Hey, what's up? We have a lot to cover in this chapter and it's by far the biggest yet.
This chapter will contain mentions of incest of the godly kind and some brutality—so fair warning before you read. Anywho, I hope you enjoy.
Underneath the streets of New Delsta
She gripped the tip of her busboy cap and quietly slipped out of the red emblazoned decrepit door and back into the rank disgusting New Delsta sewers.
*Ker-chunk*
She used her special master key to lock the door behind her. Suppressing the involuntary shaking of her body, she quickly whipped her head around left and right making sure there weren't any Blacksnakes around before making her exit.
The gang sometimes used the sewers to move when they had too much heat on them. She highly doubted she'd be noticed even if they were roaming the area like the roaches they are but given her recent streak of abnormalities and their freaky abnormal senses.
Hikari Ku.
Osvald V. Vainstein.
Osvald's assistant.
Castti Florenz.
Father and Mother.
Thronè Anguis.
And the newest addition, Ren Amamiya, or as she discovered his aliases "The Wandering Wild Card" or Joker.
That list was starting to grow a bit too long for her liking. It didn't help matters that all parties were either exempt from execution or extremely hard to assassinate. Especially the last one.
She was a correspondent. Her duty consisted of gathering information, delivering it, receiving it, passing it on, rinse, wash, and repeat.
Her job as a scrivener for the New Delsta Times was the perfect cover to keep in contact with one of the more elusive members of the Moonshade Order. It allowed her to come and go as she pleased from Lostseed. The hidden half of New Delsta a select few were privy to, much less had access-unless it was given.
Its proprietor had given her information about Ren she otherwise wouldn't have guessed. He moonlighted as a high-flying, acrobatic, showboating thief.
It certainly explained his nimble fingers, but it made him ten times harder to keep track of. So many moving parts! It almost made her want to tear her hair out!
Even more worrisome, a fellow correspondent had informed her that he had the gift of tongues, he could speak every language including Ancient Beastling! He had to be kept away from Toto'haha and Crackridge.
Ori climbed up the ladder that led to the sewer grate cover. The rusty metal creaked and groaned as she moved it out of place just enough for her to squeeze through.
She hated being noisy. Ironic given her job as a scrivener.
Making her way through the early morning streets of the slums, Ori passed by Montraine's Tavern. Frowning as she glimpsed the erased chalkboard, she gathered her thoughts.
Hikari Ku was necessary to keep alive according to her brother, the Hawk.
Osvald would die in prison either by old age, a guard beating, or slowly at the hand of the freezing cold. His assistant had no reason to look into them after the "untimely" death of her husband.
The Castti issue would take care of itself if the Bat spoke true. Better off dead than being used as breeding stock for Claude in Ori's opinion. That's what she would've done. Almost did.
Pushing that disturbing thought out of her head, she moved on to the next three people on the list. Claude was confident his garden would do what it did best and weed each other out. The winner would inevitably face the Bat himself as the best of the crop.
That left her newest charge. Ren seemed to show an attraction to Throne according to Claude, who showed blatant interest in what a child born from a union between the two would look like.
Could she weaponize that?
Manipulate Thronè and Ren to keep running into each other? It definitely wasn't outside the realm of her skill set. She'd have to manipulate Thronè somehow. Wagging her tail didn't work on Ren Amamiya.
She was a cute little girl; how could it not work?!
…...Okay, Ori wasn't as young as she looked. She was actually nineteen and some change. Makeup, bindings, and an adorable haircut went a long way. And she spent ages practicing her disarming smile in the mirror.
It should totally totally totally totally be two-hundred percent effective. How could she not weasel out even his last name?!
She wanted to storm into the shitty little bar and shake him until every little juicy morsel of information fell from his stupid messy hair.
Ugh! It was enough to make her want to rip her pad in half.
Ori almost flung her pad in surprise when the door to the bar creaked open. In a desperate bid, she dove into a nearby trash can and moved the lid over her. She heard a whooshing and the distinct sound she'd come to learn was metal on brick.
She slid the lid ever so slightly to peek upward. To her amazement, she saw Ren standing on a nearby rooftop. He was decked out in fancy red and black clothing.
She didn't believe it; Claude was right on the money!
She watched as he smirked appreciatively at the approaching dawn then flipped away.
Anger boiled and bubbled within her. The dawn didn't deserve to come. Humanity didn't deserve it.
It needed to be snuffed out. Gotten rid of. Destroyed. Taken over. Replaced.
She had to report to her brother. He'd definitely know what to do.
"Remember if she comes by this bar, give her shelter on my behalf."
"Yeah, it's the least I can do. You brought life to this bar kid, at least for a little while."
Ren flashed Gil a smile as he picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. It was the day of his departure.
After downing two whole bottles, Thronè had left in the last hour of service, her brother assisting her out and down to their tenement. Ren kept a watchful eye on the duo the whole night, even though he doubted anyone would try anything funny. He couldn't stay to deal with the Blacksnakes, but the least he could do was to secure her shelter in case she needed it.
"As Augustus Caesar once said; "We found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble," Raoul said triumphantly in his mind.
Ren found it a stretch to call it marble but it was in better shape than it was two weeks ago. At least no one fell into random holes in the flooring.
Near the counter at a table, Giselle was enjoying a cup of coffee. The other members of her troupe were still asleep in the early morning.
"No. It was my pleasure to have you live your dream. That's what matters."
Gil laughed as he polished a glass. "Me live it. Kid, you are the dream. If you really wanted to, you could make a living as a performer or a singer. Probably both!"
"I concur," Giselle said, nodding her head. "You have a knack for drawing attention."
Ren shrugged in acceptance as he stepped away from the bar counter. "So I've been told. It's a good way to make a living like you said, Gil. So, I'm sure I'll do it again."
"Then why not travel with us?" Giselle asked, a look of longing on her face.
Ren playfully poked her in the forehead as he passed by her on the way to the door. "Nice try. But I told you; my journey is only just beginning and the attention I might draw and have drawn already needs me to stay low."
Ren's explanation did nothing to ease Giselle's worry as her eyebrow raised up. "That's only more reason to move in a group." Giselle was about to continue on a tirade to try and convince him but stopped, seeing Ren's roguish expression. Gil sighed, seeing the exchange.
"Best to leave them be. Churches and heresy are no laughing matter to deal with. While for others execution or life imprisonment is a certainty; for us, we can easily get evacuated back to our world via The Velvet Room and have the mission declared a failure."
Raoul had a point. Ren didn't feel like he was at a point where others could be reliably involved in his mission. If they were, they had to be as unattached as he. Or as crazy.
To use Giselle's Troupe as a cover…felt wrong. If he got caught, they'd be dragged into his mess. Or worse their show would be compromised by his lack of presence.
"Call me crazy, He-ho, but I believe you have that backward."
"Nonsense my fine frosted friend! Nothing is more important than the performance."
He would have to see the world with just his own pair of eyes for now.
"Be safe, okay?" Giselle said, putting a hand to her chest.
"I will," Ren replied confidently. "We'll see each other again. Count on it."
"Come back to the tavern whenever you're in the city, Ren. It'll be a one-night-only session. I'm sure a good-sized crowd will come wandering in."
"The Wandering Wild Card brings with him a wandering crowd…Seems fitting," Ren said.
"You are one of a kind."
Ren stood against the door and smiled. "I don't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment."
"Both," Giselle said without skipping a beat.
Ren broke out into an infectious laugh that got both Gil and Giselle laughing too. "Not the first time!"
"I bet it won't be the last either," Gil replied mockingly.
After the laughter died down, Ren gave one last smile to the two as he pushed the door open and headed through.
The moment he heard the soft click of the door close behind him, he transformed into his phantom suit. The lack of a bag always amused him out of its sheer convenience.
He swung his arm, and his grapple hook flew up and out of the alleyway and latched onto a nearby chimney stack. The metallic clunking sound served to scare away a couple of bats hiding inside, including an albino that flew into and nested in a shadow.
With a sharp tug, he flung himself on the rooftops.
He turned and watched the first moments of dawn come, unimpeded by human creation. The golden rays of sunlight peeked over the mountaintops that separated the Crestlands from the Brightlands.
The warmth reached his body, even as the wind blew through his tailcoat. The ancient feeling of waking up spread throughout him.
"I might be a creature of the night and shadows, but nothing will ever replace the light."
He loved the early dawn. It was the start of a new day, a new venture. A sign that things could get better. Hopefully for others as well as himself. A certain purple assassin came to the forefront of his mind.
"She can handle herself. She has all the tools necessary for freedom. All she need do is grasp it. If she's anything like Josephine, she wouldn't appreciate freedom being simply handed to her by an outside source. For that too is another form of bondage in a way."
"Do not underestimate the power of a cleaner."
Raoul and Silky both gave thoughtful words he had to concede to. While exposing the local mafia would be a fun endeavor to undertake again, he had more pressing matters. New Delsta was only a stop in his journey after all. However, he had a feeling it wouldn't be too long until he saw Thronè and the Blacksnakes once more.
Joker smirked as he took one last look at the sprawling urban landscape. Satisfied, he jumped and spun unnecessarily in the air as he landed on the next roof. Off in the distance he heard a scoff as he recovered back into a proper stance.
Joker smiled even wider.
—X—
About two days later, Ren found himself at a campfire studying a map and taking notes on both his phone and his notebook. He could hear the sounds of a hammer on steel and muted explosions from a cottage in the distance.
Ren wilted a bit as his mana drained. His current sketch of New Delsta being interrupted by a slash as his hand lost function for a second.
Raoul was out of the mindscape hunting the local monsters. He had just used an Eiga on a sheep-like monster—aptly named Meep. Every so often Raoul would switch for another persona, but Raoul most of all, seemed to enjoy elimination duty. Well, out of the persona he had so far. Silky, Jack Frost, Pixie, and Kelpie were rather tame. It was about time to change a couple of them out anyway.
Ren tilted the map and brought it closer to his face.
In order to get to the Crestlands, he had to go East then north into the mountain pass. As long as he stayed following the river, he should be fine.
Father's warning about lies and hearsay rang in his head. Al's words are also intermixed as well.
It wasn't that he didn't believe them, in his own world, the church had a history of being pretty shady and devious. He doubted that would change here. The question instead was: How much?
Just what did the church have its fingers in? In his opinion, it was the perfect place for a counter-cult dedicated to a dark god to thrive. Not the Wildlands where the heretics were, that'd be too obvious. He'd hide his organization in the church. In a land of religion, what was one more? As Ryuji once said, "What's another piece of trash in the trash bin?"
The accompanying question to "How much?" was "How strong?" Along those lines was how tight security was. How strong was the "Sacred Guard" that could go into any area unopposed?
"Instead of asking 'how?' You should be asking 'who?'" Said Raoul, floating into the clearing, chomping on curse roasted sheep-monster. Ren didn't even know personas could eat. And Raoul did so with gusto. Jagged bites were taken out of the monster's carcass and Raoul's black maw dripped with juices. Oddly enough, Ren could feel his mana replenishing.
Ren could only hope he either ate all of it or disposed of it properly. He really didn't feel like being the source of a local legend-Again.
"Who are the actors leading the organization? What are their thoughts, their plans, and their beliefs? Answer those and the rest will follow. Then again, our goal is to do research. We don't necessarily have to antagonize the region's dominant religion if we don't have to."
Ren had to concede the point to the persona. "You're right. We need information on the god first in order to know how to stop it. And that would be a simple infiltration. " Raoul's mouth creased upwards victoriously. "However, I would also like to know who exactly we're up against. Given the era we've landed in, records are liable to be edited to suit whatever the need is. It's best to hear from the horse's mouth such as the Pope or a Church Inquisitor. Both run the risk of getting us added to a shortlist, though."
Raoul shrugged his shoulders as he shoveled the last of the monster in his mouth. Inwardly Ren retched a little at the scene, watching it be devoured whole, bones included.
After belching, he spoke once again. "Touché. To live is to offend, I say."
"I thought the term was "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find meaning in the suffering," Ren corrected.
The persona dusted his hands off and disappeared back into the mindscape.
"Tomato tomato. We have another day of travel ahead of us tomorrow, so you should take what rest you can get. The monsters are gone, so there shouldn't be an issue. I'm no Magician but, go to sleep."
Ren rolled his eyes as he grabbed the sleeping bag and cot from his bag. He wondered if he could get a horse for his supply needs. It'd look pretty damn cool too.
It didn't take him too long to get settled in. He folded his arms behind his head and closed his eyes…..
Find me.
Ren's eyes snapped open and as he sat up, he spun his head left and right trying to find the source of the voice. Inside his head, things were no less calm.
"I thought you cleaned the area thoroughly!" Silky chastised Raoul.
"I left no stone unturned. Maybe you should blame yourself. You had the shift prior to me."
"Yeah, but you had like three turns chasing stuff down! There wasn't much left for the rest of us to do."
"Like you didn't have just as much fun zapping them into oblivion, Pixie."
"We should perform a deep freeze to flush whoever it is out." Jack Frost suggested.
"That's a little extreme. Something that big would exhaust all my mana. That's not even taking into account the damage to the ecosystem I'd do." Ren said, hand on his chest from the sudden scare. "I checked the area via the third eye. I didn't see anything so we should be fine for now."
The personas relaxed a bit and the arguments ceased. Ren laid back down, trying to put the matter to rest. He closed his eyes for the second time that night, it didn't take long until he drifted off.
Thief. Seek me.
Ren awoke with a start. This time he felt a presence standing over him. When he opened his eyes no one was there.
His personas were in full alarm now, but Ren ignored it as sat up and strained his eyes, Yaldabaoth's 'gift' kicking in.
To his amazement, a vivid purple line of sparkles trailed away from his cot and out of his campsite.
Ren rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't imagining it. But it didn't go away.
"This is no dream. This is reality." Raoul confirmed.
He was used to seeing blues, yellows, reds, and golds. Never had he seen purple. It was mesmerizing.
"I didn't want to sleep anyway…" Ren said as he wriggled out of his sleeping bag.
I await you.
Ren looked up and saw a giant stone man right in his face.
He blinked in response.
And it was gone….
A shiver went up his spine. Instinct told him that would keep happening if he didn't get a move on.
He doused the campfire and put away his sleeping bag and cot.
The moment his supplies were away, Ren changed into his thief costume as he grappled up to a branch, following the purple trail. It led to the east as far as he could tell.
Joker jumped from branch to branch under the pale moonlight. He continued keeping the trail in view until he saw something that made his heart sink.
Right in the middle of the path clanking chains, bloody coat and all—was The Reaper.
It was milling along the path, occasionally going on and off into the grass and trees.
Joker looked up to the sky and saw the moon was still its luminescent white. Not the ominous red that indicated he had wandered into shadow territory.
Prove yourself.
"That voice again…"
In the distance, Joker glimpsed something moving along the tree line. He clicked his tongue and turned back to the more pressing matter in front of him.
The Reaper still hadn't noticed him. Then it occurred to Joker that the Reaper hadn't noticed him.
When The Reaper appeared it always had a lock on his location. In mementos, it even phased through walls to get to him and the other Phantom Thieves.
"Yes…I see it," Raoul whispered as if his voice would alert The Reaper. "It moves like a regular shadow. Perhaps we can sneak by."
Joker nodded in response. Taking a moment to observe its movements from the shadow of the tree's canopy.
The single milky eye it possessed underneath that bag it called a head, lazily scanned the area every time it came to a stop.
"How simple. It's moving in a giant square taking pauses at every corner to look up and around. I have at least ten seconds as it's moving to slip by above it."
Joker waited for his chance and kept his footsteps light. The Reaper eventually started floating along its path once more. Joker didn't miss his opportunity as he crossed along the interweaving branches.
He made sure his footsteps were silent as he passed overhead, counting the second until it turned.
He let out a sigh of relief the moment he was sure he was out of sight.
"Do not rest yet, look ahead," Raoul advised darkly.
Joker picked his head up and saw there was not one but two more reapers patrolling the area up ahead. The purple trail went right between them.
Beads of sweat trailed down his neck uncontrollably, and a small grunt of nervousness and disbelief came from his throat.
If this was him right before the confrontation with Yaldabaoth, Maruki, or Emma, he wouldn't have cared if he got caught. But now? One wrong move and he was dead.
Joker gave a glance back at where he came from and saw everything behind him had been consumed in a fog that definitely wasn't there earlier. It stopped right at his back.
"There's no turning back here." Joker thought darkly to himself as he gripped the brim of his hat.
"The voice said we have to prove ourselves. It also knows you're a thief. The challenge is clear." Raoul said, grim determination laced in his tone. The other personas had been silenced out of sheer fear. Raoul was the sole exception who could withstand the pressure of the situation.
"If it's a challenge, there's always a way to win." Joker thought back, unwilling to speak aloud.
"Either we win…Or we die."
Joker nodded in acceptance and edged closer along the canopy. Close enough to where he was still out of sight, but a suitable distance to observe like he did before.
These two reapers had a tighter and more concise pattern compared to the first reaper. In short, they covered each other nearly perfectly.
Joker's lip curled in a sneer. He'd have to distract one of them. Misdirection. Not his preferred method of sneaking by. Too risky if the Reapers were smart and looked into the trajectory of what he was about to do. No choice, he would have to flip the coin.
He pointed his finger and charged an Eiha shot.
Flicking his wrist, the shot flew through the air silently until it impacted a log not too far away from the reapers.
It was as if an instant campfire was set ablaze. The difference was that the black flame didn't illuminate at all. However, it was enough to attract the attention of the floating tormentors like moths to a flame.
Joker didn't waste the chance, jumping from branch to branch, letting the sound of the fire and the nearby river disguise the noise of his leaps.
Through the corner of his vision, he spotted them snuffing out the flame with massive bursts of Kougaon. Sounding like a giant sledgehammer mixed with a proton cannon, the beams of holy light crashed down on the spot repeatedly. Column after column of blessed energy impacted the point. A smoking crater was left behind by the time they were done.
A shiver went through his body upon witnessing the scene. Joker didn't stop moving until they were out of sight.
"Talk about overkill…" Joker thought to himself as he came to rest on a branch, taking a knee to catch his breath.
"I hate to blow a cold wind on your moment's reprieve, he-ho. B-b-but look up ahead."
Lifting his head, Joker's eyes widened in shock and awe. The entire forest was crawling with Reapers in pairs of twos.
"Holy shit." He mouthed silently. He wasn't one for vulgar swearing, but this situation called for it.
They absently floated to and fro, chains clanking and revolvers gleaming ominously.
"There's enough for an entire soul society of the damned!" Raoul laughed nervously.
"References aside, there is enough underbrush for us to potentially slip through." Silky offered.
That was an option, but at that rate, it'd take all night. He strained his eyes again and saw the purple trail had dimmed a tad from earlier. This was probably a night-only event.
Joker was scanning the environment when his eyes locked on the river.
"I have an idea…..Hey Frost? Think I can use your ice magic to craft something really quick?"
"He-ho! Can do!"
Joker held his hands close to each other as ice magic began to form between them. He moved his hands up and down, fashioning and molding the ice into the tool he needed. After a couple of minutes, he was left with a cylinder of ice, just long enough to extend past his hand.
"Here comes the hard part. Hau Po, I need some fire. But I need it super concentrated."
Hua Po didn't speak, it was her nature, but Joker could feel her consent.
" If you want to concentrate the magic, reduce the casting area. Similar to how you fire Eiha." Raoul advised.
Joker nodded and held out a single finger that caught on fire. He'd have to be quick lest he draw unwanted attention.
He held up the icy cylinder and wielding his finger like a blowtorch held it to the edge. Then, bursting his magic power, he forced the flame through like a tiny bullet.
Satisfied, he held the tube to his face. He now had a makeshift snorkel. Smiling, Joker stuck it in his mouth and darted to the river.
He snuck under a bush, right in time as a reaper floated over his head. Mysteriously, there wasn't an underside to it, just void.
Joker held his breath as he waited for a decent-sized gap to open up.
Releasing the breath, he was holding through his mouth noiselessly, he slipped through to his next target, a fallen hollow log, carven away big enough to crawl through.
It was cliché but Joker appreciated that it was there. He crawled through the log, pausing to look through a hole at his surroundings. He saw the reapers had the awareness of drunk men. But that didn't stop them from being dangerous.
When he got to the end of the log, he saw the last obstacle between him and the river.
A single reaper aimlessly swirling in place, it was quite a bit bigger than its contemporaries too.
He had no choice here. Reaching into his pocket, Joker produced two objects. A smoke pellet and a bottle of stealthonol.
He discreetly used the spray on himself right there. Once finished he waited until the reaper's back was turned and tossed the pellet in its area.
White smoke quickly obscured that whole section around the river. The color allowed it to blend in and make it indistinguishable from the sheet-like fog that already clung to the area. If the Reapers had any intelligence based on sight this would stop it. The stealthonol would prevent him from being found vía smell. He prayed they didn't have a psychic motion-sensing ability.
Joker crawled out of the log and using his third eye, he navigated through the fog flawlessly, coming upon the riverbank as he passed by the reaper with it being none the wiser as it kept swirling.
Using Kelpie's wind magic, he soundlessly slipped into the water like an Olympic-caliber diver.
Joker kept the wind going, using it to propel himself along the river while keeping the straw just above the surface.
"Ahahahaha! Clever, clever, clever!" Raoul praised. "We should have no issue passing by now…..Except for the monsters."
Joker felt his eyebrow twitch as skeletal-like fish, and jellyfish descended on his location. His eyebrow stopped twitching and quirked up when he spotted a rather dapper-looking octopus wearing a top hat and mustache lugging a comically designed chest. His thief senses were tingling. Even under the mind-numbing horror of instant death and an existential being stalking him, the urge to steal a gaudy object like the chest was sublime. Raoul was no different, actively egging him on.
"Hey, Pixie. I have another idea. Let me use some electricity."
"Rodger!"
Channeling the electricity through his body, he zapped all the surrounding monsters like a bug zapper. They fell lifelessly to the river floor as other monsters gave him a wide berth.
"That takes care of that! Now onto more pressing concerns…."
He shifted his attention back to the Octopus that was now scuttling unaware on the bottom of the river.
Joker then fully submerged into the water and Kelpie appeared above him. It put its muzzle on the top of Joker's ice snorkel and started supplying him with air he dove deeper and deeper.
"It's time for some sashimi!"
—X—
A drenched red fedora atop slick black hair peeked over the riverbank for a couple of seconds before slowly sinking back down.
In its place, a sopping wet glove-covered hand attached to an equally soaked sleeve grabbed onto the rocky edge of the bank.
A chest colored red and gold breached the surface next followed closely by a second hand.
Pulling himself up, Joker then emerged from the river, letting out a gasp as his lungs filled with non-demonic air. Water trailed off him in streams as he fully stepped out of the river.
Once he was safely on land, he pulled out his stolen timepiece and saw it was close to 4 a.m. Dawn was fast approaching. He stashed the clock back under his sleeve.
A quick look ahead told him his hunch was right, the purple trail was barely even there now. As much as he wanted to pick the lock on the chest, he had to keep moving.
A sign nearby indicated he wasn't on the New Delsta high road anymore. He had somehow made it to the Southern Clockbank Highroad.
That didn't seem right.
That would place him right outside Clockbank, and he was certain he would be at least a couple of days or even a week out from that location. He shot right past the rest of the Delsta Highroad, not to mention the Western Clockbank Highroad. Even more importantly, he missed his turn to go north. Bugs Bunny had nothing on him.
His eyes grew to the size of saucers when he pulled out his phone and checked the date. A week had actually passed!
He stumbled almost back into the river out of pure shock before catching his balance again.
He shook his head and picked up the chest, tucking it under his arm. Questions would have to wait. Thankfully the Reapers seemed to have disappeared.
He ran and crossed over a bridge, the brief trek of cobblestone turning back into dirt.
"Can you spare anything…."
Joker almost kept running. He skidded to a stop, kicking up dirt in the process. The man who had spoken was hunched over a log on the side of the road.
His blonde-gray hair was frayed and patchy in some areas and matted in others. What was once a luxurious mane was now heavy with uncleanable grease and grime. His thick beard was no less unkempt and dirty than his hair was. His purple eyes were dulled, glossed over, and unfocused.
Describing his clothes as nothing but rags was being generous in Joker's honest opinion. It was more like threads that had the common connection of hiding private parts. His body was emaciated to near starvation, his ribs not hidden at all.
He hated to say it, but the shadow of death loomed over him. Its scythe held against his neck, ready to claim at any moment.
"Please…any…thing." The old man said, raising his hand weakly at Joker.
A breathy light hum of indecision came from Joker's throat. After which, he set the chest down and took a lockpick out of his breast pocket.
"Scored this chest off this weird octopus thing. My senses are going nuts off this. Once I get it open you can help yourself, old timer."
"Thank….you….boy. May the gods…bless you."
"No sweat off my back. It's the right thing to do," Joker said as the lock finally clicked open. He opened the chest to a small fortune of gold coins….and a bowl of soup.
The man looked at him, eyes wide from wonder and disbelief.
"A promise is a promise. Take it." Joker said softly, standing up and running away, not allowing a retort to be offered.
"Thank you, young man!"
Joker threw him a thumbs-up as he ran down the trail.
—X—
Ren stopped the boat of ice he made next to the cave entrance.
He immediately slumped backward for a quick rest; he was exhausted. He ran his glove-less hand through his many curls and gave a wry smile when it came back covered in sweat. His thief costume had long since left him.
Mana expenditure was an issue, but the fact he had been moving all night gave him a double dose of fatigue. He felt even more worn out than when he first awakened to his persona.
He picked up the oar also made of ice and started rowing again. The first beams of sunlight were peaking over the treetops. The last faint shimmers of purple were disappearing in the morning air.
The moment he crossed over the threshold of the cave, tension immediately filled the atmosphere. Torches on the wall mysteriously lit up as he went, illuminating his path.
The hairs on the back of Ren's neck stood up in wrongness. He felt like a wolf that had unintentionally pushed into another wolf's territory. Yet he somehow felt….expected?
He rowed the boat further down the cave tunnel where it opened up into an underground lake cavern. With a whooshing sound, a ring of torches fired up together allowing Ren to see what he rowed himself into.
In the middle of the lake rested an amphitheater-like structure. Its pillars around it were well worn down by time. Numerous stairs led down to a center octagon where a huge statue of a man sat.
In comparison to the rest of the area, the statue was well maintained. Even from a distance, that fact was clear to Ren. The figure was of a man with a wild mane of untamed hair, free flowing in a non-existent wind.
He was leaned over, front leg bent on top of a chest, and back leg extended as if he was lunging at an unseen opponent who dared challenge him for his loot. In his front hand, he held a knife in reverse grip parallel to his arm. In his back, a sword, ready to swing overhead at a moment's notice. The statue felt familiar.
Ren kept his head down as he rowed towards the center island. He could faintly detect he was being watched, getting closer to the island served to intensify the feeling. The statue was completely purple under the third eye. There wasn't any doubt anymore.
This was his destination.
The boat rocked back and forth as Ren eventually got to a point where he could dock. Ignoring his case of sea legs, he stood firmly on the island.
Approach me, young thief.
The light from the torches around the cavern flickered obscuring his view. When he was able to see again, the statue was sitting on the chest as casually as if it were a log at a campfire. Ren didn't move, the sheer absurdity of it all made him question his sanity.
Warrior from another world, we have much to discuss.
Mute shock was thrown into the equation as the statue(?) revealed it(?) knew about his situation.
I….am Aeber…...Prince of the thieves….and former god.
Ren instantly drew his dagger and gun, eyes trained and locked on the now-revealed god, trying to muster as much steel as he could in his gaze.
"Give me one good reason why I should trust you, instead of shooting first and asking questions later. Gods rarely, if ever, make for good company." Ren said, hoping that the tiredness hadn't leaked into his voice.
The cavern torches flicked again and when the lights came back, Aber now had a leg crossed over the other in thoughtfulness.
Why? …...Because I am dead….If that will suffice. My influence is limited to only those who stake a claim to my profession.
"No, it doesn't exactly make me feel at ease. Now tell me, why did you call me here?"
Ren could have sworn the statue god's carved roguish features gained a mischievous glint to them.
Simple. You have piqued my interest…... Your path is similar to the one I've picked as champion. But also radically different…... Both courses will come to the same end, however, in the dead of night. The question remains; Will you be allies, enemies, or even rivals? While precognition isn't my forte in the slightest, I do hold some powers of foresight as all gods do.
"So, you 'foresaw' me coming here I assume?"
…Something like that. I wanted to examine the character of the surprise anomaly that has appeared in our world.
Ren's eyes flashed in realization. "That was you back in the forest. The statue, the reapers, that octopus thing, the time displacement, and the old man on the side of the road. It was all you the whole time! You were testing me."
Yes. The Reapers as you call them, were meant to test your capabilities of infiltration. The capture of the Octopuff—Your ingenuity. Finally, I met you myself to observe your integrity.
"The shadow of death that loomed over him. It wasn't an exaggeration. Death has already claimed him." Ren's stomach churned as he chewed on that thought. Raoul was the closest thing to a god he had on him, and he shook his head almost sadly.
"What was the point in all this?" Ren asked. "Meeting me and testing me I mean? If you deemed me a threat the smarter thing to do would've been to eliminate me straight off the bat."
Straight off the bat? That term is unfamiliar to me. But no, I cannot, nor do I have the desire to eliminate you. As death has taken its hold, my powers have diminished greatly.
Maybe it was his imagination, but the statue wilted a bit and lost some of its luster.
An ancient evil rises, yet I am powerless to stop it. Me and my siblings have each chosen a champion, I can sense it. But then there's you, the anomaly, the wildcard. I view this as a chance. An outsider's perspective may be necessary, the same as the threat we face.
"What is this threat? Is it a planet eater? Was it the being that killed you?"
Plan…net….eater? I….don't…remember….URUGH!
At Aeber's yell, the cavern started to shake uncontrollably, the torches flickered on and off. Stalactites and debris fell from the ceiling. Raoul summoned himself and his unsteady, shadowy form protectively shielded Ren with its wings. Every flash of light brought about a new disturbing change in Aeber's position. He rocked from side to side, mouth open wide showing sharp teeth, hands on his head as he roared in anguish.
"Calm down, big guy! You're going to bring the whole house down on us!" His words had no effect. In fact, he started screaming louder.
"He is a dead god after all, and spirits don't like being reminded of their deaths!" Raoul said angrily. "Hua Po can attest to that!"
Ren sensed the somber agreement of the persona in question. He fucked up. And at the worst time too.
He reached to his side and unholstered his gun. He wasted no time as he inserted a magazine, raised the weapon, and unloaded the whole clip into the animated statue's body.
The bullets bounced harmlessly off the statue, but the distraction allowed Aeber to come to his senses. The area stopped shaking alongside the god himself and the flames on the torches returned to full tinder.
I am sorry. Death has taken more from me than just my power.
"It's okay, the fault lies with me," Ren said, holding up a hand.
That power of yours…..it's intriguing.
Ren sensed the god's curiosity as Raoul disappeared. "Let's say, I was already on a mission to reseal whatever killed you, Aeber. What you just saw is part of the reason why. That aside, could you provide me with any assistance at all?"
That was what I was planning to ask you. I was planning to propose a deal. I bestow upon you part of my power, in exchange, young thief, you help put a stop to the great evil that seeks to return.
A smile crept across Ren's face, an expression he suspected would be reflected on Aeber if he could freely move. Even in another world, thieves were thieves after all.
"You have yourself a deal."
Ren's smile melted as he witnessed something that would haunt his nightmares for weeks. Aber began to fully move! His body creaked and groaned with the sounds of metal scraping against metal. Ren fell on his butt as the god stood up from his seat on the chest. It was then he realized how large the statue truly was, it was easily over 6 meters tall.
Aeber extended a long finger from his gigantic hand and touched Ren on the forehead. The moment he made contact, Ren's world went white.
….
"Heh heh."
The man gave a small chuckle as he snatched the apple off the passing human. It was simply child's play to him. That human had a surplus of them anyway, they wouldn't miss it. The granite black bangle on his wrist jangled as he brought the fruit to his mouth and happily crunched on it. His other hand ran through his luscious platinum blonde locks. He wriggled his toes as he walked through the human settlement barefooted, his naked toned chest and abs flexed and glistened in the sunlight.
He was a god: The epitome of perfection.
As if!
The thought almost made him laugh out loud. No one was perfect. Damn sure not his father.
He strutted through town, most wouldn't notice him, and those who did wouldn't dare stop him–Unless they were his siblings, and he didn't have plans to mess with them—Right now.
After turning into the slums of the thriving human settlement, he came across a young human, a girl. Her cheeks were caked with dirt and her clothes were shabby, to say the least. Even more shabby than the ripped long purple kilt he insisted on wearing. What caught his attention was that she stared right at him. He believed her eyes were focused on him until he heard her stomach rumble. The poor thing was starving.
"How about we split this, little one? Shall we?" he said, presenting the apple which had her undivided attention.
The girl's eyes slid up to him and she nodded fervently as she rubbed her stomach.
The man tossed the apple up and withdrew his famed dagger: The Mooneater. Lazily flicking his wrist, the apple was instantly cut into eight equal pieces that he caught in his hand. He then took a seat next to the girl and presented the food to her. The girl muttered a word of prayer and with the utmost speed, four of the slices disappeared. He laughed as the girl let out a small burp.
"Thank you, mister," she said bowing her head.
He extended his legs and crossed his feet. "Eh, don't call me mister. That's more of my stuffy twin brother's thing. Call me Aeber."
He'd never get tired of watching the human faces as their eyes widened upon realization of who exactly he was. Just as the girl did now.
"Aeber as in…The god Aeber? The Prince of the Thieves? The god of luck?"
"The one and only. We could really say, it's your lucky day," he said, a coy smile on his face. "Now do me a favor and eat the rest of these will you? A growing girl like you needs her nutrients. It's why Dohter made them after all."
The girl shook her head in refusal. "Lord Aeber, I possibly couldn't. You've already given me my fair share."
"Do I look like Bifelgan to you? I wholeheartedly insisted. As a god technically I do not need to eat. I do it because it feels good. It's only fair that I give what I don't need to those who do." Aeber then put on a comically spooky voice. "Now eat, or does your 'Lord Aeber' have to command you?"
The girl giggled as she began to pick the remaining slices off his hand.
Nothing warmed his heart more. He and his siblings universally agreed that they were there to serve the world and the beings that inhabited it. How they went about it varied. This was Aeber's way. To steal from the rich and give to the poor. An equalizer, a distributor. These were words he used to describe himself. Bifelgan called him 'that pain in the ass over there' and the one that stuck: thief.
If the word thief got attached to his name as a price for doing good as he saw it, then so be it.
…
"Aeber, get back here you rotten-handed, flea-ridden, purse snatching, kill stealing, knuckle-dragging, mouth breathing, kleptomaniac dick!"
Aeber laughed manically as he bounded from tree to tree, the Exorcising Bow in hand. Behind him in hot pursuit, was Draefendi, his sister and goddess of the hunt. Like him, she jumped through the trees as well, below on the forest floor her pet snow leopard also followed him.
"If you surrender my bow now, I promise to make your death as painful as possible!"
"I think I'll pass!" Aeber called back, laughing. "Pain isn't a good way to get a man to surrender."
That served to further anger the auburn-haired goddess, her face now matching her hair.
Aeber ducked as a hatchet flew over his head and embedded itself in the trunk of a tree.
"You missed!"
Draefendi wound her hand back and shot a bolt of lightning at him. Thinking fast, he sent a wave of dark magic out to intercept it. A satisfying boom echoed through the forest of Orrstera.
Aeber had waited for Draefendi's most vulnerable moment: when she had just made a kill on a Behemoth and struck. He snuck up behind her and relieved her of her prized bow. By the time she noticed, he was well on his way across the continent. Why? Because it was fun!
As the god of thieves and all things larceny-related, he was not above poking the proverbial bear that was his siblings for a bit of mischief. Besides, he knew Draefendi was having as much fun as he was. She lived for the thrill of the hunt and who better to hunt than the god who claimed himself 'uncatchable'.
…
Aeber threw his legs over the bed in the quiet woodland cottage and sat up. He grabbed a piece of string off a nearby table and used it to tie his long hair into a bushy ponytail.
He was about to stand up when his lover behind him grabbed his arm.
"Aeber. Why must we go through this same song and dance at every instance? Brand and Sealticge never have this issue as far as I am aware."
Aeber turned and gave Draefendi a saucy grin as he leaned over and pressed a kiss on her wanting mouth. He had to swat her hand away as he pulled back, lest he risk being dragged back on the bed.
"Do you really want to be aware of what those two do? If I knew, I'd want to bash my head with a rock until the memories fell out onto earth. They'd sow the fields using images of debauchery and depravity."
Draefendi giggled at the thought as she pushed some of her own long hair out of her face.
"But I do it because that's the way our love works. You enjoy the thrill of hunting me, and I enjoy the chase," Aeber said as he stood up and grabbed his kilt off a nearby chair.
Draefendi hummed as she too rose from the bed, watching Aeber as he put on his clothes. "I bet you say that to Dohter and Steorra too."
"If what you're implying is that you are to be destined as another notch in my bedpost, then you're sorely mistaken. I love each one of you for different reasons and I will gladly lay down my godhood for you three who helped create these precious things we call life and the world."
"Oh Aeber," she cooed as she stood up and hugged him from behind, her breast pressing his back. "We certainly know that even though we can take care of ourselves."
Aeber slipped out of her grip and put on his bangles. "Me, Brand, Winne, $& , and Ael… we're warriors. At the first sign of trouble, we go running to it. I know good and well you three can kick my posterior around both Orsterra and Solistia, but my pride will not allow me to risk you before myself."
Draefendi gave a solemn nod, as Aeber picked up his discarded weapons.
"Let us hope it never comes to that, Aeber."
…..
Jail.
A human way of containing ne'er do wells as punishment. It fascinated him. Their creativity was endless. It was based on the concepts of 'law' and 'justice' introduced by Brand, Balogar, Bifelgan and Aelfric. The humans took the concept and ran with it.
Aeber lay on the cell floor in a relaxed pose, his arm propping up his head. His foot tapped idly to an unknown cobbled-together tune.
Around the corner, the sound of a lock turning followed by footsteps alerted him that someone was coming.
Within seconds, two people appeared in front of his cell.
The man on the left had blossom pink hair that extended midway down his back. His eyes were a pinkish red that many called unsettling. His robes were jet black accented with golden spirals resembling the stems of plants. He would fit right in at a funeral.
Latched to his back was a scythe with a wicked design. The blade was ivory white, almost like a tooth. The same color as the horns that curled from his head. The handle was made of red vines all interwoven together complete with thorns that hurt any being but the user.
The Graceful Dahlia. The single godly weapon Aeber had yet to figure out a way to steal.
The man on the left was far more imposing in Aber's opinion. He had platinum-blonde almost white hair; his eyes were cyan. His equally colored beard and mustache combined as they dropped off his chin, giving him the image of an arcane wizard. Perhaps it would be better to say he inspired the image of an arcane wizard.
Out of spite, and a way to annoy the man, Aeber changed his hair to black, the smirk on his face giving away his intent.
"Aelfric and $& , good to see you guys! How do you like my new home? Pretty comfy, amirite?"
Aelfric clicked his tongue in annoyance upon seeing his hair change to an inky black for petty nuisance.
"For being my twin brother how did you turn out so much more—"
"Handsome? Suave? Popular? Built? Athletic?" Aeber listed off qualities with a smile as he stood up and threw up a finger for every word.
"Undignified and insufferable are the terms I'd use." The man next to Aelfric chuckled in agreement.
"I have to agree with Aelfric about that, Aeber. What kind of God lets himself get caught?"
Aeber eyes focused on his youngest brother as he flipped his hand dismissively. "The kind that gets tired of winning all the time. $& , you know as well as I do that being in here is a frivolity. If I really wanted to, I could escape. If I wanted to serve out my sentence the years would go by in the blink of an eye! It's a slap on the wrist, for our sake!" Just to prove his point he produced a golden key out of his hair, an item he had nicked off a human guard.
Aelfric shook his head disappointingly as Aeber made the key vanish with a slight of hand. "Then why frolic among the humans in the first place, Aeber?"
"Frolicking is more of Sealticge's thing alongside more… carnal acts. I prefer to call it 'enjoying life' dear brother."
"Our place is not commingling with them. We're supposed to watch and serve from afar. Heard, but not seen." Aelfric harshly countered.
"And who put that rule as standard? I highly disagree. We created this world and the life contained in it for all to enjoy. That includes us, brother. Not only that; how can we best know how to serve if we don't understand who we serve."
"I understand your desire, but I disagree as well, Aeber. We remain separate so we can be impartial judges unto a given situation. You cannot claim an unbiased opinion if you have a stake in either side of the conflict."
"And the others who have their own dealings with the mortal?"
"Only yourself and Sealticge have this level of involvement."
Aeber glimpsed his younger brother shuffling uncomfortably in his boots. He huffed and tried to change the conversation.
"It's clear we won't come to a consensus in philosophy today, Ael. So why have you come here?"
Aelfric's mustache twitched before he took the hint. "I have proposed a meeting between all thirteen of us. There are some issues that need to be brought to attention….."
Aeber didn't miss the flash of hardness in his eyes.
…..
"Why? Why are you doing this?!"
Mooneater deflected the Graceful Dahlia, but not without sending Aeber flying backwards, crashing out of the laboratory and into the hot sunlight.
The air stung of betrayal, sorrow, and grim determination. Aeber wheezed as he tried to right himself, shaking wood chips, plant matter, and unknown liquid out of long locks.
"I'm doing what needs to be done, Aeber." $& #%& said as he stepped out of the wreckage. "Your speed, mobility, and natural luck will be a great aid to my cause. You should be honored. Out of all my elder siblings, I respected you the most. That's why you will be the first sacrifice of twelve." His voice lacked any emotion but a distant hunger. It was cold and unsettling like the domain the god commanded.
Aeber rubbed his chest in a futile attempt to stop the golden blood from flowing out of the angry red line the legendary weapon gave him.
"I trusted you moreso than anyone else." Aeber spat out in mock imitation of his younger brother's voice. "I know what it's like to be an outcast; to stand in another's shadow. For what reason have you stooped to madness?"
The scythe swung and a huge blade of fire came from it. Aeber leaped out of the way. He watched in abject horror as the magic cleaved through the entire region. The fire turned black and consumed everything in its path. Plants, animals, and humans lost their lives in an unforgivable flash. The souls of the deceased flowed into their taker, making him even more powerful than he was a moment ago, the mana inside him rising to unseen levels.
"You should do that party trick you favor and pull the coins out of your ears, maybe then you can listen to the words I speak. Like I said, I'm doing what needs to be done. Not a single of us stand a chance as we are…but if I consume everything, I could carve out a fighting chance, then afterward I will rebuild everything anew—if I see fit."
"You've gone crazy! Do you really think you can save everyone by killing them?!"
Aeber dodged another wide slash and countered back with a dark magic slash of his own that was effortlessly deflected away.
"I can and I will, Aeber." his younger brother said with icy certainty. "To provide life for future generations, the death of this one is necessary. That includes you."
"I agree that death is a part of life, no matter how our siblings might feel about it. Though to slaughter everyone for your personal gain is wrong. That is a path no one should go down. Be it your domain or not. Even if we face a threat beyond our capabilities like we will in the future. The corruption already spreads in you." Aeber readied his sword in his offhand. His body cackled with purple energy.
"Sorry, brother, I must put an end to you here. I will grieve eternally after you are gone."
"If you deign it that simple, then have at you. I shall prove the righteous of my way, no matter the cost!"
Wasting no more words, Aeber jumped into the air, spun, and brought his sword down on the scythe ready to block.
A shockwave that could be heard and felt throughout the Orsterra region came as a result of their clash.
…..
The metal felt cool underneath Aeber's touch. The gate was made of that and twisted bone, now marked forever as a symbol of evil. Ironically, named after their father Finis.
Beside him, Aelfric stood. The other ten gods were also scattered around Hornburg, trying to recover as much as they could from the battle that took place, whether their wounds were grievous or minor. Though Dohter, Draefendi, and Steorra remained close to the twin brothers who emerged as de-facto leaders in the tragedy they had just lived through.
Aeber felt a hand on his shoulder he looked over and saw that Aelfric eyes swam with just as much if not more emotion than his. They had shared the strongest relationship with the now-fallen god.
"We did the right thing," Aelfric said softly. "The power corrupted him. He would have consumed all of existence until he was satisfied. In his quest to help us, he became exactly what we're fighting against."
Aeber retracted his hand from the door and let it fall loosely to his side. Wordlessly, he left Aelfric behind to go sit near his consorts.
…..
"Steorra."
"Hmm?"
The goddess in question turned away from her live mural of the night sky. Her hair, different shades of blue shimmered as she faced him, like the stars in the sky. Aeber's mouth went dry as he tried to put into words what he was going to say.
"I have to tell you. We've decided. You, Bal, Dre, and Winnie will stay behind while the rest of us go to Solistia."
He immediately held his hands in front of his face fearing retribution.
"I figured as much….That something like this was coming." came her soft voice. Aeber dropped his hand to see that she had gone over to the numerous star charts on the tables in her workshop. "I assume they sent you because of our preexisting relationship?"
Aeber let out a soft grunt of agreement.
"Then I can further assume Brand went to inform Winnehild. Alephan to Dreisang. And Aelfric himself to Balogar. Correct?"
Lightly chuckling, Aeber went over to stand next to her as she poured over symbols, mathematical formulas, and ruins that went over his head.
"Yes, as always. But the question is, was that your natural genius or your star reading?"
"A little of both," she replied, not missing a beat as she walked over to another table and set of maps and tools. "The nights are growing longer, Aeber."
"That's a good thing for my kind, I say," Aeber said, putting his hands behind his head carefreely. "Besides it happens every year. It's called fall and winter. Then the light returns and the night wanes in the spring and summer."
"Your jokes aren't funny."
"That wasn't what you said last week."
Steorra slammed her hand on the desk as she glared at him. "This is serious, Aeber! Aelfric was right….. $& #%& was right….It's coming, every minute we lose from the day is a harbinger of what's to come. We're almost out of time…" her voice lapsed into being brittle and shaky.
Aeber walked over and gathered her in his arms, and she let her head fall on his shoulder. "I'm not as ignorant as I act. Aelfric is my twin brother for a reason. Anything he hears, I hear, and vice versa, no matter how opposite we may be. We're leaving because Solistia is the Land of the Dawn. No better place for a confrontation."
"I'm scared….." she admitted. "My foresight isn't working like it's supposed to. Everything is clouded. I'm afraid….I'm afraid I might lose any of my siblings….I might lose you. It's bad enough we lost $& #%&, I can't lose you too! I don't know what I would do…."
Aeber held her tighter. "Two things. One, if you can't see the future, then we'll just forge our own. Second, I won't be shallow here; It's better we die than the mortals, they never asked for this. We made this world; we have to defend it." Aeber heard her start crying. Her tears fell on his bare chest and turned to precious stones and ore. "I can say I'll do my damnedest to make sure as many of us as possible make it home."
Steorra wrapped her hands around his back and held to him for dear life, now openly sobbing.
"Please! Please come back!"
…..
Pain.
Pain was all he knew.
He was on death's doorstep.
They all were.
Golden ichor painted the ground of Vidania. The infernal island that rose when that being finally made a foothold, spitting on their best efforts to keep it at bay. Mocking their attempts to resist.
The sky was purple with miasma forcing an endless night that spanned across both Solistia and Orrstera. Not even Sealticge and Steorra could get rid of it.
The darkness that descended was stronger than even his younger brother could hope to achieve.
A reverberating yell accompanied the wide arc of the red sword beam from Brand that slashed through the veil. It was swiftly followed by arrows of light, courtesy of Draefendi. A trio of spells containing fire, ice and lightning in perfect harmony came next thanks to Alephan.
"Aeber, go!" Brand shouted at him.
Aeber clenched Mooneater and poured magic into both it and his legs. He lunged at the formless monstrosity. He was moving so fast that to the outside eye, it appeared he had split into multiple copies. Each version of him slashed at every inch of the outsider they could reach. His body was pulling itself apart to perform his signature move Reckoning.
No matter how fast he moved and how many copies he pumped out….it wasn't enough.
Eventually, he ran out of steam and his duplicates vanished.
He managed to clear the darkness away and he caught a glimpse of the red core at the center. Their first ever.
"Alephan, Aelfric! Hit it now!"
It came at a cost.
Aeber felt something cold and sharp pass through him, and he heard Draefendi scream.
He looked down slowly and saw a writhing purple tentacle almost like a branch protruding from his stomach. His heart fell, the intense weight of the shock falling on him.
He looked up and saw Alephan had closed his eyes. He was holding his grimoire so hard it was tearing at the seams.
Brand had his jaw clenched shut.
Bifelgan let out a helpless whimper.
Sealticge and Draefendi had tears in their eyes.
Aeber gave a cough and ichor spilled from his mouth all over the tentacle and his kilt. He grasped the appendage as if he could slide off it to no avail. The tentacle rose, taking the god with it, his legs kicking weakly, helplessly as they left the ground.
The tentacle tilted up and Aeber was unable to stop himself from falling further, widening the wound of his impalement, a bloody gurgle involuntarily escaping his lips.
Powerless, Aeber was flung away, and with a hard thud and a wet squelch, he felt and saw that he landed at someone's feet.
That someone was Aelfric.
"And the first one falls…." An ethereal voice echoed all around them.
Aeber paid no attention to it as he struggled to turn his head to face his twin, ichor pooling around him.
"B-B-Broth—"
"Save your strength…." Aelfric said, unable to keep his voice steady. "Dohter, can you heal him?"
Dohter stood over him next, her face bore a doctor's grim acceptance as she placed her hand on his chest. Sealticge gripped her shoulder in comfort, saltwater freely pouring from her eyes.
In the background, Brand and Draefendi fought with renewed fierceness amidst the empty laughter of the enemy. Alephan and Bifelgan's explosions accentuated every yell of the two warriors.
Aeber clasped his hand over hers. "I know….it's t-t-too late for me…but I have no regrets... I-I love you and Drae…and Orra"
Dohter's normally stoic face in the heat of battle or treatment, started to crumble as the feeling of hot tears on his body was the only thing staving off the coldness of death that was starting to claim him.
Aeber knew he had seconds remaining, a minute or two if he was lucky. His vision was starting to go dark.
He reached out his remaining hand towards his twin brother. He had one last gambit to cash in.
Aelfric grabbed his hand realizing what he was doing. He had been no happier to have had a twin. Words were unnecessary between them.
His remaining magic filtered to his brother.
"I leave…..the rest….to you….."
"Heh, that sad look on your face doesn't suit you, Ael." Aeber thought to himself. "Your face should be hard, that of a leader who can carry on. Not wasting tears on your miscreant brother."
As if hearing his thoughts, Aelfric's face tightened up, a determined unflinching light in his eyes. It was tempered and honed by the addition of Aeber's shadow.
Light and Dark.
Opposites working in harmony.
A last snarky grin graced Aeber's lips.
Aeber's eyes began to close for the final time. A break sounded nice. He had been running himself ragged for years on end to set things up. He was confident the others could pick up the slack.
He could feel a last kiss being pressed to his lips and heard Dohter's sniffling as his consciousness slipped away.
…..
Ren gasped as he came back too and fell on his hands and knees. His body…felt different. Like a switch had been installed inside him.
"I saw…I saw…" he said between heaving breaths.
Yes. You have seen my past. The parts I remember vividly.
Wearily, Ren picked his head up and saw that Aeber had returned to his original pose.
"How—How did you end up here?"
I cannot say. I can only assume it had something to do with Aelfric. He might have built this statue in my honor after the battle concluded. A part of my spirit has always slumbered in this statue, but regaining awareness is a recent development.
Ren managed to pull himself up to his feet and sighed. "Anyways, I owe you my thanks for sharing that. Even including your last moments. It must've been hard. My condolences." Ren said bowing at the waist.
If it's for the greater good, then I do not mind bearing a little pain. Gods are supposed to take the burden before the mortals. If it were up to me your kind would not have to deal with this and be left to your own decisions and conundrums.
Certainly, he had seen enough of Aeber's memories to get a good grasp of who he was, but Ren still found himself flabbergasted. Yaldobath, Emma, and from what he heard of Izanami, claimed to serve the people but ultimately followed their personal agendas and desires while trying to browbeat mortals by saying 'It's for the good of everyone'.
"That….means a lot….more than you know."
A feeling that the god nodded entered Ren's mind.
Thank you, young thief. Now we have more to discuss. I have not just imparted my memories to you, but also my power. Normally if you were my champion, I would unlock your hidden potential. You, young thief, have none—At least in our world's terms. I've granted you the knowledge to use the skills common thieves make use of. Also, most importantly, I've passed on knowledge of how to perform my signature skill: Reckoning. Or as my brother liked to call it: Reckless.
The images of the Aeber's pure speed ripping foes and monsters apart like butter while wearing a cocky smile. Speed alongside tempered skill sometimes proved more deadly than anything the Warrior God or Scholar King could produce.
Reckoning is a skill that does more damage the faster you are. It works best with knives and daggers, but I've executed it with swords as well, which I notice you lack…
Ren shifted under the implied leer at the end of his explanation. His tone was similar to a boss scolding a lackey. Considering it was an actual god of thieves, Ren felt the tiniest bit of embarrassment. In the mindscape, Raoul laughed at him. Many a discussion was had about him more permanently using a more sword-like weapon such as a cane.
"Well…it just wasn't my style," Ren said, blushing and scratching his cheek. "I decided to leave it to my comrades Fox and Violet. No need to have three people using swords."
I disagree. Me and my siblings overlapped weapon usage a lot. It saves on resources and promotes flexibility and learning in styles. As a thief, flexibility should be your priority. An area I can tell you take pride in.
Ren could somehow tell he was gesturing to the gun in his holster and Raoul. The persona in question now letting loose gut-busting laughing as he held his stomach. He wouldn't live this down anytime soon. Ren looked away sheepishly, and when he came back to Aeber, he now had his arms crossed.
To not learn other weapons is purposefully stifling your potential. If you are to make use of the other's abilities, I suggest you start practicing or you'll be carrying water to the sea.
"I'll keep that in mind. Now what's this about the other gods?"
I request that you seek out my siblings. In order to combat what's to come, you will need their power. Their memories may also provide more information that mine lacks.
"Admittedly your memories do have some holes that need to be plugged, metal mouth. I still don't know who you were up against, much less how the other gods won." Ren then pointed a thumb toward the outside of the cave. "Who is the closest if you don't mind me asking?"
That would be my twin brother. He's to the northwest, in the Crestlands, near a waterfall. I can feel his exact presence compared to everyone else. We've always been close, even after death that fact remains. However, I would advise you to visit him last.
"Why so?"
My brother is my polar opposite. Upon seeing a being from a world beyond ours, where I see opportunity–He sees a new threat. He would be unlikely if not impossible to listen to you and recognize you unless you have the support of the other six.
"What happens if I go to him regardless of meeting everyone?" Ren asked. The light flickered and when Ren refocused on the god, Aeber stood in his most menacing pose yet. Hair spread up and around him like a spirit, a scowl etched on his face. Ren thought the worst part was that they were now nose-to-nose.
He retains more power than the rest of do in this state. He will smite you. His light will leave naught of you but ash. If not, he will signal the clergy to descend on your location. If you think those 'Reapers' you saw were bad; my brother is exponentially worse.
Ren's face went pale, and he leaned back at the mention of light. He had no way to stand up to that for now.
"Good information to have at least," Raoul said shivering as well.
Ren nodded in agreement, then spoke attempting to change the subject. "If 'ole Gandalf is out, then who's next closest?" The torches went out and back on again. Aeber had gone back to his confused/thoughtful position.
Gandalf?
"Sorry, otherworld joke."
Hmmm. Alephan and Draefandi are roughly equal distance away. North and South of me in the Winterlands and Toto'haha respectively. Bifelgan is the closest on the next continent….in the Wildlands. Sealticge, Brand, and Dohter are outside of my range of notice other than west sadly. I cannot tell where they are specifically. Probably a security measure of my brother's.
"….You've given me basically no information whatsoever….."
What is an adventure if not for exploration?
"Very true," Ren said, a timbre of appreciation in his voice.
Ever since he had awakened to Raoul. He always had a desire to explore and reach new heights. Being simply handed the answers would take the fun out of the journey. Ren could see that it held true for Aeber as well. Even Morgana tended to go missing from time to time, so maybe it was a thief thing.
Is there any more you would like to ask, young thief?
"Nothing that I wouldn't be able to discover on my own."
Another blink and Aeber had returned to his original position once more. Ren noted that he looked more majestic than when he first came into the cave.
A last word then, the knowledge I've imparted to you, is free to use as you see fit. If you wish to teach them to a companion, or even take them back to your homeland then so be it. Now go forth young thief, no, young traveler, and see the world!
"Can do Mr. God of cave statues. And when I find Dohter and Draefendi, I'll let them know you still love them."
Ren received no response in return.
Curiously he inspected the statue and even hit it with his gun. He no longer sensed any signs of life nor did the statue give off any.
The torches on the outside ring had dimmed and gone out, leaving the natural light that came from both ends of the cave as the main source of light.
Sighing, Ren spun on his heel and walked back to the boat of ice he had left nearby.
"I daresay he wasn't at all within expectations," Raoul said as Ren stepped in the boat, sat down, and pushed off using the ice oar.
"I wonder if his siblings are anything like him. Or is selflessness Aeber-specific? Aelfric strikes me as a little paranoid."
"It was never stated explicitly in his memories, but Aelfric was clearly the leader of the bunch."
Ren hummed in thought as he rowed. "Either way, we should check in at the Velvet Room. Elizabeth would be interested in the info we've found."
"Ah, time for you to face the music…..And I thought Aeber scolding you was amusing."
Groaning, he decreased his rowing speed a tad. Not eager at all to face Elizabeth's teasing.
—X—
Aeber watched silently as the man left, conversing with the demons in his head no doubt.
A lie by omission, but the exchange of memory went both ways. Call him cautious but just because he saw potential, didn't mean he could hand him the keys to the mansion for free.
All things must be paid in equal exchange. A favorite saying of Bifelgan's.
Aeber saw Ren Amamiya's struggle in the unfair board game of supernatural entities.
He saw the man's battle against the false gods, a man drowning in sorrow who usurped the power of a god, and even a real god in a memory long sealed away. Images of others who had made it their purpose to fight against God-like beings.
It disgusted him that blessed divinity could fall so far once power was given to them. A perversion of the mortal's wishes.
He had already marked the man as a curiosity before, but to find he wielded the power of a fallen god as his own was…...shocking. To see a human and God so in sync in both will and desire….It honestly made him feel like he had to work harder. Even if he was dead.
That's why he gave him the ability of the thief class. Originally it was only the knowledge of his past, seeing his memories changed that.
The power of persona…..The power of the wildcard.
How wondrous.
His power would propagate and add to that. And then spread to others.
The potential was truly endless.
His only regret came from the fact he wouldn't be able to see it in person.
His soul left the statue and floated up. Another lie by omission, but he wasn't necessarily limited to his statue. It was simply a mouthpiece. The only one at that. It was more accurate to say this part of his soul was affixed to the Brightlands as a whole. That's how he was able to set up tests, bend time a bit, and make his brief appearance.
Another piece of his soul was sealed away in Oresterra and a piece sat in unison with Aelfric's in the Crestlands. A final piece was somewhere that was clouded even from him.
He could sense his siblings as their attention sat on things in their territories that bordered his. Aelfric's restlessness. Alephan's curiosity. Bifelgan's calculating patience. And most heartbreakingly, Draefendi's sorrow. His lover just out of reach. Their borders right next to each other. A window that could be seen through but never opened.
Time would reveal how they would react to the trickster's presence. Not to mention their chosen champions. Dohter's and his own had already crossed paths with him.
Ren Amamiya and Raoul.
A blue butterfly flying around his statue caught his attention and Aeber smiled as it landed on the shoulder.
He wondered in excitement how far Ren Amamiya's journey would go.
That brings a close to the first arc. The Brightlands arc. Woot-woot.
Yep, I decided to make Aeber a Chad. I'm not going to lie; I had fun doing it. Writing the rise and fall of Aeber is something I enjoyed putting together because even in the end, he regretted nothing and lived how he pleased. *hint*
I'm also proud to say the other gods will be getting their time in the spotlight as well. Each one has a piece of the puzzle, Ren has to find them and put them together.
I know there's a specific order where the gods die as seen in Temenos Chapter 2 but it's a very remote line where we get the full order. For the most part, Aelfric survives, and Dohter is the last one to die, before her it's Alephan and before him it's Sealticge. So I took some liberties and played with the order a bit. Aeber dies first. Rest In Peace you Chad of a god.
Next time we'll kick off an…interlude arc before things really kick into gear. The amount of chapters is unknown but it covers background details we wouldn't see otherwise. This includes of course non-Ren characters, some of which may surprise you.
In short you caught up with everything I've written so far.
As a result this story will be taking a month or so break so I can effectively plot it and get the chapter stock up. I want to at least have 5 in reserve if not the whole arc.