Cirayus could hardly believe Virs progress. When the boy disappeared only a day before, hed been struggling. True, hed gained the ability to launch prana attacks at his enemiesa significant advantagebut he was still sorely lacking. From his physical strength to the level of his magic, his powers were nothing like his prior incarnations, even accounting for the tattoos.
But now? Now, the lad ended Ash Beasts barehanded, with claws of prana so thick, even he could see them.
After witnessing Vir reave through enemies that would have given most warriors pauseand do so barehandedCirayus had shuddered. After fighting against him himself, he was now sure. This was power on a level most demons could only dream of.
Power that he would sorely need for the trials that lay ahead.
Whatever made his ancestors so strong, Vir had found it in that blighted realm. And hed found more, apparently.
You an to say the energy for your magic cos from within you? Cirayus asked for the fourth ti.
As I told you, my prana capacity is roughly a hundred tis what it was when I first entered the Ash, Vir replied.
Hed handily decapitated the Nagathe most fearso Ash Beast on the Mahakurmas backonly monts earlier, making an enemy that would have ended most demons look like a pushover.
And Im telling you, Cirayus said, following Vir up the hole that led to the surface, youre the only demon in recorded history to pull anything like that off, lad! Cirayus said. Not even your past selves had such an ability!
It was true. Powering spells off of ones own prana had been the pipe dream of many demons throughout the ages. Demon children throughout the realm fantasized about wielding the power of Ash Beasts in their prana-starved lands. A delusion they swiftly abandoned, when faced with the stark reality.
Demons were beholden to their barren realm. Even Cirayus was no exception. Despite the prana capacity he'd painstakingly nurtured over the centuries, he couldn't fuel Balancer of Scales at its full power even once using his body's reserves alone.
What Vir had accomplished, no demon ever had. Certainly not ever to this extent. The amount that coursed within a persons body was simply insufficient, even for the most basic of magic, let alone powerful Bloodline arts.
And the lad managed it within a day?
Granted, hed spent nearly a month in the Mahdi Realm, but even still
No. Tis the opposite. He grew so strong because he survived that realm.
Whether or not he had help didnt matter. Vir had ventured to a place where no one ever daredor at least, those who had never returned alive.
Cirayus bead with pride.
Hes ready. More than ready.
At least, his body was. But what of the rest? What of his mind?
I suppose it is ti.
Vir scrambled up to the surface, and Cirayus lightly bounded up behind him. Destroying the Domain Lords had helped take his mind off Ashani, but thoughts of her now ca crashing back, souring the sweet taste of victory. He wanted to go back to her. Needed to. And yet, he couldnt.
Lad, youre out of sorts, Cirayus asked, climbing out of the hole in the Mahakurmas back. Sikandar lay draped across his back. Ive seen that look enough tis to know that youre in for a hard ti if you keep all those emotions bottled up.
Well, I already tried killing things, Vir said. Didnt really help.
Aye. So talk to . Lay it all out.
I just What do I do, Cirayus? I promised Id bring her back.
Then its simple, isnt it? he said. You keep your promise. You find a way back to her.
Easier said than done, Vir replied. If you happen to know of any Ash Gates that lead to the Mahdi Realm nearby, Im all ears. Even if you could, I have no way of getting her out of there.
Lad, correct if Im wrong, but I didnt hear you promise youd return today. How long do you have?
Vir clenched a fist. If she survives those wyrms possibly years. Maybe even decades. Shell just go to sleep again, most likely.
Then there you have it. You have your goal. If she ans this much to you, you can spend your days in the Demon Realm searching for a way back to her.
You really think Ill find one?
Perhaps, Cirayus said hesitantly.
aning? Vir asked.
The records of your ancestors ntion several chambers. Ancient chambers, said to hold great power. Locked to all but the incarnations of the Akh Nara.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Vir frowned. You believe these chambers might have a way back here?
Tis no secret that several of your ancestors took a keen interest in the Ash. Ekanai himself was said to have died in the Mahdi Realm. Clearly, he found a way.
Thats I didnt know that, Vir said.
Why would the Reaper have ventured to Mahdi? Why did Shardul and Ekanai want to go there?
Even Lord Janak had urged him there, though Vir had found no sign of the god.
Where would I find these chambers? Vir asked.
Cirayus pointed to him. There. In your head. None of the Akh Nara bothered to docunt them, and none have ever been found. I suppose they felt their subsequent incarnations would know.
Perfect
Well, if I have that knowledge, its buried deep sowhere. I suppose thats on hold until I can open the Fourth Chakra, then, he said.
The Heart Chakra? Cirayus asked. Whys that?
Shardul said it was the only way I could commune with my past selves. Seems I wont be able to rely on them much going forward since they sacrificed so much to keep alive. Thats about all I have left, now.
I see.
Vir knew that to a being like Ashani, a few years, or even a few decades, were nothing. But even knowing that, he couldnt get over the tangled web of emotions in his chest. He couldnt get over the crippling guilt. Like hed done sothing unforgivable. Like hed failed.
How about a change of scenery? Cirayus suggested. Theres sothing you should see.
Here? Vir asked.
Not far, the giant said, loping in the other direction of the forest.
Vir had never explored what lay on the other end of the Domain Lords territories, closer to the tail of the ga turtle. Hed assud the land just sloped off, but to his surprise, the Mahakurma was a fair bit longer than hed guessed.
Another forest extended away on the other side, and Cirayus entered it. This one was less dense, full of taller, older-growth trees that ford a dense canopy nearly a hundred paces above. They reminded him of the trees in the Godshollow, though less girthly.
They continued through the forest, though now that the gargantuan beast had co to a rest, Ash had started to pile up. If it were Vir just after entering the Ash, hed have found the extra effort inconvenient. Now, with a hundred tis more prana filling his muscles, he didnt even notice.
His strides had grown longer, too, as he subconsciously pushed more power into his legs, even without Leap or Blink. His physical limits were just higher than before. Incomparably higher.
Though he wanted to ruminate on his power gains more, doing so inevitably caused his thoughts to drift to Ashani, whod played such an instruntal role in helping him obtain them.
A black blur in the distance broke his reverie, but then it was gone.
Sothings following us but whatever it was, it was keeping its distance. But whether because hed just taken out the strongest beast on the Mahakurmas back, or because of the giant beside him, who walked with his comically oversized talwar, Vir felt no danger from the creature.
He inford Cirayus of their pursuer, and both spent the rest of the walk on the lookout, but it never showed itself again.
They soon arrived at a dark pond, shaded by the sa trees that kept the Ash off its surface. Unlike most bodies of water in the realm.
At its center was a grassy island barely large enough to fit a small ho. A knurled, ancient tree stood at the center, its leafless limbs extending over the water.
Underneath, scores of fish swam, forming a glowing golden cylinder beneath the floating island.
Theyre harmless, Cirayus said, jumping elegantly over the pond. He landed softly on the island and beckoned Vir to follow.
Leap shot Vir over, though he left Prana Current off. The abilitys sheer power made fine-tuning Leaps distance harder, and he still hadnt developed fine enough control to ensure he wouldnt miss the island entirely.
While a bath sounded nice, a bath in his armor did not.
Once on the island, Vir was surprised to find how solid it felt under his boots. It didnt feel like a floating island, but then again, Vir couldnt understand how a floating island remained anchored in the middle of the pond in the first place. Perhaps it had sothing to do with the copious amount of prana flowing through the bark of the dead-looking tree.
This place is pretty and all, he said, but that cant be the only reason you brought here.
Cirayus removed Sikandar, leaning the enormous blade against the tree. He placed a hand on the trees trunk.
Your father and I. We used to fight in the Bairan competitions regularly, you know?
The one where Ill get Balancer of Scales if I win?
Aye, the sa. Your father was the only one I ever lost to.
He was that strong? Vir asked. Hed seen what Cirayus could do. For his father to have bested the giant, he must have been quite the warrior.
Strong, yes. But also cunning. And quick as an Acira. Still, dont get the wrong idea, lad. I beat him far more often than he beat .
Vir rolled his eyes. What a surprise.
Cirayus chuckled. You see, while the Tournant gave us no end of good fights, the event is held only once every four years. We longed to test our ttle in the interim.
Yep. Father was a battle junkie, alright.
You fought other demons?
Cirayus shook his head. Nay. Few demons could offer us the level of fight we wished for. We ca to the Ash. Forced ourselves to survive here until we found a gate back ho.
The giant laughed.
The thing about Ash Gates is you never know where theyll take you. You just have to peer through, and if the other side looks like the right realm, you jump. Only the gods know where youll land! And thats only if you find one. Theyre quite rare, as youve seen.
That sounds insane, Vir said.
Oho? Cirayus cocked a brow. Dont tell you wouldnt do the sa, lad.
Vir couldnt stop the grin on his face. Maybe.
Anyway, we once found this Mahakurma here, though it was dormant at the ti. We figured itd be the perfect training ground.
You saw a world-ending creature, and you decided to jump right onto its back? To train
Your fathers idea, lad. Let it be known that I was usually the voice of reason.
Uh, huh.
He must have been quite the character, Vir said, feeling like hed have gotten along really well with his old man. Though he couldnt imagine his mother would have approved of such reckless behavior.
The cozy scene played out in his mind. He could almost see the happy family together, warm and caring.
Aye, Cirayus said wistfully. Aye, that he was. We spent many months here. This engraving? he pointed to an M and a C engraved into the trees trunk. Ours. In case we ever returned. Proof that we were here. That wed braved the Ash, penetrated its depths, and lived to tell the tale.
Cirayus moved aside, allowing Vir to run his fingers over the mark. Evidence that Maion Garga had been here, decadesperhaps centuriesago. Clanlord. King. His father.
The engraving was so simple. So crude. And yet, Vir was so moved. He couldnt understand why. Hed never even t the man, and yet, he missed him dearly. He missed them both.
That was So very long ago. Honestly cant believe the mark is still here, Cirayus said, sighing. It feels like just yesterday to . I cannot tell you how much I wish they were still here.
Vir turned to find a tear trickling down the giants face. The sight caused his own tears to well.
What What were they like?
The giant hesitated. I do not wish to add to your burden, lad. You are already grieving for one.
Please, I wish to know, Vir said. I need this. Ill never get to see them or hear their voices. Ill never get to listen to their stories, or hear their laughter. The least I can do is rember who they were and carry that within . Please.
Cirayus sat against the tree and motioned for Vir to join him.
Then I shall, for I knew them both better than most. Co, have a seat. This will be quite the tale.
Reviews
All reviews (0)