“M–my people.” Calden croaked like a skewered frog, then coughed violently before calming to a steady breathing rate. “My people.” He muttered one final time, trailing off into a deep sleep.
‘Annabelle’ blinked twice. Unable to move a step from where she waited at the behest of the white torathan named Anon. She quivered, and she mouthed. “H–he’s alive… !”
Tears of relief burned her vision into a blurry mess. The adrenaline that had kept her going for the majority of their flight finally ebbed from her, and she dropped to her knees; at last able to rest now that her task had been safely completed. Calden is healed! House Dresdeth will endure! Our people are still safe! Our people… He was still thinking of them even now! Even in his dying moments! I must… I must do all I can to help. Father too! We must all rally behind such a worthy heir! Praise be to Matweirden! Praise be to the warriors in white!
Then sleep took her.
#
‘Nadia’ nearly fell when the vines restraining her loosened and let her touch back down onto the soft grass of the small clearing.
The fear and indignity of falling onto her face reminded her to breathe as more sense returned to her blanked out brain.
How? What? Who? This, this Anon character… I’ve never felt so utterly overwhelmed in a contest of magic since my days at the academy! I didn’t even get to cast, let alone resist! They just completely man-handeled me from start to finish without even the slightest hint of an incantation! I’ve heard of powerful maguses weaving spells with song or reducing the chant to a gesture or two, but there wasn’t even that! She shuddered as the memory replayed in her mind. And what was that thing they just did? I felt no mana yet it seemed as if the totality of the world condensed into that one touch, that one moment, at the behest of that clearly inhuman being! She bit her lip and furrowed her brows. To think I was foolish enough to disregard them as a druid! I was to protect him! And now… .
She scampered over to where ‘Norman’ cradled her young lord, and she quickly muttered the diagnosis spell under her breath.
Rings of blue runes wrapped around Calden’s limp, but breathing, body, and began to rotate in a variety of directions. ‘Nadia’ reached into the enchanted pocket of her robe for the emergency high quality health drop she was ordered to keep on hand, and impatiently waited for the spell to complete and make its report.
I swear, if that, She glanced at Anon’s slumbering form beside her, that creature, harmed him in any way, I’ll have it’s head no matter what the young miss has to say about it!
The magic circles pulsed. Then went out rune by rune as a calm female voice echoed in her head. Diagnostic complete. No abnormalities found. No actions required. Subject is in perfect health.
The tension bled from her strained shoulders, and her teeth chattered as she let down her guard.
She sat there beside Calden and ‘Norman’ and Anon for a long while. Eventually she met ‘Norman’s dark eyes and followed them over to where Anon lay.
“He saved us.” The huntmaster mumbled. “Skies above, he saved us.”
‘Nadia’ raised an eyebrow. “He? That… person? A he? Do you need your eyes checked, old man?”
He tilted his head, then glanced back at Anon, and frowned. “Now that you mention it, Lady Ysdra, I mean ‘Annabelle’ said something about a white torathan.” He rubbed a hand across his scruffy chin. “You don’t think she meant Anon do you?”
‘Nadia’ sighed and held her head in her hands. “I do.”
And I surely hate it… What in the world are we even dealing with? A demon? A deity? An arch magus? For all I know they could be a bloody elder beast! And we’re no closer to finding out which!
“And what a headache sorting it out is going to be… .”
We owe it now. And there aren’t any stories of such debts being easy to repay.
#
‘Norman’ cradled Calden in his lap and pondered what ‘Nadia’ had just said. Yes. There is a lot to uncover here.
His was a long life spent wandering from back country to back country, hunting beasts and exploring the forbidden or uncharted lands of the nearby nations; growing his knowledge about the creatures of this region, and getting a taste of what could be found in the wider world.
Legend, myth, fable, and folklore, his desire to explore and to disprove the religions of the masses spurred him into near perpetual motion, and he’d gone out in search of it all; yet only on a handful of occasions did he fail to prove that the stories were anything more than tall tales.
But even on those occasions he’d gleaned enough to discredit those propped up as sacred, and with each triumph his driving fervor faded until it burnt out completely, so he retired as a huntmaster in service to an agreeable lord.
Thus he lived, but never did he imagine that something supernatural would simply up and come to him. And that that something could lack any accompanying myths for him to scrutinize it with. Or that it would perform a feat that even he could only describe as truly miraculous.
What is this feeling? And how did you stir it within me, Anon? It’s clear you’re not an elder beast or their kin, for you’re far too small and weak in comparison. But that only leaves me to conclude that you’re like Lady Matweirden; a terrestrial deity, a guardian or ruler of this land. I know better than to think creatures such as you divine, but since I’ve heard nothing from the locals, does that mean that you’ve only recently been born? Or is it possible for a mortal to ascend to such a lofty height? I know the four heroes are said to be stronger than some of the deities, but they aren’t immortal… But if you ascended, then that would explain why you collapsed. He shook his head. No, that’s foolish. For now, I should merely be grateful that you spared us, and saw fit to heal Lord Calden.
He patted the young man’s shoulder, watched ‘Nadia’ stew in her own thoughts, glanced furtively at where Anon slumbered, and then stared off into the dark forest.
All I know is that we have been unspeakably lucky. And that I know now, more than ever, that there is so much more wonder to this world than even I have seen.
He mouthed. “How dare a creature like you return the burden of curiosity to me, Anon.” He trembled, and a tear escaped his eye and slipped down his wrinkled cheek. “And how dare I be grateful for it.”
#
Calden took in several frantic breaths before drifting off into a milky white void. Glints of rainbow light glittered on the periphery of his vision and popped here and there as he looked around the vacant space.
“Am I alone?” He clenched his hands, then slapped his cheeks, but felt nothing. “Am I dreaming? Or have I died?”
Then the calm feminine voice spoke again. Response accepted. Completing bestowal of edj@f^c protection. Processing. Processing.. Processing… Complete. People’s protection granted to individual Calden Dresdeth.
Upon that solemn declaration he felt the warmth within him, the warmth that humanoid light had given him, the warmth that he had adjusted to and all but forgotten about, rise up, swirl around, and then solidify into something powerful–something that changed the very foundation of his being.
He braced himself. Setting his stance like he would during combat training, tensing his muscles as if to receive a blow.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
But no hit followed.
It didn’t hurt.
It simply came, went, and left him all the stronger for it.
What is this? I’m stronger, but I didn’t earn it? How can this be? I didn’t forge a pact with a deity other than Lady Matweirden did I? I’ll be in trouble if I did, so I really hope that humanoid light I saw before isn’t–
And that’s when he noticed he wasn’t alone.
Like anyone, inherent reaction dictated that he turn around to face the being that he sensed behind him, and he started to do just that. But instinct stopped him cold.
If.
He gulped.
If I turn around. If I lay eyes on the one there. Fear and exhilaration ran down his spine and left numbness in their wake. Then that’s it. I… I’m dead.
Never before had he been so completely sure of anything in his whole life, and he doubted that he ever would be again. This was it. Do or die.
To be a threat simply by being gazed upon! Not even Lady Matweirden wields this level of power! D–does that mean I’m facing an elder beast? One of the first living beings to ever walk the earth? Legends say that they can crush cities with impunity and that only the mightiest terrestrial deities can even hope to survive a conflict with them. But–but they’re not supposed to involve themselves with the world any longer! Why would one be here?!
His legs wobbled beneath him, and the longer he focused on this being, the more the warmth in his core revealed to him.
“I… I–I…”
His mind bleached itself of all thought and left him stranded with a barely formed sound in his throat, to flounder on the unseen ‘floor’ of this dazzling space.
Intimidated, overwhelmed, and utterly isolated from all hope of escape or concealment, Calden just sat there and basked in the all encompassing aura of this figure that held life and death over him as effortlessly and indifferently as a cloud sailing on the breeze.
But the figure didn’t speak, or interact with him.
They simply sat there. Moving a hand, turning their head, glancing about.
But otherwise leaving him alone.
Slowly, he calmed, and continued to take in the presence of this immeasurable person.
Wait. They’re sitting? On what? That has to be the most plain chair I’ve ever seen. I’d almost call it a throne, but it’s so simple and unobtrusive I hadn’t even noticed it until now! But that’s it. There’s nothing else here. Just me, them, and that chair. He clenched his head between his hands. So what do I do? Should I say something? Should I run? I can’t turn around, that’ll kill me! So–
Then the being spoke with a voice that was at once everywhere and yet nowhere, all sound and yet no sound, forceful and yet gentle, authoritative and yet meek, powerful enough to command all into submission and yet open to hearing him out. “Ah! You’ve regained your senses! Good. I was worried you were ill and that I'd need to wake you.” The great figure clapped delightedly, and smiled a smile that caused the warmth within him to explode though every fiber of his being. “So Calden, how are you feeling?”
“I… I’m…”
Calden gulped. It knows me? I’m not facing an elder beast am I? I’ve heard stories about the deities from other territories and countries, as well as the stories of the creator god that most in the empire think of as only unsubstantiated myth… But this… Could this be…?
#
I didn’t remember when, why or how, but I found myself seated upon a simple looking chair amidst an ebony void. There was nothing anywhere around me, and no one in sight.
The cold bit into me with ravenous vigor, as if to devour me, and though it didn’t hurt, it took all I had not to panic. “Where am I? How did I get here? Where even is here?! And why is it so cold? Can’t we just have a little light?”
My voice flew off into the distance not echoing, or gathering a response from anything.
I groaned, and leaned my head into my palm. “Uggg. I don’t even have my stuff, and what the heck am I wearing? Who the heck put this goofy white robe on me, and where did they scamper off to?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. But seriously! Turn on the lights! ‘illuminate’! I thought of the spell’s name and waited for a response, but nothing happened. I tried to use my mana sense, but found that there wasn’t any to be found, like, anywhere. Oh come on! Don’t give me powers and then take them away! Just–
I inhaled, and shouted at the top of my lungs. “Let there be light!”
A moment passed.
Then another.
And just as I was about to pound the arms of my chair in frustration, an apocalyptic roar issued from the darkness all around me and light spilled out of nowhere, filling the now mostly bleached space with both brilliant rainbows and an abundance of comforting warmth.
I relaxed my clenched grip, leaned back in my seat, and nodded with a large grin. “Good. This is good. I can work with this.”
And just as I was about to start doing just that, the system’s cool voice spoke.
A small pop broke the otherwise absolute silence that followed the light’s arrival, and there in the space in front of me, roughly level with the base of my chair but utterly tiny, stood a hooded figure I recognized.
Calden must’ve noticed me since he began to turn around, but then he abruptly stopped and started to shake, tremble, and then drop to his knees in some sort of weird panic attack.
Oookay. That’s… a little disconcerting. But then again, if he’s seeing what I am then I guess I can’t really blame him. I kept an eye on him, just to be safe, but let him process his emotions on his own, because I too had some to deal with. I mean, why is he even here? I guess the system did mention moving a soul here, but what did all that crap about conditions and bestowal mean? I assume the conditions were mine, and the bestowal had something to do with the new ability I used to save him. Is that why we’re here then?
Curious I checked myself over, but I got no response from Uriel so I couldn’t open my status, and ended up just glancing at my hands.
And then it hit me.
Crap! If Calden is only a soul right now does that mean his body is dead?! And if he’s having issues then I need to–
Just as I lifted a hand to prod him, he started to calm so I said. “Ah! You’ve regained your senses! Good. I was worried you were ill and that I'd need to wake you.” He tensed up again, but it was nowhere near as bad, so I forced a smile and threw the metaphorical ball into his court in the hopes that it would distract from whatever was worrying him. “So Calden, how are you feeling?”
“I… I’m…” He choked on his own voice, then lowered his head to the unseen floor. “I–I’m okay. I’m okay. I think I’m okay now. And I think it’s thanks to you, right?”
I nodded. “Yes. I healed you. And it’s a good thing too. Your body was deteriorating, your mind was rotting, and your spirit had all but broken. You were a little more than a soul when I reached you, so I apologize for dragging you here, but drastic measures needed to be taken.”
At least I think that’s what happened.
He gulped. And given how utterly silent it was we both heard it loud and clear, which of course prompted the poor boy to shrink in on himself out of embarrassment. “M–may I know who– no, what you are, mighty one? T–that I might properly t–thank you?”
Mighty? Hah! This has gotta be me at my weakest right? And why doesn't he want to know my– Oh! Right, I already introduced myself to the group. But what a strange question. What am I? The answer should be obvious.
“I am me, and that is all.”
For whatever reason, Calden, and the rest of this sparkly space, shuddered when I answered him. But since it only lasted for a moment and stopped when he did, I’m just gonna chalk it up to a trick of the light.
“T–then I thank you from the bottom of my heart, my savior, and lord. P–please, if there’s anything I c–can do to repay you I ask that you only name it.”
Repayment? Something you can do for me?
I narrowed my eyes at him and somehow saw a rather interesting development in the general area of his heart. “Hasn’t that already been decided? So why hesitate to follow through? It’s not a task you can’t accomplish. I know you can do it, the things you need are already within you.”
He gasped, then, to my surprise, started to weep. And I’m not talking about just your average cry here, I mean full on bawling–like his whole family just died or something. “I–I understand, lord. T–thank you, lord. I’ll–I’ll do my best, lord.”
I opened my mouth to comfort him, but the system beat me to the punch.
The heck’s that supposed to–
The light intensified, and to the steady sound of Calden’s sobs, I felt myself drift off.
Well shoot. That’s a sad way to end this, but I shouldn’t really expect any sympathy from that stupid system. On the bright side that message means I was definitely sent here because of the strain I put on myself when using that ability. And maybe Calden was dragged along by accident too. But I guess I’m better now, so this little get together is over and we can return to reality I leaned back on the rather comfortable chair, that I only just noticed to be comfortable, and let my heavy eyes shut. Now what do I do? Their little crisis is over, so do I go my separate way? Do I travel with them to town and then part? Or do I stick around after that, and see how deep the ol’ rabbit hole goes?