THE BEGINNING
1
Knocking reverberated through Selu’s unconscious mind, tempting to break her from her enchanting sleep. In reality it was more akin to loud banging of someone desperate to enter the latrine. Well anyone would be desperate if they were about to die.
Tired of waiting, the noisemaker budged into the room, breaking the door off its hinges in the process. It was a man, good build – in these parts one had to be. His next move was just as brutal, pushing the room’s occupant and bed to the floor.
“I am up.” A melodic voice shot off trying to sound tough, a brown-skinned woman emerged from the covers. “I am up you bastard.” She stood up from the floor already dressed – in bright pink dress – her wide hips still visible through the loose clothing. “Aija!”
“His already out there you lazy bird.” The man accosted. “What kind of person sleeps through this chaos?” Pointing out the loud Shrieking outside. What an unnatural cry it was indeed, how the woman slept through it surpassed reasoning.
“The kind that’s running on two hours of sleep.” She said aggressively trying to intimidate the man but her naturally gentle voice did her no favours. “Shouting never helps Zeks.” She said moving towards the door.
The roof caved in before they could leave room. Nonsensical words and raised arms were her only defence. Somehow it worked, saving the man known as Zeks from a deserved crushing. The crumbling wood floated above Zeks, at an angle from the woman’s outstretched hands. Adding horror to danger, a giant catfish like head appeared through the hole in the roof.
“Bloody hell, Selu. Do something!”
Throwing the large wooden debris upwards was the something she did. The large fish face dodged the attack, the thing proved quicker than its size suggested. “Tail swig! Hit the deck.” Selu dived towards Zeks wrapping them both in a repulsive barrier. A large scaled spiked tail came through the side of the room immediately after her actions. The tail still managed to floor the pair regardless of the protection.
“Sorry for early.” Zeks said softly under the cushion of her large bosom as she loomed over him. “And thanks.”
“You ok?” Selu asked ignoring Zeks comments, her nurturing tone sounding more fitting. The nod she received sufficed as she repelled the wreckage – mostly wood and steel – above them.
She dusted herself off and tied a belt around her waist. They are times to gets loose and times to get tight or hold on tight in her case as the entire room shook violently. Selu was quick to gain composure and bounced into a steady stride once the movements stopped. Zeks followed closely as she led him through gaping holes the spiked tail had left in interconnect walls. The severely injured and the dead littered each room the two passed, “We can’t keep doing this, there has to be another way.” She looked at a small boy pleading to a corpse that used to be his mother to wake up. “We just can’t.”
“That’s what we pay you for.” Zeks reminded as the two emerged out on the living quarters and onto steady wooden boards above water. At this vantage, one could see the two were on a large barge. A cluster of barges, ships and canoes to be exact. “You! Have to do something about it.”
“I tried,” She said looking to the far side as a giant spiked tail pierced through cluster of boats. “And I failed.” She admitted hunching her shoulders as the large catfish head dived into the water.
“Aija!” She called again this time the call yielded an answer from a small dark skinned boy who was missing an arm just below his right shoulder. “Oh there you are.” Receiving the boy in her arms.
“Keep close apprentice there is danger all around. No way of knowing how it will attack next…” A large catfish head rose from the water ahead cutting her off midsentence. The large head, attached to a larger serpent like body that demanded awe, as it continued to rise above the water. The hideous head snapped as fast as a cobra but Selu uttered her jumbled phrases faster and with more passion. Blood poured copiously threating to turn her brown iris crimson. Yet she did not yield covering everyone in a large barrier – including the barge.
“No you don’t.” She screamed this time her fierce fury overcame her soft tone.
Aija, maybe inspired by his masters bravely spoke his own unique gibberish to form a small but respected fireball for one’s first spell. Selu added her own voice to aid the boy as the fireball grew drastically. Good thing water surrounded them because such fire would burn an entire town but Aija had sound control anyway – two years of relentless work was paying off. He kept his composure as the odd beast repeatedly hit the barrier, weakening it with every blow.
“What are you waiting for?” Zeks complained with understandable fear.
“Patience Aija, you only get one chance.” Selu reminded bearing the tone of a routine lecture. “Now!” She instructed, coinciding the shot with the release of her barrier, trying to avoid death by friendly fire. The fireball shot into the beast’s mouth with enough force to recoil its attack.
The beast writhed in pain trying to extinguish the blaze in its mouth. It dived under again, this time mouth open.
Steam rose from the point of entry. Selu and her companions held their ground as the dive sent shockwaves on the deck. The boiling stopped and the water calmed yet no one moved a muscle.
“You think it’s dead?” Someone aboard uttered but to his surprise the beast rose again head first. Same spot as before, only angrier, it screamed at Selu as a bully would after receiving a walloping from an elder.
Selu refused to flinch. The beast suddenly swam away as cheering broke out across the entire cluster of floating vessels.
“We won.” They screamed but Selu and Zeks knew the naivety in such words and simply breathed sighs of relief. After all this wasn’t the first time they had run it off.
“It will be back.” Selu said trying to harden her face but failing. Her soft cheeks were not made for such expressions.
“I know.” Zeks admitted.
“We need a permanent solution or we’ll be dead come the full moon.” She added.
“I know. Pariue is searching for it. Let’s just pray he arrives in time.”
“Haven’t you heard? All the gods died ages ago.” Aija finally spoke surprising Zeks. “I meant no disrespect my king.” He said upon remembering his company.
A wide friendly smile was his reply. “Nobody ever calls me that. What kind of king rules a floating city? Only captains rule the water.” He laughed off the honorific. He moved towards the boy’s teacher. “Chin up Aija we will all need your spirit ahead.” He uttered masking his weary expression behind bravado. That was good enough to cheer up even the exhausted Selu. That brought him joy because that’s what good leaders do. They uplift even when what they utter is complete horse shite.
2
The bright day brought with it happy travellers, meaning most xenophobic idiots were too satisfied to bother the dark brown-eyed traveller clad in black. They would probably still call him names and profanity but he would take that any day over a senseless brawl. Well not always, sometimes a good senseless fight was superb for the health. One has to be in tip-top condition if they are to become a world bending boxing, that was not the dark traveller’s goal or dream but it never hurts to be prepared.
The lone traveller had left Weane – a large settlement near the dark forest – a few days ago, he now began to run into merchant traffic heading to Tyhean – a large merchant city. He dropped his hood in such company because merchants were too concerned with coin to care about its bearer. He raffled his hands through his black hair – trimmed sides and a puffy small afro on top – and noticed the bristle in the sides was turning into kinky curls. It meant time for a haircut and he knew Tyhean housed the best spot for one to style their head and you know the young man had to stay clean. No female would even look at man with frizzled sides, they would still cower in fear by his presence but at least they would never complain about his clean hairstyle.
He smiled at the shallow thought but still acknowledged he had just turned sixteen. No party to celebrate the occasion due to being in hostile lands but now heading to safer territories, he fantasised about the prospect. Now all he needed was coin. That problem would soon sort itself out, for now he enjoyed the stroll.
A few meters of walking and the city’s spires had begun to loom. As though a sign of what the city held in store a merchant passed him some salted meat without charge. It added an extra bounce to his stride, so much so that he allowed the immaculate bearded merchant to regale him with tales of the shifting nature of supply and demand.
If the tales bored the brown-eyed traveller, which the merchant’s little boy – wearing a small hat on top of his head – suspected, he never let it show. The traveller listened patiently throwing in “hmm” and “I see” at different intervals encouraging the merchant. This proved so effective that the traveller earned an invitation to the merchant guilds inn in Tyhean at no cost. All the merchant asked for was his name.
“My friends call me Chite.” He flashed a red stained smile. That’s why he loved the desert kingdoms and their surrounding states they believed in a mythical code of Karma. He believed in it too but rarely said it out loud. You never know whose listening and waiting to take advantage.
The dead gods must have been eavesdropping, surely they must have. A man on horseback raced past the group and came to an abrupt halt ahead. The man’s bronze hair tied in bow caught everyone attention and not in good way. This is why Chite prioritised taking care of his crown. The rider’s facial feature and deep voice flipped all that around.
“I am looking a young man travelling alone.” The rider bellowed grabbing attention with both words and elevation. The merchants gathered in a semicircle consisting of not more than thirty. “Dark skin tone like burnt bread,” The rider continued as others wearing similar clothing joined him eying the small crowd. “Medium build, about ye high.” The man levelled his hand against his horse neck to signify height. He received no answer.
Chite had already ducked under a cover protecting some fruit the moment he heard “lone traveller”. By the time the man finished describing his target, Chite had finished running down his recent activities. Then it hit him, beside the card game in Moriate, he was good. He jumped out of the cart annoyed by witch hunters tarnishing his already condemned and dishonoured name.
“Is it me you ask for?” He said, face hard and intimidating. “And if it is, what for?”
“Thank the fallen stars.” He sighed in relief disembarking from his saddle. “Sir!” He said rummaging through his pack and grabbing pieces of parchment. “They call me Pariue.” He said hand stretched out. It stayed hanging, Chite was never one to be rude but uniformed men never boded well for his kind. “The Baron of castle Nesturvern sent me your way.”
“I know no baron.” He actually did and at this point was beginning to suspect what this order of men lead by a woman who acted like a man was after. “Never been to Nestervern.” Another egregious lie. The man that might have been woman passed him the parchment. He read it and sighed with shoulders slouched. “What was your name again?”
“Pariue sir!” Said the gender ambiguous character leading the band. S/he gave Chite the crux of the situation and waited for an answer. If Pariue knew the truth s/he wouldn’t have looked as anxious.
“First of all don’t call me sir.” He always hated that, when the xenophobes pretended to respect his kind – godslayers – when there was need for them but if the baron vouched for his pale brethren then they couldn’t be too bad. “Second I don’t do horseback.”
“A carriage is already on its way sir. I mean…”
3
The water spray was just starting to annoy Chite when he spotted the blue metal spiral with the enormous topaz upon its crown. Large spinning tubes made of large thread that lit the night sky pale blue attached to large islands circling the spire. The city was awe-inspiring to any that saw it and only got better upon each view but one would doubt it looking at Chite.
Earlier Pariue had scowled at his reaction to the gliding boat powered by powerful magic that made sails or oars useless. The magnificent feat blending of magic and engineering seemed unimpressive to the young godslayer. Who cares about a boat made of lightweight material that uses blue explosive energy for propulsion?
Thinking it through logically, his reaction made perfect sense, no one marvels at the intricate arrangement of bones walking into a lion’s den.
Pariue rotated the large rod she held the entire boat ride producing systematic cracking sounds, like the mechanics of a large clock tower. They must have miniaturised the technology and related it to the vessel’s speed. The glider’s – as Pariue called it – speed reduced with each crack produced until it came to full stop alongside one of the islands.
Threaded steel ropes dropped from above as the crew tied each pair to both sides of the boat, moments later the vessel rose slowly above the water and for the first time the islands expanse lie before their eyes. The area ahead looked residential, littered with houses of bamboo, wood and opaque glass. Again, Chite didn’t stop to take in these little marvels in architecture, he focussed his gaze on the welcoming party. A brown girl in pink with long black hair pulled back and tied with a red ribbon received Chite’s cold gaze. The rest of the armed guards, although imposing, required only cursory glances.
“I am captain of this rig.” Said the imposing figure clad in a white blouse and black tight pants. “Captain Zeks.” Presenting a firm handshake. The newcomer obliged with an equal grip and gave his name. The captain introduced his crew, most notable was the girl named Selu, the tanned guard in a cream white robe named Dres and a short black fisherman – showing off the typical paupers look found on the mainland – named Akija.
“This way.” Led the captain. The path lead to a large pool of water surrounded by manicured greenery, shrubs and trees.
“I present the city’s time wasting exploit called the Reck.” Zeks briskly said as they passed the hexagonal centre of the wonder. A simple nod of acknowledgement was all he got from the tourist. Tough to impress it seemed but he knew something that would shock and awe the young man.
They shapely turned right upon reaching the giant metal gates and walked right into brick lined walkways that lead to the enormous blue spire. Thin shaped tubes glowing bright yellow decorated the metal barriers that lined the sidewalks, bridges and numerous waterways. A protective mechanism to prevent children and awestruck adults from falling into the deep water sailed by large wooden canoes – these required oars. Wooden houses stacked on each in sets of threes lined the side of the waterways drawing in attention to the large bright building ahead at base of the spire.
“I present the literal jewel of the city.”
Another enigmatic nod from the tourist.
That response triggered Pariue, “That’s it? A nod! Is that all the walkway to heaven can muster from you.” S/he said in the uniquely deep tone from behind Chite. The words got unfavourable glares from her fellow delegates but s/he soldiered on. No foreigner would disrespect the place s/he called home. “Bloody undeserving prig!” Pointing a shaming finger in Chite’s face. “Marvel at this marriage of beauty, function and purpose, or dead gods help me…”
“I once saw a city of solid ice in the desert.” Chite interrupted while strategically omitting the role played by the hallucinogenic mushrooms he had ingested.
“Impressive.” Akija, the fisherman – at least that’s what Chite thought of him – interjected drawing everyone’s attention. “Maybe something to look into later.” Effectively ending the discussion. “For now we focus on the task at hand.”
“The poverty and famine in midlands?” Selu said under her breath but surprisingly still audible to the entire group. Akija gave her his best “shut the up with that idealistic nonsense” glare. “Yes the beast that stalks us is also very important.” She mumbled louder. She clearly lacked social agility. The procession resumed its journey towards to spire but this time Akija pointed out the prominent sights.
4
Chite heard the boisterous chatter way before the guards opened the large doors leading into the spacious dining hall. Zeks the captain of the rig lead the way, immediately the room stilled, all the finely dressed men and women took their seats. Just like domesticated animals falling in line after seeing their master. Chite stayed in the hallway because rig law required guests of great esteem be officially introduced to cities leaders, Chite suspected it was more to do with the captain leashing his animals to avoid embarrassment.
Moments later the young godslayer walked in and presented himself to the city’s representatives. A wave of sighs echoed in the organised crowd, he ignored the noise walking straight past them and to the wall made of glass. It took time to comprehend why one would build a ballroom underwater but the view of the sea from below proved a wise choice. Chite placed a hand on the cold glass, a large red-yellow fish the size of an ox cart swam to him.
“Are you marvelled yet, outsider?” Pariue snuck up from behind wearing a smug smile. “I knew it would get to you.”
“I was just evaluating the structural weakness.” He answered deadpan, the words would have angered Pariue if the variety of fish swimming towards the glass hadn’t absorbed her attention.
“Never seen that happen before.” She said absentminded, concentrating on the colourful school of fish. The cold stare from Chite pulled her out it. “Yes they are ready to begin.”
Chite returned to centre of the ballroom to find guards placing a large wooden table. Colourfully dressed individuals followed that up by placing an exhausting number of documents atop it.
“Proof of residence.” Akija informed; large cities and castles in problematic regions kept documents handy in case they needed a godslayer. Custom prevented godslayers from killing beasts in their natural habitat, leaving the encroaching species to their fate. “If translators are required they can be easily made available.” He talked with a frown. A man not used to serving.
In truth this was an excuse, it was a good way to get food and drink that wasn’t poisoned. They can’t kill if they need you. If you decided to leave, at least you were well fed. The other reason for the pointless ceremony was to gauge the character of whom one meant to aid. One can learn a lot about a person while eating their food. “It’s been a long journey. Some food and drink would be much appreciated.”
Akija called for cooks.
The food was ready in minutes, must have been prepared beforehand. It still tasted fresh when Chite took a bite so he held his tongue. The same could not be said for some of the rig’s representatives. The most outspoken were the white robed delegation, they all had a snake on their forehead or neck in permanent ink. Chite had met individuals that bore similar ink but those belonged to an overzealous cult. It was highly unlikely that their doctrine would reach this far, so he observed the quieter groups. “What does the large blue crystal do?” He asked to no one particular pointing to the stained glass ceiling above.
“It provides power.” A girl in blue hurriedly answered. “It’s what makes the twinkling lights. Like wood on the fire.” She explained, trying her best to dumb it down.
“What happens when you run out of wood?”
“This wood never runs out.” This time it was a man in a good mix of blue and white.
“I take it you’ve tested this?” Another in blue gave an assured nod in response. Approving nods filled with pride concurred. They seemed sure of it. The mere suggestion taken as insult.
For the next few hours, Chite asked random questions as he ate and pretended to read – mostly just skimmed. It helped that he and Maximilian spent time learning old and extinct languages, a good way to mock people without whispering they figured. Maximilian was a young scholar from Heamansha who Chite tried to visit at least once a year. I guess one would call him a friend but that would go against Chite’s code of ethics. One could never trust a scholar, especially one that thought himself cleaver. That’s why he asked questions, to determine the clever from the dumb, that way he knew which one would he could trust, correction, relatively trust.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“Any eye witnesses?” He asked after finishing his plate. ”That are still alive.”
“Expert illustrations are already on the table and detailed report from those affected.” Akija pointed out picking up the tethered papers. The cold glare indicted the redundancy in the act. “In the case of first-hand experience, our resident sorceress would more than adequate.” He said point out the a woman introduced as Selu.
Excellent now that he had confirmed the important people in the room, it was time to find what was going on. He had his suspicions but it was best he kept them to hidden. “Qualification report.” He asked the sorceress. Good thing she travelled with the damn thing or that would have eaten more time. “Selu of nowhere,” He read aloud – but he assumed she originated from the midlands. “Herbalism adequate, Battle magic average, Illusionary magic average…comprehension adequate.” He skipped to important details.
“She was the best available for the funds available.” Akija commented scowling at the captain. “If more funds were available we wouldn’t need to outsource state security.”
“Buh.” The captain rejected. “She did Great. Fighting monsters was never part of the job description.”
“Tell that to families who lost their loved ones…” low blow from Akija, now it was getting interested.
“Don’t go around throwing blame when you are…” An angered captain tried to retort but fell short due to Dres the white robbed clearing his thought loudly. So white robes did have relevance.
Like violent reactions in a cauldron. Low blows all around and intricate politics revealed. That’s a good way to get killed. “Something I should know?” Unease silence was all he received. “Well if that’s all, then let’s get to important matters.” He said trying to kill the awkwardness. “So blue robbed girl, you seem smart enough. Why do you think a beast would attack your city?”
She stalled and faltered. “What else other than to feast?” The man in blue and white answered.
“Logical.” Chite said stroking his bares chin – the only feature that showed he was younger than his shape and height suggested. “I’ll need to talk to the man that did the autopsy reports.” He resolved.
“Does that mean you take the job?” The captain asked.
“It’s all dependant on…” He paused pulling out small book seemingly out of thin air – it came from his left wrist. Opened for the sorceress to view. “Can you do this spell?”
“No.” She answered timidly to the dismay of the entire audience, including the captain. “But I can learn.” She amended bearing a determined gaze.
“Now all we need is the signature of the man who pays everyone.” He said unveiling a piece of paper. “The fee is non-negotiable.” He said with a naughty smirk.
5
The deal signed and the young godslayer fully paid in Hexor coin. At least the writ was written and sent to a trusted third party – the baron – so all the Chite had to do now was kill or incapacitate the beast. The plan began to reveal it’s complications when he arrived at sight of the beast attacks. The scene of the island a far cry from beauty and tranquillity of the first one he had landed on. Only made uglier by the beast attacks. At first glance the one could the builder had never intended or planned for the island to exist. With it being a string of boats and barges with houses built upon them.
Pariue and Selu accompanied Chite, they were his designated tour guides or at least that’s what they claimed to be. The real guide proved to be a local fisherman moving ahead of the group. It was easy to see why one needed a local guide as the boats shifted constantly. Although the island of boats lacked the beauty of the spire or the elegance of the glowing translucent tubes, it easily eclipsed them with it’s vibrant community.
“I can see why you love this place.” Chite said, speaking to Pariue. It seemed to escape his mind that his counterpart wouldn’t get the compliment.
“Let’s just get to the corpse examiner.” She with a pinch of rage, effectively ending the conversation.
Not one to let social awkwardness be, “What do you hope to find on the corpses?” Selu picked up.
A sudden noise erupted over the nominal boisterous noise distracting Chite. It took some time to figure out that what produced it. It sounded familiar, a sound he had gotten used to but it somehow rung different on water. “Trying to find out if it hand anything special. I don’t want to win then die two days later from some poison or toxin.” He picked up after acclimating to the loud cries of the survivors.
“Well,” Pariue chimed in. “Too late for that.” Pointing to the a large wooden barge set to float away from the a large floating boardwalk. Arrows set aflame could be seen flying it’s way.
The scene finally explained the loud wailing, Chite had originally thought it to be disorganised mourning but a mass funeral turned to be real culprit. “No need to worry, the examiner can answer the basics. Some things get lost in reports.” He said the last part he added noticing his guest were getting annoyed with his meandering. The department-boat for the local examiner floated only a few meters from the boardwalk but it turned to be an unnecessary to stop. The man walked to him accompanied by Dres the white robbed.
Dres and the man were already speaking when the approached. The spoke in the local tongue a variant of a language the mash dwellers spoke. Of course they didn’t know Chite knew this, if they knew they wouldn’t be saying what they were. Something along the lines of begging for help from a heathen. A religious man it seemed. “This is the examiner. I’ll translate between the two.” The words felt harsh, more of a command than a statement.
Chite played the role of the simple godslayer and posed his questions. All the while observing the examiner’s actions and like that he learned what he really needed. For it is not the beast that poses the most dangerous threat to a slayer, it’s intentions are clear for all to see, it’s beings that hide intentions behind masks that prove the most treacherous.
6
Predawn called for preparation. Selu practiced the new spell multiple times trying to perfect her form and energy consumption. While Chite crafted complicated asonmate foul smelling recipes and packed in small veils. The hours progressed monotonously until dawn, both decided to take a break from their tasks.
Selu led the young godslayer to a spot were underwater famers dived off. Aija trailed close by he had been keeping a close eye on the man who looked like him but still differed greatly. There was something about his presence that screamed freedom. Like he had never felt the feeling of cold shackles as one laboured day and night, as though he had never fight with his siblings for food to the joy of his captors and mostly importantly never had to cut of his own arm to escape a blaze set by rioting crowds. How could they be so different yet share the same ancestry? Aija never asked this question aloud fearing the answer. For now he could observe and learn in hoping one day to grow up into the man before him.
“People used to mistake me for one of you.” Selu suddenly said in her unique melodic tone. “Everyone sees black or brown skin and the suspects your godslayer. Add in a dash of basic magic and people try to lynch you.” weirdly smiling at the terrible statement. “It annoyed me at first but then I read Mathias tales. Arriving at Eastwatch Academy I met one in real life and everything just made sense.”
The farmers striping to the undergarments distracted Chite, he pondered how they managed to swim I such cold water. He picked a spot and with knees bent, he into the misty horizon as the sun’s rays tried to break through the dense cover. “You know old Mathias made all his tales up.”
“Almost all history is made up. I mean no one even knows how we got here – the continent.” She obstinately claimed. “It’s best to choose what to believe like the previous generations chose which god to worship. Better to be a girl that can kill a god than a dirty homeless witch.”
Chite opened his mouth to speak but the farmers resurfacing made too much noise. They brought in seaweed and other edible vegetation. Selu cued up and purchased her bundle of vegetables before returning to the Chite’s side. “How does an Academy adept end up on a floating city mostly geared towards physical than the magical?” The real question was why but that would be rude.
“It was either this or become a book enchanter.” She answered pointing out the next stop on their morning walk. “Spending my entire life writing papers on magics that everyone knows about with varying wording didn’t seem appealing.”
“Then why not go an expedition,” Chite now noticing the scrutiny he faced from Aija. “Good padding on any qualifications sheet. Even if you don’t discover anything new, you still get to see the world.”
Selu stopped by a fish stand to collect her daily ration. “My instructor recommended the same and I did apply.” She said avoiding his gaze, pretending to check for freshness. “Everyone in my certification year also did the same and let’s just say I wasn’t in best enchanter classification of that year.”
Chite took the hint and kept his mouth shut. The two walked back to Selu laboratory – which now served as her home since her living barge existed in a state of disrepair – in silence. When they arrived, Selu prepared a dish of fish soup that seemed adequate – nothing to win a medal – and the three ate to satisfaction.
“So how does one lose their eye colour?” Selu asked as Chite got up to clean the wooden bowls. “At first I thought you another charlatan like me.”
“Maybe I am.” He answered placing the bowls in a pale of water. “I mean the only difference between you and me is a few shades of dark and the curse of magic.”
An impressed smile lined her face. “It’s the way walk.” Selu said looking through a large window a few paces ahead. “You the same walk she had, my instructor, like the entire world is beneath you, not arrogance but not pure confidence either. It’s similar to the presence of a monk of nothing. The enlightened walking among the lost…”
“Like true freedom.” Aija interjected breaking up Selu mumbling.
Chite wore a look at surprise at the words, not only for the fact that Aija had spoken for the first time since meeting him. He none the less continued his task. After a good minute, he began understand why a person once enslaved and the other ostracised could think the ability to kill gods came without strings attached. Maybe to them the condition for power was irrelevant as long as they escaped their situation. Oh well to each their toils. “It’s an old spell from a witch.” He answered the original question. Their contorting faces didn’t go unnoticed. Magic manipulators rarely liked the term witch. “She said it would protect me from overzealous xenophobes but like you said it’s more than eye colour.”
At that moment, Pariue entered performing a customary knock without waiting for a response. “It’s time.”
7
Well-fed but still yet to sleep, the young godslayer stood on the dock that the dead bodies had been shoved off earlier. Rucksack full of carefully labelled mystic concoctions, he boarded one of the designated gliders. Akija, the short pauper that seemed as powerful as the captain, approached the glider.
“A moment.” He said beckoning Chite. “A change of plans, there was a vote this morning. It called for the beast to be captured. Will that be possible?”
“Depends on certain circumstances.” Chite said weary with his gaze. Few people ever what to capture dangerous creatures and the one’s that do practice atrocious torture in fraudulent claims of discovery. “If I can survive, I’ll think about it.”
“More coin will be added for its capture.”
Chite never responded to the words. He stepped back into the rear of the boat and took his place. The time for vain trivialities was over and the time for death drew near. He had to prepare, mentally, so it wouldn’t be he, the god of death would claim.
8
Selu had taken a different glider, a heavily guided one. Though lacking the mastery the floating city desired, they understood the value she presented to what the city required. Her gaze shifted from casting her spell – it was a powerful tracking spell that somehow used less of her body energy – to the left, not by choice, the ambient energy flowing in the area had suddenly vanished causing distortion of her spell. Something above her in natural hierarchy was calling for the same power. She found her attention to the left, to Pariue and Chite’s glider, for a fraction of a second she saw a glimmer of red in Chite’s brown iris.
More than a gait, she thought starting the spell over again after natural balance had returned.
9
The distance they had covered thus far surprised Selu. No wonder none of her previous searches yielded results. The beast never nested close to the city, this far out also disproved Akija’s theory about the city’s fishermen unknowingly disturbing it’s hunting grounds. They were now approaching a delta of the great river Mukne, her mind told her the beast originated inland but the spell told her to look below. “It’s…” Too late to warn the rest of company and too slow to finish the protective spell. In seconds Selu was flying, well falling upwards, the same happened to the other five glider as they were in a v formation with her glider at the head before the attack. The water arced upwards because the thing had sent a powerful force from below. The had already surpassed the height needed for them to break the bones if they fell to the water below yet they were still going. She chastised herself for not learning the flying spell. She could never learn to draw power from air. Her instructor always mocked her about falling to her death but she would never listen. The basics Selu, the basic she would always say but young Selu was too weak to, how could she do it back then when it was still impossible for adult Selu. How could flying ever be basic to anything other than a bird? Then she reached the apex of her forced flight, the glider only missed her by a hair’s-breadth and clobbered one of the guards behind – below – her. His screams inhuman as a thorough spray of blood covered her face now that she faced the sea below. Pity for the man would have consumed her it not for fear, not from fall such a great height but from noticing what awaited below. The water below had turned to ice and the scene of their accident a centre of sharp spikes.
“Cleaver little thing.” Chite voice floated over her shoulder. It must have been the adrenaline or magic because she couldn’t register him tying rope to her waist. “Now how about a little help.” Placing a blood soaked cloth in front of her stretched face.
Selu knew what he was asking of her, but most blood proved worthless as a source of power. One would need to kill an entire city for any spell to be viable. “It’s forbidden.” She screamed not wanting to mock him for his desperation. In most academies all she would have learnt about blood magic or magic practices using a blood base in tech-necanese, would have been a stark warning but Eastwatch was a nonconformist learning institution. They taught all forms of natural manipulation and left the choice up to the user. She heard him saying something in her ear but the air screamed louder. She heard him repeat the words and in fit to appease decided to do it. Who would know if she did it. She sang the nonsensical and that’s all her mind remembered. Only pain as her eyes went dark and her skin felt like it was on fire. The rest is all screaming.
With her eyesight gone she couldn’t have seen the large hexagonal portal open and swallow the group. She also couldn’t have seen leaving one unlucky guard miss the portal by a fingertip. Maybe then she could have made it larger but how is one supposed to control a spell they didn’t know. If she knew the pain she would feel beforehand, certainly she would have eagerly switched fates with the falling man. No such luck though as she screamed, kicked and screamed some more in the void of time and space. How then could she hear the gliders hit the ice, only barely missing her due to Pariue’s quick movements, once the portal had spit them out. All she remembered was the sweat relief mysterious water drenching her entire body.
“Keep cleaning her eyes with this.” She heard to her surprise. Great she could hear again, the drumming in her ear’s had slowed. It was Chite she recognised the blur. That monster. She could see she realised, another good sign. Chite’s silhouette then turned into Pariue’s which angered her slightly. How else would she curse him out?
It was a shame she was partially blind because she missed an impressive trick. The godslayer took off his boots and instantaneously slick black boots with a steel blade at the bottom replaced them. Then he glided over the ice at dangerous speed. Instead, all she could console her pain with was the thought of a horrible death awaiting the negligent bastard.
10
Skiing just like an old insufferable adventurer taught him. What wonder years those were but now he had a beast to hunt. To hunt a thing old enough to have witnessed the birth of the new world, how naïve for one to believe they could “hunt” such a thing. The beast was on to him seconds after leaving the survivors. It cracked the ice with every movement, trailing him by seconds. No turning back now, he thought satirically. A quick lean moved him left, he had anticipated it’s increase in speed so well he barely felt the aftershock after beast passed him by. The young slayer slide away at a reduced speed, no point in losing the damn thing and soon enough the beast was back on the trail moving faster than before judging by the rate the ice was breaking. Another cool calm slide, this time to the right and the creature missed again. Now it was angry because a spiked tail had just popped out of ice, seeing it sent Chite flying the other way, away from the Selu and her cohorts. Maybe that was always the plan but it now didn’t matter anymore, the real fight had started and no exits were available.
The spiked tail caught up and the thing came flying towards Chite at speed. He countered with an impressive flip, jumping over it and safely landing without losing much momentum. He get going, towards the river delta and closer land, where the waters were shallow. The vast distance the ice covered surprised him upon setting his sights on some frozen reeds. Without warning the monster leaped out the ice and land above. Surprising the surface didn’t break, he would have noticed that of the hideous sight of the a large catfish head perched atop a large cobra’s body had not pulled his full attention. He must have been feeling nostalgic because with a single thought he materialised a black curved sabre with intricate design. An imitation the old insufferable adventurer once wielded, only an imitation because the real one now resided in the possession of the man that killed him. Chite was going to get it back soon, that wasn’t a promise or wish but a guarantee. Good, more reason and motivation to survive his current encounter. Though not to criticize the expert, but what effect would one small blade have on such a monstrosity. The catfish-snake attacked, moving sloppily due to the lack of friction yet fast enough to cause panic. Then the godslayer swung at air with monster a meter away and the thing went flying into the trees. The move promptly attested the young man’s competency.
“Let’s end this.” Chite said behind clenched teeth. “I have got a hair appointment to keep.” Shallowness without shame, one has to respect it.
The fight was fast, somehow Chite keep pace, displaying inhuman reflexes. The creature dived at him mouth agape, missed, turned and tried to curl him into a circle. It’s skin produced spike and the thing constricted. Chite leaped up, avoiding the spikes. Then suddenly as he scaled it’s body the mysterious thing realigned it spikes. Almost had him but a lasso made of dark rope helped him escape. The sword turned into rope, which he threw towards its mouth, attaching it to a exposed task. He swung as the spikes sprung out, using the momentum to vault upwards. Turned the rope into an ebony dagger and plunged it into an exposed eye. It thrashed uncontrollably throwing off. A quick transmutation of the dagger into a rope and a short swig to safety saved him from its grinding spikes. The monster wailed hideously, blood gushing out of eye uncontrollably staining the white backdrop crimson.
Chite took in two short breaths and then one long; that centred his thoughts. Then he rushed the beast. Wrong call, the creature coil defensive, turning its skin spiky as a porcupine before launching the projectiles. It aim well with only one good eye, the zipped in the air faster any arrow. The godslayer slowed his stride turning his boots into a large horizontal shield. The shield dissipated, giving way to an abnormally large sickle. He swung it decapitating the catfish head from the snake bottom. The head had barely hit the snow before an equally disgusting one replaced it. This time it bore buggy eyes. The catfish head was still flipping trying to gnaw at the slayers feet. It looked pathetic in such a sate. Showing no mercy, Chite plunged a spear into it ending all movement. Upon the raising his head, the main body spawned dragon fly wings atop it’s back and took off.
“No you don’t.” He said taking aim, the new creature 0was already a fare distance away but regardless Chite threw the javelin; falling to the cold icey ground in the process.
11
At first all Selu heard was the buzzing of a bug then silence. It seemed the other had heard it too because all around eyes looked wearily towards the sky. Not even the brave head of state security, Pariue could hide her anxiety. Then the realisation that her sight had gotten better hit her, She could see more than blurry shapes. Yet she could not identify the thing one of the guards was pointing out in the sky, she only saw the red rain that flowed. It followed the direction of guard’s finger. The local red rain melted the ice it touched at every touch. She looked up again, squinting her eyes to locate the source, “I can see it.” She screamed at the accomplishment but the other foot dropped immediately. Her sight hadn’t got better the thing was falling towards them.
“Move!” Pariue instructed her followers helping the injured Selu to her feet.
The movement proved unnecessary as the large bug crushed a meters away from them. After gaining their composure they group moved to investigate and found a strange large dragonfly bearing a spike tail with a long spear stuck its back. The thing looked sickly and weak. Surely this pathetic thing couldn’t be the beast they sought. Curiosity overrode pity as Selu reached for dark spear. “I wouldn’t do that.” An inner voice rung through her disoriented head. She was certain it originated outside but how could that be, inanimate objects were incapable of speech.
“Is everyone ok?” Chite said coming to stop with a cheeky slide over the ice. Pulling a large hideous head behind him with rope tied around his waist. “You good for one more spell. This one requires no energy.” He added making her protest pointless.
Selu repeated some gibberish he feed to her this time to the dying creature. “What was that supposed to do?”
“Congratulations, new proud owner of a morphing beast.” Chite said with a hollow smile. “Now that this is done.” He sharply pulled the spear out of the creature’s back. “Let’s go back.”
“This thing is already dead.” She raged, but her melodic tone ruined it. “All this to collect more money.” She clearly harboured hatred for the hellish attempt of rescue early.
Chite sighed heavily. “These things don’t die easy. It will heal up in a few days and follow you as its master.” He said taking offence at her statement. “If you don’t want it I can tether it the boy.”
“I could take it off your hands.” Pariue offered.
“The spell only works with witches.” He lied and using the hated tame intentionally. “Now let’s go I’ve an appointment to keep.”
12
No beautiful docks again with advanced pulley system. Only rickety half-drowning boards greeted Chite’s departure. Now that was something he could get behind. Even Pariue the double gendered guard subsidised her boating duties. The glider he was given, although exception lacked any man of important standing and that was just fine by the godslayer.
“Can I convince you to batter for the spell book?” Selu asked.
“No.” He answered bluntly. “It belonged to someone who close and some spells pose a lot of danger.” He clarified.
Silence periodically broken by the busy guards preparing to shove off reigned. “Not even for a magical long distance communicator.” Selu said, presenting a peculiar device with small buckle attached to one leather strap and the other strap full of holes. “May I?” She asked tying the device to Chite’s right hand. “I created it using the twining principle of minute natural energies. That way when one energy changes the other regardless of distance changes too. The hard part was creating a visual globe small enough. It cost a fortune to construct.” She pointed out a small globular crystal no bigger than his hand at the centre.
“Still no.”
“Plus it pulls out.” She pulled out the globular crystal form the centre, it seemed alive within and appeared tied to the belt with a golden chain. “Like one would hold a pocket watch. And it can take any form.” She demonstrated by morphing the crystal into different shapes.
“Clever device but only works if you have someone to talk to.” He stated trying to take it off.
“Keep it.” She insisted. “Free of course, it needs testing anyway. Might as well use the one year warranty that greedy alf issued."
“I’ll transcribe the spell book and have it sent to you.” He gave in feeling the pressure of owing her something in return. “But you know all these spells were written by my sister when she was six.” He added wearing a condescending smile.
Chite made sure he got the last statement before he shoved off. He shared cursory glances with his new crew of unknowns; the one with an inked snake on her forehead piqued his interest. Brave choice, he thought but to each their own.
13
Now cleared of the thought of impending doom the water spray become distracting again. Chite shifted his eyes around the vessel, searching for protective cover but no luck. He pondered asking the crew but the hard faces dissuaded that course of action. Left with no choice, he disappeared into thought and theory as he watched the blue spire sink below the horizon. The wonders of dreams that may never become reality always allured, in that moment he existed in the present only in body. Wherever his thoughts transported him must have been magical.
He smiled. A stark contrast of the emotion reality called for.
“The gods will live again.” The pale-skinned woman with the snake tattoo screamed. The whites of her eyes bulged, the desperation visible for all to see. The rest of the crew proclaimed the same bearing blue liquid in large veils. They released the corks simultaneously as a large explosion engulfed the speeding glider.
CONTINUED IN THE TRAVELS OF THE LOST SLAYER.