Shilfi and Rune, spirits of the lake and the breeze. Nene didn't know anything about the culture of the Cloud Folk, but it was clear that what they called "spirits" were held in high regard, to the point that Kora seemed convinced that Jiriel was one of them. They definitely had met the Warden’s patrons, given the supernatural abilities shown by the two little monsters. Had they killed the object of the Cloud Folk's worship? That was the question that tormented everyone during those very long moments. They were left with no means to escape, and guilty of a crime that was unlikely to be forgiven.
«Answer me», Kora insisted.
«Erm... how d-d-do they look?», Nila asked, as if to buy some time.
«I felt their excitement. I came to check near the lake, and not far away I found you... Have you met them? Tell me!»
«We…discovered a cave», Nene said.
Adanara glared at her. Was she doing something stupid? Should she have lied? She began to sweat coldly. Nila was about to cry. Oto looked around nervously.
«Did they leave the cave?!»
«No…»
She resigned to explain. They were in trouble, but they had been caught. Lying again would have only made their situation worse. Adanara did not seem to agree, as she covered her face with both hands.
«... We were hiding from your warriors and ended up in a cave. There was... a sea of stars below and a lake above...»
She stumbled over her words, especially when she realised how absurd what she was saying was. Any sane person would have thought of her as crazy or a liar, going around talking of a floor made of sky and water falling upwards. Kora, however, nodded. She listened to every word, her ears standing straight.
«... We met two creatures. A small thing with transparent wings and another that resembled an aquatic animal»
«It's them! Did they get out?»
«No, they didn't...»
«Then why are you covered in their smell?»
Adanara took a deep breath. With her clothes stained with that creature's blood, or whatever it was, she couldn't lie any more.
«The little green monster bit my ear off. I defended myself»
«Are they still alive?»
«... No...»
Kora stood up. She started walking back and forth. Her large, unusual feet made sharp thuds with every step. She looked nervous, whispering as if immersed in her thoughts. Nene began to think of an escape plan, but there was little to come up with. Even if they had managed to get out from that hut, they could not have returned to land on their own, much less hide in the village.
«I will send a patrol to the cave»
The Warden sighed deeply. Her posture relaxed noticeably and she even smiled.
«Thank you»
«Huh?»
«You have freed us from a terrible burden. You have no idea what you did for us, do you?»
«I thought these… “spirits” were important to you»
Kora sat back down and resumed gnawing on the bark. The incense she had lit was almost completely consumed. All that remained was a pile of ash and little more.
«Forgive me, but I don't know much about human traditions. You don't know much about ours either. My people have a friendly relationship with some spirits. In exchange for their gifts, we offer what is requested. A pact. But Shilfi and especially Rune are greedy spirits in nature. Their hunger knows no bounds. Ever since I made a pact with them, they have always demanded more and more»
«What were you asked for in return?»
«Food. Meat, above all. It’s perilous for our hunters to venture into the forest, because of the invaders»
Nene felt a lump in her throat: what the Warden was describing was not dissimilar to a pact with the Evil One, who promised anything in exchange for mortal souls
«Why did you make such an agreement?»
«To protect my people. What you saw in the cave, the "sea of stars" as you called it, is a prison created and protected by spirits. It must remain sealed»
«W-what will you do without them?», Nila asked.
«They will be reborn, eventually. Spirits travel the Flow in a different way than us mortals»
«So… you worship those things?»
«The spirit of the flame has been a friend of our people for many generations, yet she rests far away from here. We made a mistake turning to Rune and Shilfi, but we were desperate and in need of immediate help»
Nene breathed a sigh of relief. The Cloud Folk had a totally different approach to faith than humans, especially those from the Principality.
«Won't they be furious when they are… reborn?»
«By then I will have ascended. They will no longer be able to threaten us. But now I'm curious: what is your relationship with your spirits?»
The four exchanged puzzled looks. Kora sounded more and more like Jiriel, incomprehensible and stingy with explanations. Adanara raised a hand.
«I sold my soul to the Evil One in an attempt to save my mother»
«Have you exchanged your soul for the gift of the nameless?»
«Yeah, not the smartest... So my father came up with a trick to free me from the "gift". I'm better now but... Sometimes I still hear it»
«What about you?»
«I received the blessing of the Archangel at the end of my training. I am an Inquisitor, my task is to oppose the servants of the Evil One, and the gift I have received helps me fight them»
Kora repeatedly looked first at one, then at the other. Her ears drooped, but her face remained emotionless. Her expressiveness seemed to pass through her ears more than her visage.
«So… you two are enemies?» she asked, perplexed.
«Er…»
«I hate her. A bit», Adanara admitted.
«Ada…»
«But», she continued. «Jiriel helped us find a common purpose. The Evil One is dangerous for everybody, believe me, and we are trying to ruin its plans»
The Warden smiled excitedly. She stared at Nene with strong admiration, then did the same with Adanara.
«I'm surprised that other mortals dare to oppose a spirit. Is that why you were looking for me? To take down a god?»
Adanara made herself comfortable, lying on the ground with her hands under her head. She stared at the ceiling and began sharing the horrible nightmares caused by the Evil One.
«When the Evil One whispers to me, I feel I can do anything. I almost never listened to it but... sometimes I gave in. The results were horrible. For me and everyone around me»
«I've never heard a story like that», Kora admitted.
«We came here because Jiriel said you could teach me how to use my gift safely»
«I can try. Give me your hand»
«What... right now? Will you help me?»
«Yes. And you, stay vigilant. The nameless might come»
Nene gulped. She had just brought together a witch and a bizarre forest shaman, and now they were about to summon the Evil One itself? Excommunication was not enough of a punishment for her actions. She insisted that Nila and Oto move away, then she took the cross and remained observing. Kora and Adanara sat face to face. The Warden took her hand and closed her eyes. Kora’s long ears twitched. The nausea Nene always felt in Adanara's presence intensified.
«My predecessors always told us not to respond to whispers», Kora explained. «The nameless craves power over our lives. Its ascended cause only destruction»
«What even is an ascended?», Adanara asked.
«Oh... Don't you know? When we receive a gift, we welcome a part of the spirit itself. This over time leads us to change, in the body, in the mind, or both»
«Oh, so that's why Nene is so minute and so stupid»
«Hey!», she yelled. «Focus on… whatever you are doing!»
«Do you see my horns? And these scales? I am ascending»
«Are you transforming?»
«Yes. But not you two... that's why I find you bizarre. Your gift is… broken. A small incomplete fragment»
Nene listened interestedly. She was finally hearing something she could understand. It was known to the Church that the gifts of the Archangel were different in nature and a big burden, therefore they were distributed among the different Orders: to the Inquisition and the Knights the protection from the Evil One, so that they could fight it, to the priests the blessing that allowed them to consecrate the earth and water used during the mass. However, assuming there was some truth in what Kora was saying, she wondered what her "ascension" would have looked like if she had received a complete gift from the Archangel. She should have asked the Emissary about it in the future.
«Is that the reason why I’m not damned?»
«The ascended of the one who whispers become uncontrollable beasts», Kora explained. «You're lucky you didn't transform»
The Warden stood up. She picked up her spear from the ground, some more incense, and an apple.
«I know enough. I can teach you to speak to the breeze, but nothing more»
«What would that mean?»
Kora sighed. Her solemn and noble air vanished, her calm tone was filled with frustration.
«I'll teach you how to do wind magic, yes?»
«Oh… Cool! Can we start right away?»
«Yes. It's almost nighttime, meditation is easier under the stars»
«Then will Ada be safe?», Nila asked. «N-no more... whispers?»
«I'm not sure», Kora admitted. «But learning this might teach her the discipline to push back the nameless. If you simply use your gift to speak to the wind, you will no longer have to turn to such malicious spirit for help»
«Learn wind magic, do nothing else. Got it»
Nene approached the Warden excitedly. That was another step towards better understanding the Evil One, or at least limiting its influence on people. She was worried about what abilities the witch might have developed under Kora's guidance, but she tried to trust Adanara. Over time she had proven to be a decent person, after all.
«You won't come. Meditation requires concentration. Your gifts hate each other, you would be a nuisance»
Her enthusiasm vanished in an instant. Adanara grimaced at her. After reassuring her sister and showing her the almost completely healed ear, she followed Kora's instructions and climbed down the ladder. The Warden went down herself, but an instant before disappearing she turned to the other three.
«You can stay here. We'll see each other again tomorrow, yes?»
Nene, Nila and Oto found themselves alone in that hut at the top of the world. The sun was close to setting. The clouds that enveloped the large tree reflected its golden and rosy light, the air had become even colder.
«Should we set camp here?», Nene asked.
«Let's go and see the village!», Oto proposed.
«It soon will be dark...»
They remained with their hands folded for a few moments. Nene looked around the house, trying to understand something more about the Warden. She had little success, as the place was pretty empty. The Cloud Folk lived a minimalistic lifestyle, compared to humans. She plucked a string of the unusual musical instrument lying in a basket hanging from the ceiling, making a high-pitched and unpleasant sound. While Oto stood enchanted observing the view, Nila retreated into a corner and dropped her bag to the ground. She got out her blanket and spread it on the ground. Nene found it unusual that she wanted to go to sleep, so she went to talk to her.
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«Can I?»
Nila nodded. She sat next to her, took off her boots, lay down, and the tiredness of the whole day fell upon her.
«Adanara will be fine», she said.
«How can I be sure?»
«Well… um… Sorry»
«I was scared in that c-cave. I thought… I t-thought we wouldn't make it out alive…»
Nene sat up. Nila was shaking, so she hugged her. Nila curled into her chest, sobbing.
«Me too», she admitted. «I thought it was over»
«T-that's not true...»
«I’m telling you. I had never seen or heard of such monsters»
«But you're… A-aren’t you some sort of…you know…»
«I am an Inquisitor. I don't know what they say about us, but... we are not soldiers. In truth, I don't trust I'm capable of protecting us from anything»
«You didn't look afraid, back then...»
«Neither did you, for that matter», she chuckled. «You… um, you hit one of those things with the axe, out of nowhere»
«Oh, come one, s-stop it!»
Nila finally smiled again. The encounter with the two spirits had shocked them all, they deserved some rest. She caressed her cheek, enjoying that moment where they had exchanged roles, for once.
«Ada's right, w-we helped each other in that cave. That's how we survived»
«Yeah. Oto is really handy, isn't he?»
They looked at the boy, lying on his stomach and with his face pressed to the window. He was dangling his feet as he watched the sunset. Behind his naive appearance, there was a reliable and resourceful young man. Bringing him along had been a good call.
«He is. But Nene… W-when we return to Kumhar…»
«What?»
«I want... I-I want to get wasted»
Nila laughed out of stress and hid her face against her chest. Nene continued to caress her for a few moments. After a while her head became heavy. She helped her to lie down and wrapped her in the blanket. Soon, Nila's breathing became deep. Nene stood watching her and felt guilty for her dirty and battered state: it was her fault. If only she could have protected the others, nothing bad would have ever happened.
«Oto, aren't you tired?»
He didn't answer. His arms were crossed on the floor and his head was resting on top of them. He no longer dangled his feet: he had fallen asleep. Nene decided to do the same. She detached the sword from her belt and left it next to her blanket. She had no reason to suspect the Warden nor the Cloud Folk, but she felt safer having her weapon within arm’s reach. For a moment she thought about staying up, on guard duty, but her body refused. Every muscle of hers was sore from the beatings, her head was heavy and she felt like it was about to split open. She lay down, closed her eyes, and soon fell into a deep and tormented slumber.
----------------------------------------
The air was cold at the top of the tree. The wind whistled constantly against the Warden’s house, chilling drafts crept through every crack, and the blankets were not enough to keep someone warm. Nene, in a half-asleep state, felt her feet freezing. An annoying cold breeze was tormenting her. She kicked and curled up, hoping to rest a little longer.
The breeze became more intense, and with it came an unbearable giggle. She frowned before even opening her eyes: she had grown up spending many nights fighting back against her stupid sister Liaria, she knew a prank when faced with one. She sat up, furious. Adanara gave her an equally surprised and idiotic look as Liaria used to. She was crouching not far from her, motionless as if caught in the act.
«Leave my blanket alone», Nene grumbled, still sleepy.
«I didn't do anything!»
She snorted at that obvious admission of guilt, covered herself well over her head and lay down again. She was about to fall asleep again when a voice thundered in the hut, startling her.
«It’s not something to play with!», Kora yelled.
«Oh, come on, I'm not hurting anybody!», the witch protested.
Kora had just returned. She was wearing her headdress and carrying her spear. She glared at Adanara, who ran to take refuge next to her sister, as if seeking protection.
«Ada, what are you up to?»
«Nothing! She's... a strict bitch! I said it!»
«I act as my predecessors to ensure that their teachings are not misused»
«Basically, you were treated like shit when you were young, and now you take it out on me?»
«That’s not…! I'm still young! The Flow and the breeze were not explored and studied so that you could torment people in their sleep!»
«I knew it! It was you!» Nene screamed.
The Warden slammed the hilt of her spear hard on the ground. Silence fell. Adanara, practically entwined with Nila under her blanket, did not dare look at her face.
«It went to your head when I told you that you learn extremely quickly. You may lose control of what you are doing and cause harm. You'll have to trust my judgement, you understand?»
«Yes, master...»
«Good. Now, on your feet. You will be my guests»
The Warden approached her legless table and dropped the bag she was carrying on her shoulder next to it. She took out of it some fresh fruits with a satisfied look.
«Goro told me that you humans don't eat wood. Is that so?»
«Um… yes», Nene replied. «Thank you»
She felt dizzy, she had slept badly and woken up awfully. However, the Warden’s kindness made her feel more at ease. She wasted no time putting on her boots. She joined Kora at her table and sat down next to her, hoping to demonstrate appreciation by doing so. Kora, however, moved away a little, apparently uncomfortable.
«What do we do with him?», she asked her, pointing to Oto.
The boy was lying on his back, next to the window from which he had admired the view the day before. He was sleeping soundly, which was unusual for him. The journey had fatigued him to the point that not even his early nature could resist.
«Let him rest. He's been our guide this far, he must be exhausted»
The sisters joined them. The Warden offered them freshly picked pears, oranges and berries. She bit into an orange with satisfaction, peel and all, tainting her face with juice.
«I was so tired of bark...», she commented in a dreamy voice.
«Is fruit rare in this forest?»
«Not really, but since the invaders arrived, we venture down as little as possible. The tree gives us protection, but not food, except for bark»
«I saw some fields and livestock in the village», Nila observed.
«Indeed, but we prioritize giving meat and vegetables to warriors and children»
«You know, master, where we come from, the opposite happens», Adanara said. «Big shots like you get rich and fat while ordinary people barely survive»
«“Big shots”?»
«You are... a sort of... leader for your people, right?»
«A leader? Elders take care of politics. People ask the Wardens for help when they are in trouble. Thanks to our gift we can accomplish feats that are impossible for most. We have a responsibility towards our people»
«Still, everyone seems to respect your authority»
«I don't know what an "authority" is, but if my people respect me, it's because they value my words. Isn't it natural to respect those who provide good advice?»
«Um… I guess so»
«Humans don't?»
«Sometimes. More than anything we respect those who have money, or those who are born noble and threaten others with death»
Nila hit her sister on the shoulder. She was giving the Warden an awful image of their kind. While she wasn't entirely wrong, it was unwise to portray the human race as something monstrous, especially considering that the Cloud Folk were at war with the Lightbringer Knights.
«Uhm, looks like I have a lot to learn about humans»
«We are not all alike», Nene interjected. «The Lightbringers, the... invaders, are very different from the inhabitants of Kumhar, or the Principality»
Kora kept listening, engrossed in the conversation. Meanwhile, she reached into her bag, and pulled out a disgusting insect, at least half a metre long, with six hairy legs and a shiny shell covering its back. Nene regretted sitting next to the Warden when she saw that monster. She remained still, fearing that it would move suddenly.
«Finally we can spare some meat for ourselves», Kora rejoiced. «On behalf of all Tuatha, I thank you»
Nene exchanged a quick glance with the sisters, who were as disgusted as she was. Kora landed a punch on the shell of the apparently dead creature, which emitted an ominous crunch.
«You’re w-w-welcome…»
«I can't open it… I should have a wedge somewhere…»
«Er, master? You said you wanted to talk to us about something important!», Adanara rushed to interrupt her. «We're all gathered here, now, and... I'm already full. You could keep that thing... that meat, for another time»
«Or give it to the children,», Nila suggested. «We don't want to be a burden to your people»
Kora smiled and threw the insect back into the bag. The danger was over, but for how long?
«You're right. Wake up your friend and I will explain. Once. I hate repeating myself»
----------------------------------------
Kora agreed exasperatedly. Upon hearing that Adanara had learned to control the wind, Oto had insisted on a demonstration. Nene was equally curious, but more worried than anything. The idea of seeing a witch become more powerful still caused her mixed emotions. Her worries, however, were overwhelmed by amazement and wonder, when Adanara moved her lips, a silent whisper, and her hair began to flutter as if shaken by a light breeze.
«Put simply, you need to let your will be known to the wind», Kora explained. «The gift of a spirit helps you make your voice heard, and using real words can help you concentrate»
«So it's possible to do it even without a gift?», Nila asked.
«It is said that one of our oldest Warden was able to, although I believe it's more of a legend»
«Isn't it just a coincidence?», Nene asked.
Adanara frowned, closed her eyes, and began to whisper faster. Her words, inaudible at first, became a little louder. It was ridiculous to hear her constantly whisper “blow! blow!” and Nene was thinking about what to say to mock her a little, to get revenge for the stupid prank Adanara had played on her, when a sudden gust crashed into her face, almost making her lose her balance.
«That's enough!», Kora ordered. «Don't overdo it, you may cause more harm than you think»
With a satisfied grin, the witch gave Nene a challenging look. The Church had taught her to purge immediately whoever practised witchcraft of any sort, yet even she was beginning to find it rather extreme. As annoying as Adanara was, she wasn’t a real threat.
«That’s insane!» Oto yelled. «Is that how you fly that boat? The one that brought us up here to the top, you know?»
«Not the same, but similar», the Warden explained. «At that moment I was calling upon Rune's gift to speak to gravity»
«Uh? What’s a gravity?»
«Rune's gift can suspend and reverse gravity, among other things. It’s… the reason why everything falls to the ground»
Kora picked up a nut, lifted it, and dropped it on the table. The fruit hit the wood and bounced a few times. She repeated the gesture with a second nut, but it fell only briefly. They looked at the nut suspended in mid-air in disbelief. Kora gestured with her arm and the nut rose until it crashed into the ceiling, staying up there as if the world had turned upside down.
«Like the pond in the cave!», Oto said. «Teach me!»
«It's not possible, you don't have a gift»
The boy crossed his arms with a disappointed look. After a moment, however, he stared at Nene as if struck by a flash of genius.
«You can! Nene, you have... that angel thing, right?»
«The blessing of the Archangel. It protects me from the Evil One, it doesn't... it doesn't make me a witch!», she protested.
«Oh… sorry…»
«I've never met anyone with Archangel's gift», Kora said. «We could try»
«I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to»
«What?! Wait… Huh? Don't you want to learn magic?», Oto asked.
«Nah, a nun can't. It would be like betraying her beloved Church», Adanara mocked her.
Nene avoided answering. She was aware that none of them were being malicious. Kora's proposal was undoubtedly interesting, and it would have been a lie to say that she wasn't curious to discover and perhaps learn how to make a nut float, but the truth was deeper than the others thought: she had lost Elora in similar circumstances. Her Saint, her friend, lost herself among the promises of power from the Evil One, and she was terrified at the idea of facing the same destiny.
Nila sat next to her and caressed her shoulder, chasing away her dark thoughts.
«Ada, stop it. C-can't you see she's uncomfortable?»
«Uff...», she snorted.
«Sorry, Nene», Oto said.
«It's okay», she lied. «I'm fine, just... I'm good the way I am»
Kora nodded. When she relaxed her arm, the nut fell to the ground with a sharp crash, startling Adanara.
«Now, can we talk about my request?», she asked annoyed.
«Sure, what is it about?»
The Warden stood up and walked to the basket containing musical instruments. She picked up the flute and blew into it, letting out a discordant whistle. Her ears dropped to her shoulders, her entire aura became grimm.
«Adanara told me that you can free people from the nameless’ shackle»
«We are all travelling together for that very reason», the witch said. «We lure the Evil One from a person to… well, to Nene, and her thing destroys it»
«Is there a damned among your people?», Nene asked.
Kora sighed deeply. There was a hint of tears in her eyes, but it soon disappeared, giving way once again to her emotionless mask.
«My master and predecessor, Warden Moka»
Nene suddenly felt less safe. She still knew very little about the Cloud Folk, but the idea that one of their Wardens had succumbed to the Evil One was frightening, to say the least. Given how dangerous the average damned was, she didn't even dare imagine what monster could be born from the communion between the Evil One and a Cloud Folk shaman.
«Tell us more. How did it happen, and where is he now?»
«Do you agree to help him?»
Kora suddenly turned cold and detached. The air between them became tense. It was clear that she did not intend to reveal more without first being certain of their collaboration. Nene's Inquisitor mind grew suspicious, accustomed to doubting everything. She wondered if Kora was protecting the damned. She met Nila's gaze and remembered the events in Dena.
«Let's do it», Nila said. «T-that's what we're here for, right?»
«Of course, the two of us signed up for it», Adanara agreed. «But, Nene, the last word is up to you»
She stared at the Warden, the flute still clutched in her hand. She had a theory about what the situation was, but she wasn't sure and decided not to talk about it. Had she been wrong, she might have offended their guest.
«’twas a euphemism», the witch added. «You are not allowed to refuse!»
«Okay, okay», she gave in. «But it’s important that you tell us more»
Kora put the flute back in its place and sat at the table. She took a moment to think before starting to explain.
«When the invaders first came, Moka decided to face them himself. He said that no one should have fought beside him, that he would have driven them away, alone. He invoked the help of the whispering spirit. He was deceived»
«The Evil One has undoubtedly promised him to destroy the Lightbringers»
«How is he now?», Oto asked.
The Warden kept her gaze to the ground. It was unusual to see her in that state. It was obvious that she cared a lot for her master, and that the event of his damnation had shocked her.
«He was like a wild animal fighting for its life. He was blind with rage and attacked anyone, friend or foe. Since he is a very powerful Warden, I was no match for him. Some warriors lured him away into the forest, but they did not return»
«Y-you mean that... there's a d-damned on the loose?»
«No. To stop him, I made a deal with Shilfi and Rune. They subdued and captured him. They sealed him in their cave, in a prison of resin, and kept him in there in exchange for our offerings of food»
«What will happen now that the two of them are gone?»
«This morning I led some warriors to the cave. The prison is intact, but I don't know what will happen in the future. But you... You could bring him back»
«I didn't see anyone in that sea of stars», Oto noticed.
«Me neither», Kora admitted. «But I saw with my own eyes the spirits seal him in there. I admit that I don't fully understand the magic Rune performed back then, however, I might...»
The doubt that her teacher had died was tormenting her. Her ears began to twitch frantically. Adanara slammed her fist on the table, causing her to wince.
«Don't worry, master. We'll take care of it. All we need is a blade and a transparent object. Take us to this Moka. A small cut and it's done»
«A small cut?»
«It's nothing, don't worry. We just pour a little bit of his blood on the transparent object. Then Nene does the same, and she takes care of the rest»
Kora seemed to sink even deeper into panic. Her ears trembled. She held onto the table as if she were on the verge of losing her balance.
«Nene has to… touch Moka?»
«What's the problem?», she asked.
«Moka is… very dangerous. If we get him out of prison…»
«Don't worry, master. Nene can knock out the damned with her cross»
«You don't understand!» Kora shouted.
Her sudden loss of control frightened everyone. The Warden regained her composure. She took several deep breaths, finally managing to calm down.
«Moka is a very old Warden. He has already completed his ascension some time ago»
«And is it... bad?»
«His ascension is complete. The gift of Salisander, spirit of the flame is one with him»
Kora reached out and pointed to the small, scattered scales emerging from her skin. Then she repeated the same gesture with the small horns on her forehead.
«Has he... transformed? Into what?»