[Chapter 23 part 2] Free – Idia and Torak

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Miki listened calmly, “Firstly, Kate, you needn’t be so wary. Virtually all of those she’s killed were over twenty. She’s pretty lenient when it comes to ‘children’. That being the case, Light’s idea wasn’t bad.”

“I didn’t know…” Kate mumbled.

“Of course not. We want young adventurers scared of her. Otherwise, some would act fearlessly, and Kara will turn on anyone if pushed far enough.”

Miki faced Light, “As for you…” A lightning sprite swooped down and zapped him. Tensing, her brother dropped to his knees.

“Kate knows the Isle better than all of you.” Miki stated calmly. “Rely on her.”

“Are you ok?” Soul asked.

“I’m fine.” Light assured them. “I was more surprised than hurt.”

Not sure it’ll do any good. Light was hotheaded concerning certain things. Teaching him right or wrong wouldn’t help since his personality was the core issue. In any case, the shock was deserved, so there’s no foul.

“On to business, I must prepare you.” Miki said. “Your knowledge of tyrants is undoubtedly lacking. I bet you’ve no idea why I came here. Let’s begin with that.”

“The outlook of Tyrants is warped by their native environment, especially how they value life. The death rate for their young is high, with less than ten percent surviving. Due to this, they don’t form deep bonds with ‘youngsters’, including their own off-spring.”

“This attitude is even worse towards us. Mature tyrants are naturally immortal. Nothing in the Green Hell dies of old age. Because of this, they view immortality as ‘adulthood’. From their perspective, our odds of growing up are astronomically low, and they give little weight to those who aren’t at least saints. If you met Sars without me, he might not even register your presence.”

“Next, about how he talks… There’s a misconception that Tyrants are lazy and slow-witted. That’s incorrect. The truth is they’re sluggish around those they don’t respect, not bothering with complete sentences. Sars does this with me, which is a pain. Still, he‘s better than most. Some don’t respond to saints.”

“Another warning.” Miki continued. “Tyrants don’t move their mouths when they speak. This weirds many out. They also don’t have unique voices like we do. Instead, they possess incredibly advanced vocal cords that can mimic any sound they hear. This includes all human voices, male or female, young or old.”

“Speaking with an inexperienced tyrant is one of the most disturbing experiences you’ll ever have. They’ll switch voices mid conversation or even mid sentence. It doesn’t help that they tend to copy those around them, sometimes blending them or sounding like several at once…” Miki shook her head in recollection. “This won’t come up with Sars. He’s settled on one voice.”

“That’s about everything… By the way, Sars is just as dangerous as Kara. The only reason he has a lower kill count is people instinctively recognize him as dangerous. Anyone who provokes a four hundred pound reptile is seeking death.”

Everything from the Green Hell is lethal. Governments undoubtedly considered ‘antagonizing a tyrant’ to be suicide too.

“Now let’s introduce you so I can get back to work.” Miki started off.

“I wish I could see Haven…” Free whispered. She’d researched the tyrant homeland yesterday. It sounded like a magical place.

“Then you’re in luck.” Miki glanced back. “The next Hundred Year Moon is in four years.”

“‘Hundred Year Moon’?” Free scoured her memory.

Miki smirked, “Once every 100 years during the full moon, the Blood Locusts rise. They swarm the eastern third of the Green Hell, devouring everything except the trees. Other predators flee or end up being consumed. During those ten days, the only dangerous creatures are the locusts themselves, and tyrants discovered an incense which repels them. It’s the one period where it’s safe to travel to Haven.”

“Good to know.” Free responded, attention elsewhere. Before her, a giant lizard laid atop a boulder formation, sporting impressive claws and teeth. It may look like this now, but they can shape-shift every part of their body except their skulls. Their tail could become a quarter mile whip. The scales lining their backs could move to protect any location. Their claws could lengthen for better reach or shorten, hardening to tear through the toughest material. Their color could shift to camouflage them.

I probably can’t ask for a demonstration of some spells… Tyrants sang their magic, a system of magecraft only they could use.

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Miki approached, “Greetings, Sars. I’ve come to beseech you to keep these youngsters safe on guild grounds.”

The tyrant remained motionless. No reaction.

“These are the children of Astra, our guildmaster.” Miki added awkwardly.

At this, Sars raised his head and peered at them, “Astra… New ice immortal? Arther told me of her.” He slowly nodded. “Accepted. They’ll be safe.” Having delivered his verdict, he lay back down.

“Actually, there are two more who aren’t here right now——.”

Sars interrupted, “Know them… Walked by yesterday… Go away.”

“Thank you.” Miki lead them behind an adjacent building and raised an arm. Two dozen streaks of lightning converged around them, circling too fast to follow. When the sprites retreated, they left a static field.

“That’ll give us some privacy. You should assume everything you say unshielded will be heard. Sars’s senses are as good or sharper than Kara’s. Even without those two, saints and immortals can hear from blocks away if they concentrate. Astra wanted me to remind you of this.”

Good tip. Light aside, there hadn’t been much danger of eavesdropping in the arctic. Considering the secrets we carry, we must develop a habit of shielding our conversations.

“Do you use the fairies for everything?” Free asked, observing the shimmering field.

“One advantage of maintaining the Lightning Core is that I can rely on its power.” Miki said smugly. “On the Isle of Dreams, I’ve the strength of an immortal.”

“Any particular reason for this?” Dawn asked.

“Because we haven’t had a ‘private’ conversation since the core room.” Miki said. “And I’m curious to hear your reaction to Sars.”

“I see why you came. For a moment there, I thought he wouldn’t answer.” Kate said.

“I know right? It’s so stressful dealing with him. Not as bad as Radin though.”

“Just curious, what would you have done if he hadn’t responded?” Silver asked.

“Cried?” Miki half-joked. “Even with the Lightning Core, I’m no match for him. With Astra gone, the only ones Sars respects are Radin and Kara. Asking either for help is… I’m so glad it didn’t come to that.”

“How’d he end up as Head of Security?” Rose asked.

“I don’t know the details, but it was his friendship with Arther Bard. It’s difficult to earn a tyrant’s trust, but, when you do, it lasts.” Miki smiled wryly. “It’s certainly not his salary that’s keeping him here.”

For tyrants, money was an optional luxury. They could survive anywhere without shelter and didn’t require transportation. Aside the Blue Abyss, no terrain provided any obstacle. With their strength, they can easily acquire wealth anyway.

For herself, Free was definitely interested in exploring the value of money. Specifically through a shopping expedition. The commercial sector had all kinds of outlandish goods. It might be fun to have a pet I didn’t create myself.

“Time to head underground.” Miki sighed, departing.

Free checked her wrystal, “I’ll head to the cathedral.”

“We’ll accompany you.” Soul said. “then go visit Hope at the firing range.”

“Sounds good.” Free agreed happily. Now she could follow on autopilot.

John’s retired so he’ll be the first ‘mortal’ I meet. Everyone else enjoyed timelessness or had realistic prospects of achieving it. According to Wise, for saints over forty, less than three percent succeed. Many gave up chasing a fleeting dream.

Free frowned. Wait a second. John was fifty, and retired saints aged slowly. About a tenth of normal. That meant John might last another five hundred years, which was an eternity. Can I really count him as a mortal?

“There it is.” Kate said.

The cathedral was similar to the one they’d seen yesterday, except more reasonably sized. The other one serves the entire Isle. The white stone stood out among the gold. That attached building must be the medical center. All priests of Idia could heal, even if they’d little talent for it. When Wise had mentioned this, she’d forced him to explain the nonsensical notion.

Free took out her adventurer's card. A line read ‘Specialization: ninja’. Identity has power. Priests of Idia gained affinity with creation and had spells they alone could use.

Much remained unclear. What rules determined which roles offer rewards? Is it widespread respect? Or possibly ‘coolness’? Evidently even ‘uniforms’, such as those of Isle Security Force, could enhance their wearers. I’ll ask Emerit Blaze. Wise had begged her to wait until their lesson, and she’d reluctantly agreed.

Free gazed at the flame symbol atop the steeple. The spark of life. Gods held her interest. They shape our lives in real, observable ways. Religion was harder to fathom.

She’d asked Astra about it when she was young. Her mother had responded that the Church had been instrumental during the Dark Age. ‘Its biggest contributions weren’t on the battlefield’. The Dark Gods had fed on negative emotions to grow unstoppable. For the masses huddled on the back lines, Idia’s teachings had offered solace, depriving Kondal of much strength. Without faith, despair would’ve swallowed the world.

It wasn’t for her. I reject the ‘blind’ part. Vague, ambiguous topics were tedious. It’s boring if I can’t deconstruct or experiment. Religion fell in the same category as politics, philosophy, and ethics. Why does it appeal to others? Astra said some feared their demise and what came after. This was ridiculous. Death didn’t need to be mysterious. It could be studied, quantified, and understood. Sola proved it can even be conquered. So then, wasn’t faith unnecess——

“…Hello” Rose was waving in front of her. I hate it when she does that.

“Yes?” Free said, irritated.

Rose motioned to a doorway. Ah, we’re there. Everyone was waiting. I did it again. Free understood it was rude to space out, but knew she’d never fix the habit. I enjoy it too much.

“Where’re you meeting?” Soul asked.

She shook her head, “I’m not sure…”

They entered, their eyes adjusting as their footsteps echoed. Stained glass high above illuminated all manner of pictures and icons. Wonder inspires belief. She didn’t have the vocabulary for half her surroundings. I think those wall paintings are frescoes…

Free got hold of herself. It’s nearly time. Distractions now might cost her learning opportunities. She approached a man reading on a pew, “Excuse me, do you know where I can find John Lavinda?”

He was wearing white robes embroidered with gold. The colors of the Church and the Isle… He looked up with a smile, “That’d be me.”

(continued in part 3)