The two froze as Thomas looked back in frank disbelief and Daniel frantically wondered if anyone could hear through the walls. When he considered that he hadn’t given Thomas’ secret that much concern, he decided to just plow straight on through before the Cleric opened the door. “I was living on my world when out of nowhere, I showed up above Eido just after the Upswell. I almost died before I got to Hagain. You were like the fifth or sixth person I’d talked to. I wanted to tell you for a while but you’re a Cleric. I was worried you’d think I was from the Crest or, worse, tell everyone about me.”
He added that last part as an attempt at a joke but the Cleric wasn’t in the mood for humor. His eyes scoured Daniel for any signs of lying but the Artificer had gotten too adept at suppressing his tell for his own good. Without Thomas having the actual power that would sort fact from fiction, there was no way to make a positive confirmation. Rather than speak, the Cleric just folded his arms, looking at Daniel with every intent of leaving if he wasn’t serious.
Daniel sighed and gave him the Earth basics, leaving out a detailed history of his life as well as the fact that a copy of him was still back on that world. At least, I think he’s still there. It’s possible that bunker could have exploded if I overloaded it with that mana surge. He really hoped that wasn’t the reason he couldn’t reach Bridge Space.
The short version lasted only a minute, the retelling taking far less time than when he’d given the first speech to Lograve and Murdon. It ended with Daniel showing Thomas the photo on his Focus, though the Cleric hadn’t drawn closer and Daniel felt approaching at this point was unwise. He’d had to levitate it over with Telekinetic Reach. “It’s changed, Hunter wasn’t in it the first time. I think that happened while time was missing.”
“Why are you telling me now, Daniel?” Thomas finally spoke, his voice most of the way back to normal, though it carried both the hurt and insult he was feeling. Neither did he miss the change in how he addressed him.
“One of the first things Murdon said when I told him I was from another world was that there was only the Octyrrum and the Crest beyond. It’s in your religion, and you’re a Cleric.”
“And I told you I’m not that kind of Cleric,” Thomas shot back. “I do it to help people. Assuming whatever messed with your memories didn’t screw up your head, I wouldn’t have turned you in or tried to kill you.”
“How could I have known that? My life’s been in danger almost the entire time I’ve been here Thomas. My world doesn’t have monsters!” He winced and lowered his voice for multiple reasons. “You were so distant here too. Why didn’t you tell us some squat shark person was shaking you down?”
Thomas shuffled a little and finally uncrossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “I’d have to tell you why she was doing that? What would you do anyway, all she’d need to do to screw me is tell people what my power does, and she can shout across regions.”
“Fair.” Daniel tossed his phone into his bag, where his necklace was also staying for now. He could still access his powers so long as the bag itself was on him and as recent events had shown, he couldn’t just leave them out for something to happen to them. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, Daniel, I’m fine.”
“I’m going to Threst,” Daniel said carefully, bringing them back to the topic they’d been on before Thomas had mentioned the Fate. “You should come with me. I’m going to see if I can get everyone we know here to come, assuming I get the chance.”
“What about the Tyrant, we’re just going to leave them here?”
“Honestly, yeah. Thomas, the people in power already sucked. I don’t know how much worse things can get. I’d still try to kill them both but Ashier somehow has Rorshawd under their thumb. We can’t beat that.” Not if I can’t use my lightning powers, Daniel thought to himself.
“She killed my brother and my father, Daniel.” Thomas stared at him like he’d done it.
“Rorshawd killed Parduc,” Daniel shot right back. “Everything that happened with Claire after was because of that, and that I was an idiotic jerk. I’ve come to terms with my part but the first thing I did when I saw him was try to kill him.”
“That’s what I’m saying we should do!”
“This isn’t our fight, Thomas. What do you have left here?” It was a nasty question, but Daniel didn’t want to leave Thomas behind if he managed to escape.
“You want me to just abandon where I grew up?”
“Come with me,” Daniel repeated. “We’ll get strong enough, come back, and kill them both.”
Something in Thomas’ eyes shifted as he blinked. “You’re different. You were broken up about killing those thieves. What changed?”
The swirling, agitated, energetic mass within his soul settled a little bit more as it tried to find its shape. “Hunter died.”
…
Thomas left soon after that, not committing to anything other than cooling his heels on the revolution. His pocket Fate wasn’t checking in with him and after hearing she’d collapsed again, he had grown worried. That left Daniel alone to stare at his hands, looking at them like he’d just discovered Claw Strike. Even that hurt because it was the habit Hunter had picked up after the Empathic Link had caused parts of their personality to cross over from the brief blasts every day.
The part of Hunter he’d taken was still there in him, though it felt like an image burned into a screen. That was another clue Hunter wasn’t back, at least in this region, since the Empathic Link would work across any distance up to the regional borders.
“Thomas,” Daniel said to himself, counting on his fingers. “Khare. Khiat.” Is that it? Daniel asked himself with only three fingers raised. He had a random thought and spoke another name. “Willow.” She was a Spiritualist and had known about Hunter’s kind before meeting him. While it seemed she’d been naive and not part of the real conspiracy, she could still know things about the organization that had ended up killing one of the beasts they supposedly revered. There was a faint hope that they might know of another way of bringing Hunter back. Casia had come back from the dead, though Daniel didn’t want to use her method.
“Tlara?” Daniel didn’t raise a fifth finger. “Four, then. Four people and I get out of here.” Someone knocked on the door after he said that and he looked hopefully for a mark, thinking Khare had spotted him. Those hopes were dashed when a spire guard opened the door allowing a woman trailing mist from her eyes into the space. Rorshawd was still up above on the Eye, and he realized the aura he’d placed on the Tyrant had disappeared at some point.
“It is time to continue our conversation,” Ashier announced through the woman they occupied.
“Are you going to try to do anything to my mind?” Daniel asked, knowing he was close enough to the window to Dodge Roll out if the Tyrant was stupid enough to answer him honestly.
“No. The influence power I made use of in the Thormundz died with Heldren.” The door closed behind Ashier and they remained standing. He could feel the authority in the air as a tangible force, similar to Murdon whenever the draconoid was being particularly commanding. None of that gave him a sense of mental intrusion or other aggression, Ashier was just able to dominate his attention passively. “Have you had time to let your thoughts recover?”
Ok, I don’t think they know what Thomas and I discussed, Daniel thought, since there were several topics the Tyrant would have brought up immediately otherwise. “I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “My friend died. That’s not something a couple of hours alone in a room lets you get over.”
“The Octyrrum will honor their sacrifice,” Ashier replied in what they probably thought was a comforting way. The lack of any threats was welcome, though they were also keenly direct. “Rikendia has fallen.”
“What?” Daniel knew of the region, but only as the distant center of the kingdom he was in. “Was it the Spiritualists?”
“We don’t know. The entire capital city was destroyed, collapsing in on itself and claiming many of the lives in the process. My Fate received only part of the emergency message. The Spoke was destroyed during it, twisting the magic, but we know enough. The King has been assassinated. The region has fallen.”
“They were doing this everywhere,” Daniel said breathlessly.
“You understand the weight of our purpose, then. What are you? You do not need to fear me, servant of the gods. My only purpose is their will.”
“I-“ Daniel found that he was mentally preparing to confess his origins and cut off the sentence before he could. Ashier had used an inquisition power on him, and this time he had information to confess. Thankfully he’d been able to resist, though only by diverting his reply to a different answer they’d wanted. “I don’t know. At the top of the tower, when my friend died, something broke in me and I just felt… I had all this mana and these strange powers. Once she was dead Hammer showed up, and then it’s all blank until I landed in the middle of your ritual.”
The Tyrant took in his words and thought to themself for a few moments, the mist flowing out of the woman’s eyes receding somewhat as they thought. “What is your intent?”
While the power wasn’t used again, Daniel felt the echo of its effects and didn’t feel there was a reason to lie. “I’m leaving Aughal and taking my friends with me. I’m going to find those that are missing, and a way to bring Hunter back.”
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“You are too focused on yourself. There are hundreds of thousands of lives in this kingdom alone that require our aegis.”
“Threst is in this kingdom,” Daniel argued, keeping a level gaze with the Tyrant as he found strength from somewhere to- No, not just somewhere. He reached back for Hunter’s echo within him and used it as a touchstone. Words he’d said before came back to him. ‘No cages or masters. No fear or uncertainty. Stand or die, that is what life is here.’ The now turbid swirl within his soul solidified around those words. “I’m going to kill as many monsters as it takes to make that happen, either because I need that power, or because they’re standing in my way.”
“You can’t kill me,” Ashier said simply. “And it would be a loss to the Octyrrum for you to die trying. The gods have marked you for greatness.”
“Then let me be great somewhere else. How can you ask me to, knowing what you’ve done?” Ashier hadn’t seemed the regretful kind to Daniel, but he’d sensed an opening in their words that implied their mind wasn’t fully set when it came to his fate.
“All I did was to secure the region. Every one we lose strengthens the Crest, and it should be clear now that the loss of the Thormundz was the first step towards Rikendia’s fall.” A little bit of flame entered the air gestalt’s words, to his ears coming from an annoyance that no one else could see how easy a trade it was to kill a few people for maintaining order.
Daniel mentally thanked Thomas for his glibness because if the Cleric hadn’t told him every rumor in the Thormundz, he wouldn’t have the ammo to fire his next shot. “What about the people who died to the monsters you let loose, or the ones that burned to death in Murdon’s house? The people you supposedly died with? Are you telling me their deaths were completely necessary?”
A conflicted look entered Ashier’s borrowed face for the first time. “That was the work of my subordinates. They were too hasty, too zealous when I asked them to create an event that would incite Murdon. My goal was simply to burn the manor down and fake my death so that I could operate from the shadows.”
“And that just makes it ok?” It was a good thing Ashier was the true believer kind of crazy and not the ‘strike them down for their insolence’ kind because he was leaning into pure grade insolence. “What about Rorshawd? You can’t tell me you don’t know what he’s done. He worshiped one of the Octyrrum’s worst enemies and you’ve kept him by your side.” Inspiration flared as his words continued to flow. “Why should I trust your commitment if you haven’t put an end to someone like him?”
“Do not question my faith!” Ashier’s voice rose and a force pushed Daniel against the wall for a moment before it died.
That felt like Telekinetic Reach, Daniel thought, momentarily stunned. How do they have that? Is it a Tyrant power too? That did make sense. The force behind the power was massive, though everyone always said Tyrants had an advantage over other classes. As he began to breathe again, the Tyrant continued.
“The dragon is necessary. I will throw away no advantage that can be used to fight against the Crest. He obeys my every command and there is no aspect of his life I don’t control.” Ashier gestured to what was technically herself. “I treat no other this way, not even this Proxy. The mortals bound to me are those I have pledged to care for as they empower me in return. The lone monster I bonded to out of desperate need will persist only so long as he remains useful.”
“You should kill him right now,” Daniel said, dismissing all of the justifications, only to then add, “But honestly? You sound worse than death for him. You may be the most pious person in this region, but I can never join your cause after what you’ve done. Wouldn’t it be better to let us both work where we can be useful?” He took a step forward against the tide that was the Tyrant’s will. “I’m going to Threst, and I’m taking my friends. Will you try to stop me?”
The Tyrant gave him what might have been an approving nod as they pulled a bound journal out and consulted a page that was kept from Daniel’s eyes. He was slightly taken aback by this as so few here used paper in their daily life. The avian Craftsman had, as well as Arpan, but the common laborer may only be able to read. That Ashier had something like this was less surprising considering they’d been an assistant to Murdon for many years, although gestalt shouldn’t be able to read normally. Did they have their own written language?
“Your departure would cost my region a Cleric, a Martialist, and a presumed Ranger, class unconfirmed. Is that right?”
“I also want Willow Seliri.” Daniel didn’t offer any additional explanation and added another name last minute. Sorry Thomas. “And Silora Thelonas.”
“She is my only Fate.” The face frowned, and it seemed Ashier had been ready to give him what he asked up until then.
“Is she? You haven’t been able to bond with her. I think she’ll get a lot less cooperative if we leave without her too.”
“Really?” Another spike of forced compliance hit Daniel, but he gripped hard on Hunter’s echo. The ringcat wouldn’t have given in, so he wouldn’t either.
“Yes,” Daniel bit out, uncowed.
“You aren’t as clueless as you would appear.” There was more subtle approval from the Tyrant, and Daniel retroactively saw this was the reaction Ashier had been looking for.
Hammer had shown up and personally taken him away. If he had acted like the person he’d been when he’d come to the Octyrrum Ashier would have been confused, and ultimately thrown him into a closet until he proved his worth. What he’d said and done now fell more in line with a powerful agent of the gods. They weren’t looking for another servant with him, they had plenty of those already. They wanted an ally. Ideally, one that could blow up any strong monsters with divine retribution, but maybe it was enough to know he was out there bringing the justice of the Octyrrum to the monsters of the Crest.
“I’ll leave today, then.”
“No.” Daniel found he couldn’t move closer to the Tyrant, and the effect wasn’t Telekinetic Reach but another power. “I will move you to the Hunter’s Guild to meet those you know there. We will soon see what the gods have in store for your future.”
…
Daniel couldn’t see the rest of what turned out to be the Rose Spire as he was led to an elevator. The small box of a construct evoked a strong sense of familiarity from Earth, although Daniel also felt another connection he couldn’t quite place. The missing time maybe? He’d had a sinking feeling he’d had something to do with Rikendia, what with him arriving here right as it fell. Not something to bring up to the stern people armed with swords.
As he got to the main landing, Daniel was taken aback to see the main lobby had been turned into a fortified strong point, barricades set up to face the gate with an entire ballista pointed outward. It seemed the Tyrant wasn’t leaving anything up to chance with their rule, and had somehow brought Aughal’s flagging guard back into full morale.
Neither leading Daniel through the Spire’s front door were those he’d recognized, either by face or the name Identify Creature gave him. Even so, he had to ask. “I heard things were pretty bad for the guard before the siege. Why is everyone working for the Tyrant now, I thought you all hated them?”
The two shared a look before one replied bitterly. “What other option is there? If you can believe it, life’s gotten better though. Shorter hours, an actual rotation. No one’s patrolling the deserts so we just have to defend here.”
“What about the monsters, won’t they grow out of control?”
The guard shrugged, and the other said in a low voice, “With that red draconoid they’ve got, who cares? He’ll burn up anything that gets close.”
An impish part of Daniel thought about revealing what Rorshawd truly was, but it wouldn’t get him anything. He’d set himself on a path of loose cooperation with the Tyrant and if there was a chance they’d let him and his friends go, he’d take it. Part of him, the part closest to Hunter’s echo, rebelled at this but he shoved those emotions down. He was making the smart play. Letting anger control him almost killed Thomas earlier.
He didn’t make any more conversation as he was brought around the streets towards where the Hunter’s Guild was built in the north-east section of the city. Threst itself was in this direction relative to Aughal making it convenient if he was being allowed to leave soon. Several of the ballista were missing from the roof of the guild, and two large sections of the walls were in the middle of patchy repairs.
Farthest Run mentioned the guild had been attacked, Daniel thought, seeing this. I didn’t think it was this bad. He still didn’t know the extent of the siege. As the entrance neared, Daniel toggled the mark rapidly on him again and, finally, its twin appeared somewhere on the second floor of the building. “You were taking me to see my friends, right?” he asked the guards. “I can take it from here.”
“We’re to escort you all the way,” the one who’d mentioned Rorshawd said.
“No. I’ve got it.” He glared at one of the other guards.
“We have our orders,” he repeated, a hand going to his sword.
Talon. “I don’t care.” It had occurred to Daniel that he could take apart both of these people if he wanted to. He’d abhorred the prospect of killing people, but that was before someone had killed Hunter. It was a wake up call he should have gotten after Rorshawd or the thieves, but he’d bought the lie of this world that it was mortals vs monsters. Not all monsters were evil, and some people were monsters themselves. That revelation didn’t mean he’d tear the throats out of these guards if they insisted, but he wasn’t backing down either.
The guard made to draw his sword but the other one sharply shook her head. “Just get inside,” they practically spat at him, and didn’t follow. He walked the halls purposefully, ignoring anyone who asked questions and heading straight for Khare’s mark. There was no one he’d recognized and talking with any of them was pointless. Maybe if one of Farthest Run had been there that would change, but Daniel had been intentional in leaving them out of who he was taking.
Unsurprisingly, he found himself in an area tall enough for duskers to stand at their full height. Khiat and Khare staying together made sense. There weren’t enough gestalt Blessed in the guild for them to stay with. Khare had gotten enough across to the dusker that she was already coming his way. “Daniel!?”
“Khiat,” he nodded in reply. “Are you ok?”
“Are, are you ok? Daniel, what happened? Hunter… everyone…” He looked at her closely, trying to make sure she was handling events alright. In a way, the siege had been her Rorshawd, and he was afraid of what survivor’s guilt might have done to her.
“We’ll get them back,” he said with absolute conviction. Khare ambled around the dusker in their Chimeric Form, which they seemed to prefer when circumstances allowed. The acorns that represented the gestalt’s eyes were set on his face and were unmoving. Daniel flashed his mark and Khare did the same.
“Survival?”
“I don’t know.” Daniel shook his head. “I think Hunter was the only one who died. Look, both of you, what happened after the Eye?”
“The Tyrant showed up,” Khiat said with a hint of fear, though Daniel’s presence bolstered her to some degree. He was holding Reassure in wait in case she needed it, but only if she needed it, aware of the dangers of overusing that kind of power. “They took control. People say others tried to fight them but they all died. Daniel, my family came to the city two days ago, what’s going on?”
“You don’t know? Gtoll sounded like he spoke to you.”
“Oh.” Khiat turned her head to the side and shrank by half a meter as the chitinous plates on her legs partially collapsed. “He’s level 5 now! We talked a few days ago, after he said he’d decided to help the Tyrant.” She seemed conflicted about that, which was a distinct reaction from Thomas’.
It makes sense, Daniel thought after a few seconds. He lost his brother, while Khiat’s family gets to be safer here. Relatively. “Khiat, Khare, I’m going to Threst. Will you go with me?”
“Assent,” Khare affirmed instantly. Khiat looked more hesitant.
“You don’t have to,” Daniel added after the pause grew longer.
“What would we do?”
“Find Murdon,” Daniel said, dictating the list in his head. “Find our lost friends. Revive Hunter. Get stronger.”
One of Khiat’s hands touched the point of her bow that dipped below her waist. “After that shot on the Eye, the one with the glowing arrow, something changed. I think it’s a new power. It’s all still so strange. The world. I can’t understand what’s happening. I’m not like how I was… back then, but it’s all changing.”
Daniel locked his gaze with hers, ignoring the half-human, half-bug nature of the eyes that would have made him squirm internally. “I’m not a stranger to strangeness. Come with me and I promise I’ll tell you everything. I don’t know if I can help you with your, uh, ‘class’, but I’ll try.”
“Everything?” Khare asked, able to pick up what he was offering.
“Everything.”