Chapter 5 – Alva
„So you do truly despise your kind, do you not?“
I stared at the words of the DM popping up on the screen for a while and thought of what to reply. He (?) must have been an ESL or LARPer to write all weird like this. Was he just messing with me? But still, it may be fun to see what weird shit he had to say.
„As I said before, I dont think that (most) people are actually decent. They are just good at pretending to be. I’m not calling myself a misanthrope, I simply think that genuine good people are an endangered species, exactly because everyone else just ends up trampling and exploiting them. The mob sees anyone with a bit of success act like a dick, and so they do the same in hopes of making their miserable lifes a bit better! And dont get me started at the shit we have to witness at the animal shelter I volunteer for.“
No, I really did not feel like elaborating on that. I just sent the message as it was.
„It is as you say, truly; Humans’ greatest skill is to fool eachother about being agreeable fellows. If you take away their fear of rank, king and god, they show their true nature. A man does not what he thinks is best for everyone, but simply considers what he can get away with. What do you think one could do about this?“
That sounded like a rethoric question to me.
„Honestly, I just wish I didnt have to put up with all this. First you think it will stop after graduating school, but people just dont grow up like the adults always tell yout they would, no one does really. I am tired of it already. And my old friend, she is tired too. Even at her office job, it’s like back in elementary. Except all the bullying got more sophisticated.“
Sent. After a hot chocolate & cat petting break, I returned to my desk and saw a new reply.
„Oh, indeed, I fully agree. I can see why a world without humans would be quite idyllic! Beasts are much simpler and purer than those pests. Even if they kill and hurt and violate eachother, they do so without pretense or hypocrisy. They do not know lies or malice, and they do not find joy in other’s pain.
Do you also wish for a world without humans sometimes? A simpler world, and a simpler life?“
Yeah, true. He may be a weird dude, but still, guilty as charged.
„Too often to count XD though I guess I would miss a lot of convenience. But sounds like a nice vacation at least.“
The reply came immediately.
„Splendid to hear!
If you are not afraid to try yourself at the occult arts, I can share with you an incantation, one that influences they way you enter into your dreaming state, and puts your spirit into a shape you desire. However, it only works if you truly set your mind to it.“
Yep, LARPer. Thereafter he sent me a short instruction on the setup of some occult magic spell, which did not match up with any language on the translator app.
„It’s a bit late to get candles and crystals, so I will try this some other time, haha XD.“
…
I, the great Emyl, could not help but to be a bit stunned as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
So that is how it was. To think that my fellow inhabitants of the higher spheres would penetrate even into the worlds beyond like this… They must have suffered quite the harsh punishment for that kind of transgression. To even think that the veil could be broken in such a way was outrageous, on top of one of the gods committing such a crime simply to mess with the life of a single, powerless creature.
Though, that spell appeared somewhat familiar to me – It was written in a simplified aethervoice language, and I wondered whether I have seen it somewhere before. In any case, observing that ex-human - who is now incarnated into the body of a monster runt - should prove worthwhile. Especially her inate resentment towards humanity could become useful to my ends...
…
„I see, so this is how it is“, Runt thought after awakening from her long dream. Scanning her surroundings with one half-opened eye, she saw that she slept inside something like a fallen hollow tree.
„Originally I was a… hu...an? Or… were I?“
„Wait a moment. A what now?“
Trying to remember the shape of her own body from the dream, Runt felt as if the memory had simply been ripped away. She tried to remember what was inside her vision… And saw nothing but darkened blurs. Ah, but there was another thing – small, fluffy, and with an orange striped coat.
„Oh right, this! I was pretty small back then. Huh, so this was my past life? Not very exciting...“
Right after, Runt fell back asleep. Both the hunt and the effects of the aether sickness have drained her too much.
...
While Runt was still busy recovering, Gemini spent the next hours performing his usual routine of checking on the other younglings and strengthening himself on a piece of carrion left behind by Fury. Their day was not very exciting, with the three of them either hunting or resting by themselves. Gemini decided that it was enough to simply leave an invisible Spying Eye with each of them.
After finishing his work, the raven went on a patrolling flight above the screaming woods, carefully scanning the ground while evading the occasional attack of the winglizards that dominated the skies. The fortified settlement on the other side of the great dividing river in the east appeared a bit larger than a few weeks ago, but what worried Gemini more were the thin pillars of smoke rising from the edge of the forest.
„Oh, so the Moran ventured past the river again? Such foolhardy behavior.“
It was still far off from my humble altar, but considering the weakened state of his master, he knew that any advance of those ignorant unbelievers onto this territory can turn into a serious threat to my remaining power. The fact that even luring a Forest Tyrant, one of the most fearsome terrestial draconids, towards the Moran encampements did little to dissuade them, was beyond disconcerning.
A bit later, Gemini would find the forest tyrant that Stalker sent to harass the encampment a week ago. Or at least what remained of it, close to a large pitfall.
The giant, bipedal predator had been dissected and most of it carried away already. The disproportionate head with its knife-sized razor teeth was missing, and the green, bony plates covering its back and limbs have been pried off with a craftsman’s precision. Immediately after, Gemini would confirm the cause of its death: Amongst the hundreds of tiny crossbow bolts embedded into the thick scaly hide, a much larger, broken shaft had pierced the chest cavity. It was not the kind of missile that could be shot from a handheld weapon, but rather from some type of siege weapon, like a ballista.
Having gathered this information, Gemini made his way back into Stalker’s territory, to talk with her in secret.
...
Falsely believing that he had dismissed all of the spying eyes, Gemini entered Stalker’s nest and waited. He took a look around to stave off boredom, picking through the bones of Stalker’s prey for any potential treasure.
What ended up drawing his interest however, was the alcove next to Stalker’s sleeping spot. In it sat a small feline skull with crooked teeth, draped upon a folded black pelt. It was fashioned as a simple altar of sorts, a memorial to a son that died at the hands of his sister.
Gemini still could not wrap his head around this sentimental she-beast. Was it her life amongst the Golmon that poisoned her with unnecessary compassion? Of course not, the Golmon stance on weaklings is unforgiving, as it should be. It was surely the influence of that northern huntress she still spent her days with a few years ago.
„Uncle Gemini? What’re you doing here?“
The unrefined babbling of a child was heard from the entrance of the cave.
The raven turned around in surprise. It was Swift, that one crafty youngling that Gemini had such a hard time following. She always took great pride in being able to hide her presence from him.
„Nothing in particular... More importantly, why do you have to be so difficult to handle? You know that I can’t save your skin if you hide from me!“
„Hehe! Uncle Gemini is bad at hide-and-seek!“
„Ugh… So what are you doing here, of all places?
„Visiting brother Fang! So that he is not so lonely…“
„How childish! I still do not understand to this day why anyone cares about a weakling that was ended by one even weaker than him. A weakling he was, and a fool on top of it!“
„Why would that matter? He is my brother…“
„You disappoint me, Swift. To think that weaklings and losers can ever be your family… Your mother has throughoutly poisoned you.“
„That’s not nice! Everyone can be family if I want it so!“
„Whatever you say, little princess! I shall wait and see what you will say once real life catches up to you! Now scram, I need to talk some adult matters with your mother.“
Being visibly upset, Swift left the cave after saying goodbyes to her dead brother. This meeting only served to sour Gemini’s mood further.
It took a few hours, until late evening, for Stalker to make it back to her cave. Upon seeing Gemini stting on her nest, she gave him a puzzled look.
„That is not your bed.“, She said to him in a tired, annoyed tone.
„Of course. I was just waiting for so long that my legs tired out. It is just that, you are usually not out at this time of the day. I assume you had some urgent business to take care of?“
„I looked out for my foolish children. Sometimes I wonder if they really are ready to leave for their own territory soon.“
„Oh, do not fret, dear Stalker. I keep a good eye on them, and I can assure you they are all quite strong, in their own way at least. Even the Runt.“
At the mention of the name, Stalker’s eyes went wide.
„I could not find Runt. Did you see her?“
„Yes, do not worry about her. She just ventured far outside your territory and is resting now. T’was quite the quest you sent her on!“
Visibly relieved, Stalker moved to lay down on the pile of bones and fur that served as her bed. Giving her some space, Gemini flew up to occupy an alcove further up on the cave wall.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
„On that note, I wanted to talk about a few things with you, Stalker.“, Gemini resumed the conversation.
„It is mainly about the Morans’ progress: Even with your attempts to set a few beasts onto their camps, they seem not to let themselves be dissuaded. The small camp, beyond the eastern river, that was there when you gave birth to your spawn has since grown into a little fortification.
More and more of them are venturing into our domain now, in search of rare plants and sulphur.“
„I see. And what about the green monster?“
„Apparently, the crafty Moran explorers dug a pitfall for the forest tyrant to fall into, killed it and dragged the beast out to take it apart. Considering the humongous size of the tyrant, at least twenty or thirty people must have been involved.“
„So it was no good.“
„Sadly. Your voice of dominion is impressive, but those humans have weapons, tacticians and numbers on their side. To send one large, stupid draconid against them is not going to work in our favor. Your powers alone are lacking.“
„What should I do, then?“
„Your children will have to help us soon. They are developing their powers at an uncanny speed – Fury could already deal a heavy blow to those invaders. Provided, you manage to make her a bit more compliant.“
„Fury wants nothing to do with your plans, I would know. She sees herself as the new queen of this forest, and will only act on her own whims.“
„Then Runt.“
Stalker gave Gemini a look of pure unbelieving.
„Why Runt of all my children? You know she is not cut out to be a warrior!“, Stalker snarled at Gemini, now visibly agitated. Gemini only responded with a smug look to her threat.
„And I assume you will say the same about all the other children as well?“
„Yes. All of them need… more time. To use them now would be a waste.“
„A waste? You are not one to decide that. If Emyl says the time to strike is now, then we will strike at the trespassers with all we have got. The only difference will be whether you lead them personally or not. You would rather support your children in their battles, right?“
„I never intended for them to become warriors. Not so young, at least.“
„Are you forgetting the favour you owe to master Emyl? That wound would have killed you without his interference. You now live to be useful.“
„Yes… but I still disagree with your methods. Neither Fang nor Runt had to suffer back then. It was by your command that I allowed them to fight eachother so fiercely.“
„As the humans say: Diamonds grow under pressure. Were you not relieved when the weakest of your children was weeded out? I see it like this: Dying as a young weakling is preferable to a lifetime of being trampled by the strong.“
Stalker could not find any further words against him. Gemini was right – Sympathy for the weak was unbecoming of a beast like her. She just hoped that her ominous, hidden master shows a bit more patience.
…
It was one day later when Runt awoke from her slumber. Stumbling around with an aching body and dry throat, she was on her way to look for water. She was on the verge of dying from thirst, so she ended up settling for a muddy puddle at the ground of a drained forest stream.
„Stop drinking that, you fool!“, A bird screeched at her from above. „I have seen many beasts suffer horribly after drinking muddy water in this forest.“
Clearly annoyed, Runt looked up to the clear blue sky to see a Raven circling above her like a hungry vulture. Its hoarse voice did not help with her headache.
„Follow me! There is a stream further down.“, Gemini offered to Runt.
After averting death from dehydration, Runt finally found the strength to properly groom herself the first time in long. Feeling quite stuffy under the hot weather and seeing her fur being matted with mud and blood, she instead opted to jump into the stream to cool down and clean up.
Gemini, who was drinking further downstream, immediately showed his displeasure. After having quenched their thirst, Gemini decided that it would be time to share some of his knowledge.
„I think you must have a lot of questions about what happened a while ago, Runt.“
„Of course I do! Do you know why I was a cat in my past life?“
Gemini only gave her a flabbergasted look.
„A cat? … Oh, sure. But I really do not know anything about that.
I figured that you may have questions about the powers you awakened.“
„Right! What was that all about?“
„What you have used is commonly called an ‚Aetherial Art‘ by practicioners. Considering that you and your kin are corrupted ones, it is unsurprising that your ability for the aetherial arts awakened early.
Furthermore, about those black markings you have seen on yourself: Those are called ‚Stigmata‘, a physical manifestation of the so-called ‚Aether Sickness‘. They are visible on you only because of your light coat. It is the reason why the rest of your kin are black – to hide this sign of weakness against potential foes.“
„And why did I get hit by this aether sickness in the first place?“
„This is the natural result of overexerting your power. Mortals like yourself were never meant to wield the arts in the first place, and the stigmata are the punishment for it. Those of you who can use the aetherial arts will wear them for the rest of their lives, to plague you whenever your mind or body loses the strength to stave them off. Sickness, stress, or depleting your aether will cause your stigmata to inflame.“
„This sounds more like a curse than anything.“, Runt remarked with disappointment.
„To some it may be, but you can expect to develope formidable power. Consider the aethervoice for example…“
„You mean that thing that mother talked about once? She said that she had to ‚use the voice against Fury‘. Is it some kind of mind control thing?“
„Something that comes very close at least. Your ‚tongue of beasts‘ is already quite developed as you may have noticed. Indeed, the prerequisites to use your aethervoice to its full extent are all in place - However, there are certain qualities that you still lack, in order to control other beasts like Stalker and I do.”
“And what would that be? I did use powerful arts just a short while ago!”
“Yes, but no. Simply put: You are not someone that could order around others. No one fears you for your lack of strength, and it reflects in your mindset as well - You are someone with little ambition, someone who has to hide and use underhanded tactics to survive, and even then you barely make the cut.
Also, your skill in the arts is not as amazing as you think. The only thing you did was to make yourself sick after a little burst of strength. There is a reason after all why the aether arts do not come naturally for you material beings - they like to do more harm than benefit.”
“Ugh… But I will get better with practice, right?”
“Ah! One step in the right direction, but I would not call this ‘power enhancement’ your strong suit as it only amplifies the strength you already have.”
“But isn’t it, like, super amazing for me to learn it so early? I bet I will be stronger than even Fury in no time!”
“Hey, did you not listen, girl?! Arts like these depend on a tough body in the first place, and the training of them is particularly dangerous - I strongly advise you to focus on your voice instead, as it will prove much more helpful to a small fry like you.”
“But you told me that I’m still too weak for my voice to affect others! Which one is it?!”
“Indeed, I said that - And yes, your ‘enhancement’ art will play a big role in that, but mostly as a way to survive the hardships that await. What is truly important for your further growth is ambition!
After all, a strong ambition and the courage to follow it can allow you to gain control over those of strong body and weak mind.”
“And what kind of ambition would someone like me even have? What is there in life but to eat, sleep and survive? You and mother don’t seem very ambitioned to me, but you use your power just fine.”
“Oh, I am sure you can think of something you truly desire at this moment - A thing that you cannot get through ordinary means alone. After all, without the necessary willpower, your ‘enhancement’ art would have not been revealed. But as long as you cannot put your ambition into words, you have no hope of gaining power!”
“Well, uhh… I want to live in peace!”
“Wrong answer!”, Gemini cawed.
“But why?! Everyone wants to live in peace!”
“Yes, or maybe, but still wrong! Your want for a peaceful life is born out of nothing but fear of loss, it is a basic, vague and mundane desire, and by itself not very powerful.”
For a short while, Runt wondered what her goal was. Did she desire something more than just to live her days in peace and quiet?
“If it is ambition, then I have one!
I will kick your ass for all that shittalk!”
“Oho? Choosing the path of anger? Then be my guest.” Gemini smugly responded before leaving his perch and descending onto the forest floor. Runt started to get angry, but the smug look Gemini gave her set her off for good.
Of course, Runt planned to let him get off the hook with just a few plucked feathers - After all, he saved her life before, and there were also still a lot of questions he would have to answer.
“Harh!”
With a short battlecry, she shot forward to close the distance between her and the raven.
“Halt!”, Gemini spoke in a harsh voice.
Runt stopped dead in her tracks, as if bound to an invisible leash.
„What-
What did you do?!“
„Is it not more what I said?“
To the ground with you!“
And as commanded, Runt’s legs gave in and she dropped onto the dirt.
„Stop it! You asshole!“
„Stay quiet“
And so she did, against her will.
„I should maybe make you aware of how a mortal developes their aetherial power in the first place.
It is by no means a comfortable process – Indeed, the path towards ‚Aethermancy‘ is largely one of mental and sometimes physical torture.“
„…!“
„The important thing to keep in mind is, that your body has no interest in developing its aetherial powers. It is something you only awaken as a response to immense struggle.
Frustration, unfulfilled desire, anger, pain, fear. These are your teachers from now on.
...You are free to go.“
The invisible fetters were suddenly lifted off her.
Runt was furious, but what Gemini said started to make sense to her. Back when she killed Fang, she was stronger than she was supposed to be, was she not? Perhaps this was her first awakening of the arts.
Gemini quickly flew back up to his branch, likely afraid that his treatment of Runt was a bit much.
„This will be the first step in your aethervoice training. Once you manage to fully resist me, you will be strongwilled enough to control beasts that are physically superior to yourself.“
„And what about the Long-Ear I was supposed to catch?“ She yelled after Gemini as he was flying off.
„Use that to train or something. It is of no particular concern to me.“
…
For the next ten days, Runt established a routine of hunting for her daily fill and later being pestered by Gemini’s aethervoice training – often resulting in great humiliation.
Runt’s progress was measured by how ridiculous of an order Gemini could get away with; At the first day he forced Runt to overeat on the poisonous toads (that were supposed to be a natural part of her diet anyway), while on other days he made her roll stones up a hill for hours.
By the sixth day, she resisted Gemini’s order to take a bath in a particularly disgusting kind of mud.
Between the training sessions, Runt was also still attempting to track down ‚Eyepatch‘, the Long-Ear that Stalker requested her to capture. The scent trails were fresh, so he must have been still alive. But rather than to repeat the mistake of pursuing her prey endlessly, she let Eyepatch rest. It was in her interest if he had the strength left to evade other predators.
Her time to strike would come soon enough.
By the tenth day, Gemini’s commands could only prevent Runt from moving. Although to me, it looked like he was just gradually going easier on her. After all, Gemini had an advantage of many centuries here.
„You have made quite the progress there, little Runt. Or maybe you are just not hungry for mud anymore!“
„Shut it. You are not even worth being angry over. Because there is something I actually want to do with this power.“
„Oh, what would that be?“
„It would be in bad taste to spoil the surprise.“
„Fine, have it your way, then. I was starting to get bored anyways.“
After that, Gemini put a break to their daily training sessions. It was time for him to attend some other business.
Finally enjoying a more carefree day in a long time, Runt decided to get back on track and resume what she set out to do twelve days ago.
…
Runt went to continue the chase, but this time the odds were stacked in her favor. Having had time to recover, she was quite a bit stronger and faster than before. Fish were by far not as challenging to catch as that blasted Long-Ear, but physical prowess was not the key here, anyway.
She once again followed the tracks, and found her target rather quickly. Even Eyepatch had his habits, and it was easy enough to exploit them after some time. Runt went into position, not bothering to hide much with the wind blowing lightly towards her. She was going to get this job done, quick and clean.
„Stay!“
Runt commanded the white Long-Ear with the brown spot over its eye. Her body felt like it was rushing with power, from her vocal cords, through her lungs and further back to the diaphragma. It was an exhilerating feeling that made her understand the joy that Gemini must have felt as he was commanding her around.
While its kin made a run for it, Eyepatch could to nothing but to stand still in terror as the unseen predator was approaching from behind. Now it was close enough that he could confirm by the smell alone – It was that overly enduring beast that proved quite bothersome during the past weeks.
Eyepatch could not believe it at all – He, who made fools of every single predator in these woods would now fall prey without even moving an inch.
Ah yes, a nightmare. This is just like the nightmares where you can’t move at all. Nothing to worry about.
Having found peace in delusion, the little animal stood still with closed eyes. Runt was unsure what to make of it. Now that she had what she wanted, should she just kill it and deliver the carcass? No, a life catch would be much more impressive to Stalker. And so it was decided.
„Follow me!“, Runt bellowed with her aethervoice.
Having no choice but to comply, Eyepatch followed the terrifying beast a long way through the forest and into the underground cave’s nest. Amongst piles of bones and skulls, he was made to wait for quite some time.
Yep, a nightmare. I will be waking up any second now.
But he did not wake up at all.
Rather, an even more terrifying beast appeared after an unbearably long while. A giant black feline, with front claws like a draconid and the tail of a serpent.
„Runt… What are you doing here?“, Stalker spoke to her in confusion.
„Don’t tell me you seriously don’t know anymore!“, Runt replied in a surprised tone.
„Is it about the thing I requested from you? Do not fret, I did never expect you to catch that Long-Ear. The important thing to teach you was-“
Suddenly, Stalker spotted Eyepatch behind a pile of bones, alive. She recognized his smell within her nest, but thought that this was just from Runt chasing him for so long.
Runt did nothing but muster a smug grin as she was setting a still-living Eyepatch in front of her mother.
„My daughter… you actually did it.“
„So, what now? Do you want to have this for dinner?“
Stalker let out a little sneeze that Runt interpreted as a chuckle.
„Nothing of the sorts. You see, that one is a bit like Gemini. Thank you for teaching him a lesson.“
An awkward silence filled the room. After a while, Stalker ordered Eyepatch that he may go now. Feeling a little disappointed, Runt looked after the prey she worked unbelievably hard to catch, now on the run.
„I promised you a reward, didn’t I... Runt is such an ugly name, I must admit. And you are not a runt any longer. You deserve something better.
From now on, your name is ‚Alva‘.“