by A F Kay
“Rescue who?” Padda asked.
“The Champions,” Blapy said.
Ruwen nodded. “They were waiting for us.”
“Rescue?” Padda asked. “But you need access to a Divine Realm.”
Madda turned to Blapy. “Are they coming through yours?”
Blapy shook her head. “You know better. I never spend any time in mine, and it would break the Pact anyway. I’m not allowed to help them.”
“But you can make things worse?” Ruwen blurted.
Blapy smiled behind the pincers. “Yes, I’m glad you noticed. That means others should have, too. It was wise to not depend on Rami, as that would eventually trace back to me. The overwhelming consensus will be my presence harmed you.”
“So you’re not here to harm me?” Ruwen asked.
“Have I ever?” Blapy asked.
Traumatic memories from Rod Spiders and Giant Centipedes to Clapping Brawlers and briefly fatal lightning strikes flooded his thoughts. “Yes.”
“Nonsense, we were just getting to know each other,” Blapy said.
“How do they get home then?” Madda asked.
Blapy raised her hand. “Don’t tell us. None of us should know.”
“Fine,” Madda said. “But at least tell us you have a plan.”
“I do,” Ruwen said.
For once, Sift didn’t groan or give him a hard time about his plans. He probably didn’t want to cause any additional anxiety for his parents.
Padda faced Ruwen. “We have so many questions for you. Let’s start with the most important. After you threw Phoenix on his back, you didn’t finish the Step. Why?”
Before Ruwen could speak, Blapy raised her hand again, silencing him, and then faced the Addas. “I will not interfere in your Clan’s business, especially on this topic. But I request if the boy’s answers don’t satisfy you, his banishment and execution occur after he has returned to the Material Realm.”
Ruwen’s heart sped up again, and he dropped into a level two meditation state to calm himself. From Sift’s expression, this had surprised him as well.
The Addas stared at each other for a few moments, and then Madda spoke. “We agree.”
Whatever Step Ruwen had discovered might cost him his life. He didn’t understand what he’d walked into, so he decided he would tell the complete truth. The Addas probably knew more about his capabilities than he did just from watching him walk into the room.
Madda waved at Ruwen. “Go ahead.”
“It was my first time using that move. I didn’t realize until the last moment it would destroy Phoenix’s Air Meridian.”
“But you were dueling,” Madda said. “He had accepted the risk.”
Ruwen bowed to them with his palm over his fist. “That is true, Grandmasters. I am still learning how to balance honor with my skills. In this instance, my honor stopped me from crippling my opponent.”
“Do you believe he would have shown you the same honor?” Padda asked.
“I do not. In fact, he did not,” Ruwen said.
“Then why?” Madda asked.
“First, part of me still doesn’t believe the secret I’m hiding is worth maiming another person.” Ruwen looked down. “I’m ashamed to say the second reason is I didn’t believe he could truly harm me. My successes here have made me arrogant. Third, my Sisen’s struggles with his Meridian’s have taught me their value. Taking one away from Phoenix would have been cruel.”
Even in his second level of meditation, his anxiety threatened to swamp him. He didn’t want to drop into a deeper state as he would lose his senses. It hadn’t occurred to him what he’d learned might be forbidden or dangerous. Now he might die because of it. What if they didn’t allow him and Sift to see each other anymore?
“How did you discover the Step?” Padda asked.
Ruwen glanced at Sift. “My Sisen taught me the Bamboo and Viper Steps, which I practiced. Sometimes the Step forms stopped being foils of each other, and instead appeared as a single form to me. The Step I used was from this combined form.”
“Show us your Clan forms,” Madda said.
Ruwen bowed again, and everyone moved back to give him room. He started with the Viper Steps, the energy building as he moved through the form. As soon as he finished, he transitioned into the Bamboo Steps, letting the gentle movements dissipate the built-up energy. When he finished, he bowed to Sift, and then Padda and Madda.
“How is this mastery possible?” Padda asked. “We can measure your training in weeks.”
Ruwen sighed, reluctant to reveal Rami’s part with Blapy here, but he supposed she probably already knew. “I know little about this realm, but I discovered I couldn’t die. A friend and I used that to my advantage. In reality, I have spent over four and a half years in constant training. No breaks to eat or sleep.”
The Addas looked at Blapy, and she nodded. “The boy is clever. He would have died anywhere else, but here he survived his irresponsible actions. Although Rami says it was close.”
“Was it real training?” Madda asked.
“Harder than real,” Blapy said quietly. “He endured broken bones, ripped muscles, burst organs, and more because he couldn’t die. Healed as soon as the pain had taught him the proper lesson. Over and over again. It’s no wonder his mind shattered.”
Padda turned to Sift. “You are his Sisen, what is your opinion?”
Sift bowed, palm on fist. “I regret not being present for my Sijun’s training. It shames me that another performed my duties. But I am proud of his work ethic, his determination to strengthen himself, and his cleverness in using this terrible situation to benefit his training.”
“He moves like you,” Madda said. “Like a Master.”
Padda and Madda locked gazes, and Ruwen wondered if they had some sort of telepathy, or if they just knew each other so well, they didn’t need words to communicate. Ruwen felt sick with worry.
“Ruwen,” Padda said. “This is not the place to discuss the Forbidden form. Vow never to use the Forbidden Steps until we’ve discussed them with you.”
Madda continued. “And that conversation is best had after you’ve both tested as Step Masters.”
Ruwen bowed. “On my eternal soul, I so vow.”
“Does that mean you’ll test us soon?” Sift asked.
“Rain does not hurry, and yet the oceans are full,” Padda said.
Ruwen grinned, the sack over his head hiding it. Sift had used that exact phrase on him earlier.
“Stop grinning,” Sift whispered to Ruwen.
Madda looked at Ruwen again. “You have surged past the levels we perform important ceremonies to bind you closer to the Clan. We will need to rectify that. Until then, the Clan blesses your Steps, and recognizes your achievement.”
Ruwen bowed to both the Grandmasters.
Padda and Madda grabbed their helmets and put them on. Madda pointed to the bird helmet. “Grab your helmet, son, and take us to your tent. We won’t pass up this opportunity to finally see your center.”
Sift’s shoulders slumped as he put on his helmet. “It isn’t pretty.”
As Sift left with his parents, Ruwen turned to follow them.
Blapy pointed at Ruwen. “Oh, no. You stay with me. You’re not out of danger yet. I need a little more information before I know whether to kill you or not.”
Chapter 34
Ruwen froze, hoping Blapy might be joking. But the look on her face, half-hidden behind the centipede's pincers, seemed dreadfully serious.
“Why does everyone want to kill me today?” Ruwen asked.
“Get used to it,” Blapy said and then took off her helmet.
Unlike the Addas, her head was solid, like Ruwen’s. Blapy had brought her physical body here. She pulled herself up onto the table, sat, and swung her legs.
Rami, will she really kill me?
Yes. If she thinks it’s the right thing to do.
If Blapy wanted to kill him, she could do it with a thought. He had no defen
se that would protect him. Knowing that actually relaxed him. And as soon as he relaxed, his curiosity came roaring back.
“Why did they call you The Companion?” Ruwen asked.
Blapy stared at the ceiling for a few moments. “I miss him.”
“Miss who?”
Blapy locked eyes with Ruwen. “Here they call him Father, or the One, or the true God. He would have laughed at that.”
It took a couple of seconds for Blapy’s words to make sense. “You mean the true God, like in what Sift believes? The God before the gods?”
Blapy nodded. “He was my dearest friend.”
Ruwen stood in stunned disbelief. He’d thought Sift’s beliefs were nonsense. After a few heartbeats, he forced a question out. “What about my gods?”
“They’re gods in their own right, but they all started as his disciples. They helped him battle to save the universe.”
Blapy had never sounded more serious.
“What happened?” Ruwen asked.
Blapy smiled sadly. “We won.”
“Then why do you look so sad?”
“Because of lies, greed, and power.” Blapy shook her head. “We aren’t here to talk about my past, but about your future.”
“Why would you want to kill me?”
“The Stone Harbor Spirit storm has disappeared, and since you’re here in one piece, I know what that means.” Blapy paused a moment and continued. “The previous owner of that Aspect was one of the few beings in the universe capable of becoming a god, and she was, in fact, on the edge of doing just that.”
“Was she your friend?”
“No, but she serves as a warning to anyone that underestimates you. And today, you demonstrated that a stalemate was just as good as a win. But that isn’t always the case.”
Ruwen nodded. “Winning is better.”
“And that is the crux of it,” Blapy said. “Will you be strong enough when the time comes to win? Or will you just serve to upset the stalemate and cause the loss of everything precious?”
“But I don’t even know what this fight is about.”
“I know. And before you ask, I won’t tell you. You aren’t ready for it yet.”
Ruwen let his Core take his frustration. He thought about everything Uru had done to create him and set him on the path to power. Her motives must align with Blapy’s, or Blapy would have killed him long ago. In fact, Uru had planned for him to interact with Blapy from the beginning.
Two things became clear to Ruwen. First, Uru needed Blapy for Uru’s plan to succeed. And second, Blapy was scared. That realization shook him. Because if it scared Blapy, then he should be terrified.
“I think I understand,” Ruwen said.
“Maybe part of it,” Blapy said and looked down. “Uru fought to finish what he’d started. But she only alienated herself from her peers. She promised me she wouldn’t give up.” Blapy looked at Ruwen. “And now you’re here. A glimmer of hope. But what if you’re just as bad as his disciples? What if you’re worse? There will come a day when none of us will be able to stop you, and then I’ll think about this moment, the moment that made victory possible, or the moment I could have stopped a disaster.”
“Will you get another chance to finish your friend’s work?” Ruwen asked.
Blapy shook her head. “No, and I see the cost Uru paid in making this all possible. She will not survive what’s coming without you.”
Ruwen remained quiet. That meant Blapy would also abandon an ally by killing him. He knew the issue revolved around him, and if inside, he was a monster. Blapy didn’t want a cure that was worse than the disease.
Blapy narrowed her eyes and then looked up at Ruwen. “Assuming Rami agrees, will you allow me to see what’s happened since you’ve left the pyramid?”
Ruwen wanted to live. He had just turned sixteen and his entire life, one he’d carefully planned, lay in front of him. But he trusted Blapy. She had more life experience than he could comprehend. And really, if he were some sort of monster, just waiting for power so he could abuse the universe, it would be better to die here.
“Of course,” Ruwen said.
Are you sure? Rami asked.
I am.
Memories flashed by as Rami transferred them to Blapy…the day he grouped with his peers in Fractal, and he grabbed Slib by the throat to stop him from insulting his parents…handing Sift Lylan’s memory ring and realizing how selfish he’d been for keeping it hidden…trying to sacrifice himself by opening his Void Band as the Naktos Mage cast his spell…staring down at Juva as the man begged him to help Slib…fighting the Plague Siren to buy his group time to escape…years of constant pressure and pain as Rami taught him…absorbing an entire storm to protect his friends…releasing Phoenix’s arm instead of crippling him…realizing he would rather die here, than be a monster.
Blapy remained quiet, and Ruwen didn’t interrupt her.
What happens to you if I die? Ruwen asked Rami.
I don’t know. But if she killed you and I survived, I’d never speak to her again.
“Why that Aspect?” Blapy asked him.
Ruwen looked down at it. “Honestly, my body is really bright, and this was the only one that completely covered me.”
“Could she have planned that?” Blapy whispered as she tapped her chin. “Is she manipulating him somehow?”
Ruwen recognized a rhetorical question and remained silent. Plus, he had no idea what Uru had planned.
Blapy looked up at him. “When Phoenix asked why you were there, you said it was to protect the Harvest. Why?”
Ruwen shrugged. “It will sound weird, but I kind of like scarecrows. They scare me a little, but the idea of them protecting the fields resonates with me. I guess I was just playing the part.”
Blapy jumped down from the table and strode up to Ruwen. “Do you think a scarecrow is sad when the harvest is finished? Do you think it wishes no one ever gathered the crops?”
Maybe he wasn’t the only weird one. He’d never put that much thought into it. “I don’t think he’s sad. Satisfied, maybe. Proud even. He fulfilled his purpose, and because of that, hundreds of people survive the winter.”
Blapy stared up at Ruwen for a full minute, and he wondered if his death approached. He had no doubts Blapy could make him disappear permanently.
Blapy pointed up at him. “Don’t fail us.”
Ruwen let out a breath and nodded.
She returned to her perch on the table. “It’s been ten thousand years since I’ve felt this nervous.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’ve grown powerful here. Not just with your Step training, but your Harvesting, too. You controlled your essence well and managed to Harvest just your immediate area. Shocking progress, actually. And the most impressive thing is your mental defense. Truly you have much to be proud of.”
“Thanks, I worked hard on it all.”
“I know. But if you return to the Material Realm, no one can see you Harvest or cast spells with Spirit. For the foreseeable future, you must only use your Class abilities. Continue to practice your Harvesting and Fortifying, but only in private. If the stalemate breaks before you’re ready, we will all suffer. This is so much bigger than you now.”
Ruwen already knew he’d need to hide his abilities. They weren’t natural, and he didn’t want to bring attention to himself.
“I understand,” Ruwen said.
“I doubt that. Things are already in motion that will sorely tempt you. But you need to find solutions other than your Harvesting.”
“I promise.”
“Good, now we need to discuss my foothold on your planet. I’ve avoided it since…well for a long time. But I’ll need a permanent doorway now.”
Her mention of a doorway made him think of the Blood Gate, which made him think of Fractal.
“I, uh, might have given a dungeon some of your blood moss.”
“I saw that in your memories. Fractal is a baby, and while his choice of Master is questionable, his logic was s
ound. I have a proposition for you.”
“Okay,” Ruwen said, unsure what he had to offer Blapy.
“I propose an alliance between us,” Blapy said.
“An alliance? I thought you couldn’t show me any favoritism?” Ruwen asked.
“I can’t, which is why I went out of my way today to make things harder on you. Others will notice, too, which might benefit the Scarecrow in the future. I have enemies as well, and they might reach out to you. But I’m talking about an alliance between myself and Fractal. He is young and still needs his Keeper for decisions like this. Eventually, he’ll be able to decide for himself.”
“You want to ally with Fractal? Will he be okay?” Ruwen asked and then immediately regretted it. “I mean, you know, because you’re a little more powerful.”
“I’ll be a lot nicer to him than I am to you.”
Ruwen sighed in relief, and Blapy narrowed her eyes.
“What will happen?” Ruwen asked quickly.
“I’ll funnel resources to him so he can get stronger, create an area for me and my people, and guide baby Fractal as he grows.”
That all sounded great, but he knew there would be a catch. “What do you get out of it?” Ruwen asked.
“It gives me a foothold on your world, and access to power I have avoided. It will be easier to keep tabs on you. So if you disobey me,” Blapy slammed the table with her hand, and Ruwen jumped, “I’ll smash you. Just kidding. Mostly.”
What do you think, Rami?
I don’t really think I should answer that.
Why?
Um, well, it’s kind of a conflict of interests.
Because Blapy is your mom?
Rami didn’t answer.
It’s okay if you can’t answer. I finally put it all together. The old drawings of the pyramid and even the coins she gave us today have a coiled dragon. And then I thought I recognized a gigantic black dragon at the reception. You’re a wyrm, which is an old term for dragons. And today Willow said Blapy was one of The Companion’s forms. That’s what made it click. Someone as powerful as Blapy can take any form she wishes, and could easily create beings like you and Io.