I woke still feeling like I needed to sob, but I had no eyes. First Avir’s death, now Lindra’s suffered. For a while I did nothing, simply processed my thoughts. I am still unsure where Lindra’s memories come from. They could be my past life, earlier this life, or someone else’s memories entirely. Yet, I am certain the memories are real, not fictional dreams or hallucinations. Regardless of who they belong to, they affect me and I want to know more.
For now, I need to address pressing matters. Moving towards the pixie kingdom, Rewp, I passed by the battle’s aftermath. The attacking monsters lay there, feeding insects, but I saw no evidence of pixies or my monsters. Additionally, by now the bodies of my constructs dispersed back into energy. Magic cannot create matter from nothing. Constructs are simply energy given form and that is undone in death. Quickly, I continued to Rewp.
As I approached, I saw makeshift triage shelters constructed barely within my domain. They covered two three tree branches. Inside, healers attended to the wounded. Finn argued with a female healer wearing a bloody smock.
“I’m back,” I thought to Finn, hopefully not interrupting something important. “How long was I gone?”
Finn startled for a second before saying aloud, “Riva, you returned! What happened? Are you injured, you disappeared all night.” Then mentally he sent to me, “Thanks for getting me out of that conversation, Wilona is ruthless.”
Deciding to ignore his latter statement, I responded, “I am well. At the end of the battle, the energy I absorbed overwhelmed me. But that won’t happen again. Not even absorbing 1,000 colrums would harm me now.”
“That’s a relief,” Finn sighed. “Then, Riva, allow me to introduce Wilona Silverlily, Head Healer and the greatest Life Mage in the whole kingdom,” he loftily announced, with an overly dramatic wave of his arm.
“I am the only Life Mage in the kingdom and you know it, your almighty Majesty,” she responded with a deadpan countenance. “Don’t worry Riva, he’s been off in the head since he fell out of a tree as a child,” she finished without cracking her mask.
“You pushed me off, witch!” Finn exclaimed.
Turning away from him, she cracked a smile but ignored his comment. “Riva, lovely to meet you but now that the area is secure with your presence I must return to my patients,” she said before sashaying away.
Finn mumbled something under his breath in Pixie speech as he watched her leave. After a moment he spoke to me again, “Now that we have more time before the next attack, I would like to introduce you to my mother and older siblings. Normally my eldest brother, Zequar, would lead our defense, but both of my brothers received serious injuries in the second attack. I am only in charge until they recover.”
“I am glad your brothers survived,” I responded, unable to say much about strangers.
Finn jumped in the air and began flying as he said, “The kingdom needs more stability in trying times. Zequar has not even been officially crowned since our father died a moon turn ago.” Finn’s hands clenched and he sped up. “Follow me, I will bring you to General Jarh Ead while I fetch my family. The royal palace is located in the part of Rewp outside your domain.”
As we traveled I noticed changes in the pixies. Before the last battle, they appeared downtrodden and without hope. Now, the soldiers still looked exhausted, but the weight of hopelessness no longer pulled them down. They stood up straighter. The civilians even managed to smile. However, everyone bustled about with some task to accomplish.
Rounding a tree, the general hovered before a squad of soldiers, shouting commands. The soldiers rushed into different positions, the drill fluid and well practiced. Finn and I approached. Finn spoke, “General, Riva returned. I am going to retrieve my family to introduce her. In the meantime, could you keep her company? I’ll link you mentally, I’m sure you two have plenty of plans to create.”
Grinning, the General nodded and then shouted to the troops, “Alright you ubee larvas, it’s your lucky rotation. Dismissed!” They saluted with a closed fist over their heart before flying away.
Finn waved to the General and me before leaving as well. Once he left, we discussed last night’s battle. The successes and failures. Initially, he wanted to form an attack squad to defeat the enemy dungeon core tonight, but I convinced him that would fail. My constructs could not leave my domain.
With the energy from last night, I can create several new monsters, but not enough. We would be greatly outnumbered because constructs cost significantly less to make then monsters. Thus, offense is currently unavailable. Instead, defending another attack should give me a net energy gain, especially with more time to prepare traps. After the next battle, we can determine our next steps.
Our discussion continued until Finn returned with the royal family and their guards. Both of the brothers looked emaciated, their muscles shriveled and lacking any fat. The Queen hovered closely to the weak pixies, ready should one of them collapse. The three all drooped with exhaustion.
Finn spoke first, “Mother, brothers, may I introduce Riva the friendly dungeon. Without her, Rewp would no longer live.”
Assuming Finn would link me to them, I responded, “Greetings your majesties. I am glad to assist and could not have succeeded without the help of your military.” Additionally, to Finn only, I sent, “What happened to your brothers? They seem emaciated, not suffering battle wounds.”
Finn answered me mentally. “Wilona healed their wounds. With her magic she transfers fat, muscle, and bone if necessary, to repair the damage. However, with large wounds, the patient’s reserves run out and leaves them like this until the weight is regained naturally.”
The brother to my right moved forward. He shared Finn’s white hair but stood taller and more formally. “I am Zequar Rewp, First Prince and soon to be King. Let me express gratitude on behalf all of Rewp,” he said before bowing his head. The Queen gasped behind him.
“Please raise your head, I only did what any normal person would in my position. Assisting also benefited me,” I replied.
This time the other brother spoke, “You actions still show your intentions, accept our gratitude. And I am Topit Rewp, Second Prince,” he finished with a smile that looked ghastly on his shrunken face, but his eyes glimmered sincerely. Their mother moved forward now.
“I am Ketarina Rewp. Ad Queen, I doubted Finn’s sanity when he suggested we turn to another dungeon for help. I have never been so grateful to be wrong. Soon, I will abdicate for Zequar, I trust my three sons to make our Kingdom greater than ever before with your help.” the Queen eloquently proclaimed.
“I am certain our allyship will grow even stronger with time,” I reciprocated to the Queen. However, as I finished, Topit suddenly dipped from his hover and fell. Quickly two guards caught the Prince, but he lay limp in their arms.
“That is our cue to leave, the Princes must rest,” the Queen stated. “I look forward to speaking to you again, friendly dungeon.” She then flew over to Zequar and helped support him.
“Farewell your majesties,” I called to them as they left.
Only the General, Finn, and I remained. The General ran Finn through our decisions for tonight’s battle.
“Why wait for the attack to gain more energy? Surely forest creatures could also provide more energy,” Finn commented.
“I can’t believe I did not think of that before,” I admitted. Immediately I called Batoor to our location. Then to Finn, I said, “Would you take Batoor and the hawks hunting with you? They can help collect prey.”
General Jarh chimed in, “That will work well, Finn is an excellent hunter. Meanwhile, I should access the soldiers and resources available. Riva, will you create the traps and your constructs?” He asked while looking up in the sky, nowhere near me. I need to find a way to let others see this form.
“Sounds excellent, call if you need me,” I replied. Returning to the battlefield, I mentally told Batoor to hunt with Finn and listen to his commands.
Looking at the corpses of the enemy monsters, I decided to create a colrum monster first. They appeared to be the most intelligent and deadly creature I encountered so far.
Going through the process of forming the mold, I decided to change the form slightly. Instead of multiple fleshy spikes coming out of its back, now one long flesh spike could attack or grab. I also increased the muscles and thickness of skin as usual. Finally, I decided to bring the bodies to the river before combining them into the mold.
Once in the river, I started the process with the void, and like with Batoor, continued to add energy afterward. However, this time I added water energy at the end. Thus, my water-infused colrum came to life.
“Welcome to life, Eikooc,” I chimed, happy to create life rather than destroy it.
“Mrgmgmllrr,” she responded.
“I hope that you will enjoy life with me, but there will be times I need your assistance in battle. Is that okay?”
“Mrlgrrrgrrrrrr!” she roared, serrated teeth glistening with her savage grin.
“I’ll take that as a yes, let’s make you some allies then,” I said while chuckling.
Evaluating my energy levels, I determined that I cannot infuse water into more colrums. The additional energy cost is too high. Fortunately, the colrums’ strength lies in numbers, not individuals. Of the six colrum bodies I managed to create five monsters. Little pieces of the sixth corpse melded with each of the other five to improve them.
Once all the colrums stood before me, I took us back to the battlefield and commanded them to pick up the spears and nets dropped in the battle. Then I sent them to catch up with Finn. Their nets and strength will definitely help capture large prey. After they left, I formed a single, earth-touched monkey. The only physical changes I made was increased strength and retractable claws. The sight of him disgusted me, but I would not deny a resource due to sentimental values. He went to assist the hunt as well.
By now my energy levels were low enough that I held off from creating any new monsters or constructs. Traps took precedence. The spike traps worked wonderfully, but I need variety. To start, I repaired the spike trench. However, this time I added stronger sections to support toads, but weak enough to collapse under monkeys or colrums. Furthermore, every ten zicks I prepared a tree to fall, hoping to separate their forces and crush a few attackers. At the tops of other trees, I created shelves of branches and lined the edges with large rocks, ready to drop down. I grew the forest brush extremely dense around the edges of my corridor of death. Tripwire, thorns, platforms that thrust a spear forward when stepped on, all of these I lost myself in creating. I loved the creativity of designing traps. Although, I longed for other materials, metal ideally.
That thought caused me to groan and berate myself. Until now, I neglected half my domain, the hemisphere below me. Where metals lay. Embarrassed by my negligence, I dove into the earth to explore. Moving as easily through the ground as the air above, I searched. Despite searching for clicks I found nothing.
Examining manually required too much time. So I grew larger. Normally my conscience traveled my domain as an invisible, intangible sphere a click wide. Seeing and hearing outside my consciousness presented no issue. However, when an object traveled through this body I felt the exact type, position, and shape of every molecule. I normally avoided this unusual sensation. Now, I embraced it. I expanded my body to over a dozen clicks wide. Racing through the soil, I sensed and collected a countless number of metal flecks.
Soon I emerged carrying several lumps of ore separated into different types. Copper, iron, lead, silver, and gold I recognized. The last two remained a mystery. For now, I decided to work with the lightest material, copper.
Finding General Jarh took no time at all. He walked through the triage station with Wilona, discussing the state of the troops.
"Last night we incurred almost no losses. With the soldiers you've healed since then we're in the best position we could hope for," the General explained. The two of them flew leisurely, examining the wounded.
"They may be physically recovered, but many cannot properly fight. Moral is low and the dead need mourning,” she pointed out.
General Jarh nodded, “I understand their dismay. Imagine fighting giant monsters that squish you like a bug while you do nothing more than annoy them.”
“Sounds like you need an upgrade,” I sent to both of them. For once they looked directly at me while responding, the lump of metal I held gave away my position.
“Let me borrow your sword, Commander,” I said as I lifted the blackthorn sword out of the sheath. I inspected it closely. A long blade, simple circular crossguard, and ridged grip formed the blade. In a moment, I copied the exact shape mentally. I absentmindedly returned the blade and ignored his questions. I turned my focus inward.
To forge a blade I needed heat, another word for energy. Pouring my power into the metal, it slowly turned molten. From there I created a cast out of my limbs and the metal flowed into shape. Drawing the energy back out, it’s temperature rapidly dropped. In only a click I forged the new blade, ready for use. Reclaiming the heat put in made the process almost cost-free.
“Tell me your thoughts General,” I smugly sent to the awed pixie and subsequently dropped the sword in his hands.
He ran his thumb over the edge, drawing a drop of blood, and took a few experimental swings. Charging into a tree, he impaled it nearly to the hilt. Retrieving it required bracing both his legs and pulling with his whole body.
“There will never be a day you fail to surprise me, Dungeon. Heavier than we’re used to, but extremely deadly. Could you make it a bit thinner? I doubt it needs as much reinforcing as our brittle thorns,” he said. A moment later, he added, “I am worried about the weight for weaker troops though.”
At this, Wilona spoke up, “Why not take off the armor then? When every blow kills regardless, it only slows you down.”
“Aye, I should have thought of that,” Jarh grumbled. “I need a runner!”
A young fairly flew to attention. “New orders. Every soldier is to discard armor for the next fight and report to receive a new weapon,” he commanded.
Over the next two hours, I forged a hundred copper blades. The soldiers took to drilling with them immediately. Their faces glowed. They felt deadly again. Without any protection, they also flew faster than before. I felt pride in my creations, seeing the joy and hope they brought. If one more pixie lives from this, I would make thousands of swords.
The first time I met the pixies came to mind. I vividly remember the death of those two lovers in each others’ arms. The memory brings me sadness, but as I watch the soldiers drill before me, it also reminds me how precious life is.
A surge of energy interrupts my reverie, coming from the northeast. Fearing the worst, I rush across my domain. Only to find Finn, Batoor, Eikooc, the other colrums, and the rest of the hunting squad surrounding a freshly killed boar. Along with them each hawk held a hare, one colrum dragged another boar, and three others dragged a wolf each.
“End them quickly. Don’t worry, I can absorb significantly more without harming myself now.” I reassured everyone.
On cue, the hawks snapped their beaks through the hares’ necks and the colrum’s spears impaled skulls. Snaps and squishes. Then silence in the forest. The high hit me, I never experienced this amount all at once. I floated in the bliss for all too little time. As I came back to my senses, I noticed two things. The withdrawal felt sharper and the type of energy more savory. Larger and intelligent animals or monsters tased differently. Richer and fuller.
Finn interrupted my dark thoughts with a laugh, then said “I never felt so useless on a hunt. With the hawks’ scouting, Batoor’s speed, and the colrum’s traps and ambushes, I simply hovered there and looked pretty.” He struck a pose, trying and failing to look provocative.
Batoor took Finn’s distraction as an opportunity to brace his powerful back legs and launch himself into the air. Shortly after jumping he turned to wind, reappearing right behind Finn. Somehow sensing the danger, Finn dropped straight down. The swiping paw missed him by a hair’s width. Finn swooped down then banked to the right. Unexpectedly, as Batoor began to fall, an uncanny breeze also pushed him closer to the fleeing pixie. This time the swipe fell significantly short of Finn.
“And this mongrel keeps looking at me like a playtoy!” Finn shouted as he flew up, out of leaping range.
Batoor made short little chuffing sounds as he hopped up and down, pleased with himself. Vivacious laughter burst out of me. I couldn’t control myself. My giggling continued to burst out of to the point the trees began shaking. My joy spread through my entire domain, causing flowers to bloom and plants to sprout. Oh, I needed this levity. Eventually, I calmed down.
“Batoor you’re only allowed to hurt him a little, okay? No playing with other pixies though,” I instructed my little trouble maker. He bobbed his head and licked his lips.
“Flak it, Riva. That’s not funny!”
“I disagree,” I said with one last chuckle.
Addressing my monsters, I praised them and said, “Leave the boars, but the rest may be a treat for your hard work.”
That started a bloody carnage that I tried not to look closely at. Maybe later I will teach them table manners. For now, I dragged the two boar carcasses away and got to work. For this monster, I went with standard increased size, muscles, and tougher skin. The only new twist was I changed the tusks to work similarly to a pinching beetle. Now the boar will be able to pierce, rend, and hold. Earth infused energy at the end finished the culminated into one powerful sow. I decided to call her kind razor-tusk boars.
“Welcome to life, Orsa. I hope you enjoy your time with us. At times I may call upon you for battle, but I hope you enjoy living here."
Orsa wagged her tail a few times in acknowledgment before munching on some nearby shrubbery. In amusement, I grew a holper berry bush right in front of her. When the berries appeared she squealed in joy. I think I know the way to her heart.
Finn flew over to the bush and grabbed a berry the size of his head. “Is there anything you can’t do Riva?”
“I couldn’t save Avir,” I solemnly responded. A moment of silence went by.
“You give all of us a better opportunity for life than anywhere else I know, Riva. Not everyone will survive. But I know Avir saved at least two pixies in his final moments.”
“I know. Come, we need to make a few final preparations for tonight.”