Dailin watched—lip curled into a satisfied grin—as his creation sang to thousands within the Inner-tier. All of them sleeping peacefully on the floor, struck with the same affection that he induced when singing.
With his new senses, gained from the changes Mana had brought, he saw in more ways than the physical. An aura encompassed every person he gazed upon; which constantly shifted hues. At first he hadn’t understood the meaning, but he connected the patterns quickly; emotions had a color assigned to them.
The warmth of love, for example, was a rich lively green, and every person in front of him was saturated in it.
Before, the wicked, the vile, were full of sickly colors. Muddy reds, shifting grays, and tar black. It had been revolting to look upon them, a shock to his new sight; after seeing the hues of his children. He had known the Chilltouched to be wrong, but now, with his new sight, it was blatant. This realm, a Hades, a place for the fallen.
He sent a prayer of thanks to the gods for his blessings, and now for Bliss; he needed her, more than ever. The settlement had to be flooded in love, the auras cleansed of these sickly hues.
‘I have the means now, and the time to do so.’ He thought, the warmth of the song mixing with the merriment in his chest. What a wonderous day, and a step in the right direction. Seeing his aid wasn’t needed, Dailin turned from the sight, and leisurely walked to his tower; humming along with the tone in the air. Gradually, as he got further away, the warmth he felt smothering his body faded; till by the time he reached the gate to his home, it was all gone.
Entering his home; a host of children awaited him, Dailin nodded and said: “She is a success.” Children joined him in his joy—auras of light greens and yellows—as he approached and began hugging each of them.
“What will you do now father?” Vollow asked as they separated, his aura muddled by worry grays. “With that task no longer a burden to you.”
Hugging another son, he answered: “By finally spreading my influence to the Outer-tier. Soon, thanks to the Giver’s blessing, I will have the means to encase the settlement in warmth.” Afterward his hold on the city would be absolute, and none would ever have the thought of rebelling.
“Will Bliss be helping you with this?” Vollow asked in turn.
Dailin nodded; his children had come up with the name for his creation, after they’d experienced she could induce the same affection as him.
“More Blessings will arrive soon,” he revealed to those around him. “They will be placed throughout the settlement, ensuring the masses always get their dose of warmth.”
Vollow half chuckled, his aura brightening. “That will solve most of the problems my sisters are dealing with. But since you have the time, they would be pleased to have a meeting with you.”
He looked towards his son. “Trouble?”
“Lowly affairs, but they are building up into greater ones.” Vollow added, before gesturing down the hall. “Problems with the growing population, and people fighting over chamber rights. A great deal of it revolves around the Giftless.”
“Ah yes, those problems,” Dailin voiced with a grunt. They had been around even before his rise to power, thanks to the Nightmare. But it had only gotten worse since then; namely because of his aid. With Patrols as safe as they could possibly be, Giftless and Chanters alike armed with the power to vanquish their foes. The number of deaths had plummeted. In the past that had been used to slow and lower the population.
“I’ll go to them now. See just how cursed things have gotten.” If they wanted to talk to him about it, then the matter was already meeting an impasse.
“They’ll be Joy touched to hear.” Vollow replied, Signing to one of his brothers to inform their sisters. The child hurried away while Dailin returned to his daily ritual of hugging those waiting for him.
“Well, they’ll be pleased about many things, now that I’m free from singing to the masses.” And finally be able to focus on other problems.
“I’m sure my sisters could find an endless list of tasks that could use your aid with.” Vollow said coming to his side. “Since none of us are able to help with matters beyond the Spire.” There was no hint of anger, or frustration in the words. But he could feel an undertone, and see the temporary emergence of an ugly red in Vollow’s aura.
“I know son,” Dailin said, turning to look at him as he held another of his boys. “I’m working on a solution.” He had an idea in mind, multiple actually. Each aimed at making his children safe from any possible harm. Up till now it had been a side project, thoughtful ponderings during moments of free time. But with his major task gone, and the feelings he saw from his children. It began to take up more of his thoughts.
Doubly so, when Vollow failed to hide his excitement for a second. As quickly as he could, his son relaxed his rigid ears, playing the part of someone unbiased. His aura though, it filled with yellow. “Many will be blest with warmth to hear the news.”
“Let them know father is working on it,” he requested. “Even though it would make me align with Joy for all of you to stay in here, safe from the Chilltouched. I am aware it’s a heavy burden to bear.”
Vollow stance became touched with hesitation, his colors muddle with worry gray, and bright splashes of surprise orange.
“I’m not blind son.” Dailin said pulling from the last child that needed to receive affection. “Nor aligned with Anger that you all seek to leave the Spire. You wish to aid, or leave your own mark on the realm; this will be allowed.” Warmth ebbed from him, washing away whatever concerns his children were experiencing.
“We’re not pressing you father.” Vollow said, lowering his eyes, and showing he wasn’t comfortable with the talk. “We just want to help you, and there’s only so much of that to be done within the Spire.” He fell quiet, worry holding him from saying words, before the emotion fell away. “It aligns us with Grief to see you do so much on your own, while we contribute so little.”
How easy it had all come out, the underlining stress, and as Bliss put, frustrations. Only a day ago he’d been blind to them, believing everything was mostly well. But with his new senses, it had become so obvious.
“I’m sorry,” Dailin said, to the shock of all. It was sad, but the way of things. No matter how he treated them; the training they received from their mothers, had them engrained with the belief that those above them in worth, didn’t need to justify their actions. If a worthy ordered something, it didn’t matter if it was wrong, or going to cause a great deal of suffering. The task was completed the same as any other.
“I was selfish.” He admitted, placing a hand on Vollow’s head, and combing his mane. “I just wanted you all safe, I didn’t think about how it would make the lot of you feel.”
“You bless us too much father.” Vollow replied, the sons around him bowing their heads.
A somber smile touched his lip; hidden away under his helm. His sons and daughters expected cruelty by default, or at least coldness. Not affection from a being they considered divine. “Nonsense,” he told them. “This is to be an age of blessings.” A promise to himself. “The time of Curses is done,” he removed his hand. “Now, care to guide me to your sisters?”
Vollow raised his head, the rest around them following his example. “Of course, father.” With smooth precision, sons ordered themselves and surrounded him; as he and Vollow began to walk. It wasn’t fast, since neither of them were in a rush. The whole act was to be with his kids, and to give them something to do.
Security wasn’t much of a problem. With the tower covered in Wards, and improved upon, since he’d added more to the interior. There weren’t any situations that involved intruders, since all balconies leading to small decks were ordered to be permanently locked. There was no way in, except for the main Gate, which was always guarded by Knights. So, his sons main responsibility of guarding halls, was a tad boring.
It didn’t help that the other part of their job was entirely gone. With the practice of spying on daughters, and the female members of the House abolished. His sons didn’t have much to do, at least, not when it came to tasks trained into them. Naturally such a predicament had instilled change. Free to be curious, sons had broadened their skills, and begun helping their sisters with tasks normally barred to them. However, there wasn’t enough to keep them preoccupied; not with more of their kin aging.
Every two weeks more of his children ascended into adulthood. Their Channels superior to those before them; a trend that wasn’t going to end.
“How is Uoth faring?” he asked.
“Well, and still lively.” Vollow answered; glancing at his son had him seeing anxiety. “Two Arcs into her pregnancy and she’s still refusing to rest, and makes fun of my pleas for her to do so.”
“Ignore the curses,” Dailin advised, well acquainted with women. “She knows her limits.”
Vollow sighed, and though he was plain faced, his whiskers, fur, and ears at ease. There was a storm of worry coming from him. “Her stomach has gotten so big, I don’t get how she’s able to walk around, or worse, hop.”
Dailin laughed at the imagery. “She is an energetic one.” Also small, likely as short as a Vail could be, so her with a blooming stomach; it was quite comical.
“It won’t be too long before this Spire is full,” he added. Vollow wasn’t the only son and daughter to court one another; most were by now. He wasn’t comfortable with it; direct family courting hadn’t been a good thing in past lives. But from his learnings, Vail, especially those of worthy Channels, commonly did. It was one of the reasons why he kept his opinion on the matter to himself. But the main, was he knew firsthand the painfully strong urges Vail males got when it came to breeding. And with his refusal to let his children mingle with Chilltouched, well, who else was there to couple with?
“That will be a blessed day,” Vollow responded. “The emptiness of this Spire is Curse inducing at times.”
Dailin hummed in understanding; he was an oddity among the Vail, given his bent to spend hours of his time in solitude. The Vails were social pack creatures, comfortable with others around them constantly, and sharing confining spaces with each other. A helpful trait to have when space was a luxury.
“We won’t have to wait too long, with how many Maidens I’m courting.” Same as his sons, there was only so long he could go before natures pull got the better of him. But unlike his children, he did not lay with his own kin. Though he loved them, it was not in that way.
Near the bottom of the Spire, housed within Warded rooms, were women he’d chosen to have children with. Their every need was cared for, and he regularly sang to them. There was over a hundred, each in varying ranges of pregnancy.
“Do you plan to acquire more?” Vollow asked as they walked up a spiraled slope. “And those worthier to lay with?” A few of the sons let out short chuckles.
“What difference would that make Vollow?” Asked one of the guides.
Vollow sighed: “They would be better trained at least, more mannerly.”
“You mean decently skilled at hiding their intentions,” another guiding son helpfully added.
Dailin smiled, happy with the open, unfiltered talk. “They have a point Vollow, there’s a reason I pick those with lowly Channels.” Those who did have Channels worth worshipping, were even worse egotists, and a contributing factor to the death of hundreds during the War of Houses.
Vollow’s ears lowered, and creased in a manner that displayed annoyance. “I understand the reasoning,” he stated before straightening his ears. “But it aligns me with Shame, to see you lay with those so beneath you.”
“Haven’t I always done that?” He asked; already knowing the answer. Even before the memory dreams that gifted him his two secrets. He’d only lain with women less worthy than himself. That trend had continued afterwards, and with the gap of worthiness increasing every time.
Vollow grunted in agreement, but added: “Back then, you and our mothers were trying to hide your presence, and the Giver’s blessings upon you.” Which hadn’t worked out in the end, thanks to Vails impeccable record keeping, and the Head Anointed of the settlement using his existence to get all the Houses to war with each other. Weakening them, so he could come in at the last moment to sweep them all away.
“So father,” Vollow continued. “You don’t have to be subtle anymore, you can take the worthiest women in Bae as your Maidens, none would complain. By the Giver, all would be throwing themselves at you, if provided the chance.”
A fact he was all too familiar with, thanks to his time as a Seeder. A title that had him laying with handfuls of women at a time. And they really did throw themselves at him, if allowed.
“This is true, I could have anyone. But after meeting with those held above the masses, I find myself displeased with their nature.” Not that it mattered with the power and knowledge at his disposal, any would-be troublemaker, or aspiring lass, thinking to use him as a stepping stone; would find themselves in a quick grave. “I prefer the Lowly, they don’t scheme as much, and focus on maintaining what they have.” Not that his first Maidens had fit that mold, those four—Younna in particular—had a great deal of ambition in their hearts.
“Besides,” he added. “It doesn’t matter how lowly the women are, every pup comes out worthy.” And worthier with each litter.
Vollow sighed. “All blessed truths, yet it doesn’t change how I feel. You should be with those near your equal.”
“Blessed luck to that,” commented another son.
“We’d have to get him into a Sanctum, or possibly to where the other Seven Sons reside, to have a chance of fulfilling that,” spoke another.
Dailin suppressed a shiver, if the people of the settlement once called Nall, were cold monsters on the inside. He dreaded to think what kind of people making up the denizens of the upper Sanctums were like internally.
“Then all of you see the problem here,” Vollow stated. “Look at our father,” and they did. “The Giver’s eighth son, a warming light in the dark, and he’s sleeping with women of less worth than us.” Vollow pointed at himself.
Since he was born in the first litter Dailin had ever sired, Vollow’s Channels were how he had been before the beginnings of his improvements. The sight always humbling, and shocking to conceive how much he’d changed in such a short span of time.
“Which is perfectly fine,” Dailin said. “I was sent to raise up the Vail, who better to start with than those near the bottom?”
“I know the reasoning,” Vollow said, all believing his blatant lie. “But Shame remains, you deserve more.”
‘More,’ he thought; he had so much already, beyond anything he’d ever achieved in previous lives. Yet to his son, he was still being deprived. “Maybe in the future,” Dailin commented. “When my work is done, and the realm is uplifted. I will have the chance to lay with someone near my equal.” Yet another lie, he doubted there were others akin to him. Unless they had the means to improve their bodies as he had been doing; he would eventually outclass all that made up the highest hierarchy of Vails.
“Perhaps,” Vollow spoke with a sigh of resignation.
The matter settled, their talks broaden to his children, and their couplings. Unsurprisingly, everyone guiding him was laying with a woman, each pregnant and eager to have multiple litters. In a matter of months his clan would be in the hundreds, then over a thousand not long after. As a man the thought made him proud, his lineage spreading, and his mark on the realm growing.
However, it was dampened by the knowing that everyone else was doing the same. Sooner or later his settlement was going to be so cramped even Vails would find it uncomfortable. They needed to expand, and fast.
It was with that thought in mind they reached the chamber repurposed into a center of bureaucracy. Sons stood guarding the entrance, their Channels outshining those guiding him, meaning they were from a later litter. In other Houses, that would have meant in the hierarchy of the family, they would have been higher up the chain of importance.
Not so in his House, all were equal, and allowed to fill whatever role they thought fit them; as well as free to try new things. Of course, there were some of his children who had been perfectly fine with their place in life. Even if it meant standing guard in front of doors.
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He smiled and waved, then hugged each. Afterward, with no prompting on his part, the doors were opened and he was ushered in. The place was a mess, previously the large chamber had been designed as a ball room. The floor polished with marble, the ceiling fitted with ornate chandeliers, and sculpted arts were engraved into the walls. That all remained, but in the center—normally empty— the space was filled with as many tables that could reasonably be managed, before it obstructed movement. All were covered in small mounds of neatly arranged Visionstones.
Those taking up the task of maintaining order, and records, surrounded them, and gazing through the crystals at an alarming rate. Stones were moved from one table to the next, its organization lost to him; record keeping wasn’t his strong suit. Thank the gods his children hadn’t inherited that weakness, or the working of Bae would have been an unorganized disaster by now.
As was the case for him entering a place he normally avoided; all activity in the room came to a complete halt, once his presence was noticed.
Removing his helm, he showed them a large grin, and hummed out a wave of warmth. “Don’t mind me,” he said. “Nothing’s wrong, I’m just here to speak about matters pertaining to the Outer-tier.”
“Thank the Eight!” Shouted a voice in the back, getting most to flinch. At first he couldn’t see her, hidden away beyond the mob as she was; that and her small stature.
“People are being afflicted with desperation,” she added coming into view.
Dailin smile widened, and scrunched up, as he stopped himself from laughing. Uoth, short as ever, had a stomach so round it looked as if someone had placed a small cauldron inside her. She held it with both hands as she walked towards them.
Vollow hurried forward, aura shrouded in worry grays. “Bondmate,” he said panicked. “You’re supposed to be sitting.”
She rolled her eyes at him, her aura casting joyous yellow. “I have been, and I’m tired of it.” And promptly began to kiss Vollow when he leaned down to help her walk. “It’s blessed you’re here father,” she said a moment later. “The Lowly in the Outer-tier are getting unruly.”
“Oh?” Dailin voiced approaching and kneeling to talk to her at a more even level. “I didn’t realize the situation was that curst.”
“If it was just worthy we were dealing with,” Uoth started as Vollow moved himself behind her, and wrapped his own arms around her stomach. “But with Giftless involved, those with Channels are demanding they get access to their chambers, and that the worthless be removed.”
Which with the way Vail thought, meant the Chanters wanted the Giftless killed in some fashion. Preferably doing a task that benefited their betters before they died.
“This is a curst development, I thought we had more time,” Dailin said.
Uoth nodded her head: “We do. The visions sent are just Worthy complaining, but the number, and hardening tones, show its running low.”
‘One problem solved and another shows its face,’ he thought straightening his posture. Two more of his central daughters approached. Sounness, the tallest of them, and Tealhun, average of height. The two, along with Uoth had the same Channels as Vollow, all from the first litters he’d sired from the four original Maidens.
They both bowed to him, incapable—or refusing— to break the practice of showing him respect. Looking at them, Dailin saw hues of relief. And when he broadened is sight, took in the many filling the chamber, he saw similar emotions. The problem had been troubling them, and all were thankful for his appearance.
“Perfect timing then.” Dailin said to Uoth, and moved his attention back to the approaching daughters. “Bliss has succeeded,” he stated and everyone smiled. “I can now devote my time to this problem.”
“Blessed be the Giver,” Tealhun said in response; her aura casting some spots of yellow, similar to Uoth, but most of it was a light blue. How it shifted though, he could see she was the most relieved by the news. Unsurprising, given she was responsible for the daily workings of the House. In a sense she was second to him—when it came to authority—this brought about because everyone listened to her orders. They were used to it, and trusted her. She had played a crucial role in keeping them safe before, and during, the madness that enveloped a good portion of the settlement. “Houses within the Outer-tier are petitioning the right to take chambers from Giftless that refuse to bargain away their dwellings.”
It was a nice way to frame what would actually happen. The moment the Chanters got their permission, they would march into Giftless areas and kill them all.
Though there were rules against killing, or more accurately put, a tithe to pay. However, if the target was a Soulless, the cost was likely so small as not to be concerned with.
“So, they want to begin cleansing the Giftless?” He asked, not hiding behind a veneer of civility.
His daughter nodded: “They have been requesting for some time, but so far we’ve refused them.” Which had to have been quite the surprise to those Houses. Everyone saw the Giftless as little more than beasts of labor. The only reason a request was being sent at all, was the Houses were being careful about angering those of authority. No one wanted another disaster to take place within the settlement interior.
“And they are going to be refused again.” Dailin stated; though he’d killed his fair share of people, and was by no means a priest. He wasn’t the kind of man who could calmly approve the slaughter of hundreds, maybe more. Not when they hadn’t done anything wrong that is; nor for a matter that wasn’t threatening their survival.
“As we expected,” Tealhun said. “We’ve been trying to find ways to solve the problem.”
Uoth began to giggle, and not only because Vollow was caressing her stomach. “Try is the important part father.” She added, getting Tealhun to weakly sigh and glare at her.
Sounness placed a hand on Tealhun’s shoulder breaking her look; while his tall daughter— who always kept her eyes closed— faced him. “We have methods to maintain order.” She said in a smooth voice, her aura that of changing blues. Of his three advising daughters, Sounness was the most alluring, and apparently had lovely eyes. He’d yet to see them, given the abuse she suffered from her mothers, due to her beauty. Plus being labeled as a future threat, who would try and take their place as head Matriarchs.
“But in the end, they are delays. No matter what we do, if the settlement isn’t allowed to expand, we’re going to run out of room.”
He grunted: “Well, let’s see how cursed it is.” Dailin said, motioning for them to guide. “Perhaps we can try and guess how long we have.”
“We’re working on that,” Tealhun added, and taking the lead.
Sounness walked by his side, her head level with his midsection. “We know at the latest we have four Arcs. Right now, were trying to figure out the precise time.”
‘Four months,’ he thought, both a long and short span of time. With how chaotic the realm was, there was no telling what laid ahead. It was one of the things he hated most about the realm. His lives before—the small glimpses that came to him—had always been mundane and unchanging. So much so, that one could predict accurately how the whole day would go. But not in this realm of Vails, and Nightmares. Everyday brought with it new challenges, and the possibility of something calamitous occurring.
“The problem lies with the Giftless,” Tealhun informed. “Those before, the Archivists and Record Keepers, weren’t too interested in them.” They reached a table near the back of the room, larger than the others, but just as covered. “They only wanted a broad gage of the numbers, so we aren’t sure how accurate they are.”
“I suppose their superiors had them focus on what they assumed were threats.” Dailin said standing over the table. The Record Keepers could be extremely thorough, and demanding when it came to information.
“You are correct,” Tealhun said, gathering crystals together. “They only watched close enough to make sure the Giftless population didn’t take up half of the Outer-tier. When the numbers got close, or complaints from Houses began to rise. Nearly half were forced out to labor in the expanding mines.”
Which also meant thousands of Giftless had died; he’d been to the mines on occasion during his time on Patrols. Seen firsthand the expanse Vail workers had carved out of the rock; everyone always hungry for more ore to send to the Sanctums.
“I’ll assume we’re passed that point.” Dailin said, claiming the seat personally made for him.
“A blessed guess,” Tealhun said, as she brought over a collection of crystals.
“And an obvious one,” Uoth commented, taking her own seat with Vollow behind her; his hands pressing on her shoulders so she wouldn’t get back up. Dailin chuckled, both at the sight, and remark, while noticing some of his children glared at her. Worry grays muddled their auras, and broadly casted thoughts, a shared one he tried not to hear, to ignore.
‘Respect sister, all die if he decides to leave; to be with those worthy of him.’
Sounness placed a hand on his shoulder, gaining his attention. “That threshold was passed three Arcs ago. Even with the numbers sent out in Patrols, it wasn’t enough to keep pace with breeding’s.”
“I’m held by surprise,” Dailin said picking up a Visionstone. “I find it odd the Anointed hadn’t forced the creation of a Flock.” An elegant term regarding the act of casting out hundreds from a dwelling to embark on making a new one. Or dying out in the unwarded tunnels filled with monsters. It was also rare for such a thing to take place at a settlement. Growth, and large numbers, was a key to surviving down here. But that had been linked with the act of expanding; be it the settlement itself, or mining operations.
“They may have.” Sounness remarked, standing behind him and grooming his mane. “But they were busy plotting against each other. From the records we’ve gone through, little attention was given to the settlement leading up to the War of Houses.”
“I do have that effect on people; garnering attention,” Dailin commented, and connected with a stone.
Random places within the Outer-tier surfaced. Tunnels were cramped, so much that traveling was at a crawls pace. In more open spaces Giftless mingled about, or shouted tasks they were skilled at performing; little attention was given to them. With how many Vails were about, he was confident there wasn’t enough work to go around.
The scene changed, him in a larger chamber, a commons area where Chanters and Giftless alike came together to form a Patrol. The place was also filled beyond its normal capacity. An endless sea of Vails were volunteering to go outside. Unafraid, given the mounds of glowing Animastones being doled out to those joining a Patrol.
Quite the switch from when he’d participated in them. Back then, joining a Patrol was an act of last resort, a means to quickly earn enough merits to cover the right of staying within the Settlement. One he’d volunteered for numerous times in order to maintain, and accumulate wealth.
The vision didn’t stay at that chamber, it began shifting to other places. And everywhere the crystal took him, he saw it clogged with people. The last were sights of the outer reaches of the tier. A circular emptiness between the warded sphere that kept the Nightmares out, and the unwarded rock that made up the complex maze Vails considered a city. In that emptiness, Dailin looked out and saw hordes of them. A tent city had been formed, and it stretched all around the tier.
‘I knew we’re fast breeders, yet still.’ It was quite the sight, especially since he saw hordes of children milling about. It was his first time seeing them like that. Normally those of worth had their infants carefully matured into adults with the use of magic. His House had been no different, and continued the practice. So seeing children actually being themselves, both playing and doing chores. It invoked a sense of normalcy in him, and fondness.
Mingling with the sights of the crystal, his own past lives surfaced. Short recollections with him playing, or watching his children have fun in sun kissed meadows. It warmed and hurt his heart; so he disconnected from the stone, and gently pushed away the memories.
Taking a moment to make sure his voice didn’t crack, Dailin asked Tealhun: “Was the tent city your idea?”
Tealhun nodded. “It bought us time, though not as much as we’d offered for.”
Dailin hummed in thought: “They were all Giftless.” He added, recalling the sight, he hadn’t seen a single Chanter mixed with the mob.
“That’s normal,” Tealhun said, still picking through crystals for him to watch. “Their breeding outmatches any worthy, since they don’t have to concern themselves with ascension.”
“Oh,” Dailin said, and gazed through another stone; that would save them a great deal of hassle. His earliest Maidens had focused most of their House’s resources on ensuring they always had enough Mana ready to uplift their children. If they hadn’t, it would have led to Giftless, and no House wanted that. Not only because of how little use they had, but of the mark it left on the House’s reputation.
The new sights presented to him were the interactions of Chanters with Giftless. Which amounted to Chanters calling upon spells to force Giftless away, clearing space. Often the acts were harsh enough that it had killed some. There wasn’t room to give, thus something was bound to break in order to make that space.
He looked at those bodies, those unlucky Souls killed for a Chanter’s comfort. They were young, with short fur and untailed mane’s going down their backs.
‘I still have much to do.’ He thought, watching with surprise as people began to fight over the bodies. ‘A task?’ Was corpse removal worth a lot?
He voiced his thoughts to his children and Tealhun responded: “The population’s growth has led to other problems, such as dwindling food.” Dailin eyed the dead anew, and his measure of Vails lowered even more.
“They plan to eat the corpses?” He asked, not hiding his disgust.
“Meat is meat,” Uoth responded; confusion coloring her aura. To her, all his children, it was normal. “Even when times are stable, its common, there’s no better way to deal with the dead; at least that is what I’ve been told.”
Sounness pressed a little harder on his shoulders, and leaned forward. “The Giftless don’t restrain themselves, they always have more younglings to feed than they can acquire substance for.”
Dailin hummed, uncomfortable with the revelation, and the fact he’d completely forgotten about the problem of food. With Mana coursing through their veins, he and his children didn’t need to eat, it was done only for pleasure. The Giftless didn’t have that luxury, but thankfully—like everyone else—they didn’t produce any bodily waste. So the settlement had been spared the growing fumes of decay. As to why this was the case? No one knew.
There was no information on the matter, since it had never been experienced. To everyone in this realm, what he considered normal, would have been both concerning and vile.
“Do we have any idea how long our reserves of food will last?” He asked, clueless on the matter.
Tealhun looked around, eyeing tables. “One of them holds the specifics. But I would predict an Arc before it becomes impossible to produce enough food for every mouth.”
“Produce?” Dailin questioned. “We have gardens?” True the settlement was large, leagues in every direction. Yet he’d wandered the city a great deal during his first month of residing within it, and not once had he come across any gardens.
They looked at him, Souls doing their best to hide their judgment. But they couldn’t, one look from him and he could see and feel their surface emotions. He felt surprise, revelation, amusement, and resignation.
“We have many father,” Sounness answered. One look at her and he felt happiness, a joy of helping.
“Where did you think all the food was coming from?” Uoth asked, the least concerned with hiding her feelings.
“From outside.” He answered, and wondered how he’d missed the cropping areas. “I never saw another place where food was harvested.”
“Oh,” Uoth responded. “I guess that make sense, someone of your worth would never need to work the boxed orchards.”
Vollow rubbed her shoulders, adding: “Nor would our mothers inform you of something so unimportant to your life.”
Sounness mimicked Vollow’s action, and began massaging his shoulders; she was rather good at it. “They’re distributed near the eateries, and Houses who took the time to make their own. Your Spire has many as well.”
“It does?” He voiced, showing how uninformed he was, to be fair, with food no longer mattering—he didn’t feel any semblance of hunger—the whole concept had vanished from his mind. If it hadn’t been for the daily treats brought to him, he wouldn’t have eaten anything in months. “I guess I’ll have to make a visit, see these gardens for myself.”
“You’ll join hands with Disappointment if you do,” Uoth voiced. “I know I did,” she added. “I thought it would resemble the realm outside, everything glowing with alluring lights and shifting foliage,” she shook her head. “You can’t see anything; every plant is contained in small quarters, preventing it from growing after a certain point.”
His eyes widen from the news, that had been his assumption. But that wouldn’t work, would it? Not in a realm where plants grew continually, and fast enough for the eyes to track.
“You read my mind daughter,” he said frowning. “That is exactly what I thought it was going to be.” She smiled at him, amusement radiating within her aura.
Turning his gaze back to Tealhun, the child studying him, he asked: “Have we been establishing new orchards?”
“We have, as were the Anointed before your rise, since most of the food the Giftless and Lowly ate, did come from outside.” She looked behind herself, searching the mound of crystals on the table, before seemingly giving up. “We have a stone asking for your permission to produce larger ones within the Inner-tier, but since you’re already here.”
“You have my consent,” Dailin responded. “Make as many as you see fit, Giver knows this tier has the room.” Counter to the Outer-tier, where every space was used to its maximum output. The Inner was a show of noble privilege, and the luxuries that came with it; large open spaces were the norm.
“Blessed,” Tealhun said, her ears flexing pleasingly. “That will afford us more Arcs to find a solution.”
Dailin half chuckled, there was no need to seek one out; they already knew what had to be done. “We push the Nightmare back and expand.” Feelings of disbelief surrounded him. “We do it in small increments,” he added, the words lessening the graying of auras.
“Perhaps one large communal chamber at a time,” he continued. “I’m not thinking of forming another tier.” It would have been ideal, but the scale of the project was beyond him. If he was given the time to work in peace, he, and the rest of the settlement could achieve that; but it would never happen.
“That could work,” Tealhun said. “Maybe even build towards the mines, if it’s only going to be a set of connecting chambers.” Excitement formed around him, Vails favored ores, the gleam of it, so alluring. He wasn’t immune to it either, the desire was attached to his new body. It was only subdued since he had the knowledge, and understanding, that it was meaningless in the end; none of it could be taken with him to the next life.
“I don’t see why not,” he admitted, before a thought came to him. “We could even build towards a Sanctum, reestablish trade.” And hopefully find out how bad the situation was for everyone else. He was sure most of the settlements were gone, even the larger ones. Or nearing their end, as his settlement would have been, if not for him and the endless flow of Mana coming from his Well.
“We could also flee, if events become too curst.” Vollow added to the conversation, his eyes focused on Uoth’s stomach. Worry grays mixed with loving green; the former emotion shared by most within the chamber. He even picked up on thoughts; the need to find safety for the House, to keep their kin protected.
“If that is what is on your minds.” Dailin said, getting his advising children to return their attention to the realm around them. “Then I could start building towards a Sanctum first; just in case the Nightmare deepens. Once reestablished with our fellows, we can aim for a mine.” He received nods, auras filling with yellows; the matter settled.
“But before any of that,” he added, and looking at the crystals in front of him. “I have to get the Outer-tier in order.” With the success of Bliss, it wouldn’t be hard, he simply had to make more of her, and ensure they had the needed Mana to continually sing. “I’m not sure how long that will take. But till then, we could allow some of the Outer-tier Houses to establish themselves within the Inner.”
Tealhun’s ears went slack, showing she wasn’t fond of the idea; the gesture joined with grays marring her blue aura.
“It’s an idea we had in mind,” Sounness voiced behind him. “But a last resort, since the denizens of the Inner-tier would find it a tarnish to the sphere’s worthiness.”
He scoffed, not at all troubled by the thought. “I’ll just have Bliss sing more to them.” That would remove any reluctance, he was even sure that afterward, petitions would be sent, asking for more to be let in.
“Blessed if that can be done.” Tealhun said, her ears flexing back into life. He smiled at the sight: “It can, and it will,” he replied while taking hold of another crystal; its sights swarming into his mind. “It’s why I’m here after all, to bathe those in need with warmth.”
To keep the Vails from clawing themselves to death, while monsters hammer their defenses. To end the cruelty that ran rampant in this realm. To uplift Souls into something more appealing, now that he could see, and feel the sickness around him. And, most of all, to end the madness.
‘There’s so much to do,’ he thought, watching the visions. But he had people around him to rely on. Plus, if all went well, a growing army to help him keep the peace. Bliss had worked wonderfully, enough, that he had other entities in mind to aid the Vail. But those were to wait. Instead, he focused his mind on the Outer-tier, the hordes of people in need of affection.
‘I’ll fix everything,’ he vowed. The realm made right; free of the Nightmare, and the cities of Chilltouched. Then he, everyone, could live peaceful carefree lives.