Rainhorn (The Weirkey Chronicles Book 2)

by Sarah Lin

  Rainhorn

  Book #2 of The Weirkey Chronicles

  Version 1.0

  © 2021 Sarah Lin

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  The story so far...

  Theo’s first journey in the Nine Worlds ended in tragedy. The mentor who first taught him how to survive in the Nine demanded that he return to Earth, and when he refused, killed him and his allies. Theo survived only due to a quirk of fate, his soul returning to a hospital bed on Earth.

  After struggling to find a way back for forty years, Theo finally returns to the Nine Worlds, this time emerging in the peaceful world of Tatian. Reborn as a young man, he finds that he retains none of his former soulhome’s power and must start again from scratch, starting with rediscovering the ability to wield cantae.

  Around him, inhabitants of other worlds begin to emerge from the cracks in reality which brought him there. He has to intervene quickly to help an Ichili woman named Fiyu who is frightened by the bright light of Tatian’s sun and its inhabitants’ startling lack of regard for personal space. With the help of a Mundhin stoneshaper, Theo fashions her a mask to protect her from the light and volunteers to help the local Farmguards to guide her and the other refugees back to their home worlds.

  As they begin their journey, Theo starts to gather the sublime materials he will need to start building a soulhome, but cannot progress further without awakening as a soulcrafter and gaining access to his soul’s foundation. As he does so, he meets a young man named Magnafor who he quickly recognises as a fellow visitor from Earth. Mistrustful and hostile, he warns Theo to stay away from him, asserting that where humans tread in the Nine, trouble with demons follows.

  Without a soulhome, Theo is defenceless against an attack, so he once again approaches the stoneshaper Navim to ask for a weapon. Though he inscribes it as a soulcrafter’s armament, Navim cautions that Theo should use it as a normal spear until he can control its power. Two days later, the caravan experiences its first demon attack, and Theo is pressed into action alongside Fiyu, Navim, and the Farmguards to defend the other travellers. They work together to repel the invaders, but Theo notices too late that the last few demons are beginning to sacrifice themselves to summon a powerful second-stage demon. It begins to manifest, and in desperation he activates the inscription on the spear to destroy it just as it emerges into reality.

  The power awakens Theo's soulhome with a painful shock. Panicking as he realises his physical body is defenceless, he struggles to return to the real world, but finds that the battle is over and his wounds are being tended by healers from a nearby village. He eagerly begins to soulcraft for the first time in forty long years.

  Having proved themselves in combat, Theo and some of the other refugees are invited to the Landguard village in the city of Myufuru to be trained as soulcrafters. They are greeted by Nanjuma, a Ruler with a powerful third-tier soulhome, who explains that they will be provided with sublime materials, training, and the opportunity to compete for valuable second-tier Archcrafter materials.

  Soon afterwards, the students are split into teams to compete amongst each other. A young Tatian woman named Nauda selects him at the urging of her first pick, Fiyu. They are joined by Kuber, a Tatian man with a large yet unremarkable soulhome, and several weaker soulcrafters from Tatian and the neighbouring worlds of Deuxan and Fithe.

  As Theo finishes crafting his soulhome’s vestibule and starts working on his solar blueprint, he gets to know Fiyu, Nauda, and Navim better, but makes few other friends. Though the classes are trivial compared to his experience from his past life, Theo makes the most of them to train his body and earn more materials for his soul.

  Soon, he has to put his redeveloped skills to the test when demons attack a nearby village and the students are sent to help Nanjuma deal with the attack. Nauda proves to be a strong fighter, with an unusual binding technique allowing her to freeze demons in place while others attack them, and Fiyu’s lightstorm bolts prove essential for dealing with new breeds of demons.

  Freshly rewarded for their efforts in battle, Theo heads into the city with Nauda and Fiyu to acquire rare sublime materials to improve their soulhomes. Using their new purchases and Nauda’s observation technique, Theo teaches Fiyu to build a defensive window to help her adjust better to Tatian’s bright, noisy environment.

  Later, Theo attempts to ignite the solar core which will serve as the heart of his soulhome, but to his horror it explodes catastrophically and permanently scars the walls of his central chamber, leaving his plans in tatters. After a period of depression and reflection, he turns to Navim and Nanjuma for counsel, and he comes to realise that his blueprint is designed around his younger self, ignoring the changes in his soul in the forty intervening years. Freshly inspired, Theo begins to reimagine his bright sunlit soulhome concept to instead revolve around a dark singularity.

  All too soon, the first contest between teams arrives. Theo feels unprepared, as does Kuber, who owns a powerful Archcrafter-tier armament which his modest soulhome cannot yet support. The first three bouts are won by Fiyu, Nauda, and Kuber, but their streak ends when Theo’s lack of specialised techniques leads him to be knocked out of the ring. The match eventually ends in victory for Nauda’s team, but they only have a week to prepare for the next contest.

  Theo works fervently to create his new blueprint’s first technique chamber: an ability to cast gravitational fields over his opponents. As he arrives for the next match, however, he finds that most of their team has fallen ill. His suspicion of foul play is confirmed by a smirk from the Deuxan woman on the opposing team, but with no immediate proof, Nauda’s team is left to fight with only herself, Fiyu and Theo fully fit. With Theo easily winning multiple matches, they manage to pull off a victory, but Nauda is injured in the process.

  After the truth of the poisoning emerges, Nanjuma apologises to Nauda, Theo and Fiyu and invites them to a private feast where they are served potent sublime foods. Theo decides to inform Nanjuma of his suspicions that Magnafor is planning to break into the Landguard village’s vault of high-tier sublime materials, but stops short of making a direct accusation. He is more forthcoming with his teammates, revealing a little of his history, and to his surprise they agree to help him in the event of a conflict over the vault’s contents, so long as nobody is harmed.

  After another week of soulcrafting, Theo arrives for their next match, and notices Kuber nervously clutching his Archcrafter armament. Theo discovers that Magnafor has taught Kuber how to dedicate his whole soulhome to powering the weapon, but as his bout with Navim starts, it becomes clear that he can’t control its power. A blast from the staff shatters the Mundhin’s rocky body, and Nanjuma quickly halts the match. None of the local healers can help, and Magnafor suggests that they rush to Navim’s homeworld, Arbai. Nanjuma quickly agrees and sweeps everyone along.

  As they arrive in Arbai, they are unexpectedly attacked by an unknown Ruler-tier assailant. Nanjuma springs away to battle, leaving the others to scramble in the chaos… and Magnafor to flee for the gate. Theo gives chase, but Magnafor fights him off and closes the gate between worlds behind him. Stranded in the Arbai desert, Theo and his allies rush to bring Navim to his school, where he can be healed. Theo strikes a deal with the school’s master, a fourth-tier Authority with the ability to use Weirkeys, to return them to Myufuru so they can pursue Magnafor.

  When they arrive back at the training village, they discover its students fighting a demon invasion. They cut through the battle in pursui
t of Magnafor, but are blocked by Kuber, still wielding his Archcrafter staff. Magnafor disappears into the giant tree containing the Landguard vault, and Theo is forced to choose between giving chase and helping his friends. At the last second, he turns back and together they manage to defeat Kuber.

  As they turn towards the tree, they realise it’s too late to stop Magnafor… just in time to watch the entire tree to twist in on itself and snap out of existence entirely. Horrified, they realise it had been a trap, intended to annihilate anyone who wanted to pillage the vault.

  In the aftermath, Nanjuma is questioned by Landguards about visitors from other worlds, but to Theo’s relief he only mentions Magnafor. Nauda and Fiyu are just as keen to leave as Theo, and they agree to venture into the north of Tatian, back towards Nauda’s home...

  Chapter 1

  As a living god passed overhead, Theo kept his tree branch over his head and felt like an idiot.

  The soulcrafter floating above the path wasn't really a god, of course, but he might as well have been, given Theo's present state. The man he'd been in his past life could have fought such opponents easily, but now he was just a first tier soulcrafter. Even if he built his first floor perfectly and ascended, he didn't stand a chance against an Authority-tier soulcrafter.

  Fortunately, the Landguard was only patrolling, not tracking him specifically. The branches he'd propped over his cloak got itchier and itchier, but he resisted the urge to adjust them. He didn't even dare look up, just kept himself hidden until the massive pressure passed on.

  Only once the Landguard soulcrafter had entirely vanished did Theo make his way back to the path and continue on his way. Like practically every path in the world of Tatian, it was a pleasant little road with fruit-laden branches leaning over the sides, lined by verdant fields or warm little communities. He couldn't wait to be out of the insufferable place.

  The Tatian Landguard was a powerful organization defending the entire world, which made it particularly inconvenient that they were hunting him down. Technically they were searching for outsiders to the Nine Worlds, but he was fairly sure that meant him. All of their agents were overwhelmingly powerful compared to him, plus they'd all be at least competent, unlike local Farmguards.

  However, they weren't dealing with just anyone. Theo crept from out of the trees, slipping his shielding tree branches into his pack and instead pulling a silvery cloak over his shoulders. He'd stolen it from some Deuxan travelers in a previous village, thanks to their relaxation in the environment. It was one of several different disguises he'd put together during his months of travel, leaving him wishing that he was strong enough to store all his supplies in his soulhome.

  His skin was too light to be a native Tatian, so he needed to pretend to be a traveler from another of the Nine Worlds. Deuxan was easiest, especially now that he had the clothes, but he also had a Fithan cloak. Though he lacked the skin or horns to look truly Fithan, Tatians really didn't know much about Fithe, so he could get away with it. That actually stopped him from using an Ichili disguise, which otherwise would have been a good bet: the locals knew so little about Ichil that he would draw attention as an outsider anyway.

  Slipping between guises and paths, he'd been making his way to the city of Nlukoko for just over three months. Though he'd expected the isolated travel to be enjoyable, he found himself looking forward to meeting Fiyu and Nauda again at their destination. Since they had all left Myufuru at the same time, the possibility that the Landguards were looking for an odd trio was just too high to travel together.

  Though he was finally getting close, that meant that his concerns about what would happen there came back to the forefront. Since he wanted to avoid the forests for now, Theo instead made his way to one of the larger paths, to blend in with the crowd. Since he was relatively close to the city, even the local rubes might have information for him.

  A group of Tatians ambled along, infuriatingly slow, but Theo matched pace with them. They noticed and immediately became all smiles. One of them was carrying a child, which pointed at him and began squeaking "Foreigner! Foreigner!" cheerfully, but its mother quieted it down with pats on the head. One of the others approached and clasped his forearm in a friendly way.

  "Hello there! Don't mind the child, this is just her first time out of the village."

  "I don't mind at all." Though it might have been wasted on local villagers, Theo carefully modulated his tone for an aristocratic Deuxan accent. "I've seen how well you treat foreigners here."

  "Are you from the city?" one of the men asked, almost as curious as the child. "You're Deuxan, right?"

  "Actually, I'm traveling to Nlukoko for the first time."

  "Oh. I thought you might be from there because we see a lot of cloaks like yours coming from that direction, though I'm not sure why."

  That suggested there was a gate to Deuxan in Nlukoko, which was useful information that made his cover story more plausible. Theo invented a story about having fallen into Tatian through a temporary door and attempting to make his way back to his home world. The villagers were immediately sympathetic and thrust offers of food and lodging on him, which he skillfully deflected in the Tatian manner. A real Deuxan would probably have been offended, but he figured they wouldn't know the difference.

  More importantly, he gleaned significant information about his destination from their babbling. Most cities on Tatian were basically the same, but Nlukoko seemed to be the exception, likely due to the fact that it had at least one gate to another world. Though Tatian welcomed other worlds at arms' length, and was well-defended by the Landguard, it had to have absorbed some culture from the other side. They likely had more diverse sublime materials as well, which he made a note to take advantage of.

  The other side, however, was that Nlukoko seemed to have a poor reputation. Tatians didn't gossip - at least not in the spiteful ways he expected - but they suggested that the community there "wasn't very friendly", which might as well have been calling them homicidal cannibals. Though he doubted it could be as hostile as many places in the Nine, increased caution seemed appropriate.

  Beyond that, the real question was why Nauda had suggested that they meet there. She had told them that her home lay in the north, but was cagey about exactly where it was. It was possible that growing up in an unusual city was the source of her unusual attitude, but also possible that she had another...

  Theo's train of thought derailed as he realized that the Landguard walked on the path ahead. Toward him.

  He immediately lowered his gaze and pulled his soulcrafter senses inward, but the moment had been enough. They'd completely changed their appearance somehow and shielded their power, it just wasn't good enough to fool him. The border of their soulhome must be reinforced by a shielding wall, which would defend their soul and also allow them to hide their strength. It was likely two stories high, letting them feel like a mere Archcrafter, but it lacked the gate that would allow them to modulate their cantae. Those who had passed beyond the Ruler tier had cantae that felt more liquid than gaseous, though the difference wasn't obvious except to those who knew it.

  His knowledge from his past life just made him aware of the danger, not able to do anything about it. There were plenty of people on the road and the Landguard wasn't aiming specifically for him, so it must be mere suspicions. The problem was, all his options for escape would make him stand out from the crowd. Getting off the road into the fields around, which were craggier than in the south, might be enough for him to hide, the problem was getting there.

  While he thought, their groups drew ever closer. Fortunately, the Landguard paused to greet others along the path, but that just stretched out the tension...

  "Tell me," Theo entered the Tatians' conversation at the first opportunity, "do you know if there's a Landguard base in Nlukoko?"

  "Oh, I don't think so," the Tatian man said, blinking in surprise. "Maybe a few of them. But the Landguards are here to defend us. There aren't any problems from Deuxan, are t
here?"

  "I don't think so, but I was wondering if they might help me get back." With every step they got closer and closer, but talking about Landguards would be the last thing an outsider would do. Theo made sure to smile at approaching groups like normal while focusing on his companions. "Is there anywhere nearby where I could take a look at the area, find my way to Nlukoko?"

  "Certainly, certainly! Here, let us show you!"

  As he'd hoped, the family took time out of their schedule to take him onto another path toward one of the hills. They left the path not long before they would have passed the Landguard and he had no idea how close of a scrape it had been. Maybe the Landguard had a chamber in his soulhome dedicated to analysis, maybe not, but he couldn't risk looking backward either way.

  They climbed the hill, still chattering in a friendly fashion, but it got steeper faster than he'd expected. He'd thought that all of Tatian was fairly flat, or at worst rolling plains, but this hill was high and jagged enough that there could be dangerous falls.

  "There, you see?" The mother shifted her child to one arm so that she could point. "You can't see Nlukoko, but the river there passes right through it! So if you head that way, you'll be sure to see it. Just watch your step on these paths!"

  "Thank you, I will." Theo paused, wondering if he should feed them misinformation in case they were questioned by Landguards later. He decided that any stratagem might end up suspicious, while a simple friendly encounter might be forgotten. "I'm appreciative for all your help. You've been very kind to a foreigner far from Deuxan."

  "I hope you find your way back home! And if you see any Landguards, just ask them. The Landguard is here to help us."

  The frustrating thing was that their bland smiles were essentially justified, here on Tatian. Theo forced himself to smile back and left with minimal embraces, heading up the path as quickly as he could. As he moved on, the path grew narrower, more shielded from the farms around by the elevation and the brightly-colored trees growing around him.