Part 10 - The Greatest Sin
Chapter 177 - Knower of the Unknown
When morning came, the normal human, two spider people, dragon and High Elder God woke up to find a small assortment of military Humvees. Paarthurnax lumbered up to the line; a few of the soldiers backed down a little, but none seemed to have any hostile intentions in the first place. A man in a suit stepped out a heavily modified SUV.
"By order of the Church of the High Elder Gods, Dei Volente is to be crowned king in the place of Dea Judicium."
Paarthurnax turned back to the group to see Max's reaction. He didn't look pleased as he came closer.
"You realise we're the ones who killed Dea Judicium, right?"
"We know, and that is what proved your identity as Dei Volente."
"Well I don't want your throne; I'll be dead soon too. Give it to someone else, or better yet put it in a museum."
"Dei Vol…"
"No. I don't want it and that's my final answer. You could try Hermaeus Mora, but he'll want the world rebuilt with books."
"Then perhaps we can offer you something less for now? There's a tower in Stan Konungens that was built to house a High Elder God should one visit. We offer it to you as a home."
"Do I need to pay for it?"
"No. It is our ancient duty to serve your kind."
"In that case I'll take it."
"Very well. Do you and your friends need transport there?"
"No, we'll fly on Paarthurnax. I should also add two of my 'friends' are my parents. Long story; I can't be bothered explaining. Just give them the respect they deserve."
"Absolutely, Dei Volente. We will ensure Rah Tower is ready for your arrival."
The soldiers returned to their Humvees and the man returned to his SUV. Max turned to the three mortals of the group.
"Good news: we aren't homeless anymore."
"'It's free real estate.'" Jacob replied.
"That it is."
The tower was a lot bigger than any of them had envisioned, except Paarthurnax who had flown past it once. The building was probably a half-size replica of the original Stan Konungens where the Great Konung of the Fanor had once lived, plus it had modern touches of glass facing and concrete.
"I wonder if they have a room for dragons to sleep in." Jacob speculated.
"Geh. Yes. But I prefer the solitude of a strunmah…a mountain." Paarthurnax replied.
"You can come over for sleepovers or something."
"Ni."
"It really is no expenses spared." Gwen mused.
"Do we get our own floor?" Asked Miles.
"I dunno. Just see what there is, I guess." Said Max.
Paarthurnax landed where a marble arch stood on the same spot the gate into Stan Konungens once stood. The same man from before was waiting and gave the group a brief tour. After that, they sat down to discuss their next move.
"The next logical target is Hermaeus Mora. He fought on Dea's side in Null's world. The only problem is he lives in what used to be a realm of Oblivion called Apocrypha. Now it stands by itself." Max started.
He didn't seem to care much about getting attached to his new home.
"What's hard about it? We go there, stab him and walk away." Replied Miles.
"The killing bit is the easiest bit, surprisingly. It's the getting to Apocrypha that's hard. There might be another way I don't know about, but the only one I know is to use a Black Book. The problem with that is…well…mortals are a bit susceptible to going crazy reading them. On the bright side, I can grab one in five minutes."
"So we should keep this mission to a skeleton crew." Concluded Jacob.
"Exactly. Dad, I think it's just you and me. Mum, Jake; have fun or something."
"Sounds OK. Just bring your dad back alive." Said Gwen.
"Any complaints? No? OK, Dad, grab the Sword and let's go kill Squidward."
Miles and Max made their way onto a balcony a few minutes later.
"You ready to go crazy?" Asked the latter.
"Gwen'll confirm I was born crazy."
"You'd be surprised. You're nowhere near as crazy as some people I've met on my travels."
A jet of energy consumed them.
The pair arrived outside an enormous marble building in the Imperial City.
"What is this place?" Asked Miles.
"Not sure. I think a museum or a library. Either way, there's a Black Book."
Comprised of a large circle covered by an orange and grey glass dome, as well as a wing on either side, the inside of the building seemed excessive.
"I'll follow your lead. I'm guessing you can sense it?"
"Sure. Or sniff it out like a dog."
"Whatever works, man."
"If you see a book made from loads of different samples of human skin, it's not what we're here for. That's the Oghma Infinium, another of Hermaeus' creations."
"Is it here?"
"Yes."
"OK."
The pair approached a desk where a woman was sitting. She looked over the top of her glasses.
"How can I help you today?"
"We're looking for a Black Book." Said Max.
"Do you know the name?"
"No. I mean one of Hermaeus Mora's Black Books. I know you have one here; I can smell it."
"I…am afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"No can do. We've got a date with old Squidward. Wait…I've got it. Why does this place need a library?"
"Sir…"
"The name's Dei Volente. Why does nobody ever give you a straight answer to these things? Come on, Dad."
Miles shrugged at the lady, as they walked away, who picked up a phone, most likely to call the police.
A minute later, the pair were standing over a closed Black Book with a circle of tentacles and eyes on the front. It looked battered but somehow in no danger of falling apart.
"I'm surprised any of these survived, but the Ethereal Plates are out there somewhere too."
"Can we do this? I want to go crazy sooner not later."
"If you want to go crazy, you're already crazy. Alright, here we go. Just start reading and don't fight back, no matter what happens."
"Right."
The High Elder God opened the Black Book up in the middle. They started reading, but a few seconds later the writing flashed a greenish colour and a swarm of tentacles emerged from the pages. They wrapped themselves around the pair and pulled them into Apocrypha, Hermaeus Mora's home.
"You bring that artefact here, Dei Volente? It is cursed." Hermaeus Mora growled from somewhere.
Miles picked himself up and offered Max a hand.
"This place is horrible. Are those walls made of books?" The spider asked.
"Yep. I remember me and Jake got lines once for building a little fort with people's textbooks in the corridor. This place calls for expulsion at least."
Miles chuckled. They started walking along the walkway that rose precariously above an ocean of what looked like ink.
"You and Jacob seem close. I know you had a fall out after everything, but what's the story before that?"
"We were roommates every year at Visions. And he and Grace really helped me after…you know. I'm pretty sure if it wasn't for him we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"Right."
Hermaeus Mora's yawning voice echoed across the realm.
"All seekers of knowledge come to me, the Knower of the Unknown. I will answer all your questions, if you will leave this place once that is done."
Miles saw a chance to exploit a loophole in that.
"OK, where can we come and meet you face to…eyes?"
"Climb to the highest point you can reach, and I will meet you there."
Max gave his father a thumbs up.
The climb was a long and treacherous one, but the pair reached the top eventually. Hermaeus Mora watched them through one enormous eye surrounded by tentacles, and smaller eyes that seemed to fade and reappear.
"What knowledge do you seek?" Hermaeus asked in his yawning voice.
"I want to know how flammable all that ink is." Said Max.
Hermaeus didn't respond for a few seconds, but the response wasn't desirable anyway.
"I know why you are here. You cannot hide anything from me, for I am Hermaeus Mora: the Gardener of Men, Knower of the Unknown, Master of Fates. You come to kill me. You will not succeed."
The entire realm of Apocrypha seemed to turn upside down and the pair began to fall into the sky. Max drew Furore Mortale, forming a protective shield around him and Miles to keep off the acidic ink that poured up with them. He opened his mouth and bellowed threw words in Elder Tongue:
"Liberartår sorþ nimeliþ!"
Immediately, the books making the walls of the the realm burst into flame. Hermaeus' largest eye widened.
"You destroy knowledge, Dei Volente! You have betrayed…"
The Sword Perilous buried itself in Hermaeus Mora's eye. There was an ear-piercing whistle like an old kettle boiling, then everything seemed to slow down as the High Elder God began to collapse in on himself. Miles pulled the Sword back into his hand with a web as the God became nothing but a ball of brilliant light that exploded.
The quiet voice spoke in Elder Tongue in the brilliant light that consumed the spider.
"You have committed the Greatest Sin once more. Not even the keeper of all knowledge knew of his own demise. The world will never be the same again, Miles Gonzalo Morales. Go now, and continue to walk the path you deem worthy."
"Tilår wasþ nalir."
Miles groaned as he realised he'd just said the three words again. But more importantly, after a few seconds, he realised he was no longer in Apocrypha. He and Max were sitting in a random pool of water in the middle of a forest. There was a rumbling sound that was getting steadily quieter.
"I guess something makes you say that." Said Max.
"What?"
"'Time wills it' in Elder Tongue."
"Maybe. I dunno why I said it."
"I think I've just realised how you can hear and speak Elder Tongue. You absorbed a bit of Dea, and probably Hermaeus although Apocrypha kind of…collapsed after you killed him."
"It was way too easy. What did you say that set everything on fire?"
"'Apocrypha stands no more'."
"You couldn't just kill the other HEGs that way, could you?"
"No. It's complicated. But what's not complicated is my empty stomach."
"Are you always hungry after a fight?"
"Absolutely. Are you not?"
"I feel kinda full right now."
"You probably just ate Hermaeus' soul. Let's go; I feel like a hot dog."
Crossovers in this Chapter
- Skyrim
"I feel like a hot dog." - Me too Max, me too...