“How? I don’t understand how this even works,” said Terran.
Camina stretched her legs out, dangling them over the pristine white stones. “It is difficult for my mind to remember the right terms, but this place was created by a vast spell, an arcane construction so immense that the mind can barely conceive it.”
“A program, it’s called a program,” said Terran.
Her chin came up. “Yes, that’s it. A program.” She said the word as if she were tasting it. “Like any program, any spell, there are loopholes, ways to subvert the original intentions. After the early Offworlders subverted the Eater, giving them time, they found a way to utilize the program power of those they had defeated, eventually creating immortality for themselves.”
“We’re all just bodies in a pod, dreaming this existence until the end,” said Zara, crossing her arms. “Then our bodies are recycled. They couldn’t be immortal unless they’ve found a way to replicate their consciousness here.”
“Yes,” said Terran, snapping his fingers. “That’s why they have to kill the new cohorts, to take their processing power. The ship has limited space. They must displace them to take their place. Can anyone do this?”
“First a spell, a program, must be cast to connect into the great creation, fool it into accepting your mind as part of its own. This can only happen at a place of power, which are fewer and fewer,” said Camina.
“I bet that’s an access point to the ship’s computers, the ones running the game,” said Zara. “How did you survive in the between times when there were no Offworlders?”
“The beings of this world work as well, but their minds are small,” said Camina. “It takes a great host of them to equal one Offworlder.”
“The early wars you fought, that was in pursuit of immortality,” said Zara.
Camina closed her eyes. “You are not wrong. But it takes more than just killing. You must prepare the right spell and in the right spot.”
“Do you remember it?” asked Terran, and when Zara shot him a nasty look he said, “The place, not the spell.”
“Do not worry, my flame-haired beauty,” said Camina. “I do not remember the spell, nor would I tell you. Some things should remain hidden. But the place? Mine is lost, destroyed when the continents split in two and the waters rushed between.”
Terran placed a fist against his lips, stalked away. Camina watched him intently.
“You do not know Andelain’s intentions. Why not let her go, rebuild the settlement your own way? You are both honorable, you would do well not to ensnare yourself in the designs of the gods.”
“It is the gods that are precipitating this crisis. Without the Mother Tree, we would have been overrun already,” said Terran. “The dangers only grow. Whether it’s the Lady of Shadows, or the Howling Wind, or some other being set on extending their immortality.”
“Even me,” said Camina with the corner of her lip curled.
Zara put a hand to her hip, where she kept hidden weapons.
“I made my play in the Arena,” said Camina. “But your caution is warranted. I would not let down my guard either if I were you.”
“Are you sure you don’t remember? Or know of a place? I think this place of power is nearby. An altar beside a clear mountain lake. The trees in the vision are from this region, I recognized them after arriving, but I didn’t realize that until recently. Have you heard anything about grand spells in the mountains?” he asked.
She stared at him, lips pinched. “Are you sure you know what you are asking?”
“I’m willing to be wrong, if that’s what you mean. But my friends and I, we didn’t come here to rule, we came here to spend time with each other, but now that we’re stuck in this fight, I don’t want to give up. If working through Andelain, the Mother Tree, is the best way of surviving for my friends, then I will do what I must,” said Terran.
The corners of Camina’s eyes creased with understanding. She checked with Zara, who had the same intent look, but probably hadn’t caught the second meaning. He’d barely allowed himself to think about it, hoping he could find another way, but time was running out. Gneiss Glen had to survive for his friends to have a chance, even if that meant sacrificing himself.
“Very well,” said Camina. “There is a place that I am aware of, though I have never been there. It is only rumor, great magics in the mountains, but I believe it will be what you are looking for.”
“Thank you.”
Camina sighed. “You may not thank me later.”
She gave him a description of a hidden mountain pass that led to a clear lake. They might miss it if they weren’t looking for it, but she told them about a stone shaped like a man with a blindfold. If they went into the cave behind it, the way would lead them to the lake.
You have failed the quest “Find a way to get the book from Nostram Loganspire.”
You have failed the quest “Retrieve the stolen book from Gold Eyes.”
You have completed the hidden quest “Learn the location of a Place of Power.”
You have received experience and a Champion’s Path point.
“I have one more request,” said Terran.
Camina nodded.
“The prisoner El’Kar. May I purchase his freedom? I have much gold, or other items if you would prefer,” said Terran.
She looked away. “The gardener? Why?”
“He helped me.” She frowned. “And...I think he might be useful later.”
A smile rose to her lips. “That’s more like it. If you keep thinking like that, you might have a chance for survival.”
“What about you?” he asked.
“You have bigger things to worry about. Go to your altar. Save your Glen. I will free your friend.”
They left Camina seated on her rock, staring at the wave-like contours of the white stones. The nicks of battle and time wore on her like a cloak made of granite.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Outside the Arena in the dim glow of the distant magelights, Terran turned on Zara. His heart was a bumble bee in his chest. Everything he’d learned from Heavenly Death weighed upon him.
“I must go to the mountains tonight.”
Zara’s face wrinkled with confusion. She stepped in the direction of the Golden Kumquat, before hesitating.
“We can get our gear, make the journey together.”
Terran lifted his chin. “I must go alone and tonight. There’s too much at stake, too much to do. I want you and Luna to finish some things for the settlement before returning. It’ll take some time.”
“Why not go together? You can just teleport us there and back.”
“That would work if we weren’t going to spend our winnings. You’ll have to hire wagons, possibly guards and helpers. I can't move that kind of bulk. While you’re headed back, I’ll make the journey to the place of power. It’ll take time to find it,” said Terran.
“Are you sure that’s safe?”
“I can always travel back if things get rough,” he responded.
She frowned. “I suppose that makes sense, but I don’t like it. I feel like you’re purposely leaving me behind.”
“Of course I am,” he smirked. “Leading a wagon team sounds boring.”
She chuckled. “Fine. What do want me to do?”
“Buy anything you think might be useful. Steel. Timber. Loam if you can find it, I know I saw some in the market. The Trading Post needs to be a priority when we get back, and this should seed it quite well. Plus, we can’t rely on the Mother Tree alone to build our settlement, especially if we’re going to expand,” said Terran.
“I’ll stop by Granite Mountaineater. He’d be happy to sell us his stock,” said Zara.
“Good idea.”
Zara crossed her arms. “You know Della isn’t going to be happy. You’re avoiding her.”
Terran looked away. “I’m afraid I’m going to get her killed. Chanterelle took her hostage because of me. That’s not fair to Della or her daughter.�
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“Everyone is going to be at risk if the Howling Wind gets here.” Zara poked him in the arm. “Don’t deny yourself a little enjoyment. Running the settlement has to be tough. You need to keep your head clear.”
“Thanks, Zara. I’ll consider your advice, but for now I need to get moving,” said Terran. “Let Luna know the plan. I’m sure she’d prefer to ride back in the wagon rather than head into the mountains.
“Good luck. See you in the Glen.”
Terran teleported to his room in the Golden Kumquat, quickly gathering his gear for the journey in the dark. He could hear Della in her room. She was waiting up for him, but he didn’t want to get distracted. He left through his pathway traveling ability, appearing on the eastern side of the city. He was tired, but wanted to put some distance between him and Dagrath before he slept. He made it a few miles before finding a spot beneath the trees, throwing his cloak over his head, and falling asleep.
He repeated this pattern for the next few days. The villages and farms near the city turned to wilderness and the road became less traveled. He could have jumped ahead using his ability, but he didn’t want to rush it. There was a certain finality to his journey and taking his time walking felt like a measure of peace.
When he reached the mountains, he veered northeast off the path. The lazy stroll turned into a cautious march as he entered dangerous territory, but he wasn’t worried. He could handle himself against most enemies, and if they proved too difficult, he would just bounce back to the Golden Kumquat. Terran encountered a few critters as he climbed into the mountains, but he avoided them easily.
“Luna would be impressed,” he muttered to himself, knowing his companion would still have skewered him with a barb, despite his success.
Once in the mountains, he began to realize how difficult his quest would be. While he had the visions from Andelain, and the description from Camina, everything looked the same and distances were much farther than they appeared. He worried that he might wander around for weeks and never find anything until he remembered that when he traveled by hidden pathways, he was presented with a larger map.
Inside the screen, he was presented with the whole of the continent. The areas that he’d visited were colored in clearly, while the other regions were hazy, but he could make out rough details. A tower sat in the center of a snowy region to the northeast, and the eastern coast was dotted with smaller fishing villages.
But those grander details weren’t his interest. Terran focused on the mountains where he was, looking for contours that might suggest a hidden lake. He didn’t think he’d just be able to teleport there, he needed to have a good description of a place to move there without having visited first. The city of Dagrath had been easy because Zoras had so many books about the city. But after studying the map, he thought a hidden valley was suggested by the curve of the mountains. Not a big valley, but certainly one large enough to hold a lake.
Journeying to that location took another day. He checked back with the map frequently, hoping a detail would reveal itself, but he had to go on his cartography skills in hopes of finding the pass. It wasn’t until the seventh day since he’d left Dagrath that he came upon a stone pillar shaped like a man wearing a blindfold.
It took a few hours to find the cave. It was hidden behind gnarled bushes. He had to crawl through the thick branches to reach the opening, then stay on his hands and knees for another hundred yards before he could finally stand. Using his Theris Stone for night vision, Terran traveled the lonely cave, coming out on the other side after a three-hour journey.
The hidden valley on the other side took his breath away when he finally arrived. The crowns of the mountains were kissed with snow, and thick pines covered the slopes, leading down to a crystal-blue lake that was a mirror for the sky. He wasn’t sure if it was the anticipation, or the place itself, but the hairs on the back of his neck stayed at attention as he traveled down the slope to the lake.
The altar was easy to find. It sat on the edge of the lake in a green field. The large stone slab had runes along its edges. Terran hesitated to touch it, but when he did, he could feel the power thrumming through it.
“It’s a connection back to the Reliant,” said Terran, looking up at the sky as if he expected to see the ship floating above him. He ran his fingers along the edge. “Who knew that we would find such troubles here. I wonder if the other worlds are as flawed. But no one will know. These lands would have no meaning if the ones who run these games in the Reliant could come to our rescue.”
Terran circled the altar, then took a spot in the grass. He lay on his back, watched the clouds pass overhead, then ate a meal of dried fruits and mushrooms. Was it a last meal? He hadn’t decided. As the sun neared the tips of the mountains, he approached the altar again. He didn’t want to attempt this in the dark. With palms flat against the stone, Terran closed his eyes and reached out to the connection to the Mother Tree.
“Andelain, if you can hear me, I am at the altar that gave you birth. You asked me to find it so we can complete the ritual.”
He didn’t know what to expect, but when he saw a woman walking towards him from the edge of the lake, his whole body vibrated with meaning. Andelain looked as he’d seen her before, sunken and gray, eyes and hair like autumn, but her health long past.
“You’ve come back to the beginning, my champion,” she said, sad eyes regarding him. “You’ve grown more powerful since we last spoke. You have served me well.”
“I serve the people of Gneiss Glen. My friends and new family. If we cannot restore the Autumnal Empire, then everything will be lost when the Howling Wind arrives,” he said.
She stayed on the opposite side of the altar, tracing the runes with her fingertips wistfully. Andelain was a fell beauty, diminished but not broken. She looked deep into his eyes.
“Are you prepared to do what you must?”
Terran thought about Heavenly Death’s words, that even Andelain could not be trusted. How would he know otherwise? She could have fed him the visions of sacrifice for the community through their link, when the truth might have been far different. The Prophecy clearly required an offering. Was he prepared to give himself for the Glen? For his friends? He saw their faces in his mind: Zara, Newt, Flynn, and Luna. The Rock Leaf Elves were his family now. Petram. Ara. Jondar. Even Zoras. All of them. Even Chanterelle. Especially Chanterelle.
“I am.”
Andelain’s lip twitched. Her forehead hunched. “Climb upon the altar.”
He hesitated, closing his eyes momentarily, before hoisting himself upon it. He’d left his gear in the grass. Someone might find it at a later date. If he’d thought about it, he’d have given Zara his stuff, but then she would have known what he planned.
“I’m ready,” he said when his head was on the stone. At least I get to look at the blue sky.
“You must not move or the ritual will fail. I have not the strength to do this twice.”
Andelain reached out towards him. He’d expected the warm touch of flesh, but when her ethereal form passed into his side, a stab of pain reverberated through him.
“Ahhhh...that’s so cold,” he said, as breath came more quickly. It felt like a chunk of ice had been shoved into his chest.
“I’m sorry,” she said as her arm reached further into him. “This will hurt some. I know no other way.”
It hurt more than he’d thought it could. The further her arm went into him, the more his skin, his whole body, was on fire. He was certain he could end it. Roll off the altar and free himself of the pain, return to life. Terran couldn’t tell if his eyes were open or closed because they were filled with black spots. She was draining him, sucking away his life force. His screams echoed through the valley. Every time he thought about rolling off, he pictured his friends. It was the only thing keeping him on the altar.
After an unimaginable time of pain, he heard Andelain’s soft whisper in his head. She might have been speaking before that, but he didn’t hear it.
His world was one of fire.
“Do you accept?”
Her touch filled him. Every bit of her essence had entered him. He knew in this last moment that if he declined, he would be alive. His sacrifice had to be willing. There was no other way to make the magic work. Keeping the image of his friends firmly in his mind for the last time, he spoke his final word.
“Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The sky was infinite. Billions of galaxies swirled in the darkness, alone and together. There amid the vastness of night, a speck of silver floated through the emptiness. The whole of creation stood outside of it, yet, within its protective shell, new creations whirled apart, their dramas unfolding at the speed of human thought.
The grass tickled the back of his neck. It took a while for Terran to realize his eyes were open as he stared at the limitless night above the valley. Bliss hummed through his bones. He’d never been more content in his life, and if it weren’t for the rumbling in his belly, he could have stayed in that spot forever.
Terran sat up and pressed his thumb into his palm to confirm that he was, in fact, alive. The last thing he remembered was lying on the altar, but now he was in the grass, near his gear. Had he fallen asleep and dreamt his sacrifice to Andelain?
When he pulled up his interface, it exploded with new information. Screens scrolled past, updating and changing. “Whoa!” The pace made him dizzy, so he dismissed it, cradling his head in his hands.
“That was a bit much,” he said, breathing heavily.
Snatches of phrases and text filled him with excitement—and dread. “What have I become?”
He brought up the screen again, quickly closing his eyes to let the information finish updating. After a time, he chanced to open his eyes again, keeping his gaze focused forward and reading on that which was at the very top.
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