"Maddy!”
Alex jerked up, breathing hard and scanning the area around him then slumped back to the floor as his eyes fluttered closed. Then they snapped open.
“Professor… are you talking to a turtle?” he asked without sitting up.
“Oh, hello Till. Yes, this is ‘Crush’. He assured me that he is not related to the turtle from Finding Nemo. Though they do appear to share some similar… hobbies and he is a self confessed fan.”
“Right. Is he still high?”
“I don’t think he’s ever not high. However, he is lucid and I have convinced him that you aren’t DEA, Justice League or…” she leaned towards the turtle that was now wearing a very loud Hawaiian shirt and asked him a quick question then nodded, “or CIA.”
Alex just gently shook his head while looking at the ceiling.
“Is Crush the Information Broker from Earth 51?”
“Yes.”
“Just yes?”
“What else do you want to know? A Shell match?”
Alex rolled onto his side then got to his feet while holding his head which had Crush chuckling and the professor smirking. Shaking his head again he walked towards the Information Broker and Archaeology Companion who were sitting in matching lounge chairs, though the professors was ethereal.
“You both look comfortable.” Alex stuck out his hand and the humanoid turtle looked at it, then his eyes flashed up to Alex’s before he turned to the professor who just nodded at him. The two hook hands, Alex feeling like he was finally inside a computer game.
System Entity Detected
Contact Scan Initiated
Name: ‘Crush’
Race: Shellmind (Abyss)
Class: Information Broker
Title: n/a
Level: 999
“A Shellmind?”
“A fascinating race that is connected by a hivemind of sorts that lives inside their shells… the Shellstream Collective-”
“No.”
“Yes. The Shellstream Collective is an incredibly advanced information network that absorbs information passively from the currents of the Multiverse. This information is shared between every active Shellmind. They are employed exclusively by the System as Information Brokers and Observers. They also come from The Abyss.”
“The Abyss, as in, where the System is?”
“The very same.”
“No wonder he’s higher than a fucking kite. I wouldn’t want to remember that place either.”
“Crush” nodded then patted the side of his head before shaking it with a sad expression on his small face.
“Fascinating. I didn’t think they’d remember The Abyss. Now, shall we begin?”
“Begin? Oh, the information.”
“The reason you fought through 7 Floors of a Multiverse Dungeon, got killed, had your soul tortured, got resurrected and aligned yourself with a Pantheon. Not in that order.”
“Right. It’s been a day.”
“Till, it’s been longer than a day, you know that right.”
“Of course. I was dead longer than that.”
“Good. I just have to check, sometimes I worry you’re becoming untethered.”
“Release the tethers bro. Swim out into the current and unburden yourself. Float free man!”
Alex and the professor turned to the Shellmind in surprise then Alex just nodded slowly.
“This seems a little odd.”
“How would you act if you had information streaming into you from every Earth and every corner of the Multiverse?”
Alex looked at the Shellmind and shook his head.
“Not this well. Right, how do we do this?”
“Ask away, bro, but every answer's got a cost, ya know? Before I spill the sands, you gotta pay, with Tokens or S’s.”
“How do I pay? Wait, that isn’t a question. S’s?”
“I’ll take this one ‘Crush’,” said the professor who patted the Shellmind’s arm. Alex was shocked to see that her hand actually made contact with the Broker. “S’s are S-Grade Credits. You’ll pay by putting the payment in his mouth.”
“In his mouth…? Are you sure?”
“Crush” just nodded his head quickly and the professor smiled. Alex looked between the two and shook his head slowly then sighed. “Crush” raised a small hand then waved it slowly. For the first time Alex noticed that the Skypod had been filled with a murky light, similar to the dappled light found underwater. When “Crush” waved his hand, blinds retracted from the floor to ceiling windows and a large boardroom table appeared in between them. The table flickered then resized to be more appropriate for the three in attendance. Lost Vegas was in flames but when Alex approached the windows he saw that they were isolated conflagrations, the largest of which had an airborne dragon attending to it.
“How can the Stream rock your world today, bro?”
Alex walked back to the table and sat down, instantly noticing that Lost Vegas froze.
“What-”
“We’re Instanced Till. Well, Instanced within an Instance. Ask questions you need answers to, not questions you want answers to. At least in the beginning.”
Alex nodded then withdrew the 2 Information Broker Tokens.
Information Broker Token x2
This Token entitles the Bearer to an answer from one of the System purchased Information Brokers
One Token buys one Answer, it doesn’t buy the Bearer the answer it wants
No Refunds
Disputes will be heard in The Abyss
“They’re not mucking around. If you want to challenge something you need to travel to The Abyss where you’ll forget and then die… horribly. That’s brilliant in an evil villain kind of way..”
“Till…”
Alex looked up from the Tokens and nodded at the professor.
“Sorry professor. You’re just as excited about this as-”
“Till.”
Smiling Alex turned to 'Crush' and the turtle-man lifted a small hand and used his fingers to make the peace sign to, Alex tried not to take it the glassy eyes and rather vacant expression.
“‘Crush’, how do we evolve the professor, sorry, HistorAI?"
The Shellmind's eye darkened then they fractures into a roiling galaxy of light and the unassuming brown shell on "Crush's" suddenly shift from what Alex assumed was a normal shell to a transparent glass like material that looked similar to was that Rejuvenation Elixir flasks had been made of. "Crush" extended his short arms for balance then opened his little mouth.
"This is a different kind of odd, professor."
"Shush, this is amazing. You're the first person from your, our, Earth to see the Shellstream Collective is action. You're literally looking into pure knowledge. Now, place one of those Tokens in his mouth."
Alex looked down at the Token then back at the Shellmind, then before he thought about it further he reached out and placed the Token on the turtle-man's tongue.
"Come on Till, you need to push it in deeper."
Alex shuddered then with the tips of two fingers he pushed the Token deeper into the mouth in front of him.
"Please, never say that again."
The Token disappeared and the transparent shell opened like a blooming glass rose.
"Wow…"
"Ask more questions, Till."
"I don't wait for an answer?"
"With how elaborate that process was?"
"That makes sense. Where is Viracocha?"
The Shellmind's mouth opened again and Alex deposited his payment.
"Onix Trono?"
"Yes… it would be good to know more about them. 'Crush', why have the Onix Trono invaded different Earths?"
Again the small opened and Alex looked over at the professor.
"A single S-Grade Credit."
With a nod Alex pulled several of the highest level of System Currency from his Inventory and place one of the crystalline coins into the open mouth.
"Why did I grow so quickly out in the wild and earn so much experience and currency, compared to in the city?"
"Is that really important?"
"I want to know, plus, it would be interesting to know if we should avoid city's after we leave."
The professor waved a hand and Alex continued.
"Are there other versions of me in the Multiverse?"
‘Crush's’ mouth opened again but this time the Shellmind made eye contact with the Adventurer, as if to suggest the most recent question was finally of interest to the Shellstream Collective.
"I'm sure I'll regret this, but I think that's all I need for now. You, professor?"
"It would be great to know about-"
Alex waited but the professor didn't continue.
"System?"
The professor nodded and held up five fingers.
"5 minute censor?"
The professor nodded and slumped back in her chair at the table.
"Damn, I'm guessing what you wanted to ask will end up being important. Anyway, that's it 'Crush', we're done."
Alex watched as the transparent shell started to glow which four different colours which seemed to reach out and after looking closely Alex could see tiny portals that matched the colours on the Shellmind's shell. Eventually though "Crush's" eyes returned to normal and the shell flickered like a torch running out of battery then it returned to normal. "Crush" slumped against the table and seemed completely out of it until Alex saw a small ember glowing and smelt the smoke from before.
"He's getting high again."
"Can you blame him? He just stared into The Abyss."
"Crush" pushed himself back into his chain and Alex noticed that the Shellmind's eyes were still mini galaxies.
"For HistoriAI to ascend it must enter The Abyss and confer directly with the System, then request to become more."
"Oh, is that all?"
"Crush" waved a small hand and a small portal in the wall opened, he then motioned to the professor.
"Alone," finished 'Crush'.
A figure appeared beside the new portal.
"Come warma, this is your time."
"Mama," both Alex and the professor intoned, then bowed their heads.
She graced them all with a radiant smile before turning to "Crush".
"Greetings Hadrigath, it has been too long."
Alex looked at the small creature then back at the Goddess.
"Hadrigath?"
"Alex, did you honestly think that this gentle creature was called 'Crush'?"
"Till, really? He likes the character from Finding Nemo and chose it due to their similarities."
"I totally knew that…"
Both Mama Qucha and the professor looked like they didn't believe him, but the awkwardness was diverted as the small creature hopped off his seat and ran to Mama Qucha and the two hugged.
"Looks like you two know each pretty other well?"
"Alex, Hadrigath is… the closest comparison would be a hivemind, they have worked closely with my husband and the Coricancha in the past. I would go as far as to say that we're friends."
With a smile she patted "Crush" on the cheek and the Shellmind looked up adoringly then scurried back to his seat.
"Fascinating."
Alex looked over at the professor who was walking towards the portal.
"Till, I'll be back soon. Please stay safe."
"Let us be off warma."
"Side Quest."
With that the Archaeology Companion and the Goddess disappeared leaving Alex and a smiling “Crush” alone in the large SkyPod.
“Professor? What?”
Alex looked around himself before making eye contact with the Shellmind who was touching his cheek where Mama Qucha had patted him.
“Crush” looked up, his eyes still looked like miniature galaxies and Alex felt his attention sucked towards them, shaking his head he rolled his shoulders out and waited.
“Chill out bro, your girl will be… rad. Plus, Mama Chill totally has her back. Chillax.”
“Chillax? I, I think I can do that.”
“Cool. Now-”
“Crush” cut himself off and turned his gaze to the wall that enclosed the elevator bay in the middle of the SlyPod. Alex turned and watched as the eyes projected an image on the wall. Hopping up he moved closer.
“Who?”
“Search your shell bro. You know who it is.”
Alex got even closer to the projection then jumped back as it moved. A tall bearded man in dirty robes rolled over on what looked to be a sleeping mat and looked straight back at “Crush” before standing up.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
"Hadrigath, is that you my old friend?" the man croaked out.
With an excited squeak “Crush” clapped his small hands together, pulling Alex’s attention away from the projection. After the small creature had calmed down and was only rocking softly in his chair causing the projection to move slightly Alex turned back.
“Viracocha…”
The Incan God’s eyes lit up with a white light then he staggered, then fell back on the sleeping mat, shaking and clutching at his chest in obvious distress. The projection flickered then stopped. Alex turned back to “Crush” to see the Shellmind wiping at his eyes.
“Dad needs help.”
“Where is he? Also, dad?”
“Dad. He’s…” ‘Crush’ indicated the wall where the projection had been.
“That is remarkably unhelpful.”
“‘Crush’ can’t betray God’s, even bad God’s. Dad is… in trouble.”
“Bad God’s. The Onix Trono?”
“Crush” jerked then looked around like he was worried someone was watching.
“Be careful, bad God’s could be listening.”
“Why aren’t you talking like a bad stoner actor now?” The turtle-man didn’t reply. “Convenient. What can you say about the Onix Trono?”
“Bad God’s use others to get power then bad God’s take power. Many worlds secretly led by bad God’s, without the world knowing. Terrible.”
So the Onix Trono are the bad God’s, interesting. Not exactly new information, they used the Kyrn Rats on Earth 39 and some fuckstick called Morris on Earth 51.”
“Fuck. Stick.”
“Hey, don’t use that word. That’s not… bloody hell, I’ve just taught a Multiverse hivemind to swear.”
“Crush” clapped happily while repeatedly repeating the word.
“Bad Gods, fuck sticks,” ‘Crush’ smiled at Alex who just frowned, “need to control multiple worlds created by dad to take power from Cori-cori-coric-”
“Coricancha?”
‘Crush’ nodded happily then went back to mouthing ‘fuck sticks’ to himself.
“And then?”
“Then bad God’s kill dad and take power. Bad God’s become most powerful God’s.”
“Jeeeesus. That’s… shit.”
The small creature looked down and shook his head sadly. Alex extended a hand and was about to put the small head then looked at his hand and pulled it back.
"Now, what about my growth rate? It was so fast outside the city, it can't just be the limiter."
‘Crush’ nodded slowly as he looked up at Alex.
"Population zones. The Integration changes the Earth, changing what dad made. Zones are given experience and Credits, you levelled in a zone with no one, cities have many humans, less experience and Credits for them, more for you."
"Surely it can't be that simple?"
"System simple."
"But that means… I would've levelled faster staying out of the city."
‘Crush’ shook his head slowly then cooked to the side, then shook it again.
"Integration finishes, experience limiter extends to whole area. More Credit outside of Lost Vegas zone, less experience."
"So when I completed the Integration the entire area was hit with limited experience, not just the city?" 'Crush' nodded. "So the only benefit would've been more Credits?" 'Crush' nodded again. "But now there won't be any restriction?"
"Not in Nevada zone."
"But the zone has been altered?" 'Crush' nodded. "Why are you answering these questions?"
'Crush' smiled at Alex then shrugged.
"Little questions free for friend of dad."
Alex nodded and leaned back in his chair while the Shellmind smiled at him.
"My last question, are there other versions of me?"
'Crush' clapped his little hands and wiggled a little in his chair.
"Good question. The Collective wanted to answer with a very good answer. No other Adventurers like Alex Till."
"That's it?"
Alex wanted to rant then remembered the warning on the Token then saw 'Crush' had a little hand up.
"No Adventurers like Alex, but three other versions of him."
"On unIntegrated Earths."
'Crush' shook his head and Alex leaned forward eagerly.
"On Integrated Earths?" 'Crush' nodded. "Interesting."
'Crush' nodded his little head rapidly, then stopped and seemed to rethink his answer.
"Not on Earths… not always."
Alex looked confused then turned to where the professor had left through the portal 'Crush' had created.
"Are you happy 'Crush'?" The little creature smiled again and the look seemed to convey such happiness and joy that Alex couldn't help but smile. "I'll take that as a yes. Do you prefer 'Crush' or Hadrigath?"
"'Crush'!"
Alex laughed again and seemed to relax properly for the first time since the Integration began.
"Good man… I think I'm… I'm just going to… sleep for a-"
With that Alex slipped into darkness, for the first time since he received his Class his body needed to rest, a rest that wasn't required due to injury, death or an Ability. 'Crush' dropped from his seat and scurried over to the Adventurer and looked him over before climbing up and standing on Alex's lap.
S-Grade Scan Initiated
System Restrictions Bypassed
Shellstream Collective Administrative Override
Name: Alex Till
Race: Human (Earth 0)
Age: 31 (Pre-Integration)
Class: Fire Warrior (1 of 3 Upgrades)
Title(s): Planetary Forerunner 100, Multiverse Forerunner, Multiverse Dungeon Diver, Multiverse Elite, Initiation Perfectionist, Varkarakos' Bane
Core Pantheon: Coricancha
Faction: Clark County Resistance
Guild(s): n/a
Level: 57
Alex was oblivious as the small Shellmind placed a little hand on both his forehead and chest, the small mouth turned down it what could be considered the turtle-man equivalent of a sad face
“Follower of Dad is sad… very sad and angry.” A screen appeared above Alex and his full stats scrolled down it. “Not good with people or brains. Strong. Fire… a lot of fire. Dangerous.” The small turtle-man muttered to himself then stopped abruptly. “Axe… good axe, not good axe fighter. Bad Alex.” The small creature started muttering again then twisted the hand over the Adventurer’s chest opening another screen.
Weapon Experience
Improvised
D-Grade Cast Iron Skillet | Accomplished
D-Grade Cast Iron Skillet Handle | Expert
Medium
A-Grade Volcanic Axe | Expert
Heavy
D-Grade Fire Axe (One-Piece Tool Steel) | Accomplished
“Should be better with axe.”
System Override
Weapon Skill
Axe | Intermediate
“Not good enough.”
Weapon Skill
Axe | Master
Weapon Mastery Detected
Axe base damage increased by 50%
Axe damage increased by 100% from new base rate when enhanced by Blazing Fury
Axe damage increased by 100% from new base rate when enhanced by Volcanic Fury II
Enhancing effects stack together
“Better… dad would smile. Now… The Abyss?”
Ability Screen
Volcanic Essence (passive): The deep connection to volcanic energy is enhanced after gazing upon the Abyss, widely considered to be the domain of the System and anathema to Human life
Volcanic Essence enhances both offensive firepower and safeguards against invasive forces
In the midst of combat, an impenetrable internal barrier manifests within the warrior's body, preventing any hostile entity from invading or taking control. This barrier is a direct extension of the connection between the warrior and the immense power concealed beneath the surface of an Earth
Note: The barrier does not provide defence from physical attacks
This connection also extends to melee weapons used in combat, transforming them into conduits that unleash burst fire damage while within the body of an enemy
This Ability benefits from damage modifiers from all other abilities
Becomes
Volcanic Essence (passive) III: The indomitable connection to volcanic energy, fortified by a transcendent communion with the Abyss through the Shellstream Collective. The realm associated with the enigmatic System and deemed anathema to human existence that also sustains the elusive Shellmind..
Volcanic Essence continues to amplify both offensive might and fortification against invasive incursions. Amid the tumult of battle, an impervious internal barrier manifests, a testament to the unbreakable bond between the warrior and the titanic power lurking beneath Earth's surface.
Note: The barrier still does not provide defence from physical attacks
This connection extends its influence to melee weapons employed in combat, imbuing them with the capability to channel explosive bursts of damage while penetrating the very core of an adversary.
This ability synergizes with damage modifiers from all other Abilities, offering unparalleled synergy in the relentless pursuit of victory and supremacy over those foolish enough to stand before the might of a volcano
"Bigger smile now."
With that 'Crush' scurried back to his seat and waited for his new friend to wake up.
----------------------------------------
With a crack of thunder a jagged portal tore itself open causing Alex to jump up, grab his chair and throw it in the general direction of the portal.
"What the fuck is happening?"
"Professor Lady is back at 'Crush's' house."
"The professor? Oh, sorry about your chair buddy."
'Crush' beamed at Alex then waved a small hand and the shattered chair repaired itself, fell into the floor then popped up again in front of Alex.
"It's OK… buddy. Chair fixed."
Then the professor slid through the portal followed by Mama Qucha who appeared to be walking with a refined dignity.
"Ahhh, welcome back."
"Thank you, Initiate."
"That’s wayyyyyy better than Acolyte."
"Indeed." Mama Qucha smiled warmly then her eyes went wide and she looked around the SkyPod with more intensity than Alex had previously seen on the Goddess’ face. "Viracocha! I can sense him."
"The little guy," Alex indicated 'Crush' over his shoulder, "projected… I don't actually know, but he made Viracocha appear on the wall, he spoke-"
Mama Qucha surged forward.
"He spoke to you?"
"Not really, he spoke to 'Crush'."
With that she was over and kneeling before 'Crush' who reached out and patted her head, seemingly fascinated with his ability to touch someone's head while sitting. Alex left them to talk and went over to the professor who was still sitting on the ground.
"Professor? Are you ok?"
She nodded slowly, eyes wide and shivering.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded again.
"Did you,” Alex waved a hand in the direction of the portal, “whatever it was you needed to do?"
Again she just nodded.
"System censoring?" Alex asked while looking over at Mama Qucha with a confused expression.
She shook her head.
"OK. Well… I'll just sit here till you feel like talking."
With that Alex sat down and went to bump shoulders with his ethereal companion, fully expecting his shoulder to phase through her. When their shoulders collided all the air rushed out of him in shock.
"Professor! You're… um…"
"A real girl," she replied, the corners of her lips curling up slightly on her ethereal face.
"Not how I would've… but yes!. God you’re weird."
"I recovered the soul of the professor, it was being held in stasis by the System, fused it to my Nexus Core and the System reforged me as a System Companion. So my limitations have been removed."
"But you're still the professor? You actually sound more like her."
"Rude, but yes."
"And you can still help with archaeology?"
"Yes."
"But you're more than you were before?"
"Much more."
"Can you fight?"
"No."
"Can you still phase through walls and rocks?"
"Yes."
"Can you… ummm-"
"I can do everything except fight and be seen by others. I'm still your companion, so I don't have the ability to talk with other Adventurers."
"Wish I had that ability."
The professor slapped Alex's arm but she was smiling properly now.
"Enough, you need to get better with people."
"Too late, bad Charisma score. I'm a lost cause. Also, we're going back into the wild to follow the trail of the Incan Scouts. No time for other people."
"Fine. It has been too long since we were on a dig."
"Exactly! Glad you agree."
“With the return to archaeology, not your isolationist views. That I’ll never agree with and now that I’m fully integrated with the biological professor I have all of her memories and know how she felt about you, Maddy… and Ben.”
“Well, I know how you felt about Ben, you didn’t keep that to yourself.”
The professor’s smile fell from her face faster than if something below had pulled it away.
“I, she… we-”
“It’s ‘I’ professor, you are the professor, even more so than you were before.”
The professor nodded and squared her shoulders.
“Thank you Till, I think I needed to hear that. This change,” she breathed out gustily almost like she was releasing the worry she’d have that Alex wouldn’t accept her, “this change will take a lot of getting used to, but thank you. I feel bad about how I treated Ben, more so now than I did before when we met his variant. It seems that the biological professor had a lot of time to think before the Integration and then afterwards. She, we-” the professor shook her head slightly, “she felt we had a lot to repent for and I agree.”
“If it helps, Ben enjoyed the relationship you two had. He would’ve dropped archaeology far earlier and definitely wouldn’t have considered doing his phd in it. So, while you feel that you were hard on him or treated him badly, he had every opportunity to leave, he could’ve changed universities, but he stayed before of you. Or, maybe he hated you and couldn’t stand being apart from Maddy and I.”
“You almost had me feeling better.”
“Bad charisma.”
The professor bumped shoulders with him and they both smiled and looked over at ‘Crush’ rubbing Mama Qucha’s face while speaking quietly with her.
“Professor?”
“Yes, Till.”
“We’re watching a turtle-man from the space between, within, wait, where is The Abyss?”
“Technically, behind the Multiverse.”
“Right. That’s weird. Anyway, we’re watching a turtle-man from the space behind the Multiverse stroking an Incan Goddesses face while talking to her about a God, who happens to be her husband, who, by the sounds of it, created all the Earths, a God that has been kidnapped, at best, by a pantheon of seemingly evil gods. Coincidentally, both pantheon’s have roots on our Earth in South America.”
“Yip.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“Not at all. My time in The Abyss seems to have normalised this and a lot more.”
Alex just shook his head and kept watching.
“Oh, he prefers ‘Crush’ to Hadrigath. Just so you know.”
The professor laughed and patted Alex’s arm.
“Of course he does. Hadrigath is the name of every entity within the Shellmind.”
“Yeah?”
“So he and all of his brothers and sisters are Hadrigath…”
“Yeah?”
“While ‘Crush’ is a name that he shares with no one.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“Till, what we’re seeing is a member, an entity from within a Shellmind, or hivemind, that is showing individuality, growth. This is something very rarely seen, especially from an entity from The Abyss, never from the Shellmind. ‘Crush’ will be special.”
“He’s already pretty special. I feel calm here, this is the first time in as long as I can remember where I don’t feel like anger and sadness are crushing me.”
The professor smiled and nodded as she watched the Shellmind stroke Mama’s face with an almost childlike glee.
“Yes he is. The System is intrigued. This has never happened with one of it’s Information Brokers. I can feel it’s interest.”
----------------------------------------
Alex and the professor watched as Mama Qucha leaned in and hugged ‘Crush’ then she stood with a fluid grace and walked back towards the Companions.
“Thank you Alex.”
Alex struggled to his feet then extended a hand to the professor, helping her up. Something that amused both of them.
“You’re welcome Mama, but, for what?”
“Keeping The Quest going, for giving me hope.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
“You will. Now, where are you off to?”
We need to go back to the Faction and see the Captain, then we’re following your scouts.”
“My scouts?” Mama looked bewildered then as Alex and the professor watched it was like she located the information in her memory. “Those scouts. Oddly that is one of the few secrets from your world. The last time my husband visited your world he met with a small scouting party and gave them a… task. This was well before the Integration so it couldn’t be a quest. To my knowledge he is the only living being that knows what that task was.”
“Was there anything special about them?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Did anything change after he gave them their task?”
“He never visited one of his worlds again and…” Mama turned and looked out over Lost Vegas. “I never thought about it, he never created another world for the System.”
“This was his last?”
“This world?” Mama raised a hand to her face and laughed softly. “No no. Alex, the visit to your Earth was a check in to ensure everything was running smoothly. He created countless worlds after yours.”
“But after that visit, that check in, he never created another?”
“No. That was the beginning of his depression. I didn’t realise it at the time, it crept up on him, or, it crept up on me. Maybe he knew straight away that he was depressed. Nothing I did helped, he said it did and acted like he was happy but when he didn’t think I was watching, when he thought he was alone… it was like he slipped deeper into the darkness every day.”
Alex nodded slowly then joined Mama in staring out over the city, watching buildings burn with the Goddess.
“Dad was sad?”
The Goddess and the Fire Warrior spun around at the sorrowful voice then as one they looked down at ‘Crush’ who was standing at Mama’s feet.
“Dad was sad?” he asked again.
Mama dropped to her knees and wrapped the small Shellmind in her arms and shuddered slightly as a sob tore through her.
“Oh Hadrigath, yes. Dad was very sad. Very, very sad.”
“Mama sad?”
“Yes, I miss him.”
“Miss dad?”
“Yes, I miss your dad.”
“Dad in UnderVerse, all sad in Underverse.”
Everyone froze suddenly..
“The Underverse?”
Mama turned to Alex, tear trails running down her face.
“The only place members of the Coricancha can’t go. Part of our agreement with the Onix Trono. How convenient.”
“Guess I know where I’ll end up eventually. Hopefully this time it won’t include a brutal death at the hands of an angry Goddess followed by days of relentless soul flaying.”
Mama grimaced and dried her cheeks before giving ‘Crush’ a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Most definitely. I will not abide you dying again Alex. Neither will Viracocha.” With that Mama stood and smiled at Alex and the professor. “Well done warma, you did more than I could’ve hoped on your two week side quest. I’m proud of you.” She turned to Alex, “Follower, make my husband proud.”
With that she disappeared leaving ‘Crush’ reaching out to thin air.
“Bloody hell, no pressure. Also, two weeks? I know I slept but wow, I didn’t think it was for that long!”
“Abyss time different. More… slippery.”
The little creature waved a hand through the air like he was imitating a slithering snake.