The various nobles slowly returned as Melanie and Brianne approached Felix and Tinuriel. Felix let all of the Skills and Magics/Powers fade. “Queen Melanie…do you want to take your throne?” Brianne asked.
Melanie nodded and approached the dais, sitting down on the cushion. “I declare the rule of the usurper, William VIII, to be over. I am Queen Melanie Parslia Ventorus Remarda IV, the rightful ruler of Ethdellin.” There were cheers from the nobles, guards, and Felix and Tinuriel as they joined in. Melanie looked at the two, “My thanks to the Versewalker and his Escort for all that they have done. Rewards will be paid out in due time. But I have one more request to make of you two.” She pointed at the Soul Spire behind the throne. “The usurper escaped. I charge you with entering the Heavenly Realms and bringing him to justice.”
Felix felt a lump in his throat and looked at Tinuriel, who grinned wolfishly at the prospect of fighting whatever was up there. Lucifer, could we even handle that?
This ‘Verse was recommended for Core Level 1 through 15. You’re at 16, with a level-up ready to go. It’s manageable. But we should rest and recover. Even Lucifer sounded exhausted, which made sense to Felix– he was apart of him, after all.
Felix bowed to Melanie, “It would be our privilege. But first, I must fulfill my promise to you.” He walked to the side of the throne room and used a Multiversal Charge to establish a permanent portal to the VBV instantaneously. “To those who do not know what this is – most of you – this is my personal realm. Queen Melanie can provide more details.” He looked up to her and smiled, “Give me a day to recover, and I’ll chase that usurper up to the Heavenly Realms and bring him to justice.”
Melanie raised her hand, “Go with the grace of eternity.”
Felix and Tinuriel walked through the portal. To their surprise, Roy was on the other side, just about to go in. “Oh, hey! What good timing.”
Roy nodded and glanced through the portal, “It looks like you succeeded. It’s messy in there.” The throne room was covered in scorch marks, blood, and corpses.
Felix nodded, “What do you know about the Heavenly Realms?”
“It’s where the gods live. I’ve never visited it myself, but one of the first kings of Ethdellin did and shared the experience. So, my secondhand knowledge is thus. You touch the Spire and ascend to the Heavenly Realm. Then, you’re in a large spherical chamber, and floating. Raelynn, the god of wanderers – a messenger deity – will then direct you to the specific realm of a deity you’re seeking audience with.”
Tinuriel frowned, “The king we were supposed to kill escaped to that place.”
“He called out to some lady called Drinala,” Felix followed up with.
Roy frowned, “The goddess of deception? Curious.”
“It sounded like this usurper king had made a deal with her,” Felix continued.
“If he did, then that means he had the backing of a goddess. I wonder for what reason.” Roy shook his head, “Well, regardless of that – only the royal blood may travel up and down the Spire and into the Heavenly Realms.”
Lucifer unmerged from Felix, “Oh, I can handle that. We’ll be just fine.” He turned to Felix, “Can we talk? You and me alone?”
Why not just talk in my head?
Lucifer shook his head, “I want to talk to you about something. Not just think it to you.”
Roy stepped past the two and into Melanie’s throne room, “I’ll leave you to it.”
Tinuriel, likewise, left them; taking off her armor as she walked to the Recreation Room, “I’m going to hit the hot tub. My arms are so sore.”
Lucifer put an arm around Felix and the two walked over to one of the benches, sitting down and looking out upon the gorgeous mountains, the thriving town and farmlands, the enormous city on the lake – and open fields of green. “I…I don’t know how to say this.” Lucifer sighed and pulled his feet up on the bench, hugging his knees to his chest. “I am frightened.”
“Of meeting deities?”
Lucifer nodded sheepishly, “Mhmm. I may not be able to die, and your Core Level should mean that you should survive…but I’m frightened that you might die.” He shook his head, “We should consider not doing it right now. Coming back to it later.”
Felix thought about that as he looked out to the snowy peaks. He could put it off and use a Multiversal Charge to travel elsewhere. Come back later when he was stronger. But, he had no idea what type of ramifications that would have. If a goddess was backing this usurper king, he might be able to come back again and threaten Melanie. And at this point, he viewed Melanie as a friend. Hell, she was his Political Advisor. If he didn’t support her, then he’d also lose Roy’s support.
Sure, he could survive easily enough without them. But he had grown close to both. They enjoyed fun times together during their traveling and in their downtime when resting in the VBV. Other than Lucifer – who by nature of being a part of him would always be his ally – and Tinuriel who was affectionate and expressed love towards him…he had no friends. No allies. Melanie and Roy were the only ones.
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He’d never had large groups of friends. Just small, loyal circles of similar interests. “No,” he said, putting an arm around Lucifer’s shoulder. “We can’t just leave and come back. I have to keep my word. And we have to help Melanie end this.”
Lucifer let out a shaky sigh and nodded, “Alright. Then let’s make sure you’re as prepared as possible.” He stood up and went to the portal to Ethdellin. “Hey Melanie!” he yelled through. “Come here!”
Melanie came through a few moments later and Lucifer brought her over to where Felix was sitting, “What is it?”
“That reward that you mentioned. Can you do it in coins?”
She nodded, “Absolutely. I can get the monies to you before you depart tomorrow.” She looked at Felix and smiled gently, “You’ve done so much for me and Roy. We’re going to get things stabilized while you deal with my uncle. Then…” she put her hands together and smiled, “We’re going to wed!”
“Congratulations!” Felix replied as he stood up and gave her a big hug.
“I knew that you would. Good for you two.” Lucifer stood slightly off to the side with a look of smug satisfaction.
Melanie extricated herself from Felix’s grip. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…I have a city to administer to.” She returned to the portal.
Lucifer looked over at Felix with a smirk, “We’re in this together. But, if you’ll excuse me…I’m going to take a nice, long flight just in case this is the last time I can.” He launched himself from the ground and his wings flapped as he ascended into the sky.
Felix went to the Recreation Room and stripped down out of his gear, gently lowering himself into the hot tub with Tinuriel. She pulled him close, and they just sat in the warm water, enjoying the rest after the day of stress.
----------------------------------------
Morning came and the two got ready once more. Melanie sent a servant through the portal with a bag of twenty-thousand coins. Felix took that right to the Shop.
> [Loot Sold]
>
> - Invictus Armor
>
> + 100 VC
>
> - Versewalker (Starter) Knife
>
> + 10 VC
>
> [Items purchased]
>
> +
>
> - 3500 VC
>
> +
>
> - 3500 VC
>
> +
>
> - 5000 VC
>
> + Versewalker Rations (x4)
>
> - 40 VC
>
> [Monies Paid]
>
> = 12,040 VC
>
> [Current Balance]
>
> = 22,720 VC
“Alright. All stocked up on those,” Felix muttered. And no new Affinities right now. He knew he could get healing for 20,000 VC, but he was hoping to save up for an interesting-looking bow that was 25,000 VC. One that would earn him VC whenever he downed an enemy.
“Why get rations also?” Tinuriel asked as she walked over.
“I don’t know how long we’re going to be in these Heavenly Realms. And we might not be able to get out of it – just too many unknowns. I’d rather be prepared.”
Lucifer came over and merged with Felix. We better get a move on.
They entered Melanie’s throne room. Six guards were stationed at the portal entrance, and they nodded in recognition. Melanie and Roy were at the throne, discussing something with Brianne before noticing the two approaching.
Melanie tilted her head slightly, “Was your reward satisfactory?”
“Yes, quite.”
Brianne looked around for the source of the noise before just shrugging, “Versewalker, it was a pleasure working together. I’m pleased to let you know that word of this magnificent little realm you have – and the portal opening on Dirge – is leading to an exodus of that beggar rabble outside the Eternal City.”
Felix felt a hint of contempt towards this woman’s downright dismissal of lower classes, but confronting her in any way wasn’t worth the hassle it would bring. He instead curtly nodded and looked at Roy. “Feel like coming with us and maybe fighting gods?”
Roy chuckled and shook his head, “No. But thanks for the offer.” He walked up to Felix and hugged him. “You come back alive.” He let Felix go and did the same to Tinuriel, “We still haven’t sparred, so make sure you come back too.” He separated before standing next to Melanie. He picked up the evidence from the day prior and handed it to Felix, “You might need this up there.”
She got up and walked to the Spire, putting her palm on it. The pillar flashed with a dim, purple energy as she closed her eyes. “Felix, Tinuriel – put your hands on the Spire.”
They did so, and Felix felt a jolt of energy run through him. He felt his awareness expanding, as his mind seemingly melded for an instant with the flood of souls coruscating through the Spire itself – people who had lived, laughed, loved, despaired, cried, suffered – all flashing by as if a sped-up movie. His vision went black.
[Crisis: Heficyre – Reach the top of the Soul Spire on Ethdellin, the Eternal City – Solved!]
[You have earned a Multiverse Charge]
----------------------------------------
When his sight returned, he found himself standing on sky-blue tiles in what appeared to be a giant waiting room. A circular desk sat at the center, and doors were arrayed all around with the names of various deities on them. The ceiling was non-existent, instead showing the same clear, sky-blue as the ground below. For some reason, it didn’t surprise Felix that the realm of the gods was like an office. The environment exuded ‘business, but we are relaxed about it’.
A middle-aged man sat behind the desk. He stood up and gestured the two over. “Well now, a non-royal coming all the way up to the Heavenly Realms!” His eyes twinkled with a vermillion spark, and his hair sparkled with the same vibrant hue, accenting the blonde locks. “I’m Rae. Name please?”
“I’m Felix Winters, Versewalker. This is my Escort, Tinuriel of Avelion.”
“Oh, a Versewalker! It’s been a long time since one of your kind came here.” He filled out some name tags and handed them to the two. Felix quickly put his on – the safety pin easy for him to navigate. Tinuriel cursed lightly as she pricked her finger, and Felix leaned over to help her put it on. “Now that we have the formalities out of the way, who do you want to see?”
Felix had discussed this last night with Tinuriel and Lucifer. Drinala was part of a Pantheon, a collection of deities who generally aligned their interests. The other two were the gods of destruction and the grave. Together they were the Chaosborn. “We seek an audience with Evian, Etrian, Elariel, or Epoc.” Felix listed off the members of the Heavenborn Pantheon – those who would naturally be opposed to their counterparts.
Rae clicked his tongue as he looked over several papers, “I don’t see any appointment openings with Evian – she’s booked solid. As for the others…” He flipped through several folders before shaking his head, “Sorry. Not without an advance appointment.”
Tinuriel shook her head, “Why have such systems? In my realm, we can just walk up to our king any time.”
“Gods have more to deal with,” Rae replied. “I can pencil you in for an appointment.”
Felix shook his head, “What about Ceros? She's the god of justice, right?” Felix held up the documents that he had gathered against the usurper king. “I have stuff they might be interested in.”
Rae took the documents and flipped through them, eyes going wide as he did so. “Well…erm…one moment.” He got up and ran to the door labeled with the deity’s name, knocking firmly, and waiting a moment before entering. The glimpse that Felix got before the door shut was that of a large, wood-paneled room. They stood in silence for a few moments before Rae opened the door and beckoned them in, “She’s agreed to see you.”