Remus’ head hadn’t exploded, but then again, it didn’t feel as if he was within his own mind in the first place.
Clouds whisked by in bundles of mellow, as what felt like disconnected eyes panned the environs. His altitude began to lower, a pandemonium of sounds — none of them good — resounding through the air as an empty field came into view.
It looked as if a god had scooped a mass of dirt out of the ground. For miles all around, there was nothing but loss. Remus received the unnerving impression that anything crucial had been removed, leaving a shattered nutshell in its place.
Rubble dotted the dusty expanse, deflated buildings crumbling upon themselves. Fires fought for kindling, enveloping lifeless bodies as they made their way across the plain. The crimson lines dazzled the eye, and, like insects surviving a detonated bomb, Remus felt his heart seek relief in the survivors worming their way to the surface.
Nova’s voice boomed in his head. Watch my minions trample over the makings of man.
What? Remus tried to open a mouth, only for his voice to reverberate around without the need of one. He was about to ask what they meant, before realising he had misidentified the tiny figures. They were Unbounded.
How does it feel to watch your city fall?
With each utterance from Nova, Remus’ soul was further crushed. Anymore of this, and he’d have himself a spiritual pulp. This landscape before him was the remains of First Rite. And yet, it couldn’t be real. Whatever demonic twisting of Perpetual Sight Nova was manipulating him with, it was a ruse, and nothing more. Remus told himself that same proclamation over and over again, and yet his body wouldn’t stop rebelling against him.
Even detached from his own physicality in whatever this mental transportation was, Remus felt as if he was trembling. This isn’t First Rite, he reminded himself, this isn’t-
It sounded as if Nova was shrieking directly into Remus' skull. No sympathy for your past home, eh? Are you simply beyond them now? Well, you did desert them after all. Oh well . . . I have other means to get under your skin.
The image rippled away as if forged from water, and a new wave, baring a fresh atrocity, made Remus want to pull his eyes out. The familiar structure unique to only Hybrid materialised before Remus, but he was drawn to all the worst details.
What I’m showing you here is the future Remus. He barely registered the Unbounded’s words, as his focus was dragged towards the city proper. One you cannot possibly change.
The finest creation of Supreme Steel, the Silver Throne, sat empty upon a pile of corpses. Juniper, Cyrus, Maris. The bodies of every territory’s sect leader sat motionless. Remus’ vision flickered to a different perspective of the same scene. He found himself seated upon the throne, an army of Unbounded bowing at his feet every which way. Those not feasting on the millions dead, that was.
Looking down, Remus felt giddy with sickness as Nova’s lower body was laid out below him. Another angle, and Nova’s undisguised head in Unbounded form stared into the depths of his being.
Get out of my head, you freak! Remus attempted to punch the sinister face, but found no disposable limb to meet his command. Craft lies all you want. That won’t stop us from exposing your plots to the world. When every god aims their wrath your pitiful way, you’ll be the one begging for mercy.
Nova cackled, as visions of everyone dear to Remus spun through his vision. Their carcasses lay in golden puddles, limbs either severed, or contorted at grisly angles.
Oh, but they never will hear, my sweet summer child.
Daimon’s body, prone against a watery floor, stared up towards him. Half-drooping eyelids covered his pupils, but the unspoken shame in them made Remus want to weep. An underlying hatred, one brewed from Remus’ departure, never would be quelled. Damion would remember his brother as a deserter who brought nothing but disorder to their clan.
I was going to leave you to your own affairs Remus. Honestly, I’m quite impressed you’ve survived this long. For that, I was willing to leave you unbothered, to let the little havoc you draw into the world add some excitement to the mix. Nova’s voice suddenly sounded disappointed. But now I hear you’ve been plotting against me. So this is your reward.
Andreas, consumed by his Supreme Rot. Violet, torn into two pieces. Hadrian, Veida, Tanguy, punctured by more holes than Remus could count. No matter how much he strained, he couldn’t block the barbaric stream. Aziel’s rotting body, leaking Ichor out of every orifice . . .
It wouldn’t stop.
As soon as I’ve had my fun with you, I will personally see to it that neither you nor Violet live to see another day.
Shut up . . . hopeless misery drained Remus of his once boundless ambition; the concept now sounding frivolous and silly.
The havoc of Hell’s Floor infested the rest of the Ravaged Lands. Foreign horizons he didn’t recognise became junkyards, and distant isles sunk back into the sea. The front lines merely became another razzed abyss, and the Unbounded reigned supreme.
Remus tried to reconnect to his physical form. All he had to do was move his mouth for but a second, and perhaps, maybe, he could get out of this. But the sole word became a fleeting impression, devoid of meaning. Nova obviously found this most hilarious. Remus imagined him clutching at his stomach, doubling over and slapping at his knee incessantly. She of all people won’t save you, let alone hear your desperate plea.
A fiery sensation raged through Remus’ senses, morphing and morphing until it became a separate presence of its own. It appeared in his mind as a current of unstoppable red, bubbling and writhing in a spider-webbing network. It was anger incarnate, and like a safety rope, Remus latched on to it with all he had. The emotion was so familiar; so easy to bring into himself.
He had felt angry at the whole world for treating him like dead weight. Angry at a deceased god for cursing him with no hope of salvation. Furious at anyone or anything he could direct his ire toward. Remus had let that hate devour him whole, just so he could feel something other than the most terrifying state of being of all: a numb emptiness. Because, at his core, that was what he had been all along. Afraid.
And now, on the brink of death, he greeted it like an old friend. With his only kindling raw spite, Remus fuelled the flame of his Ambition.
There, like a connection that felt as flimsy as a string that may be snipped any minute. His Mark answered his call.
Seas of Ambition flooded through Remus’ every vein, formless and free-flowing. With it, his body, sprawled across a stream of water, became tangible once more. He heard the broken sink continue to gush; felt the wet ceramic below his face, and the oozing Projection bundling across him. None of these sensations were particularly pleasant, but Remus anchored himself to them. The portals through which he would trespass into reality once more.
The tables turned as Nova and his indignities became the distant impression. Hyper-fixating on every minute detail of his body, Remus managed to splutter a single word through numb lips. “Maris!”
A tidal wave crashed through the room, and Remus’ eyes snapped open in a jolt of wild movement. Breathing in deeply, both him and Nova’s Projection settled their eyes on each other.
“You sneaky-”
Unfiltered Ambition channelled through Remus’ legs, and he launched himself upon the Unbounded. The wall cracked where he sent the Projection flying, paving the way for a hole when he proceeded to kick at the lump in senseless strides. If his flames wouldn’t work, booting the ever-loving crap out of Nova’s apparition would have to do.
Remus kept launching himself at the slimy remains well past the time Nova stopped speaking. He dropped to his knees, ignored Violet’s oncoming footsteps, and looked at Maris’ way for the first time since her arrival.
The God-Graced looked at the evaporating streams of Infinity with something akin to amusement. “Do you think you got him?”
Standing up to attention, Remus bowed at the waist. “Thank you. I . . . almost died back there.”
Violet warped into the room in a surge of purple, flickered her head around the destroyed cubicle, before noticing Maris. Surprise, then a murderous look filled her eyes.
“No time to explain,” Remus took a step towards her, muscles screaming after being compressed. “Nova’s coming to kill us.”
Maris whistled under her breath; Violet blanched.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Spinning on the spot, Remus grabbed the God-Graced’s hand. Despite being literal flowing water, it felt oddly physical. “If you promise to protect Violet and I from Nova indefinitely, I’ll do anything you ask of me.” When it occurred to him this sales pitch may not have been convincing enough, he expanded. “For the rest of my life.”
Violet was appalled. If there was water in her mouth, she would have spat it out. “What?”
On the other hand, Maris clapped her hands giddily. Calcareous teeth chomping, Remus had never seen someone grin so widely. “Deal.”
“Wait, wait.” Violet intervened, “don’t you think we have to talk about this? At least a little?”
The ground shook beneath them, and, peering through a destroyed wall, Remus saw a lance of blinding amethyst divide the skies. After everything that had happened, he couldn’t even offer up any surprise. “There’s no time. Maris, take us away — we can finalise matters someplace safe.”
Raising her hands, Maris summoned enveloping clouds of moisture to surround them. Despite being covered from head to toe, Remus found that he could still breathe just fine.
“Order received, captain!” Maris’ teeth, her only definable feature through her own stream of water, clamped. He couldn’t help but find her boundless enthusiasm in this particular scenario misplaced.
As an indescribable bang approached from above — like a planet being blown to smithereens — their eardrums were spared from being ruptured. Remus’ body seemed to alter forms, the physical portions liquefying. He had read somewhere that the body was mostly made up of water, but still, he couldn’t help but feel that his physical portions were equally as important.
Like a hook planted behind his naval, the soothing sensation was cut short. With one almighty tug, Remus was swept away. Like a drop in the ocean.
----------------------------------------
Remus resurfaced into an abyss of blue.
They were still underwater, but so deeply submerged, the sky was merely a white haze miles above. Below, schools of multicoloured fish swam peacefully, ignoring their existence all together. There were no signs of the seabed underneath, merely a murky emerald.
Remus’ lower body met his gaze when he looked down, but, staring at his lofted hands, he wasn't restricted under that physical mass. More like . . . he was a passing stream in the waters, insignificant, but centred to this general area.
Violet, an equidistant spot away from him, too looked down at herself in wonder. “ . . . What?”
That question evolved into an abrupt exclamation, as they realised they could talk down here. How the sound travelled was beyond Remus, but nevertheless, with Nova out of the picture and the chance to explain himself, he wasn’t about to complain.
Nowhere to be seen, Maris made herself known through clearing her voice instead. “Now Remus, we both know how much your specialties would benefit me. Plus, you seem to be more entangled with Nova than I ever could have guessed.”
Remus heard the catch in her voice before she ever did mutter it. “But warding off a God-Graced? This time I was able to merely transport you into a random patch of water miles and miles beyond the shores of Descent, but if I’m forced into a brawl with Violet’s father, I don’t know how I’d fare.”
“I know it’s a lot to ask of you.” Remus would have bowed, but found the ripples of his body hard to control so precisely. “But without someone as powerful as him protecting us, Violet and I, quite frankly, won’t live to see another day. Your word is my action — anything at all — if you can keep his clutches at bay. I’m well aware that risking so much for an Enkindled is a wild gamble, but I promise you, given the time and resources, I’ll ascend the Divine Ranks as fast as humanly possible.”
Nothing but the churning waters of the ocean could be heard, as Maris considered him with a suddenly serious expression.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Violet began tentatively, “but have you two met before?”
Nodding, Maris suited a jovial smile. “Wise observation. I offered Remus transportation to and fro West Ember not long ago, in exchange for completing an errand for me. Mostly unfortunately, he declined.”
“What?” Violet spluttered genuine surprise yet again. She fixed Remus with a stern expression, crossing her arms. “Why?”
“She wanted me to attack the Frost Clan unprovoked.” Remus sighed. “To ensure her acquisition of the crown. I, however, don’t wish to brew any more bad blood. At least, I had the luxury of that choice until now. If Maris agrees to our deal, I’ll grit my teeth and get it done.”
“Oh.” Violet uttered. “That changes things.”
All around them, Remus felt a mystical energy drift. The encompassing water grew unrestful, fish fled away from their vicinity, and Maris extended both arms, the epicentre of it all. “I’d be willing to offer you an Oath Remus, to finalise our dealings, but first of all, I would like just one question answered.”
“Go ahead.” Remus felt ready for anything. “I’ll answer anything I’m able to.”
“Why, and how, is Nova controlling Unbounded?”
Like a knife to the stomach, Remus felt a nauseating dread hit him. “Ah, that’s-”
“That Unbounded he kicked to death behaved eerily like a Projection. And for Nova’s voice to have emerged from it . . .” She frowned. “I want answers.”
Panic seared across Remus’ mind, neurological pathways providing no sort of solutions to this mess. Yet, despite the contrary he had experienced countless times, stress could often times provide clarity. After mentally scrambling for a moment, Remus composed himself. “The answer to that is one I’ll be happy to reveal to you. But after your Oath to protect us has been made. The knowledge you’ll become privy to is only known by a slim few individuals, and only by Juniper on the God-Graced level, as far as we are aware. It could be just the thing you need to reach a level playing field with her.”
He stood up straighter, the sensation strange in his liquid form, to add impact to his next words. “But, like I said, I’d only be willing to reveal such valuable information to someone I can completely trust. Make the Oath, and it's yours.”
On the whim of a last minute thought, Remus turned to Violet. “Is that okay?”
After a worrying second of reluctance, she nodded. “Yeah. Our survival is worth it.”
Two sets of eyes turned back towards Maris, whereupon she laughed deliriously. Remus inwardly exhaled. Is becoming insane a requirement for reaching God-Graced?
“You two are just full of surprises,” Maris eventually said, what felt like a deepsea storm enveloping the trio. “Fine, let’s get this Oath under wraps. But, just to warn you, Oaths involving someone of my Rank are particularly potent. If our surroundings go a little crazy, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Remus stood to attention, as the leader of the Water Clan began to speak. “I, Maris of the Water Sect, and honourable ambassador of Dwyn, will see to it that the mortals Remus and Violet will be protected from the God-Graced Nova, to the best of my ability. In exchange, he will meet any request I shall ask of him.” She seemed to consider something for a moment. “And will offer me all the information he’s gathered on Nova.”
Their immaterial forms began to blur, gushing water growing so dense, he would have died in his regular state. Before it could grow anymore rampant, Remus held up his side of the deal. “I Remus, Honourable Ambassador of Tanish,” that felt strange to state, “agree to all.”
An invisible tug, like a key sliding through a lock, and the surrounding disorder ceased. Remus sagged, and with a ponderous weight lifted off his shoulders, he was able to breathe. Finally, the threat of being squashed off this earth at any given moment would be put to rest. Nova would still have means to make their lives a living misery, sure, but inexplicable death by his own hands wasn’t one of them.
Maybe, in the faroff future, if he lived to accumulate some power, the Oath would become a bothersome constraint. But that was a risk Remus was willing to take for long-term safety, If such an issue ever arose, he would confront it then.
Still, Remus couldn’t rest for too long. It was time to be interrogated. A lovely way to pass the time, before being hurtled into the fray of the Frost Clan, to be sure.
“Thank you, your future Highness. I am indebted to you.” After a few polite words to appease her, Remus didn’t waste time waiting for Maris to ask the overhanging question. “Nova is-”
“Nova is an Unbounded,” Violet interjected, “and so am I.”
Maris’ eyes scrutinised the two of them, as if expecting some kind of punchline.
Violet continued, unperturbed, like a child downing some sicky medication to get it over with. “The Chaos Clan has been overtaken by Unbounded dopplegangers, and they’re steadily amassing political influence, with some sort of ulterior motive in mind. I’m stuck with the memories of an actual member of the Chaos Clan, before they were presumably butchered, so no, I’m not about to attack everything in sight under the will of some saviour complex. Once Remus finishes up on his detour, we’re going to storm their base in Hell’s Floor for more answers. I think that’s about everything?”
All laid-back air dissipating, Maris acquired a severe air about her. “From what I’ve processed from all that, this is a matter far more serious than what an Enkindled and Foot-Soldier equivalent should be dealing with. And Juniper really kept this to herself? Who else knows?”
“She did.” Violet answered her first question, seemingly unbothered. Whether this was simply a ruse, Remus couldn’t infer. “It would be difficult to convince the rest of the Mortal Realms without concrete evidence, apparently. Not to mention the political leverage attaining such information early could grant.”
Maris spat scornfully. “This could lead to the most dangerous catastrophe Descent has potentially faced in millennia , and that narcissist is concerned about politics?”
“Her words.” Violet sighed. “As for your second question, an Unbounded researcher I keep in contact with, Veida, also knows. Apart from that, no-one.”
Gigantic fangs shut tightly, Maris considered this. “This has been a more informative deal than I ever could have imagined. I’ll have to mull things over before coming to any proper decision as to how I’ll use that info. Before we proceed, I’ll transport Violet to somewhere safe, any ideas where?”
“Any outposts on the verge of Hell's Floor would be fine.” She said simply. “Do you mind transporting our belongings too?”
Maris shrugged. “Sure, but I’ll have to personally travel there for you, unless they’re drenched in water.” She sighed. “So much hopping is draining, even for me. But don’t you worry, I’ll get it done.”
“But first,” she turned the vague, watery contours of her head to Remus. “I’ll have to send you on your way. Give them hell for me, okay?”
“Sure,” Remus didn’t hide his hesitance, “but I’m not going to hurt anyone if possible — is that fine?”
She laughed. “It’ll be hard to do when you set all their homes ablaze in one beautiful bonfire, but why not?”
She snapped a finger, and Remus felt that now-familiar hook-sensation below and behind his sternum. As the water began to bubble frantically, Violet called out.
“Be careful Remus! I’ll continue to plan, so don’t get yourself-!”
There was a sound like the entire universe guttering out, and Remus allowed his body to be dragged away.