Shattered Bead [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczPA9HW3diexd1rHTbh8qZ9g-oWa1kaKql7emk7gxMAtSPvB5dxmYeI5dJCTSWImxh77881ZVOTXXRz4Ey0mh2bgFe6PQnWZEeWiqn8ZUhckRGHNy4tV4pzNoOFgyJOxABbytpRm-82cE6koCSTPGFhU=w661-h992-s-no-gm?authuser=0]
Phoenix felt a tug on her wrist from her bracelet. It was telling her that her brother was somewhere right in front of her. She ran as fast as she could down the endless stretch of white sand.
Then she spotted him lying on the beach.
Purple hair strewn about, mixing with the sand and sparkling in the sunlight.
He turned just his head to look at her, and black blood trickled from his mouth, making her own blood run cold as she was reminded of her last moments seeing Paul awake.
No. There’s no way, she thought.
Before he could say anything to her she knelt in the sand and conjured a potion bottle to her hand. She didn’t care what kind of Bane or injury he might have; she was not going to sit by and watch her brother die in the sand.
Phoenix glanced down at his chest, trying to see if there was any other injury, and that was when she noticed all the crimson blood pooling over his stomach and slowly spreading out from under him, staining the white beach a sickening red.
“You’re going to be okay,” she muttered, yanking the stopper from the potion bottle.
Dazien gave a coughing laugh filled with pain as he replied, “Weren’t you the one yelling at me to stop saying that the last time a family member died?”
“He didn’t die, and neither are you,” she retorted, tipping his head back and forcing the potion down his throat.
Her brother sputtered at the magical liquid and angrily pushed her away. “He’s not here anymore, so what difference is there?”
“What?” she asked in confusion. Wasn’t he the one who had been reassuring her before that he hadn’t died and that things would turn out alright in the end? He was always the more optimistic voice whenever they talked about the future. While she could complain about the worst of all the darkness they found themselves drowning in; he would always drag her thoughts back into the light and reassure her that they had the power to control their fate.
“You might as well have killed him for all the good saving him did,” Dazien continued saying, coughing up more blackened blood.
His glare made it feel like time had stopped, and her heart was stabbed as he said with the most disdain she had ever heard or seen, “Now I’m going to die all because of your stupid, reckless idea and always ignoring every command I try to give.”
It was hard to find her voice for a long moment as he continued to bleed out in the sand, spewing more silent vitriol that she was sure he had been holding back from her for months now. “You always think you know better than everyone else. Treating me like a worthless shiny sacrifice to keep the crowds away while you go off to play with arts and crafts, and everyone else tries to please you and your gods. You don’t care about anyone but yourself. I bet that’s really why you never cared about seeking out those artifacts until I practically shoved you out the door.”
“That’s not true,” she managed to mutter through her shock, barely noticing his eyes becoming void-like orbs as whatever Bane was on him continued to eat away at him.
“You wouldn’t even know where we’re going if Paul and I hadn’t been there to plan everything for you. Now you’ve killed us both. Maybe you can make a deal with the Trickster now to get out of the quest you only accepted in the first place because you didn’t know anything about what you were doing in this world.”
“I didn’t—”
“You should have been the one to die instead of me!” he screamed at her before a horrifying shadow erupted from his chest, spraying blood everywhere.
She screamed in fright as it towered over them, and as it leaned over to devour her in a mouth filled with bright light, she woke up.
Phoenix was covered in sweat and breathing heavily despite not requiring the action. It was still night and she was still safe within her ritual circle meant to protect and alert her if a monster approached.
“That was the worst nightmare ever,” Tala mentally murmured from her spot on the pillow next to Phoenix’s head. She had foregone the tent to watch the stars before she fell asleep but still had her plush bedroll to sleep fairly comfortably in.
“Were you able to see it?” she asked, never having thought to question that before and actually dreading the answer.
“No, your thoughts become unclear when you dream, but I felt your fear and pain,” the little poofy bird replied and flitted over to rest in her lap as she tried to calm down by brushing the curls out of her face. “Want to talk about it? That usually helps.”
She adamantly shook her head, “Not this time… it was… intense.” She knew the explanation was lacking and quietly added, “Daze died.”
Tala gave a sad-sounding trill as she snuggled closer into her, and Phoenix tried distracting herself by petting the Familiar’s fluffy feathers.
“I’m sure he’s still alive. The shiny one will not die until after he becomes a king, remember?”
Phoenix finally gave a weak chuckle at that but rubbed at her wrist as she muttered, “It just seemed so real though. My bracelet…” she trailed off as her hand brushed against the leather strap around her wrist.
Her heart sank further as she noticed the purple bead that had been entwined in it was missing. She looked around her in a panic, displacing Tala and searching for the bead that connected the bracelet to her brother.
When she found it, she felt the tears she had managed to hold back finally fall down her cheeks as the tiny fragments of amethyst lay just outside her bedroll, looking dull against the white sand. She was just lucky she could see in the dark; otherwise, she might have missed the evidence of Dazien’s death.
“Quit thinking he’s dead,” Tala practically whined at her. “Your subconscious pessimism makes everything seem so much worse.”
“What else could this shattered bead mean?” she angrily retorted. If Tala knew it was subconscious, then why did she keep acting like she had any control over it?!
“Maybe it just spontaneously broke?! A lot of your crafted items do that!” Tala argued, and Phoenix was about to yell back at her when the sensation of a Sapphire Caste aura coming in range of hers drew her attention.
It wasn’t a monster, which was what had caught her attention the first time she had noticed it, but she couldn’t tell exactly what the creature was as the little green bird flitted to the ground in front of her and chirped. It vaguely reminded her of the way Bliss’ aura had made her feel at first, uncertain if it was actually an aval or not.
Phoenix tilted her head to the side as she stared at the creature. It seemed intelligent with the way it looked at her, and with the odd way it was behaving, she might have mistaken it for a Familiar if her aura senses hadn’t been telling her otherwise.
Tala perked up suddenly and flew over to join it, cheeping merrily as though she had just found a new friend about half her size. The amount of chirping was way more than Phoenix was used to as they seemed to almost converse with one another, but it was too adorable to stop as she watched the pair of tiny birds twittering and hopping around each other while preening.
“They will help us!” Tala finally announced in her mind as the birds glanced her way.
Then, the strange green bird flew towards the tree line and chirped at her once more. Tala took off after it, causing Phoenix to quickly stand, return her bedroll and other items to her collection, and follow after the pair as well.
Once she reached the trees, though, the bird took off again, obviously attempting to lead them somewhere further into the icy forest. Phoenix glanced from the dark sea and back towards the ominous jungle of icicles.
“Are you sure they’re going to help instead of leading us to some crazy Caster to get eaten?” she mentally asked.
“Not everyone is a cannibal, right?”
“That doesn’t make me feel much better…”
“It’s not like you haven’t been eaten before…”
Phoenix grimaced at the reminder but understood Tala’s point as she decided to swallow her fears as she followed the strange bird deeper into the unknown.
She didn’t know how much time had passed as she wandered after a pair of birds through the snow and trees that seemed carved from ice. She thought it might be more beautiful during the day with the light reflecting off them like prisms, but at night, it seemed cold and eerie, like a frozen maze.
Only when they reached their apparent destination did Phoenix relax slightly as a beautiful giant ice tree rose up from the center of a clearing. Small magical lights were dangling from its branches, and they gave off a soft glow that refracted through the branches like a glittering tower from her hometown.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
She was slightly taken aback by the stray thought that she now considered Tulimeir her home. It had been less than a year, but she felt like she belonged there more than she ever had back on Earth. Now, in this place, she was reminded that she wanted to return to her new home eventually.
The green bird got her attention once more as it cheeped, then flew to the base of the trunk where a door had been carved straight into it. As she got closer, the door seemed to be made of frosted glass almost, and she could tell that light was shining from within.
She knocked hesitantly, half afraid she might break it, but it was sturdier than glass and sounded like a gong as her fist rapped on it. No answer came, and the bird chirped at her again as though urging her forward. She then turned the stone-like lever for a door handle and pushed, the door swinging open silently.
Phoenix was surprised yet again that night; this time to find a small, cozy room that reminded her of her old dorm back in Tulimeir with the sitting room combined with the kitchen but much less minimalistic and more like a burrow with how much clutter was strewn about.
The little bird got her attention once more to lead her to a ladder on the opposite side, and she began to follow the tiny guide up it to discover the next floor was a bedroom that appeared even more like a nest.
It was full of fluff, fabric, and a large patchwork blanket that the bird landed on with another tweet. She glanced around once more, finding no other person in the well-kept but seemingly abandoned tree home, then shrugged and fell into the pile of comfort.
Her mind had calmed down from her terrible dream by that point, but she was still hesitant to return to the cursed dreamscape. Instead, she conjured her [Guide Book] and looked over her more recent quest again, debating about whether she wanted it to show an actual body count of people to reunite with or not. On one hand, it might reassure her that everyone was still alive. On the other hand, it might make her want to get eaten by a monster by confirming that her fear of the reason behind Dazien’s bead being shattered was true and that her brother had died just like he said he had in her dream.
As she re-read the quest yet again, she paused on the last line and idly asked aloud, “If this quest is from the Lover, who were all my other quests from?”
Her draw dropped open in shock as her book actually answered the question.
Quest: Choose Your Path
You have arrived in a new reality! Choices need to be quickly made.
From: Hero
Quest: Defeat Your First Monster!
You have taken control of your fate in a new world full of monsters! Prove you can survive!
From: Warrior
Quest: In Darkest Night
You have become lost in the forest and the sun has begun to set.
From: Traveler
Bonus Objective from Cook.
Quest: Escape the Monsters
You are not strong enough for this area. Retreat to a lower Caste biome.
From: Scholar
Quest: Mysterious Stranger
A mysterious man has helped you and offered for you to join him on his quest.
From: Rebel
Quest: Another Other Reality
Your new companion has arrived at a Reality Rift and plans to fight the enemies inside; join him in the adventure.
From: Hero
Hidden Objective from Warrior.
Quest: Divine Call for a Hero
The deities Hero and Rebel have requested your aid to save a nation.
From: Hero and Rebel
Bonus Objective from Adjudicator.
Quest: Tundra Training
Time to test your mettle.
From: Warrior
Quest: Tomes of the Scholar
The deity Scholar has offered you a set of magic knowledge tomes that make up the series [Magic of Makera] along with their divine mark.
From: Scholar
Quest: Ways of the Warrior
The deity Warrior has offered you a set of martial knowledge tomes that make up the series [Weapon Wielding Warrior: The Six Sacred Stances] along with their divine mark.
From: Warrior
Quest: Path of the Traveler
The deity Traveler has offered to alter your talent and grant their divine mark.
From: Traveler
Quest: For Adventure
Are you up to the challenges of this new path?
From: Hero
Quest: Mission: Frosty Fliers
You have been tasked with defeating the monsters for the mission.
From: Hunter
Quest: One Against Many
You have been tasked with defeating the monsters in the valley.
From: Hero
Quest: Call to Arms: Temple Threat
Monsters have spawned within the city walls. Help defend the Temple District.
From: Warden
Quest: Bird Breaker
Flying monsters are attacking the city. Help do your part.
From: Warrior
Hidden Objective from Hero.
Quest: Mission: A Rocky Start
A large crystal monster has been reported to the east of Kristalli village.
From: Hunter
Quest: Mission: A Pack of Problems
A pack of snolves have been reported to the west of Hallametsa village.
From: Hunter
Quest: Mission: Foul Fowl
A flock of flying monsters has been reported south of Tuulinen lake.
From: Hunter
Quest: Call to Arms: When Sirens Blare
Sirens have launched an attack from the coast.
From: Warden
Quest: Lurking Threat
You have been attacked by a Sapphire Caste monster!
From: Warrior
Bonus Objective from Rebel.
Quest: Road Ruffians
You have been ambushed!
From: Warrior
Quest: Light of Life
The priestess is requesting your aid to further the Cultivator’s cause.
From: Cultivator
Quest: Attack of Opportunity
The village is under attack by monsters and bandits have taken advantage!
From: Warden
Quest: Innocence
The children’s innocence threatens to be destroyed by the craven raider.
From: Witness
Hidden Objective from Hero.
Quest: Catalyst Character of Cataclysmic Concern
Your companion has succumbed to a berserker’s rage. Stop him before he turns his gaze to the civilians!
From: Purifier
Bonus Objective from Hero.
Quest: Tulimeir Traitors
Reclaim control of the Reality Rift below the city of Tulimeir.
From: Sovereign
Bonus Objective from Rebel.
Hidden Objective from Destroyer.
Quest: Pure Zealotry
Foil the plans of the Purifier’s zealots.
From: Destroyer
Quest: The Road Less Traveled
You found a path that leads off the main trail.
From: Traveler
Quest: Flee for Your Lives!
You have come across a powerful Corrupted creature. Escape and seek help.
From: Scholar
Quest: Cleanse the Cursed
Your companion has been inflicted with a Corrupting Bane.
From: Purifier
Quest: Assistant of the Avatar
Everin Starlark, Avatar of the Scholar and Cleric of the Rebel, needs your willing participation in an experimental ritual to save Paul Wayland.
From: Scholar
Quest: A Champion for a Champion
Champion has offered a new champion to stand in your previous champion’s place.
From: Champion
Quest: Deal with the Destroyer
The Destroyer wishes to bargain.
From: Destroyer
Hidden Objective from Hero.
To her surprise, the first question that managed to form a coherent sentence and leave her mouth was, “I accepted quests for the Purifier?!”
“Were they evil quests?” her Familiar asked, hopping over to look at the pages herself.
As she reread over those particular ones, she clarified to Tala, “I think he really wants me to murder Uriel for some reason… Both of those were ones that had the optional objective of killing him.”
“Well, I doubt the Purifier likes anyone who might be a threat to him or anyone who’s not a human willing to commit genocide, but this might be a good sign that the warm one is actually a threat to that god.”
Phoenix found herself smiling at that thought. She was surprisingly pleased by the idea that Uriel might punish the god that hurt Paul and so many others. Then she felt a bit more confused at the idea that it implied that the Destroyer was actually on the opposing side to the Purifier and his goals.
Rather than let her mind wander down that endless rabbit hole of speculation, she asked Tala, “Do you think the Destroyer will keep Uriel safe for us?”
It was hard to understand the look that Tala was giving her as the silence stretched until her Familiar finally answered, “Just please don’t make a deal to ensure it. I know you would do anything for the warm one, but I don’t think he would be happy if you did something like that.”
Phoenix gave a heavy sigh, “You’re probably right…”
She continued to reread the long list of quests, thinking back to those moments over the past year and her various struggles and triumphs. Eventually, she allowed exhaustion to claim her. As her eyes closed and her aura retracted, only the sound of silence sang her to sleep.