Soul of the Colossus: Chapter 7

Chapter 7: The One Who Sought Destruction

Wander had returned to his escorts, Celosia and Cenobia, after helping Avion in her challenge. He regretted calling the great avian a "colossal buzzard" now. Avion had said that Wander was not who she previously thought he was while Avus was reviving her. Wander had been moved by Avion's words.

Wander tried to push his rising feelings of sympathy for the colossi down and focused on the nervous behavior of the two light colossi who had been escorting him for his "atonement." Wander asked Celosia and Cenobia, "Why are you two acting so nervous all of the sudden?"

Celosia replied, "Well, I assume that you helped Avion to revive. That is a good step forward for us. The thing we are worried about is the next of our kin you are to assist."

As Wander moved forward to mount Celosia, Cenobia added, "Barba was always more ill-tempered than most of us. He proudly said that he pursued you pretty aggressively when you fought him. We are a bit worried about whether or not he will be willing to cooperate with you, even if his soul's fate is on the line."

As Wander mounted Celosia, she added, "Barba was always cranky, it is just how he is. However, that cranky behavior can turn into outright hostility without much provocation. Let's just say that there was a reason he was trapped deep underground under an old temple when some of Dormin's essence was sealed within him."

Wander could not help but be a bit nervous; he knew how challenging his encounter with the bearded colossus had been. He had been the first humanoid colossus that had attacked in such a highly aggressive and surprisingly quick manner. Barba had been a dangerous foe, even though (or maybe because) he fought unarmed. Now it was clear to Wander that the bearded giant had not been aggressive just because he was fighting for his life, but because he was a naturally aggressive creature.

Cenobia said, "Well, we have to go to Barba next regardless of how he will react to Wander. Come on, sister, we have no time to waste with Dormin still reforming."

As the trio moved away from the realm of Avus, Celosia added, "Lord Malus has informed me that Barba should be waiting for us near the jungle that conceals the realm of Orag. Apparently, Orag is the grand spirit of both trickery and education."

Wander remembered some things about Orag, as he and the two colossi closed in on the verdant jungle that housed the grand spirit's realm. Orag enjoyed playing tricks on others. Therefore, some believed him to be annoying and unworthy of worship. However, Orag had a few dedicated mortal shamans and other followers. The worshippers of Orag believed that tricks could be used to educate others and help them grow as people, even if they were frustrated in the process. Orag was a trickster, but he still enjoyed helping others in his own way."

Wander and his pair of escorts made their way across the open plain towards the jungle's borders. Wander noticed that the massive river he had seen earlier now wound its way through the jungle. Another branch of the river led to a nearby waterfall.

Celosia mentioned, "After you help Barba, assuming that works out, we will find Hydrus on the river and then head down to the lowlands that sit past those cliffs and that waterfall."

Wander and the two light colossi soon found themselves at the entrance to the thick jungle. There they found the bearded colossus pacing slowly back and forth. When Barba saw the trio approach, he stopped pacing. The bearded giant folded his arms and declared, "Well, there you three are. I have been waiting here for far too long."

Wander noticed the crankiness in Barba's voice without much effort. He then dismounted Celosia as the giant snickered and asked Celosia and Cenobia, "Are you two sure that Malus would not mind me stepping on our prisoner a couple of times?"

Cenobia shot back, "Yes, Lord Malus would mind it if you wasted our precious time. Now, take the human with you and find the realm of Orag!"

Barba growled, "You two kids are no fun. Alright, come with me, human. You will help me escape this place. When I revive, I am getting out of that basement and seeing the damn light of day again!"

Wander and the three colossi all heard the voice of Malus saying, "Barba, you can revive where you wish. Just take Wander and get moving. We do not have any time to waste!"

Barba responded, "Very well, 'Lord Malus.' I will do as you say. We cannot allow Dormin to re-absorb the FIRST COLOSSUS, now can we?" Barba, performed a fake bow and then extended one of his hands down for Wander to climb onto.

As Wander nervously climbed onto Barba's hand, Celosia and Cenobia said in unison, "We will be waiting here. Now get going!"

Barba grumbled under his breath and walked into the jungle, using his free hand to bat away foliage that has crossed onto the pathway and crushing other plants with his feet.

With Wander in one of his hands, Barba walked through the jungle towards a light in the distance. The bearded colossus complained, "Damn Malus, sends me to confront the cheekiest of the grand spirits. He should have known what a terrible match up that was. I could have taken Desat! I probably could do a good job handling Kyos for that matter."

Wander recalled that Kyos was the griffon-like grand spirit who represented tradition, planning and stability. He wondered which colossus was to face Kyos's challenge and if he would be around to find that out. Wander had an inkling that it would be worth it to steal Orag's spiritual energy from Barba if he could. As Barba kept grumbling, Wander took a risk and asked the shaggy colossus, "So, what were you built to do? You said that you were the first colossus."

Barba looked down at Wander, but his eyes did not turn orange. The bearded giant continued walking and responded, "How brave of you to ask." He then continued proudly, "Yes, I was the first colossus. I was the one they built as a 'proof of concept.' They wanted to see if giant statues could be built for animation by Dormin. My lead designer had quite a love of facial hair, that was for sure. Once I proved that colossi could become a reality they went and built fifteen more."

Barba's voice turned sorrowful as he added, "As for me, I was deployed to the battlefield sometimes. However, they kept calling me 'unstable,' so I ended up being used to execute the worst criminals in Dormin's realm. I helped the others overthrow Dormin because I did not want to be the 'odd colossus out.' The people were always afraid of me, so I felt little obligation to help them."

Wander simply nodded. He did not take the risk of suggesting that if Barba had worked on his attitude and temper, he might have been more respected by the mortal population. Wander also realized that Barba was the type to want to talk about himself. That was probably why he had divulged so much information.

It was not long until Wander and Barba made their way to the shield dome of white light that protected a massive, circular stone wall that ringed the center of Orag's jungle home.

Barba said to Wander, "Ok, we are to going to go right through both of these walls!"

Wander exclaimed, "The gate to the stone wall is creaking open. …So is the wall of light?"

The two barriers were indeed creaking open. The shield of white light parted to create an arched gap large enough for Barba to pass through easily. The colossal stone wall behind the energy shield had a front gate, which had opened to create a path inside for Barba and Wander.

Barba looked down at Wander and said, "I take it that does not normally happen. Well, you are still coming with me. This is YOUR atonement, kid."

Wander noted that Barba enjoyed being rude. Wander wondered if Barba's behavior had something to do with the underdeveloped process used when Barba was animated.

Barba boldly stepped inside the light barrier and stomped through the gate of the stone wall. The colossus found himself, along with Wander, inside an, impressive, massive circular stone wall. The duo surveyed the walled enclosure. They then looked upwards. Wander and Barba both saw an expansive canopy of vines that seemed suspended from the barrier of light itself. Hanging from them was a colossal monkey-like being with dark brown fur and a long tail.

Orag looked down at his two visitors and smiled. Bowing while still hanging from his vines, he said, "Welcome to my humble realm. I have cleared it out in preparation for your arrival. Now, let me ask why you two are here?"

Wander had a feeling that Orag already knew why they were there.

Barba called out, "I assume you are Orag. I am here to complete your challenge in exchange for some of your power. What do I have to do?"

Orag laughed as a labyrinth of stone walls with corridors just large enough for Barba to fit through emerged from the ground. A Sigil of Supren hovered just outside of the opposite end of the maze. Orag declared, "Barba, the first of the colossi, you simply have to make it to the other end of my maze in order to take some of my power. However, you cannot break anything within the maze on the way to the other end. Let us see if you can suppress your destructive urges long enough to make it to the other side. You have as much time as you need to find your way out."

Barba grumbled as he entered Orag's maze. He then mumbled, "Of course Orag would give me a challenge that forbids me from destroying anything."

Wander, who was still in Barba's hand, realized that there was another catch to the maze; there were a number of small obstacles on the floor of the maze, shaped like smaller versions of the shrines scattered throughout the Forbidden Land. Wander leapt down to the floor, using his soul power to dart down and land safely.

Barba looked down at Wander and angrily asked, "What do you think you are doing?"

Wander ran towards the obstacles and responded, "Helping you pass this challenge!"

Barba's eyes followed Wander to one of the small obstacles. He grunted angrily, realizing that they would make his job much harder.

Wander called out to Barba, "I am not risking destroying these obstacles, since I'm not sure if I am allowed to. Either way, you are not allowed to break them. I will push them out of the way carefully. You just see if you can find your way to the other side."

Wander and Barba had to take their time trying to find a way out of the maze. Wander always made sure to push the small obstacles aside so that Barba would not have to worry about them. Eventually, the duo found their way to the other side of the maze. However, on the way Wander had needed to warn Barba multiple times about losing his temper when he came across too many dead ends. Barba had done his best to remain patient. He had resisted slamming his fist into a couple of walls. Once, Barba had been about to ram his body through a wall, but he knew that if he did, he would lose the challenge, becoming the first colossus to give up his opportunity at revival in the process. So, he reined himself in reluctantly.

When Wander and Barba reached the opposite side of the maze, the duo discovered that the end of the maze, right in front of the Sigil of Supren, was a solid wall that had no exit. Barba shouted, "No, this can't be!"

Wander was not sure what to do. It appeared that Orag had deceived them and created an unwinnable scenario for Barba to deal with.

Barba was doing everything in his power to not slam his fists into the wall in front of him. He looked up at Orag and saw the simian grand spirit filled with mirth. Orag giggled intensely and dropped down from the vines. He crashed into the wall, creating an opening. He then stepped back, allowing Barba to reach the Sigil of Supren.

Orag explained, "You two did very well. You have earned your victory. I just made the last wall without an exit to see how you would react. Frankly, I would not have blamed you for smashing that one down. A challenge has to be winnable. Otherwise, what is the point of issuing it?"

Barba actually seemed happy for once. He declared, "Sorry Dormin, you won't be getting my soul!" Barba hastily grabbed the Sigil of Supren and began to glow with a brilliant light. Wander had been too tired to try and grab the sigil himself.

As the maze lowered into the ground and disappeared, Barba turned around and looked back at Wander. The colossus sighed and told Wander, "Well, kid, you did a good job. I honestly hope that I have not used up too much of the time that my younger kin will need to escape from this place. Keep doing what you are doing and maybe you will earn your redemption after all."

Wander had to avert his eyes as Barba disappeared in a flash of blinding white light. He had failed again. Now, there were only ten colossi left. That still gave Wander quite a few chances. However, he was concerned that Celosia was warming up to him. Could he leave her to Dormin since she was to be one of the last colossi to be revived?

Orag looked down at Wander and asked him, "Well, what are you just standing around for? …Oh, I know!"

Orag held out his hands and opened a hole in reality that Wander could see Celosia and Cenobia through. Wander stepped through, and Orag clapped his hands to close the portal.

Wander found himself once again in front of Celosia and Cenobia. One more colossus had been revived. Wander was getting close to halfway done, for better or for worse.