Rituals

by Ryan Hastings

  “Sounds like we’ve missed some shit,” Mooroos uttered. Ogg punched the gunslinger in his arm. Azal’el knelt down before the Celestial, humbly saying, “Yojun’Sha is on the warpath.” “He’s the one responsible for your other eye?” Kush’hera asked. “Yes,” Azal’el replied. “What else does he require? He said something about a formula.” “Yojun is simple enough to unravel, Azal’el. He’s a menace that will be dealt with,” the Celestial replied prissily.

  “I’d ask that you not underestimate him, ma’am,” Azal’el said respectfully. “He was the last thing my eye saw before it was cut out. He’s become an entirely new breed of monster and his confidence is not misplaced.” Kush’hera seemed taken aback by the angel’s description. Azal’el was not one to lightly assign such concern.

  “I will certainly enhance our involvement in matters concerning Yojun,” said the Celestial. “But, for now, I simply wish to keep a promise.” She gave her attention to the thunder troll from Mol’do. “Genri, by the authority given down to me, I hereby bestow upon you the title ‘El-Ilearsi, Chieftain of Zuhetta.’ The Light will always be before you,” she declared. Genri bowed low, almost forgetting this had been waiting for him.

  Those within earshot also knelt at the declaration. The Zuhettan front would finally begin to be able to unify.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  New Shiroan Winter

  It was a cloudy day over Shiro with a snowfall that seemed to slow down time itself. Thousands of Zuhettan refugees were already finding themselves comfortable in appropriate living quarters. They were even able to opt as to where their relocation could be. Rime had essentially appropriated the wealth of all of Malene. Money was less of an issue than getting a proportional workforce.

  While the winter snows fell, the cold almost seemed controlled. The vegetation of the region, undictated by the season, was unnaturally regenerating from the recent battles. As they arrived, Zuhettan soldiers and heroes volunteered to join Rime’s ranks. Others would choose to slip into a quieter life for the time being.

  Families found homes together, and individuals were able to easily find a place to call their own--even among the remaining destruction. It may as well have been a reunion among the various peoples. Everyone greeted each other with respect and friendship, an anomaly in and of itself.

  Azotus and Sapphira had delivered their report to the appropriate superiors, now joining Yana not far from the gate’s staging area. Yana was the kind that lived below her means. Even being a summoner of Raey’s, she tended to dress in leftover military attire and simple civilian garments.

  The scar on her hand was still covered by an ornate cloth of scarlet and azure, keeping Dehza’s continuing presence unknown. Despite the otherworldly war in the making, happiness had surely found its way into the lives of the people here. It was becoming easier for humanity to have a sense of success among the maelstrom of death. Even Yana was now due to be married to Bael--one of the many rays of light coming out of Shiro’s victory.

  Yana, puffing on a skunkweed cigarette, was in view of a refugee group coming into the city as her associates discussed the current affairs. A young boy with his parents waved at the summoner. Yana smiled and returned the friendly gesture. “So, we know the gate is secure,” Bael stated. “And…

  “That they could use airships,” Azotus replied plainly. “Trade sounds like it’s the name of the game for now,” Sapphira added. Bael leaned forward, contemplating. “I read a name in your notes, ‘Kushi,’” Yana commented with a grin, brandishing the war marshall’s pen and pad. Azotus looked at his belongings (between himself and Sapphira); then he leered at the redhead.

  “Who the hell is Kushi?” Bael inquired, motioning for the notes. “That’s what we thought,” Yana replied playfully. “We had to be sure Kora didn’t need to worry.” “Kush’hera, Celestial of Storm,” Azotus grumbled. “Just so happens that the wolvyn have high regard for her; that’s all.” “Uh-huh,” Bael replied, sliding the notes across the table.

  “We’ll work on military coordination with Zuhetta,” Azotus declared. “I wouldn’t dare speak my own voice over yours in such matters, Azotus,” the summoner replied with a laugh. “Between you and my fiancé, my life’s relatively easy.” “Did this voidkeeper make any specific requests?” Bael asked.

  “That void energy could not be weaponized,” Azotus replied, “but the lady Stella wished to discuss this more in depth in person.” “That sounds like a surprisingly easy order,” Bael remarked. “I’ve already notified the commanding council of the matter. I’d expect their envoy is as interested as we are,” the wolvyn concluded.

  “Yana,” Sapphira said, sifting through the pages of her report. “Does the name ‘O’zuega’ ring a bell?” she asked. “Stella asked about an O’zuegan summoner.” Yana had no idea what Sapphira was talking about. She genuinely shrugged at her friend’s question. Sapphira had heard the name mentioned by the voidkeeper, but she was otherwise unaware of the history behind it.

  Azotus was familiar with the O’zuega name but did nothing more than gauge Yana’s reaction to the information. The wolvyn’s prowess, in obscure history, served him well as he glanced at the heir of a great name. Bael recognized it in some vagueness as well, but the reaper would only soon find the lineage of which he’d become a part.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  What’s Becoming

  Enysa, awakening to a new reality, was feeling of her vampire-like fangs and examining her ashy skin.“My body feels so strong,” she thought to herself. “This isn’t even ecstasy; it’s just power. I can’t believe my body knows to recognize this. It feels so natural.” “Welcome back,” A’mi said with a smile, shining a light into Enysa’s eyes. “I could always tell you were crazy, but not this much,” she continued in a comforting tone. “How long was I out?” Enysa asked. “Twenty-seven hours,” A’mi replied professionally. Enysa tried to relax herself by staring at the sky. Reality now seemed a strange thing.

  “How’s your head?” Trova asked, sitting not far away. “I feel a little sick,” Enysa replied. “It’ll pass,” Trova assured. “I’d suggest you not try to stand for about an hour,” he added. “Are you mad that I chose this way?” Enysa asked. “You’re here now; that’s all that matters,” Trova replied.

  “The shadows find each other, right?” Enysa said with a grin, extending her hand out. Trova interlocked his fingers with hers. “I’m pretty sure you have a death wish, but I guess it’s my job to sort all of that out now,” he sighed. Enysa couldn’t help but giggle, playfully tightening her fingers against Trova’s. “That’s right, boss,” she said with a wink.

  A’mi packed a pipe with dragonskunk and handed it to Enysa. “It’ll help with the nausea to say the least.” Enysa puffed the pipe, coughing almost instantly after inhaling the potent smoke. Enysa noticed a phantasmal squirrel with bat wings sniffing around her feet, fading in and out of sight as it scurried around.

  “They’re harmless,” Trova remarked, noticing Enysa’s curious stare. “A corky byproduct of the transformation, they are ethereal sprites that still wander between the planes.” The new darkdancer continued to puff on the pipe, noticing that her strange sort of hangover was slowly dwindling. Enysa glanced around, seeing that their angel was nowhere to be found. “Where’s Miri’el?” she asked.

  “She originally went back to the Anoshi isles,” Trova replied; “but as of now, I could only guess her whereabouts.”

  Miri’el had gone to see the voidkeeper leave. Stella would be the last soul to enter the Anoshi gate, so for the time being she closed the door behind. The angel then returned to Zufa’zuf, greeting the citizens as she entered the temple Bol’rel had constructed. At these odd hours, there was only a handful of folks at the temple offering silent prayers and mourning the countless fallen.

  The faithful respectfully acknowledged the angel. They felt a disarming tranquility come over them as the
angel passed by. The young acolyte was tending to the incense at the altar, carefully measuring the reagents as he went from lantern to lantern. “You finally got ahold of a suitable regalia,” Miri’el remarked with a kind smile.

  The acolyte bowed low to the angel, blushing a bit at the compliment. Indeed, the boy was dressed in robes of deep red, gold, black, and brown. A local artisan had tailored and detailed the robe in fine materials and tasteful gems to resemble the scheme of Bol’rel’s armor. “You can remove your hood, child,” Miri’el stated in her usual manner.

  The acolyte put his hood back. He remained quiet and humble before the angel. “You’ll make a fine priest someday, Levi,” Miri’el commented. “Thank you, ma’am,” the acolyte replied, “but I doubt that’s why you’re back.” The angel motioned with her hand at the various lanterns, gently igniting the incense.

  Miri’el looked up to the highest point of the ceiling, admiring the beautiful art above. “Zufa’zuf is my home away from home. I’ve been in this plane for some time now. Even angels become weary here,” she explained.

  Even with the damage Rime still bore, Stella marveled at the grand city as she was driven through the streets. The voidkeeper got quite the tour since they were bound for the academy at the opposite end of Rime. A reaper helped Stella from the vehicle and then guided her inside.

  Stella saw a young woman wearing robes of white and detailed in scarlet and azure. The voidkeeper, able to sense something else about her, walked towards the summoner. Stella greeted Yana with a bow. The purple glow of the void filled the inside of her black robes. The summoner greeted Stella with a hug and a kiss on her cheek. Stella was taken aback by Yana’s almost angelic composure.

  “Um, would you mind speaking in private? Briefly?” Stella asked, with humble curiosity. “Sure,” Yana replied happily. “Follow me.” Zuhettan commanders and politicians remained with their counterparts while Yana went aside with the voidkeeper. They went to a small vacant courtyard. Dehza was the first one to speak. “She knows, Yana,” he said from under the ornate cloth. Yana removed the wrap, revealing the fiery dragon’s eye in her palm.

  “How did you know?” Yana asked curiously. “Celestials maintain traces of void energy in their very fiber,” Dehza explained. “Even if she didn’t know that, she would be able to tell there was another entity besides you. I must say, for a programmed doll, you carry the energy well.” “Don’t be rude,” Yana remarked.

  “He’s right,” Stella replied softly. “I must say, though, I haven’t heard the ‘doll’ analogy yet. You had the source covered. I was simply curious; but I can also assure you that your secret will remain one, and that you have our support.” “I doubt that was ever in question, dear,” Yana answered with a chuckle. “That’s not the only reason you’re here,” Dehza stated plainly. Stella paused, caught off guard by the truthful accusation.

  “You’re able to conjure portals?” the voidkeeper asked quietly. Yana nodded but bore a curious expression. “Can you get me to Mol’do?” Stella inquired. “Out of the question,” Dehza answered. “You’re still a soft target, voidkeeper, and naïve to think you’re not at risk. Besides, the pylon would not have been raised with Zuhetta’s.” “I couldn’t guarantee where in Mol’do you’d end up, even if I could get you there right now,” Yana added.

  “I see,” Stella said somewhat downheartedly. “The times will come, voidkeeper,” Dehza said. “I assure you that the people in Mol’do are not alone or forgotten.” Stella smiled and bowed her head. “May I ask for a place to rest?” she asked kindly. “And perhaps learn some of your own history in all of this.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  In the Service of Eternity

  “I heard about what happened to the two of you back in Mol’do,” Genri stated, as he signed the final of several letters to be sent to the allied areas. “There were no good decisions to come out of such a nightmare.” Holding the critter in her hand and scratching its belly, Fia gave the tumbler a pearl.“Your angel friend seemed far less forgiving,” she said softly. “The man had his remaining eye cut out by a renegade elemental warlord,” Genri replied with a half-hearted chuckle. “I think his temper was on a bit of a hair-trigger.”

  “I don’t blame him,” Sahja remarked. “He simply stated the truth.” Genri stood and stretched. “Truth is found in the Light,” he grunted. “Dom’rel will take advantage of what he can, with prophecy being among that list.” Diisu took the stack of letters and continued to stand attentively beside Genri.

  The group exited the tent to now be among the bustle of BFC construction and military preparations. Sahja glanced “over yonder,” seeing Kosho and his company fumbling around a large carrier vehicle. “I feel like we’ll need to be sure they packed everything,” he remarked. Fia gently punched his arm. “You mean YOU’LL check. You’re the one who hired them,” she said. Ogg and Mooroos approached the guardians and bowed low. “We wish to assist you,” they both exclaimed. Genri laughed. “I guess being in my honor guard was too boring of an option.”

  Fia looked at her husband and innocently shrugged. “On the condition that you act as our instructors to the less skilled of the bunch,” Sahja declared. “OF COURSE, GUARDIAN,” the warrior and gunslinger exclaimed with a salute. “Good enough for me,” Sahja answered plainly. Diisu could only shake her head in exasperation. “You haven’t had enough fighting yet?”

  “I suppose it’s our nature,” Mooroos replied, “but we’ll certainly miss our elementalist.” “Perhaps the two of you need some danger without the fallback of my protection,” Diisu replied confidently. “That sounds like a wager,” Ogg smirked. “Bring the heads of the underworld fiends,” Genri declared. “I’ll be sure they’re staked high, so all can see see your work.”

  Mooroos and Ogg saluted Genri. “Confirmed!” she exclaimed.

  Resting among the Celestial’s aura, Azal’el was given private passage to Asheya. “I sense you’re easing into your mortal form’s current ailments,” Kush’hera remarked. “It could always be worse, I suppose,” the angel replied casually. “Eyes tend to be wandering things anyway.” “You’ve certainly loosened up since you’ve been here,” the Celestial remarked happily. The angel grinned. “It’s been refreshing to fight alongside them, and it would be false to say that I haven’t been reminded of their plights here.”

  “Will you return to Eternity?” Kush’hera asked hintingly. “No,” Azal’el replied. “If Galai’el lost his mortal form, the loss of my eyes should be inconsequential. I continue to pray for forgiveness of my weakness.” Kush’hera ruffled her feathers. “Embracing mortality is not a weakness,” she declared, “nor is sacrificing alongside the rest of His children.” “His children are a piece of work. That goes for your bunch as well,” the angel remarked slyly. “Speaking of which, how is everyone else?” he added.

  Kush’hera, overplaying her exhaustion, sighed and plopped down on the ground.The Celestial rolled onto her back, beginning to reminisce as she filled in the angel on her other audiences and travels.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  7th Born

  Os’rel was cloaked in darkness and twisted nether, invisible to even a seasoned seer. He stood not far from the gates of Veil’Tasha with the fresh bodies of terrani guards to his rear. He drove the blade of his weapon into the soil and held up his hand to the city. The city began to shake with tremors; then the phenomenon became much more violent.

  Buildings began to blow apart from side to side. Rubble and dust quickly filled the streets of Veil’Tasha. As the fallen archangel closed his fingers, the grandest of buildings collapsed as if they had no foundation. Beginning to walk into the city, Os’rel took his scythe in hand.

  Several terrani warriors charged Os’rel but were splattered into a spray of blood and entrails with the very wave of the archangel’s hand. No matter what size, projectiles ricocheted off the fallen archangel’s armor like pellets. Spellflingers
barraged Os’rel with elemental magic to the point that a torrent of fire engulfed him. When the flames subsided, the archangel remained unscathed.

  Terrani soldiers and heroes engaged Os’rel, only to be swiftly dispatched by the powerful being. Os’rel’s scythe was never short on blood as he prioritized women and children. He even ignored entire groups of soldiers in order to dispose of a handful of civilians. Within the first ten minutes of his arrival, 113,000 people lost their lives. Os’rel’s silence only added to his frightening nature.

  It was obvious that the fallen archangel was heading to the center of the Veil. Forces were being formed to repel such a notion. Screams echoed throughout the Veil, as if the fallen archangel was literally in multiple places at once. Morale was becoming an issue as this impenetrable enemy progressed like a juggernaut through the Veil, never taking a step back.

  The Veil forces were throwing everything they could at their foe, but Os’rel remained casual as he decimated the place. The fallen archangel made a playtime out of it, toying with the defenders and citizens in his destruction of their homes. Buildings continued to collapse throughout the city, a sight that would befit an invading army. Os’rel spread his mutated wings; and, without moving a muscle, a shockwave went forth from him that leveled an entire district. Mortal bodies were entirely pulverized by the blast.

  A young woman broke cover to run for the defensive lines that were forming not far away. Os’rel held up his bladed gauntlet, stopping the woman in her tracks. He continued to stroll by, taking an infant from the girl’s arms and cutting her in half with his wing. He closed his hand around the infant, crushing it like crumbled paper.