Perhaps daffodil is a bit befuddled by my appearance as well. I can’t even remember which form I had been wandering around in to begin with. I smile, and once again begin trying to ask if there’s anything I can do to help, when I’m once again interrupted.
Daffodil exclaims, “I take it the famished one is the young dragon in another form? Lil was it? There are stories, legends, dragons can change shapes, usually the legend is that they take on a human form, either to trick a human or marry one or rule over a country, something or other. I don’t think any of the myths predicted this, or that the dragon’s rider could do the same.”
The dragon’s rider? Oh, Daffodil must think that Lil acts as my mount in some fashion. Well, I mean, that’s not entirely incorrect. When Lil is willing, they do carry any of the three of us around.
Lil answers, “Yep yep! I’m still me, and still have the same apetite! Need any fire? I’ve got plenty of that in my belly, just no food.”
Daffodil raises an eyebrow before replying, “It saves a strike of my firestarter, my flint, if you’d warm my inu, if you can do it carefully. Remember, my home is wood, thatch, fronds. I’d rather it didn’t burn down before I make enough bricks for a new one.”
Lil jokingly objects, “Hey, that only happened one time.”
I snort with laughter. I’m pretty sure Lil is being facetious. I don’t remember any time that they set one of our buildings on fire. It couldn’t have happened before we were together either since they lived alone on a stony plain. Daffodil gives a very ‘riiiight’ glance towards Lil as she waves towards the center of her home that contains a pit where her oven is built slightly beneath the ground’s surface. Teuila and Luni both bite their lips to not join me in snorting with laughter.
All in all, cooking the flatbreads is relatively quick once the oven is heated, and we take turns making our own, and several extras. It has a very family dinner activity feel to it, as we pass warmed flatbreads out between one another, or use them to eat a small scoop of baked beans, or sprinkle them with sprouts, or make extras for one another. I’m flooded with a mix of emotions. The kindness and hospitality that Daffodil is showing us is amazingly warm. Like I said, it’s almost familial. Therein lies the rub, as the saying goes. I’m reminded of the family that I won’t see for however long, that I may never see again if their world is destroyed. Still, I don’t want to bring the mood down, so we finally begin asking one another questions.
Daffodil starts, “So, what is the name of the land you hail from?”
Teuila takes charge, “That would be Can’Z’aas, not Kansas mind you, though you probably can’t hear the difference since we’re not talking in textboxes anymore, poo.” Daffodil questioningly mouths textboxes while raising an eyebrow. Before anyone else can interject though, Teuila continues, “Our turn. What places are around here? How far?”
Daffodil takes a moment to snap out of her confusion to realize Teuila had asked her an easy question about local geography. She states, “Oh, oh yes, Autumn Brook, run by my old friend Harriet, I’m sorry, Mairess Du Pon De Brook would be more appropriate now. It’s some hard day’s ride southwest, ma kai, a few days of mudcamping on foot, though you might catch the ferry on the river if it happens to be ma uka. It travels back and forth somewhat regularly. It’s how I can make the journey to see my old friends on occasion. The town rests along Lake Siempre.”
Daffodil looks lost in thought for a moment, then continues, “Keeley might have a place for you to stay, Autumn Brook’s inn, the Johnston Keel-over. She’s, ah, brusque, direct. Her humor is a bit, hm, well, you probably get the double meaning. We are of course in Aasimovia, along the southern edge of the landmass of Rayileklia. Rumor says that Vale Valley, home of the assassins is ma uka, in the mountains northeast. But to get there, one would have to circle the mountain range along the southeast, and earn passage through the Hidden Heart. One might even find the hidden sanctuary of the Sisters of the Mist doing that. It would be many weeks, perhaps several months journey. There used to be more countries to the north of us, now they’re all under one banner, the Celestial Imperium.”
I recall something Elder Tolkenstein once said, the flash of a dagger, a heart hidden behind a veil, or something like that. What if it was the opposite? What if it was a vale hidden behind a heart? She got the Roc riddle wrong, sort of. A flying boulder isn’t exactly an apt description of a Roc, but it’s also not wrong either. The point is, she could have gotten the sentence flipped. What was Rinnia talking about when she said that? I can’t remember. Was it a prophecy of where I would one day go? Wait, did Daffodil just say the Celestial Imperium has swallowed all of the nearby countries to the north!? My heart skips several beats.
Daffodil asks, “Tell me of this Can’Z’aas. No rains of pain sounds nice.”
Luni makes certain to cut off Teuila before she can start, which earns her a ‘Luuu’ from Te. Still, Lu starts off, “Our land, our world, it started off small, for most of us, before Reggie, it was just a beach, until our world was flipped and turned upside down. Oh just sit right there Te, stay a while, listen, I’m going somewhere with this telling, and I’m not just blowing smoke up Reggie’s butt.” I flush with embarrassment at the turn of phrase, especially since I don’t even have a, well, it doesn’t matter.
Luni continues, “I don’t just mean we were insular, though we were. The world became more dangerous, more adventurous, we lost so much. At a time when we stood to lose more, we met Reggie. It was a hard time, and it was made worse by what we now know was a god of the sea that would plague us our entire lives. With Reggie we made a modest home, like yours, far away, upriver, um, ma uka you would say, since it was closer to the volcano, and the cliffs of what we called Fire Biome. We later learned some other societies existed, like on the way we had met beavers along the river, and bullies. Humans in a city called Eimsas far off to the west, Nagas in a large settlement in the southeast swamps, chameleons east of them, a small tribe of cats northwest of them. We learned about the fairies, and mistakenly called them all elves, because of the terminology the humans used, around an enormous tree that we call the Miracle Oak. One of the miracle oaks. That’s where we all ended up, all of the societies in the end of our world, the ones that are going to survive, ended up there. We died so that the ones who made it there stood a chance at surviving. Yes Reggie, I’m willing to tell it. I’m pretty sure we can trust Daffodil. Our land was weird and beautiful. There was so much of it that was oddly identical forests of one type or another, or a swamp that would appear almost the same everywhere you looked, or the flat expanse of the volcanic plain in the Fire Biome that seemed like a stretch of nothing but the same long swath of stone, interrupted only by rivulets of lava. Our world was a fledgling one. It’s one secret I no longer have to keep. Our world was new, but dying. It should live now, hopefully. We got here by dying, but that dying still should have been enough to keep our world going.”
Teuila and I gaze at each other with our mouths agape, our eyes flicking back and forth between each other and Luni. I could have guessed some of these things, I mean, I think I even did guess some of these things, but Luni sounds beyond absolutely certain, she sounds like she’s simply reciting fact. I mean, I mean, I know it is, I guess. TQ told us more or less the same thing before we made the sacrifice, and I’d commented on the sameness of our world, and the oddity that the cosmos didn’t exist until later in our lives. I’m not sure how to even follow up after that admission. Daffodil looks pensive, her expression mostly neutral, but an inkling that she’s deep in thought, digesting what she’s heard.
Luni blushes and mumbles, “Um, so, yeah, that, um, that’s about it, sort of. You um, maybe, probably don’t need our whole life story just to hear the locations in our land. And, and, and, um. Reggie! They um, they have some questions for you, I think, right Reggie?”
Luni regressed into her verbally stuttery shyness for the first time in so long that I’m at a loss for words. It sort of feels like we have our old Lu back. Not that we’ve ever lost her, she just had her future personality fragments coaching her confidence. Is she losing those? I mean, how could she possibly have had any more of them anyway? We died, long after I had sent Luni’s consciousness to her younger self. I’m pretty certain that right now I couldn’t access my time powers in a way that would allow me to send anyone back to before our deaths, we’re essentially not the same people. Oh, wait, she threw me under the bus, I’m supposed to be asking my questions now.
Something has been at the edge of my senses, nagging me, “You seem to be taking us in stride. We’re a pretty odd group, even back on our world, I assume even more odd on this one. Have there been other otherworldly travelers before us?”
Daffodil smiles as she responds, “No, none that I’m aware of at least. It was quite the shock to see travelers leaving Noirdivinhoz. Perhaps that shock alone pushed aside any I might have over your appearances. Once I could tell you meant Noirdivinhoz no harm, I felt no need to remain worked up about minor details like species. The one that left though, he has a bad air about him. I hope for all our sakes that he finds peace somewhere out there, ma kai. Do you think he would return in anger?”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
I shake my head, “I think for once, Mat is finally done being angry. He’ll never make up for what he did under a certain influence, I don’t even know how to go about dealing with that. We were in crisis and needed his help, but even then we didn’t interact beyond doing exactly what we needed to do.”
Getting around to the question I originally meant to ask, that I told Lil I would ask, I start, “Did you know Aces? I mean, um, the body in Noirdivinhoz.”
Daffodil’s eyebrow raises, “I did not, but it sounds like you, from another world entirely, do. How is this?”
I glance around nervously, “We’re not entirely sure if what I think I know is the truth. I’ve had, um, visions, dreams. Do you know of anyone named Taylynn? I’m sorry, that’s probably not much to go on.” As I’m asking about Taylynn, Luni makes a blech face, expressing her annoyance that I’m asking about her once again. Since Daffodil is shaking her head, I continue, “If not her, then perhaps Jarvis Tavner and his daughter Selunie Tavner?”
Luni squeaks and practically jumps out of her own skin. I stare at her sudden startlement, but her eyes glint as she tries to avoid my peering gaze. I furrow my brow and wrinkle my nose, trying to suss her out while I continue, “I think they owned an inn somewhere, it would probably be in a city along a political edge of the Celestial Imperium.”
Daffodil wears a half frown as she sighs and shakes her head, “I am sorry friend. I do not travel, I would not have the knowledge you seek. Perhaps some traders in Autumn Brook will have the answers you desire, or may have mentioned such knowledge to Keeley, since they would all stay at her inn. What else do you know of Rayileklia?”
I glance around, and the others shrug, motioning for me to continue taking the lead, “I uh, not much. Those plants out there are a new thing to us, I’ve never seen plants emit light so bright. I’ve seen photoluminescence in caves, but that’s a simple glow. This is something else entirely. And your world’s clouds make almost no sense to me. Lightning that continues to streak horizontally? Acidic water vapor that stays heavily laden in the skies? It doesn’t, it just doesn’t follow. Noirdivinhoz though, it resembles the temple of time that we died in on Can’Z’aas. So, I guess there’s that little tidbit. We think Aces was an assassin trying to liberate the Celestial Imperium, that they knew some people named Taylynn, Jarvis, and Selunie, and had a dog named Eights, and they were from Vale Valley, land of the assassins, behind the Hidden Heart. This dagger, I took it from Aces’ body because it was loaned to them by Taylynn in one of my dreams. I think she deserves to know her friend is dead.”
I gulp as I try not to let on how intimate of a relationship that I know Taylynn and Aces had. Selunie’s and Aces’ relationship was just as intimate, by the way the two of them spoke of her. The collar of my Valkyrie under-armor clothing feels like it virtually steams, even though I’m not wearing the armor itself. I tug at my collar as I blush and avert my gaze from Luni who is now giving me the peering gaze of suspicion. I can’t think of more questions with the heat of my embarrassment threatening to steam out my slightly pointed eartips.
Thankfully, Lil has me covered, sort of. Lil asks, “So, Hidden Heart, and Vale Valley, they sound like they’re kind of peaceful, at least probably safe from the big jerk, yeah? Could I go there? They don’t have like big no dragons allowed signs or anything, do they?”
Daffodil wears a look of mild surprise, “I, well, I don’t believe they do, no. Yes, they are among the safest places in Rayileklia, due to their geography. It would be perhaps several weeks, if not months on foot mudcamping to journey around the mountains. Though perhaps for a dragon, travel time is different. But yes, they are safe, and Aasimovia is safe due to our church of post-life, the inability to reduce our population.”
My face screws up, I accidentally avoid waiting for Daffodil to ask a question, “Excuse me, what? Inability to reduce your population? Post-life?”
Daffodil gasps, “Oh my! Of course you wouldn’t know! That’s why Noirdivinhoz exists! Should the great work ever succeed, we must give an everliving one the ability to withdraw consent. Of course, we’ve never brought back a soul, unless any new developments have been made since the last time I got any news. We only reanimate bodies of willing church of post life members, but all have always been willing, ever since the First. The First, the Prime still walks amongst us. They lead generally pleasant, well, not lives, but, existences I suppose.”
My face must continue to look wildly contorted as I ask myself if post-life Aasimovians dream of undead sheep, because Daffodil decides to continue, “I could show you if you like. The one you call Aces gave consent, not caring what happened to their body after their demise. The eldest church members know how to do at least this much. A proper burial, the right words, thoughts, concentration, and a body comes back. There’s a bit more to it than that, but I can’t give everything away you see. The animate body, well, it mostly chooses to do something that resembles what it did in life in some way or another. Though of course they don’t speak, or exhibit many other signs of life. We’ve not succeeded in finding the hereafter, to pull souls back from it. Even still, many of the dead willingly fight to protect our homeland if necessary. Or at least they wear armor and march the land. I’m not certain any have ever seen a battle.”
I’m flabbergasted that it almost sounded as if they enslave the dead, but it sounds more like they make flesh automatons from bodies, and give them freedom. I ask for clarification, “You said they choose? You give them a choice? You don’t control the dead?”
Daffodil looks shocked, “Of course they choose. We are not some mythical necromancers raising hordes of undead to do our bidding, we’re a family that continues to honor our ancestors as they walk amongst us until the end of times, or until we find success in the great work, bringing back their souls. Then, should any of them wish to not remain, they can retire to Noirdivinhoz, to know the final peace, never to be bothered again.”
I’m starting to get it now. A community of people that preserve the dead in a different fashion. The animation magic probably keeps them from rotting. They couldn’t in good conscience intentionally control what those bodies do, because in their eyes, they still belong to their loved ones who are just waiting for the great work to succeed in order to be able to re-enter those bodies when their souls are brought back. It also explains why Noirdivinhoz exists. It’s as a precaution in case anyone withdraws their consent for being brought back. It’s likely that the bodies of Aasimovians who have passed on are nearly immortal, perhaps even extra durable due to the reanimation magic.
I start out, “I’m so sorry to have interrupted you, I believe I see now. I also see why Noirdivinhoz is so important. If I were a soul that didn’t have a way to tell my descendants that I was at peace having passed on, and they brought me back into a body that wouldn’t let me die, I’d feel trapped. It’s about consent and autonomy. You truly, deeply embody those concepts by the way it sounds.”
Daffodil nods sagely, finally getting to take her turn to ask, “Yes, true indeed. Wise observation young friend. Let me ask you about your magic though. You were able to save a dying world. It sounds like you must have been powerful, are you still? What do you intend to do on Rayileklia in order to live? If you’ve no other plans, would you be willing to help fend back the coming calamity approaching Autumn Brook?”
Lil grunts and grumbles, “Here we go again.” They hop away from the rest of us and head outside. I can hear the subtle sounds of their shapeshifting, and the not so subtle sounds of them taking wing once more.
I feel guilty as I look at Teuila and Luni who seem to be waiting on me to answer, “I, well, you did say that we might, maybe be able to find information about my sort of, self imposed quest, in Autumn Brook. Even if not, we could branch out to other cities from there, asking around about Taylynn…” Luni harumphs, “Or Jarvis and Selunie.” Luni’s ears perk up, and she tries to avoid eye contact.
I continue, trying not to let my suspicions surrounding Luni get the better of me, “So, the thing is, um. Lil is still powerful. So is Teuila. My power though, it, um. It comes with a price that I can’t pay anymore. I might have some workarounds, maybe. I haven’t explored all of our options yet on Rayileklia. Luni hasn’t shared whether or not she’s still powerful yet, and seems to be avoiding my gaze right now, conspicuously.” I tease Luni, who blows a raspberry towards me for my efforts.
I don’t mention that I have a feeling that if I commit to this, that I might lose Lil, at least for some period of time. It hurts. Lil already knows what I’m thinking. A town on the edge of calamity? A chance to find information? I have to go, but they don’t have to come with. Lil deserves a break. They died after months alone, digging throughout the land, hundreds of miles of tunnels. I look towards Teuila, whose own gaze surprises me. Her expression is so resolute that I can tell immediately that she’s coming with, no matter what I decide. Luni continues to avoid my gaze however. I have a suspicious feeling that Lil wants to go to the Hidden Heart for a sort of vacation. If Lil goes, Luni probably will too.
I ask Luni, “Lu, do you, um, do you want to take the shop into your inventory, instead of me carrying it?”
Her eyes glisten as her ears perk up, “Can I?!” As I’m nodding, she sprints around the oven pit and tackles me, whispering excitedly, “You’re the best, I love you my hero, always have, always will. I just, I have to go with Lil. They need me, and, well, you, you um, it hurts, but you don’t. I mean, you have Teuila.”
I stroke Luni’s cheek whispering in reply, “I’ll always need you Lu. I love you, but I understand. Lil does need you. I missed Lil so much, I can’t believe I’m about to do this, it breaks my heart.”
My eyes well with tears as I contemplate the fact that my oldest friend and I are probably about to part ways for an indeterminate amount of time. That I’m embarking on what might become a quest to slay an emperor that scared away a hardened assassin. I may very well die before I ever see Lil again. On the plus side, I’m now confused on whether or not dying would even prevent me from seeing Lil again, due to the insane amount of death and resurrection that can apparently happen. Coming back as eggs in a new location, spawning into a whole new world, having our bodies revived by Aasimovians, and our souls possibly being brought back if they accomplish their great work. Though, if I die to the emperor, it sounds like my soul will be forfeit. No coming back from that, I expect.