Chapter 41
Aranea felt as if she were on top in this crazy game. She had not had to leave her world, let alone her hive, since she had reached God Tier. Her role had been a wonderfully passive one, giving trolls advice and help when they needed it, and alchemizing whatever was necessary and sending it to whoever needed it. She was like a magical fairy, giving people what they needed when they needed it, and she even had the wings to boot. Nelly was collecting all the grist she could possibly need by killing any and all enemies outside, their weapons and abilities hardly making a dent on her thick, hairy, spidery hide. She herself meanwhile was mostly unnoticed unless she saw a troll in need, and then she would give them what they needed.
Aranea didn't see any need to change; after reaching God Tier thanks to Clover's advice she had practically reached enlightenment. And anything she didn't know could be found out from her many power-naps, aka trips to Skaia to look into the clouds. Everyone else was doing fine, according to it. Everyone was busy with something (except for Cronus) the last time she had checked, which was right before Mituna and his quadrants fought Prora Methos. Well, Cronus had been in his quadrants somewhere, but apparently he hadn't been at that fight, probably because he was too lazy. Porrim, Kankri, Horuss, and Rufioh had just settled a blackrom conflict, but it was obvious that they had all resumed their duties by now. Damara was doing fine too, although Aranea hadn't had much contact with her, most likely given all of the time shenanigans she was up to. Nevertheless, everyone was working hard (except for Cronus) and fulfilling whatever important duties that they needed to.
But just to remind them, Aranea had sent Porrim a message reminding her about the Genesis Frog. Oddly enough, she hadn't responded yet, but perhaps it was because she was already on the task with Damara!
Arachne's Gift (AG) began trolling Gendered=Advocate (GA)
AG: Hey there! Just a reminder that you need to get started with frog 8reeding soon, when you have the time. Remem8er, such a thing will 8e vital in cre8ing the universe needed for us to receive our ultim8 reward when we 8eat the game!
Arachne's Gift has ceased trolling Gendered=Advocate
Well, there was that one recent incident in which she tried to get Cronus to stop Meenah from killing…and that had failed…but it was nothing to worry about! She had talked to Clover, who had asked his fellow exile about Meenah's status, and she was just in some long training session. By the time she was done everybody else would have done what they were supposed to! So there was actually nothing to worry about! If people like Meenah were out of her control, well, maybe it was just meant to be that way. She could go check Skaia to be sure, but right now she was in the middle of some delightful conversation with Clover.
"And finally we ended our feud when it turned out that Meenah was going to 8e leaving for 8eforus' moon," Aranea was telling the Felt member, referring to a memory of her past on Beforus, not that it was interesting or especially memorable. But Clover, Aranea had found out from talking to him, seemed to love discussing trivial things.
Ohohohoho! That certainly taught you two never to play with your food! Eheeheehee! Of course, I still have yet to learn that lesson! Aranea and her exile laughed.
"Indeed. 8ut we had just stopped 8eing wigglers 8y that point, so perhaps it was inevita8le. But later on I had my first ashen crush. Want to hear a8out that?"
Oh, why, yes! It sounds delightful! We leprechauns have nothing like you trolls and your quadrants! It's all quite fascinating to me, really! Tell me of what you did to try and mediate between some angry trolls!
"A kissmesis isn't pure anger, Clover, I've told you that. 8ut yes, there was some anger involved 8etween the two trolls I encountered. Their 8lackrom feelings were so openly displayed whenever they were in pu8lic that I knew such a thing would 8e dangerous to society if it was kept unhindered. 8ut I was a little scared, given the laws on the 8ooks holding an auspicticise responsible if the trolls ended up killing each other."
I'm aware of that law, yes! You told me about that! I find it quite amazing that even here that red-blooded chap let Beforan laws govern his feelings to the Porrim and Horuss! And he's doing a good job of handling the situation now that Rufioh's been murdered!
"Well, yes, Kankri is always worried about triggering and—wait, WHAT?! Rufioh was murdered?! 8y whom!?"
Oooh, I can't say, dearie. Not allowed to, I'm afraid. I thought you already know from your many visions in Skaia.
"What, no! I don't know everything! The last time I took a nap in Skaia was a few days ago! Well, it's hard to tell time here since the sun always shines, 8ut we've 8een here a8out as long as it would take for 8eforus to rot8 a8out 28 times. When did this happen?"
Just after Kankri and Porrim left. Rufioh left, too, I could tell from what Eggs was asking him. They didn't involve me, so I didn't pay much attention. You're the only one I'm supposed to really care about.
"That may 8e so, 8ut as long as I'm in this game everyone is my responsi8ility! I'm sorry, Clover, 8ut we'll have to continue this chat another time. I think I've 8een talking with you for too long and not paying attention to things. Just let me get reoriented and I'll come 8ack."
No, wait! Please keep talking to me, lass! Just a wee bit more, I'm sure everybody else is alright! I can't stand having no company!
"I'm sorry, 8ut it has to 8e done. I can't talk with you and do stuff at the same time, although you can still tell me things if you want. Don't worry Clover, I'll still 8e here. 8ut why does it matter so much for you to have someone to talk to?" She received no answer a few seconds later, so she immediately went over to her computer and trolled everyone to see what was going on. Then she waited a while for a response, her fingers tapping nervously on her desk. Hopefully someone would give some kind of a status update soon. But instead of a response she heard a familiar voice inside her head, although it wasn't Clover's.
Now you finally see just how lazy you've 8een l8ly. And to think you have the NERVE to call me your ancestor!
"M-Mindfang? Glad someone's talking to me. Listen, I need help. I know I usually don't seek you out for advice, but what do I do?"
You expect me to 8e some source of infinite wisdom? I was an adventurer in life, a pir8 that plundered as she pleased, not a 8oring li8rarian. 8ut now that you've finally offended that little green man and he's left your head for a while, I suppose I can opine a 8it. 8ut you'd 8etter listen damn well!
"I'll listen! Just tell me what it is that I need to 8e doing!" Aranea pleaded.
Your answer is…ANYTHING! Anything 8ut standing around and expecting everyone else to do their work for you! Just 8ecause your role is meant to 8e a passive one in the game doesn't mean that you have some sort of right to 8e lazy! Right now, Kurloz is planning on killing your so-called 8est friend, and your o8edient little slaves, Kankri and Porrim, are 8usy helping Horuss revive a victim of another angry and murderous troll. 8ut oh no, it looks like they're not doing what YOU want them to do! So they're not your slaves after all. As for Mituna, he's currently suffering 8rain damage, and his mind is a permanent shadow of its former self. Latula has to take care of him all 8y herself, fending him off from Cronus, the one troll you decided to use your powers on—turns out you couldn't even do that right! What were you thinking, trying to go up against Meenah! Don't you realize now never to mess with a Peixes?
"Okay, I get it, I messed up! What do I do, though? All you've 8een doing is condemning me. Give me some actual advice for a change!"
I would have done so long ago, 8ut Clover kept 8locking me out of your mind. It might 8e too l8 now, 8ut I want to warn you with this: you previously thought yourself to 8e the only puppet master, and a 8enevolent one at that. One that could pick up or put down the strings of your toys as you saw fit. 8ut there are other puppet masters, all of them far greater than you. Together they manipul8 time, knowledge, thought, and even the lives and deaths of you and your friends. And unlike you, they have enough arms to hold all the puppets at once. ALL OF THEM!"
"Thanks, 8ut is there anything else you can say? May8e in a less angry tone?" Aranea asked. But Mindfang was gone. This time she didn't wait around to see if she would reply; if this was Mindfang's final message, then so be it. She immediately ran down the stairs and whistled for Nelly, who promptly climbed down from the roof of her hive and lowered her head for Aranea to climb on. Aranea clambered onto her lusus' thorax and ordered her to set off for the village of consorts not far from where she was. While she could have just flown there, she wanted backup for whatever she would be doing next. Having never left her world before, she had no idea where the gates to the other worlds were. Aranea packed light, taking only a lapiz lazuli sword she had alchemized, some non-perishable food from her pantry, the marshmallows, and a portable tablet Meenah had given her for her wriggling day a few years back (that she had never really used up until now). It had Internet access and she could send messages on Trollian, except sometimes the words might be misspelled since Aranea would have to tap instead of type, and touchscreens being very sensitive was a universal constant.
But where was she going? She quickly decided to choose Horuss' world. That had been, after all, where that major blackrom conflict had taken place. Maybe she could help out there. She wasn't sure if any of the marshmallows revived dead trolls, but it couldn't hurt to at least be there for her friends' sake.
Aranea, dear? Where are you heading off to?
"I'm sorry, Clover, I don't have time to chat right now. I have to go to Horuss' world and fix things. I've 8een too lazy for too long!"
Wait, stay! Your friends need you right where you are to alchemize them the marshmallows!
"No. I need to make up for staying so passive and take a more active role. I don't know what sort of puppet masters Mindfang was talking a8out, 8ut if there are other people with less-than-no8le intentions manipul8ing without me knowing a8out, I've got to do something to stop them! I can't just sit around and indulge you with my words!" Clover grew mostly silent after that. "So I'm onto something, aren't I?" Aranea went on. "Have you 8een distracting me all this time?" Clover still said nothing, but she could have sworn she heard him sigh.
Don't look up at the strings, Aranea.
For her part she ignored this cryptic message. Whatever Clover said wasn't good, but right now she had more literal things to worry about.
