I wished I had been in a position to graciously receive the good news, but instead, Bloodpriestess Ana’s impromptu announcement found me splayed on the ground, attempting to recover from the heavy blow she’d dealt my head. My swarm continued to try to push the attack, and I rolled over onto my side as I shouted out, “It’s over! Stop the fighting!” The swarm retreated, still snarling threats at the Moonchildren before them.

It took me only another moment to stand and begin reorienting myself, but I was slower far than Foire, who stumbled his way to Ana, begging piteously for Trai’s life while the rest of the swarm looked at me in hope. “We’ve succeeded! We will survive!” I shouted out, and once the news was finally understood by the swarm, they found themselves involuntarily sagging with relief into each other, some falling to the ground, lungs bursting to try to fill themselves completely. Before me, Foire was able to extract his daughter from the Bloodpriestess’s hands, and as he carried her back, he muttered, “Thank you, Trai. You’ve done well. What a brave child you are.”

A beaming smile began to spread over her face as her father carried her away, but after affectionately nuzzling into the crook of his neck, Trai fought to be put back down. Once on her feet, she stumbled, unsteady, as she approached me and once she got close, leaned into me. Fortunately, I had recovered just enough to not be sent sprawling and instead held her in my arms for a moment. “Victory, Alpha.” Trai nuzzled into my waist and I gently patted her back as I looked at Sybil, who, alongside Vefir, signaled that, somehow, miraculously, none of the swarm had died. As I let a smile crack my face, I noted Ana approaching, having gone to speak briefly with some of her subordinates that had approached after the conclusion of our fight.

“This is your child, fahvalo? And that their mother?” She flicked her tongue out, pointing at Foire.

“No, that’s her father. She is the sole hatchling remaining in the swarm.”

Her eyes flickered purple and green. “She is recently come of age, though, yes?”

“We… don’t know. We are the first of our kind.”

She made a possibly noncommittal trill in her throat. “And her name?”

“Trai.”

“Well, Trai shows the confidence of one who has suffered few defeats, but her posture began to break as I held firm. She is voninahitra of descent to desperation. This ‘hatchling’ was the weight that tipped the Bloodsoaked Mother’s scales in your favor. Only the desperate would send their children to fight, would abandon the rest of their companions for a chance at victory, would attempt to command dozens of their foes to bow in the midst of battle.”

“Then I’ll have to thank her reckless approach…”

Ana blinked once, slowly, green again flashing through her eyes. “It was not under your instruction that she joined our fight?”

“No. She simply screamed ‘victory’ and threw herself at you.”

That vulpine grin again spread across Ana’s face. “Your people’s spawn is… formidable. I wish there were others to witness like her.”

I couldn’t stop the grimace from spreading across my face. “Perhaps we will have the opportunity to showcase ourselves another time. As fahvalo.” Ana bowed slightly in acknowledgement, and I continued, “That reminds me–were there unacceptable casualties among your people?”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Ana shook her head. “The few who will not rise again have died in the proving of fahvalo. They are immediately welcomed into the eternal battle against the Empty Heavens.” Then, the grin becoming more wry than predatory, “Your spawn is talented. Your people’s growth potential is varied and wonderful.” Her grin melted into a serious stare as she continued, “Beware, though. Do not become like the warlocks, dissatisfied with what you have. Their magics come from a compulsion wrought upon the gods themselves, and the Pantheon will not stand for the Tower’s continued influence through them. Your magic yet comes from your own bodies by the blessings of the Pantheon, and do not lust for greater power than the gods have bestowed upon you.”

That… didn’t make sense. [System]?

[The magic of the Veushten people comes from their Callings. A Speaker is able to command the laws that govern the universe and attempt to usurp that power from the governing gods that rule it. Your magic comes from your sonilphon, your magic manipulation organ, and comes from you.]

That was sufficient information for me to try to continue the conversation, “Sometimes I do want more power, of course, but even if I did, I wouldn’t know where to go about seizing this power for myself. Do you?”

“That is not a question I would answer for anyone, much less a fahvalo. You are an honorable foe, and I respect you. I do not wish to strengthen you against the eventual day in which you bare your fangs at me in earnest.” The last words could have been said with any vocal inflection, but Bloodpriestess Ana said it as simply as stating a fact: I am a Moonchild. There are four minor suns orbiting the major sun in the sky. You and I will eventually fight each other to the death. There was no malice, no fear, no rage, no… anything. She continued walking, unperturbed by her declaration of this apparent eventuality, and I struggled to follow behind.

“You named me… Indraymaf. What does that mean?”

“It means that you, as the representative of your people, are voninahitra of the people of desperation.” She looked at Trai and continued, “As is she.”

“So indraymaf is the word for desperation?”

“Not quite. The word is a complete saying in my tongue, literally meaning wallback. It means he who pushes themself to the end, puts his back to the wall and gives themself no endings other than absolute success or total failure. I would say that it fits you quite well. At least,” Ana smirked, “with the help of the hatchling.”

“Maybe call it Indraymaf of me, but I will accept any and every tool that gives me an advantage without shame or regret.”

“And again you prove yourself worthy of the title.”

“So, what happens from here? Where do we go?”

“As you are fahvalo, we will guide you to a safe border from which you can lead your people to another, safer land. Of course, since you are foes, we will not willingly give you any land of ours without a due price.”

“Agreed. Thank you, Bloodpriestess Ana. First, could we rest? It has been a long couple of days.”

“Of course, Fahvalo Ashlani Indraymaf. Shall we take our rest here for the rest of the day and early night?”

“That would be good, Fahvalo Ana the Bloodpriestess.” I had another question to ask, but I couldn’t know how it would be received. After pausing in uncomfortable silence for too long, I finally mustered the determination. “What do you do with your dead?”

There was no flicker of color in Ana’s eyes as she leveled her gaze at me. I knew she was “sooth-sight”ing me, but I didn’t know what that meant. My consciousness faded as I lost myself in her eyes, the gray swelling until the entirety of my vision was consumed with their faintly mist-like–

I bit down hard on my tongue, the taste of iron filling my mouth as I tore my eyes away. Ana finally answered, “If you desire to eat, you must hunt it yourselves.”

“We did.” I answered.

“Fahvalo indeed.” She responded, and again the smile spread slowly, almost with relish, across her face as she stalked away. After waiting for any additional response, I motioned for the swarm to gather the five Moonchild bodies before settling down and finally, finally assuming positions to rest.

As the meal concluded, I decided to acknowledge the flashing [System] notifications in the corner of my eye:

[Quest completed. Growth achieved. Title earned. Quest board updated. Status Updated.]