Chapter 44: Isolation

World Quest Updated: Return the stolen Aspects 3/127 World Quest Updated: Destroy the fake Aspects. Fake Aspects remaining 321,312,002

Your communication with Entity Common Name: The Darkness has been restored.

Vina jolted awake when the notification appeared in her dream. But upon waking, she saw her nightmare had come true. Although her vision was still blurry with sleep, the words were still perfectly visible. A mixture of confusion and dread clouded Vina’s mind as she tried to make sense of what she read. A week had passed since the last system notification, and she was still on edge after Trina’s direct attack on her people. “How…?”

A door slammed behind her, and Vina felt both Caja and Riza rush out of one of the nicer guest houses. "She's still here!" Caja's voice echoed, tinged with panic.

Pushing herself up, Vina caught sight of them. In an attempt to spite her dreaded nightmares, she'd chosen the solace of the open air over the torment of sleeping indoors. "It wasn’t me!" she protested, brushing the sleep from her eyes. "I think it was Tacey. The Aspect of Perception was returned, but how? I trapped her.”

Riza, concern evident in her gaze, approached. "The refuge barriers went down briefly.”

“Could she have escaped and returned the aspect herself?” Caja suggested, sitting down on Vina’s bed beside her.

Vina shook her head. “Escaped, maybe. But I don’t think she knows where Trina is. I never told her.”

Riza, narrowing her eyes, questioned Vina's certainty. “How can you be so sure it was the Aspect of Perception?”

Vina internally cringed at that question. She knew Riza was going to worry even more, but she decided to be honest. “I received a notification that The Darkness can talk to me again. Tacey used that aspect to break our communication, but the system said it was restored as soon as Trina received an aspect. It can’t be a coincidence.”

“Lady Esca, you know my obligations to prisoner welfare. I already reported Tacey’s situation to the head archivist just as I did with Kallie. Please, don’t make me report your family’s activities to the archivist for failing to protect a prisoner again.”

Taken aback by Riza’s assertive stance, especially with Caja present, Vina felt the sting of prior mistakes - her actions with Kallie had left an indelible mark on her record, now known publicly in Halos.

Vina stared at Riza as she processed the conflicting loyalties her head guard struggled to navigate. Her loyalties to her Asharaina, The Lady Esca, the people of Halos, and even her loyalties to her own family. Riza had chosen Vina over even her own family and now she was choosing Halos’ laws over her asharaina. And Vina couldn’t find fault in her choice. Her guards’ separation from her and accountability to the archivist was intended to be a power control limitation on her family.

Regaining her composure, Vina challenged, "You want me to willingly enter a compromised refuge to check on Tacey?"

It was Riza’s turn to hesitate. “Of course I don’t, Vina!” she groaned. “But I am duty-bound to tell you yes.”

With a resigned shrug, Vina responded, “Yeah. I’m not going to risk that. You can let Eilin know. I'll craft a detailed rebuttal for my actions.” She patted the bed beside her, and Riza sat down in a huff.

“This is hard,” she complained.

Vina patted her back gently. “You’re doing a good job anyway,” she said with a smile. “I know you have a responsibility to report my choices to our people, Riza. You serve an important role, and I’m not going to guilt you for doing it.”

A palpable tension hung in the air as a silence fell on them. Caja was the first to break it. “We have a saying in my world.” she said softly. “Ena twali amara relas. It means ‘in between two deep affections’.”

Riza leaned past Vina, but she caught the look Riza sent Caja’s way. A teasing smile slowly formed on her face as amusement filled her vibrance. “Typical of you to say that.”

Caja just flashed her a smile back.

Vina, feeling somewhat out of the loop, asked, "What am I missing?"

Riza looked at Caja again with a grin. “She doesn’t know.”

Caja winked back at her. “Don’t tell her. It’ll be more fun this way.”

~~~

Vina indicated another cluster of fungi sprouting from the damp cliffside. Her team of Dedicated began to ascend, eager to harvest from the mushroom-like growths.

“Does this benefit them?” Caja inquired softly, standing beside Vina.

Vina’s eyes followed a member of her group, who prodded a fungus gingerly. “They're new Blood Foragers, Caja. They’ve not gathered blood before. Plants seemed a gentler first step.” She motioned to Oyna, who observed the scene intently. “Once the bridge is repaired, Oyna, perhaps you can introduce them to animal foraging?”

Oyna's slow nod indicated her agreement. “They are curious, but don’t mean any harm. We collect blood for different purposes. I believe I can guide them to the best blood.”

“Thank you.” Expressing gratitude with a warm smile, Vina’s thoughts lingered on Oyna. She had endeavored to help The Blood Collector gain trust in Valanire's society, especially after her traumatic experiences in Halos and Trina’s harvesting a dozen levels from her. Her trust was fragile, however, and Vina knew its importance. Nonetheless, she hoped to involve Oyna with the development of her people to help her build meaningful and lasting relationships. “This isn’t just about helping them,” Vina mused to herself.

Caja shot her a suspicious glance. “What are you implying?”

Vina gave her a half shrug as she chose not to answer the question more fully. Internally she was at the beginning stages of planning. Trina had dared to steal her people’s life experience and scar their bodies with sores. “No,” Vina thought to herself. “This is also about understanding and controlling Trina's system.”

“She has a secret, but her heart's in the right place,” Oyna said, seemingly reading Vina's thoughts. “Have faith in her, Caja.”

Some Dedicated members rushed to Vina, proudly displaying vials brimming with a crimson liquid. The sight perplexed her. “So strange…” Vina muttered as she teased the blood out of one of the vials before returning it again with her title’s ability. She had always been able to sense the vibrance of living things around her. Blood Foragers however, had some ability to coax literal blood from the flora despite her inability to sense it. “Oyna, you don't feel the blood in these plants, do you?” Oyna’s head shake confirmed Vina's suspicion. Concern evident, Vina queried Caja, “Have you obtained your blood class?”

“Of course,” Caja responded hastily.

Vina opened her eyes wide in anticipation. “... and what class did you get?”

“Kelar selvim,” she answered, turning her face away as if Vina was going to hit her. She looked back, seeing Oyna and Vina’s confused faces. “Kelar selvim? Do you two understand me?”

Vina shook her head. “You’re speaking in Avathari.”

Caja’s eyebrows furrowed as a look of concern crossed her face. “No I’m not. I mean I am, but I want you to understand. Trina should be interpreting for me. Kelar,” she said the word again. She reached out and tapped a finger on the vial Vina was holding. “Kelar.”

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“Blood?” Vina guessed.

Caja shook her head. “Larasar is blood.”

“Red?” Oyna offered.

“Red is Kelan, but yes it is a shade of red. Deeper and darker red. Red Selvim.” Noticing Vina’s continued confusion, Caja's worry deepened, “Trina’s still not interpreting that word?” Caja lifted her hand as if she was clutching something. Then she moved it to cover her face. “Sasti kirev tesh en se relvinar re veril ler ikar.”

“Stop Caja. It’s getting worse.” Vina warned as concern grew within her. She reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. “You’re talking about a mask. A deep red mask or something.”

Caja’s distress was clearly evident when she removed her hand from her face. “What’s happening? Can you understand me now?”

Vina nodded. “I understand you. Trina has the Aspect of Perception now. She must be using it to break our ability to communicate.” She gritted her teeth as she moved on from the mushrooms. The fact Trina could just cut off her communication with Caja disturbed her. The fact Trina scared Caja infuriated her. “We’ll have to bypass her system. Teach me Avathari, Caja,” Vina said as she walked. “The first time I heard your language, a woman asked me a question. She said ‘Sesti valis darimal?’. What does that mean?”

She felt Caja’s vibrance ever so slightly wilt. “Sesti… this.. Valis.. is…Darimal... creature. She thought you might be a creature. Were they talking to you or about you?”

Vina sighed. The stigandorians she had killed in the caves must have made that assumption due to her blood claws. “Then she said ‘Sasti sidirela Larathana’. Sasti sounds close to Sesti.”

Caja skipped a step, but quickly caught herself. “Sasti means you and sidirela means look like. They said you look like someone they know. What happened, Vina?”

Vina stopped walking and closed her eyes as she recalled the moment in the caves just outside of Randar. The stigandorian’s words came fresh in her mind and she spoke them aloud to Caja. “Lar parlas lare vant valis Vina. Uratayor viteliram. Kelir lar telis. Thaba, Toleina valis moram. Sasti silim, Rolein. Ne-piril mixture. Tarn shal Drimmer, valis sastir charim? Ser fenar valis narim dolram. Ne-vrak lare, zivna. Cotorilin.” As she spoke each word aloud, she felt Caja grow more concerned.

“Oh Vina… I’m sorry. They must have just arrived here. New adventurers…” Her voice trailed off.

Keeping her eyes on the foragers, Vina tried to not show how much the event had upset her. “It’s okay. Can you interpret it for me?”

“I’ll say the words. Hopefully Trina will interpret.” Caja hesitated, but then she took a deep breath. “She said her name is Vina. We will be rich. Capture her alive. Thaba, Toleina is dead. Be quiet Rolein. Drink a mixture. Tarn and Drimmer are you both healthy? My foot is badly injured. Kill her, now.” Caja paused for a moment before speaking again, “Cotorilin is one of our Valchara, usually connected with heat or fire.” She took a step forward and gently wrapped her arms around Vina’s arm. “What happened to them?”

For a moment, Vina was tempted to share, but she pushed away the feeling, not wanting to revisit those memories. “It doesn’t matter.” Seizing the moment to defy Trina, she attempted speaking Avathari. “Uhm… Ser… uh… vant valis Vina.”

You have learned a new language: Avathari. You are Rank 1 Functional.

A silly smile crawled onto Caja’s face as she gave a slight laugh, and she gave Vina a little shake. “Yes. Yes, that is your name. Your accent is adorable!”

Vina half closed her eyes as she pulled the right word into her mind. She was just regretful she had to pull the pronoun from a bad memory. “Sasti valis Caja…” then she pointed at Oyna. “... shal Oyna.”

Caja hesitated. “You were right until you included Oyna. It’s sastir, not sasti, when speaking of more than one person.”

“This will take a while,” Vina chuckled nervously, “But Trina won’t silence us easily.”

Amused, Oyna asked, “Going to learn Trinian next?”

Vina reached out to hold Oyna’s hand as well. “Seems like I should.”

Refuge Recall Location Restored: Southern Randar Expanse

“Well… shit…” Vina whispered. She closed her eyes and shook her head softly at the questioning gazes that fell on her. “The refuge at Randar has been rebuilt. Haco can now…”

In accordance with the Provisional Cooperation Agreement, between Vina Esca and The Watch, represented by Haco, The First of the Watch, it is hereby requested that you engage in war against The Darkness in the region of Randar for the people of Trina as stipulated under the agreement's mutual aid provision. Non-participation may be interpreted as a breach of the agreement, potentially resulting in nullification of the agreement and reactivation of concessions previously granted. Your immediate attention and compliance are requested.

“They’re wasting no time,” Vina muttered. She turned to her guards. “Report to Riza that I’ve recalled to Randar. We’ve already drawn up a plan for this event. She’ll know what to do.”

Caja let go of her arm immediately. “Yeah, I know. I saw it. I’ll see you on the other side.”

Oyna let go as well, but a red tendril popped out from under her bone armor. A small drop of blood formed at the tip. “Drink it.”

Vina pulled Oyna’s blood to her lips, immediately feeling the influx of her attributes, and drew Selenia from its sheath. “Thanks! Keep everyone safe while I'm gone!”

Then she winked out of existence as she made her recall selection. She appeared in a brand new refuge, surrounded by soldiers, Paliternian and Stigandorian alike who were all talking loudly.

“Lady Esca!” A man in armor shouted in surprise, his face inches away from Vina’s.

Vina took a step back and bumped into another soldier. “Holy shit!” she exclaimed. “Step back. What’s going on?”

“You’re in an active war zone. We’re fighting creatures outside! The Lady First requests for you to remain in the refuge!” the man yelled back above the noise in the refuge.

Vina turned and tried to push her way through the crowd of soldiers toward the exit, but no one made room for her. Grumbling, she activated her blood cloak and all eyes turned toward her. “Move!” She shouted, using Commanding Voice at the same time. People scrambled to get out of the way, and she stomped her way out of the refuge’s main hall and into the hallway.

“It’s safer inside the refuge, Lady Esca!” The man called out as he ran to catch up.

“This is a death trap,” Vina called over her shoulder. “Stine wants you to think it is safe, but it’ll just torture you while you’re stuck inside. Get out now while you still can.”

Soldiers, upon hearing her words, started to scramble toward the exit and Vina ran after them into the area surrounding the refuge. The once peaceful village where she had reunited with Etana was absolutely devastated. The simple wooden buildings were wrecked and several were on fire. Looking around though, Vina couldn’t tell if The Darkness had done the damage or something else. Only the refuge at her back was immaculate.

“Are our agreements being kept?” Vina asked the man standing beside her.

“Yes. Sylena has promised us The Supreme… uhm.. Zel'alor… is not here, but she hasn’t told us where it is. Haco has had a long discussion with her in preparation for your arrival, ma’am.”

Vina nodded as she looked to the south. She could see a line of people still fighting dark creatures at the town’s edge. Screams of anger and pain filled the air as weapons clanged against shells and chitin. Roars of flames swept through the dense legion of darkness in an attempt to slow the tide. Despite the sun overhead, darkness encompassed the southern sky, threatening to choke out the light.

Vina pulled a red vial, one of many, from her backpack that one of her Dedicated had prepared for her and quickly downed it.

You are afflicted with Bloody Decocted Sildown Mixture. Pain reduced by 72%. Blood recovery increased by 8% for the next 6 hours.

Stepping up to the edge of the refuge boundary, with the soldier at her side, Vina hesitated. “Don’t kill me yet, quest,” she begged quietly. Crossing over she felt the tension in her abdomen return immediately, but it didn’t immobilize her like last time. “Not much time left now,” she thought as she looked around, spotting Carda and Haco moving toward her. “This bitch again,” she mouthed silently.

“You came quickly,” Haco called out.

Vina held up a hand in greeting. “Yeah. I’m here.”

Haco’s analytical gaze felt heavy on her. “Why haven’t you returned The Aspect of Nature to Trina?”

Vina grunted at her abrupt question. “Because I didn’t promise to do it. Maybe you can negotiate for that when we’re discussing my safety,” she shot back.

A slow smile formed on Haco’s face as she seemed to recognize her own tactics being used against her. “Speaking of promises, Vina. I promise I received intelligence that Annalina is approaching Randar’s western walls. She should arrive in the city within the day,” Haco said, her golden eyes seeming to glimmer as she spoke the words.

Vina stared at Haco in disbelief as the promise notification appeared in her vision. “Ann… is in Randar?” She turned and looked to the north where she could see the mountains, knowing Randar awaited her just a half day’s walk away. “I want to meet with her.”

“I’ve left word with Valtor’s command to send her our way once she is there. For now though, it's time you contributed to the war effort.” Haco gestured out to the ongoing battle. “The battle line is consolidated to two choke points. We’re holding the main line while Valtor is holding the eastern access. We’re working in shifts. Carda and I just came off the line. Sylena, I think you call her Seassa, is currently fighting at several locations. Pick whicever one you prefer. I'm certain she could use your help.”

Vina looked again, but amidst the growing darkness, she couldn’t pinpoint where the swordmaster was. “I’ll find her.”

“I believe you will.” Haco said with a grim smile. “And Vina… this is it. If we or Valtor fail to hold the line, The Darkness can directly attack Randar. It isn’t completely evacuated yet and tens of thousands of innocent people will die if a Nelidredar gets within range of the city. Let’s not repeat Termily, okay?”