Carmen Dei 24: In the Presence of Mine Enemies
Beta'd and Edited by October Daye, The Grand Cogitator, Dr_Feelgood, and Philosophysics.
There had been many terrifying moments in Naomi's life in the past few years. Coming face to face with an Angel of the Lord for the first time. Facing down literal Nazis in an all out battle for survival. Then battling against an Endbringer, and thinking she was definitely going to die.
Frankly, none of them had even come close to what she had to do now. She glanced at Capri and squeezed her wife's hand, hard.
"I can knock if you want me to," Capri said quietly.
"No," Naomi said firmly, raising her hand. "I'll do it." She rapped hard, three times. And braced herself.
A minute or so later, the door swung open and a sense of relief flooded through Naomi as a smile bloomed on her face. "Hello, Papa. How are you?"
Moshe Cohen blinked owlishly in the sunlight for a moment, his eyes large behind his oversized spectacles. He'd aged greatly in the years since Naomi had last seen him, and it broke her heart she hadn't been there to see it. He was balder now, with thin wisps of hair poking out from a liver-spotted scalp. And he looked… withered. Tired. As if age had finally caught up with him. He was in his late 50s, but the last few years hadn't been kind to him.
For a horrible, heart wrenching moment, Naomi saw only confusion in her father's eyes. Would he not recognize her? Or worse, if he did, would he reject her? She hadn't called ahead, hadn't even known her parent's number, or their address. But Venti had. He'd told her where to go, and when, and she'd gone. Now, if only he'd told her want to say.
Then a smile bloomed on her father's face, and Moshe tottered forward to wrap Naomi in a warm embrace. "Naomi! My prodigal daughter returns!" He beamed up at her, which was new. Age had shrunken him, and he had a stoop that hadn't been there before, making him shorter than she was. He kissed her on both cheeks though, and she blushed and smiled.
"I… I don't know if you got the wedding announcement, but-"
"I'm Capri. Her wife." Capri pushed herself forward and did her best to smile. "You remember? You, uh, caught us in bed together that one time…"
"Ah, yes." Moshe looked Capri up and down, and Naomi felt like she was going to be sick again. Then her father leaned forward and asked, "Did you kill as many of those paskudnik Nazis as I heard?"
Taken slightly aback, Capri grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "Well, I mean, you sort of lose count after your first dozen or so, but really it's probably not as many as they say."
Moshe beamed and clapped Capri on the shoulders before hugging her as well. "I always dreamed my daughter would marry a big strong one who could chop up Nazis! I always dreamed about it as a boy. Come inside, come inside, please!"
Her father hurried ahead of them, and Naomi took a deep breath, then stepped across the threshold, Capri right behind her.
It was a luxurious penthouse condo in downtown Tel Aviv, one of the wealthiest spots in the city. The decor screamed her mother, but not in the way Naomi would have expected. Instead of fashionable postmodernist art on the walls, there were more traditional wall hangings and landscape pictures, and unless Naomi's art education failed her entirely, they were very expensive pieces. The brutalist furniture that Naomi had grown up with had been replaced with old hardwoods, and the fixtures were made of silver and bronze.
Still extremely expensive, but embracing the past instead of the future. Odd, but not entirely unexpected. Her mother had always been a bit of a chameleon in her tastes, and apparently this was the fashionable way in Tel Aviv to show off that one was a woman of wealth and taste. The one thing that hadn't changed was the wine selection: the very best French and Italian vintages, stored on a wooden rack in the kitchen.
On the one hand, Naomi was glad Venti wasn't here to plunder it. On the other, she rather relished the thought of her personal angel drinking his way through the most expensive bottles her mother could find the same as he would box wine from Germany.
Her father bustled about a bit fixing a meal and chattering away about nothing as was his habit. Naomi only half heard him as she nervously looked around for her mother, but she was nowhere to be seen. It still felt like someone was staring at the back of Naomi's head and sent shivers down her spine, but she smiled and nodded and responded as her father inquired about her "career", mostly letting Capri do the talking.
"I mean, basically we just road trip around Europe and play at dive bars in between taking out the occasional fascist asshole," Capri said with a shrug as her father came back with a plate of expensive cheeses, dates, and some crackers.
"I read about what you did in Hungary. Was the Prime Minister really sleeping with his aide?" Moshe asked, taking a seat at the table.
Naomi nodded and grimaced. "Yes, he was quite the hypocrite. All that homophobic rhetoric, and the man had half a dozen male lovers."
"You can find pics online, or you could. Venti said something about them not being appropriate for Buer, whatever that means," Capri said, taking a handful of dates and popping them in her mouth.
Her father chuckled and nodded, then turned serious. He took off his glasses, wiping them on his sleeve, a gesture he always made when he had something important to say and wanted to stall for time. Still holding his glasses in his left hand, he squinted at Naomi and said, "I wanted you to know… your mother and I still love you. And… and I give my blessing on your marriage."
Tears filled Naomi's eyes, and she felt like her heart would burst as she took her father's right hand and squeezed it. "Thank you. Does… does mother…?"
Her father cleared his throat and put his glasses back on. "She is… well. You know. She does love you, but, well… she is stubborn."
Dabbing at her eyes, Naomi had to laugh, because the other option was to break down in sobs. "And she still expects grandchildren, and for me to graduate from school, and become a well respected singer or actress that headlines at all the big theaters."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, she's decided you are a well respected musician now. She was very proud when you won Eurovision last year. She had a party for the event, and told everyone you were her daughter," her father said, giving her a lopsided grin.
"And that wasn't even our best performance," Capri said with a grin, reaching for more food. Naomi's father glanced at her curiously, and she clarified, "We didn't even save any cities with that performance. Munich is a hell of a concert to top."
"Ah, true," Moshe agreed. He peered at Naomi and Capri, then frowned. "Have you been eating enough? You both look so thin…"
"She doesn't eat enough, but check out these guns!" Capri quipped, flexing her arm and showing off her biceps. Naomi did have a healthy appreciation for her wife's muscles, but her doing that in front of Moshe was still embarrassing.
Moshe, being an academic who Naomi was fairly certain had never worked out a day in his life, made appreciative noises and commented on how they should be eating more. That was usually a role reserved for the matriarch, but he'd been the one to cook for as long as Naomi could remember. Her mother's idea of cooking was to order takeout. Which was one reason Naomi prided herself on her culinary ability, meager though it was.
Just then, Naomi sensed a shift in the wind, and turned towards the door. She'd learned to recognize when Venti was coming by how his very presence affected the Anemo energy in the area, and she opened her mouth to warn her father that they were about to be visited by a messenger from the Lord. If a somewhat rumpled and irreverent one.
Then the door opened and Naomi froze as her mother stepped inside, accompanied by a chattering Venti, who for once was dressed respectably in a nice suit and tie, even if they were green.
Her eyes, however, locked on her mother. If her father had aged badly, her mother had, of course, aged like a fine wine. She looked like a woman a decade younger than she was, which meant that she probably could have been mistaken for Naomi's sister instead of her mother. Her auburn hair was longer than Naomi remembered it, and done up in a rather conservative headscarf. In fact, everything about her mother screamed "conservative", from her ankle length skirt to her choice of fabrics; clearly a single type instead of a mixture of fibers that most modern clothing used.
She was still done up in exquisite makeup and dressed in clothes and jewelry that cost more than Naomi made in a year (not counting bar tabs), so it was definitely her mother.
"Moshe!? Moshe, you'll never believe who-" her mother called, hurrying into the kitchen. Then her eyes fell on Naomi, and Leah Cohen pulled up short, her lips forming into a wide "O."
Venti quietly took off his hat and hung it on the hat rack, then grinned at Naomi and slouched against the doorframe, hands in his suit pockets.
Slowly, Naomi stood up, then tugged Capri up behind her. She thought she'd be trembling at this moment, but instead, her hands were firm, and her voice steady. "Mother. It's been a while."
"It has," Leah managed, her normally melodious voice hoarse and raspy, to the point where she had to cough.
"This is my wife, Capri Cohen," Naomi said firmly, pulling Capri forward slightly.
"Uh, hi, Mrs. Cohen," Capri managed, looking awkward again as she rubbed unconsciously at the Vision on her hip.
"I see you've met my angel, Venti, also known as Lord Barbatos," Naomi continued. "We were in the area, and I wanted to-"
"Isn't it Barbados?" her mother corrected. "Yes, I think it's Barbados. That's what's on the news."
Naomi very nearly screamed. It was always like this. Nothing she ever did was good enough. Her mother always had to correct her.
"No, it's Barbatos," Naomi said firmly. "That's a common misconception. Barbados is a country. Barbatos was mentioned in the Ars Goetia, though it got a few details wrong, such as him being a servant of the Lord instead of a demon."
"Well, I've always heard Barbados," Leah sniffed.
Closing her eyes, Naomi took a deep breath. "And I'm not here to argue. I wanted to give you a chance to meet your daughter-in-law while we were in Tel Aviv. And to tell you and Papa that I love you both. But now we've got work to do. If you'll excuse us."
Then Naomi walked stiffly towards the door. Back straight, arms relaxed, feet perfectly placed as she walked with all the grace her training as a dancer and the wind lent her.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Leah demanded, trying to block Naomi's way. It was very, very tempting to just slap her. Naomi had dreamed about that before she'd gained a Vision. Now it felt like bullying a child. A petulant child who'd needed correction long ago.
But she didn't.
"To Baghdad. There's a little girl who needs our help, and we have a world to save. I'm afraid we have to leave," Naomi said, feeling as though she were in the audience watching this same tired drama play out the same way it had a hundred times before.
"So you just leave?!" Leah demanded, trying to seize Naomi's arm. She moved at the same pace she always had, and Naomi was so much faster now, especially with the winds whispering to her of every subtle motion around her.
"Leah! She is-"
"She is not leaving!" Leah snapped as Naomi headed towards the door. Then her mother's voice broke. "Not until… not until she gives her mother a hug."
Something cracked inside of Naomi. The clay jar she had kept all of her very complicated emotions regarding her mother bundled up in, so that she could keep on living. She slowly turned, already misty eyed, to find her mother shaking, her own eyes wet.
"My baby girl," her mother whispered. "I haven't seen you… in so long… please. Just… just stay a moment longer?" Then, Leah spread her arms wide.
And sobbing, Naomi stepped into them as more than twenty years of pent up emotions burst forth for both women.
After that, there was nothing to do but to stay for supper. Her father and Capri left for the groceries to pick up some lamb, while Venti mentioned something about needing some fresh air. Not before he took a bottle of wine as a gift from Leah, which Naomi was certain would vanish in short order.
That left her alone with her mother. It was just as painful as she'd feared. But somehow, she'd needed it.
"So. You married a woman," her mother said as soon as they were alone.
"Yes," Naomi said, and left it at that.
Her mother's mouth thinned, but then she glanced at the door. She was quiet for a moment, then asked in a small voice, "Is he really an angel of the Lord?"
Naomi digested that for a moment. Then she said, "Do you know how in the Torah, whenever an angel appears, they always tell those to whom they appear not to be afraid?"
"Yes, of course. But Venti didn't seem all that frightening to me," Leah sniffed.
"That's because you met Venti. Not Barbatos," Naomi said, recalling their first meeting, and unable to suppress a shudder. "When he unveiled himself before us… I suddenly understood why everyone threw themselves to the ground in fear and awe. Mother, he was terrifying. And it was all because…" Naomi had to swallow and take a deep breath. "I showed him a book on the Holocaust. When you read about the Anger of the Lord, and when you see it… I think he was ready to tear apart every Nazi in Europe with his bare hands. And he could have done it, too."
"Hmm. Well, he did destroy the Gesselschaft, and slay Khonsu," her mother said slowly. "He just… he seems so ordinary."
"Yes, and it's why I love him," Naomi admitted.
Her mother instantly brightened, and Naomi sighed heavily. "Not like that, mother. I married Capri, not Venti. But he is my angel, and I serve Hashem through him. Though he rather doesn't like it when I say that."
"Well, since he's supposedly an angel, perhaps you could ask him about grandchildren," Leah sniffed.
There was frosty silence for several minutes, until Leah finally caved. That was interesting, in the past, it had always been Naomi who couldn't stand her mother's wintery silences.
"Well, I must say, I saw you in Eurovision, and you were lovely! I had all my friends over for the party. Even the Prime Minister called me to congratulate me on your victory! It was in all the papers for weeks!" Leah burbled, finally able to talk about something she loved: Herself.
"I heard you were still headlining at the Habima. Is father still managing the back?"
"Oh, yes, well, I'm currently in the role of Tanya in Mama Mia, but that's not what we're talking about," Leah said dismissively, surprising Naomi. Her mother always did love to talk about her roles, or better yet, how much better she was than her co-stars.
"Oh? What were we talking about?" Naomi asked, confused.
"Your career! Why, Naomi, your songs are the most popular in all the shows, and on the radio! Though I have to say, you really should insist you sing more. Capri's voice isn't bad, and well, Venti's is simply divine, but you've got a wonderful voice! I want to hear you sing when I listen to one of the Tone Deaf Bard's songs! And really, you need to do more live shows. And talk to your producer. You can't honestly tell me you sold all the rights to your songs for a single case of beer."
Naomi flushed at that. "Ah, it was slightly more than that…" It had been 'as much beer as you could carry' which had amounted to about an entire pallet's worth.
"Well good, I wouldn't want my daughter to be a pauper," her mother said with one of her patented sniffs. "You'll need something once you settle down."
"I'm already married, mother. And I do not think grandchildren likely," Naomi said, suppressing a sigh.
"Well, perhaps you can adopt," her mother said after a pregnant pause.
Naomi considered that. That wasn't the life she had chosen, but, well, it was progress as far as her mother went. "Maybe. When the world is at peace."
"Mmm. Though I am glad Venti is finally taking his place in Israel. That girl in Baghdad has me worried. They say that they've gotten rid of that horrible dictator Saddam, but Farasha is still there, and that girl is a monster," Leah said with a shudder.
Naomi opened her mouth to argue by reflex, then slowly closed it and nodded. Farasha was a monster, and no mistake. But Venti didn't seem to think they were going to Iraq to depose a tyrant. Instead, he acted as though he were going to visit an old friend.
"I'm not sure why we're going to Iraq, mother. But Buer-"
"Who?" Leah asked, frowning.
"Nahida," Naomi clarified. Venti did insist on calling her Buer, which was again a name found in Ars Goetia. When pressed, he simply said it was Nahida's version of Barbatos, and that she was the heir of Samiel, which didn't explain much of anything. "Anyway, she's the Dendro Archon. And she saved a city from the Simurgh."
"An Arab city," her mother said, making a face.
"A city full of people, mother," Naomi insisted. "Munich was full of Germans. Was I wrong to help save it? Even Sodom and Gomorrah were spared while one righteous man remained."
"Hmph," her mother said. "Well, when you're done with that, perhaps you can move back to Israel."
Naomi considered telling her mother that Venti had made it fairly clear he wasn't the Archon of Israel, but of Central Europe, and while he would never prevent Naomi and Capri from leaving his side… she couldn't imagine ever doing so willingly. Nor settling in a land not overseen by the Angel of Freedom. Maybe one day there would be an Archon for Israel, but that didn't seem right.
"I'll ask Nahida about it," she promised.
Her mother seemed incredulous at that, but thankfully that was about the time the door opened.
"-no yowling, and the furniture is intact! Thanks be to Hashem, He who created heaven and the earth, my wife and daughter got along!" her father said.
Capri hurried in with a large sack of groceries, her eyes meeting Naomi's and giving her a quick "are you alright" look.
Naomi just smiled and nodded, and went to help with the cooking. Her mother sat at the table and popped open a bottle of wine, which seemed to be the magic way to summon Venti, because he returned just in time for dinner, without the bottle he'd been given.
"Just had a lovely conversation with a few boys and girls in black suits and sunglasses. They were a bit surprised to see me, but I assured them I was just passing through. I am, after all, but a humble bard!" Venti laughed. "Mmm, this is delicious, my compliments to the chef!"
"We're humbled that you would grace our table," Leah said, looking quite excited. Naomi was certain she would be telling anyone who would listen that she'd dined with the Angel of Munich. Though to be fair, that was how a lot of people reacted.
"And grateful you've looked after our daughters," Moshe added, squeezing Naomi and Capri's hands.
"Daughters?" Leah asked, looking perplexed for a moment. There was a soft thump, and her face reddened, and Naomi's jaw dropped. Had her father just kicked her mother under the table?
"Oh, yes, daughters. Well, as long as you make sure Naomi gets a chance to be the lead singer for a few shows. You and Capri are quite talented, but Naomi is classically trained, you know," Leah blathered.
It was, all in all, far from the worst family dinner Naomi had attended.
"Are you sure you won't spend the night? You could have the guest bedroom, and Master Venti our bedroom," Moshe offered once dinner was cleaned up.
"We've far to go ere the day dawns," Venti said with a smile and a wink. "I got the lads in sunglasses to loan me a car, and a full tank of gas! It'll be interesting crossing the Jordanian border, but it took us a whole day to get here as it is!"
Naomi gave her father one last hug, and gingerly embraced her mother. To her surprise, Leah squeezed her tightly, and hugged Capri as well. "Be safe. And come back to us. We never did get to share the stage together properly."
"I will," Naomi promised. Though not the sharing the stage part. That sounded like a nightmare.
It was evening, and to Naomi's surprise, Venti did indeed have a battered old Nissa Versa waiting outside for them.
"Where did you find this hunk of junk?" Capri asked, lifting the hood and peering inside. She fiddled a bit, then shrugged and slammed it down. "Well, it looks like it works, but I'll have to start it up. We got a spare?"
"In the trunk," Venti assured her. "Don't worry about it! It's only 12 hours to Baghdad."
"Yeah, if no one gets screwy along the way. Jordan isn't too bad, but what the hell do you think the Iraqis will think of a gypsy, a jew, and an Archon rolling up on the border?" Capri demanded, taking the keys from Venti.
"Relax! And take us to a hotel first, I'm much too tired for a road trip tonight," Venti yawned.
Capri chuckled and did as she was told, even as Naomi gave Venti a heartfelt, "Thank you."
"Thank me? I'm not the one paying for our hotel!" Venti laughed, and Naomi groaned.
"Eh, we'll just call Cookie. She can put it on our tab. She owes us something for that stupid card game making money hand over fist," Capri commented and drove off to the nearest run-down motel.
The road trip across Israel, Jordan, and most of Iraq hadn't taken 12 hours, but rather closer to a week, and had involved a lot more side trips and sightseeing than Naomi had expected. Venti had played the gleeful tourist for a whole day and a half in Jerusalem before heading to Jordan, where they performed at several small venues in disguise before making their way into Iraq. There, Venti spent a lot of time stopping in small villages and simply walking around and trying new foods between jam sessions with local musicians.
It was, in fact, a completely ordinary week for the Tone Deaf Bards, but Naomi was a bit baffled by the complete lack of urgency. Capri was irritated at first, then mildly bemused and finally fatalistic.
"Well, whatever. It's not like we have an appointment," she sighed. "The real joke is there's hardly any booze, and Venti hasn't gone into withdrawals."
It was rather uncomfortable whenever someone realized Naomi was Jewish, but thankfully nothing happened, aside from a few sour looks. Old animosities died hard, and Naomi wasn't exactly a big fan of Arabs herself. She tried not to give in to the old hatreds, but it was hard. These were the same people who had persecuted her people until there was no choice but to flee to Israel. It was a thorny web to untangle, but Naomi had hope. If this Nahida was anything like Venti, and based on what had been happening in Baghdad over the last few days it seemed she was, Naomi hoped there might be peace after all.
And so, it wasn't until November 3rd that they finally arrived in Baghdad, but even then, they didn't go straight to the palace. Instead, they dressed in ordinary clothes and explored the city. Not the nice parts either, but the slums and run down sections where the poor and rejected lived.
"You know, it's greener than I thought it would be," Capri remarked as they strolled about the city. They all had on head coverings, even Venti, along with sunglasses and bulky clothes to obscure their figures.
Looking around, Naomi couldn't help but agree. She'd quickly realized her preconceptions of the Middle East as nothing but a dusty desert were wrong after their trip across Israel and Jordan, having seen plenty of not just cultivated land, but greenery and even forests. This, however, was different. It looked and felt entirely natural, but at the same time, it was too lush, too vibrant, and flowers, grass, and crawling vines were growing out of every crack in the pavement or patch of dirt, and trees were full of fruit and leafy branches.
"Is it because of Nahida?" Naomi asked Venti curiously. "Sort of like how windy and temperate it's become in Europe over the past few years because of you?"
Venti coughed, and looked embarrassed. "Well, I may have had a slight something to do with that, but even I can't completely dictate the weather. It was still cold last winter if you ask me!"
"It was a mild winter, and you know it. Just like it was a mild summer. They're already saying we'll have a bumper crop, especially in the vineyards," Capri said with a roll of her eyes. She gestured to the blooming flowers around them. "I ain't an expert, but it's fall, and those are out of season unless I'm really wrong. So what's up?"
"Hmm." Venti walked over to the flowers, then knelt down and said, "Hello, we're here to see Sarva Nara. My friends would like to get a look at you. Do you mind terribly? This is Naomi Nara, and Capri Nara; both Vasara Nara."
Naomi watched as Venti talked to the plant, then politely seemed to listen for a moment. He nodded and said, "They do have bright dreams, especially for Nara. Me? Oh, just call me Pavana Nara. I'd just like them to be able to see you, even if it's just for a moment."
"We can see the flowers just fine, Venti," Capri said, squatting down beside him. She sniffed at the flower and smiled. "They are pretty sweet though. Should we pick some?"
"Only if you ask permission first," Venti said seriously, nodding to the flowers.
Naomi glanced around, uncertain. There were several buildings nearby, but this looked like an empty patch by the side of the road, and it was impossible to tell at a glance who would own the flowers. "Who do we ask?"
"Naomi Nara may pick some flowers, as she is a friend of Pavana Nara."
Slowly, Naomi and Capri both turned to look at the flowers, where two little… gnomes? were hovering. One was thin and tall, with an orangey flesh, a red mushroom like cap that hid its face, and a bright purple flower that matched those growing coming out of the top of its head. The other was short and squat, with light green flesh and a head that seemed to be made of the same long green leaves that a nearby palm tree had, with back beady eyes and a mouth that looked painted on.
"These are Arashakun and Arapratap, two of the Aranara," Venti explained. "They've agreed to show themselves to you. Normally, they can only be seen by those with a strong connection to Dendro or those whose dreams have not yet faded, usually children."
"Uh, hi," Capri said, blinking slowly. "Was there something funny in that falafel we ate for lunch?"
"Venti, are these… faeries?" Naomi asked, her mind trying to fully process what was happening.
"That's a good word for them! You haven't really seen any of the seelie or beastkin in my domain yet, but I too attract beings of elemental energy," Venti explained. "I've not been exercising my powers as broadly as Beezelbul or Buer have been, but they're there regardless. Probably because I sort of fixed the winds in place, but, well, an Archon does have to care for their children."
"Faeries can be… tricky. Do we need to be careful what we say?" Naomi said, her mind racing through all the faery stories she'd heard, and mostly sticking on the rather less than pleasant ones.
Venti chuckled and shook his head. "Unless you plan on hurting any children or plotting against Buer, or perhaps littering, I wouldn't worry about it."
"No littering!" Arashakun trilled, and raised a little stick. "Nara must be more careful with their leavings!"
Capri flushed and glanced hastily to the side, where the wrappers from their lunch were in a nearby gutter. "I, uh, I'll make sure to find a trash can next time…"
"So, have you been greening up the city?" Naomi asked the fae curiously.
The aranara nodded, making a little tinkling sound like bells as they did so. "Yes! Sarva Nara is awake and happy again! The dreams of the Nara are glowing brightly! We must guide the Vana, and heal the land to push back the Valuka!"
"Huh. So she's not just bringing back the dinosaurs," Capri mused. She glanced at Venti. "We are going to go see the dinosaurs, right? Because I have seriously wanted one since I was a little kid."
"You can ask Buer about that!" Venti chuckled, standing. He bowed to the Aranara. "May your roots grow deep, and your branches reach high."
"May you always find water and shade, Pavana Nara," the aranara said, returning the bow.
"Let Nahida know we're coming, will you? We've got a party to crash tonight!" Then Venti looked up at the sky and smiled. "Better get out the umbrellas. It looks like rain."
Naomi peered up at the sky, but it was nothing but blue and a few wisps of cloud. Still, she and Capri hastened back to the car, barely making it before clouds sprang out of nowhere and a downpour began.
"I do have to wonder how Beezie managed it," Venti mused as they watched the storm. "It's not Hydro, but it is a form of Authority."
"Can you talk proper German like a normal person? These riddles give me a headache," Capri complained.
"Ehe! Where's the fun in that? Anyway, the rain will let up soon, and then, the palace! We have a party to get to!" Venti said cheerily.
True to his word, the clouds broke a few minutes later, and they headed through the city towards the great palace by the river.
"Do we have an invitation?" Naomi asked Venti as they rolled up to the checkpoint.
"Please. We're bards! We always have the invitations we need in the joy we bring, and our passports are the song we sing," Venti said with a wink. Then hopped out of the car. There were angry voices at first, there usually were, but within five minutes, Venti was best friends with the two capes and six soldiers guarding the way, and they were waved through.
"Never ceases to amaze me when he pulls that off," Capri commented as they watched Venti schmooze.
Naomi nodded, but smiled. "Yes. But it's always so wonderful when he does. Ready to meet another Archon?"
"Well, hopefully it's not as exciting as last time. Took a whole day for the Shogun to chill," Capri grumbled, turning the car back on as Venti slid back into the rear seat and the smiling guards opened the gate.
When they arrived at the palace, a little girl with pointed ears and silver hair was waiting for them, the most terrifying woman in the middle east to her right, and what was for all appearances, a plant monster on her left.
"Welcome to Baghdad, Lord Barbatos," Nahida said to them, bowing slightly as Venti hopped out of the car. "I hope your journey here was pleasant."
"Buer!" Venti said with a grin, and then swept an ever lower bow, doffing his cap. When had he changed into lederhosen? "Apologies for the lack of notice, but I simply had to come as quickly as I could!" He stood up, and beamed at Nahida. "And may I be the first to welcome you to Earth Bet! I hope the journey here wasn't too arduous from Sumeru City."
"It was a novel experience," Nahida said with an amused giggle. She looked up at Naomi and Capri then, and smiled with all the sweet innocence of a child. "Hello! I'm Nahida! You must be Capri and Naomi Cohen. I love your music! My favorite is the Ode to Joy Remix."
"Uh, thank you, Lord Buer," Naomi said, bowing deeply. "We're honored to be welcomed into your home."
"Are you sure we want to welcome her? She's a Jew," Farasha said in perfect German, and Naomi froze, a smile plastered on her face. For her part, Skyward Pride fell into Capri's hands as she growled and her Vision crackled.
"Be polite, mother. I'm facilitating translation at the moment. She can understand you quite well," Nahida said, grinning impudently up at Farasha.
Farasha blushed at that, but said, "You're having a hard enough time with the hardliner Imams. You welcome her here, and there's going to be trouble."
"Then it will be a good way to root out those whose hatred yet blinds them to the truth. Besides, you always enjoy ruffling their feathers. Consider this an opportunity to not only examine your own prejudices, but also to irritate Imam Abdel Rahman and his fellow conservatives," Nahida said.
"Uh, hey, I'm Tessa, huge fan," the plant woman said, stepping down and shaking Naomi and Capri's hand. "Sorry about all that, Farasha's just a bit prickly. We'll put her through workplace sensitivity training later."
"You're Flower Dragon right? That was pretty funny when you goosed everyone and took down the internet," Capri laughed, putting her sword on her back, but not banishing it. "I just hope we can all get along and I don't need to teach certain loudmouthed bitches any lessons."
"Language," Farasha growled. "Not in front of my daughter."
"Now, now, you two, no fighting," Venti said, ruffling Capri's hair and making her yelp and drop her sword, which vanished into mist. "I promise, Capri's fully house trained."
"Why I oughta-" Capri glared at Venti, who just grinned at her guilelessly.
"I'll keep an eye on Farasha, Nahida, don't worry," Tessa said. "And if anyone's racist, I'll put soap in their mouth."
"A most effective treatment," Nahida agreed solemnly. She turned back to Venti. "I propose we have a private conference later, and for now, enjoy the party. Later, I wish to speak with you and the Hydro Dragon. There is much you should know, and much I do not yet understand."
"Looking forward to it! But for now, let's get to know one another and have a good time!" Venti said cheerily.
"Kinda hard when a certain somebody banned all the booze," Farasha grumbled.
Nahida looked exasperated, but Venti beamed and slid an arm around Farasha's shoulders, much to her discomfort. "Ah! A woman after my own heart! But come, surely there's more fun to be had! Listen, why don't you teach me a few songs in Arabic, and I'll teach you some swear words in German!"
"... but you're speaking Arabic right now," Farasha said, sounding uncomfortable as Venti led her away.
"Actually, I'm speaking a language you've never even heard of! Neat trick, that! But anyway, about that booze…"
"Come on, I want you to meet my friends!"
Naomi looked down to find Nahida had taken her and Capri's hands. "They'll be so excited to meet you! We all love your music! Maybe you can play for us later!"
"I'd be happy to," Naomi agreed, and then found herself dragged up the stairs, and into the house of those who had once been her enemy. It wasn't the first time, but it was rather different from breaking down a Nazi's door.
Author's note:
ROAD TRIP ROAD TRIP!
Not content to sit in the shadows forever, Venti has returned to ensure that he still has the highest chapter count.
As always, you can read ahead on , where the next three chapters are available as a preview.
Sapientia Oromasdis 18: Dream of the Future
Beta'd and edited by The Grand Cogitator, October Daye, DR_Feelgood, and Philosophysics
"Thank you, thank you, you've been a wonderful audience!" Lord Barbatos said, waving happily to the cheering crowd. He beamed at Nahida, then bowed to her. "And let's give a big hand to our hostess this evening and the girl of the hour, Lord Buer!"
There was scattered applause and a few confused looks, until Naomi leaned into the microphone and clarified, "He means Nahida."
That brought wild cheers and jubilant ululations from the audience, much to Nahida's embarrassment.
"Now, I think it's time for gifts for the birthday girl!" Barbatos said, which made Nahida both giddy with curiosity and a bit worried. The Lord of Winds had a reputation as more than a bit of a trickster, and Nahida had to wonder what he was going to do.
With a flourish, Barbatos produced a purple flower from nowhere that had Nahida gasp in delight. She had Farasha lift her up, then scrambled up on stage to accept the potted plant.
"A Sumerian Rose," Barbatos explained, kneeling beside her. "A bit of home for you."
"It's not home anymore," Nahida told him, accepting the plant and hugging it tightly. "But thank you. I will treasure the memories."
"And from Mondstadt…" Another plant appeared in a swirl of winds, and this time, Nahida could sense the Anemo energy within it. "Dandelion seeds. May the winds ever bring you freedom."
"Thank you, Lord Barbatos," Nahida said, and attempted to bow, only to find a hand on her shoulders.
"You brought freedom to your people, and these are your lands. Here, you bow to no one," Barbatos said quietly. "And please, it's just Venti."
Blushing, Nahida smiled shyly and nodded, barely able to believe what was happening. This was no simple mortal, nor was he just a regular god. This was the Bane of Tyrants, the Lord of Winds, the God of Freedom, the one who had reshaped Mondstadt to ease his people's way, and one of the seven victors of the Archon War. He was everything she aspired to become one day.
"Thank you," she whispered softly, then on impulse, gave Barbatos a hug. He chuckled and gave her a squeeze back. Then he stood up and waved. "Well, that's our set, but stick around, I hear there will be cake!"
They were out in the orchards again, with a stage set in the middle for the show, and tables of food all around them. People began to talk and circulate, but Nahida remained on the stage with Barbatos for a moment. "I think the time has come for us to talk. I hate to leave the party early, but I can use the excuse that it is past my bedtime."
That got an amused look from Barbatos. "I suppose for the responsible sorts, it is, but do you really constrain yourself to a bedtime? The night air is so refreshing, and the stars are out in the skies, even if we cannot see them!"
Nahida frowned up at the hidden stars, thinking of the false sky of her homeland. "Yes. I'll have to do something about the light pollution. It is not well that the stars be hidden from us, for it would obscure our fates. And yet, mankind must have a light in the darkness to lead them on. Is that not what our role is?"
"Hmm, perhaps for you. Me? I'm just a leaf on the wind, blown as the breeze may take me," Barbatos laughed.
"You do yourself a disservice. Did you not root out the fascists from your own land, and restore peace and freedom?" Nahida asked.
Barbtos nodded, but his expression was melancholic. "I had a helping hand with that. But I was too late for Cologne. It seems you and Beezelbul were able to be there for your people in their hour of need. I was… tardy."
"You saved them from Khonsu, and it was not in our hands when we arrived," Nahida pointed out. "Do you know who called us here?"
"Not a clue, I'm afraid. I take it you're as baffled as Beezie and I are," Barbatos chuckled. "Speaking of, I think it's time we had that talk. Let's find Keiga and Ami."
They found Ami with a crowd of teens and children, standing on a table and recounting what Nahida was fairly sure were grossly exaggerated versions of her own exploits.
"-and then, in the hour of twilight, I raised my sword against Maou the Golden, calling forth the sacred art of the Musou no Hitotachi my mother taught me! I struck him a mighty blow, and I thought he would perish! But nay! Only a thin line of golden blood did a draw! And Lo, the King of Demons was wroth, and would have smote me-"
"Mistress, Lord Buer and Lord Barbatos are here to speak with you," Murasaki interrupted, appearing next to Ami's left ear.
"Huh?" Ami spun about, then spied the two archons. She blushed, then bowed to her audience. "My faithful friends, I am afraid I am called away! But fear not! You may hear more of my LEGENDARY EXPLOITS in the autobiographical account of Lightning Princess Ami, produced by Studio Madhouse!"
There was enthusiastic applause as Ami hopped down, then hurried over. "Yes, my Lords?"
"We would speak with Beezelbul, can you contact her?" Nahida asked.
Ami put a hand to her chest, and nodded seriously. "I bear my mother's sword. She eagerly awaits your word."
Interesting. Nahida reached out gingerly, and noted something shocking: Ami was an Allogene. She hadn't embodied an aspect yet, and she had no Vision, but a great deal of power was invested in her, and not just the energies of the demons. Divine Belief was slowly infusing the girl. It hadn't yet reached a critical mass, but it was growing. If she did receive a Vision, it would only be another short step before the girl achieved apotheosis.
Combine that with the Hydro and Electro Dragons, along with the one known as Tsukoyomi…what a fascinating set of circumstances.
Nahida had already thought of a lot of questions she wanted to ask, but now she had even more.
"Then let us adjourn to the palace. Keiga already waits there. Go to your bedrooms, and lie down. I will summon you into my sanctum within the Dream," Nahida told them.
"Dream magic!?" Ami gasped, looking eager. "Is it like the Realm of Euthymia?!"
"Similar in concept, but not in execution," Nahida agreed.
"OK, but I'm so excited, I don't know how I'll fall asleep!" Ami said, clenching her hands into fists and grinning.
Nahida considered, then looked to Murasaki. "Can you carry her?"
"Of course," the little Demon… no… no, that wasn't quite right. He was no longer properly a Demon. He was a spirit, and one unswervingly loyal to Ami and by extension Raiden unless Nahida was very wrong in her estimation of him.
"Huh, what do you-" Ami began, then Nahida stood on her tiptoes and pressed a finger to Ami's forehead. Her eyes rolled up in her head, and Ami slumped back as Murasaki caught her, shifting into his Kirin form, and then gently tugging the snoring princess onto his back.
After that, Nahida led the small party back to the palace and went to her room, where she found an exhausted Qiqi already snoring, her thumb tucked in her mouth. She smiled and pulled a blanket over her sister, then lay down on the bed herself, and slipped into the Dream.
Stepping into the Dream version of Baghdad was fascinating. In only a short time, the city had undergone a drastic change. Gone were the mostly utilitarian mud brick and mortar houses, the cracked pavement, and the somewhat clogged and polluted waterways. Instead, a living city made of houses that had been sung to life sprouted amidst giant mushrooms and enormous trees. The streets were now paved with smooth stones, and the waters pristine and clear. The whole city teemed with life, and at this hour, many of its citizens.
Nahida could see the old and the young alike walking through their dreams, or in some cases soaring, as fantastical creatures and bright lights illuminated the streets. Unlike Sumeru City, the people of Baghdad dreamed, and for now, their dreams were mostly bright and joyous.
"Interesting architecture! Reminds me of when I visited Port Ormos oh, two or three thousand years ago!"
Whirling, Nahida found Venti sitting on the roof, strumming a guitar and gazing out at the land below. "It's not yet a reality, but it is what I dream of building. A land and people in harmony with one another."
"So, you'd give up on the wonders of modern technology?" Venti mused, plucking out a hauntingly familiar tune. Nahida placed it instantly: an old Eremite lullaby.
"Technology is wonderful in many ways, but I must confess, I doubt its efficacy in giving people a better life." Nahida turned back, then opened a window to peer into the waking Baghdad. Cars rumbled by as they spewed out poison, and electric lights blotted out the starry sky. "There are many things to keep and learn from, but at the same time, I think we should focus more on community and health than simple efficiency or productivity."
"Well said," Venti laughed, then hopped down to stand on the balcony beside Nahida. He leaned on it, a melancholic smile on his lips. "I wonder about my own lands. How much to guide and steer them towards a future where they are truly free, and not bound up by machines. It's a careful path to tread, but I'll try to ease my children's way along it, much as you plan to do."
"There are other plans to address first," Nahida said, her mind flinching away from the dreadful future she foresaw. "But for that, we should consult Beelzebul as well."
"After you," Barbatos agreed, and Nahida led him through the twisting palace corridors, straight lines rarely existed in dreams, and into a room that held a twilight mansion.
Dark violet clouds hung in a twilight sky, as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. A dark gothic mansion with a hundred windows filled with smoky light sat atop a dark mountain peak, with flocks of ravens nestling along the eves.
"MWAHAHAHAHA!"
In a crackle of thunder, a flock of ravens dove down and then dissolved into Ami, now wearing a gothic lolita dress with lacy frills and long sleeves and an eyepatch over the opposite eye from earlier. "Welcome, strangers from afar, to the Immernachtreich! I am the Prinzessen des Blitzen, Ami Von Raiden! Do you come to participate in the Midnight Phantasmagoria?"
Behind Ami, Murasaki appeared in his smaller form, dressed in a little butler uniform with a monocle and tophat. "Mein Fraulein, these are the Archons who have come to speak with your mother."
"Hmm?" Ami blinked, then suddenly went bright red, and if Nahida hadn't acted quickly, the entire dream would have destabilized. "O-Oh! Um, I forgot. Er, this, um, I just…"
"You have a rather astounding command of the Dream," Nahida told her. "You must have been practicing with Beezelbul."
"Oh!" Looking relieved, Ami nodded hastily. "Yes! I have been! I was, er, practicing just now…"
"Rather impressive practicing, if I do say so myself. Out of curiosity, do you know anyone named Fischl?" Barbatos asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"But of course! She is one of my handmaidens, who leads my band of assassin maids in- Er, I mean…" Ami coughed. "She's, uh, a character in a book I'm, er, reading…"
"Well, when you finish it, I'd love to read it sometime," Nahida said, which just made poor Ami blush even deeper. "But come, the Hydro Dragon awaits us, and even in the Dream we have only so long."
The next room they entered was a bright and sunlit cove, reminiscent of Okinawa, with sandy beaches, and a colorful reef teeming with life. The Hydro Dragon sat on the beach in her human form, along with Tessa, while Bailu splashed about in a tidepool, two little inflatable water wings on her arms. That amused Nahida, because every so often, Bailu would flutter her arms and actually fly up into the sky a short ways before giggling and dropping herself into the water as her tail wagged excitedly.
Upon seeing the others, Keiga and Tessa stood, bowing to the Archons. "My Lords, Princess. Is it time?"
"Yes, but I think we should meet here, within your domain," Nahida told Keiga. "And you should remain as well, Tessa. I think perhaps it is time I explained to you my plans for you, and what being the Dendro Sovereign means."
"Dendro King? But… I'm just a girl from St. Johns," Tessa protested.
"Aren't you a robot?" Ami asked, frowning. "I don't think you were ever just a girl like me."
"You're barely mortal yourself now," Barbatos said, ruffling Ami's hair and making her squawk in protest. While no one had been looking, he'd changed into a Hawaiian shirt and board shorts, with a straw hat and sunglasses, and a pair of green flip-flops on his feet. Nahida was sporting a sun dress and wide-brimmed hat herself, though her feet were bare as she preferred.
"Huh? I mean, yes! I am the Lightning Princess, she who will one day inherit my mother's kingdom!" Ami declared, posing on one foot, and nearly toppling over in the sand before she windmilled her arms and managed to right herself with Murasaki's help.
"Then let us adjourn to the tent," Keiga said, motioning to a pavilion with tables that had appeared on the grassy bank just above the sand. She glanced at her daughter, then nodded to herself as a pair of dolphins appeared in the shallows, clicking as they watched over Bailu, who squealed in delight and ran over to ride one of them.
They all walked over to the tent, Nahida sitting beside Tessa, who looked embarrassed that she was wearing nothing but a bikini. She concentrated for a few moments and managed to get herself a sundress and hat, beaming proudly at the accomplishment. Keiga changed into a more formal kimono of pink and blue with patterns of fish and foamy waves upon it, then took a seat beside Ami, who was still in her overly fancy dress.
"Thank you for all coming to visit me," Nahida said, automatically taking control of the situation. They were, after all, in her lands, even if this was Keiga's Dream. "I apologize for not making myself known earlier, but it took me some time to fully grasp the situation I found myself in."
"Ah, don't worry about it! It was pretty weird when I woke up in an alley in Munich. I wasn't even drunk at the time," Barbatos said with a wave of his hand.
"No apology is necessary, Lord Buer," Keiga said with a slight bow. "My mistress is grateful for your presence and wishes to offer an alliance. There are, however, some terms we must discuss."
"Oh!" Ami sat up straight. "Should, um, should I get her? My mom, I mean."
Nahida nodded, and Ami screwed up her face in concentration. Then, taking a deep breath, she shoved her hand right at her sternum, sucking in a sharp breath as she did so. To Ami's apparent relief, her hand sank into her flesh, then drew forth a crackling blade. As she did so, Ami's eyes glowed with purple lighting, and her expression suddenly shifted. Her muscles relaxed, and she didn't slouch in her seat so much as she no longer was so stiff and formal. The sword came all the way out, and Raiden laid the blade across her lap.
"Lord Buer. We meet at last. Though I suppose you are not the Buer I would have known in my world, nonetheless, I greet you. How fares Teyvat?" The voice was still Ami's, but the diction was more monotone and antiquated—that of an ancient of days, not an exuberant child of the modern age.
"It was well, last I recall. Pardon, but did you imply that we are from different versions of Teyvat?" Nahida asked, suddenly very interested. "I had not received word that the Raiden Shogun had vanished, but she was only a puppet last I recall, and I don't think the true Electro Archon had been seen in years, not since shortly after I manifested."
"Indeed." Beezelbul nodded to Barbatos, who winked at her. "We two are from different realities: he recalls the Traveler being male, I, female. Do you remember which of the Descender Twins visited you?"
"Descender Twins?" Nahida shook her head slowly. "I recall no such beings visiting Sumeru. The year was 505 AC, what was it for you?"
"Ah, it was 513 for me," Barbatos broke in. "The Traveler wouldn't have appeared for some years."
"Hmm. For me, it was the year 2215 by the Imperial Calendar, in the month of Sakura," Beezelbul said with a nod. That would have been 514 Moraxi by the New Calender. "Fascinating. The question is then, why the differing times?"
"That is not something I have been able to determine. Do you know why we were sent here?" Nahida asked, looking to her elders.
Barbatos shrugged and grinned sheepishly, but Raiden nodded. "We were needed."
"Eh, good an answer as any I suppose," Barbatos commented, sipping loudly out of a coconut with a bright red bendy straw. By the scent, the drink contained rather copious amounts of alcohol. Nahida frowned at him, and Barbatos winked. She sighed but supposed in a dream at least, she wouldn't forbid alcohol. Even if it was a useless toxin that Allah had been wise to prohibit.
"For now, it will suffice," Nahida agreed. She hesitated a moment, then said, "I do suppose the Simurgh, Leviathan, and Khonsu were great needs, but…"
"They are not the enemy. Merely his pawns," Raiden said, and thunder rumbled overhead as Ami's features twisted into a snarl of rage. Even here in the Dream, the Wrath of the Electro Archon was palpable, even through a mere projection.
"Her pawns," Nahida said softly. "The Warrior is but one half of a pair, though he is the larger threat."
"Oh?" Barbatos set down his drink, and Raiden leaned forward in clear interest.
Nahida looked to Tessa and Keiga, but they were already listening raptly. Tessa looked mildly confused, but Keiga was grim and clearly knew more than she had set so far. Nahida decided to elucidate for Tessa's benefit and to fully lay her cards on the table.
"Eight days ago, shortly after I confronted the Angel of Death, the being known as Scion appeared in my city," Nahida began. Immediately, Keiga's expression darkened, while Raiden's assumed the sort of serenity that one only saw at the eye of the storm. Barbatos looked no less disgusted, outright throwing down his drink, but none interrupted her. "It was at this point that the Warrior revealed himself fully to me, and I grasped his true purpose.
"For you see, there were once two beings. They were not gods, but of a strange race of Demons that propagated themselves amongst the stars. They are like a swarm of locusts, devouring all they see, and ruining all they find, in an endless quest to endlessly multiply until there is naught left but their own kind in the entire cosmos.
"But like locusts, these creatures lacked all ingenuity and creative spark. They are utterly without connection to the Dream, and they cannot create, only destroy. Because of this, they seek out worlds upon which there are living things that possess intellect and wisdom, that the locusts might steal and devour themselves.
"In the process of doing this, a cycle that has repeated itself ten times ten thousand times, the locusts realized something: Time and space are finite, as is energy. At some point, their mad quest to spread themselves without ceasing must come to an end, as all things must. Against this natural order, the locusts have rebelled. Now they seek not just to multiply, but to find a way to create unlimited space and energy, so that they may continue their propagation without end, destroying even time itself in their pursuit to further their own kind."
"Madness," Raiden hissed, her expression still serene. The thunder and lightning that flickered all around them now told the true story: Beezelbul was beyond wrath now, for this went against everything she stood for. "This is Eternity itself perverted."
"I don't think she's come to the worst part yet," Barbatos said grimly. No longer garbed in a tropical shirt, he was clad in green hunting leathers, a bow on his back, a hurricane in the quiver at his side. "Please, continue."
Sniffling, Nahida found she was weeping now, and Tessa put her arms around Nahida to comfort her. "I… saw all this. And more. It seems that the locusts travel in a mated pair. One that seeks to harvest all information upon a world, before using the life there as fuel for experimentation and hosts for their vile eggs. These are the Demons, the parasites that now plague our children. They grant them power, but at a price. A terrible price, as I know you have seen. But I fear it is even more terrible than that: their bodies, their souls, they will be fuel to spawn a thousand demons each, before the land itself is consumed as fuel, and a new swarm is birthed in chaos and destruction, flinging itself once more across the stars."
"But we have met only the male. The female has fallen. So we are given a stay of execution," Beezelbul said, her eyes narrowing. "Are we not?"
"No," Barbatos growled, his eyes glowing green as winds whipped the waves outside their tent, though the structure itself was still and the grave. "I think I know where this is going. But it is your tale to tell, if you can."
"I… I can," Nahida agreed, closing her eyes as Tessa's arms squeezed tighter. "The female… she called herself Thinker. A perverse name, for she had neither thought nor wisdom. But she was cunning. Somehow, in coming to this world, there was a mishap. She was killed, destroyed. The male, who calls himself Warrior, was despondent. He had no love for his mate, but without her, he could not fulfill his purpose. He could not complete their Cycle of Propagation. And so, he fell into despair."
Raiden's eyes widened in sudden horror. "Until he met me."
"Yes. You were the first hint that perhaps not all was lost, that the Cycle could continue," Nahida agreed, and shuddered at what she had seen in the King of Demon's mind. "But he recognized you as a fellow Warrior. Not a Thinker. Still, he began to awaken. And then… then he met me."
"No!" Tessa gasped, hugging Nahida tightly. "No, I won't allow it! Nahida, you're not saying-"
"Peace. Please, let me finish," Nahida hiccuped, though tears were now streaming down her face. "He… he saw me, and he called me Thinker. He saw that I am the Branch of Irminsol, that I have become the True Tree of Life for this world. And… and he attempted to… to m-mate with me."
An echoing boom of thunder nearly blew the tent over as Raiden hovered in the air, her face a mask of fury. HE WOULD DARE TO VIOLATE A CHILD!?
BUER IS NO MERE CHILD. SHE IS ONE OF US, Barbatos said, the one called Venti was gone. No mere wind sprite, the thing that swirled in the tent and beyond it was a being to drive men to madness. He was no longer the playful bard, but the Bane of Tyrants. The fury of the Winds given form. BUT THIS IS A CRIME BEYOND ALL IMAGINING.
The Hydro Dragon had taken on her massive draconic aspect, coiled about the tent protectively and rumbled threateningly, her child anxiously clinging to her scales, her sport forgotten. WE HAD ALREADY DETERMINED MAOU THE GOLDEN HAD TO DIE, BUT THIS IS WORSE THAN ANY CRIME I COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
"There… there is some good news," Nahida sniffed as Tessa squeezed her tightly, the Dendro Dragon's own tears falling into Nahida's hair. "His meeting with me… it has altered the Fate of this world. Before, the stars wrote that he would seek to destroy all Mankind within no more than a generation. Now… as much as centuries have been bought. It is a s-small price to pay."
NO. IT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE PRICE. ONE THAT CAN BE REPAID ONLY IN BLOOD. Raiden decreed. It was odd, hearing the voice of a god out of the Electro Archon's still mostly human daughter. Nahida did worry that Ami could still hear what was said, for she was very young still.
YOUR SACRIFICE WILL NOT BE IN VAIN, LORD BUER, BUT WE WILL NOT ALLOW SUCH TO COME TO PASS AGAIN. The winds roared, fury in their every hissing breath.
"If I can do anything to help my people… I will do it," Nahida vowed.
"Not that," Tessa told her firmly. "Never that, Nahida. Some prices are too high."
Nahida privately disagreed. What was her own life or virtue set against all of mankind? One for the world her family and loved ones lived in?
WE WILL SEEK HIM OUT, AND END THIS SO-CALLED KING OF DEMONS, Raiden stated, her sword bare in her hands now.
"No!" Nahida shook her head, trying to wipe away her tears. "That will end only in disaster! He is strong! Nearly unimaginably so! Even if the three of us, the dragons, and all our children were to face him at once… our odds of success would be no better than 15.78%. Rounded up. Even then… in most scenarios… we suffer grievous losses, and the world is irreparably damaged."
HE HAS YET TO FACE THE LIGHTNING'S GLOW. MANY A GOD HAVE I SLAIN BEFORE, Raiden snarled, her sword clutched in her hands.
HEED HER WORDS. BUER IS WISDOM. CAUTION IS NEEDED. BESIDES: THIS COMES TO ANOTHER POINT WE MUST DISCUSS, Barbatos stated, his winds slowly gentling.
Raiden was silent for a moment, her thunder echoing loudly. Then, slowly, she sank back into her chair, resting her sword on her lap. "Very well. I will heed caution for now. But if that monster so much as touches Buer again…"
"Then we will reconsider," Barabatos agreed, a drink appearing in his hand, this time in a horn cup. He was dressed now as a bard once more, but he hadn't put away his bow nor his quiver.
The Hydro Dragon still looked furious, but she had returned to her mortal guise and was comforting her crying babe. She stood behind her mistress, eyes flashing, but she was content to listen. For the moment.
"The others," Nahida agreed, speaking what they were all thinking.
"Others?" Tessa asked, looking around. "There are more? Wait, don't tell me… there's seven. Like in the game."
"Indeed," Barbatos agreed, grinning cheekily and sipping his drink. "I put that out as a hint. Well, for me, it was practically screaming the answer! Good to know at least some people are paying attention."
"Hmm." Raiden looked dubious but nodded. "At the very least, it would be good to have Morax and Murata. They are skilled in the art of war."
"I wouldn't count out Dantalion or Focalors," Barbatos said with a slow shake of his head. "They are young, but Dantilion is cunning, and Focalors seemed to be playing against Heaven itself as well. I wasn't there to see the end of their game, but…"
"Dantalion is a fool," Raiden said with a snort.
"I'm sorry, but… Dantalion?" Nahida looked back and forth, worried. "That is not the name of the Cryo Archon I know…"
"Truly?" Barbatos looked intrigued, leaning back in his chair. "Well, then there is more than one difference between our worlds. Still, the Cryo Archon is the Tsaritsa still?"
When Nahida nodded, he shrugged. "Well, either way, the Mistress of Snezhnaya would be a powerful ally, for she is a terrible foe. And if she has the gnosis…"
"You…you do not have your gnosis?" Nahida asked, shocked. That was the symbol of the Archon's Throne, though not its power in entirety. Through a Gnosis, an Archon could render great works indeed.
"I never took up the Gnosis once Makoto passed it to me," Raiden said with a shrug. "This fool seems to have lost his in a drinking game."
"Well, it wasn't quite like that, but, ah, I did give it into the care of the Tsaritsa. For I too wished to see certain tyrants fall," Barbatos explained.
"Interesting… then I am the only one so far in possession of mine," Nahida mused. She looked up at Tessa and smiled. "Or at least, you have it. It is good that a Dragon once more bears their Authority."
"Yeah… I'm still confused about that," Tessa admitted. She reached into her chest, plucking out the emerald chess piece. "What is this, anyway?"
"Power and Authority, stolen from the Dendro Sovereign, Apep. It's not all that makes an Archon, but it does represent a significant amount of power," Nahida explained. "I gave it to you so that if the King of Demons does return, my people will not be without defense."
"The Gnosi were forged by Celestia, Heaven, after they had subdued the original Dragon Sovereigns of Teyvat and took away their powers," Barbatos agreed.
"They are a poisoned gift. Only a fool would rely on them," Raiden stated. She nodded to Buer. "It is good to see you understand their… limitations."
"A poisoned gift is a good word for them," Nahida agreed. "But in the hands of their rightful holders, they could be a great asset once more."
"Well, I'm not the rightful holder! You should take it back!" Tessa urged, offering the chess piece to Nahida.
"No! It's yours now. Keep it, and use it. It would be good for the Authority of Dendro to once more be divided between Gods, Dragons, and Mortals. Some may even receive a Vision if their Ambition aligns with yours. You will know when you have given one, though it is but a mote of your power, it is still noticeable," Nahida told Tessa.
Keiga shifted, glancing at Raiden. "You call me the Hydro Dragon. What does that mean?"
For a moment, Raiden only regarded her blade. At last, she spoke. "It was my intention to restore divinity to these lands. At first, I did not think I would see my peers arrive here. And from the first, I knew the Sustainer to be a grave threat to Eternity. I did not know the depths of his depravity, nor the full extent of his plans, but I could read the Fate of this world easily enough, and see that he was the one who brought about its destruction in only a handful of years. Thus, I began to forge weapons to fight him. Weapons such as yourself. And…" Raiden closed her eyes, then put a hand over her own heart. "... and my daughters. May Heaven judge me rightly for my sins."
Keiga digested this for a moment, then looked down at her sleeping child on her shoulder. "It was your right. I am your sworn liege woman. And you say… Scion will destroy the world?"
"Inevitably," Barbatos agreed, his expression stormy again. "I have searched through Time and fate, but found no way around it. It has been pushed back, but… still, it looms. Two lifetimes of a mortal man. No more."
"And so many ways for it to come to pass much sooner," Nahida said with a shudder. "It is why I was forced to act against Saddam. He was an obstacle to the path that could best lead to victory over Fate itself."
"Fate has adjusted itself each time one of us arrives. By my reckoning, the hour draws near for the next to appear," Raiden said, looking around at Nahida and Barbatos. "The question is this, then: Who next shall appear? And where?"
"Morax will appear in China. Of that, I am nearly certain," Barbatos said instantly. "The Tsaritsa in Russia. The others, I am not so certain, but I have my suspicions."
Raiden frowned again. "Such forthrightness is not like you."
"None here are mortal, not even your daughter," Barbatos said with a shrug. "We are all gods and dragons. Freedom as a concept does not apply to us. I do not worry that I will somehow impinge on mortal will, for what greater violation of their freedom could there be than death and domination?"
"A fair point, but you are ever one with a glib tongue and a taste for mischief. Has this then finally caused even your patience to reach its limits?" Raiden demanded.
Barbatos chuckled humorlessly. "You were there the last time I was wroth, Beezie. Well. Do you remember what happened?"
"The world is still scarred by what you did to Decarabian. And it is telling that none other arose to challenge you for the Anemo Throne," Raiden responded. "Good. I detest such games. Let us be forthright with one another. I have forged many weapons, seeking one that could destroy the Sustainer, but I have yet to find one."
"One exists. I will be founding a school, and though I hate to focus on weapons of war… we shall research such things," Nahida promised. "He seems to have little awareness or control over the Dream, and lacks any divine aspect. These are weaknesses we can exploit, though they are subtle."
"Subtlety has never been my way," Raiden said with a grimace of distaste. "But such methods do seem preferable to direct conflict. I will bow to your wisdom in this matter, though I shall not cease my search for a blade that could end this in a stroke."
"What about turning the hearts of the Parasites? You've had some success in that," Barbatos pointed out.
Nahida nodded, then sighed. "Yes, but there are more demons than there are grains of sand on a beach. I could turn perhaps a dozen of them a day. If I had a thousand years, it would still not be enough, and the King of Demons could decide to end the world tomorrow. I will continue the work, but I must be cautious. For if I turn too many…"
"An avenue that leads to a dead end then. But continue down it nonetheless. I have stalked and killed several of the abominations and suborned others. They are disgusting creatures, but some have shown their loyalty," Raiden stated and nodded to the corner where Murasaki had been sitting very still.
"I serve my mistress now, Lord Ei," the little spirit stated firmly. "You forced me on this path, but now, I walk it gladly. Given the choice now, I would choose Ami and yourself again and again. I will do everything in my power to aid Ami."
"And what of the dead female, the Thinker?" Nahida asked. "I met one who had a fragment of her within them. It was… disturbing. It was placed there intentionally, I think."
"The Yankees," Raiden spat, her lips curling in a sneer of distaste. "They are reckless fools would would bring the grim fate of Khaenri'ah upon their own heads."
"Khaenri'ah was mighty before she was laid low. There is potential there," Barbatos argued.
"It's a path of foolishness and madness. I will try to dissuade them," Nahida said with a shake of her head. "She is no better than a dead god, and twice as corrosive to the soul. She should be left in peace, and we should be grateful she perished. If we could learn how…"
They talked and planned for long hours, until the sun rose. Then, Nahida bid them all farewell, and stepped out of the dream. She sat up in her bed, then went over to the window, and looked out at the sky as dawn painted it in bright colors.
"The world is yet full of wonder," Nahida whispered to herself. "As long as there is one person who yet dreams… there is hope."
She smiled, and looked over at Qiqi, who still snored. She was not alone now. She had a family, and she had somehow been accepted as an equal by Barbatos and Beezelbul. She knew she wasn't worthy.
But she would find a way somehow, anyway.
Author's Note:
Yes, the Archons have once more used the power of "communication" to achieve feats beyond the ken of Worm characters. Truly, their ability to behave like reasonable adults is their greatest power.
The first interlude is up on , and then it's straight into the next Archon. You can read ahead there, or it will be posted here in a few weeks.