Their trek to the Abyss Rent didn’t take long after they left Asenciel behind. In fact, it was close enough for Amalyse to wonder why none of the other groups had come in to assist them against the Abyssals. Surely, they would have sent reinforcements if they had heard the commotion. If not that, at least someone to check what had happened.
“Sound travels differently in the dungeon than in the open,” Rieren said. “Any sound produced within a dungeon’s tunnel no longer uses simple air as its travelling medium. Therefore, they cannot disperse through matter to other tunnels.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Folend asked, looking at Rieren as though she had sprouted a second head atop her normal one.
She shrugged. “Experience.”
“She is correct,” Kervantes said. There was something miffed about his posture as he walked. Rieren couldn’t tell if it was because she had explained things before he had, or if it was for revealing the secrets of his dungeon in the first place. “Your screams of agonized death would be quite distracting for the other automatons, so we attempt to keep them localized.”
“Of course,” Amalyse said. “I should start assuming that sadism is the reason behind why everything is the way it is.”
“You should!”
She groaned at the missed sarcasm. Rieren only chuckled.
Their little good bubble of humour died when they neared the location of the others. They came upon a bevy of Abyssal corpses. The stench of death and decaying bodies and innards was bad enough, but the sheer numbers staggered even Rieren a little. There had to be easily dozens of times the numbers they had dealt with in the dead Anachron’s chamber.
The tunnel they had taken had turned into one long, wide passage. There was enough space in the centre for them to continue onwards unhindered. But the corpses piling either side were so numerous, the walls might as well have been made of torn bodies.
Rieren, Amalyse, and Folend had to stay careful to ensure they didn’t slip on the slick blood overing the floor. Kervantes seemed to have no problem. In fact, he wasn’t disquieted by the dead monsters around them either. If anything, there was a spring in his step as they forged on. Maybe he was happy so many of the Abyssals had been dealt with.
“If we don’t get out of this mess in time,” Amalyse said, finally relenting to hold a hand over her nose. “I think I’m going to be very glad I haven’t eaten anything in a long, long time.”
Folend ground his teeth like he wanted to reply a retort, but he kept himself silent.
He wasn’t able to confirm anything, having been left behind while the rest of the Sect moved on, but Kervantes said they were heading in the right direction. Rieren tended to agree. Despite the gruesomeness, she observed the manner of some of the monsters’ deaths.
Some had been sliced apart, some sported very obvious burns, and there were others who had been crushed entirely. The most telling part was the flowers, however. Here and there, nearly lost among all the blood and viscera, a few different roses, violets, tulips, and hyacinths gleamed through the gloom. Elder Alm’s handiwork.
“We have arrived,” Kervantes announced as a large hole opened up before them.
Rieren’s breath caught. They had indeed arrived. She could hear them.
As strange as the sight that she viewed next was, she had to admit that her group presented a more striking vision. Here were Rieren and Amalyse, two disciples potentially considered dead, and Folend, another disciple who had been left behind. Accompanying them was an actual Ceramic Automaton.
It was small wonder that the ones who should have greeted them with cheers and welcomes only stared initially.
“Rieren!” The shout made her turn to see her father rush at her much like the bear he resembled and wrap her in an enormous embrace. “I’m so glad you are alive,” he sobbed. “So glad.”
Taken aback by all the feelings coursing through her, Rieren decided to let the moment pass. She wrapped as much of her arms around Atelen as she could as well. It was… actually surprising that tears pricked her eyes too. “I am glad to find you safe as well, father.”
He didn’t let go, and she couldn’t really blame him. Thankfully, the others had gone forward to be welcomed by others as well. Everyone wasn’t staring at her as her silly mind wanted to scream at her for.
Eventually, Batcat grumbled and forced itself between Rieren and Atelen. They both laughed and separated as the winged kitten squirmed into place.
Hastily rubbing away the tears in her eyes, Rieren took a quick look around. The refugees were arrayed around the outer edge of the chamber they had entered, a few guards spread out among them. Farther off lay a stranger sight, but her attention was pulled away when Atelen spoke.
“You look terrible,” he said, looking at her critically. “What happened? I should let you rest. And get you some food.”
“Father,” she said, putting a smidge of force behind her words. “I am alright. Or, I will be soon enough.”
He took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. Rieren supposed she couldn’t blame him for trying to be protective, almost to the point of being overbearing. That was the impulse of all parents, especially when their child appeared far younger than they were in truth.
But Atelen at least looked like he was recalling that Rieren had taken care of herself for an entire lifetime. Now was certainly not the time she needed to be coddled.
She patted his shoulder, for which she did have to reach up a little. “I will join you soon, but I need to speak with the others first. Rest assured that everything is quite fine with me. Are you doing alright?”
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“Of course, of course,” he said. “The Sect takes good care of those under it.”
In the previous timeline, Rieren would have had a hard time agreeing with that. The Sect’s priorities certainly hadn’t been anywhere near as altruistic as it was this time. It was good to know that everyone had the capacity to learn and correct the mistakes of the past.
Giving her father’s shoulder a parting squeeze, Rieren turned back towards the centre of the chamber. Amalyse and Folend had already accosted Elder Alm. By the time Rieren reached them, they—well, it was mostly Amalyse—had successfully convinced the Elder not to crush the mechanical life out of Kervantes.
For his part, the Ceramic Automaton looked remarkably at ease. Well, Rieren didn’t have any expression to judge by, but his posture didn’t betray any agitation at all. She had at least learned to read how he stood and held himself.
“Rieren Vallorne,” the Elder said as he saw her coming over. “I have been hearing interesting tales.”
She offered him a short bow. “Greetings Elder. We made our way over here as soon as we could to provide whatever assistance you required of us.”
“How humble of you.”
She saw that he was frowning a little at her. Rieren tried to wonder what might have displeased him. Elder Alm had been the one Elder who had disapproved of her actions in the last life, one of the few people in the Sect who considered at least partially culpable towards the events that had led to the Sect’s destruction.
He wasn’t entirely wrong, so Rieren couldn’t really blame him. However, they couldn’t have anyone letting such feelings get in the way of making the right decisions.
“It looks like you have the Abyss Rent under control,” she said.
Farther behind him, within the gloom of the deeper chamber, Rieren found the cause of their troubles. An enormous rent had ripped open in the air, bleeding virulent dark energy, a hole that looked into a darkness more absolute than the lightlessness around them. A light draft was coming out of it, as though it really was a window to some other land.
Rieren froze as the dark, jagged rent shifted. The blackness seemed to ripple in a sideways effect almost as if… as if that thing was a gigantic eye.
Turning her eyes to the disciples around the Abyss Rent helped her disquiet settle down. They were all sitting around the jagged dark hole, cross-legged and clearly cultivating.
For a second, Rieren’s mind whirled with insane possibilities that they were channelling the Abyssals’ corrupted Essence. But no, none of them were that thoughtless. When she looked closer, there was a light glow about all of them. The same kind of glow that wrapped around her sword when she used the confetti upon it.
“Are they cultivating the Abyss-Aspected Essence over there?” Rieren asked. “How?”
“You speak as if you have forgotten your place, Rieren,” Elder Alm said. “You seem to be struggling under the misconception that Lionshard mountain’s destruction has shattered the Sect itself. I will remind you that is not the case. The ones who make up the Sect are still alive and well.”
Rieren’s heart skipped a beat. Behind her, both Amalyse and Folend seemed to be fading backwards. They didn’t wish to be in the crossfire of the whatever anger the Elder was currently feeling. She couldn’t blame them.
Of course, it would appear strange for Rieren to barge into the Sects’ midst and give an air of acting independently. No, not just strange. Downright disrespectful. Elder Alm, and probably the rest of them as well, had likely surmised that Rieren had run off to face the Anachrons near the mountain’s peak.
A disciple was to act according to the guidance set down by their Elders. Obedience and acting according to the values set by the Sect was all-important, especially in uncertain times such as these.
Yet, Rieren had not bothered to confirm her actions with any of the Elders or the Sect Leader. Insubordination, even its hint by acting so independently, was greatly frowned upon.
It was also likely they had surmised that she was behind their current predicament. That destroying her had been the Banishedborn’s true intention behind shattering the entirety of Lionshard mountain. The eradication of Lionshard Sect was simply a by-product of that goal. It wasn’t unlikely that at least some part of Elder Alm thought all this was Rieren’s fault. Again.
She stared into his dark eyes for a moment. Then she slowly lowered her head again. “I apologize if I have given offence. It was not my intention, but I take all responsibility. Please Elder, let me know how I may be of assistance.”
Elder Alm sniffed. If she looked up, she was certain she would have seen his bald pate gleam even in the low light. “You may join the others. All of you. But first, explain yourself.”
Rieren wasn’t sure if he meant revealing everything about her past. She was certainly not ready to do that, even if it was an Elder of the Sect asking. For the moment, she contented him with everything had happened since the undead Fellserpent’s defeat.
As quickly as possible, Rieren recounted her tale of fighting off Mountain, then accosting Kervantes, and eventually helping Serace and Folend with the Abyssals in the previous chamber. She didn’t hold much back. At least, not when it came to her actions. The only things she continued to hide were some motivations and the like that would have led to more questions.
Amalyse and Kervantes tried to add little bits here and there, but the Elder silenced them. Folend didn’t bother speaking.
“Interesting.” Elder Alm rubbed his chin as he considered. “Your tale corroborates all that the others have told me earlier. I am satisfied.”
So far, Rieren had told him the objective truth of what had occurred so far. But she decided to add some of her suspicions. “Elder, I doubt it is the last we have seen of the Aetherian. We are likely to meet more of them in the dungeon.”
“We have already done so, though the altercation was far shorter than yours. However, you seem certain.” He frowned at her again. “Too certain. What makes you think you will have another meeting with the creature?”
Rieren explained what she had learned from the astrologer Ceramic Automaton. “If her findings are correct—”
“Asenciel is a skilled stargazer,” Kervantes said. “Her findings are always correct.”
“Thank you, Kervantes. But yes, her findings suggest that the stars have shifted closer. I believe this implies that the Aether itself is closing in upon us.”
Elder Alm turned his frown at the distant ceiling. This time, his expression spoke of actual concern. The implication was rather worrying, even for Rieren. If the Aether, the plane of existence that the Aetherians called home, was approaching the Mortal Realm, then it they would be dealing with a lot more Aetherians in due time.
“This is certainly troubling,” Elder Alm said. Rieren was relieved that he didn’t doubt her conclusions. He faced her again, more neutral than before. “But all information can be taken advantage of. Well done, Rieren, for finding it. You may go and join your fellow disciples. Here, take these.”
The Elder handed her, Amalyse, and Folend three strange pills. They were shaped like a mango seed and just as big, glowing with the same soft light that surrounded the other disciples.
“What are these, Elder?” Amalyse asked.
“Purifying Eggs,” Elder Alm said. “You are to take them before you begin cultivating. As you may guess, it will purify the Abyss-Aspected Essence to regular, Aspectless Essence. As such, you will be able to safely draw away the Essence powering the Abyss Rent.”
Ah. It was beginning to make sense to Rieren. The goal here was to draw out the corrupted Essence that made the Abyss Rent function. Of course, the Essence there was replenishing as it was withdrawn, which meant the real goal was to absorb the Essence faster than it could be created. Without any natural energy to power it, the Abyss Rent would collapse.
Rieren couldn’t tell if the group of disciples were succeeding in that endeavour already. They looked tranquil enough in their cultivating postures. There didn’t seem to be any overt signs of trouble or futility. Of course, disciples trained by the Sect were more than good enough not to show their true emotions on their faces.
Nevertheless, Rieren was confident that she, Amalyse, and Folend would add enough to their side to cause the Abyss Rent’s collapse.
“Now, go,” the Elder said. “Retrieve Folend and destroy the Abyss Rent.”
Rieren stepped forward. It was finally time to cultivate all the Essence she had gathered.