The Surveyor, well, Erus for now, sat still as End went out to call in her husband. Ieros made his way to the house, a smile on his face as he neared End. He drew her into a kiss and with an arm around her waist, the two entered their humble home, Ieros losing the smile as he saw Erus.
He then looked to End and asked, “Who’s that?”
End smiled and introduced the two of them, “Husband, this is my brother, Erus. Erus, this is my husband, Ieros.”
Erus then stood and made his way towards Ieros, holding out a hand, “It is nice to meet you, Ieros. I’ve been very curious about the man who tamed End’s heart.”
Ieros chuckled nervously, shaking Erus’s hand, “Haha, End’s not all that bad.”
He then said to End, “Dear, I’d like to speak with you outside.”
End obliged, Erus sitting back down as he pulled out a book, continuing transcribing where he had left off. Silren noticed and after seeing the lifelike images that he put down on paper, she pulled up a chair much like End had.
She watched quietly, occasionally asking, “Uncle, what’s that?”
Erus would reply, never once diverting his attention from the book, explaining whatever it was that she was curious about.
Meanwhile, outside, Ieros was furiously questioning End, “Who the hell is he?”
End smiled, “He’s my brother.”
Ieros sighed, “I know that but isn’t he related to the Surveyor or something!?”
End nodded, “Of course he is.”
Ieros demanded, “Then why the hell is he here!?”
End replied, “To complete the seal that the Surveyor made.”
Ieros continued, “Why the hell... wait, what?”
End said, “He came here to complete the seal on my power which he did. He then did the same with our daughters. He was about to go but I invited him for dinner.”
More confused than angry now, Ieros asked, “Then why did you invite him for dinner?”
End sighed, “He’s one of the few family members I have, other than you and the kids. This is most likely the last time we’ll ever see one another so I... well I wanted to have some good memories with him.”
Ieros was silent for a moment, finally saying, “Fine, I guess it’s alright.”
End beamed at him and gave him a peck on the cheek, “I knew you’d understand, let’s go inside now.”
End then entered the cabin, Ieros giving a small sigh before following her. He still eyed Erus with some suspicion, glaring with disapproval when he saw Sirlen sitting very close to him. But then he saw the book in which Erus was writing in and despite himself, he too grew curious. He went over to look, watching in amazement as Erus seemed to freeze moments in time onto paper. Then, with shock, he realized that he too possessed memories of doing this, although now he had learned that it was the Surveyor who had done so using his body. He shuddered when he remembered his helplessness back then, forever repressed by the mind of the Surveyor.
He and Sirlen remained entranced until they were freed by Erus closing the book, having finished transcribing. He then put it away and sat still, Sirlen appearing slightly disappointed. Ieros just cleared his throat before sitting down, determined not to even glance at Erus.
After a few moments of silence, Sirlen finally mustered enough courage to inquire, “Um, uncle, do you have more of those books?”
Erus nodded and Sirlen used up the rest of her nerve to ask, “Could I see them?”
Erus nodded again and asked, “What type would you like?”
Flustered as she hadn’t expected this question, Sirlen mumbled, “Anything’s fine.”
Erus then thought for a moment, finally pulling a book about the Saurians, handing the book to her. She shyly took it and opened it to the first page, seeing a depiction of a Tyrannosaurian in combat, seeming as if it would snap its great jaws at any moment. She then read the description, her imagination taking over. She soon lost herself in the world of Saurians while Erus turned his attention to Ieros, intent on finding out what happened to the previous Surveyor.
Not one to waste time, Erus asked bluntly, “What happened to the previous Surveyor.”
Ieros froze, finally saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The room suddenly grew cold as the sunlight grew weak, the shadows coming to life.
Erus said, “Do not lie to me. I haven’t killed you yet as there is no use in it. But should you lie, then I will have no qualms using whatever means necessary to get the truth.”
Ieros then saw a shadow approach Silren who was looking around fearfully, its arm morphing into a blade.
Ieros gulped, raising his hands in surrender, “I-I’ll tell the truth.”
Erus then restrained his power, the room returning to normal.
Erus then commanded, “Now, tell me how the previous Surveyor died.”
Ieros gulped and said, “Well... I destroyed him. The two were talking with one another in private when End suddenly grew angry. She attacked him but he easily overpowered her, saying that he intended to destroy her once and for all. Hearing that, I just lost it, I created a sword of light and I attacked him, my blade shattering the amulet.”
Ieros waited for Erus’s anger but there was none. He looked curiously at Erus, only seeing his impassive face.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Erus finally said, “Do you know the reason behind their conflict?”
Ieros shook his head and Erus nodded as if he had expected it. End would most likely never speak of it, about the True End. Sooner or later, she would become a part of True End once more. But he put such thoughts out of his head, for now, instead, he got up to help End and Ieros set the table for dinner.
They soon settled down for dinner, Ieros complimenting End, “This is simply delicious darling, far better than your previous attempts.”
End playfully punched him in the shoulder, “Oh stop teasing you.”
Meanwhile, Erus sampled every dish on the table, analyzing them very carefully. It was indeed delicious by human standards but not the best. Of course, that was because the Surveyor possessed memories of eating the best cuisine humanity had to offer. But nevertheless, this food was good as well as nutritious. On such a diet of grown potatoes, beets and carrots combined with wild vegetables like dandelions, plantains, and wood sorrel—and with plenty of exercise—a human would be able live a good decade past their designated lifespan of a century in excellent health.
This, coupled with a rather modest condiment of herbs and spices, made for an excellent meal. All this was due to Ieros’s creation ability for these were the healthiest plants that Erus had ever seen of their species, yielding a larger harvest than their wild kin. But these were probably descendants of the first vegetables that he created, given lavish care by Ieros himself as End was poorly suited to do so. All in all, the dinner was not unpleasant, the Surveyor much preferred this to the loud feasts of royalty.
Erus stayed a while more, answering Silren’s many questions while conversing with End and Ieros. He mostly asked about their stay in End’s prison, End confirming what Ieros had said about the Surveyor’s previous self. Once his curiosity was sated, Erus then stood, saying, “It is time for me to leave. I must thank you for the meal, it was most pleasant.”
End said, “Oh it was my pleasure, if possible, I’d like to do this again.”
She looked hopefully at him but Erus refused, saying rather bluntly, “I would rather we never meet again, for if I do have a reason to visit you, it will be to destroy you. So, for you and your family’s sake, hope that I never come to visit you.”
End’s face fell, finally saying with tears in her eyes, “I... I understand.”
He then turned to leave, Silren stopping him, “Um, here’s your book uncle.”
Erus took it and was about to leave once more when Silren blurted out, “Can I come with you?”
End and Ieros were shocked while Silren hurriedly explained, “I want to see those things you wrote about in your book and more, the outside has so many interesting things I want to see and I think that you are my only chance of seeing them.”
Erus turned towards her, Silren lowering her eyes and waiting nervously for his answer.
Finally, Erus said, “Normally I would have no reason to deny one in their search of knowledge but I am afraid I cannot take you.”
Silren demanded, “Why? I’ll be good, I won’t cause you any trouble!”
Erus said, “I know you won’t be of trouble but unfortunately, the world has changed greatly, the age of humans has passed and the era of orcs has come. Your appearance as a human would be a hindrance to me on my journeys but if it will make you feel better, I will give you access to my library.”
So saying, Erus created a ring, saying, “Tap the crystal on this ring and it will teleport you to my library. Once you have selected what books you wish to borrow, merely tap the crystal again to return. But do not bring harm to my books, it would be troublesome to replace them.”
She held the ring reverently, thanking Erus, “Thank you, uncle... I-I don’t know what I say.”
Erus said, “No thanks are needed young one, I too understand what its like to be curious.”
He then smiled slightly at Silren before he opened a gate and stepped through. The gate disappeared after him, leaving the family standing there.
End and Ieros soon retired back inside to sleep but Silren waited for a few moments more, looking up at the night sky and vowing, “I’ll follow uncle one day.”
Meanwhile, the Surveyor discarded Erus’s personality, returning to Otium which was, unsurprisingly, filled with orcs. Orcs had made their home in Otium seeing as it wasn’t defended, the previous Surveyor was forced to recall the Custodians as they took up too much of its power. But now that it had returned, it intended to restore Otium to its former glory, the dark crystal topping the pyramid bursting to life, temporarily shooting a beam of white light up into the sky. Meanwhile, the Custodians appeared, quickly bringing order to all of Otium, killing any orcs who dared break its rules.
Soon, the corpses of countless orcs littered the streets of Otium, once the Custodians killed squabbling orcs, the others attacked the Custodians in revenge. They knew almost no fear and thus charged foolishly at the Custodians who slaughtered them with ease. But even these reckless orcs soon grew afraid of the might of the Custodians, soon retreating en masse to their ships. The orcs foolishly believed that the Custodians couldn’t reach them across the water from which they could bombard them with crude missiles such as stones and spears. And they were right, the Custodians didn’t need to reach them for the defenses of Otium would do just fine.
Recognizing the orcs’ futile attempts at trying to kill the Custodians as hostile, the defense system of Otium lit up and began to fire beams of energy at the orc ships, incinerating all in its path. And those that managed to avoid the beams of death were then boarded by Custodians which then proceeded to empty the ship of life. Soon, all orc presence was eliminated within the premises of Otium, leaving only the slaves which the orcs brought. They merely wandered listlessly, generations of domestication having broken their minds. Seeing that it was better to give them death, the Surveyor killed them all, doing it quickly as it did not wish to waste time. After all were dead, their bodies were devoured and turned into dark matter, leaving Otium clean and empty.
With Otium cleansed of its impurities, the Surveyor returned to the ruins of the preman city, seeing the Teryo once more. It took them back to Otium where they would serve as its guardians along with the Custodians, it would not be able to devote all of its attention to Otium as it would be spending time with the orcs. It had many things to learn among them, these creatures that had become the rulers of Occasus. It would have to find create a new body but that was of no consequence, the Surveyor held no emotional attachments to its preman vessel.
But for now, it did not have to go, the memories of its observers demanded its attention, especially the observer that was attached to Azemar. The Surveyor was curious as to how Azemar faced this entire situation but was disappointed to find that Azemar had been killed along with the Emperor when End fell to Earth. Truly a waste, it would have been very interesting to find out what he would have done, perhaps he might have been able to hold off the orc invasion. It then sifted through the various memories of different observers, most were just about being incinerated by End’s arrival although the General of the North provided some more substance.
She had listened well to Ieros’s strange words long ago, that a chance would arrive soon. She had secretly prepared an army and was able to survive the orc invasion, unifying Athera under her leadership and making the retreat south. It was due to the efforts of her and her army that the Alliance was able to make their floating cities in time, although her army had suffered many losses. As such, she was regarded as a hero and became the leader of the Alliance, creating and stabilizing a new government which would remain so in the centuries following her death. But nothing can stand against the ravages of time and by the time the Surveyor awoke, the Alliance’s government had already rotted from the inside out, no longer able to protect itself from the orcs who grew increasingly familiar with seafaring over the course of nine centuries.
It would seem that the Alliance was finished, its only hope would be to reach out to Auster but that was on the other side of Agleon, they would never make it. So the Alliance merely rotted out at sea, being backed into a corner from which they could not escape. In fact, the orcs may not have to personally destroy the Alliance, relations between elves and humans were rapidly deteriorating in recent years, large-scale violence had not yet started but it was only a matter of time.
Not wanting to miss out anymore, the Surveyor made sure to plant new observers all over their thirteen floating cities, it would be foolish to ignore such a wealth of information. With that done, it set about viewing the remainder of its observers’ memories, transcribing all that had happened into books in its library.