High Priest Puera [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPWoCbt1wfHGEcjaDsf6RTj7Fb10RSSUuWb_sEuPc1_WffBzsq4G6_Z11EWz9magAO-GadnhufjfmD0zd5Mhz5VIH1yfJ49ZZCBhF0NoJktv3X_bqPYw2kNhXKR480EuuCIZT8OUsck2Ote9RkGzlcT=w613-h919-s-no-gm?authuser=1]
Torae Puera scribbled furiously in his journal as he recorded the newest results of his latest experiment. While war and turmoil raged across the globe, he remained safe and sheltered within the current headquarters of the Disciples of the Destroyer.
He was pleased that his god was gaining an almost incomprehensible amount of Aetherius from everything going on outside beyond the walls of his latest cave-turned-laboratory, but his focus remained on his research. His research fueled his pursuit of the ultimate weapons of destruction that would make the cosmos tremble in fear at their might. Something that would even make these Soul Reapers fear them.
Once he had that power under his control, nobody would dare to stand against him.
Puera leaned back in his chair as he finished writing down his notes and contemplated visiting the local tavern he liked again. While the city had managed to keep the invading Soul Reapers at bay so far, he didn’t often venture into public lest some traveling Adventurer or other righteous prick take notice of him.
He’d be merely minding his own business and eating a pleasant meal, and these brash Casters would challenge him or simply attack him outright just because they managed to sense his dedication to the Destroyer. The bigoted persecution was obnoxious to deal with.
“Hey, boss? The Sword in room 313 is melting off the Sense Stones in there again. Have we gotten that Ruby Caste Corrosion-resistant glass in yet?”
Puera gave a sigh, “No, Bob. Trade is still hindered even for the stuff we smuggle in. A lone ship during a blood moon will either get noticed by monsters or by the authorities, and both would be bad for us.”
“Well, could we at least get more Sense Stones from the city then?” the elderly-looking man asked, “Might need to stockpile ‘em if you insist we keep recording that slimy–”
“I’ll get some now. I was just planning to head out anyways,” he interrupted, not wanting to listen to the Stone Shaper complain for the umpteenth time about his more annoying experiments dissolving their base of operations. He had enough of that to last him a lifetime after having to deal with his Predator, Bliss.
Puera stood and quickly made his escape, which was exceptionally fast at the high end of Emerald Caste like he was. Despite having been a Caster for centuries now, he was exceptionally slow at progressing with his reliance on Monster Seeds and not seeking much in the way of combat challenges.
He cursed his youthful choice of going for a Class that would want him to fight when he realized later in life that his true passion lay in his research. A more utility support powerset would have served him much better and might have even allowed him to reach Obsidian. Now, he’d have to settle for Ruby and hope the Necromancers achieved their own goals within the next half dozen centuries.
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As Puera slipped through the secret entrance from their base to the sea cave on the outskirts of the city, it wasn’t long before he found himself blending into the crowd of locals. It was only difficult for him to properly blend in, not due to his black hair and ice-blue eyes against pale skin but because of his clothes, mainly because he wore a lot more than most.
Most people in this city wore strips of fabric that barely passed for clothing or forewent fabric altogether for body paints. The distinct rune pattern of soul scars all over his upper body made it impossible for him to wear them lest he draw even more questions and attention to himself.
No, wearing a full-covering shirt and the pure white torque around his neck made it much easier for him to move through the crowded city without being accosted. The only downside to the white necklace was that it meant finding any physical companionship here was also an impossibility.
His eyes roamed over the mostly naked bodies walking past him, and he wondered how long it normally took people to get used to this kind of body-positive environment. He wasn’t sure he ever would, especially when a mouthwatering specimen crossed his path.
Perhaps he should take the Arch Priest’s advice and find a suitable partner for procreating and passing on his goals like his own parents eventually had. The name Puera had been part of the DOD’s legacy since its inception millennia ago, and he didn’t want to be the one to end that, even if the idea of actually dealing with his own spawn threatened a migraine.
He stopped at the shop that he normally went to for more Sense Stones. The one where the proprietor was kind enough not to ask why he kept needing more. That was another bonus about this city: most people didn’t pry into others’ affairs. They encouraged people to live their lives how they wanted to and ideally in the most pleasurable ways possible.
It was a city of vices with an unusually absurd amount of respect for personal boundaries, informed consent, and, best of all, privacy.
As Puera was debating about which restaurant to stop at tonight on this rare impromptu journey, a whisper in his mind seized his full attention, and he ducked into a shadowed doorway to focus on his deity’s words, “I just had a lovely reunion with the Annihilator. I’m quite pleased with some of the latest adjustments. However, I was displeased about needing to step in to make sure he didn’t get destroyed along with the city you left him in.”
“My Lord, you know we couldn’t extract him with that linked Silencer on, let alone earlier on when he was under the Parent’s protection. The entire city would have been on us in an instant. If that has changed, I will ecstatically retrieve him once the blood moon is over,” Puera prayed back.
“No need,” his god whispered, “Events have already been put into motion, and I will see to it that he comes to you. This war and moon have given me a surplus of Aetherius to spend. I will see you both reunited. So be prepared to welcome him and his new family home. I believe his newest Pillar will interest you greatly.”
“Yes, Lord Destroyer. It shall be as you will it.”
END OF BOOK 4 OF WAYWARD: BREAKING
Phoenix and friends will return in Book 5 of Wayward: Missing