by A F Kay
“I know Uru sent you here,” Ruwen said.
Niall smiled. “She directs us all. One only needs to listen to hear her voice and spread the word of her kindness—”
“Stop with the sermon. And she is only kind if it serves her goals.”
Niall frowned.
Ruwen had little time to convince Niall that he should listen and trust Ruwen. He needed to skip to the end so they could get things moving here. But he wanted to limit those who knew Uru had given him the Architect Role, which effectively made him god. He could only think of one way around this problem, which is why he had come here.
Hamma had told Ruwen that each temple had a sacred tablet that Uru used to communicate with the High Priest. The Order Class considered it the holy word of Uru and kept the screen draped with cloth.
When Ruwen had first seen it, he had needed to add ten ability points to Hey You to decipher the writing and learn the temple required a Navigator for restoration.
Ruwen carefully worded his request to the temple. Lir, when I tell you, will you please write my words on the screen in here. Also, write it in a language the priest can understand. Not the Architect language it normally displays.
Of course, Architect Starfield.
Write the following three sentences. Ruwen Starfield can be trusted and speaks in my name. I release you from all obligations, Niall Blakrock. Thank you for your sacrifices.
Ruwen nodded at the tablet and Niall walked to it. He said a prayer before lifting the cloth covering the display.
Quit trying to make things better, Rami said.
I think Niall said he didn’t want to go home because Uru extracted some commitment from him. Now that I released him, he’ll ask to go home. I can tell Hamma that and everything will be better.
Niall slowly replaced the cloth over the display, said a longer prayer, and turned to Ruwen. “I apologize for misleading you, Ruwen.”
Ruwen nodded. “I need your help to get started, but then you are free to leave.”
“Why would I leave?”
Ruwen stared at Niall, dumbstruck. Did this man really not care that he’d orphaned his baby daughter sixteen years ago? And his wife?
That is why you stop trying to help, Rami said. Because we aren’t prepared for the answers.
Maybe I should just ask—
Ruwen Starfield I will melt your brain if you keep this up.
Ruwen stopped. His Wisdom was still low, but he knew anytime a woman used his full name, she meant business.
Ruwen swallowed hard, his heart aching for Hamma. He tried not to hate Niall, but it was difficult. How could this kind looking man be such a monster?
“Let’s head up to the revival baths,” Ruwen said.
They walked in silence to the revival area. Ruwen let Niall lead, afraid to ask Rami to map his way. When they arrived, Ruwen pointed to the display Hamma had used to find their parents when they’d first entered the temple.
“I need to defend this city and eventually the entire southern border,” Ruwen said. “I have no idea how to do that. I’m hoping you can help me find people in here that can aid with that task.”
Niall looked thoughtful, and Ruwen let the man think. Ruwen considered creating a group with Hamma so he could apologize but was scared she would ignore him and also scared she would accept and then yell at him. There was also the chance that would trigger Rami and she would melt his brain. Wisely, he did nothing instead.
“These people are from a different time,” Niall said. “War and violence were common, and their experience will be valuable for your current problems. But they also all died in a catastrophic event.” Niall began running his finger across the display. “If you look at the timestamps, over seven hundred fifty thousand people died in moments. There is no telling what kind of state they’ll revive in.”
“That’s good to know.”
“They didn’t have a City Council, that I can tell, but they had six people with the designation of Elder. They’re all high level and there is one from each Class. My guess is those are the six people in charge.”
“That’s a good place to start. How fast can we revive them?”
Niall swiped his hand across the screen, and additional information appeared. “We have the resources to revive those six.”
“When can I talk to them?”
Niall tapped the screen a few times. “Two days, give or take.”
“How about in ten minutes?”
Niall laughed and glanced at Ruwen. “What? Are you serious?”
Ruwen nodded.
“I don’t know if that’s possible,” Niall said.
“It is. See how much it costs.”
Ruwen had revived in under six minutes after having a magical dagger shoved through his eye on his Ascension Day.
Niall shook his head. “Twenty minutes would use nearly all our terium.”
“Do it, please.”
Niall faced Ruwen. “That is extremely unwise. Without terium we can’t power the Guardians, and they are our only defense right now.”
“A couple dozen Guardians won’t stop an army. As soon as I’ve talked to these six and have them working on how we will stop an army, I’ll replenish the terium. And shortly, terium will no longer be an issue.”
Niall stared at Ruwen for a few seconds and then nodded. “As you wish.”
Chapter 41
Niall started the revival process and Ruwen paced around the room, too nervous to stand still. He thought about using the terium as an excuse to find Hamma, but decided it was still too risky. Another thought struck him, and he wanted to scream at his stupidity.
Lir, are the six people currently reviving the old city’s leadership?
Yes. There was a seventh who represented the Harvesters, but she perished in the impact and of course had refused Ascendancy.
Ruwen sighed in relief. At least he had the right people, but he should have thought about asking Lir to begin with. It worried him that Rami never suggested it, and he suspected she might be mad at him as well. All because he had tried to help Hamma figure out her relationship.
What can you tell me about them? Ruwen asked and then winced at the general question.
Born to Gla—
Stop. I’ll see for myself.
Ruwen had made fifteen loops around the room when Niall spoke up. “First one’s done. Help me get them to the recovery room.”
It took ten minutes to get the six bodies into beds and moving them drenched Ruwen. They had placed the three men on one side of the narrow room, and the three women on the other. He remembered Hamma talking about how heavy unconscious people were, and she’d been right. Plus, moving around old naked people was gross.
Niall pointed at the six blanket covered bodies. “I’m going to fetch some water for them. They might move a little but should remain groggy. Their nerves and brain are still connecting everything, so they’ll be a little uncoordinated. Keep them on the beds for their own safety. I’ll be right back.”
Ruwen nodded and Niall disappeared. Not a minute later, the woman farthest from him groaned. He kept his eye on her to make sure she didn’t roll off the bed, and her public information appeared.
Name: Elder Gabryel
Class: Order
Sub Class: Priest
Specialization: Administration
Class Rank: Adept
That Class Rank put her over level seventy. She screamed and Ruwen jumped. The noise woke the man closest to Ruwen and his information appeared as he reached consciousness.
Name: Elder Vachyl
Class: Fighter
Sub Class: Commander
Specialization: Warlord
Class Rank: Adept
Elder Gabryel moaned and then sat up. Ruwen rushed over and tried to push her back down. She resisted and her eyes cleared as she focused on Ruwen. A moment later tears filled them, and she sobbed. “Why didn’t they listen,” she said, her voice raspy.
“Niall’s bringing water,” Ruwe
n said. “Just relax, Elder. Everything is okay now.”
“What is wrong with my calendar,” a deep voice said from behind Ruwen.
Ruwen turned to see Elder Vachyl sitting up as well. Ruwen dashed to the man and tried to push him back down. “Just relax. The priest will be back any moment.”
“You killed us all!” Elder Gabryel did her best to shout.
Elder Vachyl shoved Ruwen, but instead pushed himself off the bed as Ruwen’s Fortified body didn’t budge. Ruwen ran around the bed to help the man up, but the Fighter had already pulled himself to his feet. The other four people sat up as well, and Ruwen started to panic.
Elder Vachyl pointed at the Priest as he wrapped the blanket around himself. “Your fear kept us from the offensive. We could have stopped it!”
Elder Gabryel stood now as well, her blanket diagonally across her body. And the other four began getting out of bed. “Hey!” Ruwen shouted. All six adults turned to look at Ruwen. “Please get back into bed.”
As one, the six turned back toward each other and started to shout. The six of them stood, fingers pointing, yelling as much as their hoarse throats allowed.
“Don’t make me put you back in bed!” Ruwen screamed.
The six paused and faced Ruwen again. Their expressions ranged from bemused to angry.
“Don’t bark at what you can’t bite,” Elder Vachyl said.
“You need to show some respect,” Elder Gabryel said.
Then they turned away, ignoring Ruwen. It had been dumb to threaten them. He needed their help, but they were acting like they were twelve. If he didn’t earn their respect and focus them, they’d all die as Naktos’ army marched into the city.
The only power Ruwen had that could compete with these Elders was his Harvesting and the Architect Role. Both relied on Spirit though, and that would trigger his Scarecrow Aspect, something he couldn’t reveal.
That wasn’t completely true. Ruwen’s Architect Role used his Mana pool first, then tapped his Spirit. But he didn’t want to reveal his Architect Role either. The last thing he needed was everyone’s faith to collapse. Uru united the country, and they would need that to succeed. He wondered if there might be another way.
Ruwen scanned his Inventory, looking for anything that might work with his idea. Only one thing remotely fit, and he reluctantly pulled it out of Inventory.
Rami?
Yes?
You know in the stories when gods visit their followers they have an aura that makes everyone collapse to their knees.
Yes, that is a common theme.
I think the gods are actually using the Gravitational Role to manipulate their surroundings and give their presence a divine feeling.
That is an interesting theory.
And you know how my Architect Role uses my Mana first?
Yes.
Well it gave me an idea. It will probably just embarrass me further, but I need to try something to get their attention and maybe their respect. I’ll need assistance to control my Mana though. Will you help me?
Of course.
Ruwen sighed in relief. He cleared his throat and prepared for possible humiliation. Why couldn’t he have had anything better in his Inventory?
“I will not tell you again!” Ruwen shouted.
They all ignored Ruwen. He pressed his lips together, raised his arm, and shot a Blessed Brick from his Void Band with two hundred Energy.
Even knowing what was coming, Ruwen jumped at the explosion. Particles of granite filled the far side of the room like a miniature sandstorm. The sound reverberated in the narrow room and ringing filled his ears.
The yelling stopped and six angry Elders turned to face Ruwen. He raised his totem into the air, the Stuffed Centipede of Solace he’d earned on his first night in Blapy.
Remembering the era they’d come from, he used Uru’s old name. “Eiru has appointed me her messenger. With this totem, I wield her power and speak with her voice. You will listen.”
“Is that a stuffed centipede?” Elder Gabryel asked.
Okay, Rami. Let’s feed one Mana per second into my Gravitational Role.
Two of the Elders laughed and Elder Vachyl narrowed his eyes in anger. It didn’t look like one Mana affected them at all.
Ruwen held the centipede higher. “With her voice!”
Funnel ten Mana per second, please.
Elder Vachyl stepped toward Ruwen and stumbled. The others had looks of confusion and Ruwen relaxed. Surely that would be enough for them to believe him.
“You dare to use magic on me?” Elder Gabryel asked. She raised her hand, which glowed.
Elder Vachyl growled and the air around his body rippled as he tensed to jump at Ruwen. The other four Elders were all in the process of casting something at Ruwen as well.
Anger ignited inside Ruwen, and Last Breath triggered, slowing time. Why couldn’t anything be easy? He hadn’t wanted to humiliate them, but now he would force them to their knees. They needed to see he wasn’t just barking, and that he had a bite.
Give it all my Mana, Rami.
That’s almost five hundred.
In a second, I’m going to eat six spells I won’t survive. I only have this chance, and I need to do more than make them stumble. They need to know I’m serious.
Okay.
Ruwen’s Mana bar dropped to zero, and an instant headache formed from the sudden loss. He reached for the nearest bed to steady himself as a Vertigo debuff flashed. When his vision cleared, he looked up to see if he’d made his point to the Elders.
Six blood-soaked blankets lay on the floor.
Ruwen hadn’t forced them to their knees.
Ruwen had crushed them into a liquid.
Chapter 42
Ruwen stared at the six piles of bloody pulp that had moments ago been the Elders.
In a quiet voice, Rami spoke. I’m not one to tell you I told you so, but—
I know, I know. Too much Mana. But if I hadn’t used enough, I’d be the one in the revival queue right now.
Well, you certainly know how to make a first impression.
Ruwen looked down at the stuffed centipede in his hand, placed it back in his Inventory, and smiled. I warned them. We all know centipedes mean business.
You’ll make everyone as terrified of centipedes as you are.
A strangled gasp from behind Ruwen made him turn. Niall stood in the doorway, a wooden pitcher of water in each hand, his eyes wide in confused terror. Ruwen walked over, grabbed the pitchers, and set them on an empty bed.
“I told them to stay in bed for their own safety, just like you told me,” Ruwen said.
Niall continued to stare at the six bloody piles.
“I think you were right about the revival speed,” Ruwen said. “It made their bodies unstable.”
“I heard an explosion,” Niall finally got out.
That would have been the Blessed Brick Ruwen had launched at the far wall. “I threw a rock to get their attention, but they left their beds anyway.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Ruwen nodded. It did look gross. At least here, unlike the Spirit Realm, they were dead and not crying out in pain. “I’ve seen worse.”
Niall faced Ruwen, his eyes still wide.
“Do you have a mop, or a shovel?” Ruwen asked.
Niall looked back at the bodies. “Go child, I will clean this horrific sight.”
“Thank you, Niall. I’ll go fetch some terium so we can try again.”
Niall just gazed at the massacre and didn’t respond, so Ruwen left him.
Ruwen checked his map to see if it still had everyone’s locations. It did, and he headed toward Hamma’s room.
Do you feel any guilt for killing those people? Rami asked.
Ruwen took a moment to examine his feelings. No.
That was a gruesome death.
Listen, I wouldn’t have chosen to do it that way. But they forced me into making a quick decision by attacking me. In a way, I�
��m glad it happened. And I’ll do it again if needed.
I understand the need for decisiveness, and I’m glad you are finally showing some. But their last memories were of being obliterated, and now you did it again.
They obviously have a traumatic past with each other, but we don’t have time for that now. I need them to focus on the present. When we’re safe, they can argue all they want about the past.
Yes, that makes sense. You have shown them your power. It may be wise to temper that with sympathy now.
Ruwen contemplated Rami’s words. As he neared Hamma’s door, he replied. I can see how this power might turn me into a monster. While I still think that display was useful, in the future I’ll listen whenever I can, and not just force my will on others.
Ruwen’s neck and chest warmed.
As Ruwen turned down the hallway to Hamma’s room, he slowed. His attempts at helping her had not gone well earlier, and he didn’t want to make things worse. But he needed terium, and Hamma kept all their money. They had each left the Spirit Realm with a small bag of terium coins looted from the Plague Siren’s lair. A vast fortune, which Ruwen, until now, had not needed.
Standing in front of Hamma’s door, Ruwen blew out a breath and lightly knocked.
No one responded and the door didn’t open.
Ruwen knocked again, a little louder this time. “Hamma? It’s Ruwen.”
After a few seconds, Ruwen was about to knock again when Hamma spoke. “Go away.”
Ruwen stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. Why couldn’t anything be easy? “I can’t. I need help.”
“Oh, that figures.”
Hamma sounded angry, and Ruwen wondered how he’d managed that by just asking for help. He placed his head against the door. “I’m sorry.”
The door jerked open and only his Gold Fortified reflexes kept him from falling forward. Hamma didn’t just sound angry, she looked it.
“You’re sorry?” Hamma asked. “For what? For disappearing all day? For sticking your stupid face in my business? For coming here only because you needed something?”
Ruwen had only thought of the “stupid face” reason, not the other two. He’d assumed she’d spent the day trying to unlock her Healer Sub Class. It hadn’t dawned on him she might want to see him as well. Focusing on one task for long periods came easily to him, but he knew not everyone could do that. Disappearing for the entire day had probably surprised her. No, not probably, obviously.