Guest review at Ch11.:Thank you so much for the kind words, and welcome to the team! ^^ I hope you enjoy the rest of the journey! I am certainly always learning new things along the way, and I am happy to receive helpful criticism as well!


Chapter 45

It would have been nice to say that after blowing up the Bramwell cemetery sky high along with the stalker demon, and finally coming to an agreement, the rest of the trip, at least until Lut Gholein, went smoothly.

It would have been nice indeed.

Truth to be told, Tyrael didn't really have any right to complain in these past two and a half days. The gods of Sanctuary, or Anu, or whoever else did hear his pleas and the trek towards New Tristram passed without a hitch. Well… if "hitch" is defined as "random crazy monsters and/or former friends and/or explosive acts of necessary self-defense". Thankfully none of that happened so far.

However, the source of ongoing catastrophe that was Quiet was still very much active.

Tyrael hadn't truly believed that their problems would suddenly stop with that agreement, and he was right on that front. Quiet remained nerve-wreckingly spoiled and whiny, while simultaneously growing more and more withdrawn somehow. Tyrael was well-aware that he wasn't the most common type of travelling companion, being generally silent and keeping to himself as he was... but come on, he couldn't have been that bad! Full-blown arguments did not return, but angry quips at each other most certainly did.

- Quiet, can't you walk any faster?

- Nnno.

- I know Lyndon took a more leisurely pace, but you will need to learn to travel properly sooner or later.

- Do no care. You too fast.

It reminded Tyrael of those final years that Inarius had spent in the High Heavens, before finally flying off the rails completely and stealing the Worldstone with his treacherous girlfriend… Needless to say, it wasn't a pleasant string of memories. It had gotten to a point where the other archangels actually forbid the brothers to be in the Council chamber at the same time. That, of course, had only given Inarius more time and opportunity to gather followers and scheme with the witch.

Hm... Tyrael had never gotten over that, he realized now. Despite the end result, he was still very much angry that his little brother just up and left, backstabbing all of them in the process. Treachery was, without a doubt, the highest crime in angelic culture. Come to think of it, Tyrael still carried resentment towards Izual too. And Balzael. And Malthael. And the entire Wisdom lot. And Adria, even though the witch was dead. And now Johanna...

He grimaced at this relevation. This… couldn't have been a good thing. How did mortals deal with all this bottled up anger? Was it only a problem for him, being inexperienced in the field of emotions as he was? He didn't have to be very knowledgeable in human culture to know that unless he gets rid of all this, it will not end well for him, or anyone else involved.

- If you don't hurry, there will be more than a day of walking until New Tristram – he called back above his shoulder once more as they finally left the woods behind and entered into the Highlands.

Quiet looked around silently, taking in the new sight: the sudden changes of valleys and plateaus, the meadows and cliffs. In the distance the morning fog revealed the hazy silhouette of an enormous manor, the former home of Leoric, sitting atop the highest hill of the region. Honestly, it was a beautiful sight, if one didn't know about the history and the dangers this place held. It occurred to Tyrael that it might have been the first time the little angel saw something like this, so he too stopped on the hillside, drinking in the fresh crisp morning air.

- Beautiful, isn't it? – he asked absentmindedly.

- Yes – Quiet nodded, just as mesmerized.

- There are a lot of Khazra living here, however. We should be very careful.

- Kazra?

- Goatmen. People who made a pact with mages and demons and got turned into half-goat half-men.

Something flashed up in Quiet's eyes, and Tyrael, much to his own chagrin, recognized it for what it was: the anger of the Worldstone. Thankfully it only lasted for a moment and Quiet glanced up at him.

- Is the Kazra evil?

- I am afraid yes – Tyrael nodded. – They attack everyone on sight and often try to summon lesser demons for help.

Quiet's next question surprised him:

- Can they be turned back into people?

- I... honestly, I do not know – the mortal angel mused aloud. – I do not think so. They had been goatmen for countless generations now. This curse is an essential part of their being at this point – to the little angel's helpless stare, Tyrael quickly translated. – I mean they have been born as goatmen, just as you are born as an angel. That cannot be changed.

- Oh – Quiet mumbled, crestfallen.

They started their careful descend into the valley before them. Tyrael led the way, making sure he only stepped on solid rocks and ground. As beautiful as the Highlands were, traversing them by foot could be a nightmare, especially in the rainy season. The ground could slip under their feet, entire landslides could start, the small creeks turned into torrents of water, and wood wraiths and scavengers were more active. A good Beast or two would have really come in handy... but lately Quiet had stopped with his animal-whisperer tricks for some reason. He most certainly did not talk to anything on their way up to this point. Tyrael had the nagging feeling that probably wasn't a normal sign, but what the heck he could do, honestly? If the little angel wanted to brood, he could brood to his heart's content.

Tyrael just wanted to be over and done with this whole journey already.

oooOOOooo

"You should have died in the Hells! Why can't you just die?! Why do you always survive while heroes fall?!

We have enough enemies without you! Why did you have to come back?!

How did you trick those two into helping you?! You manipulator, I hate you!

But I'm still here! I will protect Sanctuary from you, from her, from everyone! You will not leave here!"

Quiet rubbed his eyes as he followed Teeriel down on the hillside. The terrible voice of the foggy demon haunted him, ever since the monster almost crushed him in the graveyard. Had it not been for that flash of anger, and that lucky stab with the strange dagger, Quiet would have gotten very very hurt there.

Still, everything the demon had said to him was very very mean and it hurt him.

Yes, Quiet had been bad in the past when he had been big and mean, but now he wasn't bad! He didn't want to be bad! It wasn't fair that nobody gave him a chance! Leendonn taught him to be good, he could be good!

It was just not fair!

Quiet rubbed his eyes again angrily. Tears were so annoying. He didn't see where he was going because of them—

The ground suddenly moved under him and he fell backward with a shriek, smacking into the yucky mud and rolling down the hill fast, past Teeriel. His powers failed him, his body got hurt everywhere and the only thing that stopped him was a boot he smacked into hard. Quiet let out a pitiful mewl as he lied on his back, he wanted to cry but as he opened his eyes, he stared at the owner of the brown boot in bewilderment.

She looked just like that big lady Leendonn had talked with a long time ago, the one who knew Quiet was in the backpack without any help. Well, this lady was as big and wide as that other lady, but she also had red hair, green tunic and red skirt. She was smiling very widely at Quiet, but the little angel was certain they have not met before.

- H—hi? – he stammered, still hurting everywhere.

- Ah, Boss, you are finally back! – the big lady laughed heartily. – I did not believe the news, even though I have very reliable sources, you know! This is a miracle!

Quiet didn't know what to say or what "boss" even was, but he didn't have time to react either. The lady bent down and quickly grabbed him by his torso, lifting him up.

The next second they were standing in the middle of a cozy room.

oooOOOooo

There was the kind of panic when you notice an important object is missing, like your weapon.

There is the kind of panic when you see an army of monsters barreling down on you like there is no tomorrow.

Then there is the kind of full-blown panic when you see an out-of-the-blue fat woman getting her grabby hands on the living Worldstone and teleporting away with him.

Tyrael, who had tried to go after the rolling Quiet as fast as he could, wanted to do three things in that moment when that happened. First, he wanted to start running and promptly falling over in the mud. Second, he wanted to shout at Quiet to be careful. Third, he wanted to scream at the sky and throw all manners of curses at Anu for jinxing his good luck. Out of this three, only the first option came to fruition.

Tyrael tumbled a few meters downhill, cape and backpack and all, before he managed to find a more solid spot with his boots and stop himself. Springing to his feet, he looked around frantically, but saw no trace of the mysterious (and definitely not mortal) woman or Quiet. His vision could pick up traces of magical strings, but the teleportation had already dissipated.

- Damnit, Inarius! – Tyrael shouted as he finally reached a flat patch of land and started running.

Alright, so that angry outburst wasn't really fair. Nobody could have seen the fat woman coming, let alone a child who was tumbling down the hill-side.

Tyrael ran among giant pointy cliffs and rocks dotting the countryside, hoping against all hope that the woman used a short-ranged teleportation spell. He saw no signs of a dwelling or a cave or a camp or anything else of that sort, as he crossed the valley to the next hill. Getting on higher ground would help, but the rocky terrain could easily cover up any kind of hideout. Still, Tyrael climbed the hill. Predictably, he couldn't spot anything in the vicinity, the place was eerily empty of any living being.

At least the Khazra wasn't here to make things even worse.

The mortal angel was about to reach the end of his rope, when a small stream of sunlight broke through the thick layer of clouds on the sky, and shone Tyrael straight in the face. He stumbled back, cursing, but the light quickly changed direction and passed over the land until it stopped in a specific spot in the south, maybe three kilometers away. Tyrael stared at the strange phenomenon, before glancing up at the sky.

- Ytar? – he chanced this question.

Another beam of light shone him in the face.

- Alright, alright, I'm going! - Tyrael stumbled back again, then set out towards the beacon. - Do you believe I did not want to find Inarius?

oooOOOooo

- I'm sorry for the big interruption, Boss, but I need your help! You know me, a favor for a favor! I can help you as well, surely! – the fat lady laughed heartily as she set Quiet down on a chair next to a table. – You need anything, before we start? Water? Some good viine, maybe? I have a whole roasted boar in the pantry, you know!

Quiet glanced around, hopelessly trying to find some sort of point of reference. They were in a small but friendly-looking cottage, with wooden walls and floor. It reminded him of all those innnnnns he and Leendonn stayed at for one night. There was a nice red rug on the floor, a lit fireplace on one wall, and two more doors leading somewhere. Outside of the table and the chairs, there was only one chest in the room and nothing else. The windows were small but they had glass in it. Leendonn told him how rare glass was. Maybe the lady was rich?

- Uhmm – Quiet turned his gaze back at the grinning lady.

- Now now, Boss, don't be so shy! I know it's been quite a while, but surely we are still friends, yeah? – the lady wagged a finger at him. – Remember all those lockpicks that got you inside the inner chamber of the Pandemonium Fortress? I smuggled those for you, eh?

- I… I do no remember, sorry – Quiet mumbled, fearfully curling up on the chair.

The lady actually paused at this, her unsettling smile finally turning into a much more believable confused stare.

- Hey, Boss, everything alright with you? – she asked. – I see you are smaller, but come on, you liked changing your shape at times! I'm Adenah, yeah? Adenah, the Curio Vendor, the Master Smuggler of the Burning Hells? Surely you remember!

- N—no?

That only got him even more staring. This was starting to feel weird. Quiet had the growing suspicion that the strange lady didn't want to hurt him, otherwise she would have done it already. But then what was she talking about?

- Aaaaalright, uuuhhh… – the lady massaged her neck. – So how about this?

And then she changed, and Quiet immediately screamed and scuttled off the chair. Smacking hard into the floor he scrambled back. The fat lady turned into a very ugly lady with torn clothes, batwings and a dog head… very similar to that horrible big demon from the graveyard weeks ago. Quiet burst out in tears at the memory and the skerry monster now before him.

- Hey hey, Boss, I'm sorry! Please don't cry! – Adenah stammered and quickly changed back into a human.

She reached out but Quiet scrambled even further back, screaming for Leendonn.

- Boss, stop! I said I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, honest!

- GO AWAY, YOU WANT TO HURT ME! – Quiet screeched at her, back bumping into a wall.

He curled up into a crying ball, and the floor tried to curl up too to protect him, but it could barely rise up. Lately, his powers were getting weaker. He was sad, he felt alone, he wanted Leendonn to be there with him, and because of that the world didn't listen to him all that much anymore.

And now this ugly monster lady wanted to hurt him too! He wanted Leendonn!

Quiet cried his little heart out, at this point he couldn't even tell why he was crying anymore, he just was. Everything was bad in the world and he couldn't do anything about it, except cry.

After a while he finally quieted down a bit. Strange, nothing happened to him yet. Cracking one eye open, Quiet realized he was still in the same part of the same cottage. There was something warm on him, that was definitely new, and he realized he was covered in a blanket. The lady was huddled up at the far end of the room, looking at him with worry. Quiet sniffled and rubbed his eyes.

Why was he still okay?

- 'm sorry, Boss – Adenah mumbled when she noticed Quiet stopped crying. – I don't know what happened to you, but it must have been real bad.

Quiet nodded, having no better idea of what to do. Adenah grimaced at this.

- Ayn't gonna lie to you, Boss, life's been pretty rough on us as well. After your beech of a girl friend killed me and Izba, we could barely crawl back to the Burning Hells to be reborn. And when we could finally come home… well, shit was just weird. You were nowhere, there were these little humans running around. But it's home, yeah? We built it to be one! And the two of us got lucky, unlike those poor angels who lose their memories when they come back… So the two of us hunkered down and started living among humans. They are big fan of smuggling as well! But lately things went to shit again. And I need your help, Boss. We both do!

Quiet sniffled again and rubbed his eyes. He didn't fully understand what the lady was talking about ("girl friend"? Like Kyla? She was a girl), but she sounded sad, just like Quiet was.

- I can no help – he mumbled, crestfallen. – I am no strong. I am sad and alone.

- Come ooon, Boss! – Adenah grinned. – You are Inarius! The leader of the Renegades! The one who dared to think of a new way to live! I always had faith in you, not like in that beech! If anyone can help me, you can!

- I am no Inarius – Quiet said, even sadder than before. – I do no want to be Inarius.

- B—but Boss! You were a hero! The savior of people like us who never really belonged! – Adenah insisted.

- But I was bad…

- No, you weren't! Who told you that bullshit?! You were the best godddam leader we could have asked for! – Adenah gestured wildly with her hands, sounding excited. – You kicked our asses when we needed a wake-up call and you encouraged us to dream big and different!

- But I killed people…

Adenah sighed heavily at this, massaging her neck.

- Look, Boss. I don't know what happened here after we died. Honestly, I have no idea. But—but that is not fair, ignoring what you did for all of us. We remember you as our hero, and many others do as well! Whoever told you that you were "bad" is lying! They deliberately leave out every great thing you have ever done for your people. That's just the way of cowards, I say!

Quiet sat up slowly, twisting the blanket around himself. This was very confusing. One group said he was a monster and wanted to kill him, another said he was very good and a "hero". Certainly one was wrong, no? One person couldn't be good and bad at the same time, right? Right now, it looked like the mean group was correct. Quiet most certainly couldn't remember being good.

Amaniel had said he might remember more while travelling. And Adenah sounded so sure, too.

- It's confusing – Quiet mumbled angrily, ducking his head.

- Life's complicated, I agree. But hey, that's why it's great! Life in the Etternal Konflict was simple and so damn boring! I hated every moment of it, until you came around – Adenah grinned again, winking.

- I just want to get to that grassy place – Quiet told her.

- What grassy place?

- I don't know. It's big, there is a white building there. Teeriel knows where it is.

- Teeriel? The guy from back there?

- He travels with me.

- Oh... whoops? – Adenah smiled sheepishly. – I'm afraid I left him in smack-damn the middle of nowhere, Boss. Sorry about that!

- Does he know where we are? – Quiet frowned.

- Nnnope. Izba is very good at hiding.

- Who?

That's when the entire cottage shook wildly, shot towards the sky and the walls began screeching.

oooOOOooo

It was hard to rush a cottage when the cottage rushed you first.

The last thing Tyrael expected, when he finally reached that damnable run-down hut nestled among the cliffs, was that said run-down hut suddenly to stand up and stampede towards Tyrael with an unholy screeching worthy of the most unpleasant of succubi.

To be absolutely fair, not even Imperius would have seen this coming.

Tyrael jumped to the side like a madman, barely escaping the wicked talons. Rolling over his head, the mortal angel could do nothing but gawk in utter disbelief. Yes, indeed, the cottage had grown chicken legs as thick as young trees, and was currently using said chicken legs to run around the rocky uneven terrain, take a sharp turn and come around for a second round.

Why him, Tyrael mused in silent desperation. Why him, out of all the possible men, women and monsters of all of Creation…

Having no better idea on how to fight aggressive buildings, he jumped to the side again, while trying to slash at the legs and missing them miserably. The hut stomped around, anticipating the evasion this time and changed course faster than before. With a victorious honk it prepared for the final charge.

That's when the door of the hut flew open and the fat woman leaned out of it, holding to the frame for dear life. She spotted Tyrael on the ground and broke out in a huge grin.

- IZBA! TURN YOUR BACK TO THE FOREST, AND YOUR FRONT TO ME! – she shouted over the screeching.

Immediately, the cottage stopped and, with what almost sounded like disgruntled grumbling under its non-existent nose, it gently lied back onto the ground, becoming an ordinary building again. After a moment of pause, Tyrael finally stood up from the ground, hands still shaking. He refused to dismiss El'druin and sent a murderous glare at the woman in the doorway.

- You must be Teeriel! – she exclaimed.

- Tyrael – the mortal angel instinctively corrected her before frowning again. – Who are you? You aren't human, are you?!

- Nnnope – came the cheerful reply.

- What have you done to Ina—Quiet? So help me Anu, if you hurt him—

- Quiet? Who's quiet? You mean the Boss? He's right here – the woman pointed behind her.

Right on cue, the little angel appeared behind her skirt, glancing out timidly.

- Quiet, come here! – Tyrael shouted. – Get away from her, she is dangerous!

- I am flattered, but actually, Izba is the more dangerous one out of the two of us – the lady waved the shout away good-naturedly. – Me? I am just your run-of-the-mill master smuggler demon from the Burning Hells. Inarius' stubborn follower until the End of Times!

- She didn't hurt me – Quiet added much softer.

- She will, if you don't get away from her! – Tyrael marched closer but a growl from the house itself stopped him.

- She scared me, but she did no hurt me.

- Quiet!

- Hey, hey! Let the Boss talk, you jerk! – the woman frowned at him.

- That's his name, you imbecile – Tyrael hissed between his teeth.

- No, his name is Inarius!

- ENOUGH! – Quiet suddenly boomed in his "Worldstone" voice, quickly silencing everyone.

He pushed past the woman and marched in front of the house, angrily putting his hands on his hips.

- You all stupid! – he finally announced in his childish voice again. – Adenah, I am no Inarius. My name is Quiet! Teeriel, put the sword away! She could have hurt me long ago! Izba, stop growling!

The woman mumbled a sorry, while the house finally shut up as well. Tyrael glared at Quiet for a second, but then he complied and dismissed El'druin, before walking up to the trio.

- You will be the death of me one day, Quiet – he grumbled angrily.

- You need an identity-change, Boss? – Adenah looked at the little angel. – I can help you get a complete makeover, if you want to disappear! You know I'm good at that.

- Iden—what?

- He doesn't need that – Tyrael interrupted. – He really is not Inarius… at least, not completely. Not anymore.

The utterly lost stare he received from the demoness honestly kind of mirrored his own relationship with this whole mess. But he wasn't going to play buddy-buddies with a hellspawn.

- What do you want, witch?! Why did you kidnap Quiet?! – he demanded, trying to look as menacing as possible.

- Hey, I didn't kidnap him! I just wanted to ask him to help us! I and Izba are big supporters of Sanctuary, alright?! – Adenah's temper flared up at that. – In fact, we were in the original gang, you hear me? We were among the first who tagged to that Bitch, before quickly switching teams and went with Boss here. I helped steal the Worldstone! We were there when Sanctuary was created. And you can bet the first thing we did when we were reformed after the Purge, was to come back here and reestablish our roots.

- As smugglers – Tyrael glared daggers at her.

- Well, duh. That's our calling! – Adenah rolled her eyes. – You have no idea how many small towns we had saved over the centuries by smuggling weapons, potions and food for them against raiders and cruel tax collectors. It's almost like the world isn't black and white, Archangel of Justice!

- Yeah, ri— … You know who I am? – Tyrael paused with dread.

- I have ears and eyes everywhere, it's my job to know things! Also, you had landed a few dozen kilometers away from here two years ago, you think I wouldn't notice?!

- Stop! – Quiet shouted again, regaining everyone's attention on him.

- Sorry, Boss – Adenah grinned sheepishly.

- Quiet, stop with this demanding! – Tyrael chided the little angel.

- No! You are too loud and stupid, and you do no listen! – Quiet retorted.

- That's true – Adenah chimed in.

- How would you know?! – Tyrael glared at her.

- Adenah! – Quiet put his hands on his hips again. – You said you needed help.

- Help? What help? – Tyrael glanced at the demoness suspiciously.

Adenah's grin fell immediately, and even Izba began creaking in a tone that the mortal angel swore sounded worried.

- Well… that is the question here, eh? – the smuggler wrangled her fingers. – Truth to be told, Boss, I thought you'd be able to solve this. I mean it is made for you, seriously! B—but I have no idea what happened to you, and now I am not so sure anymore. But we are kind of out of time already, and I am at the end of my ropes here.

- What happened? – Quiet frowned.

- I… I don't know if you remember her at all – Adenah shrugged helplessly. – But, what if I say... Ashava?


Dun-dun-DUUUUNNNN!

Would you look at that, cupcakes, a new chapter! :D Against all odds, against all manners of shitstorms, it is out, and we have Diablo 4 to thank for that.

HAIL, DAUGHTER OF HATRED! … I'm going to enjoy murdering you. :3

Anywayyy, I would like to thank you all your continued patience, and your amazing and sorely needed support. You guys are the real heroes of this story.

So… for those who do not know Ashava, check out the Lore & Trivia Corner below. ;) But those who know her could ask completely validly what the bloody hell she is doing here. Well then. Simply put, with Diablo 4 officially announced, this story is no longer a "possible continuation of D3", but an actual Alternative Universe. Which means, I can have a bit more freedom with everything we know about the franchise… including brand new additions to the team. Now, do not worry, I won't turn this fic into a D4 galore, especially since why I do love how it all looks, I have certain reservations with its tonal direction (which hopefully will be dispersed in future updates). But since I do take inspiration from every game and the books I have read, that now involves this new entry as well. :)

And, I'll be honest with you guys. The second I saw Ashava, I fell in love with her and I went "she needs to be in this". Let's see what happens now.

Lore & Trivia Corner

- Adenah, the Curio Vendor: The House of Curios is an outdoor area that can spawn with a less than 5% chance on the Fields of Misery. This absolute asshole of a cottage gives home to Adenah who sells... some absolutely garbage stuff, which makes this entire thing all the more infuriating. So I figured I would turn her and her house into something actually interesting. While nothing suggests that Adenah is something else other than an ordinary and very stubborn human, it also doesn't say that she isn't.

- Hut on chicken legs: Slavic folklore's famous forest witch, Baba Yaga is a curious creature. She travels in a flying mortar / bucket and has a broom made of silver barge to sweep away any trail she might leave behind. Her small hut is surrounded by a fence adored with human skulls, and should a stranger approach it, the building will immediately stand up on chicken legs and start running around screaming. Only the magical phrase "Turn your back to the forest and your front to me" will calm it down. Baba Yaga is often a representation of the forest itself: she can be benevolent or cruel and dangerous, and one can never truly tell which aspect is currently in the front. And hey, that asshole House of Curios seem to teleport around, it could very well grow legs and walk away!

- "Izba": Russian for "hut". A fitting name ;)

- Ashava, the Pestilent: Say hello to the first ever World Boss in the Diablo franchise. Ashava is a massive demoness of a yet unknown origin, slumbering inside Sanctuary's crust. She can pop up just about anywhere and she is supposedly an agent of Lilith. During the demo at BlizzCon she had claimed many many lives of the heroes who dared challenge her. Her World Boss status, insane range and stagger mechanic makes her the first of a unique breed of Bosses within Diablo's world. We are gonna... put a bit of a twist on her here. ;)