As I walked through the streets of Tropica the following morning, I marveled at the buildings. The sun was just peeking over rooftops to the east, casting its glorious rays on the new day. The entire ti I’d lived in Tropica, the south-side had been riddled with squat, crudely constructed dwellings that didn’t hold a candle to the houses up north. Today, the sun’s light shone down, illuminating how much that had changed. A demarcation no longer existed, even the dodgiest of hos now boasting architecture that could win awards back on Earth.
It was a heartwarming sight, one that was only moderately ruined by the man walking beside . Roger’s core was uncontrolled, his blade-like chi pouring out and filling the street we traversed. It was partially my fault and partially Sharon’s, because of a question, and her because of a statent.
“Lovely day for it...” I said, pointedly not looking his way.
All I got was a grumble in return, which I supposed was better than nothing.
“I love the new place, by the way,” I tried again. “I can’t believe Sharon found decorations for it already.”
“They ca with the transformation,” he ground out, still staring forward.
“Ahhh, that makes sense.”
I let a silence creep up on us as we strode toward the center of the village. My hopes that Roger would calm down were repeatedly dashed, his frustration seeming to build the closer we got. As we passed the smithy, which now had so wrought-iron decorations that were damned aesthetically pleasing, Fergus and Duncan ca running out.
“Morning!” Fergus said, beaming a smile. “How are you feeling, Fischer? Mind if we tag along with—” He cut off, his eyes going wide as he entered the range of Roger’s roiling chi. “Er, now that I think about it, I left sothing inside...” He backed away, dragging Duncan with him.
I forced my lips into a line, not letting even a hint of my amusent show. Annoyingly, Roger felt it coming from my core anyway, his sharp chi pulsing in response.
“There you are!” a familiar voice called from ahead, poking her head around a corner. “I worried that you two might have killed each other!”
I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking if anyone could make Roger calm down, it was his wife.
Nope.
When he caught sight of her, I instinctively pressed back against his flaring aura with so of the village’s light, worried that he’d cut through a building or sothing. He felt my will pressing against it, paused, and took a deep breath. Exhaling slowly, his power receded. “My apologies,” he stated, not sounding at all sorry. “I find myself out of sorts this morning.”
I could have let my purifying light out completely, using it to wash away Roger’s fury and make both of us feel better, but it wasn’t ti yet. Revealing it too soon would ruin Barry’s plans.
Roger’s eyes were still closed as he composed himself, so Sharon gave a grimace and mouthed, ‘Sorry.’
In retrospect, I should have expected her arrival to make him even worse after what she said a half hour ago. Thankfully, her physical presence made Roger actively shrink his out-of-control aura, not wanting to hurt her despite the information she’d revealed to him.
I shook my head, recalling her words.
“Oh, dear,” Sharon had said as she patted his arm. “I’ve been helping Maria sneak out for weeks.”
If looks could kill, the glare he’d given would have sliced into small trips, put on the longest sabiki rig ever, and cast out to sea. Sharon had quickly departed, making up so excuse about needing to get back to Tropica and help prepare the theater while we hashed it out.
As we traversed the last few streets, I fidgeted with an object in my pocket, seeking to distract myself. It didn’t work. We rounded a corner, and Barry’s voice bood out, carrying despite his conversational tone. “I know it may be hard to accept,” he said, “but I think Tropica’s transformation should be proof enough.”
“Not to ntion your transformation, Barry,” George said, not drawing the amount of laughter I thought his joke deserved.
I stepped up to the edge of the theater and peered down, finding an absolute sea of people staring at George as he poked one of Barry’s biceps. Trent was up there too, his fireproof artifact cutting a figure almost as impressive as Barry’s. Judging by the white pallor of so of the people sitting in the stands, I guessed that they’d already learned of everything. Smattered throughout the crowd, sitting as if they were just regular citizens, were the rest of the congregation. My spirit pals and Maria were off to the side, none of the unascended having the courage to sit anywhere near spirit beasts.
It was a stark contrast to the initial eting we’d had with the freed slaves of Gormona before they joined the ranks of the Church of... well, .
Back then, we’d had to put on a show of force, presenting an unwavering front to convince them they should join us. This ti, Barry was just laying everything out, stating the facts as they had happened. Rather than an unspoken threat, the congregation, including all my animal pals, were sitting with the rest. It was a declaration that all were equal, and that just because we were cultivators, that didn’t make us better than the regular citizens of Tropica.
But despite the calmness of the people sitting in the stands, I was under no illusion that there wouldn’t be problems. There would still be people that assud we were all mad. Maybe they’d run off to the capital, intent on selling us out to a monarchy that no longer existed. Perhaps they’d flee, heading for distant lands in an attempt to escape the changes coming to the world. Which they were free to try, of course. Whatever Tropica had beco, it was no dictatorship.
It only took my enhanced mind a mont to consider all this. Unfortunately, it didn’t distract enough to calm my racing heart. I took a deep breath, and just as I was about to slink down the steps, Sharon grabbed my arm.
“Good luck,” she whispered, giving a bright smile.
Before I could respond, she jabbed an elbow into Roger’s side, who grunted softly. He tensed his jaw, let out a long sigh, and locked eyes with . “Good luck,” he grumbled, looking like he’d rather have swallowed a boulder than spoken those words.
“Thank you,” I said, giving them a genuine smile. Then, I turned and descended the steps. Following Barry’s instructions, I channeled my power. Light shone from my skin, a pure brilliance that didn’t cast any shadows. It lit the entire area, bringing an imdiate silence to the theater. All eyes turned my way, and as the last gaze landed on , I released more chi.
It was only a fraction of mine and the village’s purifying aura, but the effect was imdiate.
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Panic and shock lted away from everyone’s faces as they took in. I clenched my jaw, and sweeping aside my misgivings, I let them see . Let them truly know my soul and its motivations. It was only for a second, but that was all that was needed. I smiled around the stands, seeing familiar faces, so that I’d t and even more that I’d rely exchanged pleasantries with on the streets of Tropica since arriving here. Blessedly, the light I was radiating also made feel as though everything was going to be okay.
I eased my way down the steps and up onto the stage, traveling as slowly as Barry had suggested. Unlike him, I hated the attention on . But considering the effect it had on the villagers of Tropica, it was a small price to pay. I stood beside Barry, the light coming from making his muscles gleam... which he probably loved.
That thought made smile, and I used it, casting it out toward the hundreds of faces still staring at . Nodding at them, I released my chi. The light died out, the world returning to normal.
Barry whistled softly, shaking his head as the sound bounced around the theater. “Well, there you have it, everyone. As I told you earlier, the rest of the leadership and I will handle the day-to-day of the Church. Although Fischer will probably spend most of his ti by the water, he is the true leader of Tropica. The one that will, eventually, beco our god.”
I was thankful that Barry let be absent from his speech about my importance, power, and all that, but it did nothing to stop a pang of doubt and worry from crawling into .
With my soothing aura now gone, my subconscious waiting for the looks of awe to beco glares of horror, terror, and derision. Seconds that felt like minutes passed, but the glares never ca. The color had returned to every face, and no one made a sound as they watched the stage. I sought out the person I’d antagonized the most, expecting at least her to cast disdain my way. Lena, the patron of the north-side cafe I’d spent many of my first months in Tropica getting into barbed exchanges with, looked at with naught but reverence.
As the monts passed, I finally believed Barry. I’d been hoping—praying—his words would co true, and that no one would despise for who I was. He was right. I was neither hated nor feared.
As I’d discovered in last-night’s breakthrough, I didn’t need their approval. But it felt good to have it anyway. That bubble of darkness within , the taphorical representation of the trauma from my old life, was uprooted and banished before the brightness of the faces watching .
I didn’t have to fake the smile that ca over , and the skin around my eyes bunched as I looked back at the sea of people, grateful for their trust.
There was a dash of movent to the side as Corporal Claws jumped on top of Teddy. She let out a loud whistle and clapped her forepaws together, trilling in delight as she bead a full-toothed grin down at and tried to start a round of applause. When no one joined in, she chirped indignantly, clapping even harder as she glared at everyone. A smattering of polite claps joined in, those that contributed still watching with wide-eyed gazes.
I leaned toward Barry. “We good, mate?” I whispered. “This is getting a little weird for .”
He grinned and reached over, patting on the back with one of his annoyingly toned arms. “Well done. That’s all we needed. You can go now if you want—”
“Thanks!” I replied, cutting him off. “Sorry for the deceit, everyone!” I called toward the crowd as I marched off the stage. “If you’ll excuse , it’s wonderful weather for fishing.” I was at Maria’s and my animal pals’ side in a mont, not hiding the relief on my face. “To the shore, Borks!”
Ruff! he barked, his entire body wagging as he opened a portal.
Giving a small wave to the theater of people still watching , I hopped through it, appearing on the patch of sand next to my headland. Maria ca through next, followed by a flood of furred and carapaced pals. Borks was last, and he closed the portal behind him.
Before I could get a word out, Maria slamd into , her arms going around my waist. “I’m so proud of—oof!”
She was hit on all sides, every creature coming to join the cuddle puddle. Snips clung to my back, as did Claws. Cinnamon leaped onto Maria’s head. Bill landed on one of my shoulders, and Pelly landed on one of Maria’s. Bumblebro and Queen Bee clung to my upper chest, buzzing with pride. Borks, in his golden retriever form, wound around our legs. Even Lemon was there, one of her roots waiting for our arrival. She wound around us, squeezing softly. And Teddy, as patient as ever, waited until last, his giant arms wrapping us in a hug.
Of the animals present, only Rocky didn’t partake. He lit his cigarette on one of the red lines covering his body, took a drag, and gave a respectful nod.
Despite the impromptu cuddle puddle, now that I was free of the villagers’ stares, my heart started thundering. Standing up on stage before them had been a daunting prospect, but it was nothing before what I was about to do. Claws, who had squird her way between Maria and , cocked her head. She let out a questioning coo, rapidly glancing between my pounding heart and the anxiety writ across my face. I took a steadying breath as adrenaline coursed through .
Sensing sothing was up, my animal pals extricated themselves from the hug, their expressions worried as they gazed up at from the ground.
“Fisher?” Maria asked, stepping back. “What’s wrong?”
I swallowed, my mouth feeling dryer than the sand I stood atop. “I...” I shook my head, closed my eyes, and let out a slow sigh. Gathering every ounce of courage I could muster, I reached into my pocket, grabbing hold of the object I’d been fidgeting with earlier. It was cold and hard, and with a shaking hand, I removed it.
I stared into Maria’s eyes, taking in the beautiful blue color of her irises, the sun making them shine. She was everything I could ever want and more.
“Maria,” I said, dropping to one knee on the sand. “Will you marry ?”
She gasped, her eyes going wide and tears welling within them. She froze there for a long mont that felt like an eternity. Holding out her hand, she nodded, covering her mouth as a tear ran down her cheek.
“Yes,” she said, her voice trembling, and I slid the ring onto her finger.
A roar of noise erupted from my animal pals, loud enough that a regular human might have been deafened. I shot to my feet and lifted Maria by the waist, my own eyes wet with tears as I held her tight.
“I love you,” she said, sobbing.
“I love you too.”
Everyone else rejoined us, the cuddle even more fervent than before. Overwhelming emotions crashed over like waves on the shore, and if I could have stayed in that mont forever, I would have.
“Also,” I said, unable to help myself, “your dad might want to kill .”
“What?” she asked, cry-laughing into my shoulder. “Why?”
“Because I asked him for permission to marry you this morning.”
She shook her head. “I don’t care if he said no, Fischer. He has no say in our lives.”
“Oh, no, he totally said yes. Though he wasn’t exactly ecstatic about it…”
“What?” She leaned back, her eyes wet with joy and a confused smile lingering on her lips. “Then why would he want to kill you?”
I winced. “Because when he said it was still too soon to move in together, Sharon told him she’s been sneaking you out for weeks...”
Her laughter bubbled up like a mountain spring, as beautiful as it was delicate. “We might have to go into hiding,” she eventually said, the words coming out through fits of giggles.
“Whatever it takes.”
We stared at each other for a long mont, both reveling in our love for the other. We might have continued doing so, but a polite yet insistent hiss ca from beside us.
Every head spun, turning to look at Rocky. He blew a single congratulatory bubble, ate the butt of his cigarette—which I suppose was better than littering, if a little gross—and locked his eyes on Snips. He made a complicated series of hisses and bubbles. The aning was, unfortunately, clear.
I find myself overwheld with emotion, mistress, he said, spinning to face the ocean. I desire to be launched.
Sergeant Snips, either happy to oblige the request or furious at him for ruining the mont, exploded forward. Water chi flowed from every hinge in her carapace, and with a smooth swing of her claw, she flung him out to sea. It was her best throw yet, rivaling the one I’d used to banish him.
Instead of his usual squeal of surprise, he removed another cigarette from gods knew where, lit it on his carapace, and took a deep, ponderous drag, his body tumbling end-over-end out toward the horizon.
Maria intertwined her fingers with mine, leaning her head on my arm as we watched him beco a re speck of black against the rising sun.
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