally sent over the description for the perk and watched their reactions. Out of everyone, only Teddy''s parents reacted normally.
Celanae had her journal out, and everyone else glazed over before flinching.
"Cyrus," Teddy whispered. "You told us you met another god, but not that kind of god."
"Do you know him? I''ve only met Eraztis twice now. I still can''t decide whether he and Cal are good friends. Half the time, he seemed ready to punt him into the void," I said.
I frowned and closed my eyes.
"Cyrus? What''s wrong?"
It took a bit, but I finally found it through the sea of loot inside Chomperz''s stomach. As I opened my eyes, I produced a small book and flopped it onto the table.
Sure enough, Eraztis was there, with a mural, description, domain, preferred method of worship, and more.
"Huh. He is famous. It makes sense, considering his title. It''s a good thing I gave his favors to Cal."
Mana activated, and I looked up and stared at Isaac''s shadow spreading across the walls.
"You didn''t mention anything about favors from the god!" he yelled.
I shrugged and finished the last of my drink. "Is what it is. Frankly, I don''t see the problem. None of you risked your soul to fight and loot an evil god. Who the fuck cares if I talked with my god and negotiated a deal? Pretty sure I deserved it, and it doesn''t matter what I tell you about it, considering it doesn''t currently affect me."
My voice had more heat than I intended, but I realized I was getting angry. Remnants of memory from the confrontation with Not-Sam filled my mind, and I crushed them before tossing them aside.
They all stopped, their expressions a war of emotions. Isaac, Eodyne, and Sereza looked angry. Teddy, Igas, and Celenae had softer expressions, mostly concern.
My claws dug into my thigh, and I knew I drew blood. I rubbed the drops against my pants and grabbed another drink before standing up.
"Sorry. I''m still tired," I said. Before I pushed in my chair, I turned to Teddy''s parents. "Nathan, Anastasia, I have a request for you."
They smiled, and Anastasia leaned forward. "Of course, what do you need?"
"The rewards for Helio. I was told to bleed the kingdom for what it owes me. Can you handle that?"
"Ohoho bold. But well deserved," Anastasia grinned. "Anything in particular? And you realize we''ll probably have to confirm the story of your involvement. We only know snippets."
I shrugged. "It''s fine if you tell them, but I''d prefer to be anonymous. Panasia can confirm everything I said. I trust a tier-three guildmaster has enough weight to their words. "
"She would, yes."
"Good, she helped in the fight at the end. Plus, most of the guards saw me ripping out the mind parasites. If they need further proof, I can get Cal to come. All the talk about gods, I bet he can say something on my behalf."
Anastasia''s smile cracked some, and Nathan stepped in.
"That won''t be necessary. Allaron will believe our word, and we believe you," he explained.
"Cool. Then some gold¡ªit''s not the biggest issue, but I''m low. And mostly, I want skillstones. That''s pretty much it. Besides, some anonymity if the kingdom can provide it."
"That''s doable. But it might take a while."
I shrugged and smiled. "Fine by me. I''ll be in my room. Thanks for the meal."
The others stayed sitting, and I ignored their stares. Isaac almost stood up before Celenea summoned a barrier to stop him.
Only Sereza walked out with me, and I finally stopped once we were far enough away for the silence enchantments to activate and prevent anyone from hearing us.
"What''s up?"
She frowned and examined me. "Are you okay?"
"Not really, but I''m alive. It beats the other options," I joked. She didn''t laugh, and I rubbed the back of my neck. "I''ll be fine. Wounds are still fresh and all that. It''ll heal."
"Are you sure?"
I lightly tapped her arm. "Yeah.
She didn''t look like she believed me, but I wasn''t in the mood to try and change that. It would have been a lie.
"Okay," she accepted. "I''ll expect a more detailed story at some point, minus the stuff you''re not allowed to talk about."
"Fair enough. Are you heading out?"
She nodded. "Yeah it was nice to relax. Father would like to know what I was doing. Getting a thank you from the crown would help."
"I''m still offering to beat him up if you need it."
"He''s a well-established tier two,"
"And?"
"Whatever," she chuckled. "See you in a few days? We still need to meet the others."
"Sounds perfect. Gives me some time to settle back in. And we can discuss the tournament."
Before she turned away, she paused. "You''re participating?"
"Probably not, but you will. I can at least support a friend by cheering them on."
She smiled. "Later Cyrus. Get some sleep."
I walked her to the door and waved goodbye. As she left, I dragged myself toward the bedrooms and stumbled into the room before collapsing onto the bed.
The soft sheets and pillows swallowed me, and I let myself sink further until I couldn''t see the light. Alone, unbothered. Nobody to judge me.
I dropped control and winced as the painful memories came back, not the ones I sealed away, but the fragments of emotions that came with the whole scene.
It felt like a fresh scar, still pink, the skin barely thick enough to resist being reopened.
They hurt, it forced me to run away because I didn''t want to deal with them. So instead, I willed myself into my soulspace and took in the comfort of the soft pink glow from the lake.
The fog was back, as was the general healthy condition of my soul. And even as my familiars began to circle me, I sat cross-legged and stared at the new skillwisp floating above the lake.
Lifeless and grey, it lacked its spirit.
My familiars brushed along my shoulders in their own way before floating toward the new wisp.
Painful memories were unwelcome, and I couldn''t think of a better way to distract myself.
Grinning, I activated the new skill and fell into the spirit planes.
Chapter 2: A Saucy Encounter
The void took my consciousness, and I found myself floating. I opened my eyes, but a wall of frosted glass blocked the dazzling array of colors spinning behind it.
I looked around and blinked as I saw my feet. There wasn''t a ground, only a sea of black tar mixed with rainbow lights. As soon as I thought about standing, it reformed and became an island of gold amongst the black sea.
That''s trippy.
And then the island disappeared. The sea followed, turning into a field of flowers. Each one was different. Some smiled, while others waved, and a few even spat in my direction.
Nothing touched me, the pollen transforming into fireflies that sunk into the dirt.
I closed my eyes and concentrated, feeling the nothingness beneath me return. It was a hunch, but I imagined the cloud bed, the cosmic material soft but firm. I pictured it underneath me, forming a wide seat rather than a bed to engulf me.
As I opened my eyes, I smiled. Just like I thought, the cloud cushion had formed around my legs. Each lump was softness incarnate, a springy foam that embraced my limbs.
So I''m in a sea of dreams? Thoughts? If the astral is mind-related, then it makes sense.
The edges of the cloud began to morph; they became a cloud of rats, but I firmly imposed my will and brought it back into line.
The massive circle of glass covering the ceiling and the bottom continued to shine with colorful lights. I couldn''t see any glyphs or runes, but I knew they were there.
I closed my eyes and shut out the thoughts. My soulspace was primed, and my familiars circled the wisp, waiting underneath.
Might as well get this done with.
Sinking into my soulspace, my mana churned, forming pillars that I shaped into threads. They entered my chest and pushed through my palms. In the physical, I channeled the mana into the cloud.
With how wide my manapool was, it took a while for the mana to empty. More and more, it flowed out in a tide of energy. The cloud felt more real in my hand, as if the soft springiness from before had solidified until it became marshmallow fluff.
My familiars danced and spun, weaving in and out of the pillar. I smiled and cheered while watching them play until I reached the first stage of mana fatigue.
The chill began to seep into my muscles. I registered the discomfort and continued. More flowed out and I widened the channel.
My familiars stopped playing, and they hovered in silence.
I reached the halfway point and inhaled, embracing the frost in my chest. Tendrils of ice spiked my nerves, but this wasn''t enough.
I had someone to impress; the more I could give, the better the results. There was no stopping; pain didn''t matter.
Forty percent.
Thirty-seven percent.
Thirty percent.
When it reached twenty-five, I pushed further. I couldn''t breathe; my lungs were frozen. Even though I knew they were there, I couldn''t feel my limbs, just the physical weight that represented them.
I reached ten percent and stopped, cutting the flow before more spilled out. What remained in my channels, I forced back and sucked it into the greatly diminished pool.
A mere shadow of what it once was, the once bright soul realm was barely lit up from underneath. The pool of dungeon-acquired energy continued to hover above, but without the lake, it only covered half the realm.
My familiars turned, expecting, and I waved goodbye with stiff limbs and opened my eyes. I tried to gasp but could only sputter as my lungs struggled to breathe.
The change was immense.
Instead of frosted glass, I was in a glass sphere amidst a sea of rainbow colors. They swirled and shifted, constantly changing shape before settling. Eventually, the sea fractured and split apart.
In the distance, amongst the star milk, a mountain rose made of hands of every shape and size. To the far right, a rumbling volcano became a wolf that exploded into meteors that faded into the far void.
As I spun around, my mind broke, struggling to comprehend everything I saw.
"Calm, young Lord. Focus yourself."
I stopped and turned slowly to where I knew the voice originated. At first, I struggled to understand what I saw, but like everything in the realm, shape was merely a suggestion.
Swirling vortexes turned into tornados filled with gnashing teeth and blinking eyes. That, too, shifted. It gave way until the light became silk and shrunk into a cloak.
The cloak sprouted arms, seven of them, and became a very strange-looking item. From underneath, the swirling eddies of star milk and rainbow tar rushed to fill the space until it ballooned. But reality cracked and splintered; the cloak deflated into strands of entrails and screaming fish.
Three became six, and six became thirty-two before thousands upon thousands of strands dangled off beating hearts and Coca-Cola cans.
Rattle and clanks, they burned, they stretched, they writhed.
"Focus."
Chime bells rang through the static, calming me. I was no longer inside a glass sphere. When I opened my eyes and blinked away the tears, I found myself in an empty restaurant adorned with colorful lamps sprouting from the shadows.
This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
My cloud chair pushed up against the granite table, and I stared in surprise at the bowl of marinara sloshing with bubbling sauce and meatballs.
Hovering along the lip, the multistrands of noodles dipping into the sauce, a spaghetti god like the memes from back on Earth.
It waved, and I hesitantly waved back.
"Good, you have focused," came the burble of the sauce.
I shouldn''t have understood what the sounds meant, but I did, and I shut my jaw to look down at the plastic menu in my hands.
I looked back up and dipped my head. "It''s an honor to meet you, Great Guardian. This one is Cyrus."
A strand of noodles snaked out and lifted the menu. It dragged it into the blue ceramic bowl and released an explosion of parsley before the sauce settled.
"You may call me Macaroni."
My eye twitched.
"I see," I said carefully. I looked around and took in the empty scene. "May I ask how we are here? I understand that the summoning circle should have protected me unless breached."
"That''s because we are still there. This is the spell circle, and I am not really here, nor is this my real form."
"Is... did I do this?"
Another parsley explosion rained down and what fell out of the bowl was caught with noodle strands and pulled in.
"Yes. It is an interesting form. I do not know what is a ''spaghetti'' nor what ''Macaroni'' is, but it is what has been provided by your mind."
"Right. Okay. So what happened out there? Why was everything so..."
"Strange? Mind-bending?"
"Yeah," I admitted.
"We are in the Astral. Thoughts are reality, dreams are suggestions, and the soul is flexible."
"That''s impressive. Though I''m not sure what you mean by the soul is flexible."
"And hopefully, you never do. Though I can sense turmoil in yours, heavy it is from the experience of existence."
I lost my smile and nearly jumped as a bowl of steaming food dropped onto the table. The menu was gone, and in its place was a soup-pan of meat and rice. It smelled heavily of soy sauce and chili.
In front of Macaroni sat a smaller bowl of himself but in yellow soup that looked and smelled suspiciously like cheese.
They broke a part of a pair of chopsticks on the side and casually slurped up parts of the mini-me into their bowl.
"I''m not dying right now, and this is my brain experiencing a hallucination before I croak, right?"
"No." they burbled.
"So what do you require of me? I am here to make a contract with a spirit for my skill, Shroud of the Astral Archon."
"I know. What does your food taste like?"
Annoyance built up, but the whole situation was just another fever dream of random events that I decided to roll with.
I used the fork and took a bite, deliciously hot food melting in my mouth like butter as I chewed. Macaroni watched me as he slurped up more of himself, and I slid the bowl over for him to try.
One of the chopsticks speared a chunk of beef while another noodle strand cupped some rice and brought it toward the soup. This time, meatballs shot into the ceiling and splattered before falling back into the sauce with wet plops.
"Good?" I asked.
"Interesting."
Fair enough.
They slid over the bowl of the still-wiggling pasta, and I very slowly dipped my spoon inside. As it reached my lips, mini-shells snaked around my spoon and snapped apart its noodles before I chewed.
Weird pasta creation aside, it tasted like delicious macaroni made with love and and some baked cheese.
The bowls were switched again, and I ate more slowly this time. As I examined the restaurant, pieces began to fall away, exposing a black, static-filled void underneath. I looked at Macaroni, but they continued to eat. so I decided to do the same. I finished the bowl and sighed in contentment, only for a plate of mochi to appear in its place.
I took two pink ones and pushed the plate over. Every last piece was sucked into the bowl of marinara and created different food explosions as they slipped in.
For a while, we ate. Once we finished one plate, another would appear, cycling between something hardy, light, and dessert. Despite eating over forty dishes and sharing each, I never felt full.
Eventually, I sat my fork down and waited, but the empty plate remained. I looked up and noticed the restaurant was gone¡ªonly the void and a growing sense of wrongness.
But I banished the unease and focused on Macaroni, who had stayed a constant throughout the changes.
I sipped the last of my water and tossed it aside, the void tearing it to pieces before grinding the cup down. I blinked and reached out, but a wet noodle wrapped my wrist and held me back.
"That would be unwise, young Lord," Macaroni cautioned.
I pulled back and clasped my hand, considering his words.
"Why not? It''s another release, is it not? It''s a means to stretch one''s soul until it becomes immuteable from the realm."
I shouldn''t have known that, but I did.
Sizzling sauce splattered the table and was sucked back into the bowl.
"Is that what you seek?"
I thought about it and paused. The thought crossed my mind, a fleeting, intrusive thing that dared me to jump off.
It wasn''t an invasion, nor an attack from an outside force. Yet why did I want to jump into what would be the obliteration of my ego?
"I guess not. But I''m not entirely sure, and that''s disturbing," I admitted.
"You have exposed yourself more, stripped away the mask that protected your thoughts. It is what you desire and don''t. Only you can tell what feeling is stronger."
As if to punctuate his words, the static grew louder, and the table disappeared. I watched and waited, not daring to breathe in case it disrupted my delve into my psyche.
But even as the static called for me, I ignored it and stared into the meatball eyes of that made up Macaroni''s body.
"I don''t think I want to."
"Then don''t. And I finally have my answer."
"What answer?"
The chairs fell into the void, leaving us floating amidst a small blob of darkness. Without Macaroni''s bowl, the noddles fell for endless miles until I lost sight.
"How are you withstanding the static?" I asked as I swam forward to examine his strands. "Wait. They aren''t touching the static. Can I do that?"
"Is that what you wish?"
I nodded.
"Very well. But first, you must make a choice. What do you desire more: the unending black or the infinity of the rainbow?"
It wasn''t a hard choice at all.
"Rainbow. There''s already too much void. Why not go for something more colorful?"
"And another. The spine of one, or the flexibility of many?"
"Flexibility. Noodles are better when eaten in batches."
Macaroni stared, their meatball eyes growing marinara slits that blazed with green eldritch light.
I met the stare with unblinking eyes and reached for the saucy orbs. But a gentle noodle pushed my arm down and tapped my chest.
I looked down and noticed that the noodle never touched me but pushed me with a barrier that stretched like melted plastic.
"Bring out your athame, will the cut and state the name that calls to you."
As I blinked, my athame was in my hand, my fingers wrapped around its hilt. I complied and ran a cut down my finger to the base of my palm. Blood flowed freely and began to drift away.
That''s not good.
Willpower forced the blood to flow into the melted plastic and pierce the other side. An explosion of light poured out, and bubbles rose through my stomach and up my throat.
"Galarion," I declared.
The pretty light rushed into my finger and traveled through my veins. A new weight settled in my soul.
I tried to look up but had to look away as Macaroni''s form was no more. Hungry, shivering souls begged for release before they grew mushrooms in their eyes and vomited glitter. Sands tore them away before turning into clouds of blood that struck with feathered lightning bolts.
A tapping brought my attention back toward myself, and this time, I saw a vial of starmilk floating near the breach in reality. I tapped it, and it broke apart into motes of light that sunk into my skin.
Another weight, another change; the static receded as I felt its edges lessen. My arm extended, and I caressed the numbness that bit at my flesh like rabid dogs.
It tickled.
"This is goodbye, young Cyrus. We watch and wait, as is our duty. But we hope that thou never return. Hold fast to the desire thou spokest, and keep it close to thy heart."
He pushed ever so gently and I fell into the abyss, letting the sea of thoughts guide me through the portal.
Chapter 3: Hungry Mind Squid
For a time, I laid still. My eyes were closed, and yet the vividness of the spiritplane continued to rattle in my mind. Images flashed and indescribable feelings assaulted my senses. But I kept my eyes closed and welcomed the sensations.
The new perk settled in, lessening the pain and fear.
I wonder if anyone would keel over and spit blood if they saw my status. I should be reaching a record, right?
No one answered my thoughts. That was fine. I rolled to my right and squeezed the pillow close to my chest. It crushed underneath my strength but not before bouncing back into shape as I released the pressure.
I remembered the questions, even if it felt like a long fever dream.
Stripped down to nothing, I had answered a question I didn''t know I wanted an answer to.
I groaned and sank into the bedsheets.
No more existential questions. Only sleep.
Thankfully, it took me surprisingly little to drift off.
-----
Morning came, and I stayed in well past noon. When I finally made my way down, the others were already having lunch. I ignored their stares and grabbed a plate.
Crunch after crunch, I slowly came to and sloughed off the drowsiness of oversleeping. Finally, I finished the last of the orange juice and glared at the others who quickly averted their gaze.
"What do you want?" I asked, my voice exhausted.
"Nothing. Just wanted to know if you''re okay," Teddy responded.
"So I take it none of you are curious about my new perk and two new skills? Neither of you wants to meet my new summon? Interrogate me on my trip to the spiritplane? Not to mention being told a story with more details?"
And there it was. The facade fell away, and Celenae practically foamed at the mouth.
"Yes, we want to know all of it," she admitted while enthusiastically nodding.
I closed my eyes, inhaled, and then exhaled before opening them.
"First, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have snapped at you last night."
"Cyrus, it''s fine. We understand it, even if we can''t relate," Teddy said softly.
"Yeah, just cool it and fork over the details," Isaac cut in.
Eodyne zapped him, but she nodded, as did Igas.
"Right. Well, full disclosure, I can''t show you my full status sheet," I said. Celenae gasped in outrage, but I shook my head. "There''s a perk related to my fusing with the dungeon that you guys cannot learn about for a few reasons. And I''m gonna side with the divine beings on this one."
Now, it wasn''t only Celenae with fire in their eyes, but I pushed on and accepted the hesitant smile from Teddy.
"Before I share my status sheet, I''ll answer whatever questions you have, but you have an hour and that''s it. And if I can''t answer it, I simply wont. Got it?"
They nodded and I dived into the storytelling for the next hour. By the end, none of them looked happy.
I swallowed another bite of something that tasted surprisingly like turkey sausage and swallowed slowly. Again, I couldn''t tell what they were thinking.
"Cyrus..." Eodyne whispered.
"If you want to offer me pity, then save it. I don''t regret anything."
"You think that''s what we''d do? You-" her voice got heated, but Teddy held out his arm and shook his head.
"We''re angry, Cyrus. We could have helped. Done something other than cower and hide. We''re not tier three, but we are strong together. You didn''t have to suffer through all that alone."
I met their eyes.
"That''s shit. Of course, I didn''t. I could have sacrificed you all. You''re right. But then what? Willingly get my friends killed in a battle where I couldn''t protect them? Lower my own chances of winning to help with hyped-up egos?"
"Hey!" Isaac shouted while knocking over his chair.
"No. For all that you guys are strong, there is shit beyond you. You''re not me. You''re not forced to deal with it, not directly. I already made a mess by bringing you into Helio. Getting you killed because of my carelessness? Fuck that."
Slowly, I calmed down and found myself breathing erratically. As soon as I noticed, I stopped and stood up.
"I''m going into the sparring room. If something important comes up, you''ll know where to find me."
Like pinpricks, I rushed out of the room and into the hallway. My heart thumped, beating fast as adrenaline spread..
What the fuck is going on?
I heard footsteps. The door was open. Instincts screamed at me to move, so I did. Down the stairs and into the hall, I turned for the second training hall and entered, locking it from the inside.
Teddy could open it, but he wouldn''t unless it was something important.
Good.
The assurance helped, I needed it before I summoned the beanbag and crashed. My emotions were erratic; I wanted to escape from my own skin.
The familiar comfort of the beanbag helped me settle, and I tried to sort through my thoughts. In the twenty minutes I spent sitting, the only thing I could think of was that the trip into the spirit plane had messed me up.
Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
Or you''re having a panic attack and going crazy.
I paused and waited to see if that revelation helped at all, but it didn''t.
Nah.
Thankfully, the other''s didn''t bother me. Even after an hour passed, the others didn¡¯t barge in.
I was glad they didn¡¯t, but I needed something to focus on.
Emotional instability aside, I pulled up my status sheet and read through the changes, letting it distract me.
STATUS
Name: Cyrus
Race: Reborn (Felkin)
Age: ??
Tier: 0
Active Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (¨¢ine)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)
-
(T:0 R:9) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit Lord''s Invocation
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)
-
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Storm King''s Tempest (Sturmrorex)
-
(T:0 R:0) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (Galarion)
Passive Skills:
-
(T:0 R:9) Etherious Blood
-
(T:0 R:9) Sovereign-Threaded Soul
-
(T:0 R:9) Chaotic Resonance
-
(T:0 R:9) Spirit''s Lord''s Echo
-
(T:0 R:1) Split-Mind Cultivation
Perks:
Legacy of the Obsidian Crown
Scion of Calstrax
Demonic Blood
Child of Mana
Dread Guardian''s Apology
Crystal Synthesis
Devourer of the Deep
Whisper of the Tempest
False Dungeon Core
Unleashed Soul
Astral Lotion
Astral Lotion
-
A boon granted by the entity -UNKNOWN-.
-
The Astral is a wondrous place filled with dreams and nightmares. Underneath the infinite possibilities lie the void. And sometimes all you need is some extra protection.
-
Minor resistance to the void, spatial, and astral-aspected mana.
A snort escaped at the idea of rubbing starmilk over my body like some kind of sunblock. It made for a funny image, and I found the last of my tension drained away.
There was a lot to process, but another change called my name more than any perk did.
Galarion. I barely remembered the naming process, but saying the name in my head and out loud felt right. It felt good.
New familiar, a new spirit to join my family.
It was time to summon.
I dived into my soulspace and waited on the island. With a healthy mana pool, the realm looked normal and alive.
Slowly, I called out for the new familiar, feeling the connection to them even though I''ve yet to meet him.
Actually, I guess that''s not true. I did meet him, I was just too out of it to remember.
Slowly, a wisp bobbed across the lake. Its mana felt strange against my avatar''s skin. It tickled and danced while constantly snaking its way up to my neck, where it reached my ears.
Chimes and music, along with the hungry rumble of a creature far larger than what I saw, played in my thoughts.
And for some reason, I tasted strawberry milkshakes.
They reached my fingers, and I flattened my palm so they could rest.
"Hello, Galarion. Are you ready to be summoned?"
Footsteps: drumming, the screams of the damned, and the choir of angels. They assaulted my thoughts at the same time.
The barrage of emotions and sounds continued until they stopped. I blinked and found Galarion''s wisp flashing with pulsing purple and pink light.
This time, when the sounds entered my thoughts they were gentle, relaxing even. They carried excitement and joy, as well as a deep desire for something, but I couldn''t place what.
"Much better. Alright, if you''re ready, I''ll begin."
Slowly, the mana from the lake in front of us began to float upwards and spin together. Once more, the mana threaded itself, becoming a thick cord rather than the gushing stream it normally was.
A change from the time as a dungeon core, perhaps? I watched it carefully as it constricted and condensed It simply compacted itself under the braiding.
As it reached my hand I felt it cut with a deep cold that flowed through my fingers and into Galarion''s wisp. It pulsed, and I opened my eyes and waited.
One mote of light, two, then five, and eventually hundreds within a blink. They condensed and became more until they split into ten arms that became thicker and more skin-like.
A bulbish head formed but it retained an arrow-like shape. Two glowing white eyes that spin with the cosmos inside came next. Eventually the lights were set, and I stared at Galarion floating in front of me. He spun without gravity, and slowly drifted away before I reached out a hand.
Galarion extended his tentacles and stretched, his shape becoming more fluid as the glow underneath his skin brightened like a flare.
"Hey, calm yourself. That might hurt people''s eyes," I chuckled.
In a low thrum that tickled my ears, Galarion laughed. "Alright!"
Galarion spun underneath my chin and I booped him in the head, his skin depressing until it stretched like a pancake before snapping back into place.
"Go ahead, pick a spot. I''m sure the others have told you what''s theirs."
He spun and shifted to my neck and hung lower like a necklace as his main body rested against my chest. But I felt dissatisfaction, and he jumped towards my nose and then my forehead.
I waited patiently. It was an important decision after all.
"I know! I claim here!" he declared.
His arms looped around the top of my ears as he swung around and flattened along the back of my head. Before I could react, a soft squish invaded my skull.
The feeling settled and I reached up and felt the back of my head. Only hair. I caressed my ears where his tentacles were still solid enough for me to physically feel, but the rest of his body was absent.
"Uhm. Galarion? Are you inside my skull?"
"Yes! Delicious thoughts! Can I have some?"
Huh.
I crossed my arms and tapped into the connection. Eventually, Galarion squeezed himself out of my head and bent his body forward so his eyes were directly against mine.
"What do you do with the thoughts? And do I keep them, or do you eat all of them?"
His eyes darted back and forth and I realized he meant to say no.
"No to which?"
"I eat thoughts. Why would you keep thoughts? They mine. Do you share food after eating?"
Right. Should have thought about that.
"What exactly counts as thoughts?"
While slightly disturbing, I wasn''t going to starve my familiar. And I really should''ve guessed that the mental familiar ate mental-related things.
Everything! Feelings, emotions, memories. Mmmmngh, memories are good. Can I have your memories?!"
I shook my head. "I don''t have a lot of those left, so probably not... Wait, you said feelings and emotions? Do you experience them? Like if I fed you anger you''ll become angry? Because if so, that could be bad."
Again, his eyes darted back and forth, but this time, they became spinning stars with their own shooting trail of sparks.
This will take some getting used to.
"No. Emotions are tasty, but I would need a lot to change me. I don''t actually know what emotions taste like. Give me some!"
I was about to tell him no, but then I thought about it some more.
"You know what? Here you go, Galarion. Feast up."
As Galarion bubbled with joy in my head, I felt stress bleed away¡ªwell, slurped away as Galarion feasted.
¡°Oh, I could get used to this..."
Chapter 4: Relax With Me
I slipped out of the sparring room and found the hall empty.
Good. Hopefully, nobody else is here.
After I slinked up the stairs and found the connecting rooms devoid of life, I straightened and turned towards the front door.
Damn.
Anastasia and Nathan waved their fingers and smiled.
"Heading out?" Anastasia asked.
"Master? New people, delicious thoughts!" Galarion cut in.
I felt him shift in my head and activate one of his skills. The smiles from the duo dropped and the room became a warzone of hot and cold.
"Cut it out! Now!"
Galarion froze and then shrunk down. Confusion bled through the link as well as fear. I retracted my anger and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"M-master?"
"Do not, and I mean it: take things from others without permission. It''s different if we''re fighting things or they are an enemy, but this isn''t the case, and I know you''re smart enough to know that."
Galarion shrunk even further, becoming a tiny marble in my mind.
I felt bad, but I couldn''t ease up. This was too important to let him scrape by without understanding.
"Listen, I promised to feed you, and I''m glad you''re so enthusiastic, but this is important. Mental skills are received poorly here. And I trust you; you¡¯re my amazing familiar, but we have to be careful. Stealing people''s thoughts is something that could land me in a lot of trouble, okay? Do we want that?"
"No..." Galarion whispered.
"Good," I said, easing up the pressure. "How about you come out and say hello? They are super cool people, maybe a little weird, but I''m sure you''ll like them."
He kept himself small, but he sent a mental head-nod, and I smiled. Now, all I had to do was explain to the frowning tier threes why they had just been attacked.
"Cyrus," Anastasia said, her voice calm yet cold.
I sighed and held up a hand. "Listen, it''s my new familiar. He''s a little excited and it''s kind of hard to adjust to morals and rules. Cut him some slack, and he wants to say hello, but not with those frowns. And for what it''s worth, I''m sorry. If you want me to make it up to you, I will."
They looked at each other, their blindfolds meeting. With shrugs, they turned back and grinned. The eddies of mana that had surrounded the hallway receded, and everything felt normal once more.
Well, as long as they don''t freak out over Galarion.
"Galarion. Come say hi."
The Lightcrests leaned forward, their teeth literally blinding as Anastasia made them shine. That smile cracked as Galarion oozed out my forehead.
Nathan''s jaw dropped, and Anastasia cocked her head. Galarion morphed himself into a cute chibi squid and slipped into my palm, where he clutched my fingers. He raised three tentacles and waved.
"Master, they are broken," he whispered.
"So uh, meet Galarion! Don''t ask me how I contracted him. I still don''t fully remember," I said.
"Cyrus, that''s-" Nathan began.
"An astral spirit!" Anastasia finished.
I blinked. "You can tell? How do you know?"
Nathan straightened up, his smile not returning. "Once you taste the mana, it becomes very recognizable. It carries a disorientating numbness that needles your thoughts."
Wait. Like static?
"Huh."
"Cyrus, if he''s from the astral, that means you went to the astral plane. Do we need a mind healer?" Anastasia asked as she came within licking distance.
Galarion stayed stock still, nervousness and curiosity bleeding through. Even he understood that the couple were powerful enough to erase him.
"I am okay," I said slowly. It wasn''t a lie, nor was it completely honest. But I had already fed Galarion the worst of my anxieties, so I was fine. "The visit to the plane itself was okay. I... Well, if I''m being honest, I''m not entirely sure what happened. There was some mind-breaking shit, and a pasta god who asked me questions and fed me food. But as I said. I''m fine."
"Riiiiight," they both said.
Anastasia turned to Galarion and extended a finger.
"Master?"
I nodded. "Go on."
Galarion wrapped two tentacles around hers and a wave of excitement flooded into my thoughts. Anastasia retracted her finger and smiled.
"Oh, that''s surprisingly nice. Been trying to forget the memory for ages. Dear, we can finally forget Rekka''s Playpen!"
Nathan rushed forward and spun his wife away where she became a living top that bounced around the hallway. He jabbed his finger out, and Galarion eagerly slapped his tentacles onto his digit.
After another round of contentment, Nathan pulled back with a silly grin.
This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
"Oh that is lovely. Thank you, Cyrus. Thank you, Galarion. We can finally sleep easier now."
I wasn''t sure what they meant, but Galarion seemed almost lethargic. His tentacles flashed in a myriad of colors like a strobe light. As he sluggishly sent over thoughts of eating, he became a jelly puddle in my palm.
"Galarion?" I asked as I poked the jelly.
It jiggled, and he raised his head and slowly bobbed.
"So full. So good... Want more."
Aaaand he''s back.
I raised him to my skull and he dripped down and slid to the back of my neck. His tentacles wrapped around my ears, and he squished himself inside my head.
"Thank you, I think?" I chuckled.
They both shook their heads.
"No, thank you. We''ve suffered through many things as adventurers, some experiences worse than others. Thank you," Nathan explained.
"Wait. You offered a mind healer earlier? One, that''s a thing? Two, why not use them?"
Anastasia cleared her throat. She paused as if expecting something, but when she smiled, Nathan matched hers. "Mind healers are not that well developed here in Solunaria. For good reason, considering the laws regarding mental skills. And that particular memory was too heavily baked into our psyche. Thankfully, astral-mana is more than just mental. Galarion sucked the memory in without fracturing our minds."
That was an interesting tidbit. I shouldn''t have been too surprised the world had mind healers, It made sense, all things considered.
I wonder if they have extensive study requirements or if they can rely solely on their skills.
I cleared my thoughts and stretched. "You guys are okay with my new skill? It won''t be a problem?"
Nathan crossed his arms. "No. We''ve seen the horrors a mental user can inflict, just as you have in Helio. But we also know it can be used for good. Ah, I do suggest you keep it close to your chest."
"And make sure Galarion doesn''t violate any of the laws. I understand something from the Astral is hard to predict, but don''t become a monster, Cyrus," Anastasia added.
"I promise I won''t," I said. My back cracked, and I exhaled. "Last question, were you guys waiting for me? Was there something you wanted?"
"Yes, actually. It was pretty obvious you were having a hard time. The world sucks and sometimes you need a moment to relax after an adventure. Trust us, we know."
Nathan placed a hand on my shoulder and gently squeezed. "We thought, why not take you somewhere nice and see if we can help?"
Anger flared, but I punted it further into the back of my mind. Galarion stirred, and he reached a comforting tentacle across my brain.
It wasn''t bad, but uncomfortable.
"Look. I-" I began but stopped when something entered my thoughts.
"Galarion?" I asked.
"I help. They tell truth, not lies. Good people, trust them!" he answered.
From the looks on their faces, they felt something was up but they didn''t react like before. It was an influx of information, like a gut feeling of knowledge that dripped through and slid into place.
I knew instinctively that the Lightcrests could have prevented Galarion''s skill if they wanted to. I also knew that Galarion could tell me more but he was being polite and only sent me the surface emotions.
Worry, concern, hopefulness and contentment. Those thoughts entered my mind and I knew they were Teddy''s parents'' true feelings.
Ugh. Fine. Don''t be an ass Cyrus. They are trying to be helpful.
"Okay," I ground out. "You''re right. I could use the distraction. What exactly did you have in mind?"
An explosion of fireworks filled the hall and I covered my eyes as the final orb that floated up became a supernova of lights.
"Perfect! You won''t regret this!" they exclaimed together.
------------
I hid a groan of pleasure as the spoonful of pudding melted in my mouth. It coated my tongue and sent waves of ice down my throat before finally settling in my stomach.
As I tried to scoop another bite, I hit the bottom of the bowl and frowned.
Nooooo!
Nathan nudged me from the side and I turned to see his goofy grin fill my sight. He looked down with his eyes, and I followed only to find the empty bowl had been replaced with another towering stack of pudding flavors jiggling in the breeze.
"Oh. Fuck yeah," I cheered.
I kicked my legs free and stared across the city. Anastasia flew through the air like an angry comet while Zharia and Sturmrorex chased her across the sky.
We weren''t alone, as the living light show and chibi spirits drew in crowds of people. Kids cheered and pretended to follow along the cliff, their parents chatting amongst themselves. Nobody knew where the spirits came from, and Anastasia drew most of the attention to her, making me forgettable as Nathan easily dwarfed me.
Thankfully, Galarion was still half-sleeping as he processed whatever memory Teddy''s parents gave him. I felt snippets of his thoughts, and the amount of pain and misery that slipped through made me stay far away.
All in all, the outing was exactly what I needed. The pair enjoyed life and made their joy infectious. Even if I wanted to stay a reclusive grump throughout the day, I couldn''t have if I tried¡ªnot without difficulty.
Foods, drinks, new sights of the city;, there was a lot to explore. We watched two plays, listened to world-class music in a garden and even went swimming in the sky.
Nathan listened to my idea of a surfboard and quickly commissioned a gruff carpenter who knew them to make three. The joy of surfing in the sky atop a floating wave of water? Pure fun.
And now? I drowned myself in pudding while my familiars played. Magnus lifted his head from my lap and chomped one of the bottom slabs before burying his head underneath my jacket.
"So? Did we deliver or what?" Nathan teased.
I laughed and stuck another spoonful of pudding that tasted like torta caprese.
"Definitely."
He nodded. "Good, good. There are two things I want to talk to you about before we head back. One involves something that can wait once Ana is done. The other is something we thought of after meeting Galarion."
It was slightly concerning how quickly his tone changed, but he didn''t sound too serious. And they earned my trust tenfold after today.
"What about?"
He tapped his head and then pointed to the smiling faces of the people around us. "People are happy, and it''s a good thing. These people are probably the happiest folks around. There¡¯s nothing too crazy in their lives. Know what I mean?"
I swallowed another spoonful and lowered the bowl so Magnus could enjoy it as well. "Kinda. I think."
"Well, people like us don''t get to experience the world the same way a civilian does. I won''t discredit people''s lives; they could easily face more hardship than you and I ever would, but that''s unlikely."
"Makes sense, but where are you going with this?"
"We mentioned the mind healers earlier. In truth, there are far too few of them. Many of their skills are slow-going and take time to process. And when you have several hundred adventurers? Thousands even, in a city this big? It''s an impossible and sometimes thankless task."
"Are you saying you want me to help out? Don''t get me wrong. I''d be a hypocrite if I thought it wrong to take away memories and thoughts. Galarion already fed on some of my earlier anxieties. But back on-'''' I said before stopping myself. "Back where I''m from. We learned that you need to process your emotions, and we had an entire profession dedicated to that. Therapists, psychologists, and the like. Are you sure offering to wholesale take away their experiences is a good thing?"
Throughout it all, he continued to nod, his expression neutral. He tracked his wife somersaulting through the air while she casually dodged my familiars.
They nearly crashed into each other.
Thankfully, before they could bicker and start fighting, Anastasia dashed, grabbed them and tossed them in different directions. The chase restarted, and they once more worked together to cut off her escape.
"Generally, I think you''re correct. But some memories... well, they can cripple you. And you don''t have to take just memories, correct? You could siphon away some of the emotions, the intensity. Help a person process it easier. This isn''t just for altruism. A new skill needs practice, and you can kill two waldraks with one arrow."
I didn''t answer right away. Nathan didn''t push, and I relaxed further, enjoying the experience. Eventually, Anastasia started to slow, and she let herself be caught before snagging both of my familiars in a hug and brought them high into the sky.
"Master. Can we have mana?!" Zharia chirped.
"Master. Let us wow these subjects!" Sturmrorex chimed in.
I laughed, a full belly rumble that drew some eyes my way. Nathan smirked but kept his attention upward.
"You know what? Sure. I''m game to try," I answered Nathan while my familiars eagerly awaited an answer.
Sturmrorex spun in a loop while Zharia blazed with golden flames.
"Take all you need, guys. Give ''em a good show!"
Chapter 5: Head of the Healers Guild
I was led down an underground tunnel, passing several door frames lined with enchantments. I recognized a few of the runes but not all.
Sixteen? That''s a lot of silence runes.
Gloworbs lined the walls, and the robed woman in front would raise her hand and light new ones after each section we walked through.
Nathan and Anastasia followed behind, silent but smiling. As I looked back, they gave a thumbs-up with big, goofy grins.
They didn''t have to come but they offered and I saw no harm in it. The base of the healer''s guild was situated in the middle ring of the city. They commanded a wide space, including a massive garden, a forest, and even their own restaurant and housing.
The two were known figures and allowed us to cut through the line and get in direct contact with one of the head healers. After the receptionist returned after enacting a privacy barrier enchantment, we were led to a side room where Syrreisha waited.
She briefly explained some things to me and asked basic questions, some of which addressed the Lightcrests'' trust in me.
After all was said and done, she dropped the bomb-shell that she was a tier three healer who specialized in natural regrowth and mental health.
It made me reconsider the human woman in a new light. I barely detected her power, and I doubted that she was wearing an enchanted item like the blindfolds Teddy''s parents wore.
Every word she spoke was delicate yet firm. She looked young, maybe in her mid-twenties, but I suspected she was a lot older than that. There was something about the way she spoke, almost like an aura of wisdom that exuded from her presence.
Of course, I asked Galarion about it, and he confirmed it for me. She was exuding an aura, and it delicately brushed along my thoughts but not in an intrusive way.
When I questioned her, she smiled, the emerald hexagons in her irises glowing softly.
Apparently, it was a passive like Teddy''s Calming Presence.
From there, she activated a button, and a door opened up, revealing a hidden passage that extended far into the earth.
"And we''re here. Please take a seat where you feel most comfortable," Syrreisha said.
I regarded the various cloud chairs and smiled. I picked the pink galaxy one and plopped down, the cloud folding around my body as it adjusted to my weight. Anastasia and Nathan hopped into the floating ones in the corner and lounged upside down.
Syrreisha ignored them and sat behind a sleek metal desk and tapped the center. The metal became liquid and formed a stand as she summoned a blue scroll with glowing white lines and unfurled it.
"This is a soul contract. It''s a minimally invasive one that requires consent from everyone who signs it before it''s split and absorbed," she explained. She noticed my frown and smiled. "Don''t worry. This is standard procedure. It''s to ensure your privacy and the safety of our patients. Please take all the time you need to read through."
I did and found myself surprised at how simple it was worded, yet it easily covered all bases. By signing it, I promised to not intentionally do harm unless it was agreed upon and in the patient''s best interest. The main gist of it, was that I couldn''t delete memories or fuck somebody up because I was bored.
It also detailed a binding contract between Syrreisha herself and the guild to keep the knowledge of my skills private no matter what. That was my major concern, so I was glad to see it addressed. If they couldn''t guarantee that, I would have left without looking back.
I scanned through the other small clauses and found them acceptable, surprisingly simple in their need. They were niche enough that I understood why they covered their bases even if they would almost never matter.
"Have you any questions, Cyrus?"
"A few," I nodded. "How exactly does the contract work? And it says you are the main guarantor of ensuring my privacy, but it also mentions the guild. If they aren''t the ones signing it, how does it enforce that rule?"
"The soul contract works as a binding piece of mana that attaches to your soul. As an example, if you were to break it intentionally by deliberately harming a patient, it would inflict you with soul damage and temporarily bind you. The guild would know, and I would personally come to handle the matter."
Soul damage, huh? Alright.
"So someone could spill my secrets and get hurt, and I would still be shit out of luck?" I prodded.
Syrreisha shook her head. "No. The moment they tried, the soul damage would prevent them before they could complete the sentence and be subjected to an assortment of debilitating problems. I don''t know if you''ve received soul damage before, but it''s not something one can disregard."
Yeah, I''m not sure about that.
"I see you still have doubts. Have you received soul damage before?"
I couldn''t help it; a snort escaped before I could reel it in. Syrreisha frowned and opened her mouth, but I shook my head and held up a placating hand.
"Sorry. I''m not trying to be rude, but trust me, I have. And that''s why I''m hesitant. You definitely could speak if you powered through it."
"I see," she said slowly. Syrreisha glanced at Teddy''s parents, who shrugged. "Do you still believe that this young man can help the guild?"
Anastasia stared at Nathan and he nodded in return. Whatever they communicated, she squared her shoulders and beamed a smile. Literally speaking, her teeth were magically enhanced to glow the brightest shade of golden-white I had ever seen.
"I am not a toy. The rift is over. The experience is done. Rekka no longer exists, and I am free from such madness," she shouted to the ceiling.
A beat dropped, and Syrreisha''s eyes widened as her jaw dropped. Her irises widened bright enough to rival one of the gloworbs as she stood up and clapped.
"Truly? You can finally say it? How? What was the breakthrough?"
Anastasia pointed to me, "Him and his new skill. We rid ourselves of the worst parts of the memory and some of the emotions with it. We''re finally free, and not a lick of damage to our psyche."
Syrreisha conjured a vine from the stone and extended up to the cloud where the couple rested. Nathan and Anastasia leaned forward and let Syrreisha place a hand on their foreheads.
After a few minutes, they opened their eyes, and Syrreisha pulled back while clapping some more.
"Truly, there''s no damage. Marvelous. Of course, we''ll have to do some testing to ensure that the memory loss won''t hinder your recovery, but yes! You''ve finally broken through."
Nathan extended an arrow made of water and had it stretched in my direction. "As we''ve said. We trust him, and his skill."
Syrreisha studied me, a seriousness in her eyes that cut through the calm aura she exuded. Now she truly looked older, calculating. Not malicious, but she looked like she was deciding something.
She returned to her seat and grabbed the scroll. It disappeared, and in its place was a similar scroll, pink in color and giving off a silver glow. She unfurled it along the stand and clasped her hands while intensely staring.
I read through it and blinked. "Severe soul damage, along with the sealing of your core for the next decade? That''s... crazy."
"You are concerned, yes? If your skill truly works well enough to help two of my dear friends in a way that I never could, then I am willing to acquire your help, whatever the cost."
On one hand, it sounded extreme. Taking out one of the kingdom''s best healer who spent their day to day helping people, sounded like a lot. On the other hand? Fuck it, it didn''t matter if she had no intentions of betraying me.
"How does this work with the guild? I get your penalties, but what about them?"
She tapped her chest and pinched. A ripple across reality distorted her hand, but as she pulled away, a pink sheet with gold letters exposed itself.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
"This is the soul contract I share with every employee who works for us on an official basis. By extension they won''t lose their tier and have their skills suppressed. But they will suffer the same soul damage after receiving a warning. The warning is impossible to miss, as it feels like someone is shoving spikes into your brain and blending it into mush. Does that assuage your concerns?"
It did.
"Yes. But I have a couple of last questions. How does the process work? Since I''m not an employee, what exactly am I, rank-wise?."
Syrreisha pushed the contract back into her chest and tapped the table once more. Several new stands formed, and she deposited different stacks of papers.
"These are detailed guides that''ll walk you through the process, but I''ll be working with you personally. I can''t be there for every session, but I''ll be around for most."
I grabbed the thickest one and leafed through it, noting the different code terms and procedures they used.
"Since you''re not an employee, you''ll be considered as a lone contractor. You can come in when you please and we''ll push patients your way for as long as you can handle them. So don''t worry about a schedule, and we''ll accommodate you at any time of the day."
"Got it," I said as I reached for the second stack.
"Depending on how your skill works and the level of anonymity you desire, we''ll adjust how your interactions with patients go. I must ask, though: This is a new skill, yes? Does that mean you are tier one? Usually, I can tell, but you, however, remain blank to my perception."
I bit my lip and considered my options. Eventually, I went with what was easiest that didn''t require me to answer a dozen questions.
"I can''t disclose that. But yes, it''s a new skill. Don''t worry; I have a lot more mana than you think. Is that acceptable?"
She nodded tersely. "It''d help to better understand your limits, but very well. As long as you are open about the effects of your skill and the limitations, we can go from there. Since it''s new, and from how the Lightcrests have spoken, I''ll help guide you. There''s a lot to learn with people''s skills, something most don''t take seriously. I hope you are not one of them."
"I''m not, don''t worry. A lot of my skills are too vague for me to simply accept what the description says."
At that, her smile grew much wider, as did her presence. "You brought an interesting one. I''m getting excited."
"Hah! As if we''d waste your time," Anastasia boasted.
"So, how do we sign?" I cut in.
Syrreisha tapped the table, and a sharp spike jutted out. She then tapped her thumb along the spike and squeezed out a drop onto the page while closing her eyes.
"Your turn," she whispered.
I used my fang and punctured the skin along my thumb. I extended my hand over the scroll and let a fat, semi-clear droplet splash onto the glowing paper. It absorbed it, and a needle of pressure pushed into my chest. Spectral chains stabbed toward my heart, and I sank into my soulspace.
The chains extended to the island like hungry worms. My familiars gathered in response to the intrusion, a series of mental imagery showcasing their anger. They circled the chains while keeping a healthy distance away, and Chomperz came to a stop above my shoulder.
"Whatcha think Chompz? Looks pretty spooky."
Chomp!
This time, I didn''t understand. I turned and he flew in a straight line.
No?
"Why no?"
He stopped and turned toward the chains, all six of them, as they neared the obsidian island.
They didn''t hurt, but it felt weird, wrong even. Something inside me rejected the idea of the chains and I extended my arm before I realized what I was doing.
Ding!
The chains touched the island and an explosion of gold erupted from the center. I blinked away the light and willed my vision to return.
As it did, I cocked my head and stared at the orb the size of a bowling ball made of gold runes woven together that encased the swirling chains.
One tried to poke out and the orb flashed, causing the chains to spasm before they stopped.
Information blossomed and I parsed through the snippets of understanding.
Oh. Huh. I guess I''m immune to soul contracts.
I knew that if I wanted to, I could grab the orb and annihilate the chains. They were completely under my control, and couldn''t affect me if I didn''t want them to.
As I grabbed onto the energy, a spire of jagged obsidian grew from the island and locked the orb into place. It hovered a few inches from the crystal and spun lazily on a diagonal axis.
I guess that''s that. Might as well keep it for now.
Exiting the soulspace, I found Syrreisha spasming on top the desk. Anastasia and Nathan were monitoring her and keeping her head to the side.
"Cyrus? What happened?" Anastasia asked, concern coloring her voice.
"Apparently, soul contracts don''t work on me. I can terminate it if I want to. I didn''t do anything, and it''s still there in my soulspace. But maybe there''s blowback on her end?"
Nathan grabbed a health potion and sliced a small cut along her bicep. He poured the potion into the wound and held his hand over it while activating his mana. After a few seconds, he stepped back, and the wound sealed while Syrreisha groaned. As soon as her eyes fluttered open, a salvo of skills erupted and blanketed the room.
The gloworbs flickered while other enchantments activated along the ceiling and walls. I knew suppression was one of the runes and it activated, but I didn''t feel its effects.
Syrreisha shot to her feet and stared at me. I waved and smiled apologetically.
"You!" she exclaimed.
"Me," I replied.
Her eyes darted and took in the situation. Slowly she calmed and waved a hand. The enchantments stopped; the gloworbs stabilized. It took several minutes of intense staring before she returned to her chair. Whatever she saw had calmed her, but her eyes failed to hide the tension she controlled through an iron grip.
"The suppression enchantments didn''t affect you. How?"
"Perk. And a passive, I guess. If it makes you feel any better, I can stand just fine next to ether."
Her mouth opened then closed and she groaned while glaring daggers at Teddy''s parents.
Anastasia shrugged. "Hey. We warned you he was interesting."
"And I wasted a tier three potion on you, and you stare at us with such evil thoughts behind those eyes?! How dare you, woman!" Nathan shouted.
"Just sit and shut up," she muttered.
The couple shrugged and skipped happily to the cloud hammocks.
"That was more intense but I suppose that''s on me. Ehem. Now that the soul contract is in place, may I see what this skill of yours is? We should be able to begin right away if it''s not too complicated."
Famous last words to live by.
"Hey, Galarion. Are you ready?" I asked.
He sprang to attention. "More tasty food?"
"Something like that. Come say hello. Be on your best behavior. She''s the one providing you food to eat."
I barely managed to raise my hand in time before Galarion squeezed himself out of my skull and plopped into my palm. He rose into the air in a swirl of cosmic dust that settled into... a tux?
"Galarion? Why are you wearing a suit?"
The little cosmic squid looked absolutely adorable in his tiny suit, with several of his tentacles bursting from the bottom pant legs. I poked the sparkly pants and it burst apart into clouds that resettled into his body. The suit disappeared but left behind a way-too-big bowtie that fit snuggly just below his mouth.
"Best impression!"
I chuckled and watched Syrreisha stare with her jaw hanging.
Best impressions indeed.
Chapter 6: Long Shift
Two hours. Two hours of nonstop studying and testing with lots of shoving Galarion into strange glass tubes where she activated futuristic-looking gadgets to test shit out.
By the time the two hours were up he shook several of his curled tentacles and glared at the head healer.
He slipped behind my ears and dived into my skull, where he started devouring the memory she fed him as a reward.
I leaned back in the cloud chair and rolled around. Syrreisha watched me in amusement as she fiddled with the crystal device in her hand. It beeped and released a soft chime before spitting out a glowing screen that hovered in the air like a hologram.
She read through it and kept reading, her finger occasionally flicking upwards as if she was scrolling.
In the hammocks, Anastasia and Nathan were playing the magic marbles game and I watched from afar as Anastasia activated the surge and wiped his board.
As a result, Nathan lowered his head in shame, and she summoned a giant squeaky mallet.
Squeeekie!
Insane. Incredibly insane.
Before they could start another round, Syrreisha cleared her throat and folded her hands together. "From what the readouts tell me, your skill should be perfectly safe. If you want, we can begin tomorrow, but unfortunately, I have too many meetings and I''ve already postponed many."
I stood up and yawned. "Sounds fine by me. What time do you prefer?"
"Anytime is fine, except lunch. I don''t work at noon."
"Surprising. I pegged you for the kind of person to go days without rest tending to people."
She laughed and shook her head. "Oh, some weeks, sure. But I hold myself to the same standards as I preach. I can''t go telling patients to get rest and enjoy life, if I don''t do the same."
We wrapped things up and she walked us back to the entrance depositing us in the same room before she bowed and returned underground.
As soon as the secret entrance closed, Teddy''s parents took an arm each and skipped their way out of the building, much to the amusement of many.
After literally skipping through the city, we arrived at the Lightcrest manor, and they finally let go. The gates opened with melodic chimes and the house butler opened the door.
"Welcome back, sirs, madam. Is there anything I can provide?"
Anastasia patted his shoulder. "If you could prepare the usual. Nathan and I have a few meetings to sit through."
He bowed. "Right away, madam."
With Walter gone, they turned and smiled. "So, that wasn''t too bad was it?"
"Not at all," I said while returning the smile. "Thank you, again."
"Plish-plosh-trapplesauce! I''m glad we could help. And don''t worry about your other requests. One of the meetings we''ll be handling today will be with the crown," Anastasia said.
Nathan flexed, his shirt bulging out before spewing an absurd amount of water that was sucked back into his pants. "Don''t worry about a thing! We''ll get you your just-deserved rewards."
I blinked at the two and smiled weakly. My social battery was starting to run low.
"Thank you," I said again.
Anastasia waved and snapped. The world turned white, and I recoiled.
As I blinked the sunspots away, the pair was gone, and I stared awkwardly at Walter, who raised an eyebrow.
"Coming in, sir?" he asked.
"I am. Did you... you know what? Never mind."
"Of course, sir."
I entered, but before escaping to my room, I stopped and turned around. Walter, the ever-consummate professional, waited patiently.
"Sir?"
"I have a question. In your opinion, what do you think is one of the invaluable skills and I do mean skills skills for a servant?"
In response, I was sent over a system prompt and I willed it open. A single skill, scrolled by, with full details written through the system text.
Helping Hand: To better serve, you help. Whatever task may be required shall be made easier with your will.
-
Target a person and become their shadow.
-
Appropriate buffs are given according to the task at hand to both the user and the target.
-
User is granted Intuition for as long as the skill is required until the task is complete.
-
Intuition, is a mental precognitive buff that lets the user intuitively know what the target requires.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
-
High Mana Cost, Low stamina-cost
"Wow. I didn''t know skills like this exist. What are the odds I can get my hands on one of these?"
"Impossible, I''m afraid," he replied without missing a beat.
Huh?
"Really?"
"I am the sole register within this world. Guaranteed by the god of knowledge. And after numerous attempts, it remains non-copyable, no matter the tier of treasure used."
Well, there goes that plan.
"Thanks for humoring me Walter. Have a good night."
"My pleasure, sir."
Walter left, and I trudged my way into the bedroom. I unsummoned Galarion and let him enjoy some time in the soulspace.
He did good, contained himself pretty well and only ate what was freely offered.
Ah damn. What kind of crazy ass throne will he want?
I chuckled to myself at the thoughts that streamed through and closed my eyes.
------
"Cyrus! Waaaake uuuup," Isaac shouted from behind the door.
"Go away! The void was so peaceful without your yelling! How am I even hearing you through the enchantments?" I yelled back.
"There''s a switch for emergencies!"
I groaned and rolled out of bed. As I opened the door he grinned smugly while crossing his arms.
"What do you want. I swear to all that is unholy. I''ll find an alchemist and recreate glitter."
"Sounds sooo scary,"
Pop!
"Please don''t do that. I have enough gods that want to kill me as is. No apocalypse weapons. It''s too early," Cal begged.
Isaac''s jaw dropped, and I waved. Cal waved back and was gone within a blink.
I shrugged. "There you go. Now seriously, what the fuck do you want? I''m tired."
Isaac stared at me suspiciously before slowly backing away. "The Dawnborns have announced a change of plans. The tournament and auction are to be delayed because of Helio. The tournament will be held in a little over two weeks. Figured you should know."
"You woke me up just for that? Sereza could have told me that when I met her."
He tapped his chin then he stared at the spot Cal appeared and shook his head. "No, not the only thing. Sereza''s here, and she looks antsy."
"Lead with that. What''s wrong with you?"
"Nothing," he stated before phasing through the floor.
I sighed and pulled out a stamina potion. My body wasn''t tired, but stamina potions had a weird headache relief after-effect.
When I walked into the room, Sereza was sitting on the ceiling, with her hair tangling downwards. I spotted the water links keeping her tied to the chair, but Nathan was strangely absent.
"Sereza? What''s going on? I asked slowly.
She waved and snapped her fingers. The chair tumbled to the floor, but not before the water cushioned the fall and kept her upright.
"Sorry, Teddy''s father came in and said I looked too sad and knew a way to cheer me up. I think it worked?"
"Right. Normal stuff. So what''s up?"
Her happiness faded and her eyes turned downcast.
"Sorry if Isaac woke you up."
I checked the system clock and shrugged. "It was about time I got up. So are you gonna tell me what''s wrong? Or what?"
She sighed and leaned back. "A few things. First, my father. He learned about what went on in Helio and now wants me to broadcast my part in helping free the city for good publicity."
"Douchebag, but I already expected that."
"Douche-bag? Like a medical device to help relieve patients who can''t shit?"
I snorted. "No. But I take it you have zero desire of doing that?"
"Correct."
"Then don''t."
"It''s not that simple," she argued before leaning closer. "With the other felkins working in the castle for the crown, there''s a lot of pressure for me to step up. And since I won''t become a sycophant like the people in the square, there''s an expectation¡ªone that requires me to be famous and well known, like Broken Tower."
"Again, I say it''s simple. Tell him to fuck off. If Cal asked me to do something I didn''t want, I would."
Her eye twitched. "Still need to have that talk about being a scion, and apparently an adoptive child to a god."
"Later," I teased. "So what''s the other stuff? I doubt you''d come over just to complain about daddy issues."
Her shoulders dropped even lower. And there was a brief pause before she collected herself. Whatever it was, it wasn''t good.
"The couple I was supposed to introduce you to, the one that helps run groups through the Labyrinth, had a nasty injury. They aren''t really up for meeting anybody at the moment."
Oh.
"Do we know what happened?"
"The group they were guiding, the noble brats got cocky and didn''t follow orders. Two got severely injured, a third was maimed, but Crenter and Volisha stepped in. Volisha got hurt pretty badly, while Crenter took down the golems. They''re fine; they had enough money to afford healing, but there are few problems they are working through."
I felt bad for the couple, but I didn''t know enough about them to offer more than my sympathies.
"Like I said, it''s fine."
"Good. They still wanted to meet you, but give them some time," she smiled before it darkened, and her tail lashed the air. "And the last thing."
"What''s wrong?"
"Daergo and Melza''s son. Lezka. He hasn''t returned home since he went missing."
"Seriously? Any leads at all? What about that rival family, did they check with them?" I asked as I crossed my arms.
She held up a hand. "No leads, and they did check the rival family. But without evidence, there''s nothing to go by. The authorities have been alerted and Daergo put a request inside the adventuring guild. They''re hoping he''ll turn up soon."
Daergo, Ernor, and Melza were incredibly nice. Even from my limited interactions with them, I knew they were good people.
I stopped and clicked my fangs.
Isaac can help.
I turned to leave, and Sereza followed.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Isaac has connections to the underground. I''m sure he can find information or hire someone who can," I explained as I marched toward Isaac''s room.
As we stopped before his bedroom, I scanned the wall with my senses and found the hidden rune etched underneath the frame.
I slammed my hand against it and channeled mana through the wood. The rune activated, and I opened wide.
"Isaac!"
"Why are you yelling? Aren''t rooms enchanted against sound?" Sereza asked while flinching away.
"Isaac, I''m serious. Open the door."
Before I could shout again, the door was ripped open and Isaac stabbed a tendril into my shoulder.
"What?!" he yelled. He glowered at me and jabbed a finger into my chest. "Haa haa, you got your payback. I was meditating you jerk!"
I grabbed his collar and yanked him forward. He slid closer until he was barely an inch away, our noses practically touching.
"That felt good," I grinned.
"I swear I''ll-"
"Listen, just shut up for a second," I interrupted him. His face contorted, but I shook him and he closed his mouth with a click. "Really nice felkin family we met, their son has been missing for a week. Possibly nothing, possibly ran away I don''t know. But I figured you''d be able to find information better than we can. Can you do it?"
He pushed me away and turned to Sereza. "Give me everything you know about the kid and the family. Even if you think its useless."
I backed away and drew both their attention.
"Cyrus?" they both asked.
"I have a meeting with the healer''s guild. So I''ll leave you to it."
"Oh, uh hey, Cyrus?" Sereza asked.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
I grinned. "Of course."
"Hey! I''m the one helping here. Don''t be giving him all the praise!"
Sereza''s eyes widened and we shared a look.
"I wouldn''t have pegged you for a praise kink, but given your family history, it makes sense," I said, deadpanned.
IIsaac threw a dagger at me that harmlessly bounced off the wall as I slipped away.. Once I closed the door behind me and breathed in the fresh air outside, I lost my smile and glared at the lower ring.
Mana rushed through my channels, and I willed it to connect to my skill.
Galarion formed as a stream of swirling colors that stretched toward my ear and dived into my mind.
"Ready? You know what to do?" I asked as I started moving down the mountain.
"Yes!" he cheered. "Devour tasty, tasty memories!"
Chapter 7: A Peacock
I slid through the crowd and made my way into the market. It wasn''t hard to retrace the path Sereza led me. I swerved around back to the hidden entrance and activated the enchantment.
Once the passage slid open, I stepped through.
"Sereza? That you?" Ernor called from upstairs.
After tossing back my hood I waited.
"Sereza? You can''t come in and not announce yourself. That''s ru-oh!" Ernor froze. "Cyrus?"
"Sup. Sorry about sneaking in," I said.
"Uhm, no problem. What''s up? Did you want to place another order?" he asked as he relaxed and leaned against the wall.
"Has your brother not come home yet?"
His smile dropped. "No. The little shit is going to get his ass beat for making mother and father worry."
"Sereza said you went to the one family, the rivals of yours. Nothing from them?"
"No, not a bit. But I know they have something to do with it. The fucker Ergen sounded too smug."
His shoulders tensed and he snarled.
"Angry. But facade. Is scared for his brother," Galarion whispered.
"Hey," I said. "No delving into people''s minds that we like. Not unless I give permission."
"Not diving, skimming the surface. Open thoughts!" he argued.
I shook my head. I''d deal with Galarion another time. For now, it helped.
"Need you to trust me for a bit. If you can, can you give me one of your weapons? Preferably broken, dinged up, or rusted," I said.
"I-I whut?" He crossed his arms. "Why?"
"I can''t tell you, but I''m trying to help. Can you do that or not? If you want, I can give you my spear as collateral."
He blinked slowly and hummed. "The beautiful one you showed last time?"
"I wouldn''t call it beautiful, but yeah."
"Let me study it for a day and you got yourself a deal. Can take more than a weapon if you want. Just uh, don''t tell Father."
"Don''t tell me what, boy?" Daergo bellowed as he slapped his son with his tail. "What schemes ye be running in my forge?"
Ernor glared. "Cyrus wants a broken weapon."
"Broken?" he grumbled. Daergo stared at my face and frowned. "Why would you want something broken? A crafter might think that an insult."
"Intrigued, suspicious, but happy!" Galarion chimed.
I shrugged. "I''m trying to help, but I can''t tell you how. I don''t want to implicate you in case I get in trouble."
"Cyrus. What are-"
"No. Don''t ask. Either I find what I''m looking for or not."
Daergo grumbled something to himself and gestured for me to follow. He led us to the forge proper and searched around in one of the barrels tucked to the side.
"Usually it''s scrap metal. These things are too tarnished to repair and sell. Not unless we wanted to be ridiculed. Now let''s see..." he moved to another barrel and nearly dived headfirst before popping out with a sword. "This''ll do. Not broken, but it''s half melted. The sheath is crap too."
He tossed and I snatched it out of the air. I pulled it from its sheath, the thing threatening to come apart at the seams.
"Ugly ain''t it. The adventurer who sold it to us got into a fight with a slime. But the craftsmanship is shoddy at best. An amateur probably below their first dozen," Daergo explained.
"Rougher than any I ever made. The crossguard is uneven."
Thwack!
"Don''t forget how long it took you to create a dagger, boy."
The two glared at each other, and I summoned Chomperz. He appeared and stopped at eye level.
"Yeah?"
Galarion wiggled, his tentacles feeling like cold streaks across my brain. "Worried!"
Chomperz leaned in close. I looked up, and he extended a claw and shoved it through my head. Galarion yelped, like someone falling onto a wall of windchimes, before Chomperz took his hand out.
"I''m sorry, I''m sorry!"
Chomp!
He sucked in the sword and dived back into my chest. I rubbed my sternum and frowned.
That was weird.
"Cyrus?" Ernor asked.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?"
"Peachy. Here, I''ll come back for it tomorrow," I said as I summoned my spear.
I sent a flicker of mana into the shaft before tossing it. As he extended his arm to catch it, it twisted, curving around his wrist.
"Oh!" he exclaimed.
"Ernor! Why are you taking his spear?" Daergo demanded.
He looked concerned, his eyes widened. But I didn''t need Galarion to tell me his thoughts. I could see the hungry look in his eyes.
"Ah, uh. Cyrus agreed to let us study his spear for the sword."
"You idiot!" he shouted. Daergo turned and bowed. "My apologies, Cyrus. My son is overzealous. You can have your spear. I trust in you to return the favor for the sword."
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"What''s the issue? To be honest, I''m not sure why examining it is beneficial to you anyway," I asked.
Daergo glared until Ernor sighed and untangled his hand. The mana had run out, and the spear stood straight.
"Beyond copying the spear''s design, which isn''t that impressive. It''s the chance to study the enchantments."
"As if you''re good enough to copy a dungeon item!" Daergo snorted.
"Rift, actually. Was part of my reward for completing it."
I must have said the magic words because their eyes grew even bigger. Ernor''s tail actually wagged.
"Cyrus, my apologies. Take it back."
I stepped away. "Tomorrow. Enjoy. If you''re looking for the enchantment itself, it''s near the top where the flesh connects to the bone. And the second enchantment is embedded just above that, running vertically from the tip."
They stopped and stared at each other. Ernor checked the spear and scoured the top with his fingers until he stopped where I knew the enchantments were.
"Are you certain, sir?" Daergo whispered.
A small piece of flint appeared in my hand and I flicked it at his head. It bounced off, and his eyes crossed in confusion as he looked down.
"Cut the sir nonsense."
"Of course! But if you need any kind of work done, just ask!"
"Before I go, can you give me the directions to the family you mentioned earlier?"
"Why? Wait, is this why you needed a broken weapon? What are you planning?" Ernor asked as he delicately gave the spear to his father.
"We''ll see."
They both frowned at my response, but Ernor gave me the directions. It was closer to the noble district but that didn''t surprise me; from the snippets I learned of the family, they were well-established.
I said goodbye and left through the exit. I waited until the crowd parted and nobody was looking before leaving.
Time to have some fun.
----------
Before I entered the store, I ducked between an alleyway and switched my clothes. I was wearing my black hoodie before and while it looked nice, it wasn''t the same as the brilliant blue of the Sturmrorex set.
I marveled at how amazing the storm clouds and the winding dragon looked in the sunlight.
Should pay her a visit after I get paid. Could use some pajamas.
I puffed my chest, imitating the peacocks in the square.
Missing something.
Every strand of hair was immaculate, and my clothes were appropriately bright and well-fitted. As I raised my chin, I glared at the reflection.
Now it''s perfect.
I looked like an asshole with too much money and not enough fucks to give.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready!" Galarion cheered.
With far too much anger, I pushed the door open and stepped into the white building. Blue metal lined the walls while the marble floor glistened with polish. I could feel the enchantments running through the place, a not-so-insignificant amount of mana radiating from the walls and floor.
There was nobody else in the shop, just an elf behind the counter. She summoned a clipboard to her hand and smiled.
Her green hair was done up in a bun, while her uniform had no creases. The glasses were made of gold and matched the dark-blue and gold outfit.
"Greetings, sir. Welcome to Wintress Emporium. How may I serve?" she greeted, her voice bubbly and polite.
I raised my chin and took the time to observe the first floor. It was lined with displays locked in glass cubes. Instead of weapons and armor, as I expected, they were metal ingots of varying materials; no two displays were the same.
"We''ll see about that," I half-snarled.
By the gods, I feel dumb.
The receptionist didn''t miss a beat and bowed. "Of course, sir. I can assure you we will do our utmost best to please."
"Annoyed, but intrigued. Cautious and excited!" Galarion said.
Well, it''s a start.
"Who''s the forgemaster of this establishment? I don''t have time to deal with you."
Her smile remained steady. "That would be Master Riven. Unfortunately, he''s busy at the moment. But I could introduce you to his apprentice if you would like."
"An apprentice? Really? That''s the best you have? Ugh. You''re no better than those other felkins."
"My apologies, sir," she said before stopping.
I sensed the mana ring through the necklace hidden under her collar. Her demeanor remained the same, but there was a minute difference in her eyes.
"Ah, sir. Master Riven has agreed to see you personally. If you would follow me, I''ll lead you to him."
I grunted, scrunching my nose in disdain. "Fine. Let''s get on with this."
She nodded and headed up the stairs. I followed a few feet behind, observing her movements. It was hard to tell but she moved gracefully, each step balancing her weight despite the high heels.
That and her steps have no sound.
"Galarion. Master Riven. Scour his thoughts; don''t hold back but make sure you''re undetected. And no devouring! Not yet."
He grumbled and I could hear him pout, but I pushed it to the back of my thoughts and observed the second floor.
Here was where they sold real stuff. Scattered throughout the floor in neat but random placements were sets of armor and weapons of various sizes. Nothing too fancy, but the craftsmanship was of high quality.
"Not the worst," I remarked after turning my head away from the display.
"Of course, sir. This is only the second floor. Enchanted goods are for floor three and above."
"And what floor are we heading to?"
"Floor five," she smiled. "Master Revin enjoys the scenery"
Each floor was different and true to her word, the overall quality improved. By floor five, I was thoroughly impressed. These people had just about anything you''d need.
Floor five was different. It lacked the displays of the others and instead expanded into a massive workshop where three people worked. Each person had a pair of people in similar uniforms to the receptionist, but they had an apron and stood at attention to the side.
Apprentices?
She led me past the workshop and to the side. There wasn''t a door but a large, entirely black wall. I couldn''t detect mana from it, creating a dead zone inside the building.
She stopped and placed her palm on the wall''s surface.
Mana rushed from her feet and not her hand.
Diversion.
The door opened, and a wave of cool air rushed out. She stepped to the side and bowed.
"Thank you, Arrana. You may return to your post," rumbled an older voice.
It contained power, a deep, bassy tone, yet it sounded refined, and controlled.
Arrana turned and left, leaving me standing in front of the room as the cold air continued to gush out.
"Do come in."
There was an empty room.
"He''s inside! I can taste his thoughts! Curious, cautious. Intrigued!"
I raised my chin higher and stepped through. As soon as I passed through the doorway, the illusion fell away and left me in a surprisingly warm room.
It was more surprising to see the flames swirling around the ceiling and dripping down the walls. The floor was smooth white metal and not on fire.
"Would you like a drink?" Revin asked.
After sitting down, I examined the desk. It wasn''t an office table, more like a parlor room covered in neat documents or little nick-nacks.
Revin himself sat nearest to the window, where sunlight streamed in. He looked middle-aged, with salt-and-pepper hair, a well-kept beard, and manicured eyebrows. He was dressed in a plain black shirt that reached up and covered his neck. Bulky but not too muscular, he stared with brown eyes and raised a bottle.
I regarded him coolly, toning down the arrogance.
There was enough mana in the room to prickle at my skin, and I sensed the patches of enchantments from every corner of the room. Revin himself sported several items on his person that radiated protective magic of some kind.
But he didn''t have protection from Galarion. Nobody suspected a mind-magic user to be so bold.
"I''m not here to drink," I stated.
He shrugged and poured golden liquid into a metal cup. The bottle disappeared, and he took a deep sip.
"So what brings you here, ah?" He paused.
"Cyrus."
He smiled. "So what brings you here, Cyrus? What do you require of my emporium?"
I raised my hand over the table. As I tried to summon the sword, I felt resistance. I snorted and powered through it, and the sword appeared.
If Riven was surprised by the overpowering of his enchantments, he didn''t show up. He has displayed an annoying level of calm so far.
His hand flowed with white steel, coating his fingers like a glove. He poked at the sheath with one finger and frowned as the leather peeled apart. The melted metal poked out, and his frown deepened.
"This is an awful blade. It''s of pathetically low quality. I certainly hope this is not why you''re here."
The metal receded and his face soured.
"It is," I grunted. He squared his shoulders and I tisked. "My servant was sent to fetch a blade, a spare, I did not care. What he returned with was this shoddy thing. Nearly cost me my life."
"I see," he said.
"Even more curious! Less suspicious." Galarion added.
Alright, let''s see how he reacts to this.
"The fool was sentimental, said he met a family of felkins and thought I would feel happy to support their business. Utterly reprehensible. This was all they offered, and when I confronted them they shooed me away. The gall!"
He smiled and nodded his head sympathetically. "I know of this family. I did not know that their quality was this terrible. Reprehensible indeed."
Here we go.
"They gave some pathetic excuse about their son and shut the door in my face! Not only did they try to kill me, but to insult my honor?"
He continued to nod.
"Galarion?"
"Surprise. Worry, but happiness. He''s glad the felkin is taken care of."
"Taken care of?"
"Yes!"
"Continue diving. We''ll feed you delicious memories after we''re done."
"On it!"
Chapter 8: Mission Complete: Stolen Memories
My eyes narrowed but I sneered at the wall as if thinking about the dishonor to my name.
"Those idiots should be punished, but I am pressed for time," I grumbled.
"Of course. I''m not one to speak bad about my competitors, but I am more than happy to see a customer come my way."
Alright, throw in the hook.
I turned and examined him, smiling but not too much. "Good. If you can provide me with equipment anywhere near the level that my friends own, I''ll be more than satisfied. Especially after I return to that disgusting shop and show them what true craftsmanship looks like."
"Insulted. But happy. There''s... a memory. It''s so tasty..." Galarion slurred.
"No eating! Not until I see it," I admonished.
My all-too-hungry mind-squid pouted, but he dived back in.
"Excited about opportunity. Curious about friends. Happy that plan is falling into place."
"Well, Cyrus. We shouldn''t make you wait. What are we looking for? If it''s another sword, I have some of the finest crafts in our emporium," Revin said.
He transitioned into a salesman talk, but he kept the easy smile on his face as he sipped more of the alcohol in his cup.
"Doesn''t expect you to be happy about the offer. Wants information about Master. Tasty poison!"
My eye twitched. I expected the stream of thoughts to be a little jumbled.
And if he wanted me to play it up, then he''d get his wish.
I channeled my inner peacock and stood up. "Pre-made? Really? That''s the kind of insult you''d throw at me? I thought you were a man of promise! It seems I''ve made a mistake coming here. I''ll make sure to tell Broken Tower to avoid this place."
"Ah! Sir Cyrus, I apologize. I meant no insult. Especially to one part of such an esteemed group. But is it true? You''re friends with Broken Tower?"
"I''d advise you not to insult me by questioning my relationships."
Galarion bounced around, growing bored. "Something about big fish. Careful approach. And stronger poison."
Master Revin bowed before folding his hands. "You''re right. So then, what may I help provide?"
I sat back down reluctantly, hesitating before adjusting and uncrossing my arms. "While I desire a sword, I prefer a caster. Short, easy to use. One that leaves my fingers free while I can use my skills. The other shop had some, but the efficiency was abysmal."
Revin finished his drink and stared out the window. It was a weird shift compared to earlier, but I played along and waited. Eventually, he reached over and poured another glass before summoning a white crystal and a piece of parchment. He placed his hands on the crystal and sent mana into the ring of gold embedded in the center.
A beam of light shot into the air and stopped above head height. A flat plane of transparent blue came into existence. He channeled more mana into the device, and images appeared in 3D.
It displayed a glove, a wand, and a staff. They spun in full view and Revin gestured to the models.
"We can start with the base options. A staff is bigger and easier to enchant. The mana core is mounted on the top of the staff while the channels are carved throughout the shaft. But it''s the most unwieldy of the options. The wand is the middle ground. Smaller, more flexible. But its size limits the enchantments and the core. Generally, while a staff can have up to three, the wand would hold one, and doing more would require rare materials."
"And the glove?" I snorted.
He grinned and the other models fell away. "The best design if you want to be truly hands-free. Its size depends on you, but we can inlay around two enchantments. Anymore and you risk ruining the material."
"And the mana capacity?"
"That''s the best part. Because of its design, it is usually best to install smaller cores instead of a central core. You''ll have a higher capacity for mana but smaller than what a staff would have."
The other models reappeared and he waited patiently. I tapped the armrest and pretended to give a damn. It was fascinating, but if I had to get something made I didn''t want it from him.
I guess I''ll use my last bait.
I tapped the table, and a single crystal appeared. It was orange and warm to the touch. The same material that was used in Zharia''s nest.
"Ooh. Interest. New material, wants more."
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
A small smile spread, and I showed my fangs. "Before I left, I spotted this on their table. The idiots tried to sell me it before I tore into them about the sword."
I slid it over and he carefully grasped it. He turned it around and even sniffed it before placing it back on the table.
"Do you mind if I run some tests?"
"If you must," I quipped. "But this is the only one I have. The idiot went on and on about new material from a rare dungeon. I''d like you to use this if it''s good enough."
Galarion tapped my head. "New memory. Thoughts about felkin kid. Ways to get more information. Interrogation."
Gotcha.
I kept my cool and stood up. Revin blinked in surprise and I sighed.
"I must go. I''ll return in a few days. If the material is good, I''d like you to find more for the caster. Can you handle that?"
Revin stood up and extended a hand. "It would be my pleasure. Have a good day, Cyrus."
Instead of grasping his wrist, I grasped his hand and placed my second atop his. "Good day, Riven."
I released his hand and left.
"Is he staring at me?" I asked.
"Yes," Galarion bubbled.
He sounded bored and disappointed. I sighed and waited until I exited the building. The receptionist smiled and said something, but I tuned her out and kept walking until I made it back to the Lightcrest manor.
The gates opened with the familiar chimes, and I slipped inside and collapsed on the couch.
"Alright, Galarion. Let''s see those memories," I grumbled.
"Cyrus?" Igas asked as he walked in.
I sat up. "Oh, hello."
He grunted and sat down, filling out the chair as he settled in. "Who''s Galarion?"
I tapped my head and opened my palm. Galarion slipped out with a rainbow wrapped around his neck.
"Galarion, this is Igas. Igas meet Galarion, my astral familiar and newest skill," I explained.
Galarion waved. "Hello! Feed me your memories!"
I flattened him between my palms and sighed. "Sorry, he''s adjusting."
Galarion pushed my hands apart, but he was now upside down and hanging from my fingers. "Willingly feed me your memories!"
Igas leaned closer but kept his hands away. "Cyrus. Is that a..."
"Astral spirit, for my astral mental skill. Yep. And full disclosure, I''m pretty sure I just did something very illegal."
His eyes hardened and he leaned back. "What did you do?"
I thought of an embarrassing memory where I forgot to strip the bark from a branch during the first few days in Inoria. The cut I had on my ass was not something I needed in the mind vault.
"Here, eat up," I said as I poked Galarion''s jiggly head.
He laughed and harmlessly munched on my finger as I tossed him back into my skull.
"Tasty!"
Igas shook his head and crossed his arms. "Spill. If it''s not too bad we can hide it, but Teddy wouldn''t approve."
"Well, first of all. I did it for a good cause."
"That''s what they all say," he growled.
I shrugged.
"Felkin family, nice people. Dad, mom, two sons. Youngest son has been missing since before we left for Helio. Suspected a different family, competitors of doing something."
"And?"
"I grabbed a cheap sword, puffed myself up like those dumbasses in the square and got a talk with the head dude. Can''t say I feel bad for scraping his mind. I was about to look into the memories Galarion acquired before you walked in."
"Cyrus. Define acquired."
Galarion popped out, jiggling around as he waved his arms like an inflatable-tube man. "Copied!"
Galarion returned and I smiled.
"There''s your answer."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes as he leaned back. "Who else knows you have a mind skill? Especially an astral one?"
"Teddy''s parents. The head woman at the healer''s guild. And now you."
"That''s better I think. I can never tell with them. Good that you''re putting it to good use rather than espionage. But you need to tell the others."
"Planned on it over dinner. Can I access the memories now?"
"Fine," he groaned.
He summoned a pillar of ice and broke off ice cubes with a tap before tossing them into the air, where they landed in his open mouth.
Oh, he''s crunching. Apparently, a mind familiar is stressful.
I chuckled and closed my eyes. Galarion had the memory ready, presented in the soulspace like a shiny bauble.
He reluctantly handed it over, and I tossed it down my throat.
The memory played like a murky screen where the image blurred at the edges.
I walked through the underground facility. The goons in the corner glared with teasing smiles. Idiots. My guards unleashed their skills and sent them scurrying.
They were rats, but they had their uses.
Grey building, nondescript, embedded into the wall. The guard opened the door and I stepped inside and followed the puppet guide to the cell room.
Foolish kid. Thought he could barge in, and shit on the reputation of the emporium. He looked miserable. Pathetic and broken. Almost enough to pity. But that''s the game.
The memory ended and I tasted the tingle of something sharp on my tongue that faded away.
It was confirmed. The kid was definitely Daergo''s son. Felkin, sharing gray-dusty skin. He looked decently built, most likely from time in the forge.
Galarion held up the second memory, and I knocked it back. Again, my consciousness sank, and I became someone else.
The kid was resilient. Too tough for his own good. His words were lies. It had to be. The stupid felkins could never afford prime material.
But just in case...
I snapped, and the rat extended his fingers into the cage. The kid screamed as the water pelted his skin. It reopened wounds, and blood dripped down.
Maybe I went too far...
The kid screamed, but despite another round of questioning, he had nothing else to offer.
Fine.
Lock him in a comfy cell. There was no use killing the kid. Might as well find a way to leverage him in the future.
The rat practically stomped their feet, all prissy about not being able to torture someone. And they were supposed to be a non-hostile gang.
At least I no longer needed their services after the tournament.
I snapped back to reality and reached out and booped Galarion''s avatar. As I opened my eyes, Igas crunched on a thick cube the size of his thumb and quirked an eyebrow.
Now that everything was said and done. I melted into the chair and summoned some food.
"Cyrus?"
I summoned him some fries and tossed them over. "Looks like I was right. The bastard had something to do with the kid''s kidnapping."
"How bad?" he said between fries. The sauce splattered his chin, but he froze it off and ate the chunk. "Where are we sending Isaac?"
Anger. A seething rage swelled and curled inside my chest before I crushed it and tossed it back. I blinked at Igas, who glared. He clenched his teeth and slowly exhaled.
"What?" I asked.
"You just... Nevermind. You need to practice aura control with Teddy when you can," he grumbled. "I can''t believe I sympathize with Isaac. I owe him a drink."
Okay.
"Anyway. I was right. And I recognize the outfit of the people holding him."
"Who?"
"The same assholes who tried to extort Isaac for information. Long red gash, all black attire."
Igas stopped and his eyes widened. He looked to the left, where I had already sensed the rogue''s approach.
"Those bastards," Isaac snarled.
Chapter 9: No Need
Isaac snarled as he stared at the wall.
Surprisingly, seeing his anger elicited the opposite reaction in me. Now that I did the dirty work and was relaxing in a chair, the more I felt a headache come on.
I did my part, helped figure out where the boy was held, and that he was alive.
But I didn''t feel content. A small part of me raged at the knowledge, while another wanted nothing more than to desperately take a nice hot bath.
"Isaac," I said, drawing the rogue''s attention.
"Don''t even think about it. I''ll handle it from here. You are not allowed inside the Underground," he growled.
I shrugged. "Works for me."
He stopped, as did Igas. The pair looked at each other and then frowned.
"It does?" Igas questioned.
"I got the information and lost nothing in return. I trust in your judgment," I stated.
Again, they shared a look and the headache worsened.
Screw this.
"Galarion?"
He bubbled to life, begrudgingly tearing himself away from his feast. "Yes?"
"Here, can you take my headache away?"
Galarion spread his tentacles throughout my head? Mind? One of the two. He grabbed something and he paused.
"I can, you sure?"
"Go ahead. Don''t take away any memories, though."
He bubbled happily and went devouring. The headache disappeared and I sighed in relief.
A hand clasped my shoulder and I looked up. Isaac stared at me strangely.
"Cyrus?" he asked.
"Yeah?" I said as I slowly leaned away.
"Are you okay?"
"Peachy. Oh, I guess Igas told me to tell you about my latest summon."
Galarion hopped out and waved as he bounced down to my nose before snapping back into my head.
Isaac''s eye twitched, but he remained silent until he looked at Igas.
"Strange, but not that insane. What am I missing?" he asked.
I tapped my chin, pretending to think, finding myself enjoying the teasing. "It''s probably the fact that Galarion is an astral familiar. Oh, and the information I acquired was because I used him to copy the forgemaster''s memories."
Isaac''s jaw dropped.
I stood up and patted his shoulder. "Don''t worry. I''m off to do nice things at the healer''s guild. Teddy''s parents hooked me up, so I guess I''ll go repent or something along the lines."
"But-"
"And thanks for agreeing to handle the kidnapping problem. Whatever you can find out by tomorrow would be helpful. I promised to return to his family if I discovered anything so..."
"Cyrus?" Igas said as he stood up and tapped Isaac''s chin, forcing him to close his jaw. "Are you sure? No more illegal activities?"
"I just said I''m going to the healer''s guild. So don''t worry."
They didn¡¯t look satisfied with my answer, but I didn¡¯t stick around to assuage their concerns. I waved and exited the manor for the second time.
Isaac would likely blab about Galarion, but that was fine. He was never meant to be a secret.
Still, I kept my face neutral as I parsed through my emotions. They felt weird but not wrong. I worried for Lezka, but until Isaac did whatever he was supposed to do, there wasn''t much room for me to help.
At least I can finally sit down and learn from somebody powerful again.
I made my way down the mountain and enjoyed the sights. I was technically already late for the meeting, so being a little more late wouldn''t hurt things.
----------
"You''re late," Syrreisha said.
She drummed her fingers along the nearby desk and frowned.
"Sorry. I was caught up helping somebody," I apologized.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
She lost some of her sternness and stopped the drumming. "That''s a better excuse than most. Was it worth it?"
Syrreisha led me into a different room that I hadn''t been in before and closed the door. The room was divided into three parts. One part was a small lounge with a comfortable couch and a few chairs. The other third was positioned near a window large enough to expose the outside gardens and let in the daylight. The last was a partition near the lounge, hiding a desk and a large chair fit for a king.
"I found out somebody was kidnapped through some potentially unethical ways, but at least someone can plan a rescue mission now."
She froze and let the curtain she was drawing slip. As she turned around I tested the cushioning of the couch.
Nowhere near as nice as Cal''s.
"You certainly live an adventurer''s life, don''t you."
I smiled mirthlessly. "Whether I want to or not."
Syrreisha cleared her throat and finished closing the blinds. "Normally, we''d prefer leaving the curtains open. Most patients found the daylight soothing, as well as the sight of the flowerbeds. But for today, we''ll keep them closed."
"Will it affect the patient''s outcome?"
"No. If this was an extended session for one to work out their feelings and memories, perhaps. But for today, I lined up a string of veteran adventurers who would love nothing more than to rid themselves of foul memories."
"And that''s okay? It''s not better for them to work it out themselves?"
She smiled as she summoned a tea set and a tray of cookies. "I''m glad you are asking these questions. But to answer you, I''d normally never allow it. The only reason I am is to help train you and because of your summon''s gentleness. As for the patients themselves, most have lived their lives. They have long since returned to normal function, but like a bad scar, it''s always there. For them, it would not hinder them from removing the memories."
It made sense. I wasn''t about to judge someone for what they did. Assuming what Syrreisha said was true, the people would be adults, fully capable of making their own choices.
"So, how will this go?"
"Usually, I''d take on someone steeped in medical knowledge, preferably a decade''s worth of anatomical knowledge along with medicinal alchemy. But for what we are doing, it''ll be unneeded."
I stood up and walked over to the tea cups she had poured. It smelled fruity, like a warm apple mixed with peach and cinnamon.
"You know. I only showed you Galarion, but he isn''t my only summon."
She raised her teacup and inhaled deeply before quirking her eyebrow. "Impressive. But I take it that Galarion is your only astral familiar?"
I nodded. "Yeah. But I do have a healing skill, and while Galarion is happy to devour anything I can feed him, he''s not a healing type of spirit."
"You have me intrigued," she said after sipping at the tea.
I tasted my own. Sweet. It wasn''t my favorite blend, but it was damn good. And just perfect for a certain little fairy.
Mana thrummed to life, and I sent the threads into Verdant Healer. ¨¢ine appeared and booped my nose. I chuckled and held up the cup and saucer, letting her sit on the rim to dip her fingers into the golden liquid.
"Good," she whispered.
I raised the cup and presented her to the head healer. "This is ¨¢ine. A nature spirit connected to my healing skill, Verdant Healer."
Syrreisha leaned forward and waved. "Is the tea to your liking, little spirit?"
To my surprise, ¨¢ine stood up and hovered in front of the woman. She slowly turned and spun around her head until she landed on the saucer. I watched and blinked in surprise as Syrreisha''s eyes widened.
"I thank you for the compliment. I do enjoy the smell. If you prefer, I have juice, it''s usually favored by younger patients of mine."
¨¢ine nodded, and a new cup was produced with a liquid far too neon to find appetizing. The purple liquid sloshed, and ¨¢ine reached a hand into the cold cup.
"Truly?" Syrreisha beamed. "I''m glad you like it. I can give your master a bottle before we finish."
I sat the cup down and watched ¨¢ine straddle both cups as she dipped a hand into each.
"Did I miss something?"
Syrreisha straightened out and fixed her collar. "Nothing of interest. But if you want to branch into normal healing, we run a charity day on the weekends. For those who can''t afford higher healing costs, come here to fix their ailments or relieve them of troubles."
"How busy is it usually?"
"Very," she said sternly. "There are never enough healers for the problems people encounter. And while there are a few generous souls who work for free, it''s exhausting work."
"I see."
She smiled and waved to the fairy before sipping the rest of her tea. "And healing people can be a tricky thing. Most who come on those days are too malnourished to afford to rebuild their body. Skills take their toll, and it isn''t just the user who pays the price."
I waited until she finished her cup before summoning a carving knife I kept on hand for cooking food. She cocked her head and I raised my arm.
¨¢ine glared from across the room.
"Sorry, but it¡¯s the easiest way to prove your effectiveness."
She crossed her arms and I could feel disapproval dripping through the link, but she didn''t disagree.
With a shrug, I stabbed into my arm and sliced downward, exposing my flesh. Blood gushed as I nicked the artery and ground my teeth to distract from the pain.
It was a clean cut, and a really sharp knife. But it still stung.
¨¢ine flew over and landed on my bicep as she slapped her hands down. The scent of flowers filled my nose and I moved my arm slowly as the skin repaired itself and the bleeding stopped.
When it was finished, she hopped off and went back to her drinks.
"Thank you," I sent the fairy.
I flexed my repaired arm and waited.
Syrreisha approached and held out her palm. "May I?"
"Go ahead," I shrugged.
She gripped my arm and felt around, tracing the cut. When she closed her eyes, mana pulsed in a wave that sharpened into a fine needle that pierced my arm. It didn''t hurt, as the skill wasn''t an attack, but she pulled away a moment later and smiled.
"Remarkable skill. Not only did it heal your wound, it did so flawlessly. And it generated new blood. Not all of it, not enough to replace what you lost, but that''s more than most."
"As far as I know, ¨¢ine''s healing has never inflicted the same problems you run into using health potions. And she sometimes helps me in training to remove the wear and tear from training."
Syrreisha shook her head. "Usually a bad thing. You want your muscles to regrow and adapt. Magically healing them can remove that process and skip repairing them or returning your body to a past state where you were whole."
"Yeah. She doesn''t do that. I wasn''t this muscular a few months ago."
Granted, I had abs and was pretty lean when I got my new body, but I wouldn''t have been able to keep up with Eodyne in running practice if I hadn''t built myself up.
"Truly?"
I nodded.
"Then we can set up time for working with that skill as well. Not today, as I have already selected what can fit into my schedule, but I''d be more than happy to work with you."
"Sounds perfect. So what happens now? If we''re skipping the knowledge and getting to work, are we diving straight into taking someone''s memories?"
"We are helping someone who is seeking aid. But no, we have something else important to do first. You especially."
"Uh, what''s that?"
She went to the desk and waved her hand. A steaming metal bucket, a rag, and a bar of soap that smelled like antiseptics dropped onto the tabletop.
Syrreisha pointed to the pool of pinkish blood by my feet.
"First things first. You are to clean the mess you made."
I sighed and got to scrubbing. At least the soap made cleaning things up easy.
Chapter 10: Dark Thoughts, Bad Memories
"Come in," Syrreisha chimed.
The room was enchanted, and her voice would inform the person by the door to enter.
Sitting behind the curtain that served as a visual and audible barrier I watched as Syrreisha clasped her hands and waited for the burly man to shut the door. Once he did, more enchantments came to life.
He grunted and dipped his head. The long braided beard reached his chest and poofed up but he didn''t react.
"How are you doing, Loregg?"
Loregg was a short man, a few inches above my height. He sported meaty hands with a long red tattoo crawling up his sleeveless arms.
He wore a simple tunic, dark green that made his fiery hair pop.
Notably, his eyes were rust, and normal. Outside of the generic appearance, he looked hale and healthy.
But then he raised his arm and I saw the fear that crossed his eyes. It came and went as quick as his breath and he shook Syrreisha'' hand before retracting his arm and keeping it to the side, just slightly behind himself.
"Enough with the pleasantries," he grunted. "You said I could finally be free of this curse?"
Syrreisha nodded. She motioned for the couch and continued to smile even as the man nearly pushed her out of the way.
She turned and stared at the curtain and gave a sympathetic smile, though I know it wasn''t aimed at me.
There wasn''t much information I had on the guy. Syrreisha wanted me to experience a patient without knowing their troubling history, as I wasn''t technically read in.
And while the patients gave consent, it was an extra step. For now, I knew he was an ex-adventurer. One who ran with the same party for well over a dozen years before they had an accident.
Dungeon dive, and getting trapped in the lowest depths during the last day of the month. Syrreisha didn''t give me the details, but it wasn''t hard to guess at the outcome.
Now he worked as a smith''s assistant and helped craft metal tools and other knick knacks.
Loregg sat on the chair but he looked as comfortable as a baby on a barstool. He leaned from side to side before punching the cushion to stabilize himself. His other arm remained limp, almost forgotten until his eyes changed to slate-gray. The flash came and went. He bit his lip while grumbling to himself.
Syrreisha sat on the opposite chair and poured him a cup. He took it, and drank deep. But if the healer cared, she didn''t show it. As soon as he presented the cup again, she took it and set it aside.
"Alright woman. I''ve done your rituals. Can we get this done? I got work in the forge to do," he complained.
"I would advise against returning to work after this, but what you do outside this office is up to you," she said calmly. She pulled out a contract and set it on the table between them. "Before we begin you will be signing this as we agreed."
He narrowed his eyes but opened his mouth. His teeth became silver and he bit down on his thumb, tearing a small gash along its surface. Silently, he squeezed fat droplets of gray blood onto the contract before Syrreisha added her own.
Loregg flinched and growled as he rubbed his chest, while the healer remained calm and unmoving.
"Damn contracts..." he muttered.
With the contract in place, she stood up and conjured a small cloth made of yellow gauze. She then activated a skill and mana flared to life.
It was strong, vibrant. I imagined the roots of several flowers holding steady as the flowers grew to the skies. The mana felt comforting, and steady.
An emerald-green vine sprang from the ground and grew fat and heavy before it curved. After a few seconds it settled into the loose form of a chair with golden flowers decorating its sides..
Waves of energy dripped from the flowers and created a faint shimmer. Loregg stood up and eyed the thing but sat down and braced his arms along the rests. His feet were lifted and supported by fat leaves before one of the flowers hung lower and coated him in golden lights.
"As I said in the letter I sent. You are the first. I''ll be monitoring you throughout the procedure but I cannot promise complete safety. Do you-"
Metal fingers bent the vine, as he gnashed his teeth. "If you can take away even a fraction of the curse. Then I''ll gladly sacrifice whatever you need. Don''t baby me!"
She sighed and looked at the curtain. "Very well."
He snatched the gauze blindfold and secured it around his eyes. The enchantments activated lining themselves in bright-white lines.
He instantly calmed.
I tapped my skull. Galarion leaked out and landed on my palm with a wave of neon tentacles.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Delicious memories!" he replied.
"Only take what was given. And go slow. I wanna see the process."
He deflated but perked right up and extended his tentacles. During the small exchange, he kept himself confined. He could have read Loregg''s mind, but we promised to be on our best behavior and not commit anymore crimes.
"You may begin," Syrreisha instructed, having closed her eyes and extending her hand above Loregg''s head.
She had an analyzing skill, so I knew she would try to glimpse the process like I planned to.
Galarion hopped off my hand and glided through the air. He parted the curtain and elongated one of his tentacles until it touched the man''s forehead.
As he activated his skill, I closed my eyes and probed with my senses.
"Loregg. I want you to remember what you consider is a curse. Embrace the memory and think of only it. We want to help, this is what you wanted. Offer only that which you want forgotten."
The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Loregg gnashed his teeth and his arm twitched in short bursts. Through the link, I knew Galarion was probing his mind but he held back.
"Think of Alyo, Mirreo, and Vorster. Remember the dungeon. The monsters. That day that you despise. Embrace the pain and will it gone."
"Mine!" Galarion shouted.
And before I could tell him to slow down, Galarion''s mana churned and curved in a complex mixture of actions. He retracted his tentacle and bounced around before landing on my lap.
"Can I eat now?" he begged.
I frowned and booped his head. He flattened like a pancake and I rolled my eyes.
"Not yet. Make a copy first. Then we''ll eat after Loregg leaves."
Galarion pouted but complied. And I turned my senses to the man in question.
His arms were shaking and he clutched the gauze around his eyes. Tears slipped down and drenched his shirt but they did not stop.
Syrreisha placed a hand atop his chest and a wave of green-light flowed around him before entering his skin. He calmed and his breathing returned but he continued to cry.
"I-I..." he tried before clearing his throat. "It''s gone. They are gone, I can''t remember their deaths!"
"But you know they died?" Syrreisha probed.
"Y-yes! Their funerals, I remember them clear as day. But their deaths! I know they died, but not how!"
"You remember their names?"
"Yes! Alyo, Mirreo, Vorster! I remember them all. Th-they are still with me."
Syrreisha leaned closer and gently placed her hands around his ears. With a tug, the gauze came free, revealing blood-shot eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"I would like to perform a few tests, to ensure that you are whole. Do you think you are up for that? Loregg?"
He rubbed his eyes and combed his beard with his fingers. As he did, he stared at his arm and stopped. For a time he didn''t respond, unmoving and waiting.
But no twitch.
And Syrreisha waited patiently beside him.
He slowly lowered his arm and breathed in deep before exhaling. "Aye. I can handle a few tests. But I have a request."
"And what do you request?"
He pointed to the curtain. "Whoever is back there, I... I want to thank them."
Syrreisha frowned. "You remember the contract? The healer would like their anonymity."
Loregg stood up. "Whoever you are, please. You have performed a miracle. I came here today, expecting another experiment to scrape away at the curse. To scrape! But you''ve done so much more. Please."
He trembled. The once gruff man with flint in his eyes, shook as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Syrreisha touched a brooch on her cloak. "It is up to you."
I watched the man, standing there with weak knees that looked ready to give out. This wasn''t what I expected
I felt another headache begin. I thought about asking Galarion to help but I shook my head and summoned my mask. I changed it so it was all black with only white outlines for eyes.
My horns were harder to hide, but I had a scarf that I wrapped around my head. It looked weird, and suspicious but the horns were hard to guess if you looked at it without knowing what lay underneath.
Galarion slid behind my ears and through my skull while I parted the curtain and stopped.
Better change my voice.
I took on a gravelly pitch and nodded to the man. "There''s no need to thank me. I was performing my duty."
Loregg nodded and combed his beard again. "Thank you."
"Have a good day, Loregg," I said as I grabbed the curtain.
But before I could pull it across and reactivate the enchantment, Loregg sprinted forward.
Oof!
His muscular arms wrapped around my chest and squeezed. My bones popped and he released me to dive into a deep bow.
"Thank you. Truly."
I refrained from exhaling and closed the curtain. Once the barrier was up and the enchantments came online, I exhaled and groaned.
The dude was a lot stronger than he looked. Even with my passive boosting my body, he crushed it with one squeeze.
Behind the curtain, Syrreisha had led him to the couch and chair while summoning a variety of instruments. A few I recognized as she had used them on Galarion the other day.
Over the course of the next fifteen minutes, she ran him through a gamut of tests before leading him to the door and waving goodbye.
Once shut she grinned and exhaled deeply.
"Thank you, Cyrus. For helping him."
I pushed through the curtain and collapsed on a chair. "I wasn''t expecting the hug, but I didn''t really do anything."
She shook her head and offered me a cookie that I wolfed down before inhaling some fresh tea.
"That may be the case, but you did not have to come here. So again, I thank you. And Galarion as well."
I waved her off. "I literally signed up to do this. So whatever. How much longer until the next patient?"
"About fifteen minutes."
"Then excuse me. I''m going to view the memory."
Her smile dropped and her shoulders lowered. "I don''t like the idea of copying someone''s memory. But I will accept it. All I ask is to please be careful. It would be a terrible fate to cure one patient only to create another."
"No worries. Galarion has me covered."
The squid extended a tentacle out of my forehead and gave Syrreisha a thumbs-up. I laughed and closed my eyes.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Here you go! Then I eat, right?" he said.
"Yes. You can eat as soon as I start the memories."
"Okay!"
Before I could protest the memory slammed into my thoughts like a hammer and I played through the pseudo-dreamscape movie.
The memory slowed. No supplies, no food or water, and no potions. The team were desperate, and hiding in a hidden corner while their enchantment was slowly failing.
We have to get out. We need to get out now. They won''t like it, but if we stay, we''d die from another boss spawning in.
An elf, and two humans. They were his team. From the failing of the enchantment that''s where the start of the wretched night began.
They snuck their way up the sixth floor, battled and skirmished up the fifth. But the fourth floor held the first casualty.
Loregg''s memories burned, and I could taste the blood and fear like sour slime.
Alyo hurt. I have to save her. I need to. But we can''t leave, the damn mobs are guarding the exit!
Mirreo and Vorster argued, but Alyo watched, her eyes glued to the hole. If only-
Blood, a fountain that coated the walls and the rest of the team. The monster had slid through the crack, a form of slime monster that could slide through earth.
Alyo was a goner, her body dropped. The crunching was visceral, as if it was next to my ear, while the slime chewed with teeth made of rocks.
They defeated the monster. But only because Mirreo sacrificed himself in a frenzy that blew up the horde.
Loregg''s memory was salty, drenched with tears, blood and sweat. The two snuck their way through the third floor and fought tooth and nail to make it into the safezone separating the second and first floors.
But mobs had swelled and slime-knights using stone as armor blocked their paths.
Loregg yelled at Vorster to retreat but it was too late. Before he could fight back, Vorster activated his skills and knocked Loregg aside.
Blood. No! No! Vorster!
The memory burned and Loregg''s rage stirred mine before I shoved it deep.
I wanted to finish the memory. I had to.
Vorster lost his left leg and right arm. He hopped and straddled one of the monsters and activated several skills. While it destroyed the monster, the other one attacked and cut him off his other limbs.
Loregg activated his own skills and tried to save his friend, but again he was knocked away and the monster took Vortster''s head.
Nooooo!
The monster died, but not before more surged up the stairwell and forced Loregg back. He rushed for the exit, tears in his eyes.
And yet it wasn''t the end even as he came upon the portal. Another horde waited before the exit, as the strongest clawed at the portal''s edges, pushing against the thick film of mana.
Loregg snapped, his memory literally fractured as he rushed forward and tore them down. His arm became a weapon of death that was sandwiched between a monster''s jaws and was crushed as he cut down the final foe.
As he collapsed and fell toward the exit, the memory stopped and I opened my eyes.
"Cyrus? What''s wrong?" Syrreisha asked as she placed a hand on my chest.
Mana came in waves and I felt my mind ease as my breathing slowed. I grasped for the tea and downed it until the taste went away.
As I opened my eyes I leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
"Cyrus?" she asked again.
"Sorry. The memory... was intense."
She refilled my cup and stood. "If we need to stop, I can-"
I shook my head. "No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Call the next one in. I''m ready."
Syrreisha stood still and observed me before slowly nodding. "Alright. But we''ll stop the moment you call it off. Your health is just as important as theirs."
I smiled and stepped behind the curtain. The memory replayed as fragments in my mind like a fading dream. But the feeling stayed.
"You ready to continue, buddy?"
Galarion hopped out and drooped down so his eyes were against mine. "Continue?"
I rubbed his head and nodded. "Continue. Let''s help some people."
Chapter 11: Rough Day
I stopped at the gate and waited as the melodic chime played. It was comforting, and the door opened with Walter bowing at the threshold.
"Welcome back sir, the others are waiting for you inside the dining room," Walter greeted.
"Thank you, Walter. What are we having tonight?"
He exited his bow and his eyes glowed brilliant gold. "Pasta."
That wasn''t ominous at all...
Walter shut the door and led the way. True to his word, everyone was seated around the table, including Sereza. She stood up as I entered and frowned.
"You shouldn''t have done that," she said.
I shrugged. "At least we know he''s alive."
She scowled and leaned closer. "Are you okay?"
"Thank you! Maybe he''ll listen to you!" Isaac shouted.
I danced around the felkin and took my seat. Today''s plates were shaped like fish. Because why not.
"Any plans on staging a rescue mission?"
"Not yet," Isaac growled. "The gang has gone into hiding, as well as a few others and nobody has information."
Anastasia leaned forward, her mana raging from behind her as her hair became a lighthouse of gold. "What''s going on?"
Isaac froze, as did the others.
"Mother. One of Sereza''s friends, their son, got kidnapped." Teddy explained.
"And the rats are hiding in their holes?"
"Yes," Teddy sighed. "They are. Our best bet is to go into the Underground and bust a few heads, but that''s not a good look."
Nathan gripped his wife''s shoulder and frowned. "You know we''re banned, dear. We made a promise."
Her hair stopped glowing and she turned her head. "We could break it."
"Not this time."
I shrugged. "Are you banned from the trading district?"
Anastasia whipped around. "No. Why?"
"Then you can probably beat the shit out of the guy whose memory I stole. Forgemaster Revin, the bastard acted like some mafia boss."
To my surprise, the others winced while Anastasia grinned like the devil.
"Mother, please don''t. We can handle this," Teddy begged.
I pointed a fork as I reached for the silver platter in the center of the table. "Why? Wouldn''t it be better if your parents roughed the dude up and had him arrested?"
"Cyrus," Isaac winced. "It''s never good to involve tier three''s with other tiers. Not for disputes like this."
"Sounds like bullshit."
"It''s the way of things. We maintain civility by not enforcing such tier disparity. It wouldn''t be good if a noble family is seen bullying another that''s lower tier."
I removed the platter and stared at the literal minibucket of bright orange pasta. The sauce was cobalt blue but I recognized the vegetable, so it wasn''t that jarring. However, the meatballs were the size of eggs.
The others continued to frown while I picked up the trowel and shoveled food onto my plate.
Instead of answering Celenae, I turned to Teddy''s parents. "Sounds like dragonshit. I say have fun. Didn''t think the pair that was willing to crash a ship into a party would care about something like that."
Anastasia licked her lips. "While normally true, we are under the crown''s eye. And we promised to behave for a while."
The others collectively sighed and I bit down into a meatball. It was really good, as was the sauce.
Mana crashed in waves and the nearby decorations on the wall moved on an unseen wind. The others stiffened, especially Sereza.
"But," Anastasia declared. "You have three days. After that, we''ll have a nice talk with this Revin and settle the matter."
The pasta is cooked perfectly. Walter''s a five-star chef.
Isaac glared from across the table. I waved my fork and bit into another meatball.
''Look at what you did!'' he mouthed.
With Anastasia calmed down, the others finally dug into their meal and began discussing how our days went. I tuned most of them out, I didn''t want to be rude but the memories from the day played through my mind.
So many broken people with debilitating trauma, and I experienced them all. The worst was a woman named Allison. Just the brief glimpse at the bedroom and chains inside her memory stirred the gremlin inside its cage.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
A bony tail gently tapped my sides and I brushed it away.
"Cyrus? You sure you''re okay?" Sereza asked.
"Mmm," I replied through another mouthful of pasta. "Maybe."
"How was your day? Everyone''s shared but you."
To my right, Teddy''s parents frowned and they silently picked at their food.
I was planning on introducing Galarion officially, might as well.
With a tap, and much to some awkward stares, Galarion woke from his post-food slumber and sprang to life. Literally.
He bounced and squeezed out my forehead until he plopped onto the table with a splat. The others stared, while Celenae had her journal out.
"Everybody, meet Galarion. If Isaac hasn''t explained it, this is how I got the information. Yes he''s an astral familiar. Yes he can devour memories as well as other things which include reading your mind. Well somewhat on that last part. And yes, I''ve explained thoroughly, certain rules he has to follow."
Galarion stretched and was wearing a tentacle tophat of all things. It was adorable, but the others continued to stare with a little horror in their eyes as he floated into the air and twirled.
"Hello! Master says I can''t devour your memories. But please feed me!"
I snatched the glutton out of the air and glared. "We''ll work on this later."
Sereza pointed an accusing finger. "You gained another slot? How? Why? Is this from your god?!"
Huh?
Eodyne leaned closer and mana activated, the wind carrying her voice so only I could hear it. "You haven''t told her your tier yet."
Oh.
In truth, there wasn''t really a reason to keep the information from her. I trusted Sereza, she fought to keep me alive on numerous occasions.
But... I thought it''d be funny to show up with a tail one day.
"Listen, by now you should understand that crazy shit happens around me," I teased.
Sereza groaned and collapsed into her pasta as she ate with gusto.
"Anyway," I chuckled. "This is Galarion, cute little dude. The astral plane was, well, hard to describe. I vaguely remember my brain melting, the world collapsing several times and then a spaghetti god took me to a private diner and we ate food together. He communicated in slurps and blurbles of his sauce bubbling."
Celenae was furiously writing in her journal to the point one of the pens snapped and she summoned another. I enjoyed the small chaos while I downed the rest of my drink which tasted like pineapples for some reason.
"Cyrus? How was your time with the healers guild?" Nathan asked between gulps.
My smile dropped. "Honestly? Not bad, but I severely underestimated things."
"You''re working at the healers guild? I can see ¨¢ine being a hit," Teddy said.
"Mmm. I mentioned ¨¢ine and I might participate during charity day, but no. It was for Galarion."
Igas choked on a meatball and thumped his chest till it went down. "You''re using Galarion to heal people?!"
"Yep," I said. "Apparently he''s uniquely capable of deleting memories without leaving behind trauma or fracturing people''s brains."
"Oh, that''s fiiine."
Of course Teddy had to see through my front. He stared directly into my eyes and activated his aura. His skill washed over me and some mental fatigue disappeared.
His shoulders tensed and he gripped the table. "You used a lot of mana. Cyrus you-"
I held up a hand. "I know. Galarion has been taking away the headaches, and yes I know it''s messing with me. I''m just a little damaged right now."
A giant version of Anastasia''s head appeared above the table and glared down. I blinked at the golden-lightshow and turned to the tier three.
"Galarion can copy memories. Have you been keeping them?" she growled.
I tried to smile, but it fell through.
"I wanted to know what I was treating, why the people would give up their memories like you did."
"Did you look at our memories?"
"No, yours was devoured."
The head popped and she closed her eyes. "How many patients?"
I took another sip just to stall and take in the room''s reactions. Teddy and Celenae were frowning, while Eodyne stared with stormy eyes. Igas I couldn''t parse, and Isaac was looking away but I saw the drop of blood leak down the corner of his mouth.
He''s not wearing the amulet.
"Five," I answered. "Syrreisha wanted to start with a smaller group. The first two were relatively easy, even got a back-breaking hug from one dude. But the third and fourth patient took a lot of coaxing and a few breaks before the memory was extracted. The fifth was the hardest and had the worst trauma."
"Are you okay?" Teddy asked.
I shrugged. "I''m fine. Just a little rough. It''s nice to put things into perspective how crazy this life can be."
"Cyrus..."
I sighed. Bringing down the mood was never my intention, but they asked the questions.
At least they were doing it because they cared. And being an asshole about it would be wrong.
"I''ll tell you when I need to talk, okay? I''m good. And enjoying a meal with you all is helping. Can we stick to that? Please?"
Surprisingly it was Igas who broke the awkward tension and summoned a giant ice-cube above my drink. It splashed onto my clothes and my jaw dropped.
He crossed his arms and grinned. "I''ll drop it if you agree to come to the orphanage at some point. They''d love to meet some of your familiars."
I laughed and pulled the icecube out and crunched down. "Deal."
Nathan clapped his hands. When everyone was looking his way he grinned and a wave of water rose up from behind him, carrying ten different pies.
"Eat up!" he declared as the first of the pies were launched.
Purple swirly jam splattered the walls as Isaac took the bakery bullet.
I swore I could hear Walter groan from the kitchen even through the silence enchantments.
--------------
I wiped off my side of the table and tossed the rags into the floating ball of water nearby.
"All done," I declared.
I was one of the last people left in the dining room, the others having already cleaned their spots and left. To be fair, they cheated with their skills, while I stuck to hand-wiping everything down.
Cleaning wasn''t cathartic but it gave me time to enjoy myself and the memory we just made. Thankfully my clothes went into overtime repelling all the food bits and leaving no stains.
Sereza tossed her own rag into the bubble and shook her head. "I don''t think I''ve ever had a dinner this chaotic. This beats the time everyone placed down bets on who could fit in Arturous'' mouth. Which is insane."
I grinned. "Learning to have a relaxing day is good for you."
"I''m not sure this is considered relaxing, but I agree."
I shrugged. Some people found getting their shit pummeled into them relaxing, but I wasn''t going to judge.
"Cyrus," she said.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for helping with Lezka. I''m just happy the idiot¡¯s alive."
"Of course."
She shook her head. "No. You didn''t have to do what you did. Nor did you have to care. Thank you."
I kept silent but nodded anyway.
It was a perspective that sat funny in my mind. So I pushed it deeper and left it for later.
Sereza bowed to Teddy''s parents who were bonking each other with the pie tins.
"Thank you for having me over. It was nice."
The duo stopped mid slap and turned as one. "Come back anytime!"
Sereza chuckled and patted me on the shoulder before waving goodbye. Walter appeared like a ghost and led her out of the manor, leaving me alone with the crazy duo.
They set the tins down and crossed their arms.
"She''s a good girl," Anastasia started.
"Indeed, she hides the stress well. Noble trained," Nathan responded.
I quirked an eyebrow. "You two okay?"
They floated forward, one one a wave of water, the other on a cloud of golden light.
"Get some sleep tonight, Cyrus," Nathan ordered.
"Why?"
Anastasia leaned forward. Her hair floated upwards and glowed with golden light.
"Tomorrow, you meet the king!"
Chapter 12: Meeting the King
I stared into the mirror and examined my hair. It was getting too long for comfort so I had Erebus give it a trim.
He did a good job.
I slicked the front of my hair and smelled the wax as I ran it through the strands. A more earthy scent, it wasn''t exactly something I was used to, but it was needed.
Being a felkin had benefits, which included having very little personal scent since I didn''t sweat. But right now I needed to be what I wasn''t.
With the hair masked, I tossed on ¨¢ine''s hoodie and pants combo while affixing a dark green cloak around my shoulders.
It was one of the few I hadn''t worn yet.
¨¢ine poked my cheek and I smiled. "Yeah, sorry. I''ll wear it next time we go out. Just not in the city."
She huffed but gave my cheek a hug before diving into my chest. Earlier, she had healed the sleep exhaustion away, leaving me positively glowing.
Not that it mattered. I donned my mask and let the comforting weight settle in. Then I held up the other mask given to me earlier.
It was full-faced, made out of bone from a tier-two monster. Its bones were naturally gray-green along with fine lines of orange minerals.
With a click the mask settled onto my own before the weird sucking sensation started. Unlike the wolf mask I absorbed from what felt like a lifetime ago, this mask had a simple curved beak that barely protruded.
As the magic stopped I felt the mask and breathed in, easily clearing air between the solid bone. My fingers pushed through and poked my cheek before I pulled back.
The mask had four eyes made of orange lines that now looked oily. They dripped down to the chin but were still static enough to remain in place.
There. Only one last thing I needed to do.
I picked up the small glass box made entirely out of pink crystals, and grabbed the pink earring inside. As I pushed it through my ear and wiped away the blood, I ran mana through the enchanted item and waited.
Slowly the horns disappeared and I stared.
It looked wrong.
I grabbed my horns, their physical presence still there even if the mirror showed me grabbing air.
I can''t believe I want my horns back. Ugh.
Someone knocked, and I opened the door. Teddy stared at my head, a slight frown creasing his face.
I crossed my arms. "What?"
"It looks wrong," he said.
Glad I''m not the only one.
"Well, at least it''s temporary. Any idea how we¡¯re getting to the castle? I''m almost afraid of what your parents have planned."
Teddy shook himself free and tore his gaze away from the top of my head. "Nothing fancy this time. The king will be teleporting you directly."
"Right. He did teleport your parents away."
"Yes. I''m sure my parents are disappointed but they were grinning evilly to themselves before I came to get you."
A chuckle escaped and I closed the door behind me. "The king''s technically your uncle right? What''s that like?"
Teddy shrugged. "He used to visit when I was younger, but I haven''t seen him in two years."
"What''s he like?"
"To me? Kind and wise. But he''s known to be a stern man of few words. He''s the Solar Star. The seventh king of Solunaria. I''m sure he''ll try to feel you out throughout your meeting."
"At least I can cross this off my isekai bucket list."
Teddy stopped and scratched his cheek. "That word tickled. It''s another word from Earth then? What does it mean."
"Uh, isekai is a japanese word. It''s sort of a term for a genre of stories and shows. Person gets sucked into another world, or died and is reborn in another world and so on."
"So Reborns, then?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Fascinating. I bet Celenae loved that knowledge."
I groaned at the reminder. Not too long after I revealed my origins, Celenae had grilled me on just about everything Earth, and Earth-related.
It was a long week.
Teddy patted my shoulder and waved goodbye as he left for his room. I stepped into the living area and was greeted by Teddy''s parents who looked godawful.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Anastasia had a crow''s nest of hair, while her dress was a literal rucksack that carried vegetables the night prior. The myriad stains that sullied her hobo-chic were thankfully odorless.
She waved with dirt-encrusted fingers.
Before I could say anything, Nathan turned around and revealed a horror show. His skin was pale, like a drowned corpse pale. His hair was goopy and slicked back, while his clothes was just a crusty towel toga tied snatched with wet yarn.
"Cyrus! You''re ready! The no horns look awful on you," Anastasia quipped.
"Uhm. Why?"
"The horns suit you boy. Never be ashamed of who you are!" Nathan replied.
I shook my head. "No. I mean what''s with the uh, costumes."
Anastasia flexed and Nathan collapsed to the floor with a wet gluup.
"You know what? Nevermind. Should I change?"
Nathan jumped to his feet. "No! You''re perfect!"
"Don''t mind us, Cyrus. We''re just protesting that''s all," Anastasia explained.
"Protesting wha-nevermind."
If Anastasia heard me she didn''t care and struck a pose. "That silly nobles have to dress up like silly idiots just to see their cousin! If they complain we throw them off the mountain!"
They flexed their mana, the air distorting in waves of chromatic light and floating orbs of water.
Before I could react, they grabbed my wrists and led me to the door. We exited the manor and stopped directly outside the gate.
As if they planned it perfectly, a glowing blue crystal appeared, nearly the size of Nathan''s torso. It flashed and a mana pulse disturbed the grass but the pair grabbed the crystal and brought it closer.
"Anastasia? Nathaniel?! No! Go back and change this isn''t-" the crystal started shouting.
"Too late!" Anastasia shouted.
The pair did something and we were surrounded in a bubble of pressure that flattened the grass. I had enough time to blink before the world disappeared in a collage of colors and I stretched upward.
From one blink to the next, my feet touched solid ground and I rubbed at the weird energy that wisped off me.
We were no longer outside the manor but inside a hall of black tile and golden metal walls.
"Nathaniel and Anastasia Lightcrest! What are you doing?!" screamed an elf in long black robes.
His hair was spikey platinum and his eyes were dull golden orbs. He looked at the pair with fury rising as his cheeks turned progressively a deeper red once the pair started reaching for him.
"Oh Ulaeyes! Our poor clothes were absolutely demolished in an unseen and highly unfortunate turn of events! This is all we had on, and I''m afraid this is the best we could do," Anastasia moaned, laying it on thick.
Nathan threw himself at the man''s knees and wrapped his wet, slimy arms around him, locking him in place.
"Surely, his Majesty won''t begrudge his favorite people in the world for unfortunate times!" Nathan cried out.
I backed away and watched the elven man short circuit. His eyes bulged and his tongue waggled but no words came out.
Teddy''s parents started another round of laments but a crystal appeared, one much smaller than before with deeper shade of blue.
"Ulaeyes retreat for now. They''ve won the battle."
Ulaeyes snapped his jaw shut and slipped free from his stragglers. The pair collapsed on the ground and moaned while the man walked out the door as he muttered some not-so-polite things under his breath.
"You two. Stand up already. You''ve already made your complaints known. Can''t you play nice?" the crystal addressed the pair.
They hopped to their feet and shrugged.
"Works for me!"
"Sure thing!"
The crystal turned and lowered as it sent a wave of mana from behind it to circle around and smash into my back.
I crossed my arms. "It''s poor form to scan someone so openly."
Teddy''s parents lost their smiles and they pulled down their blindfolds. Their mana came in waves that distorted the air.
"Allaron. This is our warning to you. Play nice," Nathan growled.
The crystal dimmed and floated in place.
"You expected me not to scan him?"
Anastasia pointed a golden sword that appeared as she extended her arm. "We expected it, but at least be honest and not try to hide your intentions."
"Curious. You''d fight for him. And he can detect my mana."
The crystal popped and the door to the room opened up.
This time, the king''s voice echoed through the long hallway. "Come in."
Anastasia tucked her sword into her waist, and growled. "If he plays games, we raid the treasury and steal his bed."
"I hear that,¡± the king¡¯s voice boomed.
"I know you do!" she said while shaking her fist. Anastasia turned and smiled. "Go, and don''t back down. The kingdom owes you plenty."
Nathan patted my shoulder. "We''ll be nearby. So don''t worry."
I nodded and walked down the hallway. The castle was surprisingly empty but that notion quickly disappeared as I entered the throne room.
A row of guards lined the edges of the room. And I detected three mana signatures behind the king''s throne.
King Allaron looked young. Around the same age as Teddy''s parents. Golden hair, with a well-kempt beard and piercing crystal blue eyes. When he cocked his head, the sunlight caught and scattered as if his hair was made of crystals.
He leaned back against the silver throne and waited till I stopped twenty feet away.
I nodded, and half bowed. The guard''s around the room tensed but I ignored them and stared at the king.
His eyes narrowed but he smiled. "Not a citizen of the kingdom then. Otherwise you would have bowed properly."
"I''m not," I answered.
"What is your name, stranger?"
"Strax."
"Just Strax?"
I didn''t reply.
"Then let me greet you in full," the king said as he stood up. "I am the current ruler, the seventh king of Solunaria. The All-seeing. The Crystal Monarch. Golden Lord, and The one who wears the Solar Crown. King Allaron Dawnguard."
Just give me my shit and we can be done with this.
"It''s a pleasure to meet you, King Allaron."
A few guards glared, their mouths creasing at the corners but Allaron continued to smile. In a blink he was standing next to me, only a couple of feet apart.
"And what is it you seek, Strax?"
"Payment due for saving a city of Solunaria from certain doom. I believe the Lightcrests have already arranged the deal with his Majesty."
"Indeed," he nodded. His eyes gained golden rings around his sclera and a wave of light bathed the room in brilliant gold. "And do you seek to harm the kingdom with your rewards?"
I was briefed somewhat on Allaron''s skills. The golden flames along the edges of the room indicated the skill he activated to be his Truth-Seeker''s Domain.
He likely knew my name was false, otherwise why hide my face. And he could accept that. But this was a lie-detector skill.
I couldn''t lie without him knowing it.
The light was warm, but it contained a searing sensation that bit below the skin and centered around my heart.
I looked the Allaron in the eye and kept my voice steady. "No."
The light vanished as did the itching feeling. Allaron nodded and snapped his fingers. At once, a beam of light shot through the ceiling and materialized a man in red robes on one knee with his head bowed.
"Your Majesty, you requested my presence?" the bowed man said.
Allaron glanced my way. "This is Strax, Hubold. We''ll be visiting the treasury to retrieve a few items."
"Yes, your Majesty."
Hubold held out his hand and Allaron grabbed the two gold pins from his palm. They were shaped like a diamond with blue sapphires inlaid on each point.
Allaron tossed me one and I caught it and copied him as he pinned it along his collar.
"Brace yourself," Allaron warned.
He snapped his fingers and several crystals appeared as they lit up in blinding light.
I breathed in and the world stretched as the king teleported us out of the throne room.
Chapter 13: Royal Treasury
This time, I appeared in a room made entirely of black marble. The mana in the enchantments embedded into the walls was strong almost-ether like in quality.
Hubold stood up and approached the east wall. He placed his hand along a hidden indent that contained several packets of runes interlocked together. His mana threaded through the link and the floor rumbled as the north wall slid apart.
The walls revealed a room filled with chests and cases displaying various items. But I waited. Allaron hadn''t moved, and Hubold was still channeling mana into a second link, one that connected to the south wall with nearly three times the amount of enchantments hidden behind the marble.
"Do you not want your rewards? Strax?" Allaron asked.
His voice was neutral, and posture held no tension.
I kept still and stared at the south wall. "Does your servant need more time to open the real treasury?"
Allaron raised an eyebrow while snapping his fingers. A beam of blue light shot into the marble before melding with Hubolds mana, and activating the enchantments.
As the real treasury doors slid open I waited but Hubold had already removed his hand.
"Anastasia and Nathan wouldn''t have revealed the vault," Allaron said as he walked through the south entrance. "You''re an astute observer, Strax."
I followed, making sure Allaron was always in front and slightly to my right. Standing directly behind him could be seen as suspicious so I kept my intentions clear.
Somehow, I didn''t expect my meeting with the king to be filled with a dozen tests. But it wasn¡¯t that surprising.
Still, I wanted my items and to leave, nothing else. I held no interest for the king or the crown.
I''m not a peacock or a sycophant.
"Am I to expect further testing?" I asked.
Allaron chuckled. "Perhaps. It''s not everyday a stranger to my kingdom draws such attention."
The king wasn''t what I was expecting. He looked like royalty, and it was easy to see how much power he hid behind a thin veil. His mana was like ether, strong enough to press on my clothes.
But maybe it was because I was immune to such pressure, or even the fact that I had been in the presence of gods beyond mortal men, I didn''t feel intimidated.
He was powerful, strong enough to kill me if he wanted, if what Teddy''s parents said was true.
He was Tier three, at the max of tier three. Like Brelten.
His power should be enough to defend a city and more. But he kept himself contained, and his mana flowed around him with ease that few others could achieve.
Yet he seemed off. And it wasn''t until he stopped near another door¨Cone lined with blue crystals¨Cdid I realize what bothered me.
He didn''t move gracefully. His steps were stiff, subtle, but noticeable in his walk.
"Hubold, have you prepared the list?" Allaron asked.
"I have your Majesty," Hubold replied while producing a scroll of black parchment with golden scrawl across its back.
Allaron unfurled it and read in silence for a minute before he returned the scroll and crossed his arms.
"We''ll go with vault Xier."
Hubold nodded and stepped forward placing both hands at different heights. Enchantments came to life and a bubble of energy coated the door like soap.
When he removed his hands the marble split and revealed a distorted reality stretched across its frame.
Allaron stepped first and Hubold bowed.
I wish I had Galarion with me, but I was warned not to bring mental mana inside the throne room. Not if I didn¡¯t want to be executed on the spot.
Hubold stayed low, and I held out my hand. The mana tickled.
Welp if it was a trap, I''m sure Teddy''s parents would rescue me.
I entered the portal and was spat out on the other side.
This room, unlike the rest, was massive, bigger than the throne room. I counted more than a hundred shelves stretching to the ceiling, lined with chests or cases containing a variety of items.
Behind me Hubold stepped to the right and tapped his pin. As he did, the one along my collar activated and a deep pulse expanded from the center of the room where Allaron stood.
The mana washed over me but the pin sucked it in and I was left untouched.
"A cleaning enchantment to excise contaminants, it is harmless with the pin around your collar. Keep it on you at all times while within the vault, sir Strax," Hubold explained.
"Hubold, prepare the items on the list, we willl be over there and out of your way," Allaron said.
"Yes, sir." Hubold bowed. "I will have it ready in ten minutes."
Allaron waved me over and we went to the one spot on the floor uncontested with display cases. He summoned a comfortable chair made of dark leather that cushioned his form.
In response, I summoned my beanbag. He stared at the beanbag and even sent a blue laser against its contents that was rebuffed and torn apart.
"That item holds some divinity," he stated.
I shrugged and sank into its embrace. "It was a gift."
He studied my face and examined my clothes while leaning forward. "I see. Well, now that we''re alone I can drop the game."
His shoulders relaxed and he settled deeper into his chair.
"Game?"
"Yes, game. I''m not a fool. When Anastasia and Nathan crashed into my bedroom window and demanded I hand them the ''loot'', I knew it wouldn''t be a simple matter."
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
I resisted the urge to chuckle, picturing the pair standing menacingly over a groggy king like bandits.
"That sounds like them."
"Indeed," he chuckled mirthlessly. "But enough of that. Meeting you made me take you more seriously. You have a keen eye for mana, and I can''t scan you."
"And what does that tell you?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"That you''re not normal. And saving Helio wasn''t a fluke. So here we are in the real vault where I''ll present you with suitable rewards for such a task."
I studied the king and he stared back. But he was relaxed, an easy look in his eyes.
He sat forward and watched Hubold teleport around the room and place them in neatly stacked rows.
"You answered honestly in the throne room. And Anastasia was right. It was in poor taste to try and scan you without your knowledge. So I will permit a question in return."
I blinked. That was unexpected. And I didn''t really have anything I wanted to ask him. But judging from the way he glanced in my direction, he expected me to.
I shrugged and examined the vault, taking in the nearly endless amount of items.
"What''s your favorite skill?"
His eyes narrowed. "Is that the question you want answered?"
"Yes."
"Very well," he said as he exhaled and tracked Hubold''s teleporting. Minutes passed before he inhaled and met my eyes. "There was a skill I saw as a kid that I always wanted. It is a silly childish skill with no combat potential whatsoever. But nonetheless, I desired it."
"What did it do?"
He chuckled. "It made berries."
Really?
"Berries?"
"Yes. Berries. Tiny dull-silver berries with a coating of sugary dust on its skin," He said. "Eldarrie Delight" was the skill''s name. A small tier two quality skill stone looted from a wild rift near the Golden Plains. No idea who or what Eldarrie is, but those berries were found in the same rift. And they were fantastically delicious."
"Did you ever acquire the skillstone?"
He shook his head and roared with laughter. "Oh no. If I had it would have been extracted by my father within the hour. And it was given as a gift to a servant. The prince could never have such a useless skill, even if it was the perfect choice for any child."
"That''s too bad. It sounds like a fun skill."
He nodded but kept quiet.
Again, this wasn''t how I thought the meeting with the king would go.
Hubold finished gathering the items and then teleported in front of Allaron, returning to one knee.
Allaron snorted and tapped his shoulder. "Stand, Hubold. Not in here."
Hubold stood. "I have prepared the items, sir. Would you like to begin."
A different scroll was produced¨Cthe same black parchment but with silver ink instead of gold. Allaron tossed it over and I caught it.
"Take a look and select two from the list" A third scroll appeared in Hubold¡¯s hand before he handed it to me. "And take two from the second list. When you have made your choice we will return to the throne room."
The king and his attendant watched me unfurl the scrolls and place them on my lap while reading through the list.
And this is only a portion of a vault? Damn.
Each list contained over hundreds of items. And none of it was organized.
Each entry held a brief description of the item along with their identified name. I skimmed the top and paused at something interesting.
High Demona Blood- A vial filled with tier three blood extracted from a demonic rift monster.
-
Uses unknown, alchemic purposes hidden despite extensive testing.
I pulled up my status and focused on a specific perk.
Demonic Blood
-
This is a racial perk that all demons share.
-
All Demons have the ability to get stronger by consuming a more powerful demon¡¯s blood. The higher the tier, the greater the strength of the benefits.
It was my first instance of seeing demonic blood. I never forgave myself for letting Arz''odral go without taking some of the blood for my own, and now here was an option for one of my rewards.
But I couldn''t take it. Maybe if it was on the minor list and not the major one, I would have selected it, but the skillstones listed were too important.
And Cal''s words stuck around, reminding me what I lacked.
There were a few other interesting entries, such as the Wyrmshard and the Bottled Breath of a Cloud Giant.
While I knew nothing about alchemy, the Wyrmshard had clearly explained its uses.
Wyrmshard: Skill-extracted loot from a tier-four Diving Nightwyrm. Consuming it enhances one''s darkness affinity to one hundred percent. And one''s fire affinity to sixty five percent.
That would be an incredible boon to anyone who wanted to use such skills. Even if they had all their slots filled, increasing their affinity by such a degree would make their skills more powerful and use less mana.
I see why it''s in the major list.
But I already had an affinity for every element. Hopefully, somebody in the futurewould enjoy the boost.
I continued to skim the lists until I boiled it down to a handful of options. The lists were massive, and several of the enchanted items looked useful, but I was focusing on skillstones first.
I''ve spent too long as a tier zero. And my familiars have been patiently waiting for the day they get their evolutions I promised when I contracted them.
Better to start on the first list.
Skillstones:
-
By Law Unmoving: Creates an aura of unmoving. All motion is stopped within the aura. Expected tier upgrade includes the ability to stop mana, and energy beyond physical motion.
-
Saint''s Grand Ascension: A field of light descends upon the user. Within the area of effect panels of hard light create a grand staircase for the user to ascend. Expected tier upgrade allows the ability to teleport between steps.
-
Dragon''s Breath: *Note only one skillstone in existence. Requires minimum of 99% fire-affinity: Call to the power beyond your bloodline and burn all that is, to ash.
-
Runekeld Vanguard: Augmented Summon type skill. Call forth a member of the engraved legion, the Runekeld. Humanoid class summon. Tank type. Uses defensive runes to improve equipment. Runes used changes the equipment the Runekeld deploys. On tier two evolution, can switch runes while summoned. Expected tier upgrade includes the ability to summon multiple Vanguards.
-
Baneblood Immortal: Summon type skill. Call forth a dreaded Baneblood. Demonic elemental summon. Warrior type. As long as there''s blood, the immortal lives. Spikes, arm-blades, and teeth are laced with multiple toxins. Expected upgrade include the ability to summon by sacrificing blood in the place of mana.
-
Rune Skald: Note* Origin of skillstone, unknown. Affinity type required, unknown. Potential upgrades unknown. Attempts to use Tier Four Identification skill failed: Enchantment, support buff type skill. Through the use of singing, strings together runic enchantments that last depending on the mana invested. Multiple enchantments can be made but requires additional mental strain. Potential upgrades unknown. Requires knowledge of runic enchantments to use effectively.
-
Endless Maze Timeless Dream: Illusion type crowd control type skill. Creates a field type illusion. Those trapped in the skill are drained of willpower and mana. Sleep plague debuff spreads upon entering, and grows in potency as they are inside.
-
Eat the Cake: Conjuration type skill, pure mana. Conjures a giant cake that changes in size depending on mana invested. Expected tier upgrades include elemental icing, explosions, and the inability to tell the truth.
The last skill on the list had me scratching my head. But hey, it was funny even if I wouldn''t have seriously considered it.
Then again...
I shook my head. There was no way I was going to take it, no matter how oddly tempting it was.
Next up was the second list, though I had already selected one skill stone which left me with a few odd choices that drew my attention.
Skillstone:
-
Sovereign''s Warcry: Mass support type skill. Releases a warcry that increases allies strength, agility, and regeneration. Expected tier upgrade includes the addition of more support type buffs.
It was simple, but my Legacy would take care of the rest. Some of the other buffs were too specific, and the affinity would clash with my other summons. It was listed as a pure-mana affinity, which was nice and meant I could use it on everyone, maybe even allies in the future.
For the items, I boiled it down to three things, and I wanted them all.
Items:
-
Mask of a Million Faces: Etherstorm enchanted item, a mask that has a million faces of varying ages, gender, and race. Soul-bound, and tier-less.
-
Fragment of the Stars: A gemstone acquired as a reward from a tier-three wild rift. Made of condensed crystal, gravity and spatial mana. Pushes near ether-level quality of mana. Unknown uses, despite extended testing, attempts to siphon mana deemed a failure. Hardness scale on par with a tier three-Diamond Scale Viper.
-
Molgraukus'' Ear Biter: *Note from Adventurer Markus Raelus: The -expletive- puncture marks are permanent. Healing skills don''t work. I tried. Enchanted gear. Acquired through a tier-three wild rift. A pair of earrings that lower the mana cost summon-type skills. For familiar-type summons, lowers the reserved percentage when summoning while diminishing familiar''s mana pool.
I contained my sigh and slumped forward.
What to choose?
Chapter 14: What To Choose?
"I have a few questions," I said.
Allaron motioned to Hubold who stepped forward. "Yes, sir?"
I pointed to the list. "Some of these are written in different ink, and a lot of the summaries are varied."
"The items were archived in different eras of Solunaria''s history. It was only after the fifth king that the vaults were itemized and organized accordingly."
Made sense. But some of the skillstones were too weird.
"What about this one? I understand different styles of organization, but why not use an identify skill on this?" I said as I pointed out Dragon''s Breath. "It lacks the summary of the other skillstones."
Hubold nodded. "Yes, sir. That skillstone in particular is an oddity. Attempts to identify it have resulted in the same text you see listed. Ranging from tier one to tier four, the skillstone resists identification beyond what it has revealed."
"And nobody absorbed the skill for themselves? Why?"
Allaron waved his hand dismissively. "Deemed too valuable to use casually, while too risky to be absorbed by anyone important enough for the skillstone. And the affinity requirement is nearly impossible within our kingdom. One may get close, perhaps within ninety-five percent, but never ninetynine. It''d require an elemental-aspected race, like an oni or to truly use it."
"And Rune Skald?"
"With the same issues, sir," Hubold explained. "Too valuable, and too risky. And the mana aspect is a signature we can''t identify. It seems to be a combination of pure mana and minute mixtures of every element which is an impossibility. Its origin is unknown, for there was no note or mention of the skillstone."
Allaron watched me carefully, his posture was relaxed, but his eyes were calculating. No doubt he was trying to pinpoint a detail about me based on my mentioned choices.
If he learns something about me, then oh well. I tried.
I ran through both lists several times. The major list had some interesting skillstones and I could see value in each one. So I started crossing off the ones I didn''t need.
Even if it was funny, Eat the Cake was axed. Next was Endless Maze Timeless Dream. As far as illusions went, Galarion could potentially do that in the future. And some of the creatures I had faced lately were immune to mind control.
Despite how cool Dragon''s Breath sounded, and the inability to be identified interested me, Zharia would murder me in my sleep.
I could already picture a third dragon familiar, argueing with Sturmrorex on who was the better dragon.
A shiver went down my spine. Whatever I chose, had to avoid that scenario at all costs.
The new list was much harder to knock down but I temporarily removed Runekeld Vanguard. I was interested in runes and a rune summon was double so, but I had my eyes on Rune Skald.
For now it was in the maybe category.
Saint''s Grand Ascension was tempting with the potential ability to teleport. But I wanted to diversify my summons. And like Dragon''s Breath, I had Zharia to handle the light element.
Baneblood and Law Unmoving...
By Law Unmoving sounded like an amazing control skill. Stopping mana itself as well as what sounded like kinetic energy could never not be useful. But there was a problem and probably why the skillstone was unused.
Affecting people''s mana was hard. You needed more mana, more willpower, and even a higher affinity to combat against someone else''s skill. And affecting the mana of a higher tier was next to impossible without directly injecting into their mana channels.
And as cool as it sounded, Magnus could absorb energy and reapply it for his own uses.
So that left me three choices and I could only take two.
I repressed another sigh and moved on to the minor list.
With Sovereign''s Warcry I had to choose from the three items. The mask was promising. I wasn''t sure what it would do once absorbed, but my real mask gaining the ability to switch faces would go a long way in keeping me disguised.
In the same vein, the earrings would help me in combat. More familiars meant more skills at my disposal, more options to use.
I pointed out the earrings and tapped the scroll. "It lowers the percentage for familiar type summons. Does that lower the summon''s mana pool?"
"Yes, sir. It wasn''t a concern for the original founder of the earring since he only employed one familiar, but that was a noted drawback from his summon at the time."
Well, damn. The earring was out. My familiars needed their mana, especially someone like Erebus. Drawing from my pool was fine, but having their own mana pool be big in size was too valuable.
Mask or gemstone...
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Before I chose, I pointed out a few items on both lists. They were ones I was curious about but would have never chosen.
Even if the king acted casually, I had to throw him off. Make it seem like I wanted other things so I could minimize what information I gave away when I inevitably declared my choices.
Allaron held up a hand and leaned forward. "I''d like to propose a deal."
I lowered the scrolls and waited.
He wasn''t smiling, and his hands gripped his chair. How much of that was an honest reaction, I didn''t know, but the fluctuation in his mana was noticeable, like a thin slash at the air as the space bent before the enchantments of the vault mended it.
"I have my report, and the head of Helio''s adventuring guild submitted her story. Much was revealed, a lot less than I liked. And when I asked about you she told me to stuff it." His last words scratched at my ears. I winced as he repeated the English words. He examined me from head to toe but I kept still and waited. "I want to hear the story, the real one."
My eyes narrowed. "And why do you believe my story is any different from what you''ve been told?"
He didn''t laugh but his eyes blazed with light. "Are you implying that it''s not?"
I looked up and noticed the light above the vault was different from before. It was the same as it was in the throne room¨Cflames crawling along the walls and ceiling¨C and I lowered my gaze back to the king.
"What exactly have you been told?" I said.
I feel stupid. This whole acting mysterious is stupid. And I can''t even tell you the full story anyway.
He leaned back. "An ancient being invaded the city and usurped the pantheon''s control, blocking the gods. The gods who knew couldn''t reveal it because of the chains that tie the divinity to the Grand Weave. From there, a dungeon spawned mind controllers ranging from tier one to tier three throughout the city and created a mass illusion while installing parasites inside their necks."
That''s it?
"Is that all?" I asked, letting my voice drip with sarcasm.
"No, but," he said as he leaned forward and more lashes cut the air. "The guard captain and the guards refused to tell me of you and Broken Tower''s involvement. The guildmaster I understood. The adventuring guild has always been an entity outside of the kingdom''s rule. But the guards? And so far as to refuse the order of their commander? That''s unheard of."
Oh. Elanor kept her promise.
"And what do I gain for revealing such information?"
Hubold answered for him and teleported away. A moment later he returned with a small chest. He placed it atop a table that materialized and spun it around so the lock was facing me.
Allaron motioned for the chest and I stayed waiting.
He sighed and waved his hand. The lock clicked and the chest opened revealing a small orb. One that I had seen inside a different vault, albeit atop a hoard of treasure.
My excitement was snuffed and I sank deeper into my beanbag.
"For the information, the real information; an evolution stone. I take it that''s an acceptable reward worth the price."
I wanted to laugh. And I almost did, but kept my cool. It was good that he couldn''t see my face or his eye would be twitching.
Out of all the things he could offer me, that was probably the least useful thing on this planet.
"I decline."
Allaron blinked, as did his attendant.
"Truly? Is this not enough?" he asked, suspicion coloring his voice.
I looked up, the truth skill continued to dye the ceiling a different shade.
Can''t lie, but I don''t have to tell the truth.
"The stone is worthless."
His eye twitched fiercely. It was rather comical.
He regained his composure and Hubold snapped the chest shut and teleported away. This time, he didn''t return, leaving me with the king trying to burn a hole through my disguise.
Allaron massaged his temples and leaned back. "Insanity spawns insanity."
Huh?
"Of course Anastasia and Nathaniel would bring me someone just as odd as them. Why can''t it be normal for a change," he groaned.
Now I felt bad.
He dragged his hands down his cheeks and sat up. "Unfortunately I am only allowed so much time to hide away. Have you made your choices, Strax?"
I stared at the major list and frowned. The choices were hard but I had someone in mind and I knew it would mesh well.
"I have," I replied.
"Good," he nodded. "Hubold is ready, what items do you want as your reward? The choice is final once made and any further interaction with items from the kingdom''s treasury can be discussed at an appropriate time."
It was all very official sounding and judging from Allaron''s tone, he found it annoying but still went through with it anyway.
"I want the skillstones, Rune Skald and Baneblood Immortal from the major list. For the minor list, I''ll take the skillstone Sovereign''s Warcry as well as the Fragment of the Stars," I declared.
Allaron nodded and stood up. Hubold appeared in a flash with four ornate chests. Two were made of silver and blue crystals engraved with dozens of enchantments, while the third was more mundane and made of simple iron. The fourth chest was entirely different; shaped like a cube and made of a shimmering stone that reminded me of the stars. A thick red chain held it tight as the chest itself emitted a sense of heaviness a few inches out.
Hubold stepped back and I walked forward tapping each chest and pulling the items into the storage ring I had underneath my gloves.
There was no way I was going to reveal Chomperz to them. He would be too recognizable and with the king''s resources he could find any number of people who saw him back in Edolus.
I cringed at the reminder of how naive and showboaty I acted several months back, but what''s done was done.
Before we left, I pulled my beanbag into the ring as well and joined the king as he walked towards one of the backwalls. Hubold placed his hand along the golden plate hung near waist level and channeled a river of mana into the plate.
The pin along my collar ringed in resonance and a glowing light appeared. From the light it split into two motes that swirled until a portal formed, revealing the throne room.
Before we left Allaron turned and held out his hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Strax. Mysterious you may be, a hero came and saved my people. For that you have my gratitude. If you ever come to the court to parley, I will ensure you are welcomed for as long as you continue to be friendly toward my kingdom."
I shook his hand and lowered my head. "I hope you enjoyed the time to relax. Life isn''t fun when it grinds you down without reprieve."
He roared with laughter and released my hand.
"Indeed."
He stepped through and Hubold stared, his attention glued to me like a hawk. I nodded his way and entered the portal, the world stretching from behind me this time around.
I appeared in the court and Allaron had returned to his throne, sitting patiently while a woman in stately clothes whispered in his ear.
He nodded and I turned to take my leave. As I did, the guardsmen to my right were bowled over in a wave of water as Nathan rushed toward me atop a bathtub. Anastasia was on his shoulders with her sword pointed forward charging an insane amount of mana at the tip.
Behind them, a red-faced man yelled obscenities while he charged in a wave similar to Nathan''s.
The earth rumbled and became mush behind him.
"Get back here!" he screamed.
Allaron groaned and dropped his head into his hands while I was snatched by Nathan''s muscular arms and tossed over his shoulder.
"Time to go!" he shouted.
Anastasia cackled and she fired a beam of light at the window that lit up with a glowing red spell circle. The enchantment baked in cracked and exploded outward in a pulse that floored the nearby guards.
Nathan carried us through the window, and my heart dropped to my stomach as we sailed past the mountain and into the city below.
Chapter 15: After the Escape
As we continued to plummet I turned and looked back at the castle. The red-faced man was screaming behind us before his face became too small to make out.
"What happened?" I screamed through the howling wind.
"A successful mission!" Anastasia roared.
Nathan flexed his mana and the wave sloped, carrying the bathtub across the sky and over the many roofs of tall buildings.
We even passed a tower-like restaurant that held many wide-eyed patrons. A woman screamed, and a few kids stood up and cheered with food-stained fingers as we sailed past.
Nathan tightened his grip around my waist and I had a premonition. As soon as the wave transitioned into a sharp ramp upward, I grabbed on for dear life and grit my teeth as we did a loop.
Anastasia stayed supernaturally glued to his shoulders and waved her sword in a dazzling display of fireworks that streamed behind us as we turned and sailed toward the manor.
I caught a glimpse of the long banner that unfurled in a wave of sparkling lights.
"Really?" I shouted while shaking my head. "Down with the tyranny of grumpy old men?"
"Exactly, Cyrus! We have to drive the point home!" Anastasia cheered.
The manor came into view and Nathan sped up.
Wait.
"Why are we speeding up?!"
The bathtub became a missile and Nathan jumped, carrying us above the manor while the tub impaled the ground before the gate and exploded in a hail of ceramic.
Nathan laughed as Anastasia cackled. The water around his feet shifted to behind his back and splayed out in a pair of watery wings that glimmered with rays of dazzling light once Anastasia added her mana.
We landed softly, too softly. Walter opened the door to the manor and bowed.
"Welcome back, sirs, madam. I take it the mission was a success?" Walter asked.
"Indeed, Walter!" Nathan replied as the water shattered, and the droplets snaked up his pants to rejoin somewhere inside his shirt.
Anastasia hopped off his shoulders and spun on pointed toes while she sheathed her sword. "We finally taught that old ass a lesson, he shan''t forget!"
"Good job, madam. Would you like me to fetch the celebration kit?"
"Splendid choice! Option three this time. We shall keep it light to savor the day."
Walter disappeared from one blink to the next and Nathan carried me inside. Teddy met us at the end of the hall, looking like he was battling a fierce migraine.
"Mother, father. Did you just crash a bathtub in front of the house?"
"We did!" they said together.
I waved at Teddy and he rolled his eyes while approaching. Nathan held me out like a parcel to be delivered, and I was exchanged from one shoulder to another.
"Goodbye, Cyrus! If you want a drink, we''ll be inside the dining room," Nathan called out before Teddy turned the corner.
I was taken down the stairs and into one of the training halls before Teddy gently placed me down.
"You know, I could get used to being carried like a sack of potatoes," I said while dusting myself off.
He glared and I removed my mask.
"Don''t encourage it," he said deadpanned.
"Hey, I wasn''t exactly given a choice as your dad grabbed me and your mom blasted through the window. What was I supposed to do?"
He groaned and flopped into a chair he summoned beneath him.
I pulled out some steaming-hot fries and a plethora of sauces as he tapped, waved his hand, and conjured a table.
He eventually sat up and dipped some fries into a sauce that tasted like mayonnaise mixed with spicy ketchup and sighed contentedly after chewing.
"Ever since they tiered-up they have upped their antics. And since they delivered the tier orb to the kingdom, the king can''t really stop them."
I shrugged and enjoyed the fries. "Don''t blame them. Sounds like fun, in that I''m insane and powerful sorta way."
He groaned again and I offered him a pitcher of lemonade.
"How was the meeting with the king? Thoughts on uncle Allaron?"
I removed the gloves and the earrings that hid my horns. Once the enchantment faded I sighed and relaxed on my beanbag.
"I''m not sure. It wasn''t exactly how I thought it would go."
"What do you mean? " he said between gulps. "Did something strange happen?"
I shook my head. "Not strange, but when we were inside the treasure vault, he seemed to relax. Not entirely, still on guard and constantly examining me. But he was just a man, one taking a break from the rigid court, or at least that''s how he seemed."
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
"He was probably being honest. From what I remember of him, he is a man of duty but he never wanted to be king. At one point, he was an adventurer just like my parents and uncle Brelten."
I searched my memories for the history of Solunaria. It was forever ago when Celenae made me study the kingdom''s past.
"He''s... the third son, right? And he became king just a little before you were born? Something about a tragic rift incident killing off the other heirs."
Teddy nodded. "Correct. Though from what I learned, it was probably in Solunaria''s interest that Allaron became the king and not Aulstin and Aeleon. They were not bad exactly but not the best fit."
"Mmmm. You know he really wanted to know what happened in Helio, but apparently Elanor and Panasia stood their grudge and kept everything hush hush."
"Elanor keeps her word, even against her father, "Teddy smiled. "And from what you said about Panasia, I''m not surprised."
"Oh, and get this, he tried offering a deal, giving me something in return for the unfiltered story. But he chose the worst possible item so I declined."
"What did he offer?"
"A skill evolution orb."
Teddy stopped his chewing and snorted small chunks of fries. My cheeks scrunched in disgust and I kicked the chunks away.
"Sorry, sorry. That''s just... he must have been serious about wanting that information to offer that up."
"Probably."
Silence elapsed as we chewed through the rest of the food and finished off the pitcher. When it was empty I ran mana through the handle and watched it fill up with the sweet, golden ambrosia.
I still haven''t thanked him for this. Then again, if he had told me about the replenishing enchantment, I could have had more lemonade.
"Cyrus," Teddy said, losing the easy cadence. "Are you okay?"
I blinked and frowned at the question. "What brought this on?"
He glared and I sighed.
"Fine, I''m not dumb I get it. And yes, I''m okay. It''s nice to know that everyone is worried for me, but I''m okay, I swear. It''s been a rough week, alright? And I got a lot of mental trauma to unpack at some point. But I''ll handle it."
The metaphysical chest inside Chomperz''s stomach came to mind, the chains wrapped around it slowly degrading until I reinforced it and pushed it deeper into the void.
"We''re here for you, you know that? I told you before that before we met you, we returned from an extended rift, the one that provided us Erebus'' skillstone," Teddy said, jarring me out of my thoughts.
"Vaguely, but yeah."
"It wasn''t a nice rift, Cyrus. There were some horrible things in there that required us to do even worse. When the rift was nearly over, we kept the boss alive on death''s door for two weeks just to gather ourselves. We all didn''t talk for a week straight once we left."
"Really?" I asked. "You guys never told me the details, just snippets about an undead horde."
"More than undead, they were just the major force. The cannibals, haunted woods, and more, added to the chaos. It isn''t something we liked to talk about, but we got over it together and came out stronger than the people who entered the rift."
"I can help with that if you want. Well, Galarion can, at least. You don''t have to give up all the memories, or even the memories at all, but the emotions to blunt the damage."
Teddy grimaced, his face turning sour. "No offense to Galarion, but that would be an insult to the people in the rift."
I smiled sympathetically, understanding the sentiment somewhat. "It was an offer, nothing more."
He sighed and rubbed his beard. "Have you been erasing your memories?"
"No, but he''s been helping me deal with the mental strain. The memory I''ve been avoiding since before Helio is eating away at its binding, like an angry dragon clawing its way out with burning claws."
"Cyrus?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Sorry, it keeps creating headaches that he''s siphoning away. But as I said, I''ll deal with it."
"Soon, deal with it soon."
"Yeah, yeah," I said.
In an effort to change the topic, I accessed the storage ring and pulled out the four chests.
He inspected each one, poking the metal and whistling softly. "I don''t know much about enchantments, but I can feel the power in the runes."
"I recognize a few, but it makes a nice gift to go along with the rewards."
"What did you choose?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but the training hall chimed.
My mouth curved upward. "Supernatural timing."
Teddy stood up and opened the door, revealing the rest of Broken Tower. They pushed past him and flooded into the room.
Celenae was going to say something but she dashed toward the chests and began sketching them down into a journal.
Isaac glared at the empty food wrappers and I rolled my eyes before tossing him some fries. Eodyne and Igas predictably held out their hands and I handed over the fried goods.
"I was eating at that restaurant you passed by. Was that really a bathtub?" Igas asked as he chipmunked the food.
"Yep," I nodded. "Don''t ask me why or how. I was a hostage."
"At least you were disguised. I''m sure the king will be receiving complaints for the next week."
Eodyne tapped one of the chests and ran her fingers along the metal. "Is it time?"
I stared at the chests and felt a strange pressure in my chest.
"I picked enough skillstones, Just need to absorb them and go through the contract rituals for the new summons."
"Are you excited?" Celenae said as she stopped sketching and smiled at me.
"In a way. Feels less real; it''s not like I had a normal adventuring life so far."
Isaac snorted. "You haven''t gone on a single quest. You''re barely an adventurer."
I blinked.
What?
"Quests? There are quests?"
Everyone in the room stopped and slowly turned till they stared at me with narrowed eyes.
"Cyrus..." Celenae sighed.
"Nobody told me there were quests. Could we have gotten paid hunting monsters back in Edolus?"
Teddy nodded.
I growled and flopped onto the beanbag. "Whatever. I don''t need quests. Just toss me into a rift. The Weave will give me one anyway."
"Let''s... Avoid that. Give it some time. Get to tier two first, perhaps?"
Igas pulled out the betting board and propped it against Teddy''s chair.
He stood back with his arms crossed and a piece of chalk in his hand. "I''m ready. What are we thinking?"
"The cake skill!" Isaac shouted.
Teddy scowled. "That''s just a rumor."
My eye twitched. I coughed into my hand and stopped the argument before it could start.
"I can confirm the cake skill is real."
Teddy deflated, as did Igas and Eodyne. As one, they pulled out a sack of coins and handed it over while Isaac summoned a clone just to high-five himself.
"I knew it was real," Igas grumbled.
I laughed and let the bets fly as I sat back and enjoyed the warmth of everyone being there. They all checked in on me in their own way, even Igas glancing in my direction and nodding while the arguments for what was inside the chests continued.
It was nearly thirty minutes later that Celenae slapped the betting journal onto the table that was summoned and listed off all the options.
"Enough, bets are set. There''ll be no more additions. Are we satisfied?"
They nodded while I continued to grin.
She pointed a pen in my direction. "Open chest number three. It has the most options."
I stood up and bowed dramatically while waving at the crowd. There were some boos thrown my way but a few rounds of applause and even some whistling.
"What a fine day we''re having, folks! Are we ready to begin?"
"Get on with it!" Isaac heckled.
I pouted. "Tough crowd."
Igas waved his hand and ice cubes rained down on the rogue''s head.
My pout disappeared, and I stepped before the mundane chest made of iron. I pressed my hand against the latch lock and channeled mana into the enchantments. The pin on my collar glowed and crumbled into dust that flowed into the lock and formed a golden key.
I shrugged and turned it, hearing a satisfying click as the chest popped open.
With deliberate slowness that drew more heckling, this time from Eodyne, I bent down and threw the lid open.
Instead of cheers and curses, I frowned as Broken Tower stared behind me with wide eyes.
I sensed him before he spoke, so I slowly turned around and waved.
"Hey, Cal. What''s up?"
Chapter 16: Mothers Worry
Cal clapped my shoulder and grinned wide enough that it looked like it hurt.
"I''m proud of you. Made some interesting choices I''m excited to see," he said.
"Any idea what''s up with this one skill? Skald is a term from Earth, right? Uh, old viking song people?"
He frowned. "More than that, but close enough for what you''re thinking. And the mana type is unrecognizable because it technically isn''t a type. It''s a special skillstone requiring a certain proficiency in runic knowledge. Don''t ask why. I didn''t think there were any skillstones like that on this world. The Weave changed the requirements near the start of this era."
"Will I be able to absorb it then?"
If it didn''t work and I wasted my choices, I was gonna be pissed.
"Your knowledge is sufficient."
I relaxed. Crisis averted.
"So why are you here?"
"One moment, Cyrus," Cal said as he walked past me and addressed Broken Tower. They were statues as they stared, but their mouths collectively dropped as Cal bowed low. "Thank you for taking care of him. I know it hasn''t been the easiest, so sincerely, thank you."
Isaac looked ready to scream while Igas tried to shrink himself. Teddy, Celenae, and Eodyne were too stunned to speak.
My eye twitched. "I''m not that bad!"
Cal shook his head and bowed lower. "Truly, I''m sorry. In the future, I am willing to return the kindness."
Celenae scrambled with her hands grasping the air. "No! That''s fine! It wasn''t a problem, I promise!"
Igas and Eodyne nodded vigorously as Isaac refused to look at Cal.
Only Teddy regained some of his composure and bowed low, copying Cal. "That is not required, sir. Cyrus is a valuable friend. Of course, we helped."
Cal stood up straight and smiled while turning back toward me. "I can''t stay for too long; the other gods will start to notice. Cyrus, I know you''re eager to absorb the skillstones and rank up, but do so inside a dungeon. The dungeon mana will mask your signature and prevent your ascension from being noticed."
"What happens when I evolve? And I still need time to rank the skills up,"
"Nothing too crazy, but Reborns evolve a little differently, and the divinity from being my scion as well as what you already absorbed risks being noticed by someone observant. There are more than a few eyes on the capital," he explained. "As for why to wait, even something as simple as completing your slots can send a pulse strong enough. Better to be careful.
"I thought being a Reborn meant I''d be fine when I evolved."
"You will be," he assured. "But you send out a mana pulse that warps the area, so best to keep it inside a dungeon that can mask and absorb the energy the Weave will put out. Just don''t return to the dungeon when you''re done."
I deflated. "Fine, I''ve taken this long. I can wait a little more."
Cal chuckled and shook his head. "You''re still vastly ahead of the curve. Even with your new passive you''ll need a few days to refine the dungeon energy you acquired."
"W-we can use the local dungeon. The Labyrinth is spacious enough that we shouldn''t have trouble entering. If we reserve a spot now, by the time you''re ready, we should be able to get in without issue," Celenae added.
"Good, nobody enjoys that dungeon, so you''ll be fine."
I crossed my arms. "Can I at least absorb some of the skillstones? Better to get them ranked up now than wait later."
"Just keep your tenth slot open until you''re inside the dungeon. And your mana control is advanced enough that ranking up will be easy. Some time spent in the dungeon with some fresh kills. I estimate it''ll take a couple of days before you''re ready to tier up," Cal said.
He patted me on the back and I felt mana gather, but before he left, I stepped in front of him.
"Has Eraztis said anything about my part of the deal?"
Cal frowned. "He''s trying. The goddess I used to scry for Sam is currently away. And he''s taking the deal seriously. Which means he''s collecting some things to help look for Sam. If she''s too far away, it''ll be nearly impossible to track her without going off-world and that''s not possible for Eraztis."
I hugged Cal and stepped away. "Later, Cal."
"I''ll see you soon, Cyrus. There''s something coming up that we need to talk about," he said seriously before giving a final pat on my shoulder and disappearing.
Once he left, there was a collective intake of breath behind me and I sighed.
"You''re all dramatic as hell."
Isaac threatened to beat me with the betting board, but thankfully the cheerful atmosphere returned, and I stepped in front of the chests to reveal who won and who owed money.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
I flipped open the chest and held up the skillstone for Sovereign''s Warcry.
"Who voted for a mass buff skill?"
Celenae and Teddy cheered while the others groaned and began their complaints.
My smile was half-hearted, but I added the tallies to the board and moved on to the next.
---------------
As Galarion extracted the memory, I toyed with an idea and waited till the woman stopped shaking. I let the memory play through my mind, taking in the horror show that she deleted.
It was rough, in the worst kind of way. The disgusting taste on my tongue caused a growl to build, and I ordered Galarion to devour it before I got too riled up.
"It''s gone. It''s really gone. I-I c-can''t," she started before bursting into tears.
Syrreisha was there and placed a comforting hand on her head, activating one of her skills as a firm but gentle warmth filled the room. It washed over me as well, taking away some of the stress created by the memory.
"How do you feel?" Syrreisha asked after stepping away and retaking her seat.
"Like I can breathe. I know of the memory; it''s still there, but I can''t taste the blood! I.." Illessoa broke down.
The cycle repeated until nearly an hour later, Illessoa bowed to the curtain and was escorted out of the room. Syrreisha returned the monitoring equipment to her storage device and pulled back the curtain.
"How are you doing yourself, Cyrus?"
I bounced Galarion in my hand before smooshing him into the back of my head. As I stood up I accepted the offered cup of tea and downed it, removing the acrid taste in my mouth.
"Good. That memory was awful, easily top five."
She sighed and set her cup down. "I wish you wouldn''t relive the memories. This one especially."
"Galarion already devoured it. I didn''t need that inside my head. I''ve seen some dark stuff, but that was too much."
"Well, we are finished for today. Will you be attending Charity Day this Satria?"
"Starts at six in the morning?"
"Yes. But you can come at whatever time you like, even if it''s only an hour before closing. Those who attend would appreciate it."
I finished the tea and stared at the setting sun. Two days since I absorbed the skills, another three days before I could enter the dungeon and absorb the last skillstone.
Waiting was surprisingly difficult but I kept myself distracted.
As I stood up I thought about tomorrow.
"Maybe. I can''t promise anything."
"Well if you do decide to come, I''ll help set up a privacy booth. Think about it. Very few healing skills can do what your little spirit can."
I gave a non-committed nod and said my goodbyes as I exited through a back entrance and escaped into the city.
As I left, I stopped at the usual food stalls and nabbed a few favorites for later. The food vendors recognized me enough that they practically had the food ready and bagged as soon as I stepped up.
It was good to be rich again. The amount of gold stored within each of the chests from the treasury totaled well over five hundred coins.
The others said it was a lot, but nowhere near the amount, I''d need to play with the big boys during the upcoming auction.
At least I wasn''t looking for anything in particular. Still, I splurged on food when I could. The snacks were good for an after-training cooldown, and there was only so much I could store in Chomperz.
Hopefully, evolving takes care of that.
"Cyrus?" a voice from behind called out.
I turned and saw Melza carrying a handful of groceries. Her hair was swept back into a ponytail, but it only revealed the dark bags under her eyes.
She looked rough, and I froze.
"I thought I recognized those horns," she said.
I motioned to a nearby bench and we sat down, shielded from the light traffic flowing through the street.
When she sat down, she nearly collapsed, and the bag almost slipped. I reached out and grabbed it, setting it to the side while I examined her closely.
She was thinner than before and her eyes were bloodshot.
Fuck.
"Thank you. Sorry, it''s been rough lately," she chuckled.
It sounded pathetically hollow.
"It''s not a problem. When was the last time you''ve eaten anything?"
She lost her smile and gripped her wrist. "Oh, I had a light breakfast."
I summoned an edible bowl filled with steaming soup. It was packed with protein and veggies, but still light enough that it wouldn''t upset her stomach by downing it.
"Here," I offered.
"Oh no, Cyrus, it''s fine," she protested.
She stopped after I pushed it into her hand and pulled back, forcing her to accept the food. Her mouth twitched with a ghost of a smile before she lightly sipped at the broth.
Once the first gulp was down, she closed her eyes and exhaled. The bowl crunched under her grip, but she pulled back and took another sip.
"Thank you," she said as she swallowed. "This is pretty good."
"A little on the expensive side, but the old man who makes it sells out every day."
She finished the bowl and I offered her a drink that she accepted without protest.
For several minutes, we watched the crowd and I cursed in the back of my head. Galarion rose from his food coma, but I quieted him and continued to smile.
"Cyrus, can I ask you a question?" Melza whispered.
"Sure."
"You borrowed a sword from my husband a few days ago. And you said you''d be back. Was..." she swallowed and took a second to breathe. "That was because of Lezka, right? Sereza and she reassured us he was alive but she couldn''t tell me any details. Tell me, please, is my son alright?"
Fuck.
"Melza, do you want to head back to the shop? I can carry the groceries and-"
She shook her head. "Please tell me. I need to know. Please."
I clicked my fangs.
If Sereza didn''t tell her, it was for a good reason. But seeing how poor the woman''s health was made me rethink about keeping things vague.
"Listen, let''s get you home and I can explain some things there."
Melza tried to argue, but I already stood up. She had no choice but to follow and I took the short walk to the crafting district to sort my thoughts.
By the time we entered the main entrance and stepped inside, Melza looked ready to attack me if I didn''t answer.
"Mother? I can do the cooking tonight. You should rest," Ernor called out. He blinked when he saw me, and his eyes widened. "Oh! Cyrus. My apologies."
I shook my head and set the groceries on the counter. "No problem. I ran into Melza and wanted to help."
He frowned and glanced at his mother who was trying to burn a hole through the back of my head.
"Mother?" Ernor asked.
"Where is my son? Please tell me," she almost growled.
I opened my mouth to speak, but noise from downstairs stopped us. Judging from Ernor''s narrowed eyes, the noise was unexpected.
He took a step toward the stairs, but a mop of dark green hair popped up.
I waved at Sereza, who waved back.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I got done at the healers guild and met Melza. You?"
"Aaah. Uhm. Well, it''s good that you''re here. I wanted to ask you something."
"Cyrus, please!" Melza interrupted.
Her eyes were full of unshed tears, and she was shaking. Ernor rushed over and hugged her, but she fought him and moved closer.
Sereza placed a hand on her shoulder. "Melza, it''s okay."
Melza shrugged her off. "Just tell me about my son. That''s all I need."
Sereza glanced at me. "Fine. But let''s sit you down first. And Cyrus, I was going to ask you about tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? You mean the deadline?"
She shook her head. "No. Tomorrow, we''re raiding the Underground. I was going to ask if you''re coming."
My chest tightened and another headache lashed a tendril across my skull.
I gritted my teeth and balled my fists before Galarion siphoned the mental pain away.
"Cyrus?"
Fuck.
Chapter 17: The Underground
I spun my spear and ran a finger along the blade. The bone pushed at my skin but it only cut after I applied pressure.
"Are you sure?" Teddy asked.
I glared.
He sighed and pulled out a ring. I recognized it, a similar one having saved my life not too long ago.
"Will you at least wear this?"
"You think it''ll be that bad?" I countered.
"I don''t know. But it could be. Even with Isaac and Sereza, the Underground is filled with opportunists."
"How''s that any different from the rifts I''ve been in? I''m pretty sure most monsters don''t give a shit."
"Fine," Teddy grumbled. "It''d be easier on us knowing you had a lifeline."
"Igas broke his. Give it to him."
"Igas is a bruiser with an armor skill."
I weaved my mana and Chomperz appeared, sucking in the potions and my spear. He slipped in and out, in less than three seconds.
"Listen, I already said no. I''m already abusing your parent''s kindness," I said. Before Teddy could speak, I slipped on my mask and adjusted the colors. "The food and board I can accept. I''ve already taken enough from them with the earrings. Give it a rest."
Teddy frowned but tucked the ring away. "Fine. But remember that we''re the tanks."
I agreed and followed him to the living room. The others were there, geared up and under disguises. Eodyne''s hair was straight and blonde, and Isaac stayed covered from head to toe. Igas was a beastkin somehow, and Celenae looked like a man.
"I don''t like this," Eodyne grumbled.
Igas snorted. "At least you''re not fluffy. Why am I a cat?"
"Where''s Sereza?" I asked, ignoring their complaints.
"At the restaurant, reserving a booth," Celenae answered.
"We good to go?"
Teddy flushed out the ring and tossed it to Igas. He caught it but turned and glared in my direction.
"Cyrus," he growled.
I moved past him and headed for the door.
Isaac sidled up, his mouth annoyingly close to my ear.
"Tendrils?" I asked, deadpanned.
Isaac huffed. "Why are you being a stubborn ass, Mask?"
"I already explained. Fuck off."
"Put it on and I will."
"Or I won''t, and you can shut up."
He grasped my shoulder and forced me to stop. "If you didn''t nearly die all the time, I would."
I glared and bared my fangs. "You''re the lead. Don''t lead us into a fight if you''re so worried."
I shrugged him off and continued down the path. It was morning, so there weren''t many people walking about. Those who were ignored us, and the occasional glances showed little interest in our group.
Thanks to the enchantments, our armor was hidden under a pair of dull clothes that didn''t attract the eye.
The restaurant wasn''t too far and as we neared, I spotted a beastkin version of Sereza. It had her face, but the fluffy tail and green fur clashed with the person I knew.
She nodded as we stopped near the door. "This is weird."
"How does it feel?"
"Like nothing. But I keep seeing my reflection in the windows. Drying my hair is enough of a problem as is. Imagine the dried blood in all that fur."
The others stopped and Teddy waved.
"Is the booth ready?" Teddy asked.
"Yes," Sereza nodded. "It''ll be a tight fit, but the entrance is open, just need to head inside."
"Good. Tendrils, take point."
Isaac muscled past Sereza and grunted as he pushed the door open. The beastkin waitress from last time was there, but she averted her gaze and moved to serve a couple demanding drinks.
We piled into the same booth Isaac was in during his talk with the gang. He went first, followed by Teddy then Igas. Sereza and I entered next, with Celenea and Eodyne taking up the rear.
On the way down, I recognized an alert rune hidden around the lip of the entrance. Isaac had already flared his mana, actively flashing the black-dagger pin in his hand.
We were currently in the sewers section, the smell thankfully contained by enchantments that ran along the edge of the stone pathways.
As I inspected the enchantments, mana flared to the far right and I paused. I didn''t see anything different, but mana flickered and died, originating from inside the shadows.
"You have ten seconds to explain," came a female voice.
I stared at the shadows and pointed a finger. The others turned and stared as a woman dressed in all black emerged from the corner.
Only her eyes were exposed and they glared in my direction.
"Eight seconds," she said.
"I''m sponsoring them. They''re here for the market," Isaac answered. He tossed a separate pin and crossed his arms. "Do yourself a favor and fuck off. This isn''t guild business."
A swell of mana engulfed the tunnel behind the woman. It tasted of ash and cold smoke. It was strong enough to distort the area behind her like a heatwave.
"Push your luck, idiot. Give me an excuse," she growled.
Isaac stayed silent, but he continued to glare. Eventually, the woman pocketed the pin and tossed him a different one.
"You''re approved. But leave within three hours, or I''ll hunt you down. Is that clear?"
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Isaac snorted. "Don''t need to tell me twice."
She continued to watch him, before eventually she turned and stepped back into the corner where her mana activated and carried her away.
I tracked her for about a second. The shadowplane hid her signature and whisked her away, throwing her downward, at least according to my senses.
After a minute, Isaac slumped forward.
"Fuck," he muttered.
"What''s wrong?" Teddy asked.
"She''s a tier three. Shadowheart. She''s an expert smuggler and hitman, not a guardsman."
"Should we expect any trouble?"
Isaac shook his head. "No, at least I hope so. She''s twice as fast as I am and is nearly impossible to pin down. We should avoid her at all costs."
"Alright. Lead the way. Quick in and out."
Sereza flicked her tail. The illusion blurred, revealing a sliver of her true tail before the fur solidified and reformed.
"We have to stop at the market first. She might come back if we don''t."
"She''s right," Isaac growled. "Come on, we''ll visit the food stall. Buy something, don''t eat it. Then we''ll head toward the Pit."
Isaac led the way through a series of turns before he stopped at a blank wall. He slammed his hand onto a hidden indent near the floor as mana pulsed and was sucked into the wall.
The hidden door slid upward and revealed a bustling undercity road filled with people. We bumped shoulders as we marched through the crowd. Some avoiding us others glaring in our direction..
There was a hell of a lot more than I expected. Well over a hundred individuals were in the underground cavern. Some talked, others fiddled with something to the side. But the majority of the space was taken up by large market stalls.
Some sold questionable food; others hawked enchanted gear of varying quality.
Whenever someone would look our way, they''d take one look at Isaac and back off. It was hard to notice at first but it wasn''t Isaac himself, rather the glowing pin he had on.
Quickly, he led us to the cleanest stall inside the market, one of the few not dripping with juices and covered in mystery stains. I had no idea what animal the bright neon-yellow meat came from, but it was deep-fried and covered in spices.
Isaac tossed five silvers.
The food vendor smiled with broken teeth. "Scorched or Murdered."
"Murdered," Isaac replied.
The vendor slammed open the metal hatch and released a green fog that wafted upward. Nine sticks. He shoved them into the fryer and pulled them out every five seconds to douse them in a different colored spice. With the fourth dip, the meat was no longer yellow, but rather a trash green.
He tossed the skewers into a paper bag that instantly dripped with oil, staining the road before chuckling. "Come back when you''re hungry for more!"
Isaac ignored him and we moved on, spending the next three minutes in silence till he slid between an alley and stopped behind a stone building.
He sniffed the meat and retched. "Skelter Rats. Fucking disgusting."
A tendril rose and grabbed the dripping bag before launching it across the cavern.
"Right. We''ve been here long enough. The Pit is inside the tavern. If someone tries to pickpocket you, stab their hand. If they threaten your life, break their bones. Got me?"
"That bad?" I asked.
Sereza shuddered. "I had a bodyguard for a reason. If you don''t, you''ll get jumped."
"The Pit is where the civility dies, and the blood flows. Not the time to be a meek bitch."
"Understood. Lead the way," Teddy ordered.
Isaac pointed to the side alley to our right and headed in that direction.
I frowned. There was something near the broken crate.
Without waiting, I pulled out the knife strapped to my waist and threw it. It sailed through the air before puncturing the thin wood.
A screech erupted and something small jumped toward the side. It crawled along the wall, but a ghostly green dagger pierced its shell and pinned it to the stone.
The creature exploded in a wave of gold blood that turned to dust before it reached the ground.
"A summon?" I asked.
Isaac nodded. "No more questions. Whoever was the summoner knows of its death. They''ll investigate soon enough."
He slid through an alley and led us toward the largest building inside the underground cavern. It was made of stone and roots shaped more like a giant potato.
A burly beastkin stood guard. His snout had half its jowl torn off, exposing snarling metal teeth.
He took one look at Isaac''s pin before grunting and stepping to the side. "Hands to yourself."
Before he could look away, Isaac moved and appeared underneath the man. Shadows rose from beneath them and wrapped themselves around his leg, each one holding a black knife.
The bear beastkin froze.
"Shut it and forget we were here. Don''t, and I''ll take your eyes. Got it?" Isaac whispered.
The bouncer nodded slowly, not daring to breathe.
Isaac stomped, his shadows retracting before he pushed the beastkin aside and motioned for us to follow.
I blinked at the display. It had been awhile since I saw Isaac threaten someone.
Murder is a good look on him.
We entered in formation, drawing the eyes of several patrons inside the filled tavern. Beastkins, elves, and humans; they littered every table and clutched onto their mugs.
At the bar, a tall female beastkin stood out like a sore thumb, dressed in an immaculate suit.
Isaac stepped past a drunk elf who slumped to the floor and placed his palm on the counter.
"Underside."
The bartender nodded and reached a hand underneath the wood. Something clicked to the left and he walked away, mixing a drink for a different patron.
Near the stairs, a side panel had opened up. A black haze blocked the opening, but Isaac stepped through without stopping.
As soon as I shoved my head past the illusion, the world roared to life. A cacophony of noise echoed throughout the cavern.
Isaac had briefed us on what to expect. Dirt-covered ground, a crowd of people that looked ready to slit your throat, it was exactly as he described.
Another roar erupted, and I turned toward the massive colosseum that stretched beyond the tall walls. Numerous light orbs were attached to the sides. It looked like a crappy Christmas tree.
We didn''t stay and gawk. As soon as we were all through, he rushed for a low wall and pushed through a second illusion.
On the other side, he stopped and pulled a map out of his dimensional storage.
"The gang''s base is two blocks east," Isaac said.
"But his memory shows Desolace," Sereza said.
"Gang first," Teddy said. "As long as we take out their leader, they''ll listen."
"Only because Rex keeps them stupidly loyal," Isaac muttered.
"Doesn''t matter why. We can handle him even if he is tier three."
"Mask, summon," Teddy said as he activated his auras.
His buffs flooded my body in a wave of light before Teddy flexed his fingers and turned the aura invisible.
My mana split and rushed into three. Zharia, Magnus, and Sturmrorex emerged from my chest as my skills activated.
My familiars hid underneath my clothes, Zharia and Sturm snuffling under the bulk of my hood while Magnus was held in the secret pocket sewn into my robe.
Of course, as soon as he settled in, I could feel the desire to sleep from Magnus. I pressed down, booping his nose.
"After. Need you to be alert," I said.
Magnus groaned. "But it''s comfortable."
"I''ll peck your ear!" Zharia warned.
Magnus raised his head and pressed it against the cloth while closing his eyes.
"Thank you."
Zharia preened, and Sturmrorex pouted as he constricted tighter around my neck.
But they didn''t complain, and I took position behind Teddy and Igas.
Celenae was last followed by Eodyne and Sereza flanking her.
We slipped out of the alley and marched into another. This time, we weaved through a winding path of turns and corners until we stopped before a building made entirely out of black wood.
So far the Underground had been simultaneously disappointing and more than I expected. It really was an underground den for people on the shady side, but there was a surprising level of refinement.
Somehow, I expected true slums, the kind of dirt and filth that lined the streets and marred the walls. But people kept to themselves, mingled where they wanted, and kept their tones hushed.
Then again, with a gatekeeper, I should have expected a level of organization, even if it was the underbelly of the city.
"Sense anything?"
Magnus covered his nose with his paw. "Blood."
I sniffed the air. Besides the stale air and fungus growing on the nearby wall, I couldn''t smell what overwhelmed Magnus'' nose.
He pawed my chest and shook his head. "Mana."
This time, I closed my eyes and shut out the world. There was something there at the edge of my perception, but that was it.
"Cy-Mask. What do you notice?" Teddy asked.
"Magnus says there is blood."
"I don''t smell anything," Sereza whispered.
"Not smell," I said. "It''s mana. Does anyone use blood skills?"
"Not in Rex''s gang. He despises it," Isaac replied.
"Keep on your toes. Tendril, scout the area. Rain go high."
Isaac slipped into the floor and Eodyne scaled a nearby building.
We proceeded, and Magnus'' unease grew. Slowly, the mana became more obvious, and I could taste the blood on my tongue. It was heavy, and viscous¨Ca cloying strangling corruption that clawed at your flesh.
Something''s wrong.
I grabbed Igas'' shoulder. "The mana is getting stronger."
"I can feel it," he replied.
Mana flared from his chest and ice grew over the illusion. His armor formed and he pulled out his sword while keeping his gaze locked onto the building.
"Kick the door down?"
Teddy activated another aura; one centered around Igas specifically. "Do it."
Igas raised his foot and slammed into the door, shattering the wood. Shrapnel flew and the blood scent exploded outward.
Magnus groaned, and I summoned my spear. But nothing attacked.
Instead, a hollow, weak laugh rumbled from inside.
Isaac appeared, pushing past Igas as he rushed in.
"Urry!"
Urry raised her head, half her face missing, revealing her teeth and bloodshot eye.
"It''s too late, Dawnborn. We fucked up," she spat.
As Isaac reached her, her head slumped and joined the stagnant pool of blood on the floor.
"Urry!"
Chapter 18: Shadow vs Shadow
Isaac lifted her head and slapped her good cheek.
She didn''t respond.
He began shaking her, but Teddy gripped his shoulder and shook his head.
"She''s gone," Teddy said softly.
Isaac continued to hold her, but Igas helped set her down as Isaac stood up.
"I''ve known her since we were kids. She''s an idiot and cocky, but not a monster," he whispered.
"I remember. She brought you to my house when you were knocked out."
He stared at Urry and then panned over to examine the rest of the corpses. Most were hardly what you could call a body. The limbs were ripped off; their flesh had exploded, leaving behind a puddle of gore. Those who were intact were pale and drained, clear signs of exsanguination.
"Mask?"
"Magnus?"
"Right. Inside room."
I pointed to the open doorway. It was a small room, no bigger than your average closet. Two bodies were in there, a beastkin and a human.
"Recognize any of them?"
"No. I haven''t been to their base in years," Isaac said. "What do you sense?"
Magnus poked his head out of my collar and growled. "Dense."
"Shield. Cover it. Tendril, set it off," Teddy ordered.
Isaac created a clone and it approached while Celenae conjured a barrier. She added a second layer before she nodded toward Isaac.
The clone reached down and tapped the body.
Magnus roared and the body exploded.
Gore splattered the barrier, coating it in red paint with bits of bone and meat. She snapped her fingers, and the first barrier shattered, letting the gore fall to the floor.
The entire closet was nothing more than shrapnel and blood.
"What was that?" Sereza asked.
Another clone appeared and we waited, but no matter what the clone did, nothing else happened.
Isaac dismissed the clone and stared.
"A trap or a side effect," Teddy muttered. "Sense anything else?"
Magnus nodded and pointed a paw deeper into the building.
"Tendril, send a clone to Rain. Ask if she noticed anything."
Isaac didn''t respond, instead, he stared at the door leading deeper inside.
Igas slid in front of him and crossed his arms. "Stuff it for later. We got a job to do."
Instead of replying, Isaac tugged on his hood and sank into the floor. A clone rose and took his place before it dashed out of the building.
Teddy sighed and flared the mana around his shield. "Worry about him later. He''s around."
With Teddy in the lead, he pushed deeper. Igas was our guard, while I had Magnus constantly check for mana. It was nearly impossible with the mana being all the same, but Magnus was able to detect when a corpse had more than the others.
Every corpse was set off by Sereza''s spectral daggers. Celenae blocked the explosions as we systematically moved through the rooms.
The last hallway, Isaac finally appeared. He silently pushed open the door, revealing a room covered in blood¨Clike the rest.
It coated the walls, floors and ceiling. But not in a splatter of dismemberment.
Magnus growled, and he siphoned mana from the air.
From the link, It was like a grain of sand compared to what was inside.
"There''s a lot of mana inside the room. More than Magnus can absorb."
"Rex is inside," Isaac said. "I assume he''s the bomb?"
I reached with my mana sense and was pulled toward the center where a strangely whole corpse lay. Unlike the others with various levels of dismemberment, a knife was stuck into the man''s chest.
"We should leave," Celenae warned.
Teddy looked to Isaac, but he remained silent.
Sereza crossed her arms. "This is the Underground. Warn the beastkin at the bar, and he''ll notify people. Probably a Gatekeeper."
"Gatekeeper?" I asked.
"Like the woman at the entrance."
"We could set it off," Igas countered.
"And risk harm to ourselves for no reason. Nobody is alive, and we still have one more stop. Let''s get out of here," Teddy said.
Igas waited until Isaac turned away, positioning himself between him and the door.
I stared into the room. Something about the symbols drawn along the circle looked familiar.
"Mask?" Sereza said. "What''s wrong?"
I clicked my fangs and shrugged. "Nothing. The room looked a little familiar, that''s all."
"Was it in the memory?"
"Nah. Let''s go. Hopefully, the kid is okay."
"He better be," she muttered.
We did a double-check, running through each of the exploded rooms before we exited the building.
Teddy turned to Isaac. "Tell Eodyne to follow but stay hidden."
Isaac nodded, but as he began to sink into Teddy''s shadow, a tendril sprouted and flung him back. A barrier appeared and intercepted the curling whip that cracked the air above where Teddy stood.
Teddy flared his skills, and Igas stomped, creating a field of ice underneath. Sereza pulled out her daggers and I gripped my spear.
The Gatekeeper''s whip retracted, snaking around her arm as she stepped out of the crack in the wall. "Explain yourselves."
Teddy slammed his shield down, cracking the stone. "Why did you attack me?"
"I won''t ask again," she shouted. "Last chance. Comply, or I''ll rip off your limbs."
"You have the wrong idea," Teddy warned.
"So be it," she smiled.
A wave of black rose behind her, bathing the area in swirling fog. As the shadows solidified, a dozen glowing red eyes appeared, hovering at head height.
The shadows condense and black-bone limbs materialized along with varying weapons and armor. The skeletons pointed their weapons forward while the Gatekeeper sank into the ground.
She appeared on Celenae''s right, but an electric bolt shot forward, exploding as it passed through her arm. She appeared twenty feet away with smoke rising up her wrist.
"Smart. No holding back," she said.
More arrows flew, and Teddy activated more enchantments, forcing the skeletons to look his way. Those that managed to resist his taunt were launched into the air by an ice pillar.
"Sturmrorex, Zharia. Now!" I commanded.
My familiars flew out of my hood and unleashed on the shadow army.
But as one was taken down, another would reform and charge.
Mana flared, and I dived, flicking my spear behind me as I did.
The woman tsked again and appeared behind Sereza. The felkin turned into a cloud and avoided the grab.
More arrows zipped toward the woman''s direction and she retreated.
I moved toward Celenae and she placed a barrier behind our backs.
"Sturmrorex," I ordered. "Guard Eodyne."
"She''ll suffer before I allow harm!" Sturmrorex roared.
Sereza stepped up and sliced forward, sending daggers into the squad assaulting Igas.
"Where''s Isaac?" I asked.
Celenae slammed her staff and launched Teddy up who fell like a meteor and sent out a wave of blinding light.
"Chasing her," she said as she conjured another barrier.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
I watched as the woman constantly teleported with Isaac a step behind. Occasionally, a tendril would lash out, but she expertly defended herself.
Her whip split into nine and cracked the air explosively. Isaac dived and rose from Celenae''s shadow. His sleeve was in tatters as blood soaked the cloth.
"She''s holding back," he spat.
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Don''t know. Something''s wrong. She shouldn''t attack us like this without a reason."
Mana flared, and I slammed my spear to Sereza''s right. The woman grunted as my blade cut her forearm.
She snapped a kick, knocking my spear away. As she jumped, an arrow bent behind her and accelerated before she could enter the shadow.
The arrow exploded and she rolled into Celenae''s barrier.
Igas launched forward, hopping off a pillar and brought his blade down.
She lowered her arms and whistled.
Shadows rose and swallowed the area. Celenae''s barrier shattered, and Igas was flung into the fog. Sereza became a cloud and hovered behind me while Celenae was dragged below.
"Magnus!" I shouted.
My familiar opened his mouth and inhaled the shadows. As he devoured the tide, the shadows bent around us, creating an island amongst the endless darkness.
Teddy stumbled behind us and slammed his shield down. "Cover your eyes."
I looked away as his hand became a beacon. Mana rushed forward into a beam of light that scattered into rainbows through the glass shield.
The opposing mana types clashed. The shadows fought back, hissing as if burned, but Teddy continued to pour more of his mana into the skill and stepped forward.
"Aaagh!" the woman screamed.
The shadows retreated, and Teddy sank to his knees. Zharia zipped to my shoulder and stared ahead.
"Don''t move, or I will gut her. That includes you, archer!"
The fog cleared.
Celenae was in the woman''s grasp, a dagger to her throat. The woman''s form was more visible. The black leathers burned away, revealing pale skin underneath.
"Why are you attacking us?" Teddy shouted.
The dagger drew blood, and Celenae froze. "Don''t play stupid. I saw what you did to the other gangs."
Other gangs?
"It wasn''t us!" Sereza yelled.
"Lie to me and I gut her. Last chance," the woman threatened.
Teddy stood up slowly but kept his hands to his side. Igas groaned and sat up, but Teddy shook his head.
"Calm down. We were here to interrogate. We didn''t do whatever it is you''re talking about."
"Dragonshit. I can smell the blood."
"Wasn''t us. We''re here for someone else."
Her eyes narrowed but she kept the dagger close. Celenae didn''t breathe while fat, crimson droplets trickled down.
She tsked and adjusted the knife, but as she did, Isaac''s daggers stabbed into her neck.
His clothes were gone, replaced by a void that covered his body like ink. It rippled and swayed along with six tendrils, all pointed toward the woman.
"Move, and you die. Kill her, and I''ll torture your soul for eternity," he said, his voice cold steel that hummed through the air.
"Dawnborn. I recognize you. You''re only tier two," she said.
"Last chance," he growled.
She stared, her hair whipping behind her. Isaac''s tendrils pushed against her skin and she sighed.
Her dagger slipped, and Celenae conjured a barrier. In an instant, the barrier flashed and took her hand. She yelped, but Isaac stabbed his tendrils into her arms and legs, pinning her to the ground.
Despite the damage, she looked up and glared. "Kill me, and the Underground will hunt you down."
"Don''t tempt me with a good time," Isaac chuckled.
His voice was flat, and his eyes were swirling voids that sucked in the light from Teddy''s mace.
"What happened to the other gangs? Talk, or the next one goes through your stomach."
She grinned. "I don''t answer to you. Fuck off-"
Blood sprayed the stone as his tendril wormed its way through her body. He crouched and placed his daggers on both sides of her head.
"I''m not in a good mood. Talk. Or don''t."
She licked her teeth and spread the blood across the enamel. It dripped out and joined the pool growing beneath her.
"The Lords will enjoy selling your bodies to the market," she laughed before a deluge of blood spilled out.
Her whip unfurled and sliced toward Celenae, but Isaac''s dagger pushed through her ear.
Yet, as it did, her head exploded in a wave of shadow and she grabbed his leg and flung him into the wall. Her body moved faster than Celenae could pin her down.
When she reformed, Eodyne''s arrow beelined for her head, but her body became fog and she reformed on her knees, panting.
The arrow continued through the building and she stood up and laughed. As she did, she crushed something inside her palm and flung the dust.
"Too late now. I suggest you run little rats."
She gripped a marble in her other hand and examined us all. She paused on each of our faces before wiping her mouth.
"The disguises won''t do a thing. Your mana signature has been recorded," she chuckled. "It''s too late. They''ll be here any mome-"
Mana rushed forward and I flinched as the smell of blood drowned out my other senses.
"Master!" Magnus roared.
Mana was sucked away and I blinked as my vision returned.
The Gatekeeper was lifted into the air by a stream of blood stretching from inside the gang building. It formed crystal claws that dug into her neck and crushed her throat, maintaining form even as she swiped her arms through the stream.
She was raised further into the air. Glowing sigils scratched themselves into existence around her body and began to spin.
Her eyes met mine. She screamed and crushed the second marble.
Reality warped. A shockwave tore her body apart, spattering the blood limb before reality bent and twisted. It splintered into fragments that spun in opposite directions, trailing strips of the world away.
The void appeared.
A second shockwave knocked everyone to the ground.
I fell onto Sereza and we went down. Magnus managed to grip my robe as he battled the mana rushing through the hole in reality.
But another shockwave came and the others were ripped away before I could react. A force grabbed my legs, but Magnus sucked it away until he collapsed.
"Damnit!" I yelled.
My spear stabbed into the stone and we held for a second before we slid closer. Sereza staked her daggers and wrapped her legs around my waist while I reinserted my spear.
"Magnus! Zharia! Fire!"
Golden flames torrented out of Zharia''s mouth while Magnus raised his head and released a wave of shadows.
The mana collided, freeing us from the pull as I pushed us backward.
"Hold on! It''s fixing itself!" I yelled.
But as I did, a fountain of blood condensed and hardened into a long arm that wrapped around us. I had enough time to watch Eodyne blitz through the air before we were dragged into the portal.
Chapter 19: Bloody Encounter
The world stretched my insides, but I flexed and my mana solidified, resisting the tearing chaos that was the transportation between dimensions.
Magnus and Zharia were protected in my arms, and they hunkered down.
I scrunched up, keeping Sereza''s legs trapped and attached.
I wouldn''t let go.
We zipped through the whirling colors until the light flashed and the stretching stopped. The limb wrapped around us continued to pull forward, forcing us into a roll across solid ground.
Magnus bit down, and sucked in the mana, while Zharia sank her talons into the appendage and released a torrent of flames.
The arm expanded like a balloon before it blew up and coated us in sizzling liquid. We rolled and I held out my arm to stop us.
Snap!
My wrist broke and I swallowed the yelp while Sereza banged her horns into my back.
"Fuck!" I spat.
"I heard something break," Sereza whispered.
"Yeah, my fucking arm."
I channeled my mana and weaved it into Verdant Healer. ¨¢ine appeared and slapped her hands onto my chest. Her skill activated and mana rushed to repair the broken bone.
After it was healed, I had her heal Sereza while I stood up and brandished my spear.
We were alone.
The portal had spit us out in the middle of an empty square. Abandoned buildings surrounded all sides, dilapidated and in varying states of ruin.
"See anything?" Sereza asked as she stood up.
"Master! Are you okay?!" Sturmrorex shouted in my head.
"Yes. How''s Eodyne and the others?"
"Eodyne is good. Others are gone! Where are you?!"
"Unknown, still in the Underground. Protect Eodyne."
Sturmrorex''s worry bled through the link, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.
"On my honor!" he agreed.
I exhaled and watched ¨¢ine heal the rest of Sereza''s injuries. Broken pinky and, effectively, road rash on her arms, it was healed within seconds as the little fairy pumped her full of mana.
When she was done, ¨¢ine rushed into my hoodie and secured herself behind my neck while Magnus stood by my feet and Zharia clutched my shoulder.
I scanned the area, even closed my eyes and tried to sense for mana signatures.
"No," I said. "I sense nothing."
"What in the hells? We''re still in the Underground, but I don''t recognize where."
Sereza placed her back to mine and we circled slowly, but a minute went by and nothing attacked us.
"Magnus? Do you feel anything?" I asked.
Magnus shook his head.
"Zharia, be careful, but go scout."
"On it!" she chirped.
She took off and I closed my eyes.
"Look-out?"
"Yes."
"Got it."
Zharia flew up past the rows of destroyed buildings, but not before zipping outside the windows and checking each floor.
It was a long shot, but the enemy could be hiding anywhere.
The first quarter to our left was barren, the buildings in an even worse state than the ones near us. The northern quarter had a massive crater leading into an abyss so I had her ignore it and move on.
Where the hell are you?
"Go east," I instructed.
Zharia flew up and crested above a tall tower-like structure before she stopped.
"Master!"
"I see it, come back, we''ll-"
Zharia squawked as something heavy bound her wings tight and dragged her to the ground.
"Zharia!"
I canceled the skill, and my soul was yanked as mana rushed toward me.
"Cyrus?" Sereza asked.
I grunted as Zharia''s weight slammed into my chest, the ethereal mana-like jagged edges of glass.
"Zharia was captured. Robed dude in a blood circle to the east." I panted. "Shadow lady by his feet."
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
"The Gatekeeper is still alive? Why? Why grab her?" Sereza scowled.
"No idea, but I think she was the target. We were simply collateral."
"Engage or retreat?"
I licked my lips and rubbed at my chest. ¨¢ine tried to heal, but it didn''t help.
I didn''t recall my familiars when they were far away for a reason; I knew instinctively that it''d fuck me up and strain my soul.
"Up to you."
She bit her lip and her tail lashed the air. "I don''t like it. I want to know, but we shouldn''t be stupid. Let''s retreat for now and try to regroup with the others. If we can''t find them, we go to Teddy''s parents."
I wanted to skewer the bastard, but she was right.
"Fine, let''s go."
She patted my shoulder and reached down to scoop up Magnus.
"If you''re hurt, I''ll carry him. Let''s get out of here."
We made it to the edge of the square before I sensed a pillar of mana to our right. Magnus roared and I dived, slamming Sereza to the ground.
A massive, clawed hand swiped through the air.
Magnus slashed with his claws and sent out five lines of crimson energy. They impacted the forearm of the creature, but instead of damaging it, the slashes rippled and were sucked away.
What?
The creature was bipedal and huge. It stood over seven feet with shoulders wider than me and Sereza combined. Two clawed hands, each claw the size of our fist, dragged across the floor. it stared with a gaping maw.
It had no eyes, only a stretch of bright red skin across a bulbous face.
I rolled to my right and slashed forward. The blade of my spear sliced through its arm but was stopped halfway as it impacted something hard.
Damnit.
Sereza was up, and she sent a salvo of spectral daggers that were absorbed.
She pulled on my robe and lifted me up while moving backward. Magnus was at our feet but he kept his energy contained.
We backed up, but the creature didn''t move.
"Surround and destroy?"
"My attacks did no damage."
I sent mana into Galarion''s skill and he appeared. He kept himself transparent, instantly diving into my head before extending his tentacles outward.
Galarion recoiled.
"What''s wrong?" I asked.
"No thoughts!"
My eyes narrowed. "Galarion says it has no thoughts,"
We continued to back up, but its finger twitched, and we stopped. I held my spear in front of us, ready to intercept, while Sereza funneled mana into her daggers.
"Go right, I go left?"
I nodded and bent low, but Galarion screamed a warning.
"Capture!"
Blood met bone. Toxic mana was sucked away as the creature''s flesh enveloped my spear. It swung downward, but Sereza jumped, spinning her tail as it cut across its head.
Her tail met the same resistance as my spear, but the creature was staggered.
I tugged my spear back and Magnus slashed his claws across its ankles.
A torrent of blood-red energy was siphoned away, and he slashed again before a meaty foot launched him across the square.
I charged in and thrusted upward. I aimed for the chest. The blade met something hard and stopped but pushed the creature back.
Sereza hopped onto my spear and twisted, slamming her daggers into the same spot. An explosion of yellow acid bubbled away and she wrapped her tail around my waist before pulling me out of range.
"Think I got it?"
I couldn''t see; the acid created thick smoke as it ate away the stone.
"Stall!" Galarion shouted.
Before I could shout the warning, another blood appendage snatched Sereza''s belt and dragged her backward. I turned and stabbed forward, but something heavy barreled into me and slammed me down.
I coughed blood and my fangs chipped. ¨¢ine rushed to heal me. She couldn¡¯t as I was dragged across the ground before being lifted into the air and carried like a sack of potatoes.
"Master!" Magnus roared.
I extended my arm and channeled Spirit Lord''s Invocation. His body broke apart and the motes of light rushed into my skin.
Fur sprouted, and crystals grew a second layer over it. I clutched onto the creature''s shoulder but didn''t activate Magnus'' skill.
The creature holding me was smaller, more compact, and its form reduced after Sereza''s acid. It moved fast, chasing the arm that carried Sereza through the winding maze of broken buildings.
If the size reduced its physical capabilities I couldn''t tell.
Sereza didn''t scream but continuously stabbed at the appendage and unleashed her skills. She locked eyes and saw my claws. She nodded and stabbed her daggers into the appendage. Mana swelled, but she didn''t release.
"Galarion, thoughts!"
"Return to Master!" Galarion shouted.
"Come out,"
He exited my skull and flopped onto my face. I stabbed into the creature''s head and sucked away the mana. Its form destabilized, rippling outward.
But it didn''t stop running.
"Go inside, try to wrestle control."
I had no idea if it would work, but it was a better option than nothing.
The thing had to be a puppet or a summon. It didn''t think on its own.
Galarion slid forward and dyed himself red, becoming nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the creature''s body.
I pulled out my claws, and the skin surged into place.
Where are you taking us...
It didn''t take long with the speed of the limb and the creature, we arrived at the square with the robed figure within seconds.
Before the arm retracted, Sereza unleashed her skill and exploded the limb before turning into a cloud of gas. She flew up and solidified behind me.
As she fell, she sliced into the arm carrying me and I activated Magnus'' skill. Mana rushed into the receptacles, swirling inside.
Solid blood.
The mana tasted, smelled, and felt like congealed blood. I pulled enough and slipped free. As blood rained down, I rolled and slammed into the creature''s back, knocking it forward.
It landed an inch away from the ritual circle, coming to a stop as if held back by an unseen force.
The robed figure lowered their hands and stared.
At his feet, looking a hell of a lot more pale than before, was the Gatekeeper. Her wrists were slashed open, with her eyes rolled back.
The creature slowly sat up, but its movements were jerky and its body was smaller than before.
I checked through the link and Galarion was still whole.
"Well, you got us here, weirdo. What now?" Sereza shouted.
No response.
Instead, he lifted his leg and slammed a booted foot onto the Gatekeeper''s chest. Blood gushed out and joined the circle, squirming into sigils and runes before settling.
Sereza sighed and flicked a spectral dagger. It zipped through the air, but the creature extended its arm and caught it, absorbing the attack.
Another stomp. Blood oozed and the Gatekeeper groaned as she frothed at the mouth.
I could feel it. The amount of mana leaking from the woman and into the circle was insane. As a tier three her mana pool had to be high, and every ounce of it was sucked away as more of her blood flowed into the ritual.
It felt like solid air against the crystal skin. I didn''t siphon it, the figure would know.
"If you let us leave, we don''t have to fight," I said.
A third stomp.
I crouched low and gripped my spear. Acid dripped from the tip while Sereza dipped her daggers into one of the vials she kept in her bandolier.
"Galarion?"
"Ready!"
I grinned.
The robed figure raised their arms, and lines of hazy red swirled before their palms. A long arm snaked out from behind their robe and grasped the air.
"Now."
Galarion drained away an entire chunk of my manapool but the creature stilled. The robed figure turned in response but couldn¡¯t react in time. The creature grasped the robes and slashed up. Fabric tore and the man yelped. Before the creature could grab him, its arm exploded and was torn to shreds by a wave of red flames. It scattered the blood mana and drove it across the ground before the flames morphed into black dust.
Sereza stood up and gaped.
Now exposed, the man clutched their bleeding arm and thumped the ground repeatedly with his tail.
A felkin?
"You!" Sereza shouted.
The felkin stared like a deer in headlights and took a step back.
"Sereza?" I asked while standing up.
Galarion floated through the air and landed on my head before diving in. He was exhausted, but he managed to escape the creature''s body before it was torn apart.
Sereza visibly shook and her tail stabbed forward like an accusing finger.
"Lezka?! What the fuck are you doing?!"
Chapter 20: Bloody Goodbye
Dark crimson hair, reddish-brown skin, and two blade-like horns that jutted from the sides of his head before sweeping backward, the felkin looked nothing like the rest of his family.
No.
His eyes were glowing orbs of crimson in a sea of black, but the features were similar to his mother''s. He had her nose, her brow and the same dimples.
His tail jutted in front of him and splayed its fingers.
"Stop!" he commanded. "Don''t come near me!"
"What the fuck happened to you? Why do you look like this?!" Sereza demanded.
Her arms were shaking, so I moved behind her and supported her back.
"Shut up! Go away!" Lezka screamed.
He grabbed his robe and wrapped it around himself like a blanket as he tried to hide behind his tail.
"Lezka?" Sereza whispered. "Wha-how? Why?!"
"Stop talking to me! Get out of here, Sereza! Leave!"
She shook her head and moved closer. "Explain everything."
Lezka extended his hand and a ball of red flames formed in the center of his palm.
"Don''t make me. I said stay away!"
"Sereza..." I said. "Back off, don''t corner him before this turns into a fight."
Her knuckles turned white as she tried to strangle the handle of her blades. I shifted, firmly pressing on her lower back until she stood up straight.
"Why? And don''t tell me to stop! Answer me, Lezzie!"
"Don''t call me that!" he roared. "I''m not the kid you knew!"
She jutted her dagger at his tail. "No shit. What happened to you?"
Lezka straightened and puffed his chest, but he still clutched onto the remainder of his robe like a frightened child.
"What happened to me? I was kidnapped! Tortured! Left to rot in an iron prison while none of you came looking for me!"
"Dragonshit! I searched for you, day one. I scoured the city for hours."
His jaw quivered, but he snarled and clawed the air. The ball of flames grew wider, becoming a orb the size of a bowling ball.
"You didn''t look hard enough," he growled.
Sereza stilled, but her tail coiled behind her.
"Didn''t look hard enough?"
"You heard me. You. Didn''t. Look. Hard. Enough."
"How? How was I supposed to know you''d do something so colossally stupid as to antagonize the Wintress!"
The kid, though I wasn''t sure that he was one anymore, stomped onto the exsanguinated Gatekeeper. She sputtered more blood, breathing in and out, but otherwise, remained an unconscious corpse.
"Shut up, Just shut up! I don''t need your rescuing anymore," he spat.
"Lezka..."
He lowered his hand, but the flames remained, licking the stone black near his leg.
"Do you see what I did? How powerful I am now? I don''t need rescuing. Go home, Sereza."
"Your family is worried sick. You''re mom-"
I yanked Sereza back and braced both hands in front of me. The flames exploded against the crystal, half of the force being sucked away while I was knocked backward.
My robes burned and I quickly tore them off before I was immolated. The wisps that remained were devoured and fed into the mana container inside my chest.
"Lezka! Stop!" Sereza yelled. She stood up and brandished her daggers. "This isn''t you."
"I said shut up! Don''t talk about them. Go home, tell them I died. Leave!" Lezka roared.
"You''re mom is wo-"
This time, when the crimson fireball rocketed toward her, she dived to the side and leapt to her feet. Lezka stepped back in terror, but his tail moved and punched her in the gut.
She was launched into the air but she activated her movement skill and became a cloud before she hit the wall.
No more leniency.
I charged and he swiped his claws in my direction. Streams of blood rose from the circle and bulleted toward me.
One sliced my shoulder, another cut into my hip. ¨¢ine activated her skill as I dived between two ribbons and slammed my arm into another.
The mana broke apart against my arm, but I could feel my bones nearly shatter from the impact.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Get away!" Lezka screamed.
I channeled the energy I absorbed into my hands and swung toward his feet.
Ten lines of blood-red energy shot out, tearing through the ribbons. Four slashes were used up in the collision, the other six continuing closer.
He stomped his foot and I backpedaled as a tidal wave of blood gushed out. It towered over the buildings and drowned the ceiling.
"Cyrus!" Sereza shouted.
I had enough time to see her reactivate her movement skill before I slammed my spear into the stone and braced myself.
It hit me like a charging train, cracking my ribs and dislocating my shoulder before the tide carried me away and into a wall. I was pressed against it, unable to breathe even as I tore into the mana.
Magnus'' skill guzzled it down, but it was like trying to drink the ocean through a straw. It was as heavy as ether, a constant pressure that pushed me back.
I slammed my jaw shut and lowered my head, adding the absorption of my helmet. But the pressure was too strong and I continued to struggle.
My receptacle filled and I pushed it down, refining it into something thicker. More came, and my fingers snapped backward.
I kept up the consumption through gritted teeth.
"Aaagh!"
As the screams cut through the overwhelming flood of noise, the wave lessened and I fell flat. The crystal smashed into the stone. A jolt of electricity shot down my spine before ¨¢ine fixed the damage.
I groaned and managed to look up, spitting out a mouthful of blood that clogged my throat.
"You stabbed me!" Lezka screamed.
He clutched an ethereal dagger that shattered under his grip. The wound was superficial, barely a centimeter into his calf, but his face contorted in pain.
Sereza was on one of the remaining buildings, the stone having given way to a single pillar that remained standing amongst the river of blood.
She glanced over and I nodded. Her daggers glowed green and she leaned forward, tensing her legs.
Lezka continued to stare at the wound, his jaw slack and his eyes wide. He didn''t see her, as distracted as he was.
I tried to stand, but my legs gave out and I slammed my chin against the ground.
Damnit.
Sereza launched, diving forward.
Come on.
Before she crashed, she became a cloud that dispersed but quickly reformed. Lezka slowly looked up, but it was too late.
Her daggers glowed, and she raised them high.
But she stopped, the blades hovering an inch above his leg..
"I... can''t..."
Lezka gaped, glanced at the blade, and then reacted. His tail wrapped around her head and lifted her up.
"Sereza!" I screamed.
I channeled mana into my claws and activated the skill. The slashes appeared and-
Slam!
Stone cracked, and the ground gave way. Sereza was raised higher and slammed again before Lezka stomped his foot, and a swarm of blood ribbons took the slashes.
He lowered her gently, peeling back the fingers of his tail. Sereza''s head rolled forward, dark-green blood dripping down her chin.
"¨¢ine, focus on the legs; nothing else matters!"
I stood up, but he ignored me and gently lowered her outside the circle before propping her up against a wall.
"I won''t kill her," he said. He turned to me and wiped away bloody tears that streamed down his cheeks. "She deserves at least that much."
"Why? Why are you doing this?" I said while reaching for my spear.
I wrapped my claws around it but he didn''t react.
He raised his hands and his tail, staring at himself while he slowly turned toward me.
"I had no other choice. They were going to kill me. Either I took the deal or died in that cell."
I shook my head. "He wasn''t going to kill you. Riven wanted you as leverage. We''d have found you."
He snarled and balled his hands into fists. "And how was I supposed to know that? Weeks! I was tortured for weeks! There was no escape. Not for me..."
¨¢ine fixed my legs and I stood up straight. The mana inside the crystal container inside my chest was filled to the brim with condensed mana.
If he attacked, I was ready.
"What happened? Don''t give me the same shit you fed her."
"And who are you?" he screamed. "Why are you even here?"
"Galarion. Wake up, pay attention. Tell me what he''s thinking. I need to know if he''s under mind control or not."
Galarion stirred, still exhausted but ready. He stretched his tentacles but kept them hidden, and I cracked my neck.
"I''m how we knew to come to the Underground. Found that you were being held against your will. So cut me some slack."
The ritual circle bubbled but remained inert even though I felt a lake of mana simmering underneath.
Can''t fuck around too much.
"Anger. Fear. Suspicion. He''s... worried," Galarion rattled.
Lezka licked his fangs, exposing serrated triangular teeth. "What do you want?"
I chuckled and sighed. "To go home and sleep."
His face scrunched in confusion, but I shook my head.
"I''m here because your mother cried herself to sleep," I growled. He tried to say something, but I slammed my spear against the ground. "Just shut up. Seriously, shut up. I''m here because your father and brother are worried sick. And your family is nice. Far nicer than most. That doesn''t mean much, but I''m here because I''m an idiot who gives a shit."
"Why?"
"Confusion, suspicion. Anger," Galarion added.
I mentally nodded and inhaled slowly. "Don''t know. But that doesn''t matter. Just tell me what happened to you."
"I owe you nothing!" Lezka yelled.
"Don''t give a fuck. It''s not for me. It''s for your parents and brother. Bind yourself for power, go live as a rat in the Underground I don''t fucking care. But Sereza organized this for you. Your mom begged for us to find you. You owe us that much."
A memory played of a tall masked man in scarlet robes and a flowing black cloak rising from a crack in the wall. His form was a giant droplet of undulating blood that hardened and solidified outside of Lezka''s cell.
The memory fractured as he held out his hand offering a vial filled with crimson liquid.
I shook myself out of the memory and focused my eyes on the spellcircle. The ritual lines I didn''t understand but they had a similar sigil style along the masked man''s cloak.
"He gave something to you, didn''t he? Power? Skillstones?"
Lezka glared. "He gave me the revenge I wanted. To evolve into something more than some mid-rate craftsman."
My eyes narrowed. "Was it worth it?"
"No... Yes..." Galarion whispered sleepily.
His lip quivered, but he raised his chin and spread his arms wide. In response, the circle flared to life and I braced myself but the light show ended and he lowered his arms, the Gatekeeper''s body no longer inside the circle.
"I''m leaving. Don''t look for me, you can''t follow," he said.
To punctuate his words a swirling vortex expanded above his palm and I felt mana activate inside a necklace just below his shirt.
Spatial mana joined the chaotic whirls and the portal expanded to his height.
The otherside was a barren wasteland of red dirt and skeletons half-buried underneath the dust.
He took a step back while keeping his eyes locked on mine.
"Wait," I called out. Lezka stopped and I lowered my spear. "Do what you want to do, but tell your mother goodbye. Write them a note, record on a crystal. It doesn''t matter. Just tell them goodbye before you leave for good."
His eyes flashed and mana built but he squeezed his fingers and turned away.
"Fine. Tell Sereza I''m sorry. And... that she was the best big sister I always wanted."
Lezka stepped through the portal and it snapped shut. Fat droplets rained down while the spatial mana faded away.
By now I was fully healed so I approached Sereza and pulled ¨¢ine out of my hoodie. She rushed to the felkin and landed on her chest before pulling from my mana pool.
I crouched low and brushed her hair back, while I used my hoodie to wipe away the blood.
Carefully, I pried her daggers free and stored them along my belt before lifting her into a princess carry.
"Sturmrorex."
"Master! I felt pain. Are you alive? Where are you?!" Sturmrorex said.
"Tell Eodyne we''re safe. Find Isaac first, he''ll help find the others faster."
"On it!"
I stared at the devastation that remained.
"Let''s go home, Sereza. We could use some rest."
Chapter 21: Leaving the Pit
Even with ¨¢ine''s healing, Sereza stayed unconscious. It wasn''t hard to take a look into her body through ¨¢ine''s memory, so I knew the state of her mana channels.
All the damage she evaded while transformed had seriously stressed her body. And there were fragments of spatially-aspected mana left inside her chest that had to be absorbed before ¨¢ine could heal her properly.
The section of the Underground we were in was truly abandoned.
Not even rats or other scavengers littered the ruins.
Throughout the next hour, I kept tabs through Sturmrorex and found myself near a small tunnel exit.
"We have found Teddy, Igas, and Celenae. No, Isaac," he relayed.
I sighed and checked the state of my soulspace. The wounds were still raw, and Zharia''s skillwisp was dim. I could summon her, but it wouldn''t be a pleasant experience for either of us.
"Master. They want to know if you''re okay."
A headache was starting to form, but I shook it off after Galarion did his thing.
"Yes. Tell them not to worry about us. I found a tunnel out. No idea where it goes. I''ll contact you if I find something."
Sturmrorex pouted. It wasn''t fair to be brusque with him, so I sent over the equivalent of a mental head pat and closed the link.
The tunnel stretched on for a while¨Cno light and raw stone. I adjusted Sereza in my arms and began my journey through. Even with me controlling my movement, each step I took echoed between the walls.
It was stifling, and my mind wandered through what happened. The mana from the boy wasn''t that strong, not alone. But the ritual circle that had absorbed the woman''s blood served as a catalyst to boost his skills.
He felt at the upper end of tier one at most.
A tier one''s skill shouldn''t have been strong enough to overwhelm Magnus'' transformation and break my bones.
My passive reinforced my body, and more than a few segments of my bones were hardened crystal. Yet they shattered just as easily.
I clicked my fangs and stopped.
There was little use in running myself ragged trying to figure out things that made no sense.
Lezka chose. He left because he wanted to. For once, I wasn''t being called to play hero. The boy didn''t need rescuing. Not from me, not this time.
A step; his mother came to mind, teary-eyed and hollow.
Galarion swiped the pain from another headache while ¨¢ine sent a jolt of mana coursing through my chest that warmed my heart.
For a time, I embraced the smell of flowers and the taste of honeysuckle.
"Thanks, guys," I whispered.
I pushed through the tunnels and reached a solid wall. My familiars scouted, taking up high while I slowly kicked random spots with my foot.
"Here," ¨¢ine said.
She slapped the rough stone and backed away as I tapped it with my foot.
There was something there. Carefully, I laid Sereza down and pressed my hand against the spot. Magnus'' skill managed to tear a sliver of mana from deep inside the stone.
It tasted earthy and elusive. The mana itself was dark gray-brown that tried to blend with the other mana types inside my core.
An illusion?
I stabbed my claw into the earth, but I barely scratched the wall. Still, more of the mana came free and I tried again.
Is was the equivalent of digging with a fork.
Screw this.
"Stay back," I warned.
Galarion and ¨¢ine moved further back and took up position just before Sereza. I smiled before shifting my focus to the small scratch I had managed to dig.
If it wanted to be stubborn, then I had just the thing.
I flooded my spear with mana and activated the poison at the tip. It dripped down and sizzled, wafting acrid smoke into the air.
Perfect.
On three, I stabbed forward and slowly twisted the spear like a drill. As I pulled back, I shoved my claw inside the much wider hole and ripped a chunk of mana free.
The wall glowed with blurry gray dots before fading back into the stone.
I repeated the process until I could comfortably fit my entire hand into the hole. As I devoured the mana from the hidden enchantment, the wall blazed with runic lines before it shook and cracked.
The crack widened down the middle, and the tunnel rumbled as the wall slowly slid apart.
By the time I had Sereza in my arms, the walls had disappeared, revealing another tunnel behind it.
"Boring!" Galarion complained.
"Yeah, it is. But probably for the better. Don''t want to get into any fights right now."
Galarion rushed back into my skull while ¨¢ine hid inside my hood. We continued forward, moving down a winding tunnel that stretched for miles.
By the end, I was ready to scream, till I rounded another bend, and I was met with iron bars.
I searched for an opening and found none. The bars extended into the floor and ceiling, with thicker rods lining the edges of the walls.
Fuck this.
Mana rushed through my channels and I funneled it into my free hand. Crimson slashes tore into the metal. It cleanly sliced through before continuing into the ceiling above.
Blood splashed and rubble rained down, leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth.''
I spat. It took a tap to send it crashing onto the floor. I stepped past the gaping hole and stared at the faint light coming from the end of the tunnel.
Sereza was still asleep. So I walked, not jogged, even though I was thoroughly ready to get the fuck out of the Underground.
As I neared, the tunnel widened and noise started to reach my ears. When I approached the end, I heard numerous voices, some yelling, some shouting, and even a few screams.
I pushed past a second bend in the tunnel and was hit with a wall of noise.
It exploded, and a crowd screamed in delight while others boo''ed.
Two people tore into each other one with a sword, the other with knuckle dusters made of flames.
The swordsman was a rail-thin elf dressed in light leather with a curved blade. While the brawler was covered head to toe. Surprisingly, he wore a robe that dragged against the sand.
I couldn''t see the brawler''s face, but he twisted, diving underneath the blade before uppercutting the swordsman''s wrist.
Bone snapped, and the sword went flying. However, the elf didn''t go down, and snapped a kick into the brawler''s chest.
The brawler caught the attack in the crook of his arm and raised his flaming fist.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Crunch!
Fist met thin leather helmet and the elf''s face sunk into the sand.
"We have a winner!" boomed a man''s voice that drowned out the crowd.
I looked around and took in my surroundings. Stone coliseum, sand pit, pikes with skeleton''s heads, and a blood-thirsty crowd with an announcer; it had to be the Pit.
Nobody saw me in the hidden alcove above the tallest seat.
"Like a wildfire that doesn''t know how to stop, Flamefist does it yet again! Split Edge''s life rests in the balance. Will Flamefist continue his trend and spare his life, or is this the end?!"
Flamefist towered over his downed opponent, the elf showing no signs of getting up.
The crowd held their breath, and a small section near the western corner started to chant.
"Break the chain! Break the chain!"
I stared at the brawler, but he stood like a statue. Even their face was covered in an intricate mask that glowed with bright orange lines that obscured his facial featurres.
Flame fist reached down and the crowd inhaled. His hand slowly brushed along the elf''s head and... gently tapped the man''s neck.
The crowd lost it, while the brawler clapped his hands together and bowed.
"And Split Edge lives to fight another day!" boomed the announcer.
I snorted. The Pit was supposedly the cesspool of the Underground. I expected something bloodier.
With the crowd still distracted I hopped out of the alcove and dashed for the nearest stairwell. Some people stood nerby, but nobody batted an eye as I rushed past with a woman in my arms.
I made it into an alleyway before stopping and crouched behind a stack of rotting crates. Five minutes went by and nobody came rushing in.
"Sturmrorex," I whispered.
"Master!" he shouted back.
"I''m out of the tunnels. I just left the colosseum. Did you find Isaac?"
"Yes! One moment!"
I appreciated the enthusiasm but his shouting spawned another headache.
Galarion devoured it without stirring.
"He says to wait. He''s coming to you."
"Thanks, Sturmrorex. I''ll see you soon."
I collapsed onto a nearby crate and tested its weight. It creaked but held. As I lowered my arm, it brushed along something fuzzy and I recoiled only to find a moldy piece of fruit rotting nearby.
¨¢ine tapped my hand and healed the gross germs while I contemplated summoning the beanbag.
At least it''s almost over. I''m sleeping in tomorrow, no matter what the others want.
I flicked a nearby pebble and watched it roll across the ground and it smacked into another crate without much fanfare.
Hurry up Isaac, this is taking too long.
Snap!
I shot to my feet and brandished my spear but my jaw dropped at what I saw.
"Unhand her, you fiend! I won''t let you do such vile things!" screamed an idiot.
The idiot brandished a rusty sword and swungsword swung it around with every word. His face was covered by a white rag but his features were soft, and young.
"What? Nothing to say in the name of justice?!"
You got to be fucking kidding me...
He slashed forward, forcing my spear back. A skill activated and his feet blurred. "Time to pay for your crimes you-"
I spun my spear and willed it to wrap around his arm. He looked shocked, but he snapped a kick and grazed my chin, forcing me to retreat.
When he slashed again, mana rushed along its edge and I ducked under a glowing grey crescent that carved chunks out of the wall behind me.
A piece dusted Sereza''s cheeak.
I smacked his leg with the butt of my spear, but he reposted and rushed into my guard.
The rag lifted just enough to reveal the pearly-white grin underneath.
I slashed downward, aiming my claws for his face. My second hand wrapped around his neck and slammed him into a wall.
"Fool!" he shouted.
Mana rushed into his feet and blurred while his body jerked out of my hand.
"No."
He gasped as I dug in my claws and siphoned the mana away. His leg gave out, and he staggered from the unexpected lack of momentum.
I held him up and leaned forward.
"Why the fuck did you attack me?"
He reached for my hands, but I grabbed his wrist and bent it at the wrong angle. A scream left his throat as I squeezed harder.
"I won¡¯t let you hurt her, you scum!" he screamed. "Vile filth think you can take advantage of-"
His head cracked the wall behind him as I raised him up with both hands around his neck. He gasped for air but I shook my head as anger settled in.
"Are you fucking kidding me? You attacked me because you''re stupid?"
He gargled something unintelligible, but I didn''t care. I didn''t actually want to hear his answer.
I lifted him higher and gripped his jaw. Before he could react, I smashed it into the wall and released it. He didn''t move as I crouched and tilted his chin up.
He was still breathing and the mask had slipped further, revealing a handsome face.
"Idiot," I growled.
I reached for his face when mana flashed behind me. Instantly, I spun around, but Isaac held up both hands.
"Don''t attack! It''s me," he said.
I canceled the mana building in my mouth and stood up.
"Finally," I said. "Let''s go."
Isaac ignored me and crouched to poke the man''s cheek.
"Wanna explain?"
"Nope."
He glared. "Cyrus. What were you going to do to the noble brat?"
"Noble? In the Underground?"
"We''re literally in the Underground."
I shrugged. "He appeared out of nowhere and tried to attack me in the name of justice."
"I..." Isaac shook his head and grabbed the man. "Whatever, we can''t leave him here."
"Why?"
"Because he''s just a young idiot. Unconscious and alone, he''ll be eaten alive."
"And?"
Isaac stood up and pressed his face to mine. "I get it. You''re angry right now. But I''m not letting you hate yourself later. Grab Sereza, I''ll take the idiot and we can leave him with a guard once we''re topside."
I sighed and massaged my temples. He was right; I was being grouchy. The dumbass did only attack me to save Sereza.
"Why is someone like him in the Pit?"
"No idea. His head is probably filled with stupidity and the dream of being some sort of vigilante hero."
He lifted the man into a fireman''s carry and secured him with a tendril. I grabbed Sereza and held her much more gently.
Isaac nodded and led the way.
Fucking finally.
Chapter 22: To the Guild!
I blinked away the grogginess and stared at the ceiling. Nothing happened; No buzz, no spasm of pain or bad memory.
It felt wrong.
Slowly, I sat up and stared at the reflection in the mirror. I felt tired, but my face didn''t show it. Who knew having a fairy that could heal would be amazing for your complexion?
Chuckling was too much effort. I fixed my hair before plodding over to the attached bathroom. It was funny to think about, but today was probably the last day I''d ever have to go to the toilet.
Thank fuck for that.
After my morning ablutions, I stopped once more near the mirror and opened my mouth. With a flex of muscles, my stomach contracted and the Fragment of the Stars was spat into my hand.
It was smaller than before, but not by much--maybe a few centimeters at best. Even with my resistance to the pressure, I could feel the waves of mana leaking out.
Progress.
Patches of my bones crystallized and changed. I was correct in choosing the stone; it had done more for me than the numerous bags of gemstones I had been pilfering from Celenae''s supply of snacks for Magnus.
I placed it between my teeth and tried to bite down on the weakened parts where my stomach had eroded the edges. But I couldn''t scratch it no matter how much I chewed on the thing.
Oh well. Hopefully, the evolution will draw from it.
That was the plan, and with a lot of careful checking from Celenae, she gave the go-ahead. Evolving with the stone inside my body should activate my perk and speed up the process.
Or it did nothing and I had to process the crystal naturally.
After swallowing the crystal I got dressed and headed for the dining room. Walter was there, serving food to Teddy''s parents.
Anastasia took a massive bite out of some pancakes and gave me a thumbs-up while Nathan was building a tower of them on his plate. Poor Walter could only sigh as he brought out another stack before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Morning, Cyrus!" They greeted together.
"Are the others still asleep?" I asked.
"Mmm. I believe only Igas is asleep. Teddy and Celenae went to the adventuring guild while Eodyne and Isaac left in a rush," Nathan responded.
He placed the last stack of pancakes, which was well over twice his height before he jumped and slapped his hand onto the top piece. I cocked my head as he squished the pancakes down into a solid puck before he drizzled a variety of fruit syrups on top.
Walter returned just in time to hand him a cartoonishly large fork and disappeared.
"I have to ask. Were you always like this?"
"Like what?" they asked as one.
I shook my head and enjoyed the meal. Once I finished, the duo stopped playing around and grew serious.
"How are you holding up, Cyrus?" Anastasia asked.
"Good," I admitted. "Why?"
They frowned, but Anastasia shook her head.
"Well, as long as you are fine, then that''s all that matters. We wanted to inform you that an investigation was launched."
Oh.
It was surprising how quickly they got things done. But two days was plenty for people with the right skills.
"Anything of note?"
"Yes," Nathan confirmed. "Of the five gangs that were destroyed, each base was a ruin of rubble and ash. No blood. Even the hidden space you emerged from was eventually breached but all the blood was gone."
"So the kid cleaned up."
"Looks that way."
"Thank you for telling me."
Again, they shared a look.
"No problem, just thought you should know. Ritual magic is concerning when it involves mass killings, so the royal guard has eyes on the Underground just in case. If anything else is revealed, you''ll know."
I downed my juice before standing and stretching.
"Teddy tell you what we''re doing?"
Anastasia smiled. "You''ll be delving for a few days. Can''t say I like maze-style dungeons, but they are useful to a city."
"Are they common?"
"Not at all. Most dungeons prefer to have a more natural environment to work with. The golems are especially more niche."
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Well, I''ll try to enjoy it then. Thanks for the meal."
I said my goodbyes and relaxed in the main living room until the others arrived.
Teddy and Celenae were normal, while Isaac and Eodyne were all smiles.
I crossed my arms and stared pointedly. "What''s wrong with you two?"
Isaac continued to grin. "Nothing. Why?"
"You''re freaking me out."
"Too bad," Isaac said, dropping the too-wide smile. "You ready to leave?"
"Are we waiting on Igas?"
Isaac swore and sank into the floor. As he went to fetch Igas I glared at Eodyne.
"What''s going on?"
"Nothing," she replied.
"Dragonshit. You don''t smile."
Her face morphed into a scowl and I chuckled.
"You''ll see soon enough," she said before turning away.
I glanced at Teddy and Celenae but they shrugged.
Eventually, Igas lumbered down the stairs. Before he reached the bottom step, Walter appeared with a small wooden box.
Igas cracked the box open and the smell of pancakes and sweet syrup wafted out as well as a cloud of steam before he shut the box.
"Thank you, Walter," Igas said.
Walter bowed and was gone with a blink.
"Are we finally ready?" I asked.
"Yes. Let''s go. We''ll stop at the adventuring guild to verify your presence, grab the tokens and head into the dungeon."
"And Sereza is already at the guild waiting for us," Celenae added.
I pictured the felkin and felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, I couldn''t wait to see her reaction to me absorbing another skill stone. On the other, it meant answering a lot of questions.
It wasn''t just her reaction to my evolution, but I wanted to avoid talking about Lezka and his family. It was a tense time when she woke up, and the endless questions thrown my way didn''t help my mood.
She wasn''t the type to hold it against me, but still, emotions were running high two days ago.
As we exited the manor, Arturous bowled us over and flopped to the ground. Teddy groaned and I tackled the bear''s head to give him a good rub behind his ears.
Before I could move, he tipped his head up and rolled me onto his back before shuffling around and repeating the process for the others.
Once more, we rode the massive bear into the city below.
--------
More than a few people pointed as we hopped off the bear and stretched. There was a lot of incredulous looks¨Ca few nasty¨Cthrown our way.
"You''re scowling," Sereza said as she approached.
She pointed to my eyebrows and realized she was right.
"Too used to having my mask on," I replied.
"Hey," she greeted. "About the other day..."
I summoned a pancake and threw it at her face. It slapped against her cheek, but she caught it before it hit the ground.
"There''s nothing to talk about."
"But-"
My eyes narrowed and I summoned another pancake slice. "Apology accepted."
She sighed and I tossed her the second hotcake. A few hesitant nibbles were given before I summoned a thimble of syrup. The food was devoured before we made it to the door.
"So what am I doing, and where is the dungeon?"
Celenae pointed to the desks lined with staff and motioned for the second to last. The elf had on a different color uniform, blue instead of green.
"Verify you into the registry first. Then you get your token and we can proceed. We should be taking the south entrance."
"South? Not east?" Sereza asked.
"Nobody likes fighting the crazzor golems."
"You want somewhere that''s not populated. What are we doing inside the dungeon, then?"
Celenae didn''t answer, but the others had a knowing smirk that drove Sereza crazy.
Luckily, the line moved quickly and within minutes, I was standing in front of the guild clerk.
The elf looked plain, with short hair, cool-grey eyes and a face that was somewhere between neutral and polite.
"How can I help you today, adventurers?"
Celenea stepped forward and presented her adventuring pin. The clerk ran his hand over the topaz emblem and I watched mana scan through it. When the mana stopped, it swirled back into the gray ring on his finger.
He went glass-eyed.
After a few seconds, his eyes widened and he took in the group. "Oh my. It''s an honor to meet you, Broken Tower."
I looked around the room, but another enchantment had activated, one I recognized.
Smart to have sound suppression.
Celenae smiled and nudged me forward. "We pre-registered this morning. Cyrus here would like to officially register at this branch."
The man scrutinized me, nothing malicious but there was definitely interest. He pulled out a white crystal I had only seen once, back in Edolus. "If you would place your hand here."
I eyed it suspiciously. The chances of it being able to accurately scan me were next to none. What was more likely to happen would be the clerk getting suspicious and some alarm got tripped.
"Don''t worry," Celenae assured. "Once it breaks, it should send an automatic response to the guild head."
"Breaks?" the clerk asked in alarm.
I shrugged and slapped my hand against the crystal. Mana activated. A wave of static tried to crawl over me. Before it did, my mana responded and rebuffed it, a faint chime sound playing in my ears.
The crystal turned red and the clerk took a half-step back. As he did, mana flooded from below, holding him in place.
His eyes turned glassy, and he muttered something I couldn''t hear.
A mental knock rang against my thoughts. I cautiously let it in but was prepared to summon Magnus and Galarion.
"So it seems you''ve finally decided to grace these halls."
The voice was young, and feminine.
"Got five seconds before I start shouting," I warned.
There was a sigh before the clearing of someone''s throat. "I''m the guildmaster of Solara. Brelten warned me you''d come here eventually. Should I expect any trouble, Reborn?"
"I''d like to say no, but I don''t exactly get a choice."
Amusement bled through before the emotion was strangled out of the telepathy.
"I''ll have people on alert just in case. What are your plans for my dungeon?"
"Ascendence. And some brief delving."
"I see," she stated. "As long as you keep the chaos to a minimum then you may proceed."
A snort escaped before I thought to contain it.
"Something funny?"
"No," I mused. "Just unfortunate word choice. What''s your name?"
"I am Avaline Giltollo, tier three and head guildmaster of Solunaria. I''ll approve your entry; don''t worry about presenting the token to the dungeon guards. Zachias will hand you a special one to bypass the lines. And I''ll keep your entry off the records, but only this once."
Giltollo? Wait!
"You''re Brelten''s sister?"
"It was a pleasure to meet you, adventurer Cyrus. Good luck on your ascendence."
Mana swirled around my head before it rushed into the palm of the clerk''s hand. He jumped but revealed a shiny orange coin that burned in my senses.
"Brelten has a sister?" I asked, prodding the connection.
"Big sister," Avaline corrected. "And Cyrus? Come by and say hello the next time you''re free. I owe you an apology for what my idiot brother has done."
What?
"Cyrus?" Sereza prodded.
I poked her back and tried to grasp the connection, already weaving mana into strands to connect to Galarion''s skill.
But the connection snapped and the mana receded. I followed its path into the floor, glaring at the spot.
"Cyrus? What''s wrong?" Teddy asked.
What the fuck was she talking about? What apology?
I was half tempted to storm down the stairs and demand an answer but I let the intrusive thought go. Instead, I clicked my fangs and crossed my arms.
"None of you wanted to tell me the guildmaster was Brelten''s sister?"
"What?!" all of Broken Tower shouted.
Chapter 23: Entering the Labyrinth
It took a solid minute of shutting everyone up before I explained what happened. People started to line up behind us, so I took the token from the clerk and we moved on.
"We should torture him," Isaac growled.
Igas scoffed. "I''d like to see you try. I distinctly recall someone getting pounded into the ground only a few months ago."
The two nearly started fighting, but Celenae summoned a barrier between them before the first fist was raised.
"I''m sure he had his reasons for not telling us," she offered.
There was a round of snorts before the others pressed for more details. I had none to give, and they knew more than me anyway.
Every one of them had met the guildmaster before, so it wasn''t like I held more information than them.
"What''s going on?" Sereza finally asked as we exited a long hallway into an underground room.
It extended into a flat expanse with branching side rooms as well as four giant metal gates at the back. Adventurers hung out near the gates, some in camps, others moving from one place to the next.
Each side room opened up into another part of the adventurer''s guild to fulfill the adventurer''s needs. From food to a small underground market, there was just about everything inside the cavern.
"Hello?" Sereza asked.
I shrugged. "Brelten, their adoptive uncle I think, tier three guildmaster. They have known him since they were kids."
"And you only just found out that he has a sister? Who happens to be the head guildmaster for Solunaria?"
"Yes," Eodyne scowled. "And we shall find out why the next time we meet."
Lightning crackled, drawing in more looks who inevitably caught sight of the gargantuan bear just behind us. There was a yelp and several wide eyes, but thankfully, Arturous didn''t cause any alarm.
There was, however, a series of whispers and pointing that I picked up on as we continued through the room.
I nudged Teddy. "I forget that you guys are famous. What exactly did you do?"
Sereza crossed her arms. "Seriously? They haven''t told you?"
"Nope."
Teddy sighed and smiled and waved at a few who greeted him.
"We may have a reputation. One that''s partially because of our status and because of a few circumstances."
Sereza smirked. "Who hasn''t heard of the saviors of Ruldest."
He sighed deeper. "Like that."
"Or the valiant efforts of Broken Tower in rescuing the entire dungeon''s worth of adventurers during the Labyrinth outbreak."
"Those idiots," Isaac spat.
"Oh! And the record holder for the fastest full clear of the Labyrinth while still tier one. Or your infamous alternative moniker. The Devourers. And there''s the on-"
Isaac had wrapped a tentacle around Sereza''s mouth and glared. "He gets it."
I crossed my arms. "What happened in Ruldest? That''s a village near the northern outskirts, right? And how did the Labyrinth have an outbreak? It''s delved twenty-four seven. And ''The Devourers''? Seriously?"
Igas snatched a drink off a nearby table and downed it. He then tossed the empty mug as well as a silver coin at the server who barely reacted.
"We weren''t even tier one. Ruldest had a wild rift that I accidentally fell into. Instead of being smart about it and finding an adult, they all came in after me and cleared it."
"What color?"
"Blue. And tier one only. Not the worst, but we had a few close calls."
"And if we didn''t come in right away, you''d be dead," Isaac said while poking the oni''s gut. "No complaints. You got a good skillstone anyway."
He grunted non-committedly while brushing aside his finger.
"And what about the dungeon outbreak? And seriously, ''The Devourers''?"
Celenae took the lead and pulled out a journal. It was old, ratty, and filled to the brim with quest information.
Each page listed at least three with a giant ''Completed'' stamped through it in bold red ink.
"We got overzealous trying to prove our worth and swept through villages clearing out the questboards," she said with a sour look. "Because of us, there was a new rule implemented, limiting the quests one team can take over a certain period. And we were banned from the questboards for over a year."
"Still dumb," Isaac said bitterly.
"I distinctly recall you donating most of your quest rewards to the village coffers and paying for their food."
Isaac responded by sending a tentacle her way, but Celenae blocked it with a snap of her fingers.
Sereza chuckled and shook her head. "I recall the rumors. A bunch of noble brats deprived entire villages of their economy, sending the guild spiraling and nearly causing angry mobs in more than two cities."
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The others sulked and I laughed.
Not surprising you''re such a big softy, Isaac.
"You know," I teased while bumping into the rogue. "You''re like a Cadbury egg. Hard little shell, but nice gooey middle."
"What''s a Cadbury, and what are you implying, huh?" he asked while waving a dagger at me.
I summoned one of my looted candies and tossed it before repeating the process with the others. They sniffed as one before biting down and releasing little moans of pleasure.
"That''s a Cadbury egg, you big softy."
He grumbled something unintelligible as the syrup gummed his mouth.
"Okay," I said. "And what about the dungeon outbreak? How was that possible?"
Igas got through the chocolate first and crunched on some ice to clear out the gunk.
He cleared his throat. "Foul play. Mind-controlled idiots from the underground went into the Labyrinth on the final day of the month. Caused a swell of dungeon monsters that ambushed the adventuring teams inside. We managed to save everyone and bring them to safety before the guild stepped in and got everything under control."
The conversation came after the reminder of the dangers of mind control. The others didn''t show it, but Helio was a stark reminder for them; one that had them uncomfortable about the subject.
Thankfully, we were near the gates and the one we turned toward had nobody in line.
"Present your tokens. No tokens, no entry," the guard rattled off.
His buddy nudged him and only then did he blink and take in the group before sliding his gaze over to Arturous. The bear yawned and pushed his hood back as spittle coated cheek.
"I-I... Broken Tower! Welcome back. I thought you were done with the Labyrinth."
Teddy smiled and held out his hand. The guard shook it enthusiastically, followed by his companion just as eager.
"It''s a special occasion. Showing a friend around," he said easily.
I presented my token and the guard''s face paled before he stepped to the side. Mana snaked from the bottom of his foot and into an enchantment carved into the side of the gate.
"My apologies for the delay. Please proceed."
"Don''t you need to verify the token is real?" I asked.
The guard stopped, then sheepishly cleared his throat and held out his hand. I gave him the token and waited as he channeled mana throughoat the small, emerald chip.
After a few seconds, he handed it back and stepped to the side.
"We''ll shut down the gate after your entry. Please note that any stay longer than a week will be investigated by a runner," he explained.
I pocketed the token and followed the others inside. My body stretched and warped, but a heartbeat passed and I landed on solid ground. Something heavy and metal met my toe, and I kicked it away, sending it crashing against the nearby wall.
A dull ring echoed between the narrow passage and Isaac appeared, glaring up from my shadow.
"Stop that."
I gently stomped and he disappeared.
Looking around, there wasn''t too much to see. The walls were stone gray, and we were trapped in a dead end that branched into three passages.
The walls were tall, easily more than twenty feet, but there looked to be nearly a mile between them and the ceiling.
"I''m guessing the dungeon doesn''t let you cheat and fly around?" I asked, joining the others as they waited.
"Flying mobs swarm you en masse. And most people hate fighting them so they tend to build insane numbers. The guild has a permanent quest to clear them out, so most take on a batch or two before they leave."
"Sounds all kinds of fun. Is everything in here a golem?"
"No. There are slime''s near the easier entrances as well as giant rodents."
"And the lower floors?"
"All golems. Progressively more metal until the last floor."
"What''s on the last floor? I never ventured beyond floor three," Sereza said.
"Crystal golems."
She scowled and thumbed a vial on her bandolier. "Hate this dungeon. My poison is useless against the golems."
Celenae tossed me another journal, opened to reveal several pages of information about different kinds of traps inside the dungeon.
"They get more devious the further you go. The acid bath is one of the worst."
The dungeon sounded anything but fun. And if that''s all there was, even one that had multiple floors up to the higher end of tier twos, it didn''t seem that worth it for a budding kingdom.
Then again, I bet metal is easy to acquire.
"Are all the floors the same?"
"No," Teddy answered. "One and two are stone with minimal traps that maim rather than cripple or outright kill. You''ll find a couple of easy golems, more so in this area than others. Three is where the dungeon gets weird and becomes a dense jungle filled with jungle variants of floor one and two mobs."
"Four is the wailing caverns, lots of darkness and ambush-type monsters, with spider golems being the most common," Celenae said. "Five is lava, with igneous golems that like to explode."
"And on floor six is the crystal golems. Imagine gilded walls and ornate chandeliers. The crystal lights tend to be golem guardians who shoot solar-aspected beams at you," Teddy finished.
"I''ve changed my mind. This place sounds fun," I stated.
The others groaned and I kept smiling. I turned to where Isaac was about to appear. His head popped out, before quickly diving and trying to circle around, but I kept tracking him.
Eventually, I heard a sigh and he exited the shadows, pointedly ignoring me.
"Found the entrance. We''ll need to scale the walls and drop down into a box."
"Box?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Four walls, separated from the rest of the labyrinth. Some are duds, others contain secrets," Teddy said.
"I''ve never heard of them," Sereza added.
"Usually, you wouldn''t find out unless by accident. Nobody willingly scales the walls, and the guild prefers keeping the floor skips a secret."
"Floor skips?! That''s... cheating."
He grinned. "Exactly. So keep it hush."
Isaac led us down the left path. The hallway was empty, and we continued through a series of turns before he stopped at where an iron dagger was staked into the stone.
"Here," he said. "It''s just behind this wall."
Celenae took the lead and we huddled together. A barrier appeared underneath us and lifted the group high.
As we crested the tall walls, a loud screech blared, accompanied by a cacophony of noise.. I covered my ears and squinted at the smudge in the distance.
Oh.
The smudge separated and the swarm of small metallic birds was joined by another, larger swarm.
Their wings were made of gold, and they sported two beaks with no eyes. Along the gold plumes, puffs of what looked like real feathers jutted out from beneath the metal.
The swarm grew in size, blotting out the ceiling as they formed a wall that was flying directly toward us.
"Eodyne, you ready?" Teddy asked.
Eodyne nodded and formed her bow. "Always."
As mana built between the archer''s fingers, Sereza leaned into me and whispered into my ear.
"This is the largest I''ve ever seen. One of the guides my father hired drew in a few packs of them to feed me energy. But nothing this big."
I focused on the javelin solidifying on Eodyne''s bow. It was an incredible amount of power, that only amplified when she activated another skill.
The javelin became a storm of lightning that bit the air with tendrils of bright, neon blue.
"I think we''re fine," I whispered.
As the swarm was near enough to deafen me with the sound of endless squawking, Eodyne breathed in and then exhaled.
The javelin flew true and melted a hole into the horde, turning metal into slag before the javelin burst and became dozens upon dozens of electric needles that tore the remaining birds to shreds.
She didn''t destroy them all, but Eodyne began rapid-firing an arrow into their heads. Picking them off one by one, the birds went down.
When the last bird dropped onto the stone floor, Eodyne dismissed her bow. The others didn''t react, but Sereza''s mouth was wide open.
"That''s..." she started.
"Efficient," I finished. She turned to glare, so I stuck out my tongue before whistling softly. "Magic archer was always a broken class. Good to know that holds true no matter what world I''m on."
Eodyne hid her smile well, but she was definitely smug as I poked Sereza''s chin back into place. It shut with a click and Celenae created steps down, leading into the box.
Chapter 24: New Skill Hype
The stairway down was more like a trip through Wonderland. After a certain freefall down the stone chute, I''d feel the hidden portal activate and instantly cart me to somewhere else.
It reminded me of when I was connected to Xena. The dungeon wasn''t truly connected, not the way people thought it was. Each floor was more like a realm onto itself, another layer of a complicated puzzle.
And we had skipped the layers and stopped at floor four.
Instantly, the dark-aspected mana filled the area. There was metal, stone, and other minor types of mana mixed in, but it was a place of shadows that dampened your senses.
As the others stood up, I stomped, pushing my heel onto the floor. What returned was a muted echo that traveled for less than a second before fading.
"Naturally silent. Makes it harder to hear things sneaking up on you," Teddy explained.
While everyone gathered together, he flexed his mana and light banished the shadows, revealing a dull hallway coated in black dust.
"The shadow mana is perfect, but we can go lower if you think it''s best. We''ll make whatever choice work."
"What are we doing exactly?" Sereza butted in.
I ignored her question and rubbed at the dust. It didn''t come off, but a thrum of mana zipped through the walls.
There was a feeling, something entirely new, that swirled in my gut before rising into my chest like bubbles. On a hunch, I threaded my mana and needled it into the wall, between the seams of gray brick.
"Aaagh!"
A flash of information flooded my brain before I flinched and clutched my head. Waves of agony clawed at my brain and I had the sudden urge to cough.
"Cyrus! What happened?" Teddy demanded.
A blanket of warm light suffused my body, relieving the frenzied scratching to dull taps. Liquid filled my mouth and I coughed, splattering the ground with semi-transparent blood.
I tried to breathe in through my nose, but it was just as stuffed while blood leaked down.
"Cyrus?"
"First of all. Ow. That fucking sucked. Second of all, there''s a spider about twenty feet out."
Isaac sank into the floor. Teddy continued to heal me with his aura while the others stared.
Celenae in particular, already had a new journal out.
"Seriously, how many of those do you have just for me?" I asked.
"Currently? Nineteen. Twenty after this one," she replied.
I groaned and wiped away the blood.
Isaac returned, emerging from the shadows as he dragged a large black-metal thing from below.
As he tossed it onto the floor, I realized what it was. With eight legs, and only one central eye, the entire creature was made of black metal and dark-purple fibers between the joints. Resting in the center, just behind its eye, was a cracked mana core, leaking thick mana.
It dripped and sizzled before the ground swallowed the mana and whisked it away, deeper into the maze.
"Fess up," Isaac said, stomping his way over till he was only inches away. "How''d you do that? It was exactly where you said it''d be."
I closed my eyes and tried to process more of the information that had briefly flooded my mind. It was too much and beyond chaotic. But it had dumped knowledge into my brain, knowledge that told me a lot more about the dungeon than I knew before.
Not to mention the voice I definitely heard. But damn, Xena, so that''s what it''s like trying to process dungeon information without a dungeon fairy.
I opened my eyes and rubbed my temples. "Can''t tell you. Part of the forbidden knowledge."
"I swear I''m going to sho-" Isaac began before Celenae bonked him on the head with her staff.
"No angering the gods. Not yet," she admonished.
He grumbled but backed off.
I chuckled and rubbed the wall. "It''s the new perk I got. Too much information, though. But at least I know that going down doesn''t matter. We''re technically at the lowest we can go. Floors five and six are somewhat above us."
Celenae was furiously scribbling down what I said before she pointed her pen like a gun. "What do you mean technically?"
I sighed and explained what I had learned from Xena about how not all dungeons are actually connected. And how the Labyrinth had portals separating the floors.
Slowly, I sifted through enough of the information goop and rubbed the wall. Teddy looked interested but unhappy.
"Cyrus, that was a lot of mana used to repair your brain," he said.
"Fine. I''ll experiment later. For now, we should be safe if we''re ready to begin."
He nodded. "Igas, create the fortress. Celenae, the warding stones."
Igas stomped and pillars of thick ice formed around us, blocking off the area. It didn''t stop at just creating a barrier from the rest of the dungeon; the ice spread across the ground and crawled up the walls to cover the ceiling.
Celena held up her staff and tapped it gently across the walls where plates of amethyst crystals grew. Each plate curved into intricately carved statues that held a glowing sigil inside.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Mana thrummed, and a sphere of protection joined the walls of ice, leaving us secured inside a small but well-guarded bunker.
"Okay, seriously, what''s going on?" Sereza asked. "We''re inside a dungeon. We just built a mini-fortress. And you did something weird again, and now they all look like hungry wolves as they stare at you."
She pointed to Broken Tower who had already pulled out the betting board and began setting it up. There was a brief argument between Igas and Isaac before they nodded solemnly and sank into chairs they summoned.
A grin spread, and I extended my hand. Her gaze sharpened, lasering in on my palm as I balled it into a fist.
"So, Sereza. There''s a secret you should probably know..."
Her eyes narrowed and her tail arched forward like a scorpion.
"Go on."
I pulled out the last skillstone and exposed it to Teddy''s light. "You see."
"Oh fuck you! That''s what? Three extra slots? How? Why?"
Well," I said while clearing my throat. "Mmm... I haven''t gained any extra slots. I have the same limit as you do."
"Oh? You didn''t have ten slots? I thought with your mana..."
I shook my head. "No. I had ten slots. I have ten slots. The amount hasn''t changed, not yet at least."
"Then, what do you mean?" she asked suspiciously.
In response, I crushed the skillstone and watched the glittering ruby dust flow between my fingers and into my veins.
The skillstone was absorbed and another weight settled inside my soul.
Sereza continued to look confused while the others were leaning forward, watching me like hawks.
I pulled up my status and smiled at the progress in the skills I had absorbed nearly a week before.
Good to know the Split-Mind Cultivation is putting in the work.
STATUS
Name: Cyrus
Race: Reborn (Felkin)
Age: ??
Tier: 0
Active Skills:
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (¨¢ine)
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)
(T:0 R:9) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)
(T:0 R:9) Spirit Lord''s Invocation
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Storm King''s Tempest (Sturmrorex)
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (Galarion)
(T:0 R:7) Roar of the Spirit Lord
(T:0 R:7) Absolute Authority
(T:0 R:0) Summon Familiar: Felblood Sanguinarch (N/A)
Passive Skills:
(T:0 R:9) Etherious Blood
(T:0 R:9) Sovereign-Threaded Soul
(T:0 R:9) Chaotic Resonance
(T:0 R:9) Spirit''s Lord''s Echo
(T:0 R:9) Split-Mind Cultivation
Perks:
Legacy of the Obsidian Crown
Scion of Calstrax
Demonic Blood
Child of Mana
Dread Guardian''s Apology
Crystal Synthesis
Devourer of the Deep
Whisper of the Tempest
False Dungeon Core
Unleashed Soul
Astral Lotion
The skill rank-ups were as easy as breathing; the process only slowed down since I didn''t actively meditate. Still, it wouldn''t take long before the new skill was ready to tier up. I just needed to contract a new familiar and solidify the skill in my soul.
As for the latest skills, I pulled up the information and double-checked, rereading the notifications I received.
Roar of the Spirit Lord:
-
Amplifies the commanding presence and battle prowess of the user.
-
Floods the battlefield with a commanding aura that enhances combat abilities of all allies within range.
-
Increases attack power, defense, speed, mana regeneration, and resistance to mental effects for all affected allies.
-
High Initial Mana Cost, Moderate Initial Stamina Cost.
-
Consumes a significant portion of the user''s mana pool.
Absolute Authority
-
Invoke the law of reality.
-
Bend and command the authority of the world through runes and runic mana.
-
Mana cost is dependent on the rune and its familiarity.
-
Stamina cost is dependent on rune and its familiarity
-
Only temporary runes may be created.
Summon Familiar: Felblood Sanguinarch (N/A)(Currently no spirits contracted)
-
Summon a bonded familiar. The familiar is a blood-based guardian.
-
Summons can remain inside the body in a passive state. While active, they reserve an amount of your mana pool.
-
All Summons have their own mana pool and regeneration but may tap into their summoner''s mana when they run out.
In the end, the changes were simultaneously more and yet exactly what I expected.
Sovereign''s Warcry becoming another spirit lord skill was interesting but not unexpected. The buffs sounded insane, and I couldn''t wait to use it.
Absolute Authority, however, was an odd one. It completely lost the term ''rune'' in its name. And its description was just as weird.
What the fuck does invoke the law of reality mean?
I shook my head and thought about how easy it was to recognize runes. There wasn''t a new feeling around them, and I admittedly hadn''t gone through Eraztis'' rune guide yet, but I would soon.
The skill sounded powerful, and hopefully, I''d be able to mess around and start creating something cool.
"Well?" Celenae prodded. She waved her pen in front of my face to grab my attention. "What did it change into?"
"Huh? Oh uh, from Baneblood Immortal to Felblood Sanguinarch. Whatever that means?"
Celenae scribbled it down and tapped her chin. "Bane or fel implies poison, so blood and poison. Could also mean demonic, as in fel-kin. Sanguin could be related to blood as well, and considering your skills, I''d guess the suffix is monarch. So, a poison-blood monarch?"
It made sense to me.
I turned to Sereza and was about to tease her about her expression until my heart thumped and silenced the world.
What the?
There was a disturbance in my soulspace and I dived in, finding my familiars circling around the island. Between the golden sigils etched into the obsidian, a new line was forming, a rune appearing every couple of seconds as they formed stroke by stroke.
"Everyone okay?" I asked.
I received a round of impressions confirming everybody was doing fine. Together, I huddled closer to them all and watched the line complete itself.
Once it did, a new feeling started and the mana pool inside the soulspace rippled. One wave became a towering pillar that crashed down and washed over the island, drenching me and knocking the wisps away.
I asserted my will before my familiars were carried adrift and carried us above the endless waves that bombarded the island.
It didn''t hurt, but the feeling of needing to burp rose exponentially.
The island was drowned by the wave of pink but the golden runes shone their light through the mana and started to pulse.
Before I could lower myself to inspect the island, Chomperz''s skillwisp stopped in front of me and chomped.
The wisp broke and his true form materialized out of strands of mana. They pulled from the realm itself until it condensed into jet-black scales.
Chomp!
"What''s wrong?"
He shook his head and pressed his face against mine. I was forced to look into his eyes and I stared into the crimson ring spinning inside his sclera.
"Chomperz?"
He grabbed my cheeks and pulled me even closer till I saw only red. It was only then that I finally realized what he wanted to show me.
The crimson ring was slowly breaking into strands. Strands that detached and formed sigils so tiny I could barely recognize them as anything other than dots.
When the first ring stopped breaking apart, he pulled back, sporting a second ring that spun counter the direction of the first.
He nodded slowly and pointed to the island, the waves having stopped their assault. As he flew over, the others followed and they each landed on the small glass mounds that surrounded the island''s edge.
Each mound had a crude pedestal and what looked like a single rune etched into the base that blazed with light once my familiars landed.
Well, what the fuck does this mean?
Chapter 25: The Bloody Monarch
I checked my status sheet but there was nothing changed.
My familiars watched me while adjusting to their seats. I asked them how it felt and received a round of replies.
Apparently, the mounds were comfortable.
As I bent down, I inspected the runes. Unlike the curving lines that were more typical to the enchantments used in Inoria, the scrawl was made up of a single unbroken line that formed loops and sharp peaks without crossing.
Since I was nearest to Zharia''s pedestal, I placed my hand along the glass and felt a buzzing of energy that grew as I slid upward. Once I crested the top where Zharia roosted, the sensation changed and became a roaring inferno.
Flames licked my fingers while warm sunlight draped across my skin. It wasn¡¯t real, but it was the impression I got, similar to being exposed to new mana.
I removed my hand and patted the skillwisp.
"Feels good?"
"Yes! Warm, safe," she chirped.
I smiled and moved on, testing each pedestal, even the one without an active summon. Each held their own sensation, and a specific brand of impression related to the familiar. But the glass mound for Felblood Sanguinarch was lifeless, filled with a buzz of power that felt inert and gave off no impressions.
As I stood up, a tapping on my physical body pulled me out of my soulspace before I knocked Celenae''s pen out of the way.
"What?"
"What was that pressure you released?" Celenae asked.
"Huh?"
Sereza held up her palm and rubbed it. "It felt like ether; the pressure was similar to the crystal back in the rift."
"What are you talking about?"
Celenae scribbled in her journal and clicked her tongue. "Half a minute after you went silent, a wave of pressure assaulted us. It originated from you and quickly extended beyond us and into the corridor."
I searched around and noticed Isaac missing. "Where''s sad boy?"
Igas snorted and pointed to the wall blocking off the forward tunnel. "He''s scouting and taking care of any monsters nearby."
I was half tempted to connect with the dungeon again, but I held off and pulled out my sketch journal. Celenae hovered over me as I started sketching the island''s new look along with the glass pedestals. The runes I kept hidden and she could obviously tell that something was missing, but she didn''t ask.
Once she copied the sketch into her journal, I summoned Chomperz and asked him to stay still.
She noticed me drawing the little dragonling''s face and cocked her head.
"Why are you drawing Chomperz?"
I added in the second ring and showed it to everyone. "Another one. It probably has to do with the div-"
My jaw clicked shut while they all slowly turned to glare.
"Go on," Celenae threatened.
"Can''t," I said while shaking my head. "It''s a secret."
"Really? Because I''m pretty sure you were about to say divine!"
I cleared my throat and tossed the journal to Chomperz who swallowed it and dashed into my chest.
Thankfully Isaac returned, looking confused as he took in the room.
"What I miss?" he asked. "Did Cyrus do something crazy again?"
I glared, but he ignored me.
Celenae slammed her journal shut. "Ask Calstrax the next time you see him."
"Noted," I said while saluting.
With everything in place, I summoned my beanbag and sank into it. The others reluctantly pulled out a chair, even Sereza.
"That''s new. Finally joining the club?"
She groaned as she sat down on her plush cushion. "Yes. It was awkward feeling left out."
Food was pulled out and I distributed them while getting comfortable on the beanbag. When everyone was distracted with the fried goods, I leaned back and closed my eyes.
"I''m going to contract a new spirit. Mind watching over me?"
"Of course we will. It''s why we''re here," Teddy said.
Isaac threw a chunk of food that bounced off my chest. "Don''t die. No pissing off an avatar of death this time."
"You did what?" Sereza interrupted.
I activated the skill, letting my consciousness fall into the void.
------
My feet crashed onto black marble and I slowly stood up and took in the room.
Huh.
The world was red. The walls, the stone beyond the ritual circle, and even the ceiling was a foggy mist of crimson that slowly dripped down into the flooded room.
It looked like a noble''s mansion, if said noble had an airtight underground room with no windows, vaulted ceilings, and it was flooded with an Olympic pool''s worth of blood.
I spun around and took in the black granite pillars lining the ritual platform. Streaks of silver runes etched into the stone pulsed faintly as if breathing.
No mist was above the platform, and a barrier formed around the circle. The place was fancy, if not eerie, but it was better than what I was expecting. The spirit planes could be anything and I was dead certain I''d get transported to some abomination of a place.
It was nice to see I was wrong.
Beats having your mind explode.
I closed my eyes and willed my mana awake. Strands weaved together, tightening around a single thread before I pulled it to my physical body. With a push, the strand shot through my foot and into the floor, connecting with the summoning circle.
There was no use waiting, so I throttled the flow and pushed my mana pool to its limits.
I could feel the enchantments light up and grow stronger in the outside world, the silver light puncturing my eyelids.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Carefully, I weaved another strand and pushed it through my other foot. Even with the gates opened wide, it still took a considerable amount of time for my mana pool to empty.
After it reached less than twenty-five percent, I stopped the outpour and retracted the threads. When I opened my eyes, I braced for what I would see.
In front of me stood a horde of people dressed in crimson clothes. They weren''t human-like, their bodies were seemingly made out of red mists with glowing yellow pits for eyes.
They wore sharp tuxedos, and billowing dresses of different make. Some wore gloves, others didn''t but they all shared one thing in common.
They stared from behind an invisible line where one such entity stood alone, wings of crimson mist tucked behind their back.
"Summoner. This is an unexpected surprise."
The voice was feminine, but it didn''t sound female. Unlike the other entities, the lone figure wore a suit made of real fabric that wasn''t just congealed blood.
When they raised their arms, two horns sprouted from their head and curved backward, much like a felkins.
Slowly, a face took shape.
They were androgynous, without facial hair and high cheekbones.
I bowed and placed a hand on my chest. "I greet the Great Guardian."
"Manners, too? Oh my, truly an unexpected surprise."
As I raised from my bow, the guardian lowered their chin in what I knew to be polite acknowledgment.
"My name is Cyrus. May I have yours, guardian?"
The guardian tapped their chin and pursed bright, red lips. "Cyrus? Distinguished enough. But not typical to one of your kind. Interesting."
I kept my head low.
They smirked and lowered their hand. "You may call me Third Monarch Aetrezard. Guardian and ruler of this realm."
I didn''t bow again, instead moving my gaze to the crowd of entities behind them. One man was clawing at the air, yellow eyes flashing like a strobe light.
Aetrezard sighed and exhaled a mini cloud of red.
"My apologies, young Lord."
What?
The man screeched and rushed past the invisible line everyone followed. He was to the far left, but that didn''t matter.
As soon as he reached the point where the guardian stood, he was apprehended by Aetrezard and lifted into the air.
"Delicious mana! Mine! Give it to me!" the man screeched.
His words were silenced as Aetrezard backhanded him. The severed head impacted the wall and exploded into mist that sank into the pool below.
The man''s clothes and body slowly broke apart but Aetrezard opened his mouth and inhaled. The mist reversed course and was sucked into the guardian.
What just happened?
Aetrezard turned and addressed the crowd.
"If any seek to defy my orders and tarnish my name, I shall devour you and your kin. Is that understood?"
As one, the crowd bent low, their heads dipping below their waists.
Aetrezard turned to me and finally bowed. "Unbecoming of me to greet such generous guests with such barbarism."
I stared at the crowd. Even bowed, more than a few had eyes that were constantly pulsing.
"Is my mana that special?"
"Oh, it is," Aetrezard chuckled. "A fine treat that so rarely graces the realm. It''s rich and decadent. Filled with power and flavors so new, I cannot tell what they are."
The place was starting to give a ''court of vampires'' vibe. But hey, if the mana helped me acquire a better familiar, then they could have it.
While deliberately looking the guardian in the eyes, I spent another five percent of my mana pool and pushed it through the circle, watching what I missed before.
The red haze on the ceiling exploded outward before it condescended and poured like rain onto the floor. It poured in front of the summoning circle, so only Aetrezard was close enough to reach out a finger.
Pointed claws covered in a maroon glove absorbed the drop and brought it to their lips. The guardian smiled while closing their eyes.
"Truly an ambrosia. Is that a hint of divinity I taste? A demigod, perhaps?"
"No." I held out my arm and exposed my left wrist. I willed the mark to appear and smiled at the guardian''s reaction. "Just a Reborn on his way through a new life."
One of the entities behind them kicked forward. Their dress caught the blood and splashed it across his front while grasping the air with both hands.
"Mine! Give me-"
The woman exploded into a cloud that was thrown against the wall with a single sweep of a long, whip-like tail. Aetrezard''s eyes were blazing orbs of scarlet fire that bore into me. Their tail cracked the air as it returned and sank beneath the pool, while their horns lit with crimson flames.
"What is it you seek, Cyrus the Fate-touched?"
I cleared my throat and addressed the crowd as much as the guardian. "I seek a contract for my skill, Felblood Sanguinarch. A spirit to join my family and grow with me on my journey."
Silence.
Then, the world erupted into screams that filled the room. The pool vibrated from the sounds while the crowd went ballistic.
But not a single one crossed the line, as Aetrezard erased them from existence as soon as they twitched.
"You have been heard! The gift of mana has been given! By my name and honor as the Guardian of this realm, I shall fulfill your request!"
The sound intensified and the runes to my right turned gold. As the mana activated, the enchantment dampened the assault on my ears.
When I turned away, Aetrezard was before the barrier, a ball of blood spinning above their palm.
"Any requests, young Lord? The more I know the better the compatibility."
I scratched my head.
What did I want?
Another personality like Zharia or Sturmrorex might be too much, but I wasn''t exactly picky.
After awhile, and watching more of the entities get destroyed in a slash of the guardian''s tail, I answered.
"Someone loyal. I plan on living for a long time, they would have to be there with me until the very end. And in terms of body type? Something that can regenerate would be useful. A bruiser or a tank, and has the means to inflict poison."
Aetrezard studied me, their lips curving into a wide smile that exposed shark-like teeth. "Loyal? A fine requirement. From one monarch to another, that is a trait most valuable. I applaud your choice."
"Thank you."
"As for the other requirements. I believe I have just the thing in mind. A spirit that fits all the criteria you need. Especially one suited for the role of a Sanguinarch."
There was a weird tone to their voice. It sounded... jealous.
Slowly, the orb of blood spun and unraveled. They crouched, pushing it deep into the pool. When they pulled away, the orb was a darker shade of red but somehow more vibrant.
It felt powerful, strong.
Aetrezard placed the blob by their feet and clapped. The screaming stopped. The bodies behind them freezing in place as if grabbed by a giant¡¯s hand.
"I can think of none more loyal, and this shall be a pup, a hatchling new to the planes. Give it a name, Cyrus, and complete the contract so we may feast," Aetrezard said, urgency and desire filling their voice.
With a flick, my athame appeared and I stepped to the barrier''s edge. The blob stilled and then split into three strands. Rising to my waist, the spirit was massive for its size.
And it''ll only get bigger when it tiers up.
Then again, Sturmrorex was destined to become longer than a mountain, so I couldn''t really complain. But there was no way I would be able to carry them in my arms if they decided to do what Magnus did.
As the strands solidified into a pattern, I watched the scales elongate and stretch while three snake-like heads formed at the ends. The snout was longer than a typical snake, more similar to a monitor lizard, but the beady red eyes were beyond adorable as the three snakes licked the air.
Wait. Not snakes.
Instead of separating from the blob, the blood compacted and formed a chunky lizard body about as wide as a labrador. A single tail stretched from behind it and whipped the pool, splattering blood across Aetrezard''s front.
If the guardian cared, they didn''t show it.
"Master? Blood? Mana? Give! Give Name!" Three voices spoke as one, but together.
Two of the heads turned to each other and hissed while the third began to weave its head side to side, uncaring of what the other heads were doing.
Oh that''s so fucking cute!
I slid the athame effortlessly across my palm and squeezed till a pool of blood welled up. The spirit perked up and all thee heads locked onto my hand.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Aetrezard doing the same.
"I''m Cyrus. Do you understand what''s happening?" I asked.
The spirit hissed. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Master? Give name!"
I laughed and pushed my finger outside the barrier, tilting my hand so the blood would drip onto the spirit. They scooted forward and looked up, the trio of heads opening their mouths with waiting tongues.
Once the first drop dripped down, they struck and latched onto my finger, sucking away the blood.
It stung, but more like gentle pokes.
"From today onward, your name is Zagreus. What do you say?"
Zagreus didn''t say anything; instead he, and I only knew because the connection had formed the moment he latched onto my finger, slowly lost form, and exploded into a stream that rushed into my hand.
A new weight settled and I rubbed at my chest as a wave of bubbles filled my chest.
I removed my finger, but not before squeezing out one last drop.
"A final gift to you, Great Guardian. I hope it tastes as well as you think it will."
The drop dripped down but was caught by Aetrezard''s tail. It perfectly wrapped around the droplet and brought it to his hand.
They cradled it, closing their fist around the drop and depositing it inside their suit before nodding.
"You are an interesting one. Take this final gift in return, for something so rare and precious." They held out their hand, and a ball of red mist spilled out before condensing into a droplet, similar to my own. "I await your rise, young Lord. If you grow powerful enough to visit, come. I''ll host the grandest of parties in your honor."
The droplet rocketed into my finger and I tasted copper. It was rich and sweet, and held a ball of power that surged through my veins.
I waved goodbye and the world fell away. Aetrezard watched me with glowing eyes before looking to the ceiling and unleashing a howl that vibrated the air.
The last thing I saw was the dozens of entities go ballistic and dash into the mist above.
Chapter 26: Zagreus
I kept my eyes closed for a while and listened to the conversations around me. Eodyne and Igas were fighting or playing rock-paper-scissors. I couldn''t tell which between the grunts and yelps of pain.
Teddy and Celenae were discussing tea and what the best kind of blend was for a breezy but warm spring day.
And Sereza and Isaac argued over poison, because why not?
I was almost content to fall asleep, but instead, I delved into my soulspace.
My familiars were off their pillars and crowded around the newest skillwisp. It brought a taste of sour copper to my mouth as I pulled close.
When I reached my hand out, it rushed under my fingers and pushed against my palm. I chuckled and patted it lightly before carrying everyone to the island.
They took their places, and I bent low to inspect the pedestal for Felblood Sanguinarch. As my hand crested the pedestal, I pictured an endless river bulldozing everything out of its way. The river was thick and viscous¨Ca bright crimson mixed with streaks of neon green and acrid yellow.
I pulled away and examined the island''s rune circles. They looked whole and brighter than before.
There was a weak section, the one connected to Zagreus'' area, but soon enough, it''d be just as bright as the others.
"I''m going to summon you now, Zagreus. Remember, play nice and don''t do anything weird."
I left the soulspace but kept my eyes closed. Only one person was speaking.
"Seriously. What''s going on with Cyrus? I understand that he has a Legacy, and a god calls him son. But Helio? The rift, the dungeon, the three extra fucking skillstones? It''s insane."
There was a brief pause until Celenae snapped a book shut.
"It''s not for us to tell you."
"But-"
"It''s not for us to tell you, but trust us when we say there is a reason for it," Celenae interrupted. "You think we like being kept in the dark? Because trust me, we''re just as mad about Helio."
"He didn''t explain it to you?"
Isaac laughed. "Not in the slightest. The asshole teleports us all to safety and nearly kills himself fighting alone because he didn''t think we could handle it. And he won''t explain anything. No shit, we''re angry."
"Why? No offense, you''re all great people, even Isaac."
"Hey!"
Sereza continued. "But why are you helping him so much? What exactly is he? A prince? Some hidden demigod?"
Teddy cut in. "Beyond the reasons we can''t reveal? Simple. Because he''s our friend."
It was touching. And spying any longer would be wrong. I opened my eyes and yawned while leaning forward.
Sereza stared wide-eyed, as did the others. Except Eodyne. She looked at me with narrowed slits.
"How long have you been awake?" she asked.
I grinned. "When Sereza asked what was going on. How did you know?"
"Your breathing. It changed."
Of course, it did.
Sereza blushed, but she crossed her arms and stared. "Is it done? You have another familiar?"
I nodded. "Strange place. Lots of blood."
Celenae had already cracked open a journal and was penning down the details. I spent some time describing things in detail before I had an idea.
I activated Shroud of the Astral Archon and held out my hand, catching Galarion as he formed.
"Do you think you can copy my memories and give them to everyone?"
Galarion''s tentacles formed ten thumbs-ups. "Need mana. Must accept memory!"
My mana pool was full, so I gave the go-ahead and he created five prismatic orbs that swirled with glowing lines at the tip of his tentacles.
It took a decent amount of mana, bottoming his out and skimming from my own but he included everything inside the memory, from the taste and smells to the mana impressions and sounds.
Celenae was furiously sketching the orbs and Galarion into her journal when she finally looked up.
"What are these things?"
"Memories!" Galarion shouted.
Igas recoiled at the mental shout and he scowled as he plugged his ears.
"Less yelling, please," I begged.
The cosmic squid saluted and wiggled his tentacles. "Take."
Slowly and with obvious hesitation, they each reached for a tentacle and pinched the marble-sized ball between their fingers.
"What do we do now? Eat them?" Igas asked.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
I tapped my forehead.
Igas grimaced but gently pushed the marble into his skull and closed his eyes. The others followed with them leaning into their chairs as they went through the memory.
Teddy was the first to open his eyes and rub at his nose.
"That''s potent," he said. "Blood shouldn''t be sweet."
Sereza was second and she kept glaring at me while shaking her head. "Really? Another perk? Dragonshit."
"Oh yeah," I said. "I forgot about that."
I pulled up my status and started reading the new addition.
Blood Pact (Stage One):
-
The Crimson Monarch grants you their favor.
-
Through blood is the way to power. For nothing is stronger than the ties that bond.
-
Form a pact to share your greatest strength.
-
Minor increase to mana regeneration.
-
As the bond matures and the connection strengthens, the pact evolves, enhancing its benefits and potentially revealing new powers.
Sereza shook my shoulder. "Inoria to Cyrus? Is something wrong?"
I scowled and summoned a bonbon and threw it at her. She speared it with her tail and pointedly took small bites until it was gone.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that? Not everything goes wrong all the time. Have some trust in me."
A few pointed stares burned the back of my neck and I shrugged. They had finished the memory viewing, so I pulled up the perk and sent it over.
I counted to ten and right on time, Isaac was waving his dagger at me.
"This is dragonshit! It''s a full passive. You''re the luckiest unlucky bastard in existence! Do you know how insanely good this is?"
"Nope!" I said smugly. "I mean, it''s just some mana regeneration, pretty mid."
There it is.
His eye twitched. The shadows around the room began to stretch down. Thankfully, Igas created an ice cube and chucked it at his head. It bounced off his cheek with a ping and he turned his ire toward the oni.
Funny enough, it was Celenae who slid her chair over, a wide smile plastered on her face.
"About that mana regeneration..."
---------
I cheered as Celenae sliced a spider golem in half, the two sides cleanly cut down the middle as it crashed to the dungeon floor.
"Ten... nine... five.. two... one," she muttered.
She extended her hand and conjured a barrier above Isaac. The spider golem that launched itself a split-second before crashed into it and was then separated by another barrier below.
Celenae gripped her staff in excitement. "It''s amazing! It shaves off 4 minutes."
"Is that good?" I asked.
She nodded. "Very. In a drawn-out battle? It could save a life."
I hummed and poked the new connection in my senses. It was faint, but I knew where Celenae was. There was nothing concrete like a beacon blipping across my senses; instead, I knew the general direction of where she was in relation to me.
The blood pact was already showing its use.
It''s only a minor regeneration boost. I''m pretty sure you can buy an enchanted ring that does the same thing.
Still, I stared at the corpses and contemplated summoning Erebus. But I decided against it and watched the bodies melt into rainbow goop.
"Let''s return. I have my data points," Celenae said.
I shook my head. "How about we test out my new skill?"
"Finally? I thought you''d never show them," Sereza grumbled.
"His name is Zagreus, and he''s... new."
"New how?" Eodyne asked.
"New as in, I''m pretty sure he was born by the guardian seconds before I contracted him."
"That sounds a lot like child labour," Igas added.
A little.
"Either way, just be nice," I warned.
The others gathered around and I backed up. That drew a few looks, considering most of my familiars were small and didn''t need much room outside of Sturmrorex.
I dived into my soulspace and caught Zagreus'' attention.
"Sorry for the wait. Are you ready to meet everyone?"
Three cute and entirely serious head nods were thrown through the link.
"Alright. Here we go."
I returned to the physical and exhaled. Mana wove itself into channels that had already been strengthened over the last hour. They rushed in and forced it to widen, so I clamped down and thinned the thread.
As it connected to the skill I watched as a bright red droplet shot out of my chest and doubled in size. From a marble to a large watermelon, the droplet stretched.
Three heads formed along with a sharp whip-like tail that raised high as four stumpy legs held them up.
"Ooooooh!"
I crouched and held out my hand. As three sets of emerald eyes met mine, the heads headbutted my palm. I gently tapped each head and motioned to the spirit.
"Everyone, this is Zagreus. Zagreus, this is Broken Tower and Sereza. You should already know who they are, but feel free to say hello."
One head licked the air several times while the other two craned around to take in the people staring at them.
"Oh, he''s adorable!" Sereza cooed.
"Adorable? I''m pretty sure that''s a hydra. And it''s made of blood, serious-"
Isaac''s words were cut off by Eodyne summoning lightning between her fingers. She glared him into submission and knelt down.
"It''s nice to meet you, Zagreus. I''m Eodyne."
Zagreus stared and slowly padded over.
"Remember. No biting," I warned.
My familiar ignored me and kissed Eodyne''s face with gentle licks.
"Give pets!" he demanded.
Eodyne blinked in surprise but complied and began to rub his scaled neck. When one head received more attention, the other two squeezed into her second hand.
She laughed and gave him the demanded scratches until Zagreus waddled away.
He stared upwards at Arturous. The bear sniffed heavily and cocked its head, lowering down for Zagreus to smell him.
My familiar licked his nose and gently booped the massive bear on the snout, which caused him to sneeze and send Zagreus rolling.
"Awww, that''s too damn cute," Sereza gushed.
"Really?" I asked. "You didn''t react like this to Magnus. Or my other familiars."
"Yes I did. You were always asleep when it happened. Plus, he is such a cutie! He''s a danger noodle times three! And those legs!"
"Huh. I pegged you more as a scorpion girl."
"Why?"
I stared at her bone-covered tail and sharp stinger.
"No idea," I said deadpanned.
She ignored me in favor of reaching down and scratching at Zagreus'' belly.
The blood hydra would flash green swirls that quickly faded. They returned when someone would scratch at the right spot, and Zagreus let them know.
It wasn''t exactly barking, but he made his demands and was satisfied in return.
Eventually, he stopped at Isaac, who glared with his arms crossed.
"What? You want something?"
"Pat! Give Pats!" Zagreus hissed.
Strangely enough, the ''s'' wasn''t nearly as exaggerated as I expected. I only just noticed since Sereza was keeping quiet.
"Oh come on, Isaac. Stop being such a grump and give him his scratches," Sereza said.
"Scratch!"
Isaac bent low and glared. "You should learn to say please."
"Scratch!"
"Please!"
"Scratch?"
All three heads bobbed up and down as they spoke individually for the first time.
"Well? You got your please," Sereza teased.
He growled and stood up. "Fine. But only for a moment! You won''t get scratches out of me so easily. I''m not a cheap date!"
Isaac crouched this time, but his dagger swung in its sheath and hit the wall. A subtle click triggered.
I felt it before I could call out a warning, and mana rushed through the floor. A spike of dark iron impaled Zagreus'' chest, puncturing the left head. Isaac reacted fast; the spike was grabbed by a tendril of shadow and torn out of the floor.
Zagreus stumbled, his body gushing blood that spilled onto the stone.
I rushed over. "Zagreus!"
I grasped his back and pushed him towards my chest, but he resisted and then activated his skill. The blood that had gushed out of the wound reversed and mana was consumed as the liquid solidified into scales.
The left head reformed and gently grazed my fingers as the other two heads turned to Isaac. The rogue looked like a ghost.
"Scratch?" he said in unison.
"I.. I-I" Isaac stuttered.
He turned to me and I bared my fangs.
"You''re dead."
Igas got behind him. "I''ll hold him still."
"Isaac..." Teddy whispered.
"I didn''t mean to... I swear!" Isaac protested.
Zagreus headbutted his knees and thumped the ground with his tail. "Scratch."
Chapter 27: Another Blood Contract
"No. I''m not scratching you anymore. It''s been an hour!" Isaac shouted.
Zagreus flipped around and gently bit his nose with all three heads. The rogue brushed him off but the thumping tail slowly won him over.
My familiar leaned into the scratches while Sereza cooed.
"He''s adorable," she sighed. "You''re a lucky bastard, Cyrus. I wish I had a familiar skill."
"I know he''s cute and all. But you don''t treat my other familiars like this."
"I do too!"
"Oh yeah? Zharia, you never scratch her. Same with Sturmrorex or Erebus."
"Zharia would burn me if it wasn''t you petting her. Erebus is a death spider who only wants bones. And Sturmrorex... he reminds me of Fuldro when we were kids."
"Fuldro?"
"Big brute you met at the party? Pridekin."
"Oh," I said. "How does that prevent you from gushing over him? I''d say Sturmrorex is pretty cute."
She barked a laugh and shook her head. "He reminds me more like a cocky little brother. Not an adorable good boy who wants scratches."
"¨¢ine and Magnus? Galarion too."
"¨¢ine is cute, and I appreciate the nose boops. Magnus is also adorable but a little sleepyhead. Galarion..."
I glared.
"...Is an absolute cutie. Just that he¡¯s hard to find cute sometimes when he wants to devour your memories."
"Fair enough," I snorted. "Well, hopefully, they stay adorable as they evolve."
"Somehow, I doubt that."
I glared, but it was half hearted at best. Sereza grinned and rested her head on my shoulder.
For a while, we relaxed . I had calmed down after Zagreus got hurt and the other''s were content to do their own thing. Celenae of course, was still testing her new perk. And she would occasionally rope the others in to help.
"So when are we doing the ritual?"
"Huh?"
She sat up and stared. "You know what I mean."
"Hmmm. Not sure. Was there a ritual? Probably shouldn''t partake in that kind of stuff. Pretty bad for your health."
"Not cool," she whispered.
Shit.
"Whenever you want, really." I turned and addressed the others. "That goes for all of you. If you want to use me for some extra mana regeneration that fine by me."
All of Broken Tower except Celenae stopped and crowded near me.
I pushed them back and held up my arms, defensively. "Woah, what the fuck?"
"We were being polite and didn''t want to presume," Teddy explained.
"I was bullied into not asking!" Isaac quipped.
Teddy groaned while Isaac had a shit-eating grin.
"You know what? I do have a requirement."
"Hey!"
"I require!" I stated. "A day where we all go and celebrate. I don''t care where, just that we sit down and have fun for a full day. And no complaints!"
They smiled; except for Isaac who grumbled something about ''damn mushy demon.''
"That sounds perfect," Teddy said.
"Good. Now who''s first?"
There was some arguing, but it was decided that Sereza would go first, followed by Isaac, Eodyne, and Teddy. Igas would go last since he mainly required heavy stamina use and not mana for most of his skills.
Just in case there was a secret cap to my perk, and not everyone would be able to acquire it, at least the ones who needed it the most would get it.
"So what do I do? We cut our hands, exchange blood and I swear an oath?" Sereza asked.
"You watched Celenae do it, why are you asking me?"
"To be sure."
"I don''t know if we actually have to cut ourselves as badly as we did but I guess it doesn''t hurt."
I sat on my knees directly across from Sereza. She extended her hands and ran her dagger across her palms. Blood welled and she cupped it before it dripped onto the dungeon floor. One hand was held above, the other below.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
I mirrored her actions and summoned my athame. The blade sliced the air, piercing my skin only when I clenched my hand, coaxing the blood to surface. As it gathered in my palms, I locked gazes with Sereza, channeling knowledge that implanted itself into my mind.
"From my life''s essence to thine, may strength converge. I, Cyrus, forge this pact of blood. What is thy answer?"
Sereza echoed the solemn cadence. "From my life''s essence to thine, a bond of loyalty is sealed. I, Sereza, pledge to this blood pact.
She flipped her hand over and our blood mixed as I did the same with the opposite and watched the transparent pink pour into the puddle of green.
A spark burst into existence that tingled across my fingers. It shot into my chest and through my soulspace, settling on the outskirts as a tiny weight attached.
There was a brief moment where Sereza''s eyes flashed crimson before it settled and she leaned forward.
I channeled mana into Verdant Healer and directed ¨¢ine into healing the cuts. As the skin sealed over, she booped Sereza''s nose and landed on my shoulder before sitting and kicking her legs.
Zagreus padded over and sniffed. He lapped up a drop of spilled blood and then honed in when he licked Sereza''s.
"Zagre-" she was bowled over and aggressively assaulted by the trio of demanding heads. "Aah! What did I do?"
"Zagreus!"
When he didn''t listen ¨¢ine flew over and hovered above one head. He tried to push her out of the way but she held extended tiny fist and rocked him in the snout.
Zagreus whimpered and retreated into my lap but I crossed my arms and shook my head.
"But delicious!" he whined.
"Listen to Master."
Igas whistled. "That''s a mean punch."
¨¢ine twirled and slowly flew over, causing Zagreus to flatten in an attempt to hide.
On one hand I wanted to laugh. The little guy wasn''t hurt, I watched him tank a spike trap and demand scratches a second later, but it was a firm reprimand from what was essentially his big sister.
"Maybe don''t punch him next time," I whispered.
"He caused harm."
I turned and saw a bead of blood drip down Sereza''s arm. It was a light scratch but still a scratch.
"Zagreus. We don''t hurt friends. Okay?"
One head popped out and recoiled at ¨¢ine who was only an inch away. He backed up and looked upward and nodded with his little snake head.
"I''m sorry."
"Don''t apologize to me. Apologize to her."
His other heads stretched and waved at Sereza. "Sorry."
Her mouth threatened to form a smile and I saw the heart eyes forming. I shook my head and she regained control.
"If you want something, ask politely. Was it my blood?"
He nodded meekly.
She poked her finger and bowed her head at ¨¢ine who shook a fist. As a fat droplet threatened to dribble she reached over and let Zagreus lap it up.
Joy bled through the link and I gently patted him on the back.
"Taste good?"
"Yes!"
"What about poison in general?"
He cocked his heads.
Sereza reached for her bandolier and pulled out a vial. "This is a mild paralytic. What do you think?"
She gave him a taste but there wasn''t the same level of enthusiasm as her blood had received.
After testing her entire arsenal of toxins and poisons he clearly preferred her blood but he enjoyed the other concoctions as well.
"Looks like I''ll have to add poison to my grocery list," I said.
"We can buy some on our way out. There''s at least two stalls that sell them," Teddy added.
"I said grocery list."
"Yes?"
"Nevermind." I adjusted Zagreus and turned to Sereza. "Well, how is it?"
She sent a barrage of daggers into the wall and closed her eyes. After a minute passed, she grinned.
"It works!"
I pulled up the perk and confirmed that everything was working on my side.
Blood Pact (Stage One):
-
The Crimson Monarch grants you their favor.
-
Through blood is the way to power. For nothing is stronger than the ties that bond.
-
Form a pact to share your greatest strength.
-
Minor increase to mana regeneration.
-
As the bond matures and the connection strengthens, the pact evolves, enhancing its benefits and potentially revealing new powers.
-
Current bonded: (Celenae Sylvus, Sereza)
I closed my eyes and reached out with mental feelers. Like Celenae, I knew vaguely of where she was.
"Well beyond your name added to my perk, there weren''t any changes. Safe to assume we can proceed with everyone else. If you still want to."
Isaac nearly tackled Sereza out of the way.
Igas leaned over and whispered to my familiar. "Don''t follow his example."
"Hey!" Isaac protested.
After settling down, I completed the ritual with Isaac and the rest of Broken Tower. Each one added another weight to my soul but there was something else.
I dived into my soulspace and found a new rune forming along the island, one in the center. It was dull red and I felt the grooves as the shallow cut stretched outward to form loops.
Maybe I need more? It feels... unfinished.
As I exited my soulspace I found Celenae waiting with a notebook. "Anything new?"
"There''s definitely a rune forming. Maybe a couple more and it''ll do something."
"If you''re not against it, Teddy''s parents would be a good choice. The perk clearly implies it can rank up, so new bonuses would be a boon."
"How rare is an upgradeable perk?"
"Decently so. I wouldn''t expect people to have one. It''s not entirely unknown, some arena style rifts have ranks according to how far you get, but they don''t upgrade."
"Got it."
I expected things to calm down again. Not everyone was obsessed with tracking things like Celenae but I couldn''t have been more wrong.
Igas and Isaac dipped, rushing off to find things to kill while Eodyne and Teddy partnered up to go down another corridor.
That left Sereza who sauntered closer. "Well? Want to go delving?"
"Why do you all want to kill things so badly," I grumbled.
"We''re adventurers. It''s in our blood."
I motioned to the dungeon. "Give it a month or two."
"Why?"
"The rift, the dungeon, another rift, another dungeon," I paused theatrically and held up my fingers. "I could keep listing things."
"Fine. You made your point."
"Cyrus," Celenae interrupted. "Don''t you need more energy to get your skills to the threshold?"
"See! We have a legitimate reason to delve."
Slowly, I stood up and tapped Zagreus. He looked excited and I pointed to the end of the hall where the ice walls had a doorway installed.
"Let''s go. Time to hunt your first monster."
"Yes!" Sereza cheered.
"You just want me for loot," I accused.
She shrugged. "Maybe. It wouldn''t hurt. I was never allowed to loot anything from the dungeon as part of the contract for being escorted. It''d be nice to see what''s inside this place."
"Didn''t you say you hated it?"
She stopped and crossed her arms.
"While yes, this trip hasn''t exactly been standard. You guys make it fun, and it''s a good distraction from the guilt inside my head. Is that so bad?"
Fuck.
"Suppose not. But ground rules. You can get half of what we loot. In return I want something."
"Anything."
"I want a gallon of your blood."
Sereza blinked slowly before backing away.
"Cyrus, that''d kill me."
"Not with ¨¢ine," I quipped, patting the fairy who waved from atop my shoulder. "She''ll keep you alive and whole. I''ll even buy you a donut."
"Does it have to be a gallon?"
"I suppose we could go smaller but it''d be nice to have something on hand to feed Zagreus."
"Blood?" he asked.
"Later. I''m negotiating."
"Fine," she relented. "You can bleed me dry. But I want more than one donut. Whatever they are."
I flashed my fangs in a devil''s grin. "Deal."
Chapter 28: Dungeon Chit Chat
The dungeon was dark and gloomy, the walls dull and the pathway empty.
Except for the hidden monster waiting on the ceiling.
Sereza threw a single spectral blade and it sailed through the air, stabbing into the monster''s thorax.
It hissed and flopped to the floor in a heap of mechanical limbs. The purple strings underneath unspooled but were quickly retracted as it flipped over.
I gripped my spear and contained a growl as Zagreus placed himself between the monster and us.
"Raaagh!" he roared.
As much as I understood that Zagreus would be fine, I hated it with every fiber of my being. At least Magnus had the ability to absorb attacks.
Yet I had to let this play out. It was better now in a controlled environment than a battlefield filled with chaos.
"Zharia, Sturmrorex. Pincer," I commanded.
My familiars flew high, hanging just behind Zagreus.
"He''ll be okay," Sereza said.
"I know."
The spider locked on as Zagreus stepped forward and released another hiss. The central eye flashed purple and the spider leapt.
Before it could close the distance between them, Sturmrorex acted first, piercing it with a bolt of lightning that traveled across its many limbs.
It took the hit and skidded closer, letting Zharia unleash a torrent of flames against its head.
The spider stood under the onslaught and raised a bladed limb. My grip tightened and Zagreus reacted. Two heads bit down on the front limbs, tieing them up, while the third intercepted the attack.
Black metal met hardened blood. Scaled deformed and splashed against the ground while the limb stopped just above my familiar''s main body.
As Zagreus took the hit and sacrificed a head, mana thrummed to life and he activated his skill. The blood that splattered the ground and coated the metal limb smoked and sizzled.
The spider tried to pull back but the head reformed with the neck wrapped around the corroded blade.
Sturmrorex dived and speared the golem''s side with his horns, unleashing a burst of electricity. It froze, and Zharia swooped in.
She swiped at the core, but a limb came free and battered her aside. It was a glancing hit but she screeched in anger.
"Zharia! Step back. Let them handle it."
She flew high, the golden flames spewing from her feathers. "It should burn!"
"It will, but you can''t burn Sturmrorex and Zagreus."
Zharia grumbled but complied and I turned my attention to the limb Zagreus had inflicted with caustic blood.
The metal was tough. Only the edges of the limb had melted. It tugged, but Zagreus maintained a firm hold, preventing the monster from pulling away.
Sturmrorex pulled deeper from his mana pool and upped the amperage. He controlled it well, Zagreus being largely unaffected by the attack.
Sparks danced, and the golem couldn''t react as Zharia got her revenge. Her wings were an inferno as she dived and landed atop the orb.
It flashed purple but was drowned in a wave of gold concentrated to a fine stream. Metal hissed and the thick cords serving as tendons melted away.
"Burn! Dumb spider!"
"Uhm. Is it me or does Zharia look extra angry?" Sereza asked.
I chuckled, finally relaxing. "She has a thing against spiders."
"How does that work with Erebus?"
"Erebus is family. Not the same."
"Riiight."
The core cracked and it was over. For good measure, Sturmrorex slithered toward the core and bashed it with his horns, cracking it further.
Once the spider collapsed, Zagreus let go and bowled over my other familiars in an attempt for pets.
"Scratch!"
Zharia pecked his heads and returned to my shoulder. "No."
He pouted but shifted his attention to Sturmrorex who shook his head and tapped him with his tail.
"Dignity. Hold your head high after a victory."
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"But scratches..."
Sturmrorex snorted and flew away, coiling around my neck as I approached. With no one else to turn to, my familiar wobbled towards me and leaned into my leg.
I gave in, unable to resist the cute little fella. His heads hissed in delight before returning to my soulspace, and I directed my mana into The Dead Will Provide.
Erebus flopped onto the corpse and dived into the core.
Sereza leaned down and inspected the corpse. "You know. That was surprisingly well done. I am once again in awe at your skills."
The peacocks on my person preened in delight.
"Enough. You did good."
"They''re pretty awesome, I know."
Sereza rolled her eyes and waved at Erebus as he emerged from within the core. He waved back and hopped onto my hand.
Zagreus tried to sneak in a lick but he gently booped his snouts before presenting the loot orb.
"Any guesses on what it''ll be?"
"Honestly? Maybe some metal scraps. These golems don''t have poison as far as I know."
"It''s still weird that you guys know about golems but don''t use them."
She snorted. "That''s because enchanting one requires a genius level of work. Unless it''s a monster."
I hummed and held the orb for everyone to see. It was Zagreus'' first time seeing it so I inspected it and sent him memories before sending mana into my palm.
It popped and a spool of metallic thread fell into my hand. It was the length of my ring finger, and as thick as my nail bed.
"Well, it looks like you were right. I think."
Sereza inspected the thread and unwound an inch before running her thumb across. Blood dripped down and she wiped it away.
"Same color as the golem. Not the sharpest but it''d make a wire trap."
"Keep it."
"Really?"
I shrugged. "You guessed it correctly. Call it your first souvenir.
She pocketed the thread and I waved goodbye to Erebus as he returned to my soulspace. With one golem down, I pointed toward the left tunnel.
"Let''s see what else we can loot."
--------
Sereza speared another spider as I impaled one to the wall. I twisted and sent mana into the tip. Acid melted away the metal and I plucked the core free before spiking it into the floor. With a stomp, it split down the middle in a rain of shards.
I turned in time to watch my familiars tangle up their spider and quickly snip the cords behind the metal shell. It crashed to the floor with Zagreus flopping on top.
I winced, but he adjusted in time for Zharia to melt away the rest of the golem.
With the threats neutralized, I untangled my spear and called to ¨¢ine. She materialized before me and got to work repairing the deep gouges along my leg.
"That was dumb," Sereza growled.
It was.
It had been four hours since we started and while things were relatively calm and fairly empty for a dungeon so large, the ambush had come unexpectedly.
Four spiders ambushed us near a turn, one being swiftly impaled and torn to shreds as we reacted in time. The other three forced us to retreat and we both activated a spike trap, taking out our legs.
That in of itself, wasn''t that crazy. A devious trap for sure, but the wall darts that activated as Sereza touched a wall nearly ruined us.
Thankfully we were used to dealing with multiple enemies. We divided and conquered and I trusted my familiars by now to handle a spider on their own.
They were ambush predators, not combatants. Once paralyzed or had their cords snapped, they became easy targets.
¨¢ine finished healing my legs and moved onto Sereza while my familiars popped the core from the monsters and presented them.
I patted their heads and brought them in for a hug.
"Good job everyone. Thanks for keeping us alive."
"Of course!"
"Scratches!"
"Stupid spiders!"
I laughed and squeezed tighter. Once ¨¢ine was finished I replaced her and Zharia for Erebus and he got to work.
"We''ll have to settle for two out of four. I want to reserve some mana."
"Works for me," Sereza said as she flopped next to me. She leaned on my shoulder and watched Erebus dive into the first corpse.
"I wouldn''t call this a successful haul, but if we find an engineer I''m sure they''d go crazy."
"What are we at now? Four spools, three bags of bolts, and two bags of magic dust?"
"And the enchanted pen."
Aaah. Yeah, I forgot about that.
I grabbed the first loot orb and passed it over as Erebus dived once more. "I''m sure Celenae will love a reinforced pen."
"Better than nothing," she said bitterly.
I cocked my head and tapped her shoulder. "What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Dragonshit. What''s wrong?"
Sereza sighed and held up the orb.
"It just hit me. Realized that even though we could have died, I had fun. The darts were nasty but delving is exciting, and having a reliable teammate adds to that." My familiars protested and she held up her hands to halt the tirade. "My bad. Teammates. You''re all awesome."
"So why did you sound so bitter?"
"Because I was in danger and had fun. That while Lezka is out there doing who-know''s-what, I''m having fun delving in a dungeon." She clenched her fists. "It feels wrong."
"I have that same feeling every now and then."
"About Lezka?"
"No," I chuckled. "About the first rift I went into. About Sam."
"Oh."
"For a long time I was mad, angry that I failed. She saved me, sacrificed herself to the big bad demon and thrown across the void. And the worst part? It was all my fault."
Sereza sat up and crossed her arms as she pointedly glared. "From what you''ve told me before, there''s no way in hells it''s your fault. That''s idiotic."
"Funny. I think I could say the same. I at least have an actual excuse to take blame for. What''s your excuse?"
"I could have searched for him, found him, done anything that wasn''t just gallivanting and having fun."
"Is that what you did? I remember you being pretty stressed at the party."
She reached for Erebus and took the second orb as he hopped onto her arm.
"Fine. Point made. Doesn''t mean I don''t feel like shit. I can''t even look Melza in the eye."
"You will eventually. I plan on punching Sam when I see her."
"Wait what?"
"Yep. A single punch for doing something so incredibly stupid, and then the longest hug in the world. Because she saved me."
Sereza shook her head and popped the first orb. It produced a small pouch that sank into her hand.
"Dust."
"One down, last one to go."
She paused and smiled at me. "You''re weirdly good at these kinds of conversations. It''s refreshing."
"Thanks? I think? I''m not too sure about that, but this isn''t the first time I''ve sat with somebody and had a chat. We''ve done it plenty."
"Yeah, and usually something crazy happens."
"Pop the damn orb."
The shadow threads burst and black orb fell into her hand. As she held it closer, it flashed purple and a diagonal eye appeared. It scanned the room and locked onto me.
"Uh."
It flashed again and faded away, becoming inert.
"What was that?" Sereza asked.
Silently, I reached over and gripped the orb and called to Chomperz. He swallowed the dust and the orb and shook his head before rushing back into my chest.
"Right, well, I''m sure it''s useful for something. But let''s avoid creepy eyeball orbs."
"Cyrus, I think you just looted a golem core."
I shrugged. "I already have a spider, thank you very much. No need for an inferior copy."
Erebus screeched into my head and I returned him to the soulspace. I scratched Zagreus and stood up, stretching.
"I have plenty of energy now. Let''s head back."
"Are we showing Celenae the orb?"
"What do you think?"
"Of course we are."
I grinned. "Exactly. Now let''s get out of here. I''m sick of metal spiders."
And it''s about damn time I tier up.
Chapter 29: Ambush
We turned a final bend only a couple of minutes away from what I deemed the ''fortress. But as Sereza stepped a foot past the corner mana screamed in my senses as a sharp vibrating spike of pressure.
I grasped her jacket and flung her behind me as a beam of energy engulfed the corridor. It pushed me back, burning my right leg.
Zharia rushed in and sucked in the flames while I shot to my feet.
"Sereza! You okay?"
"I''m good. What the fuck was that?"
"No idea."
I summoned a small gemstone and threw it into the hallway. A beat passed, there was no reaction.
Damnit.
"Retreat?"
"Our best bet is to grab the others. If we retreat we risk being cornered."
"What the fuck even is it. There shouldn''t be something that deadly on this floor."
"Help?" Zagreus asked.
My jaw strained as my teeth gnashed together. I could send Zagreus out but the lazer was strong enough to completely destroy his form. The backlash alone from it would be too crippling to be worth it.
I shook my head. "Sturmrorex, return for now. I''m summoning Magnus."
Sturmrorex nodded and rushed into my chest as the skill deactivated.
With a flex, Magnus appeared and he stalked closer to the corner. Mana picked up, and he growled as he stopped just shy of exposing himself.
"Ready!" he roared.
"Go but pull back."
He dashed forward and the pressure picked up. The tunnel shook as another lazer drowned the darkness in blinding orange. Magnus jumped, but the attack clipped his back legs and he screamed in pain.
I pulled him closer and retreated several feet. His legs were blackened and the left was severely injured, but his skill had activated and absorbed most of the damage.
It''s enough to fill his core and then some. What the fuck?
"Cyrus?"
Spirit Lord''s invocation.
Magnus became motes of light that shot into my chest. Fur sprouted from my limbs and crystals overlapped into a second layer. As the transformation settled, I delved into his memories and saw what Magnus managed to see before the attack.
"Sereza. It''s a crystal golem. Tall as the ceiling, nearly as wide as the tunnel."
"That shouldn''t be here."
No it shouldn''t. And I think I know why.
"Chances we could take it?"
She fiddled with her bandolier and uncapped one of her stronger acid vials. "Possibly. Not the worst we fought, but that attack is no joke. That''s definitely stronger than what the stories say."
We continued to back up, but kept vigilant behind us. Zharia scouted just in case while we watched the tunnel in front.
"An elite monster then?"
"Has to be," she said. She stopped and scowled with her tail pointed accusingly. "Is this because you fucked with the dungeon?"
"Maybe."
We stopped and Zharia returned to my shoulder.
"Nothing behind," she chirped.
"Decision time. It''s not following for some reason."
"Bait and run? We could bait an attack and dash for the fortress."
"Assuming it has a delay to its attacks."
"Only one way to find out. Can you absorb an attack?"
I shook my head. "Too much mana. Maybe some, but it''d overload me. I''m already pretty full and that was Magnus being clipped."
"Fuck."
We waited, debating on what to do before I sighed and pulled Zharia into my hands. "Here''s the plan. We bait an attack and try to draw its attention. You have to fly straight towards the others. Can you do it?"
"But we fight?!"
"No, it''s too strong. Grab them and we''ll be fine, okay?"
Sereza tapped her chest and grinned. "From all the crazy shit your master has gotten himself into, this is nothing. Go and save the day."
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
As we prepared I ran through different scenarios in my head. The worst one would be if the golem had an infinite supply of mana from the dungeon and no delay between attacks.
If that was the case, we were fucked.
Sereza dipped her blades into the acid concoction and I sent Zharia high. First step was drawing out multiple attacks.
After dismissing Zagreus, I summoned ¨¢ine in his stead and had her hide inside Sereza''s jacket.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready."
I stepped a foot into the hallway and retreated once mana built. There was a sharp warning whispered into my ear just as I pulled back.
The lazer glassed the tunnel and I stuck my claws out just enough to absorb some of the mana. It filled the receptacle and I compressed it down, refining it to make room.
Now for step two.
Three seconds after if fired I rushed into the hallway and laid eyes on the monster. Its chest was covered in flames that spiraled into a vortex in the center. I crossed my arms and waited to retreat but it didn''t attack.
Good. Step three.
My jaw dropped open and the energy rushed into my throat. Heat, pressure, power; I unleashed the attack and was rocked back as the condensed laser pierced the shadows.
I squeezed all of it out, going for the kill. As it neared, the golem''s lone eye flashed red as it slammed its arms together. It''s head retracted and my attack hit, crashing against the bulk its body.
The walls rumbled, and something scraped the ground, creating a high-pitch screech. As my core emptied my throat seized in pain and I waited for the light to clear.
Fuck.
The crystal was cracked but it pulled its arms apart and stood up mostly unscathed. The eye flashed red and the vortex in the center of its chest spun.
Flames spewed and the air thrummed.
A hand grabbed my hoodie and pulled me behind the wall as the golem unleashed its attack.
"Thanks," I croaked.
¨¢ine slapped her hands along my cheek and sent a burst of mana into my throat.
"So there is a delay," Sereza said.
I grinned. "Looks like it. But I don''t have another attack ready.
She channeled mana into her daggers and a yellow haze trailed behind the metal. "Ready."
This is going to suck.
"Zharia," I whispered. "Ready?"
"Yes!"
Alright then.
I held my arm outside the hallway and sure enough another attack came. As it engulfed my claws I pulled in the mana and squeezed. The neverending tide of energy filled me to the brim and then some, forcing me to pull back before the attack ended.
We rushed in and Sereza unleashed a salvo of daggers. They clinked off the crystal but left behind minute cracks for the acid to eat away.
As she covered Zharia who rushed for the exit, the golem eye flashed red and turned to follow my familiar.
"No you don''t!"
I pulled from the core and drew its attention.
Arms became a shield as my attack pushed against its defense. Sereza grabbed a vial and lobbed it. It splashed against the crystal, dousing it in oil that burned as the lazer set it alight.
Zharia zipped across the tunnel and swerved into the hallway past the golem.
My energy ran out and I signaled a retreat.
Sereza tossed another vial, one that properly exploded and pushed the golem back before grabbing and pulling me away.
We retreated and crouched low.
Sereza transferred ¨¢ine and smiled. "Now we wait."
It wasn''t long till we heard our rescuers. There was a loud crash and an echo of shattering glass before we rushed into the hallway.
The golem was surrounded by pillars of ice and barriers while Teddy stood atop the golem''s shoulders and raised his mace.
A golden giant version of it appeared before the golem and shattered its arms as he crushed its head.
When the hole in its chest sputtered flames a spear of electricity pierced its center and exploded. It wasn''t enough to stop it, but Igas was there and thrusted his sword all the way through, spraying the tunnel with crystal shards.
Isaac exited the wall and shook his head. "Not even half a day."
I grabbed his face and kissed his forehead. He sputtered and I laughed as I walked past and whistled at the destruction wrought by Broken Tower.
Zharia sent a burst of flames into the golem''s chest as Igas retracted his blade and started mocking its entire family line.
"Cyrus," Celenae said. "What did you do?"
"Probably pissed off the dungeon." Isaac scoffed.
"Is the dungeon sentient?"
"Mmm. The dungeon isn''t not sentient,¡± I said.
"Then wha-" she shook her head. "Nevermind. Are you two okay?"
Sereza nodded. "We are now.
I summoned Erebus and tossed him onto the golem''s corpse.
Teddy hopped off and kicked the still intact leg. "This is tougher than usual. Stronger than it should be."
"This isn''t supposed to be here right?"
"No."
"When we get back I''m going to try something. Will you guys be willing to guard me?"
Teddy shook his head. "Didn''t need to ask. Of course we will."
Then it''s time to have a chat.
***
I settled into the beanbag and tapped my head.
"Pillage memories!" Galarion shouted.
"Not yet. If they do something stupid, go ahead."
"Yes!"
Outloud I cleared my throat and waited as the others quieted. "I''m starting."
My palm laid flat against the floor and sent mana through the stone. I searched, till the bubbly feeling rose into my chest.
I threaded my mana and pierced the floor connecting to the stream of information that recoiled at my intrusion.
"Abort! Abort! Abort!"
Pain lanced my skull eliciting a groan. Galarion absorbed the damage and pulled away the useless information, leaving behind only what I needed.
Teddy activated his healing skill and the soothing mana washed over me.
"Thanks."
"Good to continue?" he asked.
I gave him a thumbs-up and adjusted my hand to the wall. The bubbles rose and I probed the connection.
Gotcha.
This time I funneled as much mana as possible into the spike and pushed deep. My brain became a ball of fire but I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain.
"Go away!"
Through the agony an image of a large room appeared. The walls were adorned with moving gears that spun in all directions. The lights were of golden crystals suspended from metal thread.
And in the center was a dais of intricately carved hands holding a glowing orb. Beside it was a terrified and shivering fairy.
The connection snapped and I collapsed. I opened my eyes as Sereza dabbed at my nose.
"You''re bleeding," she said.
"Sorry."
"Did whatever you''re doing work?"
"Yes. Next time I got it."
"Still can''t explain what it is?"
I chuckled. "Sorry."
She sighed and I closed my eyes. The fucker was scared. That was good. The asshole tried to kill us.
My hand remained on the same spot but instead of battering the gates with a cannon, I refined my mana into a spear threaded perfectly to fit in the pathway hidden inside the stone.
I slipped it in and cut deep. The bubbles transformed into tingles that made me feel like I was floating on a cloud.
The room appeared as did its occupants. A pulse of energy threatened to destroy the connection but I channeled the feeling in my chest and held on.
The room shrank as I pushed closer. The fairy grabbed onto the orb with wide golden eyes.
"Get back! Stay away!"
My mouth moved but the words didn''t come. Then knowledge flowed into my head, supported by my perk.
I adjusted the mana into a different pathway and it clicked into place.
My words were shaky, and sounded as if I was screaming from underwater.
"So you''re the assholes who tried to kill me. Let''s talk about that."
Chapter 30: Dangerous Actions
"Wha-I... Ahhhh."
My consciousness tried to form something but was rebuffed. Instead, I pushed closer and came within spitting distance.
The fairy had bronze skin that gleamed in the golden light. Her eyes were golden orbs and her hair was rivulets of oxidized metal, filled with splotches of green. Her wings were an amalgamation of floating blades and gears that spun in place.
"Go away!" the masculine voice screamed.
"You." I pointed a finger that didn''t exist but the connection allowed something to pass through since the dungeoncore pulled away. "Explain yourself."
The fairy finally found courage and held up her hands. "Please don''t hurt us. We''re so sorry."
"Names."
The core pulsed. "Gi-Gimbal."
"Neolenn," the fairy offered.
I checked in with Galarion and he gave me a mental thumbs-up. The strain had lessened and he was eating his fill as he helped reduce the pain. He served as Xena did and funneled away the useless information.
But it would overwhelm him and me, soon.
Got to get through this before the connection breaks.
Once more I pulled on information from the perk. What the dungeon had did was against the unspoken rules.
"Why did you attack me and my friend? You broke the pact as dungeon master and ambushed an occupied floor."
"We didn''t!" Gimbal protested. "We didn''t summon new monsters!"
His companion slapped his side, the metal of her hand ringing against the crystalized glass beneath the curtain of mana that made up Gimbal''s form.
"Shut up!"
"Bu-"
I shook my head. "I don''t care. Answer my question or I''ll force my way into the core room."
It was an empty threat, but they didn''t know it. I wasn''t about to rob a kingdom of a highly populated dungeon in the center of their capital city.
There was some whispering at the edges of my thoughts, like a sound I wasn''t supposed to hear.
Eventually, Neolenn nodded slowly.
"My apologies, lord. We were afraid. Never before has a mortal connected with the dungeon. We reacted poorly. Forgive us."
"No."
Neolenn took a step back and Gimbal shifted to protect her.
"I won''t let you touch her!"
The mana thread I used as an anchor to my body was starting to fray at the edges. There wasn''t much time left.
"Cease your attempts at an attack. If you force my hand..."
Galarion stepped in and transmitted the memories of Xena trapped and alone. Her connection with her core severed as he was caught under the god''s control.
I lowered my voice but kept it neutral. "Do you two understand?"
"Yes!" they spoke.
I was ready to leave it at that, but they did try to kill Sereza and me.
"As an apology I require a boon. You will give it to the felkin that was with me. Is that understood?"
"Bu-"
Smack!
Neolenn nodded vigorously. "We understand. It will be done."
The mana thread was on its last legs. I channeled my voice in a final warning even as my consciousness was tugged back to my body.
"I plan on ascending. It will release an energy that will draw eyes upon your dungeon. Mention nothing to those who ask lest you seek destruction. Do not interfere, do not divulge my secrets, and do not touch my companions."
I saw the fairy shiver with shaky hands before the connection snapped and I crashed back into my body.
The tingling burned and I leaned to the side, coughing up blood that coated my tongue.
I waved off the other''s concern as I basked in Teddy''s skill. Once I felt whole enough to speak I finally opened my eyes and groaned.
"That sucked."
"What did you do?" Isaac snarled.
I looked to the ceiling and growled.
"Cyrus?" Celenae asked.
There we go...
Mana formed and the others felt it but I held up a hand and pointed to the ground where a small brass chest was materializing.
The others stared in shock and I waited till the mana stopped before nudging the chest closer to Sereza.
"Got you an apology gift. Don''t ask."
"How could I not?!" she protested.
I shrugged. "Just don''t. Not like you haven''t seen this before."
She massaged her temples and grabbed the box. She inspected it and probed the lock. If it was boobytrapped I was going to maim the core, consequences be damned.
She opened it carefully and Celenae was ready with her fingers twitching, purple light wisping off her fingers.
But as Sereza opened the chest, she cocked her head. "Huh."
"Well? What is it?" Isaac asked.
She pulled out a small brass vial shaped like a teardrop. It was corked with a wood stopper and had a latch holding it down.
I spotted the runes for containment and preserve etched into the lip.
"Should I open it?"
"Wait!" Igas shouted.
The betting board appeared and there was a round of bets before Sereza was finally allowed to open the mystery vial.
A sharp odor filled the room. It was pungent, and acrid, like the world''s strongest bleach. As it settled a tinge of ozone similar to being near Eodyne during her attacks crawled into the back of my throat.
I tasted copper and rust.
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Sereza lightly poured a drop onto the floor where it sat.
"Well that''s disappointing. From the smell I almost expected it to melt through the floor."
I had a hunch and summoned a spool of metal thread. I measured a few inches and held it in front of Isaac. "Cut this please?"
He hesitant swiped his dagger cleanly through before staring at the spool. "What''s that?"
"Loot. From the spider golems."
I positioned the thread over the drop and slowly lowered it into the liquid. Instantly, the thread sizzled and melted away. The liquid didn''t stop, the drop climbed the thread and I let go as it ate it whole.
"Well," I said. "Looks like its metal-specific acid. Congrats. Can you absorb it?"
"Maybe?" Sereza held the vial closer and hummed before inserting it into her bandolier. "You know what? Thanks. I was looking for an acid strong enough to eat through metals."
I grinned and let Celenae begin her battery of tests. As she did, I summoned the loot we acquired and handed them over. The golem core was especially interesting, but Celenae did her best to control her obsession and catalogued the items.
While everyone finally settled I closed my eyes and started refining my mana channels. The faster I ranked up the quicker we could get out of the dungeon.
-------
I opened my eyes and breathed in the chill air around us. It was soothing in a way, and I used the distraction to center myself.
Celenae and Teddy were playing a boardgame while Sereza, Igas, and Isaac argued about something. Only Eodyne was alone and resting her eyes.
"It''s time," I declared.
The conversations ceased.
"Truly?" Celenae asked, eagerly.
I nodded. "It is. Do you still want to go through the transformations and log them before I pushed the last rank?"
A pile of notebooks appeared and she rifled through the pages.
Sereza crossed her arms. "So we did all this so you can tier up? I mean congrats, but why all the secrecy for just tier two?"
"Oh Sereza," Isaac said as he patted her shoulder. "I''ll toast your death."
"What in the hells are you talking about?"
A shot glass was in his hand, and judging by the smell it was some form of rum. He downed it and hissed as a drop spilled down his throat.
"To your innocence. May it be cherished now that it is lost."
Igas shook his head. "I think we''ve been in the capital too long. Teddy''s parents are rubbing off on you."
Isaac froze, his eyes filled with panic.
I chuckled and stood up. "You''ll find out soon enough. You ready, Celenae?"
"Yes. You may begin. Start with ¨¢ine."
I channeled Verdant Healer and Spirit Lord''s Invocation. ¨¢ine appeared long enough to twirl before her form broke apart.
As her mana settled into place I raised my arms and stared at the subtle glow along my fingers.
"I don''t remember my skin glowing."
"Glowing skin could be like Magnus'' change. Just another visual representation. Has your ability to heal changed at all?"
I used my nails to cut my arm and sent a burst of mana into the injury. It sealed and looked as good as new.
"Same as before."
I closed my eyes and felt the mana nodes on my back. Part of me hoped there was a change, like the beginning of wings but I would settle for seeing what the tier one evolution brought to the table.
"Alright, next?"
I undid the transformation and hugged ¨¢ine goodbye. Zharia was next and she turned into a miniature inferno as she appeared.
"Ready!"
Her transformation was the same as usual, and so was Magnus''s.
I let each of my familiars have their time modelling for Celenae who drew a picture for each of them before they returned to my soulspace.
Erebus was fourth and this time I did notice a subtle change to the transformation.
"These are sharper, maybe a centimeter longer too," I said while splaying my claws for Celenase to examine. "Strange. I think Erebus'' transformation is nearly as unused as ¨¢ine''s. Why would it change?"
"Could be your perception or even your familiar''s perception of the skill."
"Erebus might have learned to refine the looting process on his own and that influenced the change," Teddy added.
I shrugged. Any change was welcome. It meant progress.
The skill deactivated and Sturmrorex appeared in a flash of light accompanied by the crackle of thunder and a howling gale. Fog spilled forth wetting the skin of everyone within reach.
"Hey!" Celenae growled. She looked up behind her barrier and pointed her pen like a knife.
The effects stopped and Sturmrorex apologized. I cut the guy some slack and activated my skill.
There was a change, a lot less subtle than the others. I tugged at my hair and summoned a mirror. The edges of silver were tinged with bright orange.
"It''s grown too. Maybe an inch?" Sereza said.
Celenae jotted it down. "Noted. Skill changes?"
I extended my hand and shot a bolt of electricity into the wall. It singed it black and I inhaled slowly. The very air around me felt alive, and under control as if I could nudge it any direction, and change its path.
Damn. This is cool.
It was a transformation I had been egregiously under utilizing. That would have to change going forward. The ability to command the sky to my will was too tempting to let lie.
"No changes."
When Sturmrorex reformed he beamed with pride and pushed his head against mine.
"I''m excited!" he whispered.
"We''re not conquering the skies yet, but we''re getting closer."
"The heavens will shake with our roar!"
I hugged him tight and said goodbye, pausing long enough to get everyone''s attention.
"Next is Galarion. I know some of you are uncomfortable, so I''m warning you ahead of time."
"Just don''t touch my head or I''ll stab you," Isaac grumbled.
"Promise I won''t. Am I allowed to begin?"
Galarion plopped out of my skull and squished into my awaiting palm. He was wearing a robe this time, one made of swirling clouds of cosmic dust.
He saluted and I saluted back. As he entered my body, there was a gentle pressure on my mind that expanded my senses.
As the transformation took hold I opened my eyes and stared at the world.
Woah.
Things were the same but there were additional elements. Surrounding each person was an aura of colored light just above their skin. Eodyne''s was blinding blue and sharp. It spiked in places and were calm in others, and as I caught her gaze the aura turned jagged.
Isaac''s was the same, more of a black haze but with jagged lines that grew sharper the longer I stared.
"Stop looking at me like that," he growled.
I reached for the hand mirror and stared at the spinning rainbow circles in my eyes. They grew in size and retracted like rubber bands as they were forced into place when I blinked.
It wasn''t the worst look, and I didn''t see any strange additions to my skin or hair. But as I held up my fingers there was a subtle shift in the air. As I moved around it was like watching myself move in water and seeing the streams that followed my actions.
I concentrated and the transparent blob surrounding my fingers stretched and elongated nearly a foot away from my hand.
Trippy.
The longer I stared the clearer the blob became. Soon enough, I watched it ripple like a disturbed pond and blossom into a kaleidoscope of different colors. It brought forth a touch of mana from within, each a different taste, a flavor.
Golden yellow that warmed my skin, an electrifying pale-blue that misted my fingers; it kept changing, reminding me of my familiars.
"What do you see?" Sereza asked.
I blinked at the strange thin film surrounding her body. It felt weak, and pathetic. It had splotches of green and deep yellow with a swirling pink hidden at the center just above her sternum.
I reached a hand out and brushed against the film before she slapped my hand away and pressed her back against the wall.
"Don''t do that again," she demanded.
"What did it feel like?"
"Like you rubbed against my brain."
I turned to Igas who displayed an aura of solid white tinged with blue. It locked together like plates of armor around him. Even as I stared it remained whole and unmoving.
Interesting. Makes sense.
Celenae''s was the same but it reminded me of her barriers overlapping across her body.
And finally, I turned to Teddy. I had tried to ignore him but now that I caught sight of it, it was impossible to miss.
His aura was the sun, a gentle warmth that hid a wellspring of power. I could barely see past it¨Cnot without concentrating. And it wasn''t a bubble or a haze like the others, but in the shape of a lantern. He cocked his head, and the image remained unmoving.
It finally clicked, and I took another pass around the room.
"I think... I think I can see your aura? This is weird."
Click!
Celenae brandished her pen like a sword ready for battle. "Describe it."
After a solid half hour of explaining everything in excruciating detail, I was finally given permission to test the skill''s ability and tapped into Teddy''s mind.
His thoughts were clear to me and we even communicated telepathically.
As I pulled away he shivered.
"That was an experience. Probably need some practice with that or you''ll be noticed the moment you attempt to connect."
I frowned. "Galarion does it so easily. That''s annoying."
Teddy patted my shoulder. "It''s not a bad thing having to practice. Consider it a privilege that you get to explore your powers. Some skills are beyond simple."
I dropped the transformation and returned Galarion to the soulspace.
"Last one. Ready, Celenae?"
"Begin," she ordered.
Zagreus splashed onto the floor and rose his three heads high. "Hi!"
He did his rounds and got his scritches in before I leaned down.
"This will be our first transformation. Excited?"
"Yes! Together with Master!" he hissed.
Spirit Lord''s Invocation.
His mana flowed into me rather than shoot and it pierced deep into my chest. My heart thumped and a flood of power rushed into my limbs.
As I observed the internal changes, my hands and arms grew patches of red scales and my fingers sharpened into powerful claws. They were meaty, far thicker than any transformation¨Ceven Magnus''.
"Oh this is cool." I punched the air and my fist created a low whistle. "I could get used to this. Hey Arturous, fist bump."
I extended my arm and Arturous knocked his far larger fist into mine. The impact transferred but it was far reduced and absorbed by the scales at the end. They shook the excess energy before returning to normal.
"Celenae, barrier."
A barrier formed before me and I jabbed. There was a smack and I punched again and again, till I ran out of steam.
Celenae stood up and sketched the barrier on a new page, including the thin cracks lining the crystal.
"Felt like Igas'' blows. What about your feet?"
They had red claws and scales extending across the boots and shin guards but they weren''t the same as my fists. They didn''t look like bear paws.
I did a series of kicks with a lot less damage.
Celenae added the entry and summoned a blade. "Zagreus has the ability to regenerate. Shall we test the blood?"
I nodded and she stabbed the blade through the back of my hand. It sunk deep before it reached my actual skin and nicked my knuckles.
The injury sealed itself and the fists regenerated. As the scales hardened I flexed and threw another punch.
"Not bad. Increased regeneration then. How extensive do we want to test this?"
Celenae''s smile reached her ears.
"Extensively."
Chapter 31: Ascendence
"And you''re sure that you can''t activate your aura skill?" Celenae asked for the hundredth time.
I backed away and slid behind Arturous, using his fur as cover.
"Cyrus,¡± she growled.
"Listen here, devil woman. Enough with your testing. You''ll get to grill me after I do the thing. Be gone!"
I peeked and the elf had her arms crossed. Luckily, Arturous came to my rescue and slowly nudged her back with his massive snout.
"Fine. But just know that you''ll be glad I was thorough!"
A shudder wracked my body at the reminder of just how many injuries I had suffered under her battery of ''tests.''
As Celenae backed off, I tossed a sack of honey candy into Arturous'' awaiting paw. He rocked on his haunches and nearly battered Igas who had to summon a pillar to escape being squished.
"Watch out, you oaf!"
"Guys," Teddy said. "Calm down. Cyrus, how do you want to do this? There''s an exit on this floor but the fastest way out of the dungeon is to go down one and grab an exit portal there."
"We assume that the shadow mana obfuscates what I''m about to do," I countered.
"It doesn''t hurt to think that. Knowing your peculiarities, there''s a good chance it doesn''t matter what we do. But, and this is important, Cal recommended we come into the dungeon, it has to help somewhat."
"Fair enough. Alright. We''re doing this. Just prepare for a mad dash."
Sereza held up her hand. "Hi, Sereza here. Still no idea what is happening but, will this disrupt the dungeon at all? And if it does, would the guildmaster want to ask questions?"
"Ahh... Maybe? Let''s hope not."
I plopped onto the beanbag and shut the others out.
(T:0 R:9) Summon Familiar: Felblood Sanguinarch (Zagreus)
It was so close, the mana begged for permission and I relented. As it pushed at the channels and forced the last expansion there was a chime inside my chest.
STATUS
Name: Cyrus
Race: Reborn (Felkin)
Age: ??
Tier: 1 (Pending)
Active Skills: (Pending)
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: Verdant Healer: (¨¢ine)
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: Resplendent Inferno: (Zharia)
(T:1 R:0) Racial Skill: Dimensional Storage: (Chomperz)
(T:1 R:0) Spirit Lord''s Invocation
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: The Dead Will Provide (Erebus)
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: Reflective Coat of the Mirror Beast (Magnus)
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: Storm King''s Tempest (Sturmrorex)
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: Shroud of the Astral Archon (Galarion)
(T:1 R:0) Roar of the Spirit Lord
(T:1 R:0) Absolute Authority
(T:1 R:0) Summon Familiar: Felblood Sanguinarch (Zagreus)
Passive Skills: (Pending)
(T:1 R:0) Etherious Blood
(T:1 R:0) Sovereign-Threaded Soul
(T:1 R:0) Chaotic Resonance
(T:1 R:0) Spirit''s Lord''s Echo
(T:1 R:0) Split-Mind Cultivation
Perks:
Legacy of the Obsidian Crown
Scion of Calstrax
Demonic Blood
Child of Mana
Dread Guardian''s Apology
Crystal Synthesis
Devourer of the Deep
Whisper of the Tempest
False Dungeon Core
Unleashed Soul
Astral Lotion
Blood Pact (Stage One)
Huh. Wonder why it says pend-
The world contracted and an explosion of color assaulted my vision. My stomach burned and the feeling morphed into spikes that clawed at my insides until it reached my chest.
Wha-
The world contracted a second time, this time filling my mouth with each color and sound as the others started to gather around me.
Teddy was the first to reach out but a wall of flames rose from the beanbag and pushed him back. He said something but it tasted like cherry pie and sparkling soda.
A third contraction brought the pain into a crescendo of agony that infiltrated my gut and pushed into my soulspace.
My familiars screamed in alarm and I shut the pain out to delve inside.
As I appeared in the center of the island, my familiars rose in their full forms, and not floating balls of light. They each stood atop their pedestals and roared at the floating amalgamation of golden tentacles hovering above the island.
"You dare consume a god! Devour! Destroy! Decay! I will not be undone by a whelpling! Drown beneath the waves!"
The voice pushed me back, hitting me like a brick wall.
Instead of desserts and sharp soda, a putrid, acrid stench wormed its way into my nose, covering my soul with its slime.
It reminded me of when Chomperz devoured the divine fragment, but it was less. In fact... it was a pathetic copy burning the last of its will to enact vengeance and supremacy.
I rose above the island and my familiars joined me, each spirit a soldier by my side.
"Hey, you dead bitch. This is my soul."
"Sink! Die! Suffer the rot as it consumes your lif-"
From the runes along the island, golden threads emerged. They were razor thin but spouted a power far beyond what my tier suggested.
They cut into the amalgam, bleeding it dry of the stolen mana it pilfered before wrapping it whole. I flexed my will and the threads dragged the fragment closer, stripping away the remnant willpower and exposing the core.
Despite my expectations, I was ready for a crystal, or a sphere, but instead I was greeted with a single rune. One that existed in three dimensions and beyond.
It pulsated, like a throbbing heart. It was revolting and tantalizing at the same time. Part of me sought to devour it, claim it as my own. The other wanted to rip it to shreds, annihilate from existence and erase the disgust that welled within me.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Chomperz landed on my shoulder. I turned to look into his eyes and he chomped the air.
"What do we do with it?"
He reached for one of the threads and it shifted closer, just beyond his reach.
There was... a knocking sensation at the edge of my consciousness. I welcomed it, and knowledge inserted itself.
Oh. That could work.
While I wasn''t about to throw away divinity, I wasn''t going to make part of the god''s truth of the world part of mine.
The decay, the death and the corruption hidden beneath the waves, it agitated another part of my soul, one that wanted to devour it and burn it as fuel.
Then I''ll just strip away the unwanted parts and mince them down into scraps of power.
My fingers danced and the threads constricted tighter, carving the rune apart. At its core, it remained: the Tide of Decay.
But the influence it possessed was cut away and left bare, pieces that sank into the island below and served to further empower the threads that bound the rune.
"Only one last thing to do." I waited for Chomperz to turn and motioned to the rune. "Take it. We''re connected and what empowers you empowers me, right? If we hide it inside you, it''ll be easier to escape unwanted attention."
Chomperz cocked his head and glided closer till his nose touched mine.
Chomp.
It tickled and I brushed him off but not before he grabbed the golden threads. Unlike the tentacles, he remained unharmed and untouched. They wound around his claws and brought the rune closer. Slowly, he reached forward and devoured it whole.
Chomp!
The threads retracted and I sank onto the floor, a great pressure squeezing down. Before Chomperz crashed into the lake, I dived and dragged him onto land. His body shuddered with veins of gold pulsating across his scales. More knowledge flowed into my mind and I acted on its command.
My palm pushed into his stomach and I forced a cut with my nails drawing the divine power away from his tiny body and into mine. It stung like lightning bolts assaulting my limb, but I gritted my teeth and drew enough away that Chomperz stopped convulsing.
As I pushed down his paw pushed my hand away with surprising strength and he sat up. The golden lines were gone but the ring inside his eyes blazed with crimson light. He rushed into the air and moved to the center of the island as he swiped his claw down, the island rumbled and the lake grew waves that rocked the realm.
Slowly, the obsidian bulged and grew, becoming a pillar nearly twice my height. I whistled as it morphed into a rough throne.
Chomperz landed on the back, the central support splitting into two wings that extended just beyond the island itself.
"Buddy. If that''s your pedestal then I have to object. It''s a little unfair to the others.
Chomp!
I chuckled. "I''m kidding. I know who it''s for. Are you sure it''s really necessary?"
"Master! It is only right for you to have one!" Sturmrorex roared.
"He''s right!" Zharia chirped.
I took in my familiars each on their own respective pedestals. ¨¢ine nodded, as did Magnus. Erebus waved, and I wasn''t entirely sure he understood the situation. Galarion was changing forms faster than I could blink and Zagreus wagged his tail without saying a word.
"Fine. Fine. Can''t deny inner-edgy me finds this fucking awesome."
My fingers brushed the rough glass and the divine power inside my hand spilled out, stamping the throne with a golden rune. I didn''t recognize it, and it looked half-formed at best. But it felt weirdly mine.
As I reached for it, the throne rippled, the glass becoming shards that smoothed over into something more refined and clear.
Well... no use delaying.
I sucked in air I didn''t need and plopped onto the seat. At once, the throne morphed under me and the two wings in the back spread wide and encircled the island. I watched the pink glow of the mana pool disappear behind the black glass and braced as the world breathed.
***
I blinked and stared at the void. It was wrong and I sought to correct it.
One by one my familiars appeared, each a beacon of mana that blazed with the fury of a sun around their bodies.
Next was a plethora of skillwisps. They floated into view and rotated around me.
Only one last skill was missing. And as I recognized that thought, Chomperz appeared on my right. He pushed his paw into mine and a single thread of woven mana spooled into my palm. Chomperz shuddered and his form broke apart into a swirling rainbow of colors. His shape reformed, but longer, his horns taller and his head far less childlike. His wings were now the length of my arms, and covered in crystal scales that shifted between purple and black.
His eyes were the last to settle, and when they did, the crimson circles were gone and in their place was a band of chaotic colors that spun lazily in his eyes.
Chomp!
"How does it feel?"
He raised his thumb.
As he looked up he rocketed into the air as a beam of light.
"Okay... Next?"
My familiars formed a line and took their place. As their mana joined mine they shed their old forms and took on new ones.
I almost shed a tear at them losing their cute chibi bodies, but I remained strong and waved goodbye to Zagreus, the now way-too-large puppy hydra.
My skills continued to rotate around me. Barely more than strings of light, I watched them for a time till I extended my hand and commanded them to halt. Golden threads erupted out like a spiderweb and connected to each one. Slowly they rocketed out of the void, leaving me alone.
Cal''s such a dirty liar. This is the exact opposite of easy.
I sighed and held out my wrist. The Legacy mark appeared, and it thumped in time to my heartbeat.
"I Cyrus, declare to the Grand Weave my acceptance. I am ready to ascend and claim my right."
The mark detached from my skin and hovered before me. It stretched and stretched until I stared at a giant, a different will--immutable and unending. It extended its own thread, chains of red string that swallowed the void.
From a dangling strand, crimson text appeared along with the chime of bells in the distance.
[Begin Ascension?]
I closed my eyes.
"Yes."
Chapter 32: Evolution
I was the storm, the fire, and the raging tide. Within me was calamity and chaos. But I wasn''t ready, it could not be channeled within my soul.
If I continued on my path I would fall short. From the wellspring of potentia, it would reduce me to ash.
Ding!
The bell erased the flurry, the smoke and the darkness. The upside-down triquetra loomed above, an eye of a being so far beyond any that I''ve met.
It judged, and found me lacking.
Its strings bound my wrist and stabbed into my chest. The tendrils spread into my veins and further, deeper. They infiltrated my mana channels and filled them with power as the threads touched my core.
It judged again, bolstering me with the eddies of energy churning outside the eye of the storm.
There was potential. An unbound ball of yarn begging to be woven into the tapestry¨Cto tell its story beyond a smattering of pretty colors.
Power was given, but there had to be a price. The thread inside my chest swelled. Gifting me energy and took something in exchange.
The seed of potentia reaped its fill and expanded.
Ding!
But not too much.
The threads retracted, leaving the gaping wound to seal over. The glyph on my chest released its control and overwhelmed my skin. It weaved the new power into its mark, pumping where my heart failed.
The seed sprouted its first roots and the seal borrowed the power of another. Golden threads intertwined, securing it in place.
Ding!
And then it disappeared into the confines of my soul.
The eye vibrated with pressure, the storm demanding to move, to shift and expand in a new direction. It had taken its time and there was a lot left untouched, unrefined, and wanting.
But it had to move on.
The eye flared and the mark shrunk, returning to its former size. It slid down my skin and anchored itself onto my wrist, binding with my soul once more.
In the absence of its will, the void rushed in, tearing away what scraps of power it could in its efforts to consume.
But it was my power, and I wasn''t about to let it go.
With a flex, the energy slipped into my hand, consecrating into a ball that I shoved through my mana channels. I couldn''t contain it for long. There was more than a tier one should ever have, but what I ripped away was mine alone.
It joined the center of my chest and the island in my soulrealm drank deep before the void sucked the last of the energy into its hungry maw.
That was fine. I had achieved what I needed. And now... my body was ready for the final change.
The energy had to go somewhere and it drew from my soul and its experience.
My soul contained the raging inferno, a beautiful thing that brought the fury of the sun. Beside it was the calming breeze amidst a forest, a boon of soft flowers and rejuvenating fruit. It hid the shadows that dwelled underneath the foliage, the cold decay that brought renewal through death.
And hidden underground, yet all around, was the stillness of crystal that rejected the chaos that sought to move it. From its shine it sought simply to sit and enjoy, unlike the storm that raged in the sky above.
It was harsh, majestic, and illuminating. The cold rain joined the hail as the lightning danced between the drops. With each crackle of thunder, the wind would not be forgotten as it added its howls into the symphony.
Further still, in the stars beyond, thoughts flowed free, jubilant and whimsical before the nightmares pransed and tore the fabric of space.
And that left one more, the jealous serpent that swam around from one point to another. It''s form split to give attention to many, and demand the interest in return. Both a ball of life and energy that tapped into something deep and ancient while swallowing toxins and corruption. The serpent dipped its scales into everything in a desperate bid to be noticed.
My familiars were the main proponents that fueled what my soul defined as me but there was more. The subtle roar of a commander empowering its allies, the ball of endless forms that sat unrefined until it connected to another, and even the rumbling runes that dotted the landscape; it took from all and shaped the change.
Blood burned with mana, bones shattered and regrew as crystal, and multiple streams of thought directed the power.
A strange sensation erupted from my back, the crystal in my physical body¨Cthe one that sat inside my stomach¨Cit broke apart to fuel the new growth. It didn''t stop there and pushed into my skull where the extensions protruding from my head itched and burned like a thousand fire ants.
I floated through the nothingness until the sensation stopped and the changes slowed. As it reached the crescendo of evolution, the chime bells played and I slammed back into my conscious body.
DING!
***
"Uuuugh. Cal, you lying sack of shit..." I whispered.
My head throbbed but it eventually settled. For a time, I kept my eyes closed and embraced the calm that slowly crept in. I could already feel the difference but it felt natural if uncomfortable.
Hooray... I get to skip second puberty. Let''s get this over with. I''ll bake them a nice cake as an apology, surely that''ll shut Isaac up.
As I opened my eyes I shut them again and counted to three.
Yeah no, what the fuck?
The others¨Cdespite what I expected--were not lounging around or desperately battering the barrier in an attempt to rescue me.
Instead, they were frozen.
"Uhhh. What the fuck is happening?"
They weren''t in slow motion but frozen. Igas was mid-swing, as was Teddy and Isaac. Celenae had her staff pointed at the ready and Eodyne had a bolt drawn next to her ear.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Even Sereza and Arturous were behind me and posed to attack.
I tried to stand up but something tripped my leg and I fell forward, cracking my head against the barrier. At once, the unending will returned and I stared into the abyss before the crimson eye retreated.
Fuck!
I tasted copper and started heaving before there was a sharp crack and I looked up.
Igas'' sword had touched the barrier, the ice around it crunching with the impact.
Wha-
I dived as the other''s unleashed their assault.
"Stop! Everybody stop!" Teddy commanded.
Isaac''s tendril smacked my leg and I lunged for his ankle and sank my teeth through his pants.
"Aaagh! Monster! Attack!" he shouted.
I released him and glared at the rogue as Celenae waved away a barrier.
"Cyrus? Is that you?"
"Who else would it be?"
"Well, you certainly look different. How?"
"I tiered-up? Why?"
Teddy helped me up and I flopped onto the beanbag as everyone settled. They stared, more than few with suspicion in their eyes.
Except for Celenae, she was burning ink as she churned through pages. As I cocked my head, Sereza''s jaw dropped.
"Okay, what''s up?"
Teddy cleared his throat. "Cyrus. One moment you were convulsing, the next... You''re well..."
I frowned but Igas summoned a thin sheet of ice and Teddy provided light.
"Oh. Ooooh"
I started from the top. My horns were no longer bone but instead crystalline. It retained its silver color but there was a transparency to them that wasn''t there before the evolution.
Next were my eyes, the pink glow having gained a chromatic line around the orbs.
I smiled and found my teeth still teeth-coloured, but like my horns there was a subtle difference. As my thumb pushed onto my canine, I clacked them together.
They were sharper, and probably longer. It was impressive enough to give the meanest dracula competition.
"Well that''s not too big of a change. You can close your mouth."
Sereza raised her hand and pointed behind me.
"What?" I asked.
"Cyrus. Congrats? But what in the hells?"
Slowly, I turned and froze as something sweeped the ground. I didn''t see it at first because it was nearly invisible.
Four feet of crystalline tail whipped the air trailing a spectral flame that burned at the tip.
Stop.
The tail slapped against the wall, eliciting a dull sting on a part of my body I wasn''t use to feeling.
Stop!
It didn''t listen and I reached to grab it. It used the pointed tip at the end and smacked my hand away.
I stared in disbelief.
Sereza giggled before erupting into a laughing fit as she rolled across the floor.
"Not funny."
"It''s... Holy fuck. Oh that''s really funny. You''re like a newborn kit!"
I reached for her tail and she jumped away. "What''s the issue?"
"It won''t listen."
She snorted but reined it in. "Cyrus, it''s not a familiar. It''s a muscle. Force it to stop, don''t ask it."
It took a minute but my tail stopped long enough for me to reach out and examine the new appendage. It was thin, reminding me of a stereotypical devil''s tail, including the arrow-headed tip at the end. But even as I held it up to the mirror I could barely make out its form.
The flames that sprouted from the tip were lion-like in shape, a chromatic fire similar to my eyes. From red to crimson then sharp yellow and deep purple, it was mesmerizing.
Sereza placed her hand above the fire and frowned. "There''s no heat."
"Describe it better!" Celenae shouted, not bothering to look up from her furious scribbling.
"Just that. It''s on fire, but there''s no heat, nor cold." She stopped and met my eyes. "Can I touch it?"
I nodded.
She ran her hand along the length and stopped near the tip. She tapped her thumb and blood spilled as she pulled back.
"Fuck that¡¯s sharp."
I channeled my magic and it connected instantly. ¨¢ine appeared and she healed the cut.
"Oh, well don''t you look amazing. I''m loving the new dress,"
¨¢ine twirled, the petals of her dress lighting at the tips as she curtsied.
"Taller. Gained two inches. New clothes. Wing''s are bigger, and more colorful. Hair still green, eyes still black," Celenae muttered. She paused and nodded to herself. "Will test for new abilities. Expected new healing method."
She landed on my shoulder and gave me a hug. "New form is good. Thank you."
"Don''t thank me, I promised this."
"Promise kept."
She waved goodbye and dived into my chest, earning an outcry from Celenae.
"Bring her back!"
"Later. I think it''s time we get out of here."
"But-"
Teddy shook his head. "Cyrus is right. We should leave now before trouble shows up."
"I resent the implication," I protested.
"And yet you''re not denying it," Isaac said.
I ignored the insult and placed my hand along the wall. It was only a small test, so I didn''t need to summon Galarion.
As my mana connected and pushed through the pathway underneath the stone, I was met with a scream that rattled my eardrums.
"Get out! Get out! Get out!"
"Hey! Calm down!"
"Keeper! You must leave! The monsters are not under our control! They''re coming for you!"
The connection snapped and a pounding headache thumped across my skull.
"Cyrus? What''s wrong?" Teddy asked.
I coughed. "Time to leave. Dungeon''s going crazy."
"I fucking called it. You owe me five gold!" Isaac shouted.
Chapter 33: Dungeon Escape!
We rushed through the passages and headed for the exit a few minutes out.
"Cyrus, what did you do?!" Sereza shouted.
"Nothing! Maybe I met god but this isn''t my fault," I snapped.
"God? But there are multiple gods. Did you mean Cal?"
"Uh well no..."
"By the gods he met something beyond divinity. We''re fucking dead," Isaac growled.
"Shut up," Teddy ordered. "Cyrus left or right?"
"Right."
We hopped over a cleverly concealed pitfall and dived under mesh of razor-thin thread. As we turned left, Celenae conjured a barrier and we crashed into the crystal while she peeled herself off Igas'' back.
"Hey!" Isaac complained.
Another blade-like limb crashed into the barrier before Eodyne extended her hand and created a wall of air that crushed the golem into a crumpled ball.
Beyond the corpse, the skittering golems scrambled down the narrow passage in an attempt to dismember us.
"Years of delving this dungeon, Cyrus. The spiders don''t attack like this!" Isaac grumbled.
Celenae lowered the barrier and Igas charged in. His sword bisected two golems in one swing then he stomped. Ice pillars smashed the rest into the ceiling before they crumbled with metal bits raining down and pinging off his armor.
We rushed through the tunnel and encountered another four groups, each bigger than the previous. By the fifth group Isaac roared and slipped into the shadows.
"Isaac! Get back here," Celenae shouted.
Teddy held out his arm and shook his head. "Let him clear the way. We should be near the exit."
"Why is he even mad? Like, I get being annoyed at Cyrus but he seems weirdly angry," Sereza said.
"Because this is his favorite floor. He practically lived in here for months when he was training."
"And that''s angering, how?"
"He doesn''t do well with change," Teddy said, deadpanned.
"Oh."
As we ran through the final section of the maze, it was littered with corpses, and more than a few stains on the floor.
"The stains. The slimes are invading the floor. Are all the dungeon monsters on the move?" Celenae asked.
"Possibly," I admitted. "Or at least that was what they screamed at me."
Celenae narrowed her eyes but Teddy pushed us into the final bend where Isaac was waiting. He tapped his foot and motioned with the dagger.
"Can we go now?" he said.
The exit portal looked nothing like I imagined. The mechanical gate was bright gold and lined with carved motifs filled with intricately carved depictions of each floor inside the Labyrinth.
A little gaudy for a shadow maze.
"I''m still getting that explanation after we''re out, right?" Sereza asked.
I sighed and got in line. The portal itself was a curtain of dull blue that emitted faint light inside the shadowy corridor.
As Teddy stepped closer the edges of the portal crackled and a cold chill shot down my spine.
Danger!
I grabbed his collar and yanked him back. Before the blue flashed pink Celenae conjured a barrier and the hallway became a collage of iridescent light amidst the explosion that rocked the dungeon.
As the dust cleared, I stared at Celenae''s shaking hands before she collapsed into Eodyne''s grip.
"Four... Four barriers, and the fifth barely held. That... oww."
Teddy pulled out a mana potion and undid the lid so she could drink. His aura activated and her cheeks returned some of its color as she chugged.
Eodyne stood her up and as one they turned to stare.
I shrugged. "Don''t look at me. I sensed it before it happened; no idea why it happened."
"In interest of not being turned into mush, can you do that dungeon communication trick?" Teddy said.
This time I summoned Galarion and watched the blob of glowing lights congeal into Galarion''s new form. He was bigger, more like a tiny pumpkin than an apple. And his head shape had a more refined point than it did before.
None of his physical changes stuck, because just as soon as he appeared, so did a set of gnawing teeth along his tentacles and confetti streamers attached as extra limbs.
I recognized the monstrosity from one of the memories we helped cleanse and I slapped him flat. Before the others could comment, I slid the spirit pancake into my head and resisted the urge to cough as his tentacles wrapped around my mind.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
Celenae cocked her head. "Was that Galarion?"
I pushed my hand to the wall and braced myself.
"Cyrus?"
"Busy," I responded.
Celenae grumbled something under her breath but I closed my eyes and pushed mana through the dungeon''s channels.
As soon as it connected, so did a stream of information that was hungrily devoured.
Sluuuuurp!
"Galarion... Did you just slurp the memories?"
"Memory noodles! Need''s more macaronni!"
Another time, Cyrus. Another time.
As I pushed deeper I sensed the screaming like physical wails before it translated into sound in my thoughts.
"We''re dead! We''re dead! We''re dead! No control! No control! No control!" Gimbal screamed.
"Gimbal! Calm down, return to the throne! We can''t let the energy spread," Neolenn said.
"No control! Oh we''re screwed! Massive failure! Failure! Aaaaaaaagghhh!"
The screaming snapped the connection and I rocked back, landing in Teddy''s arms.
"Oww."
"You''re bleeding again," he said, wiping my nose before I could stand.
"Yeah we need to get out. Pronto. Need to find Cal after."
"Pronto?"
I groaned and started pushing the man down the hallway. The portal''s collapse had created a minefield of debris and jagged metal but Teddy served as a battering ram and pushed it away with his shield.
Isaac stuck with the group this time and we cleared any monsters that attempted to bullrush us the moment they spotted our group.
"If the exit portals are exploding, that''ll leave a lot of trapped adventurers," Teddy said.
"We''ll help with rescues after we dump Cyrus outside the guild," Celenae added.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"No excusing. You''re to get as far away from the dungeon as you can."
Eodyne unleashed a hail of arrows into a charging crowd of spiders and lowered her bow. "He should flee the city. Sereza, think you could get a carriage and head to Emberion?"
"Sure," Sereza replied.
"Hold on-"
Sereza tapped me with her tail and shook her head. "You''ll like the place. Has a big spa culture thanks to the hot springs."
"Guy''s. I''m not leaving the city. I''ll stay inside the manor, but I made a commitment to help in the healer''s guild."
"You''re being stubborn," Isaac scowled. "Don''t cause any more problems."
The gremlin dug furrows into its cage but I reined it in and snapped my attention forward. Conversation died as we continued to run, occasionally stopping as Isaac scouted ahead.
Eventually we rounded a bend and found a suspicious line in the wall. Broken Tower got into formation and Teddy rammed into the wall, revealing a hidden room.
Monsters dropped from above. Six spider golems, with a seventh that was smaller and made of clear material that blended into the shadows.
I readied my spear but Teddy flooded the room with light as Celenae conjured barriers. Within seconds they dismantled the golems, and a wall slid open revealing a small closet with a metal chest inside.
Isaac smashed the lock open and sliced apart the dart that launched at his neck. Before I could blink he tossed the bag of treasure into his dimensional storage and started examining the wall.
"What are we looking for?" Sereza asked.
"Loot rooms tend to have hidden exits. Just gotta find the correct indent," Isaac explained.
I pushed past the others and slammed my hand where I sensed the hidden enchantments. The stone drank my mana and the walls dropped away, revealing a hole in the floor barely wide enough for Arturous to fit.
"Cheater," he muttered.
"Not the time to complain," I countered.
One by one we hopped inside and the sliding feeling of diving through folded space grasped my skin. Strangely enough, it felt good, almost welcoming.
Reality returned and I rolled to my feet, finding the ground crystalline.
The others were up and they looked as perplexed as I was.
"We skipped a floor?" I asked.
"Looks like it. Everyone here?"
Arturous roared and I patted his snout. "Exit the portal before it explodes and then rush out. Right?"
"Yes. Let''s go."
Unlike the Wailing Caverns, the sixth floor was well lit and lined with fancy decorations and bright crystal scones. The gilded walls were plain but they extended throughout the entire dungeon as we passed through several archways.
"Know where we are?" I shouted.
Teddy shook his head. "Not a clue. If we''re lucky, we''ll find one of the statues. Those parts of the dungeon remain unchanged."
"There''s a distinct lack of golems. That can''t be good."
"We''ll deal with it when it-" Teddy stopped and held up his shield.
As he flooded the area with his auras the others got into battle position and I was able to see beyond the man''s broad shoulders.
It was an expanded room the size of a noble''s ballroom. And packing it tight, with barely inches apart, were the dozens of golems.
The crystal behemoths were everywhere, from the ceiling, half-formed atop the dangling chandeliers, and even the walls where they gripped with sharpened spikes.
They turned and released a sonic screech before the first in line charged with flaming fists.
Oh fuck.
Sereza started to back away but Teddy slapped his shield and extended his mace.
He cracked his neck and the metal along his weapon glowed gold as the giant spectral copy appeared above the golem''s head.
"Broken Tower. Annihilate the enemy."
Crunch!
The shards of crystal showered the walls, but Celenae blocked the hail from passing through the tunnel''s entrance.
Ohhh. Oh shit.
***
"You know. I sometimes forget that they¡¯re Broken Tower," Sereza said.
I turned to the felkin and pointed at Isaac who was happily stabbing a golem''s core like it owed him money.
"How?"
"You know what I mean. This should have killed us."
"I don''t think so. They''ve always been pretty strong."
A bit of understatement.
Teddy taunted the crowd, and Celenae sectioned them off. Igas severed appendages, leaving the golems to crawl or be frozen to the ground. Eodyne launched bolt after bolt. Each attack finding the monster''s core and creating cracks that Isaac exploited.
And Arturous? He was a living tank that battered around the golems as if they were toys.
What was over dozens of dangerous tier-two golems, were reduced to half their number within moments. Sereza wasn''t even allowed to step inside the room until Celenae gave the go ahead.
We approached and stopped to stare at Teddy who slammed his shield through one of the golem''s neck.
Celenae snapped her fingers and a barrier appeared to intercept the lazer that tried to reduce him to ash. The golem got two seconds of firetime before Igas shoved his sword through its chest, and popped off its head with a pillar that carried it into the last golem standing.
Eodyne hit its center, and the core exploded. In the aftermath, Isaac stepped out of the shadow and slammed the pommel of his blades into its face.
Crystal cracked, and the golem powered down.
He dusted himself off. "That was cathartic."
"Let''s just hope there''s no more surprises." Teddy said.
"Aaand that''s how you curse us."
We stepped past the broken bodies and into an empty room. I sensed mana on the other side and signed a warning.
We got back into formation with Teddy leading the way. The mana intensified into swirling lines just behind the wall.
Teddy tapped the stone with his mace and it produced a hollow ping.
"Secret room?" he asked.
I placed my palm and traced the mana channels into the hidden enchantment just under our feet.
"I can try opening it."
"Do it then. But Igas, grab him," Teddy ordered.
"Understood," Igas responded.
I counted to three and sent mana through, the stone drank deep, bottoming me out before it finally opened. As it did, energy crackled and latched onto my chest even as Igas struggled to pull me away.
"Cyrus!"
I slipped free but Teddy grasped my wrist. His eyes widened as the force continued to suck me into the pink portal, dragging him along.
"Let go," I yelled.
"No."
I groaned as I dragged Teddy and the others who formed a chain behind him. Reality existed long enough to see them stretch before they were whisked away, deeper into the dungeon.
Chapter 34: Dungeon Overload
"Ge-get off me!"
I rolled my neck and cracked open my eyelids to see Isaac slapping a wall of furry flesh. His lower half was trapped underneath, and he even had a few tendrils out trying in vain to pull him free.
My body wasn''t hurt, but it felt wrong in every flavor. I could taste colors again, and while some burned, others were too cold, and a few actively felt like acid eating my skin.
The explosion of wrongness lasted long enough for me to cough before it faded away and something hard was thrown at my head.
"Cyrus... Heals, now. I''m going to throw up..." There was a pause and the sound of retching before another something hit my cheek. "Too late."
Well at least Sereza is alive.
Thankfully, my mana channels were relatively fine. Mana stretched and flowed and green light formed above my chest.
¨¢ine appeared, and she landed next to my chin. "Stop getting hurt."
I chuckled. "An impossible ask. Sorry, ¨¢ine."
"I know." She booped my nose and a thread of green light swirled in the air. "Try."
"Yes, mam."
For a moment I thought I recognized a rune but it blurred too fast and the light took on the shape of a leaf. A single thread stayed attached but the leaf itself floated around her wrist in a slow orbit.
That''s new.
The thread stretched as she flew out of sight. Sereza mumbled something but it sounded wet and I tuned her out. Slowly, ¨¢ine landed on my chest and held out her arm.
"Watch."
Mana thrummed from inside my familiar and flowed into the two leaves. The threads took in the mana and a wave of healing settled across my chest. ¨¢ine stopped, and waited.
Knowing what she wanted, I closed my eyes and played through the memories. Her skill activated, reaching for a connection that blazed in her sight. Mana flowed, she adjusted the output, and let her skill take over, delivering a burst of non-targeted healing.
"So you trade off control for a mass-general heal?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Think you''ll be able to adjust that in the future?"
There was a long pause, and concern slipped through the soul-link but I reached out a hand and lightly booped ¨¢ine''s nose.
"Maybe. Stubborn skill,¡± she relented.
"Whether or not you can, it''s amazing. Thank you."
The healing process was slower than the normal method as the skill blasted me with energy rather than targeting the injuries directly and efficiently repairing them.
Still, it took less than a minute for the healing to cure the chaos in my muscles and I could finally breathe.
Isaac was finally able to pry himself free as Teddy coaxed Arturous up.
Celenae appeared above me, her eyes transfixed on ¨¢ine. It looked painful for her to look away, but she did and helped me up.
"Cyrus. You have some explaining to do," she said.
"What do you mean?"
She pointed across the way.
Oh.
There was a spinning cube of gold and crystal encased by Celenae''s barriers. Even with the two hiding their presence behind the monstrosity of a defense floating around them, I recognized their mana signature.
Celenae leaned closer. "What is that?"
"What makes you think I know?" I protested.
"Am I wrong?"
"Potentially."
"Cyrus..."
"Can you just ignore it? Actually hold on a second."
I scanned the room and found Igas staring fish-eyed at the wall as Isaac ranted endlessly about his puny legs.
"Hey, Igas!"
The oni turned and began to draw his sword but I shook my head.
"What do you need?" he said.
"Come here. I need a favor."
"Hey! I wasn''t done!" Isaac yelled.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Igas pushed past him and stopped near me. He glared suspiciously at the barriers but he stood straight and held his sword ready.
"What is it?"
I stepped away and splayed my arms. "Can you summon enough ice pillars to block off the room?"
"In front of you or behind?"
"In front."
"Cyrus, no," Teddy argued.
"Listen, it''s just temporary. If you hear screaming, you''re free to bust it down."
Isaac stalked forward, grabbing my shirt as he wrapped my arms in his tendrils. "You''re not doing this again. I''ll drag us somewhere else if you try."
I wanted to make a scathing remark, or brush him off, but I stopped and took in his face. His mask was off, and his eyes contained not just anger, but worry.
He tensed as I reached forward and gripped his shoulder. I smiled and gave him a few pats while he loosened his grip on my arms.
"I trust in everyone of you. With my life and then some. But I don''t want to betray Cal''s trust."
"Then he can get mad at us. We''re forcing you to do this. Simple as that."
I sighed and looked at ¨¢ine who shrugged.
"Grandpa understands," she said.
"He better. Though, I think Eraztis might have a fit."
I pulled away from Isaac and rubbed Arturous head as I put on a smile.
"If everyone is in agreement, just know you''ll be sworn to secrecy, and all that. Not entirely sure, but from how it sounds, it''s very serious."
"We swear, Cyrus," Teddy offered.
I turned to Sereza who crossed her arms. "And you?"
She snorted. "I''m still waiting on an explanation. But you already know the answer."
"Alright. Don''t say you haven''t been warned."
After securing a halfhearted-attempt at best to keep secrets, I approached Celenae''s barrier, and motioned for her to let me through. She looked uneasy, but she complied and I stepped within the whirling mechanism.
I threaded my mana slowly, letting it fill the area as the metal tore through it. Each attempt brought an increased sense of panic, and the crystal core in the center flashed red before the metal pieces sped up.
"Listen, I know you''re in there. And I know you sense me."
My words drew a few pointed stares to the back of my head, but I pushed on with another attempt.
After the eight unsuccessful try, I took a step back and closed my eyes.
"Galarion. Wake up!"
"Whaa?" he groaned. It took a couple of mental pokes but my familiar sprang to life. "I''m up! More memories to eat?"
"No. But help me with this. We''re going to brute force our way in."
"Ready!"
This time, the mana thread I connected to, I throttled a good chunk of my mana pool to reinforce the stability. The air in front of me glowed a subtle pink, that intensified as Galarion added his mana into the mix.
Celenae¡¯s pen scribbled on paper behind me, but I shut it out and focused on the thread. Slowly I pushed it forward, and the metal threatened to tear it apart.
But it was too reinforced, and I pushed another half of my mana through. It slithered deep, carving a path away from the crystals that actively repelled the thread.
As it got within reach of the central core, an explosion of information threatened to undo my thoughts. Galarion burbled in delight as he happily devoured the needless knowledge.
"St-stop! No more!" Gimbal screamed.
The thread closed the distance, and the spinning stopped. Pain laced through my skull, and ¨¢ine started to soothe the agony away while Galarion relieved me of the mental burden.
"Keeper. Please, he means no harm. The explosion of the dungeon gate was out of our control." Neolenn whispered.
With the golem frozen, I opened my eyes and approached the hidden altar.
"It''s okay. I''m not here to hurt you. I promise. I just want to know if there''s anything we can do to help. You said last time the monsters were after me, is that still true?"
Gimbal whimpered something incoherent but Neolenn took control of the connection.
"We haven''t checked. When we sensed the portal connecting to the core room, we activated our safety golem and disconnected from the dungeon."
"Why did the portal bring us here? Was it meant to do that?"
"No." Neolenn soothed Gimbal as his panic bled through the link. She spoke after he settled down. "No portal should have led here."
Just my luck.
I groaned and waved off the other''s as they started to move closer.
"I''m fine. Just annoyed."
"Do you need anything?" Teddy asked.
I shook my head. "Can you check now?"
"No!" Gimbal screamed.
"I''m sorry, Keeper. Give us a moment." It took a few minutes but Neolenn managed to convince Gimbal to calm down and check on the dungeon. "We will begin."
While I wasn''t truly connected to the core, Galarion siphoned snippets that revealed the massive amount of enchantments activating around the room.
The focal point was the altar they were on; it served as a tree with its roots anchoring the floors together. I took the pause to take in the core room and watch the gears and metal contraptions along the walls rotate at insane speeds.
Broken Tower and Sereza were tense, their bodies pressed close and their weapons out. I didn''t blame them, they were in an unknown place, but I doubted we were in any real danger.
Not here; not in the core room.
Gimbal whimpered again.
"Is something wrong?"
"My dungeon... it''s..."
The pieces of metal floating around us vibrated before they collapsed.
"What''s happening?"
"Centuries of work. Gone... Gone!"
"Gimbal, calm down. We can rebuild. It''s okay I-" Neolenn tried.
"No! He did this! We were good! But he had to come in here and ruin this. A mortal! A fleshling!"
"It doesn''t matter. We''ll make it better. We have the ether."
Gimbal screamed, gears on the wall exploding off their parts and sending scattering of metal across the room. Celenae''s barriers prevented injuries, but a few smaller pieces slipped through and cut into my limbs.
"No! I don''t want something different."
"It''s oka-"
The metal encasing the altar split into strips that unfurled to reveal Gimbal and Neolenn squished inside. Neolenn rubbed Gimbal''s body, but mana inside the altar swelled as golden spears formed above me.
"You! It was all your fault!"
I took a step back. Another spear formed and the others rushed in, taking position around me.
"Destroy or contain?" Teddy asked, as he raised his shield and activated his skills.
As Teddy said ''destroy'' a pulse of condensed energy disturbed the bits and bobs scattered around the floor.
A brush of cold air rushed down my spine and the alarm bells went off in my head.
"Destroy before we get destroyed. Neolenn, no more. We destroy him!" Gimbal roared.
The chill sharpened and it reached down my back toward the center. The feeling pushed inside my chest, as a bundle of the golden spears covered the ceiling. As the first spear crashed against Teddy''s shield, the pressure reached a crescendo. Lightning filled the room while thunder boomed through my eardrums.
The others dropped to the floor as pressure pushed them down while the golden spears melted into slag as a fanged maw swallowed Gimbal and Neolenn in a tide of water and scales.
What the hell?
"Cyrus," a familiar voice whispered into my ear.
I looked up and blinked at the storm goddess standing above a portal in the ceiling.
"My apologies, this will hurt," Ysanna said.
"What in the hells is-"
A hand made of water rushed through the portal and swiped us off the ground. The sharp, cold tendril in my chest began to burn as the elemental limb retreated into the portal.
Ah shit, not again.
Chapter 35: Divine Reactions
Why did everything have to hurt as much as it did?
If the last portal made my body feel wrong in every way imaginable, the journey from the dungeon to the goddess'' realm was like raking raw wounds against a road made of salt and limes.
It hurt, and it cut deep. But a gentle pressure squeezed around me, shunting the pain to the back of my mind while my familiars got to work. They soothed the pain away, mentally and physically. But they couldn''t ease the hurt inside my very being.
If I wasn''t allowed to scream in the physical, I did so inside my soulrealm. Atop the throne, I gripped the cold crystal and tried to anchor my thoughts onto the sensation.
Anything to distract me from the agony.
My familiars crowded around me, pushing themselves against my chest and neck. Zharia started first. She brought heat, both skin-melting and gentle.
Another sensation, another thing to focus on to help.
Sturmrorex buffeted my face with the biting cold of the storm, and the flash of heat from the lightning roiling inside the clouds.
Erebus siphoned it away into the void that was death and shadows. Digging his limbs across my arms while Magnus pressed onto my legs.
Even Zagreus tried to help, bringing along the sweet decay and the acrid tang of copper.
Only my last familiar sat atop the throne itself, watching, and waiting.
He pressed his head to mine, gripping my cheeks as he forced me to look up.
Time was a blur but I kept my gaze locked onto the runes that slowly spun inside Chomperz''s eyes. Eventually the pain slowed, and the pressure squeezing my body lifted as something warm wrapped around my flesh.
"Cyrus," Cal whispered.
I blinked through the crust and peeled my eyes open to see Cal staring down.
"You look different," I coughed.
Cal''s eyes burned like the sun. His horns were aflame with bright gold with scarlet wisps crackling like miniature fireworks. And on his cheeks were cat whiskers, while his fangs poked through the grimace he displayed.
The flames weren''t just around his horns. Like a haze of light, the scarlet flames covered his arms and spread over me like a blanket.
I caught the furious flick of Cal''s tail, the fur pointed and far longer than usual.
"Is that really all you have to say?" he chuckled.
I leaned back and stared at Zolnja and Ysanna standing far away, their faces tense.
"Where''s my friends?"
Ysanna raised her arm and a giant bubble extended from the waves below. Broken Tower and Sereza were inside, floating freely with wild eyes.
They look like scared children while swimming around like space cadets. I wish I had a camera. Oh wait!
"Cal," I whispered.
He leaned closer. "Yes?"
"Camera."
"What?"
"Camera."
"I''m not giving you a modern camera but you can have this memory stone."
Cal''s tail reached over his shoulder and tapped my hand. I opened my fist to reveal a small black crystal with a silver lattice caging it in.
"How do I use it?"
"Hold it to your eye, and channel mana through it and the crystal. It''ll take a recording of what you see and store it inside the core."
I did as he said and laughed as the flash brought the fish-eye stares from inside the bubble.
"Now activate the second enchantment," Cal instructed.
As I did, a flat screen made of gray light shot out of the crystal. As the mana reached the core the gray exploded in color to reveal a true-to-life image that I just took.
"Perfect," I grinned. "Thanks."
Cal sighed and slowly lowered me onto his couch. ¨¢ine and Galarion hopped off his tail and slammed into my chest.
"Why were you on his tail?" I asked.
One of Galarion''s limbs exploded into confetti before it reformed. "Fun!"
¨¢ine nodded and settled in after dragging one of the pillows under my neck.
I turned to see Cal stalk toward the divine pair, his tail leaving streaks of fire in its wake. With each step, the waves underneath bubbled and hissed. Steam rose into the air before the flames latched on and devoured them before they emerged above Cal''s head.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
His growl reverberated throughout the realm, vibrating my bones. "I sent you to save him. Not rip apart his soul."
Zolnja reared up, wrapping around Ysanna. She bared her fangs as the waves around the platform turned titanic.
"We did save him! You should be grateful."
Cal''s next step split the churning ocean to reveal a swirling abyss underneath. The flames along his horns elongated to match Zolnja''s height, shifting into an even deeper red.
"Funny words. Try again."
As he spoke, the sky darkened, going from bright daylight to darkest night. He stepped forward. The clouds exploded into ash and flames ate through them like paper.
"Zolnja, enough. Back down," Ysanna said. Zolnja thumped the water, sending a wave crashing into the sea beyond but Ysanna met her defiance with a cool stare. After Zolnja lowered her head she turned to Cal. "She did not mean those words, Calstrax. I apologize on her behalf."
Cal stopped, his tail spearing the ground and carving more of the water away as he slowly flexed his claws. He snarled but the towering flames above his head receded and stuck to a flickering haze around his horns.
"No, do not apologize. I did not return your lives just to hold it over your heads. But you will apologize to him."
"That will be done. We swear," Ysanna said, bowing.
When Zolnja didn''t comply, she grabbed onto one of her scales and yanked her down. Zonlja didn''t fight the grip and dipped her head below Cal''s waist.
There was a pregnant pause with neither party moving first.
I cleared my throat and waved from the pillow mound. "So what exactly happened? And how did you find us?"
Ysanna''s eyes flickered from Cal to me. Cal nodded slowly and she looked directly my way.
"Your perk. It''s a mark on your soul. I believe you know this?" I nodded and she stepped out of Zolnja''s coils and approached the couch. "Did you feel anything before I grabbed you?"
I replayed the memory, with Galarion adding bits of information he helped suppress. As it hit me, I winced and sank into the pillows.
"Yes. Like a cold knife fileting my chest."
A wave of water turned to steam but Ysanna kept her gaze locked on me. Cal''s tail retracted slowly while he glared off into this distance.
"I apologize, sincerely. That feeling was your perk warning you of the danger I presented."
Huh.
"Right. But why?"
She sighed and pointed to my chest. "Your evolution. You assimilated the divinity you took, correct?"
"Yeah?"
"You were a divine being forcefully squeezed into my realm. No matter how small that spark is."
That made an annoying amount of sense. I chalked it up to having to travel such far distances from a place we definitely weren''t meant to leave¨Cnot the way we did.
"Wait a moment. If that''s the case, why was I rejected? Weren''t you dragging me in here yourself? Willingly?"
Cal appeared next to Ysanna, the heat from his flames cooling the area.
"That''s because she didn''t truly accept you into her realm. As gods, we are accustomed to other divines deploying their tricks and traps," he explained.
"And during the chaos, my realm naturally repelled the divinity,¡± Ysanna added.
"So you were rejecting me like I was a fly, hardly worth your notice," I said.
She winced. "I noticed only after you reached the portal''s edge. Again, I apologize. It was not my intention to hurt you."
"Mmm," I rolled over and hugged ¨¢ine into my neck. "Well, it''s not the craziest thing that happened to me. Apology accepted."
"Cyrus, wait," Cal interrupted.
Zolnja slithered over, dipping through the waves and rising from behind the couch. Her head stayed low, lowering even further as Ysanna and Cal glared at her.
"I apologize as well. It was my duty to watch for anything unexpected. In this I failed."
The longer I thought about our interaction from before and now, after having Sturmrorex in my life, the more I recognized the similarities.
"Are you part dragon?"
Zolnja''s snorted, the air knocking a pillow off the couch. "I am a close cousin. Why?"
I chuckled, catching Cal''s smirk. "You remind me of someone, that''s all."
"I-"
Ysanna shook her head and Zolnja calmed.
"So, I''m afraid to ask, but where''s Gimbal and Neolenn?"
"The dungeon-core and its fairy?" Cal asked.
"You haven''t looked into my memories, have you?"
"Not yet, I was... Preoccupied with other thoughts."
"Well, maybe sit down for this one?"
Cal hesitantly sank onto an opposing couch that appeared as he sat. He looked almost pained as he extended his hand.
It was strange. I could feel Cal''s touch, his mana ever so subtly poking its way into my thoughts. Galarion slammed his tentacles through my head, earning a shock from the storm duo, but he grabbed onto Cal''s mana and pulled it in.
As he did, a door appeared, one made of endless stars that stretched into the sky.
"Calstrax!" Ysanna shouted.
Cal groaned and dropped his head into his knees. "Just let him in. He can be trusted."
The door itself had a hint of familiarity to it.
"Is that Eraztis?" I asked.
"Are you sure?" Ysanna pressed. "Truly?"
"Just let him in before he throws a fit. Hide the mortals. And reinforce your realm."
"Why would... Nevermind. I''m allowing entry."
The void split, and Eraztis floated in, his tentacles furiously wiggling.
"What did you do?!" he shouted, voice sending titanic waves crashing throughout the realm.
"Eraztis," Ysanna began, bowing.
"Silence!" He floated to Cal, stopping an inch from the couch. "I''ll handle you later. I''m talking to him. What did you do?!"
Instead of answering, Cal''s tail wrapped around Eraztis'' waist and dragged him onto the couch. As he did he slapped his palm on his forehead, a burst of flames sparking off the hit.
Despite what I expected, Eraztis froze. His eyes glistened over and he stared at the sky, slowly deflating into the cushions.
That bad, huh.
"Why? Why does the Weave hate me?" he muttered.
"It does not hate you." Cal growled.
"Yes, yes it does. I had a peaceful job, but all it took was less than a year. Not even a decade. Cal. It hates me."
"What are you talking about?" Ysanna butted in.
The gods on the couch rolled their heads to stare at the goddess. They both groaned and Eraztis snapped his fingers.
It took less than ten seconds for Ysanna to join the two and collapse into the cushions.
"Anybody want to share?" I asked.
Eraztis sat up and pointed a claw at my chest. "You! Aaaagh! Whatever. It doesn''t matter. What''s some more forbidden knowledge into this apocalyptic fire?"
Dramatic much?
"Cyrus," Cal said, sitting forward. "After you exited your soulspace and opened your eyes. You remember how everyone was frozen in place?"
"Yes. And it makes no sense. I thought dungeons can only fuck around with time dilation, not outwardly freeze it. And chronomancy outside of a rift isn''t a thing."
"How exactly do you know that?" Eraztis interrupted.
I shrugged. The information was something I absorbed from being a temporary dungeon core. That and maybe the whole ''Keeper'' thing had its perks.
"You are correct about the dungeon''s limitations and chronomancy. It''s something that not even the gods get to play with. Maybe if you''re tier eight or above, past the divine system, but those are just rumors," Cal continued. "But Cyrus, what you saw was correct, but more than you know. Widen the scope."
"We talking the entire dungeon? Was the dungeon frozen just for me?"
Ysanna curled her knees into her chest, prompting her companion to rest her head against the couch. She grabbed onto her scales and rubbed her fingers against the ridges, looking off into the distance with a thousand-yard stare.
Okay, seriously?
"So why are these two catatonic?"
"Cyrus. It wasn''t the dungeon the Grand Weave froze," Cal said softly.
"Then what?"
He dragged his hands down his cheeks and inhaled. "It froze all of Inoria."
Chapter 36: Divine Intrusion
That... sounded bad. But then again...
"That''s a little much, don''t you think? The Weave couldn''t have booped me with its divine-creation tentacles and be done with it?"
Eraztis pointed a clawed finger at my chest but he shivered and collapsed, dropping his head between his knees.
"We''re gods. We experience the Weave''s touch on numerous occasions. But your damn mortal body doesn''t even have the capacity to feel all that transpired. And yet..."
Ysanna continued to stroke Zolnja''s scales. The waves had calmed, but a storm slowly brewed in the backdrop, the flashes of lightning sparking between the darkening clouds.
Cal grimaced and summoned the pitcher of lemonade and downed it in one impressive chug. After he wiped his mouth with his sleeve he tapped the glass and slid it over.
"This is not natural. The Weave does not interfere so directly. Not unless it''s for the creation of a god and even then... Ugh."
This isn''t the celebration I was hoping for. Oh well.
I sipped at the lemonade and wedged deeper into the pillows. "I take it this will draw the other gods'' attention? Am I in trouble?"
"Yes!" Eraztis screamed.
Cal pushed him back into cushions and shook his head. "No, Cyrus. You''re not in trouble. But the other gods will notice. Even if it takes a while. Besides Eraztis, no other god or goddess has experienced what the Weave accomplished. For that, we can at least ease our worries. But they will notice eventually, there''s no stopping that fact."
His tone was off. The cadence, the voice, the word choice. He sounded wrong. I didn''t like it.
"Does it change anything?"
"Yes, yes it does."
"So?" I said, sitting up.
Cal closed his eyes and exhaled prismatic fumes that quickly dispersed. "For now, nothing. But your next ascension won''t be so simple. If the Weave spared enough of its time for your tier one, we can expect worse for your tier two."
"By the gods," Eraztis muttered. "If I hadn''t taken that divine fragment, who knows what would have happened. Uggggh. It''s too much. I don''t..."
"Okay, seriously. It''s fine. We''re all alive, right?" I said.
"Fine? Fine?!" Eraztis stood up and bright stars started to appear behind his head. They twisted on themselves and became screaming faces that shot into the sky, joining the roiling storm clouds. "You have no comprehension of what this all means. Of what the Weave has done for you? For you!"
"Then tell me. All the talk of how this and that, and yet here we are. Breathing, and talking just fine. And I''ll remind you that for all your worry. I was the one subjected to its scrutiny. Or did you forget the giant triquetra carving into my soul?"
He shuddered and dropped to the couch. His tentacles took a while to calm down, never fully staying still even after the mana in the room settled.
"The Grand Weave. A thing of creation beyond anything a god can comprehend. What is a star to the primitive beast beyond a twinkling light? And yet I know you know more. I''ve grazed your memories."
"Eraztis!" Cal growled.
"I know that your world knows of the stars, of their make. Your kind calculated the distance to reach the stars, the primitive means of travel and the logistics of it. You know what they are made of, and how they float and function. Yet you miss so much detail. Even with your vast knowledge, you know so little of what lies underneath.
He conjured a star in his hand and slowly peeled the layers until a rotating core made of dense ether stood still. But as I continued to stare, I recognized that the first assumption was wrong.
Even from the couch, I could feel the wind it generated, and the fact that it obliterated the storm clouds above. The core wasn''t a still mass¨Crather it spun with a speed my eyes couldn''t track.
And even then, I saw the flicker of lines similar to runes flash from between its light. It itched at a part of my brain that demanded attention.
Eraztis snapped his fingers and the core disappeared. It was hard to tell but he was frowning. "That''s a hungry look, little demon. Don''t stare at me like that, you are not ready for this knowledge."
I shut my jaw and downed more of the lemonade.
That pulled at the rune skill. I''ll have to dive into that later.
"Galarion? Did you record the memory?"
"Yes! No eat?" he pouted.
"No eat. But you can make a copy."
"Okay!"
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
I winced at the noodle slurping inside my skull and waved away Cal''s worry.
"Okay. I''m an ant and I can''t even fathom the reality around me. Why is that important?"
"Because the thing that can alter reality across many dimensions, worlds, and time itself has just decided to spare you an iota of its attention! A god has graced the ant and granted it aid! A mortal, insignificant ant!"
Eraztis began to float but Cal dragged him down.
Ysanna chuckled, her eyes still hazy but she drew the attention of everyone in the room.
"He''s not an ant. He''s a Reborn. A fate-touched Reborn, with the Weave''s favor."
Zolnja hissed. "A divine hatchling is no mere ant."
The gods stared but the pair said no more and Cal cleared his throat.
"It''s unprecedented. And we''ll be hypervigilant in the future. For now, and I''m begging you; please lay low."
I snorted. "Is that possible? Ysanna''s signature is in the dungeon. And the core and its fairy is missing in the head city of a kingdom."
Cal''s face creased with visible stress lines but he sighed and summoned sandwiches instead of speaking. For some time, he sat there with a distant look similar to the Storm Princess, munching away bite after bite.
Eventually, Eraztis joined in, followed by the goddesses. It left me to stew and rest my head, the weirdness of my soul still settling even after the damage had been repaired.
I reached for a sandwich myself, when Ysanna shot to her feet. Zolnja rose to her full height and Ysanna raised her hands, summing the tide beneath our feet.
"Aurelion''s here!"
"Fuck!" Cal groaned. He waved his hand and the couches disappeared but he caught me before we fell and pulled me close. "Eraztis! Take us to your realm."
Eraztis clawed at the air. "Can''t. There''ll be even more gods coming my way. And it''s better that I''m here. We''ll say I was questioning Ysanna on the rule-breaking."
I spat Cal''s suit out of my mouth and adjusted my head. "Who''s Aurelion?"
"An asshole of divine proportions and head deity of Solunaria''s pantheon," he growled.
"You got ten seconds! I''m pushing you into the abyss. Hide your signatures Calstrax!"
I had enough time to see a thin barrier of orange light surround us before the seas parted we sank below the waves.
The light disappeared the deeper we dropped before it vanished entirely and left us with only Cal''s mana to light the way.
Cal looked down and gave a pained smile before he held a finger to his lips. The barrier disappeared and we were suddenly floating as the sea closed above us.
It felt lonely, but as I extended my arm, a spark of brilliant blue light shot through the water like lightning before it faded away.
I can breathe. Weird.
Cal grabbed my arm and pulled me closer into his chest. As he did, a new impression sprang to life.
Encompass all within the light. Spread the heat, shine the warmth and reveal the truth. The flames burned into towering infernos that reached the sun and yet they bowed beneath its majesty.
Regal and intense.
It was a welcoming heat but one that threatened to incinerate me at a moment''s notice.
"You have some explaining to do Ysanna," came a masculine voice, one filled with an almost arrogant confidence.
"I will answer to the council when it is called. Right, sir Eraztis?" Ysanna answered.
Eraztis sounded calm, not at all like the stressed squid he was moments before. "Aurelion. Why are you here?"
He scoffed. "Does that really need to be said? The freshly revived goddess invades my city, my kingdom and takes the main dungeon core and its fairy. Why wouldn''t I be here?"
"Watch your tone," Zolnja hissed. "Treat sir Eraztis with respect."
"We''re all divinity here. As important as the Soul Keeper is, he''s no world spirit. I speak as bluntly as I please. And given the circumstances..."
Flames. Even below the waves and deep in the abyss, sunlight pierced the darkness and burned away the shadows. It didn''t come close to reaching us, but I could taste the hot mana on my tongue.
"Aurelion. I''ll remind you that you are in my realm. Watch yourself, friend," Ysanna whispered.
Her voice was cold steel that cut through the hissing steam, and it took control, banishing the light from the abyss.
"Explain why you attacked our kingdom. For what purpose? Surely you didn''t think we''d just ignore the intrusion!"
"It was not an attack."
"Then what?" he demanded. "What possible reason do you have for sabotaging Solunaria? Better explain to me now before the rest of the pantheon tears into you."
He sounds so fucking condescending. I think I hate him.
Cal squeezed my shoulder and I saw mirth in his eyes as he winked and resumed looking up.
"Well? Out with it."
Ysanna sighed. "It was a favor owed."
"You declared war for a favor?"
"I have declared nothing," she spat. "The core and the fairy will be returned. That was only temporary. I was to return them before I leave for the council."
Silence continued for some time and I could feel the byplay between the three divinities. The sun sought to slip between the waves. It was ever present, and demanding in its presence.
But Ysanna and Zolnja were the masters of this realm. Their authority far outranked his, even if the other god managed to carve his piece of authority into reality.
Strangely enough, it didn''t feel malicious. More like a secondary effect, as if the god''s mana did this like a person breathed.
It was perhaps why Ysanna kept her calm despite it.
"Aurelion. That is enough. You have your answer and I''ve done my investigation. She has not broken the rules even if they tow the line. Return to your realm for now," Eraztis declared.
Aurelion hummed. "Mysterious rebirth. Keeping your presence minimal. At first I assumed it was because your power was not yet reacquired, but that isn''t true, is it? I can feel it, you''re weakened but not crippled by a tier difference. And now this? A favor to steal a core... No that''s not what you were after, was it?"
"Aurelion..." Ysanna growled.
"You were after someone. And if Nestralla''s theory is correct, your rebirth was from another god. Which means you were after their chosen. A chosen who hid his presence from our pantheon. A rival perhaps?"
"I have done nothing to betray the pantheon. Nor would I. Just because you''ve forgotten, doesn''t mean I have. Solunaria was just as much a part of my dominion as my island."
"Watch your words, Storm Princess," he snapped.
Zolnja''s hiss shook the realm and thunder boomed to punctuate the blade in her words. "You wouldn''t be the first god I''ve tasted. Remember that, Golden Sun. Remember that we are not afraid to die, for we have scales and scars, unlike your untouched flesh."
The pressure between the two boiled over and my skin started to flay from the chaotic churning of the water.
Cal''s nails pushed into my shoulder and his tail speared the wave behind him, shattering it with one blow.
"Enough!" Eraztis boomed. "This is the final warning before I force a banishment. Return, Aurelion. And wait!"
At once the pressure eased and the sunlight faded. I couldn''t see what the god was doing but his mana retreated and I could no longer picture his face.
His next words were far calmer than before. And the arrogance was gone but it still contained a bite that spoke of someone with authority.
"Very well. But I do have one last question."
"Out with it."
Aurelion chuckled. "Not you, Eraztis. For them."
"What? I grow tired by the second," Ysanna groaned.
"Simple. Just one question and then I''ll leave."
"Aurelion..."
"Just answer me this--who are you hiding below the waves?"
Chapter 37: Celebration
A chill shot down my spine. Cal''s eyes bulged as he tightened his grip.
I didn''t dare to breathe, or even blink.
The silence carried on for what felt like eternity before a sharp laugh cut through the storm.
"Really? Resorting to mind games now?" Ysanna said.
Aurelion chuckled and there was a spark of ether from somewhere above. "It was a good try. After all, what a better place to hide than under our noses."
"Leave. Last warning," Zolnja threatened.
"I will, for now. The others will demand their answer and more than a few are ready for blood. I''ll order them to stand down, and ease their concerns. But return the core and its fairy untouched, and soon. If you don''t..."
His voice trailed off, and he sounded genuinely unsure. The arrogance and cockieness was absent, replaced by a tone filled with resolution and stone.
"I understand. The core will be put into place, unharmed. Now go. Or I''ll let her eat your arm."
The ether popped and then faded away. A dozen minutes passed before the sea opened up and we rose to the surface. As we touched upon the platform of hardened air, Cal''s flames flashed and I was dry.
"That bastard. I''m more than tempted to steal a bite," Cal growled.
"Please don''t," Eraztis begged. "There''s enough problems as it is."
"It was a fleeting thought, little more."
"Uhuh. Just focus on your kid. And for the love of all, stay out of rifts. No more gods, no more fragments of divinity. Please."
As I was still being carried like a princess in Cal''s arms, I waved with my free hand and kicked my feet.
"No promises! I mean it''s not exactly in my control."
The squid god''s eye twitched and with a pop he was gone.
Cal''s couch reappeared and Ysanna collapsed as Cal set me on my own.
"That was all bluff. I''m nowhere near recovered enough to fight him let alone the rest of the pantheon," she groaned.
"There''ll be no fighting. Eraztis will see to that. And Aurelion, despite his faults, is true to his word. It''s the one thing we can rely on in regards to him."
"Good. Can you even fight? One day we might have to, it''d be nice to know if my ally isn''t a cripple."
"Do you need me to devour the realm in flames? I can, it won''t be pleasant."
Zolnja lowered her head till it was just above Cal''s. Her eye''s narrowed as licked the air. "And how is it you''ve regained so much power in such a short time? You shouldn''t even be able to overpower us the way you have."
Cal pointed to me.
Huh?
"Him."
"Me?" I interjected.
"Yes. You."
"What did he do?" Ysanna protested.
Cal shrugged. "He tiered up. A Reborn tiered up, and drew the attention of the Weave. Some of its power flooded through our connection as scion and divinity. I''m not recovered by any means, but I can eat a couple of misbehaving kits."
It was at that moment that movement drew my attention. Cal''s bushy tail swished from side to side but as he caught my staring he winked and a new outline revealed itself.
"Wait. You have three tails? What the fuck?" I yelled.
As quick as they appeared, the tails were gone and Cal laughed.
"Keep that a secret if you don''t mind."
My eyes narrowed. There was something in the furthest corners of my memory. Something specifically about foxes.
I growled. There just wasn''t enough to remember, and even when Galarion tried to work his magic, he deflated into a puddle in defeat.
"Cyrus?" Cal asked, worry coloring his voice.
I stuck out my tongue and leaned back. "Memory issues, that''s all."
"Cyrus..."
"I know. I know. Deal with my trauma. Start being careful with subjecting myself to intense moments of agony and deep traumatic moments before death."
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
"Cyrus.¡±
"And yes I''ll talk to someone. I''m dealing with it, I promise."
Cal stood up and wrapped me in a proper hug. I wanted to resist but I gave in and pushed my head into his chest.
"Just try, that''s all that matters. No magic in the world is worth destroying your mind over. And believe me, I know what it''s like to hold things in till they implode."
I huffed and pushed him away with a gentle shove. "I''m fine. And I should be celebrating. All my familiars have a new form, I got new magic to play with. And I finally got a tail!"
He chuckled. "You did. Congrats. Some would say you''re a real felkin now. A little disappointed it''s not fluffy."
"Yeah well, I tried. I''m not sure why it''s transparent though. And why the stereotypical devil''s tail. What about my skills influenced that particular evolution choice?"
"It may not be your skills."
"What do you mean? I can guess the rainbow flames are from my mana being so diverse."
Cal''s tail came into view and he deliberately turned to show it off. Like his hair, the fur was crimson, but with a white tip toward the end.
"None of my skills have anything to do with my tail''s evolution. It was solely based off my bloodline and some other factors. Your tail might be the same."
Oh. That makes sense.
"Well, I like it. And it''s strangely natural to walk with it. Almost like having extra balance in my step."
"You''re a Reborn and your instincts are hardwired into your soul. Not surprising."
I stood up and splayed my arms. "Well? What do you think?"
Cal patted my head and ruffled my hair. "I think I''m proud of you. And the prismatic colors are a good look, especially your eyes."
There was a brief flight of sadness, so quick that I almost thought I was seeing things until Galarion replayed the memory.
But he smiled and raised his arms. He clapped once, twice, and then a third time.
Confetti rockets shot into the air and exploded in a rain of candy. He turned to reveal a grand table with a veritable mountain of food piled high. The dishes varied but were obviously divided by different cuisines. Italian to the north, French to the south, asian-american fusion to the right and so on.
And there was a seperate table just for cakes.
"Cal?" I asked, standing up.
"Am I not allowed to celebrate your ascension? Come now."
I laughed and dragged ¨¢ine from my hood. She flew off and landed atop a massive bowl of lemonade and sank to her legs, leaving her arms just above the rim.
"Oh, that reminds me." Cal snapped his fingers and a mind-bending array of light shrunk into a glowing orb shaped like ice cream. "Memories for Galarion."
He continued to snap his fingers and one by one, something for all my familiars appeared. A giant snake skeleton in a bowl, a big juicy blob of blood mixed with snake venom, rock candy lollipops, A miniature sun, and crystalized lightning surrounded by thunder clouds.
"Go ahead and summon them all. Ysanna will help you deal with the mana toll."
Ysanna crossed her arms. "I will?"
"Yes. You will," he threatened.
She grumbled but glided over and touched my chest. As she did, a lightness filled my soul and I breathed in fresh air mixed with ozone.
Let''s give this a try.
Galarion oozed out of my forehead and shot into the floating ice cream cone with a hungry fervor.
He kept shouting ''delicious'' before he sank into the cone and engulfed it like a slime.
One by one I summoned my familiars, leaving Zagreus for last. They each took the time to show off to their Grandpa, before diving into their respective cuisine.
I knew of their forms, on an intimate level as I helped in their creation during the evolution and they were bound to me. But seeing them in person was a special kind of joy.
Still, I wept a little at the fact that they were not so tiny and cute. Zagreus and Sturmrorex especially, as the danger-noodle scarf could now easily cover my head between his scales. And his face lost some of its chibi-like youth with more refined ridges and impressive horns.
"They''re growing nicely. Good job, Cyrus."
"Can''t claim credit for it, they simply earned what I promised them."
Cal smiled and motioned for me to continue. He knew Zagreus from my memories but my familiar only had a vague idea of Cal from my other familiars sharing their impressions.
Felblood Sanguinarch.
Blood formed above and dripped into a growing lizard''s body. He was already twice as wide as before, more like a giant tortoise in width. His paws were even larger, and far meatier as he slammed his tail through the waves.
Four necks extended from the base and grew into serpent heads that tasted the air before lowering in fear.
"Hello little one. It''s nice to meet you," Cal said warmly.
Zagreus''s first head bobbed and raised to meet Cal''s eyes. In turn, Cal crouched so he was easier to reach, even if Zagreus''s neck pushed past a average man''s chest.
"Hello! Hello. Hi! Scratches?" Zagreus asked, all heads hissing simultaneously.
The brief moment of hesitation wore off, and before long Zagreus had Cal pinned and pushing his heads into his hands faster than he could scratch. Eventually, Cal added his tail into the mix to satisfy my needy familiar.
I turned to see Sturmrorex having a conversation with Zolnja as the two partook in the lightning crystal. Whatever they were discussing seemed heated, but Ysanna walked casually and with a smile on her face.
"You''ve a good family. They are adorable. Although, the bone spider hissed eldritch death calls at me, that was surprising."
"They''re good kids. But my family isn''t all here."
"Oh? Oooh. Right, forgot about them."
I glared and she laughed as the bubble containing Broken Tower and Sereza breached the surface.
They froze at the sight of the goddess but it wasn''t long before Celenae pressed herself against the bubble, smashing her face as close as physically possible to try and get a better look at my familiars.
Ysanna approached the bubble and light crackled in the sky as a strong breeze lifted her hair.
"You will behave in my realm. Do not damage it, and remember that you are guests. Am I clear?"
They all nodded like scared children before Ysanna tapped her foot and the bubble popped, depositing the mortals onto the platform.
Celenae shot to her feet but she stopped and bowed to the goddess. "It is an honor to meet you, goddess. Thank you for rescuing and welcoming us into your abode."
Ysanna smiled and floated away, joining Cal as he wrestled Zagreus into his lap.
I waved and munched on a sugar cookie. "Are you just going to stand there or do you want food you''ll never have again because it comes from my world?"
"You! I''m going to murder you in your dreams, and again in your sleep!" Isaac threatened.
"Seems like overkill. Have some pepperoni pizza instead."
The others patted me on the shoulder before rushing off to try the smorgasbord of food. Only Celenae took the time to invade my familiars'' space and begin quizzing them on anything and everything as she sketched them into her journal.
I tossed Sereza a cookie and jerked my thumb away from the crowd.
Once we were far enough away the mortal wouldn''t be able to hear our conversation did I exhale and closed my eyes.
One... Two... Three...
"Did you say from your world?" Sereza blurted out.
And here we go.
I turned around and met the intense stare of the felkin before me.
"Yes. Yes I did."
Chapter 38: Backstory
Sereza''s tail lashed the air menacingly. Her tongue flopped in her mouth but no words came out.
Not the worst reaction. I wonder if I can borrow the camera from Cal.
"I knew it!"
Huh?
"You knew I was from a different world?"
"No!"
"But-"
She stomped closer and grabbed my jacket. "I knew you weren''t from Solunaria. Your speech, your cadence, the attitude! The lack of common knowledge! And a felkin? You could have come from the southern continents, sure. But you don''t speak like them, act like them, or even look like them!"
I scrolled through the memories in my brain but without Galarion I couldn''t find anything other than the brief tidbit of information I studied. The felkins she was referring to was a small nomadic group of people famously known solely because of one individual. A tier four who''s been trying to ascend to tier five for the last two centuries.
I bet Cal knows about them. I''ll ask later.
Sereza waved her hands in front of my face. "Well?"
"Hmm?"
Her eye twitched and I grabbed her hand. Before she could protest, I dragged her over to the floating memory-cone and tapped it thrice.
Galarion''s head oozed out of the bottom as a gigantic, slimy eye slapped my cheek.
"Yes?"
"Do you mind creating a projection of Earth?" I said, gently pushing Galarion away.
"Moon or no moon?"
"With moon."
Sereza shuddered at the eyeball but she at least had the decency to resume her glaring as I stepped back and motioned to the freshly conjured planet.
It wasn''t entirely accurate, it being based off my memories after all, but at least it was close enough!
"This is Earth. Where I''m from originally. Same with Sam." I released her hand and she approached with a scowl on her face. "What''s wrong?"
"It''s so..."
"So?"
"Green."
"The fuck? What''s wrong with it being green? That means there''s lots of trees and life."
There was a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see Cal. He was dragging Zagreus behind him as the four heads had secured their own limb.
"I forgot you haven''t seen a picture of Inoria."
"These guys don''t have the technology to view it from space."
"Well they do, but that''s beside the point. We have skill users who can recreate some decent images and mind readers to draw them. I know because a god of knowledge campaigned for exactly that."
He flicked his tail and a new planet appeared, one that easily dwarfed Earth.
"And here''s how it looks in reality, considering Inoria is basically Jupiter." The planet ballooned in height till Earth looked like a pipsqueak. Sereza gaped at the sight but the planet shrunk to be the same size and began to spin. "As you can see, Inoria hosts some impressive climates and regions. Most of the southern hemisphere contains abundant flora and coloration past the grand desert. And the north is mostly blue due to the crystal coast."
Now that I had a comparison I understood her reaction better. As it turned out, very few splotches of Inoria were actually green and blue. Even large swathes of the ocean were a different color entirely before they blended together.
Before Cal turned to leave, I felt a subtle press of something crystalline in my hand. He winked and dragged Zagreus toward the dinner table where the others were stuffing themselves silly.
I cradled the object and secured my finger on the flash before Sereza came to her senses.
"Okay, you''re a world hopper. It makes sense. But why does it feel like there''s more? And you''re actually a demigod, right? Like a weirdly low-tier demigod?"
"Nope."
"Huh?"
I shrugged. "I already told you. I''m not a demigod. And Cal isn''t actually my dad. My real parents are... Well, it doesn''t matter. I''m technically Cal''s spawn? I think? His blood did help make me."
When she didn''t respond I prodded her cheek till her tail wrapped around my arm and pried it away. "There''s so much to unpack with what you just said."
"Mmmm. Maybe."
Isaac sauntered into view, clutching a bowl of lasagna to his chest. His face was stained with sauce only made worse when he smiled, revealing parsley flecks between his teeth.
"You haven''t even heard the worst part."
"What''s he talking about?" she growled.
Isaac shoved his fingers into the pan and scooped out chunks of steaming lasagna.
"Somewhere, somehow, an Italian nonna is crying at the barbarism," I snorted.
"What''s wrong with how I eat?!"
Sereza tried to grab a piece but Isaac ran away, nearly hissing as Igas chased him down.
"Is the food spiked? I didn''t smell alcohol."
Celenae was shoving cake slices into her mouth with one hand and furiously scribbling with her other. Teddy was the most reserved, partaking in food roulette with Eodyne who munched on different deserts. They all shared a strange bounciness in their actions but none of them seemed drunk. There wasn''t enough slurring and they had way too much coordination.
Looks like they''re happy.
Again, a spark of something wrong scratched my chest, but I banished the thought and focused on Sereza''s face. She too was relaxed, partially annoyed and anxious, but her smile was genuine and her eyes had less weight to them.
"Well, Sereza. Are you ready for the real kicker?"
The smile morphed into a frown and she narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"So you know how I just revealed I''m not from your world? And how Cal made me?"
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"Yes..."
"And you know I have a Legacy?"
"Yeah..."
"Just for disclosure, once you get this information there''s no going back. No telling anyone else, ever?"
If eyes could kill, I''d have been a broken mess.
"Really? After everything?"
I shrugged. "Had to say it."
"We''re oathbound!"
"Anyway," I said, clearing my throat. "The truth is, I''m not just a Legacy bearer."
"No shit."
"I''m..."
"Cyrus, I will stab you. I swear."
"I''m a Reborn."
I searched her face but what I received was not what I expected.
Instead of the anger, shock, even fear I was expecting, she had an entirely neutral face. Her eyes were blank, as was her mouth¨Cnot even a ghost of a smile.
"Oh is that all?" she asked.
"That''s it?"
"So you''re going to tell me the real secret, or what?"
I scowled and extended my arm. Her eyebrows raised as I pulled my sleeve back and exposed my wrist. With a thought, the reverse triquetra appeared.
"I know you have a Legacy, Cyrus. You don''t need to-" She stopped mid sentence and grabbed my wrist. "It''s wrong."
I let her inspect it, even going so far as to rub at it in an attempt to see if it was fake. Eventually she gave up and slowly raised her head.
"By the gods... You''re not joking."
I patted her shoulder. "Nope. I''m the same old god-touched, fate meddler you know."
"B-but... how? They''re stories!"
"They''re not stories! They''re liberal and creative retellings!" Celenae shouted from across the platform.
I closed Sereza''s jaw with a click but she brushed me off. "You''re the reason the rift went crazy! It didn''t spontaneously change on its own. It reacted to you!"
I searched her expression. There was no anger in her accusation but I had to be sure. When I found none, I sighed in relief and clicked my fangs.
"As was the first rift that spawned in Edolus. Or it was me and Sam''s fault. But yeah. Does that bother you?"
She shook her head. "What? No? It''s just so... Like damn, Cyrus. I was teaming up with a Reborn? An actual Reborn? It''s insanity!"
"I''m right here you know."
"No wonder you were being so coy. And that explains your unfair Legacy. Wait! Are the stories true? Did the Weave really grant you a choice from a giant scroll?"
"No?"
"What about-"
I pushed a finger to her mouth and pointed to Celenae. "Any and all rumors can be answered by her. If you want to commiserate the sad reality of my status, have at it."
She looked like she was going to say something snarky but her expression changed and released my wrist. Before I could react, she pulled me into a hug.
"Sereza?"
"The stories I read were less romantic. I only know about the other versions of Reborns."
I sighed. I knew some of the novels she was talking about. After getting over the shock of her favorite spicy novels being dead wrong, Celenae had questioned me on the exact same thing. It was funny. Reborns were like the demigods of Greek tragedies.
A shiny fucking star ready to go out in a blaze of glory before the cold void of space consumed their existence.
I squeezed her back and pulled away. "My life''s not that tragic. And it won''t be. I refuse that fate."
There was a hint of sadness in her gaze that I couldn''t stand to look at.
"So is there anything else I should know about?" she asked after some time.
"Is there?" I shrugged. "Possibly. There might be a couple of things you should probably know."
"Cyrus."
Instead of answering right away, I slowly walked over to the feast and tore a comically large leg off a turkey. I ignored the eyebeams behind my head and motioned to a chair, placing her in the center of the table between Broken Tower.
After she sat, I hopped onto the table and pulled the object Cal had given me out of my hoodie pocket. She leaned forward but I stowed it behind my back, waiting.
"There''s one last thing you need to know. And honestly, you can''t blame me for this one. I''ve technically already revealed it, you just haven''t put the clues together yet."
"In all fairness, Cyrus. Your existence is a cheat and makes no logical sense. I don''t think you can rightfully say it''s her fault. Your mana alone is enough to give us an aneurysm."
"A cheat is underselling it!" Isaac chimed in.
"May I remind you, that this cheat is providing you the boost to your mana regeneration."
"And we are very thankful for it," Igas grunted. "But you''re still a cheat. I''m with Celenae, not Sereza''s fault."
While Sereza was looking around confused, I wiggled my arm and received a round of subtle nods. When she finally returned to glaring at me, I stepped back and grinned.
"Putting aside accountability. Just remember, you''re not allowed to be mad at me. No matter how ridiculous."
"I reserve the right to be mad if the ridiculous is pure insanity."
My index secured the flash, and my thumb gently pressed against the main enchantment. Unknown to her, the others were ready with a collective grin.
Teddy picked up mutton legs, and Igas dragged a massive bowl of fruit punch to his side before Isaac death-gripped the pasta. Eodyne''s skill activated, sending mana just below the numerous pie tins and Celenae eyed the cakes.
"Well?" she prompted.
I inhaled and exhaled.
"I told you I''m a reborn. The truth is... that tier up inside the dungeon? I''m only tier one."
"What?!"
Click!
Chapter 39: Earth
Cal lifted Zagreus and spun fast enough to send him flying into a comically large pool filled with jello. The adolescent hydra sank into red goop like he belonged, giving up his form to become one with the food.
Cal adjusted his jacket and sat beside me. As he did he rummaged through his pockets and pulled out another crystal.
"That was a beautiful picture. Cherish it."
I took the crystal and sent mana through the channels, revealing the picture inside.
"That''s a good expression. Shock, some horror, anger? Good stuff."
"You''d have made a great photographer, it''s well centered too."
"Maybe," I said, pocketing the crystal. "So what''s up Cal? You have to leave soon?"
He sighed and closed his eyes, resting his chin against his knees. "Unfortunately. I''ll be avoiding Ysanna''s realm for a while."
"Because of the other gods?"
"Not worth the risk. But I''ll come whenever you need me. Though, try not to summon me in Solara, neither you nor I want to deal with Aurelion."
"Ugh, thanks for reminding me. I need to re-study that book Brelten gave me."
"Yes. Do that. Probably for the best."
I narrowed my eyes and poked his side with my tail. It was strangely satisfying, even though it failed to penetrate his suit.
"Ever going to fill me in on your history? And why you''re not in the book?"
"Nope."
"Cal."
He swiped his own tail against my nose, nearly causing me to sneeze. "Maybe one day. But for now, I prefer that history stays buried."
I shrugged. Whatever worked for him. I wasn''t too pressed to figure out his dark mysterious past. In fact, those sort of details could stay far away. I didn''t need more drama then I already had.
"Hey," I said, bumping into him. "Thanks for the celebration. It¡¯s nice to see them so happy."
"Yeah, you should try it yourself sometime. Doom and gloom shouldn''t be the backbones of the world."
"Haa, haa. If only."
Cal snapped his fingers and a steaming pie appeared above our heads.
Huh.
It tipped over and deposited its gooey load. I licked my lips. Blueberry and chocolate? It wasn''t the best combo, but it beat the soap fettuccini from earlier.
"So, are you summoning these? Or does your abilities give you access to creating random food?"
"Sadly, I am not specialized in creation style magic. I prepared these beforehand."
I scooped some pie and jiggled it. "So you''re doing the equivalent of millenials baking sourdough during Covid?"
He scowled and flicked his tail, sending a wave of flames that turned the pie to ash before the platform sucked it away. "There is nothing wrong with learning to make food. It keeps us immortals sane after all."
I chuckled and leaned back. Sereza was still grilling the others extensively. She looked riled up, but far calmer than her initial reaction. Though I would catch the occasional glare sent my way.
And my familiars continued to lounge around their food, more than half of them asleep and resting like a milk-drunk toddler.
The uncomfortable itch started and I rubbed at my chest, ignoring the blip of a headache that threatened to make itself known.
"Cyrus," Cal said heavily.
"Yeah?"
"You know what I''m going to say."
I had an inkling, I just wasn''t going to acknowledge it.
"Mmm. Nope, can''t think of anything."
"Cyrus..."
"Hey. What are your thoughts on the felkin tribe in the south? Sereza mentioned them and I''m curious. One of them''s a demigod right?"
"I''ve met them, and I''ve met Carrinos. He''s... interesting."
"What do you mean?"
"Like most tier fours, he''s obsessive. And he doesn''t understand that no matter what he does and how far he goes, that he will never ascend for as long as he keeps himself attached to that memory. A shame too. Another felkin as a god would help our reputations, maybe even aspire more migrators to Inoria."
"Migrators?"
"Sereza called them ''world hoppers.'' The original felkins in Inoria came from a different planet."
"Does that happen often?"
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
He sighed. "No. For as big as Inoria is, its still far behind most civilized planets. You start with small portals, then branch into setting a portal network from city to city. From there you spread across the planet and eventually someone with the correct knowledge and skills can connect to the Weave''s built in nexus. You''ll experience it one day, but likely not within the next couple of centuries for this world."
"Is it that hard to do?"
"No, but it requires a level of unity that just isn''t attainable at this time. And as much as I enjoy this world, it is a planet in the lower planes. There just isn''t enough concentrated mana to produce the needed elements."
A lot of what he just said went over my head, so instead, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the rest. The sounds drowned away and I felt strangely relaxed.
Cal didn''t interrupt, merely resting with me. Eventually the sounds of chaos settled behind us, and I cracked an eyelid to peek at the others snuggling into their chairs.
So the food coma finally hit. Good, they''re going to be burning a lot of calories later.
Cal''s tail booped my forehead and I turned to see him hold a finger to his lips. At once, we were on his couches, sitting opposite of each other.
"Cal?"
I watched the orange barrier stretch from the back of the couches and envelope us in a bubble. Even the platform was pushed away, separated by a thin film of mana.
Cal swiped his tail and the air outside the barrier distorted, becoming little more than a collage of colors that swirled and danced.
"What I am about to say is for your ears, and your ears only. Its imperative that you do not tell the others."
Serious then. Must be important.
"Done. What do you need?"
He smiled and gestured to a table that appeared and tapped the center with his claw. Liquid flames sprouted from the tip and stretched into the air before he retracted his hand.
It looked like a glowing, pink egg. It spun lazily through the air surrounded by a smaller egg orbiting around it.
"And this is?" I asked.
"You should recognize it."
"Cal I''ve never seen a glowing pink egg before. Besides Galarion that one time he wanted to mimic an ice cream scoop."
He tapped the egg and it changed shape, losing the shell and slowly morphing into a replica of Earth.
"That''s..."
"When you were and I believe I''m using this term correctly; ''isekai''ed'' there were pathways created from the etherstorm to your planet. It''s undergoing what you would call system integration."
I raked my claws through the cushions. He didn''t react, continuing to stare at me with a neutral expression that showed.
"So Earth is undergoing an apocalypse?"
"They will undergo a complete reset of civilization. The world will expand and grow in size; not to the levels of Inoria, but far larger than before."
"And everyone will get access to the system? The skills, and magic? The beasts? Dungeons and rifts?"
He nodded and tapped the image again, the shell reappearing as the land masses subtly shifted. Australia was the first, it having stretched and losing its original shape to become more squarish.
"The Grand Weave will fully integrate into the world after evolving the planet. The current residents will undergo similar evolutions, their bodies changing to match the skill system we use here. Ten actives, five passives, and they each gain a starting perk. There''ll be many world firsts, unique achievements and perks rewarded by the Weave as time goes on and humanity settles into its new existence."
"What the hell, Cal? Does that mean Sam''s family will become skill users?"
"Yes."
"Does the Weave regulate the level of danger? Is there a grace period or something? Her uncle, uh, Sal. He had a child, what about them?"
"They follow the same rules of the system here, but usually it accelerates the awakening period. Most likely, all children will receive system access by age ten. And will continue to do so for the next three generations."
I watched the egg slowly spin, Cal having allowed certain patches to turn transparent, exposing the minute changes across the landscape. Some islands drifted far into the sea, more than a couple banding together and expanding to form an entirely new continent.
The beautiful green that I was used to seeing, continued to exist but it spread. Where Vegas and its desert should have been was now a green strip that opened into a cluster of island masses bordering into california as the state folded away from Arizona.
But I knew what the stories were like, at least the ones I could remember.
"Does that mean kids are left for themselves? Billions will die?" I demanded.
"Any child below the awakening age will be put into a separated space. Like a rift. They''ll be trained through recruited world spirits to help guide them into the world they''ll be returning to after a six month grace period."
"And the other half of my question?"
"There will always be death Cyrus. And while the Weave is willing to ascend the human race as a whole, your world is peaceful, more so than most."
I snorted. "Bullshit. You''ve visited it right? There''s enough history books on warfare."
"And yet millions upon millions of lives will never see it. They''ll exist in their bubble, and worry about mundane things. You lived in such a city, exhausted by decision fatigue of what ready-made food service to order from. You never hunted, tracked prey for miles. There were no opposing beasts to steal your meal."
"Stop. I get it."
"You don''t. And that''s why I''m bringing this up. I wasn''t planning on it; there should have been a decade''s worth of time before this became relevant," he sighed. "But that''s no longer an option."
"So Earth is joining the Weave. Okay. And Sam''s family is in for a tough time, got it." I leaned back and stared at the sky. "Why tell me?"
"Because I knew you cared for Sam''s family as if they were your own. And because the system presents a unique opportunity to Inoria."
Ysanna could take some decorating tips. Not all the clouds have to be gray or white. Where''s the colors? The beautiful sunset?
It didn''t take much to feel Cal''s stare drilling into me.
I inhaled and exhaled slowly. But I wasn''t going to meet his gaze.
"What does that mean?" I relented.
"That Earth will become a world rich with unclaimed treasure and power. That unexplored wildlands, and dangerous beasts are not the only thing Earth will have to deal with."
"And?"
"Gods. The pantheons will learn of this, and rush like rats to food. A new planet, a new population, ripe for faith and plunder. To expand their territories and give aid to those in need."
I sat up. There was anger in his tone. And judging by the hairs standing straight on his tail, he felt it too.
"So what does this all mean? You want me to return to Earth? Why?"
He paused, his eyes roving across my body. It was funny. He was examining me the way I examined him. Whatever he found, he relaxed. He swiped his hand through the illusion, scattering the mana into the barrier.
"You know? I wasn''t entirely sure how you would react. The anger I expected. But that didn''t stick around like I thought it would."
"So you want me to go to earth in a couple of years or what?"
"Maybe," he chuckled. "Or you avoid it entirely. I''ll stand by whatever you decide, but know that as your god, you''ll be given the first opportunity to world hop. Perks of being the Reborn."
"Yay," I said deadpanned.
Cal stood up and the couches fell away. I joined him and he wrapped me in a hug.
"Consider it. That''s all. And if we find a way for Sam to rejoin you, she might want to go back to Earth. Not saying you have to, but we both know what that means."
Right...
"See you later?"
He ruffled my hair. "Yes, I''ll be taking my leave. Just as a favor, address the bomb in your head. And think about what you want to do in the future. Whatever you decide, I''ll help. I may not be the most welcomed god in existence, but I still have connections."
I stepped back and attempted to smile. "Later."
He adjusted his suit and knocked on the air. Ysanna appeared from the depths, pushing through the waves as lightning danced along her hair.
"Yes, Calstrax?" she asked.
Two more tails appeared, flickering into existence before flames sprouted from fingertips.
"About the dungeon core. The one that tried to kill Cyrus? It''s about time we have a little chat..."
Chapter 40: Farewell Divinity
A portal opened up, the great tidal wave of electrified water sloughing off the excess to form the archway. Reality split down the middle and peeled back, revealing a familiar manor with a black-iron gate.
Ysanna pulled us closer with a flex of her finger, drawing the platform toward the portal. We stopped just before it, the goddess and her companion bearing down from overhead.
Cal had already left, off to visit someplace far to the west. So my familiars were packed inside my soul and the others ready while clutching onto generous helpings of the food that was left behind.
"You really like lasagna, huh?" I prodded, poking the rogue in the belly.
Isaac hissed, but kept quiet as he withered under the goddesses'' gaze.
"Is there an issue?"
Ysanna glided closer, fixing me with an unreadable expression. "The others may step through. Be warned, that three days have passed while inside my realm. Adjust yourselves accordingly."
The others piqued in curiosity but they bowed low and pushed through the portal. Their forms blurred once they reached the other side, the images of their bodies stretching like taffy.
Now that I was alone with the goddess, the pair dropped their overbearing postures and slumped forward. Even Zolnja looked exhausted as she crashed into the waves, and stayed there.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to host you mortals in my realm, including a fledgling divinity, a full divinity, and while keeping you hidden? Not to mention putting your companions to sleep!" Ysanna groaned.
"So that''s why they slept so long. What''s up with that?"
"It was necessary. Their mana channels were misaligned due to the transfer, and the constant pressure¨Ceven reduced from being around us was enough to induce mana sickness."
"Mana sickness? You mean fatigue?"
Ysanna collapsed, her throne rising from below before she sat down. "It''s not well known as its rare for it to happen in the low realms. But constant exposure to divine ether would slowly poison your soul. Nasty for a mortal. Calstrax helped them with the food he prepared."
I glared at the empty dishes on the table. "Is that why some of the pasta tasted like soap?"
"The white noodle dish with the sauce?"
"That one."
"It''s a rare herb from the northern regions. I''m surprised he had so much of it. Even I would have to go through some hoops to acquire some."
"Reminds me of cilantro," I grumbled. I blew a raspberry and cleared my head. "So what did you want to talk about?"
She raised her hand and a bubble appeared. It flattened and became silvery, turning into a mirror that rippled with rivulets of electrified water.
The mirror cleared and showed a beach, one I recognized. And that wasn''t the only thing; a small boy had on a heavy sack filled with training weights as he ran along the coast. He followed a contingent of guards in heavy plate doing the same thing, led by Ventus.
"Oh, is that Teldren? He''s gained some meat on his bones."
"He''s been working hard since the day you left the island. Non-stop training. He managed to convince Ventus to let him follow along whenever he''s hosting training exercises on the beach."
I pursed my lips. The promise from back then seemed so small and irrelevant, yet here the boy was, training his heart out instead of doing what a kid should be doing best: playing.
"Uhm."
"Don''t think I wasn''t watching you. Making such a careless promise to a boy. One who views you as the greatest hero he''ll ever meet. More than even my chosen."
There was admonishment in her voice.
And a hint of jealousy?
"I''m sorry?"
She sat up, and pointed a finger my way. "I underestimated what you were. Severely underestimated. I wanted you to know that you will have to decide what that means for him and his family."
I bowed. "I understand."
"Hmmph. Good. See that you don''t forget it." She snapped her fingers and the mirror shifted images, revealing the islands but from an aerial view. "I''ve kept your name hidden, and those who know of your involvement are loyal to only me. But that hasn''t stopped it from spreading in its entirety."
The village, and it could hardly be called that anymore, was a sprawling city. The walls were expanded and the buildings gained several stories along with being rebuilt. More monster bones were used in the construction, the bodies of great serpent skeletons melded with stone and wood to accommodate grand structures.
It was bustling, with newer boats joining the waters in refurbished docks.
It brought a smile to my face. The people were happy, and despite the sudden setback from taking in an extended population of rift-born, the city thrived.
"They''ve done a good job, haven''t they?" Zolnja asked, nearly scaring me as her snout jutted from the waves.
"They have. It''s pretty. Though I have to ask¡ The skeletons. Are they your doing? The others mentioned other serpents fighting next to the avatars."
"Foolish runts! They may redeem themselves by offering my people shelter."
Electricity punctuated her words by sending off bolts that skipped along the waves. It was mesmerizing but Ysanna brought me back.
"I''ve kept my promise and I plan on doing so," she said. "But do know that your name will eventually spread. There is no stopping it. One merchant had to be thoroughly coerced into letting go of a potential new product line."
"I sense annoyance. Was it that bad?"
"He infiltrated the guard''s quarters in an attempt to hear enough details to create a glass replica of you. Who does he think he is?!"
My eyes narrowed. That last bit seemed less about me and about something else entirely.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
"Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully, I won''t stir up trouble for Cal in the next few months."
The divinities laughed, a rumbling thing that shook the realm with peals of thunder.
"Oh that''s rich," Ysanna chuckled as she swiped a tear from her cheek.
The laughter settled and Zolnja rose from the waves and opened her mouth. her tongue pushed through her fangs, a small box at the tip.
I caught it before it fell and she resumed towering over me, with lightning dancing in the backdrop.
"That is a gift for him. If you take him as your Brave, then give him the stone. If you do not, then return it to us. Is that understood?"
Thunder boomed and she lowered her snout to just above my head. I''m sure it was plenty menacing.
To someone else.
I reached for her nose and booped it. She froze, and Ysanna melted into her throne as she clamped a hand over her mouth. Laughter still escaped, the vibrations enough to push the storm clouds away.
"Duly noted," I said. "Now is that all?"
"One last thing," Ysanna said.
"Hmm?"
She snapped and the image changed again, revealing a destroyed room filled with people in cots. Some were bandaged, others were sitting upright but weary.
"The fuck happened here?"
"You. Broke. Our. Alchemists!"
I blinked, even side-eyeing Zolnja but she shook her head and returned to resting between the waves.
"Ooookay?"
She jabbed her finger at the mirror and I watched as a shark-skinned hand came into view. It slapped a neon-blue paste across the disgruntled elf''s arm before slipping out of frame.
"Was that¡"
"I''m sending him your way. He needs to be freed from tormenting the rest of our civilians."
"But why-"
"His master is no better. That Travis nearly caused a riot when he discovered an adventurer with a harvesting skill. Do you know what happened when they found out the skill can only be used twice a day?"
"Uhm not really su-"
"It took three days to stop the mayhem. Three whole days, Cyrus. Do you understand that? You spoiled them. And now I have nothing but constant prayers and requests from just about everyone who enters my temple about some damn harvesting skills!"
I waved at Zolnja and shuffled closer to the portal''s edge. Ysanna was too busy ranting and shaking her fist at the sky to notice me so I cleared my throat and waited until she stopped long enough to notice.
"Thanks for the heads up! Byeeeee!"
"Cyrus!"
I dived into the portal and my breath hitched as I slingshotted through the dimension. Once the portal spat me onto clear ground I rolled the landing and sprang to my feet.
Weapons were swung my way, stopping just short of touching my skin.
On a second inspection I pushed the rubber mallet down and raised an eyebrow at the Lightcrests in full clown-coded armor.
Anastasia stowed her bread-roll sword and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. "Cyrus! You''re alive!"
Nathan joined in, water flowing from his pants to create a spinning disc that slowly rotated us.
"H-hi. Whath goin onth?" I said.
She pulled back, smoothing down her extra-ruffly shirt before she spread her arms wide and smiled. "Oh nothing. We were simply about to launch a covert operation against my asshole of a brother."
"Right. And the outfits?"
"Well, he makes it so easy, we have to give him a handicap," Nathan explained.
"Gotcha. Well good luck with that."
They set me down and I watched them roll toward the nearest window before Walter appeared and redirected them to the door.
"Killer new horns by the way! And your eyes!" Anastasia shouted.
"And what a marvelous tail! Deliciously deadly!" Nathan added.
Before they dipped around the corner, Anastasia stuck out her head and flashed a smile. "Go to the kitchen, food is ready. And don''t forget to tell us the story sometime! Buh-bye! Congrats on the evolution!"
Her voice faded and the door slammed with Walter marching back into the room.
"Dinner is ready, sir. This way, please."
I shrugged and followed him into the dining room. What greeted us was a floating bubble stuck between two enchanted plates of metal. The baked goods¨Cincluding a giant cake in the shape of my head, floated inside.
Walter closed the door behind him, and I waved at everyone inside.
"Is everything okay?" Teddy asked.
"Maybe? Nothing too worrying."
"Are you sure?"
I patted him on the shoulder and sat down, staring at the rotating head-cake. "Were all your cakes like this?"
He grumbled. "Yes. Sometimes full-bodied."
"Why?"
"I''ll never know," he said dejectedly.
Isaac pointed at my arms. "What''s in the box?"
"This thing?" I asked, lifting the chest. "It''s a gift for Teldren."
"Who?"
"The boy," Sereza answered. "The goddess gave you a gift for him?"
"If I take him on as a Brave. He''s uh, really putting in the effort."
"Not surprising. A hero came and saved not only him but his family and an entire city."
I clenched my jaw but Teddy stood up and sliced a piece of my horns and plated it.
"It might be our second feast. But let''s enjoy ourselves. To Cyrus and his ascendence!" he cheered.
A round of cheers and congratulations filled the room.
Isaac shoved a fork into my hand. "Well, go on. Eat yourself!"
I sighed and dug in, savoring the strange raspberry-flavored cake.
Like a gunshot to a race, the others clamored for their own slice and I enjoyed the spectacle.
Wait... Did he just dip a piece of my eye into some alfredo sauce?
Chapter 41: Ysanna Interlude
The portal closed and she leaned forward, dropping her face into her hands. Her partner swam to the surface and coiled around the throne, resting her head at eye level. It was a kind gesture and she reached out to stroke her scales, just between the ridge of her nose, where she knew Zolnja liked it best.
"We''ve certainly bitten off more than we can chew," Ysanna chuckled.
The storm clouds exploded as Zolnja''s tail flicked in annoyance. The water around her scales vibrated into colossal waves as she growled.
"It might have been better to stay dead," she hissed.
It was an empty statement. Neither of them would have given up the chance to return to their people, especially with their chosen alive and whole.
"How''s your grandchild?"
"A cautious coward," she spat. Her voice was sharp but it lacked bite. "Unsure of how to approach me, too meek for one of their lineage!"
"Oh please. Their long lost great-great-great something goddess grandmother not only returned after death but is both their goddess and their family. Do not blame a child for such things."
The look she received in return was one of utter betrayal. She took it with another chuckle and leaned back, watching the sunset once more.
Without the chaos of having mortals run amok in their soul realm, it was almost strange for it to be so empty. It was almost... desolate.
Despite the trouble he caused, Cyrus had lit a peculiar spark. From chaos, he brought new emotions and new experiences that were foreign to them.
They were cautiously welcomed even if they would never admit such dangerous thoughts.
The water responded to her command, dragging the coral and seastone throne toward the table still filled with food. Even if the one mortal¨Cif he could really be called that anymore, treated her so casually, it was nearly heretical to act like them.
So now that they were gone she finally allowed herself to partake in the interesting collection of foreign cuisine. They smelled nothing like she had ever tasted, and the noises they had made had her hungry to find out.
"Are we really eating that stuff," Zolnja grumbled.
"Of course. Calstrax made these, might as well see if it''s worth the high praises.
Her mention of the other god wasn''t exactly comforting to her companion but she would get over it. For now, she had a choice, and a slice of ''laz-onia'' was the first on the menu.
She held it to the light and sniffed, a strangely tangy smell entering her nose. With a shrug, she shoved the slice into her mouth and chewed.
"Oh thish if goofd!"
Her partner made a disgusted face and turned her nose high.
She swallowed and waved another plate. "Come on! There''s no reason to deny ourselves some fun."
The sky turned pitch dark except for the eddies of electrified water illuminating the area. Her partner''s scales were plasma that could melt through a mountain but their realm remained unharmed.
"We do not deserve such freedom," Zolnja rumbled.
The delicious noodles in her mouth turned to ash. She sighed and waved her hand. The waves rose and engulfed the table and brought it deep into their realm.
She''d have to enjoy the cuisine another day.
"You know it''s not your fault or mine. We did what we could. And now we''re alive and our people are thriving once more."
"It''s not enough."
The same argument that had been plaguing them the moment they returned. She understood the problem, but there truly was no use in atoning for an impossible situation.
They had no chance to win, the duel would only ever have one outcome. The city and its people, their children, and faith had suffered but they saved who they could.
The very memories of those who once lived were preserved with them in the rift, forever honored for ages to come.
They did what they had to do and she wouldn''t apologize for it.
But she would do better and help ease the burden her partner felt. It was the least she could do for someone who stuck by her side even in death.
"Are you ready for what''s to come?" she asked as she stood up.
Zolnja returned to a calm state, with only the odd scale shifting into electric blue before returning to normal.
"I am. Let us be done with this farce."
Indeed.
The waters parted once more as she controlled the waves and brought to the surface the dungeon core and his fairy.
They shrunk away like frightened mice, a useless attempt to make themselves small.
When she spoke next, the realm shook under her power. The clouds swirled and the waves grew to titanic proportions. Zolnja''s form stretched high, her tail snaking around the orb that was their containment.
It was all theatrics but they would not be allowed to cause any more trouble.
"Have you understood the warning you''ve been given? Did the god whose son you threatened make it clear?"
The dungeon core sank to the floor, unable to keep itself afloat. His fear radiated like a beacon, unmistakable and obnoxiously present.
But the fairy stood strong and floated before it, arms almost akimbo as if to protect its companion. It was sweet, but there would be no mercy.
"We understand! By the Weave we willingly part with our memories. We apologize for the inconvenience, Lady Ysanna, Lady Zolnja!"
She let them squirm, commanding the silence until both were suffieciently cowed.
"Very well. Then accept our mana and do not resist. This is not a suggestion."
Zolnja pushed her head to the bubble''s edge, baring her large fangs in an angry snarl. "Begin."
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Ysanna weaved a thread of mana into their forms, being polite enough to allow them to consent first before she siphoned the memories.
It was an awkward thing to do, and it wouldn''t have been possible without Eraztis'' temporary help, but it had to be done.
They vibrated as her divinity tore through them and ripped the last vestiges of emotions free. Once completed she withdrew the thread and watched them sink onto the platform below.
Zolnja''s tail brought them closer, gently wrapping them in her scales. They were unconscious.
"That was rough," Ysanna admitted. "Not sure why Eraztis wanted the memories stored. He could have taken them himself."
"Best not question those two. We''d never understand," Zolnja said.
"True enough. Ready?"
"Always."
She placed her hand along her partner''s back and closed her eyes. The throne carried her will, weaving the divinity into the mana and breaching through reality. As she traveled the pathway her consciousness slipped and she fell into the void.
When she opened her eyes of the astral avatar, the realm''s gatekeeper greeted her with a baleful stare. The stone wolf''s maws shone with cosmic light and she held out her hand.
"I give unto thee willingly. May my acceptance be the oath that binds for my duration in this realm."
The swirling cosmo sucked in her thread and spat out another. The crimson string wrapped around her wrist and solidified, tying itself in a seamless knot.
Zolnja did the same, the band moving to the tip of her tail, one far larger than her own.
With the oath made, they floated through the barrier and entered the arena. Many eyes stared back, not all humanoid, more than a few belonging to eldritch monstrosities that crawled from the deepest crevices of reality.
The arena itself was simply large selections of floating islands divided by separate pantheons. The space was impossibly vast but there was no ceiling and the sky showed an endless array of stars.
The islands rotated on their own accord, the stone and very environment changing to the divinities occupying them.
Not everyone was present. Some islands were empty, or lacking the full contingent of gods that made up the pantheon. And some islands were mere stones, singular platforms for solo gods¨Cthe Unbound.
She spotted her''s, the Solunaria''s pantheon being a shining spotlight of gold with rich vegetation and even brighter crystals glowing with radiant sunlight.
Eight platforms were filled, each a different light. Only the ninth was empty; her seat. She ignored the intense stares and floated upward. She reached the island first while Zolnja snaked around the stone.
Hard rock became vibrant blue water and trees made of lightning rose upward into fine points. Their canopies were clouds and even with the grays of the storm clouds blocking out the starlight, the sun from the central island pierced through.
Pure showmanship, unneeded and unnecessary peacockery that was an unfortunate part of this meeting. She detested it. But she was on trial here, among other things. There could be no mistakes.
As soon as her island settled, the fifth island, the one of verdant green fields and deep forests slowly floated over. Its owner waved and stopped at the island''s edge.
"Permission to board?" the goddess asked, her voice soft and kind.
"Of course, Ulphinia. Is there something you need?" Ysanna asked.
Ulphinia hopped over, detaching from the roots that connected her foot. Her skin was pale green and unblemished save for the random assortment of flower-shaped tattoos and vines that coiled around her limbs. Green hair framed the two sets of lavender eyes and parted to display the great set of golden antlers she was known for.
She skipped and danced, stopping by Zolnja''s tail before she dived to embrace it. Her partner dodged her attempt and sank into the water, scowling at the nature goddess.
"Oh come on, Zol. It''s just a hug and your scales feel so nice!"
"Never!" Zolnja hissed.
Ysanna cleared her throat. "Ulphinia? Was there something you wanted?"
"Hmmm, a small one that Aurelion is too angry to ask right now. They thought it best they send me instead."
She already knew where the conversation was heading. In reply, Zolnja produced the core and its fairy, presenting it so that the rest of her pantheon could see.
"You may take them now. We apologize for the delay."
Ulphinia pursed her lips but as always, she smiled and grabbed them with roots from her island. They sank below the luscious grass.
"They''re not harmed but..."
"After effects from helping Eraztis."
That wiped the smile off the goddess''s face. For a moment, her soft eyes turned vicious red and the brown vines turned black and sprouted thorns. The change¨Cthe other half of her nature showed itself and disappeared within the next blink.
"I see. Well if he demanded something there''s no helping it! Good luck during the interrogation!" She leaned in and put a hand to her ear. "Remember, we''re here to support you!"
"Ulphinia!" Aurellion shouted.
"Oops! Gotta go."
Ulphinia returned to her island and settled into position. Aurellion spared her a glance, before locking eyes with Ysanna.
He wasn''t angry but enough frustration showed through his eyes despite his island remaining serene and unchanging.
Time passed and more divinities showed themselves. With each new island, a new buzz added itself to the great static in the air. Some openly taunted their rivals, nearly provoking fights in useless displays of power.
But all noise ceased as Eraztis appeared in the center of the arena. He stepped onto the main platform and his island rose through the throngs of the others. Much like his realm, the island was made of stars and the void, glowing orbs sprouting as ever-changing vegetation.
Any power the other gods accidentally leaked faded, leaving just Eraztis'' domain to dominate the field.
"The council has begun. The gate will be sealed off and we will not leave until this matter is settled," he spoke, his voice booming through their minds.
What is he doing?
A few spoke out in outrage but Eraztis clapped his hands and the stars above shifted till only the endless black loomed over them.
"There will be no interruptions unless permission is granted. I will not repeat myself. Those who break this rule will be barred from entry for the next decade."
There were a few grumbles but none dared speak out.
Aurelion raised his hand, his island flashing to grab Eraztis'' attention.
"Aurellion? You may speak."
"Does a misunderstanding truly require such restrictions?" Aurelion asked.
"Tell me. What do you think is the reason we are here?"
The sun god froze, his aura flickering with instability before he mastered himself and crossed his arms.
"We are here because Ysanna and Zolnja kidnapped a dungeoncore."
Rumbling laughter filled the area, Eraztis'' tentacles writing along his neck.
"You think such a singular action is worth the calling of a council? One that involves all the gods?" Eraztis paused, but he didn''t wait for Aurelion to answer. "Your pantheon may show promise but you are far from the most important thing on Inoria. Get over yourself, whelp."
Flames flashed, dancing across Aurelion''s skin as a sun grew behind his head. But again he calmed and glared.
"Not all gods are here."
"Pedantics. Would you really request the presence of that fox? I didn''t take you for a fool."
Most of the divines in attendance cringed at Eraztis'' words. Some openly flared their auras in response, directing their ire toward Aurelion while more than a few shuddered at the thought.
Memories flashed along with the feeling of the heat that scorched her realm. Those flames that gnawed at her divinity like hungry wolves, the pressure that affected even her and her companion despite being goddesses, they brought a shudder to her spine that she repressed.
And to think I''m indebted to that fox... If only they knew.
Aurelion backed down and Eraztis turned, spinning so that every god and goddess could see his form. He raised his hand and snapped.
A replica of Inoria appeared, the globe spinning lazily through the air.
"We shall begin the discussion on something that affects us all. Some of you may have felt it, most of you are too inexperienced." he paused and let the uproar settle before he clapped his hands and the globe froze in place. "The real reason we are here is to discuss the Grand Weave interfering with this world."
Neltesh, a member of the eastern continent''s pantheon, raised his many limbs.
Eraztis nodded. "Speak."
"What do you mean the Weave has interfered?" Neltesh burbled.
"I speak of the incident four days ago. When the Grand Weave froze all of Inoria."
"What?!"
Damn. He really said it.
Zolnja''s tail nudged her elbow and she glanced behind her. They shared a look and schooled themselves, calming their auras and retracting their mana.
She paused as a tap against her psyche rang like a war drum. She allowed the connection and looked to Eraztis who was standing still, waiting for the contingent of gods to settle down.
"Yes, Eraztis?"
"You''re welcome. Now remember the promises you made. Don''t expose yourself, and mention nothing of Cyrus and Calstrax," Eraztis replied.
"I know. You don''t need to remind me."
"Good."
Eraztis clapped his hands and rose into the air above his island. The arena responded, forcing a silence through the ether.
"If you wish to speak, activate your island''s enchantments."
Nearly all the islands flashed and he slumped forward.
"Just be happy you don''t have to be the one to do this," he whispered into her mind.
"Thanks."
"Mmmm."
He clapped his hands once more and pointed to one of the western pantheons. "You may begin..."
Book 5 Start: Chapter One: Wind-down Chat
Arturous greedily devoured the honey-covered mutton, his massive lips filling the garden with uncomfortable noises.
"So I take it, you like it?" I asked, patting the massive bear on the snout.
He responded by slipping his tongue past the meat and slamming it into my cheeks. I took the hit and quickly wiped away the saliva before retreating behind the portable grill.
The last remains of sunlight shined across the mountaintop, illuminating the cliff edge in a wash of color while a faint breeze blew across the land.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling, my tail bracing against the wind as it sent a gentle tickle across my skin.
"Feels good?" Celenae asked.
She had a book in her hand and Magnus in her lap as she lounged on the lawn chair. My sleepy familiar was full and lethargic, without a care in the world, as he rested on her stomach.
"You spoil him. Going to get fat with all those crystals."
She pulled the half-eaten pink quartz the size of a dog''s bone from underneath his paws. He was too sleepy to protest but he did swipe and broke a sliver to lick before it was taken away.
With his current size, he was more a small blanket than a cute little kitten but Celenae didn''t seem to mind.
"I don''t think that''s possible. His form is created whenever you summon him, providing him with a new vessel. If he got fat, it would have to be a conscious choice."
"Not fat," Magnus purred.
"Still spoil him," I said.
"And there''s nothing wrong with that. He makes a good reading companion," Celenae retorted.
My tail came into view and I observed the flames. They didn''t interact with the wind, behaving like a ghost. Yet I felt the wind passing through the flames and how it spread a strange sensation I couldn''t describe.
"I wouldn''t say it''s good, but it''s not bad. Just different."
As I sat down, Eodyne swung by, the surfboard cutting through the sky as she blasted a cone of wind below her to break the landing. She skidded toward the gate and managed to stop in time before crashing.
She unscrewed the sail and made both items disappear into her dimensional storage before walking over.
"It''s different from the gliders we use in the storm plains, but it does provide a more stable flight," she said.
"We call it parasailing back on Earth. You usually use it to ride the waves, not the sky."
She flopped into her chair and I handed her some of the meat. Like Arturous, she devoured the mutton with a gusto that was at odds with the storm archer.
"Any good?" I asked.
Eodyne wiped the juices from her chin and nodded. "Very. But I''d prefer more spice. It is too sweet."
"Eh, try some of those Aldurzan spice again. Just need to find a way to balance the acidity."
Celenae snapped her book shut and leaned back, motioning to the grill. I handed her a medium-sized leg and summoned my beanbag before settling down.
"How was the Healer''s guild? Was the director happy to see you again?" she asked between bites.
"Mmm. She was. Concerned, and surprised at my evolution. I think its made her more suspicious but eh. She ran Galarion through even more tests and sent me away. I''ll get the next batch of patients tomorrow."
"Will you be participating in Charity Day?"
I sighed. "Yeah. Syrreisha''s nagging was enough. I just don''t see a point. There''s so many healers who are higher tier than me."
"Cyrus..."
"What?"
Eodyne pointed her mostly gnawed mutton leg in my direction as if brandishing a sword. "Fool."
"She''s right," Celenae agreed. "You really don''t understand how insanely good of a skill ¨¢ine is. And just how much mana you have compared to others."
"Alright. I''ll bite. My familiar is amazing, I won''t ever deny that. But you''re telling me a tier-two dedicated healer can''t do things better?"
"They might, if they were a fully slotted individual with numerous healing skills? Then yes, they could do better. But that''s one person spending however much mana they have on a whole throng of people. Do you even realize just how many adventurers rely on days like these? there is a reason why the adventuring guild has a long-standing deal toward healers who need essence to tier up."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Didn''t know that. Guess it makes sense. So fine, another number to pad the tide. What makes Verdant Healer different?"
Celenae summoned a knife and I prepared to channel mana into my skill but she redirected the blade into the mutton. A sliver fell and she caught it as she cut a thicker piece next.
She held the pieces up. "Most healing skills can fix the injury, repair it. But it draws on nutrients. You know this."
"Still surprised you know what nutrients are."
"I suspect the translation isn''t completely accurate but yes. We have basic knowledge in anatomy and science thanks to gods like Auroranis."
"That''s... Solaria''s god of knowledge?"
"Correct. He led a campaign for better nutrition some centuries ago. Lead to most villagers having a basic understanding to eat a variety of food," she lectured. I smiled and she shook her head. "Back to the topic. You know that in potions it pulls from your storage. Healing skills are usually the same. In the worst scenario, some can cannibalize your fat storage and muscles to repair the damage."
"And ¨¢ine doesn''t do that."
"Exactly."
Eodyne tossed Arturous the bone and stretched. "And not to mention the targetability of her healing."
"Also correct! Her ability to restore your body but also leave room for growth is outstanding. Nobles would kill for those kinds of skills."
"Mmm. Yeah no."
"Not the point," Celenae sighed.
"Doesn''t even matter anyway. I already agreed to stick around for an hour or two. And my only requirements were handled pretty seriously. Private booth, heavy enchantments and even a bodyguard."
The women stared with suspicious eyes.
"What?" I prompted.
"Cyrus. The guild doesn''t have bodyguards."
I shrugged. "Syrreisha promised one. Though now that I think about it, she was weirdly insistent. Although, why wouldn''t a guild have bodyguards? Seems dumb."
"They have individuals to help calm patients undergoing psychotic breakdowns and self harm. But in the end, it''s a choice and you''re free to leave at any point. What one chooses to do with their life whether that be to squander or to live it out, is up to them. As long as you are not a threat to others."
It was different from the sentiments held on Earth. Whether it was good or bad wasn''t for me to decide. I could appreciate the freedom, and it was nice to know the people I was helping weren''t a bunch of quacks who locked you in padded cells.
For a time we watched the sun set and the stars come out to play. Fanalis bathed the clouds in soft pink light, illuminating the sky.
I was about to get up and grab the last of the meat from the table and start packing it away but thought better of it. While it was instinctual to use, I was still coming to terms with having what was essentially another limb.
My tail speared the table, cracking the wood.
Oopsy.
With some effort it pulled away and I carefully wrapped it around the plate, managing to not scratch the ceramic with the tip.
The plate landed on my lap and I grinned. "Wasn''t too bad."
"That reminds me. Next sparring lesson, we''ll be incorporating your tail into the routine. Expect difficulty." Eodyne stated coldly.
"Can''t I enjoy small victories?" I said.
"You can. And you can enjoy them while struggling to achieve bigger ones."
"Fine."
I summoned Chomperz and he waved high to the girls before sucking in the grill and plate. He continued to evade my hugs and I rubbed at my chest after he returned to my soulspace.
It was nice to not have to worry about the dragonling. The soul damage was gone, and the divinity was assimilated.
Celenae hummed. And I waited for her to say whatever it was she wanted to say.
"You know. Seeing him reminds me we still need to get the dungeon loot identified. That golem core especially!"
"Right. I should get on that. I promised Sereza half the loot."
"Cyrus think about the discoveries!"
"Couldn''t give a shit."
"You''re frustrating."
I stuck out my tongue but Eodyne blew air into our faces.
"You''re both frustrating. Don''t ruin a good evening. It''s too peaceful for your insanity."
"Yes ma''am!" I said while saluting.
That particular action earned myself a stronger buffet of wind but it was all in good fun.
While things were calming once more, I summoned a journal I had been putting off for awhile. One that Celenae saw once and had never stopped grilling me about.
Aaaaand there''s the mania.
"Is that the book?"
"The book? You mean the book a god gave me?" I asked innocently. Her eye twitched and I laughed. "Yes. It''s just some studying on my end."
"They''re ancient runes that have never been seen before!"
"Mhhm. And I should probably learn them. He went through the trouble of writing down the instructions, might as well."
Out of all the reactions I expected, what Celenae was doing was not one of them. She bolted out of her chair and had her head pressed firmly to the grass. It was a beggar''s pose, one of supplication and pleading.
"Let me learn."
What the fuck?
I turned to Eodyne for help but she shrugged.
"I''ve only ever seen her do this once before. And we had to wait in a village for three weeks until she was done."
"Celenae?"
She didn''t raise her head.
"Yes?"
"Stop it, you''re freaking me out."
"Not until I find a way to secure per-"
I threw the book at her but she managed to reflexively catch it between two barriers.
Revulsion tumbled down my spine and I shook it out. "Please never do that again. Just ask normally, ugh."
The elf wasn''t even paying attention. Her eyes were glued to the book.
I reached over and she dropped the barrier. My mana threaded into the ghostly chains and they unfurled, retracting into the book''s spine.
"Here, take a stab but I''ll need it back. Eraztis didn''t give me a restriction but I''m not going to push my luck."
"Deal!"
As Celenae lost herself into new knowledge I picked up the beanbag and plopped next to Eodyne.
"Where''s the others anyway? Teddy I know is busy with his parents, but where are Igas and Isaac?"
She leaned forward, rescuing Magnus from where he was set aside in Celenae''s haste. He rumbled a complaint but it died as soon as she wrapped him in her arms and settled into her chair.
"Igas is busy with the children. Isaac... he''s visiting a friend," she explained.
"Why''d you say so weirdly?"
"It''s the girl from the underground. His old childhood friend. Their relationship was... Complicated but he cared for her."
"Oh."
Well now I feel like an asshole for not asking him if he was okay.
Eodyne nudged me. "What is that look?"
"Just thinking I have been so caught up in my own shit that I haven''t stopped to consider that he might be going through something. That makes me a crappy friend doesn''t it?"
"Yes," she said bluntly. "But you have your own problems, and what you must undergo is a storm by comparison. Do not worry, he does not blame you. But do better in the future."
I smiled and leaned back, closing my eyes. "Yeah, I can do that. Do you think he''d like some more lasagna?"
"Definitely."
Chapter 2: Im Just The Healer
I politely knocked and took a step to the side. Few minutes passed with no answer and I was highly tempted to hijack the enchantment like last time but the door rattled open.
Isaac peered from out the door and I tapped him on the ear.
He jumped back clutching his head as if I stabbed him. "What are you doing?!"
"Don''t be dramatic. It was a light touch."
He glared but dropped the act, choosing instead to cross his arms as he began to retreat back into the room.
"Out with it already; I''m not in the mood for your usual shit."
Before he could fully reenter the bedroom, I tugged on his collar and spun him around. His mouth dropped open, ready to unleash a new tirade but I shoved the bowl of layered pasta into his hands.
"You ba-wha? What is this?" he stuttered.
"Eodyne told me where you were the other day. I''m sorry."
He gripped the bowl of Inoria-style lasagna and looked up in confusion. "What''s this? Pity?"
"No."
"A gift then? Sorry your friend is dead?"
I shook my head. "Not that either."
"Then what?!"
I grabbed his shoulders and forced him to look directly into my eyes. He resisted but not by much. When I had his attention I motioned to the bowl and tapped his chest.
"You''re my friend and this is my way of trying to ease the burden. Eat it, don''t eat it. Throw it against the wall in rage; I don''t care. I can''t say sorry for what happened or claim condolences that don''t feel shallow. I didn''t know her, but you did. So I''m sorry for the pain you feel."
"Y-you... Damn you," he whispered.
Gently and slowly, I moved into a hug, squeezing his back but ready to let go if he resisted. He didn''t, his spine stiff before he eventually leaned into my shoulder.
No more words were exchanged, and neither of us spoke, but I rubbed his back and let go only after he straightened himself.
"Thanks," he said, scowling at the floor. "I uh... I''ll enjoy the meal."
A tear dripped down his cheek but I turned away. "It''s not exactly right. Your lack of tomatoes really made things difficult and the cheese variety just wasn''t up to par but it''s as close as I could get it. If you ever want more, just ask."
I paused long enough to see if he had something to say but I heard the door close behind him. A sigh left my body, including the awkward feeling in my gut.
Well that wasn''t the worst experience. I hope he enjoys it.
Now, onto another stop, and if I was lucky, nothing crazy would happen. Maybe.
***
When Syrreisha said that the crowds would be packed together, I had underestimated just how true the statement was.
Even from several blocks out, a veritable horde of people were in a giant line of four-shoulders deep stretching toward the healer''s guild. Surprisingly, it wasn''t just the adventurers and more average-looking residents in attendance, but also the peacocks from the upper ring.
Noble-kin by way of clothes and the general air around them kept to themselves in tight groups usually flanked by an individual or two on high alert. No doubt, bodyguards to accompany their charge while surrounded by the riff-raff.
It took some maneuvering but I had my mask on and the enchanted earrings to hide my identity as I pushed my way to the front of the line. Complaints hurled my way were drowned by the onset of constant chatter.
As I reached the gate there was a staff member, a receptionist who I''ve never met using a skill to funnel the people inside.
It was an interesting ability that conjured a wall of stone that apparently had selective permeability according to the user''s will.
At least I assume that was what was happening according to my senses and the lack of enchantments.
"Sir, please get in line. We are sorry about the wait but we are trying our best," the woman explained, her voice flat and exhausted.
My mask hid my smirk, and I pulled the flap of my collar to reveal the pin Syrreisha had given me. Upon seeing it, the woman perked up.
"Oh, another healer. By the gods, thank you. Go ahead!"
That declaration earned several stares but I nodded and pushed through the wall.
So that''s how it works. Neat.
The stone acted more like particles of sand, bending around me as I pushed through. It also explained how the receptionist maintained the skill for as long as she had. There was a small amount of mana used per activation but the stone itself didn''t require much to maintain.
The mana simply moved out of the way, rather than reform.
As I entered the garden, another receptionist flagged me down. I took in the colorful tents and booths filled with patients. Some were private, others were open, but each one held a staff member and a healer.
"Hello," I greeted.
"I''m so happy someone else has decided to show up! We''re getting swamped thanks to the dungeon disaster."
I was really happy I had my mask.
"Yeah, so where do you want me? Syrreisha mentioned something about a guard."
The beastkin''s smile morphed into terror.
Ah shit.
"Oh you''re him! One moment, I''ll fetch her for you!"
They took off with a sprint into the building, running as if their feet were on fire.
That didn''t bode well, but I was already here. All I had to do was get through an hour or two and be on my merry way.
I turned and faced the garden and watched a young elf dressed in torn leathers gently place his arm onto the table. The dog-man reached a furry paw and grabbed his arm.
Golden light condensed above their heads and dripped down as a stream of golden ribbons. They split into two, each entering the healer''s hand before pushing through the elf''s body.
It wasn''t much mana but the healer sank his fingers into the elf''s shoulder and squeezed tight. The elf grimace and closed his eyes as a loud snap rang out.
To the elf''s credit, he didn''t cry out. He slumped forward and clutched onto the table''s edge as another snap came.
The healer''s skill ended and he released his grip.
"Emergency Threads," Syrreisha said from behind me. She stopped next to my side with her hands behind her back. "Tier two and merciless, but effective. We try not to send kids or more fragile folks his way."
The receptionist skulked in the background, trying their best to not be seen looking our way.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
"Galarion? Wake up, I need a link."
My familiar rose from his post-food lethargy and sent a mental tendril toward Syrreisha''s aura. It connected and the link formed.
"I thought you weren''t supposed to tell me about people''s skills," I said.
"Why normally true, Mr. Fullern prefers we share his prowess. In his own words: ''the more fame I acquire the better the jobs.''"
"Gotcha. So why did the receptionist over there freak out."
She glanced at the receptionist who nearly jumped in fright. "Ignore Nenn. They were merely concerned about bothering me. With that pin you are a V.I.P."
Syrreisha motioned to follow and lead me deeper into the garden. We went past the booths and toward the private tent before taking a detour down a hedged path blocked on both sides with emerald walls filled with a variety of flowers.
"This is a little private, are you sure about this?"
She didn''t answer and I stopped walking. It was faint, at the very edge of my perception but I noticed a blip of mana graze my senses.
"Galarion. If anything attacks, crush their mind," I ordered.
This time, my familiar rose to full alert.
The chances of Syrreisha leading me into a trap was pretty low; she had the trust of Teddy''s parents. But it didn''t hurt to be cautious. Especially considering Celenae''s comment about how there has never been a need for a bodyguard.
Syrreisha stopped, turning around slowly with her hands pushed together as if in prayer. "My apologies, Cyrus. I understand if you choose not to associate with the healer''s guild after today."
"You want to tell me what''s going on?" I said while readying my mana.
"It was a favor requested by a close friend, one of whom I trust with my life. And I believe they know you."
She hasn''t revealed my skills or vital information; I''d know. So what the fuck is all this about?
The blip appeared once more but this time directly behind me. Mana rushed into my channels and I summoned my spear, swinging it sideways as Zharia appeared.
The blade met a wall of roots that deflected my attack. Zharia unleashed a torrent of flames that bathed the person in golden fire but mana rushed forward and intercepted, creating a burning mass of drying wood that crumpled to the ground.
But Zharia''s new skill came into play. The flames that hit dirt rose from the mass and shot into the air to form smaller fireballs. They impacted the person''s side in a barrage of miniature explosions.
Mana rushed through my chest and into a second skill. Magnus appeared before me as I broke him down and activated Spirit Lord''s Invocation.
Fur sprouted, crystals grew, forming all the way up arms and across my chest. I flexed and the crystal breathed with me, tasting the mana in the air.
I lowered my center of gravity and kicked, launching myself at the attacker.
Their form was a writhing amalgamation of roots, that settled as the tip of my blade reached their palm. They pushed it away but I was close, reaching for their head.
"Stop!" they commanded.
Sadly for them, whatever pressure they tried to assert over me was like a puff of air. I ignored the command and slammed my palm into their face.
The crystal drank greedily as I tore the layer of mana away, stripping it from its owner''s control. The receptacles drank deep as thick power rushed to fill the containers.
Fuck. Tier three.
A thick tendril slammed into my chest and pushed me away, pinning me against the wall.
The person''s face was exposed, revealing a woman with blonde hair and blazing emerald eyes. She looked shocked and angry.
"Avaline! Continue this idiocy and I''ll drop you!"
Mana surged, a deep well coming to life as the usually placid beast stretched her wings. Syrreisha had her fingers pointed with her thumb and middle finger bent.
Avaline...
The guildmaster of Solunaria pulled back her skill, the layers of thick bark peeling away and retreating into the ground.
Zharia returned to my shoulder as I absorbed the roots holding me back. They withered and died as the energy rushed into my chest.
Avaline lost her fury, holding her palm to the light as she rubbed her cheek where I had touched.
But I wasn''t done. As I dropped to the ground the absorbed energy rushed down my arms and into my claws. But instead of sending the slashes out I sent them into the soil and stones below.
The energy flowed and I traced it''s trajectory. Avaline stopped her idle inspection and snapped to her feet but it was too late.
Roots surged and spikes as thick as my torso launched her high, slamming into her legs. Blood dripped as she crouched, having dodged the attack with only a scratch.
"That... I deserve. Using my own attack against me is fitting I suppose," she grumbled as she stood up and dusted off her robes. "I meant no harm."
"My chest says otherwise," I spat.
She winced but a wave of green light settled over my body. It moved to repair the injury. I stood and found the ache along my ribs disappear.
"Thank you," I said to Syrreisha.
She nodded. "It''s the least I can do for such a mess. My apologies Cyrus. If you want me to lead you out, I will."
"Hey now." Avaline interrupted. "You s-"
"And didn''t think you would attack him. You promised no violence yet here we are. Silence or I break your bones."
The hexagons inside Syrreisha''s eyes spread like scales along her skin. The growing tide of mana became hardened spikes that bent against an unseen wind before sharpening toward the guildmaster.
Better to get this over with.
"Am I still healing people?" I asked.
Syrreisha turned. "Yes. If you desire I will facilitate the flow of people and stop whenever you decide. Foolish guildmaster aside, the people could use all the help they can get."
I sighed and pointed to Avaline. "And her?"
"She''ll be a good little bodyguard. Isn''t that right?" Syrreisha said, her voice allowing no arguments.
Avaline slumped and tapped her chest where I sensed an enchanted amulet. Her face shifted into that of someone else, someone male. Her chest did the same, her breasts flattening as her shoulders broadened.
Huh. She looks like Brelten now.
Chapter 3: Charity Day
I pulled an unused mask I had leftover from my inventory and threw it at the Brelten-Avaline. She caught it with a raised brow and I pointed at her face.
"You''re wearing his face. Don''t like it."
"It''s my face too you know..." she grumbled.
"You''re not that handsome."
She slipped the mask on and started walking as I followed Syrreisha. She led me to a surprisingly spacious open-air tent with giant cushions. As soon as we stepped in, the privacy enchantment washed over me like a curtain, revealing the numerous enchantments hidden inside the tent poles.
I crouched and ran my thumb across one, feeling a tingling static dance across my nails before it entered the crystal covering.
It reminded me of pressure; a dull feeling that sat in the back of your awareness until it gained in intensity. Mixed in was hints of shadow and protective soil.
"This is heavily warded. All for me?"
"Of course. I take my word seriously," Syrreisha replied.
As I jerked my thumb toward the tag-along, she wilted and looked away.
"From now on," she amended.
"Riight. Anyway, if I''m done having bullshit thrown my way, I''m ready to start."
Syrreisha stepped toward Avaline and gently grabbed her by the collar of her robe. "Cause any further chaos, I will ruin you. Understood?"
"Yes ma''am," Avaline said.
Syrreisha released her grip and waved goodbye, promising me a couple of minutes before the first patient. I didn''t need it, but I appreciated the thought.
I moved onto the furthest cushion and felt around for the enchantments, finding them clearly marked. The sound suppressant was primed as was the privacy screen, but I waited before activating them.
"So was there a point to all this?" I asked, turning to face Avaline who stood just behind me.
"You know in my many years of being tier three, I rarely fear things the way I used to in my youth. But her? You learn to fear the healer whose entire life''s work is to know a person''s body in order to mend their injuries.You fear them because they know every conceivable way to make it hurt."
"So what you''re saying is that I need to learn how to torture people. Sounds doable. Think I should start today?"
"You got humor in you whelp. Good that you have some bite."
"Call me whelp and I will sick Nathan and Anastasia on you. I have no qualms weaponizing their insanity."
Avaline''s reaction was hard to understand with the mask, and Galarion kept himself in check. But there was a brief shudder through her body at the mention of Teddy''s parents.
"I¡¯d rather not," she said.
Mana flowed from my chest and twisted together to form the threads. two went through my hand, activating the privacy enchantments. The third connected with Verdant Healer.
The enchantments were surprisingly intuitive. With a thought, the one distorting our forms excluded Avaline from its effect, allowing her to be visible while I was not.
¨¢ine appeared and landed on my shoulder, her wings tickling my ears. She glared at the guildmaster but that was all.
"A spirit, nature based. Summoning skill... I''d guess familiar type. Very pretty."
I cocked my head. "You don''t know my skills? Didn''t Brelten put in a report about me?"
"There was one but he sabotaged it from the network. Now all I know about you is the creative but stern warning from my dearest baby brother."
"Just how old are you lady? Eighty? Brelten''s old to me so if you''re calling him a baby, what''s that make you?"
Silence reigned for a long minute. A minute I spent with ¨¢ine discussing different scenarios. End of the day, we weren''t here to reveal ourselves, but it wasn''t like we''d ignore a kid in desperate need of help.
Not that anything should happen. I doubt Syrreisha would allow a fuck up.
Avaline cleared her throat. "Can you tell me why the dungeon went berserk and trapped my adventurers?"
Her voice was calm and emotionless, a perfect neutral tone that offered no accusation.
"You want the semi-truth or the lie?"
"Both."
Huh.
"The lie, no idea. Some crazy interaction between me and the Grand Weave, that''s all."
"And the semi-truth?"
"Hmmm. The Grand Weave paid extra special attention to me and the dungeon reacted poorly. It was thrown in time out for a little bit. That''s all."
Galarion stirred, his tentacle protruding from my forehead to point toward the tunnel. "Incoming."
Avaline didn''t react to the creature living inside my skull but I knew she could detect the mana. The privacy enchantments were meant to keep things hidden that were inside the bubble. And with her being only a couple of feet away, she had full access to probing the mana I exuded.
But she kept silent and kept her arms to her side, almost a statue as the first patient hesitantly entered the tent.
Avaline motioned for the cushion and he sat down. He was human, and young; around fifteen at best. His tanned skin held the whisper of a beard along with a gnarly pimple below his right eyebrow.
But more noticeably was the deep bags under his eyes and the stress lines around his face.
"I was directed here for some healing?" he asked. He stared at Avaline and scratched the back of his head. "It''s supposed to be free right? I can''t really pay."
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Avaline didn''t respond.
"Testing, can you hear me?" I asked, after messing with the enchantments further.
"I can," Avaline answered.
The kid showed no reaction to my voice but he jumped a little when Avaline spoke.
"Just tell him to stick his hands forward."
"You don''t need to know what''s wrong with him? It''s common to assess injuries then diagnose."
I shrugged. "I''m good. This is training, better to figure it out as we go along."
Avaline cleared her throat and addressed the confused man. "Place your hands forward. Do not activate skills while the treatment is in process."
"Oh, uh okay. But it''s not my hands its my leg I-"
"Extend your arms," she commanded.
He gulped and complied, nearly tipping over as he rushed to push his arms through the air distortion. His head drooped low and twitched while struggling to maintain his arms forward.
"Ready?" I asked.
¨¢ine nodded and jumped onto my lap. She stood on the edge of my knee and reached for his pinky. Her fingers squeezed his and he jumped back with a gasp.
It didn''t matter, ¨¢ine had made the connection and the thread connected to her wrist as a leaf formed above her palm.
The kid looked sheepish and avoided looking at the guildmaster as he resumed the position.
¨¢ine scanned through his body with a gentle probe of her mana, filling him with relaxing mana that visibly calmed him. He closed his eyes and she started the treatment.
Pulse after pulse, the gentle stream washed over him, inefficiently healing his injury. From my familiar''s memories I was able to see the arm-length gash across his back. He shouldn''t have been moving the way he did. It was deep enough to affect his range of movement but beyond awkwardly glancing at the ground, he acted normal. Too normal.
¨¢ine finished the repair and he swayed in his seat.
"Are pain resistant skills a thing? Or a perk perhaps?" I asked.
Avaline hummed before tapping the kid''s shoulder. He blinked drowsy eyes as he took in his surroundings. Upon seeing the gauntlet hand on his shoulder he jumped and bowed.
"I''m sorry! Thank you for healing me. If I can ever repay you I promise to do so in the future!"
And like that, he took off, sprinting away without looking back.
Avaline shook her head. "I recognize the idiot. Pearl. Still needs another active to advance. What was his injury? Last I know, he joined a group of other pearls to delve the dungeon''s first floor."
"Arm-length laceration across his mid-back. Extending from the sacral region near the tailbone to right scapula. Approximately two coins deep?"
She cocked her head and stared.
"What?" I prompted.
"Anatomical knowledge. Interesting, but not surprising. Celenae would have grilled you on that subject."
"You going to answer my question?"
She sighed. "Mid-tier rarity tank skill. Pain Shunt. As long as it''s channeled the user can actively ignore pain. That explains his appearance and the reaction."
"Constant use of a skill and when you instructed him to not activate skills he dropped it. That''s when the pain hit him."
"Correct. I''ll have to assign a watcher to his case. A skill like that is for the foolish. He''ll be lucky to make it past tier one."
"Oh yeah, speaking of that." I summoned my adventuring badge and tossed it over. She caught it and held it to the light. "I need a new one. Tiered-up and all that."
She pocketed the pearl adventuring badge and summoned an amethyst badge. I caught it and tucked it away for later.
"I''ll handle your paperwork. But are you sure you want that one?"
What does she-oh. Hah.
"You sensed how much mana ¨¢ine used."
"Healing isn''t cheap. Not usually," she countered.
"Maybe, for other people." I shrugged.
She motioned with her chin. "Next patient. Another adventurer. Tier one. No pain skills."
Unlike the kid, the woman looked well into her forties, along with two heavily wrapped arms that extended past her shoulder and stopped halfway up her neck.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready," ¨¢ine said.
***
The leaf faded from the rotation and the beastkin collapsed forward. Luckily, Avaline was there, bracing his fall with summoned roots that gently lowered him into a prone position.
I couldn''t help but chuckle at the sigh; one massively furry ass sporting its freshly healed tail. Whatever happened inside the dungeon had taken its fair chomp of its prey.
"You find this funny?" Avaline asked, eyeing the unconscious adventurer.
"A little. Cute butt," I replied.
A root snaked between his legs and dragged his undergarments over his cheeks.
"Well I think I''m done. That''s what? Thirty-two? Not bad."
The injuries were relatively tame at first, even the first kid with his back being minor in comparison. Syrreisha must have staggered the injury level, letting me get a feel for different wound types and increasing levels of severity.
More than a few people were practically given new limbs as ¨¢ine restored entire chunks of their body and made flesh anew with magic.
By the eighth patient, I finally dropped Magnus'' Spirit Lord Invocation and swapped him out for ¨¢ine''s. It was interesting to see the flames along my tail transform into a set of green shades ranging from dark grass to shining emerald.
As I stretched, I traced the golden, root-like lines trailing up my arms. They connected to my chest, converging at the center. Exactly where the soul seed had anchored itself.
"Syrreisha, I''m done!" I called out.
Mana surged from the ground ahead and green stems broke the soil. A strange-shaped flower blossomed, one as large as a man that spread its petals revealing the head healer inside. She stepped from the flower and it wilted behind her as the dirt swallowed the flora and returned the soil unblemished.
She bowed low. "Thank you for help, honored healer. The guild and the people appreciate your kindness and effort."
I bowed, one not lower but enough to pay respects to the head of the guild. "My honor."
Syrreisha exited the bow and smiled. "You studied."
"I learned enough. What are you doing about this guy? He''s fine, and Galarion checked his head."
Galarion popped out of my ear in a flash of rainbow sparkles. "Relieved! Happy! Tired! New tail to attract mate!"
I slapped him back inside and scratched my ear.
Syrreisha coughed into her fist and waved a hand. Grass engulfed the beastkin and dragged him away, leaving another hexagonal-shaped flower in its place. This one was slow to wilt, dying off after two dozen seconds of life.
Well that takes care of that.
"You have strange skills, you know that? Weird healing chair, vegetation teleportation, and I counted at least two aura skills."
"You''re one to talk."
"Touch¨¦."
She turned her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. "Sometimes you speak funny."
"I''ve been told," I chuckled. "Why was he the last patient? The guy before him was a walking corpse. Like he shouldn''t have been allowed to wait in line."
"He wasn''t. As soon as he appeared we rushed him ahead of queue and gave him to you. I would have given him to someone else but your healing is uniquely beneficial for someone like him."
I appreciated the discretion, but the guild master had plenty of time throughout the last few hours to examine my skill.
"I knew something was off when Nelwynn didn''t collapse. Your spirit''s healing doesn''t take a toll on the body, does it?" Avaline asked.
¨¢ine bristled and I flicked a rock at the guildmaster''s head. She dodged it, but I got her attention.
"She has a name. Use it," I warned.
"My apologies. ¨¢ine, you are an amazing familiar. Thank you for helping my people."
¨¢ine took flight and hovered above her. She slowly reached for the edges of the mask and pulled it off, leaving a confused Avaline.
Boop.
¨¢ine retreated into my chest and I stretched again, working the kinks out of my back. It was a comfortable cushion, but nowhere near the level of my beanbag.
"Alright. I''m off to get some food, I''ll come back later for Galarion training?"
Syrreisha winced. "I wish you wouldn''t call it training. But I understand."
"Got to build him up somehow."
She sighed again and stepped into another flower, leaving me alone with the guildmaster.
"Well, did I satisfy your curiosity?" I asked.
Avaline tapped her amulet, her face returning to normal. She pinched her cheek and massaged her jaw once the transformation ended.
"I''m left with more questions than answers but yes. I believe you are not a threat to the city. And for further sanity, I will be leaving you alone."
Threat?
Wrath rolled in its cage and punched through the cage. I glared at Avaline who stiffened and snapped her head in my direction.
"And if I was a threat?"
Her eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile on her lips.
"An aura skill? Interesting. It''s sloppy. A surprise considering young Theodore is your friend." She extended her own aura, a wave of pressure pressing down. But as seconds passed and I continued unbothered she tsked. "I would have eliminated you, or pushed you off to somewhere else. Don''t forget who and what I am, boy. You don''t get to my age and role without danger."
Her grin morphed into a frown as I burst into laughter.
"I''m so over dick-measuring contests. Go find someone else to intimidate," I said as I walked away.
"Hey," she shouted. I turned and she crossed her arms. "How much mana do you have left? You should be experiencing mana-shock by now."
I grinned and continued walking.
"I''m about seventy-percent full."
"How?!"
It was all too satisfying to ignore her question as I strutted down the tunnel.
Chapter 4: The Tournament
For the fifth time in a dozen minutes someone bumped me with their hip.
"Sorry!"
Aight, fuck it.
Without a word, I grabbed onto Arzurous'' fuzzy backside and hauled myself up, finding a standing position behind Igas.
"That didn''t take long," Igas teased.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered. My tail unfurled from my waist and I felt the stress melt away. "That''s so much better."
"It''s surprising the enchantment holds with your tail moving. Is it new?"
"Teddy''s parents barged into my room, threw the new earrings at me and cartwheeled away."
He patted my leg and turned around to watch the crowd. The streets were packed, more people flooding the road to the point that Arturous¨Cwho usually allowed us to cut through the crowds¨Cwas a slow moving tank in a sea of bodies.
It wasn''t much further; the arena was large enough to rival the great coliseums of Rome. The stone structure was adorned with flags of different colors and grand banners with some of the well-known champions painted on.
People streamed toward four lines, two for entrance into the arena itself, the third being an exit, and the fourth being sectioned off for prospects entering the tournament.
It took nearly half an hour, but we moved into the first line. Before I could hop down and look for Sereza, she pushed past two men in the throes of a heated argument and waved.
"Spotted you five minutes ago, but a group of teens knocked over a food cart. The idiots had to clean everything up."
Sereza was in her usual style of clothes but they were different. The usually brown leather jacket now sported emerald accents and various designs stitched in. The short shirt was replaced by a darker-green hoodie showcasing various teeth and claw marks sitched in along with drips of neon-yellow thread.
I whistled. "So you met Noira."
She spun and pulled down her collar, revealing Noira''s emblem. "Think it looks good?"
"You look amazing," Celenae said, going in for a hug.
I was wearing my black hoodie for today, deciding that the subtle black and grays were better for blending in. With Sereza, the only person not sporting a designer hoodie was Igas, who preferred being shirtless.
"The jacket''s different, what''s it made of?"
"Hide of a Groolper. Tier two and enchanted for adventuring. With added resistance to acid using my mana. Cost a pretty coin. But sooo worth it," Sereza replied.
We continued in line, and we discussed a few things before I motioned to Sereza. She followed me to the side, which, admittedly, wasn''t that private, but I''d make do.
"Thanks for coming. I doubt I''ll get very far but I appreciate the thought," she started.
I shook my head. "Self-doubt does you no good. Aim to melt everyone into a puddle and get those prizes."
"But I can already attend the auction? My father''s connections guarantee that. Whether I want to go or not."
"What about the enchanted item prizes?"
"Simple. I drag you into a dangerous, crazy monster. We defeat said crazy monster. Loot the monster. And win the prize in a bet?"
"So you still plan on sticking around despite everything you learned?" I teased.
She produced a dead expression with equally dead eyes. "You think after telling me everything, and after having experienced everything that I would walk away? Me, who literally ran away from noble life in an effort to experience adventure and excitement?"
"Fair enough," I conceded. "So I wanted to talk to you about something."
Her demeanor changed and she grabbed my shoulder. "What''s wrong?"
"It doesn''t have to be bad news, you know."
"Yeah but..."
I shrugged her off and pointed to the orange wristband on her left arm. She glanced down and held it up.
"This?" she asked.
"Yep. That."
"What about it?"
"Well..." I said slowly. "There''s been a change of plans. All the talk from Cal about things starting to ramp up had me thinking."
"Okay?"
The others were nearby and I knew they could hear me so I turned and addressed them as well.
"I''ve decided to participate."
I braced myself, ready for expressions of shock even anger. Instead, I received a series of confused head turns and more than a few narrowed eyes.
"That''s it?" I demanded.
"Cyrus, what exactly did you expect?" Eodyne asked.
"Honestly? No idea. Figured you guys would be all weird after spending so long trying to hide things."
"Are you planning on revealing yourself?" Teddy asked.
"No."
"Scream to the heavens that you''re a Reborn?" Isaac added.
"Still no."
The rogue shrugged. "Then go bash some heads in. Oh! Even better! Get your head bashed in so we can laugh!"
Isaac grinned like the asshole I knew but it didn''t reach his eyes. But now wasn''t the time.
"Haa, Haa. Anyway, long story short; I''m going to go register, meet you in the booth after?"
"Works for us. If anyone gives you trouble just show them this crest," Teddy said as he flipped me a metallic object.
It was a metal coin with his family emblem pressed into the metal. I pocketed it and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Thanks. I''ll bring snacks."
"You better!" Isaac shouted.
As I waved goodbye, Sereza led me away from the crowd and toward the much, much smaller line for participants.
"So when did you decide to do this?" she prompted.
We dodged a large wolfman who crashed to the floor as people scrambled to stand up. Apparently one guy kissed another guy''s girlfriend.
Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
I guess some things never change, even if the sports are replaced with magical combat duels. Sam would have loved this.
I ignored the pinpoint of depression and ducked to catch up to Sereza.
"Well?" she asked.
"Two days ago. Charity day. I think I told you about this when you came over for dinner?"
"About how the guildmaster attacked you and then spent the day deciding if you were a threat? What about it?"
"That day was good training for ¨¢ine. We didn''t make a breakthrough but we learned a lot and cut down mana costs."
"That''s great," she said after maneuvering around two drunken bearkins. "So you''re participating because you want to train more?"
"Somewhat," I admitted. "Half of it is that, the other half is that another is what Cal mentioned and how one day I might be able to meet Sam again. And she''ll kick my ass if I''m a weakling and she''s not."
Sereza grinned. "Sounds like a good friend."
"She is. But another is that someone like the guildmaster could attack me. And as much training as Broken Tower has helped me with, I need some variety. More experience and all that."
We stopped at the entrance of the line, only four other people were ahead of us. A pair of elven women dressed in robes, a burly dog-headed beastkin, and a gruff man dressed in full leather with a sword belted to his waist.
The beastkin noticed our arrival but grunted and turned away.
Not so impressive yourself buddy.
We watched the crowd flow into the opened archways while chatting about mundane topics. Thankfully, Sereza had connections to all the hot gossip in the city. While I could not have cared less about some noble peacock making an ass out of himself, she veered the discussion into what to expect competition wise.
The event was hosted by the Dawnborns. On any given day, fights were hosted in the arena, as was the nature of a city filled with adventurers. But an official event with prizes and the chance to slot yourself into a private event for the society''s elites?
Beyond the random adventurer or commonfolk hoping to achieve glory, the nobles would be sponsoring their own members to join. It was the Dawnborns, a true noble house. Society demanded that the other houses show up one way or another and attempt to trounce the others.
I nudged Sereza''s side. "Do we know what items are being sold in the auction?"
"Do you care?" she responded.
"Maybe. I have a funny feeling I''ll need to start preparing stuff for more than just me soon."
She smirked and pushed me forward. "No idea. Not even my father knows what they have ready. Whatever they managed to loot from the recent expedition will be up for sale, but it''s the Dawnborns. They''ll have other prizes to throw in to entice the nobles."
"Next!" the man shouted.
He looked up from his clipboard and scanned Sereza, stopping at her bracelet.
"You''re already registered, just head inside."
She pointed to me. "He''s registering too."
He sighed. "Name, archetype, and tier. And will you be fighting in the mask or no."
"Yes?" I said. He glared and I cleared my throat. "Yes. Name is Mordred. I use a spear and elemental attacks? Tier one."
"Of course another tier one. Take this, don''t lose it, bind it with your mana. When your name is called the bracelet will turn green. And remember to adhere to all rules as stated inside the coliseum. Combatants will not be able to enter the arena if not cleared by the arena master. Do not attempt to argue or fight with the arena master. Such actions will have you thrown out and banned for an appropriate amount of time, if not permanently. Are there any other questions?"
His eyes lost focus as he droned on, becoming robotic and monotone during his explanation. I glanced at Sereza who shrugged.
"No?"
He snapped to life and shoved the bracelet into my hand. "Next!"
There wasn''t anybody behind us.
I put the bracelet on and inspected the enchantments. The first one I recognized as a simple color-changing rune. The second, I didn''t, but the mana gave the impression of alarm and alertness through vibration.
After running my mana through the band, it adjusted in size around my wrist, and I tried to tug it loose. It stayed skin-tight.
"Smart. Can''t get it caught on something."
"Exactly," Sereza said.
We moved inside, crossing the archway and into a flight of stairs leading downward. The main arena was above ground, but the training rooms and staging area were below street level.
Much like the streets above, the underground pit was packed. It was divided into two areas, one being larger than the other by a wide margin. She led me to the largest one.
"This is tier one. And the arena master is over there. She''ll ask to see your band and then give you the rules of the tournament."
The woman in question was a yellow-skinned oni who looked like she could bench Igas.
I whistled. "She''s a slab of beef, damn. Does she really need the pointy shoulder pads?"
The pointy bits of metal nearly took someone''s eye off as he stumbled forward. But as the combatant neared, the air distorted around her shoulder and pushed him into the nearby wall.
She grunted and spat on the floor before stomping the ground. All sound in the area stopped.
"Listen up you idiots. The next person to start a fight without my saying so is getting punched. Do I make myself clear?!"
Chapter 5: Sign-Up
The arena master glared at the crowd, forcing several into submission as they tried to escape her ire. Of course, that same glare was wielded against me once I approached.
She eyed my wristband and grunted before crossing her arms. "At least you''re braver than these fools."
"Thanks?" I cleared my throat. "I was told to come see you about the rules?"
Her eyes went blank and I recognized the reading of a system screen.
"Mordred. Tier one, elemental spear. Smart enough to choose a weapon to keep people away. Range of your attacks?"
I drew eyes but thankfully most of the crowd kept to themselves, whispering in hushed tones. A few openly stared, and more than half activated various skills, their mana flaring in my senses.
Smart enough to pay attention to details of other fighters. Can''t blame them. Still...
"Before I answer, are you able to screen our conversation?"
A ghost of a smile cracked the arena master''s lips. From her back a curtain of gold-tinged mana enveloped us, creating a safe space in the middle.
An elf in the corner who had activated one of his skills clicked his teeth in annoyance and slipped behind a larger man.
"Out with it," the arena master demanded.
"Varying ranges. I prefer mid-range but I can attack from afar if needed. It''s the same for close range as well. Though I use my spear in that case."
Her eyes narrowed. "Elemental. What kind?"
And that was the dangerous question. To my right, Sereza shifted, subtly pressing her foot against mine.
"Well?" she pressed.
Thankfully, I already had an answer ready.
"If I just said multiple types?"
"Not good enough. List them. If you''re using them in my arena, then I''ll need to know. If not, leave."
Fine, lady.
"Fire, water, wind, lightning, nature. I also use non standards, blood and crystal."
For a beat, she silently stared. Her eyes slowly narrowed until they became nearly-closed slits.
"If you''re lying to me..."
"I''m not," I interrupted. "I meant what I said."
"Bah!" she grumbled. "And here I thought you were one of the smart ones."
"Is there a problem?"
"Yeah, a fool decided spreading himself thin with crappy affinities is good enough to compete. Don''t go crying when you''re face down in the pit."
The change-up was unexpected. There was hostility in her voice and anger that bubbled off my own. But she was wrong, and I didn''t feel like correcting her.
"You fighting with the mask?"
"Yes."
She snorted and pointed to the wall behind her. On a metal placard, a long list of rules were listed. The biggest one being the line at the top.
"Rule one. The most important rule in this arena. Intentional killing of your opponent will get you banned and arrested. You may shed blood, but this is not the place to settle life feuds. Am. I. Clear?"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Rule two. When your name is called, your bracelet will glow. You have till the third buzz to arrive here. If you fail to show you will be banned from the arena for a period of six months. No exceptions. I don''t care what rich daddy or mommy is packing your pockets. And if for whatever reason you get the idea to bring them to the arena to argue on your behalf, I''ll split their skull and spank you bloody."
A whistle almost left my lips but the glare she continued giving me kept me silent.
So far, the rules were pretty standard. Peacocks were going to be peacocks but at least they got put into place like the rest. However, whether what she said held up under a real scenario remained to be seen.
"Rule three! If a winner has been declared or a stop of the fight is called, continuing to attack your opponent will end in me beating you silly and banning you permanently from the arena. Exceptions will be made for rage skills on a case-by-case basis."
She paused, but I shook my head.
"I''m hot-headed but no rage skills."
"Hmm. Rule four. Permanent damage or ever-lasting skills are banned. Curse skills are allowed if and only if they can be canceled once the battle has finished. Rule five, barrier-style enchanted gear is only allowed in the all-in matches. This tournament is not an all-in match. If you are found guilty of using said gear, you''ll be banned for six months and have your gear confiscated by the arena."
She eyed my mask but I shrugged.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
"And lastly, rule six. My word is law. Do not argue. I''m not employed by any noble house, I am employed by the kingdom. No attempts of blackmail, bickering, or begging will see me change my mind. Especially not a thousand pleasure maids. Am I clear?!"
That''s oddly specific.
"Yes, ma''am."
"Now go. Matches start in the next half hour. The dawn brats will be making their announcement."
As she finished speaking, her skill retracted and the sounds of whispering increased. Sereza tugged my sleeve and she led the way to a set of stairs.
Before I reached the steps, a knock pushed against my skin, the rush of mana solidifying and dissipating as it stretched into the crowd.
I spun and found a mountain of an individual staring directly at me. Their face was covered, but they grinned revealing red skin underneath a brown robe.
"Mordred?" Sereza asked.
I briefly turned her way. "Someone just-"
But as I turned back the individual was gone. In their place, a scrawny elven woman laughed at a joke.
That was weird.
"Never mind, let''s get to the booth first."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, let''s go."
She looked at me suspiciously but continued leading the way. The colosseum was massive, and we ended up crossing three flights of stairs and four hallways before we exited the building and onto the inner arena.
This time, I did whistle. From seat to seat, the arena was packed and continued to grow as people pushed through the crowd. The noise hit like a wall, and vendors shouted from where they stood, passing down food and drinks using a plethora of skills.
They varied from floating discs to glowing hands. Some like the sandwich man I saw below us would lob the sandwiches into the air, much to the crowd''s excitement. As it arc''d the people below ooed and the sandwich dropped directly into the receiver''s lap, slowing at the end as if cushioned by an invisible cloud.
This repeated a few times with the crowd showing the same level of enthusiasm as the first toss.
Before I could call out to the man, Sereza tugged my sleeve and pointed to a booth near the top. Teddy waved from beyond the door.
"We''ll have to push some people out of the way but if we tell the attendant we''re heading for a booth, they''ll help clear the way."
"Nah. This is fun. Where''s your spirit?"
"My spirit? You mean my soul?"
"No. I mean your spirit! Look at this? This grand arena, the smells of food and the shouting? I bet you guys sell foam fingers."
"Famous arena combatants have their own merchandise vendors. For official team matches we have flags. Why would you want a foamy finger?"
"Remind me later. I''ll have Galarion show you what I mean. But fine, let''s go... After I get a sandwich."
"Don''t you have a crate inside Chomperz?"
"Not the point!" I raised my hand and shouted. "Seven over here!"
"What fillings?!" the vendor shouted back.
"Surprise me!"
He grinned and rifled through his box. One by one the sandwiches flew and landed directly into my arms. The crowd cheered for every one and when the seventh landed it came with a small tray attached.
I had seen its effect earlier, so I dropped seven silver and grinned. The tray took off, spinning into the air as it returned to the vendor''s box. He looked down and counted the coins.
Before I could turn away, he jumped and held out his hand. "Woah! Let me grab your change!"
"No need! Enjoy the matches," I said while saluting with one of the hefty subs.
By the time we slipped into the horde, more people were demanding their own flying sandwich delivery. It took some shoving and more than a few liberal uses of our tails as bludgeoning devices till we entered the upper layer.
The crowd of people was thinner here, more than likely due to the booths containing the VIPs and their bodyguards standing outside the doorways.
An arena attendant bee-lined toward us, a fake smile plastered on his face.
"May I be of assistance, sir, mam?" he asked.
I pointed to Teddy, who stood outside our booth. "We''re good."
His face paled and he backed away while bowing low.
After shoving one of the subs into Teddy''s hand, he shut the door behind us. Enchantments activated and created a lattice over the door.
"Who wants a sandwich?"
Everyone raised their hands, so I tossed them randomly. The last one, I prodded Sereza''s cheek before she begrudgingly accepted the offering.
Arturous roared and I summoned a glazed ham and shoved it into his maw.
"There, now we''re all settled."
"How was Myol in the flesh?" Isaac asked between bites.
I plopped onto the couch and kicked my feet up on the cloud chair. "Who?"
"Arena master. The Sunlight Berserker? I heard she and Brelten battled once, the arena had to be remade."
"No nonsense and serious. She seemed to like me up to the point of me listing my attack types."
"You mean what elements you use?" Celenae cut in.
"Yep."
"How many did you list?"
Sereza sat on another couch and pointed her sub like a dagger. "Everything but shadow and astral. Of course she thought you were foolish."
I shrugged and bit down. The thing was packed with meats and colorful veggies. They were okay, a little spicy, but the sauce was the magnum opus. The creamy bolognese melted on my tongue, and I closed my eyes. That lasted long enough for Teddy to tap my shoulder.
"What?"
"Most idiots who have that many elemental types are ones who filled their slots with skills with low affinity. The rarer cases with skills having multiple affinities is restricted to usually three to four at most. Her reaction is understandable."
"Sure, but my affinities are all one-hundred percent. I''ll make her spit blood or something along those lines. Prove to her I''m not an idiot or well, less of an idiot then she thinks."
"Earth has some weird sayings," Igas mumbled.
"This coming from the man who kept repeating ''stuck your foot in it?''"
He tore a chunk from his sandwich and turned away.
"So what do you plan on doing?" Teddy said while shaking his head. "I know you want to fight, but exposing the amount of familiars you have will draw a lot of attention. Especially from the nobles."
I shrugged. "Simple. I''ll just do this."
My mana threaded itself into Verdant Healer and I directed the energy into my hood. I leaned forward to accommodate the individual forming behind my head and smiled.
"Cyrus?" Sereza asked.
"Yes?"
"Do what? You said it in a way like you were going to show us something and then randomly smiled."
I tsked and wagged my sandwich. "Listen, if you''re accompanying me on any adventures, you''re going to have to work on your mana sense."
"Hey! I''m decent, I''ll have you know. And not everyone has super senses."
"¨¢ine pop out and say hello," I directed.
My familiar complied and patted my hair down and shoved her head outside my hood. She gave everyone a quick wave before slipping back into the comfortable roost she settled for herself.
"Was she always there? Were you expecting trouble?"
"Nope," I said, shaking my head. "I just summoned her."
Like the sun rising from behind pitch-black storm clouds, the lights went on, and I heard the mental ding inside her head.
"Ooooooh. Damn, that''s useful."
"Exactly. And any familiars outside of Zharia, I''ll fuse with before they form. I''m sure it''ll get some suspicious looks but it shouldn''t be hard to play it off. What they don''t know can''t hurt them after all."
"Smart. Deception is preferred. But don''t be afraid to lose. You will be able to attend the auction no matter the outcome," Eodyne lectured.
"Yeah, yeah. I''m eager, not stupid. Anyway look there, isn''t that Isaac''s dad?"
"What?!" Isaac exclaimed
He stood up and pressed against the glass, tendrils sprouting from his back. "He''s early. He''s never early."
"Calm," Teddy soothed. "Sit down. It looks like we''ll find out in a second."
The rogue gnashed his teeth and reluctantly tore himself away from the glass. As he sat, a golden platform pushed Isaac''s father into the sky. He stopped about thirty meters above the ground and tapped his earring that glowed with silver gemstones.
"Good afternoon, wonderful citizens of Solunaria. Is everyone excited to see the fights of today?"
Chapter 6: It Has Begun!
"The damn showboat can''t get enough of this. Look at the gleam in his eyes. He''s lapping it up!" Isaac growled.
I shared a look with Teddy, who shook his head. He reached toward a rune circle on a nearby table and tapped a glowing rune. The noise from the crowd amplified and the cheers sounded as if they were in our very ears.
But when Isaac''s father spoke once more, the cheering lowered in volume and his voice was as clear as day.
"It seems we are properly enthused! Well, don''t worry. I won''t keep you all from the entertainment. But first, an important announcement has to be made¨Cone concerning our brothers and sisters of Helio."
Judging by the crowd''s noises, half became solemn, while the others continued to ignore or were confused by the statement.
Isaac''s father spun in place, commanding attention as his clothes glowed with a subtle radiance that outshone the sunlight bathing the arena.
"For those unaware, tragedy has struck our kin. The great city, Helio, was attacked by a malevolent force that sought to bring the city to ruin."
His voice was somber, drawing sharp inhales from the crowd.
"So that''s how they planned to address this... No doubt he volunteered to be the bearer of bad news. That slimy basta-"
Igas stood up and placed his hand along Isaac''s shoulder. He said no words, but Isaac quieted and returned to his seat, albeit begrudgingly.
Through the din of shouts of outrage and fury, one voice suspiciously and clearly overcame the rest. It was a woman''s, but the speaker was impossible to make out.
"What monstrosity would harm our people?! Who was it?!"
Isaac''s father dropped his head, but his shoulders remained stiff and unbending.
"A foreign evil outside our realm. It fought our gods and spawned a terrible being inside a dungeon in the very depths of our city. It sought to take over their minds and fill our land with more of its abominable monsters," he stated.
The outrage grew and stomping slammed the arena steps. But Isaac''s father held up a hand and drew in a swirling ball of light that lifted into the air. It floated above his head and expanded to the size of a car. He snapped and the orb exploded into streams of dust that shimmered into a floating illusion of Elanor and her guards accompanied by Panasia.
They sported blood on their armor and her fur but without injuries beyond superficial scratches. It painted a regal picture, but one that had seen battle.
"Through heroic effort and sacrifice, they have brought the monster''s reign to an end and freed the city." The image shifted, displaying them in combat with hooded figures sprouting tentacles that looked only vaguely similar to the real thing. Isaac''s father cleared his throat and motioned to the illusion. "Let''s not focus on the scum that brought trouble to our people. Instead, we recognize the pride of our great kingdom and the tenacity of us all in the aftermath of such an encounter."
The image shifted again, displaying citizens accompanied by guards helping rebuild buildings and mending injuries. One particular image of a child stood out just slightly separated from the chaos of it all, smiling at a guardsman and clutching onto a toy as her cheek was bandaged.
I whistled. "I didn''t know you guys used this level of propaganda. So who decided this? Allaron?"
Teddy sighed. "It''s better to reduce the mass panic. The main point is that what he said wasn''t a lie. Everything uttered from his lips was technically a truth. And the kingdom can direct the rising anger into excitement."
"And draw sympathy for the kingdom''s forces while further cementing its ties to its citizens. Watch; next he will make a statement about sending today''s profit toward the repair of Helio and its people," Celenae added.
"Just another opportunity to further the house''s interest. The nobles look good and don''t get questioned as to why they weren''t there to help," Isaac snarled.
Isaac''s father dropped the illusion, drawing the light toward himself and subtly increasing the glow from his clothes.
He stood like a shiny beacon once again, commanding attention as he clasped his hands.
"There is much to regret and more to look forward to. We cannot change the past, but we can inspire the future. With that said, the Dawnborn house has come to a decision, one that we feel is only fitting given the circumstances," he paused and exhaled slowly. A bright smile crested his face. "It has been decided that the arena will donate all proceeds from today''s event to Helio. A donation that we of house Dawnborn will match, gold for gold, silver for silver!"Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
"Looks like you were spot on," I whistled.
"It''s a smart play that draws the other houses," Celenae said.
"What do you mean?"
She pointed to the roaring crowd. But her finger moved to a booth, one sporting a house crest. "The other houses will have to step up or risk their reputation."
"And by doing so, he makes the Dawnborns look better," Teddy added. "With them being forced to donate help, more goodwill will be attributed to the one who started the chain. It''s an inconsequential price to pay with much to gain."
Figures that this world''s politics aren''t lacking. Then again, Earth politicians don''t have the option to send living tactical nukes in the guise of one mortal. Inoria one Earth zero.
"He''s not done," Isaac grumbled. "He doesn''t settle for getting one over the others. He wants his crown."
"Huh?"
Isaac gestured to his father, who clapped and hushed the crowd.
"But that is not enough. Of course, we will send relief to Helio and help return normalcy to the lives of those who deserve it, but there is more." He increased his glow again, stretching his mana throughout the arena and adjusting the light toward himself. "To that end, our house has also decided to donate a part of the proceedings from the grand auction hosted after the tournament. What is the use of wealth without the people to enjoy it? Know that we are here and we stand united for our great kingdom. With that said, I shall excuse myself and waste no more of your time."
The crowd exploded, and Teddy tapped the enchantment, adjusting the sound.
"Let the tournament... BEGIN!"
Isaac''s father disappeared in an explosion of light, and trumpets played, followed by the resounding echoes of thousands of people stomping their feet.
"So I have a question," I said.
"Yes?" Teddy asked.
"So we know elemental affinities and skills can affect one''s personality. Was Isaac''s father always that dramatic?"
Silence reined until Isaac snorted and exploded with laughter.
He wiped a tear from his cheek and grinned. "From the day he was born. I heard he came out of the womb farting light beams!"
Isaac continued to guffaw and everyone else politely stuffed their mouths with their sandwiches until he calmed down.
Despite the grand announcement, the first combatants still took a minute to appear. Tier two, they looked like ordinary adventurers who fought with casters shaped like wands.
The elf on the left used a combination of fireballs and stone missiles while he roamed the field upon an ever-moving mound of dirt. But the woman he was against wasn''t a slouch either. She commanded walls of mist and whips of water that lashed the projectiles out of the air.
Skills were casted and mana was sent flying; the crowd ate it up, cheering with each attack and miss. The battle came to an end when the woman caught a large boulder and whipped it toward her opponent. Unfortunately for her, she missed the stone smashing into her knee as she jumped to the side and slipped. At once, a barrage of rocks pummeled her into the dirt and the bell sounded..
A ring of light appeared around her body and she slowly stood up. She cradled a broken arm against her chest and bowed.
The man returned the gesture and strode out of the arena with his head held high while the woman slunk toward the side exit.
Sereza nudged my arm. "Healers are ready, funded by the arena. The ring of light is a pain-soothing skill to help blunt the pain."
"Makes better showmanship if you can ignore your injuries and smile," Igas added.
After the first exhibition match, a feline beastkin took to the skies and hovered above the arena. She hyped the crowd and announced the participants of the next duel.
The fights raged for nearly an hour, mostly tier ones, leaving the tier twos sprinkled in between. Surprisingly, the tier ones were sometimes better than the tier two matches. The tier twos had more effects, but most fought with a level of reserve and control that was outshone by the desperation of the tier ones. Skills flew and weapons clashed. There was an eclectic mix of element types, with light and fire being the most common.
I tapped Celenae''s shoulder after another tier two fight concluded, resulting in an elf woman removing her sword from the beastkin''s throat.
"I''ve noticed something," I said.
"And that is?" she replied.
"Well, its Solunaria. So fire and light, super common, a good third of the population seems to have it."
"Correct. Many speculate it''s the bloodlines of the people or the ambient mana in the land that pushes children''s affinities toward those two elements."
"Ok. But I''ve noticed that humans tend to favor light and fire more than the elves. I think sixty percent are human? And amongst the elves, there''s a heavier mix of earth and plant-related skills."
"Ah." She smiled and summoned a book to her hand. She flipped to the correct page and showed me a massive graph. "If you remember, the history of Solunaria is that it was made of elves and humans during the start of the kingdom. There are a lot of half-elves because of that, but that''s beside the point. Us elves come from the Deep Woods, the grand forest bordering the Golden Plains. This is why the bloodlines theory is the most popular. Almost all elves in the kingdom draw lineage from the forest. And because of that, it''s more common to see our kind with an affinity towards plants and the earth."
"But not always?"
She closed the book. "No. Sometimes, you have oddities. Like a Dawnborn with a near one-hundred percent affinity toward shadow."
Isaac stuck out his tongue and I lobbed an ice-cold drink at his face. He flipped me off and popped the cap, returning to his glaring at the fight below.
"Or an elf who uses crystal skills?" I nudged.
"Yes. Or that. Nothing is set in stone, no matter what the theories say."
"Hmmm. I bet I could ask Cal. I''m sure he''d be able to confirm things."
Celenae winced and I caught flinch as she reached for a drink. "I suppose he would."
My eyes narrowed. It wasn''t like her to shy from confirming knowledge.
"Or I don''t. It''s not like I''ll be able to ask him anytime soon."
She politely smiled and sipped at her drink.
The matches continued, the victors returning to the under arena and the losers leaving via a side exit. One of the more notable matches was from the hooded figure, a tier one surprisingly.
The combat started and ended with a single punch. The flaming fist smashed the burly beastkin into the wall where he remained.
Some booed at the lack of a show while others cheered at the uniqueness of the duel. Strangely enough, they looked up before the figure left the pit, seemingly peering into the booth.
"Do you know them?" Teddy asked.
"Not a clue. But they did stare at me weirdly when we left to find you guys."
"Hmmm, I''ll keep an eye on them. The punch was impressive."
Yeah...
I settled in and reached for another drink, but Sereza suddenly stood up. She examined the glowing bracelet and exposed her fangs as she grinned.
"Finally!"
Chapter 7: Quick Finish
"You ready?" I asked.
Sereza nodded. "Since yesterday. Although, if I lost in the first match, I might have to jump off the third ring."
I willed my inventory to open and launched the summoned Warhead at her ear. Her tail smacked it into her hand and she swallowed the candy, wrapper and all.
"That''s not... Nevermind. You''re not going to lose. Just try not to melt too many limbs. Don''t want you disqualified for being too effective."
She spit out the wrapper and gave me a double thumbs-up. Arturous snuck in a lick as she bolted out of the booth, shutting the door behind her.
"Well, are we betting?"
"What? Not so confident she''ll win? Was all that bravado?" Isaac teased.
"Listen, buddy, I''m not above squirting hot sauce into your food. You know that''s not what I meant."
"Hmmph. I bet her opponents a beastkin. Brawler type."
"Elven rogue, physical enhancements," Eodyne chimed in.
Igas tapped his chin and shrugged. "Beastkin, archer."
I turned to Teddy, who stared beyond the booth and down into the pit below. "And you? Any guesses?"
He turned and smiled. "Human, and caster. I think the arena would love to pit those two together."
"Why''s that?"
"Whoever strikes first. Either Sereza goes down in an explosion of mana, or she slams a dagger through their neck and forces a victory."
"You okay?"
His face softened and he reached for Arturous, deftly avoiding the clumps of sticky honey and saliva to run his fingers through his fur. "I am. I was just thinking that my parents were surprisingly tame this morning."
Isaac bolted to the edge of the couch, eyes wild. "By the gods, I didn''t even think of that. Why aren''t they here? There''s no way they didn''t know he would be making a grand speech. Are they sick? Did Cyrus do something to them?!"
"Thankfully not. I believe they are being more careful about how much they disrupt. I think Uncle Allaron talked with them. I saw his crystal in their study the other day."
"Well, that''s boring. They should have crashed the ship. Preferably on top of him."
An exchange of banter lasted for another minute, but the others stopped when the announcer came to life.
"Fine folks, and citizens of Solunaria! On the left field, a member of our proud city and a registered adventurer. A lady who knows how to pick her poison! Sereza!"
I clapped and cheered, adding my voice to the cacophony.
Celenae had the betting board ready as the announcer motioned to the other side of the arena.
"On the right field, an up-and-coming adventurer who''s eager to prove himself! A martial talent who wields flames as easily as one breathes! The great, and the mighty; Lute!"
The others groaned. Teddy had an easy smile as he basked in the others'' complaints.
"Told you. I''m guessing neither of them has visited the arena before and they don''t have much to go on. If either of them wins, it''ll help showcase their skills and settle them into the proper pools to be seeded."
I pointed a finger at the emerging robed man. "This isn''t exactly fair for Sereza."
"Maybe not, but I suspect that they believe she''ll be the winner. And a victory hard-earned goes a long way to drawing the crowd''s favor."
"And why do you say that?"
He smirked. "Just a hunch."
I groaned. "Alright. Well, I''m not betting if she''ll kick his ass or not. I know she will."
Nobody argued against my statement and we moved to the edges of our seats to see the two combatants meet in the middle.
The floor was covered in a light layer of sand that rested atop the stone underneath. The painted lines marking the two arena halves were visible but as far as I saw during the previous duels, there was no limit on where a fighter could move.
The young man held out a staff and gave it a lazy spin. Flames sprouted from the tips and spread up his arms to iluminate the scraggle of a beard hanging from his chin.
He looked young, but if he was tier one, it had to count for something. His body was toned and fit, his stance confident.
Unfortunately for him, Sereza was a devilish beauty who ignored him to wave at the crowd. When she stopped near the middle, her tail flicked and dripped acid onto the sand by his feet.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
It hissed and gray vapor rose as the wind blew, sending the acrid air into his face.
"I''ll take you down in ten seconds. Your tail won''t even come close," he taunted.
Sereza shrugged and slid her daggers free. She casually dipped it into a vial along her bandolier and backed away as the first gong chimed.
Her opponent scowled but did the same, the flames growing as they stretched higher into the air.
"So. Ten seconds, right?" Isaac asked.
"Could be nine, to really prove a point. It''s only a hundred meters."
I shook my head. "Ten."
"What''s your reasoning?" Celenae asked.
"To prove a point."
The second chime rang, and the crowd cheered, the excitement going strong even after hours of nonstop matches.
While her opponent continued to build the flame, Sereza bounced from one foot to the next, her tail lowering as she stretched.
He''s going to use most of his mana on one big attack. What an idiot.
As Sereza leaned forward, arms by her side, the third chime rang and the crowd audience exploded.
Within the first second, the man swung his staff forward and the flames leapt from his arms and rushed down his staff. The fire at the tip pooled together into a massive ball of angry mana that singed the air.
"Burn!" the young man shouted.
My eye twitched.
He actually shouted burn? Ughh...
Sereza continued forward, a green shadow as she swerved out of the way. But the man swung his staff and the ball changed directions, forcing itself into her new path.
Seven seconds left.
She lowered her head and raised her daggers. The fire rolled across the ground, leaving behind a trail of glass.
Six seconds.
The two collided, and the ball exploded, flames billowing in a cascade across the ground. They entirely engulfed Sereza¡¯s form, her body invisible underneath the glowing mana.
Five seconds.
The audience hushed as if on bated breaths; they watched the flames lick and spark and pop. With slow confidence, he spun his staff and directed the flames again, spreading it sideways.
"Never had a chance," he chuckled.
Four seconds.
"Idiot," I muttered.
He couldn''t see it, so affixed on the flames below. But I already knew what to look for, and it was unmistakable, even with the fire drawing the audience''s attention.
His smile began to drop and he swung his staff, shoving the flames aside.
Three seconds.
There was no body.
"What is this?!"
Two seconds.
I cheered as loud as I could and the others relaxed. Before the fool could shout something idiotic, Sereza dropped her skill.
The cloud of green materialized with her blade at his throat and her other arm around his waist.
One.
He crashed to the ground and froze. Sereza''s dagger drew blood, as did her tail, which had impaled his hand. It wasn''t deep, but she only needed to draw blood.
"Ten," she whispered into his ear. Her voice was magically amplified and broadcasted throughout the arena. "Learn to look up. It''ll keep you from getting killed."
His lips parted, but in the next second, his eyes rolled back and spittle shot out. Sereza released him and stood up; the crowd was silent until she bowed.
It took some time for the audience to process what she had done, but noise returned to the arena when their brains caught up.
Some cheered, some booed and I shoved another piece of candy in my mouth.
"Told you," I teased.
"Yeah, yeah. It''s not like we doubted her," Isaac grumbled.
As nice as it was for the crowd to see the vanishing trick Sereza pulled off, the fight was too short to truly sate their bloodlust.
By the time she left through the winner''s side, they had already moved on and found other things to discuss.
The young man was lifted by a grasping vine and dragged through the loser''s tunnel¡ªone of the roots having separated and stabbed into his arm.
I sent the memory to ¨¢ine for her to think of later and continued to eat the rest of my food.
It wasn''t long before a knock chimed through the door and Sereza was allowed inside. As she did, she bowed and plopped into her seat.
"That was fun," she said.
"You looked great out there," Celenae remarked.
"Good to show the young and stupid the error of their ways," Eodyne added.
I tossed over a few more pieces of candy. "What poison did you use? I don''t remember the paralytics making their eyes roll back."
She stuck one of the candies in her mouth and started to suck before she fidgeted with one of the flasks along her bandolier. After tossing it over, she relaxed and pointed with her tail.
"New blend. Specifically keeps them breathing but cuts off enough circulation to make them pass out. For a tier one, his constitution is shit."
"He might have been in mana fatigue as well. There''s a good chance he threw everything he had in that attack," Teddy said.
"Idiot."
"That''s it? The fireball wasn''t that big."
I ignored the pointed looks and helped ¨¢ine exit my hoodie. She flew over and booped Sereza''s nose before diving into the cup of cold juice I had prepared.
"Thanks, ¨¢ine," Sereza said.
She received a tiny thumbs-up and we all watched the fairy slip her body into the sweet extract.
"Anyway," I said, drawing attention away from my familiar. "Was the next round explained to you?"
"Yes. The arena master sort of grunted at me before I left, but she basically said that the next set of matches would start after the first. The third will be held tomorrow, along with something more elaborate to whittle down the final batch of contestants. I''m assuming the third day will be the semifinals, and the fourth will be the grand finale, followed by the reward ceremony and a party."
"Four-day tournament? Not the worst way to spend the week. What do you think is elaborate enough for this?"
"A death match?" Isaac offered.
Igas buried him in a headlock and Teddy shook his head.
"Probably something more open-ended then one on one duels. It''ll have to be entertaining enough while drawing speeding things along. After all, the tournament isn''t the real draw of this. It''s the auction after."
It made sense.
Another half hour passed and I felt the runes activate along my bracelet before it lit up. I watched it pulse and send a polite jolt across my skin before the enchantment died and the glow continued.
I stood up, collected ¨¢ine from her juice bath, and headed for the door.
"Cyrus," Teddy called out. I turned and he gave me an easy smile. "Kick butt."
I chuckled and pushed the door of the booth open. "Sure. And don''t let Sereza eat my fries!"
"Hey!" I heard her call out before the door shut and sealed the room.
I made my way through the crowd, drawing a few excited eyes as they noticed my bracelet.
When I reached the under arena, the bracelet pulsed once more, the second jolt slightly stronger than the previous.
There were fewer combatants, a good majority having gone through their first match. Those who were left glared my way.
I ignored them and stepped toward the arena master. She snarled and jerked her thumb to the left tunnel.
"Get your ass moving. And don''t do anything stupid," she growled.
It was tempting to salute, but I kept my sarcasm contained and walked down the tunnel. At the midway point, I summoned my spear and ran mana through the shaft. Poison collected at the tip and I twirled it around as I started to whistle a tune.
"Either a fool or a genius. An elemental prodigy in the making! Welcome the newcomer, another registered adventurer. Mordred!"
Chapter 8: The Great Thunder Serpent!
Even with the hum of my whistle filling my ears, the crowd drowned the noise in an avalanche of sound.
Sunlight filtered through, drawing my gaze upward into the open sky.
It was... terrifying.
From afar, the people looked like giants, with me the little ant trapped on the ground. Some cheered, others booed. More than a few seemed to be screaming for no reason other than to add to the revelry.
Didn''t think this one through, did yah?
I lowered my head and approached the middle. Each step ran a jolt of excitement that slowly built a charge in my chest.
My spear continued to spin, and a few pointed to my weapon. It was strange, but it wasn''t the weirdest thing they''d have seen.
One of the competitors in the earlier matches used what was essentially a metal version of a pompom and won their duel.
As I came to a stop, I stared at the other entrance.
Did I walk out too early?
I stopped messing around and rested my weapon on my shoulder. My tail flicked, the illusion holding up. Currently, all the audience would see was a long furry tail.
What they thought about my horns, I wouldn''t know, but the illusion made them appear bone-white and solid rather than the clear crystals they normally were.
Thankfully, they couldn''t see behind my mask. I would look a lot less cool if they saw me clicking my fangs.
Another minute passed and I shifted my feet.
Where''s the basta-
"Apologies for the delay, but it was well worth it. Today we have a returning face that some of you know. From a crippling defeat to spark a seven-month journey to refine themselves. They are the flashy caster we know and love! Eldredge the Thunder Serpent!"
Accompanied by the peals of thunder, the right entrance exploded with mana that whipped at the sand and churned a storm that stopped just shy of touching me.
My eyes narrowed at the emerging beastkin sporting electric-blue scales.
A little on the nose there...
The Thunder Serpent rushed through the arena and jogged to a stop a few meters away.
Their purple tongue slid from their mouths as they held up their hands and released a wave of crackling electricity. The sparks dripped down, touching their leathered frills and sank through their scales.
They drank in the cheers and looked toward me. "Sorry about this. Bad luck to be matched against me for your first match, but there''s always next time."
It was entirely condescending, but it toed the line.
I grunted and lowered my spear. "Was the thunder necessary?"
"Certainly. How else would I greet the crowd? They''re giving me their thunderous applause, it''s only fitting I return the same."
"Names Mordred. I hope you''re ready."
"Of course," Eldredge bowed. "I''ll ensure your defeat is swift and painless."
I shook my head, and sighed as Eldredge backed away. Mana rushed through my veins, and I held the trigger, my familiar waiting inside my soulrealm.
Eldredge raised their arm, one hand extended into the sky, the other with their palm facing toward me.
I saw the mana build in the center of their hand, and a tendril of hardened air snaked around their back and blanketed around them like a cloak.
One theory was that their skill required them to draw real lightning from the skies. But the mana held no indication of doing so, and the sky was bright and clear.
The second theory, and the one I thought was more likely true; was that the stance was nothing more than a facade.
Either way, it wouldn''t save them. Not when they thought their might was strong enough to best an affronted dragon.
I relaxed and stood casually.
The first chime rang, and Eldredge''s scowl deepened. It didn''t stop the growing grin on my face.
The cheers were drums beating against my head.
When the second chime rang, I sent mana into my skill and drew my familiar out. Before his body formed, I activated Spirit Lord''s Invocation and consumed the motes.
As I popped my neck, electric-blue scales ripped across my arms and down my legs. My chest gained the tightness of the armor and I breathed in the sweet air that swirled around me.
"Ready to show an upstart lizard how wrong they are?" I asked.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
"They will kneel and beg for forgiveness! To dare and claim themselves your better while I am your familiar! No mercy!" Sturmrorex roared.
"Alright, alright. No need to go supernova just yet. Save that for someone worthy."
Sturmrorex''s displeasure tickled my thoughts, but he settled in, and I flexed my claws, feeling the wind bend around my scales.
"I hope you are prepared, Mordred. This will be over soon," Eldredge said.
You''re right, it will.
The third chime rang and at once, their hand above their head did something. It looked like a vortex that drew in mana before the charge in his other grew to an orb the size of a baseball.
Without wasting a second more to taunt or apologize, the orb sharpened into an arrow and zipped across the arena.
Already, Eldredge was lowering their hand before it crossed the midline.
With a flex, Sturmrorex''s skill activated and the lightning entered my thoughts like a buzzing bee. I willed it closer and it swerved.
Instead of impacting my chest, I grabbed the bolt and forced it to stop before my palm. It bucked and fought my control; the energy demanded freedom and continuing momentum.
Sturmrorex''s snarl brought it under rein, and I closed my fingers around the dancing electricity.
Eldredge stared, slacked-jawed, as I brought the mana closer to my face. It smelled of ozone and tasted like copper.
"No fucking way," they whispered.
I lowered my hand and cocked my head. The cloak of hardened air around them frayed at the edges. As Eldredge snapped their jaw shut, the mana hardened further and slammed into the stone.
"You-"
At Sturmrorex''s urgings, I pushed mana through my arm and into the bolt. It grew in size from baseball to dodgeball It wasn''t a physical weight that pulled at my hand, but my arm stiffened at the rush and the hairs along the back of my neck stood up.
"Catch," I said cheerfully.
I twisted back and raised my hand high. As I lobbed it, I urged the electricity forward and watched the bolt become an arrow. It spiraled as it zipped, leaving behind a trail of thermal light.
Eldredge turned, and the cloak of air intercepted the bolt, but it continued to tunnel through. Inch by inch, the attack lost its power, but enough survived by the time it breached through their skill.
The electricity shot into their arm and Eldredge hissed as their side spasmed. They stomped, and mana rushed through their limb and into the ground before they sagged forward.
"Y-you. Thi-think you can bea-t me at my own game?"
My spear cut through the stone and started walking forward. My tail flicked, the flames underneath the illusion bristling with crackles of energy.
"Is that all you got?" I teased.
Eldredge raised their good arm and electricity snaked between their fingers. It was a different attack that drew upon the wind cloak around them.
"You could have made this easy. What happens next is a consequence of your actions."
In a flurry of light and whipping wind, they activated a skill and the electricity exploded, streamers of energy separating into five balls that led the charge. They forked and crossed, five separate attacks that surrounded me.
One aimed for my head, the second my chest¨Cthe third and forth my legs, and the fifth arced over my neck and dived for the small of my back.
Effective, for just about anyone who wasn''t me.
I raised my arm and swiped my claws through the attack, collecting the balls and their trails like bugs in a net. After the fifth, I attached them together, bound to my palm in another whirling ball of mana.
The new control feels great. Makes me wonder what tier two will bring.
"Sturmrorex. We''ll have to test what we can do with water mana when we''re free. We''ll have Igas help."
His approval bled through the link and I accepted his feelings concerning the mana in our grasp.
It wasn''t nearly as powerful as the bolt, but then again, it was a multi-pronged attack.
Eldredge backed away, retreating as I came closer. Their eyes narrowed and they watched my hand like a deer in headlights.
The cowardice acted as a wet blanket and doused my excitement. I expected a battle, not whatever this was supposed to be.
I sighed and activated another part of Sturmrorex''s skills. The wind at my back started to push me forward and I shaped it to mold around my legs.
It was untested, but it worked like a charm. The barrier knifed through the air around us and helped remove the resistance as I started to jog faster. Eldredge kept retreating, going as far as to curve around the arena''s edge.
Another attack grew, sprouting from their fingers down to their legs.
But, unfortunately for them, I was pumping mana into the balls of electricity, destroying whatever the original skill was and opting for rough power rather than something fancy.
Eldredge reached an end. They stopped with their backs pressed against the wall and extended their arms forward.
"Take this, Monster!"
I paused.
Monster? Really?
As the mana from their legs shot up their chest and toward their fingers, I forced the watermelon of electricity up and lobbed it forward.
A curtain of brilliant blue energy rushed toward my face. I accepted the hit, feeling the energy bite my scales and singe my skin. My robes smoked and the wind around me stole it away, allowing fresh air into my lungs.
"Oww," I mumbled.
As I rubbed at my neck, I looked up and watched as Eldredge lay in a crumpled, twitching heap atop the arena floor.
I walked forward and used the butt of my spear to prod their tail when the victory chime blasted through my ear drums.
My bracelet pulsed, tightening around my wrist.
"And we have a victor!" the announcer screamed.
Thunder pelted my ears and it took me a few seconds to understand it was the stomping of the crowd''s feet. Again, I felt small, but there was a new feeling.
Deliberately, I spun my weapon upward and lifted it high. That earned another round of cheers.
It was exhilarating and new. The feeling didn''t overcome the annoyance I had at being denied a real fight, but it was nice to bask in the sound.
It¡¯s like there¡¯s soda in my guts, fizzling up. I don¡¯t think you hate this, Cyrus.
I lowered my spear and watched a platform of light lift Eldredge up to my knees. A sprinkle of golden dust began to sprout from the sides. When they landed on their burnt and crispy skin, they popped like fireworks before sinking into their flesh.
As I walked out, ¨¢ine healed the damage to my nerves and gently patted my back.
"Thanks,"
"Always," she replied.
I adjusted my hoodie and kept my head still as I entered the under arena. Myol stood with her arms crossed, a strange look on her face. She held up her hand and I stopped.
"Is there something wrong?"
She squinted and leaned forward. As I was about to step back, she sniffed.
What?
"Hmmph," she mumbled. "Maybe not as foolish I thought you to be. Tell me, is lightning your highest affinity?"
Oh. That''s what she wants to know. Still don''t know why you sniffed me, lady.
I shook my head. "No. It''s not my highest."
Her eyebrow lifted. "Second?"
I shrugged.
Myol snorted and she turned away. "Win the next fight, and I might even apologize. Now scram, whelp!"
This time I saluted and marched out the door, ignoring the stares of the remaining contestants.
There weren''t any cameras or screens inside the under arena, but knowing the system and all the kinds of shit magic could reproduce, it wasn''t too surprising the arena master had a way to see the matches.
I was tempted to order another round of sandwiches, but more than a few people seemed to recognize me and offer me congratulations or something to say.
As I entered our booth and closed the door, I was met with the incredibly neutral stares of Broken Tower, with Sereza mimicking their expression.
"What? What did I do wrong?"
"Cyrus..." Celenae began.
Chapter 9: Public Opinion
"I don''t like the way y''all are looking at me. What did I do wrong? Seriously," I said, as I crossed my arms.
Celenae and Teddy shared a glance, while Isaac kept his head cocked like a curious puppy.
"Cyrus," Celenae began.
"Yes..."
"Did you have fun?"
"At first? Why?"
Another shared look. My anger started to rise, but I quashed it down and waited.
Eventually, Sereza sighed and shook her head.
"It certainly seemed like you were having fun. Was the creepy grin intentional?" she asked.
Grin?
"What grin? Did my illusion fail? What the hell, I barely did anything crazy."
Isaac conjured a tentacle and tapped his cheek. I reached for my own, and slowly slid off my mask.
"I forget sometimes, because you''re usually a ball of wavering depression lately. But you usually smile when we spar," he commented.
I frowned and stared at my mask. When it was off my face, it was perfectly normal; the prismatic ink blotches resting in the center without a guided shape to blemish the surface.
"So, let me get this straight. You guys are being all weird because my mask was grinning? That''s it?"
"We''re not being weird, just surprised? Concerned?" Teddy offered.
"Alright, I''ll bite. What''s the issue exactly?" I said as I moved toward the couch and took my seat.
The others relaxed, and Arturous snuck in a wet nose directly onto my cheek as I passed by. I playfully batted the bear''s massive snout away and shimmied over.
"We''re just concerned. At least, if you''ve enjoyed yourself we can pass it off as just that," Teddy said.
"I did, at first. Like I said."
"When did you stop enjoying it?" Sereza butt in.
"Mmm. See now if I say this out loud, it sounds a little mean."
"Get on with it," Isaac snapped.
"When they started cowering. Like the fight wasn''t a fight. It was them uselessly tossing techniques at me. They barely moved, their cloak was a crappy defense. Eodyne would have zipped across the arena and filled me with arrows by the time they got off one attack."
"Cyrus, it''s not really fair to compare them to Eodyne. She''s a monster," Celenae said softly.
"Not the point."
"Except it is. You''re a monster in your own right. Frankly, the tier two''s are lucky you''re only tier one. The sad part is that I imagine you could take down a few of them even now," Isaac scoffed.
I pouted. "I am not a monster."
Isaac laughed exaggeratedly and pretended to nearly slip off his seat. "You were a tyrant. The poor beastkin came back from a training journey and ready to make their glorious return, and you crushed them! With their own element! You are a monster, and stop pretending otherwise. And I''m not talking about the fucking Grand Weave and the you-know-what-inity inside your soul. Just accept you were a scary bastard and toyed with your prey. It''s a good thing. Crush the idiots in the tournament. The noble houses could use some humbling."
Everyone stared.
Isaac''s brow twitched and he furiously shoved some food into his mouth before turning away.
"He''s not wrong. It did look like you were toying with them. We were just surprised is all. We assumed you''d finish the fight as soon as possible."
"I did not toy with them. Thank you very much. And I told you, I wanted to train. This whole tournament is to have some fun and get some training in. And it''s not my fault they chose to offend Sturmrorex."
Eodyne pointed at me. "By choosing a unique and recognizable moniker?"
I shrugged. "Bring it up with the dragon, not me."
"Either way, as long as you want to continue. But maybe, understand what narrative you''re crafting for yourself."
"Why? It''s not like I''ll be doing more arena fights after the tournament."
"You sure?" Teddy countered. "If you continue to enjoy it, there''s no reason not to."
"Fine, you got me there. But why do I care how the audience views me? And my opponents are opponents. Heel or Face, I plan on beating them anyway."
"Heel? Hmmm, another word from your language. It sounded off. I''m assuming its the counterparts to who plays the good guy and bad guy?" Celenae hummed.
"It''s a wrestling thing, the kind for show that''s more exaggerated and made for entertainment,¡± I explained.
"And the heel is called that because they crush their enemies under their heel. A less noble and villainous act. And the face is somewhat like Teddy? Charismatic and smiling?"
"Basically."
"Then yes, you were the heel. The villian who crushed the returning up and coming hero with their own skills, toying with them by showing how futile their attacks were. Before the dramatic finish that involved crushing their resistance."
I wagged my finger. "I didn''t do any of that, though."Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
"But that''s how it''s perceived. And do you plan on doing that throughout the tournament? If so, are you prepared to handle the reaction you''ll receive from the crowd?"
A sigh left my lips, and I snuggled into the chair.
"Fine. I''ll be prepared."
"That''s all we were concerned about," Celenae relented.
"It''s not like every opponent I''ll face will have an element I can match. I can''t fight nature with nature unless I want to reveal ¨¢ine, which isn''t likely to happen."
"So you won''t just take Zharia and see if you can burn it all to ash?" Igas asked.
I wisely kept my lips shut and settled in. It wasn''t like I was entirely oblivious to how I must have looked.
Still an overreaction, but whatever. If anything, I''m aiming to make the arena master eat her words.
Time passed after everyone settled into their seats. More of the fights were settled. Strangely enough, they lacked the oomph from before save near the very end. The match started like normal, with the buzzing enchantments flashing along the pillars toward the arena''s edge. It was when the two exited their respective tunnels did things get interesting.
As the combatants took their places, I leaned forward.
"Cyrus" Sereza asked.
"Hey, Isaac," I shouted. The rogue downed his drink and approached. As he did, my tail wrapped around his wrist and tugged him forward, earning a growl. Before he could begin his tirade, I pointed to the combatant on the right field. "Does that guy look familiar to you?"
"What? What do you me-oh. Huh. I''ll be damned. He''s the idiot who attacked you."
"The vigilante?" Sereza said, pushing Isaac aside to get a look.
"Yep. Your would-be-hero. I recognize the face. I''m surprised he''s up here and not down there being stupid," I said.
Isaac snorted. "He probably wised up. If someone like you can take him down, he''d never survive the underground."
There was a pause, but I shook my head. "Your words lack bite when you were just saying how much of a monster I was earlier. Do better."
He grumbled and returned to his seat, to which Arturous gleefully plopped his head onto his lap, effectively sealing the rogue''s future for the next half hour.
"You weren''t kidding, he is handsome," Sereza mused.
"Into pretty boys are we?" I teased.
She smacked my tail with hers, sending a jolt up my spine. Though she didn''t come out of the exchange unscathed, I saw the wince.
Serves you right, my bones are harder than your bones.
"So what happened to him after we returned topside?"
"Honestly? No idea. Isaac took care of it, dropped him off with some carriage that brought him to wherever he lived. And that was it. He looks better in the all white get-up. Fits him better than cosplaying as a hobo Batman."
"You''re saying funny words again."
The announcer cleared his throat before I could respond, and I focused on the pit below.
"He may be the youngest of his siblings, but that has not diminished his heart. The sword he wields is for justice and the safety of others. The valiant, the brave; our latest hero in the making! Vincent Vallentius!"
That was a noble house, but one of the more minor ones. As far I could recall, the house head was the last of his Legacy lineage; meaning that he was unmarked by the Weave. And he was the sole survivor despite the fact that his family should have easily held a couple of people above tier three.
Apparently, a Legacy wasn''t the guaranteed key to immortal life everyone thought it was.
"And from the left field! A fighter who''s earned his licks, a novice aiming to make it into the big leagues! The Crimson Hammer, the wrathful! Inocos!"
Vincent''s opponent was an oni, with crimson red skin and a jagged horn that spiraled a foot above his scalp. While Vincent was a shining white knight with a sword; Inocos had little more than a leather vest and a rugged pelt for pants.
"Sword and board versus a morningstar. It''ll be an interesting matchup," Teddy commented.
"Bets on Inocos."
"Reasoning?"
"Vincent was a total pushover. Are we sure he''s tier one?"
"Cyrus..."
"Yeah, yeah. He was still pretty weak."
"Then I suppose we''ll see. I don''t know who this Inocos is, but I suspect he has decent strength behind his attacks."
Igas grunted. "Flames aren''t strong."
"Is this considered elementicism? Do oni''s judge other onis for their element?" I asked.
"No," Igas spat. "But in the eastern continents, you''d find yourself caught in gang wars depending on the element you wield. Not unusual to find onis caught in pointless wars."
"Huh, I guess I shouldn''t be surprised. They have gangs in Solunara."
"Idiots, but sometimes it''s the only way for them to get by," Igas grumbled.
"I never asked, but you''re not originally from this continent, right?"
"No. I was shipped here by a black market operation."
"And how did you end up meeting Teddy and everyone?"
Teddy smiled, his eyes still watching the combatants flex to the crowd. "My parents destroyed the bastards without mercy. Igas was too untrusting at the time so he went to the orphanage."
"I opened up eventually. You can''t blame me with how they act around you."
Teddy chuckled. "You love it now. But child Igas was as cold as ice."
There was plenty of eye-rolling but the match had finally begun so we all settled in.
The first chime came and Vincent got into a stiff stance, one that prominently displayed his sword high and his shield low, hovering above his waist.
Inocos leaned forward and wielded the morningstar in both hands, flames sliding up the sides of his legs.
"He has a movement ability. Does Vincent?" Celenae asked.
"I think so, but his mana was gray and I drained him before he could get away."
"Pure mana? Interesting. Even without the Legacy he should have had a high affinity for fire."
"We don''t know his circumstances," Isaac mumbled.
The second chime came, and Vincent stayed the same. Either cocky or a fool, but Inocos''s mana continued to grow and spread toward his hands.
At the third ring, Inocos exploded forward with a burst of flames from his feet. They catapulted the oni across the arena and he jumped swinging his morningstar in an overheard arc.
Vincent didn''t change stances but before the attack could land, he jerked to the side as if an invisible hand pushed him away.
Inocos slammed into the sand and snapped a kick, sending a burst of flames from his feet to launch into another jump. His morningstar swung at Vincent''s hip but the shield snapped into place.
A loud klang rang and Vincent grunted as he finally changed expressions. He gritted his teeth and raised his sword, stabbing it forward.
Inocos bent out of the way, once again using his feet to position himself better.
"This is going to end quickly," Igas grumbled.
But I continued to watch Vincent''s arm. Just like Inocos had flames continuing to build, the mana glowing in a thick cloud around his limbs; Vincent''s was the same.
"Flame Burst!" Inocos shouted.
The mana rushed into his weapon and the metal turned cherry red. Vincent turtled behind his shield and charged forward, hitting the flaming mace.
In an explosion of flames it drowned the two bodies with sand and smoke billowing across the arena. The crowd went wild at the display.
I nodded. "Like Sereza, I''m impressed."
"What? Because of the flames? I don''t see him floating above," Sereza said.
Got to give it to you, maybe you''re not a total pushover.
The flames cleared and the audience exploded as Vincent''s armored form stood looming over Inocos. His arm was pinned to his side, Vincent''s sword stabbed cleanly through.
The edges of his armor around the ankles and below the knees were blackened, but the rest of Vincent was safely protected behind a barrier of gray mana. It was jagged and edgy, and crumbling near the edges, but it kept his opponent pinned to the floor.
Vincent gripped his sword and tugged it upward, drawing a pained grunt from Inocos. Before more damage could be done, the victory chime rang and the announcer shouted Vincent''s victory.
The young man morphed from a statue to an animated teenager shouting to the skies. He cheered along with the crowd and jumped around while Inocos stalked his way to the loser''s exit.
Sereza leaned back and whistled. "Barriers are nasty. Thankfully, slow targets are the easiest."
"Yeah, not bad. Just makes me wonder why he didn''t use one when he attacked me."
"Could be that his skill requires a physical medium. They''re not popular, but sometimes shield skills require an actual shield to activate."
"Sounds annoying."
"Indeed. Nobody with the means and intelligence to plan ahead would ever take a skill with those requirements. Adventurers know full well what it means to rely on yourself and not the gear."
"Makes you wonder why a noble would take such skills. I barely know his house, but I know they''re not poor. Just lacking in social power," Sereza added.
"Could always invite him to dinner and find out?" I said.
The others stared and even Arturous cocked his head.
"What?"
Chapter 10: Second Match
"You want to invite the guy who attacked you¨Cand who you choked into unconsciousness--for dinner?" Isaac prodded.
"Well, when you say it like that, it''s a little rough. But need I remind you that you threatened to stab me on numerous occasions before you settled down."
"Fair enough. Invite him. I''m sure it''ll be fiiiine."
"Table the idea for later," Teddy said as he motioned to my wrist.
The bracelet vibrated and glowed.
Already?
"Huh, guess it''s time for round two. See you guys in a bit," I said before muttering under my breath. "Hopefully."
"If you''re going to crush them, then crush them!" Isaac shouted.
"We''ll see,"
Before exiting the booth, I slipped my mask on and felt the comforting enchantments lock in place.
Another oddity. Even with my new skill constantly alerting my eyes and brain to runes, the mask was a swirling plane of scribbles.
The more I looked for a pattern to the mana, the less I understood.
It was both frustrating and good to know. If even my skill refused to play along, then others would have trouble piercing its defense. And more than anything on my person, including the awesome earrings that made me look like a beastkin, it gave me a sense of safety like no other.
I watched the crowd subdued but still chatting happily. Despite the long hours of constant bloodshed and amiable duels, they were hungry and ready for more.
My feet carried me down into the under arena and I noticed just how empty it looked. A few of the faces were people I recognized having fought earlier in the day, but the negative space gave ample room for the arena master to stand.
She was a towering statue who raised a hand the moment I came within conversation range.
"Yes?" I asked.
Myol beckoned me closer and I stopped just shy of planting my face into her hip spikes.
As I stopped, a barrier appeared around us, cutting off the ambient chatter from inside the room.
"You''ve got two choices," she said.
"What are my options?"
She grunted. "Still cocky? You claim lightning isn''t your strongest. What is?"
I shrugged. "I can''t answer that. You wouldn''t believe me."
"You''re right. I don''t. You''re not a beastkin, that''s certain. If it''s not lightning, then I''m guessing, fire. If, and only if you''re from this continent."
My eyes narrowed and I watched her face. She continued to glare, but a hint of a grin tugged at her mouth.
"Why do you think I''m not a beastkin?"
"Not I think, it''s I know. And I''ll answer your question, whelp. Once, you answer mine."
Fine. Two can play this game.
The others in the room watched without shame. None bothered to pretend they were simply glancing around or hide their staring.
At least they can''t hear us.
"I told you. You wouldn''t believe me. I can''t answer what my strongest element is. All I can tell you is that lightning isn''t my second strongest or even the best I got. And neither is fire."
"So be it," she grumbled. At once, the barrier preventing the sound from entering and exiting our space disappeared and she took a step back while motioning to the tunnel. "Enter. Remember the rules."
I didn''t budge.
"What about my question?"
"Win, and I''ll tell you. Now put on a show, ''villain.''"
Villain? The fuck?
As I started walking down the tunnel I summoned my spear and waited for the noise to reach its crescendo.
Her words gave me a funny feeling that my announcement was going to sound different this time around.
And as soon as I neared the exit, the announcer''s voice boomed across the walls, proving my predictions.
"The heartless. The crusher! A combatant who isn''t afraid to bring nature''s wrath against its wielder and turn their dreams to ash! Mordred!"
Why the fuck am I heartless? I didn''t even know them!
Despite my inner grumbling, I pushed mana into the tip of my spear and let the acid spill while I dragged the bone head through the stone.
Outside the tunnels, the crowd''s rumbling cheers reached my ears, once more filling my chest with an excited pulse. It continued to build until I reached the center and took in the reactions above.
Some booed, others cheered. There was even one person holding up a torn banner made from someone''s shirt with my name scribbled on.
For good measure, I waved my fist and nodded their way. The resulting scream of excitement managed to pierce through the din and drown out the shouting voices around it.
"We have some excited fans for the villainous monster. But don''t worry. There will be no delays this time!" the announcer boomed. "You saw them earlier, the knight of fire that burns eternal! With a blade as hot as a forgemaster''s kiln; the one and the only, Wuldric Solcrest!"
Who?
Cheers exploded and my opponent marched through the opposing exit. Behind them trailed smoldering footsteps that burned the sand black. Their weapon¨Clike mine had, trailed behind them and left flames in its wake.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
He wore dark bronze armor that covered them from head to toe except his fingers. Where dark metal ended, tanned fingers gripped the shaft of a full-metal halberd.
Wuldric stopped along the line and shifted his stance before raising his weapon with one hand. Its corkscrew tip gleamed in the light, the only part that was silvery and shiny.
"You may have thought yourself mighty in your first match. But now you face a member of house Solcrest! Prepare to beg for mercy, lightning thief."
Solcrest was another of the big noble houses. A fire-based Legacy family that had just spawned the last of their line. And as far I could remember, none of them were tier-one.
But that was besides the point.
"What the fuck are you yapping about? You speak like some two-bit villian. Less talk, more flames. Or is that all you got? Barely enough to tickle, I''m impressed."
Screw it. If I was being forced to play my role, I was going to lean all the way in. And I had zero interest in exchanging banter with an idiot if he ended up cowering like the Thunder Serpent.
Despite my provocation, Wuldric lowered his weapon and bowed.
"I see my words are wasted on the likes of you. Very well. I''ll keep your suffering short."
You''re wearing metal armor buddy. Even if I was using Sturmrorex, you''d be barbeque.
The first chime began, and to my surprise the mana around Wuldric''s body remained calm. His stance shifted and he dropped low and swung his halberd forward like a spear.
I lifted my weapon with one hand and splayed the fingers in my other. My palm faced the sky and I tapped into the soul realm.
"Ready, Zharia?"
"We shall burn the metal bug! His flames are mine!" she screeched.
Mana twisted into threads and rose from the lake toward Zharia''s skill wisp.
Resplendent Inferno followed by Spirit Lord''s Invocation brought her spark into the back of my hood. ¨¢ine tapped Zharia''s beak a second before her body broke down and rushed into my chest.
Plumage of gold, sapphire, emerald and vibrant orange sprouted from my arms and legs. It rippled across the skull and brought the ring of flames above my horns, tucked away underneath the illusion.
My tail grew feathers as well, adding a strange weight to its movements along with the changing of the flames surrounding the tip.
The only thing I allowed the crowd to see was the new feathers along with the ripples of golden flames around my body.
"And he''s done it again! Mordred has decided to fight fire with fire! Who''s flames are stronger? The sweltering heat of the Solcrest line, or the mysterious golden fire around the heartless villian?!" the announcer shouted.
Wuldric growled and the fire around his boots jutted higher. "The Solcrest suffer no thieves. To commit such foolishness is to submit through a baptism of fire. I retract my statement, thief. Your suffering will not be short."
I chuckled. "Bring it."
The second chime rang and I watched Wuldric''s mana change. Before it was calm, but now it raged and billowed out.
Like a hungry flame... He''s actually angry, damn.
The bright fires around his feet swirled into the sand but the majority of his mana swelled around his arms and into the halberd.
I continued to keep my mana calm, letting Zharia guide the heat around my mask.
If he wanted to face a thief, then so be it. Who was I to deny his fun?
The third chime came and his arms raised high. The marble of flames I kept in my free hand flattened and I extended my arm.
But the hit never came.
I stood there, like a statue waiting; and so did he.
After five seconds passed and nothing happened, I cocked my head and lowered my hand.
"Are you seriously not going to attack?"
"Why haven''t you moved, cur."
"Whatever," I sighed.
My feet kicked off the ground and I stabbed my spear forward. Acid streamed from its tip and I aimed for his thigh.
Wuldric deftly moved the halberd into a parry and he stepped forward, bringing his weapon in a tight arc across my shoulder.
Bone poised to meet metal, but the mana around his arms shot forward and his weapon slammed against my spear. It pushed into my side and I twisted out of the way.
His feet stood still as I stepped back.
The hit carried enough explosive power to have bruised my arm but ¨¢ine took care of that.
"Maybe not so foolish. I commend your strength. But there will be no second mistakes," he barked.
His voice started to irritate my ears.
Without responding, I dashed forward and throttled flames into my feet. Lacking practice, I barely managed more than a couple of extra inches but it brought me within his guard.
My spear shot toward his armpit.
Bone met unprotected cloth and a loud clang echoed out.
Wuldric spun and chopped across my hip, forcing me to jump back. When he pulled the axe out of the sand, his arm raised and exposed the underside revealing a metallic layer that slowly receded into its previous shape.
"We are the forgerites. The smiths of the kingdom. To face a Solcrest is to fight against fire and steel. Now that you''ve seen the depth of your idiocy, it''s time to end this."
His mana ballooned into a tide that engulfed his form. I understood why his weapon was made entirely of metal.
Dark bronze turned cherry red and yellow flames sparked across its edge. His arms took on the same appearance as did his legs¨Cleaving his chest and helm with a dull glow.
Despite the grandiose speech, I grinned. My blood sang with the cheers.
"Enough talk. Let''s see who burns hotter," I teased.
The noble stomped and his front foot slid forward with his weapon held in a high thrust. I dodged, and slammed my spear around his and willed it to wrap around.
Like I wanted, the yellow flames bubbled and pushed it away while Wuldric slid into another thrust, this one lower. Each jab I tried to take his flames but he kept his attacks short and tight. Zharia''s frustration grew with mine and I bit my cheek.
The fight was what I wanted, and far better than the first. But I hungered to see who was stronger.
And those flames looked tasty.
When he stomped again, I moved into his path. The flames around his boot speared the ground and created an anchor for his foot to follow. Wuldric''s thrust turned high and I leaned forward.
My spear dropped and his strike faltered, but the momentum continued and I let the silver corkscrew tear a gash into my right bicep.
"Gotcha," I growled.
Before he could retract I wrapped my fingers around the shaft and pulled the flames over my arm. My jaw opened wide and I inhaled.
Yellow fire. Yellow that burned with sulfur infusing its smoke. I inhaled deep and sucked them in, feeling the roiling heat burn its way down.
Wuldric tugged his weapon back and I slid with it. As he swung to his side I pulled myself closer and grabbed his collar.
"Unhand me, filth!" he shouted.
His arm came free and the cherry-red gauntlet smashed into the side of my face.
But I didn''t care.
Only one thing ran through my thoughts.
Disgusting.
Foreign mana reached my veins. It spread its tendrils, a slimy, acrid rot that tried to incinerate me from the inside out.
The gremlin shook his cage and clawed for control. Zharia''s skill, my flames, rushed upward in a cone of fire that purged the stench.
Outside my body, my head rocked with the blow. Fire scorched the ground as it spewed from my mouth. Where they met Wuldric''s foot, the gold overtook the dying yellow.
"What is this? What is thi-" his scream cut short.
My claws wrapped around his neck. The metal expanded, pushing away my fingers, so I curled them upward and reached under the jaw.
The metal rushed to repel me, and the flames ate at the thread of my clothes before Zharia''s feathers burst with golden fire.
Where his flames met mine, they disappeared underneath its fury. Heat remained in the wake, and my flames drew them in, empowering my own.
"Stop!" he screamed.
My claws found purchase underneath the helm and I yanked upward. Black hair spilled out, and I cut a line across a rugged cheek.
His eyes bore into mine like a frightened animal.
"You call this filth fire? You think this is hot enough to stand against mine?" I shouted. He winced and I pulled his head closer, his nose slamming into my mask. "You were supposed to be better. Fuck you."
Mana crashed through my arms and compressed inside the tips of my fingers. Metal spikes punched through the feathers and tore into my flesh, the heated metal sizzling as my blood came into contact.
He opened his mouth then shouted something stupid, and I unleashed the pent-up fury in pinpricks of golden flames that tore through his padded clothes and burned through the metal. Upon his skin the golden flames bit and gnashed, spreading across his body in a pulsing wave.
Wuldric screamed, and screamed until that faded and all that was left was the sizzling pops of charred flesh. I let go and he collapsed to the ground in a smoking heap.
No more were the yellow flames, in its place was black smoke and molten slag.
With the spike of anger subsiding I swiped my claws forward and drew in the heat, tearing the remnants of Zharia''s fire into my arm.
Wuldric''s armor cooled and the smoke lessened, but I stayed still and waited.
Slowly, his chest continued to rise and a healing circle sprang into existence around his body, the golden light diving in between the burnt gore.
"And the winner is Mordred!"
Sound returned to my ears and the cheering thundered inside my head.
My fists tightened and I turned around, grabbing my spear before marching out of the arena and into the tunnel.
Away from the noise; away from the smell.
Chapter 11: End of the First Day
My heart pounded in my ears, each step carried the vibration from the arena. But the more I walked, the quicker peace returned. Once I stood deeply in the tunnels, away from the sunlight, away from the noise--I closed my eyes and waited.
¨¢ine healed my injuries and restitched my flesh. It didn''t hurt, the pain was a dull thrum that added to the noise.
Slowly, I undid the mana connecting to my skill and let Spirit Lord''s Invocation drop. Zharia reappeared in the back of my hoodie, and I reached back to hold her.
"I''m sorry," Zharia chirped.
"It''s okay. It''s not your fault," I replied.
"But the link..."
I slipped my thumb into the hood and stroked her feathers. "It''s not just you. I made the choice. We''ll deal with it later, okay?"
She chirped again before I undid her skill and gently pushed her into my back. It wasn''t the most comfortable feeling, but I wasn''t about to reveal her form.
Not yet, and not this close to the tier three.
A headache started to pound my head.
Another problem, for another time.
My feet carried me through the last of the tunnels, and I emerged into the under-area. Before I spotted Myol, the next combatant stood in my way. They looked me up and down with some derision before shouldering past me and into the tunnel.
The elf was unrememberable. His features were too plain. Whoever he was, I couldn''t recall his first match earlier in the day.
Oddly enough, the encounter helped me relax and I met Myol''s eyes.
She stood, a statue in the room as I approached. When I was within conversational range, her barrier slid into place and she stepped closer.
"Was that an act, or genuine?" she asked coldly.
"What are you talking about?" I answered.
"Answer me, or I''ll disqualify you here and now. Was that an act or real?"
As tempting as it was to reply sarcastically, I dropped my shoulders and stretched.
"Real."
Assuming we are talking about the same thing.
"You said you had no rage skills. Was that a lie?"
I shook my head. "It wasn''t. I''m just an angry guy."
She didn''t snort, or relax. Myol pulled back, her arms crossed.
"The tournament resumes at eight. Don''t be late."
I nodded and turned to leave, but the barrier blocked my exit. As I turned around, Myol''s eyes narrowed. She watched me with an unreadable expression.
"Yes?" I asked.
She stopped tapping her bicep and straightened. "You wanted to know how I knew you weren''t a beastkin? It''s your posture, the movement and your physical cues."
"What do you mean?"
She grunted. "You have a tail, but it''s loose. The tail your illusion shows is heavier and thicker at the base. Your posture shows no signs of balancing on claws or the pads of your toes. And you don''t react with animalistic instincts. No sniffing, no cocking of your head or twitch of your ears."
I blinked.
That makes a lot of sense... I forgot that an illusion is only half the work. If it looks like a duck but doesn''t quack like a duck, maybe it''s not a duck.
"I see. Thanks for the insight," I said with a slight bow. She had given me an honest answer, and I wasn''t so angry that I couldn''t show respect. "Then, for what it''s worth. I''m not a beastkin. But am I wrong in assuming that the majority would fail to notice the discrepancies?"
"No, they wouldn''t," she snorted. Myol opened her mouth as if she was going to say something but instead shook her head. "Leave. I''ve got a match to watch."
Her barrier retracted and I took the dismissal.
Despite my smaller stature, people who were waiting for the next slugfest spotted my exit and pointed. Several crowd members cheered, and others grinned with a knowing smile.
I sighed.
Figures. They''ve been bloodthirsty since before the matches started. It''s not like I was the worst of the lot. Lots of people used fire-based skills today.
Yet, despite the odd booing from rowdy individuals who dropped their ire as soon as I slipped from their sight, only one of the reactions made me pause.
Clutching onto their father''s shirt, a small boy saw me with wide eyes. His mouth slipped open and he slammed his head into his father''s ribs. The man, bewildered by the sudden reaction, pulled him into his lap and stroked his hair.
A vendor glared my way as they were forced to dodge around me. I straightened myself and headed toward the booth. This time, the nearest attendant simply nodded, and I stepped inside.
"Listen, before you start. I already know," I said as I entered.
"Cyrus," Celenae said.
Arturous blocked my way like a guardian fuzzball. Slowly and carefully, I walked over and crossed my arms as I looked up.
"What''s the bribe this time?"
He growled and punched my cheek with his tongue. But the giant bear stayed in place.
"No escaping this, Cyrus. Explain what happened down there," Teddy said.
"Are you sure? It''d be easier not to make this into a problem."
Celenae waved a notebook my way. "You should have thought about that before nearly killing a man."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
"Lots of people nearly kill people. It''s an arena," I countered.
She tossed the book at me and I caught it.
"You know what I mean."
Fine. But I''m getting rid of this headache first.
As I removed my mask, I pushed mana into Galarion''s skill. I didn''t bother directing the location of his summon and ignored the stares.
"Food?" he bubbled.
He asked it with the same physical zeal as every other time I summoned him, but his voice sounded subdued.
"Headache, please. It''s the last match of the day, so you can stay out and savor it," I said.
He floated into the air and tapped my nose with a tentacle before shooting up my nostrils and into my brain.
Before I could gag from the intrusion, he gripped my thoughts and feasted. The dull throbbing slowly faded.
Much better.
"Thanks," I groaned.
Galarion bubbled something without meaning and nestled into his usual spot.
Again, the others stared with concern written across their faces.
"Ignore what you just saw," I stated.
"I''m going to stab you," Isaac threatened.
Teddy sighed and moved around Arturous. He placed a hand on my shoulder and lightly squeezed. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"Thank you, but I''m fine. Though, it might be safer to test the transformations when we get the chance."
Celenae snatched her book from my hands and flipped it open, pen at the ready. "New revelation?"
I scratched my head. "Yeah. Maybe. You know how I have the soullink?"
"Thoughts, emotions, memories," she muttered aloud. "What about it?"
"We mostly tested on Sturmrorex, so we probably missed it. And Zharia didn''t have a reason to be uh, spicy in the moment. But I think Spirit Lord''s Invocation amplifies their emotions."
Like a lightbulb, the flash went off in Celenae''s brain and she started furiously scribbling.
When she was done, she lowered her notes and grimaced. "That makes sense. Spirits tend to be closely bonded to their aspects. And all your familiars have strong personalities. With your skill growing in qualitative power, the connection must have strengthened."
Sereza stuck her head around Arturous'' belly. "Anyone want to explain?"
Celenae pointed to my chest with her pen. "When Cyrus transforms, he embodies his familiar. Sturmrorex makes him more prideful, and Zharia makes him fury incarnate."
"That''s a little much," I muttered.
The others glared, and even Arturous raised his eyebrows.
"Alright, shutting up now," I said, throwing my arms up. As Arturous finally relented and allowed me access to my seat, I found Eodyne attempting to burn a hole through my head. "Uh, what''s up?"
"Transformation or not, there''s no excuse," she said, her voice carrying a hint of danger.
"What did I do this time?"
"You. Dropped. Your. Weapon. Shameful. We''ve taught you better."
Ah. I did do that, didn''t I? Oopsy.
I bowed and shifted my head so she was out of my sight. Of course, that brought me to Igas, who shook his head with a disappointed grumble.
"You too?"
He stopped and fixed me with a glare. "I know what we are doing after Sereza''s match."
"Okay?"
After the initial concern and plentiful light-ribbing from Isaac, the second half of day one proceeded. I noted a few memorable matches, even going as far as to cheer for Vincent during his second duel.
He barely managed to scrape by, his opponent a speed demon in comparison. But he held out, got a lucky strike with his sword skill, and won by nearly severing his opponent''s leg.
Another noticeable and strange reaction came from the hooded man. He once again, kept staring at our booth before the match started.
Which, unfortunately for his opponent, lasted little less then forty seconds. And it was only due to having a unique movement skill did the other man last as long as he did. The robed figure crushed him into the sand with a flaming fist, ending the match.
Sereza''s match was the fourth to last. And she managed to take down her opponent in an impressive thirty seconds.
I waved and tossed her a drink as she stepped into the booth.
"Thanks," she said before guzzling it down. As she wiped her mouth, she flopped onto Arturous'' back and snuggled in. "That was annoying. I hate leeches."
"I know you fought a beastkin, but he was a cat not a leech. Are there even leech beastkins? That''s horrifying."
Celenae gently smacked my head with her cup. "Don''t be rude. Monstrous beastkins have a hard enough time. And no, there are no leech-based beastkins. At least, not in Inoria."
"What exactly counts as monstrous? Cats are pretty monstrous. Can devastate an entire ecosystem."
"Monstrous as in less standard. There are a few insect-based beastkin and they are barely considered a part of their species."
Huh. The more you learn.
"Leeches are a type of fighter. He''s a debuffer who specializes in draining stamina. Not fun to fight against," Sereza explained.
"Hmmm. How would that work with ¨¢ine?"
Igas stood up before I could continue my questions. He tossed his cup and drink into his mouth and chewed through the ice.
"Are we finished?"
I glanced at Sereza, who shrugged. "Unless you guys want to watch the last two matches. Why?"
He nodded. "Good. Follow me."
Igas marched out of the room. I stared, Sereza stared. The others shrugged.
Well, this''ll be interesting at least.
***
"Where... Why are we here?" I asked.
A spikey ball grazed my ear as a screaming elven child chased after it. All around us, similar scenes repeated themselves as the tiny humanoids brought forth the true meaning of chaos.
The lone adult woman I saw looked ready to explode before she spotted Igas. When the tall oni waved, she activated a movement skill and teleported in front of him.
Her fingers pressed into his chest and she yanked his beard closer. "You! You did this."
Igas tried and failed to pry himself loose. "Mirabel, I apologize."
"Apologies?! Do you see what you''ve created? The madness?!"
As the woman continued to rant to Igas, I slid close to Isaac and nudged his side.
"What?" he asked with a glare.
I pointed to the madwoman. "Who''s that? And why is she angry? And where are we?"
Sereza grabbed a disc that rocketed toward her neck before it hit. She threw it to the cheering of the little devils before staring at her hands.
"It''s sticky. Why is it sticky? Uggh," she groaned. She scraped her hands on the grass and shivered. "We''re at the Orphanage. As to why we are here, I''ve no idea."
Orphanage?
Isaac chuckled and pointed to Igas. "She''s Mirabel. Tier two, retired adventurer. Helps Igas run this place."
"Okaaay. And why is she about to pluck Igas'' beard?" I asked.
"Because of that."
I followed his finger and saw a group of children watching a glowing crystal slab with rapt attention. It took a second but I realized it was currently showing one of the matches from the tournament.
"You guys have cable?"
Igas walked over, cradling his chin with a sour expression. "Keep your fancy Earth terms to yourself. And no. I recorded the match and sent the crystal and a few others here."
"Igas. You fool," Teddy mumbled.
"Yeah. I should have known. I hoped to inspire them on their skill selection, and provide some entertainment. They could use it after recent events."
Teddy patted his shoulder and stepped away. He started talking to the kids who were attempting to mount Arturous.
"He''s really good with kids," I said.
"He is," Celenae replied, a smile on her face.
"Careful, your blush is showing," Eodyne teased.
Celenae reddened and approached Mirabel who greeted her like a friend, entirely different from how she treated Igas.
"So, cool place. I have a crap ton of candy I can distribute, but why are we here? You marched out of the booth like it was a mission."
"I did no such thing," he denied. He stoically avoided our stares and motioned to the screen. "We are here because I promised Mirabel some help. Nilv is still recovering from his treatments and she''s swamped. I figured it''d be a good way to relax and cash in on a few favors owed."
I scanned the grounds. There were more than thirty kids of different races, sizes, and age.
A few looked older, like the human and elf kids, who appeared nearly old enough to have access to the system.
"I''m not going to like this, am I?"
Igas grinned. "Your second match wasn''t appropriate. But your first..."
Fuck.
A tug on my leg drew my attention downward. A dirt-stained boy wielding a wooden sword no taller than my knee squinted at me.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"Your mask is familiar." He paused. Before I could ask a question, he turned around and shouted to a nearby group of kids similar in height. "Yul! Fern! Webble! Come here."
"What is it, Preston? Who''s the masked man."
Preston tapped my leg with his sword. "His mask is familiar."
The kids cocked their heads like a group of puppies. A sinking feeling spawned in my gut.
Is it too late to escape?
But as I looked around, I was alone. I spotted Sereza and Isaac waving from behind a tree while the rest of Broken Tower were engaged with their own group of devil spawns.
Only Igas looked my way, and the bastard gave me a thumbs-up.
I''m going to kill you in your sleep. I''ll poison your food, create glitter, and make you shine like a Smurf vampire!
Another tug, this time on my sleeve, dragged me downward. The canine beastkin, Fern, cupped my face.
Her eyes widened and she jumped excitedly. "It''s him! It''s him!"
"Who?" the others demanded.
Several more pairs of the kids gathered around and I swore I could hear Isaac''s laughter.
"It''s the Lightning Tyrant! It''s Mordred!"
Chapter 12: Wicked Impression
"It''s Mordred?! Where?!"
The shouts only grew more excited by the second and the swell of children continued to grow until I was an island alone in the courtyard.
It took everything I had not to flip Igas off, but I reined in my impulse and patted Fern''s shoulder.
"Well, yes. It''s me. Mordred. Though, I must warn you. I''m not nearly as scary as they made me look."
Preston jabbed a dirt-stained finger against my leg. "What do you mean not scary?"
"Yeaah! You''re supposed to be scary," another kid, Yul shouted.
A clamoring of replies ranged from simple uhuhs to demanding I terrifying the children until they exploded. A wild-eyed human girl made that remark.
I''m not feeding into your fantasy, you future pyromaniac.
Preston rallied the troops with his sword and pointed it to the sky in an awkward pose. It took me a second to realize he was copying Thunder Serpent''s starting move.
A couple others attempted the same, and a few even mimed spinning a spear and extending their hand like some anime villain.
"Summon lightning!" Preston demanded.
"Yeah! Summon the lightning!" another kid shouted.
What horrible things I must have done in a past life to deserve a swarm of feral children demanding I smite them, I don''t know. But thankfully, Mirabel stepped in.
The kids gave space, but none of it was out of true fear. Even though Preston shrank a tad while maintaining his pose.
"As cool as it would be to summon lightning, children," Mirabel winked at me before continuing. "I don''t think we want to serve roasted children for supper. Unless you are volunteering to be the main course, Preston?"
Preston winced, but a gleam in his eye spelled mischief. He raised his sword higher and pumped his fist. "A meal worth serving! Fitting for the Tyrant!"
Mirabel sighed, and made a show of looking everyone in the eye. Preston wasn''t the only mischief maker, but the rest kept their antics to a shit-eating grin.
She turned to me and hung her head low. "Well, I guess it''s decided. My apologies, Tyrant. Preston here has volunteered to be our meal. Please summon your lightning and make it painless. I''d rather not spend too much time washing off the burnt bits."
Preston''s stoicism faltered and his sword dipped. But Fern and Yul patted his shoulder.
"It''s okay, Preston. I''m sure Ms. Mira will make you tasty," Fern said.
Yul nodded along. "Salty. She''ll make you salty. Maybe wash you first so there''s no dirt."
"H-hey!" Preston shouted. His face scrunched and he lowered his sword. "I changed my mind! Don''t roast me!"
Some kids booed, and a few of the older ones laughed good-naturedly.
Mirabel smiled and leaned closer. "You''re doing a good job so far. Thanks for the help."
Glitter in every crevice and orifice, Igas. Every one.
Keeping my inner grumblings to myself, I approached Preston and watched him squirm. He looked caught between trying to be brave and afraid I''d deliver on a promise he no longer desired.
"Well, are you sure? I could summon some lightning and blow you away."
"I-I''m sure! No lightning. You said you''re nice. Nice people don''t hurt kids."
I tapped my chin and pretended to contemplate his words. For fun, I changed the ink on my mask to display a swiveling question mark.
A few kids pressed in closer to get a better look, but most kept their distance, creating a visible space around Preston and me.
Slowly, I nodded and held out my arms. "It''s smart of you to know when to back down."
"He''s a coward! Scaredy Preston!" someone yelled.
I didn''t catch who said it, but more joined in the jeering and Preston stomped his foot.
"I''m not a coward!"
I clapped. The crowd went silent and I extended my arms. "Preston is not a coward. Courage requires accepting and acknowledging your fears and knowing when to back down and go to power through. There''s nothing wrong with wanting to live."
I feel like a massive hypocrite. But alas; do as I say, not as I do.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
"Can you show us your skills? Or your spear! It looked weird," a smaller girl asked excitedly.
"My spear? You mean this?"
With a flex, the tentacle spear appeared in my hands. Rather than be afraid, they excitedly reached for it, so I held it out of reach.
"Aaah, ah. Big pointy weapon that you don''t know what it can do. Don''t touch dangerous things. Now observe." I willed the spear to bend and move, making it dance in the air as if it was still alive. "It''s not an ordinary weapon. I looted it from a rift and can make it bend like this. It also secretes poison to help me slay monsters."
"Can I touch it?" Fern asked.
I shook my head. "No touching."
"We want something cooler! Bring the lightning!" the wild-eyed girl demanded.
I bet you would.
Still, while I wasn''t going to allow them to lose their fingers playing wth my weapon, there was something I could do.
But even though I doubted it''d create a problem, I would play it safe.
"Mirabel?" I asked, turning to the matron.
"Yes?" she replied.
"How trustworthy would you say they are?" I asked.
"We''re trusty!"
"You can trust us!"
"Lightning!"
"Children," Mirabel warned, in the tone only a mother could pull off.
The hungry crowd went quiete.
"My apologies, Modred. They''re just over eager."
"My question stands. Do you think I can trust them?"
"Hardly," she snorted. One kid began to protest, but she glared them into submission. "But if you make them swear an oath, I know they''ll keep it. Some are chatterboxes, but I trust in them to know the importance of when to keep things to themselves."
They want lightning so bad they might as well get it.
"Mordred?" Igas asked.
He cleared a path through the rows of children and stopped close enough for us to whisper without too much being revealed.
"What are you planning?" he whispered.
I smacked his leg with my tail. "You left me to the wolves. I''m going to feed them a friendly version of crack."
"That Earth drug? Cyrus, no."
"You''ll make a vampire jealous when I''m done with you. A disco-ball Igas. A disco ball."
"What?"
I shook my head and dropped the faux anger. "I was going to summon Sturmrorex, maybe ¨¢ine. She could give them a clean bill of health and he can wow them till they''re exhausted."
Igas snorted. "Good luck with that. They''re blessed with endless energy."
"Yeah, well, I''m trying."
"Keep it to those two. Maybe Magnus. Zharia might start a riot, and your other familiars aren''t appropriate."
"You hating on my spirits?"
Igas glared.
"Fine," I relented. "I''ll stick to two for now. It should be safe, right? No hidden spies or something crazy."
"They''ll have forgotten you by the end of the week. I promise."
"Works for me."
As dramatically as I could play it up--even going so far as to flash the ink on my mask into a barrage of swirling colors and shapes--I extended my arm and slammed my spear.
"Ms. Mira here says I can trust you if you were to keep an oath. Is this true?"
The consensus was yes, except for one.
The wild-eyed devil proudly shouted no.
"Alright then! Everyone except her, follow me!"
Her jaw dropped and she raised her hand. "I change my mind. You can trust me!"
I stopped. "Are you sure? Because if not I-"
"Yes! Super super trusty!"
"Alright," I relented. "Then I request that you all step back so I can show you something cool."
Igas stepped back and dragged a curious Mirabel. When I thought the space was sufficient for Sturmrorex''s entrance, I pulled my mana into his skill.
"Keep the sound safe for their ears, but be as flashy as you want." I mentally whispered.
"They shall bow to my entrance and experience true greatness!" Sturmrorex roared.
As the mana settled in place and the connection to Sturmrorex pulled him into the physical world, I screamed through the link.
"NO FLASHBANGS! Safe means not blinding them!"
His disappointment bled through, but thankfully, there wasn''t an explosion of lightning from the heavens.
Instead, the wind picked up and a strong gust carried bits of fallen leaves and loose grass into the air. It swirled around a glowing ball of mist that obscured Sturmrorex''s form.
"What''s that?!" Fern shouted.
"Behold, little ones. A great and terrible power that helped me strike fear into the pretender. The mighty serpent who stands above all. The fearsome, the powerful... Sturmrorex!" I shouted.
Upon the final sentence, a crackle of electricity shot through the mist and into the air. Sturmrorex kept it carefully controlled and redirected it into his horns as he pushed the fog away and let the floating ice around his back disperse.
The effects were muted compared to how he usually preferred showing off, but it did little more than send a shiver down some of the children''s spines.
Sturmrorex roared, one just mighty enough not to come off as cute--though I was sure that some of the kids would think he was no matter what he did to dissuade them of that notion.
"Bow, little peasants. Bask in my glory!" he roared.
His voice boomed like thunder, thankfully without the crack of lightning.
With the mist pushed away and zaps of electricity to highlight Sturmrorex''s scales, he was in full view for the kids to see.
None dared speak; a few didn''t breathe. But the lightning noodle kept himself afloat and posed for the crowd.
Like a hivemind, they breathed together and exploded with excitement.
I glanced back to see Mirabel''s reaction, but thankfully, Igas whispered into her ear. Slowly, she relaxed and even smiled my way.
"That is not all," I declared, commanding their attention. Sturmrorex circled my neck and settled atop my shoulders like a scarf before conjuring a new ball of shadow.
"Woah," Preston whispered.
"Woah, indeed. But let me introduce you to another good friend of mine. A partner who keeps me safe and in tip-top shape. ¨¢ine."
The fairy appeared, and the kids were just as excited as Sturmrorex, even if she simply appeared rather than create a dramatic entrance.
Slowly, I foisted the kids off to my familiars, who moved through the crowd and allowed the kids to touch and admire.
¨¢ine would boop several noses, sending a jolt of healing mana throughout their bodies. Minor scrapes fixed themselves, as did tired muscles.
Mirabel neared and she bowed. "Thank you, Cyrus. The healing is more than appreciated. And I''ll ensure they know to keep this information to themselves."
I scratched the back of my neck and smiled. When she didn''t react, I gently tapped her shoulder. "Enough of that. I''m just helping a friend and owing him a favor."
"Whatever the reason, the orphanage apprecaites the kindness. I insist you stay for supper. The real roast is rather delicious."
I laughed. "Sure. How long would it take until the kids are bored?"
She shook her head and watched my familiars with a grin. "An impossible question. Probably never if I had to guess. It''s not everyday they get to encounter such a rare skill."
Igas grunted. "You create an ice castle for them, and they''ll never be impressed again."
"I warned you. You should have kept it to a small hut," Mirabel teased.
He grunted again and watched the kids.
With my personal space returned, I took the opportunity to escape toward the tree I had last seen Sereza and Isaac.
If I was lucky, the kids wouldn''t see me till supper was ready.
Chapter 13: Strained Supper
"Y''all are a bunch of traitors," I grumbled.
Isaac snickered and tossed a berry my way. My tail speared it before it could pelt my face. He stuck out his tongue, but a flick of my tail splattered his cheek with the fruity corpse.
He glared and aggressively licked the juices from his chin.
"Oh. Dude, that''s not... You know, keep doing that. It''s a good look on yah."
Sereza laughed. "Hey now. He''ll make someone very happy. Don''t be jealous."
Isaac stopped and pointed an accusing finger. "Stop that."
"Teasing you? You first," I retorted.
"No! The speech. It keeps tickling my ears."
"Whatcha meaaaan? Nuthing wrong with dat."
I accepted the salvo of squishy bombs and used my tail to protect me. It was semi-successful. About half were sliced in half and I collected my reward, but the rest stained my robes and dripped onto the grass.
"You''re getting better," Sereza remarked.
"Thank you. I''m trying. I know I should be faster than this. The little mark on my chest buffs me, and my familiars are out. But there''s a slight disconnect."
"Mmmm. I know you have cheatsy instinct stuff, but you forget it''s a muscle. Train it and you''ll get used to moving it. Most likely, it''s subconscious. You''re holding yourself back."
I stared at my tail through the illusion. The flames flickered from hue to hue. It swayed in the air and I carefully aimed for another berry and stabbed.
It pierced the skin and into the dirt. I tsked.
Off by a hair. Sereza''s probably right. Just need to practice more.
Sereza hummed and pulled me out of my thoughts. "So why are you speaking funny? Is there a reason?"
"Huh?"
A berry smacked my face. Isaac glared from across the basket. "You know what she means."
"Hm. No reason in particular. It''s funny to see your ears twitch. And Isaac looks constipated."
His growl was music to my ears.
Eventually, the peace ended as the titanfalls of a lumbering bear shook the earth. I picked up the basket with my tail and held it up for Arturous.
His giant tongue snaked out and cleaned the basket whole.
"If you keep giving him sugar, he''ll stop fitting in the doorways. And that''s hard enough as is," Teddy complained.
Arturous growled and knocked his snout into Teddy''s leg.
"I don''t think he agrees. Sorry, Teddy. Bear council has spoken."
Teddy grimaced but a lick from Arturous cracked the facade.
"Did Igas need something?" Isaac asked.
Teddy shook his head. "No. Igas says supper is ready. And the dinner table is being prepped."
"I think I''ll skip this o-" I started before two sets of arms grabbed my shoulders.
"No!" Isaac and Sereza shouted in unison.
"Huuh? Unhand me!"
"Don''t you dare. You''re not escaping this, Tyrant!" Isaac whispered.
I titled my head to Sereza, letting the betrayal show on my mask. "How could you do this?"
"You think I''m ready for a horde of hangry kids? No, thank you. I''ll keep you as the buffer."
"Hey!" Isaac yelled. "Stop speaking like him. It''s bad enough when he does it."
Teddy shook his head and patted Arturous''s side before leading the way. I struggled against my captors, but they dragged me along.
It was strange. Without the frenzy of ankle biters, the courtyard looked almost peaceful. If one ignored the destroyed tufts of grass and various marks of destruction left in their wake.
Relatively minor, the damage did little to hide the well-cultivated land and the fresh breeze carried the scent of flowers.
It''s a good place. I''m sure it helps the kids. Better than growing up in the slums of a city with tight alleyways and no play area.
Sereza''s tail tapped my shoulder and I turned. "Yes?"
"Are you... Alright?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I''m asking if you''re okay. You seem distracted. Something on your mind?"
Am I? Maybe a little.
I waved her off. "I''m fine. Just enjoying the peace. If it wasn''t for some close friends of mine leaving me to the wolves. Maybe I wouldn''t be so melancholic."
"They''ve had enough of me. Do you know how many times a kid can ask you to drag them into the shadow plane?" Isaac shuddered. "Hours. Non-stop. Endlessly asking. For hours."This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
"There, there?" I asked, gently tapping his shoulder.
He pushed me off and I started walking under my own weight.
"Sereza''s right, Cyrus. If you need anything, or to talk. We''re here for you."
"Thanks," I sighed. "Again though, I''m fine. Just a lot going on in my head that''ll be sorted by the end of the day. Now stop worrying about me. It''s rare enough when Igas cooks, I''m curious to see what for dinner."
Teddy looked mollified, but his eyes lingered on my face longer than they had to. I got the message. He was concerned, and while it was sweet I meant what I said.
I patted his shoulder and entered the orphanage, closing my eyes to see through my familiars. I didn''t need Teddy to lead the way as I followed the memories of Sturmrorex wrapped around Igas'' neck.
"Did you guys have fun?" I asked through the link.
"Fierce hatchlings! They paid sufficient awe to my prowess!" Sturmrorex roared.
"Good to hear. And you ¨¢ine?"
The fairy sat on Celenae''s shoulder, out of reach from the children''s grubby hands.
"Fun," she said.
I smiled at the feelings of exhausted, but satisfied joy filtering through the link.
"We''ll see you in about a minute. You can return to the soulspace or stay for dinner. It''s up to you guys."
"Stay."
"I shall not retreat! And I''ve been promised delicious lightning!"
That settled it.
It was surprising to see ¨¢ine want to stick around. Out of the bunch, she enjoyed people but not large crowds. The fairy never basked in the attention like Zharia or Sturmrorex.
But her memories were happy. Little kids oohed and aahed. The girls especially heaping praises and compliments about her dress and wings.
"Your familiars?" Teddy said, catching my eye.
"Yeah. They had a good time. And are sticking around."
"Oh? Good. The kids seemed to have taken a liking to them. Sturmrorex especially."
"Ugh. Don''t remind me. What are the odds that the kids will be too tired to focus on me and just eat their food?"
"With Sturmrorex fanning the flames for the last couple of hours? You''d have better chances of seeing Arturous fly."
"Roooargh."
Isaac patted Arturous'' side. "One day. Blame Teddy for being stubborn."
Teddy rolled his eyes and I stopped at the entrance to the dining hall. Despite what I said, the prospect of dozens of eyes watching me was a little daunting.
But Isaac ignored me in favor of throwing the door wide open.
At once, the noise blasted through the door''s enchantments and filled the hallway with dozens of voices overlapping in a bid to be heard.
My shoulders sagged. "Are you sure I can''t run away?"
In response, the duo pushed me forward and I stumbled into the room. Like a hungry school of piranhas, the mob turned as one.
Oh boy.
"Mordred!"
"Tyrant!"
"Great destroyer of all!"
"King! King! King!"
My eye twitched. "Sturmrorex... What have you been telling these kids."
Through the link, I felt him freeze.
"Nothing..."
"Sturm. No building a cult."
"Master! I am but singing praises to our power. One day we shall rule! It''s good to instill proper worship."
I was half tempted to desummon my familiar but a kid broke away from the group and charged.
Before the living missile could jump, Teddy caught the beastkin by her shoulders.
"Woah there. What did Miss Mirabel say about tackling people?" Teddy admonished.
Fern wilted, but the bright smile on her face persisted. "Not to tackle people?"
I leaned forward. "And why are you trying to tackle me, little one?"
"I''m not little!"
The display on my mask shifted to convey exactly what I thought about that.
Teddy set her down and she crossed her arms.
"The snake said you were a noble. Is that true?" she said.
Sturmrorex I''m going to turn you into a battery.
"A noble? What gives you that impression?"
Her face scrunched and she pointed to my chest. "Fancy clothes. Fancy mask. And he said that he''s a king. And you''re his master. So that makes you a super king!"
I could hear the snickering behind me, and I swiped at their ankles with my tail. It passed through, Sereza and Isaac having dodged out of the way.
By now, the other kids in the room were watching, waiting just as eagerly for an answer.
It was hard not to sigh, but I kept it in.
"I''m not a noble, not of this land. Not like Theodore or Isaac."
"What? But you have to be!" Fern exclaimed.
"Oh? And why is that? What''s so special about nobility? After all, I beat one in my second match."
A collective intake of breaths filled the room as the kids gasped dramatically.
"A second match? Why didn''t we see it?!" someone shouted.
Fern didn''t react like the rest. Instead, she scowled and looked to the ground.
Weird.
"Well?" I prompted.
"Nothing."
Really kid? Sam wasn''t even this bad.
"Are you sure?"
"No," she said quickly. But in a smaller voice that sounded unsure she mumbled. "Maybe."
"Fern? What''s wrong? Why does it matter if Mordred is a noble?"
She spoke under her breath, making it impossible to understand what she said.
"Fern?"
She stomped her foot and looked up. "If he''s a king then he can adopt me! You have lots of money and a big house! And. And I won''t take space. You won''t have to see me. I''ll be good and only eat twice a day!"
You could hear a pin drop as the room stilled.
Fern''s face shook, and a tear spilled down her cheek. Her tiny fists grabbed her dress as she wobbled in place.
I. Uhh...
"Oh, Fern," Teddy whispered. He got to one knee and rubbed her arms, pulling her close. "It''s okay."
She struggled to push Teddy away but it was halfhearted at best. Her legs never moved, and eventually, she pushed into Teddy''s chest as his hand stroked her hair.
"I''d be a good girl. I don''t even eat much. I. I... Why don''t they want me?"
Celenae stood up from her seat and slowly approached. She kneeled beside Teddy and placed her hand on the small of her back.
As the two worked to calm her down, I took three steps back before the door to the right opened.
"The feast is ready!" Sturmrorex boomed.
Igas walked in, a massive tray in hand. He glanced to me, then the rest of the room. As he orientated on Fern, he froze along with my familiar.
"Whaaat happened?" he asked.
"Master?" Sturmrorex whispered.
Isaac grabbed the tray with tendrils and whispered something in his ear. Igas frowned but straightened his shoulders and returned to the kitchen where I saw even more trays being prepared.
Mirabel looked concerned, but the kitchen door closed, leaving the rest of us to stare awkwardly as Isaac unveiled the food.
It smelled good, and looked delicious but was ignored.
I slowly made my way over, avoiding the other children''s stares. Thankfully, the chair beside Eodyne was free and I slid it closer.
"Okay. Spill," I whispered.
Eodyne sighed and the wind around us subtly churned, blocking outside noise.
"She''s new to the orphanage. About a year and a half, I believe. Her parents were crafters in the district. Alchemists. A house fire burned their workshop. They didn''t make it. She''s a good kid but hasn''t fully adapted to the situation," Eodyne explained.
My heart sank, and a headache clawed at the back of my thoughts.
I cleared my throat. Eodyne dropped the barrier and sound returned in full. Igas brought out the rest of the food, and by the time he finished, Fern had calmed down.
Slowly, the room returned to normal and the kids started to talk again. Questions were flung my way, and I took them in stride. Eventually Fern even stepped out of her malaise and joined in.
Her smile was restrained, but with some warm food and Preston''s antics, she regained most of her earlier enthusiasm.
I didn''t get much of a chance to eat, but dinner ended with smiling faces.
We waved goodbye to Mirabel, and I watched Sereza enter a separate carriage. As we boarded our own, I pretended to collapse from exhaustion and the others left me alone.
The city rolled by, but I barely watched as I slammed my eyes shut. Only after I found myself alone in the bedroom did I finally relent and summon Galarion.
"Master?" he bubbled.
"Remove the headache, please. I''d like to go to bed."
"Are you sure? Memories-"
"I''m sure."
Galarion dimmed but slid into my skull and sank his tentacles deep. As he pulled at the mental fatigue I collapsed onto the pillows and shut my eyes.
Finally.
Chapter 14: Crappy Dreams, New Arrival
Happy smiles, bright faces. Warm, warm faces. Her auburn hair slipped low and she laughed as the man beside her told a joke. His smile was just as infectious and bright.
She sang a tune, held the note beautifully as the corner of her eyes crinkled. The man caught my eye through the rear-view mirror and winked.
His song held none of the poise and beauty, but the woman welcomed the off-key ballad and called my name.
"Come on Cyrus! Sing with us! Oh, to the val-"
Blood. Bones. Pain. White lights burning my eyes! Escape the fire!
It hurts. It hurts! IT HURTS!
My eyes shot open and I screamed.
Have to stand! Have to get up!
Legs carried me to the edge of the bed, my feet slammed into the tile. As I tried to flee, cold bindings held me back.
"Get off!" I shouted.
My tail lashed out, and something ripped. I tumbled forward but in my confusion I smashed into a wall. My horns carved lines across the stone sending jolts of itchy vibrations into my skull.
As I sat up, I examined my surroundings while weaving my mana. Something attacked! I had to-
Ding!
Nothing. I had to do nothing. The mental echo blasted away the rising panic. Slowly, I took in the surroundings. It was only after a couple of seconds of blank inspection did I realize there was fire.
I shot to my feet and rushed toward the bed where the rainbow-flames continued to flicker into existence. They had spread over the pillows and onto the frame itself. Burning yet not burning.
Upon further inspection, the flames left no mark in the physical world outside of being half-corporeal. My fingers inquisitively reached out and found the flames without heat.
But as I pulled away, a smaller, thinner echo in my head that reminded me of a distant bell rang. The flames faded leaving an untouched bed.
"What the hell was that?" I asked out loud.
As if in response, the door to my room slammed open and Isaac rushed in in a cloud of shadows. His daggers sliced the air as he raised them into position, but he stopped once he noticed me standing.
"Isaac? What''s going on?" I asked.
His daggers trembled, and his hand vibrated as it extended forward. He was without his mask, so I saw the fury in his face and the tears in the corner of his eyes.
"You!" he yelled. Isaac brandished the dagger like a spear and stabbed forward. "Stop! Stop doing this! It fucking hurts, you bastard!"
What? What the hell is he on about?
Before I could raise my voice, Isaac summoned a necklace into his hand and slipped it on. Tension left his face, but not the anger.
His dagger came perilously close to cutting into my cheek.
"Knock it off," I growled, pushing his hand away.
But he didn''t stop, and only leaned further in, pressing his weight into mine.
"You knock it off! Do you know what it''s like being around you? Stop fucking with my head!"
"I don''t know what you''re talking about."
He lowered his dagger but traded the barb for his finger and dug into my chest. "That''s the problem! If it was one emotion, I could deal with it. But you''re radiating enough mental whiplash to make a mind eater scream."
"Is this your skill? How about you wear the necklace to turn it off and stop blaming me," I countered, slapping his hand away for the second time.
Isaac pressed forward.
"Misery. Pain. Sorrow, and fury!" he spat. His finger pushed into my chest once more, and my tail wrapped around his wrist, yanking it away. But he continued until his face was inches from mine. "Back to sorrow then to fury. Slide into excitement, and then more misery! Pick a damn emotion and stick to it."
He glared, and the little gremlin rattled its cage. Every bone in my tail wanted nothing more than to break his wrist and launch him into the wall.
Mana rose to my command and weaved into threads that slammed into my skill. Isaac must have felt it, his eyes narrowing but he stood his ground.
Galarion popped into existence and he floated before me before I reached out and slid him into my head. Without prompting, my familiar dug his tentacles deep and devoured.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The headache I didn''t know I had, faded along with the rising anger. Seconds went by, and I breathed deep. When I opened my eyes, Isaac stared, anger still on his face.
I let him go.
"Happy? Are you satisfied?"
For a moment, he looked ready to punch me but he lowered his arm and slammed his daggers back into their sheaths.
"After the tournament. We''re talking about this. Me, you, Teddy. All of Broken Tower. We''re locking you in a room and you''re not coming out until we fix this."
Fury dug its claws back in and I grabbed Isaac''s collar. "How about I deal with my shit and you deal with yours."
His fist raised and I braced. But the hit didn''t come. Instead he grabbed my face and forced me to look into his eyes.
"Friends don''t let friends neuter themselves because they''ve decided keeping a mental time-bomb is healthier than dealing with shit. Don''t insult me, Cyrus. Don''t insult the others. Especially not Teddy, or Celenae. We care about you, them especially. And while I''m happy to laugh at your expense time-to-time..." His words trailed off and his voice dropped into cold steel. "If you didn''t want friends worrying about you, then you should have never agreed to come with us back in Edolus. Deal with it or leave. And if you''re even remotely as smart as I know you are, then you''ll agree to sit and talk."
Isaac released me and pulled my hand away. He didn''t bother turning around, instead his legs slipped into the floor as he sank into the shadows.
Before his chin faded from view, he paused and raised a tendril and curved it backwards toward the door. "Get a breath mint. No more aura shit, we got a visitor. And they''re waiting for you."
Isaac dipped, and I stared at the spot. Part of me wanted to yell at something, but even that impulse slipped away as Galarion helped regulate things.
"Galarion. Pull back for now. I think I''m good," I said.
"Are you sure? Tasty memories, but..." he bubbled softly.
His tentacles loosened and he spilled from my forehead and into my hands. I raised him up and noticed the dimmer-than-usual colors along his skin.
"I''m sure. Thanks for the help. And I''m sorry for the abrupt summons."
Galarion brightened and he tickled my face before flipping upside down and rocketing into my chest.
I swept my hair back and stared down at the silk bed sheets. The flames were gone, leaving the material untouched from the heat. Unlike the fire, my tail had separated a sizable chunk of the fabric.
Silk bindings, Cyrus?
I shook my head, but stopped as I replayed what Isaac had said.
My door was still open so I raised a hand to my mouth and shouted. "You bastard! My breath doesn''t stink!"
No response.
Well, at least get cleaned up and then we find out just who wants to see me. Maybe they''re someone normal?
I snorted and started my morning ablutions.
***
"Right this way, sir," Walter directed.
"Thanks, Walter. What''s for breakfast?" I said.
"Candied ham, more pancakes. And I believe there is a tray of scones in both chocolate and blueberries. I say this tentatively. Sir Igas has taken a liking to the chocolate ones, and I''m sad to say that the candy you have given has been consumed in order to fulfill his appetite."
I laughed and summoned three more bars of chocolate I had saved up. "I''ll try to give you more when I can. The treat bag is a little stubborn when it comes to full bars."
Walter accepted the chocolate and made it disappear in one motion. "I will make do. Enjoy your breakfast, sir."
With a blink, Walter disappeared and I stared at the door. It was tempting to pull Galarion out and enjoy the net of comfort he provided but I relaxed enough during the shower.
Before I regret my decision, I pushed the door of the dining room open and slipped inside.
Eodyne and Teddy paused their conversation and waved. Bright smiles, and relaxed faces. That would have been fine, expected even, but not from Eodyne.
I''m going to kill you, Isaac.
Speaking of the rogue, he ignored me in favor of battling Igas for the last scone, the two playing keep-away with their mana.
I smiled at the big oni who snagged the baked good at the last second and tossed it into his mouth. But my eyes felt the presence of another, something familiar.
"Khrem? What are you doing here?" I asked.
Khrem swallowed the last of his sausage and stood up. He reached a hand to shake but paused as he realized they were covered in oil and syrup. He snapped and a wave of water scrubbed his hands clean in a thin film before fading into motes.
"Cyrus, it''s good to see you," he said.
I shook his hand and slid into the chair beside his. Even with my attention focused on the unexpected guest, I felt the others staring discreetly.
In favor of ignoring them, I grabbed a plate and shoveled food, pausing at the sight of the Anastasia and Nathan-shaped pancakes.
Eh. Not the first time I''ve eaten his parents.
After plating my food, I waited and observed Khrem. He seemed excited, and his fingers rubbed together. Something in his eyes gave me the impression of something but I didn''t know what that something was.
"Well, out with it. What brought you out of the waters, Khrem? Last time I saw you-you were playing creepy doctor to a bunch of mummified idiots."
Khrem froze. He slowly turned, eyes narrowed. "How did you see that?"
Oopsy.
I summoned one of the pouches containing golem parts and tossed it to him. "Huh, would you look at that? New loot! Mind identifying some stuff for me?"
He caught the pouch and briefly looked ready to activate a skill, but he stopped and cocked his head. "Were you scrying on me? Is that a new skill?"
"Not exactly. I didn''t scry on you, but a certain goddess told me you and your mentor were doing some shady things."
This time, his freeze revealed a look of horror and disbelief. I laughed and gobbled down some of the pancakes.
"I see..." Khrem sat up straight and opened the pouch. He carefully pulled the contents free, revealing metal parts along with the spools of thread and some dust. "Where did you acquire these?"
"From the local dungeon. I''m pretty sure its all golem parts. I even got a core, but eh. Not exactly useful to me. Oh! I do have some more tentacle stuff I need identified."
Celenae leaned across the table. "You have more abyssal materials? Where? When?"
"From the mind eaters?" I said sheepishly. I sighed and pulled out the jars of gross stuff and plopped them onto the table. "If you don''t mind. I need these identified so I can consume them."
"You consume them? I''m a fan of squid myself, but that doesn''t look healthy. What is a mind eater?"
"Mmmmm. Do you know Eraztis?"
"The god of rebirth and souls?"
"Yep, that''s him. Mind eaters are his race, or old race. I''m not entirely sure if divinity puts you into a different category but basically what Eraztis looks like is what they looked like. Nasty dungeon bastards, spawns from an old god and all that. Psychic powers and a hunger for our brains."
"Wha-" he shook his head. "Nevermind. But before I identify these. I have a request, one beneficial to the both of us and Broken Tower."
His words drew everybody''s attention. And I motioned for him to continue.
"If you need money, I''ll pay for your services."
Khrem shook his head. "While I appreciate that, it''s not what I mean."
"Alright, what is it?"
He pushed back his hood, and revealed the rows of triangular teeth. The something that I noticed in his eyes practically blazed in tune with his mana.
I didn''t need Galarion to tell me that Khrem radiated excitement and determination.
"Simple. I want to join your party."
Chapter 15: OldTreasure, New Descriptions
"You want to join us?" I asked, watching his reaction.
Khrem continued to smile, a disturbing site given his death trap of a mouth. He pointed to my chest. "I''d like to join you, specifically. But I''m assuming you and Broken Tower will still be together for the foreseeable future?"
I glanced around, but was interrupted by Isaac.
He snorted. "You''re not getting rid of us that easily."
It was touching, in his own way.
"We have no plans to abandon Cyrus. And as long as he finds it worthwhile to train with us, we''ll continue to do so," Teddy added.
"Then yes. I wish to join you," Khrem said.
"Okay. But why?"
The sharkman cocked his head. "Why what?"
I rolled my eyes. "Why would you want to join me? Us? Well them I understand, but you said me specifically."
"I assumed it would be obvious."
"My bright and sunny disposition?"
That earned a few dead-pan glares thrown my way and I dropped my shoulders.
Khrem also stared, with narrowed eyes.
"Two reasons..." He paused and sat upright. "One, and the most obvious being your harvesting skill."
"Oh, so you just want access to Erebus'' sweet loot. I get that."
"Two," he continued. "Is because my goddess had informed me that it would be in my best interest to do so. And that it would be beneficial to the both of us that I join your team and provide support."
As much as I wanted to play up the antics to distract myself from my not-so-enjoyable awakening, I decided to cut to the chase.
"I think Ysanna mentioned something about that. Truth be told, I wasn''t entirely paying attention before I jumped into the portal."
Khrem looked lost. Isaac appeared behind him and patted him on the shoulder.
"It''s okay. If you stick around your free to come to the support group. We have drinks and discuss the lunatics'' insanity every Thul at seven."
"Haa, haa. Very funny."
Teddy and Celenae looked away and Igas pretended to look for another scone.
My jaw dropped. "You''re kidding."
"Cyrus," Eodyne started.
"No. You know what. Fuck all of you. If anything it''s an honor to have a support group made about me."
Khrem coughed, and steepled his hands into his lap.
"Right. So I''ve stated my reasons. What say you? If it helps, I am willing to submit my full status sheet."
I shook my head. "No need for that. The only thing that really matters is that I can trust you. But hold up. Ysanna told you directly to come to me?"
"What? No, of course not."
I paused.
He looked genuinely confused. That was strange.
"Then what do you mean, your goddess told you to come to me. Are we not talking about Ysanna?"
"We are. Lady Ysanna is the patron deity of the islands. Even more so after her return."
"Okay. I''m drawing a blank. Then who told you to come here?"
"The goddess''s chosen. Sir Callen."
"I think I understand the confusion, Cyrus," Teddy interjected.
He smiled in the same way one would to a kid before telling them they were being an idiot.
"What do you mean?" I said, my eyes narrowing.
"You have to understand that to any normal person, speaking with a god or goddess is unlikely or impossible. Beyond high clergy members or individuals like a chosen or a scion, to speak to their deity just isn''t likely. And why would a goddess speak to a mortal if they have their chosen for that?"
"But I-"
"Yes," he sighed. "We know. There''s a reason why we sit down and talk."
So you are confirming it you bastard.
I wasn''t actually mad, or disturbed by the idea. It would be crazy to assume the others didn''t have to destress or talk about the chaos I brought to their lives.
But so long as they kept telling me to stick around, then so be it. They were all big boys and girls, if they wanted me gone, they could have easily told me so.
Though, considering how Isaac reacted to me earlier...
I cleared my throat. "Well, I''m not going to say no to a trained alchemist who can identify things. But it''s not just me traveling around. It''s up to the rest of these guys."
"We''d be happy to have you join us, Khrem," Teddy said.
"An identify skill would be a boon to keeping up with Cyrus," Celenae said cheerfully.
Isaac shrugged, too busy finishing off the last of the Nathan pancakes and Igas repeated the motion.
But it was Eodyne who held up a hand.
"Yes?" Khrem asked, sounding nervous.
"Do you plan on fighting?" Eodyne asked.
"Fighting?"
"Whether he reveals the details to you or not, is not up to me. But you must know what joining us will entail. It will be dangerous at times, far more dangerous than what you would have experienced on the island."
At that, Khrem relaxed.
"I do not plan to fight. But if I must, I will be prepared. I''m a crafter, not a fighter, nor an adventurer. My skills are mundane and geared toward helping me in my pursuit of alchemy. But through that, I am never unprepared."
He slowly reached into his robe and started to undo some of the strings keeping it fastened. I doubted he was about to strip for us, but he quickly undid the top knots and then tugged on his shirt.
Underneath the robes and across his chest were two bandoliers of bottles slotted into pouches. Among the vials, I even spotted a large knife as well as smaller knives toward his hip.
"I''m not so inexperienced as to misunderstand the dangers of this world. If a monster or individual shall come for my life, I will endeavour to make theirs a realm of torture."
Isaac whistled. "I thought Sereza was loaded."
Eodyne nodded approvingly and Khrem put his robe back on.
"I''ve no objections," she stated.
I looked around and then smiled. Khrem sat straight, and held his head high, but I could see the nervous wringing of his hands underneath the sleeves of his robes.
His eyes darted to my hand as I held it out for a shake.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
"Welcome aboard, Khrem. I hope you don''t regret this."
He grinned a full shark--toothed smile and clasped my wrist.
"I won''t."
Before I could return to finishing breakfast, Celenae slammed a journal onto the table and pointed her pen at the beastkin.
"I''m ready," she stated.
"F-for what?"
Khrem hesitated, and looked at me but I was too busy smearing butter on my food.
Celenae leaned closer. "I''m ready for the identification. I''ve been waiting to see what the core can be used for."
Sorry buddy, better get used to this. Maybe this''ll take the heat off me for a while.
"R-ight. I''ll do that, yes," Khrem replied.
He reached for the pouch filled with metal wire. Celenae was already adding a new entry into the journal. All the while, the others astutely looked away and made themselves busy.
***
Shadsteel Golem Sinew (Spool) x2
Shadsteel Golem Threader Rods (Pouches) x2
Golem-essence Dust x1
Golem Core (Predatory Type A) x1
Abyssal-touched Welebrus x1
Catalouger''s Assistant x1
I read through the list and checked the descriptions one last time before giving it to Zharia to burn.
The golem parts were pretty much exactly what I expected them to be. Shadsteel was interesting but wasn''t unknown to the kingdom. It just wasn''t the most popular type of metal due to the relative toughness of the material.
And while the golem bits were interesting, they meant nothing to me being I was decidedly not a crafter. The descriptions didn''t stop Celenae from cataloging them anyway.
It wasn''t hard to guess that one day she would be publishing her findings, whatever those may be.
The golem dust was mildly more interesting but relatively simple in its use. Khrem did note that while he could experiment with the material, it was best sold to an engineer or enchanter rather than wasting them for what would likely be dud potions.
Golem-essence Dust: Refine mana powder infused with mental and metal-aspected mana. Highly conductive material allows for the instantaneous transfer of mana throughout the golem''s body.
It was essentially, golem blood? Or something similar, my analogy wasn''t perfect but it made the most sense.
The golem core had drawn the most attention, and I was persuaded to either keep or bring to the kingdom''s library.
Golem Core (Predator Type A): Inactive core of a Predator class golem. Configuration set to ambush. Best suited for stealth and assassin type models.
- Complex rune pathways engineered into a crystal catalyst core enables the memory data of a golem persona. Persona dependent on core type.
- Best suited for tier one to two materials.
- Rule set, set to monstrous. Will require an active Controller Apex to command golem outside of preset Persona.
It sounded ''techy'' which was a surprise for a world so reliant on magic. The rune pathways interested me, and I was half tempted to crack the thing open and see what was inside.
Celenae nearly grabbed the core from my hands and treated it like a delicate egg. Unfortunately, the others seemed to share her sentiment and glared at me as if I threatened to murder a puppy.
After promising to hold on to it for the time being, I moved onto the jar of brine. Khrem looked at it in disgust, and when he popped the cap, the smell was nearly overwhelming.
Abyssal-touched Welebrus: Preserved fourth hindbrain of a creature corrupted by the Abyss.
- Mind numbing properties will inflict consumer with increased levels of aggression along with cognitive disruption until the poison has been filtered from the consumer''s system.
It didn''t take long for the betting board to appear and the organ to go down my gullet. Khrem looked mildly horrified but I showed him my perk to mullify him.
The organ did... Something. What; I wasn''t entirely sure, but there was a blip to my mana that smoothed out as I breathed.
Celenae noted it down and asked probing questions but even a trip into my soulspace revealed nothing out of the ordinary.
Eventually, we agreed that a few more organs would show a change. If it was anything like my crystal bones, it''d serve to benefit me in the next evolution.
And finally, there was the pen. To no one''s surprise, Celenae claimed the pen with an almost zealous reverence.
Cataloguer''s Assistant: Enchanted pen reinforced with shadsteel metal and shade ink.
- Inkwell is replenishable through mana
- Upon imprinting of mana signature, the pen uses an autonomous golem core carry out its functions
- Will write what the user desires as long as ink is available and provided there''s a surface to write on.
- Prolonged use of the pen with the same mana signature will deepen the connection allowing for a faster transfer of mental data.
The others collectively oo''ed at the display as Celenae wasted no time pushing her mana into the pen. I didn''t expect the sturdy thing to be a miniature golem, but Celenae''s smile was enough to make me happy.
Where once was black metal, the end cap along with gemstone like patterns etched itself into the metal and glowed with purple light. I could feel the mental mana latch onto Celenae''s thoughts but a quick checkup from Teddy revealed she was okay.
Soon enough, she practically cackled as the pen floated to the journal and started writing for her. It was even more impressive when she brought out another journal and managed to write on her own while controlling the pen.
I received a bone-crushing hug and was forgotten about for the rest of the morning.
After filling ourselves silly and saying goodbye to Walter, Khrem joined us on our way to the arena. And when the beastkin asked why it was so packed, I could only grin.
"It''s the second day of the tournament, Khrem. And I got some asses to kick."