The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 435

“All I can say with certainty is that Sehz-Clar fell, but Seris escaped,” Caera said. “This knowledge was provided by Lyra of Highblood Dreide before the dragons arrived, and may be weeks out of date.”

“But we can use this to get anywhere, right?” Ellie asked, indicating the heavy chunk of hammered metal that looked vaguely similar to a blacksmith’s anvil.

“Almost anywhere, yes,” Caera confirmed. Her index finger tapped on her lips as she considered the tempus warp, which I had acquired from the Wraiths. “But that only helps us if we know where we’re going.”

“Why not go straight for the throat?” Chul leaned forward on his elbows, his orange eye gleaming with an internal fire. “We can use this to go anywhere, you say? So we could attack Agrona directly.”

“Almost anywhere,” Caera repeated. “Taegrin Caelum is an impenetrable fortress guarded by Vritra magic and technology.”

“My grandfather sent an entire force of asuras to assassinate Agrona, and they failed,” Sylvie added. “We don’t know how or why. Until we do, it’s too risky to face Agrona directly, especially in the seat of his power.”

Silence fell around the table, the only sound was of Boo, who was sitting in one corner grooming himself loudly. A day had passed since our arrival in Vildorial. Caera, Chul, Ellie, Sylvie, Regis, and I sat around a large table with the tempus warp resting between us. We were deep under the Earthborn Institute in a chamber that was shielded against both sound and mana, so even Vajrakor would have a hard time spying on us if he was motivated to do so.

I pointed at Caera, thinking over what she’d said. “But Lyra Dreide might know more. I don’t trust Vajrakor enough to go to him for information, but it makes sense that Lyra’s been keeping an eye on Alacrya. If Seris’s efforts are in any way being made in the public eye, then we might be able to figure out where to start.”

“Vajrakor had considered locking her up as well,” Caera said, a bitter edge creeping into her tone. “He was musing about it one day while pressing me for information, trying to use her continued freedom against me. Apparently he banned her from traveling and threatened to burn the Alacryan encampments—and the Alacryans in them—if she didn’t comply. I know she gave him some information because he then used me to verify it, but I can’t be sure that he wasn’t just attempting to manipulate me further.”

“More Alacryans?” Chul stood up from the table and turned his back on us. “We blend the lines of ally and enemy too much.”

“Careful there, wise one, you’re sounding an awful lot like Vajrakor,” Regis japed.

Chul stared at Regis for a long moment, seeming to roll this thought around, then returned to his seat. “So I am.”

There was a knock at the stone double doors that led into the room, causing Boo to let out a low growl.

Activating Realmheart, I verified the mana signatures of those beyond, then opened them and allowed Gideon and Wren Kain in. Mica was approaching just behind them, and I held the door open for her as well. Wren immediately slumped into a chair that grew up out of the ground for him even as he sat in it, while Gideon found a seat at the table.

Mica leaned against the back wall with a frown carved across her face. She had abandoned the uniform of the Lance in favor of simple dwarven armor and a heavy fur cloak that added to her bulk, disguising her childlike frame. A black gem shone from within her left eye socket.

I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind me to ensure the seal remained intact, and waited for the rest to join us.

Varay was the next to arrive. We exchanged a few polite words, and I let her into the meeting chamber.

My mother looked incredibly nervous when she turned the corner into the hall, but relaxed when she saw me. Pulling me into a hug, she kissed me on the cheek and then looked searchingly into my eyes. “Arthur, what’s this all about? I’m not made for sneaking around.”

I couldn’t help but grin. “You’ve survived being an adventurer, a front-line medic in the war, and my mother.”

She rolled her eyes and swatted me playfully. “That’s true, I suppose. It’s a wonder all my hair hasn’t gone gray and fallen out,” she said, plucking at a length of gray among her auburn locks.

“Before you go in…” I withdrew something from my dimension rune and held it out to her. “I’ve thought about this a lot, and I want you to have this.”

She carefully plucked the milky white stone from my palm, turning it over to look at the many facets. “What is it?”

“Do you remember that ring Vincent Helsea gave you when I started adventuring?” I asked. “It’s kind of like that, except…well, if you are able to use it, you should be able to check on me or Ellie and see exactly what we’re doing. I thought…I didn’t want you to have to worry. Unless of course you turn it on and find me being ripped apart by angry aetheric monsters,” I added.

My mother’s cheeks paled at my joke, and she pressed the stone back on me. “Maybe it’s best that—”

“Sorry,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “Honestly, it’d make me feel a lot better if you kept it. I’ve only been able to use it to see you and Ellie anyway, and if Ellie is with me…”

She sighed and took hold of it with both hands. “Okay, what do I do?”

I’d given this some thought since I used aether to activate it. Although it took time to recharge after each use, it drew in its own aether, so it was only a matter of triggering it. “Just send in a burst of healing magic. When it touches your mind, think about Ellie.”

“Should I…?”

I nodded, and Mom closed her eyes and imbued the relic. I watched as her healing magic interacted with the vivum in the atmosphere, drawing it to the relic, then as the tendrils of aether reached out to her in response.

“Oh,” she said softly. The connection cut off and her eyes blinked open. “I could see her speaking with Chul.” Her eyes jumped to the closed doors. “Inside that room. Oh, thank you.” She pulled me into another hug.

“It takes a few days to be used again, so you won’t be able to watch us every step of the way,” I explained.

“That’s probably a good thing,” she replied, staring down at the stone and turning it over and over in her hands. A small smile played across her face. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough to resist the urge of checking to make sure you’re okay every five seconds, and I have far too much to do for me to lose myself to this artifact.”

Behind her, the final guests entered the hall. She waved at Virion and Bairon, then I let her into the meeting chamber.

Virion put his hands on my shoulders and looked me up and down. The old elf was unchanged physically, but it was clear that the events of the last couple years had drained him of the exuberance and vitality he had once possessed in abundance. “It’s strange. Sometimes, when it’s been awhile since I’ve seen you, I almost expect to find that sixteen-year-old boy waiting for me.” His smile faltered, and he patted my cheek. “Then I see this hair, these eyes, this face, and I wonder if it can really be you.”

“Don’t get sentimental on me, Gramps,” I teased, although my heart wasn’t in it. “There’s…a lot to catch you up on.”

“Brat,” he muttered, and together, we entered the chamber. There was an ominous finality in the way the heavy door closed with a thud.

My gaze tracked across everyone there, all the people I trusted most, even against the manipulative power and authority of Kezess Indrath. “Thank you for coming, everyone. This won’t take long.” I took a moment to introduce everyone for the benefit of those who didn’t know each other.

“I have news, and I have a request,” I said when that was finished. Not intending to make too much of a ceremony over it, I withdrew Silverlight, Aldir’s sword, from my dimension rune and held it up. “This weapon belonged to the pantheon asura, Aldir.” _{freēwēbnovel.com}

The reaction was immediate. Varay and Mica exchange a wary look, while Virion stiffened, his jaw clenching.

“Aldir was the asura responsible for the destruction of Elenoir. That crime has now been punished. Aldir will never harm another human, elf, or dwarf, and I carry his weapon as proof.”

Locking eyes with Virion, I maneuvered around the table until I was standing right in front of him. Carefully, I held out the silver rapier with both hands. Fingers trembling, he reached for it.

His flesh passed through the solid metal as if it were a reflection on water. Ripples ran through the silver, and with each undulation the rapier dissolved further until nothing remained but light. Before I could react, the light condensed into a single point, like a silver star, and then flashed across the room.

It swerved past Wren’s face then zipped at Varay, turning aside just before striking her chest. Bairon jerked away as it skimmed the crown of his head, then it shot at Mica.

Finally, so fast even I didn’t have time to intercede, it struck Ellie in her sternum. My sister was rocked backwards, her body slamming into Boo—who had rushed to her side the moment the star had begun zipping around—and his bulk cushioned her.

Mother let out a choked gasp, and the Lances had weapons and spells at the ready, Bairon holding Taci’s red spear out toward my sister as if afraid she might attack.

With one hand, Ellie was rubbing at her sternum, appearing more in shock than pain. In her other hand, silver light was flowing into the shape of a long, bent staff.

“Ellie, are you okay?” Mother asked, already channeling a healing spell.

“Y-yeah, just…startled,” she said, still checking herself over to be certain her words were true.

“Oh, put that away,” Wren scolded Bairon, who in turn shot the titan a distrusting glance. “Unless you plan on sparring with the Leywin child and her new weapon.”

I honed in on Wren, who wore an amused and yet still irritated expression. “What?”

“Silverlight has chosen the girl for whatever reason. An asura’s weapon is bonded to them. Sometimes it will allow no other master, other times the dying asura may release it to find a new hand to carry it. A weak bond may be overcome by a strong enough spirit.” As he said this, he indicated the red spear still clutched in Bairon’s fists.

Mica’s focus lingered on the bent staff. “So, what, we’re just handing asuran weapons to children now?”

Mom scowled at Mica but said nothing.

“It doesn’t look like much of a weapon to me,” Chul chimed in, bending closer to inspect the staff.

“It’s a bow,” Ellie answered.

Boo sniffed at it, and I realized Ellie was right. What I’d mistaken for a curved staff was the body of an unstrung bow.

“In this case, Silverlight has always been malleable by nature. She has chosen young Eleanor to wield her, and in doing so taken on the form that will be most useful. You should be proud to have been found worthy by such a weapon,” Wren concluded, his gaze bearing heavily down on my sister.

Ellie’s eyes were wide as full moons and nearly the same color as they reflected the silver gleam of the asuran artifact. This wasn’t exactly what I’d intended, but I couldn’t pretend not to be pleased that she would have such a powerful weapon. “But there is no string.”

“I said Silverlight recognizes you as worthy. As for ready…” Wren shrugged carelessly.

Boo gave a grunt as if to disagree with Silverlight’s judgment before returning to his corner. Sylvie patted his rump consolingly as he went by.

I returned my attention to Virion, as I wasn’t finished with my news yet. His gaze was distant, pointed in the direction of the shimmering bow but not focused on it.

“Are you all right?”

“You’ve provided justice, Arthur, and I thank you for it.” He let out a breathy laugh, but it was almost a sob. “And yet, it feels so shallow.”

My brows creased in confusion. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“I know that, for the people of Dicathen to stand united, this needed to be done,” he replied softly, “but perhaps I didn't truly wish for Aldir, who I once respected greatly, to perish. Can one death ever truly make up for millions?”

I wished then that I could tell him the truth of what had happened, but I knew it would only undercut anything that might be gained by Aldir’s sacrifice. “Maybe it’s true that justice can never end in death, or it becomes vengeance instead. In that case, perhaps this can be the true justice your people—our people need.”

I swallowed heavily, nodded, and withdrew another object. Setting the small box on the table, I pushed it toward Virion. He took it delicately, opening the lid as if afraid it might shatter. His heavy brows knit together, the harsh lines of such heavy emotions smoothing into simple curiosity.

“This soil is from Mount Geolus in Epheotus,” I explained. “I’m told it’s capable of growing plants anywhere—even somewhere destroyed by the World Eater technique.”

With one trembling digit, Virion reached for the dirt, but he did not touch it. When he met my eyes again, there was a clear and desperate need written in them. “Truly?

Sylvie shifted in her seat. “It’s difficult to describe to anyone who hasn’t seen Epheotus, but according to asuran history, the soil of Mount Geolus spread life to the entire realm.”

Many of the Alacryans exchanged looks with their neighbors, and a few whispered among themselves, their words too quiet for me to pick up.

A bald man with a thin, patchy beard and a dark smudge across his cheek stuck the shovel he was carrying into the ground. “Lady Lyra will be here soon. She does her rounds every day, making sure things are in order and everyone has what they need.” There was a bitterness in his voice that didn’t seem targeted at Lyra.

“She visits every encampment each day?” I asked, surprised.

“Unlike the person who sent us here to barely survive in this wasteland,” the man said, meeting my eye and spitting on the ground.

“Thoren!” a middle-aged woman scolded, glancing at me fearfully. “Forgive him, Regent. We appreciate what you’ve done for us! But not everyone transitions from the life of a soldier to being a hunter or farmer easily.”

I stepped up to the Alacryan she’d called Thoren, my expression leveled but stern. “I understand your frustration, but I’m certain you can agree with me that this is better than the inside of a prison cell—or the bottom of a shallow grave.” My gaze swept our surroundings, taking in the signs of life and community in the once-desolate land. “The fact that you’ve been so successful in carving out a chance at survival here, under the guidance of the one Alacryan leader who has shown she cares for your wellbeing, tells me I made the right decision.”

The man stared at the ground. “Yes, well, I suppose when you put it like that.” He marched away without another word, his shoulders hunched and shovel held like a spear.

“What’s going on here—Regent Leywin!” a honey-rich voice said. Turning around, I found the once-retainer, Lyra Dreide, striding confidently along the pathway in our direction. Her flame-red hair spilled down over her shoulders, standing out in stark contrast against the plain, rustic clothes she’d adopted. “Ah, and Lady Caera as well. I’ll admit, I feared for you in the clutches of that beast, Vajrakor.”

“Retainer Lyra,” Caera said, giving the other Alacryan a small smile. “We are actually here looking for you.”

The crowd around us broke up, the Alacryans going back to their duties, and Lyra gestured for us to follow her. We walked along between the rows of buildings. Most had planters full of herbs out front, and I saw where two wells had been erected. Everything was geared toward purpose, nothing appeared to be ornamental.

And all of it, everything, was colorless. Even the ground, where no grass grew, was just a darker shade of gray against the lighter cobblestone path. To our right, the horizon grew dark with greenery from the Beast Glades. Rows of raised-bed farming plots broke up the landscape. Dozens of Alacryans were hard at work hauling soil and water, minding crops, and erecting new beds with a combination of physical and magical labor. Beyond them, several mages stood guard facing the Beast Glades.

On the other side of the village, the northward horizon simply vanished in a heat haze above rolling gray hills.

“Not exactly a great view, is it?” Lyra mused, following my line of sight. “Still, we’ve done quite well here. There is a certain…peace to it.”

A keening cry suddenly interrupted the rustic silence, and it took me a moment to recognize the sound.

“A baby,” Sylvie said, arriving at that conclusion a moment before I did.

Lyra smiled and brushed the bright hair from her face. “Our first. An Alacryan child born on Dicathian soil. What exactly does that make him, Regent?”

I didn’t know, but Lyra saved me the trouble of struggling for an answer. “Our presence draws a steady supply of edible mana beasts out of the Beast Glades, and we have found several moon oxen that must have been far enough south when…and we’ve managed to start a few crops with seed sent by that Helen Shard woman. Yes, I’d say we’ve done as well as could be hoped, considering.”

Turning south, Lyra led us away from the settlement and toward the edge of the forest that marked where the Elenoir Wastes ended and the Beast Glades began. Clusters of yellow grass grew up here and there, and then a few sparse, living trees among the black remains of many more dead ones. It wasn’t until we approached within a few hundred feet of the denser forests that she stopped beneath the outstretched limbs of a dying tree.

“You’ve brought an entourage,” she said, standing with her hands on her hips. “Eleanor, my apologies for not saying so earlier, but I am glad to see you, of course. And Regis, you too I suppose. But who are these others?”

“I am Chul.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at Lyra. “I cannot say I am pleased to meet an Alacryan, but Arthur considers you an ally, so I must do the same.”

“And this is my bond, Lady Sylvie of Clan Indrath,” I continued.

“Indrath…” Lyra’s eyes widened as she stared at Sylvie. “Oh my, I…” She glanced between us, perhaps the only time I’d ever seen her at a loss for words. “Well, these are strange times. But it is of course a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sylvie.”

“Just Sylvie,” she said. “I’m about as much an Indrath at the moment as Chul.”

Chul snorted, turning away.

Lyra chuckled, relaxing. “So, why are you here?”

“Retainer Lyra, we need to know what’s become of Scythe Seris,” Caera said into the silence that followed.

Lyra bit her lip, frowning. “I’m not surprised you hadn’t heard. I’ll tell you what I can.”

Activating a dimension artifact, she withdrew a large roll of parchment. The ash between us expanded upwards and out, forming a table, and she laid out the parchment to reveal a map of Alacrya. It was covered with notes. A few more pieces of parchment appeared from the dimension artifact, and she set these strategically around the map.

The Legacy, we learned, had torn down the shield around Sehz-Clar and cornered Seris. In typical fashion for her, however, she was ready for Cecilia, broadcasting the confrontation for the entire continent to see.

“But then, and this was a true stroke of genius, her forces attacked the Relictombs and took over the second level, somehow blocking the ascension portals and preventing anyone else from entering,” Lyra explained, her voice rich with awe.

“No,” Caera gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “She had speculated such a thing was possible, but I never thought…”

Lyra held up a scroll that I recognized as an artifact to transmit messages over great distances. “Indeed. My sources are a couple of weeks old, but there has been no news from the Relictombs since she first took them several weeks ago. If I know anything about the High Sovereign, I think it is likely he is simply waiting her out. The second level has no crops or industry. No matter how well prepared she was, she can’t host her rebellion within the Relictombs indefinitely.”

I felt Sylvie’s confusion bubble up through our connection as she tried to get a grasp on everything being said. Regis took the lead in filling in the gaps for her while I focused on Lyra.

“We need to get to Alacrya and verify that nothing has changed,” I told the others. “If she’s still holed up in the Relictombs, I may be the only person who can get to her—a fact that no doubt played a role in her plan.”

“It seems as if Scythe Seris planned on occupying the Relictombs until you arrived to support her, Regent, but that has been months,” Lyra said warily. “She will have undoubtedly planned for potential delays and tangents, but even she has certainly been pushed to the very end of her resources.”