Chapter 17: Home
At Seassa's insistence and to Vina's relief, she and Caja established a campsite just beyond the ruins. Seassa had urged Vina to persist in seeking a cure, even suggesting Blood Runes as a potential solution. Despite Vina's experiments, she couldn't devise a method to test for infection, let alone cure the disease, within the limited time available.
Seassa had assigned a rotating guard at the portal ring. Vina occasionally did a walk to check how diligent Seassa’s people were, but they were not slacking. The rest of the students slept throughout the remainder of the day within the ruined building in preparation for the conflict that night.
As Vina realized that escape wouldn't be straightforward, she weighed her options. She could activate the blood runes etched into her bones to transport herself to a random location, but the uncertainty of where she would end us terrified her. The prospect of ending up back at the six-eyed prison near the gloom where she had first arrived in Palitern was especially concerning. The only other refuge location she knew of was Trina, as the one in Randar had been destroyed, so refuge recall was almost immediately dismissed For now, she resigned herself to resting at the campsite with Caja, hoping for an opportunity to use the portal ring once everyone either succumbed to the creatures or fell too ill to hinder her escape.
As Vina reclined on her bed mat, she sensed the vibrant energy swirling around Caja. Glancing over, she noticed Caja's eyes were larger than usual, evoking the look of a sorrowful puppy. "What?" Vina questioned, her suspicions aroused.
"This world is much colder than mine. I nearly froze to death last night. None of us anticipated needing to stay overnight by the sea. Do you have any spare clothing or anything else in your backpack that I could use to keep warm?" Caja inquired.
"Aren't you supposed to help Seassa and the others fight the creatures?" Vina countered.
Caja shook her head. "I provided support with fires last night, but my skills lie elsewhere mostly," she explained.
Vina regarded her with understanding. "I see... I do have some spare clothing, although it may not fit you. I gathered driftwood for a fire, but I'm uncertain if it'll last us the whole night."
Caja took a deep breath and began to shrink down to Vina’s height, but her appearance remained otherwise unchanged. She looked like a short stigandorian. "I can only imagine how exhausting it is to maintain that disguise," Vina remarked, recalling her own fatigue from concealing her eyes.
"It's not explicitly mentioned in the skill, but as your proficiency increases, it becomes easier to sustain the disguise. Adjusting only my frame is practically effortless now," Caja clarified. “I can probably get some more wood before I settle in.”
Vina offered a wry smile as she retrieved spare clothing from her backpack and handed it over. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep with the creatures attacking us all night?"
Caja shrugged, fatigue evident in her movements. "I was awake the entire night before, and learning Blood Sense made sleep impossible today. I'm exhausted. If tonight's my last, so be it."
Observing Caja as she dressed in the spare clothing, Vina couldn't resist voicing the question weighing on her mind. "If you don't mind me asking, what led you to specialize so heavily in disguises and poisons?" she inquired.
Caja's expression shifted, revealing a hint of discomfort. "That's as personal a question as any here, I suppose. It's right up there with asking about personal quests," she responded thoughtfully. After a moment's pause, she added, "You probably think I'm some kind of spy or assassin, don't you?"
Vina shrugged. "I assume you were chosen for this job because of your unique skill set." She began arranging wood in the center of their campsite, readying it for a fire with the tinderbox she had acquired in Prosit ages ago.
"Well, you're not entirely wrong there. I do possess a particular set of skills. I frequently travel between Randar and Lampasa," Caja elaborated, noting Vina's confusion. "Lampasa is the capital city of the Watch. There, I engage in various performing arts like acting and tumbling for the entertainment of others. It adds authenticity when you can alter your appearance to match the characters you need to portray."
Vina contemplated her words for a moment, gesturing as she awaited the fire's growth. “I feel like I should have a notification window here telling me there is some kind of deception.”
Caja chuckled lightly. "I assure you, I'm not lying. Those are indeed activities I engage in. Your skepticism likely stems from the poison. My subclass is apothecary. Given the cost of purchasing remedies for injuries sustained during performances, I opted to learn the skill myself. As it happens, apothecaries can create both healing mixtures and poisons."
"If you're an actress and performer, why take a job involving poison?" Vina pressed.
"My partner and I found ourselves stranded in Halos, rapidly spending money to survive. Seassa offered us a way back home to Randar," Caja explained with a furrowed brow.
Disappointment etched Vina's features as she absorbed the explanation. Sensing her confusion, Caja regarded her with a puzzled expression. "You're confusing me, Vina. Do you want me to be an assassin?"
"It's not that. I plan to attempt an escape through the portal ring tomorrow while everyone is resting. I had hoped to avoid harming anyone on my way out. Can you knock anyone out like you did to me?" Vina inquired.
Caja's concern was evident as she replied, "I can incapacitate a few individuals, but not enough to prevent a confrontation. You witnessed Seassa's capabilities. I can't help you with her." She paused, her expression troubled. "Will you take me with you?"
Vina’s answer came softly as she remembered her Asharaina title’s requirements. "If I can, I will."
~~~
Vina placed her lantern on the ground and activated its rune, casting an eerie glow amidst the darkening skies and the bonfires already ablaze. Standing alongside Seassa and her students at the end of the sandy isthmus connecting the island to their small peninsula, she addressed them. "I'm leaving it here," she stated, almost deriving satisfaction from the disgust evident in their vibrances.
Staring at the lantern, Seassa inquired, “Is it possible for you to attach it to me, as you do for yourself?”
"No," Vina responded firmly. "I don't want them dragging it away with your body when the creatures finally kill you."
Seassa's expression conveyed mild reproach. “I understand, though retrieving it might still prove challenging if I fail you tonight.”
Vina shrugged, “I’ll kill the guards and take the portal ring out once you die. I’ll come back during the day to recover the lantern.”
Seassa exhaled, accepting Vina's conditions resignedly. "Very well. Will you be returning to your encampment now?"
"I'm going to keep an eye on my property," Vina declared sharply, though her true intention was to observe Seassa's combat prowess in order to gain them herself. "Grant me this one allowance, Vina. Position yourself behind the bonfires," Seassa requested, seeking a small concession.
Vina complied, gauging the distance and realizing she could easily watch the action from behind the fires. As she moved back and waited patiently, she observed Seassa gathering her students and whispering to them. Although she refrained from eavesdropping, she could imagine Seassa's words, knowing none of them matched her level of skill. The fear emanating from some of the students was palpable to Vina.
In the darkness of the night, she felt the creatures before she saw them. The deep voids that existed within their bodies sent shivers up her spine. She felt their bodies move quickly across the sand with padded footsteps that were completely silent against the crashing of the waves and the crackling fires in front of her.
In the darkness, Vina sensed the creatures before she saw them, their void-like bodies sending shivers down her spine as they moved silently across the sand. "They're here," she called out, positioning herself twenty feet away from the front line, giving only seconds of warning. As the first creature emerged, Seassa dispatched it effortlessly. Sensing another creature lingering at the edge of her blood sense skill, Vina stepped forward between two fires to keep it within her sensing range.
A couple more creatures went down and one swordsman was injured while she watched them work. When he crawled back to Vina, she restored him to the best of her abilities and he returned to the front line. Vina kept feeling the creature in the back pace back and forth. It’s head turned one way and then another. Finally it moved forward and Vina called out, “Something is coming! Left side!”
But her warning proved unnecessary as a long and large six-eyed creature crawled up to the front line, its legs bent low while the others backed away. Its face bore a vague resemblance to a human, but its triangular head and spine protruding with fierce spikes lent it a monstrous aspect. Needle-like points adorned its fingers, and its backward-bent legs sported spurs. Vina detected its health pool to be three thousand two hundred and twenty as it slowly approached Seassa, the lantern further revealing that its entire body was covered in menacing spikes.
Unexpectedly, the creature began to speak, catching Vina off guard. She hurriedly activated her listening skill, missing the initial exchange of words.
"...to keep it after all. Sharing with her has spared you, and the truth has preserved you once again," the creature articulated.
Seassa's voice, edged with warning, cut through the air. "She's listening now. Hold your tongue, or I'll sever it."
The creature's six eyes flickered as it retorted, "Many tongues you've severed from me. Many times I've slain you for meddling. Yet, here we both stand, still speaking." Its gaze then shifted to Vina. "Vina, approach. Speak with me, and I shall spare harm tonight."
Vina, moving closer, snatched up her lantern when she recognized the creature as a vessel for Kaliq's voice, but the vibrance was unmistakably Stine. Standing just behind Seassa, she inquired in disbelief, “Stine? How can you be here?”
“I am not, nor was I at our initial encounter outside Termily. Have you considered what you have learned since departing from me?” Stine posed.
Vina glared at the creature, remembering its master’s cruel control of Parin and her other guards. “Torturing the ones I care about is not beneath you.”
Stine's response was unyielding. "To teach you, no method is too severe." The creature emitted a low growl of displeasure as its teeth gnashed shut. "Do you waste your life seeing and speaking only the obvious? Is there no deeper insight to your experiences?" Stine's gaze swept hungrily over the people around her. "Last chance. It goes without saying that I am also not above keeping my word."
Vina sighed, her resolve firm as she answered honestly, "You knew the truth about what Shan did to me."
“Father no longer,” Stine intoned softly. “Why did I teach the truth to you?”
Hearing Kaliq's voice through the creature unsettled her, its tones echoing those already haunting her mind. She clenched her hand into a fist as memories surged forth. "You... you're trying to hurt me with it," Vina forced out, struggling to maintain composure.
The creature mirrored her reaction, claws digging into the sand. “You fail to comprehend,” it expressed with disappointment. “I will persevere until you know.”
Turning its attention back to Seassa, the creature stalked around, commanding, "Reveal the truth to her."
Seassa’s gaze hardened, “I have already fulfilled your recommendation. I told her about The Halos Family.”
“Your dedication to your obligations is noted. I am telling you to tell her the truth.” Stine growled in response.
“It told you to tell me about Halos?” Vina asked in surprise.
Stine's voice, low and menacing, urged, "Speak."
Seassa, resolute, refused. “No!” Raising her sword, she confronted the creature, which cautiously retreated.
"Remember this moment, Vina. When she confesses her truth, consider deeply why I deemed it crucial for you to be aware," the creature intoned cryptically, its gaze shifting to the crowd and fixating on one man in particular. "Ah, but it seems my teachings have not been in vain. The quiet ones, they are the true learners. Their silence quickens their minds while their mouths remain still. Welcome, welcome."
A man in the group dropped his weapon and approached the creature, tears streaming down his face. His vibrance appeared eerily vacant, resembling more an emptiness than a living essence. To Vina, he seemed as though he had already succumbed to death. A group of creatures detached themselves from the main body and trailed behind him, heading towards the larger island.
"Tonight, you are granted respite. Reflect upon your circumstances and the truth. Tomorrow, you must either depart from my land or confront reality," Stine proclaimed, its eyes scanning each student methodically. When its gaze landed on Vina, it paused, delivering its final warning with chilling clarity, "Or meet your end."
~~~
The next morning, Vina awoke to a spread of fruits, nuts, and other wild foods she had never seen before, arranged decoratively by the campfire. "What's all this?" she asked Caja as she packed her backpack.
"I wanted to start the day right, so I did some foraging this morning," Caja said with a smile, though Vina sensed an underlying worry in her vibrance.
"Thank you for this. You must have searched the entire island to gather this much food," Vina remarked.
Caja shrugged. "I stuck to the edges near the shoreline. I didn't dare venture deep into the forest where the creatures are," she explained.
As Vina observed Caja's demeanor, she couldn't help but deduce her dedicated’s underlying motive. Caja was attempting to demonstrate her usefulness in hopes that Vina wouldn't leave her behind. In an effort to appease Caja, Vina conjured a knife and began cutting into the fresh food. The two shared a meal and engaged in casual conversation about the world, yet a weight hung over Vina, preventing her from fully enjoying Caja's company. Her gaze drifted to the distance, where the ruins and the portal ring awaited her.
Caja caught her gaze. "Do you want to share some of this with them?"
Vina looked at her, “I intend to abandon them here to die in agony. I'm not sure how giving them this food would alleviate their suffering. If anything, it will likely prolong it.”
Caja looked into the distance contemplatively, “It’s strange isn’t it. We hurt by helping and we hurt by not helping. What should we do then?”
Vina nodded, but stood without a word. She gathered the remaining food Caja had collected and packed it into her backpack silently. Throwing it over her shoulder, she sighed, "We give them the choice. Come on."
Vina started back toward the ruins with Caja trailing behind her. But as they neared the runes, a profound silence greeted them. Blood sense warned Vina first of what had transpired, while Caja remained oblivious, providing evidence to Vina that her skill had greater range than Caja’s. Vina halted Caja. "There's blood on the ground ahead. Wait here," she warned.
"No. I'm staying with you," Caja insisted, edging closer to Vina.
Vina summoned a sword into her hand, infusing it with blood. Her blood cloak billowed behind her as she advanced, causing Caja to gasp. Stepping into the ruined building with her Listen skill active, Vina beheld a scene of death. Seassa knelt before the portal ring, her thrusting sword in her lap. Though her eyes were closed, Vina knew she was still alive.
"What happened?" Caja whispered, and Vina shushed her.
Surveying the bodies as she passed them, Vina noted each had been stabbed once in the neck, chest, or through the eye. Calling out to Seassa, she demanded, "What have you done?"
Seassa's eyes fluttered open, her awakening seeming arduous. Sores marred her face and arms, evidence of the previous night's ordeal. "Vina... Langternem's affliction... it was as harrowing as you predicted. The agony..." Her voice faltered, and her eyes shut momentarily.
"Seassa..." Vina began, but Seassa interrupted, her eyes opening with newfound resolve. "My Dedicated lost their way in the darkness. The torment was too overwhelming. Stine claimed one of them, and it was inevitable that more would succumb, if not to Stine, then to Langternem. Our titles do not permit us to falter in our Dedicateds’ care for long. Stine made this clear to me two nights ago," Seassa explained, rising to her feet, her grip tightening on her sword. "Of my eight paths, this journey you must tread alone."
Vina's mind raced as she tried to comprehend Seassa's words. "You're the Asharaina of the Eight Paths? Was this the truth Stine insisted you tell me?"
Seassa's nod was slow and deliberate. "Yes, I regret the deception. Stine was correct – you have a right to know," she said, her voice softening as she cautiously approached Vina.
Still processing, Vina repeated a memory that rushed to the surface, "Why did Stine want me to know?"
Seassa seemed momentarily lost in thought, sidestepping Vina's query. “You managed to retain what I imparted, despite severing our mentorship. Stine was accurate in that regard too. Such an act defies the system's norms. How are you achieving this?” she inquired, her tone a blend of confusion and curiosity.
Choosing not to address Seassa's question, Vina posed one of her own instead. "Where is your title, Seassa?"
Seassa, ignoring Vina’s question, continued her line of thought. “You can’t simply override Trina’s system in such a manner,” she mused, her blade swinging idly at her side as she advanced closer to Vina.
Vina, sensing the impending conflict, readied herself, bringing her own sword forward in a defensive stance. Despite her efforts, she knew an outright duel with Seassa was not in her favor. “Caja, get out of the way!” she called out, her voice urgent.
As Seassa suddenly accelerated toward her, Vina recognized the skill immediately. She activated Charge as well and raced toward Seassa in response. This time, however, she also activated Agile Charge. With a deft touch of her toe to the ground, she changed direction to the side. Seassa continued forward as if in slow motion past Vina. Swiftly altering her course once more, Vina prepared to impale Seassa's side, but Seassa came to a sudden halt, causing Vina to fly past her, missing her target.
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Seassa wasted no time, and Vina had to whirl around to avoid being immediately stabbed. Seassa's attacks came in quick and sharp, following the same twelve attack lines Vina already knew by heart. Memories flooded back as she deflected each strike effortlessly and attempted to counterattack between them. Despite the deceptive length of her sword, Seassa seemed to anticipate Vina's moves, evading or deflecting every strike without overextending herself.
Seassa’s attacks suddenly hit with more force than Vina had experienced before. Each thrust came down with enough energy to make her arms shudder with her own deflections. Vina switched her infusions from bolstering her blood recovery back to her strength. Instantly her strength increased by nine, and she found the force of the attacks easier to to deal with.
The duel took an unexpected turn as Seassa's assault became increasingly erratic and unpredictable. Vina, though initially caught off guard, adapted swiftly, her armor absorbing a critical blow while her mind instinctively conjured counterattacks from past observations. As this cycle repeated, Vina found herself matching Seassa’s prowess, until Seassa abruptly ceased her offensive and stepped back.
"What are you doing?" Seassa questioned, her tone accusatory yet devoid of anger or urgency.
"What?" Vina asked, puzzled.
Seassa’s gaze was analytical as she observed Vina. “No blood explosions at my back, no cloak of blood, no red claws. The blood on the ground remains still. There’s a deliberate method to your fighting. You’re engaging me intentionally, but not with full seriousness.”
Vina met her gaze fiercely. “And you? You began with the basic twelve attack lines. Are you instructing or attempting to kill me? I'm equally confused.”
Seassa's eyes narrowed, mirroring Vina’s confusion. “Your proficiency with the thrusting sword... it’s unnaturally swift. When you left for Trina, you were a mere novice. Now, you've become proficient in real-time. This defies the system’s capabilities.”
Vina saw she had a notification after her last exchange of swords with Seassa and briefly looked at it.
You are now Proficient with the Thrusting Sword. Damage Increased by a total of 100%.
Vina looked back at Seassa as she considered her words, “Hm..”
Seassa's frustration was evident. “You’re seeing the notification, aren’t you? Normal progression to your skill level takes years, not weeks. How are you circumventing the system’s pace?”
Vina redirected, “Where is your Asharaina title? Everyone can see mine. Yours is absent.”
Seassa exhaled deeply, her arms dropping to her sides, though her grip on the sword remained firm. “Continuing to spar will only hasten your mastery. We're at a standstill. In time, we'll both unravel each other's truths.” She paused for a second as if considering before continuing speaking. “What has The Darkness wrought upon us?” Her expression turned somber. “Remain true to your path. Resist exploiting the system. And safeguard Selenia.”
Suddenly, Seassa inverted her sword and plunged it into her chest.
“No!” Vina cried out, rushing to her side. She gripped Seassa, attempting to stabilize her, reaching for the hilt to prevent further injury. Vina moved her blood towards the wound, activating blood aid, only to be met with an error.
Seassa, blood trickling from her lips, offered a faint smile. “Why… do you… care?” she whispered faintly, sagging into Vina’s arms.
Vina’s eyes filled with tears as she tried again, but she saw the same error.
System Error: Non-Entity is not affected by Blood Aid.
Seassa’s breathing slowed, and Vina felt whatever remnants of her heart remained had given up. The next instant Seassa’s body exploded in glowing blue particles that showered the area, as her clothing and gear simply sagged to the ground.
Vina jumped back in surprise and shock at the explosion of vibrance that scattered itself everywhere. She looked around and down at herself. “What?” she muttered in alarm and confusion. Tattered bits of Seassa’s vibrance were strewn about the area. Slowly they began to fade like a fire’s embers. She looked around and saw Caja with an equally horrified and confused expression on her face.
“Feskar lor Stolthim, Vina! What happened!?” she asked in shock.
“I… I don’t know!” Vina responded. She brushed the blue particles from her clothing and armor until she could no longer feel Seassa’s vibrance on her. She felt dirty beyond belief. Vina looked around, but the only thing that remained of Seassa was her sword. She walked back to it and examined it.
Weapon: Selenia(3/8)
Requires: 25 strength, 50 Agility, 80 Dexterity
Unique Set Item
Damage: Damage: 212-326
Passive: .5% chance to distract your enemies per strike
Passive: Ignore 20% of armor
Passive: Blade movement is 10% harder to track.
She shook her head in disbelief at the weapon that Seassa had wielded. It was beyond anything she had seen in the world so far. But she was disappointed by the stat requirements. “Eighty dexterity?” she gasped. Vina checked her attribute page and saw quite a bit had changed now that she had two classes. She studied it for a minute trying to understand how the new attribute page worked.
Name
Vina Esca
Health
510
Stamina
235
Experience
1235/51000
0/15000
Class/Level:
Blood Weaver/20
Blood Infusionist/8
Title:
Asharaina
Attributes
Points
Class Increase
Class Increase
Description
Strength
24
1
You can lift 115% of your body weight and weapons do 28% more damage
Endurance
37
2
Your stamina is increased by 135, and your stamina recovery is increased to 2.35 per minute.
Dexterity
31
1
Your body is 21% more likely to do exactly what you intend, you are 84% more likely to hit your target
Agility
47
2
Your movement is 111% faster, you are 148% more elusive, you can react 74% sooner.
Vitality
40
2
Your health is increased by 300, you clear poisons 150% faster, you are 90% more resistant to disease and infection
Charisma
12
People like you 10% more and you are 6% more likely to persuade someone
Mastery
31
1
You learn skills 84% faster. You are 21% more likely to learn a skill on your first try.
Divinity
0
Locked
Attribute Points Remaining
6
3
2
Skill Specializations Remaining
3
1
0
Class Ability Points Per Level
NA
2
1
Class Ability Points Remaining
NA
0
1
She sighed as she noted her dexterity was at a mere 31, with her Blood Weaver class offering only one dexterity per level. The prospect of wielding the exceptional weapon beckoned her, urging her to invest in her attributes. With a determined resolve, she allocated a point into strength, ensuring she could handle the sword, and then directed the remaining five points into dexterity. The weapon's potential far surpassed her own blood blades, motivating her to expedite her training.
Fastening the thrusting sword to her hip, she envisioned the day when she would wield it proficiently. For now, she'd keep it close, a constant reminder of her aspirations. Glancing over, she noticed Caja rummaging through one of the bags Seassa had hidden away on her person, their actions a somber moment to the aftermath of their recent ordeal.
She felt a pang of guilt over the two of them splitting Seassa’s possessions upon her death, so Vina shifted her focus to the portal ring. Consulting her map, she discovered that Valanire possessed the closest portal ring, yet she shuddered at the thought of returning there. Dialing in one of the portal rings from the City of Halos, she pressed her blood into the ring, only to be confronted with the sobering reality of her blood reserves.
“I don’t have enough blood,” she muttered, eyeing the lifeless bodies strewn across the ruined building. Even their blood wouldn’t suffice for such a long journey, tainted as it was with Langternem.
“Please, not Valanire again,” Vina whispered to herself, her reluctance palpable. Sensing Caja's presence beside her, she withdrew her portal ring book, hoping for an alternative in which she was not yet aware. Disheartened by the lack of options, she snapped the book shut with a frustrated sigh.
Observing Vina's agitation, Caja offered a tidbit of information. “When I was in Lampasa, we heard that Valanire’s portal ring was not functional. The Watch and the Adventurer’s guild had declared the City to be isolated until further notice.”
Resigned to their fate, Vina activated the portal ring, the mechanism demanding yet more blood for the second activation. “Yeah. Everyone there is dead. The details are in my painting. Let’s go,” she said, nudging Caja through the portal ring. Before following suit, Vina performed one last check, activating Bloodletting. With no blood expelled, she stepped through the portal ring, clutching Langternem tightly to her chest.
You are in Trina’s Refuge. In this place, no harm can come to you. Refuge Recall Location Added
A moment later, Vina found herself at the Refuge of Trina in Valanire, with Caja cautiously surveying their surroundings. "Stay inside the barrier. I don’t know if there are any members of The Watch in the city," Vina instructed, her tone tinged with apprehension. Turning back to the portal ring, she attempted to channel her remaining blood into it to create another portal to the City of Halos, but her efforts fell short.
"I’m going to need to recover more blood before I can take the portal ring back to The City of Halos," Vina conceded with a grimace, frustration evident in her voice.
“That’s okay. At least we aren’t stuck on an island anymore”, Caja said reassuringly. “Is it safe here?”
"I honestly don’t know," Vina admitted cautiously, peering out into the deserted garden. All she saw were stacks of supplies, likely sourced from The Watch, lined up in careful rows in the garden. "The last time I was here, The Watch was cleaning it up after everyone in the city had died. I’m rather surprised there aren’t any guards at the portal ring."
Vina stared off in the distance, but she was astonished to find that Trina’s barrier didn’t end a few feet outside of the building as it had in most situations. She stepped out into the garden and marveled at the size of the barrier that covered as far as she could see into the city. "How?" she wondered aloud, awestruck by the sheer scale of the protective barrier.
Caja seemed equally impressed, but she seemed to have an answer. “Trina’s refuges were created in response to Langternem Disease. The refuge couldn’t cure the disease, but they could supposedly keep people alive indefinitely until Trina could cure them. We know Valanire was the first city to catch Langternem disease. Could she have tried to stop the entire city from dying?”
Vina looked over at Caja in shock, “Could we have brought Seassa and the others here?”
Caja gave her a sidelong look, “It’s best not to ask that question. We didn’t know an entire city was covered in a barrier, and we still don’t know if the barriers behave the same way they did seven hundred years ago. Would you have risked it?”
Vina sighed as she recalled how the barrier changed when she gave Trina the Aspect of Sanctuary. There was a real chance Trina still lacked the proper aspect to protect people from Langternem. She shook her head, “I guess I still wouldn’t have based on what I’ve been told about the disease.”
As she observed Langternem's peculiar behavior within the crystal as it angled itself to attach to the largest flat side of the stone. A sudden need to clean herself before exploring the city took hold. "I want to explore the city and see if anything else has changed under the care of The Watch, but first we need to take some additional steps to sanitize ourselves to ensure we aren’t carrying the virus or bacteria or whatever Langternem Disease is on our skin or clothing," Vina declared, her tone resolute.
Caja gave her a confused look, “I don’t understand some of those words.”
Vina attempted to simplify her explanation. "It’s okay. Earth has advanced technology and knowledge compared to this world. We... They know what causes disease. Is Stigandor’s technology similar to Palitern?"
Caja gave her a wounded look. “Stigandor is a world intent on Shaldimara. The Shimarra Charifers are shalchira for shimarath. Shimarath is shaldivate for our Valchara like Cotorilin or Avathara,” Caja explained. Vina gave her a look and Caja smirked, “Yes. You also don’t know these words, and I even wanted you to understand me. This is why we don’t talk about our other worlds except amongst ourselves. Shaldimara is not here except in faint whispers which we protect dearly for our children. It’s also likely whatever works on Earth may not work well in this world.”
“I'm fairly certain I could apply some of earth's current understanding of how viruses spread to keep us safe. I mean they have extremely strong vaccines as well as anti-viral treatments there.” Vina said, defensively.
Caja chuckled, “I wish you could hear yourself from my perspective. Show me this veeres.”
Vina didn’t address Caja’s intentional and clearly incorrect pronunciation. She took a deep breath and said, “Okay. Maybe you’re right. Let’s not talk about it. Just do what I do.”
~~~
After taking necessary precautions to prevent further infection on their journey to The City of Halos, Vina and Caja meandered through the city while their clothing dried. They ambled down the tiered, flat mesas that defined its unique landscape. Scattered throughout were supplies left by The Watch, abandoned. Vina voiced her thoughts aloud, “Why go through all of the effort of moving things here only to leave it all behind?”
Caja responded with a gesture toward a nearby pile of wood. “The war was going badly since my arrival to Palitern. Then you killed Ebba and The Shaper. In some ways, you’ve inflicted more damage on The Watch’s leadership than The Darkness has, and in a much shorter time frame.”
Vina gazed into the expanse of the massive field surrounding the city. With the rain cleared, the city's true vastness was revealed, extending far beyond the mesas. “I also killed Faer, the eighth of the twelve. He ran the portal ring network and had the Aspect of Travel.”
Caja, lost in thought, responded with a hint of jest. "Well, now you’re just bragging," she remarked.
Vina stifled a laugh, drawing an elbow nudge from Caja.
Caja’s tone shifted to a more serious note. “Vina, you should know the watch isn't entirely evil. They do bad things, yes, but they also fight The Darkness. They often work independently, but sometimes they collaborate with The Adventurer’s Guild. Many towns under The Watch even host Adventurer Guild training institutions. If either group collapses, it could doom your world.”
Vina sighed deeply. “I’ve been thinking about that. Both The Watch and The Adventurer’s Guild have their own reasons for wanting me. The Watch seeks my death, likely due to my parents’ actions. I’ve had to defend myself against them, and now that situation seems beyond repair. The Adventurer’s Guild’s leader, Zel'alor, wants to capture me, thinking I can lead it to Trina, which I can’t. But it won’t believe me. It seems I can’t ally with either group. Now, even the City of Halos doesn’t seem safe. Hakim is deceiving me, and I fear he’s hiding more than I first suspected, even before your initial poisoning of me.”
Caja nodded slowly as they rounded one final corner. “I am sorry for poisoning you.” She said softly.
Vina paused, then pointed towards the distance. “The bridge is destroyed. The Watch likely did that, not wanting anyone to approach by foot. And now that I’ve converted the portal ring to Blood Runes, we’re the only ones who can access this place.”
“You aren’t ready to receive my apology are you?” Caja pressed, gently.
Vina faced Caja squarely. “We’ll have that conversation when your motivations aren’t tied to seeking my forgiveness.”
Caja’s expression registered surprise. “You mean Ulesi?”
“Yes. I’ll have to negotiate that with Hakim and I guess Haldo too. We’ll sort it out when we return. For now, I’m just really hungry,” Vina said, shifting the conversation. She wasn’t just deflecting; her growing hunger was genuine. She rummaged through her backpack for the food Caja had gathered earlier. They began to ascend back to the castle, where the portal ring awaited.
“You boosted your vitality with attribute points after I poisoned you, didn’t you? To shorten the timer?” Caja queried, unwilling to let the conversation end.
Vina hesitated. “I did something to reduce the timer. You said something when you checked it... Nai…kiras..im?”
“I was shocked when I checked your timer the second time. Naikirasim means ‘unbelievable,’” Caja explained. “But do you recall what I did?”
“I remember. You lied to Seassa about my remaining time,” Vina said, her tone cautious, unsure of Caja’s intentions. “That’s why I’m willing to help with Ulesi.”
“Aren’t you curious about my reasons?” Caja inquired.
Vina shrugged. “I’ve considered it. You needed me to disable the portal ring, trapping us on the island just like you were in Halos. You knew if I were taken away, Ulesi’s rescue would be impossible.”
“Have you thought that my actions might have had multiple motivations?” Caja prodded further.
“Perhaps, but I can’t guess all your reasons,” Vina replied, her voice tense.
Caja took a deep breath. “The truth is, I also wanted to dedicate myself to you.”
“That would have been easier if you hadn’t poisoned me in the first place, Caja,” Vina retorted, exasperation in her voice.
Caja’s expression softened. “When I first met you, I was focused on rescuing Ulesi and escaping halos, treating it all as just another adventure. But that changed when I saw what you did for Riza. You risked your life to save hers. That’s when I realized I had made a mistake. You are an asharaina worthy of dedication.”
Vina listened, her internal struggle evident. She recognized the sincerity in Caja’s words, her vibrance betraying genuine emotion. Yet, Caja’s actions had caused harm to many, not just Vina.
“There are more people than just me who deserve your apologies,” Vina finally said, her words hinting at the families of the guards who had suffered due to Caja’s actions.
Caja paused, absorbing Vina's words and the weight they carried. Looking out towards the vast expanse of the city, she took a deep breath and spoke with resolve.
“You're right, Vina. There are many I owe apologies to, and I intend to make amends where I can. This journey...” She gestured around them, encompassing the city, “it's taught me more than I could have imagined. About the world and about myself.”
She faced Vina, her eyes filled with sincerity. “I’m committed to this path, for you and Ulesi and for those affected by my choices. My dedication is a conscious choice, despite its challenges.”
Vina nodded in silent acknowledgment. As they walked towards the castle, Caja’s steps intuitively synced with Vina's, despite the difference in their strides. For Vina, it felt like a subtle, yet profound, gesture of solidarity and understanding.