Sol Lands

by Riker Kane

  “I agree,” Rhiannon said. “We should take this opportunity to collect ourselves. I will speak to the villagers here and see how their training is coming along.”

  “And I will make sure there is an abundance in the stockade,” Zafina said. “Though I do not wish for the worst to come, we must be prepared for all possibilities. Food and water are always of utmost importance.”

  Zafina and Rhiannon excused themselves, leaving me alone with the old man watching over the peaceful village. I limped forward with the help of my cane while Joris walked by my side, his hands behind his back.

  “So… The Nobles thought it would be best to gather Mana from a Herald itself. To risk something that great truly signifies how desperate our people are.”

  “She wasn’t desperate as much as she wanted vengeance. In a way, I don’t hold it against her. It’s hard to think straight after losing everything you’ve ever known.”

  “I am glad you were able to make her see reason. Nothing is stopping the other world from coming for us. We must stand together if we are to have a chance.”

  “If they’re with us or not, I’ve sworn to protect Iorus. But… it’s nice having her along.”

  “Indeed.”

  I looked up toward the hillside and saw Lyra standing next to the stone wall. She wasn’t firing arrows, instead just sitting quietly and looking out into the distance.

  “Lyra,” I said. “She seems… different from everybody else.”

  “I would say everybody is different from everyone else. But it is more accurate for that young woman. She is carefree—a free spirit. I wish I had the energy she had during my youth.”

  “She’s got a lot of energy but she gets moody from time to time. I get it though. I’d be upset about what happened. But she’s not trusting of the raiders or the Nobles. She didn’t think I could get Queen Cellica on our side. I know her cynicism isn’t just from losing Qashia because you’re still optimistic. The people in Haven are the same.” I chuckled to myself, realizing how much I didn’t know about her. “I guess I’m just wondering what Lyra’s deal is.”

  Joris straightened up as he looked at the silver-haired woman in the distance. “I haven’t known Lyra for very long. We all came together when the attack happened. She lost her mother. She lost her father. She lost a brother. We have all lost. We all cope in our own way. What you see now is her way.”

  He patted me on the arm, smiling as he walked back to his hut. “If anything, she is resilient.”

  “No kidding…” With the rest of the day off, I headed up the hillside to join her. She moved to sit on the grass and leaned against the wall as she looked down on Haven. Her fingers played with the blades of grass, her lips twisted as she whistled.

  “It’s nice up here, ain’t it?” I said as I took a seat next to her.

  “It’s okay. The air could be a little fresher.”

  “Back home, there was never any air as fresh as this. All the cars and factories meant it was smoggy as hell. I never noticed it though until I left.”

  “You must’ve been happy to get away.”

  “It was nice to get some fresh air but I have fond memories of the North Side. It’ll always be home.”

  She raised an eyebrow at me. “What about here? Aren’t you trying to protect Iorus or that place back to the west?”

  “I can have more than one place to call home.”

  “Fair enough.” She turned back to the grass, picking at it to distract herself from something on her mind. Then again, Lyra was the type that there might not have actually been anything on her mind.

  “The Nobles are on our side,” I said. “Queen Cellica’s judgment was just a little cloudy because of the Herald.”

  “There was no Herald when she left this place behind and started her own city. She established Euphoria all on her own.”

  “True. You can hold that against her—”

  “But what?” She looked up at me, almost angry. For a second, I thought about getting up and giving her space. But I couldn’t walk away. Not now.

  I didn’t say anything though. I just stayed quiet, letting her turn the gears in her head for herself. She sighed a soft breath through her nose, lips twisted in contemplation.

  “Operation Reconciliation,” she said.

  “It was your idea,” I said with a chuckle.

  “What was I thinking?”

  “It doesn’t matter what your attitudes are, you’re all Qashians.”

  “You’ve still got a long way to go, Virgil. But… I think you can do it. I feel like…” She stopped suddenly.

  “What is it?” I sensed there was something heavier on her mind.

  “I feel like you’re the only person I can trust besides Joris. You two are the… the only ones I have left.”

  “You can trust Rhiannon and Zafina.”

  “If they’re your friends, they’re my friends, too. Something tells me they’re more than friends though.” She arched an eyebrow at me, a not-so-devilish smirk crossing her lips.

  I chuckled and shrugged. “I trust them.”

  “I know what that’s like.”

  “I figure you had a lot of old flames in Qashia. Lyra the heartbreaker.”

  “Pfft! Don’t patronize me. I’m talking about my brother. I could trust him with anything. This one time, we went out late when there was a lunar eclipse. Our parents told us to stay close to home but I couldn’t get a good viewing angle. I convinced my brother the view would be better from the mountainside.”

  “Something tells me you convinced him.”

  She laughed, her eyes lost in her memory. “We got to the top and saw the eclipse. It was beautiful. One moment of time when everything was lined up perfectly. Of course, the moment was ruined when a wild coyote came after us. Thankfully I had a knife with me. It left a scar but I got the best of it.” She put her left wrist up and showed me the small line on her fair skin. “I told Norris not to tell mom and dad and he shut his mouth. Mom and dad never found out… Now they never will…”

  Lyra maintained her composure despite the somberness in her eyes.

  “Norris… He was younger than you?”

  “That’s right,” she said with a nod. “He was always there, listening to me, getting my back. Even when I was doing foolish things like sneaking out at night. He always thought I was right. I liked to think that helped me make the right decisions… because I wanted him to be okay…” She swallowed and blinked. “I miss him.”

  I stayed quiet, enjoying the serenity up on the hillside. Whatever was going through her head, I couldn’t push her to tell me. Lyra had to deal with her problems in her own way, just like Joris said.

  “Thanks for coming up here,” she said.

  “It’s nice up here. No trouble at all.”

  “Still…” She reached out and put her hand on top of mine. “I appreciate it.”

  “We’ve been traveling so much, we’re taking the day off. You plan on hanging around here all night.”

  “Until I get tired. It’s a perfect day to do nothing.”

  I looked up at the clear blue sky and smiled. “Can’t argue with that.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “You have gained eight total levels since your last visit.”

  Ultima

  Level 72 Battle God

  Hit Points 300

  Endurance 200

  Earth (Strength) 22 (+1)

  Fire (Speed) 26 (+1)

  Water (Durability) 23 (+2)

  Life/Death (Control) 36 (+4)

  Cybil brought the data on the display for me to read. Half of the points went into control, which made sense since that was what I used most as Ultima. Beating the undead ram and the Herald right after gave me the biggest boost I’d gotten in a long time.

  “Your affinity to stone has increased.”

  Elemental Levels

  Light - Level 3

  Dark - Level 2

  Water - Level 2

  Fire - Level 2

  Stone -
Level 3 (+1)

  More data appeared on the display. It was only one level but any improvement was satisfying. Now I knew why Omegas were always so eager to push themselves back at the Districts.

  “You have acquired two Mana Bonds as well?”

  “Two?”

  Mana Bonds

  Zafina - Level 5: 20% Ability Damage Bonus

  Rhiannon - Level 5: 20% Summon Speed Bonus

  Araceli - Level 3: 10% Rune Endurance Drain Decrease

  Sawyer - Level 3: 10% Physical Attack Damage Bonus

  Yuma - Level 3: 10% Damage Resistance Bonus

  Lyra - Level 2: 10% Ability Channel Speed Bonus

  Cellica - Level 1: 10% Damage Bonus for nearby allies

  “Hmm… I guess that makes sense.”

  Getting on Cellica’s good side gave me an immediate benefit. Sleeping with her made it even clearer she enjoyed my company. I still wasn’t sure what to make of Lyra but it was nice to see that I was headed in the right direction at least.

  “All right.” I held up the Mana Core Queen Cellica gave me. “I got something for you. And I think you should have something for me.”

  “I have finished processing the Core.” The podium rose from a hole in the ground. On it, a blue energy in a sphere resonated brighter than the Core I’d left before. “You may absorb this Mana for an increase to your stats.”

  “I like the sound of that.” I pushed my hand out and the energy immediately began flowing into my arm. The rush of energy was cool and warm at the same time, flooding my veins and spreading through the rest of my body. The feeling lasted for a few seconds before subsiding. I looked at the display to see the changes.

  Ultima

  Level 72 Battle God

  Hit Points 400 (+100)

  Endurance 200

  Earth (Strength) 22

  Fire (Speed) 26

  Water (Durability) 23

  Life/Death (Control) 36

  “That’s a lot of hit points,” I said.

  “You are Ultima. Increasing the amount of damage you can absorb can only aid you in your quest.”

  “I’m pretty sturdy already but there are a lot of bigger challenges ahead. Can’t complain about being able to stay conscious.”

  “The more hit points you have, the longer you are able to remain on the battlefield before the Life Rune recalls you to Zion for regeneration. You are correct in assuming there will be greater threats ahead. If you can increase your margin for error, you must take it.”

  “That’s a lot of words to tell me I need to be as strong as I can be. Speaking of which…” I placed the Core on the podium and watched it recede into the ground. “You were right about there being a strange presence to the north. We’re heading south for the marshes for more resources. Do you ‘sense’ anything down there?”

  “I detect large Mana reserves in pockets within the swamps. That Mana will aid you in powering the Holy Light Cannon. However, because there are such large Mana reserves, there is a greater chance for Pandora intervention. I do not sense the wickedness I did in the mountains but there is an undeniable presence. Whether or not that presence is malevolent will be something you have to discover for yourself.”

  “Something big is down there… Cybil, the Sol Lands… There seems to be a lot of activity here. Are you telling me nothing happened here until the Qashians showed up?”

  “The communities that existed in the Sol Lands are ancient. They came and went, as many civilizations do. I cannot offer you any insight that would be relevant to your cause.”

  “That’s cool. If there’s Mana down there, I might as well go get it and get this cannon built.”

  “Can I be of further assistance?”

  “That should wrap it up for now.”

  “Then I will await your return, Ultima.”

  20: What Lurks In The Grass

  Even though I slept early that night, my fatigue kept me sleeping in later than usual. Being a Battle God wasn’t enough to save me from catching up on my sleep like I did when I was back home. By the time I was awake, the sun was already high.

  The people of Haven were already hard at work, transporting the resources being brought down by the Nobles. While they were busy, I stuffed myself with a hearty breakfast of eggs and roasted meats. It wasn’t as refined as what I had in Navica but it was more than enough to fuel me for a long day. By the time I stepped onto the plains that afternoon, I was looking forward to spending all of my renewed strength.

  We’d been walking for half-an-hour, making our way to the swamps in the south. A breeze whistled by to fill my nostrils with the scent of the lush grass. Lyra walked behind with Zafina as the two of them discussed battle tactics. Rhiannon was by my side as she looked me up and down.

  “See anything you like?” I said with a smirk.

  “There is something different about you. Your armor has a bit of a brighter sheen to it.”

  “I did gain a few levels.”

  “It is not the levels you have gained. There is something else about you—an air of confidence I can’t pinpoint.”

  “Maybe some of Queen Cellica’s arrogance rubbed off on me.” I was chuckling but Rhiannon continued to eye me like I was a puzzle.

  “No, that is not it. Though I cannot complain. You have every reason to be proud. You displayed a certain level of tactical ability against that Herald. To infer that its barriers were blocking the different elements is not a conclusion everybody would have reached.”

  I shrugged. “I should’ve figured it out sooner. If I hadn’t, I would’ve told everybody to bombard that Herald as a last resort.”

  “If we hadn’t succeeded, I wonder what would have become of Euphoria.”

  “No point in wondering about it. As long as we’re working together, we can beat anything.” I winked at her and finally Rhiannon returned my smile with one of her own.

  We continued making our way south when the ground rumbled. The rabbits buried themselves in the dirt and the deer galloped away. Above, a dark cloud of black and purple energy billowed until vultures swooped down.

  “I’m on it!” Lyra was the first to act, drawing her flaming arrows and piercing through the birds one by one.

  We didn’t leave the work to her though. Zafina stood guard with her, sending more fireballs into the air. I joined in on the fun by checking how much stronger my flames were. Just as the display in Zion indicated, the fireballs I shot out were bigger now, large enough to engulf the birds completely.

  “I like the looks of that…” I looked over to Rhiannon, who wasn’t eager to stand around and let us do all the work.

  The raven-haired fighter drew her Mana dagger and tossed it like a throwing knife, splitting one of the birds and turning it into Mana. Even with a large flock of birds descending on us, only their squawks could get anywhere near us.

  “Random battles,” I sighed. “They can be a bit of nuisance, can’t they—”

  Before I could finish, the ground rumbled again. I put my hands up to steady myself as I stared at the billowing cloud.

  “What is it this time?” I said to myself. “Giant dragon? Flying lizard? Some other mythical creature trying to rack my eyes out with talons the size of Cavalier sabers?”

  I kept watching the vultures descending as the grass quaked. But no giant beast or over-sized Golem made its way down. There wasn’t even a Herald to talk trash to me.

  “Where is this thing?” I shifted my eyes to the ground and saw the grass rippling. The dirt bulged and bulged then bulged again until a sudden explosion sent a cloud of grass and soil into the sky.

  I put my hand up to block it all, waiting for the air to clear. Without looking, I could hear something. It was running along the grass. It must’ve been moving really fast because it sounded like a thousand footsteps were headed in my direction.

  When the dust settled, I finally saw what was there. It wasn’t coming toward us. No, it sounded like a thousand footsteps because it had a thousand limbs, all of them tap
ping in rhythm.

  A millipede the size of a semi-truck dug its feet into the grass, tearing through the soil like it was digging a hole. A bright red sheen covered its entire body like a hard shell. It had no eyes I could see. There were only long bone mandibles on its mouth, reaching out like four giant claws. You wouldn’t have thought a featureless creature would look so menacing but the way its legs moved in sync with each other like a giant wave was creepy in a way. Its feet were only the size of basketballs, but a thousand of them could do more than enough damage to trample me. Seeing so many moving parts that big made me take a step back to make sure I was looking at it right.

  “It’s got a hard outer shell,” I said. “Let me try to break through it first.”

  I summoned a Stone Golem and sent it charging forward. While my rock familiar zoomed toward the beast, I fired a Rock Burst to back it up. The stones pelted the millipede’s face and made it rear back just enough for my Golem to barrel into its underbelly. My Golem was short but that only meant it packed a wallop when it collided. It slammed into the millipede and sent it skittering back.

  “Its underside,” I said. “That’s its weakspot. Rhiannon, wait for an opening. Zafina, keep it at bay. Lyra, fire stone arrows to knock it back.”

  The ladies were all in sync, following instructions without question. Zafina’s fireballs forced the millipede back as it tried to advance on us. My Golem kept it occupied as Lyra fired stone arrow after stone arrow. While Rhiannon stayed in position with her dagger, I floated in the air to see if I could distract it.

  The beast reared back and moved on its back legs to aim at me—exactly like I wanted.

  “Right here, big fella.” I floated closer to him, using myself like bait. “Come and get me. A nice juicy Battle God for you to eat.”

  The beast let out a shriek you’d only hear in nightmares as it lunged forward. I just managed to swoop out of the way. All of my flying practice was paying off.

  “Rhiannon!”